First Meeting, Part 2

Nick and Kelly

That doubtful look had remained in Kelly's eyes throughout the drive to Nick's house in the Canyon. Nick had seen it, hadn't really paid much attention to begin with. She was pretty and, despite that somewhat wholesome look she had, he figured she knew the score. The women who came backstage to meet them usually did. Especially the ones in L.A.

Besides, she was an actress. He did remember the movie she'd been in, the couple of guest spots she'd had on TV series. Most of these young starlet types were the same. He'd grown tired of them somewhere along the line. Was it after he'd divorced his second wife and felt like he was starting the whole crazy round over yet again? Or had it been before the divorce, somewhere in the insane world of the road and one-night stands?

Nick couldn't really remember, but he was actually somewhat surprised to find Kelly sitting in the car beside him. For awhile-several months at least-he'd been skipping over most of the backstage scene. Definitely hadn't picked anyone up to take back to his hotel room with him, let alone his house, where he guarded his privacy tenaciously.

When they'd entered the gate and were standing at the back door, Pete Valentine was looking at Kelly a little skeptically. She seemed kinda nervous and Pete didn't want Nick getting into any trouble. After all that had gone on with him lately, this kind of trouble was the last thing he needed.

"You sure everything's okay?" he'd asked Nick, but he'd been looking at Kelly too, waiting for an answer from her as well. Pete stayed in the guest house when they were in L.A. and Nick had company, and he was on his way there now to get some much-needed sleep--if he got the right answer from both of them.

"It's fine, Pete," Nick told him, unlocking the door. "We're just gonna have something to eat, maybe talk awhile." He looked over at Kelly.

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Kelly wasn't quite so nonchalant about it, but she did tell Pete, "It's okay."

With a last look at them, Pete said good night and took himself off to the guest house. Watching him go, Kelly wasn't sure how to feel. She was a little nervous, but then he'd seemed okay so far. Just looked tired and maybe a little lonely?

They entered the back door, walked down a short, tiled hallway into the biggest kitchen Kelly had ever seen. She thought you could probably fit her entire apartment into it and still have room left over. It was all done in black and white and was a little dizzying at first.

"Have a seat," Nick told her, as he pulled open the door of a giant refrigerator and pulled out a beer. "Want one?" He held up the bottle.

"No thanks," Kelly replied. "Got any coke?"

Nick went back into the fridge and found one. Sat down across from her in the little diner-style booth tucked into one corner of the kitchen.

"So-" he said with a grin, after taking a long drink from his bottle. "Tell me about Kelly Scott."

TBC