Superstar

Chapter 2 - Jump Then Fall

I like the way I can't keep my focus
I watch you talk, you didn't notice
I hear the words, but all I can think is we should be together

Every time you smile, I smile
And every time you shine, I'll shine for you

- "Jump Then Fall"

Taylor sat across from Nick at the diner as the waitress brought them their drinks. Nick ordered a Mountain Dew while Taylor ordered a Sprite Zero. Nick looked at her funny when she ordered the drink, but Taylor explained to him that she had just found out that she was a diabetic and that she had to watch what sodas she was able to drink.

"So," Taylor said as she took a sip of her soda. She tried her best to change the conversation from her but every time she did, he would change it back. "What kind of house are you looking for?"

Nick smiled. She couldn't help but smile back.

"Why are you so hell bent on going ahead and getting me a house?" he asked as she sighed. "So, what about you? What did you do today?"

"You asked me to eat because you wanted me to help you find a place to live," she replied. Nick smiled again. "Why are you smiling?"

"I would like to get a place here," he said, playing with the paper from his straw. Taylor sat there and watched his fingers play with the piece of paper before she looked back at his face. "I was serious when I asked you about that and you gave me your card."

"Good because you keep changing the subject to me," she chuckled, taking another sip of her drink nervously.

"That's because I saw that you were a photographer when I took a look at your card," he said, staring at her. "I found out that technically I'm not going to be able to move here anytime soon."

Taylor nodded, not really understanding why she was here with him at that point.

"The guys, the other guys in the group are wanting to go on tour here soon," he explained. "I knew that it was a possibility but I got a phone call today confirming it."

"Well that's good," she smiled. "Your fans will be happy."

"But I have this idea," he said, sitting up straight in his seat.

Taylor took a deep breath. She knew from countless interviews that when Nick Carter had an idea, that it wasn't a good thing.

"I want to create this book for the fans," he said. "We had one a few years ago of the entire group for the fans, but I want one just for my fans. I want photos of me and maybe some of the guys, but mostly me."

"I'm sure the fans would love that," she smiled, knowing she would be the first in line to buy a copy.

"I saw your work on your web site and I like it," he said as Taylor looked down at her drink. "You seem like a grounded girl and you're a great photographer."

"What are you trying to say?" she asked him.

"I want you to take the photos of me," Nick said, plain and simple. She looked up, glaring at him. "I want you to come out on the tour and just follow me around. I like the way you view things in your photos and I think the fans would enjoy that. I think it would turn out great and I'm sure it's a great opportunity for you."

Taylor continued to stare at him, not saying anything.

Nick just sat there, not knowing what to say to her.

"Taylor?" he asked as he waved his hand in front of her face. "So, will you do it?"

"Nick, I don't know if I can just pick up and leave and do that. I mean, I don't know where this tour is and how long it will be and I'm just not sure if I'm the right person for this job," she said, almost stuttering on her words.

"But why not?" he asked. "I saw some of your concert photos. I saw your other photography."

"Why didn't you tell me this when you came to my apartment? Why didn't you just call me and ask me this?" she asked, totally confused by the blonde sitting in front of her.

"I was afraid you'd just blow me off and so I kept up the living in Nashville thing," he said as the waitress brought them their food. "I think you would be great for this."

Taylor watched Nick push his hair out of his eyes before taking a bite of his burger. He really needed a haircut but she wasn't about to tell him that. She liked his hair long like that.

"So? Will you?" he asked as she sighed, picking up a fry from her plate and eating it. "You don't even have to be on the entire tour. Maybe just a few days at a time. You'll be paid great, I promise."

"It's not the money that I'm worried about," she said, tucking her hair behind her ears. "There's a lot of reasons why I don't think I can do this."

"Give me one."

Taylor knew she could come clean right now and tell him that she was a fan and had been for years. She could tell him about the nights she would fall asleep and wish that she had the opportunity to stare in his eyes without the edge of a stage between them. How she would read fan fiction and wish she was the girl in the story, falling in love with him and he with her.

"You want me to be honest?" Taylor asked as Nick nodded. "I knew who you were."

"I know, after I took the hat and stuff off," he said as she nodded. "It was dark in there."

"True, but I mean, yeah you know that I was teasing with you about Nick Lacey and all of that..."

"Right..."

"I'm kind of a fan," she finally blurted out as he smiled at her. "I've photographed you before, Nick. Not professionally but at concerts and stuff. I've even met you before..."

"Really? When?"

"At a show here a few years ago," she said, taking a sip of her drink. "I made my roommate take the photo in her room before you came in because I was afraid it would freak you out."

"That's pretty cool," he laughed. "I mean, you know, that we've met before. But that doesn't change the fact that you're a great photographer."

"Well thank you," she smiled. He couldn't help but smile back at her. "But that's why I don't think it's right for me to do this."

"No," he said, leaning over the table a little. "That's what makes you perfect for this."

"How so?"

"You're a fan," he said. "You know what fans want to see. You know what they like and you can shoot that. This book is for the fans and having a fan who is a photographer take the photos makes it that much better."

Taylor nodded, not knowing what to say.

"Will you at least think about it?" he asked as she nodded. "Good, just think about it and you can let me know."

"I will, I promise."

"Good, now let's eat, okay? You've barely touched your food," he said as she sighed, looking down at her grilled cheese.

How could she possibly eat when she was just asked to go on tour with her favorite musical group by the guy she had crushed on for years?

__________________

Taylor walked into her apartment that night and sighed, shutting the door. She leaned against it for a second, trying to think about what had happened. She couldn't even fathom the idea of going on a musical tour, much less with Nick Carter.

"Hey Tay, you back?" Tori asked, coming out of her bedroom with a smile on her face. She stopped smiling when she realized that Taylor had turned pale. "Taylor, you okay?"

"Nick asked me to go out on tour with the group and take photos of him for a book he wants to put out for his fans," Taylor blurted out, closing her eyes. "Please tell me that just didn't happen."

"You have to tell him you're a fan..."

"I did," Taylor said, walking away from the door and putting her purse on the sofa. "He thinks that makes it even better."

"So?" Tori asked as Taylor shrugged, sitting down on the sofa. "Taylor, you have to."

"I don't think I could survive," she chuckled.

"Stop being so over dramatic," Tori said, walking over to sit down across from her. "You love photography. You love the Backstreet Boys and you love Nick Carter..."

"I don't love him..."

"Fine, you lust after him," Tori said. "Taylor, you're always jealous of the way I get to travel with work and this is an amazing opportunity to go out and travel, to see the world and do something you love to do with people you're a fan of."

"I know..."

"Not everybody gets that opportunity. This is your chance."

"At least I came clean with him and told him I was a fan," Taylor said as she stood up and walked over to the huge window in their apartment that overlooked Nashville.

"Just do it," Tori said. "Jump, then fall."

"Fall where?" Taylor said, looking back at her roommate. "That's what I'm afraid of."