Well, the next part of the day was rather tame compared to the morning’s craziness. It was two days before the concert, but the boys wanted to practice on the new stage at the venue, since they were including the new song this time. And I? I wanted to prove to Taeyang that I could dance. Sure, I had only worked with the Kwon twins for a day, but I just needed to show that I was improving, right? Right. I hoped.

Anyways, as soon as we were done on the Ellen show, we headed to the concert venue. This time I was in the van with Taeyang, GD, and Top. Taeyang and I were in the back, GD and Top were in the middle section, and Hae Jung and one of the managers were up front. I was tired and sore, but happy, so I just sat there, smiling, mentally going over my choreography while the boys talked about who knew what in Korean. I looked over as they switched to English, especially since I heard my name.

"Ah, Top-hyung," Taeyang glanced over at me as he spoke. "Do you have that thing?"

"Hm?" Top replied.

"The thing? For Nikky-noona," GD said, smiling back at me.

"Ohh," Top patted his jacket down and checked the pockets as I smiled. Aw, they had gotten something for me? That was so sweet! "Hm," he said once more before shaking his head. "Ah, noona, I am sorry, I left it." The other two boys' faces fell as Top looked back at me and shrugged. "Sorry."

"Hyung!" Taeyang said, obviously upset. I tried to keep my face from falling, since it wasn't like I was expecting anything, and I could tell from Taeyang's expression that whatever it was had been something important, to him at least. Before I could speak up and say that it was alright, GD spoke.

"Hyung," he said, in a tone of voice I don't think I had heard before. It was very much like my "no-nonsense" voice, but coming from him it was almost... scary? Not "Oh god oh god I'm going to die" scary, but "Oh I better do what he says or else" scary. The good kind of scary. From a leader, at least.

Top turned and looked at GD, his expression innocent for about five seconds, before he started to pout. GD held out his hand, and after another fifteen seconds of Top pouting, which by the way is a sight everyone should see at least once in their life... a 25 year old Korean man pouting? Yes. But anyways, after about fifteen seconds, Top let out a sigh and pulled a manila mailing envelope out from the bag he had at his side. He handed it to GD as he spoke. "Jiyong-ah... I was going to give it soon." He turned away after speaking and crossed his arms over his chest. I couldn't see his expression, but I guessed he was pouting again.

GD smiled as he turned and handed me the envelope. Taeyang almost grinned, and as I opened the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper, he let me know what it was. Which was good, because I actually could not believe my eyes. "We thought you might like an autograph, since you did not get to meet her," he said as I stared at a picture of Ellen. A signed picture of Ellen. On it she had written 'Good Luck, Nikky! Don't let anyone try and change who you are!' followed by her signature.

"But..." I could not believe this. I was actually in shock. But I was a little confused about one thing. "How did she know--" I stopped and looked up at the boys, only to see GD point towards the still pouting man.

"Top-hyung told her you prefer Nikky," he said with a smile.

"It was good that I did, she almost spelled it wrong," Top replied without turning away from his window.

I couldn't keep the grin off my face anymore. I actually almost felt like crying, but I managed to keep it to just a sniffle. These guys, they were just too good to me. I smiled at both Taeyang and GD. "Thanks guys. I don't know what to say." I reached over and to pat Top's shoulder. "And thank you, Top." He turned and looked at me quickly before turning back with a "Welcome," though I was almost certain I saw him smile. Of course, that could have just been the angle that I saw him pout, but I want to think it was a smile. Maybe.

---

I left my autographed picture in the van, for fear of some accident befalling it. As soon as we arrived and were inside I ran over and hugged the two younger guys. "Thank you!!!" I grinned at them as they gave me slightly confused expressions. I turned as I heard GD laugh.

"We gave her the picture," he said, which resulted in "Ah"s from both boys. I waited until GD and Taeyang had joined Daesung, Seungri, and myself before I quickly hugged both of them together. I laughed as I saw the shocked expression on their faces. "Just wanted to say thank you," I informed them with a smile. Top finally walked up at that point and I was trying to decide if I should give him a hug or not when I heard my name called from across the stage.

"Nikky-noona!" I looked over to see the twins waving at me like grinning idiots as they made motions that I think meant they wanted me to join them. I turned to Taeyang and he answered my question before I even asked it.

"We will practice the new song while you practice," he paused as he seemed to think for a moment. "Have Don dance Top-hyung's part with you, okay? Deuk is better at teaching." I nodded and turned to run over to the twins, but then stopped. I knew that Top didn't really like being touched, but he had made sure that Ellen used my correct name, spelling and all so... I took a deep breath, turned back around and gave him a quick hug before I turned and ran toward the twins – ran, not jogged, mind you. I figured it would be best to get out of Top's range in case he was upset I hugged him. I looked over my shoulder and grinned yelling "Later guys!" and gave them a wave. Truthfully, I don't think Top even registered what was happening until I was already gone, since the expression on his face was still one of slight shock, but hey! I gave him a hug as a thank you, and that was what mattered. At least, that was what mattered to me.

---

An hour later, and it was finally time to run through Only Look At Me. Don and I had run through it quite a few times, as well as the other choreography that they were having me learn. I actually felt much better about it today than I thought I would. Even though I was sore, the stretching the boys put me through first really helped. Or at least, it felt like it helped. Anyways, I felt much more relaxed while running through the dance with Don - both dances actually- although I didn't get through either of them once without Deuk correcting something. We ran through it once last night, since it was only about a minute of choreography. I thought I managed to do very well, but Deuk thought differently.

"Noona!" He said as soon as I was done with a bit of whine in his voice. I sighed, knowing what was wrong. "You think much. Just do," I nodded as he tried to explain. "Go..." He made a face as he tried to explain and I couldn't help but feel bad. He was so frustrated that he was having difficulty remembering the words he wanted to use, and it was my fault. I silently sighed as I looked down at the ground and heard him switch to Korean.

"When you walk around him," I looked up immediately and saw that Taeyang had joined Deuk, with the other boys behind him, "keep your hand on him. But look at me, okay?" Deuk just nodded along with what Taeyang was saying, so I nodded as well. "We will not run the phone part, just choreography starting with you and Jiyong-ah. Are you ready now?" I glanced at the twins, suddenly feeling uncertain. It was alright when it was just the three of us, but what if I couldn't do it right with the guys? Don grinned at me and gave me a thumbs up, while Deuk just smiled and nodded. Well, if the twins thought I could, I guess I could. And it wasn't like I hadn't done it before. So I nodded and smiled.

GD held his hand out to me and smiled encouragingly. I just took a deep breath, grinned back, and grabbed it. He laughed and ran across the stage to the other side, where we would begin and I couldn't help but laugh as I ran to keep up, since I was kind of being dragged and all.

"What was that for?" I asked, slightly out of breath from laughing.

"You looked like you needed to laugh," he said. "Don't worry so much, it is just rehearsal." I laughed again. He was right of course. Nothing I hadn't done before.

"Ready?" We both looked up to see Taeyang at the center back of the stage. GD gave him a thumbs up and the music started.

---

Finally 5 o'clock, dinner time, arrived. Taeyang had yet to say anything, even though we had run through the song a good five or six times, and I know that I, at least, was dying to know what he thought.

"Dinner!" Hae Jung announced using her megaphone. Why that woman had a megaphone, I didn't know. Her voice was loud enough that it wasn't necessary, but the few times I had seen her use it today she had been smiling, so I guess it was mainly for her amusement. Maybe. "Change clothes and meet at vehicles in 15 minutes." Everyone made noises of agreement and started heading to their respective changing rooms, except me. No, I wanted to know the verdict, so instead I ran towards Taeyang, who was already on his way backstage.

"Taeyang," I said as I caught up with him.

"Yea?" He replied, looking over at me as we walked.

"Um, well, I was just wondering..." I blushed, slightly embarrassed, though I didn't really know why. Was it because I was afraid he'd say I wasn't good enough? What was so wrong about dancing with Seungri instead of Top? Besides that he wasn't Top. Luckily for me, Taeyang was a smart guy.

"You did good, Nikky-noona," he said. When I looked over he smiled at me and put an arm around my shoulder, which was slightly weird since we were the same height, but he just smiled and laughed. "I will not change the choreography, do not worry." I smiled back, happy with his decision. It wasn't that I was happy about dancing with Top it was just that I didn't want to inconvenience the others. And that my dancing had improved. And... and... I was just happy. Yeah, that was it.