~*~A Change for the Soul~*~

[Baby_Girl89]

<span style="color:purple">Here's another one of my so fabulous stories any Nick mbers may remember. Those new to my work enjoy. :D

http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0603/AngelEyesJBT/IZZY/Change.gif
^^Thanks to Rae for this.^^</span>

[Baby_Girl89]

~Chapter 1~
*Jenn*

Summer had finally arrived, it felt so good to be back at home with my family for a while. I had a feeling that this was the summer that was going to change my whole life. But then again I wished that about every summer. I spent my first couple of weeks in a mild position with my cousin but then one day as I was talking to a friend online I found out something that was totally unexpected. Nick was finally going on tour and first stop was Phoenix. Tickets were gonna go on sale soon. I started getting excited at the chance to hopefully be able to meet Nick and tell him how I’ve felt all these years. So my friend, Madeline, and I made plans on getting tickets to the show together and meeting up with Nick afterwards. When we got our tickets we got front row. I was astonished.

When the day of the concert finally arrived, I was just going crazy. Madeline and I talked for a while until we were both ready to go to the show. Then my heart started beating faster at the thought of finally coming face-to-face with the man that made my heart beat at all. I couldn’t believe my luck, but when the time came, would I actually be able to say anything to him. I’d dreamt about the day so many times and they always seemed to come up the same, with me running in the opposite direction out of fear. But then again they also involved him running after me. I knew that it wasn’t likely for him to come after me, but I did know that it would be likely for me to try and go away. How do you face a man you’ve loved for so long only to find out he might be something completely different from what you expected?

So when I finally made it to the venue of the concert, I had to keep my breathing in check. I was always either hyperventilating or holding my breath. If only it were an actual 98° concert, then I could have had the other members distract me. But I had a feeling that this time nothing was going to keep me from meeting him, no matter how much I’d want to run away, my feet knew what they had to do, stay put when needed. I met up with Madeline and we quickly went to find our seats. I was in absolute awe at how close to the stage we were. We were so close in fact that we could probably feel the sweat of the performers wash over us.

After the concert was over, it was finally time to face my fears. “So are you ready to finally meet him?” Madeline asked me. It was nothing to her, she’d already met him so many times. The moment of truth was frightening me out of my wits.
I looked at her with fear in my eyes, “Well...honestly, I don’t think I ever was.”

“Well you’re gonna get this over with now, so come on,” she started pulling me through the crowd. I was very hesitant to go but Madeline was being very persistent.

And then there he was just a few feet away, “Maddy, I don’t think I can do this.”

“Jenn, come on, how long have you been waiting for this moment? And what about all that sticking it to Jessica stuff.”

“Well she’s not here so that wouldn’t exactly work now would it?”

“It would if you can steal her man.”

“That’s not gonna happen and you know it.”

“Well, ya never know,” Maddy loved quoting herself, it was her favorite line to tell me whenever I talked about things being impossible.

“Maddy, just because you were right about me finally getting here doesn’t mean that...”

“Oh stop it already, I’m gonna call him over here.”

“Maddy don’t,” I said as I tried to turn around and walk away.

She tugged me back trying to get me to stay put, “Jenn come on, don’t you want to tell him how you feel?”

“No, I don’t feel like tripping over my words today thank you very much. I can barely talk to guys that I like, what makes you think I’m gonna be able to manage anything with the man that I’ve fallen in love with. This is not gonna work.”

“Oh come on, I know you want to yell at him.”

“True, but I hardly think that this is the time or place.”

“But this is your chance, I think you should...” but before Maddy could finish her sentence, mister tall dark and handsome had appeared.

“Hey I remember you, although I never did catch your name.”

“I’m Madeline and this,” she said kind of pushing me with her arm, “is my friend Jenn.”

“Jenn, have I seen you before?”

“Nope, not at all. I’ve never met you before,” I said looking down at the ground.

“Right, hmm...you just look so familiar.”

“Well I’m not quite sure where you could’ve seen me exactly,” I said looking into his eyes. His big blue beautiful eyes, I was suddenly hypnotized and mesmerized. I had to quickly look away and I turned to Maddy and said, “All right Maddy, I talked to him, can we go now?”

“All right Jenn, I guess I can’t force you to do anything you don’t want, let’s go.”

“Good bye Nick,” I said. “It was very nice to meet you,” I said, as I extended my hand.

He took it and shook my hand, “It was nice to meet you too. Maybe we’ll meet again one day.”

“Yes, well good night. And um...wonderful performance. I’ll be looking forward to seeing another one some other time,” I said nervously giving a slight smile.

“Yes, good night. I hope I can see you again.”

“So let’s go, Maddy.” Then Maddy and I walked away.

“Jenn, what happened?”

“I told you I wouldn’t be able to manage. I just looked at him and I ...I don’t know. Well at least now I don’t have to worry about destroying my image of the perfect Nick. Although what in the world was up with his whole thing about seeing me before?”

“I have no idea.”

And then I went on my merry little way with nothing more.

If only that was what happened.

* * * * *

This is what really happened...

“Jenn have I seen you before?”

“Nope not at all. I’ve never met you before,” I said looking down at the ground.

[Baby_Girl89]

<span style="color:darkviolet">At the sound of his voice responding I looked up, “No, we haven’t met, I would’ve remembered someone as...”

With his stalling, I just jumped in with a not so wonderful conclusion of myself, “As what Nick, as ugly as me?”

“No, that’s not what I was gonna say at all.”

“Then why was it so hard for you to say what?”

“Because I’m married,” he said looking and sounding disappointed.

“Don’t even get me started,” then I looked at Maddy, “Maddy, I’m leaving.”

“No wait, don’t go, stay, I wanna talk with you,” he pleaded.

“Why you’ve got tons of other screaming fans just waiting for the chance to say hi, I don’t think you wanna talk to me. Why don’t you say hi to one of your groupies?”

“Well maybe I don't want to talk to a screaming fan."

"Well then in that case," I changed my whole attitude, "Oh my gosh it's you Nick, I so can't believe that I've met you. This is like such a dream come true." I started jumping up and down like some hyper woman who just couldn't stop. But then I did and said, "So now why don't you go talk to them?"

"Because there’s just something about you, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

“Can you believe him Maddy, anything to get someone to do what he wants, I’m going.”

“Not until you tell me where I’ve seen you.”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer, if he wanted to know my thoughts on the matter I was gonna give it to him. Boy for a girl who didn’t think she could talk to the man she loved I was certainly letting it loose. “All right do you wanna know what my crazy psychotic head wants me to tell you right now. I’ll tell you. Nick you have been the man that has been haunting my dreams day in and day out for the past four years. And for the past year or two I would go to sleep at night hoping for peace but finding you there instead, begging and pleading with me. You would just keep pushing, telling me that I was the girl that you really wanted.” And as I said it all, I watched him, gaping at me. I just couldn’t seem to stop myself either, “You wanted me to save you from a life with Jessica. You told me that I was the most beautiful person that you ever laid eyes on. Well it was all a load of bull because I’m pretty sure you never ever dreamed about me and that I was just plain....” but before I could finish he took my face in his hands and kissed me, I fought him on it. I knew that I had waited so long for his kiss, but that was not how I wanted it. It wasn’t how I wanted my first kiss to be either, but there was something about the kiss too, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. When he finally released me, I was the one that was nearly speechless. “What the hell was that? What in the...how dare you....I can’t believe,” I continued to stammer.

“Oh come on you know you wanted it.”

“Oh my god, you are so arrogant. I cannot believe that you just said that to me. And how dare you just kiss me like that. You don’t even know who I am.”

“Yes, I do you’re the girl I’ve been dreaming about. What took you so long?”

“What nerve you have. And I’m still appalled by that kiss.”

“What did you want me to do, you were getting glances.”

“Oh, like you wouldn’t have liked that. And like you said, you’re married. What the hell are you gonna do when your wife gets wind of this? Speaking of your wife, what the hell were you thinking when you married her? You’re not happy, that’s about the only thing that’s obvious about you. You’d be better off marrying a ...a ...” okay so I couldn’t come up with anything. I didn’t want to be completely harsh.

“What Jenn is trying to say is that she hates your wife,” Maddy put in.

“Maddy, I’ll take care of this thank you,” I said to Maddy calmly. Then I turned back to Nick with what had to be fire in my eyes, because I could surely feel the burn of it, “Nick, you were a complete idiot for marrying her. It would’ve been a completely different thing if you loved her, but come on. On top of that, she cheated on you, and you still married her? What the hell does that woman have on you? And back to that me rescuing you or what took me so long, um...excuse me but you could have saved yourself from that. It’s not like you don’t have control of your own damn life. What kind of a man are you anyway?” As I continued to spit fire out, not truly realizing what I was really saying I could see this look in his eyes, that I’d never seen before in any of the pictures that I’d ever seen of him, and I realized it was the same look he had in his eyes right before he kissed me the last time, but I found myself not being able to do anything about it. And then it happened, he kissed me again, and I suddenly realized what was in his kiss that I didn’t realize before. It was p[arse]ion. He held me and I felt like melting in his arms, but I started hitting him and struggling again. I refused to be the “other woman.”

“You can’t tell me you didn’t feel it this time. I know you did,” Nick said looking me in the eyes.

“I’m not gonna tell you anything. I can’t believe that you did it again. What the hell gives you that right?”

“You love me,” he simply stated.

“What the hell makes you think that?” I let out.

“It’s because of the way you were talking before. I did see you in my dreams, that’s what this has been.”

“Oh lord here we go again. So this has got to be a dream. I’m dreaming aren’t I?”

“Well if you are, so am I.”

“Look Maddy are you satisfied now, I’ve talked to him, I need to go.”

“No, don’t go,” Nick let out in a pleading voice.

“And why should I stay,” I asked as I turned around to face him. “For what possible reason do I have to stay? Just to have you kiss me out of nowhere again?”

“Jenn.”

“So I’ve already become Jenn, I just cannot believe you. I’m not gonna stand here and face having you periodically kissing me when you feel like it. Which I still don’t get, considering you’re a married man. I will not be the ‘other woman’. Good-bye,” then I turned to Maddy and said, “I’ll meet you outside,” and I stormed off.</span>

[Baby_Girl89]

~Chapter 2~
*Nick*

I watched her walk away. I couldn’t move I couldn’t even seem to think. I couldn’t believe what I had just seen or heard. I was just awed. But she was right, I was married. I eventually snapped out of it and turned to her friend who was still standing there, “Uh, Maddy was it?”

“Yeah.”

“Who was that creature? And was she real?”

“Nick what in the world is your problem?”

“I’ve fallen in love.”

“Well weren’t you supposed to already be in love? You know with your wife?”

“Well...”

“Ha, we knew it!” she exclaimed.

“Knew what?” I asked a little confused.

“That you weren’t really in love with her. Why the hell did you marry her?”

“I’d rather not discuss that right now. Just please tell me she wasn’t a dream.”

“Who?” Maddy answered.

“The one I was just speaking with, Jenn.”

“I don’t know a Jenn.”

“Don’t mess with me, you can’t do this to me,” I pleaded.

“Oh gawd you have it bad. You know I really wanted you once. Actually I wanted you a lot. I’m still not quite sure how I finally got over you. I guess my boyfriend must be one hell of a guy.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m just saying that I could have helped you once.”

“You can still help me now, tell me that Jenn was real, please tell me she wasn’t just a dream again.”

“Again?” she asked a little surprised.

“Yes again, please don’t make me explain, just tell me she was real.”

“She was real. And you were right when you said that she loves you. She does, but Nick you’re married.”

“I don’t care, I need her. You’ve got to help me.”

“Look I can see that you’re desperate so I guess I’ll give you some help. Maybe you’ll finally be able to be happy, ‘cause lord knows you’d probably be way more happy with her than with Jessica. Okay this what you need to do, because I don’t feel like betraying her trust.”

“Tell me anything.”

“Okay well, go to your site and look under the fan fiction section. There you’ll find a story, called Nick to the Rescue I recommend you read it. You’ll find out what she thinks of you, or at least you’ll get an idea of what she wants. Although I don’t think that’ll matter. Anyway, she left her screen name and e-mail address on there. So you’re gonna have to take it from there.”

“Thank you so much,” I told her, “Um...would you happen to know if she sings?”

She took out a CD from her purse, “Here, you’re lucky I convinced her to do this. This is a demo of hers, listen to it, you might just like what you hear. Look I’ve got to go, good luck. And by the way I would recommend that you tell her, you found her through reading her story and not tell her right away who you are exactly.”

“Thanks,” and then she went away.

I returned to the crowd, back to signing autographs, but she stayed on my mind. I couldn’t believe it, I’d found her. She was real, really real. It was like a miracle. I stared mindlessly at all the people who came up to me. I spoke like a broken record, I felt like I lost my mind, but I was finally happy. By the end of it all I finally was free to go back to the hotel and onto my laptop to find out what Maddy was talking about. As I sat in my limo I thought about what Maddy said, You were right, when you said she loves you. She does... I couldn’t believe it. Even in my dreams she tried to claim otherwise. I could only hope that I’d wake up the next morning to find that it was still real.

When I arrived at the hotel I got a very unexpected surprise. “Jessica? What are you doing here?”

“What, can’t a girl see her husband?” she asked with a smile.

“Jess, I thought we agreed that you weren’t going to follow me.”

We had the whole thing planned out a few weeks before.

“Jessica, I’m going, you know that I have to.”

“I know Nick, but why can’t I go with you.”

“Because Jess, I think it’s time that we spent a little time apart.”

“Already?” she whined.

“Yes, already, we’ve spent practically everyday since we’ve been married together. I need time to myself, to find myself. I need to be able to be my own person again. Ever since we’ve been together, that’s all we’ve been is together. I need to be just me. Please understand that.”

“Well, Nick I just thought that once we were finally married we would always be together forever.”

“Yeah, well forever’s a long time Jess. Now promise me that you’ll stay home.”

“I’ll try.”

“All right that’s all I ask.”

And I really thought, that I wouldn’t have to worry about it. I should have known better. “So what happened? Did you realize there was something that you needed me to do?”

“No Nick, I just had wonderful news. But what’s wrong with you? I could have sworn you had a smile on your face when you first walked in here.”

“Oh well then you’re eyes must be playing tricks on you.”

“Aw, what’s wrong Nicky?” she said getting up off of the bed and walking toward me.

“Look Jess, I’m really not in the mood,” Why did you have to go back on your word?

“Come on Nicky, let’s sit down,” and she started pulling me toward the bed. “I have some news that’ll be sure to cheer you up.”

“What?” I asked as I sat down. She looked really happy, I couldn’t even imagine what could cause her to be so happy at that point.

“Well, I promise you that it'll make you very happy, Nicky,” she said absolutely beaming. It was hard to believe that I once found it appealing. Well did I ever find it appealing?

“Jessica will you just let it out already?”

“Nick, I’m pregnant,” she said bouncing up and down.

“Pregnant?” I asked shocked. Oh great, I thought, I didn’t even know whether or not to be happy. I was finally going to be a father, but I’d also just found the girl of my dreams.

“Yes, we’re gonna have a little family of our own. Aren’t you excited?” she said as she pulled me into a hug.

“Yeah, I guess,” I said a little half-heartedly. How was I gonna deal with all of it now?

“Nick,” she said looking at me, “you don’t sound very excited.”

“No, I am I just....”

“What? What’s wrong now?”

“Jess, I just wished you hadn’t shown up tonight.”

“Well I’m sorry, Nick but I thought that since you wanted to be a father so much you’d be happy to hear that’s it’s finally about to happen.”

“But Jess, I was barely gone for a day, couldn’t you have given me a little more time?’

“But, Nicky, you’re gonna be a father.”

“Yeah, um...I’m gonna go now.”

“Nick where are you going? I thought you’d want to celebrate.”

[Baby_Girl89]

Well at one time I might have. Have I finally found my back bone again. Has finding my dream girl truly made me see what I’ve been dealing with all this time? “I just need to go get some fresh air. I’ll be back later.” Then I decided to take my laptop with me, put a smile on my face again.

“What are you taking your laptop for?” she asked sounding suspicious.

“What I’m not allowed to have it with me?” I asked a little defensive.

“Well no, but if you’re up to having your laptop with you I don’t see why we can’t be together tonight.”

“Forget it Jess, I don’t feel like arguing with you so I’m just gonna leave.” So I left her with her shocked expression just staring at me. I walked down to the car I rented and sat there. Normally, I would’ve gone out drinking, drowning my sorrows, but for the first time in months, I finally found myself keeping myself from the gift of drink. I was already drunk, drunk on something new and exciting. As I sat in my limo I thought about everything Maddy told me about Jenn and I knew I had to find out if what she said was true.

So I turned my laptop on and waited for it to start. I was getting frustrated with it however, I was never so anxious for the darn thing to go on before. When if finally came on I quickly went onto the internet. Then I went to the 98° site. It felt so strange visiting it after all that time. I hadn’t been there in so long. And I’d never been to the fan fiction section. I wondered what types of things I’d find on there. But it didn’t matter to me, all I wanted to find was her story.

But that caused a problem for me. I had forgotten the name of the story. I could only hope that once I found it, I’d recognize it. So as I scrolled down I found it, Nick to the Rescue. “Well, I love the title already. Earthangel98, what a great member name. Earth angel indeed.” So I opened up the story and started reading it. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Could it have been true? Did she really feel that way? Did she really wish for those things to happen? I wanted to read the whole thing right then and there but I thought it would be better to just savor it. So I was gonna take one section at a time.

But I also remembered that Maddy had said that Jenn left her screen name on the post. So I just kept scrolling until I came to something that looked like it would help. And there it was midnightdream98. Boy did she have that one right. She was definitely my midnight dream. I quickly added her to my buddy list and hoped against hope that I could catch her at some point at all. I was in luck it turned out she was on right then and there. I hesitated, so I didn’t do it yet. I had to wait. So instead I went back to the story and started reading more and more. I was so hooked.

Then I remembered the CD, how I wished I’d had it with me. But it was back in the room with Jess. Honestly I kind of hoped that she would find it. I almost had no doubt that she would, but then again I was also very surprised that Jess hadn’t followed me to the car. I was tempted to go back to my room just to get the CD, but I didn’t want to face Jessica again so soon. Eventually my curiosity set in and I braved myself to return to my wife. My wife, how I hate those two words together right now. I just felt so sick to my stomach just thinking about it. Why did I have to be such an idiot? What happened? I used to enjoy being happy. And I can be happy again, I know I can. Her words rung in my ears, I will not be the “other woman.”

“No, and you won’t have to be,” I whispered into the night. When I made it back to my room, Jessica was already asleep. This is just too easy. Let’s just say I spoke too early. I tiptoed to my jacket and Jess started to stir in the bed, but she was still sleeping. Then I tried tiptoeing back out, but stupid me, I wasn’t paying attention and ended stubbing my toe. I let out a slight yelp, and that’s when Jessica woke up.

“Nick, is that you?” I thought that if I stayed silent and still I could get away with it. No such luck, she sat up and looked straight at me. “Nick, why don’t you come to bed?”

I straightened up and said, “Sorry Jessica, I’m gonna go now, you need to get your rest.”

“But Nick...” she began.

“No, good night,” I said and I walked out. It felt so exhilarating to just say no to her. Wow, so this is what it feels like to be me again. I rushed down to the lobby and asked for a second room. For once I was truly glad of my privileges. They got me one right away. Before I went up to my room I requested that they tell no one where I was and hoped to God that Jessica couldn’t convince them to tell her. I went up and was so relieved to find that there was a stereo in it. I quickly went to it and put the CD in it. I had to know if she was as good as I dreamt she would be.

And the first note, proved me right. She was magnificent. I couldn’t believe my ears. What have I been missing? Jess never sounded like that. She sounds better than I ever thought that she would. Who would’ve thought that someone could actually sound like this. I was just amazed. I was in awe of it all. Then as I sat there listening to my music I turned my laptop back on again to read more of the story. Her voice was so smooth and so soothing, better than I ever dreamt it to be.

My computer finally booted and I quickly went back to the 98° message boards to continue my reading. This girl had some talent. But there was so much more to it than that, there was p[arse]ion about what she wrote. But as I read it I wondered why she chose some of the situations that she did. But I guess all good writers have to have something to work with and she wrote well. Another thing I wanted to know was how much of it was based on reality. She had a boyfriend in the story, was that true. If it was I was willing to fight tooth and nail to make her mine. And apparently she caught that pretty well in her story. It made me wonder what her thoughts were of how I was supposed to be thinking on the other side of things. But as I read it I could just imagine how I would’ve been feeling about everything, angry frustrated. She really made it sound as if I would do anything for her. And reading it I knew I would. Then I started thinking that maybe the story could give me some ideas. But for her story to have happened Jess and I wouldn’t have gotten married. If only I’d discovered the story long ago before my marriage. Eventually I had to stop, the girl wrote with too many details, albeit good details, but they were getting me far too hooked and far too imaginative. I stopped and made a mental note to come back the next day and continue.

[Baby_Girl89]

~Chapter 3~
*Jenn*

I woke up the next morning feeling a little hazy. The night before was just driving me nuts. I couldn’t seem to separate reality from fantasy. I remembered going to Nick’s concert the night before, but had I only dreamt yelling at him? It had to be only a dream. I could never behave that way in reality, could I? I got up and discovered Maddy online.

Me: hey mad

Maddy: hey jenn

Me: you’ll never believe the dream I had last night.

Maddy: well what was it?

Maddy: tell me about it

Me: well I had this dream about last night. I’m not quite sure but here it goes.

Me: um... well we went to the concert last night right?

Maddy: yeah

Me: okay well, I guess my mind started to play some tricks with me about last night

Maddy: what was it? let it out already girl.

Me: okay well see i guess when i went to sleep i kind of let my imagination run wild.

Maddy: how did you do that?

Me: um well i...

Maddy: jenn will you let it out already?

Me: okay okay

Me: well i went to sleep and i dreamt that we met up with nick and if that weren't enough i started talking to him

Maddy: okay and

Maddy: what else happened?

Me: well not only was i talking to him i eventually started yelling at him.

Me: isn't that just horrible?

Maddy: i hate to break it to you jenn

Maddy: but that's what happened last night

Me: what!? are you kidding me?

Maddy: no i'm sorry i'm not that's what happened last night

Me: wait, wait wait a second

Me: you're trying to tell me that last night i actually met nick

Me: and on top of that

Me: i yelled at him?

Maddy: yeah i guess that's what i'm tryin' to tell ya

Me: no way

Me: i don't believe this

Me: are you pulling my leg?

Maddy: no i'm not, jenn it really happened

Me: hold on if it did i had to have written it in my diary

So I went to go find my diary. Then after I found it, I opened it to the last page and started to read over it. My eyes widened as I read it line by line. I still couldn’t believe what I was reading. No this can’t be, I thought. Did I really go overboard and yell at Nick? Aw man my one chance meeting with the guy and I blow my top off. Then I returned to Maddy.

Me: hey mad

Maddy: yeah jenn

Me: can you answer a question of mine?

Maddy: sure what is it?

Me: umm, do you remember if nick kissed me or was that part of my dream?

Maddy: do you want the truth? :D

Me: uh, yeah that would be nice, i think

Maddy: yes he did kiss you

Maddy: in fact he kissed you twice

Me: i can't believe this

Me: i must still be dreaming

Maddy: no i don't think you are

Maddy: besides why would i want to be dreaming about that too

Me: well maybe it's just my dream

Maddy: come on jenn isn't this what you've been waiting for?

Me: i don't know mad

Me: this is just a little too ridiculous even for me to comprehend

Just then another IM window popped up on my screen. Yet another unrecognizable name but I was used to it. After I started writing my story on the site I met a lot of people who had read my story. Maddy being one of them.

Me: hey mad can you hold on for a sec?

Maddy: sure

The screen name of the person was crazyguy I wasn’t so sure I should trust it, but I’d seen worse.

crazyguy: hello

Me: hi

Me: do i know you?

crazyguy: oh well i'm just a reader of your fan fiction on the 98 degrees site

Me: oh i see

Me: it's nice to meet you

crazyguy: same here

crazyguy: you're an awesome writer

Me: why thank you

crazyguy: no prob

Me: so are you actually a guy or is that used to throw people off?

crazyguy: no i'm really a guy

Me: are you really crazy?

crazyguy: i could be, but who isn't?

Me: good answer

Then there was a pause from him and I returned to Maddy.

Me: mad

Maddy: hey

Me: guess what?

Maddy: what?

Me: there's a guy on the 98 mb that actually read my story

Maddy: really?

Maddy: interesting

Me: i know isn't it?

Me: i'm tempted to ask if he's gay but i don't really care

Maddy: you shouldn't

Me: i know

Me: just curious i guess

Me: i mean you really don't get a lot of guys on there unless they are

Me: not that that's a problem or anything

Me: i mean i know there are straight guys on there too

Me: it’s just from trends i've found that it really is only females who have read my stories so i guess i just wonder what intrigued this guy enough to read it.

Maddy: good point

Then the flashing yellow light popped up for the other window. I looked at it.

crazyguy: so is your name really jenn?

Me: yeah, what's your name?

crazyguy: well i'd rather not say

Me: why not?

crazyguy: well, i don't wanna freak you out

Me: why is that? how could you freak me out?

crazyguy: well it just might if your name is jenn and you wrote this story with a little bit of meaning.

Me: oh just tell me

crazyguy: are you sure you wanna know?

Me: yes i'm sure i wanna know

Me: what is it?

crazyguy: are you sure you wanna know?

Me: yes will you stop asking me that already

Me: so what is it?

crazyguy: all right, i'll tell ya

crazyguy: it's nick

Me: oh i see how you thought i'd be freaked

Me: but hey that doesn't have to mean anything

Then Maddy wrote something.

Maddy: so what's going on?

Me: well the guy just told me his name

Maddy: did he?

Maddy: well what is it?

Me: believe it or not, it's nick

Maddy: really?

Me: that's what he said

Maddy: hey i've got to get going i'll talk to you later okay

Me: yah all right

Then she logged off.

crazyguy: so did you really write that song on there?

Me: yeah i did, why?

crazyguy: oh i just thought it was really good

Me: oh thanks

Me: by the way how did you find my story anyway?

crazyguy: i was just really bored and started looking through some of the other things and your story caught my eye

Me: really why is that?

crazyguy: well the title had my name in it and it had me going to the rescue

crazyguy: i wanted to know what i was rescuing

Me: cute really cute

crazyguy: i know aren't i

Me: so where do you live nick

crazyguy: i travel too much to have a stable home really

crazyguy: but i do have a house in LA

Me: well i'm currently in phoenix for the summer, but i'm in flagstaff for most of the year for college

Then my cousin was calling me down the stairs. “I’ll be right there,” I shouted back.

Me: brb

crazyguy: okay i'll be waiting

I ran down the stairs to go find out what my cousin wanted. We were gonna go shopping. “Okay, let me say good-bye to the person I was talking to online.” So I ran back upstairs to say good bye.

Me: hey nick

crazyguy: yeah

Me: i've got to go

crazyguy: okay can i talk to you later

Me: sure, i'll probably come back on later

Me: i'm goin' to the mall though so who knows how long i'll be gone

crazyguy: which mall you goin' to?

Me: does it matter?

crazyguy: no just curious i guess

crazyguy: i've been in phoenix a couple times and was just wonderin'

I hesitated before giving him an answer. I wasn’t sure I should give out so much information. Then I thought, Oh what the hell, what harm could it do. It’s not like he could find me anyway.

Me: oh well okay

Me: um i think we're goin' to the arrowhead mall or maybe metrocenter

Me: anyway talk to ya later

crazyguy: bye

Me: bye

Then I shut off the computer and went to the mall.

[Baby_Girl89]

~Chapter 4~
*Nick*

She logged off, and I stared at the screen. I wondered if I should go find her. I was gonna be in town for a couple more days, since my next concert wasn’t gonna be for another couple of weeks. Could I start something? But then I remembered, Jessica and my unborn child. Dear lord what am I gonna do? Why couldn’t I have found her before I got married? And what am I gonna do now that Jess is carrying my child? How could I just leave her? But how can I stay with her knowing that the woman I’ve wanted this whole time is real? Help me, please. So as I continued to contemplate my newly complicated situation, I decided to head out to the mall. But which do I go to? I just had to pick one and hope for the best.

I grabbed her CD and headed out of my room. When I got to the lobby however, I found Jessica sitting down there, waiting for me no doubt. So I had to try to figure out a way to get by without her finding me. So instead of going out the front I went to find another exit. But then when I got out of there, somehow Jess had found me anyway. “Nick honey, there you are, I’ve been looking all over for you. When I couldn’t find you this morning I went to the front desk to ask for you and they told me you got a room all to yourself,” Dammit, “but when I asked them to tell me where you were they wouldn’t. They told me you didn’t want to be disturbed, even after I told them that I was your wife.” Well at least they got something right. “So where are you going honey?”

“Out, I’ll see you later Jess.”

“But Nick I really think we need to talk.”

“Yeah well Jess I was really hoping that I could finally have some time alone and now you just won’t leave me be. I’ve dealing with these damn cameras following me around since April and we just got rid of them a little while ago, and now I just wanted some time to myself to think about some things, is that so hard to comprehend for your pretty little blond head that I got to repeat it fifteen million times,” I said feeling like I was about to explode.

“But Nick...” she began.

“No Jess, please just go back to your room, I’ll talk to you later, maybe,” and then I went away. I just didn’t feel like dealing with her then. I had to go find Jenn. But where to begin. I wasn’t really sure where either mall was. So I went to the front desk and got some help. After that I headed to the first mall she told be about. I had no idea where to even begin, but I knew that we belonged together so fate would lead me to her.

I started wandering around all the department stores like Sears and Dillard’s only to find that she wasn’t in any off them. So then I went on, trying my best to just let the situation guide me. After a while I started to get hungry and then I headed for the food court. And that was when I saw her, holding a little boy’s hand walking to one of the places. I was just swept away and I had stopped walking. All I could do was stare at her. “She’s so beautiful,” I said breathlessly, in a whisper.

Then I realized that she wasn't getting any closer and I started walking again, all thoughts of food completing leaving my mind. There was just this glow about her. I couldn’t believe it was her. I could only hope she wasn’t a hallucination. She started to walk away from the food counter as soon as she got her food holding the little boy's hand. She walked toward a table with two other little boys, a little girl, an older woman and an older man. The older woman was beautiful. I [arse]umed she was the cousin that Jenn was speaking of and that the man was her husband and those were her kids. I [arse]umed the woman was her cousin cause the beauty resemblance was startling.

I grabbed a seat at a table so as not to scare her away and waited for her to get up again alone before trying to speak with her. Then she got up again but she took the little girl and little boy with her. They started walking toward the merry-go-round. Then the kids went onto the merry-go-round as she stood and watched. She was so beautiful. That was when I decided to make my move. I got up from my table and walked toward her trying to find the words that I was gonna say. Okay Nick calm down, she’s just a girl. Oh but a very beautiful one at that. I was beginning to find it hard to breathe as my breaths quickened. And my heart started speeding up. My heart rate was faster than what it is when I worked out in the gym.

Then I was just a few feet behind her. I stopped. All right, here I am, here she is. God is she beautiful. She looks even better than she did last night. How did that happen? Okay just a few more steps and I’ll be right there. I took my last few steps and stood beside her. Then with as much courage as I could muster from standing beside such a rare beauty I said, “So which one’s yours?”

“Oh well that little boy and that little girl,” she said, pointing to the children as they went by. “They’re my cousins’ kids.”

“Really? That’s cool, the little girl looks nothing like you.”

“Well she looks a lot more like her father, her sisters take more from our side of the family.” She was so kind to just talk to me like that. Kind of like when she first started talking to me the day before. I was surprised however that she didn’t recognize my voice and she kept her head forward in the direction of the merry-go-round the entire time.

The kids went by and waved at her, she waved back and I could see a smile on her face from the side. “So you like kids?”

“Well that’s an interesting question coming from a stranger,” she said finally turning her head to look at me. I thought my heart had stopped. She looked like an angel. My breath had been taken, I was finding it hard to breathe again. The smile had faded as she looked at me and said, “Nick? Is that you?”

“Um, um, um ye... yes it is.”

“Well this is different. I was the one who couldn’t seem to speak yesterday, well that is until you provoked me to.’

“Look Jenn I wanted to apologize for my poor behavior, last night. I didn’t mean to be so forward, I’m not quite so sure what it was exactly that came over me. Perhaps it was your beauty. Do you think that maybe we could start over and become friends?”

“And how exactly do you propose that? Do you want me to just forget all about last night or something?” Then I watched as the two little kids came running up to her wrapping their arms around her legs.

“Auntie Jenny, Auntie Jenny,” they both let out. Then the little boy looked at me and said, “Who’s this, Auntie Jenny?”

“What Kyle you don’t recognize Nick Lachey?”

“This is Nick Lachey? No he’s not,” he said putting his hands on his hips and scrunching up his face while looking at her. Cute kid.

“Yes he is sweetie.”

“Really, I’m gonna go tell Bryan your boyfriend is here,” he said starting to take off. She grabbed the little girl’s hand and ran after him.

Boyfriend? I thought. [/i]Now this is getting interesting.[/i] I decided to follow her back to her table this time.

When I neared the table I heard her say, “No Bryan he is not my boyfriend.”

“Jennifer, are you serious? Nick is really here.”

“Yes I am,” I said.

“See told you,” she said looking at me, and giving me a warm smile. I started to feel good. Maybe we could make amends after all. I didn’t want to lose her now that I had found her.

“Oh wow, hi it’s nice to meet you, I’m Susan,” the woman said.

“Hi.”

“Hi, I’m Joey,” the guy said. “So how do you know my cousin?” Okay so I guess I was wrong.

“I met her last night at the concert. You have a very nice looking family here.”

“Oh thanks, do you want to join us?”

“Joey what are you doing?” Jenn asked.

“Inviting your friend to sit with us.”

She smacked her head with the palm of her hand as she sat down and looked at the table. Did I do something wrong? She seemed like she would be a hard one to figure out. I decided that I would take him up on the offer even if she didn’t want me to. I was determined to get to know the girl better and attempt to hear her magnificent voice in person. The boys started asking me all these questions and Jenn just glared at them. I wonder what was going on in her pretty little head. I could only imagine. I still wanted to know about that boyfriend comment. After a while they finished up their food. Jenn hardly ate anything. “All right well I’m gonna do some shopping on my own. Just call my cell phone when you guys need me to meet you at the car.”

“Well I can take you home,” I said.

“Um, well thanks for the offer Nick, but I’d rather not. I’m sure you’re a very busy man.”

“No, I have plenty of time.”

“Well I guess we’ll see if I still wanna keep shopping when they want to go home. Will that be okay with you guys?”

“Yeah it’s fine,” Susan said.

“Okay well I’m off. You guys still have my number right?”

“Yeah,” Susan replied.

“Okay I’m off.” So she started off and I followed.

“So what are you doing?” I asked.

“Going shopping what does it look like I’m doing?”

“Oh well I just thought that maybe you had a purpose for your shopping today.”

[Baby_Girl89]

“I never really do. So do you have a purpose for following me today?” she asked giving me a look. I thought it was kind of cute actually.

“Well I’ve never met someone who could get to me the way you do and well I guess I wanted to get to know you better.”

“And how do you propose you do that?”

“Go shopping with you, and find out what you’re about.”

“Look Nick, there’s not much to find out. I’m sorry for my behavior last night, although you were way out of line.”

“Yes and I’m sorry. Like I said before I just wanted to apologize for my behavior I’m not usually like that really.”

“You should be glad I didn’t go on your mb and tell everyone what you did,” she said before giving a little laugh. I was so relieved that she was laughing about it.

“Yeah, thanks. Although not to be mean, but I’m sure no one would believe you.”

“That’s probably why I didn’t do it. Although I’m sure my friends would certainly believe me. There’s no way I’d make something like this up. But there are lurkers so I kept it to myself. The only other person who knows is Maddy and that’s only because she was there. I didn’t even get a chance to tell my best friend. For one thing I thought it was all some horrible nightmare I had.”

Did she say nightmare? “Nightmare?”

“Oh sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just gonna keep my mouth shut now before I put my foot in there any further than it already is.”

“No I wanna talk to you. Maybe we can become friends. Lord knows I need a good one right now.”

“What’s wrong the rest of the boys don’t wanna play with you?”

I was loving how she was suddenly becoming so friendly towards me. She seemed so calm, so different from the night before. I wondered what had changed. “Nah, they kind of avoid me now a bit actually. Plus they’re all doing their own thing and don’t really have too much time for me.”

“And what makes you think I’d have time for you Nick?”

“Nothing really, just hoping I guess.”

“Ah I see. Well you’re in luck I suppose. Although personally I wouldn’t call making me a friend luck. By the way, we both must totally forget that those kisses happened last night, ‘cause if we don’t this could get just a little too awkward for us.”

“Oh yeah of course, forgotten,” Uh huh yeah right and I’m a chicken with it’s head cut off. Does she really think I’m gonna forget about those kisses? Oh no, those kisses changed my life. She’s changed my life. I say friends now, but I don’t know how long that’ll last.

“So what are you still doing in town anyway?” she asked me snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Oh not much. It’s gonna be a few days before I go anywhere so I thought I’d just hang around. Crazy bumping into you like this. It must be fate.” Or me just being pure sneaky.

“Yeah, and what does fate have anything to do with this?”

“Oh just that maybe it was fate that made it so we could meet up I could apologize and make a new friend.”

“Right,” she said sounding and looking like she didn’t believe me.

“What you don’t believe me?”

“Well it’s not that exactly. It’s just that when a guy starts talking about fate, I begin to find things become questionable.”

“Oh really why is that?”

“Because fate has worked it’s twisted wonders on me,” she said before we went into Dillard’s.

“Really what’s it done?” I asked as we went down the escalator.

“Just things.”

“What things?”

“I’d rather not say Nick.”

Oh why won’t she tell me. She was a mysterious one this one was. “All right so don’t tell me.”

“Okay I won’t.”

“You know I’ve found some pretty interesting things on my mb and on the group’s mb.”

“Oh have you? What have you found?” she asked sounding slightly nervous. I wondered if I had hit a nerve. Did she wonder if I had discovered her little secret world.

“Um, I found some interesting stories in the fan fiction section of the group board,” I answered.

“Oh well that’s nice,” she said sounding cool, as she looked at the perfume.

Then a lady came up to her and said, “Hi may I help you?”

“Yes I was wondering if I could get a sample of this perfume here.”

“Which one?”
“This one Obsession.”

I watched her as she said each and every word and my spine tingled. It was so crazy I’d never found myself feeling like that before. “Oh okay,” the lady behind the counter said. She took out a bottle of the perfume and sprayed Jenn’s wrist.
Jenn sniffed it and said, “Interesting.”

Then the lady said, “Maybe your boyfriend here would like to smell it.”

“Oh he’s not my boyfriend. Just a friend.”

“Oh well what a shame. You two look like you would make a lovely couple.”

Jenn just kind of gave her this smile that sort of said, “Yeah right.” It broke me. But all she said was, “Nope just friends, that’s it. I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Yes, success, one question down about a million to go. “Well I’m sure you’ll find that special someone soon. You know I don’t understand how I could be so wrong, I’m usually pretty good with figuring out that two people are together,” the lady said looking a little disappointed. I thought that perhaps she knew something more than either of us or maybe just Jenn could really fathom at the moment.

“Nope sorry to disappoint you. But thank you anyway.”

“Was there anything else I could show you?”

“No that’s fine. I may come back again another time. I’m kind of just looking for a gift for someone anyhow. But thank you once again.”

“Oh no problem. I hope you find what you’re looking for,” the lady answered back.

Then Jenn started to walk away. But before I followed her I said, “So how much does a bottle of this Obsession cost anyway?”

“Oh about $50 for a nice size about 8 oz.”

“Well, thanks I’ll keep that in mind. I think I just might come back and get some for my lady friend over there.”

“You like her don’t you?” she asked smiling at me.

“How could you tell?”

“No wonder I thought the two of you were together. It’s that look in your eyes when you looked at her.”

“Wow, am I that obvious?”

“Well maybe it’s just me, I’m sure you’ll have no problem fooling her. But I’ll warn you, you just might get your heart broken.”

“That’s a chance I’m willing to take. Thanks,” I said taking off to go find Jenn.

[Baby_Girl89]

~Chapter 5~
*Jenn*

I got on the escalator and turned around to find Nick wasn’t there. I thought it was a bit quiet. Then I turned my head toward the next level again before I heard a voice say, “Oh there you are.”

I turned around and saw him, my heart racing a million miles a minute. “Oh it’s you,” I said sounding apathetic.

“Yeah I stopped to talk for just a few seconds and then you’re gone. You’re quick ya know that?”

“Uh huh, yeah whatever you say.”

“Were you trying to lose me?” he asked me.

“Uh,” What should I tell him, I thought. ‘Cause the truth was, I sort of was and yet I sort of wasn’t. I was still trying to fathom the fact that we had run into each other at the mall like that. It was just so weird. And of all places for him to go why the mall, especially Arrowhead. Why not like Arizona Mills or something? It just didn’t make any sense to me. “No of course I wasn’t trying to lose you,” I said having a feeling I didn’t sound too convincing.

“Oh, okay,” he said. Boy I must be a better actress than I thought. Either that or he didn’t really care about the answer too much. “So where are we headed now?”

“Well I don’t know where you’re headed but I’m going to the formal wear section.”

“Oh why?”

“Because I have the strangest fetish.”

“And what fetish would that be?” he asked as we got off the escalator.

“I have a dress fetish. And not just any kind of dress, it has to be like fancy or semi-formal at least. It can’t be like sun-dresses and stuff like that. I have no idea why I have this fetish but who does knows why they have a certain fetish?”

“Good point. So you don’t mind if I tag along do you?”

“No not really, but I don’t see why you would.”

“Oh um, I was thinking about getting something for Jessica and hoping that maybe you could help me pick something out.”

Did he just ask me to help him pick out a gift for his wife? Did he not hear what I said to him yesterday about her? Just because I apologized it doesn’t mean I’ve changed how I felt about her. “Um, sorry Nick. I don’t like your wife very much, and I just don’t wanna help you pick out a gift for her.”

“Oh I see,” he said his face falling. I didn’t mean to make him feel bad, but I figured he should know the truth. “Well okay forget about that then.”

“Wow that was a quick change, what happened?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

“But I’m supposed to be a friend remember?” I said. Okay so can I help it if I was curious?

“Are you really?” he asked sounding surprised.

“Well isn’t that what you asked of me? Jeez Nick you’re a complicated man.”

“Sorry about that,” he replied sounding disappointed. I wondered if he was always like that.

“No, it’s okay, I just wish I could figure you out a little better that’s all. But then again I’ve never been able to figure out guys. I guess that’s why I’m still single. Oh listen to me prattle on about my life. You don’t wanna hear about that, it’s boring.”

“Oh but I do wanna listen. I love getting to know my friends.”

“Riiiiight.”

“No I mean it really,” he quickly said. At that moment I’d just realized that we had stopped walking. How’d that happen? Then I started walking again toward the dresses. I was in luck the dresses were on sale. I was in heaven. Then he said, “So I heard you mention something about getting a gift for someone what are you looking for and who’s it for?”

“A little nosy aren’t you?”

“Oh well I just figured I could help you find something.”

“Yeah okay, um well I’m looking for a gift for my cousin.”

“Oh what kind of stuff does he like? I’m sure it might help to have a guy’s point of view on things.”

“What are you talking about? Are you talking about Joey?” I laughed at him a little. Well I couldn’t help it was kind of funny.

“What? What’s so funny?”

“Joey’s not my cousin. Well not my real cousin. Susan’s my cousin. We’re just so close knit we never really use the words ‘in-law.’ But you know it would be helpful if you could help me find something for Joey too.”

“So are you looking for birthday gifts or what?”

“Well sort of. Susan’s will be like a birthday slash thank you gift. While Joey’s would be a thank you gift. Well I suppose I could just get them one thank you gift. I guess we’ll see.”

“That’s really sweet of you.”

“Well if you knew what my life was like you’d know that I kind of owe them quite a bit. They’re important people in my life. They always believed in me when I didn’t. They were always there for me when I needed it. And Susan was pretty good at snapping me back to reality.” Could I learn how to shut up just once? “There I go again. Sorry about that. Once I start talking it’s kind of hard to get me to stop sometimes.”

“Yeah I’ve noticed,” he said smiling at me. I felt like my heart just stopped. “But it’s okay, I like when you ramble.” Then he took a pause before clearing his throat and saying, “It uh helps me to find out more about you.”

“Right, um well why don’t you do some rambling while I look at these dresses.”

“Um sure I guess I could do that.”

“You sound a bit timid is something wrong? You can’t possibly be at a loss for words could you?” I asked in an amused way.

“Well I don’t know I guess I kind of am.”

“Well that’s strange,” I said.

“Why is that?” he questioned.

“Well I guess it’s because I always imagined you as one of those talkers. I don’t know why but yeah. I mean I guess I remember reading somewhere that you were a talker so yeah.”

“Hmm, interesting. It’s kind of true,” he said. I looked at him and found him scratching his head.

“So what no words of wisdom to spout at a quote unquote teeny bopper?” I asked as I returned to looking at the clothes once again.

“What? You a teeny bopper, I don’t think so. If you were lord knows I certainly wouldn’t be here right now.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked turning around giving him a glare. I didn’t like what he was implying.

“Um sorry I didn’t mean to offend you or anything, it’s just that I’m sure what I guess a person could call a teeny bopper would still be nice people, I just don’t know if I could hang out with one.”

“Well teeny boppers are people too.”

“Yeah well from the way you acted like that I don’t think I could put you in that category.”

“Yeah okay whatever,” I said moving to another rack. Then I found this gorgeous red dress. It looked like one I’d been searching for actually. And I took it off the rack looked at it checked the size checked the price and I was about to faint. It was my size and it was a great deal. I turned to look at Nick and said, “So how do you think this would look on me?”

“I think it would look great. Are you gonna try it on?”

“Hmm, I probably should just to make sure it fits, but then I might not want it anymore,” I said giving a little laugh. He just smiled at me. So I took the dress and walked into the dressing room. I quickly changed into it and looked in the mirror. The dress fit me perfectly, like it was made for me or something. But I wasn’t too sure if I should’ve gotten it. So then I decided to do the unthinkable and actually ask Nick’s opinion. Although I figured the guy would fall over from shock. Seeing as how it was a bit revealing and I probably wasn’t the right person to be wearing it.

“Are you gonna come out?” he asked me.

“Jeez is he reading my mind?” I quietly asked myself. Then I said louder, “Are you sure you wanna see me in it?”

“Yes I do, please.”

“Okay but be warned, I’m not too hott.”

“All right I’m warned now come out already.”

So then I took a deep breath and said under my breath to myself, “It’s gonna be okay Jenn, you can do this.” So I opened up my door and took a step out. Nick had his back to me so I “ahemed” him. He turned around and looked from the ground up. Then he caught my eyes. I wanted so bad to look away then, but I just couldn’t. I became mesmerized by his eyes. Then I said, “So what do you think?”

I think I heard him take a big gulp before saying, “You...look....absolutely...amazing . Wow,” he answered with his mouth still agape.

“That bad huh?” I asked trying to be a tease.

“I’ve never laid eyes on a more beautiful woman in my life.”

Okay so then I started to feel a little uncomfortable. “Hmmm,” I sighed, “well I guess I should change back.”

“So soon?”

[Baby_Girl89]

I just stared into his blue eyes and found myself getting lost in them. Then I shook my head and said, “Yes, I’m gonna go change back into my clothes my now.” I turned around and walked back into the dressing room trying to figure out what had just happened. I changed quickly and looked at the dress as I held it out in front of me. “Hmm, I don’t know I really want this dress but should I? I don’t think I looked that good in it. I guess I’ll just carry it around for a bit until I’m sure.”

Then I walked out of the dressing room and back so sifting through the other dresses. “So uh you gonna take the dress?”

“I don’t know yet, I’ll probably make a last minute decision.”

“Hmm, you know your boyfriend would love to see you in it.”

“Boyfriend?” I asked as I turned to look at him. “Have you totally deleted everything I’ve told you from your mind? I don’t have a boyfriend, not now, not before, not ever. I’m gonna be alone for the rest of my life,” I said as I turned back to the dresses.

“Well I just meant that if you got one he would. You looked amazing in it and you just can’t let a dress like that go. Your future boyfriend whoever he may be will just love it. And he’d be one lucky guy. But um speaking of boyfriends...”

“Yes Nick?” I said turning to face him.

“Why did that little boy run away screaming something about your boyfriend being here if you don’t have one?” he asked looking me in the eyes with this intense look.

I wanted nothing more but to just turn my eyes then, but I couldn’t seem to do it. Then all of a sudden I found a strength in me to just quickly avert my eyes from his glare. “Um well my nephews are just a little strange that’s all,” I said, sort of muffled going back to shuffling through the clothes.

But I guess he heard me ‘cause he said, “Oh I see. Well hmm, I guess it just seemed a little more to me than that I guess.”

Oh crap, I thought. Oh well, he doesn’t need to know he’s right. “Nope, not at all.”

“So why is it you don’t have a boyfriend?” he asked.

I was hesitant to want to reply. I thought for a few seconds before saying anything when all I could finally let out was, “Um.”

“It’s okay if you don’t wanna answer me, it’s just that I’m shocked is all.”

I turned to look at him then. Shocked, but why? “Shocked? Why would you be shocked about it?” I asked slightly amused.

“Well I mean you’re just so beautiful. I would think men flock to your feet. Would give up anything just to spend a day with you. To be standing here where I am now.”

Did he just say what I think he said? I shook my head and just stared at him at a loss for words. Then all of a sudden I started laughing, “Oh my gosh Nick that was cl[arse]ic. You so had me going there for a minute.”

Then he started laughing too, “Haha what’s so funny?”

“You,” I let out. “For a minute there it sounded like you were hitting on me.” Then I started to calm down a bit before I continued, “Oh wow that was funny, but of course you weren’t you’re married and well guys just don’t hit on me. That’s a reason why I don’t have a boyfriend. My theory is guys are scared of me.”

“Why would they be scared of you? You seem perfectly harmless only intimidating thing about you is your beauty.”

I just stood there and looked at him for a bit, and then I started laughing again, “Oh my goodness I’ve never met such a funny guy. That was great Nick, thanks for that. I haven’t laughed like that in a long time. Me? Intimidating beauty? Are you blind? Oh no wait you just like to crack jokes. You are just too funny.” Who the hell was he trying to kid?

“I wasn’t kidding and I’m sorry you don’t believe me but even a friend can tell a friend she’s beautiful can’t he?”

“Yeah I guess. Now do you care to tell me why it is I can’t find myself a guy then?”

“Most guys are idiots and are blind from what I can tell. You seem like a wonderful person. So you mean to tell me that no guy has ever wanted to date you?”

“Nope, never been asked out nothin’.”

“I am just stunned. I don’t get it. Are the guys really blind around here?”

“Don’t get out of hand Nick. I’m nothing special really.”

“Oh but you are and you know it.” I was beginning to feel a bit awkward so I turned back to the dresses and then when I decided that rack held nothing more for me I moved on to another one. And I could feel his presence following close behind me. And then I heard him say, “Are you avoiding me now?”

“No I’m not avoiding you,” I answered as I continued to shift from one dress to another in fury. I barely even looked at them they were just keeping me busy. “I just well I didn’t know what to say, and I figured I could continue looking around at these dresses,” I said feeling a bit flustered.

“Oh I see.”

Then I finally decided I didn’t wanna look anymore and so I stopped. Then I picked up the dress in my arm and held it out in front of me as I said, “You know I don’t think I’m gonna get this dress. I already have so many and I’d probably never wear it anyway. Although I’ll admit I may never find it at this price again if I change my mind, or even find it again with my luck, but I guess that’s just a risk I’ll have to take.”

“NO,” he let out. I looked at him, then a little quieter he said, “No don’t do that. You should take the dress you may find it useful one day.”

“Well see that’s just it Nick. I have so many at home already that I thought would be useful one day and I still haven’t worn them. Why would I start now?”

“Well would it make you feel better if I bought you the dress?”

“Um,” I said scratching my head. I had suddenly gotten this incredible itch that just wouldn’t stop. “I uh, um, I don’t know about that. I mean I don’t think it would be right to waste your money like that. So I guess the answer would be no.”

“Awww c’mon I insist really. You can’t turn down an offer from a friend like that now can you?”

“Actually, I can and I have so what would make you any different?” I asked feeling a little defiant.

“Because I’m a new friend and um, I’m offering it right now?”

“That was sooooo lame,” I said starting to laugh. He joined in and when my laughter subsided I looked at him and said, “All right, whatever, if you really wanna buy it for me it’s no skin off my back.” I mentally added, No skin, maybe a shirt but no skin. All right could I help it if he was really hot and I would’ve loved for something more than “friendship”?

“Really?”

“Yes, really, now go pay for it before I change my mind,” I said handing him the dress. Then he walked away holding it and whistling. I decided to just stay put and watch him pay for the dress on his own. Besides his backside view was just as nice as the front.

[Baby_Girl89]

~Chapter 6~
*Nick*

I walked over the cash register with the dress in my arm whistling the whole way there, feeling so good that I could get the dress for her. And all I could think about was how to get her into the dress soon again. Nothing else had occupied my mind one bit. As I stood in line waiting to pay for the dress, I got a phone call. I took it out of my pocket making the mistake of turning to make sure she was still standing there instead of looking at the caller I.D. “Hello,” I said cheerily, seeing how she was still standing there waiting for me. My face quickly went sour.

“Hello Nicholas,” the voice rang out. “I think we really need to talk honey.”

“Hi Jessica,” I said, feeling my heart sink to the bottom of my stomach, I was really not in the mood to speak with her. I was having such a good day. “What do we need to talk about?”

“About us Nicholas. I mean what’s going on?”

“Jessica this is not the time. We will talk later good bye,” and before she could say another word, I hung up the phone and turned it off. If anyone wanted to speak to me they were just gonna have to leave me a message. I paid for the dress and returned to her. “All set beautiful woman.”

She started laughing, “Nick you are the funniest man alive.”

“What, what did I say?” I asked her, intrigued. She had the cutest laugh too. I just wish I knew why she was laughing at all.

“You called me ‘beautiful woman.’ That was just too funny. I’m s-s-s-sorry but it’s just that I don’t get that too often.” Then she started taking some deep breaths to calm herself down. “Whoo, man you’ve made me laugh so much today, thank you so much I needed that, after the summer that I’ve had.”

“Um, no problem beaut...” I stopped myself before I made her laugh again. I took a breath and instead I said, “So, where are we headed to now?”

“Hmm, good question.” Then I heard a phone ring. She looked at me and said, “Hold on,” she picked up her phone and said, “Hello?...Oh okay, hold on,” she put her hand over the speaker and looked at me, “Okay, so um is your offer still on the table to take me home later.”

My heart started racing. Did she just say what I thought she’d said? I tried choking out an answer, but I couldn’t seem to find my voice. So I just nodded my head instead. She returned to her call and I just was at a loss for words. I felt a lump jump to my throat making it hard to speak and watching her standing in front of me after so many years of just dreaming of her, made it hard to think. When she hung up the phone she looked at me, and she waved her hand in front of me, “Huh what,” I said. Snapping myself out of my trance. I’d seen her beautiful lips move but I’d heard nothing, until I shook myself from fantasy land.

“I was asking if anybody was up there. Where were you? You looked a million miles away. Oh and uh,” she said smiling her beautiful smile, in amusement it seemed, “you might wanna wipe that spit that’s starting to come out of your mouth.”

I was so embarr[arse]ed, I wiped my mouth with my hands and sure enough there was actually a little bit of drool coming out. Talk about a first. No girl, no woman, not any has ever, ever made me drool before. I knew there was definitely something about her then. “Oh gawd how embarr[arse]ing.”

She giggled a little as she said, “You’re nothing like I expected.”

“Um thanks?” I said uncertainly. What did she expect? I wondered.

“It’s not a bad thing Nick. You’re just different is all. Okay and maybe not nothing like I expected but it’s been amusing. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome I’m glad I could amuse you I think.” She smiled and my heart skipped a thousand beats it seemed. “You have a very beautiful smile you know that Jenn?”

I looked at her and I swear she started blushing, then she looked down and silently whispered, “Thank you.”

I wanted more than anything at that moment to take my hand and lift her head to have her looking me in the eyes. But of course I had to fight the urge. I had a feeling pushing her would not exactly be the right way for us to start out.

But to my surprise she looked up at me anyway. “So,” she said giving me a bright warm smile. “Since I suppose we are indefinitely hanging out for the day what do you wanna do now?”

“Well let’s go finish your shopping for a gift. And then maybe we could go see a movie?” I said the second half quite uncertainly not knowing how she would respond.

“Hmm, yes, gotta go find that gift. And a movie huh? Well I dunno, we’ll see. I don’t know if there’s anything good playing here. If you don’t mind driving to another place, I suppose we could. I’ll give you the number to find out what movies are playing where if you really wanna go.”

“That sounds great.” Wow, I can’t believe this is happening. Oh wait, could I be dreaming again? I quickly pinched my arm and felt a slight twinge of pain. Ow, well that hurt, so this can’t be a dream. I smiled to myself at the thought of spending the rest of the day with her.

“Okay well call 222-film,” she said handing me her phone, “and then press three for the theaters when they ask whether you want a theater near or far pick near and then put in the zip code 85029. Then it’ll start naming theaters. Listen for an AMC at Arrowhead town center and a Harkins, I think it’s the Fountainhead one or something like that,” she said as we were walking out of the store.

She was so calm around me that I was just awe-struck. All I could say was, “Right, gotcha.” It was as if she were the star and I were the fan. And I felt that way, how could I not be a fan of her voice?
She talked to me as if what had happened last night had never happened. But truth be told I’ll never forget it, and I’ll always remember it until the day I died because if it weren’t for her, I would’ve been stuck in a marriage I so desperately didn’t wanna be a part of. She changed my life. But unfortunately she could only do so much, I still had to take care of going through a divorce while trying to figure out what to do about this child situation.

We were about to p[arse] a karaoke store when she suddenly stopped and she looked inside. She gave a little smile and my heart jumped. “This place brings back memories,” she said.

“Does it, why is that?”

“Well it wasn’t this store in particular, but it was a karaoke store nonetheless. Well my sister wanted me to sing in the store. And the other thing was that they also happened to be holding this little karaoke contest on the radio and you could sign up in that store. So anyway I don’t really remember why but I gave into singing in the store.”

“Really? What did ya sing?”

“‘I Turn to You’. My sister apparently thinks I do that song really well. So yeah I sang it and then the guy and the lady in the store were both really encouraging me to sign up for the contest. Truth be told I’m beginning to wonder if they didn’t just want the money. It was a ten dollar registration fee. So I asked my mom, looked around at my cousins, and everyone said to do it. So I did.”

“So what happened?”

[Baby_Girl89]

“Well I signed up on a Sunday and the contest was on that Thursday, or at least the first round. So I had to pick something to sing and to practice. Well I bought a Britney Spears karaoke CD to work with, and I quickly changed my mind. And I only had two minutes to ‘show-off’ my voice so to speak. So I kind of went through some of what my cousins had, looked around on the net and I settled with ‘Angel of Mine.’” By then she’d finally stopped talking to the store and was looking at me, talking to me like we were old friends catching up. Truth be told, I think I kind of preferred when she wasn’t looking at me. It was hard enough to concentrate as it was. Having her dark chocolatey eyes staring up into my eyes wasn’t helping me.

“And then what?”

“Curious aren’t we?” she said with a smirk. It was really cute.

“Yes I am, sorry. I just wanna know if you made it to the next round and all that. I find this terribly fascinating.”

“I suppose you would being a professional and all. Finding out what us amateurs do to try and find new ways of getting discovered. But let’s go sit if I must tell all. I’d rather not be gawked at standing with you in front of a karaoke store,” she said giving the tiniest little hint of amusement in her voice. So we started walking, “By the way how’s that movie search coming?”

I’d totally forgotten about it. “Oh I just figured I’d wait ‘til we were done to call.”

“Hmm, I suppose that could work,” she said smiling and sitting down on a bench, I followed her lead.

“So tell me what happened after you picked out the song.”

“Well so I was pretty familiar with it already. It was always a favorite of mine and I was so excited that I was gonna be on the radio. Now I can mark off the TV, a CD, and the radio on my goal list,” she said winking at me.

You know for a girl who’s been trying to tell me that she was ordinary she certainly sounded extraordinary to me. Wide-eyed I said, “The TV, a CD, and now the radio? Remind me to ask about the other two sometime.”

“Remind me not to remind you. Not that you’ll ever get a chance to ask. You’ll return to your busy life and I’ll return to my boring one,” she said flashing me a smile. This girl did seem to have an odd sense of humor. Just the way I liked it. She was unique that was for certain. And the songs on the CD I was given. Wow, incredible lyrics to go with an incredible voice. I know it’s kind of wrong to [arse]ume that she wrote them but I did know they were someone’s original lyrics, why not hers?

“Well I’m sure I’ll remember and I’d be a fool not to keep you in my life. I think you could be very useful to me.”

“Me? Useful to you? What? Why?”

“I dunno you opened my eyes to a new world last night. But anyway so what happened with the whole radio thing?”

“Gee you certainly are persistent.”

“Yes I am, especially when I find something interesting enough to be persistent about. So what happened did you win?”

“Well I worked my butt off,” at which point my eyes quickly glanced down to see what a nice butt she had, “memorizing the song and making it perfect. Or as perfect as I could. Thursday arrived and all my thoughts of it being a hoax disappeared as I got to the radio station.”

“So you thought it was a hoax?”

“Yeah, let’s just say I have a suspicious nature about myself. And I wondered why these people wanted me to join the contest so much. I thought it was just so they could get my money. Yeah I’m not very trusting I know. And they kept telling me that they thought I had a real chance to win or at least get through to the next round. Well so anyway, I went to the thing so nervous. I kept calling my best friend trying to keep myself calm. And I had like just a background CD, when I could’ve had a CDG the whole time. So anyway, I had to stay a little more confident that I wouldn’t screw up. When I got to the back room awaiting my turn, I sat in the cold watching the people before me perform. And I saw that you had to wear the headphones and just sing into the microphone without hearing how well your voice mixed with the CD. Oh you wanna know what was funny?”

“Sure,” I said fascinated by how she had a way of speaking.

“Well when I walked in the lady helping to run the thing asked me how old I was. So I told her I was 19 and I asked her if she wanted to see some ID and she told me no it was fine. But that I just looked like I was 16. Can you believe that? All my life I was told that I looked older than I was and that day she tells me I look three years younger. Actually I’d gotten that once before too. I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult,” she finished giving a slight laugh.

“That’s very interesting. I never would’ve imagined you being younger than Jess,” why did I say that? I mentally smacked my head, Stupid, stupid, I thought.

“Could we not...” she began.

“Yeah I’m sorry it slipped.”

“All right I’m sorry if I sound cruel, I just don’t wanna piss you off by talking anymore crap about your wife. It’s not my business to step in to tell you what to do.”

“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have provoked you last night. It was my fault for being such a jerk.” Then we fell silent. I suddenly became over curious about what had happened with her on the radio. It was like reading a novel and constantly waiting and wanting to find out what happens next. She told it with a novelist’s tongue.

“Um so,” she said, “What do we do now?”

Here was my chance, but how to do it without sounding like an insensitive jerk. “Um, would you mind finishing your story?” I asked tentatively. I braced myself for what was to come next. I looked at her and I saw this look of seriousness on her face. Oh crap, I did that totally wrong.

And then she broke out laughing, “Nick you’re so funny. Why is this so interesting to you?”

I breathed a big sigh of relief, in fact I started breathing again. I hadn’t realized it but I had held my breath waiting for her answer. I broke out into a smile. I liked how this girl laughed instead of getting angry. Although I’ll admit the fire in her eyes from the night before certainly sparked me. “Well it’s interesting because it’s something from your life. Besides, you can’t just leave me hanging. It’s like one of those stories that you just have to find out how it ends ya know. Keeping it hanging would just kill you.”

“I highly doubt it would kill you but all right let’s see,” she said motioning to look like she was trying to remember what had happened. Then she said, “So I was like really psyched thinking about the performance on the Saturday afterward if I made it past the radio round. I was building myself up for a fall for sure. So anyway I got to the radio station nerves building. I waited with some people in that cold room. I didn’t know how I’d do. I talked to a few people waiting back there friendly conversation you know. There was this one guy, I was in there with I later saw him working at a Best Buy. He looked so familiar to me, I didn’t figure out it was him until later though. But anyhoo, so I finally took my place in the room. They talked to me for a bit. Introduced me, royally screwing up my last name but I’m used to that by now,” she said giving off a scoff. “Eh, oh well, anyway then I sang the song, with just the music playing in my ears through the headphones they had provided for me. And I started picturing...” then she mumbled something incoherently. Was it something important? Jenn, what did you say?

[Baby_Girl89]

I interrupted her before she could continue, “Wait what? What did you picture?”

She started blushing a little, “Um, someone. No one important really. Just someone who’s gotten me through a lot. Perfect right considering I was singing ‘Angel of Mine.’”

“Yeah perfect.” Just like you.

She smiled at me and said, “Well so then after I finished the first run through of the chorus I was done. And then I went back out and waited it out. My sister told me that it was hard to hear me but that when I started singing everyone in the room fell silent to hear me. Okay so yeah I had to roll my eyes at that.”

“Why?” I asked. I could believe volumes of crowds falling silent to hear this angel’s beautiful voice.

“Well because, I ain’t all that good. The only reason I could see for them to be quiet would be to hear how wretched I was because apparently you couldn’t hear me all that well anyway. So after I finished up I called my friend up, and she told me that I did really good. But hey what did I expect that’s what she always tells me. She told me they’d be nuts not to pick me for the next round. So after I finished talking to her I sat and waited inside for everyone to finish up and then they announced who was going on to the next round. Well I waited and waited and waited. Well in the end I didn’t get through,” and the way she said that was so unexpected. I’ll admit I expected her to sound disappointed or something after I heard it but she just kept going, “and you know it wasn’t so bad,” she smiled at me, my heart started racing at the sight of her beautiful smile. “I wasn’t as disappointed as I expected to be. I think in all honesty I was a little relieved. I guess I didn’t wanna sing at that mall as much I’d thought I did. I really could’ve gone for that prize though, that would’ve been nice.

“Oh well I guess God has a different plan for me. My sister blames it on my volume. My best friend blamed it on the fact that it was talk show radio hosts hosting the contest. She was like, ‘What do they know about music?’ I thought that was pretty funny. I didn’t really think there was any other reason that I didn’t get picked other than maybe I just wasn’t good enough, but of course I also thought that maybe my age might have figured into it too, because from what I can remember those that were picked were like way older than myself. So that was kind of interesting. I didn’t think God had any other plan for me to get my chance to be a singer again. So I dunno, it still seemed to follow me around though. ‘Cause then there were like these auditions for the Arizona Idols around and...” then she stopped before saying, “Oh goodness me listen to me babbling like that. You don’t wanna hear my whole life story like that.”

“Actually I really wouldn’t mind, I love hearing you speak. You speak with a p[arse]ion I’d never known. I can only imagine what it would be like when you sing. Do you think I could hear you sometime?”

“Oh yeah right and make a fool of myself in front of a professional? No thanks.”

“Hey how do you know it wasn’t God’s plan for you to sing for me?” I asked defying her thoughts. I just had to hear that heavenly voice for myself in person.

She fell silent and stared at the ground. Had I hit a nerve? This time I couldn’t fight my urge anymore I had to get her to look at me, I took my hand, placed my fingers gently on her delicate chin and lifted her face to look up at me. She plastered a weak smile on her face and said, “Can I help you?”

I smiled at her and said, “Yes, you can grace me with the sound of you voice.”

“Well here it is,” she said smiling for real now.

“I meant hearing you sing.”

“Oh well I dunno about that. I mean do you really feel like becoming deaf. I know how difficult it would be to hear your music if you went deaf and I don’t want to be the cause of that.”

“Somehow I don’t quite believe that you could ever make anyone deaf with your voice,” I said mere inches from her beautiful lips. I had that urge that craving to just kiss them again. Never in my life had I wanted to cheat on the person I was with. But never before had I ever forgotten I was ever really taken. There was just something about Jenn, that made me lose my senses. An angel in disguise in my presence.

She pulled herself away from our locked eyes and said staring straight ahead of her, “Ahem, well that’s very kind of you Nick, thank you, but you haven’t heard me sing.”

“So then let me. Prove me wrong or prove me right, whichever you can’t tell me to not judge you and think I’m not gonna be curious by what you have to say. I mean if this guy thought you were good enough to sign up and even get through who’s to say you aren’t that good?”

She turned to look at me with a very serious look on her face, “Me.”

“But you are your own worst critic I’m sure.”

“Hmm,” she sighed with a slight smile, “you certainly aren’t the first to tell me that.”

“Exactly. So why not give me just a little sample if nothing else of your singing?”

“Well I guess I could. But not now, maybe later. We should continue our little shopping escapade first. I really need to find something for them.”

“All right,” I said giving in. How could I resist those big beautiful brown eyes of hers? So we went to a couple of places and she finally settled on a few things. “So now that you have the gifts what should we do now? Should we head out to the movie?”

“Hmm, good question,” she replied tapping her index finger on her delicate chin. “Well maybe you should call and find out what movies are playing and we can go from there.”

“All right,” I said taking out her phone. She reached for it and I decided to play around for a bit and tugged back away from her.

“Oh come on Nick, give me my phone back. You have your own.” We had managed to get outside of the building in our little game and she jumped up to get the phone from me and we almost toppled over. She just conveniently, well for me anyway, fell right into my arms. It was great holding her there. She just stared up at me. Neither of us daring to move. I didn’t because I wanted to hold her there forever. Lord only knew why she wasn’t going anywhere, but I was thanking God for it every second I got to hold her there. Then she managed to straighten herself back up and our gaze was lost. “Sorry about that,” she apologized.

“No it was my fault I shouldn’t have done that,” I said handing her the phone. But secretly I was glad that my immaturish attitude brought her into my arm.

She took the phone from me gracefully and said, “How about we just let that go too shall we?”

“Yeah, sure,” I replied knowing full well it would be just as hard to forget about the hold as it would be for me to forget about the kiss from the night before. I don’t know what it was about Jenn, but there just seemed to be some sort of magical hold on me from her. She was like this miraculous angel that had appeared in my life out of nowhere and I was afraid that all I had to do was blink and she’d disappear on me. I couldn’t let it happen that way.

[Baby_Girl89]

“Well do you still wanna see that movie?” she asked me snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah of course,” I replied. How could I p[arse] up an opportunity to spend time with her? There was no way I was p[arse]ing that up. It was too good, too perfect. Besides who knew if I’d ever have the chance again?

“All right, do you wanna watch one here or would it be all right with you to drive elsewhere?”

“Whatever you think is best,” I said smiling at her. I hoped she would go for the drive however, I wanted to spend some quiet time alone with her in the car.

“Well I’d rather make it up to you since you must be used to the finer things in life,” she said in a teasing tone.

“Well how’s the theater here?”

“Eh it’s all right. I don’t really know if I’d really recommend it movie wise it doesn’t really play much. But then again the Harkins theater around here doesn’t really pay much either.”

“Well let’s get these bags into the car first before we decide what to do, what do ya say.”

“Sure whatever,” she said. So I started walking and out of my peripheral vision I could see her following me. I discreetly as possible watched her to make sure she wasn’t leaving me. When we arrived at the car I had rented. I popped the trunk and put her stuff in. Now she had no choice but to stick with me if she wanted to get her things back. We were silent all the way to my car the silence needed be broken and just as I was about to say something she took out her phone and said, “So what should we do? Should we look for a particular movie or look for...” she suddenly stopped and just looked at me. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“What do you mean what’s wrong?” I asked back. Man did I screw up something?

“I dunno you just keep staring at me, I thought something was wrong. Is there something wrong with my face?” she asked looking uncertain.

“No no, nothing’s wrong, you’re face is as beautiful as ever, I just can’t take my eyes off of you,” I smiled at her. And I could be wrong but I swear I saw her smile. She turned her head away and gave a little cough. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’m just not used to guys talking to me like this is all. Especially those that are married and claim to be as in love with their wives as you say you do.”

“Yeah, well talk can be cheap.”

“Can it?” she said looking up at me with those beautiful dark brown eyes of hers. She really looked like she was searching for some sort of answer, but I felt as if it was for more than what she was actually asking in her words.

“Yeah it can. But other times it can mean more than you’d know.”

“Really? Like what?” she asked still curious.

Like what you said to me last night, I wanted so much to say that to her, to make her understand that out of everything anyone ever said to me she was the only one to get through to me. “Just different things. Ya know sometimes it just depends on the person and stuff that’s all.”

“Oh,” she said looking slightly disappointed. Then she turned from me and dialed her phone. She asked as she waited, “So did you decide what you wanted to do yet? A movie here a movie elsewhere? What movie you might wanna watch? Because if you make me choose I might just have to choose a chick flick just because men are so choosey,” she turned around and smiled at me for the last comment she made. My mind just went blank for a second as I looked at her smile. She looked so pure so innocent as if nothing could be wrong or bad about her. “So no ideas?” she said making me snap back again.

“What?”

“All right that’s it a movie for me it is, I mean I wasn’t planning on spending any money today on myself, so I might as well spend it on something good.”

Oh well, it was going to be worth it whatever she chose as long as I got to spend time with her. I could only wish at that time that it could be a real date. But no, I couldn’t be on a real date with her because I was married. And I knew from what she talked about that there was no way she would be involved with such a scandal. She hung up the phone, “So what have you decided on then?”

“Hmm, I think we should go see, The Italian Job. I heard it’s a really good movie.”

“The Italian Job?” I asked surprised. I wanted to see that movie.

“Yeah something wrong? If there is you could just take me home ya know it’s okay we really...”

“No, I’m just surprised. I didn’t expect for you to...”

“Pick this movie? Why?”

“I just didn’t. I’m glad you picked the movie though,” I said giving her a smile.

“Well I’m glad you’re glad Nick. It’s nice to see a smile on your face every once in a while.”

“What do you mean?” I asked intrigued, by her insinuations. “I smile all the time.”

“Well yeah with your lips. But this time I can see it in your eyes as well. So shall we get going?”

“Yes where are we headed?” I asked her.

“We’re goin’ to another place if that’s okay with you.”

“Oh yeah that’s fine, you just tell me where to go and there we will go.”

“All righty then.” I loved that I was gonna be able to spend some time alone with her in the car. I couldn’t believe she was actually willing to let me take her. I guess there was an advantage to being famous after all.

“All right shall I lead you to the door milady?” I said extending my arm for her to take. She smiled at me and took it. The moment she touched me I felt an electric surge forge through my body. Then I walked her to the p[arse]enger side door and opened it for her.

“Thank you,” she said getting into the car.

I walked over to the other side whistling a happy tune. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. When I got in I started the engine smiled at her once more and proceeded to go. “Well off we go now.”

[Baby_Girl89]

~Chapter 7~
*Jenn*

I sat in the car beside him so scared. I didn’t know what to say, what to think. Quite frankly it all still felt like nothing but a dream to me. I mean how could it be that I would be sitting in the same car with Nick alone. It just didn’t seem possible to me. After a few moments of silence Nick tried to have a bit of a conversation with me again. “So Jenn,” he began, “what kind of hobbies do you have?”

For some reason I started to laugh a little, “Haha, Nick you’re funny.”

“What did I say?” he asked sounding amused.

“I don’t know you just asked me what kind of hobbies I have and I found it funny ‘cause I guess it sounded like a question you’d ask someone you were on a date with I guess. I don’t know I’m weird,” I said letting out a nervous laugh. Oh God what in the world is wrong with me? Jeez I’m acting like some sort of school girl in shock that like the most popular guy in school is talking to her or something. Jennifer get a freakin’ grip.

“Oh was that it?”

“Yeah sort of.”

“Well you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. Is there anything you’d like to ask me maybe?”

“Jeez, now I feel like I’m on some sort of interview and people are relying on me to relay any information I get from this. Sorry,” I said sort of sheepishly.

“No don’t apologize, what are you apologizing for?”

“I’m not quite sure to be honest. I don’t know I guess the moment we got into the car I kind of got a lot more nervous. And I just, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize really it’s okay.”

I don’t think I realized it but I was actually sort of holding my breath as he talked and then I let out a huge sigh of relief as he finished. “You know I feel like such an idiot.”

“Why do you say that? I think you’re doing all right. You’re not trying to maul me over like some girls have tried before.”

“No I got smart and conned you into taking me to a movie,” I joked.

“Oh so you think you conned me eh?”

“Actually no, you conned me,” I said with a little laugh.

“You’re cute. All right so are you feeling better now?”

“Yeah I think I am. I dunno I guess I’m feeling a little nervous ‘cause I’ve never really met a ‘celebrity’ before.” I swear I think when I said “celebrity” it was dripping with sarcasm. The thought of being with a “celebrity” wasn’t what was getting to me at all. What was getting to me was that I was still in the presence of a man I’d been in love with.

“Well you don’t have to be nervous around me. You certainly didn’t seem that way last night. And I mean I’m just like you, perfectly normal.”

“Well then it’s obvious you don’t know me very well because I’m not all that normal,” I said teasingly.

“No I bet you’re not.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“You just I dunno seem like you’re different but in a unique kind of way.”

“Are you hitting on me?” Did I just say what I think I did? “Wait you don’t have to answer that. I’m sorry I don’t really know where that came from to be honest it just kinda slipped out. I mean really why would you be hitting on me? You’re married and all that. And I’m sure somewhere in there you believe you love her, even if your eyes tell me different,” and as I was saying all this my mind was telling me to just shut up. Why was I rambling like a bumbling idiot again? My damn nerves that’s what. I’d never been all too good around guys. “And I mean it’s like every picture I see, you just have this look like something’s missing but I mean how can it be when you have your wife. Oh and then there are the times when you don’t wear your ring and...” I finally stopped myself and forced myself to turn my head and look at him since I’d turned my head to face the front without realizing it during my ramble. “Oops, sorry I didn’t mean to let it all come rushing out like that. It’s a bad habit that I have.”

“No it’s okay.”

“No it’s not,” then I looked at the road, “take a left at the light,” and then I continued what I was saying. “I really shouldn’t say those things to you. I mean I don’t even know you. And yesterday I was just way out of line I mean really I shouldn’t have said those to you either. Who am I to tell you that I think your wife is an idiot and that you two don’t belong. I mean even if I do believe those things it doesn’t mean I should tell you that. I’m sure you’ve heard it enough before from other people, like you really need to hear it from a perfect stranger,” Oh my gosh Jennifer do you not know how to just shut up already?

“Perfect stranger indeed,” he said in a whisper.

“What did you say?” I asked.

“Oh nothing.”

“No tell me what did you say?”

“I was just saying that maybe I needed to hear it from a perfect stranger.”

“No that didn’t sound like it but you know what perhaps it’s best I don’t inquire because maybe I don’t wanna know. Since it’s apparent you don’t wanna tell me. I guess you just don’t want to tell me, must be something bad.”

“All right I said, ‘Perfect stranger indeed.’ Are you satisfied?”

“Immensely.”

[Baby_Girl89]

<span style="color:darkviolet">"Do you always get what you want?" he asked with the sound of amusement in his tone.

"Most of the time. So what did you mean by that? Okay actually this time I don't really wanna know. Your insinuations will just have to do with me."

"God is it ever refreshing to talk to someone with a brain."

"Oh Jess has a brain, it's apparent when watching the show. If she didn't then she wouldn't be able to function. Now whether or not she uses her mind on the other hand is a different matter completely."

"Oh a smart aleck I see."

"No I believe the term you're truly searching for is smart [arse]. Oh and to save you the trouble of finding out in the future, if there is a future for us, I'm also a royal pain in the [arse] [nice person] when I want to be."

"In the future, hmm I'm liking those odds."

"Okay is that like the only thing you caught? And take a left at this next light and just keep going straight."

He did as I told him as he answered the question. "No I heard more, but that was the only thing that mattered."

"So you don't mind that I can be a [nice person]?"

"Everyone can be a [nice person], it's a part of life. Lord knows Jessica can sure be one," he said his last comment so bitterly that it just seemed as if he were really regretting what he'd gotten himself into.

"I'm sorry. I take it she's been showing you a side you don't like? I certainly saw enough of it on the show."

"So you actually watched that crap, huh?"

"Um I wouldn't call it crap really. Maybe entertainment?"

"You found it entertaining?"

"I found it entertaining yes. And it was nice seeing the real side of you."

"So you like this?" he asked with a coy smile at a stop light.

I looked straight ahead and said, "Okay so just go straight here and you'll see the Harkins building and just take a turn into the parking lot for the building." I had to avoid the question somehow.

"All right got it so...you like the way that I am?"

"Can I plead the 5th?"

"See and Jess wouldn't even have known that," he said in amusement.

"Probably not, but you sure bring her up a lot don't you?"

"I haven't brought her up that much," he said turning into the parking lot.

"Well you've brought her up a few times, although they were pretty biting tones," I said as he parked the car.

"I'm sorry for all the times I brought her up. I guess there are some issues I still need to work out."

"I guess, and I know that you don't really know me but um," I took a huge sigh as I got ready to say what I was about to say," if you ever need someone I'll be here for you." I wish I knew why I offered.

"Really?" he asked sounding shocked and looking kinda happy. "I mean I have friends, but they just tell me most of the time that I made my bed and that I have to lie in it or something to that affect. I mean they try, but they just don't seem to get it I think."

"I'm really sorry for that."

"It's all right, it's not your fault. In fact I think meeting you yesterday has changed my luck," he said leaning toward me.

"Oh?" I asked leaning toward him as if there were some sort of magnetic force pulling us together.

"Yes," he replied, dangerously close to my lips.

I snapped myself out of it and pulled away, "Interesting Nick."

"Ahem," he let out, "yes I guess so. So shall we go to see the movie now?"

I looked at my watch and noted that it was getting close to the time of the movie. "Oh yeah I guess we better." But it seemed as if I was talking to myself because by the time I finished saying my line my door was open for me. "Oh thank you," I said as he extended his hand out to me like a gentleman. I took it and got out of the car.

I tripped, man do I get clumsy. He caught me in his arms, I looked up at him. He stared right back at me and then he finally broke our silence by saying, "Hehe gotcha," and he smiled at me. I felt like melting into his arms right then and there. Then I had to remind myself, Jennifer, he's not available.

"Could've fooled me," I said to myself under my breath.

"What did you say?" he asked me, as I straightened up.</span>

[Baby_Girl89]

<span style="color:darkviolet">"Oh nothing really, just mumbling to myself again. I have a tendency to do that. Just ignore me."

He just gave me this cute little look and said, "Sure whatever you say." Then he gave me a smile, "But to be honest," he started, before he moved closer to me, "you're a little hard to ignore."

I suddenly felt the car right behind me and he was just so close. His arms went up and sort of trapped me in between him and the car. So then I ducked underneath his arm and got out of the spot that I was in, "Hey so what do ya say we go watch the movie now?"

He shrugged his shoulders and said, "All right sure." Then he hurried up over to me. We got over to the box office or at least to the line leading to the box office and we just got silent. I kept looking over to him and he was just staring at me. Finally he asked me something, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Is that relevant?"

"It could be."

"To what?"

"To whether or not you still love me."

I placed my hand on my head and just shook it. Jenn you'll never learn will you? So are you gonna tell him the truth? I looked up at him and I said, "I plead the fifth."

"Spoil sport. Why can't you just tell me?"

"Why do you care if I love you or not? If I told you I did I could just say that I love you as much as I love the rest of 98 Degrees. So what would that have to do with whether or not I have a boyfriend?"

"I was just trying to do some small talk I'm sorry," he said as we got to the box office. "Two for The Italian Job," I heard him say.

"What? I thought..."

He got the tickets turned to me and said, "Well I realized that since I was the one that wanted to spend more time with you, I should buy the tickets."

"Yeah but..."

"No buts, now shall we milady?" he asked giving me his arm.

I cautiously took it, "I guess so. I just, I don't get it." We started walking and I gave a sigh as I said, "I'm sorry for my behavior earlier, I do't know why I got so huffy. No I don't have a boyfriend."

"Interesting," was all he said.

"After trying so hard to find out that's all you have to say?" by then we had gotten past the door person and I guess deciding on whether or not to go to the movie straight away or to get some stuff from concessions. Well I was still trying to figure out the man that was standing beside to be honest. And who knows maybe he was doing the same with me. But to everybody else we probably looked like we were deciding where to go or what to do.

"Yeah I guess so. So tell me do you want any snacks for the movie?"

"Yeah so you go along I'll be in there after I get something to drink and maybe some popcorn." What I couldn't expect him to get my movie snacks for me as well.

I was wrong apparently. "Why don't you go in and save us some seats and I'll get us something to drink and some popcorn and I'll be right in."

"No I can't let you do that."

"Why not?"

"Because then it..." what was I going to say? That it would sound too much like a date? No I couldn't tell him that. But then if I didn't where would I be?

"What?" he asked looking at me as we had somehow become immersed in a line leading to the concession stand.

"Um never mind. But really you should go save us the seats somewhere and I'll be right in as soon as I get my stuff."

"Oh no I can't let you do that."

"Why not? I'm just trying to buy my own snacks. You mean I'm not even allowed to buy my own snacks?"

"Yeah I guess that's what I'm saying."

"Man you are ridiculous," I said. And before I knew it we had somehow reached the front of the line.

"Hi, welcome to Harkins, how may I help you?" the lady behind the counter greeted.

"Hi, I would like a large popcorn and a large drink," Nick said.

"I'll take a souvenir cup."</span>

[Baby_Girl89]

<span style="color:darkviolet">"Wait," Nick said, then he turned to me, "What's the souvenir cup and why are you getting one when I already got a large drink for us?"

Okay I like knew the guy was cheap but jeez. "Well I [arse]umed that the drink that you had gotten was for you so of course I was gonna get my own drink, but I forgot I'm buying mine after you so sorry about that."

"No wait you still haven't told me what the souvenir cup."

"Well it's only best to get that if you plan on coming to this particular theater chain a lot throughout the year. But basically it's the same as a large," I began.

"Sorry to interrupt but it's really more a medium," the cashier said.

"Right okay it's a medium but it costs the same as the large, the difference is you get a dollar refills every time you refill when you bring the cup whereas the large gets you one refill the day you buy it."

"Huh," he sighed, "okay one souvenir cup."

"Will that be all?" she asked with a smile.

"I guess I'll be buying mine after him."

"Make that two souvenir cups then."

"All right what drinks would you like?"

"I'll take a root beer," I said.

"I'll have a Mr. Pibb," Nick said.

"All right coming up."

"Too bad there's no yoohoo huh," I said. I don't know why I did but it just came out.

"Well actually I haven't had that in a while but ya know did you think it was a little childish for that drink to be my favorite?"

"Eh, I did read somewhere that Mr. Pibb was your fave but no one else would listen to me."

"Well you were right. Where did you read it?"

"In that Bop mag where you guys did your handwritten stuff. I could barely read your handwritting when I first got it. But eventually I was able to read it like a pro, only took me what two or three times. I haven't looked at all of that stuff in a while though."

"Here you go," she said giving us our drinks and popcorn. "Will that be all for you today sir?"

Nick looked at me and said, "Do you want anything else?"

"And owe you more money? I don't think so."

"You won't owe me any money."

"This isn't the Nick I've seen."

"I guess that's a no then," he said turning to the girl.

"All right that'll be $11.25 sir." Nick handed her the money and started to take the popcorn and his drink.

Then I stood there and said, "Hi can I get a pretzel with some cheese?"

"Sure will that be all for you?"

"Yeah," I answered.

"All right that'll be $5.50," she said before she went off to get the pretzel and cheese. I digged in my purse for the money and Nick and placed his stuff down beside me and watched me order. When she came back and handed me my stuff he handed her a ten. I gave somewhat of a pout and we walked away with our stuff.

"Why didn't you say something about the pretzel before?"

"Because I just thought of it?" I asked.

"Come on the real reason?"

"I wanted to get something on my own. Nick I feel like I owe you so much now. I mean we barely know each other and here you go buying my ticket to see the movie, my drink, and my pretzel."

"Don't forget the popcorn," he said with a smile.

"Yes and the popcorn I suppose."

"Well don't worry about it, it's all on me for showing me a good time. I haven't had one in a while."

"You call going shopping and coming to see this movie with me a good time? Boy what have you been smoking?"

He gave a little laugh, "Nothing but I am getting high off of something."

"Um okay," I said as we reached the counter with the condiments and napkins and straws.

"So how much do you know about me?" he asked as we picked up some straws.

"Oh not much really, I don't know you?" I said trying to be a smart [arse] as we started walking toward the theater.

"Okay let's try this, how much book biography info do you know about me?"

"Does it really matter? And do you always grill your fans about how much they know about you?"

"Well most of them tell you right off the bat how much they know. I find it more fun when I get to ask the questions."

"Well why, may I ask you, do you wanna know how much I know about you? What will it prove?" Unfortunately we entered the theater before he could answer and we were suddenly thrown into looking for some seats. We had gotten there a good amount of time before the movie started however that there were still plenty open. The only thinkg was the only "centered" seats were at the very top, a whole empty back row in fact. I had to decide whether I really wanted the center seats or if I could take sitting elsewhere. Well I started moving to the back and hoped he wouldn't follow me. I know stupid, but then I just decided that they were seats like any other, it didn't mean anything, no matter what the rumors were.

When we finally sat down he just looked at me. I stared right back at him holding my ground, he was not gonna make a wimp out of me. "Why are you in so much pain?" he suddenly asked.

I was so taken aback by that, "What?"

"You put up this tough girl front but just looking into your eyes right now, I see this look of pain and misery, a look I recognize very well seeing as how I see it every time I look in the mirror."

"So you really aren't happy are you?"

"No, no I'm not. And on top of that..." his voice trailed and he finally looked away.

"What Nick?" I asked truly concerned.

"Never mind," he said quietly. Then he said, "I forgot the napkins, I'll go get some."

"No let me do it," I tried insisting.

"No, you stay put. I don't wanna lose you."

I wonder what he meant by that, as I watched him leave. What am I doing here? I thought. Then I started eating my pretzel numbly.</span>

[Angel~Eyes]

Great story!

I'd love to read more

[Raevengeance]

Ohhhhhhh Jennnnnn!

I want MORE - and I not a patient person! :P

[Baby_Girl89]

oh blah sissa :P.

[Raevengeance]

JENNIFER!!!!!!

I want MORE!

[Baby_Girl89]

:rolleyes:

[Raevengeance]

Stop rolling your eyes at me - and POST MORE!

[Baby_Girl89]

no

[Raevengeance]

I knew you didn't love me :( **cries**

[Baby_Girl89]

oh blah

[Raevengeance]

Jennifer

this story is feeling neglected - add more :P

[Baby_Girl89]

leave it alone it doesn't want to be finished since it's being neglected to be read :P.

[StargateGirl]

You need to add more in order for people to read it since they've read what has been posted so far. :P

[Raevengeance]

If you didn't neglect posting it - it wouldn't be neglected as far as reading is concerned Jenn :tongue:

So quit neglecting your story!

[Baby_Girl89]

whatever, it was neglected in the reading far before it was neglected in the writing so there :P.

[Raevengeance]

WRONG! ~ It was neglected in the POSTING/writing before it was neglected in the reading.

Now add more so it can quit feeling neglected :P

[Baby_Girl89]

whayever :P

[Raevengeance]

whayever?? WTF is dat?


And POST THIS STORY!

[Baby_Girl89]

it's the new whatever and no i have nothing to post.

[Raevengeance]

well get more then, silly

[Baby_Girl89]

no

[Raevengeance]

:'( why not? :'(

[Baby_Girl89]

'cause it was an idiotic story to begin with that's why.

[StargateGirl]

It is not an idiotic story.

[Raevengeance]

I knew you didn't wuv me :(

and It wasn't a 'idiotic story' as you want to claim. :'( :'( :'(

[Baby_Girl89]

it was too

[Raevengeance]

was not - and I saw someone else reading this story tonight - so you be good and post for all of us!

[Baby_Girl89]

whatever and i do not respond well to being treated like a dog thank you.

[Raevengeance]

Originally posted by Asian_Sensation@5/4/05, 08:41pm
whatever and i do not respond well to being treated like a dog thank you.
It's not whatever - and ~ it came out the wrong way ~

I meant you should be good to us readers and post more silly sissy

[Raevengeance]

Sisser - More would be greatly appreciated :)

[Raevengeance]

SISSER!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEEDS MORE!!!!!!!!!!!