[[ Friends Forever ]]

A week later, the bus pulled into the parking lot at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum. I was so excited I could barely walk. Nick and I went into the coliseum and looked around. It was the time of the local fair, and there were exhibits set up everywhere. We wandered around and I dragged him into the arts and crafts section, knowing my mother would have several things on exhibit. Sure enough, I managed to find six.

After that, we went out to the midway and wandered around for a while. " I'll be right back, " Nick said, headed off toward a bathroom. " Me, too, " I said, laughing and turning to go to a food booth. Hmm... no chocolate, that'll make me get fat. No popcorn, it gets stuck in my teeth. Cotton candy makes me sick to my stomach. Ah, who cares about fat. I want some of that fudge! I thought, then told the vendor what I wanted.

When Nick came back, he couldn't help but laugh. " Can you go a day without chocolate? " he teased. I shook my head, swallowing a bite of fudge. " No. It's an addiction, " I said. We walked around for a little while longer, looking at all the different things to do. " Oh, shit! " I exclaimed suddenly. " What's wrong? " Nick asked. " Come on! " I cried, grabbing his hand and practically dragging him to the other end of the fairgrounds.

When I got to the door of the animal barns, I stopped. " What was that all about? " Nick asked, looking at me oddly. " I spotted my ex! " I said. " So what, " Nick said. " Not so what! You think I want to talk to the asshole? " I asked. My mouth was getting worse day by day. Just then someone tapped my shoulder. I spun around and looked right into the face of Jason.

" Um... uh... hi, Jason, " I said slowly. " Hi, Nikki, " he said. " What are you up to? " I asked. " Just out looking for something to do, " he said. " Oh... cool, " I mumbled. " Who's your friend? " he asked, nodding at Nick. I put my arm around Nick and leaned my head on his shoulder. " This is my sweetie, Nick, " I said. A look of understanding came over Jason's face.

" Oh... hello, Nick, " Jason said. " Hi... Jason, " Nick said slowly. I could already tell they didn't like each other. " Listen, we've got to go. We've got rehearsal for tonight's performance, " I said quickly, hoping to change the subject. " Okay. I'll see you later, " Jason said. As Nick and I walked away, I muttered under my breath, " Not on your life. "

The truth was, I really just didn't want the two to get in a fight. And knowing Jason's normal jealousy of just about everything, I knew it would happen. Nick and I walked around the fairgrounds for a little while longer, then went back to the coliseum to get ready for rehearsal. The soundcheck blasted loud and clear when we walked through the door. The banging of the drums and sounds from a guitar met our ears.

" Aagh! " I exclaimed, plugging my ears.

After rehearsals, we all went to lunch at McDonalds. Then we went to my old house. " In a few minutes you're going to meet your ' kids, ' " I said to Nick. He laughed. The bus stopped at the gas station at the end of the street, since there was nowhere on my street to park. We got out and ran to my house. I rushed through the door. " Hey, everyone! " I yelled. LeAnn, Bobby, and my mom all appeared at the end of the hallway.

" Nikki! " LeAnn exclaimed, running up and hugging me. She saw Nick and suddenly turned shy. Bobby hid behind mom. I laughed. " Oh, come on, you guys. This is Nick, " I said. LeAnn looked at him for a minute, then spoke. " H... hi, " she stammered. Nick smiled at her. " Hey. You must be LeAnn, " he said warmly. She nodded, too shy to speak.

" Come on, everybody. Stop acting like statues, " I said, going over and picking four-year-old Bobby up. I lifted him high up in the air, and he giggled uncontrollably. " How's the little Bobby-man? Have you been good for mommy? " I asked. " Yes, " he said in his adorable little voice. I smiled. " That's good. You haven't been causing mommy any grief, have you? " I asked. He shook his head. I laughed and set him back down.

He ran back to mom and hid behind her again. " Come here, Bobby, " I said, squatting down on the floor. He ran to me and jumped into my arms. I stood back up and went over to Nick. " Nick, this is Bobby. Bobby, this is Nick, " I said. " Nick, " Bobby said. Nick smiled. " Isn't he adorable? " I asked. Nick agreed.

I set Bobby back down, and he sat down on the floor in front of me. " Sissy, " he said. We all laughed.

" LeAnn... don't even go there, " I said. She looked at me. " Go where? " she asked. Mom pushed her forward. " Come here, " I said. She slowly inched her way over to me, too shy to say anything. I was surprised. She was normally really talkative and social. " LeAnn, this is Nick. Nick, this is my sister LeAnn, " I said. " Hi, LeAnn. I've heard a lot about you, " he said. She looked at him, wide-eyed. " You... have? " she asked at last. Nick nodded and smiled at her. " Yeah. Your sister adores you. She talks about you a lot, " he said.

LeAnn looked at me, then back at Nick. " She doesn't say anything bad, does she? " she asked. I had to laugh. At least she was overcoming her shyness. " Nope. Everything she says is good, " Nick replied.

LeAnn smiled. " Cool, " she said. " Justin, get your butt over here, " I said. He bounded over from where he was playing a video game in the living room. " 'Sup, everyone? " he asked.

We all laughed. Justin was never shy. " Justin, this is Nick. Nick, this is my other little brother, Justin, " I said. " Hi, Nick! " Justin said enthusiastically. " Hey, Justin! What game were you playing? " he asked. I laughed. Nick loved video games, and I knew he'd get along great with Justin. " Mortal Combat, " Justin replied. " Cool! " Nick exclaimed.

For a while, everyone just sat around in the living room talking and catching up on what had happened while I was gone. " We've got a show in about twenty minutes. We've got to get going, " I said after about two hours. " We'll be down at the show, " mom said. " Okay, we'll see you there, then, " I said.

" Okay. See you guys later. " Mom hugged Nick and I, and then walked with us to the door.

" Okay, everyone! This is our hometown, and we want everyone to know how proud we are of it! This one is for ya'll! " Harmony said into her microphone as we started our last song. I heard the beat, and immediately started dancing around. When I scooted back into the shadows for a few seconds, Nick was standing at the edge of the curtain. He smiled at me and shot me a thumbs up.

I grinned back at him and danced back out into the light. Not paying attention to the fact that Harmony was singing different words than we normally did, I broke out in my part singing the normal words. When she looked at me funny, it took me a minute to realize what I did. Then I tried to cover up my mistake by making it look like it was supposed to be like that. The song ended and we went backstage, and Harmony started to lecture me.

" Why did you do that? You sang the wrong verse completely! " she said angrily. " Sorry! I wasn't paying attention! No one will know the difference, " I said. " Bull! That verse didn't go with it at all! " she snorted. " Oh freaking well! Deal with it! " I retorted. With that, I turned and went to find Nick.

He was getting a drink before going onstage. " Nick, I'm going to kill Harmony. She's forever trying to do something to piss me off, and lately, it's been working, " I said, kicking my shoes off and flinching when one hit the wall of the lounge. Nick ducked when the other sailed past him. " Whoa! Hold on! Calm down! " he exclaimed.

" No! Damn her! Where does she get off thinking she's my boss? I'd really like to know! Because whoever told her that is going to get their ass kicked! " I cried. Just then, Howie wandered through the door.

" What's going on in here? " he asked. " Nothing! " I shouted, storming out of the room. Nick shrugged at Howie and took off after me.

" Nikki! Wait up! " he called, running after me. I kept going, running as fast as I could. The door was right there. I didn't realize it was locked. " Unh! " I grunted when I slammed into it. Sobbing, I fell to the floor.

Nick ran up to me and picked me up. " Nikki! Shh... calm down! " he said, holding onto me and trying to comfort me.

But I struggled to get away and when I was free, I slammed myself against the wall. " Damn it, damn it, damn it, " I muttered, choking back sobs. " Come on, Nikki. Calm down. Shh, " Nick said, taking me in his arms again. This time I didn't try to go anywhere. I just stood there crying on his shoulder.

" Are you okay? " Nick asked me when I'd stopped crying. I sniffed, but nodded. " Yeah... I'll be fine. I need to go wash my face, " I said. He led me to the bathroom and waited by the door until I came out.

" There. All better, " he said, his voice soothing me. We went to the sidestage area and waited for the Backstreet Boys to be introduced. When they were, Nick looked at me and smiled before going out onstage.

I watched Nick intently while he performed with the rest of the guys, and from time to time, he'd look back and smile at me. Every song was one I knew, and I sang along quietly. Then something surprised me.

" The next song is not normally part of our set, but tonight is special and we're going to do this one. I'd also like to call Nikki Marie Fowler out onstage, " Nick said.

He turned and looked at me, and I looked back at him in surprise. He motioned for me to come out, and I walked out slowly, wondering what was going on. Nick walked up to me and took my hand. Slow music came on, and in a few seconds, I recognized the song. Nick held my hand and sang the entire song to me, and I couldn't help but cry.

Open up your heart to me
And say what's on your mind
I know that we have been through so much pain
But I still need you in my life this time

And I need you tonight
I need you right now
And I know deep within my heart
It doesn't matter if it's wrong or right
And I see Heaven in your eyes

I figured out what to say to you
Sometimes the words come out all wrong
And I know in time you will understand
That what we had is so right this time

I need you tonight
I need you right now
I know deep within my heart
It doesn't matter if it's wrong or right
I see Heaven in your eyes

All those endless times we tried
To make it last forever more
And baby I know I need you

I know deep within my heart
It doesn't matter if it's wrong or right
I see Heaven

I need you tonight
I need you right now
I know deep within my heart
It doesn't matter if it's wrong or right
Cause I see Heaven in your eyes

When the song was over, I had tears pouring down my face. Nick hugged me tightly. " I love you, Nikki, " he whispered to me. " Oh, Nick! I love you, too, " I whispered back. After a minute or so, we pulled apart and I turned to leave the stage. As I walked into the shadows, Nick said to the crowd, " That was special for Nikki, because I really do see Heaven in her eyes. "

I watched the rest of the show from backstage, and when Nick came back again, I threw my arms around him and hugged him. He tilted my face up to his and kissed me. We stood there in the darkness, locked together, and lost track of time. Amanda finally came up to me and tapped on my shoulder. " Are we going to go back to your house tonight, or are we planning on waiting a week? " she asked. Nick and I laughed.

When we did finally make it back to my house, it was almost midnight. " We've been back for like half an hour! Where have ya'll been? " mom asked. " I had to pry these two apart, " Amanda said to her, nodding at Nick and I. Mom laughed when she saw us. I'd gotten awfully tired, and had fallen asleep on Nick.