That night Calista had a dream that she and Nick were on a date. He had taken her to a really nice restaurant and had fabulous food and danced to beautiful music. When the night was over, he drove her home and walked her to her front door. They kissed. Softly at first and then deepening into the most passionate kiss she had ever had. When they pulled away Nick was smiling, only she wasn�t herself anymore, she was Michelle. They kissed again, even more passionately than the first time. This time when they pulled away, it was Calista that was standing there, right in front of AJ.
�Oh shit!� Calista woke up in a cold sweat. She was breathing a little heavy and her heart was beating faster than usual. She looked at the clock. It was 5:33. She tried to go back to sleep but she couldn�t. She got up out of bed and dressed. She put on Adidas running shorts and a loose Adidas top. She left a note on the refrigarator and then went out. She thought a good run would help her clear her thoughts.
After half an hour of running she was still confused, if not more. She turned around and headed back. Without even realizing it, she took a different path and then was faced with the street Nick�s house was on. She stopped dead in her tracks. She thought about it and started running even faster. She had almost completely passed his house when she heard her name being called.
�Cally!� She stopped and turned around. Nick was jogging up to her.
�Geez! You looked like you were running for dear life there. What�s up?�
�Nothing. I had this really wiggy dream that woke me up and I couldn�t go back to sleep. So I decided to get some exercise. Why are you up this early?�
�I couldn�t really sleep either. I am so excited about my date tonight with Michelle.� He had this stupid grin on his face and he looked like he was floating on air.
�You really like her, don�t you?� She tried not to sound disappointed.
�Yeah. I kinda wanted to talk to you about it.� She gave him a puzzled look.
�Why do you want to talk to me about it?�
�Well because you�re a girl,�
�Obviously.�
�You�re my best friend. And I need some advice.�
�Okay.�
They walked back to his house and sat down on the couch in the living room.
�Do you want something to drink?� He asked.
�No I�m fine. So, what did you need advice on?�
�Well, I�m taking her to the movies tonight and I�m kinda nervous.�
�Nervous about what?�
�Well, that I�m gonna act like a total looser and she�ll think I�m a total dork and never want to see me again.� He said it very fast all in one breath.
�Wow, Nick calm down. Look, just be yourself. If she doesn�t like you for the real you, then it just wasn�t meant to be. Just act normal and if she cant� accept you for who you are then that�s her loss. I�m sure she�ll see what a great guy you are and you�ll have a wonderful time.�
�I feel so much better. Thanks Cally.� He gave her a friendly hug. She sighed. �That�s what friends are for.� Just then her beeper went off. She pulled away and looked down at it.
�Can I use your phone? I gotta call my mom.�
�Sure. You know where it is.�
�Thanks.�
She got up and dialed her number. �Hi mom�At Nick�s�What? Who�s going to take me to practice?�Alright�No, I�m going out tonight�AJ�Yeah he�s one of Nick�s friends�Okay. Bye.�
She hung up the phone and sat back down on the couch.
�Hey Nick, are you doing anything this afternoon?�
�I don�t think so. Why?�
�My mom is going out of town for the day and I need a ride to gym practice. So you think you can take me?�
�Sure. What time?�
�Ten. It�s going on seven now, I should probably get going.�
�Wait a sec. So did I hear you say that you were going somewhere with AJ tonight?� He had a weird look on his face. Too weird to distinguish.
�Yeah. He called me up last night and asked if we could get together tonight.�
�Oh, that�s cool.�
Was there disappointment in his voice? Na, forget it Cally, he likes someone else, not you.
�So, I�ll see you later. Pick me up at about 9:45.�
�Okay, bye.�
~~~~~~ Later on that day ~~~~~~~
It was 9:30. Calista had just put on her leotard when the phone rang.
�Hello?�
�Hi Cally. Listen I�m really sorry but something important came up and I can�t drive you to practice.�
�What?� She yelled. �So who�s supposed to take me?�
�Well, ask AJ. I�m sure he�ll take you.�
�I don�t have his phone number.�
He quickly gave her AJ�s phone number and then said good bye and hung up the phone.
�Great!� She was really mad at Nick. How could he just cancel out on her like that? She dialed AJ�s number.
�Hello?� He mumbled. It sounded like he had just woken up.
�Hi AJ this is Calista. Did I wake you up?�
�Not really. I�ve been up for ten minutes. What�s up?�
She proceeded to tell him how Nick canceled on her on her the last minute and asked him if he could please drive her to her practice.
�Okay, I�ll be right over.�
Ten minutes later he pulled up into her driveway. She was sitting out on her front steps and then jumped in the car as soon as he pulled up.
�Hi, okay we kinda have to hurry �cause Julie hates it when you�re late.�
�Who�s Julie?�
�My coach.�
She gave him the directions and they got there a few minutes later. She quickly ran into the gym, took off her shorts and dropped her stuff where the parents were sitting. Then she sprinted to the floor where the other girls were stretching. AJ came in a little later and sat down where Calista threw her stuff.
~~~~~~ Half an hour later ~~~~~~~
�Alright girls. Calista is going to do her floor routine for us. I changed some of it to accommodate her height and now she�s going to show everyone.�
�I am? I don�t know.�
�Come on Calista!� all the girls said at the same time. �Okay, but let me go get a drink of water first.�
She walked off the floor and over to her stuff and AJ.
�So. You�re going to perform for us?!� He said it in a really goofy way and she couldn�t help but laugh.
�Sort of. The thing is, the girls kinda tease me every now and then because I know THE Nick Carter fron the Backstreet Boys, so they sort of made me make up a routine to one of your songs. They�ve met him and everything, but earlier they were teasing me because you were here.�
�I thought a couple of them had looked at me kinda funny.�
�Yeah, well don�t be surprised if they ask you for your autograph. They already teased me about being your girlfriend.�
�Come on Cally!�
�I gotta go. I think you�ll like the routine.� With that said, she jogged off and met the other girls.
Girlfriend? He thought to himself.
A minute later, the music for �Everybody� blasted out of the boom box. Calista started dancing and doing a bunch of flips and turns. Oh my god! I didn�t know anyone could be that flexible! AJ thought to himself. Even though she was dancing to a fast song, all her moves were graceful and done with care. Her last tumbling pass was the new one she had been working on, the round-off, flip-flop, flip-flop, double layout into a front punch, round-off, layout, layout, double sommersault. When she finished everyone applauded. She flashed AJ a killer smile, then the regular lesson continued.
For the entire gymnastics lesson, AJ never once thought about Michelle. All he thought about now was the girl that was tubling in her blue leotard in front of him.
Crystal wrote this chapter. E-mail her questions and/or comments at