Callie hesitated before saying, �AJ...I think you should call Michelle...she needs to be here.�

AJ nodded, and left the room. He returned after a few minutes looking deep in thought.

He sat down and all three waited in silence for Michelle to arrive. She slipped into the room 10 minutes after AJ had called her. Her eyes were red and her cheeks tear-stained.

Nick started to get up, but she shook her head at him.

�Nick...before Cally says what she�s going to say, I need to talk to you for a second.�

Nick stared at her quizzically, before getting up and following her out the door. Cally and AJ were left alone.

�Michelle? What�s going on?�

She took a deep breath. �Nick...� she began.

~~~~~~~~

Cally stared at AJ. He sighed.

�Look, Calista...I didn�t mean for it to happen this way...I�m really sorry and...�

She cut him off. �I know...I guess I should tell you something too...Nick came over this morning to talk about well, last night...and...uhhhh...I�m not even sure...he kissed me...�

AJ sighed again. �This relationship isn�t going to work is it?�

Cally shook her head. �I don�t think so...I do care for you...but we�re both in love with other people...you betrayed me by kissing her.�

AJ nodded. �I know. I�m sorry...but you kissed Nick. So, don�t blame this all on me!�

Cally stared at him angrily. �You are so impossible! What the hell is your problem? And just why was Michelle at your house anyway?�

AJ gave her a vicious glare. �I�m impossible! What about you? And Michelle was there because I went to her house and...�

�Oh! So you went to her house, huh? So, what happened AJ? Didja get lucky?�

�That was totally uncalled for!�

�Whatever.�

�That was really mean, Calista. She�s my best friend...I�m allowed to go and visit her, you know...and why was Nick at your house this morning? Did you and him jump in the sack for a little while?�

Calista stared at him. �If I wasn�t confined to this bed at the moment, I think I�d slap you.�

AJ rolled his eyes. �Yeah, I�m sure you would! You�d probably kill me too, huh? Then you and Nick could ride off into the sunset!�

�I cannot believe you just said that.�

AJ shrugged. �Sure.�

~Meanwhile~

Nick stared at her. �Are you going to tell me what�s wrong?�

Michelle swallowed. �Nick...we need to break up.�

�WHAT? Why???�

�I...�

�Michelle, I thought you said that you liked spending time with me.�

�Nick, I do. I love spending time with you but...�

�But what?�

�I...I don�t love you Nick...I care for you, but that�s as far as it goes...I�m so sorry.�

�Is there someone else?�

Michelle bit her lip. �Kind of...but I�m pretty sure he doesn�t want anything to do with me...he hates me.�

�Do you love him?�

Michelle thought about this. Then she nodded. �Yes. I love him.�

Nick sighed and got to his feet. �We better go see what Calista wanted to talk to us about.�

He turned and started walking, but then he turned back to face her. �Are you telling me that you�re in love with someone else?�

She sighed. �I guess...Nick...when I agreed to be your girlfriend, I did think I was in love with you...but what I feel for him...it�s more. It�s not fair to you, if we stay together. I�m sorry.�

Nick gave her a small smile. �Alright..but...do you think...can we still be friends? Or is that too hard?�

She shrugged. �People always say they�ll stay friends, but they rarely do.�

Nick shook his head. �I know...maybe this time it�ll be different.�

Michelle nodded. �Alright...I am sorry, Nick...you�re a really nice guy, and I didn�t mean for it to work out like this.�

She stood up and Nick hugged her. She gasped in pain.

�What�s wrong?� he asked, worried.

�Uhhh...nothing...I just...fell down the stairs this morning, and I�m still kinda sore.� She lied.

Nick gave her a strange look. �OK...�

He led her back to the room, his mind in a whirl. He thought he was in love with Michelle, or starting to fall...but that kiss with Calista that morning had made him start to think. �Wait a sec...that kiss was only a kiss...or did it mean more? And...I just broke up with my girlfriend...why aren�t I more upset?�

When they walked back in to the room, AJ was standing staring vacantly out the window, and Calista was staring at the ceiling. They all sat down, and Nick looked at Calista expectantly.

�What did you want to talk to us about?�