Chapter Two
Upon entering the house she was greeted with the smell of food. Set out on the table was foods of all kinds. Looking
around the kitchen Gianna spotted a girl whom she assumed was Kristin, Kevin’s wife, by the way he was kissing her neck.
Gianna cleared her throat for attention and Kevin turned around and smiled.
“From the look on your face, I didn’t think you were coming in.” He said laughing. Elise closed the French doors
behind her and laughed at what Kevin had said.
“Yeah well, I must meet the woman who has you head over heels in love and I want to see the rest of the guys. Could
someone turn that down?” Gianna asked bringing her hand up to her forehead.
“J!” Kevin screamed at the top of his lungs, “Turn it down!!” Kristin shook her head and held her hand out for
Gianna and Elise to shake.
“Why man??” AJ asked entering the kitchen. Spotting Gianna standing near the island in the center of the kitchen he
broke out into a smile. “You’re here!” He said making his way over to her. Pulling her towards him he wrapped his arms
around her in a squeeze. “You look so good!” he commented. Looking over Gianna’s shoulder he saw Elise and greeted her
warmly. Elise responded by blushing a little as AJ moved his eyes along her body taking her in. “Niiice.” He said embracing
her a little longer than Gianna. Pulling away Elise giggled hoping not to make her flirting seem too noticeable to
Gianna.
“Where are the others? D? Nick? Brian and Leigh?” Gianna quizzed Kevin and AJ.
“Um...Howie and Nick went for a walk on the beach to check out the place, and Brian and Leigh went grocery
shopping for more food.” AJ said patting his chin with his pointer finger as he answered.
“Oh I see.” Gianna answered.
“Where are our rooms??” Elise asked as she set her sunglasses and purse on the counter.
“Come on let’s get your bags and then I’ll show you your rooms.” AJ said as he grabbed each girl by an arm and
dragged them out the garage door. Music still echoed throughout the entire mansion, but was now muffled by the metal door
between the kitchen and garage. “Nice car.” AJ said as Gianna popped the trunk of the Mustang to retrieve her and Elise’s
bags. AJ, being the gentleman that he is lifted two of the bags and attempted to carry them into the house. He stopped half way
to adjust his grip. “What did you guys pack?? Rocks from your driveway???” Gianna shook her head and pointed to Elise as
she lifted her own bag out of the trunk and shut it.
“Those are mine.” Elise said laughing at the pained expression on AJ’s face. “And I packed clothes.”
“What kind of clothes?? Metal???” AJ asked as he lifted the bags again. His muscles flexed as he reached the door.
Tilting his head towards the barrier he motioned for Elise to open it for him. She did and he climbed the steps into the kitchen.
“Right this way ladies.” He said in a business-like voice. He climbed the two flights of stairs quite slowly with all the weight
from Elise’s bags, but made it to the second floor okay. “Alright I refuse to haul these bags any further so Elise, you are in
this room.” He said pointing the first door on the right. He expertly kicked the door open and heaved the bags on the floor just
inside the room.
“Thanks J.” Elise said as she dragged one of her bags to the bed where she used all her might to lift it and rest it on
the bed. Letting out a deep breath she began to unpack. AJ took the bag from Gianna and led her out of the room and down the
hall. Along the way he pointed out whose room was whose.
“Mine is right here next to Elise’s, this is Kevin and Kris’s, empty, Rok and Leigh’s, empty, D’s, Nick’s and empty.
So choose an empty one. Might I advise you not to pick the one between the married couples...just warning. You may hear
naughty things.”
“I think I’ll go next to Nick.” Gianna said laughing. AJ opened her door for her and set her bag down by the bed.
“Make yourself at home. Come on down whenever you’re done.” He said giving her a smile as he left the room. Flopping down
on the queen size bed Gianna admired her choice of room. The walls were a soft blue and there were crisp white curtains
draped on the windows. The bright sunshine was peaking through the curtains creating a soft glow in the room. The floor was
polished wood and over that were a few throw rugs in pastel colors that matched the light green bedspread. On one side of the
room there was a huge walk in closet and on the other there was a dresser and a make-up table with a mirror. In the middle of
the wall there was a door leading to some unknown place. Becoming intrigued, Gianna stood, made her way across the floor
and opened to door. She was greeted by a huge luxurious bathroom complete with a whirlpool tub and a walk-in shower. The
vanity was gorgeous marble and had two sinks with a huge mirror surrounded with lights. On the opposite wall there was yet
another door. Opening that door, Gianna found herself in Nick’s bedroom. ‘Interesting..sharing a bathroom with Nick.’
Gianna thought to herself. Closing the door to his room and then the door to the bathroom, Gianna began to
unpack.
“Hey G!” Elise yelled from outside Gianna’s closed bedroom door.
“Huh?” Gianna asked opening the door to find Elise glowing in the hall.
“Doesn’t this place rule? Lemme see your room. Wow, this is beautiful!” Elise commented as she pushed her way
past Gianna. I love the view you have! I have a view of the street, which sucks, but I love the room. Come look!” The two made
their way down the hall to Elise’s room. The room was beautiful. The walls were a soft purple, Elise’s favorite color, and the
floor, also, was wood. She had a gigantic bed covered in pillows of all shapes and sizes. She too had a walk-in closet which
was already packed full of clothes. There was also a door leading to what Gianna assumed to be a bathroom. She pointed to it
and raised a questioning eyebrow at Elise. “Bathroom...I have to share it with AJ. Weird.”
“Yeah I know, I’m sharing with Nick.” Gianna stated giving Elise a distasteful look.
“What? You don’ t like him or something?”
“No, acutally, I never got to know him really well. He’s always had this girlfriend, Angela something or other when I
have seen him, so he’s kind of preoccupied. I have never really sat down and talked to the guy before.”
“Really? I thought you were really close to these guys.”
“I am...just not with him.” Gianna said shrugging her shoulders.
“Hm..well you have all summer. No one’s mentioned Angela since we got here, so maybe they broke up. Now you can
get to know him.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Gianna said turning to leave. “I’m gonna go finish unpacking. Nice room” She said leaving and
heading back to her room. Just as she was placing her tank tops in her dresser drawer she heard movement in the bathroom.
Knocking lightly she heard a quiet reply saying she could come in. Opening the door she found herself face to face with Nick
Carter shirtless and sweaty.
“Hi Gianna.” he said giving her a smile. “We’re sharing I guess.” he said as he chucked his dirty muscle shirt in the
corner.
“Hey Nick, yeah I guess we are. Good to see you.” she said to his chest rather than his face. He had nice pecs...and
nice abs..Gianna noticed as she moved her gaze downward. As she hit the waist band of his shorts she snapped her face
towards his.
“You too. Hey, I’d give you a hug but I’m a little sweaty, I don’t want to get you all smelly.” he said flashing her a
huge smile that for some reason made her heart jump.
“It’s okay. I’ll let you shower. If you want to talk or something later just knock.” Gianna replied as she turned back
into her room. Closing the door she leaned back on it. ‘Man I really do need to find a guy. Look what is going on. I get here
anticipating romance and the first guy I see shirtless makes me go weak.’ she thought laughing. She would have to get used to
shirtless men. There were going to be quite a few of them visiting their beach house. Apparently AJ was planning a barbecue
once a week to which he invited many of his male and female acquaintances to. Joy.
Half and hour later there was a knock at the door. Standing in the middle of the room Gianna tried to decipher from
which door the knock had come. The bathroom? Or the bedroom? Picking one she made her way over to the bedroom door and
flung it open to find an empty hall. She then walked over to the bathroom door and opened that finding Nick showered and
dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt, leaning against the door frame.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Gianna replied as she moved aside to let Nick into her room.
“I liked this room.” Nick said thoughtfully as he made himself comfortable on the bed. Obviously noticing the
puzzled look plastered on Gianna’s face he responded quickly. “Is it okay that I sit here?”
“Uh, yeah sure.” Gianna replied realizing that she was looking at Nick strangely.
“Good, just wanted to make sure. So anyways, I liked the colors of this room, but it was too girly. You know? I really
have no need for a make-up mirror.” he said pointing to the well stocked table.
“I hope not.” Gianna said laughing lightly. Nick smiled.
“So Gianna...do you have a nickname? Gianna is a very pretty name but I feel like I’m using a formal
name.”
“G.”
“G? Okay G, we have never really talked have we?”
“Nope.” Gianna said as she continued to unpack the rest of her shirts and place them in the dresser.
“Tell me about yourself then.” Nick said pulling a pillow onto his lap so he could rest with his elbows on the pillow
as he watched Gianna’s movements.
“Okay...” Gianna began apprehensively, “I’m 20-”
“Me too! Sorry continue.” Nick said smiling shyly.
“I am from Miami originally, but I go to Harvard now. Basically I’m home 3 months out of the year. When I am
home I live with my best friend, Elise, you know her.” Nick nodded as she went on. “I..um...I have a brother?”
“Cool. Harvard huh? Smarty.”
“Yeah, I guess. I studied all through high school, so I could get into a good college. Guess it worked
out.”
“Apparently. So..any boyfriend or ahem girlfriend waiting for you back at Harvard?” Gianna giggled.
“No boyfriend, and hell no girlfriend.” she said tossing the last of the shirts in the drawer and closing it. She walked
over to the bed and plopped down at the end. Nick shifted so he was facing her.
“You don’t go that way?”
“Nope.”
“Just had to make sure.” Nick said apologetically.
“No, no, it’s okay, you have to find out these days. You never know.”
“Yeah. So..anything else you can tell me?”
“Not that I can think of..your turn.”
“Okay where to start....um..I have three sisters and a brother. My family lives in California but I own a house in
Tampa, Florida-”
“Wait...I last time I checked you were living in Cali..”
“Yeah I was, but I hated it out there. My family was there, yes, but I love Florida too much, so I moved back.
Um...I’m in a music group.” he stated as Gianna rolled her eyes at him. He laughed and continued. “I love basketball,
football, hockey. I play the drums...”
“Pets?” Gianna asked.
“Pugs, many of them.”
“Where are they?”
“Home, I didn’t want them to be barking all the time here.”
“Favorite color?”
“Oh god that question!!” Gianna backed away in surprise. “Sorry,” he said in a calm voice, “I get asked that all the
time. Green.”
“Alrighty. Note to self, stay away from possible reporter questions.” Gianna stated.
“No. I want you to ask me anything. Sorry.” Nick said smiling at her.
“Girlfriend?”
“Nope.” Nick said.
“Uh..boyfriend?” Gianna asked smiling at him.
“Well...” Gianna’s mouth fell open, “Nope, no.” Nick said laughing at her expression. “Had ya goin
huh?”
“Oh shut up.” Gianna said hitting him lightly on the arm.
“You’re pretty cool, G.” Nick said as he smiled at her.
“You too Nick.” Gianna replied. “I never got a chance to know you when I was around you guys before.”
“Yeah I realized that when we were planning this summer. I know Elise enough to share a house with her, but
you...you I had no idea what you were like.”
“I know, same here.”
“I was always away from the group, with..um...Angela.” he said quietly. “But! That’s over now, thank God, and I
have moved on. Best thing I have ever done, breaking up with Angela.”
“What happened?”
“That, is for another time. Considering we’re sharing a house, not to mention a bathroom, we will most likely
become extremely close, so I will tell you the tale of heart break some other time. Right now, I smell hot-dogs on the grill and I
am beginning to get hungry so shall we??” He asked standing up and stretching.
“Sure.” Gianna said following him out the door. Passing Elise’s room Gianna spotted her and AJ talking. At least
Elise was close to the guys too. Less time Gianna needed to spend getting her acquainted with them. Gianna and Nick headed
down the stairs and outside to the patio just out the French doors. The smell of food was salivating. The summer was suddenly
looking up now...
Chapter Three
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