Later that evening, the whole group was still over at Jonathan's house, still in the pool, and still partying.
"So Jonathan, what made you decide to have a cook out on such short notice?" Cassandra asked him.
"Um, I dunno." Then he whispered to her. "Just something to get our minds off of Andrew."
"Oh," said Cassandra. "Hey, do you have any chapstick?"
"No, sorry."
"Hey Isabella, come with me!" Cassandra called.
"Where are we going?" Isabella yelled jumping out of the pool.
"To our house. I need to get some chapstick."
"Oh, okay. Let's go!"
They walked through Jonathan's house, across the street and into their house.
"Where's your Vanilla chapstick?"
"It's in my room. I'll go get it," said Isabella running up the stairs.
"Thanks-" She stopped when she heard the doorbell rang. She opened the door and saw a delivery guy with a long box in his hands.
"Are you Cassandra Malvern?"
"Yes. Actually now it's Cassandra Carter."
"Um, okay these are for you." He handed her the long box. "Sign here please." Cassandra signed on the line.
"Thank you," she said and closed the door.
"Hey what's that?" Isabella asked coming down the stairs.
"I think it's from Nick!" said Cassandra smiling. "It's a rose box! Oh I miss him so much!" Cassandra opened the card and read it, then gasped.
"Open it! Open it!" squealed Isabella. Cassandra opened the box and gasped again. "What is it? What?"
"They're not from Nick. They're all dead. Dead roses." Cassandra dropped the box on the ground then threw the card on top of them.
"What does it say?"
"It says, 'Remember Emalia? She was supposed to die. You're next Sweetie.'"
"Oh God. Who could have sent them?"
"Probably the person who did that to Emalia. Lucy."
"No, it couldn't have been her."
"Why not? She said that her and Austin planned it and that she beat up Emalia."
"She knows that she could never take you on, especially since Nick is always with you."
"Maybe, but Nick isn't here now is he? Besides, what about Bobby?"
"It couldn't have been him. How would he find out about Emalia? He has no motive to kill Emalia or you-"
"And anyone else does?" This caught Isabella by surprise.
"You know what? I'm gonna call Mercedes and Brian right now. You're going to stay with them for a while. And I'm gonna call Nick and tell him to get his butt back here now-"
"No Isabella. Don't call Nick. I'm sure that this is nothing, and I'm sure that he's on his way home any day now. His friend really needs him right now. I'll be all right without him for a day," Cassandra tried to reassure her sister. Isabella was not convinced, and neither was Cassandra. Isabella only went along with it because she didn't want to start a fight.
"Okay. But I'm calling Mercedes right now. Go upstairs and pack some stuff." Cassandra did as she was told, and Isabella went over to the phone and called Mercedes.
Mercedes said that it would be fine, and when Cassandra came back downstairs, Isabella told her to leave right away.
"I'll be okay, Bella!" said Cassandra.
"You can never be too careful. I've learned that all too well."
"I know. I guess I'll see you later."
"Bye, Cassie." She watched as Cassandra got into her car, and drove off. Then, going against Cassandra's wishes, she went over to the phone, and called Nick at his house. "Hmm, no answer." She hung up and tried his cell phone.
"Hello?"
"Nick! Hey, where are you?" Isabella asked.
"I'm still at the hospital, why?"
"When are you coming back?"
"I dunno. Maybe in, like, four days or so. Kim's a lot better. Why? Does everyone miss me already?" He laughed but Isabella didn't.
"You're wife needs you. She got a dozen dead roses and a card that said, 'Remember Emalia, she was supposed to die, you're next Sweetie.' We think it could either be from Lucy, or from Bobby. She told me not to call you because she said that you would probably be home in a day. Now I'm glad that I called you."
"I am too. Just give me until tomorrow night. I'll be back then but don't tell Cassie. I have a surprise for her."
"Okay. I'll try and get her home before then."
"Why, where is she?"
"After those roses and that card, I sent her up to Mercedes and Brian's for a while, at least until you come back."
"Oh. Then in that case, I'll try to be back in the afternoon."
"K, bye."
Isabella hung up, and dialed Mercedes and Brian's number.
"Hello?" said Brian.
"Hey, it's Isabella. Is Cassie there yet?"
"Actually she's just pulling into the driveway right now."
"Good, make sure that she comes home tomorrow afternoon."
"Why? I thought you wanted her up here for a while because of that whole note and roses thing?"
"I don't want her to put you out any, and Nick is going to come home tomorrow."
"She isn't putting us out any. It'll actually be fun having someone to talk to. Oh, he is coming back tomorrow? That's good."
"Yeah, but don't tell her that he is. I wasn't supposed to tell anyone, but you're his best friend. He said that he had a surprise for her. I don't know what it is, but if Nick says that he has a surprise for her, it's probably something great. So make sure that she's back at least by four thirty tomorrow."
"Okay, will do."
"Thanks Brian."
"Anytime. See ya."
"Bye."
Isabella decided that she should probably go back to Jonathan's before anyone started to worry. She walked across the street and into Jonathan's house. When she walked into the backyard, they had loud dance music on and everyone was going wild.
"Hey where's Cassie?" Emalia yelled over the music.
"She's up at Mercedes and Brian's. Don't ask!" yelled Isabella. She started to join her friends in pushing people in the pool that still had their clothes on.
The next afternoon, Brian was sitting on the couch reading. Mercedes had gone to the store, and Cassandra wasn't up yet. He looked at the clock.
"Oh my gosh! It's three thirty. Isabella told me to have Cassie back at four thirty! It's gonna take her an hour to get home!"
Just then, he saw Cassandra come down the stairs, carrying her suitcase. "Hey, good afternoon Cassie."
"Yeah, hey Brian. I think that I'm gonna go back home-"
"I think that's a good idea. It'll take an hour for you to get home anyway."
"You seem like you're trying to get rid of me already!"
"No, I just think that you're right."
"Thank you for everything. And when Mercedes gets back from where ever, tell her I said thank you."
"I will." Cassandra went and hugged Brian. She gave him a peck on the cheek, and grabbed her suitcase.
"Thanks for being there for me."
"Anytime. Don't mention it."
Cassandra smiled then walked out of the door, and started on her way home.
As four thirty rolled around, Isabella started to pace the kitchen.
"What's wrong?" Emalia asked her.
"Nick called this morning and said that he'd probably be back around four. I made sure that Cassie would be back at four thirty! He's not here yet and neither is she. Where is she?"
"Hear that? It's a car-"
"Oh I hope that's her!" Isabella rushed out of the house and saw Nick getting out of a cab. "Nick! You're back!" She ran up to him. "I love your hair, what'd you do to it?" His hair was parted down the center and fell down at an angle just above his ears.
"I had it cut," he said giving her a confused look.
"Cool, I love it!"
"Um yeah. Where's Cass?"
"She's not back yet, but she should be any second-" Isabella looked down to the end of the road. "There's her car. Quick, get inside!" Her and Nick rushed into the house, almost running into Emalia.
"Nick!" Emalia said.
"Emalia!" Nick said, mimicking her. Emalia was going to say something, but they saw the doorknob turn. Cassandra walked in carrying her suitcase, and looking down at the ground. She closed the door, but when she looked up, she saw Nick. She didn't even notice Isabella or Emalia. Cassandra didn't say anything, she just dropped her suitcase and ran to his arms. He hugged her tight, then moved away a little to look at her.
"Isabella told me the story. You know, about the roses." His gaze held hers for a very long moment, then he pulled her back to him and kissed her. A solid, promising kiss that told her she didn't have to be scared anymore.
"Nick, that note, the roses-" She stopped.
"It's all right, it's all right. I will never, ever let anything happen to you."
"I feel safe when you're here, but when you're gone-"
"I know and I'm sorry."
"Hey, I love your hair."
Nick laughed. "Thanks. Hey, let's go out tonight."
"What?"
"To get our minds off of things. I wanna take you somewhere fancy, with a dance floor so I can hold you in my arms all night."
"Nick, you always know just what to say to make me feel better. Now go pick a dress that I'd like."
"You mean to tell me, that if I wear clothes, you'll like them?" She grinned.
"Ha ha, very funny," Nick said. "Just for now!" he added.
"K, but only if your wear clothes that I actually like. No Phat Farm!"
"Not to where I'm taking you."
"Where?"
"It's a surprise. And I have a surprise for you!"
"Tell me! What surprise?"
"I'm not telling you! All of my good clothes are in my room. So I'll be back." He gave her a kiss and walked over to his house. Isabella touched Cassandra's shoulders. Cassandra jumped not knowing that she had been there the whole time.
"Let me help you," said Isabella. "And don't even think about asking me what the surprise is because he wouldn't tell me either."
"Oh, yeah. Clothes, hair, make up. Uh huh, let's go," said Cassandra. Her and Isabella went up to her room, followed by Emalia.
"Hey Emalia, I gotta tell you something," Cassandra said. Isabella gave her a look.
"What?"
"You know that night that you were beat up-"
"Cassandra don't," said Isabella.
"Yeah, why? How could I forget?"
"It was Lucy. Her and Austin planned it." Emalia looked at her and blinked a couple of times.
"What?"
"It's true."
Emalia fell back on Cassandra's bed. "How did I get beat up by Lucy? How?"
"Only because it was dark and you didn't see it coming," said Isabella.
"But by Lucy? Oh boy. I'll kill her!"
"Not yet," said Cassandra.
"Why not?" asked Emalia.
"I get your drift," said Isabella. "I think that we should make them suffer!"
"Yeah!" agreed Emalia. Just then they heard the front door open and close.
"But not before I get back!" said Cassandra.
"Okay, let's take one last look," said Isabella. Cassandra stood up. She had her hair in a french twist, and she was wearing a long, lime green dress that crossed in the back.
"My shoes look so good with that dress," said Emalia.
"Hey thanks you guys." Isabella and Emalia walked down the stairs, followed by Cassandra. "Whoa Nick! You look good, I wish that A.J. would dress up like that!" Nick was wearing a black suit with a dark green undershirt..
"Thanks."
"I should have married you!" Isabella said to Nick, and he only gave her a funny look as she laughed.
"Cassandra, you look gorgeous," he said to her as she walked up to him. He took her hand and kissed it.
Isabella was still laughing. "I guess she's lucky that she married him and not Bobby!"
Emalia now starting to laugh.
"Yes I am very glad!" Cassandra said to the laughing Isabella and Emalia.
"Ah, they'll be back to normal tomorrow," said Isabella.
"Hey, no hair gel this time!" said Cassandra.
"Yup. I don't want Angel and a certain someone sneaking into my room and stealing it!" This was now too much for Isabella and Emalia. They were laughing so hard.
"I don't know what's wrong with you guys, but we're leaving now," said Cassandra. "Oh, and very funny Nick," she said. He took her hand and lead her out towards the door.
"Be back before midnight or you'll turn back into my ugly stepsister!" said Isabella.
"Don't wait up!" said Cassandra and she closed the door. Nick opened the car door for her.
"Well Cinderella, ready to go?" he asked her.
"Yes I am, Prince Charming," she replied and kissed him.
Isabella and Emalia stuck their heads out of the window and yelled, "Come on guys, you're so close to actually getting in the car! You can do it! Just keep repeating, I think I can, I think I can!" They started laughing so hard.
"I think I'm gonna kill you, I think I'm gonna kill you!" Cassandra yelled and laughed back at them. Nick waved good bye to Isabella and Emalia, and quickly got himself and Cassandra out of the driveway, and away from them.
"So now what do we do?" Isabella asked.
"Let's go make out with our boyfriends!" replied Emalia. Isabella looked at her then started laughing.
"Seriously, where is everyone?"
"I dunno. Let's go find them!" said Emalia and started singing the Mission Impossible theme song. They held their hands up like guns and dashed out of the door and over to Jonathan's house.
They ran into Jonathan's house, and saw him and Nicole kissing.
"Oh we're sorry!" said Isabella, and she started laughing again. Jonathan and Nicole pulled apart quickly and looked at Isabella and Emalia.
"We were just looking for everyone else," said Emalia smirking.
"Well, as you can tell, they're not over here," said Jonathan.
"Yes, we see that. We're gonna go check the guys' house then.
"Hey can we go with you?" Nicole asked. Jonathan frowned.
"Yeah, come on," said Isabella, and the four of them walked out of the house and across the street. They walked right into the guys house and saw Kevin and A.J. sitting on the couch.
"Hey guys!" said Isabella.
"Where is everyone?" said Emalia sitting down next to Kevin and kissing him.
"Emalia! Can't you let him answer first?" Isabella asked. Still kissing Kevin, Emalia held up her hand.
"I guess then I'll answer for him," said A.J. "Angel took Howie up to her sister's house, um, Linden's house, for a couple of days. Brian doesn't really live here anymore, and Nick ran out of here all dressed up just saying that he was giving Cassie the surprise tonight."
"The surprise? Do you know what it is?" Isabella asked sitting down next to him.
"Yup. He didn't tell you?"
"No, he wouldn't. Tell me!"
"I can't," said A.J. Isabella moved to sit on his lap, and started to play with his hair.
"Please?" she sweetly begged.
Emalia stopped kissing Kevin and looked up. "Yeah A.J., tell us," Emalia said.
"Oh you came up for air!" said Isabella, and everyone laughed, except Emalia and Kevin.
"Yes I did, now tell us!"
"Okay," said A.J., "this is what Nick got her."
About an hour into their date, Nick and Cassandra both heard a familiar song. Bryan White's, What Did I Do To Deserve You. Nick stood up and held out his hand.
"Our song. May I have this dance?" She only smiled and took his hand. They walked out into the middle of the floor. They slowly wrapped their arms around each other and held each other as close as physically possible, but on an emotional level they were holding each other closer. They were the only ones on the floor, but they didn't care. They didn't notice that people were watching them.
"This is where I'll be forever," said Cassandra.
"Good because this is what I'll always be doing. Hey, want your surprise now?" he asked smiling.
"Yeah!"
"Okay, close your eyes." She did and he reached into his back pocket and pulled out two tickets. He started to wave them in front of her face. She smiled wondering what he was doing. People at tables around the dance floor were now getting curious. "Okay, open your eyes."
She opened her eyes and saw two tickets in front of her face.
"What are these?" she said grabbing the tickets.
"We're finally going on our honeymoon."
"Oh my God! Where? What are we doing?"
"Look at the tickets!" he said trying not to say anything. She read the tickets and gasped. She looked at them again, and put her hand to her head.
"Is this a joke? A cruise? To the Caribbean?" P> "No joke. Only the best for my wife!"
"Oh Nick!" she screamed. She jumped up into his arms and hugged him tight.
He laughed. "Our dream honeymoon-"
"Together. How-"
"Shh," he said and put two fingers over her lips. "Nothing matters anymore. For a solid week, I'll have you all to myself with no interruptions or major traumas. Just us. How does that sound?"
"Ooh, I can't wait. I love you so much," she said and kissed his lips softly.
He pulled her closer. "I can't wait to give you more than that," he said and grinned.
"Nick!"
"What?" he smiled and they continued dancing until their song was over.
"Let's sit down," Cassandra said when their song was over. They went and sat down at their table. Cassandra looked around and leaned over the table to whisper to Nick. "Why is everyone smiling at us?"
Nick shrugged. "I dunno!"
Cassandra smiled and got up. "You're so cute!" she said standing next to him. He moved away from the table and she sat down on his lap.
"Yes I know," he said confidently.
"Oh please! Don't flatter yourself," she laughed.
"And why is that?" he laughed too.
"Because you talk too much! You should put your lips to better use," she said.
"Like how?" he asked trying to sound innocent.
"Like this," she said and kissed him delicately once.
"Cassie, not here," he said, a little embarrassed at the people still smiling and staring.
"Okay then, let's go," Cassandra said grinning.
It was about six thirty, and Mariah was out walking. She was leaving in the morning, and she couldn't decide if she wanted to go back and face anyone else, just in case they asked her about her past.
"Hey Mariah!" she heard someone yell.
"Oh God," she breathed. She turned around and started to walk fast towards the house. She felt the person grab her arm and they spun her around. "What do you want Bobby?"
"I thought that you weren't coming back," he said.
"Well, I had to, but I'm leaving in the morning-"
"They found out about Andrew."
"Yeah, I know. But they don't know who set them up-"
"Or about your past?"
"No. And they won't because I'm not gonna tell them either! So just leave me alone!" She got out of his grip and starting walking again.
"Sooner or later they'll find out that Andrew didn't really commit suicide!"
She turned around. "And how would they find that out?"
"You know that it could just slip."
"You wouldn't! You would only be hurting yourself."
"And how is that?" Bobby asked.
"Cassandra already knows that someone hired him to break her and Nick up, and she knows that I was blackmailed to help, but she doesn't know who, exactly, hired and blackmailed, and what if it were to just slip?"
"Well then I guess that it's up to you to, because truthfully, I don't give a damn."
"Yes but I do, so-"
"Look, either you'll tell her and have her hate you, or you could not tell her and have guilt kill you for the rest of your life."
"Please, don't say that."
"What? Kill? Oh did I just say it again! Whoops! Kill! Oh it just slipped again." He turned and started to walk away.
"Wait! What do I say to her?"
Bobby smiled to himself, and turned back around and walked up close to her. "Just tell her the truth."
"Duh! I know that. But do I tell her alone? With Nick? What do I say-"
"Look, you could tell her alone, or with that, um, Nick, but just say, Cassie don't hate me but you have to know something. Yada yada yada."
"Oh boy," Mariah said biting her lip.
"Just say it. There's no other way around it. She has to know and sooner or later she's gonna find out. Whether you tell her or not." With that Bobby turned and walked away. Mariah turned and started to walk towards the house.
"He's right. I'll just tell her."
When Nick and Cassandra got outside and started walking towards the car, he grabbed her arms and spun her around.
"Where are we going?" he asked her.
"Um, home I guess. Where else?" she replied.
"Cassie, I wanna take you out of that dress so bad, which, may I add, is a very beautiful dress but-" He started to walk towards the car.
"But what?" she said following him.
"It's just that the house isn't a very safe place. We can't even talk without people constantly barging in every room, every hour of every day. As it is, we barely get any time together now. Besides, Mariah is in your room until tomorrow anyway." He opened the car door for her then ran around to the driver's side.
"I know, but, well?" He turned the key but then he stopped. "What is it?" she asked.
"I have the perfect idea of a place that's perfect for us, and we're practically almost there."
"Where?"
"Another surprise, but I can tell you that we've had a couple of very memorable days there."
"Um, I will trust you on this one."
"Good."
"I'm gonna take a nap. Wake me up when we get to where ever we're going."
"Okay!" She smiled and closed her eyes, and he drove out of the parking lot.
Mariah walked into the guys' house.
"Hey guys, where's Cassandra?" she asked.
"She's out on some romantic date with Nick!" said Kevin.
"And he got her something so incredible!" added Isabella.
"Well I need to talk to her," said Mariah.
"What about?" Emalia asked.
"Um, it's kinda personal. But Isabella, I'd like to run it by you first."
"Yeah, let's go over into our house," replied Isabella.
"I hope you guys understand," said Mariah.
"Yeah, yeah," they all said.
"Okay, I'll see you later babe," Isabella said kissing A.J. good bye.
"You'd better!" he replied as Mariah and Isabella walked over to their house.
"You want something to drink?" Isabella asked her sister.
"No." Isabella went into the kitchen and got a glass of water, and joined Mariah in the living room on the couch.
"Okay, what is it that you need to run by me?"
"Well, it kinda concerns you too."
"Okay, what is it? Is Nick cheating on Cassie?" Isabella laughed, but Mariah didn't.
"It's much worse."
"How can it get any worse then that?"
"It has nothing to do with cheating. It has to do with Andrew."
"Mariah, does this have to do with your past?"
"What? Why?"
"Because the other Andrew, told me to ask you about your past, and to remember that it wasn't your fault and that it was an accident. Now, what wasn't your fault? What wasn't an accident?" Mariah took a deep breath. She didn't know if she could actually tell her now that she was faced with that decision.
When Nick arrived at Mercedes and Brian's driveway, he looked over at Cassandra and saw that she really was asleep. He kicked off his shoes and socks and threw them in the back seat. He went over to Cassandra's side and opened the door. He threw her good shoes in the back seat and gently picked her up in his arms and closed the door. He carried her down the beach, down the dock, and onto the boat.
He sat down behind the steering wheel and laid her across his lap and onto the other seat. Since he had borrowed the keys from Brian earlier that day, he started the boat, and slowly drove the boat out for a while when he saw Cassandra start to wake up. He turned the boat off and tried to act like everything was normal. She looked up at him, not realising where she was.
"Hey," she softly said.
"Hey, have a good nap?" he said trying not to laugh.
"Um, Nick? Do I smell seaweed?" She sat up and looked around. It was too much for Nick. He burst out laughing. Cassandra got up and stood under the moonlight, straining her eyes to see until she got used to the light, or lack thereof. "Nick, we're-"
"Yup."
"I guess you were right when you said that you were taking me someplace memorable." She walked over to the front of the boat and inhaled deeply. Nick got up, took his jacket off, and laid it over the back of the chair. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, and started to sing their song softly in her ear.
"Unconventional, describes my love for you, unconditional, cause there's nothing I won't do, I pray as this feeling grows that you'll always touch the heart and soul of me, it's a mystery. What did I do to deserve you, only God's hands could have made you, and brought this dream to life, always swore that I would never fall, I guess miracles happen after all, and what did I ever do to deserve you-" Cassandra turned around and he stopped.
"You have such a beautiful voice."
"Thanks, but it can't be half as beautiful as you."
"Can you remember the day that we first met?"
He laughed. "Yeah you liked Brian first and I liked Mercedes first-"
"Then Bobby punched you at the movies-"
"And you took care of me-"
"And we kissed." They leaned in and kissed. She wanted it to go on forever, but when they pulled apart, he cupped his hands around her face as if to bond them together even more. She knew what he was going to say, and the words rang in her heart.
"I love you," he said. I love you, were there sweeter words that a husband could say to his wife? She didn't think so.
"Mariah! Just tell me!" "Okay! Andrew didn't commit suicide!" Isabella was confused.
"What do you mean that he didn't commit suicide? We got the note and everything-"
"I know! But he didn't kill himself, I did."
Isabella had a mouthful of water, and she spit it out all over the place. "What? What does that mean?"
"It means that I killed yours and Cassandra's beloved best friend."
"I don't believe it. This is a very sick joke Mariah."
"It's no joke! But believe me, it was an accident! Honest! You have to believe me!"
"If I ask you how, I don't think that I could handle it."
"Should I tell Cassie?" Isabella didn't hear that question. She couldn't believe it, any of it. It came as such a shock to her. No wonder why she didn't want anyone to know about her past. This was just awful. "Should I tell Cassie?" Mariah repeated.
Isabella stood up and started to pace. "Forget Cassie, should you tell anyone is the question! But yeah you should tell her, and Nick, and Jonathan. But I don't know about tonight. It's gonna be like a dream for Cassie. Nick got them a cruise to the Caribbean for their honeymoon, and he was gonna give them to her tonight."
"Well then when do I tell her? Anyone? I'm leaving tomorrow."
"I guess you'll have to tell Cassie and Nick tomorrow, and it'll be up to us if we want to tell anyone else. I don't believe this!" said Isabella shaking her head.
Nick and Cassandra just stood there in each other's arms for five more minutes, rocking to the waves.
"Hey, is your dad a thief?" he asked her.
She turned around. "What? No. Why?"
"Then how in the world did he steal the sparkle of the stars and put it in your eyes?"
"Oh Nick," she said and hugged him. "You think we should go back?" Cassandra asked.
"Probably," he said. He pried himself away from her, and turned on the boat.
"Ooh, can I drive back?" she asked.
"Sure!" he said. She went over to him, sat down on his lap and took the wheel. He put his arms around her stomach and held on tight. "Good," he said. He ran his hands down her arms and locked them with her hands, to help her steer. She sat back and he kissed her neck. She let go of the wheel with one hand and threw it around his neck.
"This is just, I don't, I can't say anything!" Isabella said. "How could this be? You-"
"That's how I got blackmailed into helping Andrew break up Cassandra and Nick, I'm so glad that it didn't work! After a while, I didn't want to hurt any of you, but I just kept getting reminded of my past and how if I didn't cooperate, that the truth would come out."
"Who would do something like that?"
"The only person who wanted Nick and Cassandra broken up."
"You mean-" Mariah nodded her head. "I never thought, oh!"
When they reached the dock, Nick jumped out and tethered the boat. When Cassandra reached the edge, she didn't know how she was going to get out without ripping her dress. Nick looked up at her and laughed.
"I'm having difficulties, and you think it's funny?" Nick nodded his head. "Well it's not."
Nick held out his arms. "Jump!" he said.
"What? No!"
"Don't you trust me?"
"Nick, of course I trust you!"
"Then just jump. It's the only way that you're gonna make it off and not rip your dress." Cassandra knew that he was right, for once. She bit her lip, closed her eyes, and jumped.
She felt Nick catch her and she started breathing again. When she opened her eyes and saw that she hadn't hit the ground she threw her arms around Nick's neck to make sure that he didn't drop her. "I told you I would always catch your fall."
"Literally!" she said letting out a deep breath. He carried her down the dock and to the car.