"That's what this whole thing is about? AJ? You're jealous that I hung-out with AJ today and not you?" I screamed at him. He didn't reply. So I continued, "You don't control my life, Nick. You never have and you never will! You can't be mad at me just cuz I've made friends with AJ! You're such a..."
"A what? What am I?" he finally yelled. This time I didn't reply. "I'm not jealous of AJ, Avery! I'm just trying to keep you safe. I'm just watching out for you!" he yelled again. He was really upset.
"Keep me safe? What are you my father??? You don't have to protect me anymore, Nick! I'm a big girl!" I yelled angrily. "I certainly don't need another father!"
"Why? What's wrong with your dad? Are you parents fighting again?" Nick totally changed the subject. But it was half my fault.
"Do you really wanna know why I was crying, when AJ and I were talking?" I asked him, lowering my voice.
"Yeah, I do!" he replied.
"I told AJ about my parents. He understands, he's been through what I'm going through." I told him sadly.
"What are you "going through"?" Nick asked, "I didn't think it was that bad."
"Nick... my dad screams at my mom... he says she can't do anything right. He says she's no good. And I think he has hit her. But you wouldn't understand... with your perfect family, and your perfect parents... you don't realize how lucky you are, Nick!" I screamed, starting to cry. Nick looked at me. He had no idea that anything like that was happening. He suddenly pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the truck. He turned to me and I fell into his arms.
We got back to Tampa around 9:30pm. We went into Nick's house. Aaron was waiting for Nick. But before Nick went upstairs with Aaron, he whispered to me,
"Are you gonna be ok?"
"Yeah," I nodded, "Sorry for screaming at you in the truck. I'm just really scared, and confused."
"Well, I'm sorry for being jealous of you and AJ... I'm sorry for assuming... and I'm sorry for not understanding what your going through. It's alright, in fact, it's great, that you can talk to AJ, and he can help you get through this. Just don't forget... I'm here for you, too." Nick told me. I hugged him really hard.
"Thank you so much, Nicky... now go have fun with Aaron!" I said, pushing him away. He grinned and ran upstairs to find his little brother.
Then I went downstairs to "my" bedroom, the guestroom that I stayed in every weekend. I pulled out all my Backstreet Boys cds. I found the burned cd that's got all the exclusive songs. I put on my discman to number 5, AJ's solo, "Lay Down Beside Me". It's a really sweet song, and AJ sounds really good singing it. I guess I closed my eyes and fell asleep because the next thing I knew, there was a knock on my bedroom door. I popped my eyes open quickly.
"Who's there?" I yelled through the door, not getting up.
"Angel!" a young girl's voice yelled. It was Aaron's twin sister. They were 11-years-old. I decided not to get up.
"Come in Ang!" I yelled to her. The door opened and I saw her a second later. She held the cordless telephone in one of her hands.
"AJ's on the phone for you!" she told me cheerfully.
