“Anne! Wait up!” Charles called running up to me the next day at school.

“Oh, hi. How’s it been going?” I casually asked. But I had a feeling what he was going to say would make me late for class.

“Hey! Um…what’s going on?” he nervously glanced around.

“Not too much. I just got back from California.” I shrugged. My surgery was something I wanted kept under wraps.

“Why were you out there?”

“Me and Mrs. Carter were working on something.”

“That’s cool! So you’re sill with your Carter boy?”

“Yes. His name is Nick or Carter. Not Carter boy.” I bitterly replied. Charles was the ex that cheated on me a long time ago. We had never been on great terms since. That’s why I was already on the edge when he came up to me.

Sorry. A little picky about it, aren’t we? Ya know, I bet your Nick has more nick-names from all his adoring fans then you’ll ever know.”

“What’s your point? What his fans think don’t bother me. I’ve gotten used to it through the last year.”

Charles could tell he had now hit the wrong button with me. “Well, neways…” He fumbled.

“Out with it! The bell is about to ring! If I’m late…it’s all your fault.”

“Okay, would you go to the prom with me, since Nick will be too busy on tour.”

“No, you’re crazy! You insult me and expect me to be like, sure I’ll go to prom with you! You can forget that!” I yelled mad. I slammed my locker, not realizing we were making a scene. Charles sure had! He was trying to disappear any way that was possible.

“Okay. You’ll pay for this Anne! Boy will you pay!” he threatened, the did disappear.

“Come, let’s go.” Cynthia whispered in my ear as she grabbed my arm.

“Thanks,” I sighed. But I couldn’t help but to think that would’ve been Laura.

“The nerve of him!” I vented to Nick after school.

“I know. Sorry I wasn’t there to help1” Nick apologized.

“What would you have done? You’re out of school!”

“Still. I wish I could’ve been there. How are you holing up?” He asked referring to my surgery.

“Fine. No problems at all.” I smiled

“That had to bit being out of town when that happened.”

“Actually, no I would have been home alone. Remember? My parents moved away with work.”

“That’s right! So it was actually good that you were with my family.”

“Yeah! I couldn’t have handled that on my own.”

“Yupe. Neways, I gotta go. Love ya babe.”

“You too.” Nick sighed.

“Bye.” I smiled and hung up.

Through the next weeks, I healed from surgery, got the stitches out, let Charles torture me with what he called pay-back, and got things ready for prom. So in short, I was busy.

I found my dress quickly. It was a black, flowly, strapless dress. At the top is was lined with black velvet and white rhinestones. I bought a pair of black strapy sandals to go with it.

Nick helped me order the smaller things. I made sure it was announced that Nick would be there and not to mess with him. Hopefully that would allow us to enjoy the night. But with high schoolers, you never know how they’re going to act.

The night of prom arrived bringing Nick, AJ, Amanda, Leighanne, and Brian. They all decided to come and have dinner with me and Nick before the actual dance.

“Wow! Nick you look great!” I smiled linking arms with him.

“You look beautiful.” He returned. I pushed the compliment aside as the other two couples joined us. Each of them had dress up and looked like the too were going to prom.

“Ya know what?” Nick chuckled.

“What?”

“I’ve never been to prom before. I left for Backstreet Boys before I even made it to high school.”

“Are you for real? This is going to be so fun tonight.” I clutched Nick’s arm tighter.

“Calm down, baby doll. Nothing has even started yet. We need to go eat if we’re even gonna make it to the dance.”

The three couples pilled into two separate cars, since me and Nick had to go a different direction.

“Okay Nicky boy, you better not embarrass Anne with you lack of dancing skills.” AJ teased.

Nick’s eyes narrowed as he gulped down the last of his water. “What makes you think I have a lack, as you say, of dancing skills?”

“Just watching you at practice. But any ways, our food is here.”

“Guys, please.” I pleaded. I knew Nick wanted this night to be perfect. His eyes clearly showed it. I reached over and out my hand on his knee, giving him a little confidence.

The restaurant we had decided to eat at was extremely fancy. Everything was in French. I let Nick order and prayed that what he got me was good. But who knew with his taste.

“Brian, you’ve barely said anything the whole night. You either Lieghanne!” I exclaimed as soon as they started picking at their food.

“Sorry.” Brian mumbled. “Jut thinking about a lot of different things.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, Just thinking. Don’t worry, it’s nothing big.

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

“Wow! Look at this place! It’s so different then the types of parties I’m used to.” Nick breathed as he guided me through the front door.

“This is what prom is like. Do you like it?” I smiled leaning against him.

“Besides all the pictures we took earlier. It made it look and feel like a freaking photo shoot.”

“Sorry, but that’s how prom goes. You better feel luck that I let us go out and eat with our friends instead of my school friends.”

“True, let’s go dance I wanna enjoy this night as much as I can.”

I laughed as he swung me out to arms length. It was a fast song, so now wasn’t the time for a relaxing dance. I really seemed to enjoy those more.

“You have to help me with this again.” I yelled over the music.

“It’s jus like at the club, yet different since we’re at school.” He laughed.

After a few minutes a slow song drifted through the room. I collapsed into Nick’s waiting arms, as I looked around the room.

The floor was black and white checkered with white columns along the side. Shining fabric was draped everywhere. Across the ceiling, column to column, anywhere you could think of!

“What are you looking at?” Nick startled me out of my thoughts.

“The place. It’s amazing what you can do to an old school gym. I never thought it could look so beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you.”

“Don’t start with those sappy and cheesy lines. They aren’t that flattering.” I pouted turning my back to him.

“Oh Anne! Come here.” Nick sighed slipping his arms around my waist. I still kept my back to him. “You know I’m just teasing with you.”

“I know. I just like giving you a hard time.”

“I wasn’t teasing about the beautiful part though.”

I blushed as I ran my fingers through his hair as he leaned his head against mine.

“Hey Anne!” Cynthia called pulling Scoot along with her.

“Hey, wow! You look great.” I complimented pulling away from Nick’s grasp.

“Look’s like you’re having fun.” Scott remarked.

“Oh, sorry! Nick this is Scott, Cynthia’s boyfriend. Scott this is Nick my boy…”

“Fiancée.” Nick corrected. He had decided it didn’t matter who knew now.

“Wow Anne! When did this happen?” Cynthia asked, shocked I would keep this from her.

“A aways back. Nick wasn’t ready to tell the press then, so that meant I had to keep my mouth shut.”

“This is really a big step for you. Will you go on tour with them afterwards?”

“Of course!”

Soon the conversation died down to a soft lull. We started dancing and drifted off, with our attention fully on the guy we were dancing with. The prom seemed perfect. No one was bothering Nick and I and I knew that, that was the major problem. But I hate it when I’m wrong!

“Anne, I’m going to grab some punch. Just wait here for me.” Nick sighed as he pulled away from me. I watched as he weaved through the crowd, he was all my eyes had been able to see the whole night.

“Anne! Where’s your man?” Charles mocked as he walked to me.

“Getting my drink. You were waiting for this exact moment, weren’t you?” I sneered yanking my arm out of his grip. He just reached over and took a hold of my arm again, tighter.

“You know I hate it when girls refuse me.”

“Well, get used to refusal from me. You’ll never get acceptance. Me and Nick are getting married soon.”

Laughter rang heartily from Charles, as a slow song ran out of the speakers.

“Come on, let’s dance.”

“You have to be kidding! I just told you I want nothing to do with you, and you’re asking me to dance!? How stupid can you be?” I chuckled in owner.

“Come on!” Charles order starting to pull me on the floor. I struggled with all my might. I looked around to find Nick, he had been gone a good while.

Suddenly another firmer and stronger hand took hold of my free, struggling arm.

“Let go of her.” Nick demanded.

Charles didn’t move.

“I sad let go of her.”

“Who’s going to make me? I’m sure you have security all over the place. We have make sure Mr. Carter is taken care of. He can’t have any bruises for that photo shoot tomorrow.” Charles sneered.

Nick started silent, he knew there would be more coming from Charles. I was still gripped tightly in between the two guys. The thought of what could happen was freaking me out.

Nick didn’t care that I was going to dance with someone else, it was the fact that he was forcing me. Nick can’t stand for anyone else to tell me what to do.

“Also, Carter boy, you think you own Anne. No one else can touch her! All I want is to dance with her.”

“Do you want to dance with him?” Nick asked me. I could see the anger in his eyes. None if it was directed towards me. Every ounce was headed towards Charles.

“No,” I firmly stated.

“As I was trying to say, she doesn’t want to. Let her go now!”

“She’s lying! Anne come on.”

Nick ripped me out of Charles’ grip. Hurriedly he let go of me and turned to face the furious, rejected boy. A crowd had now gathered around us. A fight was the last thing I wanted at this moment.

“Stop it!” I screamed latching onto Nick’s upper arm. “Please don’t! Nick please!”

Nick looked at me. I could tell he didn’t want to fight, but he also didn’t want to look like a sissy. Men and their egoes!

“Please Nick. Please! He’s no worth it!” I continued. Slowly Nick turned around to walk with me

The crowd dispersed as Charles started hurling insults.

“I knew you wouldn’t fight! You’re a coward! You can’t handle things…..”

“Charles….shut up!” I hollered back at him. Nick watched as I turned, walked straight up to the insulter. I pulled my hand back and slapped him extremely hard right across his cheek.

“Ooooo!” Nick laughed as I rejoined him again. “That had to hurt1”

“I hope so. I’ve been wanting to do that to him, ever since the day he cheated on me. He just made me finally do it after tonight.”

We started dancing again and soon forgot about what just happened.

“So do you wanna go to Cynthia’s party, or just stay here?” I asked as Nick pulled into my driveway. We had come to my house to at least change.

“Whatever you want.” He smiled, gently kissing me.

“I dunno. We’ll decide after we change. It’s already 12 o’clock.”

“That hasn’t stopped you from doing anything before.”

“Shut up!” I squeaked embarrassed. I started walking towards the front door as Nick flipped on his car radio, loudly. “What are you doing?”

“Just come here.” He ordered opening up his arms for me. “I want us to have one last dance, alone.”

I started laughing at how he had stated his last comment, but was cut off as I heard Nick’s voce echo through the night.

“What is it?”

“Shh!” Nick sighed as he pulled me closer. I cuddled against his chest as we swayed to the music and I let the words soak into my heart.

I glanced up at Nick, realizing that he had written this song for me. Everything that had to do with this song, all the time work everything, was for me. I couldn’t believe it! Tears started to glisten in my eyes as the second verse started.

The chorus started to melt on and on again as I held Nick so tight. “I can’t believe you! Thank you so much!”

He blushed slightly with my compliments. “I’m glad you liked it. This song will never be released. It’s just for you and me.”

“I can’t believe you Nickolas Gene Carter. What did I do to deserve someone so wonderful as you?”

“Actaully, I should be asking that same question about you Anne Elizabeth Johnson.” Nick smiled tilting my face towards his.

We both slowly leaned in knowing we were about to share a gorgeous kiss. I was right. Every kiss seemed to have more love mixed in. I savored the feeling.

The cold night air blew around us as Nick held me tighter in his arms. It couldn’t get any better than this.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

My Stories

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