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The next day was Laura’s funeral. I felt like I had created a flood in the house I had cried so much.
As I was getting ready to go to her funeral, I skipped my make-up. It would only be washed right off. I put on my best black dress and pulled my hair up in a french twist.
I heard the front door open and close. I started to hope it was one of my parents.
“Anne? Where are you?” I heard Nick’s voice call.
“Oh Nick!” I screamed running down the stair and throwing myself into his arms. “Oh gosh! She’s gone , Nick! She’s gone!”
“I know, baby. I know.” He whispered to me holding me tight. He held me and just let me cry till I pulled away. He reached down and wiped my tears away.
“I won’t see her again!” I sighed.
“Yes you will.” Nick said. “Not soon, but up in heaven.”
I smiled then remembered what Laura had told me to tell him. “Nick, Laura told me to tell you something.”
“She did?”
“She said that she loves you. Then not to let me go and you better treat me right.” I gulped looking away. “She thought that we hd gotten back together.”
“Her feelings are right, just too soon. Do you want to give it....”
“No.” I interrupted. I could tell where he was going. I saw his eyes look down. Hurt and sadness filled the. I silently chided myself for my answer. I knew I wanted him back, I just still wasn’t ready.
Through the next hours, Nick comforted me and kept a strong, steady arm around me. It was more then I deserved.
I went back up to Orlando that same day. I couldn’t bare to stay in my empty house. When I got to AJ’s everyone was there to welcome me back.
Through the next days the guys were extremely busy. Amanda , Lieghanne and Kristin always went with them. Howie’s girlfriend couldn’t because she lived out of town. I tried going one day, but I felt completely out of place. So I decided not to go with them to the studio. I never got to see the guys and never even heard from Nick, which left me to assume he had moved on. I couldn’t blame him.
Aaron came down and spent time with me. I never really had gotten to know him. He was so nice and fun to hang around. It was so surprising that he wasn’t that much younger then me.
On a Wednesday afternoon we were sitting around AJ’s apartment, when Aaron looked over at me.
“Ya know what?” He asked. A look of concern crossed over his face.
“What AC?” I smiled. That was what everyone called him at times.
“I’m sorry I ever got you and Nick together. You wouldn’t have gone through everything that has happened lately.”
“Aaron! Don’t even apologize! I’m still extremely glad you got us together. We’re just going through a hard time right now. But all the good times have been worth this one bad time now.” I explained. His smile and bright eyes returned. “Now lets go somewhere. The mall sound okay?”
“Yeah!” he agreed. I laughed as he kept talking on our way to the car. We arrived at the mall quickly and headed straight for the GAP.
“I’m going to try these on. Okay?” I asked holding up a t-shirt and blue jeans.
“Okay! I want to see how they look at you!” He flirted.
“Oh hush, Carter!” I called. I changed into the other clothes and come out to show off for Aaron. Also to look in the full sized mirror.
“Wow! Anne, you look great!” He complimented.
“Why thank you!” I smiled. But then a familiar face showed up in the mirror. I turned around stunned as he held up the exact same t-shirt I was now wearing. “Nick!” I screamed, extremely upset.
“Anne!” He hollered dropping the shirt.
“I see you’re shopping for your new girlfriend.” I snapped starring at him with my hands on my hips.
“I’ll just leave.” Aaron mumbled walking off. I watched as he told the body guards not to mess with us.
“What girlfriend? I don’t have one!” He defended.
“Then what are you doing looking at girl clothes?” I demanded to know.
“You caught me!” He mumbled.
“See, I knew it!” I exclaimed, yet was not happy about it.
“I was buying you a new t-shirt. I see that you like it too. So, I would have done a good job.” He continued. I starred at him and my jaw dropped.
“You were what?” I gulped embarrassed.
“Getting you a present?”
“Why?”
“To apologized for not talking to you the past couple of days. I’ve either been at work or dead tired.”
“I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions.” I whispered.
“It’s okay. But now it’s my turn to a question with an honest answer.” He smiled.
My heart raced, he could ask anything! “Okay,” I gulped looking up at him.
“Why won’t you take me back? Do you not like me anymore, or what?!”
I couldn’t believe what he was asking. “Well...um....that really is a long story. Do you....wait no..I’ll just sum it up.” I stammered not knowing how to start.
“Yes, please tell.” He begged.
“Well, when I was a freshman, I was going out with this one guy I was crazy about. We were together for a good long time. Till one day, we were at a party and I saw him kissing another girl. He claimed that she had kissed him. So after a week or so I took him back. One month later we were at another party. Except this time he was in a serious make out session with the same girl. It wound up he had been cheating on me the whole time. Since then, I’ve never had a boyfriend. Till you this is. But when that happened it brought back memories and also reasons why I had never gotten involved with another guy.” I finished wiping away the small tear in the corner of my eye.
“Oh Anne! I’m so sorry! Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” Nick questioned grabbing both my hands. “From the bottom of my heart, I didn’t know it wasn’t you. She wasn’t as good of a kisser as you are.” He smiled. I slightly blushed. “But my decision from the second you asked me to make it was you and I’ve never regretted it for a minute. Trust me....I want you and no one else.”
“Nick.” I whispered placing a finger to his lips. “Before you ask, I’m still not ready. I’m much closer but still not there. Just give me a little more time. Promise me you will wait?”
“With all my heart.” He murmured as I walked back into the dressing room.