Dear Diary,
Today is my 19th birthday !! Can you believe it? I feel like last year went by so fast. After I got back together with Nick, the year flew by. So I was thinking, 19 years old. What's a girl to do? Nick wanted to do something special, but I said I just wanted to hang out with him, Brian and Anna. I have been dating Nick for a little over a year now. It seems like it has been much longer though. Anna and Brian are still dating. Truthfully, I am kind of surprised. I mean, sometimes when friends become more it doesn't work out. But it has for them. About 3 weeks ago, Anna moved out of the house, that me and Nick now share by ourselves. Her and Brian bought a house, it is the same size as Nick's, but 2 floors instead of one. In one week, Anna is starting college. She is going to a really good one that is only 40 minutes away, so she isn't staying in the dorms. I have sent out some applications too. I hope they get back to me. Nick has been really busy lately, the Backstreet Boys are putting out a new album in a few days. I am really happy for them all. I know this is a lot to write, but I haven't written in months!! Me and AJ have become much better friends, we talk about everything. Anyway, Brian, Anna and Nick are coming back with take-out and a movie in a few minutes so I have to go.
Love, Leigh
Leigh had written that entry 7 months ago, and now she was halfway through being 19. She laughed at herself, about how excited she was to turn 19, but it turned out, it was no different from 18.
"Hello?" Nick said loudly as he came through the front door.
"I'm in our room." Leigh yelled, quickly shutting the diary shut and putting it under the bed.
"How was the trip?" Leigh asked.
"Good, but I missed you a lot." he said wrapping her in a tight hug and kissing her lips lovingly.
"Yeah, I guess you did." she said walking out to the living room.
"I am going to take a shower, I feel kind of gross from so many plane trips." Nick said disappearing into the bathroom.
The phone rang and it was Anna, asking Leigh if she could come over and have her help with an essay. Leigh said sure and Anna was on her way.
A few minutes later, Nick came out of the bathroom, with a towel wrapped around his waist and snuck up behind Leigh. He wrapped him arms around her and kissed her neck. She lightly giggled and turned around to meet him in a kiss.
"Anna is gonna be here in a few minutes. Why don't you go get dressed. Unless you think being half nude is a way to answer the door." she grinned.
"On my first night back, you have to have one of your little sleepovers? Leigh..." Nick whined.
"First, it is not a little sleepover, we are studying. And second, I don't get to see Anna everyday like you get to see Brian." she said placing her hands on her hips with a little bit of attitude.
"So feisty. I like it." he smirked as he walked off to their room.
Leigh couldn't help but laugh.
She was just about to get a can of Pepsi, when the doorbell rang. Leigh opened it and was pulled into a huge hug from Anna.
"Ah! I missed you. We need to see each other more than 3 times a month!" Anna said with a huge smile.
"Definitely. Although Nick already teased me about our 'little sleepovers' we have." she said with a light laugh.
"He makes fun of us? Real nice Leigh." Anna said kidding around.
Nick came out of the bedroom and said hi to Anna then asked them what they were up to.
"Oh you know, just what us girls do at these little sleepover things." Leigh said throwing the comment back in his face.
"Why do I put up with it?" he said kidding around as he walked out to the office.
"Cause you love me!" Leigh yelled after him.
That night, Nick stayed out of the girl's way, as they did manicures, pedicures, gossiping, talking and watching movies.
"I was going through my old diary today, there is a lot in there." Leigh said.
"I know same with mine, but I don't use it anymore do you?" Anna asked.
Leigh shook her head no and they turned back to the movie they were watching.
They girls went on talking and then soon enough they both fell asleep.
The next day, around noon Anna drove home, but promised to come back later in the week. Nick wanted to go out and buy a new guitar so Leigh decided to stay home and just watch TV. She had a long weekend, so she had no college courses to worry about. She ended up laying down on the bed and looking out at windows at the ocean. It was a damp, cold, misty day but Leigh didn't mind much. She lay on the bed for 10 minutes, then something made her get up and grab her diary.
She flipped through her diary and skimmed over a couple of pointless entries. Then she came to one that was a little more important.
January 29, 2000
Dear Diary,
Today when I went to get the mail, I noticed an envelope from a college in Houston I applied to. When I applied, me and Nick were in a huge fight and I thought we were over. So I applied thinking, I had no reason to stay here. And I have always wanted to go there. But now, I am with Nick and I love him. So I open the envelope, and sure enough I got accepted. They wanted to give me a scholarship too. I was shocked. I didn't even think I would get in. But I did. And you know what I did? I threw it away. Maybe in 5, 10 or who knows how many years I will think it was a foolish decision. But for now it is the right one, I love Nick and he's what's important. I told Anna about it but I didn't breathe a word of it to Nick. He would have made me go. I just hope it all works out.
Love, Leigh
Leigh second glanced the entry and wondered if she had made the right decision. She flipped a couple of pages and came on to an entry she practically knew by heart.
April 18, 2000
Dear Diary,
Me and Nick took a big step in our relationship. I am sure you know what I mean. I am not going to go into specifics, but it was really nice. And I feel like I love him more than ever. I didn't even think that was possible.
Love, Leigh
Leigh read that entry and a smile spread on her face. She knew she did make the right decision about staying with Nick and not going to an out of state college. She put the diary back where is came from and turned towards the ocean just to watch. As she looked out at the ocean, it reminded her of Nick. She had made the right decision, without a doubt in her mind.
