Chapter Sixteen

*~UPSTAIRS~* U 2 had finally stopped kissing and were hugging each other. U heard Nick say softly in your ear,'U can't believe how much I thought I would never get any of those again'. U remained silent for a while and then said the 1 thing that Nick thought that he would never hear u say. U-'I love you Nick'. He held u tighter in his arms and and u felt him gently kiss your neck. N-'I love you too *****'. U 2 just stayed there for a while when u remembered something. U-'Nick?' U pulled away 2 face him. N-'Yeah?' U brought your left hand to his chest and looked at the ring on it. U-'Nick, why is this on my finger?' U held up your hand for him to see. Nick looked at the ring. He stared at it for a few moments and said,'Because it looks so right there'. U weren't expecting him 2 say that. U didn't know wot 2 do, so u just smiled as Nick leaned in 2 give u another kiss. After about 10 mins, Nick took your hand and led u into his room. He locked the door behind him. He lay u down on the bed and began 2 kiss u as if there was no end to it. The guys had come back and Brian went in first looking around 4 u and Nick. Seeing that u were no where in sight, he called every1 in. They all sat down and it was uncommonly quiet coz the guys knew that Brian was hiding something and that's why he was acting so weird. Every1 was breathing unusually heavily and looking in all odd directions. Finally, AJ cudn't take anymore and said,'Brian, wot's goin on?' Brian looked at Jane who first didn't do anything, but soon afterwards nodded. Brian looked down and murmured,'Nick mrr mrrmum merm'. Every1 said,'Wot?' Brian looked up. B-'Nick is seeing *****'. Every1 (except Jane and Brian) had a shocked expression. H-'Since when?' B-'Well that I don't know. . .' AJ-'Seeing her. . . Then how come he keeps saying that he don't have a girlfriend?' Jane and Brian spoke at the same time and words became indistinguishable. They looked at each other and Brian allowed Jane 2 speak. J-'He told me that he doesn't have a girlfriend'. B-'Every time I bring it up, he cuts me short sayin that he doesn't have a girlfriend'. As Brian stopped talking, it was a strained silence again. K-'Where is he right now?' Brian looked around and said,'I dunno. . . He might be in his room'.

Brian looked 2wards Nick's door when Jane stopped him from making any move. She gave him a meaningful look and Brian understood. AJ-'Yo Bri, how come u made us all go back down again? Did it have something 2 do with Nick?' Brian looked sheepish. He really must have looked rather funny, him rubbing his stomach and acting hungry when he was so full he coudn't eat another bite. B-'Yeah. . .' The silence followed. Kevin got up and said,'I gess I'll hit the sack 4 a while'. All the others got up and went 2 their respective rooms. Jane and Brian were left in the living room. J-'They must be catching up on lost times. . .' Brian smiled at Jane who smiled back. B-'Nick gave ***** her first kiss. . 'He began and for the next 3 hours, Brian poured out every detail he knew about Nick's feelings for u. In the end Jane was kind of taken aback at Nick not telling her anything about it. B-'Yeah I know. He didn't tell me anything until I got suspicious and asked. It was kinda weird not knowin wot was floating in his head. . .' Jane looked at the Nick's door which had just opened. Nick was holding your hand and leading u out. The moment Nick stepped out, he saw Jane looking at him directly. He held your hand tighter but still brought u out slowly. U guys came and sat down in the living room. Jane looked at you with genuine fondness and it seemed as if she seemed 2 like u like a daughter. Brian put on his devilish smile. B-'Wot were u guys doing?' He was using a singsong voice and u 2 got kind of self consious and embarassed at wot answer 2 give. N-'We were playing video games. . ' Jane raised an eyebrow. N-'We reached level 16 and crushed all the alien invaders. . ' Nick was sounding like a 10 year old giving an account of what happened at school that day. B-'So tiger, whatcha really been up2?' Brian and Jane smiled, knowing exactly wot u 2 had been doing the last 3 hours or so. Nick shyly looked down. Jane tried 2 look at the expression on his face. He held your hand and looked up. He had a tinge of determination on his face. N-'Mom, I have 2 tell u something. . . I. . .' J-'Am in love with *****'. U 2 looked at Jane, surprised. J-'I know. The way u've been acting for the last few days, Nick, gave it all away'. At that moment, Kevin had stepped out of his room. He yawned as he made his way over 2 the couch. U-'Had a nice nap Kev?' K-'Yeah. . . Who gave wot away?' He had caught the last sentence as he stepped out of his room. Brian flipped on the T.V and every1 tuned in 4 a while. Brain understood that u guys didn't want 2 answer more about yourselves, so he created a diversion by switching on the T.V and that lost every1's chain of thought. After a while, Howie and AJ also came out of their rooms and sat down. After about and hour, nothing worth watching was on so Brian switched the T.V off. There was an awkward silence again. Then Jane asked. . . .

J-'Nick do u have a girfriend?' Nick looked at u 4 a brief moment and said,'No'. Every1 had a quizzical look on their face. On seeing that Nick said,'Ok ok. Let me explain. I didn't want 2 be in a relationship. I didn't want 2 be someone's boyfriend nor did I want 2 have a girlfriend'. He looked around. Every1 was hanging on 2 every word with rapt attention. N-'When I met *****, there was something about her that made me wanna be with her. Slowly as I did spend time with her, I kinda. . kinda grew 2 love her'. He said the last line looking down shyly. Every1 had smiles plastered on their faces. N-'I wanted 2 be with *****, but I didn't want 2 call her my 'girlfriend' and I didn't want 2 be her 'boyfriend'. I just wanted that we could be together without being called anything. That way I was happy, and so was every1 else'. Nick put his arm around u and u rested your head on his shoulder. Every1 was slightly awed by the strong bond of affection between U and Nick. He looked at u and kissed your forehead. AJ jumped up. AJ-'I knew it! All along!' U-'No u didn't so pipe down'. Every1 laughed at yor remark and Aj sat down with an embarassed grin on his face. Nick got up. N-'U guys mind if me and ***** get some fresh air for a while?' Nobody seemed 2 have any objection (they knew wot Nick had in mind). Nick took your hand and went down 2 the ocean side. U 2 sat on the rocks and stared out at the ocean. Everything seemed so right with Nick there beside u. There was a full moon out that night. He looked at u. U looked back. He cupped your face in his hands and gently kissed your lips. It was so amazing 2 have him back in your life again. U knew that only true love could have brought this 2 happen.

It was quite a while b4 U 2 went back up. U felt complete together and none of u wanted 2 get out of that feeling. Holding hands, a kiss, just smiling at each other meant so much. When u finally did go back up, Nick asked,'*****, do u wanna spend the night with me?' U really missed the feel of being in his arms, so u agreed. U went in and lay down. Nick lay down next 2 u and took you in his arms. He was looking so handsome from so close. He brushed away a few strands of your hair and came closer and kissed u. U fell asleep in his arms that night, and it was like being his prized possesion, which he didn't want 2 let go of. All night u were in his warm, protective arms and U wanted 2 stay there for ever. For Ever. When the morning came, Nick was still asleep when u woke up. U gently unrapped yourself from his arms and placed a pillow ih your position. U freshened up and went 2 the kitchen 2 have breakfast. Jane was already there. J-'***** sweetie, wot r u doing up at this early hour?' U-'I came for breakfast'. J-'Here have some of these'. She handed u a plate stacked with pancakes and gave u a bottle of syrup. U thanked her and went 2 the living room. Jane came there shortly and shared breakfast with u. J-'So *****, how come u didn't come 2 bed last night? Where were u?' U-'I was with Nick. . .' Jane smiled. J-'Oh. . I see. . ' It was great 2 see how cool she was about it. Just then Nick's door opened and Nick stepped out hugging his pillow 2 his chest with 1 hand and rubbing his eye with the other. He still appeared 2 be half asleep. His hair were really fuzzy. He came and lay down on the couch, placing his head in your lap, not aware of wot he was doing. U stroked his hair and within a few moments he was asleep again. Jane laughed silently. J-'Were u in place of the pillow last night?' U nodded, shyly. Jane shook her head. J-'Sleep walking. Just like the old days'. U 2 laughed as Brian came out of his room. B-'Wot's up?' J-'Shhhh. . .' She pointed at Nick, who was sleeping like a baby. U carefully picked up his head and placed a cushion under it and put it down. Nick rolled over and snored lightly. U all laughed at how Nick hadn't noticed anything yet. Soon every1 was up except Nick. After getting ready U went 2 get yourslef a glass of water when Jane asked u 2 wake Nick up. U drank your water and went 2 the living room. U stood in front of him trying 2 figure out how 2 wake him up when Brian came into the room. B-'He must be catchin up on those 3 days . . ' U looked down. U-'I feel so horrible 4 doing that 2 him'. Brian gave u a reassuring hug. B-'It's not yor fault. Don't worry about it. . ' U-' But how do we wake up Sleepyface here?' Brian thought for a moment. B-'I have an idea. Let's do this. . ' He whispered something in your ear.

Chapter Seventeen