"So Michelle, what else should I know about you? Now that we are becoming...umm....closer, ya closer, I wanna know the REAL you." he said with an I-know-something-you-don't know grin.
Happy to know he was right beside her, Michelle questioned, "Well, let's see. The real me."
"Ya, you know...what makes you happy? What makes you cry? What makes you laugh? What makes you smile?" It was time to put his plan into action. If the water cooled her off then...
Before Michelle was able to give him any answer, he secretly swam under the water, grabbed the raft on both ends, and quickly flipped it over, playfully tossing Michelle into the ocean beside him. He found her hands underneath the water, interlocked them with his, and together they swam up to the surface.
Michelle, now unexpectidly covered with sea water, laughed uncontrollably. In between laughs and gasps for air, she managed to get out, "Why...why'd you do that?"
Brian too, grinning from ear to ear, "Because i wanted to surprise you, to catch you off guard. And most of all, because of that."
"Because of what?"
"That. That smile of yours. Now i got an answer to my question. I know what makes you smile."
Her face glowing with surprise and happiness, she teased, "Oh ya, what's that? What can make me laugh? What can make me smile until I can't see straight? What does all those things, and still makes me want him?"
He answered with that teeth baring grin (you know the one), "Me."
***Back on the Beach***
Howie fixed his eyes on the woman he loved, the girl he'd given his heart to, as she ran off, trailing after Liz. His heart ached, as he tossed around the idea of going after her, or should he let her go for now and spare himself the pain of turning back without her.
Suddenly Howie turned his raging stare toward Nick. "I can't believe you came here today! What were you thinking? Did you really think Sel woudl be okay with all this? Ok with you? Ok with Mel here too?"
The color drained from Nick's face. His sympathetic feelings for Howie disappeared just as quickly as his icy stare had suddenly appeared.
"What?!?!? Why shouldn't I come, why shouldn't I bring my new girl? It's not my fault that Sel's loyalty is to Liz and not you!" Nick screamed, releasing Mel from his embrace as he walked slowy over to Howie. As he got in his face, the urge to release a violent fist grew rapidly inside him.
"Get away from me Nick, before I do something I'll regret later!" Howie warned, an unrecognizable feeling of rage inching its way through Howie' whole body.
At this point, Kevin, Becca, Aj and Anna watched blankly, unsure of what to do. Snapping out his his shocked state, Kev realized he had to do SOMETHING.
Moving past Bec, he ran and put himself between Howie and Nick. "Ok, Ok..guys cool it. This isn't the time or the place for this! Now Nick, BACK OFF. Howie, CALM DOWN!"
Brian and Michelle heard the yelling as they the walked hand in hand up from the water's front. Once they heard the voices grow to a dull roar, they turned their casual walk into a quick jog to see what all the commotion was about. Brian arrived just in time to catch the last seconds of Kevin's warning. Michelle rushed over to Melanie, seeing the destroyed expression written all over her face. She hugged her, not needing an explanation, the looks on their faces were explanation enough to know what had just happened here. Brian ran over to Nick, who was now huddled on the floor, burying his head in his hands.
"Nick, what happened? Where's Sel? Why was Liz here?" his emotions so confused, it was hard for Brian to think straight, to fit the pieces together.
AJ had went over to Howie to comfort his best friend.
"It's ok Howie, you'll get Sel back. It's all just a mix up right now. You love her. That's all she'll need to know." AJ tried.
"Didn't you here her AJ? Didn't you listen to what she said. She said that my love wasn't enough, it just wasn't enough. How can she say that it's not enough?" Howie exclaimed nervously, his eyes welling with unwanted tears. "Oh Aj what have I done? I'm gonna lose her...I can't lose her." Howie noticed the small heep on the sand that NIck had transformed into, his wieght adding to the burden he carried, all of it becoming too much for Nick to even stand. Melanie and Brian kneeled next to him, comforting Nick just as AJ was doing for him.
Seeing Nick's distressed state, he realized he couldn't do this. Not this way. He was tearing them apart. He couldn't do that, not to Nick, not to the band, not to himself. they had worked too long and too hard to be so close, to trust so much. He couldn't lose Selena, his heart screamed that over and over, but he knew he couldn't lose his friend either.
Brushing away a single tear that had refused to dry up, he motioned to AJ to follow him, as he took the few steps over to where Nick sat (along with Michelle, Brian, and Mel). Kevin and Becca also joined the big group that had just formed along the sand. Looking up, Nick ran a hand wearily through his hair, the way he always does when he's unsure of something, nervous...he stood up, face to face with Howie. He looked into his friend's eyes, he saw only regret and sadness there. So lonely, so afraid.
At the same time they spoke, "I'm sorry."
Nick began, "I didn't mean to..."
To be interrupted by, "It wasn't my place to..."
Their nervous laughs broke the threatened silence. "Let me talk Nick." Howie requested. Nick nodded. "I shouldn't have said what I said. I'm glad you're happy with Melanie. I only wish you weren't dating Liz before. She's Sel's best friend. Its tough on all of us. I just snapped, I didn't know what to do. All I can say is that i'm sorry and I hope that you can forgive me."
"Howie, I need to apologize too. What i said about Sel's loyalty...that was uncalled for. If I came off as flaunting my new relationship, i didn't mean to. I just wanted to be here, with everyone, including Mel," he explained, pulling Mel next to him. "I don't want my breakup to screw things up for you and Sel. Howie, i didn't mean for any of this to happen, honest i didn't."
Finally understanding each other again, Nick put his hand out to shake Howie's. Deciding that wasn't enough, Nick and Howie hugged each other, to forgive to forget (just a quick hug...they were still trying not to get all sentimental)
"Aww guys...that was beautiful, does anybody have a tissue?" Brian teased, wiping away a fake tear, breaking the seriuousness of the moment.
***Later that Day***
Brian walked Michelle up the stairs to her apartment. he asked her bluntly, "So Michelle, when can i see you again?"
The question Michelle had been waiting to hear, finally it was real. Taking the beach bag which he held for her, she replied grinning, "Well, you know reporters. Everything in a New York minute."
"So, i'm guessing that means you wanna see me again real soon?"
"Yes, Bri...real soon."
He kissed her cheek lightly. Then, deciding at the last minute that he wanted their goodbye to be more easily remembered, he wrapped his arms around her waist kissing her until they were both breathless. Michelle pulled away and smiled, as her whole body felt numb with pure desire. His kisses were surely something that could drive her crazy.
Brian released her, still able to taste her on his lips, "I'll call you."
"You better," she teased, knowing he would.
***At Nick and Brian's Apartment***
Nick layed in bed, his sheets messed up, the radio on low, and the phone glued to his ear. "Aww, baby...I wish you were here. I could use a hug right now. I need you to make me laugh. PLease, next time i start to go off like i did with Howie, stop me. Don't let me get out of control...i...don't know what i would do without you..." Nick rambled on and on, talking to Melanie only a few minutes later from when he dropped her off at her place.
Melanie, still on cloud nine after hearing him call her baby for the first time, took in his words, and promised to do what he has asked. He called her 'baby' affectionetly once again before saying goodnite. He hung up the phone, promising to call her the next day.
He turned over to hit the lights on his night table, when he noticed the picture. He picked up the frame which he had so dearly stared at for nights on end. It was a picture of him with Liz, smiling on their one year anniversary...how could he have forgotten their two year anniversary was only days away. He sighed. Liz.
***A few hours later***
Howie sat in his hotel room, alone. It was midnight, and he wished Sel was by his side. He wanted to call Sel, to talk to her. To make up with her. She would understand eventually, he hoped. He ran over those 7 digits, her digits, over and over. To call, or not to call...that was the question. Unable to take it any longer, he picked up the phone, and slowly dialed the numbers which he had memorized so long ago.
Howie's draw dropped as he heard the deep male voice that answered the phone, "Hello??!! Hello..." it screamed. Howie slammed the phone down, unable to stop the repeated "hello" that sounded in his mind. Not so much the word that bothered him, it was the voice. His voice. He could never forget that voice. One question realed in Howie's mind. Why is HE answering her phone? Anger and fear buliding inside him at once, he grabbed is keys and stormed out of his apartment, knowing exactly where he was going.