"What's wrong Candice," Nick asked walking into her dark room, as Back to your Heart played softly in the background. She rolled over and looked at him thoughtfully.
"Nick..my life suckin' fuck," she slurred with a hiccup, he could smell the alcohol on her breath.
"Candice, you shouldn't be drinkin'," he sat next to her and took her hand.
"You tryin' to put moves on me boys," she pulled away from him giggling.
"You're not supposed to drink! Think of Bitsy!"
"Well, maybe she should have thought fore she slept with Pat, fore she had me," Nick shook his head.
"Don't do this, please," he grabbed both of her hands, so she couldn't hit him or anything else.
"No! Kiss me," Candice grinned.
"You're drunk," he insisted.
"So," she smiled. "There's a bottle of Jack Daniel's under my pillow, some whisky under my bed and some vodka in my dresser."
"Dude! You're crazy!"
"Am I really Nick?" She held onto his hands tighter.
"I-I," she moved closer to him, licking her lips. "No!" Nick jumped up. "I won't do it!"
"Nickers-babe-Nicky, sweet child, don't you thank me sexy?"
"No, you're drunk and dumb!" Nick said sharply, walking out of her room. She laid back down on her bed and listen to the lyrics. Who changed the song? She wondered as tears filled her eyes..

I'll be the one, I'll be the one
Who will make all your sorrows undone
I'll be the light, I'll be the light
When you feel like there's nowhere to run
I'll be the one
To hold you and make sure that you'll be all right
'Cause my fear is gone
And I want to take you from darkness to light
There you were, wild and free
Reaching out like you needed me
A helping hand to make it right
I am holding you all through the night

She sat at the table and sipped slowly on her coffee. Events from last night repeated in her head, she shook her head trying to get rid of the images; no use. Why the hell do I always remember everything when I drink? She thought sourly. I hate hangovers!

Nick walked into the kitchen and saw her at the table, twirling her spoon in her coffee. He said nothing. It's her job to apologize, he thought sternly.

Candice watched him walk right past her as he grabbed a cup and the morning paper. Say something, her head screamed. "Nick," his head popped up quickly from the newspaper and she lost all nerve she had mustard up. "I'm sorry," she said just below a whisper. She said it! His head cheered, he held back the smile that wanted to beam on his lips. He slowly walked over to the table and sat across from her. She couldn't look up at him, couldn't look in the eye and he knew it.
"It's ok," he took her hand from across the table.
"Nick, I was so stupid, I should have never got drunk and I know I shouldn't, ever say anything to you last night."
"Promise me. Promise me you'll never drink again!" Nick watched her head look up and turn toward his, her eyes were captured by his.
"I promise you, Nick, I'll never drink again," her eyes stayed locked with his the whole time. She saw the compassion and warmth that had always been in his eyes, always for her. The thought of loving someone so soon, or ever again, scared her to death. She knew Nick saw it, she could see the concern on his face, but as soon as she smiled, his face lit up, too. "Nick, I'm so sorry about last night. I'm so stupid..I'm scared of love," Candice tore her eyes away from his.
"Don't be scared," he whispered. "There's nothin' to be scared of, love shouldn't hurt."
"It does, Nick, it hurts so bad!" Tears began to fill her eyes, she choked them back, letting a few cascade down her cheeks. She turned away from him and quickly wiped them away and sniffled.
"Don't, please..don't cry," Nick said in a low voice.
"You're scared, too," she said softly, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall down her already red cheeks.
"Yeah, the thought scares me, but if it isn't meant to be then it shouldn't hurt," Candice almost laughed at his logic.
"Oh, Nicky," she stood up and walked over to his chair, pushing him over a little and sitting down next to him, she wrapped her arms around him tightly. "I wish you were right," she whispered kissing his cheek.
"Me, too."

"Nick, I've gotta do something," she pulled away from him slowly. "I have to go back to Missouri."
"Why," he asked shocked.
"I have to get my stuff, but first I want to find a house in Florida."

"You don't wanna live here," Nick asked trying not to show his disappointment.
"Nick, I'm almost 21 and you're 20. I just don't feel like we are ready for that."
"I see, so you can move right down the street," Candice chuckled.
"I love you Carter. Let's go look," Nick sighed and took her hand. "To you're computer!"
"Great," Nick rolled his eyes.
"You know I love the Internet! Oh maybe Courtney is on," Candice cheered dropping Nick's hand and running to his computer.
"You're way too crazy for me," Nick sat in the chair next to hers.
"Oh look Courtney isn't on. I know I'm crazy, great isn't it?" Candice laughed, "Now, Nick I'm gonna show you what Teeny Bopper Land really looks like! Ready?" Nick smiled and pretended to think.
"Yes, I am," he laughed lightly.

"Nick, you're not engaged are you," Candice chuckled deleting an email.
"You gonna marry me?"
"No," Candice grinned at him.
"Well, than nope I'm not," he frowned.
"Oh, Nick. You don't wanna be tied down with some girl," Candice said jokingly.
"How do you know that," Nick asked taking the comment offensively.
"Oh, Nick don't do this," Candice stood up grabbing his hand and pulling him up with her.
"Do what?"

"Nick," she took his hand in her own and stood on her tip toes so she was eye to eye with him. "I want this love to grow, I don't want either of us to get hurt," she looked down. "We both know we don't belong together."
"Don't even fuckin' say that, you know we do, you're just a chicken shit," Nick snapped walking away from her, as tears filled his eyes.
"Nick," she cried falling back into her chair. He was pissed, she knew that. She had hurt him..a lot, way too much, she knew this as well. She knew she was messing up, what could be the greatest love of her life, but why didn't she care?