"I started dating her around, about, 2 years ago. We met at some party, she was singing and I guess you could say it was kinda like love at first sight. She was so different from anyone I had ever met so, so." Nick trailed off staring at Candice.

"It's OK Nick." Candice hugged him, she could tell this was a very difficult subject for him to talk about. "Well, my ex and I met at one of my brothers parties. He was 15 at the time, I was 13. We hit it off so well at first, but he got possessive, I guess he loved me. I loved him." Tears filled her eyes.

"She was so nice at first. Everyone loved her, but then she, like, did a three sixty and hated everyone, even my mother. She was mean to everyone, the fans, Brent, my brother and sisters and even me. I don't know what I saw in her after she changed, but she wouldn't let me leave, she told me I couldn't do any better." He closed his eyes.

"We had all of our plans, two kids, big house, a whole life together. When he went off to college, he got really distant. He stopped calling and stopped visiting. I've always wanted to live in Florida, but he didn't." Candice continued.

"Then Brian finally convinced me it was for the best and I broke up with her about a month ago." Nick sighed.

"So, I decided I needed to move on so I dumped him and then I found out he had got a cheerleader pregnant," Candice laughed, "fat hoe." Nick smiled.
"It's getting dark, we better start heading back."
"Yeah," she wiped her eyes. "At least now we can help each other with getting over our ex's." Candice faked a smile.
"Yeah." Nick did the same. It's just not that easy, they both thought unloading the boat. The ride was completely silent besides for the radio. When they got home it was 11pm and they both headed for their separate houses. "This was really nice Nick, even if I cried most of the time." Candice spun around; Nick hugged her.
"Yeah, it was fun, but not like I planned it to be," Nick frowned.
"I'll see you later," she gave him one last hug and headed off to her house.
"Bye." Nick waved walking to his house. Candice stepped into her house tears filling her eyes again. "What am I gonna do!?" She whispered falling on her bed. She pulled her knees up to her chin and cried herself to sleep.

"So how was your date Nick?" B. J. teased the minute Nick stepped in the door.
"It wasn't a date Bobby!" Nick protested.
"Hmm mmmh." B. J. laughed. Nick rolled his eyes. The phone started to ring, Nick dived for it before B. J. could get to it. He held it up over his head and laughed.
"You're such a loser!" B. J. yelled stomping off to her room.

"Hello?"
"Hey Nick, it's Brian."
"Oh, hey sup?
"We start touring again in one week."
"One week, but I thought it was two." Nick whined.
"Nope it's always been one. I knew you would forget so management made me call you." Brian laughed.
"Ha ha. So what's the big deal?"
"We have a meeting tomorrow at nine am, be there. Hey but I've really got to go see ya then dude. Bye."
"Bye." Nick hung up. Nick really wanted to talk to Candice, so he dialed her number.

"Hello?" She choked out.
"You OK Candi?"
"Oh, yea Nick I'm cool," she held back tears. My past just will not go away. She thought bitterly.
"No, your not. What's wrong?"
"Yes I am!" Candice screamed. "No, Nick I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell."
"Then tell me what's wrong?"
"I'm just tired. Night Nick." She hung up.
"Candice!" Nick yelled into the dial tone. "What is wrong?" He slammed the phone down. "Damn her," He repeated in his head. He went up to his bedroom and fell asleep.

She awoke to the Florida sun blasting in through her windows. "My head," she mumbled sitting up. She got up and slowly walked downstairs, she had been feeling sick for the past few days and hadn't moved out of her bed. Amanda was down in the kitchen fixing eggs and toast. Candice's stomach turned as the sight and aroma of the food. She sat down at the table.
"Man Candi you look like crap." Amanda declared handing her a glass of orange juice.
"Thanks Manda."
"What's wrong?" Amanda studied her friends pale face.
"Nothin' I'm just tired and sick."
"No, Not again. Why?" Amanda yelled standing up.
"Amanda I'm fine really." Candice hugged her best friend.
"No, you're not, a doctor please."
"I'm fine Manda don't freak."
"Why? You're...Why do this?" Amanda pleaded almost crying.
"I'm so sorry, but Please don't tell Nick, please." Candice sat down.
"Fine," Amanda yelled storming out of the kitchen and slamming the front door as she left the house.
"God what am I doing." Candice screamed, throwing the plate of food across the kitchen and falling to the ground.

"Again," Fatima ordered.
"But," Nick whined.
"One, two, three," she clapped.
"I'm tired too," Kevin groaned.
"OK a 5 minute break, that's all!" Fatima grabbed a bottle of water and headed to the lounge.
"So, how's everything Frack?" Brian sat down next to Nick on the floor.
"OK," Nick took a giant gulp of his water. "What about you?"
"Good, I can't wait to get this tour started!" Brian slapped his friends back.
"Yeah," Nick agreed with little enthusiasm.
"What's on your mind bud?"

"Well, you know Candice right?" Brian nodded his head. "Well, I'm starting to like her more than just a friend, but.."
"But?" Brian stared at his best friend’s sad face.
"But she is pushing me away, like she is hiding something from me." Nick put his hands on his head.
"Maybe you should ask her..or Amanda. There she is now," Brian pointed to the figure hugging Aj.
"Thanks Bri, You're the best later dude." Nick stood up. "Hey Amanda!" He waved his arms over his head to gain her attention.
"Sup Nicky?"
"Hey J, I just wanted to talk to Amanda, ALONE."
"Sure Bye bye Bone." Amanda kissed Aj and walked over to the exit door and stepped outside; Nick followed her.

"So, sup Nick?"
"Well, it's um, Candice."
"What?" Amanda Hoped she could lie to Nick Just don't look into his eyes she repeated in her head.
"Well, she's acting different and looks so, so.."
Sick, frail, gaunt, awful, bleak, morbid, pick one Amanda screamed in her head.
"What are you talking about? I think she looks normal." Amanda lied.
"No, she...doesn't." Nick shifted trying to look in Amanda's eyes. "Damn it Amanda just tell me!"
"I'm sorry Nick, but we're three minutes late and Fatima is pissed," Howie stuck his head out the door.
"You are so lucky Amanda!" Nick hissed opening the door.
"That was close." Amanda sighed with relieve, falling against the brick wall.

"Hey Beej sup?" Candice smiled opening the door,
"Hey, Candi sup?"
"Nothing, you ready?"
"Yup lets jet, you Ok?" B.J. frowned.
"I'm fine," Candice smiled sweetly grabbing her keys and opening the door.

"So we are leaving next week?" Nick squealed.
"Yeah in five days, where's Candi?"
"Her and Beej went shoppin' today, I think." Nick took another piece of pizza.
"Oh.." Brian raised an eyebrow.
"I haven't seen her all week," Nick sighed. "I think she is hiding from me, and I have no clue why!"
Brian didn't know what to say, he didn't know Candice very well or where Nick and her stood in their relationship, all he knew was Nick had finally gotten over his ex, or so he hoped, for his best friends sake.

"These are so cool!" B.J. exclaimed holding up a pair of leather pants.
"Way to fat for those..." Candice sighed looking through the rack of pants.
"Whatever Candi you're what a size...four," B.J. stated looking her up and down.
"Three," Candice mumbled. "Now this is cute!" she held up a yellow sundress.
"I love that."
"And with that leather coat!"
"I already have like two, but nothing I have looks good with them."
"Well, we will just have to get you more clothes then girlie," Candice smiled putting her arm around B.J.
"Guess so."
"Lets go check out the rest of this mall!"

"So, I told her about Mandy," Nick sighed.
"Ow talking about ex-girlfriends with your new girlfriend not cool," Brian teased.
"She's not my.."
"..Girlfriend, I know."
"I don't think she ever will be either."
"Nick, if you really want this girl you are gonna have to go and get her." Brian put his arm around Nick's shoulder.
"I guess so, thanks dude."
"Just don't go and skip out on us!"
"I won't Rok, don't worry bout that." Nick walked out of the lounge and to his car, he hoped B.J. and Candice were home.

"Come on girl just eat it." B.J. begged.
"I'm not hungry, really I'm fine."
"Whatever." B.J. gave up and shoved her last fry in her mouth.
"I think it's time to go I've spent all of my money."
"Yeah me too let's go," B.J. laughed, "We only bought half of the mall."
"Come on Beej." Candice laughed dropping her arm around B.J’s shoulder and dragging her to the car.
"Bye Candi see you tomorrow, I had fun today." B.J. waved heading toward her door.
"Bye Beej, I had fun too!" Candice continued to walk to her house and stopped by her basketball hoop. I need to work on my game she thought walking in her house but I'll change first.

"Come on go in Damnit." Candice yelled watching the ball fall to the ground for the billionth time that afternoon. "I freaking suck!" She shot and missed again. Nick watched her from his porch and laughed at her cursing at the ball and hoop. He wanted to go and talk to her so bad, but he was worried about what she would say.
"Damn ball," she yelled collapsing on the ground.
"Whoa you Ok?" Nick ran over to her and helped her up.
"Yeah I'm fine." She said coldly moving away from him.