He walked around his pool, around his back yard and finally made his way out to his garage, hopping into the first car he saw, not noticing nor caring what he drove, he just wanted to get away. Away from his heartache. I'm so stupid, he thought drumming his fingers on the steering wheel while he was stopped at a red light. "Why the hell did I think she loved me? Me, Nick Carter, her neighbor. Not some piece of blonde meat," he yelled aloud. He had no clue where he was driving himself, he didn't really care at this point.

She paced back and forth in his room, the bed; made. She was beginning to worry, he had been gone all night, she hadn't slept a wink. He took his Prowler, he never drives that car, she thought. The thought scared her, he had driven away in a huff and that wasn't safe. "I do love you Nick," she whispered falling onto his bed.

He watched as the light began to show, just below the horizon. "Quiet," he mumbled happily. "This is all I need for the rest of my life," he whispered as the sun started to kiss the water. He plunged his feet into the cool sand and sighed. Nick watched the sun rise, he had always been mesmerized by nature. He watched the tide coming in, he stood up and grabbed his shoes, the morning joggers would soon show up, well more of them at least. That's all he needed; a bunch of fans. He walked over to his car and moaned.
"Why the hell did I take my Prowler," he asked a loud. He shook his head and clamped his shoes together, making sure to get every last grain of sand off his shoes, so it stayed out of his car and on the beach.

She heard the door open and jumped to her feet. He stood there; no shoes and the same shirt and sweats as the night before. He brushed past her and ran up the stairs. She heard the sound of the shower and held back tears, she hated what she was about to do almost as much as Nick hated her right now. Why don't you just walk away? She thought to herself. It would be SO easy!

She tapped on the bathroom door and heard the water shut off.
"What," he asked flatly.
"Nick," she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," he opened the door; towel hugging his waist.
"Sorry," he spat. "Me, too." He looked away from her, knowing the pain each would see at the moment. He walked away and slammed his bedroom door hard behind him. She slowly drug her body to his door and tried turning the handle; locked.
"Gettin' good at this Carter," she whispered leaning against his door. He opened the door quickly causing her to fall into his arms. He held her closely before pushing her away quickly. She glanced into his now dark and cold eyes, showing nothing but hurt and pain.
"Nick, I'm so," she started.
"Sorry," he finished for her coldly. "Like I care."
"Nick, what's wrong?"
"Oh my fuckin' god!" Nick screamed, "you tell me, you basically feel like I'm your little brother, and THEN have enough nerve to ask me what the fuck is wrong!?" Nick hissed. "Oh!" He clenched his fist together.
"I never meant to hurt you! I do love you, with all my heart," she stepped closer to him.
"Oh don't feed me that bullshit! I gave you my life, my heart, my soul! I let you into my world and you fuckin' wrecked it!" His eyes were soon filling with tears, he pushed them back with a huge gulp.
"Nick, I never meant to hurt you! And I DID NOT wreck you're life! YOU did..so don't even blame me! You're right..you let me in and you've kept me here..all this time! Don't tell me I wrecked you're fuckin' perfect life! I'm still here. I never left you!"
"Candice left..you aren't my Candice! You're a stupid bitch!" Nick screamed his words out, slamming the door in her face. He locked the door behind him, then slowly slumped down to the floor, back still against the door. He pulled his knees up to his chest and cried.

She heard his tears and wanted to reach out and hold him, but turned away from the door instead. She felt tears running down her cheeks while she ran to her room. She collapsed down on her bed and cried herself to sleep, not that she could've stopped the tears from flowing.

"Nick!" She screamed throwing herself up in bed. As soon as her eyes adjusted to the now dark room, she sighed. She crawled out of her bed and headed towards Nick's room. The dream had scared her to death, well almost. It was so vivid, so real, images still flashed in her head causing her to shiver. Why did I dream Nick had died? Why now? Do I really love him? Does he even love me? All these thoughts filled her head as she turned his door handle; unlocked. She opened his door slowly and turned on his light, he wasn't in there. She walked out of his room and headed downstairs knowing exactly where he was.

He ran a hand through his hair and looked back out to the water, he smiled at his decision to live near the bay, he loved the water. It seemed to calm him. He didn't know what to do, he could always send her back home and go on his search for the "perfect" girlfriend. He laughed, "if only life was that simple!"
"Nick," he jumped a little at the sound of her voice. He hadn't even took noticed she was standing behind him.
"What," he asked coldly as she sat next to him.
"Nick..please. Don't do this," she reached for his hand.
"Why not?" He turned his body away from hers, his back now facing her.
"I never meant to hurt you," she whispered sounding like a little girl.
"You left me. You've hurt me time and time again. I just don't think I can do this anymore," he said sadly turning around to face her. He would have cried, but he didn't think he had any tears left, after earlier that day. With every word, his whole body shook with pain and anger mixed.

"Nick, if this isn't right, than it's just not..we can't do anything bout it!" Nick finally looked at her, dead in the eyes. She wanted to much to tare her eyes away from his, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She saw his fear, pain, anger and the love. She felt a chill run down her spine as she inhaled deeply. "I thought about us all night and day Nick. I don't think I could even began to tell you how much you mean to me! I doubt I could possibly live without you in my life! It hurts me, so much, when I hurt you! I don't mean to..I do love you Nick, I do." Tears stung her eyes has she finished in a low whisper. She watched as Nick's eyes softened.
"That's the way I feel." She pulled her eyes away from his as the soft sound of music began to float through the air.
"What's that sound?"
"I have no clue," Nick crapped her hand and made his way back to his house, and the music.

"I love you," she whispered kissing his lips.
"I love you," he smiled as the song ended.
"Nick," she asked leaving a trail of kisses from his lips to his neck.
"Mmh?"
"I never want to hurt you again," he smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Nick! Look!" Candice declared jumping up and down in front of the computer. "I found my perfect house!"
"Where?" Nick asked running into the office.
"It's in Tampa, so it may be a little bit of a drive but it's SO cute!" She pointed at the screen and grinned.
"It's an old colonial house," Nick commented with little enthusiasm. She knew Nick wanted her to live with him, but somewhere in her heart, she knew it was a bad idea and would never work. Plus with the boys releasing a new album soon, and wanting to promote it to the max, he would have no time for her. She sighed.
"Isn't it cute," Candice asked happily, hoping to lighten up the mood.
"Great," he began to rub her back. "When do we leave?" Candice choked when he said 'we', as much as she loved Nick, she didn't want to risk it. She had visited him in London, once, and they both prayed that no one had seen them, it was basically hell. It was only a 5 hour deal, but the idea of fans mobbing her scared them both.

"Nick, I think it might be better if you stay here." She said softly trying to act happy.
"Yeah that might be best," he sighed hugging her.
"I'll be back in a week or two, maybe even three," Candice kissed his lips thoughtfully.
"Two weeks?"
"Well, I have to buy a house, pack, close on it. Plus sell mine."
"I love you," he smiled.
"We are acting like we live right down the street from each other, not four states away! We shouldn't be driving back and forth like this!"
"It's insane, I know!"
"I love you, too." Candice laughed rolling her eyes.
"I'm so tired," Nick sighed holding her tighter.
"Me, too. I'm gonna leave tomorrow morning and then it's three days of driving! Arg!"
"Why don'tcha fly?"
"Are you crazy? And leave my brand new Durango with YOU! Are you insane?"
"Maybe," he grinned flashing her his puppy dog eyes.
"Oh gimme a break Carter!"
"Carter eh?" He asked walking over to her with the sexist grin on his face.
"Yeah, Carter," she laughed as he sung his hips from side to side.
"Funny am I," he asked sitting next to her.
"Y'know what you're doin' right?" He smiled and leaned into kiss her, She wrapped her arms around him and leaned more into the kiss.

She sighed pulling into her driveway, the house was completely dark. "Like a robber would turn on the lights anyway," she murmured grabbing her backpack and making her way to the door. She dropped her back in the foyer and walked into the kitchen, she didn't even notice the dark shadow sitting at her table.
"Candice," a voice said in a flat tone, she screamed reaching for the light switch.