"Nick?" She looked up at him from her bowl of chips.
"Yeah?"
"This seems so, so.."
"I know." He reached for her hand and held onto it tight.
"I mean. Do you remember when we first met?"
"Seems like a hundred years ago." He chuckled looking over at her.
"Do you remember the first song you sang to me?"

Chills ran up and down her spine at the memory. "Everytime I hear that song Nick," she whispered wrapping her arms around his waist. "Everytime I hear it, my heart swells and I fall in love with you all over again." Nick kissed her head and wiped away a small tear that had began its way down her cheek. I'll take it Candi Girl and I'll treasure it forever, he thought smiling.
"Take it Nick. Take it forever," she whispered falling asleep in his arms; he smiled. He would wait 20 years if he had to.

"I love Black and Blue," Candice grinned up at him.
"I knew you would," he laughed and switched his phone to his other shoulder.
"So, when are you off?"
"I have no clue. I'm ready to tour so bad! I wanna get up and dance and sing. I miss it."
"Aww. Poor guy."
"I know poor me. So what are ya gonna gemme for Christmas?"
"Um. What doesn't Nick have that he needs? Um." She held back laughter at his question. What am I gonna get him? A tie? Haha. How about..No!
"Hey! I know what I'm gonna get you!"
"What?"
"If I tell ya it won't be a surprise. So ya have to wait! Haha loser!"
"Well. So do you! Loser."
"Anyway. No ties, like last year. Eww!! I can't believe ya actually got me a tie! Me! A tie!! Gross!"
"IT was green," she laughed.
"So is grass. Don't mean I want it."
"Gosh are you spoiled or what?"
"Can't ya like... Come visit me instead?" Nick asked grinning. Even though I probably won't have time for ya! But that's not the point!

"Nick. I would love to come and visit you but..I'm at school and all." She lied. She wanted to visit him so badly. The phone calls were nice, but she missed the time. Not that they had, had much in the first place.
"I'll be too busy anyway. I want to tour so bad! Man."
"Nick. Man. What are ya gettin' Candi for Christmas?"
"I'm not gonna tell ya!"
"OH! C'mon Nicky! Pwease!!" She gave the phone puppy dog eyes.
"No! If you tell me what your gettin' me!"
"Now how is that fair? In any way? You aren't ever fair Carter."
"I know. Cuz I'm spoiled."
"Sure."
"Hey! Ok I'm gonna get ya um." Nick grinned. He truly had no clue what he was going to get her. Aj could help me pick out a shirt or something. He shook his head and grinned. "So did ya like Shining Star?"
"Nick?"
"Did ya?"
"Yeah. It's one of my favorite songs on the album."
"Good."
"Why?"
"Cuz I was thinkin' bout ya when I was writing for it. I told Bone bout that and he was all ..yeah she is a shining star."
"Aww. That's so sweet!"
"I know."
"Nick! God! You're so stuck up!"
"Just when I talk to you!"
"Haha. I feel so loved! Hey but I would love to hear you ramble on bout how hot and stuff you are..but, I've gotta go. Talk to you later!"
"Bye."
Click.
Click.

"Hey Candi!" A voice screamed from the entryway.
"Amanda!" Candice shrieked running down the staircase. She leaped at her best friend and smiled hugging her tightly.
"I missed ya so much!" Amanda whispered in her best friend's ear.
"I missed ya more. How long as it been? Three months?"
"Close enough! God I missed ya! Happy late Thanksgiving!"
"C'mon let's sit down and talk! Happy Thanksgiving to ya too!"
"I tried to call, but I only got your machine."
"Sorry bout that," Candice held her friends hand as they walked into her entertainment room. "I was chillin' with Nick and J."
"Oh. Sounds like fun."
"I love ya Mandi. How long are you staying?" Amanda smiled over at her friend. "How long?"
"Til May!"
"Ohmigod! Are you for real? Ohmy! This is so great!" Candice squealed with delight as she wrapped her arms around her best friend.

"I SO hate Christmas shoppin'!" Candice groaned sitting down on the nearest bench.
"Oh c'mon! lt's only noon, and plus ya still have more people to buy for!" Amanda pulled her friend off the bench and walked into the nearest clothing store.
"Who do ya have left?"
"Bri and Leigh, my mom and dad, and Nick." Candice sighed skimming the store.
"Um." Amanda grabbed her friends hand and walked out of the store. "Nick. Nick? Um. What shall we get that dear boy?" She grinned evilly at her friend.
"Dunno." Candice snickered at her friend and noticed a calendar set up in the middle of the mall.
"Oh! Let's get ya a calendar!" Amanda screech running toward the booth. "Look it's Nick!"
"Yeay," Candice whispered walking up behind her friend. "It's 12.50!"
"So?"
"It's only like 10 dollars at the card shop!" Candice smiled at her friend.
"And like I said before. SO?"
"MANDI! I'm not gonna pay that much for those pictures!"
"Ok! Fine. Fine," Amanda put the calendar pack on the rack when the guy selling them mumbled something about Backstreet Boys.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh. I was just sayin' how ugly he is." The man said with a smile. "That's why we have his face covered up." The man motioned toward the calendars. Candice frowned.

"You know you f.." Amanda pulled her friend away from the booth.
"Chill out!"
"No! That fat bastard is ugly! He just shouldn't go makin' comments 'bout people who can't defend themselves!" Candice hissed pulling her arm out of her friends grip.
"Candice. It's ok. Nick doesn't mind ok? It's ok." Amanda pulled her keys out of her purse and smiled. "He was pretty fat and ugly though," she whispered reaching for her friends arm.
"Yeah. Stupid old fat men. I hate um." Candice wrapped her arm around Amanda's and they walked out of the mall giggling.

"Phone!" Candice screamed diving over her friend and picking up her phone. "Hola!"
"Hey."
Nick.
"Hey boy! What's shaken?"
"Haha. So, what are ya up to?"
"Um..I'm watchin' a movie with Manda and eatin' lots of fattin' foods and then we are gonna..naw. I'm not gonna tell ya!" Nick heard muffled laughter in the background.
"Did you hire a male stripper again? Damn." He snickered.
"No! I-I! It was all Amanda's idea! I swear!" She laughed playing along with him. "So. What is Nick up to tonight?"
"Sittin' around on the computer! I'm soo bored!" He whined walking away from his computer and turning on his TV.
"Um. So ya call me. I see how you are!"
"Yeah. Well, anyway. I got your Christmas present and it's tight!"

"Oh! Wait!" She screamed fumbling the phone around in her hands as she tossed it to her friend. Nick heard mumbling then a new voice.
"So..Nick. What did ya get Candice?" Nick burst into laughter.
"A tie." He chuckled.
"A tie?!" Candice screeched grabbing the phone out of her friends hands.
"But it's green!" Nick sang.
"Haha. I don't wanna talk to ya anymore Nick. Call me when you're not bein' an ass. Naw but for real. I'll probably call ya tomorrow or whenever! Bye brat!"
"Cya."
"Did ya have ta be so mean?" Amanda asked through her laughter.
"Yeah. If he even got me a green tie. I swear! I'm gonna kick his butt!"

The words came out of her mouth so fast.

Click.

OH shit! What have I done?!

The words rang in her ears. The dial tone tugged at her heart.
I'm a dumbass! Ohmigod! Ohmigod! Why?

She pressed END on the phone and walked away from the phone still criticizing herself about what she had just done.

Out of nowhere! I just..Ohmigod! Boom! Like that! Oh he hates me! I should call him! Ohmigod! I think I'm gonna be sick!
She ran into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

"Are you ok?" A voice asked. It was screaming at her. She covered her ears and sat down letting the steaming water cascade down her clothed body.

He hates you! You ruined your friendship. He hates you. Hates you.

"Stop!" She screamed turning off the water and running into her friends arms.
"What's wrong?" Her friend cried.
"I did it." She sobbed into her friends shoulder. "I did it."
"Did what?" Her friend looked up at her confused.
"I just ended my friendship with Nick." Tears steamed down her face as she buried her face once again into her friends shoulder.