"Mandy?" Nick squinted.
"Hey baby!"

"Hey Amanda," Candice answered her phone.
"So, is Nick back?"
"Is that really why you called me?"
"Um..Yeah."
"Well, he is," Candice said bluntly.
"Oh and hey do you have Bone's number?"
"Yeah...why?" She asked raising her eyebrow.
"Well, I have his cell number but I've lost his home number, you know how I am."
"Oh..Ok," she grabbed her little red phone book.

"Mandy you shouldn't be here.." Nick stammered.
"Who changed you Nicky?" Mandah stood up slowly walking closer to him.
"I--I did--you need to leave." He demanded pointing to the door.
"You know your phone call was very mean," she said sweetly.
"I'm sorry," Nick caved in, dropping his head to look at his feet.
"Oh Nicky..baby..It's, OK!" Mandy lifted his head, it fell right back down. "You know we belong together right?" He shook his head yes. "That's my good boy," she kissed his lips hard. "OK now you go to bed and we will talk about this tomorrow OK," She twirled her hair.
"Night," he whispered, swiftly walking past her. He headed for the stairway he could feel her cold eyes on him, he hurried up the stairs and to his room. Four pugs greeted him when he opened his door. "Down guys I'm really tired," he muttered falling on his bed. What am I gonna do? he thought half-asleep.

"Hello?" Candice asked sleepily.
"Hey sunshine," a cheerful voice almost yelled.
"Go away Amanda."
"I just wanted to let you know I'm not there I'm in New York stupid and plus I'm so happy!"
"Why?"
"Two letters, Aj."
"Oh I should have know."
"So anyway! What's Nick look like right now?"
"I wouldn't know," Candice hissed growing angrier.
"Why not?" Amanda asked shocked.
"Don't sound so shocked..we aren't dating and plus he has his own house," Candice snapped.
"Sorry geeze!"
"Amanda it's 7am, only you and birds are up this early..I'll call you later ok?"
"K bye." Candice hung up now wide-awake when the door bell rang.

"Hold on!" She yelled throwing on some nearby shorts.
"Hey!"
"Aj," her eyes grew wide.
"Can I come in?" He asked walking past her and into the house.
"Yeah sure," she mumbled.
"Why are you up so early anyway?" Aj grabbed a water bottle out of her refrigerator and sat on her table.
"Well, some stupid loser was at my door!" She hit his shoulder.
"Well, do you wanna go shopping with a stupid loser?" He asked grabbing a bowl and some cereal.
"You can go shopping?" Candice teased.
"No, I have to stay in my house for the next 3 years! Yes, I can go shopping!"
"Well, I do love shopping, even if I have to go with a stupid loser who eats all my food everytime he comes over!"
"Hey I've only been over here twice!"
"True."

"OK now lets go shopping girly..maybe even get a new tattoo." Aj shoved a spoon full of cereal in his mouth and continued, "I am..Nick is busy anyway," he stopped midsentence cursing himself out in his head.
"Huh?" she walked over next to him.
"Oh nothing, nothing."
"No, tell me!"
"It's just Mandy."
"Why would," she trailed off.
"I'm sorry," Aj put down his empty bowl and hugged her.
"Why are you sorry, Nick and I are just Friends, now lets shop."
"That's my girl," he saw the hurt in her eyes. "How about we get some McDees on the way there?"
"You just ate!"
"I know, but I'll be hungry when we get there," he whined flashing her big puppy dog eyes.
"Oh fine," she gave into him.
"Nick can sure pick um," Aj mumbled under his breath.

"This is so cool J you gotta get it!" "Yeah that's phat, but Ok I'll get it." "Lets see we've spent all my money and believe it or not almost all of yours." "Damn...well I guess we have to go home now," he pretended to pout.
"Aww we can come back next weekend," she put her arms around his waist.
"Yeah I guess so."
"Um Aj?" she asked nervously.
"What's wrong?"
"Aj run!" She yelled grabbing his hand and started to run to the exit.
"What?" He asked looking over his back at the growing group of girls.
"See now?"
"Yeah." She opened the door and scanned the parking lot for her car.

"There..there's your car!" Aj pointed as the group screamed flying out of the mall door. Candice franticly unlocked the passenger side door as the screams got louder. Aj hopped in the car as she jumped over the hood and unlocked her door.
"Go!..Go now!" Aj yelled as the group surrounded her car.
"I am!" She hit the gas trying not to hit any of the girls. This is great they are probably writing down my license plate numbers, she thought bitterly.
"Thanks..I really don't wanna deal with the fans today..I need a break from all the attention."
"You're welcome, You don't want attention? That's shocking!"
"Why? have you been reading those magazines again?" He took off his sunglasses and looked at her making a serious face. She laughed, "I love your eyes." She through her hand over her mouth.
"Thanks," he grinned putting on his new sunglasses, "I think."
"Well, I had fun today."
"Yeah me too!"

"So, Nick what do you wanna do today?" Mandah yelled up the stairs. "Nicky?" She walked up the stairs and opened his door, "are you gonna play that dumb thing all day long?"
"God Mandy," he threw down the controller, "I was
She laughed, "call Teen Beat Nick can think!"
"Shudda up! You know what I was thinking?"
She played along with her hands on her hips, "no what?"
"I don't even care what you think, Get out of my house!"
"But Nicky," she protested.
"Out!" He yelled pointing to the door. He wasn't going to let her get to him this time, he already made that decision.
"Fine but I'll be back Nickay," she stomped out of his room and out the front door.

"Hello?"
"Nick," an unfamiliar female voice asked.
"Yeah," he hesitated trying to place the voice.
"This is Amanda, you know from next door."
"Oh hey," Nick sighed with relief.
"I just wanna ask you something."
"Um..Aj's not here."
"Yeah I know, But I gotta ask you a favor."
"Ok shoot."
"Well, can you please just...um I don't know how to say this.....can you please just watch and make sure Candice eats--please!" Nick sat in silence thinking about what Amanda had just asked.
"Why?"
Amanda hesitated, "Um she'll kill me if I tell you this but I think you should know."
"What is it?"
"Well...she's--she, she's how can I say this...she's starving herself.." Both of them fell silent, Amanda wanted to hang up and run away but she had to make sure he wouldn't tell anyone. "Please don't tell her I told you," Amanda begged.
"Bye," Nick whispered hanging up the phone. He sat there in shock, Why? Why would she do this? Nick thought putting on his sandals, then he headed down the stairs one questioned repeated in his head; Why? It really wasn't a long walk only about five minutes, but to him it seemed like it took hours. He didn't even knock on the door he just walked in, he headed straight for the patio. She was always there in the afternoon.

"Hey Nick," she smiled looking up from her book. "Can we talk?" He asked sitting on the end of her chair.
"Sure," she sat down her book, "bout what?"
"A lot," he frowned looking at her, she was wearing his shirt and some baggy jeans. Glancing at her she looked fine, but her face was pale. "What's wrong?" Nick asked staring into her pale eyes, which were normally dark blue and bright.
"Nothing," she looked away from his eyes.
"Don't lie to me," he demanded getting louder.
"Why was Mandy at your house all last night?"

"Don't change the subject damnit," he screamed.
"Get out!" Candice stood up. "I'm fine Nick, I'm just fine, I don't need you!" Once she had said it she wanted to take every word back, tears filled her eyes.
"Well," he screamed turning to the door.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"I'm sorry too," he whispered.
"Come here," He pulled her tiny frame under his arm.
"I'm so sorry Nickels..really I am," she whispered.
"I know and Amanda called me and told me everything," he pulled her in front of him and looked down at her face, "and I want to help."
"Nick."
"How can I help you?"
"You can't," she frowned.
"Wha," he stood dumbfounded.
"I wish you could but you--you just can't," she whispered.

"I want to and I will," he pulled her back into a hug. "So what are we gonna do today?"
"Umm..well first I wanna know something," she looked up at him grinning.
"What?"
"Do you love me?" She whispered in his ear.