She folded down the sheets and slowly crawled into his bed, wearing one of his shirts. Every single item of his clothing smelt exactly like him, a mixture of sweat, the ocean, and a dab of cologne. She inhaled the scent, which alone caused a trail of goosbumps to form on her arms and legs. She wished she could bottle it up and keep it forever. She closed her eyes and fell into a light content sleep.

His smile faded a little as he entered his silent home. She wasn't there to greet him. He chuckled softly. "Dumbass, you aren't supposed to be home until next week." He walked into the kitchen and frowned when she wasn't there. It was only ..well, he glanced down at his watch. It was only midnight. He yawned slowly as he walked in and out of every room downstairs. He sighed figuring she was at Howard's or at the school dorm. All he wanted was sleep at the moment. He took off his shirt as he climbed his way up the stairs. "I should get an elevator," he thought aloud snickering at the thought. He stopped in front of his room and groaned. His whole body was sore. Having slept maybe 15 hours in the past 36 was catching up with him. He slid off his pants and started the forward trek toward his bed. When his knee came into contact with an elbow he jumped back as a loud scream was released from his mouth. "Holyhell!" He hissed almost falling backward.
"Nickolas?" She rubbed her eyes, trying to adjust to the darkness.
"Sorry." He looked down as she fumbled for the lap switch.
"No, I am... what are you doin' here?"
"This is my house. And I missed you." He smiled as she moved over allowing some space for him to sit down on the bed as well.
"I'll go to my room. I'm sorry. I-I..just." He grabbed her arm and smiled.
"Don't be."
"I am." She stood up and returned his smile.
"That's mine!" He declared pointing at the shirt she wore. She grinned sheepishly and batted her eyes at him. "I have to!" She pleaded. "The minute you leave, they call my name! They cry 'Candice Please wear us!'" She Hollered. Nick was rolling on the bed with laughter.
"I bet they do," he choked trying to catch his breath.
"They do!" She grinned collapsing onto the bed.
"Whatever," he muttered as he began to gain his breath. "Go to bed to Candice."
"They do call me, Nickolas," she whispered as she jumped off his bed. "Well, fine then Mr. Party Pooper." She winked at him and walked towards his door. "I'll see you later, goodnight Nickolas." She swayed her hips dramatically as she reached his door and walked out shutting it softly behind her. She heard his laughter ring out again from the hallway. Next, she heard a loud bang and bust out into a fit of giggles at the thought of Nick actually falling out of his bed.

"My ass is okay!" He screamed. This sent Candice into a full out howl.
"Goodnight Nickolas!" She screamed from her room, between her laughter. She snickered at the thought of Nick having a bruised ass. As soon as she pulled down her sheets, she dashed out of her room, down the hall and into Nick's room. His room was pitch black and she knew she scared the crap out of him, she could just make out the whites of his very wide eyes. "Night," she whispered kissing his forehead. She grinned seeing his smile even in the dark.

"Night Candice," he beamed. She was one of his favorite people. He could just be Nickolas around her, some weird, un-sexy, video game lovin' doofus. He could be completely and totally UN-Backstreet Boyish. He could fart and burp and walk around without clothes, and cuss and scream and cry. He could be human with her. When he walked around naked, which wasn't often, she would wear sunglasses and scream about his white ass blinding her. When he started whining about something, she would cover her ears and sing NSYNC, but then she would pretend to realize his whining was better than some of their songs and stop singing. She had a bright personality and the spunk to match. She always called him Nickolas, never Nick or Frack or any other nickname. Sure, she did have her own nicknames for him like Teddybear, blondie, or Mr. Party Pooper, just because she was weird like that. He didn't even ask where she got the nicknames; he was scared to know anyway. He chucked, he missed her terribly and she was just down the hall. Realizing he would never actually get to sleep now that he was thinking about her, he decided he needed some fresh ocean air to clear his thoughts.

He quickly made his way out of his home and onto the back docks. He sat down on the dock and hung his feet over, enjoying the cool ocean breeze. The waves crashed brutally against the shore and darks clouds began to cover the moon. He loved the ocean, if he had to chance to become a fish and swim away he would not have to think twice about it, he would just do it. His mind began to wonder, but all too soon he felt a hand come down on his shoulder, causing him to scream.
"Sorry!" She cried stepping back from his body.
"Holy geeze wow!" He gasp as she sat down next to him.
"Sorry," she dangled her legs off the dock as well. "Next time I'll wear bells or something," she snickered hitting his shoulder playfully.
"Yeah. Bells. You do that." He took a deep breath and felt a lonely raindrop hit his head. "How'd you know I was out here?"
"I couldn't sleep, I went into your room." She smiled over at him. "I've missed you soo much Nickolas." He placed his hand over hers and held eye contact. "I went into your room and you weren't there. I figured you were tired, I knew you were tired. I walked down stairs and saw the patio door open, well Mr. Brilliance, you didn't shut the door. Plus I know how much you love the ocean, and how much it clams you." Nick smiled as she pulled her eyes away from his.

"Candice, I-I," he stuttered as she turned her face back to his, catching his eyes once again. His face inched closer to hers as he laced his fingers with hers. As their lips met, rain began to pour down from the sky, but their lips ceased to part. She wrapped her free hand around his neck to deepen the kiss, and he wrapped his free hand around her waist pulling her body closer to his. She couldn't breathe, her heart was racing, she felt on fire, but she couldn't pull away. It felt too right to be in his arms, touching him, kissing his lips. Reluctantly they pulled away from each other, falling into each other's arms and remaining like that for some time. No words were needed as she raised her head to his and glimpsed into his eyes, wich danced with joy. Her breathing had become normal and she knew the love that she saw in his eyes was reflected in her own, she just prayed he would see it. She stood slowly never releasing the grip she had on his hand as she pulled him up with her. He smiled down at her and held her hand tighter as they trucked through the now soaking wet ground and up to his home.

Once inside he led her to the couch and sat her down, his body following hers as they laid side by side on the couch. "About outside," he stammered. Candice laced her fingers with his and silenced his lips with her free hand. "I love you Nickolas," he turned his head to meet her eyes and couldn't contain the smile that crept onto his face. He guided her free hand up to his mouth and kissed both sides of it. "I love you, too." She smiled brightly as she gasp. Gazing out the window she noticed sunrays shining in through the partly opened curtain. "It's dawn."
"Oh my!" He smiled back at her as she pulled his body closer to his.
"Nickolas, you need to sleep," she dug her face into his shoulder and sighed. She had never been more content.
"You too," he whispered tightening the grip his hand had on her hand as his fingers remained laced with his. They remained on the couch in each other's arms for a while longer until each welcomed the sleep that beckoned them. Slowly she opened her eyes and sighed, her body was so stiff. She felt her fingers laced with someone else's and smiled. It hadn't been just a dream. Nick did love her. Her heart began to race. Nick loved her. She stared at him for a while, over the course of a few hours he had turned himself over and was now facing her with the slightest smirk on his face. Candice traced the outline of his lips and then his nose. She loved him more than anything in the world. The feeling in the pit of her heart and soul could not be denied. Within a few hours the man she loved more than anything, her best friend in the world, her soul mate had become her boyfriend. Her smiled grew, just the thought of him loving her back, even for an instant made her heart soar. She carefully unlaced her fingers from his and crawled soundlessly over him. She tiptoed out of the living room and into the kitchen. She glanced at the clock and groaned. It was noon. Suddenly a smile replaced the shocked expression on her face. She had spent the whole day in his arms. The man she loved, and he loved her back. The smiled grew, she had never felt happier in her life. She heard a thumping sound and as soon as she spun around Nick was stumbling into the kitchen rubbing his eyes and yawning. He didn't say a word as he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, capturing her lips with his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him closely just enjoying the feeling of his body near hers. She sighed as she sat on the floor, him still wrapped in her arms and they just held each other.

Story Index
EOTR

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