"Yeah Nick. You asked me to come. Remember that." she teased into the reciever, "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow. I'll find you." she shoved some clothes into her bag then opened the curtain to see who had pulled into her driveway, " Hey, I have to go cause my ride is here. See you then. Bye"
Melissa hung up the phone and zipped her bag. She grabbed her camera and bus ticket off the dresser and headed for the door.
"Hey, Mel! You all set?" Nikki asked halfway out of the car. Melissa sat her bags on the stairs and turned to lock her door, " yeah, hold up."
Nikki walked up the sidewalk and grabbed Mel's bag, " Get your camera. you got your ticket?"
Melissa checked her pockets, " Yep."
Nikki threw her bag into the trunk and slammed it shut as Melissa got into the passenger side.
" Nik, I really wish you were going with me. I don't know if I can go through with this."
" Hey, he asked you to go right?"
Melissa nodded her head. " Then you have nothing to worry about."
" But what if it's not really him?? What if some jerk is playing a joke on me?"
" Then he's a REALLY big jerk."
" NIKKI! Seriously though... What if I get to the bus station and this total stranger comes up to me and says, " hi, I'm Nick?" What am I supposed to do then?"
Nikki pulled the car into the bus parking lot, " I'm not sure, but you've got," she looked at her watch, " at least ten hours to think about it. C'mon, I'll help you load your stuff on the bus."
Melissa froze, " Nik, I don't want to go."
Nikki slammed the trunk and threw her bag onto the drivers seat, " You paid ninety bucks for that ticket! Get YOUR ASS OUT OF THE CAR. NOW!!!"
Melissa threw open the door, " God, your starting to sound like my mother!"
" Mel, I just don't want you to miss this chance, that's all. Even if it's not him, you'll still get a kick out of it. I know you too well. You're never disappointed about anything."
Nikki put her arm around Melissa who was pouting against the car.
They walked to the desk and Melissa handed the lady her ticket. She stamped it and handed it back to Melissa.
Melissa turned around and stopped making Nikki turn back around after she noticed that Mel wasn't walking with her.
" Nikki, I won't be able to get off the bus..."
" Mel, I would go with you but I have to work. If it'll make things easier, promise me that you will get off the bus..." Melissa took a deep breath then looked up at Nikki, " I promise."
" Thata girl!! C'mon or else you won't have to even worry about getting ON the bus."
" K.."
" What am I doing?" Mel thought looking out the tinted bus window.
" Hey, you should get some sleep." A young man, maybe in his late teens, sat down next to her.
Melissa smiled, " I can't."
" Why not?" he teased.
" Nervous,"
He stuck out his hand to introduce himself, " I'm Nick. " So tell me why you can't sleep." he said impatiently.
Melissa looked at him with swelled up eyes, she turned away, " I'm going to New York to meet an Internet friend."
Nick sat straight up, " REALLY? Me too!"
Melissa turned her gaze back on him, " Excuse me?" she asked, about to burst into tears.
" Yeah, she's really sweet, she's from somewhere around here. We're gonna meet at the bus station. I called her and made sure she was coming. She sounded a little nervous though," he leaned closer to her, "truthfully, I think she thinks I'm Nick Carter."
A tear rolled down her face and she realized that this guy..(who ever the HELL he was) was the person she had believed to be Nick Carter. " Whoa, what are you crying for?" he rubbed her cheek making the wet stream from her tear disappear. She turned her face avoiding his hand, " You're a jerk."
Nick frowned and faced foward in the seat.
" How can you be so cold?!"
" Wha...ugh," he raised his hands in the air then let them fall to his legs.
" How can you make a loving devoted fan of Nick Carter, believe that you are him?? I HATE YOU!!!" She was yelling now and the bus driver quieted her.
Nick looked at her, " Where the hell did this come from?" he asked her quietly.
" Just don't talk to me! when we get to the bus station you're buying my ticket home!!!!"
" Wait a...."
Melissa raised her hand to shut him up. She lifted her feet into the seat and kicked him, sending him sprawling to the floor with a loud thud.
" GOOD NIGHT!" Melissa rolled over and laid her head on her folded arms.
" Sir, I'm gonna need you to sit in a seat." The bus driver announced over the intercom.
" Hey! Hey, c'mon wake up."
Melissa forced open her eyes.
" Ugh, get away from me!"
Nick bounced back away from her, dodging her arm.
" Look, I still don't know why you're pissed at me."
" Get a clue NICK! Chats, Nintendo, Let's see, what else?" Melissa reached for her bag.
" I still don't get it. And what the heck do you mean by Nintendo..i don't play it.."
" Don't play dumb with me Nick." she stepped down the first step the turned to face him, " By the way Nick. I like the English accent...Where'd you get it? England?" She laughed about to turn around.
He stood up from kneeling on the floor, " Actually yes, I was born in England."
Melissa chuckled, " Man, you are quite the joker aren't you? Nice knowing you " NICK", but I'm sorry it has to end here."
Melissa adjusted her bag and turned to walk down the steps.
She froze, " hi, are you Melissa?"
Nick Carter was standing at the foot of the stairs with an outstretched hand.