~~
Destiny grabbed the sweatshirt from AJ’s hands and put it over her tank top.
“Ah, help I’m drowning in the sweatshirt!” Destiny said, unable to get her head through the right hole.
“Let me help you.” A new voice said from behind her. The person slipped his hands under the sweatshirt and tried to assist her.
As soon as she regained sight she turned around. A few strands of hair were sticking up due to the static. Destiny had an angry look on her face.
“So it was you...” Destiny said.
“Hey Des.” Nick said slyly.
“Why the hell did you just touch my boobs?”
“Because it was too damn easy.” Nick stated.
“Are you forgetting about your girlfriend? Over there.” Destiny pointed at Carrie who seemed to be absorbed in a tabloid.
“No, I didn’t forget about her but I didn’t want you to feel neglected.”
“Nick, you better hope she didn’t see you do that. She’d be extremely hurt.” Destiny nervously twirled a strand of hair in her fidgety fingers. AJ leaned over and tucked it behind her ear.
“That’s cause all women are too damn emotional.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Destiny looked surprised.
“I just don’t want to...this is between me and Carrie. I’ll go talk to her. Welcome back, Des.” He rolled his eyes in frustration and boredom. Nick gave AJ a knowing glance and walked over to Carrie.
~~
“So, who else is here?” Destiny asked.
“All five of us. Kevin and Howie are in the limo, though.” He chuckled.
“The entire circus show? I can’t help feeling loved.” Destiny grinned.
She noticed a bench from the corner of her eye and started rolling her suitcase toward it. As soon as she sat down she rested the suitcase against the wall and patted on the seat next to her.
“Be careful with that thing. That was almost as painful as getting my foot run over by a van.”
“You exaggerate way too much.” Destiny laughed.
“Do I?” He looked in her eyes. Without any notice, he rose to his feet, grabbed her suitcase and desperately tried to pick it up.
“Need to pump some iron, babe.” Destiny winked at him and searched through her bag to find some gum. In the meanwhile, AJ managed to pick up the suitcase and dropped it on her foot.
“Holy flaming carrots!” Destiny jumped up from her seat and hopped up and down in despair.
“And I’m the one who overdramatizes?” AJ rolled his eyes.
“I weigh less than you!” Destiny pouted.
“Aw, did I hurt you?” He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.
“If I kiss you, would you hold it against me?”
“Darling, if you kissed me, I’d forget about that lawsuit.” AJ ran his fingers through her hair.
“Well, since you make it sound so attractive.” She smirked. Gently and painfully slow, Destiny moved her hand to rest on the back of his head. For a moment in time, everything else around them stopped. She pulled him down him towards her. Their eyes closed, anticipating the touch they hadn’t experienced in ages. Their lips, as magnets driven by an unexplained force, moved toward eachother and eventually met.
>
“Yum.” He licked his lips as they pulled back.
“Beautifully put, Alex.” She stuck her tongue out only to be pulled back into the kiss.
“I happened to see that wedding wing on your finger but is there anyway I could get your number, bud?” Coral talked in a hillbilly accent as she sat next to Brian who was reading a book in the back of the store.
“I’m sorry ma’am. I’m happily married to the most wonderful woman in the...Coral!” Brian finally looked up to face his wife.
"I don't know whatcha talking about sonny but that number would be muchly appreciated." Coral wrapped her lips around her teeth and pretended to be toothless.
“Nah, we might be related.” Brian played along, pretending to chew on tobacco.
“So? Most southerners are.” Coral winked.
“What did they feed you on that plane?” Brian’s eyes widened.
“You know...I don’t really know. I don’t think I ever did.” Coral looked confused.
“And you ate it anyway?”
“Proteins.” she grinned.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, I guess.” He shook his head and followed her outside.
~~
“I got ho’s ho’s in different area codes.” Nick sang as he enveloped his girlfriend in a hug.
“You got what where? You better mean you own a gardening tool company, honey.” Carrie sighed as he kissed her cheek.
“What did you say?” Nick asked as he titled his head sideways to get a better view of the girls passing in front of him.
“Nick, my face is here. Stare here.” Carrie returned his gaze to face her.
“What’s up?” He asked in annoyance.
“Nick, you haven’t seen me in a month. Don’t act like I’m hogging you breathing space.”
“Carrie, you phoned me every day that was pretty much the same thing. What do you want? An over dramatic, unnecessary show of affection like those two?” Nick shot a disgusted look at Destiny and AJ who still hadn’t moved from their previous position.
“I happen to think they’re very sweet together.” Carrie giggled at the scene.
“You would.” He moved his hands into his back pockets and backed away from her.
“Do I not even deserve a hug now?” Carrie looked hurt.
“I don’t know. Do you?” Nick patronized.
“You sure as hell don’t.” Carrie winced her eyes in anger and turned to leave the airport.
~~
“Come on.” Carrie growled as she grabbed Destiny’s hand and forced her away from AJ.
“Hmm, what’s wrong?” Destiny asked dazed.
“What’s wrong? You’re asking me what’s wrong?”
“I think that’s what I asked, yeah.” Destiny said, regaining her consciousness.
“Destiny, why’s Nick acting like such an ass to me? What did I do?” Carrie asked.
Tears were twinkling in her eyes. Destiny felt so bad for her. She wanted to reach out and give her a hug but she wouldn’t give Nick that satisfaction. Today, Nick Carter was definitely not in Destiny’s good books.
“You didn’t do anything.” Destiny looked at her friend as they walked together.
“I had to do something. He’s never like this!” Carrie’s breathing quickened.
“Yeah Destiny, he’s not usually like this!” Nick mocked Carrie as he rested a hand on each of their shoulders.
“Nick get off me.” Destiny elbowed his side.
“Why? Can’t AJ share?” Nick asked.
“I’m not a toy, Nick. I’m a person and you don’t play with me.” Destiny scoffed.
“So, I’m not always like this, Carrie?” Nick asked coldly as he turned to face Carrie.
“God, I would hope not.” Carrie looked down at the ground.
“Who the hell do you think you are? Talking about me behind my back like that...You’re the one who should be ashamed of yourself!” Nick started to walk off angrily.
“I don’t think so, man.” AJ finally reached the group, with the suitcase trailing behind him. He grabbed Nick by the shirt and returned him to the crime scene.
“What do you want, bone?” Nick stomped his leg on the ground.
“I want you to apologize.”
“Sorry AJ. Can I go now?” Nick chuckled.
“No but you can apologize to the right person.” AJ pointed at Carrie.
~~
“It’s okay AJ. He doesn’t need to apologize to me. I shouldn’t have talked behind his back.” Carrie’s voice was barely audible.
Destiny’s eyes landed on Nick. She shook her head in disappointment and grabbed his hand.
“You’re coming with me.” Destiny said.
“I knew you would give in.” Nick offered half a smile.
“Don’t try anything.” AJ gave him a warning look.
“Nick.” Destiny smiled in annoyance “Since we’re in a public place. I can’t do anything because it’ll be in the news tomorrow but good lord if we were in a private place I would...” She trailed off.
“You would what, doll?” Nick’s lips curled.
“Argh, you’re impossible.” Destiny forced Nick into the limo.
Unable to find the right words in his vocabulary, AJ wrapped his arm around Carrie and led her to the awaiting vehicle.
AJ knew why Nick was acting like such an asshole to everybody but he kept his mouth quiet. The night before, at the early hours of the morning he received a call from Nick. Nick requested for him to remain silent until he hung up, that he only wanted to talk and had no intention on receiving advice because as of now, nothing could change his mind. AJ knew his friend’s plans and reasons. He knew but everyone was soon to find out anyway. And so, he kept his promise and threw away the key to Nick’s secret.
The only thing that was bothering him about Nick was that he was taking away time from him and Destiny. He knew how selfish it sounded but after such a long time apart, he wanted to spend every waking moment with her. Due to this job, he knew that was impossible and now his free time was taken away by a troubled Nick.
~~
The stretch limo pulled out of the airport and was soon in the highway. Even though the speed limit was 75 some cars slowed down to try and catch a glimpse of who was in the limo. They were received by honking horns from the impatient cars behind them. Inside, the environment was just as hostile.
Nick was sitting beside Kevin since nobody else agreed to sit next to him after his saga in the airport.
“You guys are all being so mature. Lets all boycott Nick because he’s having a bad day.” Nick muttered under his breath.
“Nick, just stop while you’re ahead, okay?” Destiny was sitting across of him. Every once of a while she whispered something into Carrie’s ear, trying to comfort her. Carrie on the other hand was all curled up in ball. Her head was directed to the floor and she would only move to remove the hair out of her eyes.
“Fuck you, Destiny.”
“No, that’s okay.” Destiny grunted.
“You know you would love to.” Nick smiled.
Kevin smacked the back of his head in reply and Destiny mumbled a thanks.
The rest of the drive wasn’t as full of tension. Nick looked like a bomb ready to burst and he made it pretty clear to everyone by growling and groaning whenever someone looked his way. The others responded by leaving him alone. Small talk was made between the remaining people, excluding Carrie whom was still trying her hardest to get used to the new situation she was forced to deal with her. The cab stopped at Destiny’s house first and she looked over at AJ. He nodded at her understandingly and got out to talk to the driver.
“Carrie...call me if you need anything, okay?” Destiny questioned.
Carrie nodded and mumbled something that sounded like yes.
“And you, behave.” She looked over at Nick.
“Blah, blah, blah.” Nick answered.
“Don’t blah, blah, blah me, Carter. Pay some respect.” She kicked his shin and proceeded out of the limo. He crouched down in pain and cuss words flew out of his mouth.
“You are definitely getting a call from me later. I want to know what’s going on.” Destiny said, sticking her head through the door.
“Is that a threat?”
“You betcha.” Destiny nodded and closed the door. She hit the top of the car and it drove away.
~~
“Thanks for carrying this...thing.” Destiny smiled and pointed to the suitcase, still in AJ’s hands.
“I think I gained some muscles.” AJ flexed.
“Oh yeah, I see the difference.” She smiled, happy to be in AJ’s company instead of Nick’s. Destiny moved her hands up and down his arms.
“Are you really going to call Nick?” AJ asked in concern.
“Probably. Why?” Destiny asked.
“Well, because, um...Maybe I can make you forget about him.” He grinned, happy at both the thought and the excuse he made.
“I don’t doubt that for one minute.” She got on her toes and kissed his forehead, his nose and finally his mouth.
He greedily kissed her back when he pulled back he grabbed the key from her hand and hurriedly threw the suitcase in her house. AJ then returned to his previous spot and carried Destiny over the threshold. A new beginning, for the both of them.
~ ~
Filling AJ’s orders, the driver dropped everyone off except Carrie and Nick. They were to be dropped off at the very end. Forced to be in eachother’s company would at least guarantee a conversation.
“So...” Carrie talked, trying to break the ice.
“Carrie, I need to tell you something.” Nick said, apparently cooled off from his last confrontation.
“Yes?” She grinned expecting an apology.
Nick looked out of the window and realized that he couldn’t have a more perfect timing. They were inches away from his house.
“It’s over between us. It never should have been and I just can’t commit myself. So yeah, I guess I’ll see you around.” He said without emotion and hopped out of the limo, waving goodbye to the *driver*.
~~
So now that the chapter’s finished, what did you think? I’m curious to know.