After Nick left I lay there in bed wondering about what happened. It was true, I loved Nick. More than Danny, more than a mother could love a child. Why did I let him leave? Is it my job, as a female to be vulnerable without a man? Is this what Nick was striving for? He left like that because he thought I would come crawling back to him? I fumed and laid there in bed. I couldn’t live like this for long.

~*Nick’s House:*~

Nick opened the door to his house and unpacked in silence. He opened his suitcase and out fell the small framed photo of a Shooting Star. He choked back a painful sob and placed it into his pocket

“We’ll meet again someday Rachel, I can’t leave this world without seeing you again,” He said quietly to the picture.

I laid in bed that night. Sick. I was extremely sick but I didn’t really give a damn. Nick was gone. Leighanne was out of town. I might as well just shrivel up and die. Give Nick Carter a piece of my mind.

~*3 Weeks Later*~

“Hello?” I answered the phone

“Rachel…I just got back from my parent’s place! Sorry to not call in a long time, so…wassup?”

“Happy New Year’s Leigh!” I cried.

“Happy New Years! How did you spend yours? With Nick?” She asked. I could almost see her smiling.

“No…Nick and I are over,”

“WHAT?” she cried

“We’re OVER with,” I repeated, slowly this time. As if she was in kindergarten.

“When was the last time you talked to him?” she asked me, her voice dripping with true concern. I sighed.

“The day that you left my house,”

“Gads! That was like…4 weeks ago!”

“3,”

“Lord. You counted?”

“Yes, I’m a freak,”

“Yes. You are. Why in God’s name did you break up with him?”

“We split up, damn it,”

“Rachel…Nick loved you,”

“And I loved him. It’s teenage love Leigh, I’m over him,”

“I highly doubt that, this isn’t typical puppy love” she said quietly.

“Doubt what you will my friend, well I have to go now,"

“Bye Rach, this isn’t the end of you and Nick,” she said

“Uh huh…whatever,” I hung up. I missed Nick like crazy. The touch of his smooth blonde hair, his gorgeous teal-blue eyes. His firm body and his cute voice. But I didn’t want him back. Why take him back when he’ll just break my heart again? It was stupid. Pathetic. It’s time to move on. Don’t most teenagers think they’re in love? It happens right? Is it supposed to hurt this much inside?