“Jules?” the blonde asked.
“Yeah Nick?” Julia answered. Suddenly, she realized what she had said and looked up at him. Her eyes widened and she screamed.
“NICK!” She yelled hugging him.
“Julia!!!” Nick said hugging her tight.
“OMG! I missed you so much! Why haven’t you called me EVER?” Julia asked.
“I’ve been so busy. I’m so sorry! If I could have called you I promise I would have,” Nick answered. Julia just smiled and hugged him.
“I understand Nicky,” Julia said. Bryan stood up and said he had to go because he wanted to lie down. Julia said good bye to Bryan and he walked home.
“Come with me. Meet my...um....friends,” Nick smiled.
“Sure,” Julia smiled. Nick took her hand and led her to the table where he was sitting.
“Guys, this is Julia. Julia, this is...the guys!” Nick smiled.
“Hi, I’m AJ,” AJ smiled taking her hand and kissing it. Julia smiled.
“Hi,” she said shyly.
“Hey, I’m Brian,” Brian smiled shaking her hand.
“Hi Brian. My brothers’ name is Brian. Only, it’s spelled with a ‘Y’,” Julia smiled.
“Cool,” Brian smiled. Julia was introduced to Howie and Kevin too. She thought they were really nice. They pulled a chair in and let her sit down.
“So, Julia, tell us about when Nick was younger,” Brian grinned.
“Well...he and I were total geeks. But, now, I dunno about him, but I know I’ve changed,” Julia joked.
“Heeeey!” Nick said in an offended tone. Everyone laughed.
“No, seriously though, we were real geeks. I remember, I lived down the street from him and I had to stay over at his house for a weekend. We sang for his mom and it was fun. Then I remember that night, I had a bad dream or something, I forget about what-“ Julia explained.
“Bad dream...about...your dad,” Nick interrupted.
“Yeah, that. Well, anyway. I remember that I had walked down the hall into his room and woke him up. I was crying and he let me sleep in his bed with him. To tell you guys the truth, I felt safe with Nick. I felt as though nothing would happen to me when I was with him,” Julia explained with a smile. Nick smiled and hugged Julia again.
“How sweet,” Brian joked pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. Nick hit the back of his head. The guys and Julia laughed.
“So, this is the Julia girl you’ve talked about forever, huh?” AJ asked.
“Yeah,” Nick blushed.
“Ya know, she is more beautiful than the pic you showed us,” Howie smiled. Brian took a picture out from his pocket. It was of Julia at age 9 with Nick at 10.
“How did you get that?!” Nick asked grabbing the picture from Brian. Julia laughed.
“You still have that picture,” Julia smiled.
“Yeah, I don’t remember when it was taken though,” Nick answered looking that the picture. Julia giggled and took it from his hand.
“That was when we were sitting your hammock at sunset. During the time I had to stay at your house for a weekend. I had so much fun that time,” Julia smiled.
“Oh yeah! Right after we sang for my mom! I remember that! That was right before the hammock tipped!” Nick laughed.
“Exactly!” Julia laughed. The guys looked at them like they were freaks.
“Yeah, the hammock almost tipped because of Nicky over here!” Julia said pushing Nick playfully. Nick blushed.
“It was not my fault! You were lying on it and I wanted to join...so I DID!!! But then my mom took the picture and it tipped. It was not my fault Jules!” Nick smiled.
“Well fine, it was not your fault and it was not my fault,” Julia smiled. Nick laughed.
“Um...should we go?” Kevin asked.
“No, it’s okay,” Julia said. Nick looked at them with a “Please Go!” look in his face.
“Well, I have some stuff to do...” Brian said.
“Yeah, me too. And I’m sure the other guys want to see their family,” Howie agreed.
“Okay, nice meeting you guys,” Julia smiled.
“Bye!” They all said walking out.
“You wanna go for a walk?” Nick asked.
“Sure,” Julia smiled. The two got up and walked out of the pizza place. Nick took her hand and led her to the beach. Julia smiled.
“Why haven’t you called me Nicky?” Julia asked walking with him.
“Well, I’m in a music band called the Backstreet Boys. We’re pretty famous in Europe, but not yet here. That’s why I haven’t been able to call you. I’m so sorry. I wish I would have. I missed you so much and I did have some free time but I was scared to think that you wouldn’t like me and that you would be so much different. All I have of you is that picture I have of you and me when we were younger,” Nick explained.
“Oh...” Julia said. They stopped walking and Julia looked at her and Nick’s hands that were locked together. Then she looked Nick in the eye.
“I’ve missed you so much Nick. I was worried that you moved away and you would never remember me...but then, today, I got a CD. It said, Backstreet Boys on the cover. Then, I saw it...I saw your face. It was you! I listened to the CD for an hour and realized that you never moved away but that you made more friends and became a singer. You were always a good singer!” Julia explained. Nick looked at their hands. He saw she still had the ring he had given her. A friendship ring that would last forever. Nick had it too.
“You still have the ring,” Nick whispered.
“Yes...I never took it off,” Julia answered. She took her thumb and rubbed the ring Nick wore. Nick took his hand and put it to Julia’s face.
“I missed you so much Jules. I hated being on tour and not being able to call you,” Nick said looking her in the eyes. Julia hugged Nick. Story Main Page | Chapter 5