Chapter 8
"Riana! Riana, get up!" Leah said. She opened her friends blinds so she could see the ocean ahead of them. "Riana! Look! It's so pretty out there!" Leah gushed.
"Leah, I believe you. I'll look later. I promise." Riana said, not opening her eyes.
"Party pooper!" Leah exclaimed, throwing a piece of clothing from the floor at Riana.
"What the hell -" Riana cried once it hit her in the face. She looked at the door in which Leah had ran out of, laughing. "Leah!!!" Riana screamed. She saw Leah standing by the door, with her back faced to her. Thinking it was a perfect oppurtunity, she ran and jumped on Leah from behind, sending her sprawling onto the floor. Riana laughed.
"Well, you sure know how to make an entrance," Riana heard a man's voice say. She got off of the floor and looked at the man.
"Oh, hey AJ. I didn't know you were here," Riana said, shyly. She was now fully aware that she was standing in front of everyone in her pajamas. Well, all of her pajamas was a white tank top and a pair of panties.
"I'll be right back," Riana whispered. She turned on her heel just in time to hear another voice.
"Hey Riana."
Riana turned around and saw Nick. He was standing there in a bathing suit with his hair slicked back into a baseball cap. Riana's face turned a bright shade of red when Nick's eyes widened as he saw what she was wearing.
"Be right back," Riana said quickly, practically running into her room and shutting the door.
"Omigod!" Riana said to herself, putting her head in her hands to hide her embarrassment. "Of course Nick had to see me like that," Riana said as she slipped on her ocean blue bikini. She pulled a pair of jean shorts from her drawer and a light blue tank top to match. She pulled her blonde hair back into a high ponytail. She looked into the mirror and stared at her reflection. She decided against make up, it was too hot and sticky out today. She quickly put her pajamas under her pillow and walked back into the living room. _____________________________
Nick stared out the window as Leah and AJ talked quietly in the corner. Nick smiled when he thought back to Riana's face as he walked in. He liked it. He liked her. After spending the night contemplating his feelings, he realized that he had to let his past go. Leave it behind and think about his future. With Riana.
"Hey," a voice said behind him. He turned around.
"Oh, hey Riana." he said, trying to absorb how beautiful she was.
"What's up?" she sat down across from him, following his gaze onto the ocean. "It IS beautiful, isn't it?" she asked. She looked at him.
"Oh yeah. I love the ocean. I go out on my boat when I'm home and I just relax. Get away from my life as a Backstreet Boy," he joked. She smiled.
"I've never been on a boat. Well, besides this one." She said.
"Well, I'll just have to take you out on one then," Nick said, smiling his famous Carter smile.
"You got yourself a deal, bud," Riana said, shaking his hand. Their hands lingered for an extra few seconds. There was time in that few seconds to feel the sparks of electricity that flew through their fingertips like fireworks.
"You guys want to come down to the Lido deck with us? It looks like a nice day to get some sun," Leah said. She grabbed her towel and some suntan lotion.
"Um, sure. I'll go. Wanna come Nick?" Riana asked, praying that he'll say no. She wanted to stay in her room and just chill. With Nick.
"Well, I promised Brian I'd stay with him. So I'll catch you guys later," Nick said. He stood there, hoping no one would notice that he still didn't leave.
"Well, actually, Leah, I have a really bad headache, so I'm just going to stay here and just pop some aspirin," Riana lied.
"Ok, Riana. Liar!" Leah coughed. She grabbed AJ by the hand and they left for the sun.
"You want me to give you anything? For your head, I mean," Nick corrected himself. He flushed a deep crimson.
"I don't have a headache, Nick. I just didn't want to go," she laughed. Nick smiled.
"Riana?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I tell you something?"
"Sure, Nick. Anything."
"I didn't have to stay with Brian, either." Nick said, inching closer to her so he could capture her lips with a kiss.
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Riana smiled as Nick's lips gently kissed her own. It was a lot more powerful then the one that they had shared the night before. A kiss that seemed to make all of their problems float into a place where there would be no turning back. She ran her hands through his silky blonde hair, thanking God that she went on the cruise and that she had met Nick. She didn't know where this relationship was going, but she liked it. She liked it a lot. She was about to pour her heart and soul into the kiss when Nick suddenly pulled back.
"What is it?" Riana asked. She looked at him. She looked into those blue eyes that she could see herself in.
"I....I can't do this," he stammered. He turned to run out the door.
"Nick, wait." Riana ran after him and turned him to her. "What's the matter?"
He shook his head. She would never understand. Never.
"Riana, I met you a few days ago and I can say that you are a remarkably gorgeous young woman that would make me so happy. You would complete me. But, you see, I have this....this......this problem. It's a problem that will never go away. I've tried so hard, but it won't disappear. And this problem is going to ruin our relationship. Whatever we have is something that millions of people in the world would want to have, but I will get in the way," he told her. He looked into her blue eyes that mirrored his own.
"What? I don't understand," Riana told him. He sighed and took her hands in his own.
"I would love to be your boyfriend now, but I don't deserve you. I can't keep pushing you out of my life, when all I want to do is hold you in my arms. I don't deserve you, Riana. You deserve someone who will love you, and care for you. Not me. Not someone who can't love anyone at all," he finished. He kissed her cheek and ran out of the room, not looking back.
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"Of course. See you tomorrow," Leah said. She gave AJ a passionate kiss and leaned against her door.
"Do you have to go?" AJ pouted.
"Yeah. But I will see you bright and early tomorrow morning, ok? We dock in The Philippines tomorrow."
"You betcha. Later hun," he kissed her one last time before going into his room. He smiled as he opened his door, only to see a mess.
"What the hell is this?" he called. Brian ran out of Nick's room.
"Nick's not exactly feeling well......" Brian whispered, in fear of Nick happening to hear him. Brian quickly told AJ what Nick had done.
"Oh. Now poor Riana thinks its all her fault!" AJ said in Riana's behalf. Brian nodded.
"I know that and so does Nick. He feels horrible."
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"Riana! Where are you?"
"I'm right here, Leah." Riana said quietly. Leah walked onto the balcony and saw her friend wrapped in a blanket with her knees up to her chest.
"What's the matter, Ree?" Leah asked. She noticed her friends anguish right away.
"Why did you make me come on this ship, Leah? To let my heart get broken in two by yes, the one and only Nick Carter?!?" Riana cried, fresh tears wetting her face.
"Riana, what did he do?" Leah asked. She sat next to Riana and listened intently through Riana's tears.
"I was so stupid, Leah. I actually thought that Nick and I actually had something," Riana mumbled into the atmosphere, into the ocean.
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