She woke up a few hours later to the phone ringing. She reached for it, and put it against her ear.
"Hello?" she mumbled.
"Hey, babe, did I wake you up? I'm sorry," Nick's rich voice said. Alyssa smiled, then sat up.
"It's okay. I shouldn't be sleeping anyway. It's pretty late," she said.
"I know, but I know that you had an early photo shoot. How was it?" Nick questioned.
"It was good. They supposedly love this new air around me, I don't know why. I don't see the difference," Alyssa said.
Yeah right. I know perfectly what's different. I'm not her, that's what, Alysa thought.
"I see a difference. You're like this whole new person. It's like the old Natasha Williams is gone and in comes a beautiful, sensitive, sweet girl who I can't resist for anything, and who I love more than anything in the world," Nick said softly. Alyssa blushed in spite of herself. She was glad Nick wasn't there to see her.
"Oh, stop it. I'm the same old person. Just seeing life differently for some reason. Listen, do you wanna do something later? I know you guys are busy recording and stuff, but can you squeeze me in?" Alyssa asked.
"For you, anything, baby. I'll stop by after our recording session this afternoon. I should be there at around six or seven," Nick said.
"Okay. So, I'll see you then, Nick. I better go now, I have an appointment with some designer in less than an hour. I didn't realize it was this late," Alyssa said.
"Yeah, I need to be going, too. We're going to be starting pretty soon, too. I'll see you later, babe. Love you," Nick said.
"Love you, too. Bye." Alyssa replaced the receiver and stood up. She felt so happy and free. She desperately wanted to stay like this forever. She didn't want to her old life. At least not yet. She wondered how Natasha was doing. Alyssa decided to call after school finished. Maybe she could bribe her into staying switched a little bit longer. She stood up, and went to get dressed for her appointment with the designer.
After school, Natasha and Mark headed towards the beach. They were there in ten minutes. They walked near the water, and sat down as close as they could in the sand without wetting themselves. They sat in the dry sand nearest to the water, the water lapping at their feet.
"Alyssa?" Mark said.
"Yeah, Mark?" Natasha responded, looking sideways to look at Mark.
"You're really special, you know that? I never dreamed you were really a beautiful, spontaneous, and exciting girl beneath the exterior," Mark stated, smiling. Natasha smiled.
"People change, Mark. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. This just happens to be a change for the better," Natasha said, looking back out into the ocean. Everything was peaceful and perfect.
"I really really really like you a lot, Aly. You're a very important person in my life. I haven't been in a real relationship in a long time...I wouldn't mind starting again...with you," Mark ended, a flush rising in his cheeks. Natasha thought that was the sweetest thing a guy had ever said to her.
"What do you mean, Mark?" she asked, playing dumb. She wanted him to spell it out for her.
"What I mean is...Alyssa Parker, will you be my girlfriend?" he asked, his blue eyes clearer than the sky.
"Oh, Mark, yes! I would love to be your girlfriend!" Natasha cried. She wrapped her arms around Mark's neck and drew him close. His arms closed around her waist. Soon, their lips met, sweeter than any kiss Natasha had every experienced. She parted her lips slightly, allowing his tongue to enter her mouth, their lips fused together.
Thunder sounded in the distance. Natasha pulled back, catching her breath.
"I think we better get going. I think it's gonna rain," Natasha whispered, her arms still around his neck, playing with his hair.
"Okay," he agreed. He pulled her up with him, and he had his arm around her waist while they walked back towards his car. They had barely gotten situated in the car, when it started pouring heavily.
"Wow, we made it just in time," Mark commented. Natasha nodded. Throughout their whole time in the beach, Natasha had forgotten completely about the real Alyssa, and their dilemma. Why did she accept being Mark's girlfriend when she didn't know how much longer she had with him? She sighed.
"What's wrong, hun?" Mark asked, looking at her for a second.
"Oh, I was just thinking about my parents," she lied.
"Don't worry about them, sweetie. Everything'll work out, I'm sure of it," he responded, pulling up in front of her house. He reached into the backseat and pulled up an umbrella from the floor. He handed it to her.
"Here. So you won't get wet and get sick," Mark said.
"Thanks, you're so sweet," Natasha said, taking the umbrella, and opening the door. She opened up the umbrella.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning, okay?" she said. She leaned in and gave him a short kiss.
"Call me tonight," she said. He nodded and smiled.
"Okay. Bye, Aly," he said.
"Bye." She stepped out of the car and grabbed her bookbag, slinging it over one shoulder. She closed the door, turned and ran up the walkway and up the steps. She extracted her key from her bookbag, and unlocked the door. She waved, and closed the door behind her, closing the umbrella, and placing it in the umbrella rack.
She was grateful that the Parkers didn't get home until after five. It was 4:30. She ran up the stairs, and walked into her room, locking the door behind her. She had to get into contact with Alyssa, and fast. She quickly dialed her condo number. It rang two times before someone picked it up.
"Hello?" Alyssa answered.
"Hey, girl, it's me. What's up?" Natasha greeted.
"Nothing much, you?" Alyssa asked.
"The same. Has everything been going all right?" Natasha inquired.
"Yeah...just perfect," Alyssa said, hesitating. Natasha didn't notice it.
"Listen, I know you're gonna hate me, but I couldn't prevent it. I got a boyfriend," Natasha spit out. Alyssa gasped.
"You got a boyfriend?" she screeched.
"Yeah," Natasha said.
"Who?" Alyssa questioned.
"Um...Mark Simmons?" she replied.
"Mark!" Alyssa exclaimed. She remembered when she had had a crush on Mark not a few weeks ago. Until she met Nick.
"Yeah. Mark. He's so sweet. He's absolutely perfect. I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen...I wish there was some way we could stay switched a little while longer while I figure things out," Natasha said, hopefully.
"Um...Natasha...I got something to tell you, too..." Alyssa started. Natasha perked up.
"Really? What is it?" she inquired curiously.
"I know you're gonna hate me for this," Alyssa said.
"Spit it out already!" Natasha said, in suspense.
"Um...I got a boyfriend, too...His name...his name is Nick Carter, the guy you told me specifically not to talk to," Alyssa admitted. Natasha almost had a coronary.
"What?!" she shrieked.
Chapter 16
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