Nick took her hand and walked her to his car. Trying to be a gentleman he opened and closed the door for her then climbed in him. As they pulled out of the driveway Nick began to talk. "The reporters use to ask Gabby, stuff like 'Is you Nick Carter's Girlfriend?'. It's mandatory to say no until we actually are getting married,". He grinned his lopsided smile. That smile always made her melt. And even though she had only met him the other day. She was falling in love. "They ask you how long we have known each other, say," he bit his bottom lip to think of an answer.
"Forever," Zoe replied.
Nick looked at her; her eyes were shinning with excitement. "Yeah, Forever," he whispered. He stopped at the stoplight, and stared at her more. He leaned into her, and just as he was going to kiss her, a car horn honked, he looked up, the light was green.
They drove in silence for the next few minutes, and then Nick pulled into a driveway of a really fancy restraunt. Reporters covered the outside and she guessed the inside as well. Nick opened her door and opened his hand. "Ready?" he asked.
"Love to," she put her hand in his and stepped out of the car.
"Get ready, this is the hardest part," Nick whispered. Wrapping an arm tightly around her waist and guiding her through the mess of fans and reporters. They were all screaming, and asking questions.
"Are you okay?" Nick laughed when they got inside the building.
"Yeah, I just can't see that's all, just a lot of purple dots from those stupid cameras,". She smiled and rubbed her eyes.
Nick chuckled a little and took her arm. He guided her to a table. "Guys this is Zoe Mox. Zoe this is Brian, his wife Hannah, Kevin, his wife Danielle, AJ, and Howie,". Nick pointed to each purple dot in front of her.
"If I could see you all, I'd shake your hands, but your going to have to deal with its nice to meet you, because you all look purple to me,". She heard everyone laugh.
"She just went through the cameras," Nick said taking her hand and helping her find her chair.
"Don't worry baby, you get use to it, and it clears away in a few minutes," a man voice replied.
A few minutes later, she could see everyone's faces. "Nick," she tugged on his sleeve. "Who is who again?" she asked.
"That's Brian, his wife Hannah, AJ, Howie, Kevin and his wife Danielle,".
Everyone smiled politely and nodded or waved as Nick said their names.
They began to play the music. The first song was Faith Hills' 'It Will Be Me'. Nick turned around and faced the windows as Brian, Hannah, Kevin Danielle, AJ, and Howie went to dance as they all left, he turned to face the dance floor. AJ and howie were doing the tango together. He laughed. "Hey, do you want to dance?" he whispered.
Zoe smiled, he stood up and took her hand, leading her to the dance floor. He stood in front of her and lifted her hands around his neck, and then he wrapped his arms around her tiny waist.
Zoe stared into his eyes. They were like clear pools of water, staring down at her, melting her into him. "May I cut in?" Howie asked. She felt Nick pull her tighter but then let her go. Howie handed over a pretty Spanish girl to Nick, "Nick you remember my sister,".
Nick smiled and began to dance with her.
Zoe smiled at this new stranger. "Your very beautiful, no wonder Nick likes you," Howie smiled, and twirled her like a ballerina.
"Did he tell you?" she asked curiously.
"Naw, we can all just tell, He's the baby of the group, it's easy to tell. Its also easy to tell that its not like Gabby, he liked Gabby, thought he loved her, but it was only like. He 's going to love you,".
She smiled as he dipped her at the end of the song. Howie lifted her back up and kissed her hand. "Thank you for the dance Ms. Mox,".
She laughed and felt her cheeks turn pink. Nick returned to her, "And here come the reporters," he sighed and put on a smile as about seven or eight guys came to them.
"Hello, Nick Carter, is this your new girlfriend?" one asked.
"No, she's my best friend,".
"How long have you known Nick?".
She watched their faces looking eager. "Um forever," she replied.
"Have you and Nick ever dated when you two were young?".
She opened her mouth to answer but Nick began to pull her away. "No more questions please," he begged.
"Nick, wait, I want to answer just a few more,". She began to pout.
Nick gave in, "Just a couple more," he warned stepping back into the crowd.
"The answer to that question is no, but I always wanted to,". She looked up to Nick; his face gave her a surprised expression.
"Does his traveling affect your friendship?". Zoe pulled her eyes from his, "No, its what he has to do, I understand that. And the saying is miles make the heart grow fonder,". She smiled.
"Do you think you two will ever hook up?".
Zoe thought of this as her perfect chance, "No more questions please," Nick begged and took her hand.
" ZOE!" someone yelled. She whipped her head around, to face Kelly, her boyfriend.
"Kelly, how did you get in here?" she had been trying to break up with him but never had the nerve.
"I'm security remember,". He grabbed her arm tightly. "Come one, were leaving,".
"Ouch let go, I don't want to be with you anymore!" she yelled.
Nick stood to the side; "Your hurting me let go Kelly,". By now everyone in the room was staring.
"Look sir can you just let her go," Nick called.
"What are you? Little Mr.. Preppy?" he yelled.
"Let's go Zoe now!" he pulled her.
"Let me Go!" she began to hit him with her free hand.
"That's it!" he turned around and slapped her. She was thrown to the floor. Everyone was silent. "You haven't got ride of me yet, wench,". With that he walked out.
Nick rushed to her. " Zoe, are you okay?" he whispered, brushing her hair away from her face.
"Nick can we go home?" she whispered, her voice wavering. Nick leaned down and slid his arms underneath her legs and back. She leaned her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Hey Frack, want us to come with you?" Brian asked, Nick nodded.
Brian and Hannah followed him out to the car. Hannah slid in the back and Brian helped Nick put Zoe in the back, Hannah laid Zoe's head on her lap. They closed the door. Brian climbed into his seat. Nick stood outside for a few moments longer.
Brian opened the door. "Hey Frack, you okay man?". Nick looked over to Brian. "Yeah, I'm fine,". Nick sighed and opened the door. They were home a few minutes later.
Nick pulled up into the driveway of his house. He leaned his head on the steering wheel. He heard some car doors close, and he sighed. Slowly and grumpily he made his way out of the car. Hannah and Brian helped Zoe inside the house. Nick took over from there. He took her hand and led her to the kitchen; Brian and Hannah took seats in the living room. Nick got out a back of ice and a dishtowel. He kneeled in front of her and dabbed at the cut on her lip.
"Why didn't you ever mention you had a boyfriend?" he whispered.
"I didn't think it was important, I broke up with him a while ago. He just doesn't want to believe I did that,". She winced as Nick touched the sore cut.
"Oh. Well maybe you better go up to bed. I'll be up in a little bit,". He pushed some of his hair back and rubbed his neck.
"Okay, Good night Nick,". She headed up the stairs with the ice bag.
" Zoe!" Nick called.
Zoe backed down the stairs a little bit. "Yeah?" she asked, Nick was a step below her, but still he was almost as tall as she was.
He leaned into her and kissed her. It wasn't anything big, just a little kiss on the lips. He pulled back. "Good night," he whispered.
Zoe knew exactly what he was doing. She smiled. "Good night Nick,". He was showing her the affection she never had.
A few minutes later Nick watched as she disappeared into her room. "Hey Frick, " he said as he heard Brian approaching. "Why don't you and Hannah stay here tonight, its late and your car is back at the restraunt," .
Nick still didn't take his eyes off of Zoe's door. "I think she's safe Nick, you can look away," Brian laughed.
Nick managed to pull his eyes away from the door and walk into the living room. "You guys can use my bedroom, just let me go and get washed,". He started up the stairs, Brian following. Nick got dressed and washed up.
"Nick what are you doing?" Brian asked.
" What do you mean?".
"Nick you act like Gabby never existed,".
Nick looked at him, Gabby died a month ago, Brian, I'm just trying to move on," Nick stated.
"Yeah but Nicky, she's falling in love with you, and your just going to leave her," Brian pulled on a Kentucky wildcats sweatshirt.
"How do you know she is falling in love with me?" he asked.
"Who wouldn't fall for the sweet things you say," Brian sighed and stood next to Nick.
"Do you mean what you say to her? Are you in love with her?" Brian asked his eyes looking worried.
"I mean everything. She has exquisite beauty. Nothing but a diamond moon setting into a pool of crystal dreams could compare to her,".
Brian chuckled. "Okay Frack you win, No wonder you're a song writer,". They laughed and began to leave the room.
"Wait, Brian, I think this is real, the real thing, but I never want to hurt Zoe,".
Brian patted his friend's back. "Welcome to the wonderful world of love,". He sighed.
Nick stopped and gave him a confused look. "What?" he asked.
"Doesn't Willy Wonka say that too? Welcome to the wonderful world of Wonka?".
Brian laughed and left the room.
"No I'm serious," Nick said to himself. He shrugged it off, and went across the hall way to Zoe's room. He knocked lightly. " Zoe?" he called softly.
Zoe opened the door and let him in.
"Hey, do you think Hannah can borrow some clothes? She and Brian are spending the night,".
Zoe smiled and handed him a tiny silk nighty and some silk shorts. He swallowed hard, just the thought of her in those clothes, made him want her right there, he didn't care that anyone else was in the house. He just wanted to touch her, hold her. Kiss her.
"Thanks," he said his voice cracking, he began to leave the room.
"Thankyou Nick,". Her voice sounded so little, so afraid, Nick turned around and faced her, she was still wearing her cloths from that night.
"For what?" he asked.
Zoe sat down on the bed. "For Kelly, for the dress, for the wonderful evening, for my first kiss good night,".
Nick smiled. "It was nothing," he replied.
"Yes it was, It was something I've never had anybody do for me, because they wanted to, my father bought me things because he had to. Not because he wanted to. You bought it because you wanted to,". She touched his hand.
" I-I better, uh better,".
"Go," she finished for him.
"Yeah I better go," he began to back away, but something held him back. He had to kiss her, just once. He walked up to her and kissed her, lightly at first, then more and more demanding. He pulled away, and both of them were gasping for air.
"Now I'll go," he laughed.
After Nick had left, from that one kiss, Zoe knew she was in love.