An hour later I heard the doorbell ring.

"Ali, your mail was sent to my house," Brian smiled handing me my mail.

"Okay, thanks," I said a little upset it wasn't Nick at my door, "Do you wanna come in?" I offered.

"Sure," he shrugged," I see Dracula has gotten to you," Brian laughed.

"Huh?"

"The hickey on your collar bone, I'm guessing Nick put it there," he explained.

"Oh, yeah, but I stopped him after that. He ran out of here an hour ago and he looked whiter than a ghost," I replied.

"Well, you have to know, he's changed for the worse," Brian started, "Before when he was with you he was turning around and remembering you helped him with the ladies, but he forgot you as did you him, and he started disrespecting girls left and right. That's how he's been ever since. That's probably why he ran out on you today," he reasoned.

"Oh," I said flatly, "So him running out, was that his way of saying that if I didn't do him I can't even be a friend?"

"Pretty much," he said quietly.

"So, I heard you're going to the Grammies. Congratulations," I smiled.

"Thanks. I have a week to get a date, an outfit, and perfect our performance. Not too stressful," he joked.

"Well, you're cute and sweet you'll get a date, designers will send you clothes and I could help you pick something out,"

Brian cut me off. "You could help me pick something out?" he repeated as a question.

"Yeah," I shrugged.

"Could you come over now? I mean if you have nothing else to do."

"Yeah, I replied as we both headed over to his house. He tried on every outfit he'd received and I picked out the one I liked.

We sat on his bed watching a movie and got under the covers when it got chile. I fell asleep on his chest and he let me stay overnight. He could tell I had more problems then meets the eye, but it wasn't his place to ask or listen to or comfort me with these problems. Brian knew that I had to have an influence on Nick like I did before. He knew that me moving in next door was no accident, it was fate and that Nick would soon heal all my unspoken pain.

The next morning Brian woke me up gently.

"Morning," he whispered.

"Morning," I replied. The phone rang startling both of us.

"Hello?" Brian answered.

"Bri, it's Nick. Listen. Ya know how I went to Ali's last night? Well, she pulled away from me. I mean we were really getting into it, but she said NO! Can you believe that? She said no, to me!" Nick explained disgusted.

"The world must be coming to an end," he replied as he watched me fix my hair in the bathroom.

"I know, but I mean it's weird, I want her," he stated.

"You want every girl Nick," Brian laughed. I turned around and watched him carefully.

"No, in a different way. I'm so confused!" Nick said frustrated.

"She's actually over here right now," Nick stopped him.

"Don't tell her I'm on the phone!" Nick said worried.

"She already knows and is staring me down," Brian smiled.

"Is that good or bad?" Nick asked unsure.

"Not quite sure," Brian shrugged, "How about you just talk to her," Brian offered.

"I can't, I'm not sure what I'm feeling," Nick replied still confused.

"Ali, I'll be right back," Brian said leaving the room and shut the door, "Nick, just spend time with her. You'll figure it out. I mean, there's something she's hiding. I can tell. If you help her get it out she'll be yours again. Just start slow, that's all," Brian explained.

"How do I start?" he asked curiously.

"Come over to my house, bring your clothes that designers sent you for the
Grammies and she can help you pick out and outfit. She help me last night. Then, just make casual trips with her and after you guys are buds ask her to the Grammies. It's just a matter of getting to know her," he reasoned.

"Okay, I'll be over in 5," Nick said hanging up. Brian came back in his room and saw me getting all my stuff together.

"Are you leaving?" he asked.

"Yeah, I think I better go," I said putting my jacket on.

"Well, Nick is coming over, he needs help with his clothes too. Could you stay a little longer? Please? He has worse taste than me," he chuckled.

"Okay, but I'm not sure he wants to see me. I mean, I am the girl that said no," I admitted unsure.

"Its fine," he assured me.

"Well, I'll just go home and change then. We don't want him thinking I said yes to you," I smiled and left. "He'd kill me if he did," he mumbled.

I went home and put on a small purple tanktop that showed my stomach and a short black skirt. I put on black shoes that raised me 3 inches. I was trying to figure out what to do with my long blonde hair when the doorbell rang.

"Somebody's antcy," I laughed when I saw Nick outside running his hands through his hair nervously. I opened the door with a welcoming smile.

"Hey, um I just wanted to apologize for yesterday. I don't really have any friends who are girls and I'm a player. I get what I want, when I want it, and that's why I ran out on you. I was just hoping we could be friends," he smiled uneasily.

"Of course Nick," I smiled, "Now lets go get you some clothes," I said as we walked over to Brian's house.