(2 years later)
My family along with Cailtin and the guys and their families waited in the Orlando National Airport and waited for our plane to Europe.
"I can't believe my baby is leaving!" my mom cried and hugged me.
"Oh, Mom. I'm a big boy, I'm 15 now," I joked.
"Flight 1506 is now boarding for Frankfurt, Germany. First class and single passengers are asked to board now," the flight attendant said. I squeezed Caitlin's hand and she looked me straight in the eye.
"Promise you'll write?" she asked me.
"Everyday," I said, pulling her into a hug and kissing her forehead. Good-byes were so tough. I knew how much Caitlin hated good byes.
"Oh, wait. I almost forgot," I said to Caitlin, handing her a tiny silver box.
"What is this?" she asked.
"Open it," I said, teasing her. Caitlin sighed and opened the box to reveal two silver rings.
"What are these?" she asked me.
"They're promise rings," I said and took both rings out of the box, and slid one onto her finger and the other on mine.
"Caitlin, you must promise me."
"Promise you what?" she asked.
"Promise that no matter how far apart we are, we will always remain together. No matter what," I insisted. "No matter what happens, or where life takes us, we must be friends forever," I finished. Caitlin nodded her head with a solemn swear and I gave her a long kiss before leaving for Europe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Aw, c'mon Nick. Cheer up," Brian told me. We had been in Europe for two weeks already and all I did was mope and sulk around all day. I wanted to go back home. I missed my room, I missed my family, I missed Caitlin. She had been my best friend, girlfriend and soulmate for as long as I could remember. I was going to be away for another six months. Six months seemed like an eternity. Caitlin and I had been dating for the past two years and everyday the love that I had for her had grown more and more, as did hers. I even found out more about her than I knew when we were best friends. We even had a lot more in common, you know, like taking a romantic walk on the beach late at night. Thinking of all the times we shared together, only made me long for her brightening smile that was enclosed behind those lucious lips that I had spent hours upon kissing.
"I need her," I said outloud and reached for the phone. I quickly dialed her number.
"Hello?" I heard her answer.
"Hey, Caity." I said, calling her by the nickname I had given her.
"Oh, Nick. Please, don't call me that," she begged. I laughed.
"I miss you," I told her with all of my heart.
"Nick, I miss you too," she replied. Saying these words only made it harder for the both of us. We chatted about stupid things for a while. We didn't care what we talked about, as long as we heard each other's voice.
"Nick, my parents are going away for their 20th wedding anniversary."
"Oh, cool! Where are they going?"
"Oh, I don't know. The point is that I am staying at your house for two weeks." she said.
"Figures that when I'm not home, you stay there," I said matter of factly.
"Nothing to worry about, they aren't leaving for another three months. Even though you still won't be here--" she started.
"Maybe I could take some time off and come home for a week or so!" I said, cutting her off.
"Nick, are you crazy?! There is no way you can get out of touring!" she said.
"We'll see. Listen, Caitlin. I have to go now. I'll call you tomorrow," I said.
"Bye Nick."
"Bye Caitlin." I said, and looked at the ring on my finger.
"Caitlin, wait." I said.
"What, Nick?" she asked.
"I love you," I said. There. I did it. I finally said something that I have been dying to say to her since I was 13. I was too shy to say it before, and I felt all warm when I said it now.
"I love you too, Nick." She said, and hung up the phone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yo, Nick! C'mon!" AJ practically screamed in my ear. I didn't want to get out of, well, my temporary bed on the bus. I was tired from talking to Donna last night about going back to Tampa for a few days. After a lot of convincing, she let me go back for three days in between shows. Yes! Now the hard part would be waiting.
