*Kelly*
“So, you guys are throwing Howie a bachelor’s party tonight, huh?” I asked AJ over the phone, while rummaging through my closet deciding on what to wear.
“You bet!” he exclaimed with an evil laugh.
“Aight now…you best behave yourself!” I warned, laughing.
“Oh yeah, Kelly, you know me…” he said.
“Yeah, I do! That’s why I told you to behave!” I laughed.
“Well, aren’t you throwing a bachelorette party for Theresa?” he questioned.
“Yep! Sure are!” I smiled jubilantly.
“Then, you’d better behave YOURSELF!” he warned.
“Oh puleeze! You know me better than that!
Besides, we’re not hiring a stripper like I’m sure you guys are…” I shot back.
“Yeah, you bet we are!” he said with excitement.
“AJ!! That’s not what you were supposed to say!” I yelled laughing.
“I was just kidding, hon. You know Howie…he won’t let us hire a stripper,” I said, finally deciding on an outfit to wear.
“Yeah, well, that’s me! So, do you want me to give ya a lift to Theresa’s?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Sure! That sounds good! Come in an hour or so, that way I’ll have time to get ready, ok?” I told him.
“Okay, beautiful. Love ya!” he said.
“Love you, too, hon! Bye!” I hung up the phone and got out of my pajamas and headed for the shower.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Gail*
“Nick, do you see it?!” I screamed, searching my house for the third time.
“See what??” he asked shooting me a quizzical look.
“My present for Theresa! It was wrapped in a Victoria’s Secret box with little hearts on it. Have you seen it?” I asked, fully stressed out.
“Yeah, you gave it to me to keep at my house remember? In case Theresa came over, she wouldn’t find it…” he reminded me.
“Oh, that’s right!” I let out a big sigh of relief, forcing my head onto Nick’s shoulder. He laughed a bit and stroked my hair. “Come on…I’ll take you to my house to get it.”
Nick drove us to his house and when we walked in, we saw BJ and Jared sitting on the couch together.
“Oh hey you guys!” BJ exclaimed, getting up from the couch. “This is my boyfriend Jared Blake. Jared, this is my bro Nick and his girlfriend Gail,” she said as Jared and Nick shook hands.
“Hey man, how’s it goin’?” Jared asked.
“Fine, thanks. C’mon Gail,” Nick said placing his arm around my waist and leading me into his bedroom.
“Nick, what was that all about?!” I demanded an explanation.
“Gail, tell me what’s going on. I saw the way you looked at him,” he almost yelled.
“Looked at who? What are you talking about about Nick?” I raised my voice, knowing exactly what he was talking about.
“Jared! I’m not stupid, Gail! I know something is wrong by the way you acted the other day…” he said.
“Nick, it’s nothing really. Just get the present and let’s go,” I said, turning toward the door to leave.
“No, I want an explanation first. I think I deserve that,” he started through me with his blue eyes.
I sighed and sat down on the bed.
“Fine…sit down,” I began to tell Nick the story.
“Jared and I used to uh…date. He was my first love, I guess…” I said, feeling Nick’s eyes burning through me, as the tears filled my eyes.
“So, you’re upset about seeing him with my sis?” Nick questioned.
“No, wait…let me finish…” I continued. “See, one night several years ago he was driving to see me and was in a terrible car accident. He was in critical condition and was put in intensive care here at our hospital. He wasn’t improving any, so his parents had him transferred to a hospital out of state. I tried to call and keep in touch, but he had amnesia and didn’t remember me or anyone, so I never saw him again after that night,” I finished explaining.
Nick just sat there and stared at me wide-eyed. “I’m so sorry, Gail. I had no idea…” he apologized. “I didn’t mean to get upset with you. I’m really sorry,” he said with a tone of guilt and regret.
“No, it’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you before, but I never ever expected to see Jared again,” I confessed.
“So, he still doesn’t know who you are right?” Nick questioned.
“I suppose not. I mean, he didn’t recognize me downstairs a few minutes ago. I just want him to remember us like we were, ya know?” I said, searching Nick’s angelic face for a response.
“Yeah, I can understand that. Won’t it be a little weird though seeing him around here and all?” he asked.
“Yeah, I guess that will be sort of different,” I sat on Nick’s bed, thinking.
“Come on…let’s go talk to BJ and Jared,” Nick said taking my hand into his.
“Nick, I’m not sure if this is such a good idea…” I said full of worry and doubt.
“Everything will be fine…I’m right here with you. I always will be,” he smiled kissing me softly on the lips. We walked downstairs and Nick explained to BJ what had happened while I talked to Jared.
“Do you know who I am?” I asked looking deep into his enchanting green eyes.
“Uh…yeah, you’re Gail, BJ’s brother’s girlfriend,” he said.
“Right, but do you remember who I was?” I questioned, praying he would say that he did.
“Possibly…gimme a hint!” he joked.
“You were in a fatal car crash one night a few years ago on the way to my house. Do you remember me now?” I said, looking at his stunned expression.
“How do you know about that?” he questioned astonished.
“We were dating at the time and you were on the way to my house when you crashed,” I explained.
“Ohmygosh Gail! Is it really you?!” he yelled throwing his arms around my neck.
“Yeah, it’s me! I thought I’d never see you again,” I told Jared.
“I know, me too. I got over my amnesia, but you had already moved here and I couldn’t get in touch with you,” he told me.
“I’m sorry, but I’m so glad that you’re here now!” I smiled, placing my hand on his shoulder.
“Me too! I love Florida and the Carter’s are the most wonderful people! Everything in my life just seems so perfect now,” he told me smiling.
“Yeah, the Carter’s are great! I love them all so much!” I gushed.
“Nick especially, right?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Of course!” I smiled and blushed a bit as Nick and BJ walked into the den.
“You guys alright?” Nick asked.
“Yeah! Jared remembers me!” I yelled with joy, jumping up and running over to Nick.
“That’s cool!” he smiled kissing me sweetly. “Before I forget though, Theresa just called and they were all wondering where you’re at,” he said.
“Oh! I forgot!” I exclaimed, slapping my hand on my forehead.
“Well, come on. I’ll drive you there,” Nick offered.
“Thanks babe, but I should drive or else I won’t be able to get home tomorrow,” I said, grabbing Theresa’s present.
“You sure?” he asked a bit disappointed.
“Yeah, thanks though. I’ll call ya tomorrow!” I said kissing him and telling BJ and Jared goodbye.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Claudi*
“Are you ready, hon?” I called to Brain who was still in the bathroom getting ready.
“Yeah, one more sec…” he said.
I rolled my eyes at him still fixing his hair and walked into my bedroom to get Theresa’s present.
“Alrighty…I’m ready!” Brian announced, stepping out of the bathroom in his Tommy jeans and a jersey.
“Nice B-Rok!” I raised my eyebrows at his choice of clothing.
“What?!” he exclaimed offended.
“Nothing! Come on…they’re probably waiting on us,” I said grabbing his hand to go.
“I’m drving, right?” he asked.
“No way babe! I’m driving! Get in!’ I yelled, tossing Theresa’s present in the back of my candy apple red ’69 Camaro. Brian pretended to put, but reasoned he wouldn’t get to drive, so he got in.
“Just get Nick to drop you off at my house or something tomorrow, ok?” I said to Brian.
“Okay. Actually, why don’t you just take me to his house? That way we can go to Howie’s together,” he suggested.
“Okay, if you’re sure,” I agreed.
I drove to Nick’s house to find Gail pulling out of the driveway. Nick was standing outside watching her leave when we pulled up.
“’Sup Frick?” he yelled.
“Hey Frack! Is it all right if I ride with you to Howie’s?” Brian asked, climbing out of my car.
“Yeah, not a problem. Don’t worry Claudi, I’ll take care of your boy for ya!” Nick assured bending down to look at me sitting in my car.
“Thanks Nick. I appreciate it…really,” I said sarcastically.
“Hey now! I’m doin’ you a favor! You know how out of hand Frick over here can be!” he teased.
“Yeah, I do! Believe me!” I laughed. “Well, I should be going. Catch you guys later and be good!” I warned.
“Yeah, yeah. Bye hon!” Brian said, walking over to give me a kiss.
“Bye, love you! See ya Nick!” I yelled, starting down the driveway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Vic*
“Thanks for giving me a ride,” I said genuinely, stepping out of Kevin’s car.
“No trouble at all. I’ll walk ya to the door,” he said, getting out and linking his hand with mine.
We walked in to see everyone sitting in Theresa’s living room.
“Oooh…is he the stripper?!” Theresa exclaimed looking in Kevin’s direction laughing.
We all laughed along while Kevin blushed slightly.
“Okay ladies…that’s enough. I just came to bring Vic. I’m leaving now,” he turned to go.
“Have fun ok? And behave yourself!” I told him.
“Yeah, and keep an eye on AJ! You know how he is…” Kelly intervened.
Kevin laughed, “Alright, Kel, not to worry. Will do! See you ladies later!”
We kissed goodbye and I watched him leave.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Theresa*
“Ohmygoodness! I can’t believe I’m getting married tomorrow!” I squealed almost as soon as Kevin left.
“I know, me either. I always thought I’d be the one to get married first,” Kelly said.
“Well, don’t worry. The way your honey moves, you’ll be married soon enough,” Gail said.
We just looked at her and then back at Kelly. She was smiling all dreamy eyed.
“Uh-oh! Is there a Mrs. McLean in the house?” I yelled laughing.
Kelly just laughed with us and didn’t say a word.
“No, no…what’s up with that? You tell us everything! C’mon…spill it!” Claudi said.
“No, I don’t want to. Come on, Theresa. Open up your present from me!” Kelly said, attempting to change the subject.
“No, we want to hear about what’s going on with you and AJ,” I said, putting down the present she had just handed me.
She stared at use for a second and nervously fidgeted with her hands before she bagan to tell us. That’s when we noticed it!
