Friday they all slept in until afternoon before heading to Nick’s. Nick knew ahead of time that he was gonna be home and had made plans to go out with some friends. It wasn’t until after plans were made that he called Bree to see if she could come down. Getting ready Friday night Nick was teasing her about they way she had dressed the night before and how she never dressed like that around him.

“What are you afraid of?” He asked.

“Nothing really. I guess I just never thought about it. We’ve always been just friends. I guess I’m just used to being around you in plain old regular clothes. What about you?”

“What do you mean, what about me?”

“I mean what’s up with all the baggy clothes and long-sleeve shirts? You’ve always kind of hid yourself.”

“You know the answer to that Bree.” How many times had they talked about the teasing he had received over the years?

She saw him frown a little and knew he was thinking about that teasing. Going up to him she hugged him, “Hey, I shouldn’t have said anything. I know. But at the same time I don’t understand. I mean, I understand where you’ve been coming from, but not why they all insisted on picking on you like that. I’ve personally always thought you were kinda cute.”

“What ever, Bree.” He rolled his eyes at her.

“Especially when you were standing in the rain trying to figure out what to do with that tire iron. I knew right then you had never changed a tire in your life. And I doubt you’ve still yet to change one.” He gave her that ‘yeah whatever smart-ass’ look. “I guess I should go finish getting ready. We’re supposed to be leaving soon, right?”

“Yup. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

About 30 minutes later Nick was yelling up the stairs, “Bree, I thought you said finish getting ready. I assumed that meant you had already started. We gotta go.”

“Just one more minute and I’ll be down.”

Mike told Nick, “I don’t know what you’re yelling about. It ain’t like you’re mister speedy when it comes to getting ready sometimes. I swear I’ve seen you primp more that most girls.”

“You know, if you two are gonna keep teasing me all weekend you can just go home now.” Nick wasn’t mad, but he had to give them hell for it just the same.

“Okay, I’m ready.” When Nick turned around to say something along the lines of ‘it’s about time’ he found himself unable to speak. “Now,” She smiled at him. “What were you saying about how I never dressed up?” When she got to the bottom of the steps he still hadn’t said a word. “Nick? What, is it that bad? Maybe I should go change.”

When she started to turn around he grabbed her hand stopping her. “No. Don’t do that. It’s just, wow.” She had on a silk lavender tank top with an open-knit sweater over it, that only tied together in the front, a matching silk mini skirt with a long slit on each side, and high heels. “I wasn’t expecting this. Don’t change.”

“Really? It’s okay?” All three men nodded their head yes. After a few minutes of gathering keys and checking locks and alarms they were on their way out.

At the club Bree actually knew a few more of the people this time. She remembered some of them from the previous visit. Of course they were all happy to see Nick and everyone was having a great time. At some point fairly early in the evening someone affiliated with the club came around asking for pictures. She commented on it, that she thought it was strange. But Nick told her that was something they did here. The club would put pictures up on their website.

“Doesn’t that bother you? Isn’t it bad enough fans doing that, but you can’t even go into a club without the club itself doing it?”

“Really, it’s fine. It’s not like I’m the only one they do it to. A lot of people get their pictures put up. I’ll have to show you sometime.”

Around 11 o’clock Nick noticed Bree standing over by their table and she had what looked like an aspirin or something that she was about to take. By the time he made it to her she had actually already swallowed it. “Hey there. You got a headache or something?”

She jumped a little then smiled. “Nope. I’m fine. Here.” She put something in the palm of his hand and then closed his hand around it.

<~ Chapter 40 or Chapter 42 ~>

In the End

Karina 2003