Katies P.O.V.
I sat on the lawn in front of my school one Monday morning with my friends talking. We were waiting for our teachers to call us inside. We all looked up when a noisy car pulled up to the curb and a small blonde boy climbed out. I pointed to him and yelled, "Look! Its Nick Carter! Wonder where he has to go today, ballet lessons?" Nick looked at his feet as he walked inside to his homeroom while everyone laughed.
I turned back to my group and continued to rag on Nick. I knew that the people around me weren't really my friends, but they let me hang out with them anyway for 2 reasons. 1. I was smart and I "helped" them with their work, and 2. I made fun of Nick Carter. I actually hated him. Just as I was about to crack another joke about Nick to my totally un-interested audience, the teachers called us inside.
6th grade 5th period Math class (same day)
I sat in the middle of my math class, one of my 3 classes that I had to share with Nick. He usually sat in a back corner of a room, away from everybody.
"Class, today you will pair off and work on a project. You and your partner will have to make a pretend business and figure out all the expenses to start. You will be given $3000 in Monopoly (c) Money. Thatis your budget," said the old math teacher, Mrs. Pratchet. Then she started pairing names off. I hoped I'd be paired off with my friend, Mary, but then Mary was paired off with George, the second biggest dork in school. "Nikolas Carter, you will be working with-"
"Ms. Pratchet, can I please work by myself?" Nick begged.
"No, Mr. Carter." I felt sorry for the loser that got paired with him. "You will work with Katherine Schwartz." My jaw dropped to the floor. Katherine Schwartz? Katherine Schwartz as in Katie Schwartz? Katie Schwartz was me!!!! No!!! I couldn't, no, I wouldn't work with Nick Carter.
"Mrs. Pratchet. PUL-eeze don't make me work with HIM. Couldn't you pair me with someone more popular, more like, um, Gina? We work great together."
"No, Ms. Schwartz. You will work with Mr. Carter." Mrs. Pratcher said. "And for that little attitude, Mr. Carter and yourself will be the first present your project to the class."
My face went pale, then beat red. How could this happen to me? I glanced over at Nick, who had his head in his hands. 'Oh, great' I thought, 'Now I'm gonna have to talk to him. And spend time with him. Ahhh! Help!!' Then as the last to people were paired off, I snapped back to reality.
"Now I would like you to get together with your partner while I hand out supplies." Nick sulked up to my desk and sat down. After Mrs. Pratchet handed us the Monopoly (c) Money, Nick said, "If you, um, want, I'll, um, do the whole, uh, project, so you can, uh, hang out with your friends."
I looked at him in surprise. "There is NO way I'd let my grade rest in the hands of a dork like you. I'll do the project."
Then Nick looked up at me and said, "If you did the project, we'd probably get an "F" because I left your blonde-brain in charge of the project. Everyone knows that you and your friends are idiots, so I'll do the project, thank-you."
I was fuming now. No one called me stupid and got away with it. "Ok. First of all, I AM NOT a blonde and I DO NOT have a blonde brain. If I did the project, you'd get an 'A'. Second of all, 'everyone' is wrong. I am not an idiot. I get all "A's", and my friends get their "C's" because of me. So if you're going to go aroung making accusations about people, get your facts straight, 'cause someday, it'll be about something serious, and then you'll probably get beat." I whispered loudly. Then I looked at Nick. He looked like he was about to cry. 'Bad move. The dork cries, you get detention. Great!' I thought. "We'll work together on the project. When should we meet up? And where?"
Nick looked a little worried. "I leave school early, and I don't get home until late at night. Well, 9:00, and thats too late to get together. Unless....? No, that wouldn't work?"
"What eouldn't work Nick?" I asked. I was a little curious. I still hated him, but I was making a huge effort to be nice, since I'd have to work with him.
"Well, it's a dumb idea, but maybe sometimes you could leave early with me and we could work on the project in the car or while I'm waiting to audition."
"Hey! Thats not a stupid idea. Its a great idea. But I'd have to ask my mom first. And on Monday's and Wednesdays, I have violin lessons, so they wouldn't be good days for me. But I'll still have to ask."
"Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday you can come. My mom won't mind. Ask today if you can come tomorrow. Okay?"
"Sure, but, Nick, I think we should come up with a business now before the hard stuff with the budget. How does that sound?"
"Right. How 'bout a school> No. $3000 would only cover one corner of the room. A school supplies mini-mart? That could be a good idea!" We spent the rest of that class rattling down ideas for a business and writing down the best ones.
Nicks P.O.V (That Night)
'Ok. Let me get this straight. I was just paired up with the meanest popular girl in school during math today. Then I invited her to leave school early and come to my auditions and classes 3 days a week, and she said yes. I gave her my phone number, and she called me and said she was allowed to come. Wow!' I thought. I was trying to fall asleep, but I was too confused by todays events. I'd been accused of taking ballet (which I don't of course). I'd been paired up with one of my biggest tormenters. I'd given a girl my phone number, even if she was one of his tormenters. 'Today was a pretty good day!' I thought as I fell asleep.
The next morning, as I gulped down his orange juice, I told my mom "Today you have to pick up my, uh, friend, Katie, when you get me."
"Your friend, who, sweety?" My mom asked.
"Katie. You know, the girl who called me last night. She's coming with us. I told her you wouldn't mind."
"Nicky's got a girlfriend, Nicky's got a girlfriend!" My sister, B.J. started chanting. "She's not my girlfriend!" I snapped. "She's just a partner for a project in math class." "Yeah, right, Nicky." B.J. said. "Don't call me that!" I said back. I HATED when people called me "Nicky".
Katies P.O.V. (4th Period Lunch)(Tuesday, September 26)
"Hey Steph! Stephanie!" I yelled across the school courtyard where everyone ate lunch when it was nice out. She turned around to see who was calling her. When she saw it was me, she waved and ran over to see what I wanted.
"Hey Katie! Whats up? I was just looking for you.I heard who you got paired up with in math class. I feel so sorry fot you. So anyway, what did ya want?"
"I need you to get the homework for reading, history, and Spanish for me. I'm, uh, going home early with, uh, um, Nick today."
You're going home with Nick? Oh, well. I guess you have to get together with him since he's your parther. Sure, I'll get the work. C'mon and eat lunch with Gina and Mary."
I glanced ay the bench under the old oak tree across the courtyard. Nick was all alone eating over there. 'maybe I should eat with him' I thought. 'But just to work on the project' I quickly assured myself. "uh, Steph, I think I'll eat lunch with Nick today so we can work on the project a little more."
"Katie, are you sure you don't like him? I mean, you're going home with him, and you're going to eat lunch with him, instead of with your best friends."
"I DO NOT like him as even just a friend. We have to work on the project 'cause we have to present it to the class first. So you can just shut your mouth, cause you're wrong." I couldn't believe that she had accused me of liking him.
"God, Katie. Attitude check. I was just asking. You don't have to scream at me. Know what? Forget about me getting your homework. I don't think we're even friends anymore." Oh, well, I lost a friend. It's happened before. But I was kinda mean to her. Well, no big deal.
I walked over to Nick and he didn't even notice that I stepped in front of him. "Hi Nick." He looked up and smiled. "Can I sit here?" I asked pointing to the empty space next to him. He nodded. "So whats up?" Nick shrugged. "Do you know how to say anything? 'Cause if you don't, I'll just go and sit with Gina and Mary."
"Yes I know how to talk. Why are you sitting with me?" I thought it over for a second and then shrugged. "So now you're the one who can't say anything."
"Yeah, If I can't say anything, then you're just a regular mute. And that wouldn't be good if you have an audition today. You know what I mean. Actually, I came over to do more work on the project."
"Oh. Okay." We spent the rest of the lunch period and the whole next period, which happened to be math, working on the project. After math, we went down to the office where his mom was waiting for us. Then we left.
"Hi, Mrs. Carter. I'm Katie Schwartz." I said when the car started to pull away. "Hello, Katie. Call me Jane. I've heard so much about you." "Mom!!!!!" Nick said, blushing."Anyway, do you want to start working right away or do you want to take a break from school first?" Lets take a break first. Lord knows I need it." "Alright."
I sat back and took out my CD player and Whitney Houston CD. I started to lip-sync with the music out of habit. Then, without realizing it, I must have started to sing softly. Nick tapped me on the shoulder. I sat there with my mouth hanging open, because I was in the middle of a note. "I was... singing... outloud... wasn't I." Nick nodded, and I turned a bright red. "Don't worry, Katie. You didn't sound that bad." "Still, I don't like singing in front of people. Its embarassing." "Then so you don't have to embarass yourself anymore, lets get started on the project. Didn't we decide on the milk and bread store?" "Yeah. I had my mom bring me out to a bulk store so I could find out prices for large amounts of milk, bread, eggs, and candy cost. Oh, I looked at frozed ice cream bars too. To have enough to cover the store for about 2 weeks or about 1000 purchases, whichever comes first, it would cost us, totaling the prices of all the items, about $900. That leaves about $2000 for the building, furniture, newspapers, and are we gonna get a cashregister or a calculator and tin box?"
"I called the Record and the guy who picked up said that to get 100 papers a day would be $75, $100 if we want it delivered. We can decide that later. I called the realiter and she said that the going rate for a small shack would run for about $1000, At this place I found in the phone book, One Man's Trash Other Man's Treasure, We can two barrels for $10. Then we need some lumber for the counter, the right size would cost about $20. And if we get a bookshelf, about $50, we have a place for the bread and newspapers. We'd have to get a freezer and fridge, for the icecream and milk and eggs. But it would have to be the kind with the glass doors. That would cost like... um, brace yourself. We've had lots of really cheap stuff here. $300. No problem with that. And I'd go for a cash register. To look professional."
"Nick, where are we going to get a cash register?" "I dunno.""Lets stick with a calculator and tin box. Total of $40. And since that leaves us with about $650, lets get the papers delivered. That leaves us with a total of..." I did the math on my calculator "$580 left. What else could we get??? Do we need to use all the money??? No. I don't think so."
"Guys. We'll be there in about 5 minutes. Nick you better start warming up your voice. Want me to turn on the radio?" Mrs. Carter called back. "Sure, mom." I started shoving my stuff into my book bag. Mrs. Carter started to turn stations until Nick yelled "STOP!!" I braced myself for the car to stop short, but instead, Mrs. Carter stopped changing stations. Nick started singing along with the song, I didn't know what the name was but I knew that I'd heard it before. I didn't even know who sang it. I just knew that it was a duet. Nick only sang the male vocals of the song, and stupid me started to lip sync with the female vocals. Before I knew it, I was singing outloud with Nick.(Authors Note: I have heard this song, but I don't know If I have the words right. Some of them may be wrong)
"Can't We try just a little bit harder,
Can't we try just a little bit more,
Can't We try to understand,
This is Love We're fighting for.
Can't we try just a little more passion,
Can't we try just a little less pride,
Love you so much Baby,
That it tears me up inside!"
Then I realized what the words that were coming out of my mouth were, and I shut up. The rest of the song, I sat in silence and listened to Nick sing. I started to think, 'Hey, he has a good voice. I don't know why I ever teased him about it.' When the song was over, Mrs. Carter turned around and said, "Katie, you have a beautiful voice. I hope that you don't let your embarrassment to sing in front of people overshadow your talent for too long." I blushed.(A.N.: People, think, If the car was moving, what responsible adult would turn around? The car was stoped at a red light.)Then Nick said, "Hey, mom, the light turned green."
We went to the audition, and I started working on my homework while I waited with Nick and his mom. When I finally finished, Nick was just being called up, so I sat back and watched. I leaned towards Mrs. Carter and asked her, "What part is Nick trying out for?" "He's trying for one of the dwarfs in Snow White. They give the dwarf's roles to younger children, so they will seem smaller than all of the regular sized people like Snow White and the prince." I nodded.
"Jane! How long has it been since I saw you last? One week? Two?" "Oh, Hi, Denise. Denise, this Nicks friend from school, Katie Schwartz. Katie, This is Denise McLean." "Hello, Katie. Pleased to meet you. Are you here to audition, too?" "Hi, Pleased to meet you. No, I'm not here to audition. I've never been to good with being onstage in front of a lot of people. I'm just here to work on the homework with Nick." Mrs. McLean and Mrs. Carter started talking, and I didn't want to seem like was eavesdropping, so I got up and went closer to the stage. I collapsed in one of the seats and slid down low so people sitting behind me could only see the top of my head.
Just then, a boy, who looked like he was two or three years older than me sat down next to me and said, "Hey, whats up girl? I saw you over there with my mom and Nicky boy's mom. You here to audition? Oh, by the way, My name's AJ McLean." Why was he talking to me? Wasn't the way I was sitting making it obvious that I didn't want anyone to talk to me? I guess I had to answer. "The sky, no, Katie Schwartz." "Oh, so you're a comedian. I like that in a girl." AJ said, just as Nick came up behind him. "AJ, stop hitting on Katie. She's not your type. Trust me." "How do you know what her type is, Nicky boy? You never mentioned her before." "AJ I didn't say that you weren't her type, I said she wasn't your type. There's a difference. C'mon. Howie's waiting for us." "Fine Nicky boy." Then he turned to me. "I'll talk to you later." "In your dreams. I didn't really want to talk to you in the first place." Then AJ walked away.
"Sorry 'bout him Katie. He's a little girl-crazy right now." "It's alright. He didn't do any harm. You better get over by them before they both come over here to get you." "See ya later."
Nick and the two other boys sang together for a little while before Nicks mom and AJ's mom called them over to get their stuff to leave. I got up and joined Mrs. Carter and Nick as they left. On the way home, we stopped at a McDonalds for dinner. When they dropped me off at my house, it was already quarter to ten. My parents were going to kill me. I'd told them I'd be home around 9:00. Oh well.,
Nick's P.O.V.(That same night)I hope Katie didn't get in trouble for being late?' I thought during the ride to my house. 'She didn't really act as nasty as usual tonight. I wonder why? And WHY did AJ have to hit on her? He knows that he shouldn't mess with girls at auditions. Couldn't he tell that Katie didn't want to talk to him? Well, maybe it was just because I see her every day, and I can see how she looks when she doesn't want people to talk to her. Oh, well. We got a lot of the project done. I'll talk to her again tomorrow in Math, or whenever she'll talk to me.'
The Next Morning
"Nick, Katie is such a nice girl. I'm glad you two have gotten to be friends. From the look on your face yesterday when you told me that she was coming with us, I'd have thought that you were going to the torture chamber instead of bringing a friend to an audition." Jane said that morning at breakfast. 'If only mom knew' I thought.
"Nicky's got a girlfriend, Nicky's got a girlfriend!" BJ started chanting again. "Shut up Beeg! She's not my girlfriend. We're... just friends. And don't call me 'Nicky'! I hate being called Nicky!" "Whatever Nickers." "Don't call me that either!!!!"
Katies P.O.V.
I sat at my make-up mirror applying coat after coat of foundation to my bruise. When I could barely make out any color in my cheek, I looked at my whole face, and realized that it was obvious that I had lots of make-up on only one part of my face, so I evened it out all over my face. When I went out into the kitchen to get my book-bag and leave, my mother came over and looked at what I was wearing. I was wearing a shory grey skirt, with a white, short sleeved blouse, and knee-high socks (A.N.: No, people, NOT like Britney Spears in the Baby One More Time video.). I left my hair down, framing my face so it would hide the bruise a little better. I just hoped that I would remember not to tuck my hair behind my ears. "Sweatheart! You look beautiful!!!" Then she gave me a hug, and a kiss on my bruised cheek. I winced in pain. "Have a good day. Now hurry up, or you'll miss your bus." I walked out the door, and ran down the road to the bus stop as fast as one can in chunky platforms and a mini-skirt. I got there just as the bus was pulling up. I got on the bus, and sat where I usually did: in the back two-seater, alone.
When I got to school, I walked inside and put my books in my locker. A big group of kids were already coming down the hall, and when they went past me, one accidentally pushed me into the lockers, and I hit my head. That really hurt. I closed the lock on my locker, and started walking towards the bathroom. When I walked past the main doors to the school, and walked right into someone. I stepped back to see who it was. Nick. "Hi Katie. Are you ok?" "Yeah, Nick. I'm fine, ok?" Then I pushed past him and ran into the girls room. Just let me say Thank God that out school decided that girls should have a couch in their bathroom, cuz I didn't feel like sitting on the floor. I sat on the couch and started crying. I wiped my eyes, and my cheeks where tears had run down, when someone opened the bathroom door. It was Stephanie. "Katie. Oh my God! Are you ok?" "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" "Well, I ran into Nick in the hall, and before I could make a nasty comment, he said that he had seen you running into the bathroom, and he thought something was wrong. And on top of that, your eyes are red from crying, and... uh... Katie, did your dad hit you again?" I nodded. Then I started crying again. Stephanie handed me tissues from in her purse. Then the bell rang. "Hey, Katie, I gotta go to homeroom now. If you're still here at lunch, post a note on the door, and I'll bring you some food." I nodded again. After Stephanie left the room, wiped my eyes and cheeks with a tissue, and stood up and straightened out my skirt. I was glad that I didn't wear eye make-up today.
I walked into my homeroom through the rear door (A.N. ya know, theres 2 doors, one in the front of the room, one in the back behind the desks.) quietly, and no one noticed me. Unfortunately, my desk was right next to Nick’s. Oh, Well. I sat down next to him, thanking God that my bruised cheek was on the side that he couldn’t see. “Hey, Katie. You’re never late. Are you ok?” Nick whispered. “I’m FINE!!!” I whispered loudly. Nick got a sad look on his face and turned away.
Later That Day, At Lunch
I decided that I’d eat inside since I didn’t feel like talking to anyone except Stephanie, and she had gotten sick during the day, and went home early. I took my lunch and ate on the gym bleachers. I was eating when I heard the doors click open and footsteps heading towards me. I looked up, and saw it was Nick. “Hi Nick. What do you want?” “Just to see if you were ok.” I turned to look at him and he gasped.
"Katie! What happened to your face? I don't believe that you are ok anymore." "Nick, Nothing happened to my face, ok? I don't know why you would think that." "Katie? Do you have foundation with you?" I nodded "Does it have a mirror in it?" I nodded again. "Use the mirror. Look at your face." I took out my foundation compact and looked at my cheek. I saw a huge purple bruise on my face. Instinctly, I started to cake on foundation, but Nick stopped me. "What happened? Is that from when we ran into each other?" I shook my head no. "Then how did you get the bruise? That thing is huge." "Uh, um, my dad was mad because I was late last night, and uh... he... uh..." "He did what?" "He hit me." "He did WHAT!" "I knew I shouldn't have told you." I got up to leave, and Nick grabbed me by the elbow. "Nick, let me go." "Katie, that is not right. And I know that he didn't just hit you. There's a small bruise on your leg." "No, there isn't a bruise on my leg, alright.... HEY! Why are you looking at my legs?" "Uh... Um... Ur... Nevermind that. You should go to the nurse. That bruise on your face is pretty bad." "Look, Nick. I've dealt with worse mark-ups than this. Get a life. I don't need any help. Got it???" "Katie I really think that you-" "I said I didn't need any help Nick. If you see Steph, tell her that the note is posted. She'll know what it means." I got up to walk away again, and he grabbed my arm again. "Katie, Please get help. That bruise is really bad. Its not right that your father hits you." "Nick, Let go of my arm, and leave me alone. Thankyou, and please give Steph my message." I got up, and walked out the door. I went back into the bathroom, and fixed my make-up. A few minutes later, Steph came running into the bathroom. "Katie! What was so important that you had to send NICK over to talk to me?" "Steph, he knows. Ya, know, about my dad? He knows!" "Wow, you told him?" "No, he saw the bruise. On my face, and he saw one on my leg." "Oh. Thats not that good... Wait a minute! Why was he looking at your legs?" "I dunno. Thats what I asked him. He just studdered and said nevermind. Thats weird, isn't it?" "Yeah. Are you gonna stay here the rest of the day? Hold on a second. Stay still. Gimme your foundation. You missed a spot. There. No more bruise showing. Are you gonna stay in here for the rest of the day?" "Uh, yeah. Just tell the teachers that I was really tired or something, so I stayed in the bathroom." "Orkley-Dorkley. See ya later. I'll get your work for you." "Thanks, Steph. And, since I got math next, can you stop ther on the way to your class?"
I was sitting on the little couch in the bathroom when the door opened. I figured it was Steph bringing me my work or someone coming in to, an the teachers would say "use the facilities". But, it was Mrs. Pratchet. "Ms. Schwartz, Mr. Carter said he was worried about you when you didn't show up for class. At least you were considerate enough to send a messanger to tell me why you were not in class. Of, course, you really should see the nurse. This is not a hang out place." "What did Nick say to you?" "Oh, dear, Nick didn't say anything. Stephanie told me that you were so tired that you came in here during lunch, and you had dozed off when she found you." Leave it to Steph to over-dramatize my life. "The nurse will let you sleep in there if you are tired." "Thanks, Ms. Pratchet. I think I'll go now, if you don't mind." I picked up my books and went to my locker to put away the stuff I didn't need. I felt someone tap me on the back, and I figured it was Steph, so I turned around and looked up to where her head usually is, but she wasn't there. It was Nick, about a foot lower than where I was looking. "Katie, are you going to go to the nurse, or do I have to tell someone?" "Nick I swear, If you tell a soul, I will hurt you. I will hurt you very badly. Would you stop looking at my legs? Thankyou. Don't tell anyone. Got it? I don't like being felt sorry for. God Nick, get your eyes off my legs! Yes I'm going to go to the nurse, but not for the reason you think. Could you move so I can go?" He put his arm up against the locker next to me to block my way. "Katie, If you don't get yourself help, I'll have to get help for you." I grabbed his shirt collar and shook him gently. "Nick, I swear, don't tell a soul. If anyone finds out, I won't exactly be the most popular girl in a good way. Keep this between you and me and Steph. Got it? NO ONE but you and Steph can know about this. Not even your journal if you keep one of those things." Then I dropped his shirt collar and shoved past him. Couldn't he just leave me alone? I spent the rest of the day in the nurses office. When I got home, and went inside all I heard was, "KATIE!!! You cut your last 4 classes? Child, I can't believe you. What is your problem??? You better make your calls before your father comes home. He's gonna be pissed!" That was my mom. She was cool about most stuff. She didn't get as mad as dad, and she warned me about stuff. But I called Steph quick and told her to come by around midnight, and to tap on my bedroom window. I needed her to deliver a note. And it was pretty important.
Nicks P.O.V.
Katie wasn't in school the next day, and I was worried. I promised that I wouldn't tell anyone. At lunch, Stephanie came up to me and said that she had a letter from Katie. She dropped it on top of my books and walked away. I opened the letter and was almost shocked at what I read.
Dear Nick,
I regret to say that I won't be able to come
To school for a few days. I do not feel well
Don't tell anyone te real reason why I am out
And I have a feeling that you know without me
Telling you. If anyone wants to know, just
Tell them either that you don't know or that
I caught the flu. And I swear Nick, If you
Tell anybody, when I come back, you are so dead.
I'm not joking. Don't get worried about me,
And Stop thinking about my legs! Just Kidding!
I can't keep this letter being so serious. It's
OK to laught sometimes, Nick. If you want to
Write back, and please do, I can't use the
Phone and I'm really bored, give the letter
To Steph. She knows how to get notes to me
at times like this. By the way, I'll have
Steph bring you the info and junk for the
math project. Its kinda hard to write when
Your arm hurts. No, its not broken. I know
How a broken are feels. Stop worring and Stop
thinking about my legs. Just Kidding again.
Please Write Back!!!!!
*~*Love Always*~*
Katie
How was I not supposed to worry about her???? She can't write because her arms hurt??? And what was with all those cracks about me looking at her legs? I mean, once or twice she caught me looking at her legs, but I wasn't thinking about them. It was just that her huge bruise stood out so much! And how could I not tell anyone? Her father got so mad at her that she couldn't come to school the next day? That has to be illegal. At least I think it should be. But she said I'd be "So Dead" if I told, so I can't. She'd be mad at me again. I took out a sheet of notebook paper and started to write back. I made it clear that if she wasn't back by next week, I was going to tell someone. She can't kill me for being worried.
*~*Later That Night At Home*~*
The rest of the day went fast after I got that letter from Katie. After I wrote back, I walked over to Stephanie and asked her to give the letter to Katie. 'How could this happen to her?' I thought. 'She wasn't as nasty as she made herself seem. It wasn't fair to her, she was really a sweet person. Someone I could get used to being around. Hold it. Did I just think that about Katie? Am I starting to like her? This can not be happening. This is Katie I'm thinking about. Its just weird.' I went over to the window and looked out. It was a full moon. I wondered if Katie could see it, or if she was ok. Was she crying? Probably not. Katie's a pretty strong girl. I hoped she wasn't crying. I'd HATE to see that.
*~*A few Days Later, at an Audition*~*
"Hey! Nicky Boy! Whats up? Where's that fly hunny you brought with you last week?" "AJ, man, I told you, she's not you're type, and her name is Katie, not 'that fly hunny'. She couldn't come. She, uh *gulp* wasn't feeling well. She hasn't been to school all week. And if she comes to another audition, don't hit on her again. She likes to keep to herself. Thats why she was sitting by herself." "Well, since you seem to be a little defensive over the chick-" "Her name is Katie, and I'm not being defensive over her!" "As I was saying, Nicky-boy, since she's not my type, as you put it, does she have any friends that could be my type?" Hmmm. Did she have any friends that were AJ's type...? Stephanie! "Well, there is her friend Stephanie, but-" "Then bring Stephanie with you!!!" "As I was saying, AJ, Stephanie and I don't get along very well, and she'd never come, unless Katie dragged her along. And she'd definitely put up a fight to that!" "Hmm, feisty, sounds like my type. Bring her to the next audition." "But-!"
Nick hadn't been in school since we presented our project in math. I was a little worried, so I went to the 4th grade wing to find his sister BJ. "Hey! BJ! BJ! Yeah, you! Wait up, BJ! Hi. Where's Nick been?" "You know how he's been singing with a couple guys? They've been recording songs over the past few days. He should be coming back soon. Hey, are you his girlfriend?" I blushed. "No, we're just friends. Can you give this to him?" I wrote my name and phone number on a piece of paper and gave it to her. "You sure you're not his girlfriend?" "Positive. I'm two years younger than him. I got placed ahead a grade." She giggled. "That means you're about my age. Hey, I gotta run, or I'll miss my bus. See ya!"
"Katie! Phone's for you!!! Pick up!" "I GOT IT!!! Hello?" "Hi? Uh, Katie?" "Yeah, this is Katie. Who might this be?" "This is Nick. You wanted me to call?" "Yeah. Where have you been?" "I, uh, just finished recording a record with my group." And What would the groups name be?" "You'll probably think its really stupid, The Backstreet Boys." "Oh, Thats a good name. Where did you get it?" "After the Backstreet Market. I know. Its a stupid name, isn't it. It wasn't my idea. It was Kevin's and AJ's idea." "Who's?" "Two other guys in the group." "Oh, well, will I get your autograph so then you're big and famous, I can say that I was the first person to get your autograph?" "Sure, but we'll never be that big. Believe me. We're not that good. Yet. Maybe we'll do better, but I doubt it." "Whatever Nick. You'll do great. I'll probably never get out of this town." "I bet you will. I have to go now. I have to pack. I'm going back to New York with the guys. It'll be great to go back for a while. I don't know when I'll be back, or if I'll even be back. Never know. I won't be at school again though. Give me your address, so I can write. You know, keep in touch." "1298 Brookline Rd. Ruskin. Don't forget to write." "KATIE! GET OFF THE PHONE!!!!!" "I got to go Nick, my dad is home, and I think he's mad. Bye." "Bye." Click. Yep, my dad was mad. More big make-up jobs for school. Definitely.
***LONG STORY TURNED SHORT STORY EFFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!*** (A.N. Ok, so we all know that if I put what happened over the next few years until I turned 16 {4 years}the story would go on forever, so this little part here until my lines of stars is what I like to call the long story turned short story effect. K?)
Ok, so Nicks letters appeared in my mailbox less and less, until I got none at all. I'd figuredthat once he was big and famous he'd forget about me, at least I though. Lets just say that my father kept hitting me when he came home drunk (A.N. Yes, my name is Katie, but no, my father doesn't hit me. I'd be smart enough to report him if he did. He doesn't come home drunk, either.). I'd been planning on running away for a while, and I had been storing some of my clothes with Stephanie and Mary and Gina until I could get out.
**Nicks P.O.V.**
I wonder if Katie's ok. I really liked her, and it hurt me to see her hurt. If her father hurt her too much, the man is as good as dead. We were traveling on a highway near Ruskin. 'The town where Katie and I used to live' I thought. Why did I stop writing to her? That was the stupidest thing I could have done. "Hey, Nicky-boy. What you thinking of?" "Nothing, AJ." "Nicky, are you sick?" AJ said, feeling my forehead. "You didn't complain when I calledyou Nicky-boy." "I'm fine. Quit bugging me." After AJ left, I sat on the couch looking out the window ant the cars passing by, and at the signs at the sides of the road. *****************************************************************
Katie's P.O.V.
I dropped my last bag of clothes out my bedroom window. Then I pushed my violin case out after them. I had about $50 dollars that I had saved inside the violin case. I looked up at the sky. It was going to rain. I threw a raincoat out on top of my bag. Who knew how long it would take to get out of the house. I wouldn't fit out the window. It was too small. At least I had I first floor room.
I walked down the front hall and right into my father, who instantly started beating me. He backhanded me, and I instantly started bleading because he was wearing lots of rings. He slapped me over and over, but I didn't cry. I couldn't show that it hurt, or he would keep hitting me. When he finally shoves me to the floor and trudged upstairs, I was bleeding really bad, and I could tell I would have a black eye. It was already raining, so I just ran outside and grabbed my bag. I didn't need my stuff from my friends house. I just needed to get out. For once, I was glad I lived near the high-way. I started walking down the main strip, hitch-hiking. I didn't really care that it wasn't safe to hitch-hike, I needed to get out, and it didn't really matter with who. I saw a bus slowing down and stoping next to me. A very familiar voice said "Sweet thang, don't you know its not safe to hitch-hike in the middle of the night? Come on. Get in. " I got on the bus, and the first person I saw, besides the tatooed freak (A.N. No offense to AJ fans, this is her first impression of a strange man in dim light) was Nick. "Nick Carter? Is that you?" "Katie? Oh my God! Katie, you're bleeding!" "I am?" "Nicky-boy. Is this the Katie who came to that audition with you?" "Yes, AJ. Katie, did that start again? Brian!! Kevin!! Howie!! Get up here. Bring band-aids." "Nick! Whats wrong... Oh my Lord! What happened to her?" Brian said. "Uh... Um... Er... Katie?" "Do I have to tell you?" "Yes, ma'am. Cause those cuts and bruises are going to need more than just band-aids to heal." Brian said in a thick Southern drawl. The bruises were showing already? "Katie, come over here and sit down." Nick said. I moved over to sit on the couch next to him. "Now, Katie. I told you that you'd have to tell someone someday. Care to start now?" "Maybe she would like a towel and dry clothes first? She's soaked." Kevin commented. After I had changed into a baggy sweatshirt and PJ pants, I sat down next to Nick again. He started rubbing my back, and as he touched a bruise, I grimaced in pain. "Katie, are you ok?" Nick asked. I grabbed at my back, and leaned foreward. The sweatshirt lifetd a little, revealing the bottom of a giant bruise on my back. When Nick saw this, he lifted the back of my sweatshirt up a little further on my back, and he gasped when he saw the bruise.
"Katie! What happened?" "I had a close encounter with a door knob. Again. Same way. Do I have to tell you guys how?" "Yes" They all chorused. "Uh, ok. It all started way back when I was...."
By the time I finished telling them the story, including about how I shook Nick by his collar, and told him not to tell anyone, right up to when I had started storing my clothes at my friends house, right to what happened that night, I had used up two boxes of tissues. "You know, if you want, just drop me off at a hotel." Nick put a protective arm around me. "No way. You're staying here." "Are you sure? I don't want to impose. What am I saying? This is a bus. I'll sleep on the couch." "I don't know how save that is. The bus will be moving, you know." "And I've gotten worse scrape ups than falling on a bus seat, I can deal with it." "Ok!"
"'Night Nick!" "'Night Kevin" "Good Night AJ!" "Good Night Brian!" "G'Night Katie!" "Night Guys!" It sounded like an episode of the Waltons. What had I gotten myself into?
**In the middle Of The night**
I was just dozing off when I heard someone come out into the part of the bus I was in. I pretended to be asleep because I didn't want to talk to anyone. Whoever it was sat on the floor next to me. Then he started talking. It was Nick. "I'm so sorry I left you, Katie. I shouldn't have stopped writing. I should have stayed to help you. I just liked you so much. I didn't think you liked me. I tried to do something to make you like me more. But I guess it didn't work. You'll never like me." And where did he get that idea????? I yawned and rolled over, right off the couch, and onto Nicks lap. My eyes snapped open, and I saw Nick looking down at me in surprise. "I heard you Nick." "You did?" I nodded, and then I reached up and kissed him on the mouth. "Uh.. ah.. um.. er..." "You ok, Nick?" "Er... uh... um... ahh." "Goodnight, Nick." I got back on the couch and went to sleep.
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