I looked myself over in the mirror one last time, realizing how impossible perfection was.  I didn't know why I was so worried… I was going out with a man who was deeply in love with me.  I'd been pretty upset after I left Brian at the hospital.  He told me he was gonna be alright, but I knew he wasn't.  Part of the reason he wanted nothing to do with me was because of my on-and-off involvement with Nick.  He tried so hard to be strong… sometimes I wish he would let his feelings show. 

The persistent ringing of the doorbell pulled me back to reality.  I knew it was Nick - he's the only one that rings the doorbell over and over again.

"Hey you," I greeted him, moving aside to let him come in. 

"You look great," he smiled, looking me over. 

"Thanks.  You don't look so bad yourself," I replied, loving the way khaki pants looked on him.  "I have to go put some shoes on, make yourself comfy."

"How come girls always take so long to get ready?" he asked, plopping himself down on the couch as if he were gonna be there for awhile.

"We have to make ourselves look beautiful, I guess."  I quickly rummaged through the downstairs closet, trying to find my new sneakers.

"Doesn't take much for you Col."  I didn't have to look at him to know he'd have that cheesy grin on his face.

"Watch yourself, Carter," I laughed.

"What? I'm serious!"

I felt his strong arms encircle my waist as he pulled me into his lap.

"Nick, we're on the floor. I don't clean it much."

"So I'll have some dust on my ass - no biggie."

I laughed at his carefree attitude, enjoying the fact that I was in his arms.  I turned my head to meet his gaze, wanting so much for him to kiss me. 

"Damn, I really wanna kiss you right now, Col.  But we have to take it slow or it's never gonna work."  His eyes scanned the room as if I was the last thing he wanted to look at. 

"I can't resist you," he sighed, noticing my questioning glance.

"Can I ask you something, Nick?"  I crawled out of his lap, sitting Indian-style across from him.

"Shoot."

"Why were you so weird with me on the phone earlier?"

"I was weird with you?" he replied, scrunching up his eyebrows in confusion.

"Yeah, on the phone."

"Oh, that.  Yeah, well, I was kinda doubting my decision about us.  I thought I might've made the wrong move.  But, um, I'm alright now.  No worries."  He licked his lips nervously, clasping and unclasping his hands. 

"Alright…"

"It's the truth, Col."

"I know.  So, where are you taking me tonight?" I changed the subject, still somewhat confused.

"Well, you see, I figured a first date has to be fun.  So we're going bowling."

"Bowling?"

"Yep!" he said happily.  "You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

"No, no bowling sounds great."

"Definitely.  We have the place all to ourselves.  It took a lot of convincing and bribing, but the manager is closing the place to the public."

"That's great, Nick…" I didn't share his enthusiasm. 

"You don't like it.  I know it," he mumbled.

"I'll admit it doesn't sound like the best idea for a date… but as long as I'm with you, I honestly don't care where we go."

A huge smile crossed his face as he nodded, "That's how I saw it too."

Brian's View

I knocked once again on AJ's door, impatiently tapping my foot on the ground.  I was just let out of the hospital and I didn't feel like being alone.

"What are you doing here?" AJ asked, swinging open his front door.

"Thanks for the nice welcome, buddy," I laughed. 

"Anytime.  Come on in." 

"Did I interrupt something?"

"Nope.  If you had come an hour ago you would've," he grinned.

"Good to know, good to know."

"Hey Bri," Sophia mumbled, absentmindedly.  She headed for the kitchen, muttering something about there not being enough food in the house.

"Her cravings are out of control," AJ murmured, rolling his eyes.  "I can't go food shopping fast enough.  Can't keep up with that chick."

"You never could," I joked.  He gave me a sarcastic smile before sitting himself down on the recliner.

"So what's up with you man?  You feel better?"

"Yeah, I feel great," I replied, debating whether or not to tell him about Col and Nick.

"I assume you've heard about Colleen and Nick?"  Alright, forget that…

"Yep," I nodded simply.

"Yep?  That's all you have to say?"

"Pretty much, yeah," I lied.

"Brian, Brian, Brian.  Why must you bullshit me?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you quite well, Brian.  I understand that you love Colleen very much.  And I also understand that it's killing you that those two are on a date at this very moment… doing God knows what."

"Shut up," I snapped.  I didn't want to hear about them doing 'God knows what.'

"Thank you.  That's all the proof I needed.  It would've been easier for you to just say it bothers you.  But nope, you had to make me drag it out of you."

"Look, I don't really wanna talk about it," I muttered.

"I know you don't.  But you're always keeping your feelings on the inside.  You gotta learn how to confide in people… especially since I'm one of your best friends."

"How'd you find out?"

"Col told Sophia.  Sophia told me.  Word gets around."

"If I be honest with you, do you promise not to tell Sophia?  I would love to let Sophia in on this too but you know her and I know her - she has a big mouth."

"I don't like keeping things from her."

"I understand that.  But just this once you have to promise me."

"Alright, fine," he shrugged.  "Tell me what's going on in that head of yours."

"Ok, well obviously you know how I feel about Colleen - "

"Obviously.  I think the whole world knows that one by now," he laughed.

"Can I continue without your interruptions?"

"Yes."

"Thank you.  So naturally it's bothering the hell out of me to know that they're going out.  But when Colleen told me about it, I pretended I was completely alright with it.  She was so happy that everything was finally working out… I didn't have the heart to spoil things by telling her it hurt me.  We just mended our friendship, and if I told her it hurt me she would've called off this date with Nick.  It would make me happy but it would make her unhappy.  And when you love someone as much as I love her… "

"All you care about is their happiness.  I know the feeling," he nodded, sympathetically.  "It's like you'll find yourself doing things you'd swore you'd never do just to see them smile."

"Exactly.  I'm hopelessly in love and I don't know how to handle it."

"Look, man, if it's any consolation I think she loves you.  I mean, it's just my opinion of course."

"You think?"

"Yeah, I honestly do.  But she loves Nick also.  People say you can only be truly in love with one person, but I think that's a load of crap."

"If she loves me then how come she doesn't wanna be with me?"

"Well naturally I have an explanation for that too," he grinned.  "She values your friendship more than she values Nick's.  She figures if she goes out with Nick and it doesn't work out, they can still be friends.  And even if they aren't - it won't matter that much.  But if she goes out with you and it doesn't work, that would most likely destroy the friendship.  To her, that would be like losing a piece of herself."

I nodded, fully comprehending what AJ was getting at.

"You get me?"

"I do.  With that said, I would still take that risk.  I know it would work between us.  I feel it.  She's pretty much it for me."

"Isn't it a great feeling when you realize you've found the one?" he asked, staring off into space.

"Yeah, it's a great feeling.  But it's just as painful as it is great."

"Not all the time, B."

"That's cause you were lucky.  You found Sophia and there was no one else for you from that moment on.  I found Colleen and it was the same feeling.  You were the only one for her.  It's not like that with Colleen.  I've got competition.  Listen, I love Nick and everything, but he's standing in the way of what could be the most perfect thing."

"I don't know what to say Brian.  If it's meant to be it'll happen.  You just gotta be patient."

"I'm trying…"

AJ's View

"I know you're trying," was all I managed to say.  What could you say in this type of situation?

"AJ?"

"Yeah?"

"If Nick and Colleen become serious… do you think I'll ever meet someone that I'll love as much as her?"

I knew the answer was no, but I wanted to give him some hope for the future.

"Anything's possible, Brian.  You're a great guy and you're gonna end up with a great girl - whether that great girl is Colleen or not, depends entirely on destiny."

"In other words, that great girl better be Colleen or I'm gonna be a bachelor for the rest of my life," he said, sadly.

"Bri, you're only 26 years old. You have time."

"Most people are married at 26.  I wanna have kids.  I want Colleen to have my kids…"

"Don't get ahead of yourself, man.  You can't be thinking about children yet - first you have to be with her."

"You're so damn lucky to be settled down.  You've got a baby on the way and everything."

"I am lucky.  But don't label yourself 'bachelor' yet.  You may meet someone tomorrow."

"Are you out of your mind?" he asked, half joking.

"AJ!  I need food NOW!" Sophia shouted from the kitchen.

"Just be glad you're not married to Sophia," I laughed.  "I'll see ya later.  Hope I helped in some way."

"You did, AJ.  Thanks a lot," he smiled.  "Good luck with Sophia.  Tell her I said goodbye."

"Will do."

I watched him walk out the door and to his car.  I honestly feel bad for him.  It's almost unfair that Nick should be with Colleen.  If anyone, it should be Brian who's out with her tonight.

"AJ McLean get your ass in here and take my order for Burger King."

"Coming, dear…"

Nick's View

"I thought you said the first date should be fun, not romantic."

"You know me, Col.  I always gotta throw some romance into the mix."

I took her by the hand, leading her to my favorite spot on the beach. 

"It's gorgeous at night, huh?" I murmured, breathing in the view. 

"Yeah," she giggled.

"What's so funny?" I questioned, tugging at her arm until she finally sat down next to me.

"Bowling. The beach.  It's so cliché."

"Are you saying I can't come up with an idea of my own?"

"Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm saying," she grinned.

"Alright, alright, I'll remember you said that," I replied, folding my arms across my chest.

"Nick, don't take it the wrong way!  I had a great time with you tonight.  And I learned something new…"

"What's that?"

"You suck at bowling."

"Jeez, it's just one insult after the other," I pouted.

"Aw, you're so abused, Nick."

"I am… I really am."

"You deserve so much better than me," she teased, running her index finger over my lips.

"No I don't," I answered, my voice taking on a more serious tone.  "You don't seriously think that do you?"

"There was a time when I thought that…"

"Well don't think that.  I'm in love with you and we deserve each other."

"Deal."

"Good."  I ran one hand through her hair, reaching for her hand with the other. 

"Taking it slow is gonna be really hard," I mumbled, swiping my thumb across her cheek.

"Don't I know it," she sighed.

I shut my eyes and listened to the waves creeping up the sand.  If I didn't find something to distract me, I would kiss her.  And once I started kissing her…

"Nick?"

"Yes?"

"I realize that it's your idea to take things slow.  And I also realize that you kissing me would go against your plan.  But… what if I kissed you?"

A small smile played on my lips as I considered what she said.  As much as it made no sense… it sounded like a plan.

"I think that might work," I laughed.  "But this means you have to make the first move."

"I've done it before.  I've got no problem with doing it again."

She pressed her lips to mine, pulling away before I had the chance to deepen it. 

"What's wrong?" I murmured, out of breath.

"Taking it slow…"

"Um, about that.  Maybe it's not such - "

"It's a very good idea Nick," she stated, trying to hide a smile.

"Stop teasing me, Col.  You know you hate the 'take it slow' idea just as much as I do."

"Maybe, but you're the one that came up with it," she said, pointing her index finger.

"Alright.  What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to say that your 'take it slow' idea is a bunch of bullshit."

"Ok.  My idea was not only a bunch of bullshit - it was also impossible and crazy."

"I think I can accept that." 

"You better."  I gave her a soft kiss, which she immediately deepened, ending all conversation.