"I'm scared. So afraid to show I care. Will he think me weak if I tremble when I speak?" -- Celine Dion's "Tell Him"

"Sara Rhiannon Jones!"

Sara bolted up in her bed, being awoken from a deep sleep by a shouting coming from below her window. "What in the world?" she whispered. "That sounds like...no, it couldn't be."

"Sara Rhiannon Jones!"

She sat there in her bed, confused. The voice yelling from below belonged to her best friend, but it couldn't be him. He had been away on tour for almost a year now. She slowly stood up and walked over to the window, almost afraid that it would all be a dream. She could feel her entire face light up as she stared at the sight below her. "NICK?" she screamed.

"It's about time you got your lazy butt outta bed!" he laughed, watching her figure dart away from the window. Soon, he saw her bounding out of her house and practically leaping into his arms.

"God, I missed you so much!" she exclaimed.

"I missed you too," he said happily. "How'd ya like my wake-up call?" He wore the now famous Carter grin when asking his question.

"Man, I thought I was dreaming! How come you didn't tell me you were comin' back into town?"

"You know me, full of surprises!"

She stood there, shocked at his transformation. He had matured remarkably in just one year. He looked like such a...well, a man! "Did you just get back?"

"Yea, just a little bit ago, but I couldn't wait to come over and terrorize my best friend!"

"I feel so loved," she beamed jokingly. She glanced at herself and looked back up at Nick. She was still in her pajamas, and for some reason started feeling really self-conscience. "Hey, did you wanna hang out later? I've been all by my lonesome for the past week. Mom and dad went away on another cruise," she said while rolling her eyes. Her parents were infamous for leaving town on a whim. They were the type of rich folks that looked after their money more carefully than they looked after their child. Sara had to basically learn how to take care of herself once she hit puberty, so she was undoubtedly more mature than what someone her age should be.

Nick rolled his eyes along with her. He had never much cared for her mom and dad and often wondered how Sara turned out to be so amazing. They had been the best of friends since preschool. Sara was the only other person he trusted with his inner most secrets. "I'd like that," he said, smiling. "Mom and dad wanted to finally sit me down for a meal anyways. Hey, you wanna join us?" He stared at her with a hopeful look on his face.

"Why not, it's been forever since the entire Carter clan has been together. What time?"

"Umm, I thought I heard mom say six."

"Perfect! I'll be over then." She leaned in for another tight hug. "It's good to have ya back, Nickolas," she whispered in his ear before running back into the house.

He stood in her yard for a good thirty seconds after she went inside, happy to be back in a familiar place, but also feeling a little weird...a good weird. A tingle went through his body when she whispered in his ear. The feeling remained as he ran back to his house.