2 Days Later
Justin, Nicole, and Lance were the only ones left on the bus. It was headed toward Justin’s house. They had their stuff all packed and ready to unload.
“Is Lance’s house after yours, Justin?”
“Oh, I forgot to mention that Lance is staying with us for the holidays as well, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, that would’ve been nice to know.”
“Sorry, Nik. You’re just gonna have to deal.”
“We’re here, Justin!” Lance called from the bus door.
“Let’s go Nicole.” Justin said grabbing his bags.
Nicole did the same and followed behind him silently.
“We’re here!” Justin yelled, closing the front door.
“Justin!” A little boy screamed as he ran toward
Justin.
“Hey, little J.” Justin replied, picking him up and hugging him.
“Hi, Lance.” The boy said as Justin put him down,
“Hi ya’, John.”
“Justin, who’s that?” Jon asked gripping tightly onto Justin’s leg while pointing at Nicole.
“That’s my friend, Nicole. Nicole, this is my little brother, Jonathon.”
“Hi, Jon.” Nicole greeted the boy.
“Hi.” Jon replied softly peaking from behind Justin’s leg.
“Where’s mom?” Justin asked.
“In the living room. She’s sleeping.”
“Did you and Steven wear her out again?”
“U-huh.” The boy looked up at his brother grinning.
“Well, I guess you’ll have to meet her later, Nicole.”
“Ok.”
Justin showed her and Lance where their rooms were. Later, Nicole was introduced to Justin’s mom Lynn, his stepfather, and his other brother Steven. Instantly, Nicole fell in love with Jon and Steven. They seemed to like her, too.
The next day was spent putting up decorations. The women and children made cookies while the men put the lights up outside.
2 Days Later (Christmas Eve) 8 PM
“Nicole, can you make me some hot chocolate?” Jon asked sweetly.
“Sure, where’s the mix?”
“Up there.” He pointed. “In the cabinet.”
Nicole opened the cabinet he had pointed to. The mix was unfortunately on the top shelf, which she couldn’t reach considering the fact that she was only about five foot four inches.
“I can’t reach it, Jon. Can you go get Justin for me?”
“He’s sleeping.”
“How about your mom or dad?”
“They took Steven for a walk.”
“Oh. Ok, then.”
Nicole climbed up onto the counter. She reached up to get the box of mix. Lance strolled into the kitchen as she turned around. As she turned her foot slipped. Luckily Lance caught her.
“Thanks.”
“No problem. You okay?” His voice was soft.
“Yeah, I think so.” Her voice was just as quiet.
“I caught the box!” Jon piped in proudly, holding it
up for her to see.
“Thanks. I guess I’ll make that for you now.”
As she tried to stand she almost feel over.
“Ow!”
Lance studied her. “What’s wrong?”
“Maybe I’m not okay. It does sorta hurt. Maybe I twisted it.”
“Come on.” Lance scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the living room. He sat down next to her and placed her foot on his lap. He made sure it wasn’t broken, the best way he knew how to anyways, and then went to go get an icepack.
“I thought that you said you didn’t care about me. But if you don’t, then why are you doing all this for me?” She blurted out.
Lance froze. Then turned his head to look at her. He turned his head away from her face. He didn’t want to read the emotions that could be seen in her eyes.
“What’s it matter to you? After all, did you or didn’t you say you felt the same way?”
“I know what I said.” Her voice was quiet and dripping with regret.
“That night, I came to apologize and tell you the truth."
“The truth?”
”But then I saw you and Joey… I knew then that what you said was true.”
“But it wasn’t. Don’t you get it? I only said I didn’t care because that’s how you felt.”
“Then what about Joey?”
“I wanted attention. He was there. But in my mind you were there, not him. You have no clue how badly I wanted it to be you.”
“I was going to tell you everything I had kept inside me for so long. But then you went and broke my heart.”
“Wait a second. I broke your heart? Excuse me! No. See… Just no. Do you realize how many time you broke MY heart? When you told me you were only pretending to care and when we almost shared a kiss that had the potential to be incredible… Then all of a sudden I didn’t exist in your mind! So don’t tell me that I broke your heart!”
“Nicole, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“Yeah, they never do.”
“What?”
“Sorry isn’t enough Lance. You of all people should know that.”
“How many times do you want me to say it?”
“How many times are you willing to say it?” She shot back.
“Please don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you Lance. I couldn’t even if I tried and believe me I’ve tried.”
“Good.” He stood up. “Now stay here and don’t move that ankle of yours. I’ll take care of Jon in the meantime.” He went to kiss her, but she turned her head causing his lips to meet hers.
“You know what?”
“What?”
“I just might be falling for a controlling bitch.”
“Who me?” Nicole joked.
Lance smiled.
“And I just might be falling for a conceited, overpaid
pop star.”
“Well it’s about time!” Justin said as he entered the
living room.
“You really know how to ruin a moment.”
“You know it.”
Lance smiled and walked away.
Later that evening Lance and Nicole engaged in a passionate make-out session. But not only did they kiss… Lance asked Nicole out. Or shall I say demanded she be his girlfriend. Being the strong willed woman she is, she turned him down. She wasn’t about to be ordered around, despite the love she held in her heart for him.
“Justin, can I borrow your car?”
“Yeah, the keys are on the table.” Justin said. “But, I wanna come.”
“Okay. I’ll meet you in the car.”
“Jon, go find Nicole and tell her that Lance and I are going somewhere.”
“Otay.” Jon ran upstairs and reached Nicole’s room as the front door slammed shut. “Hi.” He noticed the tears coming from Nicole’s eyes. “Why you crying?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t know anymore.” She replied sadly.
“It’s okay. Don’t cry, Nicole.” Jon crawled up onto the bed and wrapped his small arms around her and her a hug. “Feel better?”
”Yes, Jon. I do. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome…Justin and Lance went out somewhere.”
“Okay.”
Just then the door opened and shut and Lynn called out that they were home.
“Mommy!” Jon rushed down the stairs to greet his mother. Nicole soon followed. “Justin and Lance went out.”
“Where? It’s almost ten o’clock on Christmas Eve. Where could they be?”
“Somewhere.” Jon told his mom mater of factly.
“Come on, baby. It’s time for bed.” Lynn picked up her son and disappeared up the steps with Paul following close behind with Steven.
Nicole went into the living room and started a fire in the fireplace. The she slouched back in an over-stuffed chair. Moments later she fell asleep thinking about Lance, her one true love.
“I just thought that girls liked guys who take charge, so I decided to do that. Look where that got me.” Lance vented to Justin as they entered the house around eleven.
“I guess she’s just not that kind of girl. It’s quiet. Everyone must be in bed already.”
“I better take this to my room. I’ll be down in a few.”
Lance went upstairs and Justin went into the living room. That’s where he discovered Nicole sound asleep.
“Let’s get you to bed.” Justin picked her up and started towards the stairs. Unconsciously her arms wrapped loosely around his neck and her head nuzzled against his shoulder. As he turned the corner he caught sight of Lance exiting his room.
“Make sure you keep your door closed.”
“Okay. Hey what are you doing with my girl?” He asked, slightly jealous.
“Cool it. I’m just putting her in her bed. I found her asleep downstairs. So I brought her up here.”
“Oh.”
“Go to bed. You look exhausted.”
“Yeah, I am. G’night.”
“Night.”
Justin put Nicole in her bed and then went to his own room.
The Next Morning
“Get up! Get up! It’s CHRISTMAS!” Jon yelled jumping on her bed.
“I’m up. I’m up.” Nicole climbed out of moving bed. “Go wake Justin up.”
“Okay!” Jon ran out of her room. Nicole left the room as well and walked don the stairs, then joined Lynn and Paul, Steven, and Lance in the living room. She flopped down on the overstuffed chair she’d fallen asleep in the previous night.
“Morning.” Nicole said to everyone.
Just then John dragged a sleepy Justin into the room. As soon as Justin saw all the presents under the tree he perked up.
Nicole sat and watched as everyone opened their presents. She didn’t expect to get anything, because Justin’s family had just met her three days a go. After all, it was nice enough of them to let her come for the holidays. ‘I only want one thing for Christmas.’ She thought
“Nicole,” Jon said interrupting her thought. “I have a present for you.”
“You do?” Nicole was taken by surprise.
“Uh-huh.” He ran toward her and gave her the biggest hug he could. “Merry Christmas, Nicole!”
“Merry Christmas to you too!”
“Okay, who wants breakfast?” Lynn asked wearing smile.
There was suddenly a chorus of I do’s! and Me’s! . They all began to pile out of the living room.
Lance grabbed Caitlin’s arm keeping her from leaving the room with the others.
“What?”
“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” Lance disappeared from the room for a few minutes. When he returned he was carrying a medium sized gift box. “I got you a
present.”
“You really didn’t have to.”
“I know.”
“You know, you can actually be sorta sweet when you try to be.”
“Would you hush and just open it.”
“OK.”
Nicole lifted the lid off of the box and pulled out a tiny ball of fluff that had been inside. It uncurled as she picked it up.
*Meow* the little kitten’s voice called out.
“Oh, Lance! It’s so cute! Thank you so much! Why did you do this for me?”
“I remember how upset you were when Jasmine died. I know that this cat won’t replace her, but I thought she could kinda fill a part of that void. I also remember what it felt like to hold you in my arms when I comforted you. And I know that I miss that and I want it back.”
“Lance-”
“Nicole, will you be my girlfriend?”
“How could I not say yes to someone as sweet as you? Of coarse I want to be with you. I’ve wanted to be yours since the day we met.”
“Really? Then why didn’t you just tell me that?”
“Because I thought you didn’t like me.”
“Why?”
“You always started fights with me.”
“You started them. Not me.”
“No. You did.”
“You.”
”You.”
“You.”
“Okay, let’s not fight. As much as I enjoy it, it’s Christmas and the others probably don’t want to hear it.” Lance told her. “So, what are you going to name her?”
“Kierra. It means miracle.”
“I like that. What d’ya say we go get some breakfast?”
“We were wondering where you two went?” Lynn commented as they entered the kitchen.
“What’s that?” Jon asked referring to the bundle of fur in Nicole’s arms.
“Lance got me a cute little kitten.”
”Aww… How sweet.” Lynn exclaimed.
“So are you two together now? I mean officially together?” Justin questioned.
“Yeah. We are.”
“It’s about damn time! Right… Justin?” Jon’s little voice spoke up.
Everyone looked at Justin.
“Eh heh.” Justin laughed nervously. “Jon, where’d you learn that word?”
”What word?”
“The one that started with a D.”
“You said it.”
“Justin!” Lynn yelled.
“He wasn’t in the room! How was I supposed to know he heard me?” Justin tried to defend himself.
“Jon, don’t say that word again.”
“Otay, Mommy. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Jon. Justin’s the one in trouble, not you.” Lynn replied.
“What?” Justin said. “I didn’t even do anything!”
“We’ll talk about this later.”
“Fine.” He grumbled.