Plunk.
I sat in my chair in the food court of the Park Meadows mall
in Ruskin, FL, being totally oblivious to the whole world as I read Pride
and Prejudice. My macaroni and cheese could've start dancing and I
wouldn't realize it, I had to get this book done! My watch started to beep
its stupid alarm and I closed my book and started to study my schedule. I
guess I wasn't exactly paying attention to where I was going, because
suddenly I crashed into a tall blonde guy, whom was conveniently carrying
a red drink. I looked down at my white tank top that was now covered in
what I was guessing, cherry icee.
"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!" my red
drink carrier cried as he started to help wipe up the mess that was on my
shirt with napkins. I guess he didn't realize where the spill was at first
be cause when he did he blushed and handed napkins to me.
"Oh damn it!
And I have only fifteen minutes until I have to get back."
"I am
really sorry. Where do you work?"
"I work at the Clinque counter in
Lord and Taylor. Dina is going to kill me!"
"Don't you guys wear those
white smocks?"
"Yeah but my boss, Dina, enforces clean clothing
underneath."
"Well, how about we go to that Learner store right there
and I buy you a new top?"
"OK."
I had to agree, if I didn't I
could be in major trouble, anyways, it wasn't like I wasn't going to pay
him back. When walked there he learned who I was, Genna Carapelli, and I
learned who he was, Nick. I didn't catch his last name or he didn't give
it to me. I quickly found a tank top that was just like mine and it was so
soft. Perfect huh? Nope, small problem.... it was a silk blend and it cost
$50. I told Nick I could easily pay for it but he said he ruined my
previous one so he would pay for this one. He handled the whole situation
very nicely, and didn't even bat an eyelash when he saw the price. I went
into a bathroom to change and by then I had to go back to my job. I gave
Nick a quick hug and a thank you before I walked off. When he was almost
out of my sight I looked back and saw him still standing there. I waved to
him as I turned back around and saw him for the last time in my life, or
so I thought.
About a week later I was sitting at a table in front of
Starbucks sipping my peach and pear tiazzi, working on my term paper. I
was thinking if a linguistics major would be the right thing for me.
Immediately I told myself, "Genna, you are 20, and going through your
third year of college. Why start a new major?" To give my poor worked out
brain a rest, I read the latest letter from my parents in Texas. Mom was
going great she said and that the house is too quiet without my sister,
Bernadette, there or me. Bernadette is my twin, not identical though. We
live together in a one-floor house, it isn't that bad, I get to decorate
the place in return she names our two dogs and cooks for us. I almost
regret that decision, she named our two West Highland Terriers Frick and
Frack. My little girl (dog) is Frack. I don't know about you but I am not
in the boy band scene. All I know is the two Backstreet Boys have those
nicknames and that Bernadette loves the Backstreet Boys. I am personally a
fan of Ricky Martin; he knows how to shake that bon bon of his! Anyways,
it is an enjoyable Florida September (I start term papers early) and I was
outside of Starbucks. I was completely engrossed with my letters and
didn't notice the blonde who sat at my table until I heard him say "Hey
Genna." I looked up and was surprised to see Nick.
"Oh hi Nick."
"Didn’t know you lived around here."
"Oh I do...I mean live around
here."
"Cool, so do I."
"Yeah..umm cool."
Inside at that
moment I was screaming at myself, "GENNA! STOP IT! THIS IS A BOY AND YOU
ARE GETTING TOUNGE TIED???"
"Um Nick, I have to go. My sister will get
worried if I am not home soon."
"Kay, older?"
"No..um twin. Not
identical though."
"Tight."
I started to grab my bags and Nick
picked up my art class textbook.
"Do you have a ride home?"
"No...I walked here."
"I'll drive you home. If you don't mind."
"No..that would be great."
I climbed into Nick's green SUV and
directed him towards my house. When we got there he helped me carry my
books to the door and gave me a hug before he left. Thankfully Bernadette
was home and she saw me in my despair and opened the door for me.
"Oh
my God! Who is that hot guy?"
"Oh...umm....Nick."
"The one who
spilled a drink on you?"
"That is the one. I saw him at Starbucks and
he offered me a drive home."
"Nick...Nick Carter? From BSB??"
"No...not that queer."
"Hey! I think he looks hot! That Nick guy
looks just like him. You sure he isn't Nick Carter?? It sure is strange, a
Nick look-a-like and his name is Nick."
"Look Berny, it isn't him. You
know I can't stand boy bands, and I would never date one, or befriend
one."
"You sure?"
"Very, and Bernadette..."
"What?"
"When,
I mean if I fall in love, sister, shoot me."
"ok..." à
Soon I was
sprawled on my bed very confused on what subject I should do my term paper
on. After hours and hours of deliberation I concluded that I would give it
a rest and talk to Nick about it. Nick...as I thought about him I started
to get furious at myself again. Why was I tongue-tied? Don’t worry, I am
not a homosexual but I usually don’t bat an eyelash about cute guys. I
have no time for them. But Nick…he was so different! Days passed and what
seemed weeks passed and I decided to stop by at Nick’s to see if he was up
for some dinner at chili’s and then helping me on my term paper. So I
drove my navy blue Beetle to Nick’s. I was thankful he left his address
with me for some unknown reason. I raced up the front steps and rang the
doorbell. The door opened and there was Nick, with some ugly brunette
wrapped around him.
“ Oh…hi Genna.”
“Hi Nick.”
“Genna, this is
my girlfriend, Amanda Williford.”
“Hi, Amanda, nice to meet you.”
“Hello, what is your name again?”
“Genna, Genna Carapelli.”
“Oh.”
Nick soon interrupted the tense discussion with a very
embarrassing question.
“Why are you here Genna?”
“To see...if
umm…umm… you were available to help me on my term paper over some food at
Chili’s.”
“Isn’t early to start your term papers?”
Grrrrr…I didn’t
exactly like that girlfriend of Nick’s. I know it is early to start term
papers, I just want them over with! How old is this bitch anyways?? She
acts like an eight year old.
“I just want to start early on them. Well
Nick I see you have plans, please excuse me.”
“Actually Janelle...”
“It is Genna.”
“Whatever. I was about to go. Bye bye bye! Have fun
Nickerz!”
“YES!” I thought. That bitch was leaving! Willa walked out
of the door and shoved me aside with her shoulder. I started to wonder how
old this chick was and if she was legal for Nick to be…ahem. Nick then
grabbed his coat and we walked out to my car and we drove to Chili’s. We
had a great time there, aside from Willa. That bitch followed us there! So
when I left the table to go to the bathroom she slammed me into the
bathroom wall and threatened me!
“Look bitch. I don’t know what you
are trying to pull off with my boy but he’s mine. Got it, the boy is mine.
You better stop hitting on him. I’ll be watching you slut. One more thing
before I let you return. I don’t think you will get too far dressing like
a slut. Guys like Nick don’t like that. Got it prostitute?? The boy is
mine.”
Then she started to sing the chorus of the song, “The Boy is
Mine.” She cannot sing, not one bit.
“Before you go back to my
boyfriend…don’t tell Nick what I said. If you do, I will hurt you.”
Slut?? She was calling me a slut and said I dress poorly?? Ha! I was
wearing a tasteful black tee and dark blue studded jeans and a matching
coat when she was wearing something see-through and low cut. I silently
walked out of the bathroom and finished my dinner.
Then Nick drove me
to his place and we finished my paper there. Nick was very helpful and he
followed me to my place in his green SUV, just to make sure that I got
home safe and sound. What a sweetie. I walked into my house and plopped on
my couch and turned on the TV. I watched It’s a Wonderful Life for a bit
and then I thought for a while. When Nick paid the bill, His last name was
Carter, right on the credit card. Nahhh...it had to be something else.
Nick would’ve told me who he was. Crater…ya that was it. Nick Crater.
Strange, but it had to be. Thankfully the next day was a Saturday and my
day off. I was listening to my Barenaked Ladies CD while painting our
living room/kitchen/dining room. I was standing on a stepstool, painting
over our front door when the doorbell rang. I got shocked (not physically)
and almost fell off! Quickly, I moved the stepstool and opened the door,
only to find Nick.
“Nick!”
“Hi Genna…is this a bad time?”
“No!
I am just painting!”
My dogs took that moment to come bounding to
Nick.
“What cute dogs. What are their names?”
“My sister named
them Frick and Frack.”
Nick laughed. God, I thought, I love his smile.
“They both yours?”
“No...Bernadette has Frick and I have Frack.
She named them, I don’t even see the point in their names. All I know is
that she is a die-hard Backstreet Boys fan.” Nick laughed again…geez. Is
he trying to give me an orgasm?
“OK…see Bernadette told me that you
21st birthday is coming up and I was wondering if you had any plans.”
“No! None at all!”
“Great. I was wondering if you would let me
take you out to dinner and then some dancing?”
“Sure! That sounds
great Nick!”
I gave him a hug and he left and I closed the door, only
to continue singing along to “One Week.”
Two weeks passed and I didn’t see Nick that often, but I grew fonder of
him each day. I was sure I had some kind of mixed emotions for him. The
only problem is that he probably didn’t have any for me. I stopped off at
Nick’s one day out of the blue after my shift was over and Nick answered
the door wearing an apron.
“Nick...why are you wearing an apron?”
“I am trying to cook.”
I seriously was trying to hold back
giggles.
“What are you trying to cook?”
“Lasagna.’”
That was
it…I started to laugh.
“What did I do Gen?? What??”
“Nick...lasagna is something for a—a—an experienced chef.”
“And I
am not?”
I smelled something burning.
“Nick…is the lasagna
supposed to smell like that?”
Nick took a deep whiff and smelled what
I had and he rushed off to the kitchen. He was just too comical. I saw a
baby book on a shelf and leafed though it. Silently laughing at Nick’s
baby pictures, I grabbed another album. In this one he was a toddler. I
looked at two more and saw something that looked like a picture album, so
I grabbed it. But what I found was far from a picture album. I had found
on accident Nick’s day planner. I knew this when I opened it and saw on
September 30th, Photo shoot at 11am and then Recording at Parc studios at
5pm. I know I was being rude by turning the page but I couldn’t stop
myself. On October 5th I saw recording at Parc at 7am and then
dinner/dancing with Genna at 7pm. Around my hearts were little hearts.
Hearts?? I was filled up with happiness but that soon turned to anger.
Nick knew that if he was part of the BSB he should’ve told me, but he
didn’t. How could’ve he concealed this from me? How?? I soon was taken
over by sadness. I was so determined never to fall for anyone in the boy
band scene and here I was, falling for the loveliest one. Also the one who
was the most sought after. I grabbed a blank piece of paper from the day
planner and grabbed a pen. Quickly I wrote a note and left the house. When
Nick came back he saw picture albums in a stack on the coffee table, his
day planner open, and this note.
Nick~ I found out who you really are. I didn’t mean too but I came across your day planner and saw dates and times for photo shoots, press conferences, recording times, and concert dates. I cannot believe that you have concealed this from me. This is a pretty big thing to hide from me. I am deeply hurt Nick. You have lost a ton of my trust in you.
~Genna~
I left Nick’s house and headed for the closest record store. There I
bought every single BSB CD they had, along with the movies they had. My
next stop was the grocery store where I bought two gallons of milk and
tons of cookies. I got home quickly and treated Bernadette to a BSB
marathon that night, aside from the movies I bought we watched every BSB
US TV appearance. Berny taped them all. That night had a purpose, I
learned a bunch about Nick, all of the vitals. We ended our marathon at
3am. At the end Bernadette knew something was up.
“Genna, spill.”
“Spill what?”
“C’mon I am no dumb blonde. Something is up. You
came back from Nick’s on the verge of tears.”
“Nothing.”
“Genna
Emile Carapelli! Something is up! Usually when I watch these BSB tapes you
yell at me to turn them down! Tonight you bought every BSB movie ever made
and same with the CD’s!”
“Nick...”
“Yes...what did he do?”
I
couldn’t bare any it longer, I had to tell somebody. I then broke down
into tears.
“He is Nick Carter! The very Nick Carter from BSB!”
“You love him?”
“No! I can’t love him! He is a Backstreet Boy!”
“Aren’t you being slightly intolerant?”
“I guess I am. But he
concealed it from me!”
I then put my head on my sister’s shoulder and
cried even harder.
“It was wrong of him to conceal it from you. How
did you find out?”
I was up until 5am telling Bernadette the whole
story, starting from the cherry icee and ending with the note and the day
planner with hearts.
“Do you know what is strange sis?”
“What
Berny?”
“You are Nick’s friend but you called him a queer.”
That
did it. We were laughing for half an hour and then we fell asleep on the
couch until Bernadette’s boyfriend, Brad, walked in and woke us up.
“Whoa! Looks like a tornado struck this place!”
“Ya...tornado
BSB!”
Bernadette’s comment sent us laughing again and Brad looked at
us as if we were strange animals that were released from the zoo. Brad
thankfully left soon after that and Bernadette got cleaned up and went
into the garden. I cleaned the mess we made the previous night and cleaned
my own self up. I popped in Black and Blue and started to finish the last
chapter of Pride and Prejudice. Near the last song it started to rain so I
went near the window and watched Bernadette garden in the muddy mess we
call our garden. “How Did I Fall In Love (With You)” came on and I started
to listen to the words. When the song was about halfway over I felt tears
run down my cheek. I did fall in love with Nick and haven’t realized it
until that single moment. I rushed away from the window and went into the
bathroom to wash away from splotches left on my cheeks from crying. Three
weeks passed and Nick didn’t even try to communicate with me. I, once
again, was in deep gook up to my ankles with homework and I was stressed
out. I did my usual walk to Starbucks and purchased a peach and pear
tiazzi. My usual outdoor table was free so I sat there and quickly
finished my art homework about impressionist artists. Right after I put my
art book back in my bag and fetched my French book I saw Nick’s Green
Durango pull up in the parking lot. I quickly pulled on my blue/silver
Oakleys, slouched down in my chair, and buried my head in my book, just
hoping Nick wouldn’t notice me. No such luck. He passed me and dropped a
note in my lap.
Genna- I am truly sorry for covering up that I was a Backstreet Boy. I liked you not knowing because you weren’t star struck like other people do. Yes, it was wrong of me and I should have never done it. Please forgive me. I want to be friends again. Tell me if you do soon.
Nick didn’t sign the letter. I felt stupid wearing my shades at 5pm. I
took them off and put them on top of my head, even if they did clash with
my black knit turtleneck sweater that was sleeveless and my white and
black snakeskin print cotton skirt. It was hard not to forgive Nick. I
knew if I didn’t he would give me those puppy dog eyes of his which I have
seen so many pictures of and each time I start to melt. Nick then walked
out of the shop and sat down next to me. He set his usual non-fat one pump
Grande mocha on the table and asked me if I forgave him. It is real hard
to say no to those eyes of his. I told him yes. He then smiled, stood up,
gave me a kiss on the top of my head, reminded me he would pick me up at
7pm the next night, and then walked back to his car and drove home. Dark
was beginning to fall and I gathered my books and walked home. The next
morning my mother called to wish me a happy birthday and asked me about my
plans. I told her I was going to dinner with a friend and she reminded me
of an old family secret. See, the famous Frank Sinatra song “I’ve Got
World On A String” came out when my grandmother was dating. The night she
came back from her first date with my Grandfather in the shower she sang
that song. Later she married my grandfather and the exact same thing
happened with my great aunts, my mother, and my aunts. It seems as if that
is a signal and tells us we will marry that man sooner or later. The next
night I was sitting on my couch in a black halter dress with a back that
went about a foot down and the hem ended just above my ankles. My long
brown hair was up in a messy bun held by black lacquer chopsticks. The
doorbell rang and I went to get the door. He stood at the door holding a
corsage. Nick pinned it on and I inhaled the wondrous scent of gardenias.
After that I grabbed my lightweight black cardigan and rushed out the
door. Of course five steps out of the house I managed to trip over my
black strappy heels. Nick caught me from falling onto the concrete and
snagging my black hose. I graciously smiled at him and he opened the door
of his black corvette for me. After a silent fifteen-minute drive we
arrived at Brooke’s Steakhouse, a very fancy place. I, wished the car ride
never ended, for I enjoyed watching Nick drive, he seemed so calm yet
aggressive. The waiter led us to our table and Nick ordered a bottle of
wine for us. I couldn’t wait until the guy came back, I wanted my first
taste of alcohol. Soon enough the guy came, gave Nick a small sip of the
wine and Nick approved it or something. I didn’t understand what was
happening, but I was still fascinated. Then the waiter poured us the wine
and Nick waited for me to taste it, but I was waiting for Nick to drink it
so I would know how to drink it.
“Go on, take a sip.”
“I umm…don’t
know how to drink it.”
“Ha…just take small sips.”
Well, I took a
sip all right, and nearly choked. Nick quickly patted my back as I took on
a coughing fit. That was when I saw how our table was arranged, we were in
a booth. One of those made for two people; where there was one side and
the way the seat is designed you have to sit very close that person.
Obviously designed for couples. After my coughs and the stares from the
other patrons disappeared I took another sip.
“Is it too strong for
you?”
“No. It is fine. Just not used to alcohol. Isn’t Amanda gonna
get angry that I am here with you?”
“Nah. I dumped her last week. She
started to get very annoying.”
There was silence for at least fifteen
minutes and by then we had already ordered our meals. I took another sip
of wine, but then flushed it down with a ton of water. I felt Nick’s
fingers intertwine with mine and we both smiled at each other. That was
how the whole dinner went, our fingers looped together and Nick
voluntarily eating with his left hand even though he is right-handed.
After dinner Nick paid the bill and we went to a jazz place and danced and
drank. I had a strawberry daiquiri and it went down much better than wine…
Nick and I danced for a long time and then he took me home. We took a
minutes and were sitting on the front stoop for a few minutes looking at
the stars. Then we stood up and he gave me a big hug. I aimed to kiss his
cheek but he moved and I got his lips. We stood like that, passionately
kissing each other for a few minutes. I was on cloud nine, seventh heaven,
or whatever it is called. We broke apart and then he went back to his
corvette and drove back home in the dark. I went into the shower and
started to sing. But I wasn’t paying attention to what I was singing.
“I’ve got the world on a string, sitting on a rainbow! I’ve got the
string around my finger. What a life, what a world. I am in love…” After a
few minutes I climbed out of the shower and put on my bathrobe. I started
up the blow dryer and then Bernadette walked in.
“Do you know what you
were singing in the shower?”
“Ya…I Want It That Way.” Bernadette shook
her head, as she said no.
“Then what was I singing?”
“World on A
String.” I immediately shut off the blow dryer and stared at my reflection
in the mirror.
“No…it is just a family thing. It doesn’t really mean
it is going to happen. Right Berny?”
“I don’t know Gen.”
“I walked
out of the bathroom and went into my bedroom, changed into my PJ’s and
fell asleep. The next morning I woke up to Nick singing “Happy Birthday.”
HE brought in a tray with my breakfast on it. We talked about what
happened last night.
“Genna, did you feel anything in that kiss last
night?” I put the spoon that I just lifted back into my cereal bowl and
took a deep breath. Should I tell Nick that I did feel something? What if
he didn’t feel anything though? I went on like this for a few minutes and
then nodded. I saw Nick give out a sigh of relief.
“I did too, what
should we do?”
“I don’t know Nick.” We both thought in the silence
until he came up with this small crown jewel.
“What if we have a
probationary period. Like we date for say like a month and at the end we
decide if we’ll continue dating.” I liked it so I nodded in agreement.
Nick walked over to me, gave me a kiss on the lips, and handed me a small
rectangular velvet box before he left. I opened it to find a diamond and
aquamarine bracelet. I gasped with surprise and put it on. I stayed in bed
all day, just staring at my new bracelet, and occasionally touching my
lips, remembering the kiss from last night. I guess I was still in shock
that I was dating Nick Carter from The Backstreet Boys.