Chapter Four

Lisa pulled on her head phones and walked out to the backyard. Mary, Eric, and the kids had gone out for the day, giving Lisa the day to herself. She chose to be tanning.

Stretching out on a lawn chair, she sighed softly and thought about Nick. She hadn't seen or heard from him in two weeks but every once in awhile she received flowers or white chocolate in the mail, signed by a strange 'you-know-who'. Aunt Mary had winked at her and smiled before minding her own business.

Letting out another sigh, Lisa closed her eyes and tried to sleep. Sammy still wasn't talking to her, but when she did, it was cold, harsh words. It hurt Lisa deeply and she wanted more than anything to be friends with the child again but Sammy was as stubborn as someone else she knew. 'You mean yourself.' She told herself. That was true, Sammy did remind her of herself in many ways.

"Hey there." A soft voice said.

Lisa eyes snapped open and she saw Nick leaning against the fence, his gaze settled on her body. Lisa instantly pulled her towel up and covered herself.

"W-what do you want?" she demanded.

"Only to talk to you, sweetness." Nick said, finally lifting his eyes to gaze into her own eyes.

"I'd prefer not to talk with you, Carter. I told you-"

"I know, I know. But I don't care."

"Leave me alone, Nick, please."

Nick looked at her, "Why are you fighting this so much?"

"It's illegal, for one thing! Dammit Nick! I'm only fifteen years old!"

"I don't care!"

Lisa shook her head. "Leave! Go away and leave me alone!" she stood and ran into the house, closing the door behind her.

"Lisa, wait!" Nick called after her.

Lisa ignored him and locked the door before running up to her room and flinging herself down on her bed and sobbing into her pillow. Why wouldn't he leave her alone?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning Lisa was late coming downstairs. Aunt Mary was already clearing the table when she appeared, wearing a khaki skirt and a long T-shirt.

"Good morning, Lisa." Aunt Mary said.

"Morning." Lisa said and sat down in a kitchen chair. Her head hurt.

"Are you hungry, dear?"

"No, I'm fine. What time are you and Eric leaving?"

"Soon. Thanks again for babysitting for us. I feel awful for being so busy…" Mary looked at her and smiled softly.

"Don't worry about it. I adore the kids, they're good kids."

Mary smiled again and went to get Eric. Lisa leaned back in her seat and decided to take the kids out for the day. Maybe to the park, a movie, lunch, and then bring them home for supper and a snack.

After Eric and Mary had gone, Lisa turned to the kids. "Anyone for going out?"

Sammy didn't even look at her. "Not with you."

Lisa frowned and looked at the other three. Megan nodded and took Lisa's hand. "Yes…"

And so they went out. They shopped and played at the park. Soon enough it was lunch time. "So, where to?"

"McDonalds." Sammy said.

"Sammy, you know I hate McDonalds." Lisa said.

Sammy looked her squarely in the eyes, "I know."

Hurt filled Lisa. "Look, Samantha, if you want to be this way we can go home and you can spend the day in your room."

"As long as I don't have to be with you."

"Sammy!" Eric Jr yelled, glaring at her.

Lisa took a step back, feeling as though Sammy had just slapped her. "S-Sammy!"

Sammy sighed and shook her head. "Look, just leave me alone, Lisa."

Lisa felt tears building up, fast. Then she heard a voice, an angry voice. "Samantha Pinson, what is wrong with you?" everyone looked over to see an angry Nick Carter walking towards them. "Well?"

Sammy looked down. "I…"

"Say you're sorry, now!"

"Sorry Lisa…" Sammy muttered softly.

Lisa looked at Nick and saw that he was now looking at her, a smile growing onto his lips. "Hey."

Lisa nodded, "Hey."

Nick took a step towards her. "Sweetness, we need to talk…"

Lisa looked around the park and sighed. Why not? What was life without fun? Besides, this was Nick Carter! How many girls could say that he was pursuing them?

"Fine, make it fast. Eric, watch the kids until we're done, alright?"

Eric smiled, "Sure, who am I to stand in the way of love?"

Lisa gave him a look and allowed Nick to take her arm and lead her over to the swings. He sat on one and Lisa sat on the one next to his.

"What's up, Nick?"

He looked down for a minute before looking into her eyes. "Well, Lisa, I have known you for almost two months now and everyday I want you more than the last. For the moment I first saw you I've wanted you."

"Nick, our age…"

Nick shrugged, "Age doesn't matter, sweetness."

"Your friends…"

"What about them?"

Lisa sighed, the boy had an answer for everything. "Oh, Nick, I just think…"

Nick got off his swing and kneeled in front of her, between her legs, and took her hands into his and looked into her eyes. "Baby, that's the thing, you think to much. I don't care how old you are. All I care about is the fact that I want to be able to say that you are my girl. To be able to hold you in my arms. To be able to love you fully."

Tears sprang to her eyes, "W-what are you saying?"

Nick leaned forward and kissed her lips. Lisa felt the kids watching but she didn't care. Nick pulled back, "I'm so close to falling in love with you, please don't stop me now…"

What was Lisa supposed to say? Nick Carter was asking her out. Everyone would call her stupid for saying no. she would hate herself. As she gazed into his eyes, the pleading blue color, she knew that what he said was true, he was falling in love. But she was already in love and she guessed that she couldn't have said no even if she'd wanted to, her heart and mind wouldn't have allowed it.

Lisa nodded slowly, "Alright, I'll give this a chance…"

Nick's eyes widened, "Really?"

Lisa nodded, "Like Eric Jr said, 'who am I to stand in the way of love'?"

Nick laughed softly and pulled Lisa into his arms, "Oh, baby, you've made me so happy!" he pulled back and kissed her on the lips. Lisa returned the kiss, sighing. So much for being the brave one.

Finally she pulled back, "I'm about to take the kids to lunch, you hungry?"

Nick nodded, standing, and took Lisa's hand. "Yeah. Let's eat anywhere but McDonalds."

Lisa laughed and lead the way back to the kids. Sammy looked up at her and motioned for her to kneel down. Lisa kneeled to her level. "Yes?"

Sammy threw her arms around Lisa's neck. "I'm so sorry, Lisa. I love you, cousin."

Lisa smiled and held the girl close, "Aww, I love you too, Sammy."

Then she stood and took Nick's hand again. "Who's hungry?"

Chapter Five

Email: lizzie_littrell@bsbmillennium.com