"Honey, do you want to get out of the house a little?" Kayla's mother asked her the next day. "Maybe go to the mall or a movie?"

Kayla looked up from the magazine she was reading. "Mom, I haven't even been in the house for seven months. I think I'll stay here for awhile."

Mrs. Prescott nodded. She looked at her daughter thoughtfully. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing," Kayla said automatically.

"Are you sure?"

"Mom, please, I don't want to talk about it," Kayla said, losing patience. It seemed like she had no patience with anyone lately.

Her mother hid an amused smile. "Okay," she agreed. She went out and sat down on the end of the couch. Kayla gave her a look but said nothing else.

Mrs. Prescott waited until Kayla was absorbed in the magazine again. Then she said, "So, tell me. Is Nick a good kisser?"

Kayla's eyes widened to three times their normal size. "Who told you?" she demanded, completely shocked.

Mrs. Prescott chuckled. "I'm your mother, dear. No one had to tell me," she said. "Well, is he?"

Kayla rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Well, yes. Very good actually," she admitted. Then she blushed and stiffened. "But that's not the point," she said quickly.

"What is the point then?"

Kayla hesitated.

"Come on, tell me the story," Mrs. Prescott prodded.

"Mom, it's such a mess," Kayla groaned.

"It's okay, honey," her mother coaxed. "Just tell me about it."

"I don't even know where to begin," Kayla sighed.

"The beginning," Mrs. Prescott suggested.

"But I don't even remember when that was!"

"Just start anywhere then."

Kayla sighed. "Okay. I guess it all began...well, I guess it all began the day Nick and I met each other."

Nick was lying on his bed eating a pint of Haagen Dasz vanilla ice cream and watching the news when the phone rang. He gladly rolled over and picked it up. Every story just seemed depressing to him today.

"Hello?"

"Hey Nick, it's me," Kevin replied.

"Hey Kev," Nick said glumly. Deep down, he had been hoping that it would be someone else, but of course, what were the odds of that?

"I have to talk to you. Do you mind if I come over there?" Kevin asked.

Nick hesitated. "I don't know..." He had nothing better to do, but he really wasn't in the mood for talking to anyone right now, especially Kevin. No offense intended to the man; he just had a tendency to be a little nosy, and it got really old really fast.

"It's good news," Kevin added quickly.

Nick sighed and gave in. "Okay, fine," he said.

"Great. Be right over."

"Okay." Nick hung up the phone and sighed again. Hopefully Kevin's good news would help boost his spirits a little. Ever since a certain someone's departure, they had hit rock bottom and stayed there.

Of course, he was still completely upset about the whole Kayla incident. He couldn't believe she had actually gone home just to get away from him. He couldn't believe it was actually that bad. That she actually couldn't stand to be around him. Yeah...all I want is for her to love me and she doesn't even want to be staying in the same hotel as I am. That's just great, he thought miserably. But he didn't cry. So far, he had managed to keep from crying. There would be other girls, he kept telling himself that. So what was the point of crying over just one of them?

Because she's my Kayla, Nick immediately answered in his head. Because I love her. Because the night I spent with her was the most amazing thing that ever happened to me, that's why. He squeezed his eyes shut and ate another spoonful of ice cream. I'm pathetic. I need to get over her. What if I'm like this for the rest of my life? What if I'm still obsessing over her when she finds a boyfriend and gets married and has a family?

Before that train of thought could develop any further, someone knocked on his door. Kevin. Great. I'll just try to get my mind off of her a little, Nick decided. Otherwise I'm going to bite poor Kev's head off. Taking his ice cream with him, he rolled off of the bed and trudged over to the door. He prepared the friendly but phony smile he was going to use. "Hey, Kev, what's up?" he said with mock cheerfulness. "God, I sound stupid," he mumbled, shaking his head. He rolled his eyes as he got to the door and undid the multiple locks.

When he opened the door and saw who was really standing there, his mouth dropped open and stayed there.


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