"Thank God for clouds," she said to herself as she stepped out of the towering office building. She had lost her favorite pair of sunglasses earlier that day, and had been squinting against the blazing sun all day. "And, thank God for Fridays as well," she smiled. Though she was very appreciative of her new promotion, new job, the relocation and the long hours were things she hadn't quite gotten used to yet.
Sitting inside her car, air running full blast to battle the 90 plus degree weather, she pulled out her 'to do' list and planned her route home according to it. First, she thought, by the dry cleaners. Then on to the market for dog food. Abby would never forgive her if she forgot it. Then, if time permitted, a quick stop by the mall. New sunglasses, a black blouse, and maybe some shoes. Like I really need more shoes, she chuckled.
Something else she hadn't quite grown accustomed to was the horrendous traffic of a big city, especially at 5:00 on Fridays. "Damn !" she cursed out loud. "It really looks like one of the prerequisites for obtaining a driver's license should be that the person actually knows how to drive !"
Checking her watch for the third time in the past ten minutes, she sighed in disgust, realizing she hadn't moved an inch since the first time she checked it. She continued to talk to herself, knowing it was a less than normal habit, but feeling like it helped to ease the stress sometimes. "If this idiot in front of me would just move up five more feet, I could turn up that damned side road and bypass this whole mess !"
After a few more minutes, and several more animated words directed towards other drivers, she was finally able to make her turn and get out of the bumper to bumper traffic. She decided she'd go by the mall first. Shopping always made her feel better. Expelling a deep breath, she slid in her favorite cd and cranked the volume up. She was lost in the music, lost in her own little world as she came to stop at a traffic light. She was really getting into the song playing, and in the middle of belting out her own version, she glanced over at the car beside her.
Behind the wheel was an extremely hot looking blonde, looking right back at her, a huge smile on his face. Realizing that smile was probably him laughing at her, she became embarrassed and looked away. She tried to will the light to turn green, but it stayed on red for what seemed an eternity. Suddenly a honking horn startled her. At first, she thought maybe the light had changed without her noticing and it was the car behind her urging her to go on. But, the light was still red. Then, she heard it again, and realized it was the car beside her, the hot blonde. Slowly, she turned to look his way, half expecting him to still be laughing at her. As her gaze met his, she noticed his piercing blue eyes. As he waved to her and smiled, those eyes smiled as well. She shyly smiled and waved back, and then heard another horn. This time it WAS the car behind her. The light had changed while she had been flirting with blondie. As she pulled away from the light, she realized that he had fell into the line of traffic behind her. She could see those eyes in her rearview mirror. There was something about him that was very familiar. She felt like she knew him, or at least should know who he was.
Turning into the mall entrance, he turned in behind her. She ejected the cd, turned the radio on low, and began to hunt for a parking space. She felt her stomach doing flip flops as the first few words of the song on the radio filtered through her speakers.
"OH MY GOD !" she screamed. "It's HIM !! That was Nick Carter !"
She quickly checked her mirror again to be sure, but he was gone. She tried to picture his face again, the way he smiled at her at the red light. All she could picture now, though, was Nick Carter in the video for the BSB song "Drowning". Was that really him? she wondered. Or was it just someone who looked like him? She couldn't be 100% sure, but still felt her stomach bouncing around. "Get a hold of yourself !" she ordered. "For God's sake, you are in the business, too. You've met plenty of celebrities." It was true. As menial as her job was, she did work at a recording studio. It was also true that she had met many famous faces. But none like Nick Carter, she smiled.
Once inside the crowded mall, she set out to find some new sunglasses, her main reason for stopping. As she came upon one of the nicer jewelry stores, she noticed a sign hanging in the window advertising a huge sale on earrings. Hmmmmm, she thought. Won't hurt just to look.
She located the display case containing the earrings, and was glancing over them when she noticed a young couple looking at the engagement rings in the next case over.
"I don't know, honey. Which one do you like?" she heard the girl asking her boyfriend.
"I like that one there.... the second one over on the top row," he answered.
"That TINY one??" the girl asked, strongly emphasizing the word tiny.
"I don't know. Which one do you like?" he finally asked the obviously displeased brunette at his side, noticing the neighbor at the earring case looking at them.
"Hey," he said. "Would you do us a favor?" he asked.
"Uh, sure," she answered hesitantly.
He went on to explain that he and his girlfriend were trying to pick out an engagement ring, but were having a difficult time agreeing on anything.
"Serena here likes that gaudy looking rock there," he pointed, referring to the huge diamond his girlfriend was trying on. "But, I, myself, like that one there," he said, pointing it out. "What do you think?"
She took a moment to look, not really wanting to get involved in the business of these two strangers, and finally answered.
"Honestly, I prefer the smaller one. But, that's just me. And, maybe I'm old fashioned, but isn't it the guy's job to pick out the ring before he asks?"
"You're exactly right, but she didn't trust me to get one she liked. Thank you," he smiled and nodded.
"You're welcome," she returned, and turned to leave the store. Poor guy, she thought.
She had found herself feeling as if she knew him, too. Just the way she had felt about the blonde at the stop light. I came in here to relieve some stress, she thought. And here I have gotten myself in the middle of a lovers' spat between two total strangers.
Making her way to her regular clothing store, she was digging for a piece of gum in her purse as she walked. She managed to find a piece amid all the junk and clutter and was popping it into her mouth when she ran smack into someone. She began to apologize before she even looked up.
"I'm so sor.... sorry," she finally finished, realizing she had just ran into blondie.... the guy from the red light. If there was ever a doubt as to who he was, there wasn't anymore.
"It's cool," he replied. "I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going either."
She couldn't say another word. She simply stood there in awe, hoping she didn't look like the idiot she felt like. His good looks had been obvious when she saw him at the red light. She had also seen the charm and sexiness in all the videos and television appearances he had made. But, now, with him standing in front of her, she had to admit that television did not do him justice. Standing several inches taller than she was, he seemed to be very well built. He had beautiful skin, tanned. His striking eyes, strong features, and gorgeous smile just topped everything else off. Dressed in a baby blue button up shirt, which accented those piercing eyes, a pair of khaki shorts, and sandals, his boyish charm shined through. The sound of his voice speaking again jolted her back to reality.
"Hey, aren't you the girl in the red car? From the traffic light?" he asked, that same beautiful smile gleaming..... those blue eyes glistening.
"Uh, yeah. I am," she nodded.
He stepped back a little, held out his hand, and said, "Hi. I'm Nick. It's nice to meet you."
Shaking his hand, she said, "Yes. I know who you are."
"You do? And here I thought I was incognito," he laughed.
"Not hardly," she smiled. "You're kinda hard to miss."
"Well," he smirked. "I'm not sure that's a good thing."
"Trust me. It is," she answered.
They stood there, in silence, for what seemed like an hour, but in all actuality was only a minute or so. Finally, he broke the silence.
"Uh, listen. I have a few things I have to pick up here, but I'd love to talk with you some more. Would you like to have dinner with me?"
He is asking me out!! she was screaming inside. Now, answer him before he changes his mind!
"Sure, Nick I'd love to," she managed to say through her trembling voice.
"Really?" he said. "Great!"
"Here," she started. "I have a piece of paper in my purse to write my address on for you."
She pulled a crumpled receipt from the mess and began to try to write her address. With nothing to bear on, writing was difficult.
"Allow me," he offered, turning around and bending slightly to allow her to use the back of his shoulder.
She finished writing her address and phone number and handed Nick the paper.
"Ok then," he smiled. "How's eight?"
"Eight is fine," she said. "See you then."
As she turned to walk away, her stomach still flipping, he called her back.
"Hey," he said. "Um, I never got your name."
"Destiny..... My name is Destiny," she answered.