“Hung over much?” Meg teased.
“Oh, hey, Meg, what’s up?”
“Omigosh, Matt, I had the most awesome date last night!” she bubbled. Without waiting for a reply, she immediately launched into the whole story. “Since there aren’t any good movies playing, we went to his sister’s dorm room because she and her roommate weren’t there and we hung out and watched a movie. Then we came back here and he kissed me and started to leave but I called him back and we hung out here and talked for a while. Then we made out. Can you believe that? ME, ME, Meg Michelle Kennedy, making out with a guy? Me, the one everyone thinks of as a prude?”
“Okay, dude, relax, Maggie! You’re flipping out here! And I do have trouble believing you made out with him, but I know you wouldn’t lie to me. And I’m happy for you, girl, because if anyone deserves some action, it’s you. Maybe it’ll put you out of your permanent unhappy mood. So are you going out with him again?”
“Yeah, we’re going out tonight.”
“Two nights in a row? He really likes you.”
“Okay, that’s good. We’re going out to dinner and then probably either back here or to his sister’s.”
“That’s cool.” He paused. “Listen, I’d love to keep talking to you, but I have the biggest hangover I’ve ever had. I went to Steve’s party last night and got pretty trashed.”
“There isn’t a girl in your bed this morning, is there?”
“Let me check. Nope.”
“All right, I’ll let you go. I’ll see you later, Matthew.”
“Ugh, Maggie, you know I hate it when you call me Matthew!” he exclaimed.
“Duh! Why do you think I do it?”
“Well, you’re reminding me of my mother, Margaret.”
“All right, I’ll stop. See you later, Matt.”
“Bye, Meg.”
They hung up their phones. Then Meg heard a knock on her door. “Come in, Liz.”
Her roommate came in holding a red rose. “Some guy stopped by this morning and dropped this off for you. He told me not to wake you up, but to give this to you.”
Meg grinned. “Nick?”
“Yeah, I think so. Tall, blond, gorgeous?”
“Yeah, that would be him.”
“Man, Maggie, you are so lucky! I would kill to be in your situation right now! He looks like a celebrity or something!”
“Speaking of celebrities, he’s BJ Carter’s brother. Did you hear the same thing I did about her having a famous brother? Nick looks really familiar and I’m sure I’ve heard the name, ‘Nick Carter,’ around somewhere. Can you help me out because it’s driving me crazy!”
“Nick Carter. It does sound familiar. I don’t know where I heard it, though, so I guess I can’t help you out.” She started to walk out. “If you need me, I’ll be in my room. Later, sweets!”
“Okay, later.” Meg reached for the remote and saw that MTV was on. There was an *Nsync video on, and she almost turned it off, but it was almost over, so she just waited for a few moments for the next video. It had been a long time since she’d watched MTV. Usually she watched sitcoms or the news, but almost never MTV. She got her fill of music from the radio. After a few torturous seconds (she did not like *Nsync), the video ended. There were a few commercials, and then Carson came on the screen.
“And today the Backstreet Boys beat out *Nsync for the number one spot! Here they are with Drowning!”
Her ears perked up and she stared at the screen. This was one of her new favorite songs. As the song started, though, she nearly had a heart attack. “LIZ!” she shouted. “LIZ, COME HERE RIGHT NOW!”
Her roommate bolted into the room. “What?”
Meg couldn’t find words to reply. She just stared at the screen with her mouth hanging open.
“Is that…is that…” Liz stammered.
“Yeah, that’s Nick!”
“Holy shit, you’re dating a Backstreet Boy?”
“Holy shit, I’m dating a Backstreet Boy!”