*March 1999*

"Nick!!" I squealed when he picked me up and started running around. "What are you doing?!?! Put me down!!" He set me down and kissed me. "What? I can't say hello to my girl?" I smiled at him. "Yes you can, but 'your girl' doesn't want to be picked up and ran around like a sack of flour when she hasn't seen her man in three weeks." He looked at me "Oh yeah? Which man is that?" He asked while kissing my neck. I pretended to think. "Um, I think that this week his name is Bobby, no wait that was last week. Jim? Nah, he was the week before last. Oh yeah...you're my man this week." I smiled at him while he stopped kissing my neck and glared at me. "That is not amusing." I leaned over and kissed his nose. "I know. But I thought it was."

He kissed me again and then pulled away and grabbed me into a huge hug. "Man, I've missed you baby." I nodded into his shoulder. "I missed you too." He let go of me and looked down at me. "Wanna go to a movie tonight?" I shook my head. "Nah, lets just hang out tonight ok?" He nodded. "I'm sorry but I have to go. I'll come pick you up tonight ok?" I smiled and he gave me one last kiss and then walked back to his car.

I watched as he drove off and then walked back up to my house. Ever since that first date that we had almost three months ago, we've been a couple. I couldn't thank Casey and Kevin any more for making us go on that blind date because even though I don't love Nick yet, I really like him. It takes a lot for me to like a guy and with the impact Nick has on me is just scary. I walked into my apartment that Casey and I shared. She wasn't home becuase the guys had just gotten back from a mini tour so she was visiting Kevin.

I sat down on the couch and turned on the tv. "What's on?" I mumbled to myself quietly while channel surfing. After going through all the channels like ten times I gave up and just turned it on mtv. "Backstreet Boy, Nick Carter has confession to make to his fans, stay tuned for it next on mtv news." I smiled to myself and laid down. They were talking about how Nick and I were going out. He hadn't yet told the fans that he had a girlfriend but the other week, he'd decided that he wanted them all to know. I refused saying that the fans would probably get upset and I didnt want him to risk it because of me but he said that he didn't care if he had nothing left in this world as long as the world knew how happy he was with his girlfiriend. He was so sweet. I sighed contently and drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

"Stephie? Stephie..baby, wake up." I slowly opened my eyes to see Nick sitting next to me on the couch. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. "What time is it?" I yawned, "It's time to go to my house babe. You fell asleep come on lets go." I startled awake "Oh my gosh! i was going to change and take a shower and ughhhh." He laughed "As much as I like the thought of that, I don't care, you don't need a shower. You're beautiful now come on lets go." I smiled and got up. "Nick?" I asked in my baby voice. He smiled and then kneeled down. "Hop on." I hopped onto his back and giggled like a little kid as we walked down the stairs and into his car.

"Looks like its gonna rain tonight." Nick commented while looking out the window of his house. "Just rain right? It's not gonna be a thunder storm??" I asked a little paniked. He looked at me a laughed "What Steph? Afraid of a little thunder?" I shook my head "No...just the lighting." I mumbled. "What was that?" He asked with that stupid smirk still on his face. "Nothing. What movie are we gonna watch?" He shrugged. "I don't know. You can pick." I smiled "Oh goody! Lets watch the Sixth Sense." He nodded in agreement and we started the movie.

"It's really coming down now." I said staring out the window. I wasn't really paying much attention to the movie anymore ever since the rain had started. "Yeah it is. I think it's gonna be a big storm." My eyes went wide in fear. "What?!?! There can't be a storm!!" I started biting my nails nervously. Nick looked at me confused but then a huge crash of thunder roared followed by a bright flash of lighting. "SHIT!!" I screamed. Then I sat on the ground and started freaking out. "It's lighting! Holy shit it's lighting out. I hate lighting. I hate it I hate it! Where's Casey/ I need to call Casey!!"

Nick got up from his spot on the couch, a little shocked at my reaction and sat down next to me and took me in his arms, rocking me back and forth. "What's wrong baby? It's just a little lighting." I shook my head as the tears started coming out. "It's not just lighting. Where's Casey. I need Casey." I whimpered. "Shh, baby, Casey isn't here. Tell me what's wrong."

BOOM!!!!! Thunder and another crash of lighting hit and I screamed. The phone rang and Nick jumped up to get it. "Hello?" "Is she there??" Nick sighed in relief "Casey!! What's wrong with her? The lighting hit and she just freaked out." "Let me talk to her." Nick handed me the phone. "Casey I'm scared." "I know sweetie I know. I'm at Kevin's but I've been trying to find you ever since it hit. Are you ok?" I shook my head "No. It's really big." "OK, well, I can't get over there tonight because the storms too bad. You're just going to have to rely on Nick. I know he can get you through this." "Ok Case. I love you." "I love you too sweetie."

I hung up the phone and curled my knees into my chest shaking. Nick walked over and took me in his arms. "What's wrong Stephie?" I contined crying. "I hate lighting Nick. It scares the shit outta me. When I was in second grade, we were all outside at recess when a huge storm hit. It came so fast the aids outside didn't even know it was coming. They tried to get us all inside but my two best friends were on the field playing soccer so they had to run and they were the last ones. I waited for them before we went inside and the aids started yelling at us to hurry up because they were gonna close the doors and the doors lock from the ouside. I ran up to the door and told them that I'd wait by the door to let my friends in when they came in. My friends thought that storms were fun to play in so they took their time getting in. Once they were near the door, I opened it and just waited for them to come. But then, out of no where, came this huge flash of lighting. It struck them both and killed them right before my eyes. Ever since then I've never been the same. I was sent to therapy, a doctor, nothing has helped. I've always been afraid of lighting and when it comes, I freak. I'm sorry if I scared you I just can't handle it." I sobbed.

Nick rocked me back and forth. "Shh, Stephie. It's ok. I'll get you through this. You don't need to be scared. Never fear, Nicky is here!" He stuck out his chest trying to be macho but I just laughed at his stupidity. "You're such a goof." He started tickling me. "Yeah, but you love this goof!" I looked at him "Oh I do, do I?" He thought about it and grinned "Of course you do." I hit my forehead. "Thanks, I didn't know that. Now I know that if there's anything that I don't know, you can tell me." "That's what I'm here for babe." I giggled and then leaned in for a kiss.