Picture Perfect
Chapter 34
By Crystal

Jane closed Casey's door and walked to Nick's room. She knocked on the door and heard a muffled voice say, "Come in." She opened the door and poked her head inside.

"Hey Sweetie. Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure Mom," he mumbled. She closed the door behind her and sat on Nick's bed.

"Is there anything you want to talk about, Nick?" Nick looked up at her. "It already sounds like you know everything, Mom."

"I just spoke with Casey. She's not herself. Apparently you two have been on quite a bumpy road these past few days."

"Yeah. Everything is just so messed up. The things we've been doing… For a while it was like we were trying to destroy each other. She'd come tumbling in either high or drunk telling me how good of a time she and AJ had. The past couple nights have just been out of control."

"You guys have been doing more than fighting, haven't you?"

Nick looked away, ashamed. "Yeah. We had a drinking game and ended up passing out on top of each other on the kitchen counter in nothing but our underwear. Then the next night… it went even further."

"You two engaged in…"

"Mom, please don't say anything. I'm really not in the mood to be given a lecture about sex."

"Well, as much as I disapprove of that conduct in my house, you are both adults…"

"I don't understand it, Mom. I hate her but I love her. I hate who she is, what she's become and the things that she does, yet something inside of me loves her beyond anything else. I've loved her for years."

"You two have a lot to talk about, Nick. If you love her than you need to tell her because she is just as confused as you are, if not more. There's another thing. Casey told me that she hates what she has become. She wants to go back to the way she used to be. And to be quite honest with you Nick I believe I should tell you something. I told Casey that I would help her change in any way I could. And if she does change there is a possibility she'll go back to California. And if she does… you could lose her again."

"What am I supposed to do Mom? Last time she left it ended up like this. I just… I don't know what to do."

"the only thing I can suggest is that you tell her where you stand and make sure that she knows that she has your support, otherwise…"

"Thanks Mom."

"Let me be with her for a while. I have a feeling she could use a motherly figure right about now."

"What should I do right now?"

"Wait. She might feel a bit uncomfortable around you right now."

**

Casey got up from her bed and slowly walked into the bathroom. After stripping off her clothes she entered the shower and turned on the water. For an hour she simply stood under the shower nozzle and let the water fall on her. She ran her hands through her slick hair and breathed in deeply. She turned off the water, put on a robe and ran a comb through her hair. There was a knock on the door.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"Casey? Honey could you open the door for a second, please?"

Casey opened the door and looked at Jane. "I'd like to take you out for a few hours, is that okay?"

Casey was about to decline but changed her mind. She nodded her head. "Okay. I'll be ready in about ten minutes."

"I'll meet you downstairs then." She smiled and closed the door. She finished combing her hair and held the towel closely around her body as she opened the door. Nick was standing there.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't know anyone was in there," he mumbled.

"It's okay Nick. I'm done. Go ahead." Nick walked in as Casey walked out. He started closing the door but stopped, reached out, grabbed Casey's arm and pulled her back into the bathroom. He shut the door behind her and leaned in to kiss her. At first she refused his kisses but couldn't resist the urge to kiss him back. With one final kiss, Nick pulled away and stared at her, painfully.

"I don't want to lose you Case. But I don't want to push you either. I know that you're going through a rough time right now and I just wanted to let you know that whatever you do I'll support you all the way. I just don't want to lose you again. I don't know if I could handle it."

"I think we lost each other a long time ago, Nick."

"Then let's try and… I can't push… Just… when you make up your mind remember one thing. Remember that I… that I love you. And that I have loved you since the day I set eyes on you. And I have never stopped."

Casey looked up at him and said nothing. She opened the door behind her and started to walk out. For a brief moment she turned around and whispered, "I love you too Nick."