"Hi Brian, whassup?" sitting up from his lying down position.
"You really like Cari don't you?"
"Yeah, why?" Nick asked suspiciously. "I know you don't like her but for my sake try to be nice when she's with us."
"I didn't say I didn't like her! In fact she's really nice. It's just that we like looking out for you. We don't want to
happen what had happened with Mandy, do we?"
Nick groaned, "Don't even mention that repulsive name to me!"
"Okay, okay. From the scale of 1 to 10, ten being the highest, how much do you like her?"
"Uhm, 8 and 3/4s, for now." Nick grinned.
"Uh-oh..." Brian thought. "Just a piece of advice okay? Take it easy with Cari, she's not your typical girl that would
fall to your charms. And if possible, when you two are already a couple, don't say "I love you", until the last possible
moment that you could hold your feelings in."
Puzzled, "Why?"
"Let's just say Cari is a spirited girl with a mind of her own." Brian explained.
"Where did you get all this? Did you spy on her?" Nick said annoyed.
"I got it from a very reliable source, whom you also know and trust. So take it easy, I don't want you hurt okay?" "So does
Leighanne." he thought.
"Yeah sure. So you wanna stay for dinner? Mom would love to have you here for dinner." Nick said. Jane had a soft spot for the
four boys her baby considers "big brothers".
"Can't. Have something important to do. Sorry." Brian said as he stood up from Nick's beanbag.
"Are you sure? Mom made Mac and Cheese for lunch. You could raid it after dinner." Nick said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Tempting, tempting, but can't. See ya Frack." Brian disappeared from Nick's room.
Brian's important "thing" was going to Brooke's house with Leighanne to get to the very bottom of Nick and Cari's
relationship. Brian picked up Leighanne and went to Brooke's condo near the beach.
"Thanks," said Brian.
"Cool flat Brooke," Leighanne commented.
"Thanks, back to my first question, what brings you here?" Brooke said. The threesome were seated on Brooke's plush leather
sofas.
"Actually we're here to kidnap you for dinner," Leighanne said grinning.
"Oh goody, food! Let's go!" Brooke said happily.
Brian and Leighanne laughed as they went ouside to go to a restaurant.
They went to a cafe near the beach. As soon as they placed their orders, Brian went staright to business.
"I think you already know why we're here,"
"Cari," Brooke answered.
"Yeah, I accidentally heard you both talking yesterday in the bathroom. We just need a few things to know because we don't
want Nick to get hurt again." Leighanne explained.
Brooke sighed, "I guess it was bound to happen. You guys knowing the truth. Cari told me that she told Nick about everything
that happend to her since she was a kid. It surprised me because she has never told anyone that story except me. It really
baffles me. And if I'm right, Nick has alrady told you and you told Leighanne. Now five people know Cari's guarded secret,
that he father's in jail for killing her mom and her promise to her."
"I don't exactly get Cari's promise. All I know is that it has something to do with her mom and revenge." Leighanne said.
"I am part of those. I mean Cari's revenges," Brooke said.
"So what is it really about," Brian asked.
"Nick is going to be like, Cari's thirteenth so-called boyfriend."
"Whoa," Brian said.
"Well she's beautiful and really nice but she always wears this mask to hide her true self. Cari intended Nick to be her
thirteenth "victim", at first she's really nice and acts like a normal girl who is in love but in reality, she's just acting.
She would know when the guy's going to tell her the dreaded four letter word. She would dream about her mom and her promise
to her. Then the next day without fail, the current boyfriend will declare his undyling love for her," Brooke shakes her
head in disgust. "After that, she will erase any knowledge she has of the guy. She would deny any knowledge of him and her
together. It's like she would forget that they existed. Of course the guy would get mad and at the same time heartbroken."
"Man, that's harsh! And Nick's going to be number thirteen?" Brian said.
"Uh-huh, but as what Leighanne heard yesterday, Cari is feeling something different for Nick. I am still not that convinced
about it though. I have become very jaded about this kind of situation Cari has."
"Let's just hope and pray that Cari is sincere about this. Nick is really a nice guy, with a lot of love to spare. Maybe he
could show Cari what it is like to be loved." Leighanne said wistfully.
"We need more than hope and prayers, we need a miracle." Brooke said sighing heavily.
"No fair, I don't even know how to play basketball!" Cari said fuming.
"You're just a sore loser cuz I'm winning!" Nick teased her.
"Humph!"
"C'mon another game, I'll let you have the ball first, please?" he said making puppy dog eyes.
"Oh alright," Cari said standing up, Nick tossed her the ball. She caught it and in a flash Nick was behind her while she
was dribbling the ball. Nick held her up for her to shoot the ball.
"She scores!" Cari said happily. "Maybe you could always hold me up when I have the ball," Cari said hopefully when Nick
set her down.
"In your dreams," Nick said ahs he got the ball from Cari's hands.
Cari jumped on Nick's back unabling him to shoot the ball. He toppled down the pavement with Cari on her back giggling. Nick
growled.
"Uh-oh!" Cari said scrambling to get up. Nick caught her pinning her below.
They stared in each other's eyes then Nick lowered his mouth to Cari. Nick groaned when her felt Cari's soft mouth against his.
After a few minutes, Nick and Cari heard a muffled giggle. They saw BJ looking at them trying hard not to laugh. Nick turned
red and Cari hid behing Nick's back.
"Oooppss," Cari said.
"Hi BJ," Nick said still a bit red.
"Cari, rate my brother's kiss. 1 for disgusting and 10 to excellent." BJ said coming over. Nick stood up and helped Cari up.
"Let's see, he's slobbery, his tongue was all over mine...i'd say three," laughing at Nick.
"Why you..." Nick said already running after Cari.
"BJ!!! Help!" Cari said breathlessly. Nick was tickling her. "Nick stop it! Okay, okay! Your kiss was fantastic, outta this
world, come on Nick lemme up!"
Nick let her up and kissed her. Nick's back was facing BJ.
"Pool," Cari mouthed to BJ. BJ smiled evily.
BJ and Cari pushed Nick into the pool. They were laughing so hard when Nick surfaced.
"I'm plotting my revenge you two," Nick said sputtering.
"Yeah sure big brother," BJ said.
"C'mon BJ let's get in the house where it's nice and warm." Cari said. The two went inside the leaving a stunned Nick in the
pool.
"Carissa Sanders!" Brooked shrieked.
Nick and Cari said, "Ooops, uh hi Brooke, what's up?" Cari said.
Brooke and BJ burst laughing. The two went red, again.
Turning to Brooke, BJ said, "This is the second time this day I caught this two making out. Thank God it was me Nick, it could
have been worse, Aaron could have caught you," Aaron used to catch Nick make out with Mandy before and told everyone in the
house about it.
"So this is what you left for your meeting, is it?" Brooke said.
"I asked Eric to fill in for me. Besides he was glad to do it." Cari defended.
Turning to Nick, "Brian and Leighanne are here too. BJ, maybe you could ask them to come up here." she said mischievoulsly.
"NO!" Nick and Cari said simultatiously.
"Well, I'm here to pick you up cause you told me to remind you to pack. We have a meeting in New York this Wednesday." Brooke
explained.
"Oh I forgot...," she replied.
"You two could stay for dinner if you want." BJ offfered.
"What do you say Cari?" Brooke said, "Janet is on a vacation anyway."
"Yeah sure,"
The foursome went downstairs for dinner. Nick was unusually quiet and Cari noticed this.
"Hey it's cold out here," Nick said.
"I have you for my jacket," Cari said slyly. Nick smiled and put his arm around Cari's shoulders.
"Somethings bothering you, I can feel it. Wanna talk about it?" Cari asked.
Nick remained silent. Cari sighed. They both sat down on the sand.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you that I'm going to New York. I even forgot it myself." Cari explained.
"It's okay, it's your life anyway. Though it still doesn't change the fact that your leaving and I'll miss you."
"Are you going to be busy this next week?" Cari asked.
"No, recording wouldn't start until next month. Why?"
"You can come to New York with me if you want."
"Really?" Nick said surprised.
"Yeah, and don't worry about the fare, my treat."
"Sure, I'll come. When are we leaving?" Nick asked.
"This Wednesday, 10:00 in the morning. Brooke will be coming with us, if you want BJ could also come," she answered him.
"I'd rather not but if you want her to come, sure."
"It's okay. If Brooke wasn't really needed, I also wouldn't let her come." she said with a smile in her voice.
He hugged her tightly as if he never wanted to let her go.
"I heard that your bringing Nick to New York with us,"
"Yeah, so?" Cari said as she set her briefcase down.
Brooke groaned, "So how are you?"
"You mean how's my relationship with Nick," she said smiling.
"Uh huh," Brooke grinned. "That was the first time I saw you kissed your boyfriend, was he good?"
Cari laughed at her bestfriend's reaction, "Yes he is a good kisser and contrary to what everybody says, he isn't fat." she
said with a twinkle in her eye. They both laughed.
"Oh Cari, I have never seen you this happy. I hope this lasts, Nick's really a special guy you know."
"I already knew that from the start,"
"You mean from the time you called him a fat lump of a male?" Brooke said teasing her best friend.
"Yes," Cari confirmed.
"Well, I'll just call you to remind you of some things to bring for tomorrow. okay? I'll meet you at the airport at nine
o'clock." she said as she stood up.
"Oh and here's your ticket. I might lose it, I still have to give Nick his. Have a nice day," Cari said as she handed her
best friend her airline tickets.
"Have a nice day, ha! I have to deal with a dozen pissy models for the whole day while you stay here and do nothing. I'd love
to see you do what I do." she said jokingly. "Well, see ya," she said with a wave.
"See ya," Cari replied.
"Shouldn't I be the one picking you up?" Nick said jokingly. They were having a late night conversation. It was already
midnight and Nick hasn't packed his clothes yet.
"Hahaha, funny, Carter. Are you packed yet?" Cari asked.
Looking at his empty luggage, "Yup, I'm finished,"
"What did the guys and your parents say?"
"The guys are cool so long as I take my bodyguards and be back before the recording. My parents said it was okay so long as
I take care and eat well."
"I'm cool with the bodyguards, Brooke and I will be bringing two for each of us. And you're really going to eat well cause I'm
not too fond of junkfood, unlike you..."
"Aha, another info, your a health nut!" Nick made fun of Cari.
"So? At least it doesn't make me fat!" she shot back.
"Hey, no body bashing!" Nick said.
"You started it. Well just be ready at eight thirty or I'm leaving you behind, got it? "
"Yes ma'am," Nick said.
"Bye, G'night!"
"G'night, sweet dreams,"
"Sweet Dreams Nick, see you tomorrow,"
"See ya,"
"Hey Kaos," Brian said as he walked inside Nick's room.
"Hey Brian, Leighanne. What brings you both here?" Brooke said. "Come in."
she motioned to her living room.
Next day at the Carter's backyard...
"He shoots, he scores!" Nick yelled as he nailed a jump shot.
"Cari! Brooke is here!" BJ yelled. She went upstairs to her brother's
room. Without knocking, he saw Cari and Nick making out on Nick's bed. She motioned Brooke to come over. Brooke gasped.
Nick was walking down the beach when he heard footsteps, he turned around
and saw Cari walking toward him.
Cari's office, Tuesday...
"Hey Brooke," Cari greeted her bestfriend as she entered her office.
"I'll come and pick you up tomorrow okay? Be ready at eight thirty."
