"Any calls for me Jeff," Candice asked sitting her bag down on the table.
"Um..some girl named Willa called, it sounded important," he smiled handing her the phone.
"Thanks sexy," she grinned and pressed speed dial on her phone as she made her way to her room.

"Hello?"
"Mandy?"
"Hey Candi! Sup," she cheered out of breath.
"What's wrong Mandy?"
"Nothin'. Huh? Whatcha mean?" Candice rolled her eyes and switched the phone to her other ear.
"Acting is NOT your thing Mandah, don't quit your day job," Candice snickered.
"Ok, ok. It's Nick, we're fighting all the time and.."
"Willa! Get your ass over here! You have to get these steps down today," an angry voice hissed.
"Hey, I've gotta go I'll call ya later..if I can," she sighed and hung up her phone. Candice mumbled her bye into the dial tone and rubbed her eyes. Now all she had to do was piece together what she had been told with Nick's message on her voice mail.

"I dunno what to do Jeff," she signed repeating the message nick had left for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"Babe, they are both adults and I'm pretty sure they can figure this out themselves so just don't tare yourself up over it."
"I guess so, but Jeff," she whined. "I just don't want them gettin' hurt cuz of me!"
"Listen to me," he walked over to his friend and hung his arm loosely over her shoulder. "They are so lucky to have you as a friend, they don't need you as a therapist."
"But Jeffery!"
"But Candice!"
"Jeffery Alan."
"Candice Nichole."

"Hello," she answered the phone trying to hold back laughter.
"Hi," he whispered.
"Oh, can you hold on," he mumbled yes and the heard the voice scream. "Candi, get your non-ghetto booty duck luvin' self over here!" He chuckled, it was nice to smile again.
"Hello," a familiar voice said cheerfully.
"Candi," he smiled knowing what her reaction would be.
"Nicky! Ohmigod!" She screamed holding the phone away from her mouth. "Sorry."
"It's cool."
"Hold on," she whispered into the phone and then screamed. "NO! Amanda ducks do not make me horny!" Nick could not hold back his laughter. "Hey Nick..wanna try somthin' for me?"
"What?" He laughed.
"Shut up! And stop laughin' at me for ya make me cry! Or else."
"Or else?" He challenged.
"I'ma gonna come up..or where are you right now anyway?"
"New York," he chuckled.
"Oh, then it is up. Why ya there?"
"Why do ya think I'm here?"
"Um..you're becomin' a porn-star and decided to tell me in advance?" She grinned innocently.
"NO!" Nick laughed dropping the phone. "We're doin' TRL tomorrow and.."
"OHMIGOD! Are you for real? I wanna watch it!"
"Nope I'm lyin'." Nick snickered as he rolled his eyes.
"Ya know I can't see ya, but I know you're rollin' your eyes at me! Stop Nick! Stop!! Mommy!"
"Ya know me too well," he smiled.
"Gotta love that Carter smile," she chuckled.
"Ok, so anyway. We're in New York, and guess what?"
She played along with him trying not to laugh, "what?"
"I'm stuck in this stupid hotel room!"
"Haha..sucks to be Nick! So how's your personal life?" She laughed grabbing the remote.
"Um..lemme think--Mine. Yours?"
"OH! Look, I'm talkin' to you on the phone and watchin' you on TV!"
"Whoo-pee do," Nick snickered rolling his eyes.
"Stop rollin' your damn eyes at me! No one can see you!" She turned up and the sound and laughed. "OH..so since when did you guys do a makin' the video? Um and why didn't ya tell Candice?"
"Um..I guess I forgot..do you like it?"
"Oh! I love the part when Aj's..and your..oh it's so cute!"
"Ohmigod..I still can't figure out why I talk to you!"
"Cuz I'm so cute..and you love me!"
"Right..that's gotta be it," he once again rolled his eyes.
"Ok so my personal life is fine."
"Good to hear."
"I've made some really good choices and I'm goin' to school and doin' real good..and Nick? Are you listening to me? Nick?!"
"Yeah, yeah," he turned off the TV.
"Nick!"
"Sorry," he laughed standing up and walking over to the window. "New friends?"
"Yup..and Jeff..he's so cool. You'd love him!"
"I'm sure," Nick chuckled.
"No! You would!"
"Right," Nick rolled his eyes. "Hey I'm gonna let ya go I'm tired..cya tomorrow. Love ya bye!"
"Bye good talkin' to ya Nick!" He hung up and she smiled. It was nice having her life back to semi-normal standings.

She wrapped the warm cloth tightly around her bod and dashed out of the bathroom picking up the phone just in time.
"Hello?"
"Birthday Chic sup?" His voice was alive and cheerful, she rolled her eyes.
"Nick, loser, it's like 5:20 in the morning. Why are ya callin' this freakin' early?" She walked into the kitchen clutching the towel so it didn't fall off and she grabbed a soda out of the refrigerator.
"I know but it's your birthday! The big 2-1!! I mean c'mon and of course I'ma gon call ya!"
"I'ma gon? Someone needs to stop with the crack!"
"Hey..just cuz it's your birthday don't mean you can be all mean to me!"
"I know sorry."
"And you're full of crap and you know it Nickolas!"
"How much?" She sighed and walked down the hall and into the bathroom.
"How many big brothers do I need?" She whined dragging herself to the scale. She glanced done and then back up to the mirror. "124 and 3/4 thank you so much Dr. Carter."
"Ok since you're such a smart ass," Nick snickered as he turned off his rental car. "Ohmi..what is that awful sound?"
"Oh *Nysnc just came on the radio..I was gettin' ready to turn it off anyway," she laughed.
"Oh man," Nick whispered rolling his eyes as he made his way up the drive way. "I got you the NSA CD for your birthday..do you not want it?"
Candice laughed and pulled a shirt over her head, "you gotta be shittin' me Carter?"
"Nope..I walked into Virgin Records and got the cd."
"Nick, you loser!" Nick brushed out his pants and stretched out his legs as he listened to her whine about how she hates her birthday and doesn't want anything.
"You only turn 21 once," he grinned. "Now..what was that?"
"My door bell dumbass," Nick burst out laughing. "Carter Quote," she squealed as she ran to the door. He smiled to himself fulling knowing who was at her door.