Isabel helped a very drunk Michelle into the apartment. "Isabel..that was SO much fun..," Michelle slurred as she leaned harder onto Isabel.
"Yeah Michelle..it was...come on, let's get you in bed.."
After (finally) getting Michelle into bed, Isabel slipped off her shoes on the way into the living room. She noticed her cell phone and picked it up. It read, "Voice Mail." So she listened to it and let a small smile cross her face. She glanced at the clock, "Hmmm..only 1:30..he should be up."
So, she picked up the phone and dialed his cell number. "Hello?"
"Nicky? Did I wake you?"
"Oh no, I was just dozing and watching tv."
"Okay..I got your voicemail..is everything okay? It kinda sounded like you're about to break up with me."
"No! I know..it kinda sounded like that..but that's not it at all, I promise. There's no way you could fly out, huh?"
She curled her feet under her and got a little more comfortable, "Maybe Friday night I could..but Nick, I'm a poor college student.."
He smiled, "I'll pay for ya."
"Nick..."
"We need to talk Isabel..there's alot that's going through my mind right now and I just....I can't talk about it over the phone..it's too personal."
She sighed, "If I come..I have to leave Sunday morning to be back here so I can go to class."
He smiled, "Let me buy you the ticket?"
"Fine..but you know, I hate it when you buy me stuff.."
"I'm just buying a plane ticket for you..when I start buyin' you diamonds and stuff, then you can gripe."
She laughed, "Okay..i will."
"It'll be waiting for you at the airport then.."
"Okay..but, everything's okay..right?"
"Yep..I've just..come to a realization and I think I should be face to face with you."
"okay.."
"You better get to sleep baby.."
She yawned, "I know.Michelle's drunk off her ass so I had to put her to sleep."
"Did you two go out?"
"Yep.."
"well..I'll call you tomorrow, say around 3, ok?"
"Okay..bye Nicky."
"Bye Isabel..sleep tight."
"You too."
That Friday, Michelle drove Isabel to the airport so she could fly to Minnesota and catch up with the Backstreet Boys tour. Michelle hugged her friend, "I hope everything's cool girl."
"I think it is."
"You think he'll say the big L word?"
Isabel laughed, "I don't know Michelle..he's been through some rough relationships and some rough times so I'm not holding my breath..."
"I can tell he loves you and I can tell you love him just as much."
The boarding call was made, Isabel smiled at Michelle, "Don't get too wild"
"Oh, I will, don't worry. I'll be here Sunday afternoon to pick you up."
"Okay..see you later Michelle."
"Later Isabel. Go get yo man!"
Isabel laughed and picked up her carry-on and boarded the plane.
Once in the Minnesota airport, Isabel got off the plane and looked around for any familar faces. She spotted the baggage claim and walked towards it to find her one duffle bag she had brought along. She jumped about three feet in the air when someone leaned in close to her and whispered, "A pretty girl like you shouldn't be traveling all alone."
She turned around, almost ready to punch the person behind her, when she realize it was Kevin and AJ. She hugged them both, "I didn't think you two would come pick me up!"
"Had to, Nick's the popular one so he's more likely to get recognized.," AJ said with a smile.
Isabel rolled her eyes, "So anyways..how are you all?"
"We're good..here, let me get that.," Kevin said picking up her duffle bag.
Once at the hotel, they checked her in and Kevin walked with Isabel to her room. "Kristen's here too, but she went out to go shop."
He walked inside with her and set her things down. She nodded, "Okay..I get to see the show tomorrow night, huh?"
"Yep.."
Isabel smiled, "Can ya still dance old man?"
"Hey!"
"I'm jokin' Kev."
"How's school?"
She sat down on the bed and flipped on the tv as Kevin opened up the curtains. "It's good..I really like my classes."
"That's good..how's your roommate?"
"She's good..she was drunk the other night but that's okay."
Kevin smiled, "Well, I'm going to head to my room and catch a nap..talk to you later?"
She nodded before standing up and hugging him, "Thanks Kev."
"For what Isabel?"
"For everything..and not having a cow when you found out me and Nick were dating."
Kevin laughed before planting a kiss on her forehead, "Why have a cow when it'd get me nowhere? Plus, I think he's good for ya."
"But isn't he good for me too?"
He nodded, "Yeah that too.."
"See you later Kev."
"Okay."
Nick was busy getting things ready in the room. He sighed, it was going to have to do. He had told Kristen to tell Isabel, when she had gotten back, to tell Isabel to dress..kinda dressy. Nick smiled at that thought, she didn't exactly enjoy wearing dresses..but he knew she'd be glad she did once she saw what he did.
Isabel walked down the hall, running her hand down the front of her dress to get rid of the invisible wrinkles, she had to admit; she was nervous. She had no clue what Nick wanted to talk to her about but she knew it had to be pretty serious if he didn't want to tell her over the phone. Once at his door, she knocked and waited for him to answer.
Nick's head shot up when he heard the knock; it was her. He was at the door in two long strides and opened it. She had pulled her dark hair back in a low ponytail so it was out of her face and she was wearing a dark blue, sleeveless, pretty simple dress. He smiled as he met her eyes, "I've been waiting for you."
She stepped into his embrace with a smile on her face, "Am I late?"
"No..I was just anxious to see you again."
"I missed you."
"Missed you too..come on in."
She walked in in front of him and smiled, he had set up a completely romantic dinner just for the two of them. She turned to look at Nick behind her, "Nick..this is wonderful."
He wrapped his arms around her from behind, "You think?"
"Yeah..how'd you think of this?"
"Let's just say..Kevin and AJ."
"Ohhh..I get it.."
He kissed her neck gently, "So..you hungry?"
She nodded and leaned into him more, "Yeah..a little."
He moved away from her and pulled out the chair. She sat down and watched as he sat down across from her, "Nick? I'm still kinda confused as to why I'm here..I mean, I did miss you and I've wanted to see a show for as long as I could remember but..what did you have to talk to me about?"
He smiled, "In due time..but, I'm hungry, so let's eat."
"Okay.."
Once they finished eating, Nick had to get out of the suit he had put on. He took off the stuffy jacket and threw off the tie and took off his shoes and socks. Isabel had pulled her hair out of the elastic and threw her shoes somewhere. Nick had also moved his chair closer to hers and now, they were just talking. "Michelle said she was impressed with you.."
"Oh? How so?"
"She said you were a very nice guy and not at all the super snobby star she had imagined. So, she gave us her blessing..we should date."
He smiled, "Well..I'm glad I passed inspection."
"Me too..sooo..are you going to talk to me, for real, now?"
He laughed, "Guess it's time, huh?"
"Yes..I'm getting very impatient."
He took one of her hand's in his and smiled, "It's not bad Isabel, I promise. I've just realized some things since we argued. No, I'm not going to break up with you..I don't think I could do that. But anyways, over these past couple months..you've come back into my life and I've realized how could I of not gotten along without you? I think every time I got a new girlfriend..or wahtever you want to call them, it was just a way to..to..I don't know..to replace you but none of them were you."
"Nick...that's so..sweet."
He smiled, "I'm a sweet kinda guy."
"yes you are."
"I know, I've never told you this..I've said it one other time but I don't think I meant it..but, I love you Isabel. I think I always have, even when you left and we stopped communicating."
Her jaw dropped for a second and she couldn't speak, out of all the things running through her head, she didn't think it'd be that he loved her. "Wow..that's the only comprehensible thing I can think of to say right now.."
"Is that a good or bad thing?"
"It's good...It's just, I still thought you were going to break up with me, don't ask me why. Nick..I love you too..I just thought it was too soon to tell you and that it'd scare you off."
He smiled sweetly at her, "You can't scare me off sweetie."
She pulled him closer, "Oh really?"
"Uh uh."
"I wouldn't want to get rid of you anyways.," She said before kissing him.
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