As I got ready for my date that night I decided that I was going to do my best to forget about how wacko this game of cat and mouse had gotten. I was determined to gain SOMETHING out of this dream trip.
The costume designer was nice enough to lend me a simple short cocktail dress with black spaghetti straps that crossed in the back.
I had my hair pulled back in a wire beaded headband. The final touch was a spritz of my favorite perfume, Tommy Girl.
Nick arrived right on time. From behind his back he produced a half a dozen white roses. He looked absolutly handsome with his double breasted jacket and birron down white shirt. His hair wasn't slicked back this time, but was loose around his face.
"More?" I asked. "I'm still gawking over the others."
Nick knitted his brows together in perplexity.
I gestured to the other roses currently on my desk.
"Um...actually I didn't buy those." He said his voice full of sarcasm.
Candy raised her eyebrows and looked back down at her Vogue magazine, pretending to read.
"Oh...it must have been my dad. He did that to me once before," I said lamely. I knew that he didn't buy it. They must have been from Brian. Brian gave me flowers. The thought made me feel so...special.
"Come on Nick--I want to go and dance!" I grabbed his arm after setting the flowers down next to the yellow ones.
Luckily Nick was an easy guy to disrtact so he just smiled, grateful that I was indeed giving him my full attention.
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The familiar sense of exitement filled me as I the deep bass of the song pulsated throughout my body. In my opinion, there was nothing like the rush of adrenaline that coursed through my vains upon entrance to dance clubs. Pleasure Island was definitly my kind of hang out. The narrow streets were lined with shops, eateries, and dance clubs.
I pointed to the Miami Beach Club, "Nick, we need to go there first. I had SO much fun when I went there with my high school friends. Plus it was the only club that had a juice bar. And since we were both only twenty, there wasn't much of a chance of having access to alcohol.
We ascended the two long flights of stairs that lead to the main entrance. The wood stairs vibrated from the loud bass of the music. I looked from the balcony down onto the dance floor. It was perfect. It was one big mass of people. No one was bound to recognize Nick down there.
Nick, reading my mind, grabbed my hand and we bolted down the stairs onto the dance floor. Ironically enough the song blasting through the speakers was "Everybody."
I can't remember having so much fun. When the DJ asked for volunteers to get up on the stage for an audience judged dancing contest, I was the second on stage. Nick was dragged behind me. He hastily grabbed his sunglasses and tucked even more of his blonde lockes into his baseball cap. I have to admit that he looked odd...all dressed up with a hat like that, but I didn't mind. He was still Nicky. Looking at him, I realized sadly that we were not meant to be a couple. Every day I was growing tolove him more and more, but it was more of a fond brotherly love. Ok, so I still couldn't get over how unbelievably sexy he was with his hair falling out of his hat...but that was the wrong reason to be interested in a guy. I didn't know why Nick was so taken with me--after all I was no one real special. I was just me--Selena.
"Ok, ladies and not-so-gentleman. I want you to help us choose the winners by cheering. Couple number one..." he motioned to a small redhead and some weird looking guy with a buzz. There was a ripple of cheering. "Couple number two..." that was us. The applause was much more enthusiastic. "Or couple number three..." the club shook with cheers. So we didn't win. I was glad no one had noticed Nick cuz I really felt like staying.
"Ohmigod it's Nick Carter!" screamed a nearby girl. A few curious looks were aimed at us as we left the platform. Other that no one chased us. Everyone in the club was at least eighteen years old, so we were lucky not to have to deal with squeeling twelve year olds tackling us.
It was an awesome night, but it was also a sad night. I had finally admitted to myself that Nick wasn't really my dream guy after all.
After we had had enough dancing, Nick drove me to the beach. It was kinda of a long drive, but it was worth it. One thing the two of us had n commen was our passion for the ocean. We sat in silence looking at the stars. It was low tide, so the shore was pretty far away, and the gentle ascending and descending noise of the waves made me feel tired. Not thinking, I laid my head on Nick's shoulder. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze. This was the closest we had ever been. We had never even hugged before. It felt so natural though. I knew that I was safe with him. Instead of the pitter pat of my heart I was filled with a serene sense of calamity. I sighed contentedly, enjoying the simplicity of the beauty that we were graced to be able to enjoy.
"Selena?"
"Hmmm?" I murmered.
I felt his body rise as he heaved a nervous sigh, "I kinda have a confession to make."
The inner peace that I had been experiencing felt like it was suddenly ripped out of me. I should have known. Nick was a good guy, but his nickname wasn't Kaos for no reason. I frowned, "what's that?"
I he wasn't even looking in my eyes. In fact, he wasn't even facing me. He gazed off into the ocean.
"I used to go out with this girl. She was fun, carefree, smart...beautiful. Just like..." he swallowed. "You," he continued.
The blood drained from my face.
"At had it for her bad. And...well...she...she dumped me."
What the hell was he getting at?
"She looked exactly like you Selena!"
It happened bofore I could even think about restraining myself. The sting of my hand startled me. I met Nick's eyes. "Oh...I'm...sorry...."
I ran blindly to Brian's borrowed Wrangler, tears already forming in my eyes.
I could hear Nick's rapid footsteps as he ran after me, "Selena...please. I'm sorry." His voice cracked as he finished that last sentence.
Don't be sorry, I thought. I should be apologizing too. I'm just as guilty. I didn't deserve to be loved.
