Eight days later, we were at the airport, ready to fly back home. Nick drove us to the airport and Brian tagged along. We were at the gate waiting for our flight to be called. Drew, Amy, and Brian were in some deep conversation that Nick and I were obviously not wanted in.
“Flight 227 to Baltimore, now boarding at Gate 12.” I stood up and looked at Nick:
“That’s us.” Nick stood up too:
“Yeah…” It was silent for a second. Then, Brian came up and tapped me on the shoulder:
“Well, girl, it was good to meet you and I really hope everything works out.” I hugged him:
“Thanks, Bri. It’s been real.” Brian went to say goodbye to Ashley and Drew. I turned to Nick:
“So, I guess this is it.” Nick smiled:
“No, it’s not. We’ll see each other again. I’m positive.” I hugged him as tears welled up in my eyes:
“Thank you so much, Nick. You’ve done so much for me. I’ll never forget it. You’ve been a good best friend.” I pulled away and Nick kissed my cheek:
“Best friends, then?” I nodded. Nick hugged me again:
“Good. I’ll miss you. Call me and let me know that you got in okay. You have my number. Bye!” I kissed his cheek:
“Bye, Nick.” And with that I met up with Ashley and Drew and we boarded the plane. I looked back at Nick and waved until he was no longer in sight.
****** ****** ***** ***** ***** *****
We landed at BWI around 3:30. I said goodbye to Ashley and Drew, while they made their way to Newark, and I looked around the airport for my sister, Kara.
I finally found her and her boyfriend, Matt. We got to the car and they helped me to put my bags in the trunk before we made our way back home. Kara got in the driver’s seat and we were off:
“So how was your trip?” I swallowed, not really knowing whether I wanted to tell my sister everything with Rob or not:
“It was okay.” I decided to tell her, since she was my sister and all. I started at the very beginning and proceeded to tell her everything I told Nick that first night as his house. My sister, to say the least, was not happy. She wanted to kill Rob and she wanted me to tell my parents, which was not even an option. My dad would go ballistic. I decided to brighten the mood and tell her about Nick though:
“Kar, you’ll never guess who Nick really is, though.” She looked back at me in the rearview mirror:
“Who?” I started singing:
“Everybody! Rock your body!…” Kara started laughing:
“Whatever, Kate. No he’s not.” I nodded:
“I’m dead serious, Kar. I swear to god.” Matt busted out laughing:
“He’s a Backstreet Boy?!” I giggled along with them:
“My reaction exactly Matt.” Kara calmed down a bit:
“Is he cool? Did you meet the rest of them? Were they cool? Did you get to see a concert?” Matt stared at her:
“What’s with the 20 questions?” I giggled:
“Yes, yes, yes, and yes.” Kara started laughing all over again:
“You saw them in concert? I can’t believe you went to a Backstreet Boys concert!” I stared out the window:
“It was pretty good. I told Nick that I was going to rethink my opinion about them.”
“Which one was Nick?”
“Tall, blond hair, blue eyes, baby of the group.”
“At least he’s the hot one.” Matt looked at her in mock anger:
“Hey! What about me?” I started laughing again:
“You’re hot too, Matty.” Kara pretended to get mad:
“Stay away from my man, Kate.”
We arrived at my house an hour later. My parents and brother were still in California. They wouldn’t be back for another couple of days. Kara and Matt came in. I immediately went over the phone and dialed Nick’s number. A girl answered the phone:
“Hello?” It didn’t sound like BJ. I grimaced:
'Must be Mandy…ugh…' I put on my sweetest voice possible:
“Is Nick there?”
“Who’s this?”
“Katelin…” I heard her sigh:
“Hold on….NICK! Phone for you!!! It’s your charity case!!” I kept my emotions inside. I wasn’t going to let this girl get to me. Not my fault she’s the jealous type. Not like I wanted her boyfriend or anything.
About a minute later, Nick picked up, out of breath:
“Hey, what’s up? You got in okay?” I giggled:
“Slow down, Nicky.” He groaned:
“Don’t call me Nicky.”
“Why? I think it sounds cute. It fits you.” He laughed:
“Well, since you think I’m cute, I’ll let you call me that. But only you.”
“Ooh, don’t I feel privileged. And I never said that you were cute. I just said that the name fits you.”
“Whatever.” We talked for a little while longer and then I told him that I had to go. I could hear Mandy in the background and she did not sound happy. I told him goodbye and that I would talk to him once I got back to school the next week.