Nick had decided to stay and hang out all weekend. Since it was Friday and I didn’t have a final until Tuesday, we decided to party that night with Ashley, Brooke, Drew, and a few of my other friends. We had such an awesome time. I really missed hanging out with Nick. The two of us had so much fun together. I was really sad that he had to leave. I didn’t know when I would see him again because they were getting ready to go on their European tour at the beginning of June. He wouldn’t be able to come visit me in Maryland because he would be rehearsing all month and there was no way I could afford to visit him in Florida. We would just have to continue this little phone relationship of ours.
Finals were over on May 6th and the following day, I went home. I hadn’t been there since January. It was nice and relaxing to be home finally. I still talked to Nick everyday. But lately, he had seemed preoccupied. Something was on his mind and he obviously didn’t want to talk about it.
**Flashback: Day Nick got home from visiting me:**
Nick pulled up in his driveway and noticed that Mandy’s car was parked there. He walked inside and saw her sitting on his couch, extremely pissed off. When she heard him walk in, she jumped up and started yelling:
“Where the fuck have you been?” He dropped his bags and went to hug her. She pushed him away:
“I asked you a god damn quesiton! Where the fuck have you been?” Nick sighed:
“I went to visit Katelin.” Mandy’s eyes widened and her jaw hit the floor:
“You did what?!!!” Nick looked at his shoes and mumbled:
“I went to visit Katelin since I was in the area.” Mandy was really angry now:
“You went to visit that little slut?” Nick looked up, in surprise:
“Do NOT ever say that again. She is not a slut and you know it.”
“Oh really, Nick? What the hell were you guys doing that you were too preoccupied to call me and let me know that you would be late? I’ve been sitting here for three fucking days wondering where the hell you’ve been!” He stepped closer to her:
“Mandy, I’m sorry. I was just having fun and it slipped my mind.” She looked at him, her eyes filled with rage:
“It slipped your mind to call your own fucking girlfriend?! That little bitch has you wrapped around her finger and you’re letting her reel you in. What about me?” Nick was getting more pissed with every bad thing that she said:
“Mandy, Katelin is not a slut and she’s not a bitch and I would appreciate it if you would stop fucking calling her names. She is one of my best friends and I’m sick of hearing you bad mouth her. You’ve never given her a chance since the day you met her and you decided that you hate her for absolutely no reason. Where the hell do you get off anyway? She never did anything to you!” Mandy’s face softened as she stepped closer to him. Nick backed away:
“No!” She looked at him, hurt:
“What?” Nick took another step back:
“I can’t do this anymore. You’ve done nothing but pick fights with me ever since you met her and this was your last chance. I can’t take it anymore.” Mandy’s eyes filled with tears:
“What are you saying, Nick?” He glanced out the window:
“I’m saying it’s over.” Mandy started screaming as the tears fell down her cheeks:
“I CAN’T FUCKING BELIEVE YOU! YOU LET HER COME BETWEEN US! YOU LET THAT LITTLE BITCH RUN ME OUT OF YOU LIFE! FUCK YOU NICK! I NEVER WANNA SEE YOU AGAIN! I HOPE YOU AND YOUR LITTLE SLUT, KATELIN, WILL BE VERY HAPPY TOGETHER!” And with that, she grabbed her stuff and stormed out of Nick’s house.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
A few hours later, Nick walked into Brian’s house that he shared with Howie and Kevin. He was relieved when he noticed that Howie and Kevin were out and he could talk to Brian alone. Brian glanced up as Nick strolled in the living room:
“Hey Frack! What’s up? You look like shit!” Nick forced a smile:
“Thanks man. Appreciate it.” Brian’s expression changed to one of concern:
“What’s wrong, man? How’s Katie?” Nick grabbed a soda out of the fridge and collapsed onto the couch:
“I just broke up with Mandy.” Brian’s eyes widened:
“What? How? When?” Nick giggled a little bit:
“Slow down, Bri. A few hours ago. She was at my house when I got home and she started flipping out because I wasn’t home all weekend and I never called her.”
“You never told her you were going to visit Katie?” Nick shook his head:
“It kind of slipped my mind.” Brian narrowed his eyes:
“Slipped your mind to call your own girlfriend, Nick?” Nick shrugged:
“But you know what, Bri? I’m not that upset about it. I knew it was going to end eventually. Things have been falling apart ever since Kate came in the picture…” He trailed off as Brian’s face grew more and more skeptical:
“Gee, Nick. I wonder why that is.” Nick glanced up in surprise:
“What?” Brian tried to reason with his friend:
“Will you just admit it already? You’re in love with Katelin. Just admit it.” Nick jumped up:
“Fine Brian! I’m in love with her. I’m so in love with her that I can’t even think straight. I mean, you should’ve seen her this weekend. Her eyes were shining, she was smiling the whole weekend, and she was just so damn happy. I’ve never seen this side of her and I totally fell in love. I love her.” Brian sat there, not shocked with the way Nick felt but that he finally admitted it:
“I never thought I’d actually hear you say the words.” Nick sat back down again:
“Well, it doesn’t really matter because she’ll never think of me as more than a friend.” Brian patted him on the shoulder:
“She’ll come around. I’d even bet that her feelings for you aren’t that far off from yours for her. She probably just doesn’t realize it.”