The sky was as dark as coal except for the bright full moon and scattering of sparkling stars. The air was still humid from the hot summers day which had just past. On my bare feet I could feel the sun-dried grass and prickles of thorns. Only, I hardly felt them prick. The pain was nothing compared to what I felt inside.

He had cheated on me. Betrayed me. I couldn't believe it. Only twenty-four hours ago we had been together, happily in love and blind to everything else but each other. I had been happier than ever before. But it was too late now to change things back to the way they had been.

It had started when I took a walk on the beach late that afternoon. A huge lover of the ocean, I was hoping to find a quiet, beautiful spot to sketch as the sun set. I found the perfect spot, kicked off my shoes and sat on the white sand with my pencils as I took out my sketch pad and started to draw. The sunset's reflection into the shimmering deep blue water looked so amazing. It was like a setting to a romance movie. I stayed there for hours, until it was dark the sun had set. But I didn't feel like going home yet. I would stay for a little longer to admire the ocean at night.

I was used to seeing happy couples take a romantic stroll along the beach that time of day so it came as no surprise when far off at the other end of the beach I saw two figures slowly walking in my direction. As they got closer I noticed they were hand-in-hand. But it was too dark to see their features so I didn't recognise them.

As the couple began to kiss, their arms wrapped around each other, I smiled to myself. It reminded me of how my boyfriend kissed me. The memories of the previous night when we had last kissed popped into my head and my heart fluttered. I felt almost like my boyfriend was thinking about me that very moment.

I shuffled back a little and blended myself into the background, the large wooden post of the lifeguard stand shielding me from the lover's view. If they noticed me they might get embarrassed so I didn't want to ruin their evening. I dreamily ran grains of sand through my fingers and watched as small piles of sand built up into mounds. Still thinking about my boyfriend, I shaped the mounds of sand into a big heart.

When I looked up, under the light of the moon I saw the guy and girl had stopped making out and were carrying on their moonlit walk along the beach. They were very near me now yet I still couldn't see their faces clearly. I was curious of who they were, maybe they went to the same collage as me. Maybe one of them studied art in the same class as me.

I wished the couple was me and my boyfriend. I missed him so much, yet I had only last seen him that afternoon when I had met him for lunch and we'd discussed our plans for the day. I had been a little sad when he had told me that he was planning on going to a football game with his friends that night but I told him it was OK and that I'd stay at home and work on an art project instead. But at the last minute I had changed my mind I had decided to go to the ocean, only five minutes walk from my house, to do some sketching. I could imagine him at that very moment, shouting for his team at the stadium. I almost wished I had gone along to surprise him there, even though I didn't like football very much.

The couple came to a stop just meters in front of me. The girl whispered something into his ear and he lent forwards. Another kiss. I felt really awkward there, as they had no idea that I was present and might get mad at me when they saw me. I played with a strand of my sun-blonded hair and looked down at the sand. I was kinda embarrassed. I tried to concentrate on thinking of my boyfriend instead.

When I looked up, the couple had stopped their embrace. The girl spoke again, this time more loudly.

"So, where now? What do you say if we go downtown to catch a movie?".

Her voice was familiar, I think she went to my collage, yet she wasn't a close friend.

"No, babe. Let's stay here. You know we can't go public yet cos of... her,".

"Oh can't you jut chuck that boring thing! Honestly, what do you see in her? She's such a nerd! I thought you had better taste, Scott,".

My heart fluttered at that name and I smiled to myself.

"You know why, cos my mother wanted me to get a nice, sensible girlfriend so seeing her for a few weeks would please the old lady then she would buy me my own car!".

My teeth began to chatter yet it wasn't even cold. I felt an odd, almost spooky chill around me. My head began to spin. That voice... it couldn't be. No, that wouldn't be possible...

"Well you better chuck the Ocean Freak soon, or I'll dump her for you!".

No. I couldn't have heard that right... could I? I didn't know anyone else that got called Ocean Freak but myself. They were talking about me. That girl had been making out with my boyfriend.

Hot tears came to my eyes and I felt a sick taste in my mouth. Why? Why did this have to happen to me? I had been a nerd all my life and boys had never given me a second look. I had been bullied for being into schoolwork and wearing clothes I liked rather than what the fashion magazines dictated. I thought when Scott asked me out that those days were over. He was one of the coolest guys in town. But he'd been using me...

I jumped up and grabbed my bag, then sprinted along the beach. I heard exclamations of the couple as I ran but I didn't look back. I never wanted to see that loser again.

So there it is, the story of how I got my heart broken. Trying to wipe the smears of mascara from my cheeks I walked barefoot along the grassy bank that neared my house. It was late and I guess that my parents and older brother would be asleep by now. I had taken the long way home so I could dry my tears. If anyone was still up at home I didn't want them seeing me in that state.

Worn out from continuous walking, I took a quick break and sat on the grass. Nobody was about, it was just me, alone, the ocean crashing on one side and a row of houses a little way off on the other side. I opened my bag up and rummaged around. I had my personal CD player in there and I felt like listening to my favourite song before I carried on home.

I took out a handful of CD cases and held them up to the moonlight to see which was which. I found Millennium and took the CD from its case and placed it in the CD player.

Putting the earphones into my ears I shut off the lonely sound of the quiet night. I skipped through to track five and pressed the play button.

Hearing Nick's soothing voice made me smile for the first time in hours. He always made me smile. I usually sang along to that song but that night I didn't, I just sat and listened to Nick as he sang his heart out.

A tear ran down my face. The song was so romantic and I knew Nick meant what he was singing. He gave me the impression of being a genuine, wonderful person. I had been a big, no, huge, fan of his for a couple of years yet I had never met him. I wanted to. We were a similar age and we seemed to have a lot in common. I knew he would make a wonderful boyfriend. He was everything I could ever wish for...

Wish. Hmmm, there were a lot of stars out that night, I might as well give it a try.

As the song came to a close, I looked up at the brightest star in the sky and whispered, "I wish for Nick,".

"Don't don't want you back!".

The opening words to the next track almost startled me! I smiled again and stood up, putting the CD player in my pocket so I could walk and listen. This song was about me and... if I could spit his name out... Scott. Yuck, I wanted to forget about him!

I couldn't agree more with the song. It summed up how I felt about the loser who had two timed me. I was almost glad of what had happened, as at least it was over now. I hated to think of what could have happened if I hadn't have seen what I had on the beach that night. His girlfriend might had publicly dumped me for Scott in front of the whole collage so at least I found out myself.

I approached my house and let myself in. All the lights downstairs were off so I quietly crept upstairs to my room.

I undressed and climbed into bed, feeling sad still. I still couldn't get my head around the whole thing. I just wanted to get to sleep really.

I glanced up at my favourite Nick poster and smiled at him. "Night, darling," I said with a little smile as I flicked the switch of my lamp.

"Hey Frack! Get your ass over here fast!".

"OK, OK! I'm coming Brian,". I was sooo tired and I just wanted to sleep. But I couldn't, as we were in rehearsals, practising for the show the next evening.

"I don't wanna do this," I muttered under my breath. I'd had enough. Of everything.

"What's up with you, man? You've had the long face for days!".

"Sorry Brian," I said, managing a weak smile for my friend and band mate. "You know about what happened and I'm just not over it yet,". I looked down sadly. "I don't feel like rehearsing right now, do you think I should say I'm sick and skip it.".

Brian shook his head. "Nick, you've gotta get over her sometime. Look on the bright side, you're well rid of that user now!".

I nodded unsurely. "I guess...". But I was so unhappy. I was sick of constantly being away from home. Sick of waking up not knowing where in the world I was. Sick of being looked at as just a pretty face, not as a real person. I wanted to throw it all in and be a normal collage guy. But that was impossible, with me being so famous. I could never have a normal life again.

"Nick, you don't look well. You look ill. I think you better go get a drink and have a rest. I'll tell everybody where you are. Try and come and join us later,".

"Thanks Bri. That's so nice of you. OK, I'll try come down later,". I waved and went back to my hotel room.

I closed the door behind me and collapsed onto the bed. I shut my eyes but after laying for a few minutes I realized I wouldn't be able to sleep just yet.

I sat up and reached over to the bedside table to grab a can of Coke. As a gulped some down I flicked on the TV.

"You ruined my life! You completely wrecked my chances...".

Uh-oh, the guest on that talk show was way angry! I watched for a few minutes as two women on screen shouted and screamed at each other. I flicked over. Too depressing.

I watched a few songs on MTV then a show came on about boybands. I thought I'd watch it as I guessed the BSB would get a mention. I was right. I saw myself come on the screen, dressed as a robot for the Larger Than Life video. It had been really cool to film and I'd enjoyed it yet I still didn't manage a smile. I was too depressed.

I had to reach for the remote control and turn the volume down when some fans came on, screaming their lungs out. They were going crazy for us and some had my name written over their faces. I felt so sad to think that those girls would do anything to date me and I was there alone with no girlfriend. I didn't want to just go pick a fan and date her for the sake of having a girlfriend, it wasn't the same. I wanted to find the right one for me. Someone who loved me for what I really was rather than the star they saw on TV. If only I was a normal guy... no, I could never be normal again, fame had ruined my life.

I got sick of the MTV show so I switched off. The room felt hot and stuffy so I decided on a little walk. If I went somewhere quiet I wouldn't run into any fans.

I found myself down a quiet backstreet five minutes later. I was quite hungry so I stepped inside a little old cafe place and waited at the counter. It was empty except for the shopkeeper who I could see in the kitchen.

As I waited for him to come in and serve me, I looked at my dim reflection in the grimy glass of the counter. I looked a mess. My clothes were crumpled from laying down on the bed. My socks didn't match. My hair was hanging in a long tangled mess. It was almost like I wasn't taking care of myself any more.

"What would you like, young man?" the shopkeeper said, interrupting my thoughts. He stood behind the counter, wearing an apron and holding something I couldn't make out in his hand.

"Oh, a bag of potato chips, please," I asked. The guy didn't seem to recognised me so I relaxed.

I chose my flavour then got a dollar bill from my pocket. "There you go," I said handing it to him. "Keep the change,".

The guy gave me a big smile and thanked me. "You're very kind," he said. "Maybe you'll pull this with me. He held up what was in his hand. It was the wish bone from a turkey. I remembered that if you snapped it and your half was the bigger you could have a wish. Well to get out of my depressing life I needed all my wishes granted! "I was cutting up a cold turkey to make some turkey sandwiches and I thought I'd have to throw away the bone as I had no-one here to pull it with me. But you look kinda down. I think you need a wish!".

I nodded. "I sure do!". He held it out and I linked my finger around the bone.

I pulled hard and I heard it snap. I had the bigger half! I knew exactly what my wish was. I wished to be a normal guy. But I needed a complete miracle for that to happen.

I thanked the shopkeeper and left the shop. I wasn't so tired now that I'd gotten some fresh air. Maybe I'd go join the guys back in rehearsals. Not that I wanted to... I was sick of it all.

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