**Nick**
She cut me! She fucking cut me! God, it hurts like hell! "Kayci, what'd you do that for?"
"Oh Nick, I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you!" She hit me on my arm. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Sneaking up on me at this hour when I'm all alone. Did you expect you at least wouldn't get kicked?"
"Kayci...God this hurts!"
"Jeez, I'm sorry." She rushed me over to the sink and ran my hand under cold water. "Wait here. I'll get you a band aid." She walked away and came back in a minute. "Here sit down." She turned off the faucet and sat me down on the stool next to the counter. She grabbed a towel and gently blotted my hand. She opened a bottle of alcohol and dumped some onto a napkin. Oh, no way. "This may sting." She pressed it to my hand.
"Okay, ow!"
"Sorry. I'm trying to be gentle." I know you are, Kayci. You always are. She stopped and gently place a band aid over my cut.
"Thanks."
"I guess it's the least that I can do."
I smiled at her. "Thanks just the same."
"Do you want something to eat, or are you still not eating?"
"No, I'm not hungry." She eyed me. "Truthfully, Kayci, I'm really not."
She smiled. "Okay. I believe you."
"Good. I'm never going to lie to you again. I just had to before."
"It's okay. I understand your circumstances."
"Yes but that gave me no right to lie to you like that. I'm sorry." She leaned over and hugged me. I wrapped my arms tightly around her, I didn't want to ever let her go. We just stayed there in each other's arms for a minute.
She pulled away, looked at the ground and then looked back at me. "Well, I'm going to go to bed now. You can stay if you'd like."
"No, I'm gonna take off."
"Good night."
"Good night."
**Kayci**
I slowly walked into my room and fell down onto my bed. I really didn't want Nick to leave, but I guess that he had to. I needed a night alone. I feel really badly about slicing his hand open but he shouldn't have scared me like that! It felt normal to take care of him again. God, I missed him. I missed kissing him like there was no tomorrow. I missed falling asleep with his arms around me. I missed waking up next to him.
I sighed and stood up. I couldn't sleep. I walked out into the living room and turned on my computer. I signed on the internet and was surprised to see the Jessica was online. I sent her a message telling her to call me. Within a minute, my phone rang.
"Hi," she said.
"Hey. Have you ever heard Brian swear before?"
"Once. When Nick did something stupid."
"Yeah, well he called me everything in the book."
"That's not good. Fill me in."
"I made him and Nick leave but I did talk to them." I paused. "So now what? Ye 'ol wise one?"
"Hold on a second, I'm going to get Nick and Brian." I waited. My heart pounded harder each second. "Okay," Jess continued. "They say hi...well Nick does. Not Mr. Grumpy." She paused. "Let me rephrase...Nick says hi, Brian doesn't."
"Oh. Hi guys."
"Nick says hi, Brian says fuck off." I closed my eyes. Just then, I could hear Brian in the background and all of a sudden he was on the other end of the phone.
"Hi Kayci," he said coldly.
"Please, Brian. I'm so sorry. Just admit that you don't love me."
"Wouldn't you like that to be the case."
"You didn't act like it."
"Whatever."
"You didn't. Please...Brian-"
"Yeah, and you did?" Well, I guess that I didn't act like I loved him. Probably because, I didn't.
"Why were you so anxious to marry me, Brian? Even Nick waited longer." I waited for an answer. "Well?"
His voice softened. "Kayci, I could see this coming. The longer that we took, the more time you would have to think things through...and then you would realize that you still love Nick and I can't take the risk of losing you."
"Brian, I am so sorry. I thought I could forget about Nick...I wanted to."
"I am not your way out. It is better this way."
"Yes it is. I suppose."
"I don't want to be a way out."
"I understand that Brian. I'm sorry. I panicked."
"Yeah..." His voice trailed off and I assumed that he had given the phone back to Jess.
"So Jess, now what do I do with Nick?"
"Whatever you want to." Oh my God. It was Nick. My heart started racing and my palms started sweating.
"Nick, do you really want to get back together again? Like serious?"
"Only if you are ready. I will wait for you...but I am all for it."
"I'm so sorry for what I did to you." I felt like crying again. I heard him start to laugh. "What?"
"I think it's time to do a little forgiving." What? This shocked me a little bit.
"You can forgive me? Nick, I left you at a crucial time because I couldn't handle it!"
"Kayci, I can't handle it either. I don't blame you. How can I anyway? I have done the same thing to you."
"I'm just sorry for being so selfish."
"I am the one who should be sorry."
"No, Nick. No way!"
"We are equal."
"Thank you, Nick." I paused. "But if we get back together, you have to do something for me."
"What? Anything?"
"You have to promise me, on our relationship, that you will try your hardest to get over this and you will not lie to me anymore."
"I promise. Kayci, I promise you that." He paused. "Do you still want to get married? All the plans are made...well, most of them anyway."
"We'll see. Okay Nick?"
"I can handle that. Hey!"
"Kayci, it's Jess."
"Did you steal the phone away from Nick?" I laughed.
"Yeah. He was getting that glazed over, lovey dovey look on his face. And A.J. and I are going out."
"Thank you, Jess."
"Anytime. I got to go."
"Send Nick over please."
"Okay. Bye."
"Later." I hung up the phone, turned off my computer and sat down on the couch. Oh God, did I just tell her to send Nick over? I don't know if I'm ready to see him yet...I don't know if-
"Hi Kayci."
**Nick**
I walked over to her and sat down on the couch next to her. She turned to me.
"How can you forgive me Nick?"
"Easily. I put you through so much. When you fainted that one night, I was so incredibly scared and I realized that that was what I had put you through for so long. I'm so sorry for what I've put you through. I never realized but I can't stop. I can't stop not being able to...you know."
"Yes I know, but Nick..." She stopped and took my hands in hers. "I promise you that I will get you through this. I swear to you Nick, I swear to God, I will get you through this."
"I know you will, Kayci." My voice was becoming shaky and I was afraid to speak. I could see tears welling up in her eyes. I eased her into my arms and she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck. I could hear her sobs getting louder and louder and I could feel her tears slip down my shirt.
"I'm so...s-sorry Nick. I-I-"
"I know, Kayci. Never apologize again." I pulled back and looked into her teary, blue eyes. "I mean that." I wiped her tears off of her face and slowly leaned in to press my lips to hers. I felt her tongue push through my teeth and I willingly swayed my tongue with hers.
She pulled away. "Nick, I just need to be alone, okay?"
"Yeah. You've been through a lot."
"We've all been through a lot."
I gave her one more quick kiss and then walked out of the house. I wanted to stay with her so badly. I really didn't want to leave her but she needed space. The love slice on my hand started throbbing as I walked back to my house. I stopped. What was I doing? I couldn't just walk away! That's exactly what I hated about myself. I hated that I was always walking away when she told me to. I never stand up for what I want and I want her. I turned around and, with determination, I headed back to her house.
**Kayci**
I walked into my silent room. I stood there and listened to myself breathe. It was too quiet without Nick. I missed him and I wished that he hadn't left. I walked over to my bed and I was about to get in when I heard a noise. I stared at the back wall and listened. I heard breath that wasn't my own. My heart started pounding faster and faster as I slowly turned around. I let out a heavy sigh seeing who it was. "Jeez, you scared me! Again!"
"I'm sorry, Honey."
"You're lucky I don't have a knife in my hands!"
"Yeah. I guess so."
Nick and I stood there in silence for a minute until I spoke up. "What are you doing here? Did you drop something?"
"No, I'm not like Brian." He laughed and then got very serious. "I couldn't stay away from you."
"Nick, I just really need to be alone tonight."
"No, what you need is me."
Probably, well, okay...yes! "What makes you think that?"
"Because I need you. I love you."
"But what I've done to you...I need time to punish myself."
"Don't. Please don't punish yourself." He walked up to me.
**Nick**
I grabbed her in my arms. How could she punish herself? "Please, you would be punishing me, too. Remember? We are the same person. I'm not leaving you."
"I just need time."
"I understand that." I looked at her. "Kayci, I love you. You could stab me and that wouldn't change. Oh wait, you did stab me! I still can't believe you did that!" I laughed.
"I can't believe that you would sneak up on me at one in the morning!" She laughed.
"Sorry." I quickly gave her a tight hug. "I think what you need is a good night sleep."
"I think that I am inclined to agree with you."
I walked her over to her bed and turned down the sheets for her. She climbed in and I tucked the covers up close to her. "I'm gonna leave if you need tonight alone." I leaned down and kissed her forehead and I got up to leave but she grabbed my arm.
"No. Can I...change my mind?"
I smiled. "Of course." I slowly walked over to the other side of the bed, my side of the bed, making sure she had enough time to change her mind. I always slept on her right side, that's just the way it had always been. I slowly climbed under the covers and looked at her for conformation. She turned off the light and then turned back to me.
"Nick, I'm so sorry."
I couldn't really see her but when she laid her head down on my chest, I felt her cold tears. I wrapped my arms around her and tried to help her fall asleep.
**Brian**
It felt so weird not to have Kayci next to me. I was really glad that Nick made sure that everything was still cool with us. I had hoped he wasn't mad at me, after all, I did steal his finaceé. I wonder if they're together right now.
I rolled over on the couch and turned on the TV. I muted it so I wouldn't wake up Jess and A.J. I was tired but I couldn't stop thinking about how much I really do love her. But I know that no matter how much I think I love her, Nick will always be right there and love her more. I would accept that in time, but it would take time. I was just so deeply in love with her. Nick was right. They are soulmates. They belong together. God, it's just the thought that I had her so close and I lost her.
Nevertheless, I am really happy for Nick. He needs a great, stable woman in his life who he trusts and can open up to. I rolled back over, pounded my pillows and tried to fall asleep.
**Nick**
"Nick!" she screamed. She gasped with each time I went deeper. This was just so natural for us. All I ever wanted was her, all I'll ever need is her.
"Oh, Kayci!"
"Nick!"
**Kayci**
I brushed Nick's hair out of his face as he hovered over me. He leaned down and kissed me softly. I looked into his eyes. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled his body down to me. He buried his face in my neck. "Relax," I said softly.
"I don't wanna squish you."
"Trust me, you won't." I felt him completely relax and the total weight of his body on mine. He really wasn't all that heavy. I wrapped my arms tighter around him and we just laid there for a couple minutes.
"Kayci?" he said into my ear.
"Yeah?"
"Will you marry me? Again?"
My heart jumped. "Yes! Nick, definitely!" He sat up and smiled. He reached into the nightstand and pulled out the same ring box. He slipped out of the bed and kneeled down next to me on the floor. He took the ring out and took my left hand.
**Nick**
I took her ring and waved it in front of her face and she followed it, intently, with her eyes. I picked up her left hand and slipped it onto her finger. She looked at me and smiled. "I love you."
"I love you, too. I always have. I always will." She leaned down and kissed me hard. She said yes! Again! She grabbed my hair and pulled me back into bed. I wanted to make this night more memorable than the others but of course, I'm sure that nothing will be better than our wedding night. I smiled as I kissed her. I looked down at her, and she was smiling back.