A couple of days had gone and Nikki hadn't spoken to anyone since she ran off at the beach. She was still in bed when she heard the doorbell rang. Slowly she got up and answered the door. There stood Amanda with a look of worry on her face.

"Oh my god have you been home all this time?" she said as she shoved herself into the door.

"Yeah. . .why?" Nikki asked as she yawned.

"Do you have any idea how worried everyone was? Why didn't you return my phone calls?"

"Amanda I just needed some time to think. I'm okay really."

"I can't believe you wouldn't just call me up and tell me you were okay. That's all I needed to know! Nikki I'm your best friend, how could you scare me like that?"

"I'm sorry!" Nikki said on the verge of tears.

Amanda sighed and looked at Nikki. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell. I was just scared since you didn't tell me where you were and how you were doing. You've worried poor Howie to death."

"Howie was worried?" Nikki said as she wiped her tears.

"Yes, he's been trying to call you for two days and the phone has been off the hook. He said he even stopped by a few times and no one answered. Nikki, he's worried about you. You're his friend and he cares about you."

"Yeah, a friend is all I'll ever be," Nikki mumbled.

"What did you say?" Amanda shot her a look.

"You heard me."

"You think Howie only likes you as a friend? Girl you are so wrong!"

Nikki looked at Amanda in shock. "What?"

Amanda grabbed Nikki's hand and led her to the couch and sat down next to her. "I really shouldn't be telling you this, but since he won't do it himself I'm gonna have to do it."

"I'm not sure I'm following you."

"Nikki, Howie has a crush on you. He has for a long time. He's tried to tell you over and over, but he's never had the guts to do it. I know you like him too so maybe you can hint to him that you feel the same way he'd get the courage up to ask you out."

"You mean to tell me that I've been worrying about him liking me and he's been worrying about me liking him? And all this time we've been worrying, we could have been together?" Amanda nodded. "Oh god what am I gonna do?"

"Just call Howie and tell him to come over. I think you guys need to tell each other how you feel. He leaves in three days you need to tell him before he goes on tour." Nikki nodded in agreement. "Okay I'll tell him tonight."

"Good," Amanda said as she stood up. "I gotta go. AJ and I are planning on spending some time with each other before he leaves. I'll talk to you later. Let me know what happens with Howie."

"Okay," Nikki said then Amanda left. She pondered for a second what to say to Howie when she calls him then slowly picked up the phone. "Howie?" she said after he picked up.

"Nikki! Are you okay? I've been trying to get ahold of your for days."

"I know. I'm sorry, but I'm okay." Nikki sighed and bit her lip in anxiety. "Howie can you come over? I think we need to talk."

"Yeah sure I'll be right over."

"Okay I'll see you then," she said then hung up. "This better work," she said to herself then waited for Howie.