From outside AJ’s door Howie heard his friends talking. It sounded like they were making plans of some sort, but he couldn’t make out details because the voices were muffled.

“What are you waiting for?” Carmen said from behind him.

Howie jumped, startled by the brunette who stood next to him, her arms crossed and eyebrow raised, expecting an answer. “I was waiting for you.” He fibbed.

Pushing him forward to the room, Carmen laughed. “Here I am, retard, so let’s go. You have a hot date to get to and I want to soak in a nice, warm bubble bath. You know you guys really work me too much.” She teased as they entered the room.

*

AJ hung up his cell phone and beamed at Brian. “She’s in.”

“Great!” Brian commented. Just as they finished talking the door burst open. Howie and Carmen tumbled into the room, both laughing.

“Hey J, I love you and all, but I need my beauty sleep. I’ll stop by tomorrow before rehearsals.” Carmen said, placing a kiss on AJ’s forehead.

“You definitely need your beauty sleep.” Brian joked. He embraced Carmen in a hug. “Love you peanut. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye Howard, have a blast with Eric. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” The slender girl said, before skipping out of the room.

Howie smirked. “That’s giving me a lot of options.”

AJ chuckled. “So, I get out of this dump tomorrow. You’re coming to get me right, D?”

Shaking his friends’ hand Howie nodded in confirmation. “Noon. Be ready.”

“Already am.” AJ spoke bitterly.

“Hey, before I go, who was that on the phone?” Howie asked.

Brian glanced at AJ. “Leighanne,” he said. "My mom." AJ said at the same time.

Brian frowned at AJ. “It was Leighanne, you know how she is, she felt the need to mother him.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, see you tomorrow.” Howie said with a wave.

“That was close.” Howie had heard AJ say to Brian.

"I wonder what they're up to." He thought as he left the hospital for his evening out.

*

The silence began to creep into the room as Maggie lay there shocked by Nick's words. "What? Why not?" She stammered.

Still resting his body over Maggie's, Nick licked his lips. "It's just not right."

Pushing Nick from off her Maggie felt confused and angry. "Fine, I'm going back to the guest room." As she spoke, she lifted herself from the bed and made her way to the door. She was intercepted by Nick wrapping his strong arms around her waist.

"Would it be wrong if I asked you to stay. I would love to have you close to me."

Shaking her head Maggie unlocked his arms from her body. "No," she stated firmly. "I will see you in the morning." Opening the door to leave, she knew she was lying to him. The truth was, come morning she would be gone, on a plane back to Los Angeles and away from the memories being in Orlando brought back.

- - - - -

A soft orange light glimmered into the room through the curtains. Maggie stretched and yawned. Rubbing her hands over her eyes she glanced over at the alarm clock. It read 5:12am. She quickly remembered the events of the day before and threw back the covers to get ready for her departure.

Fifteen minutes later she was at the front door, waiting impatiently for the cab to arrive. As the yellow car pulled into the driveway Maggie rushed outside and got inside. "Tampa Airport, please." She requested.

*

Nick watched from his bedroom window as Maggie got inside the cab, her suitcase in tow. It meant she was leaving, again. He scratched his chin and stretched. "She'll be back." He spoke as he turned to get ready for his day. But somewhere in the back of his mind he felt a nagging feeling that he was only wishing for Maggie to return. Just as he had two years ago.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The moon was full and illuminated the property outside Nick's Tampa home.

Maggie and Nick stood outside arguing about the event that had unfolded earlier that night.

"You slept with Kevin?" He asked for what felt like the hundredth time that night.

Picking up a few more cups and tossing them into a black garbage back Maggie sighed. "Are you not hearing me when I say there is NOTHING to discuss? AJ was drunk, he was talking out his ass."

Nick followed Maggie around as she collected streamers and other decorations. "How do I know that you're not the one talking out of YOUR ass?" He accused.

"Assume all you want, Nick, but it just makes an ass out of u and me." The red head spoke through gritted teeth. She was tired of the conversation and her nerves were wearing thin. "Can we drop this now?"

"No." Nick shouted. "I will not let this end until you tell me why AJ would say those things about you. There had to be some truth in them."

The words hurt and it was all it took for Maggie to retaliate. "Fuck you. Fuck you. After four years you're going to actually stand there and accuse me of cheating on you? And what makes it worse is you're going accuse your band mates too. Do you realize how shallow you sound?"

Flinching Nick stepped closer to the girl in front of him. He felt like a stranger, as he stood there, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. It was as though he did know Maggie or himself anymore. "I'm shallow? I'm not the one who slept with Kevin. Or kissed AJ."

Throwing her hands in the air Maggie stormed passed Nick and back into the house. "I give up!" she shouted. "I'm sleeping in the guest room."

Those were the last words Nick heard her say. As the early morning sun woke Nick from his sleep he heard a car pull into the driveway. He stood at the window and watched as Maggie got into the cab. Emotion took over him as he watched the love of his life leave. He didn't know it then, but it would be the last time that he would see her for two years.