"Do I look alright?" I asked, glancing at myself in the mirror.

"You look fine," Sophia smiled, giving me two thumbs up.  I looked like shit.

"No, I don't look fine, Sophia.  My hair is a major problem."  I continued adding gel to my hair, desperately trying to make it look halfway decent.

"What do you care whether you look good or not?" she replied, raising a suspicious eyebrow.

"Excuse me for wanting to look good.  I didn't think that was a crime."

"Whatever."  She flashed me an amused grin as she headed downstairs.

"At least I didn't get DUMPED before the first date!" I shouted down to her, trying my hardest to make her mad.

"That's it," she snapped.  I heard her footsteps coming up the stairs.  "You are such a fucking bitch," she said,  giving me her best glare.

"First of all, Brian didn't dump me... he just had to cancel.  For your information, we're going out tomorrow night," she continued.  "And at least I don't have the hots for a suicidal freak."

"Are you trying to say that you think I'm a suicidal freak as well?" I inquired.  I felt my face getting red, as I tried to hold back my fists. 

"If the shoe fits," she smiled sweetly, turning on her heels.  As if I was gonna let her get away with that.

"Come here, bitch!" I screamed, pushing her from behind. 

"Aw, shit, no you didn't."  She got up, lunging at me full-force and knocking me to the ground. 

"Ow, my ass," I mumbled, slowly getting up to defend myself.  I took a bunch of her hair into my hand and proceeded to pull on it as hard as I could. 

"Oh my God, let go of my hair!" she yelped, smacking me across the face in her effort to free her hair.  I pulled even harder, causing her to cry out in pain. 

"Colleen, please," she whimpered. 

"Ugh, fine."  I loosened my grip on her hair, hearing her sigh with relief.

With that, she grabbed me by the arm, throwing me violently against the wall.  It seemed as though I bounced off the wall, as I lunged at her once again.  I shoved my fist angrily into her face, causing her to stumble backwards.  Obviously this didn't affect her for too long because she returned the punch. 

"Holy shit, that hurt," I cried, stumbling into the bathroom and locking the door behind me. 

Sophia's View

"Oh Lord, honey, I'm so sorry.  Let me take a look at it," I said sympathetically.

"Go to hell, bitch," was the response I got. 

I was about to insist I go get her some ice, when the doorbell rang. 

I quickly ran to the door, swinging it open to find Nick standing there.  I gotta admit, the guy is adorable.

"Jeez, are you ok?" he asked, a concerned expression on his face.

"What do you mean?" I replied, smiling.

"Well, for one thing, the right side of your face is all purple.  And your lip is bleeding."

"My... face... is... purple?!" I shrieked, running over to the nearest mirror.  Nick was right. 

"Holy crap, holy crap, oh my God."

"Are you alright?  You better get some ice on that thing before it swells.  How'd that happen?"

"Why don't you ask Colleen?  She's in the bathroom."  I muttered.  My face, my poor face.  What was I supposed to tell Brian now?  'Me and my friend had a silly fight, and we kinda beat each other up.'  Yeah, that sounds normal.

Nick's View

"Colleen? You in there?"

"Come in," she responded.

I was greeted with Colleen sitting on the bathroom counter, holding a wet towel to her face. 

"What happened?"

"Sophia and I had a fight," she mumbled, removing the towel and exposing a bruised cheek. 

"Look on the bright side - Sophia's cheek turned purple."  I laughed at my little joke.  She didn't.

"I really do need therapy," she blurted out.  I wasn't sure if she was talking to me, or herself.

"Hey, it happens.  People fight."

"Guys fight like this.  Normal girls don't."

"Ok, you got me there.  I guess we're going to the right place then, huh?" I grinned, hoping she'd find this little joke funny.  She didn't.

"Col, what's the big deal?  You can't really see the bruise.  You can make up some story to tell everyone.  I can keep a secret."

"That's not what I'm worried about, Nick."

"Then what is it?" I sat myself down next to her, grabbing the towel and holding it on her cheek.

"I'm completely humiliated.  I don't want you to think I'm some psycho."

"Believe me, I don't think you're a psycho.  I've been in the music business for many years now, and I've seen a lot of crazy people.  You aren't one of them."  I removed the towel from her cheek, running my hand over it as if to make the pain go away. 

"Magic hands, Carter," she laughed.

"Oh yeah, you better believe it."  I pressed my lips to her cheek.  "There, all better.  Be downstairs in 5 minutes or I'm gonna get Sophia to come up here and drag you down."  I hopped off the counter leaving her to do whatever girls do to get ready.

"How does she look?" Sophia asked, once I sat myself down on the couch.

"Her cheek is bruised, but it's not so bad.  Yours is much worse."

"Just my luck.  I have a date with Brian tomorrow, and I look like such shit.  Typical," she nodded, running her hands over her cheek, which had now turned a deep shade of pink. 

"I wouldn't worry about it, dear," I said reassuringly.  "Brian isn't all that into looks.  He's more into personality."

"That's good for me in this situation then I guess.  And what about you?" she questioned.

"What about me?"

"Do you go for looks or personality?"

"It's a mixture of both, I suppose.  I don't see myself dating an ugly girl.  Actually, I don't see myself dating a girl.  I mean -"

"You're gay?" she giggled, interrupting me.

"No!  You misunderstood.  I don't see myself dating a girl at this point in my life because I'm too busy being a Backstreet Boy and stuff.  A relationship would only add stress, ya know?"

"I getcha."

"Yeah.  Man, how long does it take a girl to get ready for therapy?" I asked, after we'd sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Apparently a long time.  So... speaking of Colleen..."

"We weren't really speaking of her, Sophia."

"Right.  Well, now we are.  What do you think of her?" 

"As what?  A girl?"

"No, genius, as a guy," she mumbled sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, of course, uh - she's a great friend.  She really saved my life that night."

"You saved hers too.  You think she's pretty?"

"Whoa, slow down.  Why are you asking me that?"

"I'm making conversation."

"Alright, then.  Yeah, I think she's pretty."  I shifted uncomfortably, clasping and unclasping my hands nervously. 

"Why are you getting all worked up?"

"I don't like when people ask me those kinda questions."

"Whatever, man," she murmured, disappearing into the kitchen.

"Damn that was weird," I mumbled under my breath. 

Colleen's View

I checked myself over in the mirror, wondering why God had to 'bless' me with such ugliness.  Even make-up could not work its magic on me.  I was a lost cause.  I'd heard what sounded like a conversation between Nick and Sophia, but it had ended a few minutes ago.  I didn't bother to eavesdrop, though.  I just hope she didn't embarrass me.  I'm so attracted to him, and Sophia knows that.  Being that she's mad at me, this would be the perfect opportunity for her to say something. 

I slowly made my way down the stairs, stopping midway to look at Nick.  He was sitting a few feet away from me, but it was like his mind was in some other place.  He glanced forlornly out the window, his blue eyes glazed over. 

"Nick - you ok?" I asked, scrunching up my eyebrows.

He closed his eyes for a second, then opened them up and turned to me.  "Yeah, I'm good," he nodded.

"Well kids, have fun.  Don't do anything wild and crazy," Sophia said, entering the room.  She shot a quick smile my way, but I wasn't quite sure whether it was sincere or not. 

"Yeah... fun..." Nick replied, absentmindedly.

We walked to his car in silence.  I wasn't sure whether to ask him if he was alright.  I didn't buy the 'yeah I'm fine' thing he had given me.  Maybe he'd say something once we got to the place.