Chapter 14

Two Months Later


"I can't believe what an easy sell that was," Chelsea beamed walking out of the boardroom to Leslie after she successfully sold her ad campaign to Coca-Cola for their upcoming sponsorship of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"No kidding," Leslie agreed. "I nearly died of shock."

Laughing Chelsea was stopped short outside her office when she caught sight of Nick's lawyer sitting by her desk. "Sorry Leslie," she looked at her friend, "You'll have to excuse me."

"No problem, don't forget we've got plans for lunch to finalize the details..." she smiled and headed down the hall.

Cautiously Chelsea entered her office. "Scott Soloman! What a surprise to see you here. How've you been?"

"Great Chelsea, and yourself?" the tall, broad shouldered suit asked, greeting her with a handshake. A handshake which seemed highly formal considering she and Scott had known each other for years, all the way through her troubled relationship with Nick. At one point he even made her sign a confidentiality clause just 'in case' things went awry. Scott Soloman must really get to know his clients well, because of course...things did go awry.

"Pretty good actually, business is booming," she smiled, taking a seat at her desk.

"That's wonderful," he nodded, easing back into his chair. "You deserve it."

"What brings on the pleasure of your company?" she weerily twiddled her thumbs, turning back and forth in her chair.

"It's Nick..." he confessed, causing her heart to stop.

"Is he alright?"

"Yes," Scott assured. "Oh yes. He just asked me to come by and have you sign some papers." He opened his briefcase and retrieved a legal documant, passing it across the desk to Chelsea, clicking a pen and setting it before her. "On the X's."

Reviewing the document Chelsea's jaw dropped, "This...this is for the deed of the house." Gulping she flipped through the pages, "But why?" she looked up at him, baffled.

"Nick's permantly moving to LA..."

Looking back down, "Wow," she sighed. "Uh, I don't think I can sign this. That's a multi-million dollar house."

"Nick considered selling but decided no one would appreciate it as much as you. He knows how much you love the house."

Nodding Chelsea continued to look through the papers, noting Nick's signature already engraved. "I do," she agreed. "But I can't accept it," she shook her head and pushed the papers away.

"Are you sure? Nick wants me to file that by the day's end. He's leaving this afternoon. Why not just sign them and be done with it? It's a great gesture on his part."

"Nick's leaving today?!" she stood up grabbing the contract. "I gotta catch him. Sorry Scott, this is just too much to handle through you. I'mma stop by the house. Thanks though."

Rushing out of her office Chelsea impatiently waited for the elevator, frustrated she ran down the emergency staircase and outside to her car. Putting the keys in the ignition she pressed her foot down on the accelerator and backed out of her spot. The wheels squeeled as she raced through the parking lot. Anxious she sped through traffic and merely paused at the gate entering the neighborhood. Approaching the house she saw a large moving truck parked outside with movers loading Nick's expensive furniture. "Is the owner here?" Chelsea yelled out to them from her window.

"Yea," one responded. "He's out back."

Parking her car Chelsea grabbed the contract and briskly walked around to the backyard. Nick was outside sitting on the deck stairs smoking a cigarette, vapdily staring out into space. "Hey!" she called to him. "You're moving."

"Yea," he nodded. "Today. Are those the papers?" he asked pointing to them with his Marlboro light. "Why didn't you let my lawyers take care of that?

"How can you move Nick?" she ignored his question. "You've lived here your whole life."

"No, I haven't really lived here in a long time," he exhaled. "My whole family's made the move to LA, it's time I go."

"And these?" she held up her hand, "The papers to the house?"

"Something I should've done a long time ago, when I first moved out. It's more your house then mine."

Looking down at them she breathed heavily and took a seat beside Nick. "I didn't mean for it to go this way..."

"I know...me either." The air was silent as they sat looking around at what used to be such a magical place to them both. It's strange when home is no longer home to you, and it's so hard to find one again.

"Sorry for pushing you away so hard," Chelsea apologized, fumbling the papers in her hand.

"It's just not meant for us," Nick concluded. He rose up, shaking off a few stray leaves that got stuck to his pants. "Well, my flight leaves in a couple hours," he reached in and pulled out his key ring. Removing a gold key he placed it in her hand. "The place is all yours."

She stared down at his key in the palm of her hand and folded it in the papers. "I can't take it. Even if I do love this house, it'll never feel like home to me again. Too much has changed."

"Pity," he mumbled. "But I understand. Well, you take care of yourself." Turning on his heals he walked inside, he turned at the door. "I'm heading out, but you can stay here as long as you want."

With her back to him Nick couldn't see the tear running down her cheek. Falling down her face it landed in the grass of what once was their yard. "Ok, have a safe flight."

He was gone. Faster then it could hit her that Nick and the house were over, he was gone. Off to LA. Maybe with him on the opposite coast they'd finally be able to move on. Chelsea couldn't wrap her head around the situation though. She moved out, survived without him. He's moving out. She's getting what she wanted all along and yet it felt so wrong to her. Like it's the complete opposite of what she wanted.



"Alright," Nick urged, driving down the road, "Close your eyes."

"Close my eyes?" Chelsea refuted.

"Yea," he pinched her side. "I'd cover them myself but I don't wanna get us in an accident."

"But why?" she teased, excited for Nick's surprise. He always managed to give the best surprises. "What can't I see?" she looked over at him innocently.

"Just do it!" he laughed. "We're almost there."

"Alright, alright," she obeyed. The next couple minutes were spent in blackness as Nick closed in on their unknown destination. Feeling the car slow down her stomach spun in anticipation, knowing they'd arrived.

"Ok," he sighed, walking around the car he opened her door and helped her out with his hands over her eyes. "Take a few steps over..." he ordered, "a couple more...there."

"Can you let go of my eyes yet?" she whined.

"Yea," he breathed down her neck. "On the count of three. One...two...three!" Lifting his hands, Nick revealed the gorgeous home he'd told her they lost a week before.

"Oh my God!" she squealed and jumped in his arms. "It's the house! You got the house!" Bouncing she couldn't hide her excitement. "You," Chelsea pinched his nose, "Are such a liar!"

"I know," he blushed, "But I wanted to surprise you with it. Your face..." he pointed at her accusingly, "When I said we were out bid, was priceless."

"Yea? And my face now?" she asked, modeling a grin.

"Glowing," he smiled and pulled her in for a kiss.

"Nick!" she hugged him tightly, "I'm so happy, I love this house!"

"I know you do, and I love the idea of us living in this house."

"You do? Honest, I mean if you're not ready..."

He silenced her with his finger on her lip, bending down he looked at her eye to eye, "I've never wanted anything more in my life. This house, it's gonna be our home Chels...our first home together."

"Aw," she squealed, "And it couldn't be more perfect."

"Nope," he agreed stroking her back, "It couldn't."

* * * *


'Funny how things turned out to not be so perfect,' Nick thought walking through the airport. 'Although, with such high expectations it's unrealistic for anyone to actually meet them.'

Double checking his boarding pass he walked up to the gate, "Flight 416 to LA?"

"Yes sir," the flight attendent smiled. "Are you ready to board?"

Turning around he watched the other passengers hustling to board their planes. He saw mothers and children. He saw a sea of people. None of which were Chelsea. "Uh," he fondled his ticket, "Yea, I guess I am."

"Alright," she smiled, tearing his pass and handing him back the ticket stub. "Have a great flight."

After locating his seat and fighting with his bag to stay put in the overhead compartment, Nick plopped down in his crisp leather chair and flipped on his Ipod. He couldn't think straight and welcomed the idea of losing himself in someone else's music.

"Nick Carter?!" a young lady gushed. "Wow, I'm such a huge fan of yours."

Rolling his neck, he irriatedly smiled, "Thanks. Are you sitting next to me?"

"Yes!" she sat down, "This is so great! I've always wanted to meet you and now we have a five hour flight together!"

Frightened at what five hours next to an enthralled fan would do to him Nick stood up, "I forgot something," he explained. "Be back."

Rushing down the isle he casually grabbed his bag and exited the plane, "Excuse me...sir! You can't just leave."

"Why not..."

"Because, there are security procedures."

"Oh," he shrugged his shoulders and headed towards the exit, "I passed security. I just decided that there's something I have to do."

"Sir! If you don't sit down I'm calling security..."

"That's funny. And tell them what? That I'm a disruptive passenger who refuses to go to LA so you're going to chain me down and make me? Go ahead, do what ya gotta do."

"Once you've boarded the aircraft you cannot leave until we've landed at our destination. So, again, I'm going to have to ask you to return to your seat...we're preparing for take off."

Nick took one look at her, then down towards his seat where the anxious fan was rocking back and forth with excitement. "Sorry, there's just somewhere I really have to be..." turning around he pushed through the gate and jetted back up into the terminal, ignoring the crowd of security chasing behind him.

As the security officers closed in on him, one grabbed him by the wrist and firmly stated, "Come with me sir."

* * * * *


Unrattled by her day, Chelsea immediately returned to her apartment. It seemed unfathomable, even after all Nick's bullshit, that he would ever fall completely out of reach. Never did she think he'd move away from her, especially not in such a cold manner. Maybe it was selfish, but she truly believed she could always have him, even when she didn't want him.

Flipping on the television she opted to drown her sorrows in the daily drama of General Hospital. The characters' problems far surpassing hers. Hovering over a carton of ice cream she held back tears at Carly and Sonny's latests reunion when a knock interrupted her mope fest.

Pulse racing. Hands sweeting. She looked through the peep hole to see John. "Hey," she greeted him. "I didn't know you know you knew where I lived?"

"I didn't, I stopped by your office and Leslie said you'd left. She gave me directions. By the way, you should call her. She's kind of worried that you didn't show for lunch."

"Oh," Chelsea gulped. "Yea, we were supposed to go over this new campaign." Rubbing her temple she felt bad that she'd skipped out on her meeting. "I completely forgot."

"Is everything alright?" John asked, legitimately concerned by her bewilderment. Chelsea was never the type to forget something work related.

"Yea," she answered, not believing herself. "I just received some news. Nick's leaving town and I had some legal stuff to take care of with him."

"Legal stuff?"

"Uh huh, don't worry about it. Doesn't matter."

"So," he smiled, "I leave in a couple days. Last chance to come with me."

The thought of going on his tour didn't tempt her, but at the same time, the idea of getting away was appealing. Cocking her head back and forth Chelsea played with the idea of leaving everything behind and running off with John, it could ultimately be the best thing for her right now. "You know what?" she started, "Once I get things going with this campaign I'd probably be able to. It'd be nice to have a change of scenary."

"Really?!" he exclaimed. "Wow, I was fully expecting to be shot down."

"Yea," she turned her head, "It kinda surprises me too..."

"So, I'll have a copy of my itenerary faxed over and as soon as you figure out when you can go, we'll meet up."

Folding her hands, she mentally ran through her schedule over the next few weeks. "I can probably make it by the 17th."

"The 17th," he nodded. "It's a date. And Chelsea, I promise you a great time. You won't regret it."

The sound of any promise always made her skeptical, but there was something about John's promise from his mouth that she somehow believed. Of course there was a point when she believed all of Nick's, and those certainly didn't pan out. Yet she trusted that this was the right thing to be doing, even though it terrified her. After all, sometimes the best decision isn't the easiest. And that's something she knew oh so well.

Suddenly she heard her cell phone ringing from across the room, "Excuse me," she smiled, rushing to answer it. The call was coming from a private number and she hesitated answering but figured it could possibly give her an excuse to get rid of John. She had spotted the ice cream melting all over the couch and didn't want to admit to the fact that prior to his appearance at the front door she was in the middle of a full fledge girly break down. "Hello?"

"Chelsea? Thank god you answered," Nick's voiced breathed through the receiver.

"Nick?" she asked, astonished that he'd be calling her from the airplane. "Why are you calling me from the plane?"

"I'm not calling you from the plane, I'm calling you from the airport."

"Oh," she nodded. "Did your cell phone die? Your name didn't show up on Caller ID. Why you calling from the airport anyway?"

"Because I need you to pick me up, otherwise the cops are going to hold me over night..."

She held the phone out from her ear and sorta shook it, "Sorry, say that again. I thought you just said the cops."

"That's cause I did."

"What?! You got arrested?!" "Chels! Would you just come down here! They're making me get off the phone. I'm at the airport in security. Check with the front desk and they'll help you."

"But..."

"I gotta go! Just hurry!"

Soon there was dead silence coming from his end, he'd hung up. "Wow," Chelsea gawked, closing her phone and returning it to her purse. "I guess I gotta go."

"Nick's in jail?" John inquired.

"I dunno, he just said to hurry. You can wait here if you want," she offered, trying sincerely not to shut him out.

"No," he shook his head. "Want me to go with you?"

Stunned by his offer to come with her to the airport, Chelsea wasn't sure how to answer. There was no way he'd be of any help to anyone, most especially not to Nick. Yet at the same time she wasn't sure why she cared so much about making this easy on Nick when he was obviously only calling her as a last resort to jail. He didn't want to be around her, he'd made that point clear earlier that morning at the house when he very coldly left her alone, on the deck. "Well," she walked out into the hall shutting the door behind them. "I guess you can come."

"Alright then," he took her hand, leading her outside to the parking lot. "I'll drive."

Chapter 15
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