Chapter Four
I trudged into the apartment that morning feeling like total and complete shit. I felt like a whore. I felt used and angry and dirty. It's not that I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I slept with him, but there was that sliver of childish hope that maybe Nick would be different from the rest of them. But I was wrong. It seemed like all I did lately was make wrong decisions.
I spotted Meredith and when she saw me she jumped up and ran over to me. Her eyes wide and a smile planted on her cherry lips.
"OH MY GOD!"she squealed. "Sooo, tell me! I need details!"
"I don't want to talk about it Meredith,"I groaned, directing myself to the kitchen and away from her badgering.
"You've got to be kidding me! You come waltzing in here at 10 am from spending the night with a Backstreet Boy and you don't want to talk about it??? Well I don't give a damn, spill it,"she persisted, following me into the kitchen. "Who was it?? The suspense is killing me here Angela."
"Nick,"I said softly, not meeting her awaiting gaze.
She broke out into a grin,"Nuh uh! He's so hot! What else? You banged him right?"
I glared at her,"It's a long, tiring story."
"I bet it is,"she smirked, leaning against the counter.
"Meredith, I'm serious. I don't want to talk about it,"I barked, giving her a warning look. I was definitely not in the mood to relive my wonderful, perfect night with him.
"Are you ok Ang?"she asked staring at my face hard. I turned away. Meredith could read me like a book. She placed a gentle hand on my arm. "You can talk to me, you know that."
"God it was so perfect Merrie,"I breathed, closing my eyes for a brief second. I saw her give me a slight smile.
"Why are you upset, what happened?"she asked softly.
I looked down,"It was just a one night stand. I wanted more. I don't know, it just felt so right with him. I felt like he was the one I've been waiting for my whole life. Everything felt so perfect. I've never felt that way before Mere. Never. He was perfect." Tears welled in my eyes and felt silly crying but I couldn't stop.
She gave me a sympathetic look and pulled me in for a hug,"It'll be ok sweets. If it was meant to work out it will. What did he say?"
I pulled away and wiped my eyes,"He said he'd call." I laughed lightly through my tears.
Meredith laughed with me and gave me a big hug,"If he doesn't call then it's his loss because you're a great person."
"Thanks Merrie."
"Welcome Ang."
I could always count on Meredith to make me feel better. She was always there for me when I needed her.
"So tell me...was he good?" I could also always count on her to lighten the mood.
I giggled,"Oh he was better then good. He was fantastic." We laughed together.
"So what happened when you got there?"
"Well the bodyguard took me up after I showed him the note and to Nick's room. God when he opened the door I almost passed out. Mere, this guy is gorgeous. He looked totally confused and said he didn't write the note and something about killing AJ. I just about died from embarrassment. Just as I was about to go he told me to stay. Well one thing led to another and you know..."I gave her the cliff notes versions of the story and Meredith grinned.
"Well maybe he'll call, Angela. All guys aren't jerks,"she shrugged with a smile. "I mean the nice ones are few and far between, and most of us have to make do with what's out there, but they do exist."
I raised an eyebrow and gave her a doubtful look,"Right."
"I don't know sweetie. At least you'll have the memory if he doesn't call,"she said, trying to give me solace.
"It's ok Mere, thanks. I'll be alright,"I told her.
"Promise?"
"Pinky swear,"I smiled and we locked pinkies. It was childish, yes, but it was something Meredith and I have been doing since we were kids and never really grew out of it. We giggled and then the phone rang. Meredith practically hopped over to the cordless phone and answered it.
"Hello?"she chirped. "Oh hi baby..." I rolled my eyes and went into the living room. No point in listening to her conversation with "Mr.Personality". I layed down on the couch and closed my eyes. I picked Nick's beautiful face and his hands over my body...God why was I torturing myself? Why couldn't I get over this guy?? It all felt so right though and I desperately wished he would call. I heard bits and pieces of Meredith's conversation, but I wasn't really paying attention. I sat up and stared at the phone. Ring dammit. Ok, now I was being stupid.
"Angel, he's not gonna call you right now silly,"Meredith scolded and her petite frame bounced on the couch next to me.
"What? You're not spending 2 hours on the phone? I really would've thought he would have had you in a serious conversation on which picture from his underwear modeling portfolio looked the best. The one with him in the white underwear or the one with him in the gray underwear."
She shot me a glare,"Don't start."
"Sorry. For real,what did he want?"
"He wanted to take me out tonight but I told him my best friend was in a time of need and I was taking her out tonight,"she stated.
"I really don't feel like going out Meredith,"I whined glancing at the phone. What if he called and I wasn't home to talk to him?
She rolled her eyes,"I know what you are thinking and I'm not going to let you sit at home like a loser staring at the phone trying to send it telepathic messages to ring. He might never call. And then what?"
She was right. I hated it when she was right. "Ok, ok we'll go out. I know you'll bug me until I give in anyway so what the hell."
She smiled triumpantly,"Good. Now go get a shower and we'll go out to lunch in about an hour in the city. Ok?"
I gave in once more. Meredith could be very persuasive and once she had her mind set on something I could never talk her out of it,"Sure."
She gave me a big smile and a tight hug,"We're going to have so much fun Angel." She always called me Angel. She's called me that for the longest time. Since we were little.
"Yeah,"I smiled and got up off the couch and walked into the bathroom.
******
"So I think Rob is going to propose soon,"Meredith said and sipped her latte. We had gone to a small cafe in the city.
I almost choked on my drink,"Are you serious??"
"No I'm lying to you Ang,"she replied sarcastically.
"Don't tell me you're going to marry him??"I asked incredulously. I couldn't believe what she was telling me. She would actually marry that hollow-headed ass?
"And why shouldn't I? I do love him Angela. He's a decent person once you get to know him. We've been dating for almost two years now,"she replied, tucking a wisp of light blond hair behind her ear then looked up at me. "I want to spend the rest of my life with him."
I couln't not be happy for her. She was my best friend. But I couln't help but feel a little selfish. If she got married it would ruin everything. She'd move out and I'd be alone. I'd lose her.
And once again she read my mind,"Angela, we'll always be best friends. You know me better then anyone else. Do you really think it's going to change if I get married?"
"You know it will Mere. It won't be the same,"I whispered.
"Hey let's not talk about this right now ok? It's not like he proposed yet. This day is supposed to be about you,"she said brightly.
I forced a smile,"Right."
As Meredith and I arrived home late that night after our girls night out I went straight to the answering machine. My heart was pounding in my chest. I pressed the button with Meredith hovered behind me.
'You have 2 messages...'
I turned around and Meredith looked excited,"Well go ahead see who they're from! What are you waiting for?"
We listened intently for the first message...'Hey Mere! Hope you and Angela had fun tonight. Just calling to say I love you. Call me tomorrow.' Gag me...Ok there was still hope for the second message.
"Maybe he called on the second message. Check,"Meredith demanded. I sighed and pressed the button. My mother's voice filled the apartment,'Angela sweetie, just calling to see if you're still alive. You haven't bothered to call us in a while. We love you and miss you. Call us.' An overwhelming feeling of diappointment took over my emotions and it was apparent on my face.
"Hey don't be upset. It's only the first day. He's might call tomorrow or the next day,"Meredith said in a soothing tone. Or he might never call...
"Yeah,"I said gently. "Well I'm going to go to sleep. Thanks for the great night Merrie."
"Anytime Angel. Don't lose sleep over this k?"she instructed.
"I won't,"I told her. She gave me a large smile.
"Night."
"Night,"I replied and headed into the bathroom. After I washed up I went into my room and closed the door. I slid down the door, closing my eyes. Why was I obsessing over him? I've never done this before. My brain told me that Nick Carter wasn't worth it, but my heart told me that he was. My heart usually won. I reluctantly pulled myself off the soft carpet and stripped out of my clothes, leaving them on the floor. I pulled on baggy pajama pants and a matching tank top and crawled into my bed. The softness of the sheets was comforting. 'Nick Carter is not worth it...' I told myself as I closed my eyes. He is not worth it... As I began to drift off, the irritating ringing of the phone snapped me out of my daze. It better not be Meredith's pain in the ass boyfriend. He's the only loser who would call at this time. So help me if it is...
I reached out and grabbed the phone,"What?!"
"Whoa, nice greeting...bet you didn't expect me to call did you?"
