"Angela! Phone!"I heard Meredith yell. My head shot up and my eyes widened as the smile began to form on my face. It had to be Nick. I immediately dropped the towel I had been using to dry my hair and tightened the towel that was around my body. Sprinting into the living room in record time, I grabbed the phone away from Meredith's hand, clutching the towel that was around me to make sure I didn't flash her. She was now looking at me with that amused look she gives me a lot these days.

"Nick??"I asked into the phone, urgently and excitedly.

"Angela Marie, are you feeling alright??"my mother demanded to know.

My face fell and I plopped myself down on the couch, saying in a disappointed tone,"Hi mom." I heard Meredith snicker beside me and I shot her what I hoped was a menacing look. She tried to stifle her laughter and pulled her Cosmo magazine up to hide her face.

"Well you don't sound as nearly as excited as you did when you thought it was Nick,"she sounded insulted. My mom got insulted a lot and easily so I wasn't really too worried about it.

"Sorry mother,"I replied which I hoped sounded sincere enough.

"So tell me about this Nick guy. You've mentioned very little about him,"she said. I groaned softly. There's a reason I don't tell my mom anything about my personal life. "How does he treat you?? What does he do for a living? Does he make good money? I don't want you dating a pauper Angela-"

"MOM!"I practically shrieked.

"What? Is is so terrible that I'm concerned about you Angela? You don't call anymore and whenever I speak to you you yell at me,"she said, miffed. My mother also always knew how to make me feel guilty.

"I'm sorry mom,"I sighed. "We met in the city, he came into the restaurant. He's part of the pop group the Backstreet Boys."

"That's fantastic,"she replied. I could tell that she was just delighted that I wasn't dating a pauper. "So how serious are we talking?"

I groaned again,"Don't get your hopes up yet mom. There's no wedding bells in the near future."

"How long have you been seeing him?"

"About 3 weeks. We talk on the phone every day since he's in LA right now rehearsing for their tour"I told her.

"Well that's wonderful honey. Well I just called to tell you that your father, Anthony, and I are coming to visit you tomorrow,"she said.

"Huh?"my mouth dropped open which got Meredith's attention and I squeaked out,"A visit??"

"Yes Angela. A visit,"she said. "Is that alright?"

"Um well...yeah, ok,"I said helplessly, glancing at Meredith who was looking at me curiously.

"Wonderful!"my mother exclaimed. "We'll see you tomorrow! Bye honey. We love you."

"Love you guys too Mom. Bye,"I said, placing the phone down and looked at Meredith.

"So what's the deal?"she asked.

"They're coming for a visit,"I replied sourly.

Meredith laughed loudly,"Don't sound so thrilled."

"Oh I'm thrilled, trust me,"I replied sarcastically.

"It'll be ok Ang. You'll get to see your dad, you get along with him,"Meredith said with a shrug.

I rolled my eyes,"And so my brother can flirt with you. I know you enjoy it Meredith."

She had a guilty grin on her face,"He's so cute."

"He's 17!"I cried out playfully. I knew my brother, Anthony, had a big crush on Meredith. Ever since he was younger. I guess it was cause she was the pretty, "older woman". She's my best friend so she was always over our house. Meredith enjoys it when my brother flirts shamelessly with her. I'll even go as far as to say that she flirts right back.

"Yeah, yeah,"she muttered, turning to look back at her magazine.

I peaked over the edge of her latest issue of Cosmopolitan and said out loud,"10 Ways To Spice Up Your Sex Life." I looked at her with a raised eyebrow and she just shrugged again.

"As if your sex life isn't spicy enough. I know, my room's next to yours,"I told her.

"It looked interesting,"Meredith said.

I nodded and was about to get up when the phone rang again,"Probably my brother calling to make sure you're going to be here tomorrow."

Meredith giggled as I picked up the phone,"Hello?"

"Hey baby."

I smiled widely,"Hey! How are you??"

"Alright. I miss you,"he said. I could hear some of the guys in the background. "Sorry it's so loud. The guys don't know how to shut up."

I smiled,"It's ok. I miss you too. It's been too long."

"Yeah I can't wait to see you again,"he said.

"Which would be when?"I asked casually.

"I don't know,"Nick replied. I heard AJ's unmistakeable cackle in the background and I heard Nick yell,"DUDE! Shut up!"

"Sorry,"he apologized once more.

I laughed,"It's ok Nick."

"So what have you been doing lately?"he asked.

"You mean since I talked to you last night?"I asked him, amused.

I could just about see his face flush as he replied,"Yeah I guess so."

"Well my mom just called. My family's coming to visit tomorrow,"I said, less than thrilled.

"Well you sound happy,"Nick said sarcastically.

"My mom and I don't get along too well,"was all I said.

"Oh, my mom and I went through a lot of shit. I didn't like her either for a while,"he said.

"I never really got along with my mom. I think she'd like to meet you sometime though,"I told him, hoping I didn't sound like we were moving too fast. I mean meeting the parents is a pretty big thing.

"Well the next time I'm in New York you'll have to make sure they're at your apartment that day,"Nick said.

"Sure, although I don't know if you'd want to meet them,"I half joked.

"I bet they're not that bad Ang,"Nick replied.

"You'll see,"I told him. "So what's going on?"

"Um we're on a break right now. I've gotta go soon,"Nick replied, sounding regretful.

"Oh it's ok, I'm glad I got to hear from you anyway. Even it was for like 2 minutes,"I said.

I heard a female voice scolding Nick and he said to me,"That's Fatima, our choreographer. I gotta go. I'll call you tonight ok? After rehearsal?"

"Ok that's fine,"I told him.

"K...bye baby."

"Bye Nick."

I hung up and fell back onto the couch, grinning like an idiot. Meredith raised her eyebrows at me.

"You know, I probably love him,"I told her, matter-of-factly.

"Oh really now? I bet he probably loves you too. You probably should tell him,"she grinned.

"NO. Not until he tells me first. I don't want him to think I'm obsessed with him,"I told her.

"You are,"Meredith smirked.

"I am not,"I said indignantly.

"Ok whatever you say,"Meredith said with a smile.

"Besides what makes you think he loves me?"I asked curiously. I wanted to hear where she came up with that conclusion.

"Well, he calls here 2 times a day. That's a big clue right there. Plus he's been sticking with ya since he left which was almost 3 weeks ago,"Meredith said, then looked at me as if it was the stupidest question I ever asked. "So basically, he definately probably loves you."

"Well I'm not gonna tell him how I feel until he does,"I said. I was thrilled that Meredith thought he loved me too, but I wasn't gonna let on. "OK, I'm gonna go get dressed." I walked quickly into my room, shutting the door. I walked to my closet and pulled out a pair of boot cut khaki pants and a snug fitting zip up black sweater. I dressed then walked back out into the living room. Suddenly, there was a knock on our apartment door.

"I'll get it!"I announced.

Meredith smirked at me,"Think Nick's gonna surprise you? Maybe he was calling from the hallway..."

I shot her a look and walked over to the door and called out,"Who is it??"

"Let me in,"Rob demanded.

I smirked. Maybe I wouldn't let him in,"Hi Robby."

"Cut the shit and let me in,"Rob said. I could tell he wasn't amused.

"ANGELA!"I heard Meredith warn as she got off the couch. "Let him in right now!"

I rolled my eyes and let him in. I looked at Meredith as Rob pushed past me and I told her,"You're no fun."

"I'm not gonna let you torment him,"Meredith said. Tormenting? Who was tormenting anyone? I wasn't. I was just simply having a little fun with him.

Rob put his arm around Meredith, shooting me a death look. Geez, someone's a little uptight.

"How ya doin Robbie,"I grinned.

"Shut up,"he shot back. "What are you so freakin giddy about?" I opened my mouth to tell him where to go but Meredith cut me off.

"She just talked to Nick, you know, the guy I told you about,"Meredith said quickly.

"Oh right, the fag from the boy band,"Rob commented with a nod.

"Well that's nice coming from the fag from the UNDERWEAR ADS,"I snapped.

"Listen, I've had enough. Angela you're 23 and Rob you're 24 and you're both acting like children. Get along already. You're both old enough to tolerate people so I'm sick of hearing all the bitching about eachother,"Meredith said loudly, waving her hands around like she does when she's trying to get a point across.

"Fine I'll try,"Rob muttered.

Ugh. "Ok me too."

"Good,"Meredith smiled happily.

The next morning was crazy. I was running around the apartment like a chicken without a head in sweats with my hair in a messy bun and absolutely no makeup on. I was trying to clean up before my family got here.

"Don't make yourself crazy Ang,"Meredith told me, following me into bathroom where I sprayed some disinfectant on the sink, wiping it down with a washcloth.

"I'm not making myself crazy,"I insisted. "What time is it??"

"10:00,"Meredith replied after looking at her watch.

I groaned and put the washcloth down,"They're going to be here in like another hour."

Meredith nodded,"It'll be ok."

WHY does my family have to do this to me? WHY OH WHY?? "I guess."

There was a knock on our door a minute later and my jaw dropped and my eyes popped open. They could NOT be here early. There's no freakin way they can be here early.

"I'll see who it is,"Meredith said. "Just relax ok Ang?"

Relax? RELAX??

Meredith popped into the bathroom a minute later with a grin on her face as I was on the verge of hyperventalation.

"I let them in,"she said with a grin the size of Texas on her face.

"Why are you smiling? There's nothing to smile about here. I'm gonna get a 15 minute lecture from my mother as to why I'm dressed like I this and why my hair isn't done and I'm not wearing any makeup and-"

"ANGELA! Be quiet,"Meredith said. "Relax ok."

"I don't want to,"I whined.

Meredith rolled her eyes,"Stop whining and go out into the friggin room."

I sulked out of the bathroom into the living room and stopped dead in my tracks, almost passing out at the sight in front of me.

Chapter Nine