August 2000 (Day before the present)
"JESSICA!!"came Leighanne's screams as Jessica ran blinded by tears down the 14th floor hallway to the elevater.
Leighanne chased after her friend breathless. 'Damn the girl's got some legs on her!'she thought to herself as she struggled to keep sight of her. What had happened? Leighanne had no clue what AJ had told her on the phone, but it obviously had something to do with Nick. When Leighanne had picked up the phone to see what it was about after Jessica took off it was too late, AJ had already hung up. That's when she took off to get Jessica.
"Leigh! What the hell's going on??"Brian called out of their room.
"Nothing, go back to sleep. I'll be there soon,"Leighanne called behind her. Reluctantly, Brian shut the door. When she turned back around she realized that she had lost sight of Jessica. She ran some more and she couldn't see Jessica anywhere. Leighanne stopped to get her breath. She wished she knew what had happened.
Jessica ran into the elevator as fast as she could. Maybe this was all a bad dream. Maybe she'd wake up and Nick would be curled up beside her instead of with someone else. The tears came down harder and she struggled to breathe as she thought of Nick with another woman. She had given him 2 and a half years of her life and her love. She had given him her heart, her soul, and her body to this one person she thought she could trust. So many thoughts ran through her head at once and she became disoriented. She had to find out for sure if it was true. She had to go to Nick's room. Jessica wiped her eyes as she stepped out of the elevator and tried to compose herself. It was time for the moment of truth.
*****
Nick struggled to get the woman's clothes off. What was her name again? Oh well, it didn't really matter at this point. He kissed her in every place that had exposed skin. Licking and sucking...Just then a picture of Jessica flashed through his mind. His heart told him to stop but he couldn't. The alcohol wouldn't let him. It was too late, he was already drawn in. The woman slipped off his underwear and took him in her mouth. Nick heard a faint knocking on the door. Whoever is was would go away. He wasn't about to get up and get it. The knocking persisted and he felt the woman's mouth come off him.
"The door,"she said.
"You wanna go get it for me baby?"Nick slurred and slipped on his underwear. She got up and Nick followed after her. She slipped his shirt over her head before answering the door.
*****
Jessica nervously anticipated him answering the door. Why wasn't he answering? She didn't really want to know the answer, but she had to find out. She swollowed hard and knocked again. This time the door opened. Standing there was a tall, thin blond woman...with Nick's shirt on. Jessica's hand flew up to her mouth as Nick appeared next to the woman. Nick's eyes widened.
"Jessica! Baby!" Nick screamed,quickly sobering up, and pulled up his pants when he saw his girlfriend standing there frozen in shock. The blond woman gave Nick a look of disgust then retreated into the hotel room and came out a second later with her clothes in her arms. She took off down the hall.
Nick reached his arm out to Jessica. She pulled back,"Don't you dare touch me!"
"I-I-I don't know what to say,"Nick choked.
"You don't have to say anything,"Jessica whispered, the tears freely falling down her face. "But I have something so say to you. It's over Nick. It's over."
Leighanne went down to the lobby hopping to find Jessica. Instead she found AJ sitting down with his head in his hands.
"What's wrong? What happened? "Leighanne asked, sitting next to him, rubbing his arm slightly.
"It's my fault,"he replied, looking up at her. He looked miserable. "It's completely my fault."
"What happened AJ?"Leighanne asked softly almost afraid to hear his response.
AJ looked into her eyes,"He got drunk and cheated on her, Leigh. He brought the girl back to the hotel. I wanted to stop him, I tried to, but it was too late. It's my fault!"
Leighanne was totally shocked,"He-he cheated on her. But that's impossible. They love eachother too much!"
AJ shook his head sadly,"If it weren't for me they'd be together right now."
"Listen to me AJ. It is not you're fault. It's Nick's fault. ALL his fault. He's the one who decided he'd get drunk and cheat on Jessica just because things weren't going right in his life. He blew it and he's going to have to live with that forever. They were supposed to be together forever but he blew it, not you."
AJ was stubborn,"I knew he was upset and I told him to come clubbing with me. If I hadn't suggested it it wouldn't have happened."
"AJ that's bullshit. It's not your fault, stop saying it is!"
AJ didn't answer he just looked down. Leighanne pulled him up,"Let's go back upstairs ok? You need to sleep. And for the last time. Nick screwed up now you."
"It's over?"Nick whispered, his eyes tearing up.
Jessica found an instant moment of strongness and straightened herself up, trying desperately to hold back the sobs that wanted to escape,"What did you think would happen. You sleep with someone else and you want me to take you back like nothing happened? I can't look at you the same way ever again. I thought you'd never hurt me and you did. I'm just so angry and sad that the one person who I thought I could trust betrayed me like I thought he never ever would. Why Nick? Why did you do this to me?"
Nick took a hold of her arm gently. Jessica pulled back and shrieked,"I told you not to touch me! You lost that right as soon as you kissed that woman!"
It hurt Nick so much to hear Jessica talk like that,"I love you."
She looked at him in shock,"Don't you EVER say that to me again!"
"I do Jess! Please just come in my room. Let's talk about this,"Nick begged.
Jessica's tears escaped and she couldn't stop them,"There's nothing to talk about. It's over. I told you already."
It broke Nick's heart to see her like this. Especially since he knew he was the cause of it. "Please let's just talk."
"NO!"Jessica sobbed. "I'm done talking to you."
"Please Jess,"Nick begged.
"Fine,"Jessica said and walked into Nick's room and he closed the door behind her. It was going to be a long night.
Leighanne and AJ arrived at AJ's floor.
"I'm staying on the same floor as Nick. Do you think she's in his room right now?" AJ asked Leighanne and they peaked down the hall to see his door just closing.
"I wonder what they're saying,"Leighanne sighed.
"Jessica's probably telling him that it's over,"AJ said, swallowing hard. "Why did he have to go do this?"
Leighanne shook her head,"I don't know."
"I better go,"AJ said, giving his friend a hug. "Thanks Leigh."
"Anytime,"Leighanne smiled lightly.
AJ got out of the elevator, glancing quickly in the direction of Nick's room then walked to his room.
Leighanne leaned against the wall in the elevator. What had happened to them? They were so happy and so in love. It was ironic how things turn out.
"I don't know what to say except that I'm so sorry and I don't know why I did it. I guess my life just got so hard and I needed a way out so I drank,"Nick said not meeting her pain-filled eyes.
"Of all the bullshit stories. Life is hard Nick. Life is really hard sometimes. It doesn't mean that you have to go and drown your sorrows in liquor and then go and sleep with another woman."
"We didn't sleep together,"Nick said quietly.
"Oh that makes it ok then. You were going to but I interrupted. Sorry I ruined your night,"Jessica said sarcastically, her pretty,tear-stained face was contorted with sadness and anger.
Nick couldn't look at her,"I made a stupid mistake."
"I know,"Jessica said softly. "I love you Nick but I can't forget what you did."
"I know you can't and I want you to know no matter what you say that I'll still love you until the day I die. And I know we were meant to be together."
"I wish I could believe it."
"I don't blame you for not believing it, but I do. Can I ask you something?"
"I guess."
"Can I have one more dance with you?"
Jessica couldn't resist his pleading blue eyes,"Ok."
Nick gave her a weak smile then went over to his CD player and put on a CD. As soon as Jessica heard the opening notes she almost broke down again. It was their song. The sweet sounds of 'Heaven' by Bryan Adams filled the room as Nick took her in his arms for the last time. He inhaled the intoxicating scent of the perfume he loved on her and she buried her face in the crook of his neck. They both thought of the perfect love that took a wrong turn. The two cried in eachother's arms. Neither talked because words weren't needed. This was their last night together. The two complete years together were over.
