Chapter 2

“And I thought you liked Gravity.” Harmony said.

Nick laughed.  “Everyone always believes the magazines.  It is too funny to walk by them in the grocery store and see the things they write about.”

“You go to the grocery store?” Harmony asked, totally stunned.

“Well, Harmony, how do you think I get my cheesy poofs and chocolate chicken pot pies?  You don’t really think that Cartman’s mom would make them for me, do you?” he laughed.

Harmony sat there totally stunned and amazed.  How could her ‘god’, as she thought of him, go shopping in an ordinary grocery store?  Kyla could see the thoughts running through her sister’s head.  “Harmony, Nick is just as normal as any of us.  But you insist on putting him on that silly pedestal of yours.”

Everyone looked at her and laughed.  “It’s okay Harmony, you can think whatever…sometimes it’s the magic of it all that makes it so special.” Brian whispered as he passed some french fries to the young girl.

Harmony’s face lit up as they all talked to her.  “Trinnie…thank you!” she whispered.

“For what sweetie?” Kyla whispered back, with a smile.

“Silly!  Thanks for helping me meet the coolest guys in the whole world.” Harmony said a little louder, loud enough for them to hear her.

The five guys just smiled and knew in their hearts that AJ had done the right thing.  “Trinnie, we are glad that you didn’t give up.  It sure has been so much fun tonight.” Nick said, winking at her.

Kyla was amazed, was Nick Carter actually trying to be sweet and flirtatious with her?  “Well, Nick, it has been a pleasure dining with you.” she said with a smile.

“Yeah, but you know so much about us, why don’t you tell US a little about you?  Please.” Kevin said.

“Well, I am 21, and about to graduate from college.  I am graduating top in my class with a Bachelor’s of Art in Creative Writing and a minor in Children’s Literature.  And, I have had two of my short story compilations published and on the New York Times Best Seller’s List for the past three months.  But, alas, no one would recognize me.” Kyla said.

The five guys just stared at her…not sure what to say.  Soon there was a look coming from Howie.

“Wait…are you the one who wrote ‘Out of the Darkness’?” he asked.

“Umm, yeah.” Kyla said shyly.

“My God, that book was amazing!  That was you?!” Kevin exclaimed.

“Okay, okay…I wrote that book when I was 12 years old…but I just got it published last year.  It was tough getting the critics to read it, coming from such a young writer.  However, once they got their hands on it, that was all I needed.” she replied.

Nick was dumbfounded.  He had no idea what the book was about.  If it wasn’t a gaming magazine or comics or drawing books, he very rarely got involved.  “Umm, what was the book about?” he asked nervously.

Kyla quickly figured he wasn’t an avid reader and filled him in.  “Well, it’s about a little girl’s dreams after a tragic event in her life.  In her struggle to overcome the tragedy, she makes up a fantasy world full of adventure and excitement.  The book is a compilation of her little day dreams and adventures.”

“A fantasy world?  Like with knights and fairies and stuff?” he asked.

“Yeah, well sort of.   The girl has many realms in her world…some filled with superheroes, some with fairies and so forth.  Each of her dreams takes her to a new part of her world…and she meets many new friends.  It is mostly for the young at heart and the children.  But, I have found it quite popular with the adults too.  I suppose it is a reminder of their childhood and brings back the kid in them.” Kyla responded.

Brian and Kevin smiled at her.  They thought she was a nice girl, but couldn’t believe that someone they knew to be famous was actually at their concert.  Nick had never heard of her…so he never thought differently.  Howie was estatic that someone he admired most was actually present at the concert.  And well, AJ, he was being typical AJ.  He liked her…and a lot.  But, she didn’t seem to feel the same about him.

“Guys, I hate to say this, but it is getting really late.  I have to get my sister home, and to be honest…I don’t like to drive at night.  However, I have to get on a plane tomorrow afternoon to get to New York,…so, really, I must be going.” Kyla said, disappointed that she had to go.

“Wait…do you live here in Ft. Lauderdale?  I mean, we could take you home.” Nick offered.

“No, I live in Winter Haven, and well, to be honest…it takes a couple of hours to drive.” Kyla answered.

“My gosh…we will have to go right through Winter Haven to get back to Orlando.  I live just outside of Orlando, so, I could drive you.” Nick offered again, hoping she would accept.

Brian, AJ, Kevin, and Howie all looked at Nick.  He was offering a ride to someone he had only known for a short amount of time.  And, for that matter, she was about to accept.  Who was the one with the brains?

“Umm, well, Nick, the problem is, I brought my car…and umm, unless you plan to have it towed back to my house…I think I better drive myself.  But thank you.” Kyla answered, but soon had Harmony tugging at her.

Kyla then looked at Harmony and whispered something into her ear.  Harmony tried to protest, but she didn’t win.  “Guys, would you all be willing to let Harmony ride with y’all on the bus?  She loves games and stuff.”

They all nodded yes, and then Nick got a disappointed look on his face.  He was afraid that she was going to say no.  After the guys got Harmony settled, Kyla turned and looked at Nick.

“Nick, how do you feel about driving a Prowler?”

*** *** ***

Harmony had decided on riding on the bus with the guys…finding AJ and Brian quite fun to be around.   At first, she found it unfair that she had to ride with them, and that Kyla had Nick all to herself, but once Harmony got on the bus, and AJ and Brian started kidding around with her…she felt like she was at home.

Nick, on the other hand, was standing in front of Kyla, staring.

“Damn girl, if I had known that you had this car…” Nick mumbled as he looked at the beautiful site in front of him.

“What…haven’t you seen a Prowler before Nick?  I thought I read somewhere that you had one?  Or maybe Harmony told me…I don’t remember.” Kyla said, trying to hide the fact that she glanced through Harm’s teeny magazines.

“Yeah…but I don’t have the new 2000 convertible.  Damn…this is one fine ass car!  You ARE going to let me drive, aren’t you?” Nick looked at her longingly.

“No, I thought I would drive you a mile up the rode and then shoot you, and then dump you off in a ditch or something.” Kyla said seriously as she watched the bus pull away, with Harmony on it.

Nick looked stunned…and then suddenly became frightened.  What had he done?  He was about to get into a car with a strange girl…and here she was telling him that she was going to kill him.

“Umm, Kyla, I think I better go and catch the bus.  I think you will be fine driving home.” Nick said nervously and started to turn to go after the bus.

“Nickolas…” Kyla said softly.

Nick was surprised, she had called him by his full name.  He turned slowly, and looked at her. “Yes?”

“I was only kidding silly.  Yes, I was hoping you would be willing to drive.  I am really tired.   Now you need to quit being so damn gullible so we can be on our way.” she said with a smile.

Nick soon calmed down and then jumped into the driver’s seat.  He quickly adjusted the mirrors, and then turned the engine over.  The car “purred” as Nick put it, and then all of the sudden, he slammed it into gear and took off down the road.

They soon passed the busses, and waved at the others as they sped by.   Nick and Kyla made it to her home, in just over an hour…and in all reality…it should have taken at least two to two and a half.

As they waited for the busses to drop Harmony off, Nick and Kyla sat on the trunk of the car, and chatted.  They talked about all kinds of things…stuff they liked…and stuff they hated.  The funniest part…they had very little in common…but somehow, the old saying, ‘opposites attract’, really was coming true.