Chapter 2
April 1992
“Nickolas, get your butt outta bed this instant! We need to get to the studio within the hour to meet the new boy for the group! Let’s move it!” Jane called up the staircase to her son.
“Mrs. Carter, maybe I can get him up. Is it okay if I go upstairs to wake him up?” I asked politely.
“Sure Sunshine, make sure you torture him when he gets up. But make it quick, or we will all be late.” She replied with a smile.
I silently made my way up the stairs and down the hallway to his room. It had been a while since I had been to his room. About four months ago, he became quite secretive about his room. Whenever I was over, we would stay in the living room or out at the pool. I never did understand why until this morning.
As I walked into the room, I saw him lying in his bed with the pillow over his head. “Nicky, come on dude…your gonna be late. You don’t want to miss this today. Come on.” I whispered as I poked him on the shoulder.
“Go away momma…” he mumbled.
“Nicky, it’s not your momma…it’s me…Sunshine.” I laughed.
Nick bolted upright in his bed with his eyes wide open. “Sunshine! What are you doing in here? You need to get out...right now!"”
He looked so nervous, so scared. “Nick, what’s wrong? Why do I have to leave?” I asked, hurt that he was kicking me out.
“I…I just don’t want you in here. That’s all.” He said as he got out of bed and pushed me back towards the door.
That’s when I saw it. The whole reason he had been keeping me out of his room. There upon his dresser was a gold, heart shaped frame, with a picture in it. As my eyes fixated on it, he pushed me harder out the door.
“I told you I didn’t want you in here!” he said as he pushed me and knocked me to the floor.
Tears immediately welled up in my eyes, not out of pain, but out of hurt. My best friend was throwing me out. Why, I didn’t understand. I wondered how he could be throwing me out as I looked at the picture. His face showed nothing but fear as he took me by the hand and helped me up. He quickly escorted me to the door, apologized and then shut the door in my face.
As I walked silently down the hallway, I heard the sound of the frame being thrown against the wall. I quickly wiped my eyes and then hurried downstairs to where his mom was waiting.
“Is he up yet, Sunshine?” she asked politely.
“Yes, ma’am, he is.” I replied, softly.
“Dear, is something wrong? Five minutes ago you were bouncing around here with a smile on your face. What happened?” she asked, sensing that something had gone wrong.
“Nothing, Mrs. Carter. Nick was just surprised that it was me waking him up and kicked me out. I think I scared him, that’s all.” I said, trying to smile.
“Well, that is NO way to treat your best friend. I will handle this.” She said with a huff and stomped upstairs.
Seconds later, I heard her yelling at him. “Nickolas Gene, you will get your butt outta bed this instant and go downstairs and apologize to Sunshine! I don’t know what has gotten into you lately, but you better start treating her with more respect mister, or you will get a belt across your backside! Now get up, NOW!” she hollered and then slammed the door before she came back downstairs.
Mrs. Carter came back down the stairs with a look of content on her face. “I had a little talk with Nickolas, and I believe he will be down in a minute.”
As she said that, he came into the kitchen and looked at me. A few small tears were shining in his eyes as he walked across the room with his head hung down.
“I am sorry Sunshine. I didn’t mean to do that to you. You aren’t hurt, are you?” he said softly.
“No, Nicky. It’s okay. I understand.” I said, trying to show him a little smile.
He looked at me, and soon realized that I really did understand why he did what he did. It was okay, Nicky had a crush on me. Yup, just like mom said, boys are mean to you when the really like you.
And, as his best friend, and secret crush, I got to go with him to the
studio to meet the guys. It was a treat that will remain in my heart
for the rest of my life.