*~The Dream Of A Lifetime~*

Nickolas stood outside Valondra’s room and paced back and forth. He was doing that for the past ten minutes or so; debating on whether to knock or not. After a few more moments, he decided against it and headed for the stairs. He looked at the roses then suddenly stopped.

He looked back at Valondra’s room and said, “Quitters never prosper, Carter. Just try it and see what happens.” He started walking back to Valondra’s room. “What do I have to lose?” He stopped. “Valondra, duh, but it can’t be as bad as losing my career…only ten times worse.” He started walking again and stopped at Valondra’s room. “I hope this works.”

He knocked on the door, as he head Valondra yell, “Yeah! Kick his ass!” He knocked again.

He waited almost a minute before the door opened. He made eye contact with Valondra and said, “For you.” He held up the roses and Valondra slammed the door in his face.” He stood there a moment dumbfounded, but knew he wasn’t going to give up. He walked back downstairs, to the kitchen, and they all looked at him. Nickolas looked at Charisma and said, “Thanks for jinxing me.”

“What’d I do?” Charisma asked.

“Lon slammed the door in my face,” Nickolas replied.

“Sorry, Bro,” Alexander said. “She’s still upset.

“I figured that one out on my own,” Nickolas said.

“What are you going to do?” Kevin asked. “Because I’m taking it as if she means it’s over between you two.”

“It’s not over,” Nickolas said. “Trust me.”

“Are you sure?” Lillie asked.

“Very sure,” Nickolas answered. “Maybe she’s just seeing if she can still trust me.” They just looked at him. “I’m so certain, because she didn’t give back the $500,000 diamond back, but that’s beside the point.” They all looked at him shocked by the price of the diamond, because they never thought he’d spend that much on just a ring for someone. “The point is that Loni still loves me. I know her better than she thinks. This thing with Bridgett ain’t stopping me from marrying Lon. I love her way to much.”

“You spent 500 G’s on Valondra’s engagement ring?” Storm questioned. “She must be something special.”

“Very special,” Nickolas said. “The price was nothing. It was actually on sale when I got it.” They looked at him. “I’m not giving up on Lon. I’m going to do anything I can to get her back.”

“What if she gives the ring back?” Alyssa asked.

“She won’t,” Nickolas said. “I have faith in that.” As he said that, something was thrown from the top of the steps and just missed hitting him.

“Whoa!” Alexander yelled, as it hit the floor. They all looked up and saw Valondra walking away. They all looked at Nickolas, as a door slammed shut.

Nickolas and Howard looked to the floor at the stuff by Nickolas’ feet and Howard asked, “Ya giving up yet?”

“Nope,” Nickolas replied calmly bending down. “She’s just testing me.”

Storm bent down to help Nickolas put the stuff back in the box. She picked up a gold necklace with a dolphin charm and said, “Nick, I think she’s serious about it being over between you two.” She held up the necklace.

“I’m thinking the same thing,” Antoinette said. “Lon wore that necklace everyday. She even had it on this morning. Not to make you feel bad, but I think she hates you.”

“She said it before,” Nickolas stated picking up a picture that was ripped by the broken frame.

“But before she didn’t see you kissing your ex,” Fox said.

“I didn’t kiss her,” Nickolas said. “She kissed me.”

“Ouch,” Storm said looking at her bleeding finger.

“Are you all right?” Nickolas asked.

“Yeah, it’s just a knick,” Storm replied. She looked at Nickolas, who was looking at the picture. “But are you all right?”

“I could be worse,” Nickolas said. “As in, her throwing her ring down here at me. If she does that then I’ll start to worry.”

“Don’t give up, Nicky,’ Howard said. “She’ll come around.”

“I can’t say she just wanted my money,” Nickolas stated.

“How do you know?” Charisma asked. “Besides that she has her own.”

“This necklace cost me a grand,” Nickolas stated. “She could’ve easily pawned it off, but didn’t.” He got up holding the box.

“She still loves you,” Lillie said.

Nickolas walked to the door and opened it up. He turned and said, “I think I’ll leave before she decides to house clean.”

“What are you going to do in the meantime?” Kevin asked.

“Whatever it takes,” Nickolas replied walking out. They all looked at the door, as it opened again.

Nickolas walked back in and said, “Will you make sure Loni gets these?”

He handed the bouquet to Alyssa, as she said, “Sure thing.”

“Thanks,” Nickolas said then walked back out.

“I feel so sorry for him,” Charisma said. “His heart is breaking, because of my best friend.”

“She’ll come around,” Lillie said.

“I think we should go,” Kevin said. “Let Lon be by herself.”

“I want to take these up to her first,” Alyssa stated. “I’ll meet ya’s outside.”

“Alright,” Kevin said, as they all got up. “Don’t take too long.”

“I won’t.” Alyssa got a vase from the cupboard and they walked out. She cut the flower stems and put them in the vase. She put water in with them and took them upstairs. She knocked on Valondra’s door saying, “Loni D, is Alyssa, may I come in?”

“It’s open,” Valondra said.

Alyssa went inside and said, “I thought these roses might cheer you up.”

“Maybe if they weren’t from that cheating bastard Nickolas. Get them out of here. I don’t want anything from him.”

“I’ll just sit these right here.” She put them on the night stand beside the bed. “We’re going so I’ll see ya later.”

“Bye. Don’t forget the flowers.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

Valondra just watched her go then looked at the roses beside her. She remembered the last time

Nickolas got her red roses and smiled. Her smile faded though when she remembered what she saw at Nickolas’. She wiped a tear from her eye, as she looked at the diamond ring on her finger. She started to think then picked up the phone. She dialed Nickolas’ number and waited for rings before he answered.

“Hello?”

“Um…Nick, it’s Lon.”

“Hey.”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Sure. When?”

“Tomorrow at noon.”

“I can come back now.”

“No…tomorrow at noon.”

“Ok, where at?”

“At the spring behind my house.”

“Alright.”

“Thanks.”

“I love you.”

“Bye, Nick.”

“Bye.”

Valondra hung up the phone and wondered if she was making the right decision.