The next day, after Nick and Juliette had gone to the movies, they decided to go to the beach with Kevin and his girlfriend Naomi. Naomi and Juliette had spent time in the water, getting to know each other better, and Kevin and Nick spent time on the beach talking about how Nick and Juliette got together.

"So, where are you from, Juliette?" Naomi asked, trying to make new conversation.

"Well, both my parents were born in Puerto Rico, but they came when they were young to go to better schools. They made friends with Denise McLean, and have been friends ever since. That's why AJ and I are so close. Where are you from?" Juliette replied with a light smile.

"My grandparents are from Jamaica, so I am fully Jamaican. The only thing is that I was born in San Diego, California." Naomi answered, returning the smile.

***

Soon enough, Nick had taken Juliette away from Naomi, and they took a long walk on the edge of the water.

"I love the ocean," he said, looking at her.

"I could see straight through your eyes and into your soul, Nick. I have never seen so deep inside of you," Juliette said, changing the subject into something much more interesting.

"Really? No one has ever said that to me before," he replied, smiling. She smiled back, thinking of where this relationship would lead to.

"Do you think we will last a long time?" She asked, getting closer to him.

"Yeah, I think we will. If we listen to each other and make it work, then anything can happen in a good way. If we just let it flow and not get in the way, then we could definitely last long. I hope we do, cause, um, I've known you for a while, you know? And the only person I told this to was Brian�well, and AJ�but I have been crushing on you since that first day I met you in '93, and I think that age doesn't matter as long as you're in love. I know you're two years older than me, but I think that I've fallen in love with you, Juliette. I really think I have." Nick slowed down his pace and looked at her thoughtfully. He waited for her to answer, but she said nothing. She didn't even look at him.

"Juliette?" He asked after a moment. She turned to look at him and opened her mouth to say something, but her voice was gone.

"Can you just kiss me like you did yesterday?" She whispered. Nick put his arms around her and kissed like never before. He held her tightly, hoping that the moment would never end. It was the most passionate, meaningful kiss, better than the last.

***

AJ was still at his house, trying to reach Juliette. He was unsuccessful, since she was at the beach with Nick, Kevin and Naomi. And everytime he called, he would leave a different message on her machine.

"Jules, call me back when you get home," he said after the hundredth time of hearing her voice repeatedly telling him to leave a brief message.

He sighed, hoping that she would call him back soon. He lay his head back on his pillow, trying to make an excuse for himself for calling her so much.

"You aren't in love with your best friend, AJ. You can't be in love with your best friend," he told himself over and over again. "You can't be, you can't be, you can't be. You just can't be in love with someone if you know they will never love you back. Oh god, I'm just putting myself through so much pain!" He whispered loudly, hitting himself with a small pillow next to him. In a short while, he was interrupted by the phone ringing.

"Hello?" He said once he picked it up.

"Hey babe! I got your five thousand messages. Why did you call me so much?" He heard a sweet, familiar voice respond. His mood cheered, and his mouth curled into a small smile before he said something back.

"Well, Jules, it just seems that you don't like me anymore, and you never call me. So, I decided to call you but you're never home! Where have you been the last few days?" He replied, hoping to find a decent answer for her absence.

"I have been with my new boyfriend, darling. Oh, that's right! You don't know about him!" She said excitedly.

"A new boyfriend? Why didn't you tell me?" AJ's voice cracked, and she could tell that he was upset.

"AJ, why are you upset? I didn't tell you because I haven't been home the last few days, I was at Nick's house-"

"Nick's house? Please don't tell me your new boyfriend is Nick Carter, please!"

"Are you jealous or something? AJ, don't be upset. You know you'll always be in my heart!" She joked, trying to get him to feel better. It was true, she always kept him as the first person on her mind. He was the first person ever in her heart, and she would never let him escape. It would be too hard.

"I'm not jealous. I have no reason to be jealous. I'm just trying to look out for you, and I want the best for you," he replied, looking down at his feet.

"Well, right now, I think Nick is the best for me. Now, enough about my love life, what about yours? Have you met someone yet?"

"I'm always meeting new people, but I'm just not in the mood for a relationship. I haven't been ever since I let go of Carla last year."

"Oh, Carla. She was using you anyway, hun. You didn't need her, and obviously, all she needed was your money and house."

"Speaking of houses�I want you to come over now. I need to tell you some things about Mr. Nick Carter." AJ smiled for the first time that day. He wasn't exactly jealous, he was just upset that his chances of getting Juliette were slimmed down even more.

"Okay, whatever you say, darling. I'll be there in a few. See ya."