A long day at the beach ended with small talk at AJ's house, and then a brief car-ride home to be in a soft, comfortable bed. It wasn't too long before Juliette had drifted off to sleep, thinking about Nick, and then dreaming about Nick to wake up the next day with Nick on her mind. She knew she was in love, and she was happy that she finally found someone so sweet, and better than her past boyfriend.

Juliette had awoken to the silky voice of Brian singing softly out of her stereo during her favorite song, Who Do You Love, on the other side of the room. She smiled to herself, thinking of what another great day it would be with Nick. She couldn't get her mind off of him, and she was pretty sure that he couldn't get her mind off of her.

Suddenly, she was interrupted by the loud ringing of her phone on the night table. Reluctantly, she reached to get it.

"Hello?"

"Rise and shine, Juliette. I have a whole day planned out for us again!" Nick said cheerfully. She smiled again at the sound of his voice.

"Great. As long as I don't have to get sand in my hair, I'll be as happy as a child on Christmas," she replied, getting up from her bed. "Where are we goin'?"

"Well, since it's only 8:30 in the morning, and don't ask me why I'm up this early, but since it's only 8:30 in the morning, I figured we could take a little day trip to Tampa and go to Busch Gardens�sound good?" Nick said, hoping for a "yes".

"Of course it sounds good. Well, you're lucky that I'm awake, but I need to get ready and do all of my womanly stuff. What time do you think we'll be leaving?"

"Will it take you over an hour?"

"Mmmm, if we eat breakfast on our way there�"

"From Orlando to Tampa takes about an hour and a half, two hours, so I guess you could just come here and eat and then we'll be on our way!" Nick exclaimed, happy that his offer had been taken. He would love to spend another whole day with Juliette. It was like he couldn't get enough of her�

***

Nick was right, it did take an hour and a half to get to Busch Gardens. On their way there, they talked about each other, trying to get to know each other better, talking about past relationships.

"I had this interesting chat with AJ yesterday about you. He said that in '95, you confessed to him about me, and, um, how he gave you advice on what to do next if you quote unquote 'Fall in love,'" Juliette started. Nick smiled, keeping his eyes glued on the road ahead of him.

"I remember that day. He went completely crazy telling me all this useless information about girls that I never had to use in my life," he laughed, looking at her. She smiled.

"Nick, I know you probably don't want to talk about this, but I'm asking you anyway. Can you please tell me about Mandy?" She asked. She saw Nick's eyes widened and he struggled to blink.

"You mean Amanda Williford? The whore that beat me, robbed me, abandoned and abused me?" He said, looking at her again. She looked down and thought for a moment.

"She beat you, Nick? Why didn't you ever tell anyone?" she finally blurted out.

"She didn't literally beat me, but she almost did. If I didn't do what she wanted me to do she'd threaten-I don't want to talk about this right now, alright?" Nick's voice sounded irritated, so Juliette left the subject of her.

"God, if I have to spend one more hour in this car I swear I will someone!" She yelled, running her hands through her hair slowly. Nick lost his concentration and looked at her brushing her hair with her hands.

"How about Brandon? What was wrong with him?" he said, finally getting out of his daze.

"Brandon? Oh wow, he was just a walking disaster for any girl. He didn't know how to kiss�or was that Mike? Yeah, Mike couldn't kiss. But Brandon�" Juliette pressed her lips together thinking about the wonderful kisses that Brandon gave her.

"Juliette, please go on," he pleaded softly.

"Oh right, sorry. Anyways, he was just so bad to me. He treated me like I was his sex slave. He always tried to pressure me into sex, but I never did it," she finished proudly. Nick smiled.

"Are you still a virgin?" He asked half-flirtatiously.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just curious. At first you make it sound like sex is the most horrible thing, yet you seem like you just can't get enough."

"What! I do not do that, Nickolas. I bet you haven't been a virgin with all those chicks flashing you in every city that you go to." She looked out the window and smiled to herself. She knew he couldn't beat that.

"Well, no, I'm not a virgin, alright? Now I want you to tell me."

"Nick, I refuse to tell you!" She said, turning her head abruptly. Nick pulled over at the nearest parking lot and parked right outside of Burger King.

"Fine, I'll just have to torture you!" He exclaimed as he unbuckled his seatbelt. He jumped over and started to tickle her.

"Stop! STOP! STOP!" She screeched, her voice muffled. "No! Stop! I'll tell you, I'll tell you!" She screamed, pulling his body off of hers.

"All right, go ahead. I want to know everything," he replied, out of breath.

"Nick, I don't think I could tell you everything," she half-smiled. Nick smiled and started the car.

"I don't really mind, I just want to know if you're a virgin or not," he said simply.

"What the hell was that all about, then? I swear, Nick For the seven years that I've known you, you have been the blondest thing in the world," she said, getting herself comfortable again. "But anyway, no, I'm not a virgin. And it's not like I'm AJ and I lost it when I was sixteen, I was twenty years old. I save myself for someone who looks worth it, and who I've known long enough," she continued.

"Do I know whoever this lucky guy is?" He asked, pulling out of the lot.

"Yeah, pretty well." Juliette was reluctant to say who it was. But she figured that she should be honest with Nick since it had been over three weeks since they got together.

"Oh really? Who is it then?" He asked, looking at her.

"AJ," she blurted out.

"AJ!?"