Chapter 2
Emily�s eyes opened slowly as she yawned.� She never realized watching Aliens with Nick for the ten thousandth time could be so exhausting.� But it was a tradition between the two of them.� Whenever Nick came back from a tour, they would watch Aliens, and usually fall asleep in the middle of it.� Now the sun was shining brightly through Nick�s large picture windows looking out into Tampa Bay.� She turned over and stared at her sleeping best friend.� Nick has grown up so much, she thought.� She still remembered the awkward, lanky 13-year-old Nick Carter 6 years ago � the one everyone thought was weird in junior high.� The one all the girls used to turn down because he wasn�t one of the popular jocks.� All those girls have gotta be kicking themselves right now, she smiled.� When did Nick change from a little boy to such a gorgeous man and how did she miss it?� It was then did Emily realize that she was developing not-so-platonic feelings towards her best friend.� He looked so cute yet oh-so-irresistible sleeping next to her right then, his blond hair falling onto his face, his mouth curving into a contented smile.� Now I understand why all those girls cry when they see him.� Wait a minute.� What am I thinking?� Isn�t this considered like incest or something?� I can�t be falling in love with my best friend!� That�s crazy�it must be the full moon.� Wait a minute�there is no full moon � it�s morning.� Ok so, maybe it�s just cuz I haven�t seen him in so long, Emily thought, yeah, that must be it.� As hard as she tried to convince herself that she didn�t love Nick as more than a friend, she knew in the back of her mind that that wasn�t it.
1 month later
�No!� What are you doing?� Idiot!� It�s so obviously deciduous!� Didn�t you go to school dumbass?�� Emily yelled at the guy on �Who Wants To Be A Millionaire� Suddenly there was a knock at the door.� Emily got up and opened it to see Nick standing there.
�Hey Em.� Someone quit at $1000 on Millionaire again huh?�� Nick said with a worn-out smile.
�Yeah, he�s so stupid!� Emily cried, still surprised after all these years that Nick could read her so well.� But then she could read him even better and she noticed Nick didn�t really seem like himself.
�Problems with Mandy?� Emily guessed, sitting down next to Nick on the couch.
�I caught her cheating on me with Justin.� Nick said quietly.
�Timberlake?� Uh oh�that�s not good,� Emily sighed.� A few weeks ago, Justin had told Nick what a fine girlfriend he had at the Jive offices when they had bumped into each other.� Obviously, Nick had gotten possessive and things hadn�t ended well.
�It�s just that I can�t believe she would do this to me!� I thought we had something special.� But it turns out that once again, I was being used so she could get famous and meet the stars.� She used me to launch her own career.� I thought she was different.� Nick blurted out, his blue eyes clouding over.� Emily stared at him, used to what would be coming.� Countless times, she had listened patiently to Nick spill his heart out to her and she knew from experience that all Nick wanted was for someone to listen to him.� And every time, it broke her heart to see her best friend so hurt.
�So then I caught them making out so I asked her right there, me or Justin.� And you know what?� She chose Justin.� Justin Timberlake.� Can you believe that Em?�
Emily just shook her head and let him continue.
Suddenly, Nick�s expression changed from anger to sadness.� �Why do I always pick the wrong girl?� Why can�t I find a girl who actually does love me?� I�loved her,� Nick whispered.
Emily got up wordlessly and pulled him into her arms, letting him cry onto her shoulder.� Nick has been through a zillion break-ups before but Emily could tell he really had loved Mandy.� He had never cried like this since, well, never.
Chapter 3
Story Index
