Elizabeth squinted at her at the alarm clock lying on her nightstand. Instead of noticing the time though, her gaze fell upon a recent picture of her and AJ. She remembered exactly when it had been taken. It had been about 2 months ago at the surprise birthday party that he had thrown for her. We look so happy together, she sighed wistfully.

She studied the picture carefully for a few minutes. AJ had one of his muscular tattooed arms draped loosely over her shoulder. Her face was shining radiantly as she smiled for the camera. She couldn�t stop smiling that night, she had been so happy.

AJ was wearing one of his many black tank tops and a pair of black oversized jeans. His stunning eyes peeked out from behind a pair of silver tinted designer sunglasses. For the occasion, AJ had had his spiky hair highlighted with blonde. It changed constantly depending on his mood. At the moment, AJ�s hair was a fire red colour. That was one of the things that Elizabeth loved so much about AJ. His willingness to be daring. His indifference to the norm. He had a character distinctly his own.

Sighing, Elizabeth set the picture frame gingerly back on the stand. The sun beat down relentlessly upon her forcing her to get out of bed. She clambered out of bed clumsily, her mind swirling with images of AJ.

Why does life have to be so complicated? As she made her way to the bathroom, it hit her like a ton of bricks. Life wasn�t so complicated after all. She was making it hard for herself by not following her heart. She couldn�t keep up her charade any longer. She had to tell AJ. The sooner the better.

Jessica pried open the coffee tin eagerly. She inhaled the aroma of the roasted coffee with gratitude. She set the tin down carefully scooping out precisely the exact amount of coffee beans for three cups.

She had had a horrible night. She had been unable to sleep all night fearing the haunting nightmares, which might come to her in her sleep. She had miraculously fallen asleep just as the sun had peeked over the horizon. It was a fitful and restless sleep though. She had tossed and turned relentlessly unable to attain a comfortable position.

She had arisen early in the morning and quickly given up any hopes of getting any more sleep. Still sporting her pyjamas, she had made her way to the kitchen seeking out a fresh cup of coffee. She had found Lila puttering around the kitchen as usual taking out various utensils and cutlery for the girl�s breakfast. Lila was always the first to wake and the last to sleep. She had amazing energy and drive and could always be relied upon to take charge of any situation.

�Hey. How did you sleep?� Lila asked worry marring her pretty face.

�Terribly. I was up all night,� Jessica stated not offering any further explanation. Not wanting to pry, Lila refrained from asking any more questions.

�So, you never did tell me. What did you think of Nick?� Lila asked changing the subject.

Jessica�s face flushed a deep red. �He looked okay,� she replied lacking enthusiasm.

�Okay? Jess. He was more than okay,� Lila contradicted.

Jessica knew Nick had looked more than okay. She was afraid to say it though. She was afraid of what it meant. She couldn�t possibly be attracted to him. She had promised herself that she would never allow herself to get involved with anyone ever again. She would never allow anyone to hurt her, the way Justin did. Still, something about Nick completely magnetized her to him. Throughout the dinner last night, she had chastised herself for glancing up to look into Nick�s eyes whenever she got the chance. She was terrified that if she looked into them even for longer than a second, she would be seized up in the depths of them. She�d be lost in them forever.

Lila set a steaming cup of coffee down in front of Jessica interrupting her reverie. �Looked to me like he thought you were more than just okay too,� Lila said with a giggle. �I saw the way you two were sizing each other up. What was with all those stolen glances Jess?�

Jessica averted her eyes, her face turning crimson. �Nothing. Our relationship is strictly platonic. Nothing more,� she said sounding unsure of herself.

�Jess,� Lila said quietly leaning towards her for emphasis. �Don�t you think it�s time to move on? Maybe Nick is the one who can help you do that,� she offered.

Lila�s words resonated in Jessica�s thoughts. No! Forget about Nick! she screamed silently. She had made a vow to herself to never let anyone hurt her ever again. She wasn�t about to break it. Never again would she become so vulnerable that someone could hurt her the way Justin had. She never wanted to experience the feeling of a broken heart again. It was too traumatizing for her. Our relationship is strictly platonic. Nothing more, she repeated to herself again. Still, she couldn�t put Nick out of her mind. There was something about him. His eyes. They were so warm and trusting. So open and inviting.

Elizabeth sauntered into the kitchen with a fake smile plastered on her face. Once again Jessica�s thoughts were interrupted. She looked up to greet Elizabeth, her gaze wavering when she looked at Elizabeth�s eyes. She could tell right away that something was definitely amiss. Elizabeth was not her usual sunny self.

Elizabeth positioned herself on the wooden stool across from Jessica. She grabbed the steaming coffee mug in front of her and began drinking thankfully without meeting Jessica�s eyes. She took a sip, the scalding liquid burning her throat as she swallowed it hastily. Sputtering, she choked slightly on her coffee.

Lila watched her friend carefully. She could tell that she was distraught and preoccupied. She handed Elizabeth a kitchen towel, gently taking the mug from her hands. �Liz? Are you okay?� Her question went unanswered. She knew it had something to do with AJ. It always did.

For the first time since she appeared in the kitchen, Elizabeth looked up meeting Jessica and Lila�s questioning eyes. Her eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep. �I�ve made a decision,� she said slowly to the girls. �I�m going to do it. I�m going to let AJ go,� she whispered slowly. As she said the words, the reality of the situation dawned on her. He wouldn�t be involved in her life anymore like he used to be. Things would never be the same. I am I making the right decision? I don�t want to loose AJ totally. I�d be devastated if he left me. I don�t think I could go on without him. Elizabeth had a special place for AJ in her heart. AJ understood her like no one else ever could. Deep in her heart she knew that the intricate bond the two shared would keep them in each other�s lives forever. It had to. Friends forever. That�s all we will be. Friends� her thoughts trailed as she wondered in vain if she was truly making the best decision.

�We�re here for you Liz. I know this must be hard for you. I know how special AJ is to you,� Jessica said. He was special. He was the first guy that Elizabeth had truly ever cared about. She had dated many other guys over the years, but AJ had been the first serious relationship she had experienced. She had never felt as strongly about a guy as she did about AJ.

�I�m so scared,� Elizabeth choked suppressing a sob. �I�m not sure if I�ll make it through this.� Elizabeth had never experienced the pain and sorrow of being lonely. She had always had someone she could turn to.

�You�re strong Elizabeth. Stronger than most. You�ll be fine. You have us.� Jessica said comfortingly.

�I think you�re making the right decision Liz. Follow your heart. Whatever you do, break it to him easily. You know how much he cares about. Try not to hurt him too much,� Lila advised.

Elizabeth nodded uncertainly. How am I going to let him go? How am I going to tell him that I don�t love him anymore and that I'm not sure if I ever really did? She cared about AJ so much. He was her friend. Nothing more. Deep inside, she had known for a while that she wasn�t in love with AJ. She was simply insecure about being alone. She had clung to AJ as a form of reassurance. Reassurance that she would always have someone there for her. Someone to hold tightly and make her feel special. She was scared of her own independence.

Nick and Brian sat across from one another in the kitchen. Nick had woken up early unable to sleep. He was too preoccupied. He had stayed up all night, visions of Jessica racing through his mind. She was perfect in every way. He had been attracted to many girls in his life, but never had he felt something so strong. He couldn�t get her out of his mind.

�Hey Nick!� Brian repeated for the second time.

Nick snapped out of his daydream, shaking his head slightly in an attempt to dismiss all thoughts of Jessica.

�She�s not ready. Justin messed her up real bad bro,� Brian said slowly. He recognized the familiar faraway look in Nick�s eyes. He had seen it many times before. This time though, it was different. It was more intense, more sincere. Nick was falling for Jessica - hard.

What did he do to her to hurt her so badly? Nick thought to himself remembering the sorrow in her eyes. He wished that he could take her in his arms and hold her tightly. He wanted her to be happy again. He wanted to ease her pain and tell her that everything would be all right.

Nick gave Brian a confused look. He opened his mouth to speak, but Brian interrupted. �I can�t get into the details man. She hasn�t forgotten it yet though and she probably won�t for a while. It will be a long time before she trusts anyone again.�

What�s wrong with me? Nick thought to himself. I just saw Jessica after almost a year and half. I never felt like this about her before. Why now? He had always had a crush on Jessica, but it had never been this intense.

Suddenly, the phone rang loudly shaking Nick from his daydream. Brian snatched it up quickly. He knew it was Lila. She always called him in the morning.

�Hello?�

�Hey baby.� He was right.

�How�d you sleep?� Brian asked. He knew that Lila was worried about Jessica. She had a tendency to take on her friend�s problems as if they were her own. She was constantly worried about their well being. Brian loved that about her. She was always so kind and sensitive towards everyone.

�Okay. I missed you though. I was lonely,� she said seductively.

�Me too,� Brian answered huskily. �There�s always tonight,� he said with a sly grin. It was no secret to any of their friends that Brian and Lila often slept over at each other�s places. �So what are our plans for today,� Brian inquired trying to change the subject when he realized that Nick was still in the room.

�I don�t know. Let�s go out somewhere.�

�It�s perfect weather to go to the beach. We could go down to Sun Valley.�

�Sound�s great. Hang on. Let me ask the girls,� she replied as she covered the mouthpiece to consult the girls.

Brian didn�t need to ask Nick or AJ if they wanted to go. He knew all too well that they would love the opportunity to see the girls skimpily dressed.

Finally, Lila�s sweet voice filtered through the earpiece. �All set. What time?�

�An hour.� Brian said finalizing their plans. Brian hung up after chorusing Lila�s �I love you.�

Nick looked up as Brian set the phone back in its cradle. �The beach?� he inquired with a smile.

�Yeah. I figured you wouldn�t mind seeing Jess parade around in her bikini right?� Brian�s question went without an answer. Nick�s thoughts had already shifted back to Jessica.

Brian sighed to himself. Nick was the type of guy who always had a string of girls following him around. He�d always dated someone. Serious relationships had never flourished between Nick and anyone � until Alyssa. Brian was convinced though that secretly Nick never really felt the same way about her as she did about him. Nick Carter did not fall in love. And yet he is beginning to, Brian reflected to himself.

After a few minutes of cajoling Elizabeth into venturing out to the beach with them, Lila�s powers of persuasion finally kicked in. Elizabeth had finally relented and agreed to come out to the beach with them. What had surprised Lila the most though, was Jessica. Jessica had readily agreed to come along without a moment�s hesitation.

The girls were now gathered around Jessica�s walk in closet in her room. Elizabeth glanced at the heap of discarded bathing suits and bikinis that lay in front of them. She smiled to herself. It was her first genuine smile of the day. She had seen the looks Nick had been giving Jessica all throughout dinner last night. Although Jessica would never confess to it, Elizabeth had seen the looks of her own Jessica had sent Nick. There was definitely some sparks between them. For Jessica�s sake, Elizabeth hoped that they would take it to the next level. Jessica needed someone like Nick in her life. She needed someone to take care of her and teach her to love and trust again.

Jessica�s attention finally settled on a strappy aquamarine bikini, which matched the colour of her eyes perfectly. � I found it!� she yelled triumphantly. When no one echoed her excitement, she looked up at the girls. Lila and Elizabeth stared back at her, smiles twitching upon their lips. Jessica stared indignantly back at them. �What�s so funny?� she demanded.

�Oh Jess. You�ve got it so bad for him,� Lila replied giggling.

Jessica could feel her cheeks getting hot as she blushed. �She�s right Jess. You�ve been poring over your closet for the past 30 minutes looking for something to wear. Admit it!� Elizabeth said.

Jessica stared awkwardly at the heap of clothes at her feet. I do not have it bad for Nick. I can�t like him. I won�t like him. He�ll just hurt me like Justin did, she scolded herself. �I do not have it bad for Nick. We�re just friends. I can�t possibly be attracted to him after just one day,� she reasoned with the girls. Silently, she wondered why it was that although she outwardly denied that she was attracted to Nick, on the inside her feelings for him were running rampant. She thought about why it was that after just one day she was already attracted to Nick in way that she didn�t even comprehend herself.
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