|7 years later|
"Thirteen's my lucky number, dude," Nick replied. "You just watch." A few minutes later, Nick was losing again. "I'm coming from behind! Look out!"
"Give it up!" I leaned over and poked Nick in the side.
"Brian! That's cheating!" he yelled.
"I didn't do anything. Stop making exuses for how bad ya'all are," Brian replied. I went over and blew in Brian's ear. He jerked his head and I did it again. "What is that?" he yelped, dropping his controller and rubbing his ear. I smiled. I loved teasing them, but I knew when to stop. They might start getting suspicious. Brian picked up his controller and went back to the game when he realized he wasn't going to get an answer. I sat back and relaxed. This could go on for awhiled.
After the concert that night, I followed the guys backstage and sat on the arm of a couch to wait.
"Hey, guys," AJ said, "it says this arena was built in memory of Riley Wilson...March 14, 1949-March 14, 1970. Whoa. She was only twenty-one."
"That's really sad," Howie said quietly.
"Yeah," Kevin agreed. "Think of all the things she never got to do. She had her whole life ahead of her." That was when the fans started coming in. I usually liked to watch their faces when they met the guys, but tonight was different. I hadn't realized we were back in Fairview, Louisiana. Back in my hometown. We were in an arena that had been built in remembrance of me. What a cruel irony.
"Hey. Sorry, but you have to go now. We're leaving too..." I looked up and saw that AJ was talking to me.
"Huh? Are you talking ot me?" I asked.
"Well, considering that there's no one else in the room...yeah," he replied.
"But...you can't...I'm not...oh, man!" I jumped up and ran out into the hall. The next thing I knew, I was sitting on the floor.
"Hey, sorry. Are you okay?" I looked up into the kind eyes of Brian. He offered me his hand and I hesitantly took it and he helped me up.
"I-I'm fine. But I gotta go," I said, pulling away and starting down the hall.
"Wait!" Brian called. I stopped. "What's your name?
"...Riley." I didn't waste anymore time in getting out of the building. I pushed past the other three guys on my way out the door. "Betty!" I called, anxiously. "Betty, what's going on?" She appeared beside me.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"They can see me! Why can they see me?"
"Whoa, slow down. They can see you? What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. The guys can see me. I can talk to them and Brian even knocked me down. What's going on?" I cried.
"This is strange...Wait...it seems that you're needed," Betty said softly.
"Needed? What do you mean by needed? I'm Nick's guardian angel...does he need me?" I was beginning to panic.
"Not that kind of needed," Betty replied. "It seems as though someone here on earth needs you. You're their only hope. Someone's desperate for the love only one person in the world can ever give them. I guess that person must be you."
"What? What does all that mean?"
"You have three months to find this person. If you find them...you'll be human again."
"Human? I can be human again? But...I don't know if I want to be," I said.
"You don't really have a choice," Betty answered. "Look." I looked around and gasped. We were standing in front of a fairly large house in the middle of a small town. "This will be your home for the next three months. You must look for the one." I nodded. "And, Riley...once I leave, you will be severed of all ties to heaven."
"What?!" I cried. "But, Betty! I can't do this alone!"
"Yes, you can. Have a little faith. He knows what he's doing. Be grateful. This is not something He does for everyone." With that, Betty was gone and I was all alone.
"Well...I gazed around and noticed a red Mustang convertible in the driveway. "That's nice." I walked inside and, after a little searching, found my bedroom. I collapsed on the bed and cried. There was no way I could do this.