For You
Chapter 4 : *Exchanged Glances*
(c) 2000
The N.C. Daily Dreamer  

*Shelby*

I couldn't believe it! I was their opening act! I saw the guilt panic in his eyes and covering his adorable face. Part of my wanted to forgive him but the other part of me was furious! I never thought I'd have to face him again. I thought wrong. I was confused. Just looking at his face made me crumble into a thousand pieces. I was a mess! 

"So, you boys are quit popular!" my mom said once the waiter took our order. 

"Yeah. We owe it to all the fans," Kevin replied.

"What's that other boy band?" mom wondered.

"N Sync," Brian mumbled. 

"They suck!" I said out of nowhere. 

"Shelby Mariah!" My mom scolded and the guys and Nick started laughing. 

"What? It's ture!" I defended. 

"She's right, mom! They are horrible! Bye, bye, bye!" Alea mocked them and even mom cracked a smile. 

"Suppose you're right," she admitted as our food was carried to the table.
                                                                    
                                                                                            ~*~ 

We'd finished eating and I was extremely nervous. I'd glance over at Nick every once in a while. He'd catch me and grin a little. That Carter grin. Damn! It did things to me! 

"You're twenty right, Shelby?" Brian questioned catching me off guard. 

"Uh...yeah." I sat up in my chair, and Alea gave me a strange look.

"Cool. So's Nick, but you already knew that," he laughed. 

"Yeah." 

"What's wrong with you, Nick? You haven't said much and that's totally not like you!" Brian noticed.

"Oh, sorry," he apologized drawing nonsence patterns on the table cloth with my right hand. I looked at his pinky and saw the ring I'd given him. It was my favorite one, but I sacraficed it. His friendship meant more to me than anything. Even my favorite ring. I couldn't believe he still had it on.

"Do you sing "Don't Say"?" AJ asked. 

"Yeah. The CD comes out on June sixth."

"I love that song!" Brian raved. "Boy, if you didn't mean it you shouldn't have said it. Those three little words. What do they mean anymore? You know you really shouldn't abuse your privileges," he sang and I burst out laughing. 

"You're crazy!" I giggled. 

"Thank ya! Thank ya very much!" Brian mock Elvis and everyone started laughing. The whole resturant was staring at us, but we didn't care.

"Oh, dear!" my mother said with her hand to her forehead.

"You boys have good sence of humors!" 

"Thanks," they all replied. 

"It's 9:30 already?" Alea asked looking at her watch. 

"Oh, no! We have to go! Shelby has to be at the recording studio at eight!" mom stated pushing back her seat. 

"Okay. Well, it was nice meeting you all." Kevin, AJ, Brian, Howie, and Nick all stood up and hugged us lightly as they kissed our cheeks. Nick and I were the last ones. I was about to freak out, but I kept my cool. 

"It was really good seeing you again," Nick smiled softly kissing my cheek tenderly. 

"You, too." I kissed his cheek back and grabbed my purse tightly.

"See you in three days," he said and followed the guys out the door.

  "That went well!" my mother chirpped as we strolled out of Mateno's. 

"Yeah," Alea agreed. 

"Shelby, I can't believe how much Nick has grown! I saw the looks you two exchanged," mom informed as we stepped into the limo.

"I honestly don't know what you are talking about!" I lied. 

"Yes, you do!"  "Whatever," I sighed staring out the window. 

"Whatever," she said back to me as the driver pulled away and took us home.

CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER SELECTION
MY STORIES
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