“Leigh,” Britt asked into the phone.

“Britt? Is that you?” Leighanne asked confused.

“Yeah its me...” Britt replied before a pause. “Look, I’m sorry to bother you but I was just wondering if you knew where Nicky is...I mean, he told me that the guys had a break and that he wanted to come here but...”

“Oh...yeah, they have been on break for about a week. Brian and I are in Atlanta.”

“I was just wondering, I don’t understand Leigh,” Britt said thru tears.

Sighing, Leighanne spoke, “I know honey, I don’t get it either, this isn’t like him. He has been miserable for the past couple of weeks, pretty much shutting everyone out.”

“This is all my fault...its my fault for going away and not staying by his side.”

“Wait a minute Britt, don’t say that. I understand why you did it...hell, I wish I could do it sometimes. Its hard to follow someone else’s dreams. You need to be where you at right now and Nick will understand, he has to. I think he knows that, I hope he does, for both of your sake.”

Crying more obvious now, Britt sobbed, “I don’t know what to do...I love him but I can’t handle this. I want this to be a good thing, ya know, me coming here, doing this. I need this so much, but I need him too. Its been so hard not talking to him, I need him so much.”

Feeling sympathetic toward her friend and angry towards Nick, Leighanne said, “Britt, don’t think for a minute that this is you fault. He needs you just as much, if not more than you need him, and I think he is realizing it now. I think he feels like you don’t need him the same way, you can handle life in a different place. He is realizing how hard it is not to have you by his side.”

“I just want things to go back to normal. But, do you where he is? Or if he is coming here?”

“Really I am not sure. I know that Brian and him had some long talk right before we left about the way he was acting to you. I am sorry that this has to be so hard for you. Just know that what you said got thru to him.”

“I wanted that, but I didn’t want him out of my life. I haven’t heard from him in almost two weeks. I just wondered -” Britt was interrupted by a knock on the door, “hey Leigh, can I call you back? There is someone at the door.”

“Sure sweetie, just let me know if you hear from him, I will see what I can find out.”

Hanging up, Britt walked toward the door, still carrying the phone in her hand with fresh tears streaming down her face. It was after midnight and none of her friends would come over at this time, especially without calling. She opened the door to find Nick on the other side, the same tears on his own face.