You know when you have that one friend who is there for you no matter what you do? A true blue friend that would die for you if they had to? I know a friend like that. His name is Nick. We�ve been friends since we were about six years old. I can still remember when his family moved in across the street from me in Florida.
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I was sitting on my front porch with my dog Skipper playing with my dolls. I noticed a small blonde boy come out of the house across the street and walk toward my house.
�Hi!� I called as he came in front of my house.
�Come on up the stairs!� I invited him up. He looked at me oddly for a minute before walking up the stairs.
�What�s your name?� I asked.
�My name is Nick, what�s yours?� he questioned.
�I�m Sa�iyda. This is my dog Skipper.� I introduced.
�Why is your dog named Skipper?� he asked.
�Because I named her after Barbie�s sister, you got a problem?� I asked, pushing him a little.
�No. And you shouldn�t push people, that�s not nice.� He pouted.
I grabbed him and put him in a headlock.
�I�m always nice.� I said, giving him a noogie
�Are you always this violent?� he asked me.
�Only to people I like. Wanna come in for a snack? My mom made cookies.� I said.
�Okay, thanks.� He said, following Skipper and I into the house.
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Ever since that day Nick has been my friend. We�ve always been there for each other. Even when he joined the Backstreet Boys he was still there for me. We were 13 and I had just found out we had to move back to New York.
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�Sai, you�ll never guess what!!� Nick screamed, running into my house.
�What is it Nick? Is it about the group?� I asked.
�Yeah! Lou Pearlman decided to sign us. We�re gonna start looking for more members next week!!� he exclaimed.
I hugged him. It seems that his dreams were coming true. We pulled apart and Nick looked at me.
�What�s wrong?� he asked worriedly.
�Nothing. Don�t worry about it. This is your big day.� I said, trying to play off my news.
�No, tell me now. I�m not going to leave you alone until you tell me.� He said, standing defiantly in front of me.
�Fine, fine. We just found out that we have to move back to New York.� I confessed.
His face dropped. I don�t think I had ever seen him so sad in the seven years we had known each other. I looked in his eyes and I could see tears forming. I felt them sting my eyes also.
�When?� was all he could ask
�Sometime during the summer. My dad is leaving next week.� I replied.
�I don�t want you to leave.� He whispered.
�I don�t want to leave either. I�ve lived here for almost ten years. I want to be close to you. Even though you�re not going to be around here much longer.� I said.
�What do you mean?� he asked
�Nicky, this group is gonna blow up, I know it. You�re gonna travel the world just like you�ve always wanted.� I said.
�But it won�t be the same without you.� He replied.
�I know, but now we have to cherish the days we have together.� I said somewhat sadly.
�I guess so. This really sucks.� He said, hugging me again.
That was one of the hardest days I had dealt with. We held each other tightly and cried tears of joy and sadness.
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Now we�re 24. There�s so much crap we�ve dealt with. Relationships, me going to college, him becoming more and more famous. None of it was easy, especially relationships and dating. Nick was first to ever be in a serious relationship. Don�t get me wrong, I loved Mandy but I was jealous because for the first time, I wasn�t the most important girl in his life anymore. That was really hard on me.
He totally changed once they started dating. I practically never saw him and I usually had to call other people to see how he was doing. I was pretty resentful but when they broke up, I was the first person he called. I sat on the phone with him while he cried about how much he loved her and how badly she hurt him. I told him what he wanted to hear and how I would always be there for him no matter what.
I wasn�t really big on relationships as a teen. Had guys I dated once in awhile or messed around with but it never lasted more than two weeks. Nick was never happy about the fact that I would never commit to any of these guys. Sometimes the guys I chose angered him to no end, so he almost hit the roof when he found out that I was messing with his 15-year-old brother Aaron. I was almost 23.
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�I can�t believe you!� Nick exclaimed.
�Nick, what�s the big deal?� I asked.
�What�s the big deal? He�s 15! It�s against the law!� he pointed out.
�No kidding. We knew what we were doing.� I replied.
�Then are you just stupid? What were you thinking?� he yelled.
�You know, yelling at me isn�t going to make me listen to you.� I reminded
�How else am I supposed to make you realize that what you two did was wrong?� he asked.
�Nick, I know what we did what wrong. But if you would just calm down.� I replied.
�Calm down? Do you know what could happed if anyone finds out?� he asked
�Yes I do. And I thought about all of that before I did anything.� I said
�And you still did it why?� he inquired.
�If you haven�t noticed Nick, I�m not a 12 year old anymore. Many guys find me very attractive. Your brother happens to be one of them.� I informed him
�I know you�re not 12. But my 15 year old brother?� Nick whined
�Nick, chill. It�s not like I�m gonna date him. It was just sex.� I replied.
�Eww, that was more than I needed to know.� He pouted.
�Oh grow up.� I spat.
�No, you grow up. You�re almost 23 years old and you�ve never been in a serious relationship. What are you waiting for?� he asked me.
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Not too long after that conversation, I met Chris. He was the sweetest guy I�d ever met. We hit it off right away and started dating a few weeks after we met. Things were perfect. I was actually falling in love with him. I had finally found that serious relationship that everyone wanted me in. Of course I did get a little caught up with Chris, but that�s normal. He was the first guy I had ever truly loved and he loved me and he was such a prince that I couldn�t help it.
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�Hey Nicky, what�s up?� I asked.
�Shocking, you�re actually calling me. What�s his face isn�t around?� he asked.
�No. He�s working. And I left you a message yesterday but you didn�t call me back.� I pouted.
�I figured you were too busy to talk.� He said.
�Nick, you know I�m never too busy for you.� I reminded.
�Do I? It doesn�t feel that way.� He said.
�Nick, I call you once a week�or at least I try to.� I replied.
�When you can pull yourself away from Chris.� He said.
�I can�t win with you can I? You get mad at me because I�m not in a committed relationship and then when I get in one, you�re still mad. What�s your problem?� I asked.
�You�ve been like, completely ignoring me for the past 6 months!� he exclaimed.
�Wait, so it�s okay for me to play second fiddle to your girlfriend du jour, but it�s not okay for you? You are such a hypocrite.� I snarled.
�No, you just don�t appreciate me. You better be careful. When this all blows up in your face, I won�t be there.� He said
�Fine! I don�t need you!� I yelled.
�Fine!� he yelled back.
We both slammed the phone down angrily. I couldn�t believe him!
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We haven�t talked since. Of course, things between Chris and me ended. It wasn�t a nasty breakup. We�re still friends but our work schedules just got too hectic. With his recording a new album and my rehearsing for the show I was in, it just wasn�t fair. I wasn�t sad but I still wanted someone to talk to. I called Nick and left him a message knowing the odds of him calling me back were negative a million. Realizing that there wasn�t really anyone else I could call, I turned on the radio knowing I might find something to make me feel better.
I heard them announce a song I had heard a million times before. It was one of my favorites. This time though, I really found the meaning in it. It sounded like Nick and I.
You were the one who I could tell my deepest fears
And you were the one who always wiped away my tears
When he hurt me you were my prince straight from above
Like a fool I never saw you were falling in love
So now I've lost everything
Cause now you say you're gone forever more
So who will I..
Who will I run to?
Who will I turn to?
Now that you left me behind
Who will dry my tears when I cry
Who will I run to?
And who will I turn to?
Now that you're not here in my life
You were the one I took for granted all those years
And you were the one I should have known, It was so clear
How could I be so blind not to see what's before my eyes
I'll get you back here with me, if it takes the rest of my life
Cause I would do anything
Cause I want you back forever more
So who will I...
Who will I run to?
Who will I turn to?
Now that you left me behind
Who will dry my tears when I cry
Who will I run to?
And who will I turn to?
Now that you're not here in my life
I would gladly turn back the hands of time
If I could know that I would have you here with me
I realized that I was blind but now I finally see
I need you back here in my life
Ooh baby can't it be
Who will I run to?
Who will I turn to?
Now that you left me behind
Who will dry my tears when I cry
Who will I run to?
And who will I turn to?
Now that you're not here in my life
Who will be there for me
Who's gonna rescue me
Who's gonna share my dreams
Who's gonna mend this broken heart
Ooh baby
It all started to make sense. He was always jealous when I would talk about new guys or if he would see my flirting with a guy. He was in love with me. The idea seemed a little far-fetched to me but there was once instance I remembered that could have been a sign.
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One day Nick and I were sitting around at my apartment watching a re-run of Dawson�s Creek. It was one of the episodes where Dawson and Joey were dating.
�Wouldn�t it be funny if we started dating?� Nick asked.
I laughed. �Are you serious?�
�Yeah. I think we�d make a cute couple.� He said.
�No way. That would be so creepy.� I said.
�Why would it be creepy?� he asked
�Dude, you were my best friend when I thought boys had the cooties.� I reminded
�And you were there for me when girls were the enemy.� He replied.
�Exactly. You�re like my brother.� I said.
�Well you know it�s better to date your best friend than a complete stranger.� He stated.
�Yeah I know but I just can�t see us together.� I said.
�You know, lots of girls would love to date me.� He said defensively
�So, go date one of them then.� I spat back.
�You have a great guy sitting right in front of you and what do you do?� he asked me.
�I laugh at him and tell him to pass me the Cheez Doodles.� I replied.
He pouted and handed me the Cheez Doodles. I thought it was odd really.
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Looking back I should have seen the signs. Maybe I did and wanted to ignore them. But how did I feel about him? I actually sat and thought about it. I always got jealous when he had a new girlfriend and I hated most of the girls he dates. God, I hate not being the only girl in his life (with the exception of his sisters). Maybe he had a point�it was better to date your best friend instead of a stranger. But just because I wanted him to myself didn�t mean I want to date him. I also don�t want anyone else to date him. Nick would make a good boyfriend though. I mean, he knows everything about me. He�s really romantic and he is very attractive�oh my God! Where are these thoughts coming from?
I guess they�ve always been in the back of my mind. I tried to suppress them but I guess they�re tired of being suppressed. Great, I finally let these feelings out and Nick�s not talking to me. I had to get him to talk to me somehow. I figured that I should go to bed and try in the morning.
After I got home from work, I picked up the phone and called Nick. He actually answered.
�Hello?�
�Nick, it�s me. We need to talk.� I said.
�No we don�t. I have nothing to say to you.� He replied
�Nick please�� I started but he hung up on me.
I called back and he didn�t answer. I waited for the machine to pick up and left him a message.
�Nick, I know you�re listening to this but I�m not gonna say anything about that. I wanted to tell you that Chris and I broke up but I assume you heard my message about that. I�ve been doing a lot of thinking since then. Remember when you said that we�d make a cute couple? I think you were right. Nicky, I realized that I love you. Head over heels, butt crazy, the whole nine. I don�t know how you feel, but please call me back. I love you.� And I hung up.
The only thing left to do is wait. I can�t believe that I did that. I really hope he calls back. I really want to see him. Damn him for living all the way in Florida. I needed to take a shower so I brought the phone into the bathroom just in case. I just finished washing my hair when the phone rang. I stuck my head out and picked up the phone, hoping it was Nick.
�Hello?�
�You weren�t kidding were you?�
�Nick?� I asked
�Yeah. Were you kidding when you left that message on my machine?� he asked
�No, of course not. I love you Nick Carter.� I said firmly.
�You don�t know how long I�ve waited to hear you say that.� He replied.
�I�m sorry.� I apologized.
�Don�t be sorry. The important thing is that you said it.� He replied.
�You haven�t said it though.� I pointed out.
�I love you.� He said happily.
�Good. So, what are we gonna do now?� I asked.
�What do you mean?� he wondered.
�Well, I know how much you hate long distance relationships.� I replied.
�We practically have one now.� He pointed out.
�It�s different though. Now we�re just best friends but in five minutes we could be more than that.� I reminded.
�Then we should just say that we�ll see what happens.� He replied
�I guess that sounds good to me.� I said.
�Don�t worry, everything will work out.� He assured me.
�I know.� I yawned.
�Are you tired?� he asked.
�A little. But I wanna talk to you.� I yawned again.
�We can talk tomorrow.� He said.
�I wanna talk to you now.� I whined sleepily.
�Baby, you�re gonna fall asleep on me in two seconds.� He said.
�I will not.� I pouted.
�Yes you will. Go to bed.� He ordered.
�Fine.� I pouted again.
�Love you Babs.� He said using a nickname from when we were kids.
�Love you too Buster.� I said smiling and hanging up.
Well everything is out in the open now. What�s going to happen next I don�t know. But I�m happy.