�Is that really your business?� Sunshine asked.
�Yeah,� Danielle said. �We�re friends.� Sunshine shrugged. �C�mon what�s the reason? I mean one minute you�re all pissed at each other and then the next you�re all buddy buddy.�
�I don�t understand why it�s anyone�s business,� Sunshine rebutted. �Nick understands my reason�s so that�s all that matters.�
�What happened?� Destiny asked.
Sunshine sat there eating a few minutes and then said, �We almost had sex.�
�So, sex is fun,� Destiny said.
�Because you�re a fucking whore,� Sunshine stated and Destiny looked at her. �I am not ready to have sex. We were like two seconds from home base and it scared me. That�s why I broke it off.�
�Did he force you into it?� Danielle inquired. �I�ll kill him. I swear I�ll kill him.�
�No, he didn�t force me,� Sunshine assured her.
�He�s lucky,� Danielle said.
�You broke it off, because you didn�t have sex,� Venus replied confused. �That makes no sense at all. You�d think you�d stay with him, because you didn�t have sex and not vice versa.�
�That�s not why I broke it off,� Sunshine said.
�Now you�re getting me all confused,� Venus stated.
�Well if you�ll actually listen,� Sunshine said. �The reason I broke it off is because I knew that if I stayed with him I�d end up sleeping with him and I didn�t want that to happen.�
�Does Nick know?� Destiny asked.
�He does now,� Sunshine replied. �I didn�t tell him at first the real reason, but later on I did. After they went to Europe; we had a long talk.�
�So that�s why he forgave ya so soon,� Danielle said. �At least he understood. Who all knew about it?�
�Just me and Nick,� Sunshine answered. �We agreed not to say anything, but now you guys know and he most likely told the guys.�
�You don�t know that,� Venus said and Sunshine just shrugged.
�There�s Britney and Christina,� Destiny said, as the girls spied them and walked over. �Would you like to join us?�
�Sure,� Christina replied, as her and Britney sat down. �What are you doing here?�
�We�re visiting for two weeks,� Sunshine said.
�But they�re in New York today so we came shopping,� Danielle added. �How about you two?�
�I came to visit Justin, but they�re in New York also,� Britney replied. �So I came shopping and ran into Chris.�
�Cool,� Josephine said.
�I have a few days free before I do my new video,� Christina said and then smiled. �I have an idea. Why don�t you be extra�s in it.�
�Really,� Destiny said.
�Yeah,� Christina said. �They�re always looking for extras in videos.�
�I�d love too,� Sunshine stated.
�This is the opportunity Sunn�s been waiting for,� Venus said.
�And it�s finally here,� Sunshine said getting all excited.
�You can calm down, Sunshine,� Danielle said.
�You try being in my shoes,� Sunshine stated, as the cell Nickolas gave her rang. �Excuse me that might be Howie.�
�I thought you were going with Howie?� Britney said looking at Venus.
�Nuh-uh,� Venus said. �Not my type.�
�I thought Sunn was with Nick?� Christina said.
�Long complicated story,� Venus stated.
�Are you still with Brian, Des?� Christina asked.
�Definitely,� Destiny said. �Nothing can tear us apart.�
�Whatever,� Josephine said rolling her eyes. �That�s what I thought when I was with Alex and look what happened. We ain�t together no more.�
�But you�re with Kevin now,� Danielle stated. �Ya man stealer.� Josephine smiled.
�I�m warning you, Des,� Josephine began, �you and Brian aren�t going to be together forever. Trust me on this.�
�If you say so,� Destiny said. �So, Chris, is there any special man in your life.�
�Not at the moment,� Christina said.
�Stay single,� Sunshine stated and they looked at her. �Relationships bring ya nothing but trouble. Trust me I know.�
�I�ll take your advice,� Christina said.
�Good,� Sunshine said. �So, Brit, how are you and Justin?�
�Great,� Britney replied. �Three wonderful years.�
�Wow,� Destiny said. �When are ya�s getting married?�
�Not anytime soon,� Britney replied laughing. �We agreed we�re too young yet. Justin�s really wonderful though.�
�If ya�s would like to know,� Sunshine began, �that was Howie and they�re on their way home.�
�Even Justin?� Britney questioned.
�Even Justin,� Sunshine answered. �*NSync�s hitching a ride on the BSB jet.�
�Then I�m going,� Josephine said getting up. �When Kevin gets in I want to give him big ole kiss on the smacker.�
�That�s the same thing I want to do to Brian,� Destiny said. �I�ll go with ya.�
�Alright,� Josephine said. �Later ladies.�
�Wait up,� Venus and Danielle said picking up their bags and walking away.
�Hey, guys,� Sunshine said and they turned around. �Aren�t you forgetting something?� She held up her Durango keys and smiled. �I got the vehicle.� They looked at each other. �You can either take the bus or a cab or wait until I�m ready to go. It�s your choice.�
The girls looked at each other and then Danielle said, �We�ll catch the bus.�
�Whatever,� Sunshine said and the four girls walked away. She just sat there finishing her lunch and Britney and Christina both looked at her.
�Sunn,� Britney began, �I know we�re not best friends or anything, but is something bothering you?� Sunshine looked at her. �You have a look.�
�I get that a lot,� Sunshine said.
�If ya want to talk about it we have time,� Christina said and Britney nodded.
�So when is this video being shot?� Sunshine asked.
�This coming Tuesday in L.A.,� Christina replied. �I can call my manager and she can call the director and tell him that I found someone.�
�Cool,� Sunshine said.
�You can go back to L.A. with me tomorrow,� Christina stated. �I�ll even pay for the ticket.�
�Ok, since ya volunteered,� Sunshine said and they laughed. �I ain�t passing that up.� They sat there a few moments in silence while eating. Sunshine threw her trash away and got something else to eat and rejoined her two new friends.
Britney and Christina looked at her and Britney asked, �Are you all right?�
�I just don�t know what to do,� Sunshine replied.
�About what?� Christina asked.
�About Howie,� Sunshine stated. �He�s like so jealous of Nick it ain�t funny.�
�Did you talk to him?� Britney questioned.
�No,� Sunshine said. �I have no idea what to say to him. I mean, everyone knows I got these really strong feelings for Nick and vice versa, but Howie acts like it�s nothing. He knew from the very beginning when we met how I felt about Nick and now it�s like he doesn�t care. He, like, ignores the fact that he knows and it drives me nuts. Like, the other night, we all were at Nick�s having a bar-b-que and shit and he kept asking me if I was ready. I finally had to tell him if he wanted to go home he can and that I�d just get a ride with someone else, ya know.� The two girls nodded. �I don�t want this thing with Howie, but I don�t know how to tell him. The way I act around him should be simple enough ya know.�
�You should just come right out and say it,� Christina replied.
�I try, but I always stop myself,� Sunshine stated. �I guess it�s kind of like the situation with Kevin was. He was oblivious to the fact that we weren�t a couple and thought we were. But I told Howie and everyone else that Howie and I are a couple. I think I was wrong to start anything with him.� She sighed. �I�m so crazy for Nick that this is all making me go insane.�
�Does Nick know how you feel?� Britney asked.
�Yeah,� Sunshine said.
�Why�d you go out with Howie?� Christina wondered.
�Because I was kind of mad at Nick in a way,� Sunshine stated. �I got scared of the way our relationship was going and ended it before anyone knew about it. Howie�s just there now. Nick and I talked about what happened, but I don�t know anymore.� She sighed and sat back. �I just have no clue anymore about anything. The only thing I am sure about right now is that I want an acting career.�
�Maybe you should concentrate on that for now and not on guys,� Britney said. �You seem to be in a real bind.�
�Yeah,� Sunshine agreed. �I just wish I knew what to do.� Britney and Christina nodded and just looked at her.
CHAPTER 42
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