�Twenty-one, why?� Sunshine asked.
�It�s just that Howie never said and it was bothering mama,� Pollyanna said. �And you look young.�
�I�m twenty-one so your mom doesn�t need to worry no more,� Sunshine said.
�Mrs. Richardson, you have a phone call,� a guy said handing her a phone. �It�s your son.�
�If you�ll excuse me,� Mrs. Richardson apologized getting up.
She walked away and Pollyanna asked, �Do you know if Howie has his video camera with him?�
�If he does it�s either on the bus or in his bag,� Sunshine replied. �He never leaves home without that thing. Just like Des doesn�t leave home without her box of condoms.� The two girls glared at each other.
�Yeah, he has it,� Josephine said. �He got Sunn and Des� fight on camera.�
�Then I�ll go look,� Pollyanna said.
�I�ll help ya,� Sunshine said. �It�ll go faster.� Both girls got up and started walking.
�I�ll check the bus and you check the dressing room.�
Sunshine just nodded and Pollyanna went straight, as Sunshine turned, went a little way, opened a door and went in. She found Howard�s bag and had to move a pair of pants to look inside. When she laid the pants down she heard something hit the floor.
Sunshine bent down to see what it was and hoped it didn�t break. She looked around on the floor, but didn�t see anything. As she went to get up a sparkle caught her eye. She got a closer look and saw that it was a necklace. She realized that it wasn�t one of the Boys�, because the chain was way too thin. She looked to see if anyone was coming and as she saw that no one was there she picked up the necklace. She looked at the necklace and almost dropped it on the floor again when she saw what it was exactly. She got up off the floor and sat on the bench, staring at the necklace.
The necklace was one she wanted when she went to New York with the Boys for New Year�s. It was a diamond heart pendant with �I love you� on the inside and it was on a gold chain. The only person she showed it to was Nickolas and she figured he must�ve gotten it for her when he left and went to get something. He never got the chance to give it to her though and she felt even worse. She put her hand on her stomach, as it began to turn. It felt like she was going to vomit at any moment and just wanted to get out of there.
Damn she felt so bad about the way she treated Nickolas. She knew Nickolas cared about her, but she never realized just how much until now. Her heart started to break and the tears filled her eyes. This was just making things even worse for her. She had no idea what to do now. She was just going to stay with Howard, but now she couldn�t. Not after finding this necklace and knowing how much Nickolas wanted her and cared for her. She sighed and looked at the necklace again, as she was called. She stuffed the necklace in her pocket and wiped her eyes then left the dressing room.
�There you are,� Pollyanna said. �I found the camera.�
�Good,� Sunshine said taking a deep breath. �I�ll catch up in a bit.� Pollyanna nodded and Sunshine just stood there a moment before going back into the dressing room to freshen up.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sunshine sat alone outside and looked at the necklace in her hand. She didn�t understand why Nickolas just didn�t give it to her to begin with. Things would probably be a lot different right now and he wouldn�t be wondering how she really felt about him. With this necklace she finally knew how Nickolas felt about her and she hated herself. If she hadn�t been such a bitch about the whole sex thing and that night on the beach then she and Nickolas would still be together. He would�ve given her the necklace and everything would be great between them. She could be going with him when he had to go work on his solo album.
Nothing was going to be the same though. The moment she broke up with Nickolas everything changed. Everything went down hill for her at that moment also. Things were so great with Nickolas and she had to screw it up just like she screwed everything else up. She had no one to blame except for herself. Nickolas wasn�t to blame. Howard wasn�t to blame. No one was to blame. She was the only one to blame. Damn she was an idiot. God knew she didn�t want to be with Howard and she wasn�t happy with him. The only thing she knew what to do was to break up with Howard and take Nickolas back.
Nickolas was the only one she wanted from the moment they met. She knew she wanted him before then, but after meeting him it confirmed how much she wanted him. She had him for a few months and then she didn�t. All because she was afraid she would end up sleeping with him. Hell, it�s what she wanted with Nickolas anyway. But they were only together, like, three months and were already getting hot and heavy. She didn�t want to be like her friends and sleep with the guy as soon as he showed interest. She wanted it to be special, romantic, memorable; she wanted her first time to be with Nickolas.
She looked at the necklace again as she heard, �Hey, Sunnie Jo.� She looked and saw Danielle. She stuck the necklace back in her pocket, as Danielle sat next to her. �Whatcha doing?�
�Thinking,� Sunshine replied. �You?�
�Thinking.� Sunshine sighed. �Something wrong?�
�No�nothing I can�t handle.�
�Ok.�
�So what�s up?�
�I�ve been thinking.� Sunshine looked at her. �I�ve been thinking about this since you broke up with Nick and got with Howie.�
�What?�
Danielle waited a moment then said, �I think Howie played a part in your break up.�
Sunshine looked at her. �Excuse me?�
�I�m serious. Ever since he knew about you and Nick he was trying to get you apart. For all anyone knows he could�ve kept Nick from being on time for your dates.�
�Dani, I told you why I ended it.�
�And that�s a good reason, but I know for a fact his lateness bothered you. If my date was late all the time it would sure the hell bother me.�
Sunshine sighed. �What are you saying?�
�What if Nick asked Howie for some advice on romance? Or what if Howie volunteered to help him out in hopes that his plan would split you and Nick up? V said Howie basically had it planned out. She said he never said he did, but she knew what he meant and shit.�
�I highly doubt Howie would ruin his best friend�s relationship with a girl.�
�I think if he wanted the girl bad enough he would.� Sunshine shook her head. �You have to at least give it some thought, Sunshine. Why the hell would Nickolas purposely be late to meet you when everyone knows how he feels about you? He knows that looks aren�t important to you. Hell, when we met him he looked like a fucking bum and you were still smitten. That didn�t stop you any from wanting him.� Sunshine sighed. �I really think you should think about it. Hell, talk to Howie about it if ya must, but if he says no then you know he�s lying.�
Sunshine shook her head and got up. �I told you the reason why I broke up with Nickolas. It was because I was afraid we�d end up having sex and not because he was late to meet me.�
�Don�t give me that shit, Sunshine Josephine Robinson, because I know you better than that. Yeah, you were afraid of having sex, but you were also angry because Nick was late. And I�m telling you Howie had something to do with it.�
�Nick and Howie are best friends and he knew how I felt about Nick.�
�Do you think friendship really matters when someone wants someone else�s girlfriend or boyfriend so bad? They would do anything to get in there and just because Howie is so sweet and shit it doesn�t make him any different.�
�I have a lot more to deal with than wondering if my boyfriend sabotaged my relationship with my last boyfriend, Danielle. I just don�t want to be bothered with this right now. I just lost one of my best friend�s because she couldn�t handle the truth and called me a lesbian bitch. You have no idea how much that hurts.� Danielle just looked at her. �If ya don�t mind I just want to be by myself right now.�
�Alright.�
Sunshine watched Danielle walk away and sat back down a few moments before she heard, �Uh, Sunshine.� She looked and saw Destiny standing there. �May we talk?�
�What�s to talk about?� Sunshine asked.
�I just wanted to apologize for calling you a lesbian bitch and everything else I said to you. I was wrong and you were right.� Sunshine just looked at her. �You were just pointing out the truth to me and I didn�t want to hear it. I was wrong.�
�So was I.�
�No you weren�t and I don�t want you to apologize. Yes my mother is a slut who doesn�t know who my real father is and I can�t ignore that.� She sighed and sat next to Sunshine. �I don�t want to end up like my mother and have a kid or a few and not know who their father is. You�re right; I shouldn�t sleep with every guy I date. I�m going to start playing it safe like you do.� Sunshine didn�t say anything and watched the people walk by. �I actually envy that about you.� Sunshine looked at her. �Honestly I do. I�d probably be a lot happier if I waited until I fell in love like you are.�
�Yep, this is me happy, Des. Can�t you see my excitement?� Destiny just looked at her. �Apology accepted, blah, blah, blah, yeah we can still be friends, blah, blah, blah.� She sighed.
�Everything all right?�
�Yes; everything�s just peachy. I just want to be left alone if ya don�t mind.�
�Not at all.�
�Thank you.� Destiny got up and Sunshine watched her walk away before getting the necklace back out of her pocket.
CHAPTER 46
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