�We live here,� Alyssa replied.
�Ya do?� Valondra said sarcastically and smiling. �I didn�t think ya�s did anymore.�
�You�re funny,� Charisma said.
�You guys are never here.�
�We do have boyfriends,� Lillie said. �Just like you.�
�So. I never see ya.�
�Whatever,� Alyssa said. �You�ve seen us for the past two months.�
�Your point is?�
�Nothing. Forget it. Where�s Nick?�
�With his family. Aaron�s leaving for New York tonight and he wants to spend some time with his brother so I came home.�
�Oh. Kev had some business to do.�
�Oh.� Valondra looked at Charisma and Lillie.
�Alex is with mom,� Charisma said.
�And Howie�s with Mama and Papa D,� Lillie said.
�Oh,� Valondra said sitting at the table.
�What�s wrong?� Charisma asked worried.
�Nothing,� Valondra lied and they all just looked at her.
�What is it?� Alyssa asked. Valondra looked at them. �You can tell us.�
�Nick and I almost had sex.�
�What happened?� Lillie asked.
�I couldn�t do it. We were really close too, but I pushed him away just like every other time.�
�So you�re not ready,� Alyssa said. �No biggy.�
�I am ready, but I can�t do it.�
�What�s the problem?�
�I don�t know.�
�Are you still upset by the whole issue back in May?� Charisma asked and Valondra just looked at her. �Nothing happened, Lon. Nick loves you.�
�I know. I just�I don�t know.�
�Do you love Nick?� Lillie asked.
�Yes I love Nick. With all my heart.�
�But some thing�s stopping you from going all the way,� Charisma said. �Even though you�re ready for it. So what is it?�
�I don�t know.�
�Yes you do,� Alyssa said.
�I don�t know.�
�Lon, I�ve known you my whole life and know when you�re lying. Tell us what it is.� She just looked at them as they looked at her. �Lon, ya can�t just ignore it. Ya have to talk about it whether it�s with us or with Nick. You�ll feel better.�
�It�s not that easy.�
�Why not?� Charisma asked.
��Cause it ain�t, alright?� She ran upstairs.
�Way to go,� Charisma said to Alyssa.
�Me? I�m not the one that brought up May,� Alyssa said. �You did knowing ho she feels about it.�
�It�s always my fault,� Charisma said. �I love you too.�
�Both of you shut up,� Valondra said standing at the bottom of the stairs. �It doesn�t matter.� She walked over to the refrigerator.
�Lon, I�m sorry,� Charisma said. �I didn�t mean��
�Forget it. I�m sorry for snapping at you guys. You�re just trying to help.�
�We didn�t mean to pressure you,� Alyssa said.
�You didn�t. I�m just so stressed.�
�Over what?� Lillie asked.
�Everything. Nick�s mom, the wedding, my parents, remembering my lines�just everything.�
�The wedding�s in the summer,� Alyssa said.
�I know. I�m beginning to feel that it�s too soon, ya know. Nick wants to elope, Jane wants us to reconsider, the Preacher�s trying to get us to pick a new day�maybe it�s a bad idea to get married next summer and just push it back.�
�Do you really want that?� Lillie asked. �It�s been your dream to marry Nick since you saw him.�
�I know.� She smiled.
�You should talk to Nick. He is the groom after all.�
�Duh! What if he doesn�t understand?�
�He will,� Alyssa said. �When�s the wedding?�
�July.�
�You still have nine months to decide,� Charisma said.
�Yeah.�
�Talk to him,� the girls said in unison.
�I will. Sheesh. After the tours over. I don�t want him stressing out over it while on stage.�
�Always thinking about Nick first,� Alyssa said.
�I want him happy. I always put him before me.�
�Yes you do,� Charisma said.
�But there�s nothing wrong with that,� Lillie said.
�Nope,� Valondra agreed as she sat at the table again. �I�m only going to be 21 so maybe I�m too young to get married right now.�
�Do you actually believe that?� Alyssa asked and Valondra just shrugged. �If Kev wanted me to marry him right now I would.�
�That�s because you�re ready to get married. That�s all you talk about.�
�Aren�t you ready?� Charisma asked as she looked at them. �You�re not, are you?�
�No.�
�Then why did you say �yes�?� Alyssa asked. �Instead of �not right now �cause I�m not ready�.�
�I only said �yes�, because I love Nicky. Even though I wasn�t ready, and still ain�t, I said �yes� to keep Nick happy.�
�Valondra.�
�What?�
�You shouldn�t leave Nick think you�re really ready to get married. It ain�t fair to him. He so wants to marry you and is looking forward to the big day.�
�I know and I feel bad. I don�t want to tell him, because he�ll be upset, but I do want to tell him so he knows.�
�So tell him,� Charisma urged. �He has a right to know.�
�I know. I just don�t want to hurt him.�
�You won�t if ya tell him the truth,� Alyssa said. Valondra didn�t say anything. �Tell him tonight.� She looked at her. �You can have the house to yourself tonight, call him up, and make him dinner.�
�I don�t know.�
�Do it,� Lillie said. �I�m going to be with Howie.�
�And I�ll be with Alex,� Charisma added.
�I have plans with Kevin,� Alyssa said. �So you get the house to yourself.�
�Fine,� Valondra said getting up. �But excuse me. I have lines to learn.� She ran upstairs.
�She better tell him,� Alyssa said.
�Well, it�s not our business,� Lillie said.
�She�s stubborn so she most likely won�t,� Charisma said. �I have to go though. I�ll see ya�s later.�
�See ya,� Alyssa said.
�Later,� Lillie said, as Charisma left the kitchen. �Do you think Lon will tell Nick?�
�Who knows with her? I�m hoping she does though.�
�Same here.�
�I have to get ready so excuse me.�
�Yep.� Alyssa went upstairs and Lillie went to the parlor.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Hey, Alyssa,� Storm said when she walked from the kitchen.
�Storm, Toni,� Alyssa said hugging the two girls.
�You look nice,� Strom said.
�Thanks. Kev and I are going out.�
�Cool,� Antoinette said. �Where are the others?�
�Riz is with Alex, Lil is with D, and Lon�s in the kitchen. Ya guys can�t stay though.�
�Why not?� Storm asked.
�I told Lon she can have the house to herself tonight to talk to Nick. So she�s making supper for the two of them.�
�Ok,� Antoinette said. �We�ll take our stuff upstairs and go. Right, Storm?�
�Yep,� Storm agreed.
�Where�s J and Lance?� Alyssa asked.
�They went home,� Alyssa replied.
�Oh,� Alyssa said as there was a knock. �That must be Kev.� She walked to the door as the phone rang and Valondra walked from the kitchen.
�I thought I heard you guys,� Valondra said hugging Antoinette as Storm picked up the phone. �Did ya have fun?�
�Yeah,� Antoinette said.
�Hi, ladies,� Kevin said once inside.
�Hey,� the girls said.
�Lon, it�s for you,� Storm said handing her the phone. �It�s the Florida hospital.�
�It�s probably Nick joking around,� Valondra said taking the phone. �He�s always playing.�
�I don�t think its Nick joking around,� Storm said, as they all looked at her.
�Hello,� Valondra said into the phone.
�Is this Valondra Summers?�
�This is her.�
�Is Nick Carter your fianc�?�
�Yes he is.�
�I�m sorry to have to tell you this, but Mr. Carter has had and auto accident.�
�Excuse me?� They all looked at her.
�He was in an automobile accident.�
�Are-Are-Are-Are-Are you sure?�
�Yes I am. It would be in your best interest if you came down to the hospital immediately.�
�I understand.�
�Are you capable of driving down here on your own?�
�Yes.�
�Then come down to the Florida hospital and we�ll update you on Mr. Carter�s condition.�
�I�ll be right there.�
�Alright.�
�Thank you.� She turned off the phone as the others continued looking at her.
�What is it?� Kevin asked concerned.
�Nicky was in an accident,� Valondra replied as they all just looked at her.
CHAPTER 7
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