It was the moment of truth.  This moment would change everything.  I was entering "The Parental Zone".

    Overly dramatic?  Ya think?  In spite of all my apprehension, Nick's family was totally accepting of me.  And Nick made no bones about telling me "I told you so."

    When we got off the plane, all I could see was people.  Everywhere.  The airport was so huge, I swear, if I'd been there by myself, I would have been lost already.  Luckily, Nick spotted his family within a couple of minutes, and we headed toward them.  I gripped his hand tightly as we came closer and closer....

    "Nick!!" a little blond boy called as he rushed up to us.  Nick gave him a hug and said "This is my brother, Aaron.  Aaron, this is Sam."

    "Hi Sam, nice to finally meet you.  Nick is always talking about you, we just can't shut him up."

    Nick gave Aaron a playful punch on the arm, and we walked over to meet the rest of his family.  Compared to mine, his was big.  I met his sisters BJ, Leslie, and Angel, and his parents Bob and Jane.  They were all very nice, and Mrs. Carter gave me a hug and said "Welcome to Florida.  I'm sure you'll like it here!"  I thanked her and with that, we all started walking outside.  Eventually we found their van ("Bob, you always forget where we park!"), and we all climbed inside.

    It wasn't a long ride to the Carter's home is Ruskin, but it sure was a rowdy one.  Nick and I sat in the very back of the van, talking quietly, while chaos went on around us.  Aaron was teasing Leslie, BJ was singing a song with Angel, and Mr. Carter had the radio cranked up, playing "We've Got It Goin' On", while Mrs. Carter begged him to turn it down.  All in all, it was an interesting ride.

    When we got to the house, everyone piled out and raced toward the door.  We were all really tired, so Mrs. Carter showed me to the guest bedroom.  It was beautifully decorated in a rose theme, with rose wallpaper, and a bedspread with tiny roses all over it.  "I hope you're comfortable here" she said, "have a good sleep."  She gave me a hug and left the room.  Nick came in a few minutes later to say goodnight.  "Don't be too nervous, ok?  Everything's going to be great, just trust me."  We kissed and he smoothed my hair away from my face.  "I'm just a few rooms away if you need me."

    The next morning, all of Nick's siblings wanted to be the first one to show me around the house.  "I wanna show her the pool!" yelled Leslie.  "I wanna show her my room!" shouted Angel.  "I wanna show her the Nintendo!" called Aaron, who was upstairs peering down at us.  BJ was the only one who wasn't screaming and shouting.  Quietly, she gave me a knowing sideways glance and asked, "Would you like Nick and I to show you around the house?"  I smiled and replied, "Sure, that'd be great."

    When BJ announced that she and Nick would show me around, the other kids all groaned loudly, and headed back into their respective rooms.  We all giggled at them, and then Nick said "Well, that's my family in action.  A little more wild than yours, huh?"  I nodded my agreement as I followed him and BJ outside.  They showed me the pool, and the huge backyard which you could see the ocean from.  They also took me around to the front, and showed me the places that the fans used to come and take grass from on their lawn...and then they showed me the gate that now put an end to that.  I laughed when BJ told me that she used to come outside in the morning and find half the lawn missing, because some crazed fans had come the night before and dug it up, just to get a ‘piece' of Nick.

    "Well, I'll show you my room, and then I'll let Nick show you the rest of the house." BJ announced, as she and Nick led me back into the house.  "I've got to get to school, and besides, you and Nick probably want a little time together before you leave for Europe."

    Half an hour later Angel, Leslie, and BJ were all calling good-bye and heading off for school.  Aaron's tutor had arrived, and they were studying in the den, so Nick suggested that we go for a swim.  I agreed, and we got our stuff on and headed outside.  It was such a beautiful day.  I slid right into the pool and swam a few laps before Nick climbed in.  He swam over to me and asked "So, how do you like it so far?"

    "Everything's great!" I replied, "I just love your family.  I can't believe how friendly they are.  And Florida is great, I feel like..."

    "Samantha!  Telephone's for you, dear!"  Mrs. Carter was calling me from the deck.  I hopped out of the pool and wrapped the towel around myself as I hurried over to her.  She handed me the cordless phone.  "Hello?"

    "Hey Sam, have you forgotten me already?!"  Jayme's voice came through clearly into my ear.

    "Jayms!!  I'm so glad to hear from you!  I miss you so much already..."

    "Sure you do.  You're probably already swimming laps in Nick's pool, soaking up the sun like you truly belong in Florida."

    I giggled.  "As a matter of fact, Nick and I were just taking an early morning swim.  You amaze me Jayme, sometimes I think you're psychic."

    She snickered.  "Nick's mom told me what you were doing, bonehead.  How's the weather over there?"

    "Gorgeous.  I've never seen so much sunshine in my life.  And it's not humid like it gets at home, it's great.....wait a sec, how did you get this number?"

    "Nick gave it to me before he left your place on Tuesday.  He said I should phone you today, ‘cause he figured we'd probably have a lot to gossip about already."

    I turned to see Nick smiling at me.  I blew him a kiss as I pointed to the house, and motioned that I was going up to my room.  He nodded and I went up to my room.  I closed the door and told Jayme "Ok, now we can gossip.  What's going on there?"

    Jayme sighed.  "Well, for one thing, Cam's been asking about you.  He know's something's up, but he's not sure what.  He tried calling your house yesterday after you'd left, and your mom told him you weren't home.  She called me afterwards and told me about it....Sam, she thinks he was high again.  And I saw him this morning walking down the street and his clothes were all torn and his face looked beat up....do you think he might be involved with that gang of guys again?"

    Whoa.  This was not what I'd been expecting.  I thought for a second.  "Have you called his dad about it yet?  He was pretty good about it when we told him last time.  He helped us get Cam into rehab and everything."

    "No, I haven't talked to him yet, but now that you mention it, I will.  Anyway, enough with the depressing news, I have some exciting news!  Kaylee had her puppies last night!  There's four of them, and they're the sweetest little things.  Mom even said that Nat and I could keep one...each!"

    "Awesome!" I replied.  Kaylee was Jayme's Saint Bernard.

    We talked for a while longer, until Jayme said she couldn't possibly afford to ring up the phone bill any more, so we said good-bye.  I went back downstairs, and outside to the pool.  Nick was lying on the edge, waiting for me.  "What do you say we take a trip to Disney World today?" he offered.

    I whooped and jumped up and down.  "Let's go!"

    Nick was really great.  He showed me around and took me on all the best rides, and we had a great day together.  The only thing that was keeping me from being truly happy was the fact that I was worried sick about Cam.

 Chapter Twelve
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