*~*~*~Later that day*~*~*
Nicole had walked home alone, and thats what she wanted, to be alone. She really was tired, she just wanted to chill for a little while but she knew that if she was with AJ and Nick, that wasn't going to happen. Nicole was tired and didn't want to be bothered. Just as Nicole thought that she was going to get a little peace and quiet, she heard the door bell. She knew very well that it was Nick, so she went to get it.
"Hey baby," he said.
"Hi...." she said not as happily as she used to.
"What's wrong?" he said as he watched her go into her house, he soon followed behind her.
"Nothing, I'm just really tired."
"Nicole, I think that theres something more, what is it?"
"Nick, its nothing," she snapped.
"Ok fine, you don't have to bite my head off about it."
"I'm so sorry, Nick," she said and kissed his cheek.
"Your lucky I love you enough to take that abuse," he joked.
"Come on be serious."
"Whats wrong Nicole?"
"Nick, I'm tired thats all."
"I wore you out that much huh?" Nick said and smiled.
"Shut up," she said and smacked his arm.
"Well, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know," Nicole said just as the phone rang, "hold on, I'll be right back." Nicole walked over to get the phone. "Hello?" she answered.
"Hello, Nicole its me."
"Mom?"
"Yeah, look I'm sorry I didn't get to call you yesterday. I know that it was a big birthday for you, your 18 now, but I have something serious to tell you."
"What?" Nicole said a little afraid of what her mother was going to tell her. She had no clue what to expect.
"We're going to have to move back to New York."
"WHAT!?!?!" Nicole yelled, Nick walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Nicole, I am sorry, but your uncle John is very ill and he needs family there. He may not have to much time left to live. We have to be there for him."
"Mom, I don't want to go."
"Look Nicole, you have to."
"Actually mom, no I don't. I am an adult now and I can do anything that I want to and if I...."
"Nicole listen," her mom interrupted, "you are moving back her with me and thats the end of it." Nicole couldn't help but cry. Nick looked at her, he didn't know what was wrong, but he knew that it was bad enough to hurt Nicole.
"Good-bye mom," Nicole said.
"Bye," her mother said and Nicole hung up the phone and Nick wrapped his arms around her.
"Whats wrong?"
"I have to move back to New York."
"What?" Nick said, shocked.
"My uncle got sick and she wants us to move back to New York so that we can be there for him, but Nick I don't want to move," Nicole said through her tears. It was tearing Nick apart inside to see her like this, he had to do something or he was going to lose her.
"Marry me," Nick suddenly said.
"What?"
"Marry me. If you marry me, you won't have to go back to New York."
"Oh my god Nick."
"Come on Nicole."
"I don't know."
"Please, I don't want you to leave me," Nick said.
"Nick... I..."
"We could do it tonight."
"What?"
"Yeah that way your mom can't make you move." Nicole didn't want to move be she wasn't sure if she should marry him just so that she wouldn't have to move.
"No," she said shaking her head.
"Why not?" Nick asked, feeling his heart break because he knew that she was going to have to leave.
"Because it would be wrong. I mean I would only be marring you because it would keep me from moving and that wouldn't be right."
"Don't you love me?" Nick said.
"Yes, but I'm not ready to marry you."
"Please marry me."
"No Nick." Nick closed his eyes and sighed. He wanted her to stay.
"When do you have to move?"
"I don't know, probably when my mom comes back from her business trip, which to tommrrow night."
"What? I don't want you to go that soon," he said.
"Me either but I have to."
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too."
Chapter 7