Alesha awoke sometime around 5:00 that evening. She didn't move as she looked around the room. Remembering where she was, she looked over to see that Nick wasn't next to her anymore. There was a note and a rose sitting on his pillow. Smiling softly, she took the rose in one hand, and the note in the other. She touched the softness of the petals to her face as she read the letter.
Dearest Alesha, Don't take my absence from you when you wake as a sign that I'm running away from you. I just needed time to think. I don't regret anything that has happened, other than the time that we had to spend apart. I just hope that you feel the same way. If you awake before I come back, I pray that you will wait for me to return. I love you my darling. And that...that is what scares me. I hope that you don't have to wait too long for me, as I wouldn't want to keep you waiting for anything. Nick
Alesha felt like she was in the middle of a fairy tale as she got up and looked around his room. She didn't touch anything, as she wasn't really snooping, just looking. She looked at the pictures on the walls, the books on his bookshelf, some of his drawings on his table. She sat down at the table and pulled a pencil and some paper towards her. An idea of a story for her comic had just came to her and so she had to draw it out before she forgot it.
Nick walked into the room and seen her sitting at his drawing table writing or sketching something. He snuck up behind her and watched her work. She was drawing her comic of the Backstreet Boys, something new. There was no words written to it yet, but the pictures expressed enough. "God," he thought, "she is beautiful. Everything about her is beautiful." He placed his arms around her neck and kissed her softly on top of her head. "Hey sweetie," he said. "What'cha doing?"
Alesha almost had a heart attack. "Oh my GOD!!" she said, her hands flying to her face in shock. "Where did you come from?"
"Well, most people would respond that they came from their mother, or some such place as that. But I on the other hand, being the strange and unusually unique person that I am, came from outer space."
"Outer space?" she asked, nodding and trying to keep a straight face as she turned around in the chair to look at him.
He nodded solemnly. "Yes," he said sitting on the edge of the bed. "You see, my parents found me in a big hole outside their house one morning. The space ship that I was cruising in, well, it crashed to earth. Swoosh," he imitated a plane flying through the air at an awesome speed. "Something went wrong when we were passing by here, I'm not sure what it was, I was too young. But whatever it was, caused us to end up here. Well, the spacecraft was in shambles...there was NO way it was going to be repaired. Besides, I don't think earth has discovered the type of metal that was used on it. Anyway, they "adopted" me, feeling sorry for me when they seen the mess that was left of my vehicle. And I've been here ever since. Every once in a while I try to contact my home planet, but no one ever answers. It's almost like it doesn't exist."
Alesha couldn't take it anymore. She cracked up laughing. "You are such a freak," she said going over and kissing him softly.
"Ahh, but do you like me that way?" he asked.
Looking at him with a serious look, she shook her head. A look of worry crossed his face and she grinned, "I love you that way, baby."
He laughed and swept her up and carried her into the other room. He placed her on the couch and then sat next to her. "What do-" he started when the phone rang. Grumbling he went over and answered it. "Hello? >pause< What? >pausepause< Hmmm...maybe. I don't know. I'll have to see. >pause< How'd it go? Why do you want to know? >pausepause< How did you find out anyway? >pausepausepause< Whatever. >pausepausepausepause< Sure. Okay. Fine. >pause< No, I said fine. >pausepausepause< What? >pausepausepausepausepause< Howie, you're a dork. >pause< Okay...now can I get back to wooing or whatever the hell it was you called it? >pausepausepause< *laughter* Sure. Okay... >pause< Bye." Shaking his head Nick came back over to the couch. "Do you want to go out with the fellas tonite?" he asked sitting down next to her.
She sighed, "I have to be to work tomorrow. I don't think I can."
He pouted, "Why don't you quit work and just come live here?"
Alesha looked at him as if he was insane, "Ummm...no."
He shook his head. "Didn't think so. Can't you ask that Jim guy to work for you again?"
"Ummm...Nick, I have to pay my rent. Not working means no money...no money means no rent...no rent means no apartment...no apartment means no home."
"But I want to spend time with you," he whined.
Alesha thought for a second. "Hold on," she said reaching for the phone. She dialed a number. >pause< "Yeah Julie, it's Alesha. >pause< Hi, I was wondering. Do you still need someone to work at the store in Tampa this week? >pausepausepausepause< Yeah, Jim, Cyndie, and Daniel can handle my store. >pause< What? >pause< Kay. I was just curious. >pausepausepause< Nah. I have a place to stay. I'm okay. >pausepause< No, no mileage either, although I could claim it if you wanted. >pause< Cool. Okay then. Thanks hon. >pausepause< Yeah well, I changed my mind. >pausepausepause< Byebye."
"What did you just do?" he asked.
"Well, I just asked my supervisor if she still needed someone to work at the University store. She said yes."
"So, does this mean you can go out with us tonite?"
Alesha nodded. "As long as you don't mind me staying here for a few days. And we have to go shopping because unfortunately, I've nothing to wear."
"Oh, that's okay," he said with an evil glint in his eye. "I don't mind it when you have nothing to wear." He reached over and grabbed her and kissed her. AJ walked in just as things were getting heavy.
Clearing his throat he said, "Ummm...yeah."
Nick looked up and grinned, "Oh, hey Bone. How goes it?"
"Apparently well for you, or so it seems," he said looking at me and smiling. "Hey Lesha. Thanks for calling me back," he said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry AJ. I just couldn't motivate myself to do anything. Please don't be mad at me."
He smiled. "You got Boy Wonder there smiling again. How could I be mad at you?" he asked coming over and pushing Nick away from her and hugged her.
Nick grumbled and sulked in the corner of the couch until Alesha came over and snuggled up to him. "That's better," he said smiling. "As I told you Bone. She has eyes for only ONE man."
AJ shrugged. "So. I have eyes for MANY women," he said with a grin. "So, are ya'll going tonite?"
"Where we going?" Alesha asked.
"Clubbing. Dancing. Drinking. Although I don't drink," AJ said with a sly smile. "And if I'm lucky, I'll find myself a chick."
"You'd have to be lucky, cause it wouldn't have anything to do with your looks. Did I mention that you look like a smurf? Well, kinda..." Nick asked looking at AJ's newest dye job, which was a very smurfish shade of blue.
"No, you didn't. Ya like?" AJ asked Alesha.
"Well, I think that it would have been a little cooler if you had gone completely black. I'm talking midnight, velvety, deepest darkest goth black you could find. Then if you streaked it blue...kinda highlighted it with bright blue and a darker blue," she shrugged. "That's just my opinion."
AJ looked at her like she was someone worthy of being worshipped. Nick laughed, "Oh no. Guess who's getting his hair done before he goes out tonite."
AJ grinned, "Oh my God. Where did you come up with that idea?" he asked her.
She shrugged. "I don't know. Just came to me when I was looking at you."
"That is so cool. Oh my God. Can we keep her Nicky? Please?"
"What is she? A pet? Jesus AJ. And if anyone's keeping her, it's me," Nick answered putting his arms around her and smiling.
"Well, can I borrow her like once a week for style suggestions? Pllleeeeaaaassssseeee?" AJ begged.
"Ummm...sure Bone."
"Yeah. Until you guys go back on tour," she laughed. "Then you're on your own buddy."
AJ thought for a minute, "But I could call you."
"Whatever freak. Come on Nick. I need to go shopping."
"Did you just say shopping?" AJ asked his face lighting up like a Christmas tree.
"Ummm, yeah. Why?" she asked.
"Because he's going to want to tag along," Nick grumbled with mock annoyance.
"Of course. I have to check out her sense of style. Can't have you dating a fashion victim, now can I Nickay?" AJ said using the annoying European pronunciation of Nick's name. Looking over her ensemble of khaki cargo pants, army green tank with a white one underneath, and black Doc Martens, "Although, I'm pretty sure, that she's not gonna need much help."
Nick punched AJ lightly in the arm. "Quit staring at her."
AJ grinned, "OOOhhh...someone is feisty tonite. Hehe. I wasn't staring. I was just checking out her outfit. Dork."
Alesha laughed. "So, who's driving?"
"ME!!" AJ and Nick said in stereo. AJ scowled at Nick, who was glaring back.
"But Nicky, we could sit in back and cuddle," Alesha said sweetly.
"Oh," he said. "Ummm...yeah, Bone. You drive." Nick put his arm around Alesha's waist and walked out the front door.
AJ muttered, "God you two are disgusting. I think I liked it better when ya'll wasn't talking."
"Oh shut up, Bone. You're happy and you know it," Nick grinned kissing Alesha.
"Yeah whatever. Just get in the truck," he growled, but his eyes betrayed him as he looked with brotherly pride upon Nick and Alesha. So they drove to the mall, which, as Alesha was about to find out is definitely an experience when in the company of not one, but 2 Backstreet Boys.
