Alesha walked through the door of her apartment, happy and relieved to finally be back at home. Nothing of great importance had happened in her last two days at the Tampa store. She hadn't seen Nick again and had only caught him online once. That had only been for a few minutes. He had seemed terribly preoccupied. Alesha now understood what he had meant by saying he was "addicted" to talking to her. Glancing at the answering machine, she saw that she had a message. Three of them actually.
"Alesha, mom here. Just thought I'd call to see how you are doing. Hadn't heard from you in a while. Call me when you get home. Love you." >BEEP<
"Hey Lesh. It's Lori. Ummm...would it be okay if I came down a little sooner. Some stuff just happened and I really don't wanna stick around right now...Call me when you get this." >BEEP<
The last message was a hang up, so she deleted all the messages and picked up the phone. Alesha dialed Lori's number while she turned on the TV and VCR to watch her favorite BSB video, Homecoming:Live in Orlando".
"Hello?" Lori answered.
"Hey Chickie."
"Alesha! What'cha up to?"
"Well, calling you, lounging...watching our "boys". I just got home. What's with the asking if you can come down early?"
"Well, Dad has been seeing this chick and she and I don't really get along too well. Well, she's coming up here and staying for like 2 weeks. And it's EXACTLY 2 weeks before I come down there."
Alesha smiled, "Darlin, ya know you are welcome anytime you wanna come here."
They chatted about Alesha's trip to Tampa, Lori's trip to Florida, and of course BSB. They had their usual friendly debate over who was sexier, Howie or AJ. The conversation began to wane, so they said goodbye and hung up.
Alesha went into the back room and turned on the CD player. One of her favorite CDs was in, a compilation of old 80s love songs, so she turned it up and logged onto the computer.
"YOU HAVE 5 NEW MESSAGES"
"Only 5? Wow." Alesha quickly scanned them and found 2 from the address she was looking for. One was from early this morning, the other from about an hour ago. She clicked on the one from this morning.
Hey babygirl. Sorry I haven't been on much lately. One of my really close friends got extremely sick and was taken to the hospital. We aren't sure if she's going to make it out this time. I have to go back in a few minutes, but I didn't want you to think I was forgetting you. Yours always...Nick
She quickly clicked on the second message.
Hey sweetie. They made me come home. She isn't getting any better. But they didn't want me hanging around there anymore. The fans were being ridiculous...completely oblivious to the fact that I was there because someone I knew was sick or dying...*shakes his head* So they sent me home before I went off on any of them. So, I decided to hide in my room and email you. *sigh* What will I do if she...well, you know...She's been my best friend since I was like 5. People swore we'd grow up and get married one day. HA!! We never looked at each other as anything more than friends. We tried dating once. But it was too awkward. Felt like we were from Kentucky or something (no offense Bri) She's my big sister. Been there for me no matter what. Even after the group and I made it, and people were bugging me about it, she was there for me. I feel so empty just thinking she might not be here. Like a piece of me is gone. But the strangest thing is...I only feel that way when I'm away from you...Yes, I know...I've never been "with" you, but I feel you with me. I don't know...your presence or something. Like an angel watching over me. I can't explain it. I only started talking with you a couple of nights ago. I don't even know your name. But having you as a part of my life seems to make the thought of losing Emily a little more bearable. God. 15 years of my life will be gone in an instant if she leaves me. I'll never be able to get those years back. Not that I would really want to...the memories are great...but the pain that comes with them sucks...Can I ask you a really big favor? I can't believe I'm about to do this. But will you call me? I can just imagine how soothing and calming your voice would be to me right now. If you are too busy, I understand. Anyways...thanks for letting me babble. Nick.
Alesha sat staring at the screen. Nick needed her. He needed her to be strong for him. His shoulder. She didn't even know him that well. Calling him would be the end of the charade of Alesha vs. Celtieon. He would know they were one and the same people. The part of her that would do anything for her friends compelled her to pick up the phone and dial the number. The phone had connected and was ringing before she even realized she had actually done it.
"Hello?" a soft voice answered. Nick sounded so empty, lonely and exhausted.
"Poor guy, what am I gonna say?" Alesha thought to herself. "What am I gonna do or say to make things better for him? There is nothing that I can do to ease his pain. I know. I've been there. I can listen to him, talk to him...but I don't even really KNOW him."
"Hello?" Nick asked again searching for a clue as to who was on the other end of the phone line.
"Ummm...Nick?" Alesha answered nervously.
"Yeah...Ummm...who's this?" he asked confused at the unfamiliar voice.
"Umm...Alesha."
"Alesha? Alesha from the watch store Alesha? How's you get my number?" A spark of life had found its way back into his voice as he asked her that question.
"Umm...let's see...'How do you begin and end a question with the same word like that? You got skill?'" she said softly.
"You're...oh my GAWD!! But...you said that you worked at the electronics store...but you work at the watch store," he said obviously confused.
"I work at E!Zone part time off and on," she said laughing softly.
"Ahh, I see. So it was you who emailed me. Hmmm...no wonder we connected so well in real life," he said laughing quietly.
They talked about random topics for a while, the bond that they had from online growing tighter as they talked on the phone. He had completely changed in the few short moments of their conversation. He was still upset and sad, but he had gone from the dark and depressed man, to almost his normal cheerful and playful self.
"I really didn't think you would call," he said. "Be kinda intimidating for me if a famous person asked me to call them to soothe their nerves."
"You're famous?" she asked. Alesha sighed. "Nick, I didn't even think about that when I called you. You being famous never crossed my mind. You were a friend that needed me. That is all I thought of. I wasn't going to call because I didn't want you to think that. It happened before I could really think about it, though. I guess I just knew instinctively how much you needed to talk to someone. Which has me curious...where's Brian?"
Nick sighed. "He doesn't like Em. They dated for a bit a couple of years ago. It didn't really work out. And as much as I know he would be upset, he hates the fact that I'm so close to her. He thinks that she is only my friend because of the attention it brings her."
"And what do you think?" Alesha asked.
"Sometimes I wonder. Being in this business it's hard not too. But then I remember that we had been friends long before now. I don't really worry about it. She really hasn't changed how she acts around me, and she doesn't treat me any different."
Suddenly a there was a tremendous CRASH!! from her front room. "What was that?" he asked.
"Oh. Shiloah. I'll be right back." Alesha sighed and sat the phone down. She grabbed the cordless phone and clicked it on. "Lovely," she grumbled. "There is glass everywhere."
"Who or what is Shiloah?" Nick asked.
"My cat. She is a major pain in the ass. She just knocked a mural off the wall and the frame busted and got glass everywhere." Alesha sighed. "Dumbass," she said throwing a pillow at her cat.
"What a wonderful relationship you have with your pet," he said laughing.
"Ya think? She's not just my pet though...she's kinda my best friend. Keeps me company. Keeps me from getting too lonely."
"Lonely? You live by yourself?" he asked.
"Yup. Have for about 3 years now."
"I still live at home. Well, kinda. There's a beach house on my parent's property. It's where I stay when I'm at home. Kinda like having my own, but not really. Awesome view of the ocean." He yawned suddenly. "Damn. It's 9:00. Wow. How long have we been on the phone?"
Alesha laughed. "Oh, since around 5:00."
"How do you do that?" he asked.
Confused, Alesha asked, "Do what?"
"Make the time pass so quickly?"
She shrugged. "Pure talent."
He laughed. "HA!! The Crow. Sara on her skateboard talking to Ernie Hudson's' character at the hot dog stand."
Grinning, she said, "Didn't even think of that. Hehe." They laughed as they began a game that they had started playing the first time they had talked.
"Okay, I got one. 'Don't bogardt the can...man'," he said.
"'What are you? Retarded?'," Alesha answered. "Reality Bites. Ummm...'Deacon? Not anymore.'".
"Awesome likeness. Blade!" he said. "Let's see...'Oops? What do you mean oops? I don't like oops.'."
"Independence Day," she replied quickly.
They spouted movie quote trivia to each other until they couldn't think of anymore.
Laughing Alesha said, "You do realize it's now 11:30."
He gasped. "See...this is what I'm talking about."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes as Bad English sang softly from her stereo.
o~/Cause sometimes it seems/ Like this world's closing in on me/ And there's no way of breaking free/And then I see you reach for me/Sometimes I wanna give up/I wanna give in/I wanna quit the fight/But then I see you baby/And everythings all right/~o
He sighed and said softly, "Guess I should let you go. Don't want to run your phone bill too high."
"I guess," she said.
"I don't want to though," he whined quietly.
She smiled. "I know...me either. I'm glad I only have to go to work for an hour tomorrow...would be ready to pass out if I had to work a full shift."
"Really," he asked. "What time?"
"Around 1:00, why?" she replied.
He laughed. "Just curious. Anyway, guess I'll talk to you later. Now that I have your number, I can call you."
"You have my -" she started. "Ahh...caller ID."
He laughed. "Goodnight sweetie. Have pleasant dreams. And...thanks for calling me."
"You never have to thank me for doing what I'm supposed to do. And being that I'm your friend, I'm supposed to be here for you. I'm glad that you gave me the chance to do that. Goodnight hon," she said as they hung up.
Alesha turned off the computer and all the lights. She got ready for bed and crawled in. Sighing, she switched off the lamp. She lay staring at the ceiling thinking and worrying about Nick. Sometime, in the early hours of morning, she slipped off to sleep.
