| Chapter Nineteen |
| "Nick...I think you should know that I have a boyfriend....Uggg no." Crystal sighed as she spoke to her reflection in the mirror. Before she could practice her speech again she heard a knock at the door. She walked over and slowly opened her door to come face to face with Nick Carter. "Hiya." Nick smiled and pulled out a boquet of roses from behind his back. "H-hi." Crystal gasped as she took the flowers out of his hands. "Sorry, I knew I was probably overdoing it, but I couldn't resist." Nick blushed. "Thank you." Crystal smiled, taking the flowers from him. "So where are we going?" "You like sushi?" Nick displayed a silly grin. "Sushi?" Crystal said with a confused look. ****************** "Oh my god! This is so good!" Crystal said as she took another bite out of the sushi that Nick had picked out for her. She had never had sushi before and had been hesistant to try it until Nick had put a guilt trip on her saying that he was paying for dinner but if she really didnt want to eat then she didnt have to. Crystal had finally given in and was glad she did. "You poor, deprived thing." Nick said in-between mouthfulls. "I can't believe you’ve never had sushi before." "I think I have a new favorite food." Crystal smiled. "Really! What was your old one?" "Spaghetti," she laughed. "Well that's pretty boring." "Well I'm sorry Carter. I don't have much time to find exciting foods to eat. I'm too busy finding time for you to eat yours," she rolled her eyes. "Ok ok, sorry." He smiled, and finished chewing what was in his mouth before he spoke again. "So tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Who are your friends? You know, the basic stuff." "I'm originally from Tenessee but I’ve lived in Florida since I was 13. Long story behind that." "Florida? Really? What part?" Nick questioned. "Orlando. When I was 13 I got cast on the Mickey Mouse club." Crystal smiled, embarrassed. "Oh I so tried out for that!" Nick exclaimed. "I got cast too, but I got excepted into Backstreet at the same time. So I chose Backstreet instead. I'm trying to remember you. I used to watch it." "I used to sing alot. Thats what I got cast for." Crystal said softly. "Well sing for me now. Maybe I can remember you that way." Nick chuckled. Crystals smile faded, and she pushed her food away, suddenly losing her appetite. "No...I can't." Nick nodded. He knew this must have something to do with what happened to her, so he didnt push it. "Well what else? What about your family? They must be proud of you," he smirked. "I doubt that. I haven't seen my mother since I was about thirteen, she's a drunk. A very bad slutty drunk. I couldn't live like that. My best friends mother took me in. She's like my mother." "Geez, sorry." Nick winced. "No...it's ok. I got over her a long long time ago. Don't feel bad." Crystal smiled. "I'm afraid to ask about the rest of your family." He sighed. "My father left when I was five and took my older brother Chris with him, he was eight at the time, the last I heard my father was living in Malibu with his third wife. I haven't talked to my brother since I was five. I don't think he even remembers I exist. I had another brother Brad..." Her voice trailed off, and she stared out into space for a moment. "But...he's dead now. I...haven’t even been to his grave. It’s something...I just can’t bring myself to do. I...don’t know if I’ll ever be able to." Nick sucked in his breath. He couldn't believe this girl. On top of what he already knew about her, the rest of her life didn't sound very good either. She basically didn't have any blood family that she coversed with, he didn't know what he would do without his family. They kept him sane. "I'm sorry." Nick whispered. "It's ok. Sorry I'm turning this whole evening into a drama fest." "It’s my fault for making you talk about it." "It get’s worse you know." She confessed, not meeting his gaze. "There’s still more stuff I haven’t told you." "Do you want to go for a walk? That always calms me down when I'm sad or whatever." He asked her, feeling terrible that he was causing her to relive her painful past. "Sure," Crystal nodded holding back the tears. "Sure." ********************* Two hours later... "So they caught you with a sock on your penis?" Crystal laughed hysterically. "Hey I was on the brink of puberty ok? Every guy gets curious once in a while." Nick said, his face red with embarrassment. "That is so hysterical. Now I know why you didn't want to tell me the sock story," she laughed. "Do you need to change your panties?" Nick smirked. "Because I think I have an extra pair in my purse." Crystal doubled over with laughter. "Carter...you...you’re insane." Their laughter subsided. Silence filled the air. Like a magnet their eyes were drawn to each other. Within moments they realized that they were both staring at each other in a daze. They both started to laugh. "Sorry for making you spill all those memories out at dinner tonight." Nick said regretfully. "It's ok, my therapist would be proud that I am able to talk about some of my past with some one besides Justin." Crystal replied, not realizing she hadn't mentioned Justin once the entire evening. "Whos Justin?" Nick questioned. Shit, Crystal thought. "Hes...um...well...I guess you could say that he's..." "Your boyfriend right?" Nick cut her off. Crystal sighed. "I'm sorry Nick I should have told you about him earlier. I was just so...I don’t know...worried that you would be upset." Nick shook his head. "No don't be sorry, I kinda figured you had a boyfriend." "And why did you assume that?" Crystal asked. "Look at you Crys'. I mean, your smart, funny, and beautiful. What guy wouldn't want that?" Nick spoke softly and wouldn't look her in the face as he talked. "There's alot more to me than that Carter. I'm fucked up. I mean really fucked up. Justin and I...we’ve been through alot of stuff together, and basically he's the only one that could ever begin to understand me and what I've been through. We have a different kind of relationship. It's hard to explain really. I mean I've known him my whole life, he was even my first boyfriend. Then we broke up, and then Todd came along and I was in a very dangerous and abusive relationship for a year. Then when I finally left him, Justin and I got back together, only it didn't last long. I dont know if you remember this but I was that girl who was missing for a year and found alive." Say something you idiot...tell her who you are! Nick's mind screamed at him. "Yeah I think I remember seeing that on the news." he chickened out. "That’s...awful." Crystal took a deep breath, as she proceeded to tell him about the horrible tragedy that had almost cost her her life. "Todd was the one who kidnapped me and he killed my brother Brad when he tried to stop him. I didn't think I would ever escape him alive, but one day I had my chance and I took it. I must have ran for hours and I finally collapsed on the side of some road. I almost died, but then, like a miracle someone found me and brought me to the hospital. Only they didn't give the police their name. I owe that person my life and I probably won't ever be able to thank them. I just wish I could thank them. Maybe then I could sleep better at night." Crystal sighed, wiping the tears out of her eyes. "I’m sure wherever that person is, they know that you are thankful. And I'm sure someday that person will come foward." Nick reassured her, trying to keep the nervousness out of his voice. "I hope your right Carter. And I really hope we can still be friends despite the fact that I'm not single." Crystal sniffled. "You...you really mean a lot to me now." "You can count on it." he smiled, wrapping her up in a warm hug. Someday, when the time was right he would tell her the truth. Until then they would both just have to deal with it. |