A cool, quiet, wind whipped across the water making the waves a little
higher and sending a misty spray over the beach. The beach was usually
deserted by this time of day. But not tonight. A blond young
man remained on the sand, letting salt water spray across his face and
wind blow through his hair.
Nickolas Carter was a dreamer, a passionate man, but nevertheless, he longed
for the one thing everyone around him seemed to have. He wanted someone
to love and to love him in return. Not as Nick Carter, pop superstar,
but as Nick Carter, a regular guy.
He sighed, running one hand through his short silky blond hair and closed
his eyes.
His life had been filled with bad relationships, time and time again.
His latest, Mandy had been okay in the beginning. After he got her
the record deal she had wanted, things began to go downhill. She
became possessive, bossy and abusive to him and to his fans. She
even went as far as to take him to court in a fight for custody over a
dog he had bought her for their anniversary.
Almost a year later, he had finally gotten her out of his life. And
all he wanted was to have her back. She had ruined a year of his
life, but he was lonely and needed someone around. Little did
he know, he had a soulmate in the world and little did she know, there
was someone waiting for her as well.
-----------
“ Skyler Isabella! Where have you been? You’re mother will
be worried sick! “ Maria the maid scolded her youngest protegee, her thick
Italian accent prominent because she was mad.
“ Maria, I was only at the beach, I needed some time alone to think. “
Skyler cajoled the nurse, smiling sweetly.
The older lady’s guard went down immediately.
“ My little dreamer, I know how hard it must be for you, but you cannot
keep running off. People will begin to wonder and think that your
parents can’t control you. “
“ I know, I know. “ Skyler sighed, having heard this speech at least ten
times before.
She ran her fingers through her long black hair, her green eyes sparkling
with happiness and mischief.
“ Now get back to your mother before you get the both of us in trouble!
“ Maria gave her a little shove.
Skyler laughed and then hurried out of the room, her long colorful skirt
flying behind her. She had just turned nineteen years old and she
was the most adventurous, as well as the youngest of all of her sisters.
The Rosetta family had lived in Italy for the past twenty years, just about
as long as Skyler was born. They loved it there and had prospered
well. Skyler’s mother and father, Anita and Anton were the proud
parents of five daughters, all of whom they loved very much. But
above all, Skyler was their favorite.
“ Skyler! Come in here a second! I need to speak with you! “ her father
called as she tried to sneak past his office to her bedroom unnoticed.
“ Yes Daddy? “ she asked, fully prepared to get into the trouble she figured
was coming.
He motioned for her to sit in the chair in the corner of the room, looking
very serious.
Sklyer figured almost immediately that this was something worse than she
was expecting by the look on his face.
“ Skyler, your mother and I have decided you need a better education than
what you are getting here in Italy. We’re sending you to America
to school, the University of Florida, to stay for a year. You will
come back to us after that period of time, hopefully with new understanding.”
Her eyes widened and tears began to fall. She didn’t want to go anywhere
away from her home or her family. Why had her family decided to do
this to her? Why not one of her other sisters. All of these
questions raced through her mind so fast that she could not sort through
them all.
“ Daddy, I don’t want to leave! “ she cried, trying to reason with him.
She’d never been alone in a strange place without her family before or
at least someone she knew. How was she going to survive this. “ Please
don’t make me go.”
“ Skyler, there will be no arguing. You know I love you and I just
want what’s best for you. And what’s best for you, will be to go
to the University and study there. “
“ But...” she tried to get out.
“ No Sky, you leave in a week. I suggest you start packing your things.
“ he told her.
She gasped, slowly turning and heading out the door, tears still on her
face.
When had the family she loved so much turned into mutants who were trying
to send her away to a strange place where she’d never been without them.
She wondered what this Florida was like. Then she remembered her
aunt once talking about a visit there. She said there were sandy
beaches everywhere and oceans and birds and lots of sunshine and...
Oh who was she kidding to think that she would actually enjoy this experience.
Sklyer climbed the stairs to her room, feeling more miserable than she
ever had in her life.
What was she going to do?
------------
“ Yo Nick! C’mon! Snap out of it! “ AJ McLean, Nick’s fellow bandmate
waved his hand in front of the younger man, trying to snap him out of his
daze.
“ What? “ Nick blinked and glanced around. “ Whatever it is, I didn’t
do it. “
AJ just sighed.
“ Carter, what’s wrong with you lately? You keep zoning out on us
like all the time. “ he told his friend. “ We’re worried about you buddy.
“
“ Nothing, really I’m fine. “ Nick protestedstaring at his shoes and just
wanting everyone to leave him alone for a little while.
"Don't tell me you actually miss her?" AJ guessed correctly for the first
time. "Nick, you deserve way better than that low down, lying, cheater
of a girlfriend."
"I do kinda miss her." Nick admitted, wishing he had someone to comfort
him, other than the guys. "But please, let's not talk about it now.
I wanna get out of here before midnight." he gestured to the rehearsal
room.
"Alright" AJ agreed with a tiny laugh. "I think we all want to be gone
long before then."
Nick smiled, his first genuine smile all day, and then set his water back
on the table and followed his friend to rejoin the rest of the group. He
was, little bit by little bit, repairing his life and stepping back into
reality again.
