(3 weeks later)
"So you will have Nick there at 7 right?" Avery was stuck in a meeting with Justin's contractors when she excused herself to take Brian's call. Nick's surprise party was that evening and she was stressing. She wanted everything to be perfect and until the party went off without a hitch she wouldn't stop worrying. Nick had been such an important part of her life in the past few months that this was her way of thanking him and telling her how much she cared for him. She had flown in his parents and siblings, his best friend Brent and some of his friends that he had made throughout his touring. Avery smiled as Brian reassured her and she made her way back into the board room to discuss the solar panels in the atrium.
~~**~~
"So you are going to pick Sabine up at the airport right?" I was going through my checklist of last minute things to take care of for Avery's surprise party.
"Relax Nick we won't let you down, now shut up and go see Tim, he needed to discuss something with you."
I walked down the hall whistling as I imagined the look on Avery's face when she saw all of the surprises I had for her that evening. The big one would solve all of her problems in regards to the divorce settlement she was in the midst of. I walked into our management's office and smiled at Tim, our head lawyer "Is it all in place?" I asked him.
"All that is missing is Miss Sim's signature"
~~**~~
Avery was rushing home from work when she stopped at her favourite news stand and bought the latest copy of Cosmo, she was about to walk away when her eyes fell on a tabloid. Her picture caught her eye and she tore through the paper until she came to the story.
"Orlando's Top Designer in Torrid Affair with Younger Backstreet Boy"
Avery Sims has become a household name amongst Orlando's top residents. She has quickly vaulted up to working the Who's Who of Orlando's rich and famous personalities.
At 25 she has already worked with the likes of Nick Carter, the heartthrob of the boy band Backstreet Boys, is said to be the only designer that Madonna consulted with about her newly purchased Italian villa and Nsync's Justin Timberlake was so intent on working with her on his new club that he wooed her with flowers and a huge contract.
She was a relative unknown when she stumbled upon 21 year old Carter who asked her to decorate his house. Sources close to the couple say that he was instrumental in bringing Sims to the forefront, he arranged interviews and photo shoots for her. The two have taken trips together and as the bottom left pictures show they are partial to cozying up under the stars on Carter's boat. The perfect Orlando couple. Only one thing stands in their way. She is married.
Her husband, Jeffrey Atkinson owns Orlando's most prominent law firm. When contacted about his marriage he had this to say.
"Avery and I were in love, we had seperated for a while to concentrate on our careers but had every intention to resume our marriage, until Avery saw her meal ticket as Nick Carter. Avery is money and power hungry, she saw Mr Carter as a way to get the fame that she craved. The minute she got that she filed for divorce. I only hope that she doesn't hurt that poor innocent boy in the process.........."
Avery was in tears as she finished the article and had never felt so cheap or worthless as she had at that moment. She ran the final 2 blocks to her loft and after opening her door she threw herself down on her bed and cried. Jeffrey had won, he had made her look like the friendship she shared with
Nick was one of conveniance and self help, not the intensely magical and special one they shared. She was going to lose her business, her house, and more importantly Nick.
(6:45)
"Has anyone seen or heard from Avery?" Howie asked as he looked around the factory that had been transformed into an incredible ocean front scene. Avery and Nick both loved the water and the boys had hired a theatre staging company to design and set up the surprise for their friends. While Avery had chosen a casual and laid back party atmosphere for Nick's party Nick had chosen a more formal party for Avery. Little did they both know that in fact their friends had chosen to throw a double birthday party and send invitations asking everyone to dress in their beach best. They had decided to pull the little stunt on their friends when they realised that both were in fact planning parties on the same night for each other. Nick and Avery were in for a huge surprise.
"Last time I talked to her was around 5, I am supposed to be picking up Nick and hiding him until Avery gets here and then I will bring them both in together" Brian explained.
"I am going to go to her place and see if she is there, she isn't answering her phone and she has got me worried." Howie grabbed his car keys and excused himself from the guests that had already started arriving.
~~**~~
Avery cried until her eyes burnt. When she finally stopped crying and looked in the bathroom mirror her face was streaked with tear stains and her eyes were almost non existent slits in her face. "Get it together Avery, you planned this party for Nick and you can't let him down" she reasoned with herself as she heard the knock on the door. "Shit that's probably one of the guys checking up on me" she tried to tidy her hair as she walked to the door but when Howie took one look at her and gathered her into his arms she knew that she looked like shit.
"Avery what's wrong? You have been crying, what is it?"
"Allergies, work, you know same old shit different smell. Howie give me a few minutes and I will get dressed." Avery tried to be strong as she walked into her bedroom and started to get dressed. She had a party to attend even though her heart was breaking. She slipped into blue swirled wraparound dress and platform sandals, pinned her bangs behind her ears and dabbed on some lip tint. "Not bad I guess" She pinched her cheeks for colour and walked out to the living room where Howie was standing facing the window, his back to her. "I am ready"
"Avery you look beautiful" Howie took her hand and with a quick glance to the tabloid he had been reading before she entered the room they walked out of her loft.
~~**~~
The minute I saw Avery get out of the car I knew something was wrong with her, her eyes were devoid of their normal sparkle, her complexion seemed dull and her wide and full of life smile was replaced with a hurt and worried frown. I promised myself I wouldn't ask her what was wrong, whatever it was could wait, tonight was her night and I wanted it to be special.
"You both wait here, I have to check on something for a minute" Howie ordered us. I took Avery's hand and squeezed it as I stared at her.
"You look beautiful Raging Bull"
"Thanks Nick of Time, you look as handsome as you always do" Avery's voice was strained and she could hardly look at me. Something was seriously wrong. I didn't know if I could go the evening without finding out what was wrong.
"Okay you two" Brian popped his head out and directed us in.
While I thought the surprise would be entirely on Avery I was wrong, I was speechless as we walked into the huge hall and immediatly our feet hit the sand that the fellas had shipped in. A huge above ground pool was in the middle of the room, along with loungers and a slide. Everyone was dressed in bathing suits and beach wear, heat lamps gave off the feeling of basking under a hot Orlando sun and a huge barbeque pit was cooking a steady stream of bugers, hot dogs and chicken. "Did you plan this?" I asked Avery, my voice full of shock.
"I had planned you a party but this wasn't it" Avery's shaky voice replied.
"Nick, Avery we know that you both have been working hard on surprising one another but we figured this was the best way to surprise you both." Howie, AJ, Brian and Kevin stood on the stage and raised their glasses "To two of the best friends we know, Happy Birthday to you both and may your up coming year be filled with ever present laughter, special memories and love" All around us everyone raised their glasses and Avery and I hugged each other tightly. "Happy Birthday Nick" she whispered.
"Happy Birthday Avery"
~~**~~
"I see you are enjoying yourself" I waded over to where Avery was stretched out on her lounger, oblivious to the cannon balls and splashing that was taking place around her. I studied her stretched out body for a moment and I realised for the first time how skinny she had become. Her usually soft and filled out body was now skinny, an obvious reaction to the stress that the divorce hearing was putting on her. I flopped onto a lounger and lay beside her, staring at her profile. My best friend was beautiful, she had eyelashes so long that it always surprised me that they didn't scrape against her reading glasses, her nose was slightly upturned and sprinkled with freckles. HEr mouth and lips were full and her face round and soft. It was the first time that I had ever fully understood how beautiful she really was.
"Nick just close your eyes and float with me for a couple of minutes okay, this is our night and I want to relax before AJ decides to kick this party into full gear" Avery held out her hand to me and I eagerly accepted it. We lay together, our eyes closed, our hands linked floating in the pool until AJ jumped into the pool and overturned us.
"You both looked way too peaceful, this is a party, get your asses shaking out on the floor"
Avery laughed as she pushed her wet hair out of her eyes " I guess we should be thankful he thought of bringing us our bathing suits otherwise our clothes would have been sopping"
I held open a towel and she eagerly walked into it, my hands wrapped around her and I hugged my best friend tight "Being wet with me isn't all bad Raging Bull" I grinned as she playfully swatted my arm.
"You are a pig Nick of Time" Avery giggled. We clasped hands and walked over to the barbeque pit. This night was going to be full of surprises.
"Before we kick this party into high gear I know that Avery and Nick have gifts for each other. Avery why don't you start" AJ nodded towards Avery and handed her the mic.
"Nick you know that from the minute I met you we were bonded. I have shared more with you then anyone else. You have shown me how to trust, how to laugh and most importantly how to love someone fully without expectations. I know how important your family is to you so I thought I would fly them in, along with some of your friends who you don't get to see as much as you would like to." Avery almost cried as Nick broke down upon seeing the stream of family and friends enter the hall. He ran over to his brother and hugged him tightly, Avery knew about the problems he had with his parents but on this night all Nick wanted to do was hug them tight and hear them tell him they loved him. "I hate to break up this happy moment but someone else wanted to wish you a happy birthday." Avery walked off stage and watched as Nick's face turned into one of a little kid as Steve Perry and Meatloaf walked onto the stage and started to sing. Nick stood in awe of his idols, swaying to the music as his family gathered around him. It was the perfect picture and Avery nodded silently as the photographer snapped the picture. She would have it framed for Nick and his family.
~~**~~
I composed myself and hugged my idols, thanking them for coming to my birthday. After they left, with the promise to sing an encore, I looked across the stage at my best friend and motioned for her to join me. "I don't know if I can top that but I am going to try. For those of you who don't know the history of my best friend and I let me just sum it up by saying we met, me fought, we met up by chance in Sweden, she put me in my place and we have been friends ever since." Everyone laughed at my description "HAd it not been for this surprise guest getting married we would never have met again." I walked towards the giant box on stage and pulled the ribbon off of it and waited for the screeching, crying and hugs that was about to take place.
"OH MY GOD SABIE..." Avery leapt into her best friend's arms and hugged her tightly "What are you doing here, what about the European Awards?"
"Aww so I miss giving an acceptance speech, said one you said them all. Besides I haven't see you in forever, I couldn't miss your birthday, that and Nick paid for my flight" Sabine winked at me. "He is a keeper you know that right?"
"I know Sabie I know"
~~**~~
I walked over to where Avery was talking to my sister and asked her to join me for a dance. Avery excused herself and as we walked to the dance floor she froze as a familiar song came over the loudspeaker. "As if you are letting that song play at your party" she teased.
"I did better then that" I pulled out a mic and as Paul Simon walked out onto the stage he and I started to sing Avery's favourite song Something So Right.
"Something goes wrong I am the first to admit it, first to admit, last one to know, something goes right, its like you lose me, its out to confuse me, its such an unusual site, I can't get used to something so right, something so right. Some people never say the words I love you, its not their style to be that bold." Avery and I swayed to the music as Paul and I sang. Her eyes were welled with tears and she was staring up at me with look of disbelief.
At the end of the song Avery and I thanked Paul and I led her outside. "So did I surprise you?" I asked as I brushed her hair out of her face.
"Nick this was the best birthday ever, how did I ever luck out finding you?"
"Hold that thought" I reached into my pocket and pulled out the papers that Tim had prepared. I handed them to her and waited for her to absorbe what was written on them.
"You...you want to buy my company?"
"Yes, if I own it then he can't touch it in the divorce settlement, once the settlement is over I will give it back to you. It's to protect you Avery, I will always protect you." I touched her face and smiled softly as she shivered and reached up to touch my hands.
"Oh my god, oh god Nick, I Love you" Avery tilted her head up and gently, barely touched my lips with hers. As we broke apart we both stared at one another and wondered what had just happened.
Avery and Sabine had just left to catch up, my family were staying at a nearby hotel and the fellas had all bugged off to get some sleep before our record release event on TRL the next day. I sat in bed and replayed the kiss. I had been kissed by many women but none were as sweet as the kiss Avery had given me. Maybe she was caught up with my offer, maybe she was on excitement overload but for whatever reason she had made an impression on me, an impression so great that I could not sleep. I reached for my journal and started to read the entries.
May 1
I miss Avery, I came home from the studio and I was actually hoping that she would be here, waiting with my boat, to take me out onto the ocean and drift while we ate ice cream and twinkies and argued over the better points of Paul Simon vs MeatLoaf.
May 7
Something is bothering her. I talked to her today and she was distant. I know that work is hectic but usually she tried to put that aside when we talk. AJ keeps bugging me about how beautiful Avery is and keeps asking me why we don't try to date. You know the thought has never crossed my mind. Everything is perfect the way it is. Why would I even cross that path? I know that there are deep feelings in our relationship and I know that there is an obvious attraction to one another but I think I would risk losing all that just to ensure that Avery is my friend. I think our friendship is much more intense then any physical relationship so why risk it?
I read the entries and I couldn't help but wonder if everyone around us saw the love we shared as something more then a friendship. Had Avery and I been falling in love all along? I was leaving next week for our tour and I wouldn't see Avery for months. I made a decision to find out what she thought about our friendship. I snuggled into bed and closed my eyes, replaying how beautiful she looked and of course the kiss
~~**~~
Howie woke me up bright and early and instead of talking about the party he thrust a paper into my hand and sat back to gauge my reaction. "Jeffrey...Jeffrey is her husband?" My anger was growing to dangerous levels. "That's why the bastard has been so interested in Avery. He ran to the tabloid and sold this bull shit story about me and Avery having an affair and her using me. That fucker is dead" I tossed the paper aside and reached for my jeans.
"Nick you need to talk to Avery before you do something stupid" Howie reasoned with me.
"What do I need to talk to her for? She didn't do anything but fall in love with a spineless bastard, all she has been doing is trying to protect me."
"Nick it's worse. Look at this"
I glanced at the Orlando Sentinel, somehow they had managed to catch various pictures of Avery and I at the party. They were amateur pictures which meant one of our guests had taken and sold the pictures. They had managed to get a picture of Avery and I on the pool loungers, us dancing and the kiss.
"FUCK...this isn't going to help Avery's case."
I stormed out of my house and drove in the direction of Avery's house.
~~**~~
"Sabie this is getting serious, look at this" Avery showed her friend that day's paper. "Nick is going to freak. This is not what he needs with the release of his album and his tour. The fans are going to freak, I am as good as Mega Bitch who they want dead with his fans. I won't be able to see him without media and fans hounding us."
"Can't you both issue a statement saying you are friends" Sabie offered.
"Why should we have to?" Nick's voice interrupted the women and Avery immediatly ran towards him.
"Nick I am so sorry, I thought I could handle this. He is so powerful. He knows about you and I. Nick I am sorry"
"He knows about us alright, that bastard has been my attorney for the past few months. He has been getting a case on you all along. Avery he went to the papers to build up his case against you." I forced her to look at me. "You are going to sign those papers right now, I am going to deposit the money in an account and if he wants to contest the sale of your company he will have to deal with me. He can have the goddamn money, all I want to do is make sure you end up with your company at the end of all this shit." I hugged her tight. "I am going to see the Firm right now and we are firing him and we are going to issue a statement about his false accusations and about his dismissal. He won't win"
~~**~~
Avery watched her best friend from the sideline behind the cameras. Avery had already had a couple of run ins with Nick's obsessed fans and she and the wives and girlfriends were surrounded with security.
Nick and the rest of the guys were enjoying the TRL record release day. SO many of their fans showed up that all of Times Square and 4 adjoining streets were shut down. Nick was handling himself very well considering that hours prior he had gotten into a verbal battle with Jeffrey, had met with his attorney's to start a lawsuit for defammation against the tabloid and had fired Jeffrey. Nick caught his best friend's eye and winked. Avery smiled when she felt Leighanne's arm go around her shoulder and heard her whisper "it's all going to work out sweets." Avery knew she was right because Nick always protected her.
Avery held her breath as the young fan asked Nick the question everyone knew was coming.
"Are you and Avery Sims dating?"
I smiled and touched my chest, a private reminder to my best friend that she was always in my heart, always on my mind, like the tattoo of the bull holding the hour glass. "Avery is my best friend. She understands me totally and I love her, but there is nothing romantic or physical between us." I winked at her and turned my attention to Carson Daly who had a cake to present us.
~~**~~
"Nick you should go with all your friends. This is a day to celebrate, this is the release of your album, the one you worked so hard on. Please don't dump your friends for me." Avery had backed out of the release party because of a migraine, brought on by all the stress of the past 2 days.
"I am not dumping my best friend either. SO either you come with me or I come with you, your choice?"
"Well I guess we can go to the party"
I smirked "Your Joan of Arc impression does not suit you, we are going home, you are taking some 222s and I am going to call my lawyer and see what's up on the Jeffrey front"
~~**~~
I checked in on my best friend, who was sound asleep, a pillow over her head to shield any light from entering her eyes. I pulled the quilt up to her chin and kissed her cheek softly. The next two days were going to be crowded and insane. I was leaving for tour and so many things needed to be done but in reality all I cared about was squeezing months of quiet times with Avery into 2 short days. I walked into the living room and called my lawyer.
"Hey Tim, it's Nick, any word on the sale of Avery's company?
You are
kidding me, that's incredible. She will be so happy." I hung
up after
finding out that I was now the owner of Sims Interior Designs,
Jeffrey had
been served with the deffamation suit papers along with the
Tabloid and our
first morning album sales appeared to be set to shatter
NSYNC's first day
sales. I walked back into the bedroom and lay down beside
Avery, letting her
soft breathing lull me to sleep.
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