Nick walked out of his dressing room and as everyone looked at him, he quickly ignored them and headed for the back entrance where I had gone out.

When he came there, it was too late. I had already taken off in a taxi. " Head straight for the Marquette hotel. " I ordered the taxi driver and sat back as I wiped a few more tears away.

" God, how the hell could I have been such a damn fool? " A few other nasty thoughts rolled around in my head as he arrived at the hotel.

" Thanks. " I paid him the cab fare with a tip and ran inside to where my room was with Nick.

*~*

When I got inside, I slammed the door and collapsed on the bed. I was considering lying there to sob for a while, but I knew that I wanted to get my stuff and get to the airport.

My ticket was for a round trip, and I didn't see any harm in using it now. I started throwing things into my suitcase and finally sat back down when everything was packed. I glanced around the room and was about to leave when Nick came racing in the door.

" Lauren, give me one--"

" One what? One chance to say you're sorry? " I looked away from him, disgusted.

" You already had that chance and I rejected your apology. Get over it. " I started to push past him, but he begged me to stop by singing.

" And I would bring down the moon and the sun to show how much I care, cause I don't wanna lose you now, " His voice was soft.

" Okay, look, Nick. " I stared him straight in the face. " This may be hard for you to understand, but you can't fix everything by singing! You just can't! " I pushed past him, not wanting him to see me cry, but he stopped me once again and pulled me into a hug.

" Lauren, don't leave me..." He gently caressed the back of my neck.

I could tell he was choking back tears, but I was relentless. " It's too late. " I pulled out of his hug and turned to walk out the door. As I made it to the elevator, Nick came running to me again.

" Won't you even give me the chance to explain? Sit down with me for five minutes, please Lauren, please.." Nick's eyes were soft and they released a few tears.

" No, No.." I turned my head again. " I can't and I won't. " I turned around got onto the elevator, never looking back.

I remembered the ride to the airport was one of the hardest trips I would ever take in my life. I had the guy of my dreams begging for me to be with him, but I couldn't turn to him because of a mistake he had made.

It crossed my mind to turn back and let him explain, but I didn't want to get hurt again. I made it to the airport and cried the entire way back to New York. And that's when I woke up entirely from my flashback.

I was back in our apartment, where I had been while my friends were in Europe. I glanced at the clock and wiped my eyes, realizing that I had made myself cry.

I had been sitting there for three hours, just remembering how I got into this position. Had I overreacted? What if Nick could explain himself...after all, I did proclaim that I was in love with him.

" Damn it! Why am I even thinking these things? " I interrupted my own thoughts, shaking my head and stood up to get changed for the party at Brian's house.

Everyone was going to come over for a little bit, then we were all going to head over to the party together. I came back into the living room at 5 o'clock PM and heard the buzzer going off outside the apartment. " Hold up! I'm coming! "

I smiled as I opened the door to find everyone. Kevin, Sarah, Amanda, Howie, Tabby, Helen, and AJ showered me in kisses as they came in. " Hey baby sis, " Kevin smiled and kissed me on the cheek. " Did you think about what I said? "

" Yeah. I made a promise to you. I'll apologize to Nick, but that may be the only thing I say to him.." I paused and glanced around. " Where's Brian? "

" Oh he sends his love, but he stayed back at the house with Nick to help get ready for the party. " Howie smiled and winked at me.

" Oh my Howie Bear, " I grinned and hugged him. " How was the flight? "

" Well, it was, erm, interesting. " Howie shrugged his shoulders.

" Interesting? " My face lit with curiosity

" Yeah, he means that Nick wouldn't stop talking about how much he missed you and how stupid he was. " Tabby smiled slightly.

" Ah, guys! " I backed away from them. " Please? No more guilt trips? I am begging you! "

" Okay, we're sorry. We just don't like to see a friend hurting. " AJ patted me on the back comfortingly.

" I understand that and you're good friends for that, but not now, okay? " I smiled slightly and directed everyone into the living room. " I'll let the other girls show ya around, I actually think I need to do some more thinking. " I sat back down on the couch and AJ grinned at me.

" Don't hurt yourself now..." AJ smiled as Helen took his hand and led him off with the other guys and gals.

" Don't worry." I smiled and solemnly thought to myself, " I think I already did that enough. " I lay my head back as I listened to everyone describe the new aspects of our apartment.

" Is this pattern everywhere? " Kevin teased at Sarah as they approached her bedroom.

" Well, not everywhere..." Sarah thought for a second and smiled. " It hasn't reached here yet. " She opened the door to her bedroom. She had chosen her own pattern to outline the top of the walls and it matched the curtains and bed attire as well. I heard them mull around and I shut my eyes, once again remembering memories I shared with Nick.

*~*

" It's a surprise!! " I quietly giggled as I led Nick to my bedroom. After our hard work, we had finally finished painting my room together and I wanted Nick to see when it was complete.

" Lauren, I hate being blindfolded! " He fidgeted with the blindfold, but left it on because he knew that I liked surprising him.

" Tough cookies, Carter. " I grinned as I watched the sarcasm approach his face.

" You baked me tough cookies? " Nick made a face. " Well, those aren't going to taste very good. "

I smiled and kissed him. " Shut up before I lead you to the middle of a busy road. " I laughed and he grinned back. " Okay. " We got into my bedroom and I shut the door behind us. " Ta da! " I whipped the the blindfold off of him.

" Geesh! Think you got enough green in here? " Nick made another suggestive face.

" Hey, watch it. I love my color. " I grinned and he kissed me gently on the lips.

" And I love you. " Nick's voice was sugar coated.

" Awww, you're such a sweetheart. " We started kissing some more and we shared another moment.

*~*

" Lauren?! Laur! " Tabby stared down at me on the sofa of the living room. " Damn girl, are you okay? "

I blinked around, almost searching for Nick, then I realized that it was only a memory once again. " Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, I've just been spacing out a lot recently. "

" Yeah, we noticed. " Kevin came and sat next to me again. " You ready to go, though? "

" Yeup. " I smiled. " You finished the grand tour? "

" But of course! " Howie came out from behind AJ and bared his teeth like he was Count Dracula. " Muahaha. "

" D, it's just not the same without the music video. " AJ groaned. Howie made a few grumbles, but nothing significant.

" I'll be right back. I wanna do a last minute check. " I went back into my room and stared at myself in the mirror while putting a piece of hair back in place. " Are you ready? " I asked myself with a lack of confidence.