| Part Two ~~~~ ?Candace, don?t do this to me.? Nick said, hurriedly getting dressed. Candace didn?t say anything, just watched him dress and quickly walk out the door without saying another word. She got up, grabbed her clothes and trudged into the bathroom. She turned on the hot water, filling the tub and dropping in some rose scented bath beads. She sank into the near-scalding water, barely feeling the heat on her skin. She knew that would happen, that he would freak if she told him. She knew him that well. She always had, well, until Darcy had come along. As the water began to cool off, Candace drifted off into a whirl of memories. She remembered the first time she?d seen Nick, playing basketball with some friends at the court down the street from her house. She?d been out jogging, and was walking by the courts as she cooled down. One of the guys had made an awful free throw that had rebounded off the backboard and went flying towards her. Never one to pass up an opportunity to show off, she?d grabbed the ball and made a basket from where she was standing- quite a way from the hoop and at an hideous angle. As the ball swooshed through the net all the guys had turned to look at her, precisely what she?d been going for. She smiled and began walking off. Nick had called to her, asking her if she?d want to join the game. Three hours and several games later, Nick had driven her the few blocks to her house and ended up staying the entire evening, talking and laughing. They?d become fast friends spending time together playing basketball, watching movies and just hanging out. They?d both been single at the time, it had been convenient to keep each other company, have fun the two of them. She remembered every detail of the first time they?d had sex- the sounds he?d made, the way he moved, the look on his face when it was over. They hadn?t meant for it to happen? it just? did. And it was good. Very good. It had started with an innocent wrestling match over who got the remote, and had lead to clothing getting quickly removed and tossed around, and then, mind-blowing sex. They had agreed that as friends, there was no harm to be done with a little sex every now and then, especially sex that good. A few short relationships had come up here and there, but they?d still kept each other on the side. It worked, being fuck buddies- friends and then some. Had worked for quite a while. Until Darcy. Candace could recall the day Nick had told her about Darcy. He?d come over looking dazed- normally he didn?t have that look until after they?d gotten it on. She?d asked him what he was on, he?d promptly declared he?d met someone. Candace had immediately gotten jealous- no other girl had made him goofy like this. And she didn?t like it at all. It seemed odd to her to suddenly have these feelings? Nick was just her friend, wasn?t he? She had been put somewhat at ease when Nick kept coming back to her, even while he was with Darcy. When he?d come to her wanting ideas on how to make Darcy?s first time really special, she?d nearly cried. A little out of envy that he?d never wanted to do anything romantic for her, but mostly out of fear that she would lose? whatever it was that they had. Her fears had been alleviated fairly quickly, when Nick began appearing at her house regularly to complain about Darcy and her lack of enthusiasm for sex, unwillingness to try anything new. It wasn?t exactly Candace?s idea of a great way to spend an evening, but at least she got to be with him. And usually got to console him, assure him he?d always have her? and now, she?d just told him he didn?t. She?d thought since he and Darcy had been together, that she?d take whatever she could get from him? she just never should have let it go this far. ~~~~ Nick had left Candace?s and driven aimlessly for a few hours before ending up at a deserted pier, lying on his back, looking at the stars. He couldn?t figure out why what Candace had said upset him so much. It was like he'd been living in two worlds, and suddenly, they'd collided, leaving him with situations he didn't know how to deal with in each one. He felt like he?d have a better chance at counting the stars, than figuring out what he was going to do. He thought about the two of them? Darcy and Candace? trying to compare them? both beautiful in completely different ways. Everything about Darcy was? delicate. Her long, dark wavy hair, porcelain doll face? her sweet, quiet personality. Very feminine, maternal- she was forever talking about how badly she wanted children- lots of them. Nick never really understood how he fit into the perfect picture Darcy had painted of how she wanted her life to be. And then there was Candace. Short wild blonde hair that always looked ?just fucked?. She was adventurous? out-spoken? she could be completely girlie when she wanted to.. but she wasn?t afraid to get out and play.. wrestle around? get dirty. But she was his friend.. his fuck-buddy? and that was all? wasn?t it? There was really no way to compare the two of them. They were exact opposites of each other. It was strange that Nick had been attracted to Darcy in the first place, he wasn?t even sure now why he had been. She was nothing like the kind of girl he liked, said he wanted, usually went for... someone like? Candace? ~~~~ Darcy sat in bed, pouting, curled up with the pillow that Nick?s scent still lingered on. She was upset. She couldn?t believe he?d asked her to marry him and then left! He should have wanted to stay the rest of the night, and cuddled with her. She just didn?t understand him sometimes. She couldn?t understand why he was always wanting her to try new things, like he was asking her to change what she liked. She was happy with things the way they were, shouldn?t he be too? ~~~~ Nick had turned over, and was laying on his stomach, looking over the edge of the pier, watching his moonlit reflection ripple in the dark water. He knew, he?d known as soon as he?d asked her, that he didn?t want to marry Darcy. He didn?t love her like that, not the kind of love that would make him want to spend the rest of his life with her. Especially when he always found himself coming up with new excuses to get away, be busy when she wanted him. Why was he even with her? Had it been a challenge or something? See how long he could make it last with someone that he normally wouldn?t have wanted to be with? The more he thought, the less sense it made. Even without Candace figuring in, he was quickly realizing that he needed to get out of this engagement and he needed to do it? now. But then there was still another problem. What was he going to do about Candace? They?d been friends? good friends, before sex had ever become part of their relationship. He wasn?t even exactly sure how it had happened- they?d just been playing around? and suddenly all he knew was he wanted her- bad. Clothes had gone flying, inhibitions got dropped, and he?d ended up having amazing sex with one of his best friends. It seemed weird, that it hadn?t changed their relationship- they?d still been fine ? being friends and having sex. Well, had been fine ?til Darcy. He?d wanted her to think he was near perfect, changing to the point he?d become someone he almost didn?t know? someone that had just started using one of his friends? that loved him anyway. He got up off the wooden planks and went back to his truck, trying to figure out where to go first. He had to talk to both of them, had apologies to make- to Darcy for leading her on, keeping her in a relationship that shouldn?t have lasted this long anyway? and to Candace- for? everything? letting their friendship fall apart, and using her? Ten minutes later, Nick was standing at Darcy?s doorstep, ringing the bell. Darcy had jumped out of bed, thrown on her robe, and grabbed her tiny pepper mace spray, wondering who the hell would be at the door at this ungodly time of night. She cautiously opened the door, shocked to see Nick standing there. ?I thought you were spending the night at your parents, Nicky.? ?Never made it.? Nick said, trying to figure out how to say what he?d come here to tell her. ?Then where have you been?? she asked, obviously hurt. ?At the pier? I was out thinking.? ?About?? ?Us.? He said, looking at the flowered welcome mat he was standing on. ?What about us?? She knew something was up, otherwise he?d be looking at her. It?d taken her forever, but she finally got him to where he?d look her in the eyes all the time, after repeatedly explaining how she felt it was a more intimate way to communicate. ?That there shouldn?t be an us. I?m sorry, Darcy, I just can?t do this. I love you? but not the way I should. It?s not fair for me to keep you hanging on? when? I don?t? want this?? he said softly, finally looking up at her. Darcy was crying, trying to pull the ring off her finger, but was shaking too hard to grasp it. ?There?s someone else isn?t there???, she shrieked. ?You?ve got a new girl??? ?There?s always been someone else. I?m sorry I let things go this long, Darcy. Keep the ring. I?m sorry.? He said, turning to leave. ?Not as sorry as I am!!? she wailed. ?You said you loved me! You lied! I gave you everything and what do I get in return?! A ring that doesn?t mean anything!!? She yanked it off and tossed it into the front yard and slammed the door shut. She waited behind the curtain, peeking out the window until he had driven down the street before grabbing a flashlight and heading out into the yard to search for the ring while she cried. Nick drove past Candace?s house slowly, debating whether he should talk to her now or later. He didn?t even know what to say to her. He was so confused about how he actually felt. He knew that he wanted to be with her again- at least as a friend. But something told him, that they could be?should be.. more than that. Always should have been. She?d been there? the whole time, through other girls and his incessant bitching about Darcy? and then, she told him she loved him. How long had she felt like that? And how had he missed it? He looked up and could see the light on her bedroom on. She was still up. Was she thinking about him? Wondering where things had gone wrong like he was? He went on home, still trying to figure out what to do, and what to say when he finally figured it out. Early the next morning, Candace woke to the sound of the doorbell ringing. She stretched and rolled out of bed, padding to the door still in her t-shirt and boxers, hair going everywhere. She opened the door and looked around, no one was there. She heard a soft scratching noise and looked down to see a box at her feet with holes poked in it. She reached down and undid the flaps, opening it to see a tiny fuzzy orange kitten. ?Awwwww!? she sighed and picked up the note the kitten was sitting on. ?There?s just something about a kitten that I can?t resist? Got room in your life for a new friend? And maybe an old one, too?? She picked up the kitten, snuggling it to her chest. She looked around, searching for him. ?I guess I?ll just have to go play with new friend all alone? since my old friend seems to have disappeared?? she said loudly. ?Candace?? She turned to see Nick watching her from around the corner of the house. ?I didn?t expect to see you back here.? She said quietly. ?I had to? I wanted to apologize. I?m sorry for the way things have been? and I don?t want it to be like this anymore. I want to be your friend? not just your fuck-buddy. And maybe? we could? give the relationship thing a try, sometime?? He replied, reaching out for her, drawing her close. She allowed herself to be pulled into his embrace, but not without asking, ?What about Darcy?? ?I told her it was over, that I didn?t want that relationship? because I don?t. I don?t know why I stayed so long anyway.? He said, holding her. He was quickly realizing all the things he?d been missing out on, by just running away, rushing things. ?You said you loved her? what changed?? Candace asked, looking up into Nick?s eyes. ?Everything. I was telling myself that as much as I was you? trying to convince myself I should stay, wanted to stay. Then someone? let the cat out of the bag?? He paused to smile, but became serious again, saying, ?and I knew I?d been using something, that deserved a lot more respect and attention than I was giving it. You?ve been there for so long? loving me even though you didn?t say it? And when you did tell me no more... I wasn't even freaked about the no sex... I was scared of losing you...as my friend...? ?I?ve loved you for a very long time? and that?s why I had to say no more. I couldn?t have you be that close, and then have to let you go all the time, going back to someone that I knew didn?t make you happy, when I knew I could.. and not just the sex.. it?s good.. but so are we.. together.? Candace said, stroking the kitten?s soft coat. ?I know. I?m sorry it took me asking someone else to marry me to figure all this out. So, Kitten, I?m asking for you to forgive me? and what happens next is your call.? Nick said, gently touching the side of Candace?s face. ?You know I forgive you. You may have done some shitty stuff, but you?re still my friend? and.. I think?? she carefully arranged the kitten so it wouldn?t get squished between them as she hugged him, ?I?d like to see just what it?s like to actually... make love to you? as your girlfriend.? Nick smiled. ?I think I?d like that too.? He leaned down to kiss her softly, the way he knew he should have been doing all along. She smiled when he pulled away from her, and grabbed the box in one hand, still holding the kitten in the other and led him inside the house. ?So, what are you going to call the little hairball?? Nick asked, taking the orange ball of fuzz away from Candace and holding it up on the air. ?I?m going to assume that it?s a girl? and I?m going to call her Hope.? Candace replied, pouring milk into a saucer and setting it on the floor. Nick put the kitten down in front of the saucer and pulled Candace into a hug. ?As in, I HOPE you?re ready for me? ?cause I think I owe you a lot of attention from all the times I just took off?? ?Yeah you do? and you know I?m always ready? it?s one of those things about this kitten you can?t resist.? she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply. "Very true... you gonna purr for me?" he asked, smiling. "We'll just have to see if you can make me." she said, grabbing his hand and leading him back to her room. He stopped before he walked through the bedroom door behind her. "Candace... you do know... I came back here... because I love you..." "Yeah, I know. Otherwise we wouldn't be in here." she kissed him lightly on the lips. "Now make me purr." "My pleasure, Kitten." |