Chapter Nine -- Friends Forever
*Cassie*
Okay, I hadn’t talked to Shan in over a week. The Nick guy was really overbearing, and I hated the way he hovered at her side like he was her conscience. What really bothered me was the fact she was acting strange. When I called her she would sound upset, and the person I thought was my best friend in the world wouldn’t tell me why.
So it was a surprise when she called me. She sounded upbeat, happy, the old Shan. “Hey, girl. What’s up?” she asked with a laugh.
“Thinking about calling you,” I said truthfully. The last time I’d called, Nick had answered, and no offense to the guy, but I did not want to talk to him.
“Oh, cool. Guess what? Nick’s invited me to go on tour with him.”
Was I supposed to be happy about that? “What about the symphony?” I asked. Funny. Until she’d met Nick, the only thing on her mind had been piano.
“Oh, I’m taking a while off. I’m getting burned out,” she said softly. “I need a break.”
“Okay. So, when do you leave?”
“We’re flying to New York Friday. I was thinking you could come over and help me pack.”
“Now?” I asked. I’d just gotten home from work, and had been looking forward to a relaxing bath. But if she needed me, I’d be there in a heartbeat.
“Yeah. Nick just left.”
So that’s why she’d called. Lover-boy wasn’t there. “I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I said.
When I walked into her apartment, music came from the living room. Was she playing? I thought hopefully. No, she must have put on a CD.
“What’s that?” I asked, stepping into the living room. Looking around, I was surprised to see a newer TV. “Whoa, nice screen,” I said.
She was sitting on the sofa, folding a shirt. “Yeah, I know. Nick bought it for me. He said my old one was too small.”
Rolling my eyes, I dropped my purse and keys on the coffee table and reached into the basket for a shirt. Looking at her, my mouth dropped open. “What’d you do to your hair?”
“Do you like it?” she asked, running a hand through the blonde streaks. “I got it done last week.”
“It’s different. Did you get it straightened?” I asked. Since I had known her, she’d never changed her hair. It had always been long and wavy and dark.
“I use an iron,” she said with a shrug.
“What’s this you’re listening to?” I asked. The voice singing sounded familiar, but I sure couldn’t recognize the song.
“Oh, it’s a demo I got from Nick. Some new song he’s working on for the next album.” Smiling, she stood, picking up the stack of shirts. “Come on. I have to figure out what all to pack.”
Following her, I fiddled with the buttons of the shirt I held. “So, you two are pretty serious now, huh?” I asked softly. Standing by the bed, I saw a cell phone lying by the alarm clock.
She flashed me a smile. “Yeah. I’ve fallen in love with him, Cass.”
“Oh, Shan. That’s great that you’re happy and everything, but--“ I cut off, unable to finish my thought. What if I was wrong? What if she’d just been going through a funk the last few times we’d talked, and I was overreacting?
“But what? You don’t like him, I know. However,” she said, unzipping a suitcase, “I can truly see myself spending the rest of my life with him.”
Great. “Are you sure you’re not moving too fast? I mean, you just met the guy. Sure, he’s gorgeous and lavishes you with all these gifts. But...” I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something really long with this guy.
Sighing, she placed the stack of shirts inside the suitcase. “It’ll be okay, Cass.” She gave me a smile and held out her hand for the shirt.
Handing it over, I prayed she was right.
*AJ*
People really shouldn’t leave their cell phones lying around. You never know what kind of sicko will get a hold of them and go through the numbers on it. Especially when you’re a Backstreet Boy. Hell, what would happen if a fan got a hold and started calling everyone, or posted the numbers on the internet?
Okay, so Nick hadn’t really left his cell phone. He’d put it on the table when he’d come in, and when he went to the bathroom it started ringing. By the time I’d gotten to it, the ringing had stopped, and I saw Shannon’s name on the display. She’d called. Glancing down the hall to make sure Nick wasn’t on his way back, I looked down at the phone. It was tempting. Very tempting.
Yeah, I looked through his number list. When I came to Shannon's listing, I reached for pen and paper. I was a sicko. By the time Nick came back his phone was where it had been when he left, and I was innocently checking my voice mail.
I still wasn’t sure why he’d come by. It wasn’t like there was anything to do. I was in the middle of getting ready for the trip, and wasn’t he supposed to be packing or something? Hell, we were leaving in the morning.
“Any good messages?” he asked with a smirk, glancing at me as he reached for his phone.
He didn’t have to know I was listening to a message that was two months old. “You know. The usual,” I said with a shrug. “How’s Shannon?” I asked casually after the message finished.
“Pretty good. All excited right now. You know, she’s never been anywhere? Except around here.”
“Cool. Is she planning on taking in any sites while you’re busy?” Returning to my work, I began tossing my jeans into a bag.
“I don’t know. We’ll probably go together on the off days.”
“What, she can’t do anything without you?” I asked, only half-joking. Shit. Apparently she couldn’t burp without him having to know what she’d had to eat.
“It’s not like that,” he said, shaking his head. “So I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
*Nick*
When I got home Shannon was already there. Walking through the front door, I expected to find her waiting for me. “Babe?” I called, heading up the stairs.
“Up here,” she called back and I smiled.
When I got to the bedroom I was surprised to see she’d laid out some clothes for me, and my bags were on the bed. She was just stepping from the bathroom, and armful of bottles clutched to her chest.
“Hey baby,” she said warmly, giving me a smile as she moved to the bed. Setting the bottles inside a small bag, she walked over and gave me a hug.
“Hey.” Holding her close, I kissed the top of her head. “You didn’t have to do this,” I said. I felt her tense slightly, and gently rubbed her back. “I’m not upset, baby. Did you get all your things packed?”
“Mm-hmm. Cass said she’d check my mail and water my plants. Did I get the right clothes out? I wasn’t sure...”
Glancing at the stacks of neatly folded shirts and pants, I nodded. “It’s all good,” I murmured. “What do you say we order a couple pizzas for supper?”
“Sounds good to me,” she said softly, resting her head on my chest. “You smell go good,” she whispered.
Smirking, I slid my hand lower. “So do you.” I wondered if we could delay the pizzas for a little while. “Say, baby,” I began, but she slid away with a chuckle.
“I’ll go order the pizza. Double extra cheese?” she asked, pausing in the doorway. When she turned and gave me a smile I felt my knees go weak.
How could I help but love her? “You bet, baby.”
On a prayer, in a song
I hear your voice and it keeps me hanging on
Raining down, against the wind
I’m reaching out, till we reach the circle’s end