Over the month of November, Karine and AJ wrote their midterms for College, and both did very well on the tests.
AJ started to hang out with Jason alot more, and Karine also, but not at the same time. Jason had a bad influence on AJ, which was the use of narcotics, and strong drugs. At first, AJ's use started out with the midterms, and then after that he kept on taking them. No one knew that AJ was using, except for Jason and Jasons junkie pals, who AJ started to hang around with also. AJ tried to hide his drug use from Karine.
Karine had gotten herself a job at the local music store in one of the large malls in downtown Orlando.
At the end of November, the American Thanksgiving weekend was coming up.
AJ was shopping at the mall Karine worked in, in Orlando, when he accidentally bumped into someone as he was walking through the foodcourt.
"Hey" The guy said, as AJ bumped into him. AJ turned around and saw Nick standing there.
"Oh hey man, Im sorry.. I didnt know that was you" AJ said.
"Its ok" Nick said, standing in line for some food.
"What are you doing here in Orlando?" AJ asked.
"I just brought Tara over to see her friend whos working here" Nick said.
"Whos Tara?" AJ said. AJ hadn't spoken to any of the BSB since the day the day that they broke up.
"Taras my girlfriend" Nick said proudly, and then he stepped out of the way so AJ could see Tara, who was reading the menu boards.
"Tara, look whos here!" Nick said.
"AJ!" Tara said, surprised to see him. Tara knew that Karine hung out with AJ, but AJ didnt know about Tara.
"Nice to meet you Tara" AJ said, half smiling.
"Are you here to see Karine?" Tara asked.
"How did you know that I know Karine?" AJ asked surprised.
"Shes my friend from Montreal!!" Tara said.
"ohh... OH!!!! Your the friend that convinced her to move here?!?!" AJ asked.
"Yeah thats me!" Tara said.
"Wow! Thats a coincidence!!" AJ said.
"Can I help you?" The lady at the counter asked.
"Man, we gotta eat now, I'll talk to you later ok?" Nick said.
"alright" AJ said, and then he walked off.
AJ walked around the mall and went into the music store to look for Karine. Karine was busily working at the back of the store, putting new posters up in the poster holders.
"Hey" AJ said.
"Hey AJ!" Karine said, happy to see her friend "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I was wondering what you were doing this weekend for Thanksgiving.." AJ said.
"Oh, nothing actually. We already had our thanksgiving, the Canadian one" Karine said.
"Well, would you like to come to my moms house for dinner? She said I could bring a friend, so I thought of you" AJ said.
"Thanks, AJ! Thats sweet! Id love to come" Karine said.
"Great! I wont bother you at work, so I'll call you later tonight ok?" AJ said.
"Sure" Karine smiled at AJ. AJ left the store.
While Tara and Nick were eating their food, Ryan, Rick and Josh were walking around the mall. Rick spotted Nick and Tara over at the foodcourt.
"Check that out" Rick said to his buddy Ryan. Altho Ryan had cheated on Tara in the summer, he still liked her, and was jealous that she was with Nick, the boy he used to pick on.
"I cant believe she'd want to go out with him" Ryan said, looking over at Nick.
"Well.. you know, hes not exactly the loser he used to be" Josh said. "he's actually pretty cool now"
"Shut up" Ryan said quickly, eyeing Nick and Tara. "She will be mine again.." Ryan said. Ryan started to walk over to where Nick and Tara were sitting, and sat down in the chair beside Tara.
"Hello Tara" Ryan said, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Tara asked blankly, looking at Ryan strangely.
"You know what Im doing.." Ryan said "Im saving you from the Backdoor Boy"
"Thats BACKSTREET BOY, and I do NOT need saving! I've liked him even before he was in a band, since I met him in grade 6!" Tara rebuttled.
"yeah, whatever" Ryan said. "Like we all believe that"
"Do you have a problem?" Tara said. Tara stood up from her seat, and sat beside Nick.
"Yeah I do, my problem is that YOU are with HIM" Ryan said.
"Deal with it, because you'll be seeing alot more of me with her" Nick said.
"Oh shut up, fag boy" Ryan said.
"You are soo rude and inconsiderate! I dont know why I ever went out with you" Tara said, and she grabbed her bags and left the table.
"Leave her alone.. or else you'll be dealing with me" Nick said, and then he grabbed his fries and left to go after Tara.
The American Thanksgiving sunday arrived. Turkey smell filled the houses of Denise McLean, and Bob and Jane Carter. Over at the McLean house, Denise was setting up the big dinner table for a family Thanksgiving, consisting of herself, AJ, and AJ's grandparents, and also AJ's friend Karine. Jane Carter was cooking the turkey over at the Carter's house, who was also having a family thanksgiving. Jane told Nick and BJ that they could invite Tara, so Nick invited her over for supper.
Karine went over to AJ's house with a bottle of wine for AJ's mom, as a thank you for invited her to join their Thanksgiving dinner.
"So, how did you and Alex meet?" AJ's grandma asked.
"We met in class, at Orlando College" Karine said politely.
"We're good friends, grandma" AJ said, so his grandma wouldnt think otherwise.
As AJ sat down on the couch, his grandmother looked at him strangely.
"what is it?" AJ asked, kind of snapping.
"You dont look too well, dear" Grandma said.
"really?" AJ asked, trying to hide his eyes under his sunglasses.
"Are you feeling ok?" Grandma asked, and then she pulled off AJ's glasses.
"Alexander! Your eyes are all red!!" she exclaimed "Maybe you should go rest.."
"IM FINE, grandma" AJ said, taking the glasses back and putting them on. Karine noticed a change in AJ's voice, and couldnt help but look at the redness in AJ's eyes.
After supper, Karine and AJ took a seat outback by AJ's pool.
AJ was not in a good mood, and seemed very down.
"Whats wrong, AJ?" Karine asked. "Somethings been up with you all night.." Karine said.
"I'm fine.. dont worry about me" AJ muttered.
Karine knew not to push the subject much farther, she didnt want AJ to be mad at her. She was, however, going to keep an eye on AJ, because she noticed that he has changed alot lately.
Over at the Carter house, Tara was having a fun time playing with Nicks little brother and sisters, and of course, with Nick too.
After supper, Tara thanked Nicks parents for the wonderful meal and for inviting her over.
"Mom, Tara and I are goin up to my room alright?" Nick said. Nick was allowed to have Tara in his room, as long as his parents knew, and they kept the door open.
"alright.. keep the door open, though" Jane said. Nick grabbed Tara's hand and then walked upstairs with her to his room.
Nick's bedroom was two-levels high, it was a loft. Nick shared a room with Aaron, but Aaron was always gone anyways due to touring. Aarons toys were scattered across his half of the room, while Nicks clothes were scattered around his own side.
"sorry for the mess... " Nick said. Nick grabbed a pair of boxers that was sitting at the edge of his bed and threw them in the corner. Tara smiled at Nick while he turned a shade of red from embarassment of her seeing his underwear.
"Thats ok.. " Tara said. Nick sat down on the bed, and so did Tara. Nick grabbed the TV converter and turned on the big screen TV that stood infront of his bed.
Nick lied down on his bed, and held out his arms open for Tara to lie down with him. Tara crawled over to Nick and lied down with him, in his arms, and watched TV. Jerry Springer was on, entitled, "I HAVE A SECRET TO TELL YOU". Tara and Nick love those kind of Springer episodes, because there are lots of fights!
"guess what" Tara said, during commercial break.
"What?" Nick asked.
"Im getting my own little house!!" Tara said.
"serious!?!?" Nick asked, smiling down at Tara, who was resting her head on his shoulder.
"serious!! I've saved up enough money, and I am 18 and a half, and my job pays good.. I can afford it" Tara said.
"Have you found a place yet?" Nick asked.
"Kinda. I found this one, its like a little house that you can live in and pay rent, like an apartment, but its a house! and its along a beach! Not too far from here actually. Its closer to here than my parents house is!" Tara said.
"Will they let you go, though?" Nick asked.
"yeah, they will! They know I want to go out on my own" Tara said. "and also they said it would be good for me to be out on my own".
"Did you tell the person you'll take the place?" Nick asked.
"well I told him I'd think about it.. but I know I'll end up getting it. Hes waiting for me to answer him" Tara said.
"You should go for it!" Nick said, encouraging her.
"Yeah.. I want a roommate tho.. I dont want to be all by myself! I'd ask BJ to move in, but I dont think your parents would let her till shes 18!" Tara said.
"They might let her.." Nick said.
"serious?" Tara said, kind of surprised.
"Altho I have to say, I wouldnt mind moving in.." Nick said, smiling again at Tara.
"hehe I wouldnt mind that either, Nick! But I dont think our parents would allow that.. yet" Tara said "We've only been together a month.." Tara said laughing.
"Good point" Nick said "Well, You know I'll be over alot" Nick said. "cuz If my sister's going to be living with you.. I'm going to have to protect you two!" Nick said. Tara laughed again, and then commercials ended, and Springer came back on again. Later that night, Tara talked to BJ about her idea, and BJ was totally excited and loved the idea. BJ and Tara talked to her parents, who werent too keen on the idea, but agreed as long as BJ kept up her schoolmarks, and called them all the time. Tara let the man know that they wanted the house, and they were to move in two weeks from now.