"Flight 232 from Montreal, Canada is now arriving at Gate 12" the computer voice announced over the loud speakers of the Tampa Bay International Airport.
Nick and Tara stood up from the soft airport couches and headed over to Gate 12. It had been a long time since she last saw Karine. She remembered it perfectly well, the end of the BSB Canadian tour, late August. Here it was now, middle of November, and almost 100 degrees outside in Southern Florida.
Karine grabbed her carryon bag and walked down the aisle, stepping down the stairs into the baggage area.
"Karine! Over here!" Tara waved to Karine.
Karine walked over to Tara and gave her a hug, Nick smiled and hugged Karine after Tara.
"Long time no see!" Tara said.
"Yeah I know, too long.." Karine said "At least Im back now.."
"yeah, and you'll enjoy your vacation" Tara said.
".. and the hot weather!" Nick added.
"Are you sure you guys dont mind me staying at your place?" Karine asked, looking over at Nick.
"No.. we dont mind.. just as long as you dont mind us.." Nick grinned.
Tara playfully hit Nicks chest.
Karine laughed and headed over to the bag section and grabbed her luggage.
Nick helped Karine carry her things and placed them in the back of his truck.
The car ride back to Ruskin took about 20 minutes, with Karine and Tara talking girl talk all the way back.
"So Nick, how's the music going?" Karine asked.
"its great... we're thinking about our fourth album.." Nick replied. "We're gonna have some of our own material on it"
"that's really cool.. have you wrote any songs?"
"Yeah, I wrote one.. its a love song" Nick said, smiling at Tara.
"The other guys are into writing too.. AJ's writing has really improved.." Nick said. He didnt know whether he should mention AJ's name or not.
"Really? how so?" Karine asked curious.
"Well he wrote this really nice song.. you'll hear it sometime" Nick said, wanting to get off the AJ subject now. "How are things in Montreal?"
"shitty.." Karine said, remembering what Patrick had done to her.
Nick stopped talking and finished driving back to their home.
When they got to the house, Karine brought her stuff inside, and Tara showed her BJ's old room, which was now the guest room.
"Nice place.. you have really changed it since I was last here.." Karine said, looking at all the new furniture and pics and new paint job.
"Thanks.. Nick and I wanted to change it to a way that we both would like it" Tara replied, picking up a pic of her and Nick together on the beach, and then put it back down.
"You two look soo happy together... how are things with you and Nick?" Karine asked.
"Things are great with us! I love him soo much" Tara said, smiling off into her own little world with her thoughts of Nick.
"Thats good that you have a great guy like Nick.. you deserve him"
"thanks!! Its getting late tho, and I'm getting tired.... so Im going to head to bed. Are you going to stay up?" Tara asked.
"Yeah, just for a little while longer.." Karine said. Nick walked into the living room in his boxers only.
"Nick! We have a guest..." Tara said, standing infront of Nick.
"I know, I was only seeing if you were coming to bed.." Nick said, pulling Tara away.
"yeah.. hehe, I am.. see you tomorrow Karine.. turn off the light when your done..". Nick pulled Tara into their bedroom and shut the door. Karine could hear Tara giggling.
Karine woke up with the sun shining down on her face. The smell of bacon and eggs was aroming throughout the house, and it made Karine a little hungry. Walking into the kitchen she saw Tara and Nick kissing eachother by the counter. Karine cleared her throat to let them know she was there. Nick pulled away from Tara and wiped his mouth.
"Good morning, karine! Care for some eggs and bacon?" Nick said.
"I'll have some eggs.. but no bacon please"
"Sure" Nick said, putting some eggs onto a plate and giving them to Karine.
"SO whats on the agenda for today?" Tara asked Karine.
"I was thinking of heading into Orlando, maybe do some shopping" Karine said "unless you had something planned for us.."
"Nope! Actually Nick's taking me to the N SYNC concert tonight, we got the tickets a month ago" Tara said.
"Cool" Karine said. She didnt like N SYNC "Have fun"
"Oh we will!" Tara said "Justin Timberlake, baby!!"
Nick rolled his eyes playfully, just to bug Tara.
Karine showered and changed into some of her warmer weather clothes, and then took a bus into Orlando.
"Want to head to the keys for the day?" Amanda asked over the phone.
"I cant today, Amanda.. but thanks for the offer! I have some business I have to do in Orlando today, some promotional things and then I have to go to the studio with that new song I wrote for the guys to check over" AJ replied. "Can we do it another day?" He asked politely.
"sure, of course! I'll call you later, bye hun!" Amanda said, and then hung up the phone. AJ hung up his receiever and headed over to the bathroom and looked in the mirror to make sure he looked good. He grabbed his keys and headed out to his garage.
After all of the music business that AJ had to do was done, he wanted to spend some time alone by himself, and think about things. He drove out to the oceanfront and stared out and the water. The sun was coming down, and made a beautiful reflection off of the water.
AJ started to remember the time when Karine and him came to this lake, and sat on this very bench, and talked for hours. He loved those moments with her, and he loved being with her. He still loved her. As much as he knew they couldnt be together, he tried to fall in love with Amanda, but the feelings just weren't the same for him. He didnt know how to break it to her, so he just kept putting it off, and pretending to be happy.
AJ stood up from the bench and walked along the boarwalk. Up ahead he saw the Pier, the place where him and Karine used to go to get ice cream.
AJ walked along the pier, and spotted another bench where him and Karine used to sit. Someone was sitting there, a woman, with red hair. AJ took a seat on the opposite side of the bench, and stared straight out at the incoming waves.
"Its beautiful isnt it?" AJ said to the stranger, still looking far ahead. The woman turned to look at him. When he didnt hear an answer, he turned to face her, and came face to face with Karine.
"K??" AJ said, squinting because he didnt believe it was her.
"AJ?" Karine said.
"K.. wha... what.. what are you doing here?"
"I came here to think..." Karine replied ".. what are you doing here?"
"I came to think also" AJ replied "How long have you... been here?"
"I came in yesterday.." Karine said. AJ felt really happy inside to see Karine. To him, it was as though seeing Karine was a sign that he should break up with Amanda. He saw this meeting as fate.
"Where are you staying?? how have you been??" AJ stammered.
"Wow youre full of questions.. Im staying at Nick and Tara's, and I have been alright, I guess. You?" Karine asked.
"Im alright too.." AJ lied.
"Dont lie to me Alex! I can always tell when you lie!"
AJ let out a laugh. "Yeah, you always did know me really well"
"Whats on your mind?" Karine asked.
"I dont know if I should be talking to you about this or not.." AJ said.
"I dont mind"
AJ told Karine the story of him and Amanda, and how he really doesnt want to be with her. Karine listened while AJ told his story.
"What about you?" AJ asked, looking at the sad look on Karine's face. Karine told AJ about Patrick, and then she started to cry.
AJ wrapped his arms around Karine and pulled her in for a hug.
"im soo sorry, Karine... that guy was such an ass!" AJ said "You don't deserve to be treated like that"
"I.. I .. I dont know why... why i believed him.." Karine said "Im such a fool.."
"No you're not, Karine! You're a beautiful girl who has a great personality, and who I love being with. Its no wonder why I love you soo much!" AJ said. AJ realized what he had said, and was kind of embarassed. He was embarassed that he had let out his true feelings, and was probably making Karine even more upset at this vulnerable time in her life.
Karine continued to cry on AJ's shoulder as he comforted her. Deep down, she knew she loved him too.