Tara ran along the beachfront, the water hitting the top of her ankles. As the waves crashed in upon her legs, two arms surrounded her, pulling her in for a giant hug. She turned around to face the man, it was Nick. Gently his lips came upon hers, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Nick gently laid her down in the said, caressing her arms and shoulders...
"Tara?? You up??" Nick asked.
Tara opened up her eyes, she was in Nicks bed. It had all been a dream.
"uhh... yeah..." Tara said. Nick opened up his bedroom door, where Tara had stayed the night, and came in wearing his robe.
"Have a good sleep for your first night here?" Nick asked, taking a seat at the end of his bed.
"Yeah, thanks.. I feel bad that you had to sleep on the couch.."
"Dont worry about it!" Nick replied.
"I made something for you" Nick said.
"Really? what is it?"
"Breakfast! Come on downstairs.. its all ready!" Nick was excited that he had cooked a good breakfast for him and Tara.
"mmm... sounds great! I'll be right down" Tara replied. Nick got off his bed and left the room, shutting the door behind him.
'it was all a dream..' Tara said to herself, letting out a sigh. 'but a good dream...' Tara thought, with a large grin on her face.
Tara found Nick's remote for the TV and clicked it on to MTV. N SYNC was on the news, talking about their upcoming tour, which was to start in a week. After that, Tara wouldnt be seeing Justin for almost 3 months, till the end of december.
"Aww Nick, you didnt have to do all this.." Tara said. She looked around the kitchen table to find all of her favourite foods. He probably spent all morning preparing the feast. Nick had prepared a selection from toast, waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes, and orange juice.
"I wanted to do this.." Nick said with a smile. He truly was such a sweet guy, Mandy was lucky to have a guy like him!
"You know, if Im only your best friend, and you treat me like this, you must treat Mandy like a Queen" Tara said, before placing a forkfull of eggs into her mouth. Nick didnt say anything and sat down on the chair that was across from her.
Tara noticed how Nick went quiet after she mentioned Mandy's name.
"Well... you know, I try my best.. but I dont treat Mandy like the way I treat you" was all that Nick could say.
"SO, ready for the big shopping excursion for the day? I think I may even buy you a new bed!"
"A new bed? why?" Tara exclaimed.
"Well, since you have such a big room to yourself, you should have a big bed to go along with it, comfort and all" Nick replied.
"Nick, you dont have to.."
"I want to"
"ok.." Tara said, trying not to refuse Nick, she knew he didnt like to be refused, he was very stubborn!
After breakfast was finished and Nick cleaned up, both of them took their showers and headed out to the mall for a day of furniture shopping.
Nick and Tara picked out a new TV, new couch, more furniture and a brand new queen sized bed for Tara.
"a Queen Bed for Shorty... now you'll have lots of room" Nick said, proud with his purchases.
"Thanks Carter" Tara said, giving Nicks arm a little punch. Nick gave the truck driver their address so the man could deliver the furniture to the house. A couple hours later, the deliveries arrived, and Nick had the men carry them up to Tara's room, since him and Tara wouldnt have been able to carry it up there themselves. Nick and Tara spent another evening in the house together, still arranging Tara's room, and getting everything into place.
The next day, the doorbell rang at about 11am. Tara got out of her bed and threw on her robe, and walked to the front door. The house was totally quiet, Nick was still in bed, his door was shut.
Tara opened the front door to see Mandy standing there.
"Good morning, Tara" Mandy said cheerfully.
"Good morning Mandy" Tara said, waking up still.
"Can I come in?"
"oh.. yeah.. sure.." Tara said, opening the door wider for her to come in.
"sorry, i just got up.. " Tara said a little groggily.
"Oh, Im sorry that I woke you up... is Nick up yet?"
"no.." Tara replied "want a glass of orange juice or something?"
"sure.." Mandy said. SHe took off her shoes and jacket and followed Tara into the kitchen.
"thanks" Mandy said, grabbing the glass that Tara had poured for her. Tara sat down at the table and started sipping at her own glass of Orange Juice.
"I heard that N SYNC is going on tour..." Mandy said.
"yeah.. they're leaving next week.." Tara said sadly, thinking about how much shes going to miss Justin.
"How are you taking the news?"
"not that good, Im going to miss Justin soo much! I spend practically every other day with him.. and I love him.." Tara said.
"yeah, I know you do.." Mandy said, or at least, Mandy thought.
"Hes going to be gone for three whole months practically.."
"I know how you feel, I'd be feeling the same way if Nick went on tour right now"
"yeah... I know.." Tara said, taking another sip of her orange juice.
"well, you know, Nick and I will be here for you.."
"Thanks" Tara said with a half smile. Nick and Mandy, one sight she didnt really like to see.
"well... I'll go get Nick" Tara said, standing up. She headed up to Nicks room, and knocked on the door.
"come in" Nicks voice said. Tara opened the door and saw Nick in bed, watching TV.
"Mandys here..." Tara said.
"oh.. alright... I'll be down in a few minutes" Nick replied. Tara was about to turn away when he called out her name.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for letting me do all those things for you, yesterday"
"thank you for being soo generous, Carter" Tara said. She went over to Nick and gave him a hug. Feelings of awkwardness came over Tara, realizing that she was hugging Nick on his bed.
"Well.. uhh.. i have to go shower" Tara said. Nick grinned at her.
"Carter, get those thougths out of your mind!" Tara said with a laugh.
"Hey.. i wasnt thinking anything.."
"yeah right" Tara said jokingly. "Mandys downstairs waiting for you" Tara said, then took off down the hallway.
Nick quickly got dressed into a pair of baggy jeans and a tshirt.
Mandy was downstairs waiting in the living room for Nick.
"Good morning hun" She said, greeting Nick with a kiss.
"Good morning, Mandy! What brings you by so early?"
"I thought we'd spend the day together" Mandy replied, grabbing Nicks arm.
"oh, alright.. " Nick said. He didnt really feel like going out today with Mandy, but since he hadnt spent much time with her lately he decided that maybe it would be best if he went out.
"So tonight's your last date with Timberlake?" Nick said to Tara, as he watched her get ready for her date with Justin.
"Yeah, he's leaving for his tour tomorrow morning.." Tara replied, applying the little last bit of lipsmackers.
"Oh... touring is very hectic" Nick said, recalling memories of the BSB's last tour they did a little while ago. They had just finished their world tour right before Tara moved to Florida.
"I know, I read tons of interviews where you guys talk about touring. Karine also tells me all about it" Tara replied. She stood up off of her chair and checked her shoes to see which ones matched her outfit.
"Go with the blue sandals.. they match your dress" Nick said. Tara was wearing a short baby blue dress.
"okay.." Tara said, slipping the shoes on "So, do you have a hot date tonight with Mandy?"
"No, I dont really feel like going out tonight.. I thought it would be better if I stayed here.." Nick said 'to comfort you when you get home from your date' he thought.
The doorbell rang at exactly 6pm, Justin arrived on time. Tara and Nick went down the stairs and Nick opened the door.
"Hey Justin, come on in.." Nick said, letting Justin into the main hallway.
"thanks... hey honey.. WOW! you look great!" Justin said, eyeing Tara up and down.
"thank you, you look great too, as always!" Tara replied, giving him a soft sweet kiss on the lips. Nick looked at them during their private greeting.
"Well, we better be going.. dinner reservations.." Justin said "see you later, Nick"
"See ya, Timberlake" Nick said "Bye shorty, have fun"
"I will Carter..." Tara said with a laugh, then took off down the driveway, holding onto Justins arm. Nick could see Justin smiling down at Tara, it made him a little upset.
Justin took Tara to Planet Hollywood, one of her favourite places to go for supper. Planet Hollywood supper was followed by a nice walk along the beach, like they did on their first date.
"I love you, Tara"
"I love you too, Justin" Tara said, cuddling into Justin. He wrapped his arms around her tighly and rested his head onto hers.
"I wish I could bring you with me.."
"So do I.. but I have to work, so do you.. the timing just isnt good" Tara replied.
"I'll be home around christmas time.."
"really? Thats not too far away.. now that I think of it.." Tara said "the busy days will make the time go by fast.."
"Yeah.. true.. I'll call you..."
"You better!" Tara said with a laugh.
Justin leaned into Tara and started to kiss her in the sand, like they did on their first date.
Justin dropped Tara off at her home at around midnight that night, taking a half an hour to say their goodbyes to one another. Justin had watery eyes, but managed to hold back his tears, same with Tara.
Tara watched Justin as he pulled his car out of the driveway, and the gates shut behind him. She pulled out her key and opened the door, it was pitch black inside the house.
Tara locked the door and headed upstairs to her room. She opened up her door and turned on her light, Nick was sitting on her couch.
"Nick? What are you doing in here?" Tara said, sniffling, and trying to hide her watery eyes.
"I thought I'd wait up for you.. talk to you.." Nick said, noticing she was upset.
Nick got up off of the couch and headed over to Tara, moving her arms so he could see her eyes.
Tara started to cry, and Nick took her in his arms, holding her closely to him, as tightly as he could without hurting her. He led her over to the couch where he took a seat and ran his fingers through her hair, letting her cry on his chest.