Tara woke up late the next morning, it was 11am. Opening her eyes, she realized that she had fell asleep on the couch last night, Nick sleeping soundly with her. Flashes of the night before passed through her mind. Her date with Justin, saying goodbye to Justin for the next three months, her coming home and being upset, and Nick comforting her.
"Im soo lucky to have a friend like you, Carter" Tara said, looking down at the sleeping Nicky.
Tara stood up and grabbed a blanket, covering Nick so he wouldnt get cold from the air conditioning in the house. She climbed up the stairs to her room and gave herself a long shower.
Nick woke up to find himself lying on the couch, and immediately remembered he fell asleep with Tara last night while he was comforting her.
'where is she' he thought to himself, looking around the room for her. The sound of running water could be heard and Nick knew she was taking a shower. He vowed to himself to make Tara's weeks without Justin happy weeks, instead of sad and depressed ones.
"Come on shorty, we have to go shopping!" Nick yelled up the stairs.
"What? what for?"
"Halloween stuff.. it is our first halloween living together, and since I'm not on tour I plan on making the best out of my favourite holiday. We have to go get some decorations, candy, and maybe even pick out costumes!" Nick said.
Tara could tell by Nicks voice that he was excited!
"okay, sounds like fun" Tara replied, and she grabbed her things and let Nick drag her out to the mall.
Nick turned on the radio in his car, and the DJ was playing I WANT YOU BACK by N SYNC.
Tara stared out the window and kept quiet, Nick didnt know what to say, since he had tried to keep Tara away from thinking about Justin so she wouldnt be upset. Justin had left four weeks ago.
"You miss him, dont you"
"Yeah.." Tara said, staring out the window into her own little world.
"Im sure he misses you too.."
Tara smiled over at Nick.
"Your soo understanding, Nick"
"I know how it feels to be away" Nick replied, and smiled back at Tara. Tara could see the serious look in Nicks eyes and she knew he was trying to make her feel better.
Tara turned to Nick and made him a silly funny face, which made Nick laugh immediately when he looked at her.
Nick and Tara searched the mall for the perfect halloween candy for their trick-or-treaters and cool scary decorations.
The last stop they made was at the costume store, which was Nick's favourite part of the whole trip.
The racks inside the store were filled with different costumes of all sorts.
"ooooh... here's one for you, Tara! Try this one on.." Nick said. Tara grabbed the costume from Nick and looked at it. The most beautiful dress of light blue silk and acrinyln lay before her eyes, the most beautiful princess dress that she had ever see.
"Its soo beautiful..." Tara exclaimed in shock, looking at the dress infront of her.
"Try it on" Nick said with a smile. Tara looked up at Nick, took the dress to the dressingroom and tried it on.
"Morticia.... you look soo beautiful" the Gomez-dressed AJ spoke, grabbing Karine's arm and kissing her from her hand, all the way up her arm to her neck, just like Gomez Addams did to Morticia. Karine was dressed in a long black dress that went all the way down to the floor, past her feet. She had died her hair black, along with AJ, for this special night.
"Thank you Gomez, you look very handsome yourself" Karine replied, fixing AJ's jacket collar.
"So where exactly is this party tonight at?" Mar asked. Mar walked out of Karines bathroom wearing a pair of track pants and a black adidas baby t, she was dressed like Sporty Spice.
"I hate the spice girls" Mar said, looking down at her outfit. Karine and AJ laughed at Mar.
"Oh Mar, you look great! And anyways, I think Kev thinks you look sexy.. isnt that right, Kev?"
Kevins eyes were glued onto Mar as he watched her body move in her outfit. He was definetly being turned on.
"Boo?" Mar said, Kevin broke out of his daze.
"you look great, Mar... VERY great..." Kevin said, looking Mar up and down. Mar turned a little red and then hugged Kevin.
"Kevin? What are you supposed to be?" Mar asked, looking at Kevins costume.
"Im Dr. Jekyll, Mr Hide.... just like from our video" Kevin replied. He turned his face to the side so that Mar could see the other half of his face more clearly.
"The party is at Jive" Kevin replied, to Karine's question she asked a few moments ago.
Nick, Mandy and Tara rang AJ and Karine's doorbell, they seven of them had planned to go together as a group.
Tara walked in through the door with her big beautiful princess dress on. She had the costume finished with a silver crown that she had bought from Claires Accessories, a wand, and sparkly make up.
"Wow... SOMEONE here looks absolutely gorgeous.." AJ said, his eyes popping out of his head a little. Kevin's eyes were widened also.
"thanks" Tara replied with a smile, blushing a little for the fact that her best friends guys were staring at her.
"Karine and Mar look totally great tonight also!" Tara replied, looking at their costumes. Karine and Mar smiled and tried to divert their guys attention back to them.
Nick and Mandy walked into the entrance, Mandy dressed as baby spice. As soon as Nick walked in, Kevin and Mar started to laugh. Nick was dressed in baggy green cargo pants, a black muscle shirt. Fake tattoos had been drawn over his arms, he was wearing alot of jewellry such as rings. His hair had been died flaming red and black. Nicks costume was finished off with a a pair of sunglasses.
Karine started to laugh when she saw Nicks costume, knowing right away what it was.
"Nick... what are you supposed to be?" AJ asked, totally clueless.
"Im AJ McLean, of the Backstreet Boys" Nick replied with a smile. "WASSUP?"
Karine, Mar, Kev, Tara, and Mandy laughed hysterically while AJ stood there in shock, feeling somewhat intimidated and felt as tho he was being made fun of.
"Nothing beats the original Alexander James McLean, buddy" AJ said with pride.
"Sorry Gomez, but tonight Im AJ McLean, the freak of the BSB!" Nick said with a laugh. AJ shook his head and rechecked Nicks costume, then started to laugh himself, it was a funny sight.
The group of seven arrived at the large building where the Jive Records halloween party was being held.
Mar and Kev walked hand in hand, AJ had his arm around Karine, and Nick had Mandy on the one side of him, Tara on the other.
"You having fun?" Brian asked Tara.
"yeah... its alright" Tara replied.
"You know, you look absolutely beautiful tonight.... may I have the pleasure of dancing with you?" Brian asked. Brian was dressed as a basketball player.
"Id love to!" Tara said, reaching out her silk gloved arm to grab Brians hand and go out to dance.
Nick stared off into space, totally ignoring Mandy who was trying to talk to him.
"huh? what?? sorry.." Nick said, coming back from his dreamworld.
"Nick Carter you have not been listening to one word I say! Is something wrong?"
"What makes you think that?"
"The way you have been acting lately.... you've been totally different with me over the past month!" Mandy retorted.
"what? I have not.." Nick whined.
"You have too! You never call me anymore, and when I call you, you dont seem interested in talking to me! You hardly take me out anymore because you say your too tired or your busy, and you completely ignore me when we're out together!"
Nick looked out onto the dancefloor and checked out Tara, who was still dancing with Brian and obviously having a fun time.
"Mandy... I think we need to talk..."
Nick led Mandy outside to one of the balconies that overlooked the ocean.
"Nick, for this relationship to work, we have to have communication.."
"Thats what I want to talk to you about, Mandy.. " Nick said down on the bench and had Mandy sit down next to him.
"Mandy.. I really like you, and I have a good time when I am with you, but things just haven't been the same lately.."
"What do you mean?" she asked quietly
"I mean, I just dont feel the same way that I used to. Theres nothing wrong with you, believe me, you're a great girl, and any guy would be lucky to have you.."
"except you right?" Mandy said, her eyes starting to water up.
"Im sorry, Mandy.. I just dont think its going to work out.."
"Why cant it work out? we can work it out.." Mandy said, full tears starting to stream down her cheeks.
"We cant.. trust me on this one.. I'm really sorry.." Nick said sadly. Mandy stood up and looked at Nick who stood up after her, she wanted him to see her tears, before running off back into the building.
Nick sat back down and rested his head into his hands.
"what have I done?" Nick said "Did i really do the right thing, God?" Nick stared off at the stars.
Inside the party, Tara and Brian saw the upset and distraught Mandy run out, and knew something was obviously happening. Brian and Tara headed out to the balcony, the area where Mandy just came from. They found Nick sitting on the balcony, upset.
"maybe you should talk to him..." Brian whispered at Tara.
"Me? why me?" Tara whispered back. She was worried she would say something wrong.
"Cuz your his best friend, just like I am, but girls are usually better and handling emotional situations.."
Brian looked at Tara, and she knew she had to do it. Brian stood back and watched Tara approach Nick.
"Nick?" Tara said calmly and sensitively.
Nick turned around and faced Tara, his eyes were a little red.
Nick leaned in and pulled Tara in for a hug.
"Did you want to talk about it, Nick? Im here for you, you know.." Tara asked, still hugging Nick.
"I... I... just broke up with Mandy.." Nick said sadly.
"you did???" Tara said, surprised with shock.
"yeah... I mean, it was the best thing to do, but the look on her face Tara, was soo devastating!"
Tara rubbed Nicks back softly, soothing him and making him feel better.
"I had to break it off with her Tara... for many reasons.." Nick continued. Tara stayed quiet while letting Nick talk.
"I kinda feel out of like, with her. I stopped liking her, awhile ago.. I just never knew how to break it off properly, I guess I shouldnt have strung her along like that.." Nick said.
"She'll get through this, Nick" Tara said, still rubbing his back.
"Im sorry to damper your fun" Nick said sadly.
"Nick, your not dampering my fun! You're my best friend, and there is nothing more that I'd rather do than be here for you.." Tara said, looking at him in his eyes. Nick let out a smile to her, while she wiped the forming tear from his eye away with her silk glove.
'man shes soo beautiful' Nick thought to himself, while she wiped his tears. 'maybe there is a chance for us afterall...'.