The month of November flew by really quickly between work, hanging out with friends, and Thanksgiving. Marie and Kevin arranged a large thanksgiving dinner to take place at their home for them, AJ and Karine, Brian and Leigh Anne, Howie and a new girl he was seeing named Mindy, and Nick and Tara. At the thanksgiving party, Marie took out pictures from the Halloween party that she took, and passed them around.
"Here's a really funny pic.. check this one out.." Mar said. She held up a picture of Nick dressed as AJ, acting like Bone usually does in concert, doing large pelvic thrusts.
Tara laughed when she saw the picture and shook her head, Nick seemed to be proud.
"So Tara, have you heard from Justin lately?" Karine asked. Nick heard Justins name and quickly looked up and over at Tara.
"yeah he called me last night to wish me a happy thanksgiving" Tara replied with a smile.
"Thats sweet! did he say when hes coming back?"
"no" Tara replied.
Kevin interrupted the conversation by announcing that dinner was ready and everyone could eat.
December quickly came and the temperature started to go down just a little, but it was still very hot.
"its a bit chilly today" Nick said, throwing on a long sleeved shirt.
"Chilly? yeah right.. its hot!" Tara replied, looking at Nick like he was nuts.
"Hot? whatever!" Nick said with a laugh.
"Oh yeah? Well right now in Canada we have about 2 feet of snow!" Tara said. Nick looked at her and didnt say anything.
"Hey Carter.. I have an idea of something we could do today.."
"what is it?" Nick asked with a smile.
"buy christmas decorations, and we need to get a tree too!" Tara said.
"oh.. yea.. Christmas is in a few weeks isnt it?" Nick asked.
"yeah, three weeks away..." Tara said with a smile.
Tara and Nick drove to the mall and picked out various christmas decorations from garland and bells to tree ornaments and mistletoe. The last thing they picked out was a large fake christmas tree that looked almost like the real thing.
Over the next week, Nick and Tara put up the various decorations all around the house, saving the tree for last. Nick set up the tree and wanted to surprise Tara with it, and then they could both decorate it, together.
"Shorty... come here... I have a surprise for you" Nick called up for her. Tara turned off Nicks computer and came down the stairs.
"Oh my god!! Nick! You put up the tree!!" Tara said with excitement.
"yeah, what do you think?" Nick asked proudly.
"It looks beautiful!" Tara replied, looking at the bare green tree that was waiting to have ornaments on it.
"well.. come on... get your butt over here, we're going to decorate our first official christmas tree" Nick said, handing Tara an ornament. Tara looked down at the little christmas bear, and looked over at Nick.
"I never knew you got soo into the Christmas spirit" Tara said.
"I do.. I love Christmas..." Nick grinned at Tara.
"oh wait.... before you put that one on... here's one just for you" Nick said, passing anoter ornament to Tara. Tara looked down at the ornament, it was a pictureframe that held a picture of them from the Halloween Party together, the frame had their name on it and the year.
"awwww Nick, I love it... thank you" Tara said, placing it on the tree and giving him a hug.
"You're the best friend anyone could ask for"
"thanks" Nick replied.
Tara and Nick continued placing the rest of their ornaments on the tree.
"Would you like to put the angel up top?" Nick asked Tara.
"yeah!" Tara said excited, she loved Christmas. "i'll need a chair or something" Tara said.
"I'll lift you up..." Nick replied.
"ok..." Tara said. Nick placed his hands on Tara's waist, and felt her soft skin as he lifted her up so she could reach the top. He felt himself getting a little excited.
Up in the air, Tara placed the angel at the top of the tree. Nick brought her back down, but kept his hands on her waist for a few moments longer. Tara felt a little strange and a little awkward, but also had a feeling of sensation and longing for Nick. She kind of wished he kept his hands there longer.
"i... I'm going to get a drink.." Nick said "want one?"
"Sure" Tara replied. She watched Nick go into the kitchen and she walked over to the tree. Hanging on the front of the tree was the special ornament. She held the ornament in her hand and stared at the picture. The pic was taken when they first arrived at the party, Nick had his arm around her. Mandy had been cut out from the other side. Nick's face was turned to Tara, he was staring and smiling at her intensely while she was smiling at the camera.
"SOOOO... how should we start the official Backstreet Christmas get-together?" Brian asked, sitting down with Leigh Anne on one of the many couches in AJ's home.
"PRESENTS!" Nick opted. Everyone agreed, seeing as presents were the most popular part of the night. A week earlier, everyone had drawn names from one a hat for their 'secret santa'. Secret Santa is a game where everyone picks a name from a hat and has to buy a present for the person that they picked. They can not tell anyone who they have to buy for, and know one will know who has them until the presents are exchanged.
"Oh.. heres one for Leigh Anne......" Karine said, starting to pass out the presents that were under the tree.
"one for Nick...... for me....... Kevin..." Karine continued passing out the presents until the secret santa section of the presents had been all passed out.
Karine opened the christmas card on the present to find out that her secret santa was Kevin. She opened the gift to find a nice necklace that was almost similar to the one that AJ often wears. Karine thanked Kevin for the nice gift.
Tara opened up her christmas card to find it was signed by Brian.
"ahhh I wonder what it could be.." Tara said happily, shaking the box, it wasnt making any noise. Tara unwrapped the box to find an envelope.
Tara opened up the envelope and pulled out three tickets. SHe turned them around to see what they were, Front Row Backstreet Boys tickets to the BSB show on New Years.
"ooooh my god!!!!" Tara screamed, and jumped up and down.
"Brian!!! I love you!" Tara said, running over to him and giving him a hug.
"You like them?" Brian asked with a smile.
"are you kidding? i LOVE them! this was the BEST gift!! thanks soo much Brian!" Tara said, giving him another hug.
"ahhhh" Tara said, still excited. Nick laughed and smiled as he saw Tara's face lit up with happiness, he loved to see her happy.
After all the presents had been opened, everyone sat down at the table for a nice dinner, then watched some christmas movies after that and chatted about old times and other things.
Christmas was a week away, it was December 18, 1999.
Tara made her way to the kitchen and started to gather various ingredients to make her families famous Christmas Cookie Cutouts, that her family usually makes every year at Christmas time.
"What are you doing?" Nick asked, walking into the kitchen while Tara was rolling out the dough onto the counter, getting ready to use the cookie cutters.
"Making cookies! Want to help?"
"sure!" Nick said, and grabbed a cutter. Tara finished rolling the dough and grabbed a cutter for herself, cutting out different christmas shapes using as much dough as she could. Nick helped Tara move the dough onto the cookie sheet and put them in the oven, waiting for those to cook before putitng in the next batch.
When Tara shut the oven door and stood up, Nick threw some flour at her, making it go over the front of her shirt.
Tara looked down at the flour, then looked up at the grinning Nick.
"oh yeah Carter?" Tara said with a smirk. She grabbed some flour and threw it at Nick.
Nick licked his lips and got some water from the sink, splashing it onto Tara. Tara grabbed an egg from the counter, tickled Nick so he would bend over, and broke the egg over his head.
Nick stood up in shock because he couldnt believe Tara did that to him.
"SHORTY!!! Im going to get you now.. you better run..." Nick said. Tara looked at Nick and ran out of the kitchen, with Nick running closely behind her. Nick followed Tara out to the living room, where she tripped over one of Nick's basketballs and fell onto the floor, Nick being so close behind, fell right ontop of her.
"are you okay?" Nick asked, egg dripping down onto the floor.
"yeah, im alright.." Tara said with a laugh. She looked up at Nicks hair and swiped the eggwhite off his head, making it go onto the ground.
Nick looked down into Tara's beaming brown eyes, and looked at her lips. He had the feeling to kiss her, and he really wanted to. Tara looked up into Nicks blue eyes, they were soo amazing. She had an urge to kiss him, but she knew she couldnt because he was her best friend, and she was with Justin. She also didnt believe he liked her in that fashion or ever would.
'do i go for it?' Nick thought to himself, and looked down at her again. He gently put all his weight down on Tara, and lowered his head to hers, gently brushing her lips with his, for a soft lingering kiss.
The doorbell rang abruptly and Nick moved his head to look at the door. He looked back down at Tara, who laid there a little shocked at the kiss they had just shared.
"i'll go get it.." Nick replied, and stood up. Tara stood up after he got off of her, and she watched him move to the door.
Tara thought of the kiss she just had with Nick, and felt guilty right away for loving every moment of the kiss.
"Hello?" Nick said, opening the door. The man in the doorway turned around, it was Justin Timberlake.