"Kev baby... why dont we go back to our room?" Mar said to Kevin. She was holding onto his hand, and they were taking a nice romantic walk along the ocean shore.
"That sounds like a great idea.." Kevin replied with a grin. He led Mar back up to the hotel, and met up with AJ and Karine in the lobby.
"Hey guys.." Karine said. Her and AJ had just finished eating supper in the restaurant.
"Hey.. what are you guys doing?" Kevin asked, his arm now draped around Mar's shoulders.
"We're going to the bonfire outside.. what about you guys?"
"We're going upstairs!" Mar said with a smile, patting Kevins chest. Kevin smiled at AJ and Karine.
"Oh.. okay" AJ said, laughing. "we'll let you leave.." Karine said with a smile.
Mar and Kev hopped in the elevator and headed upstairs to their room. They could barely contain themselves and started kissing heavily in the elevator on the way up.
When the elevator door opened, Nick and Tara were standing there, waiting to go down. They saw Mar and Kevin kissing, not paying attention to the elevator. Nick cleared his throat.
"The door is open" Nick said politely.
"Oh.. sorry man.." Kevin said, wiping his mouth. He walked past Tara and Nick and headed down the hall, Mar following behind him.
"I know what their going to do.. see the look on their faces?" Tara said, laughing.
"Yeah I know eh? oh well.. at least they are enjoying themselves" Nick said.
Nick took Tara out to the beach and took a seat in the sand, Tara sitting beside him.
"Hey Tara, mind if I ask you something really personal? its kind of been on my mind.." Nick said.
"sure" Tara replied. Nick turned around to face Tara while he was about to talk to her seriously.
"Was I that bad, the day we had sex, that made you not be with me?" Nick asked.
"Nick, no.. not at all! That totally is not the reason" Tara said.
"Then what is?"
"Nick, I have to find out about my love for you, you know? I thought it was a fan love" Tara replied. Nick quickly picked up when he heard her say she THOUGHT it was a fan love. Has she finally made a decision about her love for him?
Nick decided not to question it, he didnt want to pressure her.
"Did Christmas day mean anything to you, at all?"
"Of course it did, Nick.. you were my first.."
"You were mine too.." Nick said.
"You still love me, don't you" Tara said. She looked into his eyes, already knowing the answer.
"Of course I do, Tara. I could never lie to you about that, I love you"
"Thanks for convincing me to go on this trip.." Tara said.
"Im glad you came" Nick said.
"so am I" Tara replied. She stared off into the waves, while Nick watched her. She looked soo beautiful. He wanted to hold her soo much at that moment, but knew he couldnt.
"How is your vacation going?" Justin asked, he had called Tara on the cell phone he had given her.
"great! Its soo beautiful here, and very relaxing!" Tara replied, sitting along the poolside on one of the sunchairs.
"thats good to hear! So you're having alot of fun?" Justin asked.
"tons! Wish you could be here tho.."
"I wish I could be there also... I'll see you when you get home.. Ihave to go now tho, have to go change to get ready for the show" Justin said.
"Ok.. love you! bye!" Tara said, and hung up the phone.
"That was Timberlake?" Nick asked, turning to face Tara.
"yeah" Tara replied.
"Can you put some sunscreen on me?" Nick asked "please?" he grinned.
Tara grabbed the bottle of lotion and started rubbing it onto his back, making sure she evenly spread it.
"mmm.. thanks.." Nick said, enjoying the touch of her hands onto his back.
"So, how's the man doing?" he asked.
"Alright I guess, hes been busy working.."
"Yeah, I know how it is" Nick said.
"Do you miss him?" he asked. Tara thought about it for a bit, and didnt answer.
"How come your not answering..." Nick asked, turning to face Tara.
"I dont know, I kinda miss him, but Im having loads of fun here.." Tara replied. Nick faced the other way again and thanked Tara for putting the lotion on his back, and then returned the favor and rubbed suntan lotion onto her back.
Brian and Leigh Anne walked into the hotel restaurant with AJ and Karine. Everyone had planned on meeting that night to have a nice dinner together. For the past week, everyone had been off on their own, doing their own things as couples, or as for Tara and Nick's case, as 'friends'.
"I cant believe we have to leave this place in three days.." Mar said.
"I know! It seems like we just got here, and already we have to leave" Karine replied. The waiter came over to the table and started pouring everyone a glass of wine.
"How has everyone's week been?" AJ asked, taking a sip from his glass.
"Well ours has been great! Mar and I went for a little hike, and have spent most of the time lounging by the pool or by the ocean" Kevin said.
"Leigh Anne and I have been doing the tourist idea, and checking out the local hot spots, while also lounging and doing various relaxing activities.." Brian replied with a smile. Leigh Anne smiled at Brian.
"Tara and I spent the whole week in water, practically! Every morning, we'd get up and go for an early swim, and then we'd spend the WHOLE day at the beach! We even went parasailing, earlier this afternoon! I think tomorrow, Im going to take Tara scuba diving!" Nick said.
"What? i dont know how to do that.." Tara said.
"Thats ok, shorty! I'll teach you" Nick replied with a grin.
The waiter came back with the large tray of dinners, and passed them out to the appropriate people.
After dinner, everyone retreated back to their hotel rooms.
The next day, bright and early, Nick and Tara got up to do their usual morning swim. This time, Brian and Leigh Anne decided to join them in the ritual, and get up early for some nice swimming time before breakfast.
Brian walked up alongside the pool, behind Nick, who didnt know that Brian was behind him. Tara was already in the pool, knowing not to say anything to Nick about Brian being right behind him.
Brian reached out his hands and pushed Nick into the pool, watching Nick scream as he fell into the water. Coming up to the surface, Nick saw Brian standing there laughing.
"Very funny Frick" Nick said with a goofy look on his face. He swam over to the edge and climbed out of the pool, and chased Brian, throwing him into the pool for revenge.
Later that afternoon, Nick rented the scuba gear from the main office and had Tara meet him by the shore. He showed her how to put on the wetsuit, ontop of her bikini, and how to work all of the little gadgets and breathing apparatus.
After a half an hour of explaining everything, Nick entered the water, holding onto Tara's hand so she would follow him. Nick dove into the water first, Tara following him. It was her first time suba diving, and she found it very exciting!
Nick swam infront of Tara at first, and then motioned for her to swim up beside him.
While Tara was checking out some of the shells near the bottom of the floor, Nick saw something large coming towards them from a distance away. A little nervous, he squinted his eyes to check out what it was. The tall fin on the top made Nick's eyes open completely wide as he realized a shark was heading straight for them. He yanked on Tara's arm and pushed her to swim towards the shore, Tara swimming as fast as she could. She looked behind her and saw the shark heading towards him, making her swim even faster.
The shark swam closer to them and made its way up to Nick. Nick's eyes went completely wide with fear, knowing he had to make a move quickly so the shark wouldnt get him. He took off his oxygen tank, setting it to go off in the other direction to mislead the shark. As he came to the surface for air, he saw that he was only about 20 feet from shore and swam really fast. Tara was on shore already and screamed for help, as Nick swam as fast as he could to the shore, making his way up the beach, running to Tara, and falling down into the sand.
"NICK!!! NICK, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" Tara screamed. She kneeled down beside Nick, who was out of breath, and laying on the ground.
"yeah... im... fine.." Nick said, taking deep breaths.
"Oh my God, I was soo worried!" Tara said, taking Nick into her arms and giving him a long hug.
"Are you alright?" Nick asked Tara, wanting to make sure she was okay.
"yeah Im fine, thanks to you.." Tara replied, running her hand down his face.
"I dont know what I'd do if anything happened to you.." Nick said, resting his hand onto her cheek.
"I wouldnt know what I'd do without you.." Tara replied. Nick stared into her eyes.
"Are you okay mister?" a lifeguard ran up to Nick, interrupting Tara and Nick.
"Yeah, Im fine.. thanks.." Nick said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes Im sure..." Nick replied.
"Tara, can we go back up to the room? I dont want to be by the beach right now"
"Sure, of course..." Tara replied. She gathered up her scuba belongings and headed up to the main office to return them, receiving a refund.
Tara took Nick back up to their room, and he sprawled out onto their bed. He took a deep sigh of relief.
"Of all my years of scuba diving, that's never happened to me before. Its always been my greatest fear... and I cant belive it just happened.." Nick said, staring up at the ceiling.
"Im just soo glad that you are alright Nick" Tara said, giving him a glass of water. He took a drink from the glass and set it aside.
"Did you really mean what you said, outside, Tara?" Nick asked out of nowhere.
"What part?" Tara asked, nervous.
"The part about you not knowing what you do if you didnt have me.."
"yeah..." Tara said, looking down at him.
"You have me..." Nick said. He reached his arms up and put them around her neck, pulling her down to him, meeting his lips with hers.
"Dont say anything.." Nick said, pulling away from the kiss "..let's just let our lips and our bodies do the talking for us.."
Nick sat up, pushing Tara down onto the bed and climbed ontop of her.
"I know you love me.. Tara.. and I know its more than a fan love. I see it in your eyes... I see it by the way youre looking at me. It's true love, Tara.."
Tara didnt say anything, because at that moment, she realized that she really did love him genuinely. The moment that they were in danger from the shark made her realize that she really did love Nick, but what would she do about her feelings for Justin?
Here she was, on one of the most beautiful resorts, confused once again about her feelings, only this time, she knew that she really did love Nick, just like she loves Justin.
Nick leaned down to her again and took her into his arms, kissing her softly. Tara took deep breaths, which started to turn into a quicker pace as Nick made his way down her body, kissing and caressing her.
Nick unclipped the back of her bikini top, and helped it off of her arms.
Nick caressed her chest with his hands, kissing it softly while taking looks up at Tara to see if she was enjoying what he was doing.
Tara reached her hands down to Nicks face, cupping his face into her hands. He lifted his face to look at her, and they both laid there silently for a moment.
Tara sat up and pushed Nick down onto the bed, climbing ontop of him, slowly taking off his swim trunks....