"You wouldn't believe what we heard this afternoon.." AJ said, grinning at Kevin and Mar.
Karine and AJ took a seat at the table in the restaurant, waiting to order their supper.
"What did you hear last night?" Kevin asked, looking through the menu.
"Nick... and.. Tara.." AJ said with an ever-expanding grin on his face.
"What?" Mar asked, looking down from her menu.
"Karine and I came back from our swim at the pool, and were coming to our room to change because we were going to head into town, and when we passed by Nick and Tara's room, we heard the most... intense sounds" AJ said, laughing a little.
"Seriously? oh my.." Mar said, a little worried. What had her friend gone and done now?
"I was thinking about knocking on the door to tell him to be quiet, but I knew Nick would get really mad, since he'd been trying to pursue the girl forever" AJ said, looking at the menu now.
The waiter came to the table and took the four of their orders, and headed off to the kitched. A few moments later, Nick and Tara came through the restaurant doors.
"my my... here's the man himself.." AJ said with a grin again.
"Hey guys" Nick said happily.
"Hey man.. whats up?" AJ asked, laughing at his pun.
"Whats soo funny?" Nick asked.
"Nothing man..." AJ said, still laughing.
"Well... we're going to get our own table.. since.. this one is full.. " Nick said. He gave AJ a weird look, not knowing why he was laughing hysterically for, and grabbed the empty table across the room.
Karine smacked AJ in the arm.
"What was that for?" AJ asked, a little mad.
"For acting like such an idiot! For Gods sakes, AJ! They are grown adults, and you act like such a kid! Leave Nick alone" she said angrily.
"Geesh, Im sorry! I was just having a little fun.." AJ said. Karine looked over at Nick and Tara.
"awww Kevin, I dont want to leave Mexico. Cant we stay here longer?" Mar begged.
"Im sorry hon, we can't! We have to get back" Kevin replied.
Mar sighed and frowned a little.
"awww honey, dont worry! We'll come back sometime soon! I promise" Kevin said, giving Mar a kiss.
"Did you remember to pack everything?" Karine asked AJ.
"yeah, I remembered... I rechecked the room before we locked it and left" AJ replied.
The bellboy came down the elevator with Karine and AJ's bags, transporting them into the big limo which was taking everyone back to the airport to head back to Florida. Mar and Kevin's bags were already in the limo.
"I really dont want to go home yet.." Nick said, laying down on the bed.
"Why not?" Tara asked, laying down beside him.
"Cuz we're going home... and things will go back to the way they were before. You'll go off on tour with Justin, I'll stay at home miserable and loving you forever.."
Tara frowned and kissed Nick.
"Part of me doesn't want to go home either, Nick.." Tara replied.
Nick wrapped his arms softly around her waist.
"Why dont you be with me then, instead of Justin? Stay home.. with me.. dont go on tour with him.."
"I dont know what to do, Nick.. Im kind of half and half, part of me wants to go on the tour, part of me wants to stay home.. I feel like Im being pulled in two directions once again"
"Will you think about it, please?"
"sure... I'll think about it.." Tara said. Nick smiled at her and gave her another kiss.
The bellboy came into their room and Nick showed him where their bags were.
He extended his hand out for Tara, and held her tightly for their last moment in paradise together.
When the last of the group's belongings were packed into the limo, the four girls and guys headed off to the airport to catch their flight back to Florida.
Nick sat beside Tara on the plane again, having Brian and Leigh Anne sitting across from them, facing them.
To pass by the time, Nick suggested playing a game of Asshole (for those of you who dont know what this is, it is a cardgame that needs at least four people to play).
The plane landed at the Orlando airport that afternoon at 3pm. A storm was residing over Orlando, the rain pouring down fast.
"AHHH LOOK ITS THE BSB!!!!" some girl screamed in the airport.
"uh oh.." Nick said, looking around them. All of the girls in the area looked up and saw Nick, AJ, Brian and Kevin, with the four girls, and everyone started to scream and run towards them.
"oh shit.. RUN" AJ screamed.
Nick grabbed Tara's hand and ran quickly to the nearest exit, AJ and Karine following behind them. Mar and Kevin, along with Brian and Leigh Anne, had ran in the opposite direction to help divert some of the fans.
Nick pressed the button on his keychain to unlock his truck and started it up with the other button.
"good thing I have automatic start up" Nick said.
"What about our things?" Tara asked.
"We'll have it delivered home!" Nick replied. He opened the truck door quickly and him and Tara got in. The fans were getting closer, and he quickly took off.
Tara used Nick's cell phone and explained the situation to the airport, and asked for their belongings to be delivered to their home, and the airport agreed.
An hour after they had made it home, their luggages arrived. Nick kindly thanked the men for bringing their luggages to their home, and gave them a tip.
A streak of pain hit inside of Tara as she relaxed on the couch. She looked up onto the mantle at the variety of pictures Nick and her had put up there. Two pictures caught her attention, one was of her and Nick, the other was of her and Justin.
Nick clicked the answering machine, whos 56 messages where flashing on the screen.
After weeding through a bunch of fan messages, Justins voice filled the room.
Hey Tara, I know your coming back from your trip today, and I hope you had a good flight back. I really need to talk to you, its very important. Our N SYNC tour has been moved up, and we'll be leaving at an earlier date. I'll call you later"
"great.." Tara said, a little sad. She had thought about it on her way home, and still hadn't made a decision about what she was going to do.
A couple days later, AJ met up with Justin in the mall.
"Hey AJ! Whats up?" Justin asked, all smiles.
"Nothing much.. what are you doing?" AJ asked.
"Just doing a little shopping, going on tour soon again.." Justin said "how was the trip?"
"It was great, man.. it was alot of fun.."
"awesome, Tara told me she had a great time"
"Yeah.. she sure did.." AJ said, remembering back to that one afternoon where he had heard her with Nick.
"What is it? Something wrong?" Justin asked.
"no... nothing... dont worry about it man.." AJ said.
"hey man, I know your kinda busy right now and all, but can I ask you something really important?"
"Sure" AJ said. He put the shirt he was looking at back onto the shelf.
"I want you to tell me the truth... did something happen between Nick and Tara on vacation?" Justin asked.
"Uhmm..... what makes you say that?" AJ asked.
"Cuz ever since Tara's came back, whenever I go to their house, Nick is extremely happy and always grinning at me.. and before they left on vacation, he was always giving me dirty looks" Justin replied.
AJ debated whether or not he should mention anything, and then decided to spill to Justin what he knew. He didnt want Nick to be played.
"Yeah, man.. Im sorry.. They didnt come right out and say they were doing anything, I just kind of heard them.." AJ replied.
Justin cringed and squeezed his fists together.
"alright... thanks man... see you later" Justin said, calmly.
"Nicks going to kill me..." AJ said to himself, and then picked up the shirt again.
Justin drove all the way to Nick and Tara's house. Instead of being mad at Tara, he blamed all of this onto Nick, making himself believe that Nick had forced her to have sex with him on spring break, and believing that Nick took advantage of her feelings.
He stormed up the sidewalk and banged on the door loudly, no one answered. He heard music coming from the backyard, and ran around outback, where he saw Nick and Tara eating lunch on the back porch.
"Hey honey" Justin said to Tara, staring at Nick.
"Hey.. Justin.." Tara said, knowing something was up.
Justin ran straigh over to Nick and shoved him right out of his chair.
"What the hell are you doing, Timberlake?" Nick asked.
"I know what you did, Carter.. dont deny it"
"Deny what?" Nick screamed back.
"You had sex with Tara over spring break"
Nick's mouth dropped open. How did he know?
Justin formed his right hand into a fist and punch Nick hard in the jaw. Nick's lip started to bleed as his teeth sunk into his lip from the punch.
"Guys stop it!" Tara screamed, standing up out of her chair.
"Tara.. dont get involved.. this is between NICK and I" Justin screamed at her.
Justin shoved Nick, and in retaliation, Nick shoved Justin back, making Justin fall down on the ground. Justin jumped up and started jabbing and punching Nick in his stomach, Nick shoving Justin off of him and punching him back.
Tara ran up to the two guys to try to stop them from fighting, but it wasnt working.
AJ ran around the corner of Nicks house, knowing that Justin would have gone straight to confront Nick, and heard all of the commotion. He shoved Tara out of the way and grabbed Nick, holding him back from fighting with Justin.
"Stay away from her.. Carter... She's my girlfriend! Not yours!" Justin screamed. He tried to attack Nick again, but AJ stood in the way.
Justin glared at Nick and then turned to Tara.
"Come on, we're leaving.. RIGHT NOW" Justin ordered.
"Justin... "
"Tara... WE ARE LEAVING... RIGHT NOW!" Justin ordered again.
Tara looked over at Nick, who's jaw was turning purple from the bruising, and who's lip was still bleeding.
Nick nodded at her to go off with Justin.
"go.. Tara..." Nick said sadly. He wiped his lip with his arm and saw the blood.
"But Nick.."
Nick shook his head, he didnt want to continue the fight with Justin.
Justin grabbed Tara's arm and dragged her off like a little kid.