"Nick called you last night while you were at work" Karine said to Tara, after another date with Justin. Tara had been soo busy lately that she hadn't had time to stay home and see Karine and AJ. Tara was always gone to work, out with Justing, or hanging out with Mar or Nick.
"Really? thanks, I'll call him back" Tara said, running up to her room to grab the phone. She dialed Nicks cell phone number that he gave to her.
"Nick?" Tara said, when he picked up the phone.
"Hey Tara! Im glad to hear from you" Nick said, sounding a little chipper.
"You called last night?" Tara said, trying to figure out what Nick wanted.
"Oh, yeah.. there's something really important that I want to talk to you about. I was wondering if maybe you could come over to my house , say, 4pm, so we can talk about it together?" Nick said. Tara thought about what he could possibly want to ask her, and agreed to come over, curious in thought.
"Sure" Tara said "I'll be there.. can you pick me up? I dont have my American lisence yet.." Tara joked.
"Still? Listen Shorty... I'll take you next week to go get it, okay?"
"Alright Carter, if you insist" Tara replied with sarcasm.
"see you tonight" Nick said, then hung up the phone. Tara hung up the phone on her end and went back downstairs, Karine looking at her strangely.
"What is it?" Tara asked, looking at the expression on Karines face.
"You've been gone alot lately.." Karine said.
"yeah I have been busy.." Tara replied back, taking a seat on the couch.
"Whats up with you and Justin? How are things?" Karine asked.
"Things are great! Hes such a sweetheart, Im really lucky to have him. He took Mar and I to the N SYNC concert last week" Tara said. It had been a week since the N SYNC concert in Orlando.
"Thats great.. I know you went to it with Mar, she told me all about it. She had a great time" Karine said, kind of jealous.
"aww Karine, you know I would have asked you, but I know that you don't like N SYNC!" Tara replied, getting up from the couch to go grab herself a glass of chocolate milk.
"I know, but you just haven't been around lately.." Karine said. Tara decided it was not a good time to tell Karine that she was thinking about moving out.
"I have another question for you" Karine said, a look of concern going across her face now. Tara sat back down with her glass.
"what is it?" Tara asked.
"What's up with you and Nick?" Karine said. "AJ and I have noticed that you two have been spending alot of time together"
"Karine, Nick is like, my best friend" Tara said in defense.
"Im your best friend too but you're not spending half as much time with me as you are with him! And Im the one that invited you to move down here!" Karine said. Tara got mad at that remark and shook her head in disbelief. Tara grabbed her glass and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Karine asked.
"To my room" Tara said, going up the stairs to her room to be alone.
"God, AJ! I just dont know what to do.. something really weird is going on with her, I just know it" Karine said, laying down on her and AJ's bed.
"Whats wrong, Karine?" AJ walked over to her and started massaging her shoulders.
"Tara's been gone soo much lately, you know.. out with Mar, Justin and Nick" Karine said, a little peeved.
"dont be jealous, Karine.. she's just enjoying her time here! She has made alot of new friends" AJ said.
"Yeah I know but I dont want her to forget about me"
"She wont, K! Trust me on that!" AJ said. Karine pressed her body against AJ's and gave him a hug.
"There's something else Im worried about tho.." Karine said.
"really? what?" AJ asked a little curious.
"I think somethings up with Tara.. I mean, she's been spending alot of time with Nick lately, you know"
"Karine, Tara is completely infatuated with Justin" AJ said. "There is no possible way she likes Nick anything more than a friend"
"How do you know that?" Karine asked.
"Well first of all, she seems him practically every night... and second, well, just look at the way she is with Justin"
"Yeah.. but she sees Nick during the day almost every other day" Karine replied back. AJ looked at her.
"Nick is with Mandy, thats the end of the story!"
"Yeah but is he happy with her?" Karine asked.
"As far as I know, Im not really sure. Nick doesnt talk to me about these kind of things, if you really want to find out, talk to Brian"
Karine thought to herself for the next few minutes and decided to pay Brian a little visit in a couple of days.
Nick walked around to the passenger door of his car and opened it up for Tara.
"Thanks" she said, giving him a smile and put on her seatbelt. Nick drove her back to his house, for his important conversation that he needed to have with her. Tara was a little nervous, although she didn't know why.
Nick led her into his house, which was completely empty.
"Where is everyone?" Tara asked, looking around. Some of the rooms were beginning to look bare.
"My parents are in LA for the weekend" Nick replied.
"Come on, lets go out back and sit in the hut". Tara followed Nick outside to his backyard, and sat in the little hut that was built on a dock in his backyard.
"Theres something I need to talk to you about, Tara... something really important" Nick said. His tone of his voice turned kind of serious.
"What is it? is everything okay?" Tara asked.
"Oh yeah, things are fine. Do you remember me telling you about how my parents are moving to LA?"
"Yeah" Tara said "they're leaving in a few weeks, aren't they?" Tara asked.
"Yeah.." Nick said "well anyways, the whole family is going with them, except me. Im staying back here, at this house" Nick said.
"Its a really big house, and I dont really like the thought of staying here alone.." Nick continued on.
"you see, the reason I asked you over here, was because you're my best friend. I know that you're looking for a place of your own to call home, and since I have a ton of rooms opening up soon, I was wondering if you'd like to move in with me. I mean, it will officially be our house, and it will be your home"
Tara was kind of surprised and shocked, and didnt know what to say.
"I mean, if you're worried about what Mandy will think, I already told her that I was going to ask you. I wouldnt ask her, for two reasons. First of all, her parents probably wouldnt let her, and second of all, i seriously dont think I could get along with her 24 hours, 7 days a week. But with you, you know me really well, and I know you really well. We get along great, which is why we're such great best friends" Nick replied "And I'd really like it if you would move in here.."
The look on Nicks face was genuine, and very serious.
"When can I move in?" Tara replied, giving Nick a smile. Nick looked up at her, into her eyes and a wide smile came across his face.
"Seriously? you will??" Nick asked in reassurance.
"yeah, I will" Tara said smiling again.
"Great!!!" Nick said, standing up and giving Tara a hug, twirling her in the air.
"you can move in right away, after my parents move out"
"great" Tara said. She still couldn't believe that she agreed to it. What was she going to tell Karine? Most of all, what was she going to tell Justin?
Tara laid down in the sand with Justin, looking up at the dark sky which was full of stars, a very clear night.
Listening to the sound of the waves, her and Justin kissed for nearly a half an hour straight, making quite a romantic memory.
"Justin, there is something I have to tell you.. something that's really important.." Tara said, breaking off their kiss.
"What is it?" Justin asked innocently, looking into Tara's deep dark brown eyes.
"I've found a place..." Tara said "that Im moving into"
"Really? That's great!" Justin said, happy for her.
"But there's something else about the place, that I dont know how you will react..."
"oh... what is it?"
"Its Nicks house. I mean, you know he's my best friend and all. He asked me to move into his house with him because his family is moving away, and he doesnt want to live by himself. Brian already has a place, with Leigh Anne, and Kevin is living with Mar. Howie already has a place of his own, and AJ well, you know, hes with Karine. Nick only asked me because Im his best friend.." Tara said, trying to explain the situation.
"oh, I know that.." Justin said, a little quiet "it just feels weird to know that my girlfriend is moving in to some other guy's house.."
"I know, I'd be feeling the same way, if you moved in with a good girl friend of yours" Tara said, looking over at the waves.
"Maybe I should just tell him no then..." she sighed
"No, dont do that, Tara. He's your best friend. I know that you really want to move out, dont say no just because of me! I trust you, I know you're only best friends"
"really? do you mean that?"
"I seriously mean that, Tara"
Tara pushed Justin back into the sand and started to kiss him again.
"Happy one month anniversary" Justin said. It had officially been one month since the day they officially became boyfriend and girlfriend.
"Happy one month anniversary, Curls"
Justin pulled Tara back down to him, kissing her passionately.