| Chapter Five |
| "Lance, you are absolutely the best. I have never felt this relaxed in my life." Nikki let her head rest on his chest as they lay on the beach, staring out at the setting sun. "Do you have to get back anytime soon?" He asked, running his fingers through her hair. "Not unless you count tomorrow afternoon's rehearsal as soon." She giggled and closed her eyes, slowing her breathing down to meet his. "I could lay like this all night." "Why don't we then?" Lance whispered. "It'll be an adventure." She nodded into him, and he smiled, "Hey Nikki, can I ask you a question?" "You just did." She snickered, "But you can ask another one." "Why did you call me tonight? And actually, why did you call me?" "You're going to hate me." She paused, "But please don't hate me. I called you because Jenny went on a date with Ryan, and while I was watching her get ready, I thought, why does she have to be the only one having fun? Why can't I go out with someone that handsome and have the time of my life?" "And you were insanely jealous." "Yeah," She blushed, "That too. Are you mad?" "No. But I would like to know why you called me. And why you're acting like you're...." "In love? Because I'm falling for you Lance, and trust me, I've been trying to fight it with all my strength. But you're so nice to me, and I've never had to put up a guard around you like I do with most guys. You're just so....." "Nice? Yeah, I get that a lot. But then they always leave. Because girls don't like nice guys like me. I"m their brother, their father, their best friend. And I know that's all we'll ever be. Because its plain and simple Nikki. Your heart is somewhere else right now. And mine isn't." "Lance, I'm so sorry. I never meant for this night to be like this." "Shh. I know you didn't. But, we can still stay here tonight. Best friends can do this. And Nikki, before we make the complete switch into best friend mode, would you mind if I..." Nikki shushed him with one finger and pulled him into a lingering kiss. When they pulled away, she leaned her forehead against his shoulder, "We both needed that." "Desperately." He shifted so that she could become more comfortable in his arms, and they both drifted off into a sound sleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~ "Have any of you talked to Nikki today? Or last night?" "Jenny? She's your roommate. If you haven't seen her, neither have we." Veronica said, "But you haven't?" Jenny shook her head, "I don't know where she is. I got home at about midnight last night, and she wasn't there. And she still hasn't called me, and its almost 2." "Well, girl, we gotta get to rehearsal. She'll be there, and if she isn't, then you can start worrying, okay?" "I just feel so horrible." She let Justin pull her into a hug, "We were arguing so bad about Ryan, and then when I went out with him last night, she seemed so at peace with it." She gasped, "Jus, you don't think......" "Nikki? No chance. But I'll call Chris and Lance and see if they've heard from her." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Lance? Let's not tell anyone about this." Nikki whispered as she sat in his car. "You know this would give Chris material for weeks." "Weeks? Try months. Years, even. We're agreed." "Good. Now, I've really got to get to rehearsal. I can only imagine how mad Lynn is going to get if I'm late." |