Chapter 10

“Nick, who is that Samantha girl?” asked Amber as they rode in the back of the car.

“We went to elementary and middle school together before I quit to start being tutored. Then we met back up and became friends but we kind of had a falling out about two years ago.” said Nick.

“She has a little girl?” asked Amber.

“Yeah.. Megan, she named her after her friend that died back New Years Eve 97… they were leaving a concert of ours in Orlando to come back here to Tampa.” said Nick.

“That’s horrible. She seems nice.” said Amber, “Is she married?”

“She is..” said Nick as he looked over at Amber, “She’s a good friend when you need one and no, she was engaged to the father but they broke it off.”

“Why did you stop talking?” asked Amber, “You’re not the father are you?”.

“No.. I’m not. It’s this guy she dated in high school. We’re not talking because.. of… irreconcilable differences.” said Nick as Amber started to laugh, “I’m serious…”

“Oh..” said Amber as she looked away, “What did you go say to her after I got in the car?”

“Asked for her address and number so I could see Megan.” said Nick as Amber rolled her eyes.

“The daughter?” asked Amber.

“Yeah, but I’m gonna be so busy..” said Nick as Amber cut him off.

“You’re off for two weeks Nick.” said Amber as Nick looked over at her, “I wish I was, I have to leave in four days for that show in Paris.”

“Yeah…” said Nick as he looked out the window to see the cementary in the rearview mirror.

“Well why don’t you go see her little girl then.” said Amber as Nick looked over at her.

“I dunno.. I just I don’t want anything to do with Samantha but I wanna see Megan.” said Nick.

“Well go just because you go to see the little girl doesn’t mean you have to have anything to do with her mother.” said Amber, “Were you, well did you two ever date?”

“No… well we were boyfriend and girlfriend back in like 6 grade but that’s it.” said Nick, “Let’s go home.”

“Okay.” said Amber as she layed her head on Nick’s shoulder.

That night, Samantha walked into her house feeling like a million dollars. She knew what she had to do know and there was no stopping her this time.

“Uhh I should just go ahead and drive up there and get Megan…” she thought as she looked around, taking off her jacket, “Damn it’s been a long day….. going to and from Tampa…. Nick could show up whenever.. he wants to see Megan, I’d better go get her.” she thought as she grabbed her jacket that she had just taken off. She ran back out to her car, hopped in and cranked it up.

“It’s only a hour drive. God.. who can I talk to about this?” she thought as she drove down the road, turning the radio up to hear “All 4 You” by Janet Jackson. She started crying becuase she was so happy at what had happened that day. She knew if she worked hard enough she could get him back. She could tell he still wanted her by the way he acted. It was almost like he forced himself to leave sometimes.

“Damn I need some advice.” she thought as she looked at her cell phone in the seat beside her, “Damn who can I call…. Brian, no shit I don’t have the number with me, it’s back at the house anyway….. hell if I even still have it.. I’ll call mom..” she thought as she picked up the cell phone while stopped at a red light, dialing it as she drove off again.

“Hello?” asked Maggie who sounded half asleep answering the phone.

“Mama, I did it.” said Samantha as Maggie sat up, looking confused.

“Sammy? Did what?” asked Maggie.

“I followed my heart and guess who I found?” asked Samantha.

“I have the slightest idea.” said Maggie, “Megan’s parents?”

“I followed my heart and went to Megan’s grave and Nick was there.. his grandmother died and they were burrying her in the same cementary.” said Samantha.

“So you saw him?” asked Maggie.

“Yeah… and he acted so mad at me, but he didn’t.. he had a girlfriend but it’s almost like he didn’t want to leave me, and he asked me my number and address so he could see Megan, so I drove all the way home and coming to Jacksonville to get Megan from you guys now.” said Samantha.

“You do know that Megan is just an excuse don’t you?” asked Maggie, “I mean he loves her obviously but she’s just an excuse.”

“That’s what I was hoping.” said Samantha.

“You want my advice on Nick then?” asked Maggie.

“Yeah..” said Samantha.

“Well he’s a good boy. I thought he was the one for you all along and I still don’t understand why you wouldn’t talk to him when he called you god only knows how many times a day.” said Maggie.

“Yeah okay.. so what should I do now, like if he comes, which god I hope he does.” said Samantha.

“He will.. he’ll come.” said Maggie, “And, I’d show him what he’s missing and I’m not just talking about sex and all, but show him what you two could have had if he hadn’t of given you a choice and you hadn’t of taken the wrong one.”

“I hurt him bad…” said Samantha.

“And make up for that. Be there for him, didn’t you say his grandma died? That’s gotta be tough for him and then seeing you in the same day. Be there for him, forget the girlfreind. More than likely she’s just someome to cover up from the loss of you.” said Maggie.

“I can do that.” said Samantha.

“Well good.. go do that.” said Maggie, “So you’re on your way here now to get Megan?”

“Yeah..” said Samantha.

“Okay well you be careful okay?” asked Maggie.

“Okay.” said Samantha, “Bye mom..”

“Bye baby.” said Maggie as she hung up.

“Bye.” said Samantha as she hung up and sat the phone down in the seat beside her again, “I’m gonna get him back.. that’s what I’m gonna do…” she thought as she smiled and drove on.

Nick sat there in the living room of his home in Orlando that he had bought after the Millennium tour ended. He couldn’t stay in Daytona and he couldn’t bare going back to Tampa, so he chose inbetween. Plus that’s where the only friends he had left was. It’s where he met Amber when she was going to be an extra in one of their videos. Orlando had been good to him where Tampa and Daytona hadn’t.

“Nick.. I’m going to bed okay?” said Amber as she walked into the living room from the office where she was in taking care of some business of hers.

“Alright..” said Nick as he sat there. She could tell that he was in deep thought.

“Are you okay?” asked Amber.

“Just thinking that’s all…” said Nick as he looked over at her.

“About what?” asked Amber.

“Nothing…” said Nick.

“You’re grandma?” asked Amber.

“Kinda..” said Nick.

“Nick she’s in a better place.” said Amber as she kissed him on the cheek, “I’m going upstairs..” as she looked at him and walked upstairs. Nick could careless where she was going.

“Uhhhhh…” Nick thought as he layed his head back, closing his eyes.

“Nick I’m really sorry, but I just want us to stay like we are now. Best friends,”

“No Sammy, it doesn’t work like that.
We’ve been friends for a long time, but somewhere in there I fell in love with
you. I don’t want to be just friends, I want us to be together. I can’t be just friends anymore, I’ve loved you as more than that for a long time now, and I can’t just take it back now,”

“Nick, I need to make a life on my own, I can’t depend on you for everything. I did that with my parents, with Jake, and now you,”

“You don’t have to depend on me, you can go to school and be on your own. Hell I’m on tour anyway. I just want you Sammy. I just want to love you,”

“Nick,I’m sorry, but I just can’t. I want us to be like we are now.”

“What happened on the elevator changed everything for me. We can’t go back. I can’t Sammy, it’s all or nothing,”

“Nick you don’t mean that,”.

“I do Sammy, I won’t be able to be only
your friend. I’m in love with you, I want
it all. Like I said, it’s all or nothing,”

“I’m so sorry Nick, please understand, I promise, I’m sorry….”

“Sam.. don’t make me promises… do you know how many times you’ve promised me things and you never kept them? I just want you.. and I want Megan, so we could loose it all if you don’t love me the way that I love you. It’s all or nothing…”

“Then I guess it’s nothing. I’m sorry…”

“Sammy….” whispered Nick as he looked over to see Amber standing at the edge of the stairs, “Amber… I thought you were going to bed?”

“Sammy? You mean Samantha?” asked Amber.

“Uhh.. yeah.” said Nick as he nodded his head.

“Why don’t you go see her little girl if that’s what you want to do.” said Amber, “I have a few days before I leave, go see her for the day tomorrow or something. I’m not doing anything but going out shopping with Kristin and Leighanne.”

“You mean go to St. Augustine and see them?” asked Nick.

“Why not… you obviously miss her. Did you say over dinner that she was your god daughter and she’s named after you too?” asked Amber.

“Megan Nichole Simpson.. yep… she was born on my birthday.” said Nick.

“Well see.. she’s important to you. Go see her. Samantha wouldn’t mind.” said Amber as Nick looked at her and smiled.

“You’re okay with it?” asked Nick as Amber nodded her head yes and Nick looked around and looked back at her.