Chapter 1: Leaving On A Jetplane

“We gotta go.”Aaron said pulling Caroline out of the door. She was quiet, too quiet, and on the verge of tears as they got into his black Navigator and drove towards the airport. “What’s wrong?”he asked putting his hand on her leg. She didn’t say anything. “Come on… it’s only for a few months…we have been apart longer…plus I need the money for the wedding you know that.”Aaron said as she looked over at him. “Yea but I mean Aaron…I can’t even talk to…”she started but he interrupted. “Look babe snap out of it okay… I love you you know that. If I didn’t I wouldn’t have put that rock on your finger.”he said pulling her into him as they walked into the airport doors. “I know, but you gotta understand why I am so upset. I am gonna go crazy without you. You’re gonna be hanging out with you’re family…and what do I have Jada?”she said as he kissed her on the forehead referring to their pitbull. “And you think I am going to be much better.”Aaron said rolling his eyes. “Can I have your ticket sir?”the guy asked. Aaron pulled his ticket out of his backpocket, unfolded it, and handed it to the ticket guy. “Go ahead.”he said as the two walked through security. “I love you.”Aaron said putting his hands on the sides of her face. “I love you too.”she said trying to keep the tears inside. “We are going to get through this okay, and then I am going to come back and we are going to plan an awesome wedding and blah blah blah.”Aaron said making her laugh. She nodded her head in agreement as the tears flowed. “Baby please.”he said pulling her into him. “I’m sorry.”she said quietly. “I wanted to not do this when you left because I wanted you to remember me beautiful.”Caroline said smiling. “You are beautiful.”he said smiling back at her. “Now I love you and nothing is going to ever change that. So don’t you worry while I am gone okay.”Aaron said kissing her on the forehead.

1 Month and 25 Days Later

“Hello?”Caroline whispered as she answered the phone in the bathroom of her waitressing job a few months later. “Caroline…it’s Nick.”the voice said on the other end. “What is it…I am at work.”she said sighing. “I need you to come to San Diego.”Nick said. “For what?…”Caroline said shaking her head knowing what he wanted and how stupid it was to ask. “Caroline! That’s not it okay…me and the girls and Aaron we were vacationing in San Diego, well Aaron decided to take up surfing and he got into an accident…”Nick said as Caroline cut in. “WHAT?!? IS HE OKAY?”she yelled not caring if her job heard her. “I don’t know.”Nick said quietly. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON”T KNOW?”Caroline yelled. “We just got him here to the hospital. He wants you to come. I have a flight booked for you in an hour okay, a limo will pick you up at the airport. Just get here.”Nick said and hung up.

Chapter 2: Vacation in Intensive Care

Five hours later---
“NICK!”Caroline said trying to remain calm as she saw him outside of the hospital surrounded by cameras for the reality show. “Hey.”he said and pulled her into a hug. “Listen you gotta put this on.”Nick said handing her a mic pack. “Nick I don’t wanna…”Caroline said thinking she did not want to be on the show. “Do you wanna see Aaron?”he asked and she took the mic pack out of his hand. “Okay so what the hell happened?”Caroline asked as they began to walk inside. “He was surfing and he got rocked by a wave and when he came back out you could see where he was hit by the end of the board…but you know Aaron…”Nick said turning to look at her as they got into the elevator. “He didn’t say anything.”she finished his sentence. “Exactly, so a few hours later he was throwing up everywhere. So we brought him here. The doctors just sent in the trauma team and they said the board hit his liver and that he is bleeding internally.”Nick said as Caroline’s hand shot over her mouth. “Oh my God…did they say if he would be okay?”she asked about to throw up. “I don’t know yet.”Nick said looking away from her as they stepped out of the elevator. They walked down the hall to the trauma room. Aaron looked up at them and Caroline waved trying not to cry. He looked so helpless. “Hey.”he said as she approached his bed. “Hey babe…how are you feeling?”she asked not knowing how to act towards her boyfriend she had not seen or spoken to in almost two months. “Better now.”he said putting his hand in hers. “I have missed you so much.”he said making her smile. “I have too…you have no idea.”she said as he leaned up to kiss her. “You look bad.”Nick said walking in from behind them. “You know the last thing I want you guys to do is worry yourselves over this. If it’s bad we will fix it. I’ll find a way.”Aaron said looking at the two of them trying not to cry. “I know bro.”Nick said and gave his brother a hug. “I will be outside if you need me.”Nick said and walked out the door. “How’s home…better yet hows the Navigator?”Aaron asked. He moved over on the bed so she could lay beside him. “Nothings changed… sucks this had to be the way I got to see you.”Caroline said shrugging. “Yea…I know. They have some strict lockdown on me with these cameras.”Aaron said motioning to the camera people in the room. “It’s quite weird.”Caroline said smiling. “Yea, they just didn’t want my fans seeing that I had a fiancé you know, does bad things for ratings.”Aaron said. “I love you.”Aaron said pulling her into him. “I don’t think I should be laying on you.”she said getting off of him. “It’s fine.”he said pulling her back into his arms. As Aaron fell asleep Caroline slipped out from underneath his arms and walked outside where Nick was falling asleep in the waiting room chair. “How is he?”Nick asked slowly waking up. “You know Aaron…you can never tell.”Caroline said as a doctor rounded the corner asking for Nick. “We’re gonna let him go home.”the doctor said and Nick and Caroline smiled. “His liver appears to be just bruised now. We got most of the internal bleeding stopped. Just make sure he cuts back on the drinking and smoking for a while…that’s going to be key in his recovery.”the doctor said looking over Aaron’s chart.

Later that night at Monterey’s Seafood Restaurant~

“If you guys wanna go out that’s fine…”Aaron said getting upset. “No we will all just go back to the house…it’s fine not a big deal.”BJ said shrugging. “I just wanna go home is it that big of a deal.”Aaron asked throwing up his hands. “Aaron you just got out of the trauma center, you’re liver was bleeding.”Angel said. “Yea but you guys are being over concerned.”he said. “If you go home all of us are going to be worried about you all night long…its stupid to drive three hours back when all of us are leaving tomorrow. Caroline’s here, you don’t have to be with us, take her out or something.”Nick said getting upset. “I’m going to step out for a minute…”Aaron said and got up from the table and walked outside. “Good Aaron walk out…be a jerk.”BJ said throwing her hands up. “I am on the verge of losing it.”Nick said putting his head in his hands. “He doesn’t like it when he’s wrong.” Caroline said trying to defend him. “I know that’s exactly it.”BJ said shaking her head. “I’m gonna go see where he went.”Caroline said and got up and followed him outside where he was already talking with Angel and Leslie. “Look I just want to go home and have sex okay…I have not had sex in three months and you guys are having lots of sex!”Aaron yelled at his sister Leslie. “Okay Aaron I understand that.”Angel said stepping up beside him. “I just don’t want to be here because of what happened to me. I don’t want to be in San Diego! I am not having fun.”Aaron yelled at all of them. “Aaron calm down.”Caroline said. “Yea seriously. Dude you need to chill out.”Nick said as the family surrounded Aaron. “You need to do this and you need to this and you need to do this… I could live my life everyday and be fine without you guys.”Aaron said and everyone was a little taken back and hurt. “So you’re independent now…Yea walk away.”Nick yelled as he walked down the street. “Caroline leave him alone.”Angel yelled as she followed him. “Just let her go.”Nick said throwing up one of his hands. “Aaron stop being an asshole…what is your fucking problem! Try being a damn brother…these people are trying to be there for you!”Caroline yelled at him pointing her finger in his face. “You should have never came here…Don’t fucking talk to me like that! Fucking mistake man!”Aaron yelled back at her. “Don’t yell at her like that Aaron she didn’t do anything to you.”Nick yelled back at him as he came up behind them. “Stay out of my business…see here you guys go again.”Aaron said backing away from his family. Caroline walked away as she held back the tears and sat down on the curb. “Aaron why are you acting like this?! You are hurt! You’re FIANCE you have not seen in months is on the street crying! You’re family is worried about you…WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?”Nick yelled pulling Aaron towards him by his neck. “I just wanna go home man.”Aaron said looking away from his brother. “I am worried man…every step you take.”Nick said trying not to get more angry. “Guys lets just get a cab and go home okay…”Leslie said convincing the guys. As they entered the cab BJ put her arm around Caroline who was very upset still at Aaron’s antics. “He’s a jerk.”she whispered making Caroline smile a little. Aaron who was sitting on the other side of her tried to put his hand on hers. She pulled it away quickly. “What’s your problem?”he asked quietly. “Don’t fucking talk to me.”Caroline said not looking at him. Aaron sighed and looked away out the window. As they approached there house Caroline took out her Sidekick and dialed the airport. “What is the earliest flight to Tampa Bay, Florida tomorrow morning…six oclock…okay yea let me book that.”Caroline said as everyone in the car turned to look at her. Aaron closed the phone as she was in the middle of talking to the agent. She looked over at him and slapped him in the face as she scooted out the other side of the cab. “You really messed up man.”Nick said following Aaron into their rented beach house. “I know.”Aaron said sighing.
He walked up the stairs where Caroline was packing what little she had unpacked. “Can we talk about it?”Aaron said. “Talk about what? The fact that you disrespected me not in front of your family, not in front of the people at the restaurant, but in front of everyone who watches this God Damn show…”Caroline said continuing to pack. “I’m sorry they can cut it out of the show…”Aaron said leaning up against the door frame. “Look…Aaron I’m just over it. I mean you leave me to come do this show…you leave me for two months and tell me I can’t come visit you or speak to you yet your sister’s boyfriends have been here several times…I am sorry but communicating through MYSPACE is just not going to do it…THEN I get a call that you are near death and I come out here and you are a dick to me an hour later. I mean seriously Aaron does it look like I wanna forgive you or talk about it right now…”Caroline said. She was to angry to even cry. “I didn’t lie to you about talking to you and you visiting ask Nick…his friends couldn’t come either.”Aaron said. He came over behind her and put his arms on her shoulder. “I need you to take me to the airport at five thirty in the morning or you know what I’ll just call a cab I guess. I am going to sleep downstairs with your sisters.”Caroline said shrugging his hands off. “Come on Caroline.”Aaron said noticing the engagement ring was on the table beside them. “You forgot something.” Aaron said as his stomach dropped. “No I didn’t.”she said and picked it up off the table and shoved it into his chest. “Are you serious?”Aaron said his eyes swelling up with tears. “Damn right. A guy is never going to talk like that towards me…I don’t give a shit who you are.”she said and walked out the door. Aaron fell back on the bed with the ring in his hand. Nick came into the room a few minutes later and sat down next to Aaron.

Meanwhile Caroline was setting up her place on the couch. The rest of the girls were downstairs watching TV. “Are you okay?”BJ asked sitting down next to her. “I gave him back the ring.”she said quietly. “Are you sure you want to do that?”BJ asked as the rest of the girls came over to her. “I just…I’m not sure…I just cant deal with him talking to me like that…and I don’t have to you know.”she said starting to cry again. She got up and walked outside to sit on the steps facing the beach.
“I don’t know what to do…and I have all this stress from work and I know that as soon as the show goes out she is going to find out about the past two months and what I did and it just does not matter what I do either way. She’s gonna break it off anyways…”Aaron said sighing. “Show her.”Nick said. Aaron’s face shot up to look at Nick. “Show her. She will respect you more if you admit it.”Nick said handing Aaron a video camera.

Aaron let out a deep breath and walked down the stairs to go find her. He opened the sliding glass door and sat down beside her. “I still don’t want to talk to you.”she said quietly. “Look… I gotta show you something okay and if you don’t hate me now you are going to hate me after this but I would rather you find out this way than when the show airs.”Aaron said handing her the video tape and camera. “That’s reassuring.”she said rolling her eyes. “I’m sorry…I just know I’m gonna lose you.”Aaron said as the tape began to play.

“Aaron I think you have had enough to drink.”a skinny girl with brown hair said in the kitchen of the Carter home. “I I I don’t think so.”Aaron said stumbling around back down to the pool area. The camera stopped and started back up again showing Aaron in the shower with the same girl with their bathing suits on. They began to play fight and rub each other with soap. Then she leaned over and kissed him. He did not fight it, but yet kissed her more. “Carmine…uh….”

Caroline’s anger began to build up and she could not even look at Aaron. Aaron shut off the tape. “I thought you should know.” Aaron said turning away from her. “I’m done with it. I am so FUCKING done with you.”Caroline said getting up walking away from him. “Can’t we at least talk about it?”Aaron yelled pushing the camera guy out of Caroline’s face. “ Are you retarded? What the fuck is there to talk about Aaron… there is nothing to talk about. I said I am DONE!”Caroline yelled leaning up against the railing of the porch. “Look I am sorry. I don’t even know why it happened.”Aaron said trying to touch the side of her face. She moved his hand and pushed him hard out of her way into the railing of the porch on the other side. “Yea but it did happen Aaron so make all the excuses you want. You did it and that’s it. That’s all I needed to know. This is such bullshit… God only knows what else happened with her.”Caroline yelled. Aaron was silent and looked away from her. “WHAT ELSE DID HAPPEN AARON?!?”she yelled louder. “Does it matter?”he said walking over to her. “YES IT MATTERS! JUST TELL ME AARON! THE ENGAGEMENT IS OFF I DON”T EVER WANT TO SEE YOU…”Caroline yelled but was interrupted. “I HAD SEX WITH HER OKAY I HAD SEX WITH HER IS THAT WHAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR???”Aaron yelled back at her as tears rushed into both of their faces. “GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME RIGHT NOW! NOW IT ALL FUCKING MAKES SENSE!”Caroline yelled as the sisters and Nick opened the sliding door to see what was going on. “Here we go again.”Aaron said rolling his eyes. “ALL OF YOU GUYS KNEW ABOUT THIS?!? ALL OF YOU? AND NOT ONE OF YOU CALLED ME?!?NOT EVEN YOU NICK??”Caroline yelled at his brother and sisters. “We didn’t wanna hurt you.”Angel said. “I couldn’t stand to see you hurt like that. I love you to much.”Nick said coming over beside her. “Get away from me. This whole family is SO fucked up. God dammit man.”Caroline said and walked off the porch onto the beach. Aaron started to follow her, but Nick grabbed his arm and stopped him. “Don’t. Let me.”Nick said. “Hell no. I remember what happened last time with you and her.”Aaron said and Nick shrugged him off and rolled his eyes. “Chill out.”Nick said and walked away from him.
Nick walked down to the edge of the water where she was sitting with her feet in a puddle. “Just go away.”Caroline said trying to breathe through her tears. “No.”Nick said putting his arm around her pulling her into him. She fell into his arm and cried so hard. “I am so sorry that I took him away from you.”Nick said holding her. “It would have happened eventually anyways…once a cheater always a cheater.”Caroline said breathing out heavily. “But Aaron’s not like that…you know he loves you more than anything in this whole world. It killed him to not be able to talk to you or see you for this long.”Nick said. “Yea well it killed me too, but I didnt go out and fuck some other guy.”Caroline said rolling her eyes. “Caroline Aaron loves you okay… everybody messes up I mean we did and he forgave you for that.”Nick said looking down at her. “It’s just Aaron is gone so much from me…how am I suppose to trust him again?”Caroline asked looking up at him. “Give it some time.”Nick said shrugging. “You’re so beautiful.”Nick said smiling at her. “Stop it.”Caroline said trying not to smile. “I’m serious. Aaron is a lucky guy to have you.”Nick said squeezing her. “I wish he would act like it… I just want some respect you know.”Caroline said sighing. “I know…come on lets get you into bed.”Nick said helping her up. As they walked up the steps Aaron was seated outside on the balcony railing. Caroline did not bother to look at him as Nick led her up to his room. “You can have my bed for the night.”Nick said leading her to his bedroom. “Thanks.”Caroline said smiling at him. “No problem. Try to get some rest and we will figure it all out in the morning.”Nick said kissing her on the forehead. “I have a flight at six.”Caroline said. “You’re not going anywhere.”Nick said as Caroline silently agreed.

Caroline woke up at seven in the morning to Aaron sitting on the end of the bed looking at her. She did not say anything just stared at the ceiling. Slowly she began talking quietly, “For two months I waited…I sat in my room went to school and work and I waited Aaron Waited for anything, a phone call, a email, a fucking text message anything. All I could do was check out your myspace and see your new pictures It was pathetic, but it was you…so for two months I waited for yesterday. And yesterday came and now my whole entire world is upside down. I have no fiancé, no more you, no more anything.”Caroline said quietly as the tears began to slowly roll down her cheeks. Aaron was silent and looked over at her. “I don’t know what to do because I wanna be so mad at you for what you did and I should be, but at the same time it’s just like I love you so much.”Caroline said. “Caroline it’s not like you have not cheated before.”Aaron said letting it slip. “I can’t believe you are comparing that to this Aaron that was three years ago we had just started dating.”Caroline said looking at him with disgust. “I am just saying…look baby I love you okay.”Aaron said taking her hand in his. “Like I said when I left I wouldn’t have put that rock on your finger if I didn’t. I want you to be my wife…it was just hard out here by myself and then you mix the alcohol with it…I don’t know do you want me to invite her over so you can punch her in the face.”Aaron said trying to make her smile. She was not amused and just plainly said yes. “And what happens when we get married and you go on tour…you’re gonna be lonely then too. How am I supposed to trust you?”she said and in his mind he thought she had a good point. “Come on…I am sorry okay. I will make it up to you I promise. Stay with me here for a while. I promise I will make it up to you.”Aaron said pressing his forehead to hers. He brushed his lips against hers and kissed her. “Take me to the airport.”Caroline said and Aaron’s stomach dropped. An hour later they arrived at the LAX airport. “So what now?”Aaron said. “Just finish your show and we’ll talk after that.”Caroline said. Aaron pulled her into a hug, but she was lifeless. “Stop it.”Aaron said pulling her face up to look at him. “I gotta go.”she said and turned to walk away from him. He pulled her arm so that she turned back to face him. “I love you.”Aaron said and pressed his lips to hers. She pulled away from him narrowing her eyebrows and walked onto the plane.

Chapter 4: Tyler Hilton

Two months later:

WarWoundAC: Hey
EastCoastGC: …hey
WarWoundAC: How have you been…I am sick of this silent treatment.
EastCoastGC: you should have thought of that before her
WarWoundAC: when are you going to let it go?...I text you twenty four seven, call you even more and I never get any reply…this is the first time I have talked to you in months, youre my girlfriend
EastCoastGC: Im not your girlfriend and now you know how I felt with months of silence fun huh?… I just find it amazing that you are still taping the show but now you have time to text me and call me whenever…
WarWoundGC: Cara…you’ve already been on the show now
EastCoastGC: What do you want from me Aaron?...I said I wanted to call off the engagement what else do you need to hear?
WarWoundGC: What do I have to do for you to come back to me?

EastCoastGC is away from computer: on the phone with Nick…brb

WarWoundAC: why the fuck is he calling you?
EastCoastGC: he wanted me to go to lunch with him…whats the big deal?
WarWoundAC: Um…………..
EastCoastGC: let it go Aaron my God
WarWoundAC: YOU let it go!
EastCoastGC: I don’t have time for this I am writing a paper right now…all he wants to do is let me listen to a few new songs that he has done and get my opinion…nothing out of the normal
WarWoundAC: Whatever.
EastCoastGC: You know what when you grow up then I will talk to you

EastCoastGC has signed off at 9:37 PM

“Hey babe.”Nick said walking over to Caroline as she stepped out of the car Aaron had left her with. “Hey.”she said running over and hugging him. “You look good.”he said smiling at her. “You too.”she said laughing. “So what’s been up?”Caroline asked. “Well you know how we were putting together the new Backstreet Cd during the show…we finished up some of the songs and I wanna know what you think because you’re a fan and all so you can tell us if they are good or not.”he said looking over at her as they walked into the studio in downtown LA. “Okay cool.”she said as a dog ran over to her. She bent over and started playing with it. “And who are you because you are certainly not miss Layla.”Caroline said reffering to Nick’s other dog. “That’s Bella.”Caroline looked up hearing another voice in front of her. She would recognize that raspy country voice anywhere. “Now you see why I brought you here dork.”Nick said smiling as she noticed Tyler Hilton was standing in front of her. He was one of her favorite obsessions. Caroline looked up at Nick with a shocked look as she stood up from the dog. “I’m Tyler.”he said extending his hand to her. “And I am really embarrassed.”she said still amazed. “Are you okay?”he asked giving her a weird look. “Yea…you’re really tall.”she said smiling. “Thanks?”he said laughing. “It just kinda flew out my mouth haha.”she said laughing too. “He was recording in the studio next door. I asked him to come in and listen and I thought you’d wanna meet him.”Nick said putting his arm around her. “I love you!”Caroline said kissing Nick on the cheek. Caroline sat next to Tyler in the sound room as Nick went into the recording room. “So what’s with the bandana…”Tyler said looking over at her seeing the MADE bandana in her hair as Nick looked over the words to the song he was going to be doing. “I like it.”Caroline said looking back at him. “So do I…it’s different.”he said laughing a little then he stopped and stared at her. “Um hello…are you guys listening to me…”Nick yelled through the microphone. “What do you need man?”Tyler asked turning his attention to Nick. “I need you to start the damn music.”Nick said smiling looking over at Caroline. Tyler pressed the button and music began to play.

How’re we gonna know the time is right?
What if you’re here and I’m just blind…

“Wait Nick…”Caroline said turning it off. “What is it?”Nick asked. “I think you should lower the pitch you know AJ it a little bit maybe an eighth lower…the first notes are to high for you.”Caroline said singing what he had just done in a different way. “What would I do without you.”Nick said laughing. Tyler pressed the button again and restarted. “So I take it you sing…”Tyler said impressed. “Sometimes…I mean not professionally or anything.”she said embarrassed. “You should.”he said shaking his head. “I just know what I’m talking about when it comes to music…and guitar.”Caroline said shruggin her shoulders. “A girl after my own heart.”Tyler said grabbing onto his acoustic guitar. Caroline smiled and looked back at Nick. “So are you dating Nick or something…”he asked out of nowhere. “Nah…I use to date Aaron…”she said looking a little sad. “Touchy subject then I take it.”he said giving her a side smile. “He cheated on me…on a TV show.”she said looking down. “You’re that girl huh…”he said smirking. “It’s NOT funny!”she said pushing him. “I wasn’t laughing at that…you just look a little different now.”he said laughing. “What do you mean? You watched the show?”she asked. “Yeah a little, not much to do when you’re a loser like me sitting on a bus for hours with nothing to do…I use to watch it and tell all my boys how hot Aaron’s girlfriend was.”Tyler said. Caroline’s cheeks reddened and she looked away from him as Nick came into the sound room. “Let’s hear that playback.”Nick said. Tyler played the sound back to Nick. “You like it?”Nick asked looking over at Caroline. “It’s good…very different from the normal pop stuff but I bet you had something to do with that didn’t you Nicky.”she said smiling at him knowing how much he wanted to do rock. “Yea I even did the guitar for it.”he said putting his arms around her neck from behind her kissing her on the cheek. “ooOOOooo..aren’t you smart.”Caroline smiling at him. “It’s good man.”Tyler said giving them both a weird look. Nick’s phone rang on the table beside them. “It’s Aaron.”Nick said picking it up to look. “Fucking leave it.”Caroline said rolling her eyes. “Caroline maybe you should give him a second chance.”Nick said walking out of the room to talk to him. “Maybe you should mind your own damn business.”Caroline yelled. “Man I am Hungry!”Tyler said leaning back in his chair rubbing his stomach. “Me too.”Caroline said breathing out hard. “Wanna go get something to eat? There is a good café place right down the road.”Tyler asked. Caroline’s stomach dropped. “Sure.”Caroline said grabbing her stuff from the table behind her. Nick came back in and tried to hand her the phone. “What do you want Aaron?”Caroline asked snatching the phone from Nick. “Nothing I just wanted to say sorry for last night.”Aaron said sighing. “It’s fine look I really can’t talk right now.”Caroline said looking over at Nick. “Why…Nick is done for the day.”Aaron asked. “Because I am going to lunch with someone okay…I will call you later.”Caroline said and handed the phone to Nick. She rolled her eyes as Nick hung up with him. “Thanks.”she said pissed off. “What are you about to do because me and him are going to get something to eat?”Caroline said pointing to Tyler. “AJ is about to come back…you guys go.”Nick said and as Tyler walked out the door he grabbed Caroline by the arm. “This is not why I brought you here…Aaron loves you.”Nick whispered in her ear. “Nick I am going to get food that is it…I will be back.”Caroline said and hugged him as she walked out the door.

“So this is a nice place.”Caroline said looking out onto the streets of LA from their outside table. “If only the food was as good.”Tyler said smiling. Caroline laughed a little. “You’re cute.”he said as the waitress came over to the table to take their order. “So tell me about you and Aaron I have been wondering since the show.”Tyler asked. “Um I mean what’s there to say I dated him for three years and we were engaged then Nick pulled him away for the show and because they didn’t want to lose viewers we could not talk unless it was like on myspace or something and he got into that surfing accident and I came to visit then I mean I guess you know what happened after that…”Caroline said. It still hurt her to talk about it months later. “But he still obviously cares about you…”Tyler said. “Yeah but I can’t trust him anymore I mean…it would be really hard I don’t know.”Caroline said looking away. “We don’t have to talk about it anymore.”Tyler said and smiled at her. They ate and talked a little until they were done.
“So um let’s say that a girl like you and a guy like me got together tonight and went out and did something…”Tyler said making her laugh. “Is that a yes?”Tyler asked. “Um…sure.”she said smiling. As they came back to the recording studio Nick was standing outside with Aaron. “Oh God.”Caroline said rolling her eyes. “It’s fine.”Tyler said patting her on the back. “Finally.”Nick said wondering what had taken so long. “What?”Caroline said rolling her eyes by passing Aaron. “Whats up man?”Tyler said shaking Aaron’s hand. They knew each other from various occurrences of running into each other. Aaron knew who he was from Caroline playing his CD all the time. Aaron, Tyler and Caroline sat down behind the sound board as Nick went back into the recording room. “So are you not going to speak to me?”Aaron asked. She turned to look back at him and almost felt bad for feeling something to Tyler. “Why should I?..What is it Aaron I came to help Nick.”Caroline said looking at him. “Come with me.”Aaron said pulling her outside with him. “When are you going to forgive me?”Aaron said looking over at her. “Aaron I’m trying to move on and you are making this so hard…Why are you doing this?”Caroline said. “Because I don’t want you to move on.”Aaron said putting his hand on her shoulder. She looked over at his hand and a feeling of sadness moved over her. He moved his hand to the side of her face. “I love you…I don’t want to feel like this anymore.”Aaron said as Tyler walked outside and looked over at the two of them. “I’m leaving. Nice to meet you.”Tyler said waving at her as he got into his old blue hooptie. “I’ll be right back.”Caroline said to Aaron as she jogged over to Tyler’s car. “What about tonight?”Caroline asked leaning into his car window. “Maybe it’s not such a good idea.”he said looking over at Aaron. “Look it’s nothing. I want to go okay.”she said smiling at him. “I do too.”he said smiling back. “I will pick you up at seven.”Tyler said and winked at her as he drove away.
“What was that all about?”Aaron said as she walked back over to him. “Nothing he’s a nice guy that’s all.”Caroline said looking away from him. “A nice guy? Please you have his pictures all over your computer.”Aaron said rolling his eyes. “Are you jealous?”Caroline said. “No. I just fucking know you. You were my fan too remember?”Aaron said and walked away from her. “Aaron come on its not even like that!”Caroline yelled at him.

Chapter 5: Chocolate Chip Pancakes

“I had fun.”Caroline said as Tyler drove her to her apartment. “Nice Naviagtor.”he said noticing her car. “Yea it’s…it was a gift.”Caroline said smiling. “So…”Caroline said as she opened the door to his car. “So…”he said putting his hand on top of hers. He put his other hand on the side of her face and kissed her. She pulled away from him slowly and looked at him. “I had a good time with you.”he said. Caroline looked over at the steps to her apartment building and saw a blonde kid sitting there. “No way.”Caroline said looking back at Tyler as they both realized who it was. “I’ll walk you to the door.”Tyler said shutting the car off walking beside her. “What are you doing here?”Caroline asked as they approached Aaron. “I came by to see you.”he said looking back over at Tyler. Tyler gave him a nod. “Look man maybe you should leave.”Tyler said to Aaron. “You wanna tell me what to do man…I have been with her way longer than you have buddy.”Aaron said walking closer to him. “Chill out man.”Tyler said putting his hands up in surrender. “You want me to chill out while you are taking MY fiancé out and making out with her.”Aaron yelled at him. “Aaron calm down it wasn’t like that.”Caroline said putting her hand on his shoulder. “It wasn’t like that…IT WASN”T LIKE THAT?…I fucking saw him kiss you.”Aaron said and punched Tyler in the face. “AARON STOP IT!”Caroline said pulling Aaron off of Tyler as they were wrestling on the ground. “GO HOME!”Caroline yelled as Aaron got up off of Tyler and wiped the blood from the side of his mouth. “You’re drunk…you came here DRUNK Aaron.”Caroline said as she now noticed his slurred speech. “Why do you care?”he yelled. She squatted down next to Tyler who was infuriated because his face was bleeding. “Aaron you drove here drunk you could have killed yourself!”Caroline yelled at Aaron. “I am so sorry.”she said as she turned back to Tyler. “GO INSIDE AARON…just go inside.”Caroline said as Aaron stumbled inside her apartment. “Jesus Christ I don’t even know what to say.”Caroline said sitting down on the pavement next to Tyler. “It’s not your fault.”Tyler said breathing out heavily. “Do you wanna come in? I can get you some ice or something.”Caroline said looking at his face. “It’s fine…I didn’t want to hit him I guess I just let him take out his anger on me.”Tyler said wincing with pain. “Look…this is all such a mess…I am so embarrassed.”Caroline said scratching her head. “Don’t worry about it okay…I really like you.”he said trying to smile at her without it hurting. “I’ll let you make it up to me.”he said putting his hand on the side of her face. She smiled at him as he leaned in to kiss her. “Come inside and let me give you some ice for the road.”Caroline said helping him stand up. He leaned up against the kitchen counter not making eye contact with Aaron who was seated on the couch. She pressed the ice wrapped in some paper towels to his lip and he touched his hand to hers, kissing her on her fingers. “Your eyes.”she said and he gave her a side smile. He leaned his head down and kissed her. “OH GOD!”Aaron yelled from the living room as he put his head in his hands. “I guess he can hear us.”Tyler said quietly rubbing his hand down her arm. “I should go.”Tyler said letting her go. “I’ll call you.”he said smiling at her as she followed him out onto the porch. She smiled at him as he held her hand until he couldn’t reach her anymore and then walked over to his car, waving as he drove out of the driveway. Caroline walked into her house and slammed the door. Aaron was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. “WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?!?”Caroline yelled walking into the room he was in. He said nothing. “TALK TO ME! THAT’S WHAT YOU CAME HERE FOR RIGHT?”she yelled at him. He stood up fast and pushed her against the wall pressing his lips to hers. “Tell me you don’t feel anything!”he said holding her hands against the wall. She said nothing, only cried. He pressed his lips to hers again, surprised that she was kissing him back. She fell back on the couch with him on top of her still kissing him. “Get off me.”she said a few minutes later as his hand went up her shirt. “What?”he asked as she pushed him off. “I’m not doing this.”she said looking away from him as she stood up too. “Why are you being like this?”he asked quietly. “BECAUSE AARON I TRUSTED YOU! AND YOU WENT AWAY TO LA AND IT WASN”T LIKE YOU JUST KISSED SOMEBODY OKAY! WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING MARRIED!”she said yelling at him. “I HAVE SAID I AM SORRY A MILLION TIMES. I WAS DRUNK!”he yelled back. “Aaron you’re mad at me because I went on a date with Tyler Hilton right?...while you can go out on as many dates with Lindsey Lohan or whichever skank you choose any time you want. The thing is Aaron is you think I’m yours, but you don’t act like you’re mine. You know what I mean? Its like you want me back so bad and you’re so focused on talking to me that you haven’t done anything to prove to me that its going to be different. This is the first date I have been on since we broke up and you know what I like him. He plays and listens to the same music I do. He respects me and I am not going to let you ruin that.”Caroline said shrugging her shoulders and for once he was quiet. “Stay here so you are safe. I’m going to bed.”she said throwing a pillow and blanket at him. “I love you…”he said giving her sad eyes. “I don’t think that I feel that way anymore.”she said and walked away into her bedroom.

Caroline rubbed her puffy eyes the next morning as she woke up pretty early to her phone ringing to let her know she had a text message. “Free around 12?-Tyler” she smiled as she looked over at the clock reading 7AM. “Early riser huh?” she texted back. “Is that a yes?”she received a few minutes later. “I suppose ”she typed back and threw her phone on the bed. She walked out of her room into the living room where Aaron was awake watching TV. He looked at her then put his head down. “Don’t.”she said to him and kept walking into the kitchen seeing a plate full of pancakes on the counter. “I’m sorry.”Aaron said walking up behind her. “Making pancakes does not fix things.”she said looking back at him while putting some syrup on top of them. “Well it must help because you are eating them.”he said making her slightly smile. She couldn’t help it. He looked cute with his dishevled blonde hair and long red pajama pants on. “First time I have seen you smile in a while.”he said as she suddenly stopped and looked down at the floor. “First time you haven’t been an ass in a while.”Caroline said looking up at him. “Look if we can’t be together can we at least be friends?”Aaron asked giving her a hopeful look. “Well…you did make me pancakes.”she said smiling. “With chocolate chips.”he added for her pointing to the plate of food she was eating. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist giving her a hug. “I’m sorry. I was a drunk fool last night.”he said burying his head in her shoulder. She put her hand on the back of his head and rubbed it through his hair. “So am I.”she said sadly. “I still love you you know.”Aaron said as he pulled his head up and there faces were inches apart. “I know you do.”she said unable to say it back, afraid it would complicate things. His nose graised past hers and she pulled away quickly. “I thought you said you wanted to be friends.”she said raising her eyebrows. “I should go.”Aaron said and walked out the door. “Aaron..”Caroline said but he was already out the door.

“Late”Tyler said pointing to her as she walked into the coffee shop she was supposed to meet him at twenty minutes before. “I know forgive me. Class went over.”she said as he stood up to greet her. “It’s all fine because you look so damn good in that dress.”he said in his country accent giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Your hair looks awesome.”Caroline said noticing her had cut it into a mohawk. “I got a part in this movie…it’s what my character is supposed to look like I guess.”Tyler said and she shook her head that she understood. “So how did last night go after I left?”Tyler asked. Caroline was embarrassed that he had even asked. “Interesting…he had to stay the night last night and he tried to make up for everything by making me pancakes.”Caroline said rolling her eyes, even though she really thought it was sweet. “Hmm.”Tyler said shrugging his shoulders taking a sip of his coffee. “So what’s the plan for today?”Caroline asked changing the subject. “That is up to you. Whatever you want we’ll do it.”Tyler said leaning into the table to be closer to her. “So we can fly to France take a trip around the Eiffel Tower and come back then?”she asked making him laugh. “Try to keep it in LA.”he said making her smile. “You know what I really wanna do…is just play some music with you that’s all.”she said putting her hand on top of his. “That may just be the best answer I’ve ever heard.”he said smiling. She gave him a side smile as he stood up from the table and held his hand out to her.

Its my heart that’s breaking
On this long distance line…

Tyler pointed down at Caroline from stage and smiled. She looked up at him and waved as he kept strumming away on his guitar. “Ya’ll are so cute it makes me wanna puke.”Ashley said rolling her eyes. Caroline smiled and looked back up at Tyler as he finished “Missing You” and said goodnight to the crowd. “Time to go!”Caroline said walking up to the guards showing her backstage pass. “Hey!”she yelled running up to him as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her off the ground giving her a kiss. “You were so great!”Caroline said as he let her down. He smiled and looked up at Ashley standing behind Caroline. “This is my roommate Ashley. Ashley this is Tyler.”Caroline said as Tyler put his hand out to shake hers. “I’ve heard so much about you.”Ashley said rolling her eyes making them laugh. “So what’s the plan for the rest of the night?”Caroline asked leaning up against the wall backstage. “Whatever you want babe.”Tyler said making her smile as her phone rang in her pocket. “Who is it?”Tyler asked noticing she put the ringer on silent fast. “Unknown Caller.”Caroline said. She knew it was Aaron and so did he. Tyler was silent and Caroline was uncomfortable. “SO!”Ashley said breaking the silence. “SO! You got me for the rest of the night what shall we do Mr.Hilton?”Caroline said locking her arm in his smiling up at him. He smiled back. “We could go back to my place…”Tyler said forgetting about Ashley being there. “Are you gonna stay at the hotel?”Caroline asked looking back at Ashley. “I mean I can I know ya’ll don’t see each other much.”Ashley said winking at Caroline. “Well let’s go eat something and we’ll take it from there…its only ten.”Caroline said as Tyler’s phone rang and he stepped away from them for a second. “He is so hot.”Ashley said making Caroline laugh. “Ashley!”Caroline said pushing her lightly. “What I mean he is…”Ashley said and Caroline shrugged. “God you’re lucky.”Ashley said quietly as Tyler walked back up. “What was that about?”Caroline asked as they walked towards the backstage door. “Nothing just business.”that was Tyler’s answer for everything he didn’t want Caroline to know about. “Everything is business with you.”Caroline said quietly as he put his arm around her and the door opened to the sound of girls screaming next to his tour bus. “Wow!”Caroline said watching all the cameras flash. She had no idea he even had this many fans. “You guys can stay here or wait in the bus I gotta do the signing stuff…”Tyler said dropping his arm from her shoulders. Caroline nodded her head and sat down on the stairs of the bus. She was used to this. VERY used to this. She watched him take pictures and sign autographs for EVERYONE who was waiting. Her stomach growled as he walked back up to them an hour later. “So where do you wanna eat? I’m starving.”Tyler said. “Nowhere Tyler everywhere is closed.”Caroline said sighing as her stomach growled. She stood up and Tyler walked towards her. “Come on…cheer up.”he said tickling her making her laugh. “Maybe you guys could just drop me off at the hotel…I’m pretty beat.”Ashley said knowing they needed time alone. Caroline’s phone rang again as they got into the bus. She shut off the ringer fast and Tyler got uncomfortable again. “I’m sorry.”Caroline said and Tyler ignored her. “Where’s the hotel you guys are staying at?”he said looking over at Ashley. “It’s just the Marriot down the street.”Ashley said. “Good come get me when we get there.”Tyler said walking to the back of the bus shooting Caroline a look. “Who the hell keeps calling you?”Ashley said running over to sit by Caroline who was on the verge of crying. “Who do you think?”she said sighing as she heard the shower start up. “Aaron oh my God! Just turn your phone off or this will ruin you tonight.”Ashley said as they started to pull into the Marriot. “I know. I just wondered what he wants. He doesn’t call me for weeks and he decides to call right now.”Caroline said as the bus came to a stop. “Ty.”Caroline called to the back of the bus as she stood up. “What?!”Tyler yelled from the back. “I’m just gonna go to the room.”Ashley said knowing they were about to fight. Caroline looked back at Ashley as she walked out and Tyler walked to the front rubbing his hair dry with a towel. “Do you want me to just go up with her and that will be that?”Caroline asked. Tyler sighed and rubbed his hands through his hair. “I want you to stop talking to Aaron because I know that’s who keeps calling you.”Tyler said almost yelling. “You are so ridiculously jealous.”Caroline said throwing her arms up. “Mr. Hilton…I need to know where to go I can’t stay parked here.”the bus driver said walking back onto the bus. “Back to my house.”Tyler said not turning to look at him. “I’m not jealous Caroline! He was your fiancé! And you talk to him and see him more than me why would I not have something to say about that?”Tyler said growing more and more mad. “Because you TRUST ME! I don’t say anything about your “business” do I? BECAUSE I TRUST YOU TYLER!”Caroline yelled standing up in front of him. “Okay calm down this is ridiculous.”Tyler said putting his hands on her shoulders. “I just don’t want you to think anything is going on you know?”Caroline said trying not to cry. “Don’t cry…don’t you dare cry.”Tyler said wiping a tear from under her eye. The bus stopped in front of Tyler’s house there in Nashville. “Do you wanna come inside or should I just take you back to the hotel?”Tyler asked standing on the bus stairs to the outside. She grabbed his hand and followed him inside. “I’m sorry.”he said as they walked in the front door. “My Lord your house is beautiful.”Caroline said looking around the living room. “Maybe one day it can be yours.”Tyler said and she smiled. “Maybe.”she said as he walked up to her and put his hand on the side of her face. “Come see the porch it’s the best part.”Tyler said pulling her outside. “Oh…wow.”she said looking over the Chatanooga Mountains from his deck. Tyler leaned down to kiss her and she closed her eyes. “Come see this.”Tyler said pulling her back inside. He walked to the corner of the room and sat down at his piano.

There's that couple in love
Young and like one I am of
The punchbowl has emptied but I've heard the bedroom has beer

And I don't know what I'm doing here
Everything's coming so clear
But I've got this lingering doubt
All about

Chorus
Everyone tells me that they understand
Everyone says that it's true
They say my woman's the best thing I got
So I'm being faithful to you, love
I'm being faithful to you


“I wrote it during the tour. I know I may not can always be there for you, but I can write you songs that remind you of me.”Tyler said smiling at her. She smiled back and kissed him.
“I love you.”Tyler said quietly as she opened her eyes. “Really?”Caroline asked surprised. He pressed his lips to hers again and rubbed his fingers up her back. She heard I’m All About You and her phone began to vibrate. Tyler let her go and his hands flew up in the air. “WHAT DO YOU WANT?!?”Caroline yelled answering the phone. “Well hello to you too.”Aaron said on the other end. “What are you doing?”he asked. “I’m trying to have a really good night with Tyler but you keep ruining it…so what do you want?”Caroline asked annoyed. “Nothing…forget it.”Aaron said and hung up the phone. She closed the phone slowly thinking maybe she was a bit of a bitch. “Tyler!”Caroline said walking back out onto the porch where he was leaning up against the railing. She grabbed his two hands and pressed into him. “I took care of it.”she said giving him a side smile as she pressed her forehead to his lips. “It just really bothers me Caroline.”Tyler said looking away from her. “I promise its nothing to be worried about.”she said giving him a sad face. “Ugh…how can I be mad at that face?”he said smiling at her wrapping his arms around her waist. She crossed her arms and leaned into him laying her head on his chest. “Stay with me here.”he said rubbing his hand up her back. “Tyler you know I can’t.”she said looking up at him. “Come on. Just until I go back on the road. It’s only a few days. I’ll pay for you to fly back. I promise you’ll be back when your classes start back….it’s lonely here.”he said rubbing his nose against hers. “God you make it so hard to say no.”she said shaking her head. “So you will then?”he asked smiling. She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Yes!”he said letting her go walking back inside. “I say I’ll stay and you automatically go to the TV to watch the football game.”Caroline said sitting down beside him. “It’s only the recap. Calm down.”he said putting his arm around her. “Oh shit this is the Tampa Bay game.”Caroline said and suddenly was interested. “Yet again something we have in common.”Tyler said laughing.

“Are you coming home tonight?”Caroline yelled to her roommate Ashley as she opened the door. “Probably not…big date.”Ashley said and winked as she walked out the door. The tune of All About You rang on the bed behind her and she fell back on her bed as she answered it. “Hello?”she said picking up the phone. Her and Aaron had been talking a little bit back and forth when they had time, but hadn’t seen each other for a while. “What’s up beautiful?”Aaron asked opening the door to his car to get out. “About to start on this horribly boring essay for school tomorrow…what are you up to?”she said opening up her laptop pulling up Microsoft Word. “About to walk into the house in LA…lonely here by myself.”he said breathing out heavily. “Lonely here too all the way at school in Florida…I miss you Aaron.”she said after a few minutes of silence. “What makes you say that?”he asked surprised. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”she said trying not to get sad. “Then why don’t you tell this damn girl at the desk to let me come up to your room.”Aaron said laughing. “WHAT?!?”Caroline said and dropped the phone as she ran down the hall to the lobby. She saw him standing in the doorway and jumped into his arms wrapping her legs around his waist as he held her up laughing. “What are you doing here?!?”she asked as he put her down. “I missed you so I came to see you.”he said kissing her on the cheek. “He just needs to sign in here.”the girl said at the desk. Aaron scribbled his name on the sign in sheet. “Well come see my room…”she said grabbing his hand as they walked down the hall. “I see you’re still dating Tyler.”Aaron said looking at the few pictures she did have up…a few of the two of them and a few of her and Tyler. “On and off…he’s out of the country a lot promoting One Tree Hill so we’re just gonna see how it goes you know?”she said sitting down on her bed. Aaron’s phone rang on the bed and he turned the ringer off quickly and looked away from her. “Who was it?”she said curious. “Kaci…she’s like this girl I’m kinda seeing…you know on and off…”Aaron stuttered unsure of how she would respond. “Cool.”she said sighing watching Aaron walk around looking at everything. “DUDE you stole my 360…I like went to our house in Tampa and I was like looking around like where the hell did it go…I thought Nick had it.”Aaron said spotting her video game console. “I got a thing for Halo I can’t help it…plus Nick has his own.”she said making him laugh. “You got live here?”Aaron asked turning it on. “Would I have stole it if I didn’t?”Caroline asked picking up one of the controllers signing into the game. “Ready to get an ass whoopin…Ive been practicing.”Caroline said and Aaron rolled his eyes as her phone rang to I want it That Way. “Why’s he calling you?”Aaron asked getting very defensive. “Don’t know I’ll call him back later.”she said letting it ring. “Okay so I don’t know how you can be good at this when you’re character has no camoflauge it’s frigin pink.”Aaron said. “I just killed you though!”Caroline said pushing him in the side. “I let you.”he said pushing her back. “Whatever…”she said looking back to the game. “How long are you staying for?”Caroline asked a few minutes later when the game ended and they were waiting for a new one to start. “A day or so…”Aaron said turning away from the game. “I dunno if my roommates going to come back tonight…so you can like have her bed or whatever I’m sure she won’t be here.”Caroline said to see what he would say. “I was kinda hoping I could sleep in yours.”Aaron said as she rolled her eyes. “Or you could sleep in hers.”Caroline said and then looked at her watch. “Oh my God! I’m gonna miss the party!”Caroline said putting her Vans on. “I come to see you and you wanna drag me to a party.”Aaron asked hurt. “Come on…have you ever been to a college party?”Caroline asked and he shook his head no as she drug him out the door.
“Whats up Caroline?”a frat guy said walking up towards Caroline as soon as she walked into the party. “Hey!”she said as he pulled her into a hug. Aaron stuck his hands in his pockets uncomfortable. “Paul this is Aaron…Aaron this is Paul hes in my Psych class.”Caroline said and Aaron shook his hand. “Hey your that….yea your that kid…you’re like famous or something right?”Paul asked obviously very drunk. Aaron just stared at him confused. “Yea you’re brothers that Backstreet Boy.”Paul said forming his thoughts in his head outloud. “Yup.”Aaron said looking over at Caroline for an escape. “Awesome we have a celebrity here!”Paul said loud enough for everyone there to here. Aaron looked down at the floor. “That’s enough Paul…”Caroline said pulling Aaron to the refrigerator. “So this is so awesome that you are here.”two girls said coming up behind Aaron. He turned around to talk to them as Caroline reached into the refrigerator to grab the beers. “What’s your name?”a guy said behind Caroline as she turned around with the beers. “Caroline.”she said. He was hot. “I’m Shane…did you wanna dance?”he said holding his hand out for her. She grabbed his hand as he pulled her into a different room. She caught a glance of Aaron getting very friendly with both of the girls as she started dancing with the guy. As the song ended Caroline walked away from the guy to go find Aaron but he was nowhere to be found. She reached to get another beer and resumed her search. She spotted him in the backyard talking to the same girls and started to walk towards them. Aaron pushed some of one of the girls hairs out of her face. “Hey babe.”Caroline said looking at Aaron then the two girls. “Hey Hey!”Aaron said obviously he had had more to drink than she had. She grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the girls. “Spend time with me not skanks.”Caroline said putting her hands in his looking up at him. “I always want to spend time with you.”Aaron said making her smile. “You know what you need?”Caroline said putting her forehead up to his. “Another drink.”Aaron said making her laugh as she pulled him back inside. Aaron rubbed his hands up the sides of her body as she had her back to him dancing. She leaned her head back with her eyes closed up against his shoulder and he kissed her cheek and neck a few times. “You shouldn’t do that.”she said turning around to face him. “And why is that?”he asked putting his forehead up to hers as he kissed her quickly. “Because…”she said smiling as he pulled her into him and his hands moved down to her butt. “We should go.”she said as drunk as she was to not let the situation get further. She somewhat had Tyler and Aaron somewhat had whatever that girls name was...and alcohol and their feelings for each other don't mix well.
They were drunk, very drunk, walking back into her dorm. “Shhhhhhhhhhh….you aren’t suppose to be here after 12.”Caroline said loud as hell as she opened her door. “Be quiet.”Aaron said holding her hand helping her into her bedroom. “You can sleep with me if you want….”Caroline said laying back on her bed, half on and half off. “It’s okay Cara…I’ll just be right on the floor beside you okay.”Aaron said smiling at her. She gave him a weird look as he pulled the covers over her. She put her hand sloppily on the back of his neck and pulled him down to kiss her. He pulled away quickly. “I can’t do this with you…like this…its not right.”he said trying to smile at her. “I still like love you…you know.”she said slurring her words as her eyes closed. “Truth always comes out when you’re drunk huh?”he said sitting down against the bed on the floor. She put her hand on his shoulder and he put his on top of hers. “Good night Aaron.”she and rolled over. “Good night honey.”he said standing up to turn out the light.
Aaron awoke the next morning still on the floor, a horrible headache, and Caroline talking on the phone in the bathroom. “Tyler I got a big test today…and a paper can you just come tomorrow like we planned? You would just be sitting in my room all day…”she said as Aaron was leaned up against the closed door listening. “Yea…of course I want to see you…it’s been forever…its just I got some stuff going on right now…No its not Aaron why do you always say that?”she kept talking as Aaron’s phone rang to show Kaci’s number. “Whats up?”he said answering it quietly. “I’m just visiting a friend at college…yea I’ll be back maybe tonight or tomorrow or something….alright bye.”Aaron said and hung up as Caroline walked out of the bathroom. “So I was pretty drunk last night huh?”she asked sitting down next to him. She had just gotten out of the shower. “You tried to have sex with me…”he said laughing. “Shut up did I really?”she asked embarrassed. “And you said you love me…truth comes out when you’re drunk huh?”Aaron asked as she sat down next to him. “Something like that…”she said and turned to look at him. “I heard you talking to Tyler…he’s coming in tomorrow then.”Aaron asked. “Yea I mean I think he’s going to break up with me actually. He said it was important so I am just assuming by his tone…I don’t really care I guess. It’s been falling apart lately anyways”she said putting her head down. “Yea you’re a big girl.”Aaron said putting his arm around her pulling her into him. “I’m really glad that you came to see me.”Caroline said pulling her head up from his shoulder to look at him. He put his hand on the side of her face and kissed her softly. She closed her eyes and kissed him back. “I missed you…a lot.”Aaron said quietly as he pulled away from her. She pressed her lips to his and kissed him more. She layed back on the bed as he removed her towel that she had on over her body. He kissed her down her neck then back up to her mouth as he slowly moved inside her. “I shouldn’t.”she said quietly as her phone let her know she had a text message from Tyler. He rubbed his hand on the side of her face and looked down at her as he leaned into kiss her again. “I miss that for sure.”Caroline said as he got off of her twenty minutes later. “That probably shouldn’t have happened.”Aaron said looking at himself in the mirror. “Yea…but it did…so…”she said walking up behind him. “I gotta get going…I got studio time later tonight…I’ll be at the house if you wanna like stop by and see Jada or something…”Aaron said packing up his things. “So that’s it you’re just going to leave like that?”she asked kind of hurt. “It’s not…I just don’t want it to get weird and it was about to…”Aaron said sighing. “I guess.”she shrugged. “It’s still not gonna work you know.”Caroline said as he pulled his bookbag on. Aaron nodded his head as he put his hand on the doorknob. “I love you though.”Aaron said trying to get her to smile. She walked over to him and he pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m glad I got to see you…”Aaron said rubbing his hand up her back. “Me too…call me okay?”she said hopeful. “You know I will.”he said and kissed her quickly as he walked out the door. She sat back down on her bed with one of the pictures of her and Aaron from last Halloween when she was pregnant. What the hell was holding her back from him? He rphone beeped beside her to let her know she had a text. She read the new text from Aaron then the one from Tyler from a few minutes ago.

WarWoundAC: Don’t ever forget how much I love you…no matter what happens…it’s always you to me okay?

THacoustic: I love you. Can’t wait to see you babe!

“It’s okay Tyler it’s not like gonna break my heart if you don’t come.”Caroline said to him on the phone later on that night. “I just feel bad because I said I was going to…”he said sighing. “You always say you’re going to…its fine I get it you’re busy…just whatever.”she said putting on her shoes. “Caroline come on…don’t be like that. You know I’m filming this movie and shit.”Tyler said frustrated. “It’s always something Ty.”she said sighing. “Look stop I will make it up to you.”he said. “That’s what you always say.”she said and hung up the phone. She was sick of the back and forth with him. She walked out of her dormroom towards her Navigator and got in the car driving towards Tampa. She pulled up in the driveway noticing another car parked there. She walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. She could have used the key but she thought that would be weird. Aaron came up to the door surprised to see her and unlocked it slowly. “Hey.”she said smiling. “Hey.”he said looking behind him nervously. “Who is it baby?”a girl said bopping up behind him. Aaron looked back from the girl to Caroline. Caroline turned around and walked back to the car as Aaron yelled her name behind her. “Caroline wait!”Aaron said catching the door before she got in. “It’s fine Aaron really!”she said not knowing what to do. “What are you doing here?”he asked. “You told me to stop by…and…just its fine.”she said about to cry. “Come inside we’re just watching a movie.”he said holding the door open. “Um no. I realize why you left now.”she said looking at him like he was a retard. “I’m sorry…I know I told you to come by.”he said putting his hand on her leg. “I’m just gonna call Nick and see if he can come get all my stuff out of here. It’s been here for to long.”she said shaking her head. “Stop.”he said in disapproval. “I gotta go…I got an hour drive back.”she said putting the car into reverse. Aaron let go of the door and watched her drive out of the driveway back out of the neighborhood. He put his head in his hands as she drove out of sight. He walked back inside to Kaci. “Who was that?”she asked as he was walking into his bedroom. “Caroline.”he said quietly as he layed back on the bed. “What the hell is wrong with you?”she asked sitting down beside him. “Nothin I just need to be by myself right now okay?”he said trying to smile as their was a knock on the door. Kaci ran to go get it fearing it was Caroline again. “HEY NICk!”Kaci said giving him a hug. “Is Aaron around?”he asked walking in. “He’s laying in bed…I guess he doesn’t feel good or something.”she said as Nick walked into the bedroom. “You come to get her stuff?”Aaron asked sitting up. “What are you talking about?”Nick asked giving him a weird. “Nothing…she didn’t tell you then?”Aaron asked as Kaci walked out of the room to finish watching the TV show she was watching. “Who man?”Nick asked still confused. “CAROLINE! Who else?”Aaron practically yelled. “Well these days man I don’t really know…and no I haven’t talked to her. I called her earlier she never called me back though. I came by to give you this.”Nick said pulling a CD out of his pocket. “Oh wow you guys finished the new single huh?”Aaron asked checking out the case. “You wanna hear it?”Nick asked taking it back from him. “Is it depressing?”Aaron asked. “If you mean is it typical boy band bullshit I want you back stuff…then yes it is.”Nick said making Aaron laugh as he put the CD into the player.

I close the door
Like so many times, so many times before
Felt like a scene on the cutting room floor
When I let you walk away tonight without a word
I try to sleep
But the clock is stuck on thoughts of you and me
Thousands more regrets unraveling
If you were here right now
I swear Id tell you this

I don’t wanna waste another day
Keeping this inside
Its killing me cause
All I ever wanted comes right down to you
To You
I wish I could find the words to say

“TURN IT OFF!”Aaron said covering his ears. “God man is it that bad?”Nick asked surprised by his outburst. “No just turn it off. It makes me feel like a jerk.”Aaron said covering his face with a pillow as he fell back on the bed. Nick walked over to the player and turned it off fast. “So what’s wrong?”Nick asked finally noticing something was wrong. “I went to see her last night and everything went really well she was really happy to see me, we went to a party and got really drunk, she confessed her drunken love for me, and we went to sleep.”Aaron started. “Okay…so whats wrong with that?”Nick asked sitting back down next to him. “I’m getting to it. We woke up this morning and had sex.”Aaron said and Nick almost fell off the bed. “Bad move…”Nick said shaking his head. “That’s not even all of it…it was just really weird afterwards so I left like right after which I think pissed her off…so like thirty minutes ago she showed up here and Kaci was here and she got all freaked out like oh I’m gonna call Nick and get him to come get my stuff and blah blah”Aaron said. “Hence why you asked me if I was coming to get her stuff…gotcha.”Nick said as Kaci walked back in. “I’m just gonna go home.”she said feeling ignored. “Ok bye.”Aaron said smart assly as she huffed out the door. “So like I don’t know what to do.”Aaron said turning back to Nick. “Well first you can stop being an asshole to Kaci she hasn’t done anything. You just dragged her into the middle of it.”Nick said. “I know but I dragged her in because I was lonely.”he said. “No you didn’t…you like her.”Nick said calling him out. The tune of Incomplete rang in Nick’s pocket. “It’s her.”Nick said pulling out his IPhone. “Why the fuck do you have that ringtone for her?”Aaron asked as Nick put his finger over his mouth as he answered the phone. “Whats up babe?”Nick asked hearing that she was crying. “Aaron! He is driving me crazy! We had sex last night…which was so stupid I know…but we did.”Caroline yelled. “Ok wow chill out I can’t even understand you.”Nick said laughing. “Shut up…so I go to his house and fucking some bitch is there like all naked and shit so I freak out and leave of course and now I don’t know what to do. I am just driving around in Tampa like a retard.”she finished. “Yea but Cara you guys aren’t together so you cant be mad about something like that.”Nick said as Aaron tried to get close to the phone to hear. “Then why have sex with me you know and yea its probably my fault for allowing it but that really fucked me up.”she said trying not to start crying again. “I know…well um I am just out getting something to eat with my buddy Brent so if you want we are almost done I can meet you at my house.”Nick said and Aaron looked over at him. “Yea okay…I’ll be there soon.” she said sighing. “And don’t worry about it okay I am sure he’s sitting at home crying in his bed okay.”Nick said and Aaron punched him. “Yea or having sex with that girl.”Caroline said making Nick laugh. “I’ll see you soon.”Nick said and hung up with her. “Please fix it Nick.”Aaron said begging him. “I mean I’ll try man but you pretty much dug your own hole.”Nick said walking out the door back to his car.

“You got here fast…”Nick said pulling into his driveway where she was waiting in her car. “Let’s just say I was around the corner.”she said smiling slightly. “You mean in my driveway already.”Nick said making her laugh. “You’re a jerk.”she said following him into his house. “You wanna go out…get your mind off things.”Nick asked giving her a hug. “Not really.”Caroline said shrugging. “Come on you look hot enough…we should show you off.”Nick said making her blush. “I’m not really in the mood to have my picture taken by a bazillion photographers who think I’m your girlfriend Nick…”she said. “Please…I promised Angel I would come to this reality club touring bullshit she’s doing…if not you’ll be stuck here all by yourself…in this big house…all alone…did I mention alone?”Nick said making her laugh. “So persuasive…”she said rolling her eyes. “I don’t wanna stay long…just an appearance okay?”she said holding out her pinky to him. “Pinky swear.”he said hooking his finger in hers smiling. “So what do you wanna do about Aaron?”Nick asked as they started out of the driveway on their trek to Orlando. “I don’t know…you know I love him…there is just so much blocking us. It shouldn’t be this hard you know?”she said putting her head down. “What about Tyler?”Nick asked. “I think he’s gonna break up with me. He was supposed to come this weekend to see me, but he backed out and I mean I know he cheats on well i don't know but I think he does and I cheated on him…we have like this weird understanding that we are together but can be with other people if that makes any sense. I think we are both just lonely and keep each other around. I really liked him at first, but he is just to busy for me.”she said and shrugged. “Sounds complicated…I think the best thing for you and Aaron is to just give it time you know…sex wasn’t the best way to do that, but you guys do have the weirdest relationship I have EVER seen…way to much pride in both of you.”Nick said patting her on the leg. “Way to much pride in HIM…he still hasn’t really apologized…I mean he has, but he hasn’t changed. Maybe he’s just to young.”she said trying to reason it out. “Caroline you’re the same age…”Nick said being a smart ass. “Girls mature faster than boys.”she said rolling her eyes.
They arrived at the club an hour and a half later. “Only for a few minutes.”Caroline said pulling Nick to her. “Okay…okay….”Nick said going over to talk to Angel. Caroline sat down at the bar and ordered a drink. “Planning to drink everything away?”Nick asked coming up behind her a few minutes later. “Mostly…”she said already on her second. “Put her on my tab.”Nick said after ordering his first drink. “Thanks Nick.”Caroline said moving her second empty glass away from her. “Wanna dance?”Nick asked as a slow song came on. “I suppose.”she said giving him a funny look. “You look really pretty.”Nick said smiling at her. “Thanks.”she said blushing again. “Look at all of these girls staring at you…you should have asked them to dance.”Caroline said looking around the room. “I came with you that would be rude wouldn’t it.”Nick said pulling her closer to him. “Cheer up.”he said rubbing his hand up her back. “I’m sorry…I am a party pooper.”she said making him smile. She layed her head on his chest as the rest of the song played. “Ready to go?”Nick asked noticing she was falling asleep on his chest. “If you are..”she said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the club. “Thanks for taking me out…sometimes its good to know theres more than me in the world.”Caroline said as she walked to her car in Nick’s driveway. “You can stay if you want? I mean I will like sleep on the couch or whatever you want.”Nick said standing beside her. “I guess it is late…I got school in the morning though.”Caroline said breathing in deeply. “I’ll make sure you’re awake.”Nick said pulling her inside. “It’s like three you wouldn’t get back for a while anyways.”Nick said pulling back the covers for her. “You can sleep in here too Nick…it won’t be weird.”Caroline said looking at him like he was stupid as she hopped into bed. “You feel better?”Nick asked cutting off the lights. “Not really. I’m good at hiding stuff.”she said as he climbed in beside her. “Good night.”Nick said rolling over on his side. “I gotta be up around six thirty.”she said and closed her eyes. “Everything will work out Cara…maybe not like you want it, but how its suppose to okay?”Nick said making her smile. “I know.”she said quietly.
“I don’t cook…really…but I got McDonalds.”Nick said as she walked into the kitchen at six fourty-five ready to leave. “You can take it to go…don’t worry.”he said pulling her into a hug. “Don’t let my brother jerk you around to much okay.”he said kissing her on the forehead. “I love you Nick.”she said hugging him again. “I love you too…call me later…be careful.”he said letting her go watching her get into her car and drive away. Her phone beeped in her pocket.

WarWoundAC: I know its early…you’re probably asleep…text me when you get up.
EastCoastGC: Im up I just left Nick’s whats up?
WarWoundAC: You just now left?
EastCoastGC: yea we went to Angel’s club thing last night and I didn’t want to drive back it was to late
WarWoundAC: oh…
EastCoastGC: well what did you need
War Wound AC:I just wanted to say I’m sorry and leave it at that and see where that leads us ok
EastCoastGC: Its okay…I shouldn’t be mad over stuff like that…we just need time to heal
WarWoundAC: I know…talk to you soon
EastCoastGC: k ILY
WarWoundAC: ILY2

Needless to say Caroline did not make it to her class in the morning. As soon as she got back she fell right to sleep and was awoke by a knock on her dorm door. She opened it without looking up and almost stopped breathing when she finally looked. She smiled while biting her lip. “You came.”she said quietly throwing her arms around him. “God I missed you.”Tyler said picking her up off the ground kissing her. It had been a few months since she had seen him and all of those old feelings rushed back into her. “I missed you too.”she said as he shut the door behind them and he continued to kiss her. “Where is this coming from?”she asked laughing as he pulled her tshirt over her head. “Well I haven’t seen my girlfriend in three months.”he said as she layed back on her bed. Tyler rubbed his hands up her stomach and kissed her hard. “Marry me?”Tyler said after a few minutes of being inside her. She opened her eyes and looked at him. “What?”she said sitting up. “Marry me…come on baby.”he said rubbing his hands over his newly buzzed hair cut. “You are crazy.”she said as he pulled a tiny box out of his pocket and opened it for her. “I’m serious.”he said smiling. She swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. The ring was pretty huge. “Now hows this gonna work if you live in NC right now to do the show and I live here.”she said being rational. “I stopped doing the show. My time was up. I’ll move wherever you want me to now.”he said putting his hand on the side of her face. “Tyler this is SO big and unexpected. I thought you were coming to break up with me.”she said about to throw up thinking about her and Aaron the night before. “Why would I do that? I love you.”he said making her smile. “Because our relationship is weird and very open and I don’t know.”she said shaking her head. “Just say yes baby.”he said. His accent had gotten more Southern just from being in North Carolina for that short of a period. “I can’t say no to those eyes and that voice.”she said kissing him. He pulled away from her and smiled. “You’re going to be Mrs. Tyler Hilton.”he said laughing. “I know you wanna do this wedding all Priscilla and Elvis don’t you…and don’t even lie.”she said making him continue to laugh. “Whatever you want.”he said as her phone rang beside her. It was Nick.

“I’m just going to say you wanted to see the show that’s all.”Caroline said as Nick followed her into a tavern type setting. “Hey is Tyler busy?”Caroline said to one of his band members who was up onstage. “I don’t think so…probably just warming up.Hey let her through.”the guy said to the door guard. “He’s got more security than I do.”Nick said making her laugh. “Just be really nice please Nick.”Caroline said turning to beg him. “Don’t worry.”Nick said as she knocked on the door to his backstage room. He opened the door slowly and the strong odor or marijuana drifted out the door. “Hey baby.”Tyler said putting his arms around her waist, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Whats up Nick?”Tyler said giving Nick a hug. Tyler looked over at Caroline as another head popped in the door. Tyler scratched the back of his head as Aaron slowly walked in. “What’s he doing here?”Tyler said pulling her to the side of the room. “He just wanted to see the show that’s all.”Caroline said. He was really pissed. “Whatever.”he said and pushed passed her. He picked up his acoustic guitar and sat down on the couch. “We can just leave.”Nick said looking over at Caroline. She had promised him it would be okay if they came along. “It’s fine.”Caroline said looking over at Tyler. He rolled his eyes and started strumming some chords. “Let’s just go get a drink and wait for the show to start.”Nick said motioning for her to come on. “Thanks.”Caroline said breathing out hard as she looked over at Tyler. “You can’t expect for me to be okay with this…a warning would have been nice.”he yelled as she walked out the door. “What a jerk.”Aaron said as they walked upstairs to the bar area. “Not usually…”Caroline said shrugging as she grabbed her beer. Tyler walked out onto the stage to plug in his guitar and make sure everything was set for the night. Caroline and him made eye contact and she quickly looked away. He pulled out his cellphone and hers was soon vibrating

THAcoustic: Come down here
EastCoastNFG: You can’t act like that towards them Ty. Their my best friends.
TH Acoustic: I can act towards HIM however I feel like.

She layed down her phone and refused to text him back. “Should we just go?”Nick asked drinking some of his beer. “No Nick its fine. He’s just being stubborn. I want ya’ll to be here….God I said ya’ll. I’m hanging out with country people too much.”Caroline said making the boys laugh. “Well he’s retarded to be acting like that towards you when you look so beautiful tonight.”Aaron said making Caroline blush. “God cheap.”Nick said making fun of Aaron. “Man shut up.”Aaron said pushing his brother lightly.

“Are you just gonna leave?”Tyler said into the microphone as he saw Caroline, Nick and Aaron head for the door as the show had ended and they had finished up their beers. There weren’t very many people in there at all. He jumped down from the stage and walked towards them as they exited into the parking lot. “Hey talk to me.”Tyler said walking up behind her. “Forgive me if I don’t really feel like it.”Caroline said turning around to face him. Aaron and Nick stopped a little bit behind her. “Where’s your ring?”Tyler asked. Caroline hid her hands behind her back. “Store…getting cleaned.”she lied. “What ring?!?”Nick asked loudly as Aaron sighed. “Oh she didn’t tell you guys huh? Figures.”Tyler said shaking his head in disgrace at her. Caroline looked back at Nick and Aaron. “Tell us what?”they both asked in unison. “Tyler asked me to marry him….”Caroline said quickly looking away from Aaron. “Oh my God.”Aaron said turning to walk towards the car. “Aaron wait!”Caroline yelled running towards him. “Fuckin Great!”Tyler said throwing his hands up. “I was gonna tell you.”she said catching his arm. “When after it happened so I wouldn’t freak out?!?”Aaron yelled at her. “It doesn’t really concern you anyways…”Tyler said walking up behind her. “Oh it concerns me…I thought you guys were gonna break up anyways. That’s what you said at your dorm.”Aaron said. “When was he at your dorm?”Tyler asked looking over at her. Caroline was silent. “So you didn’t tell him…unbelieveable….”Aaron said shaking his head. “Tell me what?”Tyler said waiting on her to say anything. “While you were in North Carolina, Aaron came to visit me, we went to a party it wasn’t a big deal.”Caroline said grabbing his hand. He quickly moved it away from her. “It was a pretty big deal.”Aaron said and Caroline looked over at him as quick as possible to make him shut up. “Hey this is enough!”Nick said coming in between all of them finally. Her eyes swelled up with tears as Aaron kept talking. “She cheated on you with me. That’s why she didn’t want you to come out that weekend to stay with her…..”Aaron said and Tyler looked over at her as the tears fell from her face. “The same weekend I asked you to marry me…babe how could you?”Tyler said. He wasn’t even mad. He just couldn’t find any words. “Aaron that is enough.”Nick said putting his arm around him dragging him into the Navigator. Tyler turned to walk away from her. “Ty wait up! At least let me explain.”Caroline yelled running up behind him. “I can’t…just…just go.”Tyler said standing in the doorway to the venue. “It was while you were in NC. I told you I thought you were gonna break up with me. I hadn’t seen you for three months…”Caroline said holding the door so he couldn’t go in. “I hadn’t seen you for three months either, but I didn’t go fuck my ex girlfriend.”Tyler said. “oh WHATEVER! You think I don’t know about you and Bethany all those late studio nights and shit…you can’t write me a song and expect me to think that nothing ever happened.”Caroline said reffering to one of his castmastes on One Tree Hill and he looked away from her. “You’ve always had such a double standard for us Ty. I guess it just doesn’t count when you do it does it?”Caroline said shaking her head lookin down at the ground. “I don’t…”Tyler said but couldn’t form words. “You didn’t even say that it didn’t happen.”she said rolling her eyes kinda smiling in disbelief. “What the hell are we doing?”Tyler asked looking over at her. “I don’t know.”she said as he grabbed her hand. “I shouldn’t have brought them…”Caroline said as her phone vibrated.

NCarter: Just leave his stupid ass.
EastCoastNFG: Im coming.

“Look they are waiting on me.”she said looking up at him. “Stay and go home with me.”Tyler said hopeful. “Not after all this babe. We got too much to talk about and I don’t have the energy to do it tonight.”Caroline said as he had finally calmed down. “Tomorrow then?”he asked. “I don’t know Ty…”she said shrugging. “I love you P.”he said. He always called her that as short for Priscilla, because he was Elvis. She gave him a side smile as he kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll call you.”she said turning to walk back to the car. “I told you we should not have come.”Nick said as she shut the door to the backseat. “Can we just not talk right now?”Caroline said rubbing her forehead rom the headache she was getting. “No we are gonna talk right now.”Nick said apparently angry. She rolled her eyes. “Why would you not tell me of all people something like that?”Nick asked. “It doesn’t matter anymore anyways. It’s not gonna happen.”she said. “Okay whatever.”Aaron said breathing out hard. “I love him okay ya’ll. I don’t feel like I should have to be ridiculed for being engaged to somebody I love. He respects me. He takes care of me and he loves me more than anything. Things are different between me and him than before. We live together now and I cook us dinner and he cuts the grass and I know it all sounds so stupid, but we have a life together…”Caroline said. “Perfect.”Aaron said huffing. “You know you are being so childish about this!”Caroline said looking over at Aaron. “”BECAUSE THAT”S SUPPOSED TO BE US!”Aaron yelled at her and the driver almost swerved off the road. “Chill man.”Nick said putting his hand on his brother’s leg. “It’s never gonna be us.”she said quietly staring out the window. The rest of the car ride was quiet and uncomfortable. “I don’t think we should talk for a while after tonight…”Caroline said as she opened the door to get out of the car. “Whatever Caroline.”Aaron said not looking at her. “I’m going to marry Tyler Aaron, and you can accept it and be a part of my life or you can’t choose not to be. It’s your fuckin choice.”Caroline said and shut the door as they pulled up to her house. Nick waved at her as the car drove off. She walked into her dark and quiet house. Tyler wouldn’t be home until after the bar closed. She walked into the kitchen and poured a glass of Chardonnay and sat down on the porch outside.

THAcoustic: Please come home baby. I’m waiting on you.
EastCoastNFG: Ty you’re not at home. I’m at home. Where are you?
THAcoustic: …on my way
EastCoastNFG: Just don’t even worry about it. Do whatever you have to do.

A few hours had passed and she was now onto her second bottle of wine. She had been sitting outside the entire time freezing her ass off because she was to lazy to go get a sweater. She heard the front door close and watched Tyler walk into the dark kitchen. She was pretty sure he was plastered by the way he was stumbling around. She was well on her way to being just as drunk and was pretty sure if she stood up she may quite possibly be worse than he was. “Babe?”she heard him walking around saying. “Outside.”she said as he spotted her. She could barely see him as he sat down in front of her. “Hey.”he said and squatted down in front of her putting his hands in hers. “I love you baby.”he said giving her a side smile. “You’re so drunk.”she said trying so hard not to smile at him. “Not that drunk.”he said almost falling backwards. She laughed. “Sure….”she said as he looked up at her and smiled. “I’m sorry about bringing them. I should have told you before hand.”she said looking down. “It’s fine. I was a jerk about it.”he said sighing. “I just want you guys to like each other it would make my life so much easier.”she said looking back up at him. He rubbed his hands up her thighs and closed his eyes to kiss her. “I guess Ty I just want this to be it for us, you know, no more cheating like what’s been going on. Just us…I gotta know you want that.”she said getting serious. “I do want that…. I mean we’re getting married.”he said smiling. “You still want that?”she asked. “Of course..one night doesn’t change how I feel.”he said making her smile. He patted her on the legs and stood up. “Come on let’s get to bed.”he said holding his hand out for her. She put her hand in his trying not to fall over. “You’re pretty drunk yourself missy.”he said making her laugh.
“Listen to this one.”Tyler said picking up his guitar trying really hard to put his hand on the right chord to start out with as he sat down on the bed beside her.

I got a suit that fits me, better than well
And when I face to kiss you
Under you’re veil
We’ll know we got some plates from my mother
A blender and a toaster and an oven from your father

I want a perfect kind of life
Kids in the yard
A car in the drive
Puppies of every breed and size
I want a perfect kind of life
Shoes at the door
Carpet that’s nice
Oh our life when we’re together
Things might be alright when we’re together

We can just think about it
Sit around and dream about it
So let’s do something now
But I want the perfect kind of life

Oh baby things might be alright when we’re together

“Are you sure its okay that I came I mean after what happened last time we saw each other?”Tyler asked stepping out of the limo to one of New York City’s hottest night clubs. “I asked. He said he’d be cool if you were.”Caroline said holding onto his hand. “We’ll see what happens then.”Tyler said, but Caroline could not hear him. The music in the club was way to loud to hear anything. “You want something to drink?”Tyler asked practically yelling in her ear. “Yea…just get me whatever as long as its got liquor.”she said and he smiled and walked away from her. “Hey babe.”Nick said smiling as she walked up to him. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her on the cheek. “Tyler not make it?”Nick asked looking around behind her. “He is at the bar.”Caroline said as Aaron and her made eye contact. This would be the first time they had spoke since the ordeal at Tyler’s show. “Which is where I should be, I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”Nick said patting her on the shoulder as he walked towards the bar. “Hi.”she said looking down at the floor as Aaron walked up to her. “Hey.”he said smiling. It was his birthday, nothing could put him in a bad mood. “Happy Birthday.”she said handing him a small black box from Tiffany’s. “Damn I told you I wanted this forever ago….you shouldn’t have.”he said pulling her into a hug. “I’m making payments.”she said knowing that’s what he meant by that. He shook his head and then there was awkward silence. “Where’s the husband?”Aaron said sighing. “Bar with Nick…listen I’m sorry about before, I just…it was a bad night ya know?”she said giving him a side smile. “No worries you shouldn’t have to explain yourself to me of all people…you wanna dance or something?”Aaron said as the lights dimmed to a blue and a slow song came on. “Sure.”she said smiling at him as they walked onto the dance floor. He pulled his watch out of the box and put it on his wrist. “Wow right size and everything. You are awesome.”he said as he put his arms around her waist to slow dance. She breathed in deep as he pulled her in closer to him. She breathed in his cologne and layed her head on his chest. “I just know you that’s all.”she said quietly and he smiled. “Think I should be worried man?”Tyler said looking over at Nick so he would look at the two dancing. “It’s something that’s always gonna be there man. If you can handle it go for it, but if not, I guarantee you it won’t go away. I know her and I know my brother.”Nick said ordering another drink. Tyler looked over at them. Caroline had her eyes closed and so did Aaron. It was almost like this is what both of them had been waiting for a quiet moment just for them to be in each other’s arms. “Having a good birthday so far?”Caroline said after a few minutes of dancing. “Now that this happened.”Aaron said looking down at her. He knew what she was thinking and she knew how he felt. The song ended and Caroline felt Tyler’s hand go around her waist. “One drink for you…happy birthday man.”Tyler said handing Caroline her drink. “Thanks.”Aaron said sticking his hand in his suit pockets. “Im just gonna go find Nick.”Aaron said. He was uncomfortable so he made a quick exit. “Can we maybe talk outside?”Tyler asked grabbing Caroline's hand.

“Whats up?”she asked sitting next to him on the dock. “We can’t get married.”Tyler said looking down at their feet hanging off almost touching the water. “What? What do you mean?”she asked looking over at him surprised. “You’re still in love with him baby.”he said still not looking at her. “Tyler what are you talking about…”she started but he cut her off. “Stop…Im not mad I just finally realized when you guys were dancing tonight. It’s never gonna be over with you guys and I’m not going to be put in the middle for my whole life.”he said not making eye contact with her. She swallowed hard and tried not to throw up. “Ty are you breaking up with me?”she asked looking over at him. “It’s for your own good. I don’t want to, but I love you and when you love somebody if they need to be let go you do it.”he said putting his arm around her shoulder pulling her into him. “I think I didn’t expect it to get this far with you ya know, and it’s really weird because I love you and I do want to marry you, but then when I really stop and think about my life five to ten years from now as much as I want you to be in it, it’s not as my husband. I figured we would have broken up long before now I never would have expected you to be there for me like you are.”she said slowly as the tears started to rise in her eyes. “Don’t cry, you’ll mess up your face.”Tyler said wiping the tears from under her eyes. “I’m sad.”she said trying to smile a little. “Well don’t be. You’re free…and you know we can still hang out and play music and stuff.”he said smiling at her. “Okay Ty.”she said as he stood up. “You coming back inside?”he asked holding out his hand. “Not right now.”she said downing the rest of her drink. “Send that waiter by with another one of these.”she said pointing to a guy in a waiters uniform. He nodded and she watched him talk to the waiter and walk back inside. “You missed the cake…”Nick said walking up behind her an hour and five drinks later. She was still in the same spot contemplating life, very drunkenly. “Darn.”she said snapping her fingers sarcastically. “Everything okay….I saw Tyler leave a little bit ago.”Nick said sitting down beside her. “No I’m trapped in a horrible soap opera I call my life.”she said making Nick laugh. “Broke up huh?”he asked looking over at her. “Pretty much. I guess it was a good thing. We shouldn’t be getting married.”she said looking past him back inside at Aaron dancing with all of his friends. “You know what I think…you may have loved him, but he was just to compensate for Aaron.”Nick said. “Everything is to compensate for Aaron. I am a mess Nick. I mean fucking look at me…I am a mess. This whole year has just been one thing after another and I’m only twenty one I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”she said sighing. “Take it from me who’s almost thirty…”Nick started. “You are twenty six Nick hardly thirty…”she said cutting him off. “Whatever…I’m just saying things will get better, then they will get worse and then better again. It’s called life.”Nick said hearing footsteps behind them. “What are you guys doing out here…whoa are you crying?”Aaron asked stumbling up behind them. “Yea so maybe a dock is not the best place for your drunk ass.”Nick said helping his brother sit down on the other side of Caroline. “Thanks for throwing me this party bro…it’s what I needed.”Aaron tried to get out between slurs. “No problem man…I am gonna head back inside.”Nick said patting Caroline on the shoulder as he stood up. “Tell the waiter to send more drinks to me.”Caroline said and Nick waved his hand to acknowledge he heard her. “You okay?”Aaron asked trying to focus on her face. “Me and Tyler broke up.”Caroline said and Aaron smiled. He couldn’t help it. “Why are you smiling?”she asked. “Because that means you aren’t getting married so me and you can keep doing whatever it is we’re doing.”he said looking over at her. “What are we doing?”Caroline said. “I don’t know.”Aaron said putting his hand on top of hers. “Your drink ma’m.”the waiter said handing her the small cup. “What are you drinking?”Aaron asked as the guy walked away. “Rum and coke, it’s fucking me up.”she said trying to hold her eyes open. “I am pretty fucked up myself…hey by the way where are you gonna stay now that you can’t live with him in Nashville anymore?”he asked out of nowhere. “Don’t know.”she said thinking. “You know your old house is always open.”he said as he locked his hand in hers. She looked down at their hands and sighed. “We’ll see.”she said quietly. “I need to go pay my tab and get back to the hotel.”Caroline said standing up almost falling over. “Come on.”Aaron said locking his hand in hers as they walked back inside. It was half way to hold her up and half way to hold himself up. Nick smiled at them as they walked towards him at the bar. “Whats up drunkies?”Nick said laughing. “Can I get my tab?”Caroline said as the bartender brought up her ticket and tried to hand it to her. “I got it.”Nick said snatching it out of her hand. “Damn girl…how much did you really drink?”Nick asked looking at the total. “I can pay for it myself.”she said getting angry. “I said I got it.”Nick said lightly pushing her out of the way. “You know maybe this is what I’m sick of, ya’ll are always taking care of me. I’m not a little girl and just because I don’t have millions like you do doesn’t mean I can’t pay a fucking hundred dollar bill for my drinks.”she said getting mad out of nowhere. Aaron was silent. “Cara chill.”Nick said handing the guy his credit card. “No I am just sick of it Nick. I’m not ya’ll s little charity case. You guys pay for me everywhere and I should be greatful, but it just makes me feel like an asshole.”she said. Everyone around them was starting to stare at them. “We do it because we care about you and we don’t wanna see you living on the streets.”Nick said being serious with her. He knew it was just a drunken rant. “Yea well I don’t need your help.”she said and grabbed her pocket book off the bar and walked towards the door. “So that’s what’s really bothering her huh?”Nick said looking over at Aaron. “Should I go after her?”Aaron asked confused at what had just happened. “That’s exactly what she wants you to do.”Nick said shaking his head slamming his glass on the bar embarrassed by the scene she had caused. “We’ll go by her room when we get back to the hotel.”Nick said and Aaron agreed.

“Why is she not answering the door…does your room connect to hers?”Aaron asked a few hours later after sobering up. They had been knocking on her door for fifteen minutes now. “Nope…I will go down to the front desk and get a key.”Nick said running towards the elevator. Aaron banged his head up against the door and breathed out hard. He continued to knock. “Caroline come on. Open the door.”he said as Nick came up behind him with the key. He slid it through and walked into the dark room. “Cara?”Nick asked walking through the mass of clothes that was her hotel room. “I don’t see her.”Nick asked looking at all the tiny empty liquour bottles from the hotel cooler. “She’s in here.”Aaron yelled for Nick. “Oh God.”Nick said looking at her. She had fallen asleep with her head on the toilet seat. “Help me get her into the bed…damn she looks a hot mess.”Aaron said trying to pull her up himself. They layed her on the bed as she quietly mumbled a few sentences. “I need to know how much you drank tonight?”Nick kept repeating to her as he squatted by her bedside. This was all to familiar to him since AJ had his alcohol stunt a year ago. She was trying to answer him, but instead all that came out was jumbled up words. He looked up at Aaron who was so nervous he was about to throw up. “She is falling asleep so she should be okay until morning.”Nick said pulling the covers up over her. “I’m gonna stay with her.”Aaron said pulling off his shoes. “Okay.”Nick said knowing he needed to. “I’ll stop by in the morning.”Nick said walking out the door. Aaron pulled off his shirt and climbed into bed beside her. “Weird this had to be the way we slept together again.”Aaron said laughing to himself. He sat up on one arm and stared at her. Her hair was a tangled mess and her makeup was all smeared. She looked like a mess. “What have I done to you?”Aaron said brushing some of her hair out of her face. The answering machine in the hotel picked up beside him and began to play. “Hey its Ty. I just wanted to make sure you were okay….”he breathed out heavy and took a pause. “your cellphone is off so I called the hotel and your not answering here either so I don’t know maybe you’re just mad at me and don’t wanna talk, which is cool too, but I want you to know that I will always love you…I just think it would never work between us. He’d always be in the way and he’s what’s right for you and I can’t stand in the way of that. I am gonna be out of town for a week to do some shows in California, I guess you have your key or whatever if you need your things or if you wanna stay there while I’m gone. I guess I will talk to you when you get time. I love you, remember that, bye.”Tyler said and there was a beep and then silence. “I was the reason they broke up.”Aaron said thinking out loud. Caroline stirred beside him and he pulled her into him so she could lay her head on his chest.
Caroline woke up the next morning with her head spinning. Aaron slowly woke up beside her. “What are you doing here?”she asked picking her head up off of his chest. “Me and Nick came to check on you after you left last night, you kinda fell asleep on the toilet. I stayed to make sure you were…”Aaron said but she shot up and went straight to the bathroom to throw up. “You okay?”he said walking into the bathroom as she flushed the toilet and sat up against the bathtub. He leaned up against the door frame waiting for her to answer him. “No.”she said after a few minutes and burst into tears. “Hey come on…”Aaron said leaning down in front of her pulling her into a hug. “It’s gonna be okay.”he said rubbing his hand up her back. She didn’t say anything but just cried into his chest for a good ten minutes before their was a knock on the door. “Is she okay?”Nick asked as Aaron opened the door and he walked in. “See for yourself.”Aaron said pointing into the bathroom. “Guess you won’t be drinking for a while huh?”Nick said laughing at her. She put her middle finger up to him and layed her head back in the toilet. “I’m gonna head down to the lobby and get some breakfast.”Nick said and walked back out the door. "I don't want to even HEAR about food."Caroline mumbled closing her eyes about to throw up again. “Later bro.”Aaron said walking back in the bathroom. He sat down next to Caroline and put his arm around her pulling her into him. “Thanks for watching over me last night.”she said looking up at him. “No problem…it was nice to lay in bed with you even if you were completely wasted.”Aaron said and she smiled. “I love you.”she said and he smiled back at her. “I love you too.”he said and kissed her on the forehead. “Can I come back with you to Tampa?”she asked. After a few mintes he answered her. “If you promise to still marry me.”Aaron said looking down at her. “Okay.”she said and he went into kiss her but she turned her head. “I’ve been puking for hours…not a good idea.”she said and he laughed pulling her up from where she was standing.

Three Weeks Later: Caroline has moved back in with Aaron in Tampa Bay and Caroline is at NIck's house visiting.

“Do you want me to come in there with you or what?”Nick said standing outside of his bathroom in his house. “No I’ll be fine.”she said holding up the EPT pregnancy test reading the instructions. “Well hurry up this is making me nervous.”Nick said leaning up against the bathroom door. “We’re still going to have to wait a few minutes.”she said opening the door to the bathroom with the test in her hands. They both sat in silence until one bar showed up. “Hey that’s good right…one means no?”Nick asked looking at the stick as it slowly but surely formed another line. “There’s two…oh shit.”Caroline said as the tears started to form in her eyes. Nick didn’t say anything. He couldn’t think of anything to say. “Are you okay?”he asked pulling her into a hug. “I think you should take me to the doctor Nick.”she said pulling away from him wiping the tears from underneath her eyes. “Okay…okay calm down.”he said leaning down so his face was even with hers. “I just wanna find out how long its been you know?”she said walking away from him grabbing his keys off the counter. “Right now? Wait!”Nick said following her out the car. “You don’t even have a doctor here…where are we going?”he asked cranking the car up. “Just take me to your doctor. There has to be someone there who can tell me.”she said biting her nails as he drove out of the gate and it shut behind him. “God its Aaron…”Caroline said pulling her cellphone out as it began to ring as they were seated in the waiting area of the doctor’s office Nick’s doctor had sent them to. “Just don’t answer it right now.”Nick said filling out her chart for her. She was to nervous to do it herself. “Can you like do all of these diarrhea questions?”Nick asked handing her the checklist. She rolled her eyes at him and began checking away. “That’s just nasty.”he said trying to make her laugh. She didn’t budge until the nurse called her to the back. An hour after all of the bloodtests and everything the nurse just walked back in. “Miss Carter we are going to estimate you are about a month and a half pregnant you’re due date should be in October. We can get a closer date when it becomes more developed.”the nurse said laying her chart on the table. Caroline didn’t say anything. She knew what that meant and that’s what she had been afraid of. “Hey…hey!”Nick said pushing her lightly as they followed the nurse up to the check out desk. “It’s gonna be fine.”he said putting his arm around her. “Do you have any insurance today?”the lady asked realizing Nick Carter was standing in front of her. “Yea she has Blue Cross Blue Shield. It’s under my name and Jive Records.”Nick said handing the lady their insurance cards. “Okay. Then all you owe is 15 dollar copay. Man wait until I tell my daughter who was in here today. They will be so upset.”the lady said looking over at Caroline. “Oh no…no. This isn’t…wow…no this is my brother’s fiancé.”Nick said smiling. “Nick can we go? I don’t feel good.”Caroline said as he signed the credit card slip. “What’s wrong?”he said and smiled as he handed the lady back the slip and pen. "Nothing."she said pulling him out the door. As they sat in the car she was trying so hard not to cry. “I gotta call Tyler.”Caroline said and Nick almost backed into someone as he slammed on breaks realizing what she meant. “Oh my God Caroline, what the hell are you gonna do?”Nick asked putting the car into park not moving from the parking lot. “I don’t know I gotta…”she said but her cheeks puffed up and she opened the door to his Mercedes and threw up onto the pavement. “Hey come here. Stop it. It’s okay. I’ll help you don’t worry.”Nick said pulling her into him to give her a hug. She cried for at least ten minutes as they came up with a plan of action. As she drove back towards her house she called Tyler to make dinner plans that night.

As she walked up to the door of the sandwich shop she was meeting Tyler at she stopped for a minute to watch him. He was typing away on his laptop, coffee in hand as always. They had to meet here because it was the most low key place. Tyler had gotten a little bit more famous since the last time they were together. He noticed her staring and waved her in. “Wow! You look great!”Tyler said wrapping his arms around her waist giving her a hug. “So do you…thanks.”she said tucking her dress underneath her as she sat across from him. “So what’s up?”he asked taking a sip of his drink. “Ty I’m pregnant.”she said and he swallowed whatever he was drinking hard. His light blue eyes got huge as he looked over at her. “I’m sorry?”he asked. “I’m pregnant Tyler.”she said looking away from him. He stared at her waiting for her to go on. “A month and a half…”she said as he realized what she was saying. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forhead as he took off his black rimmed glasses. “Are you gonna keep it?”he asked sighing. “Well yea Ty and I’m not saying that you have to have any part in its life or whatever if you don’t want to. I have all the support I can get from Nick and Aaron. I just thought you shoud know.”she said looking back up at him. “Wait now…if this baby is mine I want a part in its life.”Tyler said leaning forward onto the table. “You do?”she asked giving him a side smile. “Of course I do. Just because we aren’t together doesn’t mean I don’t love you. This is just as much my fault as yours..I wouldn’t leave you like that.”Tyler said putting his hand on top of hers. “Come on let’s go out back and talk.”Tyler said holding his hand out for her. She put her hand in his and followed him outside to a table in the back. “So when did you find out?”he asked sitting across from her. “Today. Me and Nick went to the doctor. I haven’t even told Aaron yet. He is just gonna shit.”she said and Tyler laughed.

Later that night--

“Hey babe.”Aaron said walking in with Nick behind him later on that night. Nick had taken Aaron to an Orlando Magic game so Caroline and Tyler could talk. “You okay?”he asked as she turned her head away from him when he tried to kiss her. Nick narrowed his eyes at her as they both sat down in front of her. “We gotta talk.”Caroline said looking over at Nick who shook his head to let her know she was making the right choice. “Okay what’s up…”Aaron asked sitting on the edge of the automen. He put his hands on her knees as he could see she was shaking from being so nervous. “Babe whatever it is it can’t be this serious…whatever it is we’ll fix it.”Aaron said giving her a side smile rubbing his hands up her legs. “I’m pregnant Aaron…”she started and his eyes opened really wide. “A month and a half…that means its not yours.”she said and he pulled his hands off of her and stood up with his hands on his head. “So its Tylers then?”Aaron asked cracking his knuckles. He was getting angry. “Yea and he said..”Caroline started but Aaron but his hand up to stop her. “He said…you already told him before me?”Aaron said starting to yell. “Aaron it’s his kid.”Nick said standing up for her. “No you shut up…this is why you took me out tonight. You knew and you took me out so I wouldn’t notice her going somewhere with him.”Aaron said. “I wanted to wait until the right time Aaron stop it.”Caroline said standing up beside him. “I knew this wouldn’t last.”Aaron said shaking his head. “Aaron I didn’t say I was going back with Tyler. You didn’t let me finish.”Caroline said putting her hand on the side of his face. “All he said was that he would like to be a part of the pregnancy and the baby’s life. He has a right to that.”Caroline said and he pulled his face away from her hand. “I don’t even know what to say to this. You want me to be okay with the fact that you are pregnant with some other guys baby.”Aaron said. “It’s not like I cheated on you Aaron. This was before we even got back together.”she said trying so hard not to cry. “How can I look at you for 8 more months knowing that it’s Tyler’s kid? You cant expect me to do that!”Aaron said honestly. “This is not my fault Aaron. It’s not like I wanted it to be his, but it is so deal with it.”she said and he was hurt. “You are such a bitch sometimes.”Aaron said shaking his head at her. “AARON!”Nick said stepping in between them. “Stop it!”Nick said putting his hand on his brother’s chest to calm him down. Caroline looked away from him as the tears fell. “What Nick she should be crying.”Aaron said pushing his brother off of him. “Man you just don’t get it.”Aaron said shaking his head as he walked into his studio room and turned his music up way too loud.

“So have you talked to Aaron you know Kaci is going to like be here right?”Nick asked Caroline who was accompanying him to Aaron’s birthday gala in New York City for the night. “Yea…but I am okay with it. We had been talking a little lately…maybe things will work out.”she said and Nick gave her a weird look. “Um I guess.”he said as they exited the limo and walked toward the club. He put his arm on the small of her back as they stopped by the place where everyone was getting their picture taken by the press and the paparazzi snapped a few shots of them. “Hey bro!”Aaron yelled jumping on Nick. “Whats up?”Nick said giving him a hug as Aaron noticed Caroline behind him. “Hi you look great!”he said kissing her on the cheek putting his hand on the lower part of her back . “Happy Birthday. I got you this.”she said giving him a side smile. “Oh wow…I told you I wanted this back like forever ago…you didn’t have to.It was really expensive.”Aaron said seeing the watch he had told her he wanted like five months ago knowing she had no money. “Don’t worry Im making payments…Hi…you must be Kaci. I’m Caroline.”Caroline said seeing the girl standing next to Aaron. . “Ohhh so YOU’RE THE doorstep girl… I’m his girlfriend.”she said obviously drunk. Caroline gave Aaron a weird look because the way he had described it it was just a side thing. “Okay well I’m Caroline and I use to be his FIANCE.”Caroline said giving it right back to her. Aaron quickly took her away knowing a confrontation would have arose other wise. “What a good way to start the evening.”Caroline said and Nick laughed pulling her out on the dance floor. After having a few drinks, Nick and Caroline kept on dancing, but the chemistry between them was unreal and the dancing was a little well slutty. Caroline could see Aaron watching her as he was dancing with his date. He looked a little bit jealous. “Thanks for brining me Nick. I needed to get out of the house.”Caroline said as they slow danced together. “Well hey I figured I needed a hot date….but she couldn’t come so ya know.”Nick said smiling making her laugh as his hands went a little lower than expected. “You’re so stupid.”she said laughing back at him. “Can I cut in?”Aaron said tapping Nick on the shoulder. Nick nodded and Aaron put his hands around her waist. “Can we talk somewhere?”Caroline said a few minutes after they had been dancing. “Yea sure.”he said smiling at her. He grabbed her hand and pulled her up to the VIP area. “Whats up?”Aaron asked. He looked so hot in his suit and tie. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her tightly. “Are you okay?”Aaron said putting one of his hands on the back of her head running his hand through the light blonde curls in her hair. “No.”she said trying not to cry. “I can’t stand to see you with anybody else…and I think for so long I have been holding out, wanting you to feel how I feel that I lost track of how much time we actually lost. Yea you screwed up…but you don’t deserve a lifetime of punishment.”she said pulling away from him. “Why did you tell me that you don’t love me anymore?That’s why I moved on.”Aaron asked taken back by her outburst. “Because I didn’t want you to know. I love you, you know that. I didn’t think I needed to tell you Aaron.”she said putting her hand in his. “Caroline but…”he started but she would not let him finish. She pressed her lips to his. It was something he had been waiting so long for. “Caroline…”he said pulling away from her. “Your to late.”he said looking at Kaci down sitting in a booth by herself. “What?”she asked shocked. “Babe you look beautiful tonight and I love you but…You’re too late. I’m with Kaci and I really like her.”Aaron said knowing it would break her heart. “But we have been talking…and…I thought…oh my God”Caroline said and felt like she was going to throw up. “I gotta go.”she said. “Caroline wait!”Aaron yelled as she ran out of the club trying to flag down a taxi. Nick looked upstairs at Aaron and shook his head and then ran after her. “Caroline!”Nick yelled as she suddenly stopped by the curve. “I am so stupid.”she said beginning to cry. “What happened?”he asked putting his hands on her shoulders trying to catch his breath. “I am so stupid…I thought Aaron would just stay single and I wanted him to get me back when he deserved it you know and I wanted him to feel like I did, but he doesn’t. He never did and He’s got her and shes SO pretty and shes got an established singing career and god their just so fucking perfect for each other its disgusting.”she said looking down at the ground as she threw her arms in the air. “Hey.”Nick said putting his hand under her chin to make her look at him. “Hey shes not you. Nobody will ever be you to any of us okay ever! You know that!”Nick said pulling her into a hug. Caroline breathed out heavily as Nick flagged down their limo. “Let’s just get back to the hotel okay?”Nick said opening the door for her. As they shut the door Aaron ran out of the club looking around for the both of them.

“Who knocks on the door this early in the damn morning?”Nick said walking to the door where someone was banging on the door in his underwear squinting as he turned on the light.

“You stayed here?”Aaron said stretching his neck trying to see behind Nick.

“She asked me too. What are you doing here?”Nick asked as Caroline came up behind him wrapped up in the comforter rubbing her eyes from being tired. Her eyes widened as she had previously thought Nick ordered room service. This was nowhere close to that. She covered herself up more embarrassed and ashamed.

“I can’t believe you guys.”Aaron said as he pieced it all together. Caroline looked down at the floor as Aaron shook his head.

“Why did you come here?”Caroline said looking back up at him. His eyes were starting to tear up and if he cried she would die.

“To take you to breakfast so we could talk about everything…”Aaron said trying not to get to upset.

“You’re my brother man.”Aaron said shaking his head turning to walk back towards the elevator at the end of the hall.

“You don’t deserve her Aaron…and you don’t want her if you did you’d be with her.”Nick yelled down the hall at him.

“You to deserve each other…I can’t believe you guys would do this AGAIN!”Aaron yelled turning back to look at both of them standing in the hallway.

“We’re not together Aaron…you said I was to late.”Caroline said to him as the elevator opened behind him.

“Yea well I was drunk and I so didn’t say fuck my brother.”he said as he stepped into the elevator and it closed behind him.

Caroline walked back into the hotel room and sat on the bed with her head in her hands thinking about how ridiculously familiar this was.

***********************************************
"CAROLINE AND NICK GET IN HERE." Aaron yelled from his bedroom. Caroline and Nick ran into Aaron's room from the couch and the movie they were watching. Aaron was standing in the middle of the room with a magazine in his hand. It was a kinda National Inquire thing.

"How could you do this to me? Both of you." Aaron said handing Caroline the paper.

"What are you talking about?" Nick asked and Caroline looked away from Aaron handing Nick the newspaper.

"You fucked her. Nick you always have to be better than me at everything. And Caroline you fucked my brother. Do you guys see something wrong with that?" Aaron yelled. Caroline and Nick avoided eye contact and suddenly the room became very uncomfortable.

"Aaron you were mad at me. I didn't think we were getting back together. It just happened." Caroline said beginning to cry.

"I don't care if we were together or not. He's my brother. Nick she's my girlfriend. You guys deserve each other." Aaron said beginning to cry himself.

"Aaron stop okay. That was a long time ago." Caroline said trying to touch him.

"Stop it! It's over!" Aaron said. He walked over to her and yanked the necklace off her neck breaking the locket in half and walked out of the room. Caroline fell back on Aaron's bed and sobbed harder.

"What are we gonna do Nick?" Caroline asked.

"Well he's my brother he'll have to forgive me someday." Nick said coming to sit down beside her. They heard the door slam hard downstairs and knew they were in the house alone together and the room became even more uncomfortable than before which neither of them knew could be possible.

"That doesn't help me." Caroline sighed sitting up beside him.

"It's not like we did it to hurt him Caroline. You liked me and I liked you and don't act like you don't feel the same way now. Aaron will get over it." Nick said giving her a hug.

"I don't want it to be over with me and him." Caroline said sobbing into his shirt.

"I know and it won't be okay. I'll talk to him and tell him it was my fault or something." Nick said.

"It wasn't your fault though it was mine." Caroline said looking up at him.

"I don't care who's fault it was. I have to make it better or you won't be happy." Nick said.

"Why do you have to care so much for me? It makes it ten times harder." Caroline said.

"Get your stuff I'm gonna let you stay at my place." Nick said picking up her already packed bag.

********************************************************


Nick ran after Aaron down the stairs and met him in the lobby of the hotel. “AARON!”Nick yelled and he turned around looking with tears streaming down his face. He was truly hurt by this and Nick's heart sank.

“Leave me alone! I want nothing to do with you!”Aaron yelled as Nick followed him outside. Nick grabbed his arm and made him stand in front of him.

“Look last night I asked you if you wanted her and you said NO! She doesn’t deserve to be treated like this Aaron! You can’t keep pulling her in and then letting her go. It’s not fair!”Nick yelled as Aaron looked at the ground. Caroline leaned over the balcony trying to hear what they were saying.

“Oh and I guess you’d be so much better for her Nick Jesus Christ you dated Paris Hilton. You won't be any better for her.”Aaron said throwing his arms in the air rolling his eyes.

“What does that have to do with anything? Caroline is the epitome of standards…she’s practically fucking perfect you’re just to blind to see it.”Nick asked confused.

“Nothing Nick forget it.”Aaron said starting to walk away again, but he turned suddenly and rushed yelling into Nick's face. “You know what don’t forget it. The thing is is that I trusted you guys together again and you did it AGAIN! You guys had sex AGAIN! You know I love her! YOU KNOW I DO! NO MATTER WHAT I SAID!”

“THEN ACT LIKE IT AARON! GOD DAMMIT!”Nick yelled as they were starting to draw a crowd in the busy streets of New York City.

“Act mature enough to be with her Aaron.”Nick said lowering his voice noticing the crowd. The last thing he wanted was for this to get into the papers and on television

“After this I don’t want it anymore. Have her.”Aaron said looking up seeing Caroline looking at them on the balcony. Her heart sank and she knew she had been wrong.

Nick shut the door behind him as he walked back in. He put his hands on the top of his head and breathed out as he looked up at the ceiling. “Well we have managed to do it again.”Caroline said starting to cry.

“It’s different this time.”Nick said sitting beside her patting her on the leg.

“How?”she asked looking up at him.

“He’s different. Somehow he has managed to become more immature…Caroline he doesn’t want you anymore. He told me last night and just a few minutes ago. He has changed. Hes trying to make you feel bad when its his fault. It’s his fault you guys broke up to begin with. He let you get away.”Nick said as the tears burst out of her eyes.

“Come here baby…you don’t deserve that.”Nick said pulling her into him as she cried into his chest. He lifted her face up to look at him and kissed her lightly as her eyes were closed so tight.

“Do you want me to go?”he asked pulling away from her.

“No.”she said opening her eyes to look at him as her nose brushed his.

“Who knows…maybe this will be right this time.”Nick said quietly. She gave him a side smile as her phone vibrated beside her. It read “Baby” on the caller ID. She flipped it over before Nick could figure out who it was and it vibrated again letting her know he had left a text message. She rolled over on her stomach and opened it away from Nick.

WarWound AC:I cannot believe you. After all that happened last time. I am not mad Cara I am livid.
EastCoastGC: So was I when I saw you making out with kaci last night…you said I was to late Aaron…say what you fucking mean.
WarWoundAC: I will…you chose which brother you wanted. Don’t talk to me ever again.
EastCoastGC: that’s ridiculous
WarWoundAC: I mean it. If you are going to start dating Nick…which I know you will our paths will cross. Don’t even act like you know me.
EastCoastGC: Whatever Aaron. Youre being stupid.
WarWoundAC disconnected.