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Chapter 18.

Avery, Nick and Natalie stood in the hotel lobby all dressed up like they were going to the prom. Natalie looked around nervously and Avery tugged at her dress. “Tugging at it’s not going to turn it into pants.” Natalie said to Avery.

“I feel like an idiot.” Avery whined.

“You look amazing.” Nick said and Avery stopped fidgeting.

Kevin walked up to them with a beautiful woman on his arm. He introduced her as his girlfriend Kristen. Soon Howie and AJ were there. They had both managed to find dates as well. By the time everyone was introduced to each other, Brian, James George and Laura had showed up. Laura had brought her fiancée. “Heard a lot about you.” Natalie said excited to meet him.

Brian smiled at Natalie and she looked away blushing. Everyone piled into a limo and they went to the swankiest restaurant in town. Natalie and Avery felt so out of place at first but the boys made them feel right at home. They all enjoyed a wonderful dinner and when they were done they went back to the hotel. “So what time are you guys leaving in the morning?” Kevin asked.

They hadn’t really thought about it. “I don’t know. Depends on how late we stay up tonight.” Natalie said. We’re going to split up the drive anyway so we can get a late start if we need too.”

“Good.” Nick said. “I hate the thought of you girls driving all that way by yourselves. Why did you drive anyway?”

Avery smiled. “We were gonna fly but the road trip is half the fun of the vacation.”
“We had a blast on the way here.” Natalie added.

“Well don’t you dare leave without saying goodbye.” Kevin said.

“We promise.” The girls said in unison.

Eventually everyone went their separate ways. It came down to Natalie, Avery, Nick and Brian sitting on a couch in the hotel lobby. “I know this was supposed to be a girl bonding vacation and all,” Nick said, “But it’s your last night here and you guys get to see each other all the time. Would you care if I steal Avery for the rest of the night?”

Natalie smiled, “Go. Have fun. Just have her back here by check out tomorrow.”

“Deal.” Nick said and jumped up off the sofa.

He grabbed Avery’s hand and they were gone before Natalie could say goodbye. She laughed watching them run out the door and then realized she was now alone with Brian. She sat there not saying anything. Finally when Brian couldn’t take the silence anymore he said, “Have you been avoiding me tonight?”

“I sat next to you at dinner.” Natalie answered.

“But you hardly said two words all night.”

Natalie shrugged. “I’m just tired.”

“You won’t even look at me.” Brian said.

Natalie could hear the desperation in his voice. She turned her head away. “Will you at least go for a walk with me? I want to show you something.”

Brian stood up and held his hand out to her. “Please?” He said.

Natalie looked at his hand and then she looked at him. His eyes seemed to be pleading. Slowly she took his hand and he helped her up. He offered her his arm and she took it hesitantly. They left the hotel without saying a word.

By the time they walked out the door, Nick and Avery were long gone. They had jumped in a taxi and were headed across town. “Where are we going?” Avery asked.

“It’s a surprise.” Nick said spouting an address to the cab driver.

After about 15 minutes, they arrived at Nick’s house. “It’s beautiful!” Avery said stepping out of the car.

“I didn’t need a house quite so big but I had to have one right on the water.”

Nick took Avery inside and showed her around. The place was so big and nice. It was so clean. It almost seemed like no one lived there. Like it was just for show. “Do you live here by yourself?” Avery asked.

“Yeah. I moved out when I was 18. Needed to get away from my parents. But my brothers and sisters come stay with me sometimes. I like having my own place. It’s quiet and I can do whatever I want.”

“I wish I had my own place. My parents drive me nuts!”

Nick smiled. “It’s their job.”

He opened a door to a bedroom. “Anytime you need to get away for a while. You can always come here. This can be your room.”

“Where’s yours?”

Nick led Avery down the hall to his room. Avery was relieved to see it kind of messy. It had posters on the walls, and all kinds of CD, DVD’s and video games spread out everywhere. It seemed like a totally normal room of an average teenage boy. Avery liked it. She smiled.

“This is it?” Nick said. “This is where I live. When I’m here, that is. We’re always on the road so much sometimes it kinda feels like another hotel. That’s why I keep my room a little messy. I don’t let the maid clean it. That way I feel like it’s home. So now you’ve seen where I live, what do you want to do tonight?”

Avery shrugged. I don’t know. I’ve never been here before. What do you like to do when you’re here?”

Nick smiled. “There is this one place that’s really fun.”

Nick took Avery out to the garage. She was surprised to see a dark green GT Mustang convertible. It even had tan leather interior. Avery hopped in excitedly and Nick put the top down. He drove her through the city until they came to a really big park. In the middle of the park there was a roller rink. “In the winter they ice it over and let you ice skate on it.” Nick explained.

“I don’t know how to roller skate.” Avery said.

Nick took her hand and dragged her in the direction of the rental shack. “Neither do I.” He replied.

Avery made her way onto the rink holding onto the rail for dear life. Nick followed close behind. “You know we have to try letting go.” He teased.

He held out his hand and Avery took it, slowly letting go of the rail. They were skating- kinda. They slowly made their way around the outside of the rink being passed up by all the other skaters. A girl came up behind them almost running into them. She couldn’t have been more than 12. “Get out of the way, jerks!” She yelled.

The girl skated around them bumping into Nick as she passed. Nick lost his balance and fell pulling Avery down with him. The girl looked back at them now skating backwards. “Pathetic.” She said laughing and she skated away.

Avery was so angry. “I go on vacation and I still have to put up with soiled brats!” she yelled.

Nick and Avery pulled themselves up. They couldn’t believe how rude the little girl was. Avery wanted to go and beat her up but Nick had twisted his ankle pretty bad so instead she helped her boyfriend off the rink. They sat down on a nearby bench and Nick slowly took off his skate. His ankle was already starting to swell. “Well there goes that idea.” Nick said.

The girl who had pushed him skated past slowly watching them. She had recognized him. She did one more lap around the rink and then came up to them. “You’re Nick Carter!” she said.

“Beat it punk!” Avery said furious.

Nick tried not to laugh. “It’s OK Avery. Let’s try and be nice.” He said.

“Look what she did to you!” Avery protested.

“Giver her a break she’s only 10.”

“I’m 12 and a half.” The girl said offended,

Nick smiled and Avery glared at her. “I’m sorry I bumped into you.” The girl said.

“You mean pushed him!” Avery said.

The girl glared at Avery who glared right back.

“I’m a really big fan.” The girl said to Nick. “Could I get your autograph?”

Avery couldn’t believe the girl had the nerve to ask him for an autograph. Nick smiled. “I need a pen.” He said calmly.

The girl ran off to find a pen. Nick rubbed his ankle. Avery was so impressed that he would happily sign an autograph for someone who had been so rude to him. It really made Avery love him even more. “Why?” Avery asked him.

He just smiled at her and the girl came running back. She handed him a pen and a copy of BOP magazine. His picture was on the cover. Nick took the magazine. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“Maria.” The girl replied.

“Do you always carry that around with you?” Avery asked.

The girl glared at Avery. “I just bought it this afternoon.” She said.

Avery looked down at what Nick had written and smiled. It said, “To Maria. Thanks for the broken ankle. Try to work on your manners. Love Nick Carter. PS. you’re a great skater.” The girl frowned at first reading it but then smiled really big. “Thank You so much!” she said.

Avery and Nick looked at each other and laughed as the girl ran off to show her mom. Avery looked down at Nick’s ankle. It was black and blue. “We should take you to get that looked at.” She said.

“And spend our last night together in the hospital? No way.”

Avery looked at him skeptically. “I’ll be fine.” Nick reassured her. “I’ll get it looked at tomorrow. I promise.”

Avery was satisfied with that answer. She really didn’t want to spend the night in the hospital either. Nick sighed. “So what now?” Avery asked.

“Let’s start by getting me back to the car. Then we can go back to my house and watch a movie or something while I put some ice on this thing.”

Nick flung his arm over Avery’s shoulder and they hobbled through the park in the direction of his car. The park was very pretty. They passed a very large, well-lit fountain and Nick sat on the waters edge to take a break. “I don’t remember parking so far away.” He said looking up the path.

They laughed and Avery sat down next to him. They sat for a few minutes. Nick’s ankle was throbbing. They decided to head back. As they stood up Avery’s earring got caught in her hair and fell to the ground. Nick saw it fall and bent down slowly to pick it up. Once he was on one knee he had trouble standing back up. He held up the earring and Avery took it. She grabbed his hand to help Nick up and just then there was a really bright flash. Avery jumped startled. She lost her balance and fell backward into the fountain with a huge splash. Nick hobbled to his feet and there was another bright flash. Nick helped Avery out of the fountain. Again. Another flash. They looked around but couldn’t see where it was coming from. “Let’s get out of here.” Nick said.

Nick threw his arm back around Avery’s shoulder and they hurried as fast as they could back to Nick’s car. By the time they reached it, Nick was wet where he had been leaning on Avery. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys. He opened the driver side door and then handed the keys to Avery. “I think you’re going to have to drive.” He said.

Avery smiled very excited at the thought of driving the Mustang. She helped Nick around to the passenger side and then drove off. “Are you sure you don’t need to have that looked at?”

“I’ll be fine.” Nick said, “But instead of going to my house, why don’t we just go to your hotel so you can get out of those wet clothes.”

Avery gave Nick a weird look. “And put on some dry ones of coarse.” He said.

Avery headed the Mustang back to the hotel. When she pulled up into the hotel driveway the valet opened her door for her. She handed him the keys and walked around the car to help Nick out of the car. The bellman noticed that he was hurt and came over to help. “Mr. Carter,” he said, “Do you need some assistance?”

“I’ll be alright he said throwing his arm around Avery, “But I’m gonna need some asprin and a whole lot of ice sent up to Miss Donaldson’s room.”

“Right away Mr. Carter.” The bellman said holding the door for them.

By the time Avery got Nick up to her room there was a bucket of ice, asprin and a bottle of sparkling water waiting inside for them. “What service.” Avery said impressed.
“It helps to be famous.” Nick said.

Nick sat on the bed and propped his ankle up under some pillows. Avery brought him a towel and then changed into something dry. She climbed up onto the bed next to Nick. He was flipping through the channels on the TV. “Five star hotel and you still only get HBO and the weather channel.” He said frowning.

“Find a movie.”

Nick flipped through all the movies. It looks like Mission Impossible 2, Gladiator or Road Trip.”

“Mission Impossible 2” Avery said.

“Oh that’s right. I almost forgot about you and Tom Cruise.” Nick laughed.

They cuddled up together and started the movie. About half way through Avery could feel Nick’s eyes on her. She turned her head to see Nick staring at her. Nick realized he was staring. “Sorry.” He said turning his gaze back to the movie.

It wasn’t minutes after that, that Avery caught Nick staring at her again. She looked at him funny. “I can’t help it.” Nick said to her. “I keep thinking about you leaving tomorrow. I’m really going to miss you.”

Avery smiled and then leaned over and Kissed Nick. “Me too.” She said.

Nick threw his arms around her holding her tight. Avery thought she saw a tear in his eye. His kissed her again and before they knew it, the movie was over. Nick looked at the clock. It was close to midnight. Nick shut off the TV and the room got dark. Avery rested her head against Nick’s chest and fell asleep. She slept there in his arms until morning.