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"I love you," Bella told Nick, her eyes never once leaving his. She tried to read his face to see what he was feeling or thinking but got nothing. Nick sat back and against the mock couch that was on the bus. He ran both hands through his dirty blonde hair and sat in silence. Bella was afraid to speak, she wasn't sure if she should cry, if she should apologize again or if she should leave Nick to his thought. Nick finally spoke up first.

"You were never this hard to read before." He said simply, still staring in front of him into space.

"Why did you want me to tell you that?"

"Because I needed to know that what we had wasn't fake."

"It wasn't at all Nick. I could never ask for anyone better to be with. I wanted to spend forever with you."

"Then what did I do to push you away? Did I get clingy or demanding? Did I hurt you in some way?" He now looked at her.

"No, nothing like that. Please Nick. It's done, we're in the past."

"How can we put the past to the side when we still love each other." Bella was taken back and her head jerked.

"You still love me?" She asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"Of course," Nick's voice was softer. "I can't forgive what you did though until I know the reason why. And it's going to be a long tour if we try to avoid each other the whole time. I just want to put everything on the table and have us try to be friends. I want to forgive you, I really do. When I look in my future, you're still a part of it in some way."

"I don't know Nick?"

"I said try. Please Bella," his eyes pleaded and he reached for her hands; taking them into his.

"Maybe within time. But I did what I felt was right and I'd do over it again if I had to."

"Okay."

"You think we really can be friends?"

"I need you in my life some way or another. No one else can put up with me," he shrugged.

"I can't believe that. You have girls falling for you right and left."

"Yeah well, when I keep comparing them to you, there is no one."

"You sound like a song."

"It's true."

"Well, I happened to bring my Guitar Hero, so how about we battle."

"I've been practicing. I'm good."

"Well, I'm on excellent now so there!" Bella laughed and stood up to set the Play Station up. Nick couldn't help but look at her long, lean but toned legs. She did look smaller over all to him, not bad but he worried that it was because it was something her manager wanted or something she did for herself. He knew how women were treated when first coming to the music scene.

They ended up playing for over an hour and once Nick realized he had no chance in winning a song he put his guitar down.

"Alright, I think that you secretly play this every single day." Nick said standing up and stretching his legs.

"Maybe," Bella shrugged and turned the console off; stifling a yawn.

"You want to go to bed? I can tell my bus to pull over so I can get off. It is two am."

"How about, we put a movie in and talk?" She asked with a half smile.

"Sounds good. What movie?"

"Hmm, Finding Nemo," she went to her movie case and pulled the movie out. Nick watched as she moved around the cramped living area of her tour bus and made himself comfortable in the dozens of throw pillows on the carpeted floor. She took a seat next to Nick and tucked her knees up to her chin. Something she used to do whenever she had a lot on her mind and wasn't secure with herself.

"Are you happy?" Nick asked breaking the silence after the movie had been on a good twenty minutes. Bella turned her face towards Nick's. She took a minute to think of how she would answer.

"For the most part yeah. My dream is finally coming true and well, I'm alive. I guess that's all I can ask for." Pulling a blanket up to her chin she then asked Nick the same question. "How about you?"


"Guess I have the same answer." He sighed and they both returned to the movie.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Before the movie was over, both Nick and Bella had fallen asleep. Bella's head rested on Nick's shoulder and and Nick lay on a large pillow.

"Excuse me Mr. Carter, Ms. Antanelli, we've arrived to your hotel." Sonny, Bella's bus driver spoke.

"Hmm?" Bella moaned a little and sat up.

"We're in New York," Nick said standing up.

"What time is it?"

"Almost noon mam, your bags have been brought up to your room."

"Thank you Sonny and it's Bella," she smiled and stood up to stretch her legs.

"You're welcome Ms. I mean Bella," he said and turned around.

"You want to go sight seeing and grab lunch?" Nick asked.

"I have an interview at three-thirty with MTV."

"Perfect, I'll pick you up at your room in forty-five minutes," Nick smiled and walked off the bus.

"What are you doing Bella?" She scolded herself and began to gather a few things to take up to the room. She's be here in New York for four nights.
~*~*~*~45 Minutes Later~*~*~*~
Bella had finished blow drying her long hair when she heard a knock on the door. She looked down on her watch and was surprised that Nick was right on time. She walked to the door,looked through the peep hole and smiled at the way Nick looked through it. She opened it up and smiled warmly, inviting Nick in while she gathered her purse and put on her shoes

"This being punctual a new thing of yours?" Bella asked light laugh.

"Eh, I guess so. You ready?" He asked shoving his hands into jean pockets. He wore camo shorts with a black tee shirt.

"Yeah," Bella told him flinging her purse over her shoulder. Nick couldn't help but look at her long legs that sported a teal pair of shorts and wore a white halter top. Nick held her door open and the two made their way out. The two made their way down the lobby, both unsure of what to say but both knew that they were being ridiculous for feeling weird around one another.

"Shouldn't we have a body guard for you?" Bella asked.

"Nah, we're fine. We'll just do everything totally normal, including taking this Taxi." Nick held open his hand to the car that was on the side of the curb. He opened her door she climbed in to the other side. Nick sat down next to her and told the driver where to go.

"You know the city well huh?"

"Yeah, it's like a second home, well I guess third if you count Florida being first and L.A. being second." He shrugged. A ten minute drive turned into taking twenty minutes because of the heavy traffic but that was New York for you. Nick paid the cab driver and climbed out offering a hand to Bella. Her hand felt soft and familiar in his and a shot of electricity went through Bella's body as she took Nick's hand.

"So where are we going? Shopping?"

"Food first. I'm starved and you have to be too." They walked a block and went into a tiny Bistro cafe.

"Hi, two today?" The hostess asked pulling out two menus.

"Please," Nick smiled.

"Right this way," the hostess lead the two to a window seat.

"Angela your server will be right with you," she smiled and walked away.

"This is nice," Bella smiled.

"It is."

"Hi, my name is Angela and I'll be your server. What can I start you off for drinks?" She asked in her Brooklyn accent.

"Could I have a water with lemon please?" Bella asked.

"And for you?" Angela looked at Nick.

"Unsweetened iced tea."

"Okay, I'll be back with those in a moment. Our specials today is the broccoli and cheese soup with a half of any our sandwiches."

"What are you going to get?" Bella asked Nick keeping her eyes on the menu to decide what she wanted.

"Probably the turkey club. It's too hot for soup."

"I know I love this time of year. But I doubt we'll get time to get to the beach." Bella told him with disappointment.

"We'll get you to the beach, don't worry. They have to give us time for that, I mean I am on this tour."

"Are we ready to order?" Angel asked setting down the two drinks.

"Go ahead," Nick told Bella.

"I'll just have the house salad please."

"What kind of dressing."

"Whatever is light. Oh and could I get an orange juice please," Bella smiled and handed her menu to the waitress.

"And for you sir?"

"The turkey club and could I get fruit on the side instead of fries."

"Absolutely. I'll get those orders in for you." She took the menus and disappeared. Bella took the wrapper off her straw and put it into ice water. She then noticed Nick stare t her.

"What?" She raised an eye brow.

"You're only eating a salad."

"Yeah and is that a crime?"

"You usually eat a salad and something." Nick pointed out a past reference.

Bella shrugged, took a sip of her water. "Not that hungry?"

"Bella you look great. I don't think I've told you that."

"Thanks Nick," she felt her cheeks flush a little. "You do too for the record."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Your management hasn't asked you lose any weight have they?

"Uh, no. Why should I?" She asked, perplexed Nick made such a comment.

"NO! Not at all!" Nick tried to clear things up. "You actually just look like you've lost weight since I last saw you and I just worry you'll get caught up in whole celeb status. I've seen it happen too many times and I know when you were in high school you struggled a little and-"

"And I'm fine Nick." She smiled and reached her hand to his over the table.

"You would tell me?" Nick asked and Bella thought for a moment.

"Well, before yesterday no. But now that we're doing this friend thing, yes."

"How much do you think you've lost?"

"I don't know maybe two or three pounds?"

"Bella? I know you and you get on a scale every day."

"I haven't in a long time actually." 'Only for the doctor appointments that are too frequent' she told herself. "Why how much does it look like I lost?"

"Fifteen maybe." Bella was shocked at how close Nick was to the truth. She was a solid 128 when her and Nick were together. She had always been tall and as an athlete she had a good amount of muscle on her. Since Nick last saw her though, she's lost most muscle and weighed 115.

"Here you go, can I get you anything else?" Angela asked bringing the two orders.

"No thanks." Bella smiled and picked up her fork. She could feel Nick's eyes on her and didn't know what else to say. "Nick please. Let's enjoy this day."

"You're right." Nick picked up half his sandwich and took a bite.

"How is it?" Bella asked.

", you want a bite?" Nick held it out in front of him. Bella leaned forward and took a small bite.

"Mmm," she smiled and took a sip of her water.

"So, I always thought you'd have more dance wit your show." Nick told her.

"Hmm, yeah me too." Bella laughed. "But I don't know, I think it's alright for my first tour."

"Did you want more dancing?" Nick asked.

"Eh kinda." Bella popped a tomato into her mouth. Truth was she couldn't have any strenuous dancing for some of her more pop songs.

"I'm sure you still could."

"I'm okay with it for now. One thing at a time. You guys look and sound amazing though. Kind of weird not having Kevin out there."

"Tell me about it. It sucks." Nick's face dropped and Bella tried to think of what to say to change topics.

"How are your sisters and Aaron?"

"Good. All doing their thing, Aaron is trying to stay out of trouble." Nick shook his head.

"He gets it from you."

"What? I don't get into trouble!"

"Nick. Please, you went through a phase. Right before you started dating Paris and then you dated her and it was worse and then-"

"You came along and saved me."

"Someone had to," Bella winked.
~*~*~*~Flash Back Three and half years ago~*~*~*~
Nick sat at the bar while his girlfriend Paris continued to flirt with another guy right in front of him. He finished his coke and rum number five, or maybe it was six and put it on the bar.

"Another," he said keeping his eyes glued on Paris. When the bartender put another drink in front of him, he picked it up without looking. Bringing the glass to his mouth, he took a sip and then looked at the bartender. "I said another," Nick raised his voice.

"The woman right there bought that for you," he said.

"Bought me a water? Who in their right mind buys water when it's free." Nick looked down the bar and saw a woman in her early twenties. She had deep brown dark hair and green eyes that stuck out from her tan skin. She wore a red dress and was twirling a straw in a glass with red liquid. He stood up and made his way down to her.

"You got my drink I see," the green eyed woman smiled looking at Nick's hand with the glass of water.

"And my attention." Nick's eye brows went together and he stumbled backwards a little.

"Let's get some air for you," she stood up, putting a hand on his arm to balance Nick out. He let her guide him to the balcony and the warm L.A. breeze felt good and he could feel himself sobering up. "Drink your water."

"I don't get it," Nick said as he drank half the glass of the tall water.

"You were sitting at the bar, ordering the same drink non-stop while a non-appreciative girlfriend was all over another guy." The green eyed girl said leaning against the rail. Nick looked at her. "I'm a people watcher, especially when this club thing isn't really me. I came for a friends birthday."

"So you stalked."

"I wouldn't say that, even though I do know who you are." She shrugged and turned around to face the ocean. "I just saw that you were dealing with something or should I say not dealing. I'm sure this is what you did last night as well, since it's Saturday." Nick couldn't keep his eyes off this woman. She was dead on about Nick and he was intrigued. "You're already feeling shitty because of girlfriend, you don't need to feel shitty in the morning because of something stupid you did; like drink yourself to oblivion. It will just be a continue circle."

"Are you some sort of shrink."

"No, just your Guardian Angel," she winked at Nick. "Now, tell me, do you love her?"

"We've been together for a few months now."

"Do you love her though?" Nick sighed and to face out to the ocean himself.

"I don't know what I'm doing. The band is on hold, Kevin wants to leave, I just got a DUI a month ago, my little brother is following in my footsteps and I'm a just a fuck up. Excuse my language."

"Whens the last time you did something for you?"

"Tonight, I bought those drinks."

"You bought those drinks for her. So you wouldn't interrupt whatever she was doing, to keep you from feeling."

"You're right."

"Of course I am. I am an Angel," she smiled.

"What's your name?"

"Bella."

"I'm Nick."

"Carter, I know," she shook his out stretched hand. "I'm a bit of a fan."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, but don't let your head swell because you guys need a new record soon if you're going to keep me around as a fan."

"I know," Nick sighed again.

"I should go find the birthday girl. But hey Nick, do something for yourself." She stood up from her leaning position. "You only get one body and heart; take care of yourself."

"Hey could I get your number?"

"Maybe. I'll be at Mirror's tomorrow."

"The place where they have live music."

"Yeah. Seven o'clock. I'd sober up so you don't feel like death." She squeezed his shoulder and pecked his cheek.
~*~**~*~*~Present~*~*~*~*~*~
"Nick?" Bella called out.

"Huh? What's that?" Nick asked shaking his head.

"You alright?"

"I was remembering," he said almost with a sadness in his tone.

"When we met?"

"Yeah. You sounded beautiful that night at Mirror's."

"I still can't believe I got you to come."

"Me neither. I was in a pretty dark place at that point of my life." Nick said finishing the last bite of his sandwich. Bella's plate was nearly empty and she pulled out a bottle from her purse. She dumped two pills into her palm, tossed them into her mouth and drank her orange juice.

"But you turned out alright," she smiled and took another sip of her almost empty glass of juice.

"Because of you. What did you just take?"

"Just some vitamins," she lied, sort of.

"You drink a lot of orange juice I've noticed on this tour."

"Have to keep my immune system up. You ready to walk around the city?"

"Yeah," Nick went to reach for the check but Bella picked it up before he did. "What are you doing?"

"Least I can do," she half smiled and placed a twenty in and the two stood up.