Once they were in the car Nick turned on the radio and draped his arm across her shoulder. Erica nuzzled into his side and he drove to her hotel to pick her things up. "You want me to come along?" he asked as she got out.
"Well, there are fans in the room next to me. Do you still wanna come?" she said smiling.
"Of course I do." He said and followed her up to her room.
Before they got in the room the girls noticed them. "NICK!" they screamed and ran up to him.
He signed some things for them and took a few pictures. Then ran into the room and locked the door. "God I hate it when they do that." He plopped down on the bed.
As Erica gathered her things she said "Nick it’s ok. I didn’t mind." He frowned.
"But Erica they always invade my privacy and you know they are leaning against the wall listening." After saying that he heard giggles from behind his head. "What did I tell you?"
"Oh Nick just let it go they are just… IGNORANT LITTLE BRATS!" she screamed the last part at the wall and sighed. "Come on, let’s leave."
"Ok." He said and followed her out the door and to his car.
When they got to his house they went for a swim. "Nick you wanna get a movie?" Erica said pulling herself out of the pool.
"Sure, let’s go get some now." He said and pulled a shirt on and threw Erica a pair of shorts and a shirt. She smelled his shirt and smiled.
"What are you so happy about?" Nick asked.
"Nothing Nick." She said and hopped in the car. He shrugged and began to drive.
"Wow!" exclaimed Nick as they searched the store. "I am WAY behind on my movies."
They arrived back at the house 45 minutes later with a bag of movies and snacks. "What do you wanna watch first?" Nick asked pulling the popcorn out of the microwave.
"How about that cartoon, Buzz Light-year." She said smiling, "It looks cute."
Nick agreed and they sat down on the couch. After it was done Nick popped in ‘Down To You’. "What do girls like so much about him?" Nick said pointing at Freddie Prinze Jr., "I can understand liking him but what makes him so attractive to you?"
"Nick, well, personally, I like that killer smile of his and he’s just really cute, and being a great actor doesn’t pull away from it." She said and smiled.
"Oh ok. What makes girls like Howie?"
"Um, the eyes that pull you in and are so deep and that annoying, but cute, twitch he’s got going."
Nick was laughing, "How about Kevin?"
"They like his eyes and his deep voice, it’s very sexy."
"A.J.?"
"He’s got sex appeal all over."
"Um, Brian?"
"Oh my god the eyes, the voice and most of all that smile."
They were both laughing by the time Nick said, "And me what about me?"
Erica blushed as she spoke, "They like your boyish antics and your eyes. They like how you brush your hair out of your face and how you smile, especially when you are mischievous and they love your… GHETTO BOOTY!" she smiled.
He tickled her for a few minutes then kissed her cheek. "Now I have a ghetto booty." He smiled and kissed her forehead.
She felt her whole body go numb as he leaned in to kiss her lips. As their lips met she felt him smile slightly. They watched the movie and when it was done Nick was still laughing, "Oh my god, dude drank the shampoo, that’s hilarious."
But Erica noticed his eyes had welled up with tears… and they weren’t from laughing. It seemed more like he was laughing to cover them up.
When they reached their rooms Nick kissed her again and said, "Goodnight, I love you." And walked into his room and closed the door.
"Dang" Erica whispered as she closed her door. "I gotta call someone… but who I can’t call Elise, she’s busy and well, hmm, Brian his number’s probably on speed dial. I’ll call him."
"Hello?" said a man on the other end of the phone.
"Hi who is this?" Erica asked slowly.
"It’s Brian who are you?"
"Oh I’m sorry Brian, I’m Erica, Elise’s friend. I’m staying with Nick."
"Oh you. How are you?"
"I’m fine, actually I’m great I think Nick really likes me."
"I’m sure he does."
"Does he usually kiss a girl on their first date?"
"Um, how far in?"
"About an hour."
"Dang! Um, listen he mumbles in his sleep so once he’s to sleep go and listen. He might just say he loves you or something."
"He told me he loves me…" Her voice trailed off.
"Well that’s a good sign… ‘Brian who are you talking to?’ Oh sorry Leigh its Elise’s friend Erica. Sorry bout that Erica."
"It’s ok Bri, thanks for talking to me. You’re the best."
"No problem, now do what I told you. Bye."
"Bye Bri... and thanks."
She hung up the phone and smiled. Around 11:30 she got up and tiptoed to Nick’s room.
"Erica, You look great." She heard him mumble. She looked down at the shirt she was wearing and tried not to laugh.
"Come over here and dance with me." He mumbled.
"Oops sorry about that didn’t mean to step on your toes."
Erica stifled a giggle and sat down next to the bed. "I gotta ask you something Erica, I gotta ask you." She sat straight up. "Will, you go out with me, I mean like come to all the big things and like we could do stuff together."
She lay her head down on his shoulder and whispered, "Yes."
"Yes!" he said and turned to face her. He was still asleep but it was like he knew she was there. She was there in his dream. She fell asleep like that and suddenly she felt his lips meet hers. She almost pulled away but when she saw he was still asleep she ignored it and kissed back.
"Mm, that tastes good, do you use strawberry lip gloss?" he mumbled.
He rolled back over leaving room for Erica to crawl in. "Come and sit next to me." He mumbled.
She enjoyed playing along with him so she crawled into the bed. They both fell totally asleep after awhile and when she woke up Nick was staring at her. "Good morning Erica."
"Good morning Nick." She said blushing.
He pulled her close and kissed her. "You do wear strawberry lip gloss." He smiled and kissed her again.
"Yes I do, you like it?" she said and laughed.
"I like it, I love it, I want some more of it." He said and kissed her softly letting his lips linger.
"Now that tasted good Nick." She said and stood up. "I’m making breakfast. You get dressed." She walked downstairs. "Why did I do that?" she asked herself.
She made bacon and eggs and called Nick down. She looked up as he walked in, "I thought I told you to get dressed." She said when he came in wearing only his boxers. "You’re soaked too."
"Well I got a shower, then you called me. That bacon sure does smell good." He said as he sat down. "May I?"
"Fine." she laughed.
He ate all his breakfast and got up. "Now I will get dressed." He kissed her cheek and walked out.
"God he looks good in his underwear." She whispered and leaned on the wall. The phone startled her. Since Nick was upstairs she answered. "Hello?"
"Hi, this is Nick’s house right?"
"Yeah, it’s Nick’s house."
"Oh thank god you had me worried."
"Did I?"
"Yeah, I’m Heather, his friend since we were little. Who are you?"
"Oh I’m Erica, I’m his um, friend."
"Who’s um, friend are you?" Nick said walking into the kitchen pulling his shirt on.
"Nick, it’s Heather, she wants to talk to you."
"Heather!" Nick cried grabbing the phone.
"Hi Nick."
"Oh my god, where you been hiding?" he asked smiling at Erica.
"Oh I’ve been in New York. I’m a designer now."
"Oh wow, Erica she’s a designer!"
"That’s great Nick." Erica replied.
"How close are you and Erica?" Heather asked Nick.
Nick turned and ran to the other room. "I think I’m in love with her." He whispered, "She is so perfect Heather. God, I never even felt this way for anyone."
"Dang, so you really think you love her?"
"Oh god yes."
"Well from what I heard she isn’t sure."
"What?"
"She said you were just friends."
"Dang-it! I gotta get up the nerve to talk to her. I’ve kissed her and said ‘I love you’ but does that not mean anything?"
"Oh Nick…" Heather mumbled. "You’ll learn to talk to her… wait till night when she thinks you’re asleep. I know Brian told her about your sleep talking."
"My what?"
"Nick, just when she comes in to listen talk about how you feel and then SHOW her."
"Ok Heather, will do. When can we get together?"
"Saturday for lunch. I’ll call."
"Ok see you then. BYE."
"Bye Nick. Be good."
He hung up the phone and walked over to Erica, "We’re meeting her for lunch on Saturday."
"Good." She said and walked up to him.
"Do you really use strawberry lip gloss?"
"You check and see." she said.
He pulled her tight against his chest and looked down on her face. He felt like he was on air. He leaned down and brought her face to his. "Hmm." He said and then he smiled. He leaned in closer and she awaited his kiss. She closed her eyes and he licked her lips.
"Mm strawberry." He said blocking her from hitting him.
"You little!"
She chased him all through the house. "Ah save me!" he cried occasionally.
When she finally caught him she pushed him in the pool and laughed as he sputtered. "Why I ought to!"
"You ought to what Nicky dear?"
"I ought to return those movies before they are late." He said and ran to his car, videos in hand.
"Bri let me in" Nick called through the intercom to his best friend’s house.
"Ok Nick, calm down. You’re in." Brian answered back opening the gates.
Brian hugged his buddy as he came in the door. "Nick your soaked" Leighanne exclaimed when she came in the room.
"Oh yeah I fell in the pool." He said grinning.
"Bri, I gotta talk to you." He said pulling his friend into the in-home studio.