(Howie & Nick remember when A.J. first introduced them to Stacey)
A.J. led Nick and Howie down to his basement to meet his little sister.
"My sister and I have our bedrooms down here," he said as he knocked on Stacey's door. A thirteen year old Stacey answered. Nick thought she was beautiful. He was mesmerized as she would toss her long dark brown hair over her shoulder, or when she would smile.
"Stace', this is Howie and Nick. We're gonna start a band together," A.J. said introducing her to them, "Yeah, and um, you and Nick are the same age. I thought that was pretty cool." Stacey held her hand out to shake hands. Howie shook her hand first, then Nick. He felt a sudden rush come over his body. He thought her hand was so soft and delicate. It fit perfectly into his hand. Nick really liked her. They talked and got to know each other since Nick, Howie and A.J. were going to be spending alot of time around A.J.'s place. Howie and A.J. went upstairs to watch t.v., leaving Nick and Stacey alone.
"So um, do you play any sports?" Nick asked nervously.
"Yeah, I'm on the basketball team." she answered. They continued to talk, Nick growing more fond of her of every word that she said. He thought she had a beautiful speaking voice. It was so soft and sweet. Time passed and Brian and Kevin joined the group and they named themselves, The Backstreet Boys. Nick knew he had a crush on Stacey.
(Back in the waiting room, at the hospital)
"Oh God," Nick said, "I've loved her since I was thirteen." He buried his face in his hands and cried. Brian patted his back. The doctor walked in, still with bloody scrubs on. Everyone looked up. The doctor didn't look very pleased.
"Hello, I'm Dr.Gray," he said, "Um, well, we managed to stop the bleeding, but um, she's still in very critical condition." Nick gasped and wiped a tear from his cheek and asked,
"Do you think we could see her?"
"Well, only for a few minutes, but she needs some rest."
"Is the baby okay?" asked Nick
"Um, I'm sorry, but she lost to much blood and we couldn't save the baby." answered Dr.Gray. Nick buried his face in his hands again. Then he looked up and asked,
"Does Stacey know?"
"Yes, she does."
"How did she take it?" A.J. asked
"Well, as well as any other person would take it. Maybe we should just have one person go in at a time." Nick stood up, everyone thought it would be best if he went in first. He peered in the window watching her stare out the window half awake and half asleep. He loved that about her. She would say she was wide awake but really she was dozing off. Her hair was in a messy pony tail and her skin was very pale compared to her olive skin tone. Nick had never seen her look like that. Not even when she was shot. He was scared for her. Nick knocked on the door and slowly opened it. She turned her head to look at him, putting on a fake smile.
"You don't have to do that," he said. She put her sad face back on. Stacey said,
"Why does this keep happening to us? Can we never be happy for a long period of time?"
"Hun, I promise you, nothing bad will ever happen to us again."
"Whenever something good happens, something always knocks us off our pedistool. It's like there's a freakin' curse or something." Stacey started to cry and pound at the sides of the bed. Nick ran over to calm her down. He held her head against his chest and rocked her, as she held his arms crying, almost sobbing. She hurt herself during her fit. Stacey popped three stitches from her 57 that she had. Nothing really got damaged when she got stabbed. She just lost alot of blood. That's why the baby died. You see, Christopher Dixon was half blind in one eye, so he didn't have the best eye sight. Eventually, Stacey got better, it was a good thing she was very healthy and ate right, unlike some of her model friends. A huge cloud was lifted off Nick and Stacey's head knowing that Christopher Dixon was dead. Finally, they could live their lives without fear. Stacey was still a little upset about the baby, but she and Nick both knew eventually they would have a baby. A.J. finally found a girlfriend. He loved her and so did Stacey. Her name was Kristin, just like Kevin's girlfriend's name. Kristin was short but not stubby. She had medium length golden hair, and brown eyes. The funny thing was that all the Backstreet girlfriends were very close friends. Brian's girlfriend Leighanne, Kevin's girlfriend Kristin, A.J.'s Kristin and Nick's Stacey. Howie was still single. Stacey and Leighanne got along really well. Even though there was an age difference, they were considered best friends. If either one of them had a problem, the other would always lend a shoulder to cry on. One day, Stacey was sitting in her and Nick's apartment, when A.J. came in with Kristin. (He had a key) They both had a huge smile on their face. A.J. said,
"Stace' guess what? Kristin and I are getting married!!!" Kristin held up her hand with a beautiful ring on it. Stacey jumped up and hugged them both. She was so happy for them. A.J. looked at her and said,
"Hey what's that?" pointing at a tear. She smiled and gave him a kiss.
"Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Stacey said beginning to cry. A.J. asked her,
"You know how much I love you. I was wondering if you'd be my best man?" She laughed and agreed. Just thinking she was going to be a best 'man' made her laugh. A.J. told the rest of the guys and they were all exstatic. Later that night Stacey was over at Leighanne and Brian's, while Brian was over at Nick and Stacey's. Stacey and Leighanne were talking about the guys while Stacey was playing with Tyke, Brian and Leighanne's cute little chihuahua. Every now and then, Leighanne would giggle at Stacey playing with Tyke. She thought how good she was with dogs, then imagine a baby. Leighanne was there for Stacey when she lost the baby. Leighanne said,
"I'm so happy for A.J. and Kristin. Can you tell the congratulations for me?"
"Yeah," said Stacey looking a little down.
"What's wrong now?" Leighanne asked putting an arm around Stacey.
"Nothing, it's just with A.J. getting married, it got me thinking."
"You're thinking you're ready to get married to."
"You're good!" They both laughed.
"How about I have Brian talk to Nick?" Leighanne asked.
"Oh, thank you. You're the best best friend in the world!" Upstairs, Brian and Nick sat and talked while playing Mario Cart and eating pizza.
"You know with A.J. getting married, I was thinkin' about asking Stacey to marry me." said Nick.
"Cool." Brian said taking a bite of pizza. A couple of weeks past and Nick had already picked out a ring for Stacey. He was going to take her to their special spot, which was right behind this huge waterfall in a cave, to pop the question. Nick and Stacey had been going out for at least four years now, so Nick was pretty sure this time she would say yes, since he could tell she was hinting. The night came and the sun was setting down and you could see the beautiful purples and pinks through the water. They climbed through the thin opening from where the rock and the waterfall separated. Nick took Stacey's hand and held it in his and looked in her eyes and said brushing her hair out of her face,
"Now, we've been going out for almost four years now, and we live together, I got you pregnant, lalalalalalala di da, and we've been through so much together and no matter what, we've stuck together. I truly believe that you're my soul mate. And I love you with all my heart, so will you marry me?" Nick got down on his knee and held out the ring. Stacey's eyes filled with tears and she said,
"Oh my gosh Nick, yes, yes I'll marry you!" Stacey gave Nick a kiss and rapped her arms around his neck. She sat back and Nick placed the ring on her finger. She wipped a tear away and looked at Nick. He leaned toward her and their lips met softly. He kissed her ever so gently but then it grew more passionate. Nick slid up on the rock to where Stacey was sitting and put his arm around her. Stacey put her hand on his chest to where his heart was and she could feel it beat. Nick wrapped her in his arms and pulled her down to the ground that was pretty much flat. Nick slowly rested her down on the ground and looked down at her, while laying next to her. He said,
"I love you." She didn't answer, she only pulled him down next to her and kissed him, while slowly unbuttoning his shirt. Stacey made it half way down when she slid her hand inside to feel his chest and his heart beat again. This time it was racing. They both knew what was happening. Nick rolled her over so she was almost on top of him. He slid his hand up her shirt and unhooked her bra. Stacey managed to unbutton his shirt and she took it off. Stacey kissed all the way from his lips to down to his belly button, to where she took off his belt. Things carried on to where they made love in the cave, but where almost fully clothed. Nick and Stacey held each other in one and others arms and enjoyed the moment. Eventually they told everyone. One day, Stacey was checking the mail when she noticed a preculiar looking letter addressed to Nick. The return address was to Mandy Hill. She was an ex-girlfriend of Nick's, which he went out with before he started going out with Stacey. She didn't think much of it until she gave it to Nick and he saw the name. He immediatley said,
"Um, I have to go to the bathroom." And he took the letter with him. Stacey knocked on the door and asked if everything was alright. He lied and said he was fine. Later that night, Nick fell asleep on the couch with the letter tucked in his hand. Stacey came out to get a glass of water when she noticed it. She crepted over a quiet as possible and gently took the letter it said:
Dear Nick;
I can't wait to meet again. I've missed yo so much since that time we spent in the summer. I had a really excellent time. We should go to that bed and breakfast again. I still love you baby. I know you feel the same. I heard you got engaged. So when are you going to break it off? I know you love me more. Write back as soon as possible or just call me. All my love,
Mandy xo
Stacey looked up from the letter. She thought it couldn't be true. Nick promised he would never cheat on her again. How can someone you love so much, hurt you so bad? Stacey waited until Nick woke up then she threw the letter in his face and yelled,
"What the hell is this?"
"You read it?" he asked
"Yes I fucking read it! What the hell is going on?"
"You shouldn't have read it. Don't I deserve my own privacy?"
"I give you privacy! But when a strange letter from some ex-girlfriend comes in the mail smelling like cheap perfume, I'm gonna wonder!"
"Look, I understand you're mad. But I still think you shouldn't have read the damn letter. Can't I have secrets?"
"When you're in a relationship, you don't keep secrets from the one you truly love."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That means, our whole relationship is a lie and you don't truly love me."
"Don't you say that. Don't you ever fucking say that! I love you with all my heart. I don't know where this fucking Mandy got the idea that I'm in love with her."
"So you admit that you've been seeing her?"
"Well, I, um," Nick stuttered a few words out then Stacey took her engagement ring off and threw it down on the floor and stormed out crying heading downstairs to Leighanne and Brian's. She knocked on the door and Brian answered. Stacey fell into his arms crying. He patted her back and kept asking what wrong.
"Oh my god Stace' what's the matter? You're shaking." Brian said Leighanne came over and took Stacey in her arms and led her over to the couch. Stacey managed to tell them what happened. Leighanne held Stacey in her arms and rocked her to try and calm her down. Brian was livid. Stacey was one of his best friends. How could Nick do this to her? Brian walked upstairs to hear Nick's side of the story. He opened the door to see Nick sitting on the couch holding Stacey's engagement ring. Nick looked up at Brian and said,
"I suppose you know?" Brian nodded and yelled,
"What the hell was going through you're mind? Why would you ever get back with Mandy?"
"I don't know! I just saw her one day, and I got that old feeling back."
"So just because you got some feeling back, you think it's okay to cheat on your girlfriend?"
"That's not what I mean."
"Then what do you mean Nick? Huh? You've probably just lost the thing that you say you've loved since you were thirteen. Now, seriously think she's left you for good."
"Ya know what? She hasn't left me, ya know why? Because we're in love! Yes, we love each other."
"If she hasn't left you then why do you have her ring?"
