"I'm so sorry Kaylie, but it's not working anymore. What we had there is, I don't know. It's gone Kay. I still love you, really I do, but I can't lie to myself, or you anymore. You deserve better. I'm sorry. You'll, you'll find someone better for you, I know you will, but that person's just not me. I'm sorry." He said as he walked out the door of her house and out of her life.

That didn't just happen. It's all a figment of my imagination. Or a big joke! Yes, that's it! Ryan's always been a big joker! He's just playing a joke on me! True, it's not exactly a nice one, but maybe he didn't realize it. Any second now he'll turn around with a silly grin on his face and come sweep me up and start laughing! Kaylie thought to herself, a funny smile playing on the corners of her mouth. She stood there for a few seconds and watched as he climbed into his car and put on his seat belt, not once turning back. Wow, he's really doing a good job. She thought beginning to doubt myself. Too good of a job. When he started the car and sped off the realization hit me. A single tear fell from her eye and made it's lonely decent down her cheek. He wasn't kidding. He really left me. Kaylie felt my knees give way as she sank down onto the carpet of my living room. This isn't happening, not to me! We've always been together! How's he going to just up and leave me now, after all we'd been through? She sat there for a few minutes gathering herself together. Soon she could feel my sadness turn to anger. Kaylie refused to cry over him, or any other man for that matter.

"Screw him." She spat out into the air. If he thinks he doesn't need me anymore then fine! It's just fine! I don't need him either! There're plenty of guys out there that would love me just for me! Who cares what he thinks! She kept repeating to myself as she climbed into her jeep and headed off to the beach to think. When she reached it she jumped out and ran to her secret place, a couple of rocks that made the perfect seat right below one of the many piers. The waves crashed around me as Kaylie began to shake with unreleased sobs.

"I'm not going to cry! I promised myself that I'm not going to cry." She said to herself as the tears ran loose down her face. This is no use. I'm in no condition to do anything right now. She thought as she reached for her cell phone and dialed.

"Good morning or I guess afternoon, hello?"

"Brian?" Kaylie whispered.

"Kaylie? Hunny, is that you? What's the matter? Are you ok?" He rambled on.

"Can you come pick me up?" She asked as a new wave of tears overcame me, but not because she was sad, because Brian had just proven to me that someone really did care about her.

"Yeah, sure I'll come pick you up! Where are you? Are you sure you're ok? You're not hurt are you?" He asked his voice low with worry.

"I'm at the beach near my house. I'll be by my car. I'm ok, really, I just don't want to be alone right now." She said.

"Ok, give me ten minutes and I'll be there. You're gonna be ok Kay. Just calm down and wait for me." He said.

"Thanks Bri, I really appreciate it."

"No problem baby doll, no problem at all. I'll see you soon." He said as he hung up. She smiled as he used his nickname for her. Kaylie stood up and began the long walk to her car.

"Everything's going to be all right. Brian said it was, so it is. Everything's going to be ok." She murmured to myself as she walked. Brian showed up soon after she arrived at my car and said nothing as he got out and opened the door for me to let her in. Once in the car he leaned over and kissed her forehead.

"Everything's going to be ok, don't you worry about it. Brian's going to make it all better." He said as Kaylie started to smile. "You want to talk about it?"

"No, not really. Maybe later. Thanks anyway."

"Ok, I'm here for you, just remember that. And quit thanking me, there's no need to. I'm here for you, you're here for me, that's just how it is. Now, let's go home." He said and started the car as we drove home. She was asleep by the time they'd left the parking lot.

"Hey Rok, you mind if I come over?"

"Umm, well, see, there's this lil thing..." Brian started before he was interrupted.

"What? You gotta girl over there? Never mind then. Rok's got a girl over, he's gonna get some action! Talk to you later bro." Nick said laughing.

"Naw man, it ain't like that at all, well sorta. Kaylie's over here. I picked her up from the beach, she's not doing to good and seein' how you two definitely don't seem to see eye to eye I don't know if it'd be a good idea. It's your call. You can come if ya want, but y'all have to behave." Brian stated.

"Yes father. So, I'll see ya in a few. I promise not to piss her off, well, at least not to much." He said laughing as he hung up before Brian could protest.

So, Brian's got Kaylie over. I wonder what happened, he sounded concerned. Man, I hate to see her sad. Nick thought as he drove over to Brian's. What am I thinking? I've got Mandy! Anyway, I'm always the one that MAKES her sad or mad. Man, what's the matter with me? But still, she's to cute to look unhappy. I hope she's ok. Yeah, she's with Brian, he'll help her out. Bri's always had a sweet spot in his heart for her, he'll make her feel better. Maybe he'll get his chance with her now. He thought as he felt a pain in his heart. But it should be ME making the pain go away. I want to be the one to be there for her. Woah, what's gotten into me? This is Kaylie we're talking about here. The same Kaylie that you do everything in your power to annoy when you're in her presence. The same Kaylie who refused Brian's invitation to go on tour with us just because she "couldn't stand to be in an enclosed area with HIM for too long." Why you thinkin' this way Nick? You've got MANDY. This is Frick's Kaylie, or more so that boyfriend of her's Kaylie. I never DID like that guy. He thought as he pulled into Brian's driveway.

"Just act normal Nick, just act normal. Well, your 'I can't stand the girl' normal at least. You can't let on to Brian, or Kaylie for that matter what's going on. Especially when YOU don't even know what the hell's going on." He mumbled to himself as he walked up to the door and rang the bell.

"Just act normal." He repeated as he waited.

"You talkin' to yourself again Frack? You know, there's some pretty good doctors out there who could help you with those little voices in your head." Brian joked as he opened the door on an embarrassed Nick.

"What? You know from personal experience?" He bantered back as he stepped in and saw her laying on the couch staring mindlessly at the TV while she flipped through stations without even bothering to see what was on.

"Hey comatose, what's happenin'?" He joked as he walked over to the couch and plunked down next to her taking up most of the couch without asking her to move over. He was met with a glare that would ice over Hawaii.

"Carter. Do you try to piss me off or does it just happen naturally?" She muttered standing up and walking over to the love seat.

"Well, I've never really thought about it, but now that you bring it up, I think it's probably a little bit of both. What you think Frack?" He said turning to Brian who was shaking his head at the two's behavior's towards one another.

"I think that y'all need to stay away and not talk to each other, THAT'S what I think. Anyway, what brings you to my humble home today Nick? Mandy kick ya out of your house again?" He said laughing. Nick just sat on the couch and said nothing.

"Ha! This I've got to hear! Carter, you're telling me that your GIRLFRIEND, the same one who from what I hear bosses you around, has now kicked you out of YOUR OWN house? God, you're whipped. Or stupid, probably both." Kaylie said laughing as Nick squirmed around on the couch not looking up. Brian was laughing to hard to stop the argument which was brewing.

"Yeah, like YOUR life's any better! Why're YOU here Ms. Kaylie? I don't suppose you just thought today'd be a good day to visit your dear old pal Brian here, did ya? What, trouble in paradise? You shouldn't go knocking on other people's relationships when you don't even got one! I betcha you came runnin' to Brian today cause whats-his-name dumped ya!" Nick yelled at her as he stalked off to the kitchen not looking behind him to see her reaction to what he'd said.

Kaylie sat frozen on the love seat with her knees pulled up to her chin rocking back and forth like a little child. Tears streamed down her face. Brian ran over to her to try to calm her down but she shrugged him off.

"Just leave me alone. He's right. He's ALWAYS right. He's God's gift to the world you know. That's him, Carter, the boy-wonder!" She mumbled between sobs.

"Well you know what Carter?! You and Mandy DESERVE each other! I don't know her but from the sounds of it you two are the two most arrogant, selfish, immature, jealous, conniving, stupid, ignorant people in the world! You were MADE for each other! I HATE YOU!!" She yelled into the kitchen as she ran up the stairs into the guest room where she proceeded to lock herself in and fall asleep crying.

"You know, you probably should go talk to her." Nick mumbled to Brian as he sat down at the kitchen table. He wasn't able to look up at him.

"I should go talk to her? ME? I'm sorry, I didn't remember the part where I yelled at her and made her feel like dirt. Actually, I thought that was YOU!" He whispered back fiercely and lowered his voice to a gentler level when he saw Nick wince. "I know you probably aren't proud of what you did, but if anyone, you should be the one to talk to her. It may not be pretty but it should come from you. THEN I'll go pick up the pieces, but you need to apologize."

"Why should I have to apologize? She said some stuff too!" Nick whined.

"God, don't make me talk to you like your mother, and quit whining!"

"I don't whine!"

"Fine, you don't whine and the sky's not blue." Brian retorted rolling his eyes.

"Very funny. She did say some stuff though." Nick muttered.

"Did I say she didn't? No. You were both angry and said things out of anger. Now you need to go apologize to EACH OTHER. It's about time you make a truce. My two best friends hate each other and I'm always stuck in the middle of it."

"Fine, I'll go. If I'm not back in a half hour come in for me, I'm scared for my life." He said as he walked up the stairs at a snails pace.

"Funny, very funny." Brian said dryly.

"Aren't I though?"

"Kaylie. Kaylie, wake up, I gotta talk to you. Kaylie." Nick whispered to her. He'd managed to unlock the door with the spare key and was now sitting next to her on the guest room bed.

God, she looks so beautiful when she's sleeping. She looks like an angel. What am I talking about? You've GOT a girlfriend Nick! She may be upset with you at the moment but you've got a girlfriend! Kaylie doesn't even LIKE you. He thought as he rubbed her shoulder to try to wake her up. But she does look beautiful. He smiled as he watched her chest rising and falling with each breath she took. Her hair was framing her face like a golden halo and a small smile played at her lips. At least she's happy in her dreams. That's more than I can say for when she ran up here. And it was all my fault. I'm such an idiot sometimes. Way to go Nick.

"Kaylie, please wake up. Kaylie, come on, wake up, please?" He asked as he moved a stray hair that had fallen away from her eyes. As he did this her eyes fluttered as if awakening from her slumber.

"Kaylie, please wake up." Nick whispered. She stirred more but didn't yet open her eyes.

"Carter, that you? What you want?" Kaylie mumbled sleepily rolling over onto her side so she could see him better.

"I just wanted to apologize. I acted like a jerk and I said some stuff I shouldn't have and I'm sorry. Forgive me?" He asked flashing his famous smile.

"So let me get this straight. You're up her, waking me up from a perfectly nice sleep, to tell me you're sorry for something that you probably aren't even sorry for but are just doing it since Brian told you to and you think that you can get away with it and try to get on my good side which you have never been since the first time I met you by giving me that smile that you've worked oh so hard on perfecting? Is THAT what you're doing here Carter? Is it??" Kaylie said in a joking matter which any other person would take as a joke but Nick knew she meant it otherwise. She was in no mood to talk to him let alone make peace.

It's just amazing as to how a person can change so rapidly. One second ago she was this sweet little angel and now she's gone to the wicked witch from the west! Nick thought and smiled at the thought.

"And now you're SMILING at the concept of what you've just done? God, I feel really sorry for you. You don't even get it. You think just because thousands of people worship the ground you walk on that everyone should. I hate to brake it to you but it's just not like that. I can't stand you and sadly enough I don't think I'll ever be able to. I've tried Carter, really, I have, for Brian's sake, but you're just to pompous, I can't deal with it anymore. Now, if you could do one decent thing to me, please leave. I don't want you here." She said as she turned to her other side facing away from him. Nick stood up and walked from the room without another word. As he stepped from the door he quietly closed it and leaned on the door frame. She hates me. She has no use for me and really hates me. He thought as he walked down the steps.

I can't believe that. He actually did what I asked, without complaint! Maybe I was too hard on him. After all, he didn't just barge in here and shake me awake; he sat there for who knows how long and woke me up nicely. God, I'm a bitch. Maybe he really did just come in here to apologize. After all, he seemed pretty sincere. Man, wait until Brian hear's this. Kaylie thought as she lay on her back. This is to much right now. I'll think about it later. She thought as she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

"So, how'd it go? I didn't hear any yelling. Any broken bones?" Brian laughed as Nick came wandering downstairs into the kitchen.

"Well, she hates me and still wants nothing to do with me. Pretty much she didn't accept my apology, but hey, that's life. I guess I just got to live with it, deal with it." He muttered as he sat down and grabbed an apple. "Anyway, I won't have to worry about it for much longer, tour starts soon, ain't like she's gonna be there." He said as he bit into it for emphasis.

"Uh, yeah, you're right. Well, at least you tried. You'll work it out sooner or later. You can't go on like this for much longer." Brian stated as he stood up and started to put some dishes away.

"I wouldn't bet on that. We've been like this since you introduced me to her in the first place. Why ruin a good thing?" Nick laughed as Brian sighed.

"Well, just try, you may need to get along with her sooner than you think." He said as he continued putting things away. Nick whipped around in his seat to look at Brian.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" He demanded.

"Nothing! Don't worry about it! Anyway, don't you have to be somewhere? Like fixing things with Mandy for whatever you didn't do but she thinks you did?" Brian rambled on trying desperately trying to change the conversation, but it worked.

"Ya. I 'spose I should probably go home. Man! I hate this part! I'm tired of gettin' screamed at today! First it was Mandy and now Kaylie, which I think is worse cause I'm used to Mandy actin' stupid like this, well, I'm used to Kaylie and I always fighting, but still!! Why doesn't anyone love me like they used to?" Nick whined. Brian stood at the kitchen counter laughing.

"What the heck's so funny about this? I see nothing funny!" Nick yelled at Brian who was now shaking from laughter.

"That you just said that no one loves you. Man, you've forgotten it all haven't ya! Go take a walk though the mall without disguises, heck, take a walk ANYWHERE, and you'll feel loved. Well, maybe suffocated, but you've got to be used to that since you're still with Mandy." Brian said still laughing.

"Frick, that's not funny! Mandy's just, I dunno, Mandy! You know how she is! Anyway, that's not what I'm talking about, I mean feeling loved when the person actually KNOWS me, not the fans." Nick explained.

"I know what you mean. Although, the fans DO sometimes know more about us than we do. You'll find it some day, just go home now and fix stuff with Mandy. If it doesn't work, you got a bed here." Brian said.

"Thanks man. Talk to you later bro." Nick said as he walked out of the house.

"Anytime, just remember you're my bro when you find out Kaylie's possibly comin' on tour with us." Brian muttered under his breath as he finished cleaning up the kitchen. I should ask her today. She's warming up to me and I can get her to come if I try. I'll ask her tonight. She'll say yes, she's got to say yes.

"'lo?" Nick answered picking up his cell phone on the way home.

"Hey, Nick, man, you've GOT to go fix stuff with Mandy and like fast! She's drivin' us nuts! Amy's here for a lil' while and she ain't done nothing but call here lookin' for you for the past half hour! Now Kev's called here cause she's doin' it to HIM too! I ain't tryin' to talk 'bout your girl or nothin' but when you gonna get rid of her? She drives everyone including you crazy and no one likes her! Dude, you could do SO much better!" AJ barked into the phone.

"'J, chill, I'm on my way over there right now. Tell Kev it's being straightened out if he calls back. Go have fun with Amy while you got time with her. Bye bro." Nick said as he clicked the end button and turned his whole phone off. As he pulled up in his driveway he punched in the code for the gates to only see a very impatient looking Mandy standing there taping her foot. God, this is going to be a LONG day. He thought as he locked the doors and walked up to her.

"Where have you been?! I've been looking all over for you! I called AJ's, Kevin's, Howie's, and was just about to call Brian's but then you showed up. I've been worried sick about you!" She said as she pulled him in for a hug.

"Wh--what? I thought you were mad at me. In fact, I believe your exact words were "Get out of this house NOW!" What's up with that Mandy?" Nick asked taken aback from her change of mind.

"Aww, Nicky--"

"Don't call me that." Nick interrupted.

"Don't interupt me, Nicky, you know I was just kidding around. Then you walked out and had me scared to death! You know how the press and fans can hurt you! I don't like it when you leave without me! Now, let's go inside and fix this little problem?" She stated getting up on her tip toes and gave him a peck on the cheek before turning to walk into the house. Nick stood there, stunned before he also turned to go into his house.

I might as well go see what she's got planned. After all, my day hasn't been exactly fun, maybe it'll start to be. He thought as he closed the door behind him.