I woke up feeling a heavy arm draped over my shoulder. Feeling as if I just fought in World War II, I heaved myself up to escape the warm arm. I stood up in front of the couch and turned around, questioning where I was.
"Oh, yea." I giggled at some of the memories of last night. "Kinda makes you wander what Nick's doing right now, huh AJ?" I stood there as if I was expecting an answer out of him. "Like you'd actually answer me!" I laughed at his sleeping position and walked into the kitchen in search of a drink. I opened the fridge and saw nothing but Coke, milk, and beer.
"Don't you ever even bother to buy bottled water?" I said to myself. I closed the fridge and looked through the cabinet, looking for a glass. I found some hiding behind a stack of plastic ware, actually I only found two.
"You really are a slob AJ!" I whimpered to myself.
"Am not!" He came up behind me scratching his head.
"Are too! You can't even keep up with the dates on the milk! That is just sick."
"Whatever." He mumbled. I rolled my eyes and went ahead to get my water. We both walked around, not saying anything to each other. I walked upstairs and went to the bathroom, almost tempted to take a shower. But I remembered I had no clothes to change into. I walked back down stairs, running into AJ on the way.
"I'm going to get dressed and take you home here in a minute. Okay?"
"Okay. I'll meet you downstairs." I smiled at him and finished my journey to the living room. I sat on the couch looking at the blank TV and thought. I was going to do some shopping today and I wanted everyone's advice too.
"It helps if you turn the TV on." AJ smirked coming down stairs, his keys rattling.
"Haha." I said standing up. I walked outside to his car, grabbing my bag on the way. We were about halfway to Nick's when I broke the silence.
"Do you wanna go shopping with me today?"
"Sure. What for?"
"I'm running out of clothes. Plus I need some opinions on so things."
"Love to. I need a few more hats." We pulled in Nick's driveway and I waved bye to him as I stopped at the door. He rolled down the window before pulling out.
"I'll call later and we'll meet up for the mall trip."
"Okay!" I walked in the house and saw Nick sitting on the couch.
"That wasn't funny at all." He said standing up.
"I donno, I found it pretty amusing. So did AJ if I remember correctly." I smirked. "And from the sound of it, so did Mandy."
"Well I didn't. I was worried!"
"Three against one. Sorry. And besides, I can take care of myself."
"You shouldn't have walked over there."
"What was I suppose to do, take a bus?" I was getting angry that he was making such a big deal out of this. "My God Nick! Your not my father! You don't know me as well as you think, I can take care of myself! Do we need to go through with this again?" I looked at him disgusted and I stormed up stairs to my room. He tried to follow but Mandy stopped him.
"Don't you dare, Nickolas. I heard every word down there and I can't believe you're making such a big deal out of this. Now it's mostly our fault so don't get on her!" Mandy said in a loud whisper.
"That's right Nick!" I said from inside. Mandy walked in my room smiling, leaving the door partly open.
"Daisy, I am SOO sorry about last night. Until you get over this completely, or you give us the okay, we won't be quote unquote busy."
"Ah man! No sex." We heard Nick yell from outside the door.
"Pig!" We both said at the same time. We laughed and carried on with the conversation.
"But anyways, it's okay. I'm sorry I just kinda ran off like that. I gue-"
"You had every right to. AJ is one of the best people to tell your problems to. He always listens when you need him to and he always cares. I would have done the same thing."
I smiled and looked at her. "Your so lucky." I said softly.
"Why?"
"Cause you have some one who cares for you so much. All my life I've lived through Hell on earth."
"What I wouldn't give to live one day in your life. Just so I could say I understand. But I don't, and I don't think I ever will. But that's in the past. Your starting a whole new life here. You'll find your special one some day."
"I wish I could think like you!" I laughed.
"I'm so sorry for all of this." She said pulling me in for a hug. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
"Actually, yea. There is."
"What? She asked pulling away.
"Go shopping with me. I need some new clothes and I have 700 dollars to spend."
"Sure."
"Nick you wanna come too?"
"Pass. I need some more sleep."
"I am not even going to touch that one." I laughed. "Well I'm going to get dressed and we'll leave."
"Okay." She walked out of the room and I looked around.
"Mandy!" I screamed.
"Yea," She asked coming back in the room.
"What size jeans do you ware?"
"Seven. why?"
"Cause I don't have any clothes!" I whined.
"Come here you big baby." She laughed. I followed her into her room and looked through her closet. "Sure, just help yourself.."
"Oh, you don't mind do you?"
"No, I was kidding." I went through and found some straight leg, jeans with different patches on them. One the back right pocket was a patch of a ghost, then on the other back pocket was a patch of Micky. Then there were various color patches on the lags. Mostly red and blue.
"Cute." I said pulling them out and laying them on the bed. I went through again and found a tub top with the American flag printed through it. "Cuter." I smiled and took the clothes, hanging them against me to she what I picked.
"I like. I could have never done that."
"Well, what can I say? I'm fashionable." I stuck my nose up and walked out of the room in a modal's stroke.
I put a CD in the CD player that was in the room. I started getting ready to the Backstreet Boys CD I found downstairs. I put on my baby blue Nike's and started to do a dance to "Don't want you back". There was plenty of room between the bed and the wall, so it was easy for me to dance. Nick burst in the room about to sing his part when he stopped seeing me dance. I stopped the CD around the end of the song and turned around.
"You go girl!" Nick laughed.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Ever since my part. That was petty good. Thought you didn't hear much of us?"
"I don't this is Mandy's. I just made it up along the way."
"Wow, it would take Fatima 2 days to think of something that good."
"I guess I should say thank you?"
"No need." He smiled and left the room. I smiled to myself and walked out the door and down the stairs to call AJ.
*~*~*~*~*
"You don't need anything else AJ!" Mandy, AJ, and I scrambled around to each store atleast twice and I was beat.
"But you got more than me. That's not fair!" He whined.
"Get over it!" I rolled my eyes, grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the mall.
"I'm not a child." He griped.
"Well your acting like it." I heard Mandy snicker from behind me.
"He always acts like this at malls." Mandy laughed. "That's what you get for asking him to go shopping with you!"
"Now someone tells me! I guess you can't learn any better than from experience!"
"That's right!" Mandy said.
"Okay guys, I'm not that bad! Am I?"
"Ummm.... yea!" We both said.
"A hea." Mandy and I laughed at him while getting in the car.
"So, anyways. How about tonight we go somewhere to show off some of your new outfits?" Mandy suggested.
"Like where?"
"How bout a club?" AJ asked.
"I'm too young!"
"Okay, how about we go to....." Mandy tried to suggest.
"Nowhere?" I finished.
"I'm sure there's some where we can go." AJ said.
"Umm... there's not many places a 16 year old can go that's fun. It doesn't happen."
"What did you do for fun in New York?"
"Hung out with Kelcy. Went to Hard Rock, I actually went there mostly to perform though. Sometimes I'd go to Genie to do some break dancing."
"Perform?" Mandy questioned.
"Yea, dancing. I thought I told you guys about that."
"You probably did but missy here, more than likely, forgot."
"You are no better AJ!" She said hitting him in the arm.
"Sure I am."
"Did you remember?"
"Well....."
"Then shut up!"
"I am feeling so good about myself right about now." I said from the back of AJ's 4 runner.
"Well neither of us are good at remembering details, so forgive us." AJ laughed. I wasn't paying much attention from then on. My mind started to float back to Kelcy. She was my best friend and only friend. I missed her so much at times like now when we could just hang out and enjoy each other being there. Even if it was just watching a movie or talking about the guys down the street.
"I need to get back to school." I said suddenly.
"You do. What kind of school do you want to enroll in?" AJ asked.
"You need to dye your hair blond again!" Mandy said to AJ.
"Why?" I rolled my eyes at how stupid he could be sometimes.
"AJ shake your head." I said. He did and I laughed.
"I think I heard something really small rattling in there. Did you Mandy?"
"Yea, but the size of a meal worm. I'll bet that's why he's acting so blond."
"You know you just insulted yourself." I laughed.
"I know. I don't care. I have a 3.5 GPA, he can't beat that!"
"Okay, okay guys. We all have our moments! Let's let it be." I said trying to get them to calm down.
"Well we'll talk to Nick about it." Mandy said as we pulled in the drive way. We all got out and Mandy and AJ helped me with my bags. We walked in the house and Nick stared at me like I was crazy.
"How much money did you have?"
"Seven hundred." I stated.
"How much do you have left?"
"Only $64. 20." I laughed.
"No wonder!" He said. He grabbed some of the bags and took them upstairs while we all went through them. I grabbed 2 of the bags and stuffed one in the closet and the other I filled my dresser with.
"What was in that one?"
"Something. You can't know yet." I smirked. Mandy and AJ went downstairs and I went ahead and finished putting stuff up while Nick looked at some of my clothes. He stopped on one inpartictular.
"What's this?"
"It's called a halter suite. See," I said holding it up right.
I was looking it over when he spoke. "That would be cute to wear to the party tonight." I paused and looked up.
"What party?"
"Well we were celebrating getting off tour. We don't do it often, but we thought we would this time."
"Oh."
"No one told you?"
"Uh-uh." I said putting the outfit in the closet.
"I'm surprised; AJ loving to party and all."
"How many people are going to be here?" I asked cautiously.
"Around 20 to 30. Why? What's wrong?"
"Is Jessi going to be there?"
"Of course. Why?"
"No reason." I said putting a shirt on a hanger.
"Liar. What's got you so upset?"
"Nothing and while I remember it, we need to get me into a school." I said changing the subject. " I think if we get started sometime tomorrow, I can start next monday."
"Would you like it better if you home schooled?"
"I donno."
"Well what do you want to study?"
"Dance."
"Good choice. I think we can work something out. I'll pull some strings."
"No you don't have to go through any trouble. Really."
"No it's okay. I don't have anything else to do so why not?" He got up and stretched. "I'm going to go downstairs and start getting ready. Get that outfit out again., it was good." He smiled and left the room.
I finished filling my closets and dressers and got the halter suite out the he liked so much. It was light blue velvet with a bare back except two thin silver chains that hung down. The bottom one flew all the way around through the small opening for the stomach to peak through. The bottom were flared just a little; enough to look great with the white sandals I got too. I took everything I'd need to the bathroom and took a shower. When I got done I fixed my hair into a spider clip, did a little bit of make up and slipped on the outfit. I put the shoes on and grabbed my clothes left over and threw them in my room. I quickly walked downstairs and found everyone in the kitchen.
"Well," I said spinning around. "What do ya think?"
"Uh..... wow." Kevin said starring.
"Oh, stop drooling!" Mandy laughed.
"Oh, sorry hun." Nick said and turned around. The doorbell suddenly rang.
"Got it!" I said running out of the room. I opened the door and was shocked. "Um.... duh.... are you sure you're at the right house?"
"Depeneds, is Nick here?" I heard someone come up behind me and I turned around.
"Hey Justin. Come on in guys!" Nick said from behind me opening the door more.
"You know N*Sync?" I whispered to Nick.
"Yea, me and Justin are good friends."
"And you-" I started to shout. "And you never told me?" I whispered.
"Come here." He grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen where everyone was. "Justin, JC, Lance this is my friend Daisy."
"Well hello." Justin said coming up to me. He grabbed my hand a kissed it. I thought I was going to faint. "And how are you this fine evening?"
"Much- much better than I had hoped for!" I stuttered.
"That's good to hear." He stepped back and winked at me. Now I really wanted to melt. Even though my favorite wasn't here, I could always go for second, right?
"Nice to meet you, Daisy." JC smiled.
"Same here. And I love the name, very sweet." Lance said. I smiled at him and looked at Nick.
'We need to talk.' I mouthed to him. He laughed and finished setting stuff out for the party. I went over and stood next to Mandy. "So are there any other celebs I need to know about that are coming?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure." She turned to Nick. "Hun, is Christina coming over?"
"She said she might. Nick Lachey and his girlfriend are coming over though." Mandy turned back over to me and I was laying on the ground, unconcious.
