Chapter 21
~*~5 months later~*~
"So are you going to pick him up at the airport?"
Katie, asked. S
tacey stared at her dorm-mate, and sighed. "I don't know. I haven't seen him in 5 whole months. Do you think I would appear...I dunno...desperate?"
Katie laughed, at the serious look on Stacey's face. "Oh come on! Nick would die of happiness, if he saw YOU waiting for him, when he gets off the plane. You know you like him....NO! make that LOVE him, now hurry up, and go before some other hot blonde picks him up!"
Giggling Stacey grabbed her keys. "What would I do without you?" she said as she headed out the door.
"You'd die!" shrieked Katie.
Stacey shut the door still grinning. Omigod!!! I haven't seen him in sooooo long. I wonder if he still likes me! He still sounded like it last night on the phone. I can't wait!!!!
Humming,
she headed out to her car.
~*~At The Airport~*~
"Nick hurry up! I want to get home!" yelled Brian, as
he watched his best bud, eating a chocolate bar.
Nick glanced up. "Well man GO! I'm gonna wait here with Howie...help him find his luggage. Say hi to Lala for me."
Brian rolled his eyes at Nicks dumb nickname for Leigh Anne. "Fine buddy! good luck in finding it! see ya!"
Then he was off, running through the airport, and out to an awaiting limo. Sighing, Nick glanced around. Throwing the wrapper on the ground he got up.
Howie was at the desk, arguing with a clerk. "I just had it! I brought it on the plane myself!" He said, screaming.
Rolling his eyes, he began to search the crowd. His eyes came to a stop, at a beautiful young girl, who was staring at him. She raised her hand, and waved shyly. Who is that........Omigod, no way.......
"Stacey!!!" he screamed.
The girl began to laugh and run toward him. "Nick! You remembered me!" she said, as he enveloped her in a hug. She held on tight and he pulled her closer.
"Of course I remembered you. How could I forget the girl who stole my heart?"
Stacey blushed. "I missed you" she whispered in his ear.
Nick laughed and kissed her. "Me too. Now lets get out of here. I hate airports"
Laughing she attempted to pick up one of his bags. "Holy christ, what the hell is in here? EUROPE?!"
Nick laughed and slung the bag easily over his shoulder. "Nah, just Poland, and Italy."
Clapping Howie, on the back, he grabbed her hand. "Later D, Hope you find your bags!"
Then they left, and walked out to her car.
"So what have you been up to?" he asked, as she pulled onto the freeway.
"Just school, and stuff. Nothing new." she said, shrugging.
Nick nodded as he rumbled around through one of his back packs. Pulling off, Stacey pulled into a Mc Donalds grinning.
"For old times sake?" she asked grinning.
Nick laughed, and finally found what he was looking for. After they had pulled into a parking spot, and were munching some food down, Nick produced, a small box. "here, I got you a present" he said, handing her the box.
Clapping her hands with delight, she pounced on the small box. "Thank you!" she squealed.
She took a great deal of time opening it, but it was worth it. She gasped, and the tears began to fall. "Oh Nick, its, so.......I loove it!"
He had bought her a charm bracelet, and each charm, was a tiny figurine of a shoe.
"Its how we met you know! I wanted you to remember. There's one from each country I was in."
She threw her arms around his neck. "I love it! Thank you so much!" she said kissing him.
Nick smiled, his face glowing. "Lets go home, and relax, I'm pooped."
Her smile faded. "Not unless, you wanna go home, and veg out with my roomy watching you. I sold the house, so I don't have anywhere but the dorm to hang out at. After this semester, I'm offically done, and then I'll buy a little apartment....say, in Tampa?!"
Nick grinned. "Thats okay, since it's a long weekend, I was hoping that you would spend it at my house, my parents went to visit my Aunt in Georgia. Cool with you?"
Stacey eyes lit up. "Sure, but lets go by, and pick up some clothes for me first."
Nick laughed, and mumbled something.
Stacey poked him in his side. "what did you say?" she asked, laughing.
He grinned slyly. "I said, I hope that you don't need many clothes." Looking at the astonished look on her face, he hastily added, "Because, we'll be swimming, and stuff"
She laughed, and drove in the direction of the dorm. "What exactly, does, 'and stuff' mean?"
He
laughed, and kissed her cheek. "You'll
see......shortly"
~*~Carter House~*~
Wow, this is great, Nick thought, as
he watched, Stacey float in the pool. She's so wonderful, is this love?
All of a sudden, Stacey slowly leaned her head up. "I can feel the wrinkles, and age spots now" she said groaning.
Nick laughed, and dove in the icy water. Screaming, Stacey fell off her plastic lounge chair, and into the water. Coming up for air, she grinned. "Ahhh, this is the life."
Nick laughed and splashed her. "I know what you mean. It's like paradise here. With a beautiful girl that I love, the weather is perfect, the birds are singing......what else could a man ask for?"
Stacey, trying to hide the happy expression on her face, when she heard him say he loved her, swam closer. Slipping her arms around his neck she pulled him close. "Did you mean that?" She asked, as he guided them to shallow water.
"Mean what?" he asked innocently.
Putting her wet face into his neck she murmmured, "that you loved me....did you mean that?"
Nick cringed. "Well, I guess I kinda blurted that out. I don't mean to pressure you, its just, that being away from you for 5 months made me realize........you know what I'm saying?"
She nodded and kissed his neck. "Uh-huh. And I feel the same way."
Nick pulled away, now in total shock. "What? Are you-..."
But he
was cut off, as her lips met his.That was one hell of a
kiss....................