M&Ms
Chapter Five

Sunday was a whirlwind of malls, shopping bags, swollen feet and hair! I went to two different malls and filled my rental car completely up with shopping bags from the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Wet Seal and a bunch of other stores I can't remember. I even went and got my cut so it was really really short, but I like it so that's okay. When I got home I took off my favorite pair of Nikes and rubbed my aching feet. Fortunately my rental car was a convertible so I now have nice halter top tan lines.

I dropped all my bags on the living room floor and exhaled deeply. I looked at my wristwatch. Five o' clock. I went into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of apple juice from the fridge. After taking a sip I noticed the blinking red light on my answering machine. I put the bottle down, hoped up onto the kitchen counter and hit play.

"Hello. This message is for Brash DeLaCruz. This is Sanders BMW. We just wanted to let you know that your car is ready to be picked up at your earliest convenience Miss DeLaCruz. If you have any questions please feel free to call me, Mike, at 555-5629. Thank you very much."

"Way to go Dad! Getting me a BMW. I should have moved out sooner!" I mumbled to myself.

"Brash, it's Sass. Hi, mom and dad just told me today that they got a great house up in Santa Barbara and that we're moving there! I can't believe this! So anyways, in a couple days we're having movers here and everything so I was wondering if I could come out and stay with you for a while. I know you're new there and everything but I really don't want to be here when they're moving. Call me back! Love ya sis! Bye."

"Why are they moving?" I asked myself. Probably getting a smaller home. Yeah right, knowing mom she got a mansion.

"Miss DeLaCruz, this is Jackie Norman from Fashion House. I just wanted to take the time to call you and let you know that we have you all set up and ready to go tomorrow for your first day of work. We're all very excited to have some new blood on our team. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call me at 555-1713. Bye."

I machine beeped again to inform me that that was the end, so I picked up the phone, plopped down on the couch and dialed back home.

"Hello?" answered Sass.

"Hey Wonder Woman! What's up?"

"Hey Brash! I'm so glad you called. Mom and Dad are like, freaking out over how the china is going to get to the new house safely. We spent hours at Ikea today getting all new furniture. Mom says that if we get a new home in a new town that we need a new look. So she practically bought everything you could ever possibly need for the house."

"Sheesh. Why are you guys moving?"

"I don't know. I guess because Dad wants to retire in Santa Barbara. Anyways, the only really good thing that came out of it was the awesome furniture and accessories I got for my room!"

"Sounds like it won't be so bad after all."

"I guess not. But I asked Dad if I could go out and stay with you for a while and he said that as long as it's all right with you that it's all right with him. He said he'd pay for it and everything."

"Well of course you can come out here!" Just then the doorbell rang. "Hold on Sass, somebody is at the door."

"Okay."

I put the phone down and answered the door. It was Nick.

"Are you following me or something?" I asked.

"No. But I have something for you and I didn't want to tell you over the phone."

"Okay. Come on in. I'm on the phone with… oh no!"

"What? You're on the phone with who?" he asked as he came in and followed me to the couch.

"My sister." I picked up the phone again and plopped back down on the couch. "I'm back."

"So anyways, I can come out?"

I looked at Nick and sighed. How on earth was I going to explain to her that her favorite guy in the whole world was at my house? He looked back at me.

"Well of course you can come out, but I don't know what I'd do with you. I mean, I start work and everything." Nick motioned at me. "Hold on again." I pressed the phone against my shoulder. "What?"

"Your sister is coming out here?"

"Yeah. I'll explain it all to you when I'm off the phone. But what am I going to do with her? And how can I explain you?"

"I can take care of her during the days!"

I looked at Nick as if he were just born. "You must be kidding me! You want a fan running around with you for a week?"

"She's not just any fan. She's your sister. Besides, she would have a lot of fun."

"She'd kill me."

"Why? We're not dating or anything. At least, not yet" he smiled at me and winked.

I put the phone back up to my ear. "Sass, okay. You can come, however, you won't be spending the afternoons with me. One of my, uh, friends is going to take you out and everything."

"But Brash I don't want to hang out with one of your friends! Can't I just kick it at your place all day?"

"Of course, but I think you might want to give this person a try."

"Why?" I searched for something to say. I looked up at Nick and laughed.

"Because this person is a fan of the Backstreet Boys, just like you!"

"I don't believe you Brash! Since when are you friends with anyone that likes the Backstreet Boys?" Nick must have heard because he started to chuckle at me.

"Sass, I wouldn't really call this person a fan. He's kinda…"

"It's a HE?" she exclaimed. Oh dear.

"Yes, it's a guy!"

"Brash you can't possibly expect me to hang out with a guy, let alone a perfect stranger!"

"Hand me the phone" Nick said. I looked at him as if he was crazy. "Trust me."

"Sass, someone wants to talk to you." I handed the phone to Nick. Here goes nothing.

He put the phone against his ear. "Hello? Is this Sass?"

"Yeah, who's this?"

"I'm a close friend of Brash. So, you're coming out to Florida?"

"Yeah. What's your name?"

"My name is Nick."

"You sound like Nick Carter. How weird is that?"

"Not as weird as it sounds. Anyways, I thought that maybe while Brash is at work you and I could go out and do stuff. Florida is just bursting with fun things to do."

"Okay, but only because Brash wouldn't allow it if she didn't trust you."

"Sounds good Sass. I'll put your sister back on the phone now. It was nice talking to you."

"Likewise."

Nick handed the phone back to me. "So is everything cool with you?" I asked her.

"Yeah. Your friend sounds like Nick Carter."

"Yeah, he does. But he's much better looking than Nick Carter."

"I highly doubt that Brash! Well anyways, I'll have Dad call you about the ticket info when he gets a chance. And thanks!"

"You got it kid. I'll talk to you later. Love you."

"Love you too Brash. Bye."

I hung up the phone and placed it on the glass coffee table in front of the couch. I relaxed into the couch and looked at Nick.

"So what did you have to tell me?"

"Actually, I've forgotten now" he answered sheepishly.

I shook my head at Nick. "I just got home a few minutes ago. I went out shopping. Now every part of my body hurts."

"Want me to rub your shoulders?" he asked.

I sat up and smiled. "Yeah, thanks Nick." I turned my back to him and closed my eyes as his big hands began to gently massage my neck and shoulders.

"Mmm. That feels nice Nick." Nick continued rubbing my neck and I felt him lean in closer to me. I could actually feel him breathing on my skin.

"I like your hair" he whispered in my ear. I opened my eyes and smiled to myself.

"I like it too. It's much easier to take care of. But then again, I get the worst car hair. Oh! Speaking of cars, I have to go pick my new car up. Wanna come with?"

"Sure."

"Great. Also, I have to go to the market. I can cook you dinner if you're up for it?"

Nick suddenly stopped and turned me around with his hands. "Am I in some alternate universe?"

"No, what do you mean?"

"You mean to tell me that Brash DeLaCruz is being nice to me?"

I looked away and smiled. "I'm not always mean Nick."

"No?"

"No! Besides, now that I've gotten to know you a little better, I like you. You're not like I thought you would be."

"So you like me? I'll take that as a compliment."

"You would!" I laughed.

"But cooking me dinner is a pretty big step. I have friends that have been dating for years and their girls never cook dinner for them."

"Nick, first of all, we're not dating. Second of all, I like to cook. Third of all, not all girls cook. Fourth of all…"

"Fourth of all," he interrupted me, putting his hand over my mouth. "Fourth of all, you're not like most girls."

"You catch on quickly."

"Nick looked at her thoughtfully. "How do you supposed you and I ended up meeting?"

"Oh that's easy. Whoever booked my seat was a complete idiot," I joked.

"Can't you at least pretend that you're interested in me?" he mocked.

"I could…."

"Brash, let's just stop the games and be real. Be us."

"I can do that. Come on, I want to break in my new car."