Nick turned right when the light turned green and saw the large, record company label sign looking down at him. His thoughts changed very quickly though, when a red jeep that had jumped a red light and attempted to turn into the parking lot before him, slammed into his side, forcing his car to the pavement. Nick's neck was immediately stiff when he tried to turn to look out of his cracked window to see the car that had hit him. "Perfect…" He said to himself, "…just perfect." He unbuckled his seat belt, and let out a moan when he felt a twinge in his neck, which speed violently down his spine in a truly uncomfortable way. He couldn't move. He needed to get out of the car, he told himself, as he felt panic start to grip him. "Just move slowly…" He instructed out loud to himself, as he clipped open the door, and felt the sorely needed feeling of the fresh summer breeze on his skin. He managed to step out to see that the other car had pulled over on the other side of the road, and the female driver was retrieving documents from a glove compartment. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, saved the number plate of her jeep into his phone, having to hold the screen up to his face, as he couldn't move his neck to look down at it. He then dialled the number of his lawyer. With no answer, he dialled each of his band mates one by one, hoping one of them would have a phone on in the building behind him. The young girl walking towards him was also clutching a cell phone as well as her papers. She was wearing dark, low cut jeans, which revealed her hip bones in an elegant way, which made Nick, want to lick his lips. To his horror there was something familiar about this girl's frame and stature, and how she made him feel. He stared at her face and tried desperately to remember. Her hair was shorter and of a brunette colour, which confused Nick-it wasn't how he remembered. "Screw You Carter…" He heard echo in his head. Nick held his breath. It was Heather. She had changed a little, but he knew it was her. Nick began to pray. "God no, please…don't do this to me…" He asked hopefully, but it was too late. The situation was already upon him. She stood in front of him angrily, and slanted her body to the left, like she was a late teenager, waiting impatiently for the school bus. She blew and popped a bubble gum bubble which reemphasised Nick's image of her. She was still beautiful, Nick thought despairingly. He thanked the Lord, she hadn't recognised him yet.
"Alright, let's get this over with…" She sighed, as if she had better places to be. He was angry and in pain, and was tempted to tell her exactly where he needed to be, until his phone buzzed in his hand. He lifted his phone and saw "Brian's Cell" across the screen-he was thankful.
"Brian, come and get me." He blurted hurriedly into the phone as if his life depended on Brian's rescue-in some respects, it did. He turned his eyes to Heather briefly, and at the mention of Brian, a smile appeared on her frustrated face, suggesting recognition. She knew who he was now.
"I'm outside, just please come and get me…" Nick said once again, and Brian declared he was on his way. He had to hang up, although he was tempted to keep the phone to his ear, pretending he was talking to Brian so he wouldn't have to talk to her.
"Well, well, well…" She began. "Look what the cat dragged to my feet." She said teasingly and smiling provocatively, licking her lips, before chewing again on her bubble gum.
"Don't talk to me…" Nick declared staying calm. He turned to move away from her, but the pain crippled him again, and he couldn't move. His anxieties were building again.
"Oohh…" She began. "…Are you hurt?" She said sarcastically, rather than sympathetically. Nick wasn't the type of man to hit a woman.
But by God, like all men, he was tempted now and again, and he tried his hardest to force his rage down, but some seeped through.
"What the hell are you doing driving like that?" Nick asked angrily, raising an arm to his neck and trying massaging the tense muscles with one hand. He grimaced.
"I was in a hurry." She said bitterly, as if she was appalled that Nick has asked about her driving.
"I should call the police…" Nick threatened.
"But that wouldn't look too good for you would it…" Heather began teasingly. "…What with the DUI arrest…"
Nick rolled his eyes. She would bring that up wouldn't she? Only Heather, he told himself. He had learnt his lesson and completed his sentence; he was a law- abiding citizen again. It had been a mistake-a result of another bad night. That was why this current situation was such a threat to him.
A shiver of disgust and shock ran through him- it was obvious that she was still following his life if she knew about his DUI offence.
He wished that he would never have to see her again. "…And the press getting involved- You and I on a front page would be kinda hot…" She fantasised, adopting her half-sister's phrase "That's Hot."
"What the hell you doin' here anyway?" Nick asked bitterly. She held up her left hand long enough for him to see it. A silver, diamond encrusted engagement ring sat on her fourth finger. It sparkled at Nick in the sun. "My fianc? Justin Remego is working today…" She commented looking at herself in her ring as if it were her greatest accomplishment. "…He seems to think I have talent, so I'm going to sign my record contract." Nick's jaw dropped open partially. He knew she was marrying him to forward her own socialite profile, just like Paris did with him. Nick hadn't realised until then truly how close he was to making the same mistake twice. If it wasn't for him, nobody would even know her name. And now, she was engaged and about to sign a record contract-the world was just not fair. She was a parasite, and Nick looked towards the building, hoping to see Brian walking towards him. He couldn't stand this anymore. Thankfully after a moments despair, Brian appeared with two security guards, and began to head down to the opening to the parking lot. "Congratulations…" Nick muttered sounding not the least bit earnest.
He turned and tried to walk towards an ever closer Brian, but ended up on the floor, the pain now rooted in his neck and the base of his spine. The three men ran towards Nick, and tried to help him up.
Brian helped Nick to sit in the car, to rest his back as one member of security called an ambulance, and the other took Heather's details from her.
"Are you alright?" Brian asked Nick, whispering in his ear, noticing that he looked distressed. "Can you breathe alright?" He asked enquiringly, not fully thinking how injured he could be. Brian briefly eyed the dent in Nick's car and the cracked window to try and interpret this.
"Do you know who that is?" Nick whispered- his pain now chronic
. Brian shook his head. "Heather." Brian's head immediately turned to look at the face of the girl who was somewhat responsible for his son nearly drowning. He observed her bitterly as she tried to blame Nick for the accident, but decided to be the better person in the situation, and tended to Nick, without saying a word to her.
