~Day Before Thanksgiving~

"Ben what do you mean you're going out of town again? Can't Marty take care of this himself?" I questioned my so loving boyfriend as I followed him around our New York apartment.

"No Marty can't handle this himself. He needs me sugar and if you would stop thinking of yourself every once in a while you'd see that." Ben snapped slamming the bathroom door in my face.

I sighed knowing that this was going to happen, "But baby its Thanksgiving and I was hoping for once we could be together on a holiday."

"I'm sorry, maybe I'll be able to show up. Just leave the address of where you're gonna be ok. I got to go catch my flight," Ben said as he grabbed his suitcase that I had packed the other night when I thought he was going to come with me to Brian's house for Thanksgiving.

"Whatever," I mumbled watching him walk out the door.

I turned around and slumped on the couch, feeling like shit. Ben could be a nice guy if you weren't me. I came to the conclusion a while ago that I'm just not good enough for him anymore.  He is forever putting me down and hurting me in ways no one knew about. I got up and walked to the huge bay window that over looked the busy streets below my apartment. I noticed a couple walking on the opposite side of the street and for the millionth time in my life I wished I could be the girl I was watching. She was so happy and her and her boyfriend looked so in love. I envied her at that moment. All I wanted was to be her, to be happy. I glanced down at my watch before walking over to the door to put on my jacket. I figured I'd just show up to the airport early and see if I could get an earlier flight. Staying in this place was making me feel more miserable than what I already was feeling.

 

~A Couple Of Hours Later ~

Needless to say I didn't get an earlier flight. I sighed softly as I climbed out of the plane at the airport in Kentucky. In a way I was looking forward to seeing the guys again but in a way I wasn't. How could I explain to them everything that was going on? I shook my head, I just wouldn't say anything. I've become really good at hiding my problems from people and that is just what I'll do. They won't need to know, and they'll never find out.

"MICHELLE!!!!"

I looked up and smiled when I saw Courtney running up to me from the baggage claim.

"Hey you," I said giving her a hug when she ran up to me.

"It's good to see you again. I've missed you so much."

I smiled as we started heading to where my bag would be coming out at, "I've missed you too. What have you been up to since I've last seen you?"

"School," Courtney said sticking her tongue out giving it the full effect.

I laughed as we walked up to where her sister was.

"Hey girlie. I've missed you," I said giving Liz a hug.

"Same here, hey where's Ben? I thought he was coming too," she asked looking over my shoulder for him.

"Last minute business call. He said he'd try to show up tomorrow. Where's the guys?"

"They sent me and Courtney up to get you. They're trying to calm Nick down."

My heart started to beat a mile a minute. "What's wrong with Nick?"

"You," Courtney said as the baggage started coming in from the airplane.

"What do you mean me?" I asked looking back and forth from Liz to Court.

Liz shrugged signaling she didn't know anything so I turned my full attention to Courtney.

"Ok spill. What the hell did I do now to get Nick so hyped up?"

"You called saying you were going to be at the airport in two hours," Courtney said laughing.

I rolled my eyes and smacked her upside her head lightly as I walked up and grabbed my bag.

"Let's go," I stated after I walked back up to them.

"Owe, that hurt Shell," Courtney said rubbing the back of her head.

"Good, don't scare me like that again," I said with a smile, "I thought something was seriously wrong with the boy."

"This is Nick we're talking about right?" Liz asked.

"Yeah your point," I said climbing into Brian's car.

"Something is seriously wrong with that boy 24/7," Liz said with a laugh as she started the car up.

I couldn't help but laugh, "That is true."

"Yeah and it's you Shell. That boy is head over heels for you whether he wants to admit it or not."

"Whatever Courtney, I'm happy with Ben so if Nick does like me he should hook up with some one else."

Courtney let out a groan from the back seat signaling that she knew better but I just ignored it by turning the radio up and singing along with it.


 

* * * *
 

"Nick calm down. You're pacing isn't going to get Michelle here any faster."

I looked up from the floor and made eye contact with Leighanne.

"I know Lee. I don't know what I'm pacing for," I said as I continued pacing while running my fingers through my hair.

"It's so obvious you like her. Why not just tell her?"

I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at her. "Lee, she doesn't like me. She's with that Ben guy."

"So. I've seen how she looks at you. I think Ben is just a front for her."
I gave Leighanne a skeptical look and sighed.

"Yeah what she said," I heard Courtney join in. "She's here Nick... she's getting her stuff..."

That was all I needed. I bounded out of the door and saw her leaning into the trunk of the car getting her suitcases. I ran up to her and pulled her a way from the car and into the biggest hug I could muster without hurting her.

"NICK!!!!" she screamed laughing. "I missed you too but still," she said giggling as I spun her around.

"You'd think they were married or something," I heard Liz say to someone but I just ignored it. All that I cared about right then was that one of my best friends was back.

I sat Michelle back down and helped her get her two suitcases out of the car. When I turned around I saw that everyone was standing on the porch watching us.

"Do you feel a bit out of place?" I whispered to Michelle as she started up the walk.

"No, but then again I wasn't the one who just attacked me," she said with a smile and wink which caused my heart to skip a beat.

"I'm sorry I just missed you, a lot," I said defending myself as we walked passed everyone.

"Yeah, sure..." she said sitting on the couch.

I set the two suitcases I was carrying down next to me and looked at her. She looked like she was in pain.

"I didn't hurt you did I?"

She looked at me her eyes wide, "No what made you ask that?"

"You look like you're in pain," I told her.

Michelle shook her head standing, "No I'm just tired. I better go find out where I'm staying," she said bolting from my presence and I couldn't help but think that there was more she wasn't telling.

 

* * * *
 

I sighed as I just laid on the bed in the guestroom I was staying in. It felt so good to be with Nick again. I actually felt complete.

"What are you thinking Michelle, you're with Ben. And you can't leave Ben because you're life will be short lived if you do," I scolded myself.

Being here made me realize I wasn't as in love with Ben still as I thought. My heart was with someone else... someone I knew I could never have. Just thinking of Nick put a smile on my face, which wasn't exactly the best thing.

"You're in way too deep Michelle... keep it together..." I whispered to myself knowing that this little 'pep' talk wasn't going to do a damn bit of difference. I had it bad for the cute blonde that was sleeping right next to my room and because of that my life was just getting more and more complicated.

I let out a soft groan and stood up. It was nearing midnight and I knew everyone else was asleep but sleep was so far away for me that I knew I had to do something. I remembered that when Brian was showing me the property he told me about a lake that was no more than a mile into his pasture. I smiled knowing exactly where I was going to go. If I couldn't have the ocean... at least some form of water would work. I quickly got dressed and snuck out of the house as quietly as I possibly could.

It didn't take me long to make the walk to the lake. I had to admit it was freezing out but I was used to it. I pulled my jacket tighter around me and continued walking as the breeze blew. A light snow had fallen about an hour earlier and a few snow flakes were still falling giving the moonlit night a nice romantic feel. I sighed softly as I reached the lake wondering why I couldn't share moments like this with anyone. I was standing in the shadows when movement by the lake caught my eye. I looked and saw that some one was sitting against a log and a smile crept across my face. I knew exactly who it was with out even having to get any closer.

I walked up to him and sighed, "Mind if I join you?"

I looked down at him as he smiled, "No not at all. What are you doing up?"

"I should ask you the same thing," I said sitting down next to him.

"Couldn't sleep."

"Yeah..." I said softly, "I know how that is. My mind is a racing whirl wind and I can't make it stop, therefore, no sleep."

"What made you hunt out the lake?"

"Same thing that made you come here, Nick. I always go to the ocean when I have a lot on my mind, no ocean you find the next best thing."

Nick chuckled and continued looking out across the water. The reflection of the moon and stars made the entire scene breathtakingly beautiful. It held a beauty so delicate and intimate that you'd be crazy not to want to share it with someone, and at that moment I couldn't help but feel happy that I was sitting there with Nick.

"Are you cold?"

His soft voice cut through my thoughts and I looked at him. That was when I noticed I was shivering a little too much. I was only in a light jacket and a sweater, stupidity on my part.

"I guess," I said softly looking back out at the lake.

"Come here," he said pulling my arm.

I looked at him and moved so I was sitting in front of him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I leaned into him. For once in my life something felt right and I knew that tomorrow I'd wake up from this wonderful dream.

"Am I dreaming?" I asked softly not knowing what I was thinking or doing.

"Maybe," Nick whispered just as soft.

I looked back over my shoulder at him our lips so close, both of us knowing that we wanted them to touch.

"Nick..."

"Shhh..." he said as he captured my lips with his, sending goose bumps down my entire body and a burning sensation of fire through out my entire soul, the kind that only happens when you find your soul mate.