Hayley stood backstage watching her best friends onstage. She has known them for like ever since they got together, but she has known Nick longer than all of them. She and Nick have been best friends since birth. They have been through everything together. When Nick went on tour, Hayley went with him. They were never apart. Brian, Kevin, AJ, and Howie think of her as a little sister. They also thought that Hayley and Nick would make a great couple. But Hayley and Nick told them that it would never work. Hayley and Kevin were dating. Nick was the only one who didn't know they were together. Kevin came into Nick's dressing room where Hayley was. They kissed deeply. Nick headed for his dressing room. Brian stopped him.

"Hey Frack,want to hang out?" Brian asked.

"Sure, I need to get something out of my dressing room first," Nick said. He opened the door and saw Hayley and Kevin in a passionate kiss. He closed the door and looked at Brian.

"I suppose you didn't want me to see that?" Nick asked.

"See what?" Brian asked.

"Hayley and Kevin kissing, is there something going on?" Nick asked.

"Um, they are a couple, they weren't sure how to tell you," Brian said.

"Who else knows?" Nick asked.

"Everyone, you were the only one who didn't know," Brian said.

"How come?" Nick asked.

"Nick, we all know how you are protective you are of her, you ran off every guy she would get together with," Brian said.

"I can't believe this!" Nick said. He walked out the door. Brian went into Nick's dressing room and cleared his throat.

"Brian," Kevin said.

"Nick knows," Brian said.

"How?" Hayley asked.

"He walked in and saw you guys kissing, I didn't have a choice, I couldn't lie about it," Brian said.

"We know that, cuz, we should have did this in my dressing room," Kevin said.

"Is he mad?" Hayley asked.

"Yeah, because no one told him the truth," Brian said.

"I better go find him," Hayley said. She went out the door. Kevin looked at Brian.

"He's going to make her break up with me like the other guys," Kevin said.

"Probably, he really cares about her, I think he's in love with her, he just won't admit it or do anything about it," Brian said. Kevin sat down.

"I really want to be with her, but if Nick is mad and upset about it, I should break it off, I don't want to lose Nick's friendship over this," Kevin said.

"Kevin, just follow your heart, do what you think is right," Brian said. Kevin nodded and sat there thinking of what to do.

Chapter 2

Hayley found Nick at the park, sitting on a bench, staring at the ground. She sat down next to him. He looked up and saw her.

"Can we talk?" Hayley asked.

"Why, why did you have to lie to me," Nick said.

"Because you chase off every guy who I get together, it was like I couldn't have a boyfriend," Hayley said.

"Is that all, I never lied to you, Hayley, I don't understand why you couldn't be honest with me, why everyone had to hide the fact that you and Kevin were together," Nick said.

"Nick, I'm sorry, I just wasn't sure how you would take it," Hayley said.

"You have no idea what it did to me when I walked in and saw you and Kevin kissing in my dressing room," Nick said.

"What did it do to you?" Hayley asked. Nick got up and headed back to the venue. Hayley ran after him. Nick walked into his dressing room. Hayley came in and closed the door and looked at him.

"You didn't answer me, Nick, what did it do to you?" Hayley asked.

"I felt my heart drop and break into a million pieces," Nick said.

"What," Hayley said.

"God, Hayley, you don't get it, I wanted it to be me you were kissing, I wanted to be the one kissing you and holding you," Nick said.

"Nick," Hayley said.

"I am in love with you, Hayley, I have been in a long time, I was going to tell you tonight after the show, I wanted to be with you so badly," Nick said. Hayley sat down.

"Nick, you know now that I'm with Kevin," Hayley said.

“I know!” Nick said.

“I can’t believe this,” Hayley said.

“I want to be with you, Hayley, you are all I think about, I know there is no other girl for me,” Nick said.

“Nick, I can’t,” Hayley said. She went out the door. Nick sat back and stared at the ceiling.

Chapter 3

Brian came into Nick’s dressing room and saw him sitting there. Brian sat down. Nick looked at him.

       “I told her how I felt,” Nick said.

       “And?” Brian asked.

       “She don’t want me, she is with Kevin,” Nick said.

       “Kevin is thinking of breaking up with her, he doesn’t want to lose your friendship,” Brian said.

       “I just want her to be happy, Frick, god, I want to be with her so bad,” Nick said.

       “I know you do, man, but if she wants to be with Kevin, then what,” Brian said.

       “I have to be happy for her,” Nick said.

Hayley found Kevin sitting on the edge of the stage. She sat down next to him.

       “So what is the word on Nick?” Kevin asked.

       “He’s in love with me,” Hayley said.

       “Do you want to be with him?” Kevin asked.

       “Why would you ask that?” Hayley asked.

       “I can’t lose my friendship with Nick, it will affect the group, and we don’t need bad press right now, he’s my little brother, if he is not happy for us, then we shouldn’t be together, Hayley, you should be with him, I have seen how he looks at you, he is totally in love with you,” Kevin said.

       “Kev,” Hayley said.

       “Hayley, I have already made up my mind, you and I are still friends, I don’t want to lose your friendship either, I want you to be happy and I know it isn’t with me, Nick is the one for you, I know it,” Kevin said.

       “Are you sure about this?” Hayley asked.

       “I have thought about it, over and over again,” Kevin said. Hayley sat there.

       “I have to admit that I do have feelings for him,” Hayley said.

       “Go to him, Hayley,” Kevin said. She hugged him and went to find Nick. She went into his dressing room and saw him kissing Willa. She slammed the door. They broke apart and looked at her.

       “Keep your filthy lips off of him!” Hayley said.

       “You aren’t his girlfriend,” Willa said.

       “Did he tell you that he’s in love with me and wants to be with me?” Hayley asked.

       “He said you were with Kevin,” Willa said.

       “We broke up, I came in here hoping that Nick and I would get together, but I don’t want anyone who has been kissing you, Willa,” Hayley said. She walked out the door. She talked to Kevin and Brian. Before the guys went onstage, Hayley walked out onstage.

       “Hello everyone, I’m Hayley, I’m Nick’s best friend, as well as Kevin’s, Howie’s, AJ’s, and Brian’s best friend, I have been traveling with the guys ever since I have met them, they are like brothers to me, I would like to sing a couple of songs for you, one is Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson, and the other is Over by Lindsay Lohan, I hope you enjoy them,” Hayley said. She performed the songs. After she was done, she waved and went backstage and saw Nick standing there with his arms crossed.

Chapter 4

Kevin pulled Nick down to his dressing room and closed the door and looked at him.

       “What did you do?” Kevin asked.

       “Kissed Willa,” Nick said.

       “Are you crazy,” Kevin said.

       “Hey, Hayley didn’t want me,” Nick said.

       “Yes, she does, I broke up with her because I wanted you to be happy, and I wanted her to be happy, and I knew it was with you, but you had to screw it up!” Kevin said. Nick sat down.

       “You mean, you did this for me, you broke up with her so she could be with me,” Nick said.

       “Yes, but you kissed Willa and you know how much Hayley hates her,” Kevin said.

       “I know, I screwed up, didn’t I,” Nick said. Hayley burst into the room.

       “Nick, your mother just called, Leslie is in the hospital,” Hayley said. Nick looked at Kevin.

       “You two go back to Florida, we will be there tomorrow,” Kevin said. Nick and Hayley got their stuff and got on a flight back to Florida. Hayley stared out the window. She looked at Nick. He was looking at her.

       “I screwed up, didn’t I,” Nick said.

       “What do you mean,” Hayley said.

       “Kevin told me what he did, I didn’t know what he did, you walked out and I thought you didn’t want to be with me, I didn’t know what else to think, Willa showed up and wanted to get back together and she kissed me,” Nick said.

       “So you two aren’t back together?” Hayley asked.

       “Hayley, I know how much you hate her, so no, Willa and I aren’t back together, I told her that she and I could never be anything more than friends, she agreed because she is going talk to her ex-boyfriend who wants her back,” Nick said.

       “Do you want to be with me?” Hayley asked.

       “More than anything in the world,” Nick said. She took his hand and held it. He kissed her hand and they sat there waiting for the plane to land. Once it did, they went through security checkups and got a rental car and went to the hospital. They saw Jane, Bob, Aaron, Angel, and BJ sitting in the waiting room.

       “Mom, Dad,” Nick said. Jane hugged her son while Bob hugged Hayley.

       “Hayley,” Jane said hugging her tight.

       “How’s Leslie, Mama Carter,” Hayley said.

       “They are running some tests now,” Jane said.

       “What happened, Mom,” Nick said.

       “She went out with some friends, they were on the way home when a car hit them, Leslie was the only one hurt, the other driver was drunk and he’s in jail now,” Jane said.

       “Is she going to be okay?” Nick asked.

       “We don’t know yet, they are waiting for the tests before they tell us anything,” Jane said. They sat down and waited for the doctor to come out and tell them about Leslie.

Chapter 5

Hayley sat there with Nick, Jane, Bob, Aaron, Angel,
and BJ when she saw a doctor coming towards them. They
all stood up and looked at the doctor.
“Leslie is going to be fine, a few bumps and bruises,
a sprained ankle, and a couple of broken ribs, she’ll
be fine in six weeks, I want her to take it easy, so
she can heal, she already knows and understands, we
are releasing her,” the doctor said. An orderly
brought Leslie out in a wheelchair. The family went to
her. Hayley hung back. That night, Hayley sat in the
hotel room she and Nick were sharing. She was staring
out the window. She heard the door open and close. She
turned and saw Nick and he came over to her. She
hugged him.
“Get Leslie settled in?” Hayley asked.
“Yeah, why didn’t you come with us, you know they
consider you family,” Nick said.
“I was tired, I wanted to lay down, but I got here
and I looked out at the view and I couldn’t look
away,” Hayley said. He looked out the window.
“It is a good view,” Nick said.
“Nick, how long have you wanted to be with me?”
Hayley asked.
“Since we were 18,” Nick said.
“You waited seven years to tell me that, why didn’t
you tell me sooner”“ Hayley asked.
“I was scared that you didn’t feel the same way,”
Nick said.
“Nick, I did, I still do,” Hayley said.
“Can I kiss you?” Nick asked. Hayley nodded. Nick
cupped her face in his hands and leaned down and
kissed her softly. The kiss deepened and they held
each other. They looked at each other.
“I never want there to be a day without you in my
life,” Nick said.
“Same here,” Hayley said. They kissed again. He
picked her up and laid her on the couch and he laid on
top of her and they kissed deeply.
“I have wanted to be with you for so long and now
that I am, I am never letting you go,” Nick said
kissing her neck.
“Same here,” Hayley said closing her eyes, enjoying
the feeling of his lips on her skin.
“God, Hayley, I have to have you now, let me make
love to you,” Nick said. She looked at him and nodded.
They removed each other’s clothes and he made love to
her. He was gentle and loving. Afterwards, he laid on
top of her and buried his face in her neck.
“I love you, Hayley, I love you, so much, I know that
now, you are mine and I’m yours, it will kill me if I
let you go,” Nick said. He pulled back and kissed her
hungrily. They laid there holding each other. After
resting, he made love to her once more.
“Don’t ever leave me,” Nick said.
“I won’t, I couldn’t leave you if my life depended on
it,” Hayley said.
“Same here,” Nick said kissing her forehead and they
went into the bedroom and went to bed holding each
other.

Chapter 6

The next morning, Hayley woke up and Nick was gone. She got up and got dressed and saw Nick's stuff gone. She got her stuff together and went down to the lobby and looked around. She called Nick's cell phone and he didn't answer. She called Nick's parents. They said he went to catch up with the tour and told them that she wasn't going to be around anymore. Jane came to the hotel.

       "Hayley," Jane said.

       "Why would he say I wouldn't be around anymore," Hayley said.

       "He said that things didn't work out, that you two had a falling out," Jane said.

       "A falling out, he told me last night that he never wanted to let me go, that it would kill him to let me go," Hayley said.

       "Come with me to the house and I will call and talk to my son," Jane said. Hayley got her stuff and went with Jane to the house. Hayley sat down on the couch. Aaron came in and saw her and went to her and hugged her.

       "Hey Hayley!" Aaron said.

       "Hey Airboy, what's up," Hayley said.

       "Not much," Aaron said. Jane sat down with the phone and called Nick.

       "Hello," Nick said.

       "Nickolas Gene Carter, you are in big trouble, you lied to me," Jane said.

       "What do you mean," Nick said.

       "You told me that you and Hayley had a falling out, well, you lied to me, you left Hayley behind, she is sitting here right now with me and Aaron, she has no idea about a falling out, why did you leave her when you told her last night that you never wanted to let her go," Jane said.

       "You wouldn't understand, Mom," Nick said.

       "Well, until you can explain it, don't bother coming to see your brother and sisters," Jane said. She hung up the phone.

       "Mom," Aaron said.

       "Your brother has gone stupid, Aaron, he lied to me about Hayley, he said that they had a falling out, he left her behind and lied to me," Jane said.

       "I can't believe him," Aaron said.

       "He told her last night that he never wanted to let her go, that it would kill him to let her go and he did!" Jane said.

       "I can't believe this, how could he do this to Hayley!" Aaron said.

       "I know, Hayley, you are a member of this family no matter what, you are like another daughter to us and a sister to Aaron, Angel, Leslie, and BJ," Jane said. Hayley smiled a little. Jane went upstairs and made her up a room. Hayley closed the door after Jane left the room. She laid on the bed and cried softly. Her cell phone rang. She looked and saw Brian's number.

       "Hello," Hayley said softly.

       "Hayley, what's going on, Nick said you had a falling out," Brian said. Hayley wiped her eyes.

       "Brian, he lied, we didn't have a falling out, he left me behind and lied to his mother about it, he told her that they wouldn't be seeing me around anymore because things didn't work out and we had a falling out, which is not true, I woke up and he was gone, I didn't know until I called his mother when I found out that he left to catch up with the tour and he told them lies," Hayley said.

       "What, I can't believe him!" Brian said.

       "He told me that he never wanted to let me go, that it would kill him, that didn't happen, he had no problem letting me go," Hayley said. She stared at the ceiling.

       "Where are you now?" Brian asked.

       "I'm at his parents' house, Jane made a room up for me," Hayley said looking out the window.

       "I will take care of this, Hayley, don't leave the house," Brian said. He hung up. Hayley laid there staring out the window. She got her stuff together and went downstairs and said goodbye to Jane and Aaron and called a cab and waited for it. Once it arrived, she went to the airport and got on a plane to Florida. She went to her parent's house and knocked on the door. The door opened and her mother stood there dressed in her pajamas.

       "Hi Mama," Hayley said. Laura hugged her daughter.

       "Jane called and told me everything, come here," Laura said. She closed the door and sat down on the couch with her daugther.

       "I still don't understand why he did this," Laura said.

       "I don't either," Hayley said.

Back at the Carters'......

Jane and Aaron stood there looking at Nick. Brian, Kevin, AJ, and Howie stood there.

       "Why did you lie to us, Nickolas," Jane said.

       "Stop with the name, you know how much I hate being called that," Nick said.

       "And you know how much I hate you lying to me, why did you do that to Hayley, she has been there for you forever, and you treat her this way, you told her you never wanted to let her go, but you did," Jane said.

       "Yeah, Nick, Hayley's been your best friend forever, now you have lost her, she will never give you the time of day now, you hurt her too much," Aaron said.

       "You guys wouldn't understand my reasons," Nick said.

       "Tell us," Jane said crossing her arms and glaring at her son.

       "I was scared, okay, scared of who I would become if I stayed with her," Nick said.

       "A better man, in love, that's who you would become, you kept telling us that you were in love with her and scared to confess, now that has happened, you dump her because you are scared of the person you would become, that is stupid!" Jane said.

       “Where is she?” Nick asked.

       “She left, don’t know where but she couldn’t stay here, you lost her for good,” Jane said. Nick buried his face in his hands.

Chapter 7

Nick sat out back on the patio of his parent's house, staring at the ocean. He heard a noise and looked and saw his mother.

"I lost her for good, didn't I," Nick said.

"Yes, you did, Nick, you have known her for a long time, she's been your best friend and now you two got together and you had to ruin it because you were scared, the guy you would have become would have been a guy in love, do you want to be that guy, be a guy in love?" Jane asked.

"Yes," Nick said.

"You really screwed up," Jane said.

"You don't have to keep telling me that, I know I did," Nick said. Kevin came out.

"We found Hayley, she's at her mom's," Kevin said.

"Guys, just leave her be," Jane said.

"I know Hayley, if she's upset, don't go near her," Nick said.

The next day, the guys went back on tour. Nick never stopped thinking about Hayley and what he did to her. All the girl fans would throw themselves at him but he didn't bother touching them. After every show, he shut himself on his bus and lay on the bed staring at the ceiling of the bus, thinking of Hayley. Before he knew it, three months went by and it was the end of the tour. The guys returned to their homes. Nick walked into his empty house and laid down on the couch.

Meanwhile..............

Hayley stared at the tiny stick in her hands. She couldn't believe it. She was pregnant with Nick's baby. She knew the tour ended and the guys were home by now. Her mother came into the bathroom and saw her. She looked at the pregnancy test and looked at Hayley. Laura hugged her daughter.

"I'll be here for you," Laura said.

"Should I tell him?" Hayley asked.

"Do what you think is right, Nick is going to be a father no matter what so it's best to tell him now, but make sure you are pregnant first," Laura said.

The next day, Hayley went to see a doctor and he confirmed that was indeed pregnant and she was three months along. She went home and saw her mother.

"I'm three months pregnant," Hayley said.

"Better tell the father," Laura said. Hayley went to Nick's house and went up to the door and rang the bell. The door opened and Nick stood there.

"Hayley," Nick said.

"I just came to tell you that you are going to be a father, I just found out today, goodbye," Hayley said. She headed for her car.

"Hayley, wait," Nick said following her. She turned and looked at him.

"What is it," Hayley said.

"Can we talk, I want to explain why I did what I did," Nick said.

"Why bother," Hayley said.

"Hayley, come on, please, this isn't easy for me," Nick said.

"Fine," Hayley said. They went inside and sat down.

"The reason I did what I did was because I was scared, scared of the person I would become if I was with you," Nick said.

"What person would that be?" Hayley asked.

"A person who would hurt you," Nick said.

"Hurt me, you did hurt me!" Hayley said.

"Not intentionally, I didn't mean to hurt you like that, god Hayley, I wish I could go and change everything but I can't, I know I screwed up, I know what I did was wrong and I'm sorry for that, I love you, Hayley," Nick said.

"You love me?" Hayley asked.

"Yes, I do, more than anything on earth," Nick said.

"Nick, you really hurt me when you left and told your mother I wouldn't be around anymore and said we had a falling out," Hayley said.

"I'm sorry, Hayley, for hurting you, but I realized what kind of guy I would be if I was with you," Nick said.

"What," Hayley said.

"A guy in love," Nick said. Hayley looked at him.

"Will you ever hurt me again?" Hayley asked.

"No, I won't, I promise, if you be with me again," Nick said.

"Don't let me go," Hayley said. Nick pulled her close.

"Never, and it's a promise this time," Nick said. They kissed deeply.

"Make love to me, Nicky," Hayley said. He picked her up and carried her up to his room and laid her on the bed. He closed the door and locked it and laid beside her. He stroked her face and kissed her tenderly. He removed her clothes and removed his and he gently made love to her. Afterwards, they laid there holding each other and Nick knew he was never going to let her go ever again.