Chapter 19

 

Hours later, Angela returned home to an empty house.   When she entered the dark kitchen and turned on the light, she found a note scrawled out on a piece of neon colored paper, lying on the kitchen table.

 

Angela –

 

Paul’s been in a crash.  Come to Orlando General ASAP.

 

- Lynn

 

Angela gasped.   An crash?  Her father?   “Oh, my God,” Angela cried aloud.   Fear ran through her, and her body began to tremble.   She needed to get to the hospital, she knew.   But her hands were shaking so much, she wasn’t sure she could drive.

 

Thinking quickly, Angela realized her best option and ran to the phone.   She dialed a number now very familiar to her and waited as the phone rang.

 

“Hello?” came a voice.  Nick’s voice.

 

“Nick!” Angela cried. 

 

“Hey, Ang,” Nick said.  “What’s the matter?”

 

“My dad was in an accident,” Angela said, wincing as she said those horrible words.

 

“Oh my God, is he okay?” Nick asked, genuine concern evident in his voice.

 

“I don’t know,” Angela replied.  “Lynn just left a note and said to come to Orlando General as soon as possible.  But I’m so shaken up, I don’t think I can drive.”

 

“I’ll be there to pick you up in five minutes, okay, honey?”

 

“Oh, thank you, Nick,” Angela said gratefully.

 

“Don’t thank me.  You know I’d do anything for you in a heartbeat.  I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Nick said.

 

“Okay.   Thanks,” Angela replied, hanging up.   Stifling back a sob, she went to wait for Nick to come.

 

***

 

Nick made it there in less than five minutes, and Angela ran out the door to meet him before he even got out of the car.   She hopped into the passenger side, and he turned to greet her.

 

“How are you doing?” Nick asked.

 

Angela managed a smile.  “I’ll be okay once I know that he’s going to be all right,” she said. 

 

Nick said nothing, just started the car and drove them to the hospital.

 

***

 

“Lynn!”  Angela called, catching sight of her stepmother sitting in a chair in the waiting room they had been shown to by a nurse, looking restless and worried.

 

Lynn looked up when she heard her name called.  When she saw Angela and Nick, her eyes narrowed. 

 

Angela didn’t notice this though and quickly hurried over to her, glad to see a familiar face, one that could tell her more about her father’s condition.

 

“Lynn, how is he?” she asked worriedly, standing in front of Lynn.

 

Lynn shook her head.  “No one’s told me anything,” she said.  “But I’ve been here quite awhile.  It must be bad if it’s taking this long.”

 

A tremor of fear ran through Angela, but she refused to believe the worst.

 

“You know how hospitals can be,” Nick put in quickly.   “Everything takes forever.  I’m sure he’s fine and waiting in some exam room for a doctor to discharge him.”

 

Angela wanted to believe what Nick was saying, but just as she tried not to believe the worst, she couldn’t get her hopes up, thinking that he would be just fine.  She had to be realistic.

 

Lynn glared icily at Nick.  “Who are you?” she demanded.

 

Nick and Angela exchanged glances.  Nick stared at her meaningfully, as if to say, “We need to come clean with her.”

 

Angela silently agreed.  “This is Nick, Lynn.  He’s my boyfriend,” she said boldly, as if challenging Lynn to say anything negative in this situation.

 

Lynn was silent a moment, studying Nick intently.  And suddenly, her mouth dropped open.  “Nick Carter,” she breathed.   If looks could kill, Nick would be dead in an instant by the icy glare she gave him.  

 

“Yes, ma’am,” Nick said, trying to be polite. 

 

Lynn’s gaze flickered between Nick and Angela, as if she was not sure what to do or say.   “You little traitor,” she spat finally, her eyes locked on Angela.

 

Angela’s eyes narrowed, her gaze just as hard and cold as her stepmother’s.   But before she could make a comeback, Lynn continued, “I can’t believe that you would sink so low as to date a Backstreet Boy behind my back!   Did you think I wouldn’t figure it out?  How could you be so heartless!?”  She was yelling now, but Angela didn’t back down anyway.

 

“Shut up!” she yelled.  “How can you call me a traitor?  Justin’s being in ‘N Sync, and Nick’s being in Backstreet Boys has nothing to do with this!  I love Nick for the person he is, not the group he’s in.  Why can’t you see through some stupid competition between groups and at least give Nick a chance?  Why can’t you give any of them a chance?  The whole reason there was such a rivalry between the two groups was because of people like you!  You’re just looking for one!”

 

Lynn’s mouth opened, about to spit out more nasty comments, but she was interrupted by a doctor approaching. 

 

***

 

 

Next

 

Back to index

 

 

 

1