She shut and locked the door, kicking her shoes off. She was glad to be home, maybe more than usual. What a lousy day that had only gotten increasingly worse at the end. She made her way to her room, shucking her clothes and redressing. Veronica made her way back down to the kitchen to start dinner.
The whole thing with James was depressing her more than she would’ve liked. It’s not like she had any claim to him, it was that reason she shouldn’t be upset, couldn’t be. Yet…she was. She felt like she lost him when she’d never had him in the first place. She got a bowl out and then a box of cereal; she didn’t have much of an appetite for anything more. She sat down with her cereal, and had taken a few bites when the phone rang. Reaching out she checked the ID to see Lynne’s name and number come up.
“Hello?”
“Hey girl!”
“Hey Lynne.”
“God don’t sound so excited.”
“Sorry, sorry, just a lousy day today.”
“Worked sucked huh?”
“Yeah, but not for the typical reasons.”
“Oh? What else is there?”
“James.”
“Ahh loverboy,” Lynn chuckled.
“Yeah right.”
“Uh oh, what happened?”
“He’s going out on a date tonight.”
“Ok.”
“That’s it.”
“That’s what you’re upset about?”
“Isn’t it enough?”
“No, it’s a date Veronica, big deal.”
“It is a big deal Lynne; it’s a very big deal.”
“It is?”
“Yes! C’mon, he’s going out on a blind date with some girl who’s just gonna be perfect and sweet and all that shit.”
“Veronica, listen to yourself.”
“What? I can’t act immature every once in a while?” Veronica grumbled, shoving another spoonful of cereal in her mouth.
“You could, but it’s not becoming.”
“Fuck becoming.”
Lynne sighed, “You have no one to blame but yourself and you know it. Everyone, even the people you work with has been telling you to ask him out.”
“I know I know! It’s not that easy.”
“Yes it is Veronica. You just ask him out, to a club or…shit, I dunno, bowling.”
“That’s what they’re gonna do ya know? Tonight, bowl. His friend set them up,” she announced, eating more cereal.
“Oh Veronica, how’d you find out?”
“I heard him talking to Carla.”
“You eavesdropped??”
“NO! He was talking loud enough! I was cleaning one of the slicers and…”
“You’re pathetic,” Lynne laughed.
“Shut up!” Veronica moaned, finally pushing the bowl away, she’d lost her appetite completely now.
“So…”
“So, I still haven’t heard from Nick.”
“What’s it been now? Three weeks?”
“Two and not a peep. Maybe sending him the gifts was a bad idea; I must’ve really pissed him off or something.”
“By sending him a frame that glorifies his album and some poems? It wasn’t anything overly personal! I saw both and trust me, if someone’s gonna get pissed that someone gave them that, then there’s something wrong with them,” Lynne muttered.
“I dunno, I don’t know what to think to be honest. I guess this is it.”
“Eh he’s not worth it anyway; don’t even let it bother you.”
“I’m trying.”
“Well I’m gonna get going, gotta hop in the shower, but hey, keep me posted ok?”
“I will, later Lynne.”
“Bye.”
Veronica hung up, standing she grabbed her bowl to put it in the sink, when the phone rang again. She grabbed it and looked at the ID to see BLOCKED. Frowning she pressed the talk button, hoping it wasn’t a telemarketer. She’d put her name on the no call list, but she’d gotten a few stray calls here and there.
“Hello?”
“Hi, I’m looking for Veronica Peterson.”
Her frowned deepened, why was some guy looking for her?
“This is she.”
A small smile formed on his lips, she had a sexy voice. Soft and lilting, it reminded him of warm honey pouring over him. It suddenly seemed to fit what he thought she’d sound like. He could never define it now, could never find anyone who sounded close to what he imagined, but now…it was perfect. It was as if it was exactly what he’d heard in his head.
“Veronica? Hey, it’s Nick.”
“Nick? Nick who?”
He laughed, “Me, Nick Carter.”
She stilled, her heart dropping. Come to think of it, that voice did sound vaguely familiar. Try as she might though, she couldn’t bring herself to speak, she just stood there, blinking like an idiot.
“Uh hello? Veronica? You there?”
“Y-yes…I’m…I’m here, sorry.”
“You alright over there?”
“Mmmhmm, ya just…took me off guard.”
“You weren’t expecting me to call huh?”
“No…not…not really.” She was stuttering, she couldn’t believe it.
“Ouch, that hurt,” he chuckled softly.
“No no, it’s just, I mean you’re…it’s like…”
“Hey hey, it’s alright, I’m just teasing you,” Nick laughed. “I’m usually really bad about calling people back and all, so it’s ok.”
“Alright…uhh…umm…how are you?” She had to get it together, she had to relax. She slumped back down in the chair, her legs suddenly too weak and shaky to support her any longer.
“I’m doing alright. I just got home from a meeting with the guys for some stuff with the album, all that boring shit I’m sure you don’t wanna hear about.”
She couldn’t help but think she’d listen to him talk about scratching himself so long as he kept on talking, so long as she could hear his voice.
“No, it’s ok. How’s all that going?”
“Really good actually, we’re almost finished recording, got a few more songs to go.”
“Oh, well that’s good, I’m glad to hear that.” Sentences were becoming a bit easier for her now, she was starting to relax.
“Now Veronica, onto why I’m calling you.”
Uh oh, this didn’t sound good.
“Yes?”
“There’s more than me just wanting to talk to you, well that’s part of it. There’s more though.”
“Ok…” she replied hesitantly.
Nick laughed suddenly, “You sound like you’re preparing yourself for the worst.”
She gave a nervous chuckle, “Not at all.” But she was, she really was.
“Well, it’s about the gifts you sent me.”
Her heart dropped again, here it came. It was all the calm before the storm, the niceness leading up to him dropping her like a rock. She braced herself.
“Oh…ok.”
“It’s just, that I wanted to tell you in person so to speak, how much I liked them. Loved em actually.”
She blinked, obviously she hadn’t heard right.
“H-huh?”
“I loved them, really. I’ve…never gotten anything like that before.”
She let out a breath, “Wow really?”
“Oh yeah! I mean, fans give me stuff ya know, but…nothing quite like that. That frame, man it kicks ass. You did such an awesome job on it,” Nick said excitedly.
Veronica was blushing, actually blushing.
“Thanks…it’s…it’s not much and it’s really not that great or whatever.”
“C’mon, don’t downplay it. It rocks and you know it.”
“Well I know you got an official one for your album and all, and I tried to make it look as real as possible but ya know. It kinda pales in comparison to that…”
“Veronica, you made that yourself. You did all the work, it’s way more special than the other one. You put time and effort into it, trust me, it’s way better.”
She didn’t quite know what to say to that.
“Well…thank you Nick. I’m so glad you like it.”
“I should be the one thanking you, it was perfect, the poems too. I‘ve looked them over but haven‘t had the chance to read any yet, but I will.”
“Oh well that’s cool. I thought they’d help a bit.”
“Yeah, I think they might too.”
Veronica smiled, “Good.”
“So yeah, I just wanted to thank you for the gifts. They’re so cool cause you actually made em. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem, anytime.”
“I just didn’t want you to think I’d forgotten or that I didn’t like em, I’ve just been so damn busy here lately to even get online at night.”
She blushed, of course that’d been exactly what she’d thought.
“Ahh I understand, no need to explain.”
“Thanks. So, whatcha gonna be doing for Valentines Day?”
“Oh nothing, no one to spend it with anyway.”
“No boyfriend?”
“Nope.”
“Well damn, that sucks.”
Veronica laughed, “Nah, it’s no big deal, I‘m used to it.”
“Nah, this ain’t right. Let’s see…is there anyone you like that you could ask out?”
She grinned, it was just like talking to him online, it was amazing.
“Well…there’s this one guy at work. I think he may be seeing someone though, he‘s got a blind date tonight.”
“So, that doesn’t count.”
She sighed, what was it with everyone saying that didn’t count?
“You should ask him anyway.”
“Nah, I’m not up to it, besides he’s already going out with that girl, besides, I‘m not his type.”
“How do you know?”
“I just do.”
“Hmmm”
“So yeah.”
“Veronica…”
“Do you have someone for Valentines?” She asked quickly.
He was quiet for a moment before responding, “Not really, gonna play it by ear.”
“See, you’re talking about me and you don’t even have anyone!”
His soft chuckle sent shivers down her spine.
“I know I know, shame on me.”
Veronica laughed, shaking her head.
“Hey Veronica, can I tell you something?”
“Sure.”
“Well it’s just…it’s nice to have a voice to go with the letters and the emails and IM’s and all that ya know? It gives me an idea of how you are.”
Blushing, she was blushing again. “Well, I hope I didn’t disappoint you.”
“Not at all. It’s like…ya get an idea in your head of what someone sounds like that you’ve never heard, and then you hear them and it’s like…not what you thought, but it is. That’s pretty stupid right?”
“No, not at all! Like…you sound different on TV and when you sing then you do on the phone. I didn’t even recognize your voice.”
“I guess it is kinda different. Oh hey, let me give you my number. You can call me whenever. It’s hard for me to answer all the time, but you can always leave a message on my voicemail.”
“Oh ok, thanks.” She jotted the number down and hurried it up to her room to put in her phone book.
“Well I gotta get going. I should be online either tonight or tomorrow.”
“Are you sure? Tomorrow’s Valentines.”
“I’m gonna try my hardest. Can’t have you spending it alone.”
“Really it’s ok. You have fun.”
“I will, you take care and I’ll talk to you soon. Keep me posted on that guy too, cause I wanna know what happens.”
Veronica chuckled, “You bet.”
“Bye Veronica.”
“Bye Nick.”
