He watched as she talked to the girl at the counter of the bookstore, the way that her eyes lite up when she smiled sent a warm feeling through his body. Her hair was half held up by a black clip at the back of her head, letting her long auburn hair hand halfway down her back, he had to tighten his grip on his ow shopping bags to keep from running his hands through it. As she handed the cashier the money for the 3 books she just purchased, he noticed a beautiful ring on the middle finger of her right hand. It was a white-gold band that held a cross diagnaly across it with small diamonds inside the cross. Something so simple, but so beautiful. He remembered that he did promise to by her something special, but thus far he found it becoming unsussesful, because everytime she noticed what he was up to she would yank him out of the store before he had a chance to buy it. But now he knew exactly what he wanted to give her.

     Suddenly he came up with an idea, "Joce, I am going to make a quick run a couple stores over to that Game store. I want to get a new game for my Gameboy Advance, Ok?"

     Rolling her eyes, Joce smiled. "Men and their toys." Then went right back to her conversation with the cashier about the new books some writer jsut came out with.

     Nick walked out of the store and  once he knew he was out of her site he ran down the mall and past the game store and into the jewlery store next to it. Half out of breath he headed straight for the man at the counter, "Sir, I need a simple,  white-gold cross with diamond in it, about an inch long." He said quickly.

     The man chuckled, "Trying to buy it behind her back? Here I have the perfect piece." He said as he held out a necklace with a cross that matched with Jocelynn's ring.

     Nick handed the man his credit card quickly, "Ring it up, I don't care the price, wrap it up please also. I will be right back." The man nodded as Nick quickly ran out of jewlery store and into the game store. He grabbed a game and payed for it in cash in under 2 minutes. He ran back to the store and signed the recipet, grabbed the credit card and hide the gift in his larger bags. He walked out of the store and saw Jocelynn walking out of the bookstore. 'Oh my god, just in time' He thought to himself as he made it up to her.

     She looked up at him and smiled at him when they final faced eachother, "So wanna grab some grub?"

     "Always." Nick laughed readjusted his hat and glasses, for his 'disguise' as the made their way to the food court. After they sat down next to eachother with their bags and food, Nick couldn't help but ask her a few questions. "If you don't want to answer this you don't have to, but how is it that your only 21, already divorceed, and have a 2 year old son?"

     "I don't mind you, actually my son, Drogyn is 3 years old now, he just turned 3 the other week. And it's kinds simple, when I was 15 I started dating Joseph, my ex-husband who was at the time 22. Anyway about few months after my 18 birthday I found out that I was pregnant. It was kind of a blur from there, all of a sudden I was pregnant and the next thing I knew we got married at civil service by a Justice-of-the-Peace, it was all under the pretense of 'for the sake of the child'. I will admit that it wasn't my brightest moment, but I was 18 and scared otu of my mind of having a baby alone. I didn't really have a good relationship with Gi-Gi and I's parents so that even scared me further.
 
     But I thought I was doing the right thing. Needless to say, things didn't work out, we fought all the time, even started sleeping in seperate beds during that last year of the marriage. There were issues with trust, lying, lack of compassion, lack of parental support when it came to my son. After 2 and a half years we finally called it quits, it wasn't healthy for our son to be raised in that enviorment. I am actually happier now because Joe and I still get along, we are good friends, just not a good couple. Plus he has an even better relationship with Drogyn now then when we were married. So it was all for the best." She concluded. Nick just stared at her in wonder and she blushed. "What is it?"

    Nick shook his head and smiled, "Nothing, it's just amazing that you have gone through this, been in a divorce and have a son and you are so young. You are an incredible person, Jocie."

    Joce blushed again and took a sip of her soda, "Thank you, your a great person too," She smiled as she leaned over and kissed him on the left side cheek nearly brushing his lips. "Come on, it's 2 o'clock. How about we drop our bags off in the car then hit a few more stores."She suggested while standing up.

     "Why, you aren't even buying much, other then your 3 books, you got an outfit for Drogyn, and a new pair of earings."

     "Not all of us have the same expendable account of money that you have. Plus, I am a simple girl, I don't need alot of clothing or what not, but I will admit I do need to buy a new pair of shoes. I am thinking a pair of black leather mid length dress boots with at least an inch and a half heal."

     "Geez, could you be any more specific?"

     "Sqrew you, Carter." Joce laughed as they walked out of the mall and to her car.

     "Like I said before, I will leave it up to you to decide where and when." Nick retorted with a naughty grin.

                                                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Alex looked at his watch, it was 6:12pm. Jocelynn, Max and Nick just walked through the doors of the resturant laughing together. The gang all agreed to meet up at quarter after 6 for drinks and dinner. They had the whole hotel resturants booked to them selves for privacy. Max held in his hand black briefcase that Joce was currently trying to nab away from him with out any success so far.

     Everyone stood up when they made it table and exchanged hugs and welomes. Alex managed to get a hug from Joce, who quietly whispered in his ear, "Meet me 10 minutes after I leave by the south elevators." Alex couldn't help but have a smile on his face for the rest of the night. Nick and Max sat on both sides of Jocelynn, across the table from Alex who sat next to Kevin on one side with his wife and D. and Gina on the other. Everyone talked about Gina and Howie's up an coming wedding. It was already May and they planned to marry on halloween so there was not much time left.

     Alex everyonce and awhile would glance at Jocelynn, who looked stunning tonight. Gina must have gotten to her again because she was wearing a simple black dress, that had 2 shoulder-straps about a inch and a half wide, with a square-cut neck line, it hung a lil above her knees. Her thick hair was let down, but was behind her shoulders minus her bangs that framed the left side of her face right below her cheek bones. Her neck was bare as were her hands minus a simple ring. He thought she looked beautiful, as did Nick who was glancing at her to while she was talking with Brian and Kevin about horsebackridding.

     After they all had finished eating and thier plates were cleared, they all sat talking till Gina chimed in, "Ok since no one else will say it, I might as well. Max since when do you carry a briefcase? And more importantly what is inside it."

    Howie playful but a finger to her lips, "Darling, paitence is a virture."

    "I know it is, and I have never cliamed to be a virtous woman, now have I." The whole table laughed.

     Max lifted the breifcase from the ground beside him and set it on the table, "Well then, I guess it is time,"He said as he opened it op and took out a black cd case, followed by a laptop. He turned the laptop on and placed the cd in it. "This is the final cut of the 'Climbing the Walls' duet." he said winking at Jocelynn who looked down at the table. She could feel the anxiety overwelm her body.

     Alex could feel her anxiety, he moved his leg under the table and brushed it against hers, bringing her eyes up to his he smiled at her, as if to reassure her. LeighAnn asked, "Well who did you find to do the duet with?"

     Max shook his head, "Listen first." as he pressed play. All through out the resturant the music to 'Climbing the Walls' played, Alex's voice along with Nick's followed. The chorus of all the men's voices blended so well, then this voices from a woman followed, singing the second verse and joining the 5 men's voices in the chorus. When Alex and her's voices sang to eachother a haunting feeling came over all the listeners. When the song was finished, and the room was silent.

     Jocelynn could feel the anxiety once again build up into her throat as she looked around the table at everyone. No one noticed her doing so because they were all staring at Max, waiting for him to talk. Max closed the laptop and as he put it back into his breifcase he asked, "So what did you guys think?"

     "Who was the girl?" Came out of Kevin's mouth.

     "It was amazing." Howie whispered.

     "That is going to be a hit." Brian nodded.

     Max looked at Jocelynn and pointed at her, "That is the girl." All eyes turned to her and she felt like running, but all she could do was give everyone a half smile and a lil wave.

     "Can we all stop looking at me please?" She asked.

     Nick put his arm over her shoulder and gave her a hug, "It was even better then when we were in the studio."

     Kevin and Kristen nodded, Kev smiled, "Yea Joce, I mean you did very well. I hope that you agree to let it go out as the final single from the album before our next one comes out." Everyone agreed and after much coxing Jocelynn agreed to it. Even to singing it along with them if offered the oppertunity. Nick to his spoon and clinked it against the wine glass.

     "Everyone, I would like your attention."

     "Nick you always want attention." Brian joked.

     "I know that, but this time it's not selfish attention." Everyone at the table rolled thier eyes. "Hey I am serious! Jocie," He addressed as he turned to face her and handed her a small rectangular box. "This is from me to thank you for singing on the song with us and allowing it to be played."

     Looking from the box in her hand she looked back up at Nick, seeing Alex's curious expration out of the corner of her eye. "Nick I told you that you didn't have to get me anything."

     "I know but I wanted to. You were a really good sport about it all."

     She opened the box and found the necklace Nick has bought earlier. "Oh, it is beautiful." Nick took it from the box and helped her put it on. "Thank you Nick."

     Gina rolled her eyes, looking back and forth from Alex to Nick and Joce. 'This is starting to get better the a soap opera.' She thoguht to herself. Scooting back in her chair, she rose, "Well it is almost 9pm. I need to be getting back upstairs to relieve Pollyanna of my son."

     "Us as well," Leighanne and Brian said as the got up from the table. Everyone said thier goodbyes.

     When asked what she was doing later tonight, by Nick, she smiled "I am very tired, I have to call Drogyn before he goes to bed and I still have some things to do at home, like feed the cat. I'll talk to you later." She finished giving him a hug as he got on the elevator.

     Alex had stayed behind with Max, talking about the single, as she walked off to the south enterence of the hotel. When Max left about 10 minutes later, Alex walked down that way as well. He came up upon her, talking on her cell with her son. He hit the button for the elevator with out her knowing. When she got off her phone the elevator opened at the same time. Alex grabbed her, and pulled her into the elevator with him. Pushing her up against the wall with his body.