Lauren had loved the Backstreet Boys since she heard them for the first time. She especially loved Nick, his voice and his face were beautiful. Now, though, she was upset and really needed Nick to hold her up. They talked about all sorts of things in the waiting room, the pro's and con's of being famous and what Lauren's life was like. They were instantly friends, and the two year age difference really didn't matter anyway. Lauren was going to graduate in two weeks and then she could, hopefully, be with Nick all the time.
The doctor came back out and said that Katie could take visitors, but one at a time. Her family and Lauren went first, and the guys stayed back, except for Brian. He walked in and saw Katie sitting up, looking through a magazine, not expecting any other visitors. She was wearing the usual hospital shirt and her medium-brown hair fell just past her shoulders. Her blue eyes scanned the magazine, staring at a picture of the Backstreet Boys, wondering if the whole episode in the mall had really happened or if she imagined it. Brian stood in the doorway, wearing a blue shirt and khakis, the same outfit he had worn at the mall. He cleared his throat but Katie didn't respond, so he did it again.
"Lauren what are-" she started and then looked up into the gentle eyes of Brian, but she immediately took her glance away. "Hello Mr. Littrell," she said carefully, putting the magazine down and turning the television on, to be met with the guys singing on a talk show, she rolled her eyes and turned it off. "You guys are everywhere, even in my room!" She said through a careful smile. "You know you don't have to make me laugh, or entertain me. Tell me how you really feel," he said coming closer to her bedside and she looked at him, their eyes met for the longest moment, but this time it was Brian who pulled away. "I know, I am just trying to lighten the moment. I really apologize for the inconvenience this caused you...." She said carefully staring at the magazine that had a picture of the Backstreet Boys on the cover. "This is not an inconvenience, you saved our lives and Nick is having the time of his life with Lauren," he said happily. They both knew it was true, Katie just didn't want to admit it. "Yeah... guess, but I bet this isn't how you wanted to spend your day today," she said softly and began to drift off into a deep sleep.