It was 3 days after the accident.
“So I get to leave here tomorrow,” Kevin said.
“Yeah, I heard,” Lynnsey replied. “And I guess when you leave I’ll go back to Tampa…”
“And talk to Ross… right?”
“Right.”
“I understand that you’re still going to have some feelings for him, Lynn. After 4 years with the guy, I don’t blame you. And you can take as long as you want to explain things to him. I just… I feel so bad that you’re giving up a relationship with your boyfriend for me, and I’m not even going to be able to see you that often until the tour ends…”
“Don’t feel guilty about it Kevin. My relationship with Ross was bound to end sooner or later, because I was gradually falling out of love with him and in love with you. And believe me, I am more than willing to wait for you.” Lynnsey sighed, happily. “I’m just glad that I’m with you right now. I was so blind before… to miss all the signals you were sending me.”
“Yeah, you were pretty blind. I’m glad you finally ‘regained your vision’,” Kevin said playfully, yawning.
Lynnsey kissed his forehead. “You need to go to sleep, get some rest. I have to go call my mom. I’ll be right back.”
Lynnsey smiled at Gretchen as she got to the pay phone. Gretchen was using it.
“I just feel really bad because my record execs are just waiting for me to get back to California. I have one day’s work left on my album, and they really want to get it done with. They don’t understand why I want to stay here with Nick until he’s made a full recovery,” Gretchen was saying.
Lynnsey waited patiently, trying not to eavesdrop.
“I know that… *pause* Yeah, you’re right. Thanks. You always know what to say to cheer me up. Bye, David. Later.” Gretchen hung up the phone and smiled again at Lynnsey.
“Calling your mom?” Gretchen asked.
“Yeah.” Lynnsey put her hand on the receiver.
Gretchen started to walk away, and then turned around.
“You know, Lynnsey, I’m really glad that you’re here for Kevin. I could tell that he had really been needing someone to connect with, and I think you’re the one he’s been looking for,” Gretchen said.
“Well, don’t give me too much credit. I also need Kevin for my… connection, I guess you could say. But thanks.”
“No problem.”
Lynnsey dialed her mom’s cell phone number, happy that Gretchen and the rest of the Backstreet Boys had turned out to be as nice as Kevin.
“I’m going to need to hear your voice at least once a day,” Kevin said to Lynnsey as they prepared to separate the next day.
“Ditto. Call me every night, OK? I’ll tell you when I’ve talked things over with Ross, and I’ll probably need you for moral support after, OK?”
“Right. Take care of yourself, and tell your parents ‘Hi’ for me. I love you, Lynn.”
“I love you too, Kev,” Lynnsey replied. “Bye.”
They kissed and hugged, and then Lynnsey left him to get on her plane. Kevin watched it lift off into the air, and then walked back to his car and drove to meet the other guys back at the hospital.
Nick still had to stay there for a few more days, and so they had no choice but to do the next couple of concerts with only four guys. They were going to the hospital to say good-bye to Nick before they left.
Kevin was shocked to feel a tear slide down his cheek as he left the airport. After all that had happened, why was he sad?! He had the girl of his dreams, finally, and after the tour, he was going to be with her.
Still, he couldn’t bear the thought of the next few months without her. He had finally gotten her, and now he had to leave her again.
Back at the hospital, Brian, AJ, Howie, and Kevin stood around Nick’s bed. There were many, many balloons and flowers in the room now.
“Take care, bro. We’ll see you in a few days,” AJ said, giving Nick some dap.
“Yeah, Nick. Don’t even think about pretending to still be hurt just so you can see your girl more. We need you out there,” Brian said.
Nick laughed quietly. “You read my mind.”
“Hey, the Grammies are in two weeks, so you’re going to see her then,” Howie said.
“That’s right, I totally forgot about that!” Kevin exclaimed.
“So did I,” Brian and AJ said in unison.
“Look guys, don’t worry. As soon as I can get out of this hospital, I will. Y’all just need to do your best until I can come back on the tour,” Nick said.
“We will, bro. OK guys, we have to go now. Our flight to Boston leaves in an hour,” Kevin said.
“Later Nick,” they all said.
They passed Gretchen coming in as they left.
“Bye guys,” she told them.
Gretchen smiled at Nick and sat down next to his bed.
“Feeling any better?”
“Yeah, a lot.”
“Look, babe… I’m going to have to leave tomorrow.”
“To go where?”
“Back to Los Angeles. I talked to my agent just now, and… he insists that I come back so I can finish my album.”
“But… the guys just left, my family has all gone back to Florida… you’re all I have left here,” Nick said. “I’ll get lonely.”
“I know Nick, but he insists…” Gretchen trailed off.
“You can’t just leave…” Nick said.
“But everyone else can? Why do I have to be different? I have been here since Day One, Nick, and now that you’re doing better I can go back with no worries about your health, finish my album, and I’ll see you again at the Grammies real soon,” Gretchen said gently.
“Maybe I’m being selfish, Gretchy, but I don’t want you to leave until I do… Don’t you want to be with me as much as you can?”
“Of course I do, Nick, but they’re all making me feel really guilty back in L.A. My agent says that they’re all starting to get miffed that I’ve been away. Time is money… or so he says. I don’t want them – all the people who have been helping me produce this album – to think that I don’t have my priorities straight.”
“Wait a second…”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Gretchen interjected. “I love you Nick, and I do want to be with you. Don’t you understand that I’m torn right now? I don’t want to leave you, I don’t want to go back just yet, but I have to. Can’t you see that?”
“I guess you’re right,” Nick said glumly. “After all, I know what it’s like to have pushy producers.”
Gretchen squealed. “Thank you, Nick! I so don’t want you to be upset with me.” She kissed him happily, and sighed. “Thanks for understanding.”
‘Why do I have to be such a pushover?’ Nick thought.
Kayla sat in her dressing room and stared blankly at the mirror as the makeup artist applied blush to Kayla’s cheekbones.
“Helen,” Kayla said to the makeup artist, “have you heard any gossip lately about Kevin and a certain girl that visited him when he was in the hospital a couple of days ago?”
“Oh, yes, I was discussing it with AJ when I was fixing him up. The girl is a friend of Kevin’s from Florida. Apparently, she holds a very special place with Kevin.” Helen laughed. “He certainly is a catch, isn’t he?”
“Well, is this girl his new girlfriend?” Kayla asked.
“I guess so. Isn’t it romantic? She traveled thousands of miles to be with him when she heard about the accident, and they weren’t even a couple yet!”
“Yeah… romantic,” Kayla said, dryly.
One of the guys who worked with the sound equipment stuck his head in the dressing room. You need to be ready to go onstage in 5 minutes,” he said to Kayla. “Boston is waiting!”
Helen put on the finishing touches and Kayla hurriedly slipped on her shoes. She took one last glance at herself in the mirror, and then left the dressing room and headed for the long hallway that led to the entrance of the stage. She passed Kevin and AJ on her way.
“Good luck, Kayla,” they said.
Kayla smiled a small smile, feeling as though Kevin had betrayed her. Though he had never said he liked her in that way or anything, she thought that they had been hitting it off. And now this? Another girl? That girl, Claudia, who obviously liked Kevin as well would be equally disappointed, she knew. She wondered of Claudia knew yet. She’d be sure to fill her in later.
As Kayla headed on stage, the guys were still getting ready. Claudia helped Kevin get his jacket on. Kayla was wrong, Claudia had heard about Lynnsey, and was none too pleased.
“I heard about your new girlfriend,” Claudia said as civil as she could. “Congratulations.”
Kevin grinned. “Thanks, Claud. I hope you can find some romance too.”
‘I would have if it wasn’t for that stupid girl,’ Claudia thought, bitterly. It wasn’t that she even knew Lynnsey to legitimately dislike her, but she would have felt the same about any woman that took Kevin away. Including that Kayla girl who thought she was hot stuff. At least Kevin wasn’t dating her.
After performing, Kayla felt even worse about the whole Kevin situation. She had never been one to pine after someone who was taken, but Kevin was special. And his girlfriend wasn’t there. Kayla was.
When the concert was finished, the Boys came backstage, sweaty and tired.
“Let’s go out to eat now,” Kayla said, greeting them.
“I don’t know,” AJ said. “I’m kind of tired…”
“No, we have to! To celebrate Kevin getting out of the hospital. And to do in hopes that Nick will be with us soon.” It was the first excuse that popped into her head.
“AJ, would you rather just go back to the hotel?” his girlfriend, Jen asked, coming up behind him. AJ glanced back and saw Jen’s now ex-boyfriend, Curtis, glaring at them from far away. Curtis hated him now.
“Uh… maybe the dinner thing is a better idea,” he said, glancing back at Curtis again.
“Great! Let’s go!” Kayla said.
“I need to call Michelle,” Brian said just as Howie said, “I need to call Kara.”
“Hey babe,” Michelle said when she heard Brian’s voice over the phone.
“Hey yourself. I miss you,” he told her.
“Oh, I miss you too… so much. I’m going to be your date to the big Grammy Awards, though, right?”
“Definitely. I’m so glad I’m going to get to see you, ‘Chelle. I miss you sooooooooooo much.”
“Now you’re over-exaggerating,” Michelle laughed.
“No, I’m not. Do you realize that it’s been over a month since I’ve see you in person?”
“Of course. I’ve been counting the days, Brian. I miss you too, you know?”
Brian didn’t even realize how much he missed his girlfriend until he’d seen Kevin with Lynnsey and Nick with Gretchen. It had surprised him, because he had never expected to want to be with her so much. Their relationship was, for the most part, more casual than serious, and they had not even ventured into the ‘I love you’ territory. So far it had been ‘I like you a lot.’
“I can’t wait to see you for the Grammies and then for the world premiere of your movie… and then the Academy Awards…” Brian continued on. Kayla interrupted him.
“Let’s go, you guys, before all the decent restaurants close.”
“I have to go, Michelle. We’re going to get something to eat. I’ll call you tomorrow, OK? Bye.”
Brian hung up his phone, and followed the whole crew to the limos that waited outside.
Kayla made sure that she sat by Kevin when they got to the restaurant. To her annoyance, Claudia sat on the other side of him.
Kayla casually laid her hand on top of Kevin’s. “I’m so happy that you’re doing better, Kevin. I was worried sick about you!”
“So was I!” Claudia chimed in.
“Well, thanks…” said an uncomfortable Kevin.
“Why are you so quiet?” Jen asked AJ.
“I’m just worrying about Curtis, you know? He’s really mad at me for stealing you away from him.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that! Curtis couldn’t hurt a fly! He’d be too chicken to even confront you about it. Besides, you didn’t steal me away. I chose to leave him.”
“I kind of put you up to it, though.”
“Well… Curtis doesn’t know that, AJ. You’re worried about nothing.”
One thing AJ admired in Jen was that she was so carefree. Nothing got to her, nothing. She was fearless.
“…and so we have to break up,” Lynnsey said firmly. There was no other way of putting it. It wasn’t just taking some time apart, it wasn’t just giving each other some space. It was over. For good.
“Lynnsey, I don’t understand how you can just end something that has been apart of the both of us for the past four years! Is it that easy for you?”
“No! It’s not easy at all, Ross, but that is just how it has to be!!”
“You know what Lynnsey… fine. Go off with your Backstreet Boy, but when it’s another lonely night when he’s forgotten to call you, and the tabloid stories with pictures of him and other girls start popping up, don’t come to me for moral support. I refuse to be the backup plan.”
The dial tone sounded harsh, indicating that Ross had hung up. Lynnsey threw the phone down, and the tears started to come. She had no idea what she was doing. She was so used to how her life was, and now it was all different. She had been with Ross for four years, and those were four meaningful years. She hadn’t stayed with him for no reason.
Through her tears, she managed to dial Kevin’ s number. There was no answer.
Lynnsey hung up her phone, and then pressed ‘redial’. Still no answer. She continued to cry, and buried her face in her hands. The doubt was setting in.
AJ and Brian settled in the hotel room and popped the movie they had rented into the VCR. It was one of Michelle’s movies, and Brian had convinced AJ to watch it with him, hoping to change AJ’s mind about Michelle.
“If this is stupid, I’m not watching the whole thing, and am going to go keep Jen some company. I should be with her right now, as it is,” AJ said.
“Just chill, AJ. It’ll be good.”
All Brian knew was that this movie, called Breaking All Ties starred Michelle as a model who had an ex-convict boyfriend. Some guys the boyfriend hadn’t gotten along with in prison were now after him for some weird reason. It sounded interesting enough.
The movie started, and both guys quieted down. The very first scene had Michelle in it, and her character was at a photo shoot for her job. The photo shoot was for a swimsuit ad.
Michelle, who looked different with shorter hair, was scantily clad in a deep purple bikini, posing for the camera.
“This scene is for all the guys who came to watch the movie, I bet,” AJ said.
“Shhh…” Brian said.
They watched as Michelle’s character modeled the swimsuit, and AJ, shocking enough to himself, felt himself grow… hotwatching her. His eyes were glued to her curves, and he wondered if Brian had any idea that AJ was seriously checking out his girlfriend.
‘I better calm down,’ AJ thought. ‘Lusting after Brian’s girlfriend, whose personality clashes with my own, is not a good idea.’
Still, he could not stop himself from staring at her body. Her face wasn’t even interesting to him. It was the body.
‘Stop it!’ he told himself.
Brian wasn’t even aware of the thoughts going through AJ’s head. All he could think of was how beautiful Michelle was, how graceful, how vivacious. And such a good actress, too.
AJ rushed up to Jen’s hotel room after the movie. He felt so guilty for lusting after a girl as badly as he had after Michelle. He just wanted to make it up to her.
“Still worried about Curtis?” Jen asked when she saw the concern in AJ’s face.
“Uh… yeah, that’s it,” AJ lied. He felt better once he was with Jen, because with her, it wasn’t just her body he liked. He actually got along with her and liked the person she was.
“I talked to my dad today and told him for the first time that Curtis and I had broken up, and that I was dating you now. He was very upset,” Jen said.
“What do you mean, ‘upset’?” AJ asked.
“Well, he doesn’t know you, and he doesn’t think musicians are reliable people.”
“So he’s upset that you’re dating me,” AJ concluded.
“He doesn’t think that I can trust you, because you’re famous. He’s just protective of me. Ever since my mom died…”
“Look, you don’t have to explain. I’ll just prove your dad wrong is all. You can trust me.”
“I know I can, AJ.” Jen smiled. As AJ hugged her, he thought to himself; “I just better never act on my lustful feelings.”