"This way guys," the moving block of human muscle, referred to affectionately as Tank by the Boys, said as AJ and Howie stepped into the airport.
"Aaaaghh," AJ stretched as they walked to the exit. "I freaking hate planes," he said yawning.
Howie shook his head. "Look at that," he said pointing to the extremely large number of people gathered outside the airport. "What did ya'll do, clean out the place?" he asked looking at Tank.
Tank chuckled. "We had to. They almost mobbed Nick when he and that girl of his arrived," he said opening the door. The noise level outside was louder than the engine of the plane they just left. There was a good 60 or so fans hanging around waiting to catch a glimpse of one of the Boys or any other member of the ten other bands playing as they arrived. Tank motioned for Dimitri, one of the Boys' other security guards to help him get Howie and AJ through the crowd. Dimitri led the Boys to the van with Tank following close behind. They stopped a couple of times to sign a few autographs and touch a few hands, Tank and Dimitri jumping in when the fans got too grabby.
"Well, that certainly was a mad house," Howie commented as they drove off. He was pulling his hair back into the ponytail that someone had so graciously pulled out for him.
AJ shook his head. "How'd they even know we were coming in?"
Dimitri turned around and laughed. "How do they ever know?" He turned around to face the road again. "Besides, I think *NSync showed up right before you guys."
"Oh gawd," AJ groaned. "And Nick is already here? Has him and Justin run into each other yet?"
Tank laughed. "No. I don't think so. Jimbo would've called us."
"So who else is here?" Howie asked.
"Umm…I think just Nick and…what the hell is her name?" Tank mumbled.
"Crystal," Howie replied.
AJ laughed. "Dude, you've been around us for like four years now and you can't remember her name?"
"Shut up," Tank growled good-naturedly. "Anyway. I think just them. Although there was a slight mix-up about rooms or something. Some girl named Catlyn was booked with Nick instead of Crystal. I guess she threw a major fit about it, causing a big scene."
"Sounds like Crys," AJ said.
"Here we are," the driver said. Glancing down at his watch, he mumbled something about how doing this for the rest of the night was going to drive him crazy. Howie looked at AJ and shrugged.
AJ peeked out the window. "Oh man," he said. Closing his eyes, he sighed. "This is insane," he murmured.
"Ready?" Dimitri asked as he stepped out of the van.
"As ready as we'll ever be," Howie replied.
Dimitri opened the door to the van. "Here we go," he said as Tank crawled out and stood on the other side of the door. Howie stepped out of the van, causing the gathering of fans to go wild. The noise increased as AJ followed close behind. Tank slid the door shut, and then helped Dimitri usher the Boys into the hotel.
They stopped briefly at the desk so that they could get their keys, and then they moved quickly to the elevator. As the door opened, they were nearly knocked over by Crystal who came barreling out. "Hey, Crys," Howie said, grabbing her by the arm. "What's up?"
"HIM!!" she exclaimed her arms flying in the air dramatically.
"Who?" Howie asked putting his arm around her shoulders and steering her back towards the elevator. Dimitri stayed downstairs to man the front, while Tank went up with them.
"Nick," she sighed.
"What about him?" he asked softly as the elevator made its way to their floor.
"Well, let's see…he doesn't talk to me, he doesn't spend much time with me - and the time he does spend with me we're either fighting or not talking," she sniffled and wiped her eyes. "And so I come on this here little trip with him thinking that maybe we can get in some good quality time together, but no. All he wants to do is talk to that Catlyn bitch."
AJ and Howie exchanged glances. "Catlyn?" Howie asked as they got off the elevator. Tank walked over to his "station" in front of the elevator, leaving them alone.
"Yeah. You know...Catlyn. Friend of the chick that has you both of ya'll in gaga land?" she asked bitterly. Howie blushed while AJ just looked away. "Whatever," she said. "I've got to get out of here. If Nick happens to remember who I am and wonders where I'm at, tell him I jumped off the nearest cliff," she mumbled hurrying off towards the stairs.
"Riiight," AJ said watching her. Looking back at Howie he sighed. "Chicks have issues."
Howie laughed. "That they do," he sighed. "I'm gonna go catch a nap before we meet up tonite. I'll talk to ya later," he said as he headed towards his room.
AJ nodded. "Later," he said going to his.
"Dammit," Nick grumbled. "What does she expect me to do? Hole myself up and not have any contact with anyone?" he asked the empty room he was pacing. "What does it matter if I'm friends with Catlyn? It's not as if there's anything else going on." Only because she doesn't want it, a voice inside his head countered. Nick sighed and dropped heavily onto the bed. "Yeah," he mumbled. "Only because she doesn't want it. And nothing I say or do is going to change that." Grabbing his cell phone by reflex as it rang he growled a short hello.
"Well, then. See if I call you and tell you that we're in town," Catlyn answered.
"Cat," he smiled. "Sorry. Just got into an argument with Crys."
"Ahh. Well, we're at the airport. We just didn't know whether or not we were going to be able to stay where ya'll are or if we're suppose to find a different hotel."
"Umm…no, I believe that we got ya'll a room here," he answered. "Hold on a sec." He picked up the phone in the room and dialed the front desk. He confirmed the girls' reservations, hanging up and smiling. "Yup. Got'cha'll a room here on our floor." Nick then gave her the name of the hotel and the address so they could find it. He also gave her his room number so she'd know where he was.
"Groovy," she said. "Guess we'll see ya in a bit."
"Wait! How are ya'll getting here?"
"Umm…a cab. I'm certainly not walking," she said.
"Haha," he said unamused. "I'll get the van to come get ya."
"It's okay, really. We can take a cab."
"Are you sure?" he asked concerned.
"Yeah. No one knows who we are," Catlyn grinned. "We don't have to worry about being mobbed."
"Okay," he said. "Call me when you get in?"
"Yup. See ya in a few," she smiled and hung up the phone. "Dammit Carter," Nick said chiding himself as he clicked the off button. "Get over it. She doesn't want you and if you don't watch it, you're gonna lose Crystal in the process of pining over Catlyn."
