Nick stood behind the door to the entertainment room of the bus. He knew that Mandy was sitting back there in the room. I’m going to do this. I can do this. Nick reminded himself, taking a deep breath. He was getting ready to break up with Mandy, and had no idea how to break the news to her. What am I suppost to say? “I’m breaking up with you Mandy?” “I love Allison?” None of it sounded good to Nick. Taking another breath, Nick opened the door and stepped in.
Mandy was sitting on the couch with her glasses on, reading a book. At the sound of the door, her head popped up.
“Hey Nick.” She said, with a bright smile, taking her glasses off.
Nick gave a little wave and sat down on across from her, in a chair. Just the sight of her made Nick’s heart beat faster than normal.
“Come here, sit next to me Nicky.” Mandy patted the seat.
Reluctantly, Nick stood up and sat down next to Mandy. Taking Nick’s hand in hers, Mandy turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. The dial landed on MTV. And what video do you think was playing? Nothing other than “I want it that way”.
Mandy smiled knowingly up at Nick. “This is good.”
Nick winced. “Nooooo . . . please turn it off!”
“No.” Mandy laughed.
Finally the video ended, and Nick could relax. He hated watching himself! He thought that he always looked so bad.
Mandy turned to Nick. “So what’s up?”
“Nothing.” Nick said, trying not to make eye contact with her.
“Well . . . do you wanna go someplace? We could go out to eat when the bus stops if you want.”
Nick shook his head. Why is Mandy making this so hard for me!?
“Well what do you want to do?” Mandy said inching closer to Nick.
Nick decided he had waited to long. “Mandy I-“
“Yeah?” She whispered nibbling on her lower lip.
“I . . . I” Nick just couldn’t bring himself to break up with Mandy. He never imagined it to be this hard.
Mandy leaned down on Nick and kissed him softly, waiting for him to kiss her back. Nick, being the stupid guy that he was, quickly kissed back, and the two of them collapsed onto the couch. Mandy began to slowly unbutton Nick’s shirt, and he forgot all about Allison and his mission to break up with Mandy . . .
Allison was in her room packing her things up. There was so much stuff, she was sure that it would take her another two weeks to get everything together. She wished that she could stay another two weeks! It was right when Nick and her relationship was finally getting back together, and she had to leave. It just wasn’t fair; Allison would have no guy as great as Nick at home. Not even Mark could compare to Nick. Nick was definitely not the perfect man, but he was close enough! He had those looks that would make any girl go crazy, the sweetest personality, the most awesome dance moves and that boy could clearly sing great! Yeah, he had a couple bad habits, and he wasn’t as buff as he could be, but those things didn’t count at all. And Nick had brought out the best in Allison. He made her feel great, and not judge people on how popular or beautiful they were, but by how strong their love was.
Allison sat down on her small bed and sighed. Why do I have to leave? She asked herself. I want to stay here forever. Allison smiled as she remembered how nervous and almost mad when she found out that she won that contest. What a stupid girl I was then . . .
In a couple of minutes, Allison looked over at the clock, and noticed that it was already 5:30, her driver was suppost to come pick her up at 6:30 for the airport. Only an hour left . . . Allison thought sadly. She suddenly had an incredible urge to be with Nick. She knew quite well that this was the only time that she would see him in . . . in . . . forever.
Picking up her suitcases and bags, Allison walked out of her room and into the kitchen. I can’t wait to be in his arms one last time. Coming to the entertainment room, she struggled to open the door. She could hardly do anything with all the stuff she was carrying. Finally it gave way and flew open. “Hi Ni . . .”
Allison stopped quickly in her steps. The sight that was in front of her stunned her to death. Her heart felt like it stopped beating and her jaw dropped open. Allison just couldn’t believe her eyes . . .
Nick and Mandy were on the couch. No – more like Mandy was on the couch and Nick was on Mandy. They were kissing passionately, and Nick’s hands were all over Mandy’s back as she ran her fingers through Nick’s soft hair, pushing his neck down her. Allison blinked twice to make sure she wasn’t imagining things. She prayed that she was seeing things.
Allison didn’t yell out, she didn’t run away, she didn’t do anything. Her body was like a stone, and her jaw was clenched together tightly. Why Nick? She thought to herself, with a single, heartbreaking tear running down her cheek, as though Nick would answer. Why did you do it Nick? Why when I loved you so? Nick and Mandy were getting more into their kissing, and it was obvious that neither was aware of Allison’s presence. Allison just couldn’t take it anymore, and she dropped her armful suitcases and bags down to the floor with a loud bang.
Nick’s head flew up at the sound, and his eyes came straight to Allison’s. He looked directly into her tearful eyes, and his face lost its color and looked shocked. “Allison . . .”
Allison could stand to look at Nick’s lying face, and she couldn’t bear to look at the love of her life kiss another girl. She pulled the door open, and ran out of the room.
Nick quickly hopped off Mandy. “I’ve . . . I’ve gotta go Mandy.”
“But Nick . . .” Mandy hadn’t seen Allison, and didn’t know what was wrong. “What did I do?”
“Nothing. Just, just wait here.”
Nick sprinted after Allison, jumping over the pile of bags that she had left at the doorway. He saw her just time to see that she slammed the door of her room. Running over to the door, Nick knocked quickly. “Allison? Allison open the door.”
He heard no sign of life from inside the small room. “Allison I know you are there. Please . . . just talk to me . . .”
Banging even harder on the door, Nick felt his life collapse. What did I just do there with Mandy? Why didn’t I just break up with her like I should have? I wanted to . . . I . . . I . . . Jesus I really messed up. I feel like shit . . . maybe I am shit.
However, no matter how much he knew that Allison wouldn’t talk to him, he didn’t want to give up . . . not yet. “ . . . I know I totally messed up, but . . . I love you, no matter how much you don’t believe me, but I do . . . how can I not?”
Nick fell to his knees and let his head fall against the door of Allison’s room. He felt tears coming to his eyes, but forced them away. He couldn’t even remember why he started making out with Mandy. Because I’m a horrible boyfriend . . .
Allison was collapsed on her bed, crying her eyes out. She hugged her pillow and wished that what she just witnessed was a dream, and she would wake up in a few seconds and run into Nick’s loving arms that were made only to hold her. But, it was a dream . . . only a dream. Nick would never ever be Allison’s.
Allison heard banging on outside her door. She knew every well that it was Nick from the whines and pleads for forgiveness that hurt so much to listen to.
“Just go away Nick . . .” Allison whispered softly. “You’ve already done enough harm.”
More tears streamed down Allison’s delicate face ever time she heard Nick speak. She wanted to just forget him. She didn’t want to have anything do with Nick Carter. And when she heard him say: “I love you, no matter how much you don’t believe me, I do.” she felt the erge to go up and slap him across his lying face. Who did he think that Allison was a stupid little teenybopper that thought that Nick saying “I love you,” actually meant something? But it did mean something . . . once. Allison thought. She wanted to believe Nick so bad, but it was impossible. How many times had Nick lied to Allison? Once, twice, three times?
Allison wanted to just fall asleep, but she couldn’t, her limo driver was supposed to pick her up for the airport in about fifteen minutes. At least I won’t have to put up with Nick for that much longer. Allison thought with a sigh, looking out the window at the countryside that passed. She didn’t hear Nick anymore, she wondered if he finally gave up on her. Maybe soon he would forget about Allison, just as Allison was going to forget about him.
Nick sat there starring straight at the door for almost two minutes. He just couldn’t believe what had just happened, still. However, he realized that sitting there like a fool wasn’t going to get him anywhere.
So Nick walked back to where Mandy was laying down. She looked like she was sleeping. When she heard Nick’s footsteps, she opened her eyes and sat up.
“Hey Nick.” She said with a grin. “What was that all about?”
“Nothing . . . nothing, just forget about it.”
When Mandy didn’t respond, Nick sat down next to her and forced himself to smile. “Okay?”
“Okay.” Mandy whispered, rubbing his shoulders. “But what about that girl Nicky? I didn’t like her barging in on us like that. And why did you run after her?! I thought you were having a good time with me.”
“I was, I was. But . . . she didn’t know we were in here, she . . . she wanted to say good bye to me.”
“But why was she mad?”
“Um . . .” Nick was speechless.
“Oh I know . . . she was a little teenybopper fan right? Why can’t those girls just realize that you have a girlfriend who you love dearly and will always forever and ever?”
Nick was still speechless. Allison was anything but a teenybopper. And it hurt him it hear Mandy say that she thought he would love her forever and ever. “Well I think that it would be best for you to go. You know, Allison leaving and everything.” He said, squeezing her hand tightly.
Mandy sighed. “Fine whatever.”
“Okay good.” Nick smiled.
As Mandy got up from the couch, she gave Nick a kiss. “See ya sexy.” She said with a playful smile as she left.
“Bye.”
Nick was so confused. He did love Mandy . . . a lot. She was everything to him, and she was just as good as Allison was in so many ways. It would be hard to forget Allison, but he was sure that he could manage. After all . . . she was leaving soon . . . he would have to sooner or later.
“Tim did say that he was picking me up at 6:30, right?” Allison asked peeping out the window.
The Backstreet Boys and Allison were all gathered in the kitchen of the tour bus, and Tim, the limo driver that was suppost to pick Allison up, was five minutes late.
“I’m sure that he will be here soon.” Brian said with a smile.
“Yeah and don’t worry, the planes are always late, always.” Howie added.
Allison forced herself to give the guys a smile, she knew that she shouldn’t take her hate that she had for Nick out on the rest of the guys. They were nice, actually some of the nicest guys that she had ever met! There was loving Brian, who always had a friendly grin for everyone and an encouraging word for when you were sad. Howie was so sweet, and he made everyone feel welcome and happy. The crazy, funny one was AJ, and he made any dark day light up! Allison had never really gotten to know Kevin, but when she had talked to him, he seemed very nice. And Nick . . .
Allison looked up at Nick, one of the first times she had looked at him after he was with Mandy. She had to admit Nick looked sad. His hair was messed up, and his clothes were wrinkled, and he hung his head low. His once bright eyes seemed to stare off into space, and his skin was pale. And Allison knew it was because of her.
The group heard the engine of a car pull up next to the parked tour bus. It was Allison’s ride. Picking up her things, Allison looked at the guys. “Thank you so much for having me. It’s . . . It’s been the time of my life! I’ll never forget you guys . . . well; it would be kinda hard to because of well . . you know, I’ll see you everywhere I go.”
“Well we won’t forget you.” Kevin laughed, along with the rest.
“And we will write all the time – promise!” Howie said, giving Allison a hug.
“Thanks Howie.” Allison said, hugging him back.
Allison made her way over to Brian and hugged him. “Don’t forget that I am Poker champion Brian.”
“No! Well . . . maybe you beat me a couple times. But I let you!”
“Adios Bone.” Allison said, calling AJ by his nickname.
“Hasta la vista baby.” AJ said giving Allison a kiss on the cheek. "You da woman.”
Allison gave her good bye to Kevin, and found herself face to face with Nick. She suddenly became every embarrassed, and had no idea what to say to him.
I’m sorry Nick. Allison thought to herself. I’m so sorry that we didn’t work out. I’m sorry that you’re stupid and had to kiss Mandy. I’m sorry that you brake every promise that you’ve ever made to anyone that meant anything to you. I’m sorry that I fell for your handsome face. I’m even more sorry that we have to end this way . . . like this.
Nick’s eyes met Allison’s and they looked at each other for a second. But Allison quickly looked away, even though she knew quite well that it was the last time she would ever see Nick’s face in person. It was so painful, but it was something that she had to get over with.
“Bye Nick.” Allison said shortly, turning her head away from him.
“Bye.” Nick answered.
Allison settled her bags in her arms and turned to look at the guys one last time. “Thanks again . . . I’ll never be able to repay you, but –“
“Don’t worry about it Allison!” Howie laughed. “You’ve already gave us more than enough.”
Tim honked the limo horn a couple times to remind Allison to hurry up.
“Move your fine ass out there.” AJ said. “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“I won’t.” Allison opened the door and took a step outside. She didn’t look back; or else she knew that she would start crying. Not because of Nick, but because those guys were some of her best friends . . .
“Hello miss.” Tim said, opening the limo door politely for Allison. “And I assume you had a lovely time?”
“Yeah . . . yeah I did.”
Soon the limo was driving away, farther and farther away from the tour bus Allison had called “home” for those two weeks. What a couple weeks it had been. I remember how nervous I was coming, and how nice the guys were to me. I remember going to dinner that first night, and wanting so bad to talk to Nick, and then having the painful realization that he had a girlfriend. And when I was picked to dance with Nick . . . now that was awesome. He was such a great dancer . . . and than I kissed him, I kissed him!!! That was so embarrassing but at least he kissed me back that romantic night at the lake . . . he’s a good kisser too. And then he ditched me . . . And then he lied to me and then he broke my heart in two. I hate him so much!
Allison wiped away the tears that were falling from her cheeks. I can’t cry over Nick. He doesn’t deserve to be cried over.
Yet, Allison realized that even though all her bad memories were of Nick, all her good ones where of him also . . . but in Allison’s book, the bad always outweighed the good.
Nick felt tears coming to his eyes and this time he didn’t bother to hold them back. He let one roll down his face and drop to the floor. Mandy didn’t have what Allison had. She never would. No one ever would. Never. His life was over.