"So where's Kevin?" Howie asked looking up at Lori from his spot on the floor next to Rebecca. They were hanging out backstage trying to figure out what to do for the evening.
She shrugged. "No clue. Haven't seen him since ya'll got off stage."
"Yeah, he left pretty abruptly," AJ said sitting down next to Lori. "I don't even think he showered before he left. Think he just took off to the hotel."
Lori sighed. "I should probably go check on him."
"What's up with you two?" Rebecca asked.
Lori shrugged again. "No clue. I've barely talked to him since Dallas."
"He's being an ass," Alesha said looking up from the magazine she was flipping through.
"What'cha looking at?" Nick asked sitting next to her.
"The love of my life. Jonathan Davis," she commented without looking up from the article.
"Ohch. You're kicking me to the curb for…THAT?" he asked pointing at the picture. It was Jon on stage, wearing his black kilt and black frilly shirt, headbanging.
Brian laughed. "Haha…leaving you for the KoRnman…hehe…too funny."
"Oh shut up," Nick pouted at him.
Alesha laughed. "Awww. I love YOU baby. I'm just using Jon for sex."
AJ grinned. "Yeah, aren't you the reason him and his wife got a divorce?"
Alesha nodded. "Yeah, he didn't feel right sleeping with someone else while he was married, so he got a divorce."
Howie chuckled. "Couldn't give you up, eh?"
"I am NOT amused," Nick said, his arms across his chest.
"I'm just teasing baby," Alesha said kissing him softly.
"Ya better be," Nick smiled, kissing her back.
"Welp, I'm bored," AJ announced standing up and stretching.
"Oh god," Brian groaned.
"Those are evil words coming out of HIS mouth," Lori grinned.
"Yep, that's why YOU'RE coming with me. We're going out clubbing," he said grabbing her hand.
"Oooh nooo. I'm not going out. I have to find Kevin," she said shaking her head.
"We can go look for him and tell him that we're going out dancing. C'mon Lors," AJ begged.
Lori looked at him and started laughing and then shrugged and stood up.
"He's so pathetic," Howie said watching them walk off.
"And she's not?" Rebecca asked.
"They should just do it and get it over with," Nick mumbled without looking up from the KoRn article.
Brian looked at him startled. "Do YOU know what's going on?"
"Duh. It would take some brain dead retard not to see that those two have fallen for each other," Nick said making a face.
"And what about Kevin?" Brian exclaimed.
"What about him?" Nick asked. "He has Carrie. Whom he's wanted for years anyway. They'll be free for each other."
"Ya know, I don't think we should be speculating on other people's lives," Howie said.
"Okay. Let's talk about you, too," Brian said turning towards them.
Rebecca blushed. "Umm…no."
Brian laughed. "I'm sure ya'll were enjoying YOUR bus trip."
Howie blinked. "What are you talking about?"
Brian shook his head. "I'm sure the whole BUS knew just how much ya'll were enjoying it."
Rebecca hid her face against Howie's chest, while Howie's face turned many shades of red and pink. "Oh man," he said.
"So, what are we doing tonite?" Nick asked Alesha.
She shrugged. "I don't know. Not a lot. I'm still kinda tired from all the driving."
"Hmm…we could go back to the room and go to bed," he replied.
"Notice, he didn't say sleep. He said go to bed," Brian said behind his hand to Howie and Rebecca.
"When is Leighanne coming back?" Howie asked looking over at Nick. Brian gave him a look and plopped down in the chair, pouting.
"Besides, we have Taelen in the room," Alesha said pointing over to him. He was on the far couch sleeping. He had taken some pain medicine for his arm and it had knocked him out.
"True," Nick sighed. "Oh well." He shrugged.
Brian laughed. "He's turning into a lil AJ."
"Shut up BRok." Nick said throwing a towel at him.
Howie looked over at Rebecca, "Wanna go out? Or do you just wanna go back to the room?"
She shrugged. "We could go to a club or something. Doesn't matter to me."
"Let's go to a club. I'm really not sleepy, and we've been cooped up on the bus."
"Okay," she smiled up at him. He stood up, holding out his hands and helping her to her feet. They kissed softly when she stood.
"Awww. Isn't that sweet," Brian cooed.
"Shut up BRok," Howie said laughing as he and Rebecca left.
"Let's go play some basketball," Brian said looking at Nick.
"Where?" he asked.
"Wasn't there a park next to the hotel?" Brian asked standing up.
"Yeah, I think there was," Nick nodded. "Do you mind?" he asked Alesha.
Alesha smiled and shook her head. "No, I have some stuff to do on the page. I gotta call my mom about Bethy, too."
Nick nodded. "Okay sweetie. We'll drop you off at the hotel and then run over to the park."
"I love you Lori," AJ said pulling her close as they danced slowly.
"I love you, too," she replied, kissing him softly.
"You have to do something," he sighed.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"You have to do something about Kevin soon. I can't take this much longer," he answered as they walked back to the table after the song ended.
"What are you talking about?" Lori asked sitting down.
Settling back in the booth, he said softly, "This. I want the world to know you're my girl, Lori, but I can't. You aren't officially unattached. I just," he ran his hand over his face, laying his arm on the back of the booth and looking away. He turned back to her, his brown eyes shining, "I just wanna be able to say 'I love you' in front of my best friends, and I want to be able to kiss you when I want to, and hold you when I want to."
"I'm going to tell him AJ, I promise," Lori said looking down at her drink. "I just need time."
"For what?" he asked getting upset.
"To think of what to say. I can't just say, 'Oh, by the way Kevin. I've been fucking AJ for the past month. I've fallen completely out of love with you and want to be with him. No hard feelings okay?'"
"Lori, I just don't know how much more of this I can take," he shook his head looking down at his glass.
"So what are you saying? I have to decide? Now? You or Kevin?" Lori snapped at him.
He looked up at her. "Kind of…yeah."
"That is so unfair, AJ," she said her eyes filling with tears. "You knew when we started this that I was with Kevin. You had no problems with it then. I told you I was going to take care of it," she shook her head and covered her face with her hands. "I can't believe you're doing this."
"Lori, I'm sorry," he said reaching a hand out for her.
"No. Don't, I can't…not…" she said standing up. "I have to go. I don't know that I can give you what you want right now," she said softly as she walked away.
"Good job McLean," AJ growled to himself sitting back against the seat, resting his head on the back and closing his eyes. "You may have just lost the best thing that ever happened to you."
"So, how long have you known about AJ and Lori?" Brian asked shooting the ball.
Nick shrugged, catching the rebound. "A while. Since right after, dammit," he said as the ball didn't go in. "Since right after the storm where they got locked in the room together."
Brian shot again, grumbling as he missed. "Hmmm. What do you think about it?" he asked trying to block Nick's shot.
"You're too short man," Nick grinned as the ball went in. "I don't know," he shrugged, guarding Brian as he dribbled. "I guess I'm okay with it. As long as, HEY!" he grumbled as Brian dribbled past him, making a lay-up. Shaking his head, he continued, "I'm okay with it as long as everyone's happy."
Brian nodded. "Yeah. What about Kevin and Carrie?" he asked trying to once again block Nick's shot.
"Gonna have to grow lil man," Nick teased. "What's the score?"
Brian shrugged. "15-8 me," he grinned.
"Hmmm," Nick said looking at him.
"Okay. 15-13" Brian laughed.
"What about Kevin and Carrie?" Nick asked shooting a 3-pointer. "Woohoo…I am the GOD!!" Nick cheered as it went in.
"God of what?" Brian asked looking at him like he was crazy. "The retards? That was luck," he said pointing at the basket. "Do you think that Kevin and Carrie will hook up?"
"That was NOT luck. That was ALL skill," Nick said taking position in front of Brian. "I think they already have. They're just waiting for the day they can, YES!!" Nick said as he successfully blocked Brian's shot. "That's how it's done lil man," Nick grinned.
"Oh shut up. Just cuz you're a giant," Brian grumbled.
"Anywho," Nick said.
"AnyWHO? You've been around Lesh too long," Brian laughed.
"Never too long my good man, NEVER too long," Nick grinned, driving around Brian to the basket. "What's the score now?" Nick taunted.
"Oh shut up," Brian retorted making a face. Bending over, Brian rested, catching his breath. "You really love her don't you?"
Nick nodded. "With all my heart. I'm thinking of asking her…well…you know…" he said shooting the ball.
"You're serious?" Brian asked.
"Yup," Nick said catching the rebound and shooting again.
"Wow," Brian said.
"That a bad thing?" Nick asked looking at his best friend.
"Hell no," Brian said shaking his head. "I'm happy for ya. Honestly. I think it's great."
Nick grinned. "Cool," he said. "Now alls I gotta do is just do it."
"Becca," Howie said holding her close to him.
"What sweetie?" she asked, laying her head on his chest as they danced slowly.
"Are you happy?"
Looking up at him startled, she answered. "Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. It's just, everything happened so fast with us. I don't want you to be looking back on the last couple of weeks and regretting anything."
"The only thing I regret is not believing Alesha sooner," she said softly.
"What?"
The song ended, and they walked back to their seats. Howie looked at Rebecca and asked, "Wanna go for a walk? I'm kinda tired of the noise, and I'd like to talk."
Rebecca smiled. "Sure." They left the club and walked the streets of St. Louis aimlessly talking. "Alesha told me that she was dating Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys. I really didn't believe her because that is just crazy. Besides the fact that I had a hard time believing ya'll were REAL people, she was in love with you."
"Me?" Howie asked confused.
"Yes," she smiled. "That's how we met actually. We were talking about you and all the wonderfulness that is you."
Howie laughed. "Okay. So how did she end up with Nick?"
Rebecca shrugged. "No clue. But let me tell ya, I'm glad she did."
"Why?"
"Because that left you for me," she smiled up at him.
Howie grinned. "Yes, that is a good thing," he leaned down and kissed her softly. "I just don't want us to end up like Kevin and Lori."
"What do you mean," she asked softly.
"They were so into each other, but things with them moved fast and now they're all confused about their feelings."
Rebecca nodded. "Yes, but things with Nick and Lesh moved quickly too, and you see how great they are."
Howie sighed. "I know. I just don't want to lose you. Becca, I…I love you," he said softly.
Looking up at him with tears in her eyes. "I love you too, Howie."
Lori unlocked the door to her room, the tears falling freely. She sat down on the bed, turning the bedside lamp on. Throwing her key on the table, she laid back on the bed. She stared up at the ceiling and sighed. After a few minutes she sat back up and ran her fingers through her hair. Going to the rest room, she ran some cold water and wetted a washcloth and washed her face. Walking back into the main room, she sat down on the bed and picked up the phone dialing Kevin's cell number. The phone rang and rang. Sighing, Lori hung up. Looking around the room, she decided to clean. As she began picking up the mess she laughed sadly. "How funny," she said out loud. "I've picked up his habit of cleaning when he's upset." She shook her head and continued straightening the room. As she tossed a set of Kevin's dirty clothes into the corner with the rest, a folded piece of paper fell out of one of the pockets of his jeans. Lori picked it up and looked at it. Opening it, her eyes almost immediately filled with tears.
Dearest Love,
I am sitting here at my desk at home, so many miles away from you, while my thoughts and heart are there with you. I miss you so much right now. I never realized how much you truly meant to me until the other day. I love you darling. I can not wait until the day when we can proclaim our love to the world. Something that we should have done years ago, but our ignorance kept us from doing it. I hope that it will be soon that you are free to come to me and give yourself to me completely.
Always…Carrie
Lori stared at the words for a moment, as the tears fell. "And I was worried about hurting him?" she whispered, the note slowly falling to the floor. Shaking her head and realizing that she had possibly lost all that she and AJ possibly had, she hurried out the door. Hurrying to AJ's room, it occurred to her that he might not even be there. She went ahead and knocked, praying that he would be. After the second knock, she turned to leave, when the door opened. Turning back around, she saw AJ standing there, looking at her. She ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her and closed the door.
