| Chapter Twenty-two |
| "Nick, I brought this pie all the way from home for you and you haven't eaten a bite? What is the matter with you?" BJ Carter sighed as she spoke to her brother. Who was unusually quiet, considering he had just finished a show. Usually he was hyper and no one could get him to shut up. "I'm...I'm just going through some stuff. That's all." Nick said softly, looking into the distance. "What kind of stuff?" BJ chuckled. "Did you wet the bed again?" "Shut up Beej...I havent done that since I was fourteen." Nick said turning a shade of crimson. "Well what kind of stuff then?" BJ rolled her eyes, not having a clue as to what could have gotten into her older brother. "I...I don't really want to talk about it. I can't." Nick shook his head. "Nick...I've known you my whole life, and I have never seen you this quiet and reserved before. You and I have always been close, I don't understand what could be so bad that you can't even talk to me about it." BJ said softly, dissapointed that Nick would keep something from her. She didn't consider him to be just her brother. He was more like her best friend. She hated to see him this way. Nick sighed and stared down at his piece of apple pie. He was so confused about what had happened. He didn't even want to begin to think about the trouble he had caused between himself, Crystal, and Justin. Everything had been fine until Justin had pissed him off so much that he had blurted out what he had done. Now everything was a big mess, Crystal was pissed at him, and Justin had a death wish against him. God, why did life have to be so complicated all the time? He almost wished he had never found Crystal that day, but then...who would have? She would have died. "Beej...there's a lot of things I haven't told you about. You just haven't noticed because I've been away with the guys and when I see you I'm good at keeping them secret," he replied finally, still staring at his pie. BJ stared at her brother for a moment, a questioning expression clouding her eyes. "Nick...it’s not anything like before is it? You’re not having...those kind of isssues again are you?" Nick’s eyes widened. "Bobbi, of course not," he whispered. "Never...never again." Bobbi breathed a sigh of relief. "Then what’s the matter?" She said after a moment, folding her arms under her breasts and leaning back in her chair. "What’s so bad Nicky?" "Have you met Crystal yet??" Nick asked. BJ pondered for a moment, trying to place a face with a name. "Uh...that kinda short girl with the brown hair? She gives out backstage passes right? I think so...we didn't talk though. Why did you sleep with her or something?" she laughed. "BJ! Come on!" Nick said, wide eyed. "Alright...geez, take it easy I was only playing with you Nicky." she rolled her eyes. Nick sighed and continued on. "If I tell you this you have to promise me your not going to say anything to anybody. Not the guys and not any of the family ok?" "I promise. God what the hell is going on?" she laughed. "Do you promise Bobbi? I can't tell you unless..." "Yes I fucking promise Nick! Jesus! Just tell me what the hell is the matter with you." she cut him off, annoyed. "Alright, about six months ago I was driving home and saw this body at the side of the road...so I stop the car and the girl is still breathing. So I call the police and they come and take her to the hospital, only I didn't give them my name...I didn't want a huge media scene at the hospital. You understand right?" Nick said with questioning eyes. "Yeah...but Jesus Nick, why didn't you tell anybody? I mean thats really deep stuff." BJ replied with a shocked expression. "Wait, it gets better..." Nick continued. "So one day I'm at Brian's house and this newscast comes on TV...and its her...the girl I found...she had been missing for over a year BJ...and I found her. I saved her life." Nick said with a chill in his voice. "And the girl...well it turned out to be Crystal..." "Wait a minute...hold up...you said Crystal...as in Crystal McKay! Damn I knew she looked familiar....you found fucking Crystal McKay! The secret service couldn't even find that girl! Jesus Christ Nick! Does she know about all this?" BJ exclaimed. "She found out today, after I got into a very nasty conversation with her overpossesive self absorbed prick of a boyfriend. Now she hates me because I lied to her. She told me the whole story about what happened to her when we went out to dinner one night, and I didn't confess who I was to her." Nick shook his head. "Hell, I would hate you too if I was her." "Thanks Beej." Nick rolled his eyes. "Well, what are you sitting here for? You gotta fix this." BJ replied. "Oh yeah, now sounds like a great time to do that. She's probably packing her bags right now. She wasn't at the show tonight. I'm guessing she's quitting." Nick rubbed his forehead with his right hand. "Not if you stop her first." BJ smiled. "She hates me Bobbi. I fucked up." "Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. I'm sure if you just talk to her, she'll understand why you did what you did." "No she won't. This is too serious to be forgiven for," he shook his head again, pushing his pie away from him. The smell of food was making him sick. "Listen, I don't know this girl. But I do know that when your friends with somebody, you don't just give up like that. No matter how bad the situation may seem. That's what a real friend is Nick. And if what she has with you matters to her, then I'm sure she will forgive you. But you have to make the attempt, after all, it was your fault." BJ replied convincingly. "So you're saying I should try to talk to her then?" Nick grimaced. "Yes...I think you should." BJ smiled lovingly at her brother. Nick flashed his million dollar smile at his sister and jumped up from the table. "Thanks Beej! I love ya." he pecked her on the cheek quickly and ran out the door. BJ shook her head and chuckled softly. "Crystal McKay...Jesus." She said outloud. **************** Three days later... "So I guess you finally got your head out of your ass." JC said slapping Justin on the back. "Shut up. I don't wanna hear it right now." Justin scowled shaking his head. "I told you this was gonna happen...didn't I say this was going to happen?" "You did." Lance replied. "Ok great! JC was right! Once again I'm the stupid one! Thank you!" Justin yelled and got up off the bed he had been sprawled out on. "Where are you going?" JC questioned. "We have a thing in an hour." "Tell them I'm sick." Justin glared at his friend as he walked out of the hotel room, leaving the rest of the group dumbfounded. He quickly retreated down the hallway, ignoring JC's shouts for him to come back. He turned the corner, not even looking wear he was going. He was too busy trying to wipe the tears out of his eyes. He probably would have walked right into the wall if he hadn't slammed into a person in his path. "Oh...I'm sorry..." he said softly looking up. His mouth gaped open when who he practically ran over. "Justin...wow...it's been....a long time." She smiled at him, not realizing how upset Justin was. "Britney...hi." Justin replied dumbfounded. "You okay?" she chuckled her annoyingly cute chuckle. "Can you get me outta here for a little while?" Justin asked suddenly. Britney Spears laughed. "Don't tell me...the guys are driving ya nuts right? Come on...I'm starving." She pulled him to the elevator. I shouldn't be doing this. He thought as they rode down the elevator together. But then again...if Crystal could do it why can't I? He smiled. As long as he and Crystal were "separated" or "fighting" he was going to enjoy himself. There was no harm in just hanging out right? Of course not. What could possibly happen? Stupid question. ****************** Nick cracked his knuckles nervously as he walked down the hallway to Crystal's hotel room. It had been three days since he had last spoken to her. And it had taken him those three days to figure out what he was supposed to say to her. She had been at all the shows that week, but Nick had noticed, she had been avoiding him as much as possible, and only talking to him when it was necessary. Otherwise it was like he was on a different planet. He hated it. He had no idea what her reaction would be when he came knocking on her door. He assumed it would probably be a bad one, but he had to find a way for her to let him talk to her. It was important, he now realized, that they were able to talk about what happened. This was serious. He should have just came out and told her who he was beforehand, then they wouldn't be in this mess. He realized now that there was really no reason why he had needed to keep it a secret from her for so long. He had just been too scared to say anything. He didn't think she would have believed him, and he didn't want her thinking that he was a liar. He reached her room and sighed, preparing himself for the worst. He gently knocked on her door and waited for her response. "Who is it?" he heard her call from the other side of the door. Her voice sounded tired and raspy. "It's Nick." he replied half expecting her to tell him to get lost. He gasped when her door suddenly swung open. "Hi." she said softly. Her eyes were swollen and blooshot as if she had been crying for hours on end. "Are you alright?" Nick questioned quietly. "No." she chuckled lightly. "Stupid question," he shook his head. "I'm not really good with this stuff." "Nick, we need to talk." Crystal sighed. "I know. Everything is going crazy. You have every right to hate me." "I could never hate you Carter. You should know that by now." she responded softly and took his hand in hers, pulling him inside her hotel room. "Crystal I..." "Sit." she commanded, cutting him off before he could speak. He sat down on the bed. "I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry." Crystal sat down beside her friend. "You shouldn't be sorry Nick. You saved my life." "Yeah, but I lied to you." he said sadly, looking into her eyes. "You were scared Nick, hell if I was in your postion...I would have been scared too." Crystal shook her head. "Tell me, what happened that day?" "I was driving home and I saw you laying at the side of the road. I thought you were dead, you looked so pale and beaten up, but when I reached you you were still breathing. So I called 911....and the rest is history." "There was no one else around?" Crystal said with fear. "No...not for miles. There's never anyone over in that section of Tampa, that's why I like to drive down that road so much." he spoke queitly. "He's still out there somewhere you know." Crystal said looking at the floor. "Who?" Nick questioned. "Todd...he's still out there. They never found him." she shuddered. "I'm afraid one day when everyone has forgotten about this whole thing, he'll come out of wherever he's hiding and find me. He’s fucking crazy Nick...and I know he’ll kill me. Sometimes I get so scared thinking about it I throw up. I don’t want to die." Crystal began to sob. "Oh...hey...it's alright." Nick put his arm around her. "You don't have to be afraid. That son of a bitch will have to go through me before he could ever get to you." he consoled her. "So you don't mind that I'm a freaky basket case?" she sniffled, looking him in the face. Nick laughed. "You’re not a freaky basket case Crys'. Maybe a little freaky, but aren’t we all?" "No ones freakier than you." she laughed in response. "Thanks." He smirked. "Hows Justin by the way?" She frowned. "We got into a big fight. Afterwards, he walked out and we haven't spoken in three days." she shook her head. "This is all my fault." Nick sighed. "I should have just kept my mouth shut." "No...I'm glad you came out in the open about this. It would have made things even worse if you had kept this all a secret any longer. Justin is going through his possesive phase with me right now." She paused, sighed, and rolled her eyes. "He'll get over it. We've gone through too much together to have something like this tear us apart." Crystal half smiled. Trying to convice herself to believe what she was saying. "Possesive phase?" Nick said with a confused tone. "Justin and I have known each other our whole lives. Hes my best friend, my lover, whatever you want to call him. We have a very deep, emotional relationship. It’s always been that way, even when we were little kids, and even when we weren't dating, as weird as that probably sounds to you. Then he lost me for a year. He thought I was dead, and then I came back. He was so freaked out in the beginning, he would barely speak to me and when he did... it would only be about negative things. We've almost got our relationship back to normal, but he's so clingy right now. He's so afraid something, or someone is going to tear us apart again. I know he means well and I know he’s only doing it because he’s so in love with me, but I have enough stress to deal with already. Don’t get me wrong Nick, I do love him, but sometimes loving someone is hard work. That's why he was being such a jerk to you, he feels... I don't know...threatened I guess. Like your invading our privacy....but your not...ugg...I don't know." Crystal shook her head sadly. "Let me talk to him." Nick said. Crystal laughed. "No way. I wouldn't put you through that misery. Justin Timberlake is the most stubborn person in the world. If I know him, he's probably in some room sulking somewhere not talking to anybody. Sometimes he can be such a child." she sighed. "Alright. Then let him come talk you. Don't beg for his forgiveness. It will only make him feel superior to you. I don't want to sound like a jerk, but he’s being really selfish right now, if you know what I mean. He needs to understand what you’re going through, and except that." "My words exactly." Crystal said in disbelief. "You’re smarter than you look." "Thanks a lot." Nick said sarcastically. "I’m only joking Carter." She chuckled. "Don't you think this is weird?" Nick said after a moment, with a silly smile spread across his face. "What do I think is weird?" "Well the fact that I saved your life and then we got booked in the same hotel and you just happened to be working for the group that we were opening for. Then you get hired to work for us...it's just well... a little scary." Nick said hesitantly. "I've been trying to put all that aside. But yea...it is really strange. It's like...I don't know...a sign." Crystal laughed. "What kind of sign?" Nick said, moving slightly closer to her. "I...I don't know." Crystal blushed. "Maybe...this kind of sign?" Nick leaned in and kissed Crystal before she could respond. She kissed him back. |