Reality had yet to sink in on Sarah, a tall 18-year-old brunette. It had only been 3 days since she had met A.J. backstage at a concert, and they had immediately clicked. She told him she had just graduated high school, and had no plans at college; she wanted a try in the music industry. A.J. had heard her sing, and told her she had a real chance, in the same breath he had invited her to roll around on the buses with him and the rest of the group all summer.

 It might have only been 3 days ago, but Sarah felt like she'd known them all her life. She immediately clicked with A.J., Nick, Brian, Howie, and Kevin. Kevin though.. he was different. He acted strangely aloof towards her, never getting to close, never telling her exactly what was on his mind.

Sarah had already experienced almost everything about the boys and their lives. She had met Nick, A.J. and Brian's girlfriends. She liked Nick's girlfriend, Kelly, who was quiet, and totally in awe of her celebrity boyfriend. A.J.'s girlfriend, Katie was exactly like him in every way, crazy, outgoing, and a relentless flirt, and like A.J., she was a total McDonald's freak. Sarah though, was very wary of Brian's girlfriend Amber. She wasn't sure, but she got a weird feeling Brian's girl was using him, and Sarah didn't like it. She'd talked to A.J. about it, who agreed with her, but no one could convince Brian anything was wrong.

Kevin had no girlfriend, and whenever he met girls he was incredibly shy, and almost ignored them. She'd asked Kev about it, but like always, he wouldn't open up to her.

 'Oh well', Sarah thought to herself, 'Nothing I can do about that.' With a sigh and a long face, she climbed into her bunk, which was under Brian's, and across from Kev's, and fell asleep feeling more contented then she'd ever felt.

 Meanwhile, across the way, Kevin couldn't sleep. He rolled onto his side, and looked around, his eyes coming to rest on Sarah. 'Jeez', He thought to himself 'She's real different, different then any fan I've ever met. Not afraid of us, not scared to tease us.. I like her.' His mind wandered to a few days ago. Her gently teasing voice, "Awwww, come on Kev, show me your abs! You know you wanna!!!"

Sarah was right, he did want to show her, and not, just his abs, but.. DAMN! 'Cool it Kev!' He said to himself. 'You're ten years older than her! Keep it together!' He couldn't help it though, he had to admit, she was very good looking, but eighteen? 'Awww man!' Kevin thought 'I can't fall for a woman my own age huh? I've gotta like an eighteen year old, yeah that's me. Kevin Richardson, I'm a celebrity, but yet, none of the girls go for me.'

 Rolling over yet again, Kevin fell into a fitful sleep.

The next day, the whole group, including Kelly, Amber, and Katie decided to take a drive out to see the sights of San Francisco. They piled into Kev's red convertible, and Brian's Jeep. Then they took off, to go find somewhere to hang.

"Where you all wanna go first?" Howie asked.

 "Well, I think I might want to go see if Kayrn still lives around here, you know, make plans to do something with her later." Nick told Howie.

 "Aww yeah, I remember Kayrn" Brian laughed. "She's cool."

"Yo, I'm pulling off here. Nick, you can go see her some other time." And with that, Howie motioned to Kev to pull off at a grassy overlook, with beautiful scenery.

 After they'd all tumbled out of the car, and joked around for awhile, they split up into the groups, that were by now so familiar. Nick and Kelly sitting somewhere, talking quietly, Brian and Amber walking and laughing at every joke that came out of his mouth. A.J. and Katie were nowhere to be seen, but everyone guessed they were off in the nearby woods, persuing A.J.'s favorite hobby: making out. Howie had met a small group of fans, and was talking and signing autographs, and, at a distance, Kevin was watching Sarah. He slowly and quietly approached her, but Sarah heard him. She turned around and smiled, watching him approach her. She had to admit, in the sun, his tanned muscular arms looked soooo sexy.

 "You wanna go for a walk with me?" Kevin asked, almost in a whisper.

 "Sure, I'd love to" Sarah replied, accepting his outstretched hand and rising to her feet. "How about in the woods?"

"Sure," He murmured, his eyes glued to the ground.

 Sarah and kevin walked through the woods talking quietly about different things. Finally Sarah got up the nerve to ask him a question, she'd been thinking of for awhile.

 "Hey, Kevin? I don't mean to be rude, but.. why do you push me away? Why won't you let yourself become attached to me?"

 "Well, I guess I'm just not used to letting people in. I close myself off, it's a habit I gotta break."

"Do you not like me Kev? Is that it? You know I like you.. maybe even more then a friend."

 "God Sarah! Of course I like you! I mean - " Kevin stopped. "What did you say? More than a friend?"

"Yeah Kev.. I know it's wrong, even illegal, but I can't help it. I really really like you."

 "Well Sarah, I like you too."

 "What???" Sarah asked, her eyes growing wide.

 "Shhhhh" He whispered. And with that he took Sarah into his arms and planted a kiss on her lips so light, it was hardly even real. He drew away sheepishly, and Sarah looked at him for a moment, then reaching up she drew Kevin's face to her's, and kissed him passionately. At that moment they didn't care if it was wrong, cuz it felt so right. Kevin drew away and liked his lips, which now tasted like Sarah's watermelon lip gloss.

"Our little secret, okay?" He asked.

 "Okay," Sarah whispered, then reached up again, for another kiss.

Meanwhile, Brian and Amber were walking quietly through the woods, talking. "Brian, when am I gonna get that record deal you keep promising me?" She asked "I've been waiting forever Brian, you know that."

 "Well, Amber I really haven't had time to talk to the record company, you know with the - " but Brian was promptly cut off.

"No Brian, I don't know!" her voice became shrill "I am always waiting for you, looking at your fame, watching you get bombarded by fans, when will it be my turn?!"

"Amber, I didn't know things were that important to you." Brian answered, head down, looking very upset.

 "Of course it matters to me, otherwise I wouldn't be dating.." Her voice suddenly trailed off, and her eyes grew wide.

 "What?!" Brian yelled, his head snapping up suddenly, "The guys were right, everyone was. Damn it, Amber! I thought you loved me!"

"Brian, I, I.."

 "Don't even talk! I loved you Amber, I trusted you, this is how you repay me, I do not EVER want to see or hear from you again!!! Go get a taxi, Amber and leave! Get out of my sight!!!" With that Brian turned on his heel, and headed off into the woods, to be alone.

In another part of the woods, Nick and Kelly were quietly walking, holding hands, and stopping every now and then, to look at the gorgeous scenery. Truth be told though, Nick was a little annoyed. Kelly was a shy girl, and she agreed with every single thing he said. It had been okay in the beginning, but now.. well it was just annoying. 'Why am I still with her then?' Nick asked himself 'I mean..'

 Just then, Nick was interrupted in his thoughts, when he saw an extremely familiar looking person running down the trail.

"Kayrn!!!" He yelled.

"Nick!!! I didn't know you were in town!!!" Kayrn stopped, gave Nick an enthusiastic hug, and smiled at Kelly. "Hey, I'm Kayrn."

"I'm Kelly, nice to meet you." Kelly slipped her arm protectively into Nick's. Kayrn couldn't help but notice.

 "Nick, why haven't you called?? You know how mad I get when you do that!!" She said giving him a jokingly serious look.

"I was gonna I swear!!! We're gonna have to go out to dinner soon and catch up, okay?" Nick said smiling. Kelly looked up half angry, half astonished.

Just then thought they saw Brian come storming up the trail, with Sarah and Kevin running after them. Amber was nowhere in sight.

 "What's going on you guys??" Nick asked.

"I'm gonna be in the car!!" Brian shouted over his shoulder, storming off to the car.

"What happened?" Kelly asked.

"Well, Brian came storming down the trail just like that, while we were.. ummmm.. talking, and all he would tell him was that Amber and he were no longer together, that she really had been using him, but that's it, no details." Kevin explained.

"Damn," Nick said. "Kayrn, I'll call you later and set up that dinner okay? Come on you guys, let's go."

 "I'll get A.J. and Katie, you find Howie and we'll meet back at the car okay?" Sarah said. Then she left, calling A.J.'s name.

Nick couldn't help but notice that Kevin's eyes followed her in a strange way.

Later that day, in the hotel, the guys sat Brian down and talked to him.

"Brian, you still upset about Amber?" Howie asked.

"Well, yeah, I mean it's hard not to be, I loved her, I thought she loved me and she doesn't." Brian sighed.

 "Yeah well, think of it this way: Girls aren't worth crying over, and when you meet one who is, she won't make you cry." A.J. said.

 Everyone looked at A.J. "That was really profound man," Nick murmured.

"Hey, I'm the poet remember?"

And with that everyone laughed. After that, the whole group decided to chill for the day. Brian listened to CDs, Howie did some work, Nick called up Kayrn with Kelly watching him intently, A.J. and Katie just talked quietly, and Sarah and Kevin watched some T.V.

After a while A.J. walked into the t.v. room to join Sarah and Kevin. What he found though, almost gave him a heart attack.

Sarah was sitting in Kevin's lap facing him, running her fingers through his spiky hair, the faintest of smiles on her lips. Kevin's hands were moving up and down her back, both their eyes were closed, and they were kissing intensely.

"What the.. !!" A.J. screamed, and was immediately joined by the rest of the group.

Sarah and Kevin's eyes flew open. Sarah pulled away from Kevin, climbed out of his lap, and ran out of the room.

"Thank you so much guys, for ruining a nice little romantic moment!" Kevin sighed, running his hand through his hair, and standing up.

"Man what the hell are you thinking!!!" Brian exclaimed. "She's eighteen! What is going on!!!???"

"Listen guys, I don't know how to explain this.. but.. I love her, a lot. No one can know about this though, nobody! Okay? I need you to promise."

"Sure man, I mean we don't wanna see you get hurt," A.J. replied. "It's no problem, right fellas?"

They all agreed, and promised to tell Kev and Sarah's secret to no one.

"Kev, better go get your girl." A.J. smiled, gesturing towards her bedroom.

"Sarah?" Kevin asked, sticking his head in the room. "Are you here? Please don't be upset, everything's okay."

"Is it? I didn't screw anything up?" She asked, wiping the tears off her cheeks. "But Kevin, if there is a problem.. I understand. I mean, you don't have to date me if you don't wanna."

"Sarah.. Of course I want to date you!!"

 "You don't mean that" she whipsered.

"Of course I do, I don't play with girls like that."

"Kevin.." but Sarah never got to finish, he picked her up as if she weighed three pounds, kissed the tears from her cheeks, and laid his head against hers.

"I love you," He whispered, "Nothing will ever change that."

 And with that he laid her down gently on the bed as she continued to cry, but this time with happiness.