REMEBER to send feedback to the author, Lauren

» CHAPTER TWO «

The next morning, Nick and the rest of the BSB were deciding what to do until the concert that evening.

"I know, let’s go to the zoo," Howie suggested.

"But Howie, we can see your girlfriend anytime," Brian cracked. Everyone started laughing, with the exception of Howie.

"That’s no way to talk about my woman. You’re dead man," Howie said, but all he did was flash Brian an evil glare.

"I know!" AJ popped up. "Let’s go to the mall and SHOP!" Everyone groaned, because all AJ ever wanted to do was shop...and eat.

"Wait guys. I think maybe spending some money might get my mind off Mandy," Nick stated.

"Well-I could use some new heavy shoes or something," Howie thought aloud.

"Why not? Let’s pick up our girls and go to the mall," Kevin said. Nick and AJ winced at the word "girls".

"Don’t worry you guys. I’m sure AJ will find you two some babes," Brian said. So they headed to the local mall.

"Where do you wanna go today Jess?" Lauren asked Jessica as she pulled out of her driveway. "The mall, definitely. We need some hot duds to wear to the concert tonight so I can make those boys into men," Jessica laughed wickedly.

"Well, I’m not going to argue with that. The mall it is," Lauren agreed.

A few minutes later, the Backstreet Boys and Brian’s girlfriend Leighanne arrived at the mall. The boys dressed down, all wearing a hat and baggy clothing.

"Let’s split up," they decided, "So we’ll be less recognizable." It’s not that they didn’t adore their fans, moreover they just didn’t feel like getting mobbed. They were deciding who was going with who.

"Well, I know AJ’s going to buy out the place, and I could use a spree, so I’ll go with him," Nick volunteered.

"I gotta get something for my cell phone...so I’ll be at Radio Shack or something," Howie said.

"I’ll go with you then. All those new high-tech gadgets are awesome," Kevin stated.

"And I’ll be with Leighanne here of course…" Brian paused to give her a kiss, "Let’s meet up at like 12:30 at.....the food court. We’ll be able to find it I’m sure. AJ’s stomach will guide him!"

"Sounds good to me." Everyone agreed. They set out in separate directions from there.

"So, where to first ‘lil bro?" AJ looked up at Nick.

"I kinda wanted a new cap. So can we jog over to the athletic/sports store?" he suggested.

"Sure thing, Nick-ay!" AJ said in a weird voice. When they got to the store, Nick almost immediately found a cool cap he liked, but AJ spent half an hour trying to choose between 3 pairs of Adidas shoes. "Aww heck, I’ll get ‘em all." AJ finally decided.

"And you couldn’t think of that 30 minutes ago?" Nick joked.

"Ha Ha. Shut up," AJ defended. They finally left and tried to find a certain store, but realized they had no idea how to get there. They’d never been to that mall before.

"Don’t worry, Nick," AJ said. "I have a GREAT sense of direction. I’ll just sniff out some babes to tell us where to go." Nick just kind of stared at his [big] feet. AJ knew what he was thinking.

"Don’t think about her, ok Nick? She’s not worth it." AJ tried to comfort. Nick knew he was partly right. She was special, but he had to get over it.

"I’ll be O.K." Nick thought aloud. "Good, good. Now let’s....OOMPH." AJ was interrupted by accidentally bumping into a girl. "Hey, I’m really.....so-rry." AJ just got a good look at the girl. She was beautiful in every way. She had blonde spiraled hair that fell to her waist, glowing sea-green eyes, a slender figure and an innocent look on her face. She was at least 18, AJ thought.

"No, it was my fault. I’m-distracted," the girl mumbled. "Hey...you look familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?" she questioned.

AJ laughed. "Well, you might, even though I’m not from around here. I’m AJ McLean, and this-" he said nudging Nick, who’d just been staring, "Is Nick Carter."

"Nice to meet you, AJ. And Nick," she smiled. Suddenly the lovely girl’s eyes opened wide, as if a lightbulb popped on in her head. "Nick Carter....AJ McLean.....correct me if I’m wrong, but you guys wouldn’t happen to be two fifths of the Backstreet Boys?"

"You are correct, but shhhh cuz we’re trying to keep it on the DL today," AJ smiled.

"I understand. Oh, maybe I should introduce myself. I’m Lauren Adair..."she managed to get out before suddenly Jessica came strolling up to her best friend.

"Hey Lauren," she said, "What’s up? Who are these guys you picked up for us?"

Lauren blushed a little, but continued her sentence. "....And well, this is my best friend Jessica Tucker. Jessica, AJ McLean and Nick Carter."

Jessica stopped and looked up at AJ. "Hi AJ and Nick..." she muttered. She couldn’t keep her eyes off AJ, nor he could off her.

"She’s even more beautiful than Lauren," AJ thought. He stared at her long dark brown hair, which had auburn-colored highlights, and her gorgeous curves that went on forever. She looked like a wild child, except for her bright baby-blue eyes that AJ couldn’t get enough of. While they were in their own little staring world, Lauren had explained about them being BSB’s and to not say anything. Jessica had nodded her head.

Nick decided to speak up. "So uh, Lauren, you know your way around this mall? We have a couple of favorite stores we don’t know how to get to," he asked.

Lauren grinned, making Nick melt. "Of course we’ll show you around. We can’t say no. C’mon Jessica."

Jessica awoke from her trance. "Huh? Oh, O.K." She grinned at AJ. He grinned back.

"Oh brother." Lauren and Nick were both thinking. So they began walking.

Several minutes later, Lauren and Jessica showed them the stores and talked to them a little bit. But the girls didn’t inform the boys that they would be at the concert that night. They wanted them to see for themselves.

"Well," Lauren began, "We’ve got some more shopping to do for some place we have to go tonight. So, good luck to you guys. It was really nice meeting you." Even though Lauren and especially Jessica didn’t want to part from them, they knew that wouldn’t be their last time to see them. Even if the boys didn’t know that.

"Yeah, we’ve gotta go too. It was nice meeting you gals. We’ve got to meet the rest of the guys at the food court in 45 minutes, and we’ve still got shopping to do. So bye," AJ said. Out of instinct he leaned over to kiss Jessica on the cheek, but they had already begun to walk away. "Darn," he thought. Nick and AJ watched the lovely ladies walk away, and then when they were out of earshot, AJ began talking excitedly.

"Dang Nick, weren’t those girls HOT? I forgot to get that Jessica’s #! Man she was fine. Her friend Lauren didn’t look bad either, huh Nick? I could tell you had a thing for her," AJ gushed.

Nick had to admit that they were very pretty, and that Lauren was practically angelic, but he was still depressed about Mandy. "Nick, those girls were just living proof that life goes on! Lauren liked you and you know it. Just goes to show you, there’s plenty more beautiful girls that want ya. Now, let’s buy out this store," AJ concluded.

Lauren and Jessica headed into a store chattering excitedly. "Whew, AJ is HOT! I mean, I thought they’d be fine, but he topped ALL my expectations! I bet he’ll be even finer at the concert tonight," Jessica spilled.

"Yeah, they were pretty nice. I don’t guess that fame has gone to their heads yet," Lauren muttered, pretending to be unenthusiastic.

Jessica frowned at her. "Lauren....c’mon....I’m your best friend girl...." she trailed.

"Yeah, I know, I’m lucky, what’s your point?" Lauren teased.

Jessica pouted. "My point is, you don’t have to cover up with me. I know what you’re thinking," she said.

"Oh really? And that would be...?" Lauren raised her eyebrows.

"You’re thinking about how fine Nick was, how much you liked him, and how you want him to like you," Jessica countered.

Lauren had to keep her mouth from dropping. She decided to admit it. "So what. So what if you’re right. Nick is the finest guy I’ve seen in a long time. He was quiet but nice, and he was still fine without his hair showing. I like him a little but...but even if he liked me even a little, it’s not going to happen. He’s probably taken anyway," Lauren admitted.

"Never say never, my buddy. Dreams come true all the time. Now, let’s get some drop dead outfits," Jessica grinned.

Nick walked down to the food court holding a couple of bags, seeing the other 3 guys. "Hey Nick! Where’s AJ?" Brian inquired.

"Oh, he’s coming," Nick snickered.

The others soon found out why. Soon after, there came AJ holding about 20 bags, panting saying, "Help me you guys!" So the guys each grabbed a couple of bags, easing AJ’s load.

"Good grief AJ. Should I even ask? What did you get that you couldn’t possibly live without?" Howie teased.

"You’d be surprised," AJ mumbled. "Now, let’s eat. Shopping really makes you hungry!"

Jessica and Lauren walked out of a store with big goofy grins on their faces. "Man, that was a lot of money we just blew," Lauren reminded.

"Yeah, well it will be so worth it to see the looks on those fine hunks’ faces! They’re already taken with us enough," Jessica grinned.

"Whatever," Lauren mumbled.

"Get off your soapbox. You know you’re gorgeous," Jessica scolded. Lauren just smiled innocently.

"Well, I’m broke. So let’s go back to my house to try on those sexy outfits," she smirked.

"Sounds good to me," Jessica agreed. So they headed to the parking lot to find Lauren’s maroon-colored Mustang.

Back at the food court, all the guys finished their meals, with the exception of AJ, who was still stuffing his face with all of the above.

"I think I’m going to be sick," Howie groaned turning green from staring at AJ.

"AJ. If you keep eating like that man, at the show tonight you’ll be barfing on the stage instead of humping it," Brian kidded.

"Ha ha. But you may be right. I’ll stop eating," AJ decided.

"For how long?" Nick couldn’t resist. The guys laughed again.

"C’mon guys, give me a break. So where are we going now?" AJ said.

"Well, I think we bought out the mall, thanks to someone who shall remain nameless AJ," Everyone laughed. "So how about we go back to the hotel to unload, then on to the arena," Kevin suggested.

"Sounds good." They all agreed.

¤ Chapter 3 ¤
REMEBER to send feedback to the author, Lauren