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He could have killed the stranger the moment he saw him dancing with Jenny. It was illogical, and a damn good thing that he hadn't. That didn't shake the feeling, the longing to remove her from the man's arms. Her expression didn't help matters, either. She was scowling down at his chest, apparently avoiding her partner's gaze. She looked so miserable; he couldn't even understand why she was dancing with the unknown person. And he wondered how no one else could see it. She glanced up at him for a moment, brief happiness marking her face, quickly followed by disgust. Turning her face up to her dancing partner, that happiness he'd just glimpsed returned once again to her features.
"Who is that? Do you know him, Nick?" Brian asked, having reached Nick's side. He'd seen the way Jenny had looked up at Nick with dislike and then at the stranger with adoration. He wondered what would have made her react like that to Nick, and even more how she could possibly know anyone that worked for them. He saw the shock and confusion all over his friend's face, only assuming his expression looked much the same; and continued to think over the puzzle of who the man was. A couple years back, they'd had trouble with the people that worked for them. Some weren't trustworthy; others were just uncaring. Howie had come up with the idea that getting to know ALL of the people on the Backstreet team -- from officials to crew members -- would help them to know the trustworthiness of the people that handled their careers. Not to mention that it would help those people learn to care about their work that much more, having met the guys. Very few of the people that were somehow affiliated with them were "strangers" anymore; and Brian now wondered how someone that he didn't even recognize would be at this party. The only thing that stopped him from outright questioning the man in front of everyone was that he had an access pass around his neck. Brian returned from his thoughts to the world, to discover that Nick was still just staring at the two out on the dance floor.
"Nick? Hello?"
"Huh?" Nick finally answered, turning toward Brian. "What do ya want?"
"I asked you if you had any idea who the guy Jenny's dancing with is," Brian replied, waiting for Nick's concentration to settle on the question, and away from Jenny for a moment.
"Ya know... no. I don't think I have ever seen him before. Do you think he was recently hired, and maybe we just haven't been introduced yet? I'm sure lots of new people have joined the team for the tour," Nick suggested thoughtfully. It was obvious that he didn't for a moment consider that the stranger wasn't really one of their employees. Normally Brian wouldn't either. For some reason, though, ever since he'd learned that Jenny wasn't really a fan, he'd been thinking about a lot of things concerning her and the way she reacted to them, and the reasons for those reactions. And now they find somebody that she acts perfectly comfortable with? He felt paranoid and stupid thinking it, but he thought for some reason that what he was seeing was more than just a girl dancing and having fun with some random guy at a party.
"I don't think so... we met the group of new recruits a few weeks back, remember? And management would have told us if they had hired anyone else on to work the tour. They always tell us about changes like that, so that we can plan when the best chance would be to meet the new workers. And if you and I both have never seen him before, then I'd think that logic would say he doesn't work for us," Brian answered, starting to turn to go find his cousin and the others, not even thinking about Jenny anymore. He was outraged that an outsider had gotten access into Nick's house. They'd been told that security would be tight. Not THAT tight, obviously, Brian sneered to himself. "Nick, let's go find Kev, Howie, and AJ. It's very possible that one of them could have invited him. We should go find out about it..." he was already walking off when he said it. Nick could hear him just enough over the crowd to make out the words, and followed Brian away toward his bar, the best place to find the other guys at a party.
***********************
Jake snickered to himself when he saw Nick storm off behind his band mate. Even if Jenny didn't heed his warning about the superstar, Nick would surely keep his distance from her for a while. Nothing like making two people feel betrayed by each other, he thought to himself. He grew giddy at the thought of Nick becoming openly hostile toward Jenny after this little incident. It was a big hope to ask for... but oh so wonderful were it to happen. Even without the added side-effect of pushing Jenny farther away, it'd still prove Nick to be the bastard that he surely was. Jake returned his attention to his dancing partner, and his wicked smirk deepened.
He could see Jenny pulling back inside herself again, just like she had done years ago in their high school. She probably prided herself on having grown, on being so much stronger than she used to be. But he knew better, because right before his eyes, she was acting just like she used to. So perfect; everything was turning out so perfect.
What are you thinking, now? Jenny thought when she saw his smirk. She was definitely worried about that expression, and saying she was afraid would be another safe bet; but more than anything, she felt angry. It wasn't enough that he ruined her life once, he had to go and do it again. She wondered again what he could possibly be thinking, when he surprised her with an answer, for she hadn't realized she’d asked it aloud.
“Just about how perfect you are,” he replied, his sneer destroying any kindness in the compliment. Her look of disbelief amused him. More than it should have given the fact that it was very obvious to both of them that he enjoyed toying with her imperfections. “What? You don’t believe me? I meant it; I do think you are perfect! Everything you’re doing is turning out just perfectly, like the way you pissed pretty boy off just a little bit ago,” Jake laughed with nasty delight. Oh, how much he was enjoying this. However, he thought that maybe it was time to leave...
Ignoring Jake’s laughter at her reaction, Jenny turned her head to look in the direction that she had seen Nick before, and could no longer find him. Her shoulders slumped as she thought of how he must have felt, seeing her dance with somebody else while she refuses to talk to him most of the time. He was probably off telling Brian… and Brian would tell Nick about how she wasn’t a fan… and they’d tell the others… and everything is going to hell! Damnit! she silently cursed in her frustration. What was she going to do when they asked her to explain it? Well, if luck were on her side, they’d just send her home. At that thought, she looked up at Jake with an ironic smile. If luck is on my side… HA! A tugging she felt on her shoulders brought Jenny back to the present.
"Join reality now, Jen," Jake teased as he shook her shoulders lightly. Having regained her concentration, he stopped the pretense of dancing and began dragging Jenny along behind him as he left the dance area.
Jenny's nerves buzzed with alarm as she attempted to free her wrist from his grasp. It was simply no use; he had too strong a grip for her. "Where in hell are you taking me? And what do you intend to do?" she asked just loud enough for him alone to hear her questions above the pounding bass of the music. She had hoped to hear more force in that voice of hers, but found herself instead wincing at the fear there.
"Oh honey, I thought you smarter than that. I think you know exactly what I intend to do, and where we are going is irrelevant," Jake replied once he'd turned his face back to look at her. Cruelty marked every line in that face.
Panic welled up in Jenny's stomach, so overwhelming. She thought that surely she would faint or be ill right there and then. And since she couldn't escape, she figured it would be best to atleast try to slow them down proceeded to rebel against Jake's insistent pull. Jenny dug her heels down and tugged with all her might against his strength. It was enough to throw the monster off his stride, but in the end only rewarded her with a violent yank forward and a scowl that suggest she not try it again.
Jake leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Cut the shit. People are watching, and you don't want me to be forced into causing any... mishaps." Quickly, he returned to his journey through the crowd, but Jenny had definitely caught the meaning behind those words. With no further resistance, they continued through the house.
***********************
“What’s up, ‘Rok? Nicky?” Howie wondered, lifting his beer in acknowledgment of their approach. Kevin and AJ looked over to see the two making their way through the crowd, also nodding their greetings.
Brian and Nick both returned the greetings, though Nick really didn't seem to be all there.
"Hey Kev... you'd know better than anyone. Has management brought on any new people for the tour since the last group we had dinner with?" Brian asked, a no-nonsense expression on his face. If anything, he looked furious. And that sure got his bandmates' attention.
"Not that I know of, Brian. Anything wrong?" Kevin demanded, catching some of the tension that now seemed to be rolling of Brian in waves.
"I think so, though I'm not sure. Nick and I saw a guy in the house that neither of us recognized. The thing is, he's got a pass. I'd like to think no one not invited would be able to get a pass, but I'd rather be cautious than sorry later," Brian answered.
"What was he doing?" AJ inquired.
"Well... just dancing," Brian admitted.
"Hey Nick! Yo, you see anything wrong with him?" AJ asked, trying to gain the younger man's concentration.
"Well..." Nick trailed off, really considering the question. He hadn't actually witnessed the guy do anything other than dance. At the same time, however, there was something about the stranger that just felt off. Confessing to himself that it was probably just because the unknown man had been dancing with Jenny that he'd disliked him, Nick was too ashamed of the way he was reacting to the situation to admit his feelings to the others. "Nah... like Brian said: he was just dancing. Though Brian IS right that we've never seen him before. Could mean something," Nick finished, shrugging to affect an indifferent appearance.
"Aw, c'mon 'Rok! He's probably just someone from the press, trying to get in a good story for a local paper or something," AJ finally decided. Ok, so it disturbed him that Nick's house had been breached; but what harm could an ambitious reporter be at this party? They weren't doing anything wrong to report. "Was he talking to anybody specifically?"
"He was dancing with Jenny," Nick cut in.
"Well there ya go!" Howie announced. "I'll bet he wanted to get a personal scoop with the contest winner!" AJ and Howie were obviously in full agreement on this.
Nick actually looked relieved. Brian, on the other hand, was still a little uneasy, which seemed to mean the same for his cousin. Brian did not like the idea of a failure in security, no matter how small the outcome may be; and when Nick had mentioned Jenny again, he'd gotten back to his confusion on her involvement with the stranger. AJ's suggestion that the man was from the media was a possibility, but an interview with Jenny? The other guys may not have known it, but since HE knew Jenny wasn't an actual fan of theirs, Brian would have bet anything she would not have willingly entered into any interrogation about her being on this tour. Though he couldn't put his finger on it, there was obviously something terribly wrong going on here.
"Nick, why don't we go find Jenny anyway?" Brian proposed, knowing his friend would be all too happy to agree, which he was.
"I think I'll join you," Kevin added as the three of them left their buddies behind to enjoy another round at the bar. If there was only one person on this planet that Kevin trusted and believed in, it was his cousin. So despite what Howie and AJ wanted to believe, Kevin was pretty sure he was going to stay by Brian and Nick and check out what was going on here until he knew for sure everything was fine.
Broken Promises