Chapter 10: Dark Secrets Revealed
A cough brought Patrick out of his thoughts. Patrick looked
up into a pair of sparkling eyes and long blond hair.
"Hi there!", the young man smiled and Patrick recognized
him immediately, "Is Lance comin back here? I wanted
to talk to him."
"Yeah", Patrick grinned, "He just went off
to get us a snack. I'm Patrick Morrow, by the way, and it's
a pleasure to meet you!"
"Nick, Nick Carter", the tall blond grinned, "The
pleasure is all mine. So...How do you know Lance?"
"He and the guys came to visit me at my sisters wedding
a month ago.", Patrick smiled, "They invited me
to come down here to show me Orlando. I have never been here
before."
"Wow!", Nick smiled, "Never been to Orlando?
Where are you from?"
"Chapel Hill, North Carolina", Patrick said, "Home
of the Tarheels"
"So. Are you just a friend of the guys?", Nick
said, fishing for information.
"You wanna know the truth?", Patrick said conspiratorally,
leaning towards Nick. "I am gonna have Lance's love child."
Nick pulled back in mock-shock and began to laugh. Patrick
grinned at the young man as he laughed.
"Seriously, tho. I owe these guys my life everyday.",
Patrick said soberly, "I'd be dead by now if it weren't
for them."
Nick's smile faded and he leaned towards Patrick. "Really?
They saved you?"
"About 5 months ago, I was diagnosed with AIDS and given
3-4 months to live, the way my health was deteriorating.",
Patrick said quietly. "My lover sent the guys a letter
telling them about my health and how much of a fan I was and
begging for them to call to give my spirits a boost so that
I would live to see my sister's wedding. They did better than
that. They called and talked with me, and invited me to their
show in Ohio the day after the wedding and then asked if they
could come to the wedding itself. I was gonna use their song
for my dance with my sister, and they sang it live to me.
Since that weekend, they have been the best friends I've ever
had. I thank God for them every day."
A single tear slipped down Nick's cheek as he looked at the
young man in front of him.
"And I just thought you were his new trick.", Nick
said, shaking his head. "I feel like a total dick now!"
"Hey man, no problem", Patrick smiled, "No
one could have known...besides...my other favorite band is
the Backstreet Boys."
Nick grinned and his face brightened. "Really?!?"
"Yep. I have both the Japanese and American versions
of Millenium as well as all your other CD's. In fact...one
of my fave songs is that one that you sing, "I Need You
Tonight". Last week, I was comparing how much your voice
had matured since Backstreet's Back. I was listening to "Get
Yourself A Bad Boy" and I am amazed at the versatility
in your voice."
Nick blushed, "Really? Thanks. I didn't think anyone
noticed anything like that."
"I do", Patrick grinned, "Brian has come a
long way too...he sounded good in the early stuff, but has
really expanded his range and lost that touch of "whining-nasalness"
he had in his voice on the earlier stuff. Probably from his
voice just getting stronger from all that singing and recording."
"Wow!", Nick said in amazement, "You really
pick up on every little thing."
"Yeah Blondie", Lance's voice laughed from behind
Nick, "But he hasn't picked you up yet, huh?"
"Lance!", Nick blushed as he turned around as the
blond bass put down a tray of three caramel apples and three
sodas in front of them.
"I saw you two over here, so I thought I'd just get
us all some.", Lance smiled.
"Thanks Lance", Nick grinned as he grabbed an apple
and took a bite.
"So Patrick", Lance said with a grin, "What
kinda stories has Nick been telling you while I was gone?"
Patrick waited a second til Nick got another big bite out
of his apple and Lance took a big sip of his soda, "Stories?
Nick was just telling me what an insatiable bottom boy he
is. Right Nick?"
Nick's eyes widened as he began to choke on his apple. He
quickly spit it out and continued to cough. Lance was not
as fortunate as the large sip of sofa he had taken had come
right out his nose as he laughed and coughed.
Patrick grinned and slapped Nick on the back a few times
before giving him his soda to drink. Nick stopped coughing
for a second and looked at Patrick with a small smile.
"Sorry Nick.", Patrick said, "The moment was
there and I had to take it. Besides...Lance just shot a quart
of soda outta his nose...you can't buy tickets for funny shit
like that!"
Nick threw his head back and laughed, "I'm sure glad
I came over here. I like you. You're really awesome!"
"Ain't he though?", a group of voices sang out
from behind Patrick.
"Well, well, well", Patrick said as he turned,
"Good of y'all to catch up with us. I was beginning to
worry!"
Justin laughed and sat down beside Lance who scooted over
to make a place for him. The two looked at each other for
a second and smiled. Patrick saw this and grinned happily.
"PATRICK...MAN.....you missed it! That ride was off
the hook!", Joey grinned.
"I saw it. I got queasy from looking at it from down
here.", Patrick smiled wanly.
"So, Nick....where's the rest of the 'boys?'",
Chris asked looking around for possible signs.
"They're all sleeping probably. Lou called this morning
and asked my mom to have me come sign something. I just came
here after that was all done.", Nick said looking down
at his shoes.
"Nick", Patrick said, grabbing his arm, "Let's
you and me go get the guys here some drinks."
"OK", Nick said with a smile, jumping up and walking
with Patrick over to the refreshment stand.
"That's nice of him...", JC smiled, looking over
at Lance and Justin who were leaning on each other and looked
pale as ghosts. "...Are you two OK? You look like you
are gonna hurl!"
Patrick grabbed Nick's arm and led him past the farthest
concession stand, out of sight of the guys.
"Patrick...whassup?", Nick said seriously.
"Tell me. Lou...He didn't touch, you know...not you
too!", Patrick choked out as tears of rage filled his
eyes.
Nick stared down at his shoes and nodded his head. Patrick
pulled his head up to face him eye to eye.
"Please Nick", Patrick pleaded, "Don't let
him get away with this...or he'll do the same to Aaron."
"NO!", Nick shouted, "He'd better not touch
my brother!"
"What's to stop him from doing it to one more little
boy, if three other older ones won't speak out against him?",
Patrick said sternly as he looked over to the approaching
figures of Justin and Lance.
Nick's eyes widened as he realized the meaning of Patrick's
words.
"Remember Nick, he's the monster. You didn't do anything
wrong!", Patrick said before Lance and Justin came over
and the three hugged together. Patrick slipped away and ordered
enough drinks for everyone and some more snacks. As he sat
down at the table and began to drink his soda, Justin, Lance
and Nick appeared at his side. Nick grabbed Patrick and gave
him a crushing hug. JC, Mike, Chris and Joey all stood by
watching as Nick cried and hugged Patrick.
"Guys. I think that Lance, Justin and Nick have something
to tell you. It's serious, OK?", Patrick announced soberly.
Ten minutes later, Mike, JC, Chris and Joey stood in shock
after hearing of their secret.
Joey was the first to speak, "He's dead. I am gonna
break every bone in his fat body!"
JC and Chris walked over to Justin, Lance and Nick, leaned
over and hugged them each tightly.
"Nick. Have you told Kevin and the guys yet?",
Patrick said quietly. Nick shook his head.
"I know it'll be hard, but please do. They need to know,
in case he did it to any of them and they're not telling either.",
Patrick replied.
"Did what?", a voice from behind Nick said loudly,
causing Nick to spin around.
Patrick looked up to see Brian and the rest of the Backstreet
Boys walking up behind Nick.
"Hmmm...the gang's all here!", Patrick said quietly.
"Guys? What are you doing here?", Nick said nervously.
"Your mom said you'd be here...we wanted to chill and
have some fun today..so here we are!", AJ said with a
smile.
Brian and Patrick stared at each other, their eyes locked.
"Nick? Are you gonna introduce us to your friends?",
Brian asked without looking away from Patrick.
"This is JC, Joey...", Nick laughed as Kevin smacked
him.
"We know them, you dink!", Kevin laughed. "Brian
means the other two guys."
"My name is Patrick Morrow, and this is Mike Roberts.
Pleased to make your acquaintance.", Patrick said effortlessly.
Brian stepped close to Patrick and shook his hand, "Pleasure
is all mine."
"You wish!", Nick muttered under his breath loud
enough for both Brian and Patrick to hear. Patrick smiled
and Brian blushed and gazed angrily down at Nick.
"You guys have a minute? Nick has something very important
to tell you.", Patrick announced.
Nick looked up and shook his head. Patrick leaned over and
put his arm around Nick's waist, hauling him up and whispering
in his ear, "It'll be OK. I'm here for you. We all are!"
Nick nodded and began to tell his story. Five minutes later
all hell broke loose as JC and Mike fought to restrain Kevin
and Brian from going to TransCon and tearing Lou's fat head
off his shoulders.
"That motherfucker! All the shit we did for him and
he does this to Nick? That ain't right!", AJ said angrily
as he pushed against Justin and Lance.
"Guys", Patrick said loudly and all eyes looked
to him. "This is not an isolated incident. He did the
same to Lance and Justin, and who knows how many other young
guys? The only way to stop him is to confront him. The sooner
the better!"
|
.gif){kind=tracking}
