Chapter 11: A Walk In The Park
The guys all nodded then Kevin looked at Patrick and smiled.
"Thank you Patrick. Thanks for being there for Nick and
getting him to tell us. We know your name, but who are you
and how did you get mixed up with these boneheads?"
Patrick smiled and retold his story to the guys. As he finished,
he noticed that not one face was devoid of tears. Even AJ
was wiping the tears from behind his sunglasses.
"So you see...I owe these boneheads my life. Everyday
that I am alive....I thank god for them. You guys are awesome
too!",Patrick said as he gestured to Nick, Kevin and
the guys, "In my wildest dreams I never thought I'd ever
meet you all too!"
"Well", Brian smiled as he and the guys grabbed
hold of Patrick and gave him a group hug, "I don't think
it'd be cool for these guys to have made two great friends
like you and Mike, then keep you under wraps and not share
you with us. Let's all hang out together today and cut loose."
All the guys nodded and Patrick smiled. "And the magazines
said you guys don't get along! You guys just never get the
chance. I'm sure that you all would become great friends if
you just hung out together."
The guys smiled and then continued their day of fun at the
park. Surprisingly, there were no incidents with the public,
mostly owed to the fact that the park was not too busy and
that the guys disguises of baseball caps and sunglasses finally
seemed to work. They all traveled together in a pack of twelve,
riding the rides, and having a good time. As evening fell,
Patrick and Mike and all the guys decided to go out to the
Hard Rock Café for dinner. Kevin called ahead and chatted
with the manager and made reservations for the group of twelve,
discussing security issues with him and getting them a secluded
booth. Kevin then called the Backstreet Boys security people
and told them to dispatch a few guys to meet them at the Hard
Rock Café at 6 pm.
The guys walked over the Hard Rock Café and were met
outside by their security personnel and the restaurant manager,
who immediately showed them into the restaurant to their booth.
The dinner than followed was fun, with the manager passing
out complimentary merchandise to everyone. Patrick sat between
Lance and Nick and Mike sat between JC and Kevin. The guys
engaged in a lively chat that was as much a surprise to all
of them as it was to Patrick and Mike. At the end of the dinner,
JC and Kevin grabbed for the check and they immediately began
to playfully argue over who got to pay. Nick turned to Patrick
and grinned as he stood up and grabbed the check from in front
of them and ran over to the waitress and gave her his credit
card. JC and Kevin, their argument prematurely ended, looked
and each other and laughed.
Nick got up and grabbed Patrick, excusing the two of them
as they headed off to the bathroom. As the door to the bathroom
closed Nick smiled at Patrick and gave him a hug.
"I wanted to get a moment alone to thank you for today.",
Nick said, "I don't think I would have ever told the
guys what had happened if I had never met you. I was just
so scared...I feel so dirty, so used...."
Patrick grabbed Nicks hands and squeezed them, "No....don't
think like that...if you do, he wins. Don't internalize your
hate for Lou by feeling like that about yourself, place that
hate squarely on Lou's shoulders, where it belongs."
Nick nodded, "I'll try...." "Try?", Patrick
said in his best Yoda voice, "There is no try. You do
or you do not."
Nick looked up and laughed. Patrick grinned and pulled Nick
into another hug, then pulled back slightly and kissed him
lightly on the lips. Nick smiled and returned the kiss.
"Too bad you're taken, man", Nick smiled, "or
I'd be all over you."
Patrick sighed, "Thanks Nick. How goes your love life
with Brian?"
Nick shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, "I guess
we're friends. When he wants more, he just turns on the charm
and gets it. I just kinda feel like a toy. I love it when
he and I are together, but I want to be together as a couple,
not just as a one-nighter when he feels like it."
"Well...", Patrick replied, "He is really
cute, but not that irresistable."
Nick looked at Patrick for a second, "We'll see...I
think he's got the hots for you too!"
"Hmmm...I noticed.", Patrick smiled, "Though
the only thing he and I are gonna have together is a little
chat about his relationship with you. I've taken a shine to
you Nick and I think Brian needs to wise up and see what he
has looking him in the face...before its gone."
Nick looked at Patrick and smiled, "Thanks Patrick...I
owe you."
"Nothing.", Patrick said softly as he gave Nick
a hug, "You don't owe me anything. There's nothing I
wouldn't do for someone I care for...and I do care for you."
Patrick and Nick rejoined the others and they guys made their
way back through the park. Patrick chatted with Lance and
Mike for a while until he spied Brian staring raptly at him.
Patrick slowed his pace and fell to the back of the group
and a second later he smiled as he heard Brian fall into step
beside him. Patrick smiled and looked over at Brian.
"Having fun?", Brian asked with a shy grin.
"Yeah I am." Patrick smiled, "How are you
doing?"
"Pretty good...now that we've met.", Brian chuckled
slyly.
"Brian...whoa!", Patrick laughed, "Man...you
move fast!"
Brian looked at Patrick and smiled a wolfish smile.
"You're really cute, you know that?", Patrick said
as he looked at Brian.
Brian blushed and put his arm around Patrick's waist, pulling
him close.
"But I know that you're with Nick.", Patrick said
quickly, "Unless I am mistaken."
Brian's face twitched slightly, "He and I are best friends...with
benefits...That's all."
"Oh really?", Patrick sighed, "I guess that's
all for the best, tho."
"Why is that?", Brian asked suddenly.
"Well..", Patrick said deviously, "He and
I talked about the relationship between you two earlier when
he was talking about his new crush. This guy sounds like a
total hottie...and I guess I was right when I told Nick to
go after him, if all you were to each other was friends with
benefits."
Brian's face fell as he looked ahead at the group for Nick.
Patrick smirked slightly and decided to take it a step further,
"I've only known him a little while, but I know that
guys like Nick only come along once in a lifetime. I'm glad
he'll finally be happy in a relationship....aren't you?
"Yeah.", Brian said so sadly and quietly that Patrick
could hardly hear, "He deserves to be happy...he's been
through so much."
"You love him, huh?", Patrick said quietly after
a few seconds.
"Yeah, I do. I've been too chickenshit to tell him,
tho. I've been so busy telling everyone that we're just friends
and covering up what we have that I never thought he'd move
on to someone else.", Brian said as tears began to fall
down his face.
"I think maybe if you sit him down and tell him how
you really feel, and apologize for making him feel like some
outlet or toy that you use and toss aside til the next time
you feel an urge, you might still stand a chance with him.",
Patrick replied, then sped up, leaving Brian to walk with
his thoughts and regrets.
Patrick walked up behind Nick and Justin, who were laughing
as they walked and put his arms around the both of them.
"Patrick!", Justin giggled, "Where'd you get
off to?"
"I was having a little talk with Brian", Patrick
said quietly to Nick. "I think maybe you two should go
get a soda or something."
Nick's eyes lit up and he smiled as he gave Patrick a quick
hug.
Justin looked at Patrick and smiled, "You're too much.
You are like a living episode of "Touched By An Angel".
You go around helping people and righting wrongs."
Patrick giggled, "Yeah...that's me. Touched By An Angel
with only half the schmaltz."
Justin and Patrick giggled for a few minutes and then Patrick
steered Justin towards Lance.
"Speaking of that...why don't you talk with Lance, Curly.",
Patrick said as Mike, JC, Lance and Kevin walked over to where
Patrick and Justin was standing. Patrick sat down on a bench
and Kevin sat down beside him. JC and Mike decided to grab
some sodas for the four of them.
"Thanks", Kevin said suddenly.
"For?", Patrick asked, looking over at the broody,
dark-haired singer.
"For talking with Brian.", Kevin said with a smile.
"He's been denying what was between him and Nick for
a long time. What did you say that made the difference?"
"Well Kevin", Patrick grinned, "The best way
to show someone that they're not seeing something that is
right under their nose is to show then that it might get taken
away." Kevin blinked and arched his eyebrows, not understanding
what Patrick was saying.
"I told Brian that Nick may have found a hot new prospect
who would make him very happy.", Patrick finished with
a small smile.
"Oh...god!", Kevin smiled as he shook his head,
"It was that easy?"
"Once he realized that Nick might not be around for
him anymore, Brian wised up pretty quick.", Patrick said
with a grin.
"I should have thought of that ages ago!", Kevin
said with a grin.
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