PAINFUL TIMES
Characters:
Tarantella Full name: Tarantella Caster. Facts: Golden-blond, deep-blue eyes, 23 years old, born Mars 28, 1978, 170 cm tall. Brian's ex girlfriend, Justin's girlfriend, cousin to June Omega/Joan Lady, lives next door to Nick and Shirley in Tampa, Florida.
June Full name: June Omega/Joan Lady Facts: Blond, blue eyes, 171 cm tall, 17 years old, born June 17 1984, got two sisters (22 and 20 years old), singer, cousin to Tarantella Caster, A.J.'s girlfriend.
Shirley Full name: Shirley-Jean Mary Dale Facts: Redhead, grey eyes, 175 cm tall, 18 years old, born January 7 1984, Nick's girlfriend, daughter to Anne and Harvey Dale, lives in Tampa, Florida with Nick, next door to Tarantella.
Kevin Full name: Kevin Scott Richardson Facts: Dark brown hair, green eyes, 187 cm tall, 29 years old, born October 3 1972, Backstreet Boy, Kristin's husband, lives in Orlando, Florida.
Howie Full name: Howard Dwanie Dorough Facts: Dark brown hair, brown eyes, 168 cm tall, 28 years old, born August 22 1973, Backstreet Boy, Sharon's boyfriend, lives in Orlando, Florida.
Brian Full name: Brian Thomas Littrell Facts: Dirty blond, blue eyes, 173 cm tall, 27 years old, born February 20 1975, Nick's best male friend, Backstreet Boy, Tarantella's ex boyfriend, LeighAnne's boyfriend, lives in Orlando, Florida.
A.J. Full name: Alexander James McLean Facts: Colored green hair (dark brown hair), brown eyes, 177 cm tall, 24 years old, born January 9 1978, Backstreet Boy, June Omega's/Joan Lady's boyfriend, lives in Orlando, Florida.
Nick Full name: Nicholas Gene Carter Facts: Blond, blue eyes, 190 cm tall, 22 years old, born January 28 1980, Backstreet Boy, Shirley's boyfriend, lives in Tampa, Florida with Shirley, next door to Tarantella.
- Shirley is pregnant? Brian stared at him.
Nick nodded quietly.
- And you left her? LeighAnne looked at him carefully.
- She told me too...
- I don't think that it's a good time to leave her alone anyway...
- She yelled at me to leave, he said, so I did... I didn't know what else to do... I mean the first thing I thought when I saw that it was positive was to run away from there, as fast as I could and as far as possible... I am scared! I don't know what's going to happen now!
- It's okay Nick, LeighAnne sighed, I didn't mean to sound accusing or anything, it's just that she probably needs you there with her now...
- She told me to leave and...
- I know, Brian sighed and looked at him.
He had never thought that anything like this would happen, that Nick and Shirley would become a couple was kind of obvious but that she'd get pregnant...
- She's only 18 years old, Nick mumbled, it's not fair...
- What did you say? Brian said and looked at him.
- Shirley is just 18 years old, he said and looked at his best friend, I've ruined her life...
Right in that second the phone rang.
- I'll take it, LeighAnne said and left them alone.
- It will work out, Brian said, it will...
- I'm not so sure...
- Nick, LeighAnne said, it's Shirley...
Nick got up immediately and hurried over and took the phone.
- Shirley?
- Nick, she cried, please come back...
- I'll come, I'll be right there hun, he said worried, Are you okay?
- Just come... please...
- I'm going to the car right now, okay?
- Nick?
- Yes?
- Can you buy another pregnancy test?
- Of course, I'll be right there with you Shirl...
- I love you.
- I love you too.
He hung up and looked at Brian and LeighAnne.
- I have to go...
- To Shirley?
- Of course...
Brian nodded.
- Are you scared?
- I've never been more firghtened in my whole life, Nick sighed, but I can't show her that when I get there... for her sake... Bye.
- Bye Nick.
February 25 2002 (Monday)
Nick looked at Shirley and she at him.
- Ready? He said and forced himself to smile.
- As ready as I'll ever be, she mumbled and got up.
She stepped in front of the door.
- Nick?
He nodded and followed her into the bathroom.
- It's blank, Nick looked at her when she started crying again, Are you okay Shirley?
- I'm just so happy, she smiled and threw herself in his arms, I am never having sex again!
- Now I think you are a bit unfair, he smiled and hugged her.
She smiled and looked at him for a while.
- Do you realize that we could have become parents?
- Well... yeah... I was pretty aware of that...
- And you weren't scared?
- I was scared to death, he smiled and kissed her.
February 27 2002 (Wednesday)
"...and if you ever touch A.J. again I swear I'll come after you and I'll kill you in the most painful way you could ever imagine."
Joan dropped the letter and sat down in the couch. This wasn't the first time she'd received a letter of this kind but this was worse than the others were.
She picked up the letter again and crumbled it up to a little ball and threw it across the room. She couldn't stay with A.J. anymore, everything had got out of hand when obsessed Backstreet-fans had started calling and writing cruel letters to her. She couldn't handle it anymore, it was too much.
February 28 2002 (Thursday)
A.J. looked around, it felt so empty without Joan there. He walked in to the living room and looked at the little dark blue velvet box on the table.
He slowly walked over and opened it, the engagement ring was there, and a little note.
"I don't understand what went wrong ~ A.J."
He was about to throw it away but turned it around instead.
"Too much fear, too much pain ~ J"
He looked at it for a while.
- Too much fear and pain, he mumbled and tried to remember what he could have done wrong.
He gave up and walked over to the TV and was just about to put it on.
- What is this now, he mumbled and picked up the little paper-ball.
He read it a couple of times before he realized that someone actually had written something like that.
- Too much fear, he muttered.
March 1 2002 (Friday)
- TARA! NO!!
She ignored him and threw the bag. The sound of the glass breaking and falling down on the street outside the hotel made Justin freeze completely.
- You're crazy! He hissed.
- I AM? Tarantella took his other bag and threw it out too, WELL MAYBE I SHOULD THROW YOU OUT THROUGH THE DAMN WINDOW TOO?!
- There are fans out there!
- Yeah, right, it's only your band that's the celebrities in this hotel! She hissed, It's more likely a mob that's here to kill you.
Justin hurried out to the window, no one had been badly hurt but everyone was confused and his bags were nowhere to be seen.
March 4 2002 (Monday)
- Could I say something? A.J. said before the next reporter was able to ask a question.
- We can't stop you, Kevin sighed and looked at him.
- I'll take that as a yes. I guess that everyone knows that I was together with June Omega, and that we got back together again. Anyway, she's been getting these letters from Backstreet-fans and... those letters aren't really nice. June broke up with me a couple of days ago because of this and I'd like to ask the fans to stop sending her those kind of letters and let me be happy with the girl I love.
It was quiet for a while.
- That's all, he said and forced himself to smile, you can start with the questions again...
March 8 2002 (Friday)
- Miss Omega?
- I'm busy! She hissed.
- That's okay, the photographer sighed, You can take a break...
- Okay, thanks, she sighed and walked over to Tim, What?
- It's Mr. McLean...
- Tell him I don't want to see him, she said and was just about to walk away.
- I'd prefer if you told me something nice, A.J. said and stepped in to the room.
- Mr. McLean, Tim sighed, I have to ask you to leave.
- I'm sorry Tim, I can't, I have to talk to her...
- LEAVE!
- J, I just want to talk...
- About what?
- About what we had...
- It's over, she sighed and turned around and looked at him, I got someone new...
A.J. just looked at her.
- You...
- Go.
- But...
- TIM!
- Mr. McLean, he sighed, please leave now.
A.J. nodded and left.
March 9 2002 (Saturday)
A.J. sighed and signed the last CD and gave the girl a hug.
- Okay, you gotta go now, one of the guards said and followed the last four fans out.
- Do you think I can buy a CD now? A.J. said and looked at Howie.
- I don't know... I'm guessing June Omega...
- Well she did just release hers today too... Let's just hope that there are any left...
- She got the shelf next to our you might see that there are two lonely CD's on hers and one on our...
- Goody, A.J. sighed and walked over.
March 10 2002 (Sunday)
- Howie, Sharon whispered, look at Justin's hand...
- I'm guessing that Tarantella have gone frenzy on him again... look there she is...
- She doesn't seem very happy...
Howie nodded and looked at his new girlfriend, he was glad that she didn't know Tarantella and her temper.
- Guys, A.J. said.
- What?
- Have you seen J?
- I think she's over there, Howie sighed.
- Thanks, he said and hurried away.
- He's still trying to get her back?
- Yupp, Howie nodded, he is...
- June! A.J. said and walked up to her.
She turned around but didn't answer him.
- Hi, he smiled.
- What do you want? She sighed.
He looked surprised at her.
- I think you know, he said after a while.
- The answer is no. Leave me alone A.J. I don't want to talk to you.
- What? What did I do wrong?
- Just leave me alone.
- Please J! I...
- This is neither the place nor the time, she hissed, just leave me alone.
- But...
She ignored him and walked away.
- Hi, she smiled to J.C.
A.J. just stared at her, she hated *NSync and now she had gone to talk to them.
March 15 2002 (Friday)
- Teeny magazines for A.J. McLean, Shirley smiled and handed it to him.
- Thanks, he smiled.
- Why didn't you go out and get them yourself?
- Do you think that I'd get out of the store alive?
- Oh, right, human stampede...
- No, worse, teenybopper stampede.
- Aha...
- Thank you Shirley. It was nice.
- You're welcome... I'll go now, you just read all about the celebrities, bye.
- Bye Shirl.
A.J. sighed and started looking through the magazines until he found an interview with June Omega.
"There's been rumors about you being together with an *NSync member...
'Ha! Like that's ever gonna happen! No' she smiles 'I talked to them for a while at a party but that was it. I actually don't like them and I can't see what my cousin likes about Justin...'
If you had got to pick between love, money and fame, what would you pick?
'I'm sorry to say that I've already done that decision' she sighs 'Twice... And both times I chose fame. I don't care too much about money; I actually give most of it away to different charities. I never wanted to be famous, but not I am and I woulnd't wanna go back. I've got used to it and I don't mind, well sometimes it gets a bit too much but it really isn't the fans that are the problems in my life.'
Why did you pick fame?
'I've done it twice, as I said, and I really did regret it the first time. I didn't wanna break up with him but I did anyway, because of his fans...' She becomes quiet for a second 'I might as well use his name, everyone knows about it anyway...' She sighs and looks at me 'The reason why I chose fame ove A.J. is because I can help so many more if I'm a good role model than a good girlfriend. I might not be the best role model on this planet but I'm better than many other celebrities... But I did love A.J., I mean, I do love him, I still do but I couldn't stay together with him any longer because I got these letters... well we can just say that his fans didn't like me.'
But you don't seem to be someone that cares about what people might hink about you...
'He told me that too...' she smiles and gets a dreamy look in her eyes for a second 'it's kind of hard to explain but... I felt that this was for the better. We tried again, but tried to keep it a secret that time to avoid all that but... I'm probably not fair when I say that I blame Justin for that the fans found out, it was partly my cousin's fault too. But she's always been like that and I really tried to make him understand that... Well, I can't turn back time anyway.'
If he asked, would you get back together with him?
'I don't know... if I did I wouldn't let anyone know about it anyway'
You are known to attack Britney Spears a lot in interviews and so on, how come you've stopped with that?
'I haven't stopped, I just try not to do it too much anymore. I don't like her or her plastic boobs, and I really think that she shouldn't have done a boob job, she should have bot a brain instead of silicon boobs...' She smirkes and looks at me 'Sorry, old habit. I just found out that she is actually mostly remembered because I talk about her so much... okay, not really but it helps her and I don't want her to be in the music industry. She got nothing to do here, she can't sing, she can't dance, she's not even nice to her own fans... I don't say that I am a great singer, but I am at least better than B*tchney... She should be in the porno industry instead...'
There's been talk about you doing a cover-album, would you like to comment this?
'No.' she smiles 'Sure. I am, but I'm still doing a new record too with new songs. I'm going to do some of my favorite songs and some that my manager thinks would suit my voice but I am going to do 'All I want is forever' and for that I need a guy to sing a duet with. But it's not going to be so alike the original version though.'
Any plans about who it's going to be?
'I don't know, there are many guys that got great voices but... If I hadn't broke up with A.J. I guess that I would have asked him, he got a wonderful voice...'
You aren't going to ask him now?
'I don't know, maybe, but I'm really not sure cause we broke up and all... People are going to think that we are back together again and then I'll get hate mail again. I know that people think that I can handle pretty much anything but I don't, I don't like getting hate mails, especially not when the person threatens to kill me or people, or animals, I care about...' She sighs. 'I got many of those and I couldn't handle it, I freaked out and left him, and then we got back together and I did it again... I really regret it but I'm still not sure that I would take him back.'"
A.J. read through the interview again.
"Maybe there is a chance for us again" he thought "Just maybe..."
March 16 2002 (Saturday)
Joan sighed and opened the door.
- Hi, he smiled.
- Didn't I tell you to stay away from me? She said and rolled her eyes.
- Can I come in? A.J. looked at her.
She looked at him for a while.
- Fine, she sighed, you know your way around here...
- Yupp, he smiled and stepped in.
- Why do you come here? She closed the door behind him.
- Cause I read a little interview with you...
- Oh no, she sighed, what did I say?
- That you might take me back, he smiled and walked over to her, and that you still loved me...
She nodded and looked at him.
- Maybe I did, she said after a while, So you are back to try to convince me to come back to you?
- Exactly, he smiled.
- I'm not so sure that that is going to be so easy though...
- I'll do my best, he smiled.
March 20 2002 (Wednesday)
- Nick, Shirley said as soon as he stepped in to the house.
- Yeah? He smiled and closed the door.
- I'm late.
- What? He looked at her.
- My period, I'm late...
- But the test... and we did use and...
- WELL SOMETIMES THINGS SCREW UP!!
- It's okay, he said quickly and hugged her, It's okay... we'll just go to a doctor this time, okay?
She nodded and looked him in the eyes.
- I'm scared Nick.
- I know, he mumbled, so am I...
- What if I'm pregnant? I... I don't want a child... especially not now and...
- We don't know yet, he smiled, we don't know yet so we'll just try to stay positive...
She looked at him.
- Wrong choice of words, he sighed, you know what I mean...
She nodded and hugged him.
- If I am pregnant...
- Mm...
- Will you leave me?
- What?! he stared at her.
- Will you?
- Do you want me to leave you if you're pregnant?
- No, I meant, if I am, will you leave me because of that?
- No, no, I wouldn't, I really wouldn't.
- Promise.
- I promise, he smiled, I promise, I'll be right here...
March 21 2000 (Thursday)
- Carter and Dale? The nurse looked at them.
- Yeah, Nick got up immediately.
- The answers have come, she smiled.
- Shirl? He looked at her.
- I... I'm not sure I wanna know, Shirley said and looked at him.
He looked at her for a while, hoping that she would get up soon.
- Miss? The nurse looked carefully at Shirley.
Shirley nodded and got up.
- If I'm pregnant Nick, she hissed, I'll kill you...
- That sounds nice, he mumbled and followed her in to the room.
- Well? Nick looked at the doctor.
Shirley were sitting next to him looking really tense.
- You don't have to worry, the doctor smiled.
- What? Nick said surprised.
- Well I see that you are both very young so I'm guessing that you are hoping that you're not pregnant...
- So... I'm not, Shirley looked up, I'm not pregnant?
- No.
She hugged Nick.
- Thank god, she cried.
Nick nodded and held her for a while. He knew Shirley had been scared to death that she would be pregnant, but when he thought about it he wouldn't really mind becoming a father, maybe not yet but soon.
April 3 2002 (Wednesday)
- Shirley! A.J. said surprised, What are you doing here?
- We... Nick and I... we had a fight, she said and looked at him, I don't wanna see him in a good while...
- But...
- I took his car...
A.J. nodded and let her in.
- What was it about? He looked at her carefully.
- I don't want to talk about it, she mumbled and sat down in his couch, I just don't wanna see him or hear his voice for a long while...
- That's okay, he sighed, you can stay here if you want to.
- Thank you, she smiled.
- Any time.
- No, Howie said, Shirley isn't here... Why?
- We had a fight, Nick sighed, she took my car and left...
- Have you checked with the others?
- Brian and Kevin, yes...
- And A.J.? You know that they are close...
- I know, Nick said with an angry tone.
- Sorry.
- What?
- You are mad at A.J. too?
- No, I'm going to call him now. Bye.
- Bye, Howie sighed.
Nick hung up and looked at the phone for a while before he pressed speed-dial.
- Hello?
- Is Shirley there? Nick said impatiently.
- Nick, A.J. sighed, well she is...
- Can I talk to her?
- Um... she doesn't wanna talk to you...
- What?
- She's still a bit upset...
- Oh...
- What?
- What?
- You sound mad...
- I'm not mad, Nick hissed.
- It sure sounds like you are...
- I'm not, bye A.J.
- Bye...
Nick hung up and sat there for a while before he picked up the phone again.
- Okay, Joan sighed, I'm here now, would you please tell me what it's about?
- Shirley and me, we had a fight, Nick sighed.
- Oh... I'm sorry, she said and sat down next to him in the couch.
He nodded.
- I'm sorry that I called you so late, he said and looked at her.
- That's okay, she smiled, friends are friends no matter what time of the day.
- Thank you, he sighed, I really need someone to talk to...
- And Brian?
- LeighAnne, Nick lied.
- Really? She said surprised, I never thought that she was like that...
- She usually isn't...
She nodded.
- What did you two fight about then?
He didn't answer her.
- Okay, she sighed and looked at him, do you just wanna sit here or...?
- Yeah, he nodded, I think so...
- Okay, she smiled, I can do that too...
She was interrupted by his lips.
April 4 2002 (Thursday)
- Okay Shirl, A.J. smiled, we are here now.
She nodded quietly but didn't move.
- Are you sure you're okay? He looked at her.
- Yeah, she said and looked at him and then at the house, I just... Whose car is that?
- What? A.J. looked up, That's... that's Joan's car...
They looked at each other for a while and got out of the car.
- I'll just...
Shirley took up the keys.
- She probably just came, he said and forced himself to smile.
- Yeah, she said even though she didn't believe it herself, what else?
He nodded.
- Okay, she sighed and unlocked the door.
They stepped in but didn't say a thing.
- Shirley? Nick got up.
- Yeah? she said and looked at him.
- Hi! I've missed you...
- Yeah... I've missed you too, she said and let him hug her, Why is Joan here?
- I came over last night, she said and walked out in the hallway, Oh... hi A.J.
- So...? A.J. looked at Nick.
- What? Joan said, What do you think?
He didn't answer her.
- What? She smiled, No, nothing like that... don't worry... He got a girlfriend...
- Yeah, A.J. said and forced himself to smile.
He still remembered how they first had met, and what she'd said about Kevin.
- Anyway, I gotta go now Nick, A.J., Shirley, she smiled, I'm leaving in three hours and I gotta get home and get things ready. You guys work things out now.
- Yeah, Nick smiled, Bye.
- Bye.
- Bye, Shirley said.
- Bye, bye, A.J. sighed and watched her as she left.
April 5 2002 (Friday)
- Sure you can, A.J. said and let Shirley come in, But what happened?
- We broke up, she hissed.
- Why?
- You know why, she said and looked at him.
- They had something going on?? He stared at her.
- He denies it but I know it...
- But, are you sure?
- You don't think that they did? She looked at him.
- Well...
She didn't say a word.
- Okay, I do...
- Thank you!
- But how did you know that? I mean, I know I'm really jealous so...
- Cause I know Nick! He can't lie properly to me...
- You can live here as long as you want... but we are going on a short tour in two days...
- Good, I'll spend that time to move my stuff over here.
He nodded. He didn't mind if Shirley moved in, he was just mad at Nick right now, and mad at Joan.
April 7 2002 (Sunday)
- YOU TWO ARE NOT FIGHTING IN PUBLIC ONE MORE TIME! Kevin yelled.
Nick and A.J. became quiet immediately.
- Thank you, he hissed, I don't wanna see you two fighting again, we are going on tour now. You two can talk about who cheated on who in private, later! Okay?
- Sure, A.J. mumbled.
- Fine.
- Thank you!
Apil 19 2002 (Friday)
- We fight from time to time, but no, A.J. said, we are not breaking up.
- No, you just sleep with my girlfriend, Nick muttered.
Howie kicked Nick under the table.
- What? He hissed.
- Shut up, he said with a warning tone in his voice.
- It's true...
- Nick, Kevin looked at him with a warning look.
- It IS!
- It's not! A.J. hissed.
- Oh yeah?!
- Yeah!
- SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU! Kevin got up, You two can fight later! Not here, not now!
The reporters looked at each other worriedly.
- Okay, Kevin sat down again, just try to forget that that ever happened...
April 25 2002 (Thursday)
- So you are living with A.J. now? Nick said with an accusing tone in his voice.
- Nick, Shirley said a bit guilty, you were the one who cheated...
- You're the one that sleeps with A.J.!
- I'M NOT SLEEPING WITH A.J.! she protested.
- You're not?
- No! How could you even think that I did...
Nick didn't answer her.
- I know what you are thinking, she hissed.
- What? He said a bit angry.
- You don't believe me do you? She said upset.
- What am I supposed to believe?
- Fine Nick, if that's how you want it...
She hung up and looked at A.J.
- He thinks that we are sleeping together, she said barely being able to hold back the tears.
- I know, he sighed, I know that he does...
- And you haven't told him that we don't!?
- I have! Many times! He doesn't believe me...
She nodded.
- I just can't belive that the first thing he does after coming back from tour is accusing me for sleeping with you... and he isn't even my boyfriend anymore...
- We'll work this out, A.J. sighed and hugged her, you'll see... He's just jealous...
- You would know...
- I have plenty of experience, he sighed, I am sorry to say...
April 26 2002 (Friday)
A.J. sighed and knocked on Nick's door.
- What? She sighed.
- Joan!
- A.J.... What are you doing here?
- I was about to ask you the same thing, he said and looked at her.
- I was just... visiting Nick...
- Oh, is he here?
- Yeah, he is... and I'm guessing that you wanna meet him?
- Yeah, you remember Shirley don't you?
- Sure I do, Joan smiled, she's nice... you're new girlfriend or just your call girl?
- What?!
- Well that's what she is, isn't it?
- Who told you that? he hissed.
- Well, Nick told me that...
- Okay, move it J, he muttered and stepped in, NICK!
- A.J.? Nick said surprised.
- WHAT'S THIS ABOUT YOU GOING AROUND SAYING THAT SHIRLEY IS MY CALL GIRL?!
- I'M NOT!!
- WELL THAT'S NOT WHAT JOAN TOLD ME!
- I DIDN'T SAY THAT! she protested.
- Oh, no? He looked at her, Well, you know what... it doesn't matter... You are Nick's little call girl so why couldn't Shirley be mine?
She slapped him in the face.
- Don't you ever say something like that to me! She hissed and left the room.
- I'm sorry J, he said after a second's hesitation, please...
- So she is your little lover then? Nick said and looked at A.J.
- No she isn't! But it looks like you and Joan...
- What? It's not like anyone of us got a partner or anything...
- You know damn well that I love her!
- You know that I love Shirley too!
- You two are just too much! Joan hissed, Shirley is on her way here and we are going to work things out between all four of us! I'm going to hit the one who starts yelling, and I'm going to hit hard!
A.J. gave Nick an angry look.
- I haven't even kissed Shirley, he hissed.
- And I haven't slept with Joan!
- But you've kissed her? A.J. looked at him.
- No!
- A.J., Joan sighed, I came here because Nick needed to talk to someone, and Brian was busy and I live closer than him anyway...
- Really?
- Really, she said and looked him in the eyes, Nothing happened...
April 27 2002 (Saturday)
- It's half past 12! Joan muttered, Leave it! No one kissed anyone and that's that!
- No, Shirley just moved in with Bone, Nick looked at A.J., I highly doubt that...
- I slept on the couch! He protested.
- Sure you did...
- You are both just two jealous, pathetic ex boyfriends that can't move on, Joan muttered and got up, I'm going to answer the door, if anyone of you two starts yelling or hit the other one I'm going to come with a kitchen knife and kill you both...
She sighed and opened the door.
- Joan, Shirley said and looked at her.
- Shirley, hi, she smiled, the guys are here... and they are at each other's throats...
- Oh, she smirked, can't we just let them kill each other?
- You are mad at me?
- Very.
- And you are mad at Nick?
- Extremely.
- Okay, Joan closed the door, they are in the living room, please do not kill anyone while you are here... think about the dogs...
- Good morning, Nick smiled.
- Its morning, Shirley muttered, let me sleep...
- Okay, whatever you say...
- But then we are all okay then? Joan smiled.
- Yupp, A.J. smiled, I'm sorry that I called you a...
- Say it and I'll take this spoon and carve out your heart.
- Sounds nice, A.J. smirked.
- Anyway, she smiled, I was going to ask you earlier but you thought that I slept with Nick so...
- Okay, let's just forget about that...
- Yeah, good idea, Nick sighed.
- Where's Shirley? Joan said and looked at him.
- Sleeping, A.J. said and looked at Nick, right?
- Yupp.
- Still?
- She got a hormone problem or something... and she won't take the pills...
- THANK YOU NICK! TELL THE WHOLE WORLD!!
- Sorry!
- Just wait till noon... I'll kick you ass...
- Whatever you say Shirl...
- You just wait...
- Okay, Joan sighed, A.J....
- What? He looked at her.
- Sch, she smiled and took a package of milk and opened it.
A.J. smiled as she tiptoed over to Nick.
- I will kick your ass and you know it! Shirley muttered from the bedroom.
- Sure you are, Nick smiled.
- Nick! Joan smiled and pored the milk over him.
- What?! Nick turned around, What are you doing?
- I didn't do anything! A.J. smirked.
Joan laughed and hurried behind A.J.
- This means war! Nick said and hurried over to the refrigerator.
Joan smiled and hurried out of the kitchen.
- Not on me! A.J. protested in the same second Nick pored flour all over him.
- Who started throwing eggs? Joan looked at A.J.
- I'm completely innocent, he said, I was throwing... um...
- Eggs?
- No, not at all!
- Die! She hit him with a pillow.
- Not fair! I don't got anything to hit you with!
She stopped after hitting him a couple of times.
- Where's Nick and Shirley? She said.
- Um... he was going to throw eggs at her?
- Nice try, she smirked and hit him with the pillow again, no really...
- I don't know...
- Okay, let's clean up.
- No... I hate...
- Do it! She interrupted him.
- But...
- Or I'll hit you again, she smirked.
June 2 2002 (Saturday)
"Forever
Won't you give me forever, baby
This time make it last, baby
I'm not asking for much
Asking for all your love forever
Oh, oh, just say that you will stay for always
And always you'll be mine
At least till the end of time
Forever, oh, forever, my baby, forever
All I want is forever
Am I asking too much
Asking for all your love"
- Okay, we're done, she smiled.
- It turned out pretty good, A.J. smiled and kissed her.
- A.J....
- What? He said and realized that he just had kissed her, Oh, I'm sorry...
- Yeah, she looked at him for a while, yeah...
- I'll be leaving now, he said and tried to think of something else.
- I'm staying for a week, recording... really fun, she smiled, then I'm doing a European tour...
- Well... I guess we'll see each other then, later some time...
- Yeah, she said and looked at him.
"Maybe it was a mistake to break up with him" she thought.
June 10 2002 (Monday)
- Hi, A.J. smiled, I'm here to see June...
- And you are?
- A.J. McLean, of the Backstreet Boys, he whispered.
- What? The man said and looked up from the papers, Oh, I'm sorry Mr....
- Please don't say it loud, please, for everyone's sake...
- Um, yeah, sorry... Is she expecting you?
- Surprise, he smiled.
- Okay, well it's that door, down the hall, second door on your right.
- Thank you, he smiled.
He stepped in and looked at her.
- A.J.! she smiled and hugged him, Hi! What are you doing here?
- Oh you want me to leave? He smiled.
- No! Stupid, she smiled, But I thought you had gone back to Florida.
- I had, but I thought that I might as well come over here and see your show... but I can't stay long...
- So you came to see my show but you can't? she smirked.
- Hmm, well, yeah...
She just looked at him.
- Well, okay, I came to see you, he admitted, Mad?
- No, I'm not, she smiled, you're a friend.
He didn't answer her.
- Oh...
- Yeah...
- Please don't, she said, not again... The answer is no, and it will always be no.
He nodded and looked at her.
- Don't look at me that way, she said and turned away.
- Joan... I were going to ask you to marry me... You can't just imagine that my feelings are gone...
- That was over a half a year ago...
- Exactly, give me a lifetime and it might go away.
- Stop that. I don't want to...
- You said that you loved me, he said.
- Did you just accuse me? She turned around and looked at him.
- I'm sorry, he mumbled, I am, but... you said that you loved me and I want to know if you really did or if that just was empty words...
- It doesn't matter, she said and walked away to the other side of the little room, not now, not anymore...
- It does to me, he said and walked over to her.
She didn't answer him.
- Please Joan, he said and laid his arms around her waist, if you ever loved me... tell me... And if you didn't tell me that too so I can put it behind me...
- A.J....
- Please...
- I can't...
- You don't have to tell anyone else, he whispered.
- I'm scared...
- Just tell me, I won't hurt you. I'm the last human on earth that would hurt you on purpose...
She didn't answer him.
- Joan, please... I'm begging you...
- No, I can't A.J., I can't! she protested, Let me go...
- But...
- Now, she hissed.
- Sorry, he said and took a step back.
She turned around and looked at him.
- I'm sorry, she said and walked past him.
"If I could right the wrongs that made you cry
I'd make a promise not to say goodbye
'Cause I'm holding on
With a love so strong
And I can't take a day without you by my side"
She stopped and looked at him.
"Girl if I could change
If I could chage your mind
Baby you could help me wipe these tears from my eyes"
He stopped singing and looked at her. She didn't say a word, they both stood there and looked at each other.
- Do you know how much I cried, he said after a while.
- Don't you think I cried? She said and left the room.
He stood there for a while before he was able to pull himself together and walk out from there.
He watched her quietly, she was beautiful, she really was.
"You said you loved me
You lied
Real love lasts forever
A part of me died
Don't lie to me, I never did it to you
Oh, don't tell me you didn't lie
You sure did
Real love lasts forever you see
It never ends
And if the love isn't true
Then it's the kind I got from you
The kind I got from you"
She smiled and stepped out to the edge of the scene.
"I, I, I dare you
I dare you to do
I dare you to do right instead of wrong
It won't take too long
You got all your life"
A.J. watched her on the screen, he could still remember their little contests. While she'd been there he hadn't dared Nick into so much things as he had used too, which had made Shirley happy.
"Come on, I dare you
I dare you to
I dare you to stop lying
Just so I can stop crying
I dare you
I dare you to do
I dare you to do right instead of wrong
It won't take too long
Cause you got all your life
Yes I dare you
I dare you to do
I dare you to, to do right instead of wrong
It won't take you too long"
She walked over to the dancers and started dancing too.
"And since this isn't the end
I dare you again
I dare you to do me right
I dare you to do me right this very night
Do as I tell you to
Cause I did dare you
I dare you one more time
I, I dare you to for one night be mine"
She smiled and stopped dancing.
"I dare you
I dare you to, to do
I dare you to do right instead of wrong
It won't take you too long
You got all your life
You got, oh, you got all your life
I don't want to be your wife"
She smiled and went back to the dancing again.
"I rather be your mistress than your wife
And I, I got all my life
So I, I dare you
I dare you to do
I dare you to do right instead of wrong
And it won't take you too long"
A.J. sighed, some of the girls around him had recognized him even in this dark and had started talking, or at least done their best to only talk and not yell.
His mind wandered of to the memories that he and Joan had shared, both the good and the bad...
"I'll never obey anyone
I rather be all alone
I'm not stupid, but you seem to be
If you think that I'd change for you to something that isn't me
I won't change, no, never
And definitely not for you
I'll be like this forever
And to someone I'll do"
"You were always perfect in my eyes" he thought "I just wish I hadn't been so jealous... but what could you have expected from someone that almost had touched heaven Joan? Someone that for once had an angel by his side? What did you expect?"
"I'm not your slave, I belong to me
And that's how it forever is going to be
I won't change, no, never
And definitely not for you
And I'll be like this forever
And to someone I'll do
I'm not for you
Understand that I am being true
I'm never going to change
Cause to someone I'll do
Too bad that someone isn't you"
A.J. looked at his watch, he had to go soon, he couldn't stay more than five minutes more. He slowly got up and started walking against the exit as the music changed.
"I don't need you
I never did
Don't imagine that only you will do
That was never true"
He knew it was just a song but she was singing it, and it felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart and twisted the knife around.
"If you are going to keep on pushing me down
Better give me a good reason to stay
Or I'll leave you on your own
And walk my own way
I can stand up on my own
I'm a person, I have a mind of my own
I owe you nothing if that's what you think
Just because I'm a woman
Doesn't mean that I need a man"
He turned around and looked at her, she could be so stubborn from time to time, and even bitchy, but then there were those times she was like a baby that just needed to be taken care of too...
"If you are going to keep on pushing me down
Better give me a good reason to stay
Or I'll leave you on your own
And walk my own way
Better give me a good reason to stay
It's not good enough with a simple pray
Better give me something more than a promise
Cause promises can be broken"
"How about that I love you" he thought and turned around and walked to the door.
"I am strong
I can carry on
With or without you
Right now without you will do
Oh, it will do just fine
Just sharing what's on my mind
If you are going to keep on pushing me down
Better give me a good reason to stay
Or I'll, I'll leave you on your own
And walk my own way"
The music changed and she walked to the edge of the stage.
"I guess you are lonely
Now that I left you
But I want you to know I think about you only
Still there's nothing that can bring me back to you
I'm crying, crying for you
Cause crying is a thing you just can't do
Oh, you could make me so mad
Sometimes even sad"
- I'm sorry, he whispered and opened the door.
"There's no need to place the blame
Inside of me there is an eternal flame
Burning for you only
I guess you too are lonely
I'm crying, crying for you
Cause crying, crying is a thing you just can't do
You could make me so mad
Sometimes even sad
Yeah, sometimes even sad
I'm crying for me
I'm crying for you
This is the way it has to be
Cause crying is a thing you just can't do"
He looked at her one last time before he left the room and wiped away the tears that started rolling down his cheeks again.
June 14 2002 (Friday)
- Bye, Nick said and kissed Shirley for the fourth time.
- Okay Nick, Kevin sighed, leave her alone now!
- Yeah, Howie muttered, we really have to go!
- Behave, Shirley smiled and pushed Nick in the other's direction, now go...
- Yes! Go! Kevin said irritated, We were supposed to be on the plane fifteen minutes ago!
- Bye, he smiled.
- Bye, she sighed.
- Bye, I love you.
- I love you too, now go or you'll just make the others even angrier...
- Okay, bye, love you, Nick smiled and turned around and followed the others to the plane.
Right before he was supposed to go on the plane he turned around and waved to Shirley.
A.J. sighed, he wished that Joan would have been there...
- Still blue? Brian said and looked at him.
- What? A.J. said surprised.
- You're walking around in your own little world... again...
- No I'm just... I'm a bit jealous of Nick right now, that's all...
- Oh? You want Shirley? Brian smirked.
- Haha. No, I want a certain ex girlfriend of mine...
- It will work out, you'll see... like Nick and Shirley, and LeighAnne and me...
- I hope so, he sighed.
July 17 2002 (Wednesday)
A.J. smiled and was just about to open the door when he heard her talking.
- Weren't you going to work things out with Shirley?
- Yeah... well, I already have...
"Nick's voice" he thought and froze "What is he doing here?"
- You know about A.J....
- Of course I do, it's kind of hard to miss...
- And then you're here because?
- Well...
A.J. turned around and walked away. He couldn't believe htat Nick and Joan... Nick had a girlfriend, Nick had Shilrey, and she loved him. Nick knew that he loved Joan, and so did she and still...
He sighed and left the package by the gate and left again.
July 18 2002 (Thursday)
Brian looked at Nick and then at A.J. They had started to fight again, he had thought that they'd be back to normal now when Nick was back with Shirley and all but obviously there was something that hadn't been corrected between them.
Right now there weren't yelling at each other, they just refused to talk with each other instead. Kevin had yelled at them for arguing in public again and Howie had tried to make them come to some kind of agreement, but in vain.
July 29 2002 (Monday)
Justin stared at her.
- Tara!
She didn't answer him, she just looked at him for a while before she turned around and saw Lance who just had stepped in to the room to see what was going on.
- What do you want? She hissed.
- I... I was kind of hoping that you two would stop fighting...
- We are, she said coldly and walked over to the door, I'm leaving.
- Tarantella! Justin said and got up at once, Don't leave!
- Bye, bye, bye, she muttered and slammed the door.
- That's one nasty bruise, Lance sighed and looked at him.
- I know, he muttered, Why didn't you stop her?
- Let's just leave it this way, it's for the better for all of us...
- Right! Justin hissed and hurried after Tarantella.
August 1 2002 (Thursday)
- Bye, LeighAnne smiled and kissed Brian goodbye, I'll be back in two days.
- Bye, Brian smiled and watched her as she left.
- I'll call you, she said and got in to the car, Love you.
- I love you too.
She drew away and he went back into the house again. When there was a knocking on the door he just smiled.
- Did you forget something? he said and opened the door.
- Yeah, you, Tarantella smiled.
- Tarantella! He stared at her, What are you doing here?
- I wanted to know how you are now...
- No, no, no, he said irritated, you are not going to come here and ruin it all again! I'm married to LeighAnne, I love her! Leave right now Tara!
- But Justin left me... I have no where to go...
He sighed and looked at her.
- Justin left you? He said and looked at her.
- Well not really, she sighed, I left him... and I want you back.
- Too late.
- But Rok...
- No!
- I'm not asking you to divorce her...
- What?! He stared at her.
- A little side step... no one will know about it...
- Yes I will, he said and looked at her, and I love LeighAnne way too much to do something like that to her...
She didn't say a word.
- Bye Tara, don't come here again please...
He closed the door and locked it.