Chapter Five

Nicole and AJ continued talking when Jessica returned with lemonade for Nicole and handed it to her. "Hey, you're early," she said once she noticed AJ.

"Am I early because I'm the first one here. Or early because it's me?"

Nicole and Jessica responded at the same time. "Both."

"Geez, you girls sure know how to make a guy feel good," he answered disappointedly with a fake pout. Then Nicole looked at AJ, realizing the conversation was over; she pulled back out her laptop. He noticed she was moving on from the conversation, but he wanted to continue. "Hey, Jes. Could you grab me something from the cafeteria?" he asked trying to send Jessica away for a few more moments.

"You've got legs. Go get something yourself." Jessica sat down in the row in front of Nicole and AJ.

He looked at Nicole. "Wanna come with?" he asked motioning his head towards the door. "We can finish what we started."

Jessica began to laugh. "How many Backstreet Boys are you gonna hook up with dear?"

Nicole stood up and swatted at the back of Jessica's head. "Come on, let's go," she said as she nudged AJ to get up.

As they walked back towards the exit, they had to pass the boys. AJ could tell Nicole began to tighten up seeing Kevin and Kristin again. AJ placed his hand on her back to ease her. He whispered into her ear, "Don't worry, it's just the guys." She smiled with his reassurance. The other guys all shared hellos with AJ and Nicole.

They stopped to chitchat with the guys when Kristin looked at the two standing and chuckled, "You two sure make a cute couple." She continued with a cocky smile and tone, "I can't wait to see how darling you all look tonight." The guys fell silent and all but Kevin glared at Kristin.

AJ looked at Nicole and saw the uneasy feeling return. She smiled disappointedly looking away from everyone, pulling hair behind her ears. AJ once again rubbed her back. "We'll just see how good you and Kevin look tonight." Nicole gave a large smile at him and threw an arm around his neck glad that he was standing up for each of them. Kevin shot his attention at AJ wondering what he meant by that. "Check you guys later," with that they walked out of the auditorium. "I can't wait for tonight. It's gonna be a lot of fun with you around." Nicole dropped her arm to her side as they walked down the hallway to the cafeteria. "What's up?"

"Nada," she answered flatly.

"Come on. Don't you think it'll be fun?"

She responded dryly, "Oh yeah, loads."

"Now why you gotta go and do that to me? It'll be fun."

"Yeah, until you find a lady and I'm stuck staring out into the crowd?"

AJ threw his arm around her neck. "I won't leave ya." She looked at him and they both stopped. He sincerely repeated, crossing his index and middle fingers across his heart. "I promise I won't leave you."

They continued walking through the halls with AJ's arm still around her neck. He led her to a seat in the almost empty room and they sat to continue their conversation. "So where we?" he asked.

"I think I was last thinking that I couldn't believe it was Kristin."

"Why's that?"

"I dunno, she's just not what I had imagined."

"What did you imagine?"

"I dunno, something a little more--"

AJ cut her off, "Female?"

"That's harsh, I didn't mean that."

"Ok, more feminine?"

"Better. I just figured she would be someone all dainty, Barbie-pretty and done up. I'm quite surprised."

"Well, yeah that's Kristin for ya. She's surprising everyone nowadays." With that, AJ continued to tell Nicole about Kristin and Kevin's relationship.

They began dating casually when Kristin expressed an interest after much deliberation about dating Kevin. None of the guys were entirely sure if it took her so long to decide to date him because he was famous, or just because. Most believed it was the latter; that she was just giving Kev a hard time. The other guys got funny feelings about Kristin when she first came to visit on tour. She seemed very independent, yet followed him to everything he did. Kevin didn't seem to worry much about it even though normally he used to rag on the other guys if they had clingy girlfriends. She seemed somewhat "tough," and a few of the guys felt uncomfortable talking around her. Kristin would call Kevin numerous times while he was on tour to say she missed him and he would be kept on the phone late at night, trying to reassure her that he still thought of her.

She seemed either very insecure for dating such a high profile guy, or she was just constantly questioning his loyalty. Kevin developed stress from the relationship alone, but wanted to stay with Kristin because he said he really cared about and for her. Nicole was surprised to hear this about Kevin and his girlfriend, even though she could see Kristin being like that.

They continued their conversation with Nicole asking, "So is that why he's always up so late? Talking to or worry about her?"

Just as the words left her mouth, Kevin came up behind, "Who we talking about kids?"

Nicole stood right up, looking at AJ, "No one." She looked at her watch and saw it was only a few minutes until the guys had to be on stage. "We better get back before I hear it from Jes."

While the guys were practicing, Nicole tried to concentrate on the story she had been writing for a few months now. Concentration was the hard part. She kept watching them. She hadn't watched them thoroughly rehearse since she first came on to work about three months ago. Once she got bored seeing the same routines day in and day out, she had begun her story.

Kristin came and sat down next to Nicole. They sat in a few minutes of silence until Kristin broke, "So, you're Nicole?" Her only response was a nod without even looking in the direction. "I've heard a lot about you," she said with a harsh tone. "I hear you slept in Kev's bed last night?" Nicole couldn't help but direct her attention to the speaker. "I hope he wasn't lying when he said nothing happened, because if he was, I don't hold him accountable."

Nicole was almost glad to hear that, but began to realize what she meant. That Nicole would be held accountable. "I know you think you've got something with him because you get to spend all this time with him. But you don't. That's why I'm here now," with that she got up and took her seat a few rows back. Nicole decided it would a terrific idea to continue her story and to stop watching the guys. Every so often she could feel Kristin's eyes blaring into her back and would half turn to see what she expected, Kristin watching her.

When the guys were done, Jes gave out instructions on times: to meet, to leave the hotel, performing, etc. Kristin and Kevin resumed the position they held when they first walked in, forcing Nicole to look in any direction but theirs after she had already met with Kristin's eyes a few times. Once the "meeting" was done, the guys headed out of the auditorium while Kristin told Kevin she would be out in just a minute. Nicole was gathering her things while Jessica waited for her. Kristin spat at Nicole, "I hope you remember what I said later tonight."

Nicole was not about to sit around taking all this harassment in, so she returned the harsh feeling. "Yeah, I will. But can you do me a favor? I think I left my shirt in his room last night, can you ask Kevin to return it to me back at the hotel? I'll be in my room later." She smiled mischievously and turned to Jessica. "Are you ready?" she asked with a genuine smile and nice tones towards her friend. Jessica smiled and the two ladies walked past a stunned Kristin.