- Backstreet Bowling -
"Man, we have to go there!" AJ McLean yelled, motioning to a building in front of him.
The Backstreet Boys had just gotten off their tour bus and were making their way across a parking lot to their hotel. A hotel which just happened to be situated next to a place called 'Bob's Bowling', which the others had actually looked at in disgust when they first arrived.
The rest of the guys stared at him in shock. "You have to be kidding," Howie said, glancing at him.
AJ shook his head. "Bowling is cool, guys!" He stared at them. "Come on. It's early and we're free until tonight . . . Why don't we do something productive?"
Brian his eyebrows. "Like basketball," he stated. Nick nodded in agreement.
AJ frowned. "Kevin . . .?"
Kevin turned to face them and shrugged. "I could care less what we do," he said. "You guys can decide."
"Howie?"
Howie pushed a strand of his curly dark hair behind his ear. "Well . . ." He paused.
"Come on, D!" AJ pleaded. "You love bowling!"
Howie frowned. "Not really. But why not? There's nothing better to do."
AJ grinned. "B-Rok? Nick? Come on!"
Brian looked reluctant. "I don't know. Maybe."
"Why can't we just split up?" Nick asked. He looked hopefully at Kevin.
Kevin shook his head. "No way. Sorry, buddy, but we have that meeting with Donna and Johnny tonight and if we're not all there, they'll kill us."
Nick sighed. "I haven't been bowling since I was six!" he whined.
"Afraid you'll lose?" AJ taunted.
"No!" he protested.
"Sure . . ." AJ said slowly. "We all know who'd win anyway."
Nick shook his head. "You would not!" He paused. "Fine, I'll play. Brian will too."
Brian stared at him. "I will?"
"Yeah, you will," Nick stated firmly.
Kevin shook his head. If you challenged Nick, you could get him to do almost anything. AJ was grinning over his victory. "All right! Let's just drop off our bags so we can go!"
For a second, the other guys actually looked upset with the choice they had made as they followed AJ into the hotel.
Twenty minutes later
As the five guys entered 'Bob's Bowling', they took a good look around. In one corner was a refreshment area, which sold food and drinks, and next to that was a bar. On the left was a reserved area for parties, and to the right was the regular bowling lanes. It wasn't too crowded, but there was a decent amount of people around. They made their way to that area and up to the desk.
"How many?" a middle-aged lady asked, cracking gum.
"Five," Kevin supplied.
"You can only get one lane. That okay?"
Kevin shrugged. "Sure." He glanced at the other guys, who were behind him. Brian was pointing to the ugly red, brown, and black shoes people wore.
"I'm not wearing those," he whispered.
Nick shook his head. "Me neither." Howie nodded in agreement.
AJ frowned at them, but then got a look at the shoes. "Ew. . ."
"Guys . . ." Kevin started. The lady interrupted him.
"You've gotta rent shoes, too," she said, obviously not having heard their words.
Nick stepped up next to Kevin at the counter. "There's no need," he told her. "The shoes we're wearing are special bowling shoes." Kevin chuckled as Nick gave her his winning smile.
"Sure . . ." she said, not smiling back. She cracked her gum again. "Size?"
Nick frowned. "No really. We're experts. Tell her, guys." He elbowed Kevin. "Tell her."
The woman looked up at them annoyed before anyone said a word. "Look, boys, like I really care. Wear your own shoes. It's not worth the bother. If you trip and fall, don't blame me."
Brian cracked a sarcastic smile. "Gee, thanks." His cousin glared at him.
The woman frowned at them. "Lane 21," she said dryly. "Have fun."
As they made their way to their spot, AJ shook his head. "Mean old geezer," he remarked.
Kevin glared at him. "AJ!"
"It's true, isn't it?"
Kevin didn't answer. They came to lane twenty one and piled their coats on the bench. Howie took a seat at the scoring table, which had a keyboard that controlled a screen above their heads.
"Anyone know how to do this?" Howie asked. They shook their heads. "Great. . . Um, who wants to go first?"
"Why don't we go alphabetically?" AJ offered.
"Only 'cause you come first," Nick complained.
"Don't whine," Kevin chided. "Does it really matter?"
Nick shrugged. "No. . ."
Howie entered their names in the computer and it put them up on the screen. "Okay. . . What now?"
"Why don't we get something to eat first?" Brian suggested. "I'm hungry."
"Me too," Nick added.
AJ sighed. "You guys are always hungry. Let's just play a little and then eat. . .?"
"Fine," Brian agreed.
"We have to pick out balls," Howie reminded them. The rack was just behind the bench in their lane so they went there.
"I call red," AJ said.
"Blue."
"Black."
"Purple."
"Green."
AJ raised his eyebrows behind his dark glasses. "That was easy," he remarked.
They dropped their balls in the lane rack and took seats as AJ went up first. Luckily no one was next to them on their right side, so they got to use the seats over there too. As they sat down, Nick stared at a group of kids, ranging from about five to seven years old, who were bowling along the far wall. "Why can't we do bumper bowling?"
Kevin rolled his eyes. "Because we're not six years old, Nicky."
Nick frowned at him. "No, really."
"It could be fun," Brian added.
Howie nodded. "Why don't we ask the lady?"
"We are not bumper bowling," Kevin stated firmly. "I refuse to bumper bowl."
AJ came back from his turn. "They wanna. . . bumper bowl?"
Brian shrugged. "It could be fun," he repeated.
AJ shook his head. "You people are pathetic."
Howie looked up at the scoreboard. "You got a strike?" he said incredulously. "A strike?"
AJ shrugged.
Nick smiled. "We now know what the Bone likes to do in his spare time. . ." His eyes widened as AJ took a step towards him menacingly. "But hey," he added quickly. "Whatever floats your boat."
"I do not bowl in my spare time," AJ told them. "I just think it's fun and I happen to be lucky at it." He shrugged.
"Sure. . ." Howie said with a smile. "We believe you. . ."
AJ glared at him."Thank you, D."
"You're welcome."
"Anyway," Kevin interrupted. "It's your turn B-Rok."
Brian went up, retrieved his ball, and proceeded to get a gutter ball. He came back frowning. "This isn't fun!"
"You're a granny bowler," Kevin teased.
Brian gaped at him. "I am not!"
"You are too," Howie answered.
"A granny bowler?" Nick asked confused.
"Watch him the next he bowls, Nick," Kevin said with a slight smile. "You'll see."
Brian glared at him. "Thanks." He went up for his second turn and paused, feeling all their eyes on him.
"Go, Brian," AJ prompted.
"How can I go when you're all looking at me?" he complained.
Kevin chuckled. "Just go."
Brian shook his head. "But-"
"Go!"
"Fine, fine." He stepped up and finished his turn with another gutter ball.
Nick burst out laughing. "I see what you mean!"
Brian came back glaring at them. "Stop laughing, Nick!"
Nick shrugged, a grin plastered on his face, still laughing. "I can't help it. You should see yourself!"
Brian sat down with a huff. "Thanks for saying anything, Kev."
Kevin wrapped his arms around him in a hug. "What are cousins for?"
Brian shook him off. "No thanks, big guy."
AJ looked up to the board. "I see we're off to a great start," he said sarcastically. "Howie, you're next, you lucky dog, you."
Howie raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, man." He got up with no enthusiasm.
"Sure."
Howie went and wound up getting a spare. He sat back down and smiled sheepishly. "Oops?"
"Someone else like to bowl in their spare time," Brian remarked.
Howie opened his mouth. "I never bowl!"
"Sure you don't. . ."
They sat glaring at one another until AJ broke the silence.
"Alright, Kevin," AJ announced. "You're up. Let's see what the big man's got."
Kevin got a spare also. Coming back down he shrugged at them.
"Don't tell me my own cousin is a bowler!" Brian cried.
Kevin shook his head. "No way. Just luck. I've probably bowled more than you guys though. . . 'Cept for AJ," he said with a grin.
AJ glared at him. "I told you! I never -"
"We know. . ." Nick replied. "Watch me go," he said with a lopsided smile. "I can beat all of you!" He paused. "At least Brian!" Brian smacked him on the head, not hard though. "Ow!"
"Just go, Frack."
"Sure, sure." Nick got his green ball and went up, proceeding to knock down exactly one pin. He spun around excitedly. "See?"
AJ smiled at him patiently. "Nicky, baby, it's only one pin," he said slowly.
Nick shrugged. "Good enough for me!"
Kevin chuckled. "You go again, Nick."
He got a gutter ball, but came back to them, still smiling. "One, though. You see, that's good."
"Only for you," mumbled AJ. Nick caught it and glared at him.
"Hey. . ."
"Go, AJ," Howie said quickly. AJ went up for his turn and got a spare this time.
Nick grinned. "Guess we're not all perfect, huh?"
AJ rolled his eyes. "Sure, Nick."
Brian went up for his turn, but as he stepped up to bowl, Nick loudly called out, "Granny bowler!", causing him to get another gutter ball. Brain glared at him and stepped up again.
"Granny bowler."
Unfortunately for Nick, at that moment an elderly woman had just stood up to bowl in the lane next to them. She turned around angrily as Brian got yet another gutter ball. "Excuse me, young man?"
Nick turned pale. "Uh. . ." The other guys glared at him. "Nothing."
"I hope you didn't say what I think you said, young man," the woman scolded.
Nick shook his head. "No. . ."
"Young people today. . ." she muttered angrily.
When she turned away, Nick buried his head in Kevin's shoulder. "Why me?"
"Cause you have a big mouth," Kevin replied, not pleased.
Nick lifted his head. "It's not my fault! How was I supposed to know some old scrooge was standing behind me?"
"There you go again," Kevin said with a frown.
"Just be quiet, Nick," Howie suggested.
"That'd be smart," said Brian. "D, you're up."
"Alright. . ." He went to get his ball.
"Why don't we get something to eat soon?" AJ asked. "I'm really hungry."
"Wait for me," Howie called. "After I'm done we'll go, and by the time we get back it'll be our turns again."
"OK," AJ agreed.
"I'll go too!" Brian offered.
"Alright," Kevin said. "Get a lot."
Howie went up and got a strike this time, and the three of them left for the food, leaving only Kevin and Nick.
"You go," Nick said to him. Kevin went up and got a strike also, leaving Nick upset. "Geez! Can't you people at least pretend to be bad?"
Kevin laughed. "Sorry," he said, not meaning it. He paused and glanced at the direction the other three had gone. "I'm gonna go give them a hand with the food, okay?"
Nick nodded. "Fine. . . just leave me all by myself."
Kevin smiled. "Try not to kill anyone when I'm gone, alright?" he said fondly.
"Can't make any promises," Nick replied with a grin.
Kevin just shook his head and left. Nick went up for his turn. . .
Fifteen minutes later
AJ, Brian, Howie, and Kevin returned, carrying two trays piled high with food and two pitchers of soda. Nick stared at them. "Someone was hungry. . ." he remarked.
"We all are," Howie replied.
Nick shrugged. "Okay. . . AJ, it's your turn."
AJ smiled. "Alright, time to put some numbers on the board!" He glanced up at the screen. "Wait a sec. . ."
"What's wrong?" Howie asked.
"Nick!" AJ cried, ignoring Howie. "How did everyone but you get zeros on their scores!?"
The rest of the guys glared at Nick too, who stared back at them innocently. "I didn't do anything."
"Like hell!!"
"I just bowled my turn and sat back down to wait for you guys. . . There must be something wrong with the computer."
AJ took a step toward him. "Yeah, right! You played our turns!"
Howie held him back. "Yo, Bone. It's just a game."
AJ snorted. "A game?"
Brian frowned at him. "What's the big deal?"
"Sweet D's right," Kevin stepped in. "It's just a game. Relax, AJ. And Nick," he cuffed the latter in the head. "Play nice."
"You guys took way too long," Nick pouted. "Besides, I gave Brian a one!" he protested.
Brian looked up at the board and for the first time noticed the extra digit. "Cool! That's my guy!" he cheered. The rest of the guys glared at him.
"Does it really matter?" Howie asked, hoping to ward off an argument.
Kevin decided to lighten the mood. "It's not like the points are gonna help them anyway. . . " he spoke up, running a hand through his hair. "Is it?"
Brian and Nick glared at him. "Thank you, cuz," Brian complained.
"Seriously though," Kevin said. "AJ, just go your turn."
For about twenty more minutes, the guys continued to bowl with no serious problems or incidents. Nick eventually wandered over to the arcade, and after awhile they stopped going to get him for his turn. They just had a sort of free bowl; Nick simply didn't seem to care much about his turn.
With only a few more times to go, AJ was in the lead, followed closely by Kevin, then Howie. Brian was trailing behind by a . . . few . . . points. People had eventually occupied the lane to their right, and as Howie went up for his turn, one of the women there interrupted him.
"Excuse me, young man!" she called. "It's very rude to bowl at the same time as the person next to you."
Howie raised his eyebrows. "Oh, sorry."
"You should be," she said snottily, pushing past him to her turn.
Howie walked back to the guys as she bowled. "Whoa. . ."
Kevin whistled. "Watch out there, D."
'That wasn't very nice. . ." Brian observed.
"Bitch," AJ muttered.
"I agree." They turned to see Nick coming back to join them. He looked up at the board as he sat down next to Brian. "Whoa, I'm doing good, aren't I?"
"Long time no see," Kevin remarked.
Nick shrugged. "Been around."
"I hope you didn't break anything?" Howie asked.
Nick smiled. "No. . . Ran into that witchy woman though," he said, motioning to the woman who had berated Howie. "What a character."
Kevin sighed. "What'd you do?"
Nick frowned. "Why do you always assume I do something?"
"Cause you always do?" supplied Brian.
"Thank you, Frick."
"Yep. . ."
Nick rolled his eyes. "I met her at the snack vender where she had lost a quarter in the machine," Nick said. "She was real pissed about it; I just told her that at her size, maybe it was a hint from God."
Kevin rolled his eyes to the sky, as AJ wrapped an arm around Nick. "I love this kid."
Brian shook his head. "No wonder she hates us."
Howie nodded. "She probably knew you were here with us. . ."
Nick shrugged. "It's true though! Look at her. That's one large lady."
"Shut up, Nick."
"It's true though, Kev."
"Nick, I don't care if she weighs 500 pounds. Shut your mouth."
"She probably does weigh 500 pounds," Nick muttered.
"I don't wanna hear it," Kevin replied.
"She's at least 200. . ." AJ started.
"Bone, shut up."
"Yes, sir, Kevin, sir."
Kevin shook his head. "You guys."
"It's not like they can hear us," Brian replied.
There was a moment of silence. Then they heard, "It's so loud. I just put in my new hearing-aid today and I can hear everything! It's awful!"
Howie's mouth dropped. "Wrong, Brian."
Kevin cracked up, while AJ looked extremely surprised. "Only us. . ."
Nick paled. "Oh my God . . ."
Brian laughed. "Oh well. What can they do?"
"I really don't want to know," Howie replied, going up for his turn.
AJ frowned. "I've heard that little old ladies carry handguns in their purses nowadays, though. I saw it on TV!"
Kevin frowned. "What kind of shows are you watching?"
"Oprah," Brian supplied. "He watches Oprah."
AJ glared at him. "I do not!"
"Do too! You were just watching it on the bus before!" Brian continued.
AJ rolled his eyes. "I was merely flipping channels. It caught my eye."
"For forty minutes!"
AJ glared at him. "Nick! Was I watching Oprah on the bus?"
Nick turned towards them. "Yeah." He smiled. "So was Kev."
Kevin's mouth opened. "Nick! I was not!"
Brian smiled. "Yes you were, cuz."
"I was not-"
"Ahem." The four looked looked up to see Howie staring down at them. "Can't leave you guys alone, can I?"
"Sweet D?" AJ asked quietly. "Will you please inform them I was not watching Oprah on the way down here?"
Howie took a seat next to Kevin and sighed. "But dear Bone, you were."
"I was flipping channels!" AJ screamed, exhasperated. People in the lanes next to them glanced at the boys warily. Some looked annoyed but others simply looked amused. The elderly women next to them glared.
"I think you broke the lady next to us's hearing-aid," Nick said matter-of-factly. "Wasn't there an episode on Oprah on how to act civilized in public places?"
"Must've missed that one," AJ said dryly.
"How 'bout you, Kevy-Boo dear?"
"Call me that again, Nicky dear, and the Backstreet Boys may become a foursome," Kevin said without humor.
Nick whistled. "Point taken."
"Anyway. . ." Brian started.
The rest of the guys looked at him.
"What?"
"Can we go back to the hotel?" Nick interrupted.
AJ frowned. "But aren't you having fun?"
Nick just looked at him expressionlessly.
"That's a definite no," Howie said.
Brian nodded. "Why don't we go play basketball? We can still get in a game or two before the meeting."
AJ gave them a sad face. "I can't believe you guys aren't having fun!"
Kevin looked at him surprised. "Of all people, I wouldn't expect you to have fun at a bowling alley, AJ." He paused. "Why don't we just finish the game," he ignored the groans from Nick and Brian here, "and we'll go from there. Don't look at me like that, Nick. The game's almost over anyway."
Nick sighed. "Right. This is lasting an eternity."
-