It's been two years. Two years since misery swept two lives. Two years of picking up the phone, dialing six numbers, and hanging up before the seventh because surely "...he won't wanna talk to me, especially after the way I treated him" and of course "...she definitely hates me. Definitely." They had both vowed not to live in the past, what was done was done. Nick had started dating a 16-year-old girl named Lisa two months after Kristy left. That relationship had lasted for a while, but after a year and 7 months they'd broken up. "I can't replace Kristy!" Lisa had screamed at Nick. "I can't fix your mistake!" Kristy had tried to move on, but not into the relationship field. At least not seriously ... she was linked with every bachelor in Hollywood, from Justin Timberlake to Leonardo DiCaprio, and everyone in-between. The only thing Kristy could devote herself to was music, because she now felt that 'people should only devote themselves to something that cannot hurt'. A lesson learned from her experiences with Nick, no doubt. The doomed couple had not spoken since the final day at the airport. Kristy had walked away, leaving a permanent burn in Nick's soul. After reading her letter Nick stopped talking to everyone. For 3 days he didn't utter anything. 'No', 'Yes', 'Don't', 'Please', and 'Sure' were the only monosyllables he spoke for 2 days after that. Brian once chanced to extract the reason Nick had stopped talking, and it was the only time Nick spoke to anyone about that day. Brian was the only person in the entire universe who knew.

~*~ Two years earlier... ~*~

Nick held the letter with shaking hands. His breathing faltered, and he lowered himself into the chair with painstaking care. 'Love You, Kristy' it finished. He inhaled rapidly, and swallowed. Nick started to hyperventilate. He stood up, and pushed past Howie into the aisle. "Let me off" Nick growled at the attendant. "I'll be back in ten minutes, let me off now".

"Yes, of course sir" she obliged. "We won't engage flight for twenty minutes anyway, the runways are being cleared of snow cover. We just like an early board--"

"Save the explanation" he muttered, and pushed past the lady. Running full speed down the bridge, Nick dodged people carrying bags and magazines.

"What a rude young man" people mumbled, but Nick ignored them. He was on a mission. He ran past the hordes of people, everything turning into one solid blur of colour. Following the signs, he returned to the gate that Kristy had used mere moments ago.

"Let me on there, it's really important" Nick begged at the lady at the counter.

"Sir-"

"Let me on!" he shouted.

"Sir look out the window" she said. He looked. "The flight departed from this gate exactly thirteen seconds ago. You missed it." The woman's words echoed in his head, flashing an ominous warning while Nick watched the plane glide down the taxiway onto the runway. Time seemed to freeze as the plane picked up speed and moved into the air. Nick clenched his eyes to test reality. "Sir, are you all right sir?" she asked him kindly, but he didn't respond.

~*~ ...back to normal time ~*~

That was the last time he spoke for three days. Kevin was the only one of the boys that had slightly regular contact with Kristy. Nick, obviously, had no contact, and other than awards shows, she had no time for a reunion. It's August of 1999; the boys have just returned from the European tour, and have a month and a half break. And so our story unfolds......