Over the next week, Backstreet Boys and Innosense travelled eastwards, going from province to province, venue to venue.
Whenever Tara wasnt around, Mandy would make her way over to Nick and try to start up a conversation with him. Nick, knowing that Mandy was trying to flirt with him, would just talk back, and mention Tara from time to time, so that Mandy would get the hint that he was with Tara, and not interested in her.
Karine completely ignored AJ, not talking to him, and not talking to Amanda either. AJ became depressed, because he didnt know what he did wrong, he never cheated on Karine.
The second to the last stop on the Canada tour was Toronto, Ontario.
The buses pulled up to the Westin Harbour Castle, in downtown Toronto along the harbour, mid-afternoon on July 26th.
Nick and Tara got a room that had adjoining doors to Brian and Leigh Anne's room since the four of them had been hanging out alot lately. Nick and Tara used to hang out with Karine and AJ, but since they broke up, Nick and Tara started hanging more around Brian and Leigh Anne, doing couple things and going out on double dates.
AJ jumped out of the bus, grabbed his stuff and loaded up his hotel room with his belongings. Half an hour later, a knock came at his door.
AJ unlocked the door and opened it, seeing Amanda standing there.
"Hey, whats up?" she asked.
"Im just getting things settled in" AJ mumbled.
"I heard about your fight with Karine.." Amanda said, taking a seat in one of the chairs in AJ's room. AJ frowned a little then looked out the window.
"Yeah? so??" he said, trying to act tough.
"Im sorry... I dont know where Karine got that idea from.." Amanda lied, trying to look sweet and sensitive for AJ.
"Thanks, I tried to explain to her... but she wouldnt listen!" AJ said "I would have never have cheated on her... I love her.."
"I know you do" Amanda said, going over to AJ and she gave him a hug.
Nick, Tara, Brian and Leigh Anne went out for supper that night at the revolving restaurant at the top of the CN tower. Dressed in elegant suits and dresses, the two couples dined over well done steak dinners, champagne, and yummy desserts, while having an excellent view of Toronto.
After they finished eating, they took the limo over to the Pantages Theatre where they had box seats to go and see the theatre production of the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.
"That was the most romantic horror I have ever seen" Tara said, walking out of the theatre holding hands with Nick.
"Yeah, it was neat! I always thought operas were boring, but this was cool! and it wasnt really opera.." He said. Brian and Leigh Anne laughed.
"I liked when the chandelier hit the stage!" Brian said "that was really neat effects, and all the explosions".
"Want to go for a walk along the harbour?" Leigh Anne suggested. The Toronto harbour was a nice place to walk along at night, quite pretty. The two couples awlked for nearly an hour, watching the moon shine down on the water.
Amanda and AJ decided to go out to Planet Hollywood to get some food, and to take AJ's mind off of Karine and the problems that they are having.
The next day, Karine woke up early and took off to go and visit some of her friends in Toronto.
Nick, Tara, Brian and Leigh Anne had breakfast downstairs in the restaurant, and were joined by Kevin.
"hey buddy whats up? Wheres Danay?" Nick asked.
"Shes in her room.. we're just friends. She only wants to be friends" Kevin said, kind of glum.
Tara sat there and thought about something, someone, to make Kevin happier because he seemed so lonely.
"hey Kevin?" Tara spoke up.
"Yeah?" Kevin replied.
"Would you ever consider dating girls younger than you?" Tara asked.
"Yeah, I guess.. if we got along.." Kevin replied back "why?"
"Well, I have this friend, her name is Marie. I think it would be really cool if you two hung out, when we get to Montreal! Shes really nice, and I think you two would get along great"
Nick and Brian smiled over at Kevin.
"Want me to call her up??" Tara asked.
"sure, I guess there is no harm in meeting her.." Kevin said, then went over to order some food.
That afternoon, Backstreet Boys and Innosense went over to the Skydome to practice for that nights show. Tara sat down in the front row, and watched the Boys rehearse and practise. After they were done, Innosense practised, while the boys were backstage doing some interviews with YTV's Hitlist.
At 6pm, the Boys and girls had supper backstage, care of Planet Hollywood take out.
Karine stayed back at the hotel during that nights concert, and Tara, feeling bad for not spending much time with her, decided to miss that nights show so she could spend some time with Karine and see how she was doing.
Tara knocked on Karines hotel room door.
"Hey.." Tara said, when karine opened the door.
"Whats up?" Karine asked, letting Tara in.
"I was wondering if you wanted to hang out tonight..." Tara said.
"I thought you were going to the concert.." Karine said "you always like to go and watch Nick"
"Yeah, but I thought I'd spend tonight with you instead!!" Tara said "You know, since youre one of my best friends"
"Oh, thanks.. so what do you want to do?" Karine asked, trying to look like she wasnt upset about AJ.
"I thought maybe we could go see a movie.. or something.. at the Eatons Center Mall" Tara suggested.
"alright.. lets go" Karine said, grabbing her stuff.
After the concert that night, the Boys went out to a club in downtown Toronto. At the club, they met up with Amanda and Mandy from Innosense.
"what are you girls doing here?" Howie asked.
"Thought we'd check out this club! we heard it was pretty good" Mandy lied. They were only there cuz they knew that Nick and AJ were going to be there.
Tonight was the night that Amanda and Mandy were going to set forward their plan for Nick.
"would you like to dance??" Amanda asked Nick.
"sure.. I guess" Nick said. He set down his drink on the table. The other people at the table got up to dance also, except for Mandy. Mandy sat down, and pushed Nicks drink towards her. While no one was looking, she took out a little pill from her purse and put it in Nick drink, watching it dissolve.
After the song was over, Nick came back to finish his drink. Mandy grinned as she watched Nick take the last few gulps of his soda.
Over the next hour, Nick started to feel really weird, feeling very tired.
"Frack, man, you okay?" Brian asked, looking at Nick.
"No, man, Im feeling a bit tired..." Nick said "very tired".
"okay.. lets go take you back.." Brian said. Mandy offered to come take back Nick to the hotel. Brian, Mandy and Nick climbed into the limo and went back to the hotel, up to Nicks room. Tara and Karine were still out, so Tara was not there. Mandy thought that this was the perfect scenario.
Nick was soo tired that he couldnt even undress himself into his boxers, so Brian had to do that for him, and placed him in his bed.
"Im going to go use the bathroom" Mandy said, taking off into Nick and Tara's bathroom.
"Mandy, Im going back to the club.. are you coming?" Brian asked.
"No, Im gonna go up to my room, Im feeling a little tired too" Mandy said, from the bathroom.
Brian looked at the time, 11:30.
"okay, see you tomorrow" Brian said, shutting the door to Nicks room.
Mandy came out of the bathroom in her bra and boxers. She had messed up her hair so it looked like Nick and her had been busy in bed, then climbed into bed next to Nick, who was fast asleep.
At 11:40, five minutes after Mandy snuck into Nicks bed, Tara and Karine came up to the floor where Tara's room was.
Tara unlocked the door to her room and opened the door.
"What the fuck is going on here???" Tara screamed. Mandy jumped up out of bed, while Nick laid there dead asleep from the pill that Mandy had slipped into his drink.
"What the fuck are you doing in my room??? and WHY are you dressed in your boxers and bra???" Tara screamed.
"Uhm, I dont think this is something I should be talking to you about, why dont you ask Nick" Mandy said, grabbing her clothes and then running down the hall putting her shirt on.
Brian had forgotten something in his room, and heard Tara screaming. Worried, he ran over to Tara's room.
"whats going on here???" Brian screamed. Tara was too shocked to say anything.
"What the hell happened in here??" Karine asked Brian.
"Oh you mean Nick? He was feeling really tired, so Mandy and I brought him back to the hotel" Brian said, not knowing what Mandy had done.
"Not that... I mean between Mandy and NICK!" Karine screamed.
"how could he do this to me???" Tara said, and she started to cry. Karine gave Tara a hug.
"What did Nick do? He couldnt do anything, hes like, dead asleep" Brian said, still not knowing anything.
"Something weird is going on here.." Karine said, looking around the room, and at Nick.
"Youre telling me.." Brian said.
"Why was Tara screaming?" Brian asked.
"We just came up to my room.. when all of a sudden we saw Mandy, in bed with Nick, and she was in only her boxers and bra!" Tara said, crying.
"What?? thats impossible!! I brought Nick up here at 11:30.. I checked the time before I left. Mandy was in the bathroom when I left your room, Tara.. that was only ten minutes ago.. Nick was dead asleep!!" Brian said.
"Well how could he be dead asleep, and have sex with Mandy at the same time, in ten minutes?" Karine said.
"This doesnt make sense!!!!" Karine added. Tara was still crying and was very confused.
"Tara... weren't you always warning Nick that you thought Mandy liked him, and was trying to flirt with him?" Brian asked Tara. Tara looked up at Brian and wiped her tears away.
"yes why?" Tara asked.
"Do you think maybe she might have set it up?? knowing you would get home and overreact?" Brian suggested. He knew his Frack didnt do anything bad, and was trying to fit the pieces together.
"well... maybe! I mean, shes always trying to tell me that Nicks gonna cheat on me.." Tara said.
Brian opened his arms up for Tara and gave her a large hug.
"Listen very carefully to me Tara.." Brian started off. "Nick did NOT cheat on you. I left the room only ten minutes ago, and he was dead asleep, unawake to the world. If you ask me, I think this was a set up by Mandy. Nick loves you, he would never cheat on you. And he is lying in the exact same position as he was when I left him" Brian said. Tara stopped crying and looked up into Brians eyes. She trusted Brian, he was one of her good friends, and Nicks best friend. Brian would never lie to her.
"Whats wrong with Nick? How come he seems soo out of it.." Tara asked, walking over and looking at him laying in bed.
"I dont know, he was fine during the concert, and at the beginning when we were at the club, then he started getting really drowsy and weird.." Brian said.
Tara felt his forehead, he was burning up a little bit.
"Karine.. can you go get me a cold washcloth please?" Tara asked.
Karine came back with the cloth, and passed it to Tara, who placed it on Nicks forehead and wiped it around his face and neck.
"I have to go back to the club... Im sorry Tara.. but do trust me.. nothing happened.." Brian said.
"I trust you, Brian" Tara let out a little smile at him, and then gave him a hug.
"Nick and I will deal with this tomorrow, when hes better" Brian said. "No one messes with him, or you". Tara gave Brian a hug and then he left to meet up with Leigh Anne back at the club.
"I cant believe Mandy would do something like that! That is soo low!" Karine said to Tara.
"Yeah, I know.." Tara said.
"I believe Brian tho, dont you?" Karine asked.
"Yeah, I do.." Tara said. She looked at Nick who seemed to be really cold now, so she covered him with the blankets.
"Nicks going to be really mad to know what happened when he finds out.." Tara said. Karine stayed in the room for a little while longer, then went back to her own room.
Tara changed into her PJ's and climbed into bed next to Nick, who seemed to feel her presence there.
"Tara" he said in his sleep, really lowly.
Tara snuggled up next to Nick, and rested her head on his shoulder. Nick, who had been laying there dead asleep, wrapped his arms around her. Even though he was in total state of sleep, he knew it was Tara there with him.