"I broke it off with Manda this morning" AJ spoke to Karine.
"really? how did she take it?"
"Not that well... She'll be alright tho. Shes a strong girl" AJ said, assuring himself.
"Did you tell her about me?"
"No, I didnt think I should.. right away. She'll find out one way or another" AJ said "But lets not worry about that, lets just focus in on you, and me, and our relationship!"
"good idea" Karine said, giving AJ a kiss on the lips.
"Hey... in two weeks, there's a Christmas party at Jive... woul dyou like to be my date?"
"Id love to be!" Karine said, and she gave AJ a hug.
Over the next two weeks, AJ and Karine spent every single day together, becoming closer and closer each and every day.
The weekend before the Christmas party, AJ moved Karine into her old apartment, which was where he was living.
Amanda was depressed for the next two weeks and debated about whether to go to the Jive party or not, however, Mandy, being the 'loyal' friend she was supposed to be, coaxed Amanda into going to the party with her, saying it might cheer her up and will give her a chance to talk with AJ.
Tara came down the stairs of hers and Nick's house wearing a long dark green dress, which was made of silk. It was long, went all the way down to the floor, silky, slender, and fitting. It was a very sexy dress, with little straps, no sleeves. Two slits ran up each side of the dress, the back of the dress a little low cut.
Nick stood at the bottom of the stairs in his black tux, it was a very formal party tonight.
"You look like a Goddess" Nick said to Tara, his eyes glued onto her.
"You look like a handsome prince.." Tara said, leaning up to kiss him.
"Ready to go, my love?" Nick extended out his arm for his lady.
"Im ready!" Tara said. Nick led her outside to where a large super stretch black limo was waiting for them. AJ, Karine, Brian, Leigh Anne, Kevin and his date, and Howie and his date were already inside.
The Backstreet Boys and their dates arrived inside the fancy posh building where the large Jive Christmas Party was being held. Other bands such as N SYNC, and Britney Spears were there, already starting up a craze on the dance floor. Innosense was there also.
Everyone sat down and supper was served, starting off with the plate of appetizers, and then followed by the main course, then dessert.
After supper, the large room turned into a ballroom, where the Christmas dance was held.
"Would you like to dance?" Nick asked Tara, as a slow song came over the building.
"I'd love to" Tara said, grabbing Nicks hand and walking out to the dance floor.
Amanda looked over to the BSB table and saw AJ sitting there, with Karine. Mandy saw it too, and grinned to herself.
Amanda got up and walked over to the table where Karine and AJ were sitting.
"What are you doing here?" Amanda asked Karine.
"Im here with AJ" Karine replied.
"What the hell??" Amanda said, looking over at AJ.
"You dumped me for her?" Amanda said. Mandy got up and walked over to the Backstreet Boys table, all grin and smiles.
"What are you soo happy about?" Amanda said, looking at Mandy. Mandy was obviously already drunk.
"You deserved what happened to you.." Mandy said, stumbling a little. Nick and Tara came back to the table to see what was going on.
"Whats going on here?" Nick asked.
"Hey Nick" Mandy said flirtingly.
"Mandy.. you're drunk.." Nick said.
"no.. I can still think straight.." Mandy replied.
"Amanda's upset because I am here with Karine" AJ said to Nick.
"Why the hell do I deserve what happened to me?" Amanda yelled at Mandy.
"Why should you be happy, and not me??? When our plan didnt work.. you didnt help me out after.. you just continued your plan about AJ.." Mandy started spilling the beans.
"Its not MY FAULT that you didnt do your job at the hotel that night! I slipped that drug into that drink.. you didnt do your job.. its all your fault Mandy.." Amanda realized that she had just spilled the rest of their secret plans.
"You... you what??" Nick asked nervously.
"It was you!! This was all planned??? God! how could you do something like that to me? How would you know... i might have had an allergic reaction and died??? that Drug could have done something to me!!" Nick started to yell.
"How could you do something like that to me"
Tara pulled Nick back, trying to calm him down. "I knew it was you.. all along... I even knew i was drugged, I had a blood test done.. I just needed proof before I took it to the cops.. and now I have all the proof I need.." Nick said.
"Nick.. no.. I only did it so we could be together!" Mandy squealed.
"Be together?!? Why the hell would I want to be with someone who doesnt respect me? You call giving me drugs, to try to seduce me, respect? Hell no!" Nick said. He turned around and walked away, pulling Tara along with him. They went out to the balcony to get some air.
"Yeah well... now since you totally embarassed me and made Nick hate me.. i may as well tell you that I planned for Karine to come back to break you two up!"
"What?!?" Karine and Amanda both said in unison.
"Amanda.. WE PROMISED to help one another out.. you didnt help me one bit, and I helped you all the way!! if I dont get what I want, then neither do you!! I got my good friend Patrick to start dating Karine, and break her heart, so shed be packing her bags to move back to Florida, where AJ will find her and dump your ass to be with her"
"well.. thanks.." AJ said. Amanda glared at AJ.
Karine started to cry, putting all the pieces together. Her breakup with AJ, her relationship with Patrick, they were all shams. She ran out of the room crying. AJ, worried about her, followed her out.
Karine ran to the balcony, where she met up with Tara and Nick, who were talking alone at a table. Karine ran over to the edge of the balcony, AJ behind her.
"Karine, hunny... dont you get it? We know the entire truth now... and dont be upset, hun, you have me, and I love you" AJ opened up his arms for Karine and hugged her tightly.
"I cant believe they did taht to me... they put me through such misery, such hell..." Karine said.
"You and also Nick! They drugged him..." AJ said.
"Yeah.. I know... oh AJ... lets not let anything come between us again, okay?"
"I promise you that... Karine..."
"I love you, Alex"
"I love you too, K"
AJ leaned down and and gave her a kiss.
"K... I know we just got back together.. but.... will marry me?"
Karine was speechless, and didnt know what to say. Her mind told her to wait awhile, but her heart wanted to say yes soo badly because she loved him alot.
"Yes, i will marry you" Karine said. AJ picked Karine up, twirled her around and kissed her. Nick and Tara, who were nearby and heard the whole thing, started clapping. Nick made a whistle noise.
"thanks" AJ said, looking over at them, and kissed Karine again.
The next day, Nick and Tara headed over to the Tampa Bay police station with Nicks lawyer where they filed out a report on Mandy and Amanda and what they did.
AJ and Karine went to the mall, where they looked for engagement rings for one another.