"Kev, stop it!" Vanessa giggled. "Stop tickling me now! I mean it. I'll get my own hotel room tonight!"
Kevin immediately stopped tickling her and began kissing her. "Don't make me cry V, you know I can't sleep unless you're in my arms."
"Welcome to our bus," Howie said, as he led Deanna onto the bus. "It's our home away from home."
"I can tell," Deanna said. She held tightly to Howie's hand, but felt incredibly uncomfortable. She knew she was moving way too fast with Howie. Too fast to protect herself from anything that might happen. She had to slow down.
"You can use my bunk if you're tire," Howie said. "I have to go talk to AJ about a song we're writing.
"Thanks," Deanna said, as she cllimbed into his bunk. She began thinking about the past few days. Am I insane? I have to stay on tour because, well, I promised. I don't think I can keep seeing Howie. At least not right now. That might kill me, seeing him every day, but not really seeing him. But I can't work with Howie and be involved with him. How do I tell him? I am so stupid and crazy!
About an hour later, Howie came to check up on Deanna. "Hey Deanna," he whispered. "Can I crawl in?"
She nodded. "We need to talk."
"About what?" Howie asked.
"Us," Deanna said. "I'm glad I'm on this tour. I'm so glad to be around you. But I think we are moving way too fast."
"What?" Howie asked.
"We need to slow down," Deanna said, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Stop seeing each other."
"How?" Howie asked.
"I mean on the romantic level," Deanna said. "Howie, please understand, I'm just really confused. I need to figure out my life before we get really serious, and develop feelings that we can't ignore. Do you understand>"
"Not really," Howie said. "But I'll give you space, if that's what you really want."
"It's not what I want," Deanna said. "It's what I need."
"Alright," Howie said. "But I'll be here if you ever decide that this is a mistake."
"Thank you Howie," Deanna said.
Chapter 7
My Heart Stays With Howie
Backstreet Boys Fan Fiction Index