MISSING: A Fan's Worst Nightmare

"What are we waiting for?Let's do this!," A.J. shouted.

Nick stood alone in his bedroom that night, staring out the window. The phone had not stopped ringing since he and his parents had returned from the airport. But none of the calls were from the guys. Nick didn't know what to think. He had thought,earlier that day, that he was making the right decision by quitting the band.Word had gotten to the press,and his picture was plastered all over newspapers. Tabloids told fans millions of different reasons for his resignation. He rubbed his eyes.The medication was making him very sleepy. He took off his shirt,and turned on the television. He was brushing his teeth when he heard the sound of Kevin's voice.

"You know,we're doing what we have to.We don't want to let the fans down,so we plan to finish off this tour," Kevin said.Nick stared at his former bandmate, surrounded by the other guys.They were talking with a reporter on the news. "So,who will replace Nick Carter?," another reporter shouted.A.J. looked up,and replied,"We won't have a replacement. It'll just be the four of us.We're going to begin our touring schedule again in two days, and the last dates will be make ups for the ones we've missed this last week." "Brian,we know that you and Nick are the closest members of the Backstreet Boys. Do you have anything to say about his sudden exit?," Nick watched as Brian looked hard at the reporter. When Brian shook his head,Kevin spoke for his cousin,"We've all been devastated by Nick's decision.We refuse,however,to let the fans down.We want them to know that regardless of the fact that we've lost a member,we want to carry this tour out for them.Then we'll decide what to do from there," Nick shut off the tv,and grabbed a picture of his friends from his dresser. A stream of tears sliding down his cheeks,he hurled the picture against the wall.His mom heard the noise,and opened his door to find her son in total darkness,sobbing on his bed. "Nick," she whispered,walking towards him. "Leave me alone.I did this to myself.Let me live with it," he snapped. Feeling her heart break,she left the room. Nick cried himself to sleep that night. "So,now what?," Howie asked.They were sitting in their hotel room, after meeting with reporters. Brian hadn't said much all day long. He had refused to speak to any of the reporters about the day's events. "I think we should get some sleep. We start touring again in two nights,and I think we need to get ourselves together," Kevin answered. A.J. nodded as he yawned."I'm exhausted," he turned to Brian,and said,"You bunking with me tonight?" Brian shook his head. He walked down the hall to his room. After he was gone,Howie remembered that he'd left his pajamas in his carry on,in Brian's room. He opened the door a crack and could hear the sound of Brian crying into his pillow.Howie carefully closed the door back,and sighed. He knew how bad this was hurting all of them,but he knew Brian was taking it really hard.This had been a dream for all of them for their entire lives,and now it was being shattered within a matter of hours. "Howie?," Kevin stuck his head out into the hall. Howie closed his eyes and his head hit the pillow. For a few hours,he put Nick and Brian out of his mind as he slept. They left the hotel early the next morning. "Hey,I'm starved," A.J. called from the back of the bus. "You're always hungry," Howie joked. The guys laughed a little, but Brian never said a word. That was when A.J. spoke up and said," You know what?I'm tired of you acting so down all the time." Howie and Kevin watched as A.J. sat down next to Brian. "I'm tired of watching you sulk because Nick left the group. I really think he'll realize he's making the wrong decision,and he'll come back.But you've got to believe that.Don't give up on him so easily.You know him better than anybody,Bri. He'll come back," A.J. said.Brian just nodded and then turned back to the window.A.J. leaned over and whispered,"Have a little faith in God.He wouldn't break up a family." That was all Brian needed to hear. Howie felt something warm fill his heart as Brian hugged A.J. "Thank you,"Brian murmured. Two days later, the guys were standing backstage at an arena in Holland. The opening act was performing their last song. Johnny and Donna stood next to the boys,smiles on their faces."We can do this," Donna said,giving Brian a hug. "We'll make it work,"Kevin said.They all kept their eyes locked on Brian.He was the one who really needed encouraging.The opening act rushed by them as the band went onstage to take their places.The music started,and A.J. grinned. "What are we waiting for?Lets do this!," A.J. shouted. They heard their names being called by the announcer. Kevin started for the stage entrance,but was interrupted by a cry behind him. "Am I too late?" The four boys turned,their eyes wide with suprise,to find Nick standing next to Donna. "Nick!," Howie and A.J. ran to greet their friend,as if seeing him after a 10 year seperation. Kevin was standing next to Brian,who was watching the whole scene before him. "I told you,Brian.Didn't I tell you?This goon knew he was crazy to leave us!," A.J. said,laughing. When his eyes met Brian's,his smile faded. "Brian," Nick said softly,walking over to his friend," I'm sorry for all of this.I just never wanted to be a burden to you guys.I thought I was doing this to help all of us." "I made a mistake.I didn't trust myself enough to believe that I could go on being a Backstreet Boy. What I didn't realize was that as long as I'm doing what makes me happy,it makes other people happy," Nick continued," I really want to come back.But I want to know that that's what you guys want.So,is it?Can I come back to the Backstreet Boys?" All eyes were locked on Brian.

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