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» CHAPTER ONE «

~ Five Months Earlier ~

 "Bone, get your ass out of the bathroom! You could not possibly get any better looking, so pry yourself away from the mirror! We’re gonna be late!" yelled AJ’s fellow Backstreet Boy, Kevin Richardson.

AJ glanced once more into the mirror and decided Kev was right. He turned off the light and ran out the door, where he was greeted by applause from all four of his "brothers".

"Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the Bonedaddy! It was a long, hard road to recovery, but Mirrorholics Anonymous finally worked!" said Brian Littrell in his best announcer’s voice.

"Guys, please. You know I have to look good. I’m proposing to the woman of my dreams after the party," AJ defended himself. ‘Oh my God, I’m actually going to do this’ he realized, his heart rate quickening at the thought.

"What are you looking so nervous about, buddy? You know she’ll say yes," Howie Dorough said reassuringly.

AJ swallowed. "Who’s nervous? All I have to worry about is what the fans might do to her . . . and to me."

"Aw, come on. I think after nine years they should be over all the girlfriend envy," said Nick Carter, shaking his blond head.

"Girlfriends, yes. But marriage? That’s a whole other thing. How could you forget all the commotion when Kevy got married?" AJ sighed.

"Well, I got three words for all those chicks who think they’re gonna marry you," said Nick. "Deal with it."

AJ smiled at that. "Thanks, Nick. You know what, I’m not even going to worry about it. This is MY happiness we’re talking about here, not theirs."

"Right on, Bone!" chorused the guys, raising their fists in the air.

Grinning, AJ tipped his furry purple hat. "So let’s go!"

They all went out the back way of the Radisson Hotel in New York, with bodyguards on all sides.

After they’d settled themselves in the stretch limousine, Brian leaned forward and tapped AJ. "Come on man, you have to show us the ring now," he said eagerly.

Without a word, AJ slipped his hand in the pocket of his long leather coat and pulled out a small grey box. He opened it with a flourish to reveal a large, gorgeous diamond.

Kevin, Brian, Howie and Nick’s eyes all grew big at the sight of it.

"Damn, AJ," said Nick with a whistle. "That is some rock."

"Mya’s going to love it," Brian predicted.

"That’s what I’m hoping," AJ said, carefully putting the box back in his pocket.

A few minutes later, the limo pulled up in front of another hotel, where the album release party for their newest creation, ‘Finally’, was being held. The Boys hurried out of the limo, waving to all the fans that had gathered in hopes of catching a glimpse of their idols.

Just before he got inside, AJ spotted a sign held by a fan that said ‘AJ, Marry Me!’ He blew a kiss to that girl, smiling over the irony of the whole thing.

The party room of the hotel was absolutely packed. ‘How am I ever going to find Mya in all of this?’ AJ wondered anxiously. Just then Brian nudged him.

"There’s your girl over there, bud," he said, pointing.

AJ looked over to where his long-time girlfriend Mya Fallon was talking to a few fans that had won a contest to be at the party. For a minute, he was content just to watch her talk and laugh, her long golden-highlighted brown hair swaying with every tilt of her head. Just seeing her made him smile. That’s when he knew he was in love. Mya was AJ’s everything, and he couldn’t wait to ask her to make it permanent.

AJ quickly strode over to where Mya was standing, coming up behind her. He put his finger over his lips, silently telling the two teenage fans not to say anything.

"Guess who?" he said in a high-pitched voice, putting his hands over her eyes.

"Magic?" she guessed with a smile, using her pet name for him. She’d always said that AJ brought magic into her life.

"That’s right baby," he said as she spun around and gave him a kiss.

"I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you all day!"

"Me too. How was your audition?"

Mya’s eyes lit up. She loved talking about her budding acting career. "It went really well. I think they liked me."

AJ gave her a hug. "That’s great, Spice!"

Mya made a face. "I still don’t get why you call me that."

"You spice up my life! Anyway, I’ll have to put you in a BSB music video one of these days."

"But then there will be all these rumors about how I had to sleep with one of the members to get the job," she joked.

"Well that’s true, isn’t it?" AJ said, kissing her cheek.

Mya playfully shoved him away. "Maybe not anymore, after that comment!"

"Ah, they’re at it again," Brian announced, coming up to them with a beautiful blond on his arm.

"Ugh, what street corner did you find her on?" Mya said in mock disgust, referring to the blond.

"The same one they kicked you off of," retorted Laura, who was Mya’s cousin.

"Ladies, ladies," AJ cut in. "No catfights here, please." He grinned. "I just might have to jump in the middle to separate you."

"And we definitely don’t want that. Who knows where your hands would end up?" Mya teased. ‘Damn, how does she always get me like that? I just want her so much,’ AJ thought, observing her beautiful smile and the way her nose crinkled up when she laughed.

"Come on stud, let’s go dance," said Mya, leading AJ away to a less crowded part of the dance floor. One of the many things the two had in common, they were both excellent dancers.

As the night wore on, AJ got more and more nervous, although he would never admit it. He went through all the motions of acting normal, talking to fans, joking around with everybody and grabbing all the attention, but inside his stomach was twisted in knots.

"AJ, is there something wrong?" Mya asked, pulling him off to the side.

"Uh, no! What makes you think that?" AJ replied, trying to sound normal.

"Well, you are acting WAY crazy, even for you. I know something’s up," she prodded.

’She knows me so well’ AJ thought fondly. "You know me too well. It was supposed to be a surprise, but I have something special planned for after the party. I’m just nervous that I’ll screw it up." ‘You have no idea.’

Mya gave him a sweet smile. "Well, whatever it is, I’ll love it even if you do screw it up. Don’t worry about it."

Suddenly AJ felt a whole lot more confident about things. "You’ll love it. I promise."

Around midnight, AJ decided it would be a good time to leave the party and take Mya to Jumper, the dance club where they had first laid eyes on each other two 1/2 years ago. That was where he planned to propose.

When AJ found Mya, she had just bumped into somebody and gotten wine spilled all over her dress. "Damn, damn, damn," she complained, trying to dry herself off. "This dress was the sh*t! Now it’s ruined. I’ve got wine all over the front of me."

"I could lick it off for you," AJ said seductively.

"Not here you won’t. But maybe later I’ll just spill a whole bottle. . .or not!" Mya teased, seeing the look on AJ’s face.

"Damn Spice, why do you always tease me like that?" he whined.

She giggled. "Because I can."

AJ tugged on her arm. "Hey, are you ready for the little surprise I have for you? I’m ready to go now."

"But I have to go change. I’m not going anywhere in this dress," Mya protested.

"Just come with me. I can have the limo stop by your place first," AJ said as they threaded their way through the crowd, heading towards the entrance.

"I have a cab waiting for me, though. It’s been out there since I got here."

"Someone as gorgeous as you shouldn’t have to ride in a cab," AJ coaxed, kissing Mya’s forehead.

"Oh, you think you can convince me just by using that charm whenever it’s convenient?"

AJ grinned, knowing he had won. "Yes."

"You’re right," Mya sighed, relenting. "Alright, let me just go tell the cab driver he’s been waiting out there for nothing. Be right back."

After Mya had gone, AJ went to find the other Boys and tell them he was leaving. Seeing Brian and Nick across the room, AJ went over and told them.

"Good luck, Bone," Brian said, punching his shoulder.

"Where’s Mya?" asked Kevin, coming over with his wife Stephanie.

"She went outside to dismiss her cab driver. She should be back soon."

"Well then, see you when you’re engaged!" Nick said, reaching under AJ’s hat to mess up his hair.

"Hey, man," AJ said, backing up and pointing at Nick. "Not the hair."

All 4 guys laughed and wished him good luck as he made his way back to the entrance, where Mya was waiting for him.

"Shall we?" he said, linking arms with her.

"I still think I should’ve just taken the cab to my place," said Mya as they got into the limo and it started on its way.

"Will you forget about that? What could be better than being here with me?" AJ said, putting on his puppy dog face. Mya laughed and snuggled up to AJ, laying her head in the crook of his neck. "You know, I’d be happy just holding you like this all night," said AJ affectionately.

"J, save the mushy stuff for later," came her reply. "But you know what?"

"What?"

"I’d be happy with you holding me forever."

"Now who’s being mushy?" AJ said, smiling. He felt like he had it all: a very successful career, money, and he was about to propose to someone he loved more than anything in this world.

How ironic, he was to think later, that everything happened when he was so happy?

All AJ remembered, after it was all over, was that there was sound of screeching breaks, a horrible jolting sensation, and a single scream. Then everything grew dark as his consciousness faded.

¤ Chapter 2 ¤
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