Part 57:
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"All in all I think it went well." Kevin said as he set his menu down.

Jenn nodded, "At least he seemed more willing to listen then Justin."

"I think he's got more to lose then Justin does, with his producing and
all if Lou tried this on them." Alec stated.

"Yeah, hopefully he can get through to the rest of them. All we need is a
bit more information and we can take him down. Maybe then things can get
back to normal."

"What are you guys going to do when things get settled?" Jenn asked, "Are
you gonna regroup or what?"

Kevin shrugged, "We haven't even talked about it. I still think there's a
lot we could do as a group but...maybe this did tear us apart."


Howie had left almost an hour before leaving Lis and AJ sitting there in
relative silence. Lis took a deep breath, "You saw her with Lou?"

"Yeah she had the meeting before mine. I thought she looked familiar and
when I described her to David he sent the pictures over. It was her
Lissy...probably went over to tell him how great everything went."

"Does that change anything though J?? Just because she was having a
meeting with him does that mean she was lying? She didn't sleep with him."

"Honey I think Nick's the one your supposed to have this conversation
with."

"I don't want to talk to him...I hurt him enough."

"And your not hurting?"

"Stop playing shrink Bone." she smiled weakly at him. "He's drunk, I don't
want to see him like that."

"It might help to see you though."

"Or he could tell me to go away."

"You gotta take that risk Lis."

"I hate it when your right."

AJ smiled, "And I love it when I am."


Before he opened his eyes he heard the sounds of someone moving around the
room. "Lis??" he whispered, slowly opening his eyes.

"Just me." E smiled at him, "Cleaning up a little. You feeling any
better?"

He shook his head, "My head's pounding and my mouth...feels really dry."

"Its your hangover. And it'll get worse before it'll get better."

"Great." he closed his eyes for a minute, "Thanks for staying E...and
putting up with me."

"Don't need to thank me Carter." she sat down on the bed next to him. "I
do that for all my former exes turned best friends."

"When I'm better I'll remember to laugh at that." he groaned as he
stretched. "How late is it?"

"Not too late although not really early either."


"What's wrong?" Ty asked as Howie picked her up outside the beachhouse.
They were going to spend the day alone and try to spend some quality time
together.

"I talked to J...saw Lissy too..."

"Okay..."

"She's staying at the same hotel. They're having breakfast together.
Apparently its their version of the breakfast club."

"So what's wrong?"

He paused, contemplating whether or not to tell her. "What I say does not
leave this car all right?"

"Of course."

"AJ's come up with his own idea of how to set Lou up...as of Monday he'll
be back under Lou's management."

"Is he nuts??"

"Apparently but he doesn't see it that way. Lou's planning on making it
into a huge announcement and it will be. He said he told Lou there's a lot
of anger between the five of us right now, which isn't exactly a lie but
he made it out that the rest of us are barely tolerating each other. My
guess is now Lou will have four other contracts drawn up just in case.
Damnit what if Lou finds out and goes after him?? He's practically alone
in this."

"Howie he knows he has you if you need him, he's a grown man and I'm sure
he's thought things through on this."

"And if he hasn't??"


Lou read over AJ's contract for a third time, five years, lots of
zeroes...finally things would be the way they should be. Sitting in a
folder in his desk were four other similar contracts, each bearing the
name of the other four former Backstreet Boys. It would just be a matter
of time before they were all home where they belonged. The ringing of his
phone disrupted his thoughts and he picked it up, "Yes?"

"I've managed to get a hold of the number for the Backstreet Boys'
retreat. Did you want me to patch you through?"

"No that's fine. Did you get an address with that??"

His secretary looked down at the paper in front of her. "Yes I did."

"Send that in before you leave."

"I will. Your next appointment's here."

"Thanks, send her in." Quickly Lou slid AJ's contract back into its proper
folder and set it down on his desk, smiling as his next appointment walked
in. "Nice to see you again."


"David!" Lis looked at him in surprise as she waved him inside. "I didn't
know you were coming over."

"I took a chance you were in. I'm meeting AJ upstairs later so thought I'd
stop by. You doing any better?"

"'Bout the same." she sat down. 

"About yesterday that kiss..."

"David..."

"No Lissy hear me out all right?? I didn't mean for it to happen, it just
did..."

"Its okay really."

"I'm worried about you..."

"Well you and AJ both."


"There's no one here, come on downstairs Nick....staying up here isn't
gonna help you any." E said, trying to coax him downstairs.

He looked at her wearily, so far he'd had a shower and changed and was
finally feeling half human again but venturing downstairs he wasn't sure
of. He wanted to be alone, or with E not surrounded by the 'pity brothers'
a nickname he'd given them earlier that morning. "I don't think so E. We
can stay up here."

"And what Nick?? Do nothing? I don't think so, come on we'll go downstairs
and eat, if the guys come home I'm sure they'll give you your space.
Contrary to your belief the world does not revolve around you."

"It doesn't?" he grinned as he slowly stood up. "Okay we'll eat. Anything
other then that I'm gonna need to think on."


"Come in for awhile," Alec suggested as Jenn got out of her car.

"Maybe for just a little while."

"Be nice for most of us to be all in one place...maybe by now Nick will be
sober." Kevin stated, heading for the door.

"What's he mean?"

"Nick and Lissy are splitsville right now. He's been drunk since she left
practically. I don't think he can deal with much right now."

"Poor guy. At least she isn't around to see it. I know how horrible it was
watching AJ like that."

"He lives!!" They heard Kevin say and hurried inside, finding Nick and E
sitting around watching an old movie on television.

Nick looked at E for help and she just smiled, "Managed to get him down
here. Don't bug him too much or he'll high tail it upstairs."

"Nice to see you out and about." Alec said. "Do you two want anything? I'm
just about to get a drink."

"We're okay, thanks though."

Kevin sat down in the living room while the two women disappeared into the
kitchen. "I met with JC today...looks like he may help us."

"That's good." Nick said, not paying any attention.

"Nick come on this is serious."

"Don't I know that?? You know I don't think you know that I'm the one who
lost everything in this!!"

"I'm sorry bro." Kevin said honestly.

"Whatever." Nick said sullenly. "I don't give a damn anymore."

					
Brian and Shan stopped and stared at Nick in the living room. "He looks
better." Shan whispered.

"Yeah...hey Nick! How are ya buddy?"

Nick rolled his eyes and turned to E, "What did I tell you?? Pity
brothers!! No wonder J left."

Brian raised an eyebrow. "Okay then. We're gonna be uh somewhere else."

"Me too." Kevin said getting to his feet.

Nick smiled as they all left. "Glad to see them go."

"What is with you Nick??" E asked, "Their your best friends, your brothers
and you treat them like crap!"

"When they stop treating me like I'm a five year old I'll stop treating
them the way I am."

"You almost deserve to be treated like a five year old. I'll be in the
kitchen." she said getting to her feet.

Realizing she was upset with him he frowned, "I'm sorry E, really!!"

"Whatever...I'll be out there for awhile." she turned and looked at him
before she went into the kitchen.