Chapter 4 –

 

“everyone get up” Kevin yelled jumping out of bed and grabbing a baseball bat from the floor. He was thankfull at times like this that Nick and Brian were so messy. Gina was the first to crawl out of her bunk.

 

“what Kev” she yawned

 

“shhhh” he said as AJ Laura walked out from the tv room, Howie got out of his bunk, Nick walked back with Shelby Jennah cam out of the bathroom and Greg walked back from the drivers seat. Brian helped Melissa out of her bunk.

 

“what” eveyone was asking.

 

“I just got a phone call, it was him” he whispered “he says hes on the bus” all of a sudden Gina and Jennah started screaming. Gina ran over to Nick and he ‘protected’ her. Jennah hid behind Kevin.

 

“shhhh girls, we have to find him” Howie said Kevin went first and he swung open one of the closets.

 

“theres no one in this closet” Kevin said to the others.

 

“but whats that” Nick asked looking over Kevins shoulders.

 

“its…” he looked at the thing more closely. “A BOMB”

 

“oh shit what do we do” Brian asked

 

“well we have 10 seconde to get the fuck outta here” Kevin yelled pushing everyone twards the front of the bus. AJ fumbled with the inside door lock and pushed it open. They all spilled out and ran in oppisite directions away from the stalled bus.

 

Looking back, they all watched from a safe distance as their bus blew up into a firey mess in the middle of no where.

 

“oh my god” Melissa whispered while laying on the ground next to Brian.

 

“I don’t belive this” Brian said overly frusterated.

 

Once the flames settled so they were a little more controlled eveyone came out into the middle of the road away from the still burning bus.

 

“what do we do” Laura asked

 

“we call for help” Shelby said taking her cell phone from the purse she hadn't taken off since she got on the bus. She made a few calls and then hung up.

 

“so…” AJ asked

 

“the police are coming, and they said to wait here together” she reported

 

“ok” everyone agreed, they walked over to the side of the road where there was a grassy area. They all laid down and thought.

 

“Nick” Gina asked looking over at him.

 

“yeah” he asked looking back at her.

 

“your anniversary gift was on the bus”

 

“well I've got yours in my pocket” he smiled, “so come here and I'll give it to you” he pulled her up and away from the others a little. They sat down and he got something from his pocket. “im glad I had thesse in my pocket” he said

 

“Nick I feel bad because your present was on the bus” she whined

 

“don’t Gina” he smiled a little. “I got something for both of us” he grabbed her hand and slipped a ring on her finger. She looked up at him with wide eyes.

 

“is this a…” she started

 

“no” he laughed “it’s a promise ring, it promises us to eachother”

 

“Nick that’s so sweet” she smiled “I love it”

 

“and I have one” he said holding it up.

 

“let me put it on you” she said taking it from him and slipping it on his finger. “their beautiful” she looked at the simple silver rings with the word ‘love’ engeaved across the top wit dimonds surrounding it.

 

“yeah” he felt really guilty sitting there promising himself to his one and only love, while just 10 minutes before he was making out with some blonde chick.

 

“I love you Nick” Gina whispered

 

“I love you too sweetheart” he said kissing her softly and giving her a hug.  She laid down and put her head on his lap. A minute later she was asleep and Shelby walked over.

 

“hi” she smiled sitting down next to him.

 

“hi” he said not making eye contact.

 

“look Nick” she sighed, “I have a confession to make”

 

“what” he asked

 

“I-im not really your manager”

 

“you arent” he asked she shook her head, “than who are you”

 

“im some obsessed fan” she sighed again “I saw your manager, I tied him up and put him in a closet. Then I came and pretended to be your new manager. I really didn’t want to start any trouble either”

 

“are you serious” he asked she didn’t say or do anything, just sat there staring at the remaning pieces of the burning bus. “that’s actually kind of funny”

 

“I'll leave once we get to wherever were going, just do me a favor and don’t tell the other guys”

 

“hey don’t worry about it” he said “you don’t have to leave, I just don’t think I can like do stuff with you anymore” he said looking down at Gina and kissing her lightly while she slept.

 

Gina opened her eyes and then quickly closed them so she could listen to Nick and shelbys converstaion.

 

“but I promise I wont tell her” Shelby said

 

“I know you wont” he sighed “but I cant cheat on her, I mean I love her too much. It hurts me knowing that im not being faithfull to her”

 

“your such a baby Nick, your no fun” she pouted

 

“listen Shelby” he said sternly “I cant do anything else with you. Ginas the first girl I've ever loved and I wont let you ruin it for me” he said as the police drove up.

 

“Shelby” Kevin yelled she got up and stormed off.

 

“Nick” Gina said quietly

 

“Gina” he asked wondering how long she’d been listening. “hi”

 

“hi” she sat up and gave him a kiss. “that was sweet, I know I should be mad at you for making out with her but you saved yourslef”

 

“how did you know” he asked

 

“because, when I kissed you before you tasted like her”

 

“im sorry” he said putting his arms around her and giving her a hug.

 

“its alright” she said kissing his forehead.

 

            Brian and Melissa were still sitting around on the grass waiting for someone to tell them what to do.

 

“Brian” Melissa asked playing with some of his curly hair.

 

“yeah” he asked looking up at her.

 

“what do you think about kids” she asked

 

“kids, what do you mean” he asked

 

“I mean do you see yourself as a father in the future”

 

“sure” he smiled “I want some kids, a beautiful wife, a little white picket fence, and lil tyk” he laughed and then his faced dropped. “lil tyk was on the bus”

 

            AJ and Laura were planning another joke on their friends.

 

“AJ that’s so evil” she giggled

 

“I know, that’s what will make it sooo good” AJ laughed

 

“so tell me again what were going to do”

 

“ok…” he told her the plan and then they stood up.

 

“im ready lets go” she smiled AJ put his hands around her neck and pretended to choke her. “nooo AJ noooo” she wailed “stop”

 

“die bitch” he said diving on top of her and pretending to strangle her some more.

 

            Kevin Howie Shelby and Jennah were talking to the cops trying to explain what had been happening.

 

“ajjjjj” they heard Laura scream. They looked over and saw AJ pinning Laura on the ground.

 

“boys come on” one of the officers said, they all ran off twards the couple and so didn’t Kevin Howie Jennah and Shelby.

 

“AJ get off her” Jennah yelled

 

“freeze” the officers yelled pointing their guns at him.

 

“woah” AJ said holding up his hands, “it was a joke”

 

“yeah” Laura agreed standing up and brushing herself off.

 

“figures” Kevin said throwing his hands in the air and walking away in frusteration. One of the officers approached AJ with his flashlight out and shining it in his eyes.

 

“I don’t know, your eyes look a little red, have you been drinking” he asked

 

“well officer your eyes look a little glazed, have you been eating dounuts” AJ joked Laura slapped is arm.

 

“AJ don’t say that to a cop” she laughed

 

“sorry” he smiled “im sorry officers, it was just a lame joke”

 

“you better watch it boy” another said while they walked away.

 

“AJ that was awful” Jennah said “especially because the cops were here”

 

“all well” he laughed

 

            Brian was walking around looking for his dog. Melissa was also helping as much as ashe could with a broken ankle.

 

“tyk” he called “where are you buddy”

 

“Brian theres no way he could have survived this” Kevin said, he had come over to help along with Nick and Gina.

 

“don’t say that Kev” he replied “tyk has to be alive he has to be”

 

“TYK” eveyone yelled

 

“come here boy” Brian yelled they heard a little yelp and turned around. “tyk” Brians face lit up at the sight of his pup.

 

“awww look hes back” Nick laughed

 

“that’s a shame” Gina added “im just kidding”

 

“I thought you were a gonner tyk” Brian laughed picking up his little dog. The police walked over and stood around. Howie Jennah AJ and Laura joined them.

 

“well” one started “were going to give you kids a ride to the hotel in town in that there” he pointed to a van type police vehicle. “and the investagation will continue. For now we recommend you lay low and keep the press at a minimum or else whoever it is will know where you are. Our chief talked to your record label and their going to tighten your security. Please give dectetive Miller a call if you have any questions. Have a nice day”

 

“thanks” they replied they got in the van and someone drove them to the hotel.

 

“those police werent doing a very good job, they didn’t even ask us questions” Laura said

 

“that’s the LAPD for you” the driver laughed “I've been working with them for a while. You should get out of town and hope something elses happens so your case will be handed over to the next city”

 

“lets just hope its over” Howie sighed.

 

            Two days later after nothing had happened they decided to resume touring again. they were in kentucky, Brian and Kevins homestate. They were all staying with one of their families. Nick Gina AJ Laura and Melissa with Brian and his family. Howie Meg who had flown back out after her father got a little better and Jennah were stayint with Kev and his family. Melissas parents also lived in the area and were having dinner with everyone. Kevins family and everoyne else had come to Brians parents and they were all having a cook out outback, it was march but a really nice day.

 

“hi Brian” Melissas mom smiled when he walked up to them.

 

“hello” he smiled

 

“Brian how are things with you and my daughter” her father asked.

 

“very well” he said grinning, “I actaully came to talk to you about that, I was wondering if it would be alright for me to ask Melissa to marry me”

 

“oh Brian, that’s so sweet” he mom smiled “you asked our premission”

 

“of course, we would love to have you as a son” her dad said with a smile.

 

“thank you” Brian said smiling.

 

“your welcome” they replied Brian gave them hugs and then walked away to find Melissa.

 

            Gina and Nick were walking around the Littrells large house just getting away from everything.

 

“Nick” Gina asked looking over at him.

 

“hmmm” he looked over at meet her gaze. “whats up”

 

“I was thinking” she said twirling her ring around on her finger.

 

“bout what” he asked putting his arms around her and resting his chin on her head.

 

“us” she said quietly, he pulled away and looked at her.

 

“what about us” he asked

 

“do you see us together a long time from now” she asked

 

he smiled, “yeah a long long time from now”

 

“good” she sighed

 

“why whats up” he asked “you seem upset”

 

“I kinda am” she said

 

“well why” he asked after a long silence.

 

“because…im pregnant”

 

            Laura and AJ were sitting together at a picnic table laughing at Howie. They were laughing their asses off but Howie didn’t seem to notice.

 

“hes such a monkey” AJ laughed they had no idea why they were laughing at him, they guessed it was just the way he was talking to Kevins mom, but maybe it was him in general.

 

“were so mean to him” Laura laughed “Howies such a nice guy but no one likes him because he looks gay” (*AN: just to let you all know, I have nothing against Howie or gay people. This is for the story and what is about to happen has a reason*)

 

“we tried to tell him to cut his hair but he thinks it looks good lond” AJ shrugged

 

“I guess theres nothing we can do about it” she let her laughter die out and looked at AJ seriously. “do you love me AJ” she asked

 

“of course I love you Laura” he said “why wouldn’t I”

 

“well because, we always play jokes on people and make fun of people together. But were never really together together except when were kissing. We never go on dates of just be a sick little couple in love”

 

“Laura I didn’t know you felt like that” he said “im sorry”

 

“no im not unhappy, I just want us to start acting more like a couple than best friends”

 

“will do Laur” he smiled giving her a sweet kiss.

 

            Brian walked over to Melissa and called everyone over to them.

 

“what up Brian” Kevin asked

 

“I have something to say to everyone” he smirked

 

“whats that”

 

“im in love” he said sweetly

 

“with who” Melissa asked standing up and leaning on the table for support.

 

“sit down Missy” he laughed “with you of course, and now I want to do this right” he got down on one knee and held out a black velvet box with a sparkling dimond ring inside of it. “Melissa, will you please make me the happiest man in the whole world, and be my wife” he asked

 

she didn’t have enough time to get any words out. Gunshots started coming from behind them and everyone ran for cover.