"Aj," Candice smiled opening her front door.
"How are you girl," he asked hugging her.
"Fine I was just eating."
"Great I'm starving," he walked into her house and they headed toward the kitchen. "Whatcha having?" Aj asked sitting down next to her.
"Yogurt," she whispered suddenly feeling self-conscious again, "but I'm done." She got up to throw it away when a strong hand grabbed her arm.
"You've only had two spoon fulls," a familiar voice said sweetly.
"Nick," she exclaimed. They hadn't talked in a week since their break up. "I know," she whispered looking down.
"Eat some more please."
"You're not my father Nick, you don't have to watch over me," she snapped.
"Fine..fine," he let go of her arm and put his hands up in the air. "I'll leave, but I am your best friend." Nick walked out of her house slamming the door hard behind him. Aj was totally lost and Candice told him the whole story.
"Man I'm starving," Aj put his hand over his growling stomach.
"We can go get some McDees," Candice suggested smiling.
"Let's go!"

"Oh Nicky I'm so glad you're back," Mandy ran up to him throwing her arms around his neck.
"Whoa," Nick pushed her away.
"What?"
"What am I doing?" Nick asked himself out loud.
"Huh?" Mandy stood dumbfounded with her arms over her chest.
"Mandy I-I."
"Shh," she silenced him with a kiss, making him fall back on the couch.
"Get off me," Nick growled.
"Nick what's wrong, don't you like me?"
"Yea, No--yea!" Nick turned his back to her knowing he was going to give into her again.
"Now Nicky what's wrong? You've always liked me before." She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest.
"Mandah I think maybe we should slow things down a bit that's all."
She sighed, "k Nicky!" she pressed her lips against his; he deepened the kiss.

"You're eating all that?" Candice asked starring down at his plate full of fries.
"Yeah," Aj grinned shoving fries in his mouth. "Is that all you're gonna eat? A salad? We are at McDonalds hun. Home of the fries!"
"Hey I'm getting better," she put some lettuce in her mouth and chewed it up a little then opened her mouth showing Aj her food.
"That's gross," he declared throwing a fry at her.
"So," she stuck her touch out at him.
"So," he mimicked her. They both burst out laughing.

"Morning J," Candice smiled grabbing a cup.
"Morning," Aj finished his eggs.
"So what are you doing today?" She asked sitting down next to him.
"Actually, I'm gonna meet up with the guys to talk about our U.S. tour."
"Oh," Candice sighed.
"You wanna come?"
"I dunno, I mean I haven't talk to or seen Nick in a week."
"So, it'll be good for you to get out," he sat his sunglasses on the table. "Please?"
"Fine, just for you," she kissed his cheek.
"Oh goody," he clapped his hands.

"Come on Aj we are gonna be so late," Candice screamed up the stairs.
"Oh..ok," he walked down the stairs. "I just wanted to look sexy."
"Oh you do," she laughed.
"Lets go babe," he took her arm and walked out the door. "Yo Nicky!"
"Hey Bone," Nick walked over to the fence. "Candice," he said blankly.
"Hi," she whispered looking down at her feet.
"So, Nick you wanna ride with me?"
"Guess so if SHE doesn't mind," Nick sneered.
"I could give a damn," she walked away.
"I'll be right there," Nick ran off to his car to grab his bag. "What," she snapped.
"Geeze nevermind," he threw his hands up and got in his car.
"K, lets ride," Nick jumped in. "Hey, bone can you turn up the radio?" Nick asked leaning forward from the back seat.
"It's fine," Candice remarked.
"No, I can hardly hear it," Nick hissed.
"How about I just turn the damn thing off," Aj yelled hitting the wheel.
"No!" Nick and Candice yelled at once.
"Fine! Then stop acting like two, three year olds!"
"I'm not!" Candice sat back in her seat folding her arms over her chest.
"I'm not!" Nick repeated leaning back in his seat; Aj rolled his eyes.
"Then shut up!" Aj yelled turning up the music, the rest of the ride was silent.

"You guys are late," Howie declared when they arrived.
"Sorry D," Aj grabbed his bag.
"Yeah if Miss Pris didn't have to come along we would have made it on time," Nick said glaring at Candice and Brian talking.
"God Nick what's wrong," Aj asked.
"Her!"
"Me?"
"Yeah you," he sat down his bag. "Miss give me all the attention." He mocked her doing a little dance.
"What about you, Mr. I'm so perfect but I let a little girl rule my life," she screamed.
"Well, Miss I won't eat just 'cause you don't want me!" Nick slapped his hand over his mouth, wanting to take back his words.
"Ohmigod, I don't even want your blonde egotistic ass," she screamed tears filling her eyes, she ran into the building and to the nearest bathroom.
"Good going Nick," Aj whispered.
"I--I," Nick stumbled for words.
"Just shut up Nick!" Aj yelled running after her.

"Please let me in," Aj pleaded knocking on the door for the millionth time.
"No," she cried. Nick watched for a while then got an idea.
"Come on Candi Girl, I'm so sorry, please open the door," Nick said softy.
"I'm sorry," she opened the door.
"Don't be. I am," Nick hugged her. "I should have never said that, I'm so sorry. I can't live without my best friend." Nick flashed her a cheesy smile.
"God Carter," she hit his chest, "best buds?" She stuck out her hand; he grabbed it.
"Best buds," he whispered pulling her into another hug.
"Geeze he gets her out with two little words and I sat there and begged and nothing," Aj mumbled walking off.

"I'm so sorry for everything Nick, I mean you were just trying to help me," she glanced up at him.
"I'm sorry, too. I was a jerk about it."
"I know you were," she teased
"Huff," he stuck his nose in the air.
"You know you were Big Butt."
"Nick come on," Kevin growled.
"Coming," Nick yelled walking away from her. "I'll talk to you later."
"K, bye."

"Hello?"
"Hey sweetie."
"Oh, hi Mom," Candice rolled her eyes.
"Don't sound too happy, so how are you doing?"
"Fine," she lied. How was she going to tell her mom she was sick again?
"Emma wants to visit you again, I wanna see you too."
"Mom, I'm so busy with school and all," she lied again. She didn't want to lie to her mother but she didn't want to worry her either.
"Oh, well Emma really misses you."
"I know I miss y'all too!" Candice sighed she was never going to win this conversation. Emma is probably on her way down here now, Candice thought bitterly.
"Well, Emma is on her way down there now, she should arrive in an hour love ya."
"Mom!" Candice screamed into the dial tone. "Damn her!"

"Hey, Candice I'm home!" Emma screamed throwing her bags on the floor.
"Hey girl," Candice hugged her.
"I missed you so much."
"So I'm told," Candice laughed picking up her bags.

"Hey bone ready to tour again?" Nick started the car.
"Yeah I can't wait, it's been forever," Aj bounced in his seat; Nick laughed.
"So are you and Candi back together?"
"Well, we are friends, but I'm kinda back with Mandy," Nick looked away.
"What-the? Why?"
"I dunno Bone, I really dunno!"
"Man you are losing."
"I know dude, I know."
"Then dump the hoe," Aj said crossly.
"Dude she's not a hoe," Nick said matter-of-factly.
"Whatever."
"I can't dump her."
"Why not?"
"She, I..I just can't ok?!"
"You lose then Nicky," AJ smiled evilly.
"Huh?"
"You lose Nick, one or the other. You can't have them both."
"Here's your house," Nick said with clenched teeth.
"Buh bye Nicky," Aj slammed his door.
"Oh Gosh," Nick whispered holding his head. "What am I gonna do?"

"Two weeks?"
"It's great huh?!" Emma grinned. "So is Air home?"
"No, he moved."
"What," Emma gasped.
"He moved shortly after you left, he moved to California."
"What about Nick," Emma winked.
"Nick is at his job."
"Did you know he was a Backstreet," Emma asked, her eyes lit up.
"Oh really?" Candice rolled her eyes.
"So are you guys dating yet?"
"No, we're friends and that's it," Candice smiled.

"So how was today?"
"Fine, beside that whole Nick thing," Candice chuckled.
"Yeah," Aj laughed a little.
"Hey Cand," Emma started down the stairs her voice faded when she saw Aj sitting on the couch.
"Hey Em what's up?"
"Ohmigosh..you-you're Aj Mclean," Emma gasped.
"Nice to meet you," he kissed her hand lightly.
"Ohmigosh..um hi," she blushed.
"Funny, I rather not see you everyday," Candice laughed at Aj.
"Well, I'm just gonna leave then," he pouted. "Actually I really got to go my plane awaits babe," he kissed her cheek. Emma was still sitting on the couch, starring in shock. "Bye Emma," he gave her a small wave.
"Yo girl snap out of it," Candice sat next to her cousin.
"Huh?" Emma sat up, "ok, so you are friends with two Backstreet boys?"
"So?"
"This is so cool," Candice rolled her eyes.
"So do you want to get a movie?"
"Oh I've got movies," Emma grinned pulling out Night out with the Backstreet Boys and All Access.
"Oh great," Candice groaned holding her head.
"What?"
"Do I have to?"
"No, we can watch something else."
"Lets!"

"Sup girl?"
"Hey Nick."
"Guess who's here?"
"Who?"
"Emma," Candice frowned.
"That's cool, so what are you two up to?"
"Nothing, so how were the VMA's?"
"Ok, same OLE same OLE, ya know."
"Yeah, I watched them."
"So what are you up to?"
"I was just leaving, I'll call you when I get back, group meeting."
"Ok, bye," he hung up.

"Now Emma Do not, I repeat do not go over to Nick's house."
"Ok," Emma looked away.
"I'll be back in two hours, bye." Candice grabbed her car keys and walked out the door.
"Bye," Emma grinned. "Now, off to Nick's house," she whispered grabbing the keys to his house.