~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Brian watched Nick from across the room. They were at yet another press conference, this time to announce their upcoming mini-tour. Nick was across the room talking with a cute redhead. From a distance he seemed to be enjoying himself but you could never tell with Nick these days.
"Well, look at Nicky," AJ murmured approaching Brian.
Brian shot him a quick glance, his face carrying a scowl.
"Chill out Rok......this is a good thing......he's finally moving on......"
"I know.....I'mjust worried about him......he's never really grieved over this, you know?"
"Yea I know, but Bri.......you gotta let it go. It's affecting you more than him now."
"I know........I just wish he'd let me know he's okay. Sometimes I catch him just sitting in a daze........"
"You know what you need Rok?"
"No Bone, what's that?" Brian answered sarcastically.
"You need to find yourself a woman and quit worrying about Nick so much."
Brian just chuckled as AJ slung his arm around Brian's shoulders and led him into the crowd.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So,what's it like being a star Nicky?" the redhead giggled as she asked this.
Nick tried not to roll his eyes at the girl. True, she was nice, but a bit of an airhead. Forcing a smile, he stared down into her young face. She couldn't be more than 16 he thought.
"It's great," he said smiling, "but I don't consider myself a star. I'm just doing something I love. I'm lucky to be able to do it."
"Wow, that's so cool!" she gushed.
"Yes it is......now if you'll excuse me for a few minutes......I have to talk to......um.....Kevin....." Nick mumbled before turning and walking over to Kevin.
"Hey Nick......you okay?"
"Yea, just another run-in with yet another airhead."
"Sorry man," Kevin said trying to cover up his laughing.
Nick just stood there, silently brooding. Kevin glanced at him, concerned.
"Okay Kaos, what's wrong?"
"Nothing...."
"Nothing my butt......what's going on with you?"
"It's been one year.......one year today....."
"Oh.....I'm sorry man......I know this has got to be hard on you......but you have to move on. She's not coming back anytime soon. She's proved that this past year."
"I know Kevin......but I still think that one day she'll just knock on the door and all this will be over. I mean....."
"Nick, you haven't seen her in a year....."
"Yes I have....."
"What?"
"I've got to the school. I've stood outside her door......I've watched her...."
"Oh Nick....."
"I know Kevin, I know.....but I had to see her, to make sure she was okay...."
"And is she?"
"I guess....but she looked like crap Kevin. She looked as if she hadn't eaten and barely slept," Nick said hopefully.
Kevin looked at Nick fora minute. He didn't want to be cruel and cold but he figured it was the only way.
"Well, college is hard. She's probably studying a lot."
The hurt he saw in Nick's eyes almost made him crack. Before he had a chance to, Howie joined them.
"Hey guys......can you believe we're gonna tour!!" he exclaimed excitedly.
And so the converstaion went....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So Sam, what would you like to talk about today," Mr. Johnson, her psychiatrist asked.
"Gee doc, what do we always talk about?"
"Nick," Mr. Johnson said laughing.
"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!"
"Gee, if I didn't know you any better Sam, I'd think you were being sarcastic....let's pick up where we left off."
"Okay.....it was a few days before I was supposed to leave to come to school. Nick came over and said we needed to talk, so we went to our special spot. A set of caves on the beach. We'd been going there since we were little. Anyways, he sat me down and started mumbling. Then he said soemthing about how he couldn't ask me to stay........and then he said he loved me......"
Mr. Johnson looked at her expectantly, "Wha happened then?"
"I turned and ran out of the cave and down the beach. Then I went home, packed and left for college."
"Did you ever say good-bye to Nick?"
"No......"
"Why?"
"I dunno......"
"Okay.....why did you run away when he said he loved you?"
"I dunno......." Sam mumbled.
"Yes you do Sam."
"I don't know.....I mean......I mean.....I just assumed he was saying it to get me to stay....."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well why else would he wait until the day before I leave to tell me!?"
"Well did you ever tell him you loved him?"
Sam thought for a few minutes.
"No....." she whispered.
"Well, maybe he was scared of you rejecting him and maybe he just wanted you to know how he felt since you two probably wouldn't be seeing each other for a while," Mr. Johnson concluded.
Sam just sat there. She didn't want to believe him. If she did, then that meant that she had caused all this. Shaking her head no, Sam stood up.
"No, you don't know Nick. He wouldn't wait until the last minute," Sam said more to herself that to him, "I've gotta go......"
"Okay Sam......see you next week," Mr. Johnson said shaking his head sadly. He watched as she left the room, shaken up a bit.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The press conference was finally winding down. All they had left to do was answer a few more questions.
"What cities are you planning on performing in?" some lady asked standing up.
"We don't have a full list as of yet. We do know that we have secured venus in Orlando, Washington D.C, New York and Los Angelos. So other than those, we aren't sure of yet," Kevin stated tiredly.
"When is this mini-tour going to start?"
"January 4th," Howie answered simply.
"Why isn't this a full blow tour?"
The guys looked at each other for a minute before Brian spoke up, "Well since this is the first time we'll be on the road we opted for a short tour to get the feel of things. Also, after this mini-tour we are heading overseas to promote the album and perform a few concerts there as well. This way everyone gets a small taste of what we are and what we're about. Then when we come back, we'll see how the reaction is and go from there."
"What is the layout for the concert?" someone yelled out.
"Well sing a little, dance a little, goof off," AJ said with a snicker.
The questioning went on like this for a few more minutes until Mr. Wood stepped forward and announced it was time for the guys to go. The guys filed out to the waiting van that would take them back to their hotel.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jordan burst into the room trying to contain her excitement.
"SAM!!!"
Sam rushed out of the bathroom where she was drying her hair.
"What? What's wrong?!"
"Great news!!!"
"What?!"
"You know the song, 'Quit Playin' Games'?"
"Yea....."
"Well the group that sings it is doing a concert in Orlando at the begining of the year. I just got us front row tickets!!" Jordan squeeled handing Sam a ticket.
Sam looked at the ticket and her face drained of color when she saw the name of the group.......the Backstreet Boys. Nick.
"Um.....I can't go Jordie."
"What? Why?!!"
"Well I just don't really wanna see them........I don't like them."
"You are such a liar!! Come on, it'll be fun......besides, they are gorgeous!"
Sam chuckled as she saw the giddiness on Jordans face.
"Oh they are! And which one do you ahve the hots for?"
"Oh definitely the cute reddish haired one, Brian, "Jordan answered dreamily.
Sam couldn't help herself, she burst out laughing,
"What!! Oh come on Sam.....please!!!"
"Maybe! I'll decide when it gets closer to the date okay?"
Jordan nodded happily before walking away. Sam sighed, thankful Jordan didn't push the issue too much. Sam flinched in pain as Jordan turned her stereo on, blaring Backstreet Boys. Quietly, Sam stood up and left the room unnoticed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nick sat at his desk staring at the piece of paper in front of him. He was writing Sam once again.
Dear Sam,
You're probably wondering why I even bother to write you......I've kind of been wondering the same thing myself. This is the last time you will get anything from me. I'm moving on. You have no clue how much you're hurt me. You were my best friend above anything else.......and you couldn't even talk to me. You're running away Sam......from what I don't know. But I can honestly say you've put me through hell this past year and while I could never hate you......I dislike you very much. Good luck with the rest of your life.
Nick
Nick read over his letter only once before placing it in an evelope and sealing it. Sighing, Nick felt as it a huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. Feeling relieved, Nick stood up and went to Aaron's room. He'd been neglecting him lately and felt bad.
"Hey Airboy," he said poking his head in the door, "you wanna play some videogames?"
Aaron looked up with a look of surprise on his face.
"Really?"
"Yea, come on, I'll kick your butt!"
"You're on!"
Nick watched as Aaron jumped up and raced towards Nick's room. He hadn't seen that look of excitement and happiness in a long time. Grinning, he followed behind him. It was time to get his life back on track again.....one step at a time.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sam snuck back into her room later that night. Jordan was fast asleep so Sam tip toed around her room. Reaching under her bed, Sam pulled out her diary for what would be the last time. Going into the bathroom, Sam sat on the floor. Leaning against the door, she began to write.
Dear Diary,
Today is the turning point. I need to move on. This is killing me. I want to tell Nick what went wrong.....but I don't know! I hope he's moved on himself......
Jordan still doesn't know. I can't seem to tell anyone. I don't think anyone would understand.....how could they understand when even I don't! It's hard......I still think about him all the time. I try not to, but it's hard. Especially when you're roommate is a fan of the music. I'm so proud that he's making it big......I just wish I were apart of it. I just wish that none of this had ever happened..........
Sam closed her diary, stood up and stretched. Tip toeing out of the bathroom, Sam changed into her pajamas, tossed her diary under her bed and snuggled under her comforter. Moments later, she was fast asleep.