Angel Standing By<bR><bR>
Chapter 2<bR><bR>

~Frankfurt, Germany in 1997~<bR><bR>

"Ahhhh!!!!!!!  I can't get this damn thing right!" yelled a voice from the stage.<bR><bR>

"Frack, you're thinking about it too much.  Don't concentrate so hard and just let yourself play," suggested Brian.<bR><bR>

Nick stared at the drum set in front of him.  He'd been taking lessons since he was 14, but that was in the privacy of his home.........when he was home.  The Backstreet Boys had spent most of their time overseas in Germany, Holland, Europe.........where their music was actually accepted.  That was all about to change though.  They had gotten the thumbs up from their management, and in a couple of weeks they would be bringing their sweet harmonies to the US and finally be returning home for good.........most of the time.  But Nick couldn't think about that right now, he had to concentrate on his drum solo for the last show overseas.  This was gonna be their big one there, and the Boys wanted to do it right.  Just as he was about to begin playing again...........<bR><bR>

"Claire!  I've been trying forever and a day to get ahold of you!" shouted AJ into his cell phone.<bR><bR>

Nick's head jerked to look in AJ's direction.  'Claire?  Could this be the same Claire that I........'<bR><bR>

"Claire, I told you that I'd keep in touch.........I've been busy.  We've really made it big over here, but we're comin' home soon."  AJ looked up and noticed Nick staring at him while he smiled, looking a bit confused at the same time.  AJ quickly turned around and walked in the other direction while he lowered his voice.  "I told you that I'd bring you to a concert, that's why I'm calling."<bR><bR>

"Oh, now I'm expected to be at your beck and call!"  Claire exclaimed jokingly.<bR><bR>

"Look, do you want me to fly you to Germany or don't ya?"<bR><bR>

"Germany?!?!  Are you kidding me?"  That had to cost a fortune, and Claire knew it.<bR><bR>

"We're about to reach our big break Claire Bear!"<bR><bR>

"AJ, no one's called me that since grade school!"<bR><bR>

"Fine, fine, but I'm telling you, big things are about to happen.  We're finally bringing our music home!  This is it!  This is the goal that the guys and I have driven for the past 4 years!  Our last show is next week, and it's gonna be outrageous!  I promised you a concert ticket and you're gonna get a concert ticket!  Now damnit, start packing your bags and get on the next plane out here!  I'll call the Orlando airport and make all the arrangements, then I'll give you a call back and let you know the details.  The guys will be so happy to know you're comin'!<bR><bR>

"AJ, I barely met them!"  Her thoughts slowly trailed off to her last image of the guys......then slowly to just Nick.  It had been 4 years.......what would he look like now?  All she could envision was this cute little 13-year-old boy.<bR><bR>

"Yea, but they all thought you were as sweet as sugar, baby!"<bR><bR>

His voice quickly snapped Claire out of her daydream.  "AJ, stop it!  I mean it!  You're lucky I don't have a job or I wouldn't be able to go on this little fiasco."<bR><bR>

"You haven't gotten a job yet?"<bR><bR>

"Not all of us are as gifted as you my dear."<bR><bR>

That comment hit AJ like a punch in the stomach.  He hadn't meant to gloat.  "I didn't mean......"<bR><bR>

"It's okay.  I've done some modeling here and there, but I'm not up to the Cindy Crawford level yet.  I don't even know if I wanna be."<bR><bR>

"Just get packed.  Then all you'll have to worry about is pushing your way through all the screaming fans!"<bR><bR>

"Whatever AJ!  Talk to ya in a few."<bR><bR>

"Bye!"<bR><bR>

What was he thinking?  She was sure that they had done well, but, screaming fans?  Who was he kidding?<bR><bR>

Brian noticed AJ in deep convo on his cell phone.  He slowly walked up behind him, straining to hear over the sound of Nick banging on the drum set.<bR><bR>

"Yea, that's right, one round-trip ticket from Orlando to Germany in the name of Claire Beckenthaw.  No, I'll be paying for it.  Damn!  You need a credit card.  Hold on, I'll go get someone.......no, I'm getting my mother.......I wouldn't laugh if I was you, you don't have a clue who you're talking to."<bR><bR>

Brian quickly turned and acted like he was doing something......anything......as AJ stood up and walked around trying to locate Mrs. McLean.  'What in the world is AJ doing?' Brian thought.  'Who would he be flying in from Orlando?'  Brian's face quickly lit up, 'Claire!'  Even though AJ hadn't called her in a while, he still talked about her........AJ always talked!  But most of all, Nick had talked about her to Brian.  He only met her once, but Nick had never forgotten her.  She seemed like such a sweet gal.......was AJ up to something possibly?<bR><bR>

"Yo, Brian!  You seem to be in thought.  That's never good for you," joked AJ<bR><bR>

"I see you found your mom," Brian said slyly.<bR><bR>

"Yea, she was right..........wait!  How did you know I was.......who said that I......okay, what part of my convo did you hear?" AJ finally stammered out.<bR><bR>

"Oh, just the part about you wanting a ticket from Orlando to here.  So Bone, when's Claire gonna be here?"<bR><bR>

AJ got a look of shock on his face.  "How did you......."<bR><bR>

"It doesn't take a genius to figure out.  You have no siblings or anything like that, so I just assumed that it was Claire.  So, ya gonna tell Frack?"<bR><bR>

AJ smiled his evil grin.  "If I was a nice guy, I would.  Since I'm evil and like to set up surprises though, I'm not gonna!"<bR><bR>

"You know Frack has it bad for her, don't you?"<bR><bR>

"Duh!  I've overheard a few convos between you two, and when I did, he was talking about Claire.  Although, I have a feeling that it might be mutual."<bR><bR>

"Huh?" Brian asked, a bit confused.<bR><bR>

"You remember that day when I went to say good-bye to her?  Well, I noticed that she was staring a bit at our Nicky boy over there."<bR><bR>

"But, he was so shrimpy back then!  He was a kid!  He still is a kid!"<bR><bR>

AJ noticed that Nick noticed Brian's little show and began to walk over to them.  "Just shut up!  He's coming over here."<bR><bR>

Brian turned around.  "Hey there Frack!"

"Frick, why do you have that goofy grin on your face?"  Nick was more confused than ever now.  First he heard AJ talking to Claire on the cell, and now Brian seemed to be on this happy drug that made him smile nonstop!<bR><bR>

"Oh, no reason, Nick.  Brian's just excited about heading home," AJ piped up.  He was afraid that if he let Brian do the talking, he'd spoil everything.<bR><bR>  

"Oh!  That's understandable!  I'm excited too!  I mean, the girls around here are gorgeous and all, but I'm really wanting to get home.  It's not like girls don't exist back in Orlando!"<bR><bR>

Brian couldn't help but laugh when Nick mentioned girls.  He didn't know why he was laughing, but he was.  "Yea, certain girls in particular."<bR><bR>

AJ shot Brian a look and that totally confused Nick.  Maybe if he hadn't been under so much stress, he would've picked up on the entire situation, but seeing as he was nervous about the last shows and how he was excited about returning to the US, the entire thing just flew right over his head.<bR><bR>

"AJ, honey!  I'm done!  I got you that ticket for........."<bR><bR>
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