When Kevin stopped the car in the underground car park of the hotel,
Caroline quickly got out. Kevin rushed to her side, holding her back by
grabbing her arm.
"Honey, I'm sorry if I upset you!" he said. He turned her around and
embraced her tightly.
"No, it's me who's sorry", Caroline said sadly. "As if a relationship
for you guys isn't complicated anyway, I come along and make it all
more difficult for you. Every day I expect to get that call from you,
where you tell me you don't wanna see me again...and I would perfectly
understand that."
"Don't talk like that", Kevin pleaded. "We love each other, that's
all we need to get through this."
"But why am I making the wrong decisions constantly?" Caroline asked.
"Why, when I love you, can't I make that final decision. God knows I
want to, Kevin, but only God knows why I can't."
She tried to escape his embrace, but he didn't let her go. "I'm not
pushing you", he simply said. "I'll be waiting."
~~~~~
Before the girls walked inside the hotel, Kaylee said: "Girls, can we agree on something? Some of us" - she smiled at Araysa - "might go their separate ways tonight, so can we all meet at 3am in the lobby again? I'll bring you home then!" The other girls of course agreed. It was really nice of Kaylee to do that for them and they would definitely not force her to stay longer than she wanted.
When the girls entered the lobby, the boys were busy writing autographs and taking pictures with fans.
"Geez, they're not even alone at 1am?" Kaylee asked incredulous.
"Fans never sleep", Molly joked. "Let's tease the guys a little..."
She walked over to the group of girls that surrounded AJ. He didn't see
her because she stood behind him and he was signing some posters. When
all the girls had their autograph, Molly handed him one of her visiting
cards and asked: "Can you write 'I already missed you'?!"
AJ turned around with a goofy smile. "Four words? That won't be cheap", he said. "What will I get in return?" he asked slyly.
"A kick in the four-lettered part of your body?" she returned as slyly.
"Can I choose which one?" They stared into each other's eyes challengingly. And that was enough to make both of them laugh...
In that moment AJ wished he had the guts to just kiss her right then and there, like Nick had done with Araysa. The thought made him giggle - he had never thought he would ever envy Nick for something Nick had done with a girl!
When the fans had left (whih means they stayed a few feet away), Kevin and Caroline also joined the group.
"Why don't we hang out at the bar?" Brian suggested.
Everyone agreed - well, almost everyone. "Guys, Araysa and I will..."
"GET A ROOM!" the whole bunch laughed, causing Araysa and Nick to turn a dark shade of red. They quickly left, hand in hand.
Sarah also quickly turned the other way, mumbling: "I'll be right back!"
Molly knew she was upset, so she followed her into the rest room. She found Sarah crying. "Sarah...I..." Molly didn't know what to say. She rubbed Sarah's back, letting her cry for a minute. "Is it really that bad?" Molly then asked.
"What do you think? Of course! This is Nick Carter we're talking about", Sarah sobbed.
"Is it Nick or is it Nick Carter we're talkin' about?"
"What do you mean?" Sarah said, calming down.
"Are you telling me this is love, Sarah? You haven't talked to him privately for just five minutes since we met, and last time you saw him was months ago. And even then, although nothing happened between you, you flipped because of him. Is this a celebrity thing, I mean...were you so hyped up because of the possibility of going out with a star, or do you seriously believe you fell in love with a guy you hardly know?"
Tears welled up in Sarah's eyes again: "Why are you so mean?"
"I'm not intentionally mean", Molly answered. "I just don't understand it. You know how much I like AJ, and now that I spent time with him I like him even more. But if Amanda came around the corner right now and jumped into his arms, of course I would be sad - but I wouldn't burst out crying. And YOU have constantly been in this strange mood since the shopping trip! What's up with you?"
"I don't know...I love him!"
Molly dragged her to the sink, so Sarah could wash her face. She held her hair back and calmly said: "Please just think about what I told you, k?! There's nothing you can do about Nick anyway!" When Sarah was finished, Molly asked: "Are you ready to go back?" Sarah just nodded.
Molly wanted to walk out, but Sarah stopped her: "What if I COULD do something about it?"
They let the sentence linger in the air. Molly didn't know what else she could say or do to clear Sarah's mind. So she just shook her head and asked: "What in the world makes you think he would want you to?" Then she walked out to join the rest of the group. Sarah followed a minute later.
The others had sat down at and around the bar. They all chatted, until everyone was there and had a drink. Then Kevin said: "A toast to AJ!"
Brian leaned towards Mandy and giggled: "That sounds familiar!"
Kevin raised his glass: "Or should I say to the 'memory man'?"
AJ just shot him a look and said through clenched teeth: "Keeviiiin!" Molly nervously looked from Kevin to AJ, then back at Kevin.
"What?!? You haven't told her?" Kevin laughed. "I never knew you could be that shy, Bone!"
"KEVIN!" AJ yelled, then looked at Molly.
She just smiled at him, saying: "Brian already kinda told me about it!"
"Kinda, huh?!" AJ smiled back. He took her hand. "Let's get outta here!" They stood up and left without another word. They just quickly waved good-bye. When they stepped out the door, they just heard a loud "GET A ROOM!".
~~~~~
When Nick and Araysa were in the elevator, Nick felt kinda nervous.
When they had kissed in the club, everything had seemed so clear - he
liked her and she liked him. But now he wasn't so sure of Araysa's
feelings anymore. What if she didn't like him the way he hoped for?
What if she was gonna tell him it was all a big misunderstanding and
that he was...
"Nick? You're not taking me up to your room, are you?" Araysa asked.
Nick looked at her surprised: "Huh?"
"You think I'll go with you to your room, although we didn't even
really date? What kinda girl do you think I am?"
"I'm...it's not like that...I thought...", Nick stammered, his face
turning red. She had totally misunderstood him. His room was the only
place where they could talk privately, he didn't want to take her up to
his room just to make out with her or more! How could he explain to her
tha...
Araysa broke out into laughter. Nick looked at her shocked.
"Geez, you'll have to relax around me a little", Araysa smiled. "I
was just joking. I know you're not gonna be a bad boy - well...not TOO
bad!" She cupped his face with her hands and pulled him down to kiss
him. They broke apart soon again. "I'm sorry", Araysa said softly. "I
didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable by saying that!"
Nick put his arms around her waist and said: "I don't think I'll ever
feel uncomfortable around you - but if that's the compensation I get" -
he kissed her lips - "I think I should!" The elevator stopped at the
boys' floor. Nick took Araysa's hand again and led her to his room.
"Nice place", Araysa said, looking around the room - and admiring it.
"Who do you share it with?"
"I'm afraid I caused all the mess here alone", Nick joked.
"You've got this huge room for yourself?"
"Yep", he answered. "When we go on tour we usually share rooms - to
save some money that we can spend on new video games instead" - he
laughed - "but when we're just doing some promotion stuff we get our
own rooms, if there's enough left in the hotel!"
"So when did you find the time to cause this chaos?" Araysa laughed.
"I'm not causing chaos, I AM chaos!" Nick laughed, taking a step
towards her and pulling her closer. Then he brushed a stray of hair out
of her face and leaned down to kiss her.
But Araysa moved her head away. "What do you think you're doing?" she
asked, in an annoyed voice.
Nick just gave her a cheeky smile: "Nah, you're not fooling me
again!"
"That's my man", Araysa laughed, throwing her arms around his neck,
and giving herself in to his passionate kiss...
~~~~~
"Boys?" The guys looked at Mandy, who had spoken up. "Well, I was just wondering..." - she snickered - "you don't by chance have a copy of your new album with you that you'd just love to let us hear, so you get some opinions on it before it's gonna be released?" She smiled at them innocently.
Everyone started laughing, and Kevin answered: "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but no, we don't have a copy of 'Millennium' here!" Mandy sighed. "But..." - her eyes lit up as Kevin continued, and she gave him a big grin - "I have a tape with three songs of it here, and it would be a pleasure to let you hear it!"
"What are we waiting for?!" Mandy laughed. Everyone quickly finished their drinks and then went up to Kevin's and Caroline's room, where they made themselves comfortable. Mandy and Brian sat down next to each other on the floor, leaning against the bed. Both Kaylee and Sarah sat down on chairs, while Howie plopped down on the floor next to Kaylee. Caroline climbed up on the bed, where Kevin joined her after putting the tape into the stereo.
When suddenly strange noises filled the room and then AJ's weird laughter was heard, Mandy looked at Brian, shocked first, before she was cracking up. "Good start", was all she got out. Then she listened to th lyrics, but especially to Brian's voice.
Kaylee began kinda dancing in her chair, smiling. "I must admit, I don't know many of your songs", she said, "but I definitely like this one. It gets you groovin'!"
"Ummm...", Mandy spoke up again, "why am I feeling so loved when I listen to the lyrics?!" She smiled at the boys. "So that's the song you recorded for your fans, huh?"
"Yeah", Kevin nodded. "Brian co-wrote it! You like it?"
"Geez - YES!" Mandy exclaimed. Then, in one of her brave-heart
moments, she leaned over to Brian, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks!" she smiled. "Since I'm a fan, too, you kinda wrote that for
me!"
Brian just smiled at her, his cheeks blushing.
"The next song is 'The One'", Kevin announced, as "Larger Than Life" faded out.
The girls again told them what a great song it was and how much they liked it. Mandy's heart almost skipped a beat, when Brian sang his part during the bridge of the song. She could only stare at him in amazement.
"I really love AJ's voice", Kaylee said, causing the boys in the room to frown. Kaylee just laughed, adding: "You all know you're great! You have wonderful voices - especially Brian!" She winked at him, and he made a bow in his sitting position.
"You'll get more of AJ in the next song", Kevin said. "The last one is 'Don't Want You Back'."
Just as he said that, the bass pumped through the speakers and the song started. "Wow...", all the girls, except Caroline, who already knew the song, chorused.
"I think that must be your sexiest song", Mandy said grinning.
"Yeah", Sarah agreed, "even Mr. Nice Guy over there" - she pointed at Brian - "sounds like a bad boy! Definitely sexy!" Everyone laughed, only Brian faked a hurt look. "Poor baby!" Sarah laughed.
Kaylee leaned closer to Brian, whispering, so that only Mandy and he could hear it: "Let her get a little older and she'll realize just how sexy you are!" The three snickered, and Brian mouthed "Thank you", but Mandy also blushed. She didn't really feel comfortable talking about Brian's sexiness! She thought there was no way to be any more sexy than this guy sitting right next to her. He was everything combined into one for her: innocence and sexiness, beauty, seriousness and fun, an angel's heart - and a devil's mind when it came to playing pranks on someone! :o)
When the song had ended, the girls asked: "Guys? Where have all the ballads gone?"
"Don't worry", Howie laughed, "there are also ballads on 'Millennium'!"
"And quite beautiful ones, may I add", Brian commented. "Kevin wrote one of them, it's called 'Back To Your Heart'. You'll love it!"
"Aww, man - thanks, B.!" Kevin smiled. Then he suddenly noticed Caroline asleep in his arms. "Oh, guys, I don't mean to kick you out, but..."
Of course they all understood, wished Kevin a good night and quickly and quietly left his and Caroline's room. Kevin watched Howie silently closing the door and was surprised to see Caroline, still lying in his arms, with open eyes again - and a grin on her face.
"I thought you fell asleep, darling", Kevin whispered and kissed her forehead.
Caroline shook her head. "I know it was mean, but I just finally had to get some time alone with you. We hadn't seen each other in three weeks, and we were alone for only an hour today!"
"Thanks for the trick", Kevin smiled. He put a finger to his mouth, as if to silence her. "We won't tell anyone!"
Both looked at each other with wide grins on their faces, before they turned serious and Kevin leaned down to kiss Caroline passionately. She eagerly returned the kiss, while beginning to unbutton his shirt. Kevin had waited all day, no, he had waited three weeks for the moment, when he could make love to her again. He wanted her so much. He honestly loved this woman and whatever they shared always felt wonderful to him. So tonight was gonna be a wonderful night...
~~~~~
"Let's go up to my room, k?!" AJ suggested and took Molly's hand in
his. She just nodded and felt nervous. The thought fo being all alone
with AJ and feeling his soft and warm skin, while he held her hand,
sent chills down her spine. But maybe she was just nervous because she
didn't know what he was gonna tell her.
On the way up to his room in the elevator, they didn't speak. Both
were lost in their thoughts. AJ tried to find a good way to explain to
her, what...that... Well, what exactly did he try to explain? That she
put a spell on him, since the day he saw her? That he was already
falling in love with her?
Still holding her hand, AJ gently pulled Molly out of the elevator
and to his room. Inside he took off his shirt first, revealing a black
muscle shirt underneath. Molly caught her breath - he looked so good,
it was incredible.
"Make yourself comfortable", he smiled. "Wanna listen to some music?"
"Sure..." She was still kinda speechless.
"Any special request?" he asked.
"Nah, whatever. Something for the late hours maybe", she smiled. He
started searching through his bag, then put in a CD. Molly didn't know
the song that way playing, but recognized it was 'Usher'. "I always
thought you guys shared rooms. Didn't anyone want to hear you snore or
why did you get your own room?"
"First", he smiled at her, "I don't snore. Or at least I was never
told so. And well, it's true that we share rooms when we're on tour.
Saves you lots of money - that you can spent at McD.'s instead!" He
laughed. "But sometimes we get our own rooms, like when we are on
promotion tour." AJ sat down next to her and as soon as he did, she
regretted sitting down on the bed. Because every time he came close to
her, she wanted to jump into his arms and kiss him, which was hard not
to do. Especially with the way he was looking at her right now so
sweetly.
"Oh shoot, Molly! Stop thinking about him this way and just keep
cool!" she told herself.
"So...what did Brian 'kinda' tell you?" AJ asked, stressing the
"kinda".
Molly looked down at her hands. How was she gonna say it? "Well,
Brian told me that...although we didn't get to know each other in
Cologne, you saw me there and...that you recognized me in the car
today. Yesterday, actually!" She smiled.
"That was all he said?" AJ asked.
"Is there more about it?"
"What do you think?"
Molly sighed. Was this gonna be a quiz? She decided that the best
would be to be honest. It was strange - although she was shy and his
presence made her nervous, talking to him was so easy. "I get the
feeling that you guys seem to share some inside joke about it, but I
didn't get it yet. And..."
"And?"
"And I was surprised to hear that, even though you didn't know me,
you recognized me right away. Six months later!"
"You were quite the impressive one...", AJ smiled, making Molly
blush. "Well, about the inside joke", he continued, "it's just that the
guys are making fun of me a little 'cause I was talking about you so
much."
Molly looked up at him surprised. She could hardly believe that she
just heard him say that. "What...what could you have been talking
about? You didn't know me at all."
Now it was AJ's turn to be the shy one, but he still looked deep into
her eyes. "I know...but for some reason you stayed on my mind." He
wanted to kiss her right now so bad. "Looking back now it's kinda funny
because B-Rok and Frack were talking about some Sarah and Molly so
often, and we never knew we were talking about the same girl."
Molly had to remind herself to keep breathing. She expected her alarm
clock to go off any second to wake her up from this crazy beatiful
dream.
Ringgg! Ringgg!
"I hope it's important", AJ mumbled and turned around to answer the
phone. "Yeah?" he spoke into the receiver. No one spoke on the other
end, so he hung up after a minute. "Probably some fans", he told Molly.
Then he saw her lip-synching the lyrics to Jade's "Don't Walk Away"
that was playing. "You know the song?" he asked surprised. It was some
years old and not many people knew or remembered it.
"Yeah", Molly nodded. "I used to listen to it so much. It was one of
my fave songs, probably that's why I can still sing it. Haven't heard
it in quite a while!" AJ realized that she began to examine his arms
with her eyes. She put one finger on his arm and started tracing the
lines of his tattoos with it. Her touch felt so good to him. "Tell me
'bout your tattoos", she asked. "What are their meanings?"
No uncomfortable tension was left in the room as AJ told her about
his body art - only the tension that was caused by their flirting...
~~~~~
As Kaylee and Howie went off to his room to talk, Brian invited Mandy
and Sarah over to his room. Of course they accepted.
"Do you guys have too much money lately?" Mandy asked smiling. Brian
looked at her confused, which made Mandy laugh. "I was just kidding",
she explained. "I was just wondering why you all have separate rooms."
"Oh", he smiled. "That's 'cause we're not on tour. 'Cause when we are
we need to save money, so that we can spend more on videos. There's
usually not much to do on a tour day or after a concert, so we hang
around and watch movies. And we watch A LOT of movies during a tour,
let me tell ya!" They all laughed and sat down.
Brian stood up again, grabbing his guitar from beside the bed. He
then sat down on the bed, opposite of Mandy, who sat in a chair. "So
you wanted to hear some ballads?!" he said.
"Yeah", Mandy smiled happily. She couldn't believe that he was going
to play a song for only her - well, and Sarah, but for Mandy it was as
if Sarah wasn't there anyway. The only thing she knew was that Brian
was with her.
"We have a song called 'Spanish Eyes' on the album", he said, while
strumming some chords on his guitar. "We all sing a part on it, well
except for Kevin, but you'll have to be satisfied with only me", he
said, while flashing Mandy a goofy grin. "Ok, here we go!"
He began singing the song and by the time he had ended it, Mandy was
close to tears. Brian opened his eyes and looked at her. They didn't
speak a word, just kept on staring at each other for what seemed like
minutes.
"That was so cool", Sarah said.
In that moment Mandy wished that Sarah really wasn't there. Mandy
didn't want to be mean or think bad about her, but Sarah's presence
just ruined the mood that had been between only Brian and herself. The
mood that was always present, whenever Brian was around Mandy.
Unconsciously Mandy shot Sarah a look, but no one realized it. Then she
looked back at Brian, a soft loving look. and said with a smile: "That
doesn't even come close to describing it. It was beautiful, Brian!"
"Thank you", he said. Hee could tell that she had really liked it and
that she meant what she had said. But that wasn't knew to him. In the
short time that he had known Mandy, she had always been straight and
honest, and that was something he really liked about her - and about
Araysa and Molly as well. They were no wannabe's in any way. They were
natural, funny and cool. Three girls anyone, who had taste and mind,
would want to hang around with. Brian only couldn't tell when it came
to Sarah. She was nice, but he hadn't had the chance to really talk to
her. Not when they had met in Cologne, because she had always been
around Nick, not now that they had met again. But he knew that he was
glad that he and the boys had found such great new friends.
Back to chapter 11
On to chapter 12, part II
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