Close Encounters...Of Another Kind

He offered her his arm and of course she accepted. Both had a dreamy smile on their faces as the words "to spend the rest of our time there" lingered in their minds and unconsciously changed to "the rest of our life"...

* * *

"Hey, Kev! What was that pla...Oops!" Brian turned to Mandy with a surprised look on his face. "They disappeared!" he laughed.

Mandy looked around to see if she could find either Kevin, Howie or Sarah, but none of them was near. "Yeah...and we didn't even notice..."

Brian looked straight into her eyes and smiled: "I hope you don't mind spending the time with me alone?"

"Is there a reason I should?" Mandy was surprised that she still sounded totally calm and cool, although the butterflies were going crazy in her stomach.

"Do you dare to find out?" He kept eye-contact.

"Definitely!" Mandy smiled self-assured. "Let's get those sneakers first!" she said and headed off into the store. Brian just laughed and followed.

He didn't know what Mandy had done - or how - but she made him forget the world and his reality for the time they were together. He didn't think of Leighanne or his sadness, he didn't care about hiding from fans (surprisingly nobody noticed him anyway) and for a while he even forgot that he wasn't just Brian Littrell but a Backstreet Boy and that this girl might only be interested in this side of him. But for some reason he didn't doubt her.

He liked her because she wasn't fake in any way. She was good-looking and styled, but still natural. She was smart and talking to her was more than just having a small-talk. They had so much fun together and Brian knew that they shared the same kind of humor. He had met many people who laughed about any joke he made, whether they did understand it or not, and he knew when people were just forcing or faking laughter or when it was for real. Mandy's laughter was real. When he had laughed about an inside joke of him and the other guys she never pretended to understand and find it amazingly funny, but just gave him a queer look and a smile. A smile that he already loved.

"By the way, how come you know Molly and Sarah? I mean, Germany and Minnesota...there are a couple of miles in between!"

"And an ocean", Mandy said. "Well, I guess Araysa and me wouldn't know Molly without modern technology. Or maybe we would - destiny always finds a way. We met through internet a couple of months ago, became close friends and now here we are. We really got to know Sarah only a few days ago, when the two of them arrived. Race - Araysa that is - and I were very happy about their visit, but I guess we're even more happy NOW..." She gave Brian a shy smile.

"So you believe in destiny?" he asked.

"I believe in God and that he has made some plans for me. Right now I'm totally alright with it." The words had just come out of her mouth and now that she could hear them Mandy didn't believe what she just said. "Geez, I'm flirting with Brian Littrell! Brian Littrell who has a girlfriend!" she thought. She didn't know that the rumours about Leighanne and Brian breaking up were true.

Brian was happy. About what she just said, about meeting her, about seeing Molly again, about being where he was right now. He didn't know by now, but he was falling in love again...

* * *

"I already heard a lot about you, I think", AJ said.

"You think? Did you or did you not?" Molly asked.

"Erm...I did, but up until now I didn't know they've been talking about you."

Molly was irritated, not only by his presence. There was something strange about what he had said. "Well, how would you have known? We've only just met..."

"Yeah, but..."

"Can I help you?" AJ was interrupted by the shop-assistant.

"No, thank you", AJ answered. Looking back at Molly he didn't dare to go on and tell her that he's been dreaming about her ever since he saw her in Cologne. He couldn't remember the last time when he'd been shy around a girl, but now he was. He felt like he needed to impress her with something - Brian was right: she wouldn't fall for some lame joke and the cool-guy-image. Only problem was that he couldn't think of anything to say or to do-

"AJ, are you alright?" He snapped back to reality, seeing her smile and looking into at him with those eyes that could only be described as...

"Did someone ever tell you that you've got beautiful mysterious eyes?!" He hadn't seen her eyes before today, but he had imagined them like this and they also fit the nickname Howie had given her.

"I'll take that as a compliment, 'though you can't even see my eyes properly 'cause you've got your sunglasses on!"

AJ's mouth hung open. This was going to be tough...

"What the heck?!" Molly thought, screaming at herself in her mind. What was she doing? The guy of her dreams gave her such a lovely compliment and all she could think of was... - there was the problem! She wasn't able to think anymore at all since she was here with him.

AJ took off his sunglasses, stopped in front of her, looked deep into her eyes and said: "I was right!"

Molly blushed and whispered: "Thank you!" Then she added: "You've got beautiful eyes yourself - you shouldn't hide them all the time!"

"Your wish is my command", he said and gave her his sunglasses. "They are yours now!"

Molly quickly shook her head. "No, I...I can't take this!" These weren't some glasses from a cheap store, but designer-sunglasses. The spectacle lenses were red without a frame, only with golden side-pieces. Molly didn't even want to ask how much he had paid for them.

"Oh yes, you can!" When she wanted to protest again, he said: "I'll get yours in return." With this he took off her sunglasses that she had pulled up on top of her head and put them on. "Ooh! Green!" he laughed.

"My fave color", she said. "I guess my world will be red from now on, huh?!" She put on AJ's sunglasses and they smiled at each other.

From this moment on something had changed between them. Molly lost all her nervousness and so did AJ. They didn't try to impress or flirt with each other - it came naturally. They talked and laughed all the time, enjoying each moment.

AJ was almost sure he had found her - she could be "Mrs. Right"...

* * *

"Hey, look at our lovebirds", Howie laughed and pointed to a nice café, where Nick and Araysa were sitting. They were obviously having a good time and didn't pay attention to the rest of the world.

Sarah immediately felt anger and jealousy rising inside of her. She tried to control her breathing, but it felt like she was being suffocated. "Why don't we go over there and join them?" she quickly suggested.

"No, I'd rather...I've still got some stuff to buy", Kevin said.

"Frack would kill me", Howie laughed.

Sarah turned to Kevin and Howie: "Aren't you thirsty or hungry or..." How could she make them go over there with her? She didn't want to look stupid by joining Nick and Araysa alone. Probably Howie was right and Nick would be angry about it. But...she would risk that. She couldn't let the two of them be alone together any longer!

"As I've said, I still haven't finished my shopping trip. But of course you can go, if you want to, Sarah! You should've told us if you wanted to stop f..."

"No, no, I'm alright", she interrupted Kevin. "Don't worry! I was just..."

"It's too late now anyway", Howie suddenly said. "They're gone!"

Sarah turned around to the café again. The place where Araysa and Nick had been sitting was empty. She looked around, but she didn't find them. She deeply breathed in and out. "No!" she thought. "I bet she knows that I'm in love with Nick, but that doesn't stop her from flirting with him! How can Nick do that to me? He knows...doesn't he?!"

"Sarah?"

"Yeah, I'm coming. What is it that you need, Kevin?" She followed Howie and Kevin, still lost in her thoughts: "I'm gonna make him mine. We're gonna spend time together and everything will be like it was the first time. He'll forget about Araysa. I'm gonna make him mine..."

* * *

After Nick and Araysa had been sitting in the café for quite a while, they decided to slowly walk back to the parking lot, where they would meet the others in fifteen minutes. On their way back Nick all of a sudden exclaimed: "OH GREAT! We HAVE to go in there!"

Araysa looked in the same direction he was looking to and saw it: a prank shop!

They looked at each other with sparkling eyes and a wide grin growing on their faces. Nick took Araysa's hand and led her into the shop, and he didn't let go when they were in it.

"If only he knew what he's doing to me", Araysa thought. She felt so special standing here with him, holding hands. She felt warm and cold and oh so good. With every look, every smile he gave her, he sent nice shivers up and down her spine... Nick was different than she had imagined him to be, but the Nick she got to know today was the most amazing guy she had ever met. First of all he looked much better than on TV or on pictures, but it were the little things about him that made her love Nick. "Love?" she asked herself. "It will be love if he doesn't stop being so wonderful!"

"Oh yeah, this will embarrass someone..." They looked at all the stuff there was in the shop and laughed their butts off. In the end Nick had quite a huge bill to pay, but hey - he could afford it!

"Umm, Araysa, will you please wait here for a moment?" Nick asked, as they left the prank shop again.

"Sure! Why?"

"I can't tell you. Just don't run away! - Can I leave my stuff here with you?" She nodded and he walked away quickly, turning around one more time to say: "Don't run away!"

Araysa felt a bit ridiculous, standing in the Mall surrounded by at least six bags with clothes and other stuff in it - and only one of it was hers! She wondered what Nick was doing. Soon he returned. "So? Where've you been?" Nick just smiled. "I'm still not allowed to know? Will I ever be?"

"Yes, you will, but not now!"

"Ok, I like surprises - just don't tell me you've bought condoms!" Araysa said grinning.

Nick held up the bag he had brought back with him: "How many condoms do you think would be in here? Two thousand?"

"Tours are long", she replied, still grinning.

"Nights are long...", Nick retorted slyly. They both laughed and walked to the parking lot. Hand in hand.

* * *

"Mandy? Would you excuse me for a minute? There's something I need to do, but...I gotta do it alone", Brian said.

"Sure, no problem!" Mandy replied. Then she giggled: "The nearest rest room is over there!"

"Oh, that's not wha...thank you!" He walked away with a grin.

While Brian was away, Mandy had the chance to think about what had happened in the past three hours. She had spent her time with the most gorgeous guy she had ever met. As far as she could tell, Brian was the same sweet guy she'd always imagined him to be. He was constantly joking around and his happiness came from deep inside. That impressed her so much because there was so much he had to go through. Not only the fan hysteria he had to deal with every day, but also recovering from his heart surgery - physically and emotionally - and handling the stress of his job. But what impresses Mandy the most was that he was totally down-to-earth. She felt really good being around him and she was afraid that she could be falling in love head over heels. Not that there was something wrong about falling in love, but she thought it was most likely that this would be her first and only time she would spend with Brian. He met so many people every day, so why would he, out of all people, want to stay in contact with her? But then again, they were both Molly's friends and she could be Mandy's connection to Brian.

"He's got a girlfriend, fool", Mandy told herself. "Can you deal with that - falling in love with a guy, but only being friends with him?" She didn't know the answer yet, but she knew that she didn't want Brian to fall out of her life again. Not because she was a Backstreet Boys-fan, not because she had dreamed about being with him a hundred times, not because he was a celebrity. Just because he was the way he was, simply Brian.

"Boo!" Mandy was brought back to reality by a smiling Brian. "A penny for your thoughts!"

"I just drifted away - sorry!" Mandy said.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. Are you ready to go? I'm afraid our time is through. I have to get back to business." He made a frown, but smiled at her again the next second.

"Let's go", Mandy said, with sadness in her voice. Like he had just said: their time was through. She had to say good-bye so soon, 'though it was the last thing she wanted to do. She didn't even wonder what was in the bag he had brought with him. All she could think about was: please don't let this be good-bye forever...

* * *

"What do you say? Black or blue?" AJ asked, holding up two pairs of baggy pants.

"This one", Molly said, pointing out the blue ones. "They would look great with the new blue shirt!"

"Alrighty", AJ said and went to pay for the pants. When he returned to Molly, who was looking through some clothes, he stated: "I've had enough for today."

"What?! Is that what you call 'shop 'til you drop'?"

"I didn't say we're finished, I just said that I'VE had enough. Now it's time that we spent YOUR money! You didn't come here for nothing, did you? An hour and a half for me, an hour and a half for you - just fair!"

Molly was surprised. She thought that was really cute. But actually she shouldn't have been surprised 'cause he had been sweet all the time. The way he smiled at her right now made her feel so good inside...

"I remember something like 'ladies first', but oh well!" They laughed and entered the next shop.

She didn't know why, but he made her feel special somehow. It was something about the way he was looking at her over the spectacles of his - former her - sunglasses. Something about the way he held her hand when they were walking - and when they were not! But probably she just felt so special because she had never felt anything similar to what she felt right now around anyone. She felt so alive, so carefree. Nothing mattered as long as he was there.

They had as much fun the next hour and a half as they had had before. Just like Araysa and Mandy Molly also thought that time had gone by way too fast. Only difference was that she was sure to see the guys again, that's why she wasn't as sad when AJ told her that he and the others had to go.

* * *

"There comes couple #1", Kevin announced, when Brian and Mandy walked towards them. They were laughing about something, Mandy's arms wrapped around Brian's right one, while he carried all their bags.

"So? When did you realize we're gone?" Howie asked grinning.

Brian and Mandy glanced at each other smiling. Then Brian answered: "Since we don't know when you disappeared, we don't know how much time it took us to notice! But don't think we've missed you!" He and Mandy giggled and started to put the bags into the two cars.

"Have you seen Araysa and Nick somewhere?" Sarah wanted to know.

"Yeah", Mandy answered.

"Where?" Sarah asked.

"Right there", Mandy said, pointing to Nick and Araysa, who appeared at the parking lot. Sarah twisted inside as she saw them holding hands.

Mandy and Araysa gave each other a look that didn't need any words or explanation. Happiness was shining from their inside, but they also noticed each other's sadness and insecurity because both didn't know what was ahead of them or if they would ever have the chance to spent as much time with the boys again.

Everyone started chatting a bit about what they had bought and seen, while it was Nick and Araysa's turn to put their bags away.

When Kevin looked at his watch and was just about to say something about where AJ was, Howie suddenly laughed out loud. All heads turned around and Howie yelled: "The shopping king was on a mission again!" The others joined him in laughing, when they saw AJ and Molly carrying numerous bags.

"Well, what can I say - I had a wonderful shopping guide", AJ said.

"So did I", Nick retorted, while Molly and Araysa blushed, "but I could never compete with that!" Nick pointed to AJ's bags. "And don't pretend you ever come back from your shopping trips with less than that, Bone! Man, your a shopping addict!"

"Yeah, that's what you call a shopaholic!" Howie added grinning.

"I'm sorry to ruin all the fun, guys", Kevin spoke up, shrugging his shoulders, "but we gotta go now."

Howie and Kevin hopped into the van after hugging each of the girls. Sarah leaned against the girls' car on the driver's side, so all of the three "couples" had a little privacy because Araysa and Nick stood next to the van, Molly and AJ were at the van's back, while Mandy and Brian stood at the passenger's side of the convertible.

~~~~~

"This is for you", Nick said, looking down at the bag he was handing to Araysa. He didn't want her to notice how nervous he was. "It's why I had to leave you alone before!"

"Thanks! May I open it now? Or should I wait?" Araysa asked almost in a whisper. She couldn't believe her eyes. He had bought something for her? Something so big? Geez, he was so damn sweet!

"We have to go anyway, so...it doesn't matter whether you open open it here or at home. Bye!" He leaned down to kiss her cheek. His lips were like a butterfly on her skin, so soft, so light, but it also felt as if he had set her on fire with this gentle little kiss. Araysa was in heaven. Nick hopped into the car and closed the door, while Araysa walked over to the girls' car, holding on to Nick's present.

~~~~~

"This is for you", Brian told Mandy with a grin, giving her the surprise he had bought when she thought he was at the rest room.

"For me?" Mandy asked incredulous.

"Yep, and I know you'll like it! OH, what do I say - you'll love it!"

"I'll love anything as long as it's from you", Mandy thought. "Thank you, Brian", she said shyly, "but I don't have anything for you!"

"I had a wonderful day, Mandy, and your company was the reason why. No money in the world could make up for the fun we had! Right now I just couldn't think of a better way to thank you!"

"Oh, Brian! I had as much fun as you. If not more! There was no need for you to get me something." Mandy was close to tears for several reasons, but she didn't let it show.

"I know. I just wanted to", he laughed. He hugged her and walked away.

~~~~~

"So...is there a chance I'll see you again?" AJ asked Molly. "'Cause I'd really like to and since we're in town for another couple of days..." He took off his sunglasses, although he knew that his eyes would reveal how much it would hurt him if she said 'No'. But he wanted her to know how much it meant to him.

"I'd love to", Molly answered after a short pause.

Both smiled at each other relieved. Molly then bit her lip and AJ suggested: "Why don't you give me your number and I'll call you later?!"

"Yeah, great!" Molly took out a pen a piece of paper out of her bag. She scribbled down the Wolsburn's phone number and handed it to AJ.

"See ya later", he smiled, touching her hand a little longer than necessary before he hopped into the van, too.

~~~~~

The girls got into their car as well. Brian pulled down the window and waved the girls good-bye. "See ya, girls", he yelled. "Molls, I'll call you!"

Nick popped his head out as the van began moving. "Hey Araysa", he shouted.

As soon as Sarah heard him call for Araysa, she turned on the car stereo loudly, but Araysa could still hear Nick shout: "Thanks for the day!"

The girls waved as Sarah drove away, Eve 6's "Inside Out" blasting through the air. The guys just looked at each other and smiled happily. Howie said aloud, what they all were thinking: "They're really cool!"

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