“Are you going to follow me around all day?”

“Yep.”

“Mind if I ask why?”

“Because I have nothing better to do.”

“Go bug Nick. I’m sure he’s lonely.”

“No way. I’d rather bug you, you’re cuter when you’re annoyed.”

Abby rolled her eyes and smiled. Brian went to work with her that day because he didn’t feel like going home alone. She didn’t mind, but she had to pick on him about it. He’d get bored eventually and end up in the entertainment room. Deb grinned from ear to ear every time she saw the two of them together, and she gave Abby the I-told-you-so look. Abby let her enjoy her little ego trip.

Abby was right. After a couple of hours of doing rounds and filling out paper work, Brian got bored and went to the entertainment room. There were only a few kinds in there because most of them were just getting lunch. Brian sat on the floor in front of one of the TV’s and started playing a game on the Nintendo 64. He played a couple of games without any interruption, but when he started on his third game a boy sat down beside him without saying a word. Brian recognized him as the boy who had been playing air hockey with Abby that one time.

“Uh, hi,” Brian said pausing the game.

“Hi.”

“I’m Brian.”

“I know. I’m Sean.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Sean. Do you want to play?”

“Sure.”

Brian grabbed the other controller and restarted the game so that Sean could play with him. They played in silence for a few minutes until Sean spoke again. “Where’s Abby?”

“Um… the last time I saw her, she was doing some paper work. Why?”

“Just wondering why you were here without her.”

Brian smiled slightly. “Oh… okay. She’ll be in here soon if you want to see her.”

“Are you her boyfriend?”

Brian glanced at the boy for a second then looked back at the TV. “Yeah, I am.”

“But you’re a Backstreet Boy.”

“So? What does that matter?”

“It doesn’t… not really. It’s just weird cause you’re famous and stuff. She used to talk about you all the time like before Nikki passed away and all. She still talks about you some. Abby really likes you,” Sean said, and Brian smiled.

***

Abby was putting away all of her paper work at the nurse’s station when two hands grabbed her shoulders over the desk. “Boo!” She jumped and turned around swinging. “Ow! Damn, you didn’t have to hit me,” Nick said with a laugh.

“Well, don’t scare me like that and I won’t hit! What are you doing here anyway?”

“I was bored and I went looking for Brian, but he wasn’t home. Then I went to your house and Sasha got off of Kevin long enough to tell me you were at work, so I came to see if you knew where Brian was at.”

“Wow, you’ve had an eventful morning. Follow me,” Abby said walking around to the front of the desk to where Nick was standing. She looked up at him. “You are way too tall.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll go home and cut off my ankles or something.”

“You should do that. Make us short people look taller.”

Nick laughed and Abby laughed at his laughing. “So, where you taking me?”

“Janitor’s closet,” she said with a wink.

“Oohh, lots of room I hope.”

“Hell yeah. They’re nice a spacious. Just remember to be as quiet as possible. We wouldn’t want anyone walking in on us, now would we?”

Nick laughed again and followed Abby into the entertainment room. She smiled and said hi to Brian. He paused the game and stood up, kissing her sweetly on the lips. Nick looked at Brian then at Abby, then back to Brian. “I knew it! I told you from the very beginning, but would you listen to me? Nooo, never listen to Nick. Nick doesn’t know anything, but I told you so! Damn, I’m good.”

“You done now?” Brian asked.

“I think… wait, no I’m not. I told you so! I told you so, I…told…you…so! There, now I’m finished.”

“Well, that was fun,” Abby said then decided to change the subject. “Brian, don’t you have a game to finish?”

“Yes I do, and I was winning too,” he said sitting back down next to Sean and picking up his controller.

“You wish you were winning,” Sean said.

“Oh no, Brian. You got burnt,” Nick said taking a seat on the other side of Sean.

“I am winning! Look at the score!”

“Riiight, I gave you those points,” Sean smirked.

“Whatever.”

“Kids,” Abby said with a sigh. “Okay, well I’m going back to work now, not that anyone cares or even hears me, but that’s okay. If anyone needs anything I’ll be down the hall… Right, well buh-bye now.”