Chapter 24

Madison sighed and nervously pushed a peice of hair behind her ears before glancing up at herself in the mirror. The big night had arrived and Madison thought she was going to be sick. She had holed herself up in the bathroom for over an hour now while Kevin was in the main room getting himself ready. She reapplied her lipstick before attacking her hair. "What should I do with it?," She murmured to herself.

"Madison? You okay in there?," Kevin asked knocking lightly on the door.

"Umm..yeah.."

"Okay..we need to leave in a few."

"Okay..I'm almost done."

"Alright."

Kevin walked back and sat on the edge of the bed. After threatening to kill Nick and Brian, he had changed and went back out into the room. How was he going to survive the night, knowing she was RIGHT there beside him???

Last night had come with little sleep. All he could think about was the pretty blonde in the next bed. And how he was going to make her realize that they could work.

He sighed and stood up to fix his tie..again. He heard the bathroom door open and looked towards that direction. Madison stepped into view and his heart almost stopped. She looked absolutely enchanting. Her hair was up and framed her face, her make-up was flawless, the dress looked amazing. She looked amazing.

"Wow..you look..amazing.," He said.

She smiled, "Thank you..you don't look so bad yourself.."

"Thanks. You ready?," He asked walking closer to her.

She nodded slightly and he opened the door. They got down to the lobby and Kevin grinned, he had rented a limo to take them to her highschool. "What are you grinning about?," She asked before they walked outside.

"Oh..you'll see."

"Kevin..what did you do?"

He laughed as he watched her expression go from anger to surprise then to shock. She turned and hit him on his arm, "You did this?!"

"Yeah..remember, for tonight, you're with a Backstreet Boy, and with that comes all the perks.," He said as the driver opened the door.

She slid in, thinking about his words as he slid in next to her. A minute later, they were making their way down Orlando's main roads. "I can't believe you rented a limo.," She said looking over at him.

He shrugged with a smile, "I thought, why not? Might as well ride in class, huh?"

She laughed, "You sure are something Kevin."

"I know."

"You have a big ego too but thats okay.."

"So..you nervous?"

"I thought I would be..but..not really..just don't leave me."

He laughed as a panicked look passed through her eyes, "Don't worry Mads..I won't, promise."

"Even if a Rachel Hunter lookalike comes in and begs you to dance with her??"

"Even then. I've got the prettiest woman on my arm tonight anyways.," He said with a grin.

She blushed slightly, "Ever the charmer."

He laughed again, "I know that too."


Madison and Kevin made their way towards the gymnasium located to the right of where the limo had dropped them off. Madison nervously played with the strap of her purse. "Madi..calm down."

"I can't..help it."

"You'll be fine..come on.," He said taking her hand.

She glanced down at their now intertwined hands. His was so large, warm and comforting. She suddenly didn't feel as nervous as before.

They made their way into the foyer of the gym. She stopped and got the geeky nametag they made everyone wear, although she refused to put it on right away. "Come on Mads..don't you want everyone to see how you've changed??," He asked as they walked down a hallway.

"Hell no. They can all bite me for all I care.," She muttered.

"Well..that was mature. Hanging around Nicky too much?"

She laughed, "Yep."

They walked inside and Kevin smiled slightly at a few women standing to his right. He still had ahold of her hand and squeezed it reassuringly as they walked to a table near the back. "Why not the front?"

"I like the back better."

"Okay..I see the punch table, want anything?"

"A drink please."

He smiled, "Alrighty, I'll be back."

She nodded and watched as he walked away. To any other person it'd really look like they were together. She sighed and sat down and looked around. There were some people she recognized but she didn't see Ryan or Mary..yet. "Madison?," A voice said from behind.

She turned to look over her shoulder and smiled, "Oh my Lord! Eve! How are you??"

The two women hugged, "I'm good..how are you?? Look at you..you look soo good!"

"Thank you..I'm fine. You look good yourself!"

She rolled her hazel eyes, "Yeah right..two kids will do this to you."

"Two?? Ohh..how old?"

"Five and two.," Eve said smiling.

"Awww..how cute!"

"Girl, did you hear?? There's a Backstreet Boy here.," She said lowering her voice.

Madison almost laughed out loud, "Oh really?"

"Yeah..I wonder why he's here..no famous person went here. So anyways, married yet?"

"To my career maybe."

Eve smiled, "So what are you doing?"

"I'm a manager for musical groups."

"Really? Like who?"

"Umm..a few years ago I did Limp Bizkit..and now I'm with the uhh.."

"Backstreet Boys?," Eve asked smiling.

Madison nodded, "Yep.."

"You came with a Backstreet Boy???"

She nodded again, "Yeah..Kevin. He's getting us something to drink."

"Oh my gosh Madison. You have moved up in the world haven't you??"

Madison laughed, "I guess so. But we're not together or anything..we're just friends."

"Suuure..ohhh..here he comes. Damn..if I wasn't married.

"Eve!"

The two women laughed as Kevin walked over to them. He glanced between the two, "What? Did I do something??"

"Oh no Kevin..its not you..really. Umm..this is a good friend of mine, Eve. Eve, this is Kevin Richardson."

The two chatted amiably with one another for a few minutes. Madison groaned inwardly as she saw Ryan and Mary. Eve saw Madison's look and followed her gaze. "Oh no..the two assholes have come.," Eve said.

Madison nodded, "Yep.."

"Which ones?," Kevin asked.

Madison pointed them out, "That guy right there is Ryan..he hasn't changed much. Mary is right there in the white dress..she looks fatter."

"She is.," Eve said.

Madison smiled at her friend, Eve knew what jerks Mary and Ryan were. "Well Mads, what do you say we dance?," Kevin asked as a slow song began to play.

"I don't know Kevin..I mean-"

He cut her off by practically dragging her towards the dancefloor. Eve laughed as Madison shot Kevin an evil glare. "That was mean!"

He grinned as he pulled her closer, "I know."

She sighed and put her arms around his neck. He leaned down closer towards her and whispered dangerously close to her ear, "You know, that Mary girl holds nothing against you."

She shivered involuntarily and looked up to see his penetrating green eyes staring back into hers, "She still holds my self-esteem though."

"That means shit Madison and you know it. Look what you do everyday, if you had no self-esteem you wouldn't be where you are today."

She sighed, he was right. "You're right Kevin."

He smiled, "I know. So Eve's your friend, huh?"

She nodded, "Yep..she has two kids now, I couldn't believe it!"

"At mine last year it was weird seeing how many people were married and had kids."

"I know..Lord, I feel old."

He laughed and pulled her a little closer, "I know how you feel."

He leaned down again, "Ryan's kinda walking over here."

He felt her tense up, "Oh God..I so hope he doesn't talk to me."

Oh but he did. "Well hello there beautiful.," Ryan, his 6'2 stature, dark blue eyes and Devil-like smirk said.

The song ended and Madison and Kevin pulled apart. Madison smiled politely at Ryan, "Hi Ryan."

"Oohh..you do know my name. Did you go here?"

She nodded, "Yes I did, now if you'll excuse us.."

"Wait a minute, what's your name and maybe I know you."

Madison took a deep breath, Kevin was right there beside her she had nothing to worry about. "You know me Ryan, you embarrassed the hell out of me before prom. You never let me forget that either."

"No way..you can't be her..Madison?"

"Thats right Ryan. I'm the woman you made life a living hell for."

"You are so NOT her! She was ugly and fat and a total loser!!"

Madison didn't seem fazed by his outburst, she was standing her ground. "Yeah well..everyone changes. Now you're the one that's fat, ugly, a complete loser, and a disgrace to the male race."

Mary, of course in all her 'glory', had made her way over. "No way in hell you're Madison Langely. Madison Langely could never get a guy, let alone Kevin Richardson."

Kevin was holding her hand again and stiffened a little. Madison smirked at Mary, "What's wrong Mary?? Did I finally make you jealous? Because at least I know I can actually get a real man. Always knew you and Ryan would get together, you're perfect for one another."

Madison walked off the dance floor with Kevin right behind her, "Damn girl.."

She let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, "I can't believe that..it felt so good!"

He laughed and hugged her, "You did good..ready to get out of here?"

She nodded as he got their things together, "Yep..I feel SO much better about myself.."

"Good..damn, I know never to cross your path again."


Kevin had driven thirty minutes to the beach and now they were walking under the moonlight. Madison turned towards him, her hair blowing in the breeze. "Thank you Kevin."

"For what?," He asked sitting down in the soft sand.

"For making me come..and coming with me."

He smiled up at her, "You're very welcome. It was fun."

"It was..I saw alot of people I hadn't seen for awhile.."

"Yep.."

She sat down beside him and looked towards the tide that was slowly coming in. "Madison?"

"Hmmm?"

"I have to confess something."

"Okay.."

"The other night, when Nick had you over his shoulder and took you upstairs..I followed.."

"You did?"

"Yes. I heard all the things you said about having feelings for me.."

"And let me guess, you don't share the same feelings, right?"

"Thats not right at all Madison. I do feel the same way, if not more. You are the most amazing, intelligent, gorgeous woman I have ever met in my life."

She stared hard at him, looking him straight into his eyes, and knew he was saying everything from the heart. "God Kevin..don't leave any words for me?"

He smiled, "I just..had to tell you."

"Kevin..I feel the same way. I've never been attracted to someone this quickly or this hard before. But..there's The Firm, the other guys, Michael..your life.."

"I don't care..yes, I am kinda your employer and that means I can do whatever I want.."

"I just don't want to lose my job. I have nothing to fall back on."

"Fall back on me Madison...screw everyone, we have to be happy.."

She nodded, "I know."

He leaned forward before she could say anything else and kissed her.

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