Chapter 29
A week had passed and as every day went by it seemed as if Kristen isolated herself more and more from the others. Cassie paid no attention what-so-ever to her and didn't even know that Kristen's problem was getting worse and worse. She was always off with Luis, one of the other dancers that she danced a lot with on stage. Nick and AJ tried many times to help her but she refused to let them. Nick gave up and figured if he was just physically there for her it would be okay. AJ refused to give up on her. He tried everyday to help her in any way that he possibly could. They were all walking out of the hotel with bodyguards so they could get on the bus without being mobbed by the fans when Kristen took notice of a girl around her age who looked very familiar and was trying her hardest to get through two of the security guys. One of the security guys finally picked her up and moved her a good distance away when Kristen realized who the girl was and she took off running through the fans. AJ took notice of it and he hollered at her but she once again ignored him. He tried to run through the fans himself but his bodyguard wouldn't let him. He told AJ to get on the bus and he would go and get Kristen. AJ reluctantly walked onto the bus. He didn't know why Kristen had run off and he was worried that she might be freaking out again.
"Toni!" Kristen screamed running and giving her best friend a hug. Tears started coming out of her eyes since she was so happy to see someone she knew she could trust with anything.
"Girl! I have been so worried about you! Are you okay?" Toni asked sympathetically. Kristen tried to nod her head yes but knew she couldn't lie to her so she softly shook her head no.
"How did you get here? How did you know where I was?"
"I went to Orlando to your apartment and Angela told me everything that I needed to get ahold of you. It wasn't as easy as it seems but you're going through hell and I'm here for you."
"Thank you so much," Kristen said giving Toni another hug when one of the bodyguard's interupted them.
"Kristen, you need to get on the bus before it leaves. I told AJ to make sure you got on so we need to leave."
"I'll only go if Toni comes too."
"I'm sorry you know we can't invite her for the guy's protection"
"Oh please, the only guy who will need protection from me will be Nick," Toni said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry but she can't come."
"Well then you will just have to tell AJ that I will see him later," Kristen said starting to walk off when Toni grabbed her arm.
"Hell no! I have the chance to meet Nick Carter here and we are getting on that damn bus! As far as I know they are all very reasonable guys and will allow me, Kristen's best friend, to go with them. She has been through so much shit lately and they know about it and will agree for me to go so you might as well lead us onto that bus!" Toni yelled. The bodyguard didn't say anything just led them onto the bus. Kristen got on first and then Toni but before they closed the doors Toni had to say one last thing to the guy. "Oh and don't ever put your fucking hands on me again or I'll sue your ass. I've never done that before but I'm sure I could win!" she finished saying when the doors closed. Kristen couldn't help but bust up laughing at her friend. She knew Toni never lost the sense of humor that she had in her. Some people take her too seriously and she thought the bodyguard did. Kristen just hoped he wouldn't say anything about a phsycho being on the Backstreet Boys tour bus. Kristen and Toni turned around to see all of the guys staring at them with a really weird looks on their faces. Kristen felt Toni grab her arm and she turned around to see her friend in complete shock.
"You okay?" Kristen whispered to her.
"Um.....I think I could be. Just let's get away from them before I jump Nick's bones right here and I can't do that cause now he's your man," Toni whispered to where you could barely hear her. Kristen laughed at her again and led her to the back of the bus and closed the door so the other guys couldn't hear their conversation. The guys just continued to stand there trying to figure out what was going on.
"That's the first time I've seen Kristen laugh or even smile in a long time," AJ said breaking the silence.
"Who was that?" Nick asked with a smile.
"You better wipe that grin off you're face before I punch it off!" AJ yelled at him.
"Hey!" Kevin yelled. "I don't know what has gotten into you two but knock it off!"
"I can tell you what's going on. Kristen loves Nick and he doesn't even act like it. I'm tired of it Nick! You're her boyfriend so start acting like it and you better not ever check out her best friend again in front of me!"
"How do you know that is her best friend?" Nick asked.
"Use common sense Nicky," AJ said walking off to lay in his bunk.
"Girl none of what happened was your fault," Toni said after Kristen explained everything that happened then and since then.
"Toni, I didn't really want to go out with him and I did anyways against what my heart told me to do and I had to pay the consequences therefore being my fault," Kristen said through tears.
"How can you say that? Listen, I think you should go to court like AJ said and testify against him. If you win then you will know that it was his fault and not yours."
"And what if I lose?"
"Then I'll have to find a new way to convince you it wasn't your fault. Just please listen to AJ. He loves you and he knows what he's talking about."
"What did you just say?"
"I said that he knows what he's talking about," Toni repeated.
"No, the thing about love."
"Oh, AJ loves you. After everything that you told me you can tell and I haven't even seen you two together. He wouldn't make you do something that he knew wasn't the best otherwise he wouldn't keep pressuring you about it like you said."
"AJ doesn't love me. He hates me and is trying to ruin my life."
"NO. You hate him for trying to help you with everything that has happened in your life. Please just go to court if not for yourself then for AJ." Kristen looked at Toni for a second then got up and walked out.
"Where's AJ?" she asked the guys.
"He's in his bunk," Howie said. Kristen went to his bunk and pulled the curtain open scaring AJ.
"What's wrong?" AJ asked really worried getting out of the bunk to stand in front of Kristen.
"I'm going to go to court and testify against Nate," Kristen said.
"You are! Kristen that is great!" AJ said grabbing Kristen and pulling her into a hug. Kristen realized then what Toni said was true. AJ did love her.
Chapter 30
