Katelin grabbed her books and ran out of school. It was already 2:45 on Friday and she was going to have to haul some serious ass if she was going to make it to the studio on time. ‘Damnit! Had to get detention again. On today, of all days!” The subway doors opened at her stop and Katelin ran out and up the stairs to the crowded New York City streets.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Nick Carter tapped his fingers on the table and checked his watch: 3:17. “What exactly are we waiting for again?”
Fatima turned away from her conversation with one of the new dancers and looked at Nick. “We’re still waiting for one of the dancers. She had school.”
“School?” Nick groaned. “ How old is she? 14?”
Brian Littrell glared at his best friend. “Some of us aren’t as priveleged to have graduated high school in a hotel room.” Nick stuck his tongue out and causing Brian to roll his eyes, laughing. “Now that’s mature.”
“Shut it, guys.” Fatima scolded. “Nick, what are you? 19 or 9?” The room exploded into laughter and Nick blushed, furiously. He groaned and put his head in his hands but it shot back up as someone busted in the room. “Hi! Sorry I’m late. Traffic was killer.”
Fatima smiled as Katelin went and sat next to Ang. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s get started.”
Katelin sank into her seat. “Where the hell have you been?” Ang whispered, leaning over towards her friend. “School was out over an hour ago!”
Katelin shrugged. “Got detention again.”
“What’d you do now?” Ang asked, rolling her eyes.
“Just a little trick on Sister Catherine,” Katelin grinned evilly, obviously proud of herself. “No big deal.”
“Anyway,” Fatima raised her voice enough to get the two giggling girl’s attention. “Why don’t we go around and get everyone’s names, okay? Let’s start with Nick.”
Nick wasn’t paying attention. He was too busy staring at the girl in the Catholic school uniform and knee-highs that just came flying into the room. Her blue eyes sparkled and her long blond hair flowed down to the middle of her back. She was tall, probably around 5’7” and she had an amazing body. He was brought out of his trance by Brian elbowing him. “What?…Oh, sorry. Nick Carter.”
Brian chuckled. “Brian Littrell.” The rest of the guys introduced themselves and then it was on to the dancers. There were ten total. Five guys—Tom, Andrew, Mike, Steve, and Tyler—and five girls—Krista, Alyssa, Brooke, and, of course, Ang and Katelin.
Katelin eyed Nick. He was cute. Very cute. Silky blond hair, gorgeous blue eyes. There had to be a flaw though. No one was that perfect. At first glance, all guys like that look perfect. But then, as she had experienced, they would open their mouth and that perfect illusion would be ruined. She had been around guys like that all of her life, having grown up in New York City and attending what was considered the most up-scale Catholic school in Manhattan. She’d gotten used to those types of guys. Not like she’d worry about it anyway. Just another guy that would probably break her heart.
“You’re drooling, Kate.” Ang nudged her.
“I am not!” Katelin defended herself, tearing her eyes away from Nick. “Just checking out the goods.”
“Such a little slut you are,” Ang laughed. Katelin stuck her tongue out at Ang and she laughed again. “Real mature, Kate. What a way to get the guy’s attention.”
Nick and Brian watched the whole exchange as Fatima rambled on and on. “Go talk to her, man,” Brian nudged Nick. “You might as well get to know her. We’re going to be with them for six months. And while you do that, I’ll go get to know her friend a little better. You never know. Could be a possibility.”
Nick laughed and watched his best friend start flirting with Ang while, at the same time, Katelin sighed as she watched Ang in ‘flirt mode.’ She shook her head and went to turn around. Right into Nick who was carrying a glass of Kool-aid. The drink spilled all over the front of Katelin’s shirt. “You idiot!” she shrieked. “Look what you did?”
Nick’s eyes widened in shock. “What I did?! You’re the one that walked into me!”
“Watch where you’re going next time you fucking klutz!” Katelin quickly grabbed some paper towels and began dabbing at her shirt.
“Are you kidding me?” Nick’s eyes were blazing. “This is all your fault!”
“Is it just me or are they making a huge deal over nothing,” Ang whispered, leaning over towards Brian.
Brian laughed. “That’s Nick for you.”
“Kate too,” Ang replied.
“What did you call me you egotistical prick?” Kate yelled, glaring at her new-found enemy.
“I called you a stuck up New York City bitch!” He retorted, returning her evil look.
AJ and Krista made their way over to Ang and Brian. “Why are they fighting?” Krista whispered. “Haven’t they only known each other all of two seconds?”
Ang nodded. “Uh…she gets a little fired up sometimes.”
AJ smiled in Katelin’s direction. “She sure is fine though.”
“Down boy,” She laughed. “I’m afraid she’s a little too young for you.”
“How old is she?”
“Sixteen.”
“She’s only sixteen?” His eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? I would’ve thought at least eighteen.”
“How old are you?” Brian asked, turning towards Ang.
“Want to make sure I’m legal?” She chuckled, causing Brian to blush, furiously. “Don’t worry. I’ll be nineteen in May.”
“How do you two know each other?” AJ asked, nodding back and forth between Kate and Ang.
“My family moved from California two years ago to the city and Kate was in my dance class,” she replied. “We started talking and became instant friends. I guess she’s pretty mature for her age, of course, not counting what she’s doing right now…” She trailed off as Nick’s voice overpowered her own. “You’re nothing but a stuck-up snob who probably used Mommy and Daddy’s money to get you this job!”
Nick’s harsh words drew tears to Kate’s eyes. It wasn’t something she hadn’t already heard. She got it almost every day of her life. Nick immediately felt bad but was too stubborn to apologize. Kate stared at him for a minute before grabbing her stuff and running out of the room.
“Ooh,” Ang winced. “That hit a nerve.”
“Shouldn’t you go after her?” Brian asked, watching as the door slammed behind the young girl.
Ang shook her head. “No. I know her well enough to know that she wants to be alone.” She turned her attention to Nick. “Good going, slick.”
“What’d I do? Did you hear some of the things she was saying to me?”
“Never EVER call her stuck-up,” Ang glared at him. “It’s basically the worst thing you could say to her. She knows she has money. She doesn’t flaunt it and she hates people that judge her because of it. Also, do NOT mention her mother to her. She died a couple of years ago and her father basically banned that conversation topic in her house.”
“I’m sorry,” Nick apologized, sheepishly.
“Don’t apologize to me,” Ang rolled her eyes, grabbing her purse. “Go tell her.”
“Where am I supposed to find her?” He asked, grabbing his hat and jacket.
“She’ll be at Central Park,” Ang replied, watching as he made his way towards the door. “By the duck pond.”
Katelin sat at the pond and threw rocks into it. She heard footsteps behind her and quickly wiped her tears, thinking it was Ang. “Can I sit down?”
The sound of Nick’s voice made her jump. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Nick sat down next to her. “I came to apologize. Ang told me about your mom.”
“Well I don’t need your pity,” she glared at him. “So if you’ll kindly just leave me the hell alone. I don’t want to talk to you right now or ever again for that matter.”
“What the hell is your problem anyway?” He jumped to his feet, angrily. “Why are you such a god damn bitch?”
“You said it yourself, Nick,” she smirked. “I’m a ‘stuck-up New York City bitch! Now leave!” Nick stood there and glared at her a second before stomping away. Katelin watched him go as new tears fell down her face. She knew he was just trying to be nice. But she couldn’t help herself. It was much easier to keep yourself guarded than to let yourself get hurt.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Ang, Brian, AJ, and Krista stood around the studio uncomfortably after Nick ran out of the studio in search of Katelin. Finally, Brian cleared his throat. “Well, do you guys want to go get some dinner? I mean, we’re going to be around each other for the next six months, what with rehearsals and touring and all. I mean, we might as well get to know each other.”
Krista and Ang glanced at each other quickly and Ang smiled. “We’d love to.” The four made their way out of the studio and hailed a cab. Brian shut the door after he got in. Ang leaned forward to tell the driver where to go. “54th and Lexington please.”
“Where are we going?” AJ turned to her.
“You’ll see,” Ang replied, smiling. “It’s a surprise.”
Fifteen minutes later, the four of them pulled up to a restaurant and Brian paid the driver. “Where are we?” He asked.
Ang smiled proudly, pointing at the restaurant. “It’s my parent’s restaurant.” Brian put his arm around Ang and AJ did the same to Krista and the four of them walked into the restaurant. Ang’s mom looked up from the table she was doing work at and smiled at her daughter. “Hey honey!”
“Hi Mom!” Ang walked over and hugged her. “I’d like you to meet some people. This is Brian and AJ. They’re two of the guys in the band that I told you about that Kate and I are touring with. This is Krista. She’s another one of the dancers.”
“Nice to meet you guys,” Mrs. Pererra greeted the guests warmly. “Where is Kate, honey? I thought she always came for dinner on Fridays.”
Ang glanced at Brian quickly and then looked back to her mom. “She had some stuff on her mind. Went to the Park to clear her head.”
“How many times do I have to tell that girl not to go to Central Park by herself after dark,” Mrs. Perrera commented, shaking her head. “She is too stubborn for her own good.” She led the four of them over to a quiet table in the corner.
They foursome hadn’t been seated for more than five minutes when their was a shriek from across the restaurant. “Ohmigod! You’re Brian and AJ!” A young girl, maybe about thirteen, came running over. “Ohmigod! Can I have your autograph’s?” Brian and AJ smiled politely and signed the girl’s paper. She glared at Krista and Ang. “Are they you’re girlfriends?”
“No sweetie,” Brian replied, shaking his head. “They’re just some friends of ours. New dancers on the tour.” She smiled at them and then said goodbye.
“How does it feel to get hit on my middle school girls, guys?” Krista chuckled
“Funny,” AJ retorted, sarcastically. “Real funny.”
The four of them ate dinner and talked for about 3 hours that Friday night. They talked about everything from how the Backstreet Boys began to how Krista and Ang got started in dancing. They were instant friends. After dinner, they decided to get the whole gang together and go out to a club. Krista and Ang went home to get ready before they were to meet all the guys at their hotel.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
RING! RING!
Katelin ran into her penthouse apartment and grabbed the phone. “Hello?”
“Damn, girl!” Ang’s voice came flooding through. “Did you just run a marathon?”
Kate collapsed into the nearest chair. “No. I just got home.”
“You’ve been at the Park all this time?” Ang questioned.
“Yeah,” Katelin replied. “Actually, I was walking around for a little bit. Just thinking.”
“Kate, get your depressed head out of the gutter and get ready,” Ang instructed. “We’re going clubbing with the guys tonight.”
“Ang, I don’t know,” she whined. “I’m not going to get in anywhere.”
“Oh shut up,” Ang giggled. “You always get in everywhere. I get carded more than you do.”
“But, I don’t know,” Kate persisited “Is that Nick asshole going to be there?”
“Yes, he is,” Ang reminded. “Now shut up about it. You’re going to be on tour for him for the next six months and you’re going to have to get used to him. So deal with it. You’re coming. Meet us at the Ritz by 10:00.”
“Fine Ang,” Katelin sighed. “I’ll be there. But the minute he pisses me off, I’m outta there. Deal?”
“Deal. See ya there!”