The next day, Howie and Christine strolled into Orlando International’s VIP lounge hand-in-hand. Brooke looked up from her magazine at the smiling couple. “Well hello you two. Where are the other guys?”

Christine pointed back towards the entrance. “Kevin and Aj are back there. The other two, I don’t know.”

Brooke’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “Christine DeMarco, what the hell is that on your finger?”

Christine glanced down at her hand. “Oh this?” She grinned. “Just an engagement ring.”

“Oh my god!” Brooke jumped up and hugged her. “Congratulations you guys!”

“Thanks, Brooke.” Howie smiled, genuinely.

Ang walked up with Krista right behind her. “What’s all the commotion?”

Brooke grabbed Christine’s hand and showed them the ring. “Christine’s getting married.”

“Wow! Congratulations.” Krista hugged her friend, before Howie and Christine made themselves comfortable at a table in the corner.

Ang grabbed Krista and dragged her over to the couch. “So, have you decided what you’re going to tell Aj?”

“I don’t know,” Krista shrugged. She had no idea what she was going to do. She didn’t think AJ would take the news very well. “I keep thinking that maybe I should just take care of it. He’ll never have to know.”

“Oh, Kris,” Ang frowned. “That’s not the way to deal with it. You have to tell him. I’m sure he’ll be supportive of whatever decision you’ve made.” Suddenly two hands covered Ang’s eyes. “Guess who?”

“Brian!” She jumped up, throwing her arms around his neck.

Kris rolled her eyes. “It’s not like you haven’t seen each other in forever.”

Ang turned around and stuck her tongue out at her. “Shut up.” Krista stuck hers in return and got up to go find AJ. Ang turned back to her boyfriend. “So, how was last night?” Brian cringed as memories of the previous evening flooded back to him.

Flashback:

Brian sat waiting at Elisabeth’s for his ex-girlfriend to show up. Suddenly, the doors opened and she appeared, looking more beautiful than he remembered. He stood up as she walked over and kissed her on the cheek. “Hey there.”

“Hey, Bri.” Leighanne hugged him tigh. “Good to see you.” He pulled her chair out and then sat down himself. She looked gorgeous. That’s the only word he could use to describe it. Her blond hair flowed halfway down her back and her eyes sparkled. He never remembered her looking this beautiful. Leighanne snapped her fingers in his face. “Yo, Bri! You there?”

“Yeah,” He blinked. “Sorry about that. It’s just really good to see you.”

They ate dinner with a little bit of good-natured conversation. Just two friends catching up on old times. The hostility that Brian had felt when she had broken up with him completely vanished as the night progressed. He missed her. Plain and simple. Not necessarily as a girlfriend. He loved Ang. He just missed Leighanne’s company. They way her personality complemented his.

After dinner, they walked around for a while, ending up in a nearby park. The ex-couple sat down on a bench and caught up on the last few months. Leighanne shivered a little bit, the chilly night air giving her goosebumps on her bare arms. “You cold?” Brian asked, glancing at her.

She shrugged. “Just a little bit.”

Brian took off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. “There you go.” He rubbed her arms comfortingly.

“Thanks,” She smiled. “You were always a gentlemen.” She sighed. “I miss this.”

Brian looked at her questioningly. “Miss what?”

“This,” she replied, waving her hand between the two of them. “You and me. Our late night talks.”

“I do too,” He told her, honestly.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, out of the blue.

“For what?” Brian asked, confused. They hadn’t seen each other in months. What could she possibly have to be sorry about.

Leighanne looked back up at the starry sky. “For hurting you. For just leaving one day and never giving an explanation. It was a really hard decision to make. One that I think I might be starting to regret.”

“Leigh…” Brian began.

“Wait,” She cut him off. “There’s just one thing I need to do.” With that, she pressed her lips to his. Then, almost as soon as it started, she pulled away, embarrassed. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into me. I know you have a girlfriend now. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s okay,” Brian smiled, apologetically. “This might go against everything I believe in, but…” He trailed off and then kissed her again. Leighanne relaxed and parted her lips for Brian’s tongue to enter. They kissed for a few minutes and then broke apart, breathlessly. Leighanne stared into his crystal blue eyes. “I should get going. It’s getting late.”

Brian broke their gaze to check his watch. “Yeah. I’ve got kind of a busy day tomorrow.” They stood up and walked back to the parking lot of the restaurant where their cars were. Brian watched as Leighanne got into her shiny BMW. “So I’ll give you a call in a few days. Let you know the schedule.”

Leighanne smiled. “Okay. Maybe I can hook up with you when I come out there in a few weeks. I would love to see the other guys. Especially lil’ Nicky.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that,” Brian chuckled.

“See ya later,” Leighanne blew him a kiss. “Have a good flight and tell the guys I said hi.”

Brian smiled. “I will. Bye, Leigh.”

End Flashback

Ang waved her hand in front of Brian’s face. “Yo! Bri! Hello?”

Brian’s focus rested on his girlfriends confused face. “I’m sorry. What’d you say?”

“I was just saying that I missed you last night,” She chuckled, a little hurt by his seeming lack of interest.

He slung an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “I missed you too.” They walked over to an empty table and sat down. “So, what’d you do last night?”

“Oh you know,” Ang sighed. “The usual. Ate some pizza, watched a little tv, got in a fight with my best friend.”

“What?” Brian’s eyes widened. “What happened?” Ang shrugged. “I guess it was sort of my fault too but she just makes me so angry. I kind of picked a fight with her about her telling Nick about her mom and not me.”

“Ang, you weren’t supposed to say anything,” Brian groaned. “Nick’s gonna kill me. I promised him I wouldn’t tell you.”

“Why is everyone so afraid to tell me stuff?” Ang exclaimed, slamming her hand on the table. “I’m supposed to be her best friend and lately I feel like I don’t even know her.”

Brian grabbed her hand and kissed it. “I’m sorry honey. I’m sure everything will work out.” Inside he was seething. That was it. Something was going to have to give because Katelin couldn’t keep treating Ang like this.

“I don’t know,” Ang shrugged. “We’ve never fought before. I’m just so sick of walking on egg shells around that girl.” They were interrupted by a voice on the loudspeaker announcing their flight. Ang stood up and picked up her carry-on and she and Brian followed the rest of the group over to the terminal.

Nick squeezed his eyes shut as the plane lifted off the runway into the air. “Are you really that scared?” Katelin laughed at him. “Baby.”

He opened his eyes glaring at her. “I’m not a baby. I just don’t like flying very much.”

Kate giggled and then turned to look out the window as the city of Orlando slowly disappeared from view. “Nick?” She broke the silence. “Do you think I’m immature?”

Nick looked at her questioningly. “No. Why would you say that?”

“No reason,” she shook her head. “Forget I asked.” Nick put his finger under her chin and turned her face towards him. “No. What’s going on?”

“Ang told me that I was,” she answered, quietly. “She said that Brian said it about me too. Does everyone feel this way?”

“No,” His expression softened. “I don’t feel that way at all. I don’t know why they would say something like that.”

Katelin glanced back out the window. “She said that I only got together with you cause I was tired of being alone. You don’t think that do you?”

“Of course not,” Nick shook his head. “At least I hope not.”

She smiled. “Good cause I kinda like you.”

Nick leaned in to kiss her. “I kinda like you too.”

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

“Kris, baby, wake up.” Aj tried to shake his girlfriend awake.

Krista just shoved his hand away. “Leave me alone. I’m tired.”

“Come on,” He chuckled at her stubbornness. “We’re landing.”

Krista slowly opened her eyes. “Already?”

“Well, you’ve been sleeping the whole time.” He laughed.

She yawned. “I guess I’m still not feeling very well.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing else wrong?” AJ’s eyes narrowed. Krista cringed. She hadn’t figured out a way to tell him yet. She was just so nervous that he was going to get scared and leave her and she couldn’t deal with that happening. In her heart, she knew that he wouldn’t do that to her but her heart and her mind were not agreeing at the moment.

“I’m sure that’s just it,” she explained. “Come on. I want to get off this plane and into a real bed.”

The entire group vacated the first class area of the airplane after the rest of the passengers had already done so. They made their way to a secured exit and piled into the vans that were waiting to take them to the hotel. For as late as it was, there were still a considerable amount of fans that had congregated outside the main entrance to the airport.

“God,” Katelin scowled, playfully. “You’d think they’d never seen five ugly guys before.”

Nick grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder. “Oh now you’re gonna get it!”

“Carter!” Katelin shriekd. “Put me down!”

Kevin shook his head laughing. “Now we won’t get recognized.”

“Okay!” Elise, the tour manager, spoke up. “When we get to the hotel, go straight to the elevators and go up to the 12th floor. I’ll bring you your keys as soon as I get you all checked in. I’m not stupid, I know you’re all going to sleep with your girlfriends or whatever so I made the necessary arrangements. Carter, just remember that your girlfriend is still a minor. Now get in the vans.” Katelin and Nick both glared at her.

“See?” Ang smirked at Kate. “What’d I tell you?”

“You call yourself a best friend?” Katelin yelled, getting right in Ang’s face.

Nick pulled her back. “Calm down, Kate.”

“No!” She squirmed out of his grasp. “Ang has something to say and I want her to say it.”

“Now’s not the time or the place,” Brooke scolded, stepping in between the two. “At least save it until we get to the hotel.”

Kate reluctantly turned around. Grabbing Nick’s hand, she climbed into the van. Unfortunately for both girls, the only space left for Ang and Brian was in the same one. They spent the entire ride glaring at each other.

Once at the hotel, everyone made their way up to their floor. Elise came up a few minutes later with everyone’s keys and they all went into their rooms.

Ang slammed the door to hers and Brian’s room. “Ugh! She makes me so mad! Why is she being such a bitch?”

“I don’t know, Ang,” Brian shrugged. “Just give her a little bit to cool down.”

Katelin threw her back pack on the bed. “Why can’t she just leave it alone? So, I talked to you about my mom instead of her. It’s my fucking life.” Nick grabbed her hand. Katelin looked at him questioningly. “What are you doing?”

He pulled her towards the door. “You’re going to resolve this thing once and for all.”

“No, Nicky,” she whined. “I’m tired. I just want to sleep. Come on.”

Nick responded by opening the door and dragging her out into the hallway. He walked next door and knocked on Brian and Ang’s door. Brian opened it up. “Hey guys! What’s going on?”

Nick pushed Katelin into the room. “Katelin wanted to talk to Ang.”

“No I didn’t,” she replied, stubbornly, not even looking at Ang.

Ang folded her arms across her chest. “Good, cause I didn’t either.”

Nick pushed Kate further in the room and closed the door. “Well too bad.”

“Why are you doing this?” Ang glared at Brian. “What do you care if we’re friends or not? You don’t even like her.”

“Is that true?” Katelin looked up at Brian. “What the hell did I ever do to you?”

“Um, well, it’s not that I don’t like you,” Brian squirmed. It’s not that he didn’t like her. He just didn’t like some of the things she did and how she treated Ang.

Nick glanced at him, curious at his answer. “Well then what is it, Bri?”

“It’s just that you think you can have everyone wrapped around your little finger,” Brian began. And then he just couldn’t stop. “That everyone caters to your every need. Ang feels like she has to walk on eggshells around you. You have everyone always looking out for you. All of the sudden Nick will do anything for you, which is completely unlike him. And I’m sick of you making my girlfriend’s life miserable. All she wanted was for you to open up to you and you didn’t do it. After all she’s done for you. You're a spoiled little brat, Katelin. And I'm fucking sick of it!”

“Glad to know how you really feel,” Katelin whispered with tears pooling in her eyes before standing up and running out of the room.

Nick and Ang stared at him in disbelief. Nick couldn’t believe that his best friend had just said all of that about his girlfriend. “What the hell was that, Brian? Look what you did!” He got up quickly followed his girlfriend all the while glaring at Brian and Ang.

“Wow Brian,” Ang stared wide-eyed at her boyfriend. “Didn’t know you had a mean bone in your body.”

“I didn’t mean to be that harsh,” Brian sighed. “I just don’t like to see you upset and I took it out on her.”

“It’s alright,” Ang hugged him. “Right now I feel no sympathy for her. I just think it’s odd that all of the sudden her and Nick are so lovey-dovey. I mean, what the hell happened at his house the other night?”

“Stupid bet with AJ,” Brian mumbled.

“What’d you just say?” Ang’s eyes narrowed.

“Shit,” Brian cursed. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything.”

“Brian Thomas Littrell,” She put her hands on her hips. “You tell me right this second what you just said.”

Brian took a deep breath. “That night a few weeks ago when you guys had the girls night, all of us guys were hanging out at my place and AJ bet Nick that he wouldn’t have a girlfriend before the end of this leg of the tour. AJ had to pick the girl and he picked Katelin. We were all so sure that Aj was going to win because Kate and Nick couldn’t stand each other. Well somehow, Nick actually fell for her and called it off yesterday….” He trailed off and then looked back up at Ang. “Ang, you can’t say anything. Kate can’t find out cause Nick really likes her and that could ruin everything if she found out.”

“As angry as I am with her right now, Bri, this isn’t right,” Ang told him, honestly. “Nick has to come clean. If she finds out that this whole thing is because of some stupid bet, it would devastate her. She couldn’t handle that. She really likes him too.”

Brian grabbed her hands, begging her to understand. “No, Ang. She can’t find out. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. There is no bet. Never was.”

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