The Los Angeles club was bumping when Nick walked in. He already had a good buzz going but he was in the mood to get wasted. Not a new thing for him these days. He sat at the bar, ordered a beer, and thought about what a mess he had made of his life. Not even a year ago, 11 months to be exact, his life was perfect. His brother was still alive, his career was going great, and he had a wonderful girlfriend. Now, he sat drunk and alone at a bar on the other side of the country from where his great life had been, wondering how he could have screwed it up so much. Someone put a hand on his shoulder:
“Mind if I join you?” Nick looked up from his beer:
“Sure. Go ahead.” The girl smiled and sat down:
“I’m Katrina.”
“Nick.” She shook his hand:
“You look really familiar to me. Are you in the music business?” Nick took another swig of his beer:
“Used to be.” She stood up and dragged him over to the dance floor:
“Come on. I’m going to loosen you up.” Nick finished off his beer and followed his new friend over to dance.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Nick and Katrina stumbled through the parking lot over to Nick’s BMW. It was 2am and the club was closing. They were both wasted. Nick dangled the keys in front Katrina’s face:
“Would you like to drive?” She grabbed the keys:
“Sure where to?” Nick jumped in the passenger seat:
“How about we go back to my place?” Katrina started the engine:
“Tell me the way.”
They had been driving for about fifteen minutes and it was obvious that neither one of them should have been behind the wheel of a car. Katrina never even saw the other car. The only sounds that Nick could hear were those of Katrina screaming and metal crunching. His whole life flashed before his eyes before blackness engulfed him.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“Katelin?” I heard Leighanne call from downstairs. I quickly made my way down the stairs, well, as quick as I could for someone who was 7 months pregnant. I saw Brian and Leighanne taking off their jackets and getting comfortable in my living room:
“Hey guys! How’d you get in?” Brian gave me a kiss on the cheek:
“Krystal let us in on her way out.” I walked into the kitchen:
“Do you guys want something?” Leighanne grabbed the remote for the tv:
“No thanks! We’re fine. Just got back from dinner.” I fixed myself a glass of water and waddled back into the living room. Brian looked over at me:
“How’s my godchild doing?” I smiled as I rubbed my tummy:
“Fine. Kicking up a storm.” Leighanne stopped her channel surfing on Mtv where there was a picture of Nick in the right hand corner. My eyes widened:
“What the…?” I trailed off as Kurt Loder started to speak:
“Former Backstreet Boy, Nick Carter, is at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles tonight after his BMW collided head on with a 1994 Toyota pickup truck early this morning. Carter was the passenger in his own car when the driver, 22 year old Katrina Taylor, an aspiring model from the Los Angeles area, lost control and swerved into oncoming traffic. She was killed instantly, as was the driver of the other car. Rumor has it that alcohol was involved. No word right now on Carter’s condition. We will continue to keep you updated on this story as details become available.”
As soon as the report was finished, I dropped the water glass in my hand and clutched my stomach as I felt a sharp pain. Brian immediately was at my side:
“Katie?! What’s wrong?!” Tears began to form in my eyes:
“Something’s wrong, Bri. Help me. I think I’m going into labor.” Leighanne’s eyes widened in shock:
“Labor? Kate, it’s too early.” I started sobbing as I felt my water break:
“This isn’t happening. Please tell me this isn’t happening. It’s too early. Oh god, it hurts so much.” Brian helped me into his car as Leighanne jumped in the driver’s seat and sped towards Tampa General.