Written by : Nikki .
Nikki was absolutely amazed by "Camelot"..it was huge. As the five entered the club Nikki stared down a grand staircase that led to a dance floor surrounded by tables and various bars. The music was loud and upbeat and there were so many lights flashing it looked like the room was illuminated by starshine. As they descended the steps, Lissa tapped Nikki on the shoulder and pointed up. Above them was a balcony encircling the whole dance floor. Nikki could see people sitting at more tables and leaning over the railing watching those below.
"VIP's," Lissa whispered in her ear.
Nikki went to nod her head at her friend, but before she could, Jacquie and Fayth grabbed her hands and pulled her to the dance floor.
After non-stop dancing for 40 minutes, Jacquie and Nikki decided to get a drink. Fayth, Lissa and Alexis visited the little girls room before meeting their friends at the bar.
Alexis noticed a large crowd of women not more then ten feet from them. They were surrounding another group of people, who she couldn't tell, and they were bristling with excitement. She nudged Fayth, who in turn nudged Lissa. The group of women started to disperse, all holding small slips of paper or glossy photos. When most of them had fanned out Lissa, Fayth and Alexis got a clear view at who they'd been gathered around.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Alexis laughed.
"I tell you...Tricks brings us the best luck," said Fayth.
Lissa got an idea. Pulling Alexis and Fayth to her, she whispered her plan in their ears. The three then circled Nikki and Jaqs at the bar. While Alexis and Fayth kept Nikki busy, Lissa pointed out the five young men standing not far from them and then filled Jacquie in on her little plan. Jaqs couldn't help but grin at how absolutely devious her friend was. She walked over to Nikki and wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulders.
"Ready to boogie down again, Tricks?"
Without waiting for Nikki to answer, Jacquie took the drink from her friends hands, set it down, and began to steer her back towards the dance floor.
"But...Jaqs.....I was," Nikki stuttered.
When they reached the group of five men, Jaqs, Lissa, Alexis and Fayth exchanged a quick glance. Lissa waited till Nikki was just about to walk past them when she slapped her friend hard on the back,"Spit it out, Tricks!"
That slap caused Nikki to stumble and fall, right into a pair of very strong arms. Opening her eyes, she couldn't believe the sight that greeted her. It was the guy from the beach.....the Backstreet Boy.....Kevin. He was just staring back at her with a blank look on his face. She heard a familiar, raspy voice behind her, "Seems like I'm always around when you're falling down."
Kevin set the girl upright. He recognized her from the beach yesterday...the photographer. He was none too happy about seeing her again..." How convenient," he thought.
Nikki pulled herself from Kevins arms, where she'd been quite comfortable, and turned to see A.J., Brian, Nick and Howie standing behind her and staring.
"Hi! Funny running into you guys here," Nikki remarked wryly, which cracked up the four boys. She spared a glance at Kevin, but he hadn't even cracked a smile. She turned back to her four friends," Literally.... Thanks to Lissa."
Lissa grinned and stepped forward, " Lissa Andrews, nice to meet you."
Nikki was surprised at Lissas forwardness, she was usually the serious one. As Lissa introduced herself to the boys, Nikki turned to Jacquie and said, " You must be rubbing off on her."
Jaqs gave her friend a quizzical look, but before Tricks could respond, Jacquie turned Nikki's head to look at their friend.
Lissa stood before Nick Carter with stars in her eyes, she had just introduced herself.
Nick was smiling down at Liss. "Hi Lissa! Nice to meet you.....I love that shirt," he said nodding at her outfit. "How did you know that green was my favorite color?"
"What a flirt," Nikki thought. She was sure that Lissa was about to melt.
Hearing Fayth chuckle, Lissa turned around and pulled her roommate to her side, "This is Fayth."
Embarrassed beyond words, Fayth turned a lovely shade of red and mumbled a "Hello."
Nick turned to Brian, "They act like you and me, B-Rok."
To which Brian replied, humorously, " I can see that, Frack."
Alexis introduced herself next, all the boys made their hellos, but Lex made the biggest impression on Howie.
When Lexie was all done with her intros, Nikki went to introduce Jacquie.
"Guys, this is the friend I was telling you about...Jac..."
"Jacqueline Barrows, right?" A.J. asked
All five of the girls were agog.
Jaqs stared at A.J. in shock, " I know we've never met, so how is it that you know my name?"
"She's going to interview us Saturday, isn't she Bone?" Nick asked his friend.
Brian noticed the confused look on Jacquie's face, "You met with our management team yesterday. They were pleased that you and your partner would be doing our interview. When we asked them why, they showed us a picture from some awards ceremony you'd done."
"You work for the Herald?" Kevin asked her.
"Yes," Jaqs answered.
"So you're the "Jaqs" that Nikki was talking about yesterday," A.J. said.
"That's me," Jacquie laughed.
Brian laid his hand on Nikkis arm and turned to Kevin, "Nikki, this is my cousin, Kevin Richardson...Kev, this is Nicole Christianson."
"Hello," Nikki said warmly, but a cool "Hi" was all she got in return.
Nikki caught the scowl that appeared on Kevin's handsome face and wondered what could be wrong with him, but her mind was soon pulled from those thoughts by the other four boys who insisted that the girls join them in the VIP lounge.
"We couldn't," Lex said.
"What!? Speak for yourself," Fayth exclaimed.
Lissa grabbed Fayth before she could take another step and smacked her on the back of the head.
"OW!"
"Why not?," Howie asked, laughing at the two girls antics.
"Let's see...VIP...," Jacquie pointed to each of her friends, "..us...I don't see the connection."
"If they don't want to come, they don't have to," Kevin said. " I'll be waiting for you guys upstairs, " with that, Kevin turned and climbed the steps back to the balcony.
"What's up with him?" A.J. whispered to Brian.
Brian just shrugged, " Beats me."
Nick sidled up to Jacquie, " Heck Jaqs, you work for the Tampa Herald... You're practically a local celebrity." Giving her the worst imitation of a puppy-dog face she'd ever seen, Nick begged, "Please come sit with us.....please."
Jacquie turned to Nikki and asked, "What do you think, Tricks?"
When Nick turned his ridiculous face to her, Nikki had to consent, "Okay....we'll come."
"Tricks? How'd you get that nickname?" A.J. asked with a grin on his face.
Jacquie took his arm in her own as they ascended the steps, "Let me tell you the story."
Nikki just rolled her eyes as she and the rest of the group followed them upstairs.
***************************************************
After an hour of talking, Kevin made his excuses to go to the restroom. Brian, who knew there was something up with his cousin, tagged along.
When the two boys were alone with each other, Brian turned to his cousin and asked," What's up with you tonight?"
Kevin turned with a frown, "What do you mean?"
"That!" Brian pointed at Kevin's face, "You've had that frown on your face ever since we ran into the girls. You've barely spoken a word to Jacquie or Nikki."
Kevin sighed, how could he explain his opinion on the two girls without sounding like a total jerk? " I don't trust them, Bri, " he murmured.
Brian's jaw dropped, "You what?"
"I don't trust them."
"Why, Kev?"
Kevin stared at his younger cousin, "You don't think it's a coincidence that Jacqueline works for the Herald, she's doing our interview Saturday and this Christianson girl just happened to show up at the vacation house yesterday, camera in tow?"
"I think you're reading too much into this, Kev. They're sweet girls...if you'd just give them a chance," Brian said softly, clapping his cousin on the back. "Do what you want, man. I'm going back to the table." With that he disappeared out the door, leaving Kevin to his thoughts.
**************************************************
An hour and a half later, Kevin was oblivious to the fact that Nicole Christianson was fuming.
Nikki sat across a fairly large table from Kevin. The others had gone their separate ways, leaving the two alone together. Nikki looked over to the pool tables and spotted the group of Nick, B-Rok, Fayth and Lissa, shooting together. Watching Liss try to shoot pool in that skirt she had on was hilarious. The four were flirting ceaselessly with each other...it made Nikki smile.
Kevin saw Nicoles smile and his uncertainty grew. He'd listened to her, studied her as the group had talked and she was bright, funny....and pretty. Someone he could be friends with....but the fact remained, she had taken those photos. And for that simple reason, Kevin had decided not to trust her.
Nikki gave Kevin a quick glance before looking down to the dance floor where she spotted Alexis and Howie dancing.
"Looks like they're having fun," she said, trying for the fifth time to draw Kevin into a conversation since the others had left them alone.
"Yeah," he mumbled, not even bothering to ask who she was talking about.
Nikki sighed in exasperation, "That's it!," she thought to herself. Hazel eyes flashing, she glared at Kevin, "What in the hell is your problem?"
Kevin's head snapped around when he heard the tone of her voice, "As if you don't know."
"No I don't know. You could explain it to me if you felt like speaking in more than one syllable words," Nikki spat.
"Funny thing your friend Jacquie working at the Herald...doing our interview Saturday...and how you jut happened to stumble upon us yesterday the beach."
Nikki stared at Kevin puzzled, as he continued, "And acting like you don't even know who we are..."
Nikki interrupted him at that point, "I didn't know who ANY of you were until a few hours ago."
"Oh, sure," Kevin said sarcastically.
Nikki leaned over the table, "I'm a pretty busy person....some of us have to WORK for a living."
That comment hit the mark, "I bet you do," Kevin growled, "Spying on other unsuspecting people."
Nikki was confused, "Spying......what...?"
"You probably haul a camera with you wherever you go."
"Camera?," an idea began to form in Nikkis head. "Wait a second," she held up one hand, "this whole attitude of yours is over the pictures I took?"
Kevin laughed, "I can't wait to see them along with your friends article in the Herald, Sunday."
Nikki stood so quickly that the chair she'd been sitting in almost toppled over, "First of all," she hissed, "Jacquie would never..EVER..use one of my pictures in an article about your group. And second, I don't know what you THINK I do for a living, but I sure as hell don't go around spying on people. If you had taken ANY time tonight to get to know either of us, you'd realize that." As she spoke, her voice carried around the balcony to her friends.
By the pool tables, Fayth looked at Lissa, "Uh-oh...Kevin must have done something really idiotic to get Tricks that upset."
Lissa nodded, and Brian added, "He deserves it...the way he's been provoking her all evening."
At the bar, Jacquie turned at the sound of her friends raised voice. What she saw made her chuckle.
A.J. also turned, and when he saw Nikki standing, he set down his drink to walk over to the table.
Jacquie grabbed his arm and pulled him back, "It's okay..Tricks can take care of herself.....believe me."
On the dance floor, Howie just happened to glance up to their table by the balcony and noticed Nikki standing, looking quite enraged. He tapped Alexis on the arm and pointed up. Alexis looked and her eyes widened at the sight.
"Oh no...Nikki is ticked."
Howie watched the scene above him in concern, "Is that bad?"
Alexis sighed, " With her temper...this could get ugly."
Howie grabbed Alexis hand and they ran toward the stairs.
At the table, Kevin was taken aback by how adamant Nicole was about her and her friends innocence. he refused to let her see how confused and startled she now had him. Without knowing the trouble it would cause, he leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and muttered, "Whatever."
The fury she was experiencing was overwhelming. Breaking into tears of anger, Nikki snapped open her purse and pulled out the envelope containing the pictures.
"If you're so damn worried about them....THEN TAKE THEM!"
With that she threw the photos at Kevin, hitting him dead center in the chest.
Kevin sat in shock, watching Nikki walk away, as glossy 4x5's scattered around him.
[ Chapter Eight ]
