"Hey guys!" she called out, waving. All five of them turned around and waved back. She approached them and she had to hold back a smile. All of the guys looked like they were just five normal guys...they weren't wearing some of the outrageous clothing in the teeny-bopper magazines she had read....they just looked average.

"What's up Lauren?" asked Kevin, greeting her with a hug. "Nothing," Lauren answered, then glanced at AJ, who smiled at her. "Wait a sec," she started, "AJ, didn't you have red hair yesterday?!"

The guys laughed as Nick said, "See! I told you she'd notice!"

AJ now sported blue frosted tips, rather than the fire engine red he had the day before. Lauren's mouth literally dropped open. "You like?" AJ asked, smirking. "Of course," she answered, trying not to stare. It was amazing how he could totally change his look in a day.

"So, are we ready to go?" asked Brian opening the door to the car. "Yeah...let's go!" announced Lauren, climbing in the front seat of AJ's car, with Nick and Howie in the back, while Brian and Kevin went in Kevin's car.

"So, where are we headed?" asked Lauren, after they had been on the highway for five minutes, "should I be nervous?"

"Naw," answered Howie from the back, "this is gonna be the best day of your life! We've got it all planned out! First we...."

"Yo, D! Don't tell her, man!" AJ interrupted, then glanced sideways at Lauren, "it's a surprise!"

Lauren raised her eyebrows in suspicion, then turned around to look at Howie and Nick in the back seat. Howie winked at her, but Nick just sat there, staring at his hands. "Are you okay Nick?" she asked, wondering why he was being so quiet. Yesterday he had been so loud and outgoing, but today he had barely said a word. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, looking up briefly, then looking back down again. Lauren glanced at Howie, but he just shrugged. She turned back around.

They drove in almost complete silence for another five minutes. ‘You should tell him!' Lauren's subconscious said, but Lauren didn't have even the slightest guts. She also didn't think it was an appropriate time.

"We're here!" AJ announced, snapping Lauren out of her daze. She hadn't even realized that they had pulled into a huge parking lot and stopped the car. "Universal Studios," Lauren read, looking out the window at a huge sign that overtook the parking lot, "hey! I've heard of this! I can't believe that we're actually here!"

"Yup!" exclaimed Howie, "we've scheduled a short tour here, and then we're on to the next place!"

"What's the next place?" Lauren asked, as she climbed out of the car and stared in awe at everything around her. "You'll see!" answered Nick.

"So, what did ya think?!" asked Nick, as the group of six sat at a small restaurant just a couple blocks away from Lauren's hotel, "did you have fun today?"

"Guys, it was amazing!" she answered, smiling, "I can't believe all the things we did today! We literally visited the WHOLE city! I had so much fun....." She trailed off.

After their private tour of Universal Studios, they had gone into downtown Orlando, and cruised through the streets, as the guys showed her all the famous stores and places. After they had gone for lunch, they drove her through another part of town....pretty much, they covered all of Orlando.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," replied Brian, "I don't know about y'all, but I'm exhausted!"

"Me too," announced Lauren, "I think I better be getting back to my hotel now."

She got up from the table as she said goodbye to each of them and thanked them profusely for such a great day. When she got to AJ, she gave him a huge hug. ‘I should tell him now,' she thought, but didn't utter a word. "I'm glad you had such a good day," AJ said, beating her to the punch, "call me tomorrow, okay?"

Lauren nodded, and smiled. The waved to all the guys, as she walked out of the restaurant and down the street to her hotel.

Once upstairs, she sat down with a sigh on her bed. "I'm such an idiot," she said to herself, tears forming in her eyes, "I should have told him...."

A couple stray tears fell from her green eyes. "I should have told him..."

"Guys, what time is it?" asked Brian nonchalantly, as he flipped through channels at Kevin's house with the rest of the guys. "It's only ten-thirty....why?" asked Howie, looking up from the magazine he was reading. AJ sat on the couch with Kevin and Brian, while Nick was sprawled out on the floor.

"Just asking," Brian replied, as he switched off the television, "there's absolutely nothing on TV at ten-thirty on Tuesday night."

"I'm exhausted!" announced Nick suddenly, stretching out like a cat on the floor, "today really wore me out!"

"Oh, c'mon Nicky boy," joked AJ, "you can take more than that! We need to work on your endurance!"

Nick stuck out his tongue at AJ, as he continued to stretch. "It was a fun day though...." AJ added, a faraway look in his eyes.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Nick, suddenly sitting up, "stop that! You're scaring me!"

"Yeah, what's up Bone?" asked Kevin, "you look like you're thinking about something."

AJ shrugged and smiled shyly. "Oh my God," laughed Howie, "did anyone just see that?! He smiled like a little schoolgirl!"

"Fuck you, D!" AJ yelled, shoving Howie off the couch, "I'm not a schoolgirl!"

"Sure you're not," teased Brian, joining in the fun, "you just smile like one!" AJ didn't beat up on Brian though....he just rolled his eyes and said, "I am NOT a schoolgirl."

"Ya wanna know what I think?" added Brian, "I think our little AJ over here has a little bit of a crush!"

"Shut up Frick, I don't know what you're talking about," AJ replied, at the same time as Nick said, "A crush? What are you guys talking about?"

"Nick, I think AJ has a little crush on Lauren," Brian teased, poking AJ in the arm. "He does?" asked Nick, trying to hide the weirdness in his voice, while Kevin and Howie just laughed.

"All right!" exclaimed AJ, pushing Brian's hand away from poking his shoulder, "I DO have a little thing for Lauren.....all right?! Damn, I don't need all of you to make such a big deal about it!"

"I knew it!" exclaimed Brian, smiling with satisfaction, "I knew it all along!"

AJ blushed and turned to look at the guys. "I don't know what it is, but since yesterday when she came into the studio I've gotten this vibe from her....it's hard to explain....we just seem so similar and seem to have so much in common....it's hard not to like her!" he finished, biting his lip.

"Awwww," cooed Kevin, "that's so sweet."

"I'd appreciate it if you guys didn't say anything though, okay? I don't wanna scare her away...we've only known her for like a day!" he said in a serious tone.

"Your secret's safe with us!" Brian said in his fake girly voice. "Good," replied AJ, smiling to himself.

"Oh, hey guys, I promised my mom I'd be home early tonight," Nick said suddenly, standing up, "I probably should get going."

"Did you drive over here yourself?" asked Kevin, "cuz if you didn't I can give you a ride home if you want?"

"Naw, it's okay....I drove here this morning...my car's parked out front....see you guys tomorrow," he ended abruptly, as he headed for the front door. There was silence until all four guys could hear the car start on the driveway, and drive away.

"That was kind of strange," AJ said, "he left so suddenly!"

"He probably forgot he had to be home and hour ago!" laughed Brian, dismissing the whole thing, "I wouldn't be worried."

"Mom, don't worry.....yeah....I know," Lauren said exasperated. She was on the phone with her mom, and was trying to tell her the whole story. "All I'm saying is to be careful," her mom warned, "I know you just found your brother and all, but please just think about things before you do them."

After a couple more minutes of convincing, Lauren hung up the phone. "Damn," she muttered, "it's a good thing she's not out here herself...she'd drive me crazy!"

She thought about the day she had spent with the Backstreet Boys yesterday. It had been so much fun, and she had forgotten even the slightest notion that she should tell AJ they were related; it just seemed inconsequential.

At that very moment the phone rang. "Hello?" she said, picking up the receiver, thinking it was her mother again. "Hey Lauren," said a different voice....a voice that sounded like Nick.

"Hey Nick! What's up?" replied Lauren, feeling a rush of excitement flow through her. "Not much," he answered shyly, "me and the guys were just wondering if you'd maybe wanna come to this press conference thing we have to do?"

"Of course!" answered Lauren, not giving it a second thought, "when and where?"

Nick gave her the details and Lauren began to get ready. The thought of telling AJ had completely fled her mind.

"It's not really a concert, so much as an interview," explained Kevin, after Lauren had arrived at the building where this all was to take place, "we may sing, but it's far from a real performance."

Lauren nodded, gazing at all the media persons buzzing around. Everyone seemed to be there, from big companies such as MTV, to smaller radio stations. All in all, the place looked like a media zoo.

"So, do you guys ever do real concerts?" she asked, still in awe of all that was around her. Nick and Howie were backstage, and she stood with Kevin, AJ and Brian.

"Sure we do," answered Brian, "actually, we have a concert in a couple days in Tampa....we were all wondering if you'd like to come?"

Lauren jerked her head back into the conversation. "I'd love to come!" she exclaimed, "but isn't Tampa like a three-hour drive from here? And I don't have a car or anything, so it may be hard for me to get there....."

"You'd ride in our bus," answered AJ, "we wouldn't make you get there by yourself! You'd come with us, and we'd give you great tickets to the concert!"

Lauren's eyes widened as she thought of her getting to see them perform. "Sounds great!" she blurted out, and AJ said, "Good....cuz you know it just wouldn't be the same without you," as he winked at her. She smiled as she felt her face flush.

Her thoughts were immediately interrupted by an announcement made by someone with a microphone. "We gotta get backstage," said Brian apologetically, "we'll see you after!"

"Good luck!" she called after them, as they made their way through the huge crowd. She took a seat with what seemed like a million reporters and the same guy with the microphone introduced them all. They came out in a single file line, and the cameras began flashing. This is a huge deal!' thought Lauren to herself, as they took their seats.

"Hi, Mark Glazebrook of the Orlando Post.....what are your guys' perception on your album coming out next week? Do you find there's now a competition with the Canadian market?" a young reporter asked, as he stood up.

"Well," answered Howie, "as you all may or may not know, we've had our album out in Canada for a while now, but we just hope that the US release will open up our American market and start a whole new branch of fans."

Lauren looked around confusedly, as more and more questions began to fly. I need to get my hands on a copy of this album!' she thought to herself, as she made a mental note to get one. The reporter next to her caught her attention, as she stood up and began to speak.

"Hi, Linda Rochester from Entertainment Weekly.....I know you guys portray the image of clean-cut, wholesome young Christian boys', but do you think that some of your current situations may start to send the wrong message to young children?" she said loudly.

"I'm sorry....I'm not quite sure what you mean," replied Kevin, squinting his eyes in confusion. "What I'm saying is," Linda answered, "do you think some of your family situations and conditions may damage the adolescent point of view? I mean, just in terms of the nuclear family'....do you think the lack of this stereotype will cause differentiating views?"

Lauren drew in an astute breath and glanced sharply at the table in which the boys were sitting. She saw the guys glance quickly at AJ, and he fidgeted with his microphone. "Um," he said, "well, I guess I can answer this question....I assume you're talking about my family....well all I know is the fact that I don't communicate as often as I'd like to with my father shouldn't have an impact on our music in any aspect. We don't in any way think we are perfect, and we hope that we don't give that impression....all we want is to make music and make people happy."

Lauren bit her lip as she glanced at Linda beside her. Bitch,' she thought, as she gave her an evil eye. She knew that topic was very touchy, considering AJ had looked very uncomfortable answering her.....she also felt a wave of guilt flood over her.

At long last, the conference was over, and Lauren went to meet the guys backstage. "Hey guys...that was really great," she said, as she greeted them all, and gave a half-sympathetic look to AJ. "Geez, what a bitch that woman was!" complained Nick, as he kneeled down and tied his shoe, "I can't believe she actually asked that!"

"Yeah, it must have been awkward for you guys," she answered, not wanting to bring up the subject more. "Don't worry about it Nick," she added, placing a friendly hand on his shoulder, "I'm sure the girls still love you all!"

Nick cheeks flushed as he smiled, but just as he did that she glanced at a window on the side of the conference building that showed a view of the downtown street. Standing at that window and trying to look in, were two girls who looked about 14 years old.

Lauren wasn't sure if they could actually see in, but she could have sworn they looked her straight in the eye and gave her an evil look.

She talked to the guys for a while more, then left. She walked out the door past the security men, and took a couple steps down the sidewalk. All of a sudden, she heard a noise from behind her. She spun around, and came face to face with those same two girls who were standing at the window. And the looks on their faces were not pleasant either.

She turned back around and continued to walk forward, until she heard one of the girls behind her say, "Yes, that's for sure the one."

"Can I help you?" she asked, turning around again. "Yes, actually you can," said one of the girls, giving a snooty look, "the thing is, we want you to stay away from the Backstreet Boys."

"Excuse me?" Lauren asked, startled. She wasn't sure if she had heard her correctly.

"You heard me," the other girl said rudely, "stay away from them. Just stay the hell away."

"Who-who are you?!" Lauren asked, now fuming. Who were these girls, and why were they telling her to stay away from the people who had now become her friends?! And how did they know!?

"We're big fans of theirs....and when I say big, I mean BIG!" the first one retorted back, "and let's just say that here in Orlando they aren't as popular as they should be....but we've been with them since the beginning."

"And?" Lauren implored, trying to figure out the point to this story. "And," the girl continued, "we've been casual observers of you and them, becoming pretty close with them....we saw you at the conference."

"So? Your point is....?"

"The point is that we think it's better if you just don't become friends with them at all. See, our life goal is to be where you're at now, and you're standing in our way........so we think it's best for you if you just back off," the second one said rudely.

"I can't believe this," Lauren muttered to herself. Lauren was never one to stand back and let people tell her what to do and insult her to her face, so she said, "Listen. I don't really care what you say or think....all I'M saying is I swear to God, if I see either of you two ever again, I WILL call the cops, so don't test me. And another thing: I'd stay FAR away if I were you, because I know for a FACT that AJ or Brian or any of the guys would never want to become friends with a stalker."

With that, she spun back around and continued to walk, not looking back until she got to her hotel, where she made sure they weren't following her.

She stormed up to her room quickly and shut the door with a slam. She was so angry she didn't know what to do! She paced around aimlessly for about five seconds, then sunk down on her bed as tears filled her eyes. They began to spill over her cheeks, as the thought of those two girls filled her mind. Was this how it was going to be? Was she going to be harassed until things were finally settled??

"Bring it on, bitch!" AJ screamed at Brian, as he dribbled toward him with his basketball in hand, "Show me what you got!"

Brian faked left, then right, then swerved around AJ and did a perfect lay-up. "Kiss my ass, biotch!" Brian retorted back, as he high-fived Nick who was on his team. They were playing against AJ, Kevin and Howie.

"I'm exhausted guys," Nick said, as he collapsed onto the pavement, "I don't think I can continue playing."

"Oh come on Nicky," teased Howie, "can't stand the pressure?"

Nick forced a smile, but then shook his head. "I can't.....I just can't," he said, breathing heavily. "Okay then," Brian announced, "we win!"

"Eat shit," AJ answered back, grabbing the ball from Brian's hands, "I demand a rematch.....tomorrow!"

"You're on," challenged Brian. Brian and AJ had this ever going competition between them...no one was ever satisfied.

"Come on Nick," offered Kevin, "I'll drive you home."

So, all the guys went their separate ways, and Nick went with Kevin. "Are you sure you're okay little buddy?" asked Kevin, as he pulled up to Nick's gated house, "You look kinda pale!"

"I'm fine," answered Nick, "I'm just tired....I've been running around all day and I didn't get much sleep last night...all I need is rest."

"Okay, well make sure you get plenty of sleep," advised Kevin, acting as his role of the father, "cuz we don't want you to be worn down!"

"Thanks Kev," Nick replied, getting out of the car, "see ya tomorrow."

Nick made his way up his walkway, until he got to the door, only turning around once to wave to Kevin who waited until he was in his house to drive away. He slumped up to his room and slammed the door. None of his family were home, and the house was dead silent.

"Oh Christ," Nick muttered, his voice quavering, as he looked down at his knees and saw they were shaking. He sat down on his bed and began to shake violently. "Shit," he moaned, as he curled up into a ball under his covers to make the sick feeling disappear. All I need is sleep,' he repeated over and over to himself, as he remembered the previous night and how he had been up until the wee hours of the morning trying to sleep through the shakes and nausea.

Slowly, he drifted off to sleep, thinking about how much he needed sleep so he could feel better the next morning.

"I'm not calling him," Lauren said sternly to herself, as she sat in her hotel room alone, two days after she had gotten back from her run-in with the teenagers. She had cried that night.....not because she was scared of what these kids might do, but because she was upset about the whole situation. She was upset that she had to go through that, just because she was friends with them...she was closer with AJ then any of them ever perceived.

Lauren felt terrible. She had tried to put the whole thing out of her mind, but she had screwed up. She had screwed up the moment she met him by not telling him they were siblings right away.

She knew he was going to call.....that one of them would call. It was inevitable. She had become close with these boys in such a short span of time; closer than she was with almost anyone. It was going to be tough to try to tell them she couldn't hang out with them anymore.

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

Nick heard the doorbell ring from his bathroom, but couldn't get himself off the ground to answer it. "Fuck," he whined, grabbing the toilet and puking again. After he was done, he attempted to stand up, which resulted in only minor dizziness.

"Nick!" his mother called from downstairs, "Brian's at the door!"

"Coming!" Nick called back wearily, as he wandered out of his room, down the stairs and to the front hall. He was aware he probably looked like crap, but couldn't do anything about it.

"Hey Frick," Nick said, as he stepped off his staircase, "what up?"

"Damn Nicky," Brian said, scrunching up his forehead, "what's wrong? You look sick!"

"I just woke up...." Nick lied, running his hands through his hair, "plus, I think I'm getting a cold...but besides that, I'm okay."

Brian nodded, and continued, "Well I just came by to tell you we have a meeting this afternoon....and I also wanted to know if you've talked to Lauren recently?"

Nick shook his head, and had to bite his lip to hide his smile, despite the fact he was a little under the weather. "AJ said he wanted to call her, but since we haven't seen her in a while he thinks something is wrong," Brian finished.

Nick shrugged, hoping AJ wouldn't call her. "No, I haven't spoken to her....maybe I'll call her today?" he offered. Brian and Nick continued talking, and then Brian went his separate way.

Nick made his way back up to his room. He collapsed onto his bed with a huge sigh. The fact was, Nick had a humongous crush on Lauren.....and every time he saw her it just got bigger and bigger. The day that AJ had told them all he had a thing for her, Nick's heart had almost broken right

then and there, but he was determined not to back down.

"Why is it, just because I'm shyer than AJ, I'm always the one left in the dust?" he asked an empty room. He longed to tell Brian, but he was afraid of what he'd say. He was scared that he would accuse him of trying to steal AJ's girl.

The thought of Lauren entered his mind, and he smiled. So, she was three years older than he was.....what did that matter? The first day they had met, Lauren had told him he looked older than 17. That day he was convinced she liked him.....now he wasn't so sure.

He looked at himself in the mirror. He had dark circles under his eyes and looked like shit. "Nothing's wrong with me," he said, convincing himself, "I'm just worn out....all I need is some time off to relax."

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

"Hello?" Lauren said wearily, as she picked up the phone, almost positive it was AJ. It was. "Lauren," AJ replied, "why haven't you called? Is something wrong?"

It had been officially two whole days since she saw the boys last, and already she was miserable. She was miserable because she was hiding from the truth. "No, no," Lauren answered, putting on her best fake voice, "it's just that I had to, um, visit some relatives out here." It wasn't completely a lie, but it was pretty damn close.

"Oh," said AJ, "well, guess what? Tomorrow we're leaving on the bus to Tampa....we reserved your seat, that is if you're still coming?"

AJ's voice was so sweet and caring, she almost broke down then and there, but she kept herself composed. "Yeah....that is if you still want me there?" she said back, smiling through the phone.

"You bet I do," AJ answered, and he told her times to meet. Despite herself, she hung up the phone quite excited. Her initial plan was to try to tell AJ and the boys that she couldn't go to the concert, and slowly try to break away, but it was too hard. Something was drawing her closer and closer. Thinking about the concert made other feelings slowly disappear.

Nick bit his lip as he tried to control himself. His body was shaking again, but this time they were in Lou Pearlman's office in a meeting....it wasn't easy.

He started to break a sweat, but no one in the room seemed to notice. After Brian had shown up at his house, he hadn't thrown up again, but he also hadn't eaten. At this meeting, however, he was starting to feel nauseous again.

"So, if no one has any questions, I guess that's it!" Lou announced, as everyone stood up. Kevin started talking, but Nick couldn't stand it any longer. He mumbled something about being late for another appointment, and dashed out of the room, ran down the hall into the bathroom, and threw up in the toilet.

As he sat there, tears streamed down his cheeks. "Nothing's wrong with me," he cried to an empty bathroom, "I just have the flu."

Lauren handed the money to the cabbie, and he drove away, leaving her in a huge parking lot. ‘This has got to be the place,' she thought to herself, as she gazed around at the two huge buses and people milling around. In no time she spotted AJ talking to a large group of people.

"Hey!" she said, walking over to him and giving him a big hug, "what's up? Are we leaving soon?"

"Whoah there, Miss Antsy Pants!" AJ exclaimed, putting his arm around her, "see that bus down there?" Lauren nodded as he pointed. "That's the bus we're going on....all the guys are there now, so if you wanna go there, I'll be there in a few seconds...I just gotta take care of some stuff first," he finished.

Lauren nodded again and smiled, as she walked toward the huge bus. The door was open, and she slowly stepped up onto the platform and into the bus. "Hey guys!" she announced, as the four boys looked up from whatever it was that they were doing. Lauren's mouth almost dropped open at the sight of this bus: it was humongous! It had a couple small couches, six small stowaway beds, and even a little TV!

"Hey Laur!" Brian said, standing up and hugging her, "glad you could make it!"

Lauren just beamed. She was so glad to be back with these guys....it seemed so weird when she wasn't hanging around with them. She greeted the other guys with hugs, but when she got to Nick, something made her wonder.

"Nick, are you all right?" she asked, stepping back from the hug and taking a good look at him. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, for what seemed like the millionth time, "why do you ask?"

"You look really pale," she answered, "and you look thin.....like you've been losing weight or something."

Nick shrugged and averted his eyes.....he was glad AJ wasn't on the bus right now, trying to put the moves on Lauren right in front of his face.....but it worried him that Lauren thought something was wrong with him.

"Hey everyone....let's get going!" AJ announced, stepping up into the bus, interrupting Nick's thoughts. The driver boarded the bus, and it began to drive out of the parking lot, onto the freeway.

The plan was that they would arrive in Tampa that afternoon, perform a show that night, then leave the next night, leaving almost a whole day to relax in Tampa.

"Ooooh, what time is it?!" asked Brian excitedly, searching frantically for the remote control to the TV, "I think the basketball game is on now!"

"Yo, Rok, I never did hold you to that rematch," AJ countered, flopping down on the couch, "when we get back to Orlando, your ass is grass!" Lauren just laughed, as she sat down in between AJ and Nick.

"Yo Nicky, is our bet still on? I bet you twenty bucks that the University of Kentucky CREAMS North Carolina!" Brian said loudly, as the game began. Nick leaned over to he could see Brian in plain view and forced a smile. "You're on," he said weakly, as he leaned back.

Lauren looked at Nick while he watched the game. Something was definitely wrong....there were dark black circles under his eyes and his face color, which usually was very tan, was now pale white. She looked down at his arms and noticed how thin they were....and they were also shaking.

"Nick," she hissed, not wanting the other guys to hear her, "you're shaking!"

Nick's blue eyes got this pained look in them as he said, "It's fine don't worry....I always get this way before a concert...I'm just nervous...it's just nerves."

Lauren gave him a skeptical look, as she reached over and put her hand on his forehead. "Well, you're not warm," she mused, as Nick said, "See? I'm telling you, it's just nerves."

Lauren gave another skeptical look, as Nick tried to control the shaking. ‘Just please don't throw up,' Nick said over and over in his head. The last thing he wanted to do was throw up all over Lauren. He hadn't eaten anything that day....it seemed like every time he did eat, he always ended up throwing it back up anyway. He hadn't had a decent meal in days.

Nick managed to control himself until they got to Tampa. They got off the bus right at their hotel, and somehow Lauren had expected tons of fans to be gathered and waiting for their arrival, however there were only three girls there, and they only looked somewhat amused.

Lauren had told the guys on the bus about her encounter with the "stalker fans". They had laughed after she told them, but then become fairly serious. "Just make sure you don't walk for long distances by yourself," AJ had warned, "we don't want anything to happen!"

But by now, Lauren had pretty much put those girls out of her head, as the group made their way up to the tenth floor of the hotel. "We get our own floor?!" she asked, amazed.

"Yup!" answered Howie, "and you get your own room......I'm sharing with AJ, Nick's sharing with Brian, and Kevin's also by himself."

Lauren made herself comfortable in her room, then glanced at the clock. Their management had told them that they needed to leave her for the amphitheater by five, and it was already four thirty.

Lauren decided to go to one of the guys' rooms and ask if they needed to leave. She walked down to the hall to what she thought was Nick and Brian's room. "Guys?" she called, as she knocked on the door. No answer. "Nick?" she called again, "Brian? Are you guys in there?"

No answer again. She tried the handle to the door, and to her surprise it opened. "Brian?" she called into the room, "Nick? Can I come in? Are you guys decent?" Still, no one answered. She walked further into the room and heard muffled sounds from the bathroom. She knocked on the bathroom door, but there was no response.

"Nick? Are you in there?" she said through the door, as she pressed her ear against it, but she couldn't make out the sounds coming from inside. She opened the door slightly and gasped at what she saw. Nick was hunched over the toilet, and had apparently just finished puking.

"Oh God," she muttered, as she went to his side, "Nick, what's wrong?"

Nick whimpered, as he reached for the handle to flush the toilet. "I-I'm just a little nervous," he replied, shakily standing up, "but I'll be okay....." Lauren gave him the skeptical look she had already given him many times that day. She wasn't sure what it was, but something wasn't right.