The next morning, the boys had a press conference in the downtown of Berlin. It was crowded by tons of fans screaming for them outside the building.
"Ok guys... I know you two are mad at each other but can you please try to act as normal as possible in front of the cameras?" Kevin asked some minutes before the press conference started. They were all five in the small greenroom. Brian and Nick looked at each other, not answering at the question like if they didn't know how things would go. "Ok, I'll take it as a yes!"
"And...we say the truth about girlfriends?" Aj demanded.
Brian and Nick looked at the same time at the floor, both thinking about the same thing.
"You know if you want to tell them Aj! If you think it's serious... " Kevin answered.
"Or we can just say we have one...and not talk about who they are and everything... because I didn't talk about it with Carly..." Howie said.
"Okay so we say yes...but don't give any details.." Aj agreed. "And what will you say about Kristin, Kev?"
"I'll tell them the truth...anyway, everyone knows it now!" Kevin sighed.
"Alright so you're all ready?" Howie asked as everyone nodded. "Let's go then!"
The five Backstreet Boys walked on the little stage, blind by flashes of cameras. They sat down, Nick and Brian at the opposite side of the table, both not looking really happy to be there. After they said some words of how they were happy to be back in Europe, a first reporter asked them a question.
"Hi! Welcome back in Europe!" a young blondie girl told them. "I'd like to know, why are you coming only for 2 weeks here? You usually come for a lot more time..."
"Well, you know, it's a small tour this time. It's a like promotional stuff. We're doing 4 countries of Europe in a week...and then we'll go in London, join our friend Elton John for the big charity event we're here for." Kevin said.
"We actually weren't suppose to make this really short tour but we decided to make only a few concert, since we didn't come here for a while. Like Kevin said, it's like a short promotional tour!" Howie added.
"Alright thank you!" the blond girl replied smiling.
"Hi, my question if for Kevin... we all learned about your breakup with Kristin...but there are a lot of rumours running at this subject...could you tell us what happened?"
"Yeah we broke up... and I think...I mean that's it! There's not a lot of thing to say about it!" Kevin said with a little laugh. "I think we just...weren't mean to be together...that's all..."
"But you proposed to her... didn't you think she was the one of your life?"
"Back at this time..yeah I did.." Kevin said seriously.
"Alright thank you." the young man replied, seeing that Kevin didn't want to talk about it.
During a while, the questions were all about concerts, the tour and the charity event. The end of the press conference was almost there and there were only one question's left.
"Ok guys, we couldn't let you leave before to know who's having a girlfriend right now.." a young girl asked them. "So, who's in a relationship right now?"
"I am!" Aj said happily.
"I am too!" Howie added, thinking about Carly.
The young girl looked at the three other, waiting for an answer.
"well, I'm single.." Kevin said giggling. "I thought it was obvious!"
"I'm single..." Brian said with no emotion. He was relieved when he saw the girl looked at Nick, waiting for his answer. He knew a lot of people knew about Amber, even if they were hiding it the best that they could. Anyway...he was single for real now.
"And you Nick?" the girl asked smiling. "We've heard you are dating..." she started.
"I'm single!" Nick cut her off a little harshly. The four guys turned and looked at him. They knew his relationship with Rachel wouldn't be long but they didn't know it was already over. It's true he haven't talk about her since he was back from Aaron's tour. They didn't take more attention to it and the press conference ended. The guys stood for the people to take some pictures and then they came back in the greenroom.
"You didn't tell us you're not with Rachel anymore..." Aj told Nick.
"Well sorry.." he replied sitting on the couch.
"So what are we up to now?" Brian asked.
"We have an interview for Bravo at the hotel. We're suppose to meet the guy there, in the dinning room." Kevin answered reading the paper on what all their schedule for the day was.
After a few minutes, the guys left and went back to the hotel where they met a the boy that was going to interview them. They talked for a bit, and the boy, who was called Matthew, explained them how was going to be the interview and things like that It was like an usual interview except that all the questions were from fans who had won a certain contest where it was saying that their question would be ask to the BSB themselves. They started the interview with questions mostly about their lifes with the BSB now and about their families.
"Ok, I got a question from Leonie who lives in Berlin. She'd like to know where the nicknames Frick and Frack are from!" Matthew said looking at Nick and then Brian. They were both quiet and looked like they were thinking.
Nick looked at the floor not knowing what to say. Everything that was in his mind now were all the stupid things they had done and the tricks they had played on people. They were bestfriend since as long he could remember. He had been through all with Brian. Their friendship couldn't be over yet. He smiled inside of him, thinking they could be friends again. But this smile faded away when saw Brian's sad look. He knew that it was mostly his fault. And he didn't know what to do to get things right.
"So?" Matthew asked seeing that nobody was answering. He looked at Brian and waited for an answer.
"Yeah go ahead guys! Tell them!" Aj said.
"Well...hum..you know..." Brian started no really knowing what to say. "There's nothing to say about it...the nicknames don't have a story actually..." he continued. He looked over Nick whom was looking at floor, sad that Brian didn't want to tell the story of where the nicknames were from... because there was a story behind that.
"Yeah...there's no story about it..." Nick agreed sadly.
"Really? You're sure you don't have a little story to tell us about?" Matthew asked.
"Well we named them that way because they wer..are always together, doing tricks on everyone! We called them that way and they liked it..." Aj answered for them. He could see how unconfortable they were both.
"Oh I see! So it just happened like that...for no reason?"
"Yup it happened that way..." Kevin nodded.
"Alright! Here, I have question from Angelica. She'd like to know how you're dealing with the girlfriend thing... because it's probably hard to keep a good relationship being away all the time?"
"Well I think the guys will all agree with me if I say that yes, it's really hard!" Kevin exclaimed with a little laugh. He was thinking about is break up with Kristin and all the times the guys had lost their girlfriends because of the distances between them.
"Yeah it's not the easiest thing..." Aj said. "But I think that if it didn't work because of the distances or traveling...it wouldn't have work anyway...that's what I think! If the girl really love us, then she can live with it..."
"At the press conference you two said you're with someone right now..." Matthew said looking at Aj and Howie. "They can live with it right now??"
"They are both traveling with us right now...they are working with us so yeah they have no choice but to live with it!" Howie laughed.
"Oh okay...I understant now... " the reporter smiled. "And you three aren't tired to be single?"
"Um...I'm thinking a little break now.." Kevin giggled. "It's not a easy thing to get through a divorce..."
"Yes I'm sure it isn't!" Matthew said. He changed the subject of the interview and asked them question about the next album and videos that were going to be release. The interview finally ended and the guys went back to their room to rest a little before the rehearsal at the stadium.
*Meanwhile*
During this time, the girls had decided to go shopping to change Amber's mind for a while. They knew that only Brian could 'change' her mind but the fact was that Brian couldn't and wouldn't! So they decided to take her shopping...Some of the girls needed a new dress for the Charity event. Becky was going with Aj, Carly with Howie and Kev had asked Stacey to go with him what she accepted with a big pleasure! Elton John had always been one of her model. She was pleased to meet him.
"So Beck what kind of dress are you gonna wear?!?" Naomie asked.
"I don't know..seriously.. I don't know!" Becky said looking at some dresses.
"You better find something here girls!! there's no place like Europe for shopping some sexy dress!" Ashley exlcaimed laughing.
"What If we don't find anything?!?"Carly asked.
"I'll kick your ass!!" Ashley replied
"hooo did you hear that Stacey??!" Becky laughed.
"huh what?!?! If I hear what?!?!"Stacey demanded looking at some more dressed
All the girls bursted out laughing when they saw their friend's mind away like this...even Amber.
"Where's your head babe?!?!"Naomie asked
"Right here on my shoulder!!I'm just trying to figure out what I'm gonna wear!!.. I just can't believe I'm going at this charity event!!" she laughed.
"This one!!!Try this one!!"Amber said coming in at her side with a beautiful dress in different shade of red "It's sexy it's cute and it fit perfect with your hair!!"
"Wow!!" the other girl said looking at the dress
"I can't..."Stacey said looking at the price.
"Why not??!"Amber demanded
"It's too expensive!!I don't have all that money with me!!"she said
"Haaa no prob with that!!"Becky said "I have your solution right...here"
"HO MY GOD???It's alex credit card?!?!"Naomie asked with her eyes wide open
"Ho She understand quickly!!" Becky laughed looking at her bestfriend
"You steal his credit card?????"Ashley laughed.
"Hun no!!Silly I would never do something like this!!He gave it to me for the day!!!!"Becky explained
"Did he hit his head or something like this?!?!"Amber asked "He gave you HIS credit card for the day...knowing that we were going shopping??!"
"Yes he did!! He don't know me yet!!" she laughed "So Stacey I'm sure he won't mind!!"
"Ho I can't do that!!i Idon't know when I will give him back you know!!"
"Thats not a probleme hey comon I'm sure it will be ok with him!!" Becky said trying to convince Stacey.
"yeah well... I'll give him the money back as soon as I can"
"No prob no prob Stace!!"
They checked and tried some dress for couple of hours until they got back to the hotel waiting for the guys to go to the rehearsal. They tried to changed Amber's mind...she laughed a little trying to forget all the mess with Brian and Nick...but the only toughts running in her head was to leave as soon as she can...
*At the stadium*
They were all practicing the routines of the songs for the show that night. They had been away from the scene and concerts for only 2 weeks but it was like they had to learn everything thing again.
"Come guys! I know you can do it! You've been away only 2 weeks... the routines are still in your mind!" Fatima told them. "Okay let's do it again! 1, 2, 3, 4!"
They did the routine of Don't Want You Back for another time and Fatime finally gave up and decided to change for another song.
"Ok enough...Let's do Show Me The Meaning now!" she said clapping in her hands. "Let's go!"
Amber walked to Brian looking at the floor. It was that part of the show she was going to hate to do now. She had to face Brian's unhappy look as they danced. She didn't want to and as they were rehearsing the routine she looked at floor.
"Amber! Don't look at the floor! Look right into your partner's eyes!" Fatima told her forgetting about what happened between them.
'I can't' she thought. But she plucked up courage and raised her head. Brian plunged his eyes into hers but it wasn't a sweet and loving look like he used to give her when they danced. There were no emotion and it wasn't only in his eyes, as they danced it wasn't the same thing than before.
"Amber, Brian...come on show me some emotions... you're like two robots! Come on! Let's do it again!" Fatima said. She knew that Brian and Amber weren't together anymore and that Amber was going to leave so she didn't want to make changes with the partners. She didn't know who was going to replacer her and maybe then she would have the changes the couples again. "Ok that's a little better...Let's take a short break! 10 minutes! I have a call to make!" she said when they finished the dance. She had an idea of who could be interest in dancing with the BSB.
"Damn I can't believe we forgot everything.." Howie said.
"That's because you got a little change in your life during those 2 weeks..." Carly giggled approaching him.
"Yeah that's it!" he smiled and kissed her.
"Well, I don't have any problems so..." Aj said proud of himself.
"Yeah but you and I practiced during those 2 weeks remember?" Becky laughed.
"Oh we know his secret now...you passed all your vacation practicing!" Howie exclaimed.
"Not only practicing ...believe me!" Aj said before to shout an evil laugh grinning at Becky. She smacked him on the butt and planted a little kiss on his lips.
"Nick... you didn't practice..." Naomie told him with a laugh.
"No I didn't... " Nick replied looking a little sad.
"Ah come on! Don't be sad...you're not that bad!" she said laughing. She knew why he was lookind sad but she wanted to let him forget it. He smiled at her and sat down.
Brian sat down at the other side of the stage and drank a bottle of water when Stacey came to him.
"Hey Brian!" she said sitting next to him.
"Hey Stace... tell me. Are we that bad?" he asked with a little laugh.
"Hum... well I've seen better ..." she laughed. "But it's true you were like two robots!"
"Yeah well... we have our reasons I think..." he replied looking at the floor. "I think I'll ask Fatima if we can change the couples for the concerts... I'm really not confortable with Amber now..."
"I don't think she's feeling better ya know... "
"I know ..." he sighed.
"Anyway! I was wondering where Tyke was..." she said with a big smile accross her face.
"You have nothing to do?" Brian laughed.
"Not really... it's not that it's boring to watch you guys but... I'd like to have some company!" she smiled.
"Yeah I can understand that...Okay wait here I'll go get him!" he said running backstage.
"Where is he going?" Kevin asked Stacey when he saw Brian running away.
"He's going to get Tyke for me!"
"Oooh how sweet from him!" Kevin teased. She sticked out her tongue at him and smiled when Brian came back with the little chihuahua in his arms.
"He's so cute!!!!!!!" she exclaimed. She was saying this everytime she was seeing him.
"Here!" Brian said giving her the small dog. "Keep it with you...and don't lose him!!"
"Don't worry boss! I'll take good care of him!" Stacey replied smiling and stroking Tyke's back.
"Okay I'm back guys! The break is over!" Fatima shouted climbing on the stage. "Let's do Show Me That Meaning again and then we'll move to the other songs! Come on!"
They all got at their places and started dancing as the music played. They were now all doing great except for Brian and Amber who were still a little too tense. Amber was trying to plunge her eyes into his and show him how much she loved him and was sorry... but he wasn't reacting. She wasn't able to look at him more than a second, it was too painful to see this look on his face.
"Why aren't you looking at me?" Brian asked her with a cruel tone as they danced.
"What do you think? I don't stop telling you how sorry I am and you're just not listening... and you're not seeing how you're looking at me... " she replied.
"Well how do you want me to look at you?" he asked with a little laugh.
"I... just... oh just don't look at me and it'll be damn fine!" she said starting to be angry at him. He let out a laugh. "I can understand you're mad but I'm not a monster so don't look at me like I was one!"
"You're the one who cheated on me... I'll look at you like I want!" he started.
"Don't talk while your dancing guys!" Fatima warned them. But they both didn't listen.
"If I look at you like you were a sort of bitch... maybe it's because you are!" he continued with a cruel smile.
"Ah just go eat shit Brian Littrell! You're a bastard!" she shouted as she stopped dancing and walked down the stairs.
"But it ain't no lie baby Bye Bye Bye!" Brian sang shaking his butt in her direction.
Everyone stopped dancing and stared at Brian for explaination.
"What? Come let's do Don't Want You Back ...I feel like it!" he said with a snigger.
They all looked at each other not believing Brian had said that. They all thought it wasn't nice at all.
"Man you could you have been more cruel?!" Aj asked Brian, not really happy with what he had said.
"I could...but I didn't.." Brian said seriously.
"Okay okay guys...let's continue if we want to make it for the show!" Fatima sighed. She hated when that king of stuff happened because she knew Amber was probably really upset and wouldn't be able to dance in the show tonight. Stacey who was sitting in the audience took Tyke in her arms and walked backstage to see if Amber was alright. She found her sitting on the floor of the dressing room, her knees tucked under her chin.
"Amber, you ok?" Stacey asked.
"What is his problem? I'm doing everything to work things out..I don't stop telling him how sorry I am and he tells me I'm a bitch!!!" she shouted angrily.
"He told you that?" Stacey asked surprised.
"Yes he did!!! He's an jerk!"
"Ah come on...don't take it that way! I'm sure you'll get through it!"
"I can't wait to leave!!" Amber whined fighting with tears.
"Poor girl!" Stacey said sitting next to her and putting her arm around Amber's shoulders. "I know how you are feeling... "
"You do?"
"Yeah... but listen to me... if you really love him... don't give up like this! You have to prove him you're not a cheater...that it was a mistake!"
"I tried!!! You don't know how much I tried!!! But he doesn't listen to me!" Amber almost screamed and started sobbing. "Look at me! I'm always crying now!!! What am I gonna do if I stay?? It'll be worst! I have to leave ... it will give him time and if HE loves me... he'll know what to do..."
"Ssssshhh don't cry!" Stacey replied rubbing her back. "You know, you're doing the same thing as I did... I did a mistake..and I ran away!"
"Do you regret it?" Amber asked wipping the tears from her face.
"Hum...not anymore..." Stacey told her.
"But you did?"
"Yeah of course I did... but you know, if you think that if you leave it's for the best... well maybe it is! You'll see by yourself... and when you'll be away, if you realize he was the man of your life and that you can't live without him... you'll know what to do too!" Stacey said smiling.
"Yeah...I guess you're right!" Amber replied with a little smile.
"I am right!" Stacey said. "Come on...let's finish this damn concert...prove everyone how strong you are!"
"Hum...I'll try... if he doesn't talk to me...than it'll be alright.." Amber said getting up.
She went back at the rehearsal and everything went great. They didn't talk to each other. That night the concet went really great too, except that Brian and Nick weren't having any contact...not even eye contact. The other guys hoped that the fans didn't notice because they usually were always together when they could... but the fans didn't seem to care and enjoyed the show a lot.
Up to chapter 32
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