I end up sleeping on Nick’s couch, and plan on waking up before he does so that I can leave before he finds me. Easily done, he sleeps until 2:00pm whenever he can. Silently leaving his house, I start my car and drive around a little before heading home. My watch beeps 9:00 am, so I sneak into the house as quietly as I can. Creeping past the couch Jay startles me, and I jump ten feet in the air.
“I’m sorry.”
I scream, but quickly regain my breath, realising its only Jay under the big heap of blankets on the couch. Giggling lightly, I tear away the covers and sit next to him.
“You were right all along. He deserved to know,”I say after a silence.
“But you were right too,” he reasons. “He didn’t understand, and he should have.”
“No, I’m definitely the one that should be sorry. I lied to everyone. Nick hates me, Jade hates me, Brian hates me. I’m completely surprised you aren’t mad at me.”
“Why would I be mad?” he sits up and looks me in my eyes.
“Resentment for lying to you, I guess.”
“Naw, I’m over that. It’s…understandable. Anyway, why does Brian hate you?”
“Cuz Jade does.”
He laughs and nods. “Well, the Jade thing won’t last long. You guys are the best of friends, and I know for a fact she can’t stay mad at you.”
“I really hope so.”
“I know so. But about Nick, I’m not quite sure what’s to be expected there.”
“I went over to his house last night but he kicked me out. Jay, I don’t know what to do!” I whine, falling into his arms.
“Everything’s gonna work out. I’m sure of it.”
The phone interrupts our moment and Jay gets up to answer it. As soon as he does he groans and moves it away from his ear. I hear screaming in the background, and automatically know what’s up.
“Yeah, I know! All right, all right! Yes, I’ll be there in a sec.” He turns off the phone and mutters to himself before turning to me with a scowl. “My boss. I’m in for a huge ass whopping.”
“Want me to go with you? I can help explain. This is my fault, I wanted him to go.”
“No, it would be better if you didn’t.” He looks at the door and scrunches his face, “Well, duty calls.”
I stare up at Brian’s house. After walking around for an hour or so, I find myself in front of his place. I need to see him. I have no clue what I’m going to say to him but I need to see him smile at me again. I’ve missed him so much lately. Whenever anything happened, my first thought was to tell Brian. In some ironic way the night with AJ made me realise just how much Brian means to me. I could never connect with any other guy the way I do with him. I love him. It’s as simple as that. I knock on his door and a few minutes later it’s opened. He’s still wearing the clothes he was wearing last night in the bar, and they look like he fell asleep in them. His hair is ruffled and his eyes are bleary. I love him best this way. He’s not bein’ a Backstreet Boy anymore, he’s being Brian. He stares at me for the longest moment before pulling me into his arms.
He kisses my hair and whispers, “I don’t care if you’re still mad. I’m just glad you’re here,” he holds me tighter and then brushes my hair back off my face. “I’ve been waiting for you Jady. Where you been?”
In response I manoeuvre us both inside and shut the door behind us. I kiss him deeply. “I love you B-Bear.”
“I love you more,” he says, kissing me right back.
“Not any more,” I whisper as he starts undressing me.
I’m woken by the shrill ringing of Brian’s phone. I groan and roll over. My head still hurts. The clock reads 1pm and I sit up quickly. Brian is still asleep so I grab the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey Jade! Good to hear your voice. I didn’t hit the wrong number?”
“No Kev, I’m at Bri’s place. Hi, how ya doin’?”
“I’m good. Could you tell Bri to get his butt over to Jive NOW? We got this interview and he’s late.”
“Ok, I’ll tell him.”
“Great. Bye. Oh! Does this mean…?”
“Yeah.”
“Excellent!” he hangs up with a chuckle.
I smile and lie down next to Brian again. I kiss his bare shoulder and he moves drowsily and wraps his arms around me.
“Wake up B-Bear,” I carry on kissing him and he opens his eyes with a smile.
“Hey Pookie… You’re just insatiable,” he teases, rolling me underneath him.
“I am,” I agree, kissing his lips. “But you’re late for an interview right now.”
“I am?”
“Yup. Kev just rang.”
“I’m not going,” his lips move down my body and I wriggle away giggling.
“You’re going.”
He groans. “You’re coming too.” He stands up, pulling me with him.
Half an hour later we’re standing with Kevin and Howie in a corridor of Jive Records. Nick and AJ are with another journalist. Something I am incredibly thankful for, not knowing what to say to either of them. A blonde woman joins us.
“Hello, I’m Sara Collins from Rolling Stone. Shall we get started?”
“Sure,” Kevin smiles politely at her and introduces the guys.
She looks at me. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I smile. “Don’t worry ‘bout me. I’ll be in the bar.”
“You, uh, CAN come in… If you want,” she offers.
“No, I’m ok. Thanks.”
She looks me up and down. “Are you Christina?”
“Christina?” We all look confused.
“Yeah, Kevin’s wife?”
Kevin chuckles. “My wife’s name is Kristen and no, this ain’t her.”
Brian puts an arm around me. “This is Jade, my girlfriend.”
“Oh right,” she smiles at me. “Must be hard dating a Backstreet Boy.”
I laugh. “Brian’d be hard work WHATEVER his job.”
Brian pouts and tickles me. “Hey you got this doting girlfriend stuff ALL wrong.”
“I have? Sorry,” I grin at him and walk away. “I’ll be propping up the bar.”
I look at my watch for what seems like the hundredth time and try Nick’s number again. His home number just rings and rings, and his cell is switched off. I can’t even get through to his damn answering service. I throw the phone across the wall angrily as hot tears blur my vision again. I need to talk to him. To make him understand. I grab my car keys and leave the house. I’m going to park by his place and wait for him.
I idly stir my drink with a straw and check my watch again. I’ve been sat at the bar for about 30 minutes now and it’s kinda boring. Two guys sidle over to me from a table at the back of the room.
“Well, hello,” one of them says with a wink.
“Hi,” I smile politely and then go back to my drink. They look familiar but I’m too tired to start rifling through my mind to place them.
“What you doin’ alone?”
“I’m alone?” I ask sarcastically. “You don’t see my friends – Me, Myself and I? Gee.”
“Dumb question, ok.” They both chuckle and I smile. If they can take a comeback without getting pissed they must be ok. I know Nick for one would’ve ended up sulking.
“Yeah, sorry I’m kinda tired.”
“Cranky tired?”
I giggle. “Naw, not yet anyways.”
“Ok. I guess we’re safe then. So, I’m Jacob and this is Ashley.”
I smile at them both. “I’m Jade.” They sit on the stools next to me.
“Can I get ya a drink?” Ashley asks.
“Thanks. A coffee would be great.”
“Sure,” he orders a round of drinks and then sits back to look me up and down. “Ok, aspiring singer.”
Jacob shakes his head. “Naw, dancer.”
I laugh. “Neither. I’m a writer.”
“A writer?!” Jacob pretends to recoil in horror. “Like for magazines and stuff?”
“And stuff,” I laugh. “But I’m kinda here on my own time.”
“Why? There ARE better bars y’know,” Ashley grins.
“I know. Nah, I’m waiting for some guys.”
“Here we are!” Jacob announces and I laugh.
“Why are you here?”
“Waiting for our friends. They’re having their pictures taken.”
“Lucky them,” I roll my eyes.
“For sure,” Jacob agrees. “We’re all in this group together – O-Town.”
“Do you know us?” Ashley asks eagerly.
“Uh… Yeah, MTV right?”
“Yeah, that’s us.” Jacob yawns. “Oh man, I was out WAY too late last night.”
“What’d you do?”
“Went to this club and got on down!”
I laugh. “You should hear what I did last night!”
“Yeah? X-rated?”
“No!” I giggle and tell them about the whole bar thing with the drug dealers. When I finish my story, they’re both wide-eyed.
“Wow! That’s some night,” Ashley shakes his head slowly. “So, the guys got away?”
“Yup,” I nod. “I bet my brother Jay is pissed. I haven’t actually seen him since.”
“I bet he’s MAD,” Jacob whistles. “I would be.”
“Yeah,” I nod.
I have been so caught up in my own guilt about what happened with AJ that I haven’t even THOUGHT about Jay. I’d better go straight home when the guys finish their interview. And what about Ali? I groan quietly and the two guys give me a weird look.
“I’m just rememberin’ crappy stuff,” I explain. They nod in understanding.
“Another drink?” asks Jacob.
I shake my head. “But thanks.”
“So… Uh…” Ashley throws a look at Jacob and then concentrates on me. “You busy later?”
“Me? Uh, well I…”
“You already have plans huh?” he looks disappointed.
“Sorry,” I shrug. “I kinda have a…” Before I can finish the sentence and pair of arms snake around me and Brian kisses my neck softly.
“Hey you.”
“Boyfriend,” I finish redundantly.
“Boyfriend? That’s a new greeting on me,” Brian chuckles and then realises the guys are with me. “Uh, hello… O-Town right?”
They both nod. “Backstreet, right?”
Brian nods. “Yup.”
They look each other up and down for a while and Kevin joins us.
“Oh, you’re in Lou’s new project, right?”
Jacob nods. “Yeah, but project’s not the word.”
“Oh it is,” Kevin says bitterly. “You’ll figure it out.”
“Figure what out?” asks Ashley.
“Lou is not the nicest guy ever,” Kevin says with a grimace. “He fucks ya over. Plus he only ever seems to manage copycats…” He lets his sentence trail off and stares hard at them. They both look uncomfortable. “Well, good luck,” Kevin shrugs and turns away from them to face me and Brian. “The car’s out back.”
“Ok,” Brian lets go of me. “C’mon Jade.”
“Ok. Nice meeting you guys,” I tell Jacob and Ashley.
“You too,” Jacob reaches for my hand.
“Shame you’re already…uh…busy,” says Ashley, giving me a quick kiss.
I smile at him and follow Kevin and Brian out of the bar. They both heard what Ashley had said and neither looks very happy.
“Nice guys,” I say brightly.
“Are they?” Kevin says. “Another one of Lou’s projects – a bunch of copycats. Hell, he even copied Bri by hitting on ya.”
“Whoa Kev,” I stare at him. “Bitter much?” He ignores me and carries on walking. “Kev, what’s it matter as long as you guys are doing well? I mean, you’re the biggest group in the WORLD!” He climbs into the car and I follow him. Brian sits in the front. Howie is already in the back. “Well?”
“Jade,” he sighs. “It’s mainly personal stuff with Lou. He used us and I don’t like seein’ him continue in this business like nothin’ happened.”
“Oh,” I shut up and stare out of the window.
“LOU was there?” asks a wide-eyed Howie.
“Naw, just his latest puppets.”
I roll my eyes and lean over to talk to Brian. “Hey Bri, do you think I could get dropped off at home?” He shrugs. “Ok, thanks.” I give the driver my address, sit back and pull a face at Brian’s back. He was being all moody with me just cos some guy hit on me. Like that was my fault.
Ten minutes later, the car pulls up outside my place. I climb out.
“Bye guys. Enjoy your afternoon off!”
“Sure will,” Howie grins at me.
“Thanks Jade,” Kevin smiles. “You too.”
I smile and look at Brian. “Ok, well bye Brian.”
He glances at me. “I can’t come in?”
“I need to talk to Jay and Ali.”
“And I can’t be there?”
“Brian,” I sigh.
“Ok, Jade. Call me.” He gives me a quick smile and they drive away. I watch until the maroon sedan disappears round a corner and then head inside slowly. I’m really not looking forwards to this.
“Jay? Ali?” I yell as I search the rooms. I find Jay in the lounge. “Hey Jay,” I sit next to him.
“Ali’s not here,” he replies.
“Oh, ok. So, how you doin’?”
He looks at me blankly. “How do you THINK I’m doing?!”
“Ok,” I sit in silence for a while. “Sorry.”
“Yeah well, so am I. I got my ass totally busted by the FBI for letting those two dicks come with us.”
“You were the one who told Nick though,” I remind him.
“It was Brian actually.”
“Yeah, but you made it worse when Brian tried to cover it up,” I glare at him. “Plus, you KNEW this crap for ages and never told me!”
He looks at me. “I know Jade. I’m sorry. But it was up to Ali to tell you. Not me.”
“But you’re my BROTHER,” I yell. “You’re supposed to TRUST me!”
“Like you trusted me with Ali dating Nick?” he asks calmly.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Well because… Ugh! They just ARE!”
“Ugh?!” he starts laughing and I find myself joining in. He is right – we have done the same thing to each other and now we have to deal and move on. “Ah pookie, I’m gonna miss you.”
I wrap my arms around him for a big hug. “When do you have to go?”
“Tonight. I have a shift tomorrow morning in Atlanta.”
“Oh. I’m gonna miss you too.”
He holds onto me for a while longer. “So, tonight… How about I cook you my fabulous spag bol with cheese?”
I laugh. “Sounds perfect.”
“And you give that guy of yours a call and invite him over.”
“Brian?” I sit up to look at him. “But Jay, it’s your last night.”
“Yeah, and I want to get to know the guy who finally tamed my wild baby sister.” He laughs and stands up, pulling me up with him. “Now go call him while I start PREPARING!” He says the last word with a dramatic Italian accent and gesture, making me double up laughing.