We all joined in for group prayer and the guys left to get ready. Yahna and Erika went to watch the show from the front row while Aaron and I watched it from the wings. You would never of guessed from their jumping around that just a few hours earlier they were dead tired, fighting to stay awake in the dressing room. The concert ended and the guys came backstage. Brian came towards me with a smile on his face. "Don't even think about it bucko. You march yourself to the shower and then you can touch me," I said laughing. He walked past me with his head hanging. The next thing I knew I heard this devilish laugh, I turned around just as he wrapped his arms around me. He picked me up and slung me over his shoulder. "Put me down!" I yelled banging my fists into his sweaty back. "Nope," he laughed. "Brian Thomas Littrell, put me down!" I looked up and saw Erika and Yahna following us, laughing. "Will you please put me down?" He walked into the dressing room and put me down on the couch. He leaned down to kiss me and I wrapped my arms around his neck and brought him down on the couch. We started laughing and then he kissed me. I pulled back. "Now will you please go take a shower? You're all slimy." He smiled. "Ok." He got up and went into the other room to shower. I layed on the couch waiting for him to come back.
"Woah, when did you come in here?" asked AJ who was dripping wet with just a towel around his waist. "Sorry, Brian brought me in here. I'll leave if you want me to," I said getting up. "Don't worry, everything is covered that you shouldn't see," he said with a goofy grin. "Oh lord," I said falling back onto the couch. "Tell me when you're dressed. I'll cover my eyes," I said putting my hand over my eyes. "Alright, I'm half decent," he said laughing. I looked over at him. He wasn't completely dressed but he had boxers on and he was pulling on a pair of jeans. Just then Howie came out, he had a pair of sweatpants on and a towel around his neck. Nick followed with a pair of mesh shorts and a very baggy tank top. Kevin came out with a pair of jeand on and his shirt around his neck. Finally Brian came out in a pair of khaki shorts and a Tommy Hilfiger t-shirt. Erika and Yahna came in. We gathered up all our stuff. We all put on our windbreakers and started to head for the bus. We had to go back to the hotel to pick up our luggage and then it was off to Boston for tomorrow night's show. We said our good-byes and we left Yahna to head back to the hotel.
We went in got our stuff and left. I was sitting on the couch staring out the window watching the city lights as we drove away from the city. I felt two arms wrap around my neck. I looked up and saw Brian smiling, he sat down behind me and pulled me back so I was leaning against him. "I don't know if that was a good time in the city or a bad time," I said still staring out the window. "What do you mean?" he asked looking down at me. "I mean look at the things tht happened, Matt came after me, Nick and Bonnie. I mean not everything was great." "But everything is fine now. Matt is in jail, where he belongs. Nick has forgotten about Bonnie." "Yeah, I guess you're right. Come on, I'm tired, let's go to bed."
We got up and shut off the light and walked back to the bunks. I climbed in the bunk and Brian joined me. He wrapped his arms around me and I fell asleep. I woke up in the middle of the night and saw Brian just looking off. "You ok?" I asked. "Yeah, fine. I just can't sleep that well on the bus," he said holding me tighter. I put my head against his chest and the sound of his heart beating and the slight rocking of the bus put me back to sleep. When we woke up the next morning we were still an hour or so outside of Boston. Brian had awaken early that morning. "Did you sleep well last night?" I asked him grabbing an orange juice out of the fridge. "No," he sighed. "You don't look good. Are you feeling alright?" I asked feeling his cheek then his forehead. "I think I just have a cold that's all." I pushed his hair back and ran my fingers through his haid. "Just keep drinking," I said in a motherly tone. "Yes, mom," he giggled. I sat down beside him. And we talked until we got to the hotel in Boston.
We gathered up our stuff and headed inside. "Park the car in the parking lot," said AJ in a goofy Boston accent while we were taking the elevator to our rooms. We got off the elevator and headed to our rooms. I dropped my bags onto the bed and plopped into a chair. "I don't know how you guys do it," I sighed. "Do what?" "Travel like this. You don't even stay in the same state for more than two days." "It's just something we all get use to. You will to, in time. Just think, you still have more than 14 months still with us." I dropped my head and groaned. "Don't remind me." He laughed at me. "Come on, we have to be to the arena soon." I groaned and got out of the chair. I changed into a new outfit. I was wearinga Boston Red Sox t-shirt and a pair of mesh shorts. I had a Boston Red Sox hat on wiht my hair pulled back through the hole in the back. Brian looked at me. "Nah, you aren't a tourist," he laughed. I took a pillow and threw it at him. He started coughing. I stopped and looked at him. "Are you ok?" I asked walking towards him. "Yeah, I'm fine. I better take something to get rid of this cough, though." He walked into the bathroom. "Can't sound like a frog tonight." He came back into the room. "At least not in front of the fans," he said with a smile. "Just don't push yourself. I don't need you to get sicker on me." "Ahh, this happens to all of us. We just take our TheraFlu, rest our voices and perform that night." He walked over towards me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "I would kiss you for real but I might get you sick," he said with a smile. "Brian, we sleep in the same bed and breathe the same air. By next week I guarentee you I'll be sick. So don't worry about it." I kissed him softly on the lips.
I pulled on the Tour windbreaker as did Brian and we gathered up our bags and headed towards the elevator. On the way down the elevator Brian told me that we wouldn't be spending the night in the hotel because we had to be in Maine the next morning. I groaned at this and he put his arm around me. "I really hate sleeping on that bus." "Join the club," he laughed. We got off the elevator and made our way to the bus. We got on and I put my bags in the overhead and sat down. I was just plain tired and yawned. "Are we keeping you awake?" laughed AJ. "No," I sighed. "I just didn't get much sleep last night and I just found out that we are sleeping on here again." They laughed at me. "Someone is getting cranky," said Kevin. I gave Kevin a glare and his smile disappeared. Denise got on our bus and sat down next to me. We pulled out and started towards the arena. We were talking when Brian starting sneezing. "Geshundheit," I said after the fifth sneeze. "Ah, stupid cold," he mumbled sniffling. I put my hand on his forehead. "You're a little warm. Here take some aspirin," I said pulling a packet out of my backpack and handing it to him. "When we get to the arena I'll make you some tea to drink," said Howie. "It's not that stuff you were drinking before," said Brian making a face. "No, just some good old-fashioned tea with honey." "Good," Brian sighed with relief and the rest of us laughed.
We finally pulled up to the arena. We gathered our stuff and got off the bus. There were fans everywhere. Brian walked out in front of me and I clung onto him as we made our way throught the crowd. We didn't stop till we made it to the door to the arena. We got inside and we all walked into the dressing room and sat down. Howie got up to make Brian's tea and I gave him some cough drops to soothe his throat. "Just save your voice for tonight," said Kevin. "Just take it easy and save your energy." Brian laid down on the couch and put his head in my lap. I stroked his hair gently till he fell asleep. The rest of us talked quietly while he slept. About a half hour later he woke up and Howie gave him the tea. He drank it slowly and laid back down. He didn't sleep but laid there and rested. Eventually it came time for the guys to get dressed and warm up. So Erika and I left them in the dressing room. "Janice, can you do me a huge favor? And Erika you can help too," said Denise. "Sure what's up?" I asked. "We need someone to go out and pump up the crowd just before the guys come on. Can you do it?" she asked. "Johnny, usually does it but he can't." I looked at Erika, she shrugged her shoulders. "Sure, why not," we both said grinning.
"Now what can you wear?" she asked herself out loud. "Don't we have outfits that look like the guys outfits when they first come out?" asked Erika. "Yeah, but aren't they pants?" I asked. "Yeah, but it's the button up windpants. You can wear those," Erika pointed out. "Oh ok." Since we had to go back out to the bus to get our outfits we had to take Tony and Tim with us to protect us from the sea of fans. When we opened the doors to go to the buses the fans went crazy. But when they realized it was just me and Erika they calmed down, a little bit. Tony grabbed a hold of Erika's arm and Tim grabbed on to me and we started to push our way through the crowd, we made it to the bus and climbed aboard. Since we knew there was no way we could carry the outfits back to the arena, we changed on the bus. After I was completely dressed I pulled out my Mansfield University hat and put it on. Erika laced up her sneakers and I laced up mine, we pulled on the batting gloves and got off the bus.
As we were walking through the crowd someone attempted to take my hat. I grabbed it and held onto it. When we got back to the doors, Tony banged on them and they let us back in. I put my hat back on my head. Angie came up to us. "Denise said you two were going to pump up tonight. Want me to do you up?" she asked with a smile. "Sure," we said. She smiled and lead us to the make-up room. "Hop up," she said patting the chair. Erika hopped in and Angie went to work. She was applying foundation and light make-up. Erika was finished and I climbed into the chair. "You girls aren't as fidgety as the guys are," she said applying some blush to my cheek and blowing lightly. "I need ropes to round them up and get them in here. Then I need straps to keep them in the chair. Especially Nick, 'Ang, five more minutes.' Then I get Tony to drag his butt in here. There all done. Now go out there and have fun." I hoped down out of the chair. "Thanks Ang," I said as we walked out of the room.
We walked up to Denise. "Y'all ready?" she asked with a smile. "As ready as we're going to be," said Erika. Two crew members handed us each a mike and put ear plugs in our ears. "You're going to need those when you get out there. With the speakers and the crowd, you can go deaf," Denise said with a smile. Just then the crew members removed the large black curtain and the fans started screaming as the band went to their instruments. Greg gave us our cue and we walked out onto the stage. "What's up Boston?" we both said at the sametime. The crowd went nuts. "Erika, did you hear somethin?" "I dunno, I think I did. We said, what's up Boston?" They went totally crazy and started chanting Backstreet Boys. "Hey Boston, I have a question got you," I said walking towards the front of the stage. The crowd went silent and you could hear the hum of the speakers and the lite conversation coming from the band. I slowly brought the microphone to my mouth. "Who is ready to party with the Backstreet Boys?" The whole place went insane. They started yelling, chanting and stomping their feet. "Hey Erika, I don't think they are ready for them." She walked up next to me. "Nope, nope. Definately not ready for them," she said with a smile.
"Who here wants to see my pal Kevy-Kev?" I asked. They went nuts. "Now who here wants to see Howie D?" Erika asked. They kept going crazy. "How about AJ?" I asked. They went on yelling. Screaming the guys names. "Now my personal favorite," Erika said with a grin. "What about Nick?" The place went crazy. "No, no. See everyone knows who rocks the house," I said walking away. "And who might that be?" Erika asked with a grin. "Let's hear it for B-Rok." They went crazy, jumping around. "Ladies and gentlemen, The Backstreet Boys Band," we said together, as the band began to play their warm-up, we walked off stage. I sat down in a chair and Erika sat next to me. We had sweat pouring off of us. "If i'm only there for five minutes just standing around talking and sweat like this. They must sweat like anything," I said gulping down my water. "I heard they can lose up to four pounds just performing for one night." "I believe it," I laughed. "I think I'm going to go crash on a couch in the dressing room. To make up for the sleep I'm going to miss tonight on the bus." Erika laughed. I got up and hobbled to the dressing room. As I fell on the couch I could hear the concert starting. My head hadn't touched the pillow before I was out like a light.
"AACHOOO!" I blinked my eyes and lifted my head. Brian was sitting next to me. "Hi," I whispered. "Hi, I didn't meant to wake you up. I was just watching you sleep," he said running his hand through my hair and down my back. I smiled slightly. "Is the concert over?" I asked. "Been for about an hour now." "I've been asleep for three hours?" "Yup, Erika said you crashed in here after you did the pump up." "Yeah, I was wiped from getting no sleep last night and probably none tonight, too." He smiled. I got up and turned so I was sitting on the couch. He put his arm around my shoulder and I leaned against him putting my head on his shoulder. I sighed. "When do we have to be on the bus?" He picked up my arm to look at the time. "In a few minutes. We wanted to wait and see if the fans would go home. It would have been too dangerous for any of us to go back out there if they were there. So they told us to wait." I didn't hear him finish what he was saying, I fell asleep on his shoulder. He looked at me and laughed. He pushed the hair out of my face and kissed me lightly on the forehead. He sneezed again and I began to stir but I went back to sleep.
"Are you ok?" Erika asked Nick. Nick was staring off into space again. "Huh? Yeah, I'm fine," he answered. "You're starting to worry me. You seem to be in another world lately. Are you sure there is nothing bothering you?" "Nothin is bothering me," he told her, brushing a piece of hair out of her face. He pulled he chin up and kissed her lightly. "Ok," he asked smiling. "Ok, but if anything is bothering you, you tell me," she said jabbing him playfully in the stomach. "Ok," he said kissing her again. "Enough tonsil hockey, we have to go," said AJ walking by them. They pulled apart and blushed. "Do you know where 'Rok and Janke are?" he asked over his shoulder. "In the dressing room," Erika yelled back. "Thanks."
AJ walked to the dressing room and pushed open the door. He had his hand over his eyes. "You aren't making out are you?" he asked peeking through his fingers. "Shhh," said Brian quickly. "Oh, sorry," whispered AJ. "She's been so tired lately, just let her sleep. Just help me up," Brian whispered. AJ came over and lifted me off of Brian. Brian stood up and stretched out. He turned around and picked me up. He carried me out to the bus and put me in one of the bunks. He went back in the arena to get my bags and his stuff. After he collected all my things he climbed back on the bus. He put the bags in the overhead and headed back to the bunks. He climbed into the bunk with me putting his arms around me and falling asleep.
I began to wake up and realized I was in one of the bunks. I looked at my watch to see what time it was, 8am great I'm stuck here till Brian wakes up. He was still fast asleep, he coughed. I turned to face him, I kissed him softly on the lips. "Now that's something to wake up to," he said with a smile. "Good you're up. Now let me out," I said with a smile. "Nope, I want some more sugar," he said smiling back and kissing me. "Oh yeah." "Yeah," he said tickling me. "Alright, alright," I said amidst giggles. He kissed me again. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back.
"Good morning!" said Kevin pulling the curtain open. It surprised Brian so much he fell out of the bunk and ended up sprawled out on the floor. I fell back into the bunk laughing. "I'm sorry, cuz," Kevin managed to say through laughes. By now everyone was up. I climbed out of the bunk and helped Brian to his feet. He brushed off the dirt and followed me to the front of the bus. We both joined Howie and AJ at the table to eat some breakfast. We had bagels and OJ. We finally stopped just outside of Bangor. They were doing a local benefit to help an orphanage in town. We had the day off till the benefit. "So what do you guys want to do?" asked Kevin while we were sitting on the bus. "Well, I was wondering if we could go to the Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain house," I said. AJ looked at me and rolled his eyes. "I'm up for that, that sounds cool," said Erika. "I'm in," said Brian. Everyone wanted to go but AJ. We all looked at AJ. "Bone, 6 for, so you either come with us or chill by yourself. Your choice," said Kevin. AJ looked at us. "Fine," he sighed. "I'm in." "Good," I said standing up. Since it was starting to get chilly out I pulled the Tour windbreaker on and oput on my Mansfield University hat. Everyone else was also wearing their tour jackets.
We all got off the bus and headed off to the museum. As we were walking I took a deep breath. "I love Maine. Clean air and beautiful scenery," I said holding Brian's hand. "Well someone woke up in a cheery mood this morning," Brian laughed. "Yup," I said giving him a kiss. "Gag me with a spoon," AJ said from behind us. "Oh AJ, there's a girl out there somewhere for you. I guarentee it," I said. "Yeah, well why haven't I found her yet?" he said in a huff. We finally arrived at the house.
We walked in and paid and took the tour of the house. At the end of the tour we walked around in one of the rooms. "Hey Janke, what are all these?" asked AJ pointing into one of the cases. I walked over towards him to see what he was pointing at. "Oh, those are all the awards he won for bravery during the war. He was shot seven times during the war. But was there till the end." The guys looked at the case with amazement. Brian put his arm around my waist. "You sure know your stuff," he said with a smile. "I guess it comes from my dad dragging me to all those battlefields as a kid." "Well I learned my lesson for the day," said AJ as we were walking towards the bus. "And what's that?" asked Kevin. "Let Janke pick the places to visit. That place was cool," said AJ with a smile. We all laughed and got back to the bus.
We all got on and sat down on th couches. Brian started coughing again. "That doesn't sound like it's getting any better," I said brushing his hair back. "My throats killing me," he said holding his neck. "I really wish you would just take the night off so you can rest your voice," I said. "She's got a point, Bri. Maybe you should just chill for tonight," said Kevin. I felt Brian's forehead. "Hon, you're warm again," I said brushing back his bangs. Brian sighed. "Cover the parts like before," he said looking at the floor. "We are only doing this because we don't want you to get sicker. It's only one show, but if you went out there and lost your voice, you'd be out a whole lot longer," I said putting my arm around him. "I know but I just don't want to disappoint anybody." We pulled out and headed to the park where the concert was going to be held. We all got off the bus and went backstage to grab some lunch.
After we are Brian and I went back on the bus. While the other guys went to warm up and Erika stayed to watch them perform. On the bus Brian laid down in one of the bunks and I was up front watching some TV. I decided to call home and say hi. I turned on my cell phone and called home. "Hello?" "Hey, sup Dani?" "Nothin', just doing some Econ homework." "Oh, sounds like fun. Who do you have?" "Dr. Itzko." "Really? Tell him I say hi. I haven't seen Doc since I graduated." "He saw you on TV for your press conference." "He did?" "Yeah, all the teachers are talking about you. No one knew that one day you would do something like this." "Well thanks for the encouragement," I laughed. "You know what I mean." "Yeah I know, I wasn't one of Marple's finest." "So where are you?" "Right now I'm on the bus." "And the bus is where?" "In a parking lot." "Janice!" I laughed. "We are in Bangor, Maine. They are doing a benefit for an orphanage. Well four of them are at least." "Why only four?" "Brian's sick. That's why I'm on the bus. He's in the back sleeping right now."
With that a set of arms wrapped around me. "Alright I lied, he's right here." "Oh, tell him I hope he feels better." I covered the mouthpiece. "Dani, says she hopes you feel better." He took the phone from me. "Howdy," he said into the phone. While he talked to my sister I channel surfed, since there was nothing good on I pulled out Nick's Nintendo 64 and started playing, Brian joined me on the floor. He handed me the phone and I paused the game. "Hello?" I said into the phone. "Hey, I have to get going, Heather is on her way over here." "Ok, I'll talk to you later then." "Bye." "Bye." I shut off the phone and threw it onto the couch. I unpaused the game and started playing again. "Man, I can whip your butt," Brian said grinning. "I don't doubt that for a minute," I laughed. "I don't play video games that much, so I'm not that good." I kept playing the game till I died. "Grrrr," I said growled throwing the controllar. "You're almost as bad at losing as Frack is," he said with a laugh. "Oh really?" I asked looking at him. He was still laughing. "Yup," he managed to get out. I pushed him back onto the floor. He looked me in the eyes and stopped laughing. He put his hand on my cheek and brushed his thumb against my lips. "You have such pretty eyes," he said slowly. I could feel my face turning red. "Thank you," I said softly. He pulled me down to him and kissed me. He hand glided up and down my arm.
"Ok, we leave you here to get better and we find the two of you making out on the floor," said Howie. We both jumped up and sat on the couch. "So how was the show?" Brian asked when everyone had come on the bus and sat down. With that question everyone but Nick started giggling. "Shut up," he hissed. "What did he do now?" I asked. "Well when we went to come on I guess his pant leg got caught on the trap door. Cause the next thing I know he's on his face with his pants around his ankles," said AJ bursting out laughing. "And I missed it too," said Brian with a smile. "It wasn't funny," Nick said with a hurt look on his face. "It's ok, I still love you, and so does the audience cause they got to see a little more of Nick Carter," Erika said wrapping her arms around him. "Well I'm going to get some sleep I'm still not feeling too good," said Brian getting up. "I'm with ya," I said following him. Howie, AJ and Kevin followed and went to bed. I got in the bunk and got comfortable and fell asleep.
"Nick, I trusted you!" Someone was fighting on the bus and woke me up. "Erika, I'm sorry it just happened." "Brian," I whispered shaking him to wake him up. "Brian." "What?" he said half-asleep. "Erika and Nick are fighting," I whispered to him. "How could you do this?" Erika was crying now. Just then we heard someone stomp by the bunks to the backroom and slam the door shut. "I'll go talk to Nick, you go see how Erika is," he said crawling out of the bunk.
I walked over to the door and knocked. "Nick go
away!" "Erika, it's Janice, can I come in?"
Brian walked to the front of the bus and found Nick sitting on the couch with his
head in his hands. "You ok?" Brian asked sitting next to him. Nick sniffled and looked at Brian. He had tears coming down his
cheeks. "I tried to be truthful with her about the whole Bonnie thing and she flipped out. I don't get it Brian. I just wanted her to
know the truth. I really love her and wanted her to know the truth." He leaned back over and started crying again.
Erika
opened the door slightly and looked at me, I smiled at her. She opened the door the rest of the way and I hobbled into the
room. She plopped onto the couch, she sighed and looked at her hands. "What happened?" I asked her. "We were just talking
and he said he wanted to tell me something. He told me about his ex-girlfriend that was at the club." "I know, we dound them."
"You knew?" she asked looking at me. "Yeah," I said softly. "You knew that Nick kissed her?"
"You did what?!?!?" Brian
asked looking at Nick wide-eyed. "I kissed her, alright. I kissed Bonnie that night at the club." Nick got up from the couch and
walked over to the kitchen. He banged his fists on the counter. "How could I have been so stupid?" He hung his head. "Erika, I
didn't know he kissed her. Believe me if I had known I would have told you." Then I rememberd the time when Nick and I
almost kissed in my room. "Brian, there's something else you should know," Nick said looking down at the counter. "Well it
can't be any worse than what I just heard." "Oh it can," Nick said under his breath. "What?" "Brian, you better sit down," Nick
said looking at his best friend.
"You almost what?!?!?!" Erika said wide-eyed, looking at me. "I was upset and he hugged me
and well." Erika got up off the couch and started pacing back and forth. "And he almost kissed me, but I pulled away." "That's
not the point. You're my best friend and he's my boyfriend." She stared at the wall. "How could he almost kiss my best friend?"
She turned around slowly and looked at me, "Does Brian know?"
"You almost kissed her?!?!?" Brian said standing up. "Nick
you've done some stupid things in the past but this takes the cake." Brian fell silent not knowing what else to say. Why didn't
she tell me, he thought running his hand through his hair. He sat back down on the couch.
I stood up and opened the door. I walked to the front of the bus. Nick looked up to see who it was. "Can I see her?" he asked quietly. "I wouldn't risk it. I think you should just go to bed." "Ok." Nick slowly walked back and climbed into this bed. I walked over to Brian and sat down next to him. I put my arm on his back and rubbed it slowly. "I guess Nick told you," I said to him. "Yeah," he said staring at the floor. "I'm sorry. I should have told you when it happened. But I was really confused and..." Brian put his finger in front of my lips. "Shh, calm down. It's ok." He put his arms around me. I started crying. "I'm so sorry. I never meant for that to happen." He lifted my chin up to look me in the eyes. "It's ok, nothing happened so don't worry about it, ok?" he said with a smile. "Ok," I said softly smiling. He put his arms around me and sunk back into the couch. "Wanna go back and..." He looked down at me and laughed. I was fast aslepp in his arms. "Guess not," he chuckled.