AJ and Kevin watched as cars zoomed past them on either side. "Hey Tony, how's business been?" AJ said as he exhaled smoke from his cigarette. The cab driver peered into the rearview mirror and grinned. "It's been slow but now that you're back in town I think things will start picking up again." The cab driver laughed. Kevin chuckled slightly and looked over at AJ. "You really do go on a first name basis with the cab drivers." He smirked. "I told you, man. I'm no fool; I don't drink and drive..." AJ started to say. "Yeah, you might hit a bump and spill your beer." The cab driver interrupted. "That and my insurance rate is high enough." AJ added. "Maybe you should get rid of the cars you don't drive. What do you have now? 5 cars?" Kevin laughed. "Six." AJ and the cab driver corrected. "Damn, even the cab driver knows more about you than I do." Kevin said with a shake of the head.

After a quick drive Kevin and AJ stepped out onto the pavement and glanced up at the large building in front of them. "Home sweet home." AJ grinned. "Please tell me that the strippers don't know you on a first name basis." Kevin laughed as they walked to the door with their IDs in hand. "Yo AJ! My main man, how've ya been?" The bouncer at the door asked. Kevin looked over at AJ with a slightly shocked expression. "I never said that the strippers knew me...just the bouncers." AJ laughed.

Kevin and AJ stepped into the club and were immediately attacked by the thick layers of cigarette and artificial smoke that seemed to linger permanently throughout the air. Kevin swiped at the cigarette smoke that nauseated him while AJ smiled and grinned at the scantly dressed women, occasionally stopping to hug and kiss some of them. Kevin and AJ took a seat in the back of the club to observe the room. Kevin could barely see in the darkened club because of the sunglasses he wore to keep his identity low. AJ ordered two rounds of shots and settled into his seat. "I'm feelin' better already. I'm in my element." AJ mused. "I'm glad you're feeling better." Kevin muttered, thinking that AJ couldn't hear him over the loud music. "Ah, c'mon, Kev! It could've been worse; you could have been screwing your cousin's girl." AJ laughed as he smacked Kevin on the back. Kevin looked up at AJ and grinned. "I guess it could've been worse, but she was married, AJ. Have you ever screwed a married woman? You feel awful afterwards." Kevin stated. AJ peered over his sunglasses at Kevin with a knowing glance. "You have!" Kevin laughed. "Yeah, and I did feel guilty afterwards but at the time it was all good. ALL good." AJ replied. "Glad to see the old AJ is back." Kevin smiled at his friend.

"Yeah, I'm back! I guess it's time to realize that I screwed up and things will never go back to how they were. I'm young; I'm not ready to settle down yet. I guess I should have known from day one. Xanda always told me that we wouldn't last forever but we were comfortable with each other so why change things? I guess I just felt really guilty for hurting her. She went through a lot with her ex; a lot! ...and I screw that up for her. She was starting to believe in relationships again. I was trying to convince her that not all men weren't bad including me. I tried to convince her that my past was my past and that I was a changed man. I guess I lied and she got hurt in the process." AJ said. Kevin listened as AJ poured his heart out and patted him on the shoulder. "You're right. You are young, but I'm not. I shouldn't screw around like I was during the tour. Who knows, I could be the reason they end up getting a divorce." Kevin said as he stared at the table. "Kev, did it ever occur to you that if she fucked you while she was married then maybe she's screwed other men, too?" AJ asked. Kevin quickly glanced up and shook his head. "I guess you're right. But I wasn't brought up to do what I did. Do you know how upset my dad probably is?" Kevin asked back. AJ knew that this was a touchy subject for Kevin.

AJ was about to say something when the first round of drinks appeared. AJ smiled at the girl who brought them. "You're back! How was the tour?" She smiled. "Not bad, too bad you weren't there. It would've been a whole lot better." AJ flirted. "Sorry AJ, you're not my kind. Either is that blonde punk you bring here sometimes. Give me a minute with him and I'll teach him how to treat a woman." She stated with an annoyed expression. "I promise I'll keep Nick away from you." AJ cooed before taking his first shot. "You do that." She replied before she turned her attention to Kevin. For a second she didn't recognize him. He seemed withdrawn and a little out of his element. "Well, I'll see you in a few." She told AJ before sauntering away. "A nice girl in a joint like this. It's a shame." AJ stated as he took another shot. Kevin continued to watch the pretty, young girl walk away. She seemed intelligent, funny, and challenging but the thoughts disappeared as he glanced down at the two shot glasses in front of him. "Drink up, buddy!" AJ encouraged.

After a while the girl appeared again. Kevin noticed that she kept tugging upwards on her tight, low-cut shirt. Her cleavage glittered under the light from the shimmering powder she used and her dark hair that had fallen out of the loose bun had strands of auburn highlights throughout it. She nervously glanced at Kevin waiting for him to order more drinks. Without thinking she pulled down on her tight mini skirt after it had risen up from the walk across the club. AJ was talking about the group of hot strippers who were watching them from across the club when he realized that someone was standing in front of them. Kevin's gaze was lost on the mysterious girl. "Hey Dina!" AJ smiled. "Dayna." She corrected before she smiled. "Dayna." Kevin repeated. "Yes?" She questioned as she turned her attention to him. "Oh sorry, I was just thinking aloud. You have a pretty name." Dayna looked at Kevin suspiciously. "Thank you." She said flatly. "Well Dayna, get us a few more rounds. We'll be at a closer table over there near the poles." AJ instructed before she walked away.

After two hours AJ and Kevin were thoroughly wasted. AJ more so than Kevin. Dayna kept her distance from the two men as much as possible, especially Kevin who seemed to leer at her through his sunglasses. She didn't know who he was but she didn't trust him. He seemed like all the rest only he didn't talk when she was nearby, he only watched. 'At least he's not as verbal as Nick.' Dayna said in a silent prayer. She watched Kevin and AJ interact with the strippers on the poles. Kevin laughed as AJ tried to dance with one of them but she noticed that he was a little uncomfortable when one of them tried to give him a lap dance; something AJ had obviously paid for. AJ was one of their best customers when he wanted to show his friends a good time.

Dayna was about to go take more drink orders from them when she realized that it was her break time. She quickly walked past Kevin and AJ to the other side of the club where it was less inhabited and quiet. She went to the nearest pay phone and made a phone call as Kevin watched her. He took off his sunglasses and tried to excuse himself from the table full of strippers who were on a break. "Ah man, you're not leavin' are you?" AJ slurred. Kevin, in his slight drunken stupor, laughed at his friend for a moment before he tried his hardest to think of an answer. "Nah, I'm just gonna go talk to Dayna. I think she's on her break." Kevin stated as some of the strippers at their table gave him a shocked expression. "Good luck." Some of them mumbled as he walked away.

"I can hardly hear you! I got the loan? Great! So, that's paid for. Now all I have to worry about is my books. Hopefully this next pay check will cover them. AJ's back in town so his tips alone should cover my psyche class." Kevin overheard Dayna laugh into the phone. "Shit, I can't hear you! You're cutting up. Buy a REAL cell phone sometime, k? All right, Lauren, I'll see you when I get home. Clean the kitchen, it's your night!" Dayna slammed down the phone and sighed. She turned around to get back to work and almost jumped out of her skin. The green eyes staring at her were so bright even though they showed all the signs of being drunk. But it quickly registered that it was AJ's friend and he was definitely not someone she wanted to be near no matter how good-looking he was without his sunglasses. She liked AJ, he was a cool guy, but the friends he brought with him always had that horny, "I'm-gods-gift-to-women", ego that she hated.

"I was about to get you guys some more drinks." Dayna said with a slight smile. She was trying to be the professional hostess but the look in his eyes made her uncomfortable. "Nah, we don't need anymore, especially AJ. I think he's had enough for the night." Kevin laughed as he glanced back at AJ who was laughing as a stripper shook her chest in his face. Dayna laughed at how drunk AJ was and the way he handled himself with all the strippers. "He's always like that." Dayna observed. "I wouldn't know. I'm not into places like this..." Kevin mumbled as he glanced around the club. "He and Howie come out to these places when we're on tour but I usually only go with them to dance clubs, not strip clubs." Kevin stopped talking when he realized that Dayna was watching him closely. "I'm not saying strip clubs are bad, I'm just not into them..." Kevin said, trying not to offend Dayna. "They are bad. I hate it here." Dayna interrupted. Kevin looked down at the petite woman in front of him and grinned. "Then why are you here?" He asked. "It pays well. Very well. It takes the hassle out of working my ass off at some other job that pays half of what this one does. With school, my apartment, my car and other living expenses I'd rather work here than anywhere else. I really can't afford to leave this place. Once I get my degree I'll get out of here." Dayna said as he continued to watch the strippers, half of whom would give their right arm just to say that they screwed AJ McLean.

"Want to go across the street for coffee?" Kevin blurted out. Dayna quickly broke her gaze from AJ and the strippers to look at Kevin. He started to laugh causing Dayna to blush. "What?" She accused. "Your face! You look so shocked right now." He smiled. "I don't even know who you are. Why would I want to go for coffee?" She asked back. "My name is Kevin Richardson. I'm part of the Backstreet Boys with AJ and I want to go for coffee with you because I'd like to talk with you. You seem like someone I could have a nice conversation with." Kevin explained. Dayna's eyes quickly widened when she realized that she didn't recognize that it was Kevin Richardson who AJ had brought along and she felt like an idiot as she smacked herself in the forehead. "Lemme guess, you didn't recognize me." Kevin smiled as Dayna nodded her head.

"I'd love to go out for coffee but my shift isn't over, I'm not exactly dressed to even go into a mini-mart, and I have to study for midterms once I'm off work. Can I take a raincheck?" She asked nervously hoping that he would want to see her again. "Sure! Let me give you my number." Kevin offered as Dayna quickly produced a pen and pad of paper. Dayna quickly scribbled down her number and handed it to Kevin. "Here. Just take mine and call me when you're not busy. I know you guys are always doing something and I don't want to call at the wrong time. This is just easier." Dayna explained. "Um, okay...that'll work." Kevin smiled. "Well, I'm gonna go try to get AJ home. I guess I'll see you soon. I've got your number so I'll be calling." Kevin said before leaning over to give Dayna a kiss on the cheek. Before she could react Kevin had already turned around to walk over to his table.