Chapter 10

 

Nick Carter stood stagnantly at the edge of his balcony, gazing out at the evening sky, taking in the vivid colors of the clouds as the sun began to set on one of the most horrific days of his life. Taking one last puff of his cigarette, he tossed it carelessly down to the ground, stories below, and pessimistically frowned.

 

What were they going to do? AJ obviously needed help, but they couldn’t afford to take anymore time off.

 

Selfish.

 

That’s what he was. How could he put an itinerary before his own friend’s health? He solemnly sauntered back to his room and lowered himself to the bed, glancing around the suite. It boasted a large television, kitchen, hot tub (not that he had anyone to go in it with), and a luxurious king-sized bed.

 

Now was the time that Nick Carter was most likely to become depressed. How could he not?

 

One of his closest friends seemed to be verging self-destruction, his family despised him, and a man that once was his best friend, now barely spoke a word to him. And to top it off, he didn’t have a girlfriend, or any friends to talk to. They were all wrapped up in their own turmoil. So it seemed.

 

Why couldn’t his life be simple?

 

Nick looked at the clock; it was still early, daylight in fact. He had the whole rest of the night ahead of him. An idea quickly formed in his very unlucid mind. What if he was to go out tonight? Party at some sleazy bar. Pick up some women, drink, who knows what else. Screw the seven ‘o clock meeting that was scheduled the very next morning. If he were in his right mind, he would have realized what an inane idea this was…

 

Quickly, he darted to his bathroom and took a twenty-minute shower and then primped in front of the mirror for about fifteen minutes. He smiled preenly as he took in his image on the colossal mirror located on the bathroom wall. He looked good, and he knew it. Grabbing his wallet and coat on his nightstand, Nick took off.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

AJ sat in his small Hospital room, bandaged up, he grasped his wallet that lay next to him on a stand and opened it up. Only to find a picture dropping out, his eyes squinting in confusion, he lifted the picture and took in a deep breath. It was his precious Taylor. Oh how he regretted losing her. He remembered how frenetic he had been when he received that phone call. How he had never felt more scared. She was his life. He was certain that she’d be Mrs. Taylor Mclean. He was so avidly in love with her, and she was he. It never once occurred to him that fate would step in and screw up all of his plans. How naïve he had been. AJ bit his lip and struggled greatly but gave in to the relentless threat of tears. They spilled over and he wasn’t at all shy about releasing his anguish.

 

Suddenly, he felt a pang of resentment. But resentment for what? Living. That was it. He wished that he would have died when those fans attacked him. That the paramedics weren’t able to reach him in time, then he could be with Taylor. Safe and happy, away from the world and it’s hurt. Who needed it when he could just curl up and die? However, he cringed at the thought of his own funeral. Seeing his Mom weep in anguish, unable to contain her tears. His father, maybe he’d wish that he would have actually been there for him, growing up. And then, there were his friends. He couldn’t do that to Kevin, Howie, Brian, and Nick. It would tear them apart. He knew this because; deep down he knew how bad it would tear him apart to lose one of them.

 

“Mr. Mclean,” the nurse began, flipping on a light switch. She took in AJ’s tear-streaked face and frowned, her expression instantaneously turned sorrowful. AJ turned his head away. He hated pity.

 

“I came to check your temp. Okay?”

 

“Yeah,” he replied brazenly.

 

“Would you like me to get you something to help you sleep, dear?”

 

“Uh, yeah, please.”

 

The nurse promptly returned with AJ’s sleeping pill, and he fell fast asleep, although his nightmares once again, flashing the night he lost the love of his life.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

“Get Brian, I got Nick. We need a mandatory group meeting, right away D.”

 

“Sure thing,” Howie replied, off in search of finding a most-likely grumpy Brian.

 

Kevin pounded on Nick’s door, but to no avail, Nick wasn’t there, evidently.

           

“Bri, open up, I need to talk to you.”

           

“What do you want,” Brian asked harshly. Probably a bit too harshly stopping to consider that it was Howie. He then bowed his head, ashamed at himself for being so rude, suddenly finding his shoes fascinating.

 

Howie ignored Brian’s behavior, he was use to is anyway, and cut straight to it. “Kev wants to hold a meeting. Got it?”

 

“Ugh, I was gonna try’n get a hold of Leigh!” he protested loudly.

 

“Well, you have the rest of the night now don’t you,” Howie yelled and turned down the hall only to run into a furious Kevin.

 

“Brian!”

 

Brian softly moaned. What did he do now?

 

“Where’s Nick? I know you know.”

 

“Don’t be so sure of that Kev, for once, I don’t have a clue.”

 

Kevin sighed angrily. “When is he ever going to learn?”

 

“Wait…maybe he went to the hospital to see AJ or something,” Brian rationally suggested. Aware at how guilty Nick felt.

 

“Maybe, but visiting hours are over Brian,” Howie argued.

 

“So, maybe they let him in anyway. You never know…”

 

“Well, I bet he’s out partying somewhere.”

 

“Well, then I guess we’ll have to have this little meeting another day. Or night.”

 

“I don’t think so, nice try Brian, Nick or not we need to talk. This group is falling apart right before our eyes,” Kevin proclaimed, trying desperately to get his point across to his younger band mate, who seemed to be utterly ignorant to what was going on. Either that or they just didn’t want to open their eyes to see it.

 

“My room, let’s go.” and they all walked into Kevin’s room.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Nick took a seat at the club he decided on and ordered a beer, three beautiful women sat a few seats away and he smiled slyly. He stood up and approached the girls.

 

“Hello ladies, would one of you like to dance?”

 

Their eyes widened, “Are-are you Nick Carter?”

 

“Why yes I am.”

 

“Oh my God!”

 

“I’m Susanna,” a tall brunette smiled.

 

“I’m Madison,” a petite blonde giggled.

 

“And I’m Jamie,” a slender black-haired, dark eyed girl informed.

 

Jamie, Madison or Susanna? Hmm…they were all three gorgeous. However, it was Jamie that caught his eye. He wasn’t sure whether she was the most cordial of the three, but she was definitely the hottest.

 

“I’d love to dance, Nick,” Madison began shyly, “Honestly, I just love ‘Nsync!”

 

Nick’s face fell and the other two stared at her wide-eyed. “Um…huh, I’m a Backstreet Boy,” Nick replied, “ But really, it’s ok,” he added.

 

“Oh, I’m so…so sorry! I am just not—um…you know!”

 

“Yes, I understand…Madison.”

 

Nick danced with Madison for the first couple of dances. Then, Susanna was dying to dance with him, although he would have died to dance with Jamie.

 

“So, Nick, you’re single, right,” she inquired.

 

“Yep, Susanna. I sure am.” He then stole a glance at Jamie who was speaking with Madison.

 

“Maybe we could hook up sometime, ya know?”

           

“Uh…maybe.”

 

The song ended and as soon as Nick pried Susanna off of him, he advanced to Jamie, building up his courage and setting aside his nerves.

 

“Uh…Jamie, I was wondering if you’d like to dance with me?”

 

She looked a bit skeptical; she was obviously the brains of her little clique.

 

“Sure.”

           

“So, uh Jamie, tell me about yourself,” Nick said, sitting down at the bar, taking a sip of his Bud Light.

 

“Um…well I’m 22, I’m starting Medical School in the fall, I live here, in California.”

 

Nick smiled, he was right; she was the brains of her clique. “Cool, you must be pretty smart, Med. School and all.”

 

“I guess, I was valedictorian of my class, I graduated in ’98.”

 

“That’s cool. Um…would you be interested in seeing me again?”

 

“Sure, I’d love to, how long are you here in Cali?”

 

“Uh about another couple days…but we have to go and perform at other arena’s. Can’t just stay here. But…I’d love to keep in touch.”

 

“Yeah, me too,” Jamie replied.

 

Nick’s cell phone rang and he rolled his eyes and excused himself. “Hello?”

 

“Nick! Where are you?”

 

It was Brian. It was always Brian who called looking for him. He always got to it before the other guys and urged Nick to get his butt home a.s.a.p.

 

“What do you want,” Nick asked rudely.

 

“I want you to get back here! Kev’s throwin a fit! This would be fine any other time, but not tonight. We’ve been through too much and we’re worried about you. Please…please come home,” Brian pleaded.

 

“No, look, I don’t feel like it!”

 

Brian could tell easily that Nick was too incoherent to drive himself home.

                       

“Look, where are you, I’ll be there as soon as I can!”

 

“Brian, I don’t want to go back to the hotel!”

           

“You’re gonna get yourself into trouble Nick, where are you?”

 

“NO!”

 

Brian was getting irritated and Nick was making it clear that it was his volition, not his.

 

“Nick,” he began, almost dejectedly, “please, I’m tired, I don’t want to stay awake all night waiting for you. Kev wants to have this meeting and we don’t rest till Kev gets his way. That means you gotta get your butt back here.”

 

Nick sighed, when Brian used the guilt trip on him, it usually got him and he’d give in, this situation was no exception. Nick gave Brian the directions, and put his phone back. He argued that he could just get a taxi, but Brian knew all too well that when Nick used that one, he wouldn’t show up for a few hours.

 

Just then, Susanna came strolling over towards Nick and Jamie.

 

“Uh Nick, wanna dance?” Nick thought about it and decided he’d have enough time, but he wanted to spend his last few with Jamie.

 

Jamie sent her an if-looks-could-kill-I’d-be-dead glare and her eyes widened. Nick watched as she muttered something soundly to Susanna, but it was inaudible.

 

Jamie stood up and stammered away. Clearly, not too happy with her friend.

 

Nick bit his lip. “Uh, Susanna, maybe I could, dance with you later, Jamie doesn’t look too happy.”

 

“Oh don’t be silly Nicky! Really, she doesn’t mind. Besides, she has a boyfriend!”

 

Nick’s heart sunk and he allowed Susanna to drag him back to the dance floor. The band was playing hard core rock and Susanna definitely wasn’t shy about getting close to Nick.

 

“Susanna! What the hell do you think you’re doin,” a man yelled, appearing to be around Nick’s age…not any older than Brian, he thought.

 

“Oh, so you going for some Backstreet Boy now? Huh Susanna?” he grabbed her by the wrists and drug her away.

 

“Leave her alone,” Nick yelled.

 

“What did you just say?”

 

“You heard me!”

 

“Well, maybe she’s not the one I should be upset with. You, after all, were all over her!”

 

Nick swallowed. He didn’t want to get into a fight.

 

“Rick! Leave him alone,” Susanna cried.

 

Nick saw Jamie out of the corner of his eye, she was trying to get to him, but too many people were huddled around.

 

“You wanna take this outside boy,” the man asked, trying his best to intimidate Nick.

 

Just then, Nick turned as Brian stepped into the club; he was very underdressed, in a T-shirt and baggy jeans. He was paler; his arms were wrapped around his stomach and looked to be in a bit of pain. Nick was almost relieved. <I>Almost.</I> He didn’t want to bring Brian into anything.

 

“Look,” Nick began bravely, turning to Rick; “I have to go.” Brian was watching him carefully. No one had noticed Brian’s entrance, until Madison had to broadcast it.

 

“Oh my God! It’s Brian!”

 

Brian’s eyes widened and quite a few girls surrounded him, losing interest in the fight between Rick and I.

 

“Oh God,” Nick moaned. Brian was signing autograph after autograph and Nick wanted to get him out of there. He didn’t look too well.

 

“Brian!”

 

Before he could even step away from where he was standing, Rick grabbed him by his shirt collar, Nick gasped in surprise and fell back to the ground.

 

“Nick!” Brian darted over but more people entered, obviously summoned by friends to come to the club where two Backstreet Boys were. Not one, but two. He struggled immensely to get through the crowd. Rick pulled Nick up and delivered a nasty blow to his cheek and Nick didn’t even get a chance to respond. He could have taken him; the man was about the same size as him, maybe even smaller.

 

“Nick! Stop it!”

 

Nick punched the guy in the shin and kneed him in the stomach, but it wasn’t over there. Another man decided to join, defending Rick. Brian, however, still couldn’t get to Nick. Where were the police?

 

The crowd grew and grew, and Nick was fighting back the best he could. Delivering more punches then he received, thankfully.

 

Meanwhile, Brian’s head was spinning, he hadn’t a clue how to get to Nick and get him out of there safely. More and more people were crowding around and he couldn’t be sure if he could get out of there himself. He fought harder than he thought possible, and pulled his way through the crowd, he could feel beads of sweat popping out on his forehead and his breath began coming in short gasps. Fighting a losing battle to stay conscious, Brian allowed the darkness to envelop him.

 

Nick was ready to just surrender, allow them to do what they want. It was two against one…not very fair now was it? He stole a glance at Brian and he gasped as his friend’s eyes slowly rolled back into his head and his whole body went limp. Nick escaped the two men and raced to Brian’s aid, just in time to catch him before he collapsed to the ground.

 

“Oh God, oh God,” Nick murmured, over and over. He gingerly lowered him to the ground and demanded that everyone back up.

 

“Rok, Bri, c’mon, it’s ok, it’s ok.” Nick ran a nervous hand through his thick mass of hair and began to shake. He gently set his head on the floor. Not sure of what to do, he vaguely remembered taking a CPR class once…not even sure why he had. Thankfully, it came in handy. However, it would have. But Brian didn’t need CPR, fortunately he was breathing. It was ragged. But still…. He felt his neck for a pulse and sighed in relief. He was alive.

 

Rick and his friend looked almost sympathetic. Didn’t know that there bar binge was going to leave anyone seriously hurt.

 

“For God’s sake someone call 911,” Nick cried, a few seconds later, Brian’s eyes fluttered open and he took in his surroundings slowly. Struggling to regain his composure. “Wh-wh-what happened? Where am I?”

 

Nick almost cried, his friend was okay. “Come on, we’re getting you out of here and to a hospital. Got it?”

 

“NO! Not a hospital!”

 

Brian dizzily sat up, ignoring the vertigo; he shakily stood up and headed to the door. Nick was right behind him and they got into his car.

 

“You can’t drive,” Nick yelled.

                       

“Well, neither can you,” Brian retorted. “You drank too much, you’ll get us killed!”

 

“Well, Bri, you just passed out in a club! You aren’t in any condition to drive either! C’mon, let me drive, I won’t let anything happen. I did drink, but God, when I saw you collapse, it brought me straight back to reality!”

 

Brian shut his eyes momentarily, and leaned against the seat. “I’m okay too. Really, I am. I was just so tired…and the crowd…I’m sorta claustrophobic and I dunno… it doesn’t matter, I can drive.”

 

“Please go to a hospital. Please?”

 

“No way, not for something like that. Screw it.”

 

“You’re so stubborn,” Nick replied, angry.

           

“Please, please don’t tell Kev, Howie, or Jay. They’ll just worry…”

 

“Maybe they should.”

 

Brian rolled his eyes. “Just stop this. Look, that fight scared me too! I thought they were going to hurt you! And it looks like they did! Ya look awful Nick! Awful! You okay?”

 

“I’m fine.”

They reached their hotel and Brian made his way slowly to his room and instead of going to his room and getting the sleep he desperately wished for, he followed Nick to his room and helped clean up his injuries. Kevin stormed in angrily.

 

“Nick,” he began, his tone fierce, but softened when he took a look at him. “Are you okay? What happened?”

 

“Fight. Sorry. Nothing.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’m fine Kevin, really, I am.”

           

“Bri, you look just as bad!”

           

“Yeah well he—”

 

“I am fine too Nick, Kev,” Brian said, angrily. 

 

“Look, I don’t know what went on, but we have a busy day tomorrow, I want you both to get some sleep!” Kevin barked, spitting he was so livid.

 

Nick turned to Brian; “I need someone to talk to Bri, please?”

 

Brian looked at Nick, sympathy dwelling in his pierce blue eyes. “Sure,” Brian reached for his blanket, and Nick talked the night away…