| Chapter 2 As soon as the seatbelt light went off, Diane was up and in the galley getting the guys dinner ready. The meal had been catered in, and all she had to do was heat it up. She kept glancing back at the guys, still in shock that she was on a plane with the Backstreet Boys. The guys had moved to the couches and she noticed Nick staring at her. She smiled at him, then went back to her duties, wondering what that look on his face meant. ~~~~~~~~~~ "I'm tellin' ya Bri, she looks familiar to me," Nick said. Brian laughed, "I thought all girls looked familiar to you." Nick stared at his friend, "Brian, you know what I mean. I think I've met her before or something." "So, ask her," Brian said. "I can't man, that would sound stupid," Nick said, "Uh hello, have I met you before? No way, I can't." "Good Lord Nick, I don't see how you got the reputation you have and you're still this shy," Brian laughed. "Don't laugh at me, you'll hurt my feelings," Nick said, feigning hurt. Brian laughed, shaking his head, "Hopeless, you are hopeless." Nick looked down at the floor as Diane walked up to them, "What can I get you to drink?" she asked. Brian smiled at her, "Um, water's fine." "Nick, what about you?" she asked, noticing him avoiding looking at her. "I don't care, surprise me," he said, as he got up and headed to the back of the plane. Diane watched him go, then looked at Brian, "Did I say something wrong?" "Oh no," Brian said, "He's just, um, shy." Diane had to laugh, "Him?" "Yeah, go figure huh?" Brian said, "He thinks he knows you from somewhere, but he's to afraid to ask you." "Oh, I see," she said, "I'll be back with your drink." Diane took the rest of the guys drink order, then headed to the galley. She noticed Nick standing next to the bathroom, but went about her business of preparing and delivering the rest of the guys drinks. When she came back she pulled a Heineken from the frig and walked over to Nick, "Surprise." He took the drink from her, staring at it, then he grinned. "I thought I recognized you," he said. Diane shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah well, I like rock what can I say?" "So you're a flight attendant huh?" Nick said, taking a long drink. "Yeah," she said, turning to check on the boys dinner. "Cool," Nick said, walking past her to his seat. Diane let out the breath she was holding, "That was close," she said to herself. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin was going over their schedule when Diane brought him his food. He sat the paper down and took the tray from her, "Thanks." "You're welcome," she said, "Can I get you anything else?" Kevin looked at his food, "Nope, I think you've got everything I need." A.J. laughed, "My thoughts exactly." Kevin and Diane both looked at him. "Oh damn, did I say that out loud?" A.J. asked, looking like a deer in headlights. Diane laughed, "Yes you did. No more caffeine for you." A.J. blushed, "Sorry." Diane smiled at him, then headed back to the galley to get his food. Kevin reached over and slapped him on the back of the head, "Keep it in your pants for once." "Hey, I said I was sorry," A.J. said, rubbing his head, "But man, look at her. She's hot!" "She may be, but that doesn't give you the right to fawn all over her," Kevin said, as Diane came back, handing A.J. his food. "Anything else?" Diane asked. A.J. looked at his tray, "What's the ice for?" he asked, holding up a cup of ice. Diane smiled, "Thought you might need that to cool off with." A.J. smiled, "Hot and spicy, just the way I like em." Diane shook her head and walked off. A.J. looked over to see Kevin glaring at him, "What?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The boys ate their meal, laughing and goofing off with each other. Diane sat in the galley watching them. She was trying to observe as much as she could so she would have plenty to pull her questions for the interview from. She had to smile though. The guys where getting along great, teasing each other, laughing. It seemed as though the rumors that plagued them a few years ago where just that, rumors. She could see no animosity between any of them. She noticed they where finishing with their meal, so she went around collecting their food trays and cleaning up the galley. She had to smile at herself, this flight attendant gig really wasn't that hard. She looked over, catching Nick staring at her once again. She smiled at him, but this time instead of looking away, he smiled back. She noticed Brian with his cell phone off in a corner. He was trying to hear the person on the other end, but the guys where laughing, so he got up and walked back to the galley, leaning against the wall. Diane went about her business, but she couldn't help but overhear his conversation. "He's not asleep yet? How come?" Brain asked. "OK, let me talk to him. .... Hey, how's my big boy tonight? .... You are? That's great Baylee. .... You need to go to sleep for mommy, OK? I'll be home soon ....... Love you ..... He laying down now? Good, I'll call you after the interviews tomorrow ..... Love you too Baby, bye." Brian hung up and looked over at Diane. She had stopped cleaning and was just standing there. "Oh shit, I'm sorry Brian, I didn't mean to listen in, I just ....." she said when she realized what she'd done. He smiled at her, "It's OK. It's hard to be private on a plane anyway." "Um, how old is Baylee now?" Diane asked. Brian beamed with pride, "He's three. He told me he was wearing big boy underwear to bed tonight," he laughed. "Aw, kids are so cute at that age," Diane said. "Yes they are. I wouldn't trade it for the world," Brian said, "You have any kids?" "Me? Oh no. Gotta find the right guy first, and so far, that hasn't gone real well," she laughed. Brian looked over at the guys, "Well, I can think of at least two that would love a chance." Diane blushed, looking over and seeing both Nick and A.J. staring at her. "Oh man," she mumbled. Brian laughed and patted her on the shoulder, "Just think, we have four more hours of this to enjoy." "Gee, thanks for reminding me," she laughed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Diane had finished cleaning the galley as the guys started to settle in. Brian and Nick where stretched out on one of the couches, while Howie and A.J took the other. Kevin was in one of the chairs in the back. Diane went to a storage compartment and pulled out several pillows and blankets for them, going around and passing them out. She smiled when she got to Howie, he was already asleep. She lay the pillow in the floor next to him and covered him with the blanket before heading to the back one last time to check that she had secured everything in the galley. Nick passed her on his way to the bathroom. She had to smile, he already had bed head and looked like he was half asleep. He emerged just as she turned to go sit down and they ran into each other. "Sorry," Diane said. Nick smiled at her, his hands on each of her arms to keep them both steady when they collided. He looked down at her, their eyes locking. Nick found himself getting lost in the colors of her hazel eyes, and leaned in, gently brushing his lips against hers, "Good night baby," he whispered before letting her go and continuing on to the couch. Diane grabbed the counter next to her to keep from melting into the floor. Oh my God, Nick Carter just kissed me! OK, OK, settle down here. He was half asleep and probably a little drunk, he probably don't know what he just did. Diane turned and went to her seat. She stole a glance at Nick as she sat down. He winked at her before closing his eyes, a slight smile on his face. Little shit, he knows exactly what he did, she thought, smiling to herself. She leaned back in her chair, and looked over at Kevin sitting across the isle from her. He smiled at her, then glanced at Nick. Diane bit her lip, Oh shit, he saw. Kevin laughed at the expression on her face, then turned and settled into his chair. Diane watched as one by one the guys drifted to sleep. Finally she could fight it no longer and closed her eyes, welcoming the dreams that came. Chapter 3 |