btyh4

Shea:

       "How in the hell do you get this stuff off?" I heard Nick shout at me from the bathroom.
       "What?" I asked as I walked up the stairs and into his bedroom.
       "How do you get this off? I've been scrubbing my face for twenty minutes and it's still there!" Nick whined.
       I looked at Nick. He was right. It was still there. Not where it had originally been. But still there. He looked like a clown. The mascara had smudged below his eyes and the lipstick was smeared from ear to ear and up on his nose. He looked adorable. "C'mon. Have a seat. I'll help you," I said, gesturing to the toilet seat.
       Nick sat down, his blue eyes staring deeply at me. Almost pleading. 'Get this crap off me!' they seemed to say. With the delicateness that my mother had shown me, I moistened the washcloth and rubbed soap onto the textured fabric. Gently, I began massaging in small circles, holding his chin in my hand. He closed his eyes and took in a relaxed breath, tilting his head back ever so slightly.
       I had to agree with him. It was very relaxing. Soft music flowed into the bathroom from Nick's room. The soft light overhead created an angelic appearance on Nick's handsome, boyish features. Even after I had all the make-up removed, I still didn't remove my hands from his face. It was so smooth. Almost baby-like. I closed my eyes and traced my fingertips along the contours of his face. Across his eyelids, down his nose, and along his jaw line.
       I opened my eyes to find Nick staring intently at me. It took my breath away. In one fluid motion he was at his feet, my hands resting peacefully on his chest. He took my face in his hands, his thumbs caressing my cheekbones. I closed my eyes as Nick leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on my forehead. His warm lips traveled down my cheek until they found mine. Perfect is the only way I can describe the kiss the made me melt.
       His hands caressed my back, drawing me closer to his body and deepening the kiss. My hands rested comfortably at the nape of his neck. He inched us backwards into the mellow light of his room, his lips never leaving mine. He laid me back on the bed, our lips still connected. He removed his lips to strip himself of his shirt, but within seconds they were back where they felt so comfortable being.
       With semi-trembling fingers, Nick began unbuttoning my blouse. After each button he kissed the tiny fraction of flesh he had exposed. He opened the blouse entirely and pushed the material aside. He hovered over me, staring down at my body and running his fingertips slong the smooth skin of my stomach. My hands reached for him and brought him down to my lips again. He kissed down my neck, over my bra, and down to my belly button as my hands ran through the blond hair atop his head. I knew I should stop. I had only known him for two days. But my body had a mind of its own. This is my fantasy. Nick and me together. Why should I stop him?
       His fingers started inching up the material of my bra to expose my breasts. I had to stop. Now! "Nick, please," I whispered breahlessly, pushing his hands away from my breasts.
       He sat up and ran a hand through his hair. "What is it?" he asked.
       'Good. He doesn't sound angry,' I thought to myself. "I can't do this right now no matter how much I want to," I said. "We haven't known each other that log and even though I have dreamed of this for a long time, I can't go through with it as of yet. I hope you understand," I explained.
       He leaned down and kissed me again. "I understand completely and I agree with you. That we should wait until we know each other a little better. I just couldn't stop myself. I'm glad that you could," he stated, kissing me again. "C'mon. I'll take you back to the hotel," he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me up from the bed.

Nick:

       "Whoo-hoo!" Shea screamed. She was standing on the seat of my Prowler, her arms over her head, screaming into the wind blowing back in her face. Her beautiful brown curls whipped madly behind her and around her face. I laughed.
       She plopped back down into the seat. "Having a good time?" I asked her.
       "Fabulous!" she answered.
       "I hope that what just happened between us won't have any effect on our friendship," I said.
       "Of course not!" Shea replied. "I'm just glad that we didn't follow through on our actions. I don't want this to end before it gets started," she stated.
       She cuddled up next to me and I slipped my arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. She was perfect. Everything I could ask for in a friend and perhaps more. I pulled to a stop in front of the Marriott doors and the valet opened the door for Shea. "Thank you," she whispered before leaning over and kissing me. "Will I see you at the Studios tomorrow?" she asked.
       "Even if I don't have to be there, I'll make a point to come see you," I answered. She closed the door and waved before bounding into the Marriott lobby.
       On the drive home I couldn't think of anything but Shea. The taste of her flesh. The warmth her kisses left on her skin. The feeling of her lips pressed against mine. Sensations that I had never felt before coursed through my body, leaving goosebumps on my arms. I pulled my Prowler into the garage and cut the engine. I sat there for several moments, imagining Shea in the seat next to me. Imagining her running her fingertips through my hair, laughing at something I've said. It was so vivid, so real, that I reached over to the passenger seat to feel her. But she wasn't there. I sighed and climbed out.
       I entered my room and gazed at my bed. The covers were slightly rumpled where we had laid. I ran my hands over the bedspread where Shea had been not long ago and pressed my face into the bed. I could still smell her perfume lingering on the covers. Heaven. Pure heaven. The music still played softly from my stereo as I undressed in the mellow light and climbed into bed, the image of our tangled bodies still embedded in my mind.

Shea:

       Two am. I unlocked the door to our suite, expecting Lauryn to be asleep, but she was sitting up in bed reading. "Hey, Lauryn. I thought you'd be asleep by now," I said, setting my bag down at the end of my bed.
       "I got caught up in the book and couldn't put it down. Two chapters and I'll be finished," she replied. I flopped down on my bed and sighed. "What's wrong?" Lauryn asked, closing her book.
       "Nothing," I said, sighing again.
       "Yeah right, Shea!" Lauryn stated.
       I rolled over on my side to face Lauryn. "I almost made a mistake tonight," I began. Lauryn crossed the room and sat next to me on the bed. "Well, I almost slept with Nick and although I really wanted to, I made us stop. We haven't known each other that long and I don't want him to think that I would just do it because he's a Backstreet Boy. I really care for him and I don't want to hurt him. It's just..." I rambled on, barely taking the time to breathe.
      "Hold on!" Lauryn interrupted. "You almost slept with Nick?!" she asked. I nodded. "And that's a bad thing?" she questioned.
      "Well, I don't know what to do. What if he totally blames me for what happened? And what if he doesn't ever want to talk to me again? I really like him a lot and I don't want to fuck things up between us," I whined.
      "Listen, Shea. If Nick doesn't understand then he's not worth your time and effort," Lauryn explained.
      "You're right. You're absolutely right. If he doesn't understand then I'm not even going to bother with him," I agreed. I hugged Lauryn in thanks and crawled under the down comforter on my bed.
      "Good night and good luck tomorrow," Lauryn said as she crawled back into her own bed and picked up her book.
      "You too," I whispered before falling asleep.

Lauryn:

      The next day, once again, we were up and at the Studios by eight. The twenty people waiting to try out paced the lobby nervously for this would be the day that decided our futures. The ten people left from each gender tried out together and Fatima would pick the final five. The five that would join the tour that fall. The men tried out first so Shea and I wished Raul luck and I went outside on the sunny steps to wait for our turn.
      "Hey, girls!" Brian greeted us warmly as he approached us.
      "Hi, Brian!" I said, rising to my feet and embracing him in a friendly hug.
      "Hey, Brian," Shea said casually, also rising to her feet.
      "You ladies try out yet? Are you on Team Backstreet?" Brian asked.
      "No. We try out when the guys are done," I replied. He put on a fakey sad face, sticking his bottom lip out. "Don't worry," I laughed. "When we find out, you'll be the first to know."
      "Hey, Shea. Lauryn," Nick said behind us.
      "Jesus Christ, Nick! You scared the shit out of me!" I schreeched. Shea just half-smiled and looked away.
      "Can I talk to you for a moment, Shea?" Nick asked quietly. Shea nodded and they walked away to talk.
      "So, what's up?" I asked Brian, sitting back down on the steps. He sat down next to me and sighed.
      "Nothing much," he answered.
      "There's something that's been bothering me since you dropped me off last night," I began.
      Brian looked at me quizzically. "What's that?"
      "Why didn't you kiss me?" I asked. Brian stared at me, not knowing what to say. "Why?" I asked again.
      "I didn't know if you'd want me to," Brian replied.
      "Well, will this help clarify your decision?" I inquired before leaning forward and planting a soft, tender kiss on his adorable mouth. It wasn't a big, slobbery, wet kiss. But it was perfect. I pulled away and looked into Brian's beautiful blue eyes.
      He leaned toward me and kissed me again. This time a tad longer. "Even if you don't make the tour, but I highly doubt you won't, will you still come out with me tonight to celebrate?" Brian asked once the kiss had ended.
      "Of course," I replied. We sat on the steps for a while longer, chitchatting and occasionally Brian would kiss my neck or lips. It was wonderful.

Shea:

       "So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked Nick when we had stopped walking.
       "Last night," he answered, turning me to look at him. "I don't think you were using me. I honestly believe that you like me for me," Nick stated.
       "Really? You believe that?" I asked.
       "Should I think differently?" Nick asked, a look of concern and confusion crossing his face.
       "NO!" I stated. "I really do like you for Nick Carter, not the blond-haired, blue-eyed heartthrob you've become," I answered.
       "That's good. I know we've only known each other for a couple days, but you're the first girl I've met in a really long time that I feel isn't using me for my fame," Nick said quietly. He leaned down and kissed me tenderly on the tip of my nose before planting a slow, sweet kiss on my lips.
       "I'd better get back. Tryouts," I said, breaking the kiss. "See you later?" I asked.
       "Most definately," Nick answered, kissing me again. I turned and walked back to the steps, a giant load of my heart, mind, and shoulders.
       I rounded the corner and saw Brian and Lauryn, their lips stuck together like Krazy Glue. I giggled, but at the same time was slightly confused. "Lauryn, we should get back inside. That is if you can get your lips apart," I shouted as I approached them.
       Lauryn and Brian pulled away from each other, Brian ducking his head in embarrassment. "Um...yeah. We should," Lauryn agreed. "I'll see you later,
B-Rok," she said standing up.
       We walked back into the Studios arm-in-arm, psyching ourselves up for our tryouts. "I thought you liked Kevin," I stated in a half-question.
       Lauryn looked over at me. "I do," she answered.
      "Then why were you kissing Brian?" I implored.
      "Cause I really like Brian. He's sweet and sincere. And so damn adorable!" she explained with a giggle.
      "Oh. Okay. I was just curious," I said.
      We had just sat down on the plush couch when the gym doors opened and the guys walked out, drenched in sweat. "Raul! Over here!" I shouted as Raul walked by across the room from us. Raul came over to us and sat down on the ottoman. "Did you make it?" I asked.
      He looked down and his bottom lip started to quiver. "Gosh, I'm so sorry," Lauryn said sympathetically.
      He lifted his head. His eyes dry and a smile on his face. "I made it! I'm on Team Backstreet!" he said excitedly.
      Lauryn and I jumped to our feet, hooting and hollering, and congratulated Raul. "Ladies to the gym," the secretary said as she entered the lobby. I hugged Lauryn good luck and hand-in-hand, we walked into the dance studio.

Kevin:

       Well, there went my chances with her. I would never steal my cousin's girlfriend. Never. I had seen the two of them, Lauryn's lips indistinguishable from Brian's, and my heart fell. I was just on my way to ask her out, but obviously that wasn't going to happen. I should've asked her when I had the chance instead of being a chicken shit.
       I walked lazily around the Studio's grounds, gathering and comtemplating my thoughts. "Hey, Kev!" Brian hollered as he jogged toward me.
       I stopped mid-stride and looked at him. "What's up, cousin?" Brian asked, halting in front of me.
       "Nothing much. Killing time before our rehersals," I answered as I began walking around again.
       "So," Brian began, walking beside me, "do you want to come out with us tonight?" he asked.
       "Who's 'us?'" I asked, my pacing quickening, already knowing his response.
       "Nick, Shea, Lauryn, and me," Brian replied. "Do you want to come?" he asked again.
       I stopped and stared at him. "No. I don't want to be an extra since both you and Nick have dates," I answered. Before he could say another word, I walked back into the Studios.