Chapter

Kaylee headed out of the coffee shop and right smack into a near riotous setting.

"Holy Cow," she exclaimed, "what the heck is going on?"

"Oh lady...its the Backstreet Boys...look..look...outside!! Its their buses! Their here! I've been waiting since last night for them to get here", a young girl said somewhat hysterically and with a very flushed face.

"Ooooh...is that it? I see," said Kaylee. "Hmmm," she thought, this might be a good time to get some info." "Did they get off of their buses yet, honey?", she asked the young girl.

"Just Brian and his wife, Leighanne, the others haven't come in yet. But, see, that one bus there, its Nick's...and that other one in the back, that's Howie's. Those are the only three buses here so far", the young girl explained.

"Ok, I gotcha'. There's five of them, and only three of them are here?", Kaylee asked.

"Yep...best I can tell, there's two missing. I guess they won't get here till later", the young girl said.

"Hmmm...", Kaylee muttered, "I wonder if this means that Ali is wrong? I mean, my Kevin is obviously here. And, get a grip woman...I'm sure YOUR Kevin is not THIS Kevin. Seriously.....damn straight! No celebrity would be that much of an emotional wreck. Certainly not a man anyway. MY Kevin is just a nice, ordinary..oh yeah..so ordinary...most gorgeous man I've ever seen ordinary...and where the hell is this 'MY Kevin' coming from?? God...I don't even know him!"

Kaylee shook her head...mumbled thank you to the young girl and headed for the outside.

Just as she reached the front sidewalk, a young blonde man stepped off the one bus.
Kaylee could hear the squealing in the lobby all the way out near the street. "I guess he's the really popular one?", she mumbled. Kaylee then had a fit of giggles as she continued mumbling, "oh Kaylee..ask him if HE knows YOUR Kevin! Oh god...", she continued to laugh, "ask him if THEIR Kevin is on his way or if HE was here last night. Oh...oh....excuse me sir, but, I seem to have met a Kevin that has just climbed into my mind and decided to take up residence there...could you tell me if he belongs to you guys?" Kaylee could not control her laughter at the thought....and did not realize that the young blonde man was staring at her.

Nick Carter had seen many fans in his young life, but this one was different. In fact, she didn't seem to give a crap that he was standing there staring at her. She was having one hell of a conversation with no one in particular. Strange thing was...he could've swore he heard her say the name Kevin....a few times. Naaawww..not Kevin. Not Train. Hell, he's here with HER, that bitch, and god help him, he may be engaged by now. No .. no...she wouldn't do that...marriage sure ain't what she wants....but, if she said no..holy shit there would be no living with Kevin.

Nick shook his head and glanced back at the woman. She seemed nice enough, but a little odd...standing there talking to herself.

At that moment, Kaylee settled herself, and glanced around. She made direct eye contact with the tall blonde man. Holy hell, she thought, he saw me and he heard me talking. Kaylee decided that the best thing to do at that moment was to turn and walk away....quickly!

Nick watched her become very flustered, then turn, and practically run away. He just shook his head and smiled. Women....go figure. And, he braced himself to enter the hotel lobby.

Kaylee rounded the corner of the hotel, and found herself face to face with the exact spot she had found Kevin the night before. A part of her was hoping that maybe he would be back outside in the light of day. But she also realized that Kevin was very drunk last night. He probably had one heck of a hangover today. She would just have to settle for the memory of helping him last night. Ali was right though. She DID want to see him in the light. Damn, if he looked that good in the dark....and crying....what does he look like at his peak! Kaylee sighed deeply...yeah, but what good would it do. We're just two people that reached out to each other in the night. A different place....a different time.....who's to say what may have developed. But, she would have to settle for the memory of a beautiful...sad man...who hopefully would get the smile back in his gorgeous eyes. She sighed again..as a single tear rolled down her cheek...life is unfair, she thought, why couldn't I be around to see that smile? Hell, I don't even know him, but there is just something about him. He seems different than most men. Why isn't this a 'different time or place'?

Why couldn't I be the one that puts the smile back in his eyes...and in his heart?, she thought as she leaned against that same wall....all her sadness from the last few weeks and months spilling out. So, now I'm here crying...where is someone to help me? Kaylee pulled herself together and realized that Ali had been right about one thing. She needed to learn to fly by herself...and she was ready to take those first steps out and hopefully into her new life.
A life that she hoped would hold love for her again....a life that she kept seeing Kevin in, and she did not know why? Maybe because they both seemed to be hurting so much, that if it was possible, they could learn to help each other overcome their pain. Yes, Kaylee, she thought, you're right, another place...another time...maybe it could've been...but, forget about him now...live your life the way you deserve to...and maybe someone can put that smile back in your eyes and in your heart again, too.