AN: I have no idea where this came from. It was fun to write though. Standard disclaimers apply. FEEDBACK IS GOOD! ************************ Appearances Can Be Deceiving ************************** Nick look furtively over his shoulder as AJ slipped past the curtain that separated the back half of the 24 hour video store from the front. "Bone!" he whispered urgently. "Yeah?" AJ McLean called as he absently started to scan titles. "Bone come on. This is stupid. We're not even here with security..." AJ stuck his head outside the curtain and glared. Okay, you couldn't really see his glare with the sunglasses but Nick knew. He was making the 'glare' face. His nose was all squished up and his lips were in a slight sneer. Classic 'glare' face. "Stop whining Nicky. I'm bored and I want to watch something new. We've ALL seen the ones on pay per view a billion times. And we're big boys. Its two AM. This place isn't exactly a hot bed of teeny activity in case you haven't noticed. Now unless you want to help choose go check out the damn cartoons or something." He disappeared again and with a huge sigh Nick trudged over to the new releases. The door to the store opened with a bright ring, causing him and the old oriental man behind the counter to both jump. Nick's fingers tightened around the video he was holding as a young woman came in. She couldn't be in more than her mid twenties and was dressed in a elegant rose colored business jacket and matching skirt. Her hair was pulled carlessly up into a bun and square framed glases rested on the bridge of her nose. She was pretty and exactly what Nick was terrified of. He edged towards the curtain nervously. The last thing they needed was for some fan to recognize him and AJ shopping for porn at 2AM in the middle of a tour. Not only would the media eat them alive, Kevin would skin them, slowly. Nick chewed on his lower lip as he tried to close the distance between him and the curtain while maintaining a wary eye on the young woman who was casually glancing at titles and casting suspicious glances his way. 'Please no... don't let her recognize me... Don't let her see AJ...' He heaved a huge sigh of relief as he stopped in front of the curtain. And proceeded to jump a mile at the tap on his shoulder. Nick whirled and stared into the woman's bright blue eyes. "I'm... we're not... I mean I know what you're thinking..." he babbled. The woman blinked. "Umm, I was just wondering if you'd step aside so I could get past..." Nick blinked. "You want to go in THERE?" The last came out in a very unmanly squeak. He blushed as her perfect dark brows rose slightly. "Yes," she responded slowly, as if speaking to a child. "That WOULD be why I asked." He swallowed heavily and stepped aside weakly. She stared at him for another heart beat before shrugging and stepping through the curtain. AJ held up the video in his hand absently as he heard Nick enter. "Hay Nick, check it out!" "Oh wow, Kitty Bondage II is out!" AJ swore and jumped at the very feminine voice. He stared at the clean cut woman in shock. She stared back. "I'm assuming that Nick is the babbling idiot outside?" she finally asked, a slight curl to her full lips. AJ nodded dumbly and tried to regain his motor skills. "YOU watch porn?" Okay, it was a nice shot. The woman laughed and walked up before pointing at the scantily clad woman on the cover. "That's my room mate from college and best friend." AJ's eyes bulged behind his sun glasses. "You're best friends with Cee Cee Ramone?" he asked in awe. She grinned. "Yeah... I try to keep up with her career. She's awful about telling me stuff like this. I can't believe the sequel is out already. I'm gonna have to send her flowers or something." "Wow." AJ was suitably impressed. "She went to COLLEGE?" The woman shook her head with another light laugh. "Of course. She can't be a porn star forever. She wanted to make sure she had a degree to fall back on to support her later on." "That's so freaking cool. What's she gonna do?" "Marine biology. It doesn't pay much but she loves the ocean. We always joke that I could support her in her old age." She tapped her glasses. "Lawyers make more than enough money." AJ started to snicker as the absurdity of the situation hit him. "I'm sorry," he panted through his tears. "Its just... this is wild." She shrugged. "That's okay. I'll have to tell her I met a fan." He nodded vigorously. "Oh yeah. Tell her she's a wonderful..." "Actress," she woman supplied with another smile. "Right, actress. I really loved her in Bare Bones..." The woman shuddered. "Some of the titles are awful but will do. I don't suppose I could..." She looked questioningly at the video in his hand and he handed it to her with wide grin. "Go right ahead." "Thank you!" She smiled brightly. "Well thanks for the chat but I really have to be heading home. I'm beat... I had so much work to do tonight I can barely see straight." AJ nodded dumbly and watched as she turned and started to walk away. "Wait!" he called and reached out to snag her elbow. She turned and looked questioningly at him as he blushed slightly. "I was just wondering if you, ya know, wanted an autograph or something?" She blinked. "From you?" "Yeah, me and Nicky." She blinked. "Umm... should, should I recognize you?" AJ stared at her in amazement as she looked at him blankly. "Wow," he murmured. He recovered and laughed happily. This night just got better and better! "I'm AJ McLean and the stuttering idiot is Nick Carter. We're two fifths of the Backstreet Boys." "Oh." Her brow wrinkled as she looked at him intently. "Oh wow. I've seen you guys on TV. You sing very well. I, um, didn't recognize you two with the hats and sun glasses." AJ slung an arm around her slender shoulders and let his grin widen. "Anyone ever tell you that you're like the coolest person ever?" The woman laughed. "Everyone all the time." "Oh Nicky," AJ called to his distressed friend. "Come sign an autograph for this amazing lady. You'll never believe who she's friends with..." The curtain of the adult section closed behind them. There was a moment of silence before... "You're friends with CEE CEE RAMONE? That is SO cool!"