AD22

Chapter 22: If I Fall

All eyes were on Nick as a silence fell over the group. He looked defeated. His pleading eyes reached mine and I knew he had to tell. I just didn�t know if we could handle the fury that was sure to follow.

�Nick, what�s going on?� my sister repeated, her voice shaking.

�Eve and I kissed last night,� he said, barely audible.

Hearing Nick say that made me cringe. I felt so cheap for having betrayed not only my sister, but my boyfriend as well.

Kayla�s body immediately tensed up. Not quite sure how to handle her anger she did the only thing she could think of. For the second time that day Nick was punched in the face. This time he didn�t make a sound.

She then turned her steely eyes on me. My body seemed to shrink under her intense glare. After watching what she did to Nick, I should�ve been prepared for what came next, but the sharp slap across the face still came as a surprise.
Instinctively, my hand flew up to my stinging cheek. I couldn�t even look her in the eyes.

�Some sister you are. You�re no better then Anya,� she seethed. She then turned on her heel and ran to the back of the bus.

Everyone just stood there absorbing the situation. However, AJ was just getting started.

�One down, one to go,� he said, his eyes sizing up Kevin. �Eve, was just kissing Nick not enough? You had to move on to Kevin too? What about Brian and Howie? Are they next or did you get to them as well?�

All we could do was sit there and stare at him while he ranted. Finally, Kevin cut in.

�AJ, I kissed Eve. She had nothing to do with it. I was, um, slightly intoxicated and forced myself on her. She�s not the one to blame.�

AJ softened a little, but he was still enraged. He turned his blazing eyes back on me.

�SO what�s the explanation for Nick then? Kevin was drunk, what were you on? Coke?� he spat.

�AJ, that was low,� I said.

�Yeah, well so was kissing two of my best friends,� he retaliated.

�It didn�t mean anything,� I said. �It didn�t mean what it means when I kiss you.�

�Oh, I�m sure it didn�t,� he said sarcastically.

�AJ, you have to believe me, it was an accident,� I cried, tears starting to form in my eyes.

�Really? Well then so is this, we�re through,� he said and stalked off.

I blinked a few times at his retreating form, not believing what just happened. I turned around to find everyone staring at me like I had three heads.

�Don�t tell me you all are going to flip out on me too,� I said, looking from each disbelieving face to the next.

�That is kinda low Eve, kissing your sister�s boyfriend,� Kass said.

I lowered my eyes because I knew that what she said was the truth. Kissing Nick was one of the worst things I could�ve done.

�It was an accident, Kass. Neither of us meant it,� Nick stepped in.

She looked between us skeptically.

�I�m going to talk to Kayla,� she replied finally and left the room.

�Jules, you believe me, right?� I pleaded, searching for at least one ally.

�If you say it was an accident, then it was an accident,� she said after a moment.

I smiled at her. I had managed to convince one person. Now all I had to do was convince AJ and Kayla.

******The Next Day: TRL******

�And that was the latest video from Britney Spears,� Carson said, the camera focusing in on him, �but Britney has nothing on the four girls I�m about to introduce to you. Fresh on the pop scene here is Eternity!�

The audience burst into applause as the girls and I walked onto the set, fake smiles plastered to our faces. None of us had really talked to each other after what happened yesterday. For the past hour we had sat in the green room, each of us in our own corner. Now we were on national television pretending that nothing was wrong.

�It�s good to have you girls here today,� Carson said, once everyone was in position.

�Well we�re glad to be here, Carson,� I replied.

�For those of you who don�t know or are just tuning in, these are the lovely girls of Eternity, Eve, Juliet, Kassandra and Kayla,� he introduced, going down the line.

We just smiled as there was more applause.

�So anyone who knows Eternity knows that they are the opening act for the Backstreet Boys.� The audience erupted with cheers. Carson flashed a smile and continued, �So what�s it like touring with them?�

�Like with any tour, it�s a lot of work, but the boys and the crew are great. We�re just really grateful for this opportunity,� Juliet answered with the lines that Nathan had fed to us on the flight to New York.

Carson smiled. �Now with touring with such good looking guys, something�s bound to happen. It has been speculated that members from each band have hooked up. Is that true? Are any of you dating a Backstreet Boy?�

�Or two or three,� Kayla mumbled under her breath while shooting me a menacing glare.

I just smiled at Carson and replied.

�As close as we are with the boys, we are all just friends. Everyone of us is single.�

The audience cheered again.

�And now for the real reason these girls are here. The premier of their first video. Would you like to tell us about it first?�

�This video is about a guy who has messed up with his girl one too many times and she�s finally standing up to him,� Kass explained.

�Well there you have it,� Carson said. �I�d like to thank the girls of Eternity for stopping by today. And now for the world premier of their new video �Don�t Call Me Baby�, right here on TRL.�

********************

�Blake, can we leave yet?� Kayla asked impatiently.

�Sorry girls, but we have to wait till everything�s secure,� Blake answered.

Kayla crossed her arms over her chest with a humph. None of us wanted to stay any longer than we had to. We just wanted to get back and finish the tour. One week and this would all be over.

�Girls, that was a great segment.�

We all turned to see Carson coming up behind us.

�Um, thanks,� Juliet said.

�So is it really true that none of you are dating the Backstreet Boys or was that just for the fans?� he asked, his eyes running over Kayla.

For some reason all the girls turned and looked at me to answer.

�Um, no, it�s, it�s true,� I replied, not sure of what to say.

Carson eyed Kayla again before putting his arm around her.

�So Kayla, since you�re not seeing one of those pretty boys, what do you say you and I go out sometime?�

Kayla looked at him uncomfortably and tried to shrug his arm off her shoulder, but he held steady.

�That�s flattering Carson, but no thank you,� she replied evenly.

�What�s the matter babe? Never been with an older man before?� he asked, leering at her.

I saw what Carson was trying to do and I didn�t like it. I went over and linked my arm with my sisters.

�Sorry to interrupt Carson, but we need to go. Buh-bye,� I said with as much attitude as I could get away with and dragged my sister over to where Blake was waiting for us.

�What do you think you�re doing?� Kayla hissed when we were away from Carson.

�Did you see the way he was looking at you? I was just trying to help,� I replied.

�Well I don�t need your help. Not unless I need someone to steal my boyfriend. Oh, wait, too late,� she said and stormed off.

Just one more week of this tour, I thought. One very, very long week.