The four other boys turned around and looked at Aj with questionning looks. Fortunately, it was time for the chorus to be sung so they took it over. Nick pushed Aj lightly on the arm to wake him up from whatever transe he was in. Aj snapped back into reality and finally succeeded to sing again, the last words of the chorus. The guys didn't say anything until they went back behind the stage for a change of costume.
"Aj!!! What the hell was that about???" Kevin yelled. "What happened out there?"
"Sorry! I don't know!!" Aj said, shaking his head.
"Yeah right!" Kevin rolled his eyes. "Don't ever do this again!"
"Yeah yeah sorry!" Aj mumbled, putting his other pants on.
"Ok guys...let's go!" Howie said running out of the room. Kevin soon followed and then Brian.
"Nick, Nick!" Aj whispered before the two followed the others.
"What???" Nick turned around fastly.
"Look at the right... third or fourth row man.. and tell me if I dreamed..."
"Huh...Okay.." Nick frowned and ran out of the room, not asking much details. They went back on stage to sing another song. Nick walked at the right of the stage to sing at the audience and looked at the place where Aj had asked him too. He scanned the seats when his eyes stopped for a moment on two known faces. A smile appeared on his face and he waved.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Meanwhile ***
"Oh looks like your blond babe is happy to see you!" Keri grinned at Marilyne.
"God it was about time they noticed us!" she laughed. "He better be happy, for the price we paid those tickets! Good God!"
"Yeah well this concert is great ya know... I don't think you can get enough of it!"
"I know what you mean!" Marilyne smiled.
"Oh man, he seems REALLY happy to see you!" Keri bursted out laughing watching Nick jumping all around the stage.
"Hum.... yeah we can say so.." Marilyne giggled, mostly looking at the bulge in his pants. "I guess that top was worth it.." she smirked as Keri laughed again.
"You are so nasty.."
"Yeah yeah...look who's talking... you Aj lost his words...good job Ker!"
"It wasn't really what it was for..." Keri laughed.
"Yeah right!" Marilyne rolled her eyes and got her attention back to what was happening on stage.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** On stage ***
Nick kept jumping and dancing widly to the music, often glancing at the Lexy and Keri who were both smiley as they watched the show. He couldn't believe they were here...and looking so good. Marilyne was wearing a 3/4 length white top showing off her bellybutton barbel. It was low cut at the cleveage and was open on the back. She had low cut jeans and her long hair was down on her shoulder and a bit curly. He had to admit he was happy to see her, even though he didn't if it could help him to get his mind right again...but he didn't want to think about it now, he knew he'd have a great night and that`s what he wanted. He looked over at Aj for a moment and saw him staring at Keri. God he was looking like under a spell or something. Nick shook his head and smiled. He had never seen Aj so captivated by a woman...
During another costume change, Nick gave a little note to one of the security guard and asked him to go over Keri and Lexy to give them. The guys went back on stage again and finally finished the show, and then ran backstage again to leave, before the dancers and musicians were even finished. They headed back to the hotel and all went seperate ways to their bedrooms, except Aj, Howie and Michelle who went to the hotel restaurant to eat something.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** A little while later ***
Nick walked out of the bathroom, all cleaned and dressed. He paced around the room, picking up clothes and things that were on the floor. He then sat on the bed, waiting for a knock on the door. He looked at his watch... and stood up. "She must be here by now.." he wondered. He walked toward the door and opened it.
"Oh hey!" he smiled, seeing Marilyne standing there. "I was wondering if you had gotten my note.."
"Oh I got it...we just got stuck in traffic.." she replied, her eyes sparkling.
"Ok..." he almost replied, not leaving his eyes from hers. They stood there for a moment gazing at each other..when Marilyne started giggling. "What?"
"Won't you invite me in?" she sent him one of her sexy smiles.
"Oh...oh yeah sorry!" he shook his head with a little laugh and moved to let her in. She stepped inside and he closed the door behind them. "So..well...what are you doing here really?! I was kinda...surprised to see you in the audience.."
"Yeah I saw that.." she winked and he blushed. "Well ya know... we are still on vacation and decided to take a little more time... and we liked the concert so much that...we wanted to see it again and got tickets... that we paid a lot by the way... " she said with a little laugh.
"You should have told me... I could have got some free for you.." he said.
"Oh well it's okay!" she smiled and sat on the couch. "It was a little surprise in the same time!"
"Yeah well it really was a good one!" he said. "I'm happy you came! I was.. kinda... missing you." he blushed sitting beside her.
"Really???" she asked with a surprised look.
"Hum...yeah.." he giggled shyly. She bit her bottom lip and moved closer, until their lips touched lightly and moved into a slow and sensual kiss. Their tongues intertwined and their hands started touching each others body. Always keeping the kiss really slow, Nick undid the laces at the back of her top and it fell down on her lap, revealing her naked breast. Marilyne unbuttonned his shirt pushed it behind his shoulders. She let her hands roamed his bare chest, not broking from that amazing kiss.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Meanwhile ***
"Oh shut up Aj!" Michelle exclaimed with a laugh, at one of Aj's bad jokes.
"What? You don't think it's funny?" he asked, looking hurt.
"You are a pervert..that's all you are!" she argued.
"Yeah right..." he rolled his eyes.
"Hey there.." spoke a soft voice behind Aj's back. He turned around fastly and met Keri's sparkling eyes.
"Hey... what's up?" he said, a suddent big smile appearing on his face.
"Oh nothing much....what about you guys?"
"Nothing either.." Howie said with a smile. "We actually were about to leave so...here, have my seat!" he offered as he stood up.
"Oh thanks. I hope you're not leaving because of me!"
"No of course not!" Michelle smiled warmly. "Just tired... "
"Ok Cool!" Keri replied, sitting at Howie's place, in front of Aj.
"G'night guys!" Michelle waved as she and Howie left the room.
"Good night!" Aj said. "So what are you doing here???" he spoke, turning to her.
"Not happy to see me?" she teased.
"Yeah...actually, yes I am.. " he replied, softly. "But I was just surprised... "
"Yeah I saw that during the show!" she laughed. "Oh well we're on vacation and decided to come to Pittsburgh.."
"Why?" he laughed. "I mean, there are other places more interesting than Pittsburgh.."
"Here there's a great hockey team!" she smiled.
"You're a hockey fan?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Um... more...hockey players fan!" she grinned as he laughed. "What? Don't tell me you watch female volleyball for the game...come on!"
"Ok, you're right!" he giggled. "Are you gonna go to the game in two days?"
"Yeah we thought about it! Since we're in town I mean... why not?!" she shrugged.
"Because we are going too!" he exclaimed. "You'll just have to come with us!"
"Yeah maybe!" she smiled.
"Do you have a room in this hotel?"
"I tried to get one but they say none is available! Yeah right!" she sighed noisily. "It's your fault!"
"My fault?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Backstreet's fault! Just because you are here they say all the rooms are booked!" she explained. "I'll have to go to another near here... and I have no idea how I'll join Lexy!"
"You wanna stay in my room?" he asked without a thought. "I have a suite so... it's big enough... I can sleep on the couch."
"You'd do that??" she asked, flashing one her her cutest smile. "For me??"
"I um... I..." he tied to speak but the look on her face was just making his knees weak. "Yeah of course.." he managed to smile.
"How sweet!!"
"So...do you want to?"
"If you invite me... "
"Well I invite you!" he said with a laugh.
"Alright then! I'll come!" she smiled. "Thanks a lot!"
"My pleasure.." he replied, getting lost in her eyes.
They talked for a little while in the restaurant and then decided to go to the room. Aj didn't know how he was controlling himself from touching or kissing her with all the sexy grin, smiles and looks she was sending him. He didn't know if he had to take that as signs that she wanted something tonight or not. Normally, he would have jump on the occasion but a weird feeling was stopping him.
"Make yourself at home.." Aj told her as they stepped in. She looked all around the huge room with wide eyes and got her jacket off.
"That's a pretty big room for yourself!"
"Yeah I know... feels lonely sometimes."
"I guess so... especially now that you are single again.." she remarked, sitting on the bed.
"Um... ... yeah.." he mumbled looking at his feet.
"Sorry..." she apologized.
"So um... you tired?"
"Yeah a bit... are ya?"
"Um.. a bit too... well look, do whatever you feel like and I'll go take a shower..." he said, knowing that after a concert, he was not smelling really good.
"Alright! No problem!" she replied. "Uh..Aj?!" she called when he was about to turn around.
"Yeah?"
She stood up and walked up closer to him. She got her face closer and closer...
"Thank you.." she whispered in his ear and kissed him slowly on the cheek. Aj felt a huge chill going through his body ...
"Uh... no...no problem.." he stuttered. They stood there for a few seconds, staring at each other and he finally leaned closer and kissed her softly. She replied to the kiss and pulled away a few seconds later, leaving Aj out of breath.
"Go take your shower sweetie.." she told him with a sexy smile.
"Um...yeah..." Aj replied, out of word, not really wanting to go after that. He turned around and glanced one time at her as she was kneeling beside her suitcase. He walked in the bathroom and leaned against the door, taking a huge breath. "Did that really happen???" he thought, a smile appearing on his face. He suddently thought that maybe more was waiting for him after his shower so he fastly undressed and jumped in the shower. When he walked out, only wearing boxers, he found the room with only one light on, and Keri laying on the bed, sleeping peacefully. He swore under his breath, and sighed before to go over the long couch where Keri had obvious put a sheet and covers. He layed under them, closed the light, crossed his arms behind his head and looked at the ceiling, thinking about what had happened only a few minutes before.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** The Next Morning ***
Aj woke up feeling someone tossing his shoulder rudely. He mumbled something, hoping it would stop...he had just fallen asleep. But it didn't and he finally managed to open his eyes slowly.
"You better have a fucking damn great explanation Aj McLean!!!" a high-pitched voice he knew shouted in his ear. His eyes suddently opened wide as he realized Katya was standing beside the couch, staring at him with an icy look, hands on her hips.
"Wh..what??" he choked, sitting up.
"What is that all about????" she almost screamed, pointing at Keri who was surprisingly still sleeping on the big king size bed. "What is that bitch doing here?"
"What are YOU doing here???" he shouted back.
"Well duh... came back from the record studio!"
"You were suppose to call me!!" he lowered his voice, realizing Keri was still sleeping. He suddently hoped she would not wake up...
"Yeah but I wanted to surprise you... God I'm the one surprised now!! So will you just fucking explain...what is that bitchy barmaid doing sleeping in your bed????" she yelled.
"Will you shut the fuck up!" Keri said, turning on her other side under the covers. Aj glanced at her and sighed, relieved that she wasn't waken up yet.
"Let's go outside.." Aj whispered, standing and walked straight to the door.
"No... we're staying here and you are explaning!!!" she said, not moving a bit.
"Shit... Katya she'll wake up!!" Aj groaned.
"I don't give a fuck ... What is she doing here Aj???" Katya replied, an angry pout on her lips.
"Ok... her friend went to Nick's room for the night and she couldn't get a room 'cause they said there was no one free so..."
"You invited her in your bed.... great.." she rolled her eyes in disgust.
"Look, nothing happen damn, I was sleeping on the couch!!!!" Aj exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. "Can't we just go outside???"
"Why did YOU have to invite her??? Can't Nick take two girls at a time? He already did it anyways so why not this time?!"
"Damnit Katya what the fuck are you talking about? I don't care what Nick is doing in his room but I met Keri in the restaurant and asked her to come over since she had no other place to go... that's all!! Why are you always doing such a big deal about everything!" Aj shouted, forgetting about Keri laying on the bed.
"Aj!!! You are my boyfriend...I am your girlfriend... I am suppose to care when I find some chick in your bed!!!!!" Katya said.
Aj stood silent, not even hearing what Katya was blabling about now. His eyes were now on the other pair of eye staring at him with a confused and angry look. What could he say now? Shit...
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Meanwhile ***
"Roaaawwww!!"
"Oh Nick please stop!" Marilyne exclaimed, unable to stop laughing. "You look like an idiot!"
"Oh you're so mean to me.." he pouted, crawling in the bed on top of her. "You don't like when a guy is roaring like a lion?"
"Not when is you.." she laughed. "You're not that type of guy..sorry.."
"What the fuck? You don't think I'm sexy??" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Not when you roar.." she giggled.
"Why not?!"
"You're the sweet type... "
"I am not..." he argued.
"Yeah..you're not a bad boy... and don't try to be one... " she said before to laugh again.
"Do you prefer sweet or bad?" he asked, still laying on top of her, his arms wrapped around her.
"I don't know.." she shrugged. "Must be sweet if I am here right now.." she grinned.
"Good!" he smiled before to lean down and kiss her. "How long do you plan to stay?"
"A couple of days.."
"Really? Like... 2 more days?" he demanded with a huge smile.
"Could be.." she smiled too.
"That is really really really really cool!" he said, burying his face in her neck.
"Nick?" Marilyne asked after a few seconds of silence.
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything..." he replied, lifting up is head and smiling up to her.
"Well..." she started and sighed. "What am I to you? Just some girl with who you are with at night or...more?!" she finally bursted out, her eyes not looking up at him...
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Back in Aj's room ***
"Don't leave now.."
"I can't stay.... your GIRLFRIEND is here.." Keri snapped, zipping up her bag. Katya had left to go get some air after her and Aj had tried her best to explain. "Don't wanna break your little reunion.."
"Keri... I'm sorry... I ... I know I shouldn't have lied to you..."
"I don't care.." she replied, standing up. "You're the the first one who already did that...only so you could have a little pity from me... you know...poor little guy has been rejected by his girlfriend... 'Come on Keri, make it right, I'm sure you're good at this'..." she mocked.
"That's not what..."
"Yeah of course not.. 'cause you are so different from all the others huh?" she cut him off. "Anyways nothing happened and I'm happy I didn't fall in your act..." she spatted.
"Keri, don't take it that way...I told you I wasn't with her because...because... "
"Yeah I know!" she rolled her eyes. She took her bag and walked toward the door.
"Come on Keri, don't be mad at me!! I didn't want to upset you... I don't like her anyways..." he said.
"Then what the fuck is she doing here?" she said with a sarcastical laugh. Aj sighed and looked at the floor. Yeah, what was she doig here? He didn't want to see her... "Anyways, Thanks for your hospitality. Bye!"
With that, she walked away, closing the door behind her. Aj stood there, watching the closed door. He so wanted to ran after her but...what could he really tell her? He shook his head sadly and sat on the couch, his two hands cuppling his face.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** In Nick's room ***
"Nick??" Lexy asked again, her eyes looking up to meet his. Nick had been silent for at least the last minute... what is long when you are waiting for an answer.
"Uh...what do you mean?" he frowned.
"What, what do I mean? I think it's clear...am I just a pastime or not?!"
"Am I just a pastime for you?!" he asked back.
"You know, it's not really polite to answer with a question...." she said with a smile.
"Can you answer to it?"
"You have to answer to mine first!" she argued. "I asked first!!!"
"No.." he said.
"Why not?! Why can't you answer? Just tell me the truth... I can take it!" she replied with a soft giggle. "I'm a big girl.." she added, still staring at him. Nick curved his lips as he thought and tried to find something to tell her but he just couldn't.
"Can I suggest something?"
"Yeah what?" she said with a frown.
"What about.. we enjoy our two days together... and then we'll see?!" he spoke.
"Um..yeah I guess this could work.." she shrugged.
"Awright.." he smiled and leaned down to kiss her.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Later that day ***
"What is wrong with you?" Marilyne asked Keri as the two girls walked in the backstage area, as the guys were getting ready in their dressing room.
"Nothing.."
"Yeah right...like I don't know you enough to know when something is wrong...come on, cut the crap and shoot.."
"Just ... something that happened this morning that pissed me off...that's all!"
"What? Hey, where did you sleep by the way? in what room were you in???"
"Huhh... Aj's room..." Keri groaned, rolling her eyes.
"What? Why the face? What did you do???"
"We did nothing!! He's just a bastard...that's all... like every other guys!"
"What did he do? Tried to make a move on you or what???" Marilyne asked as they kept walking.
"Yeah..well...no! he didn't try anything... we kissed but then I went to bed and fell asleep! He's just a damn liar! he said he wasn't with that girl anymore you know, doing the 'I feel so lonely and sad' act... but it turned out that his girlfriend walked in this morning..." Keri explained.
"Oh shit! What did he do?"
"Well the two argued for a time and I woke up and left... I mean, what did you want me to do?"
"I don't know....but I don't understand...I mean okay, he lied and stuff but it's not like you were interested into him and anyways, you said that he didn't try anything..." Marilyne shrugged. "I don't see what upsets you so much.."
"I don't know either... but just the fact that he lied to me and you know, I trusted him and started to" she paused for a moment, trying to catch up with what she was going to say. "... I mean, at first I thought he was that kind of guy sleeping around and taking any girls that was showing off a little skin... but he is not that way...well, didn't seem that way but I guess this could be a lie too.."
"It could... but still, you look really pissed off...there must be something else!"
"I don't know but I gave him a piece of my mind before I left ..."
"Oh I'm sure you did!" Lexy laughed. "Maybe it's just because you woke up and like, you realized he had lied to you and you know how grumpy you are when you wake up..."
"Yeah maybe! Anyways, let's talk about something else... how was your night?" Keri asked with a grin.
"Great!" Lexy replied with a big smile.
"So what's up between you two? Did you finally asked him??"
"Yeah..." she sighed.
"And???"
"He said that we should enjoy the next two days and then we'll see....." Marilyne said with a pout.
"Ouch.." Keri grimaced. "When a guy say something like that....Are you okay?"
"Yeah I am! It's just that... with all what he told me...you know, that he missed me and stuff...I thought he feels a little something for me... but I'm scared I'm getting attached too much... I know we didn't passed that much time together and everything but I really like to be with him... he's a sweet guy!" Marilyne said, smiling at her last words.
"I would like to see it with my eyes but you keep him so occupied!" Keri smirked. "Well.. why don't you tell him you like him...more than what he may think?"
"I will feel so stupid if he doesn't feel the same! No, I won't do that! I'll wait those two days and we'll see.."
"You mean we're stuck in Pittsburgh in this damn hotel for two more days???" Keri shouted.
"Yeah... it was planned Keri!"
"Well I think I'll go to another hotel 'cause anyways they don't wanna give me a room anyways... "
"Huh...that sucks! We'll try to fix that when we'll come back!" Lexy smiled. "You ready to go in the stadium? The show will start soon and all the other girls are already there.."
"Huh...I'll have to face that Katya bitch again..."
"Who cares? You didn't do anything... and she is a bitch so... " Lexy shrugged with a laugh.
"Yeah, anyways, go ahead, I have to go to the bathroom .."
"Alright!" Marilyne said and walked away toward the door leading to their seats with the Gaby and the girlfriends.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** During this time ***
Aj sat in his dressing room, trying to find something to do with the whole Keri situation. Now how could he have back at least her friendship? Even if he knew he wanted more...so much more... and to see her ignoring him and knowing she was mad was making him angry about himself. Plus Katya, who wasn't helping at all by bitching him around... God he wanted to scream at her and tell her to leave... but he couldn't... 'cause now that the really thin chance he had with Keri was gone, he could have Katya by his side... even though he hated her more and more...
"AJ! Are you listening to me???" Katya exclaimed.
"Yeah... "
"So, as I was saying, I'll have this really short skirt with like... with animal prints on it..like zebra or something... but not black and white, it'll be pink and black... and my top will be of course, really really low cut cause... you know, why hiding something so beautiful.." she said with a smirk. "And my hair... " she kept on and on, describing how she would look on the cover of her cd. Aj didn't listen, just nodded a couple of time, and finally sighed when she left to go in the stadium 'cause the show was going to begin soon.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Meanwhile ***
Keri continued her way to the bathroom and on her way back, she heard someone chanting in a dressing room. She peeked in the cracked open door to see Brian there, getting ready to go on stage, adjusting his outfit while singing softly a song. She grinned to herself as she watched him, and finally decided to step in. She leaned against the door frame and continued watching, a grin on her face. When he finally turned around, he jumped when he saw her.
"I didn't know there was someone in here.." he said, avoiding her look.
"Sorry.." she giggled at his reddish face.
"So um.. "
"You ready to get on stage?" she asked, a sexy smile on her face.
"Yeah.." he sighed. "I'm just a bit tired but I'm alright.."
"You need a little boost.." she replied, slowly walking toward him.
"No no, I'm okay.." he said, his eyes moving from his hands to her all the time.
"Nah...I can't see it in your eyes..." she said, getting closer and closer until they were inch apart.
"Wh..Wha..What?" he stuttered.
"This.." she whispered and leaned closer. Brian didn't move, just looked at her getting closer, until her lips finally touched his...
