Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2001 05:36:13 -0000 From: Bear Subject: Don't Wanna Lose-20 Boybands Disclaimer: This story is fiction and does not represent the real people that might be mentioned here. If you are under 18 or if it is illegal to read this in the country where you live, the city where you are, etc. then don't. Again, this is just some fantasy I concocted in my head so don't get insulted. Author's Note: Hey I'm happy to be back in the States but I'm happier that I'm going back to England. It's nice to be home but it just comes with too many responsibilities and expectations. It will be nice to get back to my uni friends. So sorry it took some time for this to come out but family you know plus I got sick over the holidays. Anyways, Happy New Year everyone. And sorry to Uli and Mike for not writing you guys back yet...I will when I get back to England. Thanks for the kind words and for sharing. Chapter 20 Written by: Bear Justin quickly hopped out of the jet black mercedes benz as soon as he parked it in front of the plain brick two story building. He hurriedly walked towards the door with his open satin shirt billowing in the wind. Justin was dressed in nicely pressed khakis and a black wife beater under his dark blue over shirt. He went through the corridors walking intentionally knowing where he was heading. He took a moment of pause as he reached the plain wood doors that was now in front of him. With a deep breath Justin threw open the door being bombarded by the blaring sound that was inside. He purposely walked towards its source and turned it off acquiring the attention of the five men and one lady in the room. Justin was met with a few mad glares and some questioning looks as he stepped in front of the six people. "I'm sorry for the interruption but I'm going to have to steal one of you away." Justin scanned the six people until he stopped upon the tall slim woman with one exasperated face and looked apologetically. "Fatima...you're just going to have to live without Nick today cause I'm taking him." "Justin...what are you doi..." Nick tried to interject. Justin quickly averted his attention to Nick and gave him a stern look. "Nick, don't talk." Then looking back at Fatima. "I'm stealing my boyfriend and I'm sorry if that troubles you but I can't do anything about it. Fatima?" Justin kind of asked. Fatima looked over to the five guys who were in somewhat of a shock and then focused her attention at Nick. She gave him a little smile and then looked back at Justin. "Justin." Fatima plainly said as her acknowledge of Justin's request. With that, Justin walked towards Nick and took his hand pulling him away. "Come on...let's go." Justin said. "But...but...I have rehearsals. Plus the guys." Nick tried to object. Justin stopped his walked and stopped pulling on Nick. He then looked behind Nick and spotted the rest of the Backstreet Boys. "Guys, Nick and I are leaving. If that puts a damper on things then I'm sorry but I'm sure you guys can work it out. I need some alone time with my boyfriend." Justin then focused his attention on Kevin who Justin knew was the most important one in getting an approval. "Kevin, do whatever you like but I need...we need this." Nick quickly turned around and looked into Kevin pleadingly. "Kevin, it's not my fault I don't know he was going to do this. It wasn't my idea or anything. I..." Nick was abruptly shut up as his mouth was covered with soft forceful lips. It was a lingering short kiss but one that brought Nick into reverie. As Justin pulled back, he looked into Nick's eyes and put his index finger to Nick's mouth. "Shush." He half- whispered to Nick. "So we're gonna go," Justin said towards the crowd that just watched in amazement, "and no more objections." Justin continued pulling Nick along. As Justin half pulled Nick towards the door, Nick kept looking back at his friends with an apologetic look. Then even before they were out the door Fatima got the attention of the rest of the guys so that they could start rehearsals again but without the some side complaints from AJ and Howie on why Nick could skip practice. Kevin just smiled and let Fatima handle the two. With Justin still pulling on Nick's hand down the hallways of the building Nick's mind started to gather itself together again from the pure surprise of the situation. He slightly pulled back on Justin's hand losing Justin's grip causing both of them to stop. "Justin, what are you doing? Where are we going?" Nick said with a slight whine in his voice. Justin looked a little shock from just what happened but took it in stride. "We're going out. Now let's go." Justin said once again grabbing Nick's hand starting to pull on him again. After a couple of meters Nick once again pulled back and with this Justin sighed. "What now, Nick?" "Look at me. I'm in sweats and I'm all sweaty and smelly. I can't go anywhere like this. Somebody might see me and I don't even know where we're going or what we're doing. I don't wanna go. You should have told me before you did any of..." As if on cue Justin kissed Nick again. This time though he kept it going longer deepening the kiss making it more sensual. He slowly opened his mouth and brought out his tongue lightly pressing it upon Nick's lips. Nick gladly accepted Justin's initiation and let Justin's tongue enter his own mouth. Nick relished in the act as his mind started to clear up and only think of the one his heart spoke of. With one last soft pull on Nick's lower lip Justin moved his soft kisses to Nick's cheek and then towards his neck. Careful not to leave a mark on him because of the concerts Nick still had to perform Justin still tried to keep it sensual. With a last kiss on Nick's upper chin Justin whispered in Nick's ear, "I love you but sometimes you think too much. Now take my hand, walk with me, smile, and think of me making sweet passionate love to you." Justin then pulled back from Nick and waited for his reaction. Justin smirked when he saw a smile upon Nick's face and felt Nick's fingers reaching his palm. Without another word the couple walked out of the building hand in hand and when Justin opened the door of the benz for Nick, Nick simply obliged and got in. Justin then went around and jump upon the driver's side and drove off to their destination. +++++++++++ "Okay boys...take five." Fatima yelled out as the music stopped. A couple thank gods was heard and Fatima laughed it off. She then looked towards Kevin who was trying hide that he was breathing a little hard and smile, "Kevin talk to me." She said with somewhat of an authority. The two stepped aside as Kevin brought his water bottle with him. Howie and AJ started walking to the side where the couch was. "I'll be right back. I just have to make a phone call." Brian said to them as he passed them stepping outside the dance studio. Howie and AJ acknowledge Brian and kept walking until they reached the couch. As soon as they sat down, AJ took a swig of water. "I think I'm getting too old for this. Maybe we should just sing ballads." Howie let out a little laugh. "J, you're younger than all of us here and to top that off, you love singing our fast songs. Hell, you love rock songs too and perform them all the time during sound checks." "Yeah...well, rock songs don't need for you to practice five hours a day of choreography." AJ stated simply. "Just shut up J and drink your water. You're just dehydrated." Howie replied. AJ just snorted his answer and took another swig from his water bottle. A moment of silence passed between the two before Howie continued, "Can't believe Nick was able to get out of here today. I'm gonna have to get him back for this. We get torture and he's probably having a lazy day with Justin or something." Howie said in a stream of conciousness. "And did you see how Fatima or Kevin didn't say anything? I thought that they would have said something than letting Nick get away with something like that." AJ added. "Damn, that boy has everybody under his fingers." Howie said. Then with a smirk he continued, "Then again knowing what Nick has gone through I'd probably let him get away with murder if I knew it was going to make him happy. I was actually a little happy that he was able to go out today. We haven't really done anything fun the last couple of months. Just shows, travel, promotions, and more shows. He kinda deserved a break." AJ turned his head towards Howie and looked at the sincerity in his face. "He worries me sometimes you know, D. I just wonder if he's making the right decisions. I think about the consequences that will happen if it's not the right one. I don't want him to get hurt again." Howie looked at AJ too and nodded his head. "Yup, he's all our baby but he's all grown up now. But what can you do but worry about him. He's my baby bro but he's bigger than me." Howie said with a laugh. "Yeah, big ass baby bro." AJ added in with a chuckle. "I'm happy for him though. I think he's finally happy. I think Justin makes him happy and they seem good together. They're not overly touchy feely or anything like that so they're both safe from the public eye. I don't think anybody outside from the BSB inner circle has actually notice that Justin is on tour with us. And I don't know about Justin since I haven't known him for so long but I know that our Nicky seems happier. I haven't seen him like this in years. It's like he's back to his old self again before that whole shit happened. And the only thing I can come up with is its all because of Justin." Howie finished looking for approval from AJ. AJ looked back at him with an indifferent look that brought a questioning look from Howie. "What? You don't agree." "I don't D but I just have a feeling. I don't completely trust Justin." "What do you mean? Do you know something I don't?" Howie inquired. "No, I don't know anything more than you do. I can't even say I know Justin better than you do. I haven't really gotten to know him in the last couple of months. I mean he's been here with us on the tour but not really. Do you know what I mean?" "Yeah, I do." Howie replied. "He's here with us all the time but not really. Justin's around us but we don't really get to talk. When he's with the group he's usually attached to Nick or its the other way around. The only other person I really see Justin talk to is Kevin." "Which is smart if he ever wants something." Howie added. "Smart but doesn't let us get to know him better." "So what's the deal? Why don't you trust him J?" "I just have this feeling D. I'm worried that he's gonna break Nick's heart. Nick's going to have all his hopes up, thinking all his dreams are finally coming true but find out that its all a delusion. That it's actually some stupid ploy or game or something like that." "That's fucked up J. I don't...I hope Justin wouldn't do that. I mean why would he do it. What's the point? What would his motive be? He's been here with us for awhile now and there's nothing to show for his intention to be nothing but good." Howie concluded. "But as we said before we don't know him as well as we should." AJ added. This brought about a moment of silence between the two friends before the door to the studio opened once again revealing a disturbed Brian who rushed into the room and started pacing. "What about him, how's he doing?" Howie questioned. "We've had a couple of talks now and then. He was really bad at the beginning. Did you know what Nick did right before Christmas?" AJ asked. "No, what did Nick do?" "Apparently Nick went down to Lexington and told Brian that he didn't love Brian anymore or something like that. That he was making a move and he wasn't going to wait and pine away at Brian anymore." AJ relayed. "Wow, Nick did that. Our baby bro's grown up." Howie said with amazement. "Yup, must have took some guts but destroyed Brian. I guess it finally hit him how good Nick is. Must have realized that somewhere in his heart that he must have loved Nick too." "Oh shit...is that why that thing happened at the club." Howie asked finally seeing the bigger picture. "What thing?" AJ asked. "A couple of nights ago when you guys took me out to a club to go dancing. Well, I was off at the bar about to get a drink and then I see Brian approach. I thought he was going to talk to me but then he headed off to Justin. I didn't hear what was being said but Justin really got upset and even pushed Brian away before storming off. Brian must have said something to really piss him off to get Justin mad like that." "Oh God, sometimes I just don't know about Brian. What goes through his head. He confesses his love for Nick but does this. What is he thinking? He must have one crazy concept of love to do these things to Nick." "Yeah, one crazy concept..." ++++++++++++ "Justin I don't like this. I can't see anything." Nick said trying to figure out if he should just close his eyes or open it to the darkness. "Pooh Bear that's because you have a blindfold over your eyes. That's why you can't see anything." Justin answered back sarcastically. "I know that." Nick stating the obvious. "I just don't like not knowing what's happening...and especially not seeing what's going on around me." "Oh you don't do you?" Justin asked. "I distinctly remember somebody hiring a scary tough guy to kidnap me in front of thousands of people. Not telling me what's going, scaring the shit out of me, thinking that there was a gun behind me, and putting me on a plane to a place I didn't even know." "Ah...yeah. I wonder who that could be." Nick answered back playing dumb. "It was you...you...sexy man." Justin said placing a kiss on Nick's lips. "So the way I see it, it's only fair play that I do the same." Nick thought over it for a second and then answered, "O...okay but can I at least take my blindfold off?" Nick asked with a pout. "No." Justin answered back sternly. Usually he would give in to Nick's request plus with him looking cute like that, kind of sulking but that would ruin his surprise. A couple of minutes later they finally arrived to their destination. Justin got out first since Nick still couldn't see. He went around the car and opened the passenger side door. He took Nick's hand and guided him out of the car. "Careful of the step, Pooh Bear." Nick did was he was told. In those few quiet moments Nick finally decided to let Justin be in control of the situation seeing, actually not seeing, that he could do anything about it. "Okay, I'm gonna let your hand go for a second cause I have to open the door. Now don't move and just stand there." Justin said letting go of Nick's hand and moving away. Nick heard a noise sounding like some kind of metal door maybe sliding. From the sound it made it seemed heavy. "Love, what's going on?" Nick asked getting a little worried. "Just opening the door Pooh Bear." Justin replied walking back to Nick and taking Nick's hand into his. He started to once again guide Nick forward. "Okay, Nick there's this kind of railing thing that you have to step over okay. So bring your foot up higher." Justin warned to Nick. As soon as they got inside Justin guided Nick in the middle of the room. Nick felt the temperature change, as the room was warmer than the outside but still pretty cold. The room seemed big to Nick as he heard the noise they made coming in echo within the building. When Justin finally got Nick into the middle of the room, "Pooh Bear I'm gonna go close the door okay so just stay here." Nick nodded his answer and felt Justin leave his side. Nick stood there not knowing how he really felt about this. He felt okay with Justin's hand within his. He didn't felt so alone and uncomfortable. Now that he didn't have Justin's hand it was kind of scary. A feeling of abandonment ran through his body as he got more frightened. "Justin?" Nick tried calling out and waited for an answer. He didn't receive one and old feeling and memories started to cloud his mind. "Justin...Justin...I don't like this...Justin." Nick tried to call out with some desperation in his voice. Nick waited for a reply but didn't receive one. Finally fed up with the situation and the feelings running all over his body he grabbed his blindfold away from his face and opened his eyes. A shiver ran through his body as there was no different to his sight. The place was dark and gloomy. It seemed as dark as his blindfold and that scared him more. "Justin...Justin...where are you? You know that I don't like the dark. Justin." Nick cried out with desperation. Then hearing a loud noise echo through the room Nick was blinded by light that surrounded him. As his eyesight finally adjusted he saw the building he was in. It was beautiful. It was a sound stage which explained all the noise and the echo. He looked around the room and saw a winter wonderland. There was made up hills, a couple of fake trees with white stuff that was suppose to be snow, a snowman, a sleigh, and by him a blanket with a picnic basket. Nick was in awe of the place. Then another noise echoed through the building, like a switch turning on. All of a sudden little white flakes started to fall from the ceiling. Nick instantaneously had a smile of the place as if he was in a little piece of heaven. As Nick heard footsteps towards his right he quickly turned towards it. Seeing Justin and then Justin seeing him like he was a slight frown entered Justin's face. "You took your blindfold off." "I'm sorry I got scared when you didn't answer back." Nick replied apologetically. "That's okay I guess. I just wanted it to be a surprise." Justin said with his smile coming back to his face. "Why were you scared?" "I felt uncomfortable and then when I tried to call out to you...you didn't answer so I got frightened so I took off the blindfold." Nick explained. "Well I'm here now." Justin said as he stepped closer to Nick. "I was turning on the machines." Justin said with a sly grin as he looked onto Nick. "You look cute with snow all over you." "Well you look handsome." Nick replied back to his compliment. "So do you like it?" Justin questioned as he brought his hand towards Nick's hair and wipe off some of the fake snow that was on his hair. Nick smiled genuinely and answered his lover, "I love it but...but why, how?" Justin moved his eyes off to the side slightly so that he didn't have to look Nick straight in the eyes. Nick saw a kind of sadness enter Justin's blue eyes. "A couple of months ago I was stupid. I didn't realize what I wanted and what I should have done when you confessed your love to me. Because of that we spent days and the holidays without each other. I spent it without you. Most importantly, I didn't spend Christmas with you. I was ignorant enough to spend my Christmas without you and you spend it without me so this is our Christmas. The Christmas that we missed. The Christmas that we should have had." Justin answered from the heart. "Oh Justin...I don't know what to say." Nick said speechless of the whole situation. His heart ever growing warmer for this wonderful man in front of him. "Don't say anything. Simply enjoy what we have right now." Justin answered back. "I'd love to do that." "Good, now you must be hungry. There's some food in the picnic basket." Justin said. Nick sheepishly looked back at Justin. "Actually, I'm not really hungry right now but I'd like to do something else." Nick replied. "Oh what could that be?" Justin said as he playfully brought his right eyebrow up. Nick with a sly grin answered Justin. Nick started to toy the buttons on Justin's button down shirt. "Um...we could um...you know." Nick then brought his gaze down towards the floor. "We could play in the snow." Nick finally continued as he then brought his face back towards Justin's with a huge smile. "Oh, now I'd love that." Justin said as he brought his arms around Nick's side and then started tickling him. "No!" Nick laughed out as he started to run away from Justin. "Tickle War!" Justin yelled as he ran after Nick. Nick was just playing around as he giddily ran around the set. He tried to hide behind the fake trees trying to get away from Justin. Nick wasn't running or moving too fast as he too wanted to get caught by Justin. Soon enough Nick was on his back on the ground with Justin on top of him. "Hey you." Justin said looking intensely into Nick's beautiful sapphire eyes. "Hey yourself." Nick answered as he brought his head up towards Justin and started to kiss him. +++++++++++ A young man slightly distraught cautiously brought his right hand towards the door. He didn't know why exactly he was going to do this but he needed to at least talk about it and maybe in the process get some information. He hesitated slightly before bring his closed fist against the door lightly knocking. He heard some rumbling on the other side and knocked lightly again. "Come in." He heard before slowly opening the off-white door. "Hi, did I bother you cause I could come back later." He said timidly. "No, no I needed a break anyway." The woman said moving papers around the desk so she can better give him her attention. "So how are you? I haven't seen you around lately?" She asked. "I've been pouring myself into writing lately. Nothing really else to do." He answered back meekly. "Still not getting along with the guys?" She asked with worry. "Chris and I are good and Joey is okay I guess. It's just that Lance...I don't know about him. I would be able to forgive him if he showed any remorse but he doesn't. With um...how things are right now. I think he's more arrogant than anything else. He thinks that he's right and this just proves it." "I'm sorry JC that you're in this kind of position. I know how you're such a good friend to my son and more than that too. It's simply that this situation is not something to be taken likely and I'm glad that you haven't bother Justin about this. It's not something he should be worrying about right now." Lynn said. "Um...Lynn if you don't mind me asking. Is Justin okay? Um...I mean I don't know how he's doing and haven't really talked to him. I just want...I don't know what I'm trying to say. I'm sorry." JC said defeatedly. "JC don't be sorry. And Justin's okay for the most part. He's seems to be having a good time on his um...vacation if you can call it that. He calls me every now and then and tells me what's happening with him and asks about you guys." Lynn said with a smile on her face. JC looked at her with surprise. "He asks about us? Um...did he ask about me?" "Of course he did JC. You're his best friend. You don't think he'd forget about you like that do you?" "Um...I don't know. It's just that we haven't really been on good terms lately and I haven't even talked to him. He doesn't call and I don't even know where I can reach him." Lynn examined JC for a moment before thinking thoroughly about what she was about to do. "Okay JC I'll tell you this if you promise not to be so gloomy and be confident on your relationship with Justin. He's your friend and he'll always be." JC nodded his answer yes. "Justin...Justin is on tour." Lynn started. "On tour?" JC said out with surprise. "Yes, he's on tour with the Backstreet Boys." "What?" JC replied with confusion. "It's not like that. He's traveling with the Backstreet Boys. Well to be more exact one very special Backstreet Boy...Nick." Lynn said stopping and waiting for a reaction for JC. "Oh..." JC replied thinking heavily about the situation. Certain images started to pop into JC's mind as he thought over the last encounters he had with Justin and the relationship Justin had with Nick. "They're...they are...they are together...aren't they?" JC muttered out. "That's something you're going to have to ask Justin personally JC. I'm not in the right place to answer such a question." "Oh...yeah but thanks Lynn for at least telling me....telling me something." ++++++++++++ "So how was the food?" Justin asked as he noticed Nick putting down his plate. "Great but not as good as what I had beforehand." Nick said with a sensual look. "Please...don't even start." Justin replied back sarcastically. "Is that suppose to mean that you didn't enjoy it." Nick said acting a little hurt. "Of course I enjoyed it...I love every moment I spend with you but sometimes you're just a little corny and...a little horny to top it off." Justin laughed out as he reached out for Nick. Nick pouted at Justin's reaction and Justin smiled it off pulling Nick up with him as he started to stand up. "I'm sorry. Don't take it so seriously." "But you said..." Nick replied pouting. "I know what I said but I love you Pooh Bear and you can be as corny and horny as you want as long as it's only with me." Justin answered. "Okay..." Nick said still pouting. "Now stop pouting or I'm going to have to do something about it." "Really what?" Nick replied with hope in his azure eyes. "Come on take my hand." Justin said as he held his right hand out. Nick gladly obliged and let Justin lead him. They walked to a clearing within the set and stood there staring at each other. Justin then took a remote out of his pocket and pointed it behind Nick. A slow melody then started to play surprising Nick. "That's sweet but kind of classic isn't it?" Nick asked hearing an orchestra playing from the speakers. "Yes but appropriate." Justin then looked Nick intently into his soul and smiled slyly. "Now Mr. Carter would you give me the pleasure of letting me dance with you." "You...you want to dance with me. To this music?" Nick said motioning his hands into the air. "Yes I would love to dance with you. Hold you close and slowly sway back and forth thinking about our heart melding as one." "Justin...I...I that's so sweet but we've...I've never slow danced before." Nick replied meekly. "Well, there's a first time for everything now isn't there Mr. Carter?" Justin said with a smile to reassure Nick. "Okay but can't we just don't some kind of routine to fast music or something. That would be more around my alley." Nick asked with concern. "No but you can come here so I can hold you close." Justin asked as Nick instinctively moved closer to him. Once close enough Justin brought his arms around Nick's back as Nick brought his around Justin's waist. He slowly led them into a nice sway with the beat of the music. "Sometimes you still surprise me at how innocent you are. You seem so scared and wary of the world but at certain times you just have these moments of courage that's seems to be out of nowhere. I love that...you keep me on my toes." Justin said as he felt Nick's head fall on his shoulder. "I love you Justin." Nick softly whispered to Justin's ear. "I love you Pooh Bear." Justin replied back. +++++++++++ Kevin walked down the stage finishing his solo performance that he was practicing for the show later on that night. He could hear the band moving around trying to get set for the next song that Brian was about to do. Kevin headed for a couple of chairs that held his friends. He saw AJ and Howie chatting away a couple of rows back from the stage but also saw Nick and Justin sitting in the front row whispering things to each other. A part of Kevin wanted to roll his eyes as how corny it looked but also a part of him wanted to gush at how sweet it was to see such a moment. He was mesmerized at the two because of all the commotion around them it seemed that the two was in their little world that was impenetrable by what was going on around them. He headed towards the two young men and let out a loud cough trying to get their attention. "Hey Kevin...what's up?" Justin asked looking towards him. "Nothing. I'm done with my song. Can I join you guys?" Kevin asked. "Yeah Kev...sit down." Nick answered. Kevin walked a little forwards and sit on the other side of Justin. "So what did you guys do yesterday. I didn't get to talk to you after we went back to the hotel." Kevin asked curiously. "Kevin!" Nick replied a little embarrassed. Nick knew that Kevin was being all parental on him. "It's okay Nick." Justin said looking at Nick. "Kevin, I took Nick to a soundstage that I had set-up. I wanted something special so I hired a crew to make a winter type wonderland thing. We just spent some quality time together." Justin answered honestly. "Oh how romantic...you must have had Nick melting." Kevin said jokingly. "Kevin!" Nick once again spitted out. "I'm not trying to embarrassed you Nick. I'm just making small talk." "Well okay but it was sweet and really romantic." Nick said putting his head upon Justin's shoulder which cause Justin to bring his arm around Nick's shoulder. "Thanks Pooh Bear. I wanted it to be special." Justin said as he placed a kiss upon the top of Nick's hair. Suddenly their conversation was interrupted as a melody from the stage started to run through the arena. They then saw Brian step up with a mic and head towards their part of the stage. He looked straight towards the three men that was sitting in front of the stage and started to sing. "Somebody tell me cuz I can't eat or sleep When you're not close To my body you're a Bittersweet delight Come and help me through the night." Brian sang with his all of his heart as he then started to focus his attention towards Nick and then kneel down in one knee looking straight at the gorgeous blond blue eyed teen. "Give me one more chance To make it right Time has come for us to reunite Cuz baby its true Ain't nobody else but you There's no one like you Ain't nobody else but you." Nick kind of panicked looked towards his left seeing a distraught and angered Justin. He was looking at Brian menacingly. Aware of what Brian was trying to do he didn't like it at all. Nick didn't know what he was going to do and looked for Kevin for help but all he saw was a shocked face looking back towards Brian. "There's nobody else who can make me cry Nobody else can do it Nobody but you Nobody but you There's nobody who can make me lie Nobody else can do it Nobody but you Nobody but you Ain't nobody else but you Nobody, nobody but you" Brian moved up towards the edge of the stage and sat on the ledge getting as close as he can at Nick. With his eyes intently on Nick's form he kept singing with passion. "Give me one more chance To make it right Time has come for us to reunite Cuz baby its true Ain't nobody else but you There's no one like you There's nobody who can Make it right Nobody else can do it Nobody but you You know what to do Ain't nobody else but you Nobody...nobody Nobody but you Yeah..." Brian ended the song holding the last note as he brought his left arm towards Nick. Brian then smiled joyfully as he saw Justin stand up with vigor and storm away. It took a moment before Nick noticed that Justin was leaving. "Justin...Justin..." Nick tried to call out as he was standing. "Nick...it's your turn." Nick felt a hand on him as Kevin stopped him from going after Justin. "What?" Nick asked thinking more about Justin. "It's time for you to rehearse your solo." Kevin reminded him "But Justin..." Nick said as he saw Justin almost out of the arena. "I'll talk to him but now you have to rehearse. You already missed yesterday's dance rehearsal...you can't miss this too." Kevin said with authority. "Okay...okay but tell him..."Nick tried to find the words. "I'll talk to him don't worry." Kevin said as he moved towards the direction Justin took off. Nick threw Kevin a worried looked before looking back towards the stage where Brian stood with a smug smile on his face. +++++++++++++ Justin had a mix of emotions running around his body as he stormed away to god knows where he was going, he didn't even know. He walked with determination to nowhere in mind but he knew he had to get out of there. He needed some time. He had been so caught up in the world of the Backstreet Boys and his boyfriend that maybe he needed some time to himself also. To see what and who he still was. Maybe he had changed or maybe he had grown up but he needed to once again see who he was without Nick. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the cell phone he had gotten before the tour. Nobody knew his number. Justin made sure of that. He only used it to make outgoing calls, mostly to his mother. He was a little hesitant about the call he was about to make especially knowing the relationship they've had the last couple of months but he was hoping that the true status of their friendship would appear. Justin dialed a number he knew by heart and heard the phone start ringing. After two rings it picked up. "Hello." Justin choked up as there was a lump in his throat. "Hello?" The person asked a little louder on the other line. "Um...hi." Justin barely said audibly. The person on the other line took a moment of pause as if trying to take in the situation or figuring out who the voice belong to. "Jus...Curly, is that you?" "Yeah, it's me." Justin said a little louder getting a bit of his confidence back. "Are you okay Curly? You don't sound too good." He asked as he heard the tinge of hurt in Justin's voice. He had heard it many times before and knew that there must have been something wrong. "Um...I need my best friend. I need my best friend C." Justin cried out. TBC