Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 02:21:11 -0500 (CDT)
From: Chica
Subject: Star Crossed-Preface

DISCLAIMER:  Alright, this is da disclaimer.  I dos nots knows da BSB
personally, so I's nots knows if they gay, straight, bi, love Howie,
etc.  BTW:  I'm feeling a little bit of ebonics flowing through me, so
that explains the disclaimer.  Oh well.  It works!

JOEY'S BACK, ALRIGHT!!:  This is story #2!  Yay!  I didn't like the last
one 'I Need You Tonight'.  I lost my creative juice halfway through it.
I am very hopeful on this one.

WARNING:  Turn around now if you don't like a sad ending to a story.  If
you don't mind, break out a box of Kleenex and read away!!

Star Crossed-Preface

Two households, both alike in dignity
In fair Verona where we lay our scene
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star crossed lovers take their life
                                   -Romeo and Juliet
                                    Prologue


August 10, 2005-New York, New York

     Kevin Richardson wearily opened his pained green eyes to observe an
entire conference room filled to the brim with reporters.  Even as the
noise grew to a deafening point of madness, his thoughts rested on not
only his, but millions of others woes.  His thoughts formed a depressing
barricade, blocking out the commotion.  His mind weighed heavily and an
all too familiar pain filled his heart this fateful morning he was sure
no one could forget.
     He was roused from his thoughts to reality by his wife of 5 years,
Kristen  Kristen smiled warmly at him, making it easier for him to do
what he knew deep down was the right thing to do.  She grabbed his
jittering hand and pushed past the glass doors they were standing at.
T.V. cameras and flashes of light blinded him.  Flashes of light.  'All
of our time spent in flashes of light'  Kevin recalled a lyric for their
song, 'Larger Than Life'.
     Kevin walked bravely to sit next to, unfortunately, the last of the
Backstreet boys.
      On his right, Howie D.  The latin lover of the group, the quiet,
sweet guy.  How only the space of 5 years had changed him.  His usually
sleek, perfect hair was dishevelled, and cut short.  His clothes were
more casual, sporting a white t-shirt and jeans.  His deep, soulful eyes
had turned cloudy and placid.
     On his left, A.J. McLean, perhaps the one who changed the most.
His artistically shaved goatee was shaved completely off, and he had on
no jewelry whatsoever.  His hair was plainly cut, black, with no hat on
his head, or his usual sunglasses for that matter.  His eyes too had
discolored and he looked older than he actually was.       A.J.
nervously sighed, his hand shaking slightly as he picked up a water
bottle.  'What has happened to us'?  A.J. asked himself, glaring at
Kevin.  Kevin looked like he just woken up.  Bags hung low over his
eyes, signaling his deep, deep loss.  He had no goatee, but little
whiskers adorned his face.  Kev?  Unshaved?  In public?!  It was all
much too strange.
     Howie nervously tapped the table, wishing it would just start.  He
hadn't really wanted to do this, but knew that the other two members
would have wanted it this way.  Why did this happen?  Why did it have to
be them?  Howie didn't blame, him, himself, or anyone close to them.  It
was all society's fault.  It seemed that the only people in that room
that knew true love were them three.  Howie knew that that would change
in a while.
     Kevin tapped the microphone, causing everyone to quiet down.
     "We are gathered here today to correct a misunderstanding involving
the deaths of Brian Littrell and Nick Carter.  Contrary to popular
belief, the media was told wrong.  5 years ago the media was told that
Brian and Nick were murdered by an anonymous rival company.   That is
not true."  Kevin threw out, causing the room to go into a small frenzy.
Hands rose up, and Kevin pointed at one's hand.
     "Then what was it?"  A tall man asked.
     "It....it was a murder suicide."  Kevin answered, barely above an
audible whisper.  More hands rose up.
     "A murder suicide?  How do y'all know?"  A short woman in red
asked.
     "By this note."  Howie announce, waving a piece of notebook paper
in the air.  "This note was found three days after the...incident by our
bodyguard, Bruce."  Howie further explained.
     "So you're implying that one of them murdered the other, then
killed themselves out of, guilt?"  A man asked astonished.
     "Actually, no.  It was a sort of...agreement by them."  Kevin
vaguely explained.
     "But why?"  Another unknown reporter asked.
     Kevin took a deep breath.  He knew this was coming.
     "So they could be together."
     In those simple words, everyone talked out once, drowning the room.
      "If everyone would please settle down, we will explain what we
mean!"  A.J. yelled, speaking for the first time.
     'And what a story it is'  Kevin thought.
     "I guess it all started when we were recording for our third U.S.
album in the Bahamas.  All of us were in high spirits when we boarded
our new jet...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And that's all for now!  Interested yet?  The next couple of chapters
are going to be more light-hearted and somewhat carefree.  If you
haven't guessed what will happen at the end, then you haven't heard of
the name William Shakespeare.  This is the only story of his I've
semi-read.  Too lazy to read the rest.  :)  You are D-U-M-B if you have
no clue what's in store for Nick and Brian.  And since this is gay fan
fiction, and the three members mentioned in this part are straight, who
do you think is gay?  Clueless?  You need help.  (LOL)