Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 17:33:13 EST From: CaRtOoN80@aol.com Subject: Working for the boys 17 Working for the Boys 17 "Nick," I yelled as I opened the door. Nick was already dressed sitting on his bed. He looked up at me and smiled. "Afraid I wasn't going to get up," he asked. "Well, you blame me? How are you felling, really?" "Jamie, all I can say is that I feel as good as I can right now. I mean I know it's been a couple of months since Tyler died, but I just feel so incomplete." "Well, Nick. I miss Tyler to, but I know he just wouldn't want you just mope around this world missing him. He would want you to move on." "And forget him? I can't just forget that Tyler every existed." "I am not saying to forget him. Just, when the time is right, move forward. Take Tyler's memory with you. I mean he is apart of you. Maybe I may be rushing you, but I just don't want you to end up in a standstill in your life." "I know what you want, Jamie. I know I should move on, but." "Then do it. Just, at least make some friends for goodness sake." I smiled and Nick replied with a smile of his own. "Well look at me," I laughed as I looked at my robe, "here I am attempting to get you ready when you are all set and I'm unclothed. Let me get changed and shower then Brian and I will come and get you." I got up and left Nick's room. As I walked down the hall, I ran into Kevin. "New look," he smiled at me. "Yeah," I replied," I am doing the "I-don't-care-what-you-think look. You like it?" "Yeah. He, when are we leaving?" "About 20 minutes. You and AJ ready?" "I am, sorta. Not sure about AJ." Kevin opened his door and saw AJ in-depth of a book. "What book is that? How to please your lover without sex?" AJ hid Howie's journal behind his back. "Your still mad, huh?" "Of course not. I am use to you being so anal retentive about sex." "Fuck you, Kevin." "Yeah fuck me! You are the one who wanted sex without a condom. You are the one who wants to use it. I didn't cheat on you. Did you cheat on me?" Kevin then turned to the shower and stripped. His clothes. "When you are ready to talk instead of yell, Kevin, then we'll talk." AJ yelled as Kevin slammed the door. Howie walks in Ryan's townhouse. He looks around for him and finally finds him in his living room. "Ok, so what bug is up your ass," Howie ask. "I will not fall, Howard. I took a hellava chance when I decided I wanted to be with you. Now I have a moral decision of either you are my freedom. I need to know that by picking you would be a good decision. Is it?" "Ryan, we did some pretty fucked up things." "Duh!" "But we both agreed that we will stick this through together. We promised that we would not do anything to jeopardize ourselves into trouble. I am not selling you out anytime soon, and hopefully you are not doing the same to me." "I have no reason to." "Neither do I. Now let's get ready for the gala tonight. Kevin's going to be waiting there for me." "I don't want to go. It's too weird, they all hate me and I don't want to be involved." Ok," Howie sighed, "Well I'm heading over see you after the party." Howie smiled and kissed Ryan on the head as he left. AJ stepped in the shower, deep in thought. `I need some way to keep Kevin with me. I mean, he's mad because of the sex thing, which I guess I can understand. I just wish I wasn't it this situation. I mean whenever I try to have sex with Kevin, me and Howie pop up in my mind. Why did I do that? Was I that much in grief? I don't know. Well at least I am not as bad as Howie. He did it. He was the one who loosened the axle and almost killed Kevin, not Alison. Did he love me that much that he had to hurt Kevin? Wait. That's it!" AJ hopped out the shower. Kevin was dressed as AJ got out. As soon as AJ opened the door, Kevin came to his side. "I'm sorry," he said with loving eyes. "For what? You didn't o anything." "Yes I did. I must realize that this is a hard thing for you. Me coming back from the dead and not telling you the details of what happened. Maybe that's why you're so distant when it comes to us having sex. So tomorrow, we will take the day off and I will explain everything, in detail, to you. I love you so much." Kevin sighed as he hugged a wet AJ. "I love you too, Kevin," AJ sighed. "Remember that." The gala was in full swing when Brian, Nick, and I got there. Kevin told me that I should send the car back because him and AJ needed to talk. Everyone was having a ball as we, and the guest of honor, make a fashionably late entrance. Being the public relations/tour manager had some good qualities. Everyone in the business knew me, so hobnobbing with the crowd wasn't hard at all. First person I saw was Janet, who was slow dancing with her new flame, who seemed very familiar. "Hi, Jamie," Janet smiled. She came and gave me a tight hug. "Long time no see," I smiled. "Yes. I heard about Tyler. How are you and Nick doing?" "Well, in all honesty, I'm doing good, and Nick is getting by. Oh, and this is." "Sorry, where are my manners. James Mitchell, this is my new girlfriend, Venessa Marcil." I looked at her puzzled. "Hi," Venessa smiled, "I'm on "Beverly Hills 90210." "No, wait, your Brenda," I smiled. "Brenda," Janet questioned. "Yes, Brenda Barrett-Jacks-Jacks- almost Corinthos from General Hospital!" "Ok," Venessa smiled, "avid fan?" "Only when you were on. Brenda and Carly were the only reasons I watched." Meanwhile, near the table, Nick stood as he watched everyone dance and have fun. He looked a little moped, but was not going to let that spoil his evening. He felt a little tap on the shoulder. He turned around, and there was Carson. "Boring music or just tired," he smiled. "Carson! No, just a little tired. I happen to like Destiny's Child. Ever meet them?" "Nick, I'm on TRL. Of course, I met them. I think there here too." "Really! Let's go find them I want to get there autograph!" Nick grabbed Carson's hand as they dragged through the crowd. All Carson could do, was smile at how happy Nick looked. AJ and Kevin came in together, but Kevin was bombarded by a lot of the guest. AJ took the opportunity to go get a drink. Kevin looked around for AJ but couldn't find him, instead, he found Janet, Venessa, and I dancing. "Hey, Jamie. Janet, how are you," Kevin asked. "I am doing good," Janet smiled. "You know, Kevin, you had us all worried." "I can assure you it was not my attempt. I assume nobody will let this down, huh." "Not bloody likely," Ananda Lewis, a MTV VJ, smiled behind Kevin. "Ananda," Kevin laughed as they hugged. "Oh, by the way, Jamie have you seen AJ?" "Not since you guys came in, no." Nick and Carson walked into the private back rooms of the hall. They were sweating and smiling happily. "That was awesome," Nick laughed. "Yes that was. Thoughs girls can dance," Carson laughed. "Well, I hate to say I told ya so, but Destiny's Child was here." "Yes they were. I hope the play the club remix of "Bills, Bills, Bills!" "You like hip-hop, huh?" "I like all kinds of music. I'm multicultural, you can say." "Well, not surprised. The shock value of what people listen to shocked me when Puff Daddy was singing "Sometimes" on the toilet." They both laugh for a bit. Then awkward silence filled the room. Carson knew it was now or never. "So, Nick. Do you have a girlfriend or something?" "Um, Carson. I want to tell you, but it must stay between us, ok?" "Ok, but let me guess, your dating Britney Spears?" "No, the person I loved died six months ago. I know you are flirting with me and want to be with me, but as of right now, all I want is a friend. Can you do that?" "Nick, we were always friends. Now we are going to be close friends. Hello, I am Carson Daly and I am gay." Nick giggled. "No, come on. I said it. Now it's your turn." "Ok, I am Nick Carter and I am bise.. No. I'm gay." Carson smiled as well as Nick. Wait," Nick asked, "Explain Jennifer Love-Hewitt. You guys were a hot item." "Nick. Jennifer and I are best friends, have been for years. Everyone was questioning my sexual orientation so she decided to tell people she was with me without telling me. Eventually, I had to act the charade. Then she fell in love with some actor on `That 70's Show' and so we had to `break up.' We are still friends though. Do you want to talk about your boyfriend?" "Never said it was my boyfriend." "Yet you said you were gay. I won't tell. We are friends." "Well, I need to tell someone who wasn't there. His name was Tyler. Tyler Lakeland." Howie sat in the corner nursing a martini. He was so busy checking out a group of guys he didn't recognize AJ coming towards him." "Hello, Howie." "AJ, oh hi." "Howie, we need to make a promise to each other, ok?" "AJ," Howie looked at him, "what are you talking about?" "I can bring you and Ryan down with one phone call, but I won't do that if you help me." "AJ, I have no idea what you are talking about." "You, not Alison rigged the axle that killed Kevin and I have proof. Now if you don't want that, and the realization of Ryan drugging Nick to come out, I suggest you hear me out." Howie sighed. He knew AJ had defeated him. "What do you want," Howie asked. "I want to have sex with you," AJ whispered. To Be Continued.