Nick sat nervously on the couch in the lounge of the Backstreet Tour bus, slightly toying with one of the pocket flaps of his cargo pants as the other four Boys laughed and talked of their “first times”. AJ rambled for almost fifteen minutes of how beautiful she was, from the curves of her body to a flawless completion and gorgeous eyes. The other guys half drooled at the mere description of this beauty as Nick swallowed hard.

“What about you, Pimp Daddy?” AJ asked as he lowered his sunglasses to peer up at Nick.

“What about what?” Nick asked, his voice cracking slightly.

“First time…C’mon, buddy! Spill…”

Nick’s cheeks flushed an odd shade of scarlet as four sets of eyes focused on him. He cleared his throat and began, “Well…” Suddenly the bus slowed and the driver hollered that they had reached the venue. Nick leapt from his seat and ran to the front of the bus as if eager to see the arena.

“You’re not off the hook, Nick!” AJ hollered after him. “We can continue this later!!!”

Once the bus came to a stop and the doors opened, Nick bounded out, backpack in hand, as he ran inside. He ran to the dressing rooms, happy that there were two for them to share instead of the usual one. He ran into one and locked the door before leaning back against it. I have to think of a story and quick! His eyes searched around the room as if looking for an answer in the surrounding furniture and costumes.

A knock sounded at the door, echoing against Nick’s back. “Go away…” Nick called.

“Nick….It’s Bri. Let me in…”

Reluctantly, Nick opened the door to find Brian standing in the hall. He nervously looked both ways before Nick let him into the room and slammed the door shut.

“Nick…I know you’re shy and stuff, ‘specially about girls…but what’s up, man?”

“I doubt you would understand, Frick…” Nick said with a sigh.

“Try me…”

Nick took a deep breath and raked a large hand through his golden locks of hair. “What if I told you there was no first time to tell about?” he asked, the response soft and full of emotion…

“You’re funny!” Brian said with a laugh. “You’re Nick Carter! And your girlfriend…Hell, any guy would jump her if they had the chance… Dude...there’s no way…” Then he looked at Nick’s face, a mixture of hurt and confusion in his deep blue eyes. “You’re serious…woah. I had no idea…”

“Yeah…I’m serious…”

“And Mel?”

“Bri…I love her. And she has little to do with this…”

“Does she know?”

“No.”

“You two have been together over a year and she still doesn’t know you’re a virgin?!”

“It never came up in conversation, ok?! But, I don’t want the guys knowing…especially AJ…He’ll never leave me alone about it…”

Nick punched the familiar numbers into his cell phone and waited as it rang. He played with the bottom of his hockey jersey as he counted the rings.

“Hello?!” came the out of breath response.

“Mel?”

“Nickers!!!!!” she squealed. “Hi! You got there ok? How are you? When is show time? When do you have to be ready by? Did you have an ok trip? Did AJ behave? Who won Mario Kart this time? Did Bri win at Tennis again? What’s the venue like?”

“Melly…” he interrupted with a slight laugh. “Slow down, girl…I have an hour until I have to get ready and the trip was fine. How are you?”

“Ok…you interrupted my shower, but it’s ok. I’d rather talk to you than do anything else right now. I mis you so much…”

“I miss you too…” he whispered, tears coming into his eyes. “I love you…” He had never said that to anyone before and sat there shocked.

“Nick?” she whispered back, knowing how sacred those words were coming from his lips.

“I finally realized that I love you…”

“I love you too…If only I could be there with you…”

“I wish you could be too…I miss you so much. And I need someone to talk to now…”

“Nick? What’s wrong?”

“It’s a long story…but we’ll be home in a few more days…Promise me we can talk then?”

“We can talk whenever you want to…I’m always here for you…”

“I know…That’s why I love you…”

“I love you, too…”

“I know…I have to go now. Someone’s at the door…”

“Ok sweetie…I’ll talk to you later. Call me when the concert’s done, ok?”

“Ok. I’ll talk to you then…”

“Goodbye…”

“Bye…” Nick pressed the off button before slowly getting up and opening the door. Two young girls stood there with cameras and pictures to autograph. He put his best smile on and signed for them, posed for a few pictures and then retreated back into the room. He sat down in a chair and leaned his head back against it. He closed his eyes, visions of Melissa filling his mind. So this is what love is like… he thought with a sigh. He remembered the day that they had met.

He walked through the front door of his Florida home, the bright afternoon sun reflecting off his sunglasses. The street was empty of traffic and for once the fans were leaving him alone as only a few stood at the gates. He signed a few autographs before walking down the street, his hands thrust into the pockets of his baggy jean shorts. The neighborhood was its usual: calm and quiet. He glanced across the street as a girl walked the same direction he was going, her eyes focused on the pages of the book in her hands. She turned the page, not taking notice of an upcoming sidewalk panel that was sticking up ahead of her. Before Nick realized what was going to happen...it did. Her foot caught the edge of teh concrete panel and she went flying to the ground. Her book fluttered to the grassy lawn she was passing as she skidded across the cement. He ran over as she shifted to sit up, blood trickling down her leg from the scrap on her knee. Both of her hands were scraped and cut to match, but she only seemed worried as to where her book was. "Are you okay?" he asked as he crouched beside her, wincing at the sight of small gravel imbedded in the flesh of her knees. "No...I lost my frickin' book and I need to read to chapter 10 by two o'clock or I'm up shit creek without a paddle!" she replied as she looked around, spotting the book laying on the lush green grass of the lawn. "Why do you have to read so much?" "Class...I'm taking summer courses at the community college...I have a test at two!!!" she said as she stood up and reached for her book, the crimson blood now trickling down her shins. "Ow..." she said looking down at her legs. "I really did some damage!" "Yes...you did...Come on...we can get you cleaned up at my house. I live right down the street..." "Ok..." "Nick! Earth to Nick!!" AJ called, waving his hand in front of Nick's face.

"Huh?!" Nick replied, snapping his eyes back into focus.

"Concert...Michigan...Backstreet Boys...Any of this sound familiar?"

"Yeah...I'm sorry. I was just thinking..."

"You were staring off into space, Nick. That's not considered thinking..."

"Shuddup!"

"Hey, guys. Cool it," Kevin's deep voice filled the room as he stopped in the doorway, his tall frame leaning against the wooden molding, his arms crossed but a playful grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.