"Carter's down by 7 points.  If he makes this touchdown, the game will be tied and will go into over time."

"Just shut up and let me play B-Rok."  Nick and Brian were playing a bit of playstation while the other guys were out.  Kari was hanging out in her bunk reading the new Harry Potter books.

"Nick runs for it...and misses the touchdown!  Dallas Cowboys win!  And the crowd goes wild!"  cheered Brian.  He began to imitate a large crowd yelling.

"You guys are finally done?"  asked Kari with sarcasim.  "Man, I thought I would have to take you both home to mom."  she snickered.

"I can't believe I lost again!  I demand a rematch!"  laughed Nick.

"The only reason why you didn't win is because you suck!"  giggled Brian.  They picked up the controls again and started a new game.  Kari let out a sigh.  She had been waiting for that t.v. all afternoon.  Sure she had a t.v. in her bunk, but this was the big screen.

"Hey, I know something that gets to you guys all the time."  sneered Kari.  Nick didn't even look up.

"Yeah, and whats that?"  he asked.  She started singing the song she had for them.

"Pinky and the Brain, yes they're Pinky and the Brain.  One is a genious the others insane!"  she sang loudly.  Brian paused the game and looked up.

"You just bought yourself a face full of pillow."  he smiled.  He ran up and grabbed her around the waist.  He picked her up and threw her down onto the couch in the back.  He jammed her head into the couch and went back to his game with Nick.

"That wasn't funny."  she said, her voice muffled by the pillows.  By the time she managed to pull herself out of the couch, they all heard the door open and shut.

"You guys here?"  Yelled Kevin from the front.

"Yeah, back here."  said Nick, still not looking up.  The others walked into the back.

"Oh man, you wouldn't believe how many times we got stopped.  All because we needed to get some stuff for the bus."  said Howie, who sounded out of breath.  Kari looked over at A.j..  He gave her the usual nasty stare. They didn't really get along to well.  Kari thought A.j. was to wild for her and A.j. thought Kari was a preppy.  Kevin noticed this and spoke up.

"You two, when are you not mad at each other?"  asked Kevin.

"Oh, i'm not mad.  I just don't like her."  said A.j. his voice dripping with attitude.

"Right back at you."  said Kari.  She turned back to the guys game.

"Alright, thats enough.  I have had enough of you two always acting like this.  You have to live together and get along."  said Howie.

"Fine by me.  As long as she doesn't get in my way."  A.j. snapped.  Before Kevin could say anything, A.j. got up and went to his bunk and shut the curtains.

"*sigh*  What was it that made A.j. so bitter towards you?"  asked Brian.

"I'm not really sure.  I think it happened the day I accidently broke his watch."  she answered.  They all sat around talking until Kari stood up and headed for the front.

"Where are you going?"  asked Nick.

"Just outside.  I need a bit of fresh air."  she answred.  She headed for the door when she heard.

"Hey!  Stay close by ok?  We're packing up in a half hour!"  yelled Nick.

"I will!"  she yelled.  She stepped out the door and walked away from the bus.  It was nice just to be able to walk out and not get pelted with rocks by odsessed BSB fans.  Some of them could be really mean.

"One day A.j. will wish he hadn't been so nasty to me."  she muttered to herself as she walked down the path.  She rounded the corner and walk down a hill.  Then without warning she tripped and fell on her butt.

"Oh man!  My new jeans!"  she scoled herself.  She pulled herself off the ground and went to see what had tripped her up.  She looked down to fine a ring.  It was a gold color and had a red charm in the middle.  It was very beautiful even though it had been in the dirt.

"Wow."  she said as she picked it up.  She dusted it off and placed it on her ring finger.  It was a perfect fit.

"Wait tell I show the guys this!"  she laughed to herself.  She turned around and began to run towards the bus.  She had left the door open and dodged right inside.

"Guys guys!  Look what I...."  she slammed right into A.j..  He had been carrying some things and they were now all over the floor.  He looked up at her in disquste.

"Why don't you watch where your going?"  he snapped at her.  He began to pick up the stuff.  Kari kneeled down to help him.  He pushed her back.

"Well how do expect anyone to help you with an attitude like that?"  she yelled at him.

"Alright you two, break it up."  said Howie, who had seen the whole thing.  "Kari, why were you running here in the first place?"  he asked her.

"Well..."  she pushed past A.j..  "I found this totally cool ring and I wanted to show it to you."  She pulled it off her finger and put it in Howie's hand.  He started to look at it.

"You know, this kind of looked like A.j.'s ring.  Only his is blue."  he final said.  He gave it back to her.  She placed it back onto her finger.

"Howie, why do we have to pack up today again?"  she asked him remembering Nicks words.  He smiled at her.

"Don't you remember?  You sighed up for a talent contest a while back.  And we have to do a concert there the day after."  he answered.

"Oh yeah!  I better keep praticing."  she said.

"By the way, what are you doing for the contest?"  he asked her.  She smiled at him and laughed.

"Thats for me to know and for you to find out."  she said.  She went into the back to show the others her new ring.  Howie sat down next to A.j. and let out a long sigh.

"You going to shape up for the contest tomorrow?"  he asked him.  A.j. just glared at him.

"Who said anything about me going?"  he answered.  He went back to picking up the things he dropped.

"Not going?  But Kari wants you to go!  She has been practicing for this for a long time.  You have to go!"  said Howie.  A.j. scoffed.

"Give me five reasons why I should go.  Like I told you.  We don't get along so she should stay out of my way!"   He turned back to what he had been doing.  Howie just shrugged and walk for the back.  He could hear Kari talking about the ring and the run in with A.j..  Brian looked up.

"Hey Howie!  Did Kari tell you what she's doing tomorrow night?"  he asked.

"No, she won't tell you either?"  he answered.

"Nope.  You all are just going to have to find out tomorrow.  But if you want, i'll show you my costume a few hours before."  smiled Kari.  Nick laughed.

"Does it even match that ring?"  pointing to her finger.

"As a matter of fact, it does."

"HEY BOYS!  EVERYBODY HERE?"  Yelled the bus driver from the front.

"Yeah, you ready to get going?"  said Kevin.

"YEP!"  They all felt the bus give a sharp jolt forward and they knew that they were on their way.  They sat around talking for another hour or so we Kevin looked at his watch and noticed that it was about 7:30.

"Hey Charlie!  Can we stop and get something to eat?"  he yelled to the front.

"No problem Kev!"  Charlie yelled back.  A few mintues later the bus sqeaked to a halt and the start off the bus.  Kari started out but A.j. pushed her back into her seat.  He brush by her quiekly and was off the bus.  Nick had seen the whole thing and told her to ignore it.  They went into the McDonalds, ordered their meals and went to sit down.

"You know, why do you still get those happy meals?"  said Brian with a smile on his face.

"I like the little toy.  Keeps me from punching a certain someone in the arm."  laughed Kari.  She looked over at A.j..  He just gave her a look of annoyence.  They finish their supper and got back on the bus and were on their way.

"I am so sick and tried of the way you have been treating me A.j.!"  Kari yelled at him after they got going.  "Like it's my fault that I'm now a Carter!  No offence Nick."

"None taken."  he replied.

"Ever since you got onto this bus you have been nothing but trouble!"  snapped A.j..

"Trouble?!  What have I done to hurt you?"  she ask him with anger.

"You have just come here and messed up eveything, and I do mean everything!"  he replied.

"I didn't mess anything up!"  she said.

"Plus you walk around here acting like life is hard for you!  I bet you wouldn't last one day in my shoes!"  he yelled at her.

"I wouldn't want to.  They don't even fit."  she shoot back.  Nick and Brian snickered.  They stopped when A.j. gave them a nasty look.  "Besides, life is hard for me.  You would never be able to walk in my shoes for a day!"

"ALRIGHT!  That is enough!  It's getting late.  Kari, to your bunk and A.j. to your bunk.  No more for tonight."  cut in Brian.  They gave each other a mean stare and followed Brian's orders.  Kari climbed into her bunk, changed into her pj's and crawled into her blankets.  She turned out the light to see all of the other light were out to.  She gazed out of her window and watched the land fly by.

"I wish he could spent just one day in my shoes.  That'll show him."  She thought as she closed her eyes.  What she didn't know was that A.j. was thinking the same thing.  And that her ring was glowing bright red.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A.j's eyes cracked open a bit.  It was now morning and he could hear somebody moving around in the bus.  He looked up to his clock to find it wasn't where he had put it.

"Oh man Brian!  I told him not to tamper with my things!"  He thought to himself.  As he tried to get back to sleep somebody grabbed his foot.

"Hey, time to get up."  said Brian.  A.j. let out a small moan but started to climb out of bed.  He was surprised when he actually fell out of the bed.  It was longer ways down then usual.  He walked down the hall towards the bathroom.  Something seemed strange.  Everything was higher than usual.  He walked into the bathroom.  The mirror had been steamed up so he began to wipe it off.  He gazed into the mirror and was shocked at what he saw.

"*gasp* what the heck?"  he whispered to himself.  The face he was seeing wasn't his, but Kari's.  Her voice even come out of his mouth.  He ran out of the bathroom to run into somebody.  He looked up to find he had run into himself.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"  They both screamed when they saw each other.

"What?  What happened?"  asked Brian from the front.  He came rushing into the back.  He gave them both funny looks.

"Oh no, you two going at it again."  he said with a sigh.

"Brian, no.  We have a big problem here."  said Kari who was now A.j..

"Yeah, and whats that?"  asked Brian.

"I'm not A.j."  she said.

"Oh is that it?  And if you aren't who is?"  he asked with a laugh.

"I am!  Dude you gotta believe us."  cried A.j..  Brian busted out laughing.

"You have got to be kidding me!"  he laughed.  He stopped when he saw the seriousness in their eyes.  "Alright fine.  If you guys are really who you say you are, you have to pass my tests."  He lead them into the back.

"Whats going on?"  asked Nick, who had the others behind him.

"Oh, their pulling the old I'm not me joke."  he said.

"This is not a joke Brian!  I'm not A.j., I'm Kari!"  she yelled with frustation.

"Alright then answer me this.  How old are you and what is your birthday?"  he asked.

"I'm 15 years old and my birthday is July 21st."  she answered.

"Thats to easy of a question Brian!  Let me try, A.j.. How many pieces of jewery do you own right now?"  asked Nick with a smile on his face.

"Thats easy. About 25."  said A.j..

"What were we doing yesterday while the others were gone?"  asked Brian.

"You two nimrods were playing playstation forever until I sang the Pinky and the Brain song and you shoved my head into the couch."  said Kari with a smile.  They just looked at her.

"Nope.  Still don't believe you A.j.."  said Brian.

"What!?  Come on Brikey, you have to believe me.  When have I lied to you?"  she asked him.  He gave her the look.  "This week?"

"Come on A.j., jokes over."  said Howie from in back.

"Wait a minute!  What did you just call me?"  asked Brian, looking at Kari again.

"I...I called you Brikey.  I always call you that!"  exclaimed Kari.  Brian just looked at her.

"Oh my god, Kari!  Is that really you?"  he asked in shock.  Kari smiled.

"Yep.  In the flesh, well...sort of."  she answered.  All of the guys just stard in shock.

"How did this happen?"  Kevin finally said.  They both just shrugged.  Kari's eyes were wide with fear.

"What are we going to do?"  she asked.  The guys just looked at each other.

"Hold on, yesterday you both said, while you were fighting, that you both should spend a day in each others shoes.  And I guess it worked."  said Howie.

"I don't want to spend the day as no girl!  I want out now!"  said A.j..

"How?  We don't even know how we got this way in the first place!"  Kari snapped.

"Oh boy, here they go again.  Knock it off you two!"  said Kevin.  The both stopped fighting and looked at Kevin.  "Lets all just get dressed and we'll figure this out.  O.k?"  The others nodded.  A.j. and Kari just looked over at each other.

"You peek and your dead." whispered Kari.  She got up and want to her suitcase.  She pulled out a pair of pants and a tank top.  She threw them at A.j..

"Wear these today."  she said.  A.j.. went to his suitcase, pulled out some clothes and gave them to Kari.  They both went back into their bunks and changed clothes.

"You guys done?"  asked Brian.  They had been in there a long time.  Kari pulled herself out of her bunk, dress in the clothes that A.j. had givin her.

"This is not my idea of nice clothes."  she said shakeing her head.

"Hey, if your going to be me, your going to dress the way I do."  said A.j. from behind her.

"Now, we have to try to figure out how this happened.  I mean, this type of stuff doesn't happen unless there's a reason right?"  said Nick to the group.  They all nodded.  "So something had to be different.  I've said that all the time to Aaron and nothing like this happened."  They all began to think.  Howie put his head in his handed and looked down.

"Hey, wait a minute."  he grabbed A.j.'s hand.  "Kari found this ring yesterday."  he grabbed Kari's hand.  "And it's exactly the same as A.j.'s"

"So?  Your point being?"  said A.j. pulling his hand away.

"So, these must have something to do with it." he said.  Both of their eyes light up.

"You know.  That is so crazy that it might just be true."  said Kari.  All of the sudden her eyes widened again.  "OH NO!  I have that show tonight!  If I have to spend a full day as A.j., I can't do it!"

"That would be a problem."  said A.j..

"Don't worry about it Kari.  We can just have A.j. go in your place."  said Kevin.

"No!  That won't work.  I have had this planed out for months.  He doesn't even know what the act is!"  she said.

"Well duh, because you haven't told anybody what it is."  said A.j., looking coakeyed at her.

"And I don't plan on telling you now."  she said as she turned away.

"Guys!  I found it!"  said Brian who had been on the computer the whole time.  They all gathered around him as he read it off.  "The tiki rings are the most prised jews of the Nemben tribe.  The are said to have the power of granting.  If two people have are in hands of the rings, wishes between them come true.  They must be thinking of the same wish at the same time or the wish won't work."

"At least we know how this might have happened.  Does it say how they can change back?"  asked Nick.

"Hold on."  Brian srolled down. "Oh, here it is, There are only two ways to break the wish that has been set.  The first is to either let the wish run it's course and end when intended.  The second is only for between enemies.  They must learn to push aside differences in them and settle them."  A.j. and Kari just looked at each other.

"Well, I think you two better decide which road to take."  said Nick.

"Shut up!  Do we even fall into the catagory of enemies?"  asked A.j..

"YES!"  all of ther others said at the same time.

"But we need to go down to the library to find more information on these things.  Come on, I'm driving."  said Kevin.  He grabbed his keys and headed for the door.  They didn't want to argue so they all followed him.  The minute A.j. stepped off the bus, he felt something hard hit him in the arm.

"There she is!  Get her!"  said a girl in a group of fans.  The began to throw rocks at A.j..  He tried to block them but got hit in the head several times before Kari grabbed him and lead him to the car.

"Man!  What is with those girls?"  asked A.j., rubbing his head.

"Their just holding a grudge.  Those kind of people throw things at me all of the time."  explained Kari.

"Really?  When did this start?"  he asked.

"Maybe the week after I got here.  Like I said, you kind of get use to it after a while."  They climbed into the rental car their manager sent early and were on their way.  A.j. was still rubbing his head from the attack.  Finally they made it to the library.  The found a parking spot and started to walk in.

"Oh my god, it's the Backstreet Boys!"  cried one girl as they walked in.  A group went rushing up to them, pushing the real A.j. aside.

"A.j.!  Can I please have your autograph?"  One asked Kari.

"Ah, sure."  She began to sigh the piece of paper the girl gave her.  Surprisingly, the hand writing looked exactly like A.j.'s so no one would suspect anything.

"Thank you!"  they all said and they ran off.

"Man, I thought they'd never leave."  said Kari.

"Concider us lucky this time.  They usually follow us around for a bit longer."  said Brian.  Before she oculd say anything more, they started for the stairs.  There was nobody up there so they were in the clear.

"A.j., Kevin, and Nick!  You three look through the stacks.  Me, Kari and Howie will check on the computers."  ordered Brian.  They all split up and went for the places assisigned to them.  Kari went to one of the computers in the back.  She sat down to face the computer.  She looked and saw her reflection.  Well, A.j.'s reflection.  She signed heavly and lowered her head in saddness.

"Kari, are you o.k.?"  asked Brian who had seen her reaction.  She looked up at him.

"Yeah.  Just fine.  I better get to work."  she said with no emotion.  Brian put his hand on her shoulder.

"This won't last forever you know.  We'll get you back anyway we can."  he smiled.  Kari gave him a weak smile back and returned to the computer.  She ignored the reflection and typed in a subject.  She pressed enter and found several pages on Tiki rings.

"Check it out.  Looks like there more popular then we really think."  said Kari.  The brought up one site and began to read.  It was nothing but a fake.  They checked out another page and it much information.

"Lets print this one out."  said Brian.  They printed it out and brought it to the other guys.

"Hey guys, find anything?"  asked Howie.

"Ah, Kari?  I think you might want to read this."  Kevin gave her the book.  She began to read it out loud.

"When the tiki rings are activated by two enemies without knowledge, the spell can only be broken when the have settle the dispute.  I must be done within 24 hours of the wish or the spell will become perminat.  PERMINIT!?"  yelled Kari.

"Thats what it says."  said Kevin.  A.j. and Kari looked at each other.

"No no no.  I am not going to be stuck as a guy for the rest of my life!  I haven't even been through normal things that teenagers go through!"  she cried.

"Don't worry about it Karbear!  You'll probably be back to normal by 9:00 tonight."  said Nick.  She shot him a dirty look.

"The show is at 6:30.  My group is counting on me to be there!"  she answered him.

"Come on guys, lets just leave.  There's nothing that we can do."  said A.j..  He got up and headed for the stairs.

"He's not taking this well.  He thinks that if he gets stuck in your body, he'll die.  No offence."  whispered Kevin.  The all walked down the stairs to the main enterence.  Again, they were swamped by girls and A.j. got pushed out of the way.  Finally they got outside and started to the car.

"A.j., heads up!"  whispered Kari.  He ducked in time to miss a flying object.  He turned to see two girls making a break for it.  He was so anger that he felt like running after them and beating them down.

"What ever your thinking, don't"  snapped Brian.  They climbed into the rental car and drove off.

"I have had it up to here with those girls throwing things at me."  said A.j..  He was really ticked off.

"A.j., it's not as bad as it seems.  You won't have to get use to it."  reasured Kari.  "I hope we don't get followed all day by those people.  I really need to practice for tonight."  she added.

"Oh no.  If it takes you two makeing up to change you back, there will be no show tonight.  You hear me?"  said Kevin from the front.

"But Kevy, I've been working so hard..."  she tried to say.

"No buts Kari.  We can't rick it.  You can save your act for another time."  he ordered.  Kari sat back.  She was very hurt by what he said and was fighting back tears.  The bus driver had told them to meet at a hotel where he had already checked in.  The got there and Kari went right to her room.  There she flopped on the bed and began to cry.

"It's not fair.  It's not my fault i'm stuck like this."  she whispered to herself.  She stood up and went to her suitcase.  All of the things she loved to wear were in it.  Yet she couldn't wear them at the moment.  She went into the bathroom to check it out.  Once again she was not happy with her reflection.  There was a knock at the door.

"Come on in, the doors open."  she yelled as she dried off her face.  She turned to see herself.

"I want to change back."  said A.j..

"You and me both."  laughed Kari.

"No, I mean right now.  I want to be myself.  I want...have you been crying?"  he asked her.

"Um...no, just allergies."  she answered.

"Thats impossible."  said A.j..

"Why?"  she asked him.

"First of all, the only thing you are allergic to is bleach and Second, I don't have allergy attacks.  Sit down and tell me whats wrong."  ordered A.j..  Kari sat down on the bed and A.j. in a chair acrossed from her.

"It's just that, I really wanted to do the show tonight.  I have a group that can win us the first prize.  But now, I'm stuck in the hotel room trying to get out of this body."  she told him.  He just stared back.

"I can relate to that."  he finally said.

"How in the world can you relate to that?"  she asked him with a hint of anger.

"You know that my father was never around.  I wanted him to come see me in my auditions and stuff.  But it never happened."  he sighed.

"Wow.  I guess you've had it even harder."  she said to him.

"Nah, it's nothing.  I better go.  You need to do your work."  said A.j..

"Work, what work?"  she asked him.

"You need to get more practice done.  You know how it goes, practice makes perfect!"  He said with a smiled as he shut the door.  He began to walk down the halls when he accidently bumped into a young man.  He turned and looked.

"Oh, i'm sorry little girl.  Did you get separated from your family?"  he asked.

"No, no.  I'm just walking around."  answered A.j..

"That's great."  smiled the man and he went on his way.

"And if you little girl me again, I am going to ram this foot so far up your behind."  He muttered to himself as he got to the elevator.  He pressed the button and the door opened.  There was no one else inside.  He went in, pressed the button and the door closed.  He could see himself in the doors.  His hair so blonde and his blue eyes.  He was about 5'1.  He smiled at the image and saw a mouthfull of braces.

"There is no way i'm going to wake up and see this face everyday for the rest of my life."  he thought to himself.  The elevator stopped and the doors opened.  He got of and walked into the lobby.  There were a couple people so he sat down on one of the benched.

"Man this life sucks.  Being pushed away by people, stuff being thrown at you."  he whispered to himself.  "How does she do it?"

"Excuse me young lady, are you lost?"  asked the person at the front desk.  "A 11 year old shouldn't be out be herself you know."

"I'm not lost and for your information, i'm 15."  He said with no emotion.  The ladies face turned bright red.

"Oh I am so sorry mam."  she said.  She went back to her work.

"Kari, Kari!"  he turned to see Howie walking toward him.  A.j. hated to be called a name that wasn't his but oh well.

"Yeah, whats up?"  he asked.  Howie approached him and looked around to make sure no one else was listening.

"We found more information."  he whispered.  This caught A.j.'s attention.

"What about it?"  he asked.

"Turns out there are four stages between enemies before they can become themselves.  There's sympathy, friendship, kindness, and finally truce."  he explained.  A.j. looked at Howie wide eyed.

"Dude, I think one stage is down."  he said.  Howie looked up.

"Why do you say that?"  he asked.

"I felt sorry for her when I found her crying in her room.  She feels so awful about this.  When I saw her, I felt things about her that I never have before."  he said.  Howie smiled.

"Sounds like you're turning into a big softy."  he laughed.  A.j. shot a look at him.

"Just because I showed a little bit of heart, doesn't mean I like her.  We will always hate each other."  he snapped.  Howie let out a sigh.

"Thats the kind of attitude thats going to get you stuck like this."  he said.  Before A.j. could say anything else, Howie got up and left him there.  Of course, Howie was right.  Kari seemed to be trying to make peace and get back to her own body.  A.j. wasn't even trying.  He lifted one of hands to look at his watch, and then remembered that Kari had it.

"I have got to get her one for her birthday."  he muttered to himself.  He got up from the bench and began to walk back to the elevator.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

While A.j. was having his conversation with Howie, Kari was still in her room trying not to have a breakdown.  She had been practicing for about two hours straight to keep her mind off of the whole thing.  She knew she should have really been teaching A.j. all of this.  Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?"  she called.

"It's Brian, let me in!"  he yelled.  Kari shook her head and opened the door.  Brian stepped inside.

"Better shut the door.  People walking by will think it's weird for talking to you like a girl."  he said.  Kari rolled her eyes as she shut the door.

"If you forgot, I am a girl.  Or, use to be."  she said sadly.  Brian put a hand on her shoulder.

"I know.  This has got to be the hardest thing you have ever experienced in your life.  Well, except the death of your family."  he said.

"You have no idea.  All I can think about it how i'm going to explain this to mom and dad.  To all of my friends back at school.  How do I tell them that i'm not Kari anymore?"  she said clinching her fists.

"You are Kari.  Why are you saying this?  I'm sure you will be back to normal tonight."  he smiled.

"I have my doubts.  We have hated each other right from the day I came here.  Why would it change today?"  she answered, her voice shaking.

"Well, has A.j. said anything to you?  Anything nice?"  he asked.  Kari thought for a moment.

"Well, he did come in a cheer me up a little bit ago."  she said.  Brian's smile grew wider.

"You see?  He is making an effort.  Now, i'm going to leave you and let you get back to your work.  I'll be back later."  he said.  He gave her a pat on the back before he left.  Soon after, there was another knock on the door.

"No Brian, you didn't leave your key in here."  she called.

"No, it's me." a female voice said from the other side.  Kari jumped up and swung the door open. She still wasn't use to running into herself.

"Come on in."  she said, motioning with her hand.

"We need to talk."  A.j. said, sitting on the bed.  Kari came over and sat across from him.

"I'm listening."  she said.

"Howie got somemore info on these rings.  Turns out there are things we have to do to change back.  I came here to let you know, there are no hard feelings about anything that has happened between us."  he explained.  Kari was shocked.  A.j. hadn't really shown her that he had a nice side to him until this day.

"You really mean that?"  she asked.

"I do.  I mean, I want to get back to normal as much as you.  Plus, I've seen how hard it is for you to have people to believe even your age.  Dude, you do look like you're eleven."  he laughed.

"No, it should be me apologizing.  I never knew how much more difficult it was if your famous.  I can't even go outside without girls coming up to me thinking that i'm you.  But, not getting hit with rocks is a nice touch."  she answered.   A.j. laughed again.

"Yeah, i'm going to have to say something next concert."  he snickered.  Suddenly, both of them stopped.  All they did was look at each other.

"I don't know about you, but i'm actually enjoying talking to you."  Kari smiled.

"Yeah, me too.  Must going through stage two."  A.j. said.  Kari raised an eyebrow.

"Stages?  What the heck are you talking about?"  she asked.

"Thats the new thing Howie told me.  Enemies with these rings must go through four stages in order to change back.  We've already gone through sympathy and friendship.  Only kindness and truce now."  she explained.

"Wait a second, why are they coming so natural?  Why today?"  she asked again.  A.j. shrugged.

"I guess the power is so strong, it can make even the worst fighters become even greater friends."  he said.  Kari smiled.

"You know, I think we've got three down."  she said.  Suddenly, she grabbed A.j. by the arm and pulled him off of the bed.  She than began to walk to the cd player she had set up.

"What are you doing?"  he asked, trying to pull away.

"If we don't change back in time, you have to learn my preformance."  she laughed.  "But you have to promise not to tell any of the other guys what it is o.k.?"

"I promise.  Just as long as the costume for this thing doesn't involved a thong."  he said nodding.

"A.J.!"  she yelled.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Many hours later, the other four could hear a bit of talking coming from inside Kari's room.  Nick was trying to listen from the crack in the bottom of the door, with no success.

"Frack, get up!"  snapped Kevin who had just come out of his room.  "Would you grow up already?  We have to go in ten minutes."  Nick got up from the floor.  He then dusted himself off, forgetting how dirty that it was.

"How exactly is this going to work?  How are we not going to be noticed?"  he asked, trying to change the subject on him getting into trouble.

"Same as we always do.  The hats and the sunglasses."  he answered.  Nick looked at him funny.

"In a dark place?  That won't work."  he scoffed.

"No idiot, we're sitting in the back."  Kevin said, nearly hitting Nick in the head.  Suddenly, the door opened and A.j. stepped out.  Kari soon followed him and shut the door.  She was holding a clothing bag.  The two then noticed Kevin and Nick.

"What were you doing out here?"  asked Kari.

"Talking, why?"  Nick said quickly.  Kari looked over at A.j. and shrugged.  Together they walked to the elevator and road down to the lobby, where Brian and Howie were waiting.

"You guys ready?"  Brian asked as they approached.  They all nodded.  Then they each pulling on a hat and sunglasses like Kevin had said.  A.j. was having a bit of trouble because he had to wear one of Kari's bandana's rather than his own stuff.

"How could you not get it?  You wear bandana's all the time!"  laughed Howie.  A.j. shot him a dirty look.  Before anything could happen, Kari rushed over and put it on correctly.  Pretty soon, they were out the front door, in the rental car and on their way to the theater.

"I don't believe this.  My moment and I don't get to live it."  Kari whispered.  Brian turned around in his chair.

"It's probably best not to think about.  The more you do, the more it hurts."  he said.  Kari hated it when he was right, but it still didn't help.  She felt the lump in her throat.

"Don't worry.  I'll do my best and win you that prize."  A.j. smiled.  About fifteen minutes later, they pulled into the visitor parking lot of the theater.  There were tons of people running around.  The six were very lucky to get in the place without being noticed.  Thats when Kari spotted her friends.  She turned to A.j..

"O.k..  Those are the people you are going to be doing this with.  They are all good friends of mine, so be nice."  she instructed.

"Oh, they fine!"  he laughed.  Kari nudged him.

"I'm serious!  That's Deena, Laura, Abby, and Bethanie.  Now go, i'll be backstage in a little bit."  she whispered.  She handed A.j. the bag with the costume.  He looked down at it and then looked back at her.

"Are you sure this thing doesn't require a thong?"  he asked.

"GO!"  she hissed.  With that, he ran over to Kari's friends.  They all looked up and waved.  None of them had any idea they were really meeting A.j. Mclean.  Although, Bethanie had been trying to get Kari to bring her brother to meet her.  Kari suddenly felt someone tap her.  She turned to see Nick.

"Come on, we're getting seats."  he said.  He began to pull her through the crowd.  It was a little strange being able to see over so many peoples heads.  They finally made it inside and sat down next to the other three.  Kevin looked around to make sure no one was listening.

"How you doin' girl?"  he whispered to her.  Kari shook her head.

"I don't know.  Part of me feels like this is going to be great.  The other part says that this is going to be a huge disaster.  Not that I haven't already been through one already."  she answered.

"Hey, you just keep thinking about how good it's going to feel once you get back to your own skin."  Howie said.  Kari shot a look at him.

"I have kind of lost hope that i'm ever going back.  If it hasn't happened yet, it probably won't ever.  I just wish I hadn't picked up that ring.  I wouldn't be in this mess."  she said.

"Now thats not the things I want to her from you.  Be optimistic.  It always comes out right in the end."  said Kevin.  Kari let out a sigh.  Then she got up and began to make her way to the door.

"Wait!  Where are you going?"  Nick called after her.

"I'll be back!  I just need to do something!"  she yelled back.  The crowds in the halls were now gone.  She made her way to the backstage door when she was stopped by one of the workers.

"Sir, I don't think you can go back there."  he said.

"Please, I need to speak with one of the acts.  It's important."  she said with frustration.  Suddenly, the door opened and A.j. stepped out.

"It's alright, he's with me."  he said.  The worker shrugged and allowed Kari into the back area.  A.j. pulled her to a spot he was sure no one could hear.

"What are you doing back here?"  he whispered.

"I had to talk, I couldn't....hey!  You look great."  she said.  A.j. laughed.

"Nah, it's actually you who looks great.  I'm just stuck with it.  What the heck are you suppose to be anyways?"  he asked.

"It's the matter of who.  For tonight, I was going to be doing your parts in the song."  she explained.  A.j. looked shocked.

"Why?  You hated me.  Why would you want to do my stuff?"  he asked.

"Because I thought it would make you like me."  she answered.  A.j. was a little speechless.

"I, I don't know what to say.  I have never been more sorry that I treated you the way I did."  he choked out.  Kari then held out her hand.

"I want us to promise never to ever hate each other.  It was a lot of work and I never knew I was missing out on such a great friend."  she said.  She paused for a second.  "or a great brother."  A.j. smiled.

"Or a great little sister."  he added.  He took her hand.  Suddenly, the rings began to glow brightly.  the world around them seemed to slow down.  Kari and A.j. tried to pull away, but couldn't.  Both of them felt strange.

"What's happening?"  Kari yelled.

"I don't know!"  A.j. answered.  Suddenly, it all stopped.  The rings fell from each of their fingers and clattered to the floor.  Both of them seemed to be out of breath.  Kari shook her head.

"Wow, what a ru...."  she stopped.  The voice from her mouth was her own.  She touched her face and hair.  She then looked down on herself to see she was back in her own body.  She looked up to see A.j. doing the same.  He looked up at her.

"We did it!"  he said with happiness.  Both of them started to laugh and hug each other.

"Oh man!  I never thought we could do it!"  Kari cried.  Suddenly, a young woman with a clipboard came into the back.

"Five minutes!  All who shouldn't be here need to leave."  she announced.  Kari turned back to A.j.

"I guess that's you."  she said.  A.j. nodded.  He began to walk back towards the door.  He then stopped and picked up the two rings.

"I better hold on to both of these.  Best not to have something else happen."  he said.  Kari chuckled.  With that, A.j. left her behind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Where is she?  It's been a long time."  said Brian.  The others shrugged.  Suddenly, Kevin looked up to see someone coming toward them.  He knew who it was.

"Where have you been?  You we're trying to make A.j. nervous were you?"  he said.

"No she wasn't.  She was there to help and she did a good job."  A.j. answered as he sat down.

"Whoa, A.j.?  Is that you?"  Nick asked wide eyed.  A.j. smiled.

"The one and only.  Why, you want to make something of it?"  he laughed.  Howie slapped him a high five.

"Good to have you back."  he said.  Suddenly, the lights went dim around them.  The guys knew that this was the perfect time to take the sunglasses off.  The stage lite up and the first act went on.

"So when is she coming on anyways?"  asked Brian.

"In a little bit.  She's right in the middle of the show."  A.j. whispered back.  Finally, after several piano players, a plate spinner that wasn't very good, and what seemed to be about a hundred musical acts, A.j. knew the Kari was next.

"Thank you Tanya for that lovely dance to The Jackson Five.  Now, our next act is one that will be in a little trouble when they get home.  Please welcome Deena Mory, Laura Vinroan, Abby Divine, Bethanie White, and Kari Carter doing the song 'The Call'!"  The annoucer said.  The five began to laugh.

"Cool!"  Nick said.  The place went silent.  Suddenly, the familar ring of the phone started.  Only this time, it was a male voice that answered.  And a female one talking.  Thats when four of the girls began to walk down the iles.  All of them were dressed like a Backstreet Boy in the black and blue concert.  Deena was Howie, Laura was Kevin, Abby was Brian and Bethanie was Nick.  Yet Kari was nowhere in site.

"Where is she?"  asked Kevin.  Suddenly, a figure appeared on stage and began to sing.  It was Kari.  The other four were dancing in there spots.  All of the guys were amazed that they could pull something this great off without being professionals.

"Listen baby i'm sorry, just wanna tell you don't worry.  I will be late don't stay up and wait for me.  Say again your dropping out my battery is low, just so you know, we're going to a place nearby gotta go!"  They sang for a second time.  One stage, Kari was just trying to get through this without screwing up.  They all began the little vocal part and Kari got really nervous.  She had always been bad at this part.  But this time it went off without a hitch.

"Phew!  I thought i'd never do that!"  she thought to herself.  Her eyes then moved to the back of the theater.  She had a little trouble seeing them but she knew they were there.  She smiled.  She knew that all of them were enjoying it.  Even the one she never thought would.  The song endded and the crowd went crazy.  In the back, Nick and Brian were whisling.

"Come on guys!  We can do better than that!"  A.j. laughed.  He pulled the other four out of their seats.  Soon, the whole theater was doing the same.  Kari and her friends watched in awe.

"Wow!  I didn't think we did that good!"  Bethanie laughed.  Kari snickered.

"Neither did I Beth.  Neither did I."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Back at the hotel a few hours later, everyone was sitting around talking about the whole night.  Of course, Kari had her gold metal from winning the contest.

"That was incredible!  Where did you learn all of those moves?"  Brian asked.  Kari smiled.

"I have been watching you guys do that for like a year!  You think I wouldn't pick up on it.?"  she laughed.  She then turned to Nick.  "Oh yeah, do you think you can get my friend Beth an autograph?  I promised her one if we won."  Nick rolled her eyes.

"I think you did fantastic Kari."  said A.j..  He gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Well, I do owe some of the credit to you.  If you hadn't been so nice about it, we might still be stuck in each others bodies.  Do you have any idea how uncomfortable it is to have girls running up to you and you being a girl yourself?"  she asked.

"Thank god I don't."  said Brian.  Kari hit him with a pillow.

"So, does this mean there are going to be less fights on the bus?"  asked Howie.  A.j. and Kari looked at each other.

"Oh yeah.  Our fighting days are now behind us.  No more of that."  said A.j..  He then looked down at his watch to see it was almost midnight.  "I don't know about you guys, but i'm tired."  he said.  He began to walk to the door when Kari got up to follow him.  Thats when she accidently tripped and smacked into him.  A.j. turned around looking angry.

"Uh oh."  said Nick.

"Why don't you watch where you're going!"  he yelled.  Kari got up.

"Me?  I just tripped!"  she screamed back.

"Yeah right!  You did that just to annoy me.  I wish you would just disappear!"  he yelled back.

"Well right back you punk!"  Kari snapped.

"NO!"  the other three said at the same time.  Thats when A.j. and Kari turned around with huge smiles on their faces.  They didn't say much, but simply....

"Gotcha."