Chapter Eleven

Two Worlds Apart-Chapter 11 "Do you have all your stuff?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah. I just have to check out."

"We'll miss ya, chicksta." Adam reached over and gave Kelli a hug. "Come on, you guys. Kelli sandwich!"

"I can't breathe," Kelli wheezed.

"Oh, no! Sorry." As the group broke apart, Sarah inspected Kelli's apparel. "I hope that didn't get your clothes wrinkled.

"Sarah, I have on jeans and a long sleeved shirt, which you can't even see because when I go outside, I'll have my coat on. It is winter, you know."

"Kel, I'll take your key and check out for you. That way you three girls can gossip until your cab comes," Joe offered.

Kelli handed him her key. "Thanks. You rule." Turning back to Sarah and Katie, she handed them an envelope. "Make sure you give this to Nick as soon as you see him."

"What is it?"

"Katie, mind your own business."

"No, it's ok. It's just a letter and a ring."

Sarah put her hands on her hips. "Kelli, this is not a good time to be proposing matrimony."

"Dork, she's not proposing."

"Nooooo. I'm just giving him back the promise ring."

"Girl, he gave you free jewelry and you're not keeping it? Even Sarah knows to keep free jewelry."

"The ring may not have cost me money, but believe me, it wasn't free. Promise rings never are."

"Chicksta, your taxi's here," Mark announced as he walked into the hotel lobby.

"Ok." Kelli put on her coat and the girls headed outside, followed by a bellhop with Kelli's bags.

"Hey, I have gifts for you guys." Kelli handed her dancers little boxes.

"Dude, this bracelet is awesome," Joe said when he opened his. "Did you make this?"

Kelli nodded. "They all match. See? I've got one, too. And there's also a card in there with my address, phone number, email, and cell phone number....and why does that bus keep circling the block?"

Five heads turned toward the bus that was passing by again. "Oh, my god. How did they get back so soon?"

"Katie, what are you talking about?"

"Adam, are you really that stupid? The inhabitants of that bus are none other than the Backstreet Boys. They're back from the concert already and there's no place to park the bus. You better leave, Kel."

"Yeah, ok. Umm, look you guys, I'm sorry if I just ruined your dancing careers. Oh, and if I forgot anything, just mail it to my house." She gave everyone one last hug and headed to her cab before turning around once more. "I love you guys," she said as tears began to spill out of her eyes. Then she was gone.

Left behind were five dances who had no idea what this meant as far as their careers were concerned, but at that moment, they didn't seem to care. In the short time they had known each other, they had become a close group of friends, and they always looked out for each other, even when they weren't getting along. As they watched Kelli slowly travel out of their vision, they each felt like a little piece of them was lost that night.



As Kelli sat in her cab, she looked out the back window as her dancers grew smaller and smaller. "Tell Nick I love him," she whispered.

Fly away from here
Anywhere, Yeah I don’t care
Fly away from here
Wholesome dreams
Are out there somewhere




As soon as Kelli's cab pulled away, the bus came and took its parking spot.
"Hey, why y'all standing out here? Where's Kel?" Nick asked as he hopped down the steps.

The guys and Sarah glared at him as Katie handed him the envelope. "I suggest you read this in private," she told him coldly.

"What's going on? Where's Kel?"

"Please don't make things worse then they already are."

"Is she gone?" AJ whispered to Sarah.

"Yeah. She left when you guys were circling the block. Do Nick, Howie and Kevin know she's left?"

Brian shook his head. "They weren't watching the performance."

"Yet another reason to add to the Top 10 Reasons why Nick Carter is a Shitty Boyfriend list. That makes two items, both of which make him look like a complete and total loser.”

"Well, he's used to being the cute single pop star. He just couldn't resist temptation. Besides, he was probably half-drunk that night."

"Brian, that doesn't excuse the blatant fact that he wants to be with her, and then not even a week later, as soon as her back is turned, he's caught necking with someone else. On TAPE, no less."

"Oh, I know. I'm not saying what he did was justified. And I'm also not apologizing or making excuses. I guess I just feel like I have to stick up for him. Look at Katie. If looks could kill, Nick would have died, come back to life, and then died again."

"And both deaths would be very, very painful," AJ added.

"Hah. He probably won't even know she's gone. Or if he does, he won't care."

"Oh, I don't know. Howie told him that she saw the tape. At first, he was pretty pissed. Then he got all upset, and now he apparently has some fool-proof plan to beg forgiveness. Where did he go, anyway? He's not signing autographs with the other two."

"He probably went upstairs to see what's in the envelope. Come on, Rok. We should go join D and Kev."

"All right. Well, I'm going inside. It's mad cold outside. I'll see you guys later."

Kelli wandered around the foodcourt in the airport, looking for something good to eat. After getting Wendy's, she sat down and pulled out her cell phone. Wondering what was going on at the hotel, she contemplated calling the girls, but decided against it. She was putting all that behind her. It was time to grow up and make her own decisions, to do what would make her happy, instead of everyone else. She was tired of pleasing everyone while making herself miserable. She boarded her plane with new outlook. It was time to please Kelli Dawson and go back to high school, no matter what her parents said or did.


Chapter 12
Two Worlds Apart Our Stories

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