| Chapter 9 |
Elizabeth’s POV
Life was easy. No I was never able to lock Nick and Laura in the bathroom, but I would always remember that…maybe Aaron and myself can get locked in the bathroom… Well anyway it was the last week of school and I wanted to get out of that school. Here I was sitting next to Laura while they were giving out awards to students, that was a bad choice on the teacher’s part but we didn’t care. While we were in the middle of a really good battle of whose boyfriend was cuter my friend on the other side of me started to poke me.
“What?” I asked her annoyed.
“You won!” she whispered to me. My cheeks flared a deep red. I walked up to the stage and accepted the award. I walked down and ran backed to my seat. Both Laura and I got back into the conversation that had been heating up. Thank god the day was shortened other wise known as a half day. We reached my house and I found both her and my parents in the living room. “Who died?” was the first reaction out of my mouth.
“Well the four of us,” my mother pointed to the adults, “Decided to have a second honey moon. Both Laura’s older sister and brother will be going to their grandmother’s. The boys being the nice gentleman they are offered to take you on tour. Kevin will have both Laura and Jules and Brian offered to take you.” I let out the breath I had been holding. The last time I saw Kev names were being thrown and I kicked him where it hurt a few times.
Laura’s POV
I heard Elizabeth’s mother say gentlemen, and couldn’t help but laugh; gentlemen don’t cheat on their girlfriends. Though I really wanted to go cause I missed the guys, I did NOT want to see him again. Not after what he did. At the moment, he could drop off the face of the earth and I could care less. I had finally gotten over what he did. It only took me about 4 months. But hopefully Kevin wouldn’t have him over and I won’t have to come in contact with him for the time I’m there. Ha! Yeah right, not with Liz and Aaron making out every 5 seconds. Ugh! Why couldn’t Nick be like his brother? Oh well, it’s only 2 ½ weeks. I’ll live… hopefully.
I started packing… what joy! I had to leave tomorrow morning at 5, so I have to get up at 3. FUN! I already have 3 suitcases and 4 duffel bags filled, hey, a girl needs her clothes! And I still needed to pack my shoes and about 8 outfits. This was not gonna be fun.
Elizabeth’s POV
It was 3 am, way too early to be up. Anyone who was is crazy…I guess that makes me crazy, no matter, I already knew that. I thought both Nicky and Spaz had gotten back together, I was wrong. Oh that would be fun; we will all be on one tiny tour bus that is what I always wanted to do. I stood put in the cold waiting for someone to pick me up. Knowing the boys, it would be Kevin or Howie. After waiting on the curb, Spaz came out. We both sat on the side of the road half asleep. Finally a limo came down the street. It lowed the window like they do in the movies and it framed both the Carter Brothers sleepy faces.
Once we got in I cuddled close to Aaron while Laura tried to get as far way from Nick as possible. I shook my head and rested it on his shoulder. I fell asleep because the next thing I knew people were making awwing sounds, and then I heard the unmistakable sound of a camera going off. I just ignored them and continued to doze in the car. I finally did wake up to someone shaking me or pushing/pulling me out of the nice comfortable seat. Once I finally stumbled out I gave each and everyone of them a dirty look. All I asked was to be pointed in the closest place where I could lie down and go back into Dreamland.
We on the bus and I just headed for the back. I didn’t feel like finding my bunk and I knew as long as I could lay down with out getting stepped on I would be fine. I was awaked a few hours later when I felt a heavy weight on me. I looked up and saw blue hair. I shoved him off and everyone laughed at his bewildered face.
Laura’s POV
When my mother told me I would be staying with Kevin, I figured she meant at his house. Not a tour bus. This was not going to be a pretty 2 weeks! The one person I didn’t want to see, and I had to share a tour bus with him. At least I wouldn’t have to share a hotel room. I have to kill Elizabeth later, cause bet you 20 bucks, she knew about this. Life sucks.
I grabbed my Nike duffle bag out of the limo trunk, and held my little sister’s hand. The dude said he’d carry it, but then I pointed to the rest of my bags. Those would be going into the bus tunk thing on the bottom. I left Nick, Aaron, and Elizabeth to go find the other guys. I found AJ first. Eating as always. I whispered into my little sister’s ear, and she obeyed so well. She ran up to AJ and grabbed his Big Mac and bite into it. His face was priceless. He didn’t need that this early in the morning anyway.
“Aww poor AJ! Little girl take your food?” I said walking over to him and gave him a hug. AJ was my man, too cute for words.
“Laura! What’s up girlie?” he asked returning the hug and kissing my cheek.
“Nothing. Really tired, how do you guys do this?”
“You’ll get used to it. Ready for two weeks of touring?”
“Ready for two weeks with 2 teenagers and a 3 year old?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be. But, now that you’re not with Nick, you’re my girl right?”
“Of course J,” I said rolling my eyes at him.
“What was that?”
“What was what?”
“Don’t think I didn’t see that!”
“I didn’t do anything!”
“Whatever, it’s too early.”
“O GOD HELP ME!”
“You know you love me!”
“I want you, I need you, oh baby, o baby.” I said dully.
“Whatever, just leave me and my half eaten McDonalds alone.”
“ciao!” I said picking up my sister and went to find the others. The next one I saw was Brian.
“BIAN THE TOWL!” my sister screamed out, wiggling out of my arms and running up to Brian, clinging to his leg.
“What she call me?”
“Brian the troll.”
“And she came up with that by herself?”
“No, you can thank my sister later.” I said kissing his cheek. “Julies, wanna let go of Brian’s leg now?”
“UH UH! I WUV MY BIAN!” she said, holding his leg tighter.
“Sorry Rok, can’t help you. Looks like your stuck with her.”
“That’s ok. Hey Jules, want a lollipop?” he said pulling a dum-dum pop out of his pocket. Her eyes light up, and grabbed the lollipop. “Laur, want me to watch her so you can go settle for the time being?”
“Could you?” he nodded. So I left, hoping he could handle the 3 year old. But then again, he could handle Nick. What’s the difference? When I went into the back I saw Liz sleeping. I took the chair across from her and started to listen to my Discman. I heard Liz scream and I looked up, there was AJ on the floor, bewildered, I laughed at him.
Elizabeth's POV
Both Laura and I went up front after AJ threaten to do something to me. We went up to the front and put on a CD. It was the first 98 Degrees CD; both of us had fallen for one of them. So we were your basic teenyboppers when it came to those four guys. Putting on the CD, we both blasted it. We sung along writing and other odd things we did in when we were bored. After a little bit Aaron stumbled out, his hair a mess. It was obvious that he had just woken up. Laura asked when the tour would be over. Thank god we only had three more places to go: New York City, Lexington and the last stop Orlando. After he gave us that little tid-bit of information he started to nuzzle my neck, then we went into full-blown making out. I think we started to make her sick and she left.
I guess we had been making out for a while because suddenly the bus stopped and Brian came up front. He just made a face and got off the bus. We stopped after that I went into the bathroom to take care of the possible hickey that might have formed. When I got out we were in a parking lot. One limo was in front of us. We all got in and the limo started to move.
"Kev were are we going?" Laura asked.
" We are going to Times Square, TRL." Nick answered.
"Thanks, Nick. But next time I ask KEVIN something KEVIN should answer." She replied. We all laughed at Nick's expense. We finally reached Times Square and surprisingly the fans weren't there, well a few were but not that may. But both Laura and I seemed to get dirty looks from people, well they can go to hell. We were put in make up and then told to go into the photo booth. It was a tight fit, but we finally got everyone in the picture. I ended up sitting on Aaron's lap and Laura ended up on Nick's, his hands were wrapped around her waist and she seemed happy. But when we got out of the booth, Laura slipped away from Nick and went to Brian's side and took her little sister from his arms.
It was the middle of the interview and the subject of girlfriends came up. Both Laura, who was holding Jules and myself, were sitting in the audience. Aaron smiled brightly and looked in my direction and mouthed "I love you". Carson saw this and picked up on it. Finally after leaving Aaron he went onto Nick. I guess Nick had this planed because suddenly music came on and he walked over to Laura. I took Jules into my lap while Nick brought her up onto the stage. He sang:
Do you ever think about me
Do you ever cry yourself to sleep
In the middle of the night when you awake
Are you calling out for me
Do you ever reminisce
I can't believe I'm acting like this
I know it's crazy
How I can still feel your kiss
Chorus:
It's been six months, eight days, twelve hours since you went away
I miss you so much
And I don't know what to say
I should be over you
I should know better
But it's just not the case
It's been six months, eight days, twelve hours since you went away
Do you ever ask about me
Do your friends still tell you what to do
Every time the phone rings
Do you wish it was me callin' you
Do you still feel the same
Or has time put out the flame
I miss you
Is everything ok
Chorus
It's hard enough just passing the time
When I can't seem to get you off my mind
And where is the good in goodbye
Tell me why, tell me why
Chorus out
When he finished she had tears on her eyes. When he rose up to look at her, she smiled and kissed him on the lips.
Laura's POV
I couldn't believe what he was doing. I felt my sister wiggle out of my arms, but I let her go. I just sat there staring at the man in front of me. He looked so innocent, so sincere. He looked me straight in the eye as he sang, every word that left his mouth was honest and true. I was too stubborn to realize it before now, but I was in love with him, and there was nothing that could stop it. Soon he was over, and as he rose up to look straight at me. I couldn't help but smile, I forgave him for everything he had ever done. And to show him, I kissed him. There goes hiding our relationship from the press! But we were soon interrupted by applauding, and a round of 'awws'. I turned around and blushed, it wasn't until then that I realized that we had just made up on national television in front of thousands of people. But it's all good.
"So, Nick. Did it work out?" I heard Carson ask him.
"I hope so… baby, did it?" I didn't answer him just smiled up at him and hugged him. "Yeah, it did. Thanks man."
"Well guys, we gotta take a commercial break now. We'll be back to talk to the guys again in a few minutes." Carson said before the camera guy announced we we're off the air. I didn't move from my position, just held him tighter.
We were all being moved around, and the guys were being asked questions by the audience. We ended up with Carson in the middle, Nick next to him, then me, Elizabeth, and then finally Aaron. On the other side of Carson was AJ, Brian, Kevin, then Howie, with Julianna on Brian's lap, playing with his hair.
"Hey, and we're back with BSB. During the break we got these lovely ladies up here. Why don't you introduce yourselves," Carson said to Elizabeth and me.
"Ok, well, I'm Laura, and as of right now, this freak is my boyfriend," I said kissing Nick's check.
"I'm Elizabeth and Aaron's girlfriend," she smiled shyly. She never was that outgoing in front of cameras.
"Ok, then who's that? Another guys girlfriend or a daughter?" he asked pointing to Julianna who was now on the floor trying to tie together AJ and Brian's shoes. I couldn't help but laugh.
"That would be Brian's girlfriend. Sorry Leigh, he's been cheating on ya with the three year old," Nick said to the camera. It was great having the old Nick back.
"What? She's mine! At least she betta be, I payed her 20 bucks to say she was!" AJ argued. "Jules, you're mine, right?" he asked her.
"Uh huh, I Bwyan's and Away's giwlfwend!" she said smiling. That only got awws out of the audience.
"Nah, she's my sister. My parents don't trust me and her alone anymore," I started to say.
"Wonder why?" Elizabeth smirked. I ignored her and continued on.
"So, we're staying with Kevin 'til they come back from the Bahamas.
"Oh! I gotcha!" Carson said nodding.
TRL soon ended, and we were back on the bus. Only two more shows and we're done!!!!! YAY! I was in my bunk with my lap top out and did not want to be disturbed, but of course, on this bus, that's imposible.
"LAURA!!!!!" I heard AJ wail.
"What?" I snapped, that was the fourth time he had bugged me in the past 10 minutes.
"Julianna bite me again!"
"I don't care, tell Kevin!"
"I did! And she won't listen to him!!"
"Ugh!" I said shutting the computer and coming out. "How How, toss me that tape next to you please?" I asked Howie using my new found nick name for him. He complied and tossed it to me. I stuffed the tape into the VCR, but only after turning the N64 off on Nick.
"Hey!" he yelled at me.
"Suck it up and meet me in my bunk," his eyes lit up. Can you say over active hormones? I ignored him, and told AJ to sit in front of the TV, he did so, and I put Julianna in his lap and pressed play and left to find Nick. He was in my bunk waiting like I told him to. He just wasn't getting what he thought. I climbed in and snuggled up to his chest just relaxed. We stayed like that for about 20 minutes, until we were interrupted by AJ and Brian's screaming. "We just figured out Blue's Clues! We just figured out Blue's Clues! We just figured out Blue's Clues! Cause we're really smart!" they 'sang' as they ran around the bus. I rolled my eyes. If only the fans knew…
It was now 11:30p.m., and I was bored out of my mind. I couldn’t fall asleep, and the guys were all either sleeping, reading, or well… I don’t really know what AJ and Nick were doing. I don’t think I wanted to. Last time I saw them, they were looking for nail polish, hair die, and a q-tip. All I know is Kevin’s not gonna be a happy camper tomorrow. Elizabeth and Aaron were cuddled on the couch reading a book, Julianna was asleep, as well as Kevin, and Brian and Howie were both reading. Sounds exciting huh? Welcome to life on the Backstreet Boys Tour Bus! I decided to go back online. Hopefully someone I knew would be on…
“Welcome to Compuserve” the computer said as I logged online. I clicked on my mail icon and looked through it, “Crap, crap, crap… nothing good. Not fair.” I mumbled. Just as I finished going through my mail, my best friend imed me.
That was just the kind of friendship we had, we’d tease and abuse each other, but neither of us ever ment any of it.
She didn’t know that I was dating Nick Carter, and knew a BSB, and I was intending on leaving it that way for now. She hadn’t attended the dance that I would love to erase from my memory forever… so she knew nothing. Besides, if she did know, I would never hear the end of how hot AJ was from her. She had the biggest crush on him, and I really wanted to keep her dreams, dreams.
With that she left me. I changed into my pj’s and went to watch TV. After finding out the only thing semi-decent that was on was reruns of Happy Days, I went to pick out a movie.
“Star Wars… no. Space Jam… no. 1999 World Series… no. Rush Hour… no. Bambi… what the fuck?” I said looking through the movies I found in AJ’s bag. I’d have to have a little talk with him. I grabbed the tap and went to the kitchen area to find him. Long and behold, there AJ was talking to Nick, reading from a piece of paper. I waited a few minutes before going in, and couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“For you I was a poet, one night in your arms, With you the night became fire between your legs, And groans of love for your pairies, I loved, love, Your whole life My arms envelop your waist, My hands draw your silhouette, And my mouth sew embers across your face, That my kisses had left, Like water filtering, through the earth, The proof of my love melted in your soul, And like sparks that jump out of the fire, I covered you with my kisses, My stare left you naked, I took the secret of your soul,” I heard AJ read. (AN supposibly that’s a poem written by Nick Carter himself.) “Now Nicky, I knew I would have to do this sooner or later… Nick, when a man and a woman really love each other…”
“AJ, are you trying to give me the sex talk?”
“And if I am?”
“I got that a long time ago! That poem is about,”
“Sex. I know… which is why your getting this talk.” AJ cut him off. I had to surpress my laughter. Imagine a 23 year old guy giving the sex talk to another 21 year old guy, let alone one of his best friends. “Now, as I was saying, when a man and a woman really love each other, AFTER they’re married, and have a stable income and house, they have something called,”
“Sex.” Nick said rolling his eyes.
“Very good. Glad to see we’re making progress.” I had to save my boy. So I walked into the room to embarrass AJ with the tape.
“AJ? I know you’re having a very er, important and informative sex talk with Nick, but before you get any further into it, can I talk to you for a sec?” I asked walking over to Nick. I sat down next to him and whispered into his ear, “Run.” Then took the tape out from behind my back. “Now AJ, would you like to explain this to me?” I said waving the tape around.
“How did you get that?” he asked turning red from embarrassment.
“I was looking for a movie to watch and stumbled across this. Care to explain?”
“Give me that!” he ordered trying to get it from me. I tossed it to Aaron who was now paying full attention to what was going on. He caught it and began to run. Meanwhile, Elizabeth had caught everything on tape since the sex talk between Nick and AJ. Brian and Howie were now helping Aaron escape with the tape, and Kevin and Julianna were still asleep. The chase went on for about 20 minutes, until a very tired and cranky Kevin emerged from the bunks.
“Shut up! Can’t you see people are trying to sleep?” he yelled. I had to laugh. There he was, standing in his smiley face boxers, his hair sticking up, looking like a rat’s nest, yelling at us to shut up. Not only that, but I had found out what AJ and Nick wanted the hair dye, nail polish, and q-tips for. Kevin’s nails were bright orange, and his hair was streaked purple. Only those two would come up with such and interesting combonation. The site was killing me, and I could tell I wasn’t the only one. It wasn’t until Kevin had left to go back to sleep that we all burst out laughing. Well, everyone except AJ who quickly grabbed his Bambie tape and stormed back to his bunk. Soon we were all asleep scattered all over the bus.
We were almost in Kentucky now. Only about 2 more hours. Not that bad, though it would seem like so much longer expecially now that AJ was pissed at us all. Elizabeth, Kevin, and Howie, were all on their own computers doing various things. Elizabeth updating her new BSB web site, Kevin typing up something for management, and Howie e-mailing his family. So sweet of him, unlike my boyfriend who hadn’t called his mother is the past month. Aaron and Nick were playing Golden Eye, Brian was playing with Julianna, and AJ was pissed sitting in the kitchen area alone. Which left me… bored again. I decided to go patch things back up with AJ. If they’re one thing you never want, its AJ made at you. It’s not fun. I walked into the kitchen area, and smelt smoke. I looked over to the sorce of it and say AJ sitting there smoking. This pissed me off to no end.
“Alexander James! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I demanded, raving with not only anger but disapoinment.
“Smoking, want one?” he asked dully.
“Hell no!” I grabbed the one out of his mouth, put it out and threw them all out the window.
“What the hell was that for?”
“AJ, think about it. Not only did you break a promise to your fans about quiting, but do you know what can happen from smoking? You can fuckin’ die! Do you understand that? Die. As in never live, never get married, new have children. Die. Fucking die!” I screamed at him. This brought Elizabeth into the kitchen area to see what was going on. She obviously heard what I had said, because she went up to AJ and slapped him hard.
“You don’t get that concept do you? My mother almost fucking died from it! Do you know that? My mother! Now go take your god damn cigarettes and shove them up your ass!” I screamed at him, then stormed off to my bunk in tears. I couldn’t believe AJ could be so stupid. I thought he had quit, hell, we all thought he had quit. But no, he had to go back. I wasn’t as mad at him, more disappointed now. Not only did he break a promise to all his fans… I couldn’t believe him.
Elizabeth’s POV
I sat across from AJ and looked at him, not saying anything. He looked at me.
“Aren’t you going to yell?” He asked me with a smirk, I wanted to wipe it off his face so bad.
“Well…no, I’m going to just going to preach about why you shouldn’t smoke. Wipe the smirk off your face. One: You can die! MY grandfather died before I was born. I never met him. The only things I have to remember him by are the things he made in my Mom’s high school and pictures. No memories. HE at least had a chance to have a family and see most of his grandchildren. But you wont. You will be a ‘has been, but now not able to sing’ type of guy. Second, it ruins your lungs, you can’t breath, can’t sing. IF you can’t sing, you don’t have a career. Third, second hand smoke. There is a three-year-old in this bus. You can endanger her life if you smoke! Quit, for Jules, for you, for your future children, and for the Boys.” With that I went into the back to see if Laura was doing okay. I found her in her bunk with Nick holding her while she cried. I smiled at him and went to go look for my own boyfriend.
Laura’s POV
“I hate him, you know that I hate him!” I wimpered to Nick, as he held me.
“No you don’t.”
“I do too! He’s an ass.”
“I know that, remember I’ve known him since I was like 10.” He reminded me hugging me tighter.
“And I feel bad for you, but ugh! He’s just… just.. just, AJ! How can he be so stupid? I mean, he knows what can happen, and he’s endangering all our lives. Second hand smoke.”
“But didn’t your mother do that to you?”
“Don’t bring my mother into this.” I said crawling out of his arms. He knew my mother was a sensitive subject, but he just had to bring it up. “And no she didn’t, my mother stop as soon as she got pregnant with my older sister. So just stop,” I cried climbing out of the bunk and going to find someone who cared. Even if it was just one of my friends on the phone. I didn’t care, at the moment I was pissed at two people on the bus, and it could become more very quickly. I walked across the bus to the front with the driver with my disc man in hand, not stopping to answer anyone who asked what was wrong. I wanted to be alone, and obviously my bunk no longer could allow me to do that. I was almost there when I heard a smart ass remark from no one but the king of asses himself, AJ.
“Nick? Is there anyway you could get your girlfriend to take her Midol, BEFORE she starts her day?” that was it. I had it with him, I walked up to him and slapped him straight across the face, and continued on to the front. So I was acting like a bitch. Who cared? He shouldn’t be smoking, and Nick shouldn’t have brought my mother into the conversation. He knew it was a sensitive subject, yet still had to push it. I had no one to turn to now. The one I loved was hurting me, AJ, who I originally thought was one of my friends is endangering all our lives, and disappointing fans at the same time, Elizabeth and Aaron were too busy cuddling to notice anything, Brian and Kevin were playing with Julianna, minding their own business, and Howie was on the phone, yet again. I was lost in my own little world, with no way out. What was there left to do?
I was laying in my bunk minding my own business, when I felt someone lay down next to me. I opened my eyes to see Nick. “Baby, I’m sorry for what I said before. I didn’t mean it. It’s just. I dunno, I mean, AJ’s one of my bestfriends and it hurt to see you call him that, but still if you never wanna speak to me again, I’ll understand, I’ll just go now.” He spit out in all of about 3 seconds. Then he got up to leave.
“Nick, wait. I’m sorry too. I was acting like a bitch, do you forgive me?” I asked giving him puppy dog eyes.
“Only if you forgive me.” I didn’t answer him, just kissed him. We soon got out of the bunk in search for some form of entertainment. I don’t care what people say, being on a tour bus is so boring. There is never anything to do. I saw AJ sitting there looking miserable. “Nick, hold on a sec. I gotta go talk to him, I feel bad.” He let me go and I walked over to the lump, otherwise known as AJ. “Hey,” I said sitting down in front of him.
“Come to yell at me again?”
“No, and I’m sorry about before. It’s just it hurt to see someone who I care about so much to sit there and smoke. Something that almost killed my own mother, not only that, but endanger the lives of 4 of his best-friends.” I sighed.
“You mean 7 don’t you?”
“No, there’s Nick, Brian, Howie, and Kevin,” I stated.
“And you, and Elizabeth, and Aaron. Girl, I know we haven’t gotten along that well these past days, but you’re one of my best-friends as well. And nothing will ever change that. And about smoking, you’re right, it’s stupid and I should quit. Hell, I’ve tried to quit, and I’m disappointed in myself for not stopping. But, I can’t, and I hate myself for it. But that’s just life, ya gotta deal,”
“But AJ, I’ll help you, I promise.”
“Pinky swear?” he asked holding out his pinky.
“Pinky swear,” I smiled locking pinkies with him. He then hugged me and whispered something into my ear. I smiled, ha ha, Elizabeth and Aaron would hate me forever if I did it, but hey, it would be oh so much fun!