He lifted my chin slightly with one hand and slowly brought his lips to mine as I heard everyone in the background yell, “…ONE… HAPPY NEW YEAR!” Kevin whispered in my ear "Happy New Year, Chloe!"

"You too Kevin" was all I could think to say. The way he kept looking at me I knew I should say something but I didn't want to spoil the perfect moment. I knew we had something special and I could tell he felt it too.

"Maybe you would like to go out to the beach and walk in the moonlight?" he suggested.

"Yea, that would be really nice." So we walked out of the house and down to the beach, he took my hand again and said, "I hope I didn't upset you. I…"

"Kevin, you didn't upset me at all, I think this year is going to be the best yet. Because the first few minutes of it have already been incredible." I turned to face him now and reached up to trace his lips with my fingers. He leaned down a little as I slipped my arms around his neck and we kissed again. The moon was shining on the ocean and there was just the quiet sound of the waves as we walked down the beach hand in hand. The night was so perfect and I was glad that I had come. We must've walked and talked for close to two hours because when we headed back for the party it was already two in the morning. The party was still under way and we danced some more and I met more people till about 4:30 before we headed for Kevin's house.

The next morning, we woke up late and I took a nice warm shower. It was eleven o'clock before I went downstairs to find some breakfast.

"Hey sweetie!" Kevin said as I walked in the kitchen.

"Mmmm…smells good in here, whatcha making?" I asked walking over to the stove where Kevin was facing the pan and put my arms around his waste. He turned around and gave me a kiss on the cheek and answered, "I am making eggs. Did you sleep good?"

"Yea, just fine. You?"

"Good, what do you want to do today?"

"I don't have the slightest. You're gonna hafta decide for me." I said taking the spoon and turning the eggs.

"Well, how about we do some shopping and sightseeing. Then Brian invited us to come over for dinner tonight. He really thought that would be fun. We love doing stuff together since we are cuz and all."

"Yea, that sounds like fun! These eggs are done, let's eat." We went to the table and started eating.

"Okay, so you should take everything you might want for the day because we probably will go straight to Brian's. Is that okay?"

"Sure." We finished eating and went to get our things. After we got in the car, Kevin said he wanted to take me to his two favorite stores before we went to the outlet mall. Shopping with Kevin was fun because he has a real sense of fashion. But after a couple hours he started making jokes. We were in a really stylish Women's shop and Kevin said, "Chloe, come here I found the perfect and I mean PERFECT top for you!" So I walked over to where Kevin was and he held up a purple leopard print silky shirt with purple fur around the collar and cuffs.

"You're right Kev, that is totally me! I should so get it!" I said holding it up and modeling for him.

"Well, maybe," he said, "maybe it isn't the right color for you, here try the green." Now he was smiling and hanging it back on the rack. The rest of the day we spent shopping (I found some really cute jeans and a black skirt and top set) plus we did some sightseeing around Orlando. Then about 5:30 we headed toward Brian's house.

Kevin knocked on Brian's door. "Hey Kev, Chloe! How are you guys?"

"I'm good. How about you?"

"Good, we went shopping and sight seeing today and it was so much fun! Orlando is way different than Minneapolis." I said as Brian had us come in. Dinner was really good, Brian's girlfriend, Steph, cooked it and we had a good time talking. Brian is such a sweetie and when you are around Kev and him it is obvious they are family! The two tease each other like brothers and do so many of the same little things. We played "Monopoly" and "Sorry" it was fun. Kevin won the first game and Steph won the second. Both guys were cute to watch because they are so competitive. Then we said our thank you's and good-byes and headed back to Kevin's house.

"That was fun, " I said to Kevin after we got in the car.

"Yea it was, I'm glad you had a good time." He turned and smiled at me then looked back to the road. So I couldn't resist and reached over and kissed him on the cheek. So he smiled again and turned and kissed me back.

"Hmmm…" he said.

"What?!" I asked.

"Well, I was just thinking that it is only 10 and we could still rent a movie tonight"

"That would be so much fun! Let's do it! What movie?"

"You decide, I really don't care."

"Even if it is a cute romantic movie?"

"Or a chick flick, your choice!"

"How about Runaway Bride? I love that movie!"

"Okay, sounds good. There's the movie place. You hafta go in for me cause otherwise they would recognize me and we wouldn't get out of there forever. Sorry."

"Hey, don't worry about it. I don't mind." So I went in and got the movie and then we drove home. We both wanted to change cause we were kinda dressy and we made some popcorn. After we were all set, we started the movie. It was so much fun to watch with Kevin and just cuddle on his huge couch. At all the parts where Julia and any guy kiss, Kevin would kiss me. What a romantic! (and he is a good kisser too).

We woke up pretty early the next morning and Kevin said he wanted to take me to the beach. We could have a picnic lunch and everything. So we packed our picnic and drove to his favorite place. Since it was morning and a weekday, we had the whole beach to ourselves. I loved the ocean before our day spent there together and even more after. All morning we found shells and made sand castles. We chased waves and just laughed and laughed together. Our lunch was great! And we just spent it talking and getting to know each other better. "C'mon, I'll race you to that tree." Kevin said after we finished eating.

"Okay you're on," I said getting up as he started running. "Hey, cheater! Not fair." So he turned around and ran toward me and picked me up. "Hey! Kevin put me down!" I screamed laughing.

"No way!" And he started toward the waves.

"You wouldn't!"

"Oh wouldn't I?"

"No, because you don't want me get wet. I know you don't."

"You're right I don't want you to, but I think you have to." He said walking right up to the waves and swinging me once then pretending like he was gonna throw me but instead he caught me. "You thought you were gonna get wet didn't you?"

"YES! But you wouldn't. Now put me down sweetie."

"I want a kiss first, or I can't put you down."

"Oh, I'm your prisoner am I?" I asked linking my hands behind his neck.

"Yep, sorry but you are and I need a fee to release you."

"Well, okay." I said kissing him. And he walked back toward the picnic blanket still holding me. We spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach and then we watched the sunset together.

"I'm so glad you came." Kevin said.

"Oh me too! I have had so much fun. And well, you are such a sweetie!"

"I think the same about you sweetheart…" he paused for a second then said, "So do you wanna be my girlfriend? Even though…" I interrupted him. "Yes, I know we are far away but I do so want to be your girlfriend. I can visit sometimes and come down on Spring Break."

"And since we just finished our new tour then the next tour doesn't start till the end of August."

"We can talk about all that later. We can make it work, I know we can."

"Yea, I think so too," he said pulling me closer and running his fingers through my hair. We watched the last rays of sun fade and decided we should go back since my flight was at seven the next day.

My new boyfriend

We left for the airport at about 7 o'clock. My flight was set for 8 which would give us plenty of time. I got my tickets and everything, and we sat down to wait. I love all the time I got to spend just getting to know "my new boyfriend". We had so much to catch up on though, like the last ten years of each other's lives. Kevin promised to call me soon, and that we would see each other again soon, as we said our last good-bye. After one more kiss I boarded my plane. The ride home was so much duller than the ride there. But I kept replaying the last few days in my head and all the fun I had had.

Kevin did keep his promise. He called me all the time. And I called him. Even though he was so far away we kept really close. One Friday night I heard someone knock on the door and guess who it was?

"Hey Sweetie! What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I just was missing you and wanted to give my girlfriend a kiss," he said kissing me.

"Oh you. I missed you too. It is so good to see you, how long are you staying?" I asked as he came inside.

"I can only stay till tomorrow afternoon, I just couldn't get away any longer."

"Well, that is better than no time at all right?" I said.

We used every minute of the next two days. It was so much fun to have him around. Everyone always says Kevin is the serious one of the Backstreet Boys and he isn't. He can be so silly and fun but he also is serious and oh so romantic.

The Backstreet Responsibilities

I was finally beginning to understand what being a Backstreet Boy meant. I went to almost every award show with Kevin. The American and World Music Awards, the Billboards, and the Grammy's. It was so awesome to have almost front row seats at the Grammy's. Kevin always introduced me as his friend. He said that it would help keep rumors from starting. I got to wear new and fancy dresses and find cute matching accessories, which was so much fun! But the best part was spending so much time with Kevin. And I got to know the other 4 guys really well too, and they are so awesome!

They do so much more than everyone thinks. The guys are constantly busy. I hardly ever got to talk with Kevin for more than 10 minutes because he had somewhere to be.

My Birthday

"You're birthday is March 10th right?" Kevin asked me.

"Yea, do you think you can come for it?"

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry but there just isn't anyway. Because we have a press conference that night."

"Okay. Kevin I understand we'll do something later."

"Are you sure, cause I feel so bad?"

"Yes, you have to work, I understand."

"Thanks Chlo."

My whole family plus Anna, Aaron and a few of my other close friends were all sitting at the dinner table. We were getting ready to each some birthday cake when the doorbell rang.

"It's probably Aunt Amy," my mom said going to the door. We all waited to see who it was and I was so surprised to see Kevin walk in. I got up and went over to him.

Giving him a little hug I asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I just couldn't miss your birthday. So the guys said they'd cover for me and here I am." Everyone slid around the table so we could sit by each other. I introduced him as "my friend" Kevin Richardson. (I saw Anna smile just thinking, I imagined, that there was a Backstreet boy at our table.) The rest of the afternoon we spent with my family and then Kevin suggested that we go for a walk.

We went around the block and Kevin was just pointing things out as we went.

"How about that car over there?" he asked.

"I think it is really cute!"

He handed me the keys saying "Happy Birthday, Chloe." I just stood there looking at him and the keys and the car. Then I said, "Oh Kevin, you shouldn't have!"

"I just want my girl to be driving in style."

"Well, thank you so much but really I couldn't take it and …"

"Not another word Chloe. It's a gift and just knowing you like it makes me happy."

"Oh you! Thanks so much, " I said facing him and giving him a little kiss. Then pulling him toward the car I said, "Let's take it for a ride!" We drove around for about 45 minutes. I still can't get over how sweet it was of him, to come in the first place and then to get me a car? Wow!

We didn't get to see each other as much as we would've liked but it didn't matter because we still stayed really close. I got to go down to Orlando for most of Spring Break and Kevin came up and spent 3 or 4 weekends with me. Plus during the last part of the tour, the guys invited me to come along with them. That was so much fun because having front row seats at a Backstreet Boys concert it always nice!

"Chloe?" I heard Kevin say over the phone.

"Yea, its me. How are you Kev?"

"I'm good. But I really miss you and well, is there anyway I can spend the weekend with you?"

"Yea, that's fine but are you sure everything is okay?"

"Oh, yea don’t worry everything is fine. I just have an idea, so we'll just have to talk."

"Sure, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay," and he hung up. I just about died not knowing what he wanted to "talk" about. But finally Kevin showed up and he acted like nothing was up at all.

"Kevin stop it!" I said.

"Stop what?"

"Stop not telling me."

"Okay, we'll talk."

"Good."

"Now I just want you to hear me out totally before you say anything." He said.

"Okay," I was getting really nervous now.

"I want you to come and spend the summer in Orlando with me. I already found a really cute apartment for you overlooking the ocean. So you would have your own place and a part-time job too. Exactly like what you do now and you'd have some extra cash then. We would take all your stuff and car down there. I really want you to come cause I miss you so much and well, if you don't want to I mean, "he was watching me really closely now.

"Kevin are you kidding?" I asked and he looked crushed. "I would love that more than anything!"

"Really?" he asked smiling.

"Yes, why wouldn't I want to spend the summer with you? Plus I applied to the college we saw down in Orlando just to see, and well they accepted me. Cause I had been thinking about wanting to be closer to you if everything worked out too."

"Oh, Chloe!" he said sliding next to me. I just lay in his arms for a while without saying anything. And I knew in that moment that everything would work out, no matter what my parents thought. All the details, everything would be fine if we were together.

Ending My Senior Year

As I had expected my parents flipped when I suggested it to them. They said that going to college in Orlando was ridiculous and that they wouldn't let me spend the summer with Kevin. All they kept saying was that he's 28. And I threw that I was 18 (a legal adult) right back at them. I mean I guess I can see there point but I was gonna have my own place, a job, and be near my boyfriend, it couldn't get better.

They finally decided that I could go which was good cause I was going to go with or without their permission. Kevin was so happy I was going to be spending the summer with him. And I was too. We started making plans but I needed to get through graduation first.

Kevin had called me earlier in the week to say there wasn't anyway he could to come to my graduation. I totally understood and was more excited about the upcoming summer than anything. The graduation ceremony was really fun and everything went really well. That night we had a dance and party for everybody, one last thing as a class. I was having a lot of fun with Anna and Aaron when the principal came to find me and said someone was here for me. I was surprised once again because there was Kevin and Brian was there too. I couldn't believe it! So I got to introduce my friends the Backstreet Cousins. The dance picked up and everyone had a really good time, especially me.

"How did you get away this time?" I asked Kevin on the way to my house.

"I just wanted to do something for you so Brian suggested this and we got on a plane and well, here we are."

"You are so amazing! Thanks so much and you too Brian."

"I was fun," Brian said. They left the next day, but I won't ever forget that and I doubt anyone in my class ever will either.

School was done and I finished packing. I drove down to Orlando. Kevin had my whole apartment full of balloons and it was decorated really cute. I got settled and started my job. (It was very part-time cause Kevin said he wanted me to spend more time with him. What a sweetie!)

The Best Summer Ever

June and July went by so fast and I couldn't believe how much fun I was having. Our favorite thing to do was spend time at "our beach". Kevin taught me how to surf (but I'm not very good!) and he also taught me how to scuba dive. I also got to sit in on several recording sessions. The guys are so incredibly talented and have so much fun together and so I loved all of them.