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ELEVEN: Tabloid Trash "You did what?" Brian exclaimed loudly as he flapped his arms in disbelief, circling the four by four dressing room like a plane on stand-by. "Louder Frick...I don't think they heard you in 'Jersey" Nick commented sarcastically as he stormed to the coffee table and grabbed a bottle of filtered water, twisting it open roughly with his palm. He downed half it's contents in one gulp, as if to quench the embarrassment building inside of him. "You kissed her because you panicked?" Brian asked doubtfully as he studied the nervous blonde carefully as he downed the remaining contents. He watched as the so called 'baby' of the Backstreet family crushed the plastic bottle with one hand and threw it across the room with more force than a panther attacking it's prey after starving for three days. "Yes, Brian, I kissed her because I panicked" Nick repeated in annoyance, just as AJ walked in unassumingly. He pulled a can of ice tea from the small refrigerator located just beside the plush couches supplied by the arena. "Man, that routine really did me in" he commented. Seating himself on one half of the couch, he finally noticed Nick glaring at the white walls like they were his enemy and Brian flicking idly through the pages of a magazine. "Dudes, what'd I miss?" he asked as he looked from one to the other expectantly. Sensing a deep sense of hostility still lingering in the air, AJ stood up slowly clutching his iced tea protectively. "You win AJ" Nick voiced out coldly as the goateed one turned around in surprise to face a sullen blonde who crossed his arms across his chest. "What the hell are you on about Nick?" AJ asked as he took a bold step forward to face his nemesis. "The bet, the game…whatever you want to call it" Nick prompted as recognition dawned slowly on AJ's features. "Right…the one where you had to pick up a chick which we chose…" AJ reminisced as Howie walked in, making a beeline for the refrigerator, followed closely by a worn Kevin who stretched his six foot frame over the now vacant couch. "Yeah, that one" Nick gritted as he ignore the new arrivals quizzical looks. "But you and Caitlyn and … what's her name?" AJ paused as he scratched his head as if to remember. "June" Nick supplied curtly, annoyed that AJ had already forgotten. "Right, Caitlyn and June…" AJ nodded as the story slowly clicked together. "But June's sweet on you now" AJ realised in confusion as he looked into the now unrelenting eyes of Nickolas Gene Carter. "You win, fair and square" AJ shrugged as he took a long anticipated swig of his iced tea. "AJ, I don't want to win anything that wasn't honest in the first place!" Nick cried indignantly, his icy cover blown briefly. "Those girls- the ones I fooled- it's nothing to be recognised for" he continued passionately, while Howie glanced at Brian for answers. Brian just shrugged as Kevin prised open an eye slowly, ensuring he had no part of this argument. AJ just stood across from Nick, gaping at his raw confession. "As far as I'm concerned" Nick started again as he eyed AJ icily with one blue eye, "This game is over… you can take my Durango" he finished off stealthily as he left the room in a huff, throwing is keys to AJ. AJ clutched the keys and tossed them around in the air for a moment. "Anyone want a ride?" I have to find them now… I can't live with this anymore! Nick weaved through the throng of people milling through the corridors, trying to get to another meet and greet. He heard loud screams and squeals from pubescent and mature age fans who recognised the six foot frame and mop of blonde hair shoot through thick crowd. Please make them go away he prayed silently as he began to pump his legs faster attempting desperately to escape the people, cameras, paparazzi, the screams and the chants of "we love you", "Date me, Nick" and the occasional "Marry me!" But it was too late. He was being crushed by his many legions of fans who all wanted their own piece of "Nick Memorabilia", tugging at his shirt, tousling his hair, pulling his shoes off. It was all too much. He looked in horror as a large blonde girl wearing a cleavage-enhancing top began advancing on him to make her dream come true. "No!" he screamed much to the surprise of the crowd as he tried to push his way yet again in frustration. Bright flashes cut through his line of vision, aggravating the blonde further. He turned angrily at one camera, which flashed automatically, then clamped up. This is sure to be in the 'papers tomorrow- if I say anything, then I'll be taking no less a fate than a dead man walking He grimaced as he tried to push his way through the crowd, whose screams became deafening to his ears. Like water to an explorer lost in the Arab deserts, he felt the crowds slowly disperse, as he breathed in his first gulp of fresh air since he had stormed out of the dressing room. He heard "boos" replace the positive chants from the crowds as he felt a strong hand pull him from the crowd. "Come on Nick, we're going" he heard a deep voice command as several other foreboding figures in dark uniforms stood surrounding him, making sure no other fans tried anything else. They led him through a dark narrow staircase as the guards joked around lightly about the scores of fans who tried to sneak backstage. Nick said nothing, as they finally led him back into what seemed to him, his "cage" where his managers stood waiting for him along with his fellow Boys. "Nick, you know better than to leave the premises without security… anything could have happened to you out there" A short, stout man in horn rimmed glasses donning a sour expression stated patronisingly. "No doubt your pictures will be all over the 'papers tomorrow. The reporters are going to have a field day" a thin woman stated in a I-told-you-so expression. "So?" Nick seethed "Let them have a field day, just leave me alone!" he hissed as he threw the mini refrigerator open and twisted another bottle of water open. "We have to issue a statement" another suit stated simply as he looked accusingly at Nick. "A statement, eh?" Nick continued haughtily. "Well, lets see…why don't you just say I was mourning the death of my dog… that should shut 'em up" he seethed as he downed half the contents. "Mr Carter, I think you should watch your words" the suit warned knowingly. "'Cos we are the ones who make you" he paused for effect "And break you" the suit threatened menacingly. Nick absorbed the information for a moment then just looked at them, hate evident in his eyes. "You know what I wish?" his voice rose slowly with anger. "That I wasn't part of this circus, you call show business" he threw in disgust as he paused for effect. "I wish I wasn't the clueless mouse running 'round in circles being examined by the public" he yelled as he pointed out the small grimy slit which used as a window. His eyes darted quickly to each of the Boys for understanding "For once, I just want to do things on my own terms and not be ridiculed by the paparazzi" The three official figures stood, transfixed firmly on Nick's slowly deteriorating confidence. "Are you quite finished, Mr Carter?" the stout man queried coldly. When Nick gave no indication, he continued. "Good, because we have a statement to write up" he concluded haughtily. "See you in the morning Boys" he nodded as he exited the small dressing room, the thin woman and the suit following close behind. The door clicked closed just as Nick kicked the corner of the couch roughly. Brian made his way over to the now infuriated Nick and sighed as he just stared at him, shaking his head knowingly. "Just say it…just say I told you so…" Nick muttered as he dropped down to his knees in dejection. Brian shrugged. "You know as well as I… this is show business" Nick looked up at Brian in disbelief, however noticed a sly grin emerging from his serious facade. "You know there are loopholes to any type of rule… you just have to find a loop hole out of this one"
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sayamaru and 'Bittersweet Rhapsodies' 2001-02 No
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