TWELVE: The Under-Lying Truth

Backstreet Boy Turns Nasty- Nick Carter Fights Off Adoring Fans the headline read as Caitlyn studied the page critically. The blown up black and white picture captured Nick scowling at the camera angrily, as fans pressed into the boy, while the article ran for no less than half a page around the enlarged picture.

The phone jangled lightly as Caitlyn picked up, still holding the page.

"Page 12" the voice greeted angrily.

"Nice to hear from you too" she replied sarcastically. "How could they do this to you?"

"Easy" the voice stated coolly. "Freedom of speech and all that crap" he supplied seethingly.

"But…" Caitlyn started, as he quickly cut in.

"Listen, I can't get out of the hotel room until right before the concert tonight, but can you guys come over now? I need to explain something important…"

A look of alarm crossed over Caitlyn's delicate features as she heard Nick's request. "Eh…okay" she supplied weakly. "But it'll just be me" she continued nervously.

"What happened to June?" he demanded bluntly.

 "She had a family emergency…she already left when I got back from the concert" Caitlyn fibbed. Fact was, Caitlyn wasn't sure exactly why June left. When she had gotten back from the concert that night, June had left a brief note saying she was okay as she was flying out that night, but didn't explain why. She also left a cassette tape, which she wrote was to be given to Nick himself apologising for her queer behaviour since she had come to NY.

Nick muttered something unintelligible under his breath. "Come anyway" he replied in frustration, as he slammed down the phone.

Dropping the newspaper pages on the coffee table, she pulled a brush through her long blonde hair, then grabbed her black leather jacket from the back of one of the four wooden chairs. She stuffed her wallet in and snapped on her silver-banded watch on before she grabbed her keys from the bench housing the chrome phone. She noted the plastic casing holding the cassette June had left. Her heart and soul. She paused, then shrugged as she walked on past.

Wait, he deserves an explanation she realised. Reluctantly, she turned around and walked back to the counter grabbing the tape, stuffing it with the other essentials in her jacket.

Her fingers grabbed the door-knob lightly as she guided her wrist to twist it. The silver band bounced off the light pouring into the morning sun. She paused for a moment and looked at it guiltily for a moment.

Quietly, she slid it off her finger and placed it beside the phone.

Just for now


She paced up and down the carpeted hallway, passing the room number 259A several times. She smiled demurely as a middle age couple glanced at her strangely, emerging from the room next door.

She continued pacing up and down the hallway and lifted her fist, clenched in a tight ball poised over the wooden door.

She pulled away hesitantly as she strode back down. <I>I really don't want him to know… Sighing, she bent her head and took quick steps back. She brushed against a solid figure rushing past and barely looked up when she muttered "sorry."

"Caitlyn" She heard a matured male voice call. She turned around and pursed her lips into a small smile as she noted the person's worried expression.

"You okay?" he blubbered genuinely. "Nick never meant it to be this way, it's just a stupid bet that AJ made with him, and we kinda put him up to it and…." The voice trailed on, unknowing he had revealed more than she knew.

She looked up, a look of genuine confusion apparent on her face. "What bet?"

"Picking a girl up…to prove Carter still had the charm…" he explained as he watched Caitlyn's face slowly drain white. "Eh… Nick hasn't told you, has he?" he apologised as his brown chestnut eyes widened in shock. "Oh man, I put my foot in it again" he cursed himself as lifted his hands up in surrender. "And I was just about to go see how he was" he muttered to himself as he began to make his way back to the elevator. 

Caitlyn's heart went out to the Spaniard, who looked more forlorn than a lost puppy dog. She broke into a big smile, bearing her slightly imperfect white teeth. "You were only being a good friend" she consoled soothingly.

He smiled briefly, but guilt was still shrouded in his chestnut brown eyes. She smiled back, suppressing best she could that everything was okay. 

"I got to go Caitlyn… I hope everything works out" he bid sadly, leaving a distressed and confused Caitlyn in the hall.

So I guess what goes around does come around she rationalised. I kissed Nick knowing I had Alex…and this Nick thing was some kind of a bet…

She looked up finally, squared her shoulders and walked herself to the door confidently. 

Right, I'm ready for this. She took a deep breath in and tapped on the door.


He threw the door open with exaggerated vigour, revealing a mess of dirty blonde hair framing a sullen face where dark circles formed like a coast around his liquid blue eyes.

Okay, she's here…

He motioned her to enter the room, where she took a seat tentatively on the plush red two-seater.

"Drink?" he asked nervously as shook her head and motioned for him to sit beside her. He ignored her reply subconsciously and walked over to the fridge and pulled out a can of mineral water.

He popped it open and paced in front of her, seeming removed from the events of the room.

"I have something to tell you" he began loudly as he looked down shamefacedly. C'mon Carter, you gotta tell her. She deserves better than to be living a lie he coaxed himself imperatively as he glanced at her fidgeting with her fingers.

"Where's your ring?" He asked as if to stall time.

She stopped fidgeting; then she looked him squarely. The blonde in his hair set off majestically against his green robe.

"Actually, it's funny you should ask that" she supplied as she kept her brown eyes on his blue ones. They seemed to house a magnetic force between them, begging them to explain. I have to be honest she reminded herself.

"Wait…" She dug into her pocket and retrieved the small cassette, and placed it on the coffee table between them. "It's from June…her apology" she shrugged.

Nick picked the plastic cover and held it for a few moments. She's saying sorry? Man this is screwed.

"Thanks" he murmured. "So what was it again?" he asked as he rubbed his temples with his fingers as if to relieve the stress.

"I…shouldn’t have kissed you" she blurted as she winced at his reaction.

"No, no, I shouldn't have…. " he began in shock.

"I shouldn't have even been near you, I should have never even snuck backstage, I shouldn't have even come to New York" she apologised as tears began to form behind her eyes.

"…But" he protested insistently, just as she shouted out four words, they both wished they had never heard. 

"I have a boyfriend"

Time seemed to be a useless measure as an infinity of nothings flew by. Caitlyn waited desperately for a response while she watched Nick, more frozen than an ice sculpture.

"I'm sorry" she whispered as she placed a kiss on Nick's cheek before she walked out of the ensuite and slammed the door behind her.

Can't let you see what you mean to me

When my hands are tied

And my heart's not free

We're not meant to be…

 

"The Hardest Thing" 98* , 1999 Universal Records Inc

Stephen A. Kipner Music / EMI / Muso Music (ASCAP)

 

© sayamaru and 'Bittersweet Rhapsodies' 2001-02

No part of this website may be reproduced in part or in whole without permission of the author/webmistress.

All ideas, graphics and layouts and backgrounds and stories are copyright of sayamaru and Bittersweet Rhapsodies. I am in no way affiliated with the Backstreet Boys, their management wives/girlfriends or the girls used in these stories.