"Not really, AJ," Kevin retorted. "Ya'll are just getting on my nerves."
"Look, I'm tired of fighting. Let's call a truce okay?"
"Sure," Kevin said. "I can handle that."
"Good. Let's go find the rest of the guys and go play golf or something," AJ offered.
"No."
"Oh. Why not?" Brian wasn't the least bit surprised by his statement.
"Because nothing happened."
"What was supposed to happen?"
"I was supposed to find the woman of my dreams!"
Brian laughed nervously and shifted his eyes to the right and then back to Nick. "What did you expect, Frack? A fish to turn into your dream lady?"
"No, Brian. Dammit. Stop joking around. It's not funny," Nick coughed and looked at Brian strangely. "Hey, what's with you, man? Did you go see that little girl?"
"Yeah, I sure did. She is so sick...well not really sick, just disheartened. I couldn't lift her spirits, but I know you definitely can."
"Okay, I'll go there in a little while. How old is she? 5, 10, 15? I wonder what kind of get-well gift she'd like," Nick mused.
"I think you're all the gift she could ask for," Brian smiled mischievously and purposely avoided his question.
"Hey, why aren't you at that Tower thing? Weren't you supposed to go after you got finished visiting her?" Nick asked, dismissing Brian's last comment.
"I had other plans," Brian smiled sheepishly.
"Ah, yes. I heard about your new conquest. Tracy, right? What does she look like? Is she a fan?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. She's a fan. And no, I don't need a comment from you."
"Chill out man! I'm just a little hurt that you didn't tell me, your best friend, first," Nick said. "Best friends...does that mean anything to you?"
"Yeah, Nick. But best friends sometimes keep things from each other...but in the long haul, it just screws everything up. I'm sorry I didn't tell you first. I just didn't think it was time to announce it yet. But now you know. She's really nice...I can't guarantee that you'll like her though. Her friend is really nice...really cute too," Brian grinned.
"Why aren't you going after her then?"
"She's already spoken for, I'm afraid."
"Oh, okay," Nick looked around. "Where is everyone else?"
"Who the hell knows?" Brian shrugged. "I'm about to go get Tracy. I think we're going to eat or something."
"Sure, man," Nick rolled his eyes. "I'm about to go visit that girl. Do you know her name?"
"Yeah, it's Nichole. you'll fall in love with her as soon as you meet her, trust me," Brian smiled.
"She's that adorable huh? I can't wait until I have a little girl. They're so cute," Nick stared wistfully into space.
"Well, you'll have a chance to have a family soon, Nick. Don't rush it," Brian checked his watch. "I'm late. Oh! I told Nichole that you'd be there around 6. You have another hour. You'd better not forget."
"No, sir," Nick saluted. "Do you think she'd like a big fluffy teddy bear?"
Brian thought of Nic's daisy tattoo that Tracy had shown him pictures of and shook his head," Go and find her some daisies. She loves them."
"Really?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah. You can't go wrong with daisies. She'll be thrilled. See you around Frack. And behave!" Brian wagged his finger at Nick before he closed the door behind him.
"Behave?" Nick questioned the empty room. "Of course I'll behave. She's just a little girl!"
"Sure sweetie, what is it?" Joanna's eyes widened.
Howie took a deep breath and prayed for guidance. He hoped what he was about to do was the right thing to do. No, he knew it was the right thing to do. He grasped Joanna's small hands with his and kissed her mouth sweetly.
"I can not even remember my life before you became a part of it. Do you remember that day? I remember it so vividly. You knocked on my door and asked for directions to Sea World," Howie laughed slightly. "You've always had the worst sense of direction. But that's what I love about you. You're not perfect and I don't want you to be. I've loved you since the day you stepped on my porch with your black hair blowing in the breeze. I will love you forever. Why don't we start forever now? I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Joanna's hands started to tremble as tears of joy flowed freely down her face. She smiled at Howie through her tears and watched him fall on bended knee and slide a gorgeous twinkling diamond ring on her finger.
"Joanna, I love you with all my heart and soul. Will you marry me?" Howie looked into her eyes as tears started to course down his own cheeks.
"Yes! Oh yes, Howie! I thought you'd never ask! I would love to become Mrs. Dorough. I love you so much!" she threw her arms around his neck and wept happily with him.
"I thought it would have a calming effect!" AJ screamed. " I don't need your crap right now Kevin so shut the hell up!"
"Okay guys, listen up," Reggie, one of the bodyguards, said. "I know the flat tire is putting everyone in a foul and filthy mood, but you've got to stop arguing!"
"It's freezing cold out there and I'm hungry. I will not stop arguing. Leave me alone, Reggie," Kevin declared.
"Kevin, you were fine a while ago. Are you going to have to go on some kind of medication? I'm tired of your damn mood swings and so is everyone else!" AJ yelled. "We were supposed to have a truce! When we get back to the hotel, I'm shipping your foul ass back home and I mean it!"
"Yeah right, Bone," Kevin rolled his beautiful eyes.
"I'm sure everyone else will agree with me. Now go away!" AJ scrunched up to one side of the limo, as far away from Kevin as possible.
Nichole heard the knock and got up to check her appearance. She felt a great deal better now than she had earlier. She had on a blue tank top, baggy jeans and looked great. She went to the door and opened it.
Nick plastered a smile on his face when the door opened and looked down, expecting to see a little girl. When he saw just feet and legs, he let his gaze travel up the owner's body and finally rest on her face. His mouth opened in surprise and then shock.
Nichole was beyond shocked. She was shaking like a leaf...Nick was finally there! She wanted to throw her arms around him and give him a much deserved hug, but was too scared to do so.
"C- come in," her shaky voice uttered as she stepped back to let him pass into her room. She breathed his scent in deeply as his arm brushed hers. A lock of blond hair fell into his eyes, which he brushed back immediately. He smiled sheepishly at her and ducked his head in shyness. She smiled at him and looked down. "Wow. I didn't expect you to come here."
"Please...tell me your name is Nichole," Nick's blue eyes pleaded with her brown ones after several minutes of silence.
"Yes, it's Nichole."
"I have been looking for you everywhere, Nichole. Ever since I saw you in Racks, I've seen you around but never had a chance to speak with you. I've seen you at concerts, hotel lobbies, and in the rain. I am not letting you get away this time!" Nick expelled a loud sound, sat on the couch and proceeded to stare at her.
"Well, it seems like everyone knew about us and were trying to get us together. I just now realized it. Tim, Brian, and the rest of the guys huh?" she smiled shyly and sat down on the couch with her one and only love.
"I would have come to check on you earlier today, but I had plans at an aquarium."
"Really? So did I! I couldn't go because I was sick and Brian came and checked on me."
"No way! I knew you were supposed to be there...somehow, I just knew it. The hotel clerk gave me a pass to go today and was quite specific about the time," Nick's eyes lit up.
"Lucy! Lucy was in on this?"
"Well, she knew I had a thing for you because I asked about you."
"She knew I liked you too because I asked about you!" Nichole laughed.
"Ah...so she decided to set us up. And so did Tim when he found out who you were. I had mentioned you so many times to the rest of the group and to the band. Then Brian had to play matchmaker. If only I hadn't been too stubborn that day in Racks. I wanted to talk to you so bad, but didn't want your boyfriend pounding me into a pulp!" Nick shifted his body so that he was directly in front of Nichole on the couch. Awkward silence filled the air, permeating it with tension and passion.
"Boyfriend? You mean Dan?" Nick shrugged at Nichole's confusion. "No, he's not my boyfriend...hardly even my friend now. I came all the way to England to visit him and he acts like an ass."
"Well, I'm happy to hear that he's not your boyfriend, and terribly sorry for his actions toward you," Nick reached across the vacant sofa seat and grasped her hand tightly. "I'll make sure you have only happiness in your life now."
"Oh, Nick. I feel like I've known you forever. It's really strange that we had to travel to a different country to meet each other," she held his hand as if she's never let go and looked into his eyes deeply. "What's going to happen now?"
"I don't know, Nichole. We're going to have to take it one day at a time. Together. Always together. I'll never let go of you," Nick's eyes started to water because of the rush of emotions he was feeling. He knew that she was his soulmate...without a shadow of a doubt. No other person in this world had made him feel so special and loved before. There were no explanations for what he was feeling...it was too deep and confusing. But he embraced it tightly. He wanted to reach out and hug her, kiss her, anything her. But, he waited. For what, he did not know. It was all too soon...happening so fast. But, it felt like it was meant to happen this way so he didn't try to fight it.
"Nick, I want to tell you something," Nichole's lips started to quiver. "I don't want you to think that the only reason I like you is because you're a Backstreet Boy. Honestly, I don't know why I feel this strong attraction to you. I think you are a very talented person and can do so many things in life, but that's not why I feel this way. I'm feeling lost, yet so totally completely found. I can't describe it."
"I know Nichole. I know the feeling perfectly. And I know you didn't recognize me in Racks, but you still felt this attraction. You liked me without knowing that I was a Backstreet Boy. You wanna know what else I know? I know that you like to be called Nic and that you love daisies," he smiled sheepishly and dragged the forgotten daisies out and handed them to Nichole with a flourish.
"Oh, thank you!" she exclaimed. "They're beautiful. I'm not going to ask how you knew...I think I already know the answer."
"Brian."
"Yeah. Speaking of which, he and Tracy has been spending lots of time together. Do you think it's serious?" she wrinkled her brow.
"I honestly don't know. He's had this vendetta against the fans recently, so I can't say for sure," he leaned closer to her. "So, what do you want to do tonight? I've got all night...all week...all year. Just name it."
Nichole blushed a bright shade of red," How about we just sit here and talk. Maybe you could sing for me?"
"Okay. I'd love to sing for you. Just you...always," he brushed a finger along her cheekbone.
Her heart raced and melted then and there. A quiver of electricity shot through her. She knew that after tonight, she'd never be the same. They talked about their families, their friends, their pasts and present. They discussed their love of music, their favorite color to their favorite movie, and spoke of their future. Nick sang for her many times, delighting in watching her face shine with love and adoration for him. As the hours wore on, they found themselves sprawled all over the couch....Nick at one end and Nichole on the other. They played with each other's feet, sometimes just sat there in silence and gazed at each other, and only parted to get food or something to drink. In the wee hours of the morning, they finally crawled into each other's arms, Nichole's head tucked under the crook of his arm and Nick's chin resting on her head. They both fell asleep with content smiles on their faces.
Nick walked through the aquarium with a puzzled look on his face. He could have sworn that he was going to find someone for him today. And not just anyone...his soulmate. He was expecting someone to walk up to him and profess her undying love, but that didn't happen. Maybe it was because he was wearing his yellow baseball cap and she couldn't recognize him. He wouldn't be wearing a hat at all, but he didn't want his bodyguard tagging along today...so he had to dress incognito. He was wishing and hoping that the record store girl would be there, but she wasn't. After the tour, he took another look around and trudged back to the hotel, his hanging in despair.*At The Same Time*
"I said, shut up Kevin," AJ spat. " Are you wanting to fight all the time now?"*Later That Day*
"So, did you have a good time at the aquarium, Nick?" Brian asked.*At The Same Time*
"Joanna, I have a question to ask you," Howie gazed deeply into Joanna's big brown eyes. They were standing under Big Ben, listening to it chime to hours. The both of them were at peace...because they had each other.*At The Same Time*
"Dammit! AJ, why did you talk me into going and playing golf?" Kevin's nostrils flared.*6 pm*
Nick threw five more shirts on the floor before he settled on a plain white T shirt and khakis. He checked his watch, swore vehemently, and gathered the bunch of daisies into his arms. He made sure he had the room number and ventured out of his room. Nick reached Nichole's room and knocked three times.
