Ch. 17 When they got home, they walked off to their own doors. Howie and Brian opened the door and gasped when they saw Nick. "What happened to you?" Howie asked. Nick gave him a look but decided to make a joke out of it. He threw his hands up. "That's what I'd like to know! I told her I wanted my face painted and when I woke up I was covered in red. The moral of this story is never fall asleep in the face painting chair." Brian snickered. "You're just sooo funny," Howie sneered. "I know," Nick replied with a smile. "Is Amy red too?" Brian asked. Nick's eyes widened. "Man is she. You should see her. She's redder than I am. I feel so sorry for her." They flinched. Brian grinned wickedly. "Nick, you shouldn't have let her stay on top the whole time! Roll over, man!" Nick punched him in the shoulder but Brian and Howie were cracking up. Nick pushed them aside. "I think I'm gonna go take a shower now." He walked inside and to his room. As he walked in, he could see out his window. It looked straight into Amy's room. He gasped when he saw her. She was standing there in a short, thin, VERY revealing, white silk robe. He also noticed it was very loosely tied around her waist and he could just imagine what was underneath it, or what wasn't. "Make that a very cold shower," he squeaked. She just happened to look his way and she smiled, a little too sexy for him. She shook her finger at him mockingly and closed the curtains. He closed his curtains and stepped out of his swim trunks and pulled off the wet T-shirt he had worn on the beach. He walked into the bathroom and got into the shower. He turned the water on and shivered at first at its iciness. As he showered, his thoughts drifted to Amy and he smiled. Amy walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She slipped out of her robe, hanging it on the doorknob. She started singing to herself. She stepped in and shivered at the touch of the cool water against her skin, feeling goosebumps rise on her arms, legs, and stomach. The water felt so good on her severely sunburned skin. Never could she get a tan but always she could get a major burn. Her day with Nick was one of the most fun days she'd had in the longest time. This trip was the most fun she'd had in a long time. She smiled to herself as she thought about him. She had to admit it, she was falling for him. She was scared though. She was scared that all he was in for was a rebound or that she was. She knew that he'd never hurt her but seeing Mandy coming back to get Nick and knowing how he felt about her, she was scared that she would lose him. She decided she wouldn't say anything. Not right now. She shook it off. She showered, rinsed, turned the water off and got out. She grabbed a towel and dried off. Slipping her robe back on, this time tying it tightly around her waist, she walked out of her bathroom and into her room, and over to her closet. She shifted through her clothes. "What am I going to wear?" she asked herself. She pulled out a long, dark, flowery dress with thick straps and looked at it. Nick says I'm too conservative, she thought, Well, I'm going to prove him wrong. She put the dress back in the closet and sifted through her clothes some more. Something sexy, something sexy.. Nothing. She plopped down on her bed. "I am too conservative," she whined. She slipped on her flannel pajama pants and tank top, making sure to put her bra on underneath it. Maybe Jessie could help her find something. "Hey, Jes!" she called out. Jessie came in. "Yeah?" "Help me pick out something to wear tonight." Jessie smiled. "Why? So you can look good for Nick?" Amy just smiled. "Well, if he likes it.." "Is that a confession? Are you confessing?" "What's there to confess?" she teased. "That you're in love with Nick, duh." Amy just smiled again. "You are, aren't you?" Jessie asked. "I knew it!" "Hey! I didn't say anything." "You don't have to say a word. It's written all over your blistered little face." Amy grinned. "I don't know how you can see it." "It's just that little twinkle in your eyes, the grin on your face, the look you have is so similar to when you and..umm..never mind.." Amy looked at her reflection in the mirror and her smile disappeared. It was too soon. She wasn't in love with Nick, there's no way she could have been. Jessie watched her friend. "So..you do like him?" Amy turned around and looked at Jessie. "That's just it. I don't know. I love being around him, but still..It's too soon. I'm afraid to fall for him too." "Amy don't be afraid. It's about time you starting liking him. I mean, ya'll are so great for each other. You understand each other. Besides, it's so obvious that he likes you. That's why your little friend is so jealous. She knows it too." Amy looked at her. "Mandy, his ex-girlfriend, is here. I just have this recurring sense of dread about her too Like she's not quite gone from him. Like he still loves her. I heard him telling her that he missed her earlier." Jessie looked up at Amy. "Amy, don't you miss Lance?" "Yeah." "Don't you still love him?" "Yeah, but I wouldn't take him back. Nick has taken this girl back before, like four or five times. There's nothing that would stop him now." "Yes there is. You. He likes you and he proved it today by not going back with her." "Only cuz I intervened." "Yeah and he could have told you it was none of your damn business and went off with her." "It really wasn't any of my damn business.." "Still, Amy..." Amy sat down next to Jessie on her bed and put her head in her hands. "What difference does it make? I'm 17, he's 19, why would he want to date a younger girl?" Jessie put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Think about what you just said. And besides, one great friend of mine once told me that love has no age." "Wasn't me." "Yes it was. About two years ago I started dating Matt and he was 13 while I was 15." Amy nodded. "Ah, yes. I remember it." She stood up in front of her closet. "Well, help me pick out something to wear." Jessie walked over to her closet and pulled out the dress Amy had considered "too conservative". "Wear this, he'll like it." Amy smiled. "Are you and Matt coming?" "Of course we are," she said, winking at her. She started out the room. "Wouldn't miss seeing you happy again for the world." Amy changed into the dress and looked in the mirror. "Well, at least it covers my tan line." She walked over to the mirror and sat down to blow dry her hair. She turned it on and dried her hair, humming "I Want it That Way". A.J. walked up to the house, feeling pretty good. That is, until Brian opened the door with phone in hand. "There you are. Phone's for you. It's Amanda." His stomach dropped and his smile faded. Brian watched A.J.'s quick mood swing as he trudged up the stairs. He grabbed the phone and walked off to his room. He shut the door, locking it. He took a deep breath and held the phone to his ear. "Hello?" he squeaked. Oh, real smooth, Bone. "Hey baby," she spoke, her sweet voice purring in his ear, making him feel even worse. "Whatcha up to?" "Not too much. How about you?" "Honey, is something wrong?" Not unless you consider kissing another girl besides you is a crime, he thought. "No, Mandy Bear, why do you ask?" "You're just not acting like your normal self, that's all." "I'm just tired and I miss you." "Aww..Well, you know, I finish recording in a few days. I could take a flight down there." Panic filled his every thought. "No!" he shouted, a little too harshly. "I m-mean, that's okay. Stay there." "Are you sure?" she asked, concern in her voice. "Positive. Sorry to cut this so short but I gotta go. Brian is begging me to get off the phone so he can call Leighanne. Love ya, bye." "A.J.? Uh, okay. Bye. Love ya too." They hung up and he sat on his bed. "What am I going to do?" he asked himself. "About what? Brian asked, walking in. A.J. pointed to the door. "Wasn't that locked?" Brian wiggled the knob. "It's broken. Are you through with the phone because I need to call Leighanne." A.J. handed it to you and he started to walk out. "How do you stay faithful?" he blurted out, "How do you not cheat on her?" Brian turned around and gave A.J. a strange look. "What? Why do you ask? Are you cheating on Amanda?" A.J. put his face in his hands and rubbed it. "Yes and no." Brian sat down next to him. "Explain." "Me and Kelly were hanging out at the beach today and having a good time. Well, one thing lead to another, and I wound up kissing her..more than once.." "Oh, no," Brian groaned. "I love Amanda but I really like Kelly. I know how bad this is going to hurt Mandy.." Brian handed him the phone. "Get it over with. Tell her." A.J. looked up at him and reluctantly took the phone. He called her. After they hung up, he handed the phone back to Brian. "She hates me and I deserve it." "Yeah, you do. I'm very disappointed in you, man." With that, he walked out of the room, leaving A.J. miserable. Brian walked into his bedroom and plopped down on his bed. He dialed Leighanne's phone number. On the third ring, she picked up. "Hello?" she asked, sounding out-of-breath. "Hi, sweetheart," Brian said. "Brian!" she exclaimed, a little shocked. He smiled. "How are you doing?" "I'm a just little out of breath from trying to find the phone before you hung up. This apartment is so messy without you here to clean it." He laughed. "What? You can't clean it up?" "You're the neat one, not me." "Hon, think about what you just said. Me? Neat?" "Well, neater." Brian had to laugh. "I love your sense of humor." "That's what makes me so great, isn't it?" "That and a few other things," he flirted. "Brian Thomas!" He heard her doorbell ring. "Are you expecting someone?" "Just my lover, the pizza boy. He knows how I like it." "Excuse me?" Brian asked, laughing. "Did I say that out loud? Oops." He laughed some more. "Really..Whatcha doing tonight?" "Oh, probably watch some sappy Sandra Bullock movie and think of you the entire time. Seeing that is your other woman." He chuckled. "Yup. You and Sandra Bullock." "Sweetie, I wish I could sit here and talk some more but I've got a big box of hot cheese pizza and about six movies to watch so I better go. I love you, my baby duck." "Quack, quack, baby," he joked. She giggled. "Love you too. Bye." They hung up. He smiled and took the phone back into the living room, passing Nick on the way. "Quack, quack, my baby duck," Nick teased. Brian looked at him and noticed all he had on was the towel wrapped tightly around his waist. "You're losing your towel." Nick looked down. "What?" Brian grabbed the towel and it dropped. Nick caught it at his knees. Brian cracked up. "Nice tan line." Nick glared at him. "Funny," he muttered as he walked back into his room, holding onto his towel tightly. Everyone was cracking up. "Nobody teases me about being a duck," Brian joked in his best Donald Duck voice. Everyone laughed harder. Nick walked into his room and over to his suitcase to pick out some clothes to wear. He finally pulled out a pair of green striped Adidas pants, a white T-shirt, and a Tommy T-shirt. He pulled them on and looked in the mirror. He was satisfied. He grabbed his Cool Water cologne and sprayed some of it his shirt. Don't wanna stink, especially not around Amy, because she will let it be known. He smiled at the thought. "And what are we smiling so broadly about?"he heard Brian ask. Nick turned to look at him. "Ever heard of knocking?" he asked, haf-joking. "I did but you were so caught up in yourself to hear." Nick sighed. "Sorry, it happens. Especially when you look as good as me." Brian gagged. "Spare me." Nick smiled. "I know you're jealous. It's okay, I understand." Brian grinned. "If you look so good why are you so desperately single?" Nick placed his hand on his heart and gave Brian a pained look. "I'm in the process of healing right now. I'll come around soon." Brian stepped inside and closed the door. "I don't think Amy's gonna wait forever." Nick whirled around and looked at him. "What are you talking about? She's still stuck on Lance. She'd wait on him forever." Brian gave him a stern look. "Now, Nick, that ain't fair. She's just as hung on him as you are with Mandy and you damn well know it. In fact, I bet if Amy hadn't intervened today you'd be off getting your heart broken once again by the unstoppable Mandy Williford. That's gotta mean something." "What though? That's she wants me? Please..I seriously doubt that. I'm nothing more than a crying post to her." "Nick, she only cries on you because you let her. You mean a lot to her. Who else but you could understand how she feels? There's more to it than just a shoulder to cry on. She may not tell you because she's scared just like you are. She is scared she's gonna get hurt again." "I'd never do what Lance did to her though." "Does she know that? I doubt if she even knows exactly how you feel. You've pushed yourself away from her as much as she's pushed herself from you. Ya'll need to talk because ya'll have got a lot of issues to work out. Try to do it in the next two weeks because you may not get a second chance on what could be the best thing that ever walked into your life." He turned around and walked out and Nick looked in the mirror. I know, I know, he thought, But how? He pulled on his Nike shoes and walked out of the room and down to the living room.
Ch. 18 "Right up here," Kevin said, leading them up the stairs. He opened the door and let them in before walking in. Everyone looked up. Brian was the only one who knew Beth so he immediately recognized her. "Hey Beth!" She smiled when she saw his familiar face. He walked over to her and hugged her. Everyone else just sat there, looking dumbfounded. Kevin smiled at them. "Howie, A.J., Nick, this is my ex-fiancee, Beth, and her, well our, daughter, Emily." They sat up then. "Daughter?" they asked simultaneously, all three shocked. "And Nick, she specifically asked to meet you. Seems she's quite a fan." Nick walked over to the tiny brunette and crouched down in front of her. "Hi, Emily." He kissed her hand. She blushed. "How old are you?" "I'll be 8 in August." Nick gave a mock gasp. "You're only 7? I could have sworn you were at least 18!" She giggled. "No!" He snapped his finger. "Darn! Well, do you know my brother Aaron?" Emily laughed and Nick looked up at her. "Does she? Oh, man. Nick, there's only one person she likes more than you and it's that little brother of yours." Nick smiled down at Emily. "Oh, really? You know, I think I remember him telling me that he wanted a girlfriend. You know how 11 year olds are. Let's see..You're 7, he's 11..not too bad. Only four years difference. Not bad. He might be a little uneasy about it at first but I think he'll get over it when he sees how cute you are. How's that sound? I know it'll be hard to get over me, but you'll have the next best thing.." She smiled and nodded her little head. He stood up and held out his hand. "Wanna go watch cartoons with me?" She took his hand. "I'd love to." He winked at Kevin and Beth. "It's the Carter charm. Works everytime." Kevin rolled his eyes but Beth gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks." "No problem." He led her off into the den and closed the door. When they were sure she was out of earshot, A.J. had to ask. "What's this about a kid, Kev?" Kevin looked at Beth. "See you guys all know why we broke up but well, what I didn't tell you was uh.." Beth took over. "We slept together for the first time and well, nine months later, Emily was born. By that time, Kev had moved back down to Orlando and I didn't know what to do. I wanted to tell him about our daughter but I couldn't find the courage to do it so I put him in the past and moved on. I got married but I still loved Kevin and I hated that Emily might grow up not knowing who her real father was. Well, my husband and I divorced and I brought Emily here with me on a vacation and I ran into Kev last night at the hotel. Today, I finally told him.." "What are you going to do now?" Brian questioned the couple, "Cuz if anyone finds out had a kid outside of marriage, rumors could spread." Kevin looked at her again. "We've talked about that. We've decided to reinstate our engagement and for now, not say a word about Emily." "When are ya'll gonna get married?" Howie spoke up. "We don't know," Beth answered, "We've decided to get to know each other again and in a year or so, we'll get married." "That's great and all," A.J. replied, "But is this going to affect the band in any way?" They looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. The guys all exchanged anxious glances. Emily looked over at Nick who was staring out the window, a dreamy look in his eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked. He snapped out of it and looked at her. "Huh?" "You seem sad or something. What's wrong?" Nick shook his head and smiled gently at the small child. "Just daydreaming." The little girl giggled. "But it's night time!" He tickled her little tummy. "Then I'm night dreaming, silly girl.." "What are you night dreaming about?" Nick couldn't tell a 7 year old child what he was thinking. He didn't even understand what he was dreaming. "Just of some stuff. So..how do like it with Kevin being your daddy?" She nodded. "I like it. Hey! If my mom and Kevin get married, can I come see you at your house?" "Of course! I told ya, you gotta meet Aaron! Just come on over and we'll cook hamburgers and we'll go swimming at the beach and we'll ride on a boat..." "Cartoons!" That caught him off guard but he nodded. "Yeah, we'll watch cartoons if you want.." She pointed to the TV. "No, cartoons! Turn it back. Johnny Bravo is on!" He put it on Cartoon Network as the show was coming on. He watched Emily get up and do the monkey dance. He laughed. She sat back down, glued to the show. Nick got quiet and gazed out the window. He could see right into Amy's living room. He watched as she stood in front of the TV dancing to a music video playing. He smiled to himself as he watched her sway her hips to the beat of the music. He licked his lips. If I could just get her to dance with me like that, he told himself. He heard a soft snore and looked down to see that Emily had fallen asleep in his lap. He smiled as he remembered how Amy did that just a day ago. She looked so peaceful lying there, so beautiful. He felt his eyes grow heavy and he laid his head against the arm of the chair, passing out. "Mom! You gotta let us have a cookout!" Kelly argued, We promised them! This is the Backstreet Boys we've invited!" Their little brother, Phillip, snorted. "And that's supposed to change her mind?" She glared at him. "Shut up!" Her mother looked at her. "I'm sorry, honey, but you didn't ask me in advance so I can't do it. We don't have anything to cook out with." "Can we rent some movies and order pizza then?" Tat suggested. Their dad looked at them in the rearview mirror. "When you find a money tree." Kelly sat back and crossed her arms, sulking. "Ugh! This isn't fair!" Their mom sighed, giving in. "If you can find one good movie, I'll order a couple of pizzas and you can invite them over. How many are coming?" Tat sat up. "Let's see..There's Nick, Brian, Amy, A.J., Howie, Jessie, Matt, and Kevin..so that's eight people. We could watch 'Titanic' or something like that." Kelly shook her head. "No, that's too long. How 'bout 'Hope Floats' or something like that?" Tat nodded in agreement. Their mom nodded. "Okay, what time are they coming?" "At 6:30," Kelly replied. "Well, it's 5:45 now so we better head on home I guess before they get there," Mr. Santos spoke up. Tat and Kelly smiled at each other. Kelly leaned in to whisper. "After 'Hope Floats', let's watch 'Urban Legends' or something scarier. You know why." Tat shook her head. "No, why?" she whispered. Kelly rolled her eyes. "I swear, you are so dense sometimes. We watch scary movie, you grab Nick's arm and I grab A.J.'s. Duh!" Kelly hissed. Tat smiled. "Okay." They laughed silently. Amy looked at her watch. "It's 6:15, Jess!" she yelled. "Thank you for helping me learn to tell time!" Jessie joked. Amy laughed. "I do what I can!" Amy looked over at Matt. "You haven't said much to me since we got here." Matt shrugged. "Haven't had much to say." "So I noticed.." They got quiet. Jessie came in the room. "Let's go." Matt came up behind her, kissing her neck. "Let's stay home tonight. We can have fun all by ourselves." She turned and smiled at him. "Tempting, but no. We can do that later." They heard Amy making gagging noises. Matt gave up and walked outside with them. They started down the beach. "So, Amy, whatcha gonna do about Nick?" Jessie asked. "I don't know. First of all, I gotta go get them. We'll meet you there." They nodded and walked off. Amy took a deep breath and walked up the stairs. She knocked on the door and Brian opened it with a warm smile. "You're looking good tonight," was the first thing out of his mouth. She blushed but managed a grin. "Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself. Are ya'll ready?" He stepped aside to let her in. "Almost. Come on in." She walked in. Everyone looked at her and smiled. A.J. winked at her and pointed towards the den. "Hey red! Your twin's in the den!" She gave him a thumbs up and smiled. "Thanks!" She walked into the den. It was totally dark with the exception of the television blaring, "Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you.." She looked down at the couch and saw Nick fast asleep with a little brunette lying in his lap. She had to laugh. She kneeled down in front of him and leaning over, brushed his bangs out of his eyes. He was so peaceful looking. She shook him gently. "Nicky, wake up," she whispered, trying not to awaken the little girl who she still hadn't figured out who she was. He stirred awake and looked at her. She smiled. "Wake up, sleepyhead." He laughed. "You sound like my mom." He stretched and yawned. "What time is it?" "10:00," she teased, "You missed the whole cookout. Best food I ever tasted." He sat up. "Why didn't anyone wake me up?" he asked. Amy stood up. "You just looked so peaceful that we couldn't do it." He saw her watch on her arm so he pulled her arm to him and held it up to the light. It read 6:20. He looked up at her. "Missed it all, huh?" he asked. He let go of her arm and lifted Emily up gently off of his lap. She curled up, let out a loud snore, and slept quietly. He stood up and stretched again. "What time do Tat and Kelly expect us at their house?" "6:30." She looked down at the little girl and back at him. "Do you always leave the girls you sleep with without saying good bye?" she jokingly asked. He smiled and stood right in her face. "Not all of them. Depends on how much I like them." She laughed. "Is that so? Would you say good bye to me?" He shook his head. "No." Her smile faded. "Oh." "Cuz I'd never get up." She looked back up at him, back into his eyes. He started to lean in to kiss her when Kevin walked in. They stepped back from each other. "Just came to get Emily for Beth. We're going out tonight so we thought we'd take her." Amy stopped him. "She's asleep, Kev! Let her stay here! We can babysit her." Kevin pointed outside. "But the cookout.." Amy waved it off. "I didn't really want to go." Kevin looked at Nick. "Do you mind?" Nick looked over at Amy and back at Kevin. "Not at all." Kevin stepped back. "Thanks a lot you two. But..you know the rules.." Amy smirked at him. "Yes, father.." she teased. He gave her a warning glare but smiled. "Thank you so much." Amy and Nick nodded. "No problem. You and Beth go have fun. Ya'll deserve it." Kevin walked out of the room and he and Beth left. Amy looked over at Nick. "Who is this kid? Who is Beth?" Nick opened his mouth to tell her when Brian poked his head in. "Aww..if it isn't the Lobster Twins, Half-Baked and Fully-Cooked.." Amy threw a stuffed animal at him. It glanced off his head. Brian laughed. "Are ya'll coming or not? It's 6:30 now." "Nope," Nick replied, "We're gonna stay here and baby-sit Emily." Brian nodded with a grin on his face. "I see..." Amy raised her arm to throw another toy at him. He held his hands up. "I didn't say anything!" "Yeah, but I know what you were thinking.." That got a grin out of both the guys. "How? Were you thinking about it too?" Brian teased. Amy smirked at them. "No, retards. I just know how your minds work." Brian looked at Nick who grinned at him. "If only you did.." Amy looked off and back at him. "Brian.." "Yeah?" "Shut up." "Why?" "Just do it." "Fine. Good enough for me." Amy smiled. The others popped their heads in. "Are we going or not?" A.J. asked. Brian looked back at him. "We're going now. Nick and Amy here have decided to stay home and baby-sit." A.J. nodded and gave them a grin. "I see..Well, you guys behave yourselves. No making out around the kids now." Amy and Nick nodded with a smirk on their faces. "Oh, it'll be so hard not to though," Amy teased. "We know, we know," Brian said, "Just remember the kid. Well, we're gonna go. Want us to bring you something back?" They nodded. "Okay then. See ya'll later." They walked out and Nick and Amy smiled at each other. "So..what do you wanna do?" Amy asked. Nick looked over her shoulder at Emily who was still sound asleep. He looked back at Amy and towards his room. She smiled. "Race ya'!" They ran off to his room. "Thank you," Mrs. Santos said, hanging up the phone. She looked at Tat and Kelly. "Pizza'll be here in about fifteen minutes." "Great!" Kelly said. Turning to Tat, she told her, "Let's go get the popcorn and movies in the den." "Okay. You got get the popcorn and I'll get the movies." Their brother wandered in and over to them. "What are you guys going to watch?" he asked. Tat looked at him. "'Hope Floats'." He made a gagging noise. "Girly movie." Kelly grinned. "And 'Urban Legends'." His face lit up. Tat stopped him. "No, you're not watching it. You're just too young, kiddo." "Please? I'm 13! That's not too young!" He looked at his mom in defense. She shook her head. "Sorry, sweetie. It's rated R. You're not watching it." He sulked. "That's not fair!" he complained. Tat and Kelly stuck their tongues out at him. "Go play with your toys," Kelly teased. Phillip opened his mouth to say something but closed it when he saw the warning glare on his mother's face. He glared at them. "Man!" He stomped off to his room mumbling. Tat and Kelly looked at each other and smiled. "Movies." "Popcorn." They shrieked and jumped up and down before running off. Mr. and Mrs. Santos looked at each other and shook their heads, smiling. Tat and Kelly met up with the movies and popcorn in the den. They looked at the movies. "Which one first?" Kelly asked. "Definitely 'Hope Floats'," Tat replied, "See you cry at the sappy movie and they'll hold you which by the time we watch the scary movie, we'll be guaranteed a chance to grab their arm." Kelly smiled. "I like how you think. Sappy movie, it is." "While we eat the pizza, we can listen to music--" They heard the doorbell ring. "Your friends are here!" their mom yelled. Tat started out the room and turned around. "Just find some.." "Tatiana!!!" "Coming, Mom!" She looked at Kelly. "Just find something!" She ran down the hall to open the door but not before fixing her hair and flattening her skirt. She opened the door, smiling. "We were worried we were at the wrong house there for a second," Brian said. "Sorry. Kelly and I were just making some last minute preparations." "Where's the barbeque?" A.J. asked. "There's been a change in plans," Kelly told him, running up behind her sister, "You'll just have to settle for popcorn, pizza, music, and movies." "Sounds just as good," Jessie said. Tat looked around but didn't see Nick or Amy. "Where's Nick and Amy?" she asked. Brian exchanged a glance with everyone and looked back at her. "They're back at the house baby-sitting Kevin's kid while Kevin and Beth go out." This time Kelly and Tat exchanged shocked glances. "What?!" A.J. nodded. "Long story, we'll tell you when we get inside. If you let us come in." Tat smiled. "Sorry." They stepped aside and let the guys, Jessie, and Matt in. Mr. and Mrs. Santos walked up to the door. "Mom, Dad, this is Brian, Howie, A.J., Matt, he's not a Backstreet Boy.." "Thanks, I feel special," Matt joked. They laughed at him. "And Jessie.." "Hello," they said. Brian was the first to walk up their parents and shake their hands. The rest of them were soon to follow. Tat and Kelly kept checking out their parent's reactions who seemed very impressed with the guys' manners. "Well, we'll just be here in the living room if you need us," Mr. Santos said, "Enjoy yourselves. The pizza will be here in a few minutes." They nodded. Tat led them down the hall. "The den's in here." They walked in the room into the room and just stood there. Tat laughed. "Please..sit down.." Brian sat in a chair, A.J., Matt, and Jessie sat on the couch, and Howie sat on the love seat. Kelly was trying to find a CD to listen to. "Hey, you guys!" she yelled over the noise of them talking, "Which CD do you wanna listen to? Usher or Mariah Carey?" "Backstreet Boys!" Brian laughed. Kelly gave him a look. "Sorry, babe. Not a choice." Brian pretended to make a face. She looked at everyone else. It was a mixed reaction. "Okay, then. We'll listen to Mariah first then Usher." She put in Mariah Carey's #1s CD and "Sweetheart" came on. She went over and sat by A.J. Tat heard the doorbell ring. "Pizza's here!" she heard her dad yell. Tat started to walk out. She turned to everyone. "Can somebody help me?" Brian immediately got up and ran over to her. "I will. Come on." They walked off into the kitchen. They got the boxes and walked back into the den. Even before they sat the boxes down, everyone was getting slices out. "Jeez. You could at least wait until we sat it down," Tat snapped. She smiled up at Brian when they sat the boxes down. "Thanks." He gave her a shoulder squeeze. "No problem." They got their pizza and sat down to eat it.
