I woke up on the couch in the morning. Brian had fallen asleep by the time I got out of the shower so I went to get something to eat. When I walked into the kitchen Kevin was practicing singing his song. I laughed at him and we talked. Then I ate my sandwich while watching TV and fell asleep. I got outside to see Nick, Brian and Kevin playing basketball.
“3 hot sweaty guys, boy am I lucky” I joked. Nick smiled and walked over to me.
“Aren’t you supose to bring some lemonade or something like a women would do?” Nick questioned.
“Like a women would do? You sexiest pig! Make your own lemonade!” I yelled, just kidding around.
“Hey, make some lemonade” Brian ordered.
“Yes Master” I replied. I ran inside and grabbed some cans of country time and poured them into 3 glasses. Katie walked in the back door and smiled at me.
“Hey, can’t even make ho-made lemonade” Katie joked.
“SHHHHH, I can’t cook either” I replied. Katie smiled and followed me outside. I gave the guys the lemonade and sat on the grass.
“Hey Kevin, are you going to see Krissie today?” I hollered at him. Kevin looked at me.
“Yeah, I was wondering if you and Katie could come also, in case she doesn’t want to see me” He mumbled. Katie jumped up.
“Only if we can play too” She replied. Kevin stole the ball from Nick and threw it at Katie.
“Deal” Kevin replied. We played a game up to 20. Brian and Kevin against Nick, Katie and I. Nick was complaining that it wasn’t fair teams! Well, I changed into some other clothes and Kevin and I drove to the hospital. Katie met us there because she had to change also. I walked up to Krissie room while Kevin and Katie stood outside.
“Hey there” I exclaimed. AJ sat next to Krissie on the bed holding Marty.
“OH, Hey Nikky” AJ said happily. I stood still. Krissie gave me a weird look.
“What’s your problem?” Krissie asked.
“I didn’t mean to intrude” I explained walking in. Kevin walked in behind me and sat on a chair. I grabbed AJ’s arm and pulled him out of the room. Kevin looked at Krissie.
“Its not that I can’t live without you, It’s just that I don’t even want to try, every night I dream about you, ever since the day we said goodbye, If I wasn’t such a fool, right now I’d be holding you, there’s nothing that I wouldn’t do, girl if I only knew, the words to say, the road to take, to find a way back to your heard, what can I do to get to you and find a way back to your heart” Kevin sang. Krissie looked at Kevin.
“I love you” Kevin whispered. Krissie wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. Kevin got on his knee and pulled out a ring. Krissie was quiet as she looked at him.
“Will you marry me?” Kevin asked. Krissie took in a deep breath. I watched through the glass.
“What did she say?” Katie asked.
“I couldn’t hear” I screamed. AJ laughed holding his child.
“AJ, do you care at all?” I asked.
“No, Marty is more amusing then those 2 fools” AJ replied. I sat on the floor waiting for one of them to come outside. Katie’s cell phone rang and she jumped up.
“Hello?” Katie asked.
“UM, its Andrea” Katie said handing the phone to me.
“Hey Andrea” I exclaimed.
“Hey, can you ask AJ what time he’ll be home at?” Andrea mumbled. I looked at AJ.
“Andrea, wants to know when you’ll be home” I hollered. AJ blushed.
“Later” He replied. Katie hit my arm.
“I don’t think they’re going to be out anytime soon” She joked. I looked into see Kevin and Krissie in the middle of a major make-out session.
“Nasty” I mumbled, pulling AJ outside the hospital with me.
In March of 1998 my life went from good to bad. In Febuary Kevin had asked Krissie to marry him, she of course said yes. The problem was, they couldn’t get married until the BSB were split up. That brought Krissie’s hopes down a lot. When the BSB went on tour Krissie, Katie, and I lived in Brian’s house, since we couldn’t go on tour with them. The BSB were in the process of leaving Trans Con Records. Brian was to have his heart surgery in August and Katie was going to start USF (University of South Florida) in September. (To not complicate anyone, here are the ages of everyone! Kevin and Krissie=26 and 21. Brian and I =23 and 20. AJ and Andrea=21 and 20. Katie and Nick=18 and 19. Howie and Angela=24 and 20.) How was I going to get through 1998? Brian and I had gotten through a lot of things. The heart surgery was bringing his child-like self that I loved into a more mature guy. He wasn’t as fun, in other words, at 23 he was growing up. I wasn’t able to go to award shows with Brian because I choose to stay at home with Krissie. She wouldn’t be able to go anyway since she had Marty. In this case, they were at the 1998 Billboard awards. The guys had just won best group when the phone rang.
“Hey” Kevin and Brian screamed. I put them on speaker phone.
“Did you guys see us win?” Brian asked.
“Of course not, we have better things to do then watch you guys on TV” Krissie joked.
“HAHA” Kevin yelled.
“You both looked fine” I yelled.
“Yeah, we know” Brian replied. I wished I could be there.
“Hey, we got to go, Pamela Lee is waving at us” Kevin joked.
“Oh, you better hope not” Krissie joked. Kevin and Brian said their love and hung up. Krissie stared at her engagement ring.
“Do you think I’ll ever walk down the aisle?” Krissie questioned. I gave her a look. How did I answer that? Yep, like an idiot.
“Of course! Just wait, you’ll see” I replied.
“What about you and Brian? Don’t you ever wish he’d ask you?” Krissie questioned.
“I’m only 20, I don’t try to think about it” I mumbled.
“I have a son, I have to” Krissie mumbled. Krissie had planted a seed in my brain. We sat watching the awards in silence. When the guys got home at about 3am, Krissie and I were already asleep. I woke up to the sound of Krissie and Kevin fighting.
“Kevin, my main problem is marriage! I have a son, I’m going back to WI with Katie and Nicole to see my parents next week! Am I supose to tell them I haven’t set a date?” Krissie yelled.
“No, tell them we don’t know where we want to have it yet. I want Kentucky you want Wisconsin, or something on that line” Kevin replied.
“No Kevin, I hate to make you choose but, I’m going to make you, either we set a date or…” She yelled. I cleared my throat and they stopped.
“Hey Nicole” Kevin said. I smiled.
“Morning you two” I replied. Krissie kissed Kevin and walked outside. Brian came down the stairs.
“Hey, I’m going over to Nick’s, do you want to come?” Brian asked. I nodded and ran upstairs to change. I heard the door open and close and turned around to see Kevin.
“What do I do?” Kevin questioned.
“About what?” I asked.
“You know, you were up, that’s why I stayed and discussed it there. I need to know what to do.” Kevin mumbled.
“Set a date?” I replied.
“That won’t work, I can’t yet” Kevin responded.
“Then don’t, don’t marry her, there will be other men” I hinted.
“But I do love her” Kevin admitted.
“I wonder if Brian talks to Krissie about me?” I joked.
“She wouldn’t give him good ideas, you better hope not” Kevin joshed.
“OH, Krissie is so bad with stuff like that, you don’t want to know how many times she’s messed directions up” I laughed. Kevin smiled. I heard Brian call my name.
“I’ll talk to her” I yelled at Kevin. He nodded as I ran downstairs.
“What B?” I questioned.
“We’re going over by Nick’s” Brian insisted.
“OK” I replied. He grabbed my hand and we walked out the door. In the car I blared the music. Brian usually yelled at me, but today he sang along with me. When we got to Nick’s house the guard at the gate had to let us in. I jumped out of Brian’s BMW and ran toward the house.
“Hey Kates, you ready for Wisconsin?” I asked.
“GOD, it’s going to be so different! I haven’t seen my rents in 3 years!” She exclaimed. Brian walked in and went to look for Nick.
“I know! It’s going to be weird” I replied. Katie smiled. Aaron ran in from outside.
“Nicole, can you help me with something?” He questioned. “Sure Air” I replied. Brian and Nick always called him Airboy, so I shortened it to Air.
“What Up?” I questioned.
“I need to know how to kiss” Air replied.
“UM, are you sure you want to ask me?” I asked.
“I’ve seen you with Brian, you know how to” Air responded.
“OK, UM, make a fish face” I said. Aaron made a fish face.
“That’s it” I replied.
“That’s it?” He questioned.
“Yeah, that’s it” I insisted. I heard Katie laughed. I was outside and could hear them through the window.
“When do you think I should ask her? It seems soon to me, but God, I love her so much” Brian asked.
“UM, I’ll say whenever you guys have one of those take her breath away moments” Katie replied.
“OH, that helps” Brian joked. Katie smiled and Aaron ran inside and turned on the radio. I heard “All I have to give”. I ran inside and started to sing with Aaron. I picked him up.
“I don’t care, if she buys you nice things, does her gifts come from the heart?” I asked. Aaron made a fish face and I dropped him.
“EWWW” I joked. Brian spun me around.
“My love is all I have to give” He sang. I reached up and kissed him. We just stood there like that for awhile. When the kissed ended, I just stared into his eyes. Brian got on one knee and smiled.
“I love you more than anyone in the world, so I’m going to ask you this once and hope I don’t mess it up. Nicole, will you make me that happiest man in the world and marry me?” Brian asked. I smiled for a second then my smiled faded into a frown.
“I can’t Brian” I mumbled.
I sat on the plane, bound for Wisconsin in silence. Marty was crying and Krissie tried to shut him up. I opened my bag to find my CD player and a picture of Brian and I fell out. All week I had stayed at Nick’s house, not wanting to face the man I loved. I was afraid that if I did, I wouldn’t be able to explain why I couldn’t marry him. There were a lot of stupid reasons. After I had said no to him, I ran outside and drove over to his house. I packed my stuff and drove to Nick’s again. Brian had left by then and Katie and Nick let me stay there. The next day, I woke up and drove to the airport. I closed my eyes trying to sleep on the bumpy ride. I must have dozed off sometime because I woke up to Andrea punching me.
“Get Up” She yelled. I rolled over and gave her a look.
“Hmmmmm” I mumbled. Angela looked back at me and grabbed my carry-on bag. When we got off, Angela’s mother was waiting for us.
“MOMMY” Angela squeled. She wrapped her arms around her mom.
“GOD, get off me” Her mom yelled. I laughed and grabbed my bags. We got to their van and jumped in. It was great to be home again. Krissie and I had always lived only a block away from each other. I jumped out of the car and ran to my door.
“MOM?” I questioned. My mom turned around and put her hand to her mouth.
“OMG” She said. She grabbed me and hugged me. I smiled and we stood there until my dad came into the living room.
“Daddy” I squeled. He turned around and smiled. I swear for 3 hours we stood around talking. Krissie and Katie had decided to go out to some bars, so I went with. In the first 5 minutes at a bar, 6 guys were talking to Katie. They all had sisters that liked that Backstreet Boys and she looked familiar. I sat in the corner with Krissie.
“I don’t know Nicole, many hot guys here” Krissie hinted. I smiled and grabbed her hand. We hit the dance floor. At midnight I stumbled into my house. I fell on my bed and fell quickly to sleep. I woke up to the phone ringing in my ear.
“Nicole?” Krissie gulped.
“Blonde, my first hangover in 3 years” I laughed. I heard her moan.
“Hold on, I have another call” Krissie informed me. After 10 minutes I hung up on her. My phone rang again.
“What?” I mumbled.
“Hey Nicole” Brian said.
“How did you get this number?” I asked.
“You gave it to me before you left” He replied. I coughed.
“Hmmm, I’m not in the mood to fight, Tired” I hissed.
“Why are you tired?” Brian demanded.
“Krissie, Katie and I went to a bar last night” I responded.
“OH and what did you guys do?” Brian questioned.
“Had a couple threesomes, the regular” I joked.
“Really?” Brian joked. I laughed.
“Hey B, I got to go” I said.
“Yeah, OK, I was just wondering if we were still together” Brian asked.
“We’ll figure it our later, I have to go to sleep” I said hanging up the phone. My mom opened the door, vacuming. The sound was like a bomb exploding in my ear.
“AHHH” I screamed putting a pillow over my head. I woke up 2 hours later. I was in my PJ’s when my doorbell rang. I opened it up to see Krissie standing outside with a pie.
“My mom made me make one for you, said it’s payback for coming home so late” She joked.
“UM, OK” I said, taking the pie from her. She walked in and fell on my couch.
“SO, what did you do today?” Krissie asked.
“Brian called and I slept” I replied.
“OH, what’s up with you two?” Krissie asked.
“I don’t know, see, I have, UM,” I stuttered.
“Why won’t you marry him?” Krissie asked. Looking around in my kitchen for food.
“Because” I mumbled.
“Oh, Because, Of Course” Krissie joked.
“How about we all go swimming in my lake?” I asked. We called Katie, Angela, and Andrea to come over. We got into my boat and drove into the middle of the lake. A speedboat came past and we all fell into the water.
“Sorry” The guy in the speedboat said. Krissie looked up into the eyes she loved. The reason why she had named her kid Marty in the first place..
“UM, that’s OK” Krissie said. I gave her a look.
“No it’s not, you can’t just drive around pushing people off their boats” I screamed.
“I’m real sorry” He said again. Krissie smacked me.
“Nicole, it’s fine” She whispered. I looked at him.
“OMG, are you Martin?” I asked.
“Yeah, who are you?” He asked.
“No one, have a nice day” I said. 2 days later I had to leave WI and fly back to Florida. The plane ride I had dreaded was here. I got off the plane and saw Brian and Kevin waiting for us. I walked slowly to Brian while Krissie ran to Kevin. Brian grabbed my bag and placed his hand on my waist. No kissing, no crying, no hugging. I put my bag on Brian’s bed and sat down. Brian helped me put my stuff away and we sat down.
“Brian, maybe I should sleep on the couch” I insisted.
“Why?” He questioned.
“Everytime I think of us, I think of me waiting 6 years to marry you, I can’t have that happen” I mumbled. Brian stood up and grabbed a pillow.
“I’ll sleep outside” He snapped. I heard Brian call his friend and the door close. I woke up at 3am hearing Brian outside my door. He stumbled in and jumped on the bed.
“Brian, your drunk” I hissed. He brought his lips down hard on mine. I kicked and screamed but it wasn’t any use. The next morning I woke up and nobody was sleeping next to me. I was actually in a really good mood. I got up and sang in the shower. I walked to the counter and saw a note on it.
“Dear Nicole, My conduct last night was totally uncalled for. I’m very sorry. Lucky for me, the BSB leave for their tour the morning you read this. I’m sorry again and you deserve to call me any names you want. I was drunk and I’m sorry. I booked a plane for you to fly to WI and called your mom. You’ll be picked up for the airport at 3pm” Brian’s note read. I stared at the note and threw it in the trash. I packed my bags and flew to Wisconsin.