Chapter 16
Jayme blew her nose, loudly for what seemed like the one-millionth time, Lindsay had stopped keeping count.
"I thought we were friends." Jayme cried. "But now it's like he can't stand to be around me."
"Well, have you guys gotten into a fight?"
"No, that's just it. Things were going so great. I don't understand it."
"Jayme, can I ask you a question and you answer it honestly?"
"Of course."
"What's going on between you and Nick?"
Jayme stared at Lindsay in confusion, "I told you we were becoming great friends and he is acting like he hates me now."
"No, I mean there's something there. Have you guys slept together?"
Jayme's eyes widened and her mouth hung open. "Lindsay! No. We didn't, we are just friends." She frowned. "Or we were friends."
"Are you in love with him?"
"NO! What is this about?"
"It just seems like something is going on between you two. Something deep."
"Well, it's not. Besides I'm with Jake." Jayme left out how they had broken up, no reason to tell her right?
"Can I ask you another question?"
"If it's about me and Nick getting it on or being in love, no."
"No, it's not that. I was just wondering, why did you shut me out like you did?"
Jayme stared down at the floor and sighed, "I went through some stuff that I didn't wanna share with you."
"Oh."
"Not that I didn't trust you but it was just awkward, I didn't even tell Jake or my family about it."
"Are you doing better now?"
"Yeah." What's another white lie?
"Why did you take Nick home with you during break?"
"Because he was gonna end up alone, he is friend dammit, I couldn't do that to him."
"What did Jake have to say?"
Jayme chuckled. "He hated it, he hates when I so much as mention the Backstreet Boys."
"Yeah. Typical guy."
"Yeah."
"I really hope everything works out for you."
"Thank you so much. I just need a shower and some sleep and I'm sure I will be a lot better."
"Well, I'll leave you alone. Good night girl."
"Thanks. Goodnight."
Jayme walked Lindsay to the door and then headed to the bathroom. "I guess I deserve this huh." She said stepping under the hot water sighing at how great it felt, especially against her puffy sore eyes. "I cried way too damn much over Nick Carter. But never again. Never again."
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Nick laid on his bed looking at the ceiling. "Why? Of the all the people in the world, to fall in love with, I had to fall in love with the one person who doesn't love me." He frowned. "And Jake will hurt her I know he will."
He had been kicking himself ever since he had left the arena. Brian and Kevin had came to his room knocking on the door and speaking softly through trying to figure out what was going on and if he was okay. He never opened the door. He didn't wanna talk, he didn't want anyone to know what a fool he was. He didn't want anyone to know..........
"Nicky?" Nick heard someone sing song through the door.
"Go away AJ."
"Nicky, open up. I wanna talk. I've got beer."
Nick reluctantly opened the door and allowed AJ to enter his room, grabbing the beer AJ offered him popping it open and taking a deep gulp of it.
AJ's eyes widened. "Boy something really is bothering you, you rarely drink a whole beer much less that fast."
"Yeah well, I don't wanna talk so don't ask."
"Is this about Jayme?"
"I SAID I DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT IT." Nick shouted.
"Gee Nicky fine."
"Don't call me that."
"What? We have always called you that."
"Yeah well I'm not a fucking 12 year old anymore."
"You know what Nick I don't know what the fuck is your problem but I don't like it. You know Brian, Kev, Howie and me all want to help you. If you don't want it fine, I'm gone." With that AJ stormed out of the room ignoring Nick's calls for him to stay. He left Nick with a case of beer, and Nick was more than willing to drink every sip.
"Good bye Jayme this will erase you from my mind for the time being." He said starting on another beer.
*************************
AJ made his way down to the bar. He realized to late that he had forgotten his beer in Nick's room and didn't wanna go back to retrieve it, Nick was acting strangely and he didn't like it one bit.
He was surprised to find Jayme there drinking a cold beer of her own.
"Hello." He greeted slipping in next to her.
"Oh hey AJ."
"Whatca up to."
"Idon'tknow." Her words slurred together as she looked at him with puffy eyes.
"You drunk?"
"Just a little bit."
"Yeah. I bet Nick is too."
Jayme groaned at the mention of his name. "Don't wanna talk 'bout Nick."
"You mad at him."
"Idon'tknowwhathappened."
"What? Say that again."
"I tried to make things work, but noooo nothin goes Jayme's way." Jayme went to take another drink of her beer but AJ grabbed it out of her reach.
"You've had enough sweetie."
"NO!! Give me my damn beer."
"I will when you tell me what's going on. How were you gonna make things work?"
"Gonna make him pay."
AJ's brow wrinkled. "Make who pay?" If she was planning something against Nick, there was a war about to break lose.
"Gonna make him suffer. Wanna see him cry."
AJ was beginning to realize how hard it was to have a discussion with a drunken Jayme. "Jayme? What the hell are you talking about?"
Jayme looked into AJ's eyes. "He made me cry, he promised he'd never make me cry. I was his star. His star dammit. I don't wanna be his star anymore."
"Nick's star?"
"Nooooo.........Nicky don't love me."
AJ's face softened at the tears in Jayme's eyes. "Yes, he does."
"Nope."
"Yeah he really does."
"Then why can't I be HIS star?"
"Whose star are you Jayme? Who made you cry?"
"Jake."
"Your boyfriend."
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry. But if he makes you cry why are you with him?"
"Dunno."
"Dunno?"
"I got noone to love. Noone who loves me. Jake is the only one. And I can't let Kayla have him."
"Whose Kayla?"
"A bitch."
"Yeah. That explains it all." AJ sighed. "Jayme? Why do you wanna be Nick's star? Do you love him?"
The only answer AJ got was a loud belch from Jayme. He ducked his head as the people around turned to stare. "I think we better go."
Jayme was too weak and drunk to argue with AJ as he lifted her up and carried her out of the bar.
"Where's your key?" He asked when they reached her door.
Again no answer as Jayme's eyes closed slowly. "Ugh." He set her down carefully checking her pockets for her room key. Once locating it he opened her door and carried Jayme inside, kicking the door shut with his foot and setting her on the bed, removing her shoes and pulling the covers over her. He sighed and ran a finger across her features.
"I wonder if you know how truly beautiful you are." He whispered. "So beautiful."
Jayme sighed happily and spoke in her sleep. "Nicky."
AJ nodded knowingly. "And your losing the one person you love the most, all because you don't even realize you love him."
"His star." Jayme whispered again.
"Wake up Jayme. Wake up and smell the coffee, you could be his star. His heart."
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