The guard turned to the five who were waiting impatiently for him. “He’s letting you guys go up. Why? I don’t know. But he is.” He opened the gate and let them in. “Go up to the front door and knock. Do not just walk in.”
“Thanks,” Kevin said as they walked up to the house.
“Why would he want to see us? You don’t think they actually believe us now, do you?” Nick asked Kevin, walking alongside him.
“I don’t know. Maybe they just want to smack you as much as I do,” Kevin replied. Nick quieted down and walked slower so he was next to Brian. They reached the house and Brian hesitantly knocked on the door and they waited.
The older Nick opened the door and let them in.
“What did you want from us?” AJ cautiously asked, looking at the older version of him.
“We wanted to give you this back,” Nick handed them the remote. “And tell you we believe you. We tried it out. It works. You’re right. But why are you here?”
“We wanted to see what our future was like. It was back in ’94, when we were just getting bullshit,” Kevin hit AJ’s arm when he swore. AJ glared at Kevin then continued. “We wanted to know if our work was going to pay off or if we were just going to flop. One of the guys from Jive had this and told us to use it. So here we are.”
“You succeed. Very much. What else did you want to see?” The older Nick replied.
“What our lives are like.”
"Well, uh, you came to the right place?" AJ held his hands up.
The older Nick groaned, "Duh? Come on in guys, Jay, since your brain can't handle to much activity at once, why don't you call Moe, Larry and Curly."
"I resent that Carter!"
"Oh! Big word, can you spell it?" Nick snickered and AJ rolled his eyes.
"I'm off to call the air heads!" AJ bowed and left the room. Not even ten seconds later he reentered, "You sure you want me to call Curly?"
"Didn't I say to?"
"I think so?"
Nick laughed, "Don't think to hard AJ."
"I think just fine thank you. I think better then most people think, I think.."
"I think you think to much sometimes, just don't think and maybe when you do think, you'll think right and thus think better then most people think when they think...I think?"
"I think that made sense actually."
"I think you need your head checked, because I can't even think of what I just said. I think it was stupid."
"I think my head is fine thank you. You think to much...I think...Do you think?"
"I think I think..."
"I think I think too much, this conversation is making me think to much. I think that makes sense..." By the time they finished, the two Backstreet Boys were in tears they were laughing so hard, whereas the other five were trying to figure out what had just taken place.
"I think you should call the other three now." Nick said trying to catch his breath, but only succeeding in doubling over in laughter once again.
"I think I should too!" AJ stumbled out of the room holding his sides.
The younger AJ said, "What the hell just happened?"
"I think it was a conversation!" Brian said laughing.
"I think you two need to shut up!" Kevin said not realizing he had just added to the joke. All six started laughing loudly, even Kevin who was somewhat confused.
Nick led the younger versions of the group into the entertainment room where they had first been seen.
"I'll be right back, I want to get changed." He motioned to his sleep wear then left the room. None of the boys talked during his period of absence and when he returned they saw he had changed into baggy beige kackis and a tight fitting black shirt. He had even gelled his hair, he was still bare foot though.
Kevin noted to himself that Nick was going to grow up into a handsome young man, whether or not he matured though, he was still to see.
The twenty-three year old took a seat on the couch, folding his legs under him, he leaned back and made himself comfortable.
"How tall are you?" The younger Nick blurted out.
Nick chuckled, "Six foot two inches."
"Wow! I'm gonna grow!"
"Another person taller then you Howie!" AJ joked. Howie rolled his eyes.
"Doesn't look like you'll be growing much either McLean." He retorted back with a grin.
"Well, well, other places will grow!" AJ stuttered.
"I've known you for nearly four years, I've seen you in every stage of undress, if you haven't grown down there in four years, you won't grow in the next four." AJ shut up.
The older Nick, who was laughing loudly said, "He got you there, Howie's a good ego killer."
The sixteen year old grunted as his older self entered the room.
"Howies on his way, Brians flying in, as with Kevin, I think they're coming more for our mental health, they don't believe us."
"Ya think?" The 2003 Nick said.
"Oh God, not this again!" Howie said.
"I think he had enough," AJ laughed, which only elicited groans from the others.
“When are Brian and Kevin getting in?” Nick asked.
“In about two and a half hours, they're both in Kentucky, they were planning on coming out here anyway so they've already got a flight scheduled.. Howie should be here in a few minutes.” He then turned to the younger version of the group and asked, “So, what do you want to know?”
“Everything. Everything that has happened since 1994, just anything and everything!” AJ replied.
“You go through a lot more bullshit with management. But you’ll always be getting bullshit from them. That’s how it works. For about two years, you’re going to do small concerts in Orlando, high schools and such. You’re not going to make it big. There’s going to be a decision to send you guys to Europe, see how you do there. A single is released, and its basically instant pandemonium. You’ll do a ton over there, release I think two albums. By late 1997, we came back over to the States and released another song and it was huge. After that, you’re basically rolling in money and fame. Life’s great.”
“Two more years of this? I think I’ll go crazy by then!” Younger Nick whined.
“Oh, you’ll get over it. Believe me, its worth it. Some things are going to go down that aren’t cool, but not until around ’99 I think..” Older Nick trailed off, looking at AJ who shrugged.
As they sat there, they heard the door open and someone coming in. “This better be worth my time,” The voice said until AJ cut him off.
“What, were you in the middle of getting your hair done?”
“No. Shut up, AJ.” Howie appeared in the shadows. He looked at the older Nick and AJ, then at the younger version of his group. “What the hell..” He trailed off, staring at the group.
Feeling bratty, Nick said, "What? No hello? Is that it D.? No hello? You're just using us aren't you? That's it! I WANT A DIVORCE! AND I'M KEEPING THE RING!" AJ snickered and Howie rolled his eyes.
"You need help, and lots of it."
"That's correct Mr. Dorough! Alex! Tell him what he's won!"
AJ said, "Pick a door! One, two or three?"
"AJ, hush, you guys are nuts."
AJ smirked, "pick a door doofus."
"What maturity. Fine, for humoring sake, two."
"You have won...FIVE YOUNGER VERSIONS OF THE BACKSTREET BOYS! YEA!!!!" He ran around the room flapping his arms.
Howie blinked several times. "You...are...both...absolutly...bonkers."
Nick giggled, "You sound like Kev..."
"I should tell him you said that."
"Go ahead, he won't hurt me."
Across the room, the young Kevin grunted. Howie finally turned his attention on them. "Are you guys really..."
"Yeah!" Brian jumped excitedly. "How cool is this! We're in the future!"
AJ laughed loudly, "I forgot how much of a fruit Bri was!" Nick answered back, "He still is!"
"Only bitchier," Howie muttered and the other two laughed.
"What's that s'pose to mean?" Kevin stood, protecting his cousin.
Nick smiled, "things sure have changed."
"They have." AJ agreed, "Anyway, D., these guys really are us in the past. Believe it or not." Nick nodded.
"Well..I wouldn't believe you, " Howie smirked, "But I'd believe Nick." AJ answered with a ha ha, you're funny.
Howie sat on one of the couches, he slouched out, placing his foot on the coffee table and his arm over the back of the couch. "What the fuck did you tell them already? I hope not much, you give shit away you'll changed the past dick wad." The younger Howie leaned forward, surprised at his future mannerisms.
"We said they'll go through shit with the mange, go to Brit country, come back here and'll be rolling in green." AJ said. He flopped onto the couch next to the Latino, "It's all about the Benjamins baby!" He sang in a high voice.
Nick sat between the two, laughing as they moved over before he sat on them. "Rap is crap bitch. You can't spell crap without rap."
"You like some of it Nick!"
"Choice artists. Only some. Rock is better."
"Satanic Slipknot?" *AN- I don't know if Nick likes Slipknot, this is for the sake of the story.*
"Bet you they could beat up Puffy."
"Excuse me, P-Diddy, thank you." Nick roll his eyes at the comment.
"Can any of you stay on subject?" Kevin asked, angry.
"No." The three said at once and started laughing. For the next three hours, there was idle chatter about the boys. A little after 9:30, headlights shone through the windows and both Kevin and Brian arrived. The eight boys greeting the other two in the entrance foyer.
Kevin entered, all smiles, happy to see his other bandmates. He picked up AJ and swung him around. Dropping him he said: You still being good?"
AJ laughed, "Yes daddy!" They laughed.
Howie, acting goofy, put on a straight, but funny looking face and stuck his hand out. Kevin shook his hand once while laughing and pulled him into a hug. Releasing the smaller man, he grinned, "Grow up D.! Literally!"
"Hey!" Howie playfully punched him. Next, Kevin turned to Nick.
"How's the baby?" Nick rolled his eyes and snickered.
"And how's grandpa?" Kevin laughed and pulled him into a tight hug, kissing his cheek.
"Still a brat I see."
"Just how you taught me!" The younger versions were speechless. Such a friendly exchange between Nick and Kevin to them was unheard of.
Brian had said his hellos to AJ and Howie and had been talking to them when he turned to face Nick. The '94 boys were expecting a warm greeting between them, but all they saw were to stiff smiles and shifting eyes.
There was an awkward silence among the two which Howie quickly fixed. "So Kev, Rok, these are the guys they were telling you about."
"We know they were telling the truth because we tried out their little time travel device and it worked." Nick added. Kevin nodded.
"Intriguing.."
AJ said, "Come on, we chatting in the living room, leave your crap in the hallway."
For nearly an hour, the older boys told the younger ones about themselves. They said nothing of what was going to happen, such as AJ's rehab and Nick's arrest, but told minor things. It was the fourteen year old Nick's falling asleep that finally stopped them.
The younger Kevin said angrily, "Wake him up, he's being rude!" But the other Kevin only smiled at Nick, lifted him up, and put him to bed in one of the guest rooms. When he returned, his other self pounced, "Why did you do that? Why are you being nice to him? He's nothing but a brat!!"
The thirty-one year old turned to his younger version. “You have a lot of growing up to do. He’s fourteen. He doesn’t know everything you do, he’s only a child. He still is now, but that’s different,” He grinned at Nick, who in turn gave him a dirty look but laughed.
Younger Kevin sat and fumed about what he was just told, but didn’t say anymore, afraid of being reprimanded again.
“Its getting late, we should probably get to sleep soon,” Older Howie said, looking at his watch then up at everyone else. “Where are you five going to stay?” He asked, looking at the younger group.
“Umm, we haven’t really looked into that yet. Probably find some hotel,” Brian replied.
“What about Nick? He’s asleep already,” Older Kevin asked.
“We’ll wake him up and take him. No problem, he’ll get over it,” Younger Kevin replied.
“He can stay here, I’ve got the room. But after that, I have only one room if Kevin and Brian are staying here like I figured they would,” Nick offered his suggestion.
“Yeah, I’ve got room for three at my house,” Howie said.
“No, it’s all right. We can find some hotel.” Younger Kevin stood up and motioned to the others to get up too.
“At this hour? Not many places will let you get rooms. Don’t worry about it. Who’s going to stay with me and who is going to stay with Nick?” Howie looked at the group.
“I’ll stay here, so Nicky doesn’t totally freak out when he wakes up,” Brian said.
“Okay, so you three come with me,” Howie said, standing up and waving at the other three to follow him to his car.
The younger versions, plus Howie were just about to walk out the door when AJ jumped up.
"Wait!" Nine heads turned towards AJ. For a brief moment he froze. Kevin was just about to say something when his head cleared.
"Sorry, brainfart. Um...My Nick, come'mere."
The twenty-three year old raised his eyebrows and followed AJ to the other side of the room.
AJ said, "Are you sure you want Curly staying here?"
"Never said I was."
"Tell them that Brian should go with Howie since ...uh...they can talk to him."
"Old Brian?"
"Yeah. You don't mind the young-"
"No, I liked him then."
"Gotcha." The two turned to face the others. "Okay listen up, Nick and I discussed it and we figured that Brian should go-"
"Old one."
"Yes the old one, should go with Howie because D. shouldn't be left alone with younger children," AJ paused to grin as Howie rolled his eyes. "Actually, just in case to many questions are asked and I need to chat with Kevvy so Littrel was nominated. Which child would like to stay in his place."
The younger AJ smirked, "I resent that!"
"You know Alex, you need a bigger vocabulary," Nick joked.
"Wait," Howie said eager to resolve the problems between Brian and Nick, "Isn't Brian allergic to my rugs? Since they're that weird stuff...or something? He should stay here then tomorrow or the next day, get that allergy medicine that works."
AJ groaned. "Howie..." Howie shot his best friend a look clearly stating to keep quiet.
Nick said nothing, but nodded. Howie stepped forward and hugged Nick, whispering in his ear. "Please Nicky, try to work things out?"
Once again, Nick only nodded.
Howie smiled and stepped back, okay guys, we're off!" The four left. The remaining five were silent until AJ broke the silence.
"All right, Young Brian, Nick's in the guest room which is upstairs, the third door from the right. My Hicks, You know the other guest room, one of us and sleep with Nicky, and I don't mean the sick way," AJ grinned as groans filled the room. "And the others whoever that may be, can stay in the other room? Got it?"
"You don't live far though AJ." Kevin pointed out.
"So? You think I'm going home to an empty house when everyone else is have a pajama party? Hell no!"
Kevin nodded, "Fine. I'll stay with Brian, and you and Nick stay together."
Unable to control himself, AJ said, "Oh, you two cousins behave now!"
Brian gasped, "AJ! That's not funny!"
However, Kevin laughed, "We ARE from Kentucky ya know!" He ducked as Brian went to hit him. "Calm down cuz, I'm just joking, have a sense of humor!" Brian sneered.
"I'm going to bed." He stalked off to the guest room. Once he was out of ear shot, Nick, AJ, and Kevin started laughing. The younger Brian stood quiet, not understanding the exchanges he was seeing that night. He sighed, "I'm going to bed, all right?"
"Okay, goodnight!" Kevin said as he walked upstairs. Everyone followed and was soonafter asleep.
end chapter
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