[AOM Index]
[EOTR Fan Fiction Index]
"Hi. I'm Howie!" The man grinned as his hand gripped hers.
"I'm Ella Sanders. I loved the show. How are you doing?" She asked.
"I'm a little tired but I'm happy to be here with the fans. I'll talk to you later Ella." He smiled and hugged her and she moved over to Kevin.
"Hey! I'm Ella Sanders." She said softly and smiled as his hand wrapped around hers. He smiled back at her.
"I'm Kevin. Is this your first show?" He asked looking down as he signed the box she was holding.
"Naw. This is my third but my first time meeting ya'll. I just wanted to say congrats on your marriage to Kristin. I know it's been a year but I obviously haven't been able to tell you that in person before. You couldn't have picked a better person." Kevin's eyes widened.
"You know Kris?"
"Well, she came back here and sat on the couch next to me and I didn't even recognize her but she started talking to me and we had a nice convo and then I realized it was her. She's really a sweet heart." Ella grinned. Kevin hugged her and she knowingly moved on. She decided to wait awhile and wait until the boys began mingling with everyone. A few minutes later she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and was face to face with one of the biggest smiles.
"I don't believe I've met you yet!" Brian drawled. Ella chuckled and gently shook his hand.
"I'm Ella Sanders. Nice to meet ya Brian."
"Did you come all by yourself?" He asked.
"Yup but I've done it before. Oh by the way, congrats on your wedding. Same thing I said to Kevin, it's been a year but I just wanted to tell you in person." He smiled at her and stared into her eyes.
"How old are you Ella?" He asked.
"I'm 17. It's my birthday on Friday so I took a few days off from school and came to see ya'll."
"Where are you from? You're not from Omaha are you?" Brian asked. She shook her head.
"I'm from South Dakota. About four hours away."
"Wow...Well thank you so much for coming and I'll be sure to tell Leighanne about the sweetest fan I've met in a long time. God bless Ella." Brian said as he walked over to the snack table. She sat down and observed everyone around the room. She was one of the very few left besides one young girl and her mother talking to Nick and two girls who looked about 15. She scanned the room and saw AJ sitting on the couch opposite the room picking at the cheese on his plate.
"Cheese is good. You really should eat cheese Alex." She said smiling and he looked up at her and gave her a weak smile.
"Hi. What's your name?" He asked in a monotonous voice. Her heart fell at the look on his face. Exhaustion and pain etched across his face.
"I'm Ella," she began to whisper, "you don't know me but in a way I feel you do. You five speak to me in no way any one has ever spoken to me. You've heard this a thousand times but it still rings true with me. You pick me up when I am down. The beginning notes to Shape of my Heart make my heart smile. And most of all, I thank you for all the hard-work, time, sweat, pain, suffering and heartache you've gone through just to make my life better. Whatever is bothering you AJ, I hope leaves you soon. You don't realize how many people love you even if they don't know you. They love the AJ you show them and that AJ makes them happy. You put a smile on their face and I hope that maybe I can put a smile on yours." She squeezed him arm, winked at him and began to stand up. She felt his hand rest gently on her arm. She looked back down and looked into his huge brown eyes.
"Thank you Ella." He whispered as tears welled up in his eyes. She sat down and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Anytime AJ." She whispered back and he pulled away.
"I've never had a fan say something that sweet to me ever. I mean I've had those you make my life better, you make me happy and those are wonderful but what you said to me, made me feel amazing. Just hearing that makes my life better. You wanna come chill with us at the hotel Ella? I think the guys need to meet you and get to know you better. Especially me. I don't know what it is but you are so easy to talk to...I don't know you but I feel like I need to." He smiled and grabbed her hand and pulled her over to Kevin and began whispering in his ear. Kevin nodded and began pulling AJ toward another door.
"We'll be back. Gotta talk to a few people. Just relax Ella." Ella felt arms engulf her and her eyes widened.
"Whatever you said to him must have been good. I haven't seen him even tear up since his grandma died." A voice whispered into her ear. She turned around and smiled at the man in front of her.
"I just told him what I felt. I'm Ella Sanders." She smiled even bigger and her smile made him grin.
"I'm Nick Carter. I think Brian mentioned something about you too. Said you were sweet."
"I guess I can be but AJ invited me to chill with you guys so I guess you can found that out for yourself. Oh AJ is waving at us to leave homeboy. Let's ride." Ella grinned and pulled his hand toward the door.
"Slow down!" Nick shouted. Ella laughed.
"Un-uh! I wanna chill with you and we can't chill in a car freak-o!" She shouted back laughing. She let go of his hand and sprinted after AJ into the bus. Nick soon followed and looked around.
"HELP! HIDE ME!" Ella screeched running and hiding herself behind Nick. Kevin ran toward Nick.
"Your ass is grass Ella!" Kevin shouted. Nick looked around confused.
"Um..what did I miss in ten seconds?" He asked.
"J was talking about eyebrows when I ran back there and I took a shot at Kevvy's and now my ass is grass!" She shouted as Nick began laughing and soon was doubled over.
"NOOO! NICK!!!" Ella shouted as Kevin picked her up and began stomping toward the back of the bus.
"KRISTIN!!! MAKE YOUR HUSBAND PUT ME DOWN! BUTT FACE PUT ME DOWN!" Ella shouted.
"Butt face? Oh Ella you are so dead!" Kevin boomed as she giggled. He threw her on the floor and began tickling her. Nick sat down next to AJ on the couch as the boys and Kristin watched Kevin tickle Ella.
"She's one of us Nick. I can feel it." AJ whispered.
"Yeah man. She's different. She didn't scream when she met us...." Nick whispered back.
"No man. Not just that. She wasn't looking for us to make her smile Nicky, she wanted to make us happy. She's our angel man. This girl is part of this family whether we like it or not. There's no way around it. God brought us together and I believe that she is what will keep us together, help us keep our sanity and will be our encourager." AJ stared into Nick's eyes.
"She made you cry J. No one can make you cry." Nick breathed out.
"For once, I think those were tears of relief Nick. And this man, this is only the beginning."
