Kerri sighed as she told an old lady that she needed to take the change OUT of her pocket before she stepped through the metal detecter. Man, working at an airport can be such a drag, she thought. At least I might get a glimpse of The Backstreet Boys today, the thought sent a chill of excitement down her spine. Kerri was a huge Backstreet Boys fan. She had moved to Orlando Florida to become a dancer, figuring it would be a good place to try since so many people like them had started their careers there. Instead she ended up working at an airport. At least Desiree is here with me, the only thing that kept her sane.
"Kerri!" Desiree, her best friend, shouted to her breaking her thoughts. "Listen to your walky talky!"
Stupid walky talky, she thought, they give them to everyone so they can always be in touch to tell you what to do. Kerri shook her head and raised it to her ear.
"You there?" a voice asked her, she mubbled yes. "Well good, just to inform you the Backstreet Boys are headed your way and I have a job for you. Take them to the nearest emptey waiting room. They will stay there until their limo arrives."
"Ok, I'm on it." She said back, almost too shocked to reply. Desiree was listening smiled happily and started to move people out of the way. After creating a path she joined Kerri to wait. Any second now, Kerri thought. As if reading her thoughts she promptly heard screaming girls.
"Get ready to run!" She told Desiree as the Boys appeared around the corner, followed by tons of fans. When they came close enough she ran up and grabbed Nicks arm yelling, "Follow me!" over the loud screams. The other four, their body gaurds, and Desiree followed as they ran through the airport. They dashed inside the nearest waiting room and Kerri locked the door.
"Only employes can get in here now." She smiled at them as they made their way over to the couches and sat down. "You know, you have to worry about some of the people who work here too." Desiree said slyly, winking at Kerri. "You have some pretty big fans here. You never know what they might do." She couldn't help but to grin, neither could Kerri.
"Well I hope none of them come in here." Aj said sarcastically, picking up on Desiree's vibe.
"Too late." Kerri said, taking out her Millennium cd and a pen. She waved the pen back and forth signalling she was waiting for autographs. They all smiled and agreed, Nick took the pen and cd from her hands. He signed the cd then passed it on to Howie. He scouted over over and motion for Kerri to sit down. She wasted no time making it to the seat.
"Don't I get a seat?" Desiree pouted, sticking out her lower lip. Her eyes lit up joyfully as Aj scouted over so she could sit in between him and Kevin. Aj scouted closer to her and slid his arm around her shoulders. Kerri could barely keep from laughing at the look on her friend's face. She looks like she is about to die and go to heaven, she thought. One of us really should get them something to drink, and Desiree just looks so happy where she is, even though Kerri hated the idea of leaving HER seat.
"I know you must be thirsty after that long flight, can I get you guys anything to drink?" she said standing up slowly. Kevin, Howie, and Aj all asked for cokes. Nick smiled at her, "I'm fine, thanks." She couldn't help but stare, he had the most beautiful smile. She was so absorbed in his smile she had not heard the door open. A hand grabbed he roughly from behind and spun her around.
"Mark," she gasped startled, "what?"
He glared at her, then at Nick. "Excuse me," he said through clenched teeth, "I need to talk to my GIRLFRIEND for a moment." Kerri winced as yanked her by her arm across the room.
Desiree longed to chase after and help her friend, but she knew how Mark got when he has jealous. She would only make things worse by interferring. She turned back to Aj and the rest of the boys. SHE couldn't stand seeing her bestfriend at times like this, she certainly didn't want THEM to see.
Mark pushed Kerri up against the wall, "What is wrong with you!" he said harshly.
"Nothing!" she said looking up at him.
"Don't lie to me!" he said, his vioce rising slightly. "I know how you can be, how flirty you are around other guys. Can't you go one minute without coming on to another guy!?" He began squeezing her arms and pressing her up against the wall harder.
"I wasn't flirting Mark!" she insisted, struggling under his grip.
"Whatever Kerri. Like last month when you just 'accidentally' kissed that other guy!" he hissed pressing harder.
She let out a little sob and weakly said, "Mark you are hurting me."
All the anger washed from his body as he saw the tears forming in her eyes, he hated to see her cry. He released his grip on her and she slid to the floor as she began to cry. "I'm so sorry baby. I didn't mean to hurt you, I love you so much. You know that right?" he asked. Kerri didn't reply, she just fell inot his arms and continued to cry. Mark picked her up and led her into a back, employes only, room.
Nick watched in disgust as Mark lead Kerri into a back room. None of the other guys had noticed. Desiree had done her best to keep their attention away from her friend. Nick didn't blame her. No one should have to see that, no one should have to be PUT THROUGH that, he thought sadly. Kerri is pretty and seems so nice, why did she end up with a guy like that? Desiree's walky talky interupted his thoughts.
"Your limo is here." She annonced, disappointed they had to go. She scribbled down her phone number and gave it to AJ before instructing them how to get to their limo safely. As they started to leave Desiree caught Nicks arm and pulled him back.
"Don't worry about Kerri, she can handle it." She whispered handing him Kerri's phone number. It doesn't SEEM like she can handle it, he thought. He smiled anyways and thanked Desiree.
Desiree sighed, I just met the Backstreet Boys, I should be happy. It's impossible to be happy when your best friend is so miserable. She did her best to keep the Boys attention away from Kerri, but Nick sat there watching like a hawk. He looked so concerned about her. Desiree glanced back at the room where Mark had taken her. She could hear Kerri and Mark talking softly, even though Kerri's voice was quiet Desiree could tell she was upset. She shook her head, then headed towards the now calm main airport.
Ch. 2
Kerri walked into her appartment and listened to Mark drive away. She took a quick shower and changed into her work out clothes. Maybe a little time down at the studio will make me feel better, she reasoned. Whenever she was sad or angry Kerri worked off her stress by dancing, it always seemed to help. She had been going to the studio a lot lately, mainly because of Mark. The phone rang, that's probably Mark, she thought miserably. She decided not to answer it and headed out the door instead. Kerri jumped into her blue Camaro Z28, her dad's old car that he gave to her when she moved. After sliding her fave BSB cd into the player she headed towards the studio. She sang at the top of her lungs during the twenty minute drive. She knew she wasn't the best singer, but that wasn't her talent, dancing was. She jumped out of the car and headed into the New Age Studio. Kerri smiled at Donna, the owner of the studio. Donna let her use the studio free after hours while she did paper work.
Kerri put in her music tape and played it. The tape had all the songs she knew the dances to. She never had a real dance teacher, so she relyed on watching music videos to teach her. Kerri moved through the steps of "you drive me crazy" and "baby one more time" quickly. Her favorite part of the tape began to play, "Backstreets Back" and "As Long As You Love Me". She knew the steps by heart and loved dancing to them.
Nick walked into the Hew Age Studio, and glanced into the name room. Desiree was right, he thought, she is here. He stood back and watched her dance. He laughed softly to himself, it looked like she knew the Backstreet Boys dances better than he did. A lady walked out from a back room, and went over to him.
"Can I help you? You know, studio hours ARE over." She informed him.
"I came here to talk to Kerri. Do you mind if I go see her?" he asked, praying she wouldn't kick him out.
She nodded her head towards the main room before heading back into her office. Nick stepped into the main room. Kerri was sitting in a chair near the corner of the room. She looked up and saw him, sitting up with surprise.
"Nick?" Kerri said, wondering what he was doing there. She glanced in the mirror and noticed she looked like a wreck. She didn't care, she just gazed at Nick as he made his way across the floor. He smiled sheepishly as he sat down in a chair next to her.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing, are you ok?" he said, his smile being replaced by a look of concern.
Oh no, she thought, he saw everything. She could tell by the look on his face. What am I supposed to say to him? Kerri wasn't about ready to spill her life story to him, even if it was Nick Carter.
"Yeah, I'm great." She lied. Please just say ok and leave, she pleaded in her mind.
"I don't mean to sound rude, but you don't look ok. You didn't look ok AT ALL earlier." He said as nicely as he could. Nick just sat there and stared at her, waiting for her reply.
"Mark… he just gets that way sometimes. It is no big deal really. Sometimes he can get jealous, but it is my fault he got that way." It all just started spilling out of her, she couldn't stop it. She needed someone to talk to and he just seemed so willing to listen. "About a month ago I went to a club with another guy. It was a big mistake and I knew it then. Mark was going through a hard time and when the guy asked me I said yes, I thought I needed a change. Well, Mark walked in that night and saw me. He didn't need that at all, it was already a bad time for him. We got into a big fight, but we made up later. That is why he gets jealous. I can't blame him and he doesn't mean anything he does."
"So you don't mind when he hurts you. You just forgive him because you think he can't help it?" Nick said astonished that she was defending him. Mark HURT her just because she looked at me, he thought sadly. She blames herself for him acting that way.
"That is NOT what I meant." Kerri said. Her anger rose slightly, but faded away. He was only trying to be a friend to her. Desiree had said the same things to her MANY times. It just doesn't seem to be true, she thought.
"So what did you mean?" he asked, his blue eyes searching deep into hers.
"I….I don't know." She sighed unhappily. "Mark really doesn't mean to do the things he does."
"But he DOES it." Nick said, Kerri thought about it but didn't say anything. They just sat there and looked at each other for a while.
"So how did you find me, anyways?" she asked wanting to break the heavy silence.
"I tried calling you, but you weren't home. So I got Desiree's number from Aj and she said that you were probably here." He told her, smiling again.
Kerri had to smile to. So it was Nick calling, not Mark. If I would have answered the phone he wouldn't have had to do all that, but the idea that he was pleasant. Thinking about home she was suddenly tired.
"I think I should be getting home. You probably should be too, you have a show tomorrow night." Kerri said yawning.
"Yep, how would you like to come? Desiree too, you could hang out backstage." He asked, his eyes lighting up.
"Sounds great." She said, picking up her things.
"The concert starts at seven, you can come at six if you want." He said. Kerri smiled and nodded in reply. After saying goodbye she headed to her car. Nick understood her, and she was happy she founf another person to confide in. He is a Backstreet Boy, she thought, he isn't going to be around forever. She drove down the rode and she couldn't shake the way Nick had looked at her, the way Mark used to look at her.
"Ughhh." She groaned as should pulled next to Marks car in the parking lot. She turned off the car and sat there for a while. Don't worry, she thought, as long as Mark doesn't know you were with Nick you will be fine. Kerri wondered if she would ever be fine around Mark again. He needs me, Kerri thought, I can't do anything that will hurt him worse than I already have. Sighning, she stepped out of the car and made her way to the appartment.