Never Judge a Book By Its Cover
Chapter 25
---Later that Night---
Brian and I decided to have a little party to celebrate. We were planning to tell all of our friends about it at once. I was nervous about everyone knowing, but most of all I was worried about how Kevin would take it. Kevin was very serious about their career and this baby couldn't have come at a worse time. They were just getting ready to release their new album, which would mean having to work 3 times as hard as usual to get people interested in it. Not only that, Kevin was all that Brian had as a family in Florida...he would be the first to find out.
"Hey Jenn!" I said opening the door to see Jenn and AJ standing there smiling.
"Nothing like acknowledging my existence!" said AJ.
"Whoa! Big words! I'm just playin, AJ! What's up?"
"Nothing thank you very much," he said sticking his tongue out at me.
"So immature," said Jenn walking in. "So, how'd it go, Kate?"
"How'd what go?" asked AJ putting his arm around Jenn's waist.
"Nothing. So...was he okay with it?"
"Yeah, he was. He was actually really, really happy about it," I said smiling.
"Who was happy about what?" asked AJ.
"Nothing, sweetie. Come on, let's go get a drink," said Jenn dragging AJ into the kitchen. I shook my head and walked into the living room where Brian, Kevin and Farrah were. Howie and Alexis were in the kitchen with Jenn and AJ.
"Hey baby! Who's here?" asked Brian as I sat down next to him.
"AJ and Jenn. They're in the kitchen getting a drink."
"Oh, okay. I wonder what's keeping Nick and Erika. I wanna get this show on the road. It's killing me not being able to say anything."
"Say anything about what?" asked Kevin holding Farrah's hand.
"Nothing."
"Have no fear Nicky is here! Let the party begin!" he yelled swinging the door open. Erika was cracking up. Nick smiled at her and took her hand, then lead her into the living room.
"It's about friggen time!" said Brian.
"Yeah sorry...traffic."
"Yeah I'm sure."
"Anyway, what's all this about?" asked Nick as he sat down in a chair and pulled Erika onto his lap.
"Good question," said Howie walking in the room with Alexis. AJ and Jenn walked in behind them.
"Well," said Brian standing up and pulling me up with him. AJ grabbed Jenn's hand and ran to where we had just gotten up from.
"Looks like somebody lost their seat," said AJ in some funky, Adam Sandler-ish voice. Everyone laughed at him.
"So, what were you saying?" asked Alexis as she leaned on Howie who was sitting on the floor.
"Oh, our news, right. Um...Kaitlyn, how about if you let 'em know?" asked Brian pushing me forward.
"No way! You introduced them to me! They were your friends first, so I think it's your responsibility to tell them!"
"Come on, Kate!"
"Someone just say it! It's killing me not knowing!" said Farrah.
"Right on, sistah!" said AJ.
"All right, well..." said Brian taking my hand in his. "Guys, we have an announcement to make."
"Yeah, we're aware of that, just tell us what it is, dammit!" said Nick.
"I'm getting there, Mr. Impatient! Well...Kaitlyn and I...well, Kaitlyn more then me...we're...she's...how the hell do I say this?" Brian asked me. I shrugged. "Thanks for the help!" he said sarcastically.
"Yeah, yeah, quit stalling. Just say it!" said Kevin.
"Right on, sistah!" said AJ. "...or brotha..."
"Kaitlyn's...well she's...she's pregnant," said Brian, then the put his arm around my waist and smiled. Everyone's mouth was hanging wide open except for Jenn's.
"Wow! That's great! Congratulations!" said Farrah standing up and giving me a hug.
"Thank you." Everyone else just stared at us. Jenn, Erika, and Alexis got up next and all hugged me. The guys all just sort of sat there and stared at us. Nick kept looking at my stomach, then up at my face, then to Brian, then back to my stomach again with this shocked look on his face. AJ was just staring at us with this horrified look on his face. Kevin looked like he was about to cry. And Howie looked astonished.
"Holy shit," said AJ bringing a hand to his mouth. "When....how...oh man."
"How? Well you see AJ, when a man and a woman love each other-" started Jenn.
"Very funny."
"You're not like kidding or anything. You're not going to say April Fool's in a second, are you?" asked Nick, still in shock. Brian and I looked at each other, then back to Nick and shook our heads.
"I have to use the bathroom," said Kevin getting up and walking to the bathroom. He looked like he was ready to cry any second. Brian walked down the hall after him and knocked on the bathroom door.
"He Kev, let me in," said Brian.
"No. I'll be out in a couple minutes."
"All right, cous." Brian walked back down the hall to the living room and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
"He okay?" asked Farrah. Brian nodded. Nick looked like he was about to cry now. AJ was just sitting there, looking down at his rings, and Howie stood up and walked to us.
"This is amazing. I can't believe you're the first one, Bri. Congratulations," he said still shocked. He took Brian and I both into a hug.
"Thanks man," said Brian as Howie pulled his arms away. Howie just nodded. AJ looked up at us. He looked like he was inspecting us to make sure we weren't lying.
"So are you gonna like get married now?" asked AJ quietly. Nick's head shot up.
"I...I don't...I really don't know, AJ. We haven't even talked about it, yet," said Brian. AJ nodded and stood up. He walked over to me and looked down at my stomach.
"How long till it's born?" he asked looking up at me.
"6 months or so..."
"You've been pregnant for 3 months? Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"We just found out today...Jenn was with me."
"Jenn, you knew and you didn't tell me? I thought we told each other everything?"
"Kaitlyn didn't want me to. I'm sorry, baby," said Jenn wrapping her arms around him.
"It's all right."
"Are you okay about this?" asked Brian. AJ looked down at his hands then back up at Brian.
"I guess I have to be. I'm very happy for you, because I know how much you love each other and I know that you'll make the best parents in the world, but it's so sudden, you know? I mean, when you said you had something to tell us all, this didn't even cross my mind. I'm in shock, because I never thought you'd be the first of us to have a family, but I am very happy for you. I don't know what you're going to do about Nick and Kevin, though. I mean, Nick's about to cry, and Kev's in the bathroom crying."
"I know, man. I don't know what I'm going to do either. It was so hard to tell you guys, I don't know how I'm ever going to tell my parents. Especially since they haven't even met Kate, yet."
"What are you talking about? Your parents are the coolest! They love kids! They're gonna be so happy for you guys!"
"I know, but look at Nicky and Kev, look at how broken up they are about it.
I don't know what's gonna happen."
"Well, you can't change the past."
"I know, AJ. We'll talk some more later, okay? I need to talk to Nicky right now."
"Let me talk to him, all right baby?" I asked. I figured Nick needed a girl to talk to him right now, and who better then the bearer of his best friend's baby!
"Okay," he said kissing me lightly. I unwrapped myself from Brian's arms and walked over to Nick and slouched down in front of him. He had his head in his hands, and I could tell he was on the verge of tears. I put my hand on his knee.
"Nicky," I said trying to take his hands away from his face. "Nick, everything's going to be okay."
"Kaitlyn, I know it will be, but this is just so real, you know? I mean, I didn't think Brian would ever have kids while we were still...you know, the Backstreet Boys. I didn't think any of us would. I'm just so in shock that I can't even think straight."
"I know, Nick, and it's not like this was planned. It just sort of happened and it can't be reversed."
"Would you reverse it if you could?"
I thought about it for a second. "I think I would have postponed it for about a year...but I wouldn't have completely taken this out of my life. Brian and I both want this baby, and I know everything will work out. Everything with your friendship, and your career."
"Shit, I feel like such a shallow bastard. It's like all I can think about is how this is going to affect the group...I haven't even thought about how happy this is going to make you both. I'm sorry, Kate, I really am. I am happy for you, but right now I'm just so in shock that...that...well, I don't know. I mean...oh I don't know what I mean," he said resting his head back in his hands.
"Nick, it's normal to be worried about yourself, you don't have to be sorry. I totally understand. I've thought a lot about what's going to happen, too. I also talked to Brian about it. I made him swear to me that he'd stay in the group. He was a little shaky about it at first, but he did swear to me that he would. I would feel like complete shit if he left the group because of me."
"It's really not just you. I mean, he does have responsibility for this."
"I know. I'm very shocked by this too Nick, but if you think about it, everything will work out for the best."
"I'm so happy for you," he said bringing his head back up and looking me in the eye. "Honestly, I am," he said noticing the look on my face. He took me into his arms for a hug.
"Thank you Nick. Now all I have to do is find a way to get Kevin to talk to Brian and we'll be in business!"
"I can talk to you if you want me to."
"I don't know...I think Brian wants to."
"I understand that..I'd want to be the one to tell my family, too, I guess." Nick paused, looked down, then back up at me. "Can I ask you something?"
"Shoot Nick."
"When...I mean, you know that day when AJ was making fun of you guys? About...the shower..."
"Yes, Nick. The answer is yes, that's when his happened."
"Oh. I was just wondering."
"It's okay, Nick."
"Thanks for talking to me about this. I feel a ton and a half better!"
"I'm glad." I stood up and started walking down the hall. I was about to walk into our bedroom, when I saw Brian and Kevin coming out of the bathroom.
"Hey baby! Come here!" said Brian waving me over. I smiled and walked over to them.
"Congratulations," said Kevin giving me a hug. "I'm really happy for you. A little shocked, but very happy."
"So am I, Kev. Thanks." He nodded and walked back into the living room. Brian smiled at me and pulled me closer to him by my waist.
"Did you talk to Nick?" he asked kissing my neck lightly.
"Mmm...yeah," I said rubbing the back of his neck.
"I talked to Kev, as you can probably tell. He was just really shocked by it, he was crying more out of happiness then anything else," he said moving his hand up my shirt a little.
"Hey guys!" said AJ bounding happily down the hallway with Jenn. Brian stood up straight and pulled his hand out of my shirt. AJ and Jenn walked by us and into the guest room and locked the door. I could hear Jenn giggling through the door.
"Gross..why do they have to do it at my house?" asked Brian looking at the closed door. I smiled and ran my fingers through his hair. He smiled at me and leaned closer to my lips, and kissed me softly.
"Can you please refrain from gettin jiggy in the hallway?" asked Erika walking down the hallway towards us. Brian and I broke apart laughing.
"Okay, Will Smith, we'll try!" he said slipping his hand up the back of my shirt and pulling me closer to him.
"Thank you, DJ Jazzy Bri."
"Hey! I'm not your sidekick! If anything, you'd be my sidekick!"
"No way! You'd be my sidekick!"
"Yeah right, I'm no one's sidekick. Well...there is one person," he said turning around and looking back at me in his arms. I smiled and grabbed him by the neck, bringing his lips back to mine. Erika shook her head and walked into the bathroom. Brian and I stood there making out for a while, until Nick came up to us.
"Hey guys! Have you seen Erika? I need to...ask her something."
"Yeah, she's in the bathroom," I said out of breath.
"Great! Thanks!" he said knocking on the door. Erika opened it and pulled him in.
"Dang, looks like everybody's getting busy!" said Brian smiling. "Next thing you know, Kev and Farrah are going to come up and say that they have to leave for some retarded reason!"
"Hey!" said Kevin walking up with Farrah on his right hand.
"Hey Kev and Farrah. What could possibly be up? Are you leaving?" asked Brian laughing.
"Yeah, we are. What's so funny about that? Farrah has to...let...her...her sister out."
"What, like put her on a leash and take her for a walk?" asked Brian laughing. I hit his chest lightly. "What? That's what it sounds like!"
"I meant her dog..." said Kevin trying not to sound so stupid.
"Yeah, okay Kev. I'll call you later," said Brian calming down.
"No...I mean, I'll call you tomorrow. See ya!" said Kevin walking down the hall and towards the front door. I started cracking up. Brian smiled and picked me up and flung me over his shoulder.
"Brian, put me down! Put me down right now! My skirts flying up!" I said laughing. He walked out into the living room like that and threw me on the couch. "Ouch you jerk!"
"Oh, so now I'm a jerk? I don't think so!" he said coming over to me and tickling me.
"STOPPPP!!!!" I yelled trying to catch my breath. He laughed and pressed his lips against mine to make me be a little more quiet. He moved his hands away from my body and put them on either side of my face.
"I love you," he said pulling away from me and looking deep into my eyes. I smiled and ran my hand down the side of his face.
"I love you, too."
-=Chapter Twenty Six=-
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