As they finally reached the front of Radio City Music Hall, Isabel's grip on Nick's hand tightened. He smiled at her, "It's okay, you know."
"I know..but your fans are out there and if they know who I am then they'll get pissed."
"So what Isabel..it's not like I'm going to let anything happen to you."
"I know.."
"Everything will be okay."
"Ok."
The limo stopped and they waited until the door was opened. Kevin and Kristen were out first, followed by AJ and Amanda, and Nick and Isabel. The other two couples were in the limo behind them. The screams were deafening and the flashes from the cameras were too bright. Isabel tried to stay as close as she could to Nick without practically jumping in his arms. Security was around them and she was keeping them in her eyesight, just in case. They stepped onto a small stage and the three guys shook hands with John Norris from MTV News. The girls stood just a little behind them, Amanda smiled at Isabel who was just taking everything in. "You okay honey?"
Isabel nodded, "I think I'll be fine once I get inside and sit down. Why do I feel like a fish in a fish bowl?"
Kristen laughed, "I know, it's kind of weird."
"Not kind of, it is."
The guys finished their portion of the interview and Nick re-took a hold of Isabel's hand before leading her down the red carpet. "Just remember to smile and look happy.," He said leaning closer to her.
"No shit sherlock."
"Isabel!"
She laughed, "Sorry, couldn't help it."
The photographers lining the red carpet began to yell their names, "Nick! Kevin! AJ! Over here!! Yes, yes that's it." "No! Turn to your left, there, that's it!"
They tried to please everybody, by the time they were done with cameras Isabel's head was spinning. Their next stop was the 2 hundred or so fans that lined the red carpet. Many hands were reaching over the barricade while two or three guards stood by to make sure they didn't get too out of hand. "Nick! Can I have your autograph!"
Nick smiled and nodded at the girl, who thrust a pad of paper and pen into his hands almost before he could give her an answer. One girl looked at Isabel. "Who are you?," She asked icily.
Isabel looked at Nick for help, she had no clue what to tell this girl who obviously looked like she'd kill her if she said she was Nick Carter's girlfriend. Nick smiled and put his arm around Isabel's waist, "This is my girlfriend Isabel."
The girl that had gotten the autograph smiled at her, "Could I get your autograph too?"
"Umm..sure, I guess so.," Isabel said with a smile before signing the girl's paper.
The girl who had asked who she was glared at her, "Well, you're not that pretty."
Nick had turned to take a picture with someone else. Isabel was standing there very uncomfortably, "Well..umm..maybe Nick doesn't have to always be seen with a supermodel."
"Yeah well, you're a bitch and don't deserve him."
What happened next was a blur to anybody standing there. The girl lunged over the barricade at Isabel, pointing something at her. Nick had turned in time to see the girl pull something from her pocket and lunge at Isabel. He pulled her towards him, trying to protect her with his body. Isabel cried out in pain as the object made contact with her skin, and she immediately covered her arm with her other hand. Security rushed forward and restrained the girl who was still yelling obscenities at Isabel. The BSB security surrounded the small group and led them immediately inside the building where they took her to a small back room. Isabel still hadn't said a word.
After cleaning the cut on her arm and bandaging it, everyone left, except for Nick, leaving her almost completely alone. Nick knelt down in front of her, "Baby, please tell me you're okay.."
"I'm..I'm okay Nick."
He pulled her chin up so she was looking at him, "Quit lying, I know you're scared to death."
"I didn't know what was happening and I was so scared."
He hugged her to him, "I know sweetie, I'm so sorry that had to happen, especially to you."
"I never thought anything like that would happen to me Nicky..I never thought that because I love you that someone would try to intentionally hurt me."
"I never thought someone would intentionally hurt you either..if that girl had five minutes to truely know you, you know she'd be able to see what a wonderful, beautiful person you are."
"Now I feel like an idiot."
"Why?"
She smiled wryly, "Guess I'll make the news, huh? Michelle'll be SO proud."
"Isabel.."
She took a deep breath, "I'm okay..really. Just a little shaken up but everything's okay. She didn't kill me or hurt me that bad so therefore, I'm okay."
"That's right. You ready to go sit down?"
She nodded and stood up, "Lemme go look in the mirror real quick, k?"
He nodded and smiled, "Go ahead supermodel."
She rolled her eyes and walked to the corner of the room that held a mirror to make sure she still looked okay, she guessed. "You look fine Isabel!"
"Fine..let's go Nick."
He took her hand and they walked out of the room to find Jeff and Randy waiting for them to escort them to their seats. Everyone else was already seated that was in their group. Kevin stood up to let them pass by him, "Are you okay?"
She nodded, "I'm okay."
"Are you sure you don't want to go back to the hotel?"
"It was just a scratch Kev, really, I'm okay. Just a little scared of Nick's fans now, but I'll be alright."
"Okay."
Isabel was seated by, of course, Nick, and then on the other side of her was Amanda, who had hugged her the minute she had seen her. "You okay girl?"
"Yeah."
"I was so scared, I had no clue what happened!"
"Me neither!"
"I'm glad you're okay though."
"Me too.."
Isabel looked around to see who they were sitting near or by. Christina Alguilera and her boyfriend/dancer Jorge were in the row in front of them, nearest ot the aisle. Puff Daddy and Jennifer Lopez were behind them and to their right. O-Town was seated by Lou Pearlman and they were all in front of them as well. Behind them was Britney Spears and her mom and sister, Destiny's Child and producer extraordinare Rodney Jerkins. Isabel looked to the empty seats next to Nick and had a small inkling on who would be sitting there.
Within five minutes, N'Sync was sitting by them.
Justin had practically jumped his bodyguard to see Isabel. He hugged her before shaking Nick's hand and the two spoke for a few minutes. "Are you okay after what happened? We were behind Brian and Howie when we saw it happen."
She nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay, I just didn't expect it.."
"I bet..what happened?"
Isabel shrugged, "I don't know if I even remember really. She just said some shit and then jumped me."
"Yeah, we all had no clue that she was going to do that.," Nick said.
"Well, I'm glad you're okay."
"Thanks..so, are you all performing?"
Justin nodded excitedly, "Yep! It's gonna be good, you all are performing right Nick?"
"Yeah, if we can get old man Kevin up there."
"Kevin is not old Nick!"
"Yeah, I'm not old!," Kevin said from down the row.
Justin smiled, "Well, it's good to see you Isabel and nice to see you again too Nick, are you going to an after-party?"
Isabel looked at Nick who smiled at her, "You wanted to go."
Isabel smiled and then looked back at Justin, "Yeah, we're going to one, I just don't know where."
"Well, we're going to the one at The Vertigo, so if I see you there, save me a dance? That is, if you can get away from Nick for two seconds."
"Sure Justin, see you later."
Isabel kissed Nick before settling back in her seat after Justin left. "What was that for?"
"For being your nice, sweet, friendly self and understanding that I'm friends with Justin Timberlake."
"Well you're welcome, I guess."
Everyone got quiet as the lights went down low and the show began.
Nick smiled over at Isabel as the man came by and told them it was time for them to go backstage. "You be okay?"
"Of course, go put on those leather pants buddy."
He cocked an eyebrow, "You just wanna stare at my ass."
She kissed him gently before grinning evilly, "Of course, me and the whole female population."
He laughed, "I'll be back."
She nodded, "Okay."
The guys filed out of the row and disappeared out the door they had come in. The girls moved closer together so they could talk through the commercial break and talk about the guys' performance. Isabel sighed, "Okay..so what are they performing again?"
"I'm guessing 'Get Another Boyfriend'..," LeighAnne said.
"Yeah, that's what Howie finally said.," Howie's date, Christine, said.
Isabel nodded, "Cool..hopefully they'll actually DANCE this time around.."
Amanda smiled, "As long as they ALL wear leather pants, it'll be all good."
All the girls exchanged a look before breaking into laughter.
The girls had to stand up as the BSB were announced on stage because everyone else was standing up. Isabel nervously rung her hands together, she had no clue why, but she was just nervous for them..it had been a little while since they had been on the VMA's and they were following a very hot performance by N'Sync. Pyro went off and lights became too bright; and the guys were on stage where they belonged.
Kristen looked over at Isabel, leaned closer to her and said, "You told Nick to wear the leather, huh?"
She laughed, "Of course!"
"Yummy..my man be lookin' GOOD!," Amanda exclaimed although no one but their little group could hear her because it had gotten so loud.
The guys danced their way through a melodie of three different songs, and before they knew it it was over.
The girls sat down and waited for the guys to come back.
After the show was over, which BSB won two awards, they made their way past the press again. Nick had practically forced Isabel to stand by him while he talked to John Norris, who actually ended up asking her a question. "I know you were the unlikely victim of a fan, are you alright? No harm done?"
Isabel smiled, almost shyly, before answering, "I'm fine, really. I was just a little shaken up and I have a cut on my arm but it's alright really, no harm done."
"What happened exactly?"
Isabel shrugged, "I don't really even know myself. I guess she's just an overzealous fan."
Nick nodded, "Definitely."
John Norris smiled at her, "So I can see, so what's next for Backstreet Boys Nick?"
"Well, we're heading off on tour the day after tomorrow and after the tour is done we're probably going to take a small vacation."
"Any marraige in the cards for you?"
Both Isabel and Nick laughed at that, the subject of marraige had come up before in one of their late night conversations, and both agreed that marraige was going to be a little far off considering both were still in their early twenties. Nick shook his head, "Not yet, maybe a few years down the line."
John Norris nodded and smiled, "Guess that leaves a sliver of hope for your diehard fans, huh?"
"Maybe, but I'm not exactly counting on it."
"It was nice to see you again, Nick, and nice to meet you."
"You too.," Isabel said shaking his hand.
Nick led her a little ahead of everyone else. She was staying a little close to him, but it's not like he minded. "So, you want to head to The Vertigo? AJ and Amanda wanted to go...so I figured we'd go with them."
She nodded, "Sounds good to me.."
"Cool."
AJ and Amanda caught up with them, the four of them said goodbye to the others, and loaded into a car that would take them to The Vertigo.
Once at the club, it was hard for them to get through the crowd that had gathered to catch a glimpse of some of their idols. Security made a path for them and they walked in with no problem. "I see Justin..," Isabel said pointing.
Nick nodded, "You go over there, I'm going to get a drink or something..want anything?"
"Ummm..Coke or whatever."
He nodded, "Cool..I guess we'll be over there.," He said pointing to a table where AJ was heading.
She nodded before kissing him, "I'll be there in a sec."
He nodded and walked towards the bar.
Justin spotted Isabel and grinned, "Hey girl!"
"Hey yourself, great performance, I especially enjoyed the part where you were freakin' that girl."
Justin laughed, "Why thank you. Where's Nick at?"
"He went to the bar to get us some drinks."
"Ohhhh..well anyways, guys, this is Isabel. Isabel this is Joey, his date Lana, that's JC and Lydia, Lance and Hannah, Chris and Danielle, and that's Britney."
She smiled at all of them, there were too many to try to like shake hands with or whatever, "Nice to meet you all."
"You look familar..," Joey said.
Justin nodded, "Remember? She came backstage at our concert in Lexington and brought that cute little girl with her? Wasn't it Kevin's neice?"
Isabel nodded, "Yeah, that's Madison, she's a diehard N'Sync fan."
"Ohhh! Now I remember! She came to the hotel, right?," Joey asked.
To all the guys (and most of their girls) understood what Joey meant but Britney kind of took it the wrong way. "She went to your hotel room Justin??"
"Guess that sounded bad..," Joey muttered.
Isabel almost busted out laughing, it had sounded bad, "It's not like that. Justin invited me and Madison to come to the hotel so he could sign some stuff for her. I think I was in your room, what? Two seconds maybe..and then I had to get her home."
"Are you related to Kevin or something?"
Isabel shook her head, "Not really but I pretty much consider him a brother.."
"Ohhh..that's cool."
"So, you wanna dance or what chica?," Justin asked grinning.
"Sure..Nick can wait."
He took her hand dramatically and pulled her towards the dance floor. Isabel waved back at his groupmates before being spun around into his arms. "Sorry.."
"It's okay..Britney a little possessive?"
He shrugged, "Yeah, I guess she can be sometimes..I guess maybe it's because you're just so darn pretty that she feels your competition."
"Uh huh..whatever..plus, I have a boyfriend."
"I know.."
"So, what is it like to be dancing with, oh gasp! A backstreet girlfriend?"
Justin gasped and looked shocked, "You're not! No! It couldn't be!"
Isabel laughed, "But I'm afraid it is Justin! I'm..I'm..dating Nick Carter!"
"Oh no! You have stabbeth me througheth the hearteth!"
Both broke into laughter after that. Justin hugged her as the song ended, "It was good to see you again Isabel."
"You too, next time you are in town, me and you are goin' clubbing, okay?"
He nodded, "Okay."
"And you can call me anytime and we can talk..k?"
He nodded, "Okay, you tell Nick to take care of you..I don't think he quite knows what he has."
Isabel smiled, "Thanks Justin."
"No prob. Later Isabel."
Isabel waved and turned to make her way to AJ, Amanda, and Nick. Nick smiled, "Have fun?"
"Oh yes, Justin stepped on my feet..but that's okay."
Amanda smiled, "You should put your shoes on Ebay."
"Why?," She said sitting next to Nick.
"Duh Isabel, they've been stepped on by Justin Timberlake!"
"Ohhhh!"
Amanda and Isabel laughed while AJ and NIck just looked at each other before shrugging and turning to watch people in the club.
AJ dragged Amanda towards the dance floor a few minutes later. Nick put his arm around Isabel, "So..you wanna dance my beautiful girlfriend?"
"Oohh, compliments will get you EVERYwhere Mr. Carter.," She said standing up and pulling on his hand to follow her lead.
Nick grinned. "I figured it would baby."
Back to the Hold Me Page
To Chapter 23
Back to the Main Page