We were all pretty quiet as we ate our breakfast. I took a sip of my milkshake, and saw Brian giving me a funny look.

I started to laugh, and the milkshake spraying out of my mouth. I turned my head, so it went on the floor and not on anyone.

"What was that all about?" Nick asked, sounding annoyed.

"Well, excuse me, your highness!" I snapped. "I'm so sorry I did something you didn't approve of! How could I? Oh, me oh my!" I got out of the booth.

"If you'll please excuse me, King Nicky, I need to go to the bathroom." And with that I stormed off to the bathroom.

"So that's Nick?" asked the girl at the cash register as I stormed by.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Well, if you don't want him, I'll take him," she joked.

"He's all yours!" I said, walking into the bathroom.

I stood at the sink in the bathroom, and leaned on it. I could have ripped my hair out. Who does he think he is? Ugh!

My legs started to feel weak, so I sat down on the toilet. I hung my head in my hands. This was draining me. I thought about what Brian said.

"Maybe we just need to talk. Seriously, no arguing," I said aloud.

"Yeah, maybe," someone responded. I shrieked and hopped out of the stall.

"Oh, sorry, to startle you!" said the girl who had been working behind the counter. "It's my break, and I thought you looked like you could use a little help. Oh, by the way, I'm Ruth."

I smiled wanly. "I'm Serena. Yeah, I could use some help. I need to know what I'm thinking."

"That Nick guy confusing you?"

"To say the least. See, it's complicated and a long story, so I'll give you the abridged version. I'm spending a lot of time in an enclosed space with him, and we have some weird thing between us. We've kissed twice, once we were playing Truth or Dare, but I guess it could qualify as a real kiss cause we both got into it, and once when he was explaining something to me cause something had happened that got me upset. That was just a little while before we got here. And we always fight, little arguments, and we really know how to push each other's buttons. But at the same time, I think I really like him, cause I get this nice feeling when I'm around him, even when we're fighting. And the kisses were absolutely amazing. Obviously, we're in a little tiff right now, he's being an asshole. Even though, when I think about it, it could be my fault cause I stomped on his foot cause he said something to me, but it wasn't mean. I just didn't wasn't anyone else to hear. So we started arguing. And now he's being sulky."

Ruth just stood there, looking at me. "I think I got most of that," she said slowly. "You two really need to talk."

I sighed. "I know. But I don't know when. There's almost no privacy on the bus, and this evening is going to be really busy."

"Make time for him. Out of curiosity, where are ya'll heading on the huge bus of yours?"

"Chicago, we have a performance there tonight." I clapped my hand over my mouth as soon as I said it.

"Performance?" She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Wait, you're Serena Lynne, aren't you? Opening for the Backstreet Boys? I read about that in the Chicago Tribune! Oh wow, we have real celebrities in here! Can I ask for an autograph? Would you mind? Do you think they'd mind?"

I smiled. "Not at all. Get some paper and a pen, I'll tell them, okay?"

"Thanks so much!" She bounded out of the bathroom.

I followed more slowly, and walked over to the booth where the guys were at.

"What took you so long?" asked Brian. "You fall in?"

"No, I was talking with Ruth, the lady that took our order. Oh, by the way, she recognized me, and I promised her we'd all give her an autograph."

"Of course you did," muttered Nick.

"I'm sorry if it's a problem for you to get your nose out of your butt for a moment and think of other people in this world, Nick, but I happen to care."

"Yeah, like hell you do."

Kevin stood up suddenly. "Stop, you two! You're acting like little kids! It was tolerable at first, and now it's just dumb. Both of you are being selfish, silly brats! I don't know what's going on between you two, but you had better work it out before the concert tonight."

I stood staring at him, and saw the same expression on Nick's face.

"Okay," I said softly.

Kevin looked at Nick, who nodded.

"Okay, then it's all settled." He sat down, just as Ruth came up with the piece of paper.

"Thanks so much for doing this," she cooed. "I've never met real live celebrities before."

Everyone signed her paper. I signed last. "Ruth, thanks so much for everything. I really needed a girl to talk to, and you were there to listen. I'm taking your advice, Nick and I are going to talk. Well, plus Kevin's making us. Once again, thanks a bunch!!! Love, Serena Lynne."

I handed her the paper back, and she took it smiling. "Well thank you all for eating here. No one'll believe I met you famous people. But I got proof!" She waved the paper around.

"It was really nice meeting you, Ruth," said Howie politely. "But we really have to go. We have to be in Chicago by three."

"Of course! Bye!" We walked to the door, and went out to the bus. It's a huge step up to the bus, and my shirt got caught on the door frame. I lost my balance and tumbled backwards.

But instead of smashing my head on the pavement I fell into a set of strong arms. "I'm always saving you, Rini," joked Nick, then hoisting me up onto the bus. "What would you do without me?"

"I, um, well, probably would need a couple stitches."

He laughed. "And we wouldn't want to damage that pretty little head of yours."

I sat down in the kitchenette, and he sat down across from me. The other Backstreet Boys headed to the back of the bus, realizing we needed our privacy to talk.

"So," I said, fiddling with my thumbs.

"So," he said.

We sat in silence for about a minute. "I'm sorry!" we both blurted out in unison. I started to laugh, and he followed. Soon we were just cracking up totally, and tears were streaming down both our cheeks.

"This has been so silly," he said. "We're mature adults, right? We can handle this."

"Yeah, of course." I paused. "Handle what, exactly?"

"Um, well, us, I guess. You and I and everything that goes along with us."

"And that would be?"

"What do you want it to be, Rini?"

I decided it was now or never to tell Nick how I felt. Even though I wasn't positive what that was.

"Okay, Nick, you asked, so I'm going to tell you exactly how I feel, and if I end up making and ass of myself, please don't laugh. Promise?"

"Of course."

"Well, I think I like you. I mean, when we kissed it was like, whoa, and I love being with you, and spending time with you, and I feel something when I'm with you, but at the same time you infuriate me more than anyone I've ever met. And these feelings are driving me crazy cause they're confusing me and the worst feeling in the world is confusion. That's what's bringing out the bitch in me. So, you know, I guess I like you, and I'd love try the us out."

I inhaled deeply after my speech. I glanced down at my hands which were fidgeting down on the table. Nick was silent. I knew it, I made an ass of myself, and he was never going to let me live it down.

"Rini, I-"

"Nick, it's okay, I understand, I mean you don't like me, but that's okay, just don't rub it in my face-"

His hand clamped down over my mouth. "Rini, shut up." My eyes popped open wide. "I was going to say, I like you too, before I was so rudely interrupted."

I looked sheepish, and he took his hand off my mouth. "You do?" I asked.

"Yeah, totally. Not only are you gorgeous, you're smart, and fun, and a challenge. I can't describe it, but that turns me on. Being the 'Nick Carter, Backstreet Boy' means that, not to sound stuck up, but I can get almost any girl I want. But you, you're so feisty, and you make me strive for you, and it's fun and it makes me want you all the more."

"Oh?" I said softly.

He nodded.

"But if you happen to get me, does that mean you'll lose interest?" I asked concernedly.

"Do you think you'll ever stop being feisty?" he responded.

I laughed. "No, probably not."

"Then that's my answer to you, Rini." He put his hands over mine. "So, are we sure about what we're jumping into?"

I shook my head. "Of course not, where would the fun in that be?"

He laughed. "Good attitude."

I took my hands out from under his. "Nick, wait. There might be a problem. This could hurt my career."

"What!?" he sputtered.

"I'll have millions of girls hating me and I'll never get that platinum record I've been waiting my whole life for!"

"I-I, oh god, are you serious?"

I kept the most serious face I could. "Yeah, I'm a career-oriented woman you know."

"I can not believe you! Oh my god!"

He got up from the table, and started to walk away.

I hopped up after him, and grabbed his shoulders. He turned around and I gave him a big kiss. "Gotcha!" I teased.

"Oh, you!" He picked me up off the ground and carried me into the TV room.

"Eek!" I mocked screamed. "The big ugly ape has got me!"

He put me down on the floor, and started tickling me. "No, no, Nick, please stop! I'm so ticklish, please don't! Aah! Nick!"

Kevin rolled his eyes. "It's going to be a long summer," he said.

***********

THE END