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Five Backstreet's And A Baby - Part Three
Eleven years later...
“And now the starting lineup for the Tampa Bay High Stars... Misty Johnson!” The announcer blared through the speakers.
“Angel Carter!” Angel stood up from the bench, tucked her locket under her shirt and ran out into the court. Shaking the other players’ hands, she looked into the crowd and saw her dad, waving to her.
She winked at him and got ready for the jump shot. The ball flew through the air. Angel hit it over and dribbled it down, shooting it in the basket.
“Two points for TBH!” the announcer yelled.
Angel was now 16 years old. She was an honor roll student, popular, and not to mention one of the best players on her high school basketball team. She had really begun to look like her mother, her dad would say, even though she still had his height and his hair color. Sitting next to Nick in the stands was Brian and Leighanne, along with 11 year old Jenna and 4 year old Cody. Kevin had decided to move back to Kentucky, where he was busy with his 9 year old son. Howie continued running his nightclub with his wife Marissa, and AJ and Sarah were expecting their first baby.
Another shot ran through the hoop. Angel smiled, brushing back her long blonde hair. The game continued on, and before long it was over.
“And that’s the fourth quarter buzzer! The Stars win!”
“Yes!” Angel cheered, hugging each of her teammates. Grabbing her Gatorade bottle, she ran up to the stands and hugged her dad.
“Angel I think you got your dad’s B-ball skills too.” Leighanne joked.
“So, are you guys up for some pizza? I’m starving.” Angel said.
Everyone nodded. “Come on let’s go!”
Just as they were walking out, one of the football players stopped Angel.
“Hey Angel can I talk to you a sec?” he asked. Leighanne knew what was going to happen, so they told the guys to get in the car. Angel nodded and walked over to him.
“You might not know me. I’m...”
“You’re Jake Carson. Football player, right?” she said.
Jake chuckled. “Yeah. Hey you got some really nice moves out there.”
Angel blushed. “Thanks.”
“So, homecoming’s coming up. Do you have a date yet?”
“No, not yet.”
“Well, me neither. You wanna go with me?”
Angel didn’t know what to say. The star player of the football team
was asking HER out to homecoming. HER! Inside she was screaming
“SAY YES SAY YES!” But outside she was speechless. Finally she
managed to say something.
“Yeah Jake, I’d love to go.”
“Great! So I’ll see you on Monday?”
“Yeah no doubt.” she said, smiling.
Jake’s parents called him. “I gotta go. See you Monday.”
“Bye.” she waved. Once Jake was out of sight, she started saying
‘Yes!’ over and over again. Leighanne walked up to her.
“Come on let’s go. We’ll talk about this later okay?”
“Okay.” she said.
That night after pizza, Angel laid on her bed listening to Linkin Park.
Leighanne knocked on the door.
“Come in.” she said, taking off the headphones.
Leighanne sat down on the bed. “So, who is it?”
Angel sat up. “Jake Carson. THE Jake Carson!”
“You mean the football player?”
“Yes! And he asked ME to homecoming!”
“Angel, that’s great! So when is the big night?”
“Two weeks from tomorrow.”
“Well then we’re gonna have to get you a dress honey!”
“Oh come on you know Dad will say it’s too expensive...and blah this
and blah that.”
“Well who cares what he says. We’re taking you to one of the best
places in Tampa. And you’re going to look great, no matter how
expensive it is.”
“Coolie.” she said.
“Okay girl it’s 11 and Brian wants me home since the kids are in bed.
I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Night.”
Leighanne smiled and turned off the light.
***
“Okay how about this one?”
Angel stepped out of the dressing room.
“Too low!” Jenna said.
“Yeah, a little low don’t you think? I don’t want Jake liking me just for
my boobs.”
Jenna laughed, grabbing a silk black dress. “How about this one?”
Angel took it. “Be right back!”
Minutes later she came out. “Well?”
“Wow...that is BEAUTIFUL.” Sarah said, looking at it. “Jenna you
have good taste!”
“Thanks Aunt Sarah.”
Leighanne smiled. “We think it looks beautiful, Angel. Do you like it?”
Angel nodded. “This is the one!”
“Great let’s ring this baby up and we’ll be ready to go. I promised
Jenna I’d get her something from Claire’s.” Sarah said.
They rang up the dress. “$312.53.” the clerk said. Angel’s mouth
opened in shock. Leighanne took out her MasterCard.
“Here you go.” she said.
While they were walking to Claire’s, Angel moved over to Leighanne.
“Thanks so much for buying the dress.”
“No problem. I know you’ll be beautiful there.”
Angel smiled and gave Leighanne a quick hug.
***
Ding-dong...
Nick opened the door. A tall guy was standing there, his corvette nearby.
“Hi, I’m waiting for Angel.” he said.
“Ah, you must be Jake. Angel’s said lots about you.”
Jake blushed. “So where is she?”
“Upstairs. You can have a seat if you want. Don’t mind the dogs.”
Jake looked up at Nick. “Hey, aren’t you...”
“Nick Carter?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Yeah that’s me, tattoos and all.”
“Wow...I never knew you were her dad.”
“Well, I am!”
They continued talking, while upstairs Leighanne and Sarah were
adding some last minute touches to Angel’s ensemble.
“Oh my God. He’s here!” she said, fidgeting.
Sarah added some blush. “Stop squirming you’re worse than your
dad.”
Angel laughed. “Who is probably talking to him downstairs...God I
hope he doesn’t embarrass me.”
“Don’t worry. Your dad wouldn’t do that. Here’s your purse. Go and
have a good time.” Leighanne said, opening the door.
“Oh God here goes.” she said, walking out.
Jake looked up at the stairs, noticing Angel come down. He looked at
her, stunned.
“Wow...Angel, you look...amazing.”
“Thanks.” she said, taking his hand.
“Buckle up!” Nick said. Angel nodded and got in the car with Jake,
driving off.
***
“Jake I had the best time with you.”
“I love you baby.”
“So I’ll see you on Monday?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay bye. Love you too.”
Angel passionately kissed Jake and got out of the car, waving to him
as he drove off. Love-struck, she opened the door. Nick was sleeping
on the couch with the dogs on top of him.
“Hey dad.” she said. Nick woke up and looked at her.
“How was it?” he asked.
“Oh, it was great! I had the best time ever!”
“That’s great baby. Why don’t you go get ready for bed. Tomorrow
we’re going to go to your mom’s grave to say happy birthday.”
“Okay.” Angel said, running up the stairs. “Love you dad.” she called
from the top.
“Love you too honey.” Nick said.
***
Kathleen Vitaliana O’Connor
November 14, 1982 - March 2, 2002
Beloved daughter, girlfriend, and mother.
An angel from Heaven, brought back to God too soon.
Angel looked at her mother’s gravestone. “Happy birthday, mom.” she said, setting down a white rose. Nick walked over to her.
“Angel I want to show you something. It’s a scrapbook I made of your mom.”
Nick and Angel drove home. Angel sat in Nick’s room while he got the
scrapbook.
“Aha, here it is.” he said, pulling it out. Angel took it and opened it.
There were so many pictures of her mother, who had black hair and
brown eyes.
“Dad, she’s beautiful.”
“Just like you are, honey.”
Angel smiled. “I wish she was here right now.”
“I do too.” Nick said, hugging her.
***
The next Monday, everyone knew about it. Angel and Jake. The couple everyone was jealous of. Every guy wanted to be Jake, and every girl wanted to be Angel. People stared at them in admiration as they walked down the hall.
“Wow...I’ve never had so many people admire me before.”
“Get used to it baby it’s my life every day.”
“Still, it’s really weird.”
Jake put his arms around her. “Don’t look at them, and it’s not as scary.”
Angel smiled and walked into class.
After school, Angel came home and got online to talk to Jake. Nick
knocked on the door.
“It’s open.” Angel called. Nick opened the door.
“Hey honey how was your day?” he asked.
“Fine.” she said, quickly.
Nick’s brow furrowed. “You okay? You wanna talk?”
“No.” she snapped.
Nick bit his lip and closed the door. “I’m here if you need me.” he said,
walking out.
Angel dialed the phone and called Leighanne.
“Hello this is the Littrell’s Jenna speaking how can I help you?” Jenna
answered.
Angel laughed. “Hey Jen it’s Angie. Is your mom around?”
“One sec.” Jenna said, yelling ‘MOM!!’ in the background.
“Hello?” Leighanne asked.
“Hey Aunt Leigh.”
“How’s things with you and Jake?”
“It’s totally different. All of a sudden everyone notices me and I’m the
envy of the entire school.”
“Yeah that feels weird doesn’t it?”
“I’m not taking it well at all.”
“Don’t worry you’ll get used to it.”
“I doubt that.”
“Trust me. And if you don’t, then maybe he’s not the right guy for you.”
“Not the right guy? Hello? He’s JAKE CARSON!”
“Exactly. Mr. Popular, varsity, honor roll, do you really want to be with
him? Or is it just because he’s on the high list?”
Angel paused for a moment. “I...don’t know.”
“Think about it, and your heart will tell you what you want.”
“Ok. See you later.”
“Bye.”
Angel hung up the phone and dropped in her butterfly chair,
confused. She couldn’t figure out what her heart really wanted.
Sighing, she opened her door and walked down the stairs to get a
Coke. Nick was in there, sitting.
“What are you doing?” she asked, opening the fridge.
“Oh, nothing just drawing.
Angel got her Coke and sat down next to Nick. “Can I see?”
“Yeah sure.” Nick said, handing her the notebook. She saw it as a big
smile grew across her face.
“Dad, it’s beautiful.” she said, hugging him.
“You know, sometimes I feel like we’re growing apart.”
“I know. I do too. It’s just that, I’m 16 years old and I need time with
my friends and boyfriend just like I need time with you. And I know
sometimes, I get a temper and snap at you and everyone else.”
“Heh. I was just the same way.” he said.
“What?”
“When I was 16, and we had launched our album, I was really lonely
on the road since I didn’t really have anyone my age I could relate to.”
“Well, you had Brian right?”
“Yeah, but at first I kind of isolated myself from everyone else. I
missed all my other friends. I had a temper too. I would blow up at
everyone and once I even hit Kevin.”
Angel laughed. “You hit KEVIN? Wasn’t he pissed?”
“Well yeah, but he knew what I was going through and he knows that I
never really got a normal childhood since I joined BSB at a young
age.”
“Yeah I know.” she said.
“And, it’s great watching you experience everything I couldn’t.”
“I know. Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I get a tattoo?”
“Haha. Maybe when you’re....42.”
“Dad!”
“Ok when you’re 21.”
“Good. I wanna get a Chinese symbol that means “Hottie.”
“Let’s start with a sun, ok?”
Angel smiled. “Ok.”
Nick looked at his watch. “Crap it’s 11. You should head up to bed.”
“Yeah probably. Spanish quiz tomorrow. Nite Dad.” she said, running
up the stairs. Nick grabbed his notebook and finished his drawing of Angel.
***
Yep it’s just another morning in Tampa I’m DJ Playa here with 933SLD radio playing today’s hottest hits we’ve got a new one from Oldie singer Ricky Martin’s son, Noah Martin with “Stuck on You” right here on 933SLD!
Angel smacked her alarm clock and got up. It was 7:15 and she had
already overslept.
“Crap.” she said, brushing her hair. Once she was ready she grabbed
her purse and ran downstairs.
“Morning.” Nick said, feeding the dogs.
“Hola, Buenos Dias.” she said, chugging down some Orange Juice.
“Ah, Spanish today I see.”
“Si.”
“It’s 7:45 you’d better run.” he joked.
“Ay Caramba!” she said, running out the door. “Adios!”
Nick laughed and logged online. Everyone was online, so they invited him into a chat.
KevNKris: Good morning Nicky.
Kaos2Kaos: What are you doing online? You never go online.
SweetD: LOL I don’t know either.
BRok4Leigh: Where’s AJ? He should be coming soon.
Bad2TheBone: I’m here.
KevNKris: Howie, you have something to tell us?
SweetD: Marissa’s pregnant!
Kaos2Kaos: Wow that’s great!
BRok4Leigh: So now all of us are dad’s. Whoever thought this day would come.
Bad2TheBone: Wow, it’s great isn’t it?
KevNKris: Congrats D. I gotta run and take Adam to school.
Bad2TheBone: Shit and Sarah’s having morning sickness again. Nick I’ll be over there later K?
Kaos2Kaos: K.
SweetD: I’m gonna go cook an omelette for Rissa.
BRok4Leigh: And Cody probably wants me to play with him.
Kaos2Kaos: Aight bye y’all I’m gonna go too.
Nick signed off.
Angel walked around the halls, looking for Jake. She found her best
friend Samantha, who was looking in the mirror putting on some lip
gloss.
“Sam! Have you seen Jake?”
“Yeah last I saw him he was with the cheerleaders in the gym.”
“Thanks.” Angel walked into the gym. She saw the cheerleaders and
the football players, but she didn’t see Jake. She spotted one of
Jake’s friends.
“Craig, have you seen Jake?”
“Yeah he’s over there.” Craig said, pointing to the ball closet.
Angel walked over to the ball closet and opened the door. She
dropped her books at the sight of it.
Jake was making out with the cheerleading captain, Danielle!
“You asshole!!” Angel yelled, running off.
Angel ran out of the gym and down the halls, hearing Samantha call
her name. She ran out the door until she got home.
Nick noticed her as she burst through the door. “Why aren’t you at
school?”
Angel looked at him and ran up the stairs, slamming her door. The
phone soon rang.
“Hello?” Nick answered.
“Hey it’s AJ. Sarah and I are gonna come over there now and we can
go to Olive Garden.”
“Ok. Wait, I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Angel just burst through the door and ran up the stairs in tears.”
“It’s Jake.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ll be over there in a half hour. Let me talk to her.”
“Fine.” The phone beeped as another call was coming in. “I gotta go
someone else is on the other line. See you then.”
“Bye.” AJ said. Nick hit the flash button.
“Hello?”
“Hi is this Angel’s dad?”
“Yeah this is who’s calling?”
“This is Samantha, Angel’s best friend. Is she okay?”
“Why aren’t you in school?”
“I am. I’m on the payphone. Is she okay?”
“I don’t know, she ran up to her room in tears.”
“God. That Jake has some nerve.”
“Jake? What happened?”
“He was making out with Danielle in the ball closet.”
“Wait and who’s Danielle?”
“Cheerleading captain.”
“Oh.”
“Can you get her on the phone?”
“Her door is locked and from what I’m hearing she’s blasting Acid
Rain.”
“Ok tell her I called.”
“If she can hear me.”
“Later Mr. C.”
Nick hung up the phone. The doorbell soon rang.
“Hey.” AJ said, walking in with Sarah. “Any signs of life in there?”
“Nope.”
“I’ll go talk to her.” AJ said, walking up the stairs.
“Good luck.” Nick said sarcastically.
AJ knocked on the door.
“GO AWAY DAD.” Angel yelled.
“It’s AJ open up and turn off that bullcrap.”
Angel turned down her stereo and opened the door. “It’s not bullcrap
it’s Acid Rain.”
“Gawd, all these new age bands make me sick.”
“You should know.”
“Ok I don’t need your attitude. Let’s talk.”
Angel sighed and let him in.
“What’s going on?”
“That son of a bitch.”
“Hey enough with the mouth.”
“I’m 16 I’ll cuss whenever the hell I want to.”
“You sound so much like me...”
“What?”
“Never mind. So who’s the son of a bitch?”
“Jake Carson.”
“And what did he do?”
“Found him making out with Danielle in the ball closet.”
“Who’s Danielle?”
“Cheerleading captain. Evil BITCH!”
“Don’t diss. Don’t stoop to their level. It’s not worth it. You’re so much
better than them.”
“I knew it was too good to be true. Now I’m going to be the antisocial
rat again.”
“You were never an antisocial rat. You have a lot of friends. You don’t
need to be on the high list to be considered popular. Hell, I was never
popular and you don’t see me all pissed.”
“I never wanna go back.” she said, wiping her tears.
“Yeah High School is hell. If you don’t go back you won’t graduate
and you won’t get into college, which probably means no job.”
“It SUCKS!”
“Give it time. Don’t let them get to you. Ignore them and be yourself
and live your own life not worrying about them.”
Angel broke down in tears again. AJ wrapped his arm around her.
“I know what it’s like. It happened to me.”
“What did?”
“I was going out with this girl, and I found out she was cheating with
me for the football player.”
“Did you get pissed?”
“Well yeah at first, but then I decided to blow it off and get on with my
life.”
They continued talking. Angel finally learned to ignore it.
“Thanks for talking to me.” she said.
“No problem. Come on we’re going to Olive Garden wanna come?”
“Sure.” she said. “Can I go wash my face first? I look like crap.”
“Fine. I’ll go tell them you’re ok.”
AJ walked down the stairs, soon followed by Angel. Nick put his arm
around her. “You okay?”
“Yeah. There’s plenty of other fish in the sea.”
Nick smiled and closed the door. “I call front seat!” she yelled, getting
into the car.
Part Four