"Damn him! I knew we’d be late." The tall blonde threw a glance at the airport clock as she ran through the terminal before doubling her efforts. Dodging a family stopped in the middle of the concourse, Jacquie slowed to a slight jog as she studied the inbound flight monitors. "Come on, Flight 2442. Ah, gate B29." She dashed off down the hall and arrived at the gate with only seconds to spare.

"Jacquie!" Gasping for air, she looked up to see Nikki and Amy walking over to her. "What on earth happened to you?" Nikki set her bags down and put her hand on Jacquie’s shoulder.

"Shopping… ran late… ran to meet you here…" Jacquie took a deep breath before standing up straight. "Welcome to Nashville."

Amy looked around the airport nonchalantly. "Did you come by yourself?"

The other two girls snickered. "Sort of. We’d better head toward the car." Jacquie grabbed one of Amy’s bags and the trio headed outside.

"Wow, nice ride, Jaqs," Nikki laughed as the chauffeur took the girls’ bags and placed them in the trunk. "I could get used to this."

"Somehow, I don’t see Howie getting one of these for the ‘family car’, Tricks," Amy said dryly as she climbed into the limo. "Oh my! Hello."

Nikki stuck her head in and rolled her eyes when she caught sight of AJ sitting on the other bench, surrounded by shopping bags. "Now I know what you meant by shopping."

Laughing, Jacquie jumped inside after her friends. "Yeah, that’s the last time you pull the ‘one more store’ ruse with me, Alexander. I had to run the entire way to their gate."

AJ shrugged. "I had to get something for Nick." He pulled a silver-studded leather jacket out of a bag. "What do you think?"

"For Nick?" Nikki’s eyebrow arched.

"Nah," AJ grinned. "For me. You likes?" He tossed the jacket back into the bag before reaching into another one. "I got this Metallica collectors CD set for Nick."

"Which I found." Jacquie interjected.

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"Did too."

Amy and Nikki groaned as the other two bickered good-naturedly all the way back to the hotel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"And here’s our suite!" Jacquie threw the door open with a dramatic flourish. Amy walked into the expansive room, spun around in a complete circle, then went to check out the other rooms. Nikki waited for the bellboy to finish unloading their bags and left before she looked around the room.

"Nice digs," she commented with a grin. "And it’s all for us?"

"Yup!" Jacquie grabbed several of her shopping bags and tossed them in the closet. "What?" She said when her friend gave her a look. "I’ll get to them later."

Amy burst out of the room to the right and ran across the sitting room into the room on the left. The older two girls laughed. "I don’t think Nick’s here, Amy." Almost giddy with excitement, Amy couldn’t keep the scowl on her face as she rejoined her friends out in the main room.

"So where is he?"

Jacquie started walking to the door. "He’s right across the hall. You want me to go get him?"

"NO!" She jumped up and stopped Jacquie from walking any further. "I mean, not right now." Blushing bright red, Amy stood there tapping her foot as the other two howled with laughter. "Ha ha ha. Very funny."

"Sorry, Ames." Nikki wiped tears out of her eyes. "We keep forgetting that you’ve never met all the Boys before."

Amy shrugged and smiled as she sat down on the couch next to Jacquie. "So what are we doing today?"

"Denise should be by soon with our passes, so we don’t have to worry about getting thrown out of the hotel." Jacquie grinned. "Wouldn’t the press love that one: ‘Howie D’s girlfriend kicked out of hotel’. Film at eleven."

"I’m not his girlfriend!" Nikki threw a pillow at her friend.

Amy and Jacquie exchanged a look. "Yeah, right, Nikki. If you two aren’t a couple, then I’m the Queen of England," Jacquie said.

"For your information, Your Highness, we’re not a couple. We’re just friends." Nikki glared at her. "And while we’re on the subject, what’s going on with you and AJ? Hmm?"

Jacquie looked confused. "We’re just friends. What did you think was going on?"

A knock at the door saved Nikki from responding, but from the look she sent, Jacquie knew there would be more questions before this trip was over.

"Howdy girls!" Denise greeted the girls individually before joining them around the coffee table.

" ‘Howdy’? We’re not in Texas yet, Denise," Jacquie teased.

She laughed. "That’s right, Texas is next month. I was just practicing." She pulled three laminate passes from the packet of papers she had been carrying and passed them out. "You girls need to keep these on you at all times. Ever since word got out that we are spending an extra night in town to celebrate Nick’s birthday, we’ve had to step up security in and around the hotel. You probably didn’t see too much of the crowd since the driver brought you in through the basement entrance."

"Oh, trust me, we saw plenty." Nikki grimaced. "We had to bury AJ under all the shopping bags since the windows were not very darkly tinted. Of course, he wanted to open the sunroof and wave to everyone."

Denise laughed. "Sometimes I wonder if I should have dropped that son of mine on his head more often." She checked her watch and stood. "Remember to keep those passes with you and stay in the hotel. The party is scheduled to start at eight in Ballroom B. If you need anything, Jacquie has my number, right?" The girl nodded as Denise left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So have you decided what you’re going to wear yet, Jacquie?" Nikki asked as she went into the kitchen for a soda.

"Not exactly. I brought a couple of outfits, but I found this awesome skirt this afternoon when I went shopping with AJ." The blonde reached into one of the bags she had pulled out of the closet and held the short black leather skirt up against her. "What do you think?"

"Very cool." Nikki glanced up at the youngest girl who was staring out the window at the crowd of fans. "Ames, what are you wearing?"

Absentmindedly, the girl replied, "Nothing."

"WHAT?" Amy turned to see both her friends sending her skeptical looks. "No, really, Amy" Jacquie rolled her eyes.

Now it was Amy’s turn to ask. "What?"

"I asked you what you were wearing tonight and you said nothing!" Nikki laughed.

"Oh!" Amy blushed. "I thought you were asking me what I was thinking."

"I betcha you were thinking about Nick," Nikki teased.

Jacquie laughed. "Then I’d say she answered the question correctly." Gathering up her shopping bags, she headed into one of the bedrooms. "So what should I wear for the party tonight?"

"Well," Nikki cast a sly look at the girl with the dark brown hair. "It’s gonna be tough to beat Amy on apparel, that’s for sure."

"Alright, that’s it!" Amy’s face was pink as she glanced around the room. Grabbing the bucket off the table, she headed for the door. "I’m getting ice so you two can laugh at me some more while I’m gone and get it out of your systems."

Ducking out into the hallway, Amy took a second to compose herself. So what if I was thinking about Nick. I can’t believe I’m finally going to meet him! And the other two, she reminded herself. All the girls have been talking about these guys for so long that I feel that I already know them. Walking down the hall toward the vending area, she grinned as she recalled all the adventures her friends had where these guys were concerned. Filling up the ice bucket, she turned back to the room where her friends were waiting.

"Oh, man. I didn’t bring my key with me," Amy muttered. Lifting her right hand, the petite brunette knocked loudly on the door. After a few moments passed, she raised her hand and rapped on the door again. "Come on, let me in already. Nik-"

The door before her opened to reveal a very rumpled Nick Carter. His hair looked like he’d been running his hands through it all night, his face had yet to come in contact with a razor, and his clothes were wrinkled, as if he’d slept in them. Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth, he glared at the girl standing in his doorway.

"Whaddya want?"

Amy could only stare at the disheveled creature before her - unable to believe he was the same person she’d admired on television, in concert, and through her friends’ stories. The words tumbled from her mouth before she could think. "You look like crap."

"Gee, thanks." Nick laughed shortly before putting his hand to his aching head. "That’s not the way to get an autograph, girlie."

"I don’t want your autograph."

"Then why did you knock on my door and yell for me to come and answer?"

Amy rolled her eyes. "I thought this was my room and my friends weren’t going to let me in."

"Nice try, babe, but you’re going to have to try a better story next time. That is if you get past the guards again." Nick stuck his head out into the hallway. "Where are they?"

Not very steady on his feet, Nick’s head began to swim as he tried to straighten up. Thinking to grab the doorway, his hands landed on something softer. "Oh, shit! I’m so sorry!"

Fully disgusted, Amy threw Nick’s arms off her and pushed him back into his hotel room, but not before getting a good whiff of his breath. "Nick Carter, you are a drunk pig!"

Pulling himself up to his full six-foot-plus height, he glared down at the girl. "And you are a pathetic teenybopper!" Feeling very proud of himself, Nick slammed the door in her face only to cringe as the sound echoed in his aching head.

"That’s the last time I let AJ and Jacquie take me out after a concert." He stumbled across the room and collapsed on the bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amy entered the correct hotel room to find Nikki curled up on the couch laughing so hard tears were streaming down her face. Loud music pulsed from the stereo in the corner of the room, and Jacquie was nowhere to be seen.

"You’re not still laughing at me, are you?"

Nikki shook her head. Before she could speak, the doors leading to one of the bedrooms opened and a shoe came flying across the room. It was only then that Amy noticed the clothes littering the floor.

"Get the hell out of here, Alexander!" A laughing AJ ducked out of the bedroom with a video camera in hand. He dodged to the right when a pair of jeans was thrown at him.

Joining the still-laughing Nikki on the couch, Amy could only stare in amazement as Jacquie emerged from the bedroom tying the belt on one of the robes supplied by the hotel. "What’s going on?"

"That idiot walked in on me while I was in the shower with a camcorder!" Glowering, she stalked over to where the idiot in question was trying to hide behind Amy. "Give me the tape, AJ."

"No."

"Now, AJ."

"No."

"AJ!"

"Alright," he opened the camera and pulled the videocassette out. Tossing it on the coffee table, he walked toward the door as Jacquie snatched the tape up. "Too bad that’s not the one with you on it, Jaqs."

"What?" She looked from the tape in her hand to the smirk on AJ’s face and scowled. "Where’s the real tape?"

AJ sauntered toward the door Amy accidentally left open. "If you want it, come get it." Striking a pose in the doorway, he grinned as Jacquie stormed over to him. They exchanged words in lowered voices ending with AJ scampering off down the hallway laughing and a bright red Jacquie closing the door.

"So did you get it?"

"No."

"Why not?"

Jacquie waved her hands aimlessly around in the air. "I decided I didn’t want it that badly."

"Where was the tape?"

She grimaced. "In his pants."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of the afternoon passed in a flurry of showers, primping, and changing for the party that night. Amy never had the chance to tell her friends about her encounter with Nick, but as she thought about it, she decided against it.

I don’t want to ruin tonight for everyone. I still can’t believe that the Nick my friends keep raving about to me is the same guy I met today. He’s such a jerk! I can’t believe he treated me like some obsessed fan. She laughed at that one. All I have to do is get through tonight and I’ll never have to see him again.

Adding touch of gloss to her lips, Amy followed her two friends downstairs to the party. When they passed Nick’s room, Amy’s expression darkened. If he even tries anything tonight like he did earlier, he’s going to be singing a higher falsetto than Howie does.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The party was in full swing that night as the girls arrived. Flashing their passes to the guards at the door, they were admitted to the ballroom. There was food covering just about every table and a DJ playing music in the far corner.

Howie was lingering just inside the ballroom, waiting for the girls to arrive. Smiling, he joined their group and slid his arm around Nikki’s waist. "It’s about time you showed up."

"I didn’t mean to keep you waiting," Nikki smiled back at him.

"I didn’t mind waiting for you."

Jacquie and Amy exchanged glances and rolled their eyes at the two lovebirds. "If she doesn’t admit they’re serious soon, I’m going to be sick," Jacquie made gagging sounds.

"Why do you care so much if they become a couple?" Amy asked.

Jacquie grinned. "I bet Nikki twenty bucks back when she first met Howie that they’d end up together. She just doesn’t want to admit that I was right."

Maneuvering around the tables and all the guests, Amy and Jacquie deposited their gifts for Nick on the table. After visually searching the room, Jacquie led the way over to where Brian was standing with Denise. "So where’s the Birthday Boy?"

Brian chuckled, "He hasn’t come down yet. AJ went up to get him."

"Nick had better hope AJ doesn’t have that damn camcorder with him," Jacquie muttered under her breath. "Brian, this is Amy. Amy, meet your third Backstreet Boy."

Fourth, she thought as she smiled and shook Brian’s hand. "It’s nice to meet you, Brian."

"Pleasure’s all mine, Amy. We’ve all heard so much about you from Jaqs and her gang." He looked around the room. "So who all’s here from your crowd?"

"Just us two and Nikki." Jacquie replied. "And she’s off in LaLa Land with Howard."

Denise spoke up. "Lexie couldn’t make it?"

Amy shook her head. "She wanted to, but she has midterms next week. Plus she made co-captain of the cheerleading squad, so that takes up quite a lot of her time."

"How are things between you and Lexie, dear?" Denise directed the question to Jacquie. "I know things were a bit strained last time you two were together."

"Yeah, it was interesting," the blonde laughed. "But we talked about it and everything’s okay now." Looking up, she noticed AJ walking into the ballroom with Nick at his side. "Hey, Amy! Nick’s here!"

Brian was the only one who noticed the strained look on Amy’s face as Jacquie pulled her across the room to where Nick was stopped by well-wishers.

"Happy Birthday, Nickers!" Both Jacquie and AJ laughed at Nick’s scowl. "What’s the matter, Nick? Headache?"

"Very funny, Jacquie. I’d rather not discuss that." Nick’s glance fell on the cute brunette standing slightly behind Jacquie. She looks familiar.

"Nick, this is Amy. Amy, you know Nick." Amy cast a quick look at her friend before smiling tightly at the tall blonde who was grinning at her.

"Nice to meet you, Nick. I’m going to go find Nikki and Howie." Before they could question her, Amy ducked out of the circle and headed across the room.

Jacquie’s jaw dropped. "What just happened?"

AJ started laughing. "It looks like Nicky here just got blown off. I thought you said she liked him, Jaqs?"

"She does! She was so excited to meet you. I just don’t get it. Amy’s normally very outgoing and very sweet."

Nick shrugged as he watched the girl walk away. "Are you sure I haven’t met her before?"

"Nope," Jacquie took the drink AJ handed her. "Amy’s in her last year of high school, so she’s been too busy to travel as much as we have recently. She was only able to make it to AJ’s party because she lives in Florida and then this trip was mainly to meet you, but also because she needed to get out of the house."

"Trouble at home?" Nick was concerned.

"Not at all. She’s waiting for her acceptance letters for college." Jacquie laughed. "Let me tell you, it’s agonizing waiting to hear if you’re going to be accepted by the colleges you want to go to. And then it’s the big decision to make. We knew she needed a break from her daily vigil at the mailbox."

Nick excused himself when the conversation turned to their shopping that morning. Wandering around the room, he greeted the guests and visited with friends, but he kept his eye out for the girl who couldn’t seem to stand being in his presence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dammit!" Amy scowled as she saw Nick heading in her direction. Nikki turned from where she was talking with Howie to look quizzically at the younger girl.

"Hey, Nikki. How are you?" Nick grinned how close she and Howie were sitting at the table. He pulled a chair out and sat next to Amy. Before Nikki could respond, Amy stood up and stalked off. "What’s her problem?"

"I have no idea, Nick." Nikki looked thoughtfully at her friend. "Do you want me to find out?"

He ran his hand through his blonde hair. "Yeah. I can’t believe she’s been treating me like I have the plague. Jacquie has been telling me so much about her that I was kinda looking forward to meeting her, but it’s like she hates me or something."

Howie grinned. "I’m sure she doesn’t hate you, Nick. She’s probably just a little star-struck. Why I remember how Nikki acted the first time we met. She couldn’t stop drooling over me- OW!" He leaned down to rub his shin as Nikki glowered at him.

Laughing, Nick stood up. "Okay, okay. I’ll figure this out for myself. You two kids have fun now."

As he walked away, Nikki turned to Howie. "He’s finally legal and we’re the kids? Give me a break!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Um, hi."

Amy turned around. "Oh, no. Not you again."

"Why do you keep avoiding me?" Nick leaned against the wall next to the table where Amy was selecting vegetables from the trays of food. "I thought you wanted to talk to me."

"Not only do you have the worst memory in the world, but your ego is certainly large enough," Amy couldn’t believe he was still bothering her.

Nick grabbed a plate and began haphazardly putting food on it. "You’re supposed to be the fan, but all you can do is blow me off. And on my birthday no less."

"Happy Birthday, Nick." Amy muttered through clenched teeth. "And I wish you’d get a clue and just leave me alone." She brushed past him and went over to a nearby table to eat.

Nick wasn’t about to be deterred. He dropped into the seat next to hers, much to her obvious annoyance. "Why do you keep going out of your way to not be around me?"

"I’d think you’d be glad to have one more pathetic teenybopper leaving you alone."

His eyes widened. "You’re not a pathetic teenybopper!"

"You sure about that one?" Amy arched an eyebrow and then sighed. "Look, Nick, I’m sure there are plenty of other people you can spend your birthday with. So why don’t you find one of them, okay?" She turned her back to him and started eating.

"Why do you keep treating me like dirt?"

She wouldn’t even look at him. "If you’re going to act like nothing happened, at least you could spare me the decency of acting like you don’t know me."

Nick was fed up with her attitude. "Now listen, Amy," he reached over to grab her shoulder and make her look at him, but she turned when he spoke and it was déjà vu all over again. "Oh my god!"

"You asshole! Get your hands off me!" Amy reached up and slapped him. "You are a perverted creep. I can’t believe my friends ever fell for your good boy crap." She stood up. "You are the pathetic one."

Nick fell back into his chair, not even aware that half the room was looking at him. He was caught up in what he felt was like a bad nightmare. "Oh, shit! That’s why she looked so damn familiar." He closed his eyes at the memory of how he had treated her earlier.

Hoping to distract everyone, Brian jumped in front of the microphone and directed everyone’s attention to the dinner being brought out. Nikki and Jacquie exchanged a glance and both took off after the fleeing Amy.

AJ fell into the chair recently vacated by the girl next to Nick. "What was that all about? Do we need to involve security or anything?"

"Only if she wants to press charges," Nick mumbled. "Why on earth did I agree to go out with you and Jacquie last night?"

"Because it’s not every day a guy turns twenty-one, Nick. What does that have to do with Amy?"

Nick opened his eyes. "Because I was still out of it when I met Amy earlier."

AJ was confused. "I thought you slept the whole day away. You seemed fine when you came down to the party."

"I was by then," Nick went on to explain his encounter with Amy that afternoon when she knocked at his door. "And so that’s why I thought she looked so familiar."

"And why she wanted nothing to do with you."

"Yeah," Nick sighed. "Jacquie has been telling me so much about her, I kinda felt like I already knew her. I hope she doesn’t hate me forever because of this."

AJ looked up to see Jacquie cutting across the room toward them. "I wouldn’t’ worry about that, buddy. Why don’t you go open your presents or something?"

"Yeah," Nick looked over at the pile of gifts on the table with a slight grin. "Let’s go open my presents."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time Jacquie and AJ finished relaying their stories to each other, Nick was almost finished opening his gifts. The watch from Kevin was on his wrist and the laptop from Brian was on the table next to the Playstation 2 games and Metallica CD set from AJ.

"I was going to get you a stripper, but I wasn’t sure if you could handle it," AJ joked.

"I’m a big boy," Nick shot back.

AJ grinned and grabbed one of the bows that came on a gift. "Okay, happy birthday, Nick!" He turned and stuck the bow on Jacquie’s head. "Do your thang girl."

"What!" Jacquie pulled the bow off her head. "I’m not a stripper!"

"Come on, Jaqs, it’s not everyday Nick turns twenty-one," AJ smirked. "Have a heart."

"That’s the excuse you used last night when we snuck him out of the hotel and got him smashed," she retorted.

Nick grimaced remembering how that incident had turned out and then started laughing. "That’s okay, Jaqs. I’ll take a raincheck, especially considering you’d rather perform that particular talent for AJ anyway."

That comment shut both AJ and Jacquie up – remembering his birthday party performance. Brian grinned. "Now I know I need to see the tape of that one."

Nikki laughed. "Maybe later, Brian." She walked over to Nick and handed him a large envelope. "It’s from Howie and I."

Jacquie grinned. "Is it a wedding invitation?"

"We’re not getting married! We’re just dating!" Nikki yelled.

"YES!" Jacquie jumped up from her chair. "That’s twenty bucks, my dear." Nikki sheepishly reached into her purse and pulled out the required bill. Jacquie tucked it in her pocket and laughed as Nikki tried to explain to Howie.

"Can I open my present now?" Nick asked. Jacquie nodded. "Oh, cool! A jetski!"

"I know you can’t use it since we’re on tour, but it’s ready to be delivered as soon as we get back to Florida, Nick," Howie explained.

"Very cool, thanks you two." He turned the envelope over and pulled the smaller envelope that was taped to the back off. Reading the card, he burst out laughing. "I can’t believe you got me a Playboy subscription, Nikki!"

"She did?" AJ grabbed the card. "Now you can stop borrowing my copies!" When his mother cleared her throat, he blushed and handed the card back to Nick. "It’s not my fault. Kevin got me started on them."

The oldest Backstreet Boy was sitting off to the side of the group, but when he heard that comment, he merely rolled his eyes like the older brother he really was to the group.

"So what did you get me, Jacquie?"

"Greedy much, Nickolas?" She laughed and passed over a small rectangular box. "I know it’s not much, but I knew you’d appreciate it."

He tore off the wrapping paper to reveal a picture frame with a group photo inside. "This is from your birthday, right?"

Jacquie nodded as everyone gathered around to get a look. "It was right before we all left. I thought you’d like it since you were the one who started the food fight." There were about fifteen people in the picture and everyone was covered in cake and chip dip.

"Thanks, Jaqs." Nick put the photo aside. "Is that it?"

"Nope," Denise handed over one large flat gift. "This is the last one."

Nick pulled the book out of the wrapping. It was an elaborate collection of deep-sea photographs in full color. "Oh wow," he breathed. The scenes were breathtaking, and the perfect balm for his intense love of the water. He flipped through the book without saying a word. "Who is it from?"

AJ was holding the card, but looked at Jacquie before answering. "It’s from Amy."

"Ahh, man. Now I feel like a complete jackass." Nick rubbed his eyes with his hand. "I really need to go talk to her."

"I think that’s a good idea, Nick." Nikki handed Nick her room key. "She probably won’t let you in if you knock."

"Thanks." With that, Nick stood up and headed for the elevators, photography book still in hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He knocked at the door. "Amy?"

"Who is it?"

"It’s Nick."

"Go away."

He sighed. "Come on, Amy. Can we at least talk about this?"

"No! That’s all you’ve done all night. I don’t want to talk to you. Leave me alone."

Nick took the key Nikki had given him out of his pocket and opened the door.

Amy jumped up from where she was sitting on the couch. "How did you get in here? I don’t want to talk to you!"

"Your friends gave me the key." He took a deep breath. "I came up here for two reasons. If you let me say what I need to say, then I’ll leave you alone, okay?"

She looked into his blue eyes and nodded shortly.

"First, thank you for this." Nick held up the photography book. "It’s absolutely beautiful. The ocean is one of the things I miss the most while I’m on tour."

"I know how you feel," Amy said unevenly. "I get so used to seeing the water everyday where I live that I feel very lonely when I’m not there."

He smiled that half-smile that always made her breath catch in her throat. "And second, I want to apologize for how I’ve acted today." His smile faded and she pulled her arms tighter around herself as if she needed more protection from him. "My only excuse for this morning is that I was not myself. AJ and Jacquie took me out drinking last night to celebrate my birthday. I don't drink much and that wasn't me you encountered this morning. I’m very sorry for how I treated you and for what I said. You came here to have some fun and unwind and I’ve made things horrible for you."

Amy smiled shyly. "Jacquie explained all that earlier. I guess we just had the worst luck when we ran into each other today. I’m sorry for the things I said too. I was a little star-struck and I’m not used to being around celebrities like the other girls are."

"You don’t have to apologize, Amy." Nick ran his hand through his hair. "You know, your friends have been telling me so much about you that I feel like..."

"…I already know you." She finished his sentence with him and grinned. "You too?"

Nick laughed. "Can we start over?" She nodded. "Hi, I’m Nick."

"Hi, I’m Amy. My friends have told me so much about you."

She reached over and shook his outstretched hand. When he didn’t let go, she looked up at him. Staring down into her brown eyes, Nick leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. "It’s very nice to meet you, Amy."

"What was that for?"

"I just felt like doing it."

"Feel like doing it again?"

Nick laughed when he saw the teasing sparkle in her eyes. "At least you didn’t ask for an autograph, too."

"Ahh, you beat me to it." Amy laughed and leaned closer to meet his kiss halfway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So when am I going to see the tape of this famous Johnny Noname performance?" Brian asked as everyone downstairs settled down with cake and coffee.

"Don’t tell me there’s a tape!" Jacquie wailed. "I swear I’m going to have nightmares about video cameras."

"Welcome to our world, Jaqs," Kev said with a grin as AJ jumped up to put the tape in.

The only people left in the ballroom were the Boys, Jacquie, Nikki, Denise, a few friends, and other random dancers, band members, and crew. Howie and Nikki were cuddling on one of the couches near the back of the room. Denise was sitting with one of the dancers nearby.

"So the show went alright for AJ’s birthday?" The girl asked.

Denise smiled. "Oh, yes, Allison. We were able to get Jacquie to fill in for you that night and it was a great success."

"I’m glad. I felt horrible for having to cancel on him like that, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to fly home for the weekend and visit my family." Allison stirred her drink as AJ fiddled with the VCR. "Thank you so much for arranging that for me, Denise."

"It was my pleasure, Allison," the older woman replied.

Howie and Nikki exchanged glances. "Did you hear that?" Nikki asked.

"I couldn’t help it." Howie mulled it over. "Do you think Denise planned for Jacquie to fill in for the show?"

"Well, she did get Allison out of the picture, so to speak." Nikki thought back. "But didn’t she ask Lexie to do it first?"

"But the costume didn’t fit her." Howie reminded her.

Nikki chewed her lip. "This is very interesting. I wonder how much planning 'Mama McLean' had in that particular episode."

"Only time will tell," Howie said, sliding his arm around her shoulders as someone turned down the lights.

The video started out fuzzy with static. It was soon obvious that whomever was manning the camera wasn’t exactly a professional. Scenes of carpet led up to a shot of a rather familiar room and then through a door.

"OH MY GOD!! AJ! That’s the wrong video!!!!" Jacquie shrieked as she jumped out of the chair and after him.

Everyone else started laughing. "Well, Jaqs," Brian quipped. "We’ve seen just about every side you have to show, now haven’t we?" But she wasn’t around to respond having chased AJ out of the room.

Kevin chuckled. "This certainly has been an interesting night. Nick’s disappeared with the girl who apparently hates him…"

"…he’s probably dead." Brian joked.

"Howie has been taken off the eligible bachelor list," Kevin continued.

"And AJ’s been chased out into the crowd of fans by Johnny Noname’s girlfriend," Nikki laughed.

"Just another day of ‘As The Backstreet Boy Turns’," Howie said melodramatically. Everyone burst out laughing. "What? I read it online somewhere…."