After Brian left, AJ tried to fall asleep, but his attempts were useless. He tossed and turned, his mind haunted by the memories of the friendship he had with Maggie.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was just like any afternoon at Nickelodeon Studios. Fourteen year-old AJ was running late, as always. He rushed through the staff entrance only to find himself colliding into someone.

“Watch where you’re going!” A girl’s voice snapped.

As AJ stepped back his dark brown eyes were staring back into the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen. “I’m s…s…sorry.” He stammered. His cheeks burned with embarrassment as he continued to hold the girl’s gaze. He couldn’t help but notice her brilliant red hair and that her body was sculpted much like a dancer. She was perfect to him.

Suddenly her face changed from irritated to recognition. “Hey, you’re on that Nick show ‘Welcome Freshman’, right?”

“That would be me. The name’s AJ.” He said extending his hand.

Apprehensive at first the girl finally placed hers in his. “I’m Maggie.”

“What’s that short for?” AJ inquired.

Wrinkling her nose, Maggie sighed. “Margot Diane West is my full name. But I absolutely HATE my first name so I have everyone call me Maggie.”

Holding onto her every word AJ smiled with sympathy. “Well, Maggie, why don’t I call you Magic?”

She let out a slight laugh but nodded with enthusiasm. “I love it.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The clock on the white, plain wall of the hospital ticked steadily. AJ rolled over on his back and put his hands behind his head. He smiled remembering the day they first met. Then his mind drifted back into the past.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

AJ stood at Maggie’s front step and banged impatiently at her door. Not wanting to wait any longer he burst inside the home of his best friend. “MAGIC!” He hollered.

“Coming!” Her voice filtered through the house from upstairs. Moments later she bounded down the steps. “Sorry, I was in the shower. Where’s the fire?” She teased.

“No fire. Just the best news of my life.” AJ beamed.

Maggie’s jaw dropped as she attacked AJ with a hug. “YOU GOT IN!!” She screamed.

Returning the hug AJ laughed. “That was my ear. But yes. I got in. We’re called the Backstreet Boys.”

The two friends stood for a long time in silence just hugging one another. Finally, Maggie broke the quietness with a sigh. “I’m never going to see you anymore.”

Pulling back from the hug to look into her emerald eyes AJ frowned. “Don’t say that. Never say that. We’re friends forever.”

“Forever.” Maggie repeated, holing her pinkie out.

AJ linked his pinkie in hers before pulling her back into a hug.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What felt like an eternity passed, but AJ still couldn’t get to sleep. He fluffed his pillow and sighed as the memories continued to flood his mind.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Six months had passed, both AJ and Maggie were now fifteen, and although it was difficult to see each other as much as they once had, their promise of ‘friends forever’ had lasted strong. Now they were in Orlando National Airport waiting for the rest of the Backstreet Boys to join them on a trip to Europe.

Maggie paced the carpet, biting on her nails. “What if they don’t like me?” She whined to AJ.

He ran a hand through his newly dyed blonde hair and smiled. “How could they not love you?”

“He’s right.” Denise, AJ’s mother, spoke up from her seat next to her son. “I’ve met the other four boys and they’re all great kids. They’ll have no problem warming up to you.”

As Denise finished talking the remaining members walked up to them. Brian went right to Maggie and engulfed her into a hug. “I’ve heard nothing but the best about you. I’m Brian.”

The awkwardness quickly subsided and Maggie returned the hug. “Nice to meet you.” She said as they parted.

Howie was the next one to embrace Maggie. “I’m Howie.” He introduced himself then stepped back.

The tallest of the boys came up to Maggie next. He too gave her a hug. “I’m Kevin. We’re glad you could come with us.”

“That’s three of you,” Maggie said looking around. Her eyes lay on a young blonde, part of his face hidden by the long locks draped over his eyes, as he played a Game Boy.

AJ smacked the boy on the back of the head. “Hey, Kid, aren’t you going to say hi?”

Looking up the boy gave a smirk in Maggie’s direction. “The name’s Nick. Don’t call me Nicky.” He retorted before going back to his game.

The introduction was brief but it was enough to leave Maggie captivated by Nick. AJ noticed her staring at him in the same way he looked at her the first time they had met. It was the look of love.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It didn’t take long for Nick and Maggie to realize they had feelings for one another. AJ lay there remembering the night that he stumbled across the pair sharing their first kiss.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After a long day of interviews, photo shoots and screaming fans the Backstreet Boys returned exhausted to their London hotel.

They each retreated to their rooms. Kevin and Brian in one, Howie and AJ in the other. Nick was rooming with his mother who had joined them on the road.

Maggie was sharing a room with Denise. Both had long since gone to sleep, but when the boys returned Maggie was startled from her slumber by their laughter in the hallways and doors banging shut. She glanced at the clock to see it was close to 1:30 am. Licking her lips she thought about going to see AJ. But she realized he was probably too tired to hang out. Instead she decided to get a drink from the vending machine down the hall.

Choosing a Coke Maggie turned to leave, but was startled when she came face to face with Nick.

“Hey. What’s up?” He greeted her.

Shrugging Maggie held the Coke up. “Just getting something to drink.”

“Oh.”

Before Maggie could say anything else Nick placed his lips on hers. It was quick and simple, but she felt tingles all the same. “What was that for?”

Nick smiled. “I thought you’d like it.” He replied, with a cocky tone in his voice.

This time Maggie felt no need to say anything, but instead she pulled Nick as close to her as she could and placed her lips on his. The two walked, lips locked, until Maggie felt her back against the ice machine. Nick deepened the kiss and Maggie let out a moan.

A cough interrupted the pair. They stopped and Nick turned to see Kevin and AJ standing there spectating the pair. “Sorry.” He mumbled before ducking out of the small room and retreating to his own.

“Nice going Maggie.” AJ spoke roughly. He turned to leave, but Maggie chased after him.

Kevin just shook his head and returned to his room.

“What the fuck was that?” AJ hissed.

Maggie pointed to Howie, who was passed out on his bed. “Don’t wake up Howie.”

“Don’t change the subject.” The young man in front of her replied, before taking his sunglasses off and throwing them on the table. “Now, will you tell me what that was about?”

“I like him. There’s nothing else to explain.”

It hurt AJ to see that the only girl he truly loved was falling for his band mate. He knew there was nothing else to do. He held up his pinkie. “Friends forever.” He said, flashing a forced smile.

Maggie gratefully linked her pinkie with AJ’s. “Forever.” She promised.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Finally, sleep began to take over AJ’s body. He drifted off, glad to be free from his thoughts of the past. But sleep wasn’t enough to shake his mind of one last memory.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was December 1999. The holiday spirit was spread throughout the mall as Kevin and AJ did their Christmas shopping.

“Hey, man, I got the stop in here and pick up something I ordered for Maggie.” AJ said, stopping in front of a jewelers.

Kevin followed AJ into the store and watched as his friend gave his name and order receipt. A moment later the counter person brought out a small box, big enough for a ring.

Beeming, AJ opened the box and showed his friend. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

Inside the box was a diamond ring with two sapphires on either side. It looked expensive and Kevin was sure to point that out.

“Gnaw, nothing is too expensive for my Magic.” AJ replied with a shrug.

“You love her.” Kevin said, realizing it for the first time.

Pausing in his steps, AJ frowned. “She’s with Nick.” He struggled to say.

Putting his hand on AJ’s shoulder Kevin shook his head. “That doesn’t mean you can’t love her.”

“I do.” AJ choked, feeling tears come to his eyes. It hurt him so much to see his best friend and true love with someone who had become a brother to him. He had learned to accept, but hearing Kevin say he noticed made him scared that Maggie knew too. And if she knew, then why didn’t she love him too? AJ let his mind spin out of control.

“I’ll give you one good reason not to love her anymore.” AJ heard Kevin say. He looked up at Kevin and waited for him to continue. “I slept with her. She cheated on Nick to be with me.”

It was all a lie. Kevin just hated seeing his friend yearn for a girl who he would never get. He knew that Nick and Maggie were in love and if faced with choosing her best friend or her boyfriend, she would choose her boyfriend. He thought she was selfish enough to want both men in her life, so in his own twisted way he was avoiding that situation. “Just don’t tell Nicky or her that you know.” Kevin said quickly.

“Sure.” AJ said in a daze. He felt his heartbreak over and over as Kevin’s words played in his mind on repeat. “I slept with her…”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

AJ woke up in a sweat. He looked at the clock to see that in an hour Howie would come to take him home. Rubbing his hand over his face he tried to push the past from his head. This was now, and now all he wanted was Maggie back in his life. He just wanted her friendship and nothing more. He had grown, in the past two years with out her, to learn that if he really did love her then he needed to let her be happy and Nick was the one who completed that happiness, not him.