I stare at the shut door and sigh heavily. I can’t believe Jade had said that stuff to me, calling me selfish and shit. And that Brian had backed her up! He knew how scared I was for her while she was missing, about how upset I was. I head back to my room slowly. Maybe now that Jade’s back, Nick will be cool again. I open the door and see Nick sat on the bed watching MTV.
“Hey,” I say cautiously and he glances at me quickly before looking back at the TV. “Just saw Jade.”
“Yeah?”
“Uh huh. She’s pretty pissed at me,” I mutter and sit down.
“And that surprises you?” he asks dryly.
“I WAS scared for her Nick!”
“Yeah but that was a little too late,” he looks at me. “You shouldn’t keep secrets like that from people!”
“Well, you know everything now.”
“Do I? Cos I’m not sure that I can believe you anymore.”
“Nick!” I stare at him and he shrugs.
“You don’t TELL me anything, I just find out when shit happens.”
“I was scared you’d hate me…”
“Well, now I feel like I’ve been dating somebody who isn’t really YOU. I’ve been dating my version of you and now I realise I barely even know you!”
“You know me!” I tell him and reach for his hand. “I’m who you think I am. It’s just my past that’s different.”
“But, you should trust me Ali!”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I do love you Nick.”
“Yeah?” he asks and moves his hand away from mine. “I’m going to see Jade,” he stands up.
“Sometimes I think you have a total thing for Jade!” I yell, frustrated.
“You wanna know something?” he looks back at me before walking out. “Sometimes I do too.”
“Wha?!” I gasp as he disappears. I run to the door and see him retreating down the corridor towards Jade and Brian’s room. “You have a thing for JADE?!” I yell and he turns round quickly. “She’s BRIAN’S girl! Remember him?! Your best friend?!”
“I said SOMETIMES,” he yells back as their door opens and Brian stares at us both.
“I don’t believe you!” I scream at Nick who looks at Brian.
“Come inside bro,” Brian takes his arm and leads him inside the room.
“I would watch him around your precious Jade!” I yell. “I mean, she doesn’t exactly have the greatest track record when it comes to staying faithful!”
Brian stares at me as Jade comes running out of the room to stand face-to-face with me.
“What right do YOU have to say that?!”
“Uh, JC?!” I yell at her.
“He’s history! He’s nothing! You know what happened there Ali!”
“Yeah! I know all right! You had a little fling with NSync boy knowing that HE,” I point at Brian, “will be just pathetic enough to take you right back!”
“HEY!” Brian yells angrily and Jade turns round to hold her hand up at him.
“It’s ok baby. I got this.” She turns back to me, “No, I was the pathetic one. Brian just loved me enough to forgive me.”
“Aw, how cute,” I say dryly.
“You are jealous,” she states, folding her arms.
“Fuck no!” I yell. “Why the hell would I be jealous of you?!”
“Uh, maybe because I don’t LIE about my PAST?!”
“I thought you UNDERSTOOD!”
“Maybe I TRIED to before you got me kidnapped and then refused to show any real remorse over it,” she folds her arms and we stare at each other.
“Jade honey, just come back into our room,” Brian slips his arm around her waist. “I think Ali needs a little time to cool down.”
“I would be perfectly cool if my damn boyfriend would take MY side for once!” I fume.
“Well maybe this guy doesn’t wanna be your damn boyfriend anymore?!” Nick tells me angrily and walks into Jade and Brian’s room, closely followed by them.
“UGH!” I stamp my foot and storm back into my room, slamming the door as hard as I can.
“Ok,” Brian says as the threesome sit down in his hotel room. “You wanna talk about what just happened?”
“Not right now,” Nick mutters. “I’m sorry you guys got involved.”
“It’s ok,” Jade sighs. “I guess it’s been brewing. I had no idea she felt that way about me.”
“Or me,” Brian chuckles dryly. “I’m pathetic huh?”
“Oh you are NOT baby,” Jade moves over to wrap her arms around him.
“Well, seein’ as you’re the only person whose opinion matters to me… Thanks,” he kisses her.
“Things haven’t been right with Ali for a few months now,” Nick suddenly says and the couple look at him. “Ever since the whole JC thing I guess. I mean, I saw the way you held on for Jade and I wondered if I would’ve done the same for Ali. And I don’t think I would’ve done. And I asked you how you could forgive Jade and you said because she’s everything to you, that without her you wouldn’t exist…” Jade snuggles closer to Brian on hearing Nick say those things and his arms curl around her body. “And I guess I don’t feel that way about Ali anymore,” Nick finishes.
“Do you love her?” Brian asks.
“I say I do,” Nick shrugs. “And I think I do. But y’know all those times before when you thought you were in love and it just turned out to be somethin’ else? How do I know this isn’t one of those times?”
“You just know,” Brian says. “I know that doesn’t help but it’s true. It’s different.”
“I thought it was different when we first started dating but now?” he shakes his head wearily. “I’m just tired of bein’ scared whenever she starts flirting with another guy. And I’m tired of finding out things about her past. I don’t know if I love her anymore.”
“Sounds to me like you guys need a little time apart,” Jade suggests. “It might help you find out how you feel about her. Just a little space to get your head together and stuff.”
“Yeah,” Nick sighs. “Maybe.”
“READY?” Kevin yells, knocking on the door and they all groan.
“He sure picks his moments,” Brian jokes lightly and stands up to open the door.
“The car’s downstairs for TRL,” Kevin tells them. “We ready?”
“Uh, sure,” Brian says.
“Me too,” Nick mutters and they follow Kevin out of the room.
Brian holds onto Jade’s hand tightly as they wait in the green room at MTV in New York. The Boys are appearing on TRL to apologise personally for postponing two concerts. Usually Jade would stay back at the hotel or do her own thing, but neither of them wants to be parted. Brian has even asked for Jade to join the audience, albeit off-camera, for their segment. Nick hasn’t even told Ali where he’s gone, deciding instead to tell her he needs a little time apart when he gets back to the hotel. A TRL assistant calls the guys through to get ready for their appearance and Jade heads off to sit with the audience. Nick and Brian stand a little behind the other three guys.
“Uh Nick, I kinda heard what Ali said to you before.”
“Huh?” Nick looks at him.
“About you likin’ Jade.”
“Oh,” Nick turns red. “She was just…”
“Nick, I know you like her. You always have. Right from the first night we met her and Ali,” Brian sighs. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget having to watch you two kiss.”
“Brian, I…” Nick starts.
“But that’s ok,” Brian interrupts his friend gently. “It’s alright because she loves me, she chose me. And I know you do love Ali. And I also know that I could trust you with my life.”
“You can,” Nick tells him.
“And Jade is my life.”
“I know. I don’t love her or anything. She’s just…” Nick shrugs.
“She’s just Jade,” Brian says for him and he nods slightly.
A few minutes later, Carson Daly introduces them.
“Ok, we got a real special surprise here today. We got the Backstreet Boys! Give it up!”
The audience scream as the five guys walk into the room. They grin and wave before standing by Carson.
“Hey, what’s up?!” grins Kevin.
“Hey Carson!” says Howie high-fiving him.
“Hey guys,” Carson greets. “It’s real good seein’ y’all. I guess you’re here to talk about the recent schedule changes huh?”
“Yup,” Kevin says. “We wanna apologise to everyone who was affected. We promise those shows will go ahead at the end of the tour – which will be in two months’ time. We hope y’all can make it!”
“Why did you have to make those changes?”
“That would be my fault,” Brian says with a small smile. “I had a personal problem which I’m not exactly allowed to talk about. But everything is totally fine now. I promise.”
“Ok, but was it anything to do with your heart?” asks Carson.
“Not at all. It was not a health problem. I am fine, my family are fine, all of the guys are fine,” Brian smiles and Carson chuckles.
“That’s good to know. Ok, we got a coupla general questions from the audience.” He checks his cue cards, “where’s Kali?”
“Here!” a blonde girl who looks about 16 waves her hand and Carson beckons for her to ask the question. “Uh, I wanted to ask y’all when you’re gonna record a new CD?”
“We’re putting together a greatest hits…” starts Kevin.
“So far,” interrupts Howie and Kevin nods.
“Yeah, so far. It’s gonna be a CD of all our biggest songs to date plus maybe a coupla new ones. It should be out around November.”
“When this tour winds up, we’re gonna have a little time off,” says Nick. “Gonna go out in my boat, eat lotsa pizza, chill out and then we’re gonna go in the studios early next year.”
“I’m not goin’ on his boat,” states AJ pulling a face. “This guy is a MENACE on the water.”
“Am not!” Nick retorts.
“Ok, seagrass mean anything to ya?” AJ responds and Nick blushes as the audience laugh.
“Shaddup dude!” Nick whines and AJ holds his hands up.
“Stay outta the seagrass man!” laughs Carson. “Ok, next question is from Sarah.”
“Hey guys!” she giggles. “Do you guys all have girlfriends now? Cos there’ve been a LOT of rumours!”
“Well, I think most everybody knows I’m married,” chuckles Kevin. “And my wife wouldn’t like me to have a girlfriend too.”
“I’m totally single,” grins Howie. “I don’t have a dog or a girl.”
“So if ya had a DOG, ya wouldn’t be SINGLE?!” wonders AJ.
“Uh, I meant – I got no ties,” corrects Howie.
“Ok, whatever,” AJ rolls his eyes. “I’m single too. I mean, I date but nothin’ long-term right now.”
“I’m seein’ someone right now,” says Nick, more subdued than usual.
“I got a girl too,” Brian says. “And we actually just got engaged.”
“Engaged?!” exclaims Carson as the audience react in various ways. “Wow. You sly dog! Congratulations. Did you do it all romantic – get down on ya knee and stuff?”
“Uh, not exactly,” Brian grins. “But it WAS romantic. Hell, she said yes so… That’s all the romance I was lookin’ for!”
“True!” Carson laughs. “Ok, next question…”