Chapter Fourteen


“Sweetie..”

“Nick...please tell me you did not just tell one of your best friends that you and I were going to have sex.” Kaity stated in a cold tone.

“I, look, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Nick! I thought you said that we were going to wait until I was ready. Did I not hear you right? Or were you just lying to me?” Kaity asked shoving her chair back as she stood up.

“Kaity, listen to me.”

“Alright.” Kaity said after a silent moment. “Explain.”

“Aren’t you going to sit down?” Nick asked tugging on the hem of her shirt.

“Talk.” she stated.

“Okay, okay. I told him that I guessed something was going to happen on tour. Which is the reason your parents wouldn’t let you go...because they didn’t want anything to happen. I said that we were going to go with the flow, and that I didn’t know what was going to happen. Kaity, I was not planning on anything happening.”

“But, didn’t you just say you told AJ you think something was going to happen if I went on tour. Nick, you just contradicted yourself.”

“Okay, look. I love you, and I would never force you to do anything. Is that what you want me to say?”

“Sure, Nick. That sounded real sincere. For your information, I’m an old fashioned kind of girl. Sex is not just sex to me. It’s something special. I was hoping you would feel the same way, but I guess I was wrong. To you, all it is, is something to talk to your buddies about...totally disrespecting me in the process. I can only imagine what AJ thinks of me now.”

“Kaity, he’s known you almost as long as I have.” Nick said trying to reason.

“I don’t care how long he’s known me. He doesn’t know me like you do. He doesn’t know my secrets, my morals. Jesus, the guy thinks I was just going to hop into bed with you once I was out of my parents’ house!”

“No he doesn’t.”

“How do you know that Nick? I don’t want people thinking of me like that.”

“Alright, I’m sorry. I’ll talk to AJ about this. I’ll tell him you have morals and want to wait.”

“Nick..” Kaity said taking a breath. She sat down again, and pulled her chair towards Nick. “The point I’m trying to make here, it that I’m not totally experienced in dating. I don’t know the first thing about being in love. But, I know how I want people to look at me. I want to be a well mannered teenage girl, who has a great understanding boyfriend who has strong morals along with me. I don’t want to lose this bond we have, ever. And I don’t want to base our relationship on sex.”

“I know, baby. I told you that from day one. We aren’t ready for that step. I love you so much, and you know that, but...our relationship is too new..too rare. I don’t want to screw it up with anything superficial. I just want to be able to hold you, and love you. I don’t need to sleep with you to know that you love me, and I love you.”

“Do you mean that?” Kaity asked shyly.

“Of course I do. Kaity, you are my life. Right up there at the top of my list is music and you. Nothing else means more to me.”

“You’re important to me too.”

“No one in this world knows me like you do. I don’t want to do anything to lose you.”

“I know.”

“But, you have to understand something.” Nick said reaching for her hand again. She allowed him to lace his fingers with hers. “I’m a guy. I do stupid things sometimes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Like you said, you’re not experienced in this whole love thing...I’m not either. Just because I’ve been with someone, doesn’t mean that I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“I know, I overreacted, Nick.”

“No you didn’t. You need to tell me stuff like that. I want to know how you feel.”

“Yeah? So you want me to bitch you out when you make me mad?”

“I want you to tell me what I did to make you mad, so that I don’t do it again, and risk losing you.” Nick said bringing her hand to his lips, kissing it softly.

“I love you.” Kaity said softly.

“I love you too.” Nick replied leaning in to kiss her softly. She pressed her lips to his, letting out a small sigh. Things were okay. Nick pulled back and looked at her smiling. “Was that just our first fight?”

“Yeah, I think it was.”

“And we got through it okay?” Nick asked.

“Yeah, we did.”

“Thank God. You know, I was worried that when you and I got around to fighting, we’d be so passionate about it that we would have this gigantic break-up and not speak for months.” Nick said smiling slightly. Kaity laughed lightly, squeezing his hand.

“No way.”

“Yes way.”

“Nope, I wouldn’t let that happen. Especially since, if I remember correctly, I have promised never to let you go.” Kaity said smiling.

“That you did.” Nick answered. He leaned forward again to kiss Kaity, but was interrupted by Mrs. McKenzie.

“Sorry.” she said slightly embarrassed.

“Hey, ma. You sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, yes, I’m perfectly fine. I’m sorry that I bothered you two.”

“Mom?”

“What?” Mrs. McKenzie asked turning around.

“It’s okay.” Kaity said smiling up at her mother.

“Alright, I’ll see you two later.”

“Hey Mom?” Kaity asked, again stopping her mother from exiting the room.

“Yes?”

“Can we have the Carter’s over tonight for a barbecue? I know that Dad wanted to have a cook-out tonight. Can they come?”

“Of course, I was thinking about calling Jane anyway. By the way, what did she say about you two getting together??”

“Um..” Nick stalled. “I haven’t really told her yet. I was planning on telling her with Kaity with me, but we haven’t had a chance to. My parents aren’t home that much.” Nick said shaking his head sadly. His parents had recently become very involved in his little brother Aaron’s career, and they had been spending less and less time at home in Ruskin.

“Oh I see. Well they are all welcome here tonight, say 6 o’clock.” Mrs. McKenzie finished, finally leaving the room.

“Wanna go and see if they’re home now?” Nick asked Kaity. He had been waiting for the time he could tell his parents about he and Kaity, now seemed as perfect as any.

“Sure.” Kaity said shrugging her shoulders.

Nick led Kaity into his house and called for his parents.

“Yes Nick?” Jane Carter answered, coming down the stairs. “Hello Kaity, what a pleasant surprise.” she said kissing Kaity on the forehead. Kaity and Mrs. Carter always got along.

“Hello, Mrs. Carter.”

“Mom? We have something that we would like to talk to you about. Is Dad around?”

“No, Honey. Your father is out with Aaron right now. He had a meeting with his manager.”

“Oh.” Nick answered sadly.

“Is it something that you want to wait to tell us or do you want to tell me? I’m not busy right now. I’m interested.” his mother said smiling.

“Yeah, I could tell you.” Nick said taking Kaity by one hand and his mother by the other. The three of them situated themselves in the living room, Nick and Kaity on the couch next to each other, and Jane in a huge easy chair kitty corner to the sofa.

“What can I do for you two?” Jane asked smiling at her son.

“We just wanted to tell you and Dad that Kaity and I are..uh, dating.” Nick said blushing a light shade of pink.

“Really?!” Jane asked smiling as she clasped her hands to her chest. “Oh my, I’m sure your mother is thrilled!” Jane said turning to Kaity. The smile faded from her face.

“Well, not exactly.” Kaity said sadly.

“What? That is impossible! Since you moved here, she has been dreaming of the day that you two would start dating!”

“Sure, she’s happy that we’re dating, but...well, see, I wanted to tour with Nick, and she doesn’t think that is proper.”

“Well, why not?”

“She doesn’t trust us.” Nick explained.

“Oh, well...yes, I understand that part. I worry, and have been worrying since Nick was fourteen and on the road. I was nervous about him being the huge pop star, with millions of teenage girls falling all over him. I fully expected him to mature faster and begin to...well, date and experience things with older women.”

“Mom...” Nick whined.

“I did. And I’m sure that your mother is just as concerned about you, Kaity.”

“But why?”

“Because, you are going to be on the road, in many different states, meeting tons of different people.”

“Mom, her problem was with me.” Nick stated.

“You? Oh! Hormones.” Jane said smiling. “You guys are dating, and will be alone and unsupervised. Right?”

“Yeah.” Nick said nodding.

“I’ll talk to her.” Jane said patting Kaity on the knee. She stood up, kissing Nick on the head. “Don’t plan on being apart just yet. I might be able to do some convincing.” She said leaving the room. Nick looked over at Kaity.

“Well?”

“You never know.” Kaity said sliding over so she could grab onto his arm.

“We have someone on our side. They are best friends. I’m sure my mother will be able to convince yours to let you come.” Nick said planting a kiss on the top of Kaity’s head.

“Yeah, hopefully.”

“No, she will. Be positive.” Nick said grabbing her hand.

“I will be.”

“Hey...if you come on tour with me, we’re going to be together for your birthday.” Nick said smiling.

“Yeah, we would be. Can you believe that? I’m going to be eighteen years old.” Kaity said shaking her head. “Where did all the years go? I remember the day that I met you. It seems like yesterday.”

“Yeah, I remember that too. You were so shy. I had to come up to you and say hi because you hid behind your mother the entire time.”

“I was six! What do you expect. I had been dragged, screaming from my old home to Florida...and then next door to meet all these new people. I was petrified!”

“How can anyone be afraid of this face?” Nick asked using his index finger to lift her face to meet his. “If I look this adorable now, imagine what I looked like when I was nine!” Nick finished, cracking a smile. Kaity giggled up at him.

“Oh, take it from a warm-blooded female, you weren’t all that spectacular.”

“Did you just insult my gorgeous looks?” Nick asked, faking a shocked look.

“Why, yes, I think I did.” Kaity said smiling up at him.

“Should I punish you?” Nick asked her.

“No.” she answered tickling him lightly in the stomach.

“Seriously, what did you think of me when you saw me for the first time??” Nick asked lifting his arm over her head to rest around her shoulders. Kaity nuzzled closer to Nick as she thought.

“Well, I thought you looked annoying.”

“Annoying? Nah.” Nick said laughing.

“I wasn’t finished...jeez, you ask me something and then jump down my throat before I have a chance to finish!”

“Sorry, baby.”

“Well then,” Kaity said giving a sigh, “You were older than I, I mean, you were already nine! That is old compared to six. Ya know? I was intimidated. Never, in a million, bazillion years did I picture you and I together.”

“Yeah, I thought that you were a little young. You know that unwritten rule that states that nine year olds can’t be friends with six year olds. Plus, toss in the fact that you were a girl...it was just wrong.”

“Yeah? I thought you had cooties.” Kaity said giggling.

“Did you really?”

“No, honestly, I didn’t. You were one of the only boys that I wasn’t afraid to be around.”

“And the rest?” Nick asked raising his eyebrows.

“They weren’t as lucky as you were. You had the privilege of knowing me in my ‘boy are stupid and ewey’ stage.”

“I feel honored.”

“You should.” Kaity said flashing Nick a smile. “So, were you planning on asking your mother to the barbecue??” Kaity asked changing the subject.

“Oh shit! Thanks.” Nick said getting up quickly and dashing out of the living room. He came back seconds later smiling. “Expect us at 6.”

“Cool, hey, I was thinking. Since your family is coming, do you want to invite the guys??”

“Sure, if you want to.” Nick said shrugging.

“Can I use your phone. I haven’t seen those guys in forever...well except Brian. Which reminds me, we need Emily to come too. Her and Brian are hanging out together today, remember?”

“Yeah, all because of you and I.” Nick said smiling as he handed the phone to Kaity. She quickly called up the rest of the Backstreet Boys.

“Alright, Howie and Kevin are going to come around 6:30 and Brian and Em are coming early to help set stuff up.”

“What about AJ?” Nick asked, noticing one of his band mates missing.

“That is your job. I believe that you have some things to correct yourself about.” Kaity said holding the phone out for Nick.

“You’re actually going to make me tell him that?!”

“Nickolas...call him.”

“Can I make the call in my room, or do you need to monitor?” Nick asked sarcastically.

“No, Mr. Pissy, I do not need to monitor.” Kaity said cracking a smile at Nick. He rolled his eyes and went upstairs and grabbed his cell phone.

“Bone.” AJ answered moments later.

“Hey J.” Nick greeted.

“Nick-ay!! What are you doing calling me?? I figured that you and Kaity would be in dispose or something by now...if you know what I mean.” AJ joked.

“AJ...”

“Hey, I thought it was funny, you know, considering you won’t be getting any as long as you guys are home.” AJ said cackling.

“AJ, this is kind of what I was calling about.”

“What? You need a place? Advice? Kinky ideas??”

“AJ!”

“What?”

“Stop it.”

“What did I do?”

“Don’t talk about sex between Kaity and I like that.”

“Like what? Something fun?”

“No, something that means nothing.”

“What is your problem? Are you getting all abstinent on me?”

“I didn’t say that, I just....I thought that you would think higher of Kaity.” Nick said sadly. He now realized that Kaity was right. Why didn’t he realize that AJ would act perverted with anything concerning sex??

“Nick, what are you talking about?”

“Kaity got upset with me when she found out what I had told you...about her and I sleeping with each other.”

“Yeah?”

“She didn’t want you to get the wrong idea about her.”

“What would the wrong idea be?”

“That she is like that..someone who sleeps with her boyfriend because she can. She’s not going to jump into bed with me just because her parents aren’t around.”

“Okay..”

“I told her to have more faith in you...guess I was wrong.” Nick spat out.

“Woah, woah...calm down Nicky. I don’t think bad of her.”

“From what you just told me...you obviously got the wrong idea from what I said earlier. Kaity and I aren’t going to have sex now...or, frankly, anytime soon.”

“You’re not?” AJ asked confused.

“No, sex just isn’t sex to us. It’s something special, the greatest expression of love.”

“Hold on, so what you told me before...about you assuming something was going to happen on tour....you’re taking that back?”

“Sort of.”

“What do you mean sort of?! You are confusing the hell out of me. Are you guys gonna do it or not?”

“Not.”

“Then why did you tell me you were?”

“It was a mistake.” Nick explained. “We’re waiting.”

“Let me get this straight. You called me up to tell me that you and your girlfriend aren’t having sex??” AJ asked laughing.

“I called you to correct myself. Kaity was afraid you would think that she’s promiscuous with what I told you before.” Nick said, relieved that AJ somewhat understood.

“Like hell I would think that. Dude, she’s like my little sister. I’d knock some sense into her if she was advertising sexual behavior!” AJ said.

“Yeah?”

“Nick, man, I’ve known her as long as I’ve know you...I would never think badly of her. Ever.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Hey, I love her like my own sibling.” AJ said in a soft voice.

“I love her too...”

“Minus the sibling part??” AJ asked laughing.

“Yeah, I would never put my tongue in my sister’s mouth.” Nick commented shuddering.

“Nicky...”

“Hey...before I forget, do you wanna come to a barbecue at Kaity’s tonight?”

“Sure..what time?”

“6ish?”

“Sounds cool, who’s comin’?”

“The guys, my mom...Emily.”

“Yeah, I heard about Brian and Emily...looks like some things are heating up.”

“You’re telling me.”

“Hey, I’ll be there tonight though...catch you then?”

“Yeah, see ya.”

“Peace.” AJ said as he and Nick hung up.

Chapter Fifteen
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