By the light of day Katrina had convinced herself the kiss was a bad idea. She hid out in her room until Nick came looking for her.
“Come in,” she said hoping it was anyone but Nick.
“Morning,” greeted Nick as he walked over to kiss her. She turned her head and he got her cheek.
“Morning,” she replied.
Nick frowned, “You coming to breakfast?”
“Nope. I’ll be down later.”
“Kat what happened between last night and this morning?”
“Sleep happened. Now go eat breakfast.”
“Kat…nevermind,” Nick said walking out and slamming the door.
He stomped down stairs and into the kitchen where Brian and Tonya were eating.
“Hey Frack this is my house you stomping through.”
“Sorry Brian.”
Tonya kissed Brian and said, “I'll go talk to Katrina.”
Nick snorted, “good luck!”
Tonya and Brian exchanged a look. Brian smiled and turned to face Nick. As they began to talk, Tonya headed up the stairs and knocked on the guestroom door.
“Nick I said I will be down later.”
“It’s not Nick.”
“Oh. Hi Tonya.”
“Hello Katrina. Why are you and Nick in such bad moods?”
“So Nick’s really upset?”
“Oh yeah! Kat I realize I’m not Melissa or Beth, but I will listen if you need to talk.”
“We kissed,” stated Kat flatly.
Tonya hesitated, “and….what else?”
Kat told Tonya everything. Tonya was doubled up in laughter when Kat finished.
“Why is it that every time something like this happens between Nick and I people find it funny?”
Tonya wiped the tears from her eyes and said, “I’m sorry Kat, but you two are too funny.”
“Gee thanks.”
“Kat is Nick that bad a kisser?”
“No!”
“Then what is the problem?”
“Well try we live two completely different lives. Try we just really met. And most importantly, I’m 5 years older than him.”
“First when anyone starts a relationship they have completely different lives. You work at meshing the two. Secondly, you have known each other for a while. I was surprised to hear last night was the first time you had kissed. Then you told about the aborted attempts which was funny as hell. Finally, let you in on a secret. I’m 3 years older than Brian.”
“Really?”
“Really! I understand your apprehension, but Kat give it a chance. I know Nick likes you. He’s a good guy.”
“I know. Oh man! Now I have to go apologize.”
“Yes you do. I will send Nick up,” laughed Tonya.
“Tonya?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
Kat sat on the bed and waited for Nick. It took some convincing on Tonya’s part and threatening on Brian’s, but Nick eventually went up to see Katrina. He hesitated outside the door. Did he really want to give her a chance to explain? Kat was going nuts. Finally, she gave up and went in search of Nick. Luckily she only had to open the door.
“You wanted to see me?”
“Yeah Nick I did.”
“You see me.”
“Come in and sit down.”
“Just talk.”
“Fine. I got scared.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m 24 and you are 19.”
“I don’t care!”
“I know. I just wasn’t prepared for you. OK? I never saw you coming. I don’t know where this is going. Hell I don’t even know where my life is going.”
“Kat why are you trying to solve everything? Why can’t you just be here with me? Everything will take care of itself. Promise.”
“All right Nick. I will try to not worry about everything so much. So what are we doing?”
“Right now we are going down and eat something.”
“Wait! Why haven’t you eaten?”
“Honestly you made me too upset to eat.”
Kat’s eyes started to tear up as she hugged him saying, “Oh Nick I’m so sorry.”
“It’s OK. I’m just glad we got this straightened out.”
“Me too.”
“Kat?”
“Yes Nick?”
“Can I have the good morning kiss I came in for earlier?”
Kat smiled and leaned up to offer him her lips. He lowered his head and gently kissed her. They then turned and headed down the stairs arm in arm. Brian and Tonya smiled at them as they entered the kitchen. The four of them talked while Nick and Kat ate. The boys played basketball while the girls watched. Soon it was time for the guys to head to the arena for sound check. The girls were going to the hotel to pick up Melissa and Beth. They had been enjoying the Florida sun by the hotel pool. Brian rode with Nick to the arena so Tonya and the girls would have something to ride in. They loaded all of their gear in Brian’s BMW. Kat, Lissa, and Beth had originally planned on staying in Tampa or heading to Miami after the last concert. Nick had offered to let Kat, Lissa, and Beth stay at his house in Tampa. They were heading out right after that night’s concert.
As soon as Nick saw Katrina backstage he bounded over and kissed her. She laughed when she saw her sister and best friend’s expressions. She hadn’t told them about the latest events in the Nick and Kat drama. Nick was pulled away for makeup. Kat grabbed her camera and headed outside to the front of the venue. She walked around taking pictures of the crowd. She had just finished taking a picture of a mother and her eight-year old daughter, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to face a teenager with a very sour look on her face.
“May I help you,” asked Katrina.
“Whose girlfriend are you?”
“What?”
“Duh! Which Backstreet Boy do you date? Cause I saw you drive in with Brian’s slut of a girlfriend.”
“Excuse me, how old are you?”
“14, so?”
“So, do your parents know you have that mouth on you?”
“Shut up and answer my question.”
“That statement contradicts itself but to answer you, no one. I am friends with all the guys.”
“I believe you, because they would never go out with someone as ugly as you.”
Kat shook her head and turned to leave. It was better to just walk away from the situation. Suddenly she heard her name being called. She turned to see her sister standing in one of the doors of the main entrance to the arena.
“What Lissa?”
“Come back in. Nick is looking for you. His whole family just got here and he wants to introduce you.”
“Coming,” responded Kat. Suddenly she was spun around to come face to face with the same girl.
“You lying Bitch. If you think you are going to get my Nicky you are mistaken. You keep you dirty, slutty hands off my man,” she screamed as she threw the Coke she was holding in Kat’s face.
Kat, on instinct, when spun around had put her camera behind her back. So while she was covered with Coke her camera was safe. Melissa watched from the door. She recognized the look on her sister’s face and knew it wasn’t good. As Kat stared at the girl a woman walked up.
“What’s going on here? Kathy?”
Kat turned to the woman and asked, “Is this your daughter?”
“Yes it is. May I help you?”
“Yes you can. Will you and your daughter accompany me inside?”
The woman looked puzzled, but said, “OK.”
Kat looked around her and saw a girl about the same age as Kathy. She had an ‘I can’t believe she just did that’ look on her face. Kat asked her, “Did you see everything that just happened?”
“Y-yes.”
“Good. Who are you with?”
The girl pointed to her friend.
“OK will all four of you follow me?”
Kat didn’t wait for a response. She turned and headed inside. Melissa watched her sister stride purposefully through the arena to the backstage area with the little group following along behind. She didn’t slow or stop until she found everyone. She walked over to Nick and his family. Nick started to introduce her, but she stopped him. She apologized and asked his brothers and sisters leave for a moment. She said she would explain everything in a minute. Nick took one look at her covered in some kind of liquid and at the people standing by the door with Melissa. He did as she asked. When everyone but the boys, their girlfriends and families had exited the room, Kat began to explain.
“I went outside in front of the building to take pictures of the fans waiting to get in. This young girl, Kathy, approached me. Kathy I would like you to meet the Backstreet Boys and this is Tonya, Debbie, Connie, my sister Melissa, and my best friend Beth. By the way I’m Katrina. Now back to the story. Kathy had some question as to which Backstreet Boy I was dating. It was at this point she mentioned seeing me arrive with….oh Kathy, what was the colorful term you used for Tonya?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Sure you do. Well I’m sorry what is your name,” asked Kat turning to the girl she had asked to come along.
“I’m Amber,” she responded shyly.
“I’m her friend Tammy,” offered the girl with her.
“Hello Amber and Tammy. Amber would you please tell them what you heard?”
“I don’t use words like that,” she said.
Tammy said, “I don’t either, but I will repeat what she said because they need to hear it. She called Tonya Brian’s slutty girlfriend.”
“Kathy! Please tell me you didn’t do that,” cried her mother.
“I’m sorry but she did,” stated Amber.
“I explained to her that I was not dating any of you.”
Amber interrupted, “And Kathy told her she was too ugly to date any of you.”
“Kat tell them how you got the coke on you,” prompted Melissa.
Katrina continued, “Lissa called to me. She said you were looking for me Nick and wanted to introduce me to your family. I turned to go in when she stopped me.”
Tammy spoke up, “Yeah. Kathy called her a lying bitch and told her to keep her slutty hands off her man.”
Kevin asked, “Who’s her man?”
Amber and Tammy replied in unison, “Nick!”
“Me,” squeaked out Nick.
“That’s what she said and she threw her drink on Katrina,” finished Amber.
“What’s wrong Kathy,” question Kat. “Oh I’m sorry. Is this not how you thought your first meeting with Backstreet would be? See I knew it would do no good to yell at you or make a scene out there. It was far more effective to bring you in here and in front of them, your mom, their girlfriends and family, and have what you said brought to they’re attention.”
“Young lady we are leaving, but first you apologize,” stated the girl’s mother.
“Mom,” wailed Kathy.
“You heard me. You apologize then I’m taking you home. You are grounded for the next month.”
Kathy started to cry and said, “I’m sorry.”
Her mother spoke, “I’m sorry too. I apologize for my daughter’s behavior. We will be leaving now.”
“Kathy before you go,” said Kat. “I accept your apology, as I’m sure everyone else does. Also I want to ask one thing of you. Next time you start to say something mean to someone stop and think. Remember this moment.”
Kathy nodded and followed her mother out. The room was quiet for a moment. Then Brian started howling with laughter. Everyone turned to him with questioning expressions.
“Kat you have a knack for getting parents to take home their ill mannered children. You are now two for two.”
“I’m not proud of that, but they have to realize they are dealing with human beings.”
“Excuse me. Can we go now,” asked Amber. She and Tammy looked lost in this room full of essentially strangers.
Nick asked, “Girls where are your seats.”
“In the noise bleed section at the back of the arena,” replied Tammy.
Nick looked the others and they all smiled.
“Well not anymore,” said AJ. “You have just been upgraded to sitting with our families. Remo can you get them some passes.”
“Why are you doing this,” asked Amber.
Kevin answered, “Because you told the truth and you are the kind of fans we want.”
The girls thanked them. AJ and Howie continued to talk to the girls. Nick walked over to Kat as his brother and sisters came back in the room. He led her over to his family and introduced her. She blushed and apologized for the scene she created. They laughed. Nick’s dad told her he liked her spunk. They talked for a few minutes. When it was time for the Boys to warm up, Nick took Kat to the dressing room and gave her one of his shirts. After he left she washed the sticky liquid off and put on the shirt. She joined the group in time for the prayer and chant. Amber and Tammy were in heaven. They all headed to their seats as the guys headed for the stage. The concert was great. The guys had the best time.
Afterwards, Amber and Tammy said goodbye to everyone. Nick, Kat, Lissa, and Beth piled into his Durango and headed to Tampa. Once they arrived, Nick showed them to their rooms. Everyone turned in for some much needed rest.
Two days later, Katrina and Brian were sitting and talking while they waited to board the plane taking them from Knoxville to Orlando. They were in the section of the airport reserved for passengers of private planes. Backstreet had finished the concert an hour before. Nick had wandered off to find a bathroom and then stopped to talk with Tommy Smith, one of their keyboard players. 
