If you’d like to read this in an easier colorized version, it’s up on my webpage.

Title: Unknowingly
Author: Granitite Stone < granitite@yahoo.com >and CandyGurl
Summary: They were just looking for someone to write with. They never thought it would be each other.
Web Address: www.angelfire.com/weird/cobalite/index3.html
Pairing: Nick/AJ
Rating: NC-17

Candy2001: Hey Kaos, I have good news!
KaosShark: You finally got laid?
Candy2001: NO! I found you a co-author. You two have a lot in common.
KaosShark: It only took you six weeks. Whad'ya mean?
Candy2001: She's a N/A freak too. Actually, that's her name. BSBFreak.
KaosShark: Cool. She can write for AJ?
Candy2001: She has problems with the other guys, but her AJ is perfect.
KaosShark: She on?
Candy2001: She'll be here in a few minutes. I can't wait to see what you two will come up with.
KaosShark: <laughs evilly> Do my best, Candy.
BSBFreak: Backstreet's Back, Alright!
Candy2001: LOL. Kaos, meet Freak. Freak, this is Kaos.
BSBFreak: Cool. Welcome to the wild world of slash.
KaosShark: <licks lips> I'm sure I'll… enjoy myself.
Candy2001: You will not believe this girl's PWP's. All I'm gonna say is, sex on the beach.
BSBFreak: I'm sick of pure smut, ya know? I wanna write something w/substance.
KaosShark: I just wanna write period. I have this idea. Alternate universe. Nick and AJ as normal guys. College maybe. The one thing Nick will never have.
BSBFreak: AJ either. He's only two years older than Nick.
Candy2001: Think it's time for me to go. Don't wanna get in the way of your creative sparks.
KaosShark: Hey, Candy? Thanks.
BSBFreak: Yeah. We're gonna get along just fine.
Candy2001: Welcome. You two are gonna kick ass. TTYL. *click*
BSBFreak: <shakes head> Some people are just obsessed with The Call.
KaosShark: She does it to everyone, my friend. Man, I didn't realize how late it was.
BSBFreak: Fuck, you're right. Meet ya tomorrow, same time?
KaosShark: Eleven PM, Eastern Standard?
BSBFreak: Sounds about right. I'll see you then. Shall we follow Candy's lead?
KaosShark: Why not? *click*
BSBFreak: Gnight. *click*

On a bus, traveling through the night, Nick closed his laptop with a smile. "Gotta remember to download her stories later."

Farther back in the caravan, AJ leaned back and stared at the ceiling. "Kaos baby, you are gonna be a great distraction. This is gonna work out just fine."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BSBFreak: Okay, show me what you got.
KaosShark: Here we go.
KaosShark: Nick threw down his duffel. 'College.' An escape from four younger siblings and his domineering mother. An escape from his bigot father. A chance to get out of Ruskin.
BSBFreak: Good. Very nice. Gimme a sec.
BSBFreak: The guy sprawled across one of the beds looked up. "You Nick?"

"Yeah." Nick took a moment to take in his roommate. "Alex, right?"

"AJ. Only Mom gets to call me Alex." He fumbled for a pair of glasses on the nightstand. "How come you're so late? Classes start tomorrow."

KaosShark: My turn.
KaosShark: "I had to take the bus." Nick kicked off battered sneakers. "My parents aren't too happy I'm 'wasting' four years at college. I should get a job, find a nice girl, not learn marketable skills so I don't make seven fifty an hour for the rest of my life."
BSBFreak: Bitter much? Got a rough home life, kid?
KaosShark: I don't want to talk about it.
BSBFreak: We all have our demons. My turn?
KaosShark: Go for it.
BSBFreak: "You looking for a nice girl?" Innocuous enough question, but Nick knew what he meant.

"If I'm not, is that a problem?"

"No."

"Then we're gonna get along just fine."
KaosShark: This is gonna be great. We make a good team.
BSBFreak: You know it, baby. Hey, where are we going with this? Grand romance, or tragic angst?
KaosShark: I'm not sure. Let's just see where we end up. Can you meet me tomorrow?
BSBFreak: Same time?
KaosShark: Yeah. TTYL. *click*
BSBFreak: Gnight, Kaos. *click*

AJ hit save as the bus rolled into the hotel. Midnight, to avoid the crazed fans. "Too bad you're female, Kaos. Bet you'd make a good boyfriend."

The bus door flew open, and Nick bounded in. "We're here!"

"Why are you suddenly in such a good mood?" Nick had been in a funk for weeks, and suddenly he was bouncing off the walls.

"I have to have a reason?" Nick thought of Freak. Their story was going to be perfect. Every thing he could never have, put to paper with the help of a talented teenybopper. Why shouldn't he be happy, even if he was lusting after one of his best friends? "Post show high. Enjoy it while it lasts."

"I will." The pouting had been attractive, but happy Nick was easier to be friends with.

AJ stepped off the bus, and fell in step behind a barely conscious Howie. "You talk to that girl?"

"She's got skill, D, even if she's a newbie. Just gotta be careful to let anything slip." His voice was low enough so no one else could hear. "You know, the fans know Jane's a bitch. Who's PR let that get out?"

"The fans know what brand of toothpaste we use." Howie swayed a little as they stepped onto the elevator. "They know almost everything about us."

Nick stepped in, and stood on Howie's right side, resting his head on Howie's shoulder. "Do they know where we are right now?"

"I don’t even know who I am, let alone where I am." AJ stared at the door, resting his head on Howie's other shoulder. Both men secretly wished Sweet D would just disappear.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BSBFreak: "How'd you end up at a state school?" AJ flipped through a sketchbook. "There's a place in Fort Lauderdale that kills for people with talent like this."
KaosShark: "I got in there." Nick slammed a textbook shut. "They gave me more money here. You could be in an acting school somewhere. Why are you here?"

BSBFreak: "They're the only ones who would take me." He put the book down and reached for his shoes. "Come on, Nick. Let's get out of here for a few hours."
KaosShark: "Where are we going?" Nick shut his math book with a dirty look. They were young, they were at the best party school in the state. Why should they be stuck at home on a Friday night?

BSBFreak: "There's always a party somewhere."
KaosShark: Hate to break the flow here, Freak, but I'm not sure where we're going with this.

BSBFreak: Neither am I, but can I keep going?
KaosShark: Feel free.

BSBFreak: "Come on, careful." AJ supported Nick as they walked across the room. "Shoes off."
KaosShark: Oh, I get it. Lemme think.

KaosShark: Nick collapsed onto the bed, and toes off his sneakers. "Did I get that guy's phone number?"

"I'm sure he slipped it into your pocket at some point. His hands were in your pockets half the night."

"He was nice." Nick pulled a slip of paper from his back pocket with a look of triumph. "He wanted to fuck me. Should have gone home with him instead of you."

BSBFreak: "You didn't come home with me. We live together." AJ plucked the paper from Nick's fingers. "I'll keep this safe for you. You can have it back in the morning."

"Remind me to call him." Nick looked confused for a moment. "What was his name?"
KaosShark: "How should I know?" AJ stripped down to his boxers and crawled into bed.

"Why aren't you drunk?" Nick seemed stumped by his button fly jeans. "Everyone else is drunk, you should be. You had a glass of something in your hand all night."

BSBFreak: "Club soda. I don't drink anymore." AJ flopped through his CDs, looking for something quiet enough to put him to sleep. "I'm two years older than you. Didn't you ever wonder why?"

KaosShark: "Wow." Nick lay on top of the covers. "How come you took me out?

BSBFreak: "I guess I was testing myself." AJ finally picked a CD, and clicked off the light.
KaosShark: "I just wanted to get laid." Nick sighed.

BSBFreak: "I'll turn my headset up." His last roommate had been somewhat of a sex fiend. They'd gotten along fine until things had gotten weird. AJ clicked play, and the machine whirled into life. For all of two minutes. As soon as the music cut out, he could hear Nick moan. AJ's eyes flashed open. 'My batteries are low!'

BSBFreak: There was just enough light for him to see exactly what Nick was doing. His boxers were on the floor, and a tube of lube was on the nightstand. One hand was on his dick, the other out of sight. AJ only needed one guess to figure out what Nick was doing with it. He desperately pushed play, but the machine refused to kick over.
KaosShark: AJ could still hear his roommate's panting until Nick made a strangled sound, and went silent. AJ held his breath until Nick spoke. "What was his name? Billy, Bobby, Ben?"

He waited until Nick was asleep to replace his batteries and get rid of his 'little problem.'

BSBFreak: It's two o'clock in the morning. We should probably get some Zs. Oh, and I won't be on tomorrow.
KaosShark: Hot date?

BSBFreak: LOL. I wish. Just friends.
KaosShark: What's he look like?

BSBFreak: Tall, blond. Incredibly hot.
KaosShark: Sounds like you're going out with Nick Carter.

BSBFreak: You got it my friend. Tomorrow night, I will be clubbing with the 'Cute One.'
KaosShark: And I with 'The Bad Boy.' LOL. My friends are dragging me out too. Day after?

BSBFreak: See ya then. *click*
KaosShark: Later. *click*

AJ couldn't stop laughing as he logged off. "Oh Kaos, you have no idea."

Nick shut his laptop, a smirk curling across his lips. "Freak, if only you knew."

End of Chapter One

~ When I look into the mirror and see a face I don’t recognize, I am no longer surprised.