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Title: Unknowingly Part Three
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

"We need to do something about Nick and AJ. This has been going on way too long." Sound check, and Brian and Howie took a moment to rag on their best friends. "I'm starting to consider just saying something."

"They'd kill us." Howie looked over his shoulder, where AJ was pretending not to stare at Nick, and Nick was ignoring AJ's existence for the sake of his sanity. "Maybe we could lock them in a dressing room together?"

"Too cliché." A grin slowly spread across Brian's face. "The hotel we're staying at tomorrow, there's a problem with the rooms. There's also a huge convention in tow, so there's no where else to stay. Someone will have to double up."

Understanding dawned on Howie, and his grin matched Brian's. "Well, I'm not staying with Mr. Insomnia. Let Nick lose a night of sleep."

"And that's exactly what you're going to say to Kevin. Plus, it gets even better."

"Whad'ya mean?"

"It's not one night." Brian knelt to tie his sneakers, and wipe the grin off his face. "It's three."

"How do we know they're not going to just pretend everything's normal and they're not lusting after each other?" Howie pulled a composed Brian to his feet.

"I'm going to give Nick a little push in the right direction."
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The show had run late, and so had AJ. Howie had kidnapped Nick to try out some new club, but AJ had come back to the hotel, hoping to catch Kaos before he gave up and went to bed. No such luck. "Damn, and I had a good idea for the next scene." Suddenly, and IM approval box popped up. "Who on earth are you?" AJ clicked yes.

NoAngel: Hi. You don't know me, but I need a favor.
BSBFreak: What kind of favor? I'm not taking anymore PWP requests.
NoAngel: I'm Kaos' friend. The one you IM'd accidentally.
BSBFreak: Oh. Hello. What can I do for you?
NoAngel: You know about his obsessive little crush, right?
BSBFreak: Oh yeah. That's the major thing we have in common. An obsessive, unrequited crush.
NoAngel: It's not unrequited, and I'm sick of hearing him whine. The crush's best friend and I are conspiring to get them together. We need your help.
BSBFreak: It's not? You mean….
NoAngel: Yup. He's been lusting just as long as Kaos has.
BSBFreak: Damn. Who knew?
NoAngel: So, will you help us?
BSBFreak: Maybe. What do you need me to do?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BSBFreak: Sorry I was late last night.
KaosShark: Um, I never showed. One of my friends kidnapped me.
BSBFreak: That's ok. Ready to write?
KaosShark: Oh yeah. Can I start?
BSBFreak: Go ahead.
KaosShark: The door flung open and slammed against the wall. AJ sat up in bed. "Nick?"

"Fucking bastard!" Nick slammed the door shut, this time. "I got there, and some topless bimbo answered the door. They thought I was the pizza."

BSBFreak: "She answered the door topless?" AJ knew that wasn't the best question to be asking, but it just popped out.
KaosShark: "Little did I know my boy next door is a coke fiend." He took a shoe, and aimed it at the wall. "I can't believe I fell for that 'She's just a friend' routine."

AJ stopped for a second. "What the hell?" Was Kaos reading his mind? No. There had been that infamous blind item. And as for Justin being a jerk, that was a pretty common perspective for a Backstreet fan. Now how Kaos knew Britney was topless, AJ didn't know.

BSBFreak: "Sorry." AJ dodged a shoe. "So you picked a jerk. It happens. I had to have my last boyfriend arrested."

"What?" Nick read the sentence again. "How the hell does he know that?" The disaster with Ryan had been covered up by the best. Not even a slasher could know about it. Of course, this could just be a coincidence.

KaosShark: "This isn't one jerk. It's the latest of many." He peeled off his shirt. "I must be wearing a sign that says Screw Me Over."
BSBFreak: "It's not a sign exactly. You just have this innocence that attracts the wrong kind of people, people that want to use you."
KaosShark: Nick got a funny look in his eyes. "What about you, AJ? You want to use me?"
BSBFreak: AJ hated questions like that. "Is there a right answer to that?"
KaosShark: "Just answer the question."
BSBFreak: "Are you that insecure? Of course I want you! Everyone wants you. You could pick any guy on campus and be in his bed tomorrow." AJ pulled the covers over his head.
KaosShark: Nick bounced on AJ's bed. "Even you?"
BSBFreak: "Except for me. You don't fuck you bandmate."
KaosShark: Um, Freak? Wrong reality.
BSBFreak: Oh. Oops. Meant roommate, honestly.
KaosShark: "Why?" Nick had on his best pout, which AJ was sadly immune to under the covers. "Aren't you sick of being hurt by people who couldn't care less about you? Why not be with someone who actually gives a fuck?"
BSBFreak: "People in the beginning of a relationship shouldn't live together. You break up, and get stuck with each other. I had to get a restraining order before they'd move Ryan out of here!"
KaosShark: Nick grinned. He would have to break AJ down. Nick…was a man on a mission.
BSBFreak: Hey, you picked an ending yet?
KaosShark: Tragic. If that's okay with you.
BSBFreak: Actually, I wanted a happily ever after, but I'll make you a deal. Tell him how you feel, and you can end this story however you want.
KaosShark: They've gotten to you, haven't they? There's a giant conspiracy to ruin my life.
BSBFreak: If you're talking about NoAngel, then you're right, they've gotten to me. So, will you just tell him so your best friend will stop trying to bribe?
KaosShark: He tried to bribe you?
BSBFreak: Promised me everything short of his first born. Like he could really get me backstage passes.
KaosShark: Never mind. I'll need a few days to build up my courage. But if I do this, you have to too.
BSBFreak: I don't wanna.
KaosShark: We are both such cowards.
BSBFreak: I am not a coward.
KaosShark: <sing songs> Coward, coward, coward.
BSBFreak: Fine. I must be crazy, but I'll do it. TTYL?
KaosShark: I'll be back when I've finished ruining my life.
BSBFreak: Don't worry so much. How bad could it possibly be?

End of Chapter Three

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