It had been six months. The promotional tour went off without a problem and the group eased easily into the world tour.
Kevin, personally however, didn't ease into anything easily. The last half a year had been something akin to torture for him. The first couple of months, he was sullen, rarely speaking to anyone and only perking up during the many public appearances. During those months, the four of the guys tried desperatly to cheer him up. They all knew what was wrong with him though he refused to speak of it.
He couldn't count the times he'd picked up the phone to dial Drew's number. A few times he'd actually dialed the complete number, only to find out her phone had been disconnected.
He missed her terribly and tried his best not to think of her but it was nearly impossible. His every other thought revolved around her.
In the third month of the tour, something happened that almost took his mind off of his own problems.
Brian recieved a letter from his long time girlfriend Leighanne. The letter told Brian of how she was tired of living the life of the girlfriend of a Backstreet Boy. She hated centering her life around his sporatic visits. In the letter, she said that she'd found someone she could depend on to make her happy. In short, she was marrying him in one month and she wished Brian the best in his life.
Brian was devastated. All the energy the boys put into cheering Kevin up was doubled for them to rally behind Brian. The two of them had been together for so long and the group was very worried about Brian.
So Kevin put his own problems to the side as he tried to be there for his cousin. In the last few months the two of them had become even closer than before. Each of them knew the other understood what he was going through.
"It's because of...this..." Brian had said, motioning around the hotel room he and Kevin were alone in. He looked at Kevin with his blue eyes full of sadness. "Maybe we should have quit when we had the chance." Kevin had said nothing then but he and Brian were in the same boat. They both lost the woman they loved because of the life they lived.
"No one ever said it was going to be easy." Kevin muttered to himself now, standing in front of the window. Staring out over Detroit, he was haunted by Drew now more than ever. He remembered her telling him she was from Michigan but she never told him what part. He knew that he probably had no chance of seeing her here since she was still in Orlando but he couldn't help but wish.
He was startled out of his deep thoughts by a knock on the door. He turned toward it and AJ popped his head through. "Soundcheck in twenty minutes." he said and Kevin gave a nod.
Twenty minutes later he began the process of preparing for the night's show.
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Drew closed her bedroom door as quietly as she could and walked down the hallway. As she reached the stairs, one of her brothers came around the corner.
"Where ya goin, Drew?" Beau asked as he slipped an arm around her shoulders and walked with her down the stairs.
Drew had been staying at her parents' house these last months she'd been in Michigan. She'd found a job with a local news station and was on call for what they called 'serious matters.'
"I'm going out." she answered her brother.
"Where are you going?" Beau repeated as he stopped on the stairs and turned to look at her. Beau was the only one of her three brothers that was still unmarried. Mark and Lewis both had families and lived not too far away from their parents' house.
"None of your business, Beau. I'll be back in a little while."
Beau wathced his sister as she continued down the stairs went out the front door.
No one had questioned her when seh came home out of the blue six months ago. She came home as a different person. She was a Drew that none of them had ever seen before. she was sullen and quiet and although none of them had asked, they knew it had to do with a man. And that's what confused them most of all.
Drew never let herself become emotionally attatched to any man and the fact that she got close enough to get hurt baffled them all.
And now here she was going out after six months of staying home except for work.
Beau shook his head as he walked back up the stairs. He wasn't going to get involved but Heaven help someone if his sister gets hurt again.
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The roar of the crowd could be heard easily from where they were standing backstage. The Backstreet Boys along with their crew of band members and dancers all stood ina large circle, hands clasped.
As someone said the customary prayer, Kevin offered a prayer of his own, a prayer for God to give him the strength it took to get through this night.
********************************
Drew pushed and shoved through th elarge crowd and finally found her place. She was amazed that it was still vacant since she'd already missed half of the show.
Whatever posessed her to come to this show, she would never know. All she knew was that she couldn't pass up the chance. She knew she was starting a bad habit in coming to see the show everytime the group came to town but she couldn't seem to help herself. Maybe this would be the last time, she told herself.
The crowd finally quieted down a notch as the white piano began to rise out of the stage. Drew nearly stopped breathing as she heard Kevin's voice over the soft piano playing.
"Good evening Detroit!" he said as he looked out over the crowd. "I'm going to do something a little different tonight. Instead of having Mendi come out and play a song with me, I'm going to sing a song for you that is very special to me and I hope you like it."
All the while he was talking, he was lightly playing his fingers over the keys of the piano. As the music changed, Drew gasped as she recognized the song.
What a ravenges of spirit
Conjured this temptous rage
Created you a monster
Broken by the rule of love
And fate has led you through it
You do what you have to do
And fate has led you though it
You do what you have to do
But I have the sense to recognize
That I don't know how to let you go
Every moment marked with apparitions
Of your soul
I'm ever swiftly moving
Trying to escape this desire
The yearning to be near you
I do what I have to do
The yearning to be near you
I do what I have to do
But I have the sense to recognize
That I don't know how to let you go
And I don't know how to let you go
Glowing ember
Burning hot, burning slow
And deep within I'm shaken
By the violence of existing
For only you
I know I can't be with you
I do what I have to do
I know I can't be with you
I do what I have to do
But I have the sense to recognize
That I don't know how to let you go
Don't know how to let you go
Don't know how
To let you go
I don't know how to let you go
Tears streamed unchecked down Drew's face as he completed th esong. She didn't really pay attention to what she did but she knew she had to get to him. She shoved girls out of the way as if her life depended on it as she made her way to the front as quickly as possible. As she reached the iron barrier, she didn't hesitate as she jumped over it.
The moment her feet toughed the floor, two large bodygueards were there. They tried to get her back over the barrier, but she fought them tooth and nail, she had to get to him.
As Kevin finished the song, he knew he had ot get off of the stage before he broke down. As he made his way off the stage, a movement to his right caught his eye. As he looked towards it, he stopped breathing at what he saw.
Drew was fighting two of their bodyguards to get to the stage. he didn't hesitate as eh ran towards the edge of the stage and jumped down.
Drew saw him coming towards her and held her arms out to him. Kevin used most of his strength to shove the bodygueards out of the way and he took her into his arms immediatly. The bodyguards looked at one another, confused, then looked at the two young people clinging so closely to one another.
Kevin and Drew thought they would collapse in the relief of being in one another's arms again.
It was Kevin who first remembered the crowd and quickly led her backstage. The moment they were out of view of the crowd, he grabbed her to him again.
"Angel! I've missed you so much!" He whispered brokenly. "What are you doing here?" he asked as he rained kisses on her face. "Wait, don't answer. I don't care what you're doing here. I'm just so glad to see you."
After hugging him to her, Drew pulled back slightly and looked him square in the eyes. She wiped the tears from her eyes before speaking softly. "Kevin, I can't do this." she said "I've been through hell the last six months and I can't handle it. I need you Kevin. I--"
Kevin put a finger over her lips to stop her words. He laid his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "I know." he whispered "I don't know what made me think I could handle this but I can't."
They heard someone call his name near him, indicating he had to get back on stage.
"Drew." he said. "I don't know what'd going to happen but I have no intention of ever being without you again." He pulled ehr to him for one more fierce hug. "I'm never going to let you go."
THE END
