+~Love Never Dies, When It Matters Most~+

"Vicki, how can you ask me that?" "Well, my cousin is filling in for their drummer for this whhooolleee tour, and they're gunna be in Toronto! I mean, Issa, we have the oppurtunity to meet, no no, not just meet, but spend months with the BACKSTREET BOYS!!!" "Vicki, I can't, I have things to do." Larissa did have things to do, like move out of this... place that was suposedly a home... but dayum, she wouldn't mind spending 5 months with the Backstreet Boys! "They can wait!!" "Vicki..." The moving out was starting to seem a little less important as she thought about the Boys. Vicki could tell she was caving, "Larissa, you are coming, end of disscussion" "Alright, when do we leave?" Larissa asked with a touch of giddiness in her voice. "Tomorrow morning, the LIMO will come to pick us up" "EEEE!! Well, I should go pack then, huh?" "Yeah, I'll talk to you later" "Bye" Larissa hung up the phone and walked down the hallway to her small bedroom. "Why am I living in this HELL HOLE?" she muttered to herself as she took a suitcase out of her tiny closet. She packed all her clothes etc. etc. That night she lay awake thinking about spending the next three months with the backtreet boys. "With Nick Carter!" she exclaimed outloud.
* * *
*Knock Knock*
Larissa ran over to the door and reached to open it as it swung open in her face. "Woah!" "Sorry, but you took to long" said Vicki grabbing Larissa's suitcase from her. "Come on, get your keys, lock the house, move that ass!" "Yeah yeah..." grumbled Larissa as she locked the door behind her.
* * *
"Look look!" said Vicki pointing to the hotel they were staying at. Larissa's eyes went wide "We're HERE!!" They picked up their luggage and made their way to the receptionists desk. "Um, we're-" "The two girls that are expected in rooms 13A and 13B" said the lady with a smile and handing them each a set of Vicki. Larissa smiled "It looks like every other elevator I've ever seen." Vicki nudged her with her elbow "Shushy." They stepped off of the elevator and walked down the hall looking from door to door for 13A and B. "Ah hah! Here it is!" said Vicki slipping her key into the door and opening it.
* * *
Larissa plopped down onto the bed her large suite. "Wow, this place is amazing..." she said to the plant sitting on the table. "Yeah, it is nice, isn't it?" answered a male voice from behind her. She gasped and spun around. She looked the figure up and down and tried her best not to scream at the top of her lungs when she saw Brian standing in front of her. "Uh... um, hi?" Brian grinned at her, "Hey, are you Larissa, or Vicki?" "I'm Larissa." "Well, nice to meet you then Larissa, we've been expecting you guys for a while now, dinner is waiting in mine and Nick's room, you wanna join us?" Larissa sat for a minute as the information tried to register in her mind... in-Nicks-room.... "Yes, sure, yeah, that'd be good" she said in a jumble of words. "Nick, this is Larissa, Larissa, this is Nick. Howie, Kev and AJ should be here in a minute." Nick smiled at her, "Hi." Larissa was sure she melted into a puddle from his smile, but she finally got out a weak "Hi." "I hope you like cheese pizza, cause Nick wouldn't let us order anything but. " "Oh, sure, yeah, I love cheese pizza..." mumbled Larissa. Just then Vicki walked in with a huge grin on her face, and AJ walking beside her.
* * *
"You've got cheese on your nose," Vicki said laughing at Brian. He looked down at his nose with his eyes which sent the girls into fits of laughter. "What? What's so funny?" asked Bri with cheese string off of his nose. Larissa laughed so hard she slipped out of her chair and fell onto the floor which made her just laugh harder. Nick reached his hand over to her and pulled her up but he was laughing so hard that his hand slipped from hers and she fell back down on her ass. "That was good you guys," said AJ as he finished off the last piece of pizza. Nick rolled his eyes, "Gee, I never woulda thought AJ." Larissa laughed, "Oh, Bri, Leighann called, she said her and Melz were coming up for the weekend." Nick said to Brian. "Oh, that's great! I better call her back and remind her to bring Tyke." Vicki looked at Larissa from the corner of her eye 'Oh no, Nick's got a girlfriend, Larissa is just going to die!' she thought. Larissa picked up her glass of pop and gulped it down quickly and Brian got up from the table and walked toward the phone. *
* * "Vicki, he has a girlfriend!! He can't have a girlfriend, he's meant to be with ME!" Vicki sighed quietly, Larissa could be so melodramatic sometimes. "Larissa, chill, it'll be fine." "FINE??? FINE?? HOW THE HELL IS GOING TO BE FINE????" she screamed. Nick poked his head into the room, "Something wrong?" Larissa shook her head "No, nothing," she hissed at him. He held up his hands in a helpless motion and retreated from the room.
* * *
"Melz!" said Nick as he ran up to his girlfriend and gave her a hug and a kiss. Larissa grimaced and squeezed her eyes shut tight. Brian looked over at her and frowned, 'What was that all about?' he wondered to himself. "Melz, this is Larissa, she's gunna be stayin wit us for the tour, her friends cousin is our new drummer." Melz smiled at Larissa, "Hi, nice to meet you, I'm Melanie, Nick's GIRLFRIEND." Larissa was tempted to strangle the 'girlfriend' but instead she just gave her a small smile and said "Nice to meet you too..."
* * *
"Vicki, I want to go home." "No way, I have a date with AJ for dinner tonight, we are not leaving." "I can't take another SECOND of 'Melz" complained Larissa. "Larissa, I'm sorry, but your going to have to deal with it." "That's IT?? Deal with it? You drag me here, then u tell me to deal with it??? No way, I do not think so!" "Well what do you want me to do?" "I don't know!!" whined Larissa. Just then Melz walked into the room and Larissa spun around to face her, "Do you know how to knock?" demanded Larissa. "Should have locked the door, anyway, I'm here to give you a warning." "Oh, and wut warning is that?" "Nick is mine, stay away, or you'll regret it." "Oh, welllllll, now that I know, I'll be sure to stay away, golly GEE,"said Larissa with a roll of her eyes. * *
* "Are you ready to order sir? missus?" asked the waiter. "Um, sure, I'll have-" "We'll both have a hamburger and fries and a coke," answered AJ for her. "Sir, we don't serve that sort of thing here." "Oh, I see, you don't do you?" asked AJ giving the waiter a look. "Oh, did I say we didn't? I meant we did, of course," answered the waiter nervously walking away. Vicki laughed, "You scared the poor guy half to death!" "I had fun, dinner was um.... great" said Vicki with a smile. AJ smiled back, "Yeah, almost as good as Mc D's!" Vicki stood like ice as AJ leaned towards her and planted a small kiss on her lips. He pulled back and she smiled again, "G'night." "LARISSA!!! LARISSA!!!" squealed Vicki running into Larissa's hotel room. Larissa groaned and layed her magazine aside, "WHAT?" "AJ kissed me!" "Good greif, let's all die now," said Larissa with a roll of her eyes. "I swear, I don't know why you have eyes, you roll them so much."
* * *
"Stupid... ugly... messed up in the fuckin' head Melz!!," said Larissa as she dressed for dinner with Nick and Melz. She quickly ran a brush through her hair and grabbed her purse. Nick pulled out Melz' chair and then sat down himself leaving Larissa to pull out her own. She sad down angrily and yanked the menu from the waiters hands, "Thanx," she mumbled. "Mmmm, that was soo good Nicky! We should come here again!" said Melz in her sweet little voice that Larissa hated so much. Nick shrugged, "I didn't like it too much, you Larissa?" "It was disgusting," said Larissa shoving her half empty plate across the table. "Well, it's a taste that needs to be aquired," said Melz.
* * *
"And then she goes 'welll it's a taste that needs to be aquired....'!" yelled Larissa into the phone to her friend Atanna. "What a bitch!" "Oh, I know, I'm ready to STRANGLE her!!" "You should come home, it must suck being around Nick and Miss.Bitch 24/7!" "Yeah, but... well, don't tell anyone, but I've got a plan." "Ohhh, telll me tell me!" "Well...."
* * *
"Ehm, Nick?" "Yeah?" asked Nick looking up from his video game. "Well, I can't seem to get the fireplace lit in my room, do you think you could help me?" asked Larissa innocently. "Oh, sure," he said pausing his game. He got up off of the floor and followed Larissa into her room. She sat down on the edge of he bed and watched as he bent over to light up the fire place. It took a few mintes longer then it would take normally (she had poured water over the logs to make sure of it). As he stood up he caught her staring at his ass and blushed slighty trying not to grin. She smiled, "Nice butt!" He looked straight at her and then away, "Well the fire place is all set." "Thanx so much." "Nick looked awfully uncomfortable after leaving your room Larissa, why might that be?" questioned Brian as he sat down next to her infront of the fire. "Beats me..." "Larissa, come on." "I didn't do anything! I asked him to light my fire, cuz I was having trouble, and I just happened to be looki-" "At his ass when he turned back around?" Larissa shrugged, "So what??" "Larissa, I know how you feel about him, but trying to steal him from Melz isn't the best idea." "I'm not trying to steal him exactly... just win him over..." Brian sighed and stood up, "Just don't hurt him." Larissa smiled, "Never in a million years." He nodded and walked out of the room. "But you never said anything about Melz..." mumbled Larissa with a sly grin.
* * *
Riiinng Riiinng!! AJ pulled away from Vicki and looked over towards the phone on her bed side table. Vicki groaned and reached over for it, "Hello?" she answered hasitly. "Ssss-lut..." hissed the voice on the other end. Vicki regognized the voice immediatly, "What's up?" she asked, trying to play it cool in front of AJ. "How dare you cheat on me??" "Ehm, I don't think that's what you mean..." "It's not over, it will never be over, watch out," then the caller hung up. "Alright, take care, bye," Vicki said cheerfully. "Who was that?" asked AJ. "Oh, it was, my.... cousin."
* * *
"Larissa! Larissa!" Larissa slammed her diary closed and looked up at Vicki. "Yesss?" "He called!" "Oh, I see, that's good?" "I mean Gregory!" "OH!" said Larissa sitting straight up, "What did he want?" "He called me a slut, and said I was cheating on him, and told me it wasn't over, and to watch out." "Well, don't take it to heart, he can't hurt you, he's in jail, for a very long time." Vicki wiped a tear from her eye and looked straight at Larissa, "He got out." "WHAT??!!!" "Last week, he got out on probation, he's out, and I think he's here." "Well.... we have to tell AJ, or Brian, or... or... someone!" said Larissa as she started to get up off of the bed. "NO!" yelled Vicki grabbing her arm and pulling her down, "We can't tell them, promise me you won't tell them."
* * *
"Oh, Nicky..." whispered Larissa as she watched him from her window with Melz. As she wiped a small tear from her face, he looked up and saw her in the window. She quickly ducked out of the way. "Bri, I swear, she was in the window, and she was watching me, and she was crying!" "I'm sure you saw wrong, maybe she was just glancing out the window." "No way... do you think she knows?" "How could she? You've done your best to hide it, and I haven't told her, she couldn't know." "Then what could it be?" "I'm not sure Nick... but, tell me, are you sure about your decision?" "Sure I am.... Melz and I have been together forever, I can't just leave her for someone I just met!"
* * *
Vicki hummed quietly to herself as she waited for the elevator to open. Finally the orange light appeared at the ground floor and the doors rolled open. Vicki stepped in, not noticing the man standing in the corner of the elevator and watched as the doors shut in front of her. She turned to press the button to take her to the 4th floor and then noticed the figure. "Oh!" she breathed, startled then smiled, "Hello." He stepped toward her, "Hello." "No, no, not you," she begged the smile quickly dissapearing from her face. He grinned slowly, "Yes me, I told you it wasn't over, it will never be over, I'm giving you a warning, stay way from AJ, stay true to me." "I'm not yours anymore! I never will be!" "I warned you, stay true, or you won't be the one to pay, he will." The doors opened and Gregory stepped out and walked swiftly away.
* * *
"Oh! Nick, I didn't know you were in here," said Larissa quietly as she sat down in a chair in the hotel lounge. "Yeah, just... thinking, I'll be going." "No!" He looked up, surprised, "No?" "I mean, um, are you going to be, b-busy, tonight? Because, well, Vicki and AJ and Brian and Leighann and I, were going to rent movies, maybe you'd like to come?" He shrugged, "Sure, Melz would like that." Larissa surpassed the urge to groan loudly, "Alright then, I'll see you... and Melz..." He nodded and walked away. "UGH! Brian, I am a totaly idiot!!" "What did you do now?" "Larissa invited me to watch movies with you guys tonight, and I said 'Sure, Melz would like that'!! Can you believe it?" Brian laughed, "Smooth Nick, reeeal smooth." "Watch movies with her?" screeched Melz. "Yeah, she invited us." "No, I think not Nick." "Well I think it'll be fun." "Then you go," said Melz storming out of the room. 'YES!' thought Nick.
* * *
"We're heeeeere!" called AJ into Larissa's room. Larissa laughed, "About time too!" AJ and Vicki settled down in front of the tv with a bowl of popcorn. "Um, sure, I don't think so!" said Leighann shoving AJ from behind, "I can't see now!" "Oh, too bad, eh?" mumbled Vicki from the bowl of popcorn she was devouring. AJ cracked up laughing. Vicki looked at him strangely, "What's so funny?" "Your such a Canadian! You said 'eh'!" She laughed, "Woops, it slipped." "Where're you going?" Larissa asked Nick as he got up from the floor next to her. The movie was at a part when you just knew something was about to happen. "Bathroom," he said walking towards the bathroom. All of a sudden the killer in the movie jumped out from a bush and Larissa felt two hands grab her shoulders. She screamed at the top of her lungs and spun her head around... to see Nick. "You jerk!" she yelled at him. He grinned and everyone else was laughing so hard that they had to shut off the movie. Larissa stood up and Nick took the hint and dashed off. Larissa ran after him all over the room until finally she tackled him down and slapped him in the head lightly, which made him laugh so hard he couldn't breathe. "I- caan't- breeeeeath!" he said between gulps of air and laughing. She giggled and got off of him. "Well, how about we finish the movie?" asked Brian after they all settled down. Larissa and Nick got up and walked back over to the couch and sat down in front of it. "Are they holding hands?" Vicki whispered to AJ. AJ glanced beside him and saw Nick and Larissa's hands close, but not quite holding. He shook his head, "Not quite." She sighed loudly and shoved into AJ hard, which in turn made him shove into Nick, who shoved into Larissa. "Ow!" she yelped, "What was that for?" Nick pointed to AJ, who shrugged and whispered, "Sorry, I twitched." Nick rolled his eyes but remained close to Larissa. She cast a look down towards his hand which was laying directly beside hers. She layed the tips of her fingers over his, while keeping her eyes on the TV. He swiftly took her hand into his but kept his eyes on the TV. She looked at him from the corner of her eye and saw him doing the same. He smiled at her and she smiled back. "No, AJ, don't," mumbled Vicki as he leaned over to kiss her. He looked at her in surprise, "What's wrong?" She smiled weakly, "Just not right now, I'm not feeling good, don't want you to catch it." He shrugged. 'More like don't want you to catch a knife through the heart' thought Vicki. All of a sudden the door opened and let in a flood of light. They all gasped and looked to the door. Melz smiled, "Hi guyz, I decided movies sounded fun!" Nick looked over at Larissa, and she quickly freed her hand from his. He continued looking at her as Melz sat down on his lap and kissed him on the cheek, "Hey you," she whispered softly. "Those were good movies," said Leighann with a yawn. "Bed time," said Brian who yawned as well. He and Leighann waved and walked out into their room. AJ stood up and streched, "G'night y'all." Eventually Larissa was left alone in her room and she crawled into her bed. As she started to doze off she heard laughing from outside her window. She climbed out of the bed and looked out the window to see it had snowed while they were watching the movies. She squinted slightly to see two figures throwing snow at each other... two figures named Nick and Melz. Yet again, as she stood looking out her window, Nick looked up and saw her. Only this time she stayed there, looking at him.
* * *
"Your going where?" "To dinner with AJ, Vicki and Larissa, what is the problem Melz?" "As in like a double date??" "No, as in friends going out to dinner." "Then I can come," stated Melz. "NO!" Nick blurted out. Melz raised her eyebrows, "No?" "I mean... you weren't invited, it would be rude." Melz sighed, "Alright, but I'll be waiting up for you, maybe we can do something afterwards?" Nick felt like jumping around in joy, "Sure, yeah, afterwards, well, I better go, bye!" he said practically flying out of the room. "So, where are we goin'?" shouted Vicki from the backseat, trying to be heard over the blaring music. "TACO BELL!!" Nick shouted back. "EWWWW!" screeched Larissa. They all laughed and AJ reached away from the wheel to turn the music down. "Well, it's either Taco Bell, or Mc D's!" "How about that cute little restaurant down by the park? I think it's called Kasey's?" Larissa's mind flashed back to the night she had dinner with Nick and Melz at Kasey's, "NO! Not Kaseys!" she yelped. "Yeah, pretty morbid food there," Nick said, grinning. "Pretty morbid people there," muttered Larissa. Vicki laughed and whispered a little to loudly to Larissa, "Morbid Melz the Bitch Monster!" AJ burst out laughing, "Morbid Melz!" he gasped, "Oh god, how tr-" he galnced at Nick who was glaring at him, "Um, that was... not nice Vicki?" Larissa rolled her eyes as she looked out the window, determined not to comment. Nick saw her reflection as she did it and frowned, 'Why does she care so much?' he wondered silently. "G'night ya guyz!" shouted AJ down the hall as he dragged a giggling Vicki into his room. "BOO BYE!!" she squealed. Larissa laughed, "Oh boy." Nick smiled and leaned up against the door to her room. "So, have fun?" he asked her. She shrugged, "Food was good." "I'm not good company?" he asked faking a hurt look. She grinned, "Well, I wouldn't say that." He smiled back at her, "Pleasure to look at, huh?" She shoved him gently, "Someone's pretty cocky!" He shoved her back, "Well, when you have a billion fans, it's hard not to be." "A billion and one," she whispered quietly. "Oh, a fan are you?" She looked up at him, "Sure, you could say that." He blushed a light pink, "I should go, Mel-" "Don't! Don't even say it!" she interrupted him. "Larissa, why don't you like Melz?" he asked. She shrugged and brushed past him, opening the door to her room and stepping in. "Well?" She shrugged again and started to shut the door but he placed a hand in the way, "Am I imagining things, or do you like me?" She laughed, "Your imagining things." He smiled and leaned close to her, "I don't think I am." 'Breath Larissa! Remember to breath!' she shouted at herself silently as he leaned close to her. "Well, maybe your not, but-" He slienced her with a long kiss and then finally pulled away. They both stood in silence. 'Did I just do that???' 'Did he just do that???' "Um, well, I'm sure Melz is waiting," she said. He sighed, "Did that just mean anything to you?" "More then you can imagine," she said shutting the door. "I love you," he muttered, knowing she couldn't hear. She stood with her eyes wide as she leaned against the closed door, 'I was hearing things... he did NOT just say he loves me!!'
* * *
"Viiiiicckkkiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!" yelled Larissa banging on AJ's door. Suddenly the door flew open, "Whhhaaaaaaaaaatttt?" mocked AJ. "I need to talk to Vicki." "She's sleepin'." "Wake her up." "I dunno if that's such a good idea." Larissa laughed and then shoved AJ out of the way and ran to the bed jumping onto Vicki. Vicki groaned loudly and yawned. "Geddup!" shouted Larissa. "UGH, what do you want??" "I have news!" "News in the morning? Larissa, are you insane?" "Alright, it's not that important, just news about my progress with Nick." Vicki groaned again but opened her eyes, "Oh?" "He kissed me!" whispered Larissa. "Yay!!" "And, I'm not sure, but, I think he said....." Larissa lowered her voice even further, "That he loves me!" Vicki squealed and sat straight up, "Well, this is definetly progress!"
* * *
"Ehm, uh, Nick?" Nick lifted his head out of his hands and turned it to see who was standing in the doorway. "Oh, hey Vicki, what's up?" "You look pretty upset, what's wrong?" He sighed, "I guess Larissa probably told you about last night, huh?" Vicki nodded and came in, sitting next to him at the table, "Yeah, how you kissed her and said you loved her." Nick's mouth dropped open, "She heard me say that????" Vicki laughed, "Yeah, she did." Nick groaned, "Great, that makes it all the better." "What's wrong Nick? Didn't you mean it?" asked Vicki, ready to kick the shit out of him if he had gotten up the hopes of her best friend, only to crash them back down. "Of course I did but-" "Well there ya go, nothing wrong with that," inturrupted Vicki. "But Melz!" finished Nick, ignoring her comment, "I'm WITH Melz, I can't just leave her!" "Why not?" Vicki asked, she saw no problem with it. Nick sighed, "It wouldn't be right Vicki." Vicki was getting frustrated, she had come here on a mission, and she wasn't about to leave without completing it, but she hadn't realized it would be so hard. "Do you love her more then Melz?" she asked softly. He looked at her thoughtfully for a minute, then nodded, "Yeah, yeah I do." Vicki bit her bottom lip, trying not to scream the obvious at him, "Well... then..." she stopped as an idea came to her, "I know!! I saw it on this one soap, it was just like this, this guy, he was with this one girl, who he really loved, but then he met this other girl, who was secretly madly in love with him and before he realized it, he was in love with her too." "And what did he do?" "Well, the girl he was with, he called off their wedding, planning on being with the other girl, but then he realized he still loved his ex- fiancé, and decided to date them both, so he could figure out who he was meant to be with," Vicki stopped, a little out of breath, and hoping the soap opera hadn't confused him as much as it had her when Larissa had explained it to her. Nick shook his head, "Behind their backs?" "No, no, he told them how he loved them both, and one suggested he date them both to figure it out." "I'll think about it, thanks for the help Vicki, and um, tell Larissa..." Nick trailed off, not sure what he could say to her after what had happened the night before. Vicki smiled and patted him in the head, "I'll tell her you expect to see her tonight." Nick opened his mouth to object but Vicki was gone before he could say a word.
* * *
"VICKI, YOU DIDN'T?!?!?!" Vicki giggled, "Yes I did!" Larissa groaned and fell back onto the bed, "I can't BELIEVE you compared me and him to Passions!" "Oh don't worry, I told him I watched it, not you, anyway, he wants to see you in his room tonight," Vicki winked and giggled again.
* * *
'KNOCK KNOCK' Larissa waited out side the door and reached up to knock again but heard foot steps and the door opened, "Yesssss?" Larissa wanted to scream when she saw Melz standing behind the door. She opened her mouth to tell Melz that Nick was expecting her but Melz cut in, "Oh, you, yeah, come in, your expected." Larissa slipped into the room and quietly shut the door behind her. "Nick, Larissa's here," Melz called into the bathroom. The door opened and Nick stepped out with a miserable look on his face. He glanced up and saw Larissa and his face brightened, "Hey." Larissa smiled at him, "Hey..." "Well, Nick, what did you want to tell us?" demanded Melz with a voice that pierced right through Larissa and Nicks little world. Nick cleared his throught, "You should both sit down." "YOU LOVE HER?!?!?" screamed Melz between a sob as she cried what seemed like a water fall of tears. Larissa looked at Nick, she was about as stunned as Melz, she hadn't thought he had meant what he said the night before. Nicks face looked so sad that Larissa just wanted to run up and hug him, this must have been so hard from him, she knew he didn't want to hurt Melz. "YOU LITTLE WITCH!!! YOU SKANK, HOW DARE YOU?? YOU DID THIS!! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!" Melz screeched at Larissa. 'That is IT!' thought Larissa, 'I am not taking this shit from her anymore' "Who the fuck do you think you are? You treat him like shit, no goddamn wonder he loves me!! And if you EVER call me a skank again, I swear to God, you won't live to regret it!" said Larissa as she stood up rigid. Nick gulped, he knew this was a bad idea, damn Vicki and her soaps. Melz stood in a daze at the angry burst that had come from Larissa. Larissa snatched up her sweater from the table and turned to Nick, "Nick, I know you meant well, but unless you can control that raging lunitic over there, I am leaving." Nick stood wondering what to do, and then went over to Melz, "Melz, please, sit down, and behave like a civilized person, I'm not done yet." She let out a sob and sat down on the bed, "I'm sorry Nick..." He nodded and Larissa slowly sat back in the chair. 'Well, Nick, now you tell them you want to date them both...' he stood fighting with himself, part of him said to go through with the plan, but after seeing Melz call Larissa all those names, he didn't want to have anything to do with her. "Melz," he said finally, "You know I care about you, and I'm sorry, so very sorry, but like I said, I'm in love with Larissa, and... I want to be with her." Larissa and Melz both gasped at the same time. 'This is NOT what Vicki told me would happen!!' Larissa screeched silently, her mind racing all over the place. Melz stood up, grabbed anything of hers that she could find, and walked out the door, turning back only to hiss at Larissa, "You'll pay bitch, you'll pay." "Larissa?" said Nick. Larissa opened her eyes, "Sorry, I zoned out, I'm just... in shock..." Nick smiled and walked over to her, kneeling down in front of her, "Are you happy?" She grinned at him, "Yes, yes very happy!" He leaned up and kissed her softly, as he had been wanting to for so long.
* * *
Larissa burst through the door of what was now Vicki and AJ's room, grinning like a fool. Vicki layed her fork down onto her plate of potatoes, "What happened woman? Come on, stop grinning and spill it!" Larissa skipped happily over to her, "Well Vicki darling, your plan went better then you thought it would." Vicki looked at her confused, "Say wha?" Larissa explained how Nick had seen Melz lash out at Larissa after he confessed his love for her, and had immediatly chosen Larissa. Vicki began grinning like Larissa, "I'm so happy for you girlie!" They hugged and just then AJ came in, "Hmmm, what did I miss?" he asked eyeing the girls suspiciously. Larissa laughed, "Oh not much..." Vicki rolled her eyes, "No, not much, Mick and Melz just broke up because Nick is in love with Larissa," she rolled her eyes again with a broad smile, "but not much." AJ grinned along with them, happy beyond words that Melz was gone.
* * *
"So... it's over with you and Melz?" Brian asked Nick. "Yep, completely!" Brian nodded quietly, "Nick, Larissa is a good friend of mine, and so are you... but Nick, I know you, and... I don't know if it really IS over with you and Melz..." Nick narrowed his eyes at Brian, "What are you talking about? She's gone!" "I know, she's gone now, but what about when she comes back? And knowing Melz, she will be back. And Nick, I have a feeling you won't be able to turn her away." Nick glared a Brian furiously, "You don't know what your talking about! I thought you'd be happy for me Brian, you're my best friend for God sakes!" Brian held up his hands, "Hey man, I'm happy for you, I just don't want to see anyone hurt." "No one is gunna get hurt Bri, no one."
* * *
Larissa rushed around the hotel room collecting all her things for the trip to the next city on tour the next day. She stood in the middle of the room and scanned it all around, "Ah hah! There it is," she said making her way over to her pale blue sweater that lay half under the chair in the corner of the room. She walked over to the chair and picked up the t-shirt. As she turned around she bonked her head off of the person standing behind her and looked up, "What are ya doin standing behind me like that?" she yelped at whoever was behind her. Gregory stood staring at her with those cold gray eyes that she had come to hate so much. "Damn you! What are you doing here? Get out, you have no buisness being here, I'll call the police, I swear to God I'll call the police!" Larissa shouted at him. He stood still, "Larissa, it's been so long, how have you been?" "Fine, until now, get out Gregory, leave us alone." "Oh, I'd like to, I really would, but I can't just stand around and have my girl cheating on me, she needs to pay." "She is NOT your girl anymore Gregory, stay away from her, or I'll tell, I mean it!" He leaned his head to one side, "See, that's what I've come to see you about... you won't tell Larissa, and neither will Vicki." Larissa balled up her fists at her sides, "You can't command me like that, GET OUT!!" "Oh my dear Larissa, you see, I can command you, if you go to the police, your precious little Nicky..." Gregory raised a finger to his throught, and dragged it along from one side to the other. Larissa glared at him with tears in her eyes, "You wouldn't..." Gregory shrugged, "If that's what you think, go ahead, tell the police, tell Nicky too while your at it... but I know you won't," he turned to leave, "Oh, and one more thing sweet heart, keep Vicki away from AJ, we wouldn't want him to get in a tragic accident, now would we?"
* * *
"Oh Vicki, I don't know what we're going to do!" complained Larissa a few minutes after Gregory's departure. Vicki blew her nose into a tissue, "Larissa, this is my problem, you don't need to worry." Larissa shook her head viciously, "Your not going through this alone Vee, I am here, and I always will be, we'll deal with this together." "But Issa, what can we do? We can't go to anyone, he's always watching, he'll kill Nick, or AJ..." Larissa sighed and slumped in her chair, "I dunno Vee, I dunno..." Vicki stood up, "I know exactly what I have to do, it's the only thing that can save AJ." "Oh no Vee, there has to be another way." "I've tried to think of one Iss, but there just isn't any other way, AJ and I are over."
* * *
"We're o-over??" asked AJ in surprise. Vicki blinked back the tears, she had to do this, there was no other way, "Yes, AJ, I'm sorry, but we just aren't working out." "We seemed to be working out pretty fine to me!" Vicki picked up her coat, "Good bye."
* * *
"Nick?" Larissa whispered to his back as they lay in bed that night. He rolled over to look at her, "Hm?" "I have to tell you something, but keep your voice to a whisper, I mean it." "Uh, alright." Larissa quickly explained the Gregory situation to Nick, including the fact that right now, she was risking his life by telling him. "That rotten no good piece of trash bastard, how dare he threaten you like that?!?!" hissed Nick into the dark. "Shh! Nick I'm scared, he's watching our every move, I don't want him to kill you!" Nick wrapped his arms around her tightly, "Don't worry, I'll think of something, I promise."
* * *
"Isssaaaa? Issssssaaaaa?" Larissa groaned as she was awaken by Nick's whispers and kisses. He laughed, "Not so happy to see me?" Her eyes fluttered open and as she realized where she was, she starting to smile slyly, "I am very happy to see you!" she exclaimed pulling him in for a long kiss. When they pulled away Nick smiled, "This is so great." She nodded then asked, "What's for breakfast?" "Hmmmm, how about, cold pizza?" She sat up in bed and a broad smile spread across her face, "I always knew we'd be perfect together!" she said with a giggle. "So, about this Gregory-" Nick started as they ate their cold cheese pizza. Larissa turned pale, "NICK!! Be quiet!" "OH! right, watching... soo, what's on the agenda for today?" he asked quickly changing the subject. Her color turned back to normal as she replied, "It's Sunday, it's stay in your pj's all day and watch TV day!" He laughed. "Well, look at you two, kinda lazy don't ya think? You aren't even dressed yet!" Kevin exclaimed as he walked into Nick and now Larissa's room. Nick shrugged, "It's Sunday Kev, stay in your pj's and watch TV day!" Larissa laughed and stood up, "I'm goin to get a coke from downstairs." "Um, your in your pjs!" She laughed, "Oh well, if people don't like it, then they shouldn't be lookin'." "Well Nicky boy, looks like you've got a keeper," Kevin said as he sat down next to Nick in front of the TV. Nick grinned, "You bet I do!" "Nick, Melz called me last night." Nick choked and spit out the juice he had been drinking, "Wha-What did she say?" "She sounded bad Nick, real bad. She told me she didn't want to live without you, I'm worried." Nick gulped, "Kev... she just needs to... get over this..." Nick tried to act like he knew she was fakin him out, but his face betrayed him, he looked worried. Larissa stepped into the room after she had heard enough of the conversation from behind the door. Nick and Kevin looked up, "Hey babe, get a pop?" Nick asked her. She nodded and slowly walked over to Nick, sitting down in his lap. "So Kevin, you talked to Melz? She sound OK?" Larissa asked, she was worried that Nick would run back to Melz because she was putting up this whole 'oh poor me, I've been dumped' cherade. Kevin hesitated, "Uh, well, n-not really..." Larissa held back a sigh, Kevin wasn't being a very big help.
* * *
"Bri, I don't know what to do, I don't want Melz to do anything rash, but I love Larissa, and I need to be with her!" Brian surpressed a giant 'I TOLD YA SO!!' and instead said, "Nick, you need to make a choice, and that choice is yours and yours only." "Damn it Brian, can you be a little less like my Dad and a little more of a help????" Brian laughed, "I'm sorry Nick, but I can't choose for you." "I know but-" "Nick? But what? Niiicckkkkk?" Brian called into the phone. "Sorry Bri, Larissa's back, I'll talk to you again later." "Hey baby, how ya doin'?" Nick asked Larissa as she stepped into their room. "Ugghhh, my feet kill from shopping, I'm done for the day!" moaned Larissa as she dropped all her shopping bags and slipping into Nicks lap. He laughed and nuzzled at her neck, "Your done for the whhholllle day?" She giggled, "Yes, the whole day, unless of course...you have something else to do?" "Welllll.... I might...." Just then AJ stormed into the room, "WHY?!?! WHY ME???" Larissa went limp and with a loud sigh she asked, "What happened, what do I have to fix for someone NOW?" "It isn't fixable, Vicki dumped me! DUMPED ME!!" "Huh? Why would she do that?" asked Nick, puzzled. "I don't have a clue! She was actin all fuckin cool and slick, with her 'Oh AJ, it just isn't working out, Good bye.'!!! I mean, I don't get it, it looked like it was workin just fine to me!" Then Larissa remembered her conversation with Vicki, about Gregory. Larissa leaned her head up and whispered into Nicks ear, "Gregory, she's saving him from Gergory!" Nick nodded and lifted her out of his lap and onto the bed. "AJ, we need to talk." AJ glared at Nick, "Not the time dude, not the time." Nick grabbed AJ's arm and yanked him into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. 'Now's my chance!' Larissa thought to herself as she slipped out of her and Nicks room and over to Brians. "Brian, he's gunna leave me for Melz, I know it, I see it in his eyes, he's worried she'll do something harsh!" Brian frowned, "Yeah, he is worried Issa, I'm really sorry, but I have nothing to tell you that you don't know, and I can't stop him, it's his choice." She nodded, "I hate her... why does she have to do this Bri?" Larissa let out a quiet sob and Brian took her into his arms, "Shhh, we don't know yet, we don't know what he'll do."
* * *
"So that's the whole story," said Nick, as he finished his Gregory story. AJ was furious, "THAT ROTTEN NO GOOD PIECE OF-" "AJ! Chill, that's exactly what I said, but, it won't do any good, to protect the girls, we need to act like we have no idea, untill we can make a plan, that we're sure will work." AJ nodded, God, he had been so worried that Vicki really didn't like him anymore.
* * *
"Vee, what am I gunna do, I'm so worried, he's going to leave me for her, I hardly even gotten a chance!" Vicki nodded her head sympathetically, "I know sweetie, I know, but you gotta trust fate, if it's meant to be, then it'll be." Larissa smiled weakly, "Well now you just sound like me!" Vicki laughed, "Maybe you were right about fate all along Iss, dont' give up now." "Fate.... what does fate know anyway?" "Hello?" Nick asked out of breath after he had raced all around the room to find the phone. "Nicky?" Nick nearly choked again, "Melz???" "Nicky, please... don't hang up," Melz pleaded into the phone. Nick slowly sat on the bed, "What's up?" "I miss you Nicky, please come back to me, please?" Nick sat silently, why was this happening to him? "Melz, I can't, I really can't!" Nick heard Melz sob into the phone, 'She sounds so sad... so so sad...' Nick thought to himself. "Melz, please stop crying, please??" Nick begged her to stop, she couldn't do this to him! "P-please Nicky? I need you!" Nick sighed inward, he couldn't believe this...
* * *
"Issa?" Larissa paused her video game and looked up at Nick, "Yep?" Nick walked over and sat in front of her, "Melz called me last night." Larissa set the N64 paddle down onto the ground, 'This is it, he's going to leave me for her...' "Oh, thats nice, what was she saying?" Larissa asked, as calmly as she could, trying not to break down before he had even dumped her. "She was crying, and begging me to take her back..." Larissa raised her eyebrows, "Hm, I see, think she'll be okay?" Larissa had tears in her eyes, how much longer could she fake it? 'She knows... she knows and I haven't even told her...' Nick thought to himself. "I'm not sure, but... I'm..." he looked her in the eyes, "Issa, I'm going to take her back." Larissa nodded, as the tears finally slipped out of her eyes, and spilled down her cheeks. "A-are you... ok?" he asked quietly. Larissa quickly and quietly stood up and walked towards Brians room, "Sure, I'm fine, I'll come back for my stuff later."
* * *
"Shhh, it's ok, I promise it'll be ok," Brian sat with Larissa in his arms, trying to make her feel better. Vicki sat on the other side of her, holding her hand and rubbing her back gently, "Iss, I'm so so sorry, I'll kill the little shit if it'll make things better... hell, I plan on killing him anyway!" AJ frowned at Vicki, "I can take care of that one Vee." Larissa raised her head off of Brians shoulder, "No, no one's killing him, it's his choice..." They all sat quietly, with only Larissa's quiet crying filling the air. Kevin opened the door and they all looked up at him. He saw Larissa and his eyes flew to the door leading to Nick's room, "I knew he'd do this, God, why'd we all let him do this?" he shouted. "I told him not to hurt anyone, I told him this was going to happen, I knew Melz would do this to him," Brian rambled on and on until Larissa raised her hand and covered his mouth, "Shhh, 'I told him' and 'I knew' aren't going to help anything," she whispered between a sob. "Well, what now Iss?" Vicki asked her. Larissa looked at her in surprise, "I'm going home Vee!" she stated matter of factly. Brian's eyes opened widely, "Your going back to Canada?" She nodded, "I can't stay here Bri, I love him so much, but he hurt me so bad, I just wanna get out of here!" "I'll miss you guys so much, promise me you'll come and visit?" Larissa, AJ, Vicki, Brian, Leighann, Kevin and Howie were all at the airport getting ready to see Larissa off. Vicki had argued that she should go with her, but Larissa told her that she should stay for the remainder of the tour. "I'll call you everynight, and tell Atanna I miss her, and tell Ben I'll see him soon, and-" Larissa laughed, "Vee, I know, I know, we'll talk all the time, now shut the hell up and give me a hug!" Vicki laughed and gave Larissa a big hug. Larissa turned to AJ, "Keep Gregory away AJ, be careful, and be good to her." HE smiled, "You know I will." They embraced and she turned to Brian, "Oh Bri, I'm gunna miss you so much, you've been like the brother that I've never wanted, but I'm glad I have." He grinned, "I'll miss you too Issa, you take care of yourself, and make sure you call me, I don't wanna be cut outta your life!" She smiled and they hugged as well. After all the good byes, Larissa picked up her luggage and slowly made her way to the gate.
* * * Two Years Later * * *
*Ringgggg Ringgggg* "Tanna can you get that?" Larissa shouted from the bathroom. *Rinnnngggg Rinnnngggg* "TANNA?!?!" The phone rang again and finally Atanna picked it up. Larissa shook her head, that girl was such a pest. "ISSA!! FOR YOU!" Atanna screamed from the living room. Larissa slammed down the hairbrush and tied up her robe. She walked out to the living room and grabbed the phone from Atanna's hand. "Hooollyyy, ya don't gotta rip my freakin' arm off!" "Hello?" Larissa spoke into the phone, casting Atanna an evil glare. "Larissa?" "Speaking, who may I ask, is this?" "Issa, it's Vicki!" Larissa gasped, "VEE? Is that really you??" Vicki laughed, "That's who it is!" "Wow, how have you been?" "I'm great, I'm livin in Orlando for good now, have been for about six months!" "That's cool, I'm still up here in borin ol'Canada, although, I moved to Toronto." "Ahh, I see, the busy city, anything else new, like... boyfriends? Living with anyone? Who anwered the phone, how's Tanna and Ben, and I have so much more to ask!" Larissa laughed and sat down on the couch, "Well, no boyfriends, none since Nick, I'm livin wit Tanna, so she's fine, she was the one who answered the phone, and Ben in living next door, what a pest!" Vicki sat smiling to herself, remembering the times when they had all hung out, "That's great Iss, and as for me, well, I'm still with AJ, oh, did you hear? Gregory got put back in jail, he was stalking someone as well as me, and he said I was cheating!" Larissa giggled, "Well I'm glad for that, so you and AJ are still goin great?" "Yeppers, we're livin' together too." Larissa say quietly for a minute, wondering how to ask her next question. "And Iss, Melz is still with Nick." Larissa was half relieved and half dissapointed, "That's neat... How's Bri?" "OH! He and Leighann are getting married next summer!" Larissa gasped, "Wow, I guess I should have kept in touch!" "Who was that?" Atanna asked as she came out of the kitchen half an hour later. "Vicki." Atanna looked shocked, "Wow, as in Vicki Malone?" Larissa nodded and got off the couch, "Yeah, she's living with AJ in Orlando now." Atanna rolled her eyes, "Nothin too good for Vee."
* * *
"LARISSA!! ISSAAAA!!!!" Larissa turned off the blow dryer and opened the bathroom door, "What?" "Oh muh gawd!! Ben got us tickets, to the backstreet concert!! PLUS, backstage passes!!" Larissa pretended to gag, "OK, you have fun." Atanna's eyes bulged, "Your not coming??" Larissa rolled her eyes, "No, that's quite alright." 'So, the Boys are gunna be in town...' Larissa lay in bed that night thinking about how Tanna had said the Boys were performing at the Skydome. She laughed at herself, 'They are not part of your life anymore Larissa, stop being so stupid!'
* * *
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Larissa's eyes opened and she realized she had fell asleep on the couch. *KNOCK KNOCK* Her eyes slowly went to the door, why was Ben bothering her again? That boy just couldn't get lost! She climbed off of the couch and walked towards the door.
*KNOCK KNOCK*
"I'm comin, I'm comin'!" she shouted. She unlocked the door and opened, to find herself looking into two pairs of eyes she thought, and prayed she would never have to see again. "Issa?" "Nick?" she said softly. A smile lit up his face when he realized it was her, "How are you?" She wanted to shout, to scream, to tell him to get the hell away, tell him he had hurt her so much, ask him what he though he was doing at her house, but she didn't, "I'm good, you?" He shrugged, "Better now." She stepped out of the doorway, "Come in?" He walked in and she led him to the couch, where they sat down opposite each other. "How's Melz?" she asked. He flinched, 'Good! Good, I hope he's heartbroken... I hope... I hope.... oh damn it all, I hope he's ok...' "She, Issa, she used me, God, she used me..." She reluctantly took his hand into hers and squeezed it, "Tell me what happened." He sighed, "A few months after you left, she started getting snotty, and, well you know, the way she was before I left her. I asked her if she actually loved me, and she laughed! I couldn't believe it, I asked her what was so funny, and she told me she was just using me for popularity, and that her friends were so jealous that she was dating a Backstreet Boy..." Larissa was so mad, she just wanted to find that using little tramp and wring her neck! "But I talked to Vicki last week, she said you were still with her." "I stayed with her, I was just so miserable after you left Iss, I thought I was doing the right thing, but when she got back, I missed you so much, but she was happy, so I thought it was right. After she told me what she was doing, I just zoned out, I missed you so much, but I knew you'd never take me back, so I just stayed with her. The one day a few weeks ago, Bri told me about the concert in Toronto, so two days ago, before we left Orlando, I broke it off." Nick had tears in his eyes as he looked at her, "I missed you Issa." She stood like stone, "I missed you too Nick, but..." He realized what she was going to say and stopped her, "I know, you don't have to take me back, I hurt you bad..." That night after Nick had left Larissa sat trying to read a book for her lit class, but couldn't stop thinking about Nick. 'Maybe the radio can help me concentrate on something else.' She turned the radio on, and immediatly recognized the song, 'It's not that I can't live without you, It's just that I don't even want to try, Every night I dream about you, Ever since the day we said goodbye..." She sat mezmerized by the words, they sounded so close, so real. She got up to turn the radio off and saw Nick standing behind her, "If I wasn't such a fool....right now I'd be holding you... there's nothin' that I wouldn't do... baby if I only knew... the words to say...the road to take...to find a way back to your heart...what can I do...to get to you...and find a way back to your heart... I don't know how it got so crazy...but I'll do anything to set things right... cuz your love is so amazing... baby you're the best thing in my life... let me prove my love is real... and made you feel the way I feel...I promise I would give the world... if only you would tell me girl..." She stepped towards him and he stopped singing. "What are you doing?" she whispered. "Singing?" She smiled, "Nick..." He put a finger to her lips, "Listen, I've been miserable since the day I let you go, I should have realized my love for you was so much more important then Melz being happy, because her happiness was superficial. My love for you is so so real... please Issa, one more chance?" She looked at him for a minute longer then nodded, "One more, your one and only extra chance." He grinned widely, "I'll only need one, only one!" He leaned down and pulled her in for a long kiss, a kiss to seal their love forever.
* * *
"I know pronounce you, husband, and wife, you may kiss your bride." Brian leaned in and kissed Leighanne. Then they both turned around, each with wide smiles on their faces. Through his teeth still smiling, Brian said to Leighanne, "I love you Mrs.Littrell!" She laughed and tugged his arm down the steps to the aile, "I like the sound of that Mr.Littrell!" They walked down the aile, and out of the church, with the four other bsb's and their girlfriends following behind them. Nick leaned over and whispered into Larissa's ear, "That's us next!" She giggled, "You better believe it baby!" He pulled a small silver ring, with a turquoise stone in it out of his pocked and slipped it into Larissa's hand, "Read the inscription." She lifted the ring up and looked at the inside of it, 'I promise you, love never dies, when it matters most, Nick' She smiled at him, "I love you Nicky." He smiled back, "I love you too Iss." "Vee?" AJ whispered as they walked slowly out of the church, arm in arm. "Hmm?" "I love you." Vicki looked up at him in surprise, they'd never said that before, she didn't like to throw the word around. He looked worried as she walked quietly. 'She isn't going to say it back! AJ you dork!' "I love you too," she said so quietly, he almost didn't hear her. As they stepped out of the church and into the sunlight, he pulled her close, and kissed her deeply.
THE END!!!!!!!!!!
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