Everytime You Go Away


The little private concert for Jude's birthday was the bomb, Judith had the time of her life, so did the guys. I played the piano on most of the songs, and sang one song together with Kevin "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" by Elton John.
By this time Kevin and I have been together for over 2 years, we haven't seen much of each other, but we called as much as possible and Kevin did try to come over as much as possible, and when I had a few days off of school, I flew over to where ever the boys were touring ...
The Backstreet Boys have gotten famous all over Europe, Canada and Asia. They've released a second album all over the world (except for the US) and the world tour was a huge succes, they sold out practicaly every night.
Although we've been together for such a long time, Donna had asked us to keep our relationship secret from the press, she was afraid they would lose fans. I don't blame her, but it does suck that when we are able to see each other, we can't walk around town together or go somewhere in public. We both told our family and I told my best friend, but a lot of my friends just know about me seeing some guy from the US that comes over to Europe now and then for buisnes. It does get frustrating sometimes having to sneak into his hotel trough the back doors and him having to wear disguise everytime we go somewhere, but that’s the price to pay.
Judith has gotten really close with Nick, they're like best friends. she's still together with Sam, but they fight a lot and then Nick's always there to comfort her, they call each other almost every night. Sometimes Judith joins me when I go on tour with the guys. She is close to all of the guys, she's like the ‘number one fan’, the guys ask her for advice all the time.
The boys are now gonna start doing some promo stuff in the States, they'll be releasing their debut album over there, and then they'll probably be touring there. They are all very nervous about that, 'cause it is their home country, and they hope to have the same success they’re having in the rest of the world. Going back home means seeing their families more often, but it also means seeing not much of the European fans and in particular me and Judith.
Although Kevin and I have been parted for months at times, this is gonna be a difficult goodbye, the US means a lot to the guys, and I know that when this all works out over there, there is a possibility that they won't come over to europe as much as they used to.
All of the guys (except for Kevin) have been dating around but nothing serious. Nick's got a crush on Judith, but he's only told Brian about it, he's afraid of telling her, 'cause she's still with Sam. And he figures that if he tels her, and she doesn't feel the same way, they will never have the same kinda special thing going on between 'em. So he hopes that now they are going to the US he will find a girl for whom he feels the same (or more, if possible) that he feels for Jude.


CHAPTER 6

***May 1998***
--- Everytime you go away, my heart goes with you. Everytime you go away, my heart's torn in two. Is there something I can say? Won't you change the plan to make? 'Cuz my heart can't stand the pain. Everytime, everytime you go away. --- - Tatyana Ali -
The BSB tourbus just arrived at Brussels' national airport, there were loads of fans, so the guys took a back entrance to get into the building. They were to check in at 11:30 am, now it was 9:55 am. Kevin and Elka stayed in a room were the boys were taken to, to make sure they weren't being mobbed by fans. Everybody was gonna get something to drink or to eat but Kevin and Elka were gonna spend those last minutes trying to have a little bit of privacy ...
*** In the waiting room***
We were sitting in a small couch.
"Oh god, I can't stop thinking that this is it, you know, that I’ll lose you" I asked Kevin with tears in my eyes
"I know how you feel baby, but believe me you won’t lose me, I'm gonna call you every week, we're gonna e-mail each other and we'll be back soon, I mean, if it's not for the job it will be for you..." Kevin said trying to comfort me, he knew it was gonna be hard, but he was willing to give it a chance, by the way, they had been seeing each other for two years, they couldn't just throw all that away.
He knew that it was gonna be very hard on both of them, but it was worth a shot.
"I hope so, I mean, we've been through so much, I've had to say goodbye to you a lot the past two years, but I was always sure I would see you again soon, but now it will be for a long time and that scares me" I said looking right in Kevin’s sad eyes.
"Yeah, I know, but we'll be fine, I mean, you never know, maybe we won't get any succes over there, we've tried it before, it was a total flop." Kevin said stroking my hair softly.
"Yeah, but look at you, who can resist a man like you, and the guys too, they've matured a lot in the past 2 years, I mean, look at Nicky, I remember the first time I saw him, he was this little kid, now he's a grown guy, he's almost as tall as you. They'll love you over there. You'll have girls throwing themselves at you, girls who live a few blocks away, I can't compete with that..." I said being honest to Kevin. "Elka, I want you listen very carefully" Kevin said seriously "You know that I love you, you don't have to compete with any girl, I've loved you for over 2 years now, I'm not gonna throw it all away, I really want this to work, and I'm sure the guys will give us a hand, they'll stop me whenever I'm gonna be doing something I'll regret, which won't be necesarry, 'cause I am the luckiest man alive to have met and fall in love with you." Kevin said and placed a gentle kiss on my lips.
He got up from the couch and walked towards this little table in the corner of the room, he picked up a plastic bag, and took out a single red rose. He looked at me, kneeled in front of me, gave me the rose and started to sing:
"Looks like we made it ... look how far we've come my baby ... We mighta took the long way ... we knew we'd get here some day ... They said "I bet they'll never make it" But just look at us holding on ... We're still together still going strong ... You're still the one I run to ... the one that I belong to ... you're still the one I want for life ... You're still the one that I love ... the only one I dream of ... You're still the one I kiss goodnight ... Ain't nothin' better ... we beat the odds together ... I'm glad we didn't listen ... look at what we would be missin' ......"
The most beautiful words were put into a song some one else had sang before, but those exact words described exactly what has been goin' on the past 2 years. We have both cried loads of tears, but god, we have had the best time in our entire lives when we were together, neither of us were ready to give that wonderful feeling up.
I started to cry and said between my tears "God Kev, I love you, I always will, please hold me"
Kevin took me into his arms and we stood there for like 5 minutes when Kevin turned his face towards mine and said smiling with red eyes
"Would you mind me kissing you, 'cause I'm gonna miss that a lot.."
I laughed, that were the exact words he said right before we kissed the first time, he asks that a lot, I don't know why, he just does.
"sure you can"
And we both closed our eyes, softly our lips met Kevin slipped his hands trough my hair and my hands were on his chest.
*** Somewhere at the airport***
Nick, Brian, A.J., Howie and Judith were walking around in the store departement, looking for a McDonalds to grab a quick bite.
The guys were all wearing hats and sunglasses, to make sure no fans would recognise them for their last hour spend in Europe with Judith.
"There it is, there it is" Brian yelled jumping up and down as a five-year-old.
"Chill B-Rok, they do have 'em back home" A.J. said, trying not to draw any atention
"All rigt sorry" Brian said with a puppy dog face
"Hey Bri, you know we love ya, but you've gotta try to keep your enthousiasm down a little when you're thinking food" Judith said jokingly, slipping her arm around Brians shoulder and shaking a finger like a five-year-old's parents would.
They went in and ordered food, they went and sit at a table, but there was just place for 4, so Nick looked at Brian with a look saying: don't-think-just-do, and said
"Yo Bri ... you, Bone and D can sit here, Me and Jude can go sit over there." Brian looked at him, cracked a smile and said
"Ok, that's cool, we meet up at the arcade at about 11:00?"
"Yeah sure, see ya"
Nick and Jude walked over to a little table in the corner and sat down.
"You know I'm gonna miss ya" Nick said holding his coke in his hand and looking at it.
"yeah, me too ..." Judith said looking at Nick, she really was gonna miss the guys, but Nick most of all
"Nick?" Jude asked and Nick looked up at her
"yes?"
"Can I still call you?" Jude asked
"I'll call you, you know how expensive over sea calls are, I don't want your mum to pay for that, our management pays my phone bills so… and then we'll talk about the stuff we always do, you'll tell me you've had a fight with Sam, and I'll tell you you guys will work it out, 'cause you love each other and we'll talk about movies and about new bands and stuff, it'll be like when we're touring in Europe, only we won't get to see each other for a while, we'll still talk and act silly and get on everyone's nerves" Nick said smiling at Jude.
"Ok, that's a deal, just as long as you don't call on the most impossible hours, like that one time you called at 4 a.m. to tell me you couldn't sleep 'cause A.J. was snoring way to loud and Brian was talking in his dream!!" Judith said lauging when she thougt back about that phonecall.
"I've told you like a million times, Sorry for that, but I didn't know anyone else to wake up, the guys would have beaten me to death, they were on the same bus I was, we were in Italy and you in Belgium. By the way, I could have taken you down anyway, you wouldn't be able to hit me once!!" Nick said looking at Judith with a grin on his face stuffing his mouth with cheesburger.
"You really think so, hot shot?!?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure about that" Nick said with cheesburger flying over the place. "You can't even beat me at Tekken III, you sissy" (note: that's a playstation game)
"I bet your ass I can" Nick said as if he was insulted.
"Ok, let's find out, we have 20 more minutes before we are suppost to meet with the rest of the guys, be prepared to get you sweet little but kicked!" Judith said getting up.
They walked over to the arcade and they found a Tekken III game.
"First one to win 2 games wins." Nick said.
They started to play
"Ha, that's one round for me," Nick cried out "see I can beat ya"
"yeah well, still one or two to go, so you'd better pray I don't get ya back" Judith said, she knew she could beat Nick without any problem, but she likes to give him a head start so that he starts bragging about how good he is and then kick his but soo hard.
She let him win the first game, Judith won the second game, and in the third game it was a tie, each had won one round and the last round was gonna decide who won the battle.
Brian, A.J. and Howie just entered as the third round was to begin, they saw Nick and Judith and went over to them.
Brian asked "Who's winning?"
"Whoever wins this round is the winner" Nick said when they started to fight. Judith pulled up some secret moves, Nicks mouth dropped "Go Jude!!" A.J. yelled laughing "didn't know you had it in ya".
Nick couldn't do anything to get back at her and he got his but kicked big time.
"yes... yes...," Judith yelled
"ha, what about that, Nick Carter getting his but kicked by a girl"
"Yeah yeah, we should go, it's about time we get back to the room to meet up with the rest" Nick said in a mocking voice
"Yo Nick, can't stand to lose can ya" Brian cut in
"very funny B-Rok" Nick said
"Guys, we should probably go, you know how Kev can get when we're late." Howie told the guys
"Yeah, we should, but I don't think Kev is in a rush, man that must be hard on those two" A.J. said
"Yeah, don't think I could miss my girlfriend that long" Brian said
"You guys, can you please try to make sure Kev's ok when you're on tour, I mean when he feels down give him a chance to talk to one of you, he'll need that.." Judith asked them in a serious tone
"Yeah sure, as long as you're gonna be there for your sister too." Nick said
"Ok, that's a deal, and make sure he doesn't cheat on her would ya, not that I don't trust him, but I couldn't blame him if did, I mean ... they're not gonna see each other for a while and he'll be having girls throwing themselves at him and I know El would be soo depressed when he did" Judith aksed them
"Oh, so sweet, you're concerned about your sis" A.J. laughed
"Alex, I'm serious, do you guys prommise?"
"Wow, you called me Alex, you must be serious, yeah, we'll take care of it" A.J. said.


CHAPTER 7

They entered the little room, and found Kevin and Elka in the middle of a very pasionate kiss. They looked at each other and started to laugh.
"Go cuz!" Brian shouted.
Kevin and Elka pulled away looking at the rest, they both blushed and Elka hid her face in Kevin's chest.
"You guys really should learn how to knock" Kev said.
"Sorry guys, didn't mean to interrupt anything but we should be leaving to check in …" Howie said.
"Yeah, I know" Kevin said looking at Elka "I know".
They all took their backpacks, left the room and walked to where they were to meet up with the rest of the crew.
Judith and I said our goodbyes to Denise, Donna, Jeff, Fatima, Eric, Kiki and the rest of the crew. Then it was time for the boys to say goodbye.
Howie came up to me and said "hey Elka, we'll miss you, hope to see you again, I enjoyed the time we spend. Hope you can come visit soon." he gave me a kiss and hugged me
"sure D I will, I'm gonna miss you, take care."
Then it was A.J.'s turn
"Hey El, gosh I'm gonna miss you, you've always been the one I could come to for advice about my hair, what will I do without you" He asked
"Well, I'm afraid you'll have to ask Nick" I said laughing
"you crazy !!? I don't wanna do my hair pink, although it might be cool, what do you think" he asked wondering if it'd suit him
"it'd be nice A.J., just stay you will ya, don't change" I said hugging him
"I won't, I'll stay same old me, and you'll always be the sister I never had, bye El"
And Brian came up to me
"Yo El, I don't know what we'll do without you, I mean, Kev will defenatly be a pain in the butt…" he said trying to lighten up the tension a bit
"yeah, take care of him will you." I said and he hugged me
"I will El, I will"
Then Nick stepped forward
"El, could you do me a favor?" he asked
"sure Nick, whatever you want"
"You know I like Jude a lot, could you try to be there when she has a fight with Sam, 'couse I won't be around ... you know how she needs someone to talk to when she's a bit down" He asked looking at his shoes
"Nick, she's verry lucky to be loved by a great guy like you, I just can't figure out why she hasn't noticed you love her." I whispered
"What?" Nick said and looked at me "Who told you this, oh man, I knew Brian couldn't keep his mouth shut" he said shaking his head
"No Nick, Brian hasn't told me, I figured it out myself, I can see when someone is in love, I can see you love my sister verry much. Don't worry, I haven't told anyone, not even Kevin." I assured him
"Thanks El, you think she might feel the same way?"
"Yeah Nick, I think so, only she doesn't know yet, but I'll work on that, ok?" I smiled at him
"That'd be great, I'll miss ya El, you're the best" He gave me a kiss and hugged me really tight.
Then the moment came I had to say good bye to Kevin, the guy I loved to death, the guy I'll miss like crazy.
"Hey babe... I love you" he said in a hoarse voice and hugged me
"I love you too, babe" we just stood there, said nothing and let our tears run free. We stood there like 5 minutes.
~ ~ ~ ~
In the mean time the other guys were saying goodbye to Judith, first was Brian
"hey Jude, god I'm gonna miss you, you've been the number one fan plus a great friend, I don't know if I'll be able to not see you for a long time" Brian said in low voice
"I know Bri, but Nick and I are gonna call often, and we can speak to each other then ... El and I will visit soon, I wanna check out your places too, you've wrecked ours, so now it's my turn" Judith said cracking a smile at him
"That's a deal" he gave her a kiss and hugged her.
Howie came up
"Bye Jude, we'll miss you, you've helped us out with everything I could think of, you've been great, I won't ever forget you" Howie said
"Me neither D, me neither" they kissed and hugged,
then A.J. walked over to her
"Jeesus Jude, things will be different not having you and El around, we'll miss you" A.J. said hugging her
"Bone?" se asked
"yeah, what up" he said, she took of his glasses
"you shouldn't wear these so often, you have beautiful eyes, show them to the world" Judith said smiling at A.J.
"I will, here, you can have 'em, keep 'em close, one day those will be colectors items" he laughed

"they already are, I'll cherish them, bye, I'll miss you"
Then Nick came walking to her, not knowing where to put his hands, so he put them in his pockets.
"Hey" Jude said, she felt tears comming up
"Hey" Nick said, looking at his shoes.
"You're the one I'll miss the most" Jude said, Nick looked at her and saw a tear comming from her eyes he steped forward and hugged her real tight. She started to cry
"Nick, I don't think I'll be able to be without you for such a long time" she said sobbing.
"Oh Jude, you still have Sam and Elka, they'll always be there for you."
They stood there holding each other and then Nick let go of Judith, looked her in the eyes and said
"Judith, I know I'm gonna regret saying this, but I have to, I can't pretend anymore... Jude... I'm in love with you"
"Oh Nick ... no ... no, it’s not fair of you to tell me that, not now... I like you a lot, but I'm with Sam. You don't have any idea about how many times I wanted to be with you instead of Sam, but it's just.. Sam lives a few blocks away... you live in the States... you have thousands of girls throwing themselves at you, and I don't think it will work." Jude said still sobbing.
Nick put finger on her lips and said "No, I believe this will work, look at your sister and Kevin, they are perfect together"
"No Nick, they are not !" Judith started to raise her voice, she sounded pretty upset "they have to say goodbye constantly, you don't know how it makes her feel, she's a wreck everytime they said goodbye, I don't want this to happen to us, why can't we stay best friends, no strings attached" Judith continued still a little upset, why did he had to ruin this moment.
Nick said "Look, I'm verry sorry I feel this way about you, but I can't help it, and I'm also sorry to have brought it up, I should go, bye" and he gave her a quick kiss and walked to where the rest of the guys stood.
~ ~ ~ ~
Brian came up to Kevin and me and said in a low voice "hey guys, I'm really sorry to interrupt but we have to go now, if it was me I'd let you stand here for hours, but we have to leave" and we let go of each other
"Ok Bri, I'll be there, just give me a sec" Kevin said still having tears running down his face, he pulled up his backpack and opened it, he took out his ever videocamera and wanted to take a last shot of me.
Brian saw it, came back over to us and said "here, let me" and took the camera.
Kevin slid his arm around my shoulder and brian said
"ok, go ahead it's rolling"
Kevin looked at me and then at the camera
"Hey mom, so, you've seen her on different tour-made-videos now, but this is the last shot before I get back to you and leave Elka here. I really hope you like her, 'cause I love her and she means the world to me."
then he looked at me and said "say hi to my mom"
I looked at the camera and said "hello Ms Richardson, I hope you like me too, 'cause I love your son, I can't wait to meet you and the rest of his family, I wanna know who I have to thank for giving birth to the sweetest man alive"
I looked at Kevin and he said to Brian "thanks, b-rok, you can turn it of now."
"Ok, bye Elka" Brian said giving the cam back to Kevin and hugging me one last time.
"Bye Brian, take care" I said and Brian walked over to the rest who were making sure they got everything, i.d.'s, tickets...
Kevin looked at me and said "You're the best thing that ever happened to me and I'll love you no matther what" and he kissed me real sweet
"You'd better go, don't wanna miss that plane, say hi to your family from me, tell your mom she has done the best job in the world by giving birth to you" and I smiled
"I will, say hi to your dad from me too, he’s the best"
"Ok, I will" I said
"I have to go, I love you and I'll miss you, bye" we kissed for the last time and then he gave me a little box, and said not to open it before they left.
He walked to the rest of the guys and I walked to Judith who had red eyes, I put my arm around her shoulder and she slid her arm around my waist.
The guys went to the desk, showed their papers and walked through the little door, they all looked back and waved at us, Nick had tears running down his face, so had Kevin.
That was the last we saw of them.
Judith looked at me and asked me if I was ok, and I said "no I'm not, but I will."
I suddenly remembered the little box Kevin gave me and I looked at it.
"What's that?" Judith asked
"I don't know, Kev gave it to me and said not to open it untill he was gone, think I can open it now?" I asked her wondering what was in it.
"Yeah, they're gone, you can open it now"
"Ok"
I took a real deep breath and opened the box, there was a little note that said
'Hey babe, this is a bracelet my mom gave me when I was born, I don't wear it anymore, because it doesn't fit, but I know it will fit you. I've kept it with me since the day I was born, now I want you to wear it. Love always.. Kevin'
then I saw the little bracelet, I gasped, it was so beautifull, it was made in silver and had a plate saying 'Kevin Richardson'.
"Oh god, it's so beautiful" Judith said and hugged me.
"yeah, I know" I said and put it on my wrist.
"God I love that guy" and we walked out of the airport took a cab and went home.


Chapter 8

"You still haven't told me what happened with you and Nick" I told Jude when we were sitting in my room listening to the BSB cd.
"yeah" she sighed
"well ... are you gonna?"
"I don't know" she said "it's just ... well ... Nick told me he's in love with me" she said
"Oh that's great ... isn't it" I asked not really sure wheter she thought it was that great.
"No El, it isn't, I'm with Sam, I like Nick a lot, I think I might even love him, but I don't know, it's just that I don't think he's serious about it." she told me, I knew she wanted to hear my opinion
"Well... I do think Nick really loves you, I noticed it a few months ago and I think he really likes you a lot" I said
"What?? you knew about it, why didn't you tell me???" she yelled at me
"Judith calm down, I thought it was obvious, I mean, he was always around you and stuff, he couldn't stop talking about you when they were away and just the little things, believe me, the guy is really in love with you"
"Oh god, what have I done, what have I done?" she panicked
"What HAVE you done?" I asked her, not knowing what she was talking about
"Well ... when he told me he loved me, I kinda told him not to say that, and that I wished he never told me and that I love Sam and stuff" Judith said holding her head in her hands
"Oh god, that explains the tears, how could you have said that, Nick would be the best thing to happen for you."
"no, I'm happy with sam … what tears … did he cry?"
"yeah, he cried, at the airport when they went trough the door ... believe me you and Sam are NOT happy, you guys fight constantly, you are nice and good for him but he doesn't deserve you. NICK deserves you, HE loves you, Sam did too a long time ago, but he just sticks with you now. I don't know how you could have been so blind!!!"
I started to get pretty mad at her for being so naiïve about the whole thing with Sam.
"If YOU would have said what you knew about the whole Nick thing, things might have been different now!" Judith yelled at me.
She left the room slamming the door, I knew she was angry, but it's been a long time since she slammed the door.
"Oh god, what have I done, the only person who would've understood what I'm going through with Kevin isn't gonna talk to me for days." I said to myself lying on my bed.
I turned on the tv and started flipping the chanels, MTV select was on.
There was this crazy girl on the phone in the studio. She was saying how she loved the Backstreet Boys and she went to a concert of them and she was in the front row and she touched Kevins hand.
I thougt, 'gosh,you must be proud, if you only knew what I've touched you'd faint'.
Then they played the As Long As You Love Me video. I loved that video, Kevin made a secret move in it that meant "I love you" it's kinda childish but still it's cool when there's a lot of people and you really feel like saying it.
I was waiting till it came up. Yes there it is, A.J. walks to the table where the girls are sitting and Kevin puts his left hand at his right wrist and then turns his head to the right.
'Oh god I'm pathetic' I thougt and fell down on to my bed.
I picked up a photo album I had full with photos of Kevin and me.
I started looking at them, us in Paris, where we spent our first valentines day together (only a month after we got together, but I loved him already) us in Rome, Amsterdam, Athens, London, ...
Tears were comming out of my eyes, I closed the book and fell asleep.
---Everytime you go away, my heart goes with you. Everytime you go away, my heart's torn in two. Is there something I can say? Won't you change the plan to make? 'Cuz my heart can't stand the pain. Everytime, everytime you go away. --- Tatyana Ali
The phone woke me up, I looked at my clock, it was 3 a.m. who the hell was calling me now, if it was for Judith I'd kill her. I picked up the phone
"hello"
"hey" the other side of the line said and I was awake in a second
"hey baby, how are you? how was the flight?" I asked, I had recognised Kev's voice
"Oh, it was ok, although I hated it. I mostly slept. I yelled at Brian, but we're ok."
"oh, glad you guys are ok" I yawned
"baby? did I wake you up?" Kevin asked
"yes you did, but it's ok, I don't think you remember that you guys are 6 hours behind at us, it's 3 am here."
"oh, I'm so sorry, it's 9 pm out here, I just arived at my parents place. Brian and I decided on the plane to Florida that we would get an imediate flight over to Kentuky, to spend a few days with the family."
"Oh, that's great for you guys, how is your mom?"
"She's great, she was so happy with the necklace we got her. And she's been dying to see the videotapes with you on it, we're gonna start watching in a few minutes. Brian is coming over with his parents and brother. Tim and Gerald are here visiting too." Kevin said, I could hear Gerlad, his oldest brother yelling at him that they wanted to start with the videos Kevin yelled back that he was talking to his girlfriend overseas, and Gerald yelled that he should hurry and say hi to me.
"Gerald says hi" Kevin told me
"Yeah, I heard, I also heard you should hurry."
"Yeah, the hell with them, they can wait"
"Well, maybe you should go you know, calling on your moms costs, this is very expensive you know."
"yeah, but not before I tell you this"
"what" I asked,
he caughed which meant he was gonna sing
"Gril I miss you .. and it's only been one day .. since I went away .. and already I say I long to kiss you .. and hold you in my arms .. the night's so much too long when you're gone .. Baby that's why .. Wherever I go .. Girl, my heart stays with you .. after every show .. I wanna rush over to you .. My heart stays with you .. when I'm leaving town .. Girl it hurts me too but I've got a job to do .. I'll be back around .. to see your sweet face .. your embrace .. No one can take your place .. I want you to know .. wherever I go .. whatever I do .. girl my heart stay with you .."
I had tears comming down my face and tried to say "I love you"
"I love you too sweety, now go back to bed and dream of me ok?"
"I will, enjoy the videos, say hi to everyone especially to Brian ok?"
"yeah, I will, talk to you later bye" and we both hung up.
I went back to bed, but I didn't dream about Kevin ...


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