January 28, 2001 - Superbowl

"Just relax Danielle. The chances that we will even run into Joey and the other guys are slim to none. I know you want to see Britney, but she is just going to have to come to you if you want to avoid the other guys," Nick told her. They were crammed in the backseat of an SUV on the way to the Superbowl.

Danielle nodded and looked down at her hands. She knew this was a bad idea, going to the Superbowl as Nick's guest. On one hand, she wished that Joey would see her. See that she didn't crumble without him. On the other hand, it was breaking her heart that she was spending Joey's birthday with Nick. Who ironically, shared the same birthday as Joey. She would be at Nick's birthday celebration after the game, not Joey's. But, she wasn't going to let on to Nick that it was bothering her. He has been such a great support over the last month, and she wanted to have a good time with her new friend. She just missed her old friends. How were they going to react to seeing her with Nick? She didn't want to think about it. Hopefully, it just wouldn't happen. Britney and Justin were the only ones who knew she was going to be there, and that is the way she would like to keep it.

Nick could hardly contain his excitement. He was going to sing the National Anthem with his brothers at the Superbowl on his 21st birthday. Watch the Superbowl in his hometown and then celebrate turning 21 with all of his friends. And the best part was that he was going to have Danielle by his side. Over the last month he had become accustomed to their late night phone calls and her random calls to find out the time. He liked that she leaned on him for support when she was sad, and that it was he who was able to make her laugh when she was down. No, she wasn't his girlfriend. But, the fact that she agreed to be there with him and not Joey, spoke worlds to him. He knew that Joey's hold on her was breaking down. The more that hold broke, the tighter Nick's became. Brian warned him about their friendship being all a part of a rebound effect. Maybe it was. It probably was. But, Nick didn't care. If their friendship didn't work out, it didn't work out. He was just happy to be that person for her. Someone had to be, so why not Nick?

"Nick, I am just as nervous to be there with YOUR friends," Danielle said quietly.

"MY friends? Why would that make you nervous?" Nick leaned his head back on the headrest looking at her.

"I just doubt that they would be willing to accept me into your circle that's all," she noted still looking at her hands.

Nick touched her chin with his fingertips and tilted her head up to look at him. "Hey, everything is going to be fine. I can handle my friends. Besides they all know that you and I are friends now."

"Yeah, and they've NEVER said anything to you about it?" she narrowed her eyes at him. "I've heard the snickering, I've heard AJ's comments."

"Danielle, don't worry. I'm gonna introduce you to Leighanne, Brian's wife, when we get there. She's great. She's gonna love you. That way you'll have someone to buddy with."

"Whatever you say," she rolled her eyes.

"Trust me," he said.

"I do."

"Good, then relax."

When they arrived at the stadium, Nick grabbed Danielle's hand to lead her through the hustle and bustle of hundreds of people working behind the scenes. Kevin had soon found them and handed Nick their laminate security passes. Before Nick could introduce Danielle he was gone again through the crowd.

"See?" Danielle exclaimed with a sweep of her hand. "Kevin took one look at me and ran off!"

It did seem that way, but there was so much commotion there it wasn't unlike him to just be caught up in business.

Nick slipped the laminate pass over Danielle's head and rested his hands on her shoulders.

"What did I tell you on the way here?" he asked.

"To relax?" she winced.

"Yes. This is going to be so much fun Danielle." Nick strained his neck to look over the crowd. "Okay, there's Leighanne, c'mon."

Nick again grabbed her hand and dragged her into a group of people. Some of them looked familiar, but for the most part she felt extremely uncomfortable.

"Hey guys, I want you to meet someone," he interrupted. Everyone stopped their conversations and looked at Nick and Danielle. "Everyone, this is my friend, Danielle. Danielle, this is Kristen, Kevin's wife; Sarah, AJ's friend; Leighanne and you know Brian."

"Yes, hi Brian," Danielle greeted him quietly.

Brian nodded, "Danielle."

Kristen didn't say anything, just looked at her and then looked away. Sarah shook her hand and said "Nice to meet you." Leighanne hugged her and said, "Nice to meet you Danielle, I've seen you a hundred times, but we've never gotten to meet."

That made her feel better. Nick was right. Leighanne was great. Thank goodness. Sarah seemed really nice too. She had never seen her before, she wondered where AJ's girlfriend, Amanda was. Kristen had a reputation for being standoffish, so that didn't surprise her.

Nick was disappointed Brian wasn't friendlier in his greeting, but he was very happy in Leighanne and Sarah. Nick pulled Danielle aside and ran his hands up and down the sides of her arms.

"See, I told you. Leighanne is great." Nick smiled. "Feel better?"

"A little," she sighed. She leaned in closer to Nick and held onto the bottom of his elbows pulling him down closer to her so she could whisper in his ear, as his hands were still on her arms. "One question, where is Amanda? Who is Sarah?"

Nick pulled his head away from her face, "Ohhhhh, that's right. You don't know," he whispered back. He placed his mouth next to her ear, "Amanda and AJ broke up. Long story. Sarah is AJ's new FRIEND for now."

"Friend?" Danielle asked with a bit of sarcasm.

Nick smirked, "yeah, you know. Friend. But, she's cool. Not like what you are thinking. Kind of like you and me."

"No, Nick, NOT like you and me. I know AJ's type, and you can bet that THEY are sleeping together. NOT like you and me," she corrected him.

She was right there. AJ and Sarah were more than friends, but that's normally how you introduce a new girl to others. Especially so close to after AJ and Amanda's breakup.

"Okay, you're right. But, it's a little soon after the break up, so, we call them friends," Nick said.

"NICK!" Brian hollered. "We gotta go!"

Nick looked up and nodded to Brian. Then looked back to Danielle.

"Okay, just head to our dressing room. . .follow Leighanne. I need to go and meet with some people and then we'll be there to warm-up. Okay?" he asked.

"Okay." She smiled.

"I'll see you soon." He squeezed her shoulders, then turned her around and scooted her off after Leighanne.

Unbeknownst to Nick and Danielle, the idea that no one else would know she was there didn't last too long. Someone had seen them. And he fumed while he watched Nick touch her. Joey had just arrived when he looked over and saw them. Saw Nick with his hands on Danielle's shoulders, whispering something into her ear.

Joey's first reaction was to march over there and drag her away. What in the hell was she doing there with Nick Carter? If anything, he would have thought she would have come with Britney, but Nick Carter? He wanted to know why, how, when, where. . .everything. He was NOT going to allow this to go on. Yes, he had broken up with her, but he would be damned if she was going to be with a Backstreet Boy. No way in hell.

After Danielle took off after Leighanne, Nick and Brian headed off in the direction of the other guys near the show director. Brian caught a glimpse of Joey, who was still standing near the VIP entrance in the lower levels of the arena where they all came in. Joey didn't see Brian glance at him. Joey didn't see anything else around him. He glared intently at Nick, watching his every step, his every move. Brian, nudged Nick, "Don't look now, but I think you are in trouble."

Nick looked down at Brian in confusion, "huh, what?"

Brian nudged his arm again and nodded his head in Joey's direction, "Don't look, but Joey is here and he does NOT look happy with you."

Immediately Nick started looking around him to see where Joey was. Brian threw his hands up in frustration, "I told you NOT to look! So what do you do?"

Just then Nick and Joey's eyes met from where they were standing. Nick could see the anger in Joey's eyes, and a devilish smirk began to spread on Nick's face. Nick's eyes soon held the same devilish look as his grin and he mouthed the words to Joey, "ALL MINE."

Joey pointed his finger directly at Nick and mouthed back, "YOU'RE DEAD."

Brian noticed the exchange between the two and pulled Nick away. "What the hell are you doing? You want to start something right here? What is wrong with you?"

"I'm not starting anything!" Nick exclaimed.

"I saw what you did! Is that what this whole thing with her is about? Pissing them off?" Brian asked Nick, waving his hand back in the direction of where they were standing.

"Of course not! We're just friends!" Nick told Brian.

"Well, act like it! I would expect something like that to come from AJ, NOT you!" Brian scolded him. "Jesus, Nick, did you see him?"

Nick started laughing, covering his mouth to hide his glee. "Yes, I did! I sure did! He does not like me," he laughed shaking his head.

"What's he so happy about?" AJ asked as he approached Brian and Nick.

"Oh, you'll be very pleased to hear what he's happy about," Brian remarked sarcastically to AJ.

"Really? What is it?" AJ asked Nick.

Brian stepped in between AJ and Nick, "He brought Danielle."

"Yeah, so? We knew he was going to," AJ replied, still waiting for what was so funny.

"SO! Joey just saw them TOGETHER. Then Nick goes and makes some stupid remark to him. Fatone looked like a bull and Nick was a red cape."

AJ started laughing, covering his mouth in the same manner that Nick had just previously, then began to pat Nick on the back while snickering. "Good job, Nicky! Couldn't have done it better myself!"

Brian looked at the two of them in disgust, shook his head and walked away.

AJ made a snorting sound, waved Brian off, and turned back to Nick, "He's way too serious. So, where is she?"

"Who, Danielle?"

"Duh."

"She's with Leighanne and the girls."

"The girls? She's with Sarah too?"

Nick nodded. "She was real nervous. You know about meeting everyone. I guess I can't blame her, it's not like any of us ever got along with her before."

"Well, if you ask me, you need to get what you need to get from her and get rid of her. She's NOT one of us. She's still one of them. In my book, she always will be," AJ told Nick pointedly. "It's cool that you got a rise out of Fat One, but, you're asking for trouble with her hanging around."

"Age, man, will you fucking chill out. We're just friends, and she's not like what you are making her out to be anyway. You are starting to sound like Brian," he rolled his eyes.

AJ smacked Nick in the arm, "Nicky, I know how you are. You aren't looking for friendship with her. Get her drunk tonight at your party, get your piece of ass and get rid of her." AJ was staring at Nick in all seriousness. Then Nick watched AJ turn and walk away from him.

Nick couldn't believe what he was hearing from his friend. I don't care what you or Brian say, she's not like that and that's not what our friendship is about, he thought to himself. Yes, it tickled him pink to see Joey's underpants in a bunch, but he wasn't out for just a piece of ass. He still wasn't sure what he wanted FROM Danielle. He just knew that he wanted her with him. He wanted to be the one to make her laugh. He wanted her to look at him the way she looked at Joey. Joey never deserved her love.

Meanwhile in another part of the stadium. . .

Joey stormed into the dressing room, his small entourage trailing behind him. He slammed the door before they could follow him in. The slam caused everyone's attention to Joey.

"Where is she?" Joey demanded.

"Who?" JC asked?

"Britney!"

"Hello? I'm right here." Britney said sarcastically with a small wave in the air. "What is your problem?"

Joey bolted over to Britney and yelled, "Did you know about this! Did you know about this?"

Britney's eyes were wide with surprise, "What are you talking about?"

"Danielle!"

"Oh lord," Britney said under her breath.

"Answer me!" he yelled.

"Hey, back off Joey!" Justin stepped in between Joey and Britney.

"Stay out of this J," Joey said as calmly as he could, his glare still boring into Britney.

"Well?"

"Joey, first of all, calm the hell down! And yes, I knew about it," She answered him.

"What the fuck Brit?" he yelled.

"Joe, man, calm down and quit yelling at my girlfriend!" Justin yelled as he put one hand on Joey's chest. Justin quieted his tone and continued to Joey, "Did you see Dani, is she here with him?"

Joey looked at Justin and took a deep breath, "yeah I saw her." Just then Joey realized that Justin knew what he was talking about. "You know about this too?" His voice began to rise again.

"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on here," JC broke in.

"That's what I would like to know! You two KNEW about this and you didn't fucking tell me?" Joey hollered.

"You have been too busy with your sluts to give a damn!" Britney spat. "Since you broke up with her, have you asked me ONCE how she was? For someone who supposedly loved her so much, you sure were quick to get on with YOUR life!"

Joey was fuming, but he couldn't say another word. She was right. In fact, right outside the door was his "flavor" for the week.

"Joe, she has a point. What good is telling you this now? You are the one who told Dani to find someone else," Justin pointed out.

"NOT Nick Carter!" Joey exclaimed.

"Nick Carter?" JC jumped up. "Dani is with Nick Carter? When the hell did this happen?"

Just then Lance and Chris came into the room, when the others who were standing outside the room waiting tried to follow them in, Joey yelled at Lance to keep them out.

"What is going on, and what about Dani being with Nick Carter?" Chris asked Joey. "I could hear you yelling down the corridor."

Joey pointed at Britney, "HER friend, Dani is here. . .at the Superbowl. . .with Nick Carter!"

"Backstreet Nick Carter?" Lance asked in confusion.

"Yes! Fucking Nick Carter!" Joey answered him.

"Are you sure, man?" Chris questioned.

"I fucking SAW them, Chris," he looked back at Britney and Justin. "I fucking SAW them. And that fucker had the gall to rub it in my face! And on my birthday!"

Chris sat down next to Britney while Joey continued to rant and whispered to her, "isn't today Nick's birthday too?"

Britney leaned closer to Chris and whispered back. "Yes."

Chris whispered, "I thought I read that in Tiger Beat or something."

"Why are you reading Tiger Beat?" Britney whispered back.

"I like looking at the pictures," he whispered.

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Joey asked impatiently with his eyes closed.

Britney looked at Chris, eyes wide and an expression that was trying to tell him NOT to say what they were discussing.

"Oh, today is Nick Carter's birthday," Chris told him without much thought.

"What?" Joey looked at them.

"Today is Nick's birthday too," Britney repeated with caution.

"You have got to be kidding me," Joey was feeling overwhelmed with all this information at once and sat down, and put his head in his hands.

There was a banging on the door and someone from the Superbowl Director team came in. "Meeting with the show director on some final touches in five minutes. Game starts in half hour," then he walked back out.

Leighanne and Danielle stood at the refreshment table in the dressing room, picking over fresh fruit and grabbing some bottled water. They sat down on one of the couches and Leighanne spoke up, "So, Nick told me what happened with Joey. I am so sorry."

"Thanks, Leighanne," Danielle smiled. She was determined to get through this day without crying over Joey. "It's been almost a month, and I'm getting better at accepting that it's over. Did Nick tell you all the details?"

"He just said that Joey never deserved you and that he didn't treat you right. That's really all I need to know, unless you want to talk about it." Leighanne put her hand on Danielle's shoulder.

Danielle looked at Leighanne and smiled, "You know what, I'm all talked out over Joey. Whatever Nick told you was right."

"So, now what is going on with you and Nick?" Leighanne questioned.

I wonder if they always throw her out to the ones they need to get information from. Leighanne was so sweet and sincere. She felt very comfortable talking to her. Much like with Britney.

"We're just friends. He's been such a great support for me through all of this. Kind of strange how that all came to be, but I really don't know what I would have done without him."

"Just friends?" Leighanne asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yup, just friends. The last thing I want to do is jump into anything with anyone. Much less another person in the entertainment world," Danielle answered with a laugh.

Leighanne nodded and laughed with her. Her and Nick have the same story. . .just friends. For some reason though, she wasn't buying it from either of them.

Leighanne stuck by Danielle's side until Nick returned with the rest of the guys. When the other guys walked in, Danielle tensed up and Leighanne could sense she was feeling uneasy.

"It's OK Danielle, they won't bite. It may take a while for them to get used to you being on this side, but it will happen," Leighanne assured her.

Nick found his way to Danielle and he sat down next to her. "Miss me?" he smiled.

"Nope," she laughed. Leighanne got up and went over to Brian, planting a huge kiss his cheek. "She is really nice. I really like her." Danielle told Nick referring to Leighanne.

"I knew you would," he grinned at her. He began to bite on his lower lip and he leaned in closer to her. "I don't know how to tell you this. . ."

Danielle saw the look on his face and her stomach dropped, "tell me what?"

His mouth was right next to her ear and he spoke softly, "Just stay calm and don't get upset. . ."

"Nick, you are freaking me out," she replied quietly. "What is it?"

"Joey knows you are here with me."

"What? Are you serious? How?" she looked at him in horror.

"He saw us together in the tunnel, right before you went off with Leighanne."

"Did you talk to him?" she asked, still horrified.

Nick shook his head, "No, but we had a non-verbal exchange."

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing really, but I could tell he's not very happy about it."

Danielle placed her face in her hands, "Oh this is not good."

"Danielle, baby, it's OK. Really. It was probably a good thing for him to see you out with someone else. He's just mad because it's me," he said softly, as he placed his hand on her back.

Danielle lifted her head up to peak at Nick who was staring at her with his blue eyes. The softness in his eyes and the concern on his face began to make her nervous stomach fade away. How he could manage to make her feel better by just looking at her, she would never know. But he had managed to do it a number of times in the last month.

A smile began to creep across her lips as she rested her hand on his knee and leaned into his chest. "How come you always make me feel better?"

"Cause that's what I'm here for," he answered her. Stroking her hair. "Now, no more talk about Joey Fatone. Today is my birthday. . .we're at the Superbowl. . ."

He lifted her face up to look at him, ". . .and WE are going to have an awesome time tonight."

She closed her eyes and smiled. She felt him press his lips against her forehead. It was a quick kiss, but the sensation of his lips on her sent shivers down her back. She opened her eyes looking directly into his, "Yes, Nick. . .we are going to have a great time."

"Good, now are you ready to meet the firing squad?" he nodded his head in the direction of the guys.

She groaned and then let out a deep breath. She obviously had met them all at some point in time through the years, but this time was different. She was being introduced as someone within their circle. An outsider being brought in. "As ready as I will ever be."

Nick introduced Danielle and all the guys greeted her, Howie and Brian were the most cordial. Kevin seemed guarded and AJ was downright rude, hardly acknowledging her. There was quite a commotion as the guys started warming up for the National Anthem.

Danielle sat with the other girls and watched the boys warming up. She had seen this scene a thousand times before, only now she was watching totally different people. They all worked to get their notes and levels perfected. Danielle became lost in the vision of the boys warming up and the thoughts of Joey being there and seeing her with Nick. She couldn't keep her mind focused on either, her mind was teasing her with what she needed to pay attention to. She wished that Britney was there. She wished she could talk to her and find out what was going on with Joey. But she couldn't. Britney didn't dare venture to the Backstreet Boys room, and she doubted that Justin would have let her anyway.

"Danielle?" Nick's voice startled her out of her daydream. "You daydreaming? It's showtime, c'mon."

"I don't know what I was even thinking about," she smiled back at him. "Are you ready?"

He laughed, and tilted his head to side, "Of course! I was born ready baby!"

He took her hand and led her out the room and down the tunnel, surrounded by the Backstreet entourage. They were coming upon another large entourage as they neared the field entrance. There was no mistaking who they were. The NSync group hung around after their meeting to watch the opening ceremonies from the field level. Joey watched the Backstreet entourage approach the area and he immediately saw Danielle with Nick. He noticed that Nick was holding her hand and he tried to muster all the self-control he could to not explode right then and there. Justin noticed Danielle and Nick also, and moved closer to Joey. When Nick kissed Danielle on the cheek before venturing to regroup with the other guys, Joey fumed.

"That's it!" Joey yelled. He started to make a move toward Danielle, but Justin held him back.

"Don't you dare!" Justin warned. "Let it go, man!"

"Let it go? Fuck you Justin, that's not your girlfriend he's kissing!" Joey exclaimed.

"Yeah, well she's not yours either, so calm the hell down!" Justin yelled back.

Joey took a deep breath and put both his hands up to show Justin that he was cool. He was still angry, but what was he going to do? Drag her out of there? Joey turned his attention to the field where various colorguard and hundreds of people were getting ready for the National Anthem.

Nick and the rest of the boys got into place near the field entrance. They were waiting for their cue to be walked out onto the field, when Nick felt someone brush up next to him.

"Stay away from her, Carter," Joey told him calmly, but firmly. He looked straight ahead at the field.

Nick tilted his head, and chuckled. "Oh, you're bold Fatone. Jealous much?"

Joey turned to Nick, "I mean it, Carter! You stay the fuck away from her!"

Nick returned his glare, "Make me."

The two stood inches away from each other, glaring into each other's eyes.

"Don't push me Carter," Joey warned.

Kevin who stood on Nick's other side, picked up the exchange between the two and immediately grabbed Nick and threw him aside. "Take off Joey!"

"Stay out of this Kevin," Joey ordered. And he moved toward Nick. Kevin stopped him and told him again, "Now, Fatone! GO!"

Joey looked at Kevin, then back at Nick. Realizing it wouldn't do him any good to start something then and there. He pointed his finger at Nick and told him as he walked away, "Stay away from her."

Nick smiled and waved at Joey with his fingers, "Happy Birthday Joey, I know I'M gonna have a happy one."

"Fuck you!" Joey yelled back.

"No, fuck YOU!" Nick yelled at him.

Kevin turned back to Nick and smacked him on the side of the head. "Grow up, Nick! We're about to go out there and sing our country's National Anthem in the most important game of the year. We'll talk about this TOMORROW."

And with that, they ventured out onto the field and blew the crowd away as fighter jets flew overhead.

Chapter 5
Chapter 3
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