"why do you need to drag me along to this?" Nick whined.

"Cuz, you need to have some fun!" Brian answered. Nick, knew what they were doing, he and his girlfriend, Corey Antill had just broken up. And he had been acting like a crab ass all week. They were trying cheer him up. but it wasn't gonna work.

"But I don't wanna go to this stupid Michigan State Fair!"

"Oh c'mon it'll be really fun"

"Fine"

The other guys decided to come too. They had the entire week off. then they would be doing three performances in Detroit, Michigan. Nick knew this outing was gonna suck. First off Aj was driving. Mistake Numero Uno. First he runs a driver off the road and nearly scares them shitless, then while cussing out the other driver. he nearly runs into a semi. They made Aj get out and Kevin take over. Oh man but Kevin was SUCH a slowpoke, he thought it would be Monday before they got to this fair thing. At least their lives weren't in danger. they pulled into the parking lot.

"DANG, this lot is PACKED!" exclaimed Howie

"You sound surprised, Howard" Nick said sarcastically. Howie just scowled.

"C'mon Y'all" Kevin said cheerfully "we are gonna have fun aren't we, Nick ??"

"Shut up"

They entered the fair. It was packed. They first tried the midway. Nick couldn't win for the life of him. He got tired of midway when all the other guys were laden with stuffed animals and all he had was a stupid cheap squirt gun.

" I'm gonna go off on my own" Nick said

"Are you sure?" Brian questioned

"Yeah, I'll met ya guys around 9 pm at the car okay?"

"Fine" they all said.

Nick went on a few rides. "boring" he thought.

"and now! the moment you have all been waiting for!" boomed a speaker "here they are! CRUSH!!!"

"who is CRUSH?" Nick pondered. "I guess I'll have to go check it out" Nick walked over to the concert area. he was about to walk in when a guy stopped him.

"Sir, you have to pay"

"HUH?"

"it cost Five bucks to see CRUSH"

"Oh, here" Nick walked in and found a seat. five really pretty girls were on stage. they had on pink and blue leopard print bell-bottoms and pink, white and black halter tops. they could really dance. Nick's eyes kept drifting to the girl in the middle, she was about 5"8' , had long legs, pretty sea green eyes and had long dark brown hair , with a dark red streak .

"WOW" Nick thought "she is pretty!" he sat there just staring at her. just then she opened her mouth and said " we all know you guys really wanna dance we are gonna come into the crowd and pick a few people to come on stage, alright?"

Nick was the first to scream, "YEAH!!!!!"

the girl looked over at him and said " I think we have our first volunteer" she smiled at him and went into the crowd and brought him on stage. after all the other girls had brought their guests on stage, the pretty girl put her mic in Nikc's face and asked, " whats your name?"

"Nick"

"well, Nick. Do you rally wanna dance?"

"No, but i wanna see you dance" where the hell did that come from? he wondered. the girl cracked up at the sight of Nicks now crimson face.

"You got it!" all the people sat down and the pretty girl said, "LET'S GO CRUSH!" they started a new song with GREAT MOVES. Nicks eyes stayed plastered to the girl the whole time. the show ended a few songs later.

Nick knew he had to see her again. he managed to sweet talk a security guy, by promising him B/S passes for their concert tomorrow. He walked down the make shift halls under the stage. he came to a door that had a paper sign that read CRUSH. his hand shook a little as he reached up to knock on the door. just as he was about to knock, FWOOSH. the door flew open and the girl, yelled "DAN!!" the girl jumped back at the sight of Nick, " How did you get in here?"

"Uh--I-I Just.."

"Hey! u're that guy from the concert.. Nick? right?"

"Yeah"

"so.. why ya here?"

" Um.. do u have a boyfriend?" D'oh, Nick thought. am I being forward or what? the girl smiled. she thought of Dan, her boyfriend. he's never around when I need him, She thought. He is always cheating. so screw him.

"No, why?"

" I was wondering if.. you maybe.. wanted to go out sometime?"

"Yeah, wouldn't you like to know my name first?" Nick blushed, and nodded his head.

"It's Adrienne"

" Do you wanna go out sometime tomorrow? around 11pm or so?

" Yeah, just let me give you the my number, and you can call to set a place, okay?"

"great. do you want the number of the hotel i'm staying at ?"

"you're not from around here?

"no. actually I'm from Orlando."

"really? me and my group have been trying to get to Orlando for a few years. we want to get a record deal real bad. it's a shame we can't get enough money to get out there."

"it is a shame. you guys would get a record deal right away trust me.": they smiled at each other. Nick looked at his watch. 9:15!!! he was late with meeting the guys!

"OH NO!"

"wHAT? What?"

"I am late with meeting my friends! i'll call you okay?"

"Gr8"

"Bye"

"Bye"

Nick ran all the way to the parking lot.by the time he found them it was 9:45pm. He was met with four annoyed faces.

"Where the F*** have you been?" questioned AJ.

"I was.. Uh" Nick started to blush. how was he gonna tell them he was gonna go out on a date with a girl he just met an hour ago?

"Nick, whadda ya do?" Brian said jokingly.

" Well. i met this really great girl.."

"WHAT?" that was Brian.

"Her name is Adrienne. She is in this all girl group called CRUSH. i saw them this afternoon and i... well... asked her out" Nick said in a rush. he looked expenctanly at Brian.

"Nick how do you know she is not just using you to get to fame like Corey did? Be carful. I don't think you should go out with her." the rest of the guys nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, you never know" said Kevin.

"Thanks.. but no thanks I am NOT a little kid. i think i can go on my own dates" Nick said angrily. how dare they tell him she was using him. they didn't know her. we neither did he, but that is beside the point. she deserves a chance and the guys were telling him she didn't.

"I think I'll take a cab home." Nick said

"Hey Nick Look, i didn't mean to piss you off, but you are acting like a stupid Idiot who...." Brian began.

"F*** You, Brian" Nick had lost his patience with Brian

"FINE! go on your date with What's Her Name. get hurt! see if I care!"

"fine"

"Fine"

"FINE!"

"FINE"

"FINE!!!"

Nick stalked away from the car and too the nearest payphone. He called the operator to get the number of a cab service. after he had called a cab to take him back to the hotel. He wondered if what Brian said might be true. would she really use him like that? like Corey? Corey. Ugh. what a mistake. She was a lying no-body. She use to.. Oh cool my cab is here. Nick got into the cab and rode back to the hotel. he was about to go up to his room when he remembered he shared it with Brian. "S***" he thought. "I will have to get another room. I can't stay with him. not after tonight." he walked down to the lobby and asked if they had another room. they did. Nick breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't need to see Brian. He opened the door to his new room. then he went back down to his old room. and knocked on the door. no one answered. "Good" He thought " Now at least I can get my clothes and stuff" He opened the door to find Brian with Adrienne. They were kissing.

"Brian?" Nick said in a voice almost a wisper. Brian jumped up. "Nick! I-I you.." Adrienne looked at Brian and said, " Dan? you--" then she looked at Nick.

"Nick?"

"Dan? who the H*** is Dan?" Adrienne pointed to Brian. " Thats Dan. I was gonna break up with him tonight but- but I didn't get the chance and well.." her voice trailed of.

"Thats not Dan. His name is Brian."

"What?"

"I said his name is Brian. Brian Littrell."

"Dan? what is he talking about?"

" He's right Adrienne. My name is Brian. I Didn't tell you because I wasn't sure if you were using me too get to fame cuz i'm in the Backstreet Boys." Adrienne looked at Da- Brian incrediously.

"What? you LIED to me about who you were? You thought I would USE you? Why would I Do that? Huh? Tell me! I really liked you!" Adrienne was crying now. She knew she should have broken up with him.

"What else haven't you told me, Brian? I can't trust you anymore. you lied about yourself. you lied to me. Good-bye."

"Adrienne! Wait!" Brian exclaimed.

"Don't you think you've messed up enough tonight?" Nick said to Brian.

"But-"

"C'mon Adrienne. I'll drive you home."

"Okay"

Since Adrienne had driven there with her car. nick just drove her home and would take another cab back to the hotel.

"Nick-I- I still would like to go out with you. Dan... I mean Brian, When I told you I didn't have a boyfriend, I was gonna break up with him tonight. before I called you. but then he started to say the sweetest things and.." Adrienne started too cry.

"Shh" Nick comforted. " It's okay now."

" I really like him! but he cheated with that.. that COREY!"

"Corey? Corey who?" Nick questioned. surely it wasn't HIS Corey.

"Corey Antill or was it anthill? I don't know or care." Nick was infuriated. Brian was a good for nothing Backstabber!

" Nick, turn here" nick nodded his head unable to speak.

"Hang a left and my house is the second on the right." Nick parked the car and walked Adrienne to the door. Adrienne hugged Nick.

"Thank you so much."

"hey. no problem."

"are we still on for tomorrow?"

"Yeah. were do you wanna go?"

"I know just the place meet me here at around midnight, okay?"

"Great" Nick gave her a small kiss on the cheek.

"See you tomorrow."

Bye"

Nick waved down a cab and went back to the hotel for the second time that night. when he got to Brians room he pounded on the door.

"Brian! you better let me in!" the @$$ had chain locked the door so he couldn't get it. when no one opened the door. Nick pounded again, this time harder, "BRIAN!" this time he was so loud AJ and Howie came out of their rooms.

" Nick, dude. why you pounding down the door?" Aj asked in a groggy voice.

"Where the F*** is Brian??"

"Oh, he left as soon as you and Adrienne left. He said something about a Lori?" Howie said

"When I find him I swear he is gonna get it!!"

"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa. Slow down. what the hell happened?"

"Fine. remember Andrienne? the girl I told you about at the Fair?"

"ya"

"Well, she was going with Brian who told her he was this guy named Dan. anyway. i go up to our room to get clothes and there is Adrienne and Brian Kissing. Adrienne get really mad at Brian for lying to her and dumps him. i take her home and she tells me that he cheated on her with Corey!"

"YOUR Corey?" Aj asked.

"yeah"

"Dude, that sux major @**"

"So" Howie ventured " Is that why u're on a war path?"

"Yeah"

"Well, just don't KILL him okay?" Aj said.

"Well, don't be too surprised if you don't recignize him tomorrow" with that Nick left. He had to take yet ANOTHER cab to Coreys. Nick silently fumed on the way to her house. When the cab reached her house, sure enough Brian's car was sitting in her drive way. Nick crept up to look inside the window. Brian was inside with Corey. He was upset, Nick could tell. Corey was just sitting there. then in Nicks horror they started to kiss. man, Nick thought, to think all this time I thought Brian would never do this to me. Nick got out from looking in the window and went up to the door. He rang the bell. he heard a scuffling inside and the door began to unlock. the door flung open and there was Brian. WHACK! Nick hit Brian with all his might. Brian flew back and Corey came running to the door.

"Nick?!?!" she yelled puzzled. She took at the blood oozing from Brian's nose and looked at Nick.

"You think I wouldn't have found out you cheated on me with my best friend??????!!! huh? I'm not stupid Corey! I hope you and Brian have a good time together!" just then Brian jumped up and said, " Nick wait! I can exlpain!" Nick turned around and lookad at Brian, his best friend, his EX- best friend.

"why should I believe you? you two-timing lying good for nothing heartless kentucky hick!" Brian lost it . he charged at Nick knocking him down. just then Adrienne pulled into Corey's drive way. Nick looked up.

"Adrienne! what are doing here??"

"I called your hotel but they said you weren't there but some dude named AJ came to the phone and gave me the address where I could find you" just then she noticed Corey.

"WHAT THE H*** IS SHE DOING HERE??"

"I live here."

"Oh, shoulda figured. the house IS kinda run down." Nick and Brian were still going at it.

"Brian! how could you?" Nick gave Brians chin a good upper cut. Brian kicked Nick in the stomach.

"Cuz you deserved it! "

"What the F***?" just then Brian pushed Nick into the street. Adrienne had enough of this fighting she ran into the street and tried to pry Brian off of Nick. Corey was not to be out done. she ran out into the street and tried to pry Nick off of Brian. nick and Brian just told them to back off. they were back on the lawn again. a car was coming down the street, but neither of the guys noticed it, so thats why maybe brian wouldn't of puhed Nick back into the street just then. the car didn't see Nick until it was too late. the last thing Nick heard before he was hit with a tremdous amount of pain and force was Adrienne's horrified scream of, " NICK! WATCH OUT!" the car came to a stop. Nick lay motionless sprawled across the street Brian just shook his head in disbelief. Adrienne ran into the street and knelt beside Nick.she began to stroke his hair which was becoming bloodier by the second.

"Nick" She pleaded " Say something. Do something!" Corey came into the street as the ambulance made it's way.

"Adrienne" She said softly " Come on, let the paramedics help him. Don't worry he'll be alright" Brian was still in shock. What have I done? he thought.in a few minutes they had loaded Nick into the Ambulance. Corey and Adrienne went with him to the hospital. Brian had to phone Kevin , AJ and Howie and tell them what happened. He went back into Corey's house and dialed the hotel. "

'Lo?" said a groggy voice.

"Kev-kevin?" said Brian in a shakey voice.

"Brian?" said Kevin more alert. "

"You guys gotta come to the hospital with me. Nick-he-he" Brian couldn't finish.the reality caught up with him and he started to cry.

" Brian! whats wrong?" Kevin was starting to worry.

"Nick was in an accident." Brian sobbed.

"WHAT?" Kevin asked.

"He was hit by a car. we were fighting and I- I pushed him ino the street, I didn't see the car Kevin! I swear! If I had I would have never pushed him into the street. this is all my fault!"

" Brian, calm down down. were are you?"

"Coreys"

"We'll be there in a few minutes, okay?"

"yeah"

Kevin got off the phone. he went to Howie ans Aj's room and knocked on the door. Howie opened the door, took one look at Kevins face and knew something was up.

"What did Nick do to Brian? eh? mess him up one?" that was Aj he had woken up and seen the open door.

"AJ!" Howie said.

"Well, something did happen" Kevin began " Nick was hit by a car and is at the hospital"

Aj's mouth dropped. " Are you serious?"

"yeah"

"DUDE! what are we standing around for? we gotta get our asses to the hospital!!!!" they took kevins car to Corey's too pick up Brian. he was nearly hysterical.

"This is all my fault" he kept saying that over and over again. they tryed to calm him down but it was no use. they reached the hospital and asked the receptionest for Nick Carter.

" He is still in Emergancy, right through those doors" she pointed to some double doors..

"thanks" mumbled Kevin. they reached the emergancy waiting room and found Corey and Adrienne.

" Any news?" asked Kevin

" Not yet" said Corey.... four hours passed and still no news...... Aj flopped down in a chair , " Dude this is nerve racking!" Howie knocked him up side the head. "No Shit Sherlock!"

"Dig deeper, Watson" Aj retorted while rubbing the side of his head.

"GUYS!" Kevin scolded. Just then a doctor came into the waiting area. and announced,

"Who here is waiting for news on a.. Nick Carter?"

"We are" said Kevin. the doctor walked over to them, "Well, I have bad news and I have bad news, which would you like to hear first?" the doctor tried to joke.

" Is he gonna be all right?" asked Adrienne.

"well, he was hit pretty hard, the driver of the car was speeding. he crushed his lower spinal cord and is in a coma. if he does wake up he will be paralayzed from the waist down. He also suffered a major concusion and the likelihood that he will come out of his coma is about 10%. i am really sorry. if you want to see him he is in room 674 c in ICU. again I am really sorry" the doctor left everyone in a stunned silence. Brian couldn't believe it all he could do was mumble, " Oh My God" over and over. Adrienne started to cry., " This isn't FAIR! He is too young!!" the others couldn't even show an emtion. they were over come with sadness. Adrienne got up and went into the ICU unit. she found Nicks room. the room was dim but she could see Nick perfectly. He seemed so helpless. he was hooked up to so many machines. she sat down beside him and started to sing to him softly her favourite Backstreet Boys song:

I guess you were lost when I met you
still there were tears in your eyes
so out of trust and i knew
no more than mystries or lies
and there you were wild and free
reaching out like you needed me
a helping hand to make it right
i am holding you all through the night

i'll be the one
who will make all your sorrows undone
i'll be the light
when you feel like theres no where to run
i'll be the one

to hold you
and make sure u'll be alright cuz my faith is gone
and i want to
take you from
darkness to light

and there you are wild and free
reaching out like you needed me
a helping hand to make it right
i am holding you all through the night

I'll be the one
who will make all your sorrows undone
i'll be the light
when you feel like theres nowhere to run
i'll be the one

to hold you
and make sure that you'll be alright

you need me like I need you
we can share our dreams coming true
I can show you what true love means
just take my hand baby please..

I'l be the one
I'll be the light
where you can run to make it alright
i"ll be the one
I'll be the light
where you can run

I'll be the one
who will make all your sorrows undone
I'll be the light
When you feel like theres nowhere to run
I'll be the one

I'll be the one
I'll be the light
Where you can run to make it alright
I'll be the one
I'll be the light
where you can run to make it alright

I'll be the one
to hold you and make sure that you'll be alright
I'll be the one

as her voice faded on the last note she noticed that everyone was in the room.

"he can't leave me" Adrienne cried. " He can't" just then Nick opened his eyes. " Adrienne...."

"Nick! you're awake! thank god"

" I heard you. you sang to me." Adrienne nodded her head. unable to speak. she was so happy. he was awake.

" Nick" Kevin began " you had us real worried. they said you had no chance of living."

"Are you serious? except for my head hurting like hell, I feel fine. although my legs feel funny. Like I can't stretch them out. they're bent, I can feel it. will you straighten them out?" Kevin looked at Nicks legs. they were as straight as a rod.

"Uh, Nick.." Kevin began.

" Wait would you PLEASE straighten them out, they are starting to hurt"

"Nick, your legs ARE straight"

"What? that can't be." he sat up. they were straight. he tried to move his legs they wouldn't move. A chill ran down his spine.

"Why-Why can't I-I move my legs?"

" Nick.." just then a doctor walked in.

"WOW! your awake! this is extremly good."

"WHY CAN"T I MOVE MY LEGS?"

"Uh... Nick.. your doctor will be in here soon. I am not authorized to give out that kind of information." Aj and Howie left, they couldn't stand the awful look on Nick's face. a few minutes later the doctor walked in.

" Well, Nick how are you feeling? we may have to run a few tests, okay?"

"AGAIN, WHY CAN'T I MOVE MY LEGS????"

" okay this is what happened, do you remember anything?"

" I remember finding out Brian had cheated with my girlfriend and and we were fighting. thats all I remember." he shot a glare at Brian and Corey. Brian cringed. Corey looked at the ground.

" Well, yes, you got pushed out into the street and were hit by a speeding car. let me mind you you were bashed up pretty bad.."

"So why can't i move my legs?"

"I was getting there. You suffered a concusion and few broken bones and your lower spineal cord was crushed. you are paralyzed from the waist down."

"What exactly are y-you saying? that I'll never be able to walk again?"

"Basicly, yeah." Nick felt so sick he leaned over the side of his bed and threw up. the guys left. Adrienne asked if he wanted her to stay, he just shook his head. the next few days sucked. Brian felt like shit. Nick didn't know how this was tearing him apart. I think he didn't realize it until one day when Brian was visiting him in the hospital.

"Hey. Nick. I brought up N64. I got Mario Kart"

"Brian go away"

"C'mon Nick, it's gotta be boring up here. don't you wanna play N64?"

"Go away."

"C'mon, theres nothing to do here"

"I WOULDN"T BE HERE IT IT WASN'T FOR YOU!!!!!!" Nick yelled. Brian recoiled as if Nick had hit him. His face paled and his eyes started to water. Nick felt terribble. he didn't mean what he had said.

" brian! i am So sorry. I didn't mean that.. I"

"No Nick, you're right. you wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me. It's all my fault" Brian left and ran down the hall. He nearly ran into Kevin, Kevin stopped him and looked at his face.

"Brian! what happened"

"Nothing" Brian kept on going.

" What the.??" Kevin walked into Nicks room.

" Nick. Do you know what happened to Brian? he looked awful out in the hall."

"Yeah. I-I kinda said something too him."

" What?"

" I lost my temper, cuz he was bugging me about how boring it is here and why didn't I want to play N64, so I uh..edifiwsntfuroiwoldantbehhair"

"What? I couldn't understand you"

" I said if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here." Nick couldn't look Kevin in the eyes.

"Nick please tell me you didn't"

"I didn't mean it! I tried to apologize but he ran out"

"NICK!! do you know how guilty he feels?!?! He thinks it is his fault that you are like this! "

"WELL! in a way it is his fault. He cheated with my GIRLFRIEND! my BEST friend! and he LIED to another girl. Kevin you know it and I know it. so don't be telling me he is all innocent when he's NOT! I SAID I WAS SORRY TO HIM!! I DID NOT MEAN WHAT I SAID! I CAN'T HELP THE WAY I FEEL OKAY?"

" fine. I just hope you know that he feels awful about it. that he does care about you. you don't deserve a friend like him." Kevin left. Nicks mind was racing. He cheats with my girlfriend, lies to another girl and gets me in an accident that leaves me paralayzed and I'M the bad person? I don't deserve to be Brians friend? that is a bunch of bull.

After a few days Nick was allowed to leave the hospital. he and Adrienne decided to live together in Detroit. It was hard at first. He would be sleeping and would get up to go to the bathroom, forgetting about his legs he would fall out of bed and need Adrienne to help him. Adrienne was great. Always helping. Never complaining. A lot of the time Nick would feel so sorry for himself he wondered what was the point of living. He dropped out of the Backstreet boys and rarley ever sang. Whats the point? he thought. Who wants to see some cripple in a wheelchair sing? What Kevin said really affected him. it really wasn't Brians fault, he saw that now, he just needed some one to blame. The BSB were really suffering with out Nick adn Brian wasn't the same either, He hardly ever joked anymore. in general it all just sucked.

one day, nick was feeling sorry for himself as usual when Adrienne handed him a letter. It was from a fan. he read it:

dear nick,

i have been a fan for a long time. i am also in a wheel chair like you, please don't just give up. it may not be easy, I know that from personal expeirence. So many people love you and admire you, including me. More though, now that you have to deal with the same things i do. please re-join the BSB it would mean so much to all your fans, especially me. DON'T GIVE UP! it'll get easier I promise.

Love, Alli

Right then Nick realized that it wasn't the end of the world. He could go on. In fact he wanted to re-join the BSb as soon as possible. but first he had to say something to Brian.

he dialed Brian's cell phone number.

"Hello?"

"B-Brian?"

"yeah, this is him. who is this?"

"Nick"

"NICK?!?"

"Yeah"

"I thought you'd never wanna talk to me again. after all it is my fault you're paralayzed"

"Brian, it ISN'T your fault. It isn't anyones fault. I don't care what happened in the past anymore. It's happeded. Done. Over with. i just hope you can forgive me for making you feel so bad." there was a silence. Nick hoped brian hadn't hung up.

"Brian?"

"I'm here"

"Well..."

"i forgive you, I am really sorry for what I did. i don't know what I was thinking"

"thats okay, Friends?"

"friends"

" hey Brian"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think I could come back to the BSB?"

"Yeah! it hasn't been the same without Frick N Frack. the guys will be thrilled! Can i tell them?"

"yeah. i wanna come back as soon as possible. i gotta go."

"hey Nick, before you go can I ask you something?"

"Sure"

"What made you change your mind?"

" A letter. from a fan. maybe I'll let you read it sometime"

"Cool. Bye Nick"

"Bye Brian"

In just one week Nick had rejoined the BSB. The concert he returned in sold out in an amazing 10 minutes. Brian, AJ , Kevin and Howie walked out on the stage.

"Well" Kevin began " this is gonna be a great concert, because Nick, is gonna join us for the first time in a long time."

"So are you ready?" asked Brian. the crowd screamed. just then a figure in a wheelchair came on the stage. Nick looked at the fans. every one was so happy he was back. he could see signs, with " WE MISSED YOU!" and "WELCOME BACK" but what made him the happiest of all was a girl sitting in the front row, in a wheel chair. This was the begining of his new life.