I wasn't so far from the truth.

We left with the bodyguards, each one of them taking a flank, and I couldn't help but think of a Navy maneuver. The mall wasn't closed and I wasn't sure if either they didn't use to close mall for them, or they just didn't want to today.

It didn't take more than ten minutes for the guys to be recognized and how wouldn't they if they were making such a big deal out of going to then mall alone. I shrugged inwardly and rolled my eyes when I heard the first scream. One thing led to the other, and in a matter of minutes, the bodyguards started pushing the girls back.

Nick laughed, signing as many autographs as he could, while Brian tried his best to get a girl to let go of his jacket. Kevin was talking with a little girl, Howie hugging another one and Alex was getting his picture taken with twins.

All the while, the four girls were thrilled of being part of the caravan. I just shook my head, taking a couple of steps away from them and looking at the display of CDs.

An arm slid along my waist and I placed my own over her shoulders.

"I hate it when you look gloom."

I chuckled. "I'm fine."

"You hate this."

"This what?"

"This..." she waved her hand in a general way, and my eyes moved over to where the guys and the bunch of girls around them were making everyone stare at them. "That. You hate that, don't you?"

I shrugged my shoulders and turned around, my eyes roaming Michael's CDs, and then Jewel's, nothing really catching my attention.

"Don't pretend I'm losing my grip with reality--"

"You've already done that, you know?"

She gave me a pointed look, and then kept on with her lecture, "-- coz I'm not. You don't like it." She sighed. "You've never liked being the center of attention," I rolled my eyes and she glared at me, "despite what your parents say. You hate when people look at you for longer than two seconds."

"Would you let it go already? The guys could hear you."

She snorted. "Please, like they'd notice an elephant walking by with that crowd around them."

We didn't say anything for a little while, the noise still there. I felt like... it was raining on the guys' parade and it was my entire fault. I felt horrible and I had no clue why in the world I thought it was my entire fault.

"You have to get through that, you know?"

"I don't get why."

"Because your boyfriend," she whispered into my ear as she leaned against my side, "it's a big part of that."

"He is. Not me."

"All right, so maybe you're not a part of that, yet, but you will be. Soon."

"I'm just along for the ride, and I'm on the sidewalk, if you haven't noticed. They are asking him for an autograph, not me."

"But you're part of him."

"That's where you're wrong, you know? I may be his..." I tried to find the word while she kept glaring at me, "his partner, but I'm not part of him. We're a couple but individuals at the same time."

"Oh please, cut the crap, will ya? Stop with your existentialist's doubts and everything Descartes said, all right? I don't care." She poked me on the side and I yelped. She chuckled at the sound. "You're part of him and, if you really want this to work, then you better get that through you thick skull my friend."

I sighed softly and my eyes traveled to the CDs once again, even though I wasn't really seeing them. I knew she was right, but, somehow, I wondered if I'd be able to.

*****

When I plopped myself onto the bed, I could feel my neck burning with anger, the back of my eyes were hurting like the devil, and a bitch of a headache was starting to become a migraine.

The whole trip to the mall, and the consequent lunch, had sucked. I would have enjoyed myself a whole lot if I had broken my arm all over again.

And speaking of the devil, the middle of my forearm began itching.

"Oh, crap."

I stood up and walked over to my backpack that was laid against one chair to the side of the room and started rummaging through it, trying to find the ruler that would ease my annoyance. I got out my camera, ten boxes of CDs, a bunch of zip disks, and I couldn't find it for the live of me.

"God damnit, where the hell are you?"

I got my laptop out, placing it on the floor just as I heard the shower running. Kate had gotten so sweaty she said she resembled a pig she once saw on the discovery channel, deciding to take another shower.

I kept on rummaging and it didn't seem to be there. I would have been sure I had misplaced it if it wasn't for the fact that I knew I had put it in there just this morning before leaving.

"Fuck!"

My ears burned and my head was throbbing like they were making a small penthouse inside. I bit down my lower lip and wondered if I bit harder, would it draw blood. Finding nothing of the sort inside the damn thing, I picked it up and throw it towards the other side of the room, hitting the wall with a thud and falling besides the nightstand, bringing down the lamp on the way.

"Fuck."

"What's wrong?"

I closed down my eyes, hiding my face in my hands as I sat on the floor. Great. Just what I needed. There's nothing more dignifying than having a temper tantrum on the floor in the middle of your room for your boyfriend to find you. Great.

"Nothing."

He snorted and I heard him walking over to me. "Don't think so."

I could hear concern in his voice and I realized his drawl became thicker the more worried he was.

"Forget it."

"What's wrong?" He walked over me, giving my fallen backpack and the lamp a sideways look. He sat by my side on the floor, placed his fingers under my chin and made me turn around to look at him. I wanted to look away, but thought that would only indicate that something was indeed wrong.

"Nothing, alright? Forget it."

I just wanted him to let it go, go and do whatever it was he had to do, and leave me alone for the time being. I wasn't in the mood to be patronized -- especially by him.

"You don't usually throw your backpack around when everything it's fine, do you?"

I sighed in frustration. Sure, he had to be that observant. "It's..." I wanted to say it was stupid, which I knew it was, but was sure that would only sound childish and I didn't want to feel my age at the time.

"What were you looking for?"

I hated the voice he used with me. That I'm older and wiser and know better than you, so let me what the hell is wrong so I can make it right voice. I hated it. It sounded like... it sounded like parenting, and not at all like my partner should sound.

He gave me a lopsided smile, then leaned over and kissed me softly.

Now that I could relate to. No matter how mad I was at him, even if he didn't know it, or how mad I was myself for being mad at him for a stupid thing like the girls and the fans getting on my nerves, I still missed his kisses.

"I love you, you know that, right?"

I nodded, chuckling as I did so. "Yeah, I know."

He grinned fully, his nose wrinkling and I couldn't help but grin back. When he was like this, all cozy and mushy, I couldn't pull back, I couldn't pretend I didn't feel just like him, the way his eyes shone for me, filled with love. So I didn't. This time, I kissed him.

His hands moved to my neck and mine to his waist. I let all my anger and frustration out on the kiss and for a moment there I wondered exactly what I had been mad about.

When we pulled back, glee was back in my eyes and I knew he saw it, because he chuckled, his hand brushing my hair in the softest of caress and I leaned against his palm.

"I missed you," he whispered lowly, his breath hot against my lips as he gave me another kiss. "I missed not being able to kiss you during breakfast."

I chuckled and felt at a loss of words. I wasn't sure if I had missed him, or missed the liberty to do what I pleased. I didn't know if I had missed the caresses or the possibility of them. And the difference was what surprised me.

I silenced my questions and what would be his own with another kiss and told myself I'd have to look into it. Hindsight would be needed.

"Now, will you tell me what happened?"

I sighed as I remembered my frustration only a second ago. "It's nothing," I repeated, even thought knowing that wouldn't cut it.

He chuckled, brushing a lock of hair that was falling onto my eyes behind my ear. "Still, I'd like to know."

I shrugged nonchalantly, or at least in what I hoped was nonchalance, and told him. "I couldn't find my ruler."

At his puzzled face, which was cute as hell, I laughed softly and gave me a soft kiss on the corner of his lips. He seemed to like it when I did that. "My arm," I articulated, "it itches, and I usually scratch it with a ruler. And I couldn't find it."

"Oh," he said, recognition falling into place. He stood up, gave me a soft smile, then walked over to the fallen backpack and started looking through it.

"You won't find it," I called out, standing up leaning on my good hand. It had taken me a good eight days to get used not to stand up with my left hand. And it hurt like the devil in the meantime. "It's not there."

However, Kevin didn't listen to my words, only kept looking. Barely a minute later, he produced a small transparent ruler from one of the pockets, showed it to me and I sighed with annoyance. Great. Another great way to make a good impression on the man: not find something that's easily found. Great. Just... peachy.

He chuckled at my nuisance, and then walked over me once again. "Do you mind?"

I shook my head, not sure what he meant. He took my left arm in his, introduced the ruler under the cast and proceeded to scratch my forearm. I melted at the feeling, relieved at least that went right.

"You seem to enjoy more the ruler than my touch," he said teasingly.

I blushed at the connotation. I might be naive, but not that naive. He chuckled, leaned over and kissed me.

"I love it when I make you blush," he whispered into my ear, which only helped to darken the red tinge on my cheeks.

Pulling apart, I looked at him with a critical eye. "How did you got away?"

"Away?"

"From those sharks that are called girls," I said with something that resembled a snarl.

Kevin shook his head in glee. "Don't say that."

I shrugged, frowning slightly. "Three of them aren't half bad. But that other one... what's her name? Sandra? She's..." I tried to find the appropriate words that wouldn't seem too crude. "A lit bit too pushy, isn't she?"

"Not more than the normal fan, actually."

That only deepened my frown. What was that suppose to mean? I shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Still, I was sure you'd be doing... something."

"Not really. I think one of them is talking with Amanda. I just left and came here." His hand moved to my cheek, caressing it softly, lovingly, and I realized I had missed the touch, not liberty. "I missed you."

My face softened and I melted by his words.

"I missed you too." And when the words left my mouth, I knew they were true. I told myself I wouldn't say them unless I meant them. It was the least I owed him.

"No lovey-dovey in my room guys," Kate said as she walked into the bedroom, condensed water emanating from the bathroom. She tightened the towel around her body while she rubbed another one around her hair. "I have a propensity to diabetes, so be careful."

I rolled my eyes at her words. "Drama queen."

"Queen."

Kevin chuckled at our banner and for a moment there I wondered if he thought about us as childish. I'd rather eat broccoli than ask him myself, but the question didn't quiet in my mind. Maybe he did. And it wasn't like we didn't give him enough reasons to do so.

My mood got gloomier from that point on.

"Would you be so kind as to step out?" Kate asked with one hand on her hip, the other on her hair, however she didn't pull off the strong woman act because she was standing there only with a towel around her body.

I rolled my eyes. "Why should I? I've seen you naked."

"Yeah, well, you. But you," she said pointing at Kevin, "haven't and even though none of this," she waved her hand around her body, "doesn't do a thing for you, I'd like to keep my privates... you know... private."

I shrugged nonchalantly and stood up, Kevin followed me and we walked into the living area. Out of habit, I turned on the TV, sitting on the couch.

He sat by my side and pulled me to his chest. I didn't complain, but I wasn't that comfortable either, the position rather awkward and I could tell my back would start hurting in a while.

"I'm sorry about earlier," Kevin said softly, running his fingers through my hair.

"What do you mean?" I was always good at pulling innocent.

"About..." He seemed to struggle to find the words. "About not finishing our talk. I didn't want to leave things like that." He paused and placed a small kiss on my head. "I didn't mean to lie to you. I really didn't. I was looking for a good time to tell you. I was sure you'd freak out, you know? Get all jealous or something."

I let out the air softly through my barely parted lips. "I don't believe in jealousy. I thought you knew that."

For a moment there I wondered if we had ever talked about it. I sat straight and turned around to look at him. I shrugged at the occurrence. "I really don't mind. I mean, it's not like I don't understand those girls. I know what being a fan is and, let me tell you, there's nothing better than to meet your favorite singer."

I gave him a small smile and Kevin chuckled softly. "Really," I repeated. "I don't believe in petty jealousy."

He frowned for a moment. "What do you mean?"

I tried to find the exact words to describe what I thought. "It's just that, for me, jealousy it's more ought to insecurity than anything. For example, if I get jealous of a girl, or a boy for that matter, that means I believe you can cheat on me. I assume that, at the first opportunity, you will."

I turned to the side and heard a knuckle popping up in my back. I turned to the other until I heard the same sound.

"That's it." I kept saying as I made a half circle, turning to my right. "I trust you. I have no reasons not to trust you. So I don't mind you being with girls. I don't get jealous."

Kevin gave me a lopsided smile, shaking his head. "You're different."

I shrugged with pride. "Yep. Different, but great different."

"Amazing different," he whispered against my mouth as he leaned to give me a soft kiss. I responded to the kiss, parting my lips slowly as he took ownership over my mouth. I licked his lower lip, barely the tip of my tongue touching flesh, and I felt him shiver under my touch.

"You drive me crazy, you know that?" He whispered huskily against my ear, his breath making me shiver unconsciously.

"I like that," I responded, grinning evilly.

"No love-dovey on the couch either," a voice said from the other side of the room and I just chuckled. "At least not when I'll sit on that couch."

"Then where are we supposed to kiss?"

"In your room," Kate said with a loftily voice, like it was the most natural thing.

"This is my room!" I said outraged.

Kate shrugged. "And that's not my fault. Besides, you could use Kevin's."

"Have a chocolate, will ya? That'll shut you up."

"I guess that's friendly love for you guys." Kevin rolled his eyes at our usual banter and I shrugged.

He checked his watch, cursing under his breath. "Shit, I gotta leave. I told CJ I'd be there when she called Steven."

I didn't understand what he said, so I leaned over and gave him a soft kiss. "Sure. Don't worry."

"We can always get a minute or two before the concert," Kevin added with an apologetic smile.

"It's all right. The girls will be there..."

"Not really. They have access backstage, but not into the dressing rooms."

"They don't?" I could have sworn I heard CJ said they did.

"No. That'd be... too private. We walk around in our underwear there."

"We've seen you in your underwear," Kate added with her arms opened, outrage obvious in her voice.

Kevin rolled his eyes again, his nose wrinkling and I thought he looked cute. "That's both of you; neither of you would place our pictures on the Internet."

"Hmm... well..." Kate said, kicking the floor slightly, looking down as in embarrassment. "We didn't know we shouldn't."

"Yeah, like I'm buying that." Kevin stood up, leaned over and captured my lips on a kiss, melting me to the core.

"Love you," he whispered into my ear.

"Love you too."

He walked over to the door, turned around and blew me a kiss. I blushed at the endearment, even though it still looked cute as hell.

"See ya in a while guys." With that, he closed the door after him.

"Do you like this?"

I turned around at her question, eyeing her wardrobe critically. She was wearing tight blue shorts, stripped sandals and a waist tank top that seemed to have been sew on her skin. I could see the outline of her bra and every curve her body held. I nodded. "You look great," I said with a tilt of my head. "You look like... you want to give some old man a heart attack."

"I'd try that on Kevin if I knew he'd go for either of these attributes," Kate said as she walked over me. Her sandals were nearly flat, barely two inches high, because, well, she had never really handled high heels well.

I looked at her with a critical eye, knowing she was hiding something. Well, not hiding per say, but there was something underlying there. It only took me a second to figure it out. "You wanna prove you've got a good body too, don't you?"

Kate shifted on her seat, pretending to be looking for the control but I saw through that.

I halted her hands in mid hair, covering them with my own. "What's wrong?"

Kate shook her head, her soft hair falling onto her eyes and I brushed a lock behind her ear. "Sweetie?"

"She's a whore."

I chuckled and she glared at me ought to my response. "Kate," I said slowly, meaning for her to get every word I was about to say, "she just a teenager."

I knew exactly what she was talking about and maybe given another situation, I would have teased her about having a crush on Nick, but we had already talked about this long and hard and, as far as she told me and as far as I could feel, she really only liked Nick as a friend. Even though sometimes they behaved like there was some water under the bridge.

"So are we and you don't see us throwing ourselves onto the guys, do you?"

"We have class," I told her with a soft smile. "That's something she lacks of."

"I think Nick likes her."

I rolled my eyes. "You really are a dork if you think Nick feels anything for that girl. She's..." I tried to find a word that wouldn't be crude, but seemed to fail to do so. "She's beneath him, and I know that sounds horrible--"

"I think it fits."

I gave her a sarcastic smile even as the words left her mouth. "But," I continued, "I'm just sure he knows she only likes him because he's Nick Carter, boyband singer. You've heard him say, more times than I can count, that it's always difficult for the guys to make friends who don't see them as a job opportunity."

"Or a social status."

I nodded at her words. "Do you actually think he won't see she's just the same? They've been through this for years. I'm sure they've got tons of practice so far. We've only been here for... what? Three weeks? If we can see that, then I'm sure they can smell it miles away."

She seemed to ponder it, weighting my words carefully. "Maybe..."

I shook my head as I stood up, walking over to the fridge. I opened the door and got two cans of coke. Actually, I held one can in my hand, and the other one against my chest with my forearm. My fingers, even now, were still either sore or fragile. Whatever it was, it hurt when I tried to hold onto something that wasn't paper and for more than five seconds. I didn't want to think what it'd be like when I got the cast off and tried to swim.

She opened the can I handed her carefully, and I knew she was more worried about ruining her clothes than anything else.

I checked my watch. It was almost three. "We gotta go in a little while."

Kate nodded, stretching her arms and leaning against my side. "I don't wanna."

"You're dressed to kill and don't wanna show off? Who are you and what did you do with my friend?"

I felt her rolling her eyes, I knew her so good. "I'm just... bored. I'd rather laze out here and watch TV."

"Me too but we've got an image to uphold."

She snorted. "What image?"

I thought about it for a second, pondering if we ever had an image. Back at school... no... Then at college... well, hmm... no. Nothing. I shrugged. "Dunno. Stars' friends?"

She chuckled, and then stood up in one quick movement. "Lets go then. Don't wanna make the boys wait."

I stood up, the vertebrae of my back complaining about the movement. I felt like I was forty when I had just turned eighteen. Damn. I walked with her, handing her the coke for a moment as I reached for my backpack. Mostly because my camera and laptop were there.

She opened the door and I followed, my right hand going to the doorknob, meaning to close it after us. I seemed to miscalculate the wide of the door and my position in the time/place table when I hit the frame of the door with my left shoulder -- hard. A jolt of pain ran from my shoulder to my fingers, and I could feel the pain to the bone. I bit back the groan of pain, and Kate turned around, big eyes staring at me worriedly.

"You all right?"

I nodded. "Idiot of me thought my shoulder could go through walls."

She rolled her eyes. "Be more careful. Your hand hasn't healed completely yet."

"I know."

"That reminds me," She said, touching my fingers with the tips of her own as both hands were busy with the cokes, "we gotta go to the doctor to get your cast off."

"Not for another week," I said with a painful smile.

"Yeah, I know, but I thought I'd remind you."

"You actually think I'm not counting the days?"

She chuckled, caressing my cheek. "You sure you're fine?"

I nodded. The pain had mostly gone away, even though my fingers still seemed to tremble slightly. "Yeah, don't worry."

With one last glance in my direction, Kate proceeded to open the door that led to Brian's room.

*****

I stretched out on the couch, letting out a long sigh through my barely parted lips. Gosh, it felt so good just to be able to relax -- not that I've had much to be worried about for the last couple of weeks. But then again, those girls coming onto the tour were something to think about, if not at least to keep in mind.

CJ was great, I had to accept that. She was the best on her job and, as far as I was concern, should get a huge raise from the boys. She had put some boundaries into the girls' All Access Passes. They couldn't get into the dressing room in the venues, and that enough for me to grin over.

I turned around, my arm bending under my cheek, my left leg stretched over my right one as my right cheek touched the soft sofa. The guys were, as usual by now at this point, getting their wardrobe out, checking this and that, putting stuff on while I watched them with a sly smile.

Kate plopped down by my side, sitting on the hard floor and resting her head on the edge of the couch, her hair touching my stomach. "Enjoying the view?"

I just grinned evilly. My eyes moved from her twinkling brown ones over to the five boys in nothing but their underwear. They were certainly a sight to see.

Just then, Kevin turned around and gave a dazzling smile completed with a blown kiss. I grinned even more.

It was good to be able to hang out with the guys without having to pay attention to every look I gave Kevin.

"Yo, guys, you want something?"

Kate and I both looked up to see Amanda by the food court, looking at us expectantly.

"A sandwich, please," Kate said, leaning heavily against my stomach and I accommodated for her head not to be on air and for my back not to hurt for the next fifteen minutes.

"A coke. And some M&Ms, please."

She nodded, getting a hold of what we've asked for and something else for her, and walked over to us.

"You cool?"

I nodded, thanking her for the coke. "Tired, I think. Even though I'm still wondering what exactly I'm tired off, if I'm on vacation and all."

"You could be tired from resting."

I tilted my head with a puzzled look on my face. "Tired of resting? What's that?"

She chuckled. "Haven't you ever over slept, like until midday or two pm and woken up feeling even more tired that when you went to bed?"

Kate shrugged. "Yeah, a couple of times."

"I don't usually sleep until that late."

"That's the point. When your body sleeps too much, it kinda loses energy." She shrugged. "You should know this shit."

I nodded, pondering about that... theory for a moment before deciding I'd investigate on it as soon as I got back to the room. I needed time, internet connection and lost of coke. "I'll look into it."

She tilted her head to the side. "What are you taking next year?"

"Tons of stuff. Tons and tons, really. Psychosocial aspects of medicine II, health issues in medicine, doctoring 201 and 202, systemic medical microbiology and infectious disease, systemic medical pharmacology, general medical pharmacology and a couple more things."

She whistled. "Wow. That sounds like... too fucking much."

I shrugged with a small smile on my lips. "I'll probably die before the end of the year, but I'm looking forward to it."

"Do you even have time to eat, or sleep?" She paused for a minute. "Or even get a blow job?"

I blushed fiercely, coughing ought to the coke that went the wrong pipe, but Kate and Amanda only laughed at my expenses.

"Looks like I won't get to see you next year." Amanda shook her head, her eyes giving something away, something that I couldn't recognize nor foresee. "Then we'd have to make this summer memorable, right?"

"I think I should fear those words," I said cautiously.

She just shrugged, but it was obvious she had something under her sleeve.

Kevin finished dressing and walked over me, capturing my attention the second kneeled in front of me, and captured my lips in his.

"Yiaks," I heard Kate groaned, and I just chuckled against Kevin's lips. "I'm outta here."

I heard her standing up, and then another sound followed and I was sure it had to be Amanda leaving us alone for the time being.

"Love you," he whispered against my lips.

I grinned. "I love you too."

He caressed my cheek tenderly and I leaned against his touch, I couldn't help it. His hand was warm, unlike mine that seemed to stay cold no matter my body heat. He nuzzled my neck in a tender way I had never see him show; he kissed the base of neck, my collarbone, exactly where my neck melted into my thorax.

"I love you," he whispered again, his drawl thick, and it made my legs tremble as he whispered into my ear.

The moment was broke when something hit the floor and we both turned around to see Nick grimacing, staring guiltily at a bottle of better splatter by the side of the food table. He grimaced. "Sorry."

Kevin shook his head. "I'll tell Luke to get someone to clean it up."

He turned around, tilting his head as he kissed me again. "You'll see the show tonight, right?"

I nodded at his question. Kate and I figured it'd probably look best if we watched the shows, at least for the two days the girls would be staying. It would make us look like we were completely into the guys -- not that we weren't, but there were times when you just didn't feel like sitting through two hours of the guys singing. We had already seen around seven or ten shows, and there comes a point when one it's so very similar to the next, you feel like you've seen them all. Well, we were already past that point. Way passed. Heading for Finland in car past that.

"Sure," I said softly. No need for him to know everything I think, but I was sure Kevin would understand. After all, the guys themselves sometimes didn't know which city they were in. That was mostly the reason why there always a piece of paper scotched on the quick dressing room, the name of the city written onto it.

It was a very wise move. The guys couldn't stop themselves from commenting about the city, and they would look rather foolish if people figured out they couldn't keep track of their destination.

He kissed me one last time before standing up and turning to look at the guys. "We better head for makeup."

Nodding, they all left minutes afterwards. Kate patted my legs, forcing me to swing them to the floor, sitting down as she joined me on the couch. Amanda giggled as she sat on my lap, throwing her arms around my neck.

"And how are you Matty dear?"

I frowned at her. I could smell the liquor. "How many beers do you go?"

"Don't be a party pooper." When I kept looking at her, she shook her head with a chuckle. "I can hold my liquor pretty fine, you'll see that in a couple of days. And I've barely had two, so I'm fine."

"I know that, you just smell." When in the world had she drank two beers and how come I hadn't noticed?

She nodded. "I'll pop a couple of tic tacs before we leave for the show. Don't need those girls smelling my breath and writing on their pages that I'm a drunk." She rolled her eyes. "They can be real bitches sometimes."

Kate frowned, looking at Amanda. "They seem nice."

She snorted. "For now. Wait until they've written trash about you and then you'll start hating their guts. I've been through this a million times girls." I rolled my eyes. "You don't wanna become too attach to them, it'll make you loosen up, think they are your friends. Don't tell them anything you don't wanna see plastered all over Internet. Listen to me, don't talk with them about anything beyond stupid chitchat. Talk about clothes, videos, music, any shit like that." She straightened up, her tone changing to seriousness in a second and I knew she really meant those words.

"Tell them the boys are great, that you've never had so much fun with them. The tour is amazing and you're having a blast. If they say they wanna see the bus, or the dressing room, just chuckle and tell them you'll have to run it pass either the guys or CJ, that'll shut them up. If you wanna leave, coz," she laughed, "there are times I just wanna slap them so they'll leave me fuck alone, tell them you've gotta call home, you know, check up coz you're still young and you gotta talk with your parents often. Don't tell them names of your friends, or where you study. I don't think they'll began stalking you coz, well, you're just the guys' friends, no offense Matt."

"None taken," I said, because, really, I was very comfortable with my public status. By her bitter tone, I could only imagine how hard it was for her to try to keep her private life private being Alex's girlfriend. It was like the Scarlet better, but worse. Ten times worse, probably.

"But you'll see, if they think, specially you Kate, that you're with either Nick or any of the guys, it'll get awful." She frowned, doing some math on her mind. "I don't think they'll pin you to any of them. I mean, you already look so together without even having to say the words. Let them assume. If they ask if you're a couple, Kate, giggle; Matt, you can just place your arm around her shoulders or intertwine your hand with hers. Say it without having to say it. It's the best way to lie without actually lying."

I nodded. "Sure." I looked at Kate and she nodded as well. "We kinda figured that out a while ago. I think everyone thinks we're together by now."

"Great. Less room for gossip about you banging either of the guys."

Kate opened her eyes wide and Amanda laughed.

"Sorry," Amanda took my coke from my hands, taking a long gulp, "I can be really crude sometimes."

Kate laughed nervously, and I could tell she was rather shocked by her words. I hadn't thought they'd think that. Sure, I figured someone was bound to think Kate and Nick were dating, or already in a relationship, but sleeping with him? Or one of the guys?

I shook my head inwardly. Idiot me. Of course they'd think that. It wasn't like I didn't read the magazines from time to time. What sold the most was a naughty relationship. And what best gossip out there than one of the boys sleeping with an eighteen-year-old college student.

Great. Just... perfect.

"It's okay," Kate said, still shaken by Amanda's words, and my hand moved to her shoulder, rubbing it slightly. She gave me a small smile.

"See? That's great."

I frowned, turning to look at Amanda. "What you mean?"

"That, that touching her arm thing. It looks so... natural. Anyone would see you two are together."

Kate snorted, standing up and walking to the food table, probably wanting something sweet. She liked sweet when she got nervous.

"Another coke," I called out. Amanda was almost done with mine.

She handled it to me and I opened it, taking a long swing.

Amanda checked her watch, wobbling slightly when she let go of her hold on me. I placed my cast against her back, trying to steady her while my right hand wobbled slightly, the coke on the verge of spilling. For a moment there I wondered what in the world I would have done if Amanda would have fell, because there was no way in hell my cast, my fingers or my arm itself could have supported Amanda.

She giggled. "I think it's time for us to leave already. The girls should be arriving any moment now."

I checked my watch as I stood up and realized Amanda was right. The girls hadn't come with us, being given the time to shower and change for the big concert. Then, as far as Kevin had told me, they were touring backstage along with those who had gotten a hold on the backstage passes.

"They'll be done in a minute and will probably be looking for us. Shit. I hate this," Amanda shook her head, walking over to her purse that was lying by Alex's gym bag.

She got out some lipstick and some blush, putting it on. When she looked at both Kate and us staring at her through the reflection of the mirror, she smiled. "Gotta look good for the pictures, don't I? I'll look all pale otherwise." She turned around, handing Kate the lipstick. "You want it? A little of color won't do you any harm."

Kate shook her head, shrugging slightly. "No, thanks."

"There should be some stuff of yours in mine," I added, confident in Kate's tendency of placing her things everywhere at once. My bag was just one of her favorite spots.

As expected she found her lipstick and her pack of cigarettes. It didn't take more than five seconds for us to be ready to leave. I got my coke, my backpack, and placed her lipstick on my shorts' pocket.

"Next time," Kate said as she leaned against me, walking out the dressing room, Amanda before us, "I'll be ready. I'll get pretty before leaving the room."

I shrugged. "It's not like you have to."

She looked at me with wide eyes. "I don't wanna look pale on pictures."

"Sure, whatever."

I leaned again the far wall, watching the guys coming out of one of the room and towards us, just as the girls were arriving around the corner. Kevin gave me an apologetic smile as his eyes drifted from them to me. I smiled back. I was getting used to having public with us.

*****

I yawned as stood up from my position on the couch, head having rested Kevin's chest. We had had pizza for dinner, again, because the guys had voted out McDonalds'. I didn't even know McDonalds' was an option for dinner. I chuckled inwardly as I thought about it. Talking about healthy dinner.

I got another coke, drinking half in one gulp, and turned to look at the guys. Comfortable conversation had settled into the small kitchen area after eating like pigs the four pizzas we had ordered, resting barely two slices that Nick seemed to be ogling from time to time.

"Eat it, will ya?"

Nick looked up guiltily at me, shrugging nonchalantly and placed one over the other, biting down like it was a sandwich. I just shook my head.

I stretched slightly, my knuckles popping. The concert had been... eventful, to say the least. The guys had acknowledge the girls, saying that the winner's of the contest were with them at the moment, and the lights had gone over to them who had giggled and waved. I had scooted over to Kate, hiding from the highlights. The last thing I wanted was to end up in someone's picture. If that wasn't enough, the girls had been on the wide screen that stood above the stage. I had just rolled my eyes and Amanda had shaken her head when Sandra waved at the guys and blew them a kiss. I thought heard Kate muttered "bitch" under her breath, but I couldn't be sure.

I looked over at Kevin, who gave me a small smile even though his attention was still with Howie, the two of them talking about music and songs -- apparently a song Howie had in mind.

I stared at his clear green eyes and thought about relating the color to something I had seen before. It wasn't exactly leaf green or peach green, and then I realized I was seeing his eyes blurry. I blinked a couple of times, and it came to focus again, but barely for seconds before it blurred again.

Biting my lower lip, I kept the groan inside. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was just tiredness and not shortsightedness.

But before I could ponder on it anymore, the guys started standing up and going over to the bunks. Great, coz I was dead on my feet as well.