CHAPTER THIRTY ONE-“Everything Falls Apart”

 

The sun was barely out when we arrived at the Century Plaza Hotel and Tower.  John parked the bus in front of the back entrance to the building, letting us unload our stuff.  I grabbed my carryon bag, as well as Lina’s, and she took hold of one of our other bags, where we kept any extra accessories, such as hair dryers and our own make- up case.  I saw Brian and the guys up ahead of us.  They were picking up their keys from the front desk. 

 

“Hi,” I said as we reached the front desk.

 

“Hi” Brian said quickly with the warmth of his smile reaching my heart.

 

God, I thought to myself, I missed him so much.  I really wanted to kiss him right now, I would even settle for a hug, except I knew Leighanne must be close behind. She had been the last off the bus lagging behind as she dragged her over sized suitcase with her.  Brian and I just maintained eye contact as we both longed to be in each other’s arms.  But my eyes quickly shifted when I saw Nick come up behind him. 

 

“You know what, you two make me sick.  You look like two puppies in love!”  He said.

 

I smiled, and though it may have looked as if I were blushing, I was just happy to know that Nick knew how we felt. 

 

Nick came around to me, and put his head on my shoulder.  “I like you.”  He said candidly.  “I like you, a lot.”

 

I laughed.  “Thanks.” I said.  “I like you too.”

 

He smiled, then walked off to the side, just as Lina called out my name.

 

“Isabelle!”  She said as she was trying to figure out something with the lady at the front desk.  Her face was distorted with confusion.

 

“What’s wrong?” I asked her.

 

“Well she says that there are two rooms here, both with your name on it.”

 

“Huh?  It’s probably a mistake.”  I told them.  “I never requested my own room.”

 

“Well you got one.”  She said looking at me, matter of factly.  “Miss Isabelle Wakeford, right?”

 

“Yeah, that’s me.”

 

“Well it says here you are in both room 202 and 217.”  She said pointing to the monitor of her computer showing me exactly where it said my name twice.

 

“But that’s impossible.” Brian said standing behind me.

 

Lina laughed.  “Yeah, how can you be in two rooms at once.”  She asked derisively.

 

The receptionist turned back to me and asked pleasantly.  “So will you be taking the room?”

 

“What room is Angelina Mayfield in?”  I asked her.

 

“202” she reported.

 

“Ok, well then I’ll just…”

 

“She’ll take them both.”  Brian said a little too quickly.

 

The receptionist looked at me for approval, and I nodded, not knowing exactly why I was taking the extra room, but since when was I the first to know anything lately.

 

“Look at who reserved the room.”  Brian said pointing at the monitor as the receptionist turned around to look for our keys.  “A Mr. Captain Commander.”

 

We each took the keys for our rooms from the receptionist, and walked up to Nick.  But before we could say anything, he had a grin on his face.

 

“What?”  I suspected quickly lifting the keys to his view.  “Another practical joke?”

 

“Who?”  He said gesturing to himself, a hurt look on his face.  “You know, not everything I do is for a laugh.

 

“Then why the extra room?”  Brian asked.

 

Nick rolled his eyes, as if the answer were as plain as day.  “Think about it, one room, all to yourself.  Not like you and Brian can just walk the halls holding hands.”  He said with a smile.  “This is just so you guys can…you know…have some privacy.”  He gave Brian a high five, and said.  “I’m always looking out for you, man.”

 

Lina and Brian smiled, and this time when I reddened and smiled, it was because I was blushing.

 

When we got to our floor, we stopped at Lina’s room first.  It was the usual dual beds, a small kitchen, and a bathroom.

 

“Are you gonna leave your stuff here?”  She asked setting her stuff down on one of the beds.

 

I looked around as I thought.  “Naw, I might as well just take it to my room.”

 

“Ok.  Well, wanna meet up for lunch before the stylist comes?”

 

“Well actually I was thinking of asking Brian if he wanted to somehow have lunch together.  I mean, even though I see him every day, I feel like I haven’t been with him for the longest.  But you know what I’ll go with you instead.”

 

“Since that publicist guy came over, right?” 

 

“Yeah.”  I told her.  “Is he still here?”

 

“He was suppose to have left when we were back in Seattle.”

 

“I hope he did.”  I said heading out the door.

 

She just nodded as I left.

 

I made my way down the hall towards room 217.  I turned one corner, then another.  The doors to the rooms seemed to be getting further and further apart as I yet turned another corner.  Finally three doors away from that corner was room 217.

 

I inserted the old fashioned silver key into the keyhole, and turned it counter clock wise, unlocking the door.  I turned the knob, and pushed it open.  My jaw, as well as the bag I was carrying with my clothing, dropped.  The room was enormous.

 

“NICK!”  I cried as I pounded on his door.  “Nick open the door!”

 

“WHAT!”  He yelled as he did as I said.

 

“Are you nuts!  I can’t stay in that room all by myself!  It’s too big!”  I yelled at him.

 

“Ok first of all.  Stop yelling! Ok? And secondly, you aren’t suppose to stay in there all by yourself, dumbass.  Wink, wink, hint, hint.”  He said as he nudged me with his elbow.

 

“Nick, the room is huge, it fits the entire Tour Ensemble.”  I told him.

 

He shrugged.  “Oh well, deal with it.”  He said as he stepped back into his room.  “I’m going to go shower.  Later, gorgeous.”

 

“Nick!”  I let out one last time as he closed the door in my face.

 

“Oh shit!”  Lina exclaimed as she stepped into what was suppose to be my very own hotel room for the next two weeks.  “This room looks like it belongs in Buckingham Palace.”  She said.  Not exaggerating one bit.

 

I closed the door behind us, and admired the massive sized room. The entire front room was done up in white.  There were three genuine white leather couches that were set across from a quad pole entertainment system, which was also white.  There was also a white fur carpet that rested in between the couches and the system.  I think the most obvious oddity of all was the white stonewall, old school, fireplace.  Lina walked over to it, and picked up the remote control that laid on the ledge over it.  She aimed it, and pressed a button.  Immediately, there was a roaring, open fire in the fireplace.  “Oh my God!”  She cried.  “It’s real fire.”

 

I had to laugh.  “Um…duh.”

 

“You know what I mean, sometimes they have that artificial fire, and you know it’s actually a heater.”  She said explaining herself.  She really didn’t need to; I had known what she meant before.  I was just messing with her.

 

“C’mon, I told her.  Let’s check out the bathroom.”  But before we could even move there was a knock on the door.  Both Lina and I looked at each other with suspicion.  No one new about the extra room and that was the way we wanted to keep it.  If Yvonne we’re to find out, we knew for sure she wouldn’t approve.

 

 I walked over to the door and called out.  “Who is it?”

 

“Housekeeping.”  Came a shrill voice.

 

 “We didn’t ask for any assistance, you could come back later if you like.”  I said still not opening the door.

 

Again came a shrill voice.  “Housekeeping.”  But this time, the accent was all too familiar.

 

Both Lina and I laughed as I opened the door, and Brian stepped in still saying.  “Housekeeping…Oh Wow!”  He exclaimed as he took his first look at the room.  “This is awesome!”

 

“Isn’t it?”  Lina agreed with him.  “We were just about to check the rest of it out.”

 

“Cool. Well I just came by to see if you wanted to meet with me for lunch.”  He said

 to me.

 

I smiled that would be wonderful.  Maybe I could even tell him about what had happened back at the hotel in Seattle when I phoned Leighanne.  Of course I had promised Lina I wouldn’t, but I was sure about this, I had a feeling I was right.  “Yeah sure.”  I said and then looked over at Lina whom I had already made plans with.  “Is it ok?”

 

“Yeah, sure.”  She said with not much emphasis, then turning and walking away towards the rest of the room she said.  “I’m going to check the rest of this room out, Isa.  It’s like amazing.”

 

Brian and I looked at each other.  This was the first time we’d been left alone in a while.  I smiled knowing he wanted to place his lips on mine, just as badly as I wanted to place mine over his. 

 

“Brian…” I began.

 

“Belle…” he said at the same time.

 

We both laughed.  But instead of allowing me to go first, he said.  “I’ve missed you.”  My smile widened, letting him know I’ve missed him too.  He leaned over giving me a small kiss on the lips.  He then took my hand and led me out of the room with him.  “C’mon, let me show you were my room’s going to be.  It’s all the way on the other side.”

 

We walked to the corner right before his room, when before I could turn the corner to follow him, he put his hand softly up to my chest, signaling for me to stop.

 

“What’s wrong…”

 

“Shhh.  Wait here.” he whispered.  He walked down the walkway, and I turned and peeked around the corner, seeing why Brian had stopped me. 

 

“Oh no.”  I said quietly to myself.  Mr. Owen was standing outside of Brian’s room.  Brian walked up to him and I could see Mr. Owen showing Brian some papers he pulled out of a manila folder.  I was too far to hear what they were saying, but Mr. Owen said something, and Brian nodded leading him into his room. 

 

“Great.”  I said sarcastically, and then walked myself back to my room.

 

When I got back to the room Lina immediately called out.  “Isa? Is that you?  Come here, you’ve got to see this!”

 

I walked over to where she was and found her in the bedroom.  “Oh my God!”  I cried out.  “It’s beautiful.”

 

Lina was lying on the majestic, king size bed that was set in the center of the room.  It had four dark cherry, wooden poles on each corner, that held up the canopy styled drapes.  On each corner, the midnight blue drapes hung down elegantly.

 

“I can’t believe Nick paid for this room.” Lina said expressing her disbelief. 

 

I shook my head in agreement.   “Neither can I.”  I looked to the right of the room where a matching vanity table and dresser laid.  “I wonder how much a room like this cost?  It has to be worth a lot.”

 

“It’s not like a person like Nick can’t afford it.”  Lina said getting up from the bed to continue her exploring at the vanity desk. 

 

“Yes well, it must really add up to something, I mean we are staying here for almost two weeks.”  I reminded her.

 

“That’s true.  Well, I’m jealous.”  She said with a small laugh.  “AJ and I could really use a room like this.  We could even pretend we’re on our honeymoon.”

 

I laughed and shook my head.  “You’re being silly.  I really wish Nick would take the room back.”

 

“WHY! Just imagine how much fun you and Brian will have.  It’s so big, and romantic.  Trust me, Isa.  You’ll love it.”

 

I smiled at the though of being in a room like this with Brian.  She laughed at how dreamy eyed I looked.  “Stop it,” I said, laughing along with her.  “You’re making me blush.” 

 

We laughed even harder.

 

I was sitting in the lobby as I waited for Brian to come down and meet me.  He’d said to meet him here and we’d go out somewhere in LA for lunch.  I had no idea how he was planning to keep Leighanne away.  Leighanne…this was really going to be weird.  I really don’t know how much longer I could…we can keep doing this.  Maybe I should tell Brian about my suspicions.  And so what if I was trying to turn two wrongs into a right, I told myself.  I sighed, whatever…I needed someway to get the guilt off. And she doesn’t deserve to be with Brian if it is true, I tried to reason with myself.  Then again, neither did I, if the reason was cheating.  We were both guilty of that.

 

“Hey you.”  Howie said as he and Nick came out of the elevator.  I must not have noticed them, but they were coming towards me.

 

“Wassup, Isabelle?”  Nick said as they took seats on the empty chairs near me.

 

“Hi guys.”  I said happy that anything was distracting me from my thoughts.  “Nothing much, just waiting for Brian so we can go to lunch.”  I informed them.

 

“Where are ya going?”  Nick asked.

 

“I’m not sure.  I guess Brian can decide that.  I’m sure he’d have a better idea than I would.”

 

“Right, you’ve never been to LA.”  Howie said.

 

“Nope, never.” 

 

“We’ll it’s pretty nice here, I’m sure you’ll like it.”

 

“Yeah, and if you want you can come with me.  I’m going up to my parent’s house for a visit next week.  You’ll love the house.  Do you ride horses?”  Nick asked.

 

“No, I’ve never ridden one.”

 

“You’ll love it.  There’s a barnyard nearby the house.  They let you take out the horses and ride them if you want we could do that.”

 

“That does sound fun, I guess.”  I said.  I really wasn’t sure if I could ride a horse.  “Can I ask you guys something.”  They both nodded giving me the go ahead.  “When’s the press conference going to be?”

 

“In a few days.”  Howie said.  “Why?”

 

“No reason.  I was just curious.”

 

Howie smiled as if knowing more, and said.  “Don’t worry, Mr. Owen will be gone by then...”

 

“…And so will Leighanne, I bet.”  Nick added.

 

“Can I tell you guys something, but you have to promise not to be judgmental, and to remember that even though I have no solid facts to base it on, I’m usually right about things like this.”  I said as I prepared them for what I knew or thought was true about Leighanne.

 

“Sure,” Nick said as he became curious to what I was saying.

 

“Of course you can.  You know you can trust us.”  Howie let me know.

 

Though I haven’t known these guys for very long, that was one thing I knew.  I could trust them.  I smiled, and began.  “Well, remember when you asked me to call…” I was stopped short as my eyes wondered towards the two people who had stepped of the elevator.  My heart sank as I watched, hand in hand Brian and Leighanne walking by us.  Brian didn’t even notice me as he opened the dinning room door for Leighanne.

 

I looked down. For some reason I feared I would let tears flow from my eyes.  I innocently turned to Nick and Howie, who looked more than just uncomfortable.  “Do you think, maybe, he just forgot?”

 

Neither one of them said anything and that just made me feel even smaller as a person, than I already felt. 

 

“Ok, well I’m going up to my room…you know…in case anyone’s looking for me” I said getting up.

 

“Isabelle,” Howie called out.  But when I turned around to face him, he just lowered his head.  He had nothing to say.

 

“You’re probably right, he probably just forgot.”  Nick recovered. 

 

“Ok.”  I said and continued to walk away.

 

I could feel my tears dying to escape, but I refused to cry.  I always cried.  It was just always my first response.  But I didn’t want to cry this time.  I didn’t want to be the weak one.

 

I was walking to the room when I heard someone call my name.  He was definitely the last person I needed to see right now.

 

“Miss Wakeford, if I could just have a word with you, it won’t take more than a few minutes.”

 

I turned around to face Mr. Owen, as he came following me down the hall.

 

“Hello, Mr. Owen.  I’m sorry, but I’m really not feeling very well, can’t it wait?”  I sorta half lied.

 

“Like I said it would only take a few minutes.”

 

I sighed.  I knew he wouldn’t go away till he got those few minutes of my time.  “Ok sure, let’s just go to my room.”  I said and began to walk.

 

“Excuse me, but isn’t you’re room back there.”  He said pointing towards the room that I was suppose to be sharing with Lina.

 

“Oh, right.  Sorry, I just got confused there for a while.”  And I turned around and headed for Lina’s room.  Problem was, I didn’t have the key.  Please, I prayed, don’t let Lina have locked the door.  She had a habit of leaving it open, and I really hoped she hadn’t decided to change her ways.

 

I turned the knob, and thanked God it was open.  “Come in.”  I told him, as I stepped out of the way and let him in.  He walked over to the table, and took out some papers from a familiar manila folder. 

 

“Now, I know I told you this would only take a couple of minutes, but it will only take as long as you choose to make it. I need you to sign this document here for me, and then we’ll be done.”

 

“What is it?”  I asked coming closer.  He handed me the sheet, and began to explain.  “See, this is sort of like a restraint measure.”

 

“A what?”  I asked immediately. “Like an order.”

 

“No, not an order, but more like a request…from Brian Littrell.”

 

“Excuse me?”  I asked in disbelief.

 

“Mr. Littrell has asked that you have no communication what so ever with him till after the conference.”

 

“Why would he do that?”  I asked him.

 

“Well, Miss Wakeford…” It was really annoying me how formal he was with me.  “…This conference is very important, not just only for Brian, but for the rest of the Backstreet Boys, and there are going to be journalist, and reporters hawking him up and down from now until the conference, he just doesn’t want to jeopardize his friends careers, let alone his own.  Do you understand Miss Wakeford?”

 

I nodded, but in all actuality I had no idea why Brian would ask him to do this to me.  Then again, he did just blow me off for lunch. 

 

“Mr. Owen, did Brian really ask for this?”  I asked one last time.

 

“Well Miss Wakeford, if you do not believe me, you can take a look at his signature right there, its as clears as day.  I looked at the page he pointed to and he was right. There was Brian’s name.  His signature, along with today’s date.

 

Again, the same washed out feeling fell over my heart.  “Well, if he wants me to sign this, I guess there’s nothing I can do, right.”

 

“That’s right Miss Wakeford.”

 

I had meant that as a rhetorical question but whatever.  “Where do I sign?”

 

“Right there.”  He said pointing with his crooked index finger on the dotted line.

 

I took the pen he handed me, and signed my entire name, Isabelle Wakeford.”

 

He had a satisfied smile as I handed him back the papers.  He put them carefully back in the manila folder, and said.  “Well, thank you for being so cooperative.  Of course you do understand that now you must follow these orders.”

 

I nodded.

 

“Good.  Have a great afternoon.”  And he showed himself out the door.

 

I sat down in one of the chairs by the table, and I brought my head to my hands.  “Isabelle, you’re 18.  Don’t you dare cry.”  I pep talked myself.  “God, I’m getting a headache.” I walked over to one of Lina’s bags; I knew she kept Advil, or Tylenol.  And I really needed something badly for my headache. 

 

I reached into her bag, and pulled out a large bottle of Advil. I led myself to the kitchen, and poured myself a cup of water.  I took out two pills, and was about to cork my head back when I realized they weren’t Advil pills. 

 

Everything seemed to be falling apart in an instant.  This time, I let my tears fall freely as I realized where Lina had been hiding the energy pills all along.    The one’s she had supposedly stopped taking weeks ago.

 

 

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