CHAPTER TWENTY-“Revenge Is A Scream”

 

It had been three days, since we had had our little argument.  At first, we were a little rickety, involuntarily giving each other the silent treatment, but eventually as all friends do, we found our way back to the way things were suppose to be. 

 

We were backstage at the Oprah Winfrey Show.  And the guys were about to go out for a full thirty five-minute interview.  But not before Angelina’s fifteen minutes.  She was already on stage, and was breezing through the interview session.  She was asked the usual questions, the same ones she’d gone over and over and over with Yvonne.  I was watching the interview from a telemonitor in the guy’s dressing room, where they were getting finishing touches, when one of their managers came into the room.  The same one that had shown us the preview of Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely, on New Years Eve.

 

“I know I don’t need to run things with ya.”  He said as he came in.

 

“Ah, get outta here.”  AJ said. “This is what, Tony?” he said addressing their manager.  “Like our ten millionth interview.”

 

“Yeah, you guys are old veterans at this.  But, there are still I few things I need to clear up.” He said taking a seat next to me on the red velvet couch that was set up in the dressing room.  “Hey Isabelle, where’s your pass?” He kidded with me, same joke every time.

 

“Security!”  Brian yelled, pretending I needed to be escorted out.

 

They all laughed as I mockingly showed them my pass.

 

“Ok, so Nick.”  Tony said, getting back to why he came in the first place.  “What’s the name of that blonde you were seen with a couple of times in New York?”  He asked, referring to Carol, the British, Cornell Student.

 

“What blonde?”  Nick responded innocently.

 

“Right.”  Tony approved.

 

“Kevin, what do you think about Nsync joining the Jive family?”  Tony asked.

 

“It’s cool, and we wish them the best of luck on their court order.  I mean, if anyone would know their situation any better, it would be us.  And we…”

 

“Try to keep it short, Kevin.”  Tony told him.

 

“Good luck.” Nick joked, making Brian and AJ laugh.

 

Kevin was about to respond, but Tony cut him off again.  “AJ, who are you dating.”

 

“I am currently single right now, since my last break up with ex-girlfriend, a couple of months ago.”

 

“Good.  Don’t even mention Angelina’s name in the interview, unless it refers to her as an artist, or you’re opening act.”

 

AJ nodded.

 

“D,” he said grabbing Howie’s attention.  “How do you feel about AJ’s alter ego, Johnny Suede?”

 

“He’s great, he’s the side of AJ most people, who don’t know him, never get to see.”  Howie answered.

 

“Does it scare you, that this might be the first step to the break up of the Backstreet Boys?”

 

“No,” Howie continued.  “We’re all going to someday go our separate ways, and do separate projects, but we’ll always be the Backstreet Boys.”

 

“Excellent.  Now Brian.”  He said looking Brian square in the eyes.  “They all know you have a girlfriend, they all know you aren’t trying to hide that.  So what do you think, man?  It’s up to you if you want to drop the bomb here or not.  I mean, it would be the best thing to do considering you’re getting married in the fall.  You might not get another chance to reveal it yourself, to the fans.”

 

Brian nodded, as he looked as if he was contemplating the idea.  I turned away, making believe the telemonitor held my full attention.

 

“I mean, if you’re worried about Leighanne, we have the National Guard set up outside her hotel room in LA, just in case a teeny bopper riot breaks out.”  He joked.

 

Brian laughed.  “Naw, don’t worry about it. I know what I gotta do.”

 

“Alright, perfect.”  He said getting up and holding the door open for them to go through.  “Let’s go, out in the corridor, you’re on in less than ten.”  The guys did as he said.  “Hey you,” Tony said calling me.  “I don’t want to see you back here again without a pass, you here, young lady.”  He joked again as he left with them.

 

I good-naturedly smiled; brushing him off, as my mind was on something else.  I was glued to the monitor screen, as the BSB were having their interview.  It went on as any normal interview they’d gone on before when I use to watch them on television back in my room except, this time I knew all the “real” answers ahead of time.  Now I was just waiting to see how Brian was going to deliver his news, and the audience’s reaction.  I was so engulfed in the interview; I didn’t even notice Lina come in. 

 

“Well you guys are just adorable.”  Oprah said.  “Now, which ones of you has girlfriends? And don’t tell me ya don’t because you’re all too cute not to.” She said laughing at her own taunt.

 

They laughed too.

 

The boys each went down the line answering the question.  Brian was the first one.

 

“Well, we all know who I’m going out with.”  He said with a smile.  “No big secret.”  He told the fans, as some cheer’s and boo’s were heard from them.

 

“And how’s it going?”  Oprah asked him.

 

“It’s going good.”  Brian said.  When everything paused for a second and AJ noticed that was all Brian was going to say about his relationship, he said.

 

“I’m currently single, and looking.” Playfully he looked into the camera.  Lina laughed.  I did too. 

 

I eased up, as I realized the interview was coming to an end, and Brian’s engagement to Leighanne was not mentioned at all.  I was happy, but I knew Tony would be pissed, so would Leighanne.

 

We were in a black stretch limo, headed for Gracie Studios, in downtown Chicago, to go see the screening, of Scream 3.  We made our way up the red carpet, in typical premiere tradition, and took our seats.  We had a while before the movie started, since we had to wait for all the other artist to arrive.  I met at the premiere, Brian McFadden, the new MTV hottie.  He asked Angelina some questions as we were going in.  I also met Britney Spears, who was actually nice, contrary to popular belief, and Nick Lachey from 98° and Jessica Simpson.  They made an adorable couple.

 

I was sitting between Lina and Kristin, AJ and Kevin on either side of them.  Brian, Howie, and Nick had been held back by some reporters, and were still answering questions.  They came in minutes before the movie was to begin, and sat directly behind us.

 

“Hello, Angelina.”  Nick said mimicking the famous Scream phrase…his voice incredibly disguised as he leaned forward, coming near us.

 

“Oh my god.”  Angelina said, as we all turned around. 

 

“What is that?” I asked him, staring at the round object he held.

 

“It’s a voice emulator.”  He said, still holding it to his mouth, making him sound eerily similar to the villain in the movie.  “It copies and distorts your voice.”  He said as he handed it to me so I could take a closer look.

 

“Oh my god!” I said into the voice emulator as it distorted my voice.  It was a replica of the one they used in the movie.  “This is freaky, Nick.  Where did you get it?”

 

“One of the assistant producers gave it to him.  She asked for an autograph for her nine-year-old daughter who was playing with the emulator.  Nick commented on it, and the little girl gave it to him.”  Howie informed us.

 

“Yeah.”  Nick added.  “She also promised to get me…”

 

“Shhh…The movies about to start.” AJ said, as the lights dimmed, and the movie began.

 

Throughout most of the entirety of the movie, Nick kept playing with his new toy.  He kept repeating everything that was happening in the movie through the emulator, till finally Kevin got fed up and took it from him placing it on the floor between Kristin and me.

 

The movie was coming to an end; it was right before the credits, near the end where they reveal that the killer is, “Ouww.” I said as Lina pinched my hand.

 

“I’ve been like calling you for the past 3 minutes.”  She whispered.

 

“Sorry, I was just into the movie.  What is it?”  I asked switching my attention from her, back to the movie.

 

“Grab the emulator.”  She said eyeing it on the floor.

 

“Why?”  I asked her with curiosity.

 

“I’ll tell you later.  Just grab it and put it in your bag.”

 

I did as she said.  No one noticed that the emulator was missing, till we were in the limo, headed back to the hotel.

 

“Shit!”  Nick cried. We all turned to face him.  “Kevin, tell me you took the voice emulator with you!”

 

“Oh, man.  I’m sorry, Nick.  I didn’t, I forgot all about it.”  Kevin said apologetically.

 

“Aww, crap.”  Nick whined as a smile formed on Lina’s lips.  I looked over at her, and with her eyes she told me not to say a word.  I was beginning to get inquisitive about what she had in mind.  “Can’t we go back and get it?”  Nick asked.

 

“Hell no, man.” AJ said sharply.  “It’s late, boy.”

 

“Yeah, I’m beat, Nick.  I just want to get to my room and crash.”  Howie added.

 

Awwe, I thought as he sat there pouting.  How happy he will be when he finds out it’s right here in my bag.  But why was it there?

 

I found out the answer as soon as Lina and I were in our hotel room. 

 

“This is so perfect.”  She squealed.  “Haha, let’s see him escape this one.”

 

“What are you doing?” I said laughing at her excitement, as she searched my bag for the toy. 

 

“It’s payback time.”  Angelina said with a sneer.  “Scream style.”

 

She explained to me her plan, and it was genius.  This was going to be a first class practical joke, and now I was just as excited as she was.  We were going to wait till we were sure Nick was asleep, and then call him up using the emulator, replicating Scream, the movie.

 

“Let’s give him about half an hour more.  Then we’ll call.”  Lina said as we sat on the bed.

 

“Ok.”  I said into the emulator.  I, just like Nick found the toy to be kickass.

 

“Hey Isa, I’ll be right back.”  She said heading out the door.  “Gonna go say goodnight to my baby.”

 

I laughed into the emulator.  Gosh, that toy was fun.  “You know what happens when you say, I’ll be right back.” 

 

She laughed.

 

A couple of minutes later there was a knock on the door.  Lina I guess must have locked herself out.  I went to answer it, emulator in my hand, and as I opened the door I said, “Forgot the key again…Oh, Brian.  Um, hi.”

 

“Hi.”  He looked at me with a smirk.

 

“You’re probably wondering why I have this voice…um…emulator in my hand.  Well, um…”

 

He laughed.  “Well…um…” he said mocking my stuttering.  “I am kinda curious as how it got from all the way in the theatre, to you’re precious little hand.”

 

I smiled.  “Ok,” I said, and I explained to him Lina and my intentions.  He laughed.

 

“Oh, that should be good.  Nick’s a real wuss.”

 

“For real?”  I asked surprised that Nick would scare easily.

 

“Yeah, he scares way too easy.  Trust me, have fun with this one.  You’ve two got him now.  I wish I could see the look on his face when he gets your calls.”

 

I smiled.  “So, why did you come over?”  I asked him.

 

“Well, I was just going to ask if you wanted to come over, tonight.  I figured Angelina would probably go into AJ’s room, and I didn’t want you to have to spend the night alone, after watching such a scary movie and all.”  I laughed.  “But,” he said looking down at the emulator.  “I can see you’ll be busy with something else tonight.”

 

“Well, I’m sure we won’t be doing this the entire time.  I could go over.  Lina just went to say goodnight to AJ, so I doubt she’ll be going there, but I can go after she falls asleep.”

 

“Alright.”  He said giving me a light kiss on the lips.  “I’ll wait up.  I’ll leave the door unlocked.”

 

Fifteen minutes later, Lina and I were ready to begin our plot.  Operation scare the shit out of Nick was about to commence.  I dialed his number, and we waited for him to pick up.  He didn’t.  We hung up, and tried it again.

 

“Hello?”  Nick said, he was already groggy; he must have gone to bed earlier than we’d thought.

 

“Hello.”  Lina said chillingly into the receiver, which had the emulator over it.

 

“Uh, who’s this?”  Nick said back.  We both had our ear pressed to the phone.

 

“How about I ask the questions, and you just answer them.”  Lina said. 

 

“Brian, is this you?”  He asked.  “C’mon man, quit playing.  And is that my emulator you’re using?”

 

“This isn’t Brian.”

 

“I don’t care who it is, I want my emulator back.   Um…so who is this?”  Nick asked annoyance beginning to form in his voice.  I was already dying to burst out laughing

 

“No, remember.  I ask the questions.  Who’s this?”

 

“You called me, dumbass!  How you gonna call someone you don’t know.”

 

“Who said I don’t know you, Nickay.”

 

“Yo, who is this?  And don’t call me Nickay, I hate that!  Is this a fan?  How did you get this number?”

 

“I’m definitely not a fan, Nickay.  More like you’re worst nightmare, pal.” 

 

“Naw, cuz that would mean you’d be Justin Timberlake from Nstync.”  He said laughing.

 

We both had to cover our mouths to keep from laughing out loud.

 

“I’m not Justin you idiot!”

 

“Ok, calm that down.”  He told us.

 

“Stop playing around with him.”  I whispered to her.  “Scare him!”

 

“Ok, he’s just being a dumbass.  It’s funny.”  Then back to Nick, “What’s your favorite scary movie?”

 

“Ok, ok…I see where this is going.  Whoever you are, you have no life.”  Click.  The phone went dead.

 

“What the fuck.  The punk hung up on us.”  Lina said as she watched me burst out laughing.

 

“Call him again.  That’s what happens in the movie.  And ask him something better than what’s your favorite scary movie.” I told her.

 

“Here,” she said handing me the emulator.  “You call him.

 

“No way, I’ll laugh.”  I said handing it back.

 

“Ugh, fine, but help me out here.”

 

“Ok.  Um, make it sound like a stalker.  Like a fan slash stalker.”

 

“Oh, good idea.”  She said dialing back.

 

“Hello!”  Nick asked a lot more alert than before.

 

“Hello, Nickay.”  Lina said.

 

“Ugh, you again.  Are you gonna tell me who you are?”

 

“You don’t know me.  But I know you.”  Lina said jarringly.

 

“Okaaaay.”  The line went silent for a moment.  “Ok, this is beginning to creep me out.”  He said, his voice gaining agitation.  “Brian, if this is you, I’m gonna kick your ass.  If not, I’m gonna hang up now.  And I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t call back.  I’m trying to get some sleep.”

 

“I hope your bed is comfortable.”  Lina said stopping him from hanging up.  “We wouldn’t want a big star like you to sue the Cambridge Hotel, for a horrible night’s sleep.”

 

“Yo, how the fuck did you know I was staying at the Cambridge?”  Nick said his voice getting loud.  “And how the fuck did you get this number, and who the fuck are you?”

 

“I already told you, you don’t know me, yet.”  Lina repeated.  Click, we heard as he hung up again.  She redialed, his number.

 

“Yo, listen, I’m about to call security on your stupid ass…”

 

“No, you listen you little mama’s boy.”  She said extremely harsh, giving it a good touch.  “Hang up on me one more time, and I’m a personally go over there, and slit your throat open.”

 

“Eww.”  I said grabbing my throat, picturing the grotesque image.

 

“I’m calling security.”  Click.

 

“Oh shit!”  Lina said putting the receiver down.  “He’s calling security.”

 

“Uh, maybe we scared him a bit too much.”  I told her.

 

“Let me call him and tell him it was us.”  She said, we knew very well that if they called security up here, Yvonne would be involved.  “It’s busy.  He’s probably talking to them right now.”  She said getting up and walking out.  I followed her.  “Here, you give him back his emulator.”

 

“Oh sure, let me do it.”  I said sarcastically.  “Do you think he’ll be pissed?”

 

“Naw,” she assured.  “It’s Nick.  He’ll find it funny.  And he’ll have to admit, we finally got him back.”  She knocked on his door, but no one answered.  She knocked again.  “Dammit, c’mon Nick.  Please don’t call security.”

 

After she knocked for a third time, I tried the knob.  “Hey,” I said turning it.  “It’s open.”  We walked in.  “Nick?”

 

“Hey Nick?”  Lina echoed.  “Listen, we’re sorry.  We didn’t mean to scare you.”   “Actually,” She said laughing.  “Yeah, we did.”

 

We walked over to his bedroom.  And knocked on the door.  “Hey Nick, please tell us you didn’t call security.  You know they’ll tell Yvonne on us.” I said.  “Nick?”

 

“Where’d he go?”  Lina asked.

 

I shrugged.  “Um, maybe we scared him so much he left his room?”

 

“Oh, give me a break.  We weren’t even that scary.”

 

Then suddenly, the lights went off back in the main room.

 

“Who turned off the lights?” I asked her.

 

She just looked at me.  “Nick?”  She yelled again.  “Ok, now I’m scared.  C’mon lets go.”  She said walking out of the bedroom quickly.   I followed her.

 

“Lina, the door won’t open.”  I said, as I turned the knob both ways, and pulled on the door.

 

“What do you mean it won’t open?”  She asked, taken aback.  “Did you check the lock?”

 

“Duh, I’m not stupid.”  I told her, practically yelling it.  “It’s stuck.  It won’t budge.” I said pulling it harder.

 

“Here, let me try.”  She said handing me the voice toy.  “Fuck!” she said pulling the door with both hands.  I helped her pull.  “I can’t believe this.  It won’t open.”

 

“Uh…Lina…” I said beginning to whine.

 

“Isa, don’t start.”  She said.  We were in the dark, and the freaking door wasn’t opening.

 

Click.

 

“What was that?”  I asked panicked.

 

“Calm down.”  She said softly, but she was feeling frightened herself.  She pointed to the light that was coming below the bathroom door.  “Someone turned on the bathroom light, that’s all.”  She whispered, walking towards it.

 

Once again, I followed her.

 

“Nick?”  She said knocking on the bathroom door.  “Nick.  It’s over.  The jokes over, you win.  “Just open the door.”

 

No one answered.  Lina looked at me, and I nodded.  She turned the bathroom knob, and opened the door all the way.  There was no one there.

 

“What the…” Lina said as we both walked further in.

 

“Who fucking turned on the lights?”  I said.

 

“YEEEEEAAAAAHAHAHAHA!”  Nick yelled imitating AJ’s yell in Larger Than Life, as he jumped out behind the shower curtains.

 

“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”  Lina and I both screamed.  I froze, but she ran back, smacking into me, and knocking us both to the floor.

 

Nick laughed, as he stepped out of the shower, wearing a long black cloak, and the villainous Scream mask.

 

“You fucking asshole!”  I yelled getting up.

 

“You little bitch!”  Lina screamed, her hand pressed over her heart.  “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

 

That just made Nick laugh even harder.

 

“How’d you know?”  Lina asked him as we all made our way back to the main room.  Nick was still laughing as he came behind us.

 

“Yeah, and how’d you lock the door, and turn off the lights in here?”  I asked.

 

Nick stopped laughing.  “I’m a professional.  I got skills.”

 

“Oh god, just open the door, so I can go to bed.”

 

Nick kneeled down in front of the door, and took out the door stump that had been put into place.  Lina and I made our way out of his room.  But before we made it all the way to back to our room he stopped us.

 

“Ahem…” 

 

We turned around.  “What?”  Lina asked.

 

“The voice emulator.”  He said sticking his hand out for us to hand it to him.

 

“Oh,” I said, still holding it in my hand.  I walked over and gave it to him.

 

He brought it up to his mouth, and said.  “You know, girls.  You still haven’t gotten me, back.”  He laughed a sinister laugh, and then turned around and closed the door.  We could still hear him laughing.

 

“Ugh!”  Lina looked at me.  “We do suck.”

 

I shrugged.  I glanced over at Brian’s room, as I closed the door to ours.

 

It took a while, before Lina finally went to sleep.  She kept mulling over on how we were finally going to get Nick back.  We came up blank for now, but she was determined to get him back.

 

I called Lina’s name a couple of times, to make sure she was sleeping.  Then I quietly snuck out, and made my way to Brian’s.  Like he’d guaranteed, his door was unlocked.  I walked to his bedroom, and slowly opened the door.  The room was in complete darkness, except for the powerful blue light coming from the television.

 

Brian was in bed, asleep.  I cocked my head to the side, and sighed.  I guess Lina and I did take too long.  But he looked so cute and tempting laying there on the bed, the covers was brought up to his waist, exposing his chest, which was bare and leisurely rose up and down as he breathed.

 

I turned off the television, and took the remote from his lifeless hand placing it on the table next to his bed.  I held my long hair back, and bent over to kiss him.  He didn’t stir. I smiled, and was ready to walk out, when I looked back at him again. 

 

“I really like you a lot, Brian” I said so softly it was barely a whisper.  “And I have no clue where this is going, or if it’s for real, but I don’t want it to end.  I wish you could promise to me, that this was meant to be, but if it is, I’ll honestly give you my heart.”

 

I went around the bed, and slipped in beside him, resting my head just under his arm, close to his chest.  I closed my eyes.  I was about to float off to sleep, when I felt Brian’s strong arm glide around me firmly.  Pulling me in closer to his body.  He inclined his head in the crevice of my neck and shoulders, resting it over my hair.  I could hear him carelessly moan as he inhaled the scent of my hair wash.  He was silent soon after, and his in take of air, was reduced to a slow, steady pace, leading me to believe he had fallen back asleep.  I closed my eyes again, and did the same, feeling secure in his arms.

 

 

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