"Kevin, this is my son, Alex." Katie said softly, handing Alex over to Kevin who continued to stare at her.
"So, him, that's your husband?" Kevin nodded his head to the man who had just left the room. "What about AJ! What was that all about?!" He whispered harshly at her.
"No! That's just, that's just Justin." Katie laughed rolling her eyes as Justin entered the room brining them something to drink. "Justin, this is Kevin, Kevin, my roommate, Justin."
"Nice to meet you. Katie's spoken of you before." Justin said politely and reached out his arms for Alex, but Alex buried himself into Kevin's chest, holding on tightly. "Alrightly then! Seems like he likes you Kevin. He usually raises holy hell when someone he doesn't know holds him." Justin said impressed.
"So, you're Alex's father?" Kevin said slowly, seeing no resemblance whatsoever of Justin in Alex.
"Oh! No! Justin's just my roommate along with Michelle. You'll prolly meet her later." Katie laughed slightly.
"Well! Then who the hell is this kids parents?!" Kevin burst out, eyes wide, waiting for an answer.
"As I said before Alex is my son." Katie repeated herself, narrowing her eyes at Kevin. "I started taking care of him after his dad was killed." She said quietly, reaching out to take Alex from Kevin.
"They were killed? Damn, I'm sorry Katie, I shouldn't have, well, done what I did. So, this little bugger's yours." He said smiling, handing Alex over to Katie.
"Ya. It's been rough. I mean, I'm only 22, and Alex is a big part of my life. I work all day and Justin and Michelle help me take care of him." She said as Alex took one of her fingers in his fist.
"Why are you taking care of him? I mean, shouldn't family or something?" Kevin said softly. Katie grunted and handed Alex over to Justin who walked out of the room.
"They couldn't care less. His mom left him when he was a few months old. Jackson and I hadn't heard from her since. Anyway, Alex's grandparents didn't approve of Jackson having a son out of wedlock so they disowned him and left Jackson to fend for himself and Alex. Jackson wore himself thin and was extremely stressed out. He started getting sick and I tried to help him out as much as I could with my life and all, and then one day I got the call. Jackson suffered from a heart attack at work and he had been rushed to the hospital. When I got there he was already gone, but a woman he worked with told me that his last request was for me to take care of Alex. So, he's been mine ever since." Katie finished hurriedly, pushing a stray lock of hair out of her face.
"So you and Jackson, you were dating?" Kevin asked.
"No, he was just my best friend. We were always there for each other. And now I'm here for Alex." Katie said softly. Kevin stood up and pulled her into his arms.
"I'm proud of you, and I'm sorry for the way I reacted at first. If you ever need any help with Alex, just ask ok?" He said into her kissing her cheek quickly before releasing her. Katie had a tear running down her cheek, but there was a smile on her face.
"It's ok, you didn't know. Just don't tell anyone about Alex ok? It's kind of an awkward situation and I'd rather I tell people." She said.
"No problem. Well, I guess I should be leaving." Kevin replied as Justin walked back into the room.
"Ya, but take Katie with you. She needs a night out." He said smiling, putting his arm around Katie supportively. Katie's eyes furrowed as she looked at him.
"You'll be ok with Alex at night?" She asked as a mother would.
"Yes! I'll be fine, go! See you tomorrow." Justin laughed as he ushered the two out of the house quickly.
"Everyone's probably at one of the guys houses, we'll call around." Kevin said as they walked out the door.
"Fine by me!" Katie said as she jumped into the passenger seat, not noticing the headlights of the car behind them turning around the corner. They drove off just as the headlights neared and the car pulled into the same spot of the driveway where Kevin and Katie had occupied just a minute before.
"Ok. I go in, see if she's really married, and get out." AJ coached himself from Katie's driveway. The lights were on inside so he knew she was home. "Or someone, like her HUSBAND." He muttered to himself as he got out of the car and walked up to the door. "It's simple AJ. Just ring the doorbell. Wait, and see who answers. If it's a guy, she's married. If it's her, go in and ask point blank. Easy. Ok. You can do this." He said to himself as he rang the doorbell. He could hear footsteps approaching and wiped his hands nervously on his pants as the handle began to move.
"Can I help you?" A man answered the door, peering at AJ. AJ's heart dropped and he thought quickly.
"Um, is Jackie here?" He asked straight faced. When he recieved the answer he thanked the man and got back into his car.
"Fuck." He muttered, his head resting on the steering wheel.
"Um, you think we should call the others?" Howie asked Brian and Kaylie who were playing with Tyk.
"Ya, sure." Brian yelled, making no move to get the phone. Howie smiled and picked up the phone. A few minutes he joined the two in the kitchen where they were playing tug of war with the pup, dragging him around the linoleum floor.
"AJ said he'll be here in five minutes but he sounded pissed, Kevin and Katie are on their way over, and Nick's coming too with Taylor." He announced grabbing a beer out of the refrigerator, making sure to keep an eye on Kaylie.
"Who's this Taylor person?" She asked nonchalantly, as if she didn't care. Howie registered this in his mind.
"The girl that Nick was dancing with at the club. The one I sent to look for him." Howie answered in the equally nonchalant voice, taking a drink.
"Oh." Kaylie said quietly. Brian got up and reached for Kaylie's hands to help pull her up. Kaylie obliged and continued to hold onto his hands.
"Thank you much sir!" She smiled as her eyes twinkled.
"You're very welcome. Would you please join me upstairs for a second. I need you to help me get something." Brian asked pulling her out of the kitchen.
"Whatever could you possibly need?" Kaylie joked, not budging. Howie took it all in, trying to process what was going on in his mind.
"But I NEED you to help me UPSTAIRS." Brian announced, emphasizing his words as he wiggled his eyebrows up and down.
"Oh! Ok!" Kaylie laughed as she followed him out of the room, pinching his butt on the way.
"Kaylie!" Brian whipped his head around. Kaylie stood there with an innocent look on her face.
"Yes sweetie. Weren't we going upstairs?" She said smiling angelically.
"Ya." Brian said quietly, peering at her. Again as they walked Kaylie pinched his butt again and Brian whipped around. Kaylie tore up the stairs laughing.
"Howie made me do it!!!" She screamed as she ran into his bedroom and the end of the upstairs hallway.
"You're in for it now Kaylie!" Brian yelled as he ran into his room, closing the door behind him. Kaylie sat in the middle of the bed, again looking angelic.
"Hi baby." She said smiling as Brian approached. She stood up on the bed and placed her hands on his shoulders and quickly kissed his lips. Brian's hands soon rested on her hips as he picked her up and threw her down on the bed.
"You thought you could get away with it!" Brian laughed as he pinched her butt back. Kaylie was laughing hysterically and reached up to grab Brian's face in her hands.
"Hey, it was worth a shot!" She laughed as she studied Brian's face. Suddenly all was quiet in the room and Brian leaned down to kiss her. Kaylie wrapped her arms around his neck and indulged in the moment. When they broke away Brian grinned as he rolled over onto his back, holding Kaylie tightly next to him.
"Hey, if we can do that every time you pinch my ass, go for it." He laughed as Kaylie rolled her eyes and discreetly leaned over and pinched it again. Brian laughed and pulled Kaylie on top of him.
"Was that an invitation?" He joked as he stroked her face with his thumbs.
"Hell ya." Kaylie whispered as she leaned down to kiss him. He captured her lips with his own as he turned them over so Kaylie was underneath him. Her fingers played with the soft curls on the back of his neck as Brian's wove themselves into her hair. She felt something wet on her lips and stopped kissing Brian as she realized he was politely asking for access to her mouth. Grinning slightly she opened her mouth but quickly shut it as an image of Nick flashed through her mind. Brian frowned slightly and rolled over onto his side, his hands on Kaylie's waist as his fingers stroked her stomach slightly. Kaylie stared down at his hands as the images flashed through her mind. Nick's lips. They were softer then she'd imagined, apparently he wasn't as stony as she'd made him out to be. Then there were Nick's eyes. So blue and piercing as she told him she'd help him. Then Brian's. The way he'd stared and smiled at her as he sang to her at the station. His eyes crinkled so slightly and shined as he gazed at her. She opened her eyes and the images cleared her mind. Now she was just faced with the eyes that haunted her staring back into hers.
"Kay?" He asked quietly.
Come on. Answer the door! AJ yelled inside his head as he glared at Brian's door. Why the hell'd I come here anyway? They're just going to ask me what's wrong. Finally at long last the door opened and Howie stood there.
"What's up with you?" He asked quietly. AJ brushed past him and plopped down on the couch.
"Nothing." AJ grunted, playing with the rings on his fingers, twisting them. Howie noticed and persisted as AJ always tended to play with his rings when he was upset.
"Ok. So what's not wrong with you?" He asked again. AJ opened his mouth but closed it again. Finally he closed his eyes and threw his head back against the cushion of the couch. "Women. Katie." He muttered, hands covering his eyes.
"What happened? I thought you were getting along great, at least great enough for that body shot." Howie smirked. AJ groaned and got up.
"I need a drink. A really good, kick your ass, drink. Right now." He said as he walked out of the living room and downstairs into the makeshift bar/rec area. Howie rolled his eyes at his friends drama and followed him downstairs.
"You wanna tell me what happened now?" Howie yelled to him down the stairs. AJ raised one finger in the air and looked up at the ceiling.
"Drink now. Story later." He declared as he downed a shot.
What's she thinking about? Brian wondered as he looked at her looking at him. He reached up and moved a strand of hair out of her eyes.
"Kay?" He repeated, at he twisted the hair around his fingers. She's so quiet. And she pulled back. What if she's not ok with this. What if I just ruined our whole friendship. So much has happened in the past few hours. He thought to himself, looking down.
"Brian, I..." She stared as she picked up one of his hands, lacing her fingers with his and gently bringing his hand up to kiss it. "I..." She said quietly and stopped as he looked up at her, his eyes looking directly into her. Brian's heart pounded at what she was about to say, and considering his history with hearts, that probably wasn't a good thing.
"What is it baby doll? I just want you to be happy. You aren't happy with me?" He said softly, looking down again, tears stinging the back of his eyes. She, she's not doing this. Not right now. Not after what we've been through today. It's too much for her. I went to fast. She was hurt and I rushed it and now she's scared and is going to call it off. He thought quickly. Soon after he spoke he felt her hand on his face, brining his eyes to look at her.
"No, it's nothing like that." She whispered. Brian let out a big mental sigh and took her hand to kiss just as she had done his. "Bri, you've treated me better today than Ryan treated me all the time we dated. It's not that at all. It's just that..." She said, stopping as her cheeks grew red and she smiled slightly in embarrassment.
"Aww, Kaylie's embarrassed." Brian chided jokingly, pulling her to him so he could still see her eyes.
"Not like you're helping." She laughed then regained her composure. "It's just that it, I don't, I mean, agh!" She yelled at herself exasperated. "It's just that I don't wanna go too fast. I don't want you to think I'm some kind of, I dunno, slut or something." She giggled. Brian grinned and then looked at her straight faced.
"Kay, we'll go as fast as you want. And you feeling less than worthy of yourself?? I'd never feel that about you. You're AJ's slut. I understand and respect that." He deadpanned. Kaylie laughed and reached over and pinched his ass. Brian pushed her down on the bed and pounced on her, smirking yet again.
"Was that another invitation?" He said straddling her. Kaylie lay thinking for a second, then quickly moved out from under him and rushed for the door.
"If you can catch me!!" She yelled as she ran down the hallway. Brian watched her leave and smiled. She's got one damn nice ass. He thought as he jumped off the bed and hurried out the door to claim his prize.
"So, you ready to tell me now?" Howie asked, looking over his shoulder from the pool table to where AJ stood standing behind the bar surveying Brian's goods.
"She's married." He said simply as he pulled out a full bottle of Jack Daniel's, his personal favorite. "Brian does me good! Gotta love the preacher boy, you'd think he wouldn't have the hard stuff, but keeps it stocked up just for me." He laughed as he opened the bottle and took a long drink. Howie's head snapped up and dropped the stick causing the eight ball to drop into the corner pocket.
"She's WHAT?!" He yelled, looking at AJ like he had two heads. Maybe he's had too much to drink... He mused, thinking of what AJ'd just proclaimed, but he got no chance to ask him because no sooner had he opened his mouth did Nick and Taylor walk down the stairs.
"D, Bone, you've met Taylor." Nick smiled, introducing her. AJ nodded his head in her direction as he took another swig. Nick rolled his eyes at his behavior and walked over to Howie.
"I see you found him." Howie smiled kindly, mouthing Taylor a 'thank you' when Nick wasn't looking. She nodded and smiled back.
"So, where's Brian, no one answered the door so I let myself in---" He stared but was interrupted by Kaylie running down the stairs and into him. He quickly grabbed her arms to steady her, but just as quickly released her when he felt the electricity that they gave off. She looked at him strangely then ran off behind the bar. Next Brian ran down the stairs.
"I'll get you my pretty!!! And your little dog too!!" He screamed as he nearly missed Nick. Tyk came following seconds later, yipping about all the fuss his owner was making. Nick picked him up and Taylor came over to pet him.
"It's your dog!" Kaylie laughed from where she was hiding behind AJ. AJ looked on amused before he gently placed the JD on the bar, careful not to spill anything and grabbed Kaylie from behind.
"Kaylie! Baby! How you been sweetheart?" He laughed as he picked her up like a little baby (You know what I mean, like, cradling, but not cradling. Agh! You just know what I mean! You do I tell you!! Read my mind damnit!). Kaylie squealed and threw her arms around AJ's neck.
"Missing you of course! I haven't gotten my Bone's attention lately." Kaylie flirted back laughing.
"Well you KNOW it wasn't intentional. I've always got an extra bone for you." AJ joked and laughed as Kaylie pretended to swoon.
"Meet me upstairs tonight after Brian's gone to his bedroom." She whispered loudly into his ear.
"For sure baby. He won't have to know." He laughed. By this point Brian had crept up behind them and was about to grab her. AJ winked and Brian went in for the kill, sweeping her up and placing soft kisses all over her face. Kaylie squealed and leaned back in his arms, holding onto him.
Wonderful. Nick thought. I'm here with a beautiful girl who obviously likes me or she wouldn't be here, and all I can do is stare at HER. HER! The woman I've despised more than half my life! He looked over at Taylor out of the corner of his eye and found her studying Brian and Kaylie. Noticing he was looking at her she leaned over.
"A bit much eh?" She laughed. Nick felt himself get a bit angered at her comment, then angered that he WAS angered at the comment. What the hell is wrong with me?! He screamed to himself. He leaned down and whispered into her ear.
"Ya, all the time. It's the charm of Kaylie I guess you'd call it." He muttered, noticing how her hair smelled of coconuts and flowers. Taylor laughed and took his hand in hers. Nick felt his heart speed up and looked over at Kaylie. Who cares. It's not like I'm CHEATING on her. I'm not even WITH her. My BESTFRIEND is. He thought to himself and squeezed her hand gently, leading them over to the pool table.
"You can play, but I'm not going to make it easier on you." She said in a low voice as she leaned down, giving Nick a view as he tried to break. Nick smirked and walked over to her when it was her turn.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." He said softly as he walked by.
"So."
"So."
"I think we've determined that." Kevin joked as they pulled into Brian's driveway. He couldn't help but notice that Katie had become considerably quieter after he told her that they'd be at Brian's house in five minutes.
"Whatcha thinkin about?" Kevin asked quietly.
"AJ." Katie said softly.
"He doesn't know about Alex?" Kevin guessed, looking at her. She burried her face in her hands and mumbled through them.
"He thinks I'm married." She muttered. "And no, he has no clue about Alex."
"Why's he think you're married?" Kevin asked. Katie held out her hand and in the palm of it was a diamond ring.
"Ah, so that would be the reason."
"I bought it myself, 21st birthday. I felt the need to splurge. Diamond's my birthstone, so ya." She mumbled. Kevin took it in, and then turned back to her.
"You know he's probably going to be here." He stared and ignored the muttered great that he recieved from Katie. "Which would be the perfect time for you to set things straight with him." He finished. Katie looked up at him quizzically.
"I thought you didn't like him." She asked.
"No, I love AJ, he's my brother. I'm just not, well, it's just strange, the thought of you and he dating." Kevin said, his face turning red. Katie laughed and placed her hand over his on the steering wheel.
"Thanks for being overprotective of me." She joked and then clasped her hands.
"Well, there's no time like the present. We might as well go now." She stated determinedly and got out of the car. Kevin followed her into the house wondering if he'd just made a huge mistake.
"The whore!" Kaylie muttered under her breath, staring at the way Taylor was showing off for Nick at the pool table.
"What baby?" Brian asked, wrinkling his eyebrows. Kaylie thought fast and giggled softly, pecking him on the lips.
"Some more, I was mumbling to myself. I need some more to drink. I'll be right back." She said with a smile. Brian agreed and squeezed her hand reassuringly.
What the hell is WRONG with me?! Kaylie racked her brain frantically as she reached over the bar and grabbed the nearest bottle that didn't look too harmful. Lord knows I need this. She thought as she quickly took a swig of the concoction then poured some more of it into her glass. Ok, calm down. Go back over to Brian. Act normal. It's been a long day. Sun probably got to you. If anything, bitch at Nick, it'll seem normal. She joked to herself, noticing her visibly shaking hands. Ok, this MUST stop. She coaxed herself, watching out of the corner of her eye where Brian was talking with AJ. Ok, deep breaths, act normal, everything'll be ok. She murmured, walking over to the two.
"She, man, you, Katie, are you sure?" Brian asked intently as AJ knocked back another drink of his JD. He merely nodded his head.
"The ring man. And then I went over there before I came here, husband answered the door." He muttered, crumbling a napkin in his hand.
"She fucking thought I would play her when she's a damned married women!" He said coldly. Kaylie walked up to the two and stood in front of Brian so he could hold her.
"You ok Bone?" She said softly as Brian rested his chin on the top of her head.
"Fine. Just some bitch screwed me over. Katie." He mumbled, taking another drink. Kaylie looked up quizzically at Brian who gave her a pained look. Kaylie untangled herself from Brian's and placed herself into AJ's.
"You ok huh? Girl's, we're bitchy." She joked, squeezing his arms reassuringly. He chuckled softly then froze. Kaylie and Brian followed his gaze to the door where Kevin and Katie entered the room. Everything in the room seemed to come to a complete stop as AJ and Katie made eye contact.
"Ok, what's up with those two?" Taylor asked Nick from across the pool table. He peered at the two and waved his hand at her to quiet as he watched.
"Last time I saw them they were literally all over each other." He mumbled, concentrating at the scene in front of him. AJ had proceeded to sit his drink down on the bar and walk slowly over to Katie and Kevin. Kevin glared at AJ, his green eyes piercing the other's coffee, but from what Nick could tell AJ didn't much care what Kevin did at the moment. Nick took a deep breath and braced himself for what was about to happen. He'd seen AJ like this before, mostly when he and AJ got into it, and it always came a shock to him how someone who was usually laid back in a wild kind of way could blow up so badly. Taylor looked up at Nick and frowned, feeling the tension in the room. Worried, she quietly took his hand.
Kaylie looked on at Nick and Taylor out of the corner of her eye and frowned.
Nick frowned in response, seeing Kaylie's reaction.
Howie watched on, slightly amused, more so concerned.
"Kevin. Katie." AJ said curtly, staring at Katie. She didn't break the gaze, instead she stared right back at AJ.
"Alex." She said simply, daring him to say anything. He opened his mouth, but then immediately closed it and grabbed Kevin's wrist.
"Kev, a moment of your damned time please?" He said through gritted teeth. Kevin followed him silently all of five feet away from Katie, where she in turn rolled her eyes.
"What are you doing here? More importantly, what is SHE doing here?" He demanded. Kevin looked at him with a hard glare.
"You're not going to treat me like shit AJ. Don't try." He muttered, staring him down. AJ clenched his jaw.
"She's fucking married Kevin." He spat out angrily. Kevin said nothing for a minute before looking at AJ.
"You sure about that?" Katie said softly, standing behind AJ. She watched as AJ's back tensed up, but he refused to turn around and look at her. "Cause last time I checked, I was single, and I'd think I'd know if I was married." She said sarcastically. Kevin looked hard at AJ one last time then walked away. AJ groaned inwardly, knowing that he now had to talk to her, and that everyone was watching them.
"I met your husband. But you know, I must be mistaken because according to you, you're not married." AJ said through clenched teeth, still with his back to her.
"You met Justin. My roommate. My very gay roommate." Katie laughed softly. She watched as AJ's ears slightly reddened.
"The ring." He said quietly.
"Bought it myself. Present to me." Katie said as he turned around.
"Um, you wanna go upstairs, get away from everyone?" AJ asked as he grabbed her hand and began to walk upstairs. Katie pulled her hand back.
"That's it? You make an ass out of yourself when I just want to kick it, and then expect everything to be ok?" She said bluntly with her hands on her hips. Snickers where heard throughout the room.
"This girl's got a mouth on her J. I think she'd kick your ass!" Someone shouted out. AJ rolled his eyes and again took her hand, kissing it softly.
"I'm sorry. I jumped to conclusions. Please, upstairs, now??" He asked urgently. Katie smirked and walked in front of him leading the way.
I hope I didn't just mess something up by not telling him. Katie thought quickly to herself as she walked upstairs. She quickly dismissed the thought. She wanted AJ to like her for her, and not have the fact that she had a child interfere with it.
The rest of the night went along reasonably well with little tension. Around three in the morning everyone gathered in the house and began discussing the second leg of the tour which was about to kick off. Katie and AJ had returned from upstairs and sat on the floor by each other, AJ holding Katie's hand. Brian and Kaylie and Nick and Taylor both entered the room at the same time and headed for the love seat, Taylor reaching the destination first. Howie stifled a chuckle as Kaylie glared at Taylor and Nick before sitting down on Brian's lap. Kevin, like the father of the house hold sat in the middle of the room in Brian's big fluffy chair. Howie joined the group on the couch, laying on it.
"We've got three more days guys." Kevin said as a statement, but it sounded more like a question.
"Um, Katie may be going to come with me. We talked about it upstairs." AJ said quietly, adverting his eyes from where Kevin could obtain contact.
"She what?" Kevin choked out. Katie rolled her eyes.
"SHE may be going on tour with you. AJ assured me there'd be no problems, I just have to think about it." Katie finished, smirking at Kevin's bewildered face. "Chill Boo, you'll get to spend more time with me if I do end up on tour with you." She laughed.
"Don't call me Boo." Kevin grunted, his face reddening.
"Ok Boo." Katie laughed.
"Actually, Taylor's coming with me." Nick spoke up, looking straight at Kaylie, as was Howie. Both noticed as she took a deep breath. Taylor whipped her head around and looked at Nick.
"Ya, we talked about it, she's gonna see what life being a pop star is like." Nick joked. Taylor shrugged her shoulders and then settled into Nick again.
"Ya, well, no one's coming with me." Howie said. And I have a feeling that no one was going to come with Nick either. He thought to himself. Something was going on here, and he had a bad feeling about the tour. They were going to be around each other twenty-four hours a day for weeks at a time. Busses were small, and when tension was high, not so much fun to be around. *NOT SO MUCH!! Hey, Big Camp T is HIP! Yes not so much eh??*
Nick lay in bed alone, staring up at the ceiling. He didn't even bother to look over at his alarm clock; he knew he'd been laying there for over an hour, unable to sleep. Thought after thought poured into his head, swarming his brain.
He's always been intimidated by Kaylie. She and Brian had something that he and Brian could never have, some form of friendship that always scared Nick.
"I'm not good enough." He mumbled to himself as a picture of Kaylie fixed itself in his head. "And now I've gone crazy." He groaned as thoughts continued to pour through his head.
Can't explain
I never thought that I was gonna lose my head
Call me insane
There's got to be a way
How can I get next to her
Now tell me how it's gonna be done
Will I win or lose this one?
(Don't care about the fact that)
She's in a different league
They say it's no use that I try
That girl will never be mine
"It's no big deal. Just call him up." Kaylie coached herself from her bed. Brian had dropped her off at her apartment over an hour ago yet she couldn't fall asleep. She looked up as she heard a knock at her door.
"You ok babe?" Her roommate Jackie asked from where she stood in the door frame of Kaylie's room. Kaylie nodded her head, continuing to stare at the phone.
"You want some oreos?" She joked, walking over towards the bed and flopping down on it.
"Not right now Jax. Thanks anywho bub." Kaylie laughed.
"You know, you staring at it isn't going to make it ring." She said softly.
"I'm trying to call someone." Kaylie muttered, not shifting her gaze.
"Ah, I see. You've got one of those new AT&T telepathic phones?" Jax joked.
"HYPOTHETICALLY speaking, it would be ok to call someone I can't stand right? Like, if I didn't loathe the person AS MUCH anymore and even if I'm feeling really strange right now, right?" Kaylie said in a big rush. Jax's eyes widened.
"You're going to call Carter?! Isn't that like, against your religion??" Jax squealed. Kaylie looked back at her with a very serious expression on her face.
"No, just everything that I stand for." She said cheekily.
"I say, um, sure, go for it, just don't get into a screaming match or anything. Why're you calling him anyway? Brian's birthday's done and over with so it's nothing to do with him, so, why?" Jax rambled on.
"I have my reasons." Kaylie said mysteriously.
"It's gotta do with Bri doesn't it." Jax laughed. Kaylie blushed.
"Kinda."
"Well, go, dial, this, I gotta hear!" She said expectantly, sitting on the bed, hands clasped in front of her.
"Tid bit of privacy por favor?" Kaylie asked rolling her eyes.
"Ah, I see, you're too hip for me, I shall depart. Just to let you know, I'm going to go tell Tan all the new gossip. I can see it now: Carter & Star, WTF!!" Jax laughed and walked out. Kaylie sat there, phone in hand, and realized that they were starting to sweat. Before she lost the nerve she dialed.
Nick glared at the phone on his night stand as it started to ring. Leaning over he checked the ID and gulped as he saw that it was from Star, Kaylie. Hurriedly he picked up the phone and took a deep breath before pressing the talk button.
"Um, hello?" He said expectantly into the phone.
"Carter? Hi." A small voice came through the other end, slightly wavering. Nick felt himself smile slightly at her discomfort, oddly, he found it cute.
"Um, damn, I shouldn't be bothering you. Sorry--" she started before Nick cut her off.
"Kaylie, wait, why'd you call?" He asked softly.
"How'd you know it was me?" Kaylie questioned quietly.
"One, you didn't answer the phone screaming like some crazed fan, two, you're the only one who calls me Carter, and three, I have Caller ID." Nick said sheepishly, a grin on his face.
"I see." Kaylie laughed slightly.
"Well, why'd you call?" Nick questioned again.
"Oh, ya, that. I uh, just wanted to um, make sure you were ok and everything. I mean, I guess if you wanted to, we could maybe, get together and talk today? Lunch or something? And you could explain?" She let out in a rushed breath. Nick took a deep breath and tried to take in all that she'd just said.
"You, you care enough to do that?" He said in a whisper, his brain going into over drive.
"Ya, ya, I guess I do." Kaylie said, equally softly.
"Sure, I'd really like that. So, lunch?" Nick asked, barely able to hear himself speak over the beating of his heart.
"Ya, I'll call you later on today." Kaylie said quietly.
"Ok. Good night Kay." Nick whispered and held his breath hoping she'd call him Nick, instead all he got was the click of the phone as she hung up. Despite that a huge grin enveloped his face.
Next thing, she's livin' in my TV
That girl, stealin' every daydream
Tough luck, she had to be a star when I'm just same old me
But last night, I ran into her briefly
Guess what, she really wanna see me
They said that I was out of line
Who's wrong, who's right this time?
Can't explain
I never thought that I was gonna lose my head
Call me insane
There's got to be a way
How can I get next to her
Now tell me how it's gonna be done
Will I win or lose this one?
(Don't care about the fact that)
She's in a different league
They say it's no use that I try
That girl will never be mine
Kaylie let out a deep breath as she hung up the phone. The conversation had gone on fine. No fighting. It was nice, quiet, civil. Kaylie lay down and stared out her window. Something wasn't right. She's just hung up the phone with Nick Carter and her heart was beating a mile a minute, and it wasn't because she was upset.
She was looking forward to lunch.
More so, there was the nagging feeling kaylie knew all to well. Guilt. She pushed it aside as she thought of where they could meet for lunch. Today. With Carter. Just the two of them.
"What the hell have I gotten myself into?" Kaylie muttered, groaning into her pillow.
Nick sat in deep thought as he propped himself up against his pillows. He practically had a date that same day with his best friend's girlfriend. As much as he told himself it wasn't that big of a deal he knew it was. Especially when you put in the fact that there was the possibility that he wanted her for himself. A huge possibility.
"More like a fat fucking fact." Nick mumbled, burrying his head into his hands. She cared, she said it herself. She cares about me, about ME. Nick thought to himself. At that moment it was all very clear. He'd always gotten what he wanted his entire life. This should be no different.
That girl is freakin' me out
Don't care about the fact that she's all that
That girl has blown out the doubt
There's no way for me to stop
That girl tearin' up the big screen
That girl stealin' every daydream
Tough luck, she had to be the one for me
She will be mine
No matter what they try to say
There's got to be a way
I wanna get next to her
Now tell me how it's gonna be done
Will I win or lose this one?
(Don't care about the fact that)
She's in a different league
They say it's no use that I try
That girl will never be mine