stt:ch.6 [More Than That]

She, she, ok, so maybe she had a reason. That's why she kissed him. But she kissed him. And held on to him. Like it meant something. That should have been me! But NO, she KISSED him! Brian thought distressed. He and Howie were seated in his car and waiting for the others to start to leave because they didn't know the way to the station.

"You ok Rok? I'm sure she's got a reason for it. Really. Calm down ok?" Howie said softly. In his rearview mirror he saw Kaylie running up to the car. Brian hadn't seemed to notice yet.

"B, she's coming." Howie whispered. Brian dropped his head into his hands and Howie could tell he had let the tears start to fall from his eyes.

"You want me to tell her to go away?" He asked quietly. Brian shook his head and Howie gulped as Kaylie tapped on his window. He rolled it down and looked at her. He didn't understand it, but there was pain in her eyes too. Maybe she just feels guilty. He thought darkly.

"Howie, can I please talk to him?" She said quietly as she looked at Brian through the window. Howie nodded and hit the unlock button allowing her to enter the car. She stood there for a second without entering and then spoke again.

"Alone possibly?" She asked a little annoyed. Howie looked at Brian and then back to Kaylie and opened the door to leave the car. Before he left he looked at her.

"I've always liked you Kaylie. You're like my little sister. But he's my brother, and that comes first. Don't hurt him anymore than you already have." He said harshly before walking away. Kaylie nodded and then lowered herself into the car. Brian didn't even acknowledge her just sat there, head still in his hands.

"Bri?" She said softly. Still, nothing.

"Bri, please, talk to me." She asked again, placing a hand on his back. When he didn't shrug it off she began to rub it softly.

"Please Bri, don't shut me out like this. Yell at me, anything, but don't do this." She begged, her hand still on his back as she lifted his chin with the other. He looked up at her, his eyes red and puffy, his face tearstained.

"Why?" He choked out. Kaylie sighed.

"He needed help. Mandy was going to tear him apart. And I don't like her. And you wanted us to be friends, so I went and helped him out." She said softly, her answer sounding feeble even to her own ears. Tears slid down her own face as she looked at his in pain. He was never going to believe her and she had just screwed up the best thing that may have happened to her.

"Ok." Brian said softly taking her hands in his. "I've got to believe that's all it is, cause I don't want to loose you."

Kaylie looked up in surprise.

"You thought I wasn't going to believe you didn't you?" Brian laughed softly. Kaylie simply nodded her head in response.

"Well, come here." He said pulling her into his arms as they sat in the car.

"It hurt Kay, I'm not going to say it didn't because it did. But I've got to believe you because I love you. And I know you need your time. And with all that stuff with Ryan you need to get over. And Lynsey even told me some stuff." He said smiling. "But, I wanna try this." He said as he looked into her eyes.

"Bri, I, I don't wanna get hurt again." She said quietly as she looked away from his gaze.

"I know, and I've got a little surprise for you about that one, but we've got to get going ok?" He said gently and he kissed her forehead. Kaylie smiled and leaned back in his arms.

"Kay, I said we've got to get going. Not to go and get comphy on me, not that I mind." Brian laughed. She moved over into the passenger side of the car and looked out the window. Brian took her hand again as they drove over to where the guys were all waiting in their respective cars.

"It's all going to be all right Kay, believe in me 'k?" He said softly as he squeezed her hand and followed the others' cars out of the parking lot on the way to the radio station.

"You would!" Katie grumbled as she turned off the radio and got back to work. Her lunch break was over but before she headed back to work she planned on giving the guys a little surprise.

Kaylie laughed as Brian turned in his seat so he could see her. He kept making funny faces at her the entire time they were off the air. She noticed Kevin was watching on amused. Kaylie looked over to him and tried to no avail to read his lips. He stood up and flipped on the switch that allowed the speaker to go on in the studio. Kaylie grinned as she realized what he was doing.

"Kaylie?" Kevin asked smiling.

"Yup? Hurry up, you've only got seconds." She warned. Brian watched on interestedly.

"I TOLD YOU SO!!" He shouted as he started to laugh. Kaylie felt herself begin to blush and ducked her head down. She laughed as she heard Brian reprimand his cousin as they came on air.

"We're back with the Backstreet Boys. The two Kentucky cousins seem to be having a little spat right now." The DJ said laughing. "What's wrong guys? Girl trouble?" He asked. Kevin opened his mouth and began to speak.

"I offended Brian's Ka--" he started before Brian covered his mouth with his hand. He was laughing as the DJ continued to laugh.

"Brian's who? Would that be the beautiful young lady in the next room?" He asked sweetly as it was Brian's turn to blush.

"That'd be her..." Nick said gruffly. Kaylie looked over at him strangely. Why's he acting like that? She thought.

"Next caller please!!" Brian yelled out jokingly. The DJ obliged and got the caller on the phone.

"We've got a Jasmine on the phone. She specifically has a question for AJ and Howie. Sorry guys, seems they're they only ones getting questioned today." The DJ joked.

"Nobody loves us!" Brian laughed. Nick rolled his eyes.

"Ya right. Everyone loves you Brian." He said under his breath but audible enough for it to be picked up on the microphones. Brian quickly turned his head to face him and shot him a look. Nick glared back at him and turned around.

"Hey guys." Katie flirted. (Remember, Katie PLAYS the character Jasmine. This is not her NAME. Just thought I'd clear that up for yall!)

"Hey Jasmine." AJ and Howie chorused.

"I was just wondering, have you changed out of your Disney duds?" She laughed causing Howie to burst out laughing and AJ to blush profusely (Ha!! Katie!! Blush profusely!! OMG!! That's so hilarious!!). The DJ looked at the guys awkwardly but allowed the conversation to go on. AJ spoke up.

"Um, ya, we changed. But who knows, maybe we don't have anything on at all!" He laughed.

"I see! Well, you still up to being forgiven?" Katie smiled. You could hear her happiness thorough the phone.

"Sure, if you're the one doing it..." AJ flirted back. Kevin shot him a warning glance and AJ blew him off with a wave of his hand.

"I'll talk to you later ok? Bye Alex..." Katie said sweetly.

"Bye Katie. I'll call you!" He grinned. The DJ continued the questioning and callers until he came upon the all important question of girlfriends.

"So, who's got one? Who doesn't? Who's looking??" He asked. It took a few seconds for someone to speak up but finally Nick spoke up.

"I just broke up with my girlfriend today and would like to say that love sucks." He stated blandly while looking at Kaylie. She didn't know what to think of it so focused her attention on the other's answers.

"I'm single and always waiting for the perfect woman to show up. BUT," he emphasized, "I'm keeping my eye on someone not because I want to date her but because she will NOT get hurt while I'm around!" He said forcefully while looking at AJ. AJ stuck his tongue out and answered the question.

"Well, considering that I've been forgiven, I think I'll be having a REAL good time from now on!" He laughed.

"As of now I'm single but seeing all those women at the upcoming concerts, who knows, maybe it'll change!" Howie added. Kaylie watched intently as Brian started to answer. He was looking right into her eyes the whole time and she could tell he was really just talking to her, not the entire city of Orlando.

"I've got someone very special in my life right now who I care very much about. She's my best friend and my life, and I'd actually like to do something for her right now! Guys?" He said sweetly as he looked at her. He could tell she had tears in her eyes. Smiling at her he waved. She looked at him curiously as if to ask what he was going to do but he just shook his head and told her to sit down and watch.

"We'll come back with a performance from the Backstreet Boys right after this commercial." The DJ said as music sounded. Kaylie walked over to the window and tapped on it waiting for someone to flip the switch. Brian hurried over to it and turned it on.

"What are you going to do??" She asked.

"Just wait!!" Brian grinned as he flipped off the switch and left Kaylie nothing else to do but sit down. She watched as the guys got together much to Nick's annoyance and started to do something. Seconds later the DJ announced they were back on the air.

"We've got a special treat for everyone right now. Brian has requested that the guys not sing their hit song "Shape Of My Heart" but rather another song from their new CD Black & Blue, so here they are, the Backstreet Boys..." He said trailing off.

Brian scooted closer to the mic and looked at Kaylie intently.

"This song's for someone very special to me. She knows who she is." He said smiling. Kevin started to snap his fingers with the time and then Brian began to sing.


I can see that you've been crying
You can't hide it with a lie
What's the use in you denying
The words you have is wrong

By this time of the song Kaylie had tears in her eyes which were on the verge of cascading down her face.

I heard him promise you forever
But forager's come and gone
Baby he would say whatever
It takes to keep you blind
Tell the truth between the lines

The chorus of the song brought the tears streaming down her face. Brian looked at her through the window and smiled as he wiped his eyes as if to tell her not to cry. Kaylie tried but failed and sat there listening to them as she cried.

Oh I will love you more than that
I won't say those words, then take them back
Don't give loneliness a chance
Baby listen to me when I say
I will love you more than that

As Nick sang she noticed that his voiced seemed to catch every time he looked at her. He couldn't seem to look her straight in the eye while singing the lyrics and refused to meet her gaze for the rest of the song. She pushed the thought out of her mind as they continued to sing.


Baby you deserve much better
What's the use in holding on
Don't you see it's now or never
Cause I just can't be friends
Baby knowing in the end
That


And I will love you more than that
I won't say those words, then take them back
Don't give loneliness a chance
Baby listen to me when I say


There's not a day that passes by
I don't wonder why we haven't tried
It's not too late to change your mind
And take my hand, don't say goodbye


As they sang Brian mimicked the words saying not one day and waving goodbye. Kaylie laughed at his antics as she stopped crying. What he had done for her was beautiful and touching.


I will love you more than that
I won't say those words, then take them back


Oh I will love you more than that
I won't say those words, then take them back
Don't give loneliness a chance
Baby listen to me when I say
I will love you more than that


Oh I will love you more than that
I won't say those words, then take them back
Don't give loneliness a chance
Baby listen to me when I say
I will love you more than that


As the song ended and the red light told her she was off the air Kaylie ran from the room and into that of the studio. She was met with waiting arms from Brian who was on the other side. He embraced her immediately and just held her. She buried her head in his chest as he gently rocked back and forth. The guys quietly walked out of the room giving the two time alone. Nick was the last to leave and didn't bother trying to move around the two in the doorway but barged through knocking them off balance. He didn't even bother excusing himself. Kaylie narrowed her eyes at his retreating back as he turned around to face the two. Brian seemed oblivious to the looks the two were giving one another and continued to hold Kaylie close to him.

"What the hell is your problem!?" Kaylie spat out. "Did you NOT see what he just did for me?? Do you NOT understand how much that means?? You don't just BARGE in on people like that!! Don't you get it Carter?!" She said harshly. Brian quickly picked up his head and tried to pull Kaylie back to him as she had turned around to stare Nick down in anger.

"Kay, not now, PLEASE." He quietly begged but Kaylie brushed him off with a finger to his lips. He gently kissed it but this time it brought no smile to her face. In fact, it brought no reaction whatsoever.

Nick stood there stone faced. He looked at the man he called his best friend and the woman he used to call his enemy. Why couldn't it still be that way? Why did he have to feel this way now? He stared into Kaylie's eyes and she saw the pain and hurt in them, but couldn't figure out why it was there.

"No, Kaylie, I don't think YOU get it." He whispered as the turned and walked away. 1