Nick stalked out of the building with anger in his eyes. Upon coming to Kevin's car he punched it then cursed out in pain as the shock of his hand hitting metal flew through his body. Not stopping he kept punching the car and began to kick the tires, enjoying the pain.

"Damnit...damnit...damnit..." He muttered with each punch. The adrenaline mixed with the pain was giving him a strange high and he continued to hurt himself, punching and kicking the car as hard as he could. Thoughts raced through his head as he let his anger out on Kevin's car, none of them complete and thought out rationally.

They don't need me. AJ's going to be with Katie constantly. Howie and I just don't click like that. Kevin and I never really hang out. Brian's got KAYLIE. He thought harshly as he hit the metal once more, putting a dent in the frame as his heart constricted painfully. He was now becoming dizzy with pain but elated at the same time. They never needed me! Ever! He thought to himself. Who the hell were you kidding Carter? That someone actually cared and NEEDED you?! Hell, you're just a piece of shit anyway. Sound like a little girlie boy. And fat. You're a fat ass Carter. No wonder no one wants to be with you. Mandy couldn't stand you. Kaylie can't stand you! Kaylie doesn't WANT you Carter. She can't STAND you! She can't stand your fat ass Carter! His mind shouted out. In anger, he punched the window frame and screamed out in pain as his knuckles split open as his hand connected with the sharp frame. He saw spots for a few seconds and watched as the blood ran neatly down the crevasses in his hand. He stood there amazed as he watched his blood pour from the open cut in his hand. He felt as if a weight had been taken off his shoulders. Still mesmerized he lightly touched the cut and grimaced as pain shot through him, but did it again and again as he wanted to feel the pain. His hand was now swelling up and turning black and blue (No pun intended all!) and he continued to stare at it in amazement.

"Hey! Nick!" He heard and quickly turned around holding his hand. He watched as Howie approached him and thought quickly what to say to him. Howie walked up to him and immediately looked down at his hand. Nick watched Howie's reaction as the surprise that first registered turned to shock. Howie looked up at him in concern.

"What the hell happened to you?!" He said quietly as he reached out to touch Nick's hand. Nick pulled back in horror as Howie's hand neared his.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't think. It probably hurts a lot." Howie muttered softly. "So, what the hell DID happen to you?!" He persisted. Nick didn't flinch and looked him dead in the eyes.

"I tripped. Fell on my hand." He stated coolly as if daring Howie to ask twice about how his hand got that way. Howie peered at him, then his hand again, but backed off.

"Ok, if you say so." He said calmly. "You should probably get wrapped and on ice though. It's going to swell and Kev's not going to be happy when you have to start out the tour with your hand in a sling." He said as he walked away to his car. Nick rolled his eyes. Kev's not going to be happy when you have to start out the tour with your hand in a sling he mimicked. There you go again Nick. Screwing up again. More people mad at you. More people to hate you! You idiot! He shouted to himself.

"You idiot!" He yelled as he kicked at the pebbles of gravel on the ground. Howie quickly turned around and looked at him strangely.

"You ok there Nick?" He asked cautiously coming a step closer. Nick's head snapped up and he looked at him.

"Oh, ya. Just accidentally hit my hand. You're right, I should probably go get it checked out so Kevin doesn't get to mad." He said. Howie smiled slightly and nodded in agreement.

"Ya, you go do that. I'll tell the guys were you are. You're still going to go out with us tonight though, right? It's one of our last nights in town, we were going to go celebrate the new tour starting up." Howie mentioned casually. Nick racked his brain trying to remember if anyone had said anything to him about going out previously. When he could come up with nothing the little voice in the back of his head started up again. See Nick, it's already starting. They don't want to be around you so they're not inviting you to things. They can't stand you Nick! They hate you! All this time they've been lying to you. They never wanted you in the group. Now they're pushing you away! Nick shook his head in distaste and looked at Howie.

"Um, ya, sure. I'll be there. When are you going to get there?" He asked with a slight bitterness. Howie didn't seem to notice.

"Around 8, 8:30. Usual time." Howie said as he climbed inside.

"Great. I'll be there. See you guys later." Nick mumbled as he watched Howie drive off. He wished Kevin and AJ would get their asses down there so someone could take him home since Mandy had driven off in his car. Bitch. He thought. His hand began throbbing again and he clenched his teeth as he slammed it into Kevin's car. Pain tore through his body and for a second Nick thought he was going to pass out. In his eyes he could see spots. After they cleared he looked down to see the gash on his already injured hand had grown. He smiled to himself as he looked at what he'd done.

* * *

Brian looked over at Kaylie. She was sitting on a stool away from him and hadn't said a thing since Nick left. Lord, why can't they just get along?! Brian thought to himself. Slowly he got up from the stool he was occupying and walked over to where Kaylie was sitting. He stood in front of her for a few seconds just looking at her as she avoided his gaze before he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head not saying anything. Kaylie looked up at him in surprise.

"You, you're not..?" She stuttered as she looked up at him, wide eyed. Brian grinned and picked her up off the stool. He sat down on it and placed Kaylie on his lap. She leaned back and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Mad at ya? Kay, can I ever stay mad at you?" He smiled softly. She looked up at him and grinned.

"Well, no. This is me we're talking about!" She said cockily. Brian pretended to be annoyed for a second but then continued.

"No, I'm not mad at what you did. I guess in a way you were sticking up for me, but still. Kay, you've got to try to get along with him. It tears me up inside to see you two like that!" He said giving her puppy dog eyes. Kaylie first started to protest, but then realized what he was saying.

"Ya, I know. I'm sorry. It's not like I MEAN to tell him off---" she started before Brian gave her 'the look', "Ok, so maybe I DO mean to tell him off. But it's always for good reasons!" She started again before Brian continued the look. "All right! I won't let it happen again! I'm sorry!" She surrendered with a humph. Brian smiled and kissed her cheek getting a smile out of Kaylie.

"You'll be nice to him?" He asked with puppy dog eyes. Kaylie groaned. Brian kissed her cheek again and Kaylie gave in.

"Ya, I'll try I guess. But only for you!" She demanded.

"Now, that's my girl." He said hugging her. Kaylie giggled and looked up at him.

"Bri, you're a dork." She smiled sweetly. Brian looked back down at her and returned the smile.

"But would you have it any other way?" He asked grinning. Kaylie shook her head adamantly.

"Nope, you're my Bri. It's strange, but I think I like ya just the way you are." She grinned cheekily leaning into him more.

"Ya. You're my baby doll Kay, I think I like you the way you are too." He joked at her. Kaylie looked up and him and smiled before capturing his lips with her own. Brian smiled against her lips at her aggressiveness. She giggled in return and allowed him to increase the kiss further. It was a bit strange for the both of them considering they'd been friends for so long, but the pleasure outweighed the uncomfortable infinitely. Brian caressed her face lightly before pulling away as he heard an exaggerated cough coming from the door. Looking up he saw AJ standing at the door with a goofy grin on his face.

"Brian and Kaylie, sittin in a tree--" he started before Brian threw a nearby CD case at his head. Kaylie blushed as AJ started making kissing noises.

"AJ! Come on man!" Brian laughed. AJ obliged and walked over to Kaylie, plucked her off of Brian's lap and sat her on his back, piggyback style. Kaylie grinned and threw her hands around his neck.

"What you doin' with my girl Rok?!" AJ joked as Kaylie kissed his cheek for effect. Brian threw up his hands in defeat and jumped up.

"I swear! One minute they're mine, the next AJ, sex-on-legs walks in and steals em from me!" He laughed. Kaylie burst out laughing and quickly dropped from AJ's back. AJ winked at Brian and he smiled as Kaylie ran over to him and snuggled up close to him.

"Ah, I see. So now you want me eh?" Brian joked. Kaylie nodded, he eyes wide like a child's.

"Kay! I thought you were my girl!" AJ protested laughing. Kaylie grinned and put her arms around both of them.

"Boys, boys, boys! There's enough of me to go around! Come on now!" She laughed as they walked down the hall to the elevators. Once inside Kaylie witnessed the two fighting about who got to push the button to go down. Smiling to herself, Kaylie rested her head on Brian's chest. He in return wrapped his arms around her and held her close. AJ looked at them and grinned.

"I gotta call Katie! She's gonna come clubbin' with us tonight!" He stated excitedly. Brian looked up lazily as they neared the lobby.

"She know about her plans?" He asked.

"Well, no, not yet. But she'll go along with them." AJ said, quite sure of himself, as they left the elevator and saw Kevin standing in the lobby still talking to the DJ about the new tour. Brian and AJ joined the conversation and Kaylie felt herself feeling like a third wheel. Politely she excused herself and walked outside. Squinting, she saw someone punch a nearby car.

"What the hell?" She muttered to herself as she saw the person grunt in pain, but then do it again. She walked closer to the car realizing that it was Kevin's car. The sun shone down brightly on it but caused there to be a glare on the person standing next to it. Suddenly the person looked up and stared at Kaylie. She gasped and stopped dead in her tracks.

"Nick?" She said shakily as she noticed the blood that poured down his hand. Immediately all the previous anger she had for him escaped her as she saw the pain in his eyes. He dropped his head in shame as Kaylie raced over to where he stood.

* * *

"What the hell did you do to yourself?!" Kaylie whispered to him. He didn't answer but allowed Kaylie to gingerly pick up his hand and examine it. Kaylie looked up at him with concern.

"Carter, what happened? Why'd you do this?" She asked as she led him over to the curb to sit down. He was quiet for a moment and then looked at her. There was nothing in his eyes. No pain, no anger, nothing.

"You. You made me do it." He simply stated, staring at her. Kaylie was taken aback but continued to tend to his wound, applying the pressure of his shirt to this hand.

"You did this because of me, why?" She asked quietly, not looking up. He tensed and felt himself panic. What're you going to tell her now Nick? Not such a smart move was it NICK?! He shouted to himself. Kaylie looked up at him and stared.

"You're going to have to tell me before the guys come out. Kevin's going to want to know why you beat the shit out of his car." She stated, staring deep into his eyes. He turned his head towards the door and glanced in to see if they were coming out.

"Carter, I'll help you, but you've got to let me." Kaylie whispered, dropping her head so he wouldn't see the fear and unknowing in her eyes. He looked up at her as his mind raced. It's pity Nick. It's just pity. His head screamed at him while it was also telling him that maybe he could trust her. She seems to care. Let her help you Nick. It screamed. He fought within himself before finally breaking down and speaking.

"Because you call me Carter." He said quietly as if that explained it all. Kaylie scrunched up her nose, thinking.

"That's the whole reason? Because I call you Carter?" She said dryly. Nick groaned and sunk his head into his hands but pulled it out immediately as pain seared through his injured hand.

"No, Kaylie, that's not the whole reason." He said as if talking to a child. Kaylie let out a frustrated sigh.

"Then why? Why the hell would you do that to yourself?!" She demanded, standing up and glaring at him, hands on her hips. Nick recoiled. He could feel himself losing it. What was he going to say to her? He couldn't very well sit there and tell her that not only does he not hate her anymore, but he thinks he's starting to feel things for her. He couldn't say that to her. Not only had she been his enemy for ages, but she was his best friends girlfriend. But she CARES Nick. He thought. He looked up at her and opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Kaylie peered at him and softened her expression, sitting down next to him again.

"I, I'm scared." He said softly, his eyes piercing hers as he tried to explain the pain he was feeling to her that way other than saying it. She just looked at him, and said nothing for a few moments.

"We'll, uh, we'll talk about this later ok? Right now we've got to decide on what to tell the guys." She said quietly, avoiding his gaze.

"You're really going to help me?" He asked quietly. Kaylie smiled and nodded.

"Ya, I'm not that much of a bitch. A bit of a bitch, yes, but not THAT much." She grinned. "Anyway, Brian made me promise that we wouldn't fight any more." She chuckled. Nick felt anger race through him as he fought the urge to slam his hand into the car again.

"I told Howie I fell." He said dryly. Kaylie nodded as she saw the guys leaving the building.

"They're coming now. You fell into the car. We'll talk about this later Carter." She said quietly, resting her hand on his arm. Nick nodded slowly. Kaylie looked at him. For some reason her gaze made him look back at her. When he did he saw something in her eyes, but he couldn't tell what it was.

"It's going to be ok. We'll make it better Carter. You'll see. It'll be fine." She said softly as the guys neared. Nick smiled softly and then turned away as Kevin reached his car.

* * *

Kaylie stood there stunned at what had just happened. Not only had she just had the first decent conversation with Nick in what she could only assume was years, but it was over something so deep. And she had offered him her help. She was deep in thought about what was going through his head to do that to himself as Kevin came up to his car and saw what had been done to it.

"What the hell happened to my car?!" Kevin yelled, dumbfounded, as he stared at the dent in the roof and door of his brand new car. Kaylie whipped her head up and stared at Kevin. He looked from her to Nick, who seemed to be imitating a deer stuck in headlights. Kaylie quickly looked from Kevin to Nick and then back to Kevin. She couldn't believe that she was about to stick up for the one person who in her lifetime may have tried the hardest to hurt her. Brian looked over at her warily as he saw her look from Nick to Kevin. Kaylie took a deep breath and looked Kevin in the eye.

"Nick fell. It's no big deal. He tripped and fell into your car. He's hurt more than the car. Let's get out of here and get him fixed up, ok?" She said determinedly. Kevin looked at her with surprise and opened up the door without further inspection of his car or to yell at Nick. Brian looked at Kaylie and smiled as he walked over and wrapped his arms around her stomach, holding her close to him.

"Thanks sweetie." He whispered in her ear. Kaylie grinned and pulled away from him, going to help Nick get into the car without hurting his hand. As they headed to their homes and hospital Kaylie couldn't help but notice that Nick was extremely quiet. She looked at him, worried, as Brian watched Kaylie with interest.