"What was wrong with that girl?" Kevin Richardson asked Brian when he joined back up with the group in the food court.
"Those kids humiliated her in the mall. They tease her worse then that at school." Brian said sighing.
"How can anything be worse than what they just did?" Nick Carter asked.
"I dunno. It just goes to show how mean kids are." Kevin said shaking his head.
"And to think all of us were like that before." AJ McLean said. He could remember in high school teasing kids.
"No, not all of us were like that. Some of us were the ones teased." Howie Dorough said. He could feel all the horrible memories of his childhood, come flooding back. The days he spent eating lunch by himself, or when the football team would hide his clothes after gym. He knew what Stephanie was feeling and it wasn’t fun, not fun at all.
~~~~~~~~~~
Stephanie sat in her room crying, which she did often. This time it was a combination of things causing her to cry. First Justin and his friends, then Brian being so nice, and her being so dumb forgetting her CD and wallet at the mall. Stephanie got on her knees beside her bed and talked to her only friend. She prayed the same pray she did everyday.
"Dear Lord, how come you test me everyday with this suffering and pain. I don’t find it fair at all. I try my best to be a good servant. But every time I do, Justin and his friends only hurt me worse. Lord, hurry and let this test finish. I don’t know if I can take anymore. Lord save my life, as I fear I’ll lose it to Justin one day. In Jesus name I pray, Amen." Stephanie broke down and cried even harder. Stephanie thought of killing herself before. She had never tried because she knew it was wrong. Just the thought of it would make her cry. Stephanie had tried to tell her mom what was going on, but it never worked. She would always chicken out. Stephanie was standing in the kitchen reading a note from her mother when there was a knock on the door.
"What are you doing here?" Stephanie asked holding the heavy oak door open.
"You forgot your stuff beside me. I got your address from your wallet." Brian said feeling self conscious. Somehow Stephanie seemed stronger than she did at the mall. He couldn’t understand why. "Can I come in?" Stephanie nodded and let Brian in. He handed her the bag which held her CD and wallet. Stephanie took the CD out and looked up at Brian. "Oh yeah, we all signed the CD for you. Is that okay?" Brian said smiling.
"Oh yes! Thank you so much Brian!" Stephanie squealed hugging Brian. "Why are you being so nice to me?" Stephanie said trying to hold back her tears. Brian didn’t know how much she longed for someone to treat her nice, the way he was.
"Well it was the way I was raised. But you’re also a pretty girl. Now that’s something I don’t say often." Brian said. He could see Stephanie blushing. He thought it was cute.
"Brian, if I tell you a secret, you hafta promise not to tell anyone." Stephanie said. Brian nodded. As Stephanie started to tell Brian her secret, the sound of broken glass and laughter from the front of Stephanie’s house. Stephanie groaned and stood up. She peeked out the window.
