Kerri walked into her appartment and listened to Mark drive away. She took a quick shower and changed into her work out clothes. Maybe a little time down at the studio will make me feel better, she reasoned. Whenever she was sad or angry Kerri worked off her stress by dancing, it always seemed to help. She had been going to the studio a lot lately, mainly because of Mark. The phone rang, that's probably Mark, she thought miserably. She decided not to answer it and headed out the door instead. Kerri jumped into her blue Camaro Z28, her dad's old car that he gave to her when she moved. After sliding her fave BSB cd into the player she headed towards the studio. She sang at the top of her lungs during the twenty minute drive. She knew she wasn't the best singer, but that wasn't her talent, dancing was. She jumped out of the car and headed into the New Age Studio. Kerri smiled at Donna, the owner of the studio. Donna let her use the studio free after hours while she did paper work.
Kerri put in her music tape and played it. The tape had all the songs she knew the dances to. She never had a real dance teacher, so she relyed on watching music videos to teach her. Kerri moved through the steps of "you drive me crazy" and "baby one more time" quickly. Her favorite part of the tape began to play, "Backstreets Back" and "As Long As You Love Me". She knew the steps by heart and loved dancing to them.
Nick walked into the Hew Age Studio, and glanced into the name room. Desiree was right, he thought, she is here. He stood back and watched her dance. He laughed softly to himself, it looked like she knew the Backstreet Boys dances better than he did. A lady walked out from a back room, and went over to him.
"Can I help you? You know, studio hours ARE over." She informed him.
"I came here to talk to Kerri. Do you mind if I go see her?" he asked, praying she wouldn't kick him out.
She nodded her head towards the main room before heading back into her office. Nick stepped into the main room. Kerri was sitting in a chair near the corner of the room. She looked up and saw him, sitting up with surprise.
"Nick?" Kerri said, wondering what he was doing there. She glanced in the mirror and noticed she looked like a wreck. She didn't care, she just gazed at Nick as he made his way across the floor. He smiled sheepishly as he sat down in a chair next to her.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing, are you ok?" he said, his smile being replaced by a look of concern.
Oh no, she thought, he saw everything. She could tell by the look on his face. What am I supposed to say to him? Kerri wasn't about ready to spill her life story to him, even if it was Nick Carter.
"Yeah, I'm great." She lied. Please just say ok and leave, she pleaded in her mind.
"I don't mean to sound rude, but you don't look ok. You didn't look ok AT ALL earlier." He said as nicely as he could. Nick just sat there and stared at her, waiting for her reply.
"Mark… he just gets that way sometimes. It is no big deal really. Sometimes he can get jealous, but it is my fault he got that way." It all just started spilling out of her, she couldn't stop it. She needed someone to talk to and he just seemed so willing to listen. "About a month ago I went to a club with another guy. It was a big mistake and I knew it then. Mark was going through a hard time and when the guy asked me I said yes, I thought I needed a change. Well, Mark walked in that night and saw me. He didn't need that at all, it was already a bad time for him. We got into a big fight, but we made up later. That is why he gets jealous. I can't blame him and he doesn't mean anything he does."
"So you don't mind when he hurts you. You just forgive him because you think he can't help it?" Nick said astonished that she was defending him. Mark HURT her just because she looked at me, he thought sadly. She blames herself for him acting that way.
"That is NOT what I meant." Kerri said. Her anger rose slightly, but faded away. He was only trying to be a friend to her. Desiree had said the same things to her MANY times. It just doesn't seem to be true, she thought.
"So what did you mean?" he asked, his blue eyes searching deep into hers.
"I….I don't know." She sighed unhappily. "Mark really doesn't mean to do the things he does."
"But he DOES it." Nick said, Kerri thought about it but didn't say anything. They just sat there and looked at each other for a while.
"So how did you find me, anyways?" she asked wanting to break the heavy silence.
"I tried calling you, but you weren't home. So I got Desiree's number from Aj and she said that you were probably here." He told her, smiling again.
Kerri had to smile to. So it was Nick calling, not Mark. If I would have answered the phone he wouldn't have had to do all that, but the idea that he was pleasant. Thinking about home she was suddenly tired.
"I think I should be getting home. You probably should be too, you have a show tomorrow night." Kerri said yawning.
"Yep, how would you like to come? Desiree too, you could hang out backstage." He asked, his eyes lighting up.
"Sounds great." She said, picking up her things.
"The concert starts at seven, you can come at six if you want." He said. Kerri smiled and nodded in reply. After saying goodbye she headed to her car. Nick understood her, and she was happy she founf another person to confide in. He is a Backstreet Boy, she thought, he isn't going to be around forever. She drove down the rode and she couldn't shake the way Nick had looked at her, the way Mark used to look at her.
"Ughhh." She groaned as should pulled next to Marks car in the parking lot. She turned off the car and sat there for a while. Don't worry, she thought, as long as Mark doesn't know you were with Nick you will be fine. Kerri wondered if she would ever be fine around Mark again. He needs me, Kerri thought, I can't do anything that will hurt him worse than I already have. Sighning, she stepped out of the car and made her way to the appartment.
