Chapter 21

"Karen?" Brian asked as he broke the silence in his car. "Nick told me what happened?"

"He did?" Karen said weakly.

"Yeah, are you okay?" Brian asked worried.

"I'm fine.." Karen mumbled.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm fine..."

"No, your not."

"I am!"

"Please Karen tell me the truth. I can tell in your voice that you aren't fine at all."

She didn't answer him. Brian continued to drive, but he was not heading back to their home, he ended up at a park. He got out of his jeep and went to the passenger side and opened the door for Karen.

"Where are we? What are we doing here?" Karen asked.

"Karen, we need to talk. You have to admit that a lot has happened today and our most recent event was not as pleasant as I hoped it would be." Brian said. "I wanted you to fit in and feel comfortable around us, so you wouldn't be afraid. Things happened today unexpectedly and surprised us all, especially you and me."

"Brian?" Karen said. "Not everything is perfect you know. I know you want me to start a new life with you and all your friends, but it is hard for me to let go of the past. I can't just let it go, it just sits there in my mind as I am waiting for it to jump out and make me go insane."

"I know it's hard, but please don't shut me out, I want to help and I mean that..." he paused. "Really I do. I don't want to see you hurt, you have been hurt a lot in the past. Please just be honest with me and know that you can trust me with everything you say." He stopped in his steps. "Please?"

Karen looked down to the ground. 'I CAN trust you, it's just that....' as she opened her mouth to say, but no words came out.

"Karen? Please?" he asked again sincerely. He reached out and lifted up her chin and looked her in the eyes with a genuine look.

'He really cares, the look on his face...he's hurt... but it's not only because of me is it?' Karen observed. 'Leigh Anne? Is he also thinking about Leigh Anne?'

"I can't stand this silence, please just talk to me," he said again.

"Brian," she had finally said, "I DO trust you, you've been there for me all day. You even held my hand to make sure I was okay. I know it probably made your friends think of you differently since you do have a girlfriend and all."

"That doesn't matter, I wanted you to loosen up and have fun!"

"Yeah I know, thank you for that. I guess I just need some time."

"Karen? Can I ask you about Nick?" Brian asked carefully.

"Sure.." she mumbled.

"What happened?"

"He told me he wanted to be more than friends. And then he kissed me."

"And?"

"Well, as he did that, a picture of my..." she turned away and began to tear up, "...of my stepfather flashed into my mind..." she began to cry harder, "...and I pushed him away..." she paused for a second. "I got up to leave and he grabbed my arm, he wouldn't let me go, he told me not to tell anyone... and he gave me a kiss on the cheek. My mind began to play games with me and all I could see was my stepfather telling me that if I told anyone he'd kill me... kill me."

She was shivering from the cold night air. Brian took off his jacket and put it around her to keep her warm. But it wasn't enough so Brian pulled her in towards him and embraced her trying to keep her warm and comfort her saying, "I didn't know he was going to do that, I'm sorry, it's my fault, I thought he just wanted to talk. But this is Nick we're talking about, he wouldn't hurt a fly." Brian continued to embrace her and they continued to stand there until she stopped crying.

"Let's go home, we need to get some sleep, it's been a long day." Brian suggested.

"Thanks for being there for me today Brian."

"It's not a problem."

"No, I mean... What I'm trying to say is, I heard you yelling at Nick and I don't think he meant it really, but thank you so much for trying to protect me." Karen said. "I know I've only been here a day and so far, I feel like I've known a long time, but I also feel like I'm already in the way of you and your friends and your girlfriend."

Brian didn't say a word all the way back to the car. Karen didn't expect him to answer so she just left it at that.

They headed back to Brian's jeep and headed back home. Halfway there, Karen had fallen fast asleep. 'She looks so peaceful when she's sleeping. I just wish I could make her happy. She deserves that after all she's been through. But I think this is a beginning of a lot of things, especially for her and I'll be there 100% to make sure she's alright?' he thought to himself. 'Leigh Anne? I have to go talk to her first thing tomorrow.'

Back at the hotel, Dawn sat on her bed looking at the torn up Theresa. 'Should I tell her about Aaron and I?' she contemplated in her mind. 'Man, she is really taking this hard, but maybe she's over reacting, maybe she misunderstood?'

Theresa sat in the hotel room chair, starring into outer space. 'Nick does like Karen, why did I have to walk in on them kissing? Who does Karen think she is, waltzing into is life like that. I just can't believe he lead me on like that. He flirted with me and he.... He's just like all other stars, just because they're famous they think they can have anyone they want.' she thought angrily. 'But..who wouldn't want him, he's so gorgeous. Man, why did I have to fall for him? After this trip it's not like I'm ever going to see him again.' Theresa looked at Dawn. 'I'm sorry for ruining the fun for Dawn, I seem to be ruining her vacation, she must think I'm a bad best friend. Lately, it seems like I've always been complaining about me, me, me, I never asked her how she was, she had to put up with my crap the whole time. Man, I just want to go home now.' Theresa continued to sit there, with constant thoughts going through her head.

"Theresa?" Dawn said interrupting her thoughts. "Are you okay?"

Theresa looked up at Dawn.

"Theresa, are you okay?" she asked again.

Theresa continued to look at her and just started to cry.

Dawn got up and walked up to her, "Theresa please don't cry, you are 100 times better than Karen."

"Yeah, if I'm 100 times better, why would Nick choose HER over me."

"He doesn't realize it yet, but he's missing out on a lot. He doesn't know what you have to offer. And it's more than what Karen has to give to him."

"Do you really mean that?"

"Yeah I do," Dawn confirmed.

"Dawn?" Theresa said. "I'm sorry for ruining you vacation."

"You didn't ruin my vacation, actually my vacation has just gotten better."

"What do you mean?" Theresa asked.

"Oh..umm.." Dawn mumbled not knowing what to say, 'Oh no, I..I can't she's going to flip.'

"Dawn, What do you mean?" Theresa pressured.

"Promise me you won't flip?" she assured.

"I promise."

"Aaron asked me out."

"What? When? Why would I flip out? I'm happy for you." Theresa said weakly.

"When we were about to leave, he walked me out front and he asked me there. I wasn't sure if I should tell you because.. because of Nick." she explained.

"Nick...? I.. I.." Theresa looked down.

"See, I didn't want that to happen." Dawn mentioned.

"I'm sorry I'm just hurt right now, I'm confused, I don't know what to do." Theresa said. "But I really am happy for you. Please don't let ME ruin it for you."

"You aren't Theresa, trust me! I just don't want to see you like this all vacation alright?"

"Okay, right now I think I just need time away from them. I need time alone." Theresa said.

"So is it alright if I go see Aaron tomorrow?" Dawn asked unsure.

"Sure, go do whatever you want. Just don't let me hold you back." Theresa said.

"Theresa, please don't think that you're ruining my vacation, please?"

"Okay, can you just leave me alone right now?" she snapped.

"I'm sorry, I'm going to sleep," Dawn said quietly and quickly crawled under her covers. 'God, Theresa, why do you have to take it so hard? Is it because he's a Backstreet Boy? Man, I want to help somehow, maybe...maybe Aaron and I can talk to Nick. Yeah and we can try to hook them up. We'll plan it out tomorrow when I go see him.' Dawn felt much better and had fallen asleep dreaming about her and Aaron.

Theresa continued to sit on the chair, contemplating everything that has happened on the trip so far. 'Honestly, I had fun the first day we met, but ever since Karen showed up, my vacation has been in hell. Except when she wasn't around. But every time she shows up, Nick becomes all weird.' Theresa couldn't let it go. 'I hate her. I've never hated someone so much before.'

Back at the Carter house, Aaron walked into the room he shared with Nick. He looked at Nick's part of the room, and Nick was sitting on his bed with his head in his hands. "Nick?" Aaron spoke up, "Are you okay?" There was no answer. "Nick? I asked Dawn out."

Nick looked up. "You did what?"

"I asked Dawn out."

"To be your girlfriend?" he asked surprised.

"Yeah."

"What? How? When?" he wondered.

"Well, it was weird, we were having so much fun and..we kissed."

"You kissed?" Nick was surprised more than ever, 'He's only 11?' he told himself. "Are you sure about this Aaron?"

"Yeah, I'm sure."

'It's probably just puppy love.' Nick thought. "So when did you ask her out?"

"Tonight. When she was leaving. I walked her out to her car and I did it."

"Way to go, Aaron." Nick said weakly. 'God, even my brother can get a girl without a problem.' Nick sadly thought. "Just be careful though, I don't want to see you hurt," he warned his little brother.

"I will," Aaron said, "What about you? Any luck?"

Nick looked all sad again, "Don't even ask. Karen would never go for me after what I did tonight."

"Karen?" Aaron asked. 'What about Theresa?' he thought. "What did you do?"

"Let's not talk about it okay, I think I'm gong to go to sleep, it's been quite a day." Nick said quickly and he dove under his covers hoping that Aaron wouldn't ask anymore questions.