Brian walked down Main Street by himself walking in and out of stores. He couldn't find anything to buy. He bought a small gift for Karen though, he bought her an ID bracelet with her name on it. He felt he owed her it for being there for him. He walked into the Tommy Hilfiger store and saw the blue sweater that Karen recommended the day THEY went shopping together. He went to try it on and he smiled. "It sure does look good!" he said out loud. He had to buy it. As he went to pay for it, he spotted Dawn and Theresa. 'Hey I wonder what they're doing here?' He grabbed his bag and walked up to the girls, "Hey Dawn.. Theresa... what are you two doing?"
"Hey Brian," Dawn responded. "We've decided to go shopping today...what are you doing? Are you alone?"
"I'm shopping, taking my mind off Leigh Anne." Brian replied.
"Oh... do you want to join us?" Dawn asked.
Brian looked at Theresa who was fidgeting and trying to wander away. "No, it's alright. I think I'd rather shop alone." he said continuing to look at Theresa. 'I wonder what her problem is?' he thought. 'She can't even look me in the eye.' He turned to Dawn, "Well, I'll see you around."
"Yeah, later." Dawn said.
"Bye, Theresa." Brian called out.
Theresa gave him a weak smile. As he walked out the store. Brian walked down the street when he spotted Leigh Anne and Jordan at the cafe across the street. 'Could my day get any better?' he continued to walk by trying to ignore them. 'I should start heading home. It's getting late.' he continued. 'Plus I don't want to run into anyone else today.'
Leigh Anne saw Brian and was about to call out to him. But she stopped herself, 'I think he wants to be alone right now.' She went back to her conversation with Jordan.
Dawn went up to Theresa, "What's up? You ignored Brian the whole time."
"He probably thinks I'm a bad person because of what I did to Karen last night. Those two are awfully close." Theresa commented. "I just didn't want to be in his face."
"Okay?" Dawn said not knowing what else to say. 'We're suppose to be having a good time and I don't want to ruin our day so I'm not going to say anything.' she thought to herself.
"Dawn? Do you think Brian hates me?" Theresa asked.
"No, I honestly think he's confused, he's had a lot on his mind with that whole Leigh Anne thing and all. I don't think he has time to worry about Karen right now." Dawn replied.
"I hope you're right..." Theresa whispered.
At about 7 : 30 pm, Karen and Nick were still sleeping, when Kevin and Howie arrived at home. Howie followed the music and saw that Karen and Nick were sleeping on the couch in each other's arms. "Isn't that cute, Kev? Our little Nicky is growing up.." he laughed.
"Yeah, he seems happy with this girl." Kevin sighed. "Maybe she would make Nick be a little more mature about things."
"Kevin!!" Howie said protecting Nick. "Nick is 19 and he is younger than all of us, it's his duty to be the immature one."
"Yeah, him and Brian put together is trouble." he said. "Even A.J. acts more mature than that."
"A.J. is not as responsible though. You have to admit, Nick can be more responsible than A.J. at times."
"I guess that's true." Kevin sighed. "Let's go start up some dinner."
"Okay," Howie said walking towards the kitchen.
Kevin stood at the doorway, continuing to watch the two sleeping lovebirds. He had grown to love Karen like his own sister very fast. She was kind, sweet and harmless. 'He better be good to her.' he said.
Just then Brian walked in. Kevin turned around. "Hey cuz, where have you been?"
"Oh I went shopping.. You know get my mind off things." Brian said.
"Did you get anything interesting?" he said trying to get around the topic of Leigh Anne.
"Nah, same ole, same ole." Brian said. "Hey, is Nick and Karen still here?"
"Yeah, they fell asleep with the TV on in the family room." Kevin said turning towards them. "They sure do look cute together."
"Yeah, they sure do." Brian said somewhat hiding his sarcasm. "I'm going to go put this away, I'll be right down to help you with dinner." he said heading up the stairs.
He headed straight to his bedroom and pulled out the bracelet. He admired it and put it in his sock drawer. 'I'll give it to her later.' He pulled out the sweater and hung it in his closet. He changed his clothes into a pair of tearaway track pants and a t-shirt and went downstairs to help the other guys out with dinner.
In the family room, Karen woke up to the scent of food. "Mmm.. smells good.." she said softly trying not to wake Nick up.
To her surprise Nick replied, "Yeah, but it doesn't smell as good as you."
"You're awake!" she said.
"Yeah, I've been up for a couple of minutes and I've just been watching you sleep." Nick said. "You sure do look lovely in your sleep."
"Why thank you..." she looked at the TV, "I guess we left the television on... oops."
"Nah, it's okay."
"We fell asleep for almost 5 hours." Karen said looking at the clock. "I didn't think I was that tired."
"You've been through a lot." Nick mentioned.
"Yeah, I guess." she turned to face Nick, "You know what?"
"What?"
"I want you to sing to me!"
"What?"
"Sing to me...."
Nick looked at her, and smiled. "What song?"
"I don't know. A good song."
"Hmm...let me think." he said thinking of a song to sing. "What about this?" he said as he started to sing 'I Want it That Way'..."You are my fire, the one desired, believe when I say that I want it That way...."
Brian, Kevin and Howie heard this and went to join him. Brian chimed in..."And we are two worlds apart, can't reach too your heart when you say that I want it that way...."
A.J. walked in the door and heard this..."Tell me why.." They weren't singing their own parts but collaborated with it.
Then they all joined in together. "...Ain't nothing but a heartache..Tell me why..Ain't nothing but a mistake..Tell me why..I never wanna hear you say....Cause I want it that way..." As they finished Karen looked at them in awe.
"Well, wasn't that lovely..." Karen grinned. "The Backstreet Boys singing to me... aren't I special?"
Kevin, Howie and A.J. looked at each other. Brian noticed this and spoke up, "She saw us on TV this morning...." as he continued to explain. "..and she asked about it cause she also saw Nick's platinum award at his house."
"Yes, Brian tried to lie about it until I saw the music video this morning. I busted y'all." Karen laughed.
"Well, that's something we don't have to keep from you anymore.." Kevin said.
"Why? What else aren't you telling me?" Karen said worried from all the secrets.
"Oh nothing, it's just that we were trying to figure out a way to tell you before we went on tour..." Howie explained.
"Yeah, it would've been hard for us to keep it from you when we're away for 6 months..." A.J. said.
"Yes, Brian explained that to me..." Karen said.
"Oh.. ok.." Kevin said. "Let's get some chow alright?" He said as him and the others got up and headed to the kitchen.
"Yeah it smells good," Karen said getting up.
Nick grabbed her waist. "YOU.. wait here with me.."
"But, I'm hungry..." she pleaded.
"Karen, I want to ask you to come on tour with us." Nick said. "I don't want to leave you for 6 months."
"Brian told me you would ask me and I told him I need time to think about it, I need to find a job and pay these guys back. So I could do that..."
"No, please come?" he asked.
"I said I'd think about it, Nick. Please don't pressure me." she said cautiously.
"Okay. But please think about it.."
"I will..." Karen kissed him and headed to the kitchen.
Theresa and Dawn had reached the hotel when they joined their families for dinner. "Well, we haven't done this for awhile," Mrs. Wesenburg said.
"It's good to have dinner with you girls for once." said Theresa's mother.
"Yeah, it's been awhile." Dawn said.
"So what have you girls been up to besides hanging with the Backstreet Boys they asked? Are you enjoying it here?" Their parents asked eagerly.
Dawn and Theresa knew where this was heading towards and they replied. "Yeah, we're having a great time. Who'd know we'd meet the Backstreet Boys."
"I'm glad you guys are having a good time." Mr. Wesenburg said. "We have some news... Both our families are going to be moving down here because us fathers both recieved jobs down here. That's why we came down in the first place. I hope you guys don't mind."
"I don't mind!" Dawn said happily.
"Theresa?"
"Yeah, I'm fine with it." she said uneasily.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah...." Theresa replied. 'As long as I don't have to face Nick which is going to be hard.' she thought.
"Alright. We'll be moving down here in September...." Mrs. Wesenburg said. "We're going house hunting tomorrow. Do you girls want to come?"
"Yeah," Dawn said.
"Sure," Theresa replied.
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