One day I was minding my own business looking at the beautiful sunset

when somebody pushed me. I was loosing my balance when whoever it was

who pushed me caught me by the waist about 10 seconds after whoever it

was pushed me.

"Are you all right?" The person who pushed me asked. It was a guy. "I

didn’t mean to bump into you. I couldn’t stop in time." The voice

sounded familiar but I couldn’t place it.

"I’m fine. You have good reflexes."

"Thanks." I turned around with his arms still around my waist an ended

up looking into the bluest eyes that even the sunset and the ocean

couldn’t compete with, "Are you sure your O.K.?"

"I’m fine." I felt like we were getting closer to each other but it

couldn’t be.

"Are you sure?" I could basically feel his lips.

"Positive." Our lips were touching, We kissed. He pulled away and said:

"I’m so sorry. I’m really re...." I cut him off.

"It’s O.K. Really." I smiled. "What were you doing that you couldn’t

stop in time and why are there screaming girls running this way?"

"I was running from them. Gotta go."

"How will I know where to reach you?"

"I’ll contact you." He said as he ran away in a different direction away

from the girls.

"You....." I then could see more than his eyes. It was Nick Carter!

"....Aaaahhhhhh" I screamed at the top of my lungs. I turned away from

the girls. The girls came up to me and ran down the steps where I was

standing to view the sunset. Nick looked back and saw that, he slowed

down, I started walking toward him.

"I don’t believe you did that."

"I have some idea of what you go through. More now than before. I wanted

to give you a break. And so I have some idea of how to reach you."

"O.K." he said laughing. "Do you have something to write on and with?"

"Yeah hold on." I had a small backpack with paper and a pen. "Here."

"Thanks." He said and smiled at me. He wrote something down. "Here, now

let’s get out of here before the girls realize you tricked them."

When I got home I read what he wrote:

address- 801 W St. James lane, Ruskin FL 33572-2219

cell-1-813-555-6671

home- 1-813-555-6014

e-mail- N_g_C@hotmail.com

*These are not real. Nothing that can be used to contact him are real.

I had given him mine. I just don’t believe it. With out knowing I had

kissed the guy I was obsessed with on the lips! I was screaming inside.

Later that night I was on-line and was IMed by someone I didn’t know.

bsktbaiil2: hi

bsbjem4evr: Hi. Who are you?

bsktbaiil2: someone you know

bsbjem4evr: How?

bsktbaiil2: today, you saved me

bsbjem4evr: Nick!?!

bsktbaiil2: yup

bsbjem4evr: You didn’t give me an AOL SN.

bsktbaiil2: i wanted to surprise you

bsbjem4evr: You surprised me all right.

We talked for about an hour and then I had to get off.

bsbjem4evr: Talk to you later. Bye.

bsktbaiil2: bye, sweetheart

"He’s so sweet." I said to myself

I was eating lunch at my favorite pizza place when someone asks:

"Can I sit with you?"

"Uh..oh, hi Nick. Sure."

"How are you?"

"I’m fine? Why are you asking?"

"I just like to know."

I ate 2 slices of plain, while he ate 4.

"You sure can eat a lot. I forgot your a guy."

"Very funny. Look I gotta go. Go on-line at 7:00?"

"O.K. Bye."

"Bye."

"He is so sweet." I said after he left.

That night on-line.

bsktbaiil2: hey baby

bsbjem4evr: Hey Nick

We talked for a while.

bsktbaiil2: jem, want to go out for ice cream tomorrow at 12?

bsbjem4evr: Sure. Scoop Shop?

bsktbaiil2: yeah. see ya

bsbjem4evr: Bye.

bsktbaiil2: bye

> >

The next day I was at the Scoop Shop for Nick. I waited for an hour, he

never showed. I went home and called his house.

Ring Ring

"Hello?" The person on the other end said. I think it was his mom.

"Hi. Is Nick there? It’s Jem."

"Yeah. Hold on." Hold hand over phone and yells

"Nick! Phone! It’s Jem!"

"I got it!" He said barely audible. "Hello?"

"Nick, I waited at the Scoop Show for over an hour. What’s going on!?!?"

"Jem....I..."

"Nick are you O.K.?"

"No."

"I’ll be right over. Bye."

Click

> >

I ran over to his house and rang the bell. Aaron opened it, Nick’ little

brother.

"Where’s Nick?"

"Upstairs. Why? Are you Jem?

"I need to see him and yes!"

"Come on."

"Thanks." He led me upstairs to where Nick was in bed looking like he

was asleep. I went over and sat on the bed near his head. He woke up.

"Jem?"

"I’m here. What’s wrong?" I asked.

"I have a sore throat, a headache, I’m nauseated, and all around not

feeling well."

"Shh. Just relax. Go to sleep."

"All right." He fell asleep and I kissed him on the forehead.

"He’s got to get better soon if he’s going to perform" His mom told me.

She was standing at the door and saw and heard the whole thing.

"I know." I told her.

"Would you mind taking care of him?"

"No, I wouldn’t mind."

"Good. I’m really to busy and B.J., Lesley, Angel, and Aaron can’t." I

looked at her with a worried expression on my face. "Here’s some tea.

When he wakes up could you give it to him?"

"Yeah. Sure"

"Thanks. Now I can see why Nick really likes you."

I just sat there running my fingers through his hair. He was so pale. He

had no color in his face and was paler than me even though he has a tan

base and I don’t. Despite the fact he’s 6’3" he looked so small. About

an hour later he woke up.

"Nick your mom gave me some tea for you. Could you sit up and try to

drink it?"

"Yeah." He started to sit up and I slid in behind him to give him

something to lean against. Also so he didn’t have to slid up. I got the

cup of tea and gave him the cup keeping my hand on his to steady it. His

mother told me she thought he was sleeping in. Until it was 12:00 and he

still wasn’t up. He had told her where he was going with me yesterday.

He hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since yesterday at dinner. He

finished the tea and I put the cup on his nightstand.

"Do you want me to move so you can lay down?"

"No, it’s O.K. Jem. I like you there."

"Your voice is O.K."

"Yeah, the tea coated it. It still hurts though."

"Don’t try to talk. I’m here and I’ll get you anything you want. O.K.?"

"How about a kiss on the lips?"

"Fine." I slipped out from under him and leaned over and kissed him on

the lips. As I did he put his arms around my waist and pulled me closer

to him. It wasn’t just on kiss it was a few. He pulled me over to the

other side of the bed, turned on his side and continued to kiss me.

After a while he kissed me on the forehead and laid down and just looked

at me.

"You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. I knew that from the

moment you turned around."

"Thanks Nick. Your really sweet."

"Jem?"

"Hmm?"

"I think I’m falling in love with you." I was staring at him not knowing

what to say. I had just met him 3 days ago. I realized that I think I

was falling in love with him too. I didn’t know what I was feeling.

"Nick, I...I..."

"Shh. It’s O.K. You don’t have to say anything. Come here." He put his

hand on the back of my neck and pulled me closer to him. He put my head

on his chest and then put his arm down by my waist on my back. I could

hear his heart beat, I could feel me drifting off, I finally fell

asleep.

> >

When I woke up I was curled up next to Nick with Brian staring at me. I

propped myself up on my elbows and looked around. I also saw A.J.,

Kevin, and Howie.

"What?" I asked sleepily.

"Nothing. I’m just surprised to see a girl curled up with Nick." Brian

said.

"Why?"

"It’s just that Nick’s never been intense enough with a girl to sleep

with her. Or next to her for that matter," A.J. replied.

"Oh great." I said sarcastically. "Leave me alone and let me get back to

sleep."

"Pushy! Anyway, we’re not going to let you. How did you get this far

with him? Kevin asked.

"Long story, let me get to sleep and I’ll tell you later when I’m not so

tired. Leave me alone!"

"No." Howie said

"Um...Hello?" Brian asked after a while. He felt my pulse and if I was

breathing. "She’s asleep."

"That’s strange." Kevin said coming over.

"How?" Howie asked.

"We were being noisy and she still fell asleep."

"She might be faking it." A.J. said helpfully.

"She’s not. She’s too good if she is." Brian said.

"Errgh." Nick said waking up.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Brian asked.

"Better than before."

"Who’s she?" A.J. asked.

"Jem."

"How’d you meet her? She’s really pretty."

"I was running away from these screaming girls. I couldn’t stop in time

and bumped into her. She was at the top of the steps was losing her

balance and I caught her by the waist. The rest went on from there."

"And that happened when?" Brian asked.

"Three days ago."

"What?!" All four of them screamed.

"Huh?" I said waking up.

"Hey." Nick said and kissed me on the forehead.

"Hmm." I said smiling. "How are you?"

"Fine. I have got to take a shower." He started to get out of bed.

"Nick." I put my hand on his shoulder. "Your still a bit sick."

"Jem, I’m fine." I looked at him crookedly. "Well at least a lot better

than I was. Look let me take a shower, and could you get me something to

eat? I’m starved. What time is it?"

"6:30. Fine." I said and pounced over to the floor did a forward roll

and stood up.

"How’d you do that?" They all asked.

"I don’t know. I really don’t know." I replied. I went downstairs to

find the rest of his family eating dinner.

"Oh, hi Jem. How’s Nick" Mrs. Carter asked.

"Fine, he’s taking a shower. Um..."

"Here, I had set this aside for him." She said getting up from the

table. She handed me some pasta and a cup of tea. "You want anything?"

"No, I’m fine."

"All right then."

I went upstairs to find Nick out of the shower with only a towel around

him.

"Oh boy." I said rolling my eyes. Nick was blushing when I reached him.

"Here, I’m leaving, and please put something other than that towel on."

I turned around and walked out after I gave him the bowl and cup. When I

was outside I realized instead of the flat chest I saw in the very few

pics of Nick with his shirt of, he was really starting to develop. God

he looked good!

"Jem you can come back in." Kevin told me.

"Good." I came back in. Nick was eating his dinner.

"Nick we better go. A.J. said.

"O.K. Jem your staying right?"

"Of course."

"Good."

"We’re going." Howie said.

"Bye guys. Hey mom."

"Hi Nick. You certainly do look better. Jem would you mind staying over

tonight?"

"No, I wouldn’t mind."

"Good, look I don’t care what you two do, as long as you have the door

closed." I looked at Nick eyebrows raised. Nick looked back at me with a

look that said I won’t try anything, I promise. "I’ll be leaving now."

"O.K. Mom." After she left I turned to Nick.

"Nick..." He cut me off with a kiss on the lips.

"Jem, I’m going to sleep, whenever you start drifting off just get under

the covers and go to sleep all right? I don’t want you to be cold"

"Uh huh."

"Good. Goodnight sweetheart." and he kissed me on the lips and turned

over. "One last thing."

"Hmm?"

"I want you to come on tour with me."

"All right."

"Good. Goodnight again." After about an hour. I climbed into the bed and

fell asleep.

I woke up looking into Nick’s eyes.

"Good morning sleepyhead."

"Very funny. What time is it?

"10:10. Thanks for taking care of me. The guys are coming over to

practice. Come on you."

"Whoa." He had picked me up and was carrying me downstairs. Nick you

really are better if you’re carrying me."

"Your light."

"Actually I’m a little heavier than A.J. almost as tall as him too."

"Your kidding me?"

"No."

I listened to them practice and watched them get the dance moves down

pat. They’re really good.

After they practiced they were sweaty. Who wouldn’t be. Nick came over

and gave me a hug.

"Nick!" I shrieked. "Was that really necessary?"

"No, you hurt my ears. You can go high. Ow."

"I know. Ugg, now I have to go change. Yuck."

"I’ll drive you home."

"Thanks." Nick change his clothes and drove me home. "This is it." We

both got out of the car. I opened the door and went in. "I’ll go change.

You can wait here if you want." I went upstairs, took a shower, brushed

my teeth, e.c.t. I changed and went downstairs to find Nick at the

bottom of the stairs waiting for me.

"I want to take you out to dinner."

"O.K. When?"

"Tonight."

"A little short on the notice aren’t you?" I said sarcastically.

"Ha." He took a step up. I was on the third step. "Still, will you?" He

took another step.

"Yeah." He took another step. He was on my step. I lost my balance

grabbed him around his neck, fell back on the stairs and pulled him with

me. "Ooph." While we went down we twisted, so he didn’t end up on top of me.

"Are you O.K.?" Nick asked getting up, and pulling me up.

"Yeah. You?"

"I’m a little sore. Still on for dinner?"

"Yeah. Let’s go before anything else happens."

"All right." And he picked me up.

He brought me to my favorite restaurant ‘Ciao’.

"Nick this is my favorite restaurant."

"Really?"

"Yeah." We sat down upstairs. No one else was there.

"Can I get you something to drink?" The waiter asked.

"Yeah. Coke. Jem?"

"A Shirley Temple." The waiter leaves.

"Jem, what is a Shirley Temple?

"Club soda or unflavored seltzer with Grenadine and a cherry."

"Oh, what kind of cherry and can I have it?"

"Marisheno, no."

"Oh come on."

"No, I like the cherry."

"If you have two can I have one?"

"Maybe."

"Come on."

"I said ‘maybe’."

"Here are your drinks."

"Hmm, one cherry. Looks like you don’t get a cherry."

"Rats."

"He, he."

"Can I have a sip?"

"Yeah." He took a sip and brought the cherry up with the straw. "Hey!

Give me back my cherry!"

"Uh, uh."

"Nick." I gave him this puppy dog eye look.

"Fine." He put my cherry back. "I can’t stand that look with your eyes."

"Good. I found something you can’t stand."

"Oh, I give up."

"He he."

"Are you two ready to order?"

"Yeah. Ravioli in butter sauce, no parsley."

"Spaghetti." The waiter leaves. "You’re picky."

"I know."

"Ugg!"

"He, he." After a while the food came. We ate.

"That dinner was good. What’s for desert?"

"Chocolate Mousse Cake. I can never finish a piece."

"Then we’ll split a piece."

"Is everything O.K. here?"

"Yeah, could we have the Chocolate Mousse Cake?"

"Certainly."

"No sauce." I said.

"You are picky!"

"You said that already."

"I know but you are."

"Nick."

"Hmm?"

"I probably would’ve reacted differently with out the guys there when

you just had that towel on."

"How?"

"Oh look our cake. See how you like it Nick." He took a bite.

"Mmm. Delicious." He moved his chair over to the side. "Here." He fed me

a piece. I savored it. After a while I said:

"Nick, I can’t eat anymore."

"I’ll finish it then." He finished it. "I can see why you can never

finish a piece. Check." He paid the check and we left. He drove me home.

We were at the door and I was opening it when he put his arms around my

waist and kissed me on my neck.

"Nick!"

"What? By the way you still haven’t told me what you wouldn’t done with

out the guys there." We went in.

"I know."

"Well?"

"I probably would’ve sat on you’re lap kissed you on the lips and pushed

you down."

"I can see why you wouldn’t want the guys around."

"Yeah. Also it’s not very often I see you without a shirt on."

"Ha. You want me to take my shirt off now?"

"Huh?" By that time we were in my room, and I didn’t realize it.

"Do you want me to take my shirt off? I’ll do it for you."

"Oh great. So you’ll take it off during this tour?"

"Jem-"

"You said you’d do it for me. And I’m going on the tour-"

"That I’ll-"

"Please?" I gave him the puppy dog eye look I had earlier.

"Fine."

"Will you take it off now too?"

"Yeah baby." He started to remove his shirt.

"Reow."

"Ha. That noise is so..."

"So what?"

"Hmm." He kissed me and picked me up. I put my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist to ensure I didn’t fall. He carried me to my be

and sat down. He continued to kiss me.

"Erm."

"What Jem?"

"You’re really stiff."

"Yeah. It’s from performing without time to really relax."

"Want me to give you a back rub?"

"Oh yeah! Thanks."

"You’re going to have to lay on your stomach."

"All right." He laid down and I got this Heaven scented Gap massage oil.

I put it on my hands and started to massage his back. "Mmm. That feels

sooo good."

"Glad you like it."

"What’s that smell. It’s nice."

"Heaven from the Gap."

"Mmm." I leaned over and gave him a kiss on the back of his neck. I

could feel him shiver. "Jem?"

"Yeah?"

"You’re pretty strong."

"You mean that how?"

"You have a nice firm grip. It’s relaxing."

"Thanks." I kissed him on the back of his neck again. He shivered again.

"Jem? What are you doing? The little hairs on the back of my neck keep

pricking up."

"I’m kissing you. You want me to stop?" I asked a little depressed.

"No, I actually like it." I smiled and continued to kiss the back of his

neck, I then started down his back then his shoulders. He turned over

and started kissing me. He put his hand on the small of my back and

pulled me toward him. He continued to kiss me. He rolled on top of me.

"Ermm?!" He stopped. "Nick, I really don’t..."

"I understand. I better get home anyway."

"All right. Bye." I kissed him on the lips. He put his shirt back on and

left.

The next day Nick called me and told me he’d be picking me up in a half

hour to go on the tour.

"All right. Let me get dressed." I said sleepily.

"Did I wake you?"

"No, I had woken up right before you called."

"Oh. Sorry."

"It’s O.K."

"I’m still picking you up in a half hour."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Can I get dressed?"

"Yeah. What are you wearing?"

"Bye." I hung up. I got dressed and the rest of it.

Ding Dong

I opened the door. "You still look half asleep."

"I am. When I sit down I’m going to sleep."

"Then don’t sit down until we reach the bus."

"Ha." He brought my bags to the bus, can back and I was leaning against

the door which was now closed. He picked me up and carried me to the

bus. He sat down at the table with the other guys and sat me in his lap.

I could hear his heart beat and I fell asleep.

I woke up lying down looking at the ceiling in a hotel room.

"Nick?"

"I’m here." He said coming out of the bathroom in the midst of putting

on his shirt. "What’s the matter?"

"Nothing, I just want you."

"I’m here." He said as he held me against him.

"Go back to sleep. I’ll wake you up before we have to go."

"O.K." I fell asleep to his heartbeat yet again. Next thing I knew Nick

was whispering in my ear to wake up. "I’m awake Nick."

"Good. Now let’s go." I got up and followed him out the door. He put his

arm around my waist and I put my head on his shoulder while we waited

for the elevator. It came we went down to meet the guys. We went first

to the bus. They stayed a little longer.

"Those two are just the perfect couple." Brian said.

"A.J. You don’t look very happy for them." Kevin acknowledged.

"I want her."

"You have got to be kidding!" Howie exclaimed.

"No."

"A.J. She’d never go out with you. She loves Nick." Brian said.

"I still want her. That girl is fine."

"A.J. As I said before, she loves Nick."

"Whatever." He headed toward the bus. The rest of the guys followed.

When they got on Nick was lying across the seat where the table was with

his back against the wall stroking my cheek. I was curled up asleep on

his lap.

"Nick move, you’re taking up too much room." Kevin said.

"Kevin, I sorta can’t. Jem’s asleep and my position really doesn’t help

that much."

"Then pick her up off you and sit up, or do that and bring her to the

bunk and get in next to her. You’re taking up too much room.?

"Fine! I’ll move! Give me a minute." He put his arms under me and sate

up. He then brought me over to the bunks and laid me in his. He then sat

on the floor and continued stroking my cheek. Howie came over to Nick

and said:

"You really love her don’t you?"

"Yeah, I do."

"I think you two were brought together by destiny, You’re just too

perfect for each other from what I’ve seen. She’s been asleep around us

except for what? 20 minutes? And even then she hardly talks to us except

for us to let her get back to sleep."

"Don’t worry D, she’ll be awake more after this. You just always catch

her when she’s really tired."

"I’ll leave you two alone now."

"Uh huh." Nick said half listening. He leaned over and kissed my

forehead. I sighed in my sleep and Nick smiled. He thought to himself:

"I really do lover her. More than anything in the world." and continued

stroking my cheek.

When we got to the arena Nick didn’t want to wake me up. So he carried

me through the girls outside with security really tight on him. He found

a bench and sat down on it still holding me. After a while I woke up

because of the noise of putting together the stage.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"About a half hour."

"And you’re still holding me?"

"Jem I wouldn’t leave you alone here. I don’t want you to get hurt in

any way."

"You’re sweet." I kissed him quickly on the lips.

"Thanks. Now could you get up? My legs are going numb."

"very funny." I got up off of him.

"Well we have a little time to kill. Do whatever you want to but meet me

by the dressing room at 2:00 O.K.?"

"Yeah." They had finished setting up the stage and I went over to the

keyboards.

"Hey!" Some guy said. "Play the keyboard. I want to check if it’s

connected. After that you can continue playing."

"All right!" I started playing the Pink Panther. Later I went into Für

Elise. Nick, Kevin A.J., Brian, and Howie came over but not close enough

so that I could see them. I then went into Sonata by Mozart which is

really difficult.

"Geez what can’t you play?" Kevin asked.

"A lot. I really can’t play by ear."

"You’re good. Play something else."

"All right."

"Could it please be something we know?"

"I was going to play something you knew."

I started playing As Long As You Love Me.

"Oh God!" Nick exclaimed. "You know this? What else do you know?" I

stopped playing.

"Quit Playing Games (With My Heart), Open Arms and soon I’ll know the

rest of the songs on the album."

"How?" All of them asked.

"I ordered the sheet music from amazon.com. WB/Zomba put out the book of

music."

"Ugg! You annoy me with these things." I did the puppy dog eye face and

whimpered. "Oh, I can’t get mad at you when you do that. Come here

baby." I went down to him and he put his arms around my waist, kissed me

on the lips, and held me close. I put my arms around his neck and put my

head on his shoulder.

"I think you two should get ‘the cutest couple made by an accident’

award." Brian said.

"Very funny B-rok. What exactly is that supposed to mean?" Nick asked.

"I mean if you weren’t in this group and those girls weren’t running

toward you and you away from them. You two wouldn’t have met."

"Oh."

"Come on guys it’s time for the sound check. Thanks for doing the

keyboards Jem." Kevin said.

"You’re welcome." I said sarcastically.

"She can be funny too?!"

"Ha."

"I agree with Brian. You are the cutest couple made by an accident.

You’re perfect for each other." Howie said.

"This is going to be one long 2 months." I said.

I watched from the side of the stage. The show is the best! And I get to

see it 30+ more times! Yay! Anyway I got a kiss from Nick everytime he

went backstage and came out on stage. He finally took his shirt off in

concert. Boy were the girls screaming more than usual. We went back to

the hotel. I stayed in Nick’s room.

"Good night Jem." He started to get up.

"Nick?"

"Yeah? What is it?" He came back down.

"Could you sleep next to me tonight?"

"Jem I want to be safe. No."

"All right." He kissed me on the forehead.

A little bit later. "Huh? Jem, what is it?"

"I’m cold."

"Come under baby." I got under the covers and cuddled up next to him. I

fell asleep to his heart beat yet again.

When I woke up I said:

"At least I got to sleep next to you."

"Ugg. You annoy me." I whimpered. "What was that? Oh I can’t get mad at

you. You can be so pathetic." "I know." I said smiling.

"Err."

"Hehe."

Things went on like this for a few days then when I was getting a drink

from the cooler at the arena A.J. came up to me....

"Oh, hey A.J."

"Hi Jem." I threw away the cup I was using. "What? You’re looking at me

funny."

"Nothing." He started coming close. I moved back.

"A.J. it has to be something." I was up against the wall.

"It’s nothing." He then kissed me real hard on the lips and pulled me

close to him. I tried to push him away but he was too strong for me.

When he stopped. I slapped him.

"What the hell was that for?"

"Jem, I really want you. You’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen."

"Is that all you care about? A.J. I love Nick. I wouldn’t even be with

you if you were the one who bumped into me." I walked away leaving A.J.

standing dumbfounded where I once was. Little did I know that Nick had

seen me and A.J. when out lips were locked and to him it looked as if I

was kissing A.J. back.

> >

After the show I waited by the dressing room like I always do. Nick came

out first as always but instead of giving me a kiss and walking with me

to the bus, he just brushed past me. I was stunned for a moment then

turned around and jogged after him.

"Nick. What’s..." He tuned around.

"Look. Just shut up. I thought you loved me. I was wrong."

"But..."

"Jem I love you but after what I saw I don’t know what I fell. You

betrayed my love for you by kissing A.J."

"But..." The other guys came out of the dressing room and stood there.

"No buts. I don’t want to speak to you again. I will if I have to and I

will tolerate your being on tour. But the minute we’re close enough to

home to drop you off. I will." He turned and stormed away.

"But."

"Well, well..." A.J. started saying from behind me. I turned around and

slapped him again. "Ow! What was that for?"

"That was for making me lose the man I love. You have no idea what you

just did."

"Jem.. I.."

"Just leave me alone. You’ve done enough." I walked away in the opposite

direction Nick did. When I turned the corner I started jogging. When I

reached the end of the corridor. I had really started crying. I leaned

against the wall and slumped to the floor. I then started crying my eyes

out. After a few minutes...

"Jem stop crying." It was Brian. I picked my head up.

"I can’t." I said in between sobs.

"Yes you can. Just calm down. You can cry on my shoulder." He gave me a

hug and tried to calm me down. I continued to cry. I stopped five

minutes later. But by that time Brian’s shirt was drenched with my

tears. "Is that better?" He asked.

"I guess." I replied.

"You usually sleep in Nick’s room don’t you?"

"Uh huh."

"Do you want to sleep in my room in the other bed?"

"O.K."

"All right. Get up. You’re too big for me to carry you."

"I’ll carry her cuz." Kevin had come to where we were.

"Thanks Kev."

"Come on Jem." He came over, put his arms under me, and picked me up. I

put my arms around his neck and my head on his shoulder. He carried me

to the bus and sat down in front nowhere near Nick. A.J. was sitting in

the middle off the bus. He headed for Kevin and Brian who had sat down

next to Kevin and was drying the tears from my face.

"Look..."

"A.J. Go away. You’ve made her lose Nick. The least you can do is leave

her alone." Kevin said as he glared at A.J. He started to open his mouth

to say something but just went back to his seat.

When we got to the hotel Brian and Kevin went straight to the elevators

and carried me to Brian’s room. A.J. woke Howie up who had been sleeping

very peacefully and took the stairs to the 12th floor where the rooms

were. Nick stayed on the bus until he though he wouldn’t run into

anyone. When Nick got to his room he took my suitcases and things and

put them outside. He still cared enough about me not to throw them. Kevin

went to the hall and got my things and brought them to Brian’s room.

Kevin went back to his room after giving me a kiss on the cheek and

telling me everything would be all right. Brian went in the bathroom to

change while I changed in the bedroom. When he came out I was under the

covers my eyes welling up with tears. Brian tucked me in and gave me a

kiss on the forehead. I cried myself to sleep that night.

I woke up with another blanket on me and Brian sitting on the edge of

the bed.

"How are you?"

"Fine except for the fact that Nick’s still mad at me."

"Jem... Never mind. I’ll let you get dressed. I’ll be outside if you

need me."

"Uh huh." I got dressed, you know the routine. I opened the door and

found Brian standing against the wall.

"Brian."

"Yeah Jem?" He came in.

"I’m hungry."

"I’ll order room service. What do you want?"

"Pancakes would be fine."

"You still upset?"

"Yeah. Brain I still love Nick. He wouldn’t ever let me explain."

"Why don’t you try today? He’s probably a little less mad."

"All right." Brian ordered, it came, and we ate.

We headed for the venue same place on the bus we were before except

Howie and Kevin sat across from me and Brian. After 10 minutes of

milling about. I finally went to explain to Nick. But when I found him

he was with a girl I had never seen before and she defiantly wasn’t

related to him since he leaned in and kissed her gently on her lips

while holding her close. My first reaction was hate and I clenched my

fists together but then my eyes welled up with teas and I tuned and ran

for Brian, Kevin, or Howie. Nick had heard me running away and had a sad

look on his face but tuned back to the girl he was with. I kept running

until I was in Kevin’s arms.

"Jem, what’s the matter?"

"Nick was kissing another girl." I cried.

"Oh Jem. I’m so sorry." He held me until I calmed down which was five

minutes before he had to go on. But he made it. Coming back it was the

same as before but this time I didn’t want to see Nick. That night I

cried myself to sleep again.

This went on for a few days until Brian had a secret meeting with Kevin,

A.J., and Howie, in Kevin’s room after I was asleep.

"Guys we have to get Nick and Jem back together before Jan 1. Actually

before 8:00pm Dec 31 which is in 2 weeks." Brian said.

"Isn’t Jan. 1 her birthday? And why before then?" Howie asked.

"Yes it is and because Nick was going to propose to her right after

12:00 when we’re on MTV Live-The New Years Special."

"He was going to propose?" Kevin questioned.

"Yes, he loves her that much that he wants everyone to know. He even has

the ring for her."

"Look I’ll do anything to help." A.J. said.

"You better. You’re the one who started this mess." Kevin snapped.

"Then it’s settled. We have to get those two back together before 8:00pm

Dec 31. The question is how?" Howie thought. What am I talking about

they all thought about that question.

After a few days they still hadn’t thought of anything. Brian saw me

leaning against the wall.

"Jem are you O.K.? You don’t look so well."

"I’m fine."

"All right." The truth was I felt awful. I was hot and tired. I couldn’t

keep this up much longer.

As usual I cried myself to sleep. But I didn’t wake up when I usually

did and Brian got worried.

"She’s probably just sleeping a little longer. She did cry longer than

usual." He thought. But when he came over to kiss me on the fore head I

was really hot.

"Oh God. She has a fever." He went and got Kevin. They both took care of

me. I opened my eyes slightly once in a while. Brian let to go outside

and found Nick coming out of his too,.

"I’d though you left already." Nick said. He turned around to go back.

"Nick, Jem’s sick. She has a 103º temperature. Don’t you even care a

little?" Nick’s face softened but he didn’t turn around.

"Brian she kissed A.J."

"Man, you are so mad at her you wouldn’t even let her explain. When she

did try she saw you kissing another girl."

"Then what’s the explanation?" He turned around has face a little softer

than it had been wince he got mad at me.

"A.J. kissed her. You know he can hold her. She was trying to push him

away. after you stormed away I saw her slap him. She said it was for

making her lose the man she loved. She’s been crying herself to sleep

every night." A worried look came over Nick’s face.

"No. It can’t be that she’s been crying."

"Nick here’s my key go to her. I think she’ll be really happy even

though she’s sick."

"Thanks Bri." He took the key and basically ran to Brian’s room and to

me. He dropped to his knees by my head and started kissing me.

"Jem, Jem. I’m so sorry," He started crying, "I’m so sorry." He sobbed.

"I’ll leave you two alone." Kevin said as he left.

"Nick what about that girl?" I finally said after a while of him crying

and apologizing.

"Oh, Jem. I just wanted to get back at you for kissing A.J. I never knew

who that girl was. I still don’t know her. Will you forgive me?"

"Yes." I groaned.

"Baby are you all right? Is there anything I can do?"

"No I’m not. Just take care of me."

"I will. I’ll even miss the concert tonight if I have to."

"Don’t do that."

"Jem I don’t that."

"Jem I don’t want to leave you like this."

"You’re sweet."

There was a knock on the door.

"Be right back sweetie." He answered it. It was Brian.

"I think we should switch rooms tonight. I don’t think we should move

her."

"I agree but..."

"I’ll move everything. Don’t worry. Just stay with her. I just need your

key."

"Here. Thanks Frick."

"You’re welcome Frack." They went into the room and Brian started moving stuff.

"But what about the concert? I can’t leave her."

"Take care of her until 10 minutes before. If she’s well enough for you

to leave come to the venue. Otherwise stay with her."

"O.K." By that time Brian had finished moving things.

"I care about her as much as you do." Nick gave him a questioning look.

"But not in the same way. She’s a sweet girl and I don’t want anything

to happen to her. Same with Kevin and Howie."

"Oh. That’s sweet." Nick turned back to me.

"I’ll leave now."

"All right." Nick went to get a cool cloth. It might bring my fever down

a little. He started wiping my face and then put it on my forehead. He

soaked it periodically when it got too warm. It did help and by the time

he should leave my fever was down enough so that he could leave me. He

performed and rushed right back to me not waiting for the other guys. I

was asleep. He changed and got in next to me holding me tight against

him like he was protecting me from some evil that would harm me.

I woke up the next morning feeling much better. The next week passes

uneventful except for the occasional kiss that would be in view of the

audience. The girls were screaming more than they were when Nick took

his shirt off.

When we got to New York. Nick wanted to take me someplace. He told me to close my eyes. I did, When I could open them we were in a small place in

Central Park. I looked around.

"It’s pretty"

"Yeah. But not as pretty as you." I looked at him and blushed. He kissed

me softly on the lips. I kissed him back. We kissed for a wile then

headed to meet the guys for lunch. We ate and went for some

sight-seeing. I really don’t remember what we saw because me and Nick

were kissing too much.

We headed to MTV Studios around 8:00pm and got there around 9:00pm. They went on MTV Live while I stayed by the side.

"Now there are very few people who’s birthday is today or tomorrow. None

of them famous so we can’t do any happy birthdays." Carson Daily said.

"Actually a friend of mine’s birthday is tomorrow." Nick said.

"Really? Well what’s his name we’ll say happy birthday to him."

"She’s right over there. Come here Jem." I came over and sat on Nick’s

lap.

"Your birthday is January 1? That’s cool."

"Yeah." They talked a little more until five minutes before midnight.

"We’ll go over to the window here. We have a good view of the ball. Look

at all those people. This time most of them aren’t fans." Carson said.

"Yeah, for a change." A.J. said.

The ball started to drop.

"10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1... Happy New Year!" Everyone

said. "Happy birthday Jem."

"Jem?" Nick said.

"Yeah." He pulled me away from the window a little. He got something out

of his pocket and went down on one knee and opened a box. Inside was a

diamond ring.

"Will you marry me?" I was speechless.

"Yes. Yes." My eyes started to water. He slipped the two rings already

on my finger off and put on the diamond. He kissed me on the lips and

held me close. I put my arms around his neck and kissed him back. I then

put my head on his shoulder and my tears went down my face onto his

jacket.

"This has never happened before. Look at the size of that diamond!"

The ring was a 4 kt diamond surrounded by 15 1/2 kt diamond brigets. I

have no idea how much this was worth and I probably would faint at the

cost if he told me.

"Jem are you crying?"

"Yes" I picked my head up to look at him. "It’s just..." He kissed me on

the lips.

"It’s O.K." I smiled. He started to dry my tears.

"If you don’t mind me asking. When did you two meet?" Carson asked.

"December 1." Nick answered.

"You’ve only known her a month!"

"Yeah. So?"

"You.. Forget it. We have to continue the show."

We went back to our seats and Nick pulled me onto his lap again. The

guys took some calls most of them the girls were screaming at Nick and

asking him why? Why? WHY? His response. "I love her."