Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 14:11:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Jay Chords <chords4@yahoo.com> Subject: Deceiving Secrets - 11 Hi everyone!! I hope you liked Chapter 10. I'm getting back into the swing of things with this chapter. muahahaha. Hope you enjoy! Once again, my e-mail is: chords4@yahoo.com, aim: teDDybearkrU, icq: 75714656 Disclaimer: we all live in a yellow submarine..a yellow submarine..a yellow submarine...we all live in a yellow submarine... Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave FUN! :D -Jay Chapter 11 Brian, Howie, Nick, AJ, and Kevin ran off the stage. It was their last show. The tour was finally over. Brian and Howie sat down on the couch in their dressing room, nursing bottles of water and wiping the sweat from their faces. "It's over. It's finally over," Nick smiled, stripping out of his concert clothes and finding his way to the shower. "How much off time do we have?" AJ asked to no one in particular. "Two months. Then it's off to LA to record." A chorus of groans echoed through the room. Mica and Jeremy stood in the middle of the airport. They had agreed to pick up the group, it had taken some convincing to get Jeremy there. "I don't want to see Kevin, Mica," he said, pacing back and forth. She placed her hands on his shoulders and stared up into his eyes. "I know you don't but it'll help. It's not like you have to talk to him." Jeremy nodded as the flight was announced over the loudspeaker. The two searched the mob of passengers until they found five out of place looking men, trying to act normal. There were a whole bunch of girls who knew that their arrival was today. Mica gave Jeremy an evil grin. "Oh my god! It's The Backstreet Boys!" she shouted and pointed in the opposite direction they were actually in. The girls screamed and ran off toward the gate at the far end of the terminal. Jeremy laughed as he walked up behind the boys. "So how was the flight?" They all turned around and breathed a sigh of relief. "Remind me to kill Mica," Brian laughed. "You, me, and everyone else in the world," he joked. "Everyone here?" they all nodded. "Let's go." They picked up the baggage in silence, Jeremy stayed as close to Mica and as far away from Kevin as possible. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, his gaze cast downward. "Hey Jay, are you okay?" he felt a hand land on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Howie next to him, a concerned look on his face. Jeremy just nodded. "You wanna talk?" "Maybe later," he whispered and climbed into the van they had rented. They dropped of Kevin and Nick before driving to Brian and Howie's place. They had offered one of their spare rooms to AJ so he wouldn't have to be in the house with Kevin. When Jeremy walked into the house Atchika came running up and jumped into his arms. "Hey honey," he cooed and stroked the tiny dog. "What's her name?" AJ asked him. "Atchika. I'm gonna go take her out. I'll be back in a bit." "I'll come with you." AJ followed Jeremy out the door. The two walked in silence for a few minutes. Jeremy couldn't bring himself to look at AJ. He knew that he had probably ruined AJ's relationship with Kevin and it killed him. Had he known about the situation, never would he have said yes to Kevin. "Listen, Jay, I'm not mad at you." "You should be. Heaven knows what I did to the relationship you and Kevin had." "You didn't know Kev and I were a couple. I doubt he told you from the way you reacted to the engagement," he chuckled. Jeremy blushed at the memory of actually hitting someone. It wasn't one of his finer moments. "I know. I feel responsible though. It was so soon, if I had said 'no' then you guys would be planning your wedding." "Too soon after you met him? Yeah, probably." "No, well yes, but my boyfriend left me for someone else a week before your concert," he admitted. "Ouch, man, I'm sorry. How long were you guys together?" "As a couple, 10 years. Friends since were one and a half years old. Our moms always talked about how close we were." "10 years? Wow, mine and Kev's relationship must've seemed like nothing at all." "No matter how long you're together, it still feels like they've ripped out your heart when they leave." "Amen to that." "So how are things with you and Kevin?" AJ held out his hand. "Do you see a ring?" "I'm sorry." "Don't worry about it." "Do you mind if I smoke?" Jeremy asked him. "You smoke?" "Not regularly, just when I'm stressed out." "Sure, go ahead." Jeremy took out a pack and lit one. "Just don't tell Mica. She thinks I quit," he laughed as he took a drag. "I won't." "Can I ask you something?" "Shoot." "Why weren't you sleeping with Kevin that night?" AJ chuckled. "Give me one of those to." Jeremy handed him the package and waited until he too inhaled deeply. "We had a fight about commitment, actually. I wanted to get married and have kids, eventually. Kevin wanted to take a step back." "That sucks," Jeremy took another drag. "Tell me about it. Now I know who the real Kevin is though." AJ took an uneasy breath. "Yeah but you were going to get married." "Did you and." "Chad." "Chad ever talk about getting married?" "Once," Jeremy nodded, inhaling again. "on my 22nd birthday. We had been together six years. I wanted to get married and have children. Chad didn't." "So I guess we were in the same boat." "Yeah, I guess so. Funny isn't it?" "What do you mean?" "Kevin went out with two guys who wanted what he didn't." "Yeah. But I know someone else who wants to get married and have kids. Besides myself," AJ teased, flicking the butt of his cigarette to the ground. "Who would that be?" Jeremy mimicked the movement. "Howie," AJ grinned. "Oh no," Jeremy let the last bit of smoke leave his lungs. "Nu uh!" "Why not? He likes you and I'm pretty sure you like him too." "It's too soon. Chad left for Noelle, Kevin was engaged to you. It's just too soon for me to be in a relationship and plus, I'm sick of being in love." AJ snorted. "Chad left you for a women?" Jeremy glared at him. "Don't start. It hurts enough without someone throwing it in my face." "I'm sorry but man, that's cold." "Tell me about it. He left and didn't even say good-bye except for a damn letter on my laptop." "I say you're better off without him." "You don't know how perfect he was." "Apparently not perfect enough if he left you for a women." "Let's just drop it." "Okay, sorry. But anyways, you don't have feelings for Howie?" "I never said that." "So you do have feelings for him?" "I don't know, AJ. I told you, it's too soon." "I understand that. I do. I just think you should give Howie a chance. He's a great guy." "There's no doubt in my mind that he's not a great guy. But I don't know him at all," Jeremy said as they stopped in front of the house. "Then get to know him." "Nicky!" Lisa screeched and threw her arms around his neck as he walked in through the door. "Hey baby," he grinned and returned the embrace, planting a long kiss on her lips. "I missed you so much," she pouted. "I missed you too. But now I'm back for two months." "Only two months!?" she almost shouted. "Baby, you know how my life works." "I know but I want you all for myself," she smiled sweetly, playing with the buttons on his shirt. He dropped his bags and picked her up in his arms. "There is one thing that is all for you," he grinned and carried her off to the bedroom. Mica, Brian, and Howie were all in the kitchen. Mugs of coffee in their hands. "How was the trip?" Mica asked. "Long." "Boring." "Gee, you guys aren't very good conversationalists," she laughed. "You would be either if you were on a plane for five and a half hours," Brian grumbled. "True, too true. You guys should head off to bed." "I think I will, care to join me?" Brian asked Mica. She thought for a second. "I suppose. What about you Howie?" "Nah, I think I'll stay up. It's early yet and I'd like to get back to normal time as soon as humanly possible." "Suit yourself, night Howie." "Good night guys." He watched the two saunter up stairs, Brian's arm loosely draped over Mica's waist. He shook his head. 'When are those two gonna get together?' he thought to himself. 'Although, I shouldn't be talking. I'm falling for Jeremy and he doesn't even know and he probably doesn't like me back.' Brian and Mica fell onto his bed. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled his head into her neck. "When was the last time you were here?" he asked her. "Last fall I think." "That's too long," he yawned. "I know but someone was just too busy to have me down here." "I'm sorry." "Don't apologize for a job that you love. You don't know how truly happy I am for you. I've watched you go from audition to audition when we were younger now you've got what you've always dreamed of." "I know. I just wish it was a bit more flexible." "Do you love what you're doing?" she asked him seriously. "Of course!" "Then don't question it or look on any downside. God can take it away as quickly as he brought it." "You're too sensible you know that? And too smart for your own good." "I'm not smart. I just know how to use my brain." "Shut up and kiss me," Brian chuckled. "Isn't that my line?" she grinned as the two brought their lips together. "That's something I missed," Brian whispered once they parted. "How long?" "Too long." Kevin paced back and forth in his house. He wanted AJ back but he wanted Jeremy back as well. He knew it was wrong to want two people but he couldn't help it. Part of his heart pulled him toward his AJ, the love of his life for three long years, the other half pulled him toward Jeremy, a fling that wasn't a fling. He had had AJ for three years and he blew it, time to start some place new. Jeremy. He knew Jeremy loved him. AJ and Jeremy walked into the house, Howie was reading on the sofa with a cup of tea in his hands. Jeremy looked to AJ for advice. AJ just winked at him and pushed him toward the living room. He watched AJ tip toe up the stairs. He cleared his throat to get Howie's attention. Howie looked up at him and smiled. "Hey Jay." "Hey Howie." "Wanna sit down?" "Oh, yeah sure." He sat down on the opposite side of the couch. Needless to say, he was nervous. He wanted to get to know Howie really well but he found himself shying away. As if he were almost scared. "You okay?" Howie asked, peering at him. "What?" "Are you okay? You're acting very, almost, distant." "Oh, sorry. I've just got some stuff on my mind." "Care to share?" 'Hell why not,' Jeremy thought to himself. "A couple of people, who shall remain nameless, have been some what suggestive that there may be a certain attraction between you and myself." "AJ, Brian, and Mica, right?" "Yup," Jeremy chuckled. "They won't give it up, will they?" "I guess not." "I have an idea, come with me and follow my lead," Howie giggled as he got up and started toward the stairs. Jeremy followed him into his bedroom. Howie shut the door behind them and leaned up against it. "Oohh JAY!" he yelled in a lustful tone. Jeremy covered his mouth as he tried to contain his laughter. "Oh Howie! Yes! Oh yes!" Howie pursed his lips together and ran over to the bed and started jumping on it. The springs creaking loudly. "Do it to me, Jay! Ooh baby." There was a loud pounding on the door. "Look, I'm happy you two are finally together but KEEP THE DAMN SEX DOWN! Some of us in this house aren't getting any!" AJ yelled through the door. "Soorrryy, AJ!" Jeremy called sympathetically. The two fell onto the bed laughing. "That was priceless," Howie laughed. "I wish we could have seen his face," Jeremy giggled looking up at Howie. He noticed how Howie's hair was laying freely over his shoulders, how loose he seemed. "Jay, you there?" Howie was snapping his fingers in front of his face. "Huh? What? Oh, yeah." "I like you, Jay," he heard Howie saying. "I like you," he heard himself reply. He was watching this happen. He was standing on the other side of the room, watching himself fall in love with this man. This beautiful man. He smiled as he watched himself and Howie gaze into each other's eyes as they kissed for the first time. 'Guess we won't be waiting for long,' he chuckled to himself. In the same swift motion, he was back, pulling away from Howie's lips, staring back into those eyes and smiling. "Wow," they breathed together. "So is this, official?" Jeremy asked. Howie shrugged. "If you want it to be. I'd like it to be." "I'd like for us to have an actual date." Howie chuckled. "Anything for you," he smiled and they shared another kiss. What is going to happen on Howie and Jay's date? Will Mica and Brian consummate their love? What is going on in Kevin's head? And who the hell is this Lisa girl that Nick is getting freaky with? Chords4@yahoo.com