Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 23:12:16 +0000
From: N D <pytn18@hotmail.com>
Subject: nick and ashley-chapter 32

DISCLAIMER: I don't know O-town or the Backstreet Boys or N'Sync and am not
implying anything. This is just fantasy and if homosexual content offends
you or is illegal for you to read, please leave. I am not affiliated with
them, J records, Jive records, MTV, ABC or anything.

The only thing I have remotely in common with these boys is that Ashley
Parker Angel and I were born on the exact same day-August 1, 1981.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: This chapter is dedicated to Wes...we wish you the best
buddy and a safe recovery.

Jayson and Kyriel2's sidelines for AJ/Jacob and Dan/Devon are out and in
the directory so make sure you check them out. Thank you to both of them
for writing amazing contributions.

Make sure everyone checks out "Making the Band" every Saturday night at 9pm
on MTV. It's been a great 3rd season for the O-town boys so far and next
episode looks real good (especially for Ashley fans!)

Other great reads
"Fame, Love and Reality" by Alejandro my good buddy.
"Never guess who ran into me today" by SquallThrawn
"Encountering Nick" by Kdawg (coming to Jay Vascardi's site soon)
"How do I say" by Jennifer Lankford


http://jcv.5u.com/all/worldofslash/ --Jayson Vascardi's website that
features my story and many other slash fiction stories. Go check it out.

Pytn18@hotmail.com for suggestions and comments.

Nick and Ashley-Chapter Thirty-Two

Ashley finally reached the studio where the Backstreet Boys were working on
their new album and as he shut the door to his car he decided to calm
himself down. He just needed to see Nick. He went through the revolving
door and looked into the side window to the studio. He saw Howie and Kevin
working on their vocals with some of the managers. 'I wonder where everyone
else is?' Ashley thought to himself.

Then he heard some noises coming from the other room. He peeked around the
corner just enough to see in the next room and saw Nick, Brian and AJ
sitting in the lobby just laughing and enjoying the time together. He's
never seen three people so happy. True friendship has carried these boys
very far and they know that true friendship will always keep them together.

Suddenly Nick started to sing. He sang a song that Ashley knew very well
and could remember singing back in freshmen year of high school when his
current boyfriend was just starting to become popular.

"Although loneliness has always been a friend of mine I'm leaving my life
in your hands People say I'm crazy and that I am blind Risking It all in a
glance"

Nick then stopped and pointed at Brian. As if guided by some divine power
he picked up right where his best friend left off. It was as if they've
done it a thousand times before yet now all three men had a reason to sing
this song.

"And how you got me blind is still a mystery I can't get you out of my head
I don't care what is written in your history As long as you're here with
me"

The three men immediately harmonized on the chorus as the verse came to an
end. It sounded so perfect and Ashley realized why these guys have been in
the business for so long.

"I don't care who you are where you're from what you did As long as you
love me"

The three of them continued to sing but Ashley now had a smile on his face.
Just seeing Nick be happy and smile with his friends was enough to make
Ashley think straight again. He knew he had to get back to the studio so he
took one last glance of a boyfriend that he knew loved him very much and
headed out to his car. As he sped down the highway he thought of Nick but
it seemed every time he thought of Nick, Matt would pop into his head. What
was with this kid that made that one time he met and touched him so
special? He began to feel guilty yet still couldn't shake the feeling. He
was so completely and utterly torn in feelings.

He knew he loved Nick with all his heart but was he ready to marry him? He
was so young? He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice
the car in front of him coming closer and closer as it was stopped at a
light. He saw the car and slammed his foot on the brake. The car came to a
screeching halt about one or two inches away.

Ashley breathed heavily and began to sweat as he realized he needed to pay
more attention. The last thing O-town needs is him being in the news for a
car accident. The guilt began to set in heavier when he realized why he was
so lost in thought. He couldn't stop thinking of Matt. He drove away as the
light turned green trying to figure out how he was going to work this out.


They looked like a herd of cows walking through a pasture but this is what
happens when 15 friends want to go shopping. It was an amazing feat but
what started as Nick and Ashley just going shopping turned into a 15-person
excursion to the mall. Five Backstreet Boys, five O-town guys, Devon Sawa,
Matt Lillard, Kristin, Leigh Ann and Lance Bass made up this massive group
that seemed to command the parking lot. They all wore disguises, some hats
backwards, some forwards and the occasional to the side look just for fun.
Sunglasses were of course mandatory and as they reached the door they
seemed to just understand the unspoken rule of if they stayed together it
would be nothing but trouble. Without saying a word to each other they just
split up and headed in their own directions, pretending that they didn't
even know each other.

Nick and Ashley donned the hats that Nick had bought for them back in North
Carolina, a yellow UCal hat turned backwards around Ashley's head and the
baby blue UNC hat turned forward on Nick pushed very low over his
eyes. Both lovers sat at the food court holding hands underneath the table
as to not be noticed by the crowd.

"Did I ever tell you that you're really cute in that hat?" Nick asked his
boyfriend.

"Since the day you bought it for me." Ashley responded with a laugh.

"Oh, well I still think you're cute...and sexy in it." Nick said as he
stroked his boyfriend's hand under the table.

"Thanks" Ashley said with a smile.

"I love you Ash. With all my heart. I'm gonna prove that to you in
September." Nick said as he stared deep into the blue crystals of eyes that
Ashley possessed.

"I love you too Nicky." Ashley said.

He truly meant it. He did love Nick. This day had been good. It had taken
his mind off of the situation with Matt and now as he looked into Nick's
eyes he knew that this was right.

"Hey guys. Wanna get something to eat?" Devon said as he and Matt made
their way over. It was like a divine hand of fate saying that Ashley
couldn't get away from this situation.

He had to deal with it. He had to talk to Matt and tell him about him and
Nick. Matt excused himself to the bathroom and Ashley decided to follow and
talk to him.

"I'll be right back." Ashley said to Nick as he walked towards the
bathroom.

He noticed that it was just Matt in the rest room so he locked the door and
walked in. Matt was just finishing up and washing his hands when he noticed
Ashley walking in.

"Something wrong buddy?" Matt asked.

"We gotta talk Matt." Ashley said

"Ok let's talk" Matt said as he sat against the counter.

"Look, I know that me and you have been exchanging glances and shit but..."
Ashley started

"Yeah I know." Matt cut him off as he started to walk towards him.

"Yeah so I need to tell you something." Ashley began but was again cut off.

"Oh yeah?" Matt said seductively as he walked over to him pinning Ashley
against the bathroom wall. "Let's not worry about that now." Matt said as
his lips were dangerously close to Ashley's.

"Matt I can't..." Ashley started

"Shhh" Matt said as he put his finger on Ashley's lips. He then replaced
that finger with his own lips and the two began to kiss.

For a few seconds Ashley forgot about everything. He forgot about Nick and
the engagement ring on his left ring finger. He forgot anything else
existed. Those few seconds eventually ended as Nick's face popped into his
head. He saw Nick's smiling face thinking of him singing the song with
Brian and AJ. A tidal wave of guilt hit him extremely hard and he pushed
out of the kiss. He began to slide across the wall to the door.

"I can't Matt. I'm sorry" Ashley said.

"Why not?" Matt said frustrated.

"Because I'm engaged." Ashley whispered as he left the bathroom leaving
Matt in silence to contemplate what just happened.

Ashley walked out of bathroom in a complete daze. He wasn't here or there.
He was nowhere and he was amazed that he even found his way back to the
table. Nick, of course, greeted him with a smile, which only made the
situation worse.

"Hey baby, I got you Chicken and Broccoli from the Chinese place." Nick
said.

"My favorite." Ashley said with a frown.

"I know. Is something wrong?" Nick asked

"No, nothing at all." Ashley responded with the first lie he had ever told
his boyfriend.

"Ok well BSB has to leave early because we just got a call from management
and they need to finish up a photo shoot that was cancelled a while ago or
something stupid like that. Are you ok to get a ride home with one of the
guys?" Nick asked

"Yeah I'll be fine." Ashley said almost relieved that Nick was leaving to
take the pressure off of him. This only made him feel guiltier.

"Ok, Bye, love you." Nick said as he looked around and saw that no one was
looking so he quickly leaned in and kissed Ashley.

It was a kiss that used to mean so much to Ashley and it still did but
Ashley's lips were tainted now. They were tainted by Matt. Just as Nick was
leaving he looked back over to the bathroom and saw Matt leaning against
the outside wall. He was watching all of it and he left as soon as Nick
left.

It was all Ashley's fault and he knew it. Matt had no idea about Nick and
he was just going with feelings. Ashley felt so extremely guilty that he
didn't know what to do with himself. He needed to get out of here. He was
getting claustrophobic in the mall. He pulled out his cell phone.


Jacob was in FYE looking at cds when he heard a voice from behind him.

"Oh my god look who it is. Can I have your autograph?" the voice said.

'Jesus Christ I can't go anywhere without this happening.' Jacob thought to
himself as he turned around ready to flash the smile that made him famous.

He turned and saw AJ with a huge smile on his face, knowing that he fooled
his boyfriend.

"I hate you." Jacob said

"No you don't" AJ said with a laugh.

"You're right but that definitely wasn't cool." Jacob said with a giggle as
he punched AJ in the arm.

"Alright you two, break it up before I have to get Karate Kid on both your
asses." Dan said as he came over.

"What's up Danny?" Jacob said.

"Not much, did you see that our concert DVD is like top seller in this
store?" Dan asked

"Unbelievable how quickly you guys got popular." AJ said.

"We have you guys to thank for that." Dan said.

"You guys had the gift. We just made sure people knew about it." AJ said.

"Good enough. I can live with that answer." Dan said with a smile and a
wink.

The conversation was interrupted by Dan's cell phone.

"Look who the popular kid is." Jacob said making fun of his bandmate.

Dan playfully flipped him off as he hit the send button on the phone and
put it to his ear beginning the conversation.

"Danny, it's me." Ashley's voice came through the phone.

"Hey Ash, what's up." Dan replied.

"BSB had to go back to a photo shoot or something." Ashley said.

As he said this Dan turned around and saw Nick pulling AJ out of the store.

"Yeah I see that, that's too bad." Dan said.

"Yeah well I'm not feeling too good so I'm gonna hitch a cab home." Ashley
said

"Everything alright buddy?" Dan asked concerned.

"Not really. I think I have to talk to you about something." Ashley said

"Alright Ash you got it. I'll stop by as soon as we get back." Dan said.

"Thanks Dan. See you later." Ashley said.

"Bye Ash." Dan said with a frown on his face.

Dan hung up the phone and saw Devon walking towards him.

"What's up babe?" Devon asked him.

"Something's wrong with Ashley. I gotta get home and figure out what's
going on. It's gotta be serious. He's never sounded so weird." Dan said as
he and Devon looked at each other wondering what it could be.

TO BE CONTINUED...

<<<< I am very sorry for the delay. Things have been crazy around here
lately. On top of this story and all my work my roommate and I have been
working on writing a script for a movie just for the hell of it.
Pytn18@hotmail.com for comments and suggestions.

I know that I'm gonna take serious crap for having Ashley do what he did
but I need to test their love once more before marriage so bear with me. It
makes for good reading. >>>>