Date: Thu, 23 Sep 1999 23:44:53 EDT
From: BrwyMilo@aol.com
Subject: "Nick and Justin" part 23
Welcome to part 23! This section only took a couple of days. From now
on what I plan on doing is updating about once a week and making the sections
longer. Well, that's my plan at least. We'll see if it works. :o)
The other series I work on, "Lost and Found", will also be updated more
regularly now that we have our schedules worked out better. My partner in
that is RJ, author of N'Sync and RJ. Give his story a look if you get a
chance.
This story is purely fictional and is not meant to imply anything about
the sexuality and/or beliefs of anyone mentioned or involved in the story.
If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, criticisms or anything
else, feel free to send it to Mike at BrwyMilo@aol.com. I love mail, so keep
it coming. :o)
But without further ado, here is part 23 of "Nick and Justin".
*****
Sunlight streamed into the windows of the waiting room where Kevin
Richardson sat alone on one of the most torturous chairs he had ever been on.
He had told everyone else to go to the cafeteria for some breakfast,
explaining away that he just wasn't hungry. And he wasn't hungry. But
something other than his loss of appetite was bothering him. He had his cell
phone in his hand.
"Why didn't Lance call anybody," Kevin asked himself. After he had
fought with Lance, he had tried to call him to apologize and tell him to have
fun and do what his heart told him to do. He hadn't been able to get through
to Lance though. 'Whatever' Kevin had thought to himself. As the night
progressed however, Kevin began to worry more and more. He tried to sleep on
the couch in the waiting room, but it was impossible to get the feeling he
had out of his mind. "Lance is going to blow everything big time," he said
to himself as he ran through all the things that could go wrong if Lance did
indeed begin a romance with Devon. Then he thought, 'Maybe Devon isn't even
interested in Lance at all. Even if Lance shows an interest in him, maybe
Devon will tell him he's not interested. Then hopefully Lance will be able
to move on." Kevin smiled. 'Maybe Devon isn't interested.'
He sighed loudly and stood, pacing around the waiting room a bit. He
stopped and looked around. 'Why am I always the one to be left alone? Hell,
I even invite being left alone! Why can't I just find someone for me,' Kevin
thought to himself. He plopped back down in his chair and leaned his head
back. "Maybe someday."
There was the sound of laughter in the hall. Kevin paused and looked
around. "Lance?"
"Hi Kev," Lance said as he and Devon entered the waiting room. "What are
you doing here? Where's everyone else?"
Kevin stood silent for a second. "Um, hi Devon."
"Oh, hi Kev," Devon said with a warm smile.
Kevin snapped back into reality and remembered Lance's questions. "I'm
just waiting here for everyone else to be released. The rest of the guys
went to the cafeteria to get some breakfast."
"Oh, that sounds cool," Lance said with a grin. He looked over at Devon
and laughed. "We never did have time for that this morning, did we?"
Devon chuckled loudly and shook his head. "No, no time for food."
Kevin looked from one person to the next, shocked. "Lance, where were
you last night? I was worried sick!"
Lance was a bit surprised, backing up a bit. "Well, I was gonna come
back here and sleep in the waiting room, but since it was late and Devon said
there was room in his room, I decided to stay there instead."
"I hope that's OK Kevin," Devon said, almost apologetically. "I don't
want to cause any trouble."
Kevin sighed loudly. "No, of course it's alright! I was just a little
worried, that's all. From now on Lance, if you're not meeting with us, call
someone. My phone is always on."
"I'll do that Kev. I didn't mean to worry you." Lance seemed to be
sincerely apologetic. The truth was, the time he spent with Devon had made
him forget all about the fight he had with Kevin. He had forgotten just
about everything during the time he spent with Devon. "Well, I need to run
to the men's room," Lance said. "I'll be back soon."
As soon as Lance had left, Kevin turned to Devon. "Can I talk to you for
a minute Dev?"
"Of course," Devon said with a friendly smile. He eased his way
gracefully into the seat next to Kevin and looked into his eyes. "Now,
what's on your mind?"
Kevin sighed, not knowing where to begin or what to reveal. He had no
idea what went on in Devon's hotel room, and he knew it wasn't his place to
pry.
"Devon...well..." Kevin thought back to what Nick and Justin had
told him. 'You can't always stick your nose in Kevin,' he thought to
himself. He looked at Devon's eager expression and smiled. There was not a
line or blemish on it. Everything about Devon's appearance in fact seemed
flawless. Kevin laughed a bit and shook his head. "How long of a break are
you going to give everyone before starting in on the training?"
Devon seemed a bit surprised by the question. "Well, I know you
guys are going to be doing your vocal training as much as you usually do.
As for the dancing, it's gonna be minimal the first few shows. I want
everyone to take it easy so we don't get anyone injured worse than he
already is. After that, there are going to be a lot of dance rehearsals and
a lot more dancing added to the numbers. So, I suggest that everyone keep
in shape. Otherwise, they're going to get shell shocked when I'm done with
them.
"Just go easy on me," Kevin laughed. "I'm an old fogy."
"You are not," Devon said with a laugh. "I actually saw you guys
perform while you were on your European tour."
"You did," Kevin asked, a bit surprised that Devon hadn't mentioned
this yet.
"Yep. I saw a show in Paris. I was doing a few shows with a ballet
company there and I had a night off and a friend had an extra ticket, so I
got to see the Backstreet Boys in concert."
"Wow! What did you think," Kevin asked, genuinely interested in
Devon's opinion.
"You dance pretty good for an old fogy," Devon laughed out before
jumping back to avoid being slapped. Kevin laughed along with him.
"You are just too funny," Kevin said as he caught his breath.
"Yea well. What can I say?" Devon sat back down and leaned his
head back. "So, how long is this tour going to last," Devon asked.
"Well, a few months at least," Kevin replied.
"And what happens after that," Devon asked, turning his head so he
could look at Kevin. "I mean with the Backstreet Boys and N'Sync and all.
Any plans to keep touring together?"
Kevin sighed, having not given the prospect much thought. What
would happen once this tour finished. While N'Sync was in the process of
switching their label to Jive, there was still no way to tell if they would
ever be scheduled to tour together again.
"I don't know," Kevin replied slowly.
Devon sighed loudly and then turned in his seat. He looked Kevin
right in the eyes and frowned. "Nick and Justin haven't thought about that
yet, have they?"
"No, I don't think they have," Kevin replied sadly.
Devon nodded his head slowly. "I suppose Brian and JC haven't
either?"
Kevin thought a moment. "Brian and JC are a little older than Nick
and Justin. They may have already discussed this. I don't know what any of
them will do after this tour is over. But I do know they're going to try to
convince the label to either extend the tour, or schedule them to tour
together for the next tour." Kevin looked at Devon and then down at the
floor. "Just don't bring it up to Nick and Justin yet. They've been
through a lot and I'm sure the last thing they need right now is to think
about that."
"Trust me Kevin, I would never mention it to one of them. I figured
you would be the best person to talk to. After all, you're not in love with
anyone from N'Sync, are you," Devon said with a laugh.
Kevin opened his mouth to speak, but before any sound could come
out, Lance leapt awkwardly into the room and fell at Devon's feet. "See, I
can do ballet," he said with a grin up at Devon. Devon laughed loudly and
pulled Lance into a headlock.
"Thank God I don't have to choreograph any ballet for you guys.
Teaching you the steps would probably give me a heart attack." Devon
released Lance, but Lance kept his head where it was and smiled up at Devon.
"Hello," he said in a child-like voice. Devon giggled slightly
before standing up, knocking Lance back down to the floor.
"Oops," he said as he extended his hand to Lance. Lance gladly
accepted and jumped up.
"Don't worry. I'm alright," he said with a grin.
"Is he always like this," Devon laughed to Kevin.
"Unfortunately yes," Kevin said with a grin, winking at Lance.
Lance smiled happily and plopped down in a seat next to Kevin.
"So, when is everyone being released," he asked.
"Right now," Justin said as he walked into the waiting room. Behind
him were Nick, Britney, Brian and Fatima.
"Alright," Kevin said happily. He gave everyone a quick hug, taking
extra care not to embrace Fatima too tightly. She was still struggling a
bit on her crutches and her back still appeared to be hurting her.
"Back still bad," Kevin asked.
"Actually these new pain killers are doing great," she replied. "I
mean, it's still a little uncomfortable, but it's a lot better than it was
before," she said, forcing a grin.
"Just take it easy," Kevin instructed. Fatima merely nodded before
heading off to where everyone else had communed to.
"Hey Justin, where'd your mom go," Lance asked.
"She left with Nick's parents this morning," Justin replied.
"They left together," Lance asked, a shocked look on his face.
"Yep," Nick replied. "They're bonding apparently," he said as he
rolled his eyes.
Everyone laughed loudly. "Look out, they're gonna be having
barbecue's and stuff for you guys before you know it," Kevin joked.
"Oh yea, and then a little coming out party," Brian laughed.
"That was bad," Nick said with a laugh. He looked down and gently
took Justin's hand. "So, where are we off to?"
"Yea, and where's AJ," Britney pouted.
"Right here," AJ said from behind her. Before she got a chance to
turn around, a bouquet of flowers was brought in front of her face.
"Aw," Britney said as a tear came to her eye. "You're so sweet,"
she said, pulling AJ into a tight hug.
"OK, enough lovey dovey stuff," Chris said as he came into the
waiting room with everyone else. "Let's get going. I want to get out of
this hospital as soon as possible.
"Yea, let's go," JC agreed as he walked to Brian's side.
They left the waiting room and exited the hospital through the rear
entrance where a bus would be waiting to take them back to a hotel. Just as
JC opened the door to the exit he stopped.
"Leigh Anne, what the hell are you doing here," he asked angrily.
Everyone quickly exited the building and crowded around. Leigh Anne
stood there, wearing a pair of tight blue jeans and a navy tank top. "I
just wanted to see Brian," she said sheepishly.
"That's it," JC yelled. "Where my boys at?"
"You're not going to start singing 702, are you," Joey asked with a
laugh.
"Come on, I've been dying to do that," JC said with a grin. He
turned his attention back to Leigh Anne. "I don't care if she wants to see
Brian. I think she has enough sense after her last little plan failed to
never try to steal him again. Isn't that right Leigh Anne?"
Leigh Anne nodded. She walked over to where Brian stood and gave
him a hug. She released him after a second and sighed. "I've decided it
would be best if I stayed away for a while," she said sadly. "I think I've
caused enough trouble for some time and it would be better if I concentrated
on my own thing and you guys concentrate on yours." She looked around and
saw everyone nodding in approval. She turned her attention back to Brain
and stared into his eyes. "Please try to understand that what I did was
because I love you. I never wanted to hurt you, I just wanted to keep you
for myself.
But I know I can't do that."
Brian merely nodded his head. He hugged Leigh Anne tightly. "So
this is good bye then," he said slowly. "I hope you find someone who can
make you as happy as JC makes me."
Leigh Anne laughed a bit and wiped away a few tears that had formed
in the corners of her eyes. "I can only hope so." With that she gave a
small wave and walked back to her car.
"That must have killed her," Nick said as he watched the car drive
off.
"She's not that bad of a person," Brian said still watching the car.
"Yea, she can be an idiot and she does really stupid things. But deep down
under all of that deviousness, she is a good person." He looked back at JC
and smiled, putting his head against his shoulder.
"Let's get on the bus guys," Kevin said, trying to break the solemn
mood that had surfaced among the group. They walked over to where the bus
was waiting, Justin and Nick helping everyone who was more injured. Finally
it was Justin's turn to get on.
"I don't think I like tour buses anymore," he said as he looked at
the steps in front of him.
"I won't let anything bad happen to you," Nick whispered in his ear.
Justin smiled weakly and started up the steps.
"Guess it's inevitable," he said as he reached the top. "There's
really now way to avoid tour buses in this line of work, is there?" Nick
could see him trembling a bit where he stood.
"Maybe if you ran along side it," Nick said with a laugh. Justin
slapped him playfully and gave him a short kiss on the cheek. "Now let's
get going," Nick said with a smile. "We have shopping to do, and then
plenty of bed rest."
Justin giggled and walked slowly to the back where the bunks were.
"I think I'll get some bed rest now," he said.
Nick's eyes perked up. "I think I'll join you," he said with a
grin. Justin led him over to their bunk, where they spent the entire trip
to the hotel."
*****
"Thank God that ride is over," Chris said with a laugh as he got off
the bus.
"I know," Devon laughed. "Oh Nick! Oh Justin!," he said, mimicking
the sound effects everyone had heard during the ride.
"Hey, it's been a long time," Nick said with a laugh.
"For you guys, five minutes is a long time," Brian laughed out.
"I wouldn't laugh...tiger," Justin said with a growl.
"Oh, you heard that," JC said sheepishly.
"I don't need to hear this," Howie laughed as he walked in front of
everyone and into the hotel lobby. He could hear laughter behind him as he
approached the front desk. He quickly signed everybody in and got all the
keys.
"Thanks a lot D," Nick said as Howie handed him and Justin their
keys.
"There was one problem," Howie said to the rest of the group.
"Devon's gonna have to room with somebody. Apparently it got out that we
would be staying here and the place was totally booked."
"He could share with me," Lance volunteered eagerly. Kevin and
Justin both shot him a look. "I mean, if he wants," he said, blushing.
"Yea, sounds cool to me," Devon replied. He got the extra key from
the front desk and walked back over to the rest of the guys.
"Here's the plan. Anyone who wants to is free to stay hear and
rest. The rest of us are going to head over to a mall as a lot of our stuff
got ruined in the crash. Apparently not everyone listened to our PR when he
said to only bring an overnight bag," Kevin said as he shot Justin and Brian
a look.
"Sorry Kev," Brian said with a laugh.
"You gonna go to the mall Dev," Lance asked, trying to sound
nonchalant.
"Um, yea I might as well. I really don't have too many clothes with
me," he said with a laugh.
"Cool," Lance said with a smile. "Where do you shop?"
"Well," Devon said as he thought. "I really don't look for a
particular store. I just kind of walk around til I see something that I
like. When I need something more formal though, I guess I'm partial to
Armani."
"Cool," Kevin said as he noticed his similar fashion sense to
Devon's. "So, who's going to stay here then?"
"I am," Fatima said. "Just gonna relax and lay in my bed."
"I think I will too," Britney said. "I'll keep Fatima company."
"You want me to stay too," AJ asked.
"You? Pass up a shopping trip? I would never dare ask," Britney
said with a laugh. "You go and have fun. Buy me something pretty."
"Well, OK," AJ said hesitantly. In the end, Britney, Fatima, Chris,
Joey, and Howie all decided to stay at the hotel and get some rest.
"And we're gonna go out to eat when I get back right," AJ said to
Britney.
"You bet," she replied. "I'll only get a snack to tide me over,"
she said with a smile.
"Well, see you later then," AJ said as he gave Britney a quick kiss.
"We're not taking the bus are we," Justin asked, a but anxious.
"No, we don't have to," Kevin said, sensing Justin's apprehension.
"I think management got us a couple of rental cars while we're here."
"Mind if we take those then," Justin asked. He scooted closer so that he
could lean up against Nick. Nick gently placed on hand on his shoulder to
calm him.
"Of course we can Justin," Kevin said, trying to calm Justin down.
Justin nodded quickly and leaned into Nick further. "OK Kev, we're gonna
go upstairs for a bit. Why don't we meet in like half an hour to go."
"Yea, half hour sounds good," JC said, a bit worried about Justin.
"OK then. Come on Just," Nick said as he guided Justin towards the
elevator.
"Is he going to be alright," Devon asked as soon as Nick and Justin were
in the elevator.
"I don't know," Kevin said slowly. "I really don't know."
*****
"I'm being stupid," Justin said angrily as he walked through his and
Nick's room and plopped down on the bed.
"Justin, will you stop it? There is nothing stupid about this."
"How come I'm the only one like this then huh? I thought I was going to
die when we had to get back on that bus before," Justin said, curling his
body up and pulling his chin to his knees. Nick walked over and wrapped his
body around Justin's, pulling him close to his body.
"Now listen to me. We had a very bad accident. Everybody knows that. I
think everyone was apprehensive about getting back on that bus today. I know
I was. It's going to take some time to get over this."
"This is dumb," Justin said as he turned over to face Nick. "I'm being
stupid." Justin grinned a bit. "I didn't mind it so much once I was on the
bus. Well, when I was with you at least."
"OK," Nick said with a smile. "I have the solution. I'll just always be
on the bus with you. And we can just keep on doing what we were doing in
that bunk every time we're on the bus. Over and over and over-"
Justin giggled loudly and looked over at Nick. "I love you so much Nick.
You don't know what I went through in that hospital. I just don't want to
be in a position where I can lose you ever again."
"Justin, listen to me," Nick said as he pulled Justin towards him. "You
are not going to lose me. I'm not going anywhere."
"You promise," Justin asked, almost pleadingly.
"Cross my heart." Justin put his head down on the bed and shut his eyes,
nuzzling tightly to Nick's chest. Nick carefully draped one arm around
Justin and relaxed. A few minutes later, he was aware that Justin had
started snoring. He smiled happily and turned towards the phone.
"Hi Kev," Nick said as he got Kevin's cell phone.
"Yea Nick, what's up?"
"I think Justin and I are just gonna stay in today if that's alright.
He's pretty tired and I think I'm just gonna stay in bed too."
"Yea no problem. We'll pick you guys up some stuff when we go shopping
though, alright?"
"Cool. Thanks a lot Kev. For everything," Nick said.
"It's nothing Nick. You two get some rest. We'll see you later or
tomorrow morning."
"Bye Kevin."
"Bye Nick."
Nick gently hung up the phone, careful not to wake Justin. He leaned
over and looked down at his angelic face. He brushed his hand gently across
Justin's hair and smiled. "You're so beautiful." He did his best to get
them both under the blankets of the bed and cuddled up close. "Sleep well
baby," he said as he kissed the back of Justin's neck. Nick put his head
down on the pillow and shut his eyes. It wasn't long before he to was asleep.
*****
OK, I know the section was really short, but I hope everyone enjoyed it
just the same. Hey, it only took a couple of days to get out too. Pretty
good eh? :o) I'd appreciate any feedback on what people think of the
series. Where do you think it's gonna go now that Robert is out of the way?
What kind of impact will Devon have on the group? Please send all comments
etc to Mike at BrwyMilo@aol.com. I love mail. So everyone mail me! J/K!
I have a few tricks up my sleeve for upcoming chapters. Happy Halloween...