Date: Sat, 09 Mar 2002 19:04:18 +0000
From: James
Subject: Boy Bands - On The Streets - Part 26

	Ok, I don't know the BSB nor do I make any suggestions about the way they
live their lives, for instance whether or not they prefer men or woman as
their sexual partners. Frankly, I really don't care if you don't like
reading my story, but if you are offended by the sort of relationship which
is implied by its appearance on a gay site, then please don't read on. Also,
you shouldn't read this if you are under 18, though I think that is a really
stupid rule as it's not like we can tell whether you're 18 or not can we?

	I am English, so if you don't understand anything in this story, then
tough, we invented the language first and you nicked it, so it's not our
fault, lol. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, I'm sorry if the
cliffhangers are getting boring, but once again, my story, so there.

On The Streets - Part 26

At the press conference:

	Nick arrived late. The managers had finally got hold of him. He had been
sleeping at some guy's house, and when he turned his mobile on, he saw the
number of messages that had been left for him. Behind the scenes, the guys
started arguing.

	"Hey! Why can't I just tell them?" Nick shouted at the other guys.

	"Because, doofus, if you did that, then you'd cut out most of your fan
base!" AJ started back.

	"And besides, with something like this, which we can get around, we might
as well not take the chance. We can talk ourselves out of this, let's save
the truth for later, when it's probably more appropriate. Coming out because
you got caught in a club isn't really the most appealing image for our fan
base." Kevin said quietly. The others all nodded. Nick looked angry, but
calmed himself down.

	"Fine." Nick started off towards the press room.


	"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice. We're
here today to talk about the recent revelation in the news that Nick Carter
is apparently dating...a man." Kevin was saying this just right so he
sounded like he was taking the mickey out of whoever wrote the story. He had
a slight smirk on his lips. "I'd like first of all to say that Nick
categorically is not a homosexual. We dislike the press prying into our
private lives, and we dislike rumours such as this one. It is harmful to us,
harmful to our business, but most of all, it damages the credibility of the
press. If there any questions, I'm sure that Nick would be pleased to answer
them." Nick took his place behind the podium, with a sullen expression on
his face. Kevin pointed to one of the reporters who had her arm up in the
air.

	"So Mr. Carter, is this true what Mr. Richardson says? You're not gay?" She
asked bluntly.

	"No. I'm not gay." Nick qualified. He was theoretically not lying: Kevin
had told me he was bisexual...

	"Next question." Kevin pointed to a man in the back of the room in a
leather jacket.

	"So how would you explain the sightings of you in ummm... compromising
situations with another man last night?" The man asked.

	"Last night I drunk a little too much. I'll admit, I probably went a bit
over the limit, and it was a stupid thing to do. Maybe I was being a bit
friendly with another guy, but nothing more." Nick answered curtly.

	"I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen, I'm afraid we're gonna have to cut this
short." Kevin said in his overbearing voice. There were a couple of
questions asked from the reporters, but the guys disappeared back behind the
scenes. I followed them a few moments later. As I turned the corner, I saw
Nick sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, and the guys
further down the corridor going back into the office we had been in earlier.
Nick still had that sullen expression on his face, but he also looked a
little upset. I was sorely tempted to just walk past, but instead I stopped
and crouched next to him.

	"Nick?" He looked up. "You ok?"

	"What do you think?" Nick asked with a sneer.

	"Fine. If you're gonna be like that." I stood up and started to walk away.

	"Wait, Jared, I'm sorry." Nick said so quietly I barely heard him. "Please
talk to me. The guys told me to wait out here, they're pretty upset about
what I did. They're all mad at me." Nick's voice croaked, and I realised he
was close to tears.

	"Nick, they're not mad at you. Kevin's disappointed in you, I know, but
he's not that mad anymore. But he did speak to you last night, and you just
ignored him. He knew you weren't gonna be careful. I think that's what
pissed him off. You brushed us off, got drunk and got caught with a guy." I
looked Nick in the eyes. "Nick, you've gotta be careful." He looked up at me
and nodded slightly.

	"Jared, I did something stupid. You can't tell the guys though."

	"What is it?"

	"Promise me you won't tell the guys, especially Kevin." Nick pleaded. I
looked at him for a second, thinking about what he was saying, then nodded
slowly.

	"Jared, I slept with the guy last night. The one I was caught with in the
club." Ok, this didn't sound like something Nick would do, but while it
wasn't a particularly good thing to have done, I didn't disapprove, why did
he think the guys would? "That's not it Jared. It's the first time I've ever
done it without, you know, protection." Was this boy stupid?

	"You did what?"

	"I didn't wear a condom. Nor did he." Nick muttered.

	"Are you a complete idiot? Do you know how dangerous that is? I managed for
years to wear a condom every time and that was when I was selling myself on
the streets, and yet you couldn't manage it when you were at home, with a
guy you picked up in a club. You're a complete fool then! You deserve
everything you get!" I stood up and stomped off in the direction of the
office where the guys were. I heard Nick let out a sob, and I was close to
turning around, but I didn't. I walked into the office and shut the door. I
put on a calm face and waited for the guys to finish talking.

	"Ready to go home Jared?" Kevin asked.

	"Yeah actually, I'm pretty tired." Kevin reached over and kissed me on the
forehead. We walked out together, and as we passed Nick in the corridor,
Kevin paused. He reached down a hand to Nick and helped him up. He hugged
him and then let go.

	"Nick, we're not angry at you anymore, but we are disappointed, ok, just
don't do it again ok? We could do without the hassle at the moment,
especially seeing as we're back in straight after New Years'." Kevin said.
Weren't they going in in mid-January? What happened to that? Nick nodded,
and headed off down the corridor in the direction of the office where the
guys were. I ignored his sideways glance. I don't know what made me quite so
pissed with him, maybe because he was a friend, and I was angry that he had
put himself at such a risk. I would have to talk to him eventually. But not
right now, I was too pissed. Kevin and I continued out the office building,
which I found out later was actually our management offices, and we headed
home.

***

	The next few days passed quickly: I learnt how to use Kevin's computer, and
I read quite a bit. Kevin spent a lot of time with me, which I was very
grateful for. We couldn't do very much because of my broken arm, I had great
trouble washing and getting stuff to eat, or even putting on clothes, but
Kevin helped me out. I was so grateful for that.

	You know that feeling when you first wake up, and you know you don't have
to go to work and you've got nothing to do that day? When you can just wrap
yourself up in your covers, roll over and go back to sleep, then do the same
an hour later when you wake up again. You can see the sunlight coming in
through the window, but you don't care, cos you're warm and comfy and
content? If you know that feeling, then you know a fraction of what it felt
like to wake up every morning next to Kevin. He slept a lot later than me,
and so I spent a good half hour, sometimes more just watching Kevin. I
thanked God every day for bringing Kevin to me, I believe in fate, and I
knew Kevin and I meeting was an act of fate, to pull me out of the shit I
was living in and into the light. Kevin was my light.

***

	On the Saturday before Christmas, Kevin had gone out to 'run some errands'.
I had a nasty feeling he was getting me something for Christmas, and I
started to scheme how I could get out the house and to a shopping centre to
get something for him. I knew he could always outdo me as far as presents
were concerned, but it would be nice to get him something special. I should
probably get the guys something too. About 10 o'clock, the phone started
ringing.

	"Hello?" I answered.

	There was only silence on the other end.

	"Hello?"

	Once again I was met with silence.

	"Ok, nice talking to you!" My normal response to those sickos who insist on
calling and making prank phone calls.

	"Wait! Jared!" I heard Nick's voice shout down the phone.

	"Nick? Hey how are you?" I asked, kinda worried that Nick had taken so long
to answer.

	"Ummm, I'm ok, well actually, no, I'm not sure." Huh?

	"What do you mean Nick?" I started thinking over the possibilities, but
nothing came to mind. Obviously I got the first impression: he'd caught
something from that guy - but what coulda showed up so quick?

	"Look Jared, I went for an HIV test. On Wednesday. I'm supposed to pick up
the results today." Nick mumbled.

	"Ok..."

	"Jared, I know you hate me at the moment..."

	"Whoa! What? You think I hate you?"

	"Yeah, I mean the way you shouted at me, and then left, and I...I..." Nick
trailed off.

	"Nick I don't hate you, I'm really disappointed in you, and I'm kinda mad
at you for not doing what you should've done, but I don't hate you."

	"Oh thank God, well Jared, I know this is kinda strange, but, well, would
you come with me?"

	"What to pick up your results?" I asked him.

	"Yeah. I don't want to go alone Jared, I'm scared what might happen." Nick
sounded like his lip was trembling.

	"Yeah Nick, I'll go with you." I didn't need time to think. I wouldn't let
Nick suffer if he was really scared, besides, I'd been with people to HIV
clinics before, I'm sure it couldn't be any worse. I was wrong.

	Nick picked me up about half an hour later. Once I got into the car, he
reached across and practically fell onto me. I hugged him, and could hear
him sobbing gently. He was so upset about what had happened, I could feel
his body shaking next to mine, and my heart really went out to him. After a
few minutes, he sat up straight again. I kept one hand on his shoulder and
rubbed it gently.

	"I'm sorry Jared, I've been a mess for the last few days waiting for my
results. That's why I haven't spoken to or apologised to any of the guys.
I'm scared Jared."

	"Don't worry Nick, you'll be fine. We're all here for you. We all care
about you Nick, just remember that." I tried smiling at him, but the forlorn
expression on his face upset me. We hugged again, and he started up his car.
I loved Nick's car: I'm not much good with car makes or anything, but this,
this was a Jaguar. The sound of the engine purring in front of us, the
smoothness of the ride, I could have gone back to sleep if it wasn't for the
fear of missing a moment in this beautiful car. I scolded myself for
thinking about how nice his car was when Nick was so upset, but...this was a
Jag.

	"We're here." Nick said as he put the handbrake on. Suddenly I had a
lurching feeling in my stomach. I was scared. What if Nick really was HIV
positive? What if he got sick? I was so scared I started trembling, and only
realised where I was when Nick reached over and shook my shoulder. I got out
the car with him. Once we were inside, the place was like a hospital:
sterile, cold, and with poor colour coordination. The decor didn't add to
the feelings in the pit of my stomach. Finally, we came up to the right
desk. "I'm here to pick up my results." Nick said quietly to the woman
behind the counter. To her credit, if she recognised him, then she didn't
show it, didn't even bat an eyelid. She nodded, and pulled out an envelope.
Handing it to him, she told him that there were rooms available down the
corridor to the right, if he wanted to open it in private. He nodded, and
gripping me by the elbow pulled me into the first available room. There was
a table in there with a couple of chairs to sit down at. Nick pushed the
envelope into my hands and stood back. "Open it."

	"What? These are your results Nick. Are you sure you want me to open them?"

	"Please Jared, I'm too scared." Nick's eyes were watering quite badly now.
I took the envelope and carefully tore open the seal. Pulling out the
papers, I looked at the front page, and cast my eyes down towards the bottom
of the sheet.

	"Huh?"

End of Chapter 26
To Be Continued...

That's chapter 26 - told you they were gonna be coming thick and fast, 27
will be here soon, either tomorrow, or monday. Anyway, enjoy. Send feedback
please???