Part III:

Walking on Sunshine

"It's gonna work out, AJ . . ."

"Yeah, I know." AJ chewed his lower lip nervously and looked out the window at the passing scenery. "But what if we don't like him . . . ? What if he doesn't like us?"

Denise looked at her son patiently. "Who wouldn't love you guys?" she teased. He shot her a look. "I know, AJ. But why should you be worried? He's the one that has to impress you, isn't he?"

AJ laughed. "I guess so." She was right, as usual. "Why'd we have to dress up anyway?" He pulled at his collar and made a face. He'd gone as far as dress pants and shirt, but no tie. He'd refused to wear a tie.

"You look very nice, Alex."

"AJ," he corrected.

"What's wrong with Alex all of a sudden, huh?"

"I just like AJ better, that's all," he said with an endearing smile. She laughed.

"Well, it's a nice restaurant that you guys are going to, so you have to look nice."

"Right . . . Why can't we just meet at McDonald's anyway? Isn't that just as good? I mean, it's just a meeting."

"Lou wanted to treat you guys to something special," she answered, pulling into the parking lot. "I think it's nice of him."

"I know. It's really nice," AJ agreed with a sigh. He tapped his fingers nervously against the window as his mom pulled into a parking spot. "Well, here goes nothing."

"You'll have a nice time. Be good, okay? Remember your manners," she directed, kissing him on the cheek.

He grinned. "Of course . . ."

- 

"Are you nervous?" Jane looked at her son with a frown as they pulled into a parking spot. He had been quiet the entire car ride over. "You feeling okay, sweetie?" she checked.

"I'm fine. Not nervous." She watched his eyes scan the parking lot. "AJ's not wearing a tie! See, I told you." Before she could answer, he pulled the tie loose from around his neck and tossed it aside.

"Nick," she started with a laugh. She decided not to argue about it. It was the least of her worries whether or not he would wear a tie. "Do you want me to go in with you?"

"Nah, AJ's right there. I'll just catch up with him."

"Alright. Now be polite and everything remember," she reminded him with a smile. She brushed back his floppy blonde hair and kissed his forehead.

"Yes mom, I know." Nick smiled at her. "Bye . . ."

"Have fun."

Nick climbed out and slammed the door shut. How strange. She hadn't made one negative comment about his joining the group all week. Maybe she realized it was meant to be, too.

"AJ!"

"Nicky!" AJ turned and waited for the boy to catch up. "Are we ready for this?" He slung an arm around the younger's neck.

"Sure . . ."

"You sound sure, too," AJ said with a laugh. "Don't be nervous-"

"I'm not nervous."

"Good, me neither." AJ grinned. "Like my mom said. We don't have to impress anybody. Been there, done that. It's this new guy that's doing the impressing, got it?"

"Yeah . . ." Nick turned this information over in his head and his nerves calmed slightly. What was he worried for anyway? AJ was right.

"Then let's make this work, baby," AJ said in a English accent as he opened the entrance door. Might as well act fancy and have a little fun, he thought giddily.

Nick felt his jaw drop as they stepped inside. He glanced over at AJ, wide-eyed.

"Wow . . ." AJ breathed. Talk about fancy.

Directly in front of them in the center of the lobby was a marble fountain spouting clear blue water. The water flowed into a oval pool with assorted colorful fish swimming around lazily. Around them, elegant people mingled into the large dining room seen through two wide doors.

Nick giggled. "Wow," he repeated. "Are we in the right place?"

"I think so . . ." AJ grinned. "I could get used to this, how 'bout you?" Nick just shrugged.

"I feel kind of out of place . . ."

"Don't be." AJ assumed the accent again. "Welcome to the lives of the rich and famous, Nicky." Nick laughed.

"Pearlman party?"

"Huh?" They both turned as the maitre d' addressed them. "Yeah, that's us," AJ said quickly when the man repeated himself.

"Right this way please . . ." They followed the man into the dining room doors silently, where the clattering of utensils was heard slightly above the murmur of voices. Looking across the room, they saw lots of refined looking people eating in suits and evening gowns.

"Hey guys." They looked up gratefully at the familiar voice of Howie and smiled. He was seated at the head of the table next to another dark-haired guy. The table was set for five.

"Enjoy," the host said to them before leaving. AJ and Nick just stood there a second, silently looking at the newcomer. The young man smiled at them with an amused expression.

"Hey."

AJ broke out of his gaze first. "Hey," he replied with his grin. Nick didn't answer, but grabbed the seat on the other side of Howie. AJ plopped down in the chair next to the newest group member.

"What's your name?" he asked eagerly.

"Kevin."

"Nice to meet you, I'm AJ. That's Nick." Nick was still silent. "He doesn't speak much English," AJ added with a laugh. Nick stuck out his tongue.

"Hey, Nick," Kevin greeted with a chuckle.

"Hi . . ." He avoided the older's gaze and looked around the table. He thought the Pearlman guy was supposed to be there.

"Lou's coming in a little while," Howie told them, seeing Nick's look. "He told us to start without him."

"Where is he?" Nick asked.

"Working, I guess. I don't know really," Howie said a shrug. He judged the guys' reactions to Kevin. Nick was pretty much acting on the shy side, and AJ was just being AJ. Lively, animated AJ. Personally, he thought the new guy was pretty cool.

"Hey, you look familiar," AJ was saying. "Were you at Disney or something?"

"Yeah," Kevin said, nodding. "I was at the last show."

"Oh yeah, cool. I remember now." AJ grinned.

"And I’ve worked there as Aladdin for what seems like forever," he said, tiredly.

"Nick worked there, too, huh bud?" AJ said. "He sang with some girls."

Nick just shrugged. He was too engrossed in how foreign everything that surrounded him seemed. His family was regular, middle-class normal people. What was that little fork for? And why were there wine glasses if he couldn’t drink?

Across the table, Kevin was watching him, thinking, ‘Oh no, the little one doesn’t like me.’ But he’d immediately felt at ease with Howie. And AJ didn’t seem so bad. He looked little as well, but somehow didn’t carry himself like a child as obviously as Nick did.

‘It’s okay,’ Kevin thought. ‘It’s only been five minutes.’

"So how old are you, anyway?"

Howie, AJ and Kevin turned to Nick who hadn’t really spoken until then.

Howie blinked at him. "That’s not really important right now. If you remember, Kevin has a great voice, and--."

Kevin cleared his throat and leaned forward. "Nineteen. How old are you?"

"Twelve," Nick said and looked around. "That guy’s not gonna show. We’re here, and he’s not here. I knew it."

"Shut up," AJ told him, finally. "He’ll be here. Just wait."

Nick shrugged, exasperated.

The waiter showed up and gave menus to Nick and AJ. Kevin and Howie went back to looking at theirs and trying to decide what to order.

AJ glanced over the menu and did not recognize one word. He even caught himself looking for the children’s plates, just to see if there was anything that seemed vaguely familiar. Nick had almost immediately given up and was looking over Howie’s arm at his menu.

"What are you gonna order?" Howie asked him.

"I don’t know what anything is," Nick said.

AJ decided to stop pretending and put his menu down. "Me either."

Kevin chuckled. "Um, well, let’s see. I brought a girl here once, and we ordered some kind of chicken. It was pretty good, if I remember."

"Was it in nugget form?" AJ asked.

"No," Kevin said with a smile. "I think it was grilled or something. You guys see these prices? This guy must be loaded."

"Loaded with bull," Nick said sticking out his lower lip. "Why isn’t he here? And why are we here? I don’t understand anything on that menu, and--."

"Okay," Howie broke in. "It’s okay. Look, just get what I get. At these places, they give you salad and bread and stuff, so you can eat that. Don’t eat anything that you don’t like. If you’re hungry after the meeting, I’ll take you to McDonalds."

Kevin sat amazed how quickly Howie had put the little one at ease. He had been getting impatient, but Howie seemed to know just what to say.

"Me too?" AJ asked hopefully.

"Yes Aje, you too."

The waiter came back and looked expectantly at the guys. Kevin gave him a small smile and looked to Howie who always seemed to know what to say. Even he was at a loss.

"Do you boys need more time?" he asked putting a huge emphasis on boys and sounding just like those snobby waiters on TV.

"Yes, please," Kevin told him.

He rolled his eyes at them and turned on his heel.

"And can we have a translation too?" AJ asked sarcastically.

"Sh!" Howie ordered, but Kevin was laughing.

"And how about some real utensils? What’s this anyway?" Nick asked tossing the tiny shrimp fork in the air.

AJ grabbed it on it’s way down and tossed it back to Nick. The latter twirled it around like a drum stick and tossed it back to AJ who stuffed it under his arm.

"He goes left! He goes right! He eludes the tackle! Touchdown!" AJ cheered.

"Go AJ! Go AJ! Go AJ!" Nick sang pumping his fist in the air.

Howie looked horrified.

Kevin was actually amused.

"Well, this looks like a good party."

They all looked up to find the portly Lou Pearlman standing in front of them.

"How are you guys?" he asked. "You order yet?"

AJ put the shrimp fork down, and Nick got to straightening the napkin he had wrinkled.

"No," Howie answered. "Actually, we were gonna do just that."

He sat down and picked up the menu Nick had discarded.

"I feel like having a steak. I haven’t had a steak in a long time, and they’re usually pretty good here. What are you guys having?"

He looked up to the four pairs of eyes that stared back at him in confusion. It struck him then that these guys had probably never been in a fancy restaurant, and he understood everything. He even laughed.

"You guys just get steaks. Want me to order?" he asked calling the waiter over.

They all noticed how the waiter’s demeanor changed around Lou.

"Yes? Mr. Pearlman, it’s so nice to see you."

"Yeah," he said in his raspy voice. "Thanks. You boys want steaks?"

"Steak’s fine," Kevin said feeling a little stupid for not even knowing what to order.

"Yeah," Howie said.

AJ and Nick just nodded.

"Just get us all steaks, medium-rare and some vegetables would be good. These are all growing boys, and they need their vegetables," Lou said.

"Yes sir, right away, sir."

-

"... and this is pretty much the plan," Lou was saying. "Since Nick lives in Tampa, and Howie goes to school, we can’t make practice and rehearsals a daily thing. We’ll aim for three week days and try to schedule shows on weekends. We won’t be ready for those for awhile since you guys will be seeing a voice coach, learning songs and choreography for the next few weeks. Does that sound okay with everyone?"

They all nodded and gave each other glances as if making sure everyone was in agreement.

"Now you guys have to realize that this will take an immense commitment on your part. Nick, AJ, if you have any after school activities, you’ll have to get out of them. I don’t think that you’ll have time for sports and the group."

AJ wanted to laugh, as if he even liked sports.

"Howie, Kevin, girlfriend’s are okay for now, but just remember that your work commitment is here. I take my work very seriously, and I expect you all to take it seriously as well."

Howie winced, thinking about how that girl in his philosophy class was going to end up being just his friend.

Kevin smiled, happily because after Emily, he had decided just to date.

"I have schedules for you guys that I worked out taking into consideration school and other important things. But we have our first practice session tomorrow at my office. You’ll be meeting with a voice coach who is going to start working on songs with you guys. Your parents know," he said. "Any questions?"

It amazed Nick that Lou could eat and talk at the same time without losing a beat because the entire huge steak was gone.

"No," Kevin said. "I think it’s all pretty clear."

"Great," Lou said and pulled up his briefcase. He took out an embossed, granite folder that read Transcontinental Productions.

He handed each guy a sheet.

"My phone numbers are on there. All your phone numbers are on there. Don’t lose it," he took out his wallet and dug out a credit card. "If you have any questions call me."

Once again, he motioned for the waiter who hurried over to him.

"Everything okay, sir?"

"Yes. I have another meeting to attend to, so let me pay the bill," he said, handing him the card. "You guys want anything else? Desert?"

Nick really wanted some chocolate cake, but he didn’t say anything because no one else did.

"Anyone?" Lou asked.

"No, no thanks," Kevin said.

The waiter took the card and Lou got to putting his folder away.

He stood up and shook out his wrinkled linen jacket before putting it on.

"You guys sure there are no questions?" he asked as the waiter hurried over with the bill.

"Everything’s fine," Howie said. "Really."

"Okay, I’ll see you all tomorrow. And be on time, I hate it when people are late. So, don’t be late. Good-bye."

They all watched him lumber toward the door. AJ looked down at his plate suppressing a laugh.

Nick laughed loudly and happily. "Man! He’s fat!"

The older guys tried to keep it serious.

"Sh," Howie cautioned with a smile. "He’s just chunky."

Kevin shook his head. "No Howie, he’s fat."

Nick smiled at him.

Howie laughed and his eyes drifted across the table at their plates. His and Kevin's with half-eaten steaks and Nick and AJ's hardly touched. And of course, the generous portions of vegetables Lou had requested had been ignored totally.

"Well 'D, is that offer still up?"

"Offer?" Howie looked up at AJ's question.

"McDonald's," Nick filled him in. "You're taking us to McDonald's."

"Right. You still hungry?"

They both nodded eagerly. "Get me real food now . . ." AJ pleaded.

"Okay. How about you, Kev?"

"Yeah, I could go for that," Kevin agreed. He figured it would give him all the more time to get to know the boys anyway. At least they were off to an okay start.

"Good, let's go." AJ and Nick were already up and pushing in their chairs. Kevin and Howie exchanged an amused glance.

"What are you waiting for?" Nick asked, an impatient expression across his face when he saw they weren't moving. "Let's go, let's go."

"In a rush to get out of this fine establishment?" Howie teased.

"No, really, Sherlock," AJ muttered. "Quick before that dinky waiter comes back." Kevin laughed.

"Okay, calm down. We're coming."

-

"So do you like Kevin?" Nick asked the second they got in the car. AJ had jumped at the chance to ride with Kevin in his pickup, so it was just Nick and Howie riding together.

"Yeah, I think he seems cool," Howie answered, glancing at the kid as he turned the key in the ignition. "He's nice, down to earth."

"Yeah . . ." Nick nodded and glanced out the window as they pulled out of the parking space.

"How about you, buddy? What do you think?"

"He's nice," was all Nick said. He paused and decided to change the subject. "I didn't like that restaurant, did you?"

"Not particularly," Howie replied. There was a moment of silence.

"Hey, do you like Lou?" Nick asked suddenly.

"He seems pretty sincere about everything, I think. Don't really know yet," Howie said honestly.

"Me neither."

They pulled into the entrance of McDonald's right behind Kevin's truck and parked right in the front. The parking lot was almost empty.

"Now this, everybody, is the finest establishment on earth," AJ announced, climbing out of the pickup. He shut the door and grinned at them. "Am I right or am I right?"

No one answered.

"Right, that's what I thought," he said, following them inside.

"Did he kill you in the car ride over?" Howie asked Kevin with a grin as they got on the short line.

"Nah, he's okay," the older laughed. AJ frowned at them. 

"I heard that Howie . . ." he said good-naturedly. "And I'm hurt."

"Hey what time were you two getting picked up?" Howie asked, ignoring AJ's comment. "Not back at the restaurant any time, right?"

"Nope," AJ said. "I have to call." He paused. "And Nick, your mom is at my house."

"She is?"

"Yeah, so she didn't have to drive to Tampa and back."

"Oh, okay." Nick nodded.

"AJ, why don't you call your house and tell them I'll drive you two back over whenever we finish," Howie offered. AJ grinned.

"Cool, okay. C'mon, Nicky." The two of them raced off to the phones in the back.

"Cute," Kevin said with a grin. "They seem like good kids."

"Yeah, they're fun. They're dedicated to this, that's for sure," Howie said. He looked at Kevin with a smile. "Welcome to the group."

"Thanks, man."

- 

"Okay, guys, here's the story . . ."

Nick, AJ, Howie, and Kevin sat around the huge office in plush chairs around Pearlman's desk, slightly in awe. The morning had been spent being shown around the Transcontinental building and introduced to the staff that would be working with them. Most of the time had been spent in the small studio Transcontinental housed, singing a few demos and getting a few of the songs they would be learning.

"- your sound, but I think we can still use one more voice."

"Huh? What?" Nick's head jerked up from staring out the window and wishing they could get out of this stuffy office and back to reality. He stared at Lou, eyes wide. "You what?"

"I said I like the sound you boys have, but there's still something missing," Lou repeated patiently. "Got it?"

"No . . ." Nick whined.

AJ was shaking his head. "I thought that. . ." He trailed off. "Kev's our man. No one else."

"Yeah," Nick added stubbornly.

"Guys . . ." Howie started. Getting one more guy wouldn't be so bad, he thought. The two little guys were just so protective of what they had. He looked at Kevin for help, but the intercom on the desk went of.

"Mr. Pearlman, someone here to see you," the secretary's voice came. Lou nodded.

"Thanks, Linda." He looked back at them with a thin smile. "Boys, I have to take this. Discuss among yourselves, ok? I'll be right back." They watched him grab his suit jacket and waddle out of the room silently.

"Howie, no."

"Why not, Aje?" Howie asked calmly.

"Because . . . well . . ."

"Because it's just the thr- um, four of us," Nick cut in, shooting a glance at Kevin. "That's why."

"How about we just play along for now, guys?" Kevin suggested. "We don't have to keep anybody. Okay Nick? AJ?"

"No . . . "

"Yeah, but . . ."

Nick and AJ looked at each other with frowns.

Another guy, another guy, was all Nick could think. Why? Why? It was bad enough that they had to add Kevin, who really seemed like a nice guy. But he couldn't be sure. He laughed easily enough and didn't seem too bent on being in charge. If anything, he deferred to Howie, just like they did. But another guy? What if he did want to be in charge? What if he didn't sing well with them? What if he was too old? Too young?

"Guys, c'mon. Give it a chance," Kevin said gently when he realized they weren't convinced or even trying to agree.

AJ shook his head. "You know, it's not adding the other guy that freaks me out as much as how Lou's making a lot of decisions that we haven't even discussed."

No one said anything.

Howie was staring at AJ, thinking how he'd never said anything so serious, so gravely. He rubbed his chin as he mulled it over.

"But we don't even know who this other guy is, or what he could do for the group," Kevin said.

"I don't know, Kev. Aje may have a point. We never said that we wanted another guy, besides you," he added hastily. "But--."

He stopped when Lou came back and settled into his chair with a huff.

"So, what's the verdict, boys? Do I put out a call for auditions?"

"No," Nick said immediately. He was practically half out of his chair.

"I don't think it's such a good--," AJ began.

"Why are you guys being so hasty? And so negative?" Lou said, looking at Kevin and Howie for support. "What do you two think?"

Kevin shrugged. "I think it all depends on the guy and if he adds anything positive to the group."

"I think the decision should be unanimous," Howie said, simply.

Lou nodded. "Okay. Okay. I'm a business man, and I know how to bargain. What do you think about this? Let's have the auditions, and you can all sit in. If someone we can all agree on comes along, then he's in. If there's no one--."

"We stop looking," Nick said.

They all looked at him. He talked a lot, and they all knew that. But he rarely opened his mouth to disagree about anything serious.

Lou tried to smile and began to wonder if it was such a good idea to let such a little kid into the group.

"Nicky,--."

"Nick," he corrected. "It's Nick, okay?"

"Okay. Okay. Look, let's just agree to disagree on this for now. You guys are happy with the way things are. Fine. But that doesn't mean that they couldn't be better. And bottom line, this is my money we're playing with, so I want things to be the best that they can," Lou said. "So, I'm calling for the auditions--."

Nick and AJ began a loud protest. Kevin shook his head.

Howie pulled on AJ's arm. "Stop. Just listen. If you guys don't listen and learn to accept compromise, then we'll never get anywhere. Okay?"

Nick open his mouth, but Howie looked at him sharply.

"Listen. Just listen, Nick. You have nothing to lose. Nothing, okay?"

The little blonde kid sat back and pressed his mouth closed.

"I'll call for the auditions," Lou said, softly. "And if you guys don't agree with anyone, after giving them a fair chance, then we'll keep things the way they are. But you must give this person a fair chance. Got it?"

"Yes," Howie said. "That sounds fair."

Kevin nodded. "Okay."

"AJ?" Lou asked.

Howie looked at him.

He shrugged. "Whatever, D."

"Nick?"

Nick looked at the floor then at the window. All he really wanted was to get out. He had math homework, and he'd promised BJ they'd go out on the water. What did all this junk really matter anyway? He never got to do what he wanted.

"Nick?" Lou repeated.

"Fine," he said, then bit his lip. "Fine."

Lou smiled. "Relax guys. It'll be great. We'll find someone who fits in perfectly. Just watch. Just watch."

-

Kevin had to laugh. These guys were so funny.

AJ and Nick had taken to heckling every poor soul that dared stand to audition before them. They had started out making faces at each other. They ended up making them square at the guy in front of them on the makeshift stage. The auditions were being held in the Transcontinental Productions rehearsal area which was equipped with a large room with a wooden floor and huge mirrors on the wall. Lou had marked off an area as the stage, so each guy could feel the "authenticity" of what they were doing.

Nick and AJ were sitting up far enough in front of Lou so that he couldn’t tell what they were doing. But Kevin was watching their reflections in the mirror and just had to laugh.

The unlucky, already nervous guy who was up couldn’t help looking at the two faces in front of him. Nick was crossing his eyes. AJ was touching his nose with his tongue.

Kevin elbowed Howie. "Check out those two."

He heard Howie lose air. "Oh. What are they doing? Are they crazy?" he whispered.

"They’re just having fun, Howie."

"Yeah, but that poor guy."

The tall, thin blonde guy shot them a look and walked off the stage.

"Thanks son," they heard Lou say. "Boy, he was nervous," he added turning to Howie and Kevin.

Kevin nodded. "Yeah."

"Is that it?" AJ asked.

"No. There’s a couple of other guys left," Lou said. "Sit still just a little longer."

AJ looked at Nick, who just shrugged.

"Okay."

The tall, broad-shouldered, dark-skinned, green-eyed guy standing before Lou really caught his attention. He would balance out the group looks-wise because there would be two older and two younger guys. Hopefully, he could sing.

"What’ll you be singing, son?"

"A Jon Secada song called Just Another Day," he said.

"...in paradise," Nick whispered to AJ.

AJ just laughed.

"Well, anytime you’re ready."

He cleared his throat. AJ grabbed Nick’s face and squashed his cheeks while Nick pursed his lips like a fish.

"... stay away, away song long?," the guy sang flawlessly.

He had a good voice. They were going to have to take out the big guns. Nick pushed all of his blonde hair out of his face, blew up his cheeks as big as they would go and made his wide, blue eyes bulge. AJ did the same the thing but crossed his eyes as well.

The guy stopped and looked at them. Anger flashed in his green eyes.

"Hey--!" he began.

Lou looked up lost.

Kevin stood up immediately and hurried to the stage.

Howie grabbed Lou’s arm.

"I think there’s something wrong with this chair," he said tugging at him so he wouldn’t turn around.

"... think you’re doing? Little runts!" the guy was yelling.

And to make to make things worse, AJ and Nick were laughing hysterically.

"Just relax," Kevin was telling the guy. "Wait. Please."

He gave Kev a shove that made Nick and AJ hurry to their feet and to his side.

"Hey!" AJ cried in protest.

"Don’t push him!" Nick said.

Kevin pulled them back, trying hard not to laugh.

"Shut up. You’re what? Six? What the hell is this?" the guy asked looking around for Lou.

"Relax, just relax, okay?" Kevin said, still trying to calm him and hold back his laughter.

"No! You relax, this is screwed."

Howie was still trying desperately to hold Lou’s attention who was finally catching on to what was going on.

He looked at them and sighed because it all suddenly made sense. The performers hadn’t been crappy. They’d been sabotaged. He shook his head. At least, they were committed to the group as it was.

"Thanks, son," he said stepping toward them. "I’m sorry about this. I’ll call you, and maybe you can do it again."

He looked at all of them in disgust. "No. No thanks."

"Good," Nick said.

"Bye," AJ said.

Both were still being held firmly by Kevin who gave them an extra squeeze for good measure.

"You guys shouldn’t have done that," Kevin told them. "That’s not okay."

Lou sighed. Then he sighed again. "Fine. Fine. You win. I’ll stop looking for someone else, okay?"

He started slowly toward the door, his shoulders lowered in exaggerated defeat.

Kevin slowly released the two youngest guys, and they all looked at each other.

"Think he’s mad at us?" Nick asked.

Howie shook his head at him. "What do you think? What if he just gives up on us?"

"Then we’ll find someone else," AJ said, defiantly. "We were fine without him before, D. He’s not the group. We are."

"Well, who cares?" Nick said. "With or without him, things are still the same. I’m still the one taking out the trash at my house every week. Whatever."

That was the great equalizer, Kevin thought. He still took out the trash at his apartment, much like he had done back home in Kentucky.

Brian.

"Guys wait," Kevin told them.

"Huh?"

"What?"

Nick just looked at him.

"I know someone," he said. "And he’s perfect. He can sing like no one else I know, and he’s a really nice guy."

"Who?" Nick asked.

Kevin actually looked excited instead of serious. "Brian, my cousin. He lives in Kentucky, but he’d work out great. You guys willing to try? Bri’s a great guy. Really."

They looked at each other. Accepting someone Kevin already liked was better than trying to accept someone no one liked. Besides, it might make Lou feel better that they had tried to make a compromise with him.

"He’s a really cool guy," he said. "And even though he’s my family, if you guys don’t like him, he doesn’t have to stay. I swear. But let’s just try. This might be our big break, and I’d hate to think we just threw it away without trying."

Howie nodded. "I think you should call him, Kev. I mean, it would be cool with me. Guys?"

AJ shrugged. "Sure Kev. If he’s your cousin."

They turned to Nick. He was looking at the wooden floor wondering how he was expected to dance there in rubber-soled tennis shoes.

"Nick?"

"Huh?"

"What do you think about Kev calling his cousin?" Howie asked.

He looked up and smiled. "Sure," he said. "Anything’s gotta be better than that last guy."

-

Brian stepped out of the airport terminal with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. His shifted his backpack over his shoulder and glanced around for his older cousin. Who, of course, was nowhere in sight around the busy gate.

The call from Kev had come as a complete surprise. It was a coincidence actually, seeing as he was thinking about calling him recently too. But he never expected to hear Kevin's offer to come and join a group with him. Needless to say, Kevin had coaxed him into giving it a chance and Brian had immediately hopped a flight out to Orlando to check it out. He trusted his big cousin completely.

Of course, he was still nervous. Kev hadn't told him much about the other guys beside their names. What if they didn't like him? Then what would he do? Go back to Kentucky probably. Finish high school. No big deal, right?

Right.

"Brian!"

Brian turned in time to be caught up in a bear hug that nearly lifted him off the ground. "Kev . . ." he greeted softly, returning the embrace. He grinned. Kevin released him after a minute and stepped back to look at him.

"I missed you," he said with a smile, realizing how much this was true when he said it. He looked his baby cousin up and down. He'd been away too long already. "You look good."

"Thanks, you too."

"You excited?"

"Yeah . . ." Brian ran a hand through his light hair nervously and Kevin laughed.

"Nervous?"

"Yeah . . ." Brian said honestly. "Kind of." Kevin gave his shoulder a squeeze.

"Don't be. You'll love the guys, buddy. They'll love you too."

"I hope so. It's just . . . I don't know. This is a surprise, you know?"

"Yeah, I know, Bri. I'm glad you came though."

"Me too." Brian nodded. He really was. This was his way out. His final chance to do something different with his life. He knew it too.

In less than twenty minutes, they collected his bags and dumped them in the back of the truck. Brian hopped in the passenger side and settled in for the ride back to Kevin's, where he would be staying. Shutting his eyes, he rested his feet up on the dashboard and leaned back.

Turning the key in the ignition, Kevin glanced at his younger cousin and smiled. He was glad he had thought of Brian as the last group member. He knew the kid would love doing it and would have no trouble getting along with the other guys. And it would be nice to have family along for the ride.

"So how's it been back in Kentucky?"

"The same," Brian drawled. "Kind of slow actually."

"How's your mom and dad?"

"Good. They send their love. Mom says that you better take good care of me or else," he teased. Kevin laughed.

"Of course . . . She okay with you coming out here and all?"

"No, I sneaked out last night to get to the airport." Brian rolled his eyes at his cousin. "She's heartbroken."

"For real, Brian."

"Yeah, she's okay with it. Kind of surprised I guess. Worried as usual." Brian chuckled. "She thinks I'm gonna break or something."

"Well, just make her happy, Bri," Kevin said with an amused smile as he turned off at the exit.

"I do, you know I do." He paused. "Well anyway, you have to tell me about this group. About the other guys." He tried to remember the names Kevin had recited over the phone to him. "Um . . . Nick, Howie, and . . . AJ?"

"You got it." Kevin nodded. "Howie's a year younger than me. He's cool, really nice. Nick and AJ are a tease. They're a lot of fun. AJ's fourteen, Nick's twelve."

"Kind of young," Brian remarked.

"Yeah, they are. Talented kids, though. Lots of energy. AJ is very . . . outgoing. Nick can be kind of shy I guess. They're both fun little guys."

"Sounds like a cool bunch," Brian said with a smile. "When do I get to meet them?"

"Whenever. Today?"

"Sure." Brian nodded. If Kevin liked them so much, they must be a nice group of guys. Nothing to worry about there. "And who was that Lou guy you were talking about?" Brian tried to remember details from their late night conversation.

"Lou Pearlman. He runs a music company called Trans Continental Productions. He's our producer I guess you could say."

"Sounds good. He nice?"

"Seems to be," Kevin answered.

-

"This'll be your room." Kevin dropped the bag he was carrying on top of the bed and looked at his cousin. "What do you think?"

"Cool." He was too tired to notice anything. Brian dropped his bags on the floor and shoved the duffel Kevin had put on the bed off onto the floor. He collapsed stomach down on the bed and buried his head in the pillow. "Good night, cuz."

Kevin laughed from the doorway. "That tired, huh? I was figuring we could go out and get something to eat, but . . ." He left the sentence hanging.

"Food?" Brian turned his head. As tired as he was, he was even more hungry. The complimentary food and drink that the plane had so generously given was barely sufficient to his empty stomach.

"Yup. Up for it?"

"Yes."

"Then come on, bro. Get moving."

"Are you paying?"

Kevin rolled his eyes. "For you? Sure." Brian still didn't move. "Do you wanna meet the guys for lunch?" Kevin offered.

"Okay. Where?"

"How about McDonald's? They don't really seem to like anywhere else," Kevin said with a smile.

"That sounds fine." Brian sat up slowly. "Why don't you call them and I'll get ready."

"Sure." Kevin disappeared and Brian rubbed his eyes tiredly. He hadn't gotten too much sleep last night. Too much thinking about what today would bring. He yawned as he got up from the bed and ran a hand through his hair.

Where was the bathroom? He spent a few minutes walking around the place looking for it before he found the right door. Kevin had a pretty nice place here, he thought. He'd done well for himself away from home.

Brian splashed some cold water on his face to wake up and looked in the mirror. He hair was a mess. He thought back to the dream he had had only last week and shook his head. It looked like it might be coming true. Somehow he couldn't imagine it.

He dried his face and went back out. Kevin was sitting on the couch watching TV. He looked up when he came in.

"You ready?"

"Yeah. Nice place that you have by the way."

"Thanks. It's yours too now, you know."

Brian smiled. "Thanks."

- 

"Now, you see, Kevin has the right idea. This is the best place to meet somebody." AJ grinned at Nick and Howie across from him.

"So we've heard," Howie said dryly. He thought it was funny the way AJ preferred McDonald's over a good restaurant. He glanced at Nick. "You excited, Nicky?" The kid played with the napkin dispenser in front of him for a minute before looking up.

"I hope he's nice and all. 'Cause it's not like we can really tell Kevin that we don't like him. He'll get mad since Brian's family and all. So we're kind of stuck with the guy, don't you think?" Nick looked at Howie for an answer. "Right?"

"Not necessarily, Nick."

"Well, I think so."

"What makes you think he's not going to be nice anyway? You have nothing to worry about," Howie said.

"Hey, guys," came a voice before Nick could answer. They looked up to see Kevin standing with a shorter guy with light hair and bright blue eyes.

"Hey, Kev," AJ greeted with a grin.

"Guys, this is my cousin Brian," Kevin introduced, resting his hands on Brian's shoulders. "Bri, this is Howie, Nick, and AJ."

"Hey," Brian said with a smile. "How y'all doing?"

‘He has a drawl, and it’s a big one,’ Nick thought. ‘Stop,’ he told himself. He was always jumping to conclusions about people, and it never got him anywhere. He tried to smile, but ended making an uncomfortable face.

"Hi Brian!" Howie greeted excitedly. "What’s up? How was the trip over here?"

AJ scooted over and motioned for the cousins to sit.

"Like Orlando?" he asked.

Brian smiled and shrugged. "It’s been cool. The trip was fine. I’m kinda tired, though."

"Did you guys order already?" Kev asked.

Howie shook his head. "Wanna go grab the food?" He looked at AJ then at Nick. "You guys want the usual?"

They nodded.

"You already know what they order?" Kevin asked with a laugh as they walked toward the front of the restaurant. "Man, you have spent too much time with them. You think Brian will be okay back there?"

Howie glanced over his shoulder. AJ was already laughing, and Nick was busily looking out the window. Typical for them.

"Yeah. They’re going to give him a chance, Kev. And I think they mean it this time," he shook his head. "They can be so bad."

"Well, I think they’re pretty good," Kevin said with a laugh. "I mean, they stuck up for me with that guy and all."

Howie laughed really hard. "Yeah, they looked like baby bulldogs."

It was their turn to order, so they stepped up to the counter.

"... and then, Nick joined us pretty much the next day," AJ was saying. "Kevin finally came along after we heard him sing in this competition at Disney. Boy, your cousin can sing. I guess in runs in your family?"

Brian shrugged. "Kinda. My mom and aunt sing but mostly at church. I’ve sang at school plays and stuff."

Nick finally turned. "What plays?"

"Grease," Brian said smiling at the kid who until them had seemed very uninterested in him.

"I was in Phantom of the Opera in the fourth grade," Nick said softly.

"Cool. What part did you play?"

"The lead," he answered.

"Well, I was on Fiddler on the Roof," AJ said. "And in Snow White. But that was ages ago, you know?"

Brian chuckled. "Yeah. Grease was last year, too. So tell me more about the group. What are you guys planning to do?"

Nick immediately turned back to the window.

AJ cleared his throat. "Well, I’d like to start performing soon. The sooner the better. I think we’re ready. I’m sure it won’t be hard to add you to the songs. We’ve been rehearsing about three times a week, and that’s getting very old, very fast."

Brian nodded. "Well, what’s holding you back?"

"Lou doesn’t think we’re ready," AJ said rolling his eyes. "He thinks we still need to practice more. I’m tired of being cooped up."

"Chow time, boys," Kevin said placing the trays of food in front of them.

They all grabbed for their food and began eating hastily.

Everyone was talking at the same time about different things.

Nick’s eyes drifted across the table, and he noticed that Brian had lowered his head as if he were praying.

When was the last time he prayed? His family never went to church, and the only time they said anything close to grace was on Thanksgiving. What if this guy spent all of his time praying? What if he was really strange?

He bit his lower lip and put down his food.

Why did he always have all these doubts? Why couldn’t he just be like AJ and Howie and accept things as they came?

"—basketball, Nick?"

He looked up. "Huh?"

AJ rolled his eyes and leaned forward. "Do you ever listen? Kevin said that after lunch we should go shoot some hoops, wanna go?"

Uh-oh. He sucked, really sucked at basketball.

"I...um...well, I...--."

"You can be on my team," Brian said, brightly. "C’mon it’ll fun."

He shrugged. "Oh-kay."

- 

The following day, Brian found himself in the Trans Continental Productions recording studios singing for Lou Pearlman. He had been asked to come in earlier than the other guys so Lou could evaluate how his voice was going to fit in to the songs.

Kevin stood outside the door listening to his cousin sing. He had an amazing voice, probably better than anyone else’s. At least that was his opinion. And he seemed to fit in so well with the guys. Howie and AJ had taken to him immediately, that was easy enough to see. But, as usual, Nick had been suspicious and antsy around him because he was new. But all it had taken was for Brian to put him on his basketball team. He was so good that he made it look like the little, skinny kid didn’t suck, which he did. But Brian had encouraged him, and eventually, Nick was actually being his confident, silly self.

Kevin had to smile. Things seemed so perfect that he couldn’t even believe that he hadn’t thought of Brian from the beginning.

‘It must be the heart thing,’ he told himself.

Though Brian was healthy and strong, Kevin couldn’t help remembering what a rough start he’d had. He had almost died when he was about five years old. And no matter what the doctors or anyone else said, no one in the family could forget how hard those days had been. Maybe that’s why everyone treated him like he was fragile. Kevin knew that he was strong, but being older, he just couldn’t help feeling protective of him.

Actually, he was starting to feel protective of all of them.

He glanced at his watch. It was almost five, so the other guys would be showing up for rehearsal soon. He knew Howie got out of class at four-thirty, and AJ was still seeing his private voice coach after school. Nick had to make the trek all the way from Tampa. But they were never late.

It wasn’t long before he heard their voices coming down the hall.

"—well, if you kept your mouth shut, Nick," he heard Howie admonishing. "These things would stop happening to you."

"I don’t dike for them to say that duff to me, and I’m not going do put up with it," he heard Nick say. He sounded like he had a cold.

"Yeah, but what has fighting back gotten you? How are you gonna sing like that?"

They came into view. Nick’s right eye was somewhat swollen, and his nose was puffy and purplish.

Kevin looked up at the ceiling. Why? Why was he so stubborn and foolish?

"What happened?" he asked.

Howie looked at Nick who, as usual, shut his mouth.

"Fight at school," Howie informed him. "It’s what? The second time this month?"

Nick looked at his shoes then up at Kevin.

"They were deasing me," Nick said. "I just stuck up for dyself."

"How many?" Kevin asked.

"Three."

"Three of them?" Kev asked. He thought for a second because there were several ways they could resolve the matter. Only one of them would bring immediate results. "And they just gang up on you like that?"

Nick nodded. "And my friend."

"Well, why doesn’t he help you fight?" Kev asked.

"She’s a girl!"

"A girl? They’re picking on a girl? What the heck is that?" Kevin asked making a face.

Howie was afraid of what the oldest guy was thinking. He seemed to have taken real liking to Nick since he tried to defend him the day of the auditions.

"Well, why don’t you talk to the principal?" Howie offered.

"I’m not a wuss," Nick said.

Kevin nodded. "You go to school in Tampa, right? You’re gonna have to let me know what school. Brian and I will go pay them a visit tomorrow."

"No," Nick began immediately. "Kevin, you can’t. You--." He stopped because suddenly, he realized this could be the end of his and Sam’s problems.

"Uh no," Howie began. "Why don’t you try talking your mom into talking to those kids’ moms. I mean, it has to be better than violence, Kev."

"Who said anything about violence. We’re just gonna go talk to them," he said seriously and pulled Nick toward him. "Let me see that."

It wasn’t so bad but singing was probably out of the question.

"Did your mom see you like this?" Kev asked pulling him down the hallway toward the small lounge that housed a refrigerator. He started pulling ice cubes out of the tray and putting them into a towel.

Nick shook his head. "My dad picked me up doday."

"What did he say?"

"He dried to deach me how to punch. But then he just told me to keep dy mouth shut."

"And have you kept your mouth shut? I mean, in the past?"

He shrugged and cringed when Kevin placed the ice on his face. It really hurt.

"I try, but sometimes, they make me really mad," he said, his voice muffled by the towel.

"Okay," Kevin said. "Want me to go? We can take of this once and for all?"

Nick had to think. It felt good to have someone defend him instead of ridicule, criticize, or tease him. But he knew that he might just be buying himself a bigger beating.

"I don’t know, Kev, I--," he began but was cut off by Brian who was running into the room.

"I blew him away, Kev, I swear. You should have heard me. I don’t think I’ve ever sang quite like--," he stopped. "What happened?"

"Bullies at school," Kevin said pulling off the towel so Brian could see Nick’s face.

"Ouch," Brian said. "Guess you’re out of the beauty pageant circuit for the week."

Kevin chuckled.

"What?" Nick asked.

"Nothing. Listen, what are we gonna do about those bullies?" Brian asked suddenly forgetting about singing.

Nick smiled brightly under the towel but felt his nose throb.

"I say we just go talk to them," Kevin said. "I mean, they pick on you ‘cause you’re alone. And that’s now technically true anymore."

"I’m in," Brian said. "Just let me know when and where."

"We’ll go tomorrow," Kevin said decidedly. "I don’t think we should wait anymore. Right Nick?"

"Right," came the muffled reply.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Lou said for you guys," Brian stopped. "I mean for us to meet him in the rehearsal room."

Kevin gently pulled the towel off Nick’s face. He shook his head. "It looks pretty bad, and I don’t think there’s any way we can hide it. What are you gonna tell Lou?"

"Nothing," Nick said. "Why?"

Kevin sighed. "Baby, because he’s gonna be mad at you for doing that. He probably wanted us to sing today, and now you can’t."

Nick just shrugged.

"Well, let’s just go," Brian said. "I mean, there’s nothing you can do now. Just face it head first, I always say."

Kevin dumped the ice in the sink and hung the towel on the rack. "Yeah, okay. Just make sure you tell Lou that it’s the last time, Nick. ‘Cause it is, okay?"

"Okay."

AJ and Howie were already sitting on the floor in the rehearsal room. Howie peeled his eyes at the other three when they walked in. He was hoping they hadn’t decided to go to Nick’s school. He was hoping Kevin had talked Nick into keeping his mouth shut around bullies, but he knew he was wrong when he noticed how closely Nick stuck to Kevin. It was like they had formed some kind of alliance.

AJ shook his head. "He’s at it again?"

Howie shrugged. "He’d better start growing up soon. I don’t think Lou’s gonna--."

He was cut off by the entrance of Lou Pearlman who slowly made his way over to the chair in front of them. It creaked as he sat down.

AJ smacked Nick’s knee as he settled next to him.

Nick just shrugged.

"Well guys, we have kind of short day today. I wanted to do just a couple of things," Lou began. "I have some really good news that’s going to make you very happy. I’ve booked our first performance."

"What?"

"Great!"

"Cool."

Were the general responses.

"We’ll be performing at the grand opening of the Parkside Mall this Saturday. Think you’re ready?" Lou asked.

He heard them all reply positively.

"Been ready," AJ said, loudly.

"Great," Lou said. "That’s what I wanna hear. I want us to pick about six songs today. The next time we get together we’ll actually rehearse a little, especially with the addition of Brian, who by the way, is the perfect addition to the group."

Brian was sitting with his legs stretched in front of him and leaning back on his hands. "Thanks!" he said happily moving his feet from side to side.

"So, let’s go through the songs we know and pick the very best."

The decided on The End of the Road, of course, two other Boys II Men songs, a couple of New Edition songs and even a Jackson Five song. It all took them about an hour. While they discussed, Lou noticed that the little blonde kid kept hiding behind AJ every time he tried to look him in the face. He really was strange, but no one could deny that he had an amazing voice. Sometimes, Lou wondered where he got to patience to deal with all the other baggage he seemed to drag along.

"Okay, we can call it day," Lou said. "I have another meeting, and I’m giving you guys a break today. Behave yourselves."

"Oh all the time," Nick said.

Howie shot him a look, and Kevin chuckled.

- 

‘It’s such a nice, sunny day,’ Nick was thinking. He had done all of his homework, and Mrs. Fox told him that he was actually passing this term. The smile on his face was about to get bigger.

He knew he had to coax Jason, the main bully, to the back of the school. He had already spotted Kevin’s truck back there. It wouldn’t be hard since he usually followed him after school anyway.

"Hey Jason," Nick greeted as he passed him at his locker.

"Hey Nick the stick. Where’s your woman today?"

Nick just smiled and continued his walk toward the back gate.

"Hey, I asked you a question, Nicky!" Jason called. "That’s what I’ll call you now, Sticky Nicky!"

He kept walking.

‘C’mon, c’mon,’ he thought. ‘Hurry up.’

He felt him shove him from behind as he got to the cherished back gate. He slowly turned around.

He saw Kevin lift Jason off the floor by his arms and push him against the fence.

"You have a problem with Nick?" Kevin asked.

Brian was right behind him.

"What? What’d I do? I was just--."

"You were just what? Helping him get home faster by pushing him?" Kevin asked easing closer into Jason’s face.

Nick squinted in the afternoon sun and smiled. This is what he had always wanted. Big brothers.

"No!" Jason said. "No--."

"Shut up!" Brian said. "We saw you. And we saw that shiner you gave him yesterday."

"What’s your name?" Kevin asked.

He didn’t answer.

Kevin pushed him deeper into the fence. "What’s your name?" he repeated.

"Jason. It’s Jason."

"Listen Jason, I have a little deal to make with you. If you swear never, ever to touch Nick again, I’ll let you live," Kevin said clenching his teeth. "How about it?"

"Yeah."

Kev pushed him harder into the fence. "I can’t hear him. Did you hear him, Bri?"

"Nope," Brian said. "I didn’t hear an answer." He glanced at Nick. "Did you?"

He was startled. "Uh no."

"I said no," Jason yelled. "No. I will never, ever touch Nick again. I swear."

"Okay," Kevin said dropping him to his feet. "Then you live." He took a step closer, so that Jason pushed himself against the fence. "And one more thing, if anything happens to him, I’m gonna think it was you, even if it wasn’t. So you know what that means?"

"What?" Jason breathed.

"That you’ll have to make sure that he’s okay. Understand?"

"Y...Yes," Jason said. "I understand. I’m sorry. I’m sorry."

Kev glanced back at Brian. "Should he go now?"

Brian shrugged. "Sure, let him go."

"You can go," he told Jason. "Bye."

"Uh...uh...thanks...uh," he stuttered.

Brian pretended he was going after him. Jason took off in a mad run.

Nick was smiling. "Thanks, you guys."

Brian shrugged and pretended to dust off Kevin. "Any time. Just stay out of his way, okay?"

"Okay, yeah. Okay."

"Ready for rehearsal?" Kevin asked them.

He had arranged with Nick’s parents to pick him up after school and take him to practice. They’d pick him up at Lou’s office that evening.

"Yeah," Bri said. "We’re ready." He threw his arm around Kevin. "Let’s go, champ."

Kevin just laughed.

- 

Howie watched with an amused expression as the three entered the rehearsal studio. Nick had this proud grin on his face and Howie immediately knew that Kev and Brian had taken care of his little bully problem. He shook his head.

"Where's AJ?" Nick bounced down next to Howie with his usual amount of bubbling energy. He grinned up at him.

"He went to see where Lou went."

"Oh, okay."

Brian sat down in a chair and stretched out his legs. "He always seems to be busy with something else doesn't he?" he remarked.

"He's a busy man I guess," Kevin said. He pulled up a chair backwards and sat down. "We're not the only people that he deals with."

"Well no, but we're the most important," Nick replied innocently. Howie pushed him playfully and the boy laughed.

"Okay everybody!" They looked up to see AJ in the doorway. He fingered his backward cap and smiled at them. "Lou says . . . I'm in charge!"

"Oh yeah?" Kevin challenged. "I'm sure, bud."

"For real." AJ stepped towards them and collapsed down in front of Kevin's chair. He rubbed his hands together with an impish grin. "So what should we do today, boys?"

"What'd Lou say, Aje?" Howie asked.

"That I'm in charge. I told you," AJ said matter-of-factly. "Now-"

He was cut off as Kev reached down and grabbed him by the middle, tickling his sides. "What'd Lou say?" the oldest demanded playfully, a smile on his lips.

"I told you . . ." AJ started laughing. "Stop."

"What'd he say?"

"Okay- I'll tell you- just stop. . ." Kevin released him and AJ fell backwards with a laugh. "Okay, he said he's gonna be late but that the vocal coach should be down in fifteen to twenty minutes to work on the songs that we picked and we should start to warm-up." He paused and took a deep breath. "But I'm still in charge."

"Awesome, break time already!" Nick exclaimed. He grinned at Brian.

"I'll go get my b-ball in the car," Brian said jumping up.

"Brian-" Before Kevin could even finish, his cousin was already out of the room. He looked at Howie and sighed.

"There goes warm-up time," Howie muttered with a smile. He shrugged. "I guess it can't hurt."

"Let's play a joke on Brian!" Nick said suddenly. They all looked at him. "Puh-lease? It'll be fun . . ."

"What kind of joke?" Kevin asked suspiciously.

"Like . . . everybody hide!" Nick grinned at them. Howie laughed at how proud he looked at his idea.

"Okay," he agreed. "I'm in."

Kevin nodded. "Sure."

AJ laughed. "Me too, me too." The four of them glanced around the rehearsal room for good places to hide. "I'm in the closet," AJ decided, running to the other side of the studio.

"There's not many places to hide," Howie remarked. He laughed. "AJ, want any company?"

"No!" came the reply. Kevin laughed. They all paused as they heard a basketball bouncing in the hallway.

"Shoot," Nick whispered. Howie dashed to hide behind a curtain that divided the room in half. Kevin grabbed Nick and quickly ran to the other side of the room, where a covered grand piano was against the wall. He pulled it a little bit out and they both scrambled behind it. And waited.

Nick tried not to laugh as he heard the ball bouncing stop on the wooden studio floors. Brian's steps stopped for a second.

"Guys?" His voice echoed in the empty room. "Kev?"

Kevin heard Nick start to giggle and pulled the boy closer. "Sh . . ." he said softly. "This was your idea . . ." Nick nodded but couldn't stop.

Kevin covered the kid's mouth with his hand. "Shush . . ."

Howie could tell Brian was getting upset. He was walking around now, probably confused. Howie chuckled softly. This was fun.

"Guys?" Brian repeated. He started to get mad. This wasn't funny at all. He was gonna kill whoever's idea this was. Maybe he was in the wrong room? But no, this is where they had been before.

AJ was grinning madly as he watched Brian. The closet door was open just enough so that he could see out the sliver. Brian seemed to be getting pretty upset over it.

"Guys, it's not funny. Okay? Bye, I'm leaving. Kevin, I'm stealing your truck and you're never getting it back, okay man? I'm driving back to Kentucky now, bye." He stomped loudly to the door and slammed it shut, then tiptoed back to the center floor and waited. It was obvious they were hiding.

Nick pushed Kevin's hand down and looked at the older man. "Is he gone?" he mouthed. Kevin shrugged but put a finger to his lips.

"Probably not," he whispered. "It's a trick. Just wait."

Howie frowned from behind his spot. He couldn't see anything. Did Brian actually leave? Somehow he doubted it. He waited.

AJ shook his head. They weren't that stupid, Brian. They wouldn't fall for that. He hoped. He shook his head. This was started to get dumb. It was cramped and stuffy in the closet, so he decided to hurry things up a little.

"Oooooh . . ." he called softly, sounding like a ghost wailing. Or so he thought.

"That is lame, AJ," Brian muttered. "Where are you." He looked around but didn't see anything. Then his eye caught something in the reflection of the mirror. By the back closet. "Aha!" he yelled.

AJ let out a yell as Brian charged toward the closet door and dragged him out easily. The older boy easily hoisted him up and carried him across the wooden floor, dropping him in the center.

"Funny, huh, AJ?" Brian demanded as he put him down. "Where's the rest of 'em?"

"It wasn't my idea," AJ protested.

"Come out, it's over!" Brian announced. He looked at AJ and grinned. AJ rolled his eyes with a giggle.

"It was funny, huh?"

"Yeah." Brian paused. "Guys, come out or else!"

"Or else what?" he heard Kevin answer. Brian frowned. Where the heck were they? He couldn't tell where the voice was from.

"Or else you'll be sorry," Brian said quickly. "C'mon . . ." he whined.

"What are you boys doing?" AJ and Brian spun around and saw Lou's corpulent body in the doorway. The vocal coach was behind him.

"Warming up . . ." AJ said slowly. Brian nodded.

Howie jumped out from behind the curtain as Kevin and Nick reappeared from behind the piano.

Lou's forehead creased. "What were you doing?"

"Uh, tuning the piano," Kevin said slowly. He grinned. "Right Nick?"

"Yeah. Nice . . . model," Nick filled in softly. Kevin smiled and tousled the kid's blonde head. He smiled at Lou, who just shook his head.

"Okay boys, you've had your fun for today I assume," the man said with a smile. They all let out relieved breaths. "But we have a lot of work to do before the show, so let's get to it."

- 

AJ’s stomach turned as he waited for the guys at the Trans Continental Productions parking lot Saturday morning. He was early. Why was he early? He hated having time to stand around and think because all he could think was, ‘I’m not nervous. I’m not nervous. I’m not nervous.’

But he was. Very nervous.

Around four that morning, it had struck him how it was the first time he’d be on stage with four other guys. And he hadn’t gone back to sleep. He had always relied on himself to pull off whatever needed to be done. Yeah, he’d performed with Howie and Nick, but they had thrown together those performances, going mostly on adrenaline. Now, he had to remember the order and the words to six songs, what solo parts he sang and what parts he in the chorus.

His stomach sank harder, and he tried not to think about what he’d had for breakfast. That’s why he’d let his mother just drop him off. He knew how nervous he was and hearing, "It’s okay, honey," wasn’t going to make it okay.

They were scheduled to sing at the Parkside Mall grand opening. It was located in a county almost an hour outside of Orlando. Lou had arranged for one of his vans to drive them up instead of having everyone meet at the mall. He didn’t want to risk having anyone get lost on the way then not show up. They had agreed to meet at eight in the morning since they’d be performing at ten. It would give them about an hour to make sure that they were warmed up and to deal with any kind of problems encountered along the way.

AJ adjusted his tie and pulled on his belt to make sure it was snug. He was so thin that everything looked baggy on him, even the expensive dark blue suit Lou had bought for all of them.

"Hey Aje," he heard Howie call unexpectedly from behind him, and his heart jumped to his throat. "Relax man," Howie said when he saw how high he’d jumped. "You okay?"

AJ nodded. "Yeah. I’m cool. What’s up?"

Howie smiled noting all those vaguely-veiled nervous gestures AJ had. "Nothing. Suit looks good, man. Where’s your mom?"

"Oh she had to do some stuff. She’ll be at the mall by ten, though. Your family going?"

"Of course," Howie said and glanced up to recognize the Carter van pulling into the parking lot.

Nick hardly waited for it to stop before jumping off.

"—by ten, Nick!" was all they heard his mother yell out of the van.

"Hey guys!" he greeted, throwing his jacket on the sidewalk. "You guys ready? I’m ready? It’s so cool. I can’t believe we’re finally going to perform. My mom’s picking up my grandparents, so they can go too. It’s going to be so much fun. Where’s Lou? Don’t tell me he’s not here yet. Why is he always late to his own meetings?"

Howie noted that his white shirt was already wrinkled and half sticking out of his slacks.

"Um, Lou will be here, don’t worry. It’s not that late yet. Boy, you’re excited," Howie said.

"Oh yeah," Nick said. "I’ve been up since about six since we had to drive all the way over here. Bri and Kev here yet?"

"Nope," AJ said. God, why did that kid have to be so happy?

Nick looked around the empty parking lot. He didn’t even see the van that Lou had promised. Maybe he should have asked his mom to stay and make sure they had a ride. He walked to the end of the sidewalk and looked around the corner.

"Don’t worry. He’ll be here," Howie said, as usual reading his mind. "It’s barely eight now. Don’t you think you should put your jacket on?"

"It’s hot," Nick complained. "I don’t like it. Why are we wearing suits?"

"Because you want to look professional," Lou said coming out of what seemed like nowhere. He always seemed to be doing that. He stooped uncomfortably, picked the jacket off the sidewalk, dusted it off and handed it to Nick.

Nick smiled, sheepishly. "Thanks."

Lou glanced at his watch. "The guys are late."

"Just little," Howie conceded.

They spotted Kevin’s pick up hitting the corner at break-neck speed.

Nick laughed. ‘It must be so cool to be older and drive,’ he thought.

Howie heard both Lou and AJ heave sighs of relief.

"Sorry. I’m so sorry," Kevin was saying. "It was totally my fault."

"Yeah, my cuz here can’t ever get out of bed early," Brian said as they joined the others on the sidewalk. He gave Nick’s head a rough pat. "Hey kid."

Nick stepped back and ran his hand through his hair. "Hey Brian. Bring your basketball?"

"It’s in the truck. Want me to--?"

"It’s time to go guys. The van’s coming," Lou informed them.

The late model, gray van pulled up to the curb. The Transcontinental Productions logo decorated the door. The guys climbed in with Brian and Nick racing to back, pushing each other the whole way. Kevin and Howie took the next seats up, and AJ was last to board.

Lou was still outside. He closed the door and stuck his head through the passenger window.

"This is Brad, your driver for today. You guys be good, and I’ll see you there before the performance. Everything’s set up, so just relax and wait for me."

"But you’re not--," AJ began.

"No. I have to..."

"Don’t tell me. Take another meeting," Nick muttered to Brian.

Brian just smiled. "It’ll be okay. Hey, where’s your jacket?"

Nick looked around. He had it. Where had he left it now?

"... so, I’ll get there maybe half an hour after you guys. Nick?" Lou asked.

He looked up from his mad search for his jacket.

"Forget something?" He handed AJ the jacket who passed it to the back. "Put it on and take care of it."

Nick smiled his best smile. "Okay. Sorry."

He heard Kevin laugh.

"I’ll keep it up here for now, okay?" Howie said to Nick.

Nick crossed his arms and sank into the seat. "Okay."

- 

The mall was packed, noted Kevin as they entered. They were quite a sight. Five young guys in suits with no where to go but the mall.

"We looked like Jehovah’s Witnesses," Nick whined as they hurried inside.

Kevin laughed and pulled him closer. "Listen Nick, just bear with it for now, okay buddy? I mean, it’s not like you have to wear it all day. We’ll perform three times. That’s all. And you won’t have to wear it during the breaks. Just don’t leave it on the floor or anything." He straightened the kid’s tie. "Fix your shirt."

Nick pushed his shirt into his pants while Kevin just chuckled.

"But it just sucks," Nick said. "Guys never wear suits."

"Sure they do," Kevin said pushing his blond hair out of his face. "We wear them on dates, to the prom, on job interviews. Just anywhere important."

Brian laughed watching his older cousin dealing with Nick. He was always drawn to silly kids, and Nick was a silly as they came.

AJ on the other hand was a ball of nerves. Howie stuck close to him but tried not to agitate him anymore.

They found their way to the center court at the mall where a small stage had been set up. There were five microphones waiting for their five voices. The shoppers made their way around them looking at them curiously.

"See, I told you we looked like freaks," Nick said turning to Brian.

They were sitting on the edge of the fountain watching the people walk by.

"It’s okay," Brian said. "I’m used to it."

"Huh?"

"Well, let me just put it to you this way. You’re not the only one Kevin’s helped out with bullies. He had to take care of a few for me."

"Really? I thought everyone liked you," Nick said earnestly. What wasn’t there to like?

"Really," Brian said returning his wide-eyed look. "People judge you for all sorts of things: what you look like, who your friends are, what your hobbies are. I just finally learned to ignore it, you know?"

Nick shrugged. "It’s hard, Brian. Maybe you’re more patient than me. You pray a lot."

Brian shot him a look not realizing he’d even noticed. "Well, it helps me," he told him simply.

Nick nodded.

"Relax, Aje," Howie said for the fifth time that minute.

AJ squatted down and hugged his stomach like it hurt.

Kevin hurried over to them. "He okay?" he asked.

"Nervous," Howie mouthed.

Kevin squatted down to him and patted his back. "It’s okay, man. We’re almost there. I know it sucks to wait."

AJ let out a sigh. "Yeah."

Kevin felt the tension AJ’s back. He was full of knots. "Wanna walk around the mall?" he suggested.

"No. I’ll be okay, Kev. Really."

"Okay man, just relax."

He raised his eyes to him and tried to smile as if saying, "I’m trying. Give me a break."

Lou showed up earlier than planned and was pleased to find the guys had made it in one piece. They were all fully dressed and anxious to begin.

"Let me hear you warm up," he told them.

The gathered around him and sang a few harmonies allowing each guy to take the lead. The look of fright on AJ’s face began to dissipate when he was finally doing something. He felt best when was in his element, and his element was performing.

It wasn’t long before some county officials and local media made their way to the stage to welcome the shoppers to Parkside Mall. The guys took their place waiting in the wings. As Lou popped their music into the audio system, the guys huddled in a small circle.

"Ready?"

"Let's do it." There was a moment of silence where each guy made his own private prayer and last thoughts.

Lou gave them a thumbs up when the presenter introduced them, and they hurried onto the stage.

They all smiled nervously waiting to the music to begin.

AJ thought it was taking an eternity.

Brian made a quick prayer.

Howie smiled at his family.

Kevin looked out at the small crowd and tried to commit the faces to memory because he knew this was something big.

Nick was thinking about how silly he looked, just like those people who went door to door on Saturday morning trying to get some converts.

The music began. The five guys took five deep breaths.

The minute AJ started off his solo, his stomach relaxed. He looked out into the moderate crowd that had gathered and was amused at the surprised faces he found there, as if people hadn't expected much from the young quintet. As he finished his lead, he stepped back with the rest of the guys and Nick took off on his part.

Lou watched from the sidelines with a smile set across his heavyset face. His eyes drifted to the viewers and he was pleased with what he saw. These boys were definitely something smart to invest in. The next step would be finding management to get them booked places. And a name.

- 

"That was fun," AJ announced as they stepped off the stage. Nick jumped down from the platform next to him with a grin.

"Yeah." He started pulling off his tie.

"Nice job, boys," Lou started as he approached them. He clapped Brian on the back. "Very nice first performance for everyone."

"Thanks," Howie said. He turned around as AJ started tugging on his arm. "Yeah, Aje?"

"Now let's walk the mall." As Howie rolled his eyes, AJ turned to Kev and grabbed his arm. "Let's go man, you suggested it."

"That was before the show," Kevin said with a chuckle.

"And now it's after. Let's go. Did you see the size of this mall?"

"Someone gets hyper after shows," Brian said with a smile. AJ grinned.

"That's me!"

"Okay, boys," Lou said. "You can have time to check out the mall, alright? Grab a bite to eat or something." He glanced at his watch and dug some bills out of his pocket, handing them to Kevin. "On me, alright? That should cover lunch for everyone."

Kevin glanced down at the bills and grinned. "Yeah, thanks, Lou."

"Arcade," Nick corrected, making a grab at the money before Kevin pulled it out of his reach and into his coat pocket.

"No way, little man," Kevin returned, playfully swatting him away. "For lunch."

"Arcade . . ."

"Lunch . . ."

"Arcade."

"Lun-"

"Okay boys," Lou interrupted. "I've got some business to attend to, but the van will be at the mall entrance in two and a half hours. Don't be late or we'll leave without you," he added with a smile.

"Oh, okay." Brian shook his head with a smile.

"Do you want the cornball looking outfits back?" Nick asked innocently.

Lou rolled his eyes. "No Nick, it's my present to you, alright son?"

Nick made a face. "Gee . . . thanks. Wow."

Lou smiled. "I'll see you boys later then," he said before lumbering away towards the exit. AJ rolled his eyes.

"Well, if that's not getting old . . ."

"What?" Brian asked.

"The so-called "business to attend to' crap," AJ said matter-of-factly. "It's funny." Howie shrugged.

"Oh well. We have free time and money."

"How much money?" Nick spoke up. "Huh, Kevin? Huh?"

"Enough."

"For the arcade," Nick finished, pulling off his suit jacket. He tossed it aside on a chair and pulled his shirt out from his pants, along with unbuttoning the first two buttons of his shirt. Looking up, he found all four other boys laughing at him. "What?"

"Comfy?" Brian questioned with an amused smile. Nick just nodded with a grin, adding his tie to the pile on the chair.

"You just gonna leave your stuff there," Howie remarked, raising an eyebrow.

"Like anyone will steal it?" AJ returned. He threw his jacket on top of Nick's, loosening his tie. "Can we go?"

"Let's split up," Brian said. "Nicky and me are gonna check out the arcade."

"Sure," Kevin said. "I guess I should give you money for lunch now," he added, handing Brian a twenty. "If you spend it all on games then you'll go hungry. Right, Nick?" He knew exactly what was going to happen.

"Whatever . . ." Nick rolled his eyes.

- 

"You weren't really hungry, were you?"

"Nick, when I said get change for the twenty, I meant get change, not a hundred tokens!" Brian shook his head but couldn't help but laugh. Nick's worried expression immediately vanished.

"So you're not mad? Right?"

"Nah, I had fun spending it, buddy. Don't sweat it." Brian gave him a lopsided grin. He shook his head, wondering why he hadn't realized when they had enough tokens to play every game several times.

"Good," Nick said, obviously relieved. He had been hoping he hadn't made the older boy hate him already in the few days that they had known one another.

Brian watched him carefully. The kid was so eager to please. "So you think they're at McDonald's, huh?"

"Knowing AJ, yeah." Nick nodded. "He hardly eats anywhere else."

Sure enough, they spotted the three other guys at a booth in the corner of the restaurant. Nick squeezed in next to Howie and AJ, while Brian slid in next to his cousin.

"Hey guys," Howie greeted.

"Hey," they chorused.

"Did you eat yet?" AJ asked.

"No," Nick said the second Brian said, "Yes." Kevin raised an eyebrow at the two.

"Did you spend all the money?"

"We were mugged," Nick said lightly. Brian grinned.

"You guys are too much," Howie said. AJ was nearly bouncing in his seat.

"You owe me ten bucks, Kev! Ha!"

"You bet on us?" Brian sent a surprised look at them. "Nicky, they bet on us." Nick shrugged and Brian laughed.

"Lucky for you boys, Lou gave us a load of money . . ." Kevin said with a grin. Brian held out his hand for more.

"Why didn't you just give it to us before," Nick whined. Howie rolled his eyes.

"Because then you would have just spent all of it anyway, kiddo."

"That's cheap," Nick muttered.

"Just go eat," AJ said. Nick made a face at him and he stuck out his tongue.

 -

"You know what we were talking about before," Howie mentioned. "We need a name." It wasn't much longer that they could go as the nameless group, and he couldn't help but notice the way Lou kept hinting at it.

"How about . . . AJ's group?" AJ suggested. He ducked as Kevin softly cuffed his head, laughing.

"For real," Kevin directed.

"Okay, okay."

"How about . . ." Nick trailed off. He couldn't think of any. He kicked his foot impatiently against the side of the bench.

"Um . . . how about . . . The Boys," Brian suddenly suggested. They stared at him. "What? What's wrong with it?"

"Uh, nothing, cuz," Kevin laughed, wrapping an arm around his cousin's neck playfully. Brian shook his head with a sigh. He was just joking anyway.

There was a long moment of silence.

"How about . . . you know that place we used to hang out sometimes, D." AJ snapped his fingers. "I forget the name . . ."

"The market place?"

"Yeah, yeah! What's it called?"

"We'll be The Flea Market Boys!" Brian interrupted with his cheesy grin. They again just stared at him.

"Too many letters, Brian," Howie said, trying not to crack up.

"I was joking!"

"Oh, good . . . I was scared." Nick looked at the older boy with a grin.

"I don't remember what it's called, Aje," Howie added. He saw AJ's disappointed face. "I'll try and think, okay?"

"Yeah . . ."

They continued to munch on their meals, and the conversation turned to sports. As usual, Nick was going on with some speech about how the Buccaneers were going to turn around the following season. It was his dream, so it had to come true.

"The Bucs just suck," Brian said.

"No, no, no, just think about it, you guys," Nick was saying. "The team just needs to reorganize and to--."

"Backstreet Market!" Howie shouted.

They all looked at him in surprise being that he was usually so quiet.

"What?" Kevin asked.

"Huh?" AJ said.

Nick just gave him a look because he had interrupted him.

"That’s what it was called," Howie said. "The place where we used to hang out was called the Backstreet Market."

They all exchanged looks as if mulling it over before speaking again.

"Backstreet Guys?" Nick asked.

They laughed.

"No," Brian told him. "It’d have to be the Backstreet Boys, like the Beach Boys or like Boys to Men. There’s nothing wrong with being boys."

"I like it," Howie said with a smile. "It shows that we’re from here, from Florida."

"It’s cool," Kevin said.

AJ nodded. "It’s better than the No Names."

They all looked at their youngest member who always had a complaint about everything. He was in the middle of sticking a french fry into his mouth, so he didn’t even notice them.

AJ elbowed him so that he missed his mouth and dropped the fry.

"AJ!" he whined.

"Nick, what do you think of the name?" Kevin asked, seriously.

"What name?" he asked digging for another fry.

They all groaned, and he smiled, knowing that he’d frustrated them. 

"The Backstreet Boys!" AJ shouted.

He scratched his head and acted like he was thinking.

"Well," he began and looked up at the ceiling. "It’s just that I’m not sure about--."

"Nick!" Brian began.

"It’s fine, guys," he said and smiled. "I’ll go along with anything you guys say. Okay? I was just messing around."

Kevin swatted at him playfully, and he ducked behind AJ.

"We’ll tell Lou today on the way home," Howie said. "He’ll be happy we actually made a decision on our own."

 - 

"Don’t you think you’re a little young to be making that decision on your own?" Jane Carter was asking her son.

They were in the kitchen. She was chopping vegetables, and he’d been doing his homework. Lou had called her with a proposition earlier that day, but she had put off making any decisions before talking to Nick.

He was looking at the floor the way he always did when he knew she’d disagree with him.

But he was sure about what he wanted. It had been months of work, and the Backstreet Boys were already well-known in the Orlando area. Lou had begun to insist on daily rehearsals, and they were booked solid for so many weekends Nick couldn’t even remember. It was getting hard to keep up with school, the group and his family life. Lou had suggested that he and AJ get out of school completely. He’d pay for tutors to ensure that the boys completed their education. Brian had easily completed his senior year in a high school down the street from Kevin’s place.

Nick wanted desperately to get out of school. And it wasn’t the lack of friendships and abundance bullies that had him aching to leave anymore. It was his die-hard commitment to the group and the fear that Lou would go looking for someone else who was allowed to leave school. He hadn’t been happier than he was with the guys. Despite the exhaustion of working everyday and squeezing in studying and homework on the drive to Orlando, he was passing every subject, even math. That was only because he was desperate to stay.

"But it’s what I want," he said, still looking at the floor.

She stopped chopping and noted the sadness in his voice. It had been a long time since anything had brought him down. She put the knife down and turned to him.

"But honey, it’s a big step," she said softly. "It’s all your time. What about modeling? Commercials? Other stuff?"

"I don’t want other stuff," he said. "I want to be in the group."

"All the time?"

She watched his blond head bob up and down in a nod. She took a deep breath and went to him. She pulled up a chair and sat in front of him, holding on to his knees. He glanced up to see the worried expression on her face.

"It’s a big decision, Nick. It’s something that’s going to change everything."

"I know."

She pushed his hair out of his face and looked into those big, blue eyes that always showed exactly how he was feeling. He wanted this more than anything else in the world.

"All right," she said. "I’m going to support you in anything you do, you know that. I don’t know what your father will say, but--."

He was in her arms before she finished the sentence. He squeezed her hard, knowing that once she was behind him nothing could stop him.

"You’ll have to work very hard," she said, her voice muffled by his embrace.

"I know," he said. "I’m ready. Really."

She sat back and wiped tear that she was unable to stall.

"I know, Nick," she said, then laughed. "Those damn onions."

He smiled.

 -

Kevin was hurrying to the Human Relations Office at Disney. This was his happiest moment since his arrival in Orlando. And it wasn’t that he was ungrateful to the people who had helped him at Disney, but the job just sucked.

"Wait up!" Brian called as Kevin practically sprinted in front of him.

"Hurry up, Brian."

"Well, they’re not gonna close, you know. It’s only nine-thirty. You’re in an all-fired hurry ‘cause you think--."

Kevin stopped and whirled to face him. "I’m in a hurry ‘cause I’m free, Bri. For the first time, since I got here, I’m free. I don’t have to wear this stupid, heat-stroke inducing costume. I don’t have to get slobbered on by stinky babies or get hit on by their mothers. I’m just done with it, okay? If you were me, you’d be happy to be done with it. So hurry your ass up, and shut up."

Brian giggled and quickened his pace to match Kevin’s. "Stinky babies?"

"Yes, Brian."

"You got hit on? Who would hit on Aladdin? I could see women hitting on Goofy or Mickey himself, but Aladdin? That’s just--."

He was stopped in mid-sentence when Kevin entered the office and closed the door directly behind him, leaving Brian outside.

"How rude," Brian said.

Kevin was thrilled to be turning in his resignation. He even had his costume dry-cleaned before returning it, so they would have no reason to even call him back.

"Good-morning," he greeted the big-haired lady at the counter.

"Hello," she said smiling and scanning him from his bright eyes to his broad shoulders.

"I came to turn in my resignation. Can I just turn it in to you? Or do I have to speak to someone?"

She clicked her teeth. "You’re resigning? Why? Aren’t you happy with the park anymore?"

"It’s not that, ma’am. I just have a better opportunity coming up. I guess you could say that I’m moving on."

She shook her head disapprovingly. "Well, isn’t that a shame? To lose someone as handsome as you, I mean."

He shrugged and made himself smile, so she’d just let him go. "When you gotta go, you gotta go."

"Well, we’ll miss you," she said and looked over his letter. "We sure will, Kevin. Everything looks like it’s in order."

"So, I can go?"

"Unfortunately, yes," she said and took the costume he was handing her.

"Thanks so much, ma’am," Kevin told her with a warm smile.

"Thank you," she said eyeing him as he walked away.

He could see her reflection in the window of the door as she checked him out.

No, he would not be missing this place. No way.

 -

"I’ll finish school," Howie pledged as he taped up the last box. "I promise."

His mother nodded and just watched him.

When Lou Pearlman told them that he was ready to have them work full-time, Howie had decided that it was better to make a total commitment to the group. He’d start by quitting two his classes and moving in with Kevin and Brian.

"I’ll go back full-time when things are less hectic, mom," he said, assuredly. "Right now, we want things to be solid. We want to have a regular rehearsal schedule and maybe add a few week night performances. Of course I’ll tell you when they are so you can go. Okay?"

"Okay," she said.

She was sad to see him go. She’d miss hearing him sing around the house, but this was what he wanted. And she had always told him to go after exactly what he wanted.

He looked up from his box and touched her hand. "It’ll be okay. Kevin’s a great guy, and it’s time that I get my own place. I can’t live here forever."

She nodded. "I know."

"You’re not mad, are you?"

She smiled, finally and held firmly to his hand. "How could I ever be mad at you? You’ve made me proud at everything you have done. I know that I will be proud of this, too."

"Thanks mom," he said leaning up to kiss her on the cheek. "Thanks a lot."

"Are you sure about devoting all your time to the group, though? I mean, are the other guys as serious as you are?"

"Oh yeah," he said confidently. "Kevin is ready to give a hundred percent to get this thing going. Brian has such an amazing voice that I know he’d going to help us make it really big. And Nick," he laughed. "Nick’s so little, and so silly, but he’s good, mom. And I know he’s serious, too."

"And AJ?" she asked of her favorite member of the group. She had always looked at him like another one of her sons.

"Oh you know Aje’s the best, mom. He is so dedicated and such a perfectionist. He’s so funny how he still gets nervous every single time we perform. I guess it’s because he wants things to be just right."

"Is his mom going to let him get out of school?"

Howie sighed. "I don’t know. Denise has always let him do whatever he’s wanted as far as his career is concerned. I don’t know how she feels about him getting a tutor instead of going to high school."

"She’ll let him fly," she said confidently. "She always does."

 -

"Isn't it great?" AJ bounced excitedly on the couch as he explained to his mother all the plans they had been talking about. Lou had begun to talk about a management company to get them signed with and he was thrilled.

Denise looked at the grin spread across her son's face, marveling at his energy. She shared his excitement. "Everything's going to start going faster now, you know that?"

"My kind of pace," AJ answered. She shook her head.

"About school-"

"Yeah, I don't think I need a tutor either, ma," AJ interrupted. "Since I know all I have to know anyway. No big deal." Denise shook her head again with a smile.

"Not quite what I was going to say, honey."

"Oh no?"

"No."

"But if I'm gonna be in this field for my life- which I am, no doubt about it- then high school isn't really a priority, is it?"

Denise shook her head. "It's always smart to have your education to fall back on it the end, AJ. That's the most important thing. But it's up to you. I'm not going to force you into finishing if you don't want to. It's up to you."

"Well . . ." AJ took off his baseball cap and played with the rim for a minute before he answered. "I guess I'd rather finish. I don't have that much more to get through." He saw the smile growing on his mom's face and rolled his eyes. "You tricked me."

"You can still change your mind . . ."

"No, I wanna finish," he said decidedly. "What were you starting to say anyway before?"

"I was just saying that the tutor makes a lot more sense for you and Nick. There's no way you two can keep up with everything at this pace."

"Right . . . ok, yeah." AJ shrugged. Whatever worked out best for the group was best in his eyes. He was about to mention something else when the phone rang. He jumped up and grabbed it before Denise could even move.

"Hello?" He listened for a minute and then nodded. "Yeah, okay. Sounds good. We'll see you then, thanks. Bye," he said quickly, hanging it up quickly. He turned to Denise silently as his grin broadened.

"Well, who was it?"

"Kev. Guess what!" He was almost jumping up and down.

"What's up?"

"We have an appointment today for the management comp-"

The phone ringing again interrupted and AJ grabbed it.

"Hello?" He listened to Kevin as the older man politely told him he had hung up before he heard all the details. "Um, oops? Where are we meeting anyway?" He listened a few more minutes. "Thanks, Kev. Yeah, whatever. Bye." He turned back to his mom.

"I hung up before he told me when and where . . ." he said, embarrassed. Denise was trying not to laugh. "We're meeting at four o'clock at Trans Continental."

"Sounds good, AJ."

"This is great!"

 -

Kevin glanced to the right as they came to a red light en route to the three o'clock meeting. Brian was chewing his nails with a distracted look on his face. "What's the matter?"

"Huh?" Brian looked up. "The matter? Nothing's the matter."

"Bri, I've known you all your life, bud. I know when something's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong." He heard Kevin let out a breath of annoyed air. "Don't, Kev . . ."

"You've been acting weird since last night, cuz. What happened?"

Brian crossed his arms over his chest as the pickup started moving again. "I called home last night."

"How's your mom?" Kevin was immediately worried. If something had happened . . .

"She's fine. Great actually."

"Something happened," Kevin stated. There was a pause before Brian started to tell what was bothering him.

"Just, she was like, maybe you should come home, Brian. Are you sure you want that kind of life? Are you okay? It's not too late to come back home. Go to college next year."

"Oh, Bri-"

"So I told her . . . that it was time to let go. That I love this and this was my chance."

"How'd she take it?"

"I don't know. I think she's upset. She says that she'll be proud of me whatever I do though." He shrugged. "I don't know."

"Look, Brian, she's just nervous about what's gonna happen. Before long she'll wonder why she ever questioned your choice," Kevin explained, trying to soothe him.

"You think?"

"I know, bud. Just give it time. She's not upset, just worried."

"Yeah, I guess," Brian agreed. Kevin laughed.

"You should be glad that she's worried, bro," he said as he pulled into the Trans Continental parking lot. He parked the pickup and turned off the engine.

 -

"Hey, Nick!" Howie greeted as Nick entered the small waiting room. "What's up kiddo?"

"Hey, Howie!" Nick's blonde head was covered in a backward baseball cap. "What are we doing? Singing?"

"Probably . . . I'm not sure, bud."

"That's cool. My mom says that if it doesn't take long, everyone can come over to my house for dinner and go swimming," Nick said with a grin. "Okay? To celebrate and all."

Howie laughed. "Sure, Nick, I'm in. Sounds cool."

Before Nick could even move to sit down, Brian and Kevin popped into the room. Brian immediately grabbed Nick and slung him over his shoulder playfully. "Hey, Nick!"

"Hi," Nick giggled. Despite the age gap, Nick and Brian had stuck like glue in the past few months. They were inseparable.

"So what are we doing today, boys?" AJ greeted as he bounced into the room a second later. Brian set Nick on the ground with a pat and shrugged.

"Dunno. Howie?"

"Dunno really. Kev?"

"Dunno. Nick?"

"I have no clue." Nick smiled. "AJ?"

"Oh, forget it." AJ grinned. "You guys are pathetic."

"Thanks, Aje." Kevin rolled his eyes as he sat down next to Howie on the waiting couch. AJ plopped down next to him.

"No problem," he replied. Kevin slung an arm around his shoulder.

"So are we early or are they late?" Brian announced. He thought it was ironic the way Lou had told them in the beginning that he hated when people were late, yet he never failed to be himself.

Howie shrugged. "We're kinda early."

"Excuses," Nick replied.

"What excuses?" they heard Lou Pearlman ask as he made it through the front door and caught his breath.

"Oh you know, the Bucs excuses for sucking," Kevin said quickly and smiled.

Brian elbowed Nick who just shrugged. He was used to being honest, not matter what.

"Glad everyone’s here on time," Lou said with a smile. "Why don’t you all come in? Johnny and Donna are waiting."

The five glanced at each other with the same thought in their heads. Those people were there already? Had they heard their conversations? Were they already forming opinions about them?

Lou’s huge office had more seats than usual in it. Directly in front of Lou’s desk was a long, comfortable couch which the guys usually squeezed into for meetings. In addition to the couch, there were now two pairs of expensive-looking leather seats which also faced Lou’s desk at opposing angles. Johnny Wright and his wife Donna occupied two of the seats to the right. They were looking over some notes and papers when everyone walked in.

Lou was quick to make introductions. The couple stood up, shook each guys’ hand and repeated their names as if trying to commit them to memory.

"Nice to meet you all," Johnny said with a smile.

"Sit guys," Lou said when he noticed how they all stood there awkwardly just looking at the couple.

Nick and Brian raced to the new chairs, elbowing each other all the way. When Brian sat down in the chair Nick wanted, Nick pushed him, and the seat almost toppled over.

The other three settled into the couch.

Howie winced, wishing those two could be serious for just a little while.

Lou chuckled then cleared his throat. "Okay guys, this is a serious meeting. I wanted to introduce you to Johnny and Donna because they are interested in managing you."

"We caught your act last Sunday. It was great," Johnny began. "You guys sure have a lot of talent and a lot of potential. There’s a lot of work left to be done, but I’m sure that with time, you guys will go very, very far. Actually with your talent, you can go as far as you want."

"Johnny and Donna used to manage New Kids on the Block. You guys remember them?" Lou asked.

They all nodded, serious looks taking over their faces because this was a lot bigger than they had anticipated.

"I think this is a little unexpected for the boys," Lou said to the couple. "They aren’t usually so quiet. What do you guys think? You’d like someone as experienced as the Wrights to manage you? We hook up with them, and we’ll be talking about tours, recording contracts, maybe even going overseas."

As usual, the three youngest looked to Howie and Kevin.

Kevin sat up and cleared his throat. "I think it’s great," he said. "Lou knows that we’ve made our commitment to the group, and that we’re willing to work as hard as it takes."

"Well said," Donna said, speaking up for the first time. "All you guys really need to is commitment. But before we make any kind of arrangements, we’d really like to hear you sing."

"How ‘bout it boys?" Lou asked.

"Sure."

"Yeah."

"Of course."

"Okay."

"Um-huh."

"Great, love that enthusiasm," Johnny said as they stood and headed for the rehearsal area.

Nick eyed them carefully, as usual, mulling things over. They looked like nice enough, but he learned long ago that everyone looked nice enough at first. Donna caught him looking and gave him a warm smile. He pressed his lips hard and tired to smile back.

"He’s so cute," he heard her tell her husband.

Brian pulled him along, anticipation going through his head. Things were moving along so quickly. He couldn’t wait to get home and call his mother again. She’d have to feel more at ease when she realized how close they were to making things happen.

AJ bounded down the hallway ahead of all of them. Yes, yes, yes, this is what he had waited for all his life. He quickly fought off the oncoming nerves and went through the songs in his head.

Howie was trying to contain himself. He clearly remembered New Kids on the Block. He knew how big they had made it. Heck, even he used to dream of being in a group like that. The fame. The adulation. The awesome videos.

Kevin hung back and walked slowly next to Johnny. There were a few things that he wanted to check out for himself.

"You think we have a real chance?" he asked, softly so that the others and Lou wouldn’t hear.

Johnny nodded. "Yes, Kevin. Absolutely. You guys are talented, and that’s the most important thing. You’re hard-working and committed.

The rest is just work."

"But the guys," Kevin hesitated. "They’re really young, and I don’t know if they’re ready for--."

Johnny smiled, noting the concern in the oldest guy’s voice. "And we’ve dealt with really young kids before. Don’t worry. We’ll take good care of you guys. It’s a promise. Now just show us that you’ve got the drive."

Kevin smiled as they reached the rehearsal room and noticed the others had taken their places.

"C’mon Kev!" AJ shouted, being his anxious little self.

"Move it, cuz!"

"Coming," he told them and trotted up to join them. He pulled them closer to him to huddle like they always did before performances. "This is it guys. We have these people on our side, and we’ll be on our way. You guys ready?"

"I’m with you, Kev. I’m ready," Howie said assuredly.

"Me too, cuz."

"Yup, me too," Nick chimed in right after him.

AJ blinked up at them. "Can we just do this please? Of course I’m ready. I was born ready!"

"Great," Kevin said, then counted. "One. Two. Three."

"Backstreet!" came the cheer, and they took their spots.

The Wrights watched as the guys set the beat to Tell Me that I’m Dreaming and sang the whole thing a capella. Each note was perfect, and the guys looked formal and composed. They knew what they had standing right before them, and they weren’t about to let them go.

Not two hours later, they were celebrating at Nick’s house.

 - 

"Hey!"

"Hey what?"

"You're not on his team! You're on our team."

"Oh yeah . . . So?"

"So that's not fair!" AJ crossed his arms as an amused but stubborn look crossed his face. Brian grinned back.

"Oops?"

"Thanks Brian," Nick giggled. It was him, Howie, and Kevin versus AJ and Brian at basketball. Somehow though, not surprisingly, Brian kept 'accidentally' passing the ball to Nick.

"Stop . . ." AJ whined.

"Cheat," Howie added with a smile.

"I'm the one helping you guys!" Brian defended as AJ shoved him playfully. "You should be glad!"

"We'll do without your help there, cuz," Kevin said. "Poor Aje. It's like a one man team."

"But I'm still beating ya'll," AJ spoke up. This got them into yet another brotherly disagreement over who the points should really go to.

"Okay, guys, let's start over. Tie. New beginning, okay?" Howie suggested, laughing as he watched them. They were all in swim trunks from their previous time in the pool.

"Sounds good to me," Kevin agreed.

"Okay, but I was winning," AJ said quickly.

"Fine, kid, you were winning," Kevin agreed, knowing he'd never hear the end of it. "Good job."

"Thank you," the younger said smugly.

Nick bounced the ball to AJ and they started up again. The new game went on for only a few minutes without another interruption.

"Hey! Not fair . . ."

"Not again . . ."

"Brian, that's it."

"But I was just-" He was cut off as his older cousin grabbed him and started hauling him toward the pool. When he tried to resist he was carried. "No, cold-"

"Time to cool off . . ." Kevin said laughing, before swinging him out and throwing him into the water. The other guys looked on with grins as Brian surfaced.

"Not funny . . ." Brian sputtered. He swam to the edge and climbed out. Sure, Kevin was so proud of himself now. He laughed. Just wait.

"Nick, come here?" The kid gave him a suspicious look as if he expected him to dump him in the pool too.

"What?"

"Just come here?" Brian smiled as he approached slowly. He bent to the kid's level and whispered. "Wanna help me plan?"

"Revenge?" Nick grinned. Pranks were his specialty. At least, he thought so.

"Exactly. I have to get him back . . ."

"Sure!"

"Guys, time to eat," Jane called from the patio. She had cooked out hamburgers and hotdogs for them on the grill. As she flipped the last burger onto a bun, she watched the five of them play around. Nick always had good instinct, as little as he was, and he proved it time and time again. Especially with this group. It looked like things were working out perfectly. In her eyes, her son couldn't have found a better bunch of friends, older as they may be.

"Thank you, Mrs. Carter," Howie said as they approached. He was still glad over the fact she had become so supportive of Nick's being in the group.

"No problem, Howie." She smiled. "You guys enjoy."

"Thanks," they chorused. Nick and Brian grabbed a seat on the bench at the patio table. Kevin slid in next to them and AJ and Howie took

the chairs.

"So what do you guys think about touring?" Kev asked as he grabbed a burger from the plate. He wanted to know what they thought. He wasn't so sure that they were too ready, especially Nick and AJ. It was tough to decide.

"Fun." AJ grinned. "It's about time, I think we're ready." Nothing ever moved fast enough for him.

"I think it sounds good," Howie said. He was excited that everything was finally pulling together. The last few months had flown. He wondered if soon they would have an album and everything.

"How about you two?" Kevin glanced at the two at his side. They were busy whispering about something and so he poked Nick in the ribs lightly. "Hm?"

"Huh?"

"What?" Brian looked up.

Kevin rolled his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing," they both defended.

"Secrets, secrets aren't nice," AJ started.

"It's not a secret," Nick said.

"Then what?" Howie asked.

"The Bucs," Brian said. "We're talking about their upcoming chances."

"That is getting old, Brian," Kevin said with a laugh. He looked at Nick, who was chewing on his lip. "Are you planning something?" He directed the question at the youngest.

"Me? No . . .?" Nick shook his head, blonde hair falling into his face. He sighed. Why couldn't he lie?

"No," Brian backed up.

"Forget it," AJ muttered. He took a bite out of his hotdog and chewed thoughtfully. "Do you guys like the Wrights?" he asked. He was curious to see what the other guys had thought about them.

"They seem nice," Howie said. "They seem for real, but I can't tell yet."

"Yeah, they managed New Kids and look what's happened to them," AJ said. Kevin was shaking his head.

"Yeah, but that's different, guys. We're singers. They were just entertainers. We can sing. We have a lot more going for us than they did."

"That's a good way to put it," Howie said. He liked that.

"I don't know if I like them yet," Nick spoke up honestly. That was expected. Brian nodded.

"We have to see. Seems good though."

"Yeah, we'll give it time to see how it works out," Kevin agreed.

"They want us though," AJ argued. "Not many people do." He smiled. "I think we should try it out."

"We will, Aje," Howie said. They all pretty much shared the same opinion on the matter, as usual. Cautious, but ready to take a chance.

"So . . . who wants another burger?"

Everyone did. As they got to fixing up the second round of food, Brian and Nick got to planning their first prank together.

The other guys were in the kitchen fighting over mustard, ketchup and pickles while the two blondes stood at the foot of the stairs.

"We could steal Kev’s truck," Nick said. "We could just park it around the block and act like we have no idea where it is. He’d freak."

"A little too much, Nicky," Brian said. "We want a prank, not a heart attack."

Nick made a face. "Okay." But he still thought it was a good idea. "How about hiding all their clothes?"

That interested Brian, so he just smirked. "Hmm, well..."

"Hang on," Nick told him. "Stall them, don’t let them go back outside. I’ll be right back."

"But why are you going upstairs?"

"Just go stall them, okay? They’re going to have to be distracted if this is gonna work," he said giving Brian a light push. "Go."

He raced up the stairs to his little sister’s room.

"BJ," he called running in. "BJ, guess who’s here?"

"Who?" asked the little blonde.

"Guess. That’s the whole point."

"Um, I don’t--."

"It’s Kevin!" he told her, excitedly. He knew his little sister had developed a crush on Kevin the moment she laid eyes on him. "He’s here. Why don’t you go say hi?"

Her eyes were shining with delight. "What? Really?"

"Yeah. And why don’t you show him this?" he asked tossing one of her dolls at her. "And this, and this," he continued tossing stuffed toys as she desperately caught them. "The guys would love to see all your stuff. Really! Just don’t take it outside ‘cause it’ll get wet."

She was picking up the toys. "Okay!"

She ran out of the room and down the stairs. Nick knew they had all the time they needed. BJ would keep them there for hours while she talked about each toy, where she got it, what its name was etc. And if he knew Kevin well enough, which he thought he did, he wouldn’t disappoint her by ignoring her.

He hurried to his room, changed back into his clothes and ran downstairs to catch Brian. He was still in the kitchen where BJ was busily doing what she did best. AJ’s eyes seemed to glaze over with boredom as she explained why that doll was so important to her. She even pointed out how the apron was hand made by an old grandma type in Russia. Howie and Kevin actually looked amused.

He and Brian easily sneaked back outside and got to collecting the guys’ clothes from the pool house. The sun had gone down, and the ocean air was now cool and moist.

"You’d better change," Nick told Brian. "Meet me in the garage."

"Okay," Brian said.

When he got back to the garage, Nick had sorted out the clothes into two piles. His eyes were shining with excitement as he seemed to be trying to attach the different garments to each other with clothes pins and anything else he could find.

"What are you doing? I thought we were just gonna hide them?" Brian asked.

Nick smiled. "There’s a flag pole out there."

He didn’t have to say another word. Between the two of them, they were able to attach most of the shorts, T-shirts and even under garments to each other. It wasn’t long before they were hoisting their long make-shift flag up the pole and laughing so hard they had to keep elbowing each other to keep quiet. The flag of clothes was lengthy, but it seemed to be flying well in the ocean breeze.

Brian saluted it happily. "I plant this flag and proclaim this land property of Brian Littrell."

Nick was laughing, then he stopped. "Hey, this is my house."

"It’s okay, buddy," Brian laughed. "I’ll share with you."

Nick stopped laughing when he recognized his mother trying to explain to BJ why she had to leave the guys alone.

"They’re Nick’s friends, honey," she was saying. "Where has Nick gotten to anyway?"

"But mommy--," BJ began.

He tugged at Brian’s arm. "C’mon. Just tell them we came out play basketball."

Brian grabbed the ball as they headed back inside.

"There’s Bri," Kevin noted when he saw his cousin. "Ready to go? It’s getting late, and we have a long drive back."

"Um-huh," Brian said with a nod.

"Us too," Howie said looking at AJ who was half-asleep. "I promised Denise I’d get Aje home. We’d better go change."

"Thanks so much, ma’am," Kevin was saying as they headed back outside. "Everything was great."

"You’re welcome, Kevin. Anytime. You guys better change. It’s chilly out there, and I’d hate for you to catch a cold."

Kevin looked at Brian strangely as he headed toward the pool house.

"What?" Brian asked innocently.

The three of them entered the pool house, and Nick and Brian hurried back out to the basketball court elbowing each other and laughing the whole way.

"Brian Thomas Littrell!"

Brian stopped mid-shot and turned to his cousin who was standing outside the pool house still in his trunks and a towel. Nick stole the ball

and raced down the court the other way.

"What?" Brian yelled as he started after the little kid.

"Where’s our clothes?" AJ shouted.

"I dunno!" Brian shouted.

"I dunno," Kevin mocked and looked at Howie who had joined him outside. "What do you say we chase them until they tell us?"

"What do you say we just kill them?" AJ asked.

"Little of both?" Howie asked.

They nodded.

Nick looked up from trying to block Brian’s shot to see Howie, AJ and Kevin racing toward them, arms already extended in a choking fashion.

"Brian!" he screamed and made run for it around the house.

Brian screamed as well and followed him around the pool, though the porch, behind the pool house.

"Cut ‘em off," he heard his cousin direct the other two.

Howie and AJ stopped and ran the other way so they could all collide. Nick knew the house better and was able to pull Brian through the back door. They ran all the way through the living room and out the front door.

Outside, they found the three other guys staring at their flying clothes in silence. Kevin’s hands were on his hips. AJ was shaking his head.

Howie was just counting to make sure they hadn’t lost anything.

Nick took a step back, thinking they could get back inside, but they’d been spotted.

"Lets get ‘em," someone said and the chase continued.

Nick fumbled with the door, but they were trapped. Kevin easily flipped him over onto his shoulder and carried him screaming to the pole. AJ and Howie were dragging Brian right behind them.

Both of them screamed and laughed the entire way.

"—thought you’d laugh, Kev," Nick was saying.

"—his idea entirely," Brian said. "Really."

Kevin put Nick down but kept him close in a lose head lock.

Howie and AJ held Brian tightly between the two of them.

"Okay joke’s over. Get our stuff," AJ ordered.

"But it was a funny joke," Brian said. "You have to admit that it was."

Kevin gave him a swift kick without releasing Nick. "Get our clothes or your little friend here is next up the flag pole."

Brian looked up at the starry sky. "Well, I’d kinda like to see you do that myself, Kev. I mean, how’d you hoist him up there?"

Kevin kicked him again. "Get our stuff, Littrell."

"Okay, okay," he said with a sigh. "It was his idea. And I get stuck doing the dirty work."

Nick looked up at Kevin and tried to smile. "Well, it was funny Kev."

"Hush, you," Kevin told him, playfully tightening his hold.

He giggled.

Halfway done with lowering down the flag of clothes, Brian stopped and turned to them with his mouth open. "Uh oh."

"Uh oh what?" AJ demanded.

"It's . . . stuck."

"Are you kidding?" Howie exclaimed. At this rate, he figured they would be home at about three in the morning.

"No, it really is."

"You better be kidding or I'm gonna kick your butt," Kevin warned. He grabbed Nick under the arms and lifted him a foot off the ground.

"Say goodbye to Brian, Nicky-boy." Nick squealed.

"Brian, just get it down," he said desperately, knowing his older friend was kidding around. "Stop kidding."

"Nicky, I would if I could. . ." Brian looked at them and a grin began spreading across his face. This was too funny. Better than he had even expected it would turn out. The looks on the guys' faces were priceless.

"Brian, I'm gonna kill you!" AJ warned. He was starting to get cold with a the ocean breeze blowing across the long grass. He glared at Nick. "You too, runt."

"It wasn't my idea!" Brian protested.

"How was I supposed to know it would get stuck?!!" came Nick's excuse. He frowned at Brian, who shrugged. Was he kidding around or not?

"Is it really stuck?" Howie asked.

"Yeah, why would I say so if it wasn't?" Brian rolled his eyes. Kevin set down Nick and moved toward the pole, swatting Brian in the back of the head as he passed.

"Because you think you're funny, that's why."

Brian just smiled. That was true.

Kevin tried the rope and found, sure enough, it was stuck. He sighed. "See, I told you!" Brian said happily, giving his cousin a playful shove. Kevin just glared at him.

"Brian, don't mess with me. I have no patience left," he said dryly. He watched as Brian just grinned at him. One day he was gonna just . . .

"Get it down," AJ said. He looked at Kevin expectantly with crossed arms. Kevin rolled his eyes.

"Why don't you give it a try, little man."

"Because I want you to do it," AJ answered petulantly. They both knew that if Kev couldn't get it down, there was no way he could do it.

"If we can't get this down, boys, we're gonna tie you both to this pole and leave you here," Kevin said to Nick and Brian. "Got me?"

"Pull the other rope," Howie suggested, catching Nick as the kid slid past him. He wrapped his arms around the boy in an embrace.

"The up one?"

"Yeah . . . to untangle it." Howie watched Kevin give it a yank and the flag went back up. "Now pull it down again." This time it came down smoothly, landing in a heap at their feet. Nick let out the breath he had been holding.

"That was funny, huh?" he remarked. The only answers he received were in the forms of glares. "Okay . . ."

"What the hell did you do to our clothes?" AJ demanded, watching as Kevin sorted through the tangle of knots and clothespins that held the garments together.

"Take it apart," Kevin said looking up. "Now."

"Us?" Brian said incredulously. These guys did not know how to take a joke, that's for sure. But it was fun nonetheless.

"Who else," Howie said, giving Nick a push towards the pile. "And hurry." He glanced at AJ, who had a tired look on his face. He could probably get him to go to sleep in the car.

Nick sat on the grass as Brian squatted down next to him. In about ten minutes they had finished separating all the clothes. Nick sprawled out on the grass tiredly.

"There," he said with a pout. Brian stood and pulled Nick up with him.

"Thank you," AJ muttered, emphasizing each word. Kevin and Howie just smiled and grabbed their clothes. It was time to get home.

- 

"Okay boys, what do you say to touring?"

"I say, damn, it's about time," AJ muttered. He felt Howie elbow him in the ribs.

"Behave yourself," Kevin growled from his other side. AJ rolled his eyes.

Donna viewed the five in front of her in the office. Lou sat behind her at his desk, pudgy hands folded across his lap as he watched silently.

The young one, AJ, was seated between Kevin and Howie on the long couch and seemed to have a comment for everything. She couldn't help but smile as the older two tried to keep him quiet. It was cute.

The youngest, Nick, was seated on one of the leather chairs, Brian alongside him. Donna had no doubt that the youngest boy hadn't even heard a word she had said the whole meeting, as his blue eyes were always focussed out the window or at something else. He had still to make eye contact with her, but she figured it would take time. She had only known the boys about a day or two.

"I think we're pretty much ready for that step," Kevin spoke up finally. She nodded at him with a smile. He seemed to be the unwritten leader out of the boys.

"Pretty much?" AJ scoffed. Kevin glared at him. Did he ever keep his mouth shut?

"Well, boys," Lou spoke up. "Please excuse us while we make some phone calls." He rose with effort from his chair and walked over to the door, opening it as he turned to them. "This should only take ten minutes or so," he said before he and Donna disappeared and the door shut.

"You, come here," Kevin started, pulling AJ on his lap playfully. "You have got to learn when to keep your mouth shut."

"Me?"

Howie laughed. "Yeah, Aje, did you have to comment on everything?"

"Just letting you know what I think," the kid answered hotly. He grinned. "You don't care what I think?"

"Don't, AJ," Kevin said. He gave the kid a pat and pushed him off his lap gently. AJ went over to look out the window.

"Hey Brian, Nick . . ." Howie called softly. Neither turned.

Kevin snapped his fingers. "Hey boys, you awake?"

"Yeah, I'm just ignoring ya," Brian said, looking at them as he reclined back in his chair lazily. This meeting had been going on way to long.

"When can we get out of here?" Nick whined.

"Where do you wanna go?" Howie asked. He wouldn't mind getting out of there either if he had a choice. The office was stuffy and he was getting stiff from sitting all morning.

"Anywhere . . ." Brian moaned. "Get me outta here." Brian stood up from his chair, stretching. He went and squeezed between Howie and Kevin on the couch.

"Anywhere?" Kevin repeated.

"Disney?" Nick suggested. His young face lit up as he thought about it and he sat up, feet hitting the floor. "Puh-lease?"

"I wanna go to Disney! I haven't been there yet," Brian said, reminding his older cousin of the fact.

"I don't know guys," Kevin said slowly. He did kind of want to go himself. It would be fun for them. He couldn't remember the last time he'd gone to the park strictly for fun and not work. Maybe they should go.

One look at Nick's baby face and he was convinced.

"Sure."

"Yes!" Nick exclaimed. He was bouncing in his seat happily. AJ turned from the window and grinned too. He was hoping that they could.

"But . . ." Kevin started.

"But what?" Nick's voice was worried. AJ pouted.

"You said yes."

"But only if Lou doesn't have any other plans for us and your parents say yes. Other than that, sure."

He looked at them sternly just to make sure there weren’t any arguments. They knew enough to keep quiet.

Brian leaned his head on Howie and let his weight drop entirely on him. "Hmmm, I’m sleepy," he said and began to snore loudly.

"Brian--," Howie protested with a slight laugh.

Brian just snored even louder.

Nick laughed watching them, and suddenly, felt AJ elbow him.

"What?" he asked rubbing his side, with exaggeration.

AJ just raised his eyebrows and shot Howie and Brian a look.

Brian pushed his weight harder into Howie who was close to falling off the couch.

Nick got it.

"I’m sleepy too," he said running and jumping onto the arm of the couch on Howie’s other side.

"Hey--!" Howie began again.

Nick leaned his head on Howie’s, pushed his weight as hard as he could on him and deftly began to snore. AJ pushed himself actually on top of Howie, who was now laughing too hard to do anything about them.

"Guys," Kevin began tiredly, but actually had to laugh. These three got bored easily and no one could blame them. He could hear the loud snores and groans and the sound of Howie’s laughter.

"Well..."

They all looked up from the couch to find Donna looking down at them. With all the noise, no one had heard her come in.

"Um, we were, ah...," AJ began jumping off of Howie.

Nick slid off the arm of the couch and didn’t say a word. He hurried to Kevin’s side and sat quietly next to him. Kevin rested a hand on his shoulder, reassuringly.

Brian sat up and rubbed his eyes. He yawned and stretched languidly. "Ah, that was a good nap."

Howie was trying to catch his breath. He smiled brightly up at Donna who had taken Lou’s seat behind the desk.

"Lou asked me to come talk to you guys about the tour," she said.

"Where’s Lou?"

She looked up to find that the little blonde one had actually addressed her on his own. He had kind of an angry look on his face. But actually, all the guys seemed to be wondering the same thing.

She took a deep breath. "Guys, this is my job. As your manager, I get to inform you about tours, promotions and stuff like that. Lou won’t be doing it anymore. It’s okay. That’s how these things go. Johnny and I will be the ones going on tour with you guys, not Lou."

"Not Lou?" AJ repeated.

"No," she said gently. "That’s not his job. His job is to watch out for your interests from here. Ours, Johnny and mine, is to make sure that everything is okay when you’re on tour, at promotional events, photo shoots, really anything that takes you out of this office."

"So, we’ll be dealing more with you?" Kevin asked.

She nodded. "That’s what a management company does, Kevin. And by the same token, you guys will come to us whenever you need anything. Any questions?"

"You’ll still be running everything by the younger guys’ parents, right?" Kevin asked.

"Of course," she said. "As minors, they can’t do much of anything without their parents’ approval. Anything else?"

"Well, what about this tour?" AJ asked. "Tour of what?"

She sat up and seemed immediately more comfortable. "Tours of intermediate and high schools, really. We want to take you to as many teenagers in Florida as we can. That’s the best place to start. We’ll probably do a few malls and amusement parks as well."

"On the weekends?" Nick asked.

She smiled at him, but he didn’t return. "No. This will be a real tour. Lou is going to provide us with two vans, an expense account for hotels and meals, and anything else you need."

"How long?" Kevin asked.

"We’re looking at just about a week and a half to start off. The tutors will be going so that AJ and Nick can keep up with school. The vocal coach will go as well so that you guys can keep up with rehearsals and add new songs. Johnny and I will be photographing and filming the whole thing. We want to remember exactly how this adventure started, right boys?"

They nodded.

"Sure."

"Definitely."

"Of course."

"Yeah."

"Um-huh," Nick mumbled but his mind was racing. He’d never been away from home for more than a couple of days, much less on his own. He looked up at Kevin who was the closest thing he had to a big brother. He was listening intently to what Donna had gone on to say. But even he didn’t make him feel any better. What if he got sick? What if they left him behind? What if something happened at home while he was gone? Who was gonna keep an eye on BJ? What if the kids at schools didn’t like them and pelted them with tomatoes? What if--?

"Nick?"

He looked up at all the pairs of eyes that were focused on him.

"Donna asked if you had any more questions," Kevin told him softly.

He shook his head.

"Then you guys going to Disney today would be fine," Donna said. "We don’t have anything else for you guys to do here today. Tomorrow, we’ll have the tour schedules printed up, and I’m getting in touch with parents today. We should be ready to go by next Tuesday morning bright and early. Okay?"

Kevin nodded. "Yeah. Okay. That would be fine."

She smiled at them. "Then you guys have fun today! I wish I could go."

No one said anything but good-bye as they hurried out of the office.

Brian and AJ had gone with Howie in his car, so that had left Nick alone with Kevin. It was just as well. All that talk about leaving home wasn’t sitting well with him anyway.

"I like dealing with the Wrights," Kevin said as he started the pick up. "They really seem to know what they’re doing."

Nick nodded, absently.

"Touring’s gonna be cool, little man," he said. "I’m ready to go try this act outside of Orlando. I think we’ll do good, don’t you?"

He just shrugged.

"Nick?" Kevin asked giving him a look. He’d gotten to know the kid pretty well, and he was by no means that quiet. "What? What’s wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

Kevin glanced at him again and almost laughed. He was practically pouting, and that made him look even younger than nearly thirteen.

"Okay. But listen--," Kevin began.

"I’ve never been away from home alone. I don’t even know who those people are. What if something goes wrong? What if they aren’t even for real? What if the kids at those schools hate us? What if one of us gets lost and--," he said in almost one breath.

"Hey, stop," Kevin told him. "Sh. It’s okay. I know. I have those doubts too. I think we all do."

"Then? Then what are we doing Kev?"

"We’re talking a shot, buddy. What else? No one said it was going to be easy or always fun, or certain, okay?" Kevin said. "But what’s our other option? To sing in Orlando malls forever?"

"Well--," Nick began.

"No," Kevin told him, seriously. "We’re too good for that, you know that. And you’re not going alone. We’re all in on this together. We have to stick together. You think I don’t have doubts? Of course I do. Sometimes, I wonder if it was a good idea to drag Brian all the way out here and away from home. Sometimes, I wonder if I shouldn’t be in college instead, but there’s one thing that I really believe in."

"What?" Nick asked.

"Destiny, Nicky. Destiny brought us together. Why else would you, Howie and AJ have hooked up and found me? Why else would Brian be here? It’s too good to throw away on doubts, buddy. Don’t doubt. Have faith. We have to have faith in each other, okay?"

Nick nodded, finally. "Okay."

"And you’re not going alone. We’ll all look out for each other. We have to. I’m gonna be there watching out for everyone every step of the way, okay?"

"Okay," Nick repeated finally with some confidence in his voice.

Kevin reached over and messed up his hair. He was such a kid. But Kevin had to admit that he harbored some of the same fears. Nick was just young and honest enough to vocalize them.

 -

"I can't believe you've never been to Disney!" Nick exclaimed, jumping on Brian's back as they were walking through the parking lot. Brian stopped walking a second to boost him up so that he wouldn't slide off.

"I know, I'm deprived." He sighed theatrically as they caught up to the other guys. "Kevin never thought to invite me to visit-"

"Excuse me? Yes I did, cuz," Kevin corrected. "You were too busy to come out if I remember correctly."

"Details," Brian muttered with a smile. Kevin grinned at him.

"I want to ride every single ride at least once," AJ announced. He looked at them for comments. "Okay?"

"That's not possible, bud," Howie answered. "And you know it too. Remember you tried last year?" He rolled his eyes and thought back to the time last year when AJ had made the same bet with him. That was one of the only times he had seen the kid run out of energy.

"So, I'm older now," AJ argued. Kevin started to laugh and AJ glared at him. "What?"

"Nothing . . ." He tried to stop laughing and AJ crossed his arms with a frown. Kevin boxed the kid's head lightly. "Sorry."

"I don't see what's so funny. Wanna bet on it?"

"No," Kevin said flatly. "Why you wanna go betting on everything?"

"You still owe me my money from that time in McDonalds . . ."

"Sorry to disappoint ya, but you're never gonna be seeing that money, squirt."

"That's cheap."

"That's life." Kevin grinned at him lightly and AJ rolled his eyes. They looked over and noticed that Brian and Nick had grabbed one of the maps and were showing it to Howie.

"Me and Brian are going here, here, here, and here," Nick said, pointing out the places with his finger on the map that Howie held. He didn't even wait for an answer but took Brian by the arm and started to drag him away. Kevin caught him by the back of the shirt and pulled him back.

"Meeting time? Place?"

"Um . . ."

"Right. Just hold up a second there, little man."

Brian looked at his cousin and feigned impatience. "Times wasting," he said, tapping his foot. Kevin gave him a shove.

"You go get lost. Don't come home."

"What?" Brian's mouth opened and he pretended to be hurt. "I'm running away." He couldn't help the smile that spread across his face.

"Okay." Kevin tried to ignore him.

"Can I come with you?" Nick asked, tugging on Brian's arm.

"Sure, pal, you're my buddy." Brian paused. "We'll take the truck, ok?"

"Hey! No way. Stop." Kevin shook his head at them. "Not funny anymore when you threaten my truck."

"So it's okay if I'm gone forever, but not your... vehicle?"

" . . . Yeah, you pretty much got it."

"That's cruel, Kev," Howie said with a laugh. It was pretty humorous listening to the two of them go at each other.

"I'm gonna be going now. Bye." Brian turned to go but Kevin caught him by the waist and pulled him in a headlock before he got anywhere.

"Stop . . . abuse," Brian protested.

"Better call the ASPCA," AJ spoke up. Howie grinned at him and Kevin released Brian slowly.

"Okay, where do you wanna meet? And when?"

"Why don't we do the rides in this side of the park first together and then split up?" Howie suggested.

"Sounds good to me. How 'bout you boys?" Kevin looked at them and saw them nod in agreement.

- 

About forty minutes and an uncountable number of rides into the park, Nick decided that it was time to speed things up a little. The four other guys were trying to decide where to go to next when he spoke up.

"How about that?" They followed their line of sight to where he pointed to. "Please?"

"Is it fast?" Brian frowned. "I don't really like heights too much . . ."

"No, no." Nick looked down at the map he held as if he were reading. "It says 'a calm ride that lets you experience Disney with rolling hills and relaxing fun'." He looked up. "How 'bout it, huh?"

"That sounds good." Brian nodded.

"That sucks," came AJ's reply. "It sounds boring . . ." Howie wrapped an arm around his neck loosely.

"AJ, this counts as 'riding every ride', doesn't it?"

"Well, yeah . . ." AJ shrugged and gave his friend a sheepish grin. Why did he always do that?

They got on the line and in less than ten minutes were getting into the cars on the track that the ride consisted of. Howie and Brian stepped into the first car and Nick, AJ, and Kevin were able to squeeze into the second car directly behind it.

Kevin heard distant screams and suddenly realized something. He looked at the track leading into the ride and frowned. "Nicky-boy, let me see your map."

"Why . . . ?" Nick asked suspiciously.

"Give me the map," Kevin directed in a chiding tone. Nick handed it over AJ's lap as the ride started to move. Kevin scanned it quickly.

"Which ride is it?"

"That one." Nick reached over AJ and pointed it out.

'A rip-roaring, heart-racing ride that will keep you screaming and glued to your seat. Hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen,' Kevin read silently. He glared at Nick. "Nick, I oughtta-"

"You mean it's a fast ride?!" AJ exclaimed. "Yes!" He shook Kevin's arm playfully. "That's better, Kev."

"Brian's gonna have a field day," the oldest muttered. He glanced at Nick chewing on his thumb nervously and shook his head.

"I thought . . ." Nick trailed off.

"Don't worry about it, buddy."

"I thought it would be fun," Nick said softly. "I'm sorry. Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad, Nicky. I would of gone on it anyway. It's just that poor Brian up there is in for one hell of a surprise," Kevin remarked. He laughed. "Poor kid."

The three of them grinned as the car jerked around the corner and the hundred foot drop in the track become visible. Brian screamed.

 - 

"Can we sit down for a minute?"

Howie looked at Brian and smirked. He looked kind of green. Personally he wasn't much for heights either, but he was used to being dragged on rides of the same sort by AJ. Kids were evil.

"I'm sorry, Brian . . ." Nick chewed on his bottom lip as he tried not to laugh at his older friend. Brian gave him a weak smile.

"It's okay. I'm fine, I just wasn't expecting that first drop. Or the second. Or the third . . ." He trailed off.

"Why don't you just sit for a bit over here," Kevin suggested, pulling his younger cousin toward one of the benches and sitting him down on it. Brian leaned forward with a moan and Kevin rubbed his back. "Just take a deep breath."

"Can we go on that?" AJ was still hyped up from the last ride and needed more immediately. The giant roller coaster in front of them looked tempting to try out.

"Just give us a sec," Howie admonished. The kid had way to much energy for his own good sometimes.

"You guys go 'head. I'll sit out on this one I think," Brian spoke up.

"You sure?" Kevin asked.

"Yup. Go ahead."

As the other guys started away in the direction of the ride, Nick gave Brian a quick hug. "Sorry, Brian."

"Calm down," Brian said, releasing him with a pat. "How would you know I didn't like heights?" He laughed. "Go catch up with the guys." Nick ran away and he shook his head. Silly kid. But he loved him.

Nick caught up with the other guys as the pulled up to the requirements for the ride. No heart problems, no obese people . . . He thought of Lou and laughed. The big guy would have to miss out.

"Hey Nicky, you're not tall enough," AJ remarked. Nick looked up and sure enough, he fell less than an inch below the required height for the ride. Usually he wouldn't pay attention to the sign, but up ahead stood a man with the height meter to let people on. He stuck out his lower lip.

"Hey shorty, c'mere." Kevin grabbed him under the arms and lifted him up easily. "Okay, let's see how this works." They approached the ride gate and the man looked up at him.

"He tall enough?"

"Yep."

"Can he stand to check?" The man looked at them tired. Kevin definitely knew he did not miss working here.

"Nope. Hurt his ankle. Can't walk. He's tall enough though, don't worry about it." The man looked dubious but let them through. Once they were out of his sight, Kevin set Nick on the ground.

"Thanks, Kev."

"No prob, buddy."

The three of them settled into the first available car, right up in front.

"Sit up," Kevin ordered Nick as the protective harness came down.

It was barely snug on him, so Kevin made sure he had his elbow over him, just in case.

Brian and Howie finally made it close enough to the ride to watch the guys climb in. Brian saw the their heads slightly bob back as the break seemed to release.

He gave Howie a look.

"They’re crazy," Howie said with a laugh.

"Yeah, but they’re having fun," Brian said almost wistfully.

He watched as Nick’s, AJ’s and Kevin’s faces seemed to make the same expression of anticipation and impatience as the roller coaster eased up the climb. When it reached the top and hesitated, they all raised their arms and their mouths widened. They seem to plummet in silence, but Brian could have sworn he heard them scream.

Kevin was funny, he thought. He was funny in that here he was having so much fun with the two younger guys, and whenever they had gone to fairs and amusement parks back home, he had always steered him away from rides or anything else like that. Brian even thought he didn’t like them. But he knew then, Kev was just once again being protective of him. It was a good thing he had found someone, or some people, to have that kind of fun with. Still, he wished it could be him.

"You left me deaf, guys!" Kevin scolded as they walked back toward them.

He’d had a heck of a time convincing AJ and Nick that they didn’t have time to get on the ride again. Really, he was trying to get his hearing back.

"Oh, c’mon Kev!" Nick whined, his voice still high-pitched with excitement.

"Sh," Kevin told him. "Just hush for two minutes, will you?"

Nick pouted up at Brian who just had to smile.

"Aw, he’s just too old," Brian, stretching his legs in front of him. "Don’t worry about it."

"I’m just deaf now, Cuz," Kevin said sitting next to him.

AJ and Nick stood in front of the guys expectantly.

"What?" Howie asked them.

"What do you mean, what? Why are you sitting?" AJ asked. "Is the day over? Has the sun set? Is the electric parade on? Did Mickey go to bed? Has the fat lady sung yet?"

"Lou doesn’t sing," Nick said with smile.

Their head snapped to face him.

AJ cracked up.

"What?" he asked. "Well, he’d be the fat man, right?"

Kevin had to chuckle, but he shook his head trying to be serious.

"Be nice, Nicky," Howie said.

"What?" Nick asked again. "What’d I say."

Brian stood up seeing that his cousin needed a break from the younger guys.

"Let’s go get some grub, yeah? Who’s hungry?" he asked.

Nick and AJ looked at each other. They had time for some food.

"Okay Littrell, but make it fast," AJ said. "Hot-dogs at most. We still have more than half the park to see."

"We’ll wait here," Kevin said squinting up at the bright blue sky. "Don’t get lost."

Nick gave Brian a shove. "Don’t worry," he said. "We won’t. And you’d better be ready to get back on the rides, Kevin."

Howie laughed and looked at his older friend as the other three disappeared. Kevin just shook his head.

"He’s a handful," Howie said. "I thought AJ was bad."

"AJ is bad," Kevin said, then smiled. "They’re great. They’re so much fun. AJ’s so anxious and Nick’s so scared. He’s worried about the tour."

"Yeah?" Howie said. "He didn’t show it."

"He told me on the way over. He really--."

"Kevin?"

He looked up to recognize Emily standing in front of him. Well, he thought it was Emily. She was wearing a dark Jasmine wig and costume, but she looked familiar.

"Em?" he asked.

"Yeah!" she said. "How are you?"

He stood up and gave her a hug. "Great. I’ve been great. Working hard, and you? I haven’t seen you since last summer."

She pressed a smile at him. "I’m back here. Things in South Beach didn’t work out exactly as I had planned."

"I’m sorry to hear that," Kevin said, earnestly. "So you’re back here?"

She shrugged. "Yeah. For better or worse. What about you?"

He looked back at Howie. "I," he began then smiled. "Well, I’ve been doing all sort of stuff. Are you on a break?"

She nodded.

"Sit down. This is Howie. Howie, this is my friend Emily. We used to work here together."

Howie smiled and shook her hand. "It’s nice to meet you."

- 

"But it’s not really Mickey Mouse, Brian. It’s a guy in a suit. Why would you even want to meet him?" AJ was asking for the fifth time since they’d left Kevin and Howie.

"Because I do," Brian said, simply. "I’ve never been here before, and I don’t know how anyone can come here without meeting Mickey."

"But it’s not really Mickey," Nick whined. "I thought we were gonna get food and get back on the rides."

"In a minute. Hold your horses," Brian told him as he looked around.

Geez, they made it so hard to take in the park atmosphere, just because they had grown up visiting the place. Brian made his away around the families and tourists stopping every few minutes to look inside the shops and displays.

"Mickey!" he shouted when he spotted the big mouse.

"Oh no," AJ winced.

Nick just stood back. He’d never liked Mickey Mouse, not even when he was little.

Brian patiently waited his turn to say hello. Mickey was posing with kids and families. He began wishing he’d brought a camera.

"Mickey!" he greeted, hugging him. "I’m so glad to meet you. I’m Brian, and I’m from Kentucky. Those are my friends over there."

Of course, Mickey didn’t answer, but played along with Brian, nodding and hugging him back.

"My mom and I have seen all your movies," Brian said. "Even Steamboat Willie. But I’m a Fantasia man, myself. Ever plan on marrying Minnie?"

Mickey pretended to cover his face and laugh.

"Brian, can we go now?" Nick asked.

"No. Come say hi to Mickey."

"Yeah, right," AJ said turning around, but it was too late. Brian was bringing Mickey to them.

Nick stepped back and grabbed on to AJ’s shirt.

"Guys, just say hi," Brian told them, his arm around Mickey’s slumping shoulders.

Mickey waved at them.

They took a step back.

"Hi," AJ said and turned away.

Nick looked at the ground. People were starring at them. He felt the furry hand on his face and pulled away.

"Yeah," Brian said. "He’s cute, but he’s a pain. AJ’s not so bad. He has his moments."

Mickey patted AJ’s head. AJ swatted him away.

"They’re shy," Brian said.

Nick tugged at AJ. "We’re getting food, Brian. Then we’re going back to the rides," he said as they walked away. "You can stay here. We’re leaving. Good-bye. We’re gone."

Brian smiled and shook Mickey’s hand.

"Thanks and good-bye," Brian said and started after the runts. "Guys," he called.

 -

They argued all the way back to Kevin and Howie. They had argued about how many hot-dogs to get, about what soda to order, about how much relish, ketchup and mustard to bring along.

The little ones were just mad because he had embarrassed them, Brian figured. They’d get over it.

"Guys," Kevin said immediately when he saw them. "Guys, come ‘ere."

He left Emily talking to Howie. She was really down about having to come back to Disney. Kevin had decided that there was something they could do about it, just for a little while.

"Here," Nick said handing him a box of hot-dogs.

Kevin looked at him, then at the food. "Listen, we can eat later. I need you guys to do me a big favor."

"Sure," Brian said.

"What?" AJ asked.

Nick sipped his soda and looked up at him.

He took all the food and sodas from them and hurried to get Howie.

"Can you watch our food, Em?" Kevin asked as he put it down next to her. "I want to talk to the guys for a sec."

She shrugged. "Sure."

They made a little huddle for what seemed like a long while. Emily watched, amusedly. Kevin really was something else. She wondered how she let things go with him so easily.

Next thing she knew, they were pushing the little blond kid in front of her. He looked at her for a second, then at the ground.

"Nick," Howie hissed at him.

"Um, um, this is for you," he stammered and back away.

She smiled.

Kevin counted, and the guys began to snap their fingers. They sang My Girl for her a capella, not missing a note or losing the beat for a second. They had just added the song to their repertoire, but it was fun to sing. A little crowd even gathered around them to listen.

Emily looked thrilled and shocked. And just for a moment, she had to admit, that she felt much better.

"Wow, guys," she breathed as they finished it off. Light applause faded as the small crowd about them dispersed. "That was incredible . . ."

She smiled at Kevin and suddenly felt weak in her stomach when he looked back at her. "Thanks, guys. Kev . . ."

"No problem, Em. I'm so glad you're here," came Kevin's reply. He trailed off. There was a moment of silence and AJ cleared his throat loudly.

"Kev?" he asked softly.

"Oh right." Kevin chuckled. "Em, this is AJ, my cousin Brian, and Nick. Guys, this is my good friend Emily." He watched their reactions and was pleasantly relieved to find no negativity or any else unexpected. You could write a book on these boys.

"So you're Jasmine," AJ was saying. "And Kev here was Aladdin, so. . . Aha, I get it," he finished with a sly, knowing smile spreading across his young face. Emily blushed and Kevin punched AJ in the arm.

"You'll learn to just ignore AJ after awhile . . .," he said, giving the boy a warning glare. AJ just shrugged, innocence written across his face.

"So do you wanna hang out with us guys?" Howie offered, changing the subject smoothly. Nick shot him a look as Emily smiled at him thankfully.

"Actually I might take you up on that offer. My shift just ended and I was just debating what to do tonight."

"Great!" Kevin exclaimed.

"That is, if no one minds," Emily added quickly, glancing at the younger boys in front of her. She pulled off the Jasmine wig to let her lighter hair cascade down her back.

"We have no objections," Brian said with a grin. Kevin had a girlfriend? Ooh la la. . . He smiled. And a pretty one at that.

"Alright." She smiled happily. "Well I'm just gonna go run and get out of this darn outfit and I'll meet you back here in say, fifteen minutes?" She looked at Kevin and he nodded. She started away towards the staff area and he watched her retreating form. How did he ever lose touch with this woman? He shook his head.

"Kev?"

"Yeah?" He turned to find his cousin waving a hand in his face and swatted it away. He groaned as Brian started up in a sing-song voice.

"Kevin's got a girlfriend, Kevin's got a girlfriend, Kevin's got a girl-" A hand clamped over his mouth tightly.

"Say it again and I might do something I'll regret."

"Kev's got a. . ." Brian trailed off when he saw he was serious. "Oh."

"You never told us you had a girlfriend," AJ said innocently. Kevin stared at him patiently.

"I'm gonna say this once so you can all get it through your thick heads. We're friends. Nothing more, nothing less." He debated whether to tell them the fact that he and Emily had dated in the past and had come to the conclusion that it was better off to be friends. Nah, it was more than they needed to know. "Got me?"

"Yup, sure."

"Alright then. Let's eat. Nick, you okay?" He sent the unusually quiet kid a look.

"Yup . . ." Nick nodded absently. He was a little bit perturbed about Emily coming along with them. Why did it always seem that whenever they planned something for just the five of them, someone else always got in the way? He watched as Kevin nodded doubtfully and rolled his eyes. Why did he even bother asking if he wasn't going to believe his answer?

The five of them squeezed around a small table with a colorful umbrella hanging over it and began to dig in the food.

"Where're we going next?" AJ asked with a mouth full of hotdog. It was barely understandable. Howie made a face.

"Chew and swallow, Aje . . . Good boy," he teased when AJ glared at him. He took a sip of his soda. "Where do you want to go?"

"On every ride . . ." AJ grinned.

"Well," Brian spoke up. "Me and Nicky are on a hunt to get the signature of every single Disney character in the park so-"

"What?!" Nick's mouth opened in surprise. "Says who?"

"Says me. So anyway-"

"Un-uh," Nick interrupted. "Me not going."

"Why not?" Brian was trying hard not to laugh.

"Cause . . . I'm . . ."

"You need to help me get my souvenir! I want to prove I've been to Disney," Brian was saying. "So obviously I have to get all the signatures. To prove that I saw them all. In Disney. So I have to find Mickey again because I didn't ask-"

"Brian, honey?" Kevin interrupted sarcastically. "Shut your mouth for now, ok?"

"But-"

"Just shush." Kevin rolled his eyes. Brian's big day out. What a boy he had on his hands. Weren't they lucky to be related. He smiled at the younger fondly.

"I don't wanna," Nick was saying desperately.

"Hey guys!" They looked up as Emily came walking towards them, dressed in jean shorts and a light yellow tank top. She sat down next to Kevin and smiled brightly. "You don't wanna what?" she asked looking at Nick. She smiled softly when he looked down at the tabletop shyly.

"He doesn't wanna go with me and see the Disney characters to get autographs," Brian spoke up. "Can you imagine?"

She laughed. "I don't blame him."

"Say what? AJ, how 'bout you, buddy boy? You wanna come with me, right?"

"Wrong?"

"Oh, geez . . ." He sighed and glanced at Nick, feigning sadness. "After all you put me through with that ride-"

"Okay, I'm sorry. I'll go with you." Nick rested his chin on his hand forlornly and Kevin laughed.

"Don't fall for his guilt trip, bud. He's just playing."

"Why don't you make a contest?" Emily spoke up. They looked at her and she smiled. "See which group gets the most signatures?" She watched as Brian's face lit up.

"Good idea! Me and Nicky versus Howie and AJ," he decided. He glanced at Kevin and Emily and smirked. "And you two can just . . . hang out. Together."

Kevin sent his cousin a glare and tried to stop himself from reaching over to smack him. But he was thankful to have some time alone with Emily. They had a lot to catch up on.

"How about we meet back here in say an hour?" Howie suggested. "So we have time for more rides later."

"Sounds good to me," Kevin said. Emily nodded.

"We'll see you later then." The four guys went there two separate ways and Emily turned to look at Kevin with an amused expression.

"Brian's first time here, huh?"

"Yeah," Kevin muttered. "Can you tell?"

- 

Nick walked back slowly to where they had left Kevin and Emily, dragging his feet. It had only been ten minutes so he and Brian had figured they would still be there. They hadn't seemed like they were going anywhere soon when they had left.

Brian was really into this character thing and so had gotten the grand idea to send Nick back to get the signature of both Kev and Emily. Since, of course, Emily was Jasmine and Kevin had been Aladdin. It was all allowable in the game. Or so at least Brian said.

Nick got closer to the table and quickened his pace as he saw the two familiar forms still there. "Hey, Kev," he started softly, but broke off when he saw their lips just moving apart. Oopsies . . . He spun around to leave unnoticed but someone caught his shirt. Kevin.

"Get back here, mister. What's up?"

"Um . . . Brian wanted you guys to sign as Aladdin and Jasmine . . ." He tried to act like he hadn't seen anything.

"So in other words, my cuz is a cheat," Kevin laughed.

"Um . . . yeah." Nick shrugged with a small smile.

Emily looked at him and tried to make eye contact, but his eyes were fixed on Kevin. She had to laugh. He was so shy.

Kevin shook his head.

"Can you believe these guys?" he asked Emily. "I have to live with this everyday."

"Oh, but you love it," Emily said.

"Yeah, it’s great. These guys are great," he said, still not releasing Nick’s shirt.

The latter had taken to looking at the ground, the sky, the vendors behind Kevin and Emily. Anything.

"So you guys are gonna be touring?" she asked.

"Um-huh," Kevin said. "Next week, it sounds like. It’ll be cool. I think we’re ready to do something other than the local malls."

"Well, you guys sound amazing. Just the way the crowd reacted when you were singing, I mean, it was great."

"Yeah. I think that we--," Kevin began.

Nick finally looked at him. "Kev?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you guys gonna do it, or what? I mean, Brian’s waiting for me, and I still have to help track down Donald Duck and Pluto. Please?" he asked, still not even glancing at Emily.

"Oh yeah," he said with a laugh. "Sorry buddy. Gimmie whatever he’s getting autographs on."

Nick handed him the soda cup.

"What?" Kevin asked. "This is what he’s using? What is he? Crazy?" He chuckled. "Yeah, he is. Never mind."

Emily watched Kevin with a smile. What was it that kept them from staying together in the first place? Old flames? Incompatible work schedules? Sheer blindness? She couldn’t remember.

He handed her the cup. "Ladies first."

Nick rolled his eyes. Girls always complicated everything. He didn’t know one, except for maybe BJ, who made any sense or knew how to have any fun. Even Sam had brought him nothing but trouble. Why had he even thought about her? She wasn’t even a real girl. She was just his friend. If stupid Kevin wasn’t going ga-ga over this Emily girl, they’d be on the rides right now. He knew Brian wasn’t going to get on any rides. And they hardly let him and AJ just take off on their own. Plus, he still felt intensely guilty for making Brian get on that one, mildly scary ride. But if he had known that doing that was going to get him stuck pulling character autograph duty, he never ever would have even suggested it. This had just ended up sucking. They should have just stayed at Trans--.

"--, Nick!"

He snapped back to Kevin who was waving the cup in his face.

"Earth to Nicky. Earth to Nicky. Come in space cadet."

"Sorry," he said as Emily giggled.

"Here," Kevin said handing him the cup. "Tell Brian to behave and don’t take too long over there. Okay?"

"Why? I thought we were spending the day here?" he asked, his typical suspicions bubbling up.

"I dunno. Just don’t, okay?"

"Why?" he repeated.

Kevin just shrugged and glanced at Emily. He was thinking they should just leave the guys with Howie and take off to see a movie but wasn’t really sure. Plus the little guy here sure was acting strange, even for him.

He leaned forward to peer into the big blue eyes that he always found himself reassuring.

"Just don’t, Nicky. Okay? I’m gonna be here. We’re gonna be here. Go have fun, but don’t make it an all day thing, okay? Remember that your parents will be picking you up at Trans--."

"Oh yeah," Nick said like it finally dawned on him. "Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

"Bye," Emily called.

Nick turned around to wave at her then hurried off.

"I remember him," she said, softly. "He’s so cute."

"You have no idea," Kevin said. "It’s like having a little brother, puppy and my own kid all rolled into that package."

Emily laughed and sat an inch closer to him. Where were they?

 - 

AJ had quickly lost interest in the game and had decided that he and Howie needed to get on more rides immediately. As usual, Howie had gone along with him because it was just easier than arguing with him.

They were in a incredibly long line for one of the new roller coasters when he heard a familiar voice.

"Alex! Alex!"

He thought quickly. They could make a run for it. They could just jump in the bushes and hide. He could pretend he had bumped his head and had amnesia so he didn’t recognize her, but it was too late.

Howie was waving at Angie.

"Oh my God, Alex! Where have you been?! I haven’t seen you in sooo long, and I was even thinking that you’d given up coming here."

She hadn’t changed a bit. Same bright smile. Goofy, vacant, deep brown eyes. Long, light brown hair...

Wait.

He wasn’t checking her out. He wasn’t. He knew he wasn’t.

"Hi Angie," AJ said. "How are you?"

"I’m fine. How have you been?"

"Great. We’ve been great," he said. "I just haven’t been back to Disney in a long time."

"Why?"

"Well, Howie, Nick and I are in a group now. And things are really busy for us. We’re called the Backstreet Boys. We’re gonna--."

"You’re the Backstreet Boys?" she asked, like she even knew anything about them.

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, you’re coming to my school next week! I get to go free because I made straight A’s last term. Wow. That is so cool. I didn’t know you were in a group. Now, I really can’t wait."

AJ nodded, pushing his smile harder. "Yeah. It’s the three of us and two more guys. They’re around here somewhere, and it’s really cool."

"Really? Cool."

Howie had to laugh listening to their conversation. She was so excited, and he was trying so hard to ignore her. Poor girl. She didn’t give up easily, though and continued in her effort to get him to talk to her. As usual, with AJ and a girl, it didn’t take him too long.

"Well, it’s a lot of work," he was saying as they moved up in the line. "I have a tutor now, so I don’t have to take time out to go to school. We rehearse and record different demos. Sometimes, all our time is spent with the vocal coach."

"Really? Cool," came Angie’s typical response.

Howie got to looking around the park. It wasn’t long before he spotted Nick and Brian chasing after Goofy, literally.

"Oh, please! C’mon!" he heard Brian beg while Goofy ran away from him with exaggeration.

Nick looked frustrated beyond belief, but he followed dutifully behind Brian, soda cup in hand. Howie made a mental note that guilt trips worked on the kid.

"Goofy! C’mon," Brian continued. "Please, please."

Goofy finally stopped goofing around with him and stopped to shake his hand and sign his cup. Brian had to give him a hug. Goofy was his all-time favorite.

"Thank you!" Brian said with all the excitement of kids ten years younger than him.

Goofy patted Nick’s head, and Nick swatted at his hairy nose.

Howie stepped out of the line and hurried toward them. He glanced back at AJ to tell him that he was going to rescue Nick or Goofy, he wasn’t sure who, but he was too engrossed in his conversation with Angie to notice he was leaving.

"Howie, look!" Brian said excitedly holding out his cup. "I have Donald, Pluto, Goofy, Jasmine and Aladdin, of course, Daisy Duck, Minnie,

Belle, Ariel, the little mermaid," he raised his eyebrows at Howie. "And all I need is Mickey."

"Mickey went to bed," Nick said.

"Naw. We’ll find him, don’t worry little buddy," Brian said with a laugh.

Nick looked up at the sky and made himself promise never, ever to make Brian do something he didn’t want to. Never again.

"Mickey’s over there," Howie said pointing at the other side of the park. "Let’s walk."

"Okay," Brian said excitedly. "C’mon. C’mon."

Howie threw his arm around Nick and hurried to keep up with Brian. It was going to be a long afternoon.

"You okay?" Howie asked him.

"Yeah."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

Brian stopped his trek up the walk and looked back at them. He was about to hurry them up, but he noticed that Nick looked bored and tired, which was highly unusual for him unless they were at a meeting. Howie looked like he wasn’t even quite sure what to say to him.

He was living in Orlando now, and he’d probably be back to get Mickey’s autograph some other day. What the heck? He took out the map from his back pocket and walked back to the guys. He’d let them pick where to go next.

- 

About another hour later, Kevin glanced at his watch. It was starting to get dark, and the guys weren’t back yet. Hadn’t he told them not to take forever?

He and Emily had talked for a long time. Well, they had mostly talked. She was still the girl he felt most comfortable with since he got to Orlando. And he wasn’t beyond giving them another chance, if his schedule allowed.

"You getting worried about them?" she asked when he looked around.

"Sort of. Nick and AJ have their parents picking them up soon, and if we don’t make it back, they might get in trouble. I know Denise is cool with AJ, but Nick’s mom gets a little frazzled when she doesn’t know where he is all the time."

"You’re a good big brother," she told him.

He laughed. "Yeah. I guess I am. And let me tell you, they’re good at being little brothers, too. Very little."

"We can go look for them," she offered. "I mean, they can’t have gotten too far."

"Sure," he said, then hesitated before standing up. "Em, is it okay if I call you sometime? I mean, if we get together again?"

"Of course," she said and stood up. "If you wouldn’t have asked, I would have called you."

He smiled. "Okay. But I’m glad I asked."

She pulled his hand. "Me too."

 - 

"Oh look! Chip and Dale!"

Howie grabbed Brian's arm and pulled him back. "C'mon man, we should really get going . . ." Hadn't he said that fifty times in the last ten minutes? And did anyone listen? No. Of course not.

Brian nodded reluctantly. "You're right . . . What time is it anyway?"

"Um . . ." Howie looked down at his watch. "Six-thirty!" Uh oh . . .That was later than he thought. And when was Kevin expecting them back? Talk about being dead.

"Shoot, it's late, huh?" Brian grimaced. They both glanced around for Nick and AJ, who had promised to come back right away after trying out the new roller coaster across the way. Angie had gone along with them. That had been awhile ago.

"I'm gonna kill them," Howie muttered, not seeing them anywhere.

"Me first," Brian said. "This is bad."

"No kidding."

"Weren't they gonna meet us right here?"

"Yes, they were." Howie crossed his arms. Mental note- never let Nick or AJ out of your sight. He sighed. "Where could they have gone?"

"I don't-"

"Guys."

They spun around at Kevin's noticeably annoyed voice. He stood in front of them, arms folded across his chest, Emily at his side. Howie was caught off guard as Kevin grabbed his wrist.

"Yup, your watch is definitely working. There goes any excuse you could have had so don't even try." He released Howie and stared at them.

"Mickey abducted us."

"Brian, don't even. Where the runts?" He noticed the glance the two exchanged and his stomach twisted. "Where are they?" he repeated.

"Well, you see . . ."

"We, uh . . ."

"You lost them?!" Kevin exploded. They both involuntarily took a step back at his tone. "How the hell did you lose them?!"

"Well, they . . ."

"We . . ."

"Guys!" Kevin broke off and just stared at them. For some reason they both looked scared to death. He felt Emily's hand on his arm and tried to take a deep breath.

"Sh, I'm sure they'll show up in a couple of minutes . . . They probably just lost track of time," she reasoned.

He tried to believe her. They hadn't been abducted by some strange weirdo who prowled Disney looking for unsupervised kids. They had just lost track of time. He tried to calm down and looked at Howie and Brian. They weren't off the hook of course.

"Why do you do this to me?" he muttered, rubbing his face with his hands. If this was a routine trip to Disney, how in the world were they going to keep track of each other in strange hotels and schools all around Florida?

"Look . . ." Brian said softly. He held out his autograph-covered cup for Kevin to see. Kevin stared at him a second before motioning him closer. Brian approached cautiously, relieved when Kevin pulled him into a quick hug.

"I'm never taking you to a crowded public place again," Kevin told him lightly. "Any of you. Don't ever scare me again, ok?"

"Oh Kev, we were only missing for . . . three hours," Howie said. Kevin rolled his eyes at Emily, who smiled back sympathetically. She knew he loved all of it. Kevin sighed.

"When I find Nick and AJ, they are so dead."

 - 

"We're dead, AJ. You do know that, don't you?"

"Well, yeah. But didn't you have fun?" AJ grinned at Nick in his usual carefree manner. It was obvious that there wasn't a worry in his mind.

Nick let out a long sigh.

"I guess." The one ride hadn't been enough for AJ, of course, who convinced Nick and Angie to ride on the Disney train to the next 'Land' over and enjoy a few more rides before meeting up with Howie and Brian. 'A few' quickly turned into about twenty, and before they knew it, they were extremely late. Angie had returned to her parents after begging AJ to call her soon, and to make matters worse, the two boys forget entirely what part of the park they had started out in. By the time they got back on track, they were dead meat.

"Well, it was nice knowing you, AJ," Nick was saying. AJ was trying to ignore him and look around for the guys. The guys of course, found them.

Nick and AJ were starting to get worried, not seeing the other guys anywhere, when all of a sudden, they were both grabbed around the middle from behind and lifted into the air. They screamed.

"Hey boys, looking for us?" Brian asked, laughing as Nick struggled in his hold. Kevin was having a rough time with AJ.

"Let me go, man! You don't do that to people," AJ was saying loudly. It was obvious he had been freaked out. Kevin didn't release him.

"What time is it? Huh?"

"Game time?" Nick supplied. He was still breathing heavy from the scare.

"Not quite, kiddo." Kevin's voice wasn't the least bit amused.

"Where did you go?" Howie was asking.

"On that ride like we told you," AJ answered. He elbowed Kevin to let him down, but the man just tightened his hold. Howie looked at him doubtfully.

"For two hours?"

"It was a helluva line," AJ replied easily. Kevin shook his head.

"I don't think so, Alex . . ."

"Well, I do," AJ countered.

"I think you better watch it before I lose my patience," Kevin answered, finally setting him down on the ground. AJ quieted.

"Are you mad?" he asked. Kevin marveled at how fast he could lose the tough act. He paused and thought about it.

"No, you just gave me a scare. I thought we lost you guys."

"We were lost," Nick spoke up. Kevin glanced at the kid, who looked pretty comfortable in his cousin's arms.

"How exactly were you lost on the line? If what AJ said was true." The boy was at a loss for words and AJ glared at him. Never could keep his mouth shut, that's for sure. "And you," Kevin continued. "I’m not even gonna get after, because when your mother gets a hold--."

His jaw dropped. "My mom!"

He squirmed out of Brian’s hold and looked around desperately, not even sure for what.

Brian pulled him back knowing there was nothing they could really do.

"Hey, it’s okay," Brian told him. "It’s too late to freak. Let’s just go call her, okay?"

He pulled out of Brian’s reach again, still looking around for a phone, a police man, a fire man, a St. Bernard, anything that could save him. She was going to kill him, and this was not something he could afford right now.

Kevin and Brian exchanged glances as if wondering who was going to end up pulling him together.

Howie beat them to it. He grabbed Nick’s arm. "C’mon, the phones are this way. All you have to do is call her and let her know that you’re okay. We’re usually done rehearsing until about six. You’re only forty-five minutes late," he said in such a reassuring tone that it almost sounded minimal.

Oh God. That was half the drive to Tampa.

"Don’t you have a mother to call?" Kevin asked AJ.

AJ nodded. "Yeah, but my mom will have asked someone at the office before freaking out. Donna knows we came here, she must have told her," AJ said logically.

Kevin shook his head knowing very well that parents didn’t think logically. Hell, he hadn’t been very logical when the two of them didn’t show up immediately. He had been worried to death.

"Call her," he ordered AJ.

AJ rolled his eyes and shrugged. He started slowly toward the phones.

Kevin turned back to Emily who was still waiting for him, patiently. He tried to smile at her.

"Sorry about all this," he told her. "Really."

She shrugged. "It’s okay. Where’d your autographs get to?" she asked Brian with a smile.

Brian looked around. Where’d he put it? He was sure he had it in his hand the whole time. The only time he even had a chance to put it

down was when he picked up Nick earlier.

"Oh sh--!" he began, then stopped himself. "Shoot. I mean, shoot. Where is it? It was here!"

"Forget it, Bri," Kevin said immediately. "As soon as those three come back, we’re leaving. It’s late enough."

"But my cup--!"

"No."

Nick sucked on his lip as the phone rang over and over at the Trans Continental office. One of his parents had to go there to pick him up. When they didn’t find them, surely they would have stuck around. Where else could they have gone? To AJ’s? Howie’s house? His mom didn’t even know where Kevin lived.

What if they had just gone home?

He looked up at Howie nervously playing with the phone chord and was about to hang up, when someone answered.

"Hello?" he recognized Lou breathing heavily into the phone.

"Hello. Lou, it’s me, Nick. I... um...see, we...I...um... Is my mom there?"

"Nick, son," he said, trying to catch his breath. "Where are you? Your mom’s scared half-to death. We’ve been looking everywhere for you. You guys okay?"

Nick winced almost wishing he wasn’t. "Um, yeah. We’re at Disney. Can I talk to her?"

"She’s really mad," he said seemingly trying to whisper. "You’d better not. I’ll tell her you’re okay, and just get yourself back here. Okay?"

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

He looked up at Howie, who as usual, tried to smile. "Everything’s okay, right?"

"Can I move in with you? I don’t take up a lot of room, and I don’t eat that much, really. I promise that I don’t snore, and..."

Howie tugged at his arm and pulled him back to the guys.

"Look, we’ll just be more cautious, next time," Howie told him. "Don’t sweat it."

Even AJ had returned more shame-faced than he had left.

"She was really worried," he admitted. "Donna left and didn’t tell anyone where we were."

"Let’s go," Kevin said. "C’mon. Howie, I can take the guys back, if you take Bri back."

"It’s okay, Kev," Howie said. He had already calculated that the pick up could seat Brian, Kevin and Emily very comfortably. "I’ll take them back. You guys just go."

"But my cup--!" Brian whined.

"Let’s go!" Kevin and Howie yelled unanimously.

Nick stopped walking and turned on his heel.

Kevin couldn’t believe it. Now what?

"Nicky!?!" he called.

He saw the kid run back to the phone and hurry back to them with something in his hand.

"My cup!" Brian cried triumphantly pulling him back up into his arms. "Thanks!" He must have handed it to him when he was carrying him around earlier.

"You’re welcome," he said glumly pulling away. Maybe that made up for making him go on the ride. If he was gonna die, at least he wouldn’t go immediately to hell.

Brian threw his arm around him. "Oh, don’t be worried, Nicky. It’ll be okay. Your mom’s mad because she was worried, not because you did something wrong. Just relax. I’m sure it’ll all be okay when she sees you."

"Yeah, right."

Kevin drove Emily out to her car in the employee parking lot. Brian was busy boasting about all the autographs he’d gotten.

"And that’s Goofy. Boy, he gave me a hard time. I guess that’s why they call him Goofy, huh?" he was telling her.

"Yeah, late shift Goofy is a real dork," she said smiling. He was so different from Kevin. "Right Kev?"

"Late shift anybody is just frustrated with the job. Late shift really sucks," Kevin said as he parked next to her small car.

"Thanks for the ride," she told him.

He smiled at her. "Sure. Any time."

They were silent as the same thoughts ran through their minds. Should they kiss? Just a hug? Handshake was out of the question but...

Brian giggled.

Kevin looked over her at him. "What?"

"Nothing."

"What are you laughing at Littrell?"

"You."

Emily laughed.

"You guys are gonna kiss, huh? Let me cover my eyes," he said doing just that.

Kevin sighed and shook his head. Why? Why were they related?

Emily laughed heartily and really seemed to be enjoying Brian’s sense of humor.

"Go ahead," he said. "Kiss. I won’t look. Look, I won’t even listen. I’ll hum."

"Brian--," Kevin began, but Emily reached over and kissed him.

Kevin closed his eyes and kissed her back.

"Kevin and Emily sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes--."

Emily laughed mid-kiss, so Kevin reached over and smacked Brian’s head hard.

"Ow!" he cried. "I was just singing."

"I’d better go," she said.

"Okay," Kevin climbed off the truck and let her down. "I’ll call you," he told her as she stepped toward her car.

"Okay. Thanks again, Kevin."

He smiled. "Sure. Bye."

"Bye."

He waited to make sure that all was well with her car and that she was on her way out before climbing back in with Brian.

"You hit me!" Brian wailed. "You! You struck your baby cousin!"

Kevin snatched his cup out of his hand and began to roll down the window. Brian stopped immediately.

"Okay. Okay. I was just kidding. Geez, what a temper. Give it back."

He handed him the cup and started the truck. "Let’s go help the guys explain this mess to their parents."

Brian nodded. "Sure."

- 

For all the fun the guys had at Disney that day, the ride back in Howie’s car was silent and solemn. Howie tried to make small talk with them, but neither was much for talking. Nick sat in the back seat, starring at the heavily congested roads cursing in his mind once for each time he had gotten on a ride that day.

AJ just couldn’t believe it. It was so atypical of his mother to worry about him. And it wasn’t that she had been mad at him. She had just be scared, and that made him feel really bad.

So, Howie just ended up humming with the radio as he picked through the heavy traffic into downtown Orlando.

When he pulled into the Trans Continental parking lot, neither moved.

"Bus stops here," Howie said lightly.

Nick audibly groaned and started to climb off. AJ followed him, and the hurried into the massive building.

Howie followed them because he couldn’t just let them face the music alone like that. It had been all their faults. And it didn’t totally surprise him to see Kevin’s truck pulling in right behind him.

"Everything okay?" Kevin asked right away.

"Well, let’s go see," Howie told him.

Nick was shocked to hear his mother’s laughter. She was laughing. Oh my God, he’d finally made her go insane. Denise was laughing too, and so was Lou.

"...then, I had to order for all them," he was saying. "I guess I hadn’t taken into consideration that such young guys wouldn’t really know about eating in fancy restaurants. Know where we have all our outside meetings now?"

"Where?" Denise asked.

"McDonalds," he said with a laugh. "Yes, those boys love their McDonalds. I’m starting to like it myself. It’s an acquired taste, I guess."

"Yes, we used to celebrate all of AJ’s birthday’s at McDonalds," Denise was saying. "I have the cutest pictures of him and Ronald--."

AJ had to stop her right there. "Mom! Mom, we’re here, and I’m so sorry we’re late. See, there was this traffic jam, then this truck over turned, then Howie’s car stalled, then we lost the keys and--."

She shot him a look. "Stop right there AJ. I know exactly what you’ve been doing, so don’t try to excuse yourself."

Nick eased toward him mother trying desperately to smile.

Someone cleared his throat.

"We’re so sorry," Kevin said hurrying toward them. "We all really lost track of time today. It’s not just their faults."

"Yeah, we’re really sorry," Brian continued. "It’s just that I had never been to Disney, and they were showing me around. I had so much fun, that I just forgot about everything else."

They looked back at Howie, who just smiled. "Me too. I’m at fault too. Sorry."

Jane rubbed her temples and was actually too amused to be mad at them. Besides, she wasn’t going to make a scene in front of Nick’s friends. The poor kid already looked scared enough.

She just shook her head. "Let’s just go. Please, don’t let it happen again."

"We won’t."

"No ma’am."

"Never again."

Nick grinned up at them and wanted to dearly just to give them each a hug, but he followed his mother out to the van.

***

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