Chapter 1

"Yo, Bri, what's up for tonight after we're through?" Kevin called to his cousin during intermission.

"We're all goin' clubbing. You up for it, Kev?" Brian looked up from fixing his microphone.

"Yea, after all, this has been one killer tour. Glad for a break when it's through."

"You're tellin' me, cuz! Getting up at noon, layin' out on the beach, clubbin' till dawn, hot woman to take home. What could be better?"

"Gettin' a little lonely over there?"

"Come on, Kev! Don't even try and tell me you haven't been dieing to get some! All these chicks ever want anymore is your body, and they can’t even...."

"Ok, ok, ok, Rok. I got it!" Kevin chuckled to himself. Brian definitely grew up from the young man he was back home in Kentucky. It was great knowing his cousin was a red-blooded American male, instead of a stuck up saint.

While Kevin was finishing getting ready to go back out on stage, a hand dropped on his shoulder. "What's got you all wired up all of a sudden, Train?"

Kevin looked over his shoulder only to realize AJ was looking back. "Nothin', Alex. Just finally relieved that my cousin is as..."

"Stuck on himself as when you first introduced us? Yea I noticed." AJ laughed shaking his head. "Ya know, it's kind of a blessing that you got his head surgically removed. I was beginning to think I would never come out."

"Alex! give Brian a break. He didn't know that sex wasn't sent strait from the devil himself."

AJ roared with laughter. Shaking his head, he walked to the door of the dressing room. Turning around, he met Kevin eye to eye.

"Yea, Kev, whatever. I'm just glad he's human!" Chuckling, AJ left for the stage.

Walking up, Brian looked at Kevin confused. "What was all that about?"

Kevin laughed. No matter how much growing up he's done, Brian still need to know the real world.

Throwing his arm around Brian's shoulders, Kevin grinned. "Nothin', Cuz. Just Alex being...well, being Alex. Come on, we got to get to the stage before he upstages us."

Laughing, the cousins followed everyone else to finish their last concert before they got their well deserved R&R.

~*~ Late That Night ~*~

"So, Bri, see you're diggin' it with that sexy little blond number!" AJ called as Brian made his way through the crowd to the rest of the guys sitting at the bar.

Brian grinned. "You like the choice, J?"

AJ cracked up laughing. "Guess I'm a bad influence over you after all."

"I wouldn’t say that. If anything, you dislodged my head from my ass," Brian cracked.

"So, you takin' her back to the hotel tonight?" Kevin asked, grinning.

"We'll see," Brian responded, joining the girl back on the dance floor.

Kevin watched his cousin rock the club. For the first time in a REALLY long time, Brian was actually happy and having fun. He smiled to himself. Well, at least one thing's clear, he thought to himself. Brian's not afraid of life anymore.

Hours passed by before Kevin realized he was sitting by himself. That was ok with him, though. For some reason he didn't want to join in the party of flirting. I must be getting stale in my old age, he thought.

"So, Kev, joining the festivities tonight?" AJ asked, walking over to him with a really cute girl on his arm. She was a really hot number. Shorter then AJ with big, expressive, gray eyes and black hair. She was defiantly AJ's type, in more ways then one.

"Naw, I think I'm just going to crash out in my room tonight. Alone," Kevin responded seeing the glimmer in AJ's eyes.

"Hey, suit yourself man. It's your loss."

"Thanks, J. But really, I just want a quiet evening."

"Don't you mean, morning?"

"ALEX! Yea, I mean morning. Later, J."

"Later, Kev. I'll call you with details."

"Thanks." Before one of the other guys could try and convince him otherwise, Kevin left for home.

~*~ Two Months Later ~*~

Kevin gazed out across the Bay. His life was peaceful, he had everything he wanted, but something was missing. Oh, well. I guess I'll figure it out later, he thought to himself. After all, I've got two years to figure out what's wrong before we go back on tour.

"Oh, GOD!!! How could she DO this to me!" a voice screamed from inside the house.

Kevin rushed in to see what all the excitement was about only to find Nick standing over his answering machine. Nick looked as though someone was sending him to his execution.

Kevin walked over and put his hand on Nicks shoulder. "What's wrong, Little Man? You look like someone just told you your best friend was dead."

Nick glared at Kevin. "You don't get it do you, Kev? It feels like my best friend just died."

"Why don't you tell me what's goin' on. Maybe then I'll understand."

"How could you?" Nick moaned. "You didn't spend your life growing up with...with...with HER!"

"Nicky, what are you going off about?"

"Your remember me tellin' you about Elizabeth?" Kevin nodded. "She's coming over here to stay for the rest of the summer! Mom and dad were going to have her stay with them, but now Aaron has this BIG audition in New York, BJ's on a photo shoot, and the rest of the kids are God only knows where. What am I going to do, Kevin? She's...she's...she's a geek!!! I mean, can the girl even dress somewhat decently? I'm going to have to take her out and show her a good time and I'm ashamed to even say I know her! Oh, Kevin, what if..."

"Whoa, Nicky, slow down! It's going to be ok. You've got me and the guys. Besides, maybe she's changed."

"Yea, right, Kevin, and pigs fly."

"Nick, you've grown up a lot since you last saw her, right?" Nick nodded. "Who say's she hasn't also? She might be just as scared as you are. After all, you told us you two haven't seen each other since she started college."

"Yea, maybe you're right. But I still can't believe my mom's DOING this to me!"

"What time is she suppose to be here, Nick?"

"Mom left a message saying she'll drop her off in an hour. GOD KEVIN!! I don't even have a room to put her in. Maybe I'll just stick he in the far back corner of the house..."

Kevin chuckled and shook his head. Sometimes Nick really did go too far. Even then, he was going to stand beside him like a big brother.

This vacation's turning out better then I expected, Kevin thought to himself.

~*~ One Hour Later ~*~

Kevin sat in Nicks living room, TV channel surfing. Nick walked back and forth nervously, not knowing what to do to pass the time. He was starting to drive everyone nuts!

"Nick, why don't you sit down and chill before you give us all heart attacks," AJ stated.

"I can't, J!!" Nick whined. "What if..."

"Nicky, I thought we already went through this," Kevin interrupted. "Everything will be alright. Just calm down."

Before Nick could answer, the doorbell rang.

"That's her!" Nick yelped.

"Well, go answer the door."

"Yea, right, good idea, Kevin."

Kevin shook his head and went back to the TV. Sometimes Nick could get so paranoid over the smallest things.

"Yo, Train." AJ whispered in Kevin’s ear. "You want ta go eavesdrop on Nicks first meeting he's terrified over?"

Kevin looked at AJ "You know, Bone, there are times when I wonder if you really are sane."

"Oh, come on! We'll be right there if he needs us!"

"Fine, J. If it'll get you off my back."

"It will."

Kevin and AJ crept to the end of the front hallway just out of sight from Nick. AJ grinned over at him, this was going to be too much fun!

Just as they got settled, Nick reached the door and opened it.

"Can I help you?" they heard Nick ask, startled.

"Hi, Nick. It's been a long time," replied a sweet voice. Kevin almost choked. That was the voice he kept hearing in his dreams lately.

"LIZZY?!?!" Nick exclaimed.

"It's Beth now, but yea, it's me."

"Oh my God! You've...you've...you've..."

"Grown up?" She laughed softly. "Yea, life has a tendency to do that to you when you least expect it, Nicky."

"God, I don't know what to say."

"Why don't you invite me in. This suitcase is REALLY heavy. Or do you want me to call a cab and rent a hotel room for the rest of the summer?" she asked with a smile in her voice.

"Yea. No. I mean...Please, come in."

AJ poked Kevin in the back of his shoulder and, they both darted back into the living room.

Kevin dropped on the couch, winded and slightly confused. Just as he was getting his head straitened out, voices started coming towards them.

AJ grinned at Kevin. "Well, I guess he won't be putting her in the cellar after all."

"AJ," Kevin hissed. "Will you behave? Nick's bad off enough as it is! Just let the poor boy be."

"Alright, alright, alright. Jeez, Train, you don't have to be so touchy."

Before Kevin could respond, Nick and his guest walked into the room. "Guys, I'd like you to meet Beth. She's the one that's going to be staying here for the summer. Beth, these are the guys."

Kevin looked up and was staring at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her blond hair was pulled up in an elegant ponytail, and her chameleon eyes sparkled with laughter. This was definitely a woman he wanted to get to know. No matter how much younger then him she was.

Kevin was the first to recover. Standing up, he held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Kevin."

She shook it. Even her hands were soft and smooth, yet they knew how to grip. "Nice to meet you. Knowing Nicky, here, you've probably heard all the horror stories about me by now."

Nick started to protest but she elp up her hand. "Now, Nicky, I've known you for how many years? You hated me! Of course you were going to tell how awful I was. I don't mind, I'm just...embarrassed."

Kevin smiled. Yep, there was definite potential here. "Well, yea. Nick did tell us some things."

Beth's smile lit up her entire face, not mentioning the room.

Kevin bent over and picked up her suitcases and backpack. "So, Nick, what room did you decide on?"

Nick blushed. "The blue room's ready. I haven't really had time to do much about the rest of the house yet."

Elizabeth grinned at him. "It's ok, Nicky. I'm not expecting to stay in the Plaza."

Kevin chuckled. He liked this girl more and more the more he got to know her. Too bad Nick was kicking himself about how she turned out.

~*~ Two Weeks Later ~*~

Elizabeth and Nick were sitting outside on his porch in the backyard enjoying the peaceful morning. The sun shone down gently, and the waves of the Bay teased the sand like someone would tease their best friend.

Elizabeth looked over at Nick, dozing peacefully. She smiled to herself thinking about how suddenly Nick seemed to change. Even though he grew up, she'd always remember the nerd that use to pick on her just because she was different from all the other girls in school.

Nick caught her smile and sat up, grinning. "What's up with you, Lizzy? You look like you just at the canary."

She laughed. "I was thinking about when we went to high school together. You weren't really Mr. Popular ad Gorgeous yourself. Just wondering why everyone said you've changed."

"Hey!" Before she could respond, he leaped over to her chair and pinned her, tickling her relentlessly.

When she was able to squirm out from under him, she turned around and faced him, holding her glass full of ice-tea and ice-cubes behind her.

"And what do you think you're doing, Miss McLean?" Nick asked grinning like he was about to grab her again.

"Oh, nothing, really. Just thought I'd go grab myself another glass of ice-tea."

"Why? You already have..."

Before he could finish, she dumped her full cup over his head, making sure some of the larger ice-cubes landed down his back.

Nick looked up at her, suddenly very seriously. "What do you think about Kevin?"

Sitting down, Elizabeth filled her glass with more ice-tea and took a sip off of it before she answered. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, it's just that he's been so lonely lately. It make me want to help him find someone to love. I mean, I saw the way he looked at you, Lizzy. He's got it, and he's got it bad!"

She stood up and walked over to the railing, willing the tears not to fall. Turning around, she looked Nick eye to eye, trying to make him understand how she felt.

"Why would he like me, Nicky?" she asked him. "It's not like I'm that attractive. Guys don't even see me anymore. Not since..."

He walked over and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, trying to comfort her. "I know, Lizzy. I know how much it hurts. After all, he was my one of my closest friends. I can only imagine what you're going through."

"I miss him so much, Nicky," she sobbed. "Why did he have to go and die on me like that? He was everything. We were going to..." before she could finish she burst in almost hysterical tears.

Nick sat there, comforting her the best he could. Looking up at the sky, he silently asked why life had to be so unfair.

***

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