Chapter
1
As the closing credits of the movie showed on the TV screen, 23 year
old Kevin Richardson let out a loud yawn. He was getting ready to stretch when
he realized he shouldn't disturb the sleeping 15 year old who had used his
chest as a pillow. He yawned again as he slowly looked at the other occupants
of the living room area of the suite he and four of his other bandmates shared.
On the floor laid 17 year old Alexander James McLean, better known as AJ. Lying
on the other end of the room in the floor to AJ's left was his best friend 22
year old Howard Dorough better knows as Howie or D. It was apparent by the
sounds of both boys' snoring that they had fallen asleep before the late night
movie ended. Kevin turned his head to his left and met the Midnight Blue gaze
of his 20 year old cousin Brian Littrell who was trying to drink the last bit
of Mountain Dew out of the bottle. Although Kevin and Brian were about 3 years
apart, they had a very close relationship. They both had had their share of
hard times over the years and they tried to be there for each other as much as
possible.
Kevin looked down when he felt 15 year old Nick Carter stir in his
sleep and smiled as Nick buried his head deeper into his chest as he let out a
small sigh. He looked over at Brian and seen Brian smiling softly at the site
of his sleeping younger best friend. Kevin caught Brian's gaze and softly said,
"Hey Bri, help me wake the rest of the guys up. We have a interview
tomorrow at 11 but we have to be up at 9 and it is past midnight now. I will
carry Nick to the room you two are sharing after we wake up AJ and Howie,
ok?" Brian nodded in agreement and slowly got up as he stated, "Yeah
cuz I will help you. I don't know how you could be tired though man. I'm wide
awake!" In response Kevin nodded his head in the direction of the coffee
table where there lay 5 empty Mountain Dew bottles. He then turned his gaze
back to Brian who was grinning sheepishly as he said, "Well maybe that is the
reason I'm not tired, huh?" Kevin let out a small chuckle as he gently
laid his youngest "brother" on the pillow at the end of the couch and
got up to help his cousin gather the empty bottles to throw away.
After they finished that task they tried to wake up AJ and Howie. Brian
woke AJ as Kevin unsuccessfully attempted to wake Howie who kept mumbling
"No Mommy it is Saturday let me sleep in, I have no school today, PLEASE
MOMMY!!" Brian knew he couldn't pass up this opportunity so he crawled
over to where Howie was lying and quietly cleared his throat and gently pushed
Kevin out of the way. He lowered his head to Howie's level and in an effort to
sound like a female he said in a high pitched voice, "NO Howard you may
not sleep in today. If you don't get up this instant, Santa Claus will not
visit you at Christmas cause you have been a naughty boy." As soon as he
said this, he quickly crawled back over to where his giggling cousin and AJ sat
and waited for Howie to wake up. Moments later Howie woke up and looked around
the room in confusion. Brian tried his hardest to keep a straight face as he
innocently asked, "What is wrong Howie? You looked confused, bro."
Howie hesitated a few moments before answering, "It is something stupid
guys. I dreamed that my mom was telling me I was a naughty boy and that Santa
wouldn't come visit me, then I woke up. I was just confused there for a
second." Both AJ and Brian giggled as they rose to their feet and offered
a hand to Howie and Kevin to help them off of the floor. They both graciously
accepted and when they rose to their feet, Howie made his way towards the room
him and AJ were sharing as he told everyone goodnight and Kevin again made
his way over to the couch and gently lifted Nick into his arms and made his way
towards the room Nick and Brian shared.
Brian quickly followed Kevin as he said goodnight to AJ over his
shoulder. When Kevin and Brian made it to the room, Brian walked over to the
bed and pulled back the covers as Kevin gently laid Nick down and ruffled his
hair as the young blonde peacefully slept on. Brian sat on the edge of his bed
for a moment thinking up a plan for something he could do cause he couldn't
sleep as Kevin took care of the groups youngest member. He then climbed on top
of his bed and as he was about to jump up and down on his own bed, Kevin looked
over at him and quietly said, "You better get to bed Bri. If I go to bed
and I hear you still up you will wish you was asleep." Brian stopped in
midjump and looked innocently at his older cousin "You talking to me
man?" Kevin rolled his eyes and said "No I'm talking to the wall
smart ass, go to sleep" Brian reluctantly got off of the bed and climbed
under the covers as Kevin turned out the light and made his way towards his own
room. Little did Kevin know that Brian was working out the final details of his
plan silently in his head as he waited to hear the indications that everyone
was asleep; then he would put his plan into action.
***
