[[ Friends Forever ]]

Within a couple weeks, LeAnn and Justin were used to life on the road. They were really enjoying traveling, and got along great with everyone. LeAnn was a big help to have around. She never complained about anything, and always did what was asked of her. Justin was pretty good, but had a tendency to slack off. I'd assign him something to do and he'd do half of it, then get sidetracked by his video games.

" Justin Lee Fowler! " I yelled. " What? " came his reply. " Finish your homework! " I called. He wandered out and picked up his homework from the table, then turned to go back to the little TV room.

" Uh-uh! Sit down out here and do it, " I said. He grumbled something, but willingly sat down and finished his homework. I had to smile. The kid had the same attitude I did about schoolwork - I'll do it, but I don't like it.

That night, I was getting ready for a show when Nick burst through the door, causing me to drop the shoe I was holding. It landed on my bare foot. " Ow! Dang it! " I muttered, leaning over and picking it up.

" Oh, damn. I'm getting pretty good at scaring you, aren't I? " Nick asked apologetically. I laughed. " Yeah, " I replied. " I'm sorry, sweetie. What can I do to make it better? " he asked.

" You can... you can go make sure Justin's done his homework, and if he hasn't, make him shut off all the video games and come out to the kitchen to finish it, " I replied. Nick left and returned a few minutes later. " He's done, " he said. " Okay. What's LeAnn doing? " I asked. " She's in her bunk listening to music, " he replied. " Okay. What are you doing? " I asked.

" I'm standing here, " he said. " Good. Come here and hold this, " I said, handing him my hairbrush and putting a clip in my hair. I examined my reflection in the mirror, then turned to Nick for approval. He smiled. " You look gorgeous, " he said. " I do? " I asked. I wasn't dressed up, I was wearing normal stuff at the moment. " Yeah. You always do, " he said, kissing me. I returned the kiss and shut the light off.

The show was, as usual, a blast. Amanda and Charisma had come up with a dance that would be the trademark dance for our latest single. We did that dance onstage that night, for the first time. I was surprised to look out into the crowd and see people doing the moves exactly the same as we were. The dance was also in the video for the song, and I guessed the video was getting played a lot on TV.

When our set was over, we went backstage like normal. I found Nick waiting for me, just as he did every night. " The dance looked great! " he complimented me. " Thanks! We've been working hard on it, " I said. We went over to a drink machine and got two Cokes. " You know, this touring is wearing me out, " I said. " Yeah, I know what you mean. Same with me. I wish they'd let us have like a month off or something, " Nick said.

" Oh, yeah, like that's going to happen. This tour's too popular. We'll be lucky to get two days in a row off, " I said. " That's the problem, " Nick said. " Yeah, no shit sherlock, " I teased him. He picked me up and I almost dropped my drink. " Hey! " I exclaimed, laughing. He kissed my cheek, then set me back down. " C'mon. I've got to go onstage in about five minutes, " he said. He took my hand and we hurried over to the other end of the coliseum.

Our show the next night was only two hours away, so that night we stayed later for a meet and greet. I was talking to a girl who was about fourteen years old when I looked over at Nick. Some girl had her arm around him, and he was smiling down at her. When she kissed him, I lost it. He's loving every minute of it! I thought, anger building up inside me. " Excuse me, " I said, pushing my chair back, standing up, and running for the bathroom.

When I was safe behind the door, I sat down and started to cry. Within a couple minutes, Charisma came in looking for me. " Nikki, what's wrong? " she asked. " Nick was... kissing another girl, " I said between sobs and gulps of air. " Oh, come on. He loves you. He wouldn't kiss anyone other than you, " Charisma said. " Well, he was. She kissed him and he was enjoying every second of it. " I sniffed, and fresh tears rolled down my face.

" I'm sure it's not what you think. Girls are always coming up and wanting to kiss him, " Charisma said. " Yeah, but if he really gave a damn about me, he wouldn't sit there and kiss them back like that, " I argued. " I bet it's not anything like that. Why don't you wash your face and come out and talk to him? He'll explain it, " she said. I shook my head. " No. He doesn't care, " I said. With that, I started to cry uncontrollably.

After about an hour, I was all cried out. There were no more tears left to fall. I got up and left the bathroom, only to find that no one was anywhere around. " Good, I won't have to deal with people, " I mumbled, heading towards the bus. Nick popped up in front of me, out of nowhere. I walked right past him, ignoring him completely. " Hey, Nikki! Wait up! " he exclaimed, running to catch up with me. I kept walking, ignoring him still.

" Nikki? What's wrong? " he asked. I didn't say anything, and just kept walking. When I reached the door to the bus, I climbed on board and left Nick standing outside, wondering what was going on. When I was back to my bunk, I flopped down on it and started to cry again. Maybe there still were some tears to let loose. I cried myself to sleep.

When I woke up, the past nights events came flooding back to me. I got up and stumbled through my normal morning routine. " Where's Nick? " LeAnn asked when she woke up. " I don't know, and I don't give a damn, " I answered coldly. She looked at me in surprise. " But... " she trailed off. " But what? Would you care about him if you caught him kissing another girl? " I asked.

LeAnn gasped. " You're kidding, " she murmured. I shook my head and a tear formed in my eye.

" I loved him, and he betrayed me, " I whispered. LeAnn hugged me. " If he's going to do something like that and hurt you like that, he's not worth it, " she said. I was surprised at her knowledge. She seemed a lot older than she really was. " I know, " I said, straightening up. " I'm going to talk to him and let him know what's on my mind. "

I went over to the Backstreet Boys bus, only to have Brian tell me that Nick never got on the bus the night before. " Where is he? " I asked. " I have no idea. He never got on the bus, " Brian replied. I sighed.

Was it my fault? Had I caused him to take off? Something told me I'd better find him.

I searched everywhere for Nick, but after four hours, I was ready to give up. He was nowhere to be found. Then something came to me. I ran through the doors of the concert venue and hurried toward the dressing rooms. Sure enough, Nick was sitting there on the couch in the dressing room playing a video game that he'd hooked up.

When he saw me, he jumped up. " Nikki! " he said, coming toward me. I shook my head. " Why? " I asked. He looked at me blankly. " Why what? " he asked. " You know damn well what, " I said. " Actually, I have no idea, " Nick said. " Last night... I saw that girl kiss you, and I saw you loving every single minute of it. Don't even try to tell me you didn't. I saw it with my own eyes, " I said angrily.

" Nikki, don't do this. I promise you, it wasn't what you think it was. I didn't realize what was happening until she tried to pull a real one, " Nick said. I stood there looking at him, wondering how he could look someone in the eye and lie like that. " And you think I believe you? " I asked. I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room.

Nick ran after me. " Nikki, wait! I swear, you've got the wrong idea! " he called. I turned and looked at him, my eyes flashing. " Look, Nick, I know what a kiss looks like. And I know something else, too, " I said. He looked at me questioningly. " I know that it's over! Goodbye! " I cried, turning and running away before he could see my tears.

I ran up the steps of the bus, stumbled, fell, picked myself back up, and ran back to my bunk. Then I flung myself down on the mattress and started to sob loudly and uncontrollably. A couple minutes later, I heard voices coming from the front of the bus, and then Nick appeared at the side of the bed. " Nikki, please don't do this, " he pleaded. " Get away from me! I said it's over! " I screamed, closing the curtain around the bunk and rolling over.

" Fine, but you just ruined the love that could have been stronger than that of Romeo and Juliet! " Nick shouted. Then I heard him walk away. I started to cry again, this time wondering if he was right. Could the flame of the strongest love of the century have just been extinguished? By me?

I opened my eyes and looked up into the face of Nick. He smiled down at me, and kissed me gently. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close. We held onto each other in a tight embrace for what seemed like forever. Then a loud pounding brought my dream to an end.

I woke up for real this time, and realized it was just a dream. That's all it would ever be, now. What Nick and I had was history. There was no way we'd ever get that back again. Our once perfect love was now completely destroyed, and it was my fault.

Now that I realized what I'd done, I was sorry. I knew deep down inside that Nick had been telling the truth. But I'd jumped to conclusions, and just as it had done when I was younger, it had cost me a lot. Only this time, it cost me the most important thing in my life, my love for Nick.

I got up and went out into the kitchen to get a drink. The bus was completely silent. That's strange, I thought. When I turned around, Nick was standing there looking at me. " How could you do this? " he asked.

I started to cry. " Nick, I'm sorry. I didn't mean a word of anything I said last night. I was angry, and now I regret that. I understand you're mad, but please don't hate me. I'm sorry about everything I said, and I believe you, " I said.

I looked closely at Nick, and realized he was about to cry. He threw his arms around me and held me close. Tears streamed from my eyes. " I'm so sorry, Nick. Please forgive me, " I whispered. " I forgive you. I could never love anyone else, " he said. LeAnn wandered out and found Nick and I wrapped up in each others arms and she smiled. Then she left the room, leaving us alone together. " Nick, I promise I'll never do anything like that again. You'll never know how sorry I am, " I said.

" All that matters is that we're together again. Nothing can come between us. I love you, Nikki, " Nick whispered. Then we kissed, a lingering, passionate, romantic kiss. Justin bounced into the kitchen, chattering loudly about something. But Nick and I were too wrapped up in the kiss to even notice.