Oreos for Breakfast: Nick BSB Fiction

Oreos for Breakfast - Chapter 5
By The Paperbag Princess and The Pumpkin Coach

Corresponding KTBPA Message Board Posts (Fictional!)

It was nearly five before I sat down again. It had been busy for a Wednesday, so I'd helped behind the counter, and Frank even helped carry cases of wine to customers' cars. I hadn't seen much of Nick, he was playing basketball with the girls most of the afternoon. At one point I heard Katie yell "Dude, you suck!" and I knew that Nick had stopped being a Backstreet Boy, he was just a lousy basketball player. I guess I should cut him a break, one of his hands was broken, right?

He fell into the chair across from me, panting. "They're good," he admitted, grabbing a napkin and wiping his forehead.

"I taught 'em everything they know," I teased, getting up to get another glass from the bar. Two years ago Mom and Dad had added a patio to the winery, where customers could sit and have a glass and look out at the vineyard. It was almost empty now, just one group out under the tree. We'd be closing in an hour, and it was a Wednesday, for god's sake. We normally only had crowds on weekends. I sat next to Nick again, pouring him a glass from the open bottle in front of me. "You probably need water, but all I have at the moment is the Rachel Merlot."

"94?" Nick guessed, and I laughed.

"95. So you were paying attention on the tour?"

He nodded, taking a sip. "You each have a field. The new release this year is the Rachel merlot from 95, and it's excellent. And last year it was Patrick's… um…"

"Chablis," Frank informed him, sitting down with an empty glass. We should keep Frank around, he was a great help today, carrying boxes, and talking to customers at the tasting bar. "Next year is Jon's something."

I poured Frank a glass, smiling at them both. "Next year is two Jon's, senior and junior. Jon's is a Riesling, and Dad's is young Blush, mixing all our grapes from the last few years. Which is totally sappy and goony, I know…"

Nick shook his head. "No, it's nice. Maybe by then I'll have a clue about wine."

I laughed. "Sorry, I've bored you both to death today, I know…" They protested that they were having a great time, and I let them. It wasn't a rock star life, but I loved it here. I took such pride in our family business, my parents had started it from nothing, and now it supported everyone, my mom and brothers and their families. We sat and chatted and finished the wine, then Frank pulled out his wallet and handed me a twenty.

"What?" I asked him, puzzled.

"We had a bet, and I always pay up."

"We had a bet?" I questioned, but Nick answered.

"You did! You bet Frank he'd believe that it was safe here, and he'd leave!" Nick was positively delighted.

"I'll take him with me, if you want," Frank deadpanned, and I just looked at him for a moment. Alone with Nick? Could I do that? What would I do with him to prevent myself from jumping him? Suddenly I was terrified of the thought of being here with him, was going to bore him to death in my quiet little house? I kind of liked being the wanton sex goddess, even if that woman only existed in his imagination!

"No. He can stay. Do you want to stay, Nick?" I looked over at him, and he couldn't have answered quicker.

"Yes!" Oh, god, he was so adorable with that grin.

Well, we'd figure it out, wouldn't we?

It was only a half hour ride to the train station in Greenport, but the girls insisted on riding along. I think they didn't believe that I was only dropping off Frank. Nick still looked positively giddy at the prospect of losing Frank for a whole week. When was the last time he'd been anywhere outside of his house without Frank by his side? Hell, I'd never been with Nick without Frank or one of the other boys around.

I tried not to keep looking at Nick, but he was cute, sitting with his head back on the front seat, squinting up at the sky and letting the wind whip through his hair. He'd shed the magic ball cap of invisibility that he'd been wearing most of the day and his spiky hair was sticking up in every direction. I had an overwhelming urge to lean over and fix it, but knew that might be pushing it.

God, I was so crushed out. What was I going to do without Frank around to keep me in check? He's barely legal and I'm… well, I'm certainly old enough to know better, especially when it comes to musicians. Damon's face flashed through my mind and a slow song came onto the stereo - a sappy boy band ballad. No, I didn't want to think about that.

I hit the fast forward button and Nick looked over at me, mid-note.

"No sappy boy band 'love you forever and ever' ballads!" I announced and turned up the volume and catching Frank's eye in the rear view mirror. I'd miss having Frank to team up with to tease little Nicky.

The opening strains of the only 'Nsync song I knew came on and Nick groaned. He leaned forward to push the fast forward button and I whacked his hand away. "My car, Carter!"

"But…" he started to whine and I turned up the volume.

"If you want to fly come on take a ride, take a ride with the space cowboy…" I sang at the top of my lungs, nodding my head in time to the music and hitting the steering wheel during the bass beat.

I looked over at him, "Come on… you can't deny it - this song rocks! Why don't you do anything this catchy?"

He rolled his eyes, "Substandard upstarts! Copy cats!"

The girls giggled in the back seat and I glanced over at him.

"And you think you're original? Ever heard for New Kids on the Block? Take That?"

"Hey, Take That are our contemporaries!" Nick argued and I looked at him skeptically.

Were they? I thought back. When did Nick say they got together? 1993. When did they hit it big in Europe? Nick watched me as I figured it out in my head.

"1995, Rache." He offered.

"Jesus! You make me feel so old!" I groaned. "What were you, 11?"

Frank laughed from the back seat. Katie corrected me in her best 'duh' voice, "Nick was 15, Aunt Rachel!" I think the little brat gave me a big old eye roll too. I'd get her later!

"Katie - my little BSB encyclopedia."

"Nick is her favorite!" Colleen tattled and Nick whipped his head around, practically throwing himself in the back seat.

"ME! This beautiful young lady likes me?" I could only see the back of his head, but I knew he was flashing her that 'Nick Carter flirt' smile - the smile that made my knees weak. He leaned over to me, "Maybe her aunt should take a few lessons…" He practically whispered in my ear and I felt my stomach do a flip flop. Jesus. I laughed, trying to act like he had no effect on me and took a corner at 50 miles per hour so that he landed back on his side of the car.

Did I just have an effect on her? I think I did. She obviously had been doing her homework. She knew the songs, this mixed tape she was playing was all boy bands, and she'd mentioned that Katie made it for her. I'd have to corner Katie later and ask just what her aunt had been asking about us. A brief image flashed through my mind of Rachel sitting with her nieces in front of the television getting a crash course in our videos.

"What's so funny?" She looked over at me.

"Nothing… just…" No, I couldn't tell her. Looking over at her now, I couldn't imagine it. AJ and Frank were right. She was so out of my league. Why would she crush out on the fat Backstreet Boy? No, we were friends. That was good, wasn't it? Friends? I'd rather be her friend than nothing.

Yeah, Nick, you keep telling yourself that.

She slowed down and pulled into the train station. The car was barely parked before I opened my door to help Frank with his bags. Bye Frank! She caught my eye and shook her head at me in mock disapproval. Calm down, Carter. Could you be more obvious? But maybe with Frank gone I wouldn't have to be Nick Carter Backstreet Boy. Maybe she would see me as just Nick.

Yeah, just Nick. Just 21-year-old immature Nick who barely has a high school diploma. Like that was gonna be a match for her. She'd been to college. She'd had real adult relationships. What did I have? Three dysfunctional years with Mandy and a series of meaningless relationships that never lasted more than a month. She was gonna hate 'just Nick.'

I tried to push the thought out of my head as Colleen came over to me. "Where's your backpack?"

Instinctively I knelt down so I didn't tower over her. Years of signing autographs, I guess. How many things like that did I do? Like as soon as I saw a car pull into the parking lot, I looked around for my ball cap, so no one would recognize me. "I'm not going anywhere, Col. Just Frank. He has to get back to his family."

His 'family' right. Was I the only one who didn't know Frank was gay?

"Don't you have to be with your family?"

My family. I smiled at her as nicely as I could, "Well, my family's all with my brother and sister. They're touring this summer just like we were."

"I know!" She smiled up at me and started to sing Aaron's latest song. I leaned over and tousled her hair, making her laugh.

"Right. Well, I'd rather stay here and get to know you and Katie."

"With Aunt Rachel, you mean," She grinned at me.

Well, I did, but the little one couldn't possibly know that. Could she? I looked over at Rachel. She was talking to Frank and glanced over, catching my eye and smiling at me. How was I going to survive in the same house as her without Frank there to chaperone? I wouldn't be able to talk to her. I felt my chest tighten at the thought of being alone with her. What the hell was I doing?

"How is he so good with little kids?" I wondered out loud and Frank shrugged.

"They have a lot of young fans. I think it must be second nature for them. You gonna be okay with him? He's a handful."

"Really? Thought he might be more than a handful?" I winked at Frank and smiled at his unintended joke.

He shook his head and then lowered his voice, "Rachel, please don't encourage him."

"Encourage what?" I asked innocently.

"You know. He's got quite a crush on you. Are you sure you want me to go? I can stay, you know. I'm not expected home."

"But think of what a treat it will be when he sees you!" I grinned and I think Frank started to blush before composing himself. Did I really out him to the little one who was playing patty cake with my niece?

Patty cake? I whipped my head around and stared at them. Nick was kneeling in front of Colleen and they were singing one of those hand clap songs. I didn't know whether to be in awe of his many talents or horrified that he knew such a thing.

Frank shrugged. "He's weird, that one. You've got your hands full."

"There you go again, getting my hopes up!" I pulled Frank into a quick hug before he could stop me. "Don't worry, Nick and I are just friends. That's all."

He pulled away and considered me, "You've got my number if I need to come collect him."

I nodded and we walked over to Nick and the girls, "Whatcha doin', baby?"

Nick looked down at the ground, slightly embarrassed and Colleen beamed at me, "Nick knows the playmate one! I can't hit him hard, though, 'cause of his hand. Can we show her? Please?"

I couldn't help but laugh, "Oh please Nick, do show me. I didn't know you had such talents!"

"I have sisters!" He replied defensively, making Frank and I laugh harder. God, he was so adorable at this moment that I wasn't sure I'd keep my promise to Frank for the next hour, let alone all week. Friends. Just friends, I chanted to myself. Friends is great. I'd just keep Colleen and Katie around at all times! We'd be fine.

Disclaimer | Sudden Silence Website
Feedback to Authors | Tragical Fiction (home)

Subscribe to receive an email when this site is updated!

Powered by groups.yahoo.com