Birds In Your Garden: Chapter 4
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"Little punk-ass," Kevin muttered, glaring over his shoulder towards the door.

AJ took a step back and cocked his head to the side with a hesitant grin. "Well, he's got a point. You would have been all over him if he was four and a half hours late."

"Oh, give it a rest," Kevin huffed.

"Yo, dude!" AJ said lifting his hands. "Chill. It's over. The little punk-ass wants to see his lady. You know how that is, man. Give him a break."

"I'll break his Goddamned neck if he tries that with me again," Kevin answered with a scowl.

"Face it, dear," AJ grinned, walking over to Kevin and putting his arm around his shoulder, "our boy's all grown up now." He mock sniffed and wiped a knuckle beneath his eyes. "And you suck 'cause you were late!" He slapped the back of Kevin's head playfully and darted away as Kevin attempted to elbow him in the stomach. "So, is he right?"

"About what?" Kevin asked, pulling the rubber band out of his hair to pull it back again into a low ponytail.

"About what? Nookie, dude! He's got to be right or you would have been here a lot sooner." AJ grinned, sitting on the table and resting his feet on his chair. "Are we back to Kevin making up his own hours again, or what?"

"No, we're not back to Kevin making his own hours," Kevin mocked. "Did anyone besides me notice that there was a monsoon? That maybe it wasn't safe to go out in that rain?"

"And you're telling Nicky to give it a rest?" AJ howled in laughter. "Yeah, dawg, sure! The rain made you late. And how did you spend your time waiting for the storm to pass?" He slid off the table and swayed his hips forward and back in opposite motion of his arms.

"I managed to pass the time just fine," Kevin said with a slow nod. "And even if he may be right about me getting pissed if one of y'all did this…it's been years since I've done anything like this -- as opposed to the rest of y'all. I think I'm allowed a fuck up once every, what? Three, four years?"

"Hey, I have no problem with it," AJ said. "But Nicky's in love, man. Got it bad and the last place he wanted to be was here waiting for you when he could be with the Wanton Sex Goddess in Florida. So, cut him a break. Love sucks when you got it this bad."

Howie came back into the room, peeking his head in first and looking around. "No blood, I'm guessing it's safe to come back?"

"You're not Nick," Kevin said dryly. "We're planning his demise."

"Let him be," Howie said going back to his chair.

"I don't think I started anything," Kevin protested. "He swung at me first."

"It's your attitude, man," Howie said, looking at Kevin. "Pretend to be apologetic, would you? He's really pissed out there."

"Well, I'm really pissed in here," Kevin said.

"About what? Him being right?" Howie asked.

"Oh, here we go again," AJ cried out, dropping his head and shoulders in defeat.

"Right about what?" Kevin asked.

"The inventor of Backstreet Time," Howie said with a knowing grin. "And that you do tend to lose a bit of that focus when you're uh…involved. He didn't care before because he was thirteen and more interested in playing basketball or something than girls when you started all that. But now? The least you could have done was called, man."

"I know!" Kevin cried out. "Jesus, can't a guy make a mistake once?"

"It's your own doing," AJ grinned wickedly, "all your lectures are coming back to haunt you. It's pay back time!" He clapped his hands together and began rubbing his palms. " And you know what they say about pay back."

"Payback sucks, dawg," Howie and AJ said together.

"I think the least you can do is go talk to him and let him have his say. He's right to be pissed," Howie finished.

"Fine," Kevin said, heading towards the door. "I'll go apologize."

"Be NICE!" AJ called over his shoulder. "And have him record it cuz I don't think this has ever happened before."

"Bite me, dildo!" Kevin said, going out into the hallway where Brian was talking to Nick. Nick had his back against the wall with his arms folded, pouting at Brian and looking bored. "Nicky," Kevin started.

Nick pointed to him, squinting his eyes. "Don't even start!"

Kevin lifted his hands up innocently and looked at Brian. "Give us a minute?"

"Don't hurt him," Brian muttered to Kevin as he headed back into the room.

"I mean it, man," Nick said with a shake of his head. "Don't even start."

"Dude, chill," Kevin said, tilting his head and trying not to look as annoyed as he felt. "I didn't think it would be this big of a deal to you that I was late. I'm sorry, okay?"

"You know you woulda been all over me if I did that," Nick said, still pouting at him angrily.

Kevin nodded slowly in agreement. "Probably."

"Probably? No, you would! I didn't want to come this weekend either, you know!"

"I know," he emphasized. "Nick, look, it wasn't something I was planning on doing, okay? Something came up and I had to deal with it."

"Her, you mean. Not 'it'," Nick clarified, lifting his chin slightly and squaring his shoulders with indignation.

Kevin took a deep breath and kept his eyes even on Nick's face. "Stay out of it, little man," he told him. "You're right. I would have blown a gasket if someone else did this, and I'm sorry if I've been a little hard on y'all. But, dude, you gotta chill out. It's hard trying to have a career and a relationship with a girl that wants a career of her own. Especially in this business, you know?" He stretched his hand out to rest on Nick's shoulder. "I'm sorry I was a dick about everything, okay? Especially about the Rachel comment. Really. I ride y'all so hard because I know what we can do, okay? I'll try to chill out a little more, okay?"

Nick eyed Kevin a bit suspiciously and slowly shook his head. "You're not gonna kill me?" he asked.

Kevin cracked a smile and pulled Nick closer for a quick hug. "You're too big to fuck with anymore, Nicky. You'd do damage if you wanted to now. It was easier when you were some stupid pip-squeak…instead of just stupid," he teased, tousling his hair and play punching him. They play wrestled for a moment before breaking apart. "We okay now?"

"Yeah," Nick nodded with a slow smile. "But next time, I get to kick your ass, dawg"

Kevin tilted his head and gave him a doubtful look, but ended it with a smile. "Next time you get to kick my ass," he agreed. "If you can."

"If I can?" Nick squeaked playfully, wrapping his elbow around Kevin's neck again. "You're not so big and scary anymore, dawg!"

"Watch it, little man," Kevin laughed, breaking free and grabbing Nick in an arm hold, "I still have years of practice and experience on you!"

~

Kevin shared a cab with Brian and Howie as they headed over to the Royalton a little after 7:30. There were a handful of fans outside and each of them spent a few minutes signing autographs before heading inside to their rooms. Nick was long gone by now, having whined enough about missing Rachel that they had to let him go to Florida. AJ had met Sarah and they both disappeared shortly after Nick for a private dinner alone. The session had gone well enough with some new material being worked on, but it was decided that the rest of the weekend would be cancelled and they would just take the two days as vacation days and rest.

"So," Brian said as Howie got in the elevator. They both looked at Kevin.

"What?" Kevin said, sticking his key in for the floor.

"Was it successful?" Brian asked, his face curiously serious.

"Yeah," Kevin answered with a nonchalant nod. "Very."

"You going back to see her?" Howie asked.

"No," Kevin answered, leaning his back against the wall to look at them. "She's coming here and I just want to keep it low-key, okay? If someone figures it out, fine, but I don't want to talk about it. It's gonna be bad enough as is with Kristin."

"Who's going to ask about it?" Brian asked, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Like we're going to go out and advertise? I'm sure Leighanne wouldn't mind getting out of that frying pan, but I doubt anyone's going to be that blunt about it."

"Wait until it sets in with Kristin and then see what happens about blunt," Kevin sighed.

"She worth it?" Howie asked.

"Who? Jana?" Kevin asked, letting a smile cross his face as the elevator doors opened. "Yeah. She's worth it."

"Then fuck it, right?" Howie said easily, stepping off the elevator. "Our fans know we're human after the whole Backstreet Boy in rehab thing."

"Well," Kevin said doubtfully, "I think they're a little more understanding of that than they are of accepting another new girl in the fold. But, you know, 's'all good for me." He smiled lightly.

"Let's hope so," Brian said. "They gave Leighanne and me enough shit."

"And look how it's stopped you!" Kevin said sarcastically with a smile and patted Brian's shoulder. "So…" he placed his hands together and bowed slightly, "if you'll excuse me, my lady is waiting for me to take her to dinner, and I am starving."

~

She had managed to get into the city and find the hotel, feeling pretty stupid asking for Troy McClure, his alias, at reception for the key Kevin left for her. The receptionist didn't even blink twice at her, smiled and slid an envelope to her without a second glance. All Jana needed to do was figure out how to get to the right elevator and use the key. He made it look so easy, but she had problems with her own house keys - and she used them a hell of a lot more often. It was going to take a long time to get used to VIP treatment. Granted, she got some of it touring with them, but still the dancer's treatment was nothing like what the fellas got.

The suite was probably bigger than her apartment. Everything was polished and expensive. There was every amenity she could think of as she had looked around; modem connection, VCR, stereo system, surround sound speakers that were also hooked up to the separate bedroom, a phone in every room, including the bathroom. It was hard to believe people actually lived like this outside of a hotel.

She still had a few hours before he was expected, so she drew a bath and took her time to get ready. At least indoors she'd be able to do something with her hair. The humidity had made it frizz and fly in all sorts of directions earlier, so she managed to pin it up, leaving a few strands to hang down her back and frame her face. He had said he wanted to do dinner properly, so she had her best dress with her, hoping she didn't look like she was trying too hard. It was a simple summer dress with spaghetti straps and light floral print. She had Leslie's wrap just in case the restaurant was cold.

As she was putting her necklace on, she glanced up to the mirror over the chest of drawers in the bedroom and stopped in thought. She was going out with Kevin Richardson, and that feeling she had in 10th grade fluttered through her stomach. She had that same thought before he picked her up to go to the homecoming dance. Giddy and excited and nervous… She had forgotten how it felt to be excited about someone and not have that dread in the pit of her stomach. She was having dinner in New York with Kevin Richardson. She giggled to herself and stuck her tongue out at the mirror. "Geek," she said to her image and chuckled, smoothing the dress down with her palms and turning sideways just to see what it looked like on her. Enough to knock him off his feet? Perhaps.

She heard the door open and went to the suite room, checking to make sure it was him. He came through the small entryway, looking around casually for her and stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened and he smiled broadly. "Wow," he mumbled walking over to her. He took her hands and held her at arms length, looking her up and down appreciatively. "You look..."

"Not too dressy?" she asked. He could only shake his head, his eyes gleaming at her as he twirled her around once, watching the skirt lift slightly and settle back down. "So, it's okay?" He cleared his throat and nodded. "You're not going to say anything?"

"Can't," he said, exhaling heavily. "No words can describe that."

She smiled and leaned over to kiss him. "Thank you."

"I'll be ready in a second," he said, walking backwards towards the bedroom, keeping his eyes on her, smiling. "Although, I could probably be naked next to you and no one would even notice."

"I would sincerely doubt that," she laughed as he disappeared into the bedroom. "How'd it go today?"

"Could have been better," he called from the bedroom. "Nick was pissed I was late."

"Told you!" she laughed.

"Yeah, well, we made it up to him. He's going to surprise Rachel in Florida."

"Aw," she cooed. "He's so cute."

"He's a pain in the ass," Kevin said with a laugh. "He actually tried to punch me!"

"You should have called," she chastised.

"Now you sound like one of them!" he groaned. "I was a little too occupied to call, I think."

"Not my fault," she giggled, walking over towards the window to look out over the street.

"The hell it wasn't," he laughed, coming to the doorway as he buttoned a tight fitting black shirt. He was wearing black trousers, still unbuttoned and lifted an eyebrow at her.

"You blame it on me," she teased, "and I'll blame it on a good stiff breeze. It didn't take much, and aren't you going to be hot in a long sleeve shirt?"

He looked down and furrowed his eyebrows. "Yes, probably. Good point." He disappeared back into the bedroom as she laughed. "You're almost worse than a girl, Kevin."

"Almost," he said, "but once I start fucking with my hair, I am." He came back out a minute later wearing a gray short-sleeved v-neck cotton shirt instead of the black oxford.

"Grey suits you well," she said with a nod. "Lightens your eyes."

"Two seconds," he said, heading into the bathroom.

"So, other than Nick wanting to punch you, the session went okay?" she asked, walking back into the room.

She could hear the electric razor and he stepped into the doorway, shirtless, lifting his chin to her as he shaved. "It was okay." He shrugged and went back into the bathroom. "We're burnt out though. It wasn't the best idea to schedule anything." He came back out a minute later, dressed with his hair pulled back in a low ponytail. "We decided to just take a break and not do anything until Tuesday."

"You smell fabulous," she said as he came over to her and took her in his arms.

He leaned over and kissed her quickly, slipping his hand into hers. "Ready? If we don't leave now, I doubt I'll let you out the door."

"Oh no," she chuckled. "I got dressed. You're taking me out."

"I'm gonna show you off to the world, darlin'," he said, kissing her again as he held the door open for her.

Birds In Your Garden: Chapter 4
Page 13 | Page 14 | Page 15 | Page 16

Birds In Your Garden Disclaimer | Email Coriander

Read the companion story:
Oreos for Breakfast (Nick Fanfic)
by The Pumpkin Coach & Paperbag Princess

c. 2001, 2002 by Coriander
Some content not suitable for children. You have been warned.