Tired of flipping through the boring Pop Talk's schedule list, AJ lifted his head and glanced towards the entrance. Amanda was there, still talking to Joey from NSync. They had been talking for the past half hour. AJ felt the jealousy hitting him from all directions and he turned away.

"Hey Amanda! Yo Joey, man! What's up?"

AJ heard the greetings and spun around again. Amanda was walking up to him as he glanced over to see Kevin and Nick chatting a bit with Joey. He got up from the chair and placed the schedule list on it. After which, he went up and gave Amanda a hug.

"Darling, I gotta go now. We'll talk tonight, okay?" Amanda said, giving him a peck on his left cheek as she let go of him.

AJ smiled unwillingly and Amanda frowned. "What? You don't wanna meet me?"

"No. I was... Well..."

"Jealous." she finished his sentence and rolled her eyes. "AJ, you're not kidding me. You're jealous of him?" she said, throwing a thumb behind her. "Of all people, AJ... He is the last person you will ever need to be wary of."

AJ let out a small chuckle and kissed her on her cheeks. "Sorry. I'll call you later?"

"Okay... Hey, remember to tell them the good news." Amanda reminded. He smiled and let her go.

When Nick was being whirled to wardrobe, AJ and Kevin sat down on the chairs outside. AJ saw that only a few people were on the other side of the room, setting up the microphones and the interview set. He thought that he should tell Kevin the good news now. "Kev, you wanna know the outcome?"

Kevin froze for a second in his seat. He prepared himself for the worst reply. However, Amanda was smiling at him just now. She was acting normal and was not avoiding him. Now, it was only Howie. He looked at AJ with a hopeful look on his face. AJ laughed.

"Man, relax... Amanda is cool with the both of you."

"Well, she wasn't acting weird just now and so I kinda guessed it. But-"

"Howie is fine with it too." AJ said and Kevin's face relaxed and a smile faded in. Kevin was glad that he had gained support from another close friend of his and his friend's girlfriend.

"You thought Howie would flip?" AJ laughed. "Well, you should set your mind at ease now. Have you talked to Kristin yet?"

Kevin's face fell. "I did. The other day, I invited her to my house. We had dinner and I broke the news to her... I felt like shit when I did that. It isn't fair to her."

"But you know that a lover's love can't be shared. I mean you just want to be with the one whom you really love. Since Nick is the one, don't feel like you would've done her wrong. You're just being fair to her, letting her go. She will find someone, Kev."

Kevin managed a smile. He never knew that AJ was good at giving advice. "Thanks, Bone! Hey, wanna come to the mall with the both of us later on?" Kevin asked.

AJ wiggled his eyebrows. "Oohh... I don't wanna be a light bulb, you know?"

"You're not bright enough, Bone." Kevin chuckled.

Both of them chatted a bit when Nick's whining floated into the room. As Nick stepped in, he had on a dark blue colored shirt and a pair of white pants this time. "Okay. Now, why am I always the only one who needs wardrobe? Shove AJ into that dressing room, man!"

"Cause you don't know how to dress?" their stylist, Kenny, teased.

"I don't wear dresses, DUDE!"

"You know I don't mean literally."

Both Kevin and AJ rolled their eyes at the amusing debate between their stylist and Nick. Minutes later, the interview recording started and it was back to work.

...

AJ looked over to his left and saw a shop with the name 'Tattoos Box'. It was displayed out in big bold black words, highlighted with a striking blue outline. "That tattoo place looks rather inviting..." he commented.

Knowing what AJ was trying to hint, both Kevin and Nick answered at the same time, "AJ, no more tattoos!" Both of them turned and looked at each other for a second and broke out in laughter.

AJ made a funny shuddering action. "You guys are getting scary! I am suspecting you are sharing the same brain!" he laughed and winked at the both of them. "Well, I'm gotta go over there. Come over when you're done spending some lovey-dovey moment together!"

After making a weird laughing sound, he took off for the tattoo shop. Kevin rolled his eyes, shaking his head at the same time. "Kids..." he muttered.

Nick stared at him with his mouth hanging open and Kevin lifted his chin up to close his mouth. "I know what you're going to ask. Yes, AJ knows about us and he is fine with it. Can't you see? Remember when I told you that someone already knows about us? It's AJ, I told him."

Nick was surprised. He should not be because he knew that AJ was an open-minded person. However, when it came to the friends dearest to him, Nick certainly had his doubts. Now, it was obvious that his doubts were unnecessary. A smile spread across his face. "He's okay with us? Cool..."

Kevin slightly nodded his head. "Not only him... Amanda and Howie as well. AJ just told me and I was so happy. That's the reason why I tripped over every other sentence at 'Pop Talk' just now. And thank you for teasing me on that!"

Nick smiled sheepishly at Kevin and apologized, "Sorry, darling..." The word 'darling' coming out soft and almost inaudible, but Kevin could still hear it. Of course, Nick would not mind screaming that word to him in front of the whole world, for everyone to hear. However, they still had the band's reputation to keep up and at this point in time, it just was not the right time for this to become public knowledge. To top it off, they still had Brian to deal with.

"So, where do you want to go now?" Kevin asked, still smiling brightly from the word Nick had just mentioned.

Shaking the unhappy thoughts out of his mind, Nick decided to go into the CD store that he had not been to for the longest time.

...

"Hey, Jon!" Nick greeted as he entered into the CD store with Kevin.

Jon smiled warmly at his famous friend. "Yo buddy! What's up? It's been a while since you last visited your old friend here," he teased.

Jon Woodard came to know Nick when he was thirteen years old. They first met at Disney World when they were both auditioning for a play. Even though he was five years older than Nick, it was not an issue for their friendship. Being Nick's friend had been one of the greatest things that had happened to Jon. Even if it meant losing performing parts or competitions to him.

Jon liked to refer to his friend as a 'boy of wonder'. He had learned a lot from Nick. How the boy fought to keep himself in the band he was in and handling all the stress from the media. This young boy was full of life.

Knowing that Jon was interested in singing, Nick had offered to help him to get a band together. However, he declined. He preferred a more stable life now instead of the hectic super star life. Even if he had the desire to get back into the music scene, he would rather try to make it by himself instead of using his friend's status.

"Oh man, come on... You know I did not do that on purpose, right? Hey, so how's life?" he asked.

"Life is good. You, the famous pop star being the co-owner of this shop and doing nothing while I am here doing all the hard work. And so yeah, it's good." he laughed when he saw the guilty look appear on Nick's face.

"Shh... Don't say it so loud. You don't wanna have a whole mob of fans coming in here everyday, do you?" Nick said.

"I'm going around to check out some CDs." Kevin said to Nick and he nodded. Kevin smiled at Jon and excused himself from their conversation.

Jon chuckled. "Why, I wouldn't mind! Business would be really, really good! Hmm... I still don't understand. Why don't you want your fans to know about this shop. You're scared they will think that you have touched all the things here and come and rip everything from the store and bring it home?" he joked.

"Well, that's what I'm thinking. Fans nowadays are getting scarier. Remember the time I told you about that fan who got the phone number from my old home? That is simply nuts!"

"Yeah, but not as bad as the two girls who got into your private estate and posed with your Durango. I heard one of them is putting those photos out on Ebay for sale. Some kind of a fan she is," Jon said sarcastically.

"You have been keeping up with the news, huh? But no matter what, I still love my fans cause they are as crazy as me!" Nick laughed and looked over to see where Kevin was. He was going through some CDs at the back of the store and Nick decided to join him. "I'm going to join Kevin," he said and Jon nodded.

A girl who was checking out the Backstreet Boys CDs near the counter where Jon was standing caught his attention. She looked like she was trying to dig out all the stuff that had Backstreet Boys on it and he chuckled.

"Hey, girl! You like Backstreet Boys?" Jon asked.

She looked around her to see if there was anyone else and then turned to face Jon. "You're talking to me?" she asked.

Jon laughed. "Yeah. I'm talking to you."

"Of course, I do! I am their biggest fan ever!" she proclaimed and Jon chuckled.

"Do you know that the boys come here often?" he said, getting ready to see the look on her face.

She rolled her eyes and thought the cashier was trying to joke around with her. She decided to act as if she was very excited. "Hey, AWESOME! I am walking on floors that they had walked on! Thank you for telling me!" she said aloud and laughers were coming from some guys at the back. She thought it was just some regular teenage guys and shrugged it off, walking to the other section to check out some other CDs.

"Gosh, I could imagine what she will try to do if she knew that it is real," Nick giggled.

Kevin laughed. "You mean, her kissing the floor that we have walked on?"

"Yeah, that's right! Maybe I should give her a little advice later," Nick chuckled as the both of them walked back to the counter.

When she picked up the last CD that she wanted to buy, she went to the counter to pay for it. As she walked to the counter, she saw two familiar people chatting with the cashier. She could not figure out who it was for a second and when she took a second look at the darker guy, his eyebrows gave him away. Her mouth dropped open and she thought that she was going to scream. However, she controlled herself and walked calmly to the cashier, hoping that she was not walking funny or looked like she was hyperventilating.

"Yeah, see you soon!" Jon said to Nick.

As Nick walked past her, he turned to her, still chuckling at her words and told her, "Just don't kiss the floor, okay?" Her face turned a deep apple red at his comment. She had hoped that a hole would open up right then in the floor so that she could jump right into it.

Kevin smiled politely at the girl and turned to Nick. "Come on, we have to get AJ out of that tattoo place before he decides to get another one. I can imagine what Denise is going to say this time." With that, the both of them left.

Still in shock, she turned to ask Jon why he did not told her that the boys are in the shop. "Because it's fun to see the look on people's faces when they meet a pop star when they least expect it!" he laughed and continued, "And I'm glad that you didn't scream or jump on them!"

"Of course I won't, I'm not some freak!" she said as Jon scanned the codes on the CD price stickers.

...

Nick was still chuckling as they reached 'Tattoos Box'. "Did you see the look on her face?" he asked Kevin and pulled the face which that girl had on.

Kevin let out a small snigger and shook his head. "Nick, no one ever lives through your comments."

"Well, I thought you made that comment? I am just telling her what you said!" Nick teased.

Kevin rolled his eyes at Nick. "Whatever."

AJ finally tore his eyes away from the exquisite tattoo designs. He looked up just in time to see Kevin and Nick enter. "Hey! You guys are done getting LD?"

"What's LD?" a confused Nick asked, looking from AJ to Kevin.

Kevin whispered into his ear. "Lovey Dovey."

"Oh-" Nick felt himself blush a little as Kevin grinned at him. He was not used to the way AJ seeing them as a couple. The feeling was weird because they had been friends and bandmates for years. Moreover, both of them are guys. Turning to AJ, he discovered that AJ was going through a file of tattoo samples. "AJ, you're getting another tattoo?"

"Nah. Without Poopy's permission, I can't get one. She's been strict on me," AJ replied with a poor puppy look expression.

"This is not like you at all, AJ! You don't wanna get a tattoo because she implemented the rules on you?" Nick exclaimed while AJ rolled his eyes. He was amused by the fact. As he laughed, he looked towards the wall where there were pictures of tattoo designs being displayed. A particular design caught his attention and he went forward to take a closer look.

"Kev?"

"Yup?"

"Come here." Kevin left AJ to ogle at the tattoo designs alone and went over to Nick. "Kev, what do you think of this?" Nick asked, pointing to a sun-shaped tattoo.


"It's pretty nice. A little plain though," Kevin commented.

"I wanna get one with our initials in the middle of the sun. That wouldn't be plain. How about that?"

Kevin stared at Nick with his wide eyes and then looked around to see if anyone had heard Nick.

Nick was aware of his action and remembered that they were not alone. "I forgot. Sorry," he apologized.

Kevin smiled. "It's alright. Nick... I would love to get a tattoo, which symbolizes our love. But you must know that once you get it, it will stay with you forever. Well, unless you go for a laser operation to get rid of it..." his voice trailed off. " But I think that we should wait just a little while longer," Kevin added.

Nick nodded and sighed. He understood what Kevin was trying to say. He reached out to that tattoo design and traced his finger around the sun. "I hope we don't have to wait too long," he said, managing a little smile.

As AJ ogled at the designs, his cell phone rang. While answering the call, a look of excitement flashed across his face. Both Kevin and Nick were exchanging quizzical looks as he hurriedly pushed the cell phone into his backpack. "Look, I gotta go."

"What's the hurry?" Nick asked.

AJ blushed a little and gave them a sort of uneasy look. "Well, you see... Poopy got some plans. I am suppose to call her later and now, she decide to give her Bone some torture..."

"Oh." the other two men acknowledged. "We understand," Kevin said and smirked while he shot a look back at AJ.

"Yup, AJ!" Nick joined in, adding a cute chuckle.

"Hey, let D and Brian know that the meeting is tomorrow at my place, two o'clock in the afternoon." Kevin told AJ as they went out of 'Tattoos Box'. "And you'd better don't be late again or I'll personally kick your butt."

"Aaww... I am not always late for nothing, ya know? I come with beer and all sorts of goodies while we listened to your s-p-e-e-c-h..." AJ laughed as he mimicked the way Kevin usually talked.

Kevin rolled his eyes and did a little kicking action. "If you're still not going, I'll kick you over to Amanda."

"I appreciate that!" AJ laughed. "See ya guys!" he said and made a beeline to the carpark.

"Typical Bone..." Nick giggled a bit at Kevin's comment.

They made their way through a few more shops before going to the home to fetch the kids. The rest of the day was spent in a happy family manner, with Nick playing Nintendo with the kids and Kevin dishing up some good food.

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