I suppose the standard disclaimers apply here. If you're under 18 or object to homosexual content in any fashion, please do not continue to read. The following story is not meant to imply anything about the sexual orientation of any of the Backstreet Boys or anyone else that may be mentioned. Please send any comments, suggestions, quips, and criticisms to kevsstory@aol.com. Thanks for reading and hope that you enjoy. Big Kiss to KR.
From Chapter 4 :
An hour or so later, Kevin walked into the room with a look on his face that I couldn't quite make out.
"We're done if you want to come over to AJ's and talk to us" Kevin said as he looked at me with that same strange look.
"Ok" I said, shutting off the tv and walking with Kevin to AJ's.
"Guess that I should start forgetting about the job, the tour and more importantly, about Kevin if I judged the look on his face correctly." I said to myself.
"The job and the tour I can get over. But, not being with Kevin is going to be something that will take a long time to get over." I said to myself.
"We're done looking over everything and watching the movies that you made and I must say that we are all a little bit disappointed and upset" Kevin said as we sat down.
My heart sank and I started to get up out of my chair.
Chapter 5 - The beginning
'Wait. Sit back down." Kevin said putting his hand on my shoulder.
"You didn't let me finish. We're disappointed and upset because we didn't have you here the last time that we did this. The last video was not to our liking." he continued.
I looked around at them a little bewildered. "So, you don't hate it all ?" I questioned.
"Hate it ? My God, we love it !" Nick said jumping up to show me what he held in his hand.
"This is the best one. God you have such an eye for taking photos." he said pointing to the landscape he held in his hand.
My heart started to race. "So, what does this mean?" I questioned looking around the room and finally stopping at a smiling Kevin.
"This means that I get to spend a lot more time with someone I want to get to know much, much better. Assuming you aren't mad at me for pulling the depressed look earlier. I was just trying to play with your mind a little." he said grinning sheepishly.
"Why would I possibly be mad. I wasn't serious about taking the job anyway. I just wanted to meet you is all." I said, gathering up my stuff in my case.
I heard groans and protests from all of the guys as I gathered up my things in my arms and walked to the door. I started to open it and turned around and said laughing, "Gotcha."
Kevin ran after me as I giggled down the hallway.
"You're dead if I catch you. You know that don't you!" he laughed chasing me.
"Whatever, slowpoke." I replied as I threw the door open to his room.
They really should learn to lock their doors.
I ran into his living room and threw myself on the couch and curled up like I had been sitting there the whole time.
He ran in the door and looked at me.
"What took you so long? Sheesh. I could have taken a nap" I replied, knowing I was going to regret that.
And I did. He lunged at me and started to tickle me. After a couple of minutes of not being able to breathe I was laughing so hard, I gave up.
"Ok. Ok. You win. But you have to admit. You were worse than I was." I said, still giggling and clutching my stomach.
I looked up and realized that Kevin was lying on top of me. He was leaning with one hand on either side of me so that his whole weight wasn't on me. Not that I would have minded if it were on me.
"Yeah. But you're the ticklish one." he said grinning at me.
"Damn me for telling you that ! " I laughed.
"You're cute when you laugh. Damn cute." he said as he kissed me slowly.
I pushed his arms out from under him and he landed on top of me. I wrapped my arms around him and held him tight.
"Mmmmmm." was the only response that I got from him.
We lay there holding each other for the next couple of minutes. Until we heard a cough. We both turned around to see the other guys staring down at us.
We just looked at them and then back at each other and laughed. Kevin rolled off of me and placed his head on my chest.
"Aww...doesn't it make you wanna hurl ?" Howie laughed.
They all laughed at us. I didn't care. I was happy just lying there with Kevin.
"Is this a little unprofessional" I joked. "After all, I am going to be working for y'all"
Kevin turned and looked at me and just smiled. "I don't think so. I won't tell if you won't." he said as he turned around and placed his head back down.
"Well. I guess it's decided then. You will take the job. But, Um. Kevin. Don't you think that maybe we should tell management? " Brian said.
Kevin jumped up. "Oh God. I didn't even think about that. Guys are we all decided ? 'Cause you know they're gonna ask us all if we want the same thing." he said looking at them all.
"We don't exactly all want the same thing as you . But, yes I think that we all want him to do the video." AJ laughed.
Kevin blushed. I blushed. We're gonna have to control that. However, I felt a bit odd. Here were these, for all intents and purposes, strangers but I felt like I was at home. They have this way about them. I've not experienced any people so friendly so quickly before.
"Anyone hungry?" Nick said as his stomach growled.
That question received a collective "Yes" from all of us.
"Y'all go get dressed. I need to talk to Mister Richardson here." I said getting up and pushing them all toward the door.
"We'll be out in a jiffy." I added closing the door on some very perplexed faces.
"OK..I'm scared." ha said looking at me.
"Don't be. I just love your name is all. It's fun saying it. Rolls off the tongue. But seriously. I want to talk to you about this job and amore importantly about us." I said, dragging him to the couch.
"First. I will be an employee when I have my camera. I am a professional. Got it. No Kevin's boyfriend or love interest or whatever we become or don't become for that matter. When I'm done filming. I'm all yours." I started.
"Second. I do some weird things sometimes. I need time to myself. You'll find this out. Don't take it personally if I don't spend every waking hour with you. I'll just end up getting content. And not content in the good way. Know what I mean?" I continued without really letting him do anything but nod.
"Finally, you're the most fascinating man I have met in a long time. I'm glad that you think so highly of me to let me work on such a big project for you. But, I have to know this...are you doing this because you want me or do you really appreciate and like my work. I need to know that I am not doing this because I'm, quote unquote, Kevin's date." I asked him.
"I will get to that in a second. I have my own things to say." Kevin said.
"First. I never expected that you would be anything but professional. You're an artist. So am I. We all are. If I didn't think that you could be, I wouldn't even have asked."
"Second. Trust me. We'd end up killing each other if we were together 24/7. I know this from being on the road so long with the guys. We all have our quiet places on the bus and such to go to. We all need time to just be with ourselves and lose ourselves in a book or something sometimes."
"And finally. Talent. My got that's what you have. Talent. I was honestly captivated by some of your pieces. The black and white ones with the woman holding her child were amazing. And the landscapes. And the video. That concept dance/art house/folk music thing was unbelievable. I cannot believe that you haven't sent that to anyone to let him appreciate your talent. And besides, we aren't dating. Are we ?" he finished with a questioning glance.
"I'm not one for labels. Let's just say that we're exploring things. When the time is right. We'll know when we're 'dating'" I said getting up.
"Now that we're on the same wave length. Lunch?" I asked.
"Yes. They're probably wondering where we are" he said walking toward the door.
We heard the rushing of footsteps as we opened the door.
"God. Y'all are nosy." I said laughing.
Brian, Nick, Howie and AJ looked at the floor pretending to be bored. Knowing damn well we caught them listening at the door.
"Huh ? What ?" was all I got from them.
"Singers you definitely are. Actors you aren't" I said laughing as I grabbed Brian and pushed him toward the elevator.
"So what's with the 'y'all'? You from the south or somethin'?" Brian asked.
"Nope. Just a silly habit really. Born and raised here in the good old Midwest. Been here all my life" I faked my best country accent.
"You sound like Kevin does when he gets drunk. God, that boy develops the thickest country accent when he drinks." AJ chuckled when we stepped into the elevator.
"Tell me more stories about him. I wanna know the dirt ! " I laughed.
"Do it and you die" Kevin looked at them.
"After all. What silly things do I get to tell him then ? " he joked.
We hopped in the limo. God I felt weird stepping into a limo to go get lunch. They seemed to take it for granted. Much like stepping into any car. They didn't think of it as a limo. Just someplace to get from here to there I gathered.
They let me pick the restaurant. I chose this cute little Szechwan place. I'm a sucker for good Chinese. It's a very small place. No teeny boppers (eww...did I really use that phrase) to hound the boys. Unless I'm mistaken, not one person in the place recognized them. It relieved them I could tell. They immediately sat down and they got to be themselves. No looking over their shoulders or dodging fans. I was glad I picked this place.
The waitress walked over and handed them menus. She knew me and knew not to bother. She said she'd give them a few minutes and would come back.
"Eat here a lot do you ? " Howie asked.
"Um. Yeah. It's kinda sad really. She never bothers with the menu and they know my voice when I call." I said.
"Predictable Josh. Hmm...we'll change that." AJ said, smirking over his menu.
"Just remember I'm in my element here. Out of town anything is fair game" I replied.
The waitress came back and took their orders. She looked at me and I nodded. "The usual" I said to her.
She smiled and laughed. "As always" and walked away.
Then the questions began. I felt like I was being interrogated. Not really. They were just curious about me. After all, they knew all about each other. I was the newbie. I answered all their questions as we ate and talked through lunch. Kevin was surprisingly silent. Taking everything in. Smiling at me every time that I caught his eye.
After lunch, we rode back to the hotel in silence. I was thankful for the peace and quiet.
"Do you guys always put new person through the 10,000 questions?" I asked, breaking the silence.
Howie spoke up laughing. "To tell you the truth. This is the first time that we've done it that badly. I think it's because of Kevin. We very rarely get to meet someone new in his life. Up until now, it's only been friends. So, it hasn't been nearly as fun. After all, you two could end up dating. We need to know all."
"We protect each other like family. Hell, we are family. These guys are my brothers. I love them more than anything. I know that I can count on each one of them to be there for me no matter what. So you'll have to forgive them if they get protective sometimes." Kevin said in an apologetic tone.
"No. No. I wasn't complaining. And I think that what they did was amazing. Friends like you 5 are hard to come by. I envy it really. You know that someone's always got your back." I said.
"Well, you're part of the fold now. Especially since you'll be in our faces for the next couple of months." Brian added.
The limo pulled up to the hotel. Went up to their floor and they all went seperately to their rooms. I naturally followed Kevin.
"Um. Kevin. You aren't tired or anything are you ?" I laughed as he collapsed on the bed.
"Someone kept me up late" he groaned but smiled.
I sat on the edge of his bed.
"Ok. I'll let you get some rest. I'll just get my stuff together and call y'all later." I said starting to get up.
"Leave and you die" he said pulling me down.
"I notice you like that....and you die....part added to a lot of your threats." I laughed sitting down.
"Secretly, it makes me chuckle inside." he said.
"Will you stay and nap with me? Don't worry. We'll be clothed and all and I promise not to touch you anywhere inappropriate." he added as he saw the look on my face.
'It's just been such a long time that I've wanted to hold someone. And I don't want you to go." he looked up at me with the most sincere look on his face.
God was I a sucker for those eyes.
Knowing that he had nothing but napping on his mind, I agreed.
I lay down on the bed and he wrapped his arm around me and we spooned. I wasn't even tired. But lying there like that. I was in heaven and I started to drift off. I remember him placing a kiss on my ear and whispering pleasant dreams.
End of Chapter Five
Hope that this was enjoyable. I'm gonna try to be more timely with my chapters. Of course every time that I say that, my life goes bonkers.
Until then.....Drop me a line !
Kevsstory@aol.com