Legalities: It's just a story folks. It is not intended to imply anything about any of the Backstreet Boys or anyone else. If you're offended, please go away. If you're curious, read on, you might like it! If you're too young, don't get caught.
Notes:
Well, since this is the last part of Set You Free (Please, no throwing things!!), I wanted to take a minute to thank some people. Thank you to EACH and EVERY ONE of you who have read the story, and let me know you were reading. Hearing from the fans makes writing that much more enjoyable. A big THANK YOU, to David and Nifty for allowing me to post this story on the archive.
A very special thank you to a few VERY special guys: Rune, for your honest and constructive advice; Chris, for talking to me (even though you yell at me sometimes! :-D); Justin, for the conversations and funny subject lines; Michael, my west coast friend; Andy, for loving Kevin so much! VBG; and Nik for your ever present encouragement. All of your emails mean a lot to me guys. THANK YOU!
As I've mentioned to a few people, this is the end, for now. I MAY come back to the story in the future, but no promises, and please, no bugging me! :-))
At the end of this story, I've included the first couple of pages from four other stories I've started. If anyone has a preference, let me know!
Thanks again to everyone! Kenitra kenitra_canada@hotmail.com
Set You Free ********** Part 11 (Two months later) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Jason, there's a delivery for you," a woman called out.
Jason left the dark room and walked to the front of the small galleria. "What'd you say Kristi? I was in the back," Jason said.
The petite, middle-aged woman smiled fondly at Jason. "You're always in the back, Jason. You need to get out more. I said there was a delivery for you." She handed him an unmarked envelope.
Inside was a pass for a concert that night with a surprise guest at Massey Hall. Jason's heart flipped. He looked inside the envelope again. The only other thing inside was a tiny piece of paper with one word written on it Free?. Jason gasped and Kristi looked at him.
"Something wrong, Jason?" the gallery owner asked.
Jason looked at her and smiled the most genuine and happy smile she had seen since they had met. "No. Everything is finally right," he said.
Jason was nervous as he approached the concert hall. It hadn't taken long for the rumors to fly about who the mystery guest was and the street was swarming with teenage girls.
Jason showed his pass at the door and was admitted. He walked into the theatre, his apprehension growing. It had been two months since he'd left Orlando. In that time, the only communication he'd had with any of the singers was two answering machine messages. Brian had left a message wanting to know that he got home safe. Jason had left a message letting them know he was okay.
During those two months, Jason had taken charge of his life. He'd sold the house and moved into an apartment in the city. He'd taken some night classes. Most importantly, he'd found Kristi Wilson, owner of Wilson's Galleria, a small gallery and art shop in downtown Toronto. He'd shown her some of his Orlando photographs and she loved them.
She'd booked him a show and it had been a great success. The trendy, urban clientele loved the pictures, some preferring the happy, funs one, others the dark and poignant shots. Only one of his pictures in the gallery wasn't for sale. It was a picture of a man, taken almost from the back, but it showed a powerful, thoughtful man with a sharp nose and wide brows, strong angular chin. Jason called it The one. He refused to talk about it or tell anyone whom the picture was of.
Now here he was, about to see the one again. He'd been a little surprised that he hadn't heard from Kevin. But then, what did he expect after he took off like he did.
Jason found his seat right in front of the stage. The crowd reminded him of the concert in Orlando. He didn't even bother to look up when someone sat down beside him. The person leaned close to Jason.
"Love you too, Jay," the man said softly before quickly standing up and darting backstage. Jason looked up, catching a brief glimpse of Kevin as he pulled off his hat and glasses disguise in the wings. Their eyes met, and Jason grinned.
The concert began, starting with the upbeat Larger than Life. Each of the guys smiled and winked at Jason as they danced by. Jason never took his eyes from Kevin and was anxious for the concert to end.
He sighed when it finally did. He remained in his seat, uncertain about what to do. Should he go backstage or sit and wait? The crowd filed out quickly leaving Jason sitting alone. He finally stood up and walked backstage. The place was fairly deserted; only a few voices could be heard here and there.
"Hey Jayce, you owe me a rematch on that race," Howie's voice came from behind him. Howie was talking about the five mile race they'd had the day before Jason had left.
Jason turned and grinned. "Name the time and place D," he said as Howie gave him a quick hug. "Good to see ya again."
"You too," Howie said and continued on to wherever he was going.
"So how do you fix photos that come out all red?" A.J. asked as he walked up to Jason.
"What? Do we have to go through that lesson again?" Jason asked with a smile.
"Guess so." A.J. patted his shoulder and trailed after Howie.
Jason knew the hard part was coming. He peered into a room and saw Nick and Brian finishing dressing. They were goofing around. Nick was holding Brian, who had his legs around Nick's waist, while he buttoned Nick's shirt. Jason couldn't help but smile; they were so incredible together.
Nick spotted Jason by the door and smiled. Brian turned his head and dropped down. He held out his hand. Jason quickly walked to the two men and was engulfed in a three-way hug. Words weren't necessary and for that, Jason was grateful because he could feel the tears close by. They finally separated and Jason looked at them.
"Where?" he asked softly. Brian pointed to a closed door. "Thank you," Jason whispered and walked to the door.
He pulled it open and immediately saw Kevin sitting at a table looking through some papers - always the businessman.
Jason smiled and walked in, his heartbeat increasing as he looked at the love of his life. How had he gone two months without seeing him? Kevin looked up. He rose and waited until Jason was standing in front of him. Green eyes met teal eyes.
Kevin reached out and tentatively touched Jason's cheek, suddenly unsure of himself. Jason's skin was on fire; the touch sent shock waves through him and he trembled. Kevin's eyes spoke a thousand words, just like a photograph; they spoke of pain, longing, hope and love - absolute, pure, simple love.
Jason could feel that love radiating from Kevin and sighed in wonderment. He reached up and took that beautiful face in his hands. "I love you, Kevin Richardson, now and forever," Jason whispered, his voice overflowing with emotions.
Kevin felt his heart suddenly soar - the ties that had been binding it suddenly broke away and he was free. He had never known love could feel so incredible and he breathed it in deeply. He lost himself in those green eyes and smiled at the inspiring sensations. "And I love you Jason Hunter," he said softly, smiling tremulously.
"I'm so sorry it took me so long to find my way to you, " Jason said, unable to look away.
Kevin just continued to smile. "You had to find yourself before you could find us." He lowered his head and found Jason's full, sensuous lips. The kiss was filled with the love neither had been able to express until now. Kevin wrapped his arms around Jason, holding him tightly to his body as their mouths continued their dance, discovering, tasting and teasing each other's lips and tongues. Jason leaned into the taller man and knew he was home.
THE END
Check out the sneak previews below and let me know if you have a fave! Kenitra kenitra_canada@hotmail.com
Nick and Ryan
'God, I have to get out of here,' Nick thought to himself. Thoughts were running wild through his mind and he couldn't sleep. He looked over at Brian sound asleep in the other bed. Quietly he pulled on track pants, a t-shirt and sneakers. Earlier in the day he'd flipped through the local phone book and found a 24 hour gym nearby. Nick grabbed his basketball, keys and some money, quietly stuffing them into a small gym bag. Picking up his jacket, he silently slipped out the door and out of the hotel.
It was after midnight and fortunately, all the little girls had gone home. Nick breathed in the cold air. 'What am I going to do? Today was the worst. Every guy I see I began to think about, wondering what kissing a man would be like, being held in strong arms. I've been fighting myself for so long, I am just so tired.' Nick thought. 'Just say it Nick,' a little voice said inside. "I'm gay," he finally whispered aloud. Then quickly looked around to make sure no one had heard him.
Everything was falling apart. He couldn't go on fighting himself, but how could he tell the guys the truth? Especially Brian. He'd been distancing himself from him lately, and Brian had noticed. Typical Brian though, didn't push. He was waiting for Nick to confide in him, as Nick always did; until now. The others may eventually come to accept that he was gay, but Nick was sure Brian never would.
Nick sighed as he approached the gym. He needed to let out some of his frustrations and b-ball was always a good idea. He walked in and found the empty court. He dumped his stuff in a corner and began dribbling the ball, before taking some free throws.
He'd only been there for a few minutes when he heard someone walk in. Nick turned and found two men approaching him. 'Shit, they don't look like they want to play ball,' he thought.
"Hey man," one of them said as they continued to walk towards Nick. "Nice shoes," he added as he looked down at Nick's feet. Of course, he'd had to wear his most expensive sneakers.
The other one knocked the ball out of Nick's hand and began bouncing it. "So you think you can play ball, do ya?" he asked, as he passed the ball to the first guy. Nick was in the middle.
"I'm not too bad," Nick said, trying to stay calm although he wasn't.
"Well, why don't we play some two on one, and the winner gets those shoes of yours," Number two said. 'Yeah right, like I'd have a hope in hell of winning that one,' Nick thought.
"Listen, why don't you just give me back the ball, and you guys can have the court," Nick said loudly hoping someone would hear him.
They looked at each other. "Nay, don't think so," the first guy said. "Unless you just want to give us that watch of yours," he added, getting right into Nick's face. Now he was afraid. He could just imagine the headlines, BSB killed in ball court mugging. Of course, imagining Kevin's reaction was even more frightening.
In the locker room, Ryan Hastings took off his coat. He was surprised to hear voices coming from the basketball court. Usually when he finished a 3-11 shift, and made it to the court by one am, the place was empty. He sighed, the voices were arguing, just what he wanted to deal with. Ryan pulled his wallet out of his gym bag and stuck it over the waistband of his jeans. He pushed open the door and saw two men hassling a young blond guy. He was wearing expensive sneakers and a Nike suit. The fact that he was drop dead cute caught Ryan's attention too. He was about six feet tall, but obviously not used to the type of aggression he was facing; Ryan could tell he was afraid.
Ryan decided the best way to deal was to go easy and not piss the two guys off. "Hey, little bro, I thought it was just going to be you and I playing tonight," he called out, immediately attracting the attention of all three guys. Ryan figured he could pass as the young guy's brother having similar straight blond hair, although his eyes were green and the blond's were definitely blue. The two aggressors backed off slightly. The blond kid looked at Ryan gratefully and played along.
"That's what I thought too, bro." Nick moved slightly away from the men, grateful for the help.
Ryan set his gym bag down and turned around, loving the little power trip he got when the two men saw the police badge at his waist. Their eyes widened and they began to back away. Nick looked closer at the new man. He looked too young to be a cop. Nick also noticed that he was very cute, with vibrant green eyes. Ryan continued playing along. "I guess we could go two on two, if you want?" he said as he approached the three men.
That was enough for them. "Nah, you guys go ahead," one of the men said as they both walked quickly towards the door. "We'll play some other day." They dashed out the door.
Brian and AJ
He picked up the mail from his mailbox and immediately spotted the two large brown envelopes. He practically ran to the elevator and jumped on. The pictures had finally arrived. He ripped off the end of one and peered in. The elevator dinged and he jumped off, running down the hall to his apartment.
"Damn," he swore quietly under his breath as the lock jammed. He jiggled the key and the lock popped open. Slamming the door shut behind him, he sat down on his couch and poured the photographs onto the coffee table.
He wasn't interested in the ones of the tall, young blond, or the two brunettes. He sighed happily when he found what he was looking for; a close up shot of that beautiful face with soft, wavy light brown hair, intense blue eyes and square jaw.
Ripping open the second envelope, he repeated his actions. His brown eyes lit up when he found the picture he'd been dreaming about. The five singers were in a row, all but one with goofy smiles on their faces. He hadn't been able to smile. Having those arms around him had been too distracting. Another picture on the table attracted his attention. The five men were wearing shirts and jackets, but their pants were down at their ankles showing their legs. He couldn't resist running his fingers over the picture and down those sexy, muscled legs of his beloved.
Suddenly tears began to run down his face as he remembered the announcement from a few weeks ago. His beloved was going to get married in September.
(in another apartment, elsewhere in the city)
"This came in the mail for you," the man said, tossing a large brown envelope on the table.
"Thanks, cus," he said, trying to contain his excitement. He picked up the package and walked back to his bedroom. He closed the door and made sure it was locked. He couldn't risk having anyone walk in on him and wonder what he's doing.
Sitting down at the desk, he opened the envelope and pulled out the photographs. As he sorted, he set aside the pictures of his cousin, the young blond, and the other brunette. He only wanted the pictures of his angel with the short, spiky, colored hair and goatee. He smiled gently at the individual shot he found. Then he sighed as he realized that in all the pictures, his love was wearing his dark sunglasses. All he wanted was to see those beautiful brown eyes. Finally, he found the picture he'd been waiting for. The five were standing in a row, arms around each other, joking around. He had managed to slip in beside his angel and when the photographer said for everyone to hug, he'd done just that. His eyes closed as he remembered the feeling, standing so close and holding him in his arms, even if only for a moment. Looking at his own image, he recognized the genuine smile, one people rarely saw in his pictures. But how could he not smile when everything his heart truly desired was standing beside him, and in his arms.
He gathered up the photographs and put them back in the envelope before taking them to his small safe and locking them away. Angrily he brushed the tears from his cheeks. God had brought his angel into his life seven years ago, but it was God, too, who was breaking his heart by not allowing them to be together. Not that his angel would want him. In seven years of friendship, there had been no indication, not even when he'd reluctantly announced his plans to get married in the fall. 'But then, he doesn't know that you're gay, does he?' he asked himself.
Brian and Tyler
The boy staggered down the dark alley, completely oblivious to his surroundings. The only thing he knew was that he had to find some place safe, some place safe and warm before he died. He made his way to the end of the alley and leaned heavily against the corner of the brick building. He paused, trying to focus his mind, numbed by the drugs he'd been given. He peered around the corner.
A large bus was parked, idling against the curb. He could feel the warmth emanating from the vehicle. He just wanted to crawl up beside it and die. Before he could move, the bus door opened and a man walked off. He lit up a cigarette and glanced around. The man took out a cell phone and dialed.
Through his fogged brain, he could make out a few things the man said. The bus was secure...no one on board...ready to roll. The boy watched as the man closed the phone and began walking around. His mind lost in delirium, he didn't even think when he walked towards the bus as the driver wandered around to the front end of the vehicle. The door was open and the only thing he knew was that he needed to be warm, he needed a warm place to curl up and pray for death.
Despite his condition, he still registered surprise when he found the bus lit up inside. There were couches and tables. He stumbled towards the back and found bunks, six in all. His legs finally gave out and he fell over onto one of the lower bunks. His body gave into the pain, and horror and numbness as blackness took control.
"Damn, its cold out there!" AJ exclaimed as he rushed onto the tour bus, quickly followed by Nick, Brian, Howie and Kevin.
"Ya think?" Brian asked sarcastically through his shivers. He walked over to the small kitchenette on the bus and put a kettle of water on to boil. "Who wants tea or hot chocolate?" he asked the others.
Three voted for chocolate and one for tea. Brian was going to have tea too. The five guys slumped down on the two couches and one chair, trying to relax after their long concert. A phone on the wall of the bus rang, and Howie reached above his head to answer it.
"Yeah, I think we're ready to roll," he said as he glanced at his bandmates. Each one nodded. "Yeah, we're good to go." He hung up the phone. About a minute later, the bus began to move. They would be driving all night before they got to the next city. They would finally get to check into a hotel though because they were doing two shows over three nights.
The five men sat quietly as they drank their hot beverage and gradually calmed down from the typical adrenaline rush that came with each concert they did. Nearly an hour after the bus began to roll Brian stood up.
"That's it for me guys. I'm gonna crash," he said, stifling a yawn.
"Night, Bri," the guys said as he walked back to the bunks.
"Aaaaahhhhhhh!"
The boy bolted awake when he heard the scream. The drugs still had a hold of him and he couldn't remember where he was. But his body quickly reminded him of the pain. He instantly curled up in a tight ball and covered his face with his hands. His entire body trembled.
Kevin was the first to reach Brian when they heard him scream. Brian was holding back the curtain for his bunk, staring into it.
"What the hell Bri?" Kevin asked. Then he looked at the bunk and saw the curled body, covered in tattered clothes and dirt, trembling. "Oh fuck!" he said quietly.
Kevin and Kian
`Maybe I should have gone back with Jerold,' Kevin thought as he stared out the window at the constant stream of icy rain. 'Although I wouldn't be doing much more at home than I am here.' He sighed. 'Alone as usual,' he thought.
"Parlez l'anglais?" a deep voice behind him suddenly said.
Kevin started slightly, drawn out of his daydreaming. "Excuse me?" Kevin asked as he turned to the voice and found he had to look up to see amber eyes surrounded by wavy blond hair. He felt his heart race. This man was gorgeous.
"Sorry," the man said, smiling easily. "I asked if you spoke English, which you obviously do. I think we're the only two here with English as a first language." Kevin remembered to breathe.
'Why haven't I seen him before?' he wondered before offering his hand. "Kevin Richardson." The man's large hand was warm and his handshake firm.
"Nice to meet you Kevin. I'm Kian Lareau." `Please tell me you're gay,' Kian wanted to ask, immediately taken by the incredibly handsome man looking at him. 'How'd I miss seeing him?'
Kevin quickly looked the man over. He stood at least four inches above Kevin's six-one frame and was solid muscles. Kevin smiled as his heart turned. "Let me guess, Irish and French?" he said just wanting to keep talking to this stranger.
Kian laughed a deep full laugh that made Kevin grin. "Not too obvious eh?" Kian said. 'He looks familiar, but I would remember seeing someone as hot as him.'
"Ah, and Canadian too!" Kevin added, making Kian laugh again.
"Attention, s'il vous plait!" a voice instructed. The dozen or so guests sitting in the chalet's large lounge turned to look at the resort manager. He began speaking quickly in French. Kevin sighed; he was quickly becoming tired of hearing only French.
Kian heard the sigh and realized Kevin probably didn't speak any of the language. He leaned close to Kevin; Kevin could feel his breath on his cheek. Kevin could smell Kian's cologne and his senses went wild. "He's explaining that the weather forecasters are predicting the storm will last another couple of days." Kian paused to hear more. "The roads are completely closed and the road down from here is blocked by fallen trees and branches." Another pause. "We don't need to worry because the resort is well stocked with food and uses propane for cooking and heat so we won't freeze if the power goes out."
"Great," Kevin muttered and Kian grinned, continuing his translation. Kevin couldn't help but look up at the tall blonde as he spoke. 'He's like a Greek God,' Kevin thought, then 'Kev you've been alone way too long, now get your mind out of the gutter.' Kevin tried to focus his attention on the manager while listening to Kian translate.
"He asks that we all bear with him, its unfortunate, but the weather is unpredictable and blah, blah, blah..." Kian finished and grinned at Kevin. Kevin returned the smile. It was gnawing at Kian; where had he seen that beautiful smile before?