Nick was at his house looking at the invitation that he got in the mail from a former classmate. He was invited to the class reunion and they sent a letter stating that the reunion was open to everyone who had been a part of the class whether they graduated or not. He sat there wondering if he should go. They also said they know he’s a Backstreet Boy and the others were invited and they might ask them to sing at the reunion. The front door opened and closed and Brian, Howie, Kevin, and AJ came in and saw him.

        “What’s up, Kaos,” AJ said sitting down.

        “I got invited to a class reunion, the class I was supposed to graduate with if I stayed in school, they invited all who had been a part of the class whether they graduated or not,” Nick said.

        “You going?” Howie asked.

        “I’m not sure, but you guys are invited in case they want us to sing,” Nick said. The guys looked at the invitation.

        “Nick, maybe you should go, see if you remember any of them, you went to school with most of them, and you missed high school because of the group,” Kevin said.

        “Do you guys really want to go to a reunion where all five of us won’t know anybody, I probably don’t remember any of them,” Nick said.

        “Obviously they remember you since they sent you an invite, it would be like us going to just be the music act, we can mingle,” Brian said.

        “Fine,” Nick said.

Two weeks later, they arrived at the hotel where the reunion was taking place. They walked up to the desk and the woman looked up at them.

        “The Backstreet Boys, I know you all aren’t the same age, how are you a part of the Class of 1998,” she said.

        “We aren’t, but Nick here is, he got the invite and they said we were invited in case they wanted us to sing,” Kevin said.

        “I was part of the class until the 8^th grade and they said in the invite that everyone who has been a part of the class was invited whether they were invited or not and I was until the 8^th grade,” Nick said. She handed them name tags.

        “Have a good time,” she said.

        “And were you a part of the class?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah, my name is Janice, but you weren’t there when I moved to Tampa, I came to Tampa when I was a sophomore in high school,” Janice said.

        “Oh okay, nice to meet you,” Nick said. He and the guys walked in and looked around.

        “I wonder if she’s here,” Nick said.

        “Who?” Brian asked.

        “A girl named Hayley Martin, I had the biggest crush on her in school, she would say hi to me but that’s it, she was very popular and always had boys around her,” Nick said.

        “Everyone has name tags,” AJ said.

        “Hey guys,” A guy came up to them.

        “Hi,” they said.

        “Nick, I don’t know if you remember me, I’m Nate Harris,” he said. Nick looked at him.

        “Not really sure,” Nick said.

        “We sat next to each other in Ms. Worth’s class,” Nate said. Nick looked at him.

        “Everything is a little fuzzy, but hey,” Nick said.

        “I sent out the invites, and our DJ bailed, so can you guys sing, we have everything set up for the DJ,” Nate said.

        “Well, we can sing a couple of songs and then I’ll be the DJ,” AJ said.

        “Cool, come on,” Nate said. The guys stood by the stairs on the side of the stage while Nate got onstage.

        “Can I have your attention, everyone, welcome to the reunion, Class of 1998, this year, we invited all who were a part of the class whether they graduated or not, how many remember, Nick Carter in school!” Nate said. A few raised their hands.

        “Well, Nick is here along with his bandmates from the Backstreet Boys, guys,” Nate said. Nick, Brian, Howie, AJ, and Kevin got onstage. Nate pulled Nick up beside him.

        “Now, Nick has certainly grown up since we last saw him in the 8^th grade, when he left to join the group, now the guys are going to sing a couple of songs and since the DJ bailed on the reunion, Nick’s bandmate, AJ McLean, has volunteered to be our DJ for the rest of the party, so guys, the stage is yours,” Nate said. He got offstage. The guys hundled. They performed Shape Of My Heart and The One. After they were done, everyone cheered and the guys bowed. They went offstage and AJ went to Dj while the others stood together as everyone came up to them and introduced themselves. A woman stood in front of Nick and smiled at him. He looked at her and looked at her name tag. He was looking at Hayley Martin, the girl he had a crush on.

        “Hayley,” Nick said.

        “You remember me?” Hayley asked.

        “Your name tag, and you look a little like you did then,” Nick said.

        “You sure did grow up, it’s good to see you,” Hayley said.

        “It’s good to see you, too,” Nick said.

        “Hayley, hi, I’m Brian, Nick’s best friend in the group, just thought I would let you know that Nick here had the biggest crush on you in school,” Brian said. Hayley looked at Nick who looked at Brian and looked back at her.

        “Seriously?” Hayley asked. Nick nodded.

        “Same here, that’s why I hardly said anything to you besides hi, I was scared I would say something wrong and you would never want to talk to me again, or something,” Hayley said. Nick looked at her.

        “So you weren’t just ignoring me because I wasn’t popular,” Nick said.

        “No, I wouldn’t have cared if you were popular or not, if anyone had picked on you and I saw it happen, I would have stuck up for you,” Hayley said. Nick’s cell phone rang. He pulled it out and groaned and ignored the call.

        “Nick,” Brian said.

        “It was her,” Nick said.

        “Your girlfriend?” Hayley asked.

        “Ex, she won’t leave me alone, she cheated on me, I broke up with her, she won’t leave me alone,” Nick said. His phone rang again.

        “May I?” Hayley asked. He handed her the phone and she answered it.

        “Hello,” Hayley said.

        “Who the hell is this,” Lauren said.

        “My name is Hayley, you must be Nick’s ex-girlfriend,” Hayley said.

        “Where is he,” Lauren said.

        “He’s busy right now,” Hayley said.

        “Give the phone to him, now,” Lauren said.

        “Excuse me but I don’t take orders from a cheating ex-girlfrend who can’t get the picture that the relationship is over for good, he doesn’t want anything to do with you ever again, he is with me now and I sure as hell won’t cheat on him or hurt him like you did, you will leave him alone and never call him again or else,” Hayley said. Nick looked at her.

        “Or else what,” Lauren said.

        “You will be sued for harassment, face the facts, you destroyed the relationship the moment you kissed another guy behind Nick’s back, you stay away from Nick and the guys and anyone associated with him or you will go to jail, goodbye,” Hayley said. She hung up and handed the phone back to Nick.

        “Wow, thanks,” Nick said.

        “You’re welcome, Nick,” Hayley said.

        “So what do you do for a living?” Nick asked.

        “I’m a lawyer,” Hayley said.

        “Seeing anybody?” Brian asked.

        “No, my work keeps me busy, after I graduated high school, I went to college and threw myself into studying and getting good grades and internships in law firms, I actually hadn’t had a date since high school,” Hayley said.

        “Want to hang out?” Nick asked.

        “How about a date?” Hayley asked.

        “When and where,” Nick said.

        “The restaurant here in the hotel, now,” Hayley said. Nick smiled and they went to the restaurant. Brian, Howie, and Kevin hung out near where AJ was.

Two months later, Hayley and Nick were a couple and going strong. Nick arrived in Tampa and went to Hayley’s office. She heard voices and looked at Hayley’s secretary, Annie.

        “A client?” Nick asked. Annie shook her head.

        “She said her name was Lauren,” Annie said. Nick groaned and went into the office and saw Lauren standing in front of Hayley’s desk while Hayley stood behind her desk.

        “I don’t believe this, Lauren!” Nick said. Lauren looked at him. He shook his head.

        “Nick,” Lauren said.

        “I told you I never wanted to see you again, I told you we were over for good, nothing you do will ever get me back, you back off Hayley or else, did you not hear what she said, she told you that if you didn’t leave any of us alone, that you would be facing a lawsuit, well, I would say you will be,” Nick said.

        “Nick, I just want another chance,” Lauren said.

        “Why, so you can cheat again, forget it, I’ve moved on, my feelings for you were dead the moment you jumped into bed with that other guy, get the hell out of here and do not come near me or anyone who knows me ever again,” Nick said. Lauren ran out the door. Nick closed the door and locked it and came over to the desk. Hayley came around and hugged him.

        “Hey,” Hayley said. Nick held her close.

        “You okay?” Nick asked.

        “I’m good, I’m not afraid of her, or anyone, I’m a lawyer, remember, I’m supposed to be tough,” Hayley said.

        “If she bothers you again, call the cops,” Nick said.

        “I just want to forget about her and focus on my work and you,” Hayley said looking up at him.

        “Do you have time for lunch?” Nick asked.

        “I’ll make time for you,” Hayley said. She got her purse and told Annie she’ll be back in a couple of hours and they went out to eat and went to her apartment where they collapsed on the bed and made love.

        “I love you,” Hayley said. Nick smiled.

        “I love you, too,” Nick said. They kissed and made love once more before he took her back to work. As he walked her in, his cell phone rang. She went onto her office and sat down. Nick came in and closed the door.

        “What’s up,” Hayley said.

        “That was Brian, going on tour in Europe,” Nick said.

        “How long?” Hayley asked.

        “Three months,” Nick said. Hayley looked at her calendar.

        “Can I go?” Hayley asked.

        “Yeah, Leighanne, Kristen, Rochelle, and Leigh are going along with Mason, Baylee and James,” Nick said.

        “I’m free for the first two months and then I have to come back for some cases, there is some cases I can work on while away from the office but the third month is all court cases,” Hayley said.

        “Then you can go,” Nick said.

Two weeks later, they headed to Europe. Hayley sat there on the plane looking out the window.

        “You okay,” Nick said.

        “Yup, just never been to Europe before, a new experience,” Hayley said.

        “There will be time for sightseeing, the girls are taking the kids out to sightsee in London, they said you can go with them,” Nick said.

        “Cool, I really want to see London,” Hayley said. The plane landed and they headed to the hotel. Nick and Hayley got settled in the hotel room. A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Nick opened it and Leighanne, Baylee, Kristin, Mason, Leigh, James, and Rochelle came in.

        “We are here for a couple of days and London is a big city so we are going out sightseeing today and tomorrow,” Leigh said. Hayley got her phone and kissed Nick and left with the girls. Brian, Howie, AJ, and Kevin came over.

        “We are glad Hayley came with us,” Kevin said.

        “Yeah, Rochelle is glad that she’s not the only one without a kid,” AJ said.

        “Hayley can only come for two months, she said she has cases she can work on from the road but the last month, it’s all cases to go to court so she’ll be heading home early,” Nick said.

        “She loves her work, huh,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, and she’s not scared of anyone, the day you called me about the tour, I just took her to lunch, but when I went there, Lauren was there,” Nick said.

        “What now,” AJ said.

        “She wants me back and sees Hayley in the way, I told Lauren that my feelings for her were dead the moment she jumped into bed with that guy, I told her to leave me or anyone who knows me alone, Hayley is close to filing a lawsuit, on my behalf,” Nick said.

        “Nick, have you and Hayley, you know,” Howie said.

        “Yeah, and we have both said I love you to each other, why,” Nick said.

        “Just asking,” Howie said.

        “Guys, she isn’t after a record deal, she already has a good job, one she loves,” Nick said.

        “We know that, Nick,” Brian said. They went to the venue to rehearse and soundchecks and then hung around backstage.

Two months later, it was time for Hayley to head home. Nick rode with her to the airport and walked her to the gate.

        “I’ll miss you,” Nick said.

        “You guys will be home in a month, it won’t be too long, the month will fly by and you guys will be home and you’ll be back with me,” Hayley said. He kissed her and hugged her.

        “I love you, call when you get home,” Nick said.

        “I will, stay out of trouble, okay,” Hayley said.

        “If I get into any trouble, I’ve got a good lawyer,” Nick said. Hayley smiled and kissed him.

        “I love you, too,” Hayley said. They hugged and she boarded the flight and he watched it take off. He went back to the hotel and ran into Brian and AJ.

        “Hayley get off okay?” Brian asked.

        “Yeah,” Nick said.

        “It’ll be okay, man, one month and you two will be back together,” Brian said.

        “I know, just going to be lonely,” Nick said.

        “Nah, you got all of us, man, we all will keep you company,” Brian said.

        “You guys got your wives and kids,” Nick said.

        “I don’t have kids, and Rochelle would hang out with us too, you know she cares about you,” AJ said.

        “I know,” Nick said. They hugged their little brother and went to their rooms.

Three weeks later, the guys headed home and Nick went home and walked into the door and saw Hayley come down the stairs.

        “Hey baby!” Hayley said hugging him. Nick held her in his arms and buried his face in her neck.

        “I missed you,” Nick said.

        “I missed you, too, told you the month would fly by,” Hayley said.

        “Yeah, the guys kept me busy, they all took turns spending time with me, there would be days I hung out with AJ and Rochelle, then Brian, Leighanne, and Baylee, Kevin, Kristin, and Mason, Howie, Leigh, and James, and then all of them, they never let me feel lonely, but I was lonely in bed,” Nick said.

        “Well, you are home and you won’t be alone in bed, um, I moved in, if that’s okay,” Hayley said. Nick smiled.

        “What about your place?” Nick asked.

        “Gave it up, turned in the keys and put the furniture in storage, I put my clothes in the guest room beside your room,” Hayley said.

        “Well, let’s get your clothes into my room,” Nick said.

        “I didn’t want to take up your space for your clothes,” Hayley said.

        “Baby, it’s okay, plenty of room,” Nick said.

        “Well, I thought you would like me walking naked to the other room after a shower,” Hayley said. Nick grinned.

        “And that I would but not anyone else if there were guests,” Nick said.

        “Oh right,” Hayley said. Her cell phone rang. She looked at it and answered it.

        “Yeah, Annie, what’s up, what, why is he calling, no, tell him that I don’t want to speak to him, no, I can’t talk to him after everything he’s done to me, bye,” Hayley said.

        “Everything okay,” Nick said.

        “No, can I have a bodyguard,” Hayley said.

        “What’s going on,” Nick said.

        “An ex-boyfriend, trying to contact me, he just got out of prison,” Hayley said.

        “Why was he in prison,” Nick said.

        “Drugs, rape,” Hayley said.

        “He raped you?” Nick asked.

        “Come here,” Hayley said pulling him to the bed and sat down and faced him.

        “While I was in high school, I dated him, not knowing he was a drug dealer, when I found out, I wanted to leave him, when I went to break up with him, he got mad and threw me on his bed and tied me to it and ripped off my clothes and raped me and then he shot me up with drugs to the point that he got me hooked on them and he knew that I was hooked and I wouldn’t leave him because I would want more drugs, he kept me tied to the bed in case one of the drugs didn’t get control of me and he let his buddies have their way with me, I was so out of it that I didn’t know what was going on, until one night, there was a drug raid, one cop found me and took me to the hospital where I went through detox, the cops got him to confess to everything he did and what had been done to me and the cop who found me told me everything and I had the hospital run every test to make sure I didn’t have any diseases, I was relieved when I came out healthy and disease free, they made sure I didn’t end up pregnant, from that point on, I decided to put all that in the past and move on with my life and I never thought about that time in my life,” Hayley said. Nick took her hand and kissed it.

        “I’m glad you got away from that, I will see about a bodyguard,” Nick said.

        “Okay,” Hayley said.

        “Is that why you moved in here,” Nick said.

        “No, I wanted to live with you, I wanted to go to sleep in your arms and wake up in your arms every night and morning,” Hayley said. Nick smiled. They went to bed holding each other.

The next day, she woke up and saw Nick smiling at her. She smiled and he kissed her deeply as he removed their clothes and they made love. Afterwards, Hayley got up and got dressed as did Nick.

        “Got to go to the office, want to go with me,” Hayley said.

        “Sure, let me call Billy,” Nick said. He called his bodyguard and they went to Hayley’s office. They walked in and Annie saw them. She looked over at the couch in the office and Hayley looked over and him sitting there.

        “What the hell are you doing here!” Hayley said.

        “I wanted to see you,” Adam said.

        “Why, we were over in high school,” Hayley said.

        “I know, Hayley, I came to make amends, prison changed me, I’m a new man, no more drugs, I’m starting fresh, I want a clean slate with everyone, I know you will never be able to forgive me for what I’ve done, but I’m just wanting to tell you I’m sorry for everything and if I could go back, I would change everything that happened, I would have never gotten involved with drugs or hurt you the way I did, I see you have a great life now and I don’t want to cause any problems, I just wanted to tell you that I’m a new man and that I’m sorry for everything and I wish you the best and to be happy,” Adam said.

        “Is this a trick to let her guard down and you do the same thing you did before,” Nick said.

        “No, it’s not, I’m being sincere, and you are?” Adam asked.

        “Nick Carter, her boyfriend,” Nick said. Adam saw Billy.

        “And who is he,” Adam said.

        “My bodyguard,” Nick said.

        “You’re famous?” Adam asked.

        “Heard of the Backstreet Boys, Nick’s a member,” Hayley said. Adam looked at him.

        “Yeah, I have, heard a few songs, I like them, anyways, Hayley, I just wanted to come and tell you face to face that I’m sorry, there is no hidden agenda here, I’m moving to LA to become an actor, have a nice life,” Adam said.

        “Thanks, I will,” Hayley said. Adam left. Hayley looked at Nick. He hugged her.

        “You okay,” Nick said kissing her forehead.

        “Yeah, I love you,” Hayley said.  

        “I love you, too, call when you are ready to come home,” Nick said.

        “I will,” Hayley said. He kissed her deeply and went out the door with Billy. Hayley sat down and went to work.
That night, she called Nick and he picked her up and they went home.