Kyra had nearly forgotten about her entry in the Backstreet Boys competition, she hadnt heard anything and assumed that her story didnt make the grade. Although she privately hoped that the competition was just taking time. She couldnt help but wonder if Nick had read it, or even liked it. She wondered if the fictional Nick was anything like the real Nick. That was why she entered in the first place-she wanted to see the inside of Nick Carter and her other boys, to see the real men whose music she had been a fan of for ten years. She heard commotion upstairs and wondered what was going on.
Kyras mother Joy ran down the stairs when she realised her daughter was home. She had the most exciting news to relay. She clutched the cordless, white house phone in one hand and Kyras passport in the other. Kyra smiled suspiciously, wondering why her mother was so happy.
Kyra-Im so glad youre home! She expressed, hugging her daughter and planting a kiss on her cheek. Before Kyra could greet her mother, her mother started talking again. Guess who called only twenty minutes ago? She asked excitedly like a small child with a very large secret to tell.
Who? Kyra asked, having no idea who could have possible made her mother so frantic.
Johnny Wright. Joy declared, leaving her statement at that, knowing Kyra would understand what she meant. Kyras heart stopped in her chest momentarily. Had she won? I like the untitled story by Kyra Michaels. Nick put forward a week earlier when asked which story he had taken a liking to, of course, all the other Backstreet Boys knew this already. Johnny Wright nodded and took a sip of water he had retrieved from the fridge on Nicks bus and scribbled down her name onto a piece of paper with only one other name on it. The other boys were sat at a table but Brian was beginning to feel restless and playful, determined to challenge someone in a video game tournament, and stood up to look out of the window. He missed not having his wife and son around. He used this as an excuse to spend as much time with Nick as possible, who had confessed very little about his episode, and Brian had learnt only to pry to a certain extent-he could not interrogate Nick, if he wanted to talk, then he would be there for him. He had though, after Leighanne persuaded him, called Dr. Belkin, who expressed deep concern and wished to be updated as regularly as possible on Nick. But Nick seemed fine, a little nervous if anything today; Brian was beginning to see patterns in Nicks behaviour unlike last time. He was thankful Nick had not turned to alcohol or self-harm.
However, Nick concealed his self-inflicted wound with a black wrist band and never removed it. He would look at it eventually, but he couldnt bring himself to look. The thin slit on his wrist represented more than its physical implications. He knew he would be straight back into therapy if another Backstreet Boy saw it, and he didnt think he was quite there yet. Well, Nick thought to himself, you wouldnt admit it if you were. He didnt know what he was going to do if the others didnt support his choice of story. If he didnt meet Kyra and spend some time with her, he didnt know how he was going to cope. He wanted the images she had so articulately and fluently documented in her story to come to life-he wanted to be the Nick she saw him as, and if he wanted to achieve that, he needed to meet her.
It was a good little story Kevin commented on Kyras effort. A little different from the others-it has my vote I think. Kevin smiled turning to the others to hear their opinions.
No, I like Megans better. AJ counteracted and made Nick feel sweat form on the back of his neck.
Thats because it was about you, dude. Howie told him and Brian began laughing. Nick forced a smile.
So what? AJ protested with a grin, wanting to spend some time with a nice female.
You need a girlfriend real bad. Howie said joining Brian in his laughter.
Shut up, D. AJ said playfully. So whose do you like best then?
Im gonna have to go for Megan also. Howie agreed with AJ and with two votes for each girl, Nick felt himself begin to panic. He told himself relax-he couldnt have an attack sitting in amongst the people he was trying to hide his problems from. He cast a furtive look to Brian who had stopped giggling. Their eyes locked gaze briefly before Nick turned away, the suspense eating at him-it was painful and left him anxious.
The look in Nicks eyes had said it all, Brian thought. Brian wasnt stupid; he knew the importance of that story to Nick, for whatever reason it was. But Brian didnt care, all he needed to know was that it was important to Nick; that was enough for him. Perhaps Kyras presence would help Nick in some way, so he cast his vote.
Kyra. Brian said and Nick breathed a quick and silent shy of relief. His heart began pumping blood and oxygen again. It was well written-I enjoyed it. Brian declared with a cheesy grin and Nick giggled happily at him. He was thankful, really thankful.
Alright so its settled-Kyra Michaels wins this thing? Johnny asked to confirm and they all nodded. Great. He said gathering some papers and folding them away. A brief silence was interrupted by the bundle of energy that Brian had turned into.
Nick! He shouted playfully over to him. Get on the Playstation, lets have some fun! He declared switching on the machine and unravelling the cables to the controllers. Nick leapt up, feeding on Brians energy and the fact that fate had confirmed that finding Kyras story that night was an act of God-a miracle. She was coming into his life and this thrilled him. He knew somehow that she held the keys to the locks that had him chained up. Kyra screamed excitedly and threw her arms around her mother in happiness. An entire month on Nick Carters tour bus-it didnt get much better than this, Kyra thought
