Hayley was working at the grocery store that she has been working at for the past seven years. She was heading to the back and she turned the corner and bumped into someone. She looked up and saw a guy in a baseball cap, looking down at her.

        “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry, I was too busy thinking of something and didn’t realize where I was going,” Hayley said.

        “It’s okay, do you work here?” he asked.

        “Yeah, do you need help?” Hayley asked.

        “Yeah, I’m not from around here and I’m lost, where is the cookies?” he asked.

        “Let me show you,” Hayley said. She led him down the aisle and showed him the cookies.

        “Thanks, miss,” he said.

        “Hayley, my name is Hayley,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, my name is Kevin,” he said.

        “You are welcome, Kevin,” Hayley said winking at him before heading to the back. She went to the freezer and went back out with the item she went back to get and saw Kevin standing there.

        “Hey there,” Hayley said.

        “When do you get off work?” Kevin asked. Hayley looked at her watch.

        “In an hour,” Hayley said.

        “Are you seeing anybody?” Kevin asked.

        “No, I’m single,” Hayley said.

        “Well, I’m married but I have a friend who isn’t, he’s in town with me, you might be his type, how old are you?” Kevin asked. Hayley looked at him.

        “I’m 25,” Hayley said. Kevin smiled.

        “You are the same age as him,” Kevin said.

        “Let me guess, it’s Nick, right,” Hayley said. Kevin’s eyes widened.

        “You know who I am, don’t you,” Kevin said.

        “When you said your name, I realized it was you,” Hayley said. Kevin blushed.

        “You aren’t going to announce that I’m in the store, are you,” Kevin said. Hayley shook her head.

        “Nope, I respect you guys’ private lives,” Hayley said.

        “So can I pick you up in an hour?” Kevin asked.

        “Sure, and bring Nick with you,” Hayley said.

        “Okay,” Kevin said. He went to checkout. Hayley went back to work. When it was time for her to get off work, she saw Kevin come in with Nick behind him. Kevin saw her and nudged Nick and he pointed at Hayley. Hayley smiled and waved. She clocked out and got her stuff and came over to him.

        “Hi guys,” Hayley said looking at Nick.

        “Hi there,” Nick said shaking her hand.

        “Hi Hayley,” Kevin said.

        “Let’s hit the road,” Hayley said. They went outside.

        “Hayley, where’s your car?” Kevin asked.

        “Around the corner on the east side of the building,” Hayley said.

        “Let’s meet at McDonald’s,” Kevin said. Hayley headed up to her car. Nick came up behind her.

        “I’ll come with you,” Nick said.

        “I have to warn you, my car is a mess, I have a niece and two nephews who don’t clean up after themselves when they are in the car,” Hayley said.

        “It don’t matter to me, I’m a little messy at times,” Nick said. They got into her car. They went to McDonald’s and sat down with Kevin. Kevin got their orders and went up to order.

        “So you are the same age as me,” Nick said.

        “You are a week older than me,” Hayley said.

        “Wow, have you lived here all your life?” Nick asked.

        “Actually I still live with my parents, in a small town north of here, I just work down here,” Hayley said.

        “How long have you worked there?” Nick asked.

        “Seven years, it’s getting old but it’s a job,” Hayley said.

        “Do you sing?” Nick asked.

        “No, I don’t have a good voice, plus I hate being in front of large crowds, I didn’t like giving reports and speeches in front of a class,” Hayley said.

        “Did you graduate high school?” Nick asked.

        “Yes, I did, I did go to college but I didn’t do very well, my grades weren’t good enough to hold onto financial aid, and it was too expensive, most of my money I earn at work goes to that thing out there,” Hayley said pointing to her car.  Kevin sat down with their food. Hayley got hers and started eating. Nick whispered something to Kevin.

        “Hayley, Nick just came up with an idea, how would you like to come with us,” Kevin said.

        “Huh,” Hayley said.

        “We have a tour coming up, Nick could use some company, he gets bored easily,” Kevin said.

        “You’re joking, right,” Hayley said.

        “No,” Kevin said.

        “I’ll have to talk to my parents, I mean, I help take care of my niece and nephews, I would hate to leave my parents like that, my brother is a truck driver, he’s on the road a lot, and he’s divorced and has custody of his kids, I would hate to leave my parents like that,” Hayley said.

        “After we get done here, we will go with you to talk to your parents,” Kevin said.

        “Okay,” Hayley said.

        “Why did you think it was a joke,” Nick said.

        “I get teased a lot, everyone just likes to do that because they think it is easy to piss me off,” Hayley said.

        “Well, we are serious about this,” Kevin said. Hayley nodded and continued eating.

Chapter 2

After talking with Hayley’s parents, Nick and Kevin were waiting while Hayley packed some of her stuff. After she was done, she hugged her parents and left with Nick and Kevin. They went to the hotel where the guys were staying. Hayley met Brian, Howie, and AJ. She sat around with them talking. Nick went into the other room with Kevin.

        “Well, what do you think?” Kevin asked.

        “You really think I need a girl,” Nick said.

        “Yeah,” Kevin said.

        “Well, she’s great,” Nick said.

        “Can you see her as your girlfriend?” Kevin said.

        “It’s possible,” Nick said.

        “Really,” Kevin said.

        “She could want me for being a Backstreet Boy,” Nick said. Kevin looked at him.

        “Nick, she helped me find the cookies and she didn’t know who I was until I told her my name, I went up to her, plus, she was doing just fine before meeting us,” Kevin said.

        “I’m just making sure,” Nick said. They went back out.

        “Hey you two, Hayley said something about finding a job after the tour, since she quit her job,” Brian said.

        “I really don’t want to live off you guys and my parents, I like making my own money,” Hayley said. Kevin looked at Nick. Nick sat down next to her.

        “Don’t worry about it,” Nick said.

        “I like working, I like making my own money, I had to have my parents help me out once in awhile but I’m 25, time for me to start making my own money and not have to borrow from someone or live off someone else,” Hayley said.

        “You can work for us,” Nick said.

        “Yeah,” Brian said.

        “And do what,” Hayley said.

        “How good are you with computers?” Kevin asked.

        “I’m good,” Hayley said.

        “Can you make webpages?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah,” Hayley said.

        “You can do that, make a webpage for the tour and post reviews for the fans, we can have the link on the main website,” Nick said.

        “We can have someone write the review and you can type it up and put it on the website,” Kevin said.

        “I guess that could work,” Hayley said.

        “That means you will have to live off us,” Nick said.

        “Have it your way,” Hayley said. They grinned.

        “You’ve seen the Burger King commercial,” Nick said.

        “Yup,” Hayley said.

Two weeks later, they were on tour. Hayley had become friends with all the guys. Nick and Hayley had gotten pretty close lately. She was on Nick’s laptop, starting the website for the tour. Nick came up behind her.

        “Hey,” Nick said.

        “Hey, just starting up the website,” Hayley said.

        “Cool,” Nick said. He grabbed a soda and opened it. He sat down and watched her.

        “Having fun?” Hayley asked.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “Watching me,” Hayley said.

        “Is that a problem?” Nick asked.

        “Not really,” Hayley said. Nick grinned.

That night, Hayley was watching the concert from the front row. Nick saw her and winked at her and shook his hips and went on. Hayley smiled. After the concert, the person that wrote the review gave it to her backstage. She sat down and read it while the guys were in the showers.  Nick came out first and sat beside her. She looked up at him.

        “What’s that,” Nick said.

        “A review of the concert, I was just reading it before I went to type it up and put in on the website,” Hayley said.

        “Is it good?” Nick asked.

        “So far,” Hayley said. Kevin came out.

        “Hayley, can I talk to you for a sec?” Kevin asked.

        “Sure,” Hayley asked. She followed Kevin down to his dressing room and went in and he closed the door.

        “What’s up,” Hayley said.

        “I’ve noticed that you and Nick have been getting close lately,” Kevin said.

        “Yeah,” Hayley said.

        “Do you have feelings for him?” Kevin asked.

        “He’s a great guy but I don’t feel that way for him right now but who knows what the future would bring,” Hayley said.

        “He wants to go clubbing tonight, I know he will be drinking, Brian, Howie, AJ, and I need your help, you need to keep him from going,” Kevin said.

        “How am I suppose to keep him from doing that?” Hayley asked.

        “Just say you want to hang out,” Kevin said.

        “But I have to get the review onto the website,” Hayley said. Kevin sighed.

        “You can do it tomorrow,” Kevin said.

        “I can’t guarantee it will work,” Hayley said.

        “Please try,” Kevin said. Hayley went out and saw Nick sitting there talking to AJ. AJ saw her and smiled.

        “Hey girl,” AJ said.

        “Hey AJ,” Hayley said. AJ went to find Howie.

        “Hey Nick, want to hang out tonight,” Hayley said. Nick looked at her.

        “I was going to go clubbing,” Nick said.

        “Oh, I was hoping you would play video games with me, but if you rather go clubbing, it’s okay,” Hayley said.

        “I thought you had this review to do,” Nick said.

        “I have tomorrow for that,” Hayley said.

        “Did Kevin put you up to this?” Nick asked.

        “Huh,” Hayley said.

        “Kevin put you up to this to keep me from going to the club,” Nick said.

        “Maybe I want to actually hang out with you, Nick,” Hayley said.

        “We hang out all the time,” Nick said.

        “Why is going to clubs so important?” Hayley asked.

        “Because I like them!” Nick said.

        “Nick, I don’t want to argue with you,” Hayley said.

        “Then don’t!” Nick said. He walked out.

Chapter 3

Hayley sat there after Nick left. She held the review in her hands. Kevin came out with Brian, Howie, and AJ behind him.

        “I’m sorry, I couldn’t get him to stay, he figured it out that you want me to keep him from going to clubs, I tried,” Hayley said. Kevin knelt down in front of her.

        “Hayley, it’s not your fault, you put the effort of getting him to hang out,” Kevin said.

        “Howie and I are going to go find him,” AJ said.

        “And you are hanging out with me and Brian,” Kevin said. Kevin, Brian, and Hayley went back to the hotel and went to Kevin’s room. Hayley sat down. Kevin handed her his laptop and she started typing up the review. An hour later, there was a knock at the door. Kevin opened it and saw AJ and Howie.

        “He’s passed out in his room,” Howie said. Hayley saved her progress and got up and went to the suite she was sharing with Nick. She peeked in and saw Nick asleep on his bed. She grabbed her clothes and went into the bathroom. She got into the shower. She washed her hair and rinsing her hair and opened her eyes and saw Nick standing there, naked in the shower with her. She shrieked and covered herself with her arms. He smiled. He pulled her close.

        “You’re drunk,” Hayley said.

        “I’m not as drunk as anyone thinks, I can still think straight,” Nick said. He began kissing her neck.

        “Nick, stop,” Hayley said.

        “Why, I know you want it,” Nick said.

        “We are not a couple, we are just friends, I don’t have feelings for you, I like you as a friend,” Hayley said trying to move from his arms. He pressed her against the wall of the shower. He kissed her hard.

        “If you didn’t have feelings for me, you wouldn’t be turning me on right now,” Nick said.

        “I didn’t do anything,” Hayley said.

        “Hayley, just by looking at you, turns me on,” Nick said.

        “You drank too much,” Hayley said.

        “I am thinking straight, this happens when I’m not drinking, don’t you get it, I’m in love with you,” Nick said.

        “I’m sorry, but I don’t feel the same way,” Hayley said.

        “I think you do,” Nick said kissing her collarbone.

        “Nick, we can’t, I don’t feel the same way you do, okay,” Hayley said.

        “Don’t you find me hot and sexy,” Nick said.

        “Yes, but I’m sorry, I don’t feel the same way, okay!” Hayley said. She got out of the shower and grabbed her towel and clothes and went to her room and closed the door and locked it. She dried off and got dressed. She went out and went down to Kevin’s room and knocked on the door. Kevin opened it and she went in and closed the door.

        “I can’t do this, Kevin, I can’t be in the same room as him,” Hayley said.

        “What happened,” Kevin said.

        “He came onto me, he was asleep, so I got into the shower and after I was done washing my hair, I opened my eyes and he was there in the shower with me, he told me he was in love with me and tried to seduce me in the shower, I don’t know what to do, I had to get out of there,” Hayley said sitting down.

        “How do you feel about him?” Kevin asked.

        “God, Kevin, I do have feelings for him, I feel the same way he does, but I’m scared, I never been in a relationship before, I will be lost, I won’t know what to do,” Hayley said.

        “You never had a boyfriend?” Kevin asked.

        “No, never had my first time, no guys were interested in me, I mean, I was fine with it, but now, I mean, hanging out with you guys is great, but Nick in love with me, it scares me,” Hayley said.

        “I’ll talk to him, okay, just wait here,” Kevin said. He left the room and Hayley sat there.

Chapter 4

Kevin knocked on Nick’s door. Nick opened the door and saw him. Kevin went in.

        “Hayley went to you,” Nick said.

        “She talked to me, Nick, are you in love with her?” Kevin asked. Nick looked at him.

        “Yeah, but she blew me off, like she didn’t care,” Nick said. Kevin sat down. Nick sat down.

        “She does care, she does feel the same way you do, she is scared, Kaos, she has never been in a relationship before and hasn’t had her first time, no guy has been interested in her until you, she is scared because if she gets into a relationship with you, she’ll be lost in what to do in one, if you want to be with her, take it slow, don’t push her, don’t pressure her, nice and easy, and slow, don’t sleep with her until she is ready,” Kevin said. Nick looked at him and nodded.

        “Is she in your room?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah,” Kevin said.

        “I guess I should talk to her,” Nick said.

        “I’ll tell her to come back,” Kevin said. He got up and went to his room. Nick sat there staring at his hands. The door opened and closed. Nick looked up and saw Hayley standing there. She sat down.

        “I’m sorry, Hayley, you could have told me, I would have understood,” Nick said.

        “Are you mad?” Hayley asked.

        “No, Hayley, I’m not, I just want to be with you, from the first moment I met you, I have dreamt about you, I am willing to take things slow and easy for you, Hayley, will you be my girlfriend?” Nick asked. He got up and sat beside her. Hayley looked at him.

        “Yes,” Hayley said. He smiled and cupped her face in his hands and kissed her softly.

Two weeks later, Hayley and Nick have grown closer and taking their new relationship slow. AJ and Howie were teaching her about relationships. Hayley was sitting backstage at the venue while the guys were practicing. She was using Nick’s laptop and working on the website when a woman came in.  Hayley recognized her as Jane Carter, Nick’s mother.

        “Excuse me, who are you,” Jane said.

        “My name is Hayley, the guys hired me to start a website and post the concert reviews,” Hayley said.

        “So you are touring with them?” Jane asked.

        “Yes,” Hayley said.

        “How old are you?” Jane said.

        “I’m the same age as Nick, he’s only a week older than me,” Hayley said.

        “Have you had a boyfriend before?” Jane asked.

        “No, I was too busy with work and my niece and nephews,” Hayley said.

        “Then why are you here?” Jane asked.

        “Because the guys asked me to come with them, I met Kevin, he introduced me to Nick, they wanted me to come with them on the road, I met Howie, AJ, and Brian, we all became friends,” Hayley said.

        “Can you sing?” Jane asked.

        “Nope, not a good voice and I hate being in front of crowds,” Hayley said. Nick came backstage with the guys behind him. He saw his mother.

        “What are you doing here,” Nick said.

        “I need to talk to you,” Jane said.

        “If you think I’m going to side with you in the divorce, think again, you are on your own, Mom, I’m not on Dad’s side either, I don’t want to be involved,” Nick said. Hayley concentrated on the laptop, not trying to hear what was going on. Jane looked at her son.

        “This is not the place to talk about this,” Jane said.

        “I don’t care anymore, Mom, there is no one here who doesn’t care about my family problems, I’m 25 years old, I don’t need you to take care of me, or help me with money, wait, you are living in a house that I bought, that I’m paying for, easy living for you,” Nick said. Jane looked at Hayley.

        “Is she living off you, too,” Jane said.

        “She is living off all five of us, we are paying her to do her job, she is not a free rider, Mom, she wanted to work, she didn’t want to sit back and let us pay everything for you like you do, she actually wants to make her own money, and she’s my girlfriend, Mom, she became my girlfriend after she started working for us,” Nick said.

        “I think we need to talk in private, Nick,” Jane said. Nick sighed and kissed Hayley’s forehead and led his mother down to his dressing room.

Chapter 5

Hayley looked at the four guys and back at the computer. She saved everything and turned off the laptop and closed it and put it back in the carrying case and sat there. Kevin sat beside her.

        “I just met his mother and she doesn’t like me,” Hayley said. Kevin put an arm around her.

        “She still thinks of Nick as a little boy, she’s protective,” Kevin said. Jane came up to them.

        “Hayley,” Jane said.

        “Yes,” Hayley said.

        “I apologize for my behavior towards you,” Jane said.

        “Thanks,” Hayley said. Jane nodded and left. Hayley got up and went to Nick’s dressing room and saw him standing there facing the wall, staring at the couch with his hands on his hips and an angry look on his face.

        “Nick,” Hayley said. Nick looked at her and his angry look went away.

        “Did my mother apologize?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah,” Hayley said.

        “Good,” Nick said sitting down. She sat down.

        “You okay?” Hayley asked.

        “She just gets all my nerves, treats me like a kid, I’m not a kid anymore, I’m a grown man, I’m 25, old enough to take care of myself, then she wanted you gone, I told her no way in hell am I letting you go,” Nick said.

        “Really,” Hayley said. Nick took her hand in his.

        “You are special to me, you have changed me, Hayley, for the better, I’m no longer going to clubs, which is making the guys happy, you make me happy, Hayley, just by being with you, I am glad we are taking it slow, it makes me know that some people are worth waiting for, you are worth waiting for, I’m getting to know you like you are getting to know me,” Nick said. Hayley smiled.

        “Thank you for taking things slow, it’s easy for me to learn new things, me being new to relationships and all,” Hayley said.

        “Want to sit on my lap?” Nick asked. Hayley moved into his lap and rested her head on his shoulder.

        “Comfy,” Hayley said smiling. Nick smiled.

        “I know,” Nick said. She looked at him and he smiled at her and kissed her cheek.

That night after the concert, Hayley walked out to the buses and got on Nick’s bus and sat down. She read the concert review and started up the laptop and started typing up the review. She then posted it on the website and saved the progress. She put the laptop up and laid down on the couch. Nick got on the bus and saw her.

        “Hey you,” Nick said kneeling beside her.

        “Hey, great show, great review,” Hayley said.

        “And you are so beautiful,” Nick said. Hayley smiled. Nick kissed her forehead.

        “And you are sexy,” Hayley said. Nick smiled.

        “Me, sexy, no,” Nick said grinning.

        “You are, that’s what one of the fans said,” Hayley said. Nick smiled.

        “When the fans say it, no, but when you say that I’m sexy, I am,” Nick said.

        “You are sexy,” Hayley said. Nick smiled and kissed the tip of her nose.