**Just so everyone knows, I have no real opinion yet of Mandy. I don't really care what she has or hasn't done, because most of it is probably rumors anyway. However, in this story the bad side that we hear about is what is going to be used. It doesn't really have anything to do with how I feel about her because I would have portrayed her this way anyway for the storyline. Just wanted to clear that up, so don't send me hate mail saying I'm bashing her because that's not the intent here. I try to stay out of what goes on with her, because frankly I don't care!!! It's Nick's life not mine and only he knows the truth. The only thing I can say is that I did meet her after her performance at the BSB concert and she was being nice to everyone and I didn't see her do anything inappropriate.**
Nick stopped in shock. Brent had despised Mandy. "Nick what is it?" McKenzie asked wondering why he had stopped and why he had such an awful look on his face.
"Uh, Nick? Hey man," Brent said very surprised to see him. He didn't know Nick was back yet. Nick didn't say a word.
"Hello Nicky," Mandy said smirking. She glared at McKenzie. She'd heard about McKenzie from Leighanne. She didn't know she'd be so pretty though. She heard about Brian and Shayla too.
"Come on let's go sit down," Nick said squeezing McKenzie's hand. Without saying a word to Brent and Mandy, Nick walked away.
"Who was that?" McKenzie asked after they sat down. Kevin, AJ, Brian and Howie were looking at Nick waiting for him to explode and lose his cool.
That was my best friend Brent that I've told you about. And that girl he's with is Mandy, my ex-girlfriend," Nick told McKenzie through gritted teeth.
"Maybe we should go somewhere else," Kevin suggested. The last thing he wanted tonight was a fight on his hands. He wasn't in a very good mood since his breakup with Kristin and was still pretty depressed. Plus he really didn't want pictures in the tabloids of Nick beating the crap out Brent.
"What's that all about? I thought Brent hated Mandy," Brian asked.
"That's what I thought too," Nick grumbled. Nick noticed the look on McKenzie's face. "Do you wanna go some place else?" he asked her.
"I don't know. If she's going to be a problem maybe we should," McKenzie said. She had heard horror stories about Mandy and didn't want to get into a problem with her. Quite frankly she was terrified of Mandy. Shayla was always the strong one who could hold her own.
AJ and Howie came back to the table with some drinks for everyone. "Hey did you see the skank is here?" AJ asked rather loudly.
"AJ," Kevin warned him.
"Yes we know. We were just trying to decide if we should go somewhere else. I think Kev is right and we should leave," Shayla said.
Brent walked over to their table. Nick looked away as he approached him. He was furious that Brent was with Mandy. "Nick could I talk to you buddy," he asked. He nodded hello's to the others.
"Yeah sure, this ought to be good," Nick said standing. They went to the outside deck. Nick stared out over the water. The bar was on a barge right on the water and it was a beautiful night.
"Oh god I hope Nick doesn't do anything we're gonna regret," Kevin said.
*Meanwhile At The Table*
A very pretty girl was approaching their table with a huge smile on her face. The bodyguards were seated in the booth behind them and two of them rose seeing her approach. Kevin noticed her pretty smile and shiny brown hair that fell smoothly around her face.
"Oh no, we've been spotted, here comes a fan," AJ mumbled softly putting on a fake smile to act nice.
"Great, here we go," Howie grumbled plastering on his fan greeting smile.
Kevin's smile was genuine. He thought the girl was beautiful. But the thought of being attracted to a fan spoiled the moment. He'd tried that before and it was always a disaster. It was a big no-no in his book and he hated how AJ and Howie always were going out with fans. But she was so pretty.
Brian put his hand on Shayla's shoulder and gave her a look that this was the way it goes. But when Shayla turned around to look at the girl she jumped up wide eyed and excited and practically climbed over a very stunned and confused Brian and Kevin trying to get out of the booth.
"Oh my gosh, Jen!" Shayla exclaimed. "Kenzie look it's Jen." The guys looked at each other confused and Kevin motioned for the bodyguards to back off because it was obvious Shayla knew the girl.
"No way!" McKenzie said getting excited. She jumped up too. They both met her with hugs as she got to their table. "Jen I can't believe it. What are you doing here?" McKenzie asked.
"I could ask you the same thing lil bit. You're not old enough to be in here," Jen teased McKenzie.
"Jen I can't believe this. We haven't seen you in so long. What are you doing here?" Shayla asked.
"I just moved here a few weeks ago. I opened my own store here," Jen told them excited to see them.
"You're kidding? Mom didn't tell us anything about it," Shayla said.
"Well it all kinda happened so fast. I got a backer four weeks ago and he wanted me to open immediately so I packed up and moved," Jen said laughing.
"That's terrific! You have your own store now. That's what you've always wanted," McKenzie said.
"I saw you guys come in but I wasn't sure if it was you until I saw the guys and these huge bodyguards," Jen laughed pointing to the bodyguards. "Your mom told my mom you two were dating two of the Backstreet Boys. That's great."
"Um are you two going to introduce us or would you like to go on pretending we're not even here?" AJ asked interrupting their reunion.
"Oh sorry," McKenzie laughed. Kevin was very relieved to find out this girl wasn't a fan just coming up for an autograph. "This is our cousin Jen. Our moms are sisters." Kevin's face lit up like nothing they'd seen in weeks.
"Jen this is AJ, Howie, Kevin and my baby over there, Brian," Shayla said pointing to each of them. "Nick's talking to someone outside. He'll be right back."
"Hi," all the guys said together sounding like a harmony group.
"Nice to meet you guys. I love your music," Jen said.
"Thank you, would you like to join us?" Brian asked. Brian nudged Kevin to scoot over because he was so intensely staring at Jen that he hadn't heard Brian offer her a seat.
"Oh sorry," Kevin said standing and pointing for Jen to slide in and join them. Shayla slid in first next to Brian, then Jen and then Kevin sat back down next to her.
"Thanks, I'd love to but just for a minute. I'm here with some friends and have to get back to them," Jen said.
"So you guys are all cousins? That's wild," AJ said bouncing in his seat to the music and bobbing his head from side to side. Shayla laughed at him and threw a wadded up napkin at him.
"Normally this would be Kevin's line but since he seems to be mute at the moment and I'm always looking for the opportunity to give him shit about it, I'll say it. He's my cousin," Brian said teasing Kevin, who was so intrigued he was still staring in silence at Jen. Everyone got a good laugh at that comment. Kevin gave Brian an embarrassed glare.
"Yes, so I've heard," Jen said giving Kevin an extremely sensuous look. She'd noticed him staring at her and blushed when he smiled.
"So you just opened a shop? What do you do?" Howie asked.
"I'm a clothing designer. I've been selling to small distributors but I got a backer and now I'm going to strictly sell my designs and have my own store," Jen explained.
"Wow there's lots of talent in this family," Brian said.
"I can see the family resemblence," Kevin said a little behind on the conversation.
"Oh he speaks," Brian said as everyone laughed at Kevin's expense. Kevin and Jen both blushed. Kevin reached behind Jen and Shayla and smacked Brian on the back of the head.
"You're so funny, ha ha," Kevin said.
"Gosh I can't believe we didn't even know you were living here," Shayla said. "You have to come over one day." Shayla suddenly had a brainstorm and way of maybe getting Kevin and Jen together. The look on her face was enough for Brian to see the wheels in motion and he gave her a look. "Actually, we're going to be having a party next weekend, you should come. They'll be all kinds of people there," Shayla said. The look on Kevin's face was priceless and Shayla nudged Brian who groaned.
"Yes, you're more than welcome to come," Kevin said eagerly wanting to see Jen again.
"Uh, Kev it's at my house. I think I should be the one to say she's welcome to come," Brian said. He loved to tease his cousin.
"Brian knock it off," Kevin warned with a stern look.
Brian and AJ laughed. They loved teasing Kevin and with the alcohol kicking in, it could only get worse. "Hmmm," Brian said aloud but as if he was thinking to himself. "Seems to me I remember that's how I got to know somebody, was by inviting her to one of my parties." He looked at Shayla and she giggled but whispered for him to stop it, he was embarrassing Jen. But he kept right on going, "then I ever so subtely said, 'you can bring your boyfriend if ya have one'" Brian said quoting what he'd said to Shayla when he asked her to his party.
"Oh so there was a reason for that huh?" Shayla asked. Brian smiled one of those smiles and kissed her.
"Oh no, no boyfriend right now. It's just me," Jen said. Shayla and Brian bust out laughing because that was the same thing Shayla had said.
"Well I'd love to come. Maybe then I can get to know you all better, because I'm afraid right now I have to get back to my friends," Jen said. "Here's one of my business cards Shay, give me a call this week and give me directions and stuff."
"Ok, I will," Shayla said.
"Um, could I have one of those cards?" AJ asked Jen.
"Yeah sure," Jen said handing him one but looking kinda confused.
"I love to shop," AJ said making up an excuse.
"Ok well, I really should go. It was nice meeting all of you. I'll see you next weekend," Jen said. Kevin stood up so she could get out of the booth. She looked up at him as she got up and they locked their green eyes. Jen thought to herself how handsome he was in person. Kevin helped her up by taking her hand and they smiled at each other.
Brian nudged Shayla with his elbow. He did it a little too hard because he was so excited about Kevin's reaction to Jen and he made Shayla yelp.
"Oww," she said.
"What's wrong with you?" AJ asked.
"Oh nothing," she said punching Brian's leg. Kevin gave them both a look.
"See ya next weekend," Kevin said to Jen.
"Yeah see ya then," she said as she left.
Kevin slid back into the booth next to Shayla all smiles. AJ tossed him Jen's business card. "You're welcome," AJ said grinning mischievously. Kevin blushed and they all laughed at him.
"Geez you guys got any more cousins, sisters, other distant relatives we should know about?" Howie asked suggesting one for himself.
"Yeah, we could keep it all in the family," AJ laughed.
"I think Kev is in luuuuvv," Brian teased him.
"Next time you act like that, I'm gonna beat your ass," Kevin told him. He looked at Shayla and put his arm around her getting all serious. "Ok spill it. Tell me all about her and why you never mentioned her before and you'd better make sure she's at the party next weekend."