*The Next Day*
Brian, Shayla, Nick and McKenzie were sitting around the table eating lunch when the phone rang.
"Hello," Shayla said answering the phone. "Oh hey Kevin, what's up? I'm surprised your up yet. It's only noon. What, do you want to ask me more questions about Jen?" she said making fun of his sleeping habits and last night.
"Uh no, is Brian there? It's kinda important," Kevin said sounding very serious.
"Yeah, he's right here, hang on." Shayla handed the phone to Brian. "It's Kevin, he says it's important."
"Wassup?" Brian shouted into the phone. A serious look came over his face and he turned pale. "Oh my god, are you sure? Ok man thanks for calling," he said hanging up.
"What is it Bri?" McKenzie asked.
"Something's wrong, what happened?" Shayla asked thinking something had happend to either AJ or Howie.
Brian looked at them for a moment then focused on Nick. "It's Mandy and Brent. This mornings newspaper said there was an accident last night after they left the bar. They're both in serious condition," Brian said.
"Oh no," Shayla said going in the other room to get the paper. They hadn't looked at it yet.
"What happened?" Nick asked trying to hide his emotions.
"Mandy for some reason was driving Brent's car. According to the people the newspaper talked to, Mandy was upset about a confrontation she had......"
Shayla finished his sentence by reading the paper as she sat back down. "She had a confrontation at a local club with the new girlfriend of her ex-boyfriend Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys and the new girlfriends sister, who is said to be dating Backstreet Boy, Brian Littrell and is also Mr. Littrell's neighbor and said to be the reason for his split from fiancee Leighanne Wallace. Their names have not been released. Ms. Williford apparently was so upset and had been drinking and lost control of the vehicle she was driving slamming into a telephone pole head on. Ms. Williford had plans to go on tour to promote her new album due out this summer. Those plans have been put on hold and she remains in serious condition at a local Tampa hospital. The male passenger in the car, who is rumored to be Mr. Carter's best friend and now dating Ms.Williford, also remains in serious condition. Mr. Carter, the other Backstreet Boys, their girlfriends and management could not be reached for comment at press time.
"Oh great," said McKenzie. "She had an accident because of us." Tears began to fill her eyes.
"No, you two had nothing to do with it. They just need to make the story sound interesting and they don't have the whole story," Nick said.
"Oh no what have we done?" Shayla said starting to cry too. "It's our fault."
"You didn't do anything. Don't blame yourself. That's what she wants you to do. Half of this is probably made up by her to make her look like the victim," Brian said.
"I'm so sorry Brian. Because of me and what I did, you're getting bad publicity, plus they think I'm the reason you split with Leighanne," Shayla cried.
"No, it's like Nick said, they just needed to make the story more interesting. This is the kind of gossip we always have to put up with. And you know you had nothing to do with me and Leighanne," Brian reassured her rubbing her leg.
"Do you want to go to the hospital?" McKenzie asked Nick.
"No, I can be kept informed from here. If Brent gets worse I'll go. But other wise I don't want to. It would just give the press something to talk about if I'm spotted there and I really don't wanna see Mandy anyway," Nick said.
"Are you sure? I'd understand," McKenzie said.
"That's sweet of you, but I'm sure," he said kissing her on the cheek.
"He's right, we should keep a low profile and not go to the hospital because they'll be waiting for us to show up there," Brian said. "Come one Shay, if we're going to go to the movie we need to get going," Brian said.
"Do you think we should still go? You just said we should keep a low profile," Shayla said.
"Just from the hospital," Brian said.
"Nick call Brian's cell if you hear anything about them getting worse," Shayla said. She really didn't feel like going to the movie now. She was really feeling like the accident was her fault and was worried Brian was really upset with her about it and getting bad publicity.
"You guys wanna come to the movie?" Brian asked.
"No we're going over to mom's for Sunday dinner," Nick said.
"Ok see ya later," Brian said as they left. He could see the concern on Nicks face.
"I'm gonna go get ready," McKenzie said clearing the dishes from the table.
"Are you ok?" Nick asked McKenzie.
McKenzie broke down and sobbed. Nick went to her taking her in his arms. "It's gonna be ok. You can't let this get to ya. It's not because of anything you did," he tried to reassure her.
"I just feel like you're not telling me the truth. That you really are upset, you just don't want to tell me. If you are you can tell me. I don't want you to resent me," McKenzie said as she cried into his chest.
"I could never resent you and I swear I'm not upset with you. You just have to be real careful what you do and say because ya never know who's going to tell it to the papers. That's how Mandy and my fights always ended up in the paper. But, it's her fault. She started it and I understand you had to stand up for yourself. They're exaggerating the story to sell news. Her having been drinking is the cause of the accident," Nick said trying to console her.
"Well I still feel bad. Even though I don't like her I wouldn't have wanted this to happen," McKenzie said.
"I know, me either but they'll be ok. Let's try not to worry about it. I'll make some calls and see what I can find out about their conditions ok," he said.
"Ok I'm gonna get a shower," McKenzie said.
"Hey," Nick said pulling her back to him. "I love you and this isn't going to change that," he said giving her a kiss.
"I love you to," she replied hugging him.
Once he heard the shower turn on Nick called Brent's mom to see what was going on.
*At The Movies*
"Are you sure you're not angry with me?" Shayla asked Brian. They were sitting in the car waiting until the pre-movie advertisements started to go in so no one would see Brian.
"Baby why would I be mad at you? You didn't do anything wrong. You have to stop worrying about it," Brian said.
"You told me not to get into with her but I did anyway and now the Backstreet Boys name is being put in the paper in a negative way. I'm really sorry," Shayla said.
"Well stuff happens that you have no control over. You didn't do this on purpose. You'll have to get used to watching every little thing you do because everyone else will be," he said.
"I swear I didn't confront her. She was in the bathroom giving McKenzie a hard time when I got there. But when she started saying stuff about you and Leighanne and me cheating with AJ.....I guess I should've just walked away."
"Shayla I don't expect you to not stand up for yourself when you have to. It's not like you got into a fist fight with her, so it's not that big of a deal. And I'm sure her drinking played more of a factor in the accident, not her being upset. Trust me, I've seen some of the things she's done. She upsets other people, she doesn't get upset herself. She was just mad because she didn't get to you guys, so now she's gonna play the victim."
"I suppose. I promise to be more careful from now on," Shayla said.
"Come on let's go on in," Brian said. He grabbed her hand and walked her in stopping at the counter for popcorn and snacks.
*At The Carter's
Nick and McKenzie walked into the Carter's house and were met with a thousand questions. They all wanted to know what happend and if Nick and McKenzie really had anything to do with it.
"Mom relax, it's not the way it sounds. Mandy confronted McKenzie in the bathroom and was saying stuff to her and McKenzie stood up for herself. You know how Mandy is, so you can imagine the kind of things she was saying. McKenzie didn't fight with her," Nick explained.
"I hope you didn't get upset by anything she might have said to you," Jane said to McKenzie. I'm glad to here it wasn't a fight though."
"The accident was most likely due to the fact that Mandy was drinking not because she was upset. The papers just needed something to make the story interesting. And we all know that a story about Mandy and me is something everyone wants to hear," Nick said. "McKenzie is upset enough about this, so can we please change the subject."
"Ok I just have one more question about it," Jane said. "What was Brent doing in the car with Mandy?"
"I don't know why but they were together at the club last night," Nick said. His mom looked at him confused. "I know I can't figure it out either. Ya know what I don't understand is, she asked Brent to drive her home. I don't know how she ended up driving."
*Two Days Later*
It was two days later and Mandy and Brent were out of the woods and getting better. The papers were having a field day with story, which Mandy was playing to the hilt and making Nick and mostly McKenzie and Shayla look bad. Brian and Nick were however able to get a junction saying Shayla and McKenzie's names could not be released. Brent was having some memory problems and couldn't remember any of the accident. The doctor's said that was normal but it was bad for the police, because they needed to ask questions so they could decide how and if they were going to charge Mandy for the accident. So it was just fine with her that he didn't remember. In fact she encouraged him not to push himself to remember.
Nick finally decided to go and see Brent. He was still hurt and upset that Brent was been with Mandy but he felt he should go see him. After all they'd been friends since they were little. And now that Nick had calmed down he was interested in finding out what would make Brent go out with her. Nick walked down the corridor to Brent's room disguised as best as possible. Brent's mom was standing outside the door of his room talking to the doctor.
"Hi Nick, it's good to see," Brent's mom said.
"You too, how's he doing?" Nick asked.
"He's getting better. We're hoping he can go home tomorrow. Go on in, he'll be glad to see you."
"Thanks," Nick said. He took a deep breath and opened the door and went in. He was shocked at what he saw. Brent was all bruised and his face all swollen and some cuts. He'd also broken his leg and some ribs. Mandy had a lot of the same injuries except she'd had some internal bleeding and her head split by hitting the winshield.
Brent opened his eyes as Nick walked towards him. "Hey man," he said trying to sit up some. He winced at the pain.
"Hey, how ya doin?" Nick asked.
"I'll be ok. I wish to god I could remember what happened though," Brent said.
"I'm sure it'll come back to ya. Why did you get mixed up with her. I don't understand that," Nick said.
"I don't know. I guess I was just drinking and she was being nice, for once, and she was making me feel sorry for her. I don't know it was stupid. I'm sorry man. I shouldn't have put our friendship on the line like that. I didn't sleep with her though, just in case you were wondering," Brent said.
"Well that's good cuz then it would really be hard to get away from her. I was pretty upset about it but I'm just glad you're gonna be ok," Nick said sitting in the chair next to his bed.
"I don't even know how she ended up driving my car. I just can't remember anything," Brent said.
"Don't worry about it. Maybe if you don't try so hard it'll come back to you," Nick told him.
"So how have you been? You bring your new girlfriend with ya?" Brent asked looking for McKenzie.
"No, McKenzie's at home. We've really been put through the ringer over this. The press is saying that Mandy had a confrontation with McKenzie and Shayla, which she did, but they're saying she was so upset that she lost control of the car. And really of course Mandy started it and McKenzie started it and then started with Shayla so Shayla threw her drink on her," Nick said.
"I just don't remember man, sorry," Brent said.
"Eh, don't worry about it. I think someone at the club told the police they saw them fighting and Mandy's using it as an excuse for the accident, so she can play the victim when it's actually the other way around. She mouthed off to McKenzie making McKenzie upset and then she mouthed off to Shayla, so Shayla threw a drink on her. But Mandy drove drunk and that's probably the real reason. You know Mandy, she'll do anything to make it look like its not her fault," Nick said.
"Yeah, that I know," Brent laughed then held his ribs in pain. "Have you gone to see her?"
"No, I'm not going to. Hey look, I'll let you get some rest. I'll see ya soon and I'm glad you're ok," Nick said.
"Thanks man, see ya later," Brent said.
Nick said goodbye to Brent's mom and began walking down the hall. He stopped as he passed a room where he heard someone crying. He recognized the crying and knew it was Mandy. He hadn't planned on stopping to see her. It wasn't like they agreed to remain friends when they broke up. In fact the plan was to never speak to each other again. He stood outside the room listening to her cry. His kindness and good heart got the better of him and he went in the room.
"Damn my conscience," he mumbled to himself. Mandy looked up as he walked in. She turned away, tears streaming down her face.