*40 Minutes Later*

"I don't want anymore coffee," Nick yelled when AJ set another cup in front of him.

"Nick drink the damn coffee and shut the hell up," Kevin bellowed. Nick made a face and took a sip reluctantly. He shuddered at the bitter taste.

"Maybe we should leave him here to sleep it off," Howie suggested.

"We can't, we all need to be there tonight. He'll be fine," Brian said.

"I don't know man, maybe we should just say he's sick," AJ suggested as Nick laid his head on the table for the millionth time.

"He's going!" Kevin snapped and Nick flinched at his tone. "Just keep quiet, smile and don't say a word," Kevin ordered Nick. Nick waved his hand that he understood.

"Whoa baby! You look gorgeous," Brian said when Shayla came into the room ready to go.

"Wow! So do you," Kevin said to Jen forgetting about being so angry at Nick as he looked her over.

"Thank you," Both girls said as they kissed their respective boyfriends.

"Alright we gotta roll. We have 20 minutes to get there and it's gonna take us 15 just to get out of the hotel and Pollyanna is gonna be waiting on us," Howie said. Howie's sister Pollyanna was meeting them there as Howie's date.

*At The Awards*

After making it through the line of photographers and reporters outside they finally found their seats inside. Kevin went down the row to his seat followed by Jen, then Brian, Shayla, AJ, Nick, Howie and Pollyanna. Pollyanna was surprised to say the least when she saw the condition Nick was in. He was now no longer passing out drunk but instead goofy drunk. The coffee only managed to make him hyper and he'd snuck a drink or two in the limo on the way to help get rid of the hangover headache he's started to get. So now he was saying stupid things and laughing. Mostly about other people sitting around them.

"Nick cool it man," AJ whispered when Nick began teasing Britney Spears who was sitting in front of them with Nsync.

Nick looked past AJ and saw Shayla and Brian being all cuddly. Brian had his arm around her rubbing her shoulder as they talked with Kevin and Jen. Nick reached around behind AJ and pulled on one of Shayla's curls that hung from the pile on her head. When she turned around he looked straight ahead so she'd think it was AJ. AJ looked at her and rolled his eyes as Nick sat there snickering trying not to laugh.

"Nick behave yourself," Shayla ordered. "I know that was you."

Nick laughed and reached around Howie and tapped Pollyanna on the shoulder.

"What?" Pollyanna asked turning to Howie.

"What what?" Howie asked.

"You tapped my shoulder," Pollyanna said.

"No I didn't," Howie said confused. He heard Nick chuckle next to him. "Nick cut it out," he said turning to look at him. He was now fidgeting in his seat and getting antsy.

"God if we win, someone better keep on him and keep him away from the microphone," AJ said leaning across Shayla to talk to Brian. Brian nodded in agreement. He shook his head at Nick who was now involved in a pretty raunchy discussion with JC about some of the girls in the room and they were discussing who was going to win since both groups were up for the same award. Nick was getting a little loud and carried away.

They were now halfway through the ceremony and it was time for the guys category. Nick had calmed down somewhat, mostly out of nervousness.

"And the winner is........The Backstreet Boys for 'Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely,'" said the announcer.

As the place erupted in applause they all stood up congratulating each other and being congratulated by others around them. Kevin and Brian lifted Shayla and Jen off the ground hugging and kissing them, then started making their way out of their row. Jen hugged Brian and gave him a kiss on the cheek and Shayla hugged and kissed AJ and then Kevin on his way past her. When Shayla sat down she looked at Pollyanna who had moved over next to her to talk. She was wiping the slobber off her face where Nick had so sloppily planted a good lip lock on her. Shayla couldn't help it and laughed out loud.

"He'll pay for that," Pollyanna grumbled.

"Trust me, Kev is gonna make him pay for the next week," Shayla giggled as she turned back to listen to the guys acceptance speech.

"I just hope they keep him away from the mic," Jen said.

The girls laughed along with the audience as the guys gave their acceptance speech and Nick kept trying to get to the microphone and they took turns pushing him out of the way. It actually looked like some sort of pre-rehearsed skit they'd made up. Only they knew that the look Nick had of becoming pissed was real.

The ceremony ended shortly after the guys won their award and they all headed for one of the after parties.

*At The Party*

After taking a spin on the dance floor, Kevin, Jen and Shayla made their way back to the table. Brian and Nick were having a heated discussion regarding Nick's earlier behavior and his situation with McKenzie.

"It's what I wanna do," protested Nick. "I don't know how else I can get her to listen to me."

"I just don't know if it'll work and I'm not sure you should even try. Maybe it's time to just accept it's over and move on," Brian was saying as Shayla sat down.

"What's going on?" Shayla asked. Nick huffed and looked away. Brian turned and looked at Shayla like he wasn't sure how to handle telling her what they were discussing.

"Is it ok if I tell you later? I don't want everyone in an uproar while we're here and I really want us to have a good time tonight," Brian said. Shayla could see in his eyes he wasn't trying to keep something from her, he just didn't want to get into it there.

"Ok that's fine," she said. A big smile spread across Brian's face.

"Thank you," he said giving her a kiss. "I love you."

"Love you too. Wanna dance with me?" Shayla asked as a slow sang began playing.

"I'd love to," Brian said taking her hand.

"Shall we join them?" Kevin asked Jen.

"Of course," Jen said happily as they went back to the dance floor.

"How bout a dance Pollyanna?" AJ asked.

"Ok, as long as you don't step on my toes too much," Pollyanna teased him.

"Keep your hands where I can see them Bone," Howie warned him jokingly.

"Oh Howie," Pollyanna sighed as AJ led her away. Howie looked over at Nick seeing how sad he looked as he watched them all dancing.

"Feeling better Kaos?"

"My head hurts," Nick complained.

"Gee I can't imagine why," Howie chuckled. "We tried to warn ya to stop drinking."

"So what's your opinion? Do you think I should give up on McKenzie too?" Nick asked.

"Do you love her?" Howie asked very seriously.

"Yes of course I do," Nick said emphatically.

"The kind of love where ya just don't wanna go on without her?" asked Howie.

"Yes."

"Well then, there's your answer buddy. I'll do whatever I can to help ya," Howie said.

"Thanks man. This would be a lot easier though if I could get Shayla's support. She could make a big difference if she'd help me and talk to McKenzie," Nick said.

"Well, I don't know that that's gonna happen anytime soon. Maybe you should try talking to Shayla. Sit down with her and spill your guts to her and maybe she'll come around. She definitely has a lot of influence over McKenzie," Howie said.

"A lot of influence," Nick agreed. "If I could just get her on my side it would make all the difference in the world. Maybe I can get Brian to get her to give me a chance."

"All ya can do is try," Howie said.

*The Next Day*

It was mid afternoon and they'd been at the studio since early that morning. Kevin and Jen had left to go pick up some food. Brian and AJ were recording some of their parts and Howie was helping at the controls. Shayla was laying on the sofa in the control room reading a magazine and listening to the song they were recording, though she was getting a little tired of hearing the same verse being sung over and over as they tried to get it the way they wanted it.

She was sitting there singing along when Nick came over and sat on the floor in front of her. She half expected him to try and talk to her after Brian told her last night what he and Nick had been discussing at the party.

"Hey," Nick said as he sat down.

"Hey," Shayla said not looking up.

"Is it ok if I talk to you about something?" Nick asked cautiously.

"You mean about McKenzie?"

"Yeah."

Shayla sighed and put down her magazine. Brian had been able to talk her into at least hearing Nick out, but she wasn't going to make it easy on him and just let him off the hook. she was going to make him earn her attention, and try not to let him know she was actually feeling kind of sorry for him.

"I guess so. What's on your mind?" Shayla asked.

"Well I guess Brian told you my idea and what I wanna do?"

"Yeah he did. It's sweet and all but I don't think it'll work. I don't think she'd even be there for you to try it," Shayla said.

"I was kinda hoping you might talk to her and get her to listen. If you talk to her she'd go and just maybe she'd give me another chance if you would be on my side," Nick said.

"And why would I do that?" asked Shayla.

"Shayla I love McKenzie, you know I do. I miss her so much. I just can't stand it anymore. I can't stand being without her. I love her with all my heart. I'm sorry I hurt her and I'm sorry for what I did. It was stupid I know, but I swear I thought I was doing the best thing for her and there was no other reason. I never wanted to be with Mandy again. I hated every second of it and I hated the way I felt seeing Kenzie so hurt. I wanna make it up to her and show her how much I love her but she won't let me near her or talk to her and neither will you. If you would talk to her and ask her to listen, I know she'll at least think about it," Nick pleaded.

"I don't know Nick. I don't know how I feel about doing that. You hurt her very badly. I don't mean to sound so harsh but quite frankly Nick, what you did with Mandy was just down right stupid and made no sense. You didn't respect McKenzie's wishes or feelings when she asked you to stop the plan after you promised you would. That's where you really blew it and lost her trust and faith in you."

"Shayla please, I know all those things and there's nothing I can do to take it back and I don't know what to say anymore, but I can't live without her. I need her and love her more than anything in this world. She's my life and I've never felt so strongly for anyone in my entire life. I never thought I would find someone like her. She's good for me and she makes my life worth all this chaos and insanity I go through everyday. I need her Shayla. I love her," Nick said almost crying.

"You really do love her don't you?" Shayla asked.

"So much it hurts. I'd give my last breath for her. I'd give up all this, all this fame and everything if it was the only way to be with her," Nick said.

He was being incredibly sweet and sincere. Shayla could tell he really meant the things he was saying. She sighed and took a deep breath and patted Nick on the shoulder.

"I can't believe I'm gonna say this but.......alright, I'll talk to her and I won't discourage her from talking to you and trying to work this out. But that's all I can promise you for now. It's mostly up to her though."

Nick jumped up and hugged Shayla and kissed her cheek. "Thank you so much Shayla. Thank you so much," he said as he squeezed her tight.

"But if you ever do anything like this again or hurt her in any way, I'll personally see to it that you don't have to worry about ever being with another girl again. Do you understand," Shayla warned him.

"Uh-huh," Nick replied hesitantly a little shaken by her seriousness in that response. "I get it," he said flashing her that trademark smile. She knew then McKenzie didn't stand a chance.

"Alright, I'll see what I can do," she told him.

"Thanks," Nick said getting up. He left to go back into the recording booth and work on his part.

Shayla glanced up and saw Brian looking at her through the glass. He smiled and blew her a kiss knowing she had agreed to help Nick. He was glad things might get back to normal and he could have his best friend and girlfriend be friends again. Shayla laughed when he and Nick started making faces at her through the glass. She shook her head at them and was going to go back to her magazine when she decided it was a moment for pictures. The way Nick and Brian were goofing around together was so sweet. She took out her camera and began snapping away.

To Chapter 44
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