These Are The Moments - The Beginning by hollyjo

Harper O'Brien stood in the foyer of the house she shared with her two best friends and hollered at the top of her lungs. "Crestian! Catie! We need to get going now!" She tossed her long red hair over her shoulder and stomped her foot.

"I'm coming!" Crestian called. She bounded down the stairs carrying one last suitcase and her huge Coach purse.

"Where's Catie?" Harper sighed. She twirled her keys around her finger.

"She's coming." Cress said and carried her suitcase outside. "You need to relax!"

"I want to! That's why we need to get going!" Harper sat on the bottom step and waited very impatiently. It was the spring of 2000 and the three girls were getting ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. They had saved their money and were heading to Orlando for Spring Break. Harper's Dad had surprised them with tickets to a huge concert at Disney at the end of the week.

"I'm almost ready!" Catie called from upstairs.

"If you don't hurry up, I'm gonna leave you and you're not gonna get to see Brian Littrell!" Harper threatened.

"Bite your tongue!" Catie exclaimed and stumbled down the stairs, her arms full of bags and suitcases.

"Do you need all this?" Harper sighed as she took some things from her friend.

"Of course. We're going to see the Backstreet Boys. Who knows what I might need?" Catie rolled her eyes at Harper and walked outside. "What's her problem?"

"She's just anxious to get our vacation started." Cress shrugged. "You know how she is."

"I know." Catie shoved her stuff in the trunk of Harper's Mustang convertible and jumped in the back seat.

"I would have opened the door for you." Cress shook her head.

"I know. It's more fun this way." They both watched Harper lock the house and check it twice. "It's locked, Harp! Let's go already!"

"Really?" Harper settled huge white sunglasses over her eyes and threw Catie's bags in the back seat next to her. "Are we finally ready?"

"Yeah, of course. I don't know what's taking you so long." Cress shrugged and shook her head. Harper grumbled under her breath and started the car. These friends of hers. Jeesh.

"How fast are you going, Harper?" Catie asked as she pulled her long brown hair away from her face. She leaned into the front seat and peered at the speedometer.

"I'm going 80." She pushed Catie's face back with the palm of her hand. "It's ok."

"Can we listen to a CD or something?" Cress asked. "The radio stations are getting fuzzy."

"Sure." Harper nodded. "They're all in that case behind the passenger seat."

"I've got it." Catie announced.

"Great." Cress sighed. "Now we're gonna have to listen to the Backstreet Boys."

"You like them too. Don't even deny it." Harper laughed.

"We're 20, Harp. It's probably time we outgrow the boy bands."

"I'll never outgrow Brian." Cat swooned. She handed a CD to Harper and waited for the music to start. She began singing every word, dancing around in the backseat.

"Do you see what I mean?" Cress rolled her eyes and tried to ignore Catie. Harper sang along with the music and concentrated on the road as she drove. She loved being with her best friends. They had known each other all their lives, before they were born actually since their mother's had met in a Lamaze class and remained friends still. Harper didn't have a single childhood memory that didn't have Catie or Cress in it. She glanced in her rear view and did a double take when she saw a red Viper behind her. That wasn't a car you saw every day.

"Check out that car, Cress." Harper nudged her friend. Cress turned in her seat and tried to see around Catie's dancing form.

"Move, Catie!" She shoved her friend and saw the car. "That is nice!"

"What is it?" Catie looked around and frowned when she saw the car. "They're going really fast. I hope they're ready for a speeding ticket."

"Here it comes." Harper said, looking over when the car slowed down in the lane next to them. It went their speed which gave her the opportunity to check out the driver. He had blond hair and looked really familiar, which she knew wasn't possible because no one she knew drove a car like that. A guy covered in tattoos was in the passenger seat and an attractive blond was in the back seat. The three guys all waved and zoomed off.

"Did you guys see what I saw?" Cress asked. She was trying really hard to keep the excitement out of her voice.

"They looked familiar." Harper said, her eyes back on the road.

"That's because they were the freaking Backstreet Boys!" Catie exclaimed as she jumped around in the backseat. "I would know Brian anywhere! Speed up, Harp! Catch them!"

"Do it, Harp. That was AJ. You know he's my favorite!" Finally the fan girl was coming out in Crestian. Harper wrinkled her brow and pressed on the gas. They approached the other car.

"His plates say Frack!" Catie laughed. She held her blowing hair back and waited while Harper got in the other lane and passed the boys. She puckered up and blew Brian a kiss. Her eyes grew wide when he laughed and pretended to catch it in midair. He pressed it to his lips and Catie turned in her seat to watch them when Harper got in front of them.

"That really is Nick Carter!" Harper exclaimed. "Oh my freaking God! I could eat him up!" All the girls looked when the boys passed them again. AJ waved with two fingers and Brian blew Catie a kiss this time. Nick didn't look over, he just pressed the gas and flew around the car.

"We have to catch them!" Catie said when they were out of sight. "I have to meet him."

"We need gas, girls." Harper sighed.

"What? It can't wait?" Cress leaned over and stared at the gas gauge. It was dangerously close to the E. "Damn you, gas gauge!"

"They have to get gas too. I'm sure we're both going to the same place." Harper rationalized.

"Or... that could be them up there with that cop." Catie pointed out the flashing lights in the distance. They were all quiet as they passed the Viper on the side of the road. There was an exit right past them and Harper turned off and into a Shell station. Harper began pumping the gas while Catie and Cress went to the bathroom. Harper washed her windows while she waited for the gas to pump. She didn't notice when the Viper pulled up to a pump.

"Damn, Frack! Why do you always have to speed?" Harper heard from behind her. She slowly turned around and about died when she saw her three favorite members of the Backstreet Boys getting out of the car. She finished pumping her gas while she listened to them argue.

"Fuck off, Bone. You're the one who wanted me to speed." Nick said.

"Let it go, guys. We got out of the ticket. That's all that matters." Brian began getting gas.

"Nick, isn't that?" Harper heard one of the guys whisper as she walked into the station.
"It is." Nick agreed, nodding his head in time with Harper's shaking ass.

"Well, go and talk to her!" AJ shoved him in the back.

"I can't!"

"Bro, you almost got a reckless driving ticket for her. Man up and talk to her." Brian shook his head. Sometimes, Nick was like a preteen he was so shy.

"I almost got a ticket so you could blow kisses to the other girl." Nick slanted his eyes at Brian and jumped out of the way when Brian tried to shove him.

"Just go talk to her." AJ said. Nick sighed and walked inside. He stood in line behind Harper and watched as she bent over in her short khaki shorts and signed her credit card slip. She took the receipt from the cashier and shoved it in her back pocket. Whirling around, she came face to face with Nick. Both stood still and stared at each other for a moment, before Harper said, "Excuse me," and went back outside. She laughed when she saw Brian and AJ having a war with the squeegees.

"You're dead, Frick!" AJ exclaimed and chased Brian around the gas pumps, winging water at him the whole way. Nick walked over to his car, mentally kicking himself in the ass for not speaking to the girl. He finished pumping his gas and looked up when he heard a shriek.

"I'm so sorry!" Brian was saying to the girl, who now had a soaking wet tank top on. He was using his own shirt to blot at the girl's shirt. She stopped him with a hand to his wrist when his movements went too high.

"It's fine, really. I'll just change." Harper said with a smile on her face.

"I was really aiming for AJ. I'm sorry again." Brian sheepishly smiled at her.

"Not a big deal." She laughed and opened her trunk. She rooted around and pulled out another tank top, orange this time. She ran into Nick at the door of the gas station. He stared at her with his hand on the handle. "Hi." She said to him.

"Hi." He stared down at her. After a few awkward moments of silence, he spoke again. "How are you?"

"I'm wet." She said with a chuckle. "You think I could get inside so I can change?"

"Oh. Yeah. Of course." Nick opened the door and followed her into the gas station. She was stopped by her two friends.

"What happened to you?" Catie asked, her arms full of snacks.

"Are you alright?" Cress asked, sodas in the crook of her arm.

"I'm fine. Just wet. As for what happened to me, ask him. His friends did it." Harper pointed at Nick and disappeared in the bathroom. Catie and Cress turned to him and Nick's face turned bright red.

"What did your friends do to her?" Catie asked, a finger pointing in his direction. Nick's tongue felt like it was swollen to the roof of his mouth. He could barely handle one girl at a time, let alone two.

"They did it!" He exclaimed and pointed to where Brian and AJ were standing outside. The girls quickly paid for their snacks and rushed outside.

"What did you two do to our friend?" Catie asked them. Both guys looked at the girls and then looked at each other and broke into grins.

"Hello there." Brian said in a pronounced southern drawl. He was bare chested after being soaked by AJ and held a dry UK shirt in his hand. Catie tried her best to look at his face, but couldn't get past his chest. Brian laughed and reached out a finger and tipped her face up. "I'm up here, little girl."

"Sorry." She stammered, her face bright red.

"Catie, really?" Cress rolled her eyes. "Our friend? Why is she soaking wet?"

"She was in the crossfire. Simply a casualty of an epic war." AJ laughed, the offending squeegee still in his hand. He held his free hand out to her. "I'm AJ, by the way."

"I know who you are." Cress smiled and shook his hand. "I'm Crestian, but everyone calls me Cress."

"So, you're a fan?" AJ asked, holding onto her hand.

"Not as much as those two." Cress nodded her head to where Catie was still stammering to Brian. "I'm more of a fan of you. Not so much the music."

"A fan of me." AJ rubbed his goatee and grinned lasciviously at her. Cress just laughed and walked away. AJ put the squeegee up and chased after her. A few feet away, Brian was trying to get Catie to tell him her name. She was starstruck and still trying to find the words to say to him.

"I love you." She finally mumbled and then shook her head quickly. "I didn't mean that. Well, I do mean it but not in that way. I love you as a Backstreet Boy. I'm not in love with you. Ha!" She finished with a loud laugh and looked away, her face on fire.

"Okay, now that we have that out of the way." Brian chuckled and pulled his shirt on. "What's your name?"

"Catie. Cathryn. Catie." She said in a rush, her head shaking as if to clear itself.

"Well, hi Catie Cathryn Catie. It's nice to meet you." He took her hand and put it in his and shook it. Catie's knees buckled when he touched her. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Great actually. I just never thought I'd really meet you. And touch you. Ha!" There was that horrible laugh again. Cress heard it and rushed over.

"Catie, you okay?" Cress asked. She elbowed her friend and whispered, "Get it together!" to her before turning to Brian. "You'll have to excuse my friend. You're her favorite celebrity and she's been dying to meet you."

"It's okay." Brian nodded. "I get this all the time."

"Yeah, from the moms." AJ laughed.

"Shut up, Bone." Brian was indignant. "I can't help it if the moms like me."

"I like you." Catie spoke up and then did that horrible laugh again. In the gas station, Harper was coming out of the bathroom. She had pulled her long red hair up and was holding her wet shirt. Nick had been loitering and pretending to look at things so he could run into her again. She stopped when she saw him.

"Excuse me." She said and walked around him.

"Hey! Wait a minute!" Nick realized he was letting her slip through his fingers.

"You want to talk now?" Harper asked, her head tilted to the side.

"I'm sorry. I'm really shy." His face was turning an awful shade of red. Harper decided to take pity on him.

"Nick Carter is too shy to talk to a girl?" She laughed. "I don't believe it."

"Please believe it. It's the truth." Nick followed her when she began walking away.

"You're a superstar. I find it hard to believe that you don't talk to girls. I'm sure you meet girls everywhere." Harper turned before she walked outside and looked at him. His face was still red and there was a vein in his neck popping out. He looked terrified.

"That's different. It's easier when I'm working. I know what they want to hear then." Nick mumbled.

"Well, good luck with the shy thing. I'm sure you'll work it out eventually." Harper couldn't help but feel like he was playing her. She walked out of the store and called to Catie and Cress. They quickly waved goodbye to AJ and Brian and jumped in the car. Harper sped away from the gas station and got back on the interstate. She listened to her friends talk about AJ and Brian and felt cheated because Nick had been such a douche.

"Watch out!" Nick screamed for it seemed like the hundredth time. One hand was clutching the console while the other hand clung tight to the handle over his door.
"That's a car!"

"I saw it. Please stop screaming at me." Harper rolled her eyes at him. He had been acting like an old man ever since they had entered Orlando traffic.

"Oh my God!" Nick exclaimed again, his hands covering his face when they almost sideswiped a semi. "I'm gonna die!"

"Really, Grandpa?" Harper said as she changed lanes. "You are not gonna die. Are you hungry?"

"I wouldn't mind a last meal." Nick cut a glance over at Harper and saw that she had her game face on. She bopped around in her seat, her hand waving at people and switching the turning signals on and off as she dodged in and out of lanes.

"Would you chill out?" Harper grumbled at him. "You are not going to die."

"There's an IHOP up there." Nick pointed and then screamed like a little girl with his face plastered to the window when she darted across four lanes of traffic to get off the interstate.

"I think you blew my eardrums out, Carter. Thank you." Harper said as she pulled into the parking lot.

"I think I just shit my pants." Nick grumbled and quickly got out of the car when it came to a stop. Harper was slower than he and slowly walked to where he leaned against the trunk. She looked at him with a huge smile on her face.

"That was fun."

"That was not fun. Terrifying would be a better word." He shook his head and tried to keep a smile off his face.

"You told me to do it." Harper pointed out.

"I did not tell you to take a death defying plunge across four lanes of traffic!" Nick denied. He stood up and took her hand. Harper laughed when she felt it trembling. He really had been scared. They walked over to where the other four were getting out of the Viper.

"How was your drive, Nick?" AJ asked, tossing his friend the keys to the Viper.

"I almost died, AJ. How do you think it was?" Nick said.

"You were never in any danger." Harper rolled her eyes again.

"I don't know, Harper. That was an Evil Knievel move you just pulled out there." Brian pointed out as they stepped into the restaurant.

"Shut up, Brian." Harper grumbled as they were led to a table.

"What time is it?" Nick asked, rubbing the heels of his hands over his tired eyes.

"About seven." AJ said, looking at his watch. "We have two hours to get to that meet and greet."

"We'll make it." Brian said. "We do have to stop by the apartment first though and change."

"That would be a good idea." Nick nodded. "I can borrow something of Kevin's."

"Yeah, he's the only one tall enough to fit your giant ass." AJ teased as he sipped his coffee.

"Were you guys friends right away when you first met?" Catie asked.

"Pretty much. Nick was a lot younger back then, so he was really annoying." AJ said. "He and Brian were pretty tight to begin with until we all got to know each other."

"We were practically living together back then. We would all share one hotel room wherever we went." Brian recalled.

"Yep. Those were the lean years." Nick laughed. "How long have the three of you been friends?"

"Since before we were born." Harper said as she sipped her coffee.

"What?" Brian was confused.

"Our mother's met while they were taking a Lamaze class. They became friends and are still best friends to this day. We really didn't have a choice in being friends." Catie explained.

"Did they know each other before then?" AJ wondered.

"Not really." Harper shook her head.

"Well, everyone knew Maggie O'Brien." Crestian teased.

"Who's Maggie O'Brien?" Nick asked.

"That's Harper's mom. She was the lady to know about town. She still is." Catie said. "Maggie's parents owned the biggest factory in town and almost everyone in town worked there. Both me and Cress's parents worked there."

"That's enough, guys." Harper looked away. She hated it when they talked about her family like that.

"It's the truth, Harp." Catie said.

"I know." Harper looked down at her omelet and took a bite. Being the richest kid in town had held its drawbacks. Knowing that everyone she met worked for her parents made her very uncomfortable. It had been hard to make friends and that's why she had clung so tightly to Catie and Crestian.

"It's ok." Nick touched her leg and offered her a smile. She smiled back and was happy when everyone changed the subject. When they were finished eating, the guys left with promises to hook up after their meet and greet. With directions in hand, the girls left to find their condo. After an hour of driving, the finally found it. Harper had never been so glad to get out of her car. Catie grabbed the key the hotel staff had given them and unlocked the condo. They all fell into the cool and quiet condo. Harper made a beeline for the couch and fell upon it in a heap.

"Do you care what room you get?" Catie asked her friend.

"Nope." She murmured against the cool material of the couch. Crestian and Catie argued about bedrooms while Harper fell asleep on the couch. They tried to be as quiet as possible as they carried their luggage in and put it in the appropriate room. When they were finished, they met back in the kitchen and helped themselves to sodas from their cooler.

"This is really nice." Crestian said as she looked out the French doors that led to the communal area for the condos. A pool and hot tub were crowded along with the tables that surrounded it.

"It is." Catie agreed. "I picked a good one."

"Yep. And now I'm gonna go take a nap in my room." Cress finished her soda and rinsed the cup out.

"I think I'm gonna be by the pool. Will you listen for the doorbell?" Catie asked. The guys were supposed to come over when they were finished with their meet and greet.

"I'll try." Cress nodded. She tiptoed past a snoring Harper on the couch and jumped into the king sized bed in her room. She was asleep within minutes. Catie found a royal blue bikini in her luggage and slid out the back door. She chose a lounge chair and settled in. Her dark sunglasses protected her eyes and she checked out the people at the pool. Quite a few were people her age, boys and girls laughing and screaming in the water. Although, there were quite a few older people scattered in among the spring break party crowd. She rolled her eyes when she saw a few guys wave at her. What was with these fools? She ignored them and leaned back to soak up some sun.

A few hours later, the doorbell sounded in the house. Crestian ignored it and groaned when it chimed again. She stumbled out of bed and blearily opened the door. Pushing her tangled mass of blond hair out of her eyes, she groaned when she saw the guys standing there. With a shriek, she ran for her bedroom.

"Cress? What's wrong?" AJ asked, following her.

"Where's Catie?" Brian called.

"Pool!" Came the muffled reply. Brian was off looking for the pool. Nick smiled when he saw Harper sleeping on the couch. Her hair was a mess and he could see a tiny bit of drool coming from her open mouth. He laughed and sat beside her on the couch. He nudged her gently and grinned when her eyes opened. They got huge and she came up swinging.

"It's just me." He said, pushing her flailing fists away.

"Oh my God." She sighed, sinking back onto the couch. "You scared me."

"I guess. You acted like I had just molested you." Nic k shook his head.

"I'm sorry. I don't wake up well." She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and was embarrassed when she saw it was wet. Leave it to her to drool in front of Nick Carter.

"Have you been asleep long?" Nick asked. He moved to the end of the couch so she could have more room.

"I don't know. I fell on this couch when we got here and I've been out ever since." She shrugged and struggled to sit up. Nick took her hand and pulled her up.

"Well, if you're up for it I have a surprise for you." He said.

"A surprise?" Harper questioned. She got up from the couch and poked her head around until she found the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she was grateful her friends had put their drinks in there. Sipping a Mt. Dew, she turned to Nick. "What kind of a surprise?"

"One that involves the Magic Kingdom, so you should probably get dressed." Nick shoved his hands in the pockets of the khaki cargo shorts he was wearing and rocked back on his heels.

"The Magic what?" She was puzzled for a minute until she put it together. "Oh, Disney World! Are you serious?"

"Of course." He nodded and was pleasantly surprised when she hugged him.

"I need to take a shower." She announced and took off to find her room. Catie barreled in from the back and almost knocked Nick over.

"Disney World, Nick!" She exclaimed and raced off. From down the hall, Nick heard a squeal and assumed it was Crestian. He turned to see a bemused Brian and they both shook their heads. AJ was shoved out of Crestian's bedroom and the three guys were left to their own devices in the living room. After what seemed like forever, Harper appeared. She was wearing extremely short white shorts and two layered tanks, the top mint green and the bottom chocolate brown. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun and brown flip flops were on her feet. She had accessorized with a chunky glass necklace and silver hoop earrings. A brown Coach purse was thrown over her shoulder. She sailed past the boys and got another Mt. Dew from the kitchen. She was still tired. Crestian soon joined her wearing dark denim shorts and a light pink halter top. Her long blonde hair had been pulled into a high ponytail with the ends curled.

"You look very summery, friend." Cress said with a nod at Harper's outfit.

"Thanks." She nodded and took a long sip of Mt. Dew. "You look nice too. I have that pink necklace that you always wear with that shirt if you want to borrow it."

"You brought it? Cool." Cress nodded and walked back out. "Catie! You better hurry up! These boys are getting anxious!"

"I'm ready." Catie stepped out of her bedroom wearing canary yellow capris and a sky blue tube top that was sheer from the bottom of the breasts down. You could just see her stomach through the shirt. Her hair was in an upside down twist with the ends twirling wildly above her head. "What do you think?" She asked Cress and twirled around in the thick soled rafta sandals she had on.

"I think you look very Catie Thomas like." Cress smiled at her friend.

"Perfect." Catie took off down the hall. Cress retrieved the necklace and met her friends outside. They were all standing between the Mustang and a hunter green Dodge Durango.

"Who's riding with who?" Nick asked.

"How about me and Catie take the Mustang and the four of you ride in Nick's Durango?" Brian suggested. He was all for getting some alone time with Catie.

"Sounds like a plan." AJ agreed and opened the back door of the Durango for Crestian.

"Is this yours?" Harper asked when Nick opened the passenger door for her.

"It is." He nodded.

"Can I drive it?" She smiled sweetly at him.

"Absolutely not." He shook his head at her and walked around the truck.

"So how was your meet and greet?" Crestian asked. "Did you make some dreams come true today?"

"I did. Nick had one girl faint when he hugged her." AJ said.

"What?" Harper laughed. "Are you serious?"

"They always get real excited when they see Nicky here. He's the favorite, you know." AJ clapped his friend on the back.

"Shut up, Bone." Nick glared.

"It's all that blonde hair and dreamy blue eyes, I think." AJ ducked when Nick's hand tried to hit him.

"Is it really like that?" Harper asked Nick.

"Yeah. It's embarrassing." Nick shook his head. "I'm nothing special."

"Oh, I think you might be a little special." Harper smiled at him. He returned her smile and reached over to squeeze her knee.

"Will you guys be okay going out at Disney World?" Cress wondered.

"Yeah, there won't be a ton of girls there wanting to kill me because I'm your girlfriend, will there?" Harper asked.

"My girlfriend?"

"Well, that's what they'll think." Harper shrugged and looked out the window. Cress and AJ shared a look in the backseat and both giggled.

"If there are any fans, we'll deal with it. The hometown fans are pretty respectful." Nick said. He eventually pulled into a parking lot and flashed a VIP badge at a security guard. Nick parked the Durango and they all piled out.

"I can't believe I'm here!" Harper exclaimed as she whirled around and around in the bright Florida sun. "This is so amazing."

"I'm glad you're having fun." Nick caught her hand as she came to a stop. They all made their way into the park. The girls were very excited. They laughed and pointed at everything as they strolled down Main Street, USA. Brian, Nick, and AJ willingly followed them into all the quaint little shops.

"I can't believe you've never been here before." AJ said, smiling at the girls enthusiasm.

"Where do we live, Bone?" Cress asked.

"I see your point." AJ hugged Crestian close and followed his friends deeper into the park. Crestian about died when she saw Cinderella's castle. She and AJ were alone since their friends had ventured ahead to Adventureland to get in line for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

"I want to get married here." Cress decided. She stood in front of AJ with his arms around her as they gazed down a packed street to the castle.

"We've only known each other for a day. Isn't it a little early for that?" AJ joked.

"You know what I mean, AJ." Cress smiled at him.

"Yeah. It's romantic here."

"I want the whole fairy tale wedding." Cress sighed. "I'm sure that will never happen since I can't even find a decent man." AJ didn't say anything. He just led her to where their friends were waiting. In Frontierland, they took a ride on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and rode the raft out to Tom Sawyer’s Island. Moving on to Liberty Square, they went in the Haunted Mansion twice. It was by far the girls favorite ride so far. They traveled through the park until they reached Space Mountain.

"I'm not riding that." Harper said, pulling away from the roller coaster.

"What? This is the best part of Disney." Nick gaped at Harper.

"I'll end up puking all over you and you'll hate me." She cried.

"I won't hate you and the worst that could happen is you'll end up with your picture in the papers." Nick laughed and pulled her closer to the line.

"What?" She screeched. He finally coaxed her on and she had a great time. The Magic Kingdom was everything she had imagined it would be. It could even be a little more since she was sharing it with Nick.