Tension was mounting in the little hotel room they used as their conference room. It had been a stress filled few days and they all pretty much couldn't stand the site of each other. They usually got like this on their tours. This time around things were no different.

Robin was standing there in the middle of all the boys not quite sure of what to say, but knowing this article was going to make him quite the popular guy! It was everything he had hoped it would be. The tension, the struggles of a band right after superstardom hits. The drama, the fights, the laughter. No laughter now though. The room was thick with silence. He looked from boy to boy taking in their appearance and writing a detailed description of each.

AJ sitting in the corner away from everyone, cigarette in one hand porno mag in the other. Delighting in the disgusted look on the face of his band mate Brian. He wore baggy black pants that appeared to be two sizes to big, and tattoos were showing through the black mesh shirt he wore. His hair dyed green and two hoops in his ears. He was by the far the most attention hungry of this group of unusual people.

He had heard that they were a little odd but to say odd was an understatement. Robin's attention now focused on Howie.

Howie, hair curly and down to his shoulders, sat up straight like a beauty contestant, peering from one boy to the next in anticipation of a voice saying Sorry or guys lets talk. You could tell by his body language and the look in his brown eyes that he was uncomfortable when it got to be like this. His Armani suit giving no indication that behind the professional look of this man there lied a boy band member. He could easily walk down Wall Street and fit in there beautifully.

Unlike Brian.

Brian looked like he belonged in the back of someone's pick up truck. In denim jeans and a plain black tee shirt, he seemed to be the most comfortable in his own skin. He didn't look like a celebrity at all, as a matter of fact, it was very easy to overlook him completely. Except for the newly colored purple hair, he was as normal as normal could be.

Nick on the other hand was impossible not to notice.

His boisterous attitude was infectious. So was his bad case of poison ivy. He was still attractive though, despite the big red blotches all over his arms and face. He was also dressed in jeans but wore a Journey tee shirt. Looking like he just stepped out of the eighties. His long lanky legs took up most of the couch he was sitting on making Kevin have to stand. Kevin probably the most normal, well if you ignore the bit about the lizards, seemed to be ready to call a meeting of some kind.

Kevin stood there towering over all of them in his long black coat. He was a professional in every sense of the word. The man brought in to baby-sit the brood. He was the one in charge. You could tell by how the other's responded to him.

"Guys, I think we should talk" Kevin said stepping into the middle of the room. As Kevin walked by Nick, he stuck out his foot sending Kevin sailing across the room.

"Ha!" Nick said when Kevin landed on AJ's lap. "Oh very mature Nick" Kev said. "God knows what kinds of diseases I'm going to get from him now!"

"Shut the hell up! At least I don't kill lizards for fun"

"Stop with the lizard thing already AJ! We're getting off the topic, like I said we really need to talk"

"Talk then!" AJ scowled.

Okay so maybe they didn't think Kevin was in charge, but HE thought he was in charge. Robin rubbed at his temples he felt another headache coming on, his third one since following the boys.

"Before we go out there and face all the press we should get everything out in the open"

"Yeah that's a great idea Kevin, what did it take you all night to come up with that one?" Brian said.

"Shut the hell up Barney!" While the rest of the boys laughed, Brian addressed Howie, "You think you're funny huh? Well, have fun trying to get the green mouse prints off of your good bathrobe!"

"What did you do jackass?" Howie asked getting all defensive.

"I made little Cecile go for a walk on your good robe! Serves you right for the hair thing!"

"What did you do to my mouse?" Nick asked Brian now he was up out of his seat.

"I made him go for a walk on Howie's nice robe"

"You're such a jerk Brian I'm glad I put that dye in your shampoo! Thanks Nick" Brian turned his attention from Howie to Nick, "Why is he thanking you?"

"Uh...no reason, so about my mouse?"

"Did you give him that idea?"

"No the idea was his not mine" He said pointing to Howie.

"But you helped?" With every accusation Brian was walking closer and closer to the teenager.

"Don't come any closer, poison ivy" He said pointing out his blotches to the angry purple haired man.

"I can't believe my best friend helped set me up! I am wounded!" He screamed.

"Oh please spare us the dramatics Brian, you painted the kid's mouse green to get back at Howie" Kevin pointed out to his cousin.

"You did what?" Now it was Nick's turn to be the accuser.

"Oh please, it's not like I painted the whole mouse. Just his feet!"

Okay scratch the bit about Brian being as normal as normal can be, Robin though as he erased what hew wrote describing Brian previously.

"Brian you are a sick man!" AJ muttered under his breath, never taking his eyes off of the porno magazine.

"See that's what I'm talking about guys, we have to clear the air" Kevin looked over at Robin when he said that. Of all the times for Rolling Stone to decide to follow the band it was now. Rotten timing. "Let's talk...please" He said now sitting on the couch that Nick vacated.

"Fine I'll go first" Brian said, "I don't want to go to this stupid press conference looking like THIS!" He said pointing at his hair. "I think you were incredibly immature for doing that in the first pace Howie. I am shocked and a tad bit disappointed!"

"You're disappointed? You're disappointed?"

"Do I hear an echo in here?"

"SHUT UP NICK!" They both yelled in unison.

"I don't see how you can say your disappointed in me, when it's your own bloody fault!"

"My fault...My fault?"

"Hey there it is again"

"Shut up Nick!" They said again.

"Yes, YOUR fault. You were the one that never told me Ronnie called. That was mean!"

"That wasn't me that was AJ" Brian said, now both boys turned to face AJ, who slowly took his face out of the magazine.

"Oh...um...yeah..about that, Howie Ronnie called"

"AJ, how could you not give me that message? She broke up with me because of that!"

"Sorry I really thought I told you!"

"You knew I was mad at Brian! We even talked about it!"

"No we didn't"

"Yes...we did"

"I'm really sorry D. How can I make it up to you?"

"You can start by paying for my hair to be fixed" Brian added angrily.

"Your hair? What about my mouse?" Nick asked.

"Oh he'll be fine"

"He's GREEN!"

"Give's him character"

"Do you believe this?" Nick asked Robin was watching amused from his seat. Enthralled in the drama like it was a movie. He looked up after leafing through his notes, "So excuse me then Brian but that bit about Howie begin a homosexual is not true then?"

Brian cringed, then turned back towards Howie, "Sorry I was mad" He said.

"You told a Rolling Stone reporter that I was gay? I'm not gay" He said to Robin before turning his gaze back to Brian. "Gay?"

"Sorry man"

"See? Aren't you glad we are getting things out in the open?" Kevin asked happy with his decision for them to talk.

"Okay fine, while we're on the subject of getting things in the open, what do you have to say for yourself?" AJ asked Kevin. He looked behind him wondering who AJ could possibly be talking to. "You know I'm talking to you dumbass"

"God I can't believe you're not over that yet"

"How can I just be over that? You called me special!"

"You were acting special"

"I don't act special, NICK acts special"

"Hey!"

"You came out of the men's room with your hair all soapy and leaves everywhere, what did you want me to say? This is AJ from the Backstreet Boys?"

"That would have been better than saying I was special"

"But AJ, you are special"

"Shut up Nick!"

"So you don't have a learning disability then?" Robin asked AJ once again looking down at his notes.

"No, I don't have a learning disability"

"Sorry okay J? I'm sorry for making the people in that daycare think you were retarded"

"Okay fine"

"Excuse me?" Robin said once again rubbing his temples, "Since this is supposed to be factual, I have to ask. Have you guys told me the truth about anything?"

"We might have exaggerated a little"

"Like how Kevin?"

"Well, for one. Howie is not gay, AJ is not retarded. What else do you got?"

"Um, that before every show AJ stand on his head and prays to a cabbage?" All eyes went to Nick. He looked up innocently, "What?" Then they turned away.

"No, not true" AJ said once again fixing his gaze on Nick.

"Okay fine..what about Nick getting his arm stuck in a revolving door?"

"Unfortunately that did happen" The blonde smiled.

"Robin, we would like to apologize to you, had a little fight before you got here. Things have gone down hill ever since"

"I see that"

"Can we try this again in a month or so?"

"No need I have everything I need for the article"

"But most of it is false"

"Really? Most of it?"

"Not sure..let's just say anything we might have said to you about each other" Robin looked annoyed. But then again no one could really blame him. It had been a long three days. Fun, exciting but LONG.

"Look, what do you guys say? Let's start fresh. All this fighting over nothing is doing us no good"

"You're right Kevin. Come on everybody group hug" They all circled each other in a big group hug. Then they broke and headed out the door.

Robin looked at all the pages of notes he had accumulated since he had joined the group's tour and threw them in the garbage. "Lot's of good these are going to do me" He said to Nick as they walked out of the room.

"I can tell you one of those things that was true. Kevin really killed a lizard"

"Shut up Nick that is so NOT true" Kevin said hitting the blonde on the back of the head. After the boys left a faint sound of a mouse scurrying across the room was heard. A mouse leaving a trail of green paint..

The first day I was with the band, I saw the rising tension mounting. Every little thing said or did began to grate on each other's nerves. Usually it was Nick and Kevin first. Nick huffing under his breath at every little gesture the older man made. Then that built to Brian and AJ having little petty disagreements over everything from who's socks are those to I was sitting there first. Ending with Howie getting mad at everyone for acting so childish that he would storm out of the room and "quit" the band...

Robin looked up from the first paragraph of the article he was about to write and couldn't help but smile. He looked from page to page of his notes getting more and more excited. He figured he would start it with what happened the first day he was there with them. Howie quitting, then once that sucked the readers in he would hit them with all the rest. Probably the most stunning admission was Brian telling him about Howie's sexual preference. That would make even Barbara Walters jealous.

The fact that all these skeletons were coming out of the closet while He was there, was a blessing in disguise. He quickly moved his notes off of his desk as Kevin came in.

"Hi Kevin."

"Hey Robin, have you seen the guys?"

"No, the last time I saw anyone it was Nick looking for calamine lotion."

"Yeah I know. Poor kid," Robin smiled, if only Kevin knew how Nick got poison ivy, he wouldn't be saying poor kid.

"So, Kevin, you got a minute to talk?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I plan on getting the guys together for a group meeting. You know things usually aren't as bad as they have been the last few days."

"I'm sure they aren't."

"No"

"So tell me, Kevin do you feel an added responsibility to these guys? You know since you are the oldest?"

"I kind of.." Kevin was interrupted by Brian and AJ storming into the room.

"He is going to be soo mad!" Brian said, his hands all green.

"Forget about him, what about Nick?"

"Oh AJ, he won't even notice."

"How can he not notice that his mouse who once was gray, is now green?"

"It's Nick we are talking about" Brian assured AJ. J nodded in return.

"Uh, excuse me, did you notice that I am trying to be interviewed here?"

"Oh sorry Kevin did we interrupt you?" AJ said sticking his tongue out at his bandmate.

"NO. THAT IS OKAY AJ." Kevin replied then bent down to whisper to Robin, he sometimes has a hard time understanding so you have to speak loudly. Robin nodded.

"What are you guys whispering about?" Brian asked.

"IT IS NOTHING." Robin yelled facing AJ. Kevin couldn't help but smile.

"Why are you yelling Kevin?"

"It's not important Brian, but be back in this room in about an hour. I think we need to have a band meeting and clear the air."

Howie walked in with a huge scowl on his face. He walked by everyone practically ignoring them and purposely pushed Brian as he went to sit down. "Hey watch it D!"

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't see you standing there," He said and then plopped down on the chair. Robin caught himself looking back at his notes where he had written that Howie was considered the peace maker of the group. During these last three days he has been everything but that.

"Howie can I take a moment of your time?"

"Sure"

"Tell me about your personal life." At the mention of Howie's personal life Brian promptly decided to exit the room laughing.

"There's not much to tell. I was seeing somebody and we broke up. It's all Brian's fault."

"And why is that?"

"Because he never told me that Ronnie called."

"Oh is that your boy..I mean significant other."

"Yes, Ronnie is my significant other, we met at a bar called the Ram Rod. Ronnie was a bartender."

"Oh..I see. It was a bar?"

"It is an exclusive bar. Only celebs can get in there, JC from N'sync was trying to hit on Ronnie the same time I was."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but obviously, I won."

"Do you see JC there often?"

"Oh yeah I do, as a matter of fact most of them go together."

"Really? To the Ramrod?"

"Yeah they go together."

"Oh..Interesting thanks."

"Yeah, Elton John was there for some reason. Lance and Justin were talking to him."

"Oh"

"Anyway, Brian forgot to tell me Ronnie called so, we broke it off!"

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"I'm very single now."

"I will make sure to mention that in my article."

"Yes, tell them I'm ready and willing so bring it on." Then he winked.

AJ came back in and sat next to Howie, "Hey man how are you doing?" Robin got up and continued his conversation with Kevin.

"She dumped me J. I mean I thought she was the one" AJ pat his back. "I know man that really sucks."

"Yeah over not getting a stupid phone call. How could Brian do that to me?" AJ bit his bottom lip. He was the one that forgot to tell him about the call. He should just admit to it right now, but then again, he also saw what Howie did to Brian. "Yeah he is a total jerk! Well, I gotta go and relax. You know meditate before the press conference."

"Oh you mean go have a smoke?"

"Yes, exactly." He'll tell Howie when he is in better spirits. As he got up to leave he tripped over his feet and landed on Robin. "Sorry"

"AW, IT IS OKAY AJ!" AJ looked at the man and smiled. He wasn't sure why Robin always screamed when he talked to him. Maybe the poor guy was hard of hearing.

"Well I am going to meditate."

"OH ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A CABBAGE?"

"What?" Now AJ was totally confused. Robin reached over and pat his head, "NEVER MIND BYE BYE!"

AJ gave Howie a weird look and Howie returned the look with a shrug. Kevin held his hand to his mouth to try to hide the fact that he was laughing. Robin then turned his attention back to Kevin, "So Kevin answer my question from earlier, you know about feeling any added responsibility for being the oldest in the group?"

Kevin sat looking a little reflective. Like he was trying to organize his thought in his head. "Right, like I was saying I kind of..."

Nick barged into the room wearing very short and tight black pants. They looked to be at least two sizes to small for him. He arms were all pink from the lotion he put on them. He wasn't watching where he was going and tripped over a chair, knocking it over and falling on top of it. Both robin and Kevin just stared at him as he stood up and dusted his pants.

"What the holy hell are you wearing?" Kevin asked looking the boy up and down.

"I don't know. I lost my pants."

"What do you mean you lost your pants? How does somebody just lose their pants?"

"I don't know where they went" Kevin looked over at Robin who was busy writing something down.

"You can't really wear that for the press conference Nick. You do know that right?"

"No, why not?"

"Because you look like the incredible growing man."

"Oh" He then looked at his reflection in the mirror and started to crack up. He fell to the floor in a belly laugh, "I look like Eddie Munster!"

"Yeah you do, so go change Eddie." He finally made his way up off of the floor, and waved to both men in the room, once again not looking where he was going he walked into a wall.

"You okay?" Robin asked looking very amused at this point.

"I'm fine it happens all the time." Then he left.

"Okay I'm sorry. As I was saying.." Kevin tried once again, as Brian ran into the room, "Geez, does anybody ever just walk into a room anymore?"

"Haha very funny Kevin. Hey did you happen to see Nick's mouse?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"I was playing with him and he got out."

"How could that possibly happen?"

"I don't know, I was preoccupied doing something in Howie's room and lost him."

"You had the mouse in Howie's room?"

"Yes"

"I thought you guys were fight...oh no what did you do?" Brian looked over at Robin and smiled, "I'll tell you later."

"NO! Tell me know cause we are having this band meeting and I want to be prepared."

"Fine!" Brian said and then cupped his hands over one of Kevin's ears and whispered what he had just done. Kevin's eyes grew big as he listened to his cousin run through in detail what he had done to Howie's robe.

"Brian! What if it doesn't come out?"

"That's what I am HOPING will happen."

"No, I mean the mouse Brian. The mouse" Brian seemed to think about it for a minute, "Aw, it's no big deal."

"No big deal?"

"Yeah Nick will never notice it, I'll just tell him his eyes are playing tricks on him."

"Brian cuz, you are one sick man!"

"Well, at least I didn't kill a lizard!"

"How many times do I have to tell you people, I didn't kill any lizards!"

"Well whatever, if you see Cecile, give me a holler okay?"

"Sure. I'm sure he will stick out like a sore thumb now!" With a wave Brian exited the room once again leaving Kevin and Robin alone. Kevin turned back towards the reporter and took a seat.

"Okay I apologize for all the interruptions, anyway, I think..."

"That's okay Kevin, I believe I just got my answer." Kevin thought about it then nodded.

"Well, better get ready for this meeting. It should be a fun one." Then Kevin exited, leaving Robin in the room to look over his notes from the last three days...

"So tell me again Brian? I want to make sure I have it right"

"Okay, yes Howie is a homosexual"

"Really?"

"Yes, a flaming one at that! He has wanted to stay in the closet this whole time, but only to the fans, everyone in the business knows his preference"

"So, if I were to ask him about this?"

"Oh he would totally open up to you. I know he had said that he was just waiting for someone to come along and ask"

"Great! Thanks a lot Brian" Brian nodded and smirked. "Well, I have to go now, so if there's nothing else?"

"No nothing, what are you up to?"

"Just going to feed Nick's mouse"

"Oh okay. I didn't even know he had a mouse"

"Yeah but that's a long story"

"See you later" Brian said and then he walked out of the room. Robin got all excited about this potential breaking story he had. Howie coming out of the closet. Fabulous.

Just then Nick walked in, wearing pajama bottoms and a Goonie tee shirt. His face and arms all blotchy. Robin smiled at the story that Nick shared with him about how he got the poison ivy. That would be another great dimension to this article.

"Hey Robin my main dawg!" He said rasing his arm to give the reporter a high five. Robin was hesitant, "Don't worry dude. I'm not contagious anymore" With that reassurance Robin extended his arm and they high fived.

"So what are you doing kiddo?" He asked Nick who he had grown really fond of in the last three days. The kid had a presence about him that made him likable yet complex.

"I'm hunting for some calamine lotion. You don't happen to have any do you?"

"No, I'm sorry"

"That's okay"

"Hey Nick, do you have a comment about Howie's sexuality?" Nick stopped looking around the room and stared at Robin.

"Huh?"

"Brian told me about Howie being a homosexual. That is true isn't it?"

Nick had a huge grin on his face. "Yes of course it is, you just took me by surprise that's all"

"Oh okay. I was worried that maybe Brian might have made that up. It's seems like they don't get along very well, those two"

"They usually do, but not lately"

"Oh"

"But yes Howie is gay" Nick said through a giggle.

"Hey Nick" Robin said to the boy who was still looking for itching relief.

"Yuppers?"

"Any other hot bits of info?" Nick rubbed his chin in deep thought. Then once again a smile played on his lips.

"Well, just one, but he would kill me if I told you"

"Come on, let me know. I won't print it if he doesn't want me to"

"Okay fine, before he performs or goes to an interview or press conference, AJ prays to a cabbage"

"He what? You have got to be pulling my leg"

"No I swear!"

Just then Howie who seemed to be on a mission, his face that of a man with murder on his mind, came into the room.

"Hey D"

"Hey" He responded to Nick.

"S'up?"

"Not much" He scanned the room again and disappointed to not find what he was looking for, he started for the door.

"Howie is it true that AJ prays to a cabbage?" Robin asked the man. He wanted to come right out and ask about his sexuality but he didn't seem like he was in a good mood. So he went for the lighter question.

"Huh? Yeah. Whatever, if you see J, can you tell him I'm looking for him?"

"Sure thing" Nick answered.

After Howie's exit, Nick turned to Robin, "See? I told you!"

"Yes I guess you did. Why a cabbage?"

"I have no idea, guess you have to ask him"

"I will" When Robin said that, Nick giggled again. Then he walked out of the room.

Robin, couldn't help but think how strange this group was. He really had no desire to follow some stupid boyband around but, now that he was on his third and final day with these guys, he felt like he had more to work with then he would have with any other group.

"I don't care Kevin, that was NOT a nice thing to do!" AJ was arguing with Kevin as they walked into the conference room. Seeming to not even notice Robin sitting there.

"God AJ I had no choice, I mean you had soap in you hair! When will you let it drop?"

"It's not like I have been talking about it for days or anything it did just happen yesterday"

"I know, but even still" Kevin stopped in his tracks when he saw Robin staring at the both of them.

"Hi" He greeted,

"Hi guys"

"I see you have some down time? Aren't you supposed to be stalking one of us?" Kevin asked in a half joking tone.

Robin laughed. "Don't worry my friend I will be bugging you soon enough" Then he looked over at AJ "By the way, Howie was looking for you" AJ nodded and then took off towards the door but not looking where he was going, he walked right into the wall.

Kevin just shook his head, "Don't mind him he's slow" Kevin said at first joking around.

"Slow?"

"Yes, well a little.. Sometimes. We talk very slowly to him and loudly so he can understand what we are saying" Then Kevin exited the room.

Either these guys were compulsive liars, or this was a new reporters best dream. He once again started to write the beginning of his article. He figured he would start at the beginning, when Howie stormed out quitting the band...

Robin just sat there staring at AJ waiting for him to say something anything. Out of all the guys that were in this band, AJ was by far the hardest one to understand. He had this way about him, like he was uncomfortable in his own skin. He nervously bit his nails and his right leg was shaking.

"You know, you don't have to be nervous AJ"

"I know"

"Because you look like you are a little nervous"

"Oh, do I? Well I'm not nervous because of you"

"Oh good"

"I just forgot to give a message to somebody and now something bad has happened that's all"

"Oh, care to share?" AJ looked at Robin with an evil smirk. "No, that's okay man"

"Very well, can't say I didn't try though"

"I guess not" Once again AJ was biting his lips nervously.

"So is it unusual for you to be the first one up?"

"Yes, a little bit. I'm not though, I'm just the first one down here that's all"

"How do you know you're not the first one up?"

"Because I heard Howie and Brian arguing before"

"They really don't seem to get along do they?"

"Not lately"

"Is that hard for you?"

"Not usually" Then in a very quiet voice he mumbled "Unless of course they're fighting because of me. Which they are"

"Excuse me?"

"Oh I said, boy I want some cheese. Would you like some cheese?" Robin looked at the tattooed man strangely.

"Cheese? It's 8am in the morning"

"Yes! What better time to have some cheese?"

"No, thanks really I think I'll pass"

"Okay suit yourself" AJ said groping for some cheese on the breakfast table. Seeing none there he settled for a danish.

Howie and Nick entered shortly afterwards, Nick all red and blotchy and Howie wearing a devilish smile on his face. They both smiled at the reporter and then at AJ. AJ looked away from Howie like he was distracted for a minute.

"HE is going to flip out! Nick you are a genius" D proclaimed patting Nick on the back.

"I know. I have a talent, what can I say?"

"Talent for what?" Robin asked.

"Um, juggling cats"

"What?"

"Oh it's not important, so is there any cheese on the table?" Robin laughed as Nick went searching for cheese.

"So Howie, tell me what you and Brian were arguing about this morning?" AJ's face turned red and he decided to move towards the corner of the room.

"You heard us?"

"Not exactly"

"Then why are you asking?"

"I'm a reporter it's my job"

"We are fighting because Brian is a jerk"

"Care to elaborate on that one"

"Sure, he is a big fat hairy jerk!"

"Oh thanks that clears things up" Robin said sarcastically.

"Yes, but because our Nicky here is such a genius, He is going to get his come uppance"

"Please don't give me credit for this" Nick said smiling at Howie while scratching his arm.

"Why? You were brilliant. Just brilliant"

"Yes I KNOW that but if Brian finds out I had anything to do with this he will kill me"

"With what?" Robin jumped in again.

"Nothing" Nick said innocently.

"Okay" Robin was getting frustrated, he hadn't gotten anything juicy form these guys yet. He really wanted to know why they all seemed to be at war with each other.

"So, do you guys consider yourselves spiritual at all?" They all looked up at Robin.

"I do" AJ said, "Hey guys, do you see any cabbage?"

"Cabbage? Cheese and cabbage huh?" Robin asked smiling.

"Yup the diet of a celebrity"

"More like the diet of an odd celebrity" Howie was quick to counter.

"I am pretty religious, I have a string firm faith in God. It has gotten me this far" Howie said while buttering his bagel.

"Nick, what about you?"

"I wish I was more religious, I believe in God, but then I look at somebody like Brian and think..man..I wish I had as much faith as him"

"So, you think Brian is the most religious of all of you then?" Howie rolled his eyes, but AJ and Nick nodded.

"Yes, if there is anyone with as good a heart as Brian I haven't met him yet"

"That was sweet Kaos" AJ said patting Nick on the head.

"Brian has immaculate values, he doesn't yell or scream. He keeps quiet most of the time. Never one to cuss or complain" Nick's praise of Brian was cut off by the small Kentuckian storming into the room, "Who the FUCK is responsible for this?" He said pointing to his purple hair. When no one answered he marched over to the breakfast table and banged his fists on it hard, knocking some bagels to the floor. "Answer me Goddammit!" Nick was cringing at the words flying out of his friends mouth. He was also trying his best not to laugh.

"When I find out who did this to me, I will stick my hand down your throat and rip your heart out! Do you understand me people?" He was really addressing Howie who only stood there refusing to look up at him. Then he looked at Robin, "Sometimes people can be real assholes!" He said before exiting the room and slamming the door with such force that it knocked a picture off the wall.

The room remained silent for a few minutes before Robin broke the ice, "So Nick, you were saying that Brian is quiet and doesn't cuss or loss his temper?" Nick laughed, "Oh did I say Brian? I meant me" That made AJ crack up. Howie remained stoic.

"I am going back to my room, I'll see you all later" Then he went over to Nick and gave him a high five "Thanks again Kaos"

"You didn't have something to do with that did you Nick?" AJ asked with one eyebrow raised.

"Me? NAH!" He said taking a bagel and leaving the room "see you guys later, I am off to take a shower"

"Bysie bye" AJ said in a gay guy voice. Leaving AJ and Robin in the room again alone.

"Well, are things always this dramatic?" Robin asked.

"Not usually" AJ answered, once again biting his lips.

"So where were we before all of that happened?" AJ shrugged, but didn't have time to worry about a reply since Brian once again stormed into the room with a startling admission.

"Howie Dorough is gay!"

"Well, I think that's my cue to leave" AJ said getting up and running out of the room.

Brian with a huge grin looked at Robin and once again said, "Howie is gay and you can quote me on that"

Now Here was a story finally!

Howie paced back and forth in his hotel room impatiently waiting for his bandmate to show up. Nick couldn't help but smile at him while he did it.

"What are you so damn happy about?" Nick turned to Howie and shrugged, "Not sure"

"It must be nice to be carefree"

"It beats the hell out of pacing, but I'm not exactly carefree you know" He said scratching at his poison ivy.

"Stop scratching or it's gonna scar" Howie grabbed Nick's hands and placed mittens on them. Nick just laughed the whole time.

"Now where are on earth is that little shit!"

"D, don't be too hard on Brian, I'm sure he didn't mean to forget about Ronnie"

"Then why is he late? He knew I really wanted to talk to him"

"Because it's like 6 am"

Howie sat on his bed and sighed, "Yeah I guess you're right, but why the hell are you up?"

"I can't sleep... too itchy"

"Poor you" Nick put on his pouty face, "Yeah I know"

"Well, at least that stupid reporter isn't up yet"

"I know, I hate the fact that he is following us all over the place. Makes me nervous"

"Everything makes you nervous Nick" Nick just nodded and began to scratch his arm with his mittens on.

A knock on the door brought Howie to his feet and there was Brian, looking like he had just woken up. Hair standing straight up on his head. Nick laughed, "Wow, somebody looks sexy"

"Shut up Nick! Why the hell are you here anyway?"

Nick held up his mittens and pouted. Even though Brian knew he was just about to have a brawl with Howie he still couldn't hide his smile. Howie however was far from smiling.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Brian finally asked knowing he had to eventually have this confrontation.

"Why did you use all my toothpaste?" Both Brian and Nick had dumbfounded looks on their faces.

"What?" Brian asked almost in a laugh.

"You heard me Littrell, why did you use all my toothpaste?"

"Because I ran out"

"That's it? That's all you have to say for yourself?"

"I think I have to say, I'm going back to bed" Brian got up to leave but Howie quickly blocked his door.

"No way, apologize!"

"Are you kidding me Howie?"

"No! I said apologize or else!"

"Or else what?"

"He'll bore you to death" Howie and Brian both looked over at Nick. He grimaced, "Ooh, sorry, I didn't think I said that out loud"

"Why are you still here anyway?" Howie asked his young friend who was now getting up to leave.

"No, don't bother Nick. I'm leaving. This conversation is over D. Call me when you grow up"

"When I grow up? When I grow up?"

"Is there an echo in here?" Nick asked amusing himself.

"Shut up!" Both men yelled.

"When I grow up?" Howie asked one more time.

"Yes Howie, how immature can ONE person be, getting someone up at 6 in the morning to ask them about toothpaste?"

"You know what? You can go to hell"

"Oh now that's original" Brian said rolling his eyes.

"Um..maybe I should go now" Nick said once again getting up. Both men gave him the stop sign so he slowly sat back down.

"I swear to God Brian if you keep up with the attitude, I am going to knock your lights out!" Nick laughed. They both turned to face him.

"Sorry, but it's kind of like hearing God fighting with Ghandi"

"What?" Brian said before just ignoring Nick and going back to Howie. "I am leaving, now get out of my way or I swear I will.."

"Will what?"

"Ugh!" Brian said pushing past Howie and slamming the door.

"Will what?" He yelled out into the hallway as AJ passed by. Howie glared at his friend.

"What the hell are you looking at?"

"Nothing man calm down I just was on my way to be interviewed by Robin. Relax"

"Whatever" Then he slammed the door on AJ and ventured back to his bed and plopped down.

"Wow, D. You need to relax. Why didn't you just ask him about Ronnie?"

"Because I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how angry I am"

"Um...Howie, I think he kind of figured out that you are angry"

"Well, I don't care" Howie said sounding like a pouting five year old.

"I guess you don't. Ah well. Brian will learn his lesson"

"No, he won't Nick" Nick laughed out loud, "You know what would be funny?"

"What?"

"If you put hair dye in his shampoo" Nick started cracking up.

Howie's eyes lit up, like it was the smartest thing he ever heard.

"Wow, you know what kid? Sometimes you are a genius!" That made Nick sit bolt upright.

"Um..Howie I was only kidding. You shouldn't do that"

"No, it's a brilliant idea. Thanks a lot"

"Really D, not a good idea" Howie wasn't listening anymore, because thoughts of Brian shampooing with hair dye kept rolling through his mind.

"What color should I make it?"

"What? No Howie, don't do it. You'll never be able to pull it off..but I would do purple"

"Purple...yes..excellent" He sounded like Mr. Burns from the Simpsons bringing Nick into another laughing fit.

"Howie, you know that Brian will totally kill you right?"

"I don't care. He deserves it, and maybe that would teach him to not blow off important things"

"Well, if you do it, at least don't use permanent hair dye"

"Nick, I'm not that horrible. I will use the wash out kind. Don't worry"

Howie grabbed Nick into an embrace, "Thanks a lot for the idea"

"But.."

"No really I owe you. Now I'm off to get some dye. Think they sell it in the hotel lobby?" Nick shrugged. Howie grabbed his wallet and walked out the door. Once he was gone, Nick took off his mittens and began to scratch...

Brian sat on his bed half playing a video game with Nick and half thinking about the way Howie had treated him after dinner. He was so cold and hateful. Very unlike typical Howie behavior. It irked him and if it's one thing Brian didn't like, it was to be irked.

"Hey Nicky"

"Hm?"

"What do you think is going on with Howie?"

"Hm?"

"Howie! He was being a total ass during dinner. Didn't you notice that?"

"Notice Howie's ass?" Brian went and shut off the game.

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Nope"

"Oh that's real nice Nick. And stop scratching!" He said grabbing Nick's hands and preventing him from itching his poison ivy.

"But I am itchy!"

"You will scar"

"I don't care" Brian got up and looked out his hotel window. He was so high up that the people looked like itty bitty ants.

"I think Howie's jealous" That made Brian turn to face his blotchy friend, "Why would you say that?"

"Because we spend so much time together. It's obvious that he is jealous" Brian rolled his eyes.

"Yeah that MUST be it" Brain said under a smirk.

Nick got up to leave, "Well, I'm gonna fly. Talk to you later gator!"

"Okay have a goodnight" With that being said Nick walked out the door, leaving Brian once again alone with his thoughts.

He picked up the phone, ready to call D and flat out ask him what the problem was but thought better of it. Howie was prone to mood swings. Especially when their schedule was as busy as it was currently. No he would wait it out. But right then and there, HIS phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey Brian, it's me" Howie sounding like his mood had only worsened.

"What's up D?"

"I think we should talk"

"Okay...talk I'm listening"

"No. Not here and now. I am too mad at you. I don't want to say something I will regret. Why don't you come to my room at 6 a.m?"

"6 a.m?"

"Yeah" Brian rolled his eyes, "Gosh Howie that is really early in the morning"

"You know what...forget it, if you don't think our friendship is worth an early morning.."

"Jesus, okay. I'll be there" Before he even had a chance to say goodbye, Howie hung up the phone on poor Brian. Leaving him even more confused than before.

Brian sat on his bed, just about ready to give up thinking and call it a night, when he heard Nick's urgent cries coming from the hall.

"No! Get away!!" Brian's pulse quickened, as he darted to the door to help his friend from whoever was bothering him. As he was about to open his door, pounding made him jump back.

"Brian let me in please!!!" Brian flew to the door and grabbed Nick inside. Once sure his little friend was not hurt he stepped back, "What the hell was going on out there. Do we need to call security?"

"Yes" As Nick was about to call security another pounding was heard at Brian's door. "Oh my God!" Brian said as he slowly approached his door.

"Let me in!"

"Kevin?" Brian yelled as he once again flew to the door before the ax murderer or whoever else was apparently after his friends, got to his cousin.

"No Brian don't let him in! He will take Sparky" Brian turned towards Nick again.

"Sparky?" Another round of door knocking ensued, "Dammit let me in Brian I know you are there I hear you talking for God's sakes!"

By now Brian was so confused, that he wanted to just crawl into bed and forget this horrible day even happened, but his cousin's persistent knocking made him change his mind. He opened the door to a very angry Kevin, "Where is he?" He said pushing past Brian and looking for Nick.

Nick was in the process of calling security when Kevin reached over to the phone and hung it up. "What are you doing?"

"Calling security"

"On me?"

"Yes! You are trying to take Sherman away"

"What the hell is he talking about Kevin?"

Kevin looked over at his cousin who was now holding his head. "A mouse"

"A what?"

"My mouse" Nick answered. "I found him today and he is mine"

"Nick that stupid ass mouse.."

"Call him Squeakers"

"Fine..Squeakers, shit all over my bed!"

"Mouse?" Brian said still trying to fully understand what was going on.

"Yes, a mouse. Nick apparently found the thing which for all we know has rabies and decided in a fit of sheer brilliance, to take it in"

"It needed a home"

"Would somebody kill me please?" Brian said plopping on his bed and closing his eyes.

"Kevin, you need to leave my mouse alone. I need him"

"You need a mouse?"

"Sparky"

"You just said his name was Squeakers a minute ago"

"Oh..okay then Squeakers"

"Give me the damn mouse Nick"

"Nope"

That got Brian's attention, "Nick do you have a mouse in here?"

"Nope"

"Okay then where is it?"

"AJ has it" Nick said proudly, like he had just outsmarted everybody.

That made Brian laugh, "Oh you're special friend has it Kevin, he is probably petting it and calling it George"

"Oh good one Brian! You know I just got him over being mad about that and there you go stirring it up again"

"It was funny as hell" Nick said while scratching at his face.

"Stop scratching!" Both the cousins said in unison.

"AJ has the mouse in a safe place. Come on Kevin" Nick walked over to the older man and placed his head on Kevin's shoulder. "I love that mouse and I will take good care of him. I promise. Sparky is in good hands"

"Squeakers"

"Right..Squeakers I mean" Kevin rolled his eyes and walked towards the door in defeat.

"If I catch that thing in my room again.."

"I know, you will kill it like you did that poor lizard"

"I didn't kill any lizard! How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"A gazzilion"

"You are a real smart ass you know that Nick? A real smart ass"

"Is there an echo in here?"

"Funny man..." Kevin then turned to Brian, "He'll being wearing that joke down to the ground"

"I know" Brian agreed.

"Okay, well I am going to bed. But I mean it little man, no rats in my bed"

"It's a mouse and he doesn't want to sleep with you"

"Funny"

"Thanks I try"

After Kevin and Nick exited, Brian sat on the bed. Still holding his head trying to prevent an inevitable headache from coming. God only knew what he would have to deal with first thing in the morning...

AJ sat listening to Nick frantically talk about a stupid mouse. Not quite sure why he opened the door and let him into his room in the first place. Hadn't he learned that whenever Nick knocked with an "emergency" Something utterly ridiculous would happen.

"He was kind of belly crawling under the bed and he looked so scared" No matter how much he DID NOT want o pay attention to the blonde one, he had to say something to that.

"The mouse was belly crawling and looked scared?"

"Yeah"

"Do you think he was scared because some big dumb blonde kid was watching him belly crawl?"

"AJ, stop this isn't funny"

"Okay..as you were saying" And just like that he put his friend on mute. He had the glorious ability to do that. Watch Nick's lips move while hearing the I Dream of Jeannie theme in his head. He promised he would teach the others how to do that someday.

"So it's okay with you then?" Uh-oh that sounded like a question.

"Sure" Nick grabbed AJ into a big hug.

"Thanks man! You are the best. I promise he won't crap on your stuff okay? But you can't tell Kevin he's here"

"What the hell are you talking about Kaos?"

"Cecile"

"The mouse?"

"Yes, thanks for letting him spend the night here"

"Come again?"

"I really appreciate it but you can't tell Kevin. He will kill me"

"Nick.. I'm not..."

"Seriously AJ. Smokey pooped all over his bed"

"What? Then there's no way in hell that thing..."

"Thanks AJ. You are really the best" He said and handing him the shoebox with the mouse inside he left the room.

"Now how the hell did that happen?" He asked the air, since he refused to talk to a mouse.

"You crap on me and I throw you out the window! You understand?" He said to the box as he placed it on the floor of his bathroom. He jumped about a foot when he heard the knock on his door.

"I'm coming" He said. He opened the door to see a very sad and angry Howie. And uneasiness settled in, when he realized that he was the real reason for his friends discomfort. He didn't mean to forget about Ronnie, it just kind of happened.

"Hi, D what's up?"

"Should I confront Brian?" Yup Howie would never let this subject be dropped.

"Howie, come on..Maybe you should just let it go" His look said that was never going to happen, so AJ moved aside and let him in to vent...AGAIN.

"It's just that, if that were Leigh that called, I would have stopped everything and went to get him"

"I know, but that's you. I really doubt he MEANT to forget about it"

"Why would you say that?"

"Because, he knew how much you liked Ronnie. I mean he wouldn't ever intentionally screw with your mind like that. And just for the record, I wouldn't either"

"I know YOU would NEVER do anything like that" AJ bit his bottom lip.

"Yeah...uh...anyway, are you going to talk to him?" AJ knew he was going to owe Brian for this big time. He was able to just see it now. Maybe I could blame Nick. He thought as he listened to his friend rant.

"Yes, damn right I am going to talk to him. Thanks man" He said and then made his way out the door.

AJ shook his head and walked over to the box that held the stupid ass mouse. The only problem was, when he got there only the box and of course some poop IN the box remained.

"Dammit Kaos! I swear to God..."

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

What now? He thought making his way to the door for the second time in less then ten minutes.

"J?"

"Oh great Mr. Asshole himself...Kevin what do you want? I am busy"

"Have you seen Nick?"

"No, but if I did I would ring his little blotchy red neck, why?"

"Let me in"

"No"

"AJ, you can't still be mad.."

"I am"

"Don't be an idiot"

"Why not? according to you, it's what I do best"

"What did you WANT me to say?"

"I don't know, how about this is my friend, my little brother AJ. He got all dirty from playing in the leaves with your little friends" Kevin was laughing behind the door, not helping the situation any.

"Just let me in"

"Fine" He said opening the door.

Kevin walked in and looked around the room, "So, Nick hasn't been here?"

"I said he wasn't didn't I?"

"Yeah, but he always comes to you when he wants to hide something"

"Not this time"

"Then why did you say you wanted to ring his neck?" That was a good question, he thought to himself. On any other day he would have been more then happy to get his younger friend in trouble with Kevin, but being that he ALSO was annoyed at the man standing in front of him, he decided to help the kid out.

"I don't know, I always feel like ringing that kid's neck. Why should today be any different?"

"So, you haven't seen him carrying a mouse around?"

"Uh...no"

"Okay, but if you're lying I hope to hell the stupid ass thing shits all over you"

"It shit on you?" AJ asked in a half laugh.

"Not on me but my stuff"

"Good serves you right"

"You know, you also asked for it at that nursery school. I mean what kind of a dumbass goes to wash his hands and forgets to rinse off the soap before running his hands through his hair?"

"Shut up Train"

"No seriously? Then you leave it in a foamy mess before coming out of the bathroom"

"I said shut it"

"But not before you start carrying on a one sided conversation with yourself about how dopey you looked. So loud that everyone in the entire place heard you?"

"Yeah so?"

"Yeah so? We had three grown women looking at us with huge smirks on their faces. Isn't he alone in there? They asked. I kind of said yeah, but then the only thing I could think of was to say..."

"I know, I know. I am special" AJ rolled his eyes and Kevin shrugged.

"I don't know what makes me more angry, the fact that you said that or the fact that you thought it was the ONLY logical thing to say"

"It's no big deal. They won't even remember who you are. Hell, I barely remember you and I'm standing right here talking to your ass now"

"Talking to my ass?"

"You know what I mean"

"No, I don't Kevin. I'm special remember?"

"I gotta go find poison ivy head, before he gets rabies on top of his rash"

"Rabies?" AJ hadn't thought of that. If that kid gives me rabies I swear to God..

"Hey, did he tell you how he got the poison ivy?" AJ wasn't fully paying attention to Kevin now that he was busy picturing himself with rabies.

"Hello..earth to AJ"

"Huh?" Kevin started laughing.

"You just had the stupidest look on your face"

"Shut the hell up Kevin"

"I asked you if Nick told you how he got poison ivy?"

"Nope and I'm not sure if I want to know anyway"

"Maybe your right about that one. I was just curious" Kevin turned on his heel and walked out the door.

"Okay well if you see him, tell him I'm looking for him. Even though he already knows that, and for like the tenth time, I am sorry I made those people think you were retarded okay?"

"Fine. Whatever" AJ said in a huff. Kevin smiled.

AJ decided to double bolt the door after seeing Kevin. No one else tonight. AJ is closed. He said climbing into bed. He shut off the light and turned on the television. About three minutes later he felt something crawling on his head. Before he was able to deduce it was Nick's mouse he felt a wet, warm flow of water cascading through his hair.

"Son of a .. I swear to God I am going to kill that kid" He said sitting upright and knocking the mouse off of his head and onto the floor...

Robin stared at the youngest member of the group he had been following around all day curiously. He always seemed so distracted. Like his brain was always thinking ten things at once. He didn't want to interrupt the voices he was sure the guy was hearing in his head but he needed an answer to his question.

"Nick" Nick looked back over to Robin scratching his neck.

"Oh sorry man, what was the question?" Robin smiled, he knew the kid wasn't even paying attention to him.

"What has been the most embarassing thing you have ever done?"

Biting his bottom lip and looking up at the ceiling, Nick was trying his best to think back to the silliest he has ever felt. Unfortunately there were SO many of these incidents it was hard to keep track of which one made him the most embarassed. Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw something move behind the chair by the window. He turned his full attention to the small shadow.

Robin watched with a look of annoyance, then simple curiosity as the teen he was just interviewing, for no reason whatsoever, got off of his chair, down on all fours and started crawling around the table. He looked down at his notes from the earlier interviews today and decided to write one word...DRUGS.

"Nick, may I ask what you are doing?"

"Shhh" Nick said as he continued to crawl under the table.

Robin found himself on all fours next to him. "What are you looking for?" He whispered.

Nick turned around and put his finger to his lips, "My mouse" He mouthed.

That made Robin reverse his crawl and stand up. "Oh" He said now just plain intrigued.

Suddenly Nick sprang to a full belly flop. Robin couldn't help but laugh. When he moved away from the table, low and behold he was indeed holding a mouse in his hands.

"Well I'll be damned" Robin said to himself as Nick stood up placing the mouse in his pocket.

"I thought you were lost forever after that meanie let you out!" He said to his pocket.

Knowing that Robin was probably perplexed, he decided to explain, "The mouse pooped on Kevin's bed so he got all mad and threw him out of the room"

"Kevin threw a mouse out of his room?" Robin asked raising his eyebrow.

"Yeah, Kev has issues"

"I see" Robin said sitting in his chair once again, "So, Nick the most embarassing thing?"

"You know what man? I need to go hide my mouse. If Kevin finds him he's gonna step on him like he did to that poor lizard"

"What? What was that about a lizard now?"

"Uh..It's a long story, I gotta go" He said nervously as he got up to leave.

"But wait, you still haven't told me.."

"Later dude!"

"But Nick.."

"You don't understand Robin, when Kevin is mad it's like fighting a purple pig in a vat of crayons"

"What does that even mean?" By the time the words even came out of his mouth, Nick was gone.

Robin sat down and sighed. Getting one on one time with these guys was proving to be mission impossible. "Like trying to fight a purple pig in a vat of crayons" He said trying to make better sense of what Nick had said before exiting.

"You having a good conversation with yourself buddy?" Robin jumped when he heard Kevin's voice. "And what was that about a pig?"

"Uh...it's nothing important. Hey Kevin you got a minute?"

"I guess. I actually thought you were interviewing Nick"

"I was trying, he just left" Kevin nodded.

"He didn't happen to have a mouse with him did he?"

"Maybe.."

"That dumb kid is going to attract all kinds of diseases from that stupid thing. God! He Doesn't think sometimes" Robin just sat there listening to Kevin ramble on like he was Nick's grandpa.

"Speaking of which, he mentioned something about you killing a lizard?"

"What?" Kevin rolled his eyes.

"Is it true?"

"No, of course it's not true, but I gotta go man, I'll talk to you later" He left, leaving Robin alone once again.

Robin sat down and gazed over his notes. These guys sure were a little odd. You have one guy, the heartthrob of the group, blotchy from poison ivy chasing a rabid mouse all over the place, then you have the older guy who apparently looks after them all. When he's not abusing reptiles. AJ the mentally retarded one and the two who can't stand each other. One of which claims to be a child of God but swears like he has Tourettes Syndrome.

Truly odd.

"Oh Hi Robin, sorry I didn't think anybody was in here" Well speak of the devil..or angel.

"Hi Brian"

"What are you up to?"

"Trying to find someone to interview" Just at the mention of the word interview, Brian grimaced. It was very clear that he didn't enjoy reporters or having someone spying on him at all times.

"Oh, well maybe Nick is available"

"Tried that... didn't work"

"Oh...then maybe Kevin?"

"What about you?" Brian rolled his eyes. This amused Robin, who decided it was time that Brian spilled his guts.

"See, the thing is...I am busy. I gotta go, but maybe you could interview Howie"

"Yeah...maybe, well have a goodnight Brian"

Brian nodded and turned to leave. Not looking where he was going he accidently walked into the door face first.

"Son of a whore!" He yelled.

Yup Robin wrote looking at the long and rather bizarre list he had compiled so far, truly odd.

Just then he happened to glance back over to the door, which Brian had left open a crack to see Nick on all fours crawling past it whispering the name Cecile.

"I see the mouse must have gotten lose again" He said to himself since no one else would give him the time of day.

Nick popped back inside, giving the reporter false hope. Maybe he had come to finish the interview that ended so abruptly, maybe he would learn what it was really like being in the music business at such a young age, maybe all those deep questions would be answered.

"Hey Robin, do you have a small box I could use?"

Or maybe not.

"Not sure"

"Because I want to give the mouse to AJ but it needs to be in a box"

"Oh"

"And Robin one more thing, if anyone brings up my mouse, just say what mouse? I didn't know he had a mouse... okay?"

"Sure thing Nick"

"Yeah because if Kevin found out.." He started to say shaking his head.

"I know, it would be like kicking a pig in a box of crayons"

"What?" Nick asked looking perplexed. "Dude, you are seriously odd"

Robin just shook his head and popped another Tylenol in his mouth.

Kevin paced the room with the look of a madman. Cussing words that Nick had never even heard of before. It was comical actually. He couldn't help but laugh about it. Kevin pulling the comforter off his bed and throwing it against the wall. Yeah! That will show that pesky mouse. Let me throw this blanket. Maybe if I get even madder I'll start throwing pillows around the room.

"Nick! are you even listening to me?" Nick looked up from his thoughts and nodded. Making sure he made his best pouty face.

"Well, I threw the stupid ass mouse out!"

That got his attention. He stood up almost in a panic "What? Where did you throw him?"

"OUT!"

"Out where? Of the room? The window? The hotel? Where?"

"Yeah Nick, I threw the mouse out of the window. Oh no even better I had a bell hop escort it out of the hotel" He rolled his eyes in wonderment.

"How could you do that to me Kevin? He was mine!"

"Nick, you found the stupid thing this morning! It wasn't yours"

"But even still...it was attached to me"

"If it was so attached to you then why did it leave your side of the room to pee on my bed?"

"He knew" Nick said pointing his finger at his friend, "He knew you would kill it. It sensed it. You know mice have a keen sense"

"I didn't kill anything, I am thinking of killing you though. Think your mouse will sense that?"

"You did kill that poor innocent iguana"

"Oh no not that again"

"It didn't stand a chance"

"I didn't kill it!"

"Probably had a wife and kids"

"Do iguanas marry each other now?"

"No fair Kevin, seriously where is he? Which way did he go?" Kevin had to laugh at the goofiness of the youngest friend he ever dared to have. The guy was looking around the room in search of a mouse while scratching.

"Stop scratching..you will scar" Kevin walked over to Nick and pulled back the collar of his shirt to get a better look at the rash. "How did you get this anyway?" Nick just shrugged.

"I'm going to find my mouse"

"Nick, don't be silly. You can't keep a damn mouse"

"Yes I can and I will" With that Nick went storming out of the room.

Kevin plopped down on the bed. "I swear to God sometimes I have the stupidest fights in the universe.

Howie walked in while Kevin was laying there in a stupor. He felt bad for interrupting but he needed to talk to someone. Get to the bottom of what happened.

"Hi Kevin" When he heard his name, Kevin jumped off the bed and landed on the floor. Howie seeing this ran over to help his friend up, "Jeez, you okay?" He extended his hand which Kevin gladly took and lifted himself up.

"Thanks" Howie nodded.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure D"

"Did you answer the phone when Ronnie called?"

"No..sorry, I didn't even know she called. Why?"

"Because someone answered the phone and forgot to give me the message"

"Oh"

"Yeah and she broke up with me because of it"

"Aww D, I'm really sorry" Kevin said wrapping his arm around his band mate.

"I can't believe she broke with me because of that"

"I know buddy. I know. That really sucks" As the two men where sitting there, Kevin consoling Howie, AJ walked in.

"Hi guys" He said apprehensively. Looking at Kevin then moving his eyes over to Howie. Kevin picked up on the action and responded, "Ronnie just broke up with him" AJ bit down on his bottom lip.

"God Howie, that's awful. I'm sorry man"

"Yeah, hey AJ? Do you know who talked to Ronnie last?"

"I think it was Brian why?" That made Howie sit up straight and glare ahead.

"It's his fault! I can't believe it"

"Why is it his fault?" AJ already began to regret even saying anything.

"Because he never gave me the message! What a jerk. I am so ticked off at him!"

"Howie I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose" Kevin said in his best reassuring voice.

"I bet he did. You know he has never much liked Ronnie!"

"Howie don't be stupid"

"I am going to try to call her and apologize and he better hope she listens otherwise I will...he'll just be sorry!" Howie then walked out. In a huff.

"Why would you tell him that?" Kevin accused AJ after Howie walked out in his huff.

"Tell him what?"

"About Brian. What are you TRYING to cause problems now?"

"Yeah nothing gives me greater joy then causing people problems. You should try it sometime Kevin...oh wait you already have!" Kevin rolled his eyes.

"AJ enough, get over it. Oh and by the way if Nick comes to you with a mouse, call me"

"What? Never mind I don't want to know" AJ started walking out the door, "Hey Kevin, Have you been interviewed by Robin yet?"

"Kind of...just a little. Why?"

"Just wondering if anyone told him about you and your little accident with that lizard"

"Oh for the love of God, enough about that stupid ass Iguana. It was an accident I didn't mean to, it just kind of happened. Why must you all keep bringing it up?"

"You know me I like to cause all kinds of trouble" AJ said snickering as he walked out the door.

Kevin laid back down convinced he was living in a loony bin. And if proving his point he heard booming down the hallway, "Cecile!! Where are you?"

Robin sat patiently waiting in his day room for the youngest member of the Backstreet Boys. This was the guy that millions of girls swooned over. The one every girl wanted to be with, marry, hang on their walls with shiny stick pins. "No I don't like that line" He said taking his eraser and scratching it from the paper, cursing under his breath at the hole he left behind.

"Where the hell is that child?"

"He's gonna be late" Robin just about jumped out of his chair when he heard Brian's voice break the quiet. "Nick is always late for everything. You should have told him to be here at least 30 minutes before you actually needed him" Robin smiled, "Thanks for the tip. I'll keep it in mind"

"No problem"

"So..in the meantime, you feel like giving me a few minutes?" Brian looked at his watch and pretended to have an appointment. Robin smirked. Like he hadn't ever seen anything like that before. "Sorry, I have to go, maybe tomorrow"

"Yeah, okay..maybe tomorrow" Robin said making a mental note that the velvet voiced member was shy and liked to keep to himself. Velvet voiced. Nice description.

Robin allowed his thoughts to go back to Nick Carter. He was the real reason Robin was given this assignment. The Backstreet Boys are incredibly important but put that boy on the cover and we will sell a billion copies his boss had told him. Robin had no idea what to expect. He saw a few pictures of the kid before but had to admit, since he was given this gig kicking and screaming, the last thing he wanted to do was research.

"Let's see..hrm...in walked the youngest member of the Backstreet Boys for our first one on one session. I admit for the initial meeting he remained very quiet with Howie and Brian doing most of the talking, but now in his..let's see, what does a teen idol wear these days?" He stopped talking to himself to once again glance at the clock. "He would probably be wearing a nice Armani suit..oh wait, no that's the winking one. Um...Nick would wear casual yet stylish, yeah that's it. Casual yet stylish"

About two seconds after those words came out of his mouth Nick Carter ran into the room, wearing a pair of ripped jeans. Ripped from the ankle all the way up to his hip on the right side. He also appeared to wear a white tee shirt although all the mud on it would have you think otherwise. Mud was everywhere on the boy. You couldn't even make out what he was wearing on his feet and his hair was sticking straight up.

Nick Carter was a mess.

"Well, isn't this interesting" Robin found himself saying at Nick as he plopped down on the floor in a pile of well..chaos, frankly.

"Hi...um...yeah...well"

"You're a bit muddy there"

"Yeah kinda"

"The last time I checked it was pretty sunny outside"

"It is"

"Okay....then" Robin looked over at Nick with questioning eyes.

"Sorry I'm late for the interview, things got a little crazy just now"

"I see" Nick stood up and ran for a towel, Robin tried to control the laughing fit that was daring to surface as he heard the heartthrob wiping the mud off of his face and he hoped his hair.

About five minutes later, Nick came out all clean and wearing just his boxers. "Mind if we do the interview in my boxers? If you do I'll go change"

"Uh..no that's fine, but you know I have to ask right?"

"I had to get out of the muddy clothes because if I didn't Kevin would kill me"

Robin decided to cut straight to the chase, "Nick! Why were you all muddy?"

"I was afraid you were going to ask me that" Robin laughed, "Why wouldn't I?"

"I kind of got stuck in the mud"

"Where?"

"Out back...I was flirting with a bunch of girls out back..."

"Hey Robin I was wondering if...woah! I hope I'm not interrupting anything here"
AJ said walking in and looking at Nick in his boxers. Robin felt his cheeks flush.

"No, it's really okay"

"Do you want to interview us all in the buff?"

"I have clothes on dufus"

"Barely"

"Yeah but.." AJ put his hands in the air in that time out gesture, "Hold it right there Kaos, I don't want to know" He looked at Robin and continued, "I learned a long time ago not to even ask" Robin nodded.

"So what was it you needed to ask me?"

"Just when you wanted to interview me?"

"Oh after Nick would be fine"

"Cool! See ya later guys" He said taking one more look at Nick and shaking his head.

Once AJ was gone, Robin turned his attention back to Nick who was itching at his neck furiously.

"So you were saying?.."

"Oh yeah, the girls, I saw these girls and they asked for my autograph and I gave them hugs and everything"

"Uh huh and?"

"And after I did I was about to invite them up to my room but something ran past my legs. It was an iguana"

"An iguana?"

"Yeah, anyway, I screamed. I didn't mean to but I did. It scared me, anyway, the girls started laughing at me because of it. So I try to act all macho" Nick started laughing, "And..well I wasn't entirely looking where I was going and I fell in a pile of mud"

"Okay...and what did the girls do?"

"They laughed and jumped on top of me"

"Really?"

"Yeah it was like being in the middle of a mud wrestling match with three beautiful girls...oh man you should have seen it"

Nick told lie after lie to the reporter because the truth was just too embarrassing. Well, the first part was true, up until the girls jumping on top of him. When they saw him fall they tried helping him up but he accidentally pulled them down into the mud. They stood up in a muddy huff and left. Feeling defeated he attempted to get up but his shoes were so stuck he fell face first in the pile. That's when he saw the cutest thing in the world.

A mouse.

Just sitting there watching him. He rolled closer to it and the mouse just came over and sat in his hand. "Hey little fella" He said as he stood up and searched for his shoes. He actually had to bury his head in the mud to find them. He put them back on, gathered up his mouse and walked out of the pile.

That's when he saw the crowd of fans.

He knew he couldn't very well go back through the front of the hotel because he was a mess, so in his wisdom, he decided to try to climb up to his balcony. Nick found himself rolling his eyes at his own stupidity.

It seemed easy enough at the time, but it proved to me much harder then it looked. What's worse is to get to the wall of the hotel, he had to go through a batch of bushes which would later prove to be poison ivy. He grabbed for a potted plant on the first balcony and managed to pull himself up. After that he got stuck.

A woman of about fifty came out and saw this muddy menace staring at her and holding onto a hook which housed the potted plant, for dear life. Who brings a potted plant to a hotel anyway? She started screaming and hitting at Nick with a shoe horn. Telling him to go away. He lost his balance and fell onto the patio, which caused her to scream even louder.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry. I'll leave right now" Nick said as he ran out the door and back up to this very room where he was totally sitting almost naked lying to a reporter.

"Well that was quite an interesting story young man"

"Don't I know it? Oh yeah...I'm a playa" Robin laughed.

"Well, you seem to be a playa with a bad case of poison ivy" Nick nodded still scratching his neck. "You know, this may sound odd but I do believe I have some calamine lotion in my room"

"That does sound odd Robin"

"I know, but if you want to borrow some.." Nick nodded and Robin stood up and left to get the lotion, leaving Nick alone with just enough time to retrieve his mouse out of his pocket. He ran into the bathroom and grabbed him. "Hi little fella, are you aww muddy? Yes, you are! Yes, you are. I think I'll call you Cecile" He placed the mouse back into his pocket before Robin or anyone else busted him for it. When he saw his pant leg which was lying on the floor, wriggling. "Oh man, this can't be good" He peered down and saw a little tail. "Oh shit!" He said grabbing the tail and flinging the lizard out of his pant leg and into the bathroom. "Ewwww you were in my pants with me Oh yuck!"

It started running towards him which caused him to let out another high pitched squeal. He had an aversion for lizards. Could he help it? Not even thinking, when it traveled onto his foot he once again grabbed it by it's tale and moved to the front door flinging it out into the hallway where a fast walking Kevin wasn't watching where he was going and stepped on it.

It squished under his weight and all Nick and Kevin could both do was stare at each other with mouths wide open.

"Where the hell did that thing come from?" Nick shrugged, "I have no idea!"

"I didn't mean to step on him"

"That poor guy, he never had a chance. How could you Kevin?"

"It was an accident. I swear!"

"Kevin you need to really watch where you are going man.. What if that was a kitten or a baby?"

"What? Why on earth would I step on a baby?"

"You just stepped on a lizard, the poor thing"

"I now, but I didn't me..."He stopped and looked at his bandmate, "Uh...Nick aren't you supposed to be in the middle of an interview?"

"Yeah I am, Robin just had to get me something"

"Like clothes? Maybe?" He winced when he realized that he was still in his boxers.

"Uh, I better get back in there"

"Why are you naked?"

"You killed a lizard!" Was his response he shut the door on a perplexed Kevin's face before he could ask another question.

The phone rang just as Nick slammed the door on poor Kevin, "McDonald's"

"Huh? OOh sorry I must have the wrong number" Nick giggled at Ronnie, deciding not to let her in on the joke right yet.

She called back a few minutes later, "Hello? Howie's pad of love how may I help you?"

"Nick?" He laughed.

"Yeah"

"Is Howie around?"

"I don't know where he is"

"Oh okay well can you give him an extremely important message for me?"

"Sure go ahead"

"It's really important Nick"

"I know I have paper right here" He said pulling a piece of stationary out from the desk of their day room.

"Okay tell him he MUST call me back ASAP. It's really really important"

"Okay will do"

Once he hung up, he panicked when he saw his little mouse run from the bathroom and right out the door into the hallway. Nick jumped to his feet, knocking the message to Ronnie onto the floor and under the chair...

The five guys all looked at each other so happy and eager, they couldn't believe it. Rolling Stone magazine was coming to interview them. They had finally made it. They had arrived, the cream of the crop, the top of the heap.
Howie could barely contain his excitment. He had always dreamed of being on the cover of this magazine, from the time he was a child until now. He would finally be able to tell everyone, look I made my dreams come true!

Too bad there was so much drama in his life right now. He and his girlfirend Ronnie had spent the latter part of the week doing nothing but fighting. She didn't enjoy his uber level of fame and wanted nothing more than for him to be just some normal guy.

The icing on the cake of doom, as AJ so eloquently put it, was when he had accidentally blown her off on her birthday so he could go to a celebrities birthday party instead. OUCH! That had to hurt.

He didn't mean to do that, he just kind of forgot. He has always been really bad with remembering things like birthdays and anniversaries. She never bothered to remind him, he assumed that she was just curious to see if he would remember on his own.

Which he didn't.

So she had called him that night and called it quits, while he begged to be given another chance. They talked for four hours in which time he convinced her that no matter when or where she were to call him, he would talk. Even if it was in the middle of the night, or on the set of a video or even in the middle of an interview with the world famous Rolling Stone magazine. He would be there for her.

She decided to give him a second chance and boy was he happy as a clam about it. He glanced over at Nick knowing full well that if he had just heard 'happy clam' the day would have been devoted to let's make fun of D with his happy clams day. Luckily the Amazing Caterini was NOT a mind reader. He didn't even have a mind to begin with.

Howie found himself laughing out loud.

"What?" Kevin asked him.

"Nothing, just thinking"

"Happy thoughts I take it?"

Howie nodded at his older bandmate "Yeah something like that"

Kevin raised his eyebrows at his friend, "Ah, I see..."

That made everyone laugh, they all thought Kevin would have made a great cartoon character. Then he suddenly got into serious band leader mood, which caused the two youngest to groan.

"Guys, this week is a very big week for us. The guy coming to spend the next few days with us will be watching our every move. Anytime we fight, he'll be there, anytime we curse he'll be there"

"Anytime we fart...he'll be there" Nick was quick to add.

"I doubt it Kaos, he'll draw the line at YOUR stink bombs!"

"AJ shut the hell up, what do you think your farts smell like roses or something?"

"Yeah he wishes"

"Brian why on earth would I wish that my farts would smell like roses?"

"HELLO PEOPLE CAN WE FOCUS PLEASE?" Kevin yelled at the gas infatuated trio, who in turn all smiled.

"Anyway....like I was saying" He shot a dirty look at Nick, "This is an important thing and it should be treated as such"

"As such? Who even says that? pfft...as such" Nick again, as if I even had to tell you that.

"Emeril does" All four guys looked over at Howie, "Emeril says as such all the time"

"And Emeril is?" AJ asked in a slow exaggerated manner which caused Brian and Nick to crack up.

"Emeril Lagasse, the chef guy"

"You're losing us D"

"Nick asked who says as such and I'm telling you Emeril Lagasse says it ALL the time" They all continued to look at each other baffled, which was making Howie mad for some reason.

"What?" He said defensively when all four, even Kevin started snickering.

"Nothing D"

"I know he says that because Ronnie ALWAYS watches the guy on the Food Network, I think she has a problem"

"She's not the only one..." Nick said under his breath.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing Howie, let's just move on shall we?"

"No, I want to know what you said"

"He said that he thinks we should move on, which I for once in my entire life, happen to agree with. Come on guys, the reporter will be here ANY minute" Kevin said looking at his watch.

"Who is this guy anyway? Do we have a name or anything?"

"I think his name is Robin and he is a good reporter, he followed Korn around last time"

"From Korn to us? Where did he go wrong?"

"Anyway, I think he's a fairly new guy, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see"

They all sat in silence for a few minutes, "SO, it's important that we make a GOOD first impression on him, you know they will be looking for anything at all to write about"

"That's his job Kev"

"I know Brian, but I mean because we are a boy band..." They all groaned, including Kevin who was talking, "They will be looking for ANYTHING negative to write, so really guys, let's try to be on our best behavior"

"Don't worry Kevin, you really worry too much" Nick said rolling his eyes at his older, extremely anal bandmate.

"Yeah man for once Nick is right.."

"Hey!"

"Shut up Nick...Anyway, you need to relax. Everything will be fine" Howie said to his friend as he gently pat him on the shoulder.

"Don't tell mke to shut up D! I hate when you guys tell me to shut up"

"Nick don't act like a baby" AJ argued.

"I'm not a baby; why don't YOU shut up!"

"Oh good one"

"Boys see? That's what I mean" Kevin said jumping between the two youngest ones before they killed each other. However; on his way to get between the two he accidentally stepped on Howie's foot which caused him to let out a rather high pitched squeal. All of the guys stopped and looked at the Latino and just began to laugh hysterically.

"Howie what the hell was that?" Howie was a little embarassed but also annoyed by everything and everyone, so he exploded, "You know what? I am tired of you guys always making fun of me. I QUIT!" He yelled just as Robin, the reporter from Rolling Stone walked in the room.





The End... in a beginning kind of a way