Chapter Text
Prologue
The four men stared at the computer screen together, jaws dropped. “How the fuck did something like this happen? Could we be getting April Fooled in September? Is this a nasty end of tour prank? Seriously, what the FUCK is this?” Pete couldn’t believe what he and his band mates were reading. It just couldn’t be true…
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“I’m sorry guys, but it’s true. We’re not 100% sure how this happened exactly, but we think it was a clerical error in the PR department. But contracts were signed on both ends and the advertising and promotion starts up tomorrow. My hands are tied. This is going to have to happen.”
AJ sat back, biting his tongue so he wouldn’t yell at the suits at Jive… again. This is not what he had in mind for starting a promo tour for the new album. He felt a firm hand clasp down on his shoulder. He followed the arm until he saw Brian, smiling at management.
“We’ll live. It’s a great way to get people talking about us again,” Brian said. His southern drawl was thicker than usual. But that always happened when he was fighting back swears. “Come on fella’s, let’s go.”
Brian grabbed the flier off the desk and led the group out. They took the elevator down to the lobby, where the four men stood in a circle, staring at their new promo poster in disbelief.
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“This can’t be happening,” Pete seethed at the computer.
“We’ll be eaten alive,” AJ growled at the flier.
3 NIGHTS ONLY:
2 Bands
1 Stage
Fall Out Boy
Backstreet Boys
DON’T MISS IT!
Chapter 1
Patrick sat next to Pete on the couch resting his head on Pete’s shoulder. “It won’t be that bad Panda… at least I hope not. Maybe we’ll all get along. Just because we don’t like their music doesn’t mean they’re bad guys.”
Pete gritted his teeth. “Whatever. We still have to share a stage with a bunch of shitty music, choreographed, auto tuned, no talent has-beens! I bet they lip-sync everything. I mean COME ON! They don’t even play their own instruments!”
Patrick sighed, defeated. There was no reasoning with Pete when he got like this. There was only one thing that might be able to stop the complaining. He lifted his head off Pete’s shoulder and stood.
Pete grabbed Patrick’s wrist. “Don’t go, Pattycakes. Please?”
Patrick chuckled. “Who said I was going anywhere?” He turned his head and beamed down at Pete. Patrick laced his fingers in Pete’s then turned and straddled his lap. “Silly Panda.” Patrick pressed his lips to Pete’s, grinding into him.
Pete began clawing at the edge of Patrick’s shirt, then stopped and pushed Patrick away. He braced Patrick’s legs before he stood up, then turned and placed Patrick gently back on the couch. “I’m sorry, Trick. I just can’t right now. I promised Ash I’d try to stop, at least tone it down. And Bronx… I’m sorry… I really am.” He leaned down and kissed Patrick’s lips then walked away.
Patrick put his fingers to his lips and felt wetness. Tears, Pete’s tears. Patrick pulled his legs to his chest and began crying, burying his face in his knees.
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Nick stared out the window, watching the trees whiz by. He’d fucked up another relationship. He’d thought this one would work out. But it ended up just like all the rest of his relationships, all except that one a few years ago. Not many people knew about that one, even fewer talked about it. It was the one moment in his life when he had been truly happy even though the rest of his world had been falling apart. When Nick found out management had convinced them to break up with him for his image he spiraled into the lowest point of his life: high by day, drunk by night, and escorts at least three times a week. He knew it was bad for him, but he had never cared less.
But then came the Cardiomyopathy, and thank God it had. It made him realize he didn’t really want to die. It was a second chance at life, and he thought in love too. He found an angel who had stood by him and helped him get his life back together. Lauren was everything he wanted in a partner, or so he thought.
“How you holding up?” Brian sat down next to his best friend. He was used to worrying about Nick, but not like this. Nick hadn’t been this upset about a break-up since the one a few years back that no one talked about. He had tried his hardest to keep his relationship with Lauren alive. After all she was beautiful, kind, and could make Nick laugh better than almost anyone. Best of all, she hadn’t been hungry for the spotlight; she just wanted to be with Nick. She had been his guardian angel. But something was missing in their relationship. So Nick did the only thing he knew how to do when relationships were failing: he started acting out, and Lauren left. Now with Jive’s latest stunt, Brian wasn’t sure Nick would be ok. Oh, he put on a happy face for the fans, but those closest to him saw the inner turmoil eating away at him. The boys had him on 24-hour watch.
Nick all but ignored Brian. He shrugged and made a non-committal grunt.
“Well that’s better than what Howie got an hour ago. Looks like we’re making progress,” Brian said as he put an arm around Nick’s shoulders. “You know, this is so much easier to do when you’re sitting down. I appreciate you making it convenient for me.”
Nick cracked a hint of a smile. “Anything to help out the shortest guy I know.”
Brian slugged Nick’s arm. “I may be shorter than you, but I can STILL whoop your butt at basketball. How about a game when we get to Ohio?”
Nick let out a smile and nodded. “Sounds good. Thanks B.” Nick turned his attention back to watching the trees outside the bus windows. Thank goodness for his Backstreet Brothers. He knew they cared. He knew they were watching, and that made it easier to not fall into old habits again.