The next day, the last day of their stay in France, they hadn't meet each other before dinner time. Brian and the group had shows and interviews all over France. After dinner, Brian and Paige decided to walk by the beach again. This time they didn't talk much. Brian felt a couple of Paige's hairstrands playing on his face. And after a while, he put an arm around her. When she turned to him, he kissed her slowly on her lips. Then they kissed again, this time longer.
A while after they parted, Paige sneezed. Brian asked her if she wanted to go back to her room.
She nodded, pulled out a tissue and wept her nostrils. They got into an empty elevator and as soon as the door closed, Brian leant her against the walls and kissed her again.
"No," she told him after the kiss. "You'll infect yourself by doing that."
"I don't mind," he said as he leaned again for another one.

AJ let out a long whistle when Brian tip-toed into their room late at a quarter past midnight.
"Gosh AJ!" Brian shouted. "I thought you were sleeping! It's probably midnight!"
"B-rok my man, I was about to ask you the same question! I thought you were staying at someone's place tonight....."
"It's not like that, Bone," Brian's face blushed scarlet, lucky him the room was dark. "We aren't going that far."
"Really?" AJ sat up. "You like her and you don't wanna...."
"I've only known her for what - yesterday and today makes two days! And she's under-aged! I could commit an adultery! And... and considering the fact that she's..... Well, she's....."
"She's a big boss' daughter, is that what you're trying to say?"
"Exactly," Brian pulled off his sweater and went straight to bed. "Not that I ain't cool with that. It's just.............. just...."
"The boss' gonna get your ass down the ditch if you ever broke her heart, right? Or is it that she's got a bodyguard with her? I don't know, actually that sounds pretty realistic to me." AJ went back inside his blanket. "'Night, B."
"......'Night, AJ." They both drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The next morning, Brian, the last downstairs, found the guys discussing something over breakfast. "Hey guys, what's up?"
"Take a look, B," AJ showed him a newspaper. "Totally freaky."
"An industrial textile president is being trialed for shooting one of his co-workers. Witnesses say that his victim was his daughter's ex-lover. The textile president admitted his crime, and he says he just wanted to get revenge for his daughter, because she was dumped cruelly by the victim when she told him that she was pregnant." Brian finished reading the headline. "Okay, so?"
"Geez Brian, we know you ain't dumb!" Nick exclaimed. "That could be you on the next morning papers!"
"Yea, like, 'Brian Backstreet, Found In The Gutter'? Please, guys!"
"Maybe he ain't gonna kill you by himself," AJ added. "Maybe he'll tell Justin or John or who, you know, Paige's bodyguard? To aim at your ass, especially that Paige is - what a coincidence - under aged."
"It's Jules, and no, I don't think he'd murder me in cold blood." Brian's tone was calm, although he was starting to lose his confidence. "What if we got out successfully, me and Paige? Like, end up getting married, for example."
The guys shrieked.
"Brian! Have you thought about it real good?" Kevin asked worriedly.
"'What if'! I said 'what if'! By Grace! You guys are unbelievable!"
"There are the possibilities, Brian," Howie said reasonably. "Besides killing you, he can also make your career go downhill."
"Hey guys!" Paige called out, sauntering over to their table.
"Hi Paige," each of the guys stammered awkwardly, jumping from their seats. "Wassup?"
Paige glanced at them suspiciously. "Nothing's up. Just checkin on ya, 'cause I figure you guys are leaving today."
"Yeah, actually, in a half an hour," Brian replied. "When are you leaving?"
"Right now. I'll see you guys later, ok?"
"Take care," Kevin said, followed by the rest. Paige grinned wickedly, but she said nothing.
"Bye, baby." Brian hugged her affectionately. She returned him a dry, simple hug, which hurt his heart a little.
She mouthed a "bye" and strode away. The guys exchanged confused looks.
They embarked to Switzerland on time. Brian thought he wouldn't ever see her again, which made him totally glummy during flight. But then he finalyzed, probably it's better this way. And he swore that he wouldn't ever get involve with an important person's daughter again. The plane landed and they were loaded to a bus. Brian was the last to climb on, crashing into Nick's back on the bus steps. "Hey Nick! Move on!" he yelled grumpily. Nick paved him a way, and soon, Brian was watching a figure in disbelief, along with the other guys. Paige was standing there, in their tour bus, a satisfied look on her face. "Paige! What are you doing here?" he spurted, rushing over to either hold her or pinch her for making him confused.
"My mom's having a charity party here tomorrow night, so I'm staying for three days. I wanted to surprise you."
"Really?" Brian exclaimed excitedly. But suddenly he recalled his oath on the plane. He could diminish the oath just like that, but now he felt cautious about this relationship. He didn't know that it would last longer than he had predicted. He wondered whether he was happy or alarmed.
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"There's that American Werewolf in Paris tonight, you wanna watch?" Paige offered, looking hopefully to Brian while clinging tight on his arm.
"I don't know, I don't feel like going to the movies today," Brian reasoned. "Sorry..."
"It's okay. I forgot about your important shows tomorrow, you should sleep." She was disappointed, he could tell. He kissed her for a parting kiss. "See you," she waved, disappearing from the door.
"Bye," Brian said weakly, solely because of his guilt.
Nick watched from across the room, meanwhile trying to empty his playstation bag.
"Frick, are you sick?"
"Yes! I'm sick of myself," Brian replied emotionlessly. Nick looked at him as if he had understood the whole act.
"Say it, Nick," Brian demanded his buddy, lying his back on the hotel bed and rested his arm over his eyes.
"Say what?" Nick asked confused.
"That I'm an asshole!"
"Naw... You ain't that bad, Brian."
"Whatever," Brian got up and started for the door.
"Where you going?" asked Nick.
"I'm gonna talk it over with Paige. God knows how she would react. For what may happen, I deserve it."
"Are you sure? But maybe it's good for both of you," Nick said although he hesitated. "Good luck!"
"Thanks," Brian said as he left.
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

"Paige," Brian appeared at her hotel room, a level above his, looking miserable. She looked at him strangely.
"What's wrong, Brian?" she touched his forehead. "You look ill! Here, sit down on the couch."
"I'm alright, Paige, honest. I just want to tell you something."
"Shoot."
"Well, first off, not that I don't like you...." Brian trailed off, unsure of what to say.
Paige breathed a collective breath. "Stop," she said. "I know what you're going to say next. 'I don't hate you', 'I enjoyed being with you', 'not that you're boring'...... I know. Just don't say it."
"No, that's not what-"
"Please!" she asked. Her eyes started to water. "Just leave!"
"Paige, listen to me..."
"Go away!" Paige shoved him out her room and tried to close the door, but Brian wedged it with his foot. He threw the door open and held both of Paige's hands. She struggled. "Paige! It's not that! How can you think that? I was only trying to talk about your dad!"
"What?" she hardly could mutter.
Brian loosened her hands. "Your step-dad. TransCon executive."
"Huh? You mean..... Oh." But still she didn't understand what Jacob had to do with Brian and her.
"Yea, before we go any further, I was just thinking... if he's wise enough to not putting hatred if..... if I ever hurt you," Brian stammered. "Accidentally, of course," he quickly added.
"I don't really know him so I don't know his possible actions... But I don't think he will hate you for dating me. Him marrying my mum doesn't mean he loves me," Paige said bitterly. But it switched to anger. "So what if he hates you? Are you going to back up?" Brian's eyes avoided hers, stuffing his hands into his pockets. They fell silent for a moment. "Good bye," Paige said, closing the door. "No! I won't let you go! I swear! I love you, Paige. I know it's a strong word, but I do think I can't live tomorrow without you!" he shouted, pushing the door to open again.
She watched him, bewildered. "I'm serious," he said in a softer, reassuring tone. He enveloped her in his arms. She slowly returned the hug. "But you were thinking, weren't you?" she asked, inhaling the fragrance on Brian's body. She couldn't feel more comfortable than this. "I admit, I was," Brian grinned, although he knew she couldn't see his face. "But I came up with one final thought. You wanna know what I've decided?" She glanced suspiciously at his cheeky face.
"I give up. What have you decided?"
"I decided that this should be challanging."
"Thank you very much, Brian. Now I feel like some piece of metal called trophy," she said, pouting.
Brian took her hands and kissed them as if she were a princess. "A delicate and beautiful one. I shall be meeting you again, my dear. At dinner, perhaps? And shall we go to see a movie later?"
"We shall," she giggled. "Brian, don't you have some sleep to catch?"
"Thank you, my love. It will be a great honor...."
Brian kept blabbing with such manner while Paige shoved him out of her room and shut the door. She then leaned against it and didn't realise her lips had developed a smile.
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The next night, they went to the movies as planned. They didn't realise somebody had spotted them kissing at the movies. That somebody was a Brian fanatic fan who - for mere coincidence - went to the same school as Paige.
"The way I see it, yes, they were going out! Correction; making out!" Blythe Daniels, a chubby, brown haired with braces on her teeth reported enthusiastically to her fellow Brian admirer, a high school heart-breaker, Carole Reilly. They both were in the same classes as Paige, and they'd been pretty pissed by Paige's new fortunes. First, she got a new dad in the entertainment biz, and now, she had a Backstreet Boy as a boyfriend!
They always thought Paige was not more than a low-class lucky girl who'd just got transferred to their school because her rich new dad afforded it. They didn't like her one bit. Especially with her clinging on B-rok's arm.
"That bitch!" Carole swore. "Brian can't possibly like a tramp like that! Ew! It's disgusting! Now look what you've done, Blythe, you've spoiled my breakfast! I can't proceed with my eating now!"
"Oops," her friend's reply was provided non-chalantly. "So what do we do now?"
"I'll think of something."
"I will be in Backstreet Boys' hotel if you need me. That is, if I can get through the guards."
"Yeah. Go!"

 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

"Brian, you didn't!" Nick exclaimed when he saw his bud and Paige showed up in the breakfast area together, hand-in-hand.
"I didn't," Brian answered easily.
"I saved you some lotion for your acne medication last night, Bri, but I guess you didn't come back," AJ said, smiling impolitely.
"I ain't even rooming with you, Bone." Brian boxed AJ's ear playfully.
"We watched TV all night after we got back," Paige said, feeling the awkwardness of having to explain their actions to Brian's friends.
"TV? With that language?" Kevin teased. He and the guys would love it if they could make the two just 'fess up.
"We learn," Brian said, out-witting his cousin. "For about 10 minutes."
"Then?" AJ asked, the curiosity was eating him like a disease.
"We did NOTHING, okay?" Brian snarled. "Man, such  rude questions!"
"Anyway," Nick chimed in, diversing the topic. "Maybe you aren't interested, but Britney's staying here too. She just flown here and they put us in the same hotel," he explained cooly, but everyone on the table knew he was nuts for Britney. He had met her in a photograph section for a cover of a magazine and since then, he always kept track of her activities.
"I see," Brian smirked. "Okay, Nick. Okay. Hold your horses." Which had gotten himself a glare.
"Are you gonna meet her?" Kevin asked.
"Not unless she invited us," answered Nick.
"We're probably busy all day, so you go there and say hi, okay Nick? For the sake of a good business relationship!" Kev said. "Although she did say some crap on us."
"Come on, Kev, you know he wouldn't mind, would you Nick?" Howie joined the teasing.
There was a faint blush on Nick's cheeks.
"So, where are we going today, D?" Brian asked while Nick's eyes were suddenly amazed with the bacon on his plate. "Do we have any breaks today?"
"I see you're phsyched," Howie sighed. "But don't we all are. Let's see... I think we'd be back in here around five, and then there's the awards ceremony tonight at eight."
"Got it," Brian turned to Paige. "Are you busy tonight?"
"Yeah, actually I'm going to help my mum managing her charity event," she explained. "Sorry, babe."
"Uh..... Okay then. See you tomorrow morning?"
"Okay."
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

At the Awards Ceremony later that night :
"Guys!" Howie called from a spot in-between the seats in the auditorium. "Over here!"
"I'll be sitting on the right end!" AJ yelled while running down the steps to the line where Howie was standing.
"B-rok is going for the left end!" Brian yelled right after, running the other direction from AJ.
"There are some things that never change," Kevin said, shaking his head.
"What's wrong with being in the middle anyway?" Howie laughed, taking a seat right next to AJ.
"So who'll be sitting on my right?" AJ asked, trying to take over the sitting plan map from Howie. "I hope it's Jennifer Lopez again!" he smiled excitedly.
"Britney Spears!" Howie exclaimed. Everybody practically turned to Nick.
"What?" Nick, who was still standing, acted dumb. "You're taking my place, Nicky," AJ ordered, standing up and pushed Nick to his seat. "Fine! If that makes you happy!" Nick murmured. The others smirked.
"Gah! I gotta get to the toilet fast!" Brian said out loud, making two girls sitting in front of them bursted to giggles.
"How gross!" AJ exclaimed in disgust. "Pretend we don't know him!" Howie nodded in approval.
"Real cool, Brian," said Nick sarcastically.
"Do you always have to tell everyone that you wanna pee?" Kevin said, shaking his head again.
"Sorry," Brian said. He sped toward the rear side of the building and gladly, he found his heaven.
 

"That's better," he said, pulling his zipper up. He left the toilet and suddenly a girl crashed to him from behind. "Oh no," she said appologetically. "I'm really, really sorry!" Her hair was bleached copper, long and curly, and she had a very long eyelashes. "I didn't see you coming, I'm very sorry!"
"No problem," Brian said, calming the girl. Why is she panicking over something so un-important? Brian thought in disturbance. Girls.
Then she gasped, leaving her mouth hanging open. "You're.... you're Brian Littrell!"
"The one and only," Brian said, smiling obligatedly. The last thing I need is a girl screaming her head off in front of me on a prestige award show when everyone's watching.
"I know you from Paige," she looked hesitated. "Um, is she still with you right now?"
"What do you mean?" Brian asked, confused - big time.
"Paige is...... Paige is using you," she said bluntly.
"Excuse me?" Brian wanted to laugh. "What makes you say that?"
"Well, Paige was telling me and my friends, that she's going to... you know.... and she made a bet, if she won...."
"Now wait just a damn minute! The problem is, I don't believe you! What crap are you trying to give me here?" Brian's tone of speech didn't change, he was as calm as water under the bridge, but inside he was furious.
"You don't believe me? Fine! It's just the problem in me, that's all! I just don't feel hot letting her get you into her evil scheme, and it's been bugging me a whole lot! I thought this was the right time to 'save' you, but no. You're just too much of a saint to save yourself!" the girl spurted. She turned on her heel and left.
Brian took a minute to absorb it all, and when he'd done, he didn't believe a word she just said. Or was he being too blinded by love?
 
 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

When he got back to his seat, Nick and Britney were busy talking. The others quietly pointed at the two. He grinned half-heartedly. He couldn't stop thinking about what that strange girl just told him. Nah! She's just jealous of us, he thought incredulously. But she's from Paige's high school...
"Brian, oi, are you okay?" Howie looked at him, concerned.
"You aren't being yourself," Kevin joked. "Don't you wanna punch Nick or pair up with AJ to bug his flirting with Britney?"
"Something came up," Brian answered shortly. Kev and Howie looked at him as if they were waiting for him to bawl his eyes out. "There's this girl I just met after I got out from the toilet," Brian started to explain. "She said these things about Paige. I didn't believe her and I still don't."
"Then there's nothing to think about," Kevin said.
"I'm not saying that she was right, but.... what if...." Brian said, perplexed.
"You're starting to lose your grip, man, I thought you said you trusted Paige?" Howie said.
"She seems great to me," AJ opiniated to Brian from 3 seats away, but everybody were too serious to realize the eaves-dropping. Seeing Brian's depressed look, he continued, "But whatever you do, we'll be right behind you."
Brian was quiet. He gave them a thankful glance briskly. The night went on and he didn't enjoy the award show as much as Nick and the others did. They got away with six awards, and Brian managed to take it professionally on stage.
"Check out these babies!" Nick exclaimed joyfully backstage after they received their last award that evening. "Hey Bri! Aren't you excited?"
"Lots," Brian replied, forcing a happy smile. "We're darn good, aren't we?"
"The hell we are!" AJ approved. Kevin and Howie forgot about Brian's problem as they over-heard the crowd still chanting their names outside.
 
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

"What do you think about her?" Nick asked when him and Brian were finally resting in their room.
"Huh?" Brian asked. A million images of Paige crossed his mind. Nick got up from the couch and looked out the window to the city lights above. "You know," Nick muffled. "Britney." Nick's famous way to hide his face was to pretend that he was enjoying the scenery.
"Oh."
"What is an 'oh'?" Nick asked impatiently.
"I mean, she's great. Pretty and all. You should go on a date with her."
"You think so?"
"Damn, I'm positive! Ask her out, man!"
"Do you think she'd-"
"Who cares what I think? And stop acting cool when you're not!" Brian finally laughed. Nick turned and he was as red as a tomato. "I'll get ya," Nick warned before jumping to wrestle Brian. They both were such good wrestling athletes that they woke up their neighbors. They only stopped when Kevin yelled from his room next to theirs, "It's midnight, assholes!"
 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

"Paige, do you happen to have a friend with a copper and long and curly hair, very long eyelashes?"
Paige stared at Brian strangely.
"Yeah, as a matter of fact I do," she recalled. "Although I wouldn't say she's a 'friend'. Why?"
"Do you also happen to have made some sort of, a bet, with her and anyone else?"
Brian studied her face, waiting for weird signs. But she still looked innocent enough.
"As far as I remember, no. Do I have to stay in the dark forever, Brian? Tell me what's wrong! You look pretty upset..."
Brian felt a big burden was lifted from him, as well as getting a new one - which was called 'guilt'.
"Oh man..... You have no idea how much I feel like a jackass for asking you this!"
"What did you exactly ask me about?"
"Well...." Brian told her about the girl and the things she said, and that he was very stupid to start trusting a pathetic rumor instead of believing in his girlfriend. "Sorry..."
"You ARE pathetic, Brian!" she exclaimed, just playing on him.
"Who is she? Why's she saying those things?"
"\Carole Reilly, the snobbiest and most annoying person in my whole life! What sin have I commited... even in Europe I still have to put up with her!" she said angrily. Then she groaned. "Oh yeah, I just remembered.... School's off, and she's definitely following BSB on tour. Everyone in school know she has a crush on you. She has these pictures of you all over her locker... Yeah, now I know who that guy is."
"I'm very flattered," Brian said cheekily.
"Yeah, and I'm very wonderful inside," she replied, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, do you have trust me, now that you know I'm not fooling with you?"
"Hmmm.... let me think," Brian put on a thinking pose. "I really need an insuring kiss for that."
"You're desperate, you know that?" They laughed as she grasped his collar and landed a long, gentle kiss on his lips.
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

"Hi," Nick said quietly in his room for the millionth time. "What do you say we- Naw. Too cheesy!"
"Frack, what are you doing?" Brian looked at him, amused.
"N-nothing! I was, you know, practising for tonight's concert.... You know, how to say hi...."
"Don't give me crap, Nicky! We all know you always go out there and say 'I love you all!' and all is good." Brian smiled nicely. "Now what were you exactly doing?"
"Wow! Is that Superman?" Nick pointed to the window.
"No it's not. Are you practising how to ask Britney out?" Brian asked, rather rethorically.
"I'm not answering!"
"Then I'll keep on asking!"
"Do I sense you're back to our normal Brian? You looked stressed after the awards night."
"I didn't know you cared," Brian said slowly. It touched his heart that Nick did watch for him.
"You're my best buddy, how could I  not love you?" Nick put an arm around Brian's shoulder. Brian eyed him suspiciously.
"Flattery won't get you nowhere, Nick. And the Britney situation, come 'ere, I'll teach you. You're welcome. First step, buy a rose. A single stem is cute, a bunch of them is perfect....."
"Hold on, I'll get a paper!"
 

To be continue...