“Dude.” AJ said as he looked over at Nick and Brian who was looking at Justin Timberlake and his date, “She’s still with him?”

“I didn’t think Sabrina had it in her.” Brian said, “That bitch.”

“That whore!” AJ said rather loudly as Kelsey and Rachel looked over at them and AJ looked over at them and waved innocently, “Damn your country girl heard me.”

“That bitch.” Nick muttered as he sat there watching them. They both sat down and gave each other a little kiss, not even paying any attention that Nick was just a few feet away.

“I’ll go kick ass.” AJ said as Brian looked over at him, shaking his head, “It’d be my pleasure to kick Timberlake’s ass.”

“I’m sure it would.” Brian said as he looked back at Nick, “You alright?”

“I want to kick his ass.” Nick whispered, “Damn I want to kick someone’s ass.”

“There, kick his!” AJ said as he pointed up at Justin while Chris looked back at him, “Oh don’t you look over at me you little devil man.”

“Make her jealous.” Brian said as Nick looked over at him and then over at Kelsey who was sitting there talking to Tim McGraw, “Go over and say hi.”

“I dunno.” Nick said as he pressed his lips together and looked back up at Sabrina and Justin, “Damn I want to kick his ass. First this and then they present the award to Kelsey. Fuck no.”

“Oh hell.” AJ said as he sat back in his seat while Kevin turned around and looked over at them.

“Oh there’s Kelsey.” Kevin said as he smiled, looking down at Nick who cut his eyes up at him, “I think I’ll go say hi. Come on Kris.” as they started to walk over to Kelsey.

“Damn.” Nick growled as he watched Kevin and Kristin and looked back at Brian.

“Dude, go on tour with Tim McGraw?” Kelsey asked as she looked at Rachel and then at David.

“Atleast I know I’ll get free beers.” David said as he pulled at his tie again and Kelsey reached over, and hit his hand lightly.

“Hey Kelsey.” Kevin said as Kelsey looked back over to see Kevin and Kristin standing there.

“Oh hey.” Kelsey said as she stood there, “Hi, how are you?”

“Fine, you’re looking nice tonight.” Kevin said as Kelsey looked down, “Eh I dunno, you both are you looking nice.”

“Thanks. Kelsey, this is my wife Kristin, Kristin this is Kelsey.” Kevin said as they shook hands.

“It’s nice too meet you. Kevin got me your CD and I love it.” Kristin said as Kelsey started to laugh a little.

“Thanks. He told me that you were a fan.” Kelsey said, “I’m glad you like it.”

“I really do.” Kristin said, “And I hear I’m not the only one.” as Kevin elbowed her lightly.

“The only one what?” Kelsey asked as she looked over at Kevin.

“Here come here.” Kristin said as she took her hand, “I want to introduce you to someone.”

“Oh who?” Kelsey asked as she looked back at Rachel and Kristin started to take her across the isle when the announcer told everybody to take their seats that the awards were about to begin.

“Oh well darn. Okay later.” Kristin said, “Okay?”

“Um okay.” Kelsey said as she swallowed and Nick turned his head looking over at her, “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay.” Kristin said as Kevin walked by Kelsey.

“Good luck on the performance.” Kevin said as Kelsey smiled, telling him thanks and walked back over to her seat and sat down.

“Good god.” Kelsey said as she took a deep breath and Rachel looked over at her. Kelsey sat there, looking up at the first performer who was Craig David.

She sat there looking at him on stage and cut her eyes over at Nick who was directly across from her. She sat there looking at him for a second until she realized he was looking back at her and she jumped, looking back at the stage.

All throughout the awards, Kelsey kept looking over at Nick and he kept looking over at her. The only thing was they wouldn’t say anything to each other, they would just look away when the other realized they were looking.

The guys had wound up beating Shaggy and ‘N Sync for Pop Album Of The Year. They were in shock but gladly accepted the award. The whole time they were on stage, Nick looked down at Kelsey until Kevin elbowed him to talk and when he did all he could say was “Hey Aaron.”

“Kelsey.” Rachel whispered as Kelsey looked over at her, “Time to go back.”

“Shit.” Kelsey said as she stood up and Rachel and David stood up also, “I’m not ready for this.”

“Yes you are.” Rachel said as Kelsey fixed her skirt and looked over at Nick as they started to make their way backstage so that she could get ready for her performance.

“You two keep eyeing each other.” Brian whispered as Nick looked over at him, rolling his eyes, “Don’t roll your eyes at me.”

“She keeps looking at me.” Nick said, “I dunno.”

“And you keep looking at her.” Brian said as he noticed Nick was looking up at Sabrina and Justin, “Don’t let them get to you.”

“Damn just pisses me off Rok. That and I didn’t get to talk to Leigh today.” Nick mumbled as he looked over at Brian.

“Then go talk to Kelsey.” Brian said as Nick looked over at her empty seats, “Oh yeah she’s gone now, but later.”

“I’ve technically talked to her before.” Nick said as Brian looked at him, “Okay so I only said hi.”

“Yeah.” Brian said as he laughed.

“I saw her asleep last night.” Nick said as Brian looked at him, “I was standing in the hall and David her guard came out and he was going in her suite so he asked me did I want to come in. I said yeah and she was asleep again go figure, so I talked to him and her manager Rachel for a little bit. Then I went in to see Kelsey asleep and I left.”

“Well damn.” Brian said as he shook his head, “Just talk to her. That’s all I ask.”

“Okay.” Nick said as he looked over at Brian.

“Okay.” Brian said as he smiled while Nick looked back up at Justin and Sabrina.

“Kelsey, that skirt is damn short on you.” Joey said backstage in the dressing room as Kelsey stood there in her black top and her short black leather skirt, “Your mama is gonna have a freak attack.”

“I think it looks good.” Samantha said as she zipped up her skirt, “Atleast ours aren’t that short.”

“Thank you god. Damn, you see AJ out there?” Joey asked as Samantha rolled her eyes.

“Guys, come here.” Kelsey said as she took them over to the side, away from where Rachel was talking to the band members.

“What?” Samantha asked.

“I’m gonna do something a little different.” Kelsey whispered as she leaned over, whispering in their ears.

“Damn. Kelsey’s next isn’t she?” Nick asked as he looked over at Brian who nodded his head yes, “Damn.”

“Happy?” Brian asked as he smiled over at Nick when Kevin reached over and tapped Brian on the arm.

“Tell Nick that Kelsey’s next.” Kevin whispered as AJ sat there shaking his head.

“We know.” Brian said as he winked at him. AJ looked at him and Brian did a cheesey grin.

“Alright what don’t I know?” AJ asked as Kevin hit him in the arm, telling him to shut up when Mark McGrath who was hosting the awards came on to introduce Kelsey. Nick sat there looking at the stage infront of them to see shadows walking on the stage and noticed that one of them was Kelsey.

All of a sudden all of the lights went dim and the lights on the stage slowly came on as the beginning chords of the song began to play.

Kelsey stood there in the middle of the stage, with her band off behind her some. Samantha and Joey were behind her to her left and right. The three of them stood there with their mic sets on as Kelsey started singing.

Sometimes I close my eyes
And imagine you with me
Chasing passion into the night
All tangled in a dream.

Oh if you could see my heart
The way I feel inside
You would know just how far
I’m willing to go to get to you
There is nothing I won’t do

She stood there singing while looking out into the audience, seeing Nick watching her every move as she moved the music a little like they had practised in rehearsal and soundcheck.

Kelsey cut her eyes over to the side once to see Rachel and David standing there before taking a deep breath and began singing the chorus where she went into dancing a little with Samantha and Joey.

Let me show you what it’s like to lose control
Free the desire in your soul
Oh oh let me love you.

Let me take you to a place like no where else
Show you the things you never felt
Oh oh let me love you.

Nick sat there, leaning back in his seat, watching every thing she did. He kept noticing that she was looking at him and when she did, Brian would elbow him a little, but Nick didn’t move. He just sat there watching her until she moved out of her spot a little walking towards the right side of the stage as she began to sing the next verse, looking over at him.

I want to taste your kiss
Be the reason for your smile
Touch the magic on your skin
Be the one that drives you wild.

“Whoa.” Brian whispered as he looked over at Nick and then looked back up at Kelsey as she smiled down at Nick. She started to move back to her spot in the middle of the stage slowly, still looking at him and continued to sing.

Oh if you could read my mind
You’d know you’re everything I need
You’d see yourself through my eyes
You may understand what I’m going through
And just how much I want you

“What the hell is she doing?” Rachel asked as she looked over at David and looked back out at Kelsey who started to sing the chorus of the song again while dancing, but this time getting more into it.

Let me show you what it’s like to lose control
Free the desire in your soul
Oh oh let me love you.

Let me take you to a place like no where else
Show you the things you never felt
Oh oh let me love you.

Then the lights when dim during the break of the song. Nick looked around thinking that it was over until the lights rose back up and Kelsey began to sing the chorus of the song again, dancing along with Samantha and Joey and looking back out at him.

Let me show you what it’s like to lose control
Free the desire in your soul
Oh oh let me love you.

Ohh.. let me love you

The music ended and everybody stood up applauding her performance, including Nick who stood there clapping slowly, looking confused. Brian just stood there laughing at him while clapping, giving Kelsey the thumbs up. He continued to laugh while looking down at Kevin and Kristin who were also applauding. Kevin looked down at Brian, winking at him and AJ just looked at them wondering what the hell was going on.

“Whoa.” Joey whispered as her, Kelsey, and Samantha walked off the stage to heard to the back and change, “You were majorly flirting with Carter.”

“Was I?” Kelsey asked as she walked up to Rachel who just smiled at her. Kelsey smiled back and continued walking back to her dressing room.

“Kelsey Leigh Baker.” Rachel said as Kelsey looked back at her as they walked into the dressing room, “What was that? That wasn’t in the rehearsal.”

“Something I wanted to do.” Kelsey said as she shrugged her shoulders while unzipping her skirt, “So what?”

“Did you see the poor boy’s face? He was all confused as hell.” Rachel said as Samantha started to laugh.

“I don’t know, but I think Brian found it damn funny. Kelsey, when did you start liking Nick?” Samantha asked as Kelsey looked over at her.

“I didn’t say I liked him. He.. just.. ya know, he’s scared of me.” Kelsey said as Joey and Samantha started laughing.

Nick sat there, still looking confused, moving his lips like he wanted to say something. He would start to say something and then stop, sit there and think a minute and then try to say something else.

Brian, AJ, Kevin, Kristin, and Howie just glared over at him.

“Nick, you okay?” Kevin asked as Nick sat there doing the same thing over again.

“Nick, you need a drink man?” AJ asked as Brian hit him in the arm, “Damn, stop it. I’m sensitive man.”

“Nick, you okay?” Brian asked as Nick looked over at them.

“She was singing to me right?” Nick asked as he looked behind him to see Jessica Simpson. He turned back around and looked at the others again, “She was right? Me? Nick Carter?”

“That would be you.” AJ said, “You alright dude?”

“Nicky, you want us to call you an ambulance?” Howie asked as AJ rolled his eyes over at him.

“A ambulance isn’t what this boy needs yo. I’m telling you. He needs some ass.” AJ said as Kevin hit him in the other arm.

“Nick, you really need to meet Kelsey after the awards.” Kristin said as Nick looked over at her, nodding his head yes. He smiled a little and looked back up at Sabrina and Justin who sat there, giving each other little kisses and then looked away.

“Forget them.” Brian said as Nick looked over at him, “Just -” Brian started to say something when he noticed Rachel, Kelsey, and David coming back to their seats, “Look.”

“Huh?” Nick asked as he watched them going back to their seats. He watched Kelsey as she fixed her long skirt and sat down. She pressed her lips together and then bit down on her bottom lip, looking over at Nick who was looking at her. She smiled a little and then looked forward while moving her eyes around, “Damn.”

“Go on over there talk boy damn go.” AJ said as Nick heard Sabrina and Justin giggle while Justin and the others headed backstage to get ready to present the next award. He turned and looked at them and then closed his eyes while the others looked at him.

“I can’t believe you did that.” Rachel said as Kelsey just sat here, sighing, “I mean damn.”

“Was it that flirty?” Kelsey asked.

“You were starring him down girl.” Rachel said as Kelsey closed her eyes and pressed her lips together.

“I made a fool out of myself.” Kelsey said as Rachel started to laugh, patted her in the back and then fixed Kelsey’s hair a little.

“No you didn’t. I think it’s kinda funny.” Rachel said as she looked over at Nick, “Obviously the boy is lost and confused as hell.”

“He’s not the only one.” Kelsey said as she peeked back over at him, “Damn he’s looking at me. I wanna go home.”

“No you don’t. You are going to meet that boy before the end of the night.” Rachel said as Kelsey looked over at her when Mark McGrath announced ‘N Sync coming out, to present the next award, “Oh here’s your award.”

“Damn.” Kelsey said as she took a deep breath, looking down, while biting her lower lip.

“She sat there, looking down while playing with her sapphire ring that she had gotten for her 16th birthday and had never taken off. She listened as they announced the award they were giving away which was Best New Country Female Vocalist. She listened to them announce the nominees and looked over at Nick who cut his eyes over at her.

“And the winner is -” JC said as Lance opened the envelope and they all looked at each other.