Chapter 26 Remember It’s A Surprise

By September of 2009 Ryan and I had gotten closer than ever before. We really did fall back in love and I was so happy. My friends even saw that for the first time. But still they had their doubts, especially Michelle.

“Kalie, I’m very happy to see you this happy but I just want to warn you to watch Ryan very carefully because he could go back to cheating in a heartbeat,” she told me one day when she and Crystal were hanging out at my house.

“I really don’t think he’ll do it this time. He loves me.”

“But you’ve said that once before Kayl. Do you think he’s really changed this time?” asked Crystal.

“I think he really did.”

“How can you tell?” questioned Michelle.

“I can see it in his eyes. He’s never looked at me with such love before. And he holds me a lot more. When he does it’s like he never wants to let me go. He’s never been so affectionate before. I believe he’s changed a lot for the better this time.”

“I’ll believe it when he puts a ring on your finger,” Michelle said.

Well on October 10, I called up Michelle with exciting news.

***Michelle’s Point of View***

“What’s up Kay babe?” I answered my cell.

“Ryan really did change after all!”

“You know what I said about that Kayl… wait a minute…”

“He proposed to me last night while we were watching the sun set!”

I didn’t reply for a while until she asked, “Mich are you still there?”

“Yeah I’m still here. I just… I just don’t know what to say… Can I ask you something?”

“Of course Mich.”

“Don’t get mad at me or anything but are you sure Ryan changed for good?”

“Yes Michelle I am.” I could hear the smile in her voice.

“Are you really happy with each other and are you two really in love?”

“Yes Mich this is the happiest I’ve been in a long time.”

“Alright then I know what to say… congratulations Kalie. I better be in your wedding party.”

She laughed and answered, “Oh don’t worry you will be! I got to go call Nick and tell him. Talk to you later Mich. Love ya bestie!”

“Later Kay. Love ya too bestie.”

***Nick’s Point of View***

I was in New York promoting the new BSB album This Is Us when Kalie called me. The Boys and I had just sat down in Howie and Leigh’s suite for a quick dinner of pizza and sandwiches when my cell rang.

“Kalie! What’s going on?” I had already talked to her earlier in the day so I wasn’t expecting to talk to her again. “Something exciting must have happened for you to call me twice in one day,” I joked.

“Well something very exciting did happen.”

“Tell me!”

“Ryan and I got engaged!”

My cell dropped from my hand onto the floor because I was so shocked. The Boys looked at me with questioning looks.

“Nick are you still there?” Kalie’s voice came from the phone.

I picked it up and said, “Yeah I am. But… what did you just say?”

“Ryan and I are engaged! He proposed to me when we were watching the sun set last night. I would’ve called you earlier but I had to tell my family.” I heard the happiness dripping from her voice.

I tried my hardest to sound sincere when I answered, “That’s great Kayl! I’m very happy for you. Congrats!”

“Thanks Nick! I’ve got to go. Ry and I are going out to dinner. I’ll talk to you later. Love ya Kaos.”

“I love you too Kay.”

I hung up after hearing the line disconnect.

“What’s going on with Kalie?” asked Brian.

“She and Ryan are engaged.”

Rochelle and AJ gave me surprised looks and Rochelle nearly screamed, “What?! It can’t be true!”

I nodded my head, “Oh yeah. Kalie wouldn’t lie. Not to me.”

“Is she crazy?!”

“Rochelle calm down. Maybe Ryan changed and really does love Kalie,” Leigh offered her reasoning.

“I hope he did,” I said getting up from the couch, “Because if he hurts her again he’s a dead man.”

“Where are you going?” asked Brian as I walked toward the door.

“I need to make a phone call. I’ll be back.”

Once I got into my room I dialed Michelle.

“Hey Nick!”

“Hey. Did you hear from Kalie?”

“Yes she just called me. I’m guessing she called and told you the good news?” her voice was glaring with sarcasm.

“Yeah and I can’t believe it! She can’t be marrying that idiot!”

“She claims he’s changed. For good this time.”

“Seriously?! What do you think? I mean from what I’ve seen he’s improved but not by much. You’ve probably seen more of him. Do you think he’s changed?”

“From what I’ve seen… I guess he did. I mean I don’t know him like Kalie does and I don’t want to get close to him. Who knows he really could’ve changed but I wouldn’t be surprised if he cheats again.”

“I’ll kill him if he hurts Kalie one more time.”

“The only things we can do are wait and see and pretend to be happy for Kalie.”

“You know me Mich, I love acting but I hate lying to my best friend.”

Before I went back to Howie’s suite I looked at my favorite picture of me and Kalie I kept in my wallet.

“Looks like I’ll never tell you now,” I said to her smiling picture.

In February of 2010 Kalie caught Ryan cheating on her for the last time. I found out because she called me in hysterics one day.

“He didn’t change after all! Mich is right! He’s fucking scum! He and I are over!”

“Did you break off the engagement?”

“Not yet. He doesn’t know I found out.”

“How did you find out?”

“He’s been gone for a week. He claimed he was helping his sister move into her apartment but he never called me. I kept leaving messages and he never returned my calls. Finally I called his sister and she told me that Ry was only with her for one day then said he was staying at some girl’s house. The girl’s name was Jackie!”

“No way! It can’t be the same Jackie who…”

“Yes! The one in New York! She apparently moved to Florida close to us! He’s seeing her again now that she lives in the same state!”

“When are you going to break up with him?”

“Tomorrow. We agreed to meet at a restaurant. But Nick can I ask you a favor?”

“You know you can. What is it?”

“Can you come over tonight? And be there for me when I get back from the restaurant?”

“Of course I will. I’ll come over now.”

Luckily I was on a pretty decent break before tour started. “I can stay as long as you want me too.”

“Thanks Nick.”

“Hey, what are best friends for?”

***Kalie’s Point of View***

“You can do this Kayl. Be strong. Be the usual Kalie Marie!” I gave myself a pep talk while I looked in the mirror. Ryan agreed to meet me at the park across from the restaurant where we had our first date. Once I was ready I went back down stairs and met Nick at the door.

“You ready Kay?”

“Yeah I am. Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it. You’re Kalie Marie Smith! You’re the toughest girl I know.” He kissed my forehead and I suddenly had all the confidence in the world.

As I drove to the park I listened to the Black and Blue CD. Just before I pulled into the parking lot I listened to Not For Me. I listened intently to the lyrics and loved the fact that I could actually relate to them; they fit my mood perfectly and gave me the confidence to get out of the car to go confront my fiancé.

I looked around for him and thought aloud to myself, “He should be here by now.”

Then I heard his laugh. I turned around and saw him sitting on a park bench with another girl. He was all over her! They were making out right in front of me and I became pissed! My friends were right when they said I wasn’t his only one.

I stormed over and tapped his shoulder angrily.

“Do you mind?!” he snapped until he realized it was me standing behind him. “Oh shit Kalie! I can explain!”

“Save you’re fucking breath! My friends and family were right about you! I should have listened. Good bye Ryan. Our engagement is over and I never want to see you again!” I ripped the ring off my finger and threw it at him.

I stormed back to my car and over heard his lover say, “This is what I have been waiting for. Now I can have you all to myself.”

“I don’t know about you but I love you Jackie.”

She laughed, “I love you to Ry.” I didn’t need to look back over my shoulder because I knew they went back to making out again.

I drove back home to Nick as quickly as possible without getting a speeding ticket.

February morphed into March and it had already been a month without Ryan. But I wasn’t missing him at all which was surprising. Yet again I wasn’t surprised because of what he did to me. Plus I was looking for a date to my cousin Katie’s sweet 16 on March 6th, her actual birthday.

Katie and I shared the same birth date and her party was held in the same place as mine was. Katie and I were a lot alike besides the whole birthday thing. She had been my dancing student since she was 6 and she loved dancing as much as I did. Katie also acted a lot like me. It was more like she was my little sister instead of my cousin. She was also a Backstreet fan which gave me an idea of who I wanted to bring as my date; and an awesome idea for a birthday surprise.

Nick came over the day I had gotten the invite in the mail.

“Hey Nick?” I started.

“Yes…”

“Would you like to be my guest to my cousin Katie’s sweet 16?”

“When is it?”

“March 6th at 6pm.”

“Sure I’m free. Is there a theme?”

“It’s actually a masquerade. I’ll let you in on a little secret, Katie’s a big BSB fan, she loves you guys. She’s been a fan since she was little thanks to me. She even based her party off your song Masquerade. It’s one of her favorites and it’s going to be the song that starts off the party after dinner. She even had her best friends learn choreography so she could make her own little music video for it. She’s going to have all her friends be the backup dancers and she and her dance friends are going to be the main dancers telling the story of the song. She even wants all her cousins in the video. Isn’t that a cool idea?”

“Yeah that does sound really neat.”

“But I have an idea of making it even cooler.”

“What is it?”

“I was wondering if you and the Boys would be willing to perform at least Masquerade at Katie’s party to surprise her and have it be my birthday present to her. That would really make her sweet 16 special and unforgettable especially because she loves you guys so much. I already talked to my aunt and uncle about bringing you as my guest and my idea and they said it would be fine to have BSB as guests at the party and the Backstreet Family is welcome too. What do you think the rest of the Boys will think of it?”

“I have a feeling they would be in for it. They love a good party and if Katie’s sweet will be anything like yours they’ll have a blast.”

“Do you think Kevin would do it too? She loves all the older songs and Kevin is her favorite. She was very upset when he left in 2006.”

“He’s a big softy. Just tell him it’s a surprise for a sweet 16 and he should be there with bells on. Just give the guys a call and explain who it’s for. I like the idea and I’m pretty sure the guys will too.  And if not I’ll still be your guest anyway. Does Katie like Now or Never?”

“That’s another cd she loves.”

“Then if BSB isn’t there I’ll sing a few of my solo songs.”

“Thanks bud! Oh I hope BSB will say yes! Kate would love it! She’d be super happy! I’ll go call all of them right now.”

I picked up the phone and dialed Kevin’s number first, then Brian, Howie, and finally AJ. After explaining my idea to them I called my aunt and uncle to RSVP.   

The day before Katie’s party I helped my aunt, uncle, and cousin set up. We decorated the hall, set up all the tables, helped the DJ set up his equipment and made the party favors.

When all the decorations were set up the way Katie wanted them, we hung out for a little bit.

“So Katie, what is the dress code for tomorrow?”

“Well I’m asking everyone to be semi casual but all my friends are going to be a little dressier than the adults. Also I have color restrictions.”

“How so?”

“Well I told my friends to wear any color except purple, black or silver. I’m asking all my family who will be there to wear black or silver with something purple on it.”

“I’m guessing you’re going to be the only one in purple?”

“Yup. And the only one with a custom made purple mask. That was a present from my god parents.”

“What color mask do you want me to wear?”

“All the girls in the family are going to get silver masks and all the guys are going to have black ones.”

“That’s cool. I love your colors for this party.”

“Thanks. I know they’re your favorites. They’re mine too. Do you know what you’re going to wear?”

“No I don’t. I was going to wear my favorite purple dress but since you want to be the only one in purple I need to find a new one. Hey, how about you come help me pick out a dress?”

“Now?”

“Yeah why not?”

“Let me go ask my mom but I don’t think I have anything else to do. We’re all set up. I’ll be right back.”

She hurried off to ask permission and hurried back with a big smile and thumbs up.

“Let’s go dress shopping!”

On the way to the store I popped in the Unbreakable CD and Katie and I started singing at the top of our lungs.

“So do you think your friends are ready for the music videos?”

“I know they’re ready for Masquerade and they’re pretty excited for it too. I’m going to have smoke, mirrors, lights and magic, and my three best friends are going to have their own solos we all came up with. One’s going to be a tiger, one’s a lynx, and the other’s the king that’s suffering.”

“Oh damn! You really are making it like a real music video! You’re even matching the lyrics. That’s so cool! I wish I did that for my sweet.”

“Yeah I can’t wait. And I think we’ll have no problem with Hey Mr. DJ either. I have a feeling this is going to be awesome.”

“There’s no doubt about it Kate.”

“Oh guess what Uncle Keith made for me.”

“What?”

“He photo shopped the This Is Us CD cover to say “Backstreet Boys This Is Us appearing at Katie’s Sweet 16!” It has to be the best present I have gotten so far!”

“That’s really cool! You’ll have to bring it tomorrow and show me. But I think I could top it.”

“How?”

“Well I was going to tell you tomorrow but I’ll tell ya now. I hired BSB look a likes to perform at your party so you’re music videos will look authentic!”

“What?!” she screamed, “Kalie that’s awesome! But do they sound like BSB?”

“No they lip sync to their music but they look exactly like the Boys.”

“That’s so awesome! Thank you Kayl!”

“Oh don’t thank me yet. Let’s see how they perform 1st.”

Katie and I searched for black or silver dresses but there was nothing that looked even half way decent.

“Kay look what I found!” Katie pulled out a black and silver stripped dress with a purple ribbon around the waist.

“That’s really pretty!” I said looking over the dress, “And it’s my size. Let’s go try it on.”

We got into the dressing room and Katie helped me zip up the dress.

“Kalie that looks amazing on you!” she exclaimed.

I looked into the mirror and commented, “It does look really good and it fits perfectly.”

“You’re going to give me a run for my money there cousin.”

I laughed, “No one could be prettier than you on your sweet 16.”

“You gunna get the dress?”

“Yes I am. Good eye Kate.”

“Thanks.”

“Do you have a date yet Kayl?” she asked while paying for the dress.

“Not yet,” I lied, “But if I do find a date what should I tell him to wear?”

“Black or silver to match you and I’ll give him a black mask. You know Mark is coming too or didn’t he tell you?”

“Oh yeah I forgot he mentioned that. He could always be my date if I can’t find one.”

“There you go.”

I dropped Katie off at her house and promised I would be there early to help put the finishing touches on the hall and do the birthday girl’s hair and makeup.

“So what’s the dress code?” Nick asked when I got home.

“I would say wear black dress pants and a black shirt with a purple tie. And I bought five black masks.”

“Ok I’ll go spread the word now.”

“Remember it’s a surprise.”