“OH GOOD GOD!”  Paetyn Erickson clicked the TV off and threw the remote on the coffee table with a huff.

“Whassamatter?” her roommate called from the kitchen.

Paetyn shoved herself up from the couch.  “Danni, you are not going to BELIEVE this.”

“OOOH.  You’re using the ‘someone somewhere is gossiping about Nick’ voice.  Do tell.  You know I love good BSB dirt.”  Danielle Thomas replied with a grin.

“Seriously, Paris is off her Goddamn rocker.  Confessions of an Heiress?  Fucking spare me.  I just hope to Christ her book didn’t make it to press before the whole ‘wah, I’m going to let everyone believe that Nick beat me’ crap happened.”

“Wait a minute,” Danni replied, cracking the top on a soda.  “Confessions of an Heiress?  Paris Hilton wrote her memoirs?  Paris Hilton can WRITE?  Paris Hilton can READ?  Get the hell outta here!!”

Paetyn grabbed a soda for herself out of the fridge.  “Yeah.  Apparently.  Of course, who’s to say that she didn’t dictate it for one of her little flying monkeys to write?  Hell, who’s to say Nick didn’t write dirt about himself?” she giggled.

Paetyn had to admit that it wasn’t the most convenient experience to be best friends with a member of the original “boy band,” but there were certain perks.  Like being able to say that she could kick Nick Carter’s ass at Nintendo any day of the week.  Who else could say that?  She could also slam all over him on the basketball court, but hell.  Her three year old niece could beat Nick at HORSE.

“Is Nick that stupid?  Seriously?”  Danni cocked an eyebrow at Paetyn.

“I dunno, he was pretty in love with her… but I doubt he’d write about what a punk he was.  Hopefully.  I should call him tonight and tell him to see if he can get me a reserved copy.”  She snickered.

“Eh, call him right now.  What’s he doing that he’d be too busy for his best friend?”  Danni tossed Paetyn her cell phone.

Paetyn grinned and hit 3 on her speed dial.  After three rings a familiar voice answered.

“Paetyn.  Beautiful, wonderful, Paetyn.  When are we going to run away and get married?”

“It’s going to have to be after your divorce, Brian.  But don’t do that.  I like Leighanne too much,” she smiled.

“Oh, fine.  Geez.  A guy gets married and loses his entire fan base.” 

Paetyn smiled.  “Is that ugly blonde kid with you?” she asked.

“Ugly blonde kid.  Hmmm… well… how about Nick?  Will that do?”  Brian asked her.

“That works, thanks B.  Give Leigh and Baylee big hugs and kisses for me.”

“Anytime, gorgeous I surely will.”

“Ugly blonde kid, huh?”   Nick asked.

“Hello, Nickolas,” Paetyn greeted him.

“I’m not saying hello until you take back the ugly thing, Pae.”

“Well I guess you don’t get to talk to me, then.  I refuse to help millions of 8 year olds blow your ego out of proportion by telling you what a god you are.”

“Fine fine.  I’m ugly.  What’s up?”

“I see Paris darling has written herself a little book.  Nick?  Can Paris SPELL book?”

“What are you talking about, Pae?  What book?” 

“Nickolas.  Turn off the Nintendo and watch the news for once.  Your ex girlfriend – you know the one you ‘smacked around and cheated on,’” Paetyn put finger quotes around the accusations, “wrote a book.  It’s called Confessions of an Heiress.  Danni and I were hoping you could get us advanced copies.”  She grinned.

“Are you fucking kidding me Erickson?”  Nick asked.

“Would I fucking kid you about your skank bag ex writing her memoirs, Carter?”  Paetyn could hear screeching in the background.  “What’s going on in there, Nick?”

“Oh my…holy shit.  Rok just turned on the TV and there’s a gigantic picture of… oh this isn’t good.  She wrote a book.  I wonder if I’m in it.”  Nick questioned.

“Nick.  You spent three years of your life with her.  How could you not be in it?  She just skimmed over her boy band period?  Yeah, right.  Good luck with your delusions let me know how they turn out.”

“Ok.  Enough sarcasm, Pae.  Seriously.  I have to get this book.”

“Nick.  Don’t do it.  There’s probably just a bunch of Paris’s propaganda B.S. in there, trying to lead people around by the nose and make them think she’s a goddess and you’re the scum of the earth.”  Paetyn advised.

“Pae.  You’re my best friend and I love you, but you know I’ll always have a place in my heart for Paris.  We had a relationship for three years, no matter how unconventional it was.”

“I know, honey, but seriously.  I just don’t want that witch to hurt you again.”

“Paetyn, you’ve been way bitterer about this whole thing than I have.  You have to calm down.”

“Yeah, well.  I’d like to forget all about Paris Hilton.  Thank God I don’t have a tat on my wrist to remind me every day.”

“Pae,” Nick warned.

“Ok, ok.  I’m sorry.  SHE JUST MAKES ME NUTS!!!  Ok.  I’m done.  Really done this time,” Paetyn sighed.

“Hey, you’ve got a couple weeks before school starts up again, right?”  Nick asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“Well… I’m thinking… we’re going through Denver tomorrow.  How about coming with us for the next couple weeks?”

“That would be fun, Nick, but I have lots to do before school starts.”  Paetyn attempted to bail.

“Pae.  This isn’t like the old days when you had to move into the dorms.  You’re already in your apartment.  What do you have to do?”

“Well…”

“Please, Paetyn?”  Paetyn could hear a chorus of PLEASE?!  in the background.

“Who’s in there with you, Nickolas?”

“Bri, Leigh, Kev, Mike, even Baylee has a big smile on his face!”  Nick informed her.

“Nick.  He’s like 8 months old.  It’s probably gas.”

“Paetyn – quit trying to give me the runaround here!!”

“What’s in it for me?” she grinned, already knowing her decision.

“You get to spend quality time with the sexiest Goddamn backstreet boy, maybe even sleep in the same bed as him,” Nick teased her.

“Well why didn’t you tell me AJ was in on this?” Paetyn teased him right back.

“PAE!” Nick whined.

“I’m just teasing you, ya brat.  Yes, I’ll come out on tour with you for two weeks.  You have to bring me back in time to start school, mister.”

“Well duh.  I’d hate to have you miss out on your senior year because you were running all over the world with me.”  Nick assured her.

“Okay.  I’ll come find you tomorrow after the show.”

“Hang on, Pae,”

Nick came back on the line.  “Kev wants to know if you got the backstage passes and all your VIP crap that he sent you.”

“Yeah, its right in front of me,” Paetyn assured him, picking the envelope with her and Danni’s tickets and VIP passes up off the table.

“Awesome, so we’ll see you and Danno tomorrow night, okay?”

“Sounds good, Nick.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Ok.  I love you, Pae.”

“Love you too, Nickster.”

“Bye.”

“Bye Nick.”

Paetyn flipped her phone shut and looked at Danni.  “Don’t hate me.”

“Oh Lord, Paetyn.  You and your running around on tour with the BSB.  It’s really rough having you for a best friend, you know that?”

Paetyn grinned.  “I know, it’s tough to be me sometimes.”