CHAPTER 7

Connie's computer was placed in her room so that she could see the cracked door. This helped cut down on the 'surprise' factor that often occurred when someone approached her from behind. She had typed up her handwritten notes frorn the previous nine days and was beginning to organize them into text. She also had a small collection of Hannah's photographs on her table for inspiration. She would be required to caption those later but that would come after the book was actually written. Connie thumbed through those now, smiling at some of the more unusual ones. Of course, Hannah's photographs were rarely typical.

She held up two of Nick. One pictured him as many fans would expect. He had been caught asleep in front of the television with a video game controller still held firmly in his hand. His mouth was open slightly and there was a opened bag of chips resting against his thigh. The other photograph painted a very different picture of the group's 'baby'. Nick was sitting in an overstuffed chair reading. Nick wasn't reading a comic book. He was engrossed in 'Atlas Shrugged' by Ayn Rand. He wore his glasses and looked quite the academic. A picture of AJ showed him chipping golf balls into the Gulf at sunset. There were close-ups of Brian and Howie in which they both looked like they could have bitten nails in half. There really weren't too many shots around of those two looking angry and Connie wondered what had set them off. She'd have to ask Hannah.

There were several shots of Kevin in the pile. Hannah had commented that he was very photogenic. One had him leaning against a wall, shoeless, with a phone held up to his ear. He looked disgusted. Connie knew that look although it had been many days since she had actually been the cause of that expression - at least as far as she knew. There was also one of him asleep on a futon that was on the side porch. Although the futon was open, Kevin wasn't lying down. He sat, leaning on one elbow with his head resting in the palm of his hand. Connie smiled at the picture. It looked as if a good puff of wind would be all it would take to prostrate him. A third photograph had Kevin and Nick standing under the basketball hoop. This shot was posed but informal. They stood with their arms around each other?s shoulders - a 'pal' pose, as Hannah called it. Nick wore a blue, sweat stained tee shirt and held a basketball wedged between his ribs and the crook of his arm. He was grinning. Kevin looked relaxed and ?..happy. The corners of his mouth were actually turned up. That, in itself, was fascinating but Connie found that most of her attention rested on his shirtless and sweaty torso. She was unconsciously running her finger down the line of his two-dimensional shoulder when she became aware of a body standing in the crack of her door. The photographs were quickly placed back on the table.

"Hi, Brian!" Connie signaled for him to enter. "Come on in?"

Brian seemed a little hesitant at first. He took exactly one step into the room and then just stood, jingling the contents of his pockets and grinning uneasily. Connie smiled to herself. Brian was probably raised to believe that a male and female alone in a room that contained a bed was evidence of a great moral lapse. She decided against teasing. Some people enjoyed it; others were embarrassed by it.

"What going on?" she asked him. Brian was friendly and sometimes silly but Connie doubted that he would come to her door without a reason.

"We've got a bunch of people coming this afternoon for a meeting and to spend the night.." he began.

"Oh?" Connie hadn't noticed anyone talking about a meeting.

"Yeah?" Brian took another step inside the door. "A big bunch of Jive artists are coming later on, you know, after?"

"Sounds like a party." Connie smiled.

"Just a get-together, I guess? Anyway, Jeffrey said that you had some of Hannah's pictures up here. He wanted to pass them around at the meeting."

Connie nodded and handed Brian the stack she had been looking through and he glanced briefly at the photo on the top of the stack.

"Pretty good of Nick and Kev, huh?" he smiled, referring to the picture that had momentarily captured Connie's undivided attention.

Connie didn't answer but waved Brian in the direction of her closet. He noticed that she had turned a little pink when he had asked the innocent question.

"There are some proof sheets on the shelf in my closet. They might want to take a look at those." Her tone had become business-like.

Brian stepped into her closet and came out several seconds later with a second stack of photo paper. He also held something behind his back and looked a little devilish, like he had discovered a secret.

"Okay, Litrell? " she laughed. "..What are you hiding back there?"

"Don't tell me this is yours!" Brian brought Connie's well-used, red leather baseball glove out from behind his back. "Is this some sort of good luck fetish, or do you actually like baseball?"

Connie feigned indignation. "What's the matter? I'm not suppose to like baseball because I'm a girl?" she teased.

Brian's shyness had dissipated. "Oh yeah? I'll bet you just like to look at those ball player's asses in those tight pants! You get their attention by carrying this glove around so they'll think you're really interested. Right?" he laughed.

Connie placed the back of her hand dramatically against her forehead. "Busted.." she sighed.

She wasn't really sure why she carried that glove around with her. She'd had it since she was fifteen years old.

Brian began to toss the glove into the air, repeatedly catching it with his right hand. "Do you play?" he asked.

Connie sensed he was issuing some sort of challenge. "Damn straight, I play.."

"What position?"

"I like third?"

"Okay, Miss DiMaggio? How about if we get up a game later today, when the crowd arrives?"

"I haven't played in a long time?"

"Oh - chickening out already, huh?" Brian was smirking now.

Connie had to laugh. He was challenging her.. "Hey, hey! Don't you worry about me! I'll play."

"Good. 'Nsync shattered us on the charts. We'll have to pulverize them on the field in order to maintain our honor?"

******************

There was quite a crowd at the grove house that evening. A group that Brian had mentioned, 'Nsync, was there and another group called 98 Degrees as well as suits from the label and assorted dates and hangers on. Connie could see that everyone was talking and laughing together which, in an odd way, made it a little easier for her. If she didn't respond to a question or comment, people usually thought that it was because there were so many distractions. She was fairly proud of the fact that no one had discovered he deafness. It made her feel?.normal.

Connie caught sight of Kevin standing against the porch railing. Leigh seemed to be in his face, agitated about something. Kevin had his arms crossed and was shaking his head. Then his eyes became angry and he started speaking to Leighanne. Connie couldn't tell if he was shouting or speaking in low tones. She saw the word 'brandy' form on his lips and then Leigh had stormed back into the house and brushed past Connie without a word or a glance. When she turned back to Kevin, she caught his stare and he quickly looked away. She didn't know what was going on and doubted that being able to hear would have helped. Her curiosity was pushed aside when Hannah pulled on a strand of her hair.

"Brian says to get your glove. They're getting ready to play?"

"Are you playing?" Connie asked, smiling. She already knew the answer.

Hannah laughed. "You know they don't have a prayer without me! I'm going to play some, but I have to take some pictures, too, so I probably just go for an inning or two." Hannah pointed across the room towards Kevin who had come back inside. Brian tossed him a glove and Kevin was smiling and beating his fist into the palm. "And listen to me, little girl.." Hannah continued, "'things have been pretty calm for the last couple of weeks, so try not to hit him in the nuts with a fast ball."

CHAPTER 8

Kevin stood behind home plate, turned his cap around and pulled the mask down over his face. He was catching. Nick was on first, Hannah was playing second. Howie, AJ and Pete were in the outfield and Brian was pitching. He glanced over to Jeffrey, who was the shortstop and finally over to third. Connie stood ready in khaki shorts and a shrimp colored tank top. The top was cut a little low and hugged her body. Kevin was glad they were on the same team. Her thick, curly ponytail hung out of the back of a VA Tech baseball cap. Kevin squatted into position, still staring from behind his mask. He almost sat on his ass when Connie began to stretch her arms behind her back and bend from the waist in an effort to loosen her tight muscles. Kevin fought a sudden urge to loosen a tight muscle of his own.

BSB, and their entourage would be going to bat against 'Nsync and 98 Degrees. No pinch hitters, no substitutions and pitchers had to bat. JC was first up.

"Like your third baseman, Kev." He said wiggling his eyebrows. "Does she play? Baseball, I mean?"

"Shut-up, JC." Kevin mumbled.

JC laughed, swung at Brian's pitch and hit a pop-up that was easily caught by Hannah. Kevin laughed and Chris came up. Brian threw a pitch and Chris swung and missed. Kevin grinned.

"Nice try, Chris, but maybe you better put your glasses on?"

"That piece on third is distracting me, Kev?? Chris laughed. Kevin bristled. "I'm gonna try my damnedest to hit a grounder her way. It would be worth an out just to watch her bend over to catch it?"

Kevin threw the ball back to Brian and then glanced over at Connie who was leaning over with her hands on her knees, guarding her position. Stand up, stand up, stand up? Chris connected with the next pitch and got to first. Nick Lachey was up next. He took his time selecting a bat and the strutted up to the plate, combing his fingers through his hair.

"Want a mirror, Lachey?" Kevin asked sarcastically.

Nick chuckled. "Well, I'm sure if I do you'll have one I can use, Kevvy.."

"Sure, pal." Kevin responded. "I know you want to look good for your adoring fan."

Ball one.

"Funny, Kev. That goober humor really slays me.."

Ball two.

"Maybe you'd better tell that pipsqueak cousin of yours how to pitch?"

Kevin threw the ball back to Brian and squatted again. "You oughtta be thanking him, Lachey. You finally got a pair of balls?"

Ball three.

"Yeah, well I'll need 'em when I make it to third, Kevvy.. I got a feeling that Red over there could empty them pretty fast?"

The remark made Kevin hot. "You won't make it to third, Lachey?"

Ball four - walk!

Nick turned, handed the bat to Kevin and grinned. "Tell Red that I'm comin'?and make sure you tell her that I'll see to it that she comes, too?"

Kevin scowled and then turned his head to spit into the dirt. Shit! Two on base?. He suddenly turned into 'the Coach from Hell'. He didn't want any of those assholes getting to third base. They didn't. A double play ended the inning. Kevin was quite pleased until JC came up behind him.

"Oh boy, now we get to watch her run?."

Kevin wished this game was over. By the top of the ninth, the Backstreet team was ahead by two runs. If they could just hold their opponents, the game would be finished. Kevin sat on the bench, wiping his face with a towel. He looked over at the opposing team and saw JC talking to Terry Mitchell, one of the label's lawyers. He was pointing?. Kevin followed the invisible line from JC's finger and found it lead to Connie.

"Batter up!"

Kevin took his position behind the plate and willed the game to end. Timberlake was up. He got a good hit - a line drive. Unfortunately, it went straight for second. It didn't get past Hannah. Jeff Timmons was next in the batting order. Strike, ball, ball, strike, strike. He was dead. Kevin sighed. One more, one more, one more??

JC came up to the plate. He stood back for a moment, stretching and stamping his feet. Kevin rolled his eyes. This ain't the fuckin' World Series?

"Hey, Kev.." JC asked as he adjusted his batting glove, " Is Connie available?"

"Available for what?" Kevin frowned. "I though you were seeing somebody.."

"Not for me?" JC said shaking his head. "Terry Mitchell wants to ask her out?"

Kevin didn't answer. Luckily, Brian had wound up for the pitch. JC swung the bat and a loud crack echoed behind the plate. The ball was going almost straight up in the air. Kevin pulled off his mask and started running. Unfortunately, Connie started running, too. The ball was coming down between third base and home plate.

"I've got it!" Kevin screamed, keeping his eye on the ball.

Of course, Connie never heard Kevin. She was watching the ball, too. Everyone else saw what was going to happen and were powerless to stop it. One never saw the other coming and Kevin and Connie crashed into each other. It was a full body collision. Kevin instinctively tried to grab onto Connie but it was clear that they were both going down. When the dust settled, Connie was on her back, eyes closed and struggling to recapture a little bit of the wind that had been knocked out of her lungs. Kevin was on top of her. The first concern of the onlookers was for their safety but it was hard to ignore their intriguing position as they lay on the infield, momentarily stunned. They were belly to belly, hip to hip. Connie's legs had spread and Kevin lay between them.

Kevin was the first to move. He raised himself up on his elbows and looked into her face. Her hat had been knocked off and she was trying to draw ragged breaths. Her eyes were still closed.

"Connie?" he called as his eyes darted over her face. There was no response and he started to panic. "Connie!' he yelled as he reached up and shook her shoulder.

Connie slowly opened her eyes. Kevin? His face was so close.. close? Her lips parted and her tongue appeared as she slowly wet the corners of her mouth. Kevin was hypnotized. I want that tongue in my mouth? Connie?s lips began to curve into a soft smile and Kevin wondered for a moment if he had spoken his thoughts aloud. Neither of them had moved - they just lay there.

"Jesus Christ, Richardson! You want we should all just turn our backs or should be just leave you two alone out here?" Chasez guffawed at his own attempt at humor.

Kevin began to raise himself up. He was irritated at JC's crudeness in front of Connie, but she seemed not to notice. She was still looking at his face as the small crowd gathered around them. Connie grabbed on to Kevin?s shirt.

"Tell me?" she whispered.

"What?" he answered, his voice low.

"Did you catch it?"

Kevin paused and then brought himself to a kneeling position, between Connie?s thighs. He gazed at his glove and slowly spread his fingers. Then he grinned and raised his arm up in the air.

"Got it!"

JC pulled off his cap and threw it down in the dirt. "Shit!"

As Kevin stood and then reached down to pull Connie to her feet, the home team and its supporters cheered?.except for Leighanne.

CHAPTER 9

"You sure you're okay?" Kevin asked Connie as they headed back to the house.

She was looking forward and didn?t respond to his question. Kevin wondered if he was being ignored yet again. He had spoken loudly and was walking at her side. He didn?t mind getting the cold shoulder if there was a reason but as far as he was concerned, he didn't deserve this. He thought that the truck business had been settled and even with a touch of humor. He was getting tired of her games and stopped in his tracks. He didn't want to play this anymore. Connie kept on for several more paces until she realized that she was now walking alone.. She looked behind her and saw Kevin just standing and looking at her with a scowl on his face.

"What's wrong?" she asked. She looked genuinely puzzled.

'Oh you're good - real good' "Not a damn thing?" he answered tersely. "I just remembered that I need to go pack a few things, that's all. Think I'll go home for a day or two and see some friends. You know - who have some manners and don't get off by yanking people's chains?"

Connie didn't understand his thinly veiled insult. What was wrong with him? She thought that they had finally made a little progress today. She realized then that he would never get past his first impression of her. She was surprised to find that she was hurt by this. She had even considered that she might be ready to tell him about her deafness. She could never do that now. It would sound like whining or an act of desperation. She didn?t want him to act differently toward her because he felt guilty or sorry for her. She abhorred pity. He just didn?t like her, that's all. It happened sometimes and Connie would just have to learn to accept it. Stephen was in Europe right now. She would try to get him to replace her when he returned. She couldn't work this way.

"Have a nice trip" Connie said simply, before she continued her walk to the house alone.

***********

It was getting dark now and the real party was just beginning. Kevin stood near the diving board talking to JC. The baseball pissing contest was over and they were allowed to be friendly again. The sarcastic and sexually charged banter had been part of one of those unwritten 'macho' customs that established pack order in any given group of males. Such posturing was usually applied primarily to sporting events and women. Kevin hadn?t bothered with a bathing suit tonight. He didn?t plan to go in swimming- too many people in the pool. His conversation with JC was interrupted by a loud whoop from Terry Mitchell. He had just told a joke that he felt deserved loud punctuation. He liked attention.

?What an ass?? Kevin mumbled under his breath.

Terry Mitchell was a fine attorney but Kevin disliked him on a personal level. He was a player and Kevin wouldn?t have been surprised to find out that he had notches on his bedpost. Terry used people - especially women - and had an ego the size of Montana. He could be quite charming, but only to get what he wanted. Right now, it appeared he wanted Connie. He was fawning all over her and Kevin felt himself getting pissed. Terry was trying to establish his position as the alpha male - at least as far as she was concerned.

'Uh-oh" JC smirked. "Looks like Mitchell is moving in for the kill"

Kevin watched the interplay from a distance as he finished his third beer and stepped over to a nearby keg for a refill. Connie had changed into some kind of sarong-type wrap around thing and Kevin suspected that it covered a bathing suit. Terry was pouting and trying to coax her into the water. She was giggling. Puhleeze?. Kevin's eyes rolled once again. Then Terry started pulling at the tie on Connie's sarong. Connie was playfully batting his hand away. Kevin's eyes grew hard. What the fuck?. Suddenly her sarong fell as she stood at the edge of the pool. Jesus Christ! I can see the dimples above her ass? Terry was practically leering at her chest. Kevin began to march in Connie's direction, his honorable intentions slightly numbed by the effect of four beers.

"I need to speak to you." He demanded as he grabbed Connie's hand in an effort to pull her aside.

Connie whirled around to face her unknown captor. She was surprised to see that Kevin was attached to the hand that was pulling on hers.

"What do you want?" she frowned. "I thought you were going to Orlando?"

"Don't you worry - I'm going tomorrow." He paused for a moment, taking her in. "I want to give you some advice?"

Connie's brows rose. "Advice? About what, may I ask?"

"You need to stay away from Mitchell. He only wants one thing and right now he's sniffing you?"

Connie became angry. "My, my! What a way you have with words! You're romantic as well as sweet!" she hissed sarcastically. "Thank you for your concern, Kevin, but I think I'll take care of myself!"

Kevin's hand tightened on hers. "I'm telling you - this guy is trouble. He's an ass!" Kevin snarled. "And you're just encouraging him by walking around here with no clothes on!" Kevin's eyes fell uncontrollably to Connie's breasts. His mouth began to water and he swallowed.

Connie jerked her hand away from his. "I think you're the ass, Kevin! As for Terry Mitchell, he's been nothing but a gentleman! We're going out on Friday!"

Kevin didn't like this, but fuck it! She could do what the hell she wanted. He had tried to warn her but she was on her own now.

"Fine!" he shouted. Heads turned.

"Fine!" Connie shouted back and then spun around to walk away.

Kevin watched as she took a few steps and then turned back to him. He thought he could see a hint of sadness in her eyes but her tone was defiant.

"Just to put your mind at ease, Kevin? I've already sent word to Stephen that he needs to replace me. I should be out of your hair before much longer?" Then she added, "Maybe he can find somebody who has manners?"

Connie turned again, stepped to the edge of the pool and dove in.

*************

Kevin suddenly felt anti-social. He made an honest stab at chit-chat for two more hours before he finally gave up. Additional beers hadn't seemed to help his mood. The party seemed to be breaking up early anyway and so he decided to call it a night and go to bed. The alcohol had made him tired but he was still restless. He stripped down to his boxers and laid across the bed. The air in his room seemed thick and he couldn't get comfortable. He soon heard doors closing along the hallway and then the house grew quiet He had heard Connie enter her room not long after he had come upstairs and wondered if she was still in that bikini. He had watched her in the pool as she swam just under the surface of the water. He was near the shallow end when she climbed out of the water and their eyes had locked for an instant. Then she had walked past him to a lounge chair where she picked up her towel and began to dry herself off. Kevin had stared as she patted the terrycloth against her breasts causing the flesh to move under her hand. Then she had rubbed the towel up and down her outer thigh and unintentioally caused the string that held the back and front of her bikini bottom together to become untied. For a brief moment, a narrow section of her body was completely uncovered from her toes up to her breasts. She quickly readjusted the tie and then brushed the towel across her hair which now stuck to her back, covering her shoulder blades. It had already begun to reform itself into soft curls.

Then Mitchell had flown up her ass out of nowhere and grabbed the towel from her in order to dry her back. That was really when Kevin gave up the party life and came inside. This obvious animosity between Connie and himself bothered him. He just couldn't get a handle on it.