Goodbye

January 9, 1999
The music was booming out of AJ's house as Kevin, Brian, and Nick's farewell party was coming to a close. It was also AJ's 21st birthday party. Howie was filled with emotion. "I'm gonna miss you guys!" he sobbed, fighting back the tears.

Nick patted him on the shoulder. Grinning mischievously, he said, "Aww! That's sweet. I won't miss you, D, but that's sweet."

Howie punched him affectionately in the arm. "You'll miss me. Who else will you drive crazy for a year?"

Nick laughed. "Hmmm..Kevin?"

The doorbell rang and Howie went to answer it. It was his girlfriend Tyra. She smiled happily when she saw that the guys were still there. "I'm so glad that I didn't miss you guys. I had to work late." Brian gave her a hug and Tyra smiled warmly at him and asked, "So tell me exactly why you bought a ranch in the Kentucky backwoods?"

"It's called Booneville and it's not the backwoods."

Tyra smirked. "Sorry. Tell me why you are moving to the boonies?"

Brian smirked back. "Touché. I've always loved nature and I wanted a place where no one, and that means fans or the media, would find me for a year. Just a place to get away from it all. You and Howie will have to come by and stay with us. There're four bedrooms, and I plan on getting some horses, chickens, cows, pigs, dogs, and cats. You name it. There's a pond, a lake, hiking trails, and Mount Sterling is not too far away. I have some family there, too. My cousin Kellie and my Aunt Sally live there."

Nick's ears perked up at the mention of a female. "How old is Kellie?"

"She's 18 and she's my little cousin, Nick," he added pointedly. "Don't even think about it."

Nick looked aghast. "Brian! I thought you loved me like a brother?" He lowered his eyes, pretending to look hurt.

"I do, but the thought of you doing it with sweet, innocent Kellie makes me cringe in horror." He made a face and started laughing.

Nick smirked. "Who said anything about sex?"

Kevin walked up to them. "I hate to break up the party, but we gotta get some sleep. Our flight leaves at 6:30 am tomorrow."

Howie was sobbing again. "Aw you guys! I'm gonna miss you!" He threw himself into Brian and Kevin's arms.

"We'll miss you to, D." Kevin said, hugging him.

Howie turned to Nick. "I'm even gonna miss you bugging me."

He went to hug Nick, but Nick put his hand out. "No hugs and tears. We're guys. Let's shake hands."

Howie gulped. "Okay." He shook Nick's hand. Nick turned around to say goodbye to AJ and he felt some hands on his waist. Howie grabbed him and hugged him from behind. "I got you, Nicky!"

Nick struggled out. "Tyra, can you tell your man to keep his paws to himself?"

Tyra was laughing. "I can share, Nick." Nick looked shocked then started laughing.

Brian was talking to AJ. "Hey, bro, again happy birthday! Come on up later this year. We can party like we did in the old days when we lived together."

"Thanks, Brian. Sounds like a plan," AJ said. "I'll call you. Reckon they'll be some hot babes over there in boonyville?"

"It's Booneville. There are only 2000 people in Booneville. Half live out in the country where I purchased the ranch and the other half lives the high life in town. My closest relatives are my aunt and cousin who live on the ranch next to the one I bought."

AJ groaned. "Maybe I'll stop by on my way to, say, Los Angeles." He snickered.

The next morning, Brian, Kevin, and Nick sat on the plane, each lost in thought. Brian was thinking of the past year and how hard the BSB had worked. They had done a major world tour, which had included Europe, North America, and parts of South America. He admitted that he was tired. Being a BSB was rewarding and he thrived on performing, but being a BSB was also exhausting. He had never been 100% since his surgery in 1998, and he knew that all this dancing, straining, and stress was not helping him. He hoped that the sabbatical would help him get well again and gain back the weight he'd lost after the surgery. He and Leighanne had broken up in of June 1998. He'd realized that she wasn't the one for him and he was slowly adjusting to life without her. He just wanted 12 months of peace and relaxation. He couldn't wait to see his parents, Harry, and his little cousin Kellie whom he hadn't seen in three years. Kellie was not his blood cousin. His aunt had found her on the side of the road in a basket when she was a few days old. His aunt had taken her in, eventually adopted her, and raised her as a Littrell. Kellie knew about her adoption, but she seemed to be a happy, well-adjusted girl, and it didn't seem to bother her. The last time Brian had seen her was three years earlier. She had been 15, with braces and acne. She probably looked a lot different now. His thoughts drifted to his Aunt Sally. She was what people called eccentric. She walked on eggshells around Brian and his parents whenever she saw them. He knew she had taken it hard when her husband, his dad's brother, and her five year old daughter had been killed in a freak accident when Brian was four years old. Brian hoped to help her out while he was there.

Kevin was thinking about Brenda. He had fallen hard for Brenda in 1997. She was a girl he had met in Orlando. They had dated for about ten months, but when he left for Europe in April and she couldn't accompany him, their relationship had become strained. Kevin had wanted to fly her out to wherever he was, but she couldn't get the time off from work. They spoke on the phone every day and Brenda was forever questioning him about other women. Kevin told her that he'd been faithful (which he had been), but Brenda hadn't seemed convinced. Kevin loved her and had wanted to marry her. She had finally agreed to go see him in Argentina in September. They'd been together a year by then and Kevin wanted to propose to her. The BSB were there for a week so she and Kevin got to spend the first three days alone, making love and talking. But it had all come to an end the night of the concert in Buenos Aires. Kevin had been backstage before the show doing Meets & Greets. There were a few women around him and one had slipped a piece of paper into his hand. Kevin had smiled at her with a look of recognition in his eyes, kissed her on the cheek, but he hadn't looked at the paper, just put it in his pocket. Brenda had seen all of this and when Kevin went and changed to go onstage, she went into his pocket and looked at the paper. It had said, "Remember the last time we were together? I want you again. I'm staying at your hotel, room 500. Come see me after the show. Carmen." Brenda had been irate. After the show, she told Kevin it was over. He had tried to explain to her that he had been with Carmen in early 1997, before he even knew Brenda, but she didn't and wouldn't believe him. She flew out the next morning, telling Kevin that she never wanted to see him again. He was left heartbroken. He hoped that this year off would help him heal. He missed his mom, too, and couldn't wait to be in his home again. And he didn't want anything to do with women for now. They brought him nothing but heartache.

Nick was in a world all his own. When Brian had suggested that he come with him for the year, Nick had been hesitant. He didn't know if he could stand living on a ranch in the middle of nowhere for that long. But after Brian had told him about the area, the lake, and how he would be away from the frenzy of fans and media, he agreed to go. He was fed up with the pressures of being a BSB. This last tour had totally exhausted him, physically and mentally. He could barely stand up some nights after the shows. He had collapsed on stage quite a few times and his parents were quite concerned. They were the ones who had suggested to their management that the guys take a break. Nick was also tired of having to deal with the constant interviews. It seemed to him that everyone wanted a piece of him. There were always some nasty rumors about him on the Internet and the reporters and fans all wanted to know what was true and what wasn't. He couldn't deal with any of it and he knew that if he didn't get some time off, he would have a breakdown. People were forever telling him to grow up and he wished they would all leave him the hell alone.