Welcome Home

Jessica Evans walked into her younger sister's room without knocking. Grace was sitting on her bed reading the latest issue of BOP. When she saw Jessica, she quickly hid the magazine under her pillow and glared at her sister. "Jess, haven't I told you a thousand times to knock before you come in?"

Jessica smirked, walked over to the bed, and yanked the magazine out from under the pillow.

Grace sat up quickly. "Hey! Give that to me!"

She tried to yank it out of her sister's hand, but Jessica crumpled it up and threw in the wastebasket. "Instead of wasting your already pathetic existence reading that teenybopper crap, I want you to get your ass off that bed and go take a shower. Meanwhile, I'm going to try and find something decent for you to wear in that mess you call a closet." She walked over to the closet and started digging through Grace's clothes.

"Why?" Grace asked. She got up and retrieved the crumpled magazine from the wastebasket. Bitch! she thought as she straightened out the pages and stuck the magazine in a drawer.

Jessica looked at her and rolled her eyes. "Why what? And why are you digging through the garbage?"

"Why do I have to go take a shower right now?"

"Because you are coming to a party with me."

Grace's eyes widened and she started shaking. "I'm not going to any party. Especially with you. Get out and leave me alone."

"Grace," Jessica said in a "I mean business" voice. "You are going to that party whether you like it or not. Trust me, you'll be thanking me later."

"Why? Who's going to be there?"

Jessica gave her sister an innocent look. "Who said anything about anyone being there? All I'm saying is that for once in your life, you might actually have some fun. Unless you want me to get mother in here, you better get your ass off that bed and get in the shower."

Grace gave her an angry look. "I hate you, Jess. I really do!"

Jessica laughed. "Yea, I love you, too. Now GO!"

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

The party was in full swing. Brian was talking to his old childhood buddy Robert Martin. "Gee, it's so good to see you again. Kevin, too. It's been so long."

Brian smiled at him. "God, remember the mischief we use to get into when we were young?"

Robert laughed at the memories. "Well, I still get into some once in a while. What about you? Has being a world famous star changed you in any way or are you still the same goofball that you always were?"

Nick overheard him and said, "He's still a goofball! Have him do his famous Donald Duck or Jim Carrey impersonations and you'll have your answer."

The doorbell rang and Robert went to answer it. It was Jessica and Grace. "Hey girls. Welcome." Robert let them in. "There's some people that I want you to meet."

Grace was looking around nervously and Jessica noticed. "Chill out. You look like you're constipated."

Grace blushed furiously and followed Jessica, who was getting admiring glances in her short black skirt, stiletto heels and ribbed crop top. Not paying attention to where she was going, Grace slammed headfirst into someone's chest. "Whoa! Are you okay?"

Grace looked up and all she could do was scream before she passed out. Brian grabbed her before she hit the floor. "Oh my God!" Jessica was laughing. "I can't believe she did that. Don't strain yourself Brian. My sister's not exactly light."

Brian looked at her angrily. "Could you help me?."

Jessica slapped her sister's face. Grace came to and went red in embarrassment. She looked at her sister. "Jess, take me home, please."

Jessica tapped her on the shoulder. "Grace, it's okay. I'm sure Brian is used to fans fainting at his feet. Now smile and say hello to the guy you obsess and drool over in those damn teeny magazines you buy."

Brian smiled at Grace, whose head was lowered in humiliation. Robert came over with Kevin and Nick. "Everything okay? What happened Grace?"

"She fainted." Jessica couldn't help but laugh. Her sister was such a weirdo. Robert looked at Grace and shook his head. Why did Jessica have to bring her? She was the town weirdo. "I guess I better make introductions here. Guys, this is Jessica Evans. She's my cousin's ex-wife. She's 34 and the town..." Jessica shot him a look. "...town delight," he finished and gave her an evil grin.

Jessica smiled at Kevin. "Nice to meet you handsome. Wanna dance?"

Kevin let his eyes roam her body. She was a looker all right. He wondered what she "delighted" in? "Sure."

Robert looked at Grace. "This is Jessica's younger sister Grace. She's 25 and attends Booneville University." Brian smiled at Grace. "Grace meet Brian and Nick."

Grace looked at them nervously out of the corner of her eyes. "Hi," she said quietly.

Nick was looking around. "Hi. I'm going to see if Kellie is here." He walked away.

Brian looked at Grace. "You need to relax. I won't bite."

She smiled a bit. "It's just that, well...I...well,.." she trailed off helplessly.

"Yea, you didn't expect to meet the Backstreet Boys tonight, right?"

Grace looked at him gratefully. "No, I didn't."

"Are you a big fan?"

"Kinda."

"Kinda?"

"I love your music."

"Thank you. What are you studying?"

"Psychology."

"Now that's interesting. Do you wanna be a Psychologist?"

"No, I'm only in school 'cos my parents forced me to go."

Brian raised an eyebrow, but he didn't pry. He looked up to see Robert coming his way with Kellie, and three other girls, one of which was absolutely gorgeous.

"Brian, I want you to meet my friend Sarah Butler, her sister Melissa, and Sarah's friend Amy." Brian said hello to the three girls and grinned at Kellie. "Hey squirt."

"Hey short stuff. Where's that gorgeous best friend of yours?"

"I don't have a gorgeous best friend," Brian replied wryly, but his blue eyes twinkled in mischief.

"Very funny. Where's Nick? I want to introduce Melissa to this fine specimen of a man."

"Oh you mean Nick. The ugly kid's standing over there talking to a person of the female persuasion. From the looks of it, I suggest you go over there and claim him before she eats him alive."

Kellie shot a look over to where Nick was and saw he was talking to a skanky blonde that she knew was the town slut. She shook her head is disgust. "Oh look, Mel, it's Mandy the Sleaze. Time to go claim my man." She winked at Brian and took off.

Nick saw Kellie approaching. He also saw the fire in her eyes. He backed away from Mandy and gave Kellie a big smile. "Hey Kellie. Something wrong?"

Kellie was looking at Mandy. "Hi Nick, nothing wrong. Mandy, can I talk to you a minute?" She pulled her aside and whispered, "Nick Carter's mine. Got that? I saw him first. He's also my cousin's best friend. Stay away from him or I'll break both your legs and then you won't be able to open them for any guy ever again. Got that?"

Mandy snickered. "Whatever Littrell. Just remember that I have something that you don't."

"What might that be?"

"Sex appeal. Men want me cause I exude it and I give out. You're still a little virgin. When Nick finds out, he'll come running to me. See ya sweetheart." She giggled and walked off.

Kellie felt her blood pressure rising. Fucking stupid bitch! she thought to herself. I oughta slam her face into the wall!

"Calm down Kel," Melissa said, noticing that her best friend's face was contorted in rage. "She isn't worth it. Nick's coming over. Smile."

"Hey beautiful, would you like to dance?"

Kellie felt her pulse quicken and the anger left her body. "Yes, I'd love to."

On the other side of the room, Sarah was coming onto Brian. "I've been waiting for so long to meet you."

Brian seemed mesmerized by her eyes. "Really? How long?"

Sarah giggled. "Ever since Robby told me that you were coming back here. I think you're really sexy."

Brain cocked an eyebrow. "Sexy? You sure know how to make a guy feel good."

Sarah smiled knowingly. "I really know how to make a guy feel good. Come dance with me." They started slow dancing and as the song went on, they got closer and closer. ,/p> Grace was glaring at them. That little bitch had to come to the party and ruin everything. She sat there seething. The voices were starting again. She needed to calm down.

You were a bad, bad girl, Grace. You needed to be punished. Bad, bad girl. BAD, BAD GIRL....

Grace grabbed her head to stop the voices. She started trembling. "I wasn't a bad girl! Stop! Go away!"

"Grace, what the hell is wrong with you?" Jessica asked.

Grace jumped and sent her glass of Pepsi flying. It splashed all over Jessica. "FUCK GRACE! Why don't you smarten up?" She started dabbing at the stains.

"Don't worry, I'll go get some club soda," Kevin said.

"Thank you Kevin." She waited until he was out of earshot and turned to Grace. "You stupid little fool. You're sitting here looking like a total moron, grabbing your head and talking to yourself. Go home!"

Grace felt the tears start to fall. "I never wanted to come here -- you made me come and I can't go home. I don't have a car."

Jessica was fuming. "Walk then! You might actually lose some weight."

Kevin came back. "Here you go. This should take it all out."

Jessica smiled brightly. "Thank you Kevin. Look, why don't we take Grace home and then go someplace to talk alone?"

Kevin looked unsure for a minute then said, "Ok."

Melissa and Amy were looking at the couples on the dance floor. Nick and Kellie were dancing and laughing. Brian and Sarah were into some heavy duty french kissing. "Doesn't take your sister long, does it?" Amy commented.

Melissa laughed. "Nope. That's Sarah. She goes by the Three F rule - Flirt, French, Fuck. Although I don't know if she's ever actually fucked a guy. She's reached the second one now, and I'm sure before the evening is over, Brian will be hers."

Brian pulled away from Sarah. "Why don't we get out of here for awhile?"

"Where do you want to go?" Sarah asked, secretly pleased.

Brian took her hand and led her towards the backyard. "I suddenly have this strong urge to see Rob's poolhouse."