Chapter Text
Brian Littrell jumped down the stairs two at a time and ran for the living room. He was finally alone in his parents’ house. He leapt over the back of the beige couch and landed on his back. His bare feet hung over one of the arms of the sofa while his head rested on the opposite arm. He carefully straightened his white University of Kentucky baseball jersey and reached for the remote control behind his head. He flipped on the television and surfed through the channels till he found one with a game on it.
He was so glad to finally have the house to himself. He had been home for about three days now and all his parents had done was dote on him, even his dad. It had taken a lot of convincing to get them out of the house this Saturday morning. But he just wanted some alone time. He missed his family dearly out on the road, but after having spent the past seventy-two hours straight with them, he just couldn’t handle it anymore. He told them they would go out to dinner that night and he would go to church with them tomorrow morning if they would just leave him alone long enough to watch the game. His attention had just settled on what the announcers were saying when the phone rang. Jumping off the couch, he ran for the kitchen and fortunately reached the phone before the answering machine could pick up.
“Hello, Littrell residence,” he said, a little out of breath.
“Hi, may I speak to Mrs. Jackie Luttrell?” a female voice said on the other end.
Brian rolled his eyes. He really didn’t want to deal with a telemarketer on his one morning to himself. “Did you mean Littrell?”
He heard her pause on the other end. “Uh, yeah. What did I say?”
“You said ‘Luttrell.’ You’re from California, right?”
He had obviously shocked her because she didn’t say anything for a while. “Yeah,” the woman replied skeptically. “How did you know that?”
Brian had to laugh. “Everyone from California butchers my last name. I’m used to it.” He gathered himself before continuing. “Anyway, my mom’s not here right now. But I’m her son Brian, how can I help you?”
He was really expecting her to take longer to put it all together, if she even knew who he was. No one ever believed it was really him. It only took her a few seconds before she responded, “Brian Littrell? As in Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys?” She had whispered the last part as if she didn’t want anyone to know whom she was talking to.
Brian smiled to himself as he sank back onto the couch and lowered the volume on the television. “Yeah, that’s right.”
The woman on the other end scoffed at him. “There’s no way.”
Brian chuckled. “So what did you need to talk to my mom about?”
This statement seemed to break the woman out of her shock. “Oh, I’m Kristina, and I’m calling from the music department at the state university. It’s the spring fundraiser, and your mom has donated to us in the past.”
Brian leaned forward. “She has?” This was news to him as he knew the family had donated to the University of Kentucky on occasion, but some random university in California?
“That’s how I got her number.”
“Uh, okay,” Brian stammered. “I’ll let her know you called.”
“That would be great. Can I just verify the address so we can send out the donation information?”
“Uh, sure.” The woman rattled off his parents’ home address, and he verified that it was right.
“So, are you really…” She didn't finish her question, but Brian knew what she was asking.
“Yeah, I am,” he told her, convinced she would never believe him.
“Tell me something to prove it. Something no one else would know.”
Brian glanced at the game in front of him. What could he possibly say? There were so many stories and tidbits about him that everyone knew. “I, um, am recently single.” He figured that little piece hadn't gotten out yet, as the last thing anyone knew, he was engaged.
The woman on the other end laughed. “If that rumor is true, then you're free to come find me.” Brian sighed as the woman said goodbye and hung up. He closed his eyes and set the phone on the end table. Reaching for the TV remote, he turned off the game as he couldn't wrap his head around it now. He had a crazy thought in his head. He knew he was going to catch heat for it.
* * *
Five days later, Brian was back home in his shared apartment in Orlando, Florida, ready to put his crazy plan into motion. He had already researched flights, changed his own ticket for the following week, and managed to pick his mom's brain about where exactly it was that she was donating money to. That had been the easiest of the conversations he was to have. Packing his suitcase for what seemed like the hundredth time, Brian tried to remember all he needed to bring. He was actually going to be gone for like four days longer than he originally anticipated. Of course, in his struggles with trying to find clothes and pack as little as possible while still having enough to wear, that was when his roommate came home.
“Hey, Rok, you here?” AJ McLean called as he closed the front door.
“Back here,” Brian replied.
AJ stood at the door to Brian’s room. “You packing already?”
Brian glanced up from the pile of clothes on his bed. “Yeah,” he said.
“Why?” AJ stepped into Brian’s room. “Didn’t you just get back from your parents’ place yesterday? We don’t leave until Tuesday.”
Picking up a shirt and folding it before setting it in a pile, Brian glanced up at the dark-haired man. “You’re taking me to the airport tomorrow.”
“What?” AJ pulled his hat off his head and ran a hand through his hair. “What do you mean?”
“I’m flying to California tomorrow.”
AJ stepped forward and placed his hand on top of Brian's, who was folding another shirt. “Wait, is this about that girl you spoke to?” Brian lifted his eyes and stared at him. “You're crazy, you know that. Right?”
Brian shook his hands free of AJ and went back to folding. “I'm not crazy.”
AJ nodded and stepped back. “Yes, you are. And you're rebounding something fierce.”
“Why do you say that?”
“So lemme get this straight,” AJ stated. “You’re going to fly to California, and then what? Go to this university and try to find one girl out of like ten thousand people? You only know her first name.”
Brian shrugged. “So if I don’t find her, it’ll be just an adventure.”
Turning slowly and walking out of the room, AJ said, “I’ve never known you to go on adventures like this. You sure this has nothing to do with…”
Brian pursed his lips at what AJ was implying. “It doesn’t have to do with her,” he growled. He went back to sorting his clothes and angrily folded a pair of pants. He heard AJ close the door as he left. He was not rebounding from his three-year relationship. He was not being more "adventurous" because of it. He just wanted to prove a point. No one ever believed it was him when they spoke to him. Being that his mom had told him that this was a school that one of her choir friends had attended, and it was in a small town in California, he figured he might have a chance at finding this girl. But there was that nagging feeling in the back of his head about what AJ had said. What if he didn’t find her? He only knew her first name, where she went to school, and her voice. Could he really track someone down like that?
Sighing and relaxing his body, Brian glanced at what he had lying out. He was flying from California to the Bahamas, which was more than tripling his flight time, not to mention all the time zones he’d cross. But he only had that weekend to make this trip. The two weeks in the Bahamas had been planned since right after the tour had ended. What hadn’t been planned was his breakup. And even now, he wasn’t entirely sure it was a break-up. Maybe they just needed some time apart. The whole engagement announcement back in February had been a surprise. And then there were the death threats, the stalkers. It had seriously turned scary. That was when they had decided to call it off, and Brian had moved into AJ’s spare bedroom in Orlando and then flown home to Kentucky. The news hadn’t broken yet about their separation, and Brian was glad about that. It might allow him to fly under the radar.
Brian sank down onto his bed next to his clothes. He knew his bodyguard, Tom, was going to kill him. He was going to meet him there at the airport. Tom had been the one to take care of the hotel and rental car. When Brian had called him to tell him what his plans were, Tom hadn’t said much. He just reminded him that if he wanted to remain hidden among everyone, there were certain things he needed to do. Looking at the couple of hats and sunglasses he had lying on top of the stack of tee shirts, he sighed. He hoped his wardrobe choices matched the “average college student” idea he had in his head.
It took him a while to pack his suitcase. He knew he was going to end up checking it. He then set to work packing his backpack. Climbing into bed sometime after midnight, he stared at the suitcase and backpack by the door. It definitely didn’t look like he was only going away for the weekend
The next day, Brian was plagued by silent stares and car rides. AJ must’ve figured that Brian was teetering on an edge and didn’t want to deal with his explosive anger. He didn’t say a word the entire way to the airport. Surprisingly, Brian was able to make it to his gate without incident. The attendant at the gate raised an eyebrow when she checked his boarding pass, but said nothing. He was grateful for first class for one of the first times in his life. He was able to sit in his seat, hat down, sunglasses on, and no one recognized him. He wasn’t so sure how that was going to fare when he was with Tom. There was just something about having a massive six-foot-two hulk of a man with you.
Landing in California, Brian was able to gather his belongings and find Tom waiting for him. The older man had obviously gotten in before him, which wasn’t a surprise. Brian was led towards the rental car, where Tom helped him load his suitcase and then got behind the driver’s seat. They had about an hour’s travel time from the airport to the college town. Tom did not waste a minute in letting Brian know his feelings about this trip. “You have lost your mind,” he started, as he navigated them out onto the highway. “I really should report you to management for this crazy stunt.”
Brian rolled his eyes and leaned toward the passenger side window. He had been expecting this from someone in his life. Now he just had to keep his temper in check because he knew Tom wouldn't take it.
There was a pause as Tom maneuvered through an overpass exchange, and once he was settled in traffic, he continued. “This really is unlike you. Going off on your own. Usually, it's Billy and I chasing after you and Nick. Or we're tracking down Alex, but you, by yourself?” Tom grumbled and focused his attention on the road. “Why did you plan this trip to California? Especially this little dinky town.”
Inhaling slowly, Brian started relaying the story.
“Wait, this is about a girl?” Tom interjected. “You flew across the country for a girl?” Brian wanted to say something to this, but Tom cut him off before he could. “Man, Brian, I knew things were bad, but I didn’t think it was this bad.”
“What?” glowered Brian, feeling the anger start to bubble up in him.
“Look, I know you don't know half of what and who was trying to get to you two and I know it was scary as shit…” Tom put a blinker on and moved over a lane. “But I know that when you two called it off, that you ran. Ran home. Needed to get your head about you.”
“Wha… what do you mean?” Brian felt the car slowing down, and he looked around. Tom had pulled them off the highway at a gas station in the middle of nowhere.
Parking the car, Tom turned to face the younger man. “You didn't wonder why I didn't go with you to Lexington?” Brian glanced at Tom, taking in his short dark hair and Hawaiian shirt. “I trust your parents. I know they're going to keep a close eye on you. I also knew that you probably wouldn't be going out doing anything except maybe church on Sunday.” Tom turned back and gripped the steering wheel tightly. “But this? This is a whole ‘nother level of crazy. This is something I try to protect you from. I mean, I get it. You're heartbroken. You thought for a second you had your life figured out. But doing this…” The big man squeezed the steering wheel and Brian thought for a second it was going to break.
“It's not what you think,” Brian whispered.
“It's not?” Tom squinted at Brian and relaxed his grip on the wheel. Reaching over, he patted Brian's leg once. “Com'on,” he said, “slip those shades on. I'll buy you a Coke.”
Brian did as requested, and the pair walked into the gas station's mini mart. Brian led the way, with Tom off his right shoulder, a half step behind him. It was how they usually walked now. Brian grabbed a bottle of Coke from the back fridge, and Tom grabbed one too. The bigger man took the bottle from Brian and paid for them at the counter, Brian obediently waiting for his bodyguard to guide him out of the building. Glancing around, he saw that they were the only ones there and that Tom was probably overreacting, but Brian knew better than to doubt the man.
They walked to the car. Brian climbed in first. As Tom headed back out onto the highway, he continued the conversation. “So if this isn't some rebound jump into another relationship, what is it?”
Brian closed his eyes and ground his teeth together. He was not going to get angry at the person sworn to protect him. “It's just…” He paused. “I, uh, don't know really.” He slowly twisted the red lid on his cold Coke bottle, listening to the hiss of the carbonation.
“She called you, right?”
“My mom, but yeah.” Brian took a drink of his Coke. He felt the bubbles settle oddly in his stomach.
“So you have no idea what she looks like.”
“No,” Brian admitted.
Tom glanced sideways at Brian. “Is she a fan?”
Chills ran down Brian's spine hearing the way his bodyguard asked this question. “Uh… maybe?”
Groaning out loud, Tom gripped the steering wheel again. He rocked his hands back and forth like a racecar driver ready for the start of a race. “You'd better hope you find her and she's not psycho. Because if she is, I will report you for this.”
Brian shrank in his seat and tried not to look at Tom. He could see the tension in his shoulders. He was really beginning to doubt himself in this whole ordeal. He had a feeling Kristina was a fan, and he hoped that Tom was right and she wasn’t crazy.
It was a little after noon when they arrived at the university campus. Tom reminded him to keep his head down. They had lunch at a little cafe in the downtown area near the school. They knew they couldn’t check into the hotel for a while, so the two men headed towards the university campus. Brian tried to walk with purpose, so it appeared like he knew where he was going and what he was doing, even though he didn’t have a clue. He tried to take a look at every woman as he passed them, wondering if they were the person he was looking for. As they approached the campus, Brian’s heart began to beat faster. How in the world would he ever find this woman?
Following a small crowd, the bodyguard and the celebrity managed to find the student union. “You need to blend in a little more,” Tom whispered as they entered.
Brian glared up at him. “So do you.” He looked the taller man up and down, stopping at the button-down shirt.
Tom grinned and led him over to the tee shirts. The two picked out shirts, and Brian found a hat. He let Tom buy so that he didn’t have to pull out his credit card and blow his cover. The two headed towards a restroom. Like a police officer, Tom kept Brian near the doorway and checked the stalls. Not finding anyone there, he let Brian use a stall to change his shirt and baseball hat. They stashed the clothes in the bag they had from the student store. Exiting the building, the pair entered a large open area. Brian adjusted his sunglasses on his face and took a look around.
All around, young people were walking in various directions, headed towards the tall red brick buildings surrounding the area. Most were staying on the concrete sidewalks. There were a few sitting in the grass or on cement enclosures around trees that broke up parts of a larger sidewalk. If it were a high school, he’d call it a quad. But the area was much larger than that and oddly shaped due to the buildings. It did appear to be some type of gathering space, though, as in one corner of the large lawn was a shade structure that had been erected. There were a couple of speakers on posts on either side of a table, and a van that was multicolored parked behind it on what was obviously an access path for maintenance vehicles. Brian recognized the setup as a radio station remote broadcast. Brian froze in place. Any one of the people sitting or walking by could be the person he was looking for. He dared a glance up at Tom. He knew Tom couldn’t see the panic in Brian’s eyes through his sunglasses. But he also saw the way the bodyguard held himself. At any moment, someone could recognize Brian. Where could he whisk the celebrity away to? How would he fend off the horde?
Brian slowly moved forward, drawn to the radio booth. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe because it was something familiar in this sea of uncertainty? There were two people manning the booth, he could see. A young man with dark hair and glasses. He was bouncing between the van’s open door and the small panel on the table to one side. Brian tried to make out the station ID from the van, but since the door was open, it was obscured. The other person behind the table was a girl. She had long dark hair pulled back in a high ponytail. She had a set of headphones on her head, one ear showing. She had on a bright red tee shirt with the station logo in black on it. On the table, she was fiddling with things. There was music coming from speakers, and Brian finally focused his attention on it. Internally, he cringed. They were playing Britney Spears. Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Brian dared a glance at Tom. He looked like he was about ready to snag Brian’s arm and pull him into the nearest building. The radio station was Top 40. Brian knew if he stuck around long enough, he’d hear one of his own songs. Sighing, he turned away from the table the radio station was occupying, right as a voice came over the speakers. It was a male DJ saying they were going to check in with their remote. The girl started speaking. Brian didn’t catch her stage name, but froze at her voice. He looked over at Tom. “That’s her,” he said.