#backstreetbackchallenge

“It's the best for us,” he said.

“The best for us?! Or the best for you?!” you spat with anger in your voice.

“We need a break. We can't be doing this to ourselves,” he tried to calm you.

“Fine, don't you ever call me again,” you spat, leaving your heart behind.

You walked angrily out of his place not wanting to be anywhere near that man. The past two years you had a “thing”. You two had met walking your pets and became friends easily. Three years being friends and two being friends with benefits. Usually, when you both were out clubbing, you rang the other one's phone to not go home alone. You spent long nights loving each other. At the beginning it was cool, you wanted sex, you had it and still remained friends. It became more than that before you could even stop it. You started staying over at his house or he stayed at yours. He prepared breakfast for you and you did the same. He had to go out of town and he would leave you taking care of his best friend and his house. You would travel to his work. He would attend your expositions. You were trying to become someone inside the art world all by yourself so he went undercover to see your work. He would buy you flowers, he would hold your hand. He would kiss you goodnight. He would watch you work and smile at you. You would prepare his luggage. You would cook dinner for him. You would paint him while he rested next to you. You both would sing out loud to your favourites songs. You both would get jealous when someone looked at you inappropriately. You would argue over some stupid shit and make up later. You both would wanted it in another way but you wouldn't say a word to change it. You drove the other one crazy and wouldn't move a finger to change it.

The last five months you had been arguing non stop. He had been seeing someone but got jealous when you did the same. His family never understood what was going on between you two. He had taken you to his home with his family and introduced you. You had been treated like another member of the family and you would spend long days in their home when you had holidays. He met your family. He would even go on holidays with you and your family. So, seeing the both of you argue over the phone drove them nuts. You knew his mom wasn't happy to see what was happening but you couldn't seem to find the right answers to stop the fights. You had been out of town the last week due to some exposition in London and he was supposed to meet with you up in Amsterdam for the weekend and then fly back home for Christmas. He never showed up.

That's why you went to his house after work and found the reason he didn't get to you. The woman smiled smugly at you and whispered something on his ear before leaving with a “goodbye”.

He greeted you inside his house and you were in denial about what just happened, about what you just saw. You argued and then put an end to your relationship.

You loved the man with your whole heart and couldn't take it anymore. He left you in another country all by yourself for another woman. You used to think he loved you. He told you once in his sleep.

Tears streamed down your face when you arrived to your new empty flat. A flat you both were supposed to decorate. He had promised to help you out when you arrived from Amsterdam and now you were about to spend Christmas alone. You took a shower trying to calm yourself. How could he? After all you had been through he left you for someone else. Of course you did not blame him, you couldn't. You never arrived to terms of a real relationship but you thought he wanted it when he proposed to go to Amsterdam. You were sure he wanted to ask you officially to be his girlfriend. You were clearly wrong. Your phone rang in your purse. You checked it and turned it off. You didn't want to talk to anyone. After drinking some water you went straight to bed. You needed to sleep. To forget what happened. Maybe tomorrow would be a better day.

Wrong. You were wrong once again. You had a meeting with an important business man to decorate his new house with your art. You showed up on time but not his new girlfriend. You choked on your drink when she appeared. She seemed shocked too. She treated you badly and he would try to stop her and she ended up yelling at him for wanting someone else's art on his house instead of the decorations she wanted. He excused himself and the woman and told you he would call back. The rain poured down at the same time you walked out the building.

“Brilliant,” You whispered harshly. You walked all the way back to your little office, picked up your car keys and went to your old flat.

Two weeks later, your new apartment looked incredibly amazing you thought. You had been decorating the last weeks to keep your mind busy. You had been working around the town. You didn't even notice it was Christmas until you had to go for food supplies and found every shop closed. Lucky for you, you had food supplies for your dog. The New Year's morning Scott Chris’s little brother, called you to see how were you doing. He ended up having lunch with you and comforting you.

He had to leave close to evening and you wished him and his family a great night.

“So, it's over?” your best friend asked.

“It was never a thing,” you added.

“Yeah but you could see from miles away you loved each other.” Your friend shrugged over the video call.

“That was long ago. Believe me when I say I want it that way,” you whispered.

“I know you don't want to hear this but I told you so,” she declared.

“New Year, new chances,” you said.

“Why don't you come over before going back to work?” She smiled at you.

“Then help me find a flight,” you told her.

You booked a flight to your friends current living place, London. You would be travelling on the 3rd of January and coming back on the 12th of January.

You cooked dinner for you and your furry best friend. You sat on your couch and ate the traditional grapes your family did though your childhood and teenage years. Even though you left home five years ago, you still followed their Christmas and New Year's traditions. The last two years you Christmas spent it at the Evans's house and he would spend the New Year's With you and your family. Both years he kissed you just after midnight trying to not be caught by your parents. You both knew your family wouldn't take it right so, you keep it low key in your house.

Your best buddy jumped over you when he noticed the tears on your face licking every part he could. You hugged him and kissed his head. He was a good boy. Your best boy. The next morning you woke up and prepared yours and your dog's luggage. You took him for a walk and arrived home after your morning run. He went straight to his bowl of water and you poured some snack in his food bowl. You went for a shower putting some music in the background. Your music was interrupted by Scott's call.

“Hey babe, just calling to wish you a happy New Year. I know things seem difficult now but I promise everything's gonna be alright. Please, text me back when you can, love you.”

You exited the bathroom and texted him back.

“Happy New Year Scottie, I'm fine. Love you back.”

You spend the afternoon sketching your dog and playing with him. You texted your best friend and scheduled things for the next day.

Early morning you walked around the airport waiting to board. Few hours later, you spot your best friend in the crowd.

“I'm glad to see again, darling,” your best friend greeted you.

“I'm glad to be here.”

The same night your friend took you clubbing. The next day you both went around the city like the good old days. Two days later, you did a quick travel to Spain and before you knew it you were patting your dog calm on your flight seats.

After your long flight you had a rest day at home with your little furry boy. You would need to start working soon. You had been waiting for a call all your way back on the flight after you received an email asking for personal details to get in touch with you.

“That's okay. Thank you for the opportunity. See you on Monday.” You spoke over the phone and smiled proudly. An art gallery in New York just called you to arrange a exposition in their facilities and you couldn't be happier. You called Chris to tell him. Scott picked up the phone.

“Hey, honey, how you doing?” Scott saluted.

“Scott! I did it! The gallery just booked me!” you shouted happily jumping in your seat.

“You did what?” he asked confused.

“I've been trying to get to expose my art in this Art gallery in New York but I'd never could until today!!! THEY'RE GOING TO EXPOSE MY ART IN THEIR FACILITIES! THEY'RE HOSTING AN EVENT JUST FOR MY ART!!” you explained doing a cheeky dance in your little office. You heard Scott laugh at the other side.

“I'm so happy for you, sweet. I told you good things were coming.” Scott laughed

“I know! And I can't believe! My art!” You denied smiling and then realization hit you. You just called Chris to tell him and his brother picked the phone up. Chris didn't want to talk to you. And the truth was you didn't want either but you couldn't stop yourself from calling him and tell him. He had been the first one to know anything you had to say always and right now it hadn't change. You excused yourself and asked Scott to not tell Chris about it. You knew it was childish but he didn't deserve to know.

“I hope this one isn't sold. I would hate to not have it on my room.” A voice whispered behind you. You turned around and found Sebastian smiling at you.

“Seb! You're here! You came!” You hugged him tightly and he laughed.

“Of course I am.” Sebastian kissed your forehead. “I wouldn't miss your day.”

“You're the best!” You laughed.

“So, how it's going?” he asked sipping his wine.

You sipped on yours. “The owner said I've already sold five paintings,” you explained, excited.

“Now, this one makes six.” He smirked at you.

You both laughed and looked to the painting before you. It was a portrait of yourself half naked playing piano. Chris had taken you a picture playing his piano half naked after a long night making love. You ran around his house trying to take it away from him and would laugh at you for being small next to him. You demanded the picture for a whole month and he would say no. On your birthday he gave it to you on a pillow and you laughed and kissed him. The next morning you had painted him half naked while he slept. The following week, he had a pillow of you half naked printed in his bed and you had one of him printed back at your place. You really liked the picture and never told him you were playing your heart out to him by a song. Frank Sinatra's strangers in the night sounded on the background and you smiled at the memory.

“If you hang this one up by your bed, I'm kicking your ass,” you warned him. Sebastian laughed out loud and squeezed you by his side.

Chris introduced you while back and you became friends ever since. Sebastian was a good man and always tried to help you in anything you needed. A few months after you met, you had a crush on him but you wouldn't say a thing since it was Chris friend and you knew you were wrong. Sebastian deserved someone who loved him forever and not someone who's sleeping with his friend and trying to forget and hide her feelings for him. Scott noticed these feelings you developed for Sebastian and told you to face it. Sebastian seemed interested in you too. He told you to embrace it and try to know Sebastian and see what the future had for you both. And you were about to do it, but then Sebastian left to Ireland and Chris invited you over to watch movies at his place. That night Chris told you he loved you in his sleep and you couldn't forget or take those words out of your head. When Sebastian came back you had a date and you felt relief when both of you agreed you saw each other as a friend. Ever since Sebastian and you shared a nice friendship and he would flirt with you just to annoy Chris any time. Anthony Mackie would join too.

“I'm glad things working for you, beauty.” Sebastian kissed your head.

“Thank you Seb.” You kissed his beard. “Really, thank you.”

April's fools day arrived and you had been working since early morning. Scott had called you two days ago to invite you to a April's fools party at his place and you said yes. You arrived and went straight to the bathroom. You had a nice warm bath and got ready just on time Sebastian rang your doorbell.

“Damn,” Sebastian whispered looking at your body in a beautiful little red dress.

“See anything you like?” you asked cocking a brow. Sebastian licked his lips and then kissed your forehead.

“I'm glad this is our first date.” Sebastian smiled.

You laughed and kissed his cheek. “I'll be ready in a minute.”

“In that dress I'll wait a thousand years.”

You laughed and walked to put some food on your dog's bowl. Sebastian played with him while you finished.

“Okay buddy, Sebastian and I have to go.” You patted your dog. “You take care of the house and behave, okay?”

Your dog barked in agreement and licked your face. Sebastian patted his head and you left.

“You're my fire,” Sebastian sang.

“The one desire,” you followed.

“Believe when I say,” Sebastian kept singing.

“I want it that way…” You both sang out loud on your way to Scott's house.

Sebastian opened your door just when don't want you back by the Backstreet boys sounded through the speakers.

“Don't tell me you have the whole discography on your phone,” you asked Sebastian, amused.

“My future girl loves them.” He winked at you.

You giggled in response and kissed his cheek. You walked to the door and knocked.

“Helloooooo!!!!!!” Shana welcomed you.

“Hey, sweet!” You hugged her tightly.

“I'm so glad you came!!!” Shana hugged Sebastian and guided you inside. The place was full of people, music, food, drinks, balloons everywhere.

“There's my tequila partner!!!” Scott's high pitched voice made you turn around. He hugged you tightly and you laughed. He kissed your cheek and then hugged Sebastian. Scott looked at you and winked. You both denied.

“For the record, I don't like tequila,” Sebastian added. Shana, Scott, and you laughed. Scott showed you around and dragged you away from Sebastian. Sebastian smiled at you while you followed Scott.

“So, Sebastian and you?” Scott asked pouring a drink for you.

“Mmm we're trying to see how it goes,” you added helping him clean up.

“Do you love him?” Scott looked deeply at you.

You tried to avoid his eyes and focused somewhere else.

“No, I don't,” you assured.

“Then look at me and say you don't.” Scott held your chin to face you. You gulped and denied moving his hand away.

“I can't forget him so easily,” you explained.

“Does Sebastian know?” Scott offered your drink.

“Yes. Sebastian told me he won't force me into anything. He understands I like your brother and he wants to win my heart,” you whispered. “I don't want to hurt him,” you said sadly. Scott squeezed you on his arms and kissed your hair.

“If Sebastian really wants to be with you, he will wait for you.”

“But what if I can't never stop loving your brother?” Your concerned voice sent chills over his spine.

“I know you love him but you can't keep holding yourself back for him,” Scott tried to explain you. “He's my brother and I love him but I don't want you waiting and suffering for him.”

You nodded. “I know,” you said.

“You're like my sister, honey. And I don't want a cad next to her,” Scott spat. You laughed and Scott hugged you.

“You two make a great couple.”

“I hope so.” You smiled back.

You walked back to the party and looked for Sebastian and Shana. You found them talking with Anthony and a few friends. You looked around the room trying to find him but not a single sight of him. You sipped your drink and walked to Sebastian.

Sebastian spun you around for the last time before kissing your cheek and you laughed.

You had been dancing for over an hour. The music was really good and you were enjoying yourself.

“I need to use the restroom,” Sebastian whispered in your ear. You nodded and he kissed your hair leaving your side. You stood there laughing and dancing with your friends. Shana offered you a shot and you drank it easily. You were dancing to “I want it that way” when you spun around and spotted him. He was coming back from the kitchen. Your smiled fell and his face switched to a surprised look and then a guilty one. He watched you across the room as you walked toward  Scott. Scott saw him and then turned on his side to face you. Chris whispered something and Scott held his arm whispering something. Shana interrupted.

“Okay everyone, it's time!!!”

Scott joined her dragging Chris with him. As you know we're here to celebrate,” ke explained. “So, we have a few games and the first one is Karaoke!” Scott and Shana cheered. The crowd erupted in cheers. Scott explained the rules of the game and the victory trophy to the best singer. Soon enough, Shana and Mackie stood in front of the crowd of people singing to “Baby one more time” by Britney Spears. The crowd went wild and you laughed at the two of them.

After Mackie's and Shana's performance, the blonde next to Chris joined the little scenario with her friend and sang to I really really like you by Carly Rae Jepsen.

Sebastian arrived by your side and you gave him his drink. He smiled at you and asked what was happening. You explained him and suddenly the melody to I want it that way by the Backstreet boys filled the room. You both looked to the scenario and Chris stood there with Scott by his side. They sang their hearts out. People sang with them. By the time the last chorus arrived Chris walked straight to you and sang the last bit…

“Am I your fire? Your one desire, yeah I know it's too late but I want it that way. Tell me why ain't nothin’ but a heartache, tell me why ain't nothin’ but a mistake, tell me why I never want to hear you say I want it that way…”  

The crowd erupted in cheers and Scott dragged Chris through the crowd. Everyone cheered in laughter. Sebastian looked at you while you kept your eyes on Chris. You both looked at each other like you had never been apart. Your heart racing on your chest. Your pulse going crazy. Your whole body trembling. You noticed Sebastian gulping and turned to face him. He smiled at you sadly and your sight flew back to Chris.

Soon enough you went to the restroom. You needed a break. You put some water over your neck and looked at yourself in the mirror. A knock on the other distracted you. You found Chris on the other side. He smiled at you and you smiled back. Before you could even notice he pushed you inside the restroom and locked the door behind. You pushed him back and looked him deeply in the eyes and he whispered the words “I love you.”.

You walked back to the crowded room and stood next to Shana. You tried to find Sebastian but it was too crowded to We will rock you by Queen and Scott's boyfriend performance. Soon Chris joined both of you and your back arched to his proximity. Sebastian appeared on the other side of the room and you smiled at him. When Scott's boyfriend finished his song, you walked quickly to grab the mic.

“Okay, okay, I don't think anyone can beat Queen,” the crowd cheered, “But trust me when I say me and my boy going to rock your body.” You smirked at the crowd and walked next to Sebastian. He grabbed the mic you offered and positioned himself next to you. You told the DJ the song and winked at him.

I don't want you back by the Backstreet boys filled the room and you smiled at Sebastian. Sebastian looked at you and a smile filled his face before starting to sing. The crowd cheered and clapped to your performance.

“Just to let you know, I do want you in that way.” You smiled at him. Sebastian's face lighted up like a Christmas tree and hugged you tightly.

“Then I'm glad I downloaded the discography for my girl.” He kissed your forehead. You laughed and squeezed him. You both saw Chris watching you and Scott and Shana smiled nodding at you. You faced Sebastian and he was still looking at Chris. You saw his features and you knew you really did want it that way. Sebastian turned to face you and you held his face slowly putting your lips on his. Sebastian smiled before hugging you into a loving kiss.

______

Hello everybody, I’m back. 

This fic it’s coming to be part of @thefanficfaerie #BackstreetBoysChallenge. Thank you so much darling for allowing me to be part of this amazing challenge celebrating the Backstreet Boys 25 years making music. I remember growing up listening them (thank you mum) and, of course, I love them. Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD ONE. SOME CAKE, SOME WINE AND LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF LOVE.

I really hope you like it and enjoy it as much as I did writing it. Special thanks to my dear @thorne93 for beta’d me. You’re incredible. Love you tons.