"Alex..."China said as she walked up and nabbed cue ball of the table, "What the hell did ya do now?" Alex just looked up at her, his eyes red and glazed, causing her to gasp, "Oh god, AJ..."

     He just wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, "I-um, I think I fucked up royal. I think I just blew it with her big time."

     Walking up behind AJ, Nick place his hands on his shoulders and lead him to the couch against the wall. "AJ do you wanna talk about it?"

     "Um, I don't know. It's just every time that we are around each other there is this tension. And I cannot control my temper with her. She came up here to ask what my problem was and I fuckin' snapped on her. I think that I really fucked up this time."

     Leaning against the pool table China said, "Well, whatever was said really shook her up too, Kara said that Kevin ended up going with them and calmed her down."

     Alex looked up at her, "What? Why is Kevin with her?"He asked.

     "I dunno," She shrugged.

     "Alex, you know Kev, he probably is worried about why the girls were leaving." Nick tried to reassure Alex. "Look Alex, you and Joce need to get you head out your asses and fucking talk. Not yell, not scream, but talk."

     "Meaning, you will need to control your temper." China added, "Look Alex, you really need to listen to her, understand why she left."

     "She told you?"Alex asked as he buried his head in his hands.

     "No, she told Kara last night, who told me this morning on the phone." China told him. "She's scared that if she gives in she will lose her self, her identity. Joce has been trying to figure out who she is while raising her son, and holding down a job. I know how she feels, it's scary."

     "Yea, but you took a chance with Nick?"Alex pointed out.

     "True, however I don't have the same history as Joce does. You need to talk to her. Look, why don't we get ready. I'll go out to the truck and grab the duffel bag and we all will change for the club. Are you still coming?"

     Alex nodded, "Yeah, it sounds great."

                                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Jocelynn stood in the bathroom looking into the mirror at her reflection. She had put on a pair of low-rise kacki pants, a black-off the shoulder-folder collar top, with a silver dragonfly broach on it, and her black boots. Her hair was up in a ponytail at the top of her head and had it in curls, she eyes were still slightly puffy but her make up hide it well. Regret filled her soul about her situation with AJ.

     It seemed that every time that they were together they either fought or had sex, or both. Mind blowing, earth shattering, heart stopping sex.

     "Joce," Kevin said from the other side of the door, "Are you ready? Ya been in there for a while, babe."

     She opened the door and walking into the bedroom, Kevin was sitting on the bed wearing a pair of kacki pants and a black top as well. On their way back to Kara's the group realized that Kevin needed to change of clothing if they were all going clubbing. It had been Kara's idea that they all dressed similar so that they wouldn't have a hard time finding each other if they got separated.

     "Yeah, I am ready. How do I look?" She asked spinning around and pretending to strike a pose.

     Kevin shook his head laughing, "Joce, you look hot, just about as hot as me."He said as he winked at her.

     Jocelynn couldn't help but laugh, "Come on let's get going." She said pulling him up to his feet by his hand. They walked out of the bedroom to the living room where Taz and Kara were waiting and wearing their kacki and black top outfits as well.

     "God dang it Joce, we thought you died in there." Taz grumbled in a joking manner. "Well, first off before we start hitting the clubs, how about we stop at my club, I have to greet tonight's performers, ya know the owners shit."

     Jocelynn nodded, still oblivious and not at all suspicious about her real 'surprise' party. The four hopped into Kara's car once again and headed toward Club Dysfunct. When they made it to the club they all headed for the door. As they walked in to the club it was pitch black and not a sound save the noise from them walking into the club.

     Taz turned to Joce, Kara and Kevin with a look of uncertainty, "I don't know what is happening. Hmm, I am going to hit the breaker behind bar."

     Jocelynn grabbed tightly onto Kevin's left arm with her left hand and and tried to pry her right hand out of his left, but he only held tighter. Her guard went up, she knew that something was up and she felt the need once again to run. Just then Taz hit the breaker and all the lights went on in the club. In front of her stood all the Backstreet family, her own family and her friends, not to mention a ton of people that she didn't know off hand.

     "CONGRATULATIONS AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" They all shouted which was followed be a good round of laughs, as Jocelynn jumped screaming in return from being startled and grabbed harder on Kevin's arm, causing him to wince.

     Gina and China hurried over to her to give her a hug, Jocelynn just stood there with her mouth dropped and her eyes wide and hugged each of them. Gina laughed at the expresion on her lil sister's face."Wow, for once, she is speechless."

     China yanked Jocelynn away from Kevin and dragged her along with Kara, and Taz toward the stage, where she was tossed a microphone. "Ladies, and Gentleman, thank you all for coming to this bash for Jocelynn's 22nd birthday as well as congrats on her record deal! So to my best friend, Joce, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Now let's get this party started off RIGHT!" She called out which set off the music and the party took off.

     Leaning over Jocelynn whispered into her sister's ear, "Ya couldn't just have forgotten my birthday, ya had to make a huge deal about? I am so gonna kick your ass."

     Shaking her head Gina whispered back, "No you are not!"As she pointed into the crowd where Trish, Blake, and Kolas were standing talking to Brian and LeighAnn. Jocelynn grinned and jumped off the stage, ran to them and tackled Kolas.

     "Oh my god, you all were in on this too?" She asked pinning Kolas on the ground. "Wait where is Brennon? I thought you were watching him while Chi and I were out here?"She asked while looking up at Trish.

     Blake wrapped his arm around Joce's waist to lift her up off of Kolas, "We-ugh... we brought him with us, he is being watched with Juaqin and Baylee by Nick's two sisters."

     "By the way Happy Birthday," Trish grinned as she smacked Joce upside her head, "That is for not calling me after your signing to tell me how it was."

     "Trish, you are so lucky that you are pregnant."She growled.

     Kolas stood up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, "Happy birthday Jocie-Girl," He said while he spun her around. Just as he put her down a black haired woman walked up to them.

     "You must be the birthday girl," The woman said with a fake smile. Jocelynn nodded and the woman introduced herself, "I am Sasha Barkinquest."

     "Nice to meet you Sasha. I hate to sound rude, but do I know you?"Jocelynn asked while shaking Sasha's hand.

     "No actually, I am AJ McLean's girlfriend."She answered.

     China stood with Nick and AJ at the bar taking a drink of her long island iced-tea, when she spotted Jocelynn talking with a long blacked hair woman. "Nick, do you know who that is?" She asked pointing in the groups direction.

     Turning Nick looked the direction that China gestured toward and froze he quickly reached he out his hand and grabbed AJ by the collar oh his shirt and yanked him to look at the direction of Joce and Sasha. All that escaped from AJ's lips was, "Shit!"