chapter 32
I woke up in the middle of the night coughing.
"You ok?" AJ asked turning over.
"Yea" I nodded before falling back asleep. I woke up again at 9:30.
"Hey gorgeous" AJ smiled as he came out of the bathroom in a towel.
"I'm sick" I sniffed sticking out my lip.
"Awww...let me go get you some medicine" He left the room and came back with a bottle of cough medicine. He poured it in a spoon and directed it towards my mouth.
I shook my head.
"Come on baby"
"No, I hate medicine"
"Here comes the backstreet plane" he said making fling noises.
"I appreciate it...but I'm not 2"
He laughed at me, "Come on"
"What flav-" I said before be stuffed the spoon in my mouth, "Ugh" I said after I swallowed.
He smiled and put down the spoon.
"feel my head"
He did so, "Damn, it's hot"
"I'm gonna stay in bed ok?"
"You don't wanna go out with us?"
"Where?"
"The beach"
"No, I don't feel good enough"
"I'll stay with you"
"No, go have a good time"
"Are you hungry?"
"No, give me a kiss"
"I can't get sick" he said standing up.
"Fine" I pouted covering my head, "I thought you loved me"
"Honey, I do. But I can't get sick. Too much stuff to do."
I just laid there, "I'm hungry now"
"What do you want to eat?"
"Lucky charms"
"Ewwww, Nick probably doesn't even have that"
"Please?" I asked pouting
"Fine" He said getting dressed.
I smiled in victory.
"I'll be back"
"Can you get me some fruit snacks too? Fruit by the Foot"
"Sure"
"And cookies"
He nodded trying to get out.
"And chocolate milk!" I called after him.
I stayed in bed all day while the boys and Mandy went out.
~*~2 weeks later~*~
The boys' management had called a meeting with the boys and all the dancers.
"Ok, so we're all here" Nina said as Kristin walked in, "I just received this memo from MTV. They want to do a reality show about you guys. It will follow you around on tour and the hotels, everything. They want to show the real you to the fans, the world"
"No" Kevin immediately said
"You haven't even thought about it" Nina said handing all of the boys a manual.
"What are we here for?" I asked
"Well, you dancers are a big part of the tour. You'll be on the camera almost as much as the guys"
"So wait" AJ said, "There will be cameras on our bus, in our rooms and following us around?" He said looking through the book.
"Yea"
"Well what about our personal time. We already don't get enough, and now you want us to let cameras in while we do the stuff we don't want the public to see" Nick said
"Like what?" Nina asked getting irritated
"Sex!" AJ exclaimed, "What if we're having sex...I mean the fans will see that. No Nina, we're not doing this"
"You guys need the publicity" she said, "This tour is the only thing keeping you in the spotlight. Just don't have sex"
"That's like asking me not to breathe!" AJ exclaimed
I giggled as Nina shot him a look
"These confessionals" Brian started
"You go in there at the end of every week, talk about what's on your mind. Nothing goes on the air without your approval."
"So is there a host?" Kevin asked
"A woman named Joan. She's 25 and works for MTV. She's a news host. She's really not a host...but she'll be with you all"
"What do you think guys?" Kevin asked
"Well, she's right, we do need the publicity" Howie said.
"I'm in" AJ sighed.
The other boys slowly agreed.
Contracts were passed out and signed.
"Ok, So rehearsals start in three days...just to brush up, then the second leg goes back on in two weeks.
For the next couple of weeks, the boys and dancers had massive rehearsals. On the day the tour started we all met outside of Jive Records.
"Hi I'm Joan" A woman said walking up to everybody, "This is my assistant Mary, don't mind us, we'll stay out of your way. If there are any problems, let me know and I'll fix it ok? The cameras are already installed on your buses."
We all greeted her, then got on our assigned buses.
"Bye Baby" I said to AJ as I climbed on the dancer bus, "What are you guys doing?" I laughed as I saw some of the other dancers looking through everything on the bus.
"We're looking for the cameras" Earl said
"Right there" I said pointing to a corner, "and there" I said pointing to another far in the back
After a couple hours of driving I pulled out my cell phone.
"Hold on" A man said sticking a cord in my phone.
"What's that?"
"SO we can hear your convo"
I looked around confused then began to call home.
"Hello?" My mom asked
"Hi Mom" I smiled, "I didn't get to say bye to you this morning"
"I know sweetie, what time did you leave?"
"Six" I yawned
"Where you guys on your way to?"
"ummm, I think we're on our way to Atlanta"
"You'll be driving for a while"
"Yea" I sighed, "Is Justin home?"
"No. he's with the guys"
"Oh, ok, well I think I'll join the others and go break in my bunk, Love you mom"
"Ok, love you too Baby, send AJ my love ok?"
"Ok"
"Don't forget to call at least once every three days"
"I will, bye" I said hanging up. I walked past the cameras and found a vacant bunk. I laid down and quickly fell asleep.
"Baby" A voice sang
I woke up, "Hi" I smiled
"we're gonna go get some breakfast"
"Too bad it's like three o clock" I giggled hopping down, "is everybody else already in there?"
"Yea" he said taking my hand. He pinned my against the bunks and kissed me.
"The cameras" I whispered
He ignored me as his hands traveled up my shirt. I looked at one of the camera men who was eating this up.
"Come on" I said pushing him off of me. He groaned softly and followed me off of the bus. We met everybody inside.
"Weird huh?" Nick asked as I sat next to him. We looked at the cameras who were all set up.
"Totally, it's hard to forget that they're there" I said picking up a menu.
"We'll get used to it, it's only the first day" Aj said, "I can't decide between the hamburger or the steak, maybe I'll have both"
"You're such a pig!" I laughed
"Well at least I eat, unlike you"
"I do eat" I said glaring at him.
"Yea, lettuce" he said as the waitress came around.
I ignored him looking through the menu.
"And what can I get you?" the waitress asked
"I'll have the fried chicken Caesar salad and a diet coke" I asked politely
She finished getting our orders and brought us our drinks.
"We get the new dancer when we get to Atlanta, the one who is gonna take Nicole's place" Mike said.
"I heard she's hot as hell" Swoop said taking a sip of his drink
"Tima, what does she look like?" Nick asked
"Calm down, she's cute" she shrugged, "All I care is that she can dance. She came down and learned everything about three weeks ago. Everybody, treat her good"
Brian kept looking at his phone to make sure there were no messages.
"What's wrong Rok?" Nick asked
"Leigh, the baby's due and I wanna make sure she can get a hold of me if she goes into labor"
"What's gonna happened if she goes during a concert?" Kevin asked
"Let's just hope not" Brian said.
"AJ and Nick, I need to talk to you for a second" Kevin said getting up. He had AJ and Nick follow him away from the table.
They came back about ten minutes later. Aj and Nick looked upset and Kevin looked irritated.
"You ok?" I asked
"Yea" He muttered
We all sat talking until our food came. We ate and then chilled for a while longer.
"We gotta get back on the road" on of the bus driver said, "We'll be in Atlanta in about two hours"
"See you at the hotel" Aj said getting up.
"Is it cool If I come on the bus with you?" I asked
"Ummm, Ok"
"No, it's ok" I said, "If you don't want me to"
"No, I do" he said. In the last thirty minutes, his attitude had changed completely.
"Oh fine" I said, "Is everything ok?" I asked looking up at him
"Yea" he said softly before taking my hand and leading me to the boys' bus. We got on and sat in the entertainment room, "You want something to drink?"
"Yea, ummm, a coke"
He got up and came back with a coke and a beer. He sat back down and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. Brian came back and sat down
"I'm just so nervous" he said
"Calm down B, she'll call if something happens" I said taking a sip of my drink
"I know...but the further we get, the longer it takes to fly back"
"if you don't see her have the baby, it's no big deal, it'll be nasty anyway" AJ said
Brian just looked at him and got up.
"What?" he asked
"AJ, that's hella insensitive, He wants to be there for the birth of his baby"
"I'm just saying if he's a little late..."
"Shhh" I said shaking my head
AJ turned on the TV and saw MTV news. "It's Nsync" he said
I looked at it and saw Justin talking to John Norris.
"It's a whole new set up. We're doing like all new songs and it's before we even release the Cd, we're hoping that it'll be good" Justin said
"Are you hoping to break records with this CD?"
"Yea, we're very confident in our work and we think that this CD will break records"
"As the Backstreet boys did with Millennium?"
"Yea"
"So you're saying you think you could break their record?"
"Uh, no comment" Chris said
Nick came in the back and sat down.
"Your sister is dating AJ Mclean right Justin?"
"Yea"
"How do you feel about that"
"I'm her older brother, I'm supposed to be protective. AJ's good to her and they really like each other so I have nothing bad to say"
"Would you rather her be with one of you guys"
Justin got a disgusted look on his face, "No, I wouldn't let these guys touch my sister!" he laughed, "She says that all of us are her brothers, it would be too weird for her and them probably"
"They're doing that reality show, so we can watch what they do." Chris said before looking in the camera, "Were watching you Erin and AJ"
"Yea fool, so keep your hands off my sister" Justin joked
"They're so crazy" I laughed looking at AJ. He wasn't even watching the show, he was looking out the window.
"Babe"
"Hmmm?" He asked
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I told you I'm fine"
"Well kill me for caring" I muttered standing up. I walked to the front of the bus and sat with Mandy.
"Hey" She smiled.
"They didn't get you your own bus?" I asked. She was the opening act for this tour.
"I said I'd be on the same bus as Nick" She said, "but he's ignoring me"
"AJ's acting weird too. I tried to get him to talk...but he wont tell me what's going on"
"They're all acting a little weird" she muttered, "maybe the cameras"
"I don't think so" I said sipping my coke. We drove for two hours and arrived at the hotel.
The guys walked to the front.
"Let's go" Marcus said.
"We're signing right?" Kevin asked
"Yea" Howie said
The boys walked past us and off of the bus.
"Are you sharing a room with Nick?" I asked Mandy
"Yep, are you sharing one with AJ?"
"Yea, but I could always go to a dancer room"
"If our guys don't get it together, we could share" she offered
"Ok" I nodded as we began to walk out of the bus. We were met with major screams. I could see the other dancers off to the side signing autographs and taking pictures.
"I swear, the fans want a pic and autograph with anybody" Mandy sighed as they started to come towards us.
"Hi" A girl smiled at me, "Can I have a picture with you two?"
"Sure" Mandy and I said. We posed with the girl and then signed her autograph.
I walked around signing a couple more before I finally got to the others.
"Oh good, we're all here" Swoop said pulling me into the picture that was being taken of the whole group of dancers. We stood there as people took pictures. About twenty minutes later, the guys finished signing all of the autographs.
"Sorry, we gotta go" Alisha said, "bye"
We all waved before going inside the hotel.
"Am I sleeping in your room?" I asked AJ
"If you want" he shrugged.
"Never mind," I said walking away.
"Room with me" Mandy said softly as Nick left her standing in the hall.
"K" I said. We all went ip to the 14th floor and went to our rooms.
"Nick said he wanted to talk to me, I'll be right back" Mandy said after we put our stuff down.
"K" I said as she walked out. I decided to go down to AJ's room. I knocked.
"Hey" he said opening it.
I smiled, "Can I come in?"
He opened it more so I could walk in. He closed it behind us.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.
Aj led us to the bed and laid me down.
*****
I laid in AJ's arms, "That was so great" I smiled.
He didn't say anything.
"Damn J, I never knew you to be the mute one" I said looking at him. He looked like he was thinking about something, "Would you tell me what's wrong?"
"Look, why don't you go to your room. I'll see you tomorrow"
"What? AJ..."
He got up and put on his boxers. He handed me my clothes, "Get dressed under the covers so the cameras don't see you"
I silently got dressed then stood up.
"Bye" he said opening the door.
"You're not gonna tell me you love me?"
AJ sighed, "I- I'll see you at rehearsals tomorrow"
I looked at him with hurt eyes before walking away. I went back to my room to see Mandy sitting on the bed crying.
"What happened?" I asked trying to keep my own tears in.
"That fucking bastard Kevin!" she sobbed, "He told Nick to break up with me cause he didn't want our relationship on camera."
"And Nick did?"
"Of course, he does everything Kevin tells him to do" She said wiping her face off with the Kleenex I had offered her, "thanks"
"I think he told Aj to dump me too." I said, "he's acting totally mean. We had sex and then he told me to get out"
"He did?" she asked before blowing her nose.
"Yea" I said softly.
"I can't go a whole four months with Nick if we're not together."
"Mandy, go down there and talk to him"
"I can't" she said as she started crying again, "Will you?"
"I dunno, Nick and I really haven't talked since....you know"
"I know, but please?"
"Ummm, fine" I said walking out. I walked down to Nick's room and knocked.
He opened it and looked at me.
"Umm, did you really want to break up with Mandy?" I asked
"Yea" he said
"Well, did you give her a good excuse as to why?"
"I don't have one" he said
"It was Kevin huh?"
"It's none of your business" he said.
"Is Aj gonna break up with me too?" I asked softly
"Night" he said shutting the door on me.
Tears started streaming down my face as I began to walk back to my room. I walked in.
"What did he say?" Mandy asked
"Umm, he said that he didn't have a good excuse as to why he dumped you...I'm sorry"
"Aj called down here for you" she said
"I'll call him later" I said trying to put it off as long as possible.
"Let's go to the bar" she said
"We can't get in, plus, we have our own bar here"
"There's no liquor in there" she said
"I bet Brian's has some" I said, "Come on let's go, he's not gonna drink it"
We walked down to Brian's room
"Hey" Brian smiled letting us in.
"Do you have liquor in your bar?" Mandy asked going over to the fridge, "never mind" she smiled as she saw a stash. She pulled out bottles and gave them to me.
"What are you guys doing?" He asked
"Drowning out your stupid cousin" she said