CHAPTER FIVE

~Chrissy~

‘Backstreet’s back ALRIGHT!’

“Aghhhh.” I moaned as I reached over and flipped my alarm clock off. We were having night rehearsals this week with the first concert Saturday. It was close to noon and Nick wasn’t due to pick me up until two so I decided to get online and chill. About an hour and a half passed until someone I knew signed on and of course it was Rissa.

HOWIEsGRL: Boo!

AJsLADY: Hey you. Day off?

HOWIEsGRL: Not exactly. Jared’s band performs later tonight.

AJsLADY: That’s kewl. So did you talk to Madman about next Friday?

HOWIEsGRL: Yeah. He’s gonna meet me at the hotel at noon or so.

AJsLADY: That’s kewl. H/O There’s someone at my door.

HOWIEsGRL: Okay

I went and answered the door to find Nick standing there. He was dressed in a green tank top and black baggy pants.

“Hey! I know I’m early but I was thinking we could get something to eat.”

“Sure. Come on in.”

~Nick~

I pulled up into Chrissy’s apartment complex a few minutes early. I was hungry and thought we might stop and get something to eat. I went up and knocked on her door. She answered after a few minutes. She was wearing a light purple tank top and a pair of baggy white pants. That is pretty much what we all were wearing this week because it allowed us to move better while dancing.

“Hey! I know I’m early but I was thinking we could get something to eat.”

“Sure. Come on in.” she said as she walked back into the house.

I followed her to the computer. She was typing something in an instant message.

AJsLADY: Gotta run. Ride to work is here. Madison has truck. Talk to you later.

HOWIEsGRL: Okay. Bye

Chrissy signed off and shut the computer down. ‘AJsLADY… HOWIEsGRL…. They sound so familiar.’ I thought.

“AJsLADY huh?” I said with a laugh.

“Yep, that’s me. Sorry Nicky. AJ’s kinda my favorite.”

“You’re forgiven… just don’t call me that.”

“Okay.” She said as I followed her out the door and to my truck.

“So, who’s HOWIEsGRL?”

“My best friend Rissa.” She looked at me with panic in her eyes. “Please don’t tell them. We made those nicknames up never thinking I would meet you guys or her at that.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

“Can you keep another one?”

“Sure.”

“She’s going to the Tampa concert. I was supposed to go to but Madison is going in my place. Fatima helped me get two backstage passes for her and him.”

“Really? That’s awesome.” I said as I pulled into a Wendy’s drive thru. I ordered our food, paid, and then hit the road heading for the little studio we rented for the week.

“I wish I may, I wish I might, Be that certain someone, You wish for every night…”

“Huh?” I looked at Chrissy as I said it.

She looked at me. “Sorry. I have that song stuck in my head. It’s one of my favorites.”

“You sing really well.” I said as we pulled into the parking lot.

“Thanks. It’s my dream to be a singer, but this isn’t too bad and it’s a start.” She said as we got out of my truck and headed inside.

~Liz~

“Can you believe her? I bet she must have slept with one of the guys to get MY position.”

“Stephanie, stop! You don’t even know her!” I said in Chrissy’s defense. “Fatima can’t stop telling us about Chrissy since we arrived.”

“Oh yeah. Look who just came in and with Nick at that!”

I turned and saw a long auburn hair girl walk in with Nick. My heart fell to the floor. I knew I would probably never have a chance with him but now it was certain. I just sighed, “You don’t know her Steph, now cut it out.”

“At least give her a chance.” Beth said.

“You guys are too nice when it comes to people.” Stephanie said as she walked away.

I just looked at the new girl who was now laughing with Nick and Brian. I hung my head trying to hold back tears.

“Don’t worry about it Liz. It might be nothing.” Beth said trying to comfort me.

“I hope you’re right.” I said in a shaky voice.

At that moment Fatima started rehearsal, which ran until six. When we broke for our break I noticed Chrissy sitting by herself. I looked at Beth, picked up an extra bottle of water, and headed towards her.

~Beth~

“Liz are you listening to me?” I asked as I turned to face her. She was no longer beside me. I scanned the room and found her walking to the cooler. She reached in and pulled out another bottle of water. I thought it was a little weird beings she had one in her hand already. I jogged over to her, meeting her on her way back from the cooler.

“Yo Liz. What’s up? You already have a bottle of water.”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t.” I followed where her finger pointed and saw she was pointing at Chrissy. “I figured I’d bring her one, besides she looks kinda lonely.”

I nodded my head and followed Liz’s lead. No one else was in the room due to the fact they all went to get food. Kev offered to pick Liz and I up something so we took him up on his offer.

“Hello. I brought you this.” Liz said as she leaned down and handed Chrissy the bottle of water.

“Thanks.” Chrissy said as she took it from Liz.

“My name is Elizabeth, but people call me Liz. So, you’re the new girl huh.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s what you could call me. My name is Christine but people call me Chris or Chrissy.”

“I’m Isabeth, people call me Beth.” I piped in. “So whatcha going to eat for dinner? You haven’t moved since the break started.”

She laughed. “Kev is running to Subway for me. Didn’t he ask you if you wanted any?”

Liz laughed as she sat beside Chrissy. “Yeah he did. You are an awesome dancer. I can see why Fatima canned Stephanie to back up.

I joined in the floor pow-wow that was going on. “She wasn’t very happy when she saw you.”

“Yeah, I figured that. I think she’s persuaded everyone to hate me. I mean the guys and I get along fine but for the next few months I’m living with the fellow dancers and if they don’t like me then this won’t work.”

“You remind me of Liz!” I said laughing.

“Yeah, I told Steph to shut up when she was bad mouthing you. It really got bad when you and Nick walked in.”

“Man. We’re just really good friends. I met him at the audition and beings my brother and I are sharing my truck, Nick offered to pick me up so I didn’t leave my brother stranded with no ride.” Chrissy said.

I could see Liz breath a sigh of relief though I doubt Chrissy even noticed.

~Kevin~

“Is it me or are the dancers kinda shunning Chrissy.” Nick asked.

“Nawh. They just aren’t used to her.” I said.

“I don’t know.” Brian said

We pulled back into the little studio’s parking lot. Nick and I grabbed the subs, while Brian got the doors for us. When we walked in Nick noticed Liz, Beth, and Chrissy sitting on the floor laughing.

“See I told you. Give it time Nick.” I said as I sat the subs on the table.

“Food!” I heard someone yell at the same time I felt a bear hug. “Thank you!”  I turned to see Chrissy hugging me with the other two at bay. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You guys aren’t hungry are you?”

“Nope, starved.” Beth answered as she grabbed her sub. “Good think Bri put our names on ‘em.”

“Hey! How’d you know it was me?”

“Duh! I only grew up with you.”

We all laughed. AJ and Howie joined us as we ate. After we were done, Fatima was back with the rehearsal. She focused a lot with Chrissy beings she only had a week to learn the dances.

~Wednesday~

~AJ~

 After two days of rehearsals Fatima not only had our leads picked out for us but also added a skit. The skit of course dealt with Chrissy and Liz who were becoming best friends. We were practicing the skit and dance, but my thoughts were in other places.

“AJ what’s wrong?” Chrissy asked while we were dancing.

“I just can’t get his girl out of my head. I ran into her almost a week ago.”

“Man. Sounds intense.”

“Yeah, but I know I’ll never see her again.” I sighed. “I don’t know why it’s bothering me so much.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure it’ll work out.”

I smiled at her. She always seemed to have a good answer to your problems. It’s weird but she especially seemed to be able to give me answers that I couldn’t give myself.

“That was great!” Fatima said. “Let’s break for dinner. You guys have an hour.”

We all broke off for lunch. Chrissy walked to her bag and grabbed her truck keys. One of the male dancers went and was talking to her so I went to find Nick who was standing near Stephanie and another girl.

“Hey Nick.” He placed a finger over his mouth and I knew he was listening. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing when I walked up.

“She is such a suck up. I swear she gets more attention then any of us. I honestly do think she’s sleeping with the guys. She has to be.” Stephanie said. “I am going to find a way to bring her down.” With that she walked away from the other dancer.

“Nick… we have to tell Kevin.”

He nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”

We went off in search for Kevin.

~Reggie~

I watched as Chrissy walked over to get her bag and AJ went to talk to Nick. I looked at Richard and nodded. He knew what I was going to do.

“She can’t be all that bad, Rich.”

“Yeah, especially if the guys like her.”

“That and Liz and Beth said she’s an awesome person.” I said as we made our way over to her. I reached her just as she picked up her purse.

“Hi. I’m Reggie and this is Richard. We’re going to go get pizza. Would you like to come?”

“Hello Reggie. I’m Chrissy. No thanks. I don’t eat pizza but maybe next time guys.”

“Okay. I’ll talk at cha when we get back then.”

“Okay.” She said while nodding. “Bye guys.” She said as she headed out. Liz was right. She didn’t seem as bad as Steph made her out to be.

~Chrissy~

I was in my truck heading to Wendy’s listening to the radio as I thought out loud.

“That’s now six dancers that are talking to me. I guess they finally realize Stephanie is just jealous.” My mind raced back to the conversation that AJ and I had. “I wonder if he will realize that I was the girl he ran into in the mall.”

I ordered my food and headed back to the little studio.