(two weeks later)

"You’ll call right? And if you don’t the next time I see you you’ll literally be sporting Black and Blue!"

"You’re just jealous cuz you didn’t get the part!"

"Beth, shut yo mouth girl! Bye, I’ll see you in a few weeks!"

"Hey Beth… I gotta…"

"Yessum?"

"I gotta wish you luck, and break a leg!"

And watching her leave on a tour bus was the hardest thing I’d have to do. Letting my dreams go with her only hoping that by some miracle I would just wake up from this dream and start MY job, MY dancing life, MY 68,000 dollars a year career! But now witch was starting to describe me, so I turned to leave when I saw Andy and Alicia running towards me.

"Hey! Where is she? We were coming to say break a leg."

"She’s gone, and I already did it, didn’t happen"

"Aww man… Andy, I knew I shouldn’t had let you drive!"

"Shut up Alicia, we still wouldn’t be here if you had driven!"

And I knew that they would be at it for a while, not noticing that I was slowly walking towards my car. I drove home in silence, even when a Backstreet Boys’ song cam on, I didn’t sing along with it like I normally did.

I took a detour home and stopped by McDonald’s for lunch… I just ordered my Big Mac with a medium fry and Sprite from the drive through and parked in a near by parking lot. I dunno why, but I just didn’t feel like going home. I might go bowling or something later. I mean hey… not very good at bowling, but it’ll work. Though I want to be alone, so bowling might not work. Ok… um, maybe e-mailing my peeps from Colorado. I had gone on a ski trip with my family (sister and cousin) earlier that year, around February. I met a couple of cute guys there, but they had girlfriends or we just didn’t spark any relation kind of interest. Ok, not e-mailing, I wouldn’t say anything except HI and Write me back! But seriously, I gotta do something… rollerblading! Ok, gotta go home and get my blades and head down to the ramp dock. Ok, my afternoon is planned, so what about my evening?

(4 days later)

I had occupied myself with my on and off job at Links for the last couple of days, and I was gradually getting over it. I had heard they were going to hire another instructor for an advanced class of about 30. But rumors are every where in that building.

I headed home on that boring Tuesday stuck in about an hour of traffic listening to numerous CDs and then finally getting home at about 7 that evening. Walking in the door only to find that the phone was ringing in my "oh-so-cozy" apartment. I didn’t feel like answering it only because I had to pee and communication to anyone at that moment was not an option, so I let the machine get it.

"Hiyo! Ok, this isn’t going to be one of those llllooooonnnnggg phone messages where I talk on and on about how I’m going to call you back. That would be pointless right? Ok, so… what was I saying? Oh yeah, leave like, um… who you are so I know who to ask for if I call you back… beep" I’d created that one just so people would hang up and get annoyed before actually leaving a message!

"Hi, I like that message, I’ll have to think of creating my next one like that. I’m sorry, but my name is Alan Merchany, and I am a representative of the Backstreet Boys group. I know that you were one of the dancers applying for the open position, and due to a circumstance, we would like to meet with you again…"

"Hello? I’m sorry I just walked… in the door."

"Yeah, oh my gosh, is she ok? Yeah… yes, perfect. That long? Really? Ok, tomorrow… no… now? Alright, when and where? Ok… could I get your number in case I get lost? Oh, at the Links down town building? Sure, yes… Amberly Devaline. Ok, thank you, bye!"

When I finally got to the building… I tried to turn into my normal parking space… but there were almost a hundred people in this parking lot. I turned into my good buddy Jake’s spot knowing that once he leaves work he doesn’t come back in the same day. I was literally speed walking around to the front entrance showing them me parking pass identifying me as a worker there. Waiting for the elevators was so intimidating. I hope I look right… black dress pants, a dark blue dress tank, and a black leather jacket. Man, hopefully my hair looks ok, finally, the elevator door opens! Ok, now for the mirrors, ok, not frizzy and my bangs are still framing my face. I had let my hair grow to the middle of my back, and let my bangs grow out to frame my face. Also, making myself complete by using "blond in a box" and turning my "true" color! Ditzy, if you know what I mean.

(5 minutes later)

I had to go through security and wondering if that Alan Merchany really needed all of this security. Then… oh my gosh, THEY are here! As in the Backstreet Boys… BSB themselves, why else all the tightness around here? Butterflies, please go away! PLEASE! Ok, one more step and I’ll be seeing them… one… maybe two…

"Hey, I can’t believe that you actually think that I am a chipmunk! I don’t sound like Alvin, Simon, or Theodore!"

"Oh come on Nicky… don’t deny it… just… hey who is this?"

"Guys, this is Ms. Devaline. She is the one that you guys requested to be the replacement dancer."

"It took you long enough, it was because of security wasn’t it?"

"Oh, no… not too long, just a massive crowd outside. I didn’t even get my parking spot." Dorky! UGH, how stupid can anyone be! I could’ve hit my self in the head for that!

"Alright, I guess we can get started, please, have a seat Ms. Devaline."

Standing up was this 6 foot something, gorgeous man, not boy! He motioned me to sit down and pulled my chair out for me.

"Thanks"

"No prob… just doing what I was taught to do."

After about half an hour of talking, I had loosened up and read through contracts. The reason they picked Beth was because she had done more of a gymnastics routine than I had. Filling out the contract was a sintch… it only had one question on there that made me read it twice… ‘are you married, engaged, or planning to elope in the next 3 months?’ Of course no… I had to break up with my ex a while ago before I moved to Cali. He said that he would prefer Britney Spears over me any day, and I told him that I would prefer any one but him any day. So yeah, longer story but not enough time.

"Hey… any one there? Hello, Houston, I think we have a problem!"

Snapping me from my daze, I looked up to see the oh-so-ever-adorable-and-sexy Brian Littrell trying to get my attention.

"I’m sorry, just pondering over a question. It’s not feesable in my mind as to of why in the next three months anyone was planning on doing any of these things."

"Whoa, big… words… can’t… understand…"

"Sorry, just… nevermind… um, no biggie."

"Hey Al… are we going to stay here another night, I wanted to check out the theater this afternoon."

"Hey Howie, don’t try to cover up, you know you want to go shopping! But you could probably spend more at the theater if you went. Nope, never mind, cheap!"

"Haha, funny loud mouth! J, you’re way too spendy, buying things that are so tiny, but cost like a hundred bucks!"

I had to laugh over their conversation, not bust out loud rolln’ on the floor or anything, but a smirk to cross my face.

"Oh, look at that J, she thinks I’m funny!"

Referring to me, I looked up completely knowing what was coming.

"Ok, missy… do you really think that? Or were you laughin’ at how ridiculous Howie’s comment towards me was?"

"Um… both of you have a point, but um… I, I plead the 5^th!"

"What the heck! What is the 5^th?"

"Oh, the 5^th amendment, stating that anyone persecuted has the right to remain silent when at the scene or when being asked to testify."

"Ok, we’ve got a brain here!"

"I’m not sure whether that was supposed to be a compliment or an insult, but I’ll take it as a compliment if you don’t mind."

"Oh, J got burnt! Not sure how, but he got burnt!"

Nick Carter, the one who when I walked into the room was commenting on his chipmunkiness. He was the youngest and was my age, 21.

"Ok people, enough annoyance, I’ve looked over everything and I find her to be on the road with us as of tomorrow!"

Alan placed my papers into his bag, stood up and walked towards me.

"They liked your dancing and I like your resume. But I think you’ll regret having auditioned!"

"Hey Alan, double fudge banana!"

"Kevin, that was uncalled for, and no, that is so old!"

I had to stop myself form jumping out of my seat and hugging each and every one of them. Though I felt bad for Beth… wait a minute.

"Yeah, what up?" realizing I had said ‘wait a minute’ out loud.

"Oh, um… not wanting to pry, but… how did Beth get injured? Accident prone and all, but I’m curious."

"Oh, she was stepping out of the van and her shoe lace got caught on the door some how."

I couldn’t help it, but I laughed out loud (LOL). Not to be mean, but I could imagine her doing that.

"I’m sorry, just that I’ve known her for over ten years and I’ve seen her doing some funny stuff. So I can imagine her doing that. Though I feel sorry that she had to leave you guys, she probably tried to deny being hurt."

"Actually, it was just the opposite, she was trying to tell us that she was hurt. And she wouldn’t shut up about it. I mean… she was cool and all, but Nicky didn’t care for her much."

"Hey Brian, stop talking about yourself man…"

"Ok, sorry, I didn’t mean to start anything. And since I did start it then I’m asking if I could stop it."

They all gave me a look as if they were going to easy down and shut up, then AJ said…

"So you never did answer me. Did you think that Howie’s remark was funny?"

"Um… would you believe me if I said I forgot what you were talking about?"

"Um… nope, not even close. But hey, I’ll let ya slide."

Giving me a huge, cheesy grin, AJ put his arm around me while the rest of this hott group just came over and congratulated me for passing ‘Alan’s double fudge banana test’. I had no idea what they were talking about, but I was SO happy that I had gotten the job, and that I hoped I wouldn't leave home without everything I needed.