CHAPTER SEVEN
 

“OMG! Was that who I think it was,” Liz practically screamed in my ear as we were checking out.

“It depends, who did you think it was,” I asked with a small sly smile on my face.

“That it was AJ McLean and Nick Carter,” Court squealed with just as much excitement from behind us.

I giggled a little. I didn’t know if I truly wanted to ruin my surprise yet or not. I decided to lead them on a little bit longer. “Nope. They were guys I met when I was on tour. They are just big Backstreet Boy fans so of course they really resemble who they like.”

“Oh.” Liz said while she tried to hide her disappointment while she paid for her pants.

“You really wanted it to be them huh,” I said while we headed for the door.

“Yeah kind of,” Court answered.

I laughed. “Well think about it. One of these days I am bound to meet them and when I do I will make sure that you two will be on the top of my list of people to call.”

“You better,” Liz said as we went into the Gap to find Riss.

After we found her we decided to head back home. I for one had already done a number in Wilson’s and really didn’t need to be in the mall any longer. I swear what was I thinking at buying two skirts that come to a combine total of a hundred dollars.

“Lost in though?”

“Huh?” I ripped my gaze from the view outside the passenger window and looked at Liz.

“You looked like you were lost in thought.”

“I kinda was. I was thinking that I am such a fool for spending a hundred dollars on just two skirts.”

“Don’t feel bad. Mine and Court’s pants came to about a hundred and fifty. Besides it’s not like you don’t make that much money.”

I sighed. “Yeah I know but still. I don’t like to splurge like that. I never know when this fantasy is going to end.”

“Michelle Christine… Listen to you. You are so much better than Britney Spears or

J-Lo. You have Diva written all over you.”

I smiled at what Courtney said. She and Liz went ballistic when I told them about my album going Double Platinum. “I guess we’ll see.”

“Girlie… we’ll do more then see. We’ll be there by your side when it happens.”

I laughed and turned up the music blaring ‘I’m Gonna Be Alright’ by J-Lo through out the car speakers. “Liz you are so right there.” I said then started singing with the music.

* * * *

~October 10^th ~

I sighed as I sat down in one of the seats of the venue listening to Kev say ‘Testing’ and ‘This is Bone’ or other things into our microphones. We already had a bad morning to say the least. Krystal, our opening act, wasn’t going to make it tonight because there was no way for her to fly out of New York after filming the Sally show and make it here on time for warm up. So of course, Mr. Train himself was going to have a hernia over it. I couldn’t believe that our management wouldn’t get me backstage passes for Michelle and her friends. So now I am stuck sitting here trying to figure out a way to get them backstage after the concert.

To think I'm so naive
How dare you play with me
I gave you heart and soul, yeah
Tell me baby, please
Why you screwing with my head?
I don't think you understand
I wont take your HUH!
No more, Don't knock on my door
Not this time, because I recognize
I've heard it all before and I-E-I-E-I

(‘Lonely’ by Britney Spears)

I looked up in time to see AJ start dancing across the stage to the beat of Star’s song ‘Lonely’ in which he is obsessed with.

“Dude, Bone, when the hell are you going to get this song out of your system?” I heard Howie yell across the stage.

“When she comes out with another one to fit my life!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. AJ is definitely doing a lot better then before he went into rehab. I seriously think he is seeing the world in a totally different view sometimes. I just watched him sing and dance while the techies used this opportunity to fix the sound of the microphones for the music before our opening act goes on.

* * * *

“Michelle what’s with all the secrets?” Liz whined as we pulled up to the venue. It was mid-afternoon and I knew from what Kevin had told me that they were going to be in sound check.

“What? I’m not keeping anything secret.”

“Whatever Michelle. You have had a shit grin on your face all morning!” Courtney countered as I parked in the VIP section after forking over ten dollars.

I shrugged as I got out of the truck. “Well let’s start with these.” I said as I started to dig through my book bag.

“What do you have Michelle?” Marissa asked trying to peek into the bag.

I zipped the bag back up and through it back onto my back and held up the four All Access Passes in front of my face fanned to where they could see them.

“NO WAY! HOW’D YOU SCORE THOSE?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“OMG! OMG!” Courtney screamed jumping up and down.

“Let’s just say that I have a good friend who gave them to me because he wants us to have the full experience of the show.” I answered giving everyone theirs and placing mine over my head. “Ready to go to sound check?”

“Hell ya!” Courtney screamed throwing her arms around me in a huge hug.

As we walked into the venue I heard my song blaring and started to sing with it. It wasn’t until we were halfway down the aisle of the venue that I heard my name being called. I turned to see Fatima running over to me waving. I smiled and gave her a hug when she reached me.

* * * *

I looked up when I heard someone screaming to see Fatima running towards Michelle though she was yelling Star.  The techies quickly shut off the music at Kevin’s signal.

“Hey J let me see that cover,” he said grabbing it out of AJ’s hand. “OMG. Michelle is her.”

“Michelle is who Kev?”

“AJ, Michelle is Star. Look at the photo of her on the cd case.”

I took the cd case from Kevin. “Let me see that.” I looked at the cover then at Michelle who was deep in conversation with the girls she was with and Fatima. “AJ, Kev is right. Michelle is her.”

AJ stared out at her in disbelief.  “There is no way.”

“No way for what?”

We looked up to see Michelle standing there smiling looking at us. “They say you’re Star,” AJ filled her in.

She ran her fingers through her hair, “I am.”

 “There’s no way.”

“AJ, I am. Here let me prove it.”

AJ looked at us then at her. “Ok.”

“I thank the BSB five times in the Thank-you’s plus there is a few sentences to each of you personally. “

AJ looked at her then at me. I opened the case and took out the booklet opening it to the page where the Thank-you’s were on. Sure enough what Michelle had said was right. “She’s right J.”

“She could have the cd and read the Thank-you’s. That’s not enough.”

I looked at Michelle who sighed. “Ok get me a mic. I’ll freakin sing for ya. Will that do?”

“Sure. Sing the last verse of ‘Lonely’. We’ll just match you to the cd.”

Michelle rolled her eyes as a tech got her a mic. “You ready?”

We nodded and her friends snickered and laughed. I pretty much knew she was Star but AJ was just so stubborn at times. Now that I really looked at her she really did look like Star just without the make-up. I couldn’t believe we didn’t notice before now. She busted out with the sultry talk to the beat that was on the cd.

Think of all the times you made me sick
I used to think I couldn't handle it
What you think I'm just another chick?
Lost your grip, Boy you must have tripped
What were you thinkin when you lost my trust
You had it all now your left with nothing
Oh baby, now I know you want my touch
And now your Lonely, and you still want me

(‘Lonely’ by Britney Spears)

“Happy,” she asked looking at AJ, who was totally speechless as the cd played and she sounded exactly like it.

“I would say that is a yes.”

“I agree with Nick,” Marissa said laughing.

She smiled. “Well guys this is Liz, she said pointing to a blonde haired girl who was built like her, “and this is Courtney”, she finished pointing to the younger girl who was standing next to Liz.

“Hey Kev, why don’t we have Michelle open for us tonight,” Brian said. “We need another opening act.”

“Hey that’s not a bad idea.”

“Michelle would you?” I asked.

She looked at me like I was crazy. “What! It would take me forever to get everything here.”

“I’ll pay to get it here. Please Michelle we need you.”

She sighed. “Let me call Mike my manager and see what he says. You guys better love me,” she said pulling out her cell and going outside the door.