CHAPTER NINE
 

I sighed now stuck in the back of the venue until we opened. It was packed already and we started in a little under a half hour.

“Hey Nick! What’s wrong?”

I looked up to see Brian standing in the door way. “Just bored I guess.” At about that time I heard Michelle’s laugh and saw her now brightly streaked white and purple head fly past my room nearly hitting Brian.

“Whoa,” he said making it into the door way in the knick of time.

“Sorry,” I heard her yell as she continued to run.

“Wonder what that was all about.”

I shrugged, “We could always go and find out,” I said with a grin.

Brian laughed, “Nah it’s still to early to cause havoc.”

I shrugged, “Suit yourself but I’m gonna go see what is going on.”

Brian followed me but said he wasn’t getting involved which was fine by me. We reached the end of the hallway to see Michelle sitting on top of AJ tickling him mercilessly. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Told you I’d win Alex!”

“Not fair,” he said in between laughter. She had him pinned by sitting on his back with her knees on his shoulders.

“What’s going on here?”

Brian and I looked up to see Kevin standing there. We looked at Michelle who looked at him innocently.

“Mr. McLean here said that I couldn’t catch him but I did,” she smiled which just helped her act; “I’m sorry Kevy.” She hopped off of AJ but not before she pushed his face back onto the ground then she bounded past us heading to her dressing room humming softly.

I looked at J after it was all said and done and laughed harder. “I truly believe Leighanne was right, you’ve met your match.”

Brian chuckled and Kevin smiled.

“Shut up Nick,” AJ shot as he got up and brushed himself off which made us laugh even harder as we watched him walk away.

* * * *

I sighed as I started my warm ups for show time which was less then fifteen minutes away. Sarah, Jessie, and I have made a routine of singing songs from our favorite Disney movies every time we were to perform, which was fine by me because I love Disney movies. Liz and Courtney went to their newly upgraded seats while Riss was down in the box getting her camera ready. Steve was outside my door just like he was while I was touring with *Nsync.

“Miss Michelle you have five minutes.”

I looked up from our group prayer and saw him standing in my doorway. “Thanks Steve. Let’s go girls.”

We headed out to the bottom of the stage where I was to be catapulted onto the stage. I threw my newly streaked hair over my shoulder. I looked at my outfit and adjusted my black hip-huggers and my areodescent mid-drift top. It fell right below my bust and had long flowing sleeves which started at the elbows. I put my mic on when I was in position and attached it to the back of my hip-huggers. I sighed and adjusted the handless mic to where it was closer to my mouth. I could hear the crowd growing restless and smiled. I couldn’t help but enjoy the rush that performing gives me. I saw the lights go out and knew that in about five seconds the show was going to begin.

* * * *

The once vastly empty venue was now crawling with adolescent teeny-boppers, half waiting in anticipation and the other with butterflies batting around their stomachs in a nervous sort of excitement. The air was so thick with electric charge the fans were giving off that you could cut it with a butter knife. They all were hoping for a great concert but not one of them knew exactly what was in store for them.

The lights went off and screams and chants could be heard throughout the venue whether you were in the audience or backstage. They were all expecting Krystal to pop out and begin the show but that’s not exactly what happened. As soon as the TV’s on either side of the stage started playing the screams stopped suddenly, then as if when they realized who it was they started again tenfold. Right then anyone could see a Star had been born.

 

* * * *

I watched Michelle’s or should I say Star’s performance with the other guys. I was kinda glad that there was a TV hooked up back here so our family’s could watch us if they didn’t want to be out with the screaming fans.

When the lights went out the fans went crazy. I couldn’t help but chuckle because they had no idea who was opening for us. We knew that the fans thought it was Krystal. The two TV’s started up and you saw Star on it…

I need time (time)
Love (love)
Joy (joy)
I need space
I need me
(Action!)

 

With that Star was catapulted onto the stage and immediately started dancing and singing. The fans went nuts and we all laughed.

“Dang, I guess she really is popular.”

I looked at Brian and nodded. “You should talk to her. She has some interesting stories that would put ours to shame.”

“Shhh!” AJ scolded and I smiled returning my attention to her performance.

Say hello to the girl that I am!
You're gonna have to see through my perspective
I need to make mistakes just to learn who I am
And I don't wanna be so damn protected
There must be another way
Cause I believe in taking chances
But who am I to say
What a girl is to do
God, I need some answers

What am I to do with my life
(You will find out don't worry)
How Am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so overprotected

I tell 'em what I like
What I want
What I don't
But every time I do I stand corrected
Things that I've been told
I can't believe what I hear about the world, I realize
I'm Overprotected

There must be another way
Cause I believe in taking chances
But who am I to say
What a girl is to do
God I need some answers

What am I to do with my life
(You will find out don't worry)
How Am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so overprotected

I need… time (love)
I need… space
(This is it, this is it)

I don't need nobody
Tellin me just what I wanna
What I what what I'm gonna
Do about my destiny
I Say No, No
Nobody tell me just what what what I wanna do, do
I'm so fed up with people telling me to be
Someone else but me

(Action!)

What am I to do with my life
(You will find out don't worry)
How Am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so overprotected

I don't need nobody
Tellin me just what I wanna
What I what what I'm gonna
Do about my destiny
I Say No, No
Ain't nobody tell me just what I wanna do, do
I'm so fed up with people telling me to be
Someone else but me

What am I to do with my life
(You will find out don't worry)
How Am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so over....... protected.
(‘Overprotected’ Britney Spears)

The stage went black at the end of her song and then it immediately lit up again and she jumped right into another up-tempo song. She was a really great performer and I was hoping we’d kick Sisqo off and ask her to join instead.

* * * *

The low blow to doing this concert came shortly after we got back to the hotel with the guys. We were all planning on going clubbing afterwards and us girls had brought our clothes with us so we didn’t have to run all the way back to Liz’s house to change. I found out that Kevin managed to get a room on their floor with us so we wouldn’t have to drive back to Liz’s place so late but it wasn’t ready yet. So Brian lent us his room until ours would be ready. We were in the process of doing our hair and make-up when there was a knock on the door.

“I’ll get it!” I called out beings Riss was in the shower and Liz was out on the balcony talking to Courtney. I ran to the door and opened it to see Kevin, Mike, and Fred standing there. “No, no way! This is supposed to be my vacation!” I whined as I stepped outside into the hallway. I pretty much knew what they were going to ask me.

“Oh come on Michelle. Hear us out.” Mike scolded as I leaned against the door.

“Michelle we don’t like how Sisqo performs. We want to know if you’ll take his place in our show.”

I looked at Kevin and sighed. Two could play this game. “Ok, let’s make a deal. There was this gorgeous statue that I saw in an antique book, oh I’d say a couple of years ago, that I want. I’ve looked EVERYWHERE for it but I can’t find it. You guys find it, ship it to my house and then I’ll join the tour. So technically, if I am calculating right, you guys have less then forty- eight hours before your next show. That means you have less then forty-eight hours to find this statue.”

Kevin’s face dropped. “What. You want us to find some statue that might not even exist in order for us to get you to join the tour?”

“Yeah, pretty much. Oh, here,” I reached into the room for my purse and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper then returned to them, “This might help you.”

Fred took it and groaned. “You do realize how much this must cost.”

“Oh I know. About as much as I would make in my first opening concert for you guys which if I remember correctly was tonight.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

Kevin shook his head. “Fine we’ll see what we can do.”

I smiled innocently, “Oh and Kevy, I’ll see you in a few.” And with that I went into my room knowing they wouldn’t be able to pull of that request.