CHAPTER FIVE

An hour later Genesis sat in a director's chair, just barely awake while trying very hard to pay attention to one of YM's writers who was in the process of leading an interview. She felt bad for not giving the reporter her full attention but she had yet to get any coffee and until she got her normal caffeine fix she wouldn't be able to pay full attention.

"So what is your new movie like?" asked the reporter, looking impossibly nervous, as Genesis tried to remember her name. Alicia, Ann, Alexandria...SOMETHING with an A.

"Well it's basically a chick flick. It's an updated Cinderella. It's got the dead parents, mean stepfamily, the hot 'prince charming,' the ball and all that. Except the ball is the prom." Genesis explained, her eyes scanning the room.  None of the Backstreets Boys had yet to make an appearance. They were SUPPOSED to be doing their single photo shots.

"Who else is in the movie?"

"My father in the movie was Robert DeNiro and the mother is Julie Andrews. It's SUCH an honor to work with both of them. They are like two of my favorite actors and it's like unbelievable to me that I'm working with them. My stepsisters are two newcomers - Emily Alanzo and Melissa Newman who are both exceedingly talented actresses. 'Prince Charming' is Heath Ledger who is a major hottie and sweetheart."

The reported nodded as she scribbled down several notes, despite the tape recorder. "Well, I personally can't wait to see it...Now your schedule is probably one of the most hectic schedule's in the business...so how do you find time to do all of the movies, press appearances, runway shows and things like that?"

"Well, I love my job so that makes it A LOT more bearable and plus I have great management and my assistant keeps me alive. Plus my bodyguard is the best in the business. If I didn't have them I wouldn't be where I was today." Genesis answered, just as all five of the Backstreet Boys walked into the large studio room clad in black silk pajamas that included pants AND a long sleeve button up top. Sure, THEY got to be fully dressed while Genesis got to freeze her ass off.

"For the next...month what's your schedule going to be like?" the reporter asked, as she watched the Boys. Almost immediately AJ caught her glance and smiled her way. She returned the smile before turning back to her interview.

"Christine - my manager - knows more than I do, because she likes to sneak things in on me. But...for the rest of the month I'm going to be filming my new movie - 'Princess Glitter' and that wraps up supposedly in December or January. Then I am going to be doing press and runway shows for like two months after that. Then I get my first break in like four years. Pretty much normal. Plus I think I'm doing a couple small runway/promotional things for Victoria Secret when I'm down in Florida. So I'm kinda going to be on a mini-break." Genesis answered, half listening to Michael Jean - the photographer - instruct the Boys on what he was looking for, as someone put on music. Genesis watched the Boys nod but she could tell they really weren't listening.

The reporter laughed. "Mini-break? That still sounds like a lot of work to me." she commented.

Genesis shrugged, wishing for her coffee. "Compared to what I normally do it's nothing but either way I love it. It's not even like a job. Not everyone gets to have a job they really truly love but I'm glad I'm one of those people and I plan to work until...I can't do it anymore." she responded. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the guys starting their poses and messing around with one another on the bed. The blonde one - Genesis STILL could not remember his name - had picked up a pillow and was beating the hell out of his bandmates with it.

Genesis smiled just as Morgan came into view carrying Hollywood and two Starbucks coffee cups. Morgan deposited the dog and one of the coffees into Genesis's hand and then left. "That was Morgan. She's like my left arm. I dunno what I would do without her. She my best friend." Genesis explained nodding towards Morgan's retreating back.

The interviewer nodded. "Is it hard to keep relationships with like family, friends and boyfriends with the life you lead?"

"Well I talk to my family every Sunday night, and I am constantly emailing, calling and two-waying all of my friends...and the whole boyfriend deal is a little hard to deal with but I am always very up front about my job and how it will more than likely come first but if it's really meant to work it will."

"And you're dating Josh Harnett now right? How's that going?"

"Yeah Josh and I are dating. It's going pretty good." Genesis basically lied. Things with her and Josh were anything BUT pretty good but they would fix it when he comes down to Florida for a week in November. Well...either fix things or break things off.

"Is it serious?"

"Not marriage serious. No."

The reporter nodded. She was NOT getting the answer she wanted there. She wanted something juicy that no one else knew about the couple. So far Genesis was giving her the same things she had given every other reporter in the world. "Now your a very public person. You've always been very up-front with everything going on in your life. But do you mind showing the public the behind the scenes stuff?"

Genesis giggled. "I have pretty much no problem with it. I think my assistant and bodyguard have more of a problem with it than me, because I'm so used to being out there and in front of the cameras that it's no different." She reached down and fixed the pink bow someone had put into Hollywood's fur and then took a sip of her coffee. She nearly sighed when she felt the caffeine invading her body. 'Instant pick me up.' she thought with a smile.

The interview went on for another twenty minutes covering the basics and the reporter still trying to get the dirt on Genesis and Genesis giving her normal roundabout answers. It's not like she had any dirt to give anyway. Finally Christine walked up and practically interrupted the interviewer. "Gen they want you to go do touch-ups really quick and then start shooting." Christine smiling at the interviewer. "Thanks, Annabelle."

'Annabelle...So I was CLOSE.' Genesis thought, shaking Annabelle's hand, with a genuine smile. "It was nice meeting you!"

Annabelle responded with something, but Christine was already hustling her towards the make-up room. "Have fun?" she teased.

"It wasn't too bad after I got my coffee."

"Josh called while you were doing it."

"Oh?"

"Said something about being sorry and calling him back when you got the chance."

"Oh."

"You want to call him now?"

"I guess...but where's Mo and Rodney?"

"They went back to the hotel to get some sleep."

"You should have gone too." Genesis responded as they finally walked back into the make-up room. She nodded to Amelia and Elizabeth and sat down in the chair to let them do some quick touch-ups.

Christine shrugged and pulled Genesis's cell phone out her purse and handed it to her. "I'll go when they come back."

Genesis took the phone before turning to the other two women in the room. "Do y'all mind if I call Josh really quick?"

"No. No. Go ahead." Amelia assured her, working on Gen's hair.

Genesis smiled at them and then picked up the phone and hit speed dial nine. Josh picked up on the third ring. "'Lo?" he asked.

"Hey Josh."

"Gen....Did Christine tell you I called?"

"That's why I'm calling."

"I'm sorry bout last night. It's just-"

"We don't spend that much time together anymore. I know and I'm sorry too. But you're coming down to the 'Princess' set in like two weeks right?"

"Yup...but even then you'll be working. Christine faxed your schedule to me a couple days ago."

"Josh...there's nothing I can do. I mean I have to-"

"Baby you don't HAVE to do anything. You're a multimillionaire model and actress. Just throw a little diva fit and get some time off."

"I have like five months off after I do the press thing for 'Princess.' I can't go asking for more."

"You deserve a life."

"I have one."

"That doesn't seem to include me."

"Why don't YOU take some time off?"

Josh didn't respond to this. The silence over the phone was deafening and for a moment Genesis thought he had hung up on her. "I don't want to fight..." he finally said.

"Me neither."

"You're needed on the set Ms. Finch." said the man who had yelled at Genesis when she had first come into the studio. This time his attitude seemed to have changed.

"I have to go."

"Okay. I'm sorry. I'll see you soon though?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry too. Bye."

"Bye." Josh answered, just as Genesis hung up the phone.

"Sorry about that." Genesis said to Amelia, Elizabeth and Christine.

"S'okay. You're all ready. Go have fun!" Elizabeth told her smiling encouragingly.

Genesis pushed herself out of the chair, just as she spotted an extra pair of the silk pj's the guys were in hanging on the rack. They looked just her size too. "Is anyone wearing those?"

"Nope." Amelia answered as she began to clean up.

Genesis smiled as she grabbed the pjs threw off her rob and pulled the clothing over the underwear and bra, leaving the button - up shirt undone. "There...NOW I'm ready!" she exclaimed with a smile. Christine rolled her eyes and shook her head. Michael Jean was NOT going to like this but once Genesis had an idea in her head it was near impossible to get it out.

Then Genesis followed Christine back out to the studio to find the guys sitting in director's chairs and Michael Jean reloading the camera while several people straightened out the bed.

Michael Jean glanced up at her for a moment before looking back down at his camera. Then his head shot back up. "That's NOT what your supposed to be wearing."

Genesis forced a smile as Christine walked past her. Now she had to fight her own battle. "Michael Jean...this is a teenaged girls magazine right?" she asked, calmly. She was aware of everyone's eyes on her but wasn't fazed.

"Yes, but what does that have to do with you wearing the wrong outfit-" Michael Jean began, his face screwed up with anger.

She forced herself to smile. "Teenaged girls don't want to see ME half naked. I'm pretty sure they'd LOVE to see THEM half naked though..." Genesis motioned to the Backstreet Boys. Nick's mouth had dropped open at the idea of having to be half naked and on the cover of a magazine. He sure as hell didn't think so.

"I'm sure they would but the magazine already approved the outfits-"

"I'm sure they wouldn't mind, if I just threw this shirt over it and the pants. It's not that big of a deal, IS it?" Her smile became total sweetness and sugar as she stared him down.

Then suddenly he threw his head back and his hands up in the air. "Fine, fine, FINE, okay? You can wear that but-"

"Thank you!" Genesis cried, looking triumphantly at the Boys who watched her as they got off the bed. "Now are we doing the single shot of me or the ones of all of us together?"

"Single." Michael Jean grumbled, clearly defeated. Genesis nodded as someone walked over to help her get up onto the bed.

As Michael Jean set up the cameras, AJ turned to Kevin. "Did you SEE Nick's face when Genesis said the thing about us being half-naked?" he said, as they dropped down into directors chairs and bottled water was brought to them.   

"Nearly shit his pants." Kevin responded. All five of the guys -- along with nearly every other male in the room -- had their eyes focused on Genesis as she posed. She made it all seem so easy. She was poised, confidant, and above all beautiful in front of the camera. Her smile radiated.

AJ was the only person who caught what was missing in her eyes. He saw that something was lacking as he focused in on her gorgeous eyes. The rest of her body exuded happiness, but when the light caught her eyes he could see she wasn't as happy as she looked. He chewed on the inside of his lip, wondering why.

He knew how it was to seem so happy to the rest of the world, when inside all you wanted to do was curl up under the covers and never come out.

He knew that feeling all to well.  Unfortunately.

And at that moment, he resolved to somehow find out why Genesis wasn't completely happy.