"I'm going to get a hang of those before I get this cast off," I said motioning to the crutches. The guys laughed and we left. Twenty minutes later we pulled into the parking lot of the arena. Brian carried my bags into the arena for me and I crutched to the door. I had picked up speed since I had done it last and I was keeping up with AJ. "I'll be able to out run any of yous on these things soon enough," I said. "You keep trying," laughed AJ. We entered the arena and I headed to the table to sit down. I sat down and Brian brought my bag over to me. I took my practice bag to the dressing room to change since I was wearing the outfit from the night before. I changed and went back out. The guys were with Fatima working on some moves.
I crutched myslf over to the table and pulled out my laptop and started working on some school work. I finished my first assignment and emailed it to my advisor in Mansfield. "Whatcha doin?" asked Nick. "Homework," I sighed. The backstage door opened letting light into the dark backstage. I squinted into the direction of the door, I saw a shadowy figure. The door shut and my eyes adjusted to the lights in the room. "Erika!" I yelled leaping out of my seat and grabbing my crutches and crutching my way over to her. "Janke!" She ran towards me with her arms out. We met and hugged. "What are you doing here? I thought you were at home!" "Denise called me when you were getting your x-rays done. She said that it looked like it was broken and you would need someone to help you out. I dropped my classes, caught the next flight to Raleigh and tada!"
The guys came over and said their hellos and hugged Erika. We went back to the table. I sat down and put my foot up on a chair. We talked for awhile and then we decided to order dinner. We order fried chicken and ate talking about nothing in particular. Nick sat next to Erika and flirted like an idiot. Brian leaned over to me. "Ya think he likes her?" he asked pointing at Nick. "Nah," I said jokingly. He smiled and kissed me. We finished eating and the guys went to change and warm up. Erika and I waited outside the dressing room for the guys to come out. They finally came out. Brian came to me and gave me a long, soft kiss. It seemed to last forever. We broke and smiled, I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. I pulled back and I looked over at Erika, I went to ask her something but she and Nick had started kissing. "Why can everyone else get a girl but me?" asked AJ. Nick and Erika realized that we were all staring and broke away blushing. We all laughed.
The guys had to go. Erika and I walked out to the front row. Tim followed us to make sure we were alright. We sat down and I put my crutches on the floor. "I hope I can stand without these things," I said to Erika. "If not support yourself on the fence." "That's true." The arena went dark and we stood up and went to the fence. I took my crutches and put them on the inside of the fence so that no one would step on them. The concert started and the guys started singing and dancing around the stage. Within minutes of coming on the stage Brian spotted me. He pointed and winked at me. Tim grabbed my hand and told me to follow him. He picked me up and Erika followed with my crutches. He took me backstage and sat me in a chair. Then I heard Brian.
"Last night while we were leaving the arena in Atlanta. My girlfriend got hurt and broke her foot. So I wanted to bring her out here for a special song for her. Is that alright with y'all?" The audience went nuts. I picked myself up out of the chair grabbed my crutches and crutched across the stage to Brian. They had brought out a folding chair for me to sit on. I sat down, the crowd was going insane. When Brian went to speak everyone went silent. But then I heard this faint voice coming from the back. "Janice! Janice!" yelled the voice. I shielded my eyes looking in the direction of the cries. And saw Kira jumping up and down in the aisle. I waved back. I leaned forward and told Jeff to go get her for me. And give her a backstage pass for after the concert. He left with a pass in hand towards Kira.
Brian and the guys sang the song. It was a new song that would be on their next album so I had never heard it. The song finished and I stood up. Brian grabbed me and gave me a quick kiss and then I crutched myself off the stage. Erika was waiting for me when I got backstage. I sat down in a chair. "Who did you see out there?" Erika asked over the music."Kira, from the list. Jeff took her a pass. She'll come backstage after the concert." I replied.
The concert continued and ended. The guys came back to change and security brought the backstage pass-holders backstage. I made my way towards the fans that were waiting for the guys. Two of them asked me for my autograph. I gratefully obliged and signed, "Much Love & Luck, Janice Janke." I made my way to the end of the line where I found Kira. She immediately recognized Erika and I. We went to her and started talking. At last the guys came out of the dressing room. They signed autographs and posed for pictures. One by one the fans left with their autographs and exposed rolls of film.
Soon it was just the guys, Erika, Kira and myself. I made my way towards them. "Can I have your autograph?" I said crutching myself towards. "Sure little girl," said Brian teasingly as he kissed me. "Guys this is Kira. She's a friend of ours," said Erika. "I'm so sorry to hear that," said AJ shaking her hand. "Don't make me hobble over there and beat you. I have crutches and I know how to use them." I said laughing. Each of the guys gave he a hug and posed with her for a picture. She left and the seven of us made our way to the bus. There were no fans in the parking lot so we had no problems getting on. We settled into the couches on the bus. Tomorrow was the guys first day off and it would be spent with a writer from People magazine. We quietly talked on the bus. Brian and I went into the back to be alone.
"They sure didn't build this bus for people on crutches," I said trying to squeeze into the door with my crutches. I finally got through and sat down. Brian put my crutches away. He pulled his CDs out of his bag and rummaged through them. Found one and popped it into the stereo, making sure it was switched to the back speakers only. He pushed play and Luther Vandross could be heaard. We sat and talked about nothing for what seemed like hours."What time is it?" I asked. Brian looked at his watch. "2:30," he answered. "Where are we going?" I asked. "I think we are staying in Charlotte. I know that is where we are going tonight. And the the writer from People is meeting us at the hotel later today. And then we have a local TV appearance tomorrow. And the concert on Tuesday," he said recalling the itnerary from memory.
I felt the bus come to a slow stop and Erika knocked on the door. "We're at the hotel," she yelled throught the door. We got off the couch. Brian handed me my crutches and he took his CD placing it back into the case and tucking it into his bag. We got off the bus, Kevin had the bottom compartment open getting our luggage out. "Nick, can you cary mine, too? Brian has all the rest of my stuff." I asked. "No prob," he said grabbing my suitcase. We entered the hotel got our keys and headed to our rooms. Nick and Erika decided to room together and Brian and I roomed together, everyone else went solo. We went to our rooms, I didn't even change just took my shoe off, propped my foot on a pillow and went to sleep.
I awoke the next morning to Brian rustling around the room getting ready. He saw that I was awake and came and sat on the corner of my bed. "We have to be at the studio in a few minutes. You and Erika can hang out here till it's over. Ok?" I was still tired. I nodded. He brushed my bangs back and kissed me on the forehead. "I'll see ya later," he said grabbing his practice bag and windbreaker and he left. I fell back to sleep and a few hours later I awoke to someone knocking on the door. I got up, grabbed my crutches and crutched to the door. I looked throught the peephole and saw Erika standing in the hallway. I unlocked the door and pulled it open. "Can't somebody sleep around here?" I grumbled. "Well good morning to you too," she said entering the room.
I crutched myself to the chair and sat down. Erika closed the door behind her. She sat down on the loveseat across from me. I propped my foot up on the table. "I ordered room service for us. I told them to deliver it here." "Cool, I'm starving." Just then there was a knock on the door and Erika went to answer it, it was room servce. The guy brought the food over to the table. He looked at me. "Aren't you that Backstreet Boy's girlfriend?" he asked me. "Yes I am. Brian Littrell is his name. You're actually standing in his room." "Really? The Backstreet Boys are staying here?" he asked. "Yup." "Wow, my girlfriend is a huge fan." "Really? Erika hand my my schoolbag would you please?" She handed me my bag and I grabbed an envelope out of the bag. "Here, she would like these then," I said handing him the envelope. He opened the envelope. "Front row tickets and backstage passes?!?! Thank you so much."
He left the room and Erika and I started eating breakfast. We had just finished when Brian came in the room. "What have the two of you been up to?" he asked throwing his practice bag onto the bed and plopping into the chair next to me. "Nothing much. We just ate some breakfast and talked," I said. "I'm going back to my room to see what Nick is doing. I'll see you later," said Erika walking out the door. "I have to get a shower I'm all nasty and I'm wearing the same clothes that I wore yesterday," I said getting up and crutching myself to my side of the room to get the things I needed to shower off. "Can you get me a trash bag? So I can keep this cast dry." I asked while getting my stuff ready. He got me a trash bag and I tied it around my leg.
I showered and changed into a Univeristy of Kentucky t-shirt and blue mesh shorts. I cleaned up and went back into the room. "So what's on the agenda for tonight?" "I'm not sure Howie is suppose to call and let us know what the plan is." "Cool." He was laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. I crutched myself to the bed and laid down beside him. "What's wrong?" I asked placing my hand on his chest. "Nothing, just thinking. I don't get a chance to do that anymore." He put his arm around me and I rested my head against him.
The phone rang, I reached for it. "Hello?" "Hey Janke, it's D. Just lettin' ya know we want to go clubbing tonight." "Ok, let me see what Bri wants to do." "Ok." I covered the mouthpiece with my hand. "It's D, they decided to go clubbing. Do you want to go?" "Do you want to go? With your cast and all." I looked at my foot. "I'll manage. I'll just have to be careful that's all." "Then I'm in." I uncovered the mouthpiece. "We're both in. When are we leaving?" "We'll stop by your room when we're ready. See ya then." "See ya." I reached back over and hung up the phone. I returned to laying next to Brian. I started thinking how Brian and I spent a lot of time together but we spoke little. Even though we didn't speak frequently, I think Brian was the first guy that I had ever dated that made me feel special. We just laid on the bed holding each other not saying a word.
Just then we heard a large crash come from out in the hallway. "I have one guess as to who caused that," said Brian walking to the door. He opened the door were he found Nick sprawled on the floor. "How did I guess?" he said laughing. Nick stood up he had food all over him. He had a head on collision with the guy who was delivering room service. "You suppose to eat it not wear it," I said laughing. "Uhh, not I have to go change," he whined. "Hey," came a voice from down the hall. "Kaos what the hell did you do to my food, man?" "Sorry, Bone," said Nick sheepishly.
Nick went back down the hallway to his room to change into some clean clothes. Brian shut the door and came back over to me. He sat down next to me. He grabbed my one hand in his and used the other to hold my chin. He pulled my chin up and kissed me. It was a nice, deep kiss. We were getting into it when the door flew open and in popped Kevin.
"Do any of yall know how to knock?" Brian asked frustrated. Kevin must have realized what he did cause he had this shocked look on his face. "Don't just stand there. What do you want?" Kevin cleared his throat. "Sorry cuz, but I wanted to tell ya to turn on the television." Brian stood up and turned on the television. As the screen came on I could see the beginning of the MTV news segment. "Backstreet Boys PR intern, Janice Memory, was injured on Friday while she and her boyfriend, Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell, tried to escape the screaming fans outside of the arena in Atlanta. Sources to MTV News have said that Janice sustained a broken right foot, but is still with the group." The news continued but Brian shut it off.
Kevin left the room and Brian sat down next to me. He looked me in the eyes and started kissing me again. It was long and drawn out. We fell back onto the bed and we just kissed. It was amazing. He pulled back. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you, too." He wrapped his arms around me and just held me. We were there for what seemed like centuries. There was a knock at the door. Brian got up and answered the door, it was Howie.
"I just wanted to drop by to let you know we will be leaving in about an hour," said Howie. "Is everyone going?" I asked. "Yup." "Cool, Frack is going?" asked Brian. "Erika is making him go, you know her." We laughed and Howie left the room. I went to change. I put on pullaway windpants and a blue Nike sweatshirt. I slipped the windpants over my cast and pulled the sweatshirt over my head. I kept the University of Kentucky t-shirt on, just in case I got hot. Brian put on a pair of jeans and a University of Kentucky sweatshirt. He also had a t-shirt on underneath. I washed up and pulled my hair back into a claw. Brian came in the bathroom, cleaned up and splashed some cologne on. "Mmm, smells good." "It's my favorite, Safari." We finished cleaning up and getting ready. I put on some light make-up and chapstick. We had just finished getting ready when Howie knocked on the door. Brian answered the door. I grabbed my wallet and crutched myself out the door.
Everyone was in the hallway including Kevin, which I was shocked to see. Nick was wearing a Buccaneers' jersey and a pair of baggy jeans, Kevin was wearing a grey Phat Farm shirt and black jeans, Howie was weaing a white muscle shirt under a purple shirt that was open and a pair of baggy black jeans, AJ had on a yellow fleece with black windpants, and Erika was wearing a sundress with sunflowers on it. All the bodygueards were waiting for us when we got off the elevator. We loaded ourselves into the van and went to the club.
We pulled up to the club and got out. I crutched myself to the door with Brian. Erika and Nick were holding hands. The club was told that we were coming, so they let us right in. Brian and I found a table in the corner while everyone else hit the dance floor. "You can go out there if you want," I told him over the music. "Nah, I'd rather sit her with you," he said holding my hand and smiling. He got up and got us something to drink. From my seat I could see the guys dancing. Erika and Nick came up and sat with me. Brian came back with our drinks. The others finally came up and we left. We walked out of the club and climbed back into the van. Everyone was talking with excitement. I was leaned up against Brian looking out the window. We got back to the hotel and went to our rooms. I took a shower and hopped into Brian's bed to watch some TV. He came out from the bathroom and joined me. I shut off the TV and I slept with Brian that night.
The next morning I woke up. I had my back to Brian and he had his arms around me fast asleep. I looked at the clock and it read 7:30, we had to be up and on the bus by 9am. So I woke up Brian and we started getting ready. They had decided to wear black pants, a solid color tee under a black jacket. So Brian started changing into his outfit and I put on the black jacket, a solid color tee and a pair of pullaway windpants, since they were the only kind of pants I could pull over the cast. I pulled my hair back and put on some light makeup.
We left the room and met the others in the hallway. We left together and got on the bus and headed to the TV studio. We got to the studio and met the hosts of the show. The guys and I would be interviewed and Erika would watch from the auidence. She didn't seem to mind but I could tell it was bugging her. "You ok?" I asked her in the green room while the guys were in the make-up room. "Fine," she said unconvincing. "Erika." "What? I'm fine," she said. "Look me in the eye and tell me that and I'll believe you." "I'm fine," she said looking me in the eye. "Ok."
The guys came in the room and I left to go to the make-up room to get fixed up. I came back and everyone was talking in the green room. I sat next to Brian and the stage director came back and took us to where we would enter. Erika went to sit in the audience. They introduced us and we came out. We shook hands with the hosts and sat down. Before they asked the guys anything they asked me about my foot and how it happened. They asked the guys about the tour and stuff like that. They broke for a commercial and the guys went to warm-up some for the next part. Erika joined me in the green room to watch them perform on the TV that was in the room. They sang I'll Never Break Your Heart and the show ended.
They came back to the green room. We gathered up our stuff and headed for the bus. We got attacked by fans. It got so bad that Tim had to carry me to the bus, in fear that I would get knocked over and trampled. We got to the bus and everyones clothes were torn or stretched. They had ripped the sleeve on Kevin's shirt and the threads were coming out. And someone took the scrunchy right out of Erika's hair. We all went back to the hotel to shower and change. Nick and Brian were playing some Nintendo. Kevin and Howie headed to the gym. Erika, AJ and I decided to do some shopping.
We went to the local mall. We hit almost every store. I bought something for my family and bought Brian a nice flannel. Since I didn't know what size to get him I made AJ try it on. "Ya know I wouldn't be caught dead in this?" he said as he pulled the flannel on. "I'm not asking much. I just need you to try it on. To see if it would fit him." I said laughing. He pulled the flannel on. "This is not my color," he whined. "It's not for you," I said laughing, by this time Erika was on the floor laughing.
After I decided what size to get, AJ took off the flannel and handed it to Erika so I could pay for it. I payed and we left, we went back to the van and headed back to the hotel. When we got back we decided to go out for dinner. So the seven of us piled back into the van. We went to a diner on the edge of town. No one was there so we didn't have to worry. We ordered our food and sat and talked about nothing in particular. The food arrived and we ate. We left the diner. On the way home I fell asleep on Brian. I felt the van come to a stop and someone pick me up and carry me inside. I was awake but not totally. They slipped me in bed. A few minutes later I flet Brian get into bed and put his arms around me. I fell back asleep.
I woke up the next morning to Brian tapping me on the shoulder. "Come on sleepyhead we have to be on the bus in an hour." I rubbed my eyes and got out of bed. I reached over to my bag and pulled a change of clothes out and changed. I crutched myslef to the bathroom and cleaned up. Nick came in to help carry my luggage to the bus. We all got on the bus and headed to the arena. While we were on the bus the guys started asking me questions.
"Who's your favorite actor?" asked Nick. "Matthew McConaghey." "Movie?" asked Howie. "A Time To Kill and Gettysburg." "Gettysburg?!?!?" asked AJ. "I love hitory. Mostly American though." "I liked history in school, too. But I couldn't sit through that movie," said AJ. "Do you have a hero?" asked Kevin. "Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain." "Who?" they asked at once. "Leiutenat Corporal of the 2nd Maine. Battle of Little Round Top in Gettysburg." "Oh," replied Nick with a funny look on his face. "Erika, hand me my shoulder bag. It's in the overhead." Erika reached in and got my bag. "Thanks," I said as she handed it to me. I unzipped the bag and rummaged through it. "Aha, here it is," I said pulling a videocasette from the bag. "What is it?" asked Howie. "It's my senior project from high school. Kevin can you pop this in the VCR for me?"
He took the tape and put it in the VCR and hit play. The theme music from Gettysburg could be heard throughout the bus. The guys were all watching. Even Denise came back to see what we were watching. The movie was only like 5 minutes long. "That was cool!" said Nick. "How did you do all that neat stuff with the words and pictures?" "All the pictures came off the internet. I saved them on a disk and used a movie-making program. Two weeks later I added this sound clip, music and pictures. My teacher took it home with him put it on tape and well here it is," I said pointing at the screen. "See what I miss by having tutors," Nick whined to Denise. "What would you rather this or public school?" she asked. "That's a good question. What would you rather, touring or going to a normal high school?" I asked.
Nick looked at me. He looked at Erika and held her hand. Then looked around the room at the four guys who were sitting around him. "I dunno," he finally said, "That's a tough one. I mean I love this but I wish I had gone to high school and done things there. But then again I wouldn't give this up for the world," he finished, smiling at Erika. He gave her a kiss. The bus stopped and we all got off. The guys had to go do some stuff with the crew. So me and Erika tagged along with Denise, as she made her rounds talking with all the arena personale. When she was done, I crutched myself to a chair and sat down. "My arms are killing me. I haven't done that much work in days," I said to Erika, as she sat down. Denise came over towards us.
"Denise, where's the next stop?" "Norfolk, tomorrow night, why?" Could you make a call and get me a doctor's appointment? I need a different cast that I can walk in. This is ridiculous." "Sure thing," she said disappearing to find a doctor's name in Norfolk that would see me in such short notice. "You don't ask for much do you?" laughed Erika. "Nope. Normally, I'm not the one to complain, but this is insane. I can't do this for eight weeks. A walking cast will make my life and everyone else's easier." "You'll still be a slowpoke," she giggled. "Thanks," I laughed.
The guys came over and we ordered lunch from a chinese restaurant. "Keep the chopsticks away from Janke," said Kevin. We all laughed remembering the ill-fated incident with chopsticks in Orlando. We ate the meal and then Howie passed out the fortune cookies. I opened mine, and gasped. "What? What does it say?" asked Brian. "A dream is a wish your heart makes and you're living that dream right now," I read. All the guys stopped and looked at me in amazement. "Wow!" said Howie. Brian placed his arm around me and pulled me into him. He looked down at me and smiled. The others cracked open their fortune cookies and read their fortunes and happily ate thier cookies. I ate my cookie, but placed my fortune into my wallet.
The guys went to do a sound check. I pulled some work out and Erika went and sat down in the front row to do some drawing. About an hour later the guys came back to get ready. They went into the dressing room. I waited for them to come out. When thet came out Brian told me to follow him. I followed him to a corner backstage where no one was. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a ring box from his pocket. He opened the box to reveal a sterling silver band. "This is a promise ring," he said. "Wearing this shows the live that we share for each other. And a special promise that we make to one another." He slid the ring on my finger. He retrieved a ring that was identical to it out of his other pocket and slide it on his finger. He held my hands and looked me in the eyes and kissed me. "I promise," I said when we pulled away. He smiled and hugged me. "I promise," he said.
Greg ran by telling him to get ready. He kissed me one more time and left to get ready for his entrance. I crutched over to Erika who had this look of amazement on her face. "What's wrong?" I asked her. She stuck out her hand to show a ring on her finger that looked just like mine. I held out my hanf and showed her mine. "It's a promise ring. Nick is wearing one too," she said through tears. "So is Brian." I looked at the ring closer, it had an engraving on it. Janke and B-Rok 2gether 4eva. With hearts on either side. I grabbed Erika's hand and looked at her ring again. It too had an engraving. But hers said ET and Kaos 2 gether 4eva. "Look, they had them engraved too," I said showing her the rings.
We could hear the concert beginning so we went to sit off to the side to watch them perform. They did the concert and it ended as quickly as it started. They came back to get changed in the dressing room and to shower. I waited for Brian to come out. He came out and hugged me. We walked out the stage door to got to the bus. There were fans everywhere but they had barricaded a path for us to use to get to the bus unharmed. Since my mishap in Atlanta they had up security considerably for the guys and me. We got on the bus, since it was an early show, it was only 9pm.
I pulled out my cell phone and decided to call my mom. Brian was leaning against me and was ready to zonk out. The phone rang before I had a chance to dial. "Hello?" "Hi, Jan, it's mom." "Man, you must be psychic. I was just about to call you." My mom laughed. "How's your foot?" "Sore but I'll live. Tomorrow I'm going to see a doctor about putting me in a walking cast, cause they crutches are a pain." "That's good. Just try and keep off of it as much as you can. Oh, by the way, we had to rent out a storage unit for all your mail." "Mail? What mail?" "Ever since we your accident we have gotten cards, letters, flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and clothes. From all over the world. I think I saw a South Africa return on one of them. Ah, here it is, Amanda Staples, Johannesburg, South Africa." "Amanda? Oh I know her! She's a friend of mine." "Your sister is having a ball sorting the mail." "AM NOT!" came a voice from the background. "Put her on."
"Hello?" "Hi, Miss Grouch. What's wrong with you?" "I have enough paper cuts to last me for 5 years. Opening all these letters." I could hear her shuffling throught the letters as she spoke. "Cool!" she exclaimed. "What?" "You have a letter from Ted Turner." "Ted Turner?"