Before rehersal we weren't supposed to go anywhere but Brian and I snuck out before practice with our body guards and hit the mall for a quick shopping spree. It was really short though. "Donna and the guys are going to be so upset...they are going to kill us..hehe." I said to Brian while we were rummaging through basketball jerseys in Footlocker. "I know but they'll get over it, Aj and I have done it before no biggie..." He responded laughing. I was surprised that the bodyguards didn't object but then again their job was keep us safe. Brian bought a jersey and I bought rollerblades, my old ones were broken. The cashier must have been about 17 and she recognized Brian so he happily gave her an autograph. That was the first time that I didn't have to feel stressed about spending money shopping since along with my cell I got a limit less credit card in my name for shopping. We were goofing around in the stores acting all crazy and getting really loud in the mall. We weren't paying attention to the fact that the mall was packed with teenagers and although Brian was in full disguise a whole bunch of girls recognized him. They were still pretty far away from us and we saw that they recognized us so we made a run for the parking lot. Even running away he kept making voices like mighty mouse. "Here he comes to save the day...." We laughed all the way to the car and so did the guards. We got in the van fast enough to see a whole bunch of girls running to the front entrance screaming and looking for Brian. It's enough to say that when we got back to the theatre everyone was waiting for us and they weren't exactly happy to see us. The only thing they commended us on was for taking the bodyguards. Howie finally got everyone to see that we hadn't done anything wrong since we were only gone for 1 hour and we didn't fall behind schedule, we just had them looking for us like crazy. Donna and randy were upset but relieved to see us.
On the other hand the guys were upset that we hadn't taken them along. "I'm sorry but it would have been too obvious if ALL of us had suddenly dissappeared.." Brian explained trying to get us off the hook as we smiled at each other for having almost gotten away with it. Kevin wasn't happy... he said he was dissapointed in our behavior, I guessed that that was the responsible side of him coming out. While at the mall I knew they weren't gonna be too happy that we went without them so I bought them each a little something. "Alright I'm sorry, next time we'll all skip together.." I said with an ‘I'm sorry-smile on my face' and puppy dog eyes. "Just so there's no hard feelings I got u all something...AJ,the funkiest sunglasses I could find(I reached into the shopping bag and pulled out the sunglasses, ran over to him and put them on his face) "Really you didn't have to do that...these are awesome thanks.." He said with a big smile on his face and giving me a big bear hug "Humh your welcome...,D.. I got you this retro black and white shirt like the one that got ripped last week at the press conference...hope it fits..." I gave him his shirt and got a big hug in return "Humh your welcome...Kevin, do you have any idea how hard it is to shop for you?!?!" I said laughing and everyone else joining in. "But none the less I think you'll like this..." And I pulled out a royal blue 'phat farm' cap-..."Your right I love it thanks!" "Humh your welcome..I thought to myself that these guys are just huggers by nature...next... Nick, I got you dum da daa.. the latest Beanie Baby...Feather the Seagull". I handed it to him and he thanked me profously and gave me a huge hug, "I don't think you'll have any more room Nick, they are already all over the place..." Brian teased Nick. "Oh well I guess we can dump someone over the side of the bus....hehe" we all> laughed. "And last but certainly not least, for my new little bro Aaron, I got you.....the new teletubbie...." I never expected him to like it so much he almost knocked me on the floor with his hug. "Hey your welcome". "Hey what's up with this?? I took you shopping..." Brian said to me sounding upset and dejected. He was giving me these irrisistable puppy dog eyes "Aaww Brian...don't do that...how was I supposed to get you something when you were with me...don't give me those puppy eyes,I can't take it..." I ran over to him. He was truly enjoying making me suffer. I hugged him and gave him a big fat kiss on the cheek. I left big lips on his cheek with my lipstick. "There you go I gave you a tatoo in loco coco on your cheeck..." I smiled and everyone laughed some more. Donna told Brian it made him look sexy.
The rest of the day passed as smoothly as could be imagined. Although I did get a sort of lecture on security from everyone and their cousin. It was around four o'clock in the afternoon."Guys get in here for a sec.." Kevin called from one of the tables backstage. It took about five minues for everyone to get there and chill out. "Ok Donna go ahead" he said and we all turned and looked at Donna. "Ok well we just got a new schedule of apperances that you guys have to do this tour, that includes you Erika. All the talk shows want to have the six of you on and talk to you about touring with us. When she said that a cold chill of worry went down my back. Local news is one thing but being on a national talk show is completely different. Howie put his hand on my shoulder and mouthed 'don't worry you'll be ok'. Ok here's the schedule, We have Oprah, Vibe, MTV Summer Share, MTV Video Music Awards, we're still checking on the Rock and Jock game, and you've been invited to the Grand Opening of the new Planet Hollywood. I just got this list an hour ago while certain people were out caravanting through the town. Hopefully I'll have a complete schedule by tomorrow and in two days at the latest. Next thing on the agenda, you guys know how John Norris was supposed to do a backstage special on us?.... Well he broke his leg so the record company and MTV said that we could do it....I would have the guys do it but they are still trying to get the new routines down, soo Erika....I know your not used to the cameras yet but would you mind doing this? We rather have you do it than John anyway....The camera men are meeting us at the hotel tomorrow and you just have to like show them around and stuff.."
Everyone was silent for a second. In my head I could picture myself screwing up on camera. Then I thought of Howie's encouraging words and two more seconds later I realized that this was another chance of a life time and even if I did screw it up I would be able to tell my grand kids that I hosted a national show once. I saw a lot of bragging rights in the opportunity."Alright Donna I guess, just as long as you guys help me out, unlike you I've never done any of this before and I'm not used to it like you guys are"."Hey alright cool" Obie patted my back in approval. Aaron jumped on my back piggy back style and we ran around like mad people screaming.
Me, Donna, Denise, the guys, all the security guards, Randy and a couple of other people I wasn't familiar with sat around a big table and discussed what would happen the next day. Although it wouldn't be live we only had two shot to carry this out. We all had to get up really early. I had given up on going through a day without their sweat on me, they got the biggest kick out of hugging me when they were sweaty, not that I minded at all. While at the mall I thought of the greatest trick to play on them. The show was an early afternoon show and we decided that we were gonna go clubbing that night even though we had to the the MTV thing the next day. The show started with the guys exploding on stage with their personal version of "If your Happy and You Know It" The third song was going to be 'Lets Have a Party". When the first part of 'Party' started Aaron, the guys of 95 South, Denise, Donna, Johnny, Nina, Gary and I positioned ourselves on the sides of the stage and shot the guys with multicolored silly string. We each had two cans to use, Denise snuck out and bought it during rehersal. At first the guys and the fans both had no idea what was going on but it was ok because everyone on the crew knew and security about it except the guys. Although they were shocked they kept singing while they were beginning to be covered by a blanket of silly string. Kevin and Nick looked at each other and smiled. ‘I have a baaaaddd feeeling about this...' I thought to myself. Kevin ran towards me and Nick ran towards Aaron who was on the other side. Aaron and I both tried to struggle and run but I ended up over Kevin's shoulder and Aaron over Nick's. By the time they got us in the middle of the stage they finished the song. The crowd had gotten over the silly string gag but were now in shock. They put us down in the middle of the stage. I was glad that Donna had made me dress like the guys at every show, otherwise I'd be standing in front of 21,000 people in cutoffs and a tank top. I resigned to the idea of being on stage and stood with my arms linked in Howie and Kevin's.
Brian stepped to the edge of the stage "Well you know who we are and I think the party already started." He said laughing into the microphone to the crowd."You probably already know these pranksters...." He said turning around to look at us. Aaron and I stepped forward and took a bow of pride. "HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING TONIGHT......?" Aaron screamed "You all know me I'm Aaron Carter!" at that point Nick picked up Aaron and put him on his shoulder "And he's my little bro..." "And this beautiful young lady is Erika who you all probably know who... she won our Tour contest." Howie said stepping forward and all the guys stood side by side with me in the middle with all our arms around each other's shoulders. I was extremely nervous and exhilirated all at the same time and the racing outfit didn't help with the sweating. I figured I had to say something but all the mikes were still backstage so I looked to the side of the stage and Denise tossed me a cordless microphone. "HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING TONIGHT.....?" I screamed into the mike and crowd screamed back.I looked into the crowd and met hundreds of evil eyes glaring at me but then I recognized some of my online friends Jenn, Nicki, Theresa, and Janice. I waved to them and they waved back "This is going to be a great show and there might be a few surprises here and there. THERES ONLY ONE RULE..YOU CAN'T SIT STILL YOU HAVE TO SING ALONG AND HAVE FUN. I'll Leave you to the five guys you came to see. ENJOY THE SHOW" The crowd screamed again.
We hugged the guys, waved to the crowd and ran back backstage. When I got back I was hyper from excitement and nerves. Donna and Denise patted me on the back, hugged me and told me I did a great job. The girls that were the opening act were laughing but really happy for me. We stood around while I tried to process what had just happened. Andre(the photographer) said he got some great shots of the guys and me looking surprised and shocked. We all laughed about their reactions to the trick and to my facial expressions when Kevin dragged me out there. I laughed half embarrassed. The rest of the concert went on sort of as usual. Although the guys only had three costume changes they looked back every once in a while as if wondering what would happen next, but we didn't pull anymore tricks on them, at least not for this concert.
Because they had two shows in North Carolina, we stayed at a hotel in Charlotte. After the concert we made our way through the mass of fans at the back door. Not at all to my surprise the girls were also back there. While we were waiting backstage for the guys to change, it only took me 10 minutes to change into a silk shirt and shorts, I asked Donna and Randy for permission and me and Jeff went out and found them and brought them backstage. They were so psyched we talked for a few minutes and caught up on all the gossip. I introduced them to Donna, Denise, Jeff, Aaron, and 95 South. I asked them if the guys said yes if they wanted to go clubbing with us later but they told me that since they didn't live there they would be going back home that night. Just then the guys came back out. AJ was the first one out since he only threw on sweat pants and a muscle shirt. I got another sweaty hug and I introduced them to him, they also got a sweaty hug but from their looks of exhilaration they didn't seem to mind. Slowly the guys all made their way out of their dressing rooms and the girls were introduced to them. We invited them to come with us but they had to catch a plane back home. We said goodbye and Jeff escorted them back outside.
The guys were finally ready and we took off. We stepped out side and made our way to the limo. It took about 15 minutes to cross about 10 yards of parking lot. The fans had climbed over the fences and the guards were trying to escort them out. On our way to the limo the guys AND I were literally assaulted by the fans. We finally reached the limo out of breath and fell in it. "Damage check guys..." Brian snickered but was completely serious "Looks like I need a new bag.." AJ sighed looking at the tattered remains of what was the pocket of his backpack. "I'm gonna need to buy a few buttons to sew this on..." Howie exclaimed looking at the collar on his shirt missing all three buttons. "I'm just a little streched.."Kevin said trying to find any damage on himself "Same here.." exclaimed Brian "I think I'm gonna need to either wear tighter hats or cut my hair.. they took my hat..." Aaron sighed touching his hair which had been pulled almost out of the roots and thinking of his Nike cap that had been ripped off his head.
"I think I need to wear turtle necks.." Nick said feeling his throat. We all looked at him and saw a stream of blood running down his neck and staining his shirt and intense pain in his eyes as he tried to understand what had happened. Someone had tried to rip his gold chain off so violently that in the process they burned and cut his skin with the pointed edge of the anchor charm. His neck was bleeding. "Dang it Nick your neck is bleeding..." Kevin said evidently worried. It wasn't like when a little scratch bleeds, it was really bad... "Hold on I got a tissue.." I said as everything I learned in a year of First Aid kicked back into my brain. I pulled out the cloth tissue out of the back of my pocket. He was sitting directly across from me. "Ok, don't worry its clean.." I said seeing an hilarious look of pain and worried disgust in his eyes. I folded the handkerchief into a square large enough to cover the cut. I reached over and placed it on the cut on the right side of his neck. I put pressure on it "Ok Nick you have to hold on to this and keep pressure on it and it'll stop the bleeding. Its not an artery otherwise you'd be unconcious from hemeraging." I kept my hand on the handkerchief and he placed his hand over mine to hold the handkerchief. The guys looked on with worry and amazement.
"Why are you guys staring at me...?" I said as I turned my head to see them staring. "Well actually for a couple of reasons..." AJ said slightly amused "One is HOW DID YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO?" Aaron asked amazed "I took a full year of First Aid, Sports Medicine, and CPR last year. I figured it would help me in any stage of life.." "The second is that Nick looks like he got jumped by Dracula.." Brian laughed looking at Nick obviously in pain as he held the handkerchief in place while I kept my hand over his to make sure to apply pressure. "Ok well hold off on the third..." I said lifting the handkerchief to look at the cut. The bleeding hadn't fully stopped and it looked kind of deep. Wether he needed stiches or not, he needed to go to the emergency room to get it checked out. "We should go to the emergency room I think you might need stiches Frack, it doesn't look too good." "We've got it covered doc we'll be there stat..." Brian smirked and turned around and told the driver to head for the closest hospital emergency room.
Simultaneously Kevin pulled out his cell and called Denise and Donna. They had stayed back to get some things done. He told them the situation and where we were going. I got Howie who was sitting next to Nick to move over to my spot and I sat next to Nick so it'd be easier to hold on to the handkerchief and check on it. We were there in less than 5 minutes. Thankfully the hospital was 3 blocks away from the hotel and by the time we had seen what had happened we were very close to the hospital. "Can I ask you something? Didn't you feel it?" Howie said trying to liven up the mood but also being completely serious and astonished. "Well, when we were trying to get to the car I felt this like long stinging burning sensation my neck but I just figured that somebody scratched me with their nails and then I didn't really feel it and I didn't feel the blood cause of all the sweat ...." Nick said slowly, his usual gayety gone as his eyes were filled with pain. "Don't worry by the time they get through with you the worst it'll look will be as if you had cut yourself shaving..." I said trying to make him feel better and liven everyone up. Thankfully Aaron and Kevin helped. "Yeah now baby Nick will have battle scars like a militia man.." Kevin joked "Yeah Nick, you'll look like warrior.." Aaron added. We all laughed including Nick, he had a bit of color back into his checks.
Thankfully, there was little traffic since it was all trying to get out of the parking lot of the theatre we had just left. We reached the emergency room. Stepping out of the car I felt a slight breeze down my back but figured that my shirt had come out and payed no attention to it. The five of them stepped out and then I stepped out followed by a very pale Nick trying to hold onto my bloody teal handkerchief at his throat. We were all afraid that the emergency room would be full but were glad to find it almost empty of patients. Kevin and Howie went to the front desk and explained the situation as best as they could. They gave them 4 sheets of paperwork to fill out. Brian decided to do it while Nick was being examined by the male nurse. AJ was hanging out with Aaron trying to distract him from the whole ordeal while Kevin was on the phone with Donna explaining to her how to get to the hospital. Howie and I followed Nick into the examination room since I was still holding onto the handkerchief.
With a lot of will power Nick would have been able to hold it himself but between the physical exhaustion, stress, and pain it was easier for me to hold on to it. The nurse removed the bloody handkerchief. He started asking im a whole bunch of questions. "Are you allergic to any medications? I know this is rediculous but are there any possibilities that you could be pregnant?" The three of us looked at each other and laughed. "Do you seriously want me to answer that?" Nick asked him with a bit of laughter "No, I was just trying to make you forget the pain.." The four of us burst out laughing. He examined the cut. "How exactly did this happen?" the nurse asked Howie and I explained it to him. "Ok well putting pressure on it to stop the bleeding was the best thing you could have done. I'm glad to see you knew what to do and didn't panic. The reason you didn't feel any real pain at first is because although it's not life threatening it is pretty deep." "OK this might hurt a lot.." he cleaned and disinfected the cut. Nick made no gestures of pain but it was evident in his eyes. Howie had his hand on Nick's shoulder and I had him squeezing my hand when he felt pain.
"Ok I don't know if you can see this but the cut is really close to the artery and the vocal cords. Another inch and you'd be in serious trouble. He had to open the wound and clean the inside. It must have been extremely painful because he became pale as a ghost but he never made any suggestion that he was in pain. Howie left and Brian took his place. "Hey bro hope your not pregnant..."Everyone smiled "Don't, Donna is on the phone with your mom getting all your medical history. I think they even ask the name of your dog's parents.." We all smiled again but it didn't make Nick's pain go away. "Ok well Im done here but you are gonna need stiches so the doctor is gonna come in and do that".The nurse left and the three of us sat there in silence waiting."Well at least you wont be missing the clubs. We've just been told that the filming schedule was moved out an hour so none of us can go out anyway." Although he looked dissapointed. Nick was preoccupied. He hadn't said much we figured it hurt too much to talk.
They moved us to an actual room with cement walls and not curtains for walls. Here all the guys were allowed in along with Donna and Denise. Nick had to lie down on a high bed near the wall. A doctor came in within 5 minutes and introduced himself with a nurse traillng behind with a tray in her hands. He inspected the cut again and looked at a chart. "Well young man you certainly were lucky. Because the cut was made by metal we'll have to give you a tetanus shot, unfortunately it has to be in your leg". Luckily Nick was wearing very baggy sweat pants and he was able to roll them up to his thigh. Having a dread of needles I stood so as that I was looking into Nick's face instead of the needle. "I'm like that too.." He said to me with a half smile and looked at me instead of the needle. "Ok now let me look at this again.." I moved to the other side of Nick so the doctor had a better view.
"Ok well you are going to need stiches but unfortunately I can only give you a very minimal anesthetic because I cannot insert a syringe into your neck. That means that its probably going to hurt a lot. On the other hand if you take care of it and it heals properly you wont have a scar.". The guys made some smart comments about Nick always having a baby face. The doctor proceeded in giving him a epidurmus anesthetic. Nick closed his eyes and prepared himself for the pain. I held his hand tightly and he squeezed back. It took the doctor> about 15 minutes to carefully put in the stiches. It was obviously extremely painful because by the end my hand was numb by how hard Nick had squeezed it, although I'm sure it was considerably less painful for me. "I'm all done. I just have to write your prescription. You'll have to get the stiches checked on in 10 days and if all is well removed 6 days after that. It'd be best if at least for tonight you speak as little as possible. Just to get everything a little rested. You will be able to sing but you'll have to do a bit less of it and some extra warm up. You have to keep a dressing on it until they are removed and change the dressing every day. I'll give your prescription to your manager and you can go. Oh here are same pain killers to get you through till you get the prescription is filled".
We all thanked the doctor and walked out of the room. Even in the hospital we had to get through several fans, and although the guys were happy to oblige Nick stood against the wall trying to be invisible like a fly on a wall. We walked out of the hospital mine and Brian's arms around Nick's shoulders for moral support. Kevin walking directly behind Nick with his hands on his shoulders and AJ and Howie walking one on each side protectively. By then all the bodyguards were there like a wall around us. I doubt any passer by saw anything except the bodyguards. It was already dark outside. We all sat down in the limo with heavy-ness. The driver handed Nick a glass of water and he swallowed the pain killers. We had a police escort to the hotel so we were there in less than 5 minutes. We had spent about 2 1/2 hours in the hospital but there were still a couple hundred fans outside the hotel. I figured that randy called police headquarters because the entrance to the hotel was cleared with barricades and 1 police officer keeping fans at bay at every barracade. It looked like the parting of the red sea. We swiftly walked in, the guys not stopping for pics or autographs. We took the elevator to our floor and all went into Nick's room. He hadn't said anything since the anasthetic. Nick layed down in the bed and the rest of us sat in either the chairs strewn throughout the room or the couch. A physically and mentally exhausted silence blanketed the room. Kevin opened the window curtains to reveal a view of the pool and a clear summer sky filled with stars.