"Yeah, we're just about to go on," Nick said into his cell phone. "I talked it over with the other guys and we agreed that someone should tell you, so you don't have a brain aneurism or something when you read about it . . . No! Don't fly down! I'm actually kinda happy about this. I'm thinking of telling - Whatever. . .Oh, you were coming anyway? . . . Grace? Sure, fine, whatever!" With that, Nick hung up the phone and hurried into the green room.
Grace's head ached from all the screaming and lights were starting to make her dizzy. It also didn't help that she was nervous. Her first night back at work and already in the first hour of the show she was feeling sick. Her eyes widened as she saw a girl begin to faint.
Grace hurried over the barrier, pushed through the girls, and grabbed the unconscious girl. Her friend hadn't even noticed. All she could do was scream and wave her arms, as Grace dragged her friend out of the crowd. Just as Grace was crossing the barrier, a girl accidently struck her over the head. Grace fell forward and landed under someone's feet. Knowing she couldn't abandon her casualty, Grace got to her feet and dragged the girl over the barrier. She picked up her walky-talky.
"Grace to Cynthia, station three, do you copy?" She gasped. Her ribs ached and her head was spinning.
"I copy station five, Grace, What's wrong? Ten-four," Grace heard Cynthia's voice crackle through the speaker.
"Station five to station three, I have an unconscious girl here, but I'm sick and I need someone to take over immediately. Cynthia, I think I'm going to faint too. Ten-four," Grace tried to keep her voice from wavering.
The line buzzed with static. Finally Cynthia's voice came through again. "Station five, I'm sending an EMCA from backstage to take over for you. His name is Mark, and he should be there in roughly two minutes. Do you copy?"
Grace sighed in relief. "I copy station three, over." Grace clicked off her machine and waited to be relieved from her post. As she sat on the ground beside the unconscious girl, memories seeped through her and Grace began to cry.
Cora turned away from her conversation with Melissa and watched Grace walk backstage. "Grace!" Cora called. Grace turned and Cora could see that her friend's face was streaked with tears. Cora ran up to her and gave her a hug. "What happened?"
Grace sighed. "Cora, I'm just not ready for this yet. I can't help seeing her . . . everywhere."
"The little girl?" Cora asked softly.
"Yeah," Grace acknowledged. "Maybe I just need more time . . . I don't know. I think I'm just going to go lie down for a minute."
"Okay, you can use the Boys dressing room. It should be empty for a while, and I think this one has a couch," Cora suggested. Grace nodded. "Do you want to be alone?" Cora continued.
"Yeah," Grace gave her friend a half smile, for her benefit. "I'll be fine. I just need some time to think."
"What the fuck were you thinking?" Lou Pearlman demanded of Howie after the concert. "What the fuck were you thinking Howie?"
Howie didn't get angry very often, but in this instant, he became sick of having someone else running his life and he felt rage begin to swell up inside of him. "I don't know what the fuck I was thinking Lou!" Howie yelled. "Maybe that I'd like to have a life! Maybe that I'd like to be part of a respectable group! Maybe, that I'd like to stop being involved with a son of a bitch like you!"
Silence flooded backstage, as a few people began to surrounded the two fighting. "Hey Lou, Howie," Brian started. "Just cool it, okay?" Brian glanced over at two young girls who were watching the fight. They looked a little perplexed.
"Fuck you Brian," Howie snapped. "I have been through too much in this past month to put up with this shit from people like you, Lou! Why didn't you have Donna and Johnny fly in here to help you out, huh? And you know, I'd really like to know how you even found out about this!" He added, glancing at his band mates. "Considering the article won't be published for at least another two weeks!"
Lou gritted his teeth. "What did you expect them to do? Wait until I read it myself? The fact of the matter is that you should have consulted us first."
"I do not have to fucking consult you if I want to have a girlfriend!" Howie retorted angrily.
Nick nodded to Brian and motioned to the two girls. Behind them, Alison spoke up. "I'll take care of your fans guys . . ." They glanced at her and nodded. She managed to get the girls out of hearing range before things got any worse.
"Howie!" Lou sighed. "I know Grace. Believe me, I know her very well. I got her on this tour for Christ's sake! And I can understand that you two have been through quite an ordeal. But where are your priorities?"
Howie opened his mouth to speak, but he was cut off by a soft, female voice.
"Lou? Howie? What is this all about?" Grace asked as she pushed through the few people in the room. "Why are you fighting?"
Lou and Howie gave one another a glance, but didn't say anything. Grace raised her eyebrows. "I was sleeping in the other room. Your arguing woke me up and I heard my name. Howie your my boyfriend. Lou your my friend," Grace continued. "I deserve to know what this is all about."
"Grace," Howie started.
"Grace," Lou cut him off. "I know you love Howie, but really, do you want to jeopardize his career?"
Grace's eyebrows creased. "His career? Lou, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Howie told a reporter today that you two are an item," Lou said sternly, glancing at Howie. "Now for obvious reasons, we've always encouraged the Boys to remain publicly unattached and-"
"You did what?"Grace demanded. "This is what you're so upset about? I can't believe you two!" Her voice was near shouting. "Look, my relationship with Howie is no one's business but our own. I shouldn't have to put up with this shit from you. But you're going to get your way anyway Lou. I'm off the tour!" Grace spat. There was a gasp through the room. Grace turned to the onlookers. She saw her friends from Nova, Solid HarmoniE, the Boys, the back up singers and dancers, the crew and security team members. They stared at her as she pushed past them and out of the building.
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