Miami, Florida
“I will never let go!” Gretchen Jones sang the final lyric of the song, and was greeted with cheering and a standing ovation.
“You’ve been a great crowd! Have a nice night!” Gretchen bowed, and then ran off stage. Her dancers followed. Her bodyguards ran over to her, threw a coat over her head, and escorted her outside to her limo. A mob of people tried to grab at her and touch her, but her bodyguards kept them off. Soon, she was safe and sound in the limo. Her manager, John Harrell was in there already.
“You did a wonderful job tonight, as usual,” John said.
“Thank you. I’m so glad that was my last concert of this tour. I need a huge vacation!” Gretchen said.
“Yes, you do, but the disadvantage of being a young pop star is that you have to keep working if you want to be successful. You know you have to go into the studio to start recording your new album next week,” John told her.
“Then another tour. Yes, I know, John.”
“Take that sullen look off your face, Gretchen. You’re only 18, yet you’re rich and famous, with millions of adoring fans. How many other 18-year-olds can say that?” John asked. Gretchen just stared out the window. John proceeded to pretend like her unhappiness had evaporated, and started listing off events she’d have to participate in the future.
“We’re trying to get you a performance slot at the Grammies this year, and I think they want you. Also, you’re nominated for an MTV Video Music award, so you’ll have to be there, and did I mention to you that VH1 wants you to host 5 upcoming episodes of “The List”?
Gretchen nodded, no expression on her face. It wasn’t that she was ungrateful for all the wonderful things she had been given… she just wanted what she had lost in the process of becoming famous. She wanted more time with her family- the people who loved her even if she wasn’t THE pop superstar Gretchen Jones, but just Gretchen. Instead, she was always around business people who wouldn’t care about her if she didn’t have a hit single at the top of the Billboard charts. She wanted to have time off- she hadn’t had one full week of respite for a year and a half. She wanted… she wanted some real friends, ones she could trust. She regretted never having time to call or write all her friends from high school. And a relationship with a boy... forget about it. How could she ever know that someone wasn’t with her just for her money or fame? She had had her heart broken … majorly … a year before, and she never wanted to endure that again. Never.
The limo pulled up to the Hilton Hotel, and Gretchen and John got out and headed inside. “Go pack your stuff,” John instructed. “Your flight for Los Angeles leaves in two hours. Frederick will be meeting you at the airport there. I will come down there later this week.”
Frederick was one of the producers of her upcoming album.
Gretchen was escorted to her room by John, and she slowly packed her things. Recording an album was hard work. She remembered all the time she and many others had put in to her first album. For this upcoming album, the name had yet to be decided, but she knew one thing- more than half of the songs on it were written by her. What an incredible feeling to know that the world would be able to hear things that had come straight from your heart… songs that weren’t manufactured by a bunch of different songwriters. It was truly amazing.
2,000 miles away- New York, New York
“... but I want it that way,” AJ McLean crooned.
“Dude, I know you love singing, but do you ever stop?” Brian Littrell asked.
"No, no, no,” AJ sang.
Kevin Richardson took a sip of his coffee. “Let’s focus, you guys. We have to perform on SNL tonight.”
“No ...we forgot,” Nick Carter said sarcastically.
“All I’m saying is… never mind. Why do I try?” Kevin asked.
“Come on, you guys,” Howie Dorough said.
The 5 members of the Backstreet Boys were sitting backstage of SNL, and watching cast members practice their skits.
“Hey, in the skit we’re gonna be in, should I raise my hand and say in a gay voice, ‘We like *N Sync’?” Nick asked.
“No,” Kevin said.
“They did it to us,” Nick whined.
“Who cares? Brian asked. “I don’t.”
“They just did it to get a laugh, they didn’t mean anything by it,” Howie said.
“Whatever,” Kevin said. “We’re sticking to the plan.”
“Backstreet Boys, come to the stage please,” a female voice said over an intercom.
The 5 guys stood up and walked to the stage. They weren’t usually that tense, but a lot of things had happened in the past week that had put them in a bad mood. First, Nick and his off and on girlfriend, Mandy, had broken up again. He said that it was for good this time, and was in a very foul mood. His whining had gotten more consistent over the past few days. The guys were also disturbed about some comments made by former manager, Louis Pearlman. Pearlman had said in an interview on 20/20 to Barbara Walters that the Backstreet Boys still respected him and considered him the “6th Backstreet Boy.” Lou had also stated that the Backstreet Boys were nothing without him, and that they probably wouldn’t last very long without him. *(Note: He did not say that in real life.)* To top it all off, they were about to start touring again, and knew they would miss their beloved vacation time they had had.
“I guess you were lost when I met you/ still there were tears in your eyes,” AJ sang as they began “The One”, the song they’d be performing that night. It was their latest single.
After rehearsal, the guys headed back to the hotel to get a shower, changed. They were going to go back to the SNL studio after that, eat the food the producers were giving them and the cast and Katie Holmes, the host for the week, and then start the show. SNL was always fun for them to do, and they were looking forward to it.
Wichita, Kansas – Sheraton Hotel
Gretchen settled back in bed in the hotel room. Her flight to Los Angeles would be resumed the next morning. In the room across from her was her main bodyguard, who went with her everywhere. His name was Paul, and he was like a friend to her.
She flipped through the channels, and settled on SNL. That show always cheered her up when she was on the road.
Katie Holmes is the host, she thought. Should be good.
“So anyway,” Katie said to the SNL audience, “we have a really good show for you. Backstreet Boys are here! We’ll be right back!”
“Backstreet Boys… should be good,” Gretchen said aloud. They were a good group. She even had their albums.
During the commercials, her thoughts returned to her work. She felt overwhelmed with all the things she had to do. She was presenting an award, performing, and nominated for two awards at the MTV Video Music Awards in three weeks. The Grammies were 4 months away, but John was sure she would be nominated for something. She had been overlooked in the “Best New Artist” category the year before, so she was pretty sure she wouldn’t be nominated this year. Still, John was trying to get her a performance slot. As long as I get to be there, she thought. Next week, she would start recording her sophomore album, and in the middle of that, she would get her vacation. Still, during the first three months of recording, not only did she have the MTV VMAs, but the Much Music VMAs in Canada, a charity concert in London, and a photo shoot for the cover of Seventeen magazine, in which the feature article would be on her.
Gretchen sighed as SNL came back on. All of that would be exciting and fun, and she was looking forward to it. She was a hard worker, and she would do it all with a smile on her face, and to the best of her ability. She just felt like she was missing something. It wasn’t religious; she was close to God, and depended on him for everything; that part of her life was fulfilled. But… no, Gretchen, she thought. You are very very LUCKY, and even if you don’t feel at peace about everything, you need to be excited about everything that’s happening to you. Be happy. And with that, she vowed to be more grateful for the wonderful things happening to her.
And when the Backstreet Boys came on, she said to herself, “They probably have an even more hectic schedule than you.”
“...a helping hand/to make it right/I am holding you all through the night/ I’ll be the one who will make all your sorrows undone/I’ll be the light…”
The Backstreet Boys sang their hearts out. The SNL crowd wasn’t always most favorable to them, because there wasn’t many of their fans there. A lot of the people in the SNL audience preferred “tougher” music. And for that, BSB had to prove themselves. And they could.
The audience cheered when they were done. If anyone in that crowd said afterwards that the Backstreet Boys couldn’t sing, they would know deep down it wasn’t true.
When the Backstreet Boys got offstage, they were beaming.
“We were awesome, you have to admit,” AJ said.
“Yeah…” Kevin replied.
Gretchen pulled out her Discman and put in her Creed “Human Clay” CD. She was prepared for anything.
2 Weeks Later
“And 1, and 2, and 3, and 4, smile, smile!” Gretchen’s choreographer, Andie, yelled to her and her dancers. They were rehearsing for the MTV awards in New York.
“That was great,” Andie said. “Take a break.”
“I’m sooooo tired,” one of the dancers, Krista, said to Gretchen as they sat down with their bottled waters.
“I know. I feel like I have weights attached to my feet,” Gretchen replied. Krista was the closest person to Gretchen of her dancers. They were becoming good friends.
“This show is going to be so exciting,” Krista said. “The Backstreet Boys are performing!”
“Really?” Gretchen asked. Krista was just as much of a fan as Gretchen was.
“Yeah, so is ‘N Sync,” Krista replied. Both girls liked them as well. “I hope you win an award,” Krista said.
“I’ll be okay if I don’t,” Gretchen replied. “The MTV awards are more about having fun, being laid back.”
“I’m glad that Chris Rock isn’t hosting this year. He’s mean,” Krista said.
“I know. He is. I’m glad he didn’t mention me in his monologue last year.”
“OK ladies! One more run-through, and then you’re free to go back to the hotel. Except you, Gretchen. You have that Seventeen shoot in an hour,” Andie said.
“I know.”
“You know that singer, Gretchen Jones?” Nick asked. “Yeah,” replied AJ. “She’s hot.”
“She’s performing tomorrow night at the awards,” Kevin said. “I met her once. She’s a nice girl. Too young for me, though.”
“Britney Spears is performing, too."
"I feel like getting drunk,” Howie said.
“Go on then,” Nick said.
“Save that for after the show tomorrow,” Kevin said.
“I’m gonna find me a couple of chicks at that party. I’m going to drink and dance and forget there ever was a Mandy in my life,” Nick said.
“Me too,” said Brian. “Um, except for the Mandy part.”
“What are we nominated for anyway?” Nick asked.
“Viewer’s Choice again, Best Group, Best Video, and… a new category, Best Dressed,” Kevin said.
“With Howie in our group we’ll lose that category!” Nick said.
“Ha ha,” Howie said sarcastically.
“Well, who are you guys bringing again?” AJ asked. “I’m bringing Amanda.”
“I’m bringing Leighanne,” Brian said.
“I’m bringing my sister, Leslie. She’s not going to any post-parties though,” Nick said.
“I’m bringing my mom,” Kevin said.
“Going solo,” Howie replied.
“We got you a date!” John told Gretchen after she finished the Seventeen photo shoot.
“What? I told you I didn’t want a date, John. And I said if I did have a date, I wouldn’t want you to pick out who it would be.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of blind dates, Gretchen? People get married to their blind dates…sometimes. Anyway, you’re going to be escorted and seated by ‘N Sync’s JC Chasez! Isn’t that great? I knew you liked ‘N Sync, and so I pulled a few strings, and he’s interested. Him and a stretch limo will be at the hotel tomorrow night to pick you up by 6:30 PM. OK?”
Gretchen sighed in resignation. “Whatever.”
“Because you’re going to be with him, and he has to be seated with his group, you’ll be by the rest of ‘N Sync and their dates, ok?”
“Whatever.”
“And Hannah’s taking you shopping tonight to find your red carpet-walk dress, and your performance outfit, ok?”
“Whatever.”
Hannah was Gretchen’s fashion consultant.
Gretchen started to walk away, and then turned back around. “Promise you won’t tell magazines that JC and I are an item.”
“Promise,” John said.
“Just get me through tomorrow,” Gretchen whispered to herself, to God, to no one.