Chapter Seven    The next two weeks flew by, with Carissa and Brian getting to know each other. Brian kept it light, making sure never to pressure her and Carissa appreciated it. As much as she really wanted to let go of her reservations, she couldn't help but be afraid. The one time of intimacy that she'd experienced was filled with violence. She didn't know how to trust a man with the private part of herself, or with her heart. But she was determined to try.                                                         ~~~****~~~    "Hey Rok" Howie said as they met up in the hall of The Firm.   "Hey D how's it going?" Brian asked.   "Good. Are you ready to put your song writing abilities to work?" "Heck yeah! I can't wait to get this last one finished and then get it recorded" he said, the grin he was famous for spreading across his face.    "Hey you two c'mon! We've got work to do" Kevin yelled from the other end of the hall.   "Coming Kev" they chorused and headed for the room they were using for the day. "Okay, before we get started, Carissa is going to be stopping by to give us some new information. I have a feeling the dates have been moved up for the recording sessions" Kevin said when everyone had taken their seats. "Oh man! Are we going to have time to finish this song first?" Brian asked, worry filling his voice. "I don't know details yet. We'll just have to wait..."    "Good morning guys" Carissa said as she breezed into the room interupting Kevin's answer.    "Morning Lady C" AJ said with a smile. "Hey 'Rissa how's it going this morning?" Nick asked, anxious to get the pleasentries of the morning over and onto the schedule change.   "It's going great. I won't keep you all long. I know you guys are brainstorming, so let me get to what I have to say. Max Martin called and asked if it was possible to push the recording dates up by three days. I wanted to run this by the five of you before I said yes. So, what do you all think?"   "I don't have a problem with it" Brian stated. "I don't either" Nick agreed. Kevin sat quietly thinking while the others gave their opinions. "I have a question. Are we going to get the extra three days at the end for free time?" Carissa thought for a second and scanned the schedule she had. "I'm not sure. Max didn't give me a reason for the change, but I'll get right on it. If you do, is your answer going to be yes?" she asked. "It'll be yes either way, I was just wondering" he stated.   "Okay. I'll leave you guys to your work. I'll let you know what he said as soon as I get ahold of him." With that she turned on her heel and left.    "YO Earth to Brian, come in Brian" AJ said, mimicking the sounds of a NASA controller, as he watched his friend stare after Carissa's departing figure. "What?" Brian said as he jumped at the sound of his name. "Just checking to see if you're still with us" AJ explained with a laugh. Brian blushed and smiled. "Can't help it" he stated when the guys all gave him a hopeless look.                                                         ~~~****~~~   "Hi Max this is Carissa. I know its late for you, but Kevin had a question and I wanted to tell you the guys said that the change was fine" Carissa said after Max had said hello. "Hey no problem. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. What's Kevin's question?" "He wanted to know whether or not they would get out of there three days early since they're coming in three days early" Carissa smiled at the way that had come out, but let it go.   "That was my plan. I hate to say it, but my assistant double booked me for those last three days, so that will work out perfectly" he told her. "Great! I'll let them know and make the travel arrangements."   "Okay. Tell the guys I'll see them then" he said before hanging up.    "Carissa, you got a minute?" Beth asked from the doorway. "Yeah, sure have a seat" she said. Beth entered the room and took the seat in front of Carissa's desk. "What's up?" Carissa asked, as she finished writing the changes to the schedule.   "Teen People called and wanted to know if they could get an interview with the guys. They also want to take a couple of photos" Beth informed her. "When?" "Well I'm not sure. I told them that there were changes being made to the schedule and I'd have to call them back."   Carissa and Beth leaned over the schedule, trying to find the time for the interview and photo shoot. "What if we had Teen People come here? We could work it in on the 17th" Beth suggested. "There's nothing else planned and it would make it easier than sending the guys to them. Call them back and set it up" Carissa said.    The next hour was spent making travel arrangements for the guys early flight to Sweden and setting up the interview with Teen People.   Having finished with the changes, Carissa ran off five copies of the revised schedule and took them down to the guys.   As she approached the door, she could hear Brian's sweet voice singing. She stopped and listened to the words. The guys joined in on the chorus and she stood spellbound. It was amazing what the five of them could do with their voices.    When they finished she clapped, scaring all of them. They jumped and spun around, while Carissa laughed. "Sorry guys, didn't mean to scare you. I really liked the song" she said.   "That's okay 'Rissa. We just didn't know anybody was there" Howie said.   "Here's the new revised schedule. Notice that on the 17th you have an interview and photo shoot with Teen People. They'll be coming here. Oh and before I forget Kevin, yes you'll get to have the last three days off of the original schedule. Okay I think that's it. Any questions?" she asked.   "Just one. Do you think its possible not to schedule us for anything else before we record?" Nick asked. At her dubious look, he elaborated, "It's just that we're really busy getting everything together, and sometimes, especially when we're working on a song, we need those extra days."   "Consider it taken care of guys. See ya later" she said, and quickly left.