“Hey Bri, Hey AJ,” Alex said as she and Cori approached the two guys. “I’d like you two to meet Cori. Cori, this is Brian and AJ.”
     Brian extended his hand for Cori to take. “Nice to finally meet you Cori.” Cori took his hand and smiled at him. “Nice to meet you too.” She turned over to AJ who had an uncomfortable look on his face. “Nice to meet you as well AJ.”
     AJ nodded a little at her, a small smile graced his features. He then turned to Alex with a ‘you’re in trouble’ face.
    “Lexy, please tell me something. Why did you not tell any of us that Cori was a female? Why did you lead us on to believe that Cori was a male rapist?”
    Lexy gave a little sigh. “Well, nobody really questioned me if Cori was male or female. You guys all assumed Cori was a male and didn’t leave any room for thought that Cori is a female name as well.”
     “That still doesn’t explain why you couldn’t have told us,” Brian added.
     Alex grinned. “Well, I also wanted you and AJ to be very surprised when Cori came on over and you two finally figured out that all your male rapist assumptions would fly out the door.”
     “Hey J, I can’t be mad at her for doing this can you?”
     AJ smiled at Alex and shook his head no. “Honestly, I can’t either. She’s just too cute to be mad at.”
     “I love you two,” Alex cried out as she hugged them both. “Thank you soooo much for not being mad at me!”
     “You know, we should go back to the other guys and LeighAnne to shock them as well,” Brian said grinning.
     “Well, um, not really Leigh because I…well….I told her already.”
     Brian glared over at Alex for a moment. “You mean you told Leigh over your bestest friend in the whole world?”
     “Hey that’s the breaks hon. I’m leaving you now for Cori.” She grinned as she poked him in the side.
     “I knew it! You’re in the closet.”
     Alex rolled her eyes and Cori laughed at her. “Oh yes Bri I’m a closet lesbian who wants Cori and wants to do her bad. I love guys you know.”
     Cori laughed as she slipped an arm around Lexy’s waist.
     “And if you want we’ll even consider letting you be our best man.” She said resting her chin on Lexy’s shoulder biting on her lower lip to keep from laughing.
     “Oh my God! You guys are disgusting.” Brian said shaking his head. They all laughed as they made their way out of the mall. They all got into the van that had brought them to the mall and went on their way back to the hotel where Brian, AJ and Alex stayed at.
     “So Cori, what’s it like living here in NYC,” AJ asked trying to be nice and put the incident back at the food courts behind him.
     “Well, sometimes it gets very difficult with traffic and all, but at nights, the city is so beautiful.
    “I’m really glad you are here for a few days. What do you guys have to do?”
     “We have another tonight to do, TRL, and I think very soon, not too sure when though, a new video to make.”
     “Any idea which song?”
     AJ looked at Brian for help. Bri shrugged and looked at Alex. Alex wore a confused look on her face.
     “We aren’t too sure which song it will be,” Alex replied to the question. “All we have been informed was that it’s supposed to be a ballad.”
     “Hmmm…I Promise You is a good song to make a video out of.”
     “I agree, but collectively we all decide on what ballad we do and then we talk to our managers to see if they feel the song is fitting enough to make into a single and a video,” Brian explained.
     “And what if they don’t like it?”
     “Back to square one I suppose. We’ve had the go for all songs we’ve chosen to make into a video until now.”
     The van stopped indicating they had reached the hotel. Bri and AJ were somewhat pleased to see no fans hanging around the entrance. The four of them quickly got out of the car and inside the lobby.
     “You know, that’s really good that you guys haven’t had to pick a second song so far,” Cori commented as they walked in the elevator.
     “I know. It’s like for them, the songs they’ve really wanted to be released actually were. I think it would be a bummer to pick a song as a backup instead,” Alex said with a smile. “You do know that you are staying here with us right?”
     “Well I guess I do now! Whose room will I be in sharing with?”
     “Me of course!”
     Cori grinned. “Good we can stay up late, kinda a girls night out. Then who knows, we can even share some secrets on these guys.”
     “Not.” Brian muttered grinning as the elevator stopped on their floor. He and the others walked on the carpet towards the rooms.
     “Here goes shock numbers three, four and five.” Alex softly sang out with a smile plastered on her face.
     Brian turned to glare at her. “You would say that.”
     AJ gently opened the door, showing three guys and a girl all sitting and talking. Howie noticed the door open and got real quiet as Bri, AJ, Alex and Cori slipped inside.
     “Hey welcome back,” Kevin said, a confused look appeared on his face. “AJ, new girlfriend?”
     “She sure is a pretty fine lady at that.” Nick joked.
     Cori blushed as AJ gave Nick a glare. Alex gently led Cori to the middle of the room. LeighAnne looked up with a smile.
     “I give you guys the pleasure of meeting Cori,” Alex introduced, her smile turning into a wide grin.
     “That’s Cori?” Nick managed to ask. He, like the other two were stunned that Cori wasn’t some big, rapist looking male.
     “Yes this is Cori. What escaped your minds was the thought that Cori could possibly be a female’s name as well as a male’s. The whole time I have been talking to Cori, it was a female not some male rapist and I hardly doubt she is one anyway or else she’d have to be a lesbian.”
     “How come you never told us that she was female instead,” Kevin asked. “You knew we all cared about your well being.”
     “You guys never really forced the issue. Come on don’t be mad at me. I didn’t tell Cori she was meeting you guys because she was a fan and she wouldn’t have believed me!” Alex gave them the big puppy dog eyes, which she knew all of the guys hated.
     “UGH I hate that look,” Howie muttered, his answer agreed by the other two. The other guys sighed in defeat. “All right you are forgiven.”
     Alex raced over and gave them all hugs. “You know I love you guys so much right?”
     “Yes we know,” Nick said grinning. “Nice to meet you Cori by the way.”
     “It’s nice getting to meet all of you. I didn’t think I’d ever get to meet you guys and yet I was so wrong. Then again I never thought I’d meet Alex here., Boy isn’t life surprising?” she said with a smile   LeighAnne got up and hugged Cori. “Hi I’m LeighAnne it is nice to meet you finally after Lexy went on and on about you.”
     Cori laughed. “I didn’t know I was that famous around here. It’s nice to meet you too.”
     “Hey Bri, AJ while you guys were out we got a call,” Kevin told them.
     “About?” AJ asked as he sat on the couch beside Kevin
     “Michael called over from The Firm.”
     “What did he want?”
     “Well he wants us to have the single down by this evening.”
     Brian sighed as he made his way to Leigh and gave her a kiss on the cheek, hugging her around her waist. “You mean he wants us to have it picked out what the single will be today?”
     “Afraid so.”
     Cori turned to Alex and Leigh. “You mean they have to have their next single decided upon by the evening?”
     Alex nodded. “Which means we all have to decide, get it approved, and confirm it with Jive by the evening. The hardest parts are deciding on the single and getting it approved.”
     Cori looked confused. “But you guys told me that the single they decide on does get approved.”
     “They are, but usually one or two people from The Firm have their doubts about the song because of course they don’t think it’s fitting. We had a couple people disagree with releasing Shape of My Heart because they thought it was too mellow to have as a first single.”
     “Okay so we have I Promise You, Yes I Will, It’s True, How Did I Fall, Time, and More Then That to decide upon,” Kevin interrupted the girl’s conversation. “Any ideas on ones to eliminate?”
     “To be honest, Yes I Will isn’t a good song to have as a single,” LeighAnne spoke up from her seat next to Brian. “It sounds like a ballad, but not a ballad if that makes any sense.”
     “Yeah and It’s True shouldn’t be one either,” Nick said. “Because it was released on the BK CD and it’s probably a little old to people now.”
     “Everyone agree to that?” Kevin crossed off the songs when everyone agreed. “Okay so now we have four songs to figure out which is set to be the single.”
     “I like Time,” AJ spoke up after a moment of silence. “I mean it’s reflective on our lives and I feel it’s good enough to intrigue the fans.”
     Cori shook her head. “No, Time isn’t a good song to have as a single. A song that would really capture the fan’s attention is How Did I Fall if you used it in the right way, it could be the best ballad ever.”
     AJ looked over at Cori. “Time can be the best ballad ever too you know. How Did I Fall is too personal.”
     “But personal is what people like. Time just seems like a waste of time.”
     “Well How Did I Fall is more sentimental and lame for a single.”
     Cori glared over at AJ. “You’re calling my much more better taste then yours stupid?”
     “Since when is your taste in singles better?”
     “Oh Lord not again,” Alex muttered under her breath. “It looks like nobody else is coughing up any suggestions as to what should be the single so let’s decide. Time or How Did I Fall.”
     Howie looked up for a moment. “Well, since How Did I Fall was co-written by me, I guess I kind of want it as a single. It’s got that something special more then Time.”
     “I agree,” Alex added in. “Plus I’m always a sucker for romantic videos like this one will be.”
     “It’s….more fitting story wise then Time,” Brian said.
     “Time can be fitting too though,” Nick countered. “You have to see it from that way too.”
     “Yeah Nick has it right,” LeighAnne said. “You have to look at the lyrics and then you will see it can be fitting as well.”
     Kevin looked at both sides. “Personally, I like Alex’s line of thinking. You can have more romantic elements in this video and Time just doesn’t seem right.”
     “You guys, we have to pick one,” Alex whined.
     “Okay fine How Did I Fall then,” Nick grumbled.
     “Well now since Nick abandoned that then yeah fine How Did I Fall,” LeighAnne added.
     Cori grinned from ear to ear as she and Alex hugged each other. “Oh my god this single will rock trust me you guys!”
     AJ glared at everyone and walked off to another room. Cori grinned and walked to where he was.
     “Awe, poor AJ didn’t win his argument against a girl?”
     “Fuck off okay Cori? How Did I Fall was a lame song to have as a single and you know it.
    “You just wanted to fight with me on it and win. God you are such a typical woman.”
     “Geez AJ you don’t have to be a total dick about it. So Time didn’t make it big deal. I didn’t fight with you just to get on your nerves. Quit being so damn ignorant because you’re a sore loser.”
     “Quit being such a bitchy know it all! I can’t do it. I told Bri I’d be nice to you, but if you’re going to be a self righteous, little conceited bitch then I won’t bother!”
     Cori glared at AJ. “I was so right about you when I was talking to Alex in the bathroom at the food court. God you are such a prick. She said ‘oh he’s such a sweetheart’ and all this other crap. Yeah right.”
     “Look if you just stay out of my way for the next couple of days, then I’ll stay out of yours and finally you will be gone back to your little home to find some sucker to marry because who the fuck would want an attitude like yours?”
     “UGH FINE! Then shut the fuck up and quit insulting me and I’ll stay out of your fucking way.
    And no wonder why you don’t have a girl because all you can pick up with YOUR attitude is a STD infested whore!”
     AJ stormed out of the hotel room and to the room he shares with Kevin. Cori stomped back over to the others.
     “What the hell happened Cori,” Alex asked. “God we could hear you and AJ going at it.”
     “Alex, your sweetheart comments are so not true. AJ’s a fucking asshole. He gets all pissed at ME because nobody agreed to his stupid song and starts saying all this shit about me.”
     “Usually he’s not like that,” Kevin commented. “He’s nice and sweet and fun to be around with. Something must have bothered him for him to be this rude.”
     “Do you think the people over at The Firm will approve the song,” LeighAnne asked changing the subject.
     “Well, if we were as divided over it, they probably will be too,” Brian reasoned. “Hopefully they will approve this especially when Howie did give his okay on it.”
     “What happens if they don’t approve of it.” Cori asked.
    “Then I guess we choose Time and try to approve that.”
    “When will we know?”
    “Hopefully very soon. We still need to tell them our decision.”
    “Well, what are we waiting for,” Alex exclaimed. “Let’s go tell them.”
    Brian went to get everyone else. As soon as everyone was ready, they went down to the lobby where Michael was waiting. They all went to the offices to give their decision.
    “So what did you guys decide on.” Michael asked them as they were on their way to the office.
    “How Did I Fall In Love With You” Kevin told him.
    “Hmmm…that’s a really good song. I can see why it would make a good single. You guys have my vote.”
    “At least we have one person behind us,” Brian said grinning.
    “Which director will we have for it?” Howie asked.
    “Well, if that one flies, probably Wayne Isham. He does really good with songs like that.”
    “Wayne’s really good,” Cori said. “I loved how he helped make I Do (Cherish You) by 98 Degrees.”
    They quickly got out of the car and went inside where 5 other people were waiting for them. Once they were settled inside, a few more people came in, also part of those who had to approve the single.
    “So what have you guys got for us,” one of the men asked.
    “We’ve come to the agreement that How Did I Fall In Love With You should be the next single and the ballad of our album,” Kevin explained.
    Michael gazed over some of his other colleagues in the room. Some were smiling in agreement and others seemed a little disturbed by the idea.
    “You do know that Howie was one of the writers in the song and has he given the approval to use it?”
    “Yes he was one of the first to support using the song.”
    “Really I don’t see a problem if Howie agreed to it. I mean a wonderful video directed by Wayne Isham can be arranged,” one of the girls spoke up after a moment of silence.
    “I suppose it can go,” the CEO said. “Yes the new single will be How Did I Fall In Love With You.”
    “How come we needed to get this all done before the evening anyway?”
    “Well,” Michael started to explain. “Tomorrow is the guys’ appearance of TRL and they have to give some kind of information to the fans so we needed something really quick.”
    Kevin nodded. “I see. Now that we have the ballad approved Jive has to confirm it right?”
    “Yeah but don’t worry about it. We can handle it from here. Have fun tonight, but don’t stay up real late because you guys gotta get to TRL early enough.”
    On their way back to the hotel they started commenting the meeting
    “I can’t believe it didn’t take that long to approve it!” Nick exclaimed. “I thought it would have taken a lot longer to approve it.”
    “I thought so too,” LeighAnne said. “It seemed like they would have fought more about it. Maybe we caught them all in the right mood.”
    “Hold on, I thought we had a concert tonight,” AJ spoke for the first time since his and Cori’s fight.
    "No it got canceled due to delays in the setting up of the equipment.”
    “So we really have the night off then?”
    “Apparently so.”
    “We can’t go really anywhere though,” Brian said. “We have TRL to do and we have to meet with Wayne to get this video started.”
    “Not again, do we HAVE to go to bed early tonight?” Nick whined.
    Alex laughed at Nick. “More then likely hon.”
    “Ugh I hate you people.”
    “You know,” Cori said after a moment of thought. “You guys are going into this video without any ideas for a story line.”
    “I know because I wasn’t sure this would get approved I wasn’t in a rush thinking of story plots for this video,” Kevin admitted.
    “Wayne usually comes up with pretty good ideas anyway when we are strapped for ideas,” Howie added.
    “I loved I Do (Cherish You),” Alex said dreamily. “That is so going to be my wedding song.”
    “Oh God she’s at it again,” AJ said grinning. “Bri I think you need to wake your friend up to reality.”
    Alex glared at AJ. “Let me be in my delusional hopeless romantic period.” She took off his glasses and put them on.
    “Hey give those back!”
    “Never! You always wear them and to me you sometimes look like a pimp.”
    Everyone laughed at AJ. They knew AJ did have a way of sometimes caring himself as a pimp especially with his favorite shades.
    “We’re home,” Nick cried out as they approached back to the hotel.
    “Geez Nick I thought you were all mad cause we had to go back and get some sleep,” Cori teased.
    “That’s only what you think.”
    “Niick” Kevin warned.
    “He’s such a fatherly type of guy. I think one day he will definitely have kids,” Alex teased ducking from a banana peel that was thrown at her. “Okay who did that?”
    “And wow that was totally random too,” LeighAnne said laughing. “Where did that come from?”
    Alex looked over all the guys. She noticed a huge grin on Brian’s face and tossed it back at him hitting him in the head. “You did it!”
    Brian looked at Alex with an innocent look. “Me?” He tried hiding a grin.
    “God such children,” Howie muttered grinning. “Do we have to separate you two?”
    “Probably,” Alex muttered under her breath with a grin.
    They all got out of the car and inside the hotel doors. They walked down the lobby to the elevator doors.
    “So TRL will just be talking about the new single and the title and things like that,” Cori asked while they waited.
    “Yeah basically,” Howie replied. “It’s all typical things.”
    “Ugh how boring.”
    “Sometimes it gets boring,” Nick explained. “But others it’s fun to share things like that with people.”
    They all went inside the elevator and up to the floor in silence. As soon as they got off the elevator it was time to say goodnight.
    “Come on Cori let’s go so we can talk about these dorks when we get inside,” Alex said tugging on Cori’s hand.
    “Be nice and don’t cut us apart,” Howie yelled out as the girls made their way to the room.
    “Night,” Cori cried out before the door shut behind them.
    Kevin shook his head a smile on his face. “Well, I’m gone see you guys in the morning.”
    “Yeah me too,” AJ said as they walked away.
    “And then there was four,” LeighAnne said smiling.
    “Not for much longer,” Howie said. “Nick and I are outta here. Night you two and behave!”
    The four then all parted ways for the night.

The next day after TRL

    Kevin and all the others piled into the van where they would be taken to Wayne Isham to discuss the video and how it is to be made.
    “Is it just me or was TRL a madhouse,” Cori asked.
    “Definite madhouse,” Nick agreed. “I think the fans were really happy with the decision though to have How Did I Fall as a single.”
    “The fans are what make us,” Howie said thoughtfully.
    “What do you think Wayne will do with this video,” Leigh asked the guys.
    “Hopefully something good and hopefully something that you can be in it baby,” Brian said to her.
    LeighAnne kissed Brian on the lips. Brian smiled and kissed her back.
    “UGH get a room you two,” both Alex and Cori said at the same time. They both turned to each other and grinned.
    “Oh great now they are talking at the same time what’s next they become twins,” Kevin joked.
    “Alex can’t be my twin, she doesn’t have my beauty,” Cori said fluffing up her hair.
    “I think you have it the other way around. You don’t have MY beauty,” Alex said smirking.
    The van stopped at Wayne’s office where all eight of them got out and went inside. After a moment, Wayne’s secretary led them to a small office, with two couches clad in leather. A couple of minutes later an older man walked in the room with a smile.
    “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. How are you today?” he said as the boys got up to shake his hand. He smiled at the girls as he made his way to the wooden table, sitting on the expensive chair.
    “I was very pleased to hear you guys asked for me personally. It’ll be a pleasure working with you I’m sure.” He smiled. “Now if it’s okay with you I’d like to start working on the video concept.”
    The guys nodded as they started throwing ideas and after an hour they had decided on the concept, which would be all five guys hanging out with five girls, cuddling in a living room. Kind of like the begging of the first version of I’ll Never Break Your Heart. Then they would have four the guys in romantic scenes and the main boy realizing he was falling for his best friend, which was the concept of the song. Now all they had to decide was who would be the girls on the video.
    “So, are these lovely ladies the models that are gonna be on the video?” he asked smiling at the girls. The girls blushed at the compliment as Alex spoke up
    “Oh, we’re not models. Well, at least Cori and me aren’t.”
    “Well, that’s a shame. I could see a perfect fit here, with a couple of models I have in mind it would be the perfect couples.”
    Kevin looked back and forth between Wayne and the girls. Turning to the girls once again he put on his puppy dog eyes as Alex shook her head.
    “ No, no, no. No! Don’t even think about it Richardson."