As Brian drove to Tavarez Street, he kept glancing to the right looking at Phylicia for some sign of what she was thinking. As she looked out the window, watching the world go by, he couldn't help but to get even more nervous.
By the time they reached T & K Retreat, Brian was so nervous that every area on his body was covered in a dank sweat. He didn't know which was worse, the fact that he had no shadow of a clue as to what he was doing or Christopher's idle warnings every time they met. He turned off the ignition and got out of the car slowly. He gave the valet his keys and joined Phylicia at the door.
"Wow. Nice place ya got here, hotshot," she said in awe. "When a guy takes a girl to a place like this, he's looking for a little more than a piece of her heart, huh?" "Uh, what? Er, no...I mean..." Brian stammered, searching for words that wouldn't come.
"It's OK. Chill out there, hotshot," she said with a giggle as she held out her arm. He took it and looked into her eyes. It was almost as if they were laughing playfully. He tore his eyes away and felt his whole body quiver.
"Uh, shall we go in?" he managed, finally. She gave him a quick nod and they walked in.
The restaurant looked a place straight from the streets of Paris. Each table seemed to have it's own little glow and flowers were hanging in every possible space. The tables each had two small candles to add to the romantic glow that seemed to be filling the entire place. Brian sighed heavily as he looked around at the couples eating their dinner wondering what the night would bring.
"May I seat you?" the host asked, professionally.
"Yeah. Table for two," Brian told him.
"Right this may, please," the man said. As they followed the man to their table, he saw Phylicia looking around with sparkling eyes. Maybe it was the candlelight or maybe it was something else, but Brian felt a sparkle come to his eye as well.
The host sat them, gave them menus, and returned to his post at the door. As Brian took a sip of his water, he heard excited whispers coming from somewhere behind him. He tried to ignore it until two girls approached the table giddily. Oh no, Brian thought, glancing at Phylicia who had her face buried in the menu.
"Can we get your autograph?" one of the girls asked. "Yeah, sure," he replied, happily. They each gave him a napkin and he scrawled his name across them, hoping they were satisfied.
"Thank you so much!" the other girl exclaimed.
"Hey everyone! Brian Littrell is here!" the first girl shouted.
Suddenly, the table was swarming with people. Brian saw Phylicia glance around with wide eyes, shake her head with a grin, and stare back at the menu. People were asking him to sign things left and right. He signed a few things and noticed the number of people start to grow. If I don't do something, he thought, this will turn into an autograph session.
"OK, people. Listen please," he said rising out of his chair. "I came here to spend time with my lady friend, not to sign autographs. So, if you wouldn't mind..." A few girls burst into tears and people started to head back to their tables. Brian felt a little funny telling his fans to, more or less, leave him alone but he had to do something.
"Sorry about that," he said. "I just wish people would treat me like..."
"A normal person," Phylicia finished for him without looking up from her menu.
"Uh yeah," Brian said. He picked up his menu and looked through it. He was so nervous that he didn't even know if he could eat.
"Don't they have any one hundred dollar cheeseburgers on this menu or did we come to the wrong McDonald's?" Phylicia said, smiling at him from across the table. Brian felt some of his nervousness melt away. "Hey, there's no need to be nervous. After all, I'm just a normal person, too," she said, winking at him. Relief flooded through his body, although he wasn't quite sure why. He felt more open and comfortable now than he had felt when he first picked her up.
They ordered their dinner and talk heartedly. She opened up to him and told him about the incident he had read about in the magazine, explaining that the ring on Christopher's necklace had been her wedding ring. He had kept it so that he could give it to the man she claimed to love if he approved, she told him.
"Then why are you wearing it now?" Brian asked, curiously.
"Because it goes with my dress," she said, laughing. He told her all about Maile and how he had taken her to T&K Retreat the night he proposed to her. He noticed that talking about Maile didn't hurt as bad as it used to. There were no tears, no heartache or none of the other usual things that came about whenever he thought of her. Brian was truly having a good time and he didn't want the night to end.
After dinner, Brian drove Phylicia home. As he walked her to the door, he felt his muscles tighten.
"Well, here I am," she said, gazing up at the dark house.
"I take it Christopher and Trish went to bed," Brian said.
"Nah. They went to a club. They won't be back until morning or maybe even the afternoon. Who knows with those two?" she said with a shrug. "I really had a good time tonight and I wanted to thank you," she said, staring into his eyes.
"For what?" Brian asked, grasping her hand tightly in his.
"For treating me like a normal person and not like a basketball star's younger sister. This has got to be the first date I've gone on where the guy hasn't mentioned tickets since Christopher made it big in the NBA," she replied, putting her hand on his shoulder. Brian pulled her closer to him. He didn't want to let go.
"You're welcome," he said quietly. "I wanna see you again. How about it?" Brian asked. Phylicia looked into his eyes as if she might find the answer to his question there. She nodded slowly and leaned in. Brian pressed his lips against hers, unable to tame all the feelings he had inside. She wrapped her arms around him and there they stood, embracing in the faint moonlight. Brian felt himself smile inside as he pulled her closer. A gentle breeze blew softly through the trees as they sealed an unspoken promise under the moonlight.
Chapter Twelve - Conflict In Ties
The sun filtered through Brian's window the next morning, causing him to stir. He sat up slowly and stretched, basking in the morning sun. He got out of bed and pulled some sweats on, noticing that he'd actually slept in his bed.
He smiled and walked down the stairs, heading for the kitchen. He was about to pull open the cereal cupboard, when he heard pounding coming from the front door. He shrugged and headed for the door. It must be the mailman, he thought. He unlocked the door and pulled it open slowly. He looked out and saw Christopher standing there, looking very angry.
"Hey, man. What's up?" Brian asked cautiously.
"You know perfectly well what's up," Christopher said, pointing his finger angrily at Brian. "Where is she?" Suddenly, memories of the previous night came rushing to Brian's head. After they had kissed, Brian told Phylicia to come home with him. He didn't feel right leaving her alone in the big, dark house. She had accepted and they returned to Brian's house. He'd taken her upstairs to his bedroom where they'd, once again, kissed. Feeling the heat of the moment, they both fell to Brian's bed and the rest had been a sea of pleasure, flesh, and passion. Brian remembered it all now, surprised with himself.
"Uh, she's upstairs," Brian said, wearily. He was still exhausted from the previous night, despite his cheery awakening, and he was starting to feel it. But, Christopher was no longer looking Brian in the face, but staring down at his bare chest.
Brian looked down and saw that he was wearing the necklace with the ring on it. Christopher's face turned red with fury. He shoved past Brian and yelled for Phylicia. Brian shut the door and walked over to Christopher.
"Why are you so pissed off?" he asked.
"Well, let's see. When I got home last night, around two, she wasn't there. Her ex-husband is still running around out there, you know. There was no note, nothing. I'd told her to come straight home after dinner. When I couldn't find her, I about had a heart attack and it's all your fault!" Christopher yelled angrily.
At that moment, Phylicia came sleepily down the stairs, wearing a pair of Brian's boxers and a loose t-shirt. When she saw Christopher, her eyes widened slightly and she turned red.
"Oh, this makes me feel so much better!" Christopher shouted, gesturing at her attire. "C'Mon! We're leaving! Now!"
"Hey, just wait a second..." Brian started to say.
"You! You, shut up! This is all your fault! I can't believe you of all people..." Christopher said, shaking with anger. "But I love her!" Brian said, a little too loudly. Phylicia gasped and a smile spread across her face. Christopher looked at Brian angrily and jumped on him, sending his fists into the sides of Brian's head. He felt searing pain in his temples and he heard Phylicia struggling to pull Christopher off of him. Finally, the punches subsided, leaving just a throbbing pain on Brian's head.
"We're leaving! Come with me now!" he heard Christopher yell from somewhere to his left. He looked around, dazed, and saw Phylicia's frightened face above him. "I have to leave," she said. She disappeared from his view. He was about to close his eyes when he heard footsteps running towards him. "I love you, too," Phylicia whispered in his ear. She kissed his forehead and left once again. Brian heard the door close and he knew that she'd left with Christopher. Well, it wasn't the mailman, Brian thought before he slipped into unconsciousness.
Chapter Thirteen - Letting Go
A wet feeling on Brian's forehead pulled him out of the cold, inky blackness. He drearily opened his eyes to see Nick sitting over him, dabbing his throbbing head with a wet cloth.
"Hey. Welcome back," Nick said, putting the cloth down. "I thought I lost you there for a second." Brian sat up and looked around and saw that he was back in his bedroom, lying in his unmade bed. Nick glanced around the room, looking at the clothes left in various places from Brian's escapade the preceding evening.
"Man, Rok," Nick said. "You have a good time last night or what?" Brian grinned.
"Yeah...It was fun," he said.
"Looks like it...Be sure to take your underwear off of the corner of the mirror," Nick said, smiling. "It's not attractive." Brian put his hands on his forehead and winced in pain. He'd really taken a beating. Who would've thought that Christopher could pack such a powerful punch? "Dude, your head looks like the cover of our CD," Nick said with a grin.
"Wh-what?" Brian said, alarmed.
"Nah, I was just screwing with you. But, you're awake now, so it's all good," Nick said.
"Thanks," Brian replied, quietly. "Well, I have to go. I've got a very important date tonight. Next time, make sure you fight back, alright? I don't like to make many house calls. See ya, Rok," Nick said and he left, with a smile on his face.
Brian's hand flew to the necklace hanging loosely around his neck. He looked on the floor and saw their clothes strewn about precariously. His eyes scanned the rest of the room until they fell upon a picture on his dresser.
It was a picture of Maile. Her smile was bright and there was laughter in her eyes. He remembered the day he took that picture. It was a warm and sunny day on the beach and they had just announced their engagement to the world. It was a happy day, nonetheless.
Suddenly, his feelings for Maile and Phylicia clashed somewhere inside of him. He put his head in his hands and sobbed, ignoring the pain in his temples. Maile had told him to move on and find someone new. He had the feeling he was on the way to doing that. One night together with Phylicia and he'd given her his most intimate embrace, something he'd never done before, not even when he'd met Maile.
But, there was still a lingering feeling of guilt hiding inside him that caused him a terrible pain every time the thought of loving someone else came to his mind. Feelings, thoughts, and old memories ran amuck through his brain. Suddenly he felt exhausted again and drifted off to sleep.
As he slept, he dreamt. He saw Maile's beautiful face. He felt himself reaching forward for her, taking her in his arms. He looked deep into the eyes he had loved so much. She was humming with a playful smile on her face.
Brian leaned toward her and kissed her tenderly. As he pulled away from her, his eyes wandered back to hers. But, he was no longer holding Maile, but he now had Phylicia wrapped up tightly in his arms. He looked into her eyes and he saw Maile there. Emotions were high and it was all that Brian could do to keep from crying.
"Brian, I know you miss me," Maile said. "But, you need to let me go. Don't torture yourself like this anymore, because it saddens my heart every time you cry. All I want is for you to be happy, and you've got a real chance for happiness right here in your arms. I mean, c'mon. Have I ever steered you wrong before? So, free yourself of this pain and learn to love again, as you once loved me. Goodbye, Brian..." She blew him a kiss and vanished from Phylicia's eyes. Phylicia looked up at him and he pulled her closer. He felt himself get lost in her arms and he knew that he was finally granting Maile's last request by letting go.
A crash of thunder awoke Brian with a start. He crawled deep beneath the covers as a fierce storm raged outside. His heart felt lighter, as if someone had lifted a weight out of it. He snuggled deeper into his pillow, planning what he would do the next day. He clutched the ring on Phylicia's necklace tightly and fell into a peaceful sleep.
Chapter Fourteen - Nick's News
Brian leaped out of bed the next morning. A sudden rush of energy lifted his spirits as he jumped in the shower. After he was clean and dressed, he flew down the stairs and to the kitchen.
He inhaled a bowl of Corn Pops and cleaned up the kitchen. After the dishes were done and he could see his reflection in the countertop, he sat down on the couch to catch his breath. He had to look good and be refreshed for what he was about to attempt. He'd formed a small plan in his head to try and clear up the problem that had erupted the day before. He knew he had to see her again, which meant getting past that bulldog for a brother she had.
As he turned his ideas around in his head, the doorbell rang. Confused, he went to answer it, hoping he wasn't in for another ass whooping. He pulled open the door and there stood Nick, who looked very excited, and a girl whom Brian didn't know.
"Hey, Nick and Nick's friend. What brings you around here?" Nick led his lady friend in the door and his smile grew wider.
"May I ask who this charming young lady is?" Brian said, gesturing towards the girl clasping Nick's arm.
"Hello there, Brian! My name is BeJay! Pleased to meet ya!" the girl said, sticking out her free arm. Brian shook her hand and looked her over. She had brown hair and brown eyes and a charming smile. He also noticed that her clothes were very trendy, but that still didn't explain who she was.
"Pleased to meet you, Miss BeJay," Brian said.
"Brian, I'm so happy!" Nick exclaimed out of nowhere. "Oh really? I can tell. Might I ask why?" Brian looked at his best friend. Maybe he got a Playstation 3 or something, he thought.
"Do you want to tell him?" BeJay said, holding Nick's arm tightly.
"Ok, what's going on here?" Brian asked in total confusion. Nick smiled and turned to face Brian.
"Brian, you're my best friend and all, so I know you'll understand what I'm about to say." Brian's mind reeled with possible explanations, each one sending a chill down his spine. Who was this BeJay? Perhaps she was the date he'd taken out last night? What was Nick so excited about? Fear and confusion swept over him like an ocean wave sweeping away a sandcastle at dusk.
"OK, Brian, I dunno how to say this, so I'm just gonna say it," Nick said.
"Hurry up and tell him!" BeJay exclaimed, laughing. "He looks like he might pass out or puke or something!" Brian shook his head a little bit, trying to rid himself of everything on his mind.
"Ok...Here goes nothing," Nick said. "Brian, I'm engaged!"
Brian's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Nick? Engaged? Last he'd heard, Nick was going on a date.
"How? You haven't even been seeing anyone!" BeJay let go of Nick's arm and took a step forward. "That's where I come in. You see, Nick told me all about how you were coping with Maile's death and we started seeing each other shortly after. We talked about it and decided it was best not to say anything to you about me," BeJay explained.
"Yeah, we didn't know how you would react and we didn't want to make you any sadder than you already were," Nick added.
"Well, this is great! When's the wedding? Am I invited?" Brian asked.
"Well, actually, we're just going to do it tomorrow, in a private ceremony. Both of our families will be there," Nick said, putting his arm around BeJay's shoulders. "But, you would have been my best man...Uh, man."
"Yeah, you know how the press can be," BeJay said. Brian smiled warmly at them.
"Well, I'm happy for both of you! You'd better take a lot of pictures for me, though." BeJay smiled. "Of course we will, silly. What's a wedding without pictures of your hot man?" Nick laughed.
"Ya see? That's why I love her! Too funny!" Nick said, smiling.
"I see," Brian said, laughing too.
"Yeah, I don't know where I'd be without my Nicky!"
"Yup. And I don't know where I'd be without her," Nick said, as a peaceful gleam appeared in his eyes. Wow, Brian thought. He's really head over heels for this girl!
"Well, we must be off! We have to go pick up my dress from my company and pick up Nick's tux on the way," BeJay said, turning for the door. Nick gave Brian a tight hug and the two left, arm in arm.
Brian shut the door and looked out the window. I hope the rest of this day will turn out to be just as happy, he thought. He couldn't picture Nick getting married, but he was glad he was. He knew BeJay would make him a happy man. He hoped to get to know her better soon, perhaps when his mind was a little clearer.
Sighing, he walked away from the window, the happy thoughts of Nick's announcement fresh in his mind. He then mustered up any courage he could and started to walk to Phylicia's house.
Chapter Fifteen - Prove It
Once again, Brian stood in the doorway of Phylicia's house, only this time, with a new purpose. Trish had let him in, just as she had before, and told him to wait there. Brian desperately wished to be standing in the front hall for a different reason, but he knew what he had to do first or he might never set foot inside the house again.
So, as he stood there, waiting for Christopher, he repeated the words to say in his mind, making sure they all sounded right. He wanted to seem calm and relaxed. He would have to act hard, because he felt so nervous that his hands were shaking. He heard footsteps and saw Christopher walking towards him.
"Follow me and we can talk."
Brian followed Christopher through a long hallway to an open room. The room itself was a well-lit sun room, with about eight windows lining the walls. The room was comfortably furnished with two plush recliners, a lumpy couch, and a puffy, blue love seat. There was a short coffee table in front of the couch, covered in newspaper clippings.
Christopher shut the door and sat in one of the recliners. As he motioned Brian to the other recliner, the room suddenly felt like a dark, rotting prison, rather than the beautiful room around him. As he sat down, the words he'd rehearsed a million and a half times wouldn't come to his lips and his mouth went dry.
"Now, what could you possibly have to say to me?" Christopher asked, gruffly.
"Well, I just wanted to try and clear things up between us," Brian spit out, hoping Christopher wouldn't hear the nervousness in his voice.
"Oh? And why is that?" Brian gulped. This had seemed so much easier when he'd practiced on his pillow last night. At least, he'd been more confident. Sitting here now, he felt like a worm in a bird's nest.
"Well, I just wanted things to be cool between us because uh...I think I'm starting to fall in love with your sister," Brian finished hurriedly. Christopher just sat there, his hands clasped together in his lap, totally silent and unreadable. The silence was killing Brian. Scream, holler...Say something! his mind yelled.
"So, that's what this is all about," Christopher said. "Well, I can't say it's going to be easy for me to trust you again after everything else."
Brian squirmed in his chair. This wasn't going the way he had hoped. He didn't really understand what the big deal was. It had been one night and no harm had come of it, except for the injuries Christopher had bestowed upon him.
"Well, she seems to feel the same way about you, so I'm going to cut you a deal," Christopher said, getting up and walking to the window. Brian leaned forward, ready to listen to whatever deal he needed to take to see her again.
"First," Christopher said, turning to face Brian. "You give me the necklace back. I'll explain that later, if you've got the nerve to ask. Ok, here's the most important part of this whole deal, if you're really serious about it. Hand me the necklace and I'll tell you." Brian unclasped the necklace and lay it, carefully, on the small coffee table. He, for the first time, noticed how tired Christopher looked.
"Yes? I'm listening," Brian said, tentavley.
"If you really love her as much as you say you do, prove it to me...And to the whole world."
Brian stared at Christopher as if he had just sprouted another head. How in the hell was he supposed to prove to the whole world that he was in love with Phylicia? Make banners or something?
"I don't see how I can do that..." Christopher picked up the necklace and stared down at it.
"Like I said, if you love her as much as you say you do, then you'll find a way." Christopher headed towards the door, signifying that the conversation was done. Brian followed Christopher back to the front door. As he pulled it open, he looked back at Christopher.
"Everything else is cool between us, but I really need you to do this for me...And her," Christopher said. Brian just nodded and walked out onto the porch. "Will I see you at the game in two days?" Brian turned back towards the door. "I'm leaving tonight for LA to start practices for game one. Are you gonna be there or what? Game one is always pretty big," Christopher said, leaning against the door. "I thought you might plan on using those seats I got for you."
"Yeah, I'll be there," Brian said. The door shut in his face and he headed back home.
When he walked in the front door, he made a beeline straight for the living room, plopping down on the couch. He picked up the paper Christopher had given him for the seats and looked at it. He set it down and sighed deeply.
How could anyone prove anything to the whole world? Better yet, how could he prove his love to someone and expect the whole world to be watching? He looked back at the table, glancing over the sports magazine and the pass for the seats. Suddenly, it occurred to him. The game!
Chapter Sixteen - Delay Of Game
Brian had watched Phylicia, Trish, and Christopher pile into Phylicia's car and drive to the airport. That was nearly two hours ago. Brian stood by the window, waiting for her return. He would catch her as soon as she got home so that he could talk with her without having to worry about getting a black eye.
Brian looked into her backyard, skimming over the deck. Seeing the deck bathed in the evening shadows brought curious thoughts to Brian's mind. Would his children play there someday, building and smashing sandcastles, while he and Phylicia cooked their lunch? Wait. He'd gone out on one date with this girl and he was already thinking about children? Sure, he and Maile couldn't wait to become parents, but they had been married. He shook his head, but the image still stayed in his mind. He smiled. He didn't know why, but he did. He turned his attention back to the driveway and waited.
Finally, he saw car lights pulling in, casting eerie shadows across the dark room. Just as he was about make a mad dash for the door, he saw Trish climb out of the car and accompany Phylicia to the house. Oh no, Brian thought. Her staying behind could change things.
Sighing heavily, he decided to wait until the next day to go over there. Maybe Christopher had told her to stay behind to keep him away? Brian wasn't in the mood for another confrontation, so he closed the blinds.
As he climbed up the stairs, the thoughts of what could be ran through his mind. It all depended on the night of the game. Brian's intentions were to invite Phylicia to the game so he could do something stupid to prove his love in front of Christopher, and the whole world. A thought suddenly occurred to him, shattering his hopes into a million pieces. How was he going to do it?
His first and only plan was to get on the intercom during half-time. Even if he managed to get up into the booth, what would he say? He had the feeling that a simple "I love you," wasn't going to cut it.
Exhaustion seeped through Brian's body as he dropped into bed. He still needed to clean up his room, but he'd been putting it off. He looked down again at the various clothing items and a welcoming memory came to his mind. He knew he was acting unusual, but it didn't seem to bother him.
He lay his head down on the pillow, and looked at the ceiling. Maybe Fate would be good to him this time. He rolled onto his side, thinking of a blurred basketball game, familiar faces, and playing children. Smiling, Brian dropped off into a deep slumber with hopes of renewed happiness dancing in his mind.
Chapter Seventeen - Game Plan
When Brian woke up the next morning, he shook his head trying to clear the dream that was still fresh in his mind. He'd dreamt that Maile and Phylicia were singing a song to Christopher, who looked very happy. The words of their song stuck in his mind, replaying over and over again. He wrote them down on a piece of paper on his night stand and read them a few times. He didn't know what they meant, so he put them down and didn't give them another thought.
He quickly dressed, raced down the stairs, and ran out the door, heading straight for her house. He rang the doorbell and waited, nervously. Trish answered the door, looking surprised to see him there.
"Hello again. Can I please talk to Phylicia?" he asked, wasting no time.
"No, I'm sorry. Christopher told me about your whole deal and you aren't allowed to talk to her until the deal is done or forgotten," Trish informed him. "Is there any way I can help you?" Dammit, Brian thought. Well, I'll just give Trish the message.
"Um, yeah. Maybe you can. Is Phylicia going to the game tomorrow?"
"Yes," Trish said. "We're packing to leave right now. Why?" Brian shrugged.
"Oh, no reason. Just curious, I guess," he said. "Bye now."
As Trish shut the door, Brian mentally checked one item off of his list. She was going to the game. He looked up and saw Phylicia looking down at him from an upstairs window, presumably, her room. He blew her a kiss and he saw her eyes light up. She gave him a secret smile and disappeared from the window. He tucked her memory away and ran home to pack.
As soon as he stepped into the front door, Brian went straight to the kitchen. He grabbed the phone off of its cradle and ran upstairs to his room. As he pulled a suitcase out from under his bed, he dialed the number for the airport. As the it rang, he thought about the seats Christopher had given him and hung up. He was sure that if his plan ran smoothly, he wouldn't be needing those seats. He dialed Nick's cellphone number and waited for him to answer.
"Hello?" came Nick's voice.
"Hey, Nick. It's Brian. Do you have a minute?" Brian heard a bunch of music and people laughing in the background.
"Yeah, hang on," Nick said.
"Who is it?" came a woman's voice. Brian assumed it was BeJay's, and waited.
"It's Brian. I'm gonna go out in the hall for a sec, hon," Nick said. Brian heard some distortion.
"Hi Brian! It's me, BeJay!" Brian smiled
"Hello, BeJay. Congratulations! I can tell it's a real party over there," he laughed.
"Thanks Brian! Here's my Nicky!" she said happily. He heard more distortion and heard the music fade out.
"OK, what's up?" Nick asked.
"First of all, congrats man," Brian said.
"Thanks," Nick replied.
"Hey, I was wondering, if you're not doing anything tomorrow night, if you would like to take BeJay to the Lakers game? I have those seats Christopher gave me and I'll pay your airfare as a wedding gift."
"Well, what about you? Aren't you going?" Nick asked, apparently confused.
"Yes, I'm going, but I won't be needing the seats and I couldn't think of anyone else who I would rather give them to," Brian said.
"Alright, we're in. Thanks again Brian." Brian smiled. "No problem! Now get back to your party! I'll call you back with the flight information," Brian said.
"OK, bye," Nick said.
Brian clicked off the phone and began throwing clothes into his open suitcase. After he was done packing, he sat down on the bed and picked up the phone again. He dialed the airport's number and listened to it ring. "Hello, this is ATA Airlines, how may I help you?" came a man's voice.
"Hello, this is Brian Littrell and I need three first class tickets to Los Angeles."
"OK. When would you like to schedule your flight, sir?"
"Tonight. I have to leave tonight."
Chapter Eighteen - Countdown
Brian sat nervously in the announcer's box in the packed Staples Center in L.A. After bribing and tricking a few people, he sat atop of the arena and surveyed the game. One quarter into the game and the Lakers were down, fifty to thirty-eight. Although he had other things on his mind, he silently cheered on his team, hoping them to win.
He'd spotted Phylicia in the VIP area of the Lakers bench. She sat there, happily, cheering on her brother. He also Nick and BeJay in the seats Christopher had given him, although a few times he saw them turn their attention away from the game to each other. He just figured it was typical and grinned. The game continued on, the Lakers coming back and the falling behind again.
As the second quarter began, the knot in Brian's stomach got bigger and bigger. In an attempt to take his mind off of the growing lump in his throat, he reviewed what he was going to do when the buzzer rang. After much debate, he decided he was going to sing the song from his dream.
Neither he, nor Nick, nor BeJay could think of anything better, so they all decided that he should stick to what he was good at. Singing in front of live audiences still freaked him out, even though he'd gotten used to it. But, tonight he felt like he felt the very first time he ever played for a packed crowd.
As the two-minute warning sounded, he felt his body tense up. Two minutes until the end of the half, to the end of his sanity, or to the beginning of a wonderful life. He clenched and unclenched his hands in his lap.
"First night on the job, huh?" the announcer next to Brian asked.
"Um, yeah. I'm kinda nervous," he said.
"Well, I hope you'll be with us for a long time, kid. It's good to see new faces," the man said, returning his attention to his paperwork.
"Yeah, uh, me too," Brian lied. Finally, the buzzer rang through the dome, announcing the end of the first half.
"It's all yours kid. Good luck!" the man said. Brian nodded and took a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it, revealing the words to the song. He cleared his throat and pushed the button on the microphone. It's now or never, he thought. The man gave him a thumbs up sign, and Brian put his lips to the microphone.
"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen," his voice rang through the air. "I have something I'd like to say..." There was no turning back now.
Chapter Nineteen - Proving It
The first half was over and Christopher and the rest of the Lakers headed for the bench. Christopher rubbed the back of his neck with a towel, wiping away the games sweat.
"Hey, nice playin' out there," Kobe Bryant said, walking next to Christopher. "Ya play tough kid."
"Thanks," Christopher replied with a small grin. Kobe patted him on the back and jogged to the bench. Christopher smiled. He wasn't sure if he'd ever get used to the fact that he was playing with Kobe Bryant.
Except for the fact that the Lakers were behind, the night was going just as he'd hoped. Phylicia was here with him, safe and sound, and there was no sign of Brian. Now, if we can just light a fire under our asses this night will be perfect, he thought
"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, I have something I'd like to say..." Christopher's back went rigid as he heard Brian's unmistakable voice over the loudspeaker.
"Hey!" Shaq yelled across the bench. "Some dumb ass kid has taken over the half-time show!"
"This had better be good!" Rick Fox yelled back. Christopher turned and looked at his sister. Her face was all lit up like a Christmas tree and she had the biggest smile on her face imaginable.
"I, uh, would like to sing something to someone I love," Brian's voiced echoed through the now quiet Staples Center. Kobe walked up beside Christopher.
"Who is this asshole and what in the hell does he think he's doing?" Kobe asked, taking a drink of Gatorade. Christopher just shrugged, too afraid to speak.
"I wanted to prove it to the whole world, so if you could please listen. I'm only asking for about three minutes if your time," Brian said. His voice could be heard echoing thousands of times, as the sell-out crowd was completely silent.
"Great. Another lovesick freak that wants to make his girlfriend feel special. I'm heading for the locker rooms, man. Are you coming?" Kobe asked. Christopher shook his head and Kobe, along with the rest of the team, headed for the locker room.
Christopher's palms began to sweat. He didn't really think Brian would go through with it. He felt his whole world spinning. He sat down on the bench and listened. Brian began to sing a beautiful song over the PA system. Although it was short, the words that reached Christopher's ears left him speechless.
I don't know if you can hear me, or if you're even there. I don't know if you would listen to my silent prayer. Yes, I know I'm just a man and I shouldn't love you. But, still I see your face and wonder...Do you love me too? I've asked for wealth, I've asked for fame. I've asked for glory to shine on my name. I've asked for love I can't posses...I've asked for God and his people to bless me. I ask for nothing that I can get by, but I know what I need so deep inside. So here I am to say this, to prove it to you...Now, I ask for nothing except to love you.
The song ended, leaving the crowd silent for a moment. "Thank you," Brian said and all was quiet again. A cheer went up around Christopher as he broke into tears.
Chapter Twenty - Winning Shot
Brian felt pride surge through himself as he heard the crowd cheer. I did it! he thought.
"Hey, nice vocals. Haven't I heard or seen you before?" the man next to him said.
"Maybe. I am famous," Brian replied.
"Yeah, well if you weren't before, you are now," the man said. All Brian could do was smile. Brian sat in the box until the start of the fourth quarter. The Lakers were winning again by that point, ninety-four to seventy-six.
He ran from the box and to the locker room hallway. He wanted to see Christopher as soon as the game ended so he could get his approval. He was sure he'd won this time.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps coming towards him. The game was about ten minutes from being over, so it couldn't have been a player. He looked around for somewhere to hide. If security caught him now, he'd be thrown out for sure. He was sure that the security in the announcer’s box was much kinder than the security down on this level.
He was about to dive into a nearby trash can when someone turned the corner. Brian jumped into the can, already knowing he'd been seen. Well, that's it then, he thought sadly. All this hard work to go to jail for trespassing.
As he waited for a big, bulky security guard to yank him out of the empty garbage can and throw handcuffs on him, he heard a giggle from above him. He looked up and saw Phylicia smiling back down at him.
"You trying to hide from me?" she asked lightly. Brian stood up and grabbed her around the waist. He pressed his lips against hers, feeling totally content. His whole world had just come together and he felt like he was glowing. She pulled away and laughed.
"You're lucky that this trash can was empty. I don't kiss guys who like to hang around in trash cans," she said. Brian smiled at her. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so happy.
"There's just one more thing I must know," she said stepping closer.
"What?" he asked.
"Why did you prove it to me?"
"Well, uh..." he stuttered. She put a finger to his lips and grinned.
"I already knew," she whispered, kissing him again. Suddenly, the buzzer rang, announcing the end of the game. Phylicia turned in Brian's arms.
"The game! Who won?" she asked. Brian pulled her close again.
"I did," he said, She smiled at him and he put his lips against hers. There they embraced as the crowd cheered and purple and yellow confetti dropped from the sky.