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» CHAPTER THREE «

Later that afternoon, Jessica and Lauren were back at Lauren’s house getting ready for the concert. Lauren was wearing a white silk top, with a lavender miniskirt. She let her corn-silk colored curls flow down her back, with some cute butterfly clips here and there. Jessica, on the other hand, went for the wild child in her, and was sporting a white plastic sleeveless shirt that accentuated her chest, with a really short lime-green plastic shirt that showed off her curvy legs. She curled her dark hair, put it in an updo with curls at the top, with the red strands of her hair hanging in her face.

They were knockouts. Lauren stared at her reflection in the mirror and grinned. Her sea-green eyes were particularly bright that night. "Maybe they’ll get Nick’s attention," she caught herself hoping. "Oh wait. What are you thinking Lauren? A talented and gorgeous Backstreet Boy falling for YOU? Get real." All those thoughts ran through Lauren’s head, but she shook them out and smiled again. She was determined to have a great night. No negative thoughts were going to bring her down.

Jessica, who was still touching up her makeup in the reflective glass, looked at her and her best friend and boasted, "We are so...so...caliente!(Author’s Note: Spanish for hot)"

"Brag a little, why don’t ya," Lauren teased.

Jessica gave her an innocent look. "Hey, when you got it you got it, so flaunt it!"

Lauren laughed, then said, "Well we should be heading out. We wanna see the opening acts don’t we?" Lauren informed.

"Yeah, let’s go." Jessica agreed.

Nick and the guys had gone back to the hotel to unload and get a little nap, then headed over to the arena. As soon as they arrived, they heard voices directing them to wardrobe and makeup and everything else.

"Maybe that nap will help my energy tonight," Nick murmured. "Cuz I need it." He drudged himself over to wardrobe.

After the guys had gotten their clothes and makeup and everything, it was almost showtime. While the opening acts were finishing up, they got into a circle, said a prayer and then their famous chant. Brian, Kev, and Howie kissed their girls, then grabbed the other guys and got in position in the trap doors.

"C’mon guys get pumped," Howie whispered. Nick thought to himself, C’mon Nick. You can do it. Put on a show that your loyal fans will never forget.

Suddenly the music started and the guys popped up. Nick was concentrating on the choreography when suddenly he did a double take. "Nah, it couldn’t be. Lauren and her friend Jessica? In his front row?" he murmured to himself. Nick tried to get a closer look while singing a verse.

"It IS them." he realized. "And boy, does Lauren look beautiful. Like an angel straight from heaven." Concentrate Nick, he scolded himself. He got another look at Lauren though, who was smiling. And that smile nearly made him trip on Howie!

Lauren stared at Nick, almost hypnotized. Everything about him made her almost forget everything she ever knew. His wild blond hair, deep blue eyes, the way his body moved to the music. "He can really sing. AND work that body," she thought.

She turned to look at Jessica. Jessica couldn’t keep her eyes off AJ. He hadn’t noticed Jessica yet, but Jessica didn’t care. She just stared.

AJ did a funky dance move, causing the crowd to cheer. AJ loved it. Pleasing the crowd was his every intention. It made him feel good about himself, and helped him to get into the music more. He didn’t care that they were mostly pre-teens who thought that they were going to marry him. He aimed to please.

AJ turned to wave at the lucky people in the front row. He almost lost his breath when he saw Jessica and Lauren in the crowd. AJ couldn’t believe his luck. Jessica was the most beautiful girl in the region, and she was in his front row. Suddenly AJ felt like it was his own private concert for Jessica, and he was going to do his best to make her want him as much as he wanted her. It was time to get wild.

Nick could barely keep his eyes off the gorgeous blond named Lauren, but played it cool. He was going to keep it a concert. Not a time to check out the ladies. He sung his heart out in his verse, waved at some screaming 12-year-olds. Every now and then he looked down at the front row. Lauren always had a smile on her face, and was grooving to the music. Jessica, he noticed, was grinning almost wickedly at AJ’s floor-humping antics.

A few minutes later, Nick got up there to sing his solo. "Open up, your heart to me, and say what’s on your mind. I know that we have been through so much pain. But I still need you in my life, this tiiiiiimmmmme...." he breathed the verses. "And I need you tonight, I need you right now, I know deep within my heart...it doesn’t matter if it’s wrong or right....cuz I see heaven.....in your....eyes....." Nick trailed off, looking down, almost teary-eyed.

To the crowd, he was just acting, you know, really getting into the music. But he knew in his heart he really did need someone tonight. But was it really Mandy?

Lauren’s eyes grew teary. "What a sweet song. Even if I’m overemotional," she murmured. "And Nick really put his heart and soul into it. I wonder who he needs tonight. And who has heaven in their eyes," Lauren thought.

"Kinda wish it was me," she whispered.

¤ Chapter 4 ¤
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