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Shown to a seat about 20 rows back on the floor, Jenny watched as Kevin, Brian, Nick, Howie and AJ prepared to begin rehearsals for the day. Coolers of water and stacks of towels were on hand, and the lighting and sound crews were up in their booth, adjusting the different light and sound settings. Just by watching their movements, it was obvious to Jenny that the Boys were nervous. She could only assume that they had practiced for the show many times before, but she knew she was the first “fan” to actually see the show, and undoubtedly they wanted to impress her. After finishing what look like a football huddle in the center of the stage, all five took their positions for the first song.
The pyrotechnics and the screen weren’t going to be used for this dress rehearsal, but Jenny was informed that all the costumes and lighting would be the same as it was to be for all the shows. Just then, music started to play, and Jenny instantly perked up. This was one of her favorite songs of theirs. Sure, she wasn’t what someone would call a fan of the group, but she was definitely a fan of the music. As the beat sped up and slowed down just like from the album, they executed the perfect dance moves. She couldn’t really tell if anyone was messing up or not, for she’d never seen the dance for the song before, but everything appeared to go smoothly, almost as good as their voices. Before she knew it, the song was over, and the next song started up. The rest of the rehearsal went much the same, with mistakes made here and there by the Boys and the crew alike. Jenny wasn’t sure exactly if the rehearsal had gone well according to everybody’s expectations, however, until she saw Nick’s face as he returned to her side. He was all smiles.
“How’d ya like it?” he asked excitedly, handing her an extra water bottle that he had picked up from the cooler. “There ya go…” he added, still waiting for her reply to his question.
“It was awesome! How long have you been having practices like this?” she asked after taking a sip of her water.
“Oh, we started da heavy dancin‘ and singin’ rehearsals several weeks ago. Dat was only for da songs off the new album, though. Some o’ our older songs we only needta practice maybe one er two weeks before da first show. I mean, we’ve been performin’ d’ose songs for years!” Nick answered, both flattered and embarrassed over her praise. “We still have rehearsals for da rest of da week. Then we get Saturday off, and Sunday night kicks off da tour here in Orlando.”
Jenny just listened, taking all the information in. She couldn’t believe they needed that many more rehearsals, as good as it had gone that day. Then again, she knew that problems could come out of nowhere, and that they needed all the preparation that they could get.
“So, Jen, did we kick ass or did we kick ass?!” AJ exclaimed, coming up from behind Nick and grabbing onto his shoulders, scaring the living hell out of him.
“Jesus, Bone! Gonna give him a heart attack! At such a young and tender age, too!” remarked Kevin, laughing to himself as he walked by.
“Nah, Nicky’s my bud. Right, Nicky?” AJ returned.
“NO! I am NOT your bud!” Just then Howie was coming along. “I’m Howie’s bud, aren’t I Howie?” Nick asked, settling his arm around Howie’s shoulders. Howie gave him a half-glare.
“You are most definitely NOT my ‘bud’…” Howie replied, shaking Nick’s arm off of him. "Not after that crack ya made up there on the stage!” Just then, AJ started laughing hysterically. “Hey! It was NOT funny!” Nick and AJ just glanced at each and began to laugh some more.
“Ya know, Howie. Nick’s right. If you’re gonna have long hair like a girl, at least don’t style it like one… the streaks… they just aren’t you,” Brian agreed with Nick and AJ when he finally joined their little group.
“All right guys, enough picking on Howie!” Kevin announced with authority in his voice. Judging by the twinkle in his eye, however, he was just as amused by the jokes. It was already four in the afternoon, though. It was time to get out of that place and either go out and enjoy themselves or rest. “What do you guys wanna do now? Dinner?” Several different restaurants were shouted, one from each boy with Nick repeating several names, not sure what kind of food he was in the mood for.
“I say we just go with Mickey D’s!” AJ suggested.
“Eww, no! I can’t stand McDonald’s food! It’s gross!” Jenny countered, shocking them all, especially AJ. Not like McDonald’s? Wasn’t that breaking some American law or something? Suddenly, Brian had an idea.
“Hey, Age… you think Denise would be up to cooking today?”
“Yeah, she probably wouldn’t mind. I know she has today off.”
“Dat’s a good idea! Maybe we can get’er ta make some of her awesome london broil!” Nick commented, boyish joy gleaming in his eyes.
***********************
Mrs. McLean stared in astonishment at the empty platter on her dining table.
“I cannot believe you ate all that meat!” she exclaimed. Nick, Brian, and AJ responded by leaning back in their chairs and patting their stomachs in unison. Denise and Jenny shared a sigh while AJ’s mother started to clean up the table. Jenny stood up quickly to join her.
“Here, lemme help you out,” Jenny offered, not waiting for Denise’s response. When she used to live back home with her parents, she would always help clear the table and clean up the after the dinner mess. She even did it at her friends’ houses. It was just something she had started doing one day and had made a habit of. The two of them soon had the table cleared, and Jenny was about to start up washing the dishes when Nick came up from behind her.
“Hey, Jen, whada ya doin’?”
“Oh, nothing. Just helping with the dishes.”
“Well, we were hopin’ ta be leavin’ soon…”
“Jenny, dear, you don’t have to wash the dishes!” Denise interrupted when she stepped inside the kitchen, embarrassed that one of her guests was cleaning her dishes. “Let me finish these. You go back to Nick’s house with him and Brian.” Jenny just nodded in reply and stepped aside slightly to allow AJ’s mother room to begin her work on the dishes. As she did, Nick tapped her shoulder and motioned that he was going back into the other room and for her to hurry along soon. She wiped her hands dry with a nearby towel.
“Thank you so much for the dinner, Mrs. McLean. It was delicious. Do you cook for them often?”
“Denise, please. And, no, not really. I’m usually too busy to cook, with running the fan club and all. But when all of us are free, they usually track me down and beg for a meal,” Denise snickered. Jenny smiled in return, imaging the five grown men in the other room begging this small, cute woman standing next to her.
“Well, thanks again. And I hope to see you later!”
“Take care, dear!” Jenny heard the woman say as she entered the other room, just in time to catch the end of another conversation.
“…guys have any plans for tonight?” Kevin was asking Nick.
“Nope. A party is scheduled at mah house for Saturday, but we have no specific evening plans until then. I figured that we would stay in an’ watch movies or somethin’ tonight,” he answered. That’s when they noticed Jenny. “How’s dat sound, Jen? Ya just wanna stay in tonight? Or did you have anythin’ else you’d like ta do while you’re here? I mean, this is kinda your time, with winnin’ da contest and all…”
“Staying in for the night sounds great to me. I still haven’t unpacked, and I know I could use some rest, anyway. Too much has gone on in the last few days,” Jenny agreed. As soon as her last statement was out of her mouth, all five Backstreet Boys gave her the same ironic grin in unison. She just stared at them, curious to know what it was that she’d said and not sure what was going on in their minds.
“Welcome to the Backstreet Schedule!” Howie announced.
Broken Promises