Rich nodded, "It's rather freaky."
"We're here," the limo driver said.
J opened the door and climbed out, sticking his hand out for Nikki and then the rest of them followed. They entered the door to the studio and stopped that front desk.
"Where should we go for MTV 1515?" J asked the lady working at the desk.
"Straight down that hall, fourth door on the right," she said, pointing to the hall.
"Where should I go for Total Request Live?" Jessica asked her.
"Third door on the right, over there," the lady pointed to a row of doors on her left.
"Bye guys," Jessica said. She hugged Nikki. "I'll call you tonight, okay?"
"You better!" Nikki said, hugging back.
They split up, Jessica heading to Total Request Live and Five and Nikki heading to MTV 1515.
Jessica opened the door and entered the backstage area, jogging over to where her bandmates were standing. "Hey guys," she said.
"Jess!" Kelli exclaimed, her blonde hair swinging around her shoulders as she spun around. "Where've you been?!"
"I was talking to Nikki where she's teaching now. Did y'all know that she's dating J from Five? They're gonna announce it on MTV 1515! I'm so happy for them!" Jessica said hurriedly.
"You got to talk to Five?!" Kristen squealed. She was the most boy-crazy of the five.
Jessica nodded. "They're really sweet. They're taping MTV 1515 now. I came over with them."
"That's so awesome!" Caitlin said.
"So, am I late?" Jessica asked.
"Nope, you're fifteen minutes early. *N Sync's not even here yet," Lauren assured her.
"Good," Jessica said.
The five of them started their physical and vocal warm ups. They finished their physical, then their vocal, then began to sing 'Castles In The Sky' a cappella, not even noticing when six people walked into the studio.
They started out together singing the chorus, "So, here we are, at the start of this road. Together building castles in the sky. Words, we don't need, without you I don't breathe. Forever building castles in the sky."
Jessica took over with the first verse, "Here, my head up in the clouds. I feel, like I'm drifting around. Dreams will come and go. But this is here to stay. We'll stay, forever this way."
Jessica and Kelli sang the bridge together, "Hold me now, hold me now. And say the things you say. Hold me now, hold me now. I pray."
They sang the chorus together again, "So, here we are, at the start of this road. Together building castles in the sky. Words, we don't need, without you I don't breathe. Forever building castles in the sky."
Lauren sang the second verse, "So, softly like a sigh. We'll see, where the seahorses ride. You may come and go. But I'll be here I know. Waiting, forever this way."
They sang the chorus again, "So, here we are, at the start of this road. Together building castles in the sky. Words, we don't need, without you I don't breathe. Forever building castles in the sky."
Jessica sang the third verse, "Turn another page. Our story never fades. I'll dream of you until daylight. Until we're together again."
Jessica and Kelli started off with the bridge again, with Kristen and Caitlin coming in a half a beat behind them, and Lauren repeatedly singing, "Hold me now, hold me now," until the rest of them finished the bridge.
They sang the chorus again, then Jessica started out with the last line, "Forever..."
Lauren and Kelli came in, "...building..."
Caitlin and Kristen followed, "...castles in..."
They all harmonized on the last two words, "...the sky." They smiled at each other as they finished.
The sound of clapping startled them and Jessica jumped in surprise. The five of them whirled around to face the people who were clapping.
Kristen froze in shock as she realized that Carson Daly and *N Sync were standing there. She took a deep breath and looked down at her feet as they approached.
"Hi," Jessica greeted them happily.
Justin just stared at Jessica, not speaking. He had been silent since they'd entered the MTV studio and he had fully comprehended that was going to be doing this show with Midnite Dreamerz, his favorite female group. Jessica was his favorite member, he'd had a crush on her since he'd first seen their album on sale in France while he was looking for a Brian McKnight album. He'd bought several European magazines that had Midnite Dreamerz on the cover, along with their CD, and a poster of Jessica graced his bunk on the tour bus. He had it covered with his pillows during the day, but when it was night and he was alone in the bunk, he moved his pillows to the opposite end and laid down so that he could look at the poster while he worked on other things. Justin was the only member of the group, other than JC who knew who Midnite Dreamerz were. JC had had a crush on Kelli since he'd found one of the magazines with them on the cover in Justin's bunk. JC didn't know that Justin knew he had a poster of Kelli up in his bunk, just like Justin had one of Jessica. They both hid them so that they wouldn't be teased by the other guys.
"Hi Carson," Kelli said. "Thanks for having us on the show."
"You're welcome," Carson said. "But from what I heard just now, I don't think you'll have to worry about making it all the way to the top."
"Thanks," Jessica said, smiling. "It's always been one of our dreams to be on Total Request Live."
"One we thought would never happen, but nevertheless, one of our dreams," Caitlin said, speaking up for the first time. The five girls laughed and smiled at each other.
Carson smiled at them, then walked towards the door leading out of the soundproof room into the studio. "I'm going to go on out and introduce the show, then I'll call you girls through the intercom when we're ready to debut your video."
The five of them nodded. "Gotcha." They were familiar with the format from their performances on Top Of The Pops in England.
"Well, since the five of us don't know the five of you, why don't you introduce yourselves and tell us your ages?" Joey suggested.
"Well, I'm Jessica Blackburn and I'm the youngest. I'm 17," Jessica said.
"I'm Kelli Anderson and I'm the second oldest at 21. I'm also Jessica's cousin," Kelli said, smiling.
"I'm Lauren Markson and I'm the second youngest. I'm 18," Lauren introduced herself, smiling shyly at the guys.
"I'm Kristen Caster and I'm the middle child! I'm 20," Kristen said, laughing.
"You're more than just the middle child," Jessica said under hre breath.
"What did you say Jess?" Kristen asked, turning to her.
"Oh, nothing," Jessica said innocently.
"Riiight, and if I believed that, I'd believe that Lauren had a bridge to sell me in South Dakota," Kristen said.
"Why don't you believe me?" Lauren asked with a puppy dog face. "It's such a good deal!"
Chris cracked up laughing. He could tell that he and Lauren were going to get along well. Laurenn grinned at him.
"Okay, well, anyway! I'm Caitlin Hagedorn and I'm the old lady of the group. I'm 23!" Caitlin grinned.
Jessica looked at her groupmates. "On three...one...two..three..."
"Yes mother!" they chorused. Then they started laughing.
Caitlin rolled her eyes, "Watch it my dears. I know your weaknesses...and your secrets!"
Kristen, Lauren, and Kelli immediately shut up. Jessica snickered at them, then turned to *N Sync. "Don't mind us, we're just a little bit nuts today."
"Today?" Caitlin asked. "I thought we were always like this!"
"Ya think?" Lauren asked.
"No, she doesn't do that very often," Jessica cracked, grinning.
"Hey, Baby, hush!" Caitlin said. "Yeah, that's what I think," she said, turning to Lauren and sticking her tongue out.
JC, Joey, Lance, and Chris all laughed. "Who does that remind you of?" Lance asked.
"Justin, Joey, and Chris," JC said, laughing.
Justin, Joey, and Chris simultaneously turned to JC and stuck their tongues out, sending everyone into fits of laughter.
"Well, there's one thing we can say about this," Lauren said. "We're all very similar!"
Chris nodded. "Yup!"
Suddenly they heard Carson's voice from the speaker over the door. "And now, America's newest girl group, Midnite Dreamerz!"
The girls quickly turned and ran through the door. "Yo, what up?" Jessica asked the crowd, waving enthusiastically. They screamed.
The opening music for 'Castles In The Sky' began. "We're here to sing our song 'Castles In The Sky' for you and we hope you like it!" Kelli said as they got into position for their choreography, switching their head mics on.