Chapter 23

We eventually got through the traffic and made it home. We got in the house and we all headed to my room. I turned on my Millennium CD and started to pack. I threw everything I needed or wanted on my bed, while the girls folded it and placed it into my bags. Then I got my most personal items and placed them in my backpack.

"Oh, the interview is going to be on," Stacey reminded us.

We threw my bags on the ground and decided to finish packing later. We sat on the bed and turned on the t.v.. Then we anxiously waited for the interview to begin. It finally came on and all three of us were glued to the t.v.. There were hundreds of fans surrounding the place and the lucky ones inside who got to be apart of the interview.

"So do any of you have a girlfriend?" Carson asked.

"Sorry, but yes I have a girlfriend," Nick said.

"I do too," Brian said.

"Yes," Howie said.

"Oh yeah," A.J. said.

"How about you Kevin?" Carson asked.

Kevin smiled and said, "Yes."

All of the guys turned and looked at him. While Lauren and Stacey looked at me.

"Oh did I forget to mention that little detail," I said smiling.

"Oh, that's just too cute," Lauren said happily.

"Finally!" Stacey exclaimed.

We continued to watch the interview. Once it was over they finished helping me pack. I brought everything I could think of that I needed. After that we decided to get ready for the concert. I figured that I would wear more comfortable clothes this time. I wore my dark blue jean overalls, a white tube top, and my white boot Skechers. I curled my hair and then put it in a clip with little stars around the top.

We loaded my luggage into the car. Then I went back into my room and looked around it one last time. I made sure that I had everything I needed.

'Deja vu,' I thought.

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine. You'll be back," Lauren said.

"Oh, I know. It's just that feeling of leaving," I said.

"But this time you're leaving for a good reason," Lauren explained.

Then Stacey came in wondering why Lauren and I hadn't come back out. "I thought we were leaving?" Stacey asked.

"We are. I'm just a little nervous," I said.

"There's nothing to worry about, you'll be with your man," Stacey said hugging me.

"Oh I'm going to miss you two so much," I said.

"Group hug!" yelled Stacey. Then Lauren came over to me and the three of us hugged each other.

"You've become like sisters to me and I want to thank you," I said.

I let go of them and smiled.

"Stacey, I want to thank you for rescuing me the day we met. If it wasn't for you I don't know where I'd be. And also for being such a wonderful friend," I said. "Lauren, thank you for rescuing me all those nights and these past eight years. You don't know how much you mean to me. Both of you. I love you," I said beginning to cry.

"Oh don't cry. No more tears," Lauren said while hugging me.

"We love you too," Stacey said also hugging me.

We finally let go of each other after we had all been crying. We wiped our eyes and then laughed at each other for being such babies. Then we left our house. We got into my car and put in the CD Backstreet's Back. We sang all of the songs on our way to the arena. We rolled down our windows and blasted the CD. Everyone looked at us like we were crazy. That is until we got closer to the arena where all the Backstreet Fans were. They all smiled and started to sing along.

I found a parking spot and parked the car. We got out and headed towards the food stand. Once we got there we saw Tim all ready waiting for us. We said hi and then led him back to the car. We grabbed my things and he took us in the back way. We went into the guys' dressing room and they were all chillin' out watching t.v..

I dropped my bag and then ran over to Kevin. I jumped into his lap and asked, "Did you miss me?"

"Always," he said smiling.

"Do you think you brought enough stuff?" Brian asked while looking at my luggage.

"What? I've never gone on tour before. How am I supposed to know what I need?" I asked.

"They do have stores along the way," Brian said laughing.

"Shut up, Brian," I said.

"How about we take your things out to the bus?" Kevin asked.

"Not a good idea silly. I don't want hundreds of girls attacking us because you're out there. Tim, the girls, and I can manage," I said hugging him and then getting up.

"Um, Howie, A.J.. I'm going to need to borrow them for a second," I said. The girls looked at me and then got up. "We'll see you after the concert," I said blowing a kiss to Kevin. He pretended to catch it and place it on his lips. Then he blew a kiss back to me.

"Bye, Howie," Lauren said.

"Bye, A.J.," Stacey said.

We picked up my bags and went out to the bus. Once we got to the bus we saw Denise waiting for us.

"Hi, Denise," we said.

"Hi girls," she said.

"You can bring two bags onto the bus. One with your personal things and one with your clothes and of course your make-up and your hair accessories," she said.

I grabbed a suitcase with the clothes I wanted, my backpack with my personal belongings, and a little backpack that had my make-up in it.

"Okay, I have my things," I said.

"Okay Tim, you can take the rest and put them in the storage compartment with the rest of the luggage. Janel, grab your things and we'll get you settled in on the bus," she said.

We grabbed my things and stepped onto the bus. Things were scattered all over the place. "You'll have to excuse the mess. What can I say? Five guys," she said.

We all laughed. "That's okay. I understand," I said.

"It would be cleaner if I was on this bus, but I'm not. The guys and I could never handle it," she said laughing. "All I have to say to you is good luck."

"Oh that's comforting," I said.

"Okay, here's the so called dining room and kitchen. Then here are the bunks and this is the entertainment room," she said giving us a tour of the bus. Then she took us back to the bunks. "Top one on the left is Nick's, then Brian's, and then Howie's is on the bottom because he snores. Top one on the right is Kevin's and then A.J.'s and below is a storage compartment."

"I'm going to look at Kevin's," I said climbing up to it. I opened it and saw that he had pictures of his friends and family. There was an old picture of us as kids, along with his dad and brothers. Then above his head was the cross that I had given him. I smiled and then closed it up and climbed back down. "Well we better get to our seats, the show will be starting soon. Thanks again Denise," I said.

"You're welcome sweetie," she said.

I had an immediate flashback to my mom as I heard her say sweetie. I stared at Denise and remembered the last time I had heard that. It was the last thing my mom said to me.

"Janel?" Lauren said.

"Huh? Yeah, what?" I said.

"Are you okay?" Stacey asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said.

"You just seemed like you were somewhere else," Lauren said.

"Oh no, just thinking. Let's go," I said as I continued to walk off the bus. "Bye Denise."

"Bye girls!" Denise yelled.

We went around to the front of the arena and they were starting to let people in. We slowly made our way through the crowd and to our seats. We sat down and watched the opening acts. Then the lights went out and we stood up and began to scream. Then the guys came out flying and once again landed in front of us. I pulled out a sign that read: Kevin's Shorty right here, with an arrow pointing downwards. I stood on my chair holding it above my head. Kevin looked at me and smiled. I blew him a kiss and then got down.

The rest of the show was incredible, even though I had seen it already. I still cried when he dedicated Back To Your Heart to me. I couldn't control myself. I cried throughout the entire song. Lauren, Stacey, and I had so much fun. We danced, screamed, and sang along with the songs. By the end of the show we were hoarse. Then the guys said good bye to the crowd one last time and disappeared.

We gathered our things and headed backstage. We showed a security guard our passes and he let us through. There we met Tim and he lead us to the dressing room. We walked in and the band was watching t.v. along with Denise. Tim left and closed the door behind him.