"Hey honey! How was your vacation?" Breanna's mom asked as Breanna stumbled into the door with her two suitcases, laptop, and backpack. She dropped everything in the doorway as she smiled at her mom. "Fun. Let me unpack. I have a lot to tell you and dad. I don't know how but...well, let me unpack." She stated as she dragged her suitcase behind her. Breanna's older brother Alexei dragged the other suitcase. "So, how's it feel to be 21?" He asked her as they entered Breanna's room. "Alex, it feels great!!!" She shouted as he closed the door behind them. "Okay, spill it, Breen! You have that glow about you. I know you know about Christian's death. And supposedly you're all over the internet! All of my friends at school are emailing me saying they've seen your picture with some famous guy, singer, actor, dancer, whatever the hell he is." Alexei stated. "What? Internet? How did they see me?" She asked doing her best to act like she knew nothing. "For a second, I would believe that you have no clue what I'm talking about. Fortunately for me, I am your older brother and I can read you like a book." He said. He wasn't angry. Alexei hardly ever got angry at Breanna. She was his little sister, his baby, even though she was barely 2 years younger than he was. "Okay, I'll tell you everything." She stated as she unzipped her suitcase and pulled out some new dresses. "Okay. I know you're going to tell mom and dad eventually but I want to understand everything you're going to say, everything! That way when they jump down your throat I can back you up." He said. She smiled at him. "Thanks, Alex. I have a lot to tell you. You got a week to listen?" She asked laughing. "Oh shit, Breen! What did you get yourself into while in Vegas? Where was Eve during all of this?" He asked laughing. "Eve was doing the exact same thing, maybe *more*." Breanna said. Alexei was in shock. "Oh God! You're lying!" He laughed at the thought of sweet, innocent Eve out-doing his bad-girl little sister. "No, I'm not. Let me explain. I'll try to sum up a long story. Eve and I stopped at McDonalds on the way to Vegas. We saw some of the hottest guys we've ever seen there but that was the end of it. We talked about how hot they were, ya know, normal girl talk. But that was it cause we figured we'd never see them again. We were wrong. We got to the hotel and they were there. They were also on our floor! Um...well, the one I flipped for at McDonald's felt the same for me. We became friends and quickly lovers. No sex, by the way. We want to wait." Breanna explained to Alexei as he nodded his head in approval. "Yes, I knew about Christian. Michael called and left a message. Howie, the guy I met, helped me through all of that. I realized that I was never in love with Christian. I just felt sorry for him." Breanna said unpacking a nice Versace dress. "I always thought you felt little for him. Wow! Where'd you get that?" Alexei asked pointing to the dress. "I'm not there yet." She stated. "Okay, well go on. This sounds interesting." Alexei said. "Anyway, Eve fell in love with one of Howie's best friends, Kevin. AJ, the other friend was playing cupid for Howie and Kevin. AJ had his own girlfriend. Brian and Nick, the *other* friends had girlfriends back home." She kept explaining. "Back home would be?" Alexei asked. "Let me finish! Then ask as many questions as you'd like." She told him. "So, I was with Howie and Eve was with Kevin. We didn't know anything about these guys. They were good looking, funny, sweet, caring, and they were all incredibly close with each other. Like brothers, almost. Eve and I got suspicious when we noticed that the guys were on a tight schedule, were secretive, and had bodyguards. For my birthday the guys invited me and Eve to a concert. We had the best seats. Front and Center. They told us they would be late so not to worry. We got to the concert and it was them performing! Basically I fell in love with Howie before I knew he was famous and he spoils me and loves me just as much." Breanna said smiling as she held out her wrist for her brother to see the bracelet. "Okay..now I get to ask you a few things. Who is he, who are they? Where does he live? The dress?" Alexei asked as he hung up a few of her new outfits for her. Breanna laughed at his attempt to coordinate her outfits in the closet. "Men!" Breanna thought as she answered her brothers questions. "He is part of the Backstreet Boys. He lives in Orlando, where Eve and I will be moving for school in May, and he took me shopping a few times." Breanna summed up everything. Alexei sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed. "I dunno about this, Breen." "Please, just try to understand." Breanna stated as she hit play on her answering machine. "Hey Breen, we just arrived in Orlando. I can't believe I miss you this much already. This is nuts, it's barely been a week. What are we doing." Howie said as he laughed. "Anyway, I just wanted to call and tell you that I love you, I miss you and I pray you arrive home safely. God, I miss you." He stated quietly. "I'll try your cellphone. I love you. Bye!" He said as he hung up. Breanna had tears in her eyes. "Oh, Breen don't cry!" Alexei said as he got off the edge of her bed to hug her. "I know. I just miss him." She said with a smile. "I can see that and I can hear that in his voice. Considering I'm a man, I know what another man means when he talks to a woman and it's so obvious that you have him wrapped around your finger. I just want you to make choices in your life for you, not based on him or his life. Okay?" Alexei asked as he grabbed ahold of her shoulders, pushing his sister away from his chest so she could see his eyes. She nodded. "Okay, now with mom and dad." Alexei said with a laugh and sigh. "Oh don't scare me! I have no clue *what* I'm going to tell them. Especially dad!" Breanna stated as Alexei laughed.

After unpacking her suitcases she took out her laptop. "Wanna see a few pictures of us?" Breanna asked Alexei. "Yeah! I wanna see who this man is. The guy who stole my sisters heart." Alexei teased. "Geez, you're acting like I'm in love or something!" Breanna said smiling. Alexei only blew his hair out of his face while he rolled his eyes. "Hey ya know, you kinda look like Nick?" Breanna told her brother. "Is Nick 23, tall, and blonde?" Alexei asked nudging his sister in the ribs as they sat on her bed waiting for the laptop to load. "Haha! Well, tall and blonde but only 20." Breanna explained. After another few minutes Breanna signed onto the internet and checked her mail. "200 messages, Breen?" Alexei asked in shock. "Yeah, I'm guessing most of them are attachments. Photos of me and Howie that my friends have found all over the internet." She was right. "Claire from one of my business classes has sent me 20 photos! I'll look at this one first." Breanna said clicking on the photo with the subject "This is absolutely adorable!" Breanna downloaded it as Alexei sighed with a smile on his face. "Okay, I approve even though it's hard for me to say that. So, what are you going to tell mom and dad?" "That's the hard part, Lex." She said as she signed off the internet. "C'mon. I'll help you with them, k?" Alexei promised as he handed Breanna his hand to help her off the bed. "Well, no matter what they say I'm gonna stay with him." She stated to Alexei as he nodded his head. His sister was one stubborn woman and he had to admit that any man who could handle her had to be a good guy. She was definitely not easy to deal with especially when she had her head set on something.

Breanna and Alexei walked into the living room where her parents were sitting on the couch discussing the war raging in Europe. "Hey mom...dad. I think Breanna has something to tell you." Alexei stated as he plopped down in the nearest lounge chair. Breanna walked over to the same chair and sat on the edge of the arm facing her parents. "What's the story?" Her father asked smiling to his daughter. "Well, I know what happened to Christian. I knew since I left for Las Vegas. It hurt for a day or two before I realized that I think I was never truly in love with him. Anyway, that's not what I have to talk to you about. Um...well, I'll just be honest. If you don't agree with me or are against this totally, I'm still going to do it. But, you already know that." Breanna stated as her parents nodded their head. "You're stubborn." Her mom smiled. "Yeah, I know. Okay, basically I met someone in Vegas. So did Eve. Actually, both guys are best friends. It's just a coincidence that they live in Orlando. Anyway, I'm in love with him. More than I ever felt for Christian and I just want you both to support me on this one." Breanna said with a shy smile. Her mom didn't say anything. She wore an expressionless mask. "Well, we'd like to meet this young man." Her father stated. "You will. He'll be flying out to visit me whenever he gets a break from the studio." She informed her parents. "Studio? What does he do? What's his name? How old is he?" Her father asked. "His name is Howie, he's a singer in a group and he's 25." Breanna stated. "A singer? Isn't that an unstable profession?" Her father asked concerned. Alexei laughed while Breanna elbowed him. "No, well not for him anyway. He's very stable financially." Breanna informed her parents as Alexei got up to walk out of the living room. "I'll be right back." He informed the room. "Just to let you know, and I've had this discussion with Alexei already, I am not going to alter my life plans or choices just because of Howie. He wouldn't let me, anyway." Breanna stated as Alexei walked back into the room with Breanna's new Versace dress. "Wow! Who's is that? You're not planning to dress in drag and walk down Third Street Promenade with the rest of the freaks, are you Lex?" Alexei's father asked laughing. "No dad. That place is too high class. I was thinking of walking the Sunset Strip. It's lovely isn't it?" Alexei said placing the dress against his body and swaying around like he was a woman as Breanna laughed. "That's a beautiful dress." Breanna's mom commented to her. "Yes, and it has a beautiful price tag as well." Alexei added. "$3900!" He stated. "Wow! So, did this new love buy this for you?" Her dad asked. "Yes, but he picked it out while I was sleeping. Me, Eve, and the rest of our friends had a long night at the dance club. He woke up early and bought it for me as a surprise. I haven't had a chance to wear it yet." Breanna said smiling. "So, he has money. He spoils you. He's successful. Great! Does he love you?" Her father asked. "More than you know!" Alexei stated as he placed the dress on the couch arm. "How would you know?" His mother asked. "He left a message on Breanna's machine. I know the voice we men use when we're in love. And mom, he's got it *bad*." Alexei teased. "So, you're happy? Even with Christian's death?" Breanna's mom asked. "Yes mom. I'm having a harder time dealing with his fans but I've gotten used to it." She informed her parents as she got up to put the dress away. "Fans? Exactly how successful is he?" Her father asked. "Dad, dad, dad. You'll be surprised. Their first US release sold more than 10 million albums in the US alone. Their second US CD sold over 500,000 copies in it's first day of release and it went on to break Billboards record of the most sold in one week!" Alexei stated as Breanna shot him a shocked look. "You didn't know?" He asked her. "No! How did you know?" She asked him. "While you were gone having a good time I did a little research on your man." Alexei stated. "I thought you didn't know anything." She said. "I did. I just wanted to see if you would lie to me or not. Anyway, everything I found out was positive. The guy has a good reputation and he's the 'favorite' of the group in the eyes of most interviewers." Alexei was proud of the man his little sister had found. "Well, I don't care what or who he is. I want to meet him. When is he coming to town?" Her father asked. "I don't know. Before cousin Elena's birthday. She's a huge fan of his and he said he would sing to her at her birthday party." Breanna stated. Her father nodded his head. Breanna jumped up all of a sudden when she heard her phone ringing in her bedroom. "That's Howie. I gotta go!" She said as she kissed her parents on the cheek and ran to her room.