All the way back to the apartment, I thought about how I'd explain this to Roz. She would be so stunned. Hell, I was still stunned and I was there. I realized I was humming my favorite Backstreet song as I opened the apartment door. "Rozzie! I have some big news!" I was greeted by silence. "Rozzie!!" Suddenly she came running into the hallway.

"Lexi, you're home. I'll be back in a few minutes. You can tell me your news then okay?" I looked at her. "I swear, I'll be right back. I have to show somebody this." She waved a picture at me. "Right back." She ran out the door. I sighed as I shut the apartment door and walked into the living room. The news would just have to wait. As I started down the short hallway to my room, my cell phone rang from my camera bag.

At first I wondered who would be calling on my cell, then I got worried because Roz had hurried away. Maybe there was an emergency. "Hello?" I was surprised and somewhat relieved to hear the deep voice that was now easily recognizable on the end of the line.

"Lisa? Hi, it's Kevin Richardson. Backstreet Productions. I was wondering if you could get here a bit later than we had planned. I've had a few things come up." I was still trying to deal with the fact that he'd called me, and I paused before responding.

"Um, yeah. That shouldn't be a problem. Like, how much later?" I was sure I sounded incredibly unprofessional. But I couldn't help it.

"I was thinking about 5:30, because I've got somebody in the studio at 5:00." I nodded and then realized he couldn't see me nodding so I said that would be fine. He thanked me, and apologized for the inconvenience. Then he paused.

"You were at the Aquarius last night, weren't you? It was your friend who volunteered at the end?" I was suddenly almost speechless.

"Oh my gawd! It was you that I saw. That was my friend, Roz."

"She was good, especially for not being prepared. If she's interested you should bring her along too. I'd like to meet her." I told him I'd talk to her about it, even though I knew she'd be ecstatic at the thought. He apologized again for the change and said he'd see me tomorrow.

I sat down at my computer and tried to write. I stared at the screen for about half an hour, trying to start my article on Backstreet Productions, before I realized that I had the biggest case of writer's block that I had ever experienced. I couldn't get past the fact that he used to be part of the Backstreet Boys. It just wasn't working. And I didn't want to use that as the hook to the story. I really didn't want to place the success of my story on the fact that so many of their fans were still looking for any information they could find about the Boys. So I put the notes away and flopped in front of the TV. I surfed around the stations a couple of times, and then I heard the apartment door open and close and Roz came running into the room.

"So, what's up, girl? What's so important?" I sighed and tried to think of how to tell her who I had interviewed.

"Where do I start? How about with the Kevin guy that I had to interview... You'll never guess who he actually is. The company is called Backstreet Productions." I saw her eyebrows squinch together like she was confused. "His name is Kevin Richardson." Recognition suddenly struck her.

"Oh my gosh! You've got to be kidding!"

"I'm not kidding at all. Plus there's more so shush!" I waited a minute for her to calm down. "He was at the club last night. He heard you sing." I saw the color drain from her face as she realized the first song that she had sung. "Don't worry, I'm going back tomorrow, and you're invited to come along as well." Her eyes widened and I knew that she wouldn't refuse the invitation. I also knew I wouldn't be getting anymore work done tonight. There was a pause, and then Roz poked me in the arm.

"You know, it's not so pathetic, since you're getting to do the interview that you hoped to do years ago." I looked at her, puzzled. "You said we were pathetic before, for talking about the Boys. Well, we're not really, since you're doing an article on one of them." I shrugged and kind of smiled. I guessed not.

Roz talked non-stop all night, about how she was going to meet Kevin. I was tired heading into work that day, but I knew I'd have lots to do to keep me awake. First thing was to write the Backstreet Productions article.

I was kind of concerned when I found a note on my desk from Dave saying that he wanted to talk to me right away. I carefully put my stuff down at my desk, and headed to his office. Knocking on the door, I took a deep breath and entered when I heard him call.

"Lisa, thanks for coming right in. I just wanted to talk about that story I sent you on yesterday. How did it go?" I couldn't help asking the question that had been on my mind since recognizing Kevin.

"Why didn't you tell me it was Kevin Richardson, that used to be with the Backstreet Boys? That's why you sent me on that story, isn't it?" Dave grinned.

"Honestly, I didn't even think about him having been with the group. I've known Kevin since before that. Met him shortly after he came out to Florida actually. But I guess you were a pretty good choice for the story for that reason. You must have been a fan." I looked at the floor and nodded. "So, it went pretty well, huh?" I nodded again.

"Mm hmm. I have to go back tonight, for the Grand Opening." Dave nodded.

"Good. Good stuff. I think that you can have this as your exclusive contact. Pending the article anyway. But I'm sure it will be a good one. Good to hear it." He looked like the meeting was over, and I was getting up to leave, as he spoke again. "I heard about you talking to Amber yesterday too, by the way. What's the deal with her?" I sort of shrugged.

"No deal. I just don't get along with her very well. She's too clingy. Reminds me too much of myself in high school." I knew as Dave smiled that wouldn't be a problem anymore.

"I'll keep that in mind. Now go write something." He made the motion of shooing me out of the room.

The rest of the day was uneventful except for Amber going out of her way to avoid me. I really didn't mind, because it gave me time to get the Backstreet article nearly done. At around 4:00 I packed up my stuff and headed home to pick up Roz.

She was waiting for me when I walked in the apartment and she was still as hyper as she had been last night. She was barely patient enough for me to clean up and change before she started bugging about leaving.

"Rozzie, calm down a little, huh? You're making me nervous, and I've already been through this once."

"Sorry, just excited. What time are we supposed to be there? You said around 5:00 right?" I nodded in answer to her question, and went through my camera bag to make sure I had everything I was going to need.

"Okay, okay, let's go. You're going to drive me nuts otherwise."

"I'll be good, I promise." She giggled, and I knew that wouldn't last for long.

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