The building was quiet as we walked in the doors at Backstreet Productions, although I noticed that there was now a sign at the front noting the business inside. I wondered how things would have turned out differently if that sign had been there yesterday.

I didn't see Kevin around when we got inside, so I stood by Roz as she looked around at the stuff on the walls that had captured my attention the day before. In a few minutes, I heard footsteps coming toward us, and I turned expecting to see Kevin. I felt my eyes widen and I wondered how Roz was going to react, as the guy in front of me said a friendly "Hello." I put out my hand to shake his and said, "Hi, I'm Lisa from Tampa Beat." And then I heard a small gasp from beside me as Roz turned around. "And this is, Roz." I turned slightly so I could see her face, and nudged her with my elbow to bring her back to reality.

"Hi, I'm Brian." I wondered if he realized the reaction he had gotten from Roz. If he had, he should have known he didn't need to introduce himself. "Kev sent me out to see if you were here. He's busy in the studio for a few more minutes." I was sort of surprised to see how little Brian had changed in the two years that he had been out of the spotlight. It was sort of comforting though, to think that maybe we had held the right image of him all along. He still seemed like the same sincere, polite, sweet guy that he had then.

"Oh, okay." He started to wander toward the back of the building, in a sense leading us back there. I finally got up the nerve to say more. "So, what are you doing here?" I paused. "Wait, that doesn't sound right. I don't mean to sound like you can't be here. I just mean, I'm surprised that you're here."

Brian chuckled, and I saw the cute grin that we had seen in so many videos and interviews before they split up. "I'm here for the opening. I decided since I was a silent partner I'd come check the place out, and hang out with my cousin for a while, before heading back to Kentucky. It's my fault Kev had to ask you to come in later. He didn't tell you?" I shook my head to indicate that he hadn't. I was having trouble paying attention to what he was saying, because I was listening to the Kentucky accent that seemed more noticeable now. I could tell that Roz was still slightly stunned by the fact that we were walking along with Brian. "A couple of the other guys thought about coming in for the opening too, but I don't think they're gonna make it."

"So, you're still in contact with everybody? I mean you all still talk to each other?" I was kind of surprised.

He looked back at me, then glanced at Roz and gave a little smile, because of the intense way that she was listening to him speak. "For a while after we split, we didn't talk to each other much, kind of like we were tired of each other, I guess. But we're still like brothers, really close. We spent a lot of years together so we're not just gonna forget about each other. But we've all got our own lives now."

I just sort of nodded, and turned to Roz to make sure she was still there. Her eyes were sparkling and I could tell that she was really impressed by where we were and more importantly, who we were talking to. We stopped at the chairs where I had talked to Kevin the day before, and Brian said he'd be right back. As soon as he moved away from us, Roz grabbed my arm.

"Oh my gosh! That's B!" she whispered, trying to make sure that he couldn't hear her. I half giggled. I couldn't help but tease her a little.

"Gee, I hadn't noticed." She gave me a look to let me know I didn't need to bother going on. Brian was on his way back towards us anyway. I heard Roz shush me as she noticed him too. From the grin on his face I knew he realized the conversation was about him. "Kev says he'll be out in a few minutes, then he'll take you into the studio for a tour." He sat down in the chair across from where I was standing, so I sat also and Roz looked at me before taking a spot on the couch.

"Okay," I paused, thinking about what to say next. "So, if you don't mind me asking, what have you been doing since you guys broke up?" I hoped I didn't sound too pushy, but I knew Roz was waiting for me to ask the question. She was sure to be wanting all the details.

He looked at me for a second, and said, "Technically, we didn't break up, we're just taking time off. But, you're not going to write anything on me are you? Because I'm not really up for that. Off the record?"

"Oh, of course. I was just curious more than anything." I took a breath and decided I might as well say it now. "I used to be a fan, so I'm kind of interested." I hoped it didn't sound too goofy, but I figured I might as well be honest. Brian grinned and then sighed.

"Well, so far, I haven't done much actually. I've been helping Kev with details about this place, and trying to figure out if I want to go solo or not. Nothing much."

"Actually, he's being modest." Without Brian realizing it, Kevin had come up beside him. "He's been doing a lot of charity stuff with kids that have heart problems like he had. He spends all his time at the hospital helping the kids." I heard Roz kind of sigh from her seat on the couch, and glanced over at her.

I saw Kevin and Brian both look at her too, before Kevin reached out to shake my hand, "Hi again, welcome back. Sorry to keep you waiting." I smiled and then realized I should introduce Roz.

"Oh, Kevin, this is Roz. Roz, Kevin." Roz gave Kevin a short half smile, and I realized she was still nervous.

"Roz, nice to meet you. I saw you at the Aquarius a couple days ago. You sing really well, we could have used you a couple years ago." He smiled and I noticed the color start to rise in Roz's cheeks, while Brian looked back and forth between them in confusion. I wondered if either of them were going to clue him in, and then Roz spoke.

"Thanks, I guess." She glanced at Brian, and her face got a bit more pink, as she explained. "I sang As Long As You Love Me for my first song. It was the first one that I could think of that I remember all the words and the music for right away." Kevin must have noticed her embarrassment, because he changed the subject quickly.

"I'll give you a tour of the studio before anybody gets here, if you want." Roz turned to me, and I turned towards Kevin.

"That would be great." Roz nodded, and Kevin motioned for us to follow him and Brian followed behind us.

When we got into the actual studio, Roz got really interested. "Lex, look at all this stuff. Isn't it cool?" I had to admit that I found it interesting. But I was more amused by the look that passed between Kevin and Brian every time Roz called me Lex. I knew they had to be confused; most people were until they heard the story, and I had told the story more times than I could count. As we headed back to where we had been sitting, Roz suddenly grabbed my arm. "Look at the posters, and the stuff. Look Lexi, there's SO much stuff." I sort of laughed as I looked at the wall full of Backstreet memorabilia. There was everything that I had ever seen there, plus more. I didn't get the chance to look at much of it though, before Brian spoke up.

"I have to ask this, I've been wondering since you got here. Why does she call you Lex? I've been trying to figure it out." I smiled, and sighed.

"It's a long story, are you sure you wanna hear this? It's not really interesting." I heard Roz laugh; to her it seemed relevant to them, even though originally it wasn't anything to do with it at all. "OK, fine, before Miss Blabbermouth over here goes and tells the story wrong. Basically, it started when my friend and I wanted to go into a baseball chat room together, and we needed a screen name. We were really into the Toronto Blue Jays, and her favorite player was Shawn Green, and mine was Alex Gonzalez, so we took the SHA from Shawn and the LEX from Alex, and created ShaLex. Her nickname was Sha, mine was Lex. It just sort of got to be the name I used on the net, and since I originally met Roz through an internet site, that's what she calls me." I paused to make sure they were following the story, and Brian interrupted.

"So, it's for baseball? That's how you got that nickname?" I kind of shrugged.

"Yeah, that's pretty much it. It kind of stuck around, because I seem to have a thing for guys named Alexander. I find them everywhere. It's really weird." We had moved back to the area we had been sitting in before by then, and Kevin interrupted.

"So, let me take a wild guess here. You said you were a fan, right? So AJ was your favorite?"

I felt myself blush, and I nodded, before mumbling, "In the beginning anyway." I glared at Roz as she mumbled something about Alexander Scott Gonzalez, emphasizing his middle name, my other trend in names, loud enough that I thought they could hear her. Before any other questions could be asked, I continued. "Hold on though. Let me defend myself. I didn't know what his name was when I first saw you guys. My friend just held up the CD case and said �Choose one' so I did. Then she told me his name was AJ." I stopped and shook my head. "It's kind of funny because I told her that I'd bet any amount of money his name would be Alexander something. I even suggested it would be Alexander James, which totally blew my mind a couple of months later when she actually told me what his name was." I glanced up at the them and then to the floor, before I heard them chuckle. I could tell the more I talked the more amusing the story was. I looked toward Roz for her help, but she just shrugged. "So are you done laughing at me now? That's like the whole Lex story. You can call me Lex or Lisa I don't care. Just be consistent, no switching between the two."

"Okay, okay." Brian chuckled again. "Moving on." He turned toward Roz. "So you're the one who sang last night. I wanna hear this." Roz turned toward me with a look on her face that said �you've got to be kidding.' I shrugged at her this time.

"Um, right now? I don't think . . . "

"Hold up, how about if I start? Then you can join in. Alright?" Roz hesitated before nodding, and Brian said "Okay. Give me a minute. I have to remember the beginning."

Not thinking, I looked up and said "Huh? You don't remember?" Roz looked at me and rolled her eyes, as if to say �I can't believe you.'

"I didn't sing the beginning, I started with the second verse."

"Oh, duh, I knew that. I'm just a moron." I paused. "But why not just start with the part you sang?" Kevin glanced at me.

"Just what we need, a woman with a plan." I glared at him for being sarcastic, when I was still being so careful about what I said. When Brian stopped laughing, he paused a second before humming the first few lines of the song. He glanced up at Roz, "You ready now?" She could only nod. "Just the chorus, alright?" Again she nodded. "You know you're going to have to say something eventually." She giggled, and Brian started. She joined in on the second line, and then I saw Kevin shrug and added his part. I applauded as they finished and turned as I heard someone else clapping behind me. My eyes widened as I saw who had come in. I heard Roz's now familiar gasp of surprise.

"Rozzie!" I hushed under my breath, but really I was as surprised as she was. From what Brian had said none of the rest of the �guys' were going to show up. And yet, the one I would have least expected to show up, had. There in the doorway was Howie.

"D! You made it!" Kevin went over to him and Brian followed behind him.

"Hey guys. I couldn't miss this. It's finally the big night, huh, Kev?" I saw Kevin nod and motion toward us.

"D, this is Lisa. She writes for Tampa Beat, and Roz. She's going to be a big star one day." Both Roz and I waved and smiled and Howie did the same. Then the guys faded into their own conversation. Roz and I shared a look of amazement before Howie included me in the conversation.

"So, you're writing on Kevin and the company, huh? What do you think?" I started explaining my thoughts as I noticed other guests arriving. By the time I had finished talking with Howie, the party was just getting into full swing.

"Excuse me. Everybody." I felt Roz glance at me with a smirk, and then do a little mini dance step, and mouth the words "Rock your body" as Kevin started to make his speech. "I appreciate everyone's attendance tonight and your support while I built the company. Thank you. I hope you all enjoy yourselves tonight." He paused, "So, go, have a good time."

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