Sara looked at her watch for the second time in ten seconds. Brian would be there any minute and Sara was a ball of nerves. What should she expect tonight? What should she say or do? Would Brian expect something at the end of the night?

“No, don’t be an idiot,” Sara said softly. “He’s not like that.”

Sara paced the length of the room as she thought about Brian. Tonight, he’d realize that Sara wasn’t the girl for him. That they were better off friends.

“Friends, that’s what we are,” Sara said trying to relax.

“They say talking to yourself is the first step to insanity,” a voice said from behind her. Brian smiled as Sara screamed and turned to face him.

“How did you...what are you...in here?” Sara asked confused.

Brian held up the key and then pulled his wallet out and put it back in one of the pockets.

“Aren’t you suppose to return those, not keep them?” Sara asked putting her hands on her hips.

“Probably but I wasn’t taking any chances this time. You weren’t going to lock me out this time,” Brian said shrugging his shoulders. Brian then noticed what Sara was wearing. “You look beautiful.”

Sara was wearing a pair of light blue flare jeans. She had a pale pink three-quarter-length shirt on. She had on her brown sandals that added an inch or two of height. Her layered blonde hair was curled under around her face. And she wore very little make-up, practically none at all.

Sara blushed. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere.”

Brian chuckled and held out his hand for her to take. “What do you say we get going?”

Sara looked down at his hand and took a deep breath. In what felt like slow motion, she placed her hand in his.

They walked silently to the elevator and Brian was trying to think of something clever to say but what came out of his mouth was definitely not clever.

“I thought we’d have pizza for dinner, unless you want something else.”

Sara smiled. “Pizza is fine, as long as it is cheese.”

“You’re a cheese fan too?” Brian said surprised.

“Is that so shocking? Cheese sticks, grilled cheese, cheese pizza and cheese crackers. They are all so delicious,” Sara said making Brian smile.

Brian waited to say anything until they were out of the hotel and in the cab. “What about macaroni and cheese?”

Sara made a face. “Ew! That’s gross food.”

“It is the best food,” Brian defended the American dish.

The silence was heavy than. The one time Sara prayed she could talk is the one time she had nothing to say.

Brian paid the cab driver and then led Sara into the dimly lit pizza joint.

As soon as they were sitting Brian cleared his throat and Sara glanced at him letting him know he had her complete attention.

“So, you’re from Bemidji. What’s that like, living in northern Minnesota and then moving to Florida?”

Sara groaned inside. He would bring up the one subject that made her think about, well things she didn’t want to talk about. Sara knew he was waiting for an answer but she didn’t know how to begin describing her home town.

“What can I get you?” their waitress said interrupting Sara’s thoughts.

As Brian ordered for them he watched Sara give the waitress a grateful smile. Even knowing that Sara didn’t want to talk about it, Brian wanted, no, needed to know why Bemidji bothered her.

“So?” he asked after the waitress left.

Sara sighed. Brian was not going to change the subject. “Bemidji was a small town. It isn’t really anymore but when I lived there, it was.”

“What was it like growing up there?” Brian asked taking a sip from his glass of coke.

“Safe,” Sara said remembering. “Bemidji is a safe town. Oh, there’s crime and gangs but not like a big city. In Bemidji you could walk around downtown at midnight and not be bothered. Although, I don’t know why you’d want to. You could leave your car unlocked while running into the grocery store. It’s a great town.”

“But you still wanted out,” Brian said thoughtfully.

“I had dreams and Bemidji swallows up dreamers all the time. If you want to get somewhere in life, you had to leave Bemidji.”

“You dreamed of being a singer,” Brian said giving her his little boy grin.

“Actually no,” Sara said smiling. “I wanted to write. Songs, stories, anything. I’ve always been good with words. Writing was and will always be a passion of mine.”

Brian nodded. “That’s like me with music. It’s my life. Well, not my life, but a huge part of it.”

Sara watched him as he went on to talk about his future plans. The dinner passed quickly and they found the nearest park and they continued their conversation.

“Have you ever done something that you regret?” Brian asked as he sat down on a park bench. “Like you wish you could go back in time to change it.”

“Yes,” Sara said thoughtfully. “I think everybody does.”

“What is it?” Brian asked staring at the sky.

“I wish I could go back in time when I excepted my first date. I would have said no,” Sara said shuddering.

Brian chuckled. “I’m serious Sara.”

“I am too.” Sara smiled at the look that Brian gave her. It was a little amusement plus a dash of annoyance. “What’s yours?”

Brian knew that she wasn’t going to answer. “I’d go back in time when I was in high school. I would finish school.”

“You’d finish school instead of joining the Backstreet Boys,” Sara said surprised.

“I love being a Backstreet Boy. But I always wonder what will happen once the Backstreet Boys are no more. I have no schooling besides my diploma for graduating high school,” Brian said softly.

“When the Backstreet Boys are no more,” Sara whispered. “I can’t even imagine it. Your music inspires so many people. Me included.”

“But that day will come,” Brian replied.

Sara stared at him. “You should write songs. I’ve heard your songs and they’re great.”

“What will you do once your singing days are over?” Brian asked.

Sara smiled. “Relax and write of course.”

Brian watched as another couple walked hand in hand on the sidewalk.

“Do you believe in love at first sight?” he found himself asking.

“No,” Sara said. Brian turned to her, he watched as she clasped and unclasped her hands. “I believe in taking a deeper look. Love at first sight is too easy.”

“Very insightful,” Brian said softly.

Sara giggled. “You know what, all day today. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t have any fun tonight. I promised that I would just eat dinner and go home.”

“Guess what,” Brian said smiling.

“What?” Sara asked happily.

“You broke your promise,” Brian said putting his arm around her shoulders.

Sara smiled to herself. Yes she had and she couldn’t decide if that was a bad thing or a good thing.