Kevin:

 

            The next day Howie, Lauryn, and I were at the studio. The light in Lauryn’s eyes shined brightly as I led her into the recording booth. She was like a child, giddy with excitement. At long last she was fulfilling the dream she thought would never happen. Both Howie and I were surprised at how quickly she learned the words, the melody, everything about the songs he and I had penned long ago. Lauryn was anxious to begin laying the first track of her first, but not last, album. And both Howie and I knew that she would be ready to release it in a matter of months. She was ready to begin a career in the hectic world of show business and she attacked it with vigor and determination.

            In the early afternoon, the former Backstreet band arrived at the studio to play the background tracks for Lauryn. Howie and I had made a few phone calls the night before and the band graciously accepted the deal we had offered them. They agreed to record the tracks and then even go on tour with Lauryn when the album finally released. Howie and I concentrated for most of the afternoon on the band and by dusk, we finally got to hear how Lauryn’s voice would sound with the finished music. Even if it only was the first song of many to come.

            I gazed through the tinted glass at my love as she sang the words I had written. Her small hands gently cupped the earphones, her lips delicately brushing the filter in front of the microphone. Her eyes closed as she brought utter meaning to my heart felt words. And I felt tears of love, happiness, and bliss begin to cascade down my cheeks. Howie gazed at me with wonderment. “What?” I asked non-chalantly, quickly wiping away the tears that had zigzagged down my face.

            “I wish I had what you did. You really are in love with her. And I’m envious,” Howie said with a smile. I just smiled back. I didn’t know what to say. He was right. I loved her with cells I didn’t even know existed in my body. She was my angel.

            By midnight, the first song was nearly complete. Only the mixing was left. We would go through more processes like this over the next few weeks until we decided on which song would be released as her first single. Lauryn opened the studio door. “How did it go?” she asked with semi-concern.

            I rose to my feet and kissed her lightly. “You were perfect. Tomorrow Howie and I will start the mixing and editing processes. That’s nothing you need to worry about though. We’ll handle that,” I replied with a smirk and wink.

            “Thank you, Howie. For believing that I would make a good candidate for your record company,” Lauryn stated, kissing Howie’s cheek tenderly. Howie blushed slightly.

            “If it weren’t for Kevin, Hevin-D would never have started,” Howie said.

            Lauryn kissed me sweetly, her tongue gently grazing across mine. “Thank you,” Lauryn whispered as she hugged me, burying her face in the crook of my neck.

 

Shea:

 

            “Well, that’s it,” Brian stated, sighing heavily as we loaded the last of his belongings into the U-haul. He slammed the doors closed and dusted his hands off on his Dockers before shoving them deep into his coat pockets.

            “Do you know where you’re going yet?” I questioned, wrapping the blanket tighter around Tristan to protect him from the crisp December air.

            “No. Not yet. Thought I might try Kentucky again. Or maybe Florida. Who knows, but you’ll be the first person I call when I finally settle on a place,” he assured me. I sighed a sigh of relief. I couldn’t help but feel a yearning in my heart, begging me to plead with him to stay. But he couldn’t. I knew he was right. Tristan and I were fine now.

            “I hope you find what you’re looking for,” I stated solemnly.

            “Me too,” Brian replied. Brian pulled Tristan out of my arms and to his chest. “Treat your mama well, okay Buddy?” Brian said to him. Tristan gazed up at him with his big blue eyes and giggled through the smile that crossed his chubby cheeks. Brian kissed his rosy skin and returned him to my arms.

            “I’ll call you,” he said, kissing me lightly before climbing into the driver’s seat of the U-haul. I waved as he pulled away from the curb. Tristan and I stood on the sidewalk and watched as the only father Tristan had ever known and my best friend drove further and further away from us. The tears stung my eyes and grew cold on my cheeks as they fell. When the U-haul could no longer be seen, Tristan and I turned away and headed back up to the apartment.

 

            Friday came. Lauryn’s big night and mine as well. My first official date with AJ I woke with butterflies flapping wildly about in my stomach in nervous anticipation. I couldn’t believe how nervous I was about this date. Was it because I hadn’t had a date in over a year? Or was it because the date was with AJ?

            At four o’clock, a knock at my door echoed through the apartment. When I opened the door, there stood Madame DuBois. “Where’s the little baby?” she cooed through her accent.

            “Thank you for watching him, Madame,” I said with a smile. “Tristan is actually sleeping in the play pen right now. He hasn’t been sleeping like he used to since Brian   left,” I explained, fastening the earring into my right ear.                                        

            “How are you handling his leaving?” Madame DuBois questioned, staring deeply into my eyes with her own rich brown motherly ones.

            “I’m fine, Madame. We’ll be fine,” I assured her with a smile. She smiled back and made her way over to Tristan’s playpen. She leaned against the side and watched my sleeping son, stroking his delicate baby skin softly with her long, wrinkled fore finger. He stirred under her touch.

            An hour later, another knock sounded at my door. I opened the door to see AJ looking suave and debonair in a black pin stripe suit, his face freshly shaven and his blond-tipped hair slicked back. I smiled at his black painted fingernails and big brown eyes hidden behind designer frames.  “AJ,” I gasped, “you look incredible.”

            “I know,” he said smugly, adjusting his tie.

            I slapped his arm playfully. “Jerk!” I muttered, rolling my eyes at him.

            “Oh, I’m sorry. What I meant to say was ‘You look beautiful, Shea,’” he whispered huskily, leaning forward and grazing his soft lips across my cheek.

            I felt the blood rising in my neck to inflame my cheeks. “Thank you, AJ,” I managed to squeak out.

            “Shall we?” AJ asked, offering his arm to me.

            I clutched my handbag in my left hand and walked over to where Madame DuBois rocked my sleeping son as she sang French lullabies softly to him. I caressed hi hair and placed a gentle kiss on his delicate cheek. “I’ll be back late,” I said to Madame.

            “Have a good time, Shea,” Madame replied. I looped my arms through AJ’s and he led me down the stairs to the biting cold outside.

 

AJ:

 

            I sat across from her in the back of the ebony stretch limo, watching her lazily kick her foot. Her left knee crossed over her right, exposing both her golden legs through the slit up her strapless black velvet gown. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, so enchanted by her every move, her every breath.

            “What are you staring at?” Shea questioned softly, breaking me from the trance that she had put me in.

            A gentle smile crossed my lips. “The most beautiful woman in the world,” I replied, taking her hand in mine and kissing the knuckles lightly. She turned her face away in mild embarrassment, a huge smile spread across her face. I crossed the limo and sat beside her. I put my fingers under her chin and lifted her face to look at me. “I mean it,” I whispered. Slowly, I leaned toward her. I watched her eyes flutter close as she, too, leaned toward me. Our lips brushed each other’s softly. I opened my eyes to see her at the same moment she did the same. I chuckled quietly as I leaned in again. Her lips were sweet, tasting of fresh fruit on a summer’s day. My thumb caressed the side of her neck tenderly as the kiss deepened. I pulled my lips from hers and kissed the silken flesh under my thumb. Her hand cupped my cheek as I kissed down her neck and nibbled her bare shoulder. We completely lost ourselves in the moment. Forgetting where we were and where we were going.

            I felt the limo pull to a stop and saw the cameras flashing away outside. I straightened my tie and slicked back my hair as the chauffeur opened the door for Shea and me. I stepped out, the flashbulbs from the cameras blinding me momentarily. I reached my hand in and helped out of the limo. She smiled grandly to photographers as I escorted her up the red carpet into the gallant building before us.

            I spotted Kevin and Howie sipping champagne at the bar with an elderly woman. I whistled across the lobby and three heads turned in our direction. “Hey, guys,” I said, shaking their hands.

            “Hey, AJ. Shea,” Kevin said back, kissing Shea’s cheek lightly. He knocked back the last of the champagne in his glass and set it on the bar. “Can I get another, please?” he asked the bartender.

            “Kev, honey, don’t drink too much,” the dark-haired woman at his side said.

            “I’m nervous. Cut me a little slack,” Kevin replied, defending his fifth glass of bubbly. “Shea,” he began, turning to me, “I don’t think you’ve met my mom Anne,” Kevin stated in a half-question, gesturing to the elderly woman on his arm.

            “Hello, Anne,” Shea said with a smile. Anne smiled in return.

            “Hi, Mom!” I said, grabbing her in a big hug. A hearty laugh erupted from her tiny body, a toothy smile spread from ear to ear. Just as I set her back on her feet, the lights dimmed indicating theatergoers should find their seats. Shea and I followed Kevin to our front row seats and soon we were all absorbed in the magical world of Christine and the Phantom.

 

Nick:

 

            I sat a few rows behind the others, my eyes glued to the beautiful Lauryn belting out Christine’s songs with power and intensity. She was phenomenal. Truly outstanding. I had never heard a voice that angelic yet dynamic in my entire career in the music business. And she was an actress too. Acting out her scenes realistically, professionally, and convincingly. She had two talents she’d hidden from us all the time we’d been around each other. I had decided to come to her opening night after all. I was already in New York anyway and curiosity about her singing pulled me toward the theater.

            My eyes diverted away from the stage and Lauryn to watch my former brothers and the woman who broke my heart. Kevin’s viridian eyes shine brightly with love and adoration as he gazed up at Lauryn. He whispered something into Anne’s ear and she nodded, resting a motherly hand on his arm.

            AJ leaned his head to the side and kissed Shea’s neck. She tilted toward it, caressing his cheek with her hand. I couldn’t believe it! The two people who had ripped out my heart and tangoed across it were together?! I couldn’t help but feel pangs of jealousy invade my body. I didn’t want her to find love with anyone else again. I wanted her to yearn for me until her dying day. I didn’t want her to be happy.

            The stage went empty and the house lights came on. Intermission. I hid my face behind my Playbill as the other rose from their seats and proceeded on toward the lobby, all talking animatedly. When the theater was nearly bare, I rose to my feet and headed backstage. I knocked on Lauryn’s dressing room door. A few minutes later it opened. There stood Lauryn, her vibrant copper hair piled up away from her shoulders. Her blue eyes still glinting the same old familiar twinkle. Her full lips parted in a smile. “Nick?”

 

Lauryn:

 

            “Nick! Omigod” I squealed, embracing him tightly. “Please come in,” I said, grabbing his hand and dragging him into my dressing room. “What are you doing here? I thought you wouldn’t come. Have you seen the others?” I rambled on and on. Nick just gazed at me with his ocean blue eyes and boyish grin. He put a finger to my lips to silence me before pulling me into his arms again.

            “I’ve missed you, Lauryn,” he whispered, his warm breath hitting my ear.

            I wrapped my arms around his waist tighter. “I’ve missed you too,” I whispered back. We stood there for moment, neither of us speaking. Just holding each other, our quiet breaths the only sound in the small room.

            “Five minutes, Miss Matthews,” a young voice called through the door after knocking quietly. I pulled myself from Nick’s embrace.

            “Are you going to be around after the show? All of us are having drinks to celebrate,” I inquired of Nick.

            “No. I’m heading out now. Got a plane to catch,” he said with a gentle smile. “You were great out there,” he added. He leaned forward and planted a warm kiss on my forehead.

            He turned to leave, grasping the doorknob with his hand. “Nick,” I called after him. He pivoted on his foot to gaze at me. “Stay in touch, please. It would be great to once again have the friendship we once had,” I stated.

            He nodded his head solemnly. “I’ll try,” he replied quietly.

            I watched him leave, closing the door behind himself with once last smile aimed at me. I’d forgotten how much I missed him. How much I enjoyed having him in my life. “One minute, Miss Matthews,” the young voice said through the door. I sighed and checked myself in the mirror before returning to the stage for the final half of the show. I wiped away the tears that clung to my eyelashes with a shaking finger and took a deep breath. I could hear the applause of the audience beginning as I exited my dressing room and began the trek to center stage.