Ann finished her morning rehearsal with her students, pleased with the
performance but knew that the headmaster would expect more. Winning the
competition was important to him and the school, it was pressure that Ann did
not need. She poured her energy drink into her cup, sat down at her desk and
began thumbing through her messages. Three were from Mr. Stanley, the
headmaster; she put them aside. One was from her Mother, asking her to come
home for a visit. Seeing her Mom and going home to California was what she
needed but unfortunately, she couldn't find the time to leave. She came to
the last message, her heart jumped. It was from Kian, a smile came across her
lips, her eyes widen in the words.
"Just wanted to see how you were doing." She read the message over and
over,
each time her smile got wider.
"Knock, Knock." Megan said opening the office door.
"Hey, M. What are you doing back?" Ann said pushing Kian's message to
the
side.
"One of the students got sick and threw up on the carpet in the main stage
of
the Opera house. The very expensive carpet I might add." Megan said
smiling,
her short red hair radiating her smile. She was glad that she got an early
reprieve from the students. She loved teaching, she loved seeing her student
grow in their talent but she was tired from staying up late talking to Tonya
and catching up on the last three months. Plus Mark had called first thing
this morning, waking Megan up and of course, making her late.
Mark Feehily was Megan's dream man. They met before Westlife and the
beginning of IOU. Megan was an exchange student for college and housing with
the Feehily's. She became fast friends with the three men of Sligo but it was
magic from the time Mark and Megan first met. They have stayed strong in
their relationship, even through the touring, constant press of their
relationship and time apart, they were just as strong as ever. Mark won her
heart from the beginning and she gave it to him willingly.
"Bet Mr. Stanley will be pleased with that bill." Ann said laughing.
Megan
sat down on her desk, grabbing the gold statue of a dancer that Lance bought
Ann and played with it. "What is on your mind, Megan?" Ann said
twisting her
dark brown hair. Ann was simply beautiful. She had eloquent features with her
brown eyes, big and dreamy. She had a tiny frame that showed years of
dedication and hard work of dancing.
"A certain Mr. Egan spoke to me this morning." Megan said twirling the
statue, her brown eyes sparkling in the slight giggle she gave.
"And what did he have to say?" Ann took the statue from Megan and set
it down
on her desk.
"He was just asking about you." Megan said grinning.
"Well that is very nice of him but an Egan distraction is not what I need
right now." Ann replied knowing that maybe Kian was exactly what she
needed.
Even in the first time they met, there was just something about Kian, his
smile, the way he looked at her and how he gently, accidentally, brushed his
hand crossed hers. Ann knew that she should have stayed home instead of going
to London but Tonya wanted her and Megan to come for a visit. Ann knew that
she should have kept her distance from Kian when they danced, so close. But
in her broken heart, Kian was giving her ...hope again.
"Earth to Ann." Megan said waving her hand in front of Ann. "Wake
up Ann."
"I am awake and I am starving." Ann said trying to change the subject.
"Let's
get something to eat. Not the cafeteria food. I don't feel like food
poisoning." �Ann stuffed Kian's note in her purse and walked towards
the door.
"So Mark was telling me about their plans for their trip to the
states."
Megan said following Ann, making their way to "Wolfgang Puck's".
********
Kimber brushed back her auburn hair, stressing the importance of not being
late; her blue eyes intense in her responsibilities. �Kimber is the
publicist
for Trans Con. She has the most stressful job in the company and not to
mention a newlywed. The wedding was quick, the honeymoon even quicker and
then Kevin was off touring. Life for the new Mrs. Richardson has been
difficult; she had never been away from Kevin. But thankful enough it was her
job that has kept her busy. �Tonya listened to the speech; the hundredth
time
but soon found her mind wandered to Jacob who sat across from her. He was
leaned back in his seat, his arms behind his head, occasionally smiling at
Tonya. He had the bluest eyes; they sparkled with excitement for his new
career. He took in everything that Kimber was saying, waiting for time in the
studio; the only place he loved to be. Tonya didn't realize her stare was so
intense until Jacob caught her view, actually making her blush. Jacob shyly
smiled at her; Tonya could do nothing but smile back, getting lost in his
eyes.
Erica nervously bit the eraser of her pencil listening to Kimber. She brushed
back her long, brown hair from her face, showing her dreamy green eyes even
more. She was eager to get in the studio, finish her work with Otown and fly
to Dublin to be with Bryan. It had been the longest six months. She was so
use to having Bryan with her, to talk and see him every day. But most of all,
to wake up to him every morning, she still hadn't gotten use to sleeping
alone. Erica was to fly to Dublin in a few weeks, spend a few days with Bryan
on tour and then they were going to France for a quiet getaway, just the two
of them. Erica could not wait and had already started buying the
next-to-nothing teddies for the escape from reality. Erica felt a stare
towards her way, glancing to the blue eyes of Dan. He smiled at her, making
her shift in her seat. A thrill went through her heart, their eyes locking.
Tonya jumped from being startled by her phone. She quickly pulled it out,
avoiding Kimber's glare and stepped out of the room.
"Hello." Tonya whispered.
"T! I am so glad I caught you." Kristina said excitedly.
"K. Oh my God. You are alive." Tonya said laughing. " How is the
tour?"
"Wonderful. The fans are so great and of course, it's great to be with Mark
every night. How is your first day back?" Kristina asked. Mark, Christian
and
Ste walked on to the tour bus, Mark giving Kristina a slight peck on the
cheek.
"Just listening to Kimber's speech and meeting the new guys. When are you
coming home?" Tonya asked pacing in the hallway.
"Don't know. But I just wanted to see how you are doing. I want to hear all
about London. I heard that you and Shane got rather close."
"He was just very nice to me while I was there. Can you call me back
tonight?
I really need to get back to the meeting." Tonya asked trying to change the
subject. She didn't know what happened in London or what happened between her
and Shane. And right now, talking about it would only make her analyze the
events.
"Sure, T. I will try tonight. Welcome back. I miss you girl." Kristina
said
hanging up the phone. Kristina was the opening act for BBMak. She was an
actual success over night. MTV discovered her; she signed with Hollywood
Records and started touring with BBMak, all in one month. And she was with
the man she loved, Mark.
"Anything else you want to add, Tonya?" �Kimber asked as Tonya
walked into
the room and waking Erica out of her dream world.
"Um...No...I mean, you have said it all. �I am just looking forward to
working with all of you." Tonya said wanting to kick herself for being so
unprofessional. Erica smiled at her, giving her a little wink of security.
"OK, Erica, they are all yours. Tonya will meet up with you guys in a few.
I
need to talk some business with her first." Kimber smiled, the guys stood
up,
saying their good-byes as Kimber led then all out of the room.
"I'll see you in my office." Kimber said smiling, leaving Tonya alone.
She
gathered up her things, stood up straightening her short black skirt and
combed through her blonde hair with her fingers. She walked towards the door
when Jacob came rushing in the room, almost running Tonya over.
"Sorry, I forgot my CD's." Jacob said grabbing his CD case.
"I am totally lost without my music." Tonya said laughing, giving one
of her
"You are so hot, I want you" smiles.
"Maybe we could share our CD's sometime?" Jacob said smiling; his blue
eyes
sparkling even more.
"I would like that, maybe we could share something else." Tonya said,
catching herself in the words she said. Jacob smiled and made his way out the
door.
"Good Tonya, just totally throw yourself on the guy." Tonya said
shaking her
head. She reached for the doorknob with her left hand. "Shit!" She ran
out of
the house so quickly that she forgot her engagement ring. "What the hell am
I
doing?" Tonya walked out the room, down the hall to Kimber's office trying
to
picture Brad; maybe if she listened to his CD it might help. His music always
brought back the good times, the good times when "I don't want to kiss you
Goodnight" meant something to Tonya, after all, it was written about her.
****Dublin ****
Caz grabbed her biology book, her bag and walked to the door of her flat. Her
mobile phone ringing stopped her. She quickly grabbed it, juggled her things
standing in the doorway.
"What." Caz said quickly.
"Caz, honey." Nicky said quickly before she hung up.
"Nic, I am late for class...."
"Baby, I am so sorry about last night." Nicky said pleading.
"You said it, it can't be taken back. I have to go." Caz walked down
the
hallway to the front entrance.
"Can I see you tonight?" Nicky asked.
"No, I have a late lab." She fumbled with her key in the car door.
"Caz, please." Nicky said his voice cracking.
"I'll call when I am done. I can't promise anything." She threw the
book and
bag in her car and started the engine.
"I do love you, Caz." Nicky said, Caz sensing the remorse in his
voice.
"I'll call you later." Caz clicked off the phone and began driving to
the
University. She was so angry and hurt by Nicky's words last night but her
heart forgave him. She loved him, he was her soulmate. Even in the short
months of their relationship, she loved him more then anything. Maybe that is
what scared her, he loved her back.
***Orlando*****
Sherry pulled into the Trans Con parking lot in her red BMW, her mind racing
on her events for the day. She got out, grabbed her purse and began walking
into the office building. She stood waiting for the elevator when her phone
sounded.
"Sherry here."
"Well, my Sherry." Nick said.
"Well, my Nick. How's my baby?" Sherry said stepping to the side
letting
people take her place in the elevator.
"Missing my Sher! Not the same without you." Nick scanned the menu of
the
Denny's that was in some hole-in-the-wall town.
"I miss you to, Nick. How is the tour?" Sherry sat down on the bench.
"It's great. Where are you?" Nick asked.
"At Trans Con. T got back last night. I was just on my way to see
her."
Sherry picked a piece of lint from her tan skirt and straightened her white
blouse.
"How is she?" Nick asked pointing to his choice for the waitress.
"I don't know. She sounded good when we talked last night." Sherry and
Tonya
had been friends since the first video Sherry did with NSYNC. They bonded
that day and their friendship has flourished through the trials of life.
"I hope she worked things out." Nick took a sip of his milk, the guys
deep in
their conversation about the concert last night.
"Same here." Sherry hadn't talked to Tonya while she was gone, she was
eager
to know how things went.
"I miss you so much." Nick whispered in the phone.
"You already said that." Sherry said with a laugh.
"I know, but I do." Nick closed his eyes, leaning back in the booth.
He
thought of Sherry, holding her and kissing her sweet tender lips.
"I miss you too." Sherry whispered back. Her and Nick Carter had been
dating
for only a few months before he left for the tour. But in the months of late
night phone calls and falling asleep on the phone. They have become closer,
closer then the two would admit. Nick was the exact distraction she needed,
needed in the stress of her job. �Sherry was a video director and had made
such videos' for NSYNC, Soul Decision and Britney Spears. She loved her job
and getting her own video company started has been a dream come true. But in
the times of wanting to tell the egomaniac stars off.... Nick was her relief.
Even if her heart still belonged to someone else.