**Manchester***
"I can't believe that you said that." Shane said taking a bite of his
breakfast.
"I know it. But I had to be honest with her." Nicky leaned back in his
chair.
"I wasn't a virgin. I don't know why I told her I was. I mean, she was and
I
guess if she knew I was..."
"You duetz! You're lucky she is still with you." Kian chimed.
"I know, damn it. Caz is wonderful..."
"And you don't deserve her." Kian smiled. Nicky gave him a playful hit
on the
arm; Kian did his most dramatic performance falling to the ground, the people
in the restaurant looking on.
"Ok, lads, we have a change in our plans." Louis said sitting down at
the
table. Mark and Bryan made room for him, not missing a beat in the
consumption of their food.
"We are going to the states, Orlando to be exact." Louis said, giving
the
news to the men. "We have a window of opportunity to impress the American
fans."
"But what about France? I was going..."
"You all leave next week." Louis said interrupting Bryan. "You
are shooting a
video and doing a Disney concert special. And then up to New York for MTV."
"I get to see Megan?" Mark asked, not caring about the promo events.
"Yes. We are staying in Orlando for awhile, not sure how long." Louis
stood
up. "We got interviews in 30 minutes. So meet me outside." Louis
walked out
of the restaurant.
"I get to see my M!" Mark yelled pulling out his mobile phone and
quickly
calling Megan to tell her the news. Kian and Shane looked at each other,
their thoughts on Ann and Tonya. Bryan sat sulking, trying to come up with a
new plan to ask Erica. Nicky continued eating, wishing Caz was going to be in
Orlando.
"I wonder who the director will be?" Shane asked, the others consumed
in
their thoughts.
***Trans Con Studios****
"Erik, Ashley and Dan, could you guys please stop staring at my chest and
concentrate on the lyrics." Erica said, the guys quickly looking away in
embarrassment. "And Tonya, stop flirting with Jacob. He needs to get this
song down." Erica raised her eyebrows and smiled. She looked straight at
Tonya whose face turned a bright shade of red.
"I need to get to my lunch date." Tonya said standing up from the
couch. She
smiled at Jacob, waved at the other guys and made her way to her car.
"You know what, why don't you guys just take a break." Erica threw her
papers
on the chair and walked into the studio. She down at the console turned on
the music and closed her eyes. She quickly got lost in the music, hearing
every harmony.
"You are so beautiful when you are working." Dan said softly, not to
disturb
her.
Erica looked up at him and gave him a small smile. "Thanks." Erica
said
shyly. Erica was not a shy person by trait. She spoke her mind, she was
confident in herself and perhaps the strongest person out of all the girls.
But with Dan...he made her shy confident but shy.
"How did we sound?" Dan sat down next to her.
"Erik is off but it's his throat. The rest of you are great, if you can
keep
your mind on the music." Erica smiled, Dan returning the expression.
"Someone got a present." Dan said pointing to her finger.
"Oh. Yah. I got it last night." Erica said staring at the finger on
her right
hand. She knew what question Bryan wanted to ask her but until he did, she
would only wear it on her right hand. "It sort of an engagement ring."
"I see, so congratulations are in order?" He asked leaning back in the
chair,
a disappointing look on his face.
"Actually, I haven't been asked yet. I mean he gave me the ring..."
"So... I still have time?" Dan asked leaning forward.
"Time for what?" Erica said looking at him. Dan didn't say a word but
smiled.
From the first time he was introduced to Erica, he saw so much in her. He
loved how she treasured her job and took it seriously. They had the same
music in common, they both loved to read and their conversations were never
dry, filled with intelligence and laughter. They could even sit in silence
and Dan would still be thrilled to be in Erica's presence. Erica found
herself enjoying Dan's company. The time in Germany, working on the songs
were times of deep conversation between the two. Dan listened to Erica and
took an interest in what she had to say. He simply loved the sound of her
voice. To him, it was sweeter and more sincere then any music he could ever
hear. In turn, Erica loved hearing stories of Dan's family and his love for
music. They had become close friends in Germany but it had also become more
then that.
"He's a lucky guy but an idiot for not asking you right away. You are too
good to just let slip by." Dan stood up. "I would have asked you and
married
you all in the same day." Dan turned to walk out of the studio, Erica's
wide
eyes following him. "But that is just my opinion." He finally said and
left
the room.
"What the hell am I thinking?" Erica said out loud turning back to her
music.
"I have a boyfriend who is gorgeous, sexy and showers me with gifts."
Erica
leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. She tried thinking of Bryan. She
tired picturing his face. "But Bryan never listens to me." She quietly
said,
turning the music up louder, getting lost in Dan's last words.
***House of Blues Restaurant***
"I want to know everything," Sherry said taking a sip of her tea.
"I already told you, Sher." Tonya smiled, playing with her food,
thinking of
Shane.
"No, you haven't. Come on. I know there is more." Sherry said egging
her on.
"There isn't. I was able to get a hold of myself. I got my priorities in
place and I feel better." Tonya twisted her hair as she spoke. She wanted
to
tell Sherry how wonderful Shane was to her, how he took the time to be with
her. How they took long walks on the beach, stayed up late in the night
talking and how the Virgin Island was when they almost...
"Did Brad call you when you were there?" Sherry asked interrupting
Tonya's
thoughts.
"Three times..."
"Shit, T! You have a nervous breakdown, run away to London and your God
damn
fianc� calls you three times?" Sherry yelled.
"He's busy, on tour..."
"I don't give a f***..." Sherry looked around the restaurant, smiled
at a few
people trying to calm down. "Tonya, if Nick ever did that, his ass would be
out the door, my foot permanently stamped to his butt." Tonya didn't say a
word but looked away. "Does Brad even know what caused your
breakdown?"
Sherry asked, Tonya again didn't say anything. "Has he called you
since?"
Tonya shook her head no "T, you deserve better." Tonya didn't
say a word.
She had already heard it from Kristina and Megan. Brad was the reason for the
breakdown. He was the reason why she went to London. She knew she could do
better. But was she with Brad out of love or obligation? "You are
getting
married to him. Brad should be there for you." Sherry placed her hand on
Tonya's shoulder. "It won't change once you are married."
"I know...I." Tonya was stopped by Sherry's phone.
"Sherry here." She pulled up the antenna.
"Sherry baby. Got a job for you." Harry her agent said.
"Harry, I already have two shoots going on..."
"They asked for you, personally." Harry said chopping his gum.
"Who?" Sherry asked looking at Tonya.
"It's a European group, they want An American director to shoot their video
in Orlando."
"Who?" Sherry asked again.
"Some boyband." Harry said as Sherry's heart began to beat faster.
"Please say Five." Sherry whispered, covering her mouth.
"Westlife." Harry said.
"Shit." Sherry said Tonya looking at her.
"You know them?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Sherry put her hand to her hand, rubbing her temples. Why
couldn't it
be Five or AI or even Boyzone getting back together. Why Westlife of all
groups? Her heart was healed, she was over him. Things had changed.
"Well, they are paying a huge price and they want "Visions" for a
Disney
special. It will be good exposure for you and Chrissy. It will be good way
for "Visions" to get noticed. I already called Chrissy on it and she
has the
details." Harry said. Chrissy was the equal partner of
"Visions". They first
met on the set of Sherry's first video she directed with NSYNC; Chrissy was
dating JC at the time. Chrissy, with her wealthy family, put the money into
the production company, called it "Visions" and since then, the two
girls
have become the most powerful women in the music video business. It was now
their chance to make it internationally. Sherry knew the importance of the
video...but Westlife?
"Fine, I'll talk to Chrissy about it later when I get into the
office."
Sherry said hanging up.
"What is it?" Tonya asked. Sherry putting her phone in her purse.
"Westlife is coming to Orlando and "Visions" is shooting their
video." Sherry
said, staring at Tonya.
"And you're ok with that?" Tonya asked.
"Not much of a choice. Bryan and I are over, have been for a long
time."
Sherry said looking down at her plate. Saying the words did not make it
better.
"Sherry, I know better."
"Just like I know better with you and Brad?" Sherry asked, smiling at
Tonya.
"I guess we are two screwed up bitches." Tonya said laughing.
"Yup." Sherry said in agreement. The two finished their lunch, talking
small
talk, their thoughts on two Irishmen. Damn those Irishmen.
****Ann's House***
Megan frantically tried to get the perfect outfit for Ann to wear on her date
with Erik. Ann wasn't sure if she was dressed to impress or to please. Either
way, Ann was nervous about her date. It had been a year since she had been on
a date, a date with someone new.
"I just hope I don't make a fool of myself." Ann said looking at
herself in
the mirror.
"Don't throw up on the guy or talk about Lance and you should be
fine." Megan
sat on Ann's bed, looking through Smash Hits magazine, trying to find the
latest gossip on her and Mark.
"I wish you and Ashley were going with us. I would feel so much
better..."
"I am not getting involved with Ashley, Ann." Megan said looking up
from her
magazine.
"Well, maybe I could talk Tonya into going with Jacob. I can't do this on
my
own." Ann pulled off the dress, threw it on the floor and scanned her
closet
again.
"Then don't go." Megan changed the CD she was listening to, lying back
on the
bed.
"Thanks for the support." Ann stood with her hands on he hips.
"Ann, you need to deal with Lance before getting involved with
anyone." Megan
turned down her CD, looking at Ann. "You need to decide what you are going
to
do..."
"Don't tell me what I need to do. Lance is the one who screwed up, not
me."
Ann grabbed the final dress in her closet, slipped it on and grabbed the
shoes to match. "I just want to have fun."
"That's fine but you have to make a choice..."
"The choice was made when Lance decided to let that ho into his room."
Ann
walked out of her room, leaving Megan on her bed. She walked down her
hallway, to the kitchen.
"Ann, we need to talk." Megan said entering the kitchen.
"I don't want to do this right now. Erik will be here..."
"Stop it. You have to talk about what happened. I know you are hurting. You
can't avoid it. Don't be like Tonya and run away." Megan took Ann's hand.
"Talk to me."
"Megan...I...yes I am hurting. Who wouldn't? The guy that I love doesn't
think I am enough for him so he had to get it elsewhere." Ann looked down;
she couldn't look into Megan's brown eyes.
"Is that what you think? You weren't enough for Lance?" Megan bent
down to
meet Ann's eyes.
"Why else would he cheat on me? I have tried and tried to come up with some
reason why he would cheat on me. What did I do that wasn't enough for him?"
Ann tried to hold back the tears but looking at Megan and finally saying the
words, a single tear founds its way down her cheek.
"You didn't do anything. You did nothing wrong. It's Lance, he is the
asshole. He is the one who has the problem. Why can't you see how great and
wonderful you are?" Megan wiped her friends tear. "You can do so much
better.
But Erik is not the one for you. He is nice and all but..." Megan stopped
her
words. She had promised, she had promised not to tell.
"What? Megan, right now I feel like crap. My self-esteem is so low because
of
what Lance did. If you have anything that could make me feel..."
"Kian is in-love with you." Megan said quickly, the pit of her stomach
ached;
she had betrayed Kian by telling.
"What?" Ann said surprised. "Kian does not love me."
"Yes he does. He fell in-love with you when he first met you. He wanted to
tell you but he... didn't want to influence your decision with Lance."
Megan
leaned against the counter top, her foot tapping in the awkwardness. Megan
was the best friend anyone could want. She could keep a secret and take it to
her grave. But seeing Ann hurt and confused, if she knew that Kian loved her,
it could change everything. She just hoped that Kian would understand.
"Well, it doesn't matter." Ann walked away from Megan, getting herself
some
water.
"Why not? I know you feel the same way." Megan said stunned. Ann
didn't say
anything. She began walking out of the kitchen. "What the hell is wrong
with
you? You have the best guy in-love with you and you say it doesn't matter?
Are you gluten for punishment? Sometimes you and Tonya just really frustrate
me."
"What does Tonya have to do with this?" Ann asked turning around.
Megan
looked away. "What is it?"
"Shane is in-love with Tonya." Once again, Megan had betrayed Shane.
Megan
had kept the secrets as long as she could. There were late night phone calls
between Shane and Megan, him telling her how much he loved Tonya but not
wanting her to know. The early morning calls from Kian telling her how he
loved Ann was just too much. Her two closest friends, Tonya and Ann were with
the wrong guys and she felt so helpless.
"Does Tonya know?" Ann asked.
"No. But she would react the same way as you. Lance and Brad are nice guys.
Well...Brad is but they are not for you guys. I know you two so well. Ann you
need to be with Kian." Megan moved closer to Ann. "Don't go out with
Erik,
call Kian."
"No! I am not going to do this. Kian does not love me. Lance is an asshole
and yes, I am going out with Erik. I need his attention, right now." Ann
spat
at Megan. Ann was hurt and pissed but knowing how Kian felt, did not help.
She knew whom her heart belonged to but it didn't matter. Megan didn't say a
word; she grabbed her purse and walked towards the front door. She turned
around to face Ann but Ann didn't look at her. Megan wanted to reach out to
her, to tell her that she understood exactly how Ann felt. How she wished she
could share with her, tell her. But it was a secret that Megan was not ready
to deal with. Even Tonya and Kristina, her two best friends didn't know.
Megan turned back around and walked out the door to her car. Ann closed her
eyes as the door slammed. She shook off Megan's words and continued getting
ready for her date; but her heart would not let her forget the words. Kian
was in love with her.
***Dublin***
"You're reached M, T and K. We aren't here. We are somewhere with beautiful
men having a smashing great time. You know what to do so do it" Caz waited
for the beep, trying to get the nerve up before she spoke.
"T, it's Caz. Um...look, I am coming to Orlando I have a break from school
and I need...I can stay in a hotel...I just need to talk to you. No, I need
to see you. I'll call you later. Bye." Caz said hanging up the phone and
attempting to finish her homework. Caz was still hurt by Nicky's words. She
was hurt and confused. Tonya would be the one to help her understand and get
through the hurt. Orlando was what she needed but was she prepared for what
laid ahead?