-make it alright-
-chapter thirty-two-

�Y�all ready?� Kevin asked, talking a look around band mates and their dates. The boys� limo had just pulled to a stop in front on the Radio City Music Hall. It was time to venture down the trek of the red carpet.

The boys were more then ready. Tonight they�d be pumping the release of their latest CD. Everyone involved was excited about the album, and couldn�t wait for the public to hear it. The Backstreet camp was proud and confident in the new LP, something they hadn�t felt with Black and Blue. But better yet, Howie, Kevin, Brian, AJ and Nick were the happiest they�d been in years. And they were ready to tell anyone who would listen about it.

But Melissa didn�t quite feel the same way. She hadn�t signed on to be a celebrity. Dancing in front of millions: not a problem. But walking down the red carpet and being examined under a magnifying glass? Not her alley. She hadn�t minded the attention she garnered as a Britney back-up dancer- the occasional autograph or picture was flattering and fun. But this was her first time down the red carpet on Nick�s arm, and it terrified her.

�Nickers, wait.� Melissa pleaded anxiously. She grabbed onto his forearm, stopping him just before he could leave the limo. The other boys were already outside, basking in the flashes of cameras and firing or reporters� questions. �I�m scared.�

Nick turned to look at Melissa. She cowered just beyond the limo door, where the paparazzi wouldn�t be able to see her. Though the outfit she was dressed in was sexy and mature, the expression on Melissa�s face was priceless. Growing up, Melissa had always been so confidant and brave. No amount of stage fright could sway her. But at that moment, she hid behind the safety of her big auburn curls. Clutching Nick�s arm, her face read of fear and nervous energy.

�Baby girl, I just don�t understand why you�re so freaked out.�

�All those people are going to be judging me, Nickers. Just by what they see. And they�re going to be asking all these questions, about us. I just don�t want them to hate me.�

God, she�s so different from every other girl I�ve been with, Nick realized. Everyone else got a thrill out of seeing their picture in the paper, hearing their name being talked about on the Internet. Hell, even my mom does. But Melissa just isn�t like that. She�d be happier if no one knew she existed. But she�s doing this because it�s important to me, and I�m important to her.

Nick leaned in closer to Melissa until they were eye-and-eye. �Baby girl, you have nothing to worry about. We went over the potential questions they�d ask us, we rehearsed the answers. You�re beautiful, you�re smart, and you�re talented. People are going to realize that and love you for it. And of course, there�ll be a few that won�t, just on principle. But screw �em. You�ve got family and friends that care about you, and that�s all that matters.�

�Nick! Mel! Get your asses out here!� Kevin said from outside the limo.

�You ready?� Nick asked softly. Letting out the breath she�d been holding onto, Melissa nodded her head with a smile. �Good.�

Nick said. He pushed Melissa�s hair out of her face and behind her shoulders. He leaned into her ear and whispered. �So everyone can see what a pretty girl I�ve got myself.�

Taking Melissa by the hand, Nick lead her outside the limo. They joined the boys and their dates on a platform at the end of the red carpet. Smiling as brightly as she could, Melissa asked with gritted teeth, �What�s the point of this?�

�The entrance platform,� Nick explained. �They call our name, announce we�re here. We stand around smiling, while all the paparazzi take pictures. Then we move further down the carpet for interviews.�

�That�s right.� Melissa agreed with a nod. Nick had explained it to Melissa before, but in all her nervousness, she must have forgotten.

Standing next to Nick, Melissa did her best to look calm and collected. She smiled politely, exchanged pleasantries between the boys and their dates. But it was all a total scam. She prayed she wasn�t sweating too much, and gripped Nick�s hand as if she were suspended off a cliff. Ever once and awhile, Melissa would have to remind herself to breathe. Otherwise, she�d forget she was holding her breath, and her tummy, in.

For once, Melissa couldn�t understand why anyone would want to be famous. Because what she was going through right now was nothing less then a horrible experience. Amazed, Melissa looked around at all the chaos that surrounded the platform. Reporters, photographers, fans, crew. Everyone ogled at the platform. Melissa felt as if she were on display at a zoo. She couldn�t comprehend why anyone would willingly subject themselves to this kind of torture.

�Backstreet! Over here!� Dozens of people called the same thing, over and over. It all seemed very confusing to Melissa. She didn�t know where to turn, who to look at. The experience was dizzying. But it didn�t seem to faze the boys in the slightest. They knew where to be at every moment, and Melissa was left to follow their lead. When Kevin stepped off the platform and moved towards the TRL cameras, Melissa tagged along, feeling very much like a little puppy. As the boys were being interviewed for the following day�s TRL, Melissa did her best to be inconspicuous. Surprisingly hard when you�re holding hands with Nick Carter. Lucky enough, the boys were so excited to discuss the forthcoming release of the new CD, she hadn�t been brought into the conversation. Until a surprise visitor stopped by.

�Hey, Backstreet!� A foreign voice barged its way in front of the camera. Wearing a striking gold dress, long blonde hair hanging straight down her back, Miss Mandy Williford entered the screen.

�Sorry to barge in here,� She apologized. �I just wanted to publicly send my congratulations to Nick and Melissa.�

The camera angle instantly shifted. On one side, Melissa clung nervously to Nick�s hand, while on the other, Mandy threw her arm casually over Nick�s shoulder.

�You all have known each other for quite sometime, haven�t you?� Asked Hillarie, who�d been conducting the interview.

Nick had been just as surprised as Melissa when Mandy interrupted the interview. He wasn�t quite sure where his ex-girlfriend was going, but curiosity got the best of him, and he let her stick around long enough to find out. Nick remained silent and let Mandy do the talking, the way she�d always liked it best when they were dating.

Mandy nodded her head. �We have known each other for awhile. But I can�t say we necessarily all got along.�

�And what might be the cause of that?� Asked Hillarie. The execs at MTV were going to love this. She was getting some great TV.

�Well obviously,� Mandy rolled her eyes. She pinched Nick�s cheek affectionately. �How could we get along when we were both in love with this handsome fellow?"

�And honestly,� Mandy continued on. �I�m a fighter. I don�t give up easily. I think that�s part of the reason why my relationship with Nick dragged on for so long, on-again, off-again.

�But for reals here, I think that anyone deep down inside, I knew all along that it was a lost cause. Anyone that knew Nick and Melissa knew those two were destined to be together. Am I right, boys?� The camera zoomed out to include the other Backstreet Boys in the frame. And for once, they were all in agreement with Mandy.

�Back to my point here,� Mandy drew the attention back to herself. �I just want to say congrats and best wishes- both to Nick and Melissa. Oh, and on your new album, too. I hope we can leave all that drama we�ve been through in the past, where it belongs.�

Nick, Melissa and the entire Backstreet entourage were amazed. Yes, Mandy was purposefully going through the reconciliation onscreen where she could bring more publicity to herself. But for some reason, it didn�t seem to matter to Melissa or and member of Backstreet. Because what was more important was that Mandy�s words were sincere. If Mandy Williford could honestly let go of Nick once and for all, well then they really were all growing up.

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