Las Vegas, Nevada: December 1999

 “Seriously, how much do you love me?” Sadie asked with a bemused smile playing across her lips. “Because this has got to be the dopest night of your life.”

 “It has been pretty amazing,” Melissa admitted. Other then that, she wasn’t sure what to say. She was in such a state of awe that finding words to describe her feeling was unbearably difficult.

 The last few days had been a whirlwind of excitement. Sadie had kidnapped Melissa on the way to dance team rehearsal. Stressed as usual over homework and lack of time, Melissa had been angry at Sadie for wasting her time at the mall shopping for over-priced prom dresses.
 

 “Sadie, these dresses are gorgeous and all…but what’s the point in all of this? I have a million tests to study for- I shouldn’t be wasting my time shopping for outfits I don’t need.”
 
“Fine, go home if you want to.” Sadie was easily offended. Melissa was so used to the stand-offish attitude that she wasn’t even fazed by it. She turned to leave the store, more then ready to catch a cab back to campus. “But you’ll be sorry when you show up to the Billboards dressed in an outfit from last season.”

 “What did you say?” Melissa asked slowly, as she turned around to look at her friend.

 “The Billboard Music Awards. Everyone’s going to be there…Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin…and who are those people you like?” Sadie pondered her own question jokingly stroking the nonexistent beard on her chin. “Oh yeah, *NSTINK and Britney Spheres.”

 Normally, Melissa would get into an argument with Sadie over her stupid jokes. But at that moment, the jokes didn’t even register with Melissa. She was too excited to care. Grabbing Sadie’s hands, the two girls began to jump up and down, squealing. They were making quite a spectacle of themselves in the fancy store, but neither seemed to care.

 “Oh my Lord! How did this happen?!?” Melissa squeaked.

 “Well, they don’t call me ‘Little Miss Las Vegas’ for nothing, honey. Come on, you know I have connections. And I was not going to have the two of us miss out on this!”

Sadie’s name around campus was indeed ‘Little Miss Las Vegas.’ The girl spent her summers as a concierge at MGM Grand, and dreamed of one day running her own hotel and casino. She knew everyone in the rapidly growing city. Everyone important, at least. And she used those connections to get invites to all the hottest parties, clubs, shows and awards in the hopping city.

This was by far the best event Sadie had invited Melissa to yet.

 “Oh my Lord! I’m going to see Britney!!!” Melissa bounced up and down in excitement. Melissa had fallen in love with Britney Spears all over again when she saw the “…Baby, One More Time” video premiere at number ten on TRL a year ago. Melissa had even been presented with first row tickets to see Britney headline her first tour in Los Angeles. The tour had been sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger, where Jorge’s new boyfriend, Phillip worked. But being the idiot that she was, Melissa had enrolled full-time in summer courses at UNLV. There was no way she would have been able to get away from school for the concert. It had broken her heart. “I love you so much!”

 Melissa attacked Sadie, wrapping her into a warm embrace. If there was one thing Melissa was dependable for, it was for really great hugs. You couldn’t be helped but feel loved by the girl who simply adored everyone around her.

 “Yeah, well you deserve it, girl.” Sadie said sincerely. “You’ve been working yourself way too hard. Everyone has been worried about you. I figured this would be the perfect opportunity for you to let loose and have a good time for a night.”

 Eight months ago, Melissa had returned from Tampa completely crushed. One stupid mistake, and another important relationship was gone forever. Ever since she was nine years old, Nick and Brent had been the most important people in Melissa’s life. They gave Melissa the kind of love and appreciation she never received from her mother. But now both of them were gone.

 Melissa was distraught, and no one knew what to do to make her feel better. She kept her promise, swearing off alcohol. That left nothing else to do but study. She enrolled in summer courses to keep her mind off her Brent and herself away from her mother. She hadn’t been home to Texas in months, and was fearing the upcoming Christmas break.

 At least now she had something to take her mind off those worries. Thank you, Sadie. As bitchy as she could be, Sadie was always there when you needed to have as good time. Britney, Britney, Britney!!!

 “Oh my Lord!” Melissa suddenly realized. She stopped her bouncing and jumping instantly. “We have to find something to wear!”

 Sadie couldn’t help but laugh. “Now you get why we’re here!”
 

 “And best of all,” Sadie said, bringing Melissa back to present-day. “We look H-O-T-T hot!”

 That they did. Sadie wore a sexy, black satin tube dress. It ended just below her knees, with a small slit running up the left thigh. Blue and red embroidered flowers climbed up her right thigh all the way to her breast. The straps of her four-inch-high stiletto heels wrapped around her muscular calves. Her chestnut hair had been ironed straight, just barely grazing her shoulders.
 Melissa, as usual, had to stick out like a sore thumb. It had all started with shoe shopping: Melissa had fallen in love with a pair of rhinestone shoes with clear plastic heels by Steve Madden. A Disney kid at heart, they’d reminded Melissa of Cinderella’s glass slippers. She had been tickled pink to continue on with the theme for her outfit. Her baby blue satin dress had spaghetti straps and a low, rounded neckline. The princess seams at the torso perfectly molded to Melissa’s slim waist, before flaring out into the skirt. The dress wasn’t quite as full or dramatic as the animated character, but it got the point across. Melissa’s hair was piled on the top of her head, a baby blue headband holding back the loose tendrils.

 “Did you notice how Britney’s hair looked EXACTLY like yours?” Melissa gushed excitedly.

 Sadie nodded eagerly. “And her dress looked an awful lot like yours- minus all the rhinestones and stuff that she wore across her chest.”

 Melissa shrugged cockily, grinning the entire time. “What can I say- do we know style or what?”

 “First time at an awards show?”

 Melissa and Sadie turned around at the same time, stunned. Sometimes when they got around one another, they’d become so engrossed in their conversation that they would forget that other people were around. Which is exactly what happened. They were at the Billboard after party, sitting at the bar. The person who had addressed them was a bartender.

 “Is it that obvious?” Melissa asked guiltily.

 “Nah, you two are dressed like rock stars. You totally fit in. Can I get you anything to drink?” Melissa was pretty sure the bartender was lying, just to butter the girls up. But what the hell- it worked.

 “A cosmopolitan,” Sadie requested, leaning forward a bit. Her latest theory was that if she showed enough cleavage, she wouldn’t get carded. So far it had worked.

 “And for you?”

 “Can I get a Shirley Temple?” Melissa said quietly.

 “Melissa!” Sadie cried dramatically, rolling her eyes. “A Shirley Temple? That’s SO dorky!”

 “You’re not getting me to drink, Sadie.”

 “Fine,” she sighed. She leaned forward, motioning the bartender to come within whispering distance. “Can you mix her a drink that looks alcoholic- but isn’t?”

 “That I can do,” he grinned.

 “Something fruity!” Melissa added, as the bartender began to mix their concoctions. She turned back to Sadie, staring her friend straight in the face. “Anyway, what’s up with you tonight? We’ve been at this party more then ten minutes, and you’re not in the middle of the dance floor, living it up?”

 “If I tell you something, do you promise to keep it a secret?” Sadie pleaded sincerely. “Even from the other sorority sisters?”
 “You know I’d never tell.” What could she be talking about? Melissa wondered. This could be interesting.

 “I’m actually a little nervous tonight. I need a few drinks in my system, to calm myself down. Then I’ll be back to my normal, party-girl self.”

 “Sadie Anderson? ‘Little Miss Las Vegas?’ Nervous?” Melissa teased. But from the expression on Sadie’s face, she knew to stop right then. Sadie was never one to take taunting with ease. “What are you nervous about?”

 Sadie laughed loudly at the concerned look on her friend’s face. “You idiot! What would I be nervous about? I’m not nervous about anything, dummy! I was just playing a joke on you.”

 Melissa was the most gullible person in the world. She had even believed her Chinese sorority sister, Ming-Lee, had naturally blonde hair that she dyed black, on April Fool’s last year. “But you never answered my question, why aren’t you out dancing yet?”

 “Please. I’m not going to waste my time and energy on these fools,” Sadie said with a hair toss. Melissa looked around the room. She would hardly call the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z and the Dixie Chicks these fools. “I’m waiting until my boys arrive.”

 Her boys. The Backstreet Boys, who had walked away four awards that night. They were the only problem for Melissa on an otherwise perfect night. Melissa and Sadie’s seats had been in the nosebleeds during the awards show. There hadn’t been a risk of Nick seeing her- but even so, Melissa slumped a little lower in her seat every time they were called to the stage. But now it would be a different story. The party wasn’t that big, and Melissa was bound to run into one of the Boys.

 “I have to meet them tonight, to make up for not seeing them in concert.” Sadie, as always, had scored a pair of tickets to the Millennium tour when in hit Vegas a few months before. And since Sadie had gone to see *NSYNC, she insisted Melissa had come to see Backstreet. But the day of the concert, Melissa had miraculously come down with the “stomach flu.” Being the sweetheart that she really could be, Sadie stayed home from the concert to nurse her friend back to health.

 Melissa nodded her head meekly. She was raking her brain trying to think of excuses for disappearing as soon as the boys entered the room. No luck so far.

 “Here’s your drinks, girls.” Said the bartender. Melissa slipped slowly on her slushy, fruity concoction, while Sadie chugged half of hers in one slurp.

 “Anyway,” Sadie started up the conversation again. “Why are you ragging on me for hanging out at the bar? YOUR boys are already here, and I don’t see you talking to them. And you’re a much bigger *NSYNC fan then I am a Backstreet fan.”
 She had a point. The last time *NSYNC had been in town, Melissa was so upset over her altercation with Jorge that she’d arrived at the concert late. She completely missed out on the meet-and-greet passes she’d won through the official fan club. Now was the perfect opportunity to meet J.C. and Justin, and Melissa hadn’t acted upon it.

 “I guess I’m a little scared,” Melissa admitted.

 “Scared?” Sadie didn’t know the meaning of the word. “What for? You said you’ve met them before.”

 “When they were on the Mickey Mouse Club. I had tickets to sit in the audience.” It was true- or at least, half-true. She had met JC when Marc had given her free tickets to be an audience member. She just didn’t mention that she had met Justin, Britney and Christina at the MMC auditions. Things were just easier if no one knew Melissa had been friends with Nick Carter. And luckily, Sadie had never asked. “But that was different. They were just little kids then.”

 Sadie rolled her eyes. “You’re a year older then Justin, Melissa!”

 “I know that. But he’s a superstar now. And I’m just a lowly college student.”

 “Well, maybe you should start with someone else. Christina is standing over there-“ Sadie pointed. “Why don’t you go talk to her first? Work your way up the MMC ladder.”

 Christina Aguilera. I can do this. Girls are way more approachable then guys. Finding her feet, Melissa moved across the room. Christina can’t be that intimidating…she’s even shorter then I am!

 “Excuse me, Christina?” Melissa asked in a meek and polite manner. The blonde pop star turned around to face her adoring fan. “I’m a really big fan, and I just wanted to…”

 “I’m sorry, but I’m not signing autographs tonight.” Christina said crisply. She turned around abruptly and walked away, leaving Melissa gaping at her disappearing figure.

 “Did you see that?” Melissa said as she wandered wide-eyed back to Sadie’s seat at the bar.

 “I saw that,” Sadie agreed. “Listen Mel, that girl is a bitch. She’s just upset she lost out on Best New Artist to Britney. See if she gets anywhere treating her fans like that.”

 “You’re probably right,” Melissa admitted glumly. “Still, that sucks.”

 “Aww…cheer up, babe!” Sadie punched Melissa in the arm affectionately. “You still have three more ex-Mouseketeers in the room to chat up.”

 “Yeah,” Melissa agreed. “But if Christina was that mean, and she’s just getting started, imagine what Justin, JC and Britney will be like?”

 “I seriously doubt all famous people are that mean.” Sadie swallowed that last bit of her drink, placing the empty glass on the counter. “Come on.”

 “Where are we going?”

 “The dance floor. We’re going to shake our booties next to JC and Justin.”
 The second the girls got out on the dance floor, all intentions of meeting *NSYNC were forgotten. The DJ was LFO’s

“Summer Girls.” As ridiculous as the lyrics to the song were, Melissa and Sadie couldn’t help but love it as a guilty pleasure. The two began singing the lyrics loudly, using their cheesiest dance moves. At a frat party, no one would have noticed their silly behavior. But the girls had forgotten they were in a room filled with celebrities, all of whom looked on in disbelief. By the time Melissa realized where she was and stopped her goofy antics, it was too late. JC and Justin were already laughing in her direction.

Realizing their stupidity, Sadie and Melissa instantly fled back to the safety of the bar. “I can’t believe we just did that!”

“We’re idiots,” Sadie agreed.

“Justin and JC will never talk to me now!” Melissa whined. She banged her head three times against the bar- hoping it would knock the memory out of her system. “And even if they would talk to me, it’d be just to laugh. I can’t possibly face them now. I’ve ruined my opportunity. Sadie, why are we so stupid? I mean, at least you’re drunk. You have an excuse. What’s my excuse?”

Melissa lifted her head from the bar, expecting a smart response from Sadie. But her friend was nowhere to be found. Melissa whipped around, scanning the room. After a few moments, Melissa spotted Sadie’s small, athletic build. She was standing near the entrance to the party, chatting it up Brian Littrell. Perfect, Melissa thought. My best friend has ditched me for my ex-best friend’s best friend. As if my life couldn’t get anymore confusing.

 That’s when she saw him. He entered the room with AJ, both already carrying half-empty drinks. They were smiling and laughing, clearly enjoying themselves. Why wouldn’t they? They’d stolen the show, this was their night.

 Melissa didn’t know what was wrong with her, but some sort of force took over her body. Something pushed herself off the bar stool, and she slowly made her way across the room, toward the entrance. She didn’t know what she would do once she got there, but for some reason, she had to talk him.

 The walk across the room seemed miles long. Melissa had total tunnel-vision, she saw nothing but Nick, heard nothing except the words that left his lips. That’s why she was completely stunned when someone bumped into her, spilling their drink on her satin dress.

 Melissa looked up, into the eyes of Mandy Williford. It’d been years since they’d seen each other, but there was no forgetting that face. Mandy was one person Melissa didn’t think of encountering that night. Melissa knew the two were back together. When no one was around, Melissa secretly followed the boys’ lives via Internet fan sites. But Nick had never brought Mandy to a public event, like tonight. She hadn’t even been at the awards show. She must have snuck in for the party.

 “Mandy,” Melissa sputtered, completely forgetting she was dripping wet with brandy.

 “Don’t even think about it,” Mandy warned.

 “Don’t even think about what?” Melissa was still getting used to the idea that she was actually talking to Mandy.

 “Talking to Nick. I saw where you were headed, and you’re not going to do it. We just got back together, and I’m not going to let you screw this thing up.”

 “I’m not you, Mandy.” Melissa retorted. “I hadn’t thought about sabotaging your relationship.”

 “Don’t act so innocent,” Mandy warned. “Its because of you that we broke up the first time.”

 “Because of me?” That surprised Melissa. Despite all her scouring on the Internet, she’d never been able to determine why Nick and Mandy broke up. Melissa had been hoping Nick had finally wised up to the bitchy ways of Williford. Guess not.

 “I don’t even like Brent. But if your slutty ass hadn’t cheated on him, then Nick would’ve never had to ditch me to comfort Brent.” Melissa remembered hearing rumors that Mandy had hit Brent. Was that about me? “I’m not even going to give you the pleasure of talking to Nick, Mandy. I’m going to get my friend and get out of here. Because I sure as hell don’t want to be staring at your ugly face all night!”

With that, Melissa marched across the room to the Backstreet camp. She completely interrupted their circle, pushing her way in between Brian and Sadie. “Come on, Sadie, we’re leaving.”

 “Lissie? Is that you?” Nick gaped. What’s Melissa doing here? And why is her dress stained?

 But Melissa didn’t answer him. She didn’t even look Nick in the eye. She simply took Sadie by the arm and pulled her out of the room.

 “Ow! Melissa! What the hell! What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you see? I was talking to Brian FUCKING Littrell there!” Sadie said, as soon as they’d left the room. She tore her arm away from Melissa, rubbing the spot where it had been held. “And why didn’t you talk to Nick? Didn’t you hear him calling your name?”

 Melissa shifted her eye focus. She’d never told Sadie about her past relationship with Nick. Now she had to. She just didn’t know where to begin.

 “You know, I may be a cheerleader, Melissa. But I’m not stupid. I know you know Nick.” Sadie said quietly.

 Melissa’s eyes shot upwards. “You do? How?”

 “Please. I’m a Backstreet fan, Melissa. I’ve seen the pictures of Brent and Nick together on tour. You lived in Florida, you dated his best friend for years. I put two-and-two together and figured out you knew Nick Carter.”

 “Why didn’t you say anything?” Melissa asked.

 Sadie shrugged. “I figured you’d tell me when the time was right.”

 Melissa sighed. “Let’s go home. I’ll fill you in when we’re there.”

 Sadie smiled, linking arms with Melissa. “One question first: what happened to your dress?”

 “One word: Mandy.”

 Both girls groaned, then went to find a cab.
 

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