�Five minute break, everyone!� Wade Robson announced. He pressed the �pause� button on the stereo, putting an end to the heavy baseline that reverberated through the speakers. Across the spacious dance studio, sighs of relief could be heard.

�Well, you don�t have to sound that relieved.� Wade said with a pout.

�Then don�t work us so hard!� Responded Alex. He was a good-looking brunette who seemed to have fallen out of an Abercrombie ad and into the dance studio.

�Maybe I wouldn�t have to work you so hard if you kept your eyes on my choreography- and not down Britney�s shirt!� Wade snapped back.

�Ooh�he gotcha there,� Britney commented with a laugh. She smacked Alex�s backside with her sweat towel, like a high school boy in the locker room.

Though childish jokes we common in rehearsals, nearly all the dancers were at their wits� end. They�d been rehearsing feverishly for the past two days, in preparation for Britney�s performance on the Video Music Awards. But the awards were less then twenty-four hours away, and the dance was not nearly ready enough.

�You guys- just stop. We�re not going to get any further if everyone is at each other�s necks.� Melissa said sensibly. She was leaning against the ballet barre, applying deodorant with one arm, and holding a water bottle in the other.

�That�s Melissa, always the peacemaker.� Alex teased lightly. He was on the floor in a runner�s lunge- stetching to stray from getting cold during the break.

�Oh, stop. Y�all know I can be a stubborn bitch if I want to.� Melissa commented. Like the time Nick and I got into a fight and didn�t talk for five years.

�You mean with your man?� Britney asked curiously.

�That�s right! How is your man?� Said another dancer, named Tanya. �Oooh, I know the answer to this one,� supplied Wade. �Nick was in here yesterday to pick Melissa up. Those two are still all over each other!�

�You go girl!� Shouted Alex sarcastically.

�I want to hear it from Melissa�s mouth!� Tanya protested. Always ready to gossip, the dancers gathered around Melissa. A blush and a happy grin appeared on the face of the curly-haired girl. �So how are things going?�

�Things are�perfect,� Melissa said dreamily.

�Aww, the girl�s in love,� said Tanya softly.

�We went to dinner at his parents� house last night. Initially, I was pretty scared. I mean, this was the first time I�d seen them in years. But surprisingly, they were totally cool.� Said Melissa. The more she talked about Nick, the happier Melissa was. And the broader her smile became.

�Look at this girl,� said Wade, shaking his head. �She�s radiating positive energy.�

�Yeah, well I don�t care about his parent.� Tanya said abruptly. �How is he in bed?�

�Tanya!� Britney exclaimed, before bursting into laughter. �You can�t ask her that!�

�Sure I can,� said Tanya, as she nodded her head vehemently. �Can�t I, Melissa?�

�Ask all you want,� Melissa said with a shrug of her shoulder. �But I don�t kiss and tell.�

�You�re such a tease,� Alex himself teased.

�I bet he is good in bed,� Tanya wondered aloud. �Because that boy is good-looking.�

�Oh! Which reminds me�� exclaimed Britney. She began to tear through the nylon duffle bag at her feet. Finding the object, she handed Melissa a gift-wrapped package. �I got you a gift.�

Melissa gladly accepted the present. Like a little kid on Christmas, she tore into the package. Melissa was met by a 4�x6� color photo in a fuzzy cow-print frame.

�Oooh�cool frame.� Melissa commented, feeling the texture with her fingers.

�Look at the picture, Melissa.� Britney instructed impatiently.

Examining the photo, Melissa was brought back to her childhood. It was taken at the final auditions for The Mickey Mouse Club back in 1992. The camera was mainly focused on Britney. The future pop star was about ten years old, patiently waiting in the dressing room to get her hair curled. But reflected in the mirror in front of Brit-Brit was a twelve-year-old version of Nick and Melissa. Their heads were bowed together as the pigged out on a back of Cheetos.

�Where�d you find this?� Melissa asked.

�It was in one of my photo albums,� Britney explained. �I thought I�d give it to you- to commemorate you and Nick. Do you like it?�

�I love it,� said Melissa. She leaned over and wrapped Britney in an embrace. �Thanks.�

�Alright- enough of The Nick and Melissa Soap Opera,� Wade announced, as he clapped his hands together. �Back to work.�

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