| The few hours before the concert was very nerve wrecking for Kenzie. Her dream was to perform in front of all these people and she had worked hard to get where she was. Now Kenzie was only a few minutes away from performing in her first major concert and with so many other artists there, she had to impress many people. For Nsync, on the other hand, this was a piece of cake. They did concerts like this one practically every night and the routine was pretty normal. Joey was busy on the phone with his brother, Steve, who would be catching a flight to meet up with the guys in a few days. Chris was on his laptop writing letters to department stores, hoping that they�d sell his clothing line. JC was busy playing his keyboard and writing notes into a large navy blue notebook. The basketball section of the New York Times had Justin preoccupied for the past 15 minutes and was continuing to do so. Lance was busy talking to Johnny Wright about their upcoming album and tour. He was doing everything he could to convince him that Kenzie deserved a spot as an opener, but it was still too early to tell. �We will see is all I�m saying, Lance. You guys haven�t even finished recording yet and the tour won�t start for a few months after the album is released and that�s not until March, so we still have time. You�ve never even heard her sing live. If I didn�t know better I�d say that you had a crush on Miss Hope, but I know that can�t be true since she is 18 and you are 21, LANCE!� He said stressing their ages. �I know, Johnny. She�s not for me.� Lance said reassuringly but Johnny gave him a not so assured look. �Look over there.� He said nodding his head toward Justin, �Do you see fro boy over there? Ok, well when you see Kenzie on the stage tonight, think of fro boy, then you�ll see what I�m talking about.� Lance said walking away from Johnny. � I know you were not just talking about me!� Justin said putting his paper down. �Umm no? Why�why did you think that?� Lance asked trying to hide that he was lying. �Because I thought I heard you call me fro...ahh never mind.� Justin mumbled to himself while looking back at the paper. �Alright guys. We have to get backstage now. If everything is going as planed, Dream should be finishing up onstage now, then Kenzie Hope will perform two songs and then 3LW, then its you guys. So come-on!� Johnny said leading them out the door. By the time the guys got backstage Dream was just finishing up by saying their good-byes to the audience. �Kenzie your going to be awesome, girl! Don�t get all stressed out on my now! Just go out there and sing your heart out like I know you can!� Jenna said while messaging Kenzie's shoulder. �I know, your right. I�can�do..this! Oh my god the guys are here!� She said while quickly turning so her back would face them. �What are you doing? Go talk to them!� �No that�s ok, I think I�ll pass on that one!� Jenna started to nudge Kenzie toward them. �Jeez! Why are you so pushy!� �I am pushy because you are only 18 once and now I wish I had had the guts to go up to guys and talk to them! You�ll understand when you get older.� �You�re only 26, Jenna you�re not even old yet.� Kenzie said trying to turn away from the guys even further. Kenzie was about to continue when one of the stagehands came over to her and told her she had 3 minutes. She nodded her head and turned to walk away but bumped into something in the process. �Oh my, I�m so sorry,� She looked up to see whom she had bumped into and she could have killed herself for being such a klutz. �I�m so sorry, Justin� she said again while blushing �It�s you again. Wow you must have some good connections or backstage passes to be back here. You�re a lucky person I haven�t met any fans back here, I didn�t know they were allowed� Kenzie looked at him like she could believe what he was saying. Surely Lance had said something to him about her. Now she felt like crawling into a deep dark hole and crying her eyes out. He couldn�t have embarrassed her any more than he did and he must have seen some kind of look on her face because he shrugged his shoulders and walked away. �There�s a great confidence booster.� She said slouching her shoulders. �He doesn�t know what he�s doing! He�s going to see you on stage and he�s going to be the one who is embarrassed. You just wait and see.� �Kenzie, I know you don�t have much time but I wanted to say break a leg!� Lance said, �Hey I wanted you to meet the guys.� �Hi Kenzie, I�m Joey� he said while shaking her hand and kissing the back of it. �Good luck tonight!� �Thanks, Joey! I hope the crowd doesn�t get bored of me!� �You? Nah! Hey Kenz� Chris said shaking her hand. �Hi Chris. It�s nice to meet you� Kenzie said �You don�t have to be polite around Chris!� JC said laughing then shaking her hand. �Ok, I�ll try to remember that!� she said laughing. �Kenzie Hope, one minute till show time,� the stagehand said. �Go get em tiger!� Chris said. �You guys are too much but way cool.� She said blushing Way cool? Where did that come from? I�m so stupid! She thought � I got to go guys sorry!� she turned around just in time for a stagehand to yell for her to get into place. Chris, Joey, Lance, and JC all walked back to where Justin was sitting in a private section on the side of the stage watching Dream leave the stage. �What�s so special about that girl that she get backstage like that?� Justin asked �Huh?� Joey said, �Are you that clueless?� |
| ~*Chapter 4*~ |