The first day at the studio was comprised of mostly rehearsing. Kristy was handed a song she’d never seen before, one Lance thought suited her voice, and she looked closely at the words. It was beautiful.

I can recall, wishing on a star
Whispering a Prayer, in hope that you’d be there
I asked the Lord, to send me someone true
And now that I have you
My life is sweet and new

There was a time
When I was so alone
I only had myself
No one to call my own
But now my days, are brighter than before
A joy I can’t ignore
I couldn’t ask for more

Look in my eyes
I know you see the tears
A million pains and fears
Have quickly disappeared
No one can see, the world you gave to me
Although I’ve tried in vain
I simply can’t explain

How grateful I am to have you
How empty I might have been
But love heard my song, and I can be strong again

Kristy could feel Lance glancing over her shoulder. "You like it?" he said smiling from ear to ear.

"My God Lance, it’s, it’s beautiful."

"I thought you would." he said happily. Larry’s gonna work through the music with you." For the next several hours, the mix director, and a woman named Marcy Graham, a song composer, reviewed and practiced the song with Kristy. The melody matched the beauty of the lyrics, and Kristy fell in love with the song.

"How do you feel about runnin it through in a recording?" Larry suggested.

"Now......Shouldn’t we practice it some more?" Kristy said hesitantly

"Hell no girl! You make this song! Let’s just have some fun." he said wholeheartedly.

She went along and placing the oversized head phones on, was cued that the music would start. As it did, she began the words of the first verse. The recording mike was like no other she’d used before. It eliminated all outside noises, and she could hear only the sound of her voice, almost in an echo. The sound was thriling. She was deeply into the song when Lance entered the studio office.

"She’s runnin through it for me once for fun." Larry smiled at Lance and continued, "She didn’t think she was ready.......My God, if she could only hear what I’m hearin."

Lance heard what Larry heard. He heard what he hadn’t noticed at the club that fateful night. He heard more than just a powerful voice. He heard an emotional voice. Something deep, almost spiritual. Something he couldn’t put his finger on.

"God she’s got a sultry voice doesn’t she." Marcy responded

Lance was taken aback for a moment. A sultry voice? Kristy? She was too innocent to be sultry. He listened more intently. Marcy was right. Her voice was soulful, it was.........sexy. He felt his cheeks get warmer as he listened to the final strains of the song. Speechless, he stared through the glass at her, seeing for the first time since he’d entered the room, that tears covered her face.

Larry waved her out of the room. "Girl, you deserve a break after that one.:" he declaired. "Thanks, I’m thirsty, I need water." she said looking around.

"I’ll get it.!" Lance exclaimed, seeking any excuse to leave the room, and not have to face Kristy at that moment. As he filled a paper cup with water from a cooler, he thought about Kristy’s voice. He thought about the tears on her face as she sang. He thought about her smile, her eyes, her.............. "Damn!" he exclaimed as the water poured over onto to floor.

That night, Lance tossed in bed, trying to get the picture and sound of Kristy out of his head. He sighed deeply and trudged over to Joey on the couch. "Joey, man.......are you awake?" he said, shaking his friend.

"I am now, bone head." Joey groaned. "What’s wrong?"

"I can’t sleep. "Lance whined

"Well what do you want me to do , sing you a lullaby?" Joey said

"I... I need some advice."

Joey knew it was usually the other way around. He knew that despite the few years he had on Lance, he was the one usually going to his younger buddy for help. He sat up. "What the matter Scoop?" he said in a concerned voice.

"Well, you remember Kristy? From the beach? With the voice?"

"Uh, ya." Joey smiled "Aaaaand I remember Sharon. Geez man, good you mention that, I should e-mail her."

"Joey, focus......."

"Sorry man , go head."

"Well, I have her here in New York to record a demo. And today I heard her sing." Lance stopped for a moment and shook a little.

"What? Don’t tell me she sounds like a dying baboon now?"

Lance chuckled and knocked Joey upside the head. "She sounds........she sounds......she sounds incredible. She, I, she was.......well I’ve been thinkin about her, and I can’t sleep.....so I..."

"So you’re gonna either do something about it, or you’re not." Joey finished

"You can either brood over her, and be miserable and lonely, or you can feel her out, feel her up, whichever you prefer, and see what happens."

This statement warranted another slap upside the head from Lance. "Joey! Shut up...I’m serious."

"So am I." Joey added "About the feeling her out part at least."

Lance knew Joe was right. He would have to either run away or take a risk.

"Man, it’s times like this I wish I were him." Lance said, staring at his friend, once again fast asleep in front of the T.V.

The day before had been a dream for Kristy. She couldn’t have been working with nicer people. Any nervousness previously felt was diminished. She was actually looking forward to going back to the studio. The only thing that bothered her was Lance. He actions were so strange at the studio.

"God maybe now he hates my voice. Maybe he regrets bringing me out here." she told Sharon over the phone.

"Kris, nobody hates your voice. It’s not possible. It’s like hating Christmas, or cheesecake. Nobody in their right mind would hate your voice."

"Well, some people hate Christmas." Kris said

"Like who?" Sharon asked

"The Grinch and...and  Scrooge."

"Kristy Elizabeth Muncy!!!!!!!! They’re not even real people! And why are we having this conversation! This isn’t about Whoville or the ghost of Christmas past! It’s about you!"

Kristy broke down into a frenzy of laughter, realizing the silliness of the conversation. "Okay, point taken. I’ll relax. But I’m tellin ya Sharon, something was wrong with him after he heard me sing. It seemed like he was avoiding me even!"

"Just do what you do best.....sing, and don’t worry about Lance...This is the opportunity you deserve. Just remember how much I love you, and your family, and friends, and how proud of you we all are, and who cares what bleach head thinks."

"Sharon! Don’t say that.....he, I don’t know for sure, it might just be that I’m paranoid."

"Then stop, I order you," Sharon said

Kristy smiled into the phone. "If I could give you a hug right now, I wouldn’t let you go." she said

"And if you could give me a hug right now, I’d make you let me go.....I’m late for work Kristy!!" Sharon laughed

"Okay Shar, I love you, I’ll talk to you tonight."

"Bye Bye Chicky."

"Bye."

Sharon hung up the phone and Kristy looked out the window of the hotel. She thought of how distant Lance had acted. How he didn’t even look directly at her. "Man I must have messed up royally." she thought out loud.

At the studio Larry lit up when Kristy entered the room. "And the golden voice arrives." he declared, bowing dramatically. Kris blushed.

"Ya....that’s me." Kristy said sarcastically.

"More like platinum...." Kris heard Marcy in the corner of the room, holding a stack of papers, and smiling warmly. Hugh had been there all along, not saying much, but observing Kristy and the actions sourrounding her.

"She sure does sing it." he shook his head.

"Are you ready for the real thing?" Larry said. "We’ll run through this baby one or two more times, and then record it. I thought you might wanna dub in a little harmony too."

"Okay......." Kristy said. The idea of dubbing in her own voice excited her.

She stood next to Larry at the board of buttons, as he playfully called it, and he explained what they all did, and how they would affect the recording. "These are what we use to dubb over a previously recorded song." he explained, pointing to a series of large silver knobs toward the bottom.

"Larry, there’s like 10 of them...which does which?" Kristy looked at him with a puzzled face. "Well, these allow you to dubb in ten times over." he told her. "But I’m thinkin one dubb will do fine for you." he finished

"She doen’t even need a dubb. Send it out like she did it yesterday and she’d knock em over." Marcy squeeled.

"This is true, but imagine the reaction of hearing that smooth voice in harmony with itself." he said.

This went on for a few mintues, until the two were interrupted.

"Eh hem.....uhm, I think she should be the one to decide." Lance had entered the room and noone had even noticed, and was standing with his hands folded across his chest, smirking at the conversation.

"What do you think Krissy?" he smiled at her. She noted the look and felt relieved. "Well, I....." she looked back and forth between Marcy and Larry, each one looking expectantly at her for a decision. Lance grasped her shoulders and turned her toward him. "Which do YOU want to do." he stressed, matter of factly. His grasp was all at once firm and gentle, an extremely helpless position for Kristy to be in.

She imagined herself a gelatinous mold, melting into his warm eyes , and she sighed. "Right now, I’d like to just stay here with you like this, that’s what I’d like to do," she thought. Of course what she thought and what she said were two seperate things. "I guess I’d like to hear what it sounds like dubbed." she managed a response. Larry let out a triumphant "Hmph!" and Marcy laughed. "Okay, you win." she accepted her defeat graciously.

Kris had made an excelent decision. The dubbing only added to the power and breathtaking quality of the ballad. After just one run through with the harmony, Larry declaired it was perfect, and he didn’t think they should do it again. The others agreed. The demo was finished.

"Well this sucks!" Larry said, out of the blue.

"What’s the matter?" Marcy shot him a look.

"We’re done. I don’t wanna stop. I’m enjoying myself." he laughed

"How bout you do a song for me before we go. Something I can take home and listen to. I’m gonna miss that voice." he admitted "Not the demo, some other song...something you know. It’s too early to quit now. I’m used to artists recoring like 7 songs in a row." Larry begged like a 9 yr old and Kristy saw no harm in doing this for him. After all, he’d been so patient and encouraging. "Alright.....what song?" she asked him

He grinned wickedly. "Do you know any country songs?" Larry winced, as though she’d react negatively to the request. Too his relief she receptively contimplated his suggestion and he continued. "When my wife and I got married, our song was ‘From this Moment On.’ Our anniversary is in 2 weeks."

Kristy smiled, understanding. "I love that song. I’m so used to hearing it as a duet though." she explained. "I don’t know how wierd it’ll be doing both parts." she told him. She began to sing the song quietly and got stuck on a line. "Oh, that’s the man’s part.." she laughed.

"Yea, he goes, and you’re the answer to my prayers from up above." Lance chirped in, singing the line melodiously. "And the girl goes, ‘all we need is just the two of us,’ and they both sing together, ‘my dreams came true because of you.’ " he finished. Just then Larry got quite the notion.

"Uhm, say you two....you seem to know the appropriate duet parts...." the wicked smile returned. "Why not do this together?"

Lance looked amused at the suggestion, while Kristy felt something inside her leap to the ceiling and plunge to the earth. It was that damn heart of hers. The thought of singing a love song with Lance was a bit much for her. She was doing all she could to act normal around him as it was, and now Larry goes and suggests something like this?

"I’m up for it. I never get to do solo stuff" Lance laughed, directing his gaze toward Kristy. "Do you mind singing with me?"

She couldn’t say no. How could she say no? "Not at all." she said, and Lance smiled brightly at the prospect.

Lance had normalized himself before he came to the studio that day, having resolved to just let things progress at their own pace. If Kristy was just a friend, he couldn’t think of a better one, and if there was anything else possible, he would cross that bridge when he came to it.

Larry handed the two a single piece of music. I only have one copy, but it’s got both parts...I hope your mammas taught you two to share." he said, chuckling.

"I get the bigger half!" Kristy joked, as Lance faked a frown.

"Alright let’s do this, get in there you two." he ordered

Lance and Kristy entered the room, each putting a pair of headphones on.

"Okay we’ll practice it first, not recording. Just play with it you guys. I’ll start the music." The intro began, and Kristy picked up on her first line, being familiar enough with the radio version of the song. "From this moment, life has begun," Then it was Lance’s turn, "From this moment, you are the one"

and the both of them, "Right beside you, is where I belong, from this moment on." The song went on, with the two , completely engrossed in their own parts, not listening to the other. The song ended, with no real noticeable glitches along the way. "Awsome guys!" Larry said into the speaker. "Let’s try it one more time, and then I think we’ll record."

"Slave driver!" Lance shouted in mock protest. Larry and Marcy laughed heartily and the music started again. This time, the two were a bit more relaxed with their parts, and put more feeling into the song. Kristy noticed Lance’s voice for the first time. It was deep and smooth and steady. She wondered why the band didn’t feature him more in their music. His voice was eating her up. As he sang she knew that the lyrics were getting to her.

Lance was feeling the rich melody of her voice. He was close enough to sense her breaths and see the tears that glittered and filled her eyes as she sang. He was close enough to look into those eyes and radiate heat through his smile. Each time the song came to a harmony, and they both sang together, the air in the room became heavy, andKristy could feel her head spinning, as his voice mixed with hers, and the stirs of emotion broke any barriers. They were undeniably, obviously, and unknowingly............singing to each other.

"Well how about that..." Hugh whispered to himself.

The music stopped. Lance kept his gaze steadily upon Kristy, who smiled shyly and looked at her feet. "I, that was, you really.... ." she finally broke the silence.

"You more." he interjected

After the final recording was over, and everyone was ready to go, Lance took Kristy’s arm and walked her out to the quiet hallway.

"Quite a day." he pulled her down next to him to sit against the wall.

"Ya, a little too good to be true. really." she said

The silence was louder than either of them could bare.

"Kristy...."

"Lance...."

The two spoke in unison. Kristy laughed, "We don’t need to be in perfect harmony now Lance, the song is over." she said, nudging his shoulder.

"Well, I’ll go first........I............Are you hungry?" he asked, relieved to hear such harmless words escape his lips.

"I guess...well....not really, Lance." she admitted

"Me either." he chuckled. Joey’s words rang in his ears. "You can either brood over it and be miserable and lonely, or you can feel her out......"

"You really are something. You just are, ya know. I’m glad you came." he said. He couldn’t resist the urge to reach over and brush her face. The look between the two painted a picture with far more meaning than words could. But Kristy would never make the first move. She needed to know Lance would choose her, She craved the knowledge that a man who could have any girl he wanted, would desire her. Lance was the first man she could trust to open her heart to, and for good reason. She knew appearance was second nature to him. He was sourrounded by beautiful women all the time, any of which would grab him up at the drop of a hat. Despite this, he was single by his own discretion, making him, ironically, the pursuee, not the pursuer-- a position Kristy could well relate to. Truly he must have felt just as confused about trust as she.

"I’ll be going back with great memories." Kristy said, wondering what Lance was thinking. His face changed. Going back........he’d almost forgotten! She would be going back. And he would be going everywhere......everywhere she wasn’t. The realization knocked him for a loop. He couldn’t care for this girl. He barely knew her. She could be just like the others. He couldn’t have a relationship with her, knowing all that it entailed, unless he knew for sure she wanted him, not NSYNC.

"Well" he said, standing up quickly, "You have a future ahead of you girl. I’ll be seeing you at the next Grammy’s show." He said, reaching his hand down to help her up. The atmosphere had changed so quickly Kristy didn’t know what to think. She stumbled for words. "I, Lance......" she noticed that he avoided looking at her. "Well, I’ll do my best." she spoke softly. He continued to stare at the door to the studio.

"I’d better go, it’s getting late, and I should get back home as early as I can tomorrow," she told him. He could see her eyes shine with the beginning of tears, and he forced himself to look away, though his heart was screaming to grab her and say what he felt.

"You really have done so much for me.....Thank you." she pulled herself together. "I jus..." she broke off, her voice cracking. "Good night Lance." she put her hand out and he took it, holding it for a moment and letting it drop. "Good luck Kristy." he forced a smile.

She walked to the elevator of the building as fast as she could without running. She had her answer. He didn’t feel anything, As the elevator doors opened, Hugh came running up from behind her. "Wait now Kristy! Lance sent me to go with you. He didn’t want you to go alone cause of the hour." Kristy looked at Hugh’s gentle face, as he stepped inside the elevator and the doors closed.

Hugh could see what was happening. He was hardly blind to Kristy’s expression, though she tried to appear all together. The elevator went down one floor, Kristy’s eyes watered. The elevator went down another floor, her hands went to her face, and the next, she was weeping silently in the corner. He pushed the stop button and froze the elevator. Hugh wrapped his arm around the sad figure and spoke in whispers. "Now Kristy, I’ve seen it before. He’s afraid. He has good reason to be." Kristy quickly wiped her eyes. "I’m acting like an idiot. I have no right to feel this way. I hate myself for feeling like this. Hugh, please..." she pleaded "Please don’t tell him I cried....please."

"Soul girl, I wouldn’t mind shakin him up a little." Hugh said

"No!" Kris was mortified. "I.......Hugh I’ve never even been on a date......I’ve never been in a relationship! I dont’ know the ropes.....It’s better off."

Hugh looked at her, a bewildered expression on his face. "You mean to tell me you don’t have guys knockin your door down back home?"

Kristy laughed. "Oh there’s plenty of guys back home........Guys who would never have been interested a year ago." she began. Hugh still looked confused. Kristy opened her purse and pulled out her wallet. "A year ago, when I looked like this...." she said, flashing her old license. Hugh couldn’t believe his eyes. "Why, you sure have done good for yourself Kristy. Though I don’t see a thing wrong with you in this picture." His words seemed so honest she could only throw her arms around his neck. The license photo was of Kristy at her highest weight.

"Woah.....no wonder you were up here." Lance gasped, looking over the wall of the roof. "The view couldn’t get any better."

"You’re here." Kristy thought "It just did."

She stood peering over the edge, but she saw nothing of the city below. She wasn’t looking at him, still he consumed her vision. He stood next to her, not touching her at all, but so close to her that he might as well have been. He turned his head to look at Kristy. She was afraid to look at him. She was afraid

he would see her eyes. She was afraid she would cry again.

He leaned over close to her ear. "Krissy...." his voice was soft, almost a whisper. The sound made her every hair stand on end. She shuddered. "Ya?" she eeked out a response.

"I’m sorry.....I’m sorry for how i acted before.....I hate that I acted that way."

"Please, Lance.....don’t. You didn’t do anything wrong." she faked understanding.

"No I did......I was.....I really wasn’t----"

She cut him off. "You were perfectly fine. You, you didn’t do anything wrong Lance. It’s okay. I don’t know what you’re apologizing for. For bringing me out here, and giving me a chance as an artist? For giving me the opportunity to sing? Why would you feel bad about that?" Once again, she had said everything in one breath, and he stood there surprised to hear her say so much at once. She continued....."I..I should be thanking you. I haven’t said thank you enough..."

This time Lance was the one to stop her. "Will you let me finish?" he interjected witha laugh. She went quiet.

"I was a jerk, Krissy, you know that and I know that. I couldn’t have been more rude to you before you left." The words were making her uncomfortable. She didn’t want him to remind her of how she felt. She wanted to forget about the hurt and get on with her life. "Lance I don’t want to hear this...I don’t need to

hear this, it’s too much...." her voice broke, she turned to face him. "Yes I..I was hurt....But I know now I had no right to be, and you were being polite and I should have been more mature about the whole thing." Her eyes gave her away.

The last bit of strength had been used up holding in the tears, which began to fall so freely now. "I don’t even know why I’m upset." she lied "I just don’t want you, of all people, to think you owe me an apology."

Lance rested his hand on her shoulder, letting it creep behind her neck and up to her cheek. "I’m sorry for pretending Kris...I’m sorry for debating over whether to let you in or not. It was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. I was the immature one." She felt the familiar grasp on her shoulders and she was turned to face

him. "You know...." he started "All the time you sang I was overwhelmed by this feeling and I couldn’t face what it was. You’re voice scares me Kristy."

"Thanks alot." she smiled

"I mean in a good way.........." he joked. "I didn’t expect to hear you sounding like that, with those words comming out........the song...it just intimidated me."

"The....okay...." Kristy blushed

"And when we sang together.......it just scared me even more. I saw things in you. You made me see them, just by looking at me."

"Lance, I’m glad you like my voice......but why are you telling me this at..." she looked down to check her watch. Lance covered it with his hand and shook his head. "Not now Kristy....I won’t stop now, I’ve just started." He held her hands at her sides, and forced her to look straight at him. "Hugh said you trust me. He said you respect me more than other guys. Why?"

"I......Lance, Hugh told you that?" she was petrified. "He told you.....what else did he tell you?"

"Just that I was a jerk, and that I needed to grow up." he chuckled.

"And......" she questioned

"And that you’ve never been on a date before." His voice was deeper now, and consequently her breaths were shorter and harder, as Lance’s eyes moved all across her face, searching for something. "Does that mean........have you ever been kissed

Kristy?"

She caught her breath and held it. His eyes were seductive now. His whole demeanor was. His hand had slid from her arm to her shoulder in an instant. She couldn’t speak, she just couldn’t. She could see he was waiting for a sign. He bent and pressed his lips against her ear. "Tell me Kristy..." His breath on her

neck was more than she could handle.

"Lance......" she could barely get the word out, her voice seemed so small. What she wanted to do was scream "Just kiss me, Lance! I want it. Do it!" but she knew those words would never leave her lips. All she could do was pray that something she said would be comprehensible. "No..........I’ve never......." she

sighed. "No Lance."

He lifted his head, and brought her hand to his neck. "I’m about to do something I should have done yesterday." he warned, his voice low and expression serious. Kristy knew what was comming, and wanted it, but feared it at the same time. She couldn’t guess how she would react.

She didn’t have time to. Lance placed his lips over hers, urging a response. His movements were deliberate and slow, as if he were drinking her in. Kristy had no intention of holding back. Physically, it was impossible, as her whole body was filling up with an energy she couldn’t explain. It was as if his soul was passing through her. The kiss was deep and urgent, yet indescribably gentle. It went on for ever, him pulling her in, and Kristy's senses overcome with affection. Her deep feeling nature could stand it no more, and she pulled away, tears cascading. Lance breathed heavily, and took her in his arms. "Are you alright, angel?"

he asked, again searching for the answer in her eyes. She nodded her head.

"I was........ scared" she said

"Of what?" Lance asked her, delicately brushing her face with his thumb.

"Of what I’ve never felt. Of what you make me feel. Scared I’ll just... dissapear into you, "

"Krissy.." he knew the words, he had sung them to her just the day before, and now, he would say them "....I love you." This hushed her. She saw the green eyes glimmering, the corner of his mouth raised in a smile, and was rendered speachless. She wouldn’t remember how or why she had the courage, but in that instant, her whole heart was demanding she stop talking and let it speak.

This time, it was her lips that found his, her arms that encircled him, and the stars shone around them, though clouds filled the sky.