"You guys are finally an opening act!"

All five members of Crimson Kiss just stared at their manager, Jake, not quite sure that they heard him right. "What did you just say?" Toria questioned.

"You girls are finally going to tour!"

"If you tell me we're opening for Britney Spears, I'll kill you," Laney threatened.

"Do you actually think I'd put her with you? Come on now, we're working against the competition and not with. I'd never place you with another girl that's in the same genre."

"Don't even say N'Sync," warned Toni Ann.

"After the way you insulted them this past week on MTV? Dear, even if I wanted to, I couldn't." All of the girls lightly chuckled at their stunt. "No, this is bigger!"

"Spit it out already!" Chelly looked like she was about ready to bust.

"Crimson Kiss, you are now the opening act for fifty shows that will be put on by none other than the Backstreet Boys!" The silence was deafening until the screaming started. All but Toria were practically in a tizzy about the whole thing. Jake took note. "Toria, don't even tell me you aren't happy about this. All I've heard ever since this group started was how your goal was to tour with them."

"I am happy about it, I'm just calm."

"Cut the crap! For once just let go and get excited about something," complained Celia.

"I am excited. I just choose not to jump around like a teenybopper on caffeine."

Laney's lips soon curved into a smile. "She's just more mature now that she's gotten to know one of them." The cold stare from Toria couldn't be missed.

"You what?" shrieked Toni Ann. "You met them and didn't think about the rest of us?"

Toria simply rolled her eyes. Laney was really the only one she could connect with in the group. She figured it was the age difference. Laney was nineteen while Toni Ann, Chelly and Celia were seventeen, fifteen and thirteen. "Now I know how Kevin felt," she whispered. "Look, it wasn't a biggie. Leighanne came up to me and we talked at the party and..."

"Leighanne Wallace, as in Brian's woman?"

Toria could've sworn that Chelly would have a heart attack by the time she was twenty-five. "Yes, that would be her. She and the guys just wanted to compliment us on our performance."

"And you didn't tell us?"

"Yeah, and now I don't have to feel bad about it since they can tell you themselves."

"You think just because you're the oldest that you get to call the shots," whined Celia.

"No, I just like to have something to myself."

"And I would like to have some peace and quiet," Jake interrupted. "Girls, make use of your last day in New York. We leave tomorrow, five in the morning, on a plane to Florida. It all begins there! Now, just go and hang out separately so you can get as much alone time as possible before the flight. I won't put up with constant arguing for the next few months."

"Are we going on the same plane as the guys?" Celia was still jumping up and down from the excitement.

"Yes you are and don't even talk about seating arrangements right now. We'll figure that out when we get there. You're dismissed!"

Toria quickly walked out of the room and hurried to the Boys’ hotel. Once she arrived and made it to the nearest elevator, her stomach was doing flip flops. Here she thought she would have to leave the only person she saw as a confidant and instead he'd practically be by her side for months. There was no way she wanted to show any of this until she reached his room, though. She heard the ding of the arriving elevator and stepped in. Before she knew it, she had arrived on the Boys' floor but was quickly stopped by a security guard.

"And you're going where?"

She studied him for a second. "Carlos? It's Toria, from Crimson Kiss. Remember?"

Realization soon crossed his face. "I'm sorry Miss Sampson. Is Nick expecting you?"

"Not likely," she chuckled.

"It's okay; just go knock on the door." She smiled at him and made her way towards Nick's room.

In Nick's Room
"You suck so badly at this game!"

"Hey, I didn't get much sleep last night," Brian whined.

"It's not my fault you stayed up all night bonin' Leighanne," Nick laughed.

"It ain't like that and you know it. And don't even try telling me you didn't get it on last night."

"Actually, I didn't. Toria and I had a good time just talking and eating."

"You're kidding me. Kinky Chaos Carter didn't put any moves on the young damsel?"

"It's not always about sex, Rok. Maybe you'll learn that one day," he snapped.

"Who shoved the burr up your ass?"

"Look, all I'm saying is that I don't always have to score in order to have a good time. Sorry about the comments, bro. It was just a long night of discussion. I learned a lot about her."

"Wish you didn't have to leave her?"

"Yeah, just another one of our many occupational hazards fucking up my life again." Their conversation was soon interrupted by a knock at the door. "In any event, I plan on asking her out before we go." Nick began his way to the door.

"Then I'd do it quick since we leave tomorrow."

"Please, don't remind me," Nick sighed. His frown quickly turned upside down once he saw who was waiting in the hall.

"Can I come in?" Toria smiled.

Brian quietly made his way to the door. "I'll be seein' ya, bro. Hey there, Toria."

"Hi. Tell Leighanne I said hey." Brian nodded and walked out, giving Nick the thumbs up as soon as he was in the hallway.

Nick quickly shut the door and turned his attention to her. "Couldn't stand to be away from me, huh?"

"You got it, Mister Ego. I couldn't stand it so much that I decided to spend the rest of the year with you."