Nick Carter nervously walked around the room. He was doing a favor for his friend, Alexander, by keeping him company at this snobbish event. Calvin Klein fashion shows, like all other fashion shows, were filled with nothing but fake people. He looked around, noticing all the plastered smiles and phony laughs that filled the area. He did not understand how Sarah fit into this world. She was the whole reason they were there. Alex had been dating Sarah Barton for a few months now and seemed to be in love. This fact made Nick happy for his friend. Alex had taken his last breakup pretty rough. There were many nights that were fuzzy blurs for him thanks to the nightclub bartenders. Nick was there to watch it all and it scared the hell out of him. Once Sarah entered the picture it was as if no former lovers ever existed. Now, if only Nick could solve that same predicament for himself. It had been almost six months since his one and only serious relationship fizzled. He had dated around since then, but nothing promising had entered the picture. He chalked it up to his career. No human being could possibly understand the strain he and his group mates had to endure. If someone was to come along for him, it would be when he least expected it. He noticed Alex take his seat and decided it was time for him to do the same.

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“Sarah, darling, I need you pronto!”

She rolled her eyes and made her way over to the chair. “Do you need to gob another pound of lip gloss on me?”

Layla giggled as she sat in the chair next to her. “I swear, you’ll never get use to being a model.”

“The eyebrow piercing is so you, dear.” The other makeup artist doted over Layla, as most people did. She got tired of hearing it. The people that said it rarely meant it. The reason they did it was because it was their job. It was how they motivated models to do good work.

“Hey, since I’m going out first I’ll take a gander around the room and let you know where Alex is sitting. I really want you to tell me what you think of him.”

“Sarah, there’s a ton of people out there and you expect me to spot this guy while I’m also being blinded by lights? Besides, I thought we were hanging out with him after the show.”

“Sarah, you’re up after Naomi!”

“We are, but I want your initial reaction. Believe me, there’s no way you could miss him.” Her smile was bright as she made her way over to the entrance, but it disappeared when she made her way out to the catwalk.

“There, you’re done.”

“Thanks Steve, you always make me look groovy.” Layla gave the makeup artist her trademark grin and hopped out of the chair.

“I am merely Picasso touching up an already beautiful work of art.”

“Layla, you’re up after Helana!”

She started to make her way to the entrance but was stopped by Sarah. “Hey, he’s in the second row wearing glasses, a cow print cowboy hat and a leather jacket.”

Layla chuckled. “You were right, there is no way I could miss him.”

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“Didn’t she look awesome?” Alex could barely keep his voice at a whisper.

“Sarah always looks good.” Nick smiled at his friend, admiring what he had with this woman. She was beautiful, had a wonderful personality and respected people. The latter would be a quality that would make her loved by the fans, following in suit of Leighanne and Kristin. “So, when can we leave?”

“Uh, not until the end.” Nick gave him a pained look. “Dude, she ain’t comin’ out just once. She’s gotta model a few more times and then come out at the end with the rest of the girls.”

Nick bit his lower lip and returned his eyes to the stage.

(The song ‘Layla’ begins to play)

The famous guitar riff and loud bass did nothing to disturb the sight before him. There, coming down the catwalk was one of the loveliest creatures he had seen in his twenty-two years of living. She was so beautiful, yet so conventional looking in the bell bottoms and peasant blouse she wore. She gave a wink in what seemed to be aimed in their direction and within seconds she was gone, the half smirk her full lips formed etched in his mind permanently. “Who the hell was that?”

Alex barely heard his friend’s whisper above the loud music. “What did you say?”

He mentally smacked himself, scolding his libido for doing the thinking. He was a little less obvious this time. “Who was that girl?” He tried to sound as casual as possible.

“I don’t know.” He paused for a moment. “Wait, I think I’ve seen her in some pictures with Sarah. I think her name’s Kayla or something like that. Why, you interested?”

“Maybe, she just looked…nice, that’s all.”

“Yea, you always find the nice girls. Don’t even make me go there.”

Nick rolled his eyes and continued watching the show, hoping to catch another glimpse of this mystery woman.