Take a Bow
this is my first new BSB fic on here in... months. Yikes. Heehee. It's a short. I wrote it last night, (April 16, '01) and I think it's a little... bizarre. Nah, that's not the adjective I'm shooting for. It's... different. I paired Christina Aguilera with Howie, so yeah, that's a bit different. I don't know why I did it but hey, I like unusual couples. So, enough of my babbling... here's the story.

It hurt, knowing that she had to do this. It really did. As much as she tried to deny that she needed to, it was inevitable that she'd have to let him go.

But now, when she needed him the most?

Her blue eyes studied the sleeping figure in the bed. God, he was beautiful. Dark haired and dark-eyed beauty that most of the world took for granted. He was a very attractive man, really he was. Only a few people allowed themselves to see that.

She was one of the few.

Yeah, she liked some of the so-called "bad boys". But there was something special about him. His sweet demeanor had won her over; his smart-assed sense of humor also caught her off-guard too. He didn't seem like a joker. But he was.

They'd carried out a clandestine relationship over the past three months. No one knew about it, not even her closest friends. It was a shame that she hadn't told them or that they'd found out. It would have probably lessened the pain. She felt horrible for keeping it under wraps, but it was something she needed to do. People had said enough shit about her already—why did she need another rumor haunting her? "Pop Diva Cheats on Boyfriend with a Backstreet Boy."

Christina bit her bottom lip. For a brief moment she was reminded of all the ill-fated romances she'd read about, whether they were historical or fictional. There'd been Romeo and Juliet, Marc Antony and Cleopatra, Scarlet and Rhett in Gone With the Wind... too many couples who were torn apart by one reason or another. I guess that Christina and Howie are the next ones to go in that category...

And it wasn't only the media. He was growing distant. When they kissed, his eyes wandered. When she was with him, he didn't have that light in his eyes that he'd had when they first started seeing each other. He didn't return her calls. And that hurt.

So, tonight was the final night. She had to leave. It would suit them both better if this little affair was ended.

"But I don't want it to end," she whispered to herself.

It has to.

Take a bow
The night is over
This masquerade is
Getting older
Lights are low
The curtains down
There's no one here
(There's no one here, there's no one in the crowd)

She got all of her things together. It wasn't much, just a small carryon bag and her purse, and a dorky looking hat that he'd insisted that she buy. She remembered the day he'd shown it to her fondly. She remembered laughing at it, and saying that she wasn't a hat person. But he'd laughed, and said that it was perfect for her. At the end of the day, she bought it, just to see the smile on her face as she wore it.

Say your lines
But do you feel them?
Do you mean what you say
When there's no one around?
(No one around)

He hadn't told her he loved her. That was another thing that bothered her. She didn't expect it at first, but as things progressed she found herself caring more about him. Why wouldn't he say it? Just once would have been good.

Maybe he didn't love me. He was just playing me.

Watching you, watching me
One lonely star
(One lonely star, you don't know who you are)

I've always been in love with you
(Always with you)
I guess you've always known its true
(Known its true)
You took my love for granted
Why, oh why
The show is over, say goodbye
Say goodbye
(Goodbye)
Say goodbye...

The digits on the clock blinked. 1:24 AM. I have to be out before 1:45... She picked up her jacket, and from the pocket a strip of photos fell. The photo booth pictures. A smile spread across her face, as she studied the crazy faces they'd made posing for the pictures. They'd taken two "nice" pictures and two "naughty" ones. The "naughty" one she'd kept had her with her mouth opened wide and her tongue hanging out, and him making a fish face. He was good at doing stupid things like that. When she felt slightly upset, he'd always find a way to make her smile.

Make them laugh
It comes so easy
When you get to the part
Where you're breaking my heart
(Breaking my heart)
Hide behind your smile
The entire whole world loves a clown
(Just make them smile, the whole world loves a clown)

For some odd reason, she was reminded of that old song. "My funny Valentine, sweet comic Valentine... you make me smile... with my heart..." Usually her powerhouse soprano would have let those notes fly out of her mouth with amazing intensity, but now they were soft, and tears rolled down her cheeks. My funny Valentine... sweet comic Valentine... you can't make me smile... you broke my heart...

Wish you well
I cannot stay
You deserve an award for the role that you play
(Role that you play)
No more masquerade
You're one lonely star
(One lonely star you don't know who you are)

I've always been in love with you
(Always with you)
I guess you've always known its true
(Known its true)
You took my love for granted
Why, oh why
The show is over, say goodbye
Say goodbye
(Goodbye)
Say goodbye...

I've always been in love with you
(Always with you)
I guess you've always known its true
(Known its true)
You took my love for granted
Why, oh why
The show is over, say goodbye
Say goodbye
(Goodbye)
Say goodbye...

Finally, all of her things were packed. The clock read 1:37. She had to go. She stared at her reflection, and her song came to mind. Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me? Why is my reflection someone I don't know? She looked horrible. Tired, upset, and guilty. So many emotions worked their way through her body, but those were the most obvious. She pulled on a pair of non-prescription glasses, and walked into the bedroom again. He was still asleep; lying on his stomach with his head turned to the right. Her throat grew tight, and she just stood there for a minute, staring at him. God, if you knew how much I love you. Why couldn't you return that love, D? I need you. You need me. Why don't you realize that? You were one damn good actor—you made me believe that you cared about me, and you didn't.

All the world is a stage
And everyone has his or her part
But how was I to know which way the story goes?
How was I to know you'd break
You'd break, you'd break, you'd break
You'd break my heart?

She sighed, drew in a breath, and gently kissed his cheek. "Goodbye," she whispered into his ear. She picked up the bags, and walked out of the door, and out of his life, all while he slept, oblivious to what was going on.

Once outside, she waited for the cab to come and pick her up. She sat on the curb, and allowed herself to cry. Love's a bitch—especially unrequited love.

I've always been in love with you
(Always with you)
I guess you've always known its true
(Known its true)
You took my love for granted
Why, oh why
The show is over, say goodbye
Say goodbye...
(Goodbye)
Say goodbye...


I absolutely LOVE that song, by the way, LMAO. And personally, I think that D and Tina would be cute together. (it'd make it easier for me to get to Jorge, you know--ahaha, I'm so mean.)

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