Nine:

Nine:

 

“Gina, will you PLEASE go look for her?  If you don’t we won’t ever get JC into wardrobe,” Justin said.

 

“Yes I’ll go, that’s where I was heading anyway,” she replied.  “Um, Justin, you have to let me out.”

 

“Oh, yeah, sorry,” he said, moving away from the door so she could leave.  Gina just laughed and hurried out, determined not to return without Sarah.  She wasn’t sure what was up with JC, but she liked this new side of him and she was willing to do whatever she could to keep him this way.

 

Her first stop was Will-Call.  The attendant told her that two girls had tried to pick up the tickets but their IDs didn’t match.  The girls had confessed that they overheard two older girls talking about having their seats upgraded, so the girls had waited for a chance to pull it from one’s open purse and then tried their luck.  No one had come looking for the envelope so far.  Gina stamped her foot and muttered under her breath, then stepped outside on a hunch.  She didn’t see anyone and went back in, just in time to hear someone arguing with venue security.

 

“I’m telling you, we DO have tickets!”

 

“Then let’s see them.”

 

“I told you I can’t do that.  They’re at Will-Call.”

 

“Will-Call is closed.  I can’t help it if you were too busy doing your hair to get here and pick them up.  Look lady, you aren’t the first to try a stunt like this.”

 

Gina recognized Sarah standing beside the girl arguing with the snotty security guard and figured that must be Stacy.  “Sarah!” she called.  “Over here!”

 

Sarah turned around and thought her legs were going to give out from the immense relief that came at seeing a familiar face.  Gina approached the three of them and smiled evilly at the security guard.  “Well,” she glanced at his nametag before continuing, “Wendell.  Wait a second, Wendell?  Your name is Wendell?  Ahem, don’t you know not to harass the personal guests of the stars here tonight?”  Wendell just glared and muttered that he was only doing his job.  “And a fine job you’re doing.  You know, I only saw three or four people sneak in while you were making a nuisance of yourself.  And for your information, Wendell, Will-Call is not closed.  They are waiting on these two ladies to arrive and pick up their tickets.  I suggest you start reading your memos, or do you not know how?”  Wendell sputtered as they walked away.

 

“Oh, thank you so much!  I can’t believe I lost that envelope.”

 

“You didn’t, Sarah.  Apparently you were standing beside a couple of eavesdropping, pre-teen pick-pockets.  I’m telling you, these hormone crazed adolescents will do literally anything to get closer-”  Gina was cut off as the two-way radio clipped to her belt crackled and came to life.

 

“Hey, Lola,” a voice sounding eerily like Justin’s said, “did you get the package?”

 

“Drop the cryptic talk, J.  Yeah I found ‘em.  Now tell your buddy to go put his clothes on.”  They heard laughter followed by more static before it fell silent again.  Gina turned to Stacy and Sarah.  “Chris’ toy.  He and Justin like to fight over it when they make me play spy games.  Don't ask,” she said, waving the walkie-talkie.  “I swear, Chris is a nine year old trapped in a man’s body, not that the others are much better.”  She shook her head and chuckled.  “Well, ladies, ready to get seated before the show starts?”

 

Stacy snapped her mouth shut and blinked a few times until her eyes almost returned to their normal size.  She turned and elbowed Sarah as they followed Gina to the Will-Call window and then into the arena.  “I thought you said her name was Gina.”

 

“It is . . . I think . . .”

 

“More importantly, did you hear who that thing belongs to?  Oh, I want it!” 

 

Sarah laughed.  “Girl, you are crazy!”

 

 

Their seats were front row, center.  Gina had told them not to leave until she came back after the show, so of course their feet were glued in place until she arrived.  “Well, I hope you weren’t planning on going home right away,” she said, shooing away the venue employees who had threatened to call security if the girls didn’t leave.  “Follow me,” she said, walking around the barricades in front of them and leading them backstage.  “The guys are probably halfway back to the hotel by now, but I have to pick something up if that’s OK.”  They didn’t answer, too swept up in the excitement of being backstage.  It didn’t matter that *NSYNC was gone.  What mattered was that they had been there less than 15 minutes before.  They rounded a corner and were nearly flattened by someone barreling down the hallway.  “Whoa!” Gina said, putting her hands up.  Steve slid to a stop and fell on his butt.  “Aren’t you supposed to be on the bus?”

 

“Well, yeah, but the buses didn’t get far.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I don’t know.  They won’t really say but the guys were rushed back in and there are cops swarming around the buses.”

 

Stacy and Sarah witnessed the exchange with wide eyes.  “Well then,” Gina said, “ I guess you’re going to need these.”  She handed Stacy and Sarah something on a cord.  “Just being with us isn’t enough if they’re still here, so put those on.”  They did as she said.

 

“Stace, can you believe this?” Sarah whispered.

 

“I know.  Backstage passes.  How cool is that?  I think I’ll take this home and frame it.”

 

They were scared of course, wondering what might have happened, but they refused to think about it.  They followed Gina down the hall and around the corner and stopped cold.  People were everywhere.  It was all rather chaotic.  Gina turned and grabbed Sarah’s hand, telling her to get a firm hold on Stacy, and wove through the crowd.  She stopped at a door, knocked, and waited.  It opened a crack and someone peeked out before throwing it open and dragging the three women inside.  Sarah and Stacy looked up to find themselves in *NSYNC’s dressing room.  Lance was on the phone, Justin was sitting in the corner, and Joey was standing right beside them.  Chris appeared through another doorway, his hair wet.  Someone stepped up behind Sarah and locked their arms around her waist.  She jumped and started to struggle but a very familiar voice whispered in her ear.  “Calm down, it’s just me.”  She broke into a smile and relaxed.  JC loosened his hold enough for her to turn around.  “I’m glad you made it,” he said. 

 

Stacy was watching them carefully.  “Um, don’t mind me or anything,” she said.

 

“Oh!  Sorry Stace.  Josh, meet Stacy.”

 

“That’s better,” Stacy said.  She turned around at a loud squeal.  Gina was hanging over Joey’s shoulder and apparently he was threatening something she didn’t like.

 

“Kids,” a voice said from beside her.  Stacy turned and found Chris standing barely a foot away.

 

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