KAYLEIGH GOT OUT OF HER SISTER’S ’96 JET BLACK LASER AND SLAMMED THE DOOR.

“LOOK, THE ONLY REASON I BROUGHT YOU TO SCHOOL IS BECAUSE TO MAKE MOM HAPPY,” KAYLEIGH TURNED AROUND TO FACE HER OLDER SISTER, VERONICA, “JUST DON’T GET IN MY WAY IN THE HALLS.”

“OH, GOD FORBIDE YOU CAN’T MAKE MOM MAD SHE MIGHT NOT GIVE YOU GAS MONEY ‘CAUSE LIKE SOME PEOPLE I KNOW, THEY THINK THAT WORK DOESN’T MEAN THEM. BESIDES, I WON’T COME NEAR YOU IF I DON’T HAVE TO, LIVING WITH YOU IS ENOUGH,” KAYLEIGH SNAPPED BACK. VERONICA ROLLED HER BLUE EYES, DISGUSTED. SHE SWUNG HER BLONDE HAIR AND WALKED AWAY.

NO ONE WOULD’VE FIGURED OUT THAT KAYLEIGH AND VERONICA WERE SISTERS. VERONICA WAS THE HEAD CHEERLEADER, PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT COUNSIL, PRESIDENT OF SENIOR CLASS, AND PRESIDENT OF THE DRAMA CLUB… IN OTHER WORDS SHE WAS THE MOST POPULAR GIRL IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY, TOTAL PREP. NOT MENTIONING A SNOT NOSED BRAT WITH A SMILE TO MAKE ANY GUY A SLAVE. KAYLEIGH WAS THE OPPOSITE. WEARING BLACK ALL THE TIME, LISTENING TO ROCK, BAGGY PANTS, AND JUST ACTING NORMAL. IN OTHER WORDS A FREAK.

KAYLEIGH REACHED THE SCHOOL DOORS AND STOOD THERE UNTIL ALL OF HER FRIENDS HAD JOINED HER. BRIAN, SELENA, GLENN, AND HER HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FRIENDS THROUGHOUT THEIR 14 YEARS IN THE WORLD. THEY HAVE ALWAYS COMFORTED EACH OTHER THROUGH HARD TIMES, LIKE THE MOST RECENTLY, SELENA’S DEPRESSION. WITH THE HELP OF HER FRIENDS, SELENA GOT OVER THE HARD TIME.

GLENN, KAYLEIGH, BRIAN, AND SELENA WERE ALL IN A STRAIGHT LINE GOING DOWN THE EMPTY HALL OF FRANKLIN HIGH.

“OH, LOOK THE FAGS,” DION A BLONDE HAIRED, BROWN EYED GIRL SAID. KAYLEIGH TURNED AND FACED HER GETTING HER STRAWBERRY BLONDE HAIR IN HER FACE.

“WE PERFER FREAKS IF YOU DON’T MIND.”

“I DO MIND, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT?” DION ASKED.

KAYLEIGH STEPPED UP TO HER, “I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU.” DION ROLLED HER EYES.

KAYLEIGH TURNED TO FACE HER FRIENDS, “WHAT A SNOB,” AS SHE TOOK A STEP FORWARD.

DION LOOKED AT HER; “I’M NOT A SNOB.”

THE ‘FREAKS’ NEVER HEARD BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY WALKING AWAY FROM HER. THAT’S WHAT THEY WERE GOOD AT, WALKING AWAY FROM THEIR PROBLEMS…OR SO THE ‘PREPS’ THOUGHT SO. THEY DIDN’T WANT TO START ANYTHING THAT’S WHY THEY WALK AWAY.

1ST PERIOD CAME AND THEY WALKED INTO SCIENCE TOGETHER AND SAT DOWN AT THEIR SEATS. MR. KNEPPER STARTED TEACHING. TWO BOYS STARTED TALKING BESIDE GLENN WHILE MR. KNEPPER WAS WRITING SOMETHING ON THE BLACK CHALKBOARD. HE TURNED QUICKLY AND YELLED, “MR. JONES!” GLENN LOOKED UP AT HIM FROM HIS GREEN NOTEBOOK. “DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH THE REST OF THE CLASS?”

GLENN LOOKED AROUND AND PROTESTED, “IT WASN’T ME, IT WAS…” HE GOT CUT OFF SHORT BY THE TEACHER.

“I DIDN’T ASK WHO IT WAS… I ASKED IF YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SHARE. UNDERSTAND?”

“IT WASN’T M…”

“UNDERSTOOD?” THE TEACHER’S GREEN EYES BORED INTO GLENN’S HONEY ONES.

GLENN SLOUCHED INTO HIS SEAT, “ UNDERSTOOD.”

“GOOD NOW BEFORE I WAS RUDELY INTERRUPTED,” MR. KNEPPER FACED THE BOARD AGAIN AND TAUGHT SOME MORE. SELENA FELT SORRY FOR HER FRIEND, SHE KNEW HE WAS MAD ‘CAUSE NO ONE EVER LISTENS TO HIM NOT EVEN HIS PARENTS. IN FACT, HIS PARENTS ARE NOT EVEN THERE FOR HIM.

20 MINUTES LATER BRIAN WAS ON THE COLD CLEAN BROWN TILE OUTSIDE THE ROOM OF 115, JUST FOR ASKING A SIMPLE HARMLESS GUESTION. HE COULD NOT HELP STANDING UP FOR HIMSELF EVEN IF HE HAD TO MOUTH BACK. HE PUT HIS HEAD DOWN CAUSING HIS DARK BROWN HAIR GETTING IT IN HIS EYES.

“WHY CAN’T PEOPLE JUST TREAT ME LIKE A REGULAR PERSON?” HE ASKED HIMSELF. 15 MINUTE LATER THE BELL RUNG AND THEY ALL PERSEDED TO GO TO SECOND PEROID. AFTER A LONG DAY, THEY ALL WERE GLAD TO GO TO THEIR FAVORITE MEETING PLACE.

“WHAT DAY IS THIS?” ASKED SELENA.

“THURSDAY,” KAYLEIGH REPLIED.

“GOOD, THAT MEANS ONE MORE DAY WITH MR.KNEPPER,” INFORMED BRIAN. SELENA’S RED HAIR SHINED, LIKE DIAMONDS IN THE SUNLIGHT.

“THANK GOD,” GLENN JOINED IN.

“WHAT ARE WE DOING TONIGHT?” ASKED KAYLEIGH HER EYES GREEN EYES SHINING.

“WHY DON’T WE JUST STAY HOME TONIGHT,” SUGGESTED BRIAN.

“ITS OK WITH ME,” SELENA SAID.

“OK,” GLENN AGREED.

“FINE WITH ME,” KAYLEIGH REPLIED.

WALKING OUT OF THE PIZZA PLACE, THEY WENT THEIR SEPARATE WAYS. BRIAN WALKED PAST HOUSES THINKING. THINKING WHY HE SHOULD LIVE. WAKING UP AND HIS PARENTS NOT THEIR SAYING ‘GOOD MORNING’. HE PUT HIS HEAD DOWN, HAIR GOT IN HIS FACE AND HE TUCKED IT BEHIND HIS EARS. MOVING HIS BOOKBAG HIGHER ON HIS SHOULDERS, HE STEPPED ONTO HIS WHITE PORCH STEPS.

“MOM! DAD! I’M HOME!” NO ANSWER. BRIAN SAW A YELLOW PIECE OF PAPER TAPED TO THE MIRROR IN THE EMPTY HALL.

BRIAN,

YOUR MOTHER AND I WENT TO HAVE A DINNER AND A MOVIE. WE WILL NOT BE BACK UNTIL NINE. I HOPE YOU DO NOT MIND MAKING YOURSELF DINNER.

LOVE, DAD

P.S. MONEY IS ON THE COUNTER IF YOU WANT PIZZA.

HE WALKED INTO THE KITCHEN, WHICH CONNECTED TO THE HALLWAY, AND SAW A 20-DOLLAR BILL. DROPPING HIS BOOKBAG ON THE FLOOR HE PICKED UP THE DOLLAR BILL, LOOKED AT IT, AND DROPPED IT BACK ON THE COUNTER.

“FIGURES.”

HE OPENED A DRAWER AND GOT SOMETHING AOUT OF IT. RUNNING UP THE BLUE CARPETED STAIRS IT GLEAMED IN THE LIGHT. HIS PARENTS WOULD NOT BE BACK IN 3 HOURS SO HE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO DO IT.

HOURS LATER, HIS PARENTS WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL STONE HOUSE.

“BRIAN, HONEY, WE ARE BACK,” MR. GAGARIN’S DEEP VOICE ECHOED THROUGH THE LARGE HOUSE.

“I TOLD THAT BOY NOT TO TURN HIS MUSIC ON SO LOUD,” MRS. GAGARIN TOLD HER HUSBAND AS SHE NOTICED THE LOUD, HARD ROCK SOUND COMING FROM UPSTAIRS. SHE STARTED TO WALK UP THE STEPS TO HIS ROOM. REACHING HIS DOOR, SHE SAW A NOTE.

MOM & DAD,

I WILL SEE YOU WHEN YOU COME TO HEAVEN WITH ME. PLEASE DO NOT BE SAD FOR ME, I AM SOMEWHERE WHERE EVERYBODY IS EQUAL. I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU. LOVE YOU ALL.

- BRIAN

MRS. GAGARIN BURSTS OPEN HIS DOOR, TO FIND A KNIFE ON THE FLOOR AND BRIAN SITTING ON A CHAIR, DEAD.

“ROGER!”

“KAYLEIGH! PHONE!”

“I GOT IT!” KAYLEIGH PICKED UP THE TELEPHONE BESIDE HER. “HELLO?”

“KAYLEIGH?” THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE ASKED.

“SELENA? IS THAT YOU? WHY ARE YOU CRYING?”

SELENA COULD NOT HELP IT; SHE DROPPED THE TELEPHONE AND FELL TO THE FLOOR. GLENN PICKED UP THE TELEPHONE ON THE GREEN CARPET.

“HELLO?”

“GLENN? WHAT HAPPENED?”

GLENN TRIED TO HOLD BACK HIS TEARS. “I THINK YOU BETTER COME OVER TO SELENA’S HOUSE, I WILL TELL YOU THEN.”

“WHY NOT NOW?”

“JUST COME QUICKLY,” WITH THAT HE HUNG UP THE BLACK CORDLESS TELEPHONE. HE DROPPED TO HIS KNEES AND TRIED TO COMFORT SELENA.

KAYLEIGH KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

“MOM! I’M GOING OUT!” SHE DID NOT EVEN LET HER MOM SAY IF IT WAS OK. KAYLEIGH RAN ALL THE WAY TO SELENA’S HOUSE. SHE WAS OUT OF BREATH WHEN SHE GOT THERE. ‘I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE TOOK GYM CLASS’ SHE TOLD HERSELF. RUNNING UP SELENA’S PORCH STEPS, THE DOOR OPENED AND SELENA RUSHED OUT WITH GLENN RIGHT BEHIND HER. KAYLEIGH AND SELENA EMBRACED. PULLING OUT OF SELENA’S ARMS KAYLEIGH LOOKED AT HER BEST FRIEND’S GRAY EYES, WHICH ALWAYS BRIGHTENED HER DAY.

“WHAT HAPPENED?”

SELENA STOOD THEIR SHAKING, TRYING HARD NOT TO FALL ON HER BLACK BAGGY JEANS. KAYLEIGH LOOKED AT GLENN FOR HELP. HE LOOKED UP FROM THE PORCH FLOOR AND SAW KAYLEIGH’S EYES ON HIM.

“BRI… BRI… I THINK YOU SHOULD SIT DOWN,” HE TRIED STALLING.

“I DON’T WANT TO SIT DOWN! GODDAMN IT, GLENN, JUST TELL ME!” IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SHE SWORE. AMAZINGLY, SHE DIDN’T LIKE SWEARING. SHE ALWAYS SAID IT WAS SLANG THAT DIDN’T NEED TO BE SAID. IT DIDN’T DO ANYTHING. IT DIDN’T MAKE YOU POPULAR, OR FEEL SPECIAL. SO WHY DO IT?

A PIECE OF BLONDE HAIR FELL; GLENN QUICKLY BRUSHED IT AWAY.

“BRI… BRI…” HE CLOSED HIS EYES AND TRIED AGAIN, “BRIAN COMMITED SUICIDE… HES DEAD…DEAD, KAYLEIGH, DEAD.”

KAYLEIGH FELT HER KNEES GO WEAK, SHE COULD NOT SEE STRAIGHT, ALL OF A SUDDEN STRONG, WARM ARMS GRABBED HER, BREAKING HER FALL. SHE LOOKED UP TO SEE GLENN HOLDING HER, HIS HONEY EYES FILLED WITH TEARS. KAYLEIGH CROSSED HER ARMS ACROSS HER CHEST AND STARTED CRYING UNCONTROLLABLY. GLENN WRAPPED HIS ARMS AROUND HER IN A BIG HUG AND LET TEARS FLOW FROM HIS EYES. ALL THREE OF THEM WERE HUDDLED IN A GROUP OF BLACK, WHITE, AND TEARS.

^^^^^^^^^NEXT DAY AT SCHOOL^^^^^^^

THEY CAME DOWN THE LONG DARK CORRIDOR HOLDING HANDS. SELENA AND KAYLEIGH WERE AT THE ENDS WHILE GLENN WAS IN THE MIDDLE. STARES AND WHISPERS PASSED RIGHT THROUGH THEM LIKE GHOSTS. FRANKLIN WAS A SMALL TOWN, SO EVERYBODY KNEW WHY ONLY THREE OF THE OUTCAST MEMBERS WERE THERE.

DION RAN IN FRONT OF THEM CAUSING THEM TO STOP WALKING, “WHAT IS THIS, A GANGBANG? WHERE’S YOUR FRIEND KAYLEIGH?” KAYLEIGH LOOKED AT HER AND SAID NOTHING, KNOWING SHE KNEW. INSTEAD, SELENA CAME TO HER SIDE.

“YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE HE IS AT.”

DION THOUGHT FOR A SECOND, “THAT’S RIGHT, HES DEAD. THAT MEANS ONE LESS FAG TO WORRY ABOUT,” SHE SMILED AT HER OWN SMART REMARK.

KAYLEIGH’S EYES FLASHED WITH ANGER. “YOU SNOBBY, SELFISH LITTLE PRICK. HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO US! JUST BECAUSE YOUR DAD LEFT YOUR MOTHER AND YOU DOESN’T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO LET US FEEL THE PAIN TOO. BRIAN DIED BECAUSE OF THIS! PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO THINK THEIR LIFE WAS SO PERFECT, UNTIL SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO IT. LIFE ISN’T ABOUT MONEY OR POPULARITY! ITS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE LIKE 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. IT DEFINATLY, ISN’T ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU!” A TEACHER CAME OUT TO SEE WHAT ALL THE COMMOTION WAS ABOUT, BUT STAYED AT THE SIDELINES.

KAYLEIGH CALMED DOWN A BIT. “LIFE IS ABOUT WHO YOU LOVE OR WHO YOU HATE. ITS ABOUT REPLACEING HATE WITH LOVE. LIFE IS ABOUT BEING COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING. IT IS ABOUT STICKING UP FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND LOVING THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. IT IS ABOUT CHANGING SOMEBODY’S LIFE FOR THE BETTER! HOW DOES IT FEEL BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LINE; BEING YELLED AND HARRASSED AT? IT’S A LOT DIFFERENT, ISN’T IT?” KAYLEIGH STOPPED AND MOVED AWAY FROM DION’S FACE, WHO WAS PUSHED AGAINST THE OLD BLUE LOCKERS, AND STARED AT HER PRETTY WHITE FACE. KAYLEIGH FELT TEARS FORM AND TURNED IT BACK TOWARD DION. “I MAY NOT HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS BUT I HAVE ENOUGH. AT LEAST MY FRIENDS LIKE ME FOR WHATS IN THE INSIDE AND NOT FOR MONEY OR POPULARITY,”

SHE TURNED AROUND TO FACE THE PEOPLE WHO GATHERED AROUND. “I SWEAR ON BRIAN’S GRAVE, GOD HELP ME, THAT THIS WILL STOP, THIS ARGUEING, THESE PICKING SIDES THAT WE SO LOVE DOING, WILL STOP! IT’S ALL GOING TO START…” KAYLEIGH’S WATERY EYES NARROWED AS SHE LOOKED AND POINTED TO DION, “WITH YOU!” GLENN STARTED APPLAUDING, THEN SELENA, FOLLOWED BY THE CROWD THAT HEARD EVERYTHING. KAYLEIGH FELT VERY ILL FOR NOT NOTICING EARLIER, HOW COULD SHE NOT NOTICE BRIAN’S SADNESS, LONELYNESS? AFTER ALL THIS TIME OF FEELING THE SAME WAY. ALL THESE PEOPLE WERE NOW STARTING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY WERE, HOW DION WAS. WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO PEOPLE TO NOTICE HOW DION WAS? AFTER SOMEBODY HAD TO DIE? IT REALLY OPENED OTHER’S EYES.

DION RUSHED UP TO THE TEACHER WHO SAW EVERYTHING, “ WELL, AREN’T YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING?”

MR. RITTER SHRUGGED HIS BROAD SHOULDERS, “ WHAT IS THERE TO DO?”

“SEND HER TO THE OFFICE OR SOMETHING.”

“FOR WHAT?” ASKED THE YOUNG TEACHER.

“YELLING… YELLING AT ME.”

“NO OFFENSE, BUT YOU DESERVED IT.”

“BUT MR. RITTER-“

“MISS LIGHTENER IF YOU WON’T QUITE BUGGING ME, THE ONLY PERSON GOING TO THE OFFICE IS YOU. NOW, GET TO HOMEROOM.”

MR. RITTER TURNED AROUND AND WALKED TO HIS ROOM, WHILE DION LOOKED STUNNED. THE DAY AND WEEKEND PASSED QUICKLY.

ON MONDAY KAYLEIGH WALKED UP TO BRIAN’S COFFIN AND LOOKED IN. SHE NEVER SAW BRIAN LIKE THIS. HE HAD A BLACK TUX ON, HAIR NEATLY COMBED TO ONE SIDE, HIS BLUE EYES, THAT SHOWED SO MUCH ENERGY, WERE CLOSED… CLOSED FOREVER. HIS FACE WAS WHITE… SO WHITE. HER EYES BECAME WATERY; SHE LOOKED UP TO SEE HIS MOTHER CRYING AND HIS FATHER HOLDING HER DOING HIS BEST NOT TO CRY. SHE COULDN’T TAKE IT SHE RAN OUT OF THE DREATFUL ROOM OF DEATH. SHE SAT ON A SWING IN THE BACK. THE BRANCHES ON THE WILLOW SHADED HER FROM BEING SEEN BY ANYONE. A COOL BREEZE SWEPT THROUGH MAKING THE BRANCHES DANCE LIKE FAIRES. SHE TURNED HER HEAD AND CLOSED HER EYES WAITING FOR IT TO PASS. WHEN IT DID SHE LOOKED UP TO SEE BRIAN SITTING BESIDE HER, SMILING. SMILING HIS BEAUTIFUL SMILE SHE ALWAYS LOVED: HIS BLUE EYES SHINING AT HER.

“HOW ARE YOU DOING?” HE ASKED.

“WELL, YOU ARE DEAD, YOU FIGURE IT OUT,” HIS SMILE DISAPPEARED AND PUT HIS HEAD DOWN. SHE CONTINUED ON, “DO YOU SEE WHAT YOU DID TO US? YOU HURT US, REALLY BAD, BRIAN. WHY DID YOU DO IT?”

“I DON’T KNOW. I GUESS I THOUGHT NOBODY LOVED ME.”

“ NOBODY LOVED YOU, BRIAN?”

“HEY, I LIKE HOW YOU TOLD DION OFF, THAT WAS GREAT,” HE SMILED CHANGING THE SUBJECT.

SHE SMILED, “ YOU WERE THERE?”

HE GRABBED HER HANDS IN HIS, “ OF COURSE, I COULDN’T LEAVE YOU.”

SHE SLID HER HANDS OUT OF HIS ICE COLD HANDS AND GOT UP NOT WANTING HIM TO SEE HER TEARS, THAT SUDDENLY FORMED.

“PLEASE, KAYLEIGH, DON’T DO THAT.”

“DO WHAT?” SHE ASKED WIPING HER EYES.

BRIAN QUICKLY SPUN HER AROUND AND HELD HER CHIN IN HIS HAND, “ DOING THAT, CRYING. I CAN’T STAND TO SEE YOU CRY.”

“THEN WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DIE?” SHE ASKED.

“TO PROTECT YOU, PROTECT YOU FROM THE FATE I HAVE NOW. SO YOU WOULDN’T KILL YOURSELF. I KNOW YOU WERE HAVING THOSE THOUGHTS.”

KAYLEIGH TURNED AROUND FACING THE YELLOW SETTING SUN, “ HOW DID YOU KNOW?”

“KAYLEIGH, WE HAVE BEEN BEST FRIENDS SINCE KINDERGARTEN, I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU. I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ALL THE TIME, BECAUSE I FEEL THE SAME THING.”

“BUT WHY?” SHE ASKED, AGAIN.

“ I LOVE YOU, I ALWAYS HAVE.” KAYLEIGH’S LIP STARTED TO QUIVER; SHE COVERED HER FACE IN HER HANDS AND STARTED CRYING. HE WRAPPED HIS ARMS AROUND HER WAIST. SHE SPUN AROUND AND PUT HER ARMS AROUND HIS NECK IN A HUG.

“ OH BRIAN, I LOVE YOU, TOO,” SHE SAID BETWEEN SOBS.

“KAYLEIGH PROMISE ME SOMETHING, PROMISE YOU WILL SING.”

“I CAN’T SING.”

HE LIFTED HER EYES TO HIS, “ PROMISE ME YOU WILL SING. PROMISE ME YOU ARE GOING TO COQUER THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD, PROMISE ME YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.”

“BUT I CAN’T SING.”

“YES, YOU CAN I HEARD YOU BEFORE. PROMISE ME.”

“BUT…” SHE TRIED.

“PROMISE ME.”

HE LEANED DOWN AND GAVE HER A LIGHT KISS, A FRIENDLY KISS. A KISS THAT KAYLEIGH WOULD NEVER FORGET.

THEY PARTED AND LOOKED INTO EACH OTHER’S EYES WISHING BRIAN WOULDN’T LEAVE. IN THE END HE HAD TO.

“I’LL ALWAYS BE BY YOUR SIDE, YOU LISTENING KAYLEIGH, ALWAYS AND FOREVER.”

“WHEN CAN WE BE TOGETHER AGAIN?”

“ONE SWEET DAY, KAYLEIGH, ONE SWEET DAY,” HE REPLIED AS HE DISAPPEARED IN FRONT OF HER. ^

^^10 YEARS, 8 ALBUMS & 550 MILLION FANS LATER^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“THIS IS CHRIS CONNELLY ON MARCH 16, 2010 WITH MTV NEWS TO THE HOUR EVERY HOUR. FIRST OF ALL THE FAMOUS BOY BAND ‘N SYNC, IS RELEASING THEIR 10TH ALBUM “ ‘N SYNCS GREATEST HITS” WHICH INCLUDS “ITS GONNA BE ME” AND “TEARIN’ UP MY HEART”. SORRY ‘N SYNC FANS BUT AFTER 20 YEARS THEY ARE FINALLY GIVING UP THE MUSIC BUSINESS. WE GOT IT FIRST RIGHT HERE ON MTV. THE 43 YEAR OLD JOEY FATONE COMMENTS ON IT QUOTE, WE HAVE BEEN MAKING MUSIC ALL OF OUR LIVES, AND WE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT, BUT SINCE WE ALL GROWN OLDER, WE DECIDED TO SPEND OUR LAST YEARS WITH OUR FAMILIES, UNQUOTE. JOEY’S WIFE, ERICA, OF 18 YEARS IS EXPECTING CHILD NUMBER 3 AT AGE 33. NOW, WE HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE QUEEN OF POP HERSELF, KAYLEIGH GAGARIN,” KAYLEIGH SAW HERSELF AND SMILED REMEMBERING THE SHORT INTERVIEW.

“KAYLEIGH YOU CONQUERED THE UNITED STATES AND YOU JUST CONQUERED ENGLAND. WHAT WILL YOU CONQUER NEXT?”

“THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD.”

“WELL, YOU ARE MAKING A BIG IMPACT, DIFFERENCE, IN PEOPLES LIVES. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU GIVE TEENAGERS WHO WANT TO BE SOMETHING LIKE YOURSELF?” HE ASKED.

“DON’T LET ANYBODY OR ANYTHING GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR DREAMS. NEVER GIVE UP.NEVER LET SOMEBODY TELL YOU, YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING.” KAYLEIGH GOT UP TO GET DRESSED FOR HER BIG CONCERT IN HER HOME STATE, PENNSYLVANIA, AND ONE HOUR FROM HER HOME TOWN. SHE SAT ON A STOOL ON A STAGE IN FRONT OF 3,000 FANS WHO LOVED HER DEARLY.

“HELLO, CAMBRIDGE!” SHE YELLED. IN REPLY SCREAMS FILLED THE AIR AND SHE SMILED.

“AS YOU KNOW, ITS MARCH 16,” THE STADIUM GOT DEAD SILENT AS SHE CONTINUED, “ SOME OF YOU KNOW ABOUT MY FIRST LOVE, BRIAN, WHO DIED ON THIS DATE 10 YEARS AGO. NOW, IF YOU DO THE MATH I WAS 14 AND I MADE MY FIRST ALBUM WHEN I WAS 16. IF YOU DON’T MIND I’M GOING TO SING A COUPLE SONGS THAT WAS POPULAR WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE. YOUR PARENTS WILL PROBABLY KNOW THEM. IF YOU KNOW THEM PLEASE SING A LONG WITH ME.” KAYLEIGH SANG HER FIRST SONG BY MARIAH CAREY AND BOYZ II MEN “ONE SWEET DAY”. SHE GOT DONE AND REMEMBERED ABOUT THE FIRST TIME SHE EVER SANG THE NEXT SONG. SINGING IT IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE SCHOOL- WHO RESPECTED HER AND HER FRIENDS BY THAT TIME- AND MAKING THEM ALL CRY.

“THIS ONE IS DEDICATED TO MY BEST FRIEND, AND FIRST LOVE, BRIAN,” SHE SAID BEFORE SINGING BLAQUE’S SONG “WHEN THE LAST TEARDROP FALLS”.

KAYLEIGH WAS NOW HALF CRYING WHEN SHE STOOD UP AND WALKED TO THE END OF THE STAGE, AS THE BAND QUIT PLAYING. IT WAS SO QUIET YOU COULD EASILY HEAR A PIN DROP. SHE HELD OUT HER MICROPHONE TO THE FANS “WHEN THE LAST TEARDROP FALLS.” EVERYONE YELLED AT HER.

SHE RAN OFF STAGE AND QUICKLY GOT ON THE BUS. GOING TO HER OWN BED- IN THE BACK OF THE BUS- SHE STARTED CRYING SILENTLY. A TEAR RAN DOWN HER LEFT CHEEK BUT IT SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED AT THE SAME TIME WHEN SE FELT SOMETHING COLD AGAINST HER SAME CHEEK.

“HEY, BRIAN.”

“GREAT CONCERT,” HE WHISPERED IN HER EAR.

“IT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU.” KAYLEIGH SHORTLY WENT TO BED AFTER THAT. THINKING OF WHAT SHE SHOULD DO TO CONQUER THE WORLD.

^^^^^^^^^^EPOLOUGE^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

KAYLEIGH’S REAL LAST NAME WAS SMITH NOT GAGARIN. WHEN SHE TOLD EVERYBODY ABOUT THE DAY OF THE FURERAL NOBODY BELIEVED HER… EXCEPT HER PARENTS. THE WHOLE COMMUNITY THOUGHT SHE WAS CRAZY AND WANTED TO PUT HER IN A MENTAL INSTITUTION. KAYLEIGH’S FAMILY MOVED TO MIAMI, FLORIDA AFTER A YEAR OF HARASSMENT AND THREATS, NEVER TO SEE HER FRIENDS AGAIN. WHEN SHE GOT ‘DISCOVERED’ SHE ASKED TO CHANGE HER LAST NAME TO GAGARIN, BRIAN’S LAST NAME. WHEN SHE WAS 26 SHE MARRIED AND HAD 2 BOYS, BRIAN AND ALEX. AFTER SHE CONQUERED THE WORLD SHE DIED AT THE AGE OF 36, IN A PLANE CRASH 4 MILES FROM HER HOMETOWN ON MARCH 20, ONE DAY AFTER HER BIRTHDAY. SHE IS BURIED BESIDE HER FIRST LOVE, IN MOUNTAIN RUN CEMETERY. HER OLDEST SON, BRIAN, IS NOW CURRENTLY FOLLOWING IN HIS MOTHER’S FOOTSTEPS, AT THE AGE OF 12. ALEX, HER OTHER SON IS ALREADY SHOWING SIGNS OF TALENT IN MUSIC AT THE AGE OF 8.

KAYLEIGH’S SISTER, VERONICA, IS WORKING AT MCDONALDS’ AND STILL LIVING WITH HER PARENTS.

DION IS IN PRISON FOR KILLING HER ABUSIVE HUSBAND. SHE IS SENTANCED TO 60 YEARS TO LIFE, WITHOUT PAROL.

SELENA DRAKE AND GLENN JONES ARE CURRENTLY MARRIED… TO EACH OTHER. THEY HAVE ONE GIRL AND ONE BOY, KAYLEIGH AND JAKE. GLENN IS AND ACHOLIC THEY ARE RAPIDLY FALLING INTO BANKRUPCY.

Author's Note: This is not a real story..although some of you might think it is. Some of the people in this story is real though('NSync for example). There was a real Bryan. Just like Bryan in my story he commited suicide on March 16, 2000. 3 days before my 13th birthday. Just like any other cousin would, I took it pretty hard. I wrote the story because to let others know that some people do take the teasing seriously. I think if people hadn't treated my cousin like shit then he would still be alive today.