One: Morning Call

AUGUST 1995

 "Come, on, just for a little while… I ALWAYS watch what you want" a petite girl yelped as she jumped up and down in attempt to grab the remote while her chestnut brown hair flying in all directions.

"Come off it Jo…you had 'While You Were Sleeping' on for ONLY the fifth time last night…besides, I wanna watch Alien Resurrection. I hear the special effects are pretty damn amazing" he chortled teasingly as he held the remote above his head so it would be "out of reach, out of mind"

"You're absolutely nauseating, you know that Littrell? Jo smirked as she jumped on the white leather couch and pounced on the remote, sending the curly blonde down on his face on the wooden oak floor.

"Looks like this room needs some major TLC from the way Jo's been acting" a voice boomed into the room, munching on crisps. "Bri, you sure you don’t want me to call the circus? I think I heard they need a clown…one that has natural aptitude for falling flat on their face" the blonde laughed loudly, watching the curly blonde attempt unsuccessfully to grab the remote from the jumping girl's small hand, only to send him tumbling down again.

"Carter, if you knew what was good for you, you'd stay put" Brian commented, shaking his fingers mockingly, a smile leering off his face as he cornered the boy sitting on the couch "This girl is quite the obnoxious little vixen. Besides, you know how much those media types love you…I can just see it- TEEN BEAT's front cover:

NICK CARTER EXCLUSIVE-MY NEW NOSE JOB- "I was beaten by a girl" " Brian laughed, ducking as Nick hurled a bright yellow cushion across the room, as if it were a shot put.

"Oh yeah…especially since we haven’t even hit the charts yet…I'm starting to think our first single will be "When I'm Sixty Four!" Nick joked good naturedly.

"Boys…do they ever grow up?" Jo wondered aloud, shaking her head in mock exasperation as she pressed play.

"OH...Jo…no…do we have to?" the boys groaned in unison, ceasing their bantering long enough to see Sandra Bullock appear on the screen, pulling a Christmas tree through a window.

"I thought you were sane, but seeing that you're worshipping this movie like your bible, I'm not so sure… the word lunatic does spring to mind…" Nick trailed off with a mischievous glint in his blue eyes as he left the room. "I ain't watching no chick flick" he muttered, stifling a yawn.

Jo ignored him, settling into the big armchair comfortably.

Brian took a seat on the arm of the white leather upholstered armchair; looking down fondly at the figure curled up on the couch, devouring each word and action of the characters. She cracked up laughing as Sandra Bullock's character realises that she missed her chance on telling her latest crush "I love you".

"She is so naďve" Jo commented aloud, finally noticing Brian's lingering gaze on her.

"Littrell…what are you doing?" she questioned playfully punching him on the arm. "Have I got gum in my hair or something?" she wondered in shock as her green eyes widened, hands immediately flying to her hair.

Brian's serious expression suddenly blew up into a fully blown grin, giving his cover away. "Just wanted to study my closest friend before I go to Europe" he supplied softly in his Southern accent.

"Well, I think you'd flunk the task, cos you don’t seem to realise that 'While You Were Sleeping' has become a major foundation in her well being" Jo teased, twisting her small mouth into a smile.

"Come on, sit down and watch it with me" she coaxed eagerly, patting the seat.

Brian smiled half- heartedly, squeezing into the small seat with her.

This is going to be a long night… But it'll be a longer ride on life without her


JULY 2000

"GOOD MORNING, San Rafael….” The over-zealous DJ greeted irritatingly cheerful.

"This is Jordan Zenerman for K2000 FM and I'm here to drag you outta your sleepy clothes and into the Californian sunshine…" the deejay droned on.

Jo groaned under the covers, trying desperately to hide from the morning and the responsibilities it held.

Appointment with Armen the photographer for that GN photo shoot, article deadline by six, pick up the dry cleaning, get the Corvette fixed…the list droned on in her head.

Man, I so don’t want to get up Jo thought, burying her head further into the covers.

"…. hold me now don’t bother/ if every second it makes me weaker/ you can save me from the man I've become…" the tune trailed on from the radio.

Jo sighed sitting up slowly in bed as she listened to the familiar voice, while pulling her fingers through her tangled chestnut brow hair "But if he can make to the top of the music business, I can at least get up"

She reluctantly made her way to the joint bathroom wrapping her cotton blue blanket around her as it dragged on the floor. Opening her eyes wearily as she squinted at the sun pouring through the grimy window, she reached into the bathroom cabinet and pulled the toothpaste out, carefully applying it to the bristles of her yellow toothbrush.

"Why does he always have to remind me that there is always a higher goal to reach?" she grumbled as she began to clean her teeth vigorously.

The phone jangled furiously. Lazily, she allowed the machine to pick up.

"Hey it's Johanna Osment, I'm not here at the moment, but leave a message after the tone, and I'll get back to you…" the machine clicked.

"Hey Jo…it's Brian... I'm in California, about three miles away from your home town at the moment so thought I'd come see you today… give me a call-"

"Hey stranger" Jo intercepted, good naturedly putting aside the fact that she had been moping about getting up two minutes ago.

"I just heard your latest on Zenerman. Your annoying voice pounded at me to get up and get on with it" she greeted accusingly.

"Sorry Jo…it's not my fault that our music is actually bearable" he teased sarcastically, while referring to the success his group had been having in the past few years. "Well, good thing I still have some influence over you- otherwise you would have become a slob, lying at home all the time."

"Ha!" was all Jo could think of as a come-back. "So what time you free?"

"Well, I could see you just before the concert tonight…but it'll have to be brief…" his voice trailed off. "Please say you'll come" he pleaded, changing his tone.

"Can’t we do this some other time?" Jo asked a little annoyed at the late notice, as she checked her appointments for the day. "I've got a million and one things to do…." She said as she listed the number of tasks to be accomplished.

Brian interrupted "But I really want to see you today; and I'll be flying to New York tomorrow and won't be back for ages… I have something really important to tell you" he added, as seriousness shrouded his voice.

Jo stopped flicking through her daily journal, sensing importance in his voice. "What is it?" she asked as she rubbed her temples furiously.

"I'll tell you tonight, at five, k? I'll meet you at Angel Mist…" he said "Oh and bring the white umbrella" he joked, referring to the metaphor of an upstanding and accomplished woman she used in her latest column.

"You read it, Littrell?" she asked in shock, as she blushed "What do you think?" she blurted out self consciously.

"I like your style… very entertaining" he complimented. A loud voice in the background could be heard over the connection "Look I got to go…choreography crisis… see you tonight at five" Brian bid farewell before he clicked the phone.

Jo sighed as she resumed her brushing.

There is no way I'm gonna get all this done she thought shaking her head, as she pulled a black shirt on.

"But such is life" she quoted, sighing.

 

© sayamaru and 'Bittersweet Rhapsodies' 2001-02

No part of this website may be reproduced in part or in whole without permission of the author/webmistress.

All ideas, graphics and layouts and backgrounds and stories are copyright of sayamaru and Bittersweet Rhapsodies. I am in no way affiliated with the Backstreet Boys, their management wives/girlfriends or the girls used in these stories.