Chapter 25

December 31^st

Jacob stood over Maria’s sleeping form. He bent down and kissed her forehead before turning, grabbing his orange knit hat, and heading out of the room.

Dan and Trevor were in the hallway with the Mikes when Jacob exited his room.

"How’s Maria?" Dan asked. Jacob shrugged.

"She’s still sleeping. I think she’ll be okay," he said.

"Will somebody please get those two?" Mike M. asked, crossly, motioning to Erik and Ashley’s door. Jacob smiled and banged loudly on the door.

"We’re coming!" Erik’s voice yelled from inside. "Ashley! Let’s go!"

The guys in the hall smiled at each other. Mike M. shook his head and headed for the elevators.

"Happy New Year!" Erik said when he opened the door.

"Come on." Trevor pulled him into the hallway. Ashley came out a minute later, pulling on his jacket. They then headed for MTV’s studio.

A couple of hours after the band had gone, Alex and Emily made their way to Maria and Jacob’s room.

Maria opened the door and put her hand to her head, wincing. "How are you feeling?" Emily asked. Maria shook her head as she made her way back into the room.

"This sucks! I know I get sick, but never for this long. I can’t keep anything down and I hate puking. It’s gross." She moaned as she lay down on Jacob’s bed.

"You got sick this morning?" Alex asked, backing away, not wanting to get too close to her. Maria nodded, still holding her head.

"What about crackers? Saltines? You have to try and eat something," Emily said, sitting down on the bed beside Maria.

"I’ll see what I can do," Alex said, hastily exiting the room.

"Are you still going to go tonight?" Emily asked Maria, who nodded.

"Yes. Jacob wants me there and I don’t want to disappoint him. I feel like now that I finally told him that I love him, we haven’t spent any quality time together. Not that I was going to do anything with him at his mother’s house. But, I miss being with him."

"Once you do it, you can’t get enough, huh?" Emily asked, smiling. Maria smiled back.

"Something like that," she said. "Hey, Emily, did you and Travis ever…you know? Not that I’m being nosy or anything…"

"Yes, we did. But we only did it a couple of times. It was so awkward and just, I don’t know, he was so intense that it wasn’t that enjoyable," she admitted.

"You know, it was like that with Geoff. He was just bad, though, I think." Maria laughed. "I knew after my first time with Jacob that he was much more passionate than Geoff could ever hope to be…and much more giving." Emily smiled at the look of love on Maria’s face. "So, how’s it going with Ashley?" Maria then asked. Emily was taken off-guard. She gave Maria a small smile.

"Well, we’ve kissed, but that’s it," she said. Maria looked surprised.

"You kissed him and you didn’t tell me? I’m your cousin!" she said and sneezed. She got a tissue from the nightstand and turned back to Emily. "So? How was it? I mean, were you cool with it?"

"Oh, yeah. I actually kissed him first. He’s such a great guy, but I’m wondering why the heartthrob of a boy band would be interested in me. I’m nothing special," she said. Maria frowned.

"Of course you’re special, Emily. Ashley would be damn lucky to have you," she told her. Emily smiled at her. There was a knock at the door. Emily got up to answer it. It was Alex returning to the room. She had a tray of crackers and fruit in her hands.

"Here, try and eat something. We have to get your strength up for tonight," Alex said, placing the tray on Maria’s bed. Maria picked up a cracker and took a small bite. She swallowed and closed her eyes. Her stomach actually stayed calm. Maria smiled. She believed that she’d be okay to go tonight.

Jacob sat on the floor of the stage where the musical guests would be performing. He played with his in-ear monitor that he was holding in his hands. There were photographers all over the studio taking pictures. It was annoying. O-Town’s band was setting up behind where Jacob was sitting. They hadn’t even started their sound check yet.

"You look bored," Erik said, sitting down beside him.

"I am," Jacob said, twisting the wires to his in-ear monitor around his fingers.

"It’s New Years’ Eve in New York, Jake. Lighten up! Be happy! This is gonna be awesome!" Erik told him. Jacob smiled.

"I hope Maria’s okay to come tonight."

"She will be, man. She will be," Erik tried to reassure him.

"O-Town, we need you for a picture!" someone yelled. Jacob sighed and stood up. Erik did, too. They made their way over to a spot in front of an iridescent curtain where Dan, Ashley and Trevor were already standing, and posed as their picture was taken---several times. Jacob sighed. He just wanted to party---with Maria. This sucked.

5 p.m.

Maria sat patiently as Alex twisted her hair up and began pinning it atop her head.

"You know, this was easier before you cut your hair," Alex told her. Maria smiled and wiped her runny nose.

"Sorry, it was getting too long and I needed a change," she said.

"What time is Mike coming to get us?" Alex asked.

"In an hour," Maria replied, looking at her watch. "So, hurry up." Alex sighed as she continued to work on Maria’s hair.

Fifteen minutes later, Maria was examining herself in the bathroom mirror. ‘I’m going to freeze,’ she thought. She wore a purple and silver short slip-like dress with thin spaghetti straps. She had on shiny, frosted nylons with silver, high heel dressy shoes. Maria was pleased with how she looked. She wished that she felt better, though. She had taken a few Tylenol, and she was willing herself to not feel sick, so she felt this was as good as it was going to get.

Emily and Alex joined her a few minutes later. Emily wore a black cocktail dress with a scarf-like neck that hung low in the front and went up, over her shoulders. Alex had on a tight, sequined black and silver dress with a matching shawl.

They finished doing their make-up and were ready to go right at six. Sure enough, a knock came at the door. Alex went to let Mike C. into the room.

"You ladies look lovely. Are you ready to go?" he asked. They nodded, grabbed their coats and followed Mike out of the room.

The band sat backstage in MTV’s green room waiting for the girls to arrive. Carson Daly had interviewed them for a short segment that had aired during the special programming that MTV was running all day. Now, the guys just had time to chill out before the show started---at 10 p.m.

Erik and Ashley were at the table where food was spread out for them. Dan was watching TV. Trevor was in hair and make-up having his hair messed with. Jacob wandered around the green room. He stood by the windows watching the police setting up barriers down below, getting ready for the chaos that would be taking place in less than six hours. There were already people standing around on the sidewalks with crazy party hats on and brightly colored streamers with ‘2002’ printed on them. Most of the people were bundled up due to the extremely low temperature.

"It looks cold out there," Jacob remarked to no one. Ashley went over to stand beside him.

"It’ll be even colder later," he said, biting into a sandwich he had made for himself.

"You’re scheduled to be outside with Willa Ford and Dave Holmes at midnight," Mike M. said, smirking.

"Great," Jacob said, sarcastically. Wherever they were at midnight, he wanted Maria with him. "When are the girls getting here?" he asked, sitting down beside Mike.

"Mike went to get them. They should be here soon," he said. "Hey, Jake, try to lighten up. It’s a party." Jacob nodded and smiled.

"I could say the same to you," he told Mike, who just smiled.

The limo stopped outside of the building where MTV’s studio was located. There were already shivering fans lined up on the sidewalk, their passes in hand, waiting to go inside. Various MTV personnel were keeping an eye on them. It was colder than cold. Maria shivered the minute the door of the limo opened.

Mike got out first and helped out Alex, Emily and finally Maria. Some of the fans recognized Mike and called his name. He just smiled as he led the girls into the lobby.

"It’s gonna be crazy tonight," Alex exclaimed, smiling. Maria and Emily smiled, too. Maria was feeling much better and the nasal spray she had used now had her breathing somewhat normally. She followed Mike into the elevator.

"As long as we stay inside, we’ll be fine," Maria said. Mike smiled.

"The guys are actually scheduled to be outside at midnight," he remarked. Maria’s face fell.

"Shit," she said. She was going to be with Jacob at midnight---even if she had to freeze to do it.

Mike led the girls through a hallway. There were technical personnel running around making sure that everything was ready for the show. Other MTV staff with headsets and clipboards were also hurrying to get ready for the telecast.

"You’re here!" Ashley shouted when he saw them. He ran over to hug Maria, then Alex and finally Emily, whom he smiled widely at.

"You just saw us last night, Ashley," Alex said, laughing.

"I know, but I missed you," he told them. He was still looking at Emily, who blushed and looked at the floor.

Alex located Erik. "Of course, you’re eating," she said, hugging him from behind. He turned and smiled.

"You look great," he said, kissing her.

Maria walked over to where Jacob was sitting on the couch with Mike M. She took off her coat and sat down on Jacob’s lap. "Do you feel better?" he asked. Maria smiled and leaned down to kiss him. When she let go and wiped her lipstick off of his lips, he smiled. "I guess so."

"I hear you’re going to be outside when 2002 hits," Maria said. Jacob nodded. "Can I join you? Or will I be stuck in here with Carson?"

"You can join us. Right?" Jacob asked, looking at Mike.

"Sure. Mike can take you girls outside right before midnight," Mike said. He got up and left the room. Maria slid off of Jacob’s lap and sat where Mike had been. Dan came over and sat next to her.

"I need a date. Maria, you want to have a double date? Me and Jake?" he asked, smiling. Maria turned and leaned against him.

"Sure, Dan," she said. Jacob pulled her against him.

"No way. There will be none of that. She’s with me. Go find a girl someplace else," he told Dan, wrapping his arms around Maria. She shrugged.

"Sorry, I’m taken," she said. Dan sighed.

"Man, it sucks not having someone to kiss at midnight on New Years’," he said.

"You can kiss Trevor," Jacob suggested, smirking. Trevor entered the room just then, a MTB camera following him.

"Who’s kissing me?" he asked.

"Dan. At midnight. You know, since you guys are unattached at the moment," Jacob told him.

"Dude, that’s not our fault. I mean, we want to be attached, but…" Trevor said.

"Oh, he’s just teasing you guys. I’m sure you won’t be alone for long," Maria said. A flash startled her. "What’s that?"

"There are photographers here. One is from Popstar!, so don’t say I didn’t warn you," Jacob told her. Maria nodded. They were ‘out’ as a couple anyway, but she still didn’t like being watched.

At 9:30, the Mikes called the band together to do a last minute briefing on what would be happening. The guys listened and nodded. It was getting noisier since MTV’s staff was ushering the in-studio audience inside.

"Can we watch the other acts?" Jacob asked. Mike M. nodded.

"Sure. There’s a spot right beside the platform where Carson and Jaime Pressly, his co-host, will be standing. You can hang out in the back of the studio and watch," he replied.

"Cool," Jacob said, smiling. Maria smiled, too. He wanted to see P.O.D. badly.

"Who the hell is Jaime Pressly?" Alex asked. Emily shrugged.

By 9:55, everyone was getting ready to go on the air. Carson was having his make-up touched up while P.O.D. was on the stage getting ready to perform. Maria, Alex and Emily stood in the back, as far away from everyone as they could get.

"I guess that’s Jaime Pressly," Emily said, looking over at the platform where Carson and a tiny, petite blonde woman were standing.

"She needs to eat something," Alex remarked. Maria and Emily laughed. Drinks were already being passed around. Alex took a glass of champagne, but Maria passed. Just the smell of it made her stomach turn over.

Jacob and Ashley slipped in behind the girls. Jacob was now wearing his black knit cap with a black tee shirt and jeans. Maria turned to smile at him. "Get ready to rock," she said. Jacob smiled, kissed her cheek and wrapped his arms around her.

The show started and P.O.D. opened with their current song, Alive. Jacob did his head-banging thing and Maria had to admit, she got pretty into it herself. The hyper crowd in the studio went wild. After P.O.D. was done, the girls, Ashley and Jacob went back into the green room.

"How awesome was that?" Jacob asked, smiling.

"I’ve never seen you in such a good mood before," Maria commented. "I like it." She kissed him lightly.

"The crowd is pretty hyped up," Ashley said, sitting on the couch beside Dan.

"How hyped up?" Dan asked. Ashley smiled.

"A lot hyped up," he said. "And it’s not even 10:30 yet."

"The booze helps," Alex said, putting her arm around Erik.

They heard music start to play as Ja Rule performed. Erik and Trevor had gone to watch his performance. Everyone else stayed backstage.

A few minutes before eleven o’clock, O-Town was brought out to talk to Suchin Pak and Kurt Loder for a short ‘interview.’ After that, the guys went to the main stage to set up for their first performance. Maria noticed that Jacob looked annoyed.

"What’s wrong?" she asked him as he was tuning up his guitar. A few girls, or actually, they were young women, since no one under the age of twenty-one had been allowed into the studio, glared at her. Maria just looked away quickly.

"Kurt Loder didn’t even know that we perform with a live band all the time. He should’ve done his homework before he tried interviewing us," he said. Maria sighed. "Erik handled it well, though," he added.

"Just do a good performance and don’t worry about Kurt Loder. He’s old," Maria told him. Jacob laughed.

After City High performed on Carson’s platform, Maria returned to the back of the audience with Alex and Emily to watch the guys’ first performance. They performed We Fit Together and sounded okay. It wasn’t their best performance, but the crowd seemed to enjoy it.

The guys returned to the green room after they had performed. They grabbed some water bottles and sat around for a while.

"Are you having fun?" Ashley asked Emily, who nodded.

"This is really cool. I’ve never been to anything like a live television show taping before," she said.

"You could probably work for MTV. If you’re interested in that kind of thing, that is," Ashley told her.

"I don’t know. I love music and watching everything that’s going on here. It’s exciting," Emily said. Ashley took a drink of water and smiled at her. Emily smiled back. Someone took a picture.

"Man, can those flashes be any brighter?" Dan asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Why are they taking pictures of us resting?" Erik asked. Dan shrugged.

Jacob and Maria were standing by the window looking down on Times Square. "How’d you like to be in that mess?" Maria asked. Jacob just shook his head.

"It’s crazy," he said. He looked at Maria and smiled.

"I’m glad you’re here sharing this with me. It would’ve really sucked if you had been too sick to come," he told her.

"I’m glad I’m here, too," she said. Jacob leaned forward and kissed her. Another flash went off. Maria smiled against Jacob’s lips. "Ever feel like you were being watched?" she asked after they had separated. Jacob laughed and pulled her to him, hugging her tightly.

"O-Town! To the stage for your second performance!" someone shouted.

"We are being summoned, boys!" Trevor yelled. They all left the room to go back into the packed studio. Maria, Emily and Alex, once again, remained at the back next to Carson’s platform.

"Check it out, ‘thin-blonde-woman-co-host is drunk," Alex remarked. Emily laughed loudly and Maria had to put a hand over her mouth to quiet her.

"Be quiet," she said, but was laughing herself.

"Excuse me. I don’t know if you remember me, but I work for Popstar! Magazine," a woman said as she suddenly appeared beside Maria. Maria recognized her as the reporter who had spoken with her at the after-party for the Teen Choice Awards---during her pre-Jacob days.

"Yes, I remember," Maria said.

"I was hoping for an official word from you that you are, indeed, dating Jacob Underwood," the woman said. Maria sighed and looked at Alex and Emily, who both shrugged. Maria looked back at the woman.

"Yes, I am," she said. The woman looked way too excited by this news.

"That’s wonderful! We’ve printed pictures of the two of you together before, but no one was sure exactly what was going on," she said.

"We’ve been together for a couple of months and we are very happy," Maria said.

"Congratulations! Thank you for your time. Happy New Year!" the woman scurried off to bother someone else. Maria shook her head.

"Hey, why didn’t she want to know about us?" Alex asked, pointing at herself and Emily. Maria shrugged.

"Because you guys are more low-key, I guess. No one knows you yet like they know me. I don’t know. Be glad that they’re not sticking their noses and their cameras in your faces," she told them. She sneezed.

O-Town was introduced again and they sang All Or Nothing. Maria swayed along with Alex and Emily to the song. Jacob kept looking out over the audience at her and smiling. Alex was making kissy faces at Erik, who was trying not to laugh. Emily was mesmerized watching Ashley getting so into the song. He got so emotional when he sang. She was liking him more and more every day.

After the song, O-Town’s band immediately started to pack up their stuff and clear the stage for P.O.D. again. The guys headed back to the green room. Once there, a young woman with a clipboard entered.

"O-Town, you’re scheduled to go downstairs and be outside at 11:45. It’s cold, so dress warmly," she said before turning and leaving.

"Should I put on a coat?" Jacob asked, holding his bare arms out.

"Only you would wear a tee shirt in sub-zero temperatures," Maria said, rolling her eyes.

"Your outfit doesn’t look too warm either…although it is very sexy," Jacob told her. Maria smiled seductively at him and he couldn’t help but kiss her.

"Come on, guys. Get ready," Mike M. told them. "Girls, you stay up here until about five of twelve, then Mike will bring you down." They nodded and watched as the group bundled themselves up and followed Mike M. out of the room.

The girls immediately went over to the window to look out at the sea of people. They all looked happy and not cold at all. Alcohol most likely had a lot to do with that. Maria looked up at the brightly lit ball that would drop at midnight. She smiled. She couldn’t believe she was actually in Times Square on New Years’ Eve.

Before they knew it, Mike C. was telling them to put their coats on and get downstairs. "It’s cold," Mike said. "I mean, really cold."

"We’re okay, Mike. Let’s go," Maria said, slipping her coat on.