Chapter 6
It had been an incredible 2 weeks. Ryan's Family brought me to
the places that I had only read about or seen on the TV. I had learnt more
about the mystery that is the U.S.A., and most importantly, I had
strengthened the friendship that, for the last 9 months had been
conducted by phone and e-mail. I was sad to be leaving, but it was
Saturday and I had school the following Monday. Jet lag was going to be
interesting. I'd be even sleepier then I usually was on a Monday
morning. Don't get me wrong - I was pretty good in school and
everything, but I'm sure that you all know about Monday mornings.
The flight home was uneventful, in that I don't even think that
there was much turbulence. And, although I had enjoyed the last 2
weeks, I was looking forward to seeing my family at the airport. My
mother and one of my sisters were waiting for me when I had gotten my
bags and gone through customs.
"Hi." I said tiredly. I can't sleep on flights, and to my detriment,
it had a habit of catching up with me quickly.
"Hi Honey, welcome back onto Irish soil." Replied my mother,
who gave me a hug and a peck on the cheek.
"Hey Feekie."
"Don't call me that!" I exclaimed. When she was young she
hadn't been able to pronounce my name so she called me Feekie.
Unfortunately she had stuck with it as she grew older. Now she called
me it when she wanted to annoy me.
"You know you love it." She said as she gave me a hug and
ruffled my hair. "Anything special happen while you were over there?"
"Nothing really." I said, giving her one of those 'I'll tell you
later' looks. "How about at home."
"Not really. Oh! The Southside Shopping Centre was
opened!"
"Can we go? It's late, and I'm tired." Said my mother,
interrupting me while I was playing catch up with my sister.
"Sure Mum." I picked up my bags and we headed for the car,
which was not parked that far away (One of the advantages of having a
small airport.) We drove home in silence. My mother was concentrating
on driving, and I was drifting between sleep and wakefulness. When we
got home I dragged my bags up the stairs and literally collapsed onto my
bed.
I had almost gotten asleep when the light from the upstairs
hallway was shined in my eyes and my sister jumped onto the bed.
"Well, what do you have to say for me?"
"Leave me alone." I groaned.
"I'm not going until you tell me." Little sisters can be such a
pain sometimes.
"You can be so immature. Please go, I'll tell you in the
morning."
"I *am* only 14. I'm allowed to be immature sometimes."
Pouted Marie (My sister's name.)
"Ok Ok. But if I tell you, you have to promise not to shout, or
scream or anything, alright?" I relented. She was not going to leave until
I told her, so why prolong the agony?
" 'K, but what's so important that I have to promise?" I reflected
upon her bedroom, with the walls covered in BSB and Nsync posters
and shuddered. She was going to go insane.
"Well, you know that I didn't get my flight from New York to
Washington?" I asked her.
"Yeah, you had to get a bus down. What about it?"
"Well, I didn't tell Mum the whole truth. See, when I was
leaving the hotel in a rush somebody bumped into me and when I got all
my stuff back together they offered me a lift down to Washington on
their private bus."
"Are you mad? You just got in a bus with a stranger?" She was
angry for me for being so stupid. I readied myself for what was to come.
"No, that's not quite true. See, I already knew the people who
were on the bus, kind of."
"Who were they? Some CTYI people or what?" Marie was
confused.
"No. They were the Backstreet Boys." I quickly moved my
hand to cover her mouth but it was already to late. She let out a scream
that could wake the dead and jumped up off my bed. "Marie! Marie!
Shut the fuck up! Mum and Dad are going to come upstairs any second!"
She closed her mouth with a snap.
"Are you joking with me?" She was shaking with excitement.
"No! I swear. And would you please calm down?" It was funny
(Now that she had stopped screaming) to see the state that she was in. I
don't think that I've ever seen her shake so much. And over what? A few
guys that she was probably never going to meet? Crazy shit.
"What happened?"
"What do you mean, what happened? Duh, we had an orgy.
Apparently that's what the do to calm themselves down before a
concert." I laughed at her open mouth. "I'm joking! Don't hurt me!
We just talked. That's all! Now will you please leave my room? I want
to go to sleep." On cue I yawned.
"Alright, but this isn't over. I want ever detail tomorrow."
Then she left me in peace, closing the door behind herself; blocking out
the light and letting me go to sleep.
The next day I woke up at 3 in the afternoon surprised that my
mother had not tried to get me out of bed before then. She lived by the
saying - "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy
and wise." It gets annoying sometimes. After showering, dressing and
performing all the usual tasks that you do in the morning I went
downstairs into the kitchen. My mother was there making the Sunday
dinner. I poured myself a bowl of cornflakes and grabbing a carton of
milk from the fridge I sat down at the kitchen table and started eating
away.
"Anybody important ring for me?" I said with my mouth full.
"Not really. Most people must have known that you were away.
Helen has already called round, but I decided to let you get your sleep so
I sent her away. Emm. There was someone else who rang looking for
you, but your father dealt with that call so ask him. There are a couple of
letters for you. I think I put them on your desk. That's about it really.
Your sisters want to say hi, they're watching Independence Day *again*
in the Den."
"Right. Where's Dad?" I asked. Everybody knew that I was
going away so I was curious as to who it was.
"Study, sorting out the paperwork. He's really behind." After
finishing the bowl of cereal I put it into the dishwasher and went
searching for Dad.
"Hey Dad." I greeted him. He looked up and grunted his return
greeting to me. He really looked like Kevin, I thought.
"Mum said that you took a call for me?"
"Oh yes, that." He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
"Some American, what was his name. Wanted your mobile number. I
told him that over here we didn't just give out numbers like that. He said
that it was important, but he wouldn't tell me what it was. So I brushed
him off. What was his name." It didn't sound like anybody that I knew,
but I wasn't sure. I didn't know that many American's that would have
my phone number. On a hunch I asked him -
"Was his name Nick?"
"That could have been it. I'm not sure. I left a note somewhere.
Last name started with a C. I do remember that." He pushed around the
stacks of paper on the desk.
"Carter?" I asked.
"That was it! Nick Carter. I remember now. There was a lot of
shouting in the background as well." Ah! There it is. He picked up a
piece of paper and handed it to me. It only had on it the number that
Nick had already given me. I knew because his number was a really easy
one to remember. I did some quick calculations to figure out that it only
about 10 in the morning in Florida. I decided to let the boy sleep in for a
while longer. With that decision made I left my father to his paperwork
and went into the Den to say hello to my older sisters. (Both of them.)
"Hey Y'all."
"Don't tell me that you've picked up that awful Americanism!"
Said the oldest of my 3 sisters.
"I'm just playing with you. I still speak like a Dubliner."
"I don't know. I think that I hear a trace of an American accent
in there." Said the other sister (Fiona).
"You do not! I *know* that you're making that up!"
"Kidding! Don't get into hysterics over it Fiachra!"
"Fiachra! Helen's here." Shouted Marie from somewhere else in
the house. Helen is one of my best friends. When I was 4 and she was 6
she moved in 2 doors up from our house. We had done everything
together, we went to the same parks and parties, shared all the secrets
that we had, loved each other like only a brother and sister could. But
she had grown up since the early years, and now she was stunning. With
long black hair and striking green eyes she was beautiful. She had an
amazing body and exceptionally good looks. When I saw her for the first
time as she entered the room I drew a breath and my sisters gave her
looks of jealousy. I don't know why though, in my biased opinion they
were very good looking. Our entire family had light blond hair and blue
eyes, including myself. My parents had been told numerous times that
we were all lovely looking children, but we had grown up since then,
now we were told ourselves that we were good looking. Helen, seeing
me, ran over and threw her arms around me, drawing me tight to herself.
My sisters, knowing when to leave, left, dragging Marie along with
them.
"How was your trip? Meet any nice boys?" She joked. Helen
was the first person that I had come out to; figuring that she would be
the easiest. I was right. She told me that she already knew and that she
would always be there for me, weather I needed help to beat someone
up, or to have a cover-up relationship with.
"You have no idea." I said, thinking back over the time that I
had spent with Nick and the others. She pulled away and while still
holding me by the shoulders asked -
"What's that supposed to mean?" I could tell from the twinkle
in her eye what she was implicating.
"Nothing like that you dirty minded bitch! And I'll tell you
later." Helen was a huge fan of the Backstreet Boys, almost as big a one
as my little sister, and if I told her now, she would want to talk about the
bus ride and only that. I wanted to spend some time talking to her before
then.
"Ok, then tell me about your trip." So I spent the next half an
hour telling her about everything that Ryan and I had gotten up to while
in Washington. I made sure to leave out the bit about the trip from New
York to Washington though. A while later (I think that it was about 4
o'clock) the phone rang. I got up to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hi, is Fiachra there please?" Asked Nick.
"That's me. How are you? Did you try ringing while I was in
Washington?" I was delighted to be talking to him again and it spared
me the cost of ringing him later.
"Yeah, I think I annoyed your Dad."
"Not really." I lied. "What was so important?" Helen had
already gotten bored listening in on my conversation. It usually took her
a while longer to lose interest.
"It's kind of complicated." He paused, gathering his thoughts.
"You know that we're going on tour in Europe soon? Well, our
supporting act pulled out at the last minute and we're in trouble."
"Ok, what's this got to do with me?" I was confused; I didn't
know why he was talking to me about this. I had never had any
aspirations of being a pop star so what he was hinting at was passing
over my head.
"Well, we want you to come on tour with us." I sat down
heavily, surprising Helen. Me? Come on tour? Support the Backstreet
Boys at sell out gigs every night?
"Are you serious? You're playing with me."
"No joke, I swear. You'd have to be able to play from the
middle of June, that's when Krystal is leaving the tour. Will you?" Shit!
He was serious!
"I get off school at the end of May, but I don't know. You saw
how nervous I was with just you guys." I realized how this could be
interpreted, so I looked over at Helen, who was sniggering quietly to
herself. She must have started listening again.
"But you got into it!" Nick argued. "You could do it!"
"I'd still have to think about it. What do your record company
have to say, and your Management?" Are you kidding? Of course I
wanted this. I had never thought about it but it what an opportunity!
"Well, Jive wasn't too happy at the start, but we were dealing
with a prick, now they really want you! And management thinks that
you're great. Jive wants you to sign a record deal."
"Oh, wow. But I still don't know. When does your tour finish?"
I was shocked by what I was being offered here, I really wanted it, but I
didn't know my parents would have to say about it.
"End of August, remember Dublin is one of our last concerts?"
"Ok, I'm going to have to talk to my parents, but they're going
to want to know more about what I would be getting myself into." I was
thinking straight again, it helped.
"Sure, I thought that you would. We have someone on a flight
over to you right now. They should get in to Dublin in about. 2 hours.
Will I tell them to go to your house?" Nick asked. What was I going to
say to him but *yes!!!*.
"Yes!"
"Good, listen, Our flight is being called and Brian is going to
start shouting in a second, so I better -" Nick was cut off and there was
the sound of someone laughing in the background.
"Hey Fiachra? Brian here, Nick would like *nothing* better
then to talk to you but he has to get on a plane, and they won't keep it
for us."
"Sure, tell him that I said bye, and say hi to the others for me!"
"Will do, bye Fiachra!" He hung up, leaving me with a dial
tone ringing in my ear.
"*What* the *fuck* was that all about Fiachra? And I want an
answer!" Helen demanded.
"I'll tell you now. But I need Mum and Dad to hear this as
well." I got up and went into the dining room.
"Dad we need to talk." Although he was caught up in his
paperwork, he recognized how serious a tone I was using. But once I had
gotten his attention I softened my tone. Besides, I wasn't feeling serious
inside, it felt like butterflies were doing summersaults in my stomach.
"But Mum need to hear this too. Will you come into the kitchen?"
When Mum, Dad and Helen had seated themselves around the
kitchen table I started explaining to them what had happened on the way
to Washington and about the phone call that I had just received. Aside
from a squeak from Helen when she heard that I was on a bus with BSB
they were quiet the whole way though. I ended by telling them about the
person who was coming to see us.
"I don't know about this Fiachra, but we'll see what this
person had to say before we make up our minds, alright?" Said Mum.
She was trying to be careful, but I thought that she wanted this almost as
much as I did.
"I agree with your mother. We'll see." Said Dad.
"You actually met the Backstreet Boys?! I don't *believe* that
you didn't tell me. What were they like? Who was the nicest?" I cut
Helen off.
"That's why I didn't tell you! I didn't want you asking all these
questions!" I exclaimed.
The next three hours were spent in nerve biting tension, not
helped by the fact that Helen, great friend, went and told my sisters what
we had spoken about.
"You're going to be a pop star Fiachra?" Asked my all innocent
sister, Marie.
"I don't think so Marie, it's just a small job that I'll be doing." I
played it down.
"That's right." Helen said, backing me up, or so I thought.
"You know that your brother doesn't have the talent to make it."
"Thanks Helen."
"For what?"
"For calming me down. I don't where I would be without you."
I meant it. I never really appreciated how incredible a friend she was to
me.
--------------------------
The doorbell rang. Despite Helen's best efforts I was as
nervous as hell and I jumped when the noise echoed through the house. I
left my Mum to answer it, not thinking that I would have been able to
turn the latch let alone greet someone. I could hear my mother in the
hallway.
"Come on through to the kitchen. I'm sure that Fiachra will be
in in a moment."
"If you don't mind, could we go somewhere more comfortable?
It's been a long flight." Said Kevin. I acknowledged his voice but then
did a double take. Kevin? They had sent Kevin? *How* had Nick
managed that one?
"Of course. Got through the door on the left into the Den. Make
yourself comfortable. Do you want anything? Tea? Coffee?"
"A cup of coffee would be great thanks." Kevin opened the
door and Mum bustled off to the Kitchen. He was surprised to see me in
here, but quickly grinned.
"So this is where you've been hiding." I blushed, and looked at
Helen whose jaw had dropped to the floor. She was trying to compose
herself again.
"What are you doing here? I mean, Nick said that *someone*
was coming over, but he didn't say that that someone would be you!" I
was pleased though. It would make things a lot easier, to be talking with
someone that I already knew. "Oh! This is Helen, my best friend. I don't
think that she was expecting to see you either."
"Nice to meet you Helen." At that moment my parents entered
the room, Mum with coffee and biscuits for everyone and my father with
a legal pad and pencil. I don't think that I mentioned that me he was a
solicitor. * Kevin, who hadn't sat down yet, waited until Mum had set
down the tray and then formally introduced himself to her and Dad.
Once that was done they all sat down. My parents on the other sofa and
Kevin in the armchair. My father started talking first.
"So, you want to take my son for the summer." It was a
statement, not a question. I did my best, but Helen still choked over his
words.
"It's not going to be that simple. But yes, that is one part of it."
"What else is he going to have to do?" Dad was determined to
take the lead in the conversation.
"Well, before he can come on tour, there are a number of things
that he is going to have to do. He's going to have to record studio
versions of a number of his songs, if possible, make an album’s worth."
My mother interrupted him.
"*His* songs?"
"Didn't you know that he writes music? He's very good at it.
There's one member of the group who wants to make another album of
just Fiachra's work!" I hated that they were talking about me in the third
person like I was not there.
"Recording an album? You've got to remember that I've still
got school, I can't take that much time off."
"Actually, if you're a Solo Artist, it doesn't take that much
time. What we'd want is for you to do a home version of 14 or 15 songs.
Then we'd send them to a couple of producers, they would organize
music and backing vocals, you'd have to come in to sing them. And if
you manage it in a couple of tries then it should take no more then a
weekend or two to record the whole thing. What takes the most time is
going through music, seeing what suits your voice, and then picking the
songs out. In fact, you could have the whole album ready in a month or
so. Get it?" Now he was talking about me recording an album? Crazy.
But what he was saying made sense, I guess. Dad took over the
conversation again.
"What else would you want him to do?"
"He would need to do some promotion work, but if you want to
keep him in full time education then it could be kept to a minimum." He
paused. "Let me tell you something. When you were on the bus Fiachra,
Brian recorded you singing. That tape has been played for some of the
top people in the Jive Records. They want you Fiachra. They will go a
*long* way to accommodate you. You could have nearly anything that
you wanted." He paused again, this time to let what he was saying sink
in.
"So your saying that he could continue as normal until he was
finished school?" Asked Mum, she was very eager to make this happen
for me, but she wanted me to have an education as well. I agreed with
her, there was nothing (except family and friends) that was more
important to me then finishing school.
"How long have you got left?" Kevin asked me.
"Now 'til summer. And then back in September, with 2 weeks
Christmas, a couple of midterms and Easter, until the middle of June
next year." Kevin absorbed this information.
"I don't think that there would be any problem with that. You'd
have enough time free mid year to satisfy them."
"What about Management?" Dad worked for a big law firm
that had solicitors for most sections of the law. He had spent most of the
afternoon calling a couple of friends that he had that dealt with
entertainment. It seemed it was paying off.
"We've also arranged that. He'd have an Irish manager who
would be working for the same Management Company that we have.
He'd be in charge of everything, but would have the resources of 'The
Firm' behind him. Dad nodded. I was glad that someone understood
what was being said.
"There is one other thing. Jive records want Fiachra to get out a
single quickly if he is going to come on tour with us." Then Kevin
addressed me. "They want to use the song that Brian recorded, and
you're going to be recording it with Britney Spears."
Chapter 7
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