The following day everyone arrived at rehearsal promptly by 8 am. This would be our permanent schedule until the tour began or until we needed to expand time or get off early..... 8 am everyone had to be ready and in the dance room, at noon we broke for lunch at 1 practice resumed from 2-4 the guys had vocal rehearsals and me and the other girls would be practicing our dances. Then we would take a short half an hour break and from 4:30- 6:30 we had dancing practice with the guys again. Then 6:30-7:00 would be a time when everyone sat down together and managers and Darren and everyone would be going over tour ideas, finalizing everything and being ready to go in a period of 8 days.
Everything ran smothly that day and we got a lot accomplished. Such as who would be dancing around/near/with each guy. Of course without hesitation Lance and I were put together, then Terri was matched with JC, Joey with Mandy, Justin with Steph, and Chris with Alana.
That day the lunch schedule was messed up, the guys had to hit their rehearsal early and were working through the normal lunch time and taking their break later so us girls had to go to lunch by ourselves. At first it was just going to be me and Alana but mandy and Steph approached us.
"Hey guys I was thinking maybe the five of us could all go out to lunch together and get to know each other a little bit." Mandy suggested.
Alana and I exchanged glances "Sure sounds good."I replied.
"How about you?" Mandy asked Terri.
"Actually I have to make some important phone calls and stuff. Maybe another time."
"All right, some other time then." Steph said.
We all drove off to the food court at the mall that was fairly close to the rehearsal studio. Everyone got their food then we sat down and talked.
"So how do you like this dancing stuff so far?" I asked.
"I think it's awesome. Dancing with and behind 5 hot guys with some nice asses, definitely a job I don't wanna call in sick to." Mandy joked.
"I second that sistah." Steph added.
"So girls what's single status on them?" Mandy said eagerly.
"Well Lance and I are married, Justin is married to my best friend Tiffany, JC is married to my other best friend Erica, Joey is dating another one of my best friends, Kristin, and Chris.."
"Is my ex." Alana interrupted
"Umm yea." I said giving her a strange look. "I think he's single as of now but he went out with this girl Robyn the other night. I don't think it's serious though."
"How serious is Joey's relationship?" Mandy inquired about her dancing partner.
"They're not around each other 24/7 because she's back home and he's down here a lot, but they love each other so much and she's going to try and transfer down here this fall and go to college with me. But they've been together for quite awhile so they're probably considered serious."
"Man, I was hoping to find me a little action."
"I'm sure you'll find some. Besides we might have a really hot opening act with some single guys. But I don't know yet."
"Who? Have you heard anything yet?" Steph asked.
"Not really but I'm sure they'll be something good. Actually after rehersal tonight the guys are suppose to be meeting with the tour managers and all and they'll go over some things and supposedly the opening act or acts are going to be stopping by. So by tomorrow I'm sure you'll know."
"Well since we're all done you guys wanna go check out a few stores quick before we have to be back?" Alana suggested.
"Girl you just read my mind." Mandy said. We all got up and left for a quick 30 minute shopping spree.
In McDonalds parking lot Terri sat in her car eating some french fries, listening to the radio, and putting somethings in her new electronic organizer such as tour dates, birthdates, phone numbers, etc., when her cell phone rang. She stumbled to turn down the radio and pick up the phone.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Hey babe, I'm glad I got ahold of you." Her boyfriend on the other end said.
"Hey, I'm so glad you called. Listen sorry I haven't called or gotten any of your calls the past fews days but I just got this new job. Except it's better than a job. I'm an *Nsync dancer now. We've got some crazy rehersals, you just caught me on my lunch break."
"That's great. So what, are you going on tour with them?"
"Yea, we go in like a week or something for like 2 1/2-3 months."
"Terri, when am I going to get to see you then?"
"Well maybe you can come out to a show and spend some time with me. Now when did you say you were going to be out in California?" She asked as she picked up her organizer to look through the tour dates.
"I'll be out there starting June 1st and probably that whole month, why?"
"That's great. We're going to be staying out there for a week, with concerts and appearances the guys have to do, we'll be out there from June 4th to the 11th and that's just in the LA area. That's where you're staying right?"
"Yup. Well I can't wait to see you again. So what time do you have lunch every day so I know when I can call you?"
"Well around this time but I get home at around 8 so if you want to you can call me there too."
"All right I will. Listen I have to go right now. You know I'm such a busy guy."
"Oh yea. Make me proud. Tell the others I said "Hey". I love you."
"All right I will.Love you too. Bye"
"Bye" She hung up and looked at the clock
"Crap I gotta be back there in 5 minutes." She put her stuff in the passengers seat, fastened her seat belt and took off back to the studio.
When she arrived back in the studio she realized her clock was fast and she still had a little less than 10 minutes left over so she got on her cell again to call home just as Alana, Steph, Mandy, and myself walked in the door.
"Hey Alex, It's Terri."
"Hey, what's up?"
"Listen I was just calling to remind you that dad is picking up my car to take it to the shop while I'm at dance rehearsal so I need you to pick me up tonight around 7. Can you do that still?"
"Yea, what the hell kind of dancing are you doing that it takes all day rehearsals?"
"We'll talk about it later, I've gotta go now. So will you be here at 7 or not?"
"Have I ever left you stranded? I'll be there."
"Thanks Alex. Now listen all the info like directions and the address are up in my room in the top right hand drawer of my dresser."
"Ok. I'll see you at 7. Don't panic if I'm a few minutes late. Me and some of the guys are going to a movie and it's not over till almost 7 so I'll be a little behind but I won't forget you."
"All right thanks again. Love ya bro."
"Love ya too Terri Berri."
"Did you get everything you needed done?" Alana asked Terri.
"Yea, I'm pretty much up to speed now."
"Great. You have to join us for lunch sometime."
"Sure that sounds great."
The break was over and we now had to get back to dancing again. At 4 we were able to take a 30 minute break. Lance, Joey, JC, and myself went around back and sat against the wall.
"So how's practice going?" JC asked.
"It's ok I guess. It's really getting boring."
"Well it's almost over." Lance said. "But don't forget we're going to be here a little later tonight because of the opening act meeting."
"Yea I know I told Lindsay we'd be late picking Tristan up."
"Good."
"I don't think it should be too much longer than the usual meetings unless we find we have a lot to talk about with them." Jc commented.
"So do you guys know who it is?" I asked
"Yea we just found out while we were in vocal practice."
"Oh you can't leave me hanging." I pressured.
"No can do." JC replied.
"Lance baby please?" I pouted
"Not yet. You wait a few more hours and you'll find out."
"Come on I'm so impatient! Joey now what do I gotta do to get you to tell me?" I smiled.
"Well I'd tell you but you know you're a married woman and that sort of thing just isn't going down." Joey joked with a flirtatious smile.
"All right I guess I can hold out a little while longer. Well I'm going to go get some water and stretch. I'll talk with you boys lata." I got up and headed for the door.
"What no kiss?" Lance called out.
"Nah, I'm holding out, remember." I smiled, blew a kiss and turned around and laughed.
The rest of practice seemed to drag on but we were able to accomplish a lot. Then promptly at 7 everyone aside from the guys and myself left. Those of us left over went to the "conference" area which had a big table and chairs and other such stuff in it. After sitting in there for awhile I decided to go fill up my water bottle
I thought everyone had left but Terri was sitting out in the practice room writing in a book.
"Just passing through" I said as I walked past her to the other room where I could get some water. On my way back I decided to stop and talk. I sat down beside her on the floor.
"So what are you writing?" I asked, seeing that she was still writing in that book.
"Oh just some stuff."
"Oh" I was expecting a little more detail but I didn't want to pry. "So how long do you have to wait for your ride?"
"Well actually here comes my brother. She said looking out the door as his car pulled up. "I gotta go get my stuff and do a hair check in the bathroom. Tell him I'll be right back."
"Alright."
I went to the cd player in the practice room, put in a cd and put on the headphones so I didn't disturb the others in the room nearby. I started to sing along to one of the songs as I looked through the cd cover.
"Excuse me" Someone said. But I couldn't hear them. The person realized I couldn't hear so they came up and put a hand on my shoulder.
Being the jumpy person I am I screamed and turned around. Lance came quickly out of the meeting room to see what was going on.
"Can I umm help you?" I said puzzled. Lance stood from behind the man looking on.
"I"m sorry I didn't mean to scare you. I'm here to pick up my sister."
"You're Terri's brother?" I asked, this was really odd to be standing here facing Terri's brother, Aj McLean of the Backstreet Boys.
"Yea, I'm Aj, but I can tell you already know that. What's your name?"
"Oh I'm Jen." I said as I politely shook his hand as Lance decided to walk over. "Terri had to get a few things, she'll be right out."
"All right. You know you look really familiar, have we met before?" He asked as Lance stepped in and put one arm around me.
"I think we've crossed paths a few times."
"Woah, wait a second, what is going on here?" Aj said as Terri emerged.
"Hey Aj." She said as Nick Carter walked in the door.
"Aj are you coming?" He looked at the scene and spoke up. "What's this all about?"
"Well Lance we've got that big tour meeting to be getting back to right about now." I said trying to get out of the room as the tension level gradually elevated. "It was nice to meet you, see you tomorrow Terri." I said as we quickly headed back to the room.
AJ, Nick, and Terri remained there for a few minutes.
"What's going on here?" Aj asked.
"Alex, this is what I'm doing"
"You're an 'Nsync dancer?"
"Yea and you're going to have to accept it." She said as Nick came and put his arm around her.
"Come on Terri use your senses."
"OK first off, I'm not telling you again Nick." She brought her arm forward and jabbed her elbow into his stomach. "Get your hands off of me! And Second it's you 2 and your other backstreet boys who have this big complex about 'Nsync. I don't, they're all extremely nice guys and haven't showed me an ounce of rudeness. So get this in your head and live with it. I am dancing on tour with 'Nsync for the next 2½ - 3 months. You can either deal with it and support me or you can be stuck up about it and hate me for it. You decided. I hope you realize how pig headed it would be of you to not support me after we've been here for each other our whole lives. Now take me home, I'm not going to stand here and deal with this bullshit anymore." Terri rambled and went out the door.
"I don't care how pig headed it is. I'm not supporting her this time around."
Back in the conference room Lance and I got to talking silently about what had just happened.
"I still can not believe that." I said as I shook my head in disbelief.
"Yea, you don't think we're going to lose her as a dancer do you?" Lance asked.
"Lose who as a dancer?" JC questioned as he overheard the conversation.
"Terri."
"Why would we lose her?"
"Because of who her brother is and it's kind of brought a conflict of interest." I explained.
"Wait, why does her brother have anything to do with this?"
"Her brother is Aj McLean."
"What? Are you serious?" Justin chimed in.
"Yea, he just scared the crap out of me when I was out there and he introduced himself to me. It's definitely him"
"So does he know that Terri is dancing for us?" Chris asked.
"Well I'm pretty sure when he saw Lance he was able to put 2 and 2 together. Ew and did I mention that Nick Carter came in too. I was praying the others didn't come in or I would've lost it. But you know what? I think we don't have too much to worry about. I mean how much influence do you think her brother has on her and what she does? We're not going to lose her." I assured everyone.
"Excuse me." A man said poking his head in the door. "Are you ready for us?"
"Yea come on in." One of the managers said. The man came in followed by the five guys of 5ive. They went around the room shaking hands with everyone and they came to me and I got up and gave them each a hug.
"Hey, are you guys going to be opening for the tour?" I said as I hugged Scott last and he took a seat on the left side of me along with the others.
"Yea. How have you been since the wedding?"
"Great. Wow it really has been a long time. About a year and a half I guess."
"What did you guys end up having a boy or a girl?" J asked.
"A boy, his name is Tristan Hunter. He'll be on tour so you'l get to see him."
"Well congrats."
"I'm glad you guys finally have came back over here for awhile. "
"Thanks, we need to get out and promote the new album. Have you heard any of it yet?" Scott asked.
"Yea I got it a few weeks ago. And actually in the dance auditions they used "If ya gettin down" they had a nice little routine done for it and all."
After our brief period of catching up they got down to business and they worked out a play list and went over the tour dates and times carefully. At 9 pm we were all able to leave. Lance and I had to pick up Tristan at my Aunt's house before going home. When we got home Tristan was wide awake so we took about 2 hours to spend with him since our time together had been cut back a bit with rehearsals.
At Terri and AJ's house...
Nick, Aj, and Terri had just pulled in the driveway and headed up to the front door. Terri had been riding around with AJ and Nick for the past 2 hours so AJ and Terri could get their parents an anniversary gift but the whole trip was silent aside from Nick and AJ talking non-stop all night. Terri walked in the door first and shut it behind her as AJ stepped up to the doorway. He opened the door and had to make a comment.
"Listen stop being a little bitch. Excuse me for trying to protect your ass." He yelled as Nick followed him into the kitchen.
Terri was too angry to say anything to AJ so she just rolled her eyes but decided to say one thing. "Damn Carter are you ever gonna leave my fucking house? You're here 24/7, when are you gonna start paying rent and stop being Aj's butt buddy. I'm so sick of looking at you everywhere I go!" Terri went to her room to blow some steam. She put on her Savage Garden Cd and went to one of her favorite songs "Crash and Burn".
"Right now I wish Aj would hop a flight with his backdoor boys and crash and burn. He's been here for me all along and thanks to this damn rivalry between bsb and nsync he hates me! AH!" She screamed into a pillow.
About 10 minutes later the phone rang and Aj answered it was Erik calling for Terri.
"Hold on a second." Aj said setting the phone down.
"Who is it?" Nick asked as he sat on the couch eating chips watching the end of Total Request Live (the late night re-run). While AJ went up to get Terri, Nick got up and got on the phone.
"Terri will be mine." He said in a Scream kind of voice.
"Get a new line Nick and while you're at it grow up!" Erik replied, Terri caught what Erik said.
"Dammit Nick, I'm gonna kick your ass if you don't get off right now." Terri said.
"Love ya too." And Nick hung up.
"Sorry about that Erik, I swear he never leaves my house."
"It's ok, I'm use to that asshole. I fhe bugs you too much just remember these 2 words, restraining order. It'll work wonders. So how did the rest of practice go?"
"Good, we've only got a week left till the big tour. Then 2 weeks after that I get to see my man for an entire week."
"Are you cheating on me Ter Ter( Erik's pet name for Terri)? Who's this man you speak of?"
"Oh wow, this guy is tall, about 6'1", he's got gorgeous hair and his eyes, OH! Where to start with those gorgeous blue oceans he has for eyes. Yup, that VonDetten guy is quite the cutie."
"OH shut up you're making me blush." He joked.
"Yea yea sure! I can't wait to see you. It'll help with this AJ situation.
"What situation?"
"Aj is really pissed off at me cause I'm dancing for *NSync and he won't accept it! I mean you know how I told you how our parents weren't around us much and were always out of town and leaving us? Well AJ was always taking care of me and helping me. I just don't see why he can't support me. I gave him an ultimatum and said support me or not, your choice. I really don't know what to do Erik."
"Listen he's your brother and I guess he has some common sense and he should let you do what makes you happy. Find out tonight what he's decided and go from there. And remember you always have me to turn to."
"Thanks Erik. Listen I better go talk to him before he decides to go out with Nick to a club. I'll call you tomorrow on my lunch break. I love you babe."
"I love you too, good luck." They both hung up and Terri took a deep breath.
When she arrived at the bottom of the steps there was Aj and Nick watching TRL still.
"What? We're number 3 again? How much does it suck that Hanson is beating us and *NSync is at number 1 where we should be!"
"I'll give them this much it's a good song and video this time but still ours is better. You better get on the net and start requesting us Nick." AJ joked.
"All right, I did that once before and got us to #1 after over 500 votes! I'll do it again"
"That's pretty sad you hae to get online and vote for yourself." Terri said as she stood looking on.
"Whatever. What do you want." Aj asked.
"I came to talk. I told you earlier you could accept what I'm doing or not. I wanna know what you have to say."
"I don't accept it." He said simply as he turned back to watch the tv.
"What? God AJ what the fuck is your problem? I'm your sister, not one of your skank ass little hoes! What does it matter if I'm dancing for *Nsync I'm not involved with any of them. I like what I'm doing. You are such a prick. If u could get your head and your ego out of your ass for 2 seconds and looked at my life for a second maybe you would understand. You've always been there and now you're hurting me because of this big fabricated boy band battle that really has nothing to do with anything! You have turned into one conceded mother fucking, no-good piece of shit! And I'm sick of who you've become. I wish you'd be Alex again and not your alter ego/ jackass self who you are now, AJ McLean. Have a little respect for others lives. You're not god and you can't run my life."
"Well aren't we the little feisty one this evening *hiss*" Nick said from the couch.
"Don't even let me start on you again Carter. You better stay off my phone calls and leave me alone or one day you're gonna have it coming when I kick your balls (if you have any) so hard you might actually have an excuse for that girly voice of yours, ok?" She paced around with her hands on her hips. "You know what I'm sick of this. I'm leaving." She grabbed her parents car keys and took their car and sped off. Aj shrugged it off and later that evening Nick and himself met up with his girlfriend, Brian, and his fiancée, Kevin and his new wife, and Howie and his best friend at a club across town.