Chapter Fifteen

“So my birthday party is tomorrow night, you’ll come right?” Casey begged as Megan helped her to sit comfortably on the couch.

Megan had been thrilled to hear that Casey was being released from the hospital in time for her birthday. She’d hurried over to see her little sister.

“I’ll come, sure. Myra, do you need any help planning?”

Myra shook her head and draped a blanket over her daughter. “I won’t be here.”

“What?”

“Casey has kicked me out for the evening. She’s ordered me to go out on a date.”

“With who?” Megan asked while looking at Casey.

“Robbie.”

“Robbie from Jive?”

Myra nodded. “Ever since I’ve started working there, he’s been very nice to me. And he asked me out to a movie and dinner.”

“That’s wonderful!” Megan exclaimed, hugging the woman. “You haven’t been out on a date in ages.”

“I know. I hope I still know how to date.”

“You’ll do fine.”

Casey coughed, her way of getting everyone’s attention. “Um, Megan, I hope you don’t mind being the oldest girl at my party. All my friends are coming, they’re bringing over all their BSB videos and stuff.”

“A Backstreet Boys party?”

“Yeah. I hope that’s okay with you.”

“That’s fine. I want to see all this stuff, especially since I’ll be going on tour with them.”

She said it so off handedly, that at first Myra and Casey weren’t sure they’d heard right. Then Casey asked her to repeat herself. Megan sat down on the couch beside her and smiled. “AJ asked me to go out on tour with them. He really wants to get to know me better, and I want to be with him.”

Casey squealed. “Oh my GOD! You’re going to be with them all the time! You’re gonna see them perform, and eat, and sleep, and...and...undress...”

Megan’s mouth dropped. She hadn’t thought about that. “Oh, um, wow.”

Casey sighed with delight. “That is what I want for my birthday. I’d want to go on tour with them. But I’d settle for Kevin at my doorstep instead.”

Megan reached over and ruffled her hair. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“What? Aw, Megs, I was kidding.”

“Oh really? Well, then I won’t ask Kevin to drop by...”

“No wait! He can come!” Casey cried.

Myra and Megan couldn’t help but giggle at her wide eyed expression of extreme puppy love. She blushed and ducked under the blanket, but she was laughing with them.

“Hey, Case, I’m on my way.”

“Well hurry! Everyone’s waiting to meet you!” Casey cried in her ear.

Megan moved her cell phone away and continued driving. “Why is everyone waiting to meet me?”

“Uhh...”

“Casey, did you tell your friends who I was dating?”

“Well, sorta.”

“Casey!”

“I had to! It was killing me. And they brought over all their videos and cds, I just had to!”

Megan sighed. “It’s okay. I understand. Oh, hey, I’m pulling into your driveway right now.”

“Okay, see you in a bit.”

They hung up and Megan grabbed her purse and Casey’s birthday present from the passenger seat. She also mentally prepared herself for a roomful of teenage girls in love with the Backstreet Boys. It was going to be a long night.

She’d just reached the front door to see Myra and Robbie leaving the house. Robbie knew who she was and hugged her. “Remind me to tell Kev that hiring Myra was the best thing Jive as ever done,” he whispered.

“I will. Have fun tonight.”

Myra grinned. “You too. Casey’s bouncing off the walls, waiting for you. The girls have lots to show you.”

Robbie rolled his eyes. “That stuff is so old, the Boys would be embarassed to see it now.”

“Oh, then I have to see it,” Megan said. “Good night.”

“Megan, it took you long enough!” Casey exclaimed, grabbing her arm and yanking her in the house. “Everyone’s been waiting for you.”

Megan looked around at the decorated living room, practically a shrine to the Orlando group. “Yikes,” she breathed.

Casey lead her to a spot on the floor by the tv. She took the gift from her and placed it on the table with the others. “First, I’ll introduce you to my friends. That’s Jackie, Lisa, Leah, Nora, Marla and Hannah.”

Megan said hello to all the girls and then turned back to Casey. “We’re gonna watch the Orlando pay-per-view concert first, have you seen it?”

“No, I haven’t seen any of this.” She stared in awe and amazement at the mountain of VHS tapes stacked beside the vcr. “Where did you get all this stuff?”

“We’ve bought it, got it as gifts, and these,” she paused and pointed to some tapes in blank cases. “These are all their tv appearances.”

“Do you guys live in front of the tv?” Megan asked.

Nora nodded. “When it comes to Nick, oh yeah.”

Casey brought out a tray of sodas and a huge bowl of popcorn from the kitchen. “Ready? Here we go!” She pressed the play button on the vcr and the show began.

The girls chanted along with the Boys at the start, and then got all excited when the lights went down. Megan watched them and the show, not believing anyone could get so worked up over a music group. But as she continued to watch, she began to learn. There was something about the way they held the audience in the palm of their hands....it attracted her. She found herself wishing she knew the words to the songs so she could sing with the others.

When it came time for the solos, everyone slowly turned and focused on Megan. She wondered why.

Howie’s part was good, she thought the song was pretty. Then came AJ. She was amazed with his voice, it was so sexy, and the song was very seductive. When he did his famous floor move, Megan let out a small shriek.

That was what the girls had been waiting for, her reaction to AJ humping the floor.

“Did he just do what I think he did?!” she cried. “Somebody hit rewind!”

Casey happily obliged and they watched it over again.

“God, he is a horny one, isn’t he?” she muttered under her breath.

Seven heads nodded in agreement. They continued with the show, Megan giggling at Kevin’s rather stiff dancing style, but otherwise enjoying it. They finished it and Casey replaced that tape with another.

“This one’s a little slower,” she explained. “They don’t dance. It’s just them, sitting on stools and singing.”

“Okay.”

Megan liked this video because it showed off their singing abilities rather than their dancing. Sighs could be heard all around as Kevin appeared on the screen, seated at a beautiful piano. He began to play, and Megan felt goosebumps break out on her arms. He was good, very good. She stared at the screen, at the way he moved with the music. It was obvious he felt every note he played. Megan was glad when that video ended. She was nervous and jumpy after seeing Kevin play piano.

As Casey was switching tapes again, the doorbell rang. She froze. “Who’s that?”

“I ordered pizza before I came over. I hope that’s okay,” Megan said casually. “It’s on me, too.”

“Wow! Thanks, Megan!” Casey said, running for the door.

Megan leaned back on her arms, doing her best not to smile too widely as Casey flung open the door. A tall man stood at the step holding several large pizza boxes. They were up so high they covered his face.

“Pizza for a Miss Casey Lawson?” he asked.

“That’s me.” She reached out and took one of the boxes...and nearly dropped it on the floor. “AHHHHH!”

Instantly, the other girls were on their feet, wanting to see what was going on. Shrieks and screams erupted, forcing Megan to cover her ears. Kevin grinned at them all. “Happy Birthday, Casey,” he said. “Mind if I come in, these are hot.”

“Sure sure, come in, *please* come in.”

He walked past Megan to the kitchen, winking on his way. He set the pizza boxes on the table and then turned around to see several pairs of eyes staring at him intently. “Um, food, anyone?”

Megan pulled her camera from her purse and joined them. “Say cheese!” she said, aiming at them.

The girls crowded around Kevin like bees to their queen, or in this case, king. He pulled Casey close and then smiled. Megan snapped the picture and then offered to take pictures for the others with their cameras.

“Whoa, I think I’m blind now,” Kevin joked. “I can’t see a thing.”

Casey took his hand and walked with him over to the couch. “Here, you just sit here, and um...omigodIcan’tbelieveKevinRichardsonissittingonmycouch!” she screamed.

Megan placed a calming hand on Casey’s shoulder. “Would you like it if he stuck around for awhile?”

“Would I? Oh hells yes!” she yelled. Then she clamped a hand over her mouth. “Oops. I didn’t mean to swear.”

Kevin waved it off. “It’s okay. I think you’re a little excited, that’s all.”

“Would you like to watch a video with us?” Hannah whispered.

“Sure, whatcha watching?”

“You,” Megan said. “Stuff of you and the guys.”

Kevin gulped. “Oh, what stuff?”

“So far, the Orlando concert, and the Night Out video.”

“And what did you think?”

Megan shrugged. “Very entertaining. Anyone ever tell you you dance like you’ve still got the hanger in your shirt?”

Everyone gasped and looked to Kevin, afraid he’d been offended. But he just laughed and said, “Once or twice.”

The group breathed a collective sigh of relief and helped themselves to the pizza. Then they watched another video, an older one that had Nick looking barely into his teens. Thirty minutes into it, another knock came at the door. Casey threw a questioning glance at Megan, who this time, had no idea who it was. Very slowly, Casey opened the door.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Casey, happy birthday to you!” came four singing voices.

That was it for Casey. She smiled, and then fainted to the floor.

“Oops,” Brian said. “I think we scared her.”

The noise level in the house had reached near deafening as Howie, Nick, Brian and AJ quickly stepped inside and closed the door. Kevin picked up Casey and carried her to the couch.

“I’ve died and gone to BSB heaven,” she murmured, her eyes still closed.

“What are you guys doing here?” Megan asked, as AJ hugged her.

“Kev gave us a buzz, said there was a happening party goin’ on with some hot chicks,” he explained, grinning at the girls.

“Uh, they’re a little young for you, dear,” Megan said softly.

“I know. I like my women older anyway.” He kissed her on the lips, causing sighs to fill the room.

When they broke apart, Megan’s face was flushed. “God, you two, get a room,” Nick said, helping himself to the pizza. “What are we watching?” He turned to face the television and nearly shot pizza from his mouth. “It’s us!”

“Very good, Nicky,” Brian said, clapping him on the back. “As I recall, this is where you declare to the world that you ‘resign’ in Florida.”

“I hate this one,” he growled, munching on his pizza.

AJ poked Megan in the ribs. “How come you invited Kevin but not me to this little shindig?”

“Because Casey’s in love with Kevin, not you.”

“In love with Kevin,” the girl whispered from the couch. Then she opened her eyes and screamed as she realized he was hovering over her.

“I think she’s back with us,” Howie called out. “Can you sit up?”

Casey nodded, avoiding the eyes of everyone around her. “I just fainted...in front of the Backstreet Boys and all my friends. Shoot me.”

Kevin chuckled and helped her sit up, even putting his arm around her. He could feel her shoulders shaking. “It’s no big deal, fans have done worse.”

Howie nodded and sat down next to her. “Yeah, like ripped our clothes off.”

The girls exchanged glances, silently willing themselves not to ever do that, no matter how cute Nick’s shirt was...!

As it was, he and Brian were fast forwarding through the video, making fun of themselves and the other guys. “Kev, man,” Brian said, laughing. “The hair, what was with the hair?!”

Kevin looked up. “Like yours was any better.”

“All ya’ll look like dorks,” Megan declared. “How you got to become teen idols, I’m still trying to figure out!”

AJ grabbed a chair from the kitchen and then sat down, with her in his lap. “There’s just something about us...”

“...that makes me want to go on tour with you...” she finished.

“Huh? What?!”

“You heard me.”

“Aww, Megan, that’s great!” AJ exclaimed. “Hey, guys, Megan’s gonna come out on the road with us!”

Nick choked and Brian had to smack him on the back. “You are?” he gasped. “Bone never mentioned that.”

“I didn’t want to say anything until she answered me. And now she has.”