Chapter Twenty

The ride back to the hotel was quiet, with everyone’s stomach full, they were now ready for bed. Megan was already asleep when their van stopped at the side door they’d left from. AJ gently picked her up and carried her to the elevator. He said good night when they reached their floor and took her to the room they shared. With a little bit of fumbling, he was able to get the door open. He decided against turning on the lights and kicked the door shut with his foot. Megan sighed and snuggled closer to him.

“Oh man,” he groaned.

Very carefully, he made his way across the living room, being careful to sidestep the furniture, and walked into the bedroom. He set her down on the bed and just gazed at her. She looked so peaceful and angelic when she was sleeping. He sat down beside her and started untying the laces of her shoes.

“AJ?” she asked softly, waking up.

“Yeah?”

She sat up and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

“What’s that for?”

She smiled at him in the darkness. “For being your sweet self. Wanna join me under the blankets?”

“You bet.”

Still fully clothed, they slid beneath the cool sheets and fell asleep side by side.

"What do you mean we have to run through that crowd!” Megan demanded, looking fearfully out the van window.

“If you’re quick about it, they won’t even notice you,” Kevin said, trying to sound convincing.

“Bullshit.”

Leighanne sighed. “They’ll see you, there’s no way around it. But we have Brett and Jack to protect us, right?”

The two bodyguards nodded in unison.

“Isn’t there a back way?” Dana asked softly.

Brian nodded. “Sure there is, but the entire arena is surrounded with fans.” Tyk yipped from Brian’s lap, feeling the excitement and fear in the air.

The van came to a stop at the entrance of the huge venue the Boys were playing at later that night.

“You could just go back to the hotel and wait for us,” AJ said to Megan. “If you don’t wanna do this.”

“I want to see you guys practice, and plus, the hotel is boring.” She took a deep breath. “No, I can do this.”

Dana said the same, even though she was scared to death.

“Just follow my lead,” Leighanne said, taking the dog. “Just be cool and calm about it. You’ll be fine.”

She pushed the door open and stepped out. People immediately began calling out her name, asking for autographs. Megan and Dana slowly emerged after her. The whispers about which Boy they were with began, causing Dana to duck behind Megan and keep her head low. Leighanne lead the way inside the arena where they were met with other security people and ushered to the main floor.

“Morning, girls,” Denise greeted them, rushing past them, her arms full of various papers.

“What time did she get here?” Megan asked.

“Early. She’s always on top of things. Anyway, the guys will be in as soon as they get past the fans,” Leighanne said, taking a seat in the front row. “But until then, we wait here. Unless you guys want to explore.”

Megan was practically bouncing up and down in excitement. “Hell yeah I want to explore! Can I go under the stage?”

Leighanne quickly stood up and said, “Well, I don’t know if things are set up. . .”

But Megan was already gone. She slipped between the curtains and stared in awe at the setup. If she thought the stage was elaborate, the underpart was just as complicated.

“Megan!” Dana called, coming after her. “I hope you’re not getting into trouble.”

“Not yet. But give me a minute.”

Leighanne came up behind her, holding Tyk. “I guess Marla isn’t here yet,” she said, naming the costume director. “Here’s where the guys change between songs. Trust me, you don’t wanna be here for that. They move so fast and furiously, it amazes me.”

Megan reached out and ran a hand over one of the costumes. “Dang, how much did this cost?”

“You don’t want to know.”

They maneuvered their way under the five-sided stage, being careful not to trip over wires or bump their heads on the metal beams. They talked with some of the stage crew and were shown the system that would allow the Boys to fly out over the audience.

“Isn’t that dangerous?” Dana asked, chewing on her nails.

The stage director, Mick, shook his head. “We’ve tested this numerous times with dummies, and even the Boys themselves. It’s perfectly safe for them, and they love the feeling of being able to see more of the crowd.”

“I can’t wait to see this show!” Megan declared, clapping her hands. “Sounds awesome.”

They said goodbye to Mick and stepped out from under the stage. The guys were just coming into the arena, discarding jackets and hats along the way.

“Gotten a tour huh?” AJ asked, putting his arm around Megan.

“Yeah, and it’s really neat. Now get your ass up on stage and let me see you hump the floor,” she said, patting his rear.

AJ chuckled. “Sorry, babe. Not in this show. But I can do it for you later.”

“Sounds promising.”

Kevin averted his eyes away from them and focused on Dana instead. He took her hand and guided her up the steps to the stage to show her things from there. But he found himself looking back and AJ and Megan as they talked and laughed and held each other close. A ripple of jealousy made its way through him, making him angry. Why should he be jealous of AJ?

“Kev? Kevin? Brian’s calling for you,” Dana said softly.

“Huh? Oh, thanks. Looks like its time for a run-through.”

He kissed Dana and let her go back to join the others. The guys came up onstage and started a mic check. Megan, Leighanne and Dana sat down to watch them rehearse. Denise came back into the arena, followed by a man carrying a large camera and a bag slung over his shoulder.

“Andre!” Nick greeted him. “Hey, man, glad you’re here. I’m having a good hair day!”

“Who’s that?” Dana asked Leighanne.

“Andre Csillag, he’s their professional photographer. He’s a master at it too.”

Megan propped her feet up on the chair in front of her and watched the show. She had a hard time believing she was actually sitting in on a rehearsal of the Backstreet Boys! She watched them goof around, practice the songs, and then begin a complete show from the very beginning. Andre made his way around the stage, taking pictures from every angle and pose.

When it was time for a break, Andre set his things down on an empty seat near the girls and went to get something to drink. Megan was suddenly hit with a wicked idea. Leighanne and Dana were talking about their Kentucky men, comparing notes when Megan slid from her seat and smoothly picked up the huge camera. She hadn’t worked one of these since her high school photography class, but she knew she could figure it out.

The Boys were stuffing their faces at the food table, telling jokes and messing around. Megan sneaked up behind them, aimed the high powered lens and began snapping away. The bright flashes stunned them momentarily as she caught them with food hanging from their mouths. She even caught Nick trying to discreetly fix his pants.

Andre nearly peed in his pants when he saw Megan with his thousand dollar camera. “Ahhh! What are you-? Give that back!”

She was pleased to see she’d been able to take about ten pictures. Then she handed the camera back, grinning as though she were completely innocent.

“Andre, this is Megan Daniels,” AJ introduced, stepping between them before the red-faced photographer could get to her. “She’s a clown, and my girlfriend.”

“Does she realize this is not a toy?!”

“I’m sure she does. She didn’t get much sleep last night, she’s sorry, right, Megs?”

She nodded and waved from behind AJ’s back. Andre sighed, rolled his eyes and walked away, cradling his camera.

“You didn’t catch me. . .” Nick asked, wide eyed.

“Picking your butt?” Megan finished. “Oh yeah. That’s a keeper!”

“Megan!” Nick screeched, taking off after her.