Chapter Five

Vanessa and Brooke jumped up with everyone else in the place when the lights went off. The music started and the boys came out. It was all so magical to them. They danced and sang along.

Brian made eye contact with them and waved. AJ danced in front of Brooke and blew her a kiss. She nearly fell over. And then there was Kevin. Every chance he could, he looked at Vanessa. He pointed at her during certain parts of songs and waved.

When it was time to sing “Back To Your Heart,” he played the piano. Vanessa closed her eyes and swayed to the music. She’d first heard this song on the home video “A Night Out With The Backstreet Boys.” But at that time, there had been no lyrics. She didn’t care, she just loved the music.

She opened her eyes and watched Kevin. She loved the way he felt the music as he played. When the song was over, she screamed and clapped and jumped up and down. Kevin took a bow and then walked to the edge of the stage where he dropped to one knee and extended his left hand to her. A single red rose was being held in between his fingers.

Brooke had to give her a push towards him. She shyly took it from him. He nodded at her and then stood up. She moved back to her spot beside Brooke and sniffed the rose, tears in her eyes.

“I think he likes you,” Brooke said, close to her ear.

Vanessa just held the rose.

The concert ended an hour later. It was pure pandomonium when the Boys left the stage. When the lights came back on, some people started heading for the exits while others pushed forward to the stage.

“Are you Kevin’s girlfriend?” one girl asked Vanessa.

“No,” she answered.

“He sure looked in love to me.”

Brooke agreed. They were standing in front of the stage, still cheering for the group ten minutes later when a security guard came up to them.

“Vanessa and Brooke?” he asked loudly over the noise.

It suddenly got quiet as they nodded and raised their hands.

“AJ and Kevin have requested that you two be brought backstage,” he informed them. “Would you follow me, please?”

They stared at each other in shock. All around them, the whispers began, and things started to get ugly. Hissing and booing, and name calling began. But they didn’t care. They followed the guard backstage and back to the room where the meet and greet was held.

“If you’ll just wait here, the guys will be here in a few minutes. Help yourself to the food table.”

He left them then. They looked over to see the huge table covered with fruit, sandwiches, salads and drinks. But they were both too nervous to eat.

“AJ and Kevin requested that we be brought backstage?!” Brooke cried. “This is awesome!”

“Why would they do that?”

Brooke gave her a half crazed expression. “Duh! It’s obvious they like us!”

Vanessa shook her head. “No, no way. They just met us! They don’t know anything about us!”

Before Brooke could say anything, the doors opened and the whole group walked in, followed by people from their management and several bodyguards. AJ and Kevin made a beeline for them. It was obvious they had showered, their hair was still wet. AJ whisked Brooke off to a private corner. Kevin hugged Vanessa.

“Did you like the show?” he asked.

“I loved it. I loved your song.”

“I saw how you were moving to the music. It was beautiful, watching you.” He gazed down at her and she felt herself shiver. “Are you cold?”

“Not really. It’s just, I’ve never been looked at like you’re looking at me.”

“It’s because you look like an angel,” he said softly.

She blushed a deep red. This wasn’t really happening, was it? Kevin Richardson had not just called her an angel! He took her hand and guided her over to the food table.

“I’m starving,” he said. “How about you?”

“A little.”

He handed her a plate and grabbed one for himself. Then he loaded up on food. Vanessa suddenly started giggling.

“What?”

“Nothing, I was just remembering you in the ‘All Access’ video,” she explained.

He grinned at her, and she felt her heart skip a beat. “Oh, you mean that line about grabbing it with your fingers?”

She nodded. They took their plates to a small table set up on one side. He set his down and then held her chair out for her. When she was settled, he sat down next to her.

“Tell me about yourself,” he said.

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything.”

She pushed the fruit salad around her plate with a fork. “I guess I should start off by telling you that I have a boyfriend.” She glanced at him from behind her lashes.

He let out an audible sigh. “I figured. A gorgeous girl like you. I’m seeing someone too. I guess our timing is way off.”

“And what are you guys up to?” Brian asked, coming over to them. “It sure looks cozy over here.”

“Hi, Brian,” Vanessa said. “Good show tonight. Aren’t you tired?”

“Actually, exhausted. But it’s a great feeling.”

Kevin cleared his throat and jerked his head to the side.

Brian smiled. “I get the hint. I’m gone. Have fun!”

Vanessa couldn’t believe what was happening. Here she was, in the same room as her favorite music group, and she was flirting with her dream guy! She scanned the room for Brooke and AJ. They were nowhere in sight.

“Don’t worry, they probably just went outside or something,” Kevin said, reading her mind. “AJ is a bit of a romantic.”

“Just what Brooke needs.”

They sat there and talked a while longer. Vanessa noticed he hurried up and ate, then pushed his plate aside so he could lean closer to her. They shared stories about their childhoods, and their dreams and goals. She was surprised to learn they actually had a lot in common. During their conversation, Kevin’s hand had somehow found her own.

It felt so right to have him holding her hand. They seemed to fit perfectly within each other.

“Hey, Kevin, are you ready to go back to the hotel?” Howie asked. “We gotta get going. It’s late.”

He looked at his watch. He and Vanessa had been sitting there talking for almost three hours!

“Wow, I guess I have to leave.” He looked at her. “Can I call you? Email you? Something, I really want to get in touch with you again.”

He was almost pleading with her.

“Sure, do you have a piece of paper?”

He grabbed a nearby napkin and asked Howie for a pen. He jotted down her phone number and email address.

“Let me give you my ICQ number too,” she said.

Kevin looked to Howie for help.

“I know what it is, I’ll show him,” Howie assured her.

She took the pen from Kevin and wrote down her ICQ number.

Then he tucked the napkin in his wallet and stood up. He took her hands in his and helped her up. Howie moved away.

Vanessa felt the sparks between them. This was what love should be, she thought. But it just couldn’t be. She had Eddie, and he had a girl named Samantha. They didn’t notice that the room had emptied.

Kevin tilted his head down towards hers. She closed her eyes and just let herself go. Their lips touched, lightly at first, and then with more pressure, more passion. She was in heaven. He flicked his tongue at her, and she opened her mouth just a little. The kiss seemed to last forever. When they finally broke apart, Vanessa’s whole body was weak. Kevin held her close.

“If only...” he murmured.

“If only...” she echoed.

They stood there holding each other until he absolutely had to let her go. Then they walked outside to the back of the arena where the bus was parked. AJ and Brooke were standing under a tree, their arms around each other, swaying to music only they could hear.

“Yo, Bone!” Nick called, hanging out a bus window. “We gotta go!”

AJ kissed Brooke, whispered something and then headed for the bus. Kevin promised to call Vanessa soon. And then he let her go to board the bus.

Vanessa and Brooke stood there and waved at them as they left. They didn’t move until the bus was out of sight. Then Brooke turned to her best friend with tears in her eyes. Vanessa knew exactly what she was thinking.