"Why do I have to be such a dork when it comes to things like this?" He muttered out loud. "It's not like I can just walk up to her and say ‘hi, I'm Nick.  I just wanted to tell you that even though we've never met, I can't seem to get you out of my head and I think I may love you'! Man I never thought love at first sight could be so nerve racking! Great, now she's got me talking to myself."

        "Nick" Brian stuck his head "We gotta go meet those two girls with the backstage passes now."
 
        "Is there only two of them?" Nick's face lit up.  Maybe he'd have some time with her to himself!

        "Uh, yeah. They won a radio contest or something.  Come on" Brian left.

        "Here goes nothing!" Nick said as he followed Brian out.
 

        "Jess, I don't really think I wanna do this" Marissa said as she saw the five Backstreet Boys come down a hallway.

        "What?! You've been dreaming about meeting them forever! What's wrong with you?"
        "I wanna go home and eat ice cream. Chocolate ice cream. Then mourn over the death of all my failed relationships."

        "You're talkin' crazy talk! Besides, it's too late toback out now! They're here! And DON'T be shy either!"

        Marissa rolled her eyes and looked away from Jessica in time to catch the longing glance Nick Carter was giving her. Marissa's face got a bit red and she stared at the floor.

        "Hi! You must be Jessica and Marissa, right?" AJMcLean said shaking Jessica's hand.

        Jessica smiled at him, "Yeah, I'm Jess, this is Marissa."

        Marissa was forced to look up. She gave AJ a halfhearted smile. "Hi."

        "Hey! So you guys are the only ones who we hafta meet ’n' greet..." AJ said in a funny voice, "But I was just thinking maybe if you two aren't doin anything you could show us where all the best clubs are"

        "Damn you work fast!" Jessica laughed.

        "Jeeze AJ! Slow your hormones down a bit! Let us at least get introduced to them first!" Kevin joked.

        "Hey, what's up with her?" Howie asked gesturing to Marissa.

        Jessica shrugged and blurted out, "She just broke up with her boyfriend and is still mourning the loose.  Not that it's much of a loose. She could do better dating almost anyone but that jerk!"

        Marissa's eyes became like daggers as she stared at her friend. She hated talking about her personal life and Jessica knew that!

        "I'm really sorry Marissa. I don't know what the guy did, but you seem too sweet to be with anyone who could hurt you." Nick said sincerely.

        Marissa looked up at him, "Thanks. That's nice of you to say."

        Nick shrugged. Brian was busy checking out Jessica.  "So you guys wanna just skip this meet and greet crap and go to some parties?"

        "Hell yeah!" Jessica said. "I know this great club-"

        "Jess I'm really not in the mood to party. I don't feel too well." Marissa cut her off.

        "Hey, that's okay. I don't really wanna party either.  Why don't you guys go ahead, and me and Marissa can hang out here." Nick offered, his face gleaming with hope. Marissa looked up at him gratefully.

        "Yeah, sure." Kevin said.
 

        Five minutes later Nick and Marissa were sitting on a couch in Nick's dressing room. They began talking and forgot about being shy.

        "So tell me about yourself. I wanna know how old you are, and where you live, and what your interests are..." Nick began.

        Marissa laughed, "I'm seventeen, I live here in Detroit, and I like to play video games, go to the movies, talk on the phone, and shop. Now it's your turn.”

        "I'm nineteen, I live in Ruskin, Florida, I absolutely LOVE video games, and I like all that otherstuff too."

        Marissa laughed, "And all that other stuff too!" She mimicked.
 
        Nick laughed. "You never told me your last name."

        "You never asked."

        "What's your last name?"

        "Williams"

        Nick opened his mouth to say something, but Marissa stopped him. "I know what you're going to ask next. I have one younger sister who's eight and I live with my mom. My sister lives with my dad in New York."

       He laughed, then turned serious again. "Marissa, listen. I know this is going to sound really straightforward and it's probably bad timing. I'm not usually this up front, but I want to tell you because I feelso strongly."

        "Okay. Well...what is it?"

        "Do you believe in love at fist sight?"

        "Well, I uh-" Marissa looked up and her eyes locked with Nick's. She got lost for a minute as she stared

into them. "I um I mean that is yes, I do. I do now."

        "You do now? What do you mean by that?" Nick asked.

        "Nothing. Just-go on."

        "So anyway" Nick took a deep breath and took Marissa's slender hands in his. "Marissa, I think I'm
in love with you. I know we just met, but I loved you before we meet. I saw you in the audience and just knew. I thought, ‘Wow, that's the girl I want to hold and kiss and be with'"

        Marissa was shocked beyond words. "You want to be with me? You love me? Nick I-"

        "I know I know. You don't feel the same way. You need time to get over your ex. You can't put up with my horrendous schedule. You can't-" He was silenced by Marissa putting her finger up to his lip.

        "First of all, I do feel the same way. Second, I am over my ex. Third, I can put up with anyone's schedule if I love them enough. And I do love you. I just need you to promise me one thing."

        "Anything!"

        "Promise me you will never ever cheat on me. And if you do, I want you to tell me so that we can work it out." She said solemnly.

        Nick understood. He nodded, "I promise. I could never ever cheat on you." He pulled her into a hug.  Marissa felt so right in his arms, and he didn't want to let go.

        For once, Marissa felt totally safe and loved. She knew Nick was different. She could feel it. They were meant to be.

        "Now you have to promise me something." Nick said as they pulled apart.

        Marissa looked at him in surprise, "What?"

        "I want you to promise that you'll love me for me, and not for the backstreet boys."

        Marissa smiled lovingly at him. "I love Nick Carter and no one else. When you're with me, there's going to be no such thing as the Backstreet boys."

        He smiled at her and got up, still holding her hand.  He pulled her off the couch. "Let's dance."

        "To what music silly?"

        Nick turned on the radio and a song was just starting.  Marissa listened to the introduction for a minute and recognized it as "Tears In Heaven". "Oh I love this song. It's so sweet!"

        Nick took her in his arms and they danced closed until the end of the song. Nick pulled away, his face
brushing against her right cheek. He looked at her in the eyes before leaning in and gently kissing her.  They both felt electric shocks run through their entire bodies. Marissa had to hold onto Nick to keep from falling to the floor as Nick deepened their kiss.

        Pulling apart moments later, Nick whispered to her, "I love you. I'm going to make this work."

        Marissa smiled, "I believe in you." She said before they kissed again.