I was released the following morning, and had to go straight to the studio to catch up on everything I’d missed. After several hours of recording, I was hurried off to the set of TRL where I was appearing as a guest host.
“Laura! How are you?” Brian asked running over to me and giving me a hug.
“I’m managing,” I smiled.
“That’s good! Well, you need to get to wardrobe! I’ll see you later!”
“Bye Brian!” I said, giving him another hug.
I walked over to wardrobe, and changed into a pair of jean shorts and a white tube top. I grabbed my crutches and hobbled over to Carson.
“Hey girl! You ready?” Carson asked giving me a hug.
“Yup! When am I going on?”
“I’m going to bring you up after the number nine video.”
“Okay. I’m going to sit down then,” I laughed, falling back on the couch.
“Well, I’ll see you in about fifteen minutes!” He said before walking onto the set.
I watched the tv in the corner until a stagehand told me to follow him.
I walked to the stage after Carson introduced me, and everyone stood up as I hobbled in. Carson led me to the stool they had set up, and I grabbed a microphone.
“Hey everyone! How are you?” I asked and everyone screamed back.
“I’ll take that as enjoying So Cal Summer!” I laughed.
“What about you? How are you doing?” Carson asked.
“Well, as you can see, I broke my ankle during the volleyball game, and I’m going to be on crutches for a while. It shouldn’t interfere with too much since I’m not going on tour until later this year, and I’m mainly in the studio working on my new album!”
“That must suck! I think I’d go crazy having to stay in a cast for a while! But you look like you’re doing it in style! Look at your cast and crutches!”
“Well, all my friends insisted on signing my cast, and a very nice aid in the hospital designed these crutches for me! Thank you Claudia!”
“Well, seems like she’d go far if she ever decided to design crutches for a living!” Carson smiled.
“Yup! She’s amazing! She also made this pattern in a lighter blue and a white! So no matter what I wear, my crutches will match!”
“Of course! Nothing less for Laura!” Carson laughed. “Anyway, here’s video number 7! Britney Spears and her new video! We’ll be back after and you in the audience will get a chance to ask some questions!”
After the video, a microphone was given to the audience to pass around and ask questions.
“Laura! Okay, first of all, I just want to say that I love your music, and that I think you’re a wonderful role model! Okay, my question is, what is your next video going to be, and who is going to be in it?” a girl asked.
“Thank you! My newest video was actually just shot a few days ago! The video is for a song from my newly released album, called Mistake. It was originally going to include Josh Hartnett, but due to some conflicts, Nick Carter became the replacement.”
“Hey, is something up between you and Nick? I saw the volleyball game, and it seemed he was trying to hurt you or something,” a guy asked.
“That was a very competitive game because we’re all really good friends. I’m sure that my accident had nothing to do with Nick. And no we’re not anything more than friends,” I smiled and all the guys cheered.
“Okay, we’re going to take a break now, but we’ll be back for more questions and videos” Carson announced.
“Laura, do you really believe that Nick had nothing to do with your accident? There’s a lot of talk, and those who saw the accident think that he was trying to hurt you,” Carson asked while off camera.
“I’m not really sure. Truthfully, we had gotten in an argument the day before, and maybe he was trying to get out his anger. I don’t think he meant to really hurt me.” I shrugged. I thought back to what happened in the hospital, but my thoughts were interrupted by the director who was counting back to TRL.
“Okay, we’re going to take one more question,” Carson announced after the number two video.
“Hey, I was in New York when you were on TRL there, and I saw a couple guys holding up signs that said ‘We wanna come up! Come on Laura! Please?! 5 out of 10 Muskateers.’ The guys turned out to be the guys of NSYNC! I was just wondering, why did they call themselves Muskateers, and who are the other five?”
I laughed, and explained what the guys had done at my concert, and told her that the other five were the guys of Backstreet Boys.
We played the last video, which turned out to be mine, and finished the show. I rode back to the hotel, and met Ani and Sayde on the way up to my room.
“Hey Laura! How was TRL?” Ani asked.
“It was fun. My video is still number one!”
“Oh, cool! Well, we’re going to the mall! Wanna come?” Sayde asked.
“Nah. I don’t really feel like braving the crowds. If ya find anything you know I’d like, buy it!” I said, handing Ani a credit card.
“Okay! Will do! See ya later!” Sayde smiled.
I walked to my room and grabbed my cd player. I put Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall in, and grabbed security. I’m going for a walk on the beach, kay?” I told Mark. He grabbed another guard and they followed behind me, trying to blend in.
When I had walked about a mile down the beach, I noticed a figured walking next to me. I looked around and saw JC, and stopped my music.
“How long have you been walking with me?” I laughed, noticing the four large men who were now following us.
“For about twenty minutes,” he smiled.
“Wow! Sorry! I guess I was completely wrapped up in the music.”
“What are you listening to?”
“Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall. This is one of my favorite cds. I’m a huge fan of Steven Sondheim, and this cd has all my favorite songs of his and more.”
“Yeah, that’s one of my sister’s favorite albums. She’s a big Broadway fan,” he smiled.
“Yeah, I’ve always loved everything about the theatre!”
“Have you ever tried acting?”
“Actually, I used to be in all the school plays, and I did a lot of local theatre! And I’m thinking of doing a movie soon. I’ve had many offers for movies, because I have a lot of hook-ups in LA, who know that I act,” I smiled. “What about you?”
“That’s awesome! I’m more into the music scene obviously, but I did do some acting when I was younger.”
“Right! Like back with the Mickey Mouse Club!”
“Oh, don’t remind me,” he groaned and I giggled.
We had walked up to the boardwalk and started looking at the shops.
“Wow! Look! A temporary tattoo place! We have to get something!” I said, walking over to the booth.
“Oh my gosh! You’re...you’re…” the girl at the booth started stuttering when I sat down.
“Shh! Don’t say it! We’re trying not to get mobbed” I whispered.
“Wow,” she finally took a breath. “What would you like?”
“Hmm…can I have that glittery butterfly?”
“Sure! Where would you like it?”
“How about here?” I asked, pointing to my upper arm.
“Okay!” the girl said. After she finished, JC took my place. He asked for the chinese symbols for love. When he rolled up his sleeves, I stared from behind. His muscles were huge! I was always a sucker for guys with big biceps.
Wait…what am I thinking…JC’s just a good friend…right?
Chapter 20
Chapter 22
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