They all went into the lobby to get into the auditorium area. Sarah let go of Taylor's arm and she just about went slack jawed staring at most of the celebs that she grew up loving. "Oh my gosh, is that who I think it is?" Sarah asked Taylor. Taylor looked over to where she was staring at "yeah, go and say hi." "I just can't walk up to MADONNA!" "Sure you can, watch." And he grabbed her elbow and walked over with her. Madonna had just stopped talking too probably a reporter and she noticed them coming near. "Hello, Madonna, this is my friend Sarah. She really likes your work and wanted to just say hello and let you know that she always will enjoy everything you produce." Madonna smiled, "JUST a friend?" Taylor burned, "yeah." She smirked, "hello Sarah. I'm glad you like my work, but I really have to talk to ET. See you guys later." And she walked off. "See, told you it was really easy." Sarah was just still in shock, "wow" was all she able to choke out.
Sarah and Taylor eventually lost track of each other and she was on her own to make new friends and get used to the business. She walked around a bit and saw the BSB over with some of the USA today reporters. Nick was the last person she wanted to see today. She turned around and ran into a body. "Oh I'm so sorry!" She looked up and noticed it was Joey. "Oh jeez, I'm sorry. I didn't even notice you were there." "That's ok really. So where's your date?" "Oh, we lost each other and don't mind it either. What about you?" "What about me?" "Who's your date." "Oh, I don't have one." "Oh, do any of the other's do?" "Well, JC is with Cassandra. Lance is technically with Daniel Fishel from Boy Meets World but they aren't like technically hand in hand together. Then Justin, Chris, and I are alone." She nodded and looked around, "yes Sarah, Justin is over there." And he motioned to Justin to come over to him. She didn't even notice him. He walked over, "hey Sarah." "Hey Justin!" They quickly hugged. Joey's insides soured to think how Justin was using this girl. Especially since Justin told him about what had happened to her with her heart.
All three of them got deeper into conversation and because of this they kept getting into people's ways. Eventually it started and she left to go sit with Hanson. It was about two hours into it and he realize maybe it would have been a better idea to go to the bathroom before they left instead of saying to herself that she could hold it. She waited as long as she could before she leaned over into Taylor's ear "Tay, going to the bathroom, I'll be right back." "Ok, I'll go in a few minutes. It will draw attention if we go together" "no hurry." And she got up and left to the bathroom.
She opened the first set of doors and proceeded to keep going to the lobby. She stopped and sat on one of the benches near the door. She could here through the bathroom vents what was going on. She took her heels off for a minute because she could feel the blisters swelling. That's when her ears perked up on the familiar outside voices. "Look Justin, knock this shit off." "Joey, mind your OWN business. Look, I'm not hurting anyone!" "Yes you are, you are hurting!" "Not if she doesn't find out." "That is so low Justin. You are just using her!" "Well, yeah, but . . ." "No, once she finds out about this she's going to be really hurt." "But she's not going to find out."
Sarah kept listening while tears poured from her eyes. She heard everything about Justin and Nick's little bet. She stood up and put her heels on and fixed her eyes so that her smeared mascara was gone. She took her hair down because a massive headache was forming hoping it was just from the pins holding it up. The curls surrounded her pulsating head. She choked down a sob and opened the door. She noticed Joey and Justin almost jump out of their skin. Right then there was a lighting bolt and a huge clap of thunder. "Sarah?" Justin looked at her stunned. She just looked at him and noticed Taylor just came out of the auditorium, "Sarah? What's wrong?" She then looked at Joey and he was at a loss of words. She just started crying again and ran out of there as quickly as her heels would let her.
Joey looked at Justin in disgust and then at Taylor, "I'll get her." And he ran out full speed after her.
Sarah kept running, it was dark, pouring out, and she didn't really know where she was going. She just had to keep running. That's when she realized where she was and knew she was heading to Central Park. She heard someone running behind her and scared it might be a mugger or something she quickly grabbed her heels off her feet while running and continued to run on the sidewalks all the way to Central Park where after that she could lose whoever was coming after her. She turned around and saw a guy about a half a foot taller then her chasing her. Sarah began to panic when she noticed that he was gaining. She reached Central Park finally and ran to one of the open areas. Her lungs burned, legs ached, head pounded, body shivering, and this guy wasn't much help. She felt him grab her elbow, "stop!" She recognized the voice. She turned around and just broke down and hugged him. "Why am I so stupid? I should have figured out something was up. Like anyone would really be interested in me. I'm just defective. I blew it with Ike, never had a chance with Nick or Justin. I feel so stupid and . . . and . . ." She let go of him and just looked at him. The rain was coming down like buckets of water were being poured on them. She backed away from him and her tears mixed with rainwater.
Joey's outfit was drenched. It was a pair of baggy khakis, a blue, untucked, big, silk shirt, and a long looking sport coat that was the same khaki color. She started shaking even more. "Are you ok?" "Yeah, just slightly cold, why?" He took off his soaking wet coat and placed it on her, "I don't think this will be of much use but oh well." She smiled and wiped her blurry eyes, "it's a nice gesture."
Taylor quickly sped back to his seat forgetting that nature was calling. He sat back down and got his brother's attention. "You guys, Sarah left." Zac almost stood up, "what?" He hissed looking over at Isaac who was listening but pretended not too. "Justin and Nick made some bet who could make it with her first. And neither of them one but Sarah got somewhat upset and ran. Joey ran after her. That was all I caught." Ike looked at him "they made a bet like that?" "Yeah." Ike looked over at Micky who was watching, her eyes not even blinking. Ike sat there, "yeah whatever, I bet she knew about it." They both looked at their brother not believing what he just said. "You can't be serious Isaac." He just looked at them and didn't say a word. Taylor and Zac checked their watches. "Ok Zac, after we perform we'll leave. I'm sure by then Joey will have her and they will be at the hotel. They nodded and sat the rest of the time in their chairs fidgeting.
