“So what do you think?” Gina asked modeling her outfit. Beth, Kathy, and Sarah examined her in the outfit. “No, it’s not you.” “Come on! It’s totally me!” They shook their heads. “No, it’s not, it looks like crap. In fact, you should be smacked for even trying it on.” Beth said laughing. “AHA . . . AHA . . .HA . . . HA . . . HA . . .!” And she walked back into the dressing room. So far Sarah made out with three outfits for cheaper costs then the other ones had been so far. “Ok guys, we have one more hour and then we have to get going to the concert.” Gina grabbed three out of eight articles of clothing she tried on. “Let’s buy these real quick and get going and meet the others.” They walked over to the register, paid for the clothes. They headed to the food court to meet Mercedes, Laura, and Kendall. They were already standing near the coffee shop holding shopping bags. “Ok guys, we have about $600 left for food. I’m certain we can make it.” Sarah said snidely. They all hauled their bulky bags back to the hotel that was next to them. It took about 15 to 20 minutes. All of them quickly did their hair and changed into their outfits. “You guys ready?” “Yeah.” Then Kathy spoke up, “how are we getting there? Taxi it going to be a good chunk of money.” “That’s the only way we really can you guys.” They bounded down to the lobby to have someone call a taxi for them. What time is it anyway?” “Around one or two I think.” Gina nodded and looked outside. “Wow, look at what the blond brother’s get!” Everyone walked over and saw what she was talking about. There was a huge white stretch limo waiting for the brothers outside. Sarah just shrugged, “so.” “Well yeah Sarah, you have probably ridden around in one of those pretty often.” “Only four times.” Laura snickered, “that’s more than any of us combined.” Sarah led her friends, “let’s see it then.” And she walked outside. The driver was waiting outside and stood up when he saw all the girls coming outside. Sarah decided to talk to the driver. “So are you waiting for Hanson?” “Who? No. Are you Sarah?” She was surprised the man knew her name. “Yes I am, why?” “I was sent to pick you and your friends up.” “But how did you know we were here?” “I was just told to come here and take you to the Palace. Why don’t you ask the person who sent us when you get there.” Sarah nodded, “guys, this is our ride, let’s go.” All the girls smiled and one or two squealed in excitement. The driver opened the door for them. They all got in, it was an eight to twelve seat limo. Sarah was the last one to get in, she thanked the driver and he got in to drive them. They started moving and all the girls started spacing out daydreaming. “Before we go farther do all of you have your tickets and passes?” They all went through their purses and pulled out both so they could see. “Great! Good, alright let’s get going!” She rapped on the glass and motioned that they could get going on the highway and head to the Palace.
Hanson sat around their hotel room at around 3. “I am so bored!” Zac yelled out. Taylor jumped, “LOUD ENOUGH?” Taylor said settling back into the bed. All three of them were punished to stay in their hotel room and not allowed to go anywhere unless they were instructed too. “Touchy! Touchy!” Zac said leaning against the headboard. Ike was fiddling on his guitar working on the song they worked on a month or so ago. They couldn’t figure out an ending. They were lacking something at the end. He didn’t know what it was but they were. Taylor just listening and grabbed the keyboard in its case and opened it up and started putting it together. Zac didn’t have his drums in the room. They were in the back of their huge van. In the background was MTV.
The limo turned and the girls looked out of the window. “Hey, we’re here. Oh my gosh, it’s huge!” Gina said her jaw dropping. Cars all around them were coming in earlier. All over them in shoe polish names of the group and declarations of love were strewn all over them. Hundreds of girls already were there and their CD players were blasting the group’s songs. The limo caught the girl’s attentions and started screaming thinking it was Nsync. They also began to chase it. “AUGH!” Laura said mockingly. We’re being attacked by teenyboppers!” But more and more girls proceeded to chase the limo. Sarah dreaded this, simply because of having to go through with it with Hanson. She couldn’t look at something like this without having to think of Ike. She placed her hand over her beating heart. She reminded herself that she had to go get her heart checked out. What made her feel extremely guilty is that if it wasn’t for Ike, she would probably be dead right now. She grabbed her necklace and almost started to cry. She played with the silver ring that was hanging on the chain. The limo turned and they could feel the limo driver panicking. The driving was rocky and he was trying not to hit the bystander girls. “Girls, I don’t know what we’re going to do.” Just at that moment police and guards started coming and barricading the girls. Sarah started to get scared these girls were dangerous. Even if they weren’t meaning too. Her heart started to beat faster. More police and guards were coming realizing it was the guests that the guys were expecting. But the more guards and police caused more girls to come making them think that it really was them. “Holy . . .” Mercedes never finished what she was going to say. They heard pounding on the limo. They turned around and noticed more and more girls proceeded to try and get them to come out of the limo. The noise was at a deafening level and police were calling for more backups. The girls realized that they needed a diversion and quick. Sarah’s heart kept going faster and faster and this kept scaring her. She pulled Joey’s letter out of her purse and grabbed the phone. She called the cell phone. “Pick up damn it.” She kept saying. On the third ring Lance picked up the phone. “Hello?” “Lance, Sarah.” “Sarah! Hey, want me to get Joey?” That’s when the sound of broken glass caught all of their attention. Even Lance’s on the phone. “What was that? Where are you?” “Lance, get as many of the guys as you can. We’re being swarmed.” Lance hung up and Sarah turned around and noticed that some girl broke the sunroof trying to get them to come out. On the ground was a fairly large rock. Laura stood up out of the broken window. “GO AWAY!” She screamed. The girls looked surprised and they quieted enough for them to hear more voices. “HEY EVERYBODY! ARE YOU READY TO ROCK TONIGHT?” Lance, Jordan Knight, 5ive, and Chris were outside with bodyguards. The girls turned around and started running towards them. Out of another entrance Joey, JC, and Justin were coming out running with baseball caps and sunglasses coming to help them get in the Palace. Sarah leaned back gasping for air. Tears emerged from her eyes and she looked at Kendall for help. “Sarah? Are you ok?” She shook her head. “OH MY GOD! YOU GUYS!” Everyone, even Laura out of the roof looked down at her. They ripped open the door and Joey helped out Laura and Kathy. Justin helped Gina, Beth and Mercedes. Sarah started to claw at the vinyl in the car hoping somehow it would help her breathe. “Sarah? Are you ok.” JC asked her and looked at her concerned. Tears ran down her face and she hit the floor of the car. “Oh my lord.” And JC grabbed her and held her in his arms. She felt herself become limp in his arms as she tried to breathe. JC looked up, “get some medics!” Some girls turned and noticed their JC cuddling and running with a girl in his arms. “OH MY GOD! IT’S JC!” Some girls screamed. This was not cool. JC tried to pick up speed. He looked down and Sarah reddened and kept gasping. “It’s ok, we’re going inside.” The minute he got in they locked the doors and the girls that were already inside buying merchandise stood there in awe not doing anything. Joey turned around and took Sarah in his arms when JC finally couldn’t do it any longer. They ran to the backstage area. The guys outside had came back in and the paramedics we already waiting for them. They had an oxygen mask and gurney ready and an ambulance was ready if needed. Sarah slowly was starting to be able to breathe again. Joey laid her down on one of the couches and they put an oxygen mask on her. She tried to sit up but Joey pushed her back down again and everyone else, including her friends and the opening acts were waiting from behind making sure she was ok. “Sarah, don’t get up.” She laid back down to keep him from acting anymore like a father. The tears that were running down her face Joey wiped off with a tissue. Some medics were taking quick stats to make sure she was ok. “She just hyperventilated and threw herself into having chest spasms. She should be ok, just don’t get her too excited.” They kept the mask on awhile longer and Sarah became embarrassed that all these people were staring at her. Justin and Joey started talking with each other. “We shouldn’t have ordered that limo. That was a huge mistake we should have known that’s what those girls would have thought that was us.” “I know, that was so stupid of us.” Sarah quickly removed the mask. “No, it’s no big deal really. I just got myself too exciting about coming here.” Both of them looked at her. “No Sarah, this happens. That’s why a lot of times we’ll come in here in normal cars to help stop the rioting.” Justin said sitting on the counter folding his arms. The door opened and everyone turned to stare. Cassandra had walked in. “I heard what happened. Sarah, are you ok?” She nodded and sat up and leaned against the couch. Now the crowd had begun to disperse. Only her friends and Joey, Justin, and Cass remained in the room. Cass walked over to her and sat down. Sarah realized that her friends were looking at her wondering who was this woman who just plopped herself down right next to their friend. “I’m really sorry, I’m being so rude. Sarah stood up dizzily and regained her balance. “Joey, Justin, and Cass. These are my friends Kendall, Beth, Gina, Kathy, Laura, and Mercedes. You guys know Joey and Justin. This is Cassandra, JC’s girlfriend.” “No!” Beth said out loud. Everyone looked at her. She turned red, “I really didn’t mean to say that aloud.” And she turned and left the room. Cass grinned, “I’m sorry!” She said as Beth left the room. Cass looked at her watch, “I have to go, I promised I’d call Micky before she went to cheerleading practice from here.” She left the room. “Sarah, we’re going to look around. Is that ok?” Laura asked. Sarah nodded and all but Kendall left the room. Joey looked around, “Sarah, we’ll talk later ok?” “Yeah.” And he left the room. “Sarah?” “Yeah?” “Is Joey single?” “From what I know yeah.” Kendall grinned, “I’ll be back later.”
Sarah just rolled her eyes. Basically because she knew there wasn’t anything to be afraid of and she was no threat. Justin remained in the room. He moved and sat down on the couch next to her. She felt very self-conscious and angry. “Look Sarah, I need to do something ok?” She inhaled and held her breath. She let it out. “Ok, what?” She looked at him. He reached his hands up and grabbed her face and leaned in and kissed her.
