Music pulsed out of the club as the three girls emerged from her car. Nikki hit the button on her keyring that locked the Eddie Bauer Edition Explorer and joined the two younger girls as they made their way to the main entrance. The mass of girls lined up around the block reminded Nikki of her elementary school days when the children had to line up in order to go anywhere. These girls weren't elementary school students. Mostly later high school and college-aged, the atmosphere was very charged. Rather than stand in line, Nikki stepped to the front when her two companions hesitated.

"Hi!" The burly bodyguard barely cast her a glance as he searched the crowd for someone. Frowning, Nikki tried again. "Hello? Anyone home up there?"

From his height of six foot six, Charles turned with a sigh to glare at the voice only to shake his head in amusement. "Took ya long enough!"

"It's not MY fault!" Nikki threw a glance over her shoulder at her friends. "Lex couldn't decide which leopard print top to wear. I'm like, 'does it really matter?' But of course, you know it does."

"Nikki, girl, you haven't changed a bit." A bright smile grew, transforming his entire face. "Get your girls and let's get you three inside before the crowd realizes who you are."

"Listen, buster," Nikki summed up all the height her five foot five frame could muster and scowled. "I'm nobody special, got that? Just plain old Nicole."

"Sure, boss, whatever." Charles started chuckling and opened the door to let Nikki and her friends inside the club.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It's about damn time you three showed up!" The girls looked up at the blonde at the railing to the VIP level. "Lemme guess, clothing issues?"

Amy nodded. "It was all Lexie."

"No way Miss I-Need-To-Look-My-Best-Just-In-Case-Nick's-There!" Lexie exclaimed as she flipped her long brown curls over her right shoulder. "And I thought I was bad."

"You are," Jacquie laughed. "I'm sorry, Ames, but Nick's not going to be here tonight. He just called from California. He's decided to visit with his family some more."

The youngest girl sighed. "I knew it was too good to be true. It's just not fair, you've all gotten to meet all the Boys and when I finally get a chance to meet my favorite, he's going to be the only no show."

She trudged up the stairs to meet Jacquie when another voice cut in. "Actually, I think Brian and Kevin aren't going to be here either."

"Denise!" Lexie jumped into the older woman's embrace. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Lex, dear." She smiled. "Hello, Nikki. I believe Howie should be here later."

Nikki looked away. "Why would you think I would want to know that?"

Jacquie giggled and whispered to Amy, "She's trying to convince herself that Howie's just a friend, but from what I've heard, I think it's starting to be something more."

The youngest girl's answering giggles drew Denise's attention. "So you must be Amy. It's nice to meet you."

"S-s-same here, Ms. McLean."

"Call me Denise. All these girls do." Denise took in the seventeen-year-old's shy demeanor. "I thought you were the boy crazy one?"

That comment was rewarded with a bright blush and playful asides from her friends. "Yeah, what can I say, guilty as charged?" Amy laughed with the others and Denise gave her a small hug.

"Something tells me you'll fit in just fine with this crowd."

Nikki snickered as they took their drinks from the server. "Just you wait until Mr. Carter makes an appearance and we might see a total personality change." Catching the meaning behind the statement, Denise laughed with the group as they made their way to a table overlooking the main floor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So is she here yet?" Howie jumped out of the chair he was trying to lounge in as soon as the bodyguard entered the dressing room.

Charles grinned. "Yeah, boss, she's here. Jacquie met them at the VIP stairwell. I believe Denise is up there too."

"Mom's up there? I need to talk to her." AJ, wearing only a pair of jeans and only half-done with his make-up for the performance, dashed for the door.

"Not so fast, mister. They're starting to let people into the venue. You're not going out there."

AJ grimaced and then shrugged. "It really wasn't that important anyway. I just wanted to tell her that we can't do the birthday cake routine because Allison is sick."

"What?!" Howie jumped out of the chair he had just slumped down in. "But that routine is priceless!"

"I know, I know, but who can we get at this hour?"

Charles grinned and headed for the VIP section.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"She's okay, but can't perform tonight." Charles finished relaying his tale.

Amy was looking out over the railing at the crowd of anxious fans that were gathering on the floor below them. Nikki and Jacquie were talking together over at the bar, and Lexie was sitting at the table with Denise. Denise frowned. "AJ has to be upset. He loves that birthday routine, and since it is today..." Her voice trailed off as her gaze landed on Lexie. "Go tell my boy not to worry and that we've got everything under control." Charles nodded and went to pass on the message.

"What was that all about?" Lexie asked.

"Would you do me a favor?"

Lexie shrugged and sipped her drink. "Sure, what is it, Denise?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"No way! You've got to be kidding me!" Lexie stared at the skimpy outfit hanging on the rack. Her friends tried their best to conceal their amusement. It wasn't everyday that they found something outrageous that Lexie WOULDN'T wear.

"But it's for AJ," Nikki smirked when Denise started looking from the tiny halter top and the slinky skirt with the long slit up the side to Lexie.

"What's wrong with it?" Denise started frowning.

Jacquie stepped up. "I think that skirt's just a wee bit too long for her."

"That's an understatement!" Lexie held the long skirt up to her five foot three inch frame. The edge of the skirt dragged along the ground, obviously meant for a taller woman.

Denise sighed and sank back into her chair. "Then I'll just have to tell AJ that we can't do it. I had hoped that you could do the routine, Lex."

"You know I'd do it in a heartbeat, but there's no way I could pull it off. Not to mention I'm not a blonde." Lexie hung the outfit back up on the rack. Her gaze traveled around the room before landing on Jacquie. "Wait a sec!"

Everyone turned to watch as Lexie yanked the outfit off the rack and held the skirt up. Amy and Nikki started snickering, but the girl in question only looked on in confusion.

"Nuh-uh. No way. You've got to be kidding me!" Jacquie's hands flew up in protest and started backing up towards the door.

"Come on, Jaqs, you're our only hope."

The tall blonde glared at Nikki before setting her glass down on the table. "Alright, but remember I'm only doing this for AJ." The others had to turn aside to hide grins as she started to change.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Groovy, baby."

Howie had to shake his head at his friend's on-stage antics. Posing as his alter-ego, Johnny Noname, AJ was chatting up the crowd using a terrible English accent. The crowd was screaming and dancing along, generally having a great time. He turned from his spot in the wings and grinned when he saw the girls apporoaching.

"So is she going to do it?" Lexie nodded, but Amy could only stand there. "Hi, you must be Amy. I'm Howie."

"H-hi, Howie." The younger girl grinned shyly before turning to look to her right and gasped. "That's AJ!"

Lexie laughed. "Yeah, actually, it's Johnny, but, well, you know." She turned and shared a look with Howie before talking to the girl again. "We should head outside to check out the rest of the show." Amy nodded and they turned to find Charles to escort them back to the VIP level.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Um, I'm not too sure about this." Jacquie grimaced as she turned to look in the mirror. The red halter top ended a good five inches above her waist and the slits in the black skirt came to mid-thigh. The stylist added just a bit more hairspray to keep the curls set in Jacquie's long blonde hair. Dramatic eyeliner and darker lipstick completed the look.

Nikki laughed. "Come on, Jaqs. You look fine. You had no problems with being Britney Spears, but this is giving you fits?"

"But that was different! I didn't have to go out and dance before a crowd of people."

Denise returned with a stage technician trailing behind her. They attached a wireless microphone to the back of Jacquie's skirt and ran a small cord up the back of her shirt. The blonde continued to grumble as she stuck the earpiece in her right ear and slid the microphone into place near her mouth. "So what do I have to say again?"

"Someone will feed you the lines in your earpiece. Just be sultry and sing 'Happy Birthday' to AJ..."

"... you mean Johnny."

Denise laughed. "Yeah, whatever. You know better than anyone that Johnny morphs into AJ before the night's over."

Nikki threw a sharp look at her friend. "How do you know that?"

"Ah," Jacquie shrugged. "You know how AJ is. So I just dance and sing that song and then give him the cake?"

The older woman hesitated before responding. "Well, the routine includes a little something more."

"What do you mean, 'a little something more'?" Jacquie turned to look at Denise.

"I don't know if AJ still wants to do it since Allison isn't here, but there's no way to ask him before you go on-stage."

"So what am I supposed to do?"

Nikki had no idea what Denise was talking about. "Just wing it? Go with the flow?"

Glaring, Jacquie headed to the dressing room door. "Thanks, Nikki." The stage tech was talking to someone on his two-way radio as they walked to the wings on the side of the stage.

"We should head up for the VIP level to check this performance out," Denise said as they gathered up their things. Nikki nodded her agreement and the two women left the dressing room.

"This is going to be one interesting performance," Nikki laughed to herself as they were escorted through the crowd.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You can do this. You can do this," Jacquie muttered under her breath to herself.The stage tech looked curiously at her, but Jacquie was oblivious to his look. The song was almost over, and AJ sitting back down in the big red armchair was her cue to enter. Jacquie continued repeating her mantra right up until the stage hand gestured for her to go onstage.

"You can do this. You CAN do this." She took a deep breath, grabbed the water bottle, and started walking toward her friend.

"Here goes everything."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nikki followed Denise up the stairs to the VIP level where their friends were waiting. The older woman immediately walked over to the far end where some of her friends were sitting, and Nikki glanced around the room.

Lexie and Amy were standing at the railing watching AJ perform downstairs. Nikki couldn't help but notice the adoring look on Lexie's face. That girl's got it bad, she laughed silently and shook her head as she headed over to an empty spot along the railing.

"Hello, stranger."

Nikki turned to see Howie standing next to her. It was only natural to give her friend a quick hug in greeting. "Howie! How are you?"

He shrugged. "I'm alright. I've been trying to keep myself busy since I've been ignored this past week."

"You know I had to work serious overtime these past few days to meet that deadline," Nikki objected.

"I know, I know. But I've missed doing stuff with you, Nikki." Howie glanced out at the crowd. "Who else is going to run out and get coffee with me at ten at night? Or make Burger King and Blockbuster runs on weekends?"

Nikki grinned at Howie's theatrics. "It sounds like you need a hobby."

He laughed with her. "I just thought we'd see more of each other since you moved down here to Orlando."

"We do!" Nikki rolled her eyes. "It's not like we could just go do something on the spur-of-the-moment when I lived in Pittsburgh." Nikki worked as an assistant editor at a book publisher for three years back in Pennsylvania before she was transferred to the Orlando publishing house two months ago.

"True, but I've missed you."

Nikki tried not to let Howie see how his admission affected her. "Do you want something to drink?"

He grabbed her hand before she could walk away. "Don't go."

"Why?"

"It's time for Jacquie to come onstage." He pulled her back to the railing and smiled at her as the song came to a close.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The final chords of the song faded into the thunderous sound of the crowd cheering. AJ sat back wishing that Allison was there to bring him the water he desperately needed. It's too bad she was too sick to make it, he thought to himself.

"Thirsty, big boy?"

AJ looked up to see a bottle of Evian dangling in front of his face. He reached up to grab it, but it was whisked out of sight before he could even touch it. Twisting around to the right, he tried to see who was standing behind him, but the only people he could see were the band members who all had smirks on their faces.

A long leg snaked around the other side of the chair to stop him from getting up. AJ couldn't help it as his gaze traveled up the tall black boots that covered a slender calf to the top of the very long slit in her skirt. He could only see a flash of red and felt the brush of her long blonde curls as she spun around so she was sitting across his lap.

Jacquie could barely keep a straight face when she saw AJ's reaction. His eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped. Waiting for a response, she laughed softly when he couldn't get a word out. Twisting the cap off the bottle, she tipped it up and took a sip before handing it to him. Trailing her hand down his chest, she smiled and slipped off his lap to begin her dialog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Why is she sitting on his lap?!"

Amy shook her head. "I don't know, Lex. I'm sure it's part of the routine."

Both girls looked on as Jacquie sauntered back and forth across the stage spouting off cheesy comments that had the crowd cheering and laughing at the same time. AJ continued to sit in the chair, seemingly stunned, just following her movements with his eyes. It wasn't until she paused at the side of the stage that AJ seemed to shake himself out of his stupor and began to react to what Jacquie had been saying.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jacquie was glad when AJ started talking so she wouldn't have to repeat that question a third time. Still talking, he stood up and started walking toward her. Following the instructions coming to her across the earpiece, she placed her hand on his chest and started walking forward, pushing AJ back across the stage. She merely repeated the words that they read to her, not paying attention to what she was saying.

Maybe that was the problem.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AJ couldn't believe how well Jacquie was pulling this routine off. When Mom's message said that she had things under control, I figured Lexie was the one who was going to do it, but nobody told me anything. He grinned as Jacquie began pushing him back toward center stage. I wonder how far she's willing to go with this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Howie echoed his friend's statement under his breath.

"What was that?"

Howie looked down at Nikki. "I was just wondering if they're going to do the complete routine."

She frowned. "Why wouldn't they do the whole routine?"

"Well, for one thing, Lexie's here."

Now Nikki was totally lost. "What does THAT mean?"

Realizing his gaff, Howie turned back to the stage. "It's doesn't really matter. It's nothing they haven't done before."

"WHAT?!"

"Just watch."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AJ had just finished waltzing her around the stage, singing cheesy love tunes the whole time. Jacquie had finally realized that the character she was playing was one of Johnny Noname's old girlfriends. The girl had broken up with Johnny when he went to prison, but she was tired of him writing to her begging her to wait for him. Now Johnny was doing his best to romance her back.

"You ready for this?" AJ whispered to her, so low that the microphones couldn't pick it up.

"Ready for what?"

AJ gestured to the band to keep playing as they danced around the stage some more. "Didn't they tell you?"

Jacquie frowned. "What are you talking about?"

That's when the direction came over the radio. "Kiss him."

"WHAT?!"

AJ sighed. "It's okay. We don't have to do it if you don't want."

The blonde thought for a moment. "But if it's part of the routine..." He nodded. "Let's just do it and get it over with. I'd hate to disappoint the fans."

She was blinded by AJ's smile. "The fans eat it up at all the other concerts. We can keep it completely platonic."

"Closed mouth?"

"Closed mouth."

"No tongue?"

"That's what closed mouth usually means."

Jacquie sighed. "Fine, let's do it."

AJ grinned and pulled her to center stage. He pulled his microphone back into place and began talking so the audience could hear him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What are they doing now?"

Lexie shrugged tightly. "I have no idea, Amy."

"He's got his arms wrapped around her."

"Yeah, I know, Amy."

"He's bending her over backwards."

"I can see that, Amy."

"He's leaning closer...oh my god!"

Lexie stood up so fast that her drink spilled on the floor. "OH MY GOD!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Howie laughed. "Damn, I didn't think she'd actually go through with it."

"I didn't even know what it was," Nikki was a little stunned at the display onstage.

They continued to watch Jacquie and AJ embrace. "It's been a long time since I've been kissed like that," Howie muttered.

"Me too." Nikki missed the look Howie gave her. "It's been too long."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I can't watch this!" Lexie turned away from the stage.

Amy continued to stare down at the two. "Are they ever going to come up for air?"

"What?" Lexie spun back around. "I can't believe her!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AJ reluctantly lifted his head and put some room between Jacquie and himself. He turned to look at the cheering audience. "I'd say she said yes." His leering grin sent the crowd into even louder cheers, but the grin softened when he looked back at Jacquie.

She blinked twice before smiling at the mass of faces before her. "You betcha that's a yes, Johnny." Looking over his shoulder, she was glad to see the birthday cake being wheeled out behind them. "You want to know why I came back today, Johnny?"

"Why?"

"Because I couldn't let the man of my dreams celebrate his birthday alone." Jacquie had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at the corny lines. "Can you all out there help me wish Johnny a happy birthday?" She led everyone in singing the song before slipping out the back and heading for the dressing room. Thank the stars that's over, she thought as she slumped down in an oversized chair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The fans were long gone by the time Jacquie emerged after changing back into the clothes she came in. Pulling her still curly hair into a ponytail, she crossed the main floor, heading for the VIP level.

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

Jacquie paused when she heard Lexie's voice. The other girl was sitting in a chair at the back of the main floor. She stood up and crossed over to where the blonde was standing.

"Yeah, I was really nervous, but I can see why people love to act. You get to act like a completely different person."

"That's not what I meant," Lexie scowled. "Did you enjoy kissing AJ?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It looked pretty intense from where I was standing."

"It was just a kiss, Lex. It was part of the routine."

Lexie threw her plastic cup on the floor. "I can't believe you, Jacquie! You're supposed to be my friend, but you went ahead and kissed AJ anyway. You know that I like him!"

"Yeah, I do know that." Jacquie couldn't believe that her friend was acting like a jealous girlfriend. "And it was your idea that I do the skit in the first place."

"I can't believe you would do something like that to me."

Storming up the stairs, Lexie disappeared. Jacquie paused and watched as Lexie's cup rolled across the floor. "This is going to be one long night."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lexie crossed the room to where Nikki was talking with Amy. "I want to go back to the hotel now. Will you take us, Nikki?"

"Now?" Nikki was confused. "But AJ hasn't come out yet."

"I don't care. I don't want to be here anymore."

Nikki was about to argue when she saw Jacquie coming up the stairs. "Oh, I get it."

Amy tried to hide a yawn, but the others caught it. "I'm getting pretty tired too. Unlike you two, I've been slaving away at school for a week already and I'm just not used to these late nights."

Seeing that it was useless to debate the issue of staying, Nikki told the girls to meet her out at the car while she said her good-byes.

"Jaqs?" Nikki approached the younger girl who was talking with Denise. "I'm going to head out and drive the girls to their hotel. I'm probably not going to come back. Are you ready to go?"

"Um, it probably wouldn't be a good idea for me to be in that car tonight," Jacquie said casting a pointed glance at the two girls who were walking outside. "Know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I read you loud and clear." Nikki rolled her eyes. "Why do I feel like I'm being sentenced to torture driving those two home? How are you going to get back to my place then?"

Jacquie shrugged. "I'll figure something out. Don't worry about me." She held up the spare key to Nikki's place.

"Then I'm out of here. Denise, it was nice seeing you again. Please wish AJ a happy birthday for me."

"No problem, Nikki. Bye."

Howie stopped her before she left the room. "Nikki, can I walk you out?"

She laughed. "Sure, if you don't mind dealing with the masses of fans outside."

"Maybe I'll just walk you to the door." They walked in silence until they reached said door. "So when am I going to see you again?"

"Well, I was going to take Lexie and Amy to Disney tomorrow since they leave the following day. I'm not too sure if Jacquie will be coming with us since Lex appears to be ticked off at her."

"So two days from now?"

"Sounds good to me. Jacquie is staying for the rest of the week, but she can fend for herself for awhile."

Howie laughed. "Yes, she can. As if tonight's performance didn't prove that." His smile faded as he took her hand in his.

"What are you doing?"

"Remember when we were watching AJ and Jacquie kissing onstage?" Nikki nodded. "And we both said that it's been a long time since we've been kissed like that?" She nodded again, unable to speak. He pulled her into his arms.

"What are you doing?"

"Something that I've wanted to do for awhile." And he kissed her.

When they finally separated, he brushed the hair out of her face with his hand. "Do you think that we could start doing more than just going out for coffee as friends?" When she nodded, a soft smile spread across his face. He leaned down and kissed her once more. "Good night, Nicole."