Marissa Harrell walked in to the door of the dance studio where she worked as a choreagrapher. Marissa (a.k.a. Rissa) had long medium brown hair with light goldish streaks and big brown eyes. The 19-year-old stood about 5’ 5” with a slim figure. She had always loved performing and dancing but she ended up a choreagrapher. It wasn’t a full time job, only when some group or something needed her. Yes, she was a pro. She had already choreagraphed for some music stars and her latest assignment was the Backstreet Boys. Being that they were her favorite group she was very nervous that day.

“Hey Rizz, wuzzup up?” Greeted her roomate/dance student friend Marie Wilkenson. Marie was older than Marissa, 22, and had short blonde hair, blue eyes, 5’ 7”, and very skinny, but not anorexic or close. Since Marie was Marissa’s best student in her Saturday night dance class as well as her best friend she often got to attend Marissa when a musical star came in. It was an honor for Marie. The two also shared a big house in which Marissa’s parents had bought her so she can follow her dream of being a professional choreagrapher. The only studio she could work in was in Florida, so they got the house for her while they still lived up in New York City. They were both lawyers with busy lives but that gave them money to provide their only daughter Marissa.

“I’m nervous, yes, very nervous. I mean I’m just a sub for Fatima because she’s pregnant at the moment, I don’t know how I can compare to her, she’s been doing this for awhile.” Marissa explained.

“Hey, you managed some dance moves for rap songs, you can do this!” Marie replied, “Not to mention it was scary when we were working for the background dancers for that stupid Dre video and the man was there, that was scary!”

“You’re right, but no it ain’t scary cuz of the BSB, it’s scary cuz I’m nervous!” Marissa replied.

“Well Rissa let’s go warm up with some songs.” Marie assured her then they went into the dance studio. Marissa looked through the CD’s searching for a good warm-up song to practice the routine she had planned for them, she didn’t want to hear the actual song because it would make her more nervous. Seeing that it was taking forever Marie assited her, “Girl you trippin’!”

“Shut up, you sound like my old teacher.” Marissa replied, “Any ways, andale and pick something!” Marie looked through the hundreds of CD’s they had and finally came across the ever so famous Sisqo CD. “Well since the new BSB song gotta little hip hop flavor, let’s dance to ‘The Thong Song’, it might encourage you to show them your thong thong thong thong thong.” Marie exclaimed.

“Excuse me, I don’t wear thongs, only you would, you’re a blonde.” Marissa laughed.

“That ain’t funny.” Marie replied then started up the music and sang along. The girls lined up and did the routine just as it was planned and made sure everything was perfect. The moment they thought they had it the BSB walked in.

“Whoa, we didn’t say we was doin’ a remake of ‘The Thong Song’!” AJ exclaimed then started singing along. Marissa sprung to the CD player, “Oh sorry we were just practicing the routine we had planned for you to a different song, my friend Marie here chose that one. Well I guess we should introduce ourselves first. My name is Marissa Harrel, I will be you’re choreagrapher for this, and this is my assistant Marie Wilkenson, she’ll be assisting if she’s needed.”

“Yo, my name is AJ.” AJ greeted then shook hands with both of them and gave each a small hug.

“My name is Howie D.” Howie greeted and did the same.

“Hey this is Kevin.” Kevin greeted and ditto.

“I’m Brian.” Brian greeted and the action was repeated.

“And I’m Nick.” Nick greeted and it happened again.

“So are you guys ready to get started with this?” she asked.

“Sure.” Some of them replied while others shook their head. Marissa took a deep breath, she didn’t know what to do, “I guess first I’ll show you it slowly, tell me if there’s anything you REALLY don’t like, then to the music, tell me anything, and we’ll adjust and stuff just so it can be the way you like it.” Marie stood in the corner shaking her head thinking ‘maybe it wouldn’t go that bad after all, Rissa has things under control.’

~*~As Time Goes By~*~

Well time went on and the BSB had learned and mastered the routine that Marissa had made up. They knew they had to come back again soon to practice some more for it was for a music video. The guys were going to be in Florida for quite awhile.

“Well Marissa…and Marie, you guys did a good job.” Kevin remarked just as they were going to walk out the door.

“Yeah, we can’t just leave them here!” Nick remarked. Marissa smiled, she liked Nick, don’t ask why she just did.

“You guys wanna go eat dinner somewhere or something?” Howie asked. Marie smiled, she liked Howie, once again don’t ask. In the time they spent with the choreagraphy they messed around and talked and this attraction stuff happened!

“Sure.” Marissa smiled. The next thing they knew they were walking (or being helped inside) a huge limo. The girls both looked around in amazement. “Don’t tell me you ain’t never seen a limo before, you guys are professional choreagraphers, none of your other ‘customers’ ever took you out on a special ‘something’ after you guys worked your butts off to show them a dance move?” AJ asked.

“No. We haven’t really done that many.” Marissa replied.

“This was only my second time assisting her.” Marie added in.

“Oh well, just wondering.” AJ asked then smiled.

“K.” Marissa replied, “Where exactly are we going?” Marie was concerned about how they were dressed.

“Pardini’s.” Brian replied.

“What kinda place is that?” Marissa asked.

“A fancy café.” Brian replied.

“Do people dress up?” Marissa asked.

“Yeah so we’re heading back to our hotels and you guys can head back to you’re place and kinda adjust for this.” Brian replied.

“Okay thanks.” Marissa concluded. Soon they stopped at the hotel where the guys were staring. Marissa thought to herself about the size of her huge house, ‘Hmm, there’s enough guest rooms in my house they could each have one of their own instead of this dirty hotel here…hmmm…well I’ll bring it up later. Maybe tomorrow, well, I dunno.’

~*~After 15 minutes~*~

The guys all came out in some type of nice dress suit, the girls wanted to melt but kept their cool. Soon after directing the limo driver they arrived at their home. “That’s a BIG house.” Howie exclaimed.

“I know, it’s not a good thing either for the two of us.” Marissa replied hinting her idea as she and Marie got out of the limo. They both got in the house they went to their rooms to change and get ready. Meanwhile the guys chatted outside in the car.

“I wonder how many rooms that thing got.” AJ asked.

“Hey maybe we can go live there instead of the hotel!” Nick exclaimed.

“Yeah but no one’s gonna ask, ya know.” Brian remarked.

“Well nah, it was just a thought.” Nick remarked.

Meanwhile in the house Marissa explained her idea while they applied their make up. Marissa had on a black skirt which was at her knees and had two 4 inch slits. For a shirt she had on a midnight blue spaghetti, and her shoes had like a 2 inch pump. Marie had on a mid-thigh dark magenta skirt with 1 inch slits and a white tank top, her shoes were the same as Marissa’s. They often had matching clothes or shoes. When the two girls were finally done they walked outside then got in the car.

“Well that was fast.” Brian sarcastically remarked and stared at his watch, “Only like 30 minutes ya know.”

“Hehe.” Marissa remarked and gently hit him on the shoulder. All through the day he had been giving her a bad time, not like to the point where they’d hate each other but in a “playful” way, ya know! On the way to the restaurant they decided to listen to the radio. The song “Country Grammar” by Nelly came on, it was Marissa’s worst nightmare.

“Hot ish!” Marie shouted at the top of her lungs then flowed into the chorus, she knew the whole song word for word and once she got started there was no stopping, even if the radio was turned off. Marissa buried her face in her hands wondering, ‘WHY!!!!!!!!’

Well 5 songs later they arrived at the restaurant. Marissa was about to walk out and saw a hand, it was Nick’s. He helped her out of the car and then kissed her hand gently causing her to slightly blush. Marie also noticed a hand, it was AJ, he did the same thing to mock Nick but Marie didn’t know that but since she didn’t “have a crush on” AJ she didn’t blush.

During dinner Marissa decided to bring up “the subject.” She smiled, “You guys wanna come stay with us instead of that of that hotel room? We got enough rooms.”

Posted: December 19, 2000