“Oh my gosh…thank you so much, Lance! I love you!”
The screaming girl was escorted away by the nearest bodyguard as Lance smiled and waved until she was out of eyesight. He never got used to the constant attention doted upon him and his friends by legions of fans and throngs of reporters. It was almost unreal. Lance shook his head and cleared his thoughts, looking up to pay attention to the next girl in the never-ending line backstage. Meet and greets were his life and sometimes they seemed to drone on forever. But Lance put on his best smile and pushed all of his thoughts into the back of his mind.
“Hi, how are you?” He took the picture the girl gave him to sign and almost mechanically scribbled his name across his face. Lance bet he could sign his name backwards, forwards, sideways, upside down, and diagonally with his eyes closed. Sighing and smiling, he waved goodbye as the bodyguard bellowed, “Next.”

“Bethie, I don’t know about this…”
“Rach, shut your mouth. You know this is the coolest thing in the world and I have no idea why you are acting like a teenybopper!”
“Bethany! Look at us! What are we doing? We are twenty-one years old, standing in a line filled with girls that are half our age waiting on some guy to sign an autograph for us just so we can act stupid and giddy. It’s outrageous.”
“Hey, think of it this way. At least we are their age.”
“Yeah and we stick out like sore thumbs. Geez.”
Rachel adjusted her tube top and advanced in the line, seeing the table the guys were sitting at moving closer by the second.
“Bethany, you go first. You can make an idiot out of yourself in front of Justin and then I’ll just save face.” Bethany rolled her eyes and cut in front of Rachel, putting on her best grin as the bodyguard checked their passes. Gaining his approval, Bethany made her way towards the first guy in the line, her love, Justin.
“Hey, Justin! Just sign this for me and I’ll be along my way.” Justin smiled at her and scratched his name across the poster and winked at her.
“Anytime…what’s your name?”
“Bethany.”
“Bethany. Nice name…” He smiled at her again and Rachel had to slightly pinch Bethany to make her move. “Stop drooling. There’s four guys left and you don’t want to look like a dog in a desert slobbering all over yourself, now do you? Go.” Bethany gave Justin a quick, flirty wave and moved along to the next guys.

“Thanks, Lance.” Lance smiled at the cute brunette and quickly turned his attention to the next girl.
“Hi.” She greeted him almost shyly and Lance squinted his eyes in the sun to get a better look. She was a cute girl…not necessarily supermodel material, but definitely a catch. Her layered dark brown hair was hanging carelessly down around her face and her smile radiated her face. Lance caught himself staring and cleared his throat, taking the picture and autographing it.
“Hey…what’s your name?”
“Rachel.”
“R-a-c-h-e-l…” Lance spelled it out and personalized the autograph, smiling at her and handing her the picture back. Her hand brushed against his as she retrieved her picture and Lance was surprised to feel goosebumps crawling up his arm.
“Thanks.”
“No problem, enjoy the show.” Lance winced at his words. He could have been more personal instead of feeding her the same response he did to the other girls. He watched her walk away and chided himself for even being the slightest bit curious about her. He didn’t even know why she had attracted him so powerfully. She wasn’t even trying, like most girls that came his way did. All she had to say was “hi” and he was instantly hooked. Lance wrinkled his brow in frustration and finally turned his attention back to the last girl in the meet-and-greet line.
“Thank God this is almost over. You need a break.”

“You got it, I want it…I’ll do whatever it takes."
Lance smoothly executed the choreographed steps and scanned the crowd, taking in the view of the screaming fans and smiling. Seeing this made it seem not so bad after all. Eyeing the crowd again, his eyes widened as he saw the girl from the meet and greet standing in second row, smiling and laughing with the brunette that had been in line before her. Lance struggled to remember her name and finally he did. Rachel. He laughed at himself as he realized how stupid he must look up on stage, staring wistfully at some girl he would probably never see again. He laughed harder as he thought about what song he was performing and how much it described how he was acting. For some strange reason Lance could tell that this Rachel girl definitely had what he was looking for, maybe even more.
“Lance, goodness, you are an idiot. Stop this.” He talked himself out of taking his eyes off of her and decided on moving to another part of the stage, where he could concentrate on something else. Anything else but her.

“Thank you, Nashville! Once again, we are *NSYNC! Good night!” The group took their final bow and Lance looked back out at the crowd, getting one last look at the cute girl in the yellow tube top before quickly running off the stage and back into his own world.

“Oh my God! Was that NOT the best night of your life?!?” Bethany squealed in delight and Rachel laughed.
“That definitely was fun.” Rachel said as she climbed in the car.
“Oh come on. You are so dull. Fun? That was simply amazing, Rach!” Bethany rolled her eyes playfully as she snapped her seatbelt and started the car.
“Okay, fine. I had a blast. Is that better?”
“It’s a step up.” Bethany smiled at her. “God, we are never going to get out of here. Look at all of this traffic. Ugh!”
“It’s not like we have to be anywhere in a hurry.”
“I know. Hey Rach?” Bethany looked at her best friend.
“Yeah?”
“I’m really glad you came with me tonight. I think it did you some good. You needed a change.” A sad look passed through Rachel’s eyes as she smiled.
“Yeah. It did do me some good. Thanks.”
“Yes! Cute guy is letting me in front of him and my little red V-4 of love is leaving the building.”
Bethany waved at the guy behind them in the black sports car and sped off towards the exit.
“Bethie, you are a nutcase.”
“But you love me!”
“Of course.” Rachel smiled and drifted off into her own little world.

“Quick. In the hotel.” No sooner had the bus parked in front of their hotel than the guys were rushed through the doors of the lobby and whisked up the elevators to their own private floor. Lance unlocked the door to the room he was sharing with Justin and collapsed on the bed.
“Lance I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“Okay.” Lance shrugged his shoulders and closed his eyes.
“Alright, what’s wrong?” Justin walked towards his group mate’s bed and sat on the corner.
“Huh?”
“You are usually the first in the shower, Mr. I-Am-A-Clean-Freak. Something’s up.” Lance sighed and sat up, looking at Justin.
“What’s your greatest fear?”
“My, Lansten. You haven’t been keeping up to date. In the last bio, my greatest fear was dying unloved.” Justin smiled at him and then realized he was serious. “It still is.”
“Do you ever wonder if out of all of the girls we meet, if one of them is the one and we don’t realize it until it’s too late…or if we just pass them by and meet up with them again someday?”
“No…I don’t really think about that. I prefer to just let it hit me whenever it wants to instead of dwelling on it. Why?”
“I don’t know. I guess I am just sick of being alone and having to pretend that it doesn’t bother me and that I am too busy when really all I want is someone to love me.”
“You have always said yourself that you are too busy to have a real relationship. Hell, all of us are too busy.”
“I don’t know who I was trying to convince. The fans or myself.” Justin looked at Lance with knowing eyes.
“You fell for someone didn’t you?” Lance looked up in shock.
“Well…no. Not necessarily fell. I just…okay, well at the meet-and-greet I met this girl. As soon as I looked at her something just went off inside of me. I acted like a fool. My throat was dry, my palms were sweaty, my knees were knocking. But then this little voice inside of me told me she was just a fan, just another person and to not make a big deal out of it. So I pushed it into the back of my mind. But now I can't get her out of my head. I don’t even know if I’ll ever see her again.”
“Do you even know her name?”
“Yeah. It’s Rachel. I at least thought to ask that much.”
“Okay. Do you want the sensible answer or do you want the hopeless-romantic-what- you want-to-hear-advice?”
“How about both?”
“Okay. First with the hopeless romantic advice. It seems to me that you already know what you are looking for in “that” girl, and that something inside told you that this girl you met today definitely had what it took to get you. So chalk it up to love at first sight and that she will come around again and you will meet up.”
“And for the sensible answer?”
“It’s a big world, Lance. And we move really fast through it. The chances of you meeting up with her again are slim to none. Just remember that.” Lance smiled at Justin.
“Thanks for not making me feel stupid.”
“Hey…I’ve been there. You think I haven’t fallen for a fan? Lord, do we have some pretty fans!” Lance laughed at Justin and shook his head.
“Go get a shower. You stink.”

“Oh man, Rachel! We have hit the jackpot! Look at this!” Bethany slowed down her car as she passed a line of tour buses.
“How do you even know it’s them?”
“No other concerts are in town. And look! Florida tags!”
“Bethany. Please don’t tell me you are planning on stopping at their hotel to stalk them some more!”
“Oh come on. It’ll be fun.” Rachel didn’t have time to object as Bethany whipped into the parking lot and came to a screeching halt in one of the parking spaces.
“Bethie…our apartment is a mile down the road. I’m tired…can you just take me home and come back later?”
“No way. We’re a tag team. We are in this together. Got me?” Rachel looked up towards the Heavens, praying that she wouldn’t kill her best friend before the night was over. The last thing she needed was a homicide on her record.

“How many of you are going out?” Lonnie, one of the bodyguards looked at Joey.
“Well, it’s me, Justin, and Chris. JC wants to catch up on some writing. How about you Lance? Are you in?”
“No, not tonight. I think I am just going to hang out here.”
“Suit yourself. So it’s three of us, plus the usual entourage. Three cabs and three bodyguards should do it.” Lonnie nodded and gathered up everyone to go wait downstairs in the lobby.

“Oh my God…Joey is in the lobby! Oh wait…and I see Justin. And Chris!”
“Bethany, calm down! Don’t make a scene. Just walk in and act like it’s not a big deal.”
Bethany walked through the rotating door and grabbed Rachel, trying her best to act cool and civilized.
“Looks like they are going out, Bethie. See, no need to bother them. Let’s go.”
“Wow…out of all of the years I have lived in Nashville, I have never been inside this hotel. This place is huge! Let’s look around. See what kind of trouble we can get into.”
“Oh God…”

Lance shoved his hands in his pockets and walked towards the elevator. Nothing was on TV, so maybe a walk around a hotel would keep him interested until he got tired enough to retire for the night. Stepping into the elevator, Lance pressed the “Lobby” button and waited patiently as the elevator descended.

“Damn this thing is slow. Let’s take the stairs.”
Bethany started to grab Rachel’s hand but Rachel stopped her.
“No, I hear it coming. Just wait a few more seconds—“ The elevator made a dinging sound, cutting Rachel off. “See?”
The doors opened and Lance was shocked to see the girl from the concert, standing there, staring at him wide-eyed.
“Hello, ladies.”
“Hi.” Bethany smiled sweetly at him, but quickly noticed that his attention was focused squarely on Rachel.
“I have to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” Bethany darted off before Rachel could protest.
“Are you guys staying here?” Lance smiled warmly at Rachel and she slowly started feeling more at ease.
“Umm…well…no. My friend…Bethany. She, well. Uh…okay honestly? We were on our way home and saw the buses and she just had to come stalk you guys some more. And I’m really sorry for any trouble—“
“No, hey…it’s okay. Really.”
Rachel breathed a sigh of relief and looked down at her feet.
“You’re Rachel, right?” Rachel looked up in shock.
“How do you know my name?”
“The meet-and-greet. I remember you.” Rachel blushed slightly.
“I must look like a complete idiot, then.”
“NO!” Lance surprised himself at his enthusiastic objection. “I mean, no.” Rachel smiled at him.
“Okay.”
“Hey guys.” Bethany walked up to them, smiling.
“Have fun in the bathroom?”
“Tons. I thought only airports had the toilets that flush whenever you stand up. They scare the shit out of me all of the time.” Lance and Rachel just laughed at her.
“So what are you guys up to tonight? Going out or anything?” Lance looked at them.
“Actually…we were on our way home before someone had to stop here and take a look around.” Rachel smiled menacingly towards Bethany.
“You aren’t going out clubbing or anything? It is a Saturday night.”
“Well we could ask you the same thing.” Bethany looked at Lance.
“Huh?”
“I see all of your friends over there are getting ready to go out. Why aren’t you joining them?”
“Oh…well…I guess because I wouldn’t have anyone to dance with. I don’t know.”
“Hmmm. Interesting. I guess there just aren’t any more girls like us worth dancing with.”
“Yeah, you got that right.” Lance said, laughing.
“We’ll go if you go.” Rachel and Lance looked at Bethany, shocked.
“Bethie…I don’t know—“
“Like I said, we’ll go if you go.” She looked at Lance, waiting for an answer.
“Okay, fine. Let’s go.”

“Here you go.” Lance sat down at the cocktail table in the corner of the club and handed Rachel her strawberry daiquiri.
“Thanks.” Rachel took a sip of the drink and looked out towards the floor.
“Do you want to dance?”
“Huh?” Rachel looked over at Lance absent-mindedly.
“The dance floor. Go dance? You and me?” Lance grinned at her.
“Oh, I don’t know…I don’t really dance too well…I’m a white girl, you know.”
“Who says I am the best dancer? Because I’m not. Come on, let’s go make fools of ourselves together. It will be twice as fun.” Rachel smiled at him and took his hand as he led her to the middle of the dance floor. The beats pounded the walls and the floor vibrated underneath them as they found a rhythm and danced to song after song. A couple of hours and several songs later, they exhaustedly returned to their table, sweating and laughing.
“Who says you are a bad dancer? You could outdance me any day!”
“Whatever. You’re just saying that to be nice.”
“Yeah.” Lance stuck his tongue out at her and she playfully slapped him. An awkward silence followed until Lance finally spoke up.
“It’s hot in here. Do you want to go somewhere else?”
“Umm…well, sure. There’s really not anything happening at one in the morning, though. Nashville closes down pretty early.”
“Let’s go back to the hotel. I am sure there’s something to do inside that place.”
“Okay. Let me tell Bethany first.” Rachel walked out on the dance floor and found her dancing with Justin, a little too close for comfort. She told Bethany her plans and Bethany told her she would see her at the apartment later. Finding Lance, the two hailed a cab and rode over to the Opryland Hotel. Lance paid the driver and they walked in the hotel. Hardly anyone was in the lobby, except for a few maids and a couple of lingering guests.
“So, what do we do here?” Rachel looked around.
“Let’s look around. I’ve heard about this place. It has it’s own river!” Rachel laughed at him.
“It’s a canal, but yeah, I guess you could call it a mini-river. Leave it to Opryland to think of something like that.” Lance chuckled at her and nonchalantly grabbed her hand, dragging her behind him.
“Let’s go look at the dancing water. I hear that’s a site to see.” They stood on the bridge looking out over the water and waited for the show to start. The lights in the hotel dimmed and the show started. Lance couldn’t help stealing glances at her from the corner of his eye. He smiled inwardly at her expressions and secured in his memory the way her eyes gleamed whenever she smiled. Her laugh lit up her face and sent Lance into a state of awe. He couldn’t believe how fast he was falling for this girl. He didn’t even know her last name. All he knew was that her name was Rachel. Maybe that’s all he had to know. Whatever it was, he was totally enraptured with her. Lance didn’t even know he was staring at her until she turned abruptly and looked at him with teasing eyes.
“See something you like?”
“Why, certainly.” Lance blushed slightly and Rachel nudged him.
“Come on, let’s take a walk.”

“Alright. I’ve told you everything about me. I’m from Mississippi, I sing, I dance. Now it’s your turn.”
“Oh…well, I’m really boring, Lance.”
“You couldn’t be as boring as being from a one horse town in Mississippi.”
“No, I think my town had at least two horses.” Lance laughed and nudged her.
“Come on. Just a few things.” He sat down on a bench and pulled at her arm, motioning for her to sit down beside him. Rachel sighed and sat down.
“You ask the questions and I’ll answer.”
“Okay. How old are you?”
“21. Barely legal.”
“Are you in school?”
“I was. Life got a little,” her voice trailed off, but she continued. “Hectic for a few months, and I just needed to take a breather.” Lance nodded.
“What were you majoring in?”
“I was tossing it up between music business management and public relations.” Lance nodded again and then decided to ask the all-important question.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” He instantly noticed her tense up and rubbed her arm with his hand. “You don’t have to answer that. I’m sorry.”
“No, no, it’s okay. Actually, no…the answer is no. I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Did you?” Rachel looked down at the floor and then up at Lance.
“Yes. Yes I did.”
“When did you guys break up?” Rachel looked back down at the floor and then pushed back a sob trying to escape from her throat.
“We broke up a few months ago. It was hard. But I’m slowly healing.” Lance nodded and squeezed her arm.
“Are you sure it was okay that I asked you?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. I need to get over it, anyway and get used to being single.”
“It’s not always that simple.”
“What is?”
“Being single.”
“What about you Lance? Why don’t you have a girlfriend?”
“I’m too busy. I can’t be there 24/7 when I need her or when she needs me. And when I get into a relationship I want to be totally committed to making it work.”
“Who says you have to be around 24/7 to make it work? If you want it bad enough, it will happen. Maybe in the past it just wasn’t meant to be. Maybe she wasn’t the one.” Lance looked at her and thought about what she had said.
“So you think long-distance relationships can work?”
“I know they can. I did it for three years and loved him more than anything. And the times that I did get to see him, I cherished more than seeing him every day. I didn’t take him for granted.” Another sad look passed through her eyes and she looked away. She blew Lance away. She really knew who she was, what she wanted, and how to take control of her life. And boy, did she give some good advice.
“So if I found that someone…you think I should go for it?” Rachel looked him dead in the eyes and Lance’s breath caught in his throat.
“She could be standing right in front of you one day and you not know it until it’s too late. If you have that feeling, you should chase after it. Don’t let time pass you by. And don’t make any more lame excuses. That ‘I’m too busy’ one is played out.” Lance chuckled at her.
“Okay.”
“Promise me that when you find her, you’ll let her know.” Lance nodded, but Rachel was unsatisfied. “Pinky swear?” She wiggled her pinky in his face.
“Pinky swear.” Lance locked his pinky in hers and smiled.