*~The Dream Of A Lifetime~*

The concert began at exactly 7:00 p.m. as planned. The opening acts were from another Orlando based quintet, *NSync, and Nickolas’ little brother Aaron Carter. They both sang a few songs to get the crowd pumped up for the Backstreet Boys. After the opening show it was time for the Backstreet Boys. Their first few songs were upbeat and pumping and then they slowed it down with a couple love ballads.

The guys serenaded all the women with “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” and dedicated it to all the love birds at the show. The show was over before they knew it and they all were very happy. The guys did a meet and greet after the show and had Valondra, Lillie, Hannah, and Farah wait by the bleachers for them. The girls did so, without objection, and watched as the guys pleased their fans while they sat with *NSync.

“This has been an amazing night,” Farah said.

“Yes it has,” Valondra agreed. “And we only have…me to thank.” She smiled and the girls shook their heads. “Yes you do have me to thank.”

“Why?” Hannah asked. “Anybody could’ve gotten the tickets.”

“Whatever,” Valondra said. “You didn’t even believe me when I did tell you I had them. If I didn’t live around the corner where I met them then we would be sitting at home right now. I’d probably be on the phone with Fox right now complaining about my parents and you guys would be…I don’t know what the hell you guys do when you’re alone.” They just looked at her. “A thank you would be nice.” They just continued looking at her and the guys walked over to them and she shook her head in disgust.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” Kevin asked, as they sat down.

“Yeah,” the girls said, and Valondra just smiled.

“That’s great,” Kevin said.

“Have the guys been keeping good company?” Brian asked.

“Yeah,” Lillie said. “Joey’s been trying to use his Romeo routines on Loni though. She keeps giving him the shoulder.”

“He means no harm,” Kevin said and they all laughed. “Um, we’re going to go get quick showers so if you don’t mind waiting we can take you girls home then.”

“Whatever,” the girls said.

“Just give us about twenty minutes then,” Howard said and they all nodded. “Great.” The guys got up and the girls watched, as they disappeared backstage.

“Hey, Loni,” Lillie said and Valondra just looked at her. “Can I ask you a favor?” Valondra just continued looking at her. “May I ask you a favor?”

“What for?” Valondra asked shifting in her seat. “I don’t even get a ‘thank you, Loni’ from you guys and now you want me to do you a favor. I don’t think so. I did you a favor by bringing you here tonight. I should’ve called Ariel and Antoinette and Fox and invited them, but I didn’t. I invited you three. At least Ariel, Toni, and Fox would’ve said thank you.” She sighed disgustedly.

“Thank you,” Lillie said.

“Don’t even…” Valondra said. “I don’t want to hear it now. I don’t want to hear it after I say something.” Lillie just looked at her. “What is it that you want?”

“I was just wondering if you could hook up a date with Howie for me,” Lillie said and Valondra looked at her. Lillie waited for an answer and when she realized she wasn’t going to get one she got up and walked away.

Valondra shook her head and Farah sat next to her. “What do you want?”

“Someone in a bad mood?” Farah asked.

“Like I just told Lillie,” Valondra started, “I should’ve invited Ariel, Toni, and Fox.” Farah looked at her. “What do you want? Do you want a favor too?”

“Well, yeah,” Farah said.

“Let me guess, you want me to hook up a date with Kevin for you,” Valondra stated.

“Yeah,” Farah said. “How’d ya know?”

“Lucky guess,” Valondra said getting up and moving to another seat. She sighed disgustedly and saw Howard standing next to her.

“May I join you?” Howard asked.

“Sure,” Valondra said moving over a seat so Howard could sit down.

“Do you like being an outcast?” She shrugged. “Something’s bothering you.” She looked at him surprised. “I’m good with people.”

“Right.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” She shrugged. “Come on. Sweet D’s here for you.” She grinned.

“I didn’t even get a thank you for bringing them here tonight. They never thank me for anything I do for them and it pisses me off. I don’t get a thank you and they want me to do favors for them.”

“Maybe you should talk to them.”

“What’s the point? I swear it goes in one ear and out the other. I should’ve come by myself or got Toni, Fox, and Ariel. At least they would’ve thanked me by now.” She sighed. “Lillie thinks I’m going to do her a favor and hook up a date with you.” Howard looked at her. “And Farah thinks I’m going to do the same for her with Kevin. I don’t think so.” She sighed again. “No one appreciates what I do.” He stuck his arm around her and gave her a little squeeze.

“We do have a couple days off.” She looked at him. “I don’t mind going out with your friend. She can show me around and what not.”

“No matter how much I would love to see her with a good guy I don’t think that would be the best idea.”

“Why not?”

“She falls fast and she already has this huge, and I mean huge, crush on you. She also tends to think that if a guy shows interest of any kind they want her. I just think that if you take her out and show her a good time or whatever she’s going to fall and then believe you’re her boyfriend. I think that’s the last thing you need right now.”

“I’m a grown man so don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

“I’m sure you can, but you don’t know Lillie.”

“I’ll take my chances unless you want to go out sometime.” He smiled and she shook her head.

“I’m kind of seeing someone in a way. It’s nothing serious though, but we hang out a lot and shit. It’s probably more friends than anything.”

“So you’re not going to ask Nicky out?” She looked at him and he smiled. “I’ve seen the way you two have been looking at each other. You want him, don’t ya?”

Ignoring the statement, Valondra got up saying, “I have to use the little girls’ room. Excuse me.”

“Of course.” Howard got up to leave her out.

“Thank you.” Valondra started towards the bathroom and Lillie stood beside her.

“What was that all about?” Lillie asked. “Flirting with my man? How could you? I thought you were my friend.”

“Howie’s not your man,” Valondra said. “He hasn’t even showed interest and you’re already calling him your man.” She shook her head and went into the bathroom.