Chapters 76-80

**Chapter 76**

After the introductions were over, everyone was hanging out and just doing whatever they felt like until dinner was ready. Some people were nibbling on snacks, while others were dancing to music that was playing from a boom box that someone had set up. “Hey Brian, are you guys going to sing at all tonight?” I asked. “Maybe, but I am not totally sure. If we do, is there something you want to hear?” he stated. “Yeah, I would love to hear ‘Where Do We Go From Here’.” I replied. “Ok, I am sure we can do something about that just for you sis,” he said with a smile. Just as Brian had finished saying that, Nick walked over. “Brianna, would you like to dance?” he asked. “Sure Nick, I would love to dance with you,” I said. He offered his hand, which I took as he led me to the dance floor. Nick and I danced as song after song played from the radio station that was on the boom box. Just then, “I Knew I Loved You” from Savage Garden came on the radio and Nick and I slow danced to the song. He held me close as I felt tears spring to my eyes. He comforted me as I weeped, thinking of my boyfriend, who was in Orlando. As soon as the song finished, my dad called out “Food’s ready!”. I wiped the tears from my eyes and walked towards the table as I saw Brian flip off the radio. Everyone came and took seats around the picnic tables that had been set out in the yard, just for the party. Brian, my brother Harold III, and my father Harold Jr. Brought the food and condiments to the table and set them down. People took turns at getting food and started eating.

After dinner, the adults were sitting around chatting, while the young children had gone inside to watch some movies. Brian, Kevin, Nick, Howie, and AJ were nowhere to be found at the moment, but it didn’t matter, nor did I really take much notice of that as I talked with BJ. While I was talking to BJ, music started playing from what seemed like out of nowhere. I listened to the music and recognized it as the tune to ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ from the guys. As I listened continently to the music, I heard 5 voices singing live and blending harmoniously together. The lights came up on a small stage that had been set up near the end of the yard and as the lights lit up the stage, the five guys stood there, singing for me and the rest of the people in the yard. BJ looked at what I was looking at and grinned. “I have to confess that I knew what they were planning. They had planned this whole thing out, just for you Brianna.” BJ whispered to me. “Oh man, I am going to have to thank these guys majorly for doing this for me.” I replied. “They aren’t excepting anything from you. They are just happy to do this for you,” BJ stated. “I know, but now I feel obligated to do something in return for them. Do you or one of your sibs have the soundtrack from the Nickelodeon movie ‘Snow Day’?” I said. “Yeah, we got an advanced copy thanks to Nick some how,” BJ replied. “Ok good, I will tell you my plan in a bit,” I said as I turned my attention back to the guys, who had just started a new song. “Ok,” BJ said.

After the guys had finished performing, I went to my mom and dad with BJ and told them our plan before we ran into the house, so I could get ready. We went upto my room and I searched through my closet and found an exact replica of Hoku’s outfit from the video for her song ‘Another Dumb Blonde’. “Hey BJ,” I called from my room. “Yes?” she replied. “Can you go and get that cd from your sibs now?” I asked. “Sure,” she said before I heard her tromping down the stairs. I had finished changing when she knocked on the door and then came into my room. “I got it,” she said as she triumphantly held it over her head. I grinned as I fixed my hair. As soon as I was finished with my hair, BJ gave me a once over look and gave me her approval. “Man Brianna, you look the part of Hoku and everything,” she said with a grin. “Thanks BJ,” I said as we walked out of my room and down the stairs. We went towards the backdoor and BJ went out first to distract the guys from noticing me. I saw her put the cd in the player and get it ready and then she went to distract the guys. I waited by the door for the signal. As soon as I saw the signal, I made a mad dash from the back door to the stage. As soon as I had gotten to the stage safely, I picked up the mic my dad had left sitting on a stand for me. I tapped twice on the mic as my signal to my dad and BJ. As I was waiting, I saw my dad go over to the cd player and pressed play as he smiled in my direction. I pursed my lips and waited for the song to begin. “I think that its time that I should just let you go, so I’ll tell it to your face instead tell it to you on the phone,” I sang as the lights came on onstage and I broke out into some simple dance moves that I had seen in the video. “You see I thought you were special, baby something unique, but lately I have come to find that you’re not really interested in my heart or mind.”

After I had finished the song, everyone out there was applauding me. I smiled as I took a bow and then ran into the arms of my parents. They hugged me as I looked into their eyes. My mom and dad both had tears in their eyes, so I was sure that they were proud of what I had done. “That was great sweetheart,” my mom said in a whispered tone and she hugged me tightly. After she let me go, I walked over to my brother, my cousin and their friends. “Brianna, girl, that was amazing!” AJ exclaimed with a smile on his face. “I never figured that someone younger and related to these two would be soo talented,” Nick said in a sarcastic tone as he pointed at Brian and Kevin. I giggled as he said that. “If you need any help with getting a career or whatever, you can always contact me,” Howie stated. “Or me,” Nick added. As I smiled and hugged each of the guys, someone came over and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned and saw Denise standing there with a smile on her face. “Brianna, you are amazing. I bet Brian and Kevin are glad to have you here.” She said to me as she gave me a hug. “Thanks Mrs. McLean,” I said, with tears starting to brim in my eyes. “Oh sweetie, don’t call me Mrs. McLean, call me Denise. You and I are probably going to become practically family, just like your brother and your cousin are to me,” she replied with a smile. After she released me from the hug, I saw Pollyanna standing behind her, wanted to talk with me.

Finally, after about midnight, the party had finally come to an end as people ventured into the house, probably seeking warmth and sleep. I walked into the house with BJ and I noticed all of the adults and the guys were in the living room talking. I went up to my room, which I was sharing with BJ for the time being. I pulled out some clean pajamas from my drawer. I changed into my tank top and a pair boxer shorts that I normally sleep in. After I had changed, I went into the bathroom and brushed my teeth and pulled my hair back into a loose braid. “Great Job tonight Brianna,” BJ said with a smile as she changed. “Thanks. We really caught them off guard, didn’t we?” I said with a very big smile displayed on my face. “Yes, we sure did. You have an amazing voice, you should sing for Aaron and let him hear it too, since he didn’t get to hear you sing.” She said. “You know what, you are right about that, I will do it tomorrow sometime,” I replied as I climbed into my bed. “That will be great, my sibs will love to hear you sing, I am sure of it.” BJ said. “Oh by the way, I overheard the guys talking about introducing you to Fatima after you had performed.” “Really? I wonder why they want me to meet her,” I said just as I drifted off to sleep.

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Brianna's Story
Chapters 71-75