Wade rolled over and groaned. He threw a shoe at his bedroom door. “Blye, I came in late last night. Go away.”

”I wish I could, Waders, but there’s someone who won’t stop calling and the phone ringing is driving me crazy.”

”Then why don’t you take a message or something?”

”Because, Waders,” Blythe started as she opened his door, “it’s one of your friends.”

Wade shook his head and took the phone from his roommate. How long was this going to go on? “Which member of *N SYNC is this so I know who to kill when the tour starts up again?”

”And how did you know I was a member of *N SYNC? Don’t you know I have a name? I’m not just a member of *N SYNC. That’s not my whole identity.”

Wade sighed and laid back in bed. “What do you want, Lance?”

”Well, I was wondering if we could talk about what we started talking about last night before your flight.”

”What were we talking about?” Wade asked as he absentmindedly ran his fingers along the stripes of his sheets.

”About you choreographing a video for Meredith.”

”When did we have that conversation, Lance?”

”We had it last night. I asked you if you could help her. It’s not much. It’s a slow song, but there’s one part when we want an intricate slow dance fading in and out of the background.”

”So you want me to choreograph to a slow song? I can do it, but-“ Wade yawned and ran a hand across his face. “Anyone can do that, Lance. Why do I have to do it on one of my few days off?”

”Because you’re my friend and I asked you to.” Lance paused. “Plus, what else are you going to do if you’re not going to dance?”

”I do have a life aside from dancing, Lance.” Wade sighed. “All right. Which song is it again?”

”Ready to Fall.”

”And,” Wade stood up and dragged his bag to the bed, “it’s on that CD you gave me last night?”

”Yup. Hey, I talked to Britney earlier…”

”And?”

”Well, Wade, she told me how good of a choreographer your Blythe is…”

”So…”

”So why don’t you have her help you. It’ll give you two something to do together.”

”I don’t know. I’ll have to ask her. She may have other plans, Lance.”

”Sure, you go ask her when we’re done. I’m sure she’ll help you. I’m surprised she hasn’t helped you before now.”

Wade looked up at the movement outside his door. “No, Lance, she hasn’t helped me choreograph anything before” He waved at Blythe when she froze. He listened to his friend again. “I have no idea when you’re going to get to meet her, Lance. She does have school and all.”

Blythe stayed by Wade’s door until he was off. She followed him with her eyes as he walked down the hall and entered the bathroom. She waited until the door opened again before speaking. “Wade?”

”Yeah?” He walked to the kitchen and pulled out a bowl and a spoon.

”Did Lance just ask if I helped you choreograph something before?”

Wade nodded as he decided which cereal he wanted for breakfast.

”Why would he do that? I mean, I told you I didn’t want to meet any of them,” she continued before he got a word in. “Now Britney saw me dancing and they’ll all know.”

”All know what, Blye?” Wade grabbed her arms and forced her to look at him. “Know what an incredible person you are? Know how amazing you dance? Know that… Know that…”

”Know that what, Wade?”

He dropped her arms and turned away. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

”Why are you pushing the issue, Wade? I told you I don’t want this.”

”Want what?”

This,” she left the room and stormed back with a few CDs in her hands, “this is what I don’t want.”

”I thought you knew, Blye, that you have a terrible voice. Anyone who'd think you’d make a hit album must be deaf.”

”Wade…” Blythe quickly took one of the cover jackets out and searched the packet until she found what she wanted and showed it to him. “This is what I don’t want.”

”You don’t want to be thanked in a CD liner notes?”

She looked to the ceiling. “And I think he’s getting it.”

”This is ridiculous, Blye.”

”What is?”

Wade sat heavily in a kitchen chair. “The fact that you won’t open yourself up to all I could give you.”

”And what’s that? What can you give me, Wade? A job I got just because you got it for me? A job I didn’t earn on my own merit?”

Wade stared at her. “Don’t you know me better than that? I thought you did.” He raised his eyebrows before standing and leaving the room.

”Then tell me what I’m missing here, Wade?” She sighed and followed him into the living room area. “What do I not know about you?”

”You don’t know that I don’t just give things to people. I make sure they deserve it.” He grabbed her chin and lifted it. “Blythe, the only reason I’d put your name in the running for something is if I truly believed deep in my heart you could do it and do it well. Blye, please tell me you know that I believe in you.”

She sighed. “I know you do. I just want to be me and grow up normally, Wade. Normal teenagers don’t hang out with celebrities. Normal college students are trying to scrounge up money for concerts instead of getting backstage passes for free. Normal college students-“

”Don’t you know you’ll never be normal, Blythe,” Wade interrupted her. “You’ll always be special. You have this amazing gift, girl, and you refuse to let it grow to it’s full potential. I’m sick and tired of it. Yes, education is important. I’ll grant you that. But can you please start taking responsibility for your actions.”

”What actions?”

”The actions you do when even a faint note of a song comes upon your ears. You can’t deny it. Your body is a natural at dancing and choreography.” He slid his hand down her arms until he joined his fingers with hers. “I’m not asking you to give up everything you’ve been working for. I’m just asking you to expand your horizons and start building your background for what I know will be a long and successful career.”

”A career of what, Wade?”

”Do I even have to tell you?” He brought both of her hands to his mouth and gently kissed her palms. He smiled at the shock in her eyes and retreated to his bedroom to get the CD Lance had handed him the night before. “What are your plans for today?”

”Seeing as it’s a Saturday and all I really don’t have any plans. I made sure of that when you called a few days ago to tell me you were coming home.”

Wade smiled at her words. “Perfect. I need you.”

Blythe froze. What had he just said? Her body tensed even more when she realized what he was doing. “What are you doing, Wade?”

”I’m helping you expand your horizons.” He smirked and loaded the CD into the player. He turned when the music started playing. “I told Lance I’d listen to this and try to come up with some choreographed dance to this. I know country isn’t you’re favorite…” he trailed off with a shrug.

”Wade.”

”What?” He grabbed her hands and led her in an impromptu tango. After a few eight counts he stopped and smiled as she started to laugh. “As you can tell I need a partner and I think you’ll do just fine.”

”Waders…”

”Oh come on, Blye. It’s not like we’ve never slow danced before, and I think you’re a better partner than the broom in the closet.”

”Now that I’d love to see.”

She started to walk away but he grabbed her arm and swung her to him. He used more force then he wanted to and she bumped into him. They took small steps back, but he didn’t let her arm go. She licked her bottom lip and held her breath as she noticed his eyes following her tongue. She repeated her actions to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. Wade felt the difference in her breathing and noticed their nearness. He turned away and walked back to the stereo.

”So,” he started, “I guess we’d better start and listen to the song before we start.”

”Umm…” Blythe looked around the apartment and sighed in defeat. “I guess. I guess I’ll help you.”

”Damn.” He lowered his head. “I’m sorry, Blye. Will you help me?”

She walked up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Yes.”

”I’m not taking it halfway this time, Blye. If you help me you’re going to be recognized for your help. Any time in the future you help me you’ll be acknowledged.”

”Wade, I don’t know-“

”I won’t try to pressure you to do any big things anymore, but you deserve some recognition, Blythe, and I can’t deny it any more. I’m not denying anything any more.” He looked behind him, a finger ready to restart the music. “You ready?”

She paused and nodded. “I’m ready now.”

Wade smiled over his shoulder before closing his eyes and listening to the music and lyrics. After playing the song once he stopped the music and let his and Blythe’s minds absorb what they had to work with. He let the silence last a few minutes before he turned and took her hands again. He squeezed her hands and waited for her to look at him. When she did he saw the glistening of tears in her eyes. He wiped at the corner of her eyes. He put one hand on his shoulder.

”I was thinking of starting with hands in this position.” He wrapped one of his arms around her waist and grabbed her free hand. “How does that feel?”

”That- that feels great,” she choked. “Just like I’d imagined in my head.

”Okay.” He took a deep breath and looked into her eyes. “You ready?”

She nodded. “Yeah,” she whispered. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

Wade reached behind him and let the music begin. He shut his eyes and let his body do whatever the music led it to. He buried his face in her hair and whispered; “I’m ready too.”

The couple let the music play out, but didn’t part. Soon after their bodies stopped moving and the two stood still, neither wanting to break the contact, afraid of what could happen. Finally, someone moved away. Neither knew who, but soon there was space between their bodies.

”Wade?”

”Yes,” he barely got out. Her eyes were still penetrating his.

”Umm,” she looked around, “thanks.”

”For what?”

”For pushing, yet not pushing me completely overboard.”

”Blye,” he raised a hand to push some loose strands of hair away from her face, “I’m sorry. It’s just that you’re so special to me I want everyone to see all your potential right now. You are an amazing person. Your dancing abilities are such a little part of why I know you’ll make it in this business.”

”What else?”

Wade smiled. “Do you know how long you’ve put off *N SYNC? Anyone who will not give into a celebrity’s every desire and can stick with their own goals will work well. Blye, you’re perfect.”

”For a job choreographing. I know. You’ve told me that a thousand times.”

”No.” He shook his head and took a step closer. “You’re perfect for everything.”

”Come on, Wade. No one’s perfect at everything.”

”How about this?” He restarted the music. “Perfect for me.” He looked into her eyes as the lyrics started. “I’m ready to fall. How about you?”

She bit her bottom lip and wrapped both arms around his neck. She buried her head into his shoulder. “I’m ready.” She smiled against his chest and found his eyes with hers. “Actually, I think I already have.”

”I know I have. I think tonight’s just a good night to allow myself to fall completely.” Wade listened to the music and started to sway, pulling Blythe’s body with his movements. “I think tonight’s a perfect night. I’ve wanted to do this for so long.”

”You want to know what?” she asked softly.

”No. What?”

”Actually, there’s something that I thought would look great in the video that I think we should try. All great romantic videos have them.”

”What?”

Blythe smiled and pulled his head toward hers. She stopped his lips an inch from hers and smiled at him. “You ready?”