"Veronica! Hurry up! We're goin' to miss our flight!"
Veronica Taylor grinned at the thought of missing their flight to Orlando, Florida. But, knowing her father would have her head, she just angrily went downstairs to face him.
"Do I really have to go?" she asked her father, pouting like a child. Veronica had always been good at getting her way with him.
"Veronica, please? They are really nice guys." her father replied. He didn't look very happy with his daughter.
"They're all stuck up snobs. They only care about the money. I hate boybands." Veronica continued to whine.
"I'll be gone for over two months, and I don't want to leave you here alone, for that long. You're only 17 years old." her father told her. "Please, just come with me?"
"But Daddy-" she began, but realized she wasn't going to win this fight. Her father wanted to her go to Orlando with him for the next two months, and there wasn't much she could do. "Ok... I'll go. But only because you want me to, Daddy." she finished, smiling at her father.
"Thank you, sweetie. The Backstreet Boys are very nice young men. You'll get along with them well. Now, get your bags, we've got to go!" he answered with a smile.
Veronica hugged her father and then went back to her bedroom to collect her few suitcases and her backpack. She knew her father would end up buying her all new clothes while they were away anyway, so she packed light. In the backpack, she tossed in her choice of cds, mostly older rock music, some more recent. She favoured Aerosmith. She also packed her discman and tons of extra batteries.
Veronica and her father loaded their things into the taxi that was waiting for them, and they sped off to the airport. They boarded the plane to Orlando, Florida at 6pm.
~~~
Veronica was born in Dallas, Texas. It was her home. All her friends were there. Her mother died when she was 8 years old, from breast cancer. Her father had been both a mother and a father to her since then. Veronica and her father were extremely close.
Her father, Robert Taylor, was a song writer/producer. He had written for and worked with many famous artists such as Jewel, Janet Jackson and others. They past year he had been working with Jive Records. He'd already written for Britney Spears, N SYNC and now the Backstreet Boys. Veronica had met Britney many times, and they had kept in touch. She admired her alot. The only member of N SYNC she really got along with was Lance. He was a nice guy. She wasn't looking forward to meeting the Backstreet Boys at all.
~~~
Their plane landed in Orlando at 9pm. They picked up their 2000 Ford Civic that they'd be renting and then drove to the hotel they were staying at. Veronica basically fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She didn't want to come off as a cranky bitch to the Backstreet Boys the next day.
~~~
The next morning Veronica didn't want to get out of bed. She was perfectly happy just staying in that big comfy bed all day. But after a half hour of her father's begging, she dragged her ass out of the bed around 10am. She took a quick shower and stuffed her face with a cold pop tart. It was just after 11am when she was ready to go.
The drive to the recording studio was long and boring. Veronica took the time to have a short nap. It was a small building, sort of in the middle of no where. That was where Veronica was was going to meet the Backstreet Boys for the first time. Her father had to review some music with the guys, and have a short meeting. Veronica had no idea why she needed to be there, but her father insisted.
Her father lead her into the building and down a few long halls. When they reached the room, he opened the door and stepped in. All eyes seemed to be on Veronica as she looked around at the strange, unfamiliar faces.
"Are we late?" her father questioned, checking his watch.
"No, not at all. Please, come sit down." a bald man, who wore a black suit, replied. "We're just starting."
"Good, good." Veronica's father smiled. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet my beautiful daughter, Veronica. Veronica, that's Mr. Allan Gregory, Mr. Tom Burkley, and these five guys here... are the Backstreet Boys, AJ, Kevin, Brian, Howie and Nick." he introduced them all to her.
"It's nice to meet you all." Veronica wasn't sure what to say to these big, rich, famous people.
She looked at each of the Backstreet Boys carefully. The one closest to them was staring right back at her. He had short reddish hair, brown eyes, and see-through sunglasses. He wore a red sleeveless top, showing all the many tattoos on his arms. He looked good-looking to Veronica, but she also knew he was much older than her. The guy beside him looked even older. He had long dark hair, dark eyes, and wore a black leather jacket and black pants. He had quite a bit of facial hair, too. Veronica figured he was one of the ones that was married. The next guy was cute-looking. He had curly blonde hair, bright blue eyes and an adorable smile. He wore a blueish sweat shirt and blue jeans. The next guy in line was the latin one, I could tell. He had long straight hair, and some facial hair. He had gorgeous eyes, Veronica loved his eyes. He wore a brown Versace sweater and black pants. She also guessed he was alot older than herself. The last guy looked young and stupid, to Veronica. He just stared at her, googily eyed and everything. His mouth was hanging open. His short blonde spikey hair was gelled in every which way, and his blue eyes looked clear like the ocean. He just had a look to him, which Veronica didn't like at first. She thought he looked childish and immature, right off the bat.
"Veronica, go sit down." her father ordered her, and snapped out of daze she was in.
"Yes Daddy." she answered.
Walking past all five guys, she went all the way to the end and sat next to Nick, the blonde "immature" one. He looked very tall and muscular. He could've probably snapped Veronica like a twig, if he wanted. He wore a black Nirvana t-shirt and gray cargo pants. As I sat down in the chair next to his, I looked over at him. He mouth was still wide open and he was staring at me.
"What's your problem?" I asked him rudely, in a whisper.
He shrugged and looked away.
I don't like him already. Veronica told herself.
She didn't say one word throughout the entire meeting. In fact she was ready to fall asleep. It was 4pm when everyone stood up and shook hands and stuff. It was finally over. Veronica jumped up and walked quickly towards the door.
"Say goodbye, Veronica, we'll see them again tomorrow." her father told her, treating her like a young child.
"See ya guys." she told them, a little rudely.
They all, except Nick, held out their hands for her to shake. She shook Howie's, then Brian's, followed by Kevin's. AJ slipped her a peice of folded paper and gave her a hug. She grinned at him, and then glanced at Nick, who shot her a dirty look. She just ignored him.
"Ok, we'll see you tomorrow guys." Veronica's father said to the guys in the room.
They all said goodbye and waved as Veronica and her father left the room.
The drive back to the hotel was horrible. Her father asked her tons of questions about the guys.
"See, they aren't as bad as you though, are they?" he wanted to know.
"No, I guess they're ok. But that Nick guy... there's something about him I didn't like. He was kinda rude." Veronica replied.
"Nick? Are you sure you have the right guy?" her father was shocked.
"Yes. The young blonde one... the one who sat next to me." Veronica repeated.
"That's Nick alright... but he's the sweetest guy you'd ever meet. He's so down to earth, so normal. He's a very good guy." her father told her.
"Not to me. Maybe he just didn't like me." Veronica suggested.
"Nonsense, everyone likes you, sweetie. Maybe he was just having a bad day." her father finished the conversation.
It was nearly 5pm when they arrived back at the hotel. The two of them had some dinner, and then Veronica remembered about the note AJ had slipped her. She pulled it out and read it in her head,
Hey Veronica
You're absolutely gorgeous. What can I say? I couldn't take my eyes off of you. Call me later, we'll talk. My cell is 555-0102.
Later, AJ
Veronica giggled at the note. AJ seemed to be a nice guy. But she decided not to call him, at least not yet. She wanted to tease him. She called up her best friend back home, Lacey Greenfeild, a little while later. She told her about the guys and mostly about Nick. Lacy was a huge BSB fan and thought that Veronica was so lucky she got to hang out with them. Veronica felt differently.
