CHAPTER 13

(Transcon Studios/5:30am)

Kaitlyn arrived at Transcon and found it very hard to get through security if you didn't show your tour packet. Reporters and photographers were all over the outside of the gates. Kaitlyn had taken a cab since she didn't want to leave her car in the parking lot for the next six months. She got out of the cab, payed the driver and took her two luggages and her bag over to her bus. Once her luggages were packed, Kaitlyn decided to go roam around for anyone. She saw Lance reading something over by the front doors so she decided to go over to him.

"Hey Lance, your parents aren't here to say good-bye to you?" Kaitlyn asked.

"No, they were here in Orlando last week, I said good-bye to them then." He answered.

"Oh, so where's everyone else?" Kaitlyn asked looking around.

"Well, JC and Chris are in the bathroom I think, Joey and his brother Steve are saying good-bye to their parents and Justin and his mom are inside Lou's office."

"Why is that? Is something wrong?" Kaitlyn asked worried.

"Oh don't worry, Lynn was just making sure that Justin was going to be taken care of since he is still a minor." He said reassuring her.

"Oh, ok. Well, I'll be right back, I'm going to go find Diane and check with things." Kaitlyn said giving Lance a pat on the shoulder.

Kaitlyn made her way through the crowd and five minutes later, found Diane with a clipboard of papers.

"Diane, need any help?" Kaitlyn said tapping her on the shoulder.

Diane turned and gave her a big smile of relief, "Kaitlyn, ohmygosh, I need a lot of help actually. But you can help me by getting Lou to get his butt out here."

"Of course."

"Thanks so much dear." Diane said turning around and focusing once again on what she had been doing.

Kaitlyn walked over to Emily and noticed a sad frown on her face, "what's the matter Emily?"

Emily looked up from her feet and smiled a fake smile at Kaitlyn, "oh, I just feel kind of rejected that I wasn't put on tour with you guys."

Kaitlyn really didn't admire Emily's JC crazy ways, but she was a sweet nineteen year old. "Oh don't worry about it, maybe Lou will reconsider and you could join us later on."

(KAITLYN)
*I hope I lied good enough.*

"I hope so, your so lucky Kaitlyn." Emily said dissapointed

Kaitlyn knew that it was a once in a lifetime chance, but the way Emily put it confused her. "Why do you say that?"

Emily looked at Kaitlyn as if she was stupid not to know, "those guys absolutely love you. Every time they pass me by, they're talking about how great you are."

Kaitlyn felt special and a smile started to form out of the corner of her mouth, but she stopped it from growing at the site of Emily's sadness, "look Emily, I'm sure those guys like you. You shouldn't put yourself down for this."

"Thanks Kaitlyn." Emily hugged Kaitlyn tighty so Kaitlyn decided to hug her back.

Kaitlyn gave her a caring smile and walked into the studio. She noticed JC and Chris come out of the bathroom and decided to go talk to them before she went into Lou's office.

"Good morning Kaitlyn." JC said politely.

"Good morning JC, Chris. Hey, before you go, can I ask a favor from you JC?" Kaitlyn asked hesitant, knowing JC might freak at what she was asking him to do.

"Well, I guess."

"Well, I know you freak every time your around Emily, but she's really bummed about not being on the tour. Which I'm glad about, but still."

JC saw Emily outside by the door with tears rolling down her cheeks. He did feel bad about being real mean to her at times, but it was only cause she was that way. "Well, I don't know Kaitlyn...but, well....okay. I won't see her on tour anyways."

"Thanks so much JC. You always pull through for me." She said giving him a hug.

She watched Chris give Emily a hug and a smile and walk away. Emily's face just brightened when JC came up to her. Kaitlyn couldn't make out the words they were saying, but she could obviously see how much better Emily felt. When they hugged, Emily saw Kaitlyn with a huge smile and thumbs up for her. Emily gave her a smile back and then faced JC again. Kaitlyn felt good about making Emily feel better. She was a sweet girl anyways. Not much older than her either. Kaitlyn was only a year older than her.

____________________________________________________

(Lou's office)

"Don't worry about a thing Lynn, everything will be alright." Lou reassured Lynn.

"Mom, everything will be fine. It's not Europe anyways, I'll be able to visit Dad and Johnathan in Tennesse." Justin gave his mom a huge hug and kiss on the cheek.

"I know Justin, I just worry you'll grow up to be a man without me there to see." Lynn said with a tear falling down her cheek.

"Listen to me mom, I'm going to be calling you everyday, and I've grown already mom. You've been there for me since day one, and I'm so grateful for that. But I'm going to be fine. Six months. What could possibly happen in six months?" Justin said embracing her one more time. He could feel the tears form in his eye.

"Six months?" Lynn asked once she stopped crying.

"Six months." Justin was now in tears and Lynn tried her hardest not to cry. Lou stood there patting Justin on the back. As Justin pulled away from his mom he kissed her on the cheek. Kaitlyn walked in on the two's solemn good-bye.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but Lou, Diane is asking for you outside by the buses."

Lou put on a smile and walked over to the doorway, "well gang, time to hit the dusty dirt road."

"I better go help Diane out." Kaitlyn said about to leave the room when Lynn went over to her and signed that she was going to help Diane for her.

"Your mother, she's a very strong woman. And you Justin, you're a great guy. She raised you right, because your a sweet guy." She said comforting him.

Justin tried hard not to cry in front of Kaitlyn, but he was too distraught not to. "I should get outside, I hate to have you see me like this." He tried to walk out but Kaitlyn held the door closed.

"Justin, it's okay to cry." She took his hand and he immediatley fell into his embrace. They held each other for a couple minutes before they could hear the commotion outside calm down and Lou's voice came on the loudspeaker.

At that moment, they came apart when Joey came through the door. "Was I interrupting anything?"

Kaitlyn gave him a smug look and answered, "no Joey. Nothing is going on."

Joey saw the sad expression on Justin's face and immediatley turned serious. "Oh, well, a....Lou is doing roll call. Everyone who's anyone has to get outside."

"Alright, we're coming," Joey nodded and walked out. Kaitlyn looked over at Justin and smiled, "do you need to go wash your face before we get outside?"

"No, I'm alright."

Just as Kaitlyn walked out, Justin took her hand and kissed it. "Thanks sweetnness."

"Anytime."

The two of them walked out and into the large crowd. Everyone raised their hand when they were called. Once that was over, buses and luggages were re-checked one more time and everyone boarded the buses. Kaitlyn found the five guys at their bus and said good-bye to each of them.

"Now, I won't be on the bus with you, so I want you to call me on my cell phone anytime you need me. Now behave!" Kaitlyn said in a motherly voice.

"Of course, mummy dearest." Chris said in a british accent.

"And you, Mr. Fatone, don't go looking for chicks on the freeway without consulting me first. I want to see what kind of girl you have in mind. So I can go find you one on Hollywood Boulevard. I'm just kidding."

"Funny, you better not go finding guys before I analyze them, or else, you'll be very sorry when they pull a robbery on you." Joey tickled her.

"Lance, well....I know you and JC will be good boys. But just want to warn you, anytime you need to get away from the battle of the egos, come to me." They hugged her both and got on the bus.

She went over to Justin who hugged his mother for the last time. "Oh Justin, it's not like your going to Vietnam. Remember? Six months."

"Six months. Love you mom."

"I love you too sweetheart." They hugged and Lynn stood back and Joey's parents tried their best to comfort her.

"Kaitlyn, I want you to have fun on this tour. Just love life. And don't forget to live a little."

"I will." The two hugged and Justin looked back one more time at his mom.

"C'mon Kaitlyn, we need to get going." Diane said patting her on the back.

"Alright, but where's Emily?" She said scanning the crowd.

"Emily! EMILY!" She called to her. Emily came through the crowd and quickly walked over to Kaitlyn.

"Kaitlyn, how could I ever repay you for what you did for me today?"

"Emily, your happiness is gratitude all in it's self." The two hugged and Diane and Kaitlyn made a run for their bus. One more time, Lou came on the buses and checked to make sure everyone was on the right bus and no one was missing. Within ten minutes, the 4 vans, 2 trucks, and the 3 buses etched through the crowd of reporters and photographers. Kaitlyn's life was starting out new and fresh again. In a way she never thought possible. It was out with the old and in with the new.

____________________________________________________

(One week later/ Denver, Colorado)

Kaitlyn was going through preparations at the Denver Forum when sound check began. She at first didn't notice the guys come out on stage until they started singing "For the girl who has everything" to Kaitlyn. She laughed at their charming expressions and blew kisses to each of them as they passed her by.

"So, having fun sweetness?" Justin asked through the microphone.

"A blast. But it is still hard to get used to everything." She said looking out at the thousands and thousands of empty seats that by 6:30, would be filled with loud screaming girls just itching to get a glimpse of their favorite Nsync-er.

-------------------------------------

(7:25pm)

The stage was being setup for the beginning of the concert. Britney Spears had just finished and the crowd absolutely loved her. By 7:30, the lights went low and the screaming got even louder. Luckily Kaitlyn had a sound reducer hooked up to her ear so she could let in a good enough amount of sound not to hurt her ears. Since she stayed in her usual spot, right behind the front curtain on the left side. Everything went smoothly and it was no wonder why. These five guys were practically flawless. Only four shows so far and their popularity was gaining momentum. Ten more shows across the country had been added and they were scheduled for photo shoots, guest radio hosts, and every big late night show on tv. It was certain, the road ahead was bright for Nsync. Not to mention, for Kaitlyn too.

* * * * *