THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR
CHAPTER 5
“*N Sync! *N Sync! *N Sync!” The crowd chanted. Vanessa sat down in her 4th row seat next to Lynn. They looked at each other and laughed. They had seen this the first two shows on the tour so far. Vanessa focused her attention on the stage. Suddenly the lights dimmed and the entire crowd went nuts! Vanessa smiled as she stood up, it was her first time being in the audience for the show, usually she was backstage with the crew doing her job. The curtains drew back to reveal the band.
“Where are the guys?” Vanessa asked Lynn.
“They like to make a big entrance.” Lynn said with a smile as she stood up. Vanessa focused her attention back on the stage. All the lights in the amphitheater went out and the stage was dark. Then the music started. Very soft and simple at first then getting louder and more intricate with every instrument playing. Vanessa didn’t recognize the tune from any of the shows before but she didn’t think twice about it. Suddenly the stage was lit up by pulsating strobe lights. Five figures were standing on the stage, heads bowed, feet apart, and hands clasped behind them. Vanessa smiled as they started dancing. She recognized Justin, he was too tall to miss and J.C., the only one person could do that break dancing. They danced for a couple minutes and then the stage went dark again.
“I wanna (wanna) rock wit chu!” Came from the stage as it was lit up. Justin, J.C., Chris, Joey, and Lance were dressed in black and white. Everyone in the audience, with the exception of Lynn, screamed. Vanessa was so excited she didn’t realize she had screamed too. A smile lit up her face as she watched the guys sing and dance. She was surprised at the great stage presence that the guys held. The song ended and everyone cheered and clapped. J.C. walked up to the front of the stage as the other guys stood behind him getting ready for the next song.
“Hellooooooooooo Atlanta!!!!! What’s up? We all hope you enjoy the show!!!!” J.C. said as he looked out into the audience. He caught Vanessa’s eye and winked at her. She smiled and winked back.
“Oh my gawd!!! Did you see that?” Vanessa overheard a girl behind her. “J.C. just winked at me!” The girl screamed. Vanessa looked over at Lynn. Lynn was laughing, she had overheard the girl behind Vanessa. Vanessa shrugged and laughed too. The group sang a few more songs then the stage lights dimmed. Lance stood in the middle of the stage with the spotlight on him.
“You know,” He said in a deep tone, “ there’s somethin’ special bout Atlanta. It’s all of you pretty ladies out there. ‘God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You’!” The audience screamed as he pointed to them. Lance smiled and scanned the audience for Vanessa. His eyes met hers and he blew a kiss. She laughed as she pretended to catch it. The guys arranged themselves on stage.
“I am going to die! Lance blew a kiss at me! He’s my new favorite!” Vanessa overheard from behind her. She smiled and chuckled as she realized it was the same girl that thought J.C. winked at her. As the song started Lynn leaned towards Vanessa.
“I can’t wait to tell the guys about her!” She said as she smiled.
“… And then when you blew the kiss she thought it was for her! You should have heard her: ‘Lance is my new favorite!” Vanessa said imitating the girl. The guys were busting up at Vanessa’s imitation of the girl. They were all sitting around after the show congratulating one another before the last of the people with backstage passes came.
“Okay guys, you can rest when we get back to the hotel. Right now you have to finish signing autographs.” Lynn said as she walked into the dressing room. The guys stood up and shuffled out of the room. A small mob of girls was backstage waiting for the guy’s signatures. Vanessa walked out just as the guys started signing autographs. She looked at the small group of about twelve girls. Most of them were squealing and talking excitedly.
“Oh I can’t wait to talk to Lance about the kiss he blew to me!” A girl said excitedly. Vanessa recognized the voice as the girl who was sitting behind her. She smiled and an idea popped into her head. Vanessa sauntered over to the group of girls and made herself part of the mob. She fit in no problem since she was only 5-foot 4. She made her way towards the girl who was sitting behind her. Vanessa stood beside her and listened to catch the girl’s name. She overheard a friend of the girl’s say “ Tina you are so lucky he blew you a kiss!” Vanessa turned around and quickly made her way out of the group. She walked over to Lynn.
“Lynn the girl that was behind us is here. Please go tell Lance that she is the girl with silver and black jacket. Her name is Tina.” Vanessa said with a smile. Lynn smiled too as she walked over to Lance.
“Lance, the girl in the black and silver jacket is the victim of your blown kisses. Her name is Tina. Don’t look too surprised if she asks you about it.” Lynn whispered into Lances ear. He looked at her and nodded with a smile. He saw Tina approaching him with a pen and the CD.
“Hi Tina, how are you?” Lance smiled and said. Tina’s eyes grew wide and her mouth formed an O. He looked at her and took the CD from her outstretched hand. He chuckled as she came to.
“Hi Lance, I’m terrific!” Tina said as she watched him sign her Thank you sheet.
“There you go Tina. I hope you had fun at the concert tonight.” Lance said as he winked at her.
“Thank you! I love you Lance!” She said grinning. All her friends were just as shocked as she was. Tina stood in front of Lance rigid for a minute but then her friends finally pulled her away. Lance turned around and smiled at Vanessa. She smiled back and winked. The group of girls began to dwindle as the guys finished signing autographs. Soon the only people that were left mulling around backstage were the crew and the group back in the dressing room.
“I am beat! That show really drained me. What about you guyyyyys?” Justin finished in a yawn. All the guys nodded their heads in affirmation. Everyone stood up and headed out to the bus. As the heavy backdoor opened screams erupted from outside the building. Joey whipped his head around and looked at Lynn.
“Don’t worry, security is out there.” Lynn responded. Joey again pushed open the door and again screams erupted. They all walked outside as security rushed to their sides for protection. Vanessa panicked as she realized she was walking next to Lance. She threw on the brakes and looked down at her watch waiting until all of the guys had passed her. Vanessa followed up the back of the procession worried that somebody had noticed her. Normally it was no crime to walk next to the guys but she did not want to be looked at in the public eye as a girlfriend of the guys, surely it would cause a lot of hate towards her from the female fans. Vanessa picked up the pace to talk to Lynn who was also following behind the boys.
“Lynn do you think it is a good idea for me to get into the same bus as the group?”
“Well, that is up to you. If you don’t want a lot of attention you could go jump in the band’s bus. The band is staying at the same hotel but they won’t be leaving for at least an hour more. They have to pack up the instruments and clear the stage.” Lynn replied as the two reached the bus. Vanessa bit her lip and frowned. Lynn stepped up into the bus and turned around. Vanessa had quickly run around the backside of the bus the guys were boarding. Lynn shrugged and made her way to the back of the bus as the door slid shut.
Vanessa knocked on the door of the band’s bus. The driver opened the door and Vanessa hopped in. She explained to the driver that she wanted to avoid getting mixed up as one of the guy’s girlfriends. He laughed and told her that she could hang out in the bus and catch a ride to the hotel. Vanessa yawned as she thanked the driver. He nodded and she made her way towards the back of the bus. She reached the back room and lay down on the couch. Vanessa yawned again and felt her heavy eyelids close.
“Hey, Ruben do you know where Vanessa is?” Lance asked the guitarist of the band. He had been standing in the hotel lobby for an hour waiting for the band’s bus.
“Yeah, she crashed in the back before we even got into the bus. The driver mentioned something about her not wanting to be mistaken.” Ruben said as he walked past Lance towards the elevators. Lance called out a thank you but Ruben was already in the elevator. Lance walked outside and towards the back parking lot. As he made his way around the side of the hotel he checked his watch. 1: 30. He decided it was too late for any fans to be around.
Lance reached the bus and found the door open. He stepped in and looked around. Nobody was stirring as he walked towards the back of the bus, which was similar to the groups. Light snores filled his ears as Lance reached the back room of the bus. There Vanessa lay curled up into a ball with her hair falling over her shoulder out of its usual ponytail. Lance smiled as he sat down next to her curled up body. He brushed her hair away from her face and caressed her cheek.
Vanessa shifted and her eyes fluttered open. She saw Lance smiling and she sat up. She looked around trying to remember where she was. The band’s bus she concluded from her surroundings. Her eyes met back with Lances.
“What time is it?” She questioned in a small murmur.
“It’s almost 2:00.” Lance replied as he helped Vanessa stand up.
“Oh, I really must have been tired. Are we at the hotel? Never mind we would have to be at the hotel if you are here.” Vanessa said, answering her own question. He softly laughed and led her out of the bus. As they walked into the lobby of the hotel Vanessa remembered that she didn’t know what room she was in. She walked over to the front desk and inquired about her room.
“Vanessa, Vanessa De Luca.”
“Oh yes, Mrs. De Luca we are glad to accommodate you on floor twenty-eight, room 584 B.” The clerk at the front desk replied as he handed her an electronic key. Vanessa thanked him and walked to the elevators where Lance was standing. She yawned and pushed the button for the elevator.
“What floor?” Lance asked.
“Twenty-eight, room 584.”
“Are you sure? That’s the same room that Chris, Justin, and I are staying in.” Lance questioned with a puzzled look.
“Oh, well we must have a joint room. He said something about room 584 B.” Vanessa answered as the elevator doors slid open. Lance nodded as they both stepped inside and Vanessa pushed the button for the twenty-eighth floor. Lance leaned against the back wall of the elevator as Vanessa sighed and looked up.
“So sleepyhead, what did you think of the show tonight?” Lance asked Vanessa as the elevator passed the 15th floor.
“I thought you guys were great. But my favorite part of tonight was seeing you make Tina’s day. She was so excited I was surprised she didn’t faint.” Vanessa said with a smile and a small giggle. “It’s great to see when big shots can take time out for their fans.”
“Well I wouldn’t say I’m a big shot but I do like to see the fans. If it weren’t for you though she would have never felt so special.” Lance said with a smile as the doors to the elevator slid open.
“Hey I couldn’t let a victim of a blown kiss go home wondering if it really was for her.” Vanessa said with a mischievous smile as they stepped out of the elevator. Lance looked over at her and returned the smile.
“You know that kiss was meant for you. Here we go, room 584 B.” Lance said as they reached the door.
“Yeah, I know.” Vanessa said as she pulled out her key.
“Umm, Vanessa, can I go through your room? I left my key on the nightstand in our room.” Lance asked sheepishly.
“Of course!” She replied as the door opened.
“Thanks Vanessa.” He replied as they walked into the room. It was pitch black except for the patch of light near the window. Vanessa felt along the wall for a switch. She found one and flicked it up. A lamp next to the bed turned on.
“No problem. Sweet dreams.” Vanessa whispered as Lance opened the conjoining door.
“Sweet dreams to you too. Goodnight.” He whispered back as he turned back and peeked around the door. The door shut softly and Vanessa looked around for her duffel bag. She spotted it on her bed. As she began to unpack and get ready for bed her mind wandered. Somehow Vanessa could not keep her thoughts off of the dream she had while sleeping on the bus. She was standing next to her parent’s grave in the rain. The rain was heavy and cold but she did not have an umbrella. Vanessa began to say something but instead started to cry. Suddenly, as if out of no where, a figure appeared dressed in black. It slowly walked up to her and the rain stopped. The figure took her hand… and that’s when she woke up.
“Forget unpacking, I’m going to sleep.” Vanessa decided in a hushed voice. She walked into the bathroom and grabbed her toothbrush. After she had brushed her teeth and washed her face, Vanessa climbed into bed. As she yawned she wondered what her dream meant. If it was a sign or if it was a pointless dream.
“Oh well, I guess it doesn’t matter.” Vanessa thought in her head as her heavy eyelids drooped. She sighed and drifted off to sleep.