Steffi

16:

Kevin:

After Gary and Carrie broke up, Gary came to my room and he dumped all of his feelings on me. He was completely devastated, and blamed himself for the break-up. But break-ups are exceptionally difficult to endure especially when a girl like Carrie is involved. When Gary left, I knew that I would not take any more chances-I was going to pursue Carrie. At least, that was my plan before the phone call.

At first, I was definitely overwhelmed when I received the news. A veteran of the music industry named Lou Pearlman was at Tom’s wedding and he heard me sing my rendition of “Every Breathe You Take.” He was now offering me a position in a promising band. The other members of the band were Nick Carter, a junior high school student, along with AJ McLean and Howie Dorough, both high school students. They formed a trio after bumping into each other repeatedly at talent auditions in Orlando, Florida. With aspirations of getting a contract with a major record label, the three young men scrambled around Orlando trying to get signed. When they met up with Lou Pearlman, he immediately spotted their talent. However, Lou suggested that the band obtain a few more members to make the harmony richer. Lou believed that I had the talent to be in the band. The only catch was I would have to move to Orlando in the summer.

By the end of May, I had already graduated from Stanford. My education was complete, so I was not bound to Stanford soil. However, my heart was bound to Carrie. I did not want to leave, for I knew that my relationship with Carrie had the potential for turning into “true love.” Yet the chance Lou offered me was enticing.

When I told Carrie about my “once in a lifetime opportunity” she immediately told me to follow my dreams. “But what about us? We’ve been through so much to finally have the chance to be together. You broke up with Gary. I didn’t ask Cecil to be my girlfriend, like I was planning to. I love you. I don’t want to give you up,” I pleaded to her.

“Kevin, in life, we are all offered a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity. But timing is key, you have to be ready for an opportunity like this. I think you are ready and I don’t want to hold you back. I really don’t want you to give up on your opportunities because of me. Please…go to Orlando,” Carrie persuaded.

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Steffi