Michelle stood nervously in front of her mirror. She was deciding on a hair style for tonight's concet and second meeting with Brian. "Do wear it up...do I blow it out straight....french braid it???? I don't know what to do with this hair anymore!" Michelle thought to herself as an avalanche of light brown curls toppled aound her face. "I guess I'll just let it stay naturally curly tonight...now, where did I leave that gel?" She tried to remember, as she glanced at her watch and realized Melanie would be there to pick her up in less than ten minutes. "Oh my god! Where did the time go? I have to finish my makeup...and oh gosh! Where is my other shoe?" she screamed aloud to no one in paticular.
She thought about what had happened to her since she met Brian today. "I used to be a calm, cool and collected reporter...and now I can't even find my other shoe! What's wrong with me. I'm so nervous over a silly, little interview with a big star. So what if he's a Backstreet Boy....he said it himself....he's just a normal guy. Yeah right, than why the hell am I so nervous? Melanie's knock at the door startled her from her thoughts.
"Hi...are you ready?" Mel asked looking at her watch and noticing they were already running late.
"Yep...almost, just let me grab my bag. You look great by the way...those pants and shirt match perfectly! Which Backstreet Boy are you trying to impress?" Michelle asked with a small giggle.
"Thanks for the compliment. But I'm not trying to impress any of the boys...we're friends remember?" Mel answered hoping Michelle wouldn't pry any more.
"Yeah, ok...sure! They are the Backstreet Boys....almost every girl across the world would die to be in our shoes right now! Come on let's go...we don't want to keep them waiting!" Michelle teased as they ran out the door to Mel's car.
As they were approaching Mel's forest green Neon, Michelle explained her teasing, "Mel...I know you guys are friends. I was just kidding around." Michelle wasn't sure if Mel understood that she was just playing around...but she knew for sure that she wanted to make sure that Mel knew that she meant no harm.
"Hey I know that! These guys are hot. You almost have to have a favorite! And if I had to pick just one, I guess it would be Nick. He's so adorable and that voice! But I knew that you were just kidding with me....we're friends and friends joke around all the time!" Mel replied, reassuring Michelle of their new-found friendship.
**In Brian and Nick's apartment**
Nick searched around his room, almost ready for the show tonight, as he thought to himself, "Where did I leave that shirt? I know it' s gotta be here somewhere. I made sure it was clean so i could wear it during the show tonight. I gotta wear that shirt...it's my lucky shirt. Mel gave it to me. I can't perform without it on my body, I just won't go out their knowing my shirt is forever lost at the dry cleaners! I won't go on without that shirt! I know it's here...Mel and I bought it together a long time ago (like 3 months ago) and since then I've had nothing but good luck on stage. So that shirt brings me luck...or maybe its the person that gave it to me?..."
Nick's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knocking on the door.
Nick called out, "Bri, not now...I'm busy...I'll be ready in five. Leave me alone for now! Wait!! No, come back here. Have you seen that black tight shirt thingy that Mel..." As he opened the door, he stopped mid-sentence and starred into the wide, blue eyes of his girlfriend, Elizabeth.
"Lizzie, baby, what are you doing here?" Nick questioned.
"Can't a girl come see her guy and wish him good luck before his big show?" she replied with a seductive grin. "And I wouldn't let you get on stage without one of these."
Liz wrapped her arms around Nick, as she ushered them into his room. At first her lips brushed his lightly, but then she kissed him more passionately, pressing her lips on his. When Nick didn't respond as she had hoped, she pulled away.
"Baby, what's wrong? I thought you liked my kisses?" she asked, hurt by his less than enthusiastic reaction.
"I do, it's not that. I just have a lot on my mind right now."
"Like what? Finding a silly old shirt?"
"It's not just a SILLY old shirt! It's important to ME!"
"Gee, I guess I just don't seem so important to you anymore."
"Well, maybe if you could try to understand me just a little bit better!!"
Nick shouted at her. She shouted at him. Liz ran out of his room and slammed the door in his face. Nick didn't even know why they were fighting. He didn't even know why he hadn't enjoyed his girlfriend's kisses. What was happening between them? He wanted to know why she would be so upset with him over something so stupid. It was just one kiss, right? In his mind, Nick tried to rationalize his sudden outburst. He was just looking for the shirt. He was nervous about the show. That was it. He had just overreacted. Just one problem. He couldn't help but wish that it had been Mel's kisses that lingered on his lips, and not Liz's.