Part 485
Conversation had been interrupted yet again by Garrett’s fussing so while Becca was trying to get him settled, Sarah grabbed her laptop. She hadn’t checked their email in a couple of days and decided now would be a good time. She also wanted to check out the lists to see what the fans were saying.
As she sorted through their private email, she found several from Pollyanna with pictures of Jesse attached. Warmth spread through her seeing Jesse’s smile. One more thing Howie had done for her. She answered Pollyanna and promised to send Jesse pictures of them soon.
Business mail was next. God, there were a ton from Steve. Oh well, she’d let Howie know and he could handle that. Two from Heidi about the foundation but they could wait until tomorrow and Alisa needed Howie to call about the foundation.
Those done, time to play. Sarah had gotten hooked on a couple of fan fics but hadn’t had time to read lately. She loved seeing how the fans perceived the guys. What she didn’t enjoy though was when the stories involved the guys being gay or bisexual, especially when it was Howie. It was bad enough hearing the rumors but she didn’t have to read about it too in fan fic.
The biggest talk on the lists was about the fans rushing the stage at the last show. She answered a couple reassuring everyone that Kevin and Nick were okay.
"Anything good?" asked Becca as she rejoined Sarah.
"Mostly talk about the girls rushing the stage. The pictures are good."
Becca sat looking over Sarah’s shoulder to see the pictures.
When Sarah went back to the archives, Becca spotted something interesting. "Fan fic awards. Check this one."
Sarah clicked on the message and followed the links. It was here that Sarah found ‘her’…Howie’s stalker.
"Didn’t know SHE wrote fan fic," commented Sarah irritably.
"She who?"
"Rho, Howie’s stalker."
"I thought she’d backed off."
"I did too but she’s nominated under ‘Best Howie’. Wonder when she wrote it?"
"Follow the link."
Sarah clicked on the link and it took her to the story. Scanning the page quickly, they both found the date…last November, right after Howie had fired her. Together, the two began to read.
The story was going fine and Sarah was beginning to enjoy it. It was even funny because it had Howie chatting on the Internet. He NEVER did that. Then it changed and so did Sarah’s mood. Becca saw the signs and was worried it would cause her blood pressure to go up.
"Stop reading if it’s going to upset you," suggested Becca praying Sarah would shut it down. She even moved away so Sarah wouldn’t have an excuse not to.
"I ought to have Steve slap a lawsuit on her," fumed Sarah.
"You wouldn’t!"
"In a heartbeat! This is defamation of character!"
"This is FICTION!"
"That’s easy for you to say! How many times have YOU had to listen to rumors about Nick being gay? I’m SICK of it!"
Becca knew she had to calm Sarah down but how? Her hands were shaking and her face was turning red. "Hey, how many stories are out there pairing Nick with Kevin or Justin Timberlake?"
Becca held her breath praying that Sarah wouldn’t remember the little vizzie she had written pairing Howie with Nick and let it out silently as Sarah went on.
"It’s NOT the same, Becca!"
"Why not?"
"Because in REAL LIFE, they don’t go on and on about Nick being GAY like they do Howie!"
"Look, I know you’re upset but you know the truth about Howie."
Tears threatened to fall as Sarah asked, "But why? Why would someone who professes to love Howie so much write crap like this?"
"Didn’t you just say this was written right after he fired her?"
"Yeah."
"It was probably out of spite. He rejected her for another woman."
"Then come after ME…NOT Howie."
"Would it be any easier?"
"YES!"
Becca smiled, "How do you think it would make Howie feel?"
As Sarah shut down the computer, she said, "It probably would upset him but he’d let it go."
"Then follow his example and let it go. Let’s watch television. The guys should be back soon."
Becca breathed a sigh of relief as Sarah reached for the remote after pushing the laptop aside. She had no way of knowing that her suggestion was going to lead to a major meltdown for Sarah.
As Sarah flipped through the channels looking for something to watch, a picture of Lou Pearlman caught Becca’s attention.
"WHOA! Go back."
"What?" asked Sarah.
"I saw a picture of Lou."
Sarah went back and sure enough, there was Lou.
"Next up, we’ll talk in depth with Lou Pearlman, Boy Band Guru."
"Oh goody! I wonder what the fat slob has to say," said Sarah sarcastically. "Don’t tell me you ACTUALLY want to watch him?"
"Yeah, sorta. Nick never talks about him and I want to hear what he has to say."
"NONE of them talk about the prick because he was an asshole and took them all for a ride."
The girls watched in silence as the commercial ended and it went back to the reporter and Lou. The first part of the interview involved questions on Lou’s background and he went on and on about how the Backstreet Boys wouldn’t be who they are today without HIS guidance. He also said that he had felt hurt and betrayed that they had sued him AFTER severing ties with him.
Sarah mumbled, "Yeah, I’m sure YOU were the one who did it all."
Then talk turned to the book Lou was writing.
"Oh yippee…another way to make money off the boys," growled Sarah.
Becca just shook her head. This had been a bad idea because Sarah’s mood hadn’t changed any.
"Lou, we’ve seen a preview of your book and you make some very serious
allegations about the Backstreet Boys and their sexuality. You know they are
coming to town in a couple days."
"Yes, I know and I’d like to think we could meet up."
"Fat chance!" shot Sarah.
"What is your basis for the allegations that Howie Dorough is a homosexual?"
"I’ve witnessed it firsthand."
Becca held her breath and looked at Sarah.