Part 569

After the meteor shower and the opening number, AJ took center stage and stopped the show. "This is the last show and so much has happened over the course of this half of our tour. What seemed to start the ball rolling for stumbling blocks for us was the six weeks we put you our fans on hold while I got myself cleaned up and I have to take this time now to say a few words. I received so much support from every one of our fans out there that it was unbelievable. I can NEVER tell you just how much it meant to me for all that you did to show your love," and the music began for his song, ‘Just Wanna Be Happy’. Out in the audience, a girl held up a license plate that read ‘IWBHPY’. AJ was in tears as he sang, as was the entire arena.

With AJ’s song over, the show continued through the first two sets smoothly, no mishaps and no pranks from Sarah. Nick began to relax and as they were changing into their white suits, he said, "Ya know, I think Sarah is jerking our chains making us THINK she’s gonna do something."

"What makes you think that?" asked Brian.

"Well, we’ve gone through two sets so far and nothing. And I know nothing will happen during THIS set."

"Why do you say that?" asked Howie curious to hear this one.

"This is her favorite part of the show, our white suits. There’s NO WAY she’ll screw around with this set."

Kevin shook his head. "You don’t know Sarah very well. She’s gonna hit us when we LEAST expect it."

"Nah, she’s jerking our chains," scoffed Nick.

AJ cackled, "You keep thinking that, Nick. Sarah WILL get us."

Unbeknownst to everyone except Howie, Sarah had heard everything. She had gotten Chris to set her earpieces so she could hear them knowing they wore their mics into the underworld when they were changing. Now, as she listened, she giggled.

"What’s so funny?" nudged Becca.

"Nick thinks I’m jerking their chains."

Over her earpieces, she heard Howie ask, "Are they here yet?"

Adjusting her mic so she could talk to him, Sarah said, "Not yet."

"Who are you talking to?" asked Lynne.

"’D’. Howie and I arranged for Alison and Sonja to join us too and he’s gonna introduce them before he starts ‘What Makes You Different’."

"That was so sweet!"

"I had wanted to get them here the same time as Lynne but things didn’t work out."

"Why didn’t they just come with Pollyanna?"

"Ali couldn’t get off work and the earliest flight didn’t get in until 7:30 PM. Billy sent a car for them." As the house lights dimmed again, Alison and Sonja took their seats with Becca, Lynne, and Sarah. "D’, everyone’s in place."

The Boys rose up out of the floor and the spotlight fell on Howie. "Hello, Las Vegas! Normally, I do a song I wrote…’What Makes You Different’…but tonight I’m gonna change things a bit."

Over Sarah’s earpieces, Ben asked, "What now?"

"Just wait for my signal," said Sarah and Howie looked over at her.

Becca whispered, "He heard you."

Covering her mic, she said, "I know."

"We always make it a point to thank you the fans, our band, our dancers, and the crew for making our dreams come true but there is a group of people that without them, we wouldn’t be here today, even with you the fans and all the others and that’s our families. They have stood behind us growing up, letting us follow our dreams, and taking us to the talent shows and voice lessons and piano lessons. I could list a lot more things they’ve done for us but you get my point. And in that group are five very special ladies who hold our hearts, answer our phone calls at all hours of the night, and don’t complain once when our jobs take us away from them. They listen to us when we get down on ourselves and they take care of things for us back home while we’re out making music. They are our girlfriends or wives and fortunately for Nick and myself, we get to travel with our ladies but there was a time when even the two of us had to leave them behind. Sitting off to the side are these five ladies…" The spotlight fell on the girls and they all smiled as Howie said, "You know Becca and Sarah but the other three are Lynne, Alison, and Sonja…Kevin’s, AJ’s, and Brian’s girlfriends. Ladies, this song is for you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

As the music began, Sarah realized she’d never heard this song before and wondered how she had missed it.

They all watched as Howie made his way across to Sarah and held out his hand to her. "Come on up, ‘Angel’." Taking her hand, he began to sing, "You know, sometimes being on the road is rough, especially loneliness…Girl, I miss you and it’s only been one day, Since I went away, And already I say, I long to kiss you and hold you in my arms, The nights are much too long when you’re gone, Baby that why…"

The others joined in, "Wherever I go, Girl, my heart stays with you, After every show, I wanna rush over to you, My heart stays with you."

Howie…"Trust me, when we are apart, I won’t break your heart, Wherever you are, I know you feel me, Baby, ‘cause I can feel you too, No matter what you do, I think of you…"

The boys…"Girl, my heart stays with you, After ever show, I wanna rush over to you, Baby, yeah…"

And the chorus repeated several times as each girl was presented with a rose from the bodyguards, thanks to Howie and Sarah.

With Sarah back in her seat for the rest of the set, the guys turned their attentions back to the fans and were handed their canes for the next song….’Yes, I Will’. This was it. Sarah knew the guys were distracted by the change in the set and having the girlfriends there. She watched and as the guys finished the first chorus doing all the perfectly choreographed steps, she saw her moment.

"Now Ben!" and ping pong balls rained down on the guys.

Laughter spread through the arena as Nick stood with his hands out as if he were checking for rain. "What the…" he started to say before catching himself.

AJ and Brian made the most of it. Using their canes as golf clubs, they began hitting the balls into the crowd, which only added to the laughter.

In their seats, the girls were in stitches with laughter along with the guys on the stage. Pointing at Howie, Becca managed to say, "You’ve gotten Howie good. He can’t even sing!"

"He’s gonna kill you, Sarah!" laughed Ali.

Watching Howie laughing so hard he was crying, Sarah said, "Nah, he’ll forgive me…AFTER I make it up to him."

Once the guys regained their composure, the song was over and they continued with their set. All five seemed relieved and Sarah and Becca knew they were thinking that was going to be the end of the pranks. Boy were they in for a rude awakening!

As the guys disappeared to change into their blue suits, Lynne leaned to Sarah. "I take it you were behind the ping pong balls?"

"Uh huh!!"

"Do you have anything else planned for them?"

"OH YEAH…LOTS more!" cackled Sarah. "Bec, at the beginning of their last song, bring everyone down."

"Got it. What are you gonna do?"

"Get things set."

Becca watched as Sarah and Raoul made their way backstage before Sonja asked, "What did she mean by ‘everyone’?"

"Her next plan involves everyone in the crew and us."

"You ARE kidding?" questioned Ali.

"No! Don’t worry. You’ll only be on stage for a short while."

As the boys finished changing into their suits, Sarah made her way through the underworld. She was hoping to avoid the guys and thought she’d been successful until Howie grabbed her by the waist.

"Caught ya!"

"Damn, ‘D’! Scare me why don’t ya?"

"Well, if you weren’t sneaking around trying to get revenge, you wouldn’t be scared, now would you?"

"Who’s sneaking around? I was just headed to the bathroom," remarked Sarah trying to be innocent.

Howie laughed, "Don’t EVEN try it, ‘Angel’. You’re nowhere NEAR the bathroom. You’re up to something."

"Who? Me?" Sarah batted her eyes sweetly and smiled angelically.

"Yes! YOU! When do we expect the next round?"

"Now if I told you THAT, you wouldn’t be surprised, would you? You’d better go before you miss your cue," sassed Sarah kissing him and pushing him away from her. "I’ll see you later, ‘D’."

"Aggg…WOMAN!! You are gonna drive me insane!" groaned Howie as he backed away from her.

AJ grabbed Howie by the arm, "Come on, ‘D’. You can flirt with your wife later. See ya after the show, ‘Tig’!"

Knowing the boys couldn’t hear her now, she said, "Oh, you’re gonna see me MUCH sooner than THAT, Alex….MUCH SOONER!"

Part 570       Index