"Not particularly busy, just, um, exciting," Misty replied, very jittery.
"Damn, Mis, time to lay off the cappuccino, methinks," Jenn joked, also noticing Misty's nervousness as she looked at the itinerary for the day. "Wow, Aaron Carter? Isn't that--"
"Exactly!" Misty interjected. "But that's not why I'm nervous. Rumor has it," Misty continued in a hushed tone, "that 'big brother' Nick is going to be accompanying him to this photo shoot!"
"You gotta be shittin' me!" Laura said, unable to hide her growing excitement.
"You two gotta chill out," Jenn said, attempting to bring Laura and Misty back to reality. "You know how doubtful that is? C'mon, let's just get things ready so we can get this done with and get on with our day." Overgrown teenyboppers, Jenn thought, smiling to herself, as Laura and Misty walked away giggling like two schoolgirls.
"There ya go, Aaron... the camera's gonna love ya," Misty said to Aaron, as she finished up his makeup and Laura finished with his hair.
"Thanks, ladies," Aaron said, smiling that oh-so-familiar Carter smile their way. Misty and Laura almost melted.
"Well, let's go watch!" Laura said, grabbing Misty's arm and walking to Studio 3.
"Great, now turn your head just a bit to the left," Jenn said, peeking out from behind her camera. "Wonderful, Aaron, just a few more shots," she said, ducking back behind her camera. Click! Click! Click...
"I feel like such a pedophile, Mis," Laura chuckled as she watched, "but damn, he sure is hot for 13!"
"I have to agree with you there, Laura," Misty said, glancing towards the clock above the door. "Too bad--" Misty stopped mid-sentence. It was obvious she was destracted.
"Too bad, what?" Laura said, still watching Aaron as he posed. "Misty!? Too bad, what, you goober?" Laura began to wonder why Misty wasn't talking. She looked at Misty and saw she was staring toward the door. Following her gaze, she saw what held her attention. "Oh my God!!! It's NICK," Laura whispered.
"It's Nick!" Misty whispered back.
"Is there an echo in here? I just said that, doofus!" Laura said, smacking Misty in the shoulder, snapping her out of her trance-like state.
"Damn, that hurt, but thanks... I needed that," Misty laughed. By that time, the commotion she and Laura had stirred up had caused Nick to look their way. He smiled and waved, sending Misty and Laura into a mental frenzy. They hid it well, though, waving back nonchalantly, trying to remain as professional as possible. But how could they? This was, after all, Nick Carter. Backstreet Boy, Nick Carter. And Misty and Laura loved the Backstreet Boys. Jenn did too, although she wasn't consumed to the point that they were.
"Alright, Aaron," Jenn said, breaking the near-silence. "Done!" she said, walking out to the set to shake his hand. "The studio will be in touch with your management once the proofs are processed. Probably a couple days."
"Thanks so much," Aaron said, as he glanced to the back of the room. "NICK!" he shouted, surprised to see his big brother. "Nick, what are you doing here?" he said, as they walked toward each other and embraced. Misty and Laura sighed as the brothers hugged.
"Mom told me you were here, and I had heard about this place from her, so I thought I'd come check it out. What about you, squirt? How've you been?" Nick asked, as he and Aaron sat down by Misty and Laura to get Aaron's makeup off. Laura shook as she handed Aaron a cloth to wipe his face.
"Great shoot, Aaron... we told you the camera would love you," Misty said, smiling at Aaron and Nick.
Nick smiled smugly. "Of course the camera loves him. He's a Carter!" he said, laughing.
"That's my brother," Aaron said, laughing also, "the modest one in the family," he finished, giving Nick a shove.
Laura laughed. "You two remind me of me and my sister," she said, pointing at Jenn.
"Oh, you're Jenn's sister? That's cool!" Aaron said, and Nick nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. Half-sister, actually, but I think we're closer then some full-blooded sisters, you know what I mean?" Laura said, smiling her sister's way. More like a smirk, actually. Jenn just rolled her eyes as she took down her camera.
"Yeah... so, anyway..." Nick said, smiling still, "I know this may seem kinda weird, considering I just met you guys, but would you be interested in coming over to my place tonight? Jenn's invited, too, of course. I'm having a few friends over, real casual, we're just gonna chill. Aaron, bro, you come over too. It'll be cool, I promise," he said, now smiling directly at Laura. A shiver went up her spine as she noticed that. Noticing how speechless she was, Misty took it upon herself to answer.
"We'd love to, Nick, thanks!" Misty said quickly, as Laura returned Nick's glance. Misty saw Laura locked in Nick's stare, and smacked her arm to snap her out of it. Just returning the favor, she thought as she smirked at Laura.
"Yeah, thanks, Nick," Laura said smiling, as Nick and Aaron stood up to leave.
"OK, here's my address," Nick said, writing it down on a notepad on the table. "Seven o'clock?"
"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Laura said, smiling, as Nick and Aaron walked toward the door of the studio.
"Well, let's get done with this day, so that we can get to tonight!" Misty said, getting prepared for the next shoot. Laura smiled as she watched Nick and Aaron disappear behind the door closing. I have a feeling we're going to be in for one heck of a night! Laura thought, as she turned to her work...
