"Brian! Can you come here for a second? I need to talk to you!" I yelled down the hall at him as he, Nick, and Kevin walked briskly to the set.

"Not now! Wait a minuet!" he called back. I let out an agitated sigh and folded my arms across my chest as he walked away. "It's alright, just calm down," I whispered to myself, trying not to be upset. "This is his job, it's his life... It comes first... you're only second," I told myself. I frowned slightly, but I knew the precedence this had on him. I felt someone tap on my shoulder.

"Excuse me," she said. I turned around to face a sweet looking girl who seemed to be about 15 or 16 years old. She smiled easily and continued. "I was just wondering... are you Brian's girlfriend?" I was rather shocked by her forwardness, but returned her cool smile.

"Um... well that depends on whether you're friendly or not!" I exclaimed. She laughed slightly and stuck out her hand, "I'm very friendly!" I shook her hand and answered, "Well, in that case... yes, I suppose you could say I am."

"Wow, I knew it!" she exclaimed, her smile broadening. "I could tell by the way he looked at you." I blushed feverishly at her comment. "My name is Tara, by the way. What's yours?"

"It's nice to meet you, Tara. My name is Corinne," I answered. "Are you a big fan of the Backstreet Boys?" I asked.

She shook her head, "Oh yes... I've been a fan for almost 4 years now! When Nick was 15... oh he's so cute!" she exclaimed. I laughed aloud and she blushed. "Well, I was wondering if it was possible... could I get a picture of you and Brian?"

I thought for a moment... no one had ever asked me that before. Most of the girls her age wanted me dead! "Um... well, I suppose..." I answered carefully.

"Wonderful!" she didn't bother to let me finish my comment. "Also, you think, perhaps, I could meet Nick?" I couldn't ignore the cute, innocent look she gave me. "Now that, I can definitely arrange!" I said. The smile on her face was more than enough thanks.

"What did you want before, Corinne?" Brian asked as he walked up to me. It had been almost a half hour since I wanted to see him. I turned and looked at him. Brian couldn't help but smile... he was intrigued by the glimmer in my eyes.

"Oh... um, well never mind that now," I answered. "This is Tara," I said, introducing the two. Brian shook her hand with a 'nice-to-meet-you', and I smiled at Tara as she blushed cherry red. "Brian, she wanted to know if she could get a picture of the both of us," I told him. Brian looked at me a bit surprised. "Um..." he began.

"Please," Tara spoke up. "It would mean the world to me!" Brian looked at her and couldn't say no. The same sweet look she had given me was now doing it's work on Brian.

"Of course you may," Brian finally answered with his thousand dollar smile. Tara was practically beside herself as she got her camera ready. Brian pulled me close to him and smiled at me. "What?" I whispered in his ear. "Nothing," he whispered back. He looked me over and continued, "You're beautiful." I smiled at him. It made all the pressure gained from the road well worth it to hear those words. I rested my head on his shoulder and Tara took the picture, completely satisfied.

Brian pulled away from me and held my hands for a second. "The show is about to begin, it's live and will only take about an hour. Afterwards we'll leave and go to the venue for the concert tonight. Is that alright?"

"Yes," I answered. "But one more thing. Tara was wondering if it was possible to meet Nick," I said, arching my eyebrows and giving Brian a playful smile. Brian smiled back.

"Well of course!" he exclaimed in her direction. "Come on with me." He held out his hand and Tara gladly took it. "I'll see you later," Brian said to me. I answered with a "bye" and watched the two walk away. Several feet away, Brian turned back while walking to look at me once more. He smiled broadly, and continued down the hall. I smiled back... "I love you," I whispered.

"Corinne, come here," Brian said, taking my hand. The show was well over, and we were trying to make our way outside. We'd been waiting in the building for a half hour for security to get the fans under control; which wasn't easy. The guys passed the time by signing autographs and talking to the fans who were lucky enough to be in the building as well. Finally, Steven, one of the bodyguards, walked up and whispered something to Brian. Brian clenched his jaw and nodded in response as Steve walked over to the other guys. Brian looked at me and squeezed my hand tighter. He lifted it to his mouth and kissed it tenderly. "We're going out, but the fans are still out there by the hordes," he said to me. "Police and security will hold them back as best as they can. We must move quickly if we're to make it on the bus." He once again lifted my hand so I could see it. "I want you to hold my hand the entire time. Never let go, you got that? Not once!" I looked him in the eyes and nodded. He shook his head and kissed my forehead softly.

Just then, Larry, another guard, stood in front of us all. "Okay everybody listen up!" he called. The room grew silent as he continued. "There will be two guards to each Boy. Keep you're heads low and move straight through the middle, not stopping once. Steve, Neil, you cover the doors. Make sure everyone gets out. Chris and I will move out ahead of you all. Does everybody understand??" The room answered with a resounding "yes." I looked over to Brian, frightened. "Alright then. Everyone move to your respective person!" Larry continued. Brian and I looked at each other as two guards moved by us. Almost sensing my nervousness, Brian brought me closer to him. "Don't let go," he whispered once more.

Larry gave the signal and the doors opened. "Go! Go!" he cried as the screams from outside penetrated the building. First Howie, then Kevin moved out of the building. Brian clenched my hand, and we made our way out as well. The guards pushed us into the bright sunlight and I squinted my eyes as I looked around. I was out in the middle of a sea of people. My heartbeat quickened as girls reached and grabbed at Brian and I. I kept my head down as I was told, and shook off the people as best I could. "Keep moving!" Brian called to me as we pressed further. His knuckles were white as he grasped my hand. The guards pushed the girls back as Brian and I tried to fight through them. Someone grabbed hold of me, and I couldn't break free. I was stuck! Brian looked back at me franticly as our hands stretched to keep together. "Brian!" I screamed as I tried to fight my way towards him. The guards kept him moving though he tried to keep them back and in an instant our hands tore apart. Feeling a surge of emotion, Brian yelled my name as he tried to fight his way back. But the crush of people and the guards only pressed him further. "Brian!" I screamed as I was pulled into the crowd. "CORINNE! Corinne come back!" he yelled in return as the people pushed him farther. Someone ripped my clothes as I struggled to get out of there; but it was no use.

Brian stumbled onto the bus, yelling. "NO! No you bastards let me go!" he cried as he tried to fight his way back out past the guards. Kevin grabbed ahold of his cousin and shouted for him to calm down.

"CALM DOWN, calm down!" Kevin cried as he held Brian back. "No!" Brian screamed, squirming for his freedom. "I can't! Corinne's out there!" AJ and Nick had just walked on the bus, and everyone of Brian's bandmates shouted "WHAT?!" in shock. "You HEARD me! I have to go back, Corinne is still out there!" Their eyes were wide as they looked at him.

"Somebody help me please!" I cried as I fought my way out of the crowd. I was scared to death as my jewelry and anything else that hung loose was ripped off of me. Suddenly, I saw Steven and screamed his name. He turned around and noticed me as I reached towards him. "Miss Matthews, what happened?!" he cried, taking my hand.

"BRIAN, STOP NOW!" Kevin shouted as his cousin broke from his hold and rushed towards a window on the bus. "You can't go out there-"

"The hell I can't!" Brian screamed in return. "There is no way on earth I'm leaving here without her!" Kevin stared at his cousin in shock as Brian turned back towards the window for any sign of her. He turned back, unsuccessful, and tried to go back outside. "No, you can't!" Kevin yelled as he grabbed Brian by the shirt. "LET ME GO KEVIN!" Brian screamed.

"Not until you calm down and hit reality! You know there's no way you can go out there alone and come back unharmed!" Kevin yelled. Brian once again pulled himself away fiercely and glared at Kevin.

"Do you honestly think I'm worried about myself right now?" he asked. Kevin stared at his cousin as he began to cry. "Out there is a scared, alone girl, and if I don't do something, I will never ever forgive myself. I love her Kevin," Brian said as he tried to catch his breath. Kevin's eyes began to fill with tears as he saw the pain in Brian's face.

"THERE SHE IS!" AJ yelled as Steve pushed me onto the bus carefully. Brian whipped around as I stumbled on-board. "Oh God!" Brian cried as he wrapped his arms around me. I burst into tears as I held him tight.

"Steve, thank God for you," Kevin sighed, relieved, as the bus doors closed and the huge vehicle jerked into gear and began driving away. Brian and I fell to the floor, losing our balance, but didn't break from each other once.

Brian pulled back and kissed my face feverishly. He cupped my face in his hands and stared into my eyes as the tears streamed down both our faces. "I was so scared that I had lost you," Brian whispered breathlessly.

"I'm sorry," I answered, pain resonating in my voice.

"What for?" Brian asked me.

"You told me not to let go..." I touched his hands lightly.

"Oh no, no it's not your fault!" Brian told me. "You know you're the most important thing in my life, don't you?" he asked me. His hands shook as he held my face. "You are so important to me... I've never been so scared in my life. I swear to you this will never ever happen again! Never!" I shook my head in response as a tear ran down my cheek. Brian kissed me deeply and held me in his arms again. "I love you so much, Corinne. I love you so much..."