Anna

Lucy grabs Anna’s hand and pulls her off her stool and onto the dance-floor. “C’mon Anna!”
Anna groans. “Luce, my feet are killing me here.”
Lucy laughs. “Geez, middle-aged already.”
Anna pretends to be offended. “Hey! I’ll give you middle-aged.” She spins Lucy off round the floor giggling. They spin straight into AJ who’s throwing some smooth shapes on the dance-floor.
“Hey!” He recognises Anna and looks Lucy up and down. “Heeeyyy…ladies.”
Ana giggles. “Hey yourself.” She takes in his rather dubious attire and shakes her head. “I need a drink.” She heads off towards the bar.
Lucy looks at AJ. “Guess I’ll join her…”
“Aww, gimme a dance?” He pouts at her and holds out a hand. “I’m AJ.”
She grins and takes his hand. “Lucy.”
He spins her across the floor. “Friend of Anna’s right?”
“Yup. Since school.”
“Wow. You must be pretty close.”
“Very close.”
“She got a boyfriend?”
Lucy gives him a look. “You offerin’?”
“Jeez…no!” AJ coughs. “I mean…she’s beautiful an’ all but my friend has the BIGGEST thing for her.”
“Yeah? His name?”
“Ohh…I shouldn’t tell you THAT.”
“C’mon…” She makes doe eyes at him and he groans.
“I’m such a sucker for doe eyes…Ok…Nick likes her.”
“Nick?”
“Carter?” She shakes her head. “Y’know…dumb blonde clumsy Backstreet Boy.”
She giggles. “Oh NICK!….Nick?!”
“Yup. Him.”
“Anna know?” “Nup.” He looks o
ver at her sat at the bar. Nick is standing next to her. “But I’m guessin’ she may be about to find out.”
“Hey Anna.”
Anna looks round at Nick. “Oh hello Nick.”
“Can I buy you a drink?”
She holds up her full glass with a smile. “Where were you ten seconds ago?!”
“Oh…sorry.” He gets himself a drink. “There’s a quiet table over there.”
Anna looks over. “Yeah, looks good.”
“Wanna go sit there?…With me?”
“Sure.” She follows him over to the table and sits down with a sigh. “Oh I’m SO whacked.” She leans her head against the wall and closes her eyes.
“Long day huh?”
“Oh yeah. I was at the studios at 5am running through the playing order. And I barely slept last night either.”
“I’m glad you turned up here though.”
“I won’t be here much longer but thanks.”
“Aww.” He moves closer to her. “Maybe I can help make you feel better…?”
“Hmm…?” She opens her eyes. “I’m gonna get goin’ I think.”
“No…” Nick dives on her and manages to kiss her before she pushes him away and stands up.
“Whoa….What the hell was THAT?!”
Nick stares at her. “I’d have thought that was kinda obvious.”
Anna shakes her head. “Ok, so you DID just try and maul me?! Great. Just wonderful.”
“Oh c’mon…you wanted me to kiss you.” Nick spreads his hands. “Real bad.”
“I did NOT! I never even THOUGHT anything remotely pertaining to me wanting to get mauled by you.”
“Hey, I’m Nick Carter…”
Anna gives him a dirty look. “And I’d rather kiss Elton John.” She walks away and finds Lucy still dancing with AJ. “Luce, I’m gonna go home. I need some sleep.”
“Aww Anna…”
“Luce, you should stay. I’ll get a cab.” She smiles at her. “Call me tomorrow. Bye AJ.”
He kisses her hand. “Bye Anna…See you on the show next month.”

Anna grabs a coffee from the machine and sits down on the red couch with a sigh. Her producer is standing opposite. “So, Steve…who’s on today?”
“We got a real coup…Nick and Brian from the Backstreets are in for a chat.”
Anna scowls. “Nick Carter? Great.” She takes a long sip of her coffee. “Do I HAVE to interview them?”
“Yeah…what you got against ‘em?”
Anna shrugs. “Brian seems OK….”
“But….”
“Nick is SO not.”
Steve laughs. “What’s the poor guy ever do to you?”
“He came on to me at a party…”
“Big deal.”
“Like THREW himself on me and then acted all arrogant when I told him where to get off.” She shudders exaggeratedly. Steve notices Nick coming into the studios behind Anna. He tries to signal their presence to Anna but she ignores his rapid eyebrow movement. “I don’t know where he gets off on all that Hi I’m Nick Carter crap but as far as I’m concerned, he ain’t all THAT. The guy’s so dumb and he’s…” Steve starts coughing like a lunatic and Anna rushes over to slap him on the back. “You OK?!” He nods and gestures towards where Nick is standing behind the couch. Anna looks over and blushes deeply. She walks over to him. “Hello Nick.”
He nods slightly. “Anna.”
“Sorry…you shouldn’t have heard that.”
Nick smirks. “So you didn’t mean it.”
“Oh, I meant it.” She turns and walks back to the couch.
Nick sulks. “I don’t wanna be interviewed by you.”
Anna picks up her earpiece. “Oh grow up.” She puts it in as Brian walks over to her and sits down.
“Hello Anna. Good to see you.”
“You too.” She smiles at him. “Thanks for doing this interview with us.”
“No problem.” He shoots Nick a curious look. “You gonna stand there all day?”
“No…” Nick scowls at the back of Anna’s head and moves round to sit next to Brian. “How long do we have to be here?”
“Oh no longer than it takes…hopefully.” Anna smiles at him sweetly. She looks up at the cameraman. “How long to air?”
He looks at his watch. “Ah, 5 minutes now.”
Anna smiles and turns to face the Boys. “Ok…so the new single is…?”
Brian leans back on the couch. “The One.”
“Right…out when?”
“Next Monday.”
“New album?”
“Hopefully October.”
“Ok…” Anna nods.
Nick sniffs. “Jeez, kinda unprofessional don’t you think?! Not finding all this out ‘til minutes before you go live.” Anna ignores him and Brian nudges him sharply.
“Shut up.”
The cameraman does a silent countdown and they go live on MTV.
“Hello, and thank you for joining me on MTV Select Pop. My name’s Anna and I have Brian and Nick from the Backstreet Boys in the studio with me.”
Brian smiles at the camera and Nick waves. “Hello!”
“The Boys’ new single is The One and it will be out next Monday. Their new album is tentatively scheduled for release in October.”
Brian laughs. “Tentative’s the word.”
Anna laughs. “Having problems?”
“No…we just want everything to be 100% perfect before we release it. It’s a very important album for us all. We’ve had a lot of input into it.”
“Will it be a departure from your last work?”
Nick scoffs. “Oh yeah, we’re gonna go punk.”
“Really? Wow, that I’d pay to see.”
Brian giggles. “Can you IMAGINE?! Kevin does punk…”
Anna shakes her head laughing. “Scary thought.”
“Yeah.”
Nick looks pissed off at having his comment turned into something funny and crosses his arms. “Whatever, y’know.”
Anna smiles at him and touches his leg quickly. “Tell me about your plans to release a solo album next year.”
Nick gives her a suspicious look and slowly uncrosses his arms. “Yeah…errr…I’m gonna release a solo…album next…year…what you said, yeah.”
She smiles. “Will you tour?”
“It’s always a possibility.”
“Oh I’d definitely pay for that.”
He looks worried. “Why?”
“I’m a real fan of your voice.”
“Oh…thanks.” He relaxes and smiles at her.
“I’m a huge fan of ALL you guys really…the way I see it is we get a wonderful joint album from you all and we could also get 5 solo ones with it…can’t be bad at all.”
Brian nods. “Yeah. That’s the best way of looking at it. A lot of people see solo work as the beginning of the end for the group. Which is totally not happening.”
The interview continues for another 15 minutes. As it goes on, Nick completely relaxes and joins in enthusiastically. At the end of the slot, Anna introduces their new video. “Ok, we have your video for The One. Tell me about it.”
Nick leans forward eagerly. “It’s pretty cool. We all got together with video tapes and stuff. And then Kev put some clips together…”
Brian interrupts. “Montage, it’s called a montage.”
Nick glares at him. “Whatever…It’s good stuff…brings back a lot of memories.”
“But isn’t it kind of a cop-out? Just editing old stuff together?”
“No way. A lot of it is unseen stuff.”
Brian nods. “Plus we didn’t have the time to shoot a complete video ourselves.”
“Well thank you both for coming into the studios. We’re going to play out with the excellent new video from the Backstreet Boys.” The video starts playing and Anna leans back with a sigh. “Thanks guys, that was good.”
Brian smiles at her. “Pleasure.”
“No problem.” Nick runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m hungry.”
Brian rolls his eyes. “Big surprise.”
Anna laughs and stands up. “C’mon, I’ll take you to the food.” They follow her through to the green room where there’s a buffet laid out. “Just dig in.”
Nick grins and launches himself on the table. Brian grabs two plates and thrusts one in front of Nick. Nick takes it and carries on eating.
“I have to get back to the studios. Good to see you both.”
Brian turns and gives her a quick hug. “Take care Anna.”
“You too Brian.” She heads towards the door and leaves. “Bye Nick.”
He turns round to see the empty doorway. “Oh…yeah…bye.”

Anna peers through the curtains at the studio audience and grimaces. What HAD she let herself in for this time?! There were only about a hundred people there but she was about to make a fool of herself on national TV. The producer grabs her arm and manoeuvres her round to stand in the wings, ready to step onto the stage. “WHY the hell did I agree to do this?”
He laughs. “Because it’ll be fun…and it’s for charity.”
“Hmmm…oh tell me who they are!” He shakes his head and Anna grabs his arm in a mock pleading gesture. “Oh please!”
He laughs. “That’d spoil the fun of it.”
Anna lets go of his arm. “Oh gee, the fun.” She turns to look back at the stage.
Ricki Lake is the host. “And now it’s time to meet the lucky, or unlucky, lady who has to pick one of our three men. Her face is one of the most recognisable in America. She’s seen interviewing the top music stars once a day on MTV Pop Select…her name is Anna!”
Anna groans quietly as the producer pushes her onstage. She smiles brightly at everyone and walks over to sit on a stool next to Ricki. “Hi Ricki. Good to see you.”
“You too, Anna. Thank you for joining us tonight.”
“Thanks for the invite.”
“Ok, Anna, you usually interview these guys but now you’re going to date one…how does that feel?”
Anna laughs. “Scary, very scary. No, all the guys I’ve interviewed have been lovely so I’m sure we’ll have a great time. And it’s all for a good cause!”
“That’s right. You’re from Cincinnati originally?”
“Yup, that’s the place. I go back quite often to visit my family and friends.”
“What’s the best thing about your job?”
“Hmm…all the people I get to work with. There’s a real camaraderie goin’ on there…especially as it’s live. And the great people I get to interview.”
“And the worst?”
“The long hours some times. And getting up early.”
“As you’ve interviewed these guys, we’ve given them all a voice box to speak into which disguises their voices. So you’ll be talking to Daffy Duck, Mickey Mouse and Pluto.”
Anna laughs. “That’s probably an improvement.”
Ricki grins. “Sure is. OK…you have 3 questions…go ahead.”
“Ok, hi guys!” She gets a muted response and laughs. “Wake up already. Ok, question 1 to number 1…It’s my birthday and you buy me one thing. What would that be and why?”
Number 1 has a Daffy Duck voice-box. “Hello Anna. I’d get you a beautiful sapphire and diamond necklace cos it’d match the blue of your eyes and they do say diamonds are forever…like you and me.”
Anna giggles. “Aww Daffy…you’re so corny.”
He laughs. “Thanks.”
“Number 2?”
Number 2 has a Pluto voice-box. “Hey Anna. I wouldn’t buy you anything, I’d just turn up at your house and blindfold you…” Anna and Ricki exchange looks and giggle. “Calm down…I’d take you in my car to this secluded beach I know and take the blindfold off. You’d see the picnic I’d made for us and we’d have a long relaxing day in the ocean.”
“Mm, sounds great. Number 3?”
Number 3 has the Mickey Mouse voice-box. “I’d get you some chocolates and a bunch of forget-me-nots…so you’d like…never forget me.” He giggles.
“Ok, thanks. Question 2…I get bored of relationships easily and you’re away on tour a lot, how would you keep me interested in you? That’s to number 2.”
“I get bored of relationships easily too, mainly cos I like my space. So I’d just give you all the space you needed but make sure that you knew I was always thinkin’ of you. That way, we’d always be excited to see each other whenever we could.”
“Ok, number 3?”
“I’d call you every morning and night. And send you flowers every other day.”
“Way to make a girl feel err…”
“Special?”
“Crowded.”
“Oh.”
“Number 1?”
“I’d call you most nights just to see how your day went, and Id arrange loads of trips for you to come join me in exotic places.”
“Ok, last question…if you could sing me any song in the whole world, what would it be?”
Ricki looks confused. “A song for what occasion?”
“Oh…maybe for tonight…to make me choose them?”
Ricki nods. “Yeah.”
“To number 3.”
“Oh errm…a song?…Maybe Born To Make You Happy…that Britney sang…” His voice breaks slightly. Anna and Ricki look at each other and shrug.
“Right…number 1?”
“Oh, it’d have to be…I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden.”
“Oh I like that song.” Anna grins. “Number 2?”
“Hmm…for tonight, it would have to be Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin…” He laughs.
Anna raises an eyebrow. “Hmm…interesting.”
Ricki smiles at her. “Ok, you’ve asked your three questions and now you have to pick the number you’d like to go on a mystery date with tonight.”
Anna laughs. “Can’t I ask one more?!”
“Nup. So will it be number 1,2 or 3? Drum roll please!” There’s an exaggerated dramatic drum roll. “Anna…make your choice!”
“Oooh…I guess it’ll have to be Number Two.”
“Are you sure?!” Ricki laughs. “No, that’s a good choice. Why?”
“Hmm, number 1 was a little corny and number 3 was a little…weird.”
Ricki giggles. “Hmm?! Well, before you meet the guy you chose…here are the 2 you turned down. Number 3 was Justin Timberlake of N*Sync fame. Come in Justin!”
Justin walks onto the stage and kisses Anna and Ricki. “Hi.” He walks off again quickly.
“Number 1 was Jeff Timmons from 98 Degrees.”
Jeff walks on and hugs Anna and Ricki. “Hey Anna…coulda picked me.”
Anna smiles. “Aww, sorry Jeff…when’d you get to be so corny?!”
He laughs. “Always.” He walks off.
“And now…the guy you’re going on a mystery date with…You chose number 2 and that was Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys!”
Nick walks on and Anna swallows back her groan. He smiles at them both and stands next to Ricki. “Hello.”
“What do you think of your choice Anna?”
Anna smiles slightly. “Great. Really pleased…”
“Where are you going tonight? Pick one of these envelopes and find out.” Ricki holds out three envelopes. Nick gestures to Anna and she picks one. Ricki opens it. “You’re going to experience the delights of WaterWorld by night. The park has opened especially for charity tonight and you two have VIP tickets. Will you come back at the end of the evening to tell us all about it?”
Anna smiles. “Of course.”
“Sure.”
Ricki puts Anna’s hand in Nick’s and pushes them forward. “Bye!” They smile and leave the stage. The minute they are out of sight, they drop each other’s hand and step apart.
“What are you doin’ here?!”
Nick shrugs. “It’s my charity…I didn’t know you were doin’ it until it was too late.”
“Gee, thanks.” Anna walks through the wings towards the door. Nick follows her. “I guess we have to go to WaterWorld…”
“Yeah…”
They pick up their bags and climb into a waiting car which takes them to the water park. They don’t speak during the journey and sit as far apart as possible. When they get to the park, a camera crew is waiting for them. “Hello Nick and Anna, I’m James the camera guy. We’re just gonna follow you around…try and ignore us.”
Anna laughs. “Oh that’ll be easy…”
Nick shrugs. “You should be used to cameras by now...seein’ as you love yourself so much.”
Anna ignores him. “James, where should we get changed for the water?”
“Ahhh…” James gestures towards a building. “In there.”
“Thanks.” Anna goes off to get changed and Nick follows her. A few minutes later, they’re in their swimming costumes. “So…where do we go?” Anna looks at James who just shrugs.
“I’m just the cameraman.”
Anna sighs and looks at Nick. “Well?” He shrugs. “Jeez…fine. We’ll go on that big slide.” She marches off to the steps and starts to climb them. Nick follows her. “C’mon…I can’t carry this whole thing on my own. You’re gonna HAVE to speak.”
“Yeah…” They queue at the top of the slide and watch people go down it. “High up.”
Anna nods. “Just a bit…”
Nick looks at her. “Not a fan of heights?”
“Nup…but I like water a lot so I’m hopin’ they’ll cancel each other out.”
Nick laughs. “Interesting theory.” They reach the front of the queue and Anna looks down the slide and gulps.
“You go first.”
“No way…you’ll chicken out.”
“I won’t…Possibly.”
Nick laughs. “We can go down together.”
“Ok…”
Nick looks at the slide attendant. “We can do that right?”
“Yeah.” He positions Anna on the slide and then gestures for Nick to sit behind her. “Cross your hands over her waist…Yeah, and you cross your hands over his arms…Now both lean back so you’re almost flat…Great…go.” He starts to push them off.
Anna holds onto Nick’s arms tightly. “Please don’t let go…!” Nick laughs. They drop down the slide screaming loudly and go underwater at the bottom. They come up spluttering and giggling. “Oh that was wicked!”
“Yeah!” Nick climbs out of the pool and offers Anna his hand to help her out. She takes it with a smile.
“Thanks.” She slicks her wet hair back, off her face and looks round the park. “Ooh, they have a rapids ride!”
Nick grins and pulls her over to the queue for the rapids. “I haven’t been able to do this for YEARS!”
Several rides later, they have to leave the park and return to the studios. They get changed and climb into the waiting car.
Anna leans her head against the back of the seat and smiles at Nick. “I had a great time…thanks.”
“I didn’t do anything…Thank Ricki.”
“No…thanks for proving me wrong.”
“About what?”
“You know….you.” She sighs. “I judged you way too harshly just because of that party.”
He sighs and leans back. “You were right too. I was a little drunk but I was a jerk.”
“Well…that’s history.”
“Oh? Me bein’ a jerk?”
“No…you’ll always be a jerk to me, Nicky.” He gives her a sharp look. She smiles and rests her head on his shoulder. “But you’re ok.”
“So are you…I guess.”
A few minutes later, they arrive at the studios and are rushed into sit on a sofa with Ricki. “Welcome back Nick and Anna. How was your date at WaterWorld?”
Anna smiles. “Kinda wet.”
Nick laughs. “Oh gee, she’s SO funny….We had a great time.”
“Yeah. I loved the water slides.”
“Me too. And it was great for me to not get recognised. I can’t go to theme parks at the moment cos I get recognised, so it was great to be anonymous for one night.”
“Why do you think people left you alone?”
“Cos I was with Anna and y’know…she’s pretty scary.”
“Oh thanks.” Anna hits him playfully.
“No, I think it was the camera crew following us around.”
Ricki laughs. “They’re pretty ugly lookin’!” The cameras starts jerking around and she giggles. “No! No…I’m just kiddin’…ALL our camera people are gorgeous.” The cameras return to normal. “We have some footage of you guys in the park. Let’s have a look.” A short video is played of their time in the park. “Wow, you looked to be having the best time there. Any chance of romance?” Anna looks at Nick and laughs.
He shakes his head. “Nup…”
“Anna, do you feel the same way?”
She smiles. “Yeah…he’s a great guy and we got on very well but…nup to the romance.”
“Aww…At least you helped raise a lot of money for charity.”
Anna nods. “That’s what it’s all been about.”
“Thank you again for coming on the show.” She turns to the audience. “Give it up for Nick and Anna!” The audience applauds and whistles.
Nick and Anna walk off the stage. “That went ok.”
Nick nods. “Yeah.”
Anna puts her hands in her pockets. “So…?”
“So…” Nick stares at her. “I guess I’d better go.”
“Oh…sure.”
He nods. “Ok….bye then.” They stand looking at each other for a few seconds then he walks away. “Bye Anna.”

Lucy turns off the TV and giggles. She sits next to Anna on the sofa. “Oh, you looked SO funny when you realised you had to go on a date with Mr I’m Nick Carter.”
Anna shrugs. “Yeah…but I enjoyed it.”
Lucy stares at her. “Oh c’mon…you’re not on live TV now…tell the truth.”
“I am! He was ok really…we got on.”
“Honestly? But you said he was an arrogant jerk…and I toned that down majorly from what you ACTUALLY said.”
“I know what I said…but he wasn’t like that last night. And he kinda apologised…”
Lucy sighs. “Ok…so what, you like him now?”
“No!” Anna groans. “Yes…oh I don’t know anymore.”
Lucy curls up on the couch facing Anna. “What do you mean?”
“He made me laugh and we got on really well…and then, when we were in the car going back to the studios, I just wanted him to…kiss me. Like, REALLY kiss me. But he didn’t and then in the studio he said no way to romance.”
“He didn’t say no way. The word he used was nup.”
“Oh, Luce…stop quibbling about his exact words!”
Lucy touches Anna’s arm. “Let me finish…Ok, from what I remember, and I only saw it 5 minutes ago so it’s pretty fresh, you looked at Nick and laughed when Ricki asked that romance thing. So he shook his head and said nup.”
“So?”
“So he was just reacting to you laughing.”
“I just laughed cos I was kinda embarrassed to get asked that on TV.”
“Did he know that? No…so…”
“Oh…I’m with you now.”
“Yeah?…So what you gonna do?”
“Nothin’.” Anna shrugs. “Just let it be, y’know.”

Two months later, Nick is back on Anna’s show with the rest of the guys. Before the show airs, Anna’s in the green room with a coffee.
Nick comes in. “Oh hey Anna…want some space? I’ll go..” He starts to leave.
“No, I’m just having a coffee…Want one?”
He walks over to the machine. “No, I’m gonna get a Sprite.” He gets one and takes a quick drink from it. “So, how you doin’?”
“I’m great. Pretty tired but hey…”
“Yeah, you look kinda wiped out.”
“Thanks…make-up swore blind I looked good.”
“You DO look good…”
She laughs. “Thanks for lying.”
He shrugs and takes another sip. “You should take a break.”
“I am…next week.”
“Yeah? Goin’ anywhere?”
“Cincinnati to see my family.”
“That’ll be good.”
“Yeah.” She throws away her coffee cup. “So, I heard about you and that girl. Great.”
“What girl?”
“That singer…Sara, you guys are dating right?”
“Sara? Oh no…I only met her once I think…You know what the press is like.”
“Yeah.”
Nick looks at the floor uncomfortably. “How about you? Dating anybody?”
“Me? No…”
“Oh…I heard you were with that 98 Degrees guy – Drew.”
She laughs. “Where DO they get all this stuff from?”
He smiles and shrugs. “Beats me.”
Anna moves towards the machine so that they’re standing within touching distance. “Nick, I…”
A girl pops her head in the door. “Anna, you’re needed on set.” She goes.
Anna looks at Nick. “Guess I’ll see you on TV…”
“Yeah.”
She smiles and walks towards the door, at the last minute she turns round and walks quickly back to Nick. She kisses him and leaves. He stares after her and slowly touches his lips.
Brian comes into the room. “Oh, HERE you are! We’re needed on set.”
“Yeah…”
“Well, come on then!”
“Yeah…”
Brian heads back out and then realises Nick hasn’t moved. “Nick!”
“Yeah…”
“What IS wrong with you?”
Nick shakes his head slightly. “She kissed me.”
“Who kissed you?”
“Her.” Brian sighs heavily. “Anna.”
“Anna? Kissed YOU?!” Brian giggles. “Were you dreaming at the time?”
“No…’least I don’t THINK so…”
Brian grabs Nick’s arm and drags him out of the room. “Come ON.” They join the other guys on the couch next to Anna.
She avoids looking at Nick. “How long to air?”
The producer holds up his hand. “5 seconds…5, 4, 3…” He counts the rest down silently.
Anna smiles brightly at the camera. “Hello and welcome to MTV Select Pop. I have the Backstreet Boys in the studio with me.” They all wave at the camera and smile. Anna turns to them. “Thanks for coming in guys.”
Kevin nods. “No problem. Good to see you Anna.”
“And you. So, the new album is released next week?”
Howie grins. “Yeah, that’s right. We’re really lookin’ forward to it all.”
AJ bounces on the sofa. “It’s real excitin’ but scary cos we really want everybody to love it as much as we do.”
“I’ve heard an advance copy…I had to write my review for Select…and I loved it. Honest.”
Brian looks at her hopefully. “Really? You liked it a lot?”
Anna nods. “Yeah…your sound has really matured since ‘Millennium’ which is great. I think it’ll be a huge success.”
The Boys grin widely. “Thanks!”
“Kevin and Brian, congratulations on your marriages. What’s it like bein’ old married men?!”
Brian giggles. “Hey, less of that old stuff!”
Kevin smiles. “Thanks Anna. Oh I’m lovin’ married life but it’s not THAT different to before. It’s just kinda legal.”
“Doesn’t being legal take some of the fun out of it all?”
“Naw…!”
Anna laughs. “How about you three single guys…are you feelin’ the urge to settle down and get legal?!”
Howie shrugs. “Sure…I just gotta find the woman.”
Anna smiles. “Oh is that all?! No problem.” Howie grins.
AJ twists his rings round. “Well…I’m sorta engaged to BE engaged.”
“How does that work?”
“I promised my girl that I will ask her to marry me someday.”
Anna laughs. “Oh right…and how does she feel about that?”
“She’s cool with it. We got engaged over a year ago but it was kinda too soon so we split up. We’re back together now and we’re gonna take it a lot slower.”
“Sensible. And you can enjoy all the illicit thrill of being un-legal!”
AJ lowers his shades. “BIG plus let me tell ya!”
Anna finally looks at Nick. “And how about the baby of the group?”
Nick looks at her and blushes slightly. “Huh?…Oh…no.”
Brian nudges him with a giggle. “Last date HE went on was that sympathy one with you!”
“It was NOT!”
Brian stares at him. “Oh, ok…what other dates have you been on?”
Nick shrugs in embarrassment. “I…err…wasn’t a sympathy date.”
Anna sticks up for him. “No, he wasn’t. It was a mystery date for charity.”
Brian laughs. “Same thing!”
“Aww, leave him alone…I picked him.”
“Yeah, outta some pretty stiff competition…” AJ looks at her with a straight face. “Justin N*Sync…”
Anna tries not to laugh. “Moving on…”
AJ carries on talking. “And you couldn’t pick Jeff 98 Degrees cos…Drew.”
“Drew?”
“Yeah, I heard you guys started dating last year. He’s a great guy.”
Anna laughs. “If only…! No, we’re not dating. I don’t know where that rumour came from.”
“Same place that one about me and Carmen Elektra did…”
Kevin gives AJ an odd look. “I never heard that one.”
AJ shrugs. “Me neither but it COULDA gone round…”
Kevin sighs. “In your dreams.”
Nick giggles. “Or in some weird other reality where you ain’t…you.”
AJ pushes his shades up his nose. “Gee, thanks Mr good-lookin’.”
Anna laughs at them. “So what are the craziest rumours you’ve heard about yourselves?”
Kevin hums a bit. “Yeah…apparently I was gonna join N*Sync but Joey vetoed me cos I was an alcoholic.” Anna giggles. “Exactly.”
Brian grins. “I read that I lost my voice two years ago and they got some guy in to dub all my parts.”
Anna stares at him. “Even now?!”
“Yeah…I mime it all! Every word.” He throws a threatening look at AJ. “And don’t you dare crack some funny ‘bout me bein’ wooden…”
AJ shrugs. “Hey…you said it. They said that I was this sex-crazed psycho who gets drunk all the time and seduces innocent virgins.”
Kevin raises an eyebrow. “We’re doin’ FALSE rumours here AJ…”
AJ fakes a laugh. “Aww, C’MON. Where DO people get this image of me from?”
Howie laughs. “I don’t know…Bone.”
AJ clicks his fingers. “Ah…”
“Hmm…I read that I was an alien. It was after I appeared in Roswell, apparently some guy thought I was a little TOO convincing.”
Anna puts on a scared look. “I thought that too…”
Howie puts an arm round her. “Well…maybe I’ll abduct you later.”
Nick coughs slightly. “I heard somewhere that I’m really 30 years old, not 20…And I’m married and Aaron is really my son, not my brother.”
Anna laughs. “Wow…you’re lookin’ good for your age.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Howie grins. “What about you, Anna?”
“Me?” She sighs. “Oh I don’t hear many weird rumours…there’s the Drew one…oh, and I was supposed to be getting married to Robbie Williams a few months ago.”
“And have you ever met him?”
“Oh yeah…I’ve interviewed him several times and when he first visited the States as a solo artist I took him out in Cincinnati one night.” She shakes her head and looks at AJ. “I STILL don’t remember those 48 hours.”
AJ pretends to look insulted. “Hey, why you lookin’ at me?!”
Anna shrugs. “Must be that image thing…” She laughs. “Ok, we have some of your fans on the line. Who’s on line one?”
A girl giggles. “Hi, I’m Katie…I LOVE you guys SO much!”
Kevin laughs. “Thanks.”
“I wanted to ask how you feel about N*Sync and other boy bands copying you?”
Kevin looks at the other guys. “Can I answer this?”
AJ gestures. “Knock yourself out.”
“Ok, we don’t waste much time thinkin’ about what other groups are doin’. We just do what we wanna do. But it is a little frustrating seein’ carbon copies of stuff we’ve done cos it feels like they just wanna ride our tails.”
Howie winks. “But…imitation IS the highest form of flattery.”
Kevin nods. “Yeah.”
Anna smiles. “Ok Katie?”
“Yeah! I think N*Sync suck.” She hangs up. The guys try not to show any pleasure and Ana giggles.
“Movin’ on…Line 2?”
“Hi, my name’s Darla and I want to ask Brian what his Mom’s reaction to Perfect Fan was?”
“She cried when I first played it to her. She gets kinda emotional every time she hears it. But it was great for me to be able to show her how much she means to me, and how much I owe her.”
“Aww, Moms are great.” Anna smiles. “When I first moved to Tampa, I called my Mom sayin’ how I missed them all, especially her pecan pie…the next week, I got a pecan pie package!”
Howie laughs. “How’d it taste?”
“Like heaven.”
“I love my Mom’s cookin’ too.”
AJ chuckles. “Don’t we all?!”
Anna laughs. “What’s the best thing your Mom makes, Darla?”
“Erm…apple pie.”
Nick grins. “Oh yes…apple pie!”
“We should talk to our third caller before we turn into a cookin’ show. Hello?”
“Hi, my Mom makes the BEST blueberry pie.” She giggles. “I’m Sarah and I wanted to ask Nick, Howie and AJ about their girlfriends. Firstly, are you still with ‘em, and do you find it hard bein’ with somebody AND bein’ in a group?”
AJ leans back on the sofa. “I’m still with my girl, Amanda. Yeah, it’s hard to keep a relationship goin’ with all the group’s commitments and that was partly why we broke up last year. But if you like someone, you have to work at it.”
“I was kinda seein’ somebody up until the summer but we both agreed it wasn’t workin’ out. Like AJ said, you gotta work at it and if it’s not 100% right…you find all kinds of excuses.” Howie shrugs. “So I’m just gonna enjoy bein’ where I am until the right woman comes along.”
“I’m not seein’ anybody right now but I’ve kinda got my eye on somebody…” He shoots Anna a quick look and they both blush. “And I agree with AJ and Howie…for once. I can’t do all that relationship stuff if I don’t believe that she’s THE one…even for a while.”
There’s a silence after Nick’s stopped talking until Anna realises that she’s been gazing at him like a lovesick puppy. She blushes and coughs. “Err…ok…line 4?”
“Hi, I’m Becky and I wanna know if you’d ever date a fan?”
Kevin laughs. “My wife’d kill me…!”
Howie grins. “Sure, I would. As long as she wasn’t a Misery-type fan…”
Nick gives Howie an odd look. “But if she was miserable you wouldn’t…”
Howie and Brian giggle. “Misery…!”
Kevin rolls his eyes. “Nick, I think he means the Stephen King horror Misery.”
“Huh?”
Howie stops giggling. “Y’know…the writer who gets his legs broken by an obsessed fan so she can keep him with her forever…?”
Nick shakes his head. “I don’t know that one.”
Anna claps her hands excitedly. “Oh you have to see the film…it’s a classic.”
Howie grins at Anna. “Yeah…Kathy Bates.”
“I think she’s SO great.”
Howie leans in closer to her. “Me too…We should start up a Kathy B society.”
Anna laughs. “Yeah…break her legs and keep her with us forever….Geez, we went off on one there! Line 5?”
“Hi, Anna! I ALWAYS watch your shows and I wish that thing about you and Drew was true cos you’d make the CUTEST couple…Oh, I’m Faye.”
Anna smiles. “Thanks Faye. That’s really sweet.”
“And then I could have Howie…!” She giggles.
Howie laughs. “You couldn’t have me anyway?!”
“Well…I think you guys have this togetherness vibe goin’.”
Howie and Anna look at each other. “We do?!”
“Yeah…”
Howie puts an arm around Anna. “Well…shall we tell them darling?”
“Oh…go on.”
“Anna’s a wonderful woman…she’s gorgeous, smart, funny…but…” He removes his arm from around her shoulders and puts on a sulky face. “Unfortunately I’m not, so we’re not together.”
“Ohh…you’re all that and more!” Anna laughs. “You have the final question, Faye. Make it a good one.”
“Ooooh…when was your last PROPER kiss?”
Kevin sighs. “Too long ago…Last time I was home with Kristen which was…2 weeks ago I think.”
Brian rolls his eyes to the ceiling trying to work out dates. “I last saw Leigh about 3 weeks ago, so then. She’s doin’ a film in New York right now.”
AJ looks pleased with himself. “This mornin’…”
Howie groans. “Don’t even GO there.”
Nick looks embarrassed. “Well…I…err…just before the show started.”
AJ stares at him in shock. “No way! Who kissed YOU?!”
Nick looks insulted. “Who wouldn’t?!”
“Seriously…who?”
Nick starts humming and Anna develops a fascination with AJ’s shirt. “Oh, your shirt is so great…Where’d you get it?”
AJ gives her an odd look. “Huh?…Err, I got it from some photo shoot.”
“It’s pretty cool…Who’da thought mixing purple and brown could look so good?”
“Yeah…” He gets more enthusiastic. “And it looks wicked with my furry purple coat and my yellow hat…real funky.”
Anna laughs. “I bet that’s a sight…”
Kevin laughs dryly. “Oh, is THAT what you call it?!”
AJ ignores Kevin. “And I also got this black leather coat and I wore it last night with this red netty shirt and…” He realises that they’re all trying not to snigger. “So, who kissed ya Nicky boy?…I mean before the show…ain’t a whole lotta people around, just us and the crew and…Anna…” He grins at Anna. “Hey, you guys DID date..!”
Nick stares at the floor. “Once.” AJ realises that Nick and Anna are looking embarrassed and sniggers.
Brian coughs. “So…errr, Faye? When was YOUR last kiss?”
She giggles. “Yesterday…with my boyfriend. He looks a lot like you y’know…”
“Really? Poor guy.”
Anna recovers herself and smiles. “Thanks for calling Faye…And everybody else. This has bee great, thanks for coming in guys.” They all smile widely at her. She widens her eyes at the camera. “Anyone else find that scary?!…Anyway, that’s all we have time for. Thanks for watching, we’re gonna play out with the fantastic Backstreet’s Back video.”
The guys wave at the camera. “Bye!” A few seconds later the producer signals that they’re off the air.
Anna stands up and takes off her sound box. “Ohh, I need some sleep.”
Howie stands up and puts an arm round her. “Not sleeping too well?”
“Oh I sleep just fine…when I get the chance.
“Aww.” The rest of the guys stand up.
AJ stretches languidly. “That girl was right…you guys DO have a weird together thing goin’.”
Howie looks at Anna and shrugs. “Whatever.”
Nick scowls and heads towards the green room. “I’m gonna get my stuff and shoot.” He disappears.
Brian glances at Anna. “So, Howie…let’s…err…go talk to that producer guy.”
Howie looks confused. “Why?”
“Cos…err…let’s just GO alright?” He grabs Howie’s arm and drags him off. Anna laughs and walks through to the green room. Nick is on his way out and they narrowly avoid colliding.
“Whoa..!” Anna grins at him. “What’s the rush?”
Nick scowls at her. “I’m goin’ home…Ok?!”
Anna steps back. “Ok…chill out.” She walks past him into the green room and picks up a drink.
“Why’d you kiss me like that when you’re tryin’ to get with Howie?”
Anna turns round to see Nick still standing in the doorway glaring at her. “Huh? I’m not trying to get with Howie. He’s a great guy but he’s not my type.”
“Oh…you guys were flirting pretty majorly though.”
Anna shrugs. “Were we? I thought we were just bein’ friendly.” She turns away from him.
Nick walks over to her. “So why DID you kiss me?”
She sits down. “I guess I thought I liked you in that way. I’m not so sure now.”
“Why not?”
“I first met you…figured you were immature. And now…not doin’ a lot to change that idea Nick.”
He sits down. “I’m NOT immature.”
“Oh no, I forgot that goin’ off in a sulk cos I smile a little too often at your friend counts as real mature behaviour.” She stands up and walks towards the door.
Nick follows her. “Yeah, ok…” He puts a hand on her arm. “I really like you, Anna. I know I was dumb at that party. I was kinda fuelled up on alcohol and I wanted to ask you out but…well, y’know what happened and then you hated me and that whole charity date thing came up…y’know, it was supposed to be AJ but I found out you were on and you picked me, we got on but I didn’t think you’d ever REALLY like me and then today, you kissed me and I was happy…then on the show…you and Howie…I was confused…” He stops and gulps in some air.
Anna stares at him with wide eyes. “Whoa…take a breath.”
“I’m sorry I acted dumb but it’s cos I like you. A lot.” He moves closer to her and kisses her softly on the lips. “Don’t change your mind now.”
Anna sighs and reaches up to touch his face. “Ok, so you can act a little dumb sometimes…I guess that’s one of my reasons for liking you.”
He laughs. “Hey…you’re not supposed to agree with me.”
She smiles. “Shut up…” She wraps her arms around him and kisses him deeply.
Howie and Brian wander into the room. They almost walk straight into Nick and Anna. Howie looks shocked and starts to say something but Brian shushes him and backs them both out into the corridor.
Howie gestures and stutters “Was that…?”
Brian nods. “Oh yeah.”
“You KNEW?”
“Oh yeah.”
“You gonna say anything OTHER than oh yeah?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Brian!”
Brian chuckles. “Sorry. Yeah, I knew. Nick’s had a thing for her for ages.”
“Yeah? But what about that girl who kissed him before the show started?”
Brian raises an eyebrow. “Gee, you can be pretty dumb sometimes.”
Howie gasps. “Oh! Anna kissed NICK?!”
AJ has wandered into the corridor and overheard Howie. “ANNA’S the mystery Nick kisser?! Whoa.”
Brian grins. “Oh yeah.”
Howie groans. “Oh don’t start that whole oh yeah thing again.”
“Sorry.”
AJ nudges Brian. “Hey, I always figured it was Howie and Anna, not Nicky boy.”
Howie sighs exaggeratedly. “Hello? I AM still here y’know.”
“So? Am I right? You have a thing for her too right?”
“She’s very nice but…no.” AJ and Brian stare at him. “No…Oh, I don’t know. Maybe.”
AJ raises an eyebrow. “Maybe?”
Howie sighs. “Ok, I admit I thought for a REALLY small moment that maybe we could…but it’s not an option now and I am TOTALLY cool with that.”
“Sure?” Howie nods and Brian squeezes his arm gently. “Good.”
In the room. “C’mon…let’s go someplace.” Nick puts an arm around Anna and they walk out of the room and straight into Brian, Howie and AJ. “Whoa…havin’ a party?”
AJ winks slimily. “You guys sure were.”
Anna blushes slightly and steps away from Nick, towards Howie. “You SAW us?”
Brian nods. “Oh yeah.” Howie sighs and Brian bows his head. “Sorry.”
Howie smiles at Anna and Nick. “We kinda walked in on you but we backed out pretty quick! So…you guys, huh?”
Nick looks at Anna and reaches for her hand. “Yeah.”
Anna smiles at him. “I guess we are.”
AJ starts giggling and they all shoot him odd looks. “I was just thinkin’ of the next time Nick has to answer a lurve question in that studio…!”
Nick groans. “Ohh…”

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