I was sitting on the couch, watching one of those boring weekend afternoon movie, when the phone rang. My mom answered in the kitchen and, few seconds later:
- Darlin', a call for you! Not Sidney! she screamed.
I took the phone, wondering who else than my girl-friend it could be.
- Hi? I answered.
- Amy Mitchell? asked a woman.
- Yes.
- I'm Carol Kitching from the SEARS company. I'm proud to tell you that you won the great "Shop with SEARS and the Backstreet Boys" contest! she announced.
I stopped breathing, shocked.
- You won a trip for two to Tampa including round-trip coach airfare from the closest airport from your city, wich is the NYC Airport, two nights in a hotel and local transportation within Tampa. she continued, as I didn't speak. Plus two tickets for the December 2nd Backstreet Boys' concert and, the day after, you will go shopping with your favorite Backstreet Boy at SEARS, in the afternoon.
- I won? I really won!? I asked in disbelief.
- Yes, really! laughed the lady.
- I'm so happy! Thank you so much! I said, almost screaming.
- You're welcome! she answered. So, Monday, you will get all the legal papers by registered mail where everything's explained in details but, if you have any question or problem, you can call me.
She gave me her phone number and I hung down after thank her again.
- Oh wow! I screamed. I can't believe that!
My mother, alerted by my cries, ran in the lounge.
- Mom, I won the contest! I yelled.
- Calm down! she said. What contest?
- The SEARS contest!!! I answered, jumping around.
- The one with the Backstreet Boys?
- YEAH!!!
I couldn't wait no longer to call Sidney and tell her the good news! She started screaming and planning all the trip because, of course, she's the person I wanted to bring with me!

- Sid, I still can't believe it! I said as we flew down to Tampa.
- Want me to tell you again? We're flying to Tampa where we'll see the Boys' concert tonight and, tomorrow, shop with... who else than Nick Carter himself!?! Sidney said, smiling.
- I think I'm gonna be sick. I said, rubbing my stomach.
Sid shook her head side to side, making move her long curly darkred hair. I've always been so jealous of her hair! She's blonde but, because of all the "blonde jokes" thing, she decided to dye them dark red, like AJ did some months ago. Mine are just long, straight, light brown with blonde highlights.
- You're just nervous. she said.
I sighed and rest my head on the back of my seat, closing my eyes.
- You'll be okay. reassured Sidney.
Few hours later, around 1 o'clock, we were walking in the Tampa's airport, searching our luggages.
- Excuse me, are you Amy Mitchell? asked a man dressed in black.
- Yes. I answered.
- I'm Bill, your chauffeur. he said. Mrs Kitching told me to pick you up here and bring you to your hotel.
- Fine! I said. Oh, this is my friend Sidney Love.
- Hi! they both said.
Bill took our luggages and we followed him through the airport to the exit. Outside, it was very hot for us, two "notherns", and we were both dressed with jeans, hot shirts and winter coats! Bill opened the door for us and we sat in the black car -not a limousine unfortunately! I admired the wonderful landscape through the tinted window as Bill drove us to the hotel. There, Carol Kitching brought us to our room.

- Okay girls, here's the schedule. announced Carol Kitching. You have a small interview with Donna Mancini from TeenPeople at 2h30 pm and another one with people from magazines like Superstar, Teen Beat, Teen and Seventeen, all together, at 3h15 pm.
- Cool! I exclaimed, looking at Sidney.
- As the TeenPeople magazine is one of the biggest sponsors, Donna Mancini will do another interview with you after the shopping. She's with a photographer and they will follow you during your trip. she explained. The Backstreet Boys will be the cover story of the February' issue and your interview's gonna be just after their, with pictures and stuff. Is it okay for you?
- Yeah! Wow! I didn't know all that! I answered.
Carol smiled and told us to get ready in 30 minutes.
- You'll give the interviews in a small conference room here, in the hotel.
- Okay.
She left and, I turned to Sidney.
- We're gonna be in the TeenPeople with the Backstreet Boys. she said, controling herself to not scream.
We started jumping, holding each other.
- I think we should chill a bit and get dressed! I said.
- You're right!
So, I wore my purple shorts and a white TommyGirl shirt and Sidney wore her blue skirt with a lilac shirt. We exited the room and met Carol who brought us to the conference room. Donna Mancini is a very nice person, she put us at ease and asked her questions as if we were just chatting friendly. But, with the four other persons, it wasn't that friendly. They were nice but they acted more on a professionnal side. After the interviews, we went dinner with Carol, Donna and Mitch, the photographer. Then, we got back to our room and we changed our clothes, again! I knew it was hot during the concerts so I put a red tank top and a pair of blue jeans shorts and Sidney put a pair of white shorts and a green tshirt. We left at 7 pm for the Ice Palace where we arrived around 7h15 pm. I was so nervous that I thought my heart would explode as much it was beating hard! I took a look at Sidney who was breathing deeply and slowly to calm herself and I did the same thing. Carol talked with a man and we finally followed him in a room where we waited. Almost half an hour later, the door opened and the Boys entered the room.

- Hello Carol, Donna! they said, kissing them on the cheeks.
- Hi guys! Nice to see you again! replied Donna who interviewed the boys much in the past two years.
- Girls, here are Brian, Howie, Nick, Kevin and AJ. Carol said. And this is the lucky winner, Amy Mitchell, and her friend Sidney Love.
- Hello girls, nice to meet you!
They all hugged me and Sidney, then Mitch took some pictures and we talked a bit before they left.
- Hey! Can we know who's gonna shop with you tomorrow? asked AJ.
Sidney looked at me with an amused smile.
- Em... I whispered, looking at a dust on the floor.
They were all waiting for my answer and I knew that Sidney would never break her pleasure to see me that shy so I looked Nick in the eyes and said:
- I'm sorry, I know you don't like shopping...
He smiled.
- I'm going with you? he asked.
- Yeah.
I felt bad 'cause it was like giving him the order to come but, I just wanted to spend the next afternoon with him. Hey! It was the contest, after all!
- Cool! he said, still smiling.
- Did he really said "cool" to go shopping?! exclaimed Brian, making laugh everybody except Nick who blushed.
Cutting whatever Nick could reply, Denise McLean entered in the room, greeting me and Sidney.
- I'm sorry to cut your fun but, you have to get dressed for the show, boys. she said.
They all got up.
- Well, nice talking. said Howie, hugging me.
- Yeah! approved AJ and Kevin.
- So... See ya tomorrow! Nick said.
- For a cool shopping! added Brian, nagging Nick.
- For sure! I laughed.
He hugged Sidney -who tried her best to hide her feelings for him- and I and then, they all left. The man who, later, brought us in the room came and I followed him with Sidney. The three others stayed in the room because they couldn't come with us for the show. The man -Dan- showed us our seats. Of course, we had front row tickets and we were very close the stage! After the opening group, what we waited for so long finally began! The Band started to play Larger than life and the Boys flown in the air while the dancers got up on stage with torches. When they came back on earth (!!), they sang and danced like gods and when they walked around the stage and saw us, they waved and smiled! After that amazing show, we went back in the room where Carol, Donna and Mitch were waiting us and we left.

- Hey! Wait a minute! screamed a voice as I was about to take place in the mini-van.
I turned my head and saw Nick running to me.
- Hey! I exclaimed happily.
- How did you find the show? he asked.
- That was incredible! I answered, amazed.
- Well, I'm happy that you loved that!
I smiled.
- Hi Nick! said Sidney in the truck. Nice show!
He bent down and looked in the vehicle.
- Thanks... he hesitated.
- Sidney. she told.
- Sorry! Thanks Sidney!
- No prob! she smiled.
He looked behind him and then at me.
- Em... I guess I'll see ya tomorrow. he said.
- Yeah! So, good night!
- Night! he replied before he left.
I sat in the mini-van and Bill drove all of us back to the hotel for a deserved rest!

When I woke up, I thought I dreamed all that but, I opened my eyes and realized that I was in our hotel room. I sat in my bed, smiling.
- What are ya doing? asked Sidney.
- Uh?
- You're sitting there for minutes, just smiling! she said.
- I'm just happy! I replied. I will shop all the afternoon with Nick!
- Yeah... And I'll stay here, waiting!
- It isn't my fault if only the winner can go shopping! I defended.
- I know... she said a bit sadly.
- Hey! I'll buy you something! I exclaimed.
Her face lighted up in a smile.
- You will?!
- Sure! What would you like? I asked.
- I don't know... There's so many things and nothing in particular at the same time! she answered. Anyways, you know what I like and I fit in your clothes so...
- So, it's a deal!?
- Deal-e, girlie! she exclaimed.
- What is it supposed to mean?!?
- Nothing! she said, shrugging her shoulders and laughing.
I laughed with her and got up to go take a shower. She helped me to choose my clothes for the day. I finally opted for my medium gray 3/4 pants and a short-sleeved light purple shirt. Sidney told me to keep my hair straight because I would dress and undress a lot. But, for the lunch, I just put my overalls and a pink tank top. In the hotel restaurant, I ate with Sidney, Carol, Donna and Mitch.

- Nervous? asked Donna who remarked that I wasn't eating a lot.
- Yes, but not as much as yesterday! I answered. Talking with Nick, yesterday night, reassured me! But, I'm still afraid to make any mistake or something!
- Everything's gonna be alright. Sidney said.
- She's right! approved Carol. Donna, Mitch and myself will be with you.
- Yeah, don't be afraid. reassured Mitch.
- Wow! I feel carried! I laughed.
After the lunch, I went back to my room with Sidney and I put the clothes we've chosen. Right after, we met Carol in the hall at 1pm.
- Well, the time is arrived! exclaimed Sidney.
I smiled nervously.
- What will you do? I asked her.
- Don't worry about her, she's gonna be in good hands! answered Carol with a knowing smile.
Sidney and I exchanged a look, both wondering what Carol meant.
- Mademoiselle, would you please take a seat in your limousine? asked Bill, playfully.
- How can I refuse!? I answered, laughing.
He opened the door and I saw Nick, sitting in the car. I took a deep breath and I sat in the car, in front of him. Carol, Donna and Mitch followed the limousine in the mini-van.
- Hello! he greeted.
- Hi! I replied.
I had nothing else to say... In fact, I wanted to tell him so many things but, they just wouldn't exit my mouth! He was so beautiful with his black Cargo pants and his white NFL shirt, with the number 12 in red! I thought I could never take my eyes off of him so, I stared at my nails, almost watching them grow! Nick cleared his throat and I looked at him.
- Amy... he started. We're gonna spend all the day together so, I don't want you to be shy to talk.
- It isn't shyness. I replied. Well, a bit but... I don't know! I have many things to say but they don't wanna go outta my head.
- I understand. he smiled. So, may I ask you questions?
- Sure!
Nick asked me what are my age (18), my city (Newark), my family (mom, dad, big sister of 27 years old), my hobbies (dance, sing, read) and I started chatting with him as if I always knew him! We arrived at SEARS (wich was closed for the public), exited the limousine when Bill opened the door for us and entered in the store where I was about to spend hours -and dollars- in company of Nick!