After about two hours, Denise came out of the OR. Brian went in to visit her. It brought back so many memories, he started to cry. Denise was still sleeping. He took a seat next to her bed. "Why are you crying?" Denise asked.

"Just memories. Don't worry about it. Are you okay?" Brian asked.

"I can barely talk. My chest hurts also." Denise said in a soft whisper.

"Yeah, that's common. It's a sign of a healthy life ahead. I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Don't freak out on me or anything. I don't want you to get sick or anything."

"What is it, Brian?"

"I'm your cousin."

"You're kidding me, right? My cousin?"

"Yeah. I saw you when you were younger, you just don't remember me."

"My cousin. How come I didn't know about this before?"

"I guess no one wanted to tell you. Just in case you went crazy and stuff. You know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I would have gone nuts! You're lucky I'm in the hospital or I'd be running around like a maniac!"

"When you get better, would you like to go on tour with us?"

"On tour? With you? I still have school."

"I can teach you. You will have to ask your friend's parents though, right?"

"Yeah, but they let me do anything I want."

"How would you like to be our opening act?"

Denise was stunned by what Brian was throwing at her. She couldn't believe it. "I can't do a solo act! Me and Nicole and our band stay together. Unless your band can play our songs and you have another singer. Other than that, Nicole would have to go."

"If you have any other people that belong with you, you have to bring them. You sing very good, I have heard you."

Denise blushed. "I must get my singing voice from your side of the family I guess. You sing like an angel."

"I get a lot of that."

"I'm sure you do. It's true though." Denise yawned.

"Well, I guess I'd better be going. Call me; just don't give out the number. You don't know how mad I'll get. Really, don't give it out. Just to your family, if they don't have it. Okay?"

Denise accepted the paper Brian wrote his number on. There was his cell, pager, and home phone. "Bye."

"Bye." Brian left. Denise was gonna go nuts. She wanted to so badly, she couldn't. Nicole walked into the room.

"Did he tell you?" Nicole asked.

"Yeah, he told me. He wants me and you to go on tour with them! I said we would. He said to call him if we had any questions. It has to be okay with your mom and dad if we go." Denise said.

"What about school? We have a month left and they start touring when, next week?"

"He said that he could teach us. I don't know if he means him or his tutor he had. We have to ask him. Where are your parents exactly?"

"They only let one or two people in after surgery. They are waiting outside. I can leave if you want, and they'd come in."

"No, it's okay. I want you here."

"Okay. So, you want anything?"

"No, I want some sleep."

"Well, I'm gonna go. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"You better!"

"Bye."

"Bye."

The next few days were really hard for Denise. She could barely do anything. She was ready to leave and was excited. She wanted to do so many things; she couldn't do a thing that was really hard on her heart for about 10 weeks.

Denise and Nicole called Brian. "Hello. Is Brian there?" Denise asked.

"No, he's gone right now. Who is this?" Leighanne asked.

"His cousin, Denise."

"I can take a message if you want."

"No, it's okay. I'll call him later."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye."

Denise paged Brian. Brian looked at his pager that vibrated his waist. He saw it was Denise. The message said, "Call me please". Brian called her after he read the message. "Denise, what do you need?" Brian said.

"We have a problem. I can't tour or even dance for ten weeks. Brian, I'd love to go on tour with you. I really would. I can't. The doctor said." Denise said.

"Can you after ten weeks are over?"

"Yeah. I can. I'll be out of school."

"We can use our backup band until you can tour."

"Who are they?"

"Oh, um, Mandy Moore. Not exactly a band but you know. So, you'll be okay to play after ten weeks?"

"Yeah, how many times do I have to tell you?" Denise laughed. " Where are we gonna meet? I can come to the venue when you come here, if you guys want."

"I don't know, Nick. Just wait!" Denise heard Brian say in the background. "We can um, meet at the venue. We'll be coming to Lexington on that day, so it's perfect."

"Cool. I better let you go. I'm sure you're busy doing something important."

"Nick I don't know! Stop bugging me about it! Jeez. Okay, yeah, I have to go. I'm rehearsing. Nick wants to use the phone anyway."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye."

Denise hung up the phone and was really happy. She fell backwards on her bed, lying down. She happily sighed. "Nicole, you and me are gonna be touring with the Backstreet Boys! Oh my God! I have been waiting for a big thing like this to happen. Haven't you?" Denise said.

"Yeah. I gotta tell mom and dad. They'll be so happy!" Nicole said.

"We gotta tell Billy, David, and Sammy! They have to come with us!"

"No duh! Now calm down. I have to go tell my mom and dad. I'll be right back." Nicole went to tell her mom and dad about what happened. Denise heard Nicole scream. "They said yes!"

"Yes! I gotta call Billy. You call David and Sammy." Denise called Billy. He was the drummer for their band. Their band was called 'Backstreet Girls'. They named it after the Backstreet Boys. "Billy, we got a gig. We is going on tour buddy with guess who no, I wouldn't dare tour with them THE BACKSTREET BOYS I'm not kidding okay, I'll see you later. Bye."

"Who wouldn't you dare tour with?" Nicole asked.

"N Stink. I would gag if we toured with them. Here call David and Sammy. They have to know."

Nicole called David. David was the guitarist for their band. He was really good. He was gonna go solo until Denise asked him to join. Nicole had the same exact conversation with David as Denise did with Billy. Nicole then called Sammy. Sammy was the keyboardist of the band. He was extremely good. He was kind of on the dorky side but was really smart and really good at musical things.

>>>>>

.