The group made their way down the crowded street of Pleasure Island, commenting on how many more people had come out to party on that Thursday night compared to earlier in the week. As they had during the day, Tom and Marcus, two of the Boys' security team followed the group from a distance, although they didn't feel like they'd have to work that hard. Because the crowd at PI was older, they doubted they'd have to deal with throngs of screaming fans. The fact that AJ and Kevin hardly looked like themselves also helped.
AJ and Jessica bought Jell-O-shots from a street waitress to help them get comfortable in their conservative clothes. Soon, they were dancing in the middle of the street and having a good time. Kevin and Kristy soon joined their dancing and partying, in spite of... or perhaps helped by... their "new looks." They headed towards the B.E.T. Soundstage to do some serious dancing. The doorman recognized the guys and let Nick in, even though he wasn't yet 21. They walked down the staircase to the dance floor as Will Smith's "Miami" pulsed through the club.
As they were dancing over the next couple of hours, a few of the BSB dancers caught up with them and joined the group, keeping Nick and Brian company when the other boys paired off with their girls. But for the most part, everyone just danced in a big group, enjoying the music and atmosphere of the club and each other's company.
Kristy was dancing between AJ and Brian, across from Kevin when a familiar beat started... "Ahhh. Backstreet. Yes, yes... one time, here we go one..." Kristy turned and grinned mischievously at Kevin, "Hey, Mr. DJ" was one of her favorite songs and she started dancing to the slow, seductive rhythm. One of the male dancers for the group pulled Kristy to him and she continued her flirty dancing, although she kept a safe amount of distance between them.
Kevin stood back, dancing with Jessica and watching Kristy. It wasn't that her moves were overtly sexual, but like the song said, he felt hypnotized by the rhythm of her body and the music in her eyes. He was drawn to her, more strongly than he'd ever been to any woman. As AJ made his way over to grind with Jessica, Kevin slowly, purposefully walked towards Kristy, in step with the music.
He didn't even ask Ken, the other dancer, for "cuts." Rather, he simply stepped between them and started dancing closely with Kristy. Ken chuckled and turned to one of the other girls and continued dancing, amused by how smitten Kevin was.
Now Kristy was in his arms, like in the song, and the two moved together sensually, never taking their eyes off one another. Kristy's hands rested on Kevin's hips, her fingers splayed over his low-ride jeans and glow-in-the-dark boxers. Kevin hands were on her lower back, touching the skin left exposed by the short top she wore. As the song continued, he pulled her even closer and let his hands wander up and around, over her ribs under her sweater-vest. Kristy likewise let her hands roam over Kevin's tight abs, through his thin cotton tank top. The song finally came to an end, but neither moved to separate, until Brian tapped Kevin on theshoulder.
"Errr. Sorry to, ah, interrupt... but a bunch of us are gonna head over to 8Trax. Wanna come with?" Brian asked, wondering if either of them heard him since their eyes were still locked on each other. Kristy slowly nodded and the two followed the others upstairs and out into the cool night air.
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It was about 11:45 and the group was going to go to the West End Stage for the nightly "New Year's Eve Countdown." They stepped into the street that seemed to be getting even more crowded as the night went on. The small stage down the street, not far from the entrance to 8Trax, was showing videos of the various Top 40 songs that were playing overhead and many people were dancing in the streets to the sounds of Ricky Martin.
Kristy, Heather and Jessica started dancing to the Latin tune, successfully drawing looks of appreciation from many of the men on the street. Howie grabbed Heather's hand and pulled her towards him, leading her in a spicy Salsa dance. The group all applauded as the song ended. The beginning notes of a guitar played and the next song started, a new energy filling the group as "The One" began. The screen on the stage showed the handsome faces of the Boys and their choreographed dance moves, while on the street the same faces laughed while they danced spontaneously with their girls andfriends.
Kristy and Jessica danced together, while Kevin, AJ and several onlookers enjoyed their performance. Kristy pointed to Kevin on the line "There you are" and as the words of the song talked about "reaching out", Kristy reached out her hand and crooked her finger, beckoning Kevin to join her with a smirk on her beautiful face. Kevin approached her willingly and held out his hand, spinning her into his arms just as the line "Holding you all through the night" played. Kevin led Kristy in a modified cha-cha to the beat of the music, spinning and catching her with style and confidence.
A few people in the crowd recognized the gentlemen dancing and singing along with their song, and snapped pictures of them and their friends. Others simply enjoyed watching the group of fun-loving, attractive people who were so obviously having a great time.
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"Let me hear you scream!" the lead dancer on the stage instructed the large crowd. "Only 22 nights till the millennium!" she yelled, to which the Boys and their friends gave each other knowing grins.
"And here I thought the Millennium started May 18th!" Kristy giggled. She stood in front of Kevin with his arms around her waist, her back to his front as they waited for the countdown to begin. She laughed harder as he squeezed her tightly.
"And where were you then?" Kevin asked, wishing he'd known her then, wishing he'd always known her.
"At home. Watching you on MTV. Thinking how hot you were," she said, tilting her head sideways to look up at him.
"Were?" Kevin teased.
"Excuse me... ARE!!" she grinned and was rewarded with a deep kiss.
"Hey you two! We haven't gotten to that part yet!" AJ cracked.
"Just gettin' warmed up for the real thing," Kristy replied with a wiggle of her dark-blond eyebrows.
The dancers on the stage finished another short, high-energy routine and a blast of light signaled the start of the countdown.
"Ten! Nine! Eight!" The crowded chanted along, hands pumping in the air. "Seven! Six! Five! Four!" Kevin bent his head down and counted in Kristy's ear. "Three! Two! One!" Pyrotechnics around the stage area shot high into the midnight sky and mounds of confetti floated down around them. Kevin turned Kristy in his arms and kissed her slowly and deeply, his hands slipping up under her sweater-vest, stroking her back. She kissed him back with enthusiasm, running her manicured nails across his shoulders and down his back. His hands roamed lower and pulled her closer so there wasn't any doubt about how he felt about her. Breathlessly, they ended the kiss, Kevin's beautiful green eyes partly closed with desire and Kristy's amazing blue-green ones misty with passion.
"Happy New Year Princess!" Kevin whispered.
