They approached the entrance to the theater where "Fantasmic!" was staged and joined the large crowd that had formed waiting to be let in. Jessica led the group towards the front as they continued to chat and laugh. From the speakers overhead the beginning notes of "I Want It That Way" began to play. Kristy loved that song. It was a great tune with beautiful harmonies and a good mid-tempo beat. But mostly she liked 'cause Kevin had a solo in it, and the video seemed to show him a lot more than the other guys... or maybe it was just 'cause she only watched for him!
They continued to stand in the growing crowd of people and Kristy could feel everyone sort of move with the rhythm of the music. She looked at Kevin, who had gotten quiet, and noticed how uncomfortable he looked. Quickly assessing the situation, Kristy reached for Kevin's hand and nodded towards the half wall to the right of the entrance. He looked down at her and, seeing the understanding in her eyes, squeezed her hand in appreciation.
Kevin and Chris sat on the wall, with the rest of the group forming a half-circle around them, successfully shielding Kevin from the crowd, without looking like they were anything but close group of friends.
"Thanks guys," Kevin said quietly.
"No prob!" Heather spoke for the group. "I've seen the way people react when some of the characters are around... no telling what they'd do if they realized someone really famous was standing in their midst."
"Normally it isn't a big deal," Kevin explained. "Unlike A.J. or Nick, I'm not always recognized in public. But when they started playing this song, I started to get a little nervous that someone would put two and two together..." he trailed off, embarrassed to be talking about himself.
"Oh my gosh! You mean this is you?" Jessica asked in genuine surprise as Kevin's deep, rich voice played overhead.
Everyone turned to her in shock. Kevin laughed, "I take it this isn't your type of music?"
"I've heard these songs... your songs... before, mainly through Kristy," Jessica stammered. "But never really knew who sang them. You're a Backstr..."
"Ssshhhh!" Everyone shushed her at once, as Mike placed one hand over her mouth in attempts to quiet her before she did cause a riot.
"Sorry!" She whispered.
************************************************************************
As the crowd grew, a couple of teenage boys edged closer to the group. At first they bumped up against Kristy and the other girls, but the girls ignored them, figuring it was just part of being in a crowd. When they started "accidentally" brushing up against Kristy more frequently, she stepped closer to where Kevin was sitting atop the half-wall to give the boys more room. When one of their hands ended up on Kristy's bottom, she whirled on them, ready to let them have it.
Kevin had been watching all of this, curious to see how she'd handle the obnoxious teens. Smiling, he reached out for her hand before she could say anything to the boys. He then pulled her to him, standing her between his legs, her back to his front. He took her hands in his, letting them come to rest on top of his knees. He felt her relax as he gently rubbed the top of her hands and arms with his large, strong hands and she leaned against him slightly with a little sigh.
The group continued to talk, all witnessing the change in dynamics between the two, but not addressing it. Kristy leaned her head back against Kevin's shoulder as he continued to rub his hands up and down her arms in a soft caress. He breathed in the delicate scent of her perfume and shampoo, "Mmmm. You smell yummy," he whispered in her ear.
The combination of his hands on her skin, his breath against her hair, and his sexy, deep voice in her ear sent chills down Kristy's spine. "Cold?" Kevin chuckled in her ear.
She turned her head to glare at him, but couldn't quite carry it off as she met his warm, laughing eyes. "Actually," she whispered suggestively, "I'm feeling quite warm."
Kevin stopped laughing and swallowed hard. Kristy turned back to join her friends' conversation, repositioning herself to lean back against his chest, her head tucked under his chin.
"Kristy, where's your camera?" Heather asked. She knew Kristy always had her camera with her to document the activities of her friends, and Heather decided that this was definitely a Kodak moment.
Kristy fished around in her straw bag, "Here ya go..."
Heather took a picture of Mike and Jessica to stall, then caught Kristy and Kevin off guard, both of them smiling contently, just as they had been since sitting together. "Hey! We weren't ready!" Kristy giggled.
"O.K. I'll get another one. Try looking like you're having fun this time!" Heather instructed, laughing to herself. "If you guys were having any more fun, you'd need to get a room!" "Smile! Good one."
Kristy couldn't stop smiling. "So, group photo time?"
"Yep! Everyone get in together," Heather directed, stepping back to fit the group into the viewfinder. "Oops, sorry!" She apologized to the man she bumped into.
"Why don't you join your friends, and I'll get one of all of you?" He offered.
"Great!" Heather ran forward to jump in the picture.
"On the count of three, say 'Mickey'," he instructed.
"Nah," Chris shouted, "How 'bout 'Aladdin'?" The group started giggling.
"O.K. Obviously that works. One, two, three..."
"Aladdin!" They all said with big smiles.
"Now a crazy one!" Mike suggested.
Chris moved forward to sit on the ground with one leg pointing upwards. "From your cheerleading days, Chris?" Kristy asked, laughing at her friend's antics.
"Pretty stylin', huh?" He turned and shot her a grin.
Heather knelt behind Chris and put her hands over his mouth, "Peace at last!"
Mike and Jessica stood slightly off to each side and bent in, posing like fountains, or deranged ballerinas.
Kristy and Kevin laughed, but made no move to get crazy. "Com'mon you two. Strike a pose!" Heather giggled.
Before Kristy could anticipate what Kevin was about to do, he bent down and swept her up into his arms. "Kevin! Put me down!" She struggled in protest.
"Now if you keep wigglin' around like that, I might drop you. You better hold on, just to be safe," he said, smiling into her face that was only inches from his. He liked the way she felt in his arms; liked how her tan, slender, shapely legs peaked out from under her skirt as he supported them with his arm.
Kristy put one arm around his muscular shoulder and let herself enjoy the feeling of his strong arms around her.
"Are the two love birds set back there?" The man with Kristy's camera asked.
Kristy and Kevin both blushed slightly and turned to see the rest of the group and several onlookers smiling at them.
"This time let's try saying something that represents us girls," Jessica suggested.
"And what would that be?" Mike asked, already suspecting where they were going with this.
The three girls exchanged smiles and nodded, "On three..." the man started. "One, two, three."
"Princesses!"
