Alanna went down to breakfast the next morning with Lance. "Okay we are scheduled for a photo shoot this morning and the magazine wants you to come along too."
Alanna shot him a surprised look. "They do?"
Lance chuckled. "Yes they do. Why are you so shocked?"
"Why would anyone want a picture of me?"
"Alanna...what are we going to do with you?" Lance laughed.
"Sorry Lance, this is just really weird for me at the moment. So what's going to be happening at this photo shoot?"
"Well I'm going to have some shots done with the group. They want some of you and me and then you with all of us. I think they want to write some article up about our other business endeavours and you my dear are part of that," Lance smiled.
"So when do we leave?"
"The van is leaving in 30 minutes. Meet us down in the lobby okay? Until then you can do what you want. I'll see you then." Lance stood up and walked from the hotel dining room. Alanna soon followed him and headed towards Ashlyn and Rebekah's room.
As soon as the door opened Alanna pushed straight past Rebekah into the room. "Good morning to you too Alanna!"
"Rebekah please I need to talk to you guys."
"What's up?" asked Ashlyn as she walked out of the bathroom, drying off her hair with a towel.
"I have to go to a photo shoot with the guys," Alanna sighed.
Rebekah looked at Alanna. "Well that was gonna happen sooner or later right?"
Alanna let out another sigh. "I just didn't think about all this. Everything happened so quickly. One minute I'm looking at college classes, the next I'm on tour with N SYNC. Nearly every minute of the day I find myself thinking is this really happening to me?. Rebekah, you don't know what it's like for me. You grew up in this industry. I'm gonna end up looking ridiculous today because I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing."
Rebekah gave Alanna a reassuring smile. "You're gonna do great Alanna. Just go there and be yourself and smile for the camera. There are too many people putting on a front in this business. Anyway Lance will look after you."
"Maybe JC will too." Ashlyn quickly shut up when Alanna gave her a warning look.
"Okay I'm going, wish me luck."
"Luck!" shouted the 2 girls as Alanna shut the door.
Rebekah turned to Ashlyn. "She talked to you yet?"
"Nope, but she's gonna. Believe me, it's only so long before that girl is gonna crack."
~*~
Alanna followed the guys into the studio. She had just endured a 15-minute journey with Chris and Joey jumping around the van. It had resembled family trips where you could guarantee the aggravating question from her younger brother, "are we there yet?".
Alanna was immediately met with people running around in all directions. Lance looked down at her. "You okay?"
"Uh huh."
"Come over here, I wanna introduce you to some people."
Alanna felt herself being led towards a man and a woman who both looked in their late twenties. "Alanna this is the photographer for today, Greg Thomas. This here is the lady who will be doing your make-up, Paige Winters. Guys this is my new singing star Alanna Scott," Lance smiled.
Alanna blushed. "It's nice to meet you both."
"We've worked with Greg and Paige many times so don't worry about anything."
Paige stepped up. "Lance you can go now. I think us girls can take it from here."
"I'll see you in a little while."
Alanna watched as Lance walked back to join the rest of the guys who were looking though the wardrobe for today's shoot. She turned back to Paige. "You ready?" asked Paige.
"Yup."
Paige took her into a room just off the main studio. "There are some clothes there if you want to quickly change into them. I'll be back in a second. Just wanna make sure the boys are all wearing what they're supposed to be wearing. We wouldn't want Joey choosing the outfits now would we."
Alanna giggled before turning to pick up the clothes set out for her. She quickly changed into them and looked in the mirror. She was wearing black leather flares with a three-quarter length sleeved black shirt. The flares were low cut so her midriff was bared slightly. Alanna was happy with the outfit. It wasn't much different to what girls her age would wear which she was happy about. Alanna's mind filled with images of half-clothed singers and she silently thanked Lance for not wanting to take that approach with her.
Alanna turned away from the mirror to observe the room. It held a series of chairs in front of a mirror that stretched the length of the room with lights strategically placed at various points. It reminded her of the dressing room backstage at her school. Every brand of make-up imaginable adorned the tabletop. It was every girl's dream. Paige noticed Alanna eyeing the products as she re-entered the room. "Pretty cool huh?
Alanna smiled up at the woman. "My best friend would love this."
"Well my dear you are the one that is going to be made into Cinderella today. Now hop up on that chair and let me work my wonders," she smiled.
Alanna stepped up onto one of the chairs. It was slightly higher than a regular chair to prevent the make-up artist having to bend down. Alanna started thinking this might not be so bad after all. Paige seemed great. She was really putting her at ease in this unknown place.
"Don't think we've got too much work to do after all," Paige said examining Alanna's face. "Have you always had hair this long?" She motioned to the girl's waist length wavy brown hair.
"Yeah, ever since I was a kid."
"Don't go cutting it anytime soon okay. Do you know how much stars pay for extensions these days to get hair looking like yours? Let me tell you, a hell of a lot."
Alanna blushed yet again. It was a habit she wished she could grow out of. Some people said it was sweet but she thought it was plain embarrassing.
"You know there are some people that I do have to work hard to make look good. Have you taken a look at those N SYNC boys lately? Damn the bags under the eyes, the zits. I tell you Alanna it's complete hell!"
Alanna looked up at Paige confused. There was a devious look on her face.
"SO not funny!" Alanna turned to see Justin entering the room followed by JC. They were both dressed, as was she, in black. Alanna stared at JC who was wearing a very tight shirt. She ordered herself to turn away.
"What would you do without this gorgeous face?" Justin moved his face so it was just inches away from Paige's.
Paige put her hand up between the two faces and pushed Justin's away. "Believe me Curly, I'd survive. "Now sit down, the both of you. I need to finish up here with Paige."
The two men sat down in seats identical to that which Alanna was in. Paige continued to brush powder onto Alanna's cheeks as Alanna caught someone looking at her in the mirror. She met the eyes of the person in question, JC. He flashed her a quick smile. Alanna's breath caught. She couldn't believe the affect he was having on her. A few minutes later Alanna was done and Paige told her she could go out and take a look at what was going on. Alanna, eager to get away from the man that was making her extremely confused, readily agreed.
A huge white backdrop had been set up in the studio and Alanna watched as people set up lights and cameras. Alanna turned to see Lance talking with Greg. Joey and Chris were dancing around on the other side of the room. Turning around she spotted a stool in the corner of the room. She headed over to it not knowing what else to do. Everyone looked so busy and she felt as if she was in the way, as if she had no purpose in being there. That was then Alanna realised she WAS the purpose of everyone else being there. Well...her and N SYNC. Alanna shook her head still not quite believing how this could ever feel normal.
"Crazy isn't it?
Next to Alanna stood JC also taking in the scene in front of them. Alanna cleared her throat. "Yep...it sure is."
"They should seriously think about having this back at school on picture day. Maybe then our school photos wouldn't turn out so bad and come back to haunt us when we become famous."
Alanna laughed. Oh how true that was. She'd have to have a word with her mother about keeping those childhood pictures locked away.
"Just count yourself lucky you weren't on TV too. Do you know how embarrassing it is every time they show those old MMC episodes? I think every show we have ever been on has dragged out a clip of me on that. We just have to sit there and smile while the host continues to humiliate us and we're silently cursing the people who ever gave us those haircuts."
Alanna had never expected JC to have a sense of humour. He was always portrayed as the serious one who slept all the time. What Alanna had discovered was a man who had a hilarious sarcastic way about him. He was a lot of fun. When he goofed off it also made her more comfortable around him. Even after all this time around Lance and the limited time she had spent with the rest of the guys, she still had to remind herself that these were normal guys when it came down to it. All the times you would see them at awards shows and showbiz parties had a way of deluding you into thinking these people were somehow different to you, when really they were just doing a job, putting on a show for all the cameras.
"JC, Alanna, we're ready," someone shouted out.
"Come on Al, lets go crack the camera with our ugly mugs."
Alanna smiled and shook her head as she followed JC towards the awaiting group of people.
~*~
Alanna was able to watch the guys take their shots first. She was glad about this because she could see how everything worked. She realised that a lot of the time the guys' just played around and the photographer would snap away catching them in natural poses. When the guys posed by themselves and were asked to look serious, the others would stand in the background trying to get the person in question to laugh. Lance told her that the guys had had so many photo shoots over the last few years that they had to try and make the best of them by making them fun. When it was finally Alanna and Lance's turn she felt remarkably relaxed. Justin, Joey, Chris and JC all stood behind the camera pulling faces at them which she couldn't help but laugh at. This caused for some fun shots which they were shown samples of at the time. The dreaded fake smile was not apparent on Alanna's face, as she had genuinely been having a good time.
The time had come for Alanna to have photos taken with the group as a whole. Everyone stood in front of the white backdrop waiting to be told what position to take. Greg finally turned to the group after a discussion with his colleagues. "Okay guys...and girl," he said smiling at Alanna. "I want two of you lifting Alanna up."
Alanna's eyes widened. "Getting six of you in a picture together is not the easiest thing to do. To prevent the picture looking too boring I want Justin and erm...JC to stand in the back. You two will be lifting Alanna up."
"I'm sure two muscle-bound hunks like you can life little ol' Al up," shouted Paige.
"Don't you know it," shouted Justin as he flexed his arms. JC rolled his eyes at him. Alanna just stood there not really knowing what to do.
"Lance, Chris, Joey...you're gonna be up in front. I want you slightly crouched down. Not too much, I do after all have to get Alanna's pretty little head in this shot. Okay everyone get into position."
Alanna looked at JC and Justin. Justin took charge of the situation. "Okay ready C?" The next thing she knew she was being hoisted into the air and placed on one of each of the guys' shoulders.
"Quick Greg, she's breaking my back," Justin joked.
Alanna nervously put an arm around the necks of both Justin and JC to try and keep her balance. JC glanced up at her. "You okay up there? My shoulder isn't too boney for you is it?"
Alanna shook her head. His shoulder was perfect. 'His shoulder was perfect?' Alanna berated herself. That was it, she was truly getting pathetic now.
Greg took a few shots before wrapping up the session. JC took Alanna by the waist and carefully lowered her to the ground. "Hi," he smiled as her feet touched the ground and their eyes met. "Come on, let's go get this junk off our faces and then you're joining me and the guys for lunch.
Alanna could just nod her head as JC grabbed her hand and pulled her back over to the dressing room. "Please don't let my hand be sweating," Alanna hoped as she felt her heart face a little faster. "That would just totally gross him out.
~*~
Lunch was eaten at a small diner. It was quite empty as it was early and school was in session. This suited the guys and their security. A peaceful meal could become one of life's greatest pleasures in the crazy world they lived in.
Alanna sat between Lance and JC during lunch. All business was put aside as the group of friends joked between themselves. She found herself thinking she could get used to this.
She got to know all of the guys better during that lunch and they also asked questions about her life. When Lance had let slip that she wrote songs but had yet to allow him to see them, JC became very interested. He made it one of his missions to look at them and Alanna had just smiled at his determination. Little did JC know that those songs held a lot of memories within the lyrics. Memories she frankly didn't want to relive.
Chapter 7
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