~*~Chapter Twelve: The Interview and the First Date~*~

There were many more concerts. I was still nervous before going on as the opening act, but not nearly as much as the first time. It was getting easier and I was started to perform better because of it.

After a few weeks, I had my first real interview for a magazine. The interview didn’t go the way I expected it. Sure, the girl, probably in her late 20s, began with the obvious, “how did you get the opportunity to audition for the Backstreet Boys?” I told her about Kevin and being out with my best friend and happening to perform on stage.
“Is it true that you weren’t the original choice for the tour?” she continued.
I should have been expecting this question, so I wasn’t too surprised. “Yes. They originally went with someone else, Sandra Dwaine.”
“Do you have any idea why they ended up letting her go?”
I shrugged. “I guess the Backstreet Boys and her just ended up not being the best fit. I believe she is coming out with a CD anyway, though, so maybe everything worked out the best for everyone.” I didn’t like her at all, but I was hoping that wasn’t obvious. I didn’t want to be quoted as having said mean things about Sandra. Bad karma, if nothing else.
“Yes, she currently has a song making its way up the charts. She was being interviewed a week ago and said that her termination from the Black and Blue tour was wrongful. Sandra was quoted as saying, ‘I was obviously the more talented choice, since I was picked first. I had the singing ability, the dancing ability, the confidence. Then, out of nowhere, after I had been working hard on my act and after going through hours a day of exhausting dance routines on repeat, they told me that due to the complaint of a Backstreet Boy, Brian Littrell, they were being forced to pick who he wanted. He had gotten close with some other girl. So it became political. Instead of choosing someone based on talent, which is what Kevin claimed he wanted, they chose someone just because she was willing to throw herself on a Backstreet Boy. It’s just sad what people are willing to do to get into the business these days. And the fact that she gives off a wholesome image? It makes me sick!’ Do you have a reply comment to that?” the reporter asked, showing no sign of emotion.
I, on the other hand, was stunned. How dare she? Sandra didn’t even know me! She’d met me once! “I...” I didn’t know where to begin. I was too mad. I just sat there for a few seconds. Then, “I don’t know where Sandra got any of that...” I started.

Just then, someone came and told me that I was late for getting dressed for the show. Before I could comment further, I was rushed out of the bus.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I tried to put the interview out of my mind, but even though several days had passed, it was still bothering me. There was no concert on Valentine’s Day, but I was tired from the concert last night and I would have another one tomorrow.
I called my family and then called Carmen. “Hey, no big plans tonight?”
“No. For some reason Johnny Depp hasn’t called yet. We’ll see if I’m still available for him when he does,” she laughed. “Why aren’t you out with your own Romeo?”
There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” I yelled.
“Hello, beautiful, you shouldn’t spend a holiday by yourself in a bus,” Brian said, smiling gorgeously.
“Speak of the Devil... no matter how late you get back, call me and give me details! Have fun! Do everything I would do, and nothing you would do,” I could practically here her smiling over the phone before she hung up.
I shut it off, laughing.
“Who was that?”
“Carmen,” I said.
“You ready to go?” Brian asked suddenly.
“Huh? Go where?” I asked.
“I thought I made myself clear!” he said, his voice full of humor. “You can’t spend Valentine’s Day by yourself. I’m taking you to dinner.”

I started to say that he didn’t have to. But I remembered Carmen’s words. She would think nothing of some guy lavishly spending money on her. And, looking at Brian’s white shirt and tie attire, I guessed a fancy restaurant was what he had in mind.

I smiled. “Okay. Give me five minutes,” I said, looking at my old pair of jeans and the t-shirt I had worn to bed (this morning, after being too pepped up from the concert to get to sleep any earlier).
The nicest clothes I had were what they gave me to wear during concerts, and I didn’t have any of those clothes with me on the bus. “Hmm...” I thought my search was going to be in vain. Then, I found a sleeveless red dress. Carmen must have left it here. ‘It probably wasn’t even an accident,’ I thought to myself. Carmen was always scheming and was too often right.

Surprisingly, it fit. It was a little tighter and longer on me than it would be on her, but it did the job rather nicely. It came to a nice length right above my knees, so I couldn’t imagine how indecently short it was on her. I brushed my hair and put a clip in it, not having the time to do anything more elaborate or having time to bother with make-up. But I didn’t mind too much.
“Wow. I said you were beautiful before but now I’m at a loss for words,” Brian complimented.
I blushed, of course, and smiled. He was the nicest guy I had ever met, he always had the nicest things to say.

We were already parked at the arena for our show the next day. We came up to a car in the parking lot and he opened the door for me.
“Who’s car is this?” I asked, when he sat down in the driver’s seat.
“I borrowed it from a friend,” he said, starting the car.

We went to a very nice Italian restaurant.
“Someone recommended this place, and I thought I would check it out,” Brian said, as we were seated by a window. Candles lit the room. The view was beautiful, trees and Lake Michigan, the concert tomorrow being in a Michigan venue. Dinner was wonderful. Brian was wonderful. The interview was pushed to the back of my mind, and I was having a wonderful night.

Never had I been expecting to be spending Valentine’s Day with someone as great as him. We had a good time. We had always shared some sort of connection. Tonight it was more like chemistry.
“I’m going to the bathroom, do you want the keys to the car?” Brian asked as we got up to leave.
“No, its freezing outside. I’ll wait in here,” I replied. I sat down in the entrance of the restaurant on a very comfortable couch. I grabbed a Teen magazine at random and began flipping through it. To my surprise, there was the interview I had given. It gave the quote of Sandra’s that the interviewer had told me.

'When asked about her accusations, August was speechless. She did not even try to deny what Sandra Dwaine had said. These pictures of Brian Littrell and August McFadden were recently taken. Are they keeping a relationship a secret? Did she seduce him as a way to fame like the other singer claims? Did Sandra really get taken off the tour unfairly? Is August’s seemingly sweet persona just messing with fans minds like she may be messing with Brian’s? These are the current questions. Who is more talented, Sandra or August? Sandra’s CD is set to come out soon...'

There was one picture of Brian and I coming out of my bus. Another picture of us before a concert. The third was when we had gone out to dinner with Nick and Howie one night, but were not at the table when the picture was taken.

She had totally manipulated the conversation! I had had to go somewhere before I could give a response! Now what was everyone going to think of me?
“Ready?” Brian asked. I nodded, not looking him in the eye. We got outside. I had a jacket, but I still shivered in the night air.
“Want to go for a walk?” Brian asked.
“Umm... it’s kind of cold,” I started to decline.
“Once frostbite kicks in, you won’t be able to feel it,” Brian joked, putting his arm around me.
I pulled out of his halfway embrace.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I said, unconvincingly.
“What happened? A few minutes ago, I thought you were having a great time. Now...”
“Well, what if someone sees us? I mean, it’s Valentine’s Day. They’ll assume stuff...” I was still thinking about the candid photos in the magazine.
“Assume what?” Brian asked, laughter gleaming from his eyes.
“You know what I mean. That we’re dating or something...”
“Well, I was kind of hoping that this was a date,” he said sheepishly.
I didn’t say anything. My mind was swirling with happiness from what he just said and with anger at the interview. Embarrassment that Sandra was publicly speaking out against me and that I had not handled the interview well at all.
“Did you not want it to be?” Brian said, trying not to sound disappointed. The laughter was gone from his eyes.
“No, I do. I did. I mean...”
He looked at me confused. I knew I wasn’t making any sense.
“I did an interview a few weeks ago. And the girl told me that Sandra had been telling the press that the only reason she was fired was because I had tried to seduce you so you would complain and make them put me in as the opening act and not her. That I’m just using you for fame. And then, while you were in the bathroom, the interview was in a magazine and the chick wrote that I didn’t try to deny the accusation or anything, so that it was probably all true. And there were several pictures of us and who knows if someone starts taking more tonight...” I rambled on. “People will think I’m using you. And that you’re interested in me. So being here with me will just get you bad press, too.”
“It is mostly true that I was the one who brought up the idea about firing Sandra. Kevin agreed with me whole-heartedly. I had originally wanted to pick you, but she had shown the stage presence and the ability to handle the press. I was out voted and, at the time, she did seem like the smart way to go so I can understand why they wanted to go with her. It’s her own fault for blowing her shot, for not working hard enough. Then, you were given the opportunity and you’ve been doing a wonderful job. One interview will not completely overshadow that. I’ve had lots of bad experiences with the press before, this probably won’t be your last experience, either. But you’ll learn to do your best in interviews and to not worry about it.”

His blue eyes were shining in the moonlight. I could hear the water swaying next to us. I nodded.
“And August," he lowered his voice and said sincerely, "if the media gets the idea that I’m interested in you, they’re right,” he said, a boyish grin on his face. “Sandra noticed at AJ’s party, which is no doubt partly why she’s doing all of this. The other guys have been hassling me for forever. The media is catching on... I know everyone’s opinion on us but yours. Being out with me will attract media attention. I can’t help that. People will talk. Interviewers will say what’s true, what they think is true, and then add their own lies. Is being with me worth it to you?

I looked deeply into his eyes, and smiled feeling reassured. I think he knew my answer. Brian framed my face in his hands, and kissed me. The rest of the world was wiped from my mind. He moved his hands and wrapped them around my waist. I linked mine around his neck. It was like the last several months were leading up to this one moment.

Chapter Eleven
Chapter Thirteen
Dreaming of Destiny
Frick's Fairytales