Chapter 40
Several hours later, Lex and AJ woke in each other’s arms and AJ asked sleepily, "What are you doing here?"
"Gee, aren’t you glad to see me?"
AJ kissed her, "You know I am, babe. I just didn’t know you were coming."
"Tyler called me yesterday and said you needed me."
AJ laughed softly. "Remind me to thank her."
"Don’t worry. I intend to thank her myself."
"We need to get up. We’re going to do a radio show and give away tickets to tonight’s show."
"Cool. Can I come too?"
AJ smiled, "Did you really think I’d let you get too far from my side?"
Lex kissed him, "I was hoping you wouldn’t."
AJ and Lex got up, dressed, and went out to join the others. Tyler was excited to see Lex and went to give her a hug.
"When did you get here?"
"I guess it was around six. The sun was getting ready to come up," said Lex.
Howie had seen her come in and said, "It was. You know, you could speak to someone when you come in."
Lex laughed, "I’m sorry, Howie. I didn’t see you when I came in. I was a little preoccupied."
"What happened to you anyway? You were suppose to be here by dinner last night," said Tyler.
"Severe weather all along the way, especially over Kansas and Arkansas. We didn’t even leave Orlando until almost dinner time. First, they had us wait for like two hours in the terminal and then once we got on the plane, we sat on the tarmac for almost 4 hours. It was the WORST flight I have ever been on," said Lex as AJ hugged her close. "It was definitely worth it though."
AJ said, "Definitely."
Nick said, "Let’s go get some breakfast. I’m starved."
Kevin said, "We don’t have time, Nick. We’re suppose to be at the radio station in half an hour. You should have gotten up with us and eaten earlier."
"Why can’t we be late?" whined Nick.
"Because we made a promise to be there by ten for the morning show. Now stop whining and let’s go," said Kevin. "We’ll have the fans to deal with here and at the radio station."
Tyler gave Kevin a kiss and the guys started to leave.
Lex looked back and asked, "Aren’t you coming too?"
Tyler looked at Kevin and said, "Well, no. I wasn’t going to go."
Lex looked at AJ and said, "Baby, I want to talk to Tyler. Go on and I’ll see you after you’re done."
Kevin said, "Ty, why don’t you come on with us so Lex and AJ can be together?"
Tyler hadn’t really wanted to face the public today but she didn’t want to be away from Kevin either so she agreed to go too. The group moved with the security guards through the hotel and out to the waiting limo. The guys stopped to sign autographs while Lex and Tyler went to the limo to wait for them.
Lex said, "Tyler, I really need to talk to you."
"Is everything okay?" asked Tyler as she noticed Lex seemed somewhat upset.
"No...everything has gone to hell...well, everything except my relationship with AJ. That’s about the only thing that IS okay and to think, I almost threw it away."
"We can talk while the guys do the radio show."
‘Thanks, Ty."
Linda was waiting for the guys at the radio station and was glad to see Lex. She asked, "How was Kryss doing when you left, Lex?"
"I don’t know. I didn’t see her."
"Why do you ask?" asked Howie a little alarmed.
"When we talked yesterday, she seemed a little upset. Howie, didn’t you talk to her yesterday?"
"Yeah, just before lunch but she was okay then."
"Maybe it was nothing," said Linda. "At any rate, you guys are going to be here through lunch and you’ll have a couple hours before you have to be at the arena for rehearsal. If you want, you can straight from here to the arena."
Nick asked, "What about food?"
"Nick, would you think about something besides your stomach for a change?" said Howie.
"I’m HUNGRY!"
Linda asked, "Why didn’t you eat breakfast at the hotel then?"
"Because he wouldn’t get his lazy butt out of bed to eat with the rest of us," said Kevin irritably.
"Well, the radio station is going to provide lunch for you so you’ll just have to wait until they get it here," said Linda. "Unless Tyler or Lex want to go get you something that is."
Nick smiled his best grin, turning on the ‘Carter Charm’ and said, "Tyler, sweet Tyler. Would you PLEASE go get me something to eat?"
Tyler laughed and said, "Sure, Nick, but not because of your cute smile but because Kevin doesn’t want to listen to you whine about being hungry all morning."
Lex said, "I’ll go with you, Tyler."
"Thanks."
Nick gave Tyler some money and the two girls left to get Nick something to eat. They didn’t have to walk far since there was a Burger King two doors down from the radio station.
As they walked, Tyler asked, "Lex, what’s going on?"
"Tyler, things are SO screwed up. Yesterday, I went in to audition for one of the new shows they are getting ready to do and there was this whole new group of men there. Mr. Burton was in his office with the CEO of Disney and he looked really upset. While I was getting ready to audition, this girl came over and asked me my name. I gave it to her and she looked at her clipboard and then said that I wasn’t allowed to audition for this show or any of the upcoming shows."
"Where was Sonja and Fiona?"
"I don’t know. I asked why and she said that she didn’t owe me an explanation but that there was new management of the shows now. Tyler, I really think your job is in jeopardy."
"Not anymore. I quit yesterday and I’m working with Fatima now. I signed a contract with The Firm yesterday morning."
"You mean they still wanted you even though you’re pregnant?"
"Yep!"
"That is so cool."
"So, how is your life screwed up?"
"Well, when they told me that I couldn’t audition for that show or any in the future, I quit. It meant that as soon as the show I was doing then was over, I’d be out of a job. Then, when I called home to tell my folks about what had happened, Mom told me that she and Daddy are getting a divorce. After almost thirty years, they are getting a divorce! I can’t believe it."
"Wow! That’s such a shame, Lex, but I have something that might cheer you up. I was going to ask you this anyway but since you’re out of a job, how about joining the dancers for the guys? I’m in charge of hiring and firing."
"So you and Fatima are working equal?"
"Yeah. See, they hired Kristen to entice me to come to work for them."
"That was dirty."
"Yeah, but I SO ENJOYED firing Kristen. What do you say?"
"I’d be a fool to say anything but yes! Thank you, Tyler!"
The two got Nick something to eat and took it back to the radio station.
When they got inside, Kevin met them at the door and said, "Come on in here with us."
Tyler and Lex joined the guys and they were given headsets to wear once they got back on the air.
"What’s going on, Kev?" asked Tyler.
"You two are going to ask questions about us and the caller with the correct answer is going to win front row tickets to tonight’s show. Then, out of all the winners, we’re going to draw one name for backstage passes."
"How many questions?" asked Lex.
"Try to get at least one for each of us," said Nick.
The DJ held up his hand to signal that they were about to go back on the air and then said, "We’re back now live with the Backstreet Boys and in the studio with us are two of the BIGGEST fans of the guys. Why don’t you ladies introduce yourselves?"
"Hi, I’m Lex and I’m AJ’s girlfriend."
"Hi, I’m Tyler and I’m Kevin’s fiancé and Howie’s cousin."
"Here’s what we’re going to do. The girls are each going to ask at least three questions each, that’s 6 chances, and then the guys will pick a number. That number caller with the correct answer will win a pair of front row tickets to tonight’s show. Then, after we have all the winners, we’re going to put those names in a hat and draw a name for a pair of backstage passes. Okay, who’s first?"
Tyler said, "I'll go first. This should be kinda easy. Two of the guys are cousins. Which two?"
"Brian, pick a number," said the DJ.
"Seven."
"Caller number 7, if you know who the two cousins are, call now and good luck."
The other questions that Tyler and Lex asked were; Lex: AJ has a number of tattoos but what is the one that is on his stomach? Tyler: How old was Nick when the Backstreet Boys first started? Lex: Each of the guys have several nicknames. Give at least one for each guy. Tyler: Kevin has three tattoos. What are they?" Lex: What foundation did Howie and his family establish in Orlando?
Between the questions and getting the winners, the guys talked about the tour, Kevin and Brian getting engaged, and the DJ played songs from the guys newest CD along with some from their other CD’s.
When they had all the questions answered, Tyler said, "I have one more question."
"Do you have two more tickets?" asked the DJ.
Kevin said, "Yeah, we’ve got two more."
The DJ said, "Okay listeners, we have one more question for you. Here’s the final question from Tyler."
"To get this, you had to be listening as Kevin and the guys were talking about how Kevin proposed to me on stage. The guys sang three songs before Kevin got down on one knee. What were those three songs?"
Kevin said, "We’ll take the first caller with the correct answer."
"And the songs should be in order," added Brian.
The DJ started the music as the calls came in. The guys took the calls themselves and it took six calls before they got a winner.
"How long can you guys wait around?"
"About an hour," said Kevin.
The DJ went back on the air after the song finished and said, "We’ve got 7 lucky winners who will receive a pair of front row tickets to tonight’s concert. One of them will also win two backstage passes in just a few minutes. Before we draw though, you seven winners, if you’ll come to the station in the next hour, you can meet the guys when you come to pick up your tickets. Now, for the winner of the backstage passes."
Lex reached into the hat and pulled out a name. She handed it to the guys to see and together they said, "Vanessa Silverman."
"There you go. Vanessa, you and a lucky friend are going to get two front row tickets, two backstage passes, and a limo ride to and from the concert. Remember, you need to pick up your tickets before five today and if you come in the next hour, you can meet the Backstreet Boys themselves."
The DJ put on another song and then thanked the guys for coming down. He showed them to the area where they could wait to meet the winners.
When they were out of the DJ booth, Tyler said, "I’ve got some really good news and AJ, I think you’re going to like it more than anyone else."
"What’s up, Ty?" asked AJ.
"Lex is going to join us as one of the dancers."
They were all excited but AJ asked, "Baby, what about your job back home?"
"I quit yesterday."
"What happened?" asked Howie.
Lex explained everything to the guys that she had told Tyler earlier.
Tyler said, "Something is going on there. I’m wondering if Sonja, Fiona, and Kryss have had problems."
Brian said, "I haven’t talked to Sonja but I’m suppose to call her today around dinner time."
Howie and Nick said they hadn’t talked to Kryss or Fiona either but they too were going to call later in the day.
Kevin saw that Tyler was worried about her friends and he put his arms around her. "It’s going to be okay, baby. I’m sure that there is a logical explanation for all of it."
"I can’t help it, Kevin. I have this really BAD feeling about all this. Who are these people and why are they making these changes?"
"We’ll just have to wait until Brian, Howie, and Nick talk to the girls to find out. Stop worrying."
