The
Hometown Countdown
**Before
The Show**
"Bean,
are you okay?" Brianna asked.
"Yeah,
I'm fine," she answered quickly. "I've gotta go get ready for the
show."
"Alright.
See ya later."
'How
am I okay?' Bianca thought as she headed to her dressing room. 'I know a big,
huge secret about my best friend and I can't tell her. Omigod, what am I gonna
do?'
"Well,
are you in a hurry?" someone's voice broke into her thoughts. "Are
you gonna come speak to me before the show?" Nick walked over to her and
slipped his arms around her waist.
"Yeah,
I'm sorry," she said leaning in for a kiss. "I've just got a lot on
my mind."
"Why
don't you tell me and unload it all?" he offered sweetly.
"It's
just stress from everything." She wanted so badly to tell him because,
after all, he was her boyfriend, but Brian had trusted her with his secret, and
she knew if he didn't tell Nick, she shouldn't either.
"Are
you sure?" he asked staring intently into her eyes. Nick could tell something
was bothering Bianca, but didn't want to bug her about it.
"Yeah,
I'm fine," she said forcing a smile. "I'm tired, too. I promise,
everything is okay."
"Well,
I'm gonna go so you can get ready. See ya after the show," he kissed her
before walking out of the dressing room.
"Hey,
Nick, can I talk to you for a sec?" Brianna caught up to him on her way to
find Kevin.
"Yeah,
what's up?"
"It's
about Bianca. Has she been acting a little weird to you? Kinda distant?"
she asked.
"Yeah,
actually, she has. I was talking to her just a few minutes ago, and she didn't
seem at all like herself. She told me she's fine though, so I'm not gonna keep
bugging her about it. I figured if it's something really bad, she'll tell
me."
"I
guess so; it just bugs me. Ya know?"
"Brianna,"
Nick began, "she's your best friend. I know she'll end up telling you.
Then you can tell me," he smiled.
"Yeah,
okay," she grinned. "I'll keep that in mind."
**Later
That Night**
Everyone
was sitting around Bianca and Brianna's hotel room, not really paying any
attention to the movie on t.v.
Kevin
leaned down and kissed Brianna softly on the lips. "Baby, I'm gonna go
take a shower."
"Alright,"
she smiled kissing him back. A few minutes later, Brianna broke the silence
again. "You know what?"
"What?"
Bianca asked looking away from the t.v.
"Well,
I was thinking that since Kevin's birthday is only in a couple of weeks, that
we should plan something. A little get together, you know?"
"That
sounds like a good idea," Howie replied.
"Yeah,"
A.J. smiled. "I think he'd like that."
"That's
what I was thinking. I think we should do something during the day
though," she grinned at Bianca. "I kinda have something planned for
that night."
"That'll
be good," Bianca smiled.
They
continued talking and making plans about Kevin's birthday until he came back
from his shower.
"I
think I'm gonna head back to my room. Bean has an interview tomorrow, so I
think we all should," he smiled.
"We'll
leave in a little while. I wanna finish watching this," A.J. spoke for
everyone since they had gotten interested in the movie.
"It's
fine Kev. I'll make 'em leave in a little while," she said.
"Okay,
do you wanna come with me?" he grinned at Brianna.
Without
a word she waved to Bianca and quickly followed Kevin out the door.
Bianca
looked at Brian to see his reaction and saw the hurt in his eyes. It was
obvious that he really liked Brianna, but also felt terrible about her being
his cousin's girlfriend.
"Well,
I'm gonna go back and go to sleep. I'm worn out," he slowly got up. Before
he left he mouthed "I really need to talk to you" to Bianca, who
nodded, and walked back to his room.
Soon
A.J. and Howie left too, and it was just Bianca and Nick lying on her bed.
"You
know, being here with you is really nice, but baby I need to go to bed,"
Bianca said almost asleep.
"Okay,
Goodnight," he hesitated for a minute, "I love you."
"I
love you, too. Goodnight," she looked up at him and smiled and then kissed
the tip of his nose. "See you in the morning."
**Kevin
And Brianna's Room**
"Baby,
what do you want for your birthday?" Brianna asked Kevin as they snuggled
into bed together.
"Nothing,
baby," Kevin said pulling her on top of him. "Just realizing how
lucky I am is enough for me."
"But
you have to want something! I mean, there's gotta be one thing."
"Okay...there
is one small thing..." Kevin said kissing her gently. "I need to know
that you love me as much as I love you and that I'm the most important thing in
your life; just like you are in mine."
Brianna
kissed Kevin and let her tongue slide between his lips. "Baby, you're all
that and more," she kissed him again and took his face in her hands.
Kevin
pulled the covers over their heads and tickled Brianna as she cried out in weak
protest. Their laughter got louder and louder as they rolled around like
children under the sheets.
**********
In
his bedroom next door, Brian sat silent and listened to Brianna and Kevin's
laughter. They were so happy and Brian felt so alone. He flipped off the light
and slid into bed, trying to sleep with the couple's happy giggles ringing in
his ears. Wiping away a tear, he closed his eyes and blocked out their laughing
as he slipped off to sleep.
**The
Next Morning**
Bianca
woke up early and took a shower. As soon as she was out, she decided to call
and wake Brianna up.
"Hello?"
Brianna answered, obviously still asleep.
"Girl,
get up. If you're gonna take a shower, you need to do it now," Bianca said
quickly.
"Yeah,
okay," Brianna said without enthusiasm.
"Now!
Brianna, get your lazy ass up right now and take a shower. We have to leave in
an hour. I'll be down in the restaurant getting breakfast," she half
yelled into the receiver.
"Okay,
okay. I'm up. Damn, have an attitude much?" she said. "I'll be down
in about forty-five minutes."
"Alright,
bye."
"Bye"
After
hanging the phone up, Bianca looked around the hotel room, trying to decide
what to wear. Finally, she got her clothes and went to change. After about
twenty minutes, she was completely ready. Grabbing her purse, she walked to her
bed and stood over Nick.
Bending
down and kissing him, she told him, "Baby, I'm going down to wait for
Brianna in the restaurant. It's about 8:30 and I have to be at the interview by
9:15"
"Okay,
I'll see you when you get back," he se said before rolling over and going
back to sleep.
**An
Hour Later: At The Studio**
"What's
up people? I'm Booger, and you're listening to the Hometown Countdown on Mix
97.7. Like I said earlier, I have three very special surprises for you and it's
time to introduce them to you now. In my studio today I have the three reigning
Pop Princesses: Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and new-comer Bianca
Parker!"
The
sound of applause came with the push of a button and Bianca glanced nervously
at Brianna, sitting with another DJ in the sound booth. Brianna smiled and
waved at her best friend in encouragement.
"Bianca,"
Booger began, "how does all this feel to you? I know it probably takes
some getting used to."
"Yeah,
it does," she answered sweetly. "I mean, this time last year, I was
just an average choir-girl hanging out with my friends, but now...wow! If
anyone would've told me then that in a years time I'd be where I am, I would
have called them crazy. But I love it. I wouldn't trade my fans for anything.
They're so loyal."
"All
of you have pretty loyal fans, right? I mean, they look up to you."
"Yeah,"
Britney chimed in, "It's neat to be a role model for so many people and
know they look up to what you do."
Christina
agreed. "Yeah. And it's nice to know that the harder you work the more
they love you for it," she looked at Britney and smiled evilly.
Britney
looked at Bianca and glared at her over the microphone. "All these people
that just seemingly pop up from nowhere don't know how gratifying it is to
really work for your popularity. And they're usually one-hit-wonders
anyway." Christina giggled.
Bianca
didn't reply, but refused to let herself flinch under the gazes of the two
girls who were supposed to be her peers. Brianna shot Britney and Christina a
gaze full of hatred from the sound booth.
Booger,
noticing the tension between all the girls, decided to end the interview there.
"Well, thank you all for being here. Let's get to the number two song on
the countdown. It's "Without You" from Bianca Parker."
Bianca
turned and beamed at Brianna while Christina and Britney laughed behind her.
Brianna just rolled her eyes at them.
When
they met up in the hall seconds later, Brianna gave Bianca a tight hug.
"This is so cool!" Bianca exclaimed. "Our guys are number one,
I'm number two. It's perfect! I can't wait to tell Nick! Those two stupid ho's
didn't even bother me!"
"Don't
let them bother you. Bitches. Listen, I need to go pick up a couple of things
for Kevin's birthday. I think we're just gonna spend the night in. Do you want
to go with me or would you rather take the limo back to the hotel and I'll call
a cab? If you don't wanna be recognized."
Giggles
from behind them kept Bianca from answering. Britney and Christina came around
the corner and stopped to look at Bianca and Brianna.
"Are
you two having fun running around America with your little Backstreet
Boys?" Christina asked in a mocking tone.
"Yeah,"
Bianca answered defensively.
"Well,"
Britney said, "they've always been talent less, why should their opening
act be any different?" she looked over at Christina.
Bianca
stepped forward towards the two girls, but Brianna took her arm. "They're
not worth your energy, Bean. You don't need to risk ruining your rep on trash
trying to make you paranoid." They turned and started to walk away, but
Britney and Christina stayed right behind them.
"Y'all
do know," Christina started again, "that all you are to Nick and
Kevin are whores. And when this tour is over, they'll find two more."
Brianna
stopped and spun around. "What did you say?"
"I
said that Jive Records is only paying for Backstreet's personal ho's."
Christina
was quieted by Brianna's fist connecting with her nose. The loud pop seemed to
echo through the halls before Bianca gasped. Christina stumbled and fell
backwards as blood dripped from her nose and lips. "Stupid bitch,"
Brianna said, looking down on her.
"I
can't believe you did that!" Britney screeched as she jumped up and
slapped Brianna, stunning her momentarily. The two girls started hitting each
other and Bianca was unable to do anything to stop them. Their fight was a blur
of hair-pulling and punches as their bodyguards came to pull them apart.
Getting
them up and separated, the guard spoke to all of them. "Girls, there are
fans down there who are waiting for you. What are they going to think when you
walk through the crowd with bruises?" He was met with silence. "What
happened here goes no farther? You never fought here today, understood?
Britney, if management finds out you and Christina started this..."
"Us?"
"We
heard the interview. And I'm sure Jive did, too. You and your friend could be
in serious trouble."
Bianca
just snickered as she and Brianna were pulled through the crowd to her
limousine. Brianna wondered what Kevin would say when he got back.
***