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I walked down the hall and to the elevator. As I passed one loud room the door opened and out walked Justin holding an ice bucket.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi," I said halfheartedly.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing you need to worry about."
"No really, what's wrong?"
"It would take too long to tell you."
"I've got time."
"Well I was about to go down to the lounge and have a drink, want to come with me?" I asked.
"Sure."
Justin put the bucket down and followed me downstairs. We walked into the lounge, got us a table and ordered two drinks. I was surprised they didn't ask us for id, but then again they probably recognized who we were. I took a sip of my sex on a beach and sat back in my chair.
"So talk," he said.
"Basically, I just broke off an engagement," I said.
Justin choked on his pink panties and gasped, "What."
"I was engaged as of five minutes ago," I said.
"I feel as if I need to know the whole story."
"Fine, then I'll tell you." I told Justin the whole story, from meeting AJ to getting pregnant to our last fight.
"That's quite a story."
"No shit," I said drinking the rest of my drink.
"He was completely out of line to say that to you," Justin said taking my hand.
"I know," I sniffled.
"Don't cry, he isn't worth it."
"I can't help it," I cried.
"Come with me," Justin said standing up. I looked at him funny and took his hand. He pulled me up, threw some money on the table, and led me out of the room. He led me up flight after flight of stairs until we finally reached the top of the building. I looked around and smiled.
"Its beautiful," I laughed twirling around in a circle.
"No, you are," Justin said.
"Sure."
I walked over to the side of the building and held myself. Out of nowhere I began to sing Brandy's "Never Say Never". (I love this song it is the bomb. Whoever hasn't heard it needs to listen to it) Justin walked over to me and wrapped me in his arms. He amazed me though when the second verse came around and he sang the part and the chorus. We stood there on top of the hotel singing "Never Say Never". As the last "Never say" faded away Justin turned me around and lifted my chin. When his lips were milliseconds away from mine I said, "We shouldn't."
But his answer was "Never say never." His lips touched mine and I was engulfed in something that I can only explain as Justin Timberlake. His tongue just played me like a fiddle. The kiss ended and I rested my head on his chest.
"Justin, I can't promise you anything," I said.
"I know," he said quietly. "I'm here for you."
"As what, a potential boyfriend or as a friend?"
"Whichever one you want, but I will be here."
"We leave tomorrow for Los Angeles."
"We're going to be in San Diego so maybe you can give me a call."
"Maybe," I smiled. "But look its getting kind of late and I'm tired."
"Okay, I'll walk you to your room."
"Thank you."
Justin took my hand in his and pulled me towards him. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and we walked to my room together. When we passed the BSB's rooms I couldn't help but want to kick AJ's doors.
"Are you going to be alright?" he asked me.
"Yes, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."
"All right. I'll call you tomorrow, ok girl?"
I nodded my head and walked into my room. I closed the door and the lights flicked on.
"Where were YOU?" Domi asked.
"Drinking, you smell like alcohol," Jessica explained.
"Justin and I went down to the lounge for a drink and we talked."
"You and Justin? AJ is not going to like that," Hazel said.
"Screw AJ all right, you heard what he said to me," I said stomping into the bathroom. I changed into my nightclothes and went to bed. The next morning we woke up at the crack of dawn to catch our plane. In the van and in the plane I said not one word to AJ and he said nothing to me. The plane landed in California and I couldn't get off the plane quick enough. I picked up my car in the parking lot and saying goodbye to all the girls I drove to my mom's house. I picked Xander up and drove home. I knew AJ would be there and he was. He was sitting on my couch waiting for me.
"Let me see him," AJ said reaching for Xander.
"After I feed him," I said taking him into the nursery. I fed the baby and then handed him to AJ.
"I'm leaving back to Florida tonight," AJ said.
"Well then you should get some sleep," I said walking into my bedroom.
I stayed in my room for the rest of the day and when AJ finally left I came out. We had been civil to each other only because Xander was near us. The next day Sonja called me to tell me that she had been approached by RCA for 2 Much to sing with N Sync. I told her that if it was okay with the rest of the girls then it was fine with me. As soon as I hung up with Sonja Justin called.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm making it," I said slowly.
"Are you?"
"Yes, we came back to L.A. and we were actually civil to each other."
"That's cool, we're here doing a concert and I cannot wait to get to L.A."
"Why is that?"
"So you can show me all the best places to shop. JC's girlfriend Kristina lives out there anyway."
"Oh." We talked a little bit longer until it was quality time for Xander and me.
"I can't wait to meet him either," Justin laughed.
"Tell the rest of the guys I said hi," I said before I hung up.
So 2 Much and Backstreet seemed to go their own ways. I still talked to Brian or the other guys whenever they were on the phone with their girls, but that was it. AJ would call, but to see how Xander was doing. We still had not really talked since that huge fight and that was fine with me. About a month after that initial call we met with N Sync at the studios in L.A. I walked into the studio in some windbreaker sweats and Xander in his stroller. Shannah met me at the door and led me to the studio we were in.
"Come on, Justin is in there telling joke after joke. He's pretty funny," Shannah said.
"I told you," I said.
I had been talking to Shannah every night ever since we had returned from New York. That is when I wasn't on the phone with Justin. Justin and I had gotten closer and closer and now it seemed as though we were best friends. I walked into the studio and everyone rushed over to me.
"Let me see the baby," Hazel said reaching into the stroller.
"She has a baby?" JC asked Justin.
"Yeah, its AJ's," Justin said.
"Doesn't surprise me," JC muttered.
"Kelly girl," Justin said.
"Curly baby, Mr. Smooth," I laughed as we hugged. We stayed in each other's arms for a few minutes.
"Are you okay?" he whispered in my ear. It was like a ritual for him to always ask me how I was.
"I'm fine," I smiled.
"Ready to sing?" Domi asked.
"Ready," I said.
Everyone walked into a room with a huge table. There were copies of the song for everyone. I sat down with Xander's stroller next to me, Shannah on one side and Justin on the other. I picked up my copy and read through them. The song was called "Hit Me Up". I liked the lyrics as soon as I read them.
"Okay, we need to figure out who is singing what part," JC said.
"I like the second verse," Justin and I said at the same time. We looked at each other and started laughing.
"So, what is the rhythm of the song?" Jessica asked.
"I don't know let me ask the guys," Chris said getting up. He came back and told us to follow him. Everyone went into the recording area and turned on the music. I sat in there with Justin holding Xander and we heard the music. It was a fast song. I picked up my lyrics and began to sing the song. Justin joined in and we sat there singing. We began recording the song an hour later and didn't leave the studio until 1 in the morning. We had walked into that studio not knowing a lyric of that song, but by the time we left we knew that song backwards and forwards.
"So I guess the video is next, huh?" I asked everyone.
"Yep," JC said.
"I cannot wait," I said smiling.
"What is up with you?" Justin asked.
"Kelly loves to dance," Shannah yawned.
"I cannot wait," I repeated.
I didn't have long to wait because not even a month later Sonja told me when the video shoot was. We all met at a dance studio in L.A. Fatima couldn't be our choreographer this time because she was working with Backstreet and Aaliyah at the same time.
"So, who are we getting?" Jessica asked.
"You guys are going to get the choreographer who did Britney Spears video 'Baby One more time'," Danny told us.
"Cool, I saw his work he has a bomb style," I said.
"Speaking of Britney Spears she is going on tour with you girls," Sonja said.
"Fine," we all said.
Everyone was dressed in sweats and short tops except Shannah and I that were in black dance hip huggers and short tops. It was 7 in the morning and we were all sleepy. In walked the black man who was going to teach us. I walked over to him and introduced myself since all the rest of the girls were leaning against the walls sleep.
"Hi I'm Kelly," I said.
"Willow?" he asked me.
"Yeah," I smiled.
"So what do you want for this video?" he asked me.
"The song as you know is about these girls, 2 Much, who want these boys, N Sync, to notice them. The video is as follows we are going to be at school during a basketball game. We point at the boys and then we go onto the floor and dance with these male dancers. N Sync is then supposed to come onto the floor and dance with us," I explained.
"Alright, are there any specific moves you want to do?"
"I liked what you did for Britney in her video. I want a lot of dramatic drops and sexy moves for the girls."
"Cool, well turn on the music and I'll see what I can do," he said.
I gathered all the girls and told them to wake up. We did a warm up exercise and then we got down to work. He showed us what he had already created (which we all loved). He taught us the beginning of the dance and by the time N Sync got to the studio at 1 p.m. we had made half our dance step created.
"Ten minute break," the choreographer yelled.
"Hey Justin," I said drinking some water. My whole body felt covered in sweat. I knew my top was soaked and that was why I didn't hug Justin.
"Looks like you guys have been working hard," Lance commented.
"Yep we have," Hazel said.
"Kelly and that choreographer have been working us to the bone," Shannah laughed as she practiced a particular kick we were doing.
"You guys are doing moves like that?" Chris asked us amazed.
"Yes," I laughed.
"Alright you guys back to work, we have a lot of work to do," the choreographer said.
N Sync sat down against a wall and we, 2 Much and the male dancers, took our places.
"This is what we have so far," Shannah said.
"Yeah this is the part where we're on the b-ball court," Jessica explained.
"Coo," Joey said. They already knew the layout for the video. We looked away from them and the music started. At first I was nervous dancing in front of N Sync, but the feeling quickly disappeared. They were all crazy. Every time we did a move they would yell things like 'Get it girl' or 'Yeah baby' or even 'Give it to us 2 Much'. I could tell they were impressed by the moves we were doing. Like I wanted there were a lot of dramatic drops and in one particular part the male dancers lifted us and Shannah and I slid into the splits (we were the only one's who could). Our part ended and we stopped.
"Man, I don't know how we are supposed to compete with that," JC laughed.
"Me neither," Lance said.
"Man, I can keep up with that," Justin said referring to me.
"We'll see," I said.
N Sync spent the next four hours editing and learning the dance the choreographer had made for them. Then around 7 p.m. we started on the dance we all had to do together. At midnight we were ready to drop with fatigue. We promised to return at 9 the next morning for more practice. Practice went cool and afterwards we all went out to dinner. Finally we were all ready to shoot the video and that day was totally hectic. Justin lost his baby blue hat and didn't want to perform until he found it. We finally got the video over with much to my excitement.
The video started off with all of us walking down a school hallway talking about the basketball game and were we going. Then N Sync walked by us and we all started talking about them. It fades out then fades in to the basketball game. The music starts and we are all on the floor in royal blue rip away sweats and midriff tops. We dance with the dancers and then N Sync runs onstage and dances with us. The video ends with all of us staring at each other in awe.
I cannot begin to explain how phat that video looked when we saw it. Every little kick and move was perfect. I could not wait for it to be on MTV. The day the video was set to be on MTV's "Spankin New" show Danny and Sonja got another call from MTV. They were inviting us to attend the Video Music Awards and to perform our new song with N Sync.
"I wonder why not the BSB song," Jessica said to herself.
"Hey, I have no problems performing 'Hit me up' rather than 'Diggin on you'," I said.
"You wouldn't," Domi commented.
"What does that mean?" I said.
"It means that ever since you and AJ broke up you and Justin have become pretty close. Don't you think it's a little too early to become involved with someone else when you just got out of an engagement?"
"First of all, I am not involved with Justin and second why shouldn't I be all chummy with Justin? He is nice, sweet, and caring."
"So was AJ," Domi said leaving the room.
There was absolute silence in the room as everyone tried to gather something to say.
"Skip it then," I mumbled. I left the room too and took Xander home. I didn't need this shit. AJ and I were over and may I add not by my hand. Domi and I didn't talk again until the night of the awards. She had to say something to me because we all were supposed to be meeting at my house.
"I hope you don't mind that Backstreet is coming over here," Domi said to me.
"Why would I?" I asked fixing the straps on my dress.
We were all dressed to kill that night. Hazel was dressed in a long tight green dress with a train, Jessica was dressed in a short blue dress with a split up the side, and Domi was dressed in a burgundy dress with two splits up the legs. Shannah was dressed in a shirt like Mya had on in the Ghetto Superstar video with some black pedal pushers, and I was dressed in a long sleeved black lace dress with a black bra and short shorts under it. Backstreet knocked on my door at 9 p.m. and I let them in. Cameras flashed as we all took pictures of each other.
"Come on Kelly and AJ, just one picture for old times sake," Hazel said.
"I don't know," I argued.
"What could it hurt?" AJ said pulling me to him.
We took a picture together and then we all left to the Universal Amphitheater. We arrived just in time for the show to start. As soon as we sat down we had to get back up to announce an award with Backstreet. We then sat back down and were allowed to watch the show. I was sitting next to AJ and we hadn't even spoken to each other. During the third commercial AJ turned to me.
"Kelly," he said.
"Yes."
"I've been wanting to call you for the longest, but I never had the nerve. Look, I want us to get back together."
"Do you?" I laughed.
"Yes, I realize that I was wrong to say what I said."
"Boy were you wrong," I said.
"I know and I want to say I'm sorry. When I saw your new video with N Sync I realized how much I missed you."
"Let me get this straight, you only miss me because I was working with N Sync?"
"No, I didn't mean it like that. I just miss you Kelly," AJ said grabbing my hand and kissing it. I stared into his eyes and I saw that he was sorry.
"Let me think about it AJ," I said.
"Okay girls, its time for you to go backstage to get ready to perform," a worker said in our ears. We jumped up and said our good-bye's to Backstreet.
"Good luck," AJ said kissing me on the cheek.
We all practically ran backstage to get ready almost colliding with N Sync.
"Get ready," Chris yelled.
We ran into our dressing rooms and grabbed our outfits. We were wearing orange Adidas rip away sweats with stripes down the sides plus midriff tops and shoes to match. The make up person put glitter on our eyelids and rubbed it on our body's to make us sparkle. We stood offstage and waited for our signal. Justin and the rest of N Sync emerged from their dressing room in orange Mecca shirts and black jeans.
"You look quite feisty Curly," I said into his ear.
"So do you," he replied.
I smiled and rubbed my arms up and down. I was getting goosebumps. Justin wrapped his arms around me from behind and rocked me.
"Is this better?" he asked me.
"Much," I said leaning back into him.
Brandy and Monica were onstage introducing the best R&B video of the year. After the person left on came the MC, Ben Stiller.
"Okay, well you all might know this next group already. They came out of nowhere and blew us away with their soulful ballads and now their here tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, 2 Much."
We had already gone onstage and each of us was standing in five different doorways. As soon as he said our names smoke billowed across the stage, the music started and we walked through the doorways. The crowd went insane when they saw us. We each had headsets instead of mikes because we were going to dance. We did a somewhat similar dance to the one we did in the video. After the first verse of the chorus 'Hit me up' in runs N Sync on the stage. The crowd went crazy as JC, Justin, Lance, Joey and Chris took their spots next to us.
On one part where Justin and I were singing he pulled me to him and we danced together I could feel AJ's eyes burning into my back. We separated and I joined the rest of 2 Much. The music stopped leaving the beat and N Sync stepped back. Just as the beat was coming back 2 Much reached down and we ripped off our sweats revealing short orange shorts identical to the sweats. Everyone screamed and hooted as N Sync ran back to us, grabbed our hips, and freaked us from the back. On the last 'Hit me up' we slid across the floor on our knees and N Sync stood behind us. Everyone clapped and the stage went black. Hanson came onstage with Brian McKnight and they announced the nominees for Best Video of the year.
"And the winner is 2 Much," Brian said.
I fell back into Justin as I realized that our name had been called. Jessica was screaming and Hazel was trying not to cry. We walked onto the stage and saw two awards.
"The second award is for best new group," Hanson said.
I picked up one of the awards and said, "I had no idea we were up for an award and I had no idea that we ever had a chance of winning. I'd like to thank God for our talent, Jive Records, Danny and Sonja, Fatima, my parents and of course the Backstreet Boys and N Sync for blessing us with their talents."
The rest of the girls said something and we all returned to our seats.
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