“Joey, I am not going to one more club with you!”
“Why the hell not? You know you had fun at the last one!” Joey yelled down the hall of the small duplex.
“And what would your definition of ‘fun’ be? Having to drag your drunk Italian butt home?!” Stacy had to laugh at the memory. She looked back down at a stack of papers that lay in front of her on her bed and narrowed her eyes, trying to concentrate on them.
“I WAS NOT DRUNK! COME ON STACY! PUUUULEEASE!!” Joey called from the kitchen as he stuck his head in the refrigerator, searching desperately for anything not “healthy” to eat.
“What part of NO don’t you understand Joseph Anthony Fatone?” Stacy called back. She giggled as she pictured his shocked face.
A minute later, Joey was at her bedroom door, leaning on the doorframe and chewing on an apple. “Did you just call me by my full name?” His right eyebrow raised in playful curiosity.
Stacy nodded, not looking up from her papers, but trying to hide her smile. “I sure did.”
Joey jumped onto her queen-sized bed, landing on her papers. He bounced up and down as she grabbed the papers from beneath him and shoved them onto her dresser.
“Stace, you know how important this is to me. It hasn’t been that long since we got the group started, and we need all the gigs we can get. You gotta go so I have someone to wink at. I, just, I need you to be in the audience supporting me.” He touched her chin gently, forcing her head up so her eyes met his. She closed her eyes tightly as he gave her the big puppy dog eyes and pout that she knew she couldn’t resist. “Please….”
Stacy, couldn’t help it, she thrust her eyes open as if he had controlled her mind. One look at Joey’s face and he knew he had won.
“Stay away from me you evil man!” She giggled. “I have succumbed to your evil spell again! Damn me!” She closed her eyes once more and threw herself off her bed, laughing at Joey’s pathetic face. Joey stared at her as she opened the door to her room and walked out of it.“By the way Stace, what is with all that healthy crap in your fridge? What happened to the real food?” Joey followed her down the hallway to the small kitchen.
“If you’re referring to the chips and soda, I believe YOU finished those off a week ago and I am too busy with school and work that I haven’t had time to go shopping. So if you want food, you gotta go buy some yourself.”
Joey groaned.
“Besides.” Stacy added. “I only stock that stuff for you. You know I don’t eat that crap.”
Joey smiled. “Thanks. And ya know I love you for it! And I love you even more for coming with me tonight!” His face lit up as their eyes met from across the counter.
Stacy rolled her eyes as she made herself a salad. “Yeah, well, you owe me big for this Joe. Just remember your best friend when you’re a huge pop star and girls are throwing themselves at you.”Joey laughed at the possibility his friend had just given him. “Girls throwing themselves at me huh?” His eyes glossed over as he imagined it.
He was quickly brought back to reality as Stacy smacked his arm playfully with her strong hand.
“You are such a perv Joe, I swear.”
Joey laughed. “That’s why you love me.”
As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. His perverse personality was what had attracted Stacy to Joey in the first place as a friend and she wouldn’t have him any other way. She loved the time they spent together and she knew that one day he would become a big star and she was afraid of being left behind. He had the talent and god knew he had the personality for it. It was only a matter of time before he was off making hit albums with his new group, NSYNC, and she was forgotten.
Joey stared at the silhouette of the slender figure in front of him. He sighed as his eyes worked up from her sock covered feet, to her slender, smooth legs, stopping at her paint stained flannel boxers and finally up to her long, golden blonde hair. He never understood why a girl like her even put up with him. She was so smart and had the world at her feet, but instead she gave up everything to move down to Florida to be with him and helped to support him as he pursued his dream. She had left all she knew in Chicago on his whim and he knew it wasn’t going to be long before she might have to do it again and something inside of him told him she might not be able to put up with it next time …
“Joey, I can feel your eyes working up my body. Do that one more time and I won’t hesitate to take this knife and chop you up into my salad.” Stacy turned around and her deep blue eyes fell into Joey’s.
Joey smiled. “You think I would taste good?”
Stacy turned back around and continued cutting some lettuce. “Probably not, plus I don’t eat fatty foods.”
Joey placed his hand over his heart. “Oh, stop being a big meanie! That hurts my feelings ya know?” He whined.
Joey watched as Stacy stopped what she was doing and turned around to face him. Her look was serious and caring. Her eyes penetrated into Joey’s as she leaned down on the countertop so she was eye level with him.
“Joey, just promise me something.”
Joey’s eyes grew wide. “Anything.”
“You’ve been with the guys for awhile now and so far nothing big has come from it. I’m not saying it won’t, but if nothing happens promise me that if this whole group thing doesn’t work out that you won’t go back into that shell you like to hide in when things don’t work out. Promise me you’ll keep trying.” She paused. “For me.”
Joey smiled at her tenderly. “It’ll work out. Trust me. I have a good feeling about this, I really do.”
Stacy’s eyebrows furrowed. “That’s not what I wanted to hear Joey.”
Joey rolled his eyes. “I promise.”
(Later that night at the club)
The small audience at the club shouted at the group as they slowly left the stage, taking one last bow.
Stacy stared on in amazement. She had never heard more beautiful and harmonious voices in her life. It amazed her every time she heard them. She smiled proudly, for all of them. She knew it wouldn’t be long before they would hit it big, it was only a matter of time.
Joey smiled at her as he walked off the stage and took one last, surprised look at the audience. The group raced into the dressing room and collapsed onto the couch. Joey took a seat in a nearby chair and examined the others as he often did after a show, wondering why he had been so blessed as to find them.
So far each and every member of this group had astonished him. He had met Chris when he worked at Universal Studios and he never really understood how someone in his twenties could act as immature as a five year old. He could have sworn that he was younger than he was at 19. Recently, however he had definitely seen a difference in Christopher. His eyes burned with passion and that passion turned him into a motivated and much more mature person. His attitude was no longer that of an impatient child. Joey could practically see him working everything out in his head. His maturity level had risen beyond comprehension in even the last months, getting the initial group together and then getting a demo and video out to anyone imaginable. If you could name the record label or manager Chris had probably sent the groups demo to them already and had called them at least once. Joey was amazed and had a whole new level of respect for him.
Josh, or JC to his friends, was a complete enigma to him. He was very serious ninety percent of the time and took his work very seriously, but he knew how to have fun and cracked some good jokes. He was the well-rounded guy. He defiantly had the best voice out of all the guys, Joey couldn’t deny that, but he was also very humble about it. He thrived on his work and especially his music. He had been writing songs here and there, but nothing really came of it. Joey could smell the musical talent flowing from him. He knew JC was going to be perfect for the group and he also knew it was an honor to be called his friend even after such a short period of time.
Even though Justin was only 15, Joey could see the drive in him and the pure, raw talent that he possessed. Justin knew he had talent and it wasn’t long before it would be displayed to the world. Justin reminded Joey of himself at that age, the pure energy of life surging through his body. So ready to learn, and ready to take on anything that was thrown his way. And not only did Justin have the talent and the personality, but he had the looks, the overall package, a big part of what the group needed to get started. Joey couldn’t help but feel a little envious of the youngest member of the group. He seemed like he had everything to make it in the business, especially in areas that Joey didn’t.
James Lance Bass, so far, was everything that Joey had expected. The young, country bumpkin, complete with the gentleman-like manners most country boys came equipped with. The only thing that actually surprised him about James was the amazingly beautiful and sweet voice that he had. It was the lowest of the group, allowing the group to form a five-part harmony, but there was something very soothing and comforting in it. James took no time showing the others what an honor it was for him to be included in the adventure they would soon share and Joey wasn’t surprised a bit. He knew James, or as he was now called; Lance, was a welcomed addition to the already close-knit group that had come to be called NSYNC; a name Justin’s mom, Lynn, picked out for them once she had heard them all singing together. Joey loved the name and he agreed that no other name could have fit them all better. He felt blessed and honored to be a part of probably the biggest project he had come across in his life and was proud to have four of the best guys to support and guide him along the way.
“Joey, Joey, did you hear me?”
Joey wiped his face with a towel and looked at himself in the mirror. His thoughts wandered to the possibilities the future held and his eyes slowly went out of focus.
“JOEY!” Justin screamed, taking him back to reality. He stared at the young boy across from him through the mirror.
“Yeah, Justin?”Justin rolled his eyes playfully. “I said that Chris said to hang back here a couple minutes before you go out and mingle. He’s got an announcement.” Justin raised his eyebrows playfully and sat back onto the plush couch in the club’s dressing room.
A few minutes later Chris burst into the room. “I have some great news guys!” His eyes lit up and a smile was plastered onto his face. He turned around, waved for someone to follow him and walked inside the door. A second later a tall, husky, man with charcoal hair and almond colored skin stood in the doorway and smiled at the group. Chris motioned him in and shut the door behind him.
“Guys, this is Johnny Wright. He wants to manage us!”
Shock registered on Joey’s face as he stared at the man in front of him. He glanced at the other guys, their faces frozen in shock as well.
Johnny approached the group sitting on the couch and held out his hand for Justin to take.
“My name is Johnny. I’ve seen what you guys can do and I want to get you out there, get you known.” Justin returned his handshake and Johnny introduced himself to the rest of the group.
“Together, I am sure we can turn you guys into something big. Heard of the Backstreet Boys?”
The group nodded absently, still in shock.
Johnny nodded. “My ex-wife manages them and they are getting huge. They toured Europe, came back here and released their album and now are plastered on almost every girl’s bedroom wall. So….”“Backstreet Boys?” Joey interrupted.
“Yes…”Johnny paused. “Joey, right?” He pointed at him as Joey nodded.
“But they aren’t THAT big are they? I mean don’t get me wrong, but that Nick Carter, he has a whiny voice. I think we are a little more talented than they are and they aren’t that big over here yet.”
Johnny couldn’t help but laugh at the naive statement of the young man in front of him.
“Europe is just the beginning.” He explained. “The Europe fans take in anyone, the US, takes a little more work, but once you are huge in Europe you can re-release your album out here and be just as huge if not more.”
Joey’s mouth dropped.
Johnny nodded. “That’s right.”
JC’s brows furrowed. “And how long will this take?”
Johnny sat down in a nearby chair and faced the couch. “That depends on you and how well you will do and how much you are willing to put into this.”
He glanced back at Chris who was resting comfortably and proudly with his hip leaned against the doorframe. “But I have a feeling about you guys.” Johnny winked back at Chris. “There is something very special and unique here. I have no doubt you guys will make it and from what Mr. Kirkpatrick says, you guys will do anything for this.” He smiled. “That is a definite plus.”
“I’m glad someone else is so confident.” Lance shrugged, his southern drawl, now almost unrecognizable. “Because I left everything in Mississippi for this and I can’t afford to not make it.”
Johnny patted Lance’s knee. “James, excuse me, Lance; don’t worry about it. I already have you guys lined up to record in Europe and tour a little in Germany.”
Lance, Joey, JC and Justin’s eyes grew wide in shock.
Justin coughed. “Tour? Already?”Chris nodded behind Johnny and smiled proudly. “I told you guys I had good news.”
Johnny nodded confidently. “We leave in a week to record an album and more importantly, your first single. This week is meeting after meeting and you guys can look over the lyrics to songs. I have all the songs picked out for you guys.” Johnny looked back at Chris once more. “There is only one thing.”
Justin leaned forward on the couch. “What is it? We’ll do anything.”
“You guys gotta know that this is what you want. You have to be willing to put anything on the line. Your career comes first. If you aren’t willing to do that, you might as well leave now.” He looked over the faces of each of the young men sitting in front of him. Each face held passion and determination. He knew he had found what he was looking for. “Well?” He asked after a few minutes of silence.
JC sat up on the couch until his face was inches away from Johnny’s. “We’re not going anywhere.” He smiled proudly and leaned back on the couch.
