*****

Their eyes locked onto the brunette as she made her way towards the stage. Recognizing her as the girl who never said much, wouldn't join in and sing, and who wouldn't even move a muscle-unless it was to write in her journal.

As she stepped onto the stage, the owner of the bar stepped up to the microphone to introduce her. "Ladies and Gentleman, please give a warm welcome for Miss. Melissa Alano."

As he stepped off the stage, the audience clapped polietly and even moreso as Melissa walked towards the back of it.

"Do you mind if I use this?" She asked the bulky piano player, who gave her a skeptical look in return, before moving out of the way; letting the petite woman in front of him do what she wanted.

After taking a seat on the piano bench, Melissa gave the crowd what she thought was her brave smile, "I know everyone in here is used to a cover song, but this is one I wrote myself. And..well, I hope you like it."

While closing her eyes to the crowd, Melissa pictured the relationship she had just gotten out of, the things that had taken place in it, and the reasons why she had written this song.

As she hit her high note, she didn't hear the gasps that followed it. Or feel the energy in the room rise a little. But she could feel her tears as they slowly came down her face.

As she finished the last note of the song, and opened her eyes, a tearful Melissa beamed with pride as the crowd roared with applause. "Thank you, thank you so much."

Standing up, she began to make her way off the stage, still thanking people as they complimented her on her performance. It was the first time in a while that she had sang in front of a live audience and to say she was wowed by the crowds response would be an understatement.

Just as she was thinking this, a voice from behind startled her out of her thoughts: "Miss, I just have to say you were wonderful up there."

Turning around, she was surprised to be greeted by an elderly couple, "My wife and I have been coming here for years and we haven't ever heard anyone sing as well as you." The elderly man added; grinning just as bright as his wife was.

"Well, I'm glad you liked it." Melissa said, wearing a full-on blush at the moment; not used to so many compliments directed her way.

"We more than liked it, we loved it."

"Yes, It's a wonder why you aren't off somewhere singing professionally. You could really make it with the right type of guidance."

At the words singing professionally Melissa's face seemed to take on new meaning of beaming, but when the elderly man said type of guidance, her expression had been plummeted a few notches.

"Ma'am, are you all right?"

It took Melissa a few seconds to come back from her moment of self-pity, but when she did a fake smile was placed on her face, "I'm fine, could you just excuse me for a second?"

"We didn't upset you, did we?" The elderly woman asked, a little confused by Melissa's sudden change in demeanor.

"Of course not, I just need to..... use the ladies room." She lied, inwardly praying that they believed her.

The elderly woman took a moment to look over Melissa's features to see if she was lying or not, but seemed to be satisfied after a second, "Of course. I'm sorry that we held you up. We look forward to hearing you perform again someday, hopefully talking to you again as well?"

The woman's genuine smile made Melissa feel bad about lying before, but she didn't feel their was any way to trudge up the truth now, "I hope to talk to you some other time as well. Now, if you'll excuse me."

With that being her final words, Melissa turned around and walked over to the ladies room.

Not needing to use the bathroom, but feeling a good hard cry was in order

Unlike everyone else on his side of the room, he didn't go up to the mysterious brunette and compliment her on her singing ability. Hell, having judged her by looks alone, he figured she wasn't one to take compliments very well, and that she also wasn't one for a lot of attention. And, even though he was who he was, he wasn't one to give someone something they didn't want.

He couldn't help but watch her as she briefly talked to an elderly couple before heading into the ladies room. To say she was beautiful would be an understatement. He thought she was all out adorable. But as soon as the thought came, he shook it out of his head; knowing if he wanted to succeed in his plan, he'd have to remain professional. Well, for the beginning anyways.

The phone in his pocket began to ring, knocking him out of his thoughts, and after quickly opening his jacket and flipping it on, he put it up to his ear, "James here."

"Scoop! Hey, what's up? Where are you?"

While sighing slightly, he couldn't help but smile. He hadn't even been out of the state more than 48 hours, and already the national guard was calling to check in, "Nothings up J, just business as usual."

The groan on the other end told him that he was probably in for a lecture when he came back home, "Lance, buddy boy. You're in the city of lo-ove, and you're working? Do we need a doctor?"

Chuckling, Lance rolled his eyes, "Curly, you've been hanging out with Joey too much. And I'm not really working per say, I'm just checking out this new girl."

"Ooh la la, what does she look-never mind, I have been hanging out with Joey too much lately. Have to stop that."

Not being able to help chuckling at his close friend's joke, Lance smiled, "She's pretty, but that's not the point, the point is-"

The man on the other end interrupted, before he could even get it out, "I know, I know, don't tell me. The point is that you think this girl could be the next Shania Twain or Faith Hill, and you want to have a piece of the pie by becoming her manager. Am I right or am I right?"

Lance wasn't even shocked at this, his friend could always read him. "You're right. You know me very well, my man. But actually, I was thinking that she could be someone else besides those two. Maybe the next Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera."

The silence on the other line suggested that his friend was in shock over his words, and the question that followed afterwards just confirmed it, "You want to do pop musicians now, are you serious?"

"Yes, Yes, I'm serious," Lance answered without hesitation, figuring if he analyzed his decision he'd probably back out of it.

Unfortunately, his friend on the other line could see right through him even over the phone. Knowing exactly what he was doing.

"Scoop, why don't you go back to the hotel, and think this over. And if you still feel the same in the morning, well..then the group and I will help you from there."

Sighing, Lance nodded. He knew his friend was right. They both were sometimes the Kings of jumping head first into something before analyzing it, and this time it could affect someone else's life as much as his. So there was no need to rush.

"Lance, you there?"

Snapping out of his thoughts, he nodded even though the other guy couldn't see him, "Yeah, how about I call you tomorrow with my decision."

"All right, that's all I ask, talk to you later, Scoop."

Muttering his good-byes before disconnecting, Lance leaned back in his chair, studying the door to the ladies room carefully. Realizing he had a lot of thinking to do.

*****