(Ugly Guses-3pm)

"So, let me get this straight....you wrote the song about Justin?"

After nodding her head slightly and wiping a dab of Cajun mustard off her bottom lip, Britney replied: "Yep...every last word of it. From: I'm tired of waiting for things to change to we can disagree another day. It was all me and all about him and his I-can't-go-out-with-you-tonight-because-I'm-too-busy-writing-a-new-song-for-the-next-album ways."

While slightly laughing at the other woman's last comment, Melissa hesitantly replied: "I hope you don't mind me asking you this: but if you wrote it, why didn't you just come out with the song yourself?"

After staring at Melissa in confusion for a second, Britney realized the older woman didn't know as much as she assumed she had. So, after hesitantly looking around their small table for any noticeable signs of eavesdroppers, Britney leaned in slightly and quickly asked: "Can I trust you enough to keep a secret?"

A question which caused the other woman to furrow her eyebrows in confusion before slightly nodding her head, as if to say: "Yes, you can."

"All right..." Britney began, with a slight hint of hesitancy in her voice. "I thought you had already figured it out by now, but...Justin and I have been secretly dating on and off for about two years now. And when I say secretly, I mean no one outside of our family and close circle of friends knows about it."

Wow.

Even though she somewhat had an idea that Justin and Britney might've been dating from what the woman in front of her had just told her about the song, Melissa couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise at the fact that the blonde had just said her and Justin had been secretly dating on and off for two years now; figuring that was a long time to be keeping any relationship a secret.

After pausing for a second, Britney slowly replied: "That's pretty much the reason why I couldn't release the song as my own. I mean...you saw how that reporter from Access Hollywood practically jumped all over Justin when he was introducing you at the album release party....Now, if you just times his intensity by a hundred, you'll probably get what would've happened to me if I had put Take the rain away on my CD. It would've given the media and our fans something else about us to pick a part and speculate on."

"I see..."

Even though Melissa knew she shouldn't put her two cents in where it didn't belong, she couldn't help but add: "Not to sound rude or anything, but if reporters and your fans are already speculating about it, why don't you just admit to dating Justin and save yourself and him from having to lie more about it in the future? I mean..in my personal opinion, there's really no point in having a relationship if all you ever do is lie about it all the time."

After a few seconds of slowly nodding her head while taking in what the petite brunette in front of her was saying, Britney replied: "That's what Justin always says to me..but I don't know. I mean...I've seen friends of mine who are also in this business hook up and then break up right after the media learns about them. And I just don't want to take the risk of losing J over a few measly comments in the tabloids. He's my best friend...and I really don't know what I'd do without him."

After nodding her head in understanding, Melissa figured she should probably change the subject now. But not before she quickly added: "I understand what you mean....I guess I just live by that whole philosophy that the only true people who can really break up a relationship are the two people in that said relationship."

A comment which caused Britney to outwardly agree with her--even though she knew now that she'd have a lot to think about later.

Unfortunately.

(An hour and a half later)

"Miss. Alano....you're on in two."

After nodding her head as if to say okay, Melissa waited until the female stage manager had left the room before letting a look of nervousness flash across her face; a look which the younger woman sitting next to her couldn't help but slightly smirk at.

"Hey..relax. There's no reason to be nervous. You're going to do great out there."

"Thanks." Melissa quickly replied, before standing up and making her way towards the greenroom's exit; all the while inwardly thinking to herself: If you say so.

After walking down the two hallways which would lead to the on-stage entrance, Melissa couldn't help but quietly mumble to herself: "Okay Alano, you did this once today..so theirs really no reason why you can't do it again," as she got the go ahead cue from the quickly approaching stage manager and reluctantly cut through the tall paper curtains.

It's like the guy's album release party all over again. Melissa inwardly thought to herself as she eyed the mostly female audience who were practically screaming at her in disbelief as she made her way towards the dark haired man on stage. I will never get used to this.

"Okay, kiddies...it's her first time on the show, so if you don't want to scare her away, calm down, all right?" Carson playfully scolded the audience, before turning his attention back towards the petite brunette in front of him. "Sorry about that..how are you doing?"

While continuing to blush over the crowd's reaction to her, Melissa replied: "I'm doing good...how about you?"

"Couldn't be better." Carson replied, with a slight grin on his face. "But since we only have a few minutes, why don't we just go ahead and jump into this interview, okay?"

Even though she was starting to feel butterflies growing in her stomach, Melissa couldn't help but quickly nod her head in agreement.

"All right....before we went live, I got to view an early taping of the Rosie O'donell show which you just did this afternoon. And I couldn't help but notice you saying that you and Christina Aguilera, who you just finished touring with, lived next door to one another before she joined the Mickey Mouse club. Now, I was just wondering if she had any influence on getting you your record deal or introducing you to your manager Lance Bass, from Nsync?"

As some of the girls from the audience cheered for her manager, Melissa couldn't help but slightly smile in amusement before saying: "Not really...her and I kind of grew apart after she moved to Orlando. And it wasn't until a few days after I landed my record deal that we reunited at the guy's album release party."

"Now, when you say that you two grew apart, do you mean you two began to have two totally different lives or that she just became a big time celebrity and couldn't deal with the little people like you anymore?"

What the...?

After slightly furrowing her eyebrows in confusion at the comment, Melissa realized the older man was just joking. Sarcasm...cute.

"It's more of the former than the latter really." Melissa replied, after a second. "I mean, we started off calling each other almost every day. But then after a year, I was preparing to start high school and she was about to start her second season on the Mickey Mouse Club and we just didn't have time to talk anymore...so, we just grew apart."

"I understand.." Carson quickly replied, after nodding his head in agreement. "But now, onto a different topic, I saw you backstage earlier when you were making your way towards the green room and I couldn't help but notice that another ex-Mickey Mouser was tagging along with you. Would you mind if I brought her out here for a second?"

Even though she knew that this was supposed to be an interview on her and that she really had only been asked two questions, Melissa couldn't help but think to herself, This might take some of the pressure off of me, before quickly replying: "If she doesn't have a problem coming out here, then neither do I."

A comment which caused Carson to slightly laugh before saying: "All right then..with that being said, could you guys please welcome our next guest to the stage..Miss. Britney Spears."

If Melissa had thought the audience in front of her had practically screamed in disbelief when she came through the curtain, then she now knew that the audience's scream was defiantly of disbelief as the crowd started up once again as Britney came through the curtain.

Now, I really wish I would've bought my ear plugs with me.

"It's good to see you again." Carson cheerfully replied as Britney stepped on the stage; interestingly enough next to Melissa instead of on the other side of the host. "We actually just saw you a couple of weeks ago when you came by to drop off your latest video Oops, I did it again so I really don't have any questions for you except for the standard: How have you been and what brings you back to Time-square? ones."

After slightly laughing at the comment, Britney replied: "Well, to answer your first question...I'm doing really good. My CD, which I'm hoping you guys all go out and buy, drops in two weeks so I'm very excited....and to answer your second question, the reason why I'm here today is because I was in town visiting my brother Bryan and heard through the grapevine that Melissa was in town, so I wanted to come by and meet her."

"Right on!" Carson replied, after a second. "Now, I kind of wanted you to come out here because I was looking at the Billboard charts the other day and it says that Melissa's Take the rain away has already beaten your Oops...I did it again single by one notch. I was wondering your opinion on it and the song."

After the question had left Carson's lips, Melissa had to keep herself from rolling her eyes as the thought that interviewers really did love to start controversy entered her mind.

"You know, I really don't look at the charts that much because to me: good music is simply good music." Britney began, before slightly pausing to get her thoughts together. "But in my honest opinion, even though I think that Oops..I did it again is a good song. I know that Take the rain away is an even better one...that's why I didn't have a problem with Melissa wanting to sing it after I wrote it."

As the people in the crowd began widely murmuring about the information, Melissa couldn't help but give Britney a small reassuring smile; knowing that what the blonde just did was a very hard thing for her to do. And also knowing that if what Britney said at lunch was true, it was also something that would cause a lot of speculations in the papers about Justin and the eighteen year old pop-star.

"Unfortunately, we don't have enough time to get into that right now. But before I announce today's number one video, I'd like to show you guys a clip from this weekend's Nsync special that was taped yesterday but will be aired tomorrow at noon and then ask one of you a question about it...if that's okay with the both of you?"

"That's fine by me." Britney quickly replied, even though Melissa could tell she was somewhat nervous about the video clip.

"And you, Melissa?"

Figuring that she really didn't have anything to lose, Melissa slightly shrugged before replying: "That's fine by me as well."

"All right..then here it goes." Carson replied, before the TV monitor behind him switched from a blue screen to a screen showing the guy's and another MTV host who Melissa didn't recognize at all.

"While Joey tries to save his doll from Thalia, I'm going to move onto another topic....this week will be the start of your guys second tour: No strings attached. And you will be bringing Lance's protegee, Melissa Alano, out with you on the road. Now for the many of us who haven't gotten a chance to meet the talented singer, could each one of you four men sum up Miss. Alano in one or two words. Starting with you Justin."

"Aww man, why I gotta go first." Justin playfully yelled; afterwards laughing so the audience would know he was just teasing. "Umm, one word? I guess I'd have to speak for all of us when I say she's sweet. She's such a sweetheart."

After watching all the other men agree with that comment, Dave moved onto the next man. "And you, Chris?"

"Fresh Meat. That's all I gotta say." Chris replied, while rubbing his hands together forcefully; an action which caused the audience to slightly laugh and Dave to stare at him in slight confusion.

"Okay, I, for one am not going to ask...but uhh..JC?"

"A friend..she's someone that I could see and have seen push all things aside to comfort others even when they didn't deserve it."

Knowing that in JC's own way, he was once again taking full responsibility for the reasons why her and him hadn't gotten along so well when they had first met caused Melissa to inwardly think to herself: I'm sure you're a true friend as well, JC.

"And last, but not least, what about you Lance...? What are one or two words that you'd use to describe your protegee, Melissa?"

With all eyes on him, Lance couldn't help but bite his lower lip slightly.

He had been going to say Melissa was a good friend. But since JC had just said that, he figured he'd just say the first thing that came to his mind when picturing Melissa in his head; which was a mistake he realized when as soon as he said the next words, he began blushing big time.

"She's beautiful."

As the monitor froze and the crowd in front of her started growing louder, Melissa couldn't help but find herself blushing along side Lance.

"Well, not to embarrass you or anything. But is there anything that you'd like to say in regard to those compliments..your managers in particular?"

Finding that their really was nothing she could say to explain the confusion that was on her mind right now, Melissa began to say just that. But fortunately enough before she could do so, Britney butted in saying: "Carson, even you have to admit she's a hottie. I mean, look at her..I'd date her."

As the crowd grew more hysterical than before and the conversation was redirected onto the topic of Britney's sexuality, Melissa found herself giving the blonde a grateful look before her eyes absentmindedly moved towards the TV screen; where Lance's crimson red face was still being shown.

Does he really think I'm beautiful?

(Saturday, May 6, 2000)

After staying on the phone with Sam until two o'clock in the morning and then being woken by a grumpy Ryan four hours later, Melissa was more than ready to go back to sleep as soon as her head hit the back of her airplane seat. But unfortunately because of the fact that Lance's words from yesterday kept ringing in her head, the brunette knew she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep anytime soon.

A fact that the man beside her noticed.

"Something wrong?"

Turning away from the window that she was absentmindedly staring out of, Melissa couldn't help but slightly blush at the look of concern that was written on her manager's face: "No....I was just thinking."

After waiting a second for her to continue, Lance quickly asked: "Do you want to talk about it?" A question which caused Melissa to somewhat tense up--since she had mostly been thinking about him--but then calm down a little when she realized he didn't know what was going through her mind.

And he doesn't need to know.

With that being her last thought, Melissa replied: "It's nothing really...I was just going over my list of thank-you's and was wondering if I might've missed somebody."

Taking that little white lie as the truth, Lance jokingly replied: "Well, if you want, I can go over it for you--see if you might have forgotten to mention someone mildly important...like me, for instance."

After slightly laughing, while jokingly replying: "Never", Melissa reached inside her book-bag and pulled out her journal; which held the list of thank-you's that she had completed the night before. "Here you go..but fair warning, it might sound a little bit cheesy in some parts."

"Hey! Like I said before..." Lance began, while taking the journal away from Melissa's hands, "I'm a cheesy kind of guy."

With that being said, Lance playfully chuckled at his comment before bringing his attention down to the book in his hands; reading the half of a page Melissa had written.

Anyway, first and foremost, I'd like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus for giving me the strength to move on when the real world threw so many difficult loops my way. Without you, I know I am nothing.

Second, I'd like to thank Justin, Chris, Joey, Lance, and JC who have taught me so much in just a short amount of time. All of you, and I do mean ALL of you, are truly a blessing in disguise.

Third, I'd like to thank my four closest friends: Sam (Bonnie), Tony (Clyde), Christina (Chrissy) and Mike (the worlds greatest bodyguard...next to mine. You know, I love you Ryan) You four have kept me physically and emotionally grounded the entire time I've been recording. And I hope that, however long my singing career is, you will continue to keep me levelheaded.

Fourth, I'd like to do a small collab. thank you and thank all of my fans and all of Nsync's fans who bought this album. Hopefully you guys enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed working on it.

Fifth, I'd like to not only thank all of the wonderful people who helped me to put this CD together, but also Giloh Morgan. You are an amazing person and I look foreword to working with you more in the future.

And finally, last but not least, I'd like to thank my biggest supporter. The one woman whose been there for me through thick and thin and even though she's gone onto a better place will always be forever in my heart: My mother. I love you always.

Melissa~

After inwardly rereading the last paragraph back to himself, Lance slowly handed the notebook back to his protege: "It's good..I don't think you need to change one thing about it."

While slightly smiling in relief, Melissa closed the journal in her hands and put it back in her book-bag. "Thanks..now, I just have to show it to Giloh and I'll be all set, right?"

Without bothering to outwardly respond to the question, Lance silently nodded his head--as if to say yes--before waiting a minute to change the subject. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

After thinking about it for a second and figuring that she really didn't have anything to hide, Melissa nonchalantly shrugged before replying: "Ask away."

"Do you mind telling me about your mother?"

My mother...?

While furrowing her eyebrows in confusion at the question, Melissa responded back with: "You want to know about my mom?"

A question which Lance had to think about for a second before hesitantly responding back with: "Yeah..I mean, that is if you don't have a problem talking about her.....I just have been noticing lately that--whereas the guys have started building a relationship with you--you and I still haven't gotten the chance to really talk about anything other than business. And I was sort of hoping that if I asked you about your mom, it maybe would change our relationship into something more in the lines of friends then just manager and protege...if that makes any sense at all."

After taking in what Lance was saying and smiling slightly at the last comment, Melissa hesitantly replied: "It makes a lot of sense....but what do you want to know? I mean, their a lot of things I could tell you about her."

While shrugging slightly, Lance absentmindedly sat back in his seat a little before nonchalantly replying: "Anything you want to tell me is fine. Where was she born? Is she originally from Philadelphia? What kind of woman was she..? It's up to you."

After nodding her head as if to say okay, Melissa thought about it for a second before saying: "I don't really know what to say, so I guess I should start from the beginning...."

"My mom was born and raised in New Orleans. She grew up as an only child in a pretty old-fashioned Latin family. When she was seventeen, she began dating someone outside of her race and became pregnant with me. After about three days of giving her the silent treatment, my grandparents and my mom's boyfriend told her that she'd either have to get an abortion or cut off all ties with them; thinking that she'd quickly go with the termination. But instead, she told them that she couldn't kill a human being and packed up all her stuff and moved to Philadelphia; where I was born."

After pausing for just a second to gather Lance's reaction, Melissa continued talking; seeing as the older man looked to be interested in knowing more. "A couple of days after my sixteenth birthday, my mom came home from a routine doctor's appointment saying that it was time for a change and that she thought it'd be kind of fun if we moved to Massachusetts. To anyone else, that would've probably raised a few eyebrows but my mom was always the kind of person who thought of an idea and just ran with it--so I didn't bother asking her why all of a sudden she wanted to sell our house and move away. I just went along for the ride."

After pausing for another second, Melissa continued the rest of the story; as if remembering it like it was yesterday. "A few months after we moved to Massachusetts and into a slightly small apartment, I began noticing little things about my mom. She wasn't eating as much as she usually did, she was becoming slightly pale, and even though she was taking--what she said were vitamins at the time--she couldn't even make it to seven o'clock before becoming too tired to move. That behavior pretty much kept going on for a few weeks until I finally got my hands on one of her pill bottles and read that it wasn't Vitamin E but A.B.V.D; a drug that doctor's give patients who have been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease."

"Damn."

After looking down at her hands and slightly smirking at Lance's reaction, Melissa slowly started to make her way to the end of the story. "I wasn't really sure how to approach my mom with what I had found out. But fortunately enough, I didn't have to.....that night at dinner she told me that she had something important to tell me and I told her that she didn't have to because I already knew."

"After that, it was like an unspoken rule that we never talked about it again--we'd just pretend like it didn't exist. That kept her and I going for two years straight--right up until the week before I graduated high-school when she died at thirty-six."

While studying the petite brunette next to him for a second, Lance couldn't help but become completely in awe of her. I can't believe she had to deal with so much at such a young age...she's probably mentally stronger than anyone I know or have ever met.

With that being his last thought, Lance cleared his throat slightly before saying: "So, after you graduated high-school, what did you do then? I mean..is that when you moved to New Orleans and started working there?"

"Yeah..." Melissa responded, after a second; this time her voice completely void of any emotion. "Me and a somewhat close friend of mine--who kept me company once in a while--moved to New Orleans after we graduated Greenfield and....the rest of it you pretty much already know."

Taking the brunette's hasty comment as a sign that she wanted to end the conversation, Lance quickly began to change the subject.

But not before inwardly thinking to himself that their was more to the story than Melissa let on.

I just have to figure out how much more.