Hayley stood there in the room with all the other people there to audition to be backup dancers for the Backstreet Boys on their Black and Blue tour. She was nervous because no one knew that she knows one of the guys. She had grown up with Nick and they were friends until she moved away when they were 10 years old. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Nick since then and she wasn’t sure he would remember her. She prayed she was good enough to make it so she could see Nick again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

      “Yo, Nick, where ya going?” Brian called.

      “I’m going to check out the dance auditions,” Nick said.

      “Nick, we’ll meet the dancers that make it after Fatima makes her decision,” Brian said.

      “I just want to check them out, it won’t take long,” Nick said.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hayley stretched to get ready for the audition. She sat there and took a deep breath.

      “Relax, girl, everything will work out,” a girl next to her said. Hayley looked at her.

      “I hope so, I love dancing,” Hayley said.

      “Me, too, my name’s Jessica, I like to be called Jess,” the girl said holding her hand out.

      “My name is Hayley,” Hayley said shaking her hand. Jess smiled.

      “Wouldn’t it be cool if we both making it,” Jess said. Hayley smiled.

      “Yeah,” Hayley said. Jess looked up and her eyes widened.

      “Oh my gosh, Nick just walked in,” Jess said. Hayley looked up and saw her childhood friend at the door. He walked over to Fatima and talked with her and he scanned the room, looking at everyone. Hayley looked down and started stretching.

      “You okay,” Jess said.

      “Yeah, just need to get ready,” Hayley said.

      “It seems like you are hiding your face from him,” Jess said.

      “It does,” Hayley said looking at her.

      “Do you know him?” Jess said.

      “Yeah, but don’t tell anybody, but I grew up with Nick, we were friends, when we were both 10 years old, I moved away, never saw or spoke to him again, well, we wrote back and forth for three years until we lost touch, him joining the group and all, I was working at a dance studio here in town when my boss said that there was auditions for backup dancers for BSB and suggested that I try out, at first I didn’t want to, but she said that this could be the big break I was looking for, so here I am,” Hayley said quietly.

      “Girl, you go up there and tell him who you are, it could help you become a back up dancer,” Jess said. Hayley shook her head.

      “I want to earn this, not because I know Nick, I want to audition the right way,” Hayley said. She looked up at Nick across the room and saw him looking at her. He walked over to her and Jess.

      “Excuse me,” Nick said.

      “Yes,” Jess said.

      “I meant her,” Nick said looking at Hayley. She didn’t look up until Jess nudged her. Hayley looked up at him.

      “Yes,” Hayley said.

      “You look familiar, do I know you?” Nick asked.

      “Uh,” Hayley said.

      “You know her, her name is Hayley, she was telling me that she was your friend and grew up with you and when you both were 10, she moved away,” Jess said. Hayley groaned and covered her face.

      “Hayley, is it really you?” Nick asked. Hayley looked at him and nodded. Nick smiled and pulled her up and hugged her. Everyone in the room watched them.

      “God I missed you!” Nick said.

      “I missed you, too,” Hayley said.

      “It’s been so long, I’m sorry we lost touch, got so busy,” Nick said.

      “I know, I’ve been following your career,” Hayley said. Nick smiled.

      “Is that why you are here,” Nick said.

      “Actually I work at a dance studio downtown and my boss suggested I audition saying it could be my big break,” Hayley said.

      “I’ll talk to Fatima,” Nick said.

      “Nick, I don’t want help, I want to audition, I want to prove I am worthy of the job,” Hayley said.

      “Okay,” Nick said. He hugged her and she sat down and he went back over to Fatima.

Chapter 2

Nick caught up with Brian as they were heading to meet the other guys.

      “So what’s up,” Brian said.

      “You won’t believe it, I saw someone in there I haven’t seen for fifteen years, my childhood friend, Hayley, she moved when we were 10, we wrote to each other until I joined the group,” Nick said.

      “So she was auditioning, you didn’t say anything to Fatima about her, did you,” Brian said.

      “I might have,” Nick said.

      “Nick, did she ask you to?” Brian asked.

      “Well, no, she wanted to make it on her own, but I wanted to help her,” Nick said.

      “Nick, if she didn’t want you to do it, you shouldn’t have done it,” Brian said.

      “Like Fatima will listen to me, who knows, Hayley might show her that she is one of the best,” Nick said.

      “Have you seen her dance?” Brian asked.

      “No,” Nick said.

      “Then you should let her do this on her own,” Brian said.

An hour later, the auditions were over and everyone who didn’t make it was leaving. Nick, Brian, Kevin, Howie, and AJ were heading to the room to meet the female dancers who made it. They walked in and Nick saw Hayley and her friend, Jess, talking with Fatima. Hayley looked over and saw Nick and ran to him and jumped on him.

      “I made it!” Hayley said happily. Nick smiled and hugged her.

      “I had a feeling you would,” Nick said.    

      “Fatima said you talked to her but she said that regardless of you saying anything, I would have made it, she said I was one of the best dancers she has seen,” Hayley said.

      “That is great, we have to hang out on tour,” Nick said. Hayley smiled.

      “Cool!” Hayley said.

      “Oh, guys, this is Hayley,” Nick said. She shook their hands.

      “Welcome, Hayley,” Kevin said. Two women came up to the guys.

      “Kev,” one of them said.

      “Hayley, this is my wife, Kristin, honey, this is Hayley, she is one of the new backup dancers for the tour, and she grew up with Nick,” Kevin said.

      “Nice to meet you,” Kristin said shaking her hand. Hayley smiled and shook hers.

      “Nice to meet you,” Hayley said.

      “Hayley, this is my wife, Leighanne,” Brian said. Hayley shook her hand.

      “Nice to meet you,” Hayley said.

      “Nice to meet you, too,” Leighanne said. Kristin and Leighanne pulled Hayley away from the guys and they sat down and started chatting.

Nick watched Hayley as she talked with Kristin and Leighanne. AJ nudged her.

      “You like her, don’t you,” AJ said quietly.

      “Yeah, I do, I’ve known her for 10 years, I saw her last when we were 10 and now, she’s beautiful,” Nick said quietly.

Three months later, they were on tour. Hayley was paired with Kevin onstage and one of the male dancers, Tony. She was sitting with Kristin and Leighanne.

      “Kevin said that you are one of the best dancers that he has seen, and that is a great compliment, Kevin is always tough on the newbies, but you have shown him that you have the talent,” Kristin said.

      “I was so nervous the first show and I guess Kevin knew I was,” Hayley said.

      “Yeah, he did,” Kristin said. Nick came up behind Hayley and hugged her from behind.

      “Hey girl,” Nick said.

      “Hey Nicky,” Hayley said.

      “You are the best dancer ever,” Nick said.

      “Really,” Hayley said.

      “Oh yeah, you got the talent, girl, and I’m glad you are here with me, I have missed you very much,” Nick said. Hayley smiled.

      “Well, I’ve missed you, too,” Hayley said. Nick hugged her again and went down to his dressing room. Hayley looked at Leighanne and Kristin.

Chapter 3

Hayley looked at Leighanne and Kristin and looked at her hands.

      “Hayley, sweetie, are you okay?” Kristin said.

      “I think I’m in love with Nick,” Hayley said quietly.

      “You think?” Leighanne said.

      “I like it when he hugs me from behind and my skin feels tingly, I can’t stop thinking about him,” Hayley said quietly.

      “Girl, I think you are in love,” Leighanne said quietly.

      “But I’m scared to tell him, I don’t want to make a fool of myself,” Hayley said.

      “Scared to tell who?” a voice behind them asked. They saw Nick standing there with Brian and Kevin.

      “Uh, some guy Hayley likes,” Leighanne said.

      “Who is it, do we know him?” Nick asked.

      “Um, not really,” Hayley said.

      “Come on, Hayley, we don’t keep secrets from each other,” Nick said. Hayley looked at Leighanne and Kristin. Leighanne whispered in her ear. Hayley smiled up at Nick.

      “Okay, you do know him, it’s AJ,” Hayley said.

      “AJ?” Nick asked.

      “Yeah,” Hayley said.

      “You like AJ?” Nick asked.

      “Yup,” Hayley said.

      “You have got to be kidding,” Nick said.

      “Nope,” Hayley said.

      “I can’t believe this!” Nick said.

      “You wanted to know,” Hayley said.

      “How could you,” Nick said. He went to his dressing room. Hayley followed him.

      “Nick, what is going on!” Hayley said.

      “I can’t believe you like AJ!” Nick said.

      “Is that a crime?” Hayley asked. Nick looked at her angrily.

      “How could you do this to me!” Nick cried.

      “Do what, Nick,” Hayley said.

      “You know, liking AJ!” Nick said.

      “Excuse me, but I didn’t think I needed your permission to like somebody, you are not my father!” Hayley said. Nick sat down.

      “I know I’m not, it’s just that, well, I…” Nick said. Hayley sat beside him.

      “What, Nicky,” Hayley said.

      “Hayley, I’m in love with you,” Nick said. Hayley looked at him.

      “You’re in love with me?” Hayley asked.

      “Yes,” Nick said.

      “I’m in love with you, too,” Hayley said.

      “But I thought you liked AJ,” Nick said. Hayley smiled and shook her head.

      “It’s you, Nicky, I just said AJ to hide the truth,” Hayley said. Nick hugged her.

      “Ride my bus with me tonight,” Nick said.

      “Okay,” Hayley said. Nick cupped her face in his hands and kissed her softly.

Epilogue

Three months later, they all were at the last city of the tour. Nick and Hayley were cuddling on Nick’s bus. Nick kissed her cheek.

      “I’m glad we are together, because now I won’t let us be apart,” Nick said.

      “I’m glad I tried out to be a dancer for the tour, I wouldn’t be as happy as I am now,” Hayley said. Nick kissed her tenderly.

      “Dance with me,” Nick said. They got up and started to slow dance to the music. Hayley rested her head on his chest and smiled. Nick laid his head on the top of her head. They both knew they would never be apart.

The End!