Chapter 1: Meeting the Boys

Tamera

I'm sitting front row at the Backstreet Boys acoustic concert. Nick just finished singing his solo and Howie's singing his.

" Is there anybody out there I can sing to? Can I sing to you?" Howie asks looking at me.

My eyes widen as I swallow hard. I stand up and walk over to the stage. Butterflies in my stomach as I stand before my favorite member of BSB.

"What's your name?" Howie asks sweetly.

"Tamera." I manage to choke out past the lump in my throat.

"Tamera?" Howie asks and I nod.

Then he kisses me on the cheek and all my nervousness melts away. He sings the rest of his solo to me then he hands me the white rose he brought out with him on stage. The he kisses my right cheek, then my left.

"Meet me by the backstage entrance after the show." Howie whispers in my ear.

I could feel his lips and his breath on my ear as he spoke. Then he stood up on stage. I looked up at him as he stood before me in his black suite. He smiles at me and winks before he turns and walks off stage as the crowd erupts in cheers. It didn't even seem like I walked but floated back to my seat. I watch the rest of the concert in a dream-like state. I notice that Howie looks at me every chance he gets. The blood rushes to my face then a thought crosses my mind. I really am glad I wore my metallic purple spaghetti strap dress that shows off my caves. My fiery red curly hair is up in a high ponytail on the back of my head. Once the boys finished Quite Playing Games With My Heart Howie looks directly at me and winks before he walks backstage.

Sharen

Tamera walks out of the auditorium and towards the backstage area. I follow close behind but far enough behind so she won't see me. She slips through the crowd and gets backstage when Howie walks up to her. He takes her hand and raises it to his lips to kiss her hand. I narrow my baby blue eyes to glare at her.

That should be me not you slut. Howie is mine. I think as she follows him backstage.

Howie

I lean against the wall by the backstage entrance; I didn't even change out of this damn suite. I slip off my jacket as I survey the crowd. Suddenly I see a girl with a fiery red curls ponytail swishing back and forth behind her head and her pale blue eyes sparkling. The white rose I gave her in her hand and her knee-length metallic purple dress hugging her every curve as she walks through the crowd. I smile and stand up as we make eye contact and she smiles back. She pushes her way through the crowd and stops in front of me.

"Hola, señorita." I say taking her hand and kissing it.

"¡Hola! That was a good performance tonight." Tamera says her pale peach skin slightly red.

"Come on back with me. You can meet the other guys while I change outta this suite." I say taking her hand and leading her backstage.

We dodge the tech people as we make our way to mine and the other guy's dressing room. I open the door and look around at the guys. Nick is sitting on a recliner chillin'. Kevin and Brian are playing NBA Play-offs '98. AJ walks out of the changing and wardrobe area of out dressing room slipping a black mesh shirt on. He looks over at Tamera and me as I close the door.

"Pardon me, I didn't know there was a lady in the room." AJ says acting suave as always.

I look over at Tamera and her cheeks start to turn red. I smile and take her hand. She turns and looks at me and smiles back the red on her cheeks fading to pink. I can feel my knees start to go weak from her beautiful smile. I look back around at the guys all of them suddenly looking at me and Tamera.

"Guys this is Tamera, Tamera the guys. I'll be right back I gotta get outta this suite. Make yourself at home." I say slipping my hand from her's and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

I walk away from her and towards the wardrobe area. I glance back at Tamera and see her talking to AJ and Nick. I smile to myself as I try to find something to change into.

Tamera

Howie kisses me on the cheek and my knees feel like jelly as he walks away from me. AJ walks up to me and smiles.

"It's a pleasure mademoiselle." AJ says as he takes and kisses my hand.

"So you were the red head that Howie kept starin' at." Nick says walking up to stand next to AJ.

"Yeah I guess that would be me." I say lightly laughing and smiling.

"You should feel pretty lucky…usually it's Brian who goes gaga over girls." AJ says and I giggle and blush.

"You'd know a lot about that AJ, you do it more than I do." Brian says with his thick country accent.

"Can you blame a lonely man for checkin' out the lovely ladies?" AJ says as he, Nick and I walk back towards the couch and recliner.

Nick plops down on the recliner. AJ and I sit on either end of the couch.

"What about Natalia?" Howie asks walking out from the wardrobe area.

He's wearing a tight black t-shirt and black jeans. My voice catches in my throat as I feel my insides melt and cheeks heat up from Howie's stare. He sits in between AJ and me on the couch and he puts his arm around my bare shoulders. A jolt of electricity goes through me as his skin touches mine.

"Like I said a lonely man." AJ says resting his head on the back of the couch.

"Girl problems? Wanna talk about it?" I say looking over at AJ.

"Nah, I know what's wrong. I'm with the wrong girl. I'm going to tell her tonight." AJ says with a sigh.

"So what about you other boys, do any of you have girlfriends?" I ask looking around at each of them.

"Well Howie- Ow." Nick starts being cut off by Howie kicking him in the ankle, I raise an eyebrow.

"Howie what?" I ask scooting a little off the couch out of Howie's arms.

"Well Howie has a girlfriend and so do I… but we both suffer from the same problem as AJ does." Nick says siting up more and leaning his elbows on his knees.

"Oh… I see." I say trying to hide how my heart is breaking.

"Tamera listen. I broke things off with my girlfriend before the concert tonight. Please you've got to believe me." Howie pleads.

Howie

This is absolutely perfect. Now because of Nick's big mouth I might lose my chance with Tamera. She turns to face me and I meet her eyes. I can see the pain of shattered hope and a broken heart in her eyes. I can feel Brian, Nick, AJ and Kevin's eyes on the both of us.

"How do I know you're not just saying that to get me to still flirt with you?" Tamera asks demandingly and I see the glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes.

"Tamera that's not true, I would never do that." I say moving closer to her on the couch.

"I don't believe you. It was a pleasure meeting all of you but I must be leaving." Tamera says as she abruptly stands up and walks out of our dressing room.

I look around at the guys then I look straight at Nick.

"Thanks a lot man." I say as I stand up and walk out the door.

I look either way and see Tamera heading deeper into the backstage area. Some tech guys are pulling extension cords out of the way and one got caught around her ankle. When it's pulled it causes her to step on it wrong and she starts to fall. I run over to her and she lands perfectly in my arms.

"Ow." She says reaching down to hold her ankle, "I think I twisted it."

"Here let my help you." I say as I put one arm behind her shoulder and under her knees.

Then I pick her up causing her to cry out in surprise as she tightly locks her arms around my neck. I smile slightly to myself at the sight of Tamera pushing herself tightly against my chest. I hold her tightly her feet dangling in their high-heeled sandals. I carry her over to one of the speakers and set her down on top if it.

"Which ankle is it?" I ask looking right into her eyes that are sparkling again.

"The right." She says her eyes not leaving mine.

I kneel down in front of her and put my hands around her ankle and feel the tense muscles underneath her pale peach skin. She winces as my fingers touch her skin. I look up at her and she blanks her expression.

"It looks like you-" I start.

"-sprained it." We both finish and laugh.

"I guess I should get to a doctor." Tamera says looking away from me.

"You know I meant what I said about my ex-girlfriend. I dumped her today before the show… and I'm glad I did." I say softly and sweetly.

Tamera looks back at me in disbelief as I stand back up. I slid my hand on her cheek and she closes her eyes for a moment then leans her head to my touch. Her eyes slowly open and I meet her beautiful pale blue eyes. I don't know why I thought Sharen was the one for me… I think I really found her this time.

Then we slowly move toward each other and our lips barely brush at first then met in a sweet kiss. We stop kissing but don't move far from her. I can feel her uneven breath on my face and I swallow hard. How long has it been since I felt this attracted to a girl? In the little time I've known Tamera she's done everything to me to make me feel like a kid again.

"Maybe we should get you to a doctor now, we can talk more on the way." I say taking a reluctant step back away from her.

Tamera scouts halfway off the speaker and wraps her arms around my neck. I slip one arm tightly around her shoulders and the other under her knees and I carry her out to my rental car. I gently set her down on the passenger seat and drive her to the nearest hospital.