At Sally Ride Middle School, the girls were in the library returning some books they borrowed.

"Now that our Spanish test is over," Faith said with relief. "We can finally take Nella and Holden to Gamescore Gamer Club for the Sugar Rush Competition."

"Yeah," replied Jessie. "As last year's victor and Minty Zaki Zuperstar, I also get to announce about having a good time in competitions, proving to everyone that winning isn't everything."

XxoxX

At another part of the library, Lewis and Vincenzo were reading up on some Puerto Rican recipes that Howie D taught him the day before. Vincenzo thought it would be a good way to help his Zio Pablo in the cafeteria, but Lewis thought it was just nonsense. "Big G had to make them judges, choreographers, costume department, tutors, understudies, and crew people," Lewis complained, "This is madness."

"I know Grandpa hates them and my dad, zios, zias showed them the world of Backstreet Boys," replied Lewis, "but he said, 'It's for LADUWS ratings."

"I wish they could just get the Beatles to be the judges," Lewis replied, "but George Harrison had to go up to that Big Indian Palace in the Sky last year."

"The reason why Grandpa made you stay as a backup dancer is that your grandfather, Lewis Hightower I, founded Studio 25 in the late '50s," recalled Vincenzo. "Big G wanted to continue his showbusiness mentor's name, so he paid you to stay."

"Yeah, yeah," Lewis rudely recalled. "Pops told me and my step-brother the story a thousand times."

Vincenzo took a deep breath. "The reason why we're best friends is," he recalled, "You may be cranky just like your father and grandfather, but you could use a friend."

Deep down, Vincenzo knew that befriending Lewis could be the worst mistake of his life. He could remember giving him cheap presents for his birthdays, always being ungrateful for all the things Vincenzo does for him, and always being mean to his female relatives, especially his younger sisters.

XxoxX

After school, they spotted a little boy finishing up his homework. It was Lewis's ten-year-old stepbrother, Colin. "What are you doing here, twerp?" asked Lewis.

"I left early so I can get ready for Myla's music class and I got a call from Sally Ride Middle School about you did spitballs at the female cheerleaders again," Colin explained. "Father will be very displeased by this."

"*My* father, not yours," growled Lewis. "Remember, my parents' divorced cause my real mom couldn't take his behavior anymore. A year later he met Juniper and they tied the knot."

"Don't insult my mother like that," Colin growled. "Anyway, I've also got a piano lesson today with Kevin Richardson and a Spanish lesson with Howie D."

"I thought Howard spoke a little bit of it," Lewis said.

"He does," replied Colin. "I'm just doing the basics."

XxoxX

Later, Vincenzo and Zio Pablo were serving some in the cafeteria. "You call them empanadas?" Lewis asked angrily. "More like empukenadas."

Horrified by his insult, Zio Pablo decided to check on the coconut pudding for dessert.

As Lewis left to work on dance rehearsal with A.J., Nick, and B-Rok, Howie D and Colin couldn't help but stare at the big jock. "Was Lewis always like this?"

"I'm afraid so," Colin replied. "He started as Tiny Tap Lewis at three years old. Tiny Tap Lewis was created by Lewis Hightower II to show off his only child. Every episode, he always hogs the attention. After his growth spurt at 10, they stopped production. When my mom married his dad, he's been bossing me around like crazy. I mean, he steals all my piano sheets and writes insults in them, calls all my friends, losers, and he always he kicks out charity organizers for no reason."

Just then, Kevin came in feeling annoyed. "You won't knot believe what Lewis did in the piano lesson earlier," he growled. "Lewis pushed Colin and me for no reason at all and played 'Big and Loud' from 'Cats Don't Dance' in both versions."

Howie D and Colin were starting to worry that swelled head of Lewis's could make Vincenzo do the same thing.

In the kitchen, Zia Lilliana was coming in all annoyed. "You would not believe what happened," she stated. "Lewis told me that my voice was strained from stupidity, and I shouldn't do announcements anymore."

"If you think that's bad, sis," Pablo replied. "Lewis just insulted the Puerto Rican cooking and broke his promise to help in the kitchen again."

"It's a good thing Big G is having Backstreet issues," Zia Lilliana replied. "And he always had to bribe him with money, all because of ratings."

"Zia Lilliana," asked Vincenzo, "shouldn't you just give Lewis a chance?"

"Nipote," replied Lilliana replied, "haven't you ever heard of false friends?"

"They're people who pretend to be friends to get you what you want," Vincenzo recalled, "I remember that from the last season finale of 'Spies and Surprise'."

"Exactly," answered Zia Lilliana. "We've been trying to warn you for nearly ten years that Lewis is one of these, but you didn't listen."

Not being sure about what his relatives said, Vincenzo decided to go for a walk to clear his head.

XxoxX

As he arrived at Kolton Dukes Park, he saw some strange looking basketball players playing three on two. "Hey, dude!" shouted one of them. "Wanna play B-Ball with us?"

Vincenzo remembered that he shouldn't play with strangers, so he decided to leave for The Tiki Hut. Annoyed by his decision, they knocked him out with the Zasketball. It turns out that they were Zalgea's Zasketball team, the Zalgea Zalligators. "You're not taking a bite of crime, mister," growled one of the players.

Back at Studio 25, the boys were wrapping up a camera crew production of a music video by a local hippie boy band, VGEY. As the quartet left for a lecture with Matteo on combining dance moves between hair and help, they started sensing danger at Kolton Dukes Park.

"Okay now," Kevin said to his bandmates. "We're doing this without the girls. Jessie and Nadine promised their little siblings they would go to that Sugar Rush competition. So let's ride!"

Backstreet's Back Alright

XxoxX

At Koltok Dukes Arcade, they saw the Zalgea Zalligators tormenting the young modern dancers. "Time out!" shouted Power Lord. "You guys are doing a fowl play leaving Vincenzo out."

Vincenzo was curious about how Power Lord knew his name. Looking closely, he started to think that the Cyber Crusaders looked kind of familiar.

"How about a little five on five for Vincenzo's freedom?" asked Ordnance.

"Looks like we got competition," suggested one of the players.

Not wanting Vincenzo to escape, they trapped him in a basketball shield.

After a few slam dunks, rebounds, and blocks. The score was tied 10 to 10, and Vincenzo was worried that he may not see his family again. Vincenzo started to notice a few more details of the Cyber Crusaders' real identities. Their basketball skills and Nick's beautiful eyes. That was when he knew the Backstreet Boys were the Cyber Crusaders. But thanks to the shield being soundproof, they were unaware of Vincenzo knowing their secret.

With one shot, Top Speed did a steal and slam dunked to victory. "And the crowd goes wild!" he shouted.

Ninja Man placed his goggles on and freed Vincenzo with his sword. "Thank you, Ninja Man" replied Vincenzo. "I'm all good."

"I don't understand!" shouted one of the players. "You're helping this loser!"

"For a super team," explained Power Lord, "you had to be friends. We've always been like this for almost ten years."

Annoyed by their bond, the Zasketball players left.
Vincenzo decided to repay the Backstreet Boys by ordering pizza for them at Velossi's.

XxoxX

Later, they arrived at their beach house where they saw Vincenzo fixing up dinner for them. "I just wanted to thank you guys for, ugh-" Vincenzo nervously explained as he looked at the confused Backstreet Boys, "-helping my grandfather these past three months."

Not wanting to disappoint the little fella, they joined in on pizza.

XxoxX

The next day at school, Faith, Nadine, and Jessie were coming out of Music Class while Ginger and Dorothy were coming out of Art Class when they spotted Vincenzo and Lewis coming out of their computer class. "So, girls," Lewis said, "how was you cavity car chase?"

"It's called 'Sugar Rush', Lewis," corrected Jessie angrily.

"And if you must know," Faith growled, "a 'Sugar Rush' super fan from Jacksonville won the competition. For the prize, the manager gave the winner the new 'Sugar Rush: Fudgey Fueled on Chikorama Megavance'."

"That's game came out last August," Dorothy finished.

"So," Lewis growled angrily, "It's not like you LOSER LADIES have any fits to handle, or any grudges or tears. Only people love first place winners like me."

Vincenzo was petrified because Lewis had gone too far on insulting the girls. "I can't believe you," he growled. "My relatives were telling the truth about you and your swell-headed schemes."

"So what?" growled Lewis. "Being in showbusiness is a man's duty, so they should go to an Athenian finishing school where they belonged."

Now Vincenzo was very furious. "This is not ancient Greece anymore," he growled back. "A real best friend doesn't go behind others' backs; they trust each other with their life and their not a swell-headed scoundrel like you. Believe me, I know this thing."

Angered by Vincenzo's betrayal, Lewis walked out on them. Faith, Ginger, Nadine, and Jessie were all proud of Vincenzo for standing up to his ex-best friend. "Lewis may be a creep," Vincenzo admitted, "but I'm looking at my real friends right here."

The five girls were happy because Vincenzo hadf learned about true friendship. Outside the school they could see a few gym teachers playing in the rain. "This is just like Backstreet's first-ever hit, 'Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)'," recalled Dorothy.

"So girls," Vincenzo asked, "After school, wanna work on the dance to Quit Playing Games(With My Heart) at the park.

"We like that," answered Ginger. "Just as long as we don't get sick."

After they left for their next class, Vincenzo crossed his fingers.

The End.