“Just remind me why I'm going to this?” Melissa Riley asked her best friend Rachel Hunter, her cell phone pressed to her ear. “I'm the short, shy girl that works in PR helping with the photographs and the website. Nothing exciting.”

“You're going because you can't wait to see the object of your affection,” Rachel teased her, listening to her friend harrumph. “Listen, Mel, you're going because you got invited and it would be rude to not go.”

Melissa grabbed the lipstick out of her make up bag and applied it with one hand. She was dressed as one of those dancing girls from Las Vegas, big feathers and all, a mask covering her face as per the masquerade rules. “I'd gladly let you go. I see those guys almost every day. It's not a big deal.”

Rachel sat on her couch and rolled her eyes heavenward. “If I thought it would help, I'd rent out a billboard in Orlando and put up a sign that says you like Joey. You could talk to him tonight. He wouldn't know who you are.” Her cat, Gibbs, came and laid down next to her and purred, wanting attention.

Melissa checked her reflection once more and grabbed her purse and keys. “I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult. He hardly knows who I am anyway. And it's not like millions of other girls don't think that way about him.” It wasn't Joey's fault, he was usually en-route from one thing or another. He'd always smile and say hi if he wasn't talking to someone, stopping once to make sure he liked a picture she'd altered the coloring on. She'd grinned from ear to ear when he'd complimented her on it, blushing profusely. “I might talk to him, Rach. You'll be the first to know.”

“I better be. I want all the details. Go have fun my little wallflower,” Rachel told Melissa, hanging up and sending up a quick prayer that her friend would be brave. Rachel was the complete opposite of Melissa, the life of the party and able to make friends with anyone and everyone. That was how the two of them became friends. The first day of junior high, the two of them were paired up in Chemistry class. Rachel had talked a mile a minute the first half of class before she realized Melissa's eyes were as big as dinner plates and she was trying to bury her head in her Chemistry book. She'd pried the shy girl out of her books and music long enough to realize Melissa Riley was smart, just afraid of anything that would put her being the center of attention.

When Melissa had landed the job with NSYNC as part of their PR group to go on tour and be around a huge group of people, Rachel was shocked. However, Melissa loved the fact that it was still behind the scenes. She herself was an author. Rachel's time spent between book signings and appearances and stuck in front of her computer for hours on end. She smiled when her phone beeped and a picture came through. “At the party,” the caption said, with Melissa smiling. “Go get 'em!” was her reply, grabbing the remote to settle in for a Law and Order: SVU Marathon.

*^*^*^*^*^

“Look at all the hot ladies,” Chris said, watching people come in the door. They were all dressed up for Halloween, but had masks on so it covered up who they were. It was part of the fun, to keep your identity a mystery.

“I'm not sure I knew all these women worked for us,” Joey pointed out, looking over at Chris in his pirate regalia. “You look good, Kirkpatrick. Who picked out your costume? Your mother?” he laughed when Chris flipped him the bird.

“Shut up, Boy Wonder. Did you ask Chris O' Donnell if you could borrow that?” Chris taunted in reply, looking at Joey's 'Robin' costume from the movie.

Joey didn't respond, busy trying to figure out who people were. He had a pretty good idea of who most of the people were by their costumes or any other identifying characteristics.

Melissa stood just inside the doorway, listening to the music and not sure what she wanted to do. She knew what she would do if she was in her normal clothes. She'd find the nearest table in a corner and stay, praying no one would see her. However, she'd given herself a pep talk all the way there, telling herself that no one knew who she was, at least in costume and she could afford to get out there and mingle. Starting with the snack table, she grabbed a plate and some food, munching on a mini popcorn ball and cheese and crackers. She'd picked out Justin, just because she'd heard the rumor he was coming as a pimp. She chuckled to herself at the hat and cane, shaking her head slightly.

“I thought those Las Vegas girls were supposed to be taller,” a slight New York accent asked, coming from behind her.

Melissa knew it was Joey; hearing him talk every day made her sure of that. She swallowed what she had in her mouth and shrugged. Usually she would have just blushed and not answered him, but then she turned around and eyed his costume. “And I thought Robin was supposed to be a sidekick,” she told Joey, smiling when he laughed. “You're cheating on Superman.”

“Touche,” Joey said, looking over her head to where Chris was. They'd been trying to figure out who everyone was and couldn't place her. “Don't tell me you crashed the party. I figure between me and Chris, we knew everyone in here.”

Melissa took one of the drinks she was offered, sipping it. “And I thought we weren't supposed to name names,” she raised an eyebrow at Joey. “You do know me...at least in regular clothes. Not like I have this stashed in my closet and pull it out and strut around the house after work. Or bring it on the road,” Melissa laughed at herself. “Let me guess, you're going to wear that to the next concert and sleep in the mask?”

“Damn, how did you know?” Joey replied, grabbing a plate and some food since they hadn't moved. “So, you come here often? I mean, not for parties and shit,” he made a face at his cursing, knowing he didn't have a filter from his brain to his mouth at times. He wasn't on a date, didn't have to watch what he said as much.

“Not usually, no. I'm more of a take out kind of person,” Melissa confessed, watching other people come up to Joey and talk to him. He didn't move away from her, but he wasn't rude either as he talked and made sure everyone had been greeted. She didn't think he would hang on her, since the party was hosted by the five band mates.

Joey was glad when the group moved on, smiling at the girl still standing there. He couldn't for the life of him remember what they were talking about. “Sorry about that. Hard to have a conversation in all this,” he waved his hand at the crowd.

“It's alright,” Melissa told Joey, hoping she could go have a girl moment later. Like when the quarter back of the football team notices the lowly nerd and smiles at her. It was one of those kind of moments. “I'm sure everyone here wants to talk to at least one of you. A moment of your time seems to be a hot commodity.”

“Some days it is. Other days you end up being by yourself and thinking a lot. Those days are nice too,” Joey told her, not sure why he was letting words just spill out of his mouth. Usually he was cracking jokes. “So where do you work in the plethora of people here?” He wanted to figure out who she was before he moved on.

“In Public Relations,” Melissa told him, a smile playing on her lips when he frowned slightly. “What's the fun if you know who everyone is? Maybe you can find out at midnight. I mean, how do I know you're Joey?” she teased him, loving his genuine smile.

Joey laughed, shrugging. “Fine. I concede.” He leaned in and grinned. “Sort of hard not to be Joey since my hair's red. Don't think any of the others would dye their hair just for tonight.” Joey looked away when he heard his name, being yelled at by Justin and Chris to come help with one of the many games that was going to be happening. “You're staying til midnight, right Vegas?” he said, wanting something to call her since she obviously wasn't going to give up her name.

“Yeah,” she nodded, “I'll be here.” Melissa watched him walk away, her heart beating wildly in her chest. It was more than she'd talked to Joey on the first six months of tour and the four months of prepping before it. Now all she wanted was a moment to let Rachel know. She made her way over to where some tables were and was about to sit down when she spotted her boss, Lena. Lena Phillips was in her forties and someone Melissa looked up to, able to handle anything thrown at her and come out looking like nothing had happened. “Hi Lena,” she said, grinning.

“Is that our shy Riley?” Lena said, dressed as Wonder Woman. She'd called Melissa by her last name for so long it was automatic. There was another Melissa that was a backup dancer and yet another doing set up. This was easier. “You look gorgeous. And did I see you talking to a guy?” her smile widened as she sat down next to the younger girl.

“Yes, it's me. And yes..I was talking to Joey,” she couldn't help the slight blush that came to her face. She didn't look at Lena for a few minutes, hating that she was so shy about herself. It wasn't that she didn't want to be around people, just that in a big crowd where it was always busy, she tended to enjoy being anonymous.

“That boy could talk to anyone and make them feel comfortable,” Lena told her. “You need to get out here and have some fun. We'll be back to work in a few days and then I can't get you to say five sentences.”

“You told me to work, not talk,” Melissa told her, laughing. “So now you want me to talk? See what I have to deal with?” she asked a guy dressed up as Thor, her co-worker Wes.

“I'm not in this. We need to get over to where the guys are if we're gonna play this game,” he told the women, walking over to where the five guys had gathered on the stage, everyone around them.

“How's everyone doing?” Lance asked the crowd, smiling at the cheers. “I know you probably have figured out who everyone else is, but for fun, no masks come off until midnight. We have some great games and prizes and food. If you don't have a good time, it's your fault,” he said, everyone chuckling. He was dressed up as an astronaut, with JC next to him dressed up as a football player.

“Right now we're going to play a game. Each of us is going to pick four of you to come up here and be on our team. There's going to be music played. It might be part of lyrics, just the music, or someone talking during a song. Each team has one member guessing at a time. First one to get it gets a point. First team to ten wins,” Chris explained.

People were chosen and there were cheers and trash talking by the crowd and teams with one another. Melissa had laughed at Justin and JC arguing over someone. Her laugh was short lived when Joey had to pick his last team member.

“I want Vegas..Where are you?” Joey found her and smiled, hooking a finger and motioning for her to come forward.

“Get up there or I'm firing you,” Lena leaned down and whispered, teasing but at the same time pushing Melissa forward.

Melissa didn't rush forward, telling herself that she could do this. Rachel would be proud as she stood with Joey's team and the game started. She felt like she had an advantag; she'd spent much of her childhood and adolescence in her room listening to the radio and music that her parents loved.

“You gonna rock this?” Joey asked softly, giving her shoulder a light squeeze when she nodded and went forward. He'd tried hard not to think on this girl too much. He high fived her when she was the victor, sticking out his tongue at Chris.

In the end it came down to Joey's team and Justin's. Melissa was up against Justin and hoped it was a song she would know at least. She gave Justin a smile when he looked at her confidently. It wasn't a smug look, he was having fun. She listened to the lyrics and it took her a moment to place the song.

“Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Oh What a Night,” she said quickly, watching Justin hang his head and everyone cheered and clapped. “Good game,” she told Justin, getting a hug from him and then one from Joey.

“All of Joey's team gets these nifty new I-Pods,” JC told them as Joey handed out the prizes. “And since you were the finalist, you get something extra. Dinner for two at Chino's,” JC handed her the gift certificate to the very popular restaurant. They announced the next game would be played in a couple hours and then the music started again.

Melissa thanked him and Joey before making her way off the stage, glad to be back in the crowd. She accepted congratulations and was making her way towards one of the patios to get some air and call Rachel when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned, surprised to see Joey. “Yes?” she asked, wondering what he wanted. It was the little nagging voice in her head telling her that it was just because she was here that he was talking to her. Once she was back at work, she would be invisible once more.

“I was just gonna tell you that you did a great job. It's not often Justin gets stumped on songs,” Joey told her. He told himself that all he was doing was talking, being nice. That wasn't a stretch for him. Other than the fact he wanted to know who she was. He hated that he didn't know her name. “So, Vegas, you taking someone to dinner?”

Melissa blushed a little, wondering if that was Joey's way of asking if she had a boyfriend. “Probably my friend Rachel,” she admitted. “Why?”

“No reason, just wondering.” He changed the subject to something else before he was pulled away, making sure to follow her with his eyes as she disappeared out the door to one of the patios.

Melissa pulled out her cell phone and hit Rachel's number on her most recent calls. She listened to the song play and smiled at her friend saying hello. “I talked to him, Rach.”

“You did? What did he come dressed as? What did he say?” Rachel put her plate of food in the microwave and pressed buttons as the machine came to life. Her smile grew when she listened to Melissa answer, hearing the excitement in her friend's voice. “See? It wasn't that hard. Joey won't bite. Do me one favor though.”

“I'm afraid to ask what that is,” Melissa replied, sitting down in one of the chairs, glad for the slight breeze that was blowing. Even in October, Orlando was warm.

“Ask Joey to go with you to Chino's.” She could picture her friend's expression and quickly kept talking. “Just as friends..or..a date, whatever you think.”

Melissa's mouth gaped for a moment and she shut it. “I can't do that, Rachel! I mean, it's not in a contract or anything,” she got up and started pacing. “I can't just ask him out. Not like this! The girl doesn't ask the guy out.”

Rachel got her food out and took it to the living room, sitting back down on the couch. “You need to come to the 21st century, Riley. You can ask him out. You said he was talking to you, asked you who you were taking.”

“I told him I was taking you! Now I think I'll just go by myself,” she growled into her phone, telling her friend goodbye a few minutes later. Melissa stood there a few more minutes, glad no one had come outside. She was torn. The part of her that had come out tonight was new. Someone she could pretend to be. Not the dorky, painfully shy girl that she was. The one who sang along to songs in department stores and had a fascination with the 'Dear Abby' column. No one would ever think she was 'cool'. It wasn't a lie. She was funny and acted like she had tonight with her closest friends and family, but it was just for the party tonight. No one knew who she was, other than her co-workers. She heard the door open and more people came out. She excused herself to let the couple have some privacy, going back in.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*

“So you're really gonna make me wait until midnight?” Joey asked from across the Foosball table, spinning the black handles, grimacing when the ball sailed past him into the goal. “Damn it.”

“Like all good things, you have to wait. And no, you can't use a Jedi mind trick on me,” Melissa told him, sticking her tongue out when he lost the ball and she scored again.

“Vegas, you're beating my ass at this. I'll have to call my brother and tell him I finally found someone that will beat him.”

“It's beginner's luck,” Melissa said, watching him shake his head. “So...any big holiday plans after the tour is over?” She was curious what he was going to do with the two month break. Melissa had opted to work part time at one of the retail stores to make some money before the guys came back in to record their newest album.

“Vacation, Holidays, do some promo stuff and sing at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Go see my Nona. She and Grampa still live up in Brooklyn. Lots of cousins and stuff up there...You ever been to New York City? I mean, other than for work?” Joey found it easy to tell her things, be himself. No forced conversation.

“No, not for anything other than work. We got to have a day to ourselves while you were doing radio interviews. I went to Central Park and some of the landmarks. Statue of Liberty and stuff. I would go back in a heartbeat. I never got to ride on the Subway.” Melissa wanted to face palm herself. That was a stupid comment, but she just shrugged.

“I'm sure there are better things than the Subway in New York you didn't see. Nothing beats The Big Apple at night,” Joey went on, telling her about restaurants and places to see, being pulled away by Justin when it was time to play another game.

“What are you doing?” Justin questioned as they went towards the stage. “Who is that girl? She got catnip in her boobs or something? Usually you're surrounded by no less than five or six girls...”

“She works for us, PR...” Joey said, raising an eyebrow at Justin. “We're just talking.”

“Call it whatever you want, man,” he clapped a hand on Joey's shoulder and smiled.

“Somedays, I'm not sure why the hell I tell you anything, Timberlake. You're worse than a meddling woman. Not everything is about sex.” Joey's voice got clipped and he glared at the younger man.

“Dude, I'm fucking Switzerland,” Justin held up his hands as they got to the stage. It had been a while since Joey had let himself hang out with one girl that wasn't in the interest of taking her home. He hoped for his friend's sake that this woman was the real deal. He grabbed a mic, announcing the next game as people crowded around the stage. So far, the night was turning out swimmingly.