September 30th, 1995

Clinton, Mississippi

“Are you nuts?” Annaleigh asked, watching as Lance and Darren dropped down into patio chairs, sitting around a fire pit. She was standing in the back doorway of the house, curling her sock covered toes. She had her arms wrapped tightly around her, furiously rubbing at her arms. “Chippendale, you of all people should know that lying outside in the cold air is going to affect his vocals.”

“Relax, Anal-Lee,” Darren replied. He looked at the pile of blankets sitting beside him before grabbing one. He then got up and walked over to her to wrap it around her. She instantly relaxed at his touch and smiled up at him as he rubbed his hands up and down her arm, trying to warm up her arms. “He’ll be in Florida in no time. The only thing he’d have to worry about then is the humidity.” 

He then stepped behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, and pushed her over to one of the other empty chairs, forcing her to sit down. Lance made a noise in the back of his throat, cupping the back of his head with his hands, tilting his head back to look at the star studded night sky.

“That’s the least of my problems,” he said before letting out a sigh through his nose. 

Annaleigh looked over at him, an unreadable look on his face as he stared into the fire. His lips were pulled down in the corners, and his eyebrows were angled towards each other in the center. As if sensing that he was being watched, his eyes flickered up towards her, and a smile came to his face. Annaleigh smiled back at him as he leaned back in his chair.

Annaleigh wrapped the blanket tightly around her, bringing her knees up to her chest as she settled down into the chair that sat between Lance and Darren. She couldn’t blame him if he was worried, but it was also kind of unlike him. From what she had seen over the years, Lance could turn himself into a tight ball of worry, up until he suddenly got a burst of confidence that turned him into a completely different person. People often said that he had enough confidence for the both of them and in instances, like now, she had to agree with them. 

“Cold temperatures constrict your vocal chords,” she said, going back to the topic at hand, resting her chin on her knees. “I don’t even want to think about what the combination of humidity and dryness will do to him.”

“He’ll be great,” Darren replied, resting his elbow on his arm rest, resting the side of his head on his closed fist. He quirked an eyebrow at her. “Do you want him to bomb or something?” 

“Of course not!” Annaleigh replied, stung. She scowled at him, hurt that he would suggest something like that. She couldn’t deny that a part of her wanted him to stay, to not leave her behind, and to just stick around in Clinton. But, she knew that Lance wasn’t a small town person. He was always destined for bigger and better things. “I’m just making sure things are…perfect. That’s all.”

“For who?” Darren prompted. “Your or him?” Annaleigh scoffed in reply. 

“Seriously, can you guys stop arguing for a few minutes?” Lance asked, angling his head down, tearing his eyes from the stars before looking over at the two of them.  “I couldn’t imagine how quickly you two would murder each other while I’m away.”

“Just take her with you and you wouldn’t have a problem,” Darren replied as if that fixed every problem. “I could use some Anna free time.” 

“Thanks,” Annaleigh all but snapped at him, rolling her eyes, turning in her seat so her back was facing him more.

“Oh come on,” Darren said. She could hear the smile in his voice. “I was just kidding, Ace.” 

“Humph,” Annaleigh stuck her nose up into the air before sinking down into her blankets. She let out a sigh through her nose. It was so hard to believe that Lance was jumping on a plane the next morning to fly out to Orlando. She was happy, and sad, and excited, and worried, and an assortment of other emotions for him all at one time.

All throughout the day she and Darren had stayed at the Bass house to help prepare Lane for his audition, between their arguments and her failed, and embarrassing attempts at flirting with him; something she was sure that Lance had noticed, but being the best friend he was, didn’t comment on it. After many suggestions of song genres, such as jazz, blues, and pop, and song suggestions including Puttin’ on the Ritz, Just Awearin’ For You, and his audition piece for the Showstoppers, I Want to Be Loved Like That, did they finally agree on Ol’ Man River. 

They helped him run the song as best as he felt he could do. Darren helped him run vocal warm ups and practice different parts of the songs he was having trouble with while Annaleigh helped him sing in a way that made the song his own, as well as work out some quick dance moves that was easy to do while holding a microphone. That was where he had trouble and Annaleigh started to wonder if this was really what he was meant to do. Lance wasn’t the best dancer she had ever seen, but he had a lot of determination, and wouldn’t stop trying until he got it as best as he could.

If he can’t dance, he can’t be in a boy band, she thought to herself, sitting on the arm rest of the cushy leather couch that sat in the basement of the Bass house. She chewed on her thumbnail as she watched Lance perform the song for the umpteenth time. And for that umpteenth time, his rich, deep voice sent shivers down her spine, but she could notice how his features contorted into a look of worry that disappeared a split second later when he messed up a dance move. 

Stacey, who was also around to help for moral support, and to stop Darren and Annaleigh from arguing when Lance couldn’t, knocked Annaleigh’s hand out of her mouth, giving her a pointed look. Annaleigh just smiled sheepishly, and preceded to twist her fingers together in her lap; her second nervous tick.

But, she knew she really didn’t have anything to worry about. Bob Westbrook saw how hard Lane worked with his vocal work and had seen him rehearse and perform with Showstoppers, Seven Card Stud, and Attaché. He had to have suggested Lane to the band for more than just his dancing. She hoped.

“How was it that time?” Lance asked, after lowering the water bottle he held in front of his mouth as a makeshift microphone.  He twisted off the top before taking a long sip from it. “Stace?” 

“You know I think it’s great,” Stacey replied with a smile.

“But?” Lance prompted, using his shirt sleeve to brush the sweat from his forehead before running his hand over his hair, causing it to stick up with his sweat. 

“There’s no ‘but’,” Stacey replied, putting a hand up. Lance quirked an eyebrow, giving her a pointed look. “However—“

“Saw that coming,” Lance muttered before taking another swallow of water. He held the water in his bulging cheeks, a dribble of water sliding down his chin. His cheeks slowly deflated as he swallowed, wiping at his mouth with the back of his shirt sleeve. 

“You’ve got the singing down pat, and your dancing…could use some work,” Stacey said as if she were choosing her words carefully. “But, it’s there. I can see the passion, the fire in your eyes telling me that you want this.” She got up and then walked over to her brother to give him a hug. “You can do this, James. I know you can. Everything you’ve done before this was practice. It was all for this. You can do it.”

“Thanks, Stace,” Lance replied, briefly closing his eyes as he returned the hug. 

The fact of the matter is, she, Annaleigh, Darren, his mom, his dad, Bob, anybody could tell Lance that he had what it takes. The most important thing was whether or not he believed it. That was why Annaleigh was so worried about him. When he was confident, he could bring up everyone’s doubts around him, especially hers.

She didn’t want to say that he, in a way, dictated how she felt about herself, but, she could see where they were coming from. Ever since her parents had started arguing and yelling, not that she could ever say for a fact when it started, she spent all her time with Lance and Darren. Singing, dancing, soccer, anything she could to get some attention from somebody. 

And it wasn’t like her life sucked. Her parents both supported her in whatever it was she did…unless it involved her leaving. If she had to guess, both Ryan and Caroline wanted her at home so they would have someone else to talk to. Arguing got very tiring after a while when all you did was go around and around in circle.

Listening to it was even worse. 

She always thought her accomplishments would make them stop shooting glares at each other long enough to realize how successful their daughter was and maybe reconnect in some way. Wishful thinking mainly. Just like how she knew that hoping her parents would let her go to Orlando was basically a long shot.

“Be strong and courageous,” Annaleigh heard Darren recite. “Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord, your God, who goes with you.” 

A small smile came to her face as she and Lance joined him in saying, “He will not leave you or forsake you.”

“And neither will we,” Annaleigh said as she turned to smile at Lance. He looked back at her, allowing a smile to come to his face a swell. 

“S’mores fixins,” Lance’s dad announced as he came outside, carrying a plate of graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. He also had skewers in his hand, which he gripped tightly underneath the plate. “I’m actually fixin’ to make a few of these myself, y’all don’t mind.”

“Go ahead, dad,” Lance replied before reaching for the bag of marshmallows. He ripped a hole into the plastic before taking a marshmallow out, taking a bite out of it. “Where’s mom?” 

“She’s on the phone with your grandparents,” James replied before holding his hand out for the bag of marshmallows. “Wantin’ to tell them the good news, see if they can drive down to see you off at the airport tomorrow.”

Annaleigh ripped open a Hershey’s bar and took a bite out of it. She closed her eyes, savoring the smooth, sugary chocolate-y taste as her bite melted in her mouth. She looked up at the stars, her eyes darting around, looking for the brightest one she could find. 

“Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight; I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight,” she whispered to herself, looking around.

In Clinton, you’d be lucky to see a meteor shower, so wishing on the brightest star you could find was the staple with the kids as they grew up. She had remembered all the times the three of them had stayed out late in the park, all three of them trying to find the brightest star—one brighter than another’s—to wish on and they wouldn’t leave until they found one. As her eyes settled on one, just above the house, she closed her eyes.

“I wish Lance the best success with his music. Let him have a safe journey, and to have lots of fun.” As she opened her eyes, she took in the warmth of the fire before reaching to start making her own S’mores. James and Darren were already snacking on theirs while Lance was making more than one at a time to pile onto his plate.

“What’d you wish for?”

Annaleigh looked over at Darren as she settled back in her chair, shoving a marshmallow onto her skewer, leaning forward in her seat, holding her marshmallow over the open flame. “If I told you that, it wouldn’t come true,” she finally said, before sticking her tongue out at him. “Besides, since when have I ever told you what I wish for.” 

He gave her a gentle smile. “That’s ok,” he said, licking some of the chocolate off of his thumb. He gave her a pointed look, making her blush, his eyes alight from the fire and from something else. They briefly flickered in Lance’s direction before looking back at her. The corners of his lips lifted up into a small smile. “I think I know what it was, anyway.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you do,” Annaleigh agreed, flicking out her tongue to lick at the small bit of chocolate that stuck in the corners of her lips.

They continued to eat and make S’mores in silence, occasionally breaking it as their chairs scraped against the back porch, or the wrappers and plastic bags rustled as a gentle breeze blew and as they went to make seconds, thirds, and fourths. It was a tradition with the Bass family to make S’mores whenever there was good news to share. When it got too cold to be outside around the fire pit, they would turn up the flames on the stove and cook their marshmallows that way. 

Honk, honk.

“That’s my ride,” Annaleigh said as she set her empty plate down. 

“I’ll walk you out,” Lance offered, wiping the crumbs off of his hands, his cheek bulging from the s’more he was currently chewing on.

Annaleigh got to her feet and removed the blanket from around her arms, the chill of the fall night air, instantly seeping through her clothes. “I’ll see y’all bright and early ‘n the morning. Thanks for the s’mores, Mr. B.” 

“Anytime,” James replied, lifting a hand. “Tell yer parents I say, ‘hello’.”

“I will, sir,” Annaleigh replied, folding up her blanket before setting it down into the chair she had just abandoned. “I’m just going to get my stuff.” 

She then made her way into the house, through the kitchen, and up to Lance’s room. She put grasped her abandoned bag, pausing to look out the window she had come in through that morning, and then around his bedroom. She then turned on her heels and made her way down the stairs, finding Lance in the foyer.

“Don’t think my parents are gon’a let me go with you,” she said as he moved to open the front door before pushing open the storm door. “They would’ve told your mom by now if I could.” 

“I didn’t want to say anything,” Lance said as they made their way down the footpath. He rubbed at his arms with his hands.

“Think it’s for the best,” Annaleigh said with a sigh through her nose. She put up a hand, shielding her face from the bright headlights of the car that sat in the dark in the driveway. “You know how badly I wanna go with ya, but this is the path you have to take, not me. I’ve been doing everything you’ve been doin’ for years now. I need to start doin’ things for myself.” 

“Couldn’t have done this without you, Ace,” Lance said, putting a hand on her shoulder.”You’ll see me off, right?”

“Course!” Annaleigh replied with a nod of her head before stepping towards him, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. “How could I not? I’ll see ya tomorrow. Thanks, James.” 

“For what?” Lance asked, hugging her back.

“For putting up with me for all these years,” Annaleigh replied. “You’re meant to do this, I just know it.” She squeezed him tighter for a moment before stepping back. “Night.”

“Night, Ace,” Lance replied as he let her go. She stepped away from him and he lifted his hand in greeting to the car.

Annaleigh made her way across the driveway and pulled open the back door to the car. “Hey,” she greeted her parents as she slammed the car door shut. She buckled up her seat belt and settled in as Ryan backed the car out of the driveway. She frowned when she got silence. “Mom? Dad?”

“Did you have a good time, Sweetie?” Caroline asked, turning in her seat to face her daughter.

“Darren and I spent all day helping Lance prepare his audition,” Annaleigh replied with a nod of her head. She saw something flicker in her mother’s eyes, and her smile widened slightly. “He’s doin’ Ol’ Man River, got it down perfectly. He and Mrs. B are flying out tomorrow morning.” She was quiet for a moment. “I know I can’t go with them, but is it ok if I see him off tomorrow?”

“Of course you can, Sweetpea,” Caroline replied, reaching out a hand to brush some hair out of her daughter’s face. “I’m glad you had a good time.” Her smile faded slightly. “Honey, I know how much you wanted to be able to head down to Florida. I just don’t think—“

Ryan loudly cleared his throat. Caroline briefly closed her eyes before looking over in her husband’s direction. She sucked in a deep breath through her nose, a muscle in the side of her jaw, twitching. Annaleigh looked over at her dad and saw that he was tightly gripping the steering wheel in his hands.

“We don’t think it’s a good idea,” Caroline finally said after a moment of silence. “Both your father and I wouldn’t be able to take off work, and we don’t know how long we’d have to be down there—“

“I could stay with Mrs. B and Lance,” Annaleigh offered.

“We couldn’ ask them to do that, Anna,” Caroline replied, shaking her head back and forth. “We don’t want to impose on them.” She then turned around and sat forward in her seat. “Your father and I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be down in Florida on your own, sweetie.”

“We’re just worried about you, sweetheart,” Ryan continued, speaking up for the first time. “The music profession isn’t as easy or glamorous as you may think it is.” He paused for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh. “I would know.”

“Of course you would,” Caroline swiftly replied, sharply turning her head to look at him.

“Caroline,” Ryan said in a tight voice, briefly taking his eyes off the road to look over at his wife. “Not now.”

“Wait, dad,” Annaleigh said with a shake of her head. “You used to be in a band or something?”

She stared at the back of his head in shock. She had never known that. She knew that he played a little bit of the drums, and sang in the church choir every now and then, but she didn’t know that he had any ties to the music industry at all.

 “Or something,” Caroline repeated under her breath, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Caroline,” Ryan repeated. He looked at her daughter in the rearview mirror. “We’ll talk about this later, Anna.”

“But—“

“Annaleigh,” Ryan interrupted her, raising his voice slightly. “Later.”

Annaleigh closed her mouth, settling back in her seat. She licked her lips before turning her head to look out the window at each car that passed. She lifted up a hand and ran her fingers through her hair. Dad was in a band? kept repeating over and over again. He doesn’t seem like the band type. Which would explain why he thinks my music is just a waste of time. She let out a huff of air. It’s so unfair.

The rest of the car ride was in silence apart from the low toned quick snaps that Ryan and Caroline shot at each other. Annaleigh strained her ears to try and listen to what they were saying, but they were talking to quietly. She could see them gesturing with their hands, stabbing the air with their fingers, and, in Caroline’s case, slapping him on the arm. As soon as they pulled up into the driveway, the two of them were out of the car faster than she could unbuckle herself.

“Annaleigh, go straight to your room,” Caroline said as soon as Annaleigh closed the car door behind her. She was standing on the front porch, arms crossed over her chest, tapping her foot repeatedly as she waited for Ryan to unlock the front door. “Your father and I have things to discuss.”

“Of course you do,” Annaleigh muttered under her breath. Caroline stopped tapping her foot and stared over at her daughter. Her eyebrows shot up, and her jaw dropped slightly. “Sorry, mom.”

“Just go to your room,” Caroline said, putting a hand to her forehead before running her hands over her face.

As soon as the front door was opened, Annaleigh brushed past her parents and hurried up the stairs, her footsteps echoing along the stairwell. But, she didn’t go to her room. She tiptoed into her bedroom and sat her backpack on her bed before tiptoeing out, making a point to slam the door shut behind her. She then stretched out onto the hallway floor and army crawled towards the stairs.

She didn’t have to wait long for her parents to start yelling.

“How dare you talk about me like that in front of your daughter,” Ryan shouted, shortly followed by the sound of something dropping onto the kitchen table, glass rattling.

“How dare you not tell our daughter all about you and your stupid music,” Caroline shot back.

“You think that’s something I want to tell her?” Ryan asked. He let out a loud bark of laughter. “You think I want to tell her that her music is a waste of time and it isn’t going to get her anywhere?” Annaleigh winced at the words. “She’ll stand a better chance at a real job.”

Caroline let out a shriek of wild laughter and Annaleigh’s heart caught in her throat. “Like you have a real job? Building homes and teaching?” There was a long pause of silence. “I guess I should be happy that you’re payin’ off your mistakes. Your stupid mistakes.”

“I said I was sorry, alright?” Ryan asked in a tight voice. “You don’t think I don’t have to pay for it day in and day out? I know what the neighbors say. I hear all the whispers behind my back.”

“Well, you don’t have to hear what’s being said about me,” Caroline replied. Annaleigh could hear footsteps; light and quick. She was pacing. “You know what, Ryan? I don’t think yer going to be able to keep this from her.”

“I wouldn’ have had to worry about it if you didn’t open your big mouth,” Ryan shot back.

“She’ll find out eventually, you know how important her music is to her.” Caroline let out a loud groan. Annaleigh could picture her tugging fistfuls of her hair. “You can’t keep it from her. I’m surprised word hasn’t got back to her already, you know how this town is.” There was a slapping sound. “You know, I bet that’s why she wants out of here so badly.”

“And you think that’s my fault?” Ryan asked. He let out a loud scoff. “It has nothin’ to do with the fact that her mother has abandoned this family?”

“Hello! I’m standin’ right here!” Caroline shrieked. The pacing stopped and she stomped her foot. “I haven’t abandoned this family, I haven’t abandoned her. I’ve been carryin’ this family.”

“Oh, is that what you call it?” Ryan asked. “Stayin’ out late every day; pickin’ up extra shifts. You barely have any time to see your daughter.” More footsteps; heavy and slow. He was pacing. “She sure as hell didn’t need to know ‘bout this, Caroline, an’ you know it.”

Footsteps headed in her direction and Annaleigh quickly got to her feet, hurrying to her room. She closed the door behind her just in time to hear her dad’s footsteps coming up the stairs. They stopped on the top stair before heading down the hall. The silence was punctured by the loud slam of a door.

Annaleigh squeezed her eyes shut before walking over to her bed. She grasped her pillow and put it to her face, smothering her loud, and long scream. She then dropped her pillow to her bed and started punching her pillow repeatedly until her arms gave out and she stopped, breathing heavily. She then straightened and crossed her room to the window, pushing the curtains back.

She looked up into the dotted night sky, searching for a bright star. She pressed her forehead to the cool glass, closing her eyes. She slowly breathed in and out, her breath fogging up the glass. As she crossed her arms over chest, turning her back to the outside world, she wondered if she had wasted her wish from the night before. Right now all she wished for, more than before, was a way out of Clinton.

October 1st, 1995

Jackson, Mississippi

 Jackson-Evers International Airport

Lance’s knees bobbed up and down as he waited for his flight to be announced over the loud speaker. He looked around at the people bustling to and fro in the Jackson, Mississippi airport. He rubbed his tired, burning, eyes, but he couldn’t get to sleep. Nor could he get to sleep last night.

He kept thinking of the warm weather that awaited him, and his future. New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys both came out of Orlando, maybe this new boy band would be a big hit, too. That’s what he kept telling himself, and then as he thought about all of the opportunities that could arise from the band, he got too excited to go to sleep. Now he wished he had. He didn’t think he’d be able to get a chance to sleep on the plane either.

“You’re shaking the bench.” Lance chuckled as he looked down at Annaleigh who was stretched out on the row of seats beside him, eyes closed, trying to sleep. She had a coat balled up underneath her head to use as a pillow. 

“Sorry,” Lance replied, reaching out a hand to brush a lock of her hair away from her face.

Annaleigh made a whining noise, pushing her hand away before rolling onto her other side, curling up into a ball. If it was one thing he learned about her pretty quickly, don’t mess with her when she’s trying to sleep. He put his hands on his knees to stop them from bouncing.

“Did you wake up the bear?” Darren asked from Lance’s other side, grinning.

“I heard that,” Annaleigh snapped.

Darren leaned forward in his seat to look at her, still smiling. “I thought you were still asleep,” he said.

“I am, now be quiet,” Annaleigh replied, keeping her eyes closed. She rolled back onto her other side before letting out a sigh, sitting up. She crossed her arms over her chest, pouting. “You people are too loud.”

Lance twisted his mouth to the side. He knew her well enough to know that she was cranky because of her being disrupted from her sleep, but also because of that fact that he would be leaving soon. He couldn’t remember the last time that he had seen her cry, but she was sure as hell putting up a fight against herself now. He could see it in her eyes; how they seemed to shimmer with unshed tears  just by looking at him, or whenever a flight was called, knowing that sooner or later it would be his own.

His stomach was bubbling and gurgling, and twisting and turning from anticipation. He was excited and scared all at the same time. He was really about to get on a flight and be on his way to possibly achieving his dreams. He was getting out of Clinton. Not that he didn’t love his time there, he just always knew that his music would take him to new heights, no pun intended.

“Delta Airlines flight2156 to Orlando, Florida, is now boarding.”

“That’s my flight,” Lance said as he got to his feet. He reached underneath him and grabbed onto the handle of his carryon bag before shouldering it.

“Sing it loud and proud, Half-Pint,” Darren said, clapping Lance on the back, using one of his old nicknames. “Make us proud.” He then stepped forward and gave Lance a hug, one which Lance returned as tightly as he could.

“I will,” Lance replied as he took a step back. “Thanks for everything, D. I know I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”

“Sure you would,” Darren replied, giving Lance a look as if he was crazy. “You have a natural talent, man. Shoot, if I didn’t spot it, someone else would have.” He winked and clapped his friend on the shoulder. “You’ll do great.”

“Of course he will,” Annaleigh said with a weak smile. She sniffed and blinked rapidly. “This is Lance Bass we’re talking about; our best friend.” Lance smiled at her before putting an arm around her shoulder, bringing her into his side in a hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her head into his chest. “He’s going to be great because it’s just in him.”

“Come on, Lance, we should get going,” Diane said, adjusting her grip on her bags.

Lance then gave his dad and his sister a hug goodbye before following his mom over to the flight boarding gate. He looked back over his shoulder at his friends and family, who waved, before he gave his boarding pass to the woman at the gate, returning her warm smile.

“Here we go,” Lance whispered to himself, taking in a deep breath of air as he made his way through the long tunnel.

He let it out in a rush of air when he stepped onto the plane. He shuffled behind his mom as she looked for their seats. He looked around at the others who were already on the plane and wondered why they were headed to Orlando. As he dropped into his cushy seat, buckling himself up, he felt his mom take his hand and smiled over at her before kissing her on the cheek, squeezing her hand.

The four hour flight went by faster than Lance could imagine. He faded in and out of sleep, due to his excitement and turbulence on the plane. After the plane landed, waiting to get off the plane, and getting their bags from baggage claim, Lance and his mom made their way through the Orlando Airport towards the front. Lance didn’t let go of his mom’s hand the whole time.

“Mom,” Lance said, side stepping a little girl with a Barbie backpack, “how are we going to know who’s there for us.”

“It’s all taken care of,” Diane replied, squeezing his hand before using her other hand to pat it. “Don’t worry sweetie.” She craned her neck as she looked over the crowed. “We should be right about—“

“There,” Lance said, using his free hand to point ahead of him at a sign with their names on it. Cool. Lance thought to himself, a grin coming to his face. He led the way through the crowds of people, saying, “Excuse me”, “I’m sorry”, as he forced his way through the group. He then came face to face with a woman with lots of curly hair, and a rotund man with thinning hair and glasses.

“Are you James?” the woman asked, giving him a bright smile.

“Lance, actually,” Lance replied with a nod of his head. “But, yes, ma’am, I am.” He nodded his head towards Diane. “And this is my mom.”

“Oh, Diane, it’s so nice to finally meet you,” the woman replied, her smile getting wider before she took Diane’s hand in both of hers, shaking it. “My name is Lynn Harless, I’m Justin’s mom.” She then shook Lance’s hand, shaking his arm up and down in the process. “I’m so glad to have you here.”

“And I’m Lou Pearlman,” the man said, stepping forward, offering a thick hand. Lance gave him a polite smile, taking his warm hand in his hand, shaking it in greeting. “You may call me Lou or Papa Lou, as the boys call me. Whichever you prefer. I’m the manager of the group. The boys are very excited to meet you.”

“Well, if you have everything, let’s go,” Lynn said, clapping her hands together in excitement.

“The car is right this way,” Lou said with a grand sweep of his arm before leading the way out of the airport.

Lance blinked, doing a double take at Lou’s voice and at his request of what the be called. His voice was higher pitched then Lance imagined it to be. Lance looked over at his mom, raising his eyebrows. “Papa Lou?” he repeated in a quiet voice.

“Ssshh,” Diane said, putting a finger to her lips. Although, she had a weird look on her face as well. “Just call him Lou, sweetie. Whatever’s most comfortable for you.”

“Ok,” Lance replied with a nod of his head.

As soon as he stepped out into the warm, sunny Florida afternoon, Lance was taken aback. There was barely a cloud in the sky and not even a cool chill that welcome the fall weather like in Clinton. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath of the Orlando air.

“It’s right this way,” Lynn said, gently taking Lance’s arm, guiding him through the parking lot. As soon as Lance saw it, he stopped and stared.

“Great, huh?” Lou asked, indicating the Rolls Royce he was standing next to. “If this band is a hit, just like I know it will, you can get one of these for yourself.” He chuckled a hyena like laugh as he shuffled around to the driver’s seat.

And then they were off to where they were going to stay, the Enclave hotel. Lance was surprised that their rooms were already paid for, but barely got the chance to look around before he and his mom were back in the car, being drive across the city, coming up to a big house that Lynn called, “The Compound.”

Lance got out of the car and looked over at two guys that were playing basketball in the driveway. One of them was a curly haired boy, significantly smaller than the other, who looked to be way older then the other. Lance swallowed thickly, barely hearing his mom when she said that she was going inside to talk to Lou and Lynn.

Lance slowly walked over to the two boys, just as the biggest one managed a layup, and the smaller one let out a loud curse. “Justin Randall,” Lynn called as she made her way into the house, “watch your tone.”

“Sorry,” ‘Justin’ called back, a sweet smile coming to his face. He gave a wave to his mom as she made her way inside and as the door shut, his smile faded. “You cheated Kirkpatrick.” He bounced the orange ball in his hands against the ground before bounce passing it to the other boy.

“You’re just a sore-loser, Shrimp,” ‘Kirkpatrick’ replied with a grin, grasping the ball in his hands. He then turned towards Lance, lifting his head in a nod. “Hey, what’s up?” He tucked the basketball underneath his arm. “You must be Lance. “

“Yeah, I’m um, Lance,” Lance replied, suddenly feeling incredibly shy. “Lance Bass.” ‘Kirkpatrick’ gave Lance a welcoming smile. Justin, on the other hand, stayed silent, looking Lance up and down.

“I’m Chris Kirkpatrick,” Chris offered his hand, grinning.

“Justin Timberlake,” Justin said with a nod of his head.