Alexander James McLean took the rolled up lit paper from his lips and blew out the smoke that seemed to calm his every nerve. He never imagined she’d show up. Not with him, at least. How could she? After everything they had been through, why would she show up?

“Aje, you okay?” He heard from behind him. He closed his eyes, hoping the tears wouldn’t pool out. He put his cigarette back to his lips and inhaled deeply.

“Yeah, man, I’m fine,” he mumbled as he removed let out more stress through smoke. “I’ll be inside in a sec, okay?” He called back. Nick wouldn’t take that for an answer. AJ felt a hand on his back that gripped his shoulder tightly.

“Look, I know what it feels like. I mean, as much as you guys would like to argue…I really have had true feelings for some of the girls I’ve dated. Remember Mandy? That turned into a bunch of shit. And Paris, too. That ended badly…” he tried to pretend like he knew what AJ was going through. In fact, he thought he might have a slight idea.

“Thanks for trying to help, man. But right now I really just need to be left alone…” AJ shrugged him off. “I think I’m gonna just catch a cab and head back to the hotel.” Nick nodded and swallowed everything else he felt he needed to say. Instead, he turned around and headed back inside the noisy club.

The music blasted making everything shake around him. AJ wished everything would just end then and there. He was proud of himself for not wanting a drink, but it was places and moments like this where he would almost throw in the towel and just down a Jack Daniel’s…or better yet straight up vodka. Something – anything to make him stop thinking about her. About everything that was between them. He finished off his cigarette and decided to skip the club in general – who needed a constant reminder of everything he once had and then lost? He stood on the corner of the rather empty street in the middle of LA, waiting for any sign of a cab. As he waited, he noticed a girl a few feet away. She was the only other soul on the street at this point – it was too early for clubs to close, but too late for newcomers to come and join the parties.

“Listen, Keri, I’ll leave a key at the front desk for you,” she sighed and rubbed her temple. “I know you want to stay out with him, and that’s fine…I just can’t be there!” She yelled and then paused as the other girl said something. “I KNOW YOU CAN’T HEAR ME. If you’d just come outside for two seconds I could explain all this and…hello?” She looked at her phone and groaned. “Great.” She mumbled to herself.

Just as she was finishing her conversation, a yellow cab went by. Both she and AJ jumped at the chance to stop it. “Oh…you take it,” AJ shrugged. “I’ll wait for another one.”

The girl bit her bottom lip and looked at the cab and then back at AJ. “Look lady, are you getting in or not?” The driver asked.

“We can share it,” she shrugged. “This is the first cab I’ve seen in almost a half hour.” She mumbled. “I really don’t mind. My stop’s about fifteen minutes away over on the west side of Burbank.” She explained.

“Eh, it’s kinda where I’m going…” AJ glanced back at the club and then at the cab. “Sure, what the hell…” he grumbled and slid in after her.

“Where to?” the driver asked.

“I’m over at the Hampton by the airport,” she explained, then glanced at AJ for him to give his directions.

AJ chuckled and looked at the driver. “This’ll be easy. That’s where I’m at.” He laughed. The girl laughed, surprised they were headed to the same destination. “Thanks for letting me join you.” He said politely. “I just had to get out of there.”

“I know what you mean,” she sighed. “I’m Anna, by the way.” She grinned, placing her hand out in front of her politely.

“It’s nice to meet you Anna. I’m Alex,” he introduced. She smiled and glanced out the window next to her. There was something about her. Something absolutely beautiful, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. She wasn’t a model, that’s for sure. Her looks were much too simple for her to be a model. Her light brown hair fell just on her shoulders, her side swept bangs falling loosely into her brown eyes. The way she played with the hem of her somewhat formal black halter top made him think she was nervous, or apprehensive. Her dark jeans had a way of hugging every curve perfectly, though not in any way that would suggest she wanted something more from any guy she ended up meeting that night. “Where ya from?” He thought he’d make conversation, considering they had at least fifteen minutes till they reached the hotel.

“Tampa, Florida,” she sighed with a smile. “How about you?”

“Originally, the Orlando area,” he nodded. Her eyes widened and he realized that was another something they had in common. He didn’t think much of it. He traveled everywhere. If she said she was from Lexington, Kentucky he would have some kind of connection with that.

“That’s really weird,” she chuckled nervously and tried to tuck away her bangs. “I went to school at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.”

“Yeah, well, I only lived there until I was thirteen. Then it just turned into traveling…a lot,” he tried thinking of some way to explain it but came up blank. Enough with the bullshit, AJ, he thought to himself. “I was in a band.” He elaborated.

“Really?” She questioned, then seemed to study his face a little more. Her eyes widened again. “Oh my God! You’re AJ.” She chuckled. He nodded with a small smile. Of course she’d recognize him. She was from that generation. “Wow, sorry it took me so long to realize that. I didn’t listen to much music when I was younger…” she blushed.

“Hey, no excuses,” he joked with a wink. “Nah, I’m just kidding. Sometimes it’s better when people don’t recognize us.” He explained. “It gives us a better opportunity to get to know people.” He shrugged. The taxi stopped at a red light and the two waited to continue.

“I guess that makes sense,” Anna nodded. “So no one has any preconceived notions?” She grinned. AJ frowned.

“Why? Do you have any preconceived notions?” He chuckled. She shrugged and laughed, as well.

“Hm. Well, maybe…I’ve heard that you enjoy bleu cheese on everything…including fruit. Which, if that’s the case, that’s absolutely disgusting and I’m not sure I can associate with you anymore,” she laughed jokingly.

“Ew,” he made a disgusted face and laughed. “No, that one is definitely not true.” He chuckled and shook his head. “I swear, the things people come up with.”

“You’d be surprised,” she sighed and shook her head. “Don’t worry, though. I don’t know much. You seem like a nice enough guy, though. I guess you can’t be all that bad.” She winked. AJ smiled. Something about this girl really intrigued him. She wasn’t like all the others. She didn’t care that she was sharing a cab with a guy that had sold millions of albums and had over a million dollars. She didn’t care. And that was something he wasn’t used to.

After a few minutes of silence, the cab pulled up to the hotel. Anna slid out first, then AJ right after. Before Anna could get her wallet out, AJ handed the cab driver the money with tip and waved him off. “Alex…” Anna touched his arm gently. “You didn’t have to do that. Let me split it with you.” She dug through her wallet as AJ caught sight of maybe one ten and a few ones.

“Nah, it’s no problem,” he shrugged her off and headed into the lobby. “My treat. It was a pleasure sharing a cab with you,” he tipped his hat jokingly, yet politely at the same time.

Anna blushed and smiled as they both walked up to the front desk. “Well, thank you. I appreciate it.” She approached the woman at the front desk. “Hi, my name’s Anna Brooks. I’m here to check in. Also, I need to leave a key for Keriann Preston.” She dug through her pocketbook to pull out her ID and credit card.

“Here you are, Miss Brooks. Room 1205,” the woman grinned just as AJ walked up to the lady next to her.

“Hi, I’m here to check in,” he smiled and pulled out his wallet once more. “It’s under Snook Rabbit.”

Anna nearly choked on nothing but air as she listened to his “code name”. “Snook?” She turned around and placed her hand on her hip. AJ rolled his eyes and took his key.

“Thank you, you’re in our penthouse suite, Mr. McLean. 15th floor,” the woman grinned.

“How attractive…Snook,” Anna shook her head as the pair walked over towards the elevator.

“Trust me, we have to come up with crazy shit so we don’t get stalked,” AJ whispered, making sure to keep his sunglasses on along with his baseball hat he had dug out of his back pocket. “Girls are crazy. They only get crazier with age.”

“Bummer,” Anna rolled her eyes and pressed the ‘up’ button on the elevator. “I’m shocked you aren’t bringing one of those girls home tonight.” She seemed serious, and in a way, AJ was offended. Though that was something he and Nick were usually known for – their knack of getting girls in bed.

“You don’t even know me,” he shot back as they entered the elevator and pushed floors 12 and 15.

“You’re right, I don’t,” she shrugged. “So how am I supposed to know you aren’t the typical rockstar?” She asked. She had a point. But still, AJ didn’t realize this chick would be so vocal.

The flight up to floor 12 was silent – awkwardly silent. As the doors pulled open, Anna sighed. “Well Mr. Rabbit, this is where I bid you goodbye. It was fun while it lasted. Thanks again for the taxi ride.” She winked and stepped out of the elevator. AJ watched her disappear down the hallway. As the gold colored doors closed in front of him, he was left in awe. Who was she and why did she completely blow his mind? He wasn’t sure, but he was sure that he wanted to see her again.

Anna glanced around the rather empty dining area of the hotel where she had been served a continental breakfast. She shoveled some of her eggs into her mouth, trying to hurry so she could get to Hollywood before it got too busy. As she glanced around the lonesome dining hall, she noticed different types of people. There was an elderly couple sitting to her right. They seemed to be so in love as they stared back at each other with small smirks on their faces. She couldn’t imagine waking up and seeing the same person morning after morning, spending every moment with someone. She wasn’t sure she believed in that. Straight ahead of her was the complete opposite; a family of five that oddly resembled her family growing up. The mom and dad were struggling to make sure every child had food on their plate and were satisfied. Her family was very similar. She had been the oldest growing up with two younger brothers, Jason and Colton. She didn’t understand how after all those years of the bickering and differences her parents could still be madly in love, but they were. Her eyes drifted to the left of her and nearly popped out of their sockets. There he was. Mr. Alexander James McLean. She chuckled as she noticed that he spotted her. He immediately began walking over and took his seat.

“Funny seeing you here,” he grinned, bringing his plate of fruit over to join her.

“I was about to say the same to you. What are you doing up so early?” She asked and took a sip of her cranberry juice.

“Ah, I’m here on business. Every morning begins at the crack of dawn,” he smiled a cheesy grin. “It’s wonderful being a rock star.” He rolled his eyes. “What’s your excuse?”

“I’ve never been to California before,” Anna shrugged. “So I thought I’d wake up nice and early and do a bit of site seeing. My friend is here with me, but she got into the room really late last night and quite intoxicated, so I thought I’d save her the hang-over.” She smirked.

“Good idea,” AJ smiled. He lifted his mug of coffee and took a sip. “This black stuff they call coffee really isn’t too bad. You should try some. You had a pretty late night last night.”

Anna shrugged and smiled. “I’ve never really been much of a coffee person. I tried to force it down in college but it wasn’t any use. I hated the stuff.” She scrunched up her nose in a way that was meant to show disgust, but AJ thought it was cute. “What?” She laughed when she noticed he was chuckling.

“Oh, nothing,” AJ shook his head and stirred around his coffee a little. “Just…that thing you did with your nose…” he pointed to her face. “It was cute.” He shrugged. Anna rolled her eyes and laughed a little, finishing off her cranberry juice.

“Morning AJ,” a female voice said from behind them. Anna turned to see a tall blonde woman with a little boy about the age of five walking over. Immediately questions began running through her mind. Oh my God, is he married? Does he have a kid? That kid looks nothing like him! Anna couldn’t help the thoughts pouring in, but she was confused. Why did she care so much? She didn’t even know this guy.

“Bay-mister!” AJ winked at the little blonde boy that climbed up in the chair next to him. He kissed his cheek and winked up at the woman. “Leighanne, this is my friend, Anna. Anna, this is Leighanne and her son, Baylee.”

“Nice to meet you,” Anna shook the woman’s hand. She still wasn’t sure who this woman was or why she was there, but she didn’t feel like it would be appropriate to ask. “Well, thanks for having breakfast with me, Alex. It was nice meeting you.” She turned back to Leighanne. “I should get going. See ya.” And with that, she hurried off.

“Bye!” AJ called after her.

“Alex?” Leighanne frowned, sitting down where Anna had just been moments before. “Since when do you tell girls your name’s Alex?” She laughed, sipping her own coffee slowly.

“I-I don’t know,” he shrugged, watching the door where Anna had just walked through. “When I first met her, she didn’t know I was a Backstreet Boy.” He sighed. “And it’s not what you’re thinking. She’s staying at this hotel.” He wanted to reassure Leighanne he wasn’t falling back into his old touring days where he’d work during the day and save time for girls at night.

“Interesting,” she nodded.

“Momma, I’m hungry,” Baylee interrupted. Leighanne nodded and walked over to the buffet with him to help him make a plate. AJ sat there completely dumbfounded. Anna had walked into his life so quickly and so abruptly. She came at one of the worst times, yet he felt such a weird connection to her. And running into her again that morning at breakfast? Was there something there he was missing? He wasn’t sure and at that point, he wasn’t sure he’d ever find out.


“Keri, would you hurry it up please?” Anna grumbled as the two girls hurried down the street in the pouring rain. They had such big plans for the day since neither of them had ever been to Hollywood. Keriann Preston, Anna’s best friend, had slept through the morning thanks to a pretty heavy-duty hangover from the night before but met up with her later in the day.

Keriann tried keeping up with her friend, but along the way stopped and glanced up at a billboard. “Anna, look!” She grinned. Anna’s gaze followed Keri’s finger to the big sign. There, plastered up for all of Hollywood (or that part of Hollywood, at least) to see was a picture of the Backstreet Boys and that day’s date, June 29th. “The Backstreet Boys are here on tour!” She chuckled.

“So?” Anna sighed as she finally managed to make it under the shuttle bus overhang to try and not get too much more wet, if that was even possible. She made a sour expression when she realized she was pushed up against other wet, smelly people.

“So?” Keriann seemed surprised. “So we should go to their concert tonight. They’re playing at the Kodak Theatre.”

Anna gulped and glanced back up at the billboard. Her eyes were instantly drawn to AJ. The way his lips turned up in a small smile and his eyes seemed to stare her down. She contemplated telling her best friend that she had shared a taxi ride and breakfast with that man only hours before. Instead of opening an entire new can of worms, she decided not to. Besides, even if they went to that concert that night, she probably wouldn’t see him. And she never really planned on seeing him again.

“I loved them growing up,” Keriann sighed, thinking fondly back to the days of the Backstreet Boys. “It’d be neat seeing them in concert again. Besides, what else are we going to do? It’s raining and everywhere else is going to be packed with tourists trying to find something to do since the weather’s so bad. We’d just be cooped up in our hotel room.” She gave plenty valid reasons as to why they should go to the concert.

“Well, as long as it isn’t sold out, I guess we can go,” Anna shrugged. She didn’t really care. She had never been the world’s biggest Backstreet fan…or fan of anything, for that matter. She never really got into the whole “music-pop star” craze.

“Awesome!” Keriann seemed truly excited and that made Anna happy enough. Besides, she knew she wouldn’t run into AJ. It just wasn’t possible. It was like a one in a million chance, right?