Don't know much about your life

Don't know much about your world but

Don't wanna be alone tonight

On this planet they call Earth

You don't know about my past and

I don't have a future figured out

And maybe this is goin' too fast

And maybe it's not meant to last

But what do you say to takin' chances?

What do you say to jumpin' off the edge?

Never knowin' if there's solid ground below

Or a hand to hold or hell to pay

What do you say? What do you say?

--Taking Chances Celine Dion

---Laurel--

Laurel sat in her dorm room doing homework, she wanted to cry.  She had just told Joseph Kahn that she couldn't be in the "Everybody" video for the Backstreet Boys.  She did want to do it, but she knew it would turn all of her family against her.  Part of her wanted to tell her family to mind their own business, but she couldn't.  The video would be so much fun, and a chance for her to do something different.  Plus, the guys were cute which really helped.

"Laurel? You ok?" Andrea, her room mate looked over at her.

"Yeah, I guess."

"OK, that's a lie," she took a seat on Laurels bed.  "What's the matter?"

"You promise not to tell anyone?" Laurel looked at her with tears in her eyes.

"Of course."

"I've been taking a few classes off campus, and I got an audition for the Backstreet Boys, and they want me to do a video, and I can't," she said sobbing.

Andrea hugged her room mate, "You're not doing it because of your family?"

Laurel nodded.

"If this is something you really want to do, then you have to do it.  Once it's done what is your family going to do?"

"Disown me," Laurel said in between sobs.

Andrea was handing her a couple tissues when there was a knock on the door.  "Hold on," Andrea replied.

Once Laurel had regained her composure, she got up and answered the door.

"Hi," she heard, as she looked up and saw Nick Carter in front of her.  

She quickly looked down at her pink fleece pants that had little penguins on them and her ratty grey sweatshirt.  "Ohmigod."

Nick chuckled, "Did I come at a bad time?"

She looked back at Andrea who was staring at them wide eyed.  "No," Laurel replied.  "How did you find out where I live?  How come you are here?"

"I know this is probably a shock, but I got your address from Joseph, I wanted to try to convince you to do the video shoot.  Do you want to go maybe grab some pizza or something?"

She was suddenly embarrassed again about her appearance.  "Well, I will have to change and put some makeup on.  If you want to wait downstairs in the lounge for about 15 minutes I'll meet you down there."

"I'll be timing you," Nick smiled, as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

"This boy has game," Laurel thought to herself.  She closed the door and looked at Andrea who just squealed in excitement.

"What are you going to wear?" she asked jumping up to help her with whatever she needed.

Fifteen minutes later Laurel walked downstairs in a green boatneck sweater and jeans.  Her long blonde hair pulled up in a ponytail.  She saw Nick sitting there staring off into space.

"Boo!" she said walking up behind him.

Nick turned around and smiled at her, "Hello, beautiful!  You ready for some New York Pizza?"

Beautiful?  Really?  She had puffy eyes and cheeks.  "Always."

They walked to the town car that Nick had used and got in.  "We have to go to Brooklyn you know," Laurel stated.  "And get pizza to go and eat it at the Brooklyn Bridge Park."

Nick looked at her dumbfounded, "Well, ok then."

She stared out the window, "Why did you really come? Haven't you ever heard of a phone?  You could've called me."

"I told you why I came, plus I wanted to get to know you better.  You seem like a cool chick... er... woman.  Plus, I figured you couldn't turn me down if I was in front of you."

"Little do you know," she mumbled.

They sat in silence for 10 city blocks.  "So, how old are you?" Nick finally asked.

"15 you?"

"17, just turned.  Um... maybe I should order the pizza before we get there.  What do you like on yours?"

"Pepperoni, mushrooms, bacon, and green peppers," she replied.  She finally stopped and actually looked at him.  He looked good.  He was wearing a blue t-shirt and a leather jacket.  She didn't know why she was being shy, probably because this whole dating thing was new to her.  Could she even consider this a date?

They picked up there pizza and went to the park.  Luckily the town car had a blanket in it so they set it up and ate pizza under the stars.  

Everything was going great until Nick asked; "So, what other commitments do you have that you can't do the video?  Maybe we can get you out of them."

Laurel sighed, "It's family stuff, they don't approve of this. So I'm sure flaunting myself in a video wouldn't be the best thing."

"If I have to talk to someone I will," he practically begged.

"Can we just enjoy getting to know each other?" Laurel looked in his eyes.  She could drown in those eyes.

"Definitely, ya know I haven't done this in a while."

"Done what?" she asked.

"Gone out on a date."