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Chapter 16.

The bus came to a stop. Avery looked out the windows excited to see sunshine. “What a cute place!” She said looking at the quaint little street mall.

“That’s the Backstreet market.” Nick said.

“Backstreet as in Backstreet Boys?”

“Yeah. That’s where we got the name.” Kevin said.

“Cool.” Avery said. “What are we doing here?”

“This is where we’re going to spend the rest of the day.” James said. “We’re going to film the last scene here. I was able to reserve a portion of it for the day. Looks like they’ve already got it blocked off.”

“What’s the crowd situation?” Kevin asked.

“Well no one knows it’s you yet, but I had an extra security team show up just in case. I was hoping to avoid shooting in a public place but my options were limited on such short notice.”

“Oh well.” AJ sighed.

“This ought to be a fun day.” Howie said.

Avery was confused because all the guys seemed to be unhappy. “Don’t everyone get excited at once.” She said.

They all looked at her. AJ smiled and explained what days shooting in public were usually like; all the people staring and the adoring fans. Things were a lot easier and relaxed when they were in a private location. Avery became nervous about having even more people watching her. She was soon looking forward to the day as much as the rest of them. Just then a security guard boarded the bus waking up Brian and Natalie. He talked to James for a minute. “OK.” James said getting the attention of everyone on the bus. “Nobody knows you’re here yet. There’s a tent set up for you guys. I’m going to have security escort Natalie and Avery over near the cameras. If we make enough fuss over them, nobody will notice you guys if you wait five minutes before getting off. When you do, head straight for the tent and we may not gather a crowd for a while.”

“Sounds good to me.” Howie said.

Everyone agreed on the plan. Avery and Natalie were escorted off the bus and over to a couple of chairs. They each had a bodyguard and as soon as they sat down a woman brought them both drinks. James smiled and said, “Mountain Dew, right?”

Natalie and Avery laughed. They felt really strange being treated like movie stars. They looked around and noticed a few people stop and stare. They would point in the girls’ direction with puzzled looks watch for a minute and then keep walking. “Could you imagine having people stare at you all the time?” Natalie said.

Avery shook her head. Steve came up to them with his camera. “Good morning!” He said very cheerfully. “This seems like a great time to get another interview. Would you mind?”

Natalie and Avery shook their heads. They sat there talking to the camera with people watching and wondering what was going on. After they were done talking to Steve they decided to go see what the guys were up to. The plan had worked because nobody knew that the boys were there. Natalie and Avery didn’t even notice them get off the bus. They were about to walk across the set to the tent when a strange guy came up to them and said hello. They talked for a while but pretty soon the girls were so annoyed with him. This guy was so stupid; it was literally like talking to a doorknob. He was so annoying. Avery left to go find Nick but Natalie was stuck talking to him. When Avery went in the tent she sat down with Nick. Everyone was just hanging out. Kevin was on the phone with his girlfriend. Howie and AJ were playing with a deck of cards and Brian was reading. Nick asked Avery where she had been. She told him about the annoying guy and how Natalie was stuck talking to him. “That guy is so annoying!” She was saying. “I feel bad I just left her with him but I couldn’t take it anymore. Someone should go save her.”

“How are we supposed to do that?”

“In my experience, the best way to get rid of a guy like that is to have your boyfriend show up.”

Nick looked at Avery confused. “But she doesn’t have a boyfriend.” He said not understanding what she was suggesting.

“That’s why one of you needs go out there and pretend to be.”

Avery now had Brian and James’s attention as well. “You’ve actually done that before?” James asked curiously.

“All the time.” Avery said. “Or, if we don’t have a guy with us, we just pretend to be gay.”

AJ stopped with his card game and looked up interested. “What?” he asked.

Avery laughed. “I’m just kidding. That doesn’t work. It usually just makes guys more interested.”

AJ looked disappointed. “But the boyfriend thing works every time.” Avery continued.

James looked at Avery and smiled. “Avery, you’ve inspired me!”

Avery watched curiously as James disappeared from the tent. “What was that about?” she asked confused.

She looked out the door of the tent. James had walked up to Natalie and the annoying guy and he had put his arm around her. Avery watched almost bursting into laughter. “I think he’s actually doing it.” She said.

Nick, AJ and Brian peeked out the door to see what was going on. They stared as James Kissed Natalie on the cheek and walked away with her. They headed back to the tent and the annoying guy walked in the direction of the make-up trailer. Natalie noticed the weird looks as she entered the tent. She looked at Avery, “Where’s Josh when you need him?” She said.

“Who’s Josh?” Nick asked.

“A friend of ours who usually helps us out of situations like that.”

“Did you really just tell that guy you were her boyfriend?” Brain asked James.

Natalie laughed and looked at Avery. “I was working on it.” Avery said.

James smiled, “No. I just told him he needed to get into make-up. Figured he could bug Laura for a while.”

“What was all that about being inspired then?” Avery asked.

“I’ve decided to use it in the next scene. I was having a problem thinking of exactly how we would get Natalie and Brian in a romantic situation and now I know.”

Everyone looked at each other and waited for the explanation. James smiled. “You’ll see what I mean.” He said and left the tent.

After a while everything was ready to go. Natalie got to wear jeans while Avery was dressed in a little skirt. “Why does she get to wear jeans?” Avery asked James.

“Because she’s supposed to be one of the guys.” James explained.

“What are we doing in this scene anyway?” Natalie asked.

“Well,” James said taking a seat between them. “You guys will be in that store shopping while the guys will be sitting at that café. Avery holds up a dress for you to try on. You don’t want to but Avery makes you do it. You come out to show her. Brian sees you from across the way, but so does the annoying guy. He hits on you. You go back to change your clothes. You and Avery walk over to the café but the guy follows you. He tries again. Avery cuddles up with Nick and the guy smiles at you. You panic and then smile. Then, you pretend Brian is your boyfriend. The guy sees that Brian is surprised and doesn’t believe you but you convince him and he leaves disappointed. When he’s gone you all laugh and you say thank you to Brian who is totally distracted.”

Natalie and Avery laughed. It all sounded a little familiar. “I see what you mean by inspiration.” Avery said.

“Think you can do it?” James asked.

“Are you kidding? We’re pro’s a this.” Avery laughed.

“It should be fun.” Natalie said.

“Great. Let’s make it happen!” James said and then yelled directions into his megaphone.

Everyone got in their places and the camera’s rolled. After a few takes it was time for Natalie to try on the dress. She really did look cute. All of the guys were impressed. That’s when the annoying guy showed up. This guy was so annoying! The girls didn’t have to act at all. It took a couple of tries but then they were ready for Natalie and Avery to join the guys at the café.

By this time quite a crowd had gathered around the edges of the set. Natalie and Avery watched all the girls who were there to get a glimpse of the Backstreet Boys. It made them remember how crazy it was that they were actually doing this. “Just think.” Natalie said to Avery looking at a girl holding up a sign that said I love AJ. “That should be us.”

“I know.” Avery said smiling.

“It’s crazy.” Natalie said.

AJ walked past and heard her say that. “This isn’t bad at all.” He said looking at the crowd. “There would be girls from all over the south here if they knew we were coming.”

“Well I’m glad they didn’t.” Avery said shooting a dirty look at some girl who was staring at her.

“Yeah. It’s kind of creepy.” Natalie added.

AJ laughed. “I thought all girls loved attention.” He said.

“We do.” Natalie replied, “Just not this kind.”

Just then everything was ready for the next scene. Everyone took their places. Natalie and Avery walked over to the guys and the annoying guy followed them. Avery sat down in the chair next to Nick and he put his arm around her. James made them do it again. “I need more you guys. Lovey-dovey remember?” he explained.

They tried it again and this time Avery kissed him as she sat down. When she kissed him all the fans watching went crazy. The screaming startled Avery and they had to do it again. After a few tries she was finally able to do it without reacting to the fans and they were able to go on. They started again with the annoying guy smiling at Natalie. Without warning he scooted right up next to her. Natalie was really creeped out. She really did panic. When she didn’t look at Brian they had to do it again. There was no way Natalie was going to forget that again. She wanted to get it right so that this guy could go away. They did it again and the guy made his move. This time the annoying guy put his hand on her arm. She wanted to puke but she kept her cool. She forced a smile and then stood behind Brian putting her arms around him. The annoying guy was actually a pretty good actor. (That or he was just so creepy he didn’t have to act.) Anyway, he pretended not to buy it very well. They didn’t have to stop at all so now it was up to Natalie to convince him. Just like James had instructed her earlier, she nudged Brian and he looked up at the guy and nodded his head. They guy gave them one last skeptical look and then started to walk away. “CUT! CUT! CUT!” James yelled frustrated.

“That didn’t work at all like I was hoping. You guys did great, but I need more. I need Brian to be more surprised by Natalie. Instead of walking behind him, try sitting in his lap.”

They did it all again and when annoying guy hit on Natalie, she panicked, smiled and then plopped down in Brian’s lap putting her arm around him. The guy looked unconvinced and Natalie nudged Brian. He nodded. “Cut!” James said again.

Everyone waited for direction but James just stood there thinking. “Something’s still missing.” He said and thought about it some more.

Finally he looked at the girls and said, “What was that guy’s name?”

“What guy?” Avery asked.

“The one you were talking about earlier. The one who usually helps you.”

“Josh?” Natalie said.

“That’s the one, Josh. If you were really in this situation and there was really some guy that just wouldn’t leave you alone?” James said almost thinking out loud.

Natalie and Avery laughed remembering something funny. They guys looked at them not sure what they were missing. James was intrigued. “I want you to do exactly what you would do if Josh were sitting there instead of Brian.”

Natalie and Avery exchanged looks. “Just pretend it’s all real. Be the characters! This guy is really annoying you. You just want him to leave. What would you do?” James continued. Natalie looked at Brian and then at James. Then she looked back at Avery with a curious look on her face. There was a hint of a smile on Avery’s face. She shrugged at Natalie. “All right.” She said and smiled at James. “Let’s try it again.”

The guys all looked at the girls curiously. The girls smiled at each other and they tried it again. Natalie plopped down into Brian’s lap just as she did before, but this time when the guy looked at her unconvinced she planted a big fat kiss on Brian’s lips! Brian was shocked. So was everyone else! The crew, the other guys. AJ’s mouth actually fell open. Brian stared at Natalie as she looked at the annoying guy and shrugged. Even he was a little surprised but he was able to stay in character and he walked off. Natalie looked back at the group and smiled. Everyone stared at her. Avery laughed and then the rest of the guys burst into laughter. Natalie looked at Brian and smiled. He just continued to stare at her. She said thanks and then started laughing again. “Cut!” James yelled excitedly.

Natalie looked at James and smiled. “That’s always worked in the past.” She teased.

“You brilliant girl!” He laughed. He ran up to her and kissed her on the cheek.

“You knew she was going to do that, didn’t you?” James asked Avery.

She smiled. “I told you we were pros.”

“How many times have you done this?” Nick asked.

Natalie and Avery looked at each other and laughed. “You don’t want to know.” Natalie said.

“That’s a wrap everyone!” James yelled into his megaphone.

“So we’re done now?” Avery asked.

“You are.” James said. “But I still need Natalie and Brian.”

Natalie and Avery looked at each other confused. Natalie looked at Brian who squirmed nervously in his chair. “What do you need us for?” Natalie asked.

James smiled. “The final scene. The end of the video.”

“What’s that?” Natalie asked.

All the guys exchanged looks. “The scene where he gets the girl.” James said.

Natalie looked at Brian. He looked nervous. She started to get nervous herself. “Oh.” She said.