Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 17:30:16 EDT
From: Nick815Leo@aol.com
Subject: Boys In The Limelight (for the BoyBands directory)

    ***This story is totally fictional.  It's not meant to imply anything
about the sexuality or beliefs of anyone in the story.  Some characters are
merely based on real life people from 98 Degrees, the BSB and N'Sync.
Reality and this story are separate.  Feel free to respond to the story and
let me know what you think! My email address in  Nick815Leo@aol.com.  That
said, enjoy.


Boys In The Limelight  (Part 1 )

    He imagined his lover's soft lips brushing against his own, feeling the
smooth firm flesh of his chest pressing against his own.  His nipples were so
hard they hurt.  They were hugging and frantically kissing, his mouth being
pried apart by the invading tongue.  Their bodies rubbed against one another,
hips grinding into hips, hands grabbing and groping until both bodies erupted
in a fit of passion. Suddenly, he snapped to attention and peered down on the
stage below. He was alone.

    The metal cage shook a bit as that someone up in the darkness moved
about.  Nick Carter peered into the black arena from the stage where he and
the rest of the Back Street Boys were rehearsing for their concert tour,
trying to see who it was.  Their music started and the boys began to rehearse
their dance steps one more time.  Ken their performance Stage Manager was
standing in front of the stage looking up at the boys but was obviously
paying more attention to the conversation going on over his wireless headset.

    "Go ahead they're almost done. Even Fatima gave up on them.." Ken trailed
off
and stepped outside of the concert hall.  The guys still on stage dancing
hardly gave him a second thought as none of them really knew him well, or
what he did for their
performances.  From the darkness a soft voice came on the sound system just
as the lights started to shift, a billow of fog started to roll out on stage
and two medium sized
spotlights began sweeping around them.

    "I just wanted to say that I think you guys are the best part about being
human..  I mean if it weren't for you I don't know what I'd do... can I have
your autographs?" the
voice questioned. Kevin stopped dancing abruptly and most of the boys' eyes
widened.  Nick Carter busted out laughing and soon so did the rest of them
until finally even Kevin was laughing.

    "Come out of there, brat!" Brian called into the hall.  As he did so they
heard the
snap of a cable and a young man came careening down on the cable they used
for special effects during the show.  He got above the stage and as the cable
sagged he released the clip and fell about three feet.

    "Sorry guys, I didn't mean to mess you up," the boy said.  Howie and AJ
gave him a look and giggled, but Kevin had a stern gaze.

    "Well Dane, we could have used the practice, but something tells me none
of us
were going to get any better this afternoon.  We've got two more days before
the kickoff of the tour, so I'll let you off the hook." He grinned.  Dane
jumped over to Nick and hugged him gently.

    "Hey, like the new lights?" Dane looked genuinely concerned with Carter's
opinion.

    "Sure kiddo, I think they're great."


    "Okay guys we've got a half hour ride back to the hotel and then two
hours before
we meet again for dinner, sound good?"

    "When did we ever turn down dinner?" Howie joked. They all agreed
laughing as
they filed out of the stage and out the back door to the two limos that
awaited them.  A cloud cover had rolled in and it looked like it was about to
rain.  Still, the BSB had had a great rehearsal and they were planning on
meeting up with N'Sync for dinner that night to discuss their tour plans.
AJ, Howie and Brian headed for one limo while Nick, Dane and Kevin headed for
the other.

    Inside the limo Kevin smiled at Dane and Nick.  They had been friends for
a few
years now and Nick had introduced Dane to the group while he was still
working as an assistant stage manager for 98 Degrees.  Nick had known him
even before that and though Nick traveled a lot now with the BSB, Dane was a
family friend and someone he was glad to help out.  The moment the band was
given the news that some of their crew was quitting because of the grueling
nature of their last tour, Dane was the first person he called.  The managers
had set Dane up with the band and put him in charge of lighting design and
effects, and luckily they were very pleased with his results.  The new tour
that BSB and N'Sync had planned was sure to be one of the best performances
either group had given so far.

    "Things are looking pretty hot up there in the booth," Kevin said to
Dane, "Sure
you can keep up with us and the other guys? You're covering two groups now
and when things don't look right it's you they're gonna turn to."

    "Gee no pressure Kevin!" Nick said sarcastically hugging Dane.  "This is
my little
bro' you're talking about." Dane giggled.

    "I promise to do my best." Dane said quietly.  His eyes drifted out the
window and his mind began to travel.  His sandy blonde curls hung chin length
and he had deep blue eyes.  He was built pretty well for a 6'1" kid and
worked out to keep toned and ran to keep healthy.  He was one of Nick's best
friends and since he had been working with them for the past week and a half
designing a new look for their new material he had become fast friends with
most of the group.  Nick had "adopted" him as a little brother even though he
was only two months younger.  He enjoyed hanging out with Brian and Nick
most, even though both of them were in relationships at the moment and often
times busy.

    "What's on your mind Dane?" Nick looked a little worried due to Dane's
silence.

    "I miss him" was all he could utter as a sigh escaped his lips.

    "I know you do.  You said they might come and see the show right?" Nick
said
putting a hand on Dane's shoulder. Kevin watched his two friends interact.


    "Yeah but it's hard for all three groups to be in the same spot at once,
ya know?
And they're just getting to the point where they need to stay in the
spotlight for a while... I'm really happy about their progress. They're
making it."

    "They deserve to, they're a good bunch of guys.  But you deserve to see
him too
right? I know I'd want to see my baby like mad if I couldn't.  Hell I miss
him right now." Nick laughed.

    Kevin smirked, "You two love-birds see way too much of each other if you
ask
me.  I don't want to think about how much sleep you guys don't get."  Dane
laughed at that and continued looking out the window, his heart was
practically breaking because he'd been away from his boyfriend for nearly two
months now.  Nick looked at him and then looked to Kevin, they gave one
another a knowing grin but remained silent.  It would only be a matter of
hours before they saw Dane happy again.

    After the limo ride and a relatively quiet trip up the elevators the Boys
and Dane
arrived on their floor, one reserved just for them in one of the nicest
hotels in Los
Angeles.

    Kevin slowly walked behind he guys and stopped in front of his door,
"Okay guys, two hours before we meet in the lobby for dinner ok?  Try not to
be late.  I'm gonna call Joey and the guys from N'Sync and make sure they're
flight will be in on time and then see them here from the airport. Anybody
who wants to go with me is more than welcome."  Nick and Brian were more than
eager to accompany him and they rushed off to their hotel rooms to get ready.
 AJ and Howie decided to shower and get in some shopping while they could and
then meet them back at the hotel by 8 p.m. for dinner.  Dane slowly put his
bag down in his room.  Normally crew members didn't get put up the way he was
with the guys, but being Nick's close friend and friends with the guys they
requested that he be around.  He had kind of hoped to spend the evening with
Brian and Nick just hanging out, playing video games or whatever so his heart
sank even lower.  He drew a leather binder
out of his bag and thumbed through its contents: most of the plans and cues
for the show that was about to get underway.  His entire livelihood was
wrapped up in those pages.  If he could make it for the BSB and N'Sync he
could possibly design Broadway shows, his one dream.

    He looked around his room and from his suitcase pulled out a large olive
green
sweater, holding it to his face and breathing in the smell.  A tear slipped
out of the corner of his eye.  He put on jeans, Docs and the large sweater on
over his long sleeved t-shirt. He looked lost in clothes that weren't his.
Slowly, he shuffled off to Kevin's room and knocked on the door softly.

    "Yeah? Who is it?" called Kevin from inside.

    "It's just me.. Dane.." he answered back "Can I come in?"

    "Sure! It's open!" Kevin shouted.  Dane opened the door and walked
inside.  He
could hear the sound of the sink running in the bathroom and he hopped on the
bed to wait.  Kevin came out fully dressed but rubbing a towel through his
short hair.

    "Hey you, I just took a quick shower before heading out, what's on your
mind?"
Kevin smiled trying to get Dane to smile back.

    In a soft voice - nearly a whisper between tears Dane asked his question,
"Do you mind..." sniff  "if I go with you.." sniff  "to get the guys?" Kevin
walked over to him, patted him on the shoulder and shook his head.

    "Why would I mind? You're not just "Nick's friend" to me, or the other
guys
anymore, you're our friend too.  And so what if you don't sing in our group.
The work
you do do for us is just as important." Dane wiped his eyes and smiled.

    "Thanks."  Just as he said that Nick and Brian came barreling in through
the door without even knocking, they were laughing boisterously and shoving
each other.

    "Oh hey Dane, you going along too?" Brian asked plopping down in a chair.

    "Yeah he's going -- now let's actually go, we don't want to be late to
pick them
up now do we?" Brian and Nick looked at each other laughed and ran out into
the hallway and down to the elevator.  Kevin giggled and turned back to Dane.

    "C'mon, don't worry, we have something to cheer you up with later."  Dane
stood
up and arched an eyebrow before heading off to the elevator laughing at his
friends.