Date: Wed, 03 Jan 2001 22:48:22 -0500
From: Jessica Taylor <midnight_violet18@hotmail.com>
Subject: grand finale 2

Author's Notes--
This is another chapter of my little side project.  Thank you to all the
people who like the first chapter and wanted me to write more!  You guys
rock!!

**Special Notice**
Against my better judgement, I opened a site for all of my fanfiction.  It's
called "Inside The Bubble" and it's gonna be host to 'Pieces' as well as
'Grand Finale' and a bunch of other stuff I might write but never put up on
Nifty itself. So... it's shameless plug time.

http://insidebubble.cjb.net <--- That's the address of the site.

(As I was going through 'Pieces' and posting it into the dreaded HTML
brackets I noticed something... I have WAY TOO MANY conversations set around
the guys drinking coffee, and I don't even LIKE coffee!  Weird...)

And now here are a few words from our old friend Mr Disclaimer... brought to
you by the letters B, S and M, and the number 5.
Mr Disclaimer says, "This ain't real yo.  Backstreet and *N Sync not be gay,
unless they say they iz.  Taylor belongs to Jess yo, and not you."
...Excuse Mr Disclaimer, he spent just a wee-bit too much time in the ghetto
last night.  *slaps Mr Disclaimer*

And if you can't understand Mr Disclaimer, he said that the Backstreet Boys
and *N Sync aren't gay, unless they say they are.  And the character Taylor
is
from my overactive imagination, which means its mine, not yours.  Oh and if
your under 18 you really shouldn't be here either.. but like I can really
stop you.

Now have some fun reading...
The Grand Finale
Chapter Two

	Three days later I touched down in Fort Lauderdale.  I picked up my
bags, and looked outside for my name.  Tom told me that there would be
someone outside waiting for me, and they would take me to the arena.
Scanning through the crowd, I saw a small white sign with the name
'Mackenzie' on it.  I pushed my way through the crowd and came up to the
person holding the sign.  He was a rather short man, with close cropped
black
hair and a mustache.  "Ms. Mackenzie?" He asked.
	"That's me." I smiled.
	"Are you ready to go miss?" he asked.
	"Yup.  Got my bags right here." I said as I even lifted my bags.
	"Do you want me to take them?" He asked politely.
	"No that's okay.  I think I cam manage." I smiled to him again.
	"Alright then.  If you would please follow me miss, I'll take you to
the car."
	"Okay." I said as I followed the driver outside of the airport
terminal and to the waiting... limo.  "Oh my... it's a limo!"
	"You've never been driven in one miss?" the driver asked as he took
one of my bags and placed it in the trunk.  I placed the other one in the
trunk, refusing to let the man do the whole job by himself.
	"Nope, can't say that I have.  I was a very sheltered child." I
smiled.
	The driver laughed slightly.  "Well just hop in miss and I'll take
you for your first ride in a limo."
	"Yay!  Thank you..." I trailed off, not knowing his name to thank him
properly.
	"Frank." He smiled to me.
	"Well thank you Frank!" I said as I hoped into the limo through the
door Frank had opened for me.
	Frank just shook his head as he closed the door.  I've been told by
several people, including Tom and Mike when they first met me, that I am a
very bubbly, and almost overwhelming, person to meet the first time around.
But then they all realize that that's the package they get.  I am a very fun
person, and frequently I leave a first impression of a person that 'just
doesn't seem right in the head'.  But that's just little old me, not me
trying too hard to get people to like me or anything like that.  They also
find out that I can be serious when I want to, and that I am a really good
friend who will sit down and just listen while they pour out their problems
to me.
	Frank rolled down the window that separated the driver from the
passenger cabin in back.  "There's some sodas in the bar, or some wine and
vodka if you prefer that."
	"Okay..." I trailed off.  "Is there a TV?"
	"Yes, there's a small one in the compartment next to you." Frank said
as he started driving the limo.  I looked to the side, and sure enough,
there
was a TV sitting there.  I repositioned myself to sit in front of the TV,
and
found the small bottle of red wine in the cooler of drinks.  Yes I know; I'm
a 22 year old with a thing for boy bands, oh well.  We all have our kinks
don't we?
	I flipped channels on the TV until I found something that I could
watch, which thankfully was my favorite soap opera, Port Charles.  Yeah I
know it's actually a spin-off, but I never got into General Hospital.
	I finished watching that and as the final credits rolled, Frank
stopped the car.  "We're here miss."
	"Okay."  Seconds later Frank opened the door for me.  "Um... what's
gonna happen to my bags?" I asked Frank.
	"Oh, I'm gonna take them back to the room at your hotel, don't
worry." He said as I hefted my small book bag of personal belongings onto my
shoulder.
	"Okay.  Just don't break anything." I smiled to him as we started to
separate, him going back to the front of the limo and me walking towards the
arena's main doors.
	"Don't worry about it Miss Mackenzie."
	"Bye Frank." I yelled.
	"Good bye Miss Mackenzie." Frank said as he drove off, to what I
assumed was the hotel to drop off my bags.
	"Already making friends with the drivers I see." A male voice said
from over my shoulder.
	"Ahh!" I said as I jumped slightly.  I turned around to see a man
slightly taller than me with brown hair that went just past his ears.  He
was
wearing black dress slacks and a dark green sweater-vest with a white shirt
underneath.  "And who, may I ask, are you?"
	"I'm Trent, the PR director.  Also your boss.  You must bee Miss
Taylor Mackenzie." He said as he offered me his hand.
	"In the flesh." I said as I smiled.
	"Come with me, we need to discuss the higher points of you working for
us." Trent said as he started to lead me inside the arena to the offices
that
were in back.
	"Oh... you mean more of me signing my life away?" I joked.
	Trent laughed.  "If you want to look at it that way, yes you are
going to sign your life away some more." Trent pulled out a ring of keys and
fished through them, finding the one that opened the conference room.
	The two of us walked into the room, and what was waiting for me on
the table, but a bigger stack of papers for me to sign.
	"You do have that first confidentiality agreement we gave you right?"
Trent asked me.
	I placed my book bag on the cherry wood table and leafed through it,
pulling out my trusty old folder.  I've had this one folder for ages and
I've
kept all of my important work in it.  It just so happened to have the
Backstreet Boys on the cover, but I saw that Trent made no comment on it...
just yet.  I pulled out the agreement.  "Right here, and all signed too."
	"And you do understand what was stated in this agreement right?"
Trent asked me, giving me a critical eye.
	"Yes." I said as I sighed.  "If I do, or catch the guys doing, any
illicit hanky-panky no one else can know.  Yeah yeah."
	Trent laughed at my analogy.  "Are you always this forthright?" he
asked me.
	"When I want to be, yes."
	Trent sat down.  "Sit... preferably in front of the mound of paper."
	"Oh phewy, and I wanted to sit on it." I said as I sat in the plush
chair that was right in front of the 'leaning tower of paper'.
	Trent laughed again and we got to work.  He explained to me exactly
what I'd be doing.  I was going to record, and be able to comment, on the
activities the guys do everyday during the tour.  The guys would also be
putting in their comments every so often in the form of 'journal' entries,
and I was going to take pictures and place them on the site.  "I'm gonna
need
a digital camera for that, and probably a scanner." I stated.
	"That's why I'm gonna give you this." Trent told me.  He pulled out a
Visa credit card.  "This is being paid for by Jive.  Anything you need that
pertains to the tour, can go on this card."
	"Ooh it's Visa... everywhere you want to be." I muttered to myself.
	"Yeah." Trent said as we went back to going over the contract.  The
rest of the contract went over what was allowed, and what wasn't allowed
while on the tour, and what would happen as repercussions if I broke the
contract.  "So sign right here..." he started.
	"And let the fun begin." I said as I dotted the 'i' in my name.
	"And let the fun begin." Trent echoed as he put the contract in a
briefcase that he pulled out from under the table.
	Trent looked at the wall clock that was in the room.  "The guys
should be on break by now." He said as he looked at the clock.
	I looked at the clock as well.  I noticed that an hour had gone by.
"We were in here for an hour?" I asked, surprised at the time that was
sucked
up by going over the contract.
	"Yup.  We were here for an hour." He said as he pushed in his chair.
	I stood up and pushed in my chair as well, "Well take me to the
hotties then." I smiled.  Trent laughed again.
	"You're gonna fit in just great with these guys."
	"I hope so." I said as we started walking down the hall.  As we
started walking to the main entrance to the stage area itself, I saw Kevin
Richardson and Lance Bass waiting outside.  "Ooh, it's the welcoming
committee." I said gleefully as Trent and I walked up to the two 'managers'
of the groups.
	"Hey Trent." The two of them said.
	"Hey guys.  I'd like you to meet Miss Taylor Mackenzie." Trent stated
as Kevin and Lance shook my hands.  Even though I didn't show it at all, I
was jumping up and down with excitement inside.
	"You must be our web-page designer." Lance said, in his lovely-oh-so-
smooth Southern voice.
	"Thanks for stating the obvious Poofoo." I said.
	Trent started laughing immediately, while Kevin and Lance had a look
of shock on their faces.  But while Lance was blushing slightly at the use
of
the ever-hated nickname, Kevin was trying to hide his laughter at the same
time.  "I take it you're a fan." Kevin stated.
	"Yes she is.  I figured I'd let you guys find our yourselves." Trent
smiled.
	"Thank you sooo much." Kevin and Lance said simultaneously.
	"Hey, don't worry.  I'm not gonna molest you for autographs... just
yet." I smiled.
	"Well Miss Mackenzie, why don't we introduce you to the rest of the
clan." Lance said.
	"Sure." I said as I grabbed Kevin and Lance's hands and started to
drag them towards the stage.  By this time, the novelty of them being stars
had totally worn off on me, so I wasn't hesitant about dragging them to the
stage.  Trent continued to laugh behind me.
	Walking through the open double doors I saw AJ McLean, Joey Fatone,
Nick Carter and Brian Littrell playing around on the stage.  Chris
Kirkpatrick and Howie Dorough were off sitting on the edge of the stage,
drinking bottles of water.
	I stopped immediately and decided to have a little fun.  I gave a
little smirk to the two bandmates that were on either side of me, and as I
cupped my hands around my mouth I yelled, "Nick Carter has a nice BUTT!!"
	Kevin, Lance and Trent laughed heartily, while the six members on the
stage looked at the four of us, no doubt thinking, 'Who the hell is that
crazy girl with the bright red hair and what the hell is she doing here?'
	I skipped down the isle a little, with the three men behind me
catching up to me in seconds.  "Guys, I'd like you to meet Miss Taylor
Mackenzie, our web-page designer." Lance stated.
	"Yay!  Poofoo got it right!" I said as I gave him a giant,
unsuspecting hug.
	"And Miss Taylor is also a fan." Kevin said as he finally suppressed
his laughter.
	"And she is also insane." AJ yelled.
	"Yup.  That's the general idea I guess.  But I prefer to call it
being happy in life." I said.
	"Or insane." AJ said.
	"Yes insane." I said as I rolled my eyes.
	"And you don't mind that Bone calls you insane?" Nick asked from his
place on the stage.
	"Nope.  If he's comfortable with that, sure what the heck." I said as
I shrugged my shoulders.  Trent, Kevin and Lance couldn't help but slightly
chuckle at my antics.
	"And you're gonna be our web-page designer huh?" Brian asked.
	"Miss Taylor Mackenzie, HTML Extraordinaire, at your service." I said
as I mock bowed.
	"I think your gonna fit in here just fine." Chris said as he hoped
down from the stage with his now empty water bottle.
	"Oh I am so honored that Sir Chris has given me the seal of
approval." I said.
	"And don't you forget it."
	"Yes sir." I said as I gave a salute.  Finally, everyone was laughing
with me.
	"FOOD!" I heard a recognizable voice yell from the side doors.
	"And if it isn't Curly." I mused.
	"Come 'n get it!" Another voice said.
	"And Joshy-poo too." I said.
	"Where do you get this stuff from?" Lance asked me.
	"Oh, I just have way too much time on my hands that's all." I told
him.  I wasn't about to tell him what me and my friends talked about while
we were online.
	"Did ya miss me?" I heard Justin say, as I saw him run onto the stage
and give Nick a full kiss on the lips.  Nick didn't return Justin's kiss and
when his kiss wasn't returned, Justin pulled away and asked, "What's wrong
baby?"  Nick just nodded his head towards my direction.  All heads in the
arena turned to me, waiting for my reaction to the interesting piece of news
that at least two of the members on the tour were in a relationship
together.
I could tell that they were all nervous about how I was going to react, most
of all Nick and Justin.
	"Who're you?" Justin asked me.
	I decided the best way to approach the situation was to greet Justin
in a normal fashion, and show the eleven of them that I wasn't repulsed by
Justin's show of affection towards Nick, because honestly, I wasn't.
Shocked, kinda, but repulsed no.  All of those slash fanfics online made me
kinda numb to homosexuality.  I jumped up onto the stage and passed the
members of the band that were watching me closely, wondering what I was
doing.
"Hi.  I'm your new web page designer, Taylor Mackenzie.  Nice ta meet ya
Curly." I smiled, offering him my hand to shake.
	Justin hesitantly took my hand.  "Um hi Taylor." He said.
	"Oh you can go back to Nick if you want, I don't care." I said
flippantly.
	"You don't mind that Nick and Justin are together?" JC asked me.
	"Nope.  I don't care if anybody bats for the other team, or whatever
you want to call it.  It ain't my style personally, and I don't really care
if it's yours." I said, mostly addressing to Josh, but letting everyone
know.
"So if anyone else wants to come clean, speak now or forever hold your
peace."
	I saw Kevin nudge Lance.  'Okay, what the hell is up with those two?'
I thought.
	"Well Josh and I are kind of... together." Lance said.
	'Oh wow, everyone's been right all along.  Too bad I can't tell
anybody about it.' I thought, as I smiled to myself.  "Kay." I said as I sat
on the edge of the stage.  "Anyone else?" I asked.
	"Nope the rest of us have our own girls." Howie said.
	"Okay.  Fine by me."
	Trent took on the role of serious PR manager for the moment.  "You do
know..." he started but I cut him off.
	"...that this doesn't leave the tour, cause it could damage their
reputation, yeah yeah I know.  And believe me, I won't do that to ya.
Wouldn't even think of it.  I respect you guys too much, even though it
might
not look like it." I said as I jumped down.
	"Okay cool." Justin said.
	"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go spend some hard earned cash...
well technically it's Jive's hard earned cash, but we don't have to tell
them
about it.  See ya!" I said as I started to walk out of the main theater.
	"Be back in three hours to get a ride to the hotel!" Trent yelled to
me as I closed the doors to the arena to leave the guys in privacy as they
ate their lunch.

~~~~~

	It took me awhile to find an electronics store, but I found one and
was back to the arena within two hours, armed with a bag holding a scanner,
a top of the line, but also very expensive, digital camera, and two
cartridges to hold pictures.  As I entered the arena, I heard 'Tearin' Up My
Heart' blaring through the speakers that were located in the main stage of
the arena.
	I quietly opened one of the side doors to the arena, and finding a
shaded corner of the seats in the arena, I sat down.  I was going to catch
some candids of the guys practicing and I was going to put them on the site.
I quietly tore open the packaging around the camera, and opened one of the
cartridges.  I was being as quiet as possible so the guys wouldn't know that
I was back yet.
	Loading the cartridge into the camera, I waited for the camera to
warm up.  I took a dummy picture to make sire the cartridge was working, and
then I zoomed in and started taking shots, being as quiet as I could.  I was
taking shots of the guys goofing around on stage between song rehearsals,
and
pictures of them dancing on stage.  By the time I had about thirty pictures,
the guys had gone through about four songs, and were on 'Horsing Around', a
fast up-tempo song from their fourth album.
	I had seen them do this song in concert before, and the choreography
for it was really cool, but it was really difficult too.  In fact it was so
difficult, that they were running through the song for the fifth time since
I
had been there.  This song went back to their old flips and aerobatics in
the
air, but someone kept on screwing up.  And they kept on messing up different
things too.
	Once it was Lance, and the second time through Chris screwed up.
Justin forgot a cue on the third run because he was concentrating on
something off stage, which was more than likely Nick.  Through the fourth
run
through Joey had screwed up a flip, and on their last run through Lance had
screwed up a dance step, in fact the same one he had messed up the first
time.  I was just watching them as they ran through the song for the fifth
time, and I waited anxiously as they sang the song, wondering if they were
going to screw it up at all.  They were getting to the point where Lance had
screwed up both times, and as they were finishing the move, Lance came down
on the wrong foot, and slipped on stage, landing on his back.  "Damn it." I
heard Lance curse.
	I saw Josh walk over to where Lance was still laying on his back,
more than likely still cursing himself out for his two left feet.  He held
out his hand to pull Lance up, and Lance took the pre-offered hand.  "Don't
worry baby, you got it before, you can get it again." Josh said as he gave
Lance as kiss on the cheek.  I quickly snapped a picture of the kiss.  Josh
and Lance were too cute together NOT to sneak in at least one kiss for my
private collection.
	"Okay." Lance sighed, burying his face in JC's shoulder.
	Wade, *N Sync's choreographer for god-knows-how-long, came out onto
the stage.  "Why don't we skip running through that song again, and we'll
run
through the some of the slow ones.  You guys know it, I know you do, and you
always pull it out in the end, so don't worry about it." He said.
	All the members of *N Sync did was nod their heads as they went to
the side of the stage and got the five stools that were located there.
Bringing them to the center of the stage, the guys sang a few of their older
ballads, like 'I Drive Myself Crazy', 'God Must Have Spent', 'I Thought She
Knew' and 'This I Promise You', as well as some of the newer ones, like
'Photos of Our Life' and 'The Love of Another', the one Grammy-winning song
*N Sync has ever had.
	It was just Justin and JC singing with a simple piano and a small
string ensemble in it, but everyone thought it was one of the most beautiful
things *N Sync had written, regardless of the fact that three fifths of the
band wasn't really in the song.  A bunch of people on the internet chats I
regulared started dissecting the song, starting rumors that Josh and Justin
had written it for their 'significant others', Josh writing it for Lance,
because everyone is so set on that "hidden relationship-that-wasn't-so-
hidden", and everyone figured that Justin was writing it to his girlfriend.
Damn how right, and how wrong, they were.
	After *N Sync had finished their set, I decided that I would make my
presence known, what the heck, they would probably start wondering where I
was anyway.  "Beautiful singing boys." I said as I walked down to the stage
area.
	"Hey Taylor, didn't see you there." Joey said.
	"Where were you?" Josh asked me.
	"Oh I was just sitting over there, enjoying the singing and taking a
few pictures with my new camera." I said, indicating where I had been
sitting
with the camera that was still in my hands.
	"I see our resident psycho is back." AJ said as he and the rest of
the Backstreet Boys came onto the stage, with Trent and Kevin talking in the
back of the pack.
	I rolled my eyes, "You know I'm not THAT insane.  I just like making
a good first impression."
	"Okay girl, if that's what you tell yourself." AJ said as he smiled.
	"Taylor, did you get everything you needed?" Trent asked me as soon
as he ended his conversation with Kevin.
	"Yup.  All set."
	"Well then let's get back to the hotel." Trent said as we left the
arena for our hotel.

~~~~~

Well that's the end of that chapter... wives and girlfriends come in the
next.  Email me at Midnight_Violet18@hotmail.com if you want more in the
future.

Hasta la pasta-- Jess