Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 10:27:11 -0700
From: Druid MJ <druid_mj@hotmail.com>
Subject: Losing Control  Chapter 3 (MJ)

Okeydokey folks, here's the new chapter of Losing Control. I'm really sorry
'bout SOMH... I just have to put some finishing touches on it and you can
expect it by next week. We've really enjoyed writing this story, and all
your totally cool responses to it!

Standard request for feedback :
We really, really *love* your feedback and you hafta give us more!

Okay, enjoy!

Oh, wait a minute....

Disclaimer: Do I have to say more?

And now, let the show begin!

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Losing Control: Chapter 3 (MJ)

"Well, do any of you have anything to say for yourselves before we begin
this meeting?" Jared asked, ignoring Kevin's and Lance's attempts to speak
to him. Eight stony faces looked back at him, and he smiled an evil smile.

A young man popped his head in nervously and said, "Uh, sir, we have Miss
Fatima on the line now, do you want to talk to her?"

Jared glanced at Mat, who said, "It's your turn." Shrugging, he made his way
to the door. "You know what to do, don't you?" he said, as an amused look
crossed his face. "You bet I do." smirked Mat.

This exchange plainly did not bring comfort to any of the boys' hearts, even
though they were trying to act nonchalant about it.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here then?" she said as she rubbed her
hands together. There was no answer as ten faces, with all kinds of
expressions on them, looked back at her. Most were angry, and she could see
some that were just bursting to spew out expletives. But they were still a
little wary from Jared's outburst from earlier. Two, however, looked at her
pleadingly, faces turned up at her. She smiled indulgently back at them
before asking, "Does anyone know why we are here?" Looking back at the two
very worried leaders, who nodded uncomfortably, she continued, "Well?"

Silence. She sighed and wondered how Jared always managed to get anyone to
bend to his will. "Okay, today's meeting is about your joint tour with each
other. The reason behind this tour is very simple. We are determined to
quash the rumors that the two groups are at loggerheads with each other, and
the board has decided that this would be the simplest and clearest way to go
about it."

"Why?" asked JC.

Thank God, thought Mat in relief, at least there is one more sensible one.
But his next words brought her down again.

"I want a very, very, very good reason as to why we have to tour with
these.. these.. unworthies." spat JC.

Mat sighed as she looked at JC and then told them what she had told Kevin
and Lance at the previous meeting.

The eight boys were temporarily stunned, then AJ spat back out, "Well, *I*
think you're lying, bitch!" An uproar of agreement ensued as Mat nodded her
head at AJ's bodyguard and he quickly stepped forward, placing a piece of
tape over AJ's mouth. Everyone quickly shut up except for Justin, who
obviously didn't see what happened. Mat nodded her head at Lonnie, who
quickly taped Justin's mouth too. Kevin and Lance stood up and started to
argue angrily with her, but she motioned for them to shut up and sit down,
and they did so, grumbling, for they had promised to follow, to the best of
their abilities, Mat's and Jared's orders.

"Since you have decided to behave like children, you will be treated like
children," she said, shooting Brian a look. He immediately stopped giggling.
However, she had to admit, AJ and Justin did look funny, as they struggled
to remove the tape. One was rubbing his cheek against his shirt sleave, and
the other... well, she couldn't fathom what the other was doing. Oh well. "I
will *not* have any foul language on this tour that is directed at people.
You can direct it at things that go wrong, happenings, objects, anything but
people. And animals." she added as an afterthought, remembering Chris' Busta
and her own Charlie. "Foul language will result in a 30 minute time out, as
illustrated by our darling AJ over there." The aforementioned person shot a
murderous glace at her before resuming his rubbing. "Uncalled-for
interruption and other unnecessary noise will result in a 20 minute time
out, as illustrated by Justin." She finally figured out what Justin was
doing. He was using his tongue to poke at the tape. Mat wondered what duct
tape tasted like, but obviously it was nasty as Justin made a face. "Other
punishments will be meted out when deemed necessary. When you stop deciding
to behave like children, let me know. Also, the incident I just mentioned
*did* happen. The girls are still in hospital, and we'll give you the
addresses later." she said in answer to Kevin's and Lance's unasked
questions. "If you still doubt me, here's a letter from one of the girls."
Mat said as she unfolded the piece of paper. "She dictated it to her mom,
who wrote it down for her.

Dear Backstreet Boys,
I'm one of your biggest fans ever and when Julie insulted you I was very
angry and so I fought with her. I'm real sorry now when the nice lady
explained that you and 'Nsync were friends and you wouldn't have liked to
see us fight. I'm gonna say sorry to Julie when I see her next time, I
promise. I hope to see you soon.
					         Your biggest fan,
                                                      Nina

(PS: Could you come at 3 in the afternoon? My sister will be there, and she
is one of your biggest fans too. Thank you.)"

There was an uncomfortable silence at the end of the letter, and Mat saw
some guilty looks. She grinned to herself. The tension broke when the door
opened. Jared came back in and motioned to her, laughing as he noticed the
new additions to the features of the two boyband members. They huddled in
quiet conversation, and Lance overheard them, as he was closest to them.
What he heard made him gulp nervously. The whispered words "Fatima...
Friday... dance... new routine..." floated to him. He had two left feet,
everyone knew that, Fatima especially. Oh no, he groaned inwardly. And today
was Wednesday! He had only one more day of freedom! Kevin wondered what was
making Lance so nervous, then grinned as he remembered that Jared had gone
out to receive a call from Fatima. He grinned away, remembering Lance's
famous clumsiness, till Jared and Mat came back from their huddled
conversation.

Seeing that the boyband members had fallen into discussion, frequently
throwing disgusted looks at the other group's members, and at Mat and
himself, Jared rapped on the table with his knuckles. They turned sullenly
to look at him. "Well, come on, isn't there another ray of sunshine here
besides the two of us?" he asked in a mock-surprised tone. Lance sat with
his head in his hands and Kevin seemed to be trying to make up his mind
about something. "Alright, Fatima just called and said that she'd be flying
down on Friday to teach you the dance routines for your new tour. If you
have any questions, this is the time to ask. NOW." he said sternly. He
waited, then looked at Mat, who shrugged. "Okay then, this meeting is over,
but Justin and AJ must stay behind to continue their time out." The boys
were brought out the same way they were brought in, and it was only till
they were reaching the entrance of the building when they were uncuffed and
nearly pushed, blinking, into the bright morning sunlight.

"Man, are they gonna do this to us every time?" asked Brian. Kevin looked
back at the building and said, "I don't know."

"Wow, fancy that," said Nick. "Train doesn't know something that has to do
with management!"

"Hey, that was my line!" said Howie, as they sat in the limo that took them
all back to the house.

And in the 'Nsync limo, these sentiments were echoed. "You sure they're from
management? I smell something fishy here," said Chris.

"You smell fishy *all* the time, old man," ribbed Joey. "How long do you
think they'll keep Curly?" he asked, turning to Lance.

"I don't know, Mat said it'd be 20 minutes right?"

"Yeah, well, Big Daddy ain't happy," said Chris, pointing to the morose man
at the back of the limo.

"He's *never* happy without Curly." It was more of an understatement than
anything else.

"Okay, but we've got more important things to do."

"Like keeping Fatima off your back?" chuckled Joey.

"Yeah, and others." Lance took it in his stride. After all, who said being
in a boyband was easy?

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Okay, so this isn't the best I've done. I'll admit it. Just don't get me on
my knees begging for forgiveness. I have bad knees. :) Alright, enough with
the cheesy jokes already. I'll just have to hope against hope that you liked
it. You did? Great! LOL.

Next Chapter... by the one and only ... DRUID!



Any questions or comments:

e-mail us at druid_mj@hotmail.com

Flames will be used for the barbeque when we celebrate the end of this
story.

Luv ya,

MJ and Druid