The CLUB was pounding. The room was pitch black; strobe lights flashed through the crowds of dancing people and the walls were slick with sweat. The music boomed through the speakers shaking the entire building. Everyone was moving with the rhythm of the music, a tidal wave of bodies moving towards the deejay’s booth.

Sarah sat at one of the tables along the wall of the club. Her right hand rested loosely around a glass of coke that was sitting on the table. She really wished that it had some rum in it. Actually she wished it had a lot of coconut rum in it.

Her legs were crossed delicately so as not to make her short skirt ride up any higher. It was one of the outfits her father never would have let her out of the house in. The dress was form fitting black lace covering a sky blue sheath.

Her eyes traveled around the club searching out her four friends. This was their night to celebrate. They’d just received the news that their group would be going on tour this summer.  They’d be the opening act for some pop music group. Sarah guessed it would probably be Mandy or Britney. That was the sort of music they sang, even though there were five of them. She smiled for a second. They did a mean-ass version of "Oops I did it again."

"I wish I’d done it again," Sarah muttered taking a deep swig of her coke. She really wished there were a lot of rum in that drink.

Megan made her way towards the table. Her black leather pants clung to her lithe figure and the blue bandana top covered just enough skin.

"Sar," Megan whined. "You aren’t having any fun. This is our night to celebrate."

"Can I help it if I’m a little bummed John dumped me today?" Sarah said.

Megan looked at her best friend. "He’s not worth this Sarah. You guys only went out for like three weeks. You’re going to be gone for four months."

Sarah nodded and continued to focus her eyes on the virgin drink in front of her. Goddamn she wanted some rum.

"Okay," Megan said. "Lie to me and tell me you’re having fun. Try to make it convincing too, okay?"

Sarah looked up at Megan and smiled. "I’m having a wonderful time Meg."

"Good," Megan laughed. "That’s what I like to hear. Try to get on the dance floor once tonight, okay?"

Sarah nodded. "I’ll try."

Megan wove her way back through the crowds of dancing sweaty people.

Sarah watched her retreat and finished the last of her coke. Her next mission was to find someone who would buy her alcohol. Then her moping process would be complete and she could move on with her life.

"Why do we have to come to the 18 and over club?" Chris whined. "I’m almost 30. Why should I have to hang with the kiddies?"

"Because the baby over there," Joey said with a nod of his head towards Justin, "isn’t old enough to go to the old men’s clubs yet."

Chris nodded in fake understanding. "Dammit Justin, get yourself a fake. I’m about ready to finance that venture."

Justin shook his head. "It would be bad of me to get a fake. We all know that I’m the good innocent one of the group."

The four other men broke out laughing as Justin glared at them.

"Hey," Justin said. "At least everyone’s legal. That’s more than you can say about our after parties."

Three of the men nodded in agreement.

"I think I’m just gonna go back to the hotel," Lance said suddenly. The gray sweater he wore set off the melancholy in his green eyes. He began walking back towards the street to hail a taxicab.

"NO!" JC said lunging for Lance. "You can’t go. You’re the reason we all came out tonight. To get your mind off of him."

Lance sighed and let himself be led back towards the line. "Fine."

"You’ll thank us for this tomorrow Scoop," Joey said as he threw an arm around Lance’s shoulders. "You just need to pick yourself up a fly someone."

Lance rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall of the club. They moved forward a few feet, and then a few more. And then, finally, they were paying the cover charge to get into the club.

"I’ll go get a table," Lance said, heading off before the rest of the guys could respond.

Lance walked over towards the wall of the club and smiled at the abundance of tables. He saw one where a girl was sitting by herself and decided to take the next one over so he wouldn’t feel SO pathetic.

His eyes roamed the dance floor and he saw Justin, Chris, Joey and JC already making moves on girls. He looked over at the next table and saw the girl staring at him. Great. He’d only been here ten minutes and already he’d been recognized.

The girl got up suddenly. She walked towards him and even through the dark he could see a blush tingeing her face.

"Hi," she said standing awkwardly by the table.

"Hi," Lance said. He looked at the girl. She was cute enough, not gorgeous, but cute. Her dark eyes were framed by a pair of glasses.

"I don’t normally do this," the girl began.

Lance interrupted her and pushed the chair next to him out with her leg. "Here, sit down. Make me feel not quite as pathetic."

The girl smiled and Lance just about fainted. "Thanks. As I was saying, um, are you 21?"

Lance nodded. "Just."

"I don’t know if you feel comfortable buy drinks for strange minors, but…" she trailed off. "I really, really need a drink."

Lance looked at the girl, studying her. She apparently had no clue who he was.

"I think I’ll join you in that. What do you want?"

"Anything with lots and lots of alcohol," the girl said smiling.

"I’ll agree to that," Lance said laughing. "My name’s Lance by the way."

"Sarah," Sarah said sticking her hand out. Lance took it. "I’ll stay here since I don’t have the wrist band."

Lance nodded and got up. "I’ll be right back."

Megan dragged Brooke towards the table.

"I’m going to drag her ass out here if it kills me," Megan shouted to Brooke. "She needs to get over John. He was an ass."

Brooke stopped suddenly. "It looks like she is getting over John," she laughed. "Because I think that’s Sarah sitting with that really hot blond guy."

Megan stared at her best friend laughing with the guy at the table with her. She had a drink in her hand that she was gulping down greedily.

Her eyes traveled to the guy sitting next to her. He looked way familiar. Way, way familiar.

"Brooke," Megan said, suddenly clutching her friend’s bare arm. "That’s Lance Bass."

"Holy Shit!" Brooke screeched. "I didn’t know they were in town."

"You know where there’s one ‘N SYNC member there’ve got to be more ‘N SYNC members," Megan said reasonably. She’d completely forgotten about dragging Sarah out to the dance floor.

"And this is an 18 and over club," Brooke said. "Which means JUSTIN’S HERE!" She started jumping up and down and Megan soon joined her.

"JC’s here. JC’s in the same fucking room as us Brooke," Megan screeched.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Brooke asked. "Let’s go find us some ‘N SYNC members!"

"Amy," Lisa whined. "Come on, I’ve got to go to the bathroom."

Amy separated her mouth from the random guy she was kissing long enough to glare at her friend. "Go by yourself."

"I can’t," Lisa whined again, stamping her foot. It didn’t work too well in her three-inch heel.

Amy sighed and disentangled herself from the A&F Boy’s arms. "I’ll be back!" she yelled. He drunkenly nodded, but he’d wrapped his arms around another girl before they were three steps away.

"You owe me," Amy yelled at Lisa.

Lisa nodded. "It’s okay. There are hundreds of other guys here tonight."

Amy nodded. They made their way towards the bathroom and stopped suddenly.

"Please tell me this isn’t the line," Lisa whined. "I really have to go."

"Sorry Kiddo," Amy said. "Hope you can hold it."

They watched as a few guys walked right into the men’s room. A few minutes later the same guys walked out.

"Do you think anyone’s in the men’s room?" Lisa asked.

Amy shrugged. "Probably not. Everyone who we saw go in came out."

"Will you guard the door for me?"

Amy looked at her friend askance. "You’re going to go in the men’s room? That’ s gross."

"I have to go!" Lisa yelled.

"Fine," Amy sighed. "Just hurry up."

Lisa smiled her thanks and walked to the door. She knocked first and didn’t here a reply. Slowly she pushed the door open and walked into the scary place otherwise known as the men’s room.

Chris meandered toward the men’s room. The beer was moving through him quickly tonight. He was determined to get very plastered tonight. It would be his last opportunity for about six months. They got their new tour mates tomorrow and then it would be non-stop practice until their tour started. And then on tour it was getting difficult to go out after the shows.

He saw the huge line of girls and laughed silently. He was so glad guys didn’t have that problem.

There was a girl standing along the wall by the men’s room. She looked really, really familiar. The girl’s eyes met his. They narrowed in recognition.

"Chris?"

Chris studied the girl. If she were about four years younger and had pig tails. "Amy?"

Amy threw herself at the older man. "Oh my god Chris! How have you been?"

"Good!" Chris said. In his slightly drunken state he had to take a step backwards with Amy’s impact. "How are you?"

"Great!" Amy said. "I can’t believe I haven’t seen you in four years! My brother still talks about you. Did he tell you that my group got signed?"

"You sing?"

"Yuppers!" Amy said bobbing her head enthusiastically. "We’re doing our first tour this summer. We find out with what group tomorrow."

"That’s so awesome Amy," Chris said. "Say, can I get you a drink?"

"Sure," Amy said. She and Chris walked arm and arm out towards the bar.

Joey passed them on the way. He clapped Chris on the back and eyed Amy appreciatively. He leaned towards Chris’s ear. "And you said we shouldn’t go to an 18 and over club."

Chris shrugged. He eyed Joey. He was sweating profusely and a smile was plastered on his face.

"Looks like you’re having fun," he said.

"I am," Joey said. "There are SO many FINE girls here tonight and the ALL want a piece of the Superman."

Chris shook his head and laughed. Amy joined in, but stopped sooner.

"You promised me a drink?" she asked smiling flirtatiously.

"Providing for minors again Chris?" Joey asked.

 "I provided for your ass for quite a few years there buddy," Chris said. "See you later man."

"Later," Joey said. He worked his way towards the bathroom and walked straight to the men’s room.

He pushed the door open and had just opened his fly when a girl walked out of the stall.

"Oh my god!" she shrieked. She turned bright red. "I am so sorry."

Joey shrugged. It wasn’t like girls hadn’t seen it before. It wasn’t like lots of girls hadn’t seen it before.

"Not a problem," Joey said. He noticed that the girl didn’t go back into the stall. Her eyes were focused towards him. "I’m Joey."

"Lisa," Lisa said. She suddenly realized that she was staring and turned around blushing even more. "I’m sorry. My friend was supposed to watch the door. I just really had to go and you saw the line out there."

Joey nodded. "Understandable. If I’d had the chance to go in the ladies room don’t you think I’d be in there?"

Lisa laughed despite herself.

"So you having a good time tonight Lisa?" Joey asked as he pulled his zipper up slowly. "You can turn around now."

Lisa turned around. "Yeah, I—" Her eyes went to Joey’s face for the first time. "Oh my god, you’re Joey."

"I already told you that," Joey said with a laugh.

"No, I mean, you’re Joey!"

Joey laughed. "And you’re Lisa."

"I am like so in love with you," Lisa said. "Okay, that came out really wrong. It’s just that this day could not get any better. First I’m going on tour and now I’m standing in the bathroom with Joey Fatone. Holy Shit!"

"Glad I could make your day," Joey said. "Would dancing with me make it even better?"

Lisa turned bright red. "YES! I mean, sure, if you want to dance with me?"

"A fine girl like you?" Joey asked. "Who wouldn’t want to dance with you?"

Lisa turned even redder. "Let’s go." She grabbed Joey’s hand and dragged him out of the bathroom. Several girls gave them odd looks and more gave her envious looks when they realized whom she was with. Suddenly half the girls ran into the men’s room.

Lance pushed the large glass away from him. There were a total of six glasses on the table, or maybe there were twelve. Lance couldn’t really tell. The room was spinning a little bit too much.

"So he just dumped you out of the blue?" Lance asked.

Sarah nodded. She pulled the glass up to her face to take another drink. "No warning. Bastard."

Lance nodded.

"So why are you getting drunk with me?" Sarah slurred.

Lance felt the tears come to his eyes. "My best friend died yesterday," he sniffled. "He was more than my best friend…" Lance trailed off.

If Sarah had been sober she would have choked on her drink. "I’m sorry," she said. "What happened?"

"He was sick. He’s been sick for a long time, but yesterday it was just too much."

Sarah rubbed a hand over Lance’s shoulder. "Were you two close?"

"Yes," Lance said. "I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest. I loved him so much. And what makes it worse is that I didn’t get to ride him one last time."

This time Sarah did choke. Lance was so caught up in his emotions he didn’t notice. "He was the best horse anyone could have. I’m going to miss Toby so much," Lance finished.

"Your horse?" Sarah asked. She started laughing. "Oh my god, I thought you were talking about a person."

"Toby was like a person, wait, you thought I was with a guy?"

"Maybe the Internet got it right for once," Sarah said. "I don’t know."

"No, I’m completely into women," Lance said. "Let me show you how completely into women I am."

He grabbed Sarah’s hand and pulled her out towards the floor.

"There they are," Megan yelled in Brooke’s ear. "There are JC and Justin!"

Brooke nodded speechless.

"So what do we do?" Megan asked.

Brooke shrugged. She looked at Megan. "Should we go dance by them?"

Megan took a deep breath and began walking towards the two men. She stopped a few feet from them and began moving to the music.

Brooke joined her. She began doing her patented club dance, thrusting her ass out and sticking one hand in the air moving it to the beat.

She couldn’t help but look over at the object of her affection. He happened to be staring at her. She smiled coyly and turned her back to him.

"Dude," Justin said poking JC in the arm. "Look at those two girls."

JC turned around and smiled. "What are they doing dancing all alone?"

"I think we’ll have to go take care of that," Justin said. He walked towards the girl sticking her ass out and wrapped his arm around her waist.

JC walked in front of the other girl and began dancing with her. A moment later she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Hi," Justin said into the girl’s ear. "I’m Justin."

The girl turned around. "Brooke. I was wondering how long it was going to take for you to come over here."

"I would’ve been over sooner, but I thought JC would want a piece of the action too," Justin said.

"I’m JC," JC said into his girl’s ear.

"Meg," Megan whispered in his ear. "And I know who you are."

"I’m sorry about your horse," Sarah said as she and Lance swayed to the music. In their state they couldn’t do much more. "I know how it is to have to put a pet to sleep."

"Oh really?" Lance asked.

"Yeah," Sarah said. "I was seven. I don’t think I’ve ever been the same since."

"What was it? A dog, cat?"

"It was a mouse," Sarah said. She wiped a tear from her eye. "Squeaky was my best friend."

Lance hugged Sarah to him as she bawled onto his shoulder.

"You know I think I’m getting jealous stares," Lisa said as Joey pressed her up against one of the walls in the club. He moved down her body keeping his eyes on her face.

"You should be," Joey said. "I mean you’ve seen more of me than any other girl tonight."

"Well, if you go hang out in the bathroom again I’m sure other girls will see just as much," Lisa laughed. Her world was feeling a little tingly right now and she hadn’t had a sip to drink.

"You know," Joey said as he made his way back up to her. He stopped dancing. "This is the longest I’ve gone without kissing a girl all night."

"Well what’s stopping you?" Lisa asked.

Joey suddenly pressed his body to hers and hungrily found her mouth.

"How can you drink that shit?" Amy asked as she took a sip of Chris’s beer. "That stuff is NASTY!"

"It’s good!" Chris said. "I don’t know how you can drink that stuff." He looked at Amy’s screwdriver.

"It’s good!" Amy said imitating Chris. "You know my brother would be shitting a brick if he knew you were buying me drinks."

"You’re brother would be lynching me if he knew the thoughts I was thinking about you right now," Chris said.

"I used to have the fattest crush on you," Amy said. "I used to watch your window when you still lived next door to us."

"Did you?" Chris asked. "To both things?"

Amy nodded. "I used to really dig the dreads, but I think I like the short do better."

"That’s what all the girls say," Chris laughed. "You want to dance?"

"Sure," Amy said. She finished off her drink and gagged slightly, as she tasted the vodka that had settled to the bottom.

"Say," Justin whispered in Brooke’s ear. "You wanna go back to my hotel?"

Brooke smiled broadly. "Sure! Let me just tell Megan that I’m going."

Brooke leaned over towards Megan and tapped her on the shoulder.

Megan glared at her as she separated her forehead from JC’s.

"We’re going," Brooke said.

Megan smiled as she saw Brooke’s hand entwined with Justin’s.

JC looked at Megan. "You want to go back to our hotel too?"

"Sure!" Megan said. She grabbed JC’s hand and followed him and Justin and Brooke out of the club.

"You really do know what I’m going through don’t you?" Lance asked Sarah as he ran a hand through her dark hair.

Sarah nodded into his chest. "I’m sorry for getting all emotional like that. I guess I never really cried for Squeaky. I think I had thirteen years of angst building up in me."

Lance nodded sympathetically. He gently touched his lips to Sarah’s forehead. Suddenly an arm flew at his face.

"What do you think you’re doing?" an angry voice broke through their reverie.

Sarah turned toward the voice. "John? What do you think you’re doing? What are you doing here?"

"He’s putting the moves on my girlfriend," John said. He pouted like a little boy. "And your mom told me where you were."

"In case you don’t remember," Sarah said slowly as if she were talking to the little boy he was imitating. "You broke up with me this afternoon."

"I made a mistake sweetie," John said stepping forward.

"It’s too late," Sarah said. "Lance was here for me tonight when I needed someone."

"Please Sarah," John said. "Give me another chance."

"I’m not going to have time for you," Sarah said. "I’m going to be in rehearsals for the next two months and then I’m going to be gone for four. It never would have worked anyway."

John looked at Sarah. "I’m sorry." He turned to Lance. "Sorry for punching you man."

Sarah immediately remembered Lance. "Oh my god Lance. Are you okay?"

Lance had a hand over his eye. He nodded dumbly. "It’s okay man. I don’t think there’s any major harm done."

John nodded and walked toward the door of the club.

Sarah moved Lance’s hand and kissed his rapidly blackening eye. "Do you want me to take care of that for you?"

Lance nodded. "Let’s go back to my hotel, okay?"

Sarah nodded and followed him out of the club.

"Lisa?" Joey asked breathlessly. "Do you want to continue this in a more comfortable place?"

"Where?" Lisa asked licking her kiss-swollen lips.

"My hotel room?" Joey asked. He put his lips to her neck and began sucking gently.

"Oh god," Lisa moaned. "Yes. Let’s go."

Joey separated his lips from her neck and took out of the club. He hailed a cab and pulled Lisa roughly into it. She was immediately in his lap kissing him again.

"Come get me when you leave," Brooke said to Megan as Justin pulled her into his room.

"Come get me when you leave," Megan said as she followed JC into his room.

The girls both giggled as the guys slammed the doors shut at the same time.

The door to the suite opened and Lance walked in with Sarah. Their hands were gently linked.

"Let’s get you some ice, okay?" Sarah said. She walked over to the mini-fridge in the kitchenette. She pulled out the blue ice pack and wrapped it in one of the paper towels. "It’d work better if you were lying down probably."

"Let’s go to my room," Lance said. He grabbed the icepack from Sarah’s hand and took her other hand in his. He gently led her to his room and shut the door softly behind them.

The front door to the suite banged as someone fell against it. There was laughing as the sounds of someone fumbling to open the lock could be heard.

The door flew open and Joey and Lisa practically fell into the room.

"Oh…my…god…" Lisa said between frantic kisses. "I think that cab driver was happy to get us out of the cab."

Joey nodded as he pushed her towards his bedroom.

"Do you think the other guys’ll mind?" Lisa asked. "I mean that I’m here?"

"They’re used to it," Joey growled. "Come on. I promised you comfort. Let’s get comfortable."

The door to his room slammed shut.

"Sounds like Joey’s getting some," Lance said as he walked back out into the common room of the suite. The icepack was pressed over his eye. "So do you want me to order some champagne?"

Sarah shrugged from the doorway. "I’ve never had it."

"You’ve never had champagne?" Lance asked in shock. "You’ve never been wined and dined?"

Sarah shook her head.

"Time to change that," Lance said. He picked up the phone. "Yes, I’d like a bottle of Korbel and two glasses. And a plate of strawberries too. Thanks."

Sarah curled up on the couch and Lance sat next to her.

"I’m sorry John hit you," Sarah said.

"It’s okay," Lance said. He pulled Sarah to him. As her eyes met his he found himself leaning down and pressing his lips to hers. "Believe me, it’s okay. Now if he’d hit me in the mouth I might be a little more upset right now."

Sarah smiled and kissed him again.

The lights of the club came on but Chris and Amy didn’t notice. They were lost in each other’s eyes.

"To think," Chris murmured. "All the years I lost just being friends with your brother."

Amy smiled. "I’ll never criticize his choice of friends again."

"Do you want to come back to my hotel for breakfast?" Chris asked. "I’ve got a meeting to be at at nine, but we can grab breakfast with the rest of the guys first."

"Cool," Amy said. "It’ll be good to see them all again, though I doubt they’ll remember me."

Chris nodded. "It’s not them who count though."

Amy smiled. "You’re right. It’s not."

Chris and Amy entered the suite and weren’t quiet with closing the door behind them. "They have to be up soon enough anyway," Chris laughed.

His eyes traveled toward the couch. "Oh my god, Lance hooked up!"

Lance’s head popped up as the use of his name invaded his subconscious. Sarah’s head popped up too.

"Sarah? What are you doing here?"

"Amy? What are you doing here?"

The girls looked at each other and giggled and immediately held their heads.

"A little too much to drink," the said in unison again.

Chris and Lance looked at one another. "Scary," they said at the same time.

"So you know each other?" Chris asked Amy.

"Yeah, we’re in the same group," Amy said.

"Cool," Lance said. "Did you guys just get in?"

Chris nodded and Amy blushed. Sarah was giving her a ‘we have to talk look.’ Amy returned it full force.

Suddenly two of the doors were thrown open. JC and Justin exited followed by two girls wearing t-shirts and boxers.

"You were supposed to come get me," the girls said at the same time.

"Brooke?" Amy said as Sarah said "Megan?"

"Oh my god!" Brooke and Megan said at the same time.

"What are you guys doing here?"  Amy asked.

"We just slept!" Megan said. "Well, I did anyway."

"So did we," Brooke said throwing her hands up and unconsciously leaning back into Justin.

"So did we," Sarah said. Lance smiled and gripped her hand.

"It would be too funny if Lisa were to walk out of Joey’s room right now," Amy said.

Joey’s door opened and he walked out. "Oh my god, there’re girls. Lisa, honey, come on out."

Eight mouths dropped in shock as Lisa walked out.

"Hey girls," Lisa said. "What are you all doing here?"

Silence permeated the room.

Chris finally broke it. "Well as much fun as it is staring at everyone, we do need to eat breakfast so we can get to our meeting."

"Meeting!" All five girls yelled at once.

"We’ve got to go get ready," Sarah said.

"Oh my god, I look like shit!" Megan wailed.

"You do," Lisa whined. "I do!"

"I look worse," Brooke said.

"Give me a call sometime, okay Chris?" Amy said as she leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Will do," Chris said.

The simple kiss seemed to have sparked a waterfall of kissing in the room.

"Girls!" Amy yelled. They all broke away from their respective partners and glared at her. "We got to go."

Slowly the girls untangled themselves from their guys, all mouthing call me as they walked towards the door.

Two hours later five clean and dressed up girls walked into The Firm’s office building.

"This is it girls," Amy said. "This is where our dreams really begin."

The rest of the girls nodded. They found the name of the man they were looking for. They meandered towards the elevator pushed the button of the floor they were going to.

They walked down the hall looking for the office number and finally stopped in front of the room they were looking for.

Sarah knocked tentatively.

"Come in," a deep voice said. It sounded very familiar.

Sarah pushed the door opened and stopped when she saw who was in the room.

"Oh my god," she said softly.

"Sarah," Lisa said pushing her into the room. "You’re supposed to walk— oh my god."

The rest of the girls crowed through the door and stopped. Blushes were rapidly rising on all their faces.

"You girls are right on time," the man at the end of the table said. "Please sit down."

He turned to the five guys at the table. "Guys, this is your opening act. Meet Fate. Fate, meet ‘N SYNC."

JC sought out Megan’s eyes and smiled.

She smiled back.

Joey jumped out of his chair and pushed through the girls to Lisa. "You never told me you sang."

"We didn’t do much talking," Lisa said.

Brooke walked over to Justin and sat in the empty seat next to him. He gripped her hand in his.

Chris motioned Amy over to him and seated her in his lap.

Lance got up and pulled Sarah over to the seat next to where he was sitting. Their lips met in a soft kiss.

"We’ve met," Chris said.