Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 07:56:16 -0000 From: Alfred Farias Subject: The Legends Meet `NSync: Part 2 The Legends Meet 'NSync: Part 2 Legal Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction and is not meant to imply anything about any of the celebrities mentioned. If you are a minor, offended by homosexual material, or it is illegal in your nation, state, or municipality to view this material, you should leave now. Otherwise, please enjoy the story. Authors Note: Before starting on part 2, I would just like to take the time to thank all of you who have written me in regards to the story. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or just want to say hi, I can be contacted on ICQ (1486035), AIM (NYF GRAFIX), Yahoo! Messenger (alffari), with e-mail (alffari@hotmail.com), and on IRC's EFnet and UnderNet (N_Yo_FACE). I would also like to apologize for the delay between parts 1 and 2. Though I can not promise that it won't happen again, I will try my best to prevent it. Now that that's all out of the way, I present to you part 2 of The Legends Meet 'NSync. Chapter 7: Moving Day For the past hour, we have been helping Shaun move his furniture into his new room. Since Shaun's room was on the first floor, and he had double doors leading into his room, moving the furniture actually wasn't that hard. Jay, Brad, Shaun, and myself were moving the mattress into his room when the phone rang. Joseph, who was cooking dinner at the time, answered. "Hello?" "Hello. Is Brad there?" the man on the other end said. "Yes. May I ask who is calling?" "This is Jason." "OK, I'll go get Brad. Please hold." Joseph went from the kitchen to Shaun's room and told Brad about the call. "Brad, Jason is on the phone and wishes to speak to you." "OK, thanks. Guys, I'm going to go see what he wants, then I'll be back. Joseph, can you take my place while I'm gone?" "Sure thing." Brad handed his corner of the mattress to Joseph and went to the phone. "Hey Jason. What's up?" "Just wanted to check up on how things are going." "Things are going great. We're moving Shaun's stuff into his room at the moment." "Who's Shaun?" "Oh, he's the fifth member. He's pretty good. Here's how things look so far. Jay is the bass, Joseph is the baritone, and Alfred, Shaun, and myself are tenors." "Sounds like you have things going pretty good. Well, if you need anything, feel free to give me a call." "OK. I'll talk to you later." "Bye." Brad hung up the phone, and returned to Shaun's room. "Jason just wanted to see how things are going, and to check if everything is OK." "Brad, I was wondering, how do you think Jason would be as a manager?" I asked. "I think he might be pretty good. Why?" "Oh, just wondering." "OK." Joseph went back to the kitchen and continued working on dinner while the four of us finished working on getting Shaun's room ready. After we finished, Jay went to help Joseph with dinner. I went to the living room with Shaun and Brad, and watched some TV. While channel surfing, something caught our eye on The Learning Channel. It was a special about past groups. According to the narrator, some past groups ended up losing royalties because their managers registered the group name under their name instead of under the group. Shaun, Brad, and I started talking about this, and we decided that we should register the group name as soon as possible. Just then, a shout came from the kitchen. "Dinner's ready!" Jay said. "No need to yell, Jay. We have an intercom, remember?" Brad yelled back. "OK, sorry!!!!" Jay yelled back, louder than before. We all started laughing. The three of us got up and went to the dining room table. Joseph and Jay made beef stew in bread bowls for dinner. During dinner, we talked about the idea of registering the group name, to which we all agreed we should do. After dinner, we were all full, and tired from the full day of work that we all did, so we went to sleep. Chapter 8: Club Millennium Joseph and I woke up the next morning to the smell of French Toast. We got dressed, and went downstairs. To our surprise, Shaun was cooking breakfast. "Good morning Joseph, good morning Alfred." Shaun said. "Good morning Shaun." Joseph and I responded in unison. "Since you guys were such a big help yesterday, I thought that I would make breakfast for you guys today." "Thanks. If you want, I can go wake the others." I said. "Sure." I decided to have a little fun, so I went to my collection of tapes, pulled out my military drill tape from when I was in the Navy, and popped it into the main intercom station, which included a tape player. I put the volume for all remote stations on full, then hit play. The reveille fanfare echoed throughout the house, followed by 2 loud screams from upstairs, and Brad and Jay running out of their rooms to see what was happening. I turned off the tape and called them down to breakfast. "Hey, sleepyheads, breakfast is ready!" I yelled. "We'll get you for this Alfred!" Jay said, laughing hysterically. Jay and Brad get dressed and came down. "Good morning guys." I said. "Good morning, Sir!" Brad and Jay responded, standing at attention and saluting. "Very funny. Come on and get your breakfast before I make you guys drop and give me 50." I said, grinning. Brad and Jay came to the table, and we all ate breakfast. Afterwards, we all complimented Shaun on being a great cook. We continued talking about the topic from last night. "Does anybody here know how to apply for a copyright?" I asked. "We can't get a copyright for the group name. Copyrights do not protect things such as names, titles, or slogans. That what registered trademarks are for." Brad answered. "Well, at least someone here knows their stuff." I said, smiling. "Thanks." Brad responded. "Since you know about this, how would you feel about going to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in San Francisco to register the group name?" "I would love to." "Great. Shaun, do you think we could drop him off at the BART station on the way to work?" "Sure." Shaun said. "I was wondering, would you mind if Joseph and I went with Shaun? I mean, it wouldn't be a good idea for him to be going around San Francisco alone." Jay asked. "Yeah, sure. Shaun, how would you feel about picking them up in San Francisco later on today?" "Sounds great. Afterwards, maybe we can go around San Francisco and see the sights." Shaun answered. "OK, where should we meet you guys, and at what time?" I asked. Joseph, Brad, and Jay looked at each other for a moment, smiled, and answered. "Castro Street." they all said in unison. "How did I know?" I said laughing. "OK, what time?" "Well, you guys get our of work at 5:00 this afternoon, right?" Brad asked. "Yes." Shaun said. "OK, then meet us in front of the Castro theatre at about 6:00 this evening." Brad answered. "Sounds good to me." The five of us got into Shaun's car. Shaun dropped Brad, Joseph, and Jay off at the BART station, and then we drove to work. "So, Shaun, anything big today?" I asked. "In what way?" "Any major assignments at work today?" "Nothing that we are continuing, and I'm not expecting any major jobs today, but one never knows." "Sounds like we're in for a long day." "Sounds like it." Meanwhile, at the BART station... "These fuckin' things are expensive!" exclaimed Brad. "I know, but it's the only way that we can get to San Francisco." Jay replied. A San Francisco bound train arrived, and the threesome boarded. It took them an hour to get to San Francisco. Since they didn't know which station to disembark at, they chose the first one, Embarcadero Station. "This is my first time to San Francisco, not including the airport." Joseph said. "How will we ever find that trademark office?" "We could always look in a phone book." Brad answered. Joseph, Jay, and Brad walk around downtown looking for a phone that still has a phonebook. By chance, they walk in front of a building that happens to be the patent office. They walk in, and for the next few hours, Brad is filling out forms and answering questions. Back in Union City... Shaun was trying to remove a paper jam from the DocuTech when a customer entered. After filling out a job request form, he asked for assistance, and Shaun answered. A few minutes later, the customer left and Shaun called me. "Alfred, a four color job just came in. Can you run it? I would, but the DocuTech kinda has me busy at the moment." By now, Shaun was back at the DocuTech trying to pull out some pieces of ripped paper. "Sure thing." I reply. "It's better than just sitting here bored silly." "You won't think so after you see the job. Five thousand copies, each four color. Problem is that we have to go pick up the guys in San Fran later, and we can't do that if the job isn't done. Think you can get it done in 4 hours?" "I can try." "Knowing this thing, you'll probably finish that job before I get this thing fixed. I clear our one jam, and ten others pop up." We both laughed, then I proceeded with the job. I spent the next three and a half-hours working on the job. It was a challenge, but I managed to get it done in time. After work, Shaun and I got into his car, and headed to San Francisco. Back at the patent office... "Well, the hard part is done. Now we wait." Brad tells the guys. "How long?" Jay asks? "Depends. Sometimes just a few minutes, sometimes as much as 8 months." Fortunately, luck happens to be on the side of the group. After about 10 minutes, somebody comes out looking for Brad. "Congratulations, sir. Your request to register the name Urban Legends as a singing group has been reviewed and approved. The name has been registered as a trademark under all five members of the group." "Thank you." Brad said, taking the certificate. The guys left the patent office, walked to Market Street, and took one of the streetcars to Castro, where they waited for Shaun and myself. After about 10 minutes, Shaun and I arrived. "Hey guys, how was your day?" I asked. "Well, we got the name registered." Brad said, showing me the certificate. "Great. Let's go out and celebrate!" After walking around the City for several hours, the guys found a nightclub, Club Millennium. Upon entering, they saw a sign designating that night as 'Amateur Night'. "Hey, guys, who feels like celebrating by having our first public performance?" I asked. Joseph, Jay, Brad, and Shaun all felt that it's a great idea, and they went to talk to the club manager. After about 10 minutes, the lights faded, and they were introduced. "And now, Club Millennium would like to introduce what might one day be the hottest group around, the Urban Legends." The music to "I Drive Myself Crazy" by 'NSync begins playing, the curtain opens, and the lights come up. I sang the first verse, Brad sang the second, and Shaun the bridge. It was a successful performance, and the group received a standing ovation. After the performance, when the group went backstage, Club Millennium's owner congratulated them. "That was a great show. Have you guys ever thought about going professional?" After a few seconds, I answered, "Yes, we have." "Well, I have a proposition for you guys. How would you like to perform in Club Millennium on Saturday nights?" A sudden look of surprise mixed with happiness came over the faces of each member. I finally answered, "I'll have to talk to the rest of the group." I turned around, saw the rest of the group's faces, turned back to the club's owner, and said, "We'd love to". "Well, this is reason to celebrate. By the way, I'm John." "I'm Alfred, and these wonderful guys are Joseph, Jay, Brad, and Shaun." I responded, indicating each group member as they were introduced. "I'm pleased to meet each and every one of you." John said as he shook each of the member's hands. Do you guys have any plans for the remainder of the night?" "Hmmm... I don't know. Guys, do we have any plans?" I asked. "Well, I wanted to..." was all that Brad could get our before he received an elbow in his side from Jay. "No, we don't have any plans." Jay answered. By now, everybody was laughing at the antics being pulled off by Brad and Jay. "Are you guys always this playful?" John asked. "Actually, we're being more serious than usual tonight." Shaun said with a laugh. "Glad to hear it." John said, laughing. "I never could work with people without a sense of humor. So, what do you say we go out for dinner and discuss the details of you guys being the club's main act on Saturdays? It's on me." "Sounds good to us." Joseph responded, smiling. After a few minutes of discussion, John and the group decided to go to a little Italian restaurant in the North Beach area of San Francisco. Over dinner, they discussed such things as pay and hours of work. "Well, here's what I have in mind." John said. "I was thinking that on Saturday evenings at 9:00 PM, you guys perform. You won't be on stage for long, maybe just long enough to perform two or three songs. More if you want." "Can we bring in original material, as well?" Shaun asked. "If you can create original material that's good, them more power to you. Now, as for pay, you'll be paid in cash, $500 per performance, plus royalties for using recordings of tonight's performance on commercials." "That sounds pretty good. Guys, what do you think?" I asked. The group looked back at him, giving him a 'Do you really need to ask?' type of look. "They like it." I answered, smiling. "Good. Your first performance will be in four days at 9:00. Keep up the good work." "We will." Everyone replied. After dinner, John drove the group back to the club. After saying our good- byes, we left. By the time we got home, it was nearly midnight, so we all went to sleep. Chapter 9: Alex The next three days went by quickly. The only major highlights that occurred was hearing their group mentioned on the radio in Club Millennium advertisements, as well as clips of their amateur night performance. Finally, the morning of the Legend's first scheduled performance came to pass. It wasn't until the clock struck 6 that the group departed for Club Millennium. Upon arrival, the sight of a crowd waiting for their first performance greeted them. Among them were reporters from the local FOX, NBC, CBS, and ABC stations. The group found John greeting club guests at the door. "Hey guys!" John exclaimed. "John, what's happening here?" Jay asked. "Well, as you know, we advertise the groups that will be performing. Apparently, people liked what they heard on the radio. You guys better go backstage and get ready for tonight's performance. I'll talk to you later. Good luck." "Thanks." On our way backstage, Jay was distracted by something. Once we got backstage, I asked Jay what happened out there. "Didn't you see him?" Jay said, excitedly. "You're confusing me. See who?" I asked. "That guy. He was absolutely gorgeous." "No. If you want, you can go see him later. Right now, we have a show to do." "Then let's get to it." Jay said. In Orlando, Justin was busy packing when Lance called. "Hello?" "Hey baby." "Lance, what's up?" "Not much. Kinda bored. Wishing you were here." "Me, there? Why don't you come here?" Justin asked, grinning. "Well, I can try." "You had better." "Sometimes I wonder. Should we even be dating? I mean, I really like you and all, but I'm worried that if we ever got into a fight or something, it could tear apart the group." "Well, nothing says that we have to be an actual couple. We could just be friends with benefits." "I guess you're right." "I know I'm right. Now get down here so I can pleasure you." "I'll be there in a few." "I look forward to it." Back in San Francisco... The act before us was concluding their performance. As soon as they were done, the curtain was lowered, and we wend on stage. Through the curtain, we could hear the DJ announcing that we were the next act. We got into our positions, and the stage lights were killed. Then came the introduction. "And now, Club Millennium is proud to present the act that you are all here to see, the one, the only, Urban Legends!" We started out with "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" by the Backstreet Boys, followed by "Everything I Own" by 'NSync. We sang 2 more songs before we concluded our performance. As the lights died down and the curtain closed, we could hear the audience cheering us. Once we got backstage, reporters from the local news networks met us. We spent the next twenty minutes being interviewed. In the middle of the interviews, John came up to us and said for us to see him after were done. Finally we were finished with the interview, so we went to see John in his office. "Hey guys. Come on in and relax." John said. He had a nicely maintained office. Against the back wall, he had an aquarium with several large, colorful fish. "You wanted to see us?" I asked. "Yes. I just wanted to congratulate you on another great performance, and give you your payment for tonight's show. Here is $750, $500 for the performance, and $150 for the royalties from the advertising campaign. You've earned every penny of that money. Keep up the good work, guys." "We will. Thanks John." Jay said. I divided the money equally among the guys. We each ended up with $150. Afterwards, we went out into the crowd and socialized. Jay told us that he wanted to go find someone, and then went out into the crowd. After about 10 minutes, Jay found him at the bar. He was in his early twenties, about 6' fall, had a slender build, dark brown hair, and the most beautiful eyes that changed color depending on the lighting conditions. Jay decided to start conversation. "Hi there." Jay said. "Oh, hello. Aren't you in the group that just performed?" he said. "Yes. I'm Jay." "Nice to meet you. I'm Alex." "Nice to meet you too." Jay couldn't help but notice that Alex was checking him out. "So, where are you from?" "I'm from Florida, but I just moved out here. You?" "Oh, I'm from Chicago. Alfred, a long-time friend of mine, as well as one of the other group members, started the Urban Legends. After some discussion, he talked me into joining. We're all living together in the East Bay." "I live in the East Bay. In Union City." "Oh, cool. So do we. Come on. I'll introduce you to the group." Meanwhile, back with the rest of the group... "You guys did great up there." I said. "You aren't to bad yourself, honey." Joseph responded. "Where's Jay?" "Oh, he wanted to go find someone." "Hey, guys!" Jay said as he came up to the group. "Speak of the Devil." I said, laughing. "I want you to meet someone. Guys, meet Alex. Alex, meet Alfred, Joseph, Brad, and Shaun." "Nice to meet you guys. You were good up there." Alex said. "Thanks. Nice to meet you, too." Brad said. Jay and Alex joined us at our table, and we got to know each other better. Then Alex said something that surprised all of us. "So, Jay, are you single?" "Yes." Jay said, blushing and smiling. "You?" "Yes." "How'd... How'd you know?" Jay asked? "Gaydar. It works wonders." "Oh, I think someone's found a boyfriend." Shaun said, laughing. "You're just jealous 'cuz you're straight, and you can't get any from the rest of us." Jay responded with a smirk. That sent the entire group laughing. We all got to know each other better. The group took a liking to Alex. By the time they left, it was 3:00 AM, and BART had stopped operating, leaving Alwx without a ride. Since Alex lived on the other of Union City, the Legends gave him a ride. Once they got to his place, Alex and Jay exchanged numbers, and gave each other a goodnight kiss. "Awww... How sweet." Brad said. Jay just ignored him and continued kissing Alex. "Jay, if you want, Alex can spend the night with you in your room." I said. Joseph, Brad, and Shaun all looked at me, their jaws looking they were about to drop to the floor. "Well, I sleep with Joseph, so why shouldn't Jay sleep with his boyfriend?" Jay looked back at me, smiled, and went back to kissing Alex. We got back into the car and drove to the house. After parking, we all went into the house, wished each other good night, and went to rooms. Chapter 10: The News We didn't wake up the next day until noon. Brad was the first to go downstairs. After having his morning cup of coffee, he checked the answering machine for messages from the previous day. There was a message from Jason. "Hello. This is Jason. I'm just calling to check in on the group. I got word that you've gotten pretty big in that area, and just wanted to see if you need anything. Feel free to give me a call back." Brad erased the message, and then waited for everyone else to wake up. While waiting, he went into the living room and turned on the TV. The channel 2 news was on, and they were previewing their interview with Legends' as well as clips of their first performance. Brad ran to the intercom panel and yelled into it for everyone to come down. By the time everyone got down, the segment had started, so everyone sat down and watched it. "I'm Bob MacKenzie. I am backstage at San Francisco's Club Millennium, where the Urban Legends, Club Millennium's new act, has just finished their first performance. With me is Jay Zager, the group's bass. Tell me, how does it feel to be a member of the Bay Area's hottest act?" "Well, to tell the truth, it doesn't feel much different from before. At least it doesn't yet. I expect that in a few days, that could be different. I don't expect to change, but things may be quite different when I step out of the front door at home." During the interview, they had clips of the performance with the audio dubbed into the background. "How often will the Urban Legends be performing at Club Millennium?" "We will be performing every Saturday at 9 PM until we land a record deal." "Well good luck. Again, the Urban Legends will be performing at Club Millennium every Saturday night at 9 PM. Bob MacKenzie with the Channel 2 News." "Great job with the interview." I said. "You looked absolutely gorgeous on camera, Jay." Alex said, looking seductively at Jay. "Thanks Alfred, thanks Alex. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Did the rest of you guys get interviewed?" "Joseph and I were on channel 4." "I was interviewed by channel 7." Shaun said. "Channel 5 interviewed me." Brad added. "Great. At least we all got on camera." Alfred said, smiling. "Oh, before I forget, my agent called. He said that if we need anything to call him." "Well, we'll probably be needing a manager, but it's still too soon to tell." "Jay, can you come upstairs? I have to talk to you about something." Alex asked, giving Jay some cute puppy dog eyes. "Sure, baby." Jay went upstairs with Alex. Brad and Shaun looked at each other and starting joking about Jay and Alex. "Oh honey, can you come upstairs with me? I need a man to hold me in his arms and give me sweet loving for the next hour." Shaun said, using a "Southern Belle" accent and giving Brad puppy dog eyes. "What about last night? What it as good for you as it was for me?" We all busted out laughing. Shaun leaned back against the wall, and accidentally pushed the monitor button on the intercom. That's when we heard it. "Jay, I'm Lance Bass's ex boyfriend." All of us just stopped where we were, and looked at each other in shock. "Well, I guess it's true. This is a small world." Shaun said. "Could this be true? Could Lance be gay?" Brad asked. "Well, that's one of the rumors. Never know, though." I said. 'NSync was scheduled to perform in the Oakland/Alameda County Coliseum in four months. Club Millennium is one of the most well known clubs in San Francisco; it is well known nationwide. Who knows? Maybe we would be seeing 'NSync in our audience instead of the other way around. Jay and Alex came down. They had changed clothes while upstairs. "Hey guys. We're back." Alex said. "Cool." I said. "Brad, you said that you were interviewed by channel 5, right?" "Yeah. Why?" Brad replied. "Your interview should be coming on in a few minutes." We put the TV on channel 5. A commercial was on at the time. "Brad, how did you like your interview?" Shaun asked. "It wasn't anything really different. I've been interviewed by the media before, but nothing as large scale as this." Brad's Interview came on, and we watched it. "I'm Hank Plante with Eyewitness News. Tonight, I am at Club Millennium, where a highly publicized group, the Urban Legends, performed for the first time tonight. With me is Brad Edwards, one of the group's two lead singers. Tell me, how did it feel to be on stage for the first time tonight?" "Well, it felt great. I've been singing for the past few years, though tonight is the first time that I have done so with a group, and I have to admit that for the first time, I felt complete on stage. It's like this group is a part of me that has been missing since I started singing." "We have some clips of solos that you performed tonight. Never in my entire life have I seen anyone put so much feeling in their music. It was a truly moving experience." "Thank you, Sir." "How long will you be performing here at Club Millennium?" "Indefinitely. We're planning to get a record deal, and this is the best way for us to improve our skills." "Well, I wish you guys the best of luck." The reporter turned towards the camera and concluded his report. "The Urban Legends will be performing every Saturday at 9:00 at night. At Club Millennium, I'm Hank Plante." After watching the interview, everybody turned towards Brad. "What?" Brad asked. Shaun, Jay, Joseph, and Alfred moved closer to Brad, and pulled him into a group hug. "We wouldn't be complete without you, either." Jay said, smiling. "I'm sorry to interrupt this sentimental moment, but do we have any plans for today? I'm getting kinda bored just sitting around here doing nothing." Joseph asked. "Well, we could always fuck." I said, smiling. Joseph threw a pillow at me. I ducked out of the way. "Ha ha, missed me." Just then, everyone else in the room threw their pillows at me. "I may have missed you, but they sure didn't." Joseph said, smiling. He approached me, pulled me out from under the pile of pillows, and gave me a kiss. "About stuff to do today, I don't think there's anything we have to do." I said. "Want to go to the mall?" "Great idea. Which one?" Shaun asked. "I don't know. Ever driven down Niles Canyon in the rain?" "Lots of times. Why?" "Stoneridge Mall is down that way, and it's raining." "Great idea. Guys, you'll love that mall. It's one of the biggest in the area, and it's pretty nice overall." "Well, what are we waiting for?" Jay asked. "Let's go." After getting ready to leave, we all got into Shaun's car. The rain was pouring. We drove through Old Town Niles, and then through Niles Canyon. The trip was pretty quiet. Shaun was concentrating on driving the rain-soaked country road, Jay was cuddling with Alex, I was cuddling with Joseph, and Brad was admiring the scenery. When we finally arrived, Joseph, Jay, Alex, and myself were asleep. Shaun parked on second floor of the Sears garage, a 2-story structure. Brad woke up Joseph, Jay, and Alex. Brad and Jay saw this as the opportunity to get me back for when I woke them up with military drill. After tying my shoelaces together, Jay got on one side of me, and Brad on the other. Then they both whispered into my ears the words that would make any boot-camp graduate wake up in an instant. "Reveille, reveille! All hands heave out and trice up!" I jumped up, hit my head on the car ceiling, flew right over Brad, got out of the car, and stood at attention. When I finally realized what had happened, I turned to run out of the rain back into the car, but tripped because of the shoelaces that were tied together. "I told you that we'd get you back." Jay said, laughing. "What in the bloody Devil?!?" is all that I could get out. By the time I fixed my shoelaces and got out of the rain, I was wet. Not to the point where I couldn't dry off after about half an hour, but wet enough to be uncomfortable. After recovering from the site of me making an ass out of myself, the group walked joined me, and we entered the mall through Sears. When we reached the main body of the mall, Brad had a look of surprise in his face. "What is it, Brad?" I asked. "Have you guys ever seen the movie Metropolis?" "I have. Why?" "You remember the workers' city deep under the machine rooms? The city that was flooded when the workers destroyed the machines." "Yes." "Well, for some reason, the way this mall is built reminds me of that. I mean, the high ceilings and the lights." "Ummm... Sure." I said, giving Brad a look of confusion. Brad started laughing, followed by the rest of the group. As we walked through the mall, I couldn't help but notice that we seemed to be attracting more attention than usual. Perhaps it was just because we were walking in a group, but groups of people walk through malls all the time. "Guys, do you notice anything weird here? It seems like were attracting a lot of attention to ourselves here, and I don't know why." "Maybe it's just because you're soaked and walking through the mall. Who knows. Maybe they think that you went for a swim in the fountain or something." Jay answered. "Very funny." I responded. "Who knows." Alex said. "Maybe people recognize you guys as the Urban Legends." "This soon? We only had our first scheduled performance last night." "True, but word spreads fast, and the recordings of your performance last night playing on the information kiosks throughout the mall are helping." "The recordings... WHAT?!?" All of the guys looked at Alex as he explained what he saw. "Didn't you guys notice that there are recordings and footage of your performance being played on the same screens that play music videos by big-name celebrities?" "No. I have got to see this." "Me too." Joseph said. "I think I speak for all of us when I say 'Take us to your video monitor'." Jay said. We all looked at Jay, laughed, then followed Alex to one of the monitors, where we saw the footage. "Wow, it's true!" Brad yelled. As soon as he said that, several people came by, looked at the monitor, and then looked at us. "Aren't you the Urban Legends?" a teenage girl asked. "Why, yes. Yes we are." Shaun answered, extending his hand to shake hers. "Oh my God!!!!" The girl yelled out. "The Urban Legends are here!!!!" As soon as she yelled that, a group of about 20 people came at us. "Oh shit!!!!" Shaun yelled. "Alfred, what any group of celebrities do in this situation?" "If that group of people were smaller, I think they would stay and entertain questions, but in this case, I think they would RUN!!!!" With that, we ran all from near the Macys, up the escalator, through Sears, into the garage, being chased the entire way. On the way, some security guards stopped us. The group was about ten seconds behind us, so we just told the guards who we were, that we were being chased, then started running again. The guards managed to stop about half of the group, but the rest made it into Sears before being stopped. Once we got to the car, we decided that going to the mall was a bad idea. I asked everyone where they wanted to go, and got several suggestions. Jay made one suggestion that we all liked. "I know it's raining and all, but I was thinking. Back in Chicago, we have Six Flags Great America. When it was first built in 1976 by Marriott, at least one other in the nation. From what I've heard, it's in this area." "Yes, it is." Shaun said. "It's in Santa Clara, in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Marriott's Great America was bought by Kings Entertainment, and then by Paramount." "Please, guys, if you want to go to P G A, just say so. We don't need a damned history lesson on the park. Besides, Great America was owned by Santa Clara County before Kings Entertainment bought it." I said, sticking out my tongue and smiling at Jay. After we all stopped laughing, I continued, "The rain isn't really that bad now. Besides, it lessens as you go south, so it will probably result in shorter lines." "What's the fastest way there?" Shaun asked. "Take 680 south to 101 north, and exit at Great America Parkway." I said. "We'll get there in about 45 minutes. Who's paying?" "Well, Jay suggested it, so..." Jay gave a look to Shaun that implied 'shut up, or else'. Shaun started laughing, followed by the rest of the group. "I'll pay for myself and Alex." Jay said. "Thanks, honey." Alex said, giving Jay a kiss. "I'll pay for Joseph." I said. "What about yourself?" Shaun asked. I took out my wallet, removed a card from it, and gave it to Shaun. "A gold season pass?!?" "Uh huh." I replied, smiling. "When we get there, you're driving us into the parking lot so we can get free parking." "What about you and Brad? Who's paying for you?" "I have a regular season pass." Shaun said. "What about you, Brad?" "I have a season pass to Kings Island in Cincinnati." He replied. "That's a Paramount park, isn't it?" "Yes. I can get into any Paramount Park." "Cool, but what are you doing with a pass for a park in Cincinnati?" "Well, you know that I'm formerly from St Louis, right?" "Yes, but that's still pretty far from Cincinnati." "Yes, but I went to Cincinnati a lot because I have friends out there. I went there so much that I decided to get a pass. Even after moving to Vancouver, I still visited a lot." "Lot of traveling, huh" "Yep." "OK, so we all know how we're getting in. Well, Shaun, let's go." While on the way, we talked about the incident at the mall, what it must be like to be famous, how to avoid getting mobbed again, and other things of that nature. When we arrived at Great America Parkway, Shaun and I traded seats, and I drove us into the Great America parking lot. The rain was really only a light drizzle in the South bay. After driving us to Great America and getting us into the parking lot for free, I parked us as close to the entrance as possible, and we got out. I paid for Joseph's admission, Jay paid for Alex's, and then we all went to the gates. Behind the gates, the world's largest carousel could be seen running spinning gracefully, with shimmers over its surface from the reflecting pool before it. After entering, Joseph looked, and was surprised at what he saw. "I recognize this place from somewhere. I don't remember where, but I know I saw it somewhere. I think it was a movie." "Beverly Hills Cop 3?" Shaun and I both said at the same time. "Yeah! That's it!" "Well, this is where the movie was filmed." I said. As we walked by the reflecting pool, an object blocked out the sun at our location. We all looked up to see the cabin of the Sky Tower descending. "Let's ride that. I want to see what this park looks like from above." Joseph said. We walked through the queue, and boarded. After a few minutes, the cabin started to rise, slowly rotating to give a full panoramic view of the Silicon Valley. Joseph looked around, and recognized more scenes from the movie. Meanwhile, Jay and I were looking northward, towards the Union City area. While we couldn't see any of Union City, we caught a glimpse of Moffet Field, closer to Great America. After a few minutes, the cabin began its decent. After the ride came to a full and complete stop, we disembarked, and continued through the park. "Who wants to ride The Demon?" I asked. "You have that ride here?" Jay responded, with a smile. "Yes, it's right down..." "Down through Hometown Square, past the Whizzer, across from Sky Whirl." "Actually, Whizzer was taken down in the 80s, and Sky Whirl, what we called the Triple Wheel, just a few years ago to make room for Invertigo." "Invertigo?" Brad asked. "Yes. It's just like Face Off in Kings Island." "Gawd, that ride is the bomb!" "I want to try it out." Jay said. We all agreed and walked to Invertigo. Amazingly, there was not much of a line. After riding Invertigo, I asked everybody what they thought. "I loved it!" Jay yelled. "Oh my god!!! On-ride photos!" Jay ran to the booth and looked at our pictures on the ride. "That's GOT to be the WORSED pic of me that I've ever seen!" "Don't worry. I'll get a picture you in the morning right after you wake up." Brad responded, laughing. Jay rolled his eyes in response. "Let's go to The Demon now." We all walked to the Demon. There was no line. Jay looked disappointed. "What's wrong, Jay?" I asked. "Well, for one, they got rid of the Demon music, as well as the tunnel between the loops, and the rock going through the second loop." "I know. I miss those, too. It's still a good ride, though." We entered the station, and boarded the train. After the ride, we all got off. Everyone thought the ride was OK, but too short. Our next stop was Drop Zone. "Hmmm..." Brad said. "What?" I asked. "Drop Zone at Kings Island looks better. It's taller, and the seats are different." "How so?" "Well, you see how you have 6 4-seat cars? The one at PKI has 1 40-seater ring that rotates around the tower. Also, the freefall is taller than this whole tower. Still, I wanna go on." "Drop Zone looks like Six Flag's Great America's Giant Drop. Brad, Is there anything that you don't know about amusement parks?" Jay asked, laughing. "No." Brad said, confidently. We got in line for Drop Zone. Because of the weather, the park was pretty empty, and there was no line. Within 5 minutes, we were on the ride, and ascending the tower. Brad, Jay, Alex, and Sean were on one car, while Joseph and I were on another car. Unfortunately, the ride was longer than we had hoped. Upon arriving at the top of the tower, the ride paused. After a few minutes, we heard an announcement. "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, may I have you attention please? The Drop Zone Stunt Tower has momentarily stopped. Mechanics and Supervisors have been notified and are on their way. We do not know how long this ride will be down, so for the guests still waiting in line, if you wish to exit, you may do so the way you came in, otherwise you may wait in line. For those of you on the ride, please remain calm, we will have you down as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused you, and hope that you enjoy the rest of your stay here at Paramount's Great America. "That's just great!" Brad yelled. "Are you OK?" I asked? "Been better. Nice view of the park, though." While we were stuck at the top of the tower, Joseph and I talked to the other people that were stuck with on the car. It turned out that they were in the audience of our debut performance at Millennium. They said that they enjoyed the show, and wished us good luck with our careers. I noticed that Joseph was looking a little worried, so I comforted him. "Joseph, are you OK?" I asked. "I'm fine. I'm just glad that you're here with me." Joseph held my hand. Just then, we heard a click from the other side of the tower, followed by several people screaming, and then the brakes slowing their car. "Looks like they've got the ride fixed." Jay exclaimed, happily." Just then, The car that Jay, Brad, Sean, and Alex were on was released. "Oh SHIIIIIT!!!!" was all that we heard coming from all four of them. A few seconds later, we dropped. Joseph screamed louder than I had ever heard anyone scream before. After we all got off the ride, I asked everyone what they thought of the ride. They all loved it, though thought it would have been better without the breakdown. Joseph even enjoyed it. We continued around the park, riding rides as we came to them. By the end of the day, we had ridden everything. We left when the park closed, and arrived home at around 11:30. "Hey, what time do you think the rest of the interviews will be on?" Jay asked. "Don't know. Check. Channels 4 and 7." I said. Jay turned on the TV, and tuned to channel 4. The news was on, and the story being reported was about Stoneridge Mall. "Hello. I am Joe Oliver. I am here at Stoneridge Mall in the Livermore Valley, where this afternoon a group of local celebrities, the Urban Legends, decided to spend the day relaxing. Their trip was cut short when they were mobbed by a group of fans. With me is Sargent Christian Robinson of the Pleasenton Police. Tell me, Sir, what happened this afternoon?" "Well, from what mall SecureCams are showing, the Urban Legends were with a friend at one of the automated information kiosks. They were apparently watching a recording of one of their past performances, when they were mobbed." "Were any of the fans detained by mall security or police?" "Apparently, one of the mall security guards attempted to detain the Urban Legends. He is being interviewed by police now." "Is there anything that you would like to tell the Urban Legends and their fans?" "Yes. I watched the recording of the performance, and I just want to say for the Urban Legends to keep up the good work, and for their fans to give them a little more respect." "Thank you. There you have it. The Urban Legends fell victim to a stampede of fans here at Stoneridge Mall. Joe Oliver, NewsCenter 4, at Stoneridge Mall." We watched the story in disbelief. After it was over, we looked at each other. "Damn, news travels fast." Brad said. "Well, you're not in Kansas, anymore." Shaun replied, grinning. "Missouri, not Kansas." "I know." "Quiet guys, there's more." I said. We turned back to the TV and watched. "We have clips from an interview with the Urban Legends from last night." "I'm Sue Kwon. Tonight, I am at Club Millennium in San Francisco's North Beach, where the Urban Legends have just finished their first of many scheduled weekly reports. With me are Joseph Varona and Alfred Farias, 2 of the group's singers. Tell me, how did it feel being onstage for the first of your scheduled performances?" "It was a rush. I think I speak for everybody when I say that it felt great. I mean, seeing the look on everyone's faces, knowing that you are doing something to make people happy. It's the greatest feeling around." "I agree. I did some acting while I was in Vancouver, but nothing anywheres near this scale. I have to admit that seeing all those smiling faces in the audience was the best thing that I have seen in a long time." At this point, some clips of our performance were broadcast. "What are your plans for the future?" "We are going to be performing at Club Millennium indefinitely. We do have some plans to go for a professional record deal, but that's still several months away." "Well, thank you guys, and I wish you the best of luck." "Thanks." We both said. "I'm Sue Kwon at Club Millennium. Back to you in the studio." After the interview was over, put the TV on channel 7, and waited for Shaun's interview. "I never thought that I would see myself on the news." I said. "I don't think any of us did." Shaun replied. "Well, you didn't see yourself, yet." "No, but I'm 'bout to." Just as he said that, the news came on, and the anchor gave the lead-in to the interview. "As we reported earlier, the Urban Legends fell victim to a mob at Stoneridge Mall. While there are no injuries reported, the police did get involved to investigate. We have just received a copy of their interview with a mall security guard on tape." The tape was played, with subtitles being shown on screen. "State your name and occupation." "David Mills, Stoneridge Mall Security." "Tell us what exactly happened this afternoon." "Well, I was doing my regular patrol within the mall, when these 6 guys came running. One of them was soaked. They were all running from what looked like a mob of shoppers. I stopped them, thinking that they were shoplifting or something. They told me that they were the Urban Legends, and that they were being chased by a large group of fans, and asked me to stall them while they tried to evade the mob, so I did." "What happened afterwards?" "I let them go, called for backups, and managed to stop half of the mob. The rest entered Sears, where they were apparently stopped." "You believed the Urban Legends when they said who they were?" "Well, yes. I had seen them on a screen earlier during the day." "Then why did you stop them?" "Standard procedure to stop all suspicious looking people if you have cause, and a group running from a mob is suspicious, and there's cause." The interview ended, and the reporter came back on. "Again, that was the Pleasenton Police interviewing a security guard that was at Stoneridge Mall during the incident. As you may remember, the Urban Legends had their first scheduled performance at Club Millennium last night. Tonight, we have a recording of an interview with one of their members, as well as clips of their performance. Interviewing Shaun Collins of the Urban Legends is one of our newest personalities, Miranda VeraCruz de la Jolla Cardenal. ***AUTHORS NOTE: If the name sounds familiar, you're probably a fan of "Married With Children". Miranda VeraCruz de la Jolla Cardenal is the reporter from that show. Other reporters mentioned in the story are actual reporters from those stations in the SF Bay Area. "Good evening. I am Miranda VeraCruz de la Jolla Cardenal, on location at San Francisco's Club Milinnium, where the Urban Legends have just completed the first of many weekly performances. With me is Shaun Collins, one of the group's two lead singers. Tell me, Sir, how did it feel being on stage?" "Well, I have to admit that I was kinda nervous at first. I was in my high school choral group, and have performed in front of large audiences, but never in an environment where there were times that I was the center of attention. In high school, I never even sang a solo. It was scary at first, but after a few minutes, I got used to, and even enjoyed, the experience." "Do you have any idea as to how long the group will be performing here at Club Millennium?" "Right now, none of us know for sure. All we know is that we will be performing here until we get a record deal. The sight of all those happy people out in the audience is one of the greatest things that I have ever seen." At this point in the interview, ABC 7, like all of the other stations did, started playing clips of the performance, focusing on Shaun's solos. "How did you meet the rest of the Urban Legends?" "I was the last member to join the group. Alfred and Jay were the first to join. I met Alfred when he started working at a print shop that I manage. We got to know each other, he told me about the group, I told him that I sang in high school, and things happened from there." "Is there anything else that you would like to say?" "Not really. I would just like to thank Club Millennium, the media, and especially all of tonight's audience for their support." "Thank you, Shaun of the Urban Legends." The reporter turned to the camera, and gave her concluding statement. "There you have it. The Urban Legends will be performing indefinitely every Saturday night at Club Millennium. At Club Millennium in San Francisco's North Beach, I am Miranda VeraCruz de la Jolla Cardenal, signing off." After watching the interview, we all looked at Shaun, who was still watching the news. He looked at each of us for a few seconds, then looked back at the TV. We all started laughing. After I managed to regain composure, I looked at the clock. It was midnight. "Guys, it's late, and I'm tired. I don't know about you, but I'm going to go to sleep. 'nite, guys." "Alfred, I'll join you." Joseph said. "I think I'll go to sleep, too." Jay said. "Wanna join me, Alex?" "I think I will. I'm tired, too." Alex answered. Joseph and I walked up to our room. After entering, Joseph closed and locked the door. "I'm going to take a shower. Would you like to join me?" I said, smiling. Joseph came closer, then kissed me. At first, I was surprised, but after a few seconds, I returned the kiss. Rubbed his back with one hand and massaged fondled him with the other. After a few minutes, we walked back to the bed. Joseph pushed me onto the bed, removed his shirt and pants, then got on top of me. He then proceeded to trace my lips with his tongue, and then gave me another kiss. He started to unbutton my shirt, removed it, and started sucking on my neck, then my nipples. As Joseph worked his lips and tongue down my bare chest, I worked my way up the bed, moving closer to the headboard. When Joseph reached my pants, be unbuckled the belt, unbuttoned and unzipped my pants, and removed them. As he used his tongue to tease my cock, I ran my hands through his hair. He came back up, and started kissing me again. This time, our hard, bare cocks rubbed against each other. I rolled us over, got on top of Joseph, and started working my way down his body. When I reached his cock, I couldn't help but take his entire length into my mouth. "Alfred, get your cock up here. I want your entire length in my mouth." Hearing those words, I turned myself around, and we got into a 69. We started sucking each other. At the same time Joseph was sucking my cock, he was using his fingers to play with my ass. Feeling Joseph's fingers in my ass drove me wild, and I had my orgasm. Joseph swallowed every drop. "Alfred, I want to fuck your hot ass. Would you like me to?" "Mmmm hmmm..." was all that I could get out. Joseph had me lay on my back. He got some lotion from the shelf next to the bed, applied some to his cock and my ass, and then continued finger-fucking me. When he felt that I was loose enough, he slowly inserted his cock. His pre-cum helped to lubricate his way in. Once he was completely in, he fucked me. Joseph started slowly and then slowly sped up. The entire time he was fucking me, I was moaning in pleasure. I could feel that he was getting close to his orgasm. I started moaning louder. When Joseph had his orgasm and flooded my ass with his cum, I couldn't help but scream out his name. "Oh Joseph, Joseph!" After his orgasm, he fell on top of me and kissed me again. We fell asleep in each other's arms. Meanwhile, in Jay's room... Jay and Alex were in bed, trying to sleep, when they heard me screaming out Joseph's name over the air vents. "Jay?" "Yes Alex?" "Are they always like this?" "Actually, this is the first time I've heard that. Should we try to give them some competition?" Jay asked, smiling. Alex responded by pulling Jay into a long, passionate kiss. Chapter 11: 'NSync For the next three months, the Legends lived and worked just like normal people except on Saturday nights, when they did their Club Millennium performances. Not much had changed. Two days after the mob, Alex went back to his place, though he and Jay were still seeing each other on a regular basis. The Legends decided in the second month to hire Jason as their manager. By the third month, the news that 'NSync was on their way to San Jose had become the talk of the day. At that point, John decided to talk with us.. We spoke with him right before one of our performances. "You wanted to see us, John?" I asked. "Yes. You know that 'NSync is going to be in the area in less than a month, right?" he asked. "We do. Why?" "Well, I've just gotten word that they plan on visiting Club Millennium. They will be coming in on a Saturday, sometime in the evening. You may be performing while they are here. I just thought you should know. I'm sure that performing in front of celebrities is far more stressful than performing in front of regular people so if you want to skip that night, you can." We all looked at each other, discussing the matter. Finally, I answered. "We'll perform that night. It will be nice to have them in the audiance watching us for once." "Thank you guys. You don't know how much this means to me." "You're welcome." After speaking with John, we continued with our normal routine of three songs. After the performance, we hung out for about an hour, went home, and slept. Three weeks went by. 3 days before 'NSync was due in San Jose, we got a call. I answered. It was Jason." "Hey Jason, what's up?" "I heard that you're gonna be performing in front of 'NSync." "Yes, we are. We're looking forward to it." "Well, looks like you've gotten a taste of what's ahead for you." "Yeah. Wait, what do you mean by 'what's ahead'?" "I've been talking to some people. Some people by the name of RCA records. They want to see you." "You're kidding!" "Nope, Alfred. I'm serious." "That's great. I'll have to tell the rest of the guys. Better yet, I'll let you tell them yourself. Can you hold the line?" "Sure." I called the rest of the guys and had them come to the kitchen. Then I put Jason on speaker. "Jason, can you hear me?" "I sure can." "Can you tell the rest of the group what you told me?" "Well, basically, RCA records would like to speak with you guys about a contract." The guys looked at each other in disbelief. "Guys?" Jason asked. "Yes Jason?" I answered. "I have to go. Sorry for cutting this short. I'll see you later. Oh, before I go, one more thing. I'm going to be moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in about three days. I'll see you guys then." Jason hung up. I looked at the guys, who all had a stunned look on their face. "Well, should we pursue it?" "I think we should." Jay answered. "What do the rest of you guys think." Everybody looked at Jay, nodding. "That settles it. We're going to talk to RCA records." After talking a little longer about what to expect, we decided to go to a movie. We saw "Star Wars Episode 1" which was still playing at the theatre. The movie ended at about 4:00 in the afternoon. We went back home, and just did stuff around the house for the rest of the day. At about 8:00, we went to dinner at the Hometown Buffet. After dinner, we went home, and went to sleep. The next three days went by quickly. Shaun and I went through our normal routine of waking up in the morning, going to work, and coming home in the late afternoon. On the third day, after we got home from work, we got a call from Jason. "Hey Jason, what's up?" "I'm in Oakland, and I was wondering if you guys were free tonight." "We are. If you want to, we can meet in San Jose." "You don't have to. I've got my car with me. Just give me directions to your place. Besides, there are some people who wants to meet you guys." "Who wants to meet us?" "Some recording industry representives." was all that Jason responded with. "OK, cool." I gave Jason the directions. He said that he would be over in about an hour. I hung up the phone, then joined the rest of the guys watching TV. The phone rang. "I'll get it!" Brad said. Brad picked up the phone. "Hello?" "Brad? This is Alex. Is Jay there?" "He is. Please hold." Brad told Jay that Alex wanted to speak with him. Jay picked smiled, and got on the phone with Alex. "Hi baby." Jay said. "Hey there Hun." "What's up?" "Well, I was bored, and was wondering if you were busy tonight." "Not really. Why? "Well, I really want to see you. I think we should spend more time together." "I would love to. "Do you think anyone would mind if I came over?" "Of course not. We all love you." "OK. I'll be there in a few minutes. I love you, Jay." "I love you too, Alex." Jay hung up the phone, walked back to the living room, and continued watching TV with the rest of the guys. Back in San Jose, Jason was talking to the people that he was bringing over... "Guys, they are expecting you." Jason said. "You didn't give them any details as to who you're bringing, did you?" One of the guys asked, in a somewhat deep voice. "They don't expect a thing. All they know is that I am bringing some recording industry representatives." Jason said, smiling. "Good. I want this to be a surprise." Meanwhile, in Union City, thirty minutes passed, and the Legends were still watching TV, when the doorbell rung. Jay got up, and answered the door. It was Alex. "Hey Baby." Alex said. "Hey yourself." Jay said smiling. Jay invited Alex in, and then gave him a long passionate kiss. Jay and Alex walked to the couch, cuddled, and talked. "Alex, what's wrong, baby?" Jay asked. "Well, I've just been bored lately. Nothing to do." "You're always welcome here. You know that." "I know. I love you, Jay." "I love you too, Alex." About half an hour later, the doorbell rang. Brad answered. A guy, about 5'9" tall, who weighed about 115, in his early 20s with brown hair and hazel eyes, was at the door. It was Jason. "Jason!!!! How are you? It's been a long time since I last saw you." Brad pulled Jason into a hug. "I've missed you, too, Brad." Jason looked at us and smiled. "So you're the Urban Legends." Jason said. "Well, most of us are. He's not." Joseph said, pointing at Alex. "Jason, I would like you to meet Joseph, Jay, Brad, and Shaun. Alex is dating Jay. "Nice to meet you all." Jason said. "It's a pleasure to meet you, too." Jay answered. "I hope you guys don't mind, but I brought some guys over who wanted to meet you. I felt that they could get you ready for that interview with RCA Records." "No, we don't mind." Jason walked to the door and told his guests that they could come in. "Guy's, I want you to meet Justin, JC, Lance, Joey, and Chris." The members of 'NSync walked in the door, one by one. Justin was the first to enter, followed by JC. Lance was the third. On his way in, Lance just froze where he was, as if just seeing a ghost. Joey bumped into Lance from behind. "What the hell?!?" Joey exclaimed. Lance ignored Joey. After a few seconds, he finally spoke. "Alex..." TBC... I hope you liked part 2. Gotta love cliffhangers. What will part 3 bring? What will Lance's reunification with Alex result in? Will 'NSync tell the Legends about their past history with Alex? Better still, what IS Alex's past history with 'NSync? The answer to these questions will be in part 3 of The Legends Meet 'NSync. Until then, if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or ideas please feel free to contact me. BTW, I may be making certain "enhancements" to Alex and Jay's "missing love scene", which is (will be?) right after Joseph and Alfred's.