Date: Sun, 07 Dec 2003 21:57:01 +0000 From: johanna miller Subject: 'Learning how to Fly' Prologue I'm Joey. Pleased to meet you all. I used to write stories for nifty (check out 'Second Chance' and 'No Way Out'), then I moved, took off some time to concentrate on school, and was suffering from writer's block. But now I have an all-new story for your reading pleasure. The whole story is finished, but I will only go through the trouble of posting further chapters if I get some feedback. The band in this story, 'Dragonfly', is actually a set of characters I created for the book I'm currently working on. But as I got to know them better I realized that my four new friends were practically begging to be put into a fan fic. So here it is. I hope you enjoy reading this. If you have any comments, praises, or criticism, don't hesitate to e-mail me at NiamhMoon007@hotmail.com. I thrive on feedback, and I always reply. By the way...the Backstreet Boys tour this story is about is in no way based on truth. I don't know when they are on tour and where they start that tour. Also, I have no idea how bands usually go through the process of finding Opening Acts. So I just used my imagination to fill in the blanks. Disclaimer: This is a fictional story, nothing but a figment of my overactive imagination. None of this has ever happened. I do not mean to imply anything about the sexuality of the celebrities appearing in this story. If you are offended by the homosexual theme of this story, please leave. If reading such material is illegal wherever you live, please leave. Or at least try not to get caught. Much love joey Dragonfly LEARNING HOW TO FLY ~Opening Act~ "This, gentlemen, will be our opening act for the tour." Kevin Richardson announced as he entered the Conference room where his band mates were already waiting for him. He put the videotape in the VCR and fumbled with the remote control until the picture finally appeared on the TV screen. "This is a recording of a show they did some time ago. Management seems to think that they're showing promise." "What's their name?" Nick asked, staring at the screen intently. The music was a mixture of rock and pop, but the remarkable thing was that the four members of the band were playing their instruments on stage, rather than dancing to the music as was usual for pop acts. "They call themselves 'Dragonfly'." Kevin replied. "Oh! I've heard of them!" Howie exclaimed. "They played at a festival in Europe a few weeks ago. I saw the live coverage on MTV when we were in London." "What are they like?" AJ asked, dragging on his cigarette. "Rock party animals who can only play when they're drunk? Or those alternative types who write deeply philosophical lyrics?" Kevin rewarded his band mate with a reproachful look. "I don't know if they drink, but as long as they make no trouble I couldn't care less what they do with their free time. And I hardly think that philosophical lyrics are anything worth criticizing. Now would you please put out that cigarette? You know that I hate those things." "Do these guys have names?" Brian, who had been quiet so far, asked. Kevin consulted a short biography of the band management had given him. "Let me see. The guy who started this band is Colin Garber. He's the one who's playing the keyboard. The guy behind the drums is.... Dave McCormack. And the lead singer is Nicholas Sanders. Which leaves the kid with the guitar. His name is James Richards. " "Cool! They have someone named Nicholas in their band!" Nick exclaimed with a childish laugh. Kevin shook his head in an exasperated manner, put he couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from twitching. Howie grinned. "Alright. Does anyone have any objections? If not I'll give the Firm our okay and we'll meet up with the guys for rehearsal in Miami next week." No one voiced any objections. "Okay. You guys are free to go." Everyone scrambled to leave. With a sigh, Kevin put his papers back in order and retrieved the tape from the VCR. He had always been the responsible one in the band. He was the one who kept in touch with management and was up to date with their schedule. Sure, Brian and Howie tried to keep up as well, but Nick and especially AJ never knew what was going on. As he left the room to go and call the Firm, he wondered when being part of the Backstreet Boys had become an annoying burden to him. "Are you sure it's on?" The young man named Jamie asked. He was clasping and unclasping his hands nervously and almost knocked a glass off the coffee table. The one across from him sighed in an exasperated fashion. "Jamie! You've asked this question about four times within the last minute." "Colin, maybe you should check the volume." The tall, heavyset guy in the armchair suggested. Again, Colin sighed. The fourth guy in the group, Nicky, got up from his place on the floor and started pacing back and forth. He started to chew on his thumbnail, got a taste of the black nail polish, and put his hand down again with a disgusted look. Jamie emitted a high-pitched scream "Dave! Will you get up! You're sitting on the damn cord!" Dave shook his head and got up to free the cord. Colin threw his hands in a dramatized gesture and looked at the innocent looking phone that was causing this aggravation. They had been waiting for it to ring all day now and nothing had happened. "I think it knows that it's the center of attention. Maybe it would ring if we left the room?" Jamie mused aloud. Nicky rolled his eyes. "J, that's a phone! It's a machine. It has no soul and no intelligence." "But there's a psychological factor involved. The phone never rings when you are waiting for it to do so. It's like a law or something." Jamie insisted. He looked around the room, waiting for approval. When no one took his side he got up. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm going into the kitchen now." And with a glance at the phone he added, his voice slightly raised "Because I don't care if the phone rings!" With that he stomped out. "You'll see soon enough that this won't..." Nicky started, but whatever he was going to say, the ringing of the phone cut him short. Jamie was back in the living room within an instant. His face bore a rather triumphant look. Colin picked up the receiver. "Yes, this is Colin Garber from the Dragonflies.... I'm listening.... Are you sure?...Of course, we'd be delighted!...Yes, that can be arranged.... Thank you very much....Goodbye." "What'd they say? What'd they say?" Dave, Nicky, and Jamie screamed at once. Colin motioned them to calm down. Then he took a deep breath. "Guys, we are going to be the opening act for the BACKSTEET BOYS!" He'd almost yelled out that last part of the sentence and was now joining in on the general madness that seemed to have broken out. Jamie and Nicky were doing a little dance and Dave jumped up to hug his band mate. Finally they all met in a group hug. "We did it!" Jamie declared. "We've finally made it." Well. That was the Prologue. More to come, so stay tuned.