The girls arrived at the arena a few minutes after 5:00. Kelly went to the Will Call window to pick up the tickets and backstage passes. Since none of them had ever been backstage at a concert before, they weren't sure what to expect. Kelly wondered how she would know where to go when they got in there.

But she didn't need to worry. As soon as they walked in the door, they saw Kevin.

"Hello, beautiful ladies," he said in his most charming voice, as soon as he saw them. He pulled Kelly into his arms and gave her a big hug. "And you are the most beautiful of them all," he whispered in her ear.

Kelly blushed as she pulled away. "Kevin, these are my friends. Kimberly, Hayley, and Beth," she said.

Kevin kissed each of the girls on the cheek and told them how happy he was to meet them. "And I know four other guys who will be happy to meet you too," he said, smiling.

The girls gave each other excited looks. This was it! They followed Kevin down the hall to where the other four guys were waiting. Kevin introduced the girls to Howie, AJ, Nick, and Brian. At first the girls didn't say much as they were slightly in awe. This was a dream come true.

But after Brian cracked a few jokes and AJ flirted with each of them, they loosened up a bit, and pretty soon were talking like old friends. Once the ice was broken, Kevin took Kelly aside and said, "Let's go for a walk." He told Howie that they would be back and they started back down the hall.

He took her into another room where they were alone. "Did you get my flowers?" he asked.

"Yes, I did. They were beautiful," Kelly said.

"I am really sorry, Kel," Kevin said. "Are you upset?"

"No, not really," Kelly said, looking away.

"Kelly, look at me," pleaded Kevin. "You are mad, aren't you?"

Kelly could hardly look into those eyes, because every time she did, she lost all coherent thought. Reluctantly she looked up. "No Kevin, really I'm not. You just caught me off guard this morning. And of course now John is going to torture me with it," she tried to laugh.

"I really didn't mean for that to happen."

"I know. But I'm a big girl. I can handle John."

"Does that mean I'm forgiven? Me and my big mouth?"

"Actually," Kelly said flirtatiously, "I kind of like your mouth."

"And I like yours," Kevin grinned. "Especially when it's on mine," he said as he leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was soft and sweet, but then grew more passionate as Kevin gave way to the feelings that he had been holding inside since the day before on the beach.

"Hey Kevin, did you get..." Brian's voice trailed off as he caught sight of the two of them in each other's arms. "Oops, sorry."

Kevin and Kelly quickly broke apart. Kelly blushed again. She really needed to quit doing that.

"That's all right, Brian. We were just on our way back," Kevin said.

"Uh huh, sure you were," joked Brian as he turned and walked out.

Kevin took Kelly's hand. "I guess we really should be getting back, huh?"

"I guess," Kelly replied. "I'm sure my friends are wondering what happened to me."

They went back to the other room. Leighanne, Brian, Nick, and AJ were sitting at a table with Hayley and Beth. They were talking and laughing as AJ flirted outrageously with Beth. Kelly noticed that Howie and Kimberly were deep in conversation in another part of the room. From where she stood, it definitely looked like those two were hitting it off. The band and the dancers were in there too, having a light snack before they had to start getting ready for the concert.

Kelly felt a bit overwhelmed by it all. She liked it better on the beach when it was just her and Kevin. The two of them got something to eat and then joined the others.

Kevin was in rare form. He danced the best he had ever danced. He sang the best he had ever sang. He interacted with the audience and felt as if they were the best audience he had ever performed for. And it was all because of one person. Just knowing that Kelly was sitting out there watching him made him feel as though he could fly without the wires. Every time he looked at her, he couldn't keep from grinning.

Kelly couldn't keep her eyes off of him either. Of course, Kevin had arranged it so they would be sitting on the side that he was on the most. The other girls didn't think that was quite fair, as they each had their favorite guy they wanted to see. But with the guys performing in the round, they each got to see their favorite at one time or another.

After the concert was over, the girls were escorted backstage again by Carlos. This time, however, there were a lot more people back there. Kelly couldn't even get close to Kevin.

Finally he made his way over to her. "I'm sorry. It's always such a zoo back here after the concert," he said.

"That's okay," said Kelly. "I think we're gonna go, and then we can just meet at the club when you get out of here."

They had arranged previously to go out on the town when the concert was over. Howie, Kevin, and AJ loved to go out, and they had finally talked Nick into coming along. Brian wasn't coming, however. He and Leighanne had their own plans.

"That's a good idea," Kevin told her. "We'll meet you later." He gave her a quick kiss goodbye.

The four girls left the arena, and headed back to Kelly's to freshen up a bit before going to the club.

Chapter 16
Chapter 14
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