"What's this?" Tony asks as he throws the newspaper down in front of me.

"A newspaper?" I ask, looking up from my laptop.

He stares at me until I look down and read it.

"POP COUPLE - LOVE ON THE ROCKS?"

I scan the article and flip over the page to see a picture of me and Marcus with our arms around each other as we laugh.

"Wow, we broke up when we weren't even going out…we're good."

"You've got to quit hanging out with him," Tony says sitting down next to me.

I shut the lid to my laptop and scrunch up my eyebrows.

"What? Oh come on Tony…he asks me to go do something with him so I do it. What's the harm in that?"

"It's making you look like…like…"

"A teenager?"

"No, I was thinking something a little more loose than that."

I roll my eyes. "Did daddy put you up to this?" I ask pointing at him.

"No, it's called P-R. Jive doesn't like it. They want you to seem sweet and innocent…Lord knows if they only hung out with you like I did that they'd know the truth."

My mouth gapes open. "I can't believe you said that." I stand up and start walking toward the bathroom.

Tony slaps his hand against his forehead. "Oh God, Ana, I didn't mean it that way. Look, you've been around Brad and Marcus a lot lately and people are starting to notice. It will affect your career whether you want it to or not. I know you're having fun and being carefree, blah blah blah but the press doesn't care about that. They see you hanging out with two different guys and suddenly at sixteen you're easy and an easy target."

I lean my head against the door to the bathroom.

"Why?"

He puts his hand on my back, comfortingly. "I don't know, honey."

"Okay."

"Okay what?"

"I'll try something else…excuse me," I say as I close the door to the bathroom.

As I lean against the door I mentally count how many days it's been since I've seen my parents. I think it's been three weeks since Icon…since I left them in LA for the next city on Marcus's tour.

"I need my mama," I whisper to myself.

After a few minutes I go back into my room, which is empty again and sit on my bed. When I open up the laptop I look at the email I'm writing to my cousin, Mitchell. He wasn't able to make it to the Icon taping so I was catching him up on my life on the road. He's my Uncle Bryan and Aunt Lauren's son…he's almost exactly a year older than me so we've always been pretty close.

I sign it. I think we're in Ohio, but I'm not sure.

I send the email and then pick up the phone. I rub my temple as I try to remember what day it is so I can figure out where mama is.

"Kentwood? No, that was last week. Back in Orlando?"

I dial the number to our house in Orlando. Nope, get the machine.

"The condo in Miami," I say as I dial that familiar number.

"Hello?"

I smile. "Hi mama."

"Hey sweetie, we were just talking about you."

"You were?" I ask sitting back on the bed.

"Yeah, the Kensingtons are over for a bar-b-cue and they asked how you were doing."

"Oh, that's nice. Tell them I said hello."

"Will do. So, how's Cleveland?"

"Cleveland," I repeat to myself. "Cleveland's good…I guess. The hotel is nice," I say looking around.

"What honey? Hold on, it's Adriana. I'm sorry, if you'll excuse me. Okay, there, I'm inside now away from everyone."

"I'll call back…you shouldn't be rude to your guests…"

"No baby, go ahead. What's wrong?"

I sigh. "Just the same…I miss you."

"I'm flying out of here in two days to see you."

"You are?" That lifted my spirits a little.

"Yeah. Cody has that theatre camp next week so your daddy's going to stay in Orlando for that."

"Can you bring Ashleigh then?"

"I'll see if she wants to come with me."

"I'm sorry mama," I say softly.

"For what?"

"For tearing the family apart like this. You and daddy haven't been away from each other like this since I can remember and now you're doing it so often just to see me."

"Hush now. We love you and we support you and we'll do whatever it takes if this is what you want."

"Okay."

"What else is wrong? I can tell it in your voice?"

"There's another thing in the tabloids about me. This time it's about Marcus."

"You haven't let that get you down before…"

"I know but it's got a picture of us hugging and laughing. Actually the article says we're breaking up which is funny considering we never went out. But anyway, Tony's now telling me that I have to be careful when I'm with Marcus and Brad."

There's no reply.

"Mama?"

"I figured this would happen one day."

"Tony explained it…why I mean, but I still don't see what's wrong. I'm just having fun…nothing's going on with either of them."

"I know that, you know that…everyone we're close to knows that."

"Everyone that means something, you mean."

"Well to us, yes. Honey to Jive you are a product almost. I hate to make it sound so callous but that's what it is. They need to market you in the correct way for them to make the most profit. If you're seen having fun with two different guys the media will make the public think you are something that we know you are not."

"Why were you and daddy finally able to talk about your relationship? You both worked for Jive."

"Why don't we talk about this when I visit you, okay? Just know that I understand what you're going through. I really think you should do whatever Tony tells you to do for now. Explain things to Brad…I'm sure Marcus is getting the same lecture you are right now."

 "You really think so?" I ask, wrapping the phone cord around my finger.

"More than likely," she chuckles. "What do you have planned today?"

"Another radio interview," I say in an annoyed tone.

"Just remember, they're the ones who play your records…be nice to them."

"I am, it just gets tiring doing the same thing over and over in each city."

"I know. It will pay off one day, trust me. Oh, looks like supper's ready. I'll talk to you later. Chin up baby."

"Okay mama. Thanks for helping me understand."

"No problem. Love you."

"I love you too."

I hang up the phone and throw myself backward on the bed.

"Why does something so not complicated have to become complicated?"

There was a knock on my door. I looked over at the clock. It was too early to leave just yet so I get up and walk over to the door.

"Hey."

"Oh, hey Brad."

"You have time to go do something? I thought we could visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

God he looked so cute in that light blue shirt.

"I uh…I probably don't have time," I say looking down at my feet.

"Oh that's too bad. I should have gotten here sooner," he smiled.

"Yeah." Okay, I'm a wimp. "Yeah, I have a radio interview today so…"

"Well have fun. I'll see you at sound check."

"Yeah, see ya."

I shut the door and bang my head against it a couple of times.

"Perfect opportunity Adriana and you blew it."

"Who do you keep talking to?" Tony asked as he entered the room from the door that leads into the sitting area we share.

"Uh mama and just now Brad."

He looks around again and shrugs.

"Mama's coming to visit in two days," I say in a more cheerful tone.

"Yeah I just found that out. She'll be with you when we hit New York then."

"Oh cool…we're going to be in New York that soon? I need to keep up with the schedule better."

"Well I just booked a couple of things since we're going to be there. We'll stop by MTV again."

"Again? They're going to get sick of me," I said walking over to him.

He laughs. "No, this time you're going to perform a couple of songs on "Live at Times Square"."

"That will be fun. What else?"

"Good Morning America."

I cringe. "I don't even want to ask how early we'll have to get up that day," I laugh.

"We both will. Remember whatever you do I have to do too." He looks at his watch. "Let's get going. We'll stop somewhere and get something to eat first."

"Okay…let me grab my bag."

"We are here with new singing sensation Ana. Welcome to the show," the DJ said.

"Thank you…it's great to be here."

"So have you had time to see the city at all?"

"No actually I haven't. I was just invited to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but I didn't have enough time. That's usually what happens with every city I go to…just not enough time."

"Understandable. You are a busy young lady now. Your song "Wanted" is the most requested on our radio station right now."

"Really? That's great, thank you for everyone who calls in and requests it."

"You've got great fans here in Cleveland."

"Cool."

"Okay, I picked up the paper this morning and oh…I can tell by her face folks she's seen it too. Let's smooth all the rumors out…what's going on behind the scenes on this tour?" the DJ asks.

"Well I think Marcus and I are amazing if we can break-up without even going out," I laugh.

The DJ laughs with me.

"Obviously by the picture we've hung out before. I think that might have been bowling or something but it's only once in a great while and we're friends. I'd love to find out how they came up with us breaking up though."

"Do seeing these make you mad or do you just let them roll off your shoulders?"

I shift in my seat and adjust my headphones. "For the most part I laugh at them. That's all you can do. So far there haven't been any really personal ones or ones about my family. Those are the kind that would upset me."

"And so they should. Speaking of your family…I caught you on Icon a few weeks ago. You did an amazing performance of "Baby One More Time"."

"Thank you."

"Do you think you'll ever do any cover tunes like that of your mother's or father's in one of your shows?"

"Hmmm good question. I think right now I just want to perform my songs. I get excited about those right now. Maybe one day if I have a longer set and I need to fill in the time," I laugh. "But I'm really just trying to get out there as Ana…not Adriana Spears-Timberlake."

"Good enough for me and our listeners as well. We'll break for a commercial and come back with some questions from the listeners."

When we come back from break the DJ starts to take questions from callers.

"This is TJ from Cleveland…TJ what's your question for Ana?"

"Hi TJ," I say.

"Hi Ana. First of all I have to say you're hot."

I laugh. "Well thank you."

"And second…do you plan on doing any writing on your next album?"

"Good question, thanks TJ," the DJ says.

"I'm working my way up to that. I think it comes more naturally for some people more than others. I feel that my strong point is singing and dancing. That's what I thrive on the most. Though, I have started to keep a journal and write down my thoughts and feelings. My mama says that's how she started to write so maybe that will happen for me. So if on my next album I will have written some songs then go me," I laugh. "But I'm not writing right now."

"Great, next is Caroline from Maple Heights…what's your question?"

"Hi Ana."

"Hi Caroline."

"I bought your album after I saw you on Icon and I love it."

"Thank you."

"How did your mom feel after watching you perform her hit?"

"She loved it. It was funny because she didn't want to know what I was going to perform. My daddy remixed the song and she hadn't even heard that so it was cool for her to see and hear it for the first time at the show."

"Very cool…and you worked with her old choreographer on that too, didn't you?" the DJ asked.

"Yes, I worked with Wade. It seemed like the natural choice to me. Pay tribute to her with that song and have him choreograph it."

"Now, he's been producing and directing a lot lately hasn't he? I didn't think he was choreographing."

"You're right, he hasn't in awhile. He did this as a favor to me and mama."

After a few more questions I sing a little snippet of a song for them and head on out for the venue.

Tony watched me as we drove to the arena.

"What?"

"You know once you get to the radio stations you enjoy it."

"I like being asked different questions," I say.

He nods. "Fair enough. I'd get tired of answering the same thing over and over too."

"I can arrange that."

"Haven't you already? Tony, where are we going next?" he laughs.

I slap his arm as we pull into the loading area of the arena.

When we get out I see Marcus playing basketball with some of his crew.

He waves when he sees me so I wave back.

Tony pulls on my arm so that I walk with him.

"I was just going to say hi," I said as we entered the building.

"You never know where there's a camera."

I roll my eyes. "This is going to get ridiculous."

"It already is."