"Oh I'm sorry," I say as I walk smack dab into someone. "I wasn't watching where I was going." I stoop down and start picking up the papers I dropped.

Suddenly a hand grabs mine and I look up into those almost aqua colored eyes.

"Marcus!"

He smiles, revealing the dimple. "Hi…if anyone was going to try to knock me down, I'm glad it was you. Let me help you get that."

"No really…it's okay."

We both stand up with papers in our hands. He hands me the stack he picked up.

"Thank you."

"No problem. So, how are things going?" he asked as he stuck his hands in his pockets.

"They're going really well, actually. They moved me up in the line-up."

He nods. "Yeah, that's what Michael tells me. He says you're a hit."

I smile and bow my head. "I do okay. How's your new opening act doing?"

"Well at meet-n-greets I keep getting asked why you couldn't open the whole tour," he chuckles. "But the act is doing okay. They're just not you," he says lifting up my chin.

"I'm sure they're doing just fine."

"Marcus."

We both turn toward Brad who is walking towards us.

"Hi Brad…how's it going? I hear Ana here is a hit on the tour."

He smiles at me and nods. "Yes she is. I personally think she gets the loudest screams from the audience but she doesn’t think so," he says, leaning in a little closer.

"I'm sure you do too," Marcus agrees, touching my elbow.

"Guys stop," I kid.

My eyes get a little wider when I feel Brad's hand lightly touching my back. Marcus looks at us carefully.

"So what are you doing here?" Brad asks.

"I have a couple of days off so I decided to swing by and say hi to Michael…and you of course," he says looking at me.

"I haven't seen Michael around yet today."

Marcus nods. "Well yes it turns out he's taping something until his sound check so I thought I'd check yours out while I was here."

"It's the same show," Brad says dryly. His finger has now linked through one of my belt loops on my shorts.

Marcus keeps staring at me. "I know but I enjoy watching Ana perform."

I shrug. "It's a free country. I'm on in about fifteen minutes," I say looking at my watch.

"Great. Gives me just enough time to go raid the buffet line. See you later."

With that he turns and walks toward the catering area.

"Do you really believe that he's here to see Michael? How many times did he just fly halfway across the country to see his friend while we toured with him?"

I rub my temples. "I don't know. I'm not going to worry about it, Brad," I say giving him a fake smile.

He looks around and then turns me in his arms and gives me a hug. "I'm going to go help Uncle George check the instruments."

I wrap my arms around his back and squeeze. "Okay, I'll see you in a few."

I watch him as he walks away and then I turn around to go back to my bus. That's when I see Marcus at the other end of the hallway, staring at me. When he catches me staring, he smiles and waves, so I wave back.

When I get on my bus, Tony is sitting at the table, on his laptop. He glances up from the screen.

"Don't you have sound check?"

"In a couple of minutes. I forgot something," I say running to the back where my bedroom is.

When I walk back through the bus Tony stops me.

"I got a call just before you got here and the Concert Network wants to come film one of the Summer Jam shows. They'll probably pick a city like LA or something."

"Really? Does everyone have to agree to it?"

"I'm not sure of all the details yet but being on the Concert Network is a big thing. Unless you object, we'll sign on."

I shrug. "Sounds good to me. I just think it would be weird if one of the acts doesn't want to do it. Isn't it usually a live broadcast."

"There have been pre-taped shows before. I guess it depends on if there's too much downtime in between acts. I'll let them know you're interested and find out more details."

"Cool. See ya."

"Bye."

I start walking back towards the stage when I spot Sasha coming out of her bus.

"Hi Ana."

"Oh, hi Sasha."

"You look like you're in a hurry."

She was standing outside her bus with her hair wrapped in a towel.

"Sound check," I say passing her by. "Oh," I say stopping for a second. "I'm not sure if you found this out already but Marcus is here."

Her eyes get big for just a second before she smiles. "Really. You two have a date?"

"A date? Uh no. I think he's here to see Michael."

"Oh okay. If that's what you want to believe. Have a good sound check."

"Thanks." I turn around and keep on walking toward the stage.

I can hear the band already warming up. I sneak up through the back way so that I don't run into Marcus.

I tap Brad on the shoulder. He turns his head to look at me and then smiles.

"Hey, what are you doing sneaking up on people like that?" he chuckles.

"I have a present for you."

"For me? You don't have to…" He stops and laughs when he sees what I hold out in my hand. "It's the best present I've ever gotten," he says taking the little puffball with eyes, a hat and feet from me. He reads the tag that's attached that says 'Someone's Thinking About You'.

"You like?"

He nods. "Yep…it's just what I needed. Every time I look at him I'll smile thinking about you."

"Well, it's the least I can do to repay you for all those beautiful Gerber Daisy's you keep bringing me."

"They remind me of you. Bright and cheerful…I can't help myself."

He starts to lean in closer but I turn my head to look around. He gets the hint and stands up straight again.

"Here," he says taking the backing off the sticky part of the feet. "He'll keep me company."

He sticks the little warm fuzzy guy on his keyboard, which makes me laugh.

"Okay, I guess I should go sing or something."

"Sounds like a good idea."

I touch his arm before I walk past him to get to the stage. I take a drink of water and pick up the microphone. At some of the shows they let a few physically challenged fans and with the "Make a Wish Foundation" in to see the sound checks so I wave to the handful of guests that are seated a few rows away. Most of the kids wave and smile back.

I start singing "Better Off" and catch Marcus out of the corner of my eye. He and his bodyguard are walking down in the seating area. They take a seat about five rows back, in the center. He smiles and bobs his head to the music. For some reason the way he's staring at me is making me nervous so I quit looking at him and concentrate on the children over a few seats.

A couple hours later I was out in the back courtyard signing autographs. Most of the acts on this tour do a meet-n-greet where we all sit at a really long table and sign autographs for people as they walk by. I always love doing this because you get direct feedback from your fans. I know there are some people in line to see other artists but they still usually have something nice to say.

"I really love your album. "It's Me" is almost exactly what I'm going through in my life right now."

I look up at a girl who looks about my age and I smile at her.

"Thanks. Yeah, I think a lot of teenagers can relate to it."

She hands me the CD cover to sign. As I'm signing she continues. "Well I mean it could relate to anyone…like there's these girls I know at school who live in a totally different neighborhood than I do and we were talking about it and decided that it doesn't matter what color or financial level you are."

I look back up at her as I pass her back the CD and I nod. "Yep, that's why I like it so much. I'm glad you and your friends enjoy it."

"Next please," Andre says behind me.

The girl glares up at him and starts to walk away. "Bye," I wave.

"Hi Ana."

I look up at a young man. "Hi."

He stands there and stares at me. "Is there something you'd like me to sign?"

"Oh," he says pulling out a ticket stub. "See that…I went to Marcus Tyler's show just to see you. That was in North Carolina."

What city are we in? Phoenix I think…

"Wow, you traveled a long way. Do you have family in whichever city you don't live in?"

I start signing the ticket stub.

"No, I had the weekend off this weekend. I wanted to see you again."

I genuinely smile at him. "Wow, that's nice. I'm flattered that you would do that. I hope you enjoy the show."

He smiles back and looks at the ticket stub. "Thanks."

"Next," Andre bellows out.

I feel a hand on my shoulder as Tony kneels down and whispers that my mom called.

"Okay. Did you tell her I'd call her after meet-n-greet?"

"Yeah…I just wanted to let you know. She kind of sounded upset, but she said it wasn't an emergency."

I feel a lump forming in my throat. "Okay, thanks."

I continue to sign autographs but my mind keeps wandering to my family. As soon as the last person goes through the line I run back to my bus and call my mama.

"Hello?"

"Mama? What's wrong?"

"I told Tony not to worry you."

"Well he did…what's going on?" I ask as I try to catch my breath.

"Honey, Grandpa Jamie is in the hospital."

"Oh my God. Why?"

I sit down on the couch just as Tony and Brad walk onto the bus. They see my face and don't say a word.

"He was having chest pains so they're running some tests. They might have to a procedure to unblock his arteries."

"Are you with him now?" I try to choke back my tears. When Brad notices this he sits down next to me and starts rubbing my back.

"Yes, your daddy and I got here an hour ago. Grandma H. is staying with Cody and Ashleigh."

"How's Grandma S. doing?"

"She's holding up. She's just trying to keep Grandpa from being crabby at the nurses."

I giggle at that. "Good, it sounds like he's being normal."

"Yeah. Sweetie, I don't want you to worry about this okay? He's going to be fine. The procedure is routine and I'll keep you up-to-date on his status."

"Okay. I guess you aren't going to come to visit me soon then are you?" I ask quietly.

It had been a little over two weeks since I had seen either of my parents.

"I'll try soon, okay? Daddy might make it out to see you before I do. Will that be okay?"

"Yeah, I miss you both."

Brad squeezed my shoulder and pulled me closer.

"I miss you too honey. I was planning on surprising you tomorrow too. Everything still going okay?"

"Yeah. Oh, guess who showed up today."

"Who?"

I could hear other conversations going on in the background of mama's phone.

"Marcus."

"Oh really? Why did he pop up there?"

"He said he had a couple of days off and wanted to see Michael."

"That's interesting."

"Isn't it?"

"Is Brad acting all jealous?"

"Mama," I laugh. "I'm not even going to answer that."

"He's right there, isn't he?"

"Yes."

I heard someone ask mama a question. "Baby I'm going to go, the doctor's going to explain the procedure to us."

"Okay. Give everyone my love. I'll say a prayer for Grandpa."

"Okay, I will. I love you."

"I love you too."

We hung up the phone and I look up at Tony and then over at Brad.

"My Grandpa Jamie is in the hospital. Clogged arteries I think. They're going to do a procedure to unclog them."

"I'm sorry sweetie," Tony says squeezing my shoulder.

"Mama says he's going to be fine. It sounds like he's in good spirits."

"I know this must be hard being away from them like this."

I nod and look down at my hands on my lap.

"Well, I'm going to go talk to the tour manager. I'll be on the side watching the show tonight."

"Okay," I smile up at him.

When the door closes Brad leans over and kisses my temple.

"Would you rather be alone?"

I shake my head. "No. Can you stay with me a little bit?"

"Of course."