It feels really weird to be sitting at this long table with these other artists. These are artists I've been listening to for the last couple of years, wishing I could be like them…and here I am, sitting beside them as their peer. Before the press conference begins we're each handed a sheet of paper with some basic information on it that will be given to the press. I read it over and realize the lineup is wrong. I try to catch Tony's attention but I hear a familiar voice.

"Hi Ana."

I turn to my left.

"Hey Rick. What are you doing here?"

He sits down next to me.

"I'm the host tomorrow. I'm hurt that no one mentioned it to you," he says placing his hand over his heart and then laughs.

"Oh I…well, things have been crazy."

"I was kidding. They only asked me a few days ago."

I kind of chuckle. "Oh…okay."

"I was kinda freaked when I heard about your sister. I wish I had a chance to tell you that I was wishing you and your family the best before you left the studio that day."

I ran a hand through my hair. "I left in a hurry. I wasn't thinking about anything but my family. You could have told me and I wouldn't have heard it anyway," I smile.

"Well, I'm glad she's going to be fine," he says placing a hand over my hand that's resting on the table.

"Thanks."

We are interrupted by someone in the press area.

"I think the first question should be for Ana…everyone wants to know how your sister is doing?"

"She's doing a lot better, thank you for asking."

"How did your family hold up during the situation?"

Situation?

"We're a very strong family…as long as we support each other, we can get through anything."

More general questions were asked to each of the other acts.

"Anyone dating anyone else up there?"

A few of us chuckled. "Are we dating or would we like to date?" Kevin from KCB said.

"Either," the reporter responded.

"Yes," Kevin replied back. His other two group mates laughed.

"No hint as to who it is?"

I turn my head to look down at them. This conversation is amusing me and I see Sasha eyeing me.

"Not gonna say," Kevin says.

"Anyone else?" the reporter asks.

"Maybe not anyone up here…but maybe one of us is dating a member of their band," Sasha says.

I immediately look at her.

"Is that you, Sasha?" the reporter asked her.

"Not going to say," she said playfully and winked at him.

The next question was asked and she finally looked my way. When she did I just turned my head and continued listening.

"Ana, how do you feel about being moved up in the set lineup?"

I looked back down at the sheet in front of me.

"Um," I frantically search for Tony. Finally I see him and he smiles and nods. "It's great. I was a little surprised by it but…" I shrug.

"What do you think this means about your popularity?"

Why the hell didn't Tony tell me about this sooner? I'm so unprepared.

"Well, I hope it means that more people are liking my music. That's flattering to me if they do."

"Do you think with the recent publicity for your family that your album sales will go up?"

"What?" I ask.

"Next question," Michael interrupted.

I breathe a sigh of relief and give Michael a quick smile as a thank you.

A few more general questions are asked.

"Ana, does your family get to visit you on tour often?"

What's up with all these questions about my family?

"They visit as often as they can."

"Michael, does the fact that Ana is Justin and Britney Timberlake's daughter interfere with the overall feel of the show?"

"Are you really?" Michael jokingly says turning toward me. "I had no idea."

We all laugh.

"Guess that answers the question," Chris from KCB says.

When the press conference ends we are asked to go stand over at a certain spot set up for our pictures to be taken together. They ask Michael to stand behind me since we're apparently the two headliners of the show now. I wonder how that makes Sasha and the guys from KCB feel? I've now bumped them both. A couple of the KCB guys put their arms around me in a couple of poses, so maybe they are okay with it.

When the picture taking is over I start walking towards Tony but Michael stops me.

"Congratulations…I hear your album sales are still going strong. Still at number two. You know, that's why they moved your set up?"

"I really don't know anything. I didn't even know I moved up in the lineup until I got this piece of paper today," I say holding up the flyer.

"Well they just decided. I guess your assistant didn't have time to tell you. It's a good thing, though," he says, probably noting my apprehension.

"I know…I just don't want to step on anyone's toes," I say looking around.

"Who cares. It's a business. Toes are meant to be stepped on."

I laugh and look down at my hands before looking back up.

"Thanks. I feel a little better. I'm sorry part of the press conference ended up being about my family," I roll my eyes.

He gives me a warm smile. "First of all, you should feel great. You are a very talented performer. As for all of those questions about your family…don't worry about us. We know who you are where it counts. I for one don't look at you as your parents' daughter."

"Well…thanks, Michael," I say softly.

He squeezes my arm gently. "No problem. I'll see you later."

"Okay," I say watching him walk away.

"Congratulations," an apprehensive voice behind me says.

I turn around and glare at Tony.

"How could you do that to me?" I ask as I start walking toward the bus, knowing he'd follow me.

"I tried to tell you but there were too many people physically standing in the way and then someone stopped me and next thing I know you're already sitting at the table and the press conference was starting…"

I walk onto the bus and let the door slam behind me. He opens the door and climbs on.

"Adriana?"

"Tony…I'm so confused," I say plopping down on the couch.

"What? Why?" he asks sitting across from me.

"Why did they do this? Especially a day before the Special?"

"Because you're a rising star."

"Okay."

"What, you're not going to fight me about it?"

I shrug. "Michael basically said the same thing. I'm going to have to accept it…even though it's a weird concept for me."

He laughs. "You have an endearing way of putting it."

There's a knock at the door and then Uncle Lance boards the bus.

"Good job at the press conference today," he says sitting next to me.

"Thanks," I mumble.

He looks up at Tony who then says, "I didn't have time to warn her about the lineup change."

"It's a good thing, Adriana," Uncle Lance says rubbing my back.

"I know. Did I stutter though? I had no idea…I didn't want to look stupid."

"No, you covered well. You also handled the other questions well."

"About my family?"

"Yeah. I have to hand it to Michael…he handled it like a pro too," he says leaning back.

"Yeah, I did thank him already. I haven't given him enough credit."

Tony pulls his laptop out and Uncle Lance's cell phone rings so I grab the remote and turn on the TV. I start flipping through the channels and land on one of those lovely tabloid shows.

"Is that Marcus?" I ask quietly as I lean in towards the TV.

I cover my mouth with my hand and start laughing. He's basically falling down drunk with two girls hanging on either side of him.

"Oh Marcus," I laugh.

Tony hears me and watches the TV.

I start laughing and Tony gives me a strange look.

"Why is that so funny?"

"I don't know. He looked really bad," I try to say with a straight face.

Tony gives me a smirk, shakes his head and goes back to typing on his laptop.

Uncle Lance finishes his call and hangs up the phone.

"What was that about Marcus?"

"Oh he was just at some club with some girls."

"Adriana, you'll be honest with me, won't you?" he asks in a serious tone.

I turn the mute button and turn to him. "Of course."

"What are your feelings for him?"

My head jerks back slightly.

"Marcus?"

He nods.

I search his eyes to make sure he's not kidding.

"I was his opening act…"

"And?" he eggs on.

"And that's it? I guess I would consider him a friend…"

"But you don't like him as more than a friend?"

"Um, no. Why…do you think I do?"

"Well there's been rumors. I mean he's awfully flirty with you every time I see you together. And from what I could tell you weren't pushing him away. If he's going to portray his life like this I don't think it's a good idea for you to be associated with him."

"Uncle Lance, he wasn't really doing anything wrong…"

"You're sixteen. Maybe if you were a couple of years older it wouldn't matter as much."

I slowly nod. "Because he was drunk…"

He nods. "Because he was drunk. So tell me about Brad."

Tony's head stays down but his eyes lift up to look at me.

"I like Brad. I won't deny that."

"How much?"

I start wringing my hands together. "A lot."

"Maybe I should talk to him…"

"Uncle Lance, no," I say grabbing his arm.

"Adriana…this is new to both of you. Image is very important to your career right now. Do you enjoy what you're doing?"

I'm starting to feel sad. "Yes, of course."

"If you'd like to remain successful, there's a certain image you'll have to maintain. I'm not talking a made up one, I'm talking about the one you've already created for yourself by being you."

I begin to soften at his words and my eyes are cast downward.

"Now if all of a sudden you are dating, you might change, your personality might change and your image might change…"

I start to say something but he puts his hand over mine.

"I'm not saying they will…but they might. I'm sorry I have to treat you like a client sometimes, but you are. You're also my niece and I love you."

I feel the tears welding up in my eyes. "I love you too."

He smiles. "I'm not saying this to be the mean Uncle figure type either," he winks at me.

I laugh through a couple of tears. "You mean daddy didn't put you up to this?"

He shakes his head. "No. This is Lance Bass from FreeLance Entertainment talking."

I sniff, wipe away the tears and nod. "Okay. If you feel like you need to talk to Brad then go ahead. But I don't want to stop seeing him."

He places his hand on my cheek. "When did you grow up? I'll explain things to him and you can see him…just be very discreet."

He stands up and stops as he's walking toward the door of the bus. "Ask your parents about being discreet. They were experts at one time."

He gives a quick wave and leaves the bus.

I sigh and look back over at Tony whose eyes dart back down to the screen.

"This is what you've been trying to tell me all along, isn't it?"

He looks back up and nods. "Yes."

"I'm sorry. I must be a pain to you sometimes."

He smiles and shakes his head. "A pain I adore."

I blush and he goes back to working. I stand up and walk to the back of the bus and sit on my bed. I pull my cell phone out and dial Ashleigh's room at the hospital.

"Hello?" mama answers.

"Hi mama."

"Hey Adriana…how was the press conference?"

"It went okay. I'm now the second to last set."

"What? Wow, that's great."

I hear daddy's voice in the background.

"She's second to last now…I know. Okay I'll tell her."

"Your daddy says right on."

I laugh. "Tell him thanks."

"You don't seem so excited about it."

"Well, it was a total surprise. I wasn't warned before the press conference. I don't know. Sometimes it feels like it's all happening so fast. Did it ever feel that way for you mama?"

"Yes it did."

"How did you get through it?"

She sighs and gets quiet. "I would call my mama and I'd ask her to come visit me," she says softly.

"Oh."

"Baby, I'll be there as soon as I can…"

"Mama, it's okay, you've got to take care of Ashleigh."

"Your Uncle Lance is there, right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Here, Ash wants to talk to you," she says. Next thing I hear is Ashleigh's upbeat voice.

"Heyyy, why the face?" Justin asks Britney after she hands the phone over to their daughter.

"I need to be with her."

He rolls his eyes. "Not this again…"

She glares at him. "Don't start with me. I always had my mama when I needed her," she says with her hands on her hips.

"Okay," he says holding his hands up in front of him. "Baby, Jamie Lynn was never sick like this," he says nodding toward their daughter.

"I know I have a reason right now…maybe you can go be with her."

He just stares at her. "I know, you don't want to leave Ash either. Maybe one of our moms?"

"Your mom is still taking care of your dad."

She grabs his hand. "Will you call your mom and ask her then? I think it will help."

He pulls her hand toward him and kisses that back of it.

"Of course…I'm sure she'll love to do it."