"Pop Life"

Chapter 69

As soon as I change I walk back with Tony and Andre to my seat. They're in the middle of presenting the award but mama smiles at me as I take my seat. She grabs my hand and then brings my face to hers and kisses my cheek. Daddy leans over, takes my hand and kisses the back of it. I smile at them both.

"And the winner of the Viewer's Choice is…"

The presenters drop the envelope. Everyone laughs.

"Oops," one of them says. "The winner is…Ana…Wanted."

I stare at my mama again, this time with my mouth hanging open. "No way."

We stand up and I hug her.

"I love you," she says in my ear.

I lean over and give daddy a hug. I see Ashleigh maneuvering her way around daddy as she holds her arms out for me to hug her. I quickly pick her up and give her a kiss on the cheek. I turn around and give Uncle Lance another hug.

As I walk across the stage I lean down and touch people's hands as I go, again.

I thank the presenters and take the award from them.

"Wow. I need to catch my breath," I say as I place my hand on my chest. "This is so amazing. I'm so glad the viewer's like this video. That's why we make them, you know? Well, I'll thank God again and my family…I love you. All my management team and crew I work with every day, you guys are the best. Everyone at Jive for believing in me. I forgot to thank my band last time…they're the best, I love working with you guys every night. And I'll thank the fans again for making this journey for me so much fun. Thanks."

I turn around and walk off stage. I feel like I'm in a daze. This time Brad is waiting for me off stage. He stands there clapping for me as I walk over to him.

"I think I'm in shock," I say.

He leans down and kisses my cheek.

"You deserve it and everyone knows it."

"Ana, please come this way, they'd like to take some photos," someone tells me as they gently grab my arm.

I shrug. "I'll see you later…at the after party."

"You can count on it," he says winking at me.

I go to a room where there are a lot of photographers and I stand there as they take my picture. After about five minutes of this I get to go back to my seat. I make sure I walk back during a commercial.

"Finally," I say as I sit down. "Do I ever get to sit in my seat?" I kid.

Mama laughs. "It feels that way sometimes."

Uncle JC makes his way past daddy and mama and squats down on the other side of me, in the aisle. He leans over and gives me a kiss on my cheek.

"That was one of the most amazing performances I've ever seen. I was speechless."

"Thanks, Uncle JC…that means a lot to me."

"I'll be back," he says before he walks away.

I turn in my seat so I'm facing mama and daddy. They both have stupid grins on their faces.

"Well? I want you to be honest about it."

"There is no word for how I feel right now," mama begins. "I feel like I could just explode with pride. I wanted to jump up and down and shout, that's my baby."

Daddy laughs. "She almost did, I had to hold her hand."

I laugh and try to fight the tears. "Really? You're not just saying that?"

"I have to agree. I'm glad I didn't see the rehearsals so I could enjoy it for the first time here with everyone," Uncle Lance says leaning forward to tell me.

"Daddy?"

"Amazing…wonderful…brilliant…awesome…well, pretty much perfect."

I blush. "Thanks guys."

"You worked hard on it and it showed. You didn't show any signs of apprehension or nervousness," he added.

"How did you feel about it?" mama asks.

"I've never felt that way before. It was different than any other performance I've done."

Mama nods.

"You've stepped up a notch…people are going to expect a lot from you now."

My eyes widen. "What do you mean, daddy?"

"They're going to compare every appearance you do to this one. It happens all the time. Just always give your best performance that you can and you won't fail. Not that we think you will anyway."

I smile.

Ashleigh tugs on daddy's shirt.

"What is it sweetie?" he asks as he puts his arm around her.

"Nothing," she shrugs as she leans against his leg.

"So you were okay with everything?" I ask hesitantly.

Mama laughs. "I thought you looked wonderful," she tells me quietly.

"We'll talk about that later," daddy says, trying to keep a straight face. "I can't believe that was my baby girl up there in almost nothing," he says shaking his head. "When did…" he moves his hands up and down, "…did that happen?"

Mama laughs and pats his leg. "Sweetie, you've seen her in a bikini just this summer. I guess you weren't paying attention. Our baby girl is a young woman now. I know, it makes me feel old too," she says leaning her head against his shoulder.

I laugh. "Old? Aren't you the one who's…" I realize I'm talking pretty loudly so I lower my voice, "pregnant? Mama you are not old."

"Wait until I'm in my eighth month…I'll feel my age and then some."

Daddy shakes his head and leans back. "I don't think she looked like that," he says waving to the stage, "this summer."

Mama winks at me.


"Here's the big winner of the night," Uncle Joey says as I enter the VIP area of the after-party.

"I wasn't the big winner," I say.

"You won three awards…that's pretty big to us," Uncle Chris says.

"Well…." I blush and then shrug.

He puts his arm around me and squeezes my shoulders.

"Next year…we expect five."

I laugh.

I make my way around the room to all of my family members. When I reach mama she's got her cell phone to her ear.

"Here's Grandma Spears…she wants to talk to you," she says sticking the phone in my face.

I take it from her. "Hello?"

"Well how is my big winner?"

"I'm fine Grandma," I laugh.

"You did so well on there. I couldn't believe that was my little grandbaby."

"Well, I'm not so little anymore…but thanks."

"I mean it honey. I haven't felt that much pride since I saw your mama up on that stage. It warmed my heart."

"That's sweet."

We talk a little bit longer and then I hand the phone back to mama.

I see Brad out of the corner of my eye so I walk over to him.

"You've been standing here alone this whole time?" I ask him.

He nods slowly as he stares at me.

"You changed," he says grabbing the edge of the vest I'm wearing.

"Yeah…it's the thing to do," I joke.

He laughs. "How can someone be so beautiful?" he asks as he runs a hand down my face.

I bow my head a little and then look around.

"Stoppp," I say. "You'll make me blush."

He grabs the belt loops of my jeans and pulls me a little bit closer to him.

"Good. You're even more beautiful when you blush."

I look into his eyes. I feel myself getting lost in them. Before I know it, we're swaying to the slow music that's playing.

I close my eyes and rest my head on his shoulder as I wrap my arms around his shoulders.

Britney smiles and then nudges Justin, who then turns around.

"Oh God, Brit. Why did you have to show me that?" he asks as he turns his head so he's not watching his daughter dance with her boyfriend.

Britney turns so that she can look at him.

"Are you being serious?" she asks.

He doesn't answer her so she touches his arm and completely turns around so that she's facing him.

"You are…baby what's wrong? You like Brad, right?"

He looks at her with glassy eyes. "Yeah, you know I like Brad. It just hurts to see our little girl acting so grown up like that," he says waving his arm toward Adriana. "I feel like I'm out of control…and you know what a control freak I am," he says giving her a slight smile.

She smiles back and touches his face.

"Such the sensitive dad. I've always loved that about you. We have to remember that she has a good head on her shoulders. She won't make any rash decisions."

"What makes you think she hasn't already? Look at them?"

Britney shakes her head. "They're dancing," she says taking his hands in hers and starts swaying a little to the music. "Remember what that was like?"

She puts his arms around her waist and then puts her hands on his shoulders.

"I remember. I remember many many nights of dancing…" he leans down so that his lips are next to her ear and whispers, "that led to nights of making love."

Britney shivered at his words.

"We were older," she whispers back.

He pulls back a little to look in her eyes. "Not much older."

She rolls her eyes and pulls him closer again and continues to dance.

"Awww, look at my mama and daddy," I say as I catch a glimpse of my parents dancing.

Brad looks over his shoulder.

"That's nice," he says.

"That's what I want. I want to be like that after being married eighteen years."

"What they have is rare," he nods.

I study his face. "So are you saying that you don't believe it can happen?"

He moves his hands down to my waist again. "No, I'm just saying that it's rare. Not too many people have that or will have that."

I sigh. "I believe I will…"

He smiles and leans down to quickly kiss me on the lips. "It's in your genes. I have no doubt you will."


"That was nice of your parents to leave and send the limo back for us," Brad says as he walks me down the hall to my apartment.

"Yeah…"

"Although I think your mom had to convince your dad," he laughs.

I start to laugh too. "Yeah he didn't look like he wanted to leave us. He's just a little protective."

"A little?" he asks as he grabs my hands and studies them.

"Okay…a lot. He means well."

"Let's quit talking about your dad," he says as he pulls me closer to him.

He leans down and gently kisses my lips. I part them and turn my head slightly so I can deepen the kiss. I taste his lips before I pull back.

"I need to get inside," I whisper. "But I don't want to go…"

"I know. I promise I'll see you before I leave New York, okay?"

I nod and try not to cry. "Okay. You know I'm pretty booked the next couple of days…"

"Yeah, I checked with Tony. But even if it's stopping by here, I'll see you, okay?"

He's holding my face in his hands and I nod.

"Okay. Maybe I can ask mama if you can come to dinner the night before we leave."

"Sounds great," he says before he kisses my nose. He takes my key from me and unlocks the door.

"Bye," I say as I stand in the doorway and wave to him as he walks down the hall.

He smiles, kisses his hand and blows the kiss to me as he reaches the elevator.

I go inside and shut the door, sighing as I lean against it.

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