"Pop
Life"
Chapter 99
"These are so much fun," Ashleigh says, getting out of the limo.
We join Cody, who's already standing on the red carpet.
A man with a clipboard walks over to us. "Welcome to the American Music Awards," he tells us.
"Thank you," I say.
Tony, Andre, Ashleigh, Cody and I start to walk down the carpet. They are my dates for tonight since mama can't travel, she came up with the idea for them to come with me. I take Ashleigh's hand and we start walking down to the reporters and photographers.
"Cody, you look very handsome tonight," I tell him.
"Thanks."
"Isn't that Brad?" Ashleigh asks, tugging my arm.
I turn to see where she's pointing at and smile. "Yes, it's Brad."
"Let's go tell him hi," she says, trying to drag me over that way.
"No Ash...I have to go down this line and talk to these people."
She stops and stands at my side again. "Oh. Well, why won't he even look this way?"
I lean down to her. "I'll tell you later, okay?"
She looks at me with her beautiful blue eyes and nods. "'K."
I stop and do interviews with the usual people.
"You excited about being nominated on your first time through?" one reporter asks.
"Of course," I say. "Who wouldn't be? It's fun just to be recognized by the people like this."
"Who are your dates tonight?" he asks.
"My little sister and brother," I say swinging Ashleigh's hand and nodding toward Cody.
"You guys look great," the reporter says.
"Thank you," they both say.
"Any signs of these two young Timberlakes' being in show biz?"
"Well, they're both talented, that's for sure. You'll have to ask our mom and dad about that," I laugh. "It's really up to them when they'll let either of them shine."
"Thank you Ana and good luck tonight."
"Thank you."
We start to walk away when Ashleigh tugs on my hand again so I look down at her.
"Who is Brad taking a picture with?" she asks.
I look over and see him posing with Sasha. They've both got huge smiles and their arms are around each other, with their heads leaning in towards each others.
"Uh, that's Sasha. Remember her from the Summer Jam tour?" I ask, pulling her along to the next reporter.
"Oh yeah. I didn't like her," she says scrunching her nose up.
Cody taps me on the shoulder. "Why is Brad doing an interview with Sasha?"
Apparently he couldn't hear Ashleigh and I talking.
"Well, you know Brad's group is opening for Sasha starting next week so I guess the press wants to see them together," I say, shrugging. I'm trying to play it off but I feel the jealousy starting to kick in.
"Maybe you'll get to take a picture with him too, since you're his girlfriend," Ash says a little too loudly.
One of the photographers cocks an eyebrow at me and smiles, so I smile back.
"Who's your boyfriend Ana? We thought you were single," he asks me.
"You know little sisters...consider any boy you talk to, your boyfriend," I say, trying to play it off.
He takes a few more pictures of me and I continue to walk to the next entertainment show interview.
Finally we end up in the lobby of the Auditorium.
"Brraaaddddd," I hear Ashleigh say when she lets go of my hand.
When I look behind me, he's already scooped her up in his arms and is walking towards us.
"You sure look pretty tonight," he says.
"Thanks," she says, smiling.
"So does your big sister...very pretty." He winks at me.
Ashleigh nods as I look down and then back up at him. "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."
"Hey Code," Brad says, touching Cody's shoulder. He sets Ashleigh down and she stands next to me and takes my hand again.
"Hey," he says nodding his head once.
"You look good too." He looks around. "No mom or dad so you get to escort these two lovely young ladies?"
Cody laughs. "Yeah...lucky me," he says twirling his finger around.
I slap his arm and roll my eyes. "Jerk," I say, under my breath. I look back up at Brad. "You're letting your hair get a little longer in the back?" I ask as my hand starts to move toward his hair, then I stop myself and put it back down by my side.
He smiles, understanding what I almost did. "Yeah. I'm trying something different."
"You guys perform tonight, right?" Cody asks.
"Yep, we do."
"You nervous?" I ask.
He holds his steady hand out. "Nah, I'm okay. Just don't ask me that right before we go on."
I laugh. "You guys will be great."
"Oh, hello Ana."
I close my eyes when I hear Sasha's voice come from behind me. Slowly I turn around and put on a fake smile.
"Hi Sasha. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine," she says looking me up and down. Her eyes land on Ashleigh.
"Ohhhh your baby sister. How cute that you brought her as your date," she says all sugary.
Ashleigh holds my hand tighter and scoots closer to me.
"Actually, I'm their date," Cody speaks up, stepping forward a little.
She glances at him and then looks up at me. "Looks like it's a family affair. Too bad you can't come with a real date." She glances behind me at Brad. "Same with you Brad...too bad you had to come solo."
Michael moves up behind her and touches her arm.
"Ana?" he asks when he sees me.
I smile. "Hi Michael. It's good to see you."
He moves forward and we hug.
"It's good to see you too. I heard you had a great tour this fall. I'm sorry I couldn't catch a show."
"Well, you were in Europe touring, I forgive you," I wink at him. "Besides, I have another leg of the tour coming up this spring, you can catch it then."
"Great. Hey guys," he says to Ashleigh and Cody.
They both say hi. Then Michael looks up at Brad. "Brad, right?" he asks, holding out his hand.
Brad shakes his outstretched hand and nods. "Yes. Good to see you again, Michael."
"You too. I heard your single...it's good."
"Thanks," Brad says, letting his hand fall to his side.
"I guess I'll be seeing you more often, coming up soon."
"Why's that?" I ask.
Michael glances at Sasha.
"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't realize you two were still an item," I say.
Sasha rolls her eyes at me. "We don't flaunt it in people's faces."
"Hmm, so I see."
"Ana, we need to get to our seats," Tony says, as he pokes his head around Michael.
"Okay. Well, I'll see you guys at the Grammys I'm sure." I turn to Brad and gently squeeze his arm. "Good luck." I give him a warm smile, which he returns. "Thanks...you too."
"Thanks. Come on guys."
"Bye Brad," Ashleigh says, waving.
"Bye sweetie. See ya Cody."
"Later."
We follow Tony to our seats. "What was that about?" he asks me as he walks by me to sit down.
"Just old friends saying hi."
His eyebrows arch up and I laugh. "It went okay."
"I don't want to read anything in the tabloids tomorrow about a fight between popstars in the lobby."
I chuckle. "I'd get attention from it, wouldn't I?"
He turns his head and glares at me.
"I'm kidding, Tony, geez."
~*~
"When is your award up?" Ashleigh asks as she looks at the program.
"It's when we get back from the commercial break," I say looking over her shoulder.
"Oh good. I hope you win," she says.
I laugh. "Thanks." I lean closer to her. "I hope I win too," I whisper in her ear.
~*~
"And the Award for Favorite New Artist goes to..."
The envelope is ripped open and Ashleigh starts bobbing up and down in her seat.
"Stop, you're going to make me sick," I whisper, touching her legs.
"Ana!"
Tony leans over and pats my back.
"Congratulations," he says.
I glance over and smile and then I see Cody smiling at me. I lean over and give him a kiss on the cheek. Ashleigh's already standing up, jumping up and down as she claps.
"I knew you'd win, I knew you'd win."
I bend down and give her a quick kiss on the lips.
"You're my biggest fan," I say tapping her nose.
I walk up to the stage and accept my Award.
"Wow...thank you so much. I'll start with thanking the people...the fans since this is what this award is about. It's really an honor to be here tonight...to be nominated first of all," I laugh, "but to win? Wow. I really don't know what to say."
I thanked all the proper people...management, record company people. "My crew and band. You guys are the best. Tony, thanks for being there with me every day. I thank God every day for everything He has blessed me with. Last but not least, I want to thank my family. Without your love and support I would not be here today."
I step away from the microphone and wave before I turn around. I have to take a deep breath so I don't cry as I walk to the backstage area.
As soon as I'm out of sight from the rest of the people I feel a pair of strong arms swoop me up.
"You did it."
I laugh and wrap my arms around Brad's neck.
"I think I'm in shock," I say as he sets me down.
"I knew you'd win."
"I try not to think about it," I say, putting my hand against my stomach, making sure the butterflies are gone. "You know *Nsync won this award back in 1999?"
He smiles and nods. "So I heard."
"Are you up next?"
He nods. "Yeah, I need to go take the stage but I had to wait until you got back here."
He leans down quickly and kisses my cheek. "I love you," he whispers.
"Me too," I smile back at him as the next presenters walk by and smile at us. "Go," I say.
"Okay. Later, we're going to celebrate."
I smile and nod as I watch him walk away.