A few months later....

"Karen, we have an assignment for you."

Karen looked up from her desk as her boss walked in with several sheets of paper. "What's that?"

"It's all the information you'll need for your next assignment," he said.

"Who am I interviewing?" Karen asked.

"That new singing group, 'Backstreet Boys'. They're starting to become a major hit in the music industry and they're in town."

"I've heard of them. I don't really listen to their music, but from what I've heard, all the teenage girls are going crazy for them. What they doing in LA?"

"They're performing at 'The Big Help', that charity thing Nickelodeon does every year now."

"Oh yeah. That's in two days, right?"

"Yes. The 'LA Times' wants you to do an article for them about the group. Here's some information about the group. You know, just some stuff about their album, their international success, things like that." He handed the papers to Karen.

"When am I supposed to do this?"

"Tomorrow at 2:00pm."

"Okay. I'll be ready." Karen skimmed the information, then put it down on her desk and sighed.

"Are you feeling okay, Karen?"

Karen looked at her boss. "I'm all right. I'm just a little tired."

"You know, I can get someone else to do this."

"No, that's okay. I just need to get some sleep. I think I'll go home early today."

"That's fine with me. You don't need to overwork yourself."

"Thanks." Karen gathered up her things and the assignment. She turned off her computer and grabbed her jacket. Karen walked out of her office, locked the door, and headed toward the elevator. When Karen arrived at her apartment, she called her father to see how he was doing. After that, Karen took a long, hot bath. She soon got out and looked over the information on the 'Backstreet Boys' again, thinking about some questions she could ask them.

%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

"Alright, guys, settle down," Donna Wright said. "There have been some last minute changes in your schedule for tomrrow."

Brian Littrell and Nick Carter were sitting on the floor in front of the TV playing video games. Howie Dorough and AJ McLean were on the other side of the room, messing around with one of their dance routines. Kevin Richardson was lying on the bed, reading. When he heard Donna, he sat up.

"Come on, fellas, let's go over the schedule," Kevin yelled out over the noise. Howie and AJ walked over and sat down next to Kevin on the bed. "Brian, Nick, turn off the Nintendo and get over here."

"I won!!" Nick said. He got up off the floor and started doing a little victory dance.

"You just got lucky," Brian said, sulkily. He had come so close to winning.

"Guys, you can argue over that later," Donna said. "Right now, we have some business to discuss."

"What's up?" asked Howie.

"Okay. There has been another interview added to your schedule. After your rehearsal tomorrow at 12:00 noon, you have an interview with Karen Davidson, then a photo shoot...."

"Wait a minute," Brian said. "Did you say Karen Davidson is going to interview us?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

The Boys looked at each other.

"No," Nick said. "I don't mind getting ripped to shreds by the 'Ice Queen' of the media."

"I'm aware of her reputation as being very tough," Donna said. "But I think you guys have handled enough of those types of writers to deal with it."

"She's not known to write good reviews and interviews on any group unless it's alternative or R&B," AJ said. "And even then, she's cold as ice."

"I heard she made Zac Hanson feel like a two-year-old during their interview," Nick said. "And she scared Marilyn Manson."

"Guys," Donna said. "Everyone who got a good review from her, their record sales went up. She's a very credible music critic."

"How do we know she'll give us a good review," Howie asked.

"We don't," Kevin said. "We hope and pray she doesn't bury us in our interview."

"Alright, I can see you guys are going to believe some rumors going around about Karen Davidson," Donna sighed.

"Donna, they call her the 'Ice Queen' for a reason," Kevin reminded her. "She's harsh."

"Well, you guys are going to have to do your best in the interview and the show."

"Why the show?" asked AJ, suspiciously.

"She coming to check out your performance."

"OH MAN!!!" the Boys said in unison.

"It's been nice performing with you guys," Brian said. "I'm going to start looking for a new job."

"I guess I better call my mom and tell her to enroll me at the high school now that my career is over," Nick said, sprawling himself all over the bed.

"All of you are over reacting," Donna said. "Now get some sleep. You have a lot to do tomorrow. The interview is at 2:00pm."

"Is that all?" Howie asked.

"You just have a photo shoot with 'BOP' magazine after the interview. I'll see you all in the morning." Donna got out of her chair and left the room.

"Man, I hope Donna's right about this," AJ said.

"We'll just have to wait until tomorrow to find out what's in store for us," Kevin said.

"She can't be as bad as everyone says she is," said Howie.

"Just remember that when you're looking for another job next month," Nick said.

"Alright, fellas. Let's just get some sleep," Kevin told them. "Goodnight." He left and went to his room.

All the others left except Nick, since it was his room. All of the Boys went to sleep thinking the same thing. They hoped they had a good interview.