Road Signs and Rock Songs

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"Hey," Kelly poked her head into the dressing room. "You decent?"

"Shouldn't you ask that before you look in?" Kate laughed.

"Probably," Kelly nodded, walking into the room, and joining her on the couch. "Where's Jill?"

"She's freaking out, so she went for a walk."

"Is everything ok?" Kelly asked worriedly.

"Oh, yea, don't worry. She just gets a bit shy."

"She didn't seem shy when y'all were belting out that song on my bus."

"Camera shy," Kate explained. "And one of the guys let it slip about how there's like 50 million NASCAR fans out there."

"Yea, that'll do it," Kelly laughed softly, folding her legs indian style and turning to face her. She found herself growing comfortable with the other girl immediately. She had called them up a couple times over the past few months while she was in L.A. to hang out, wanting to get to know them better and get their chemistry right. It amazed her how fast the three of them had clicked with just a couple dinners. "What about you? Any stage fright?"

"No. A little nervous, but that's it."

"And how's everything going? Y'all are getting along with the guys in the band and everything?"

Kate smiled.

"What?"

"You know, we've done back up for several acts, and not a single one of them has ever asked us that."

"Well, that's kinda rude."

"Everybody's gotta pay their dues, right?" Kate shrugged. "But yea, the band's hilarious. They're really great."

"Good," Kelly nodded. "Because if they ever give y'all any trouble, let me know, and I'll knock some sense into them."

"Yea, cause that seemed to be going so well when we first got here the other day," she teased.

Kelly laughed, "I totally let them do that. They're guys. You have to stroke their egos every now and them."

Kate laughed, and Kelly smiled at the genuiness of it. She couldn't remember the last time she had met someone that was so flat out sincere, especially since she had won Idol.

There was a knock on the door, and the two girls looked up. Ashley walked in, guiding Jill in front of her.

"Does this belong to you?" Ashley asked.

"Um...yea," Kate laughed.

"Kate, this is my best friend and make-up artist, Ashley," Kelly explained.

"Where have you been?" Ashley asked, looking at the other Texan who was a good several inches shorter than everyone else in the room.

"Oh...um...I was just...I was just about to come meet you," Kelly smiled innocently.

"Bull," Ashley laughed. "I was looking for you everywhere. You were totally hiding."

"From what?" Kate asked.

"She's afraid of make-up."

"I'm not afraid," Kelly shook her head. "I'm merely allergic."

"Right..." Ashley nodded, rolling her eyes. "And you're totally wearing underwear right now."

Kate raised an eyebrow.

Kelly shrugged, "She knows me too well...see y'all later. Y'all are welcome to come hang out in my dressing room when y'all are ready. Everybody else usually does."

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"Hey," Kelly smiled, walking over to Jill and Kate as they waited around for the little golf-carts that would take them to the stage in the middle of the track. "How's it going?"

Kate looked over at Jill who was wringing her hands nervously, muttering the lyrics to one of the songs.

"Jill?" Kelly asked carefully. "You ok?"

She shook her head.

"Nervous?"

She nodded.

"What are you nervous of?"

"Falling."

"Oh, that's nothing to worry about, trust me, I've fallen several times on stage. Plus the cameras will be mainly focused on me and the crowd, so if you fall there's a ninety-nine percent chance they won't even catch it."

Kate laughed softly.

"What else are you scared of?"

"Forgetting the lyrics," Jill frowned.

"Aw, hunny, I do that all the time. Honestly, usually at least once a show, but hey I'll make you a deal, alright? You forget the lyrics or mess up with the song, I'll totally mess up with you, that way, everybody will be laughing at me. How's that sound?"

"Good," Jill nodded.

Kelly smiled, "Awesome. So, just remember to breathe, and you'll be alright."

Jill nodded again as Kelly walked away, Kate right beside her.

"You're good," Kate noted.

"I was being serious. I always forget my lyrics. I zone out so bad sometimes, or I just get distracted by something in the crowd, and the lyrics go right out the window...especially when it's a song that I wrote, which is weird."

Kate laughed.

"Oh, hey, I got those tickets for y'all for the Crossroads thing," Kelly turned to her with a smile. "Backstage passes too if y'all want to meet Reba."

"Meet Reba? Now why would we want to do that," she responded sarcastically.

Kelly laughed, "Well, the passes are yours then."

"Thanks so much," Kate pulled her into a hug.

"Anytime," Kelly's smile grew as she pulled back.

"Kelly," Ashley called from across the room.

"Oh, sorry, gotta go," she grinned, touching Kate's arm lightly before hurrying over to Ashley. "Hey, what's up?"

"Nothing..." Ashley smiled.

"What's with the smile?"

"What smile?"

"The 'I know something you don't' smile."

Ashley shrugged, "So the backup singers seem nice."

"Yea, they're real sweet."

"Kate...she's cute."

"Yes, she is," Kelly turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "I'm guessing this goes with the smile?"

Ashley shrugged, patting her shoulder, "Just making sure you're behaving."

"I'm totally behaving," Kelly protested as Ashley smirked, walking away.

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Kelly bounced as she walked off the stage, grinning from ear to ear.

"You ok?" Jason asked, following her off the stage. "Your voice was a little pushing it."

"Yea, I know, the wind and the firecrackers and the interviews before didn't exactly help...but we just performed a song from the new album!"

Jason laughed as she hugged him tightly.

"You think the fans will like it?"

"I'm sure they'll love it," he nodded, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

She grinned as the rest of the band made their way off stage, pulling her into a big hug. "Y'all...come on...y'all are all sweaty..."

Cory laughed as they let her go, "How'd it feel?"

"Great," she nodded as Jimmy pulled her into another hug. "Really, really great."

"We're almost there, KC. Just hang in there, alright?" Jimmy smiled.

She nodded, walking forward as Jill and Kate followed Angela off the stage, "How'd it go? Anybody fell? Forgotten lyrics?"

"It went great," Jill replied, blushing slightly. "Sorry I was so nervous."

"Shoot, no problem. Can't blame you, I know plenty of people who would've freaked to sing in front of that many people. You did well, girl."

Kate smiled, "How was it performing the new song?"

"It was so awesome," Kelly beamed. "God, I can't wait to get the CD out. Hey...y'all want to hear it? Oh, and hey, we're going to a bar after this, y'all are coming, right?"

"Isn't this Nascar thing one giant beer fest as is?" Jill asked curiously.

Kelly shrugged, "So?"

"Are you always this wired after a performance?" Kate laughed.

"Just about," she smiled.

"This is definitely going to be fun."

Kelly's smile grew as Kate wrapped an arm around her and Jill, walking with them back to the dressing rooms.