"Yo, can you toss us the ball?" a voice called snapping her out of her day dream.

"Huh? Oh yeah sure no problem." she said picking up the ball and tossing it back to the guy. Then she closed her eyes listening to the music coming from her radio

"Thanks a lot." the voice said. Angelica just nodded her head then she sighed as one of her favorite songs by the Backstreet Boys came on and she could feel the tears coming. ‘Oh no Angelica not here, not now, no pull yourself together.’ she said to herself as Howie’s voice came though the speakers "Never meant to feel this way" Angelica sang.

"Hey B-Rok you plan on serving that ball anytime soon " Nick said getting annoyed

"Yeah Rok, come on" AJ said. Brian looked "Do you guys hear that where is it coming from? That voice is like the voice of an angel" he said serving the ball. 

"Its coming from that girl over there" Nick said. Angelica sighed as her cell phone rang

"Hello?" she said forgetting that it was on speaker.

“Angelica you little tramp, where are you? I came home and dinner wasn’t done, and you’re not home" Eric yelled at her. Angelica hung her head

"Eric I am so sorry, I thought you wouldn’t be home till later; I’ll be home soon," she said hanging up her phone and wiping a tear from her eye.
"Yo Kev, man, did you hear how that guy was talking to her?” Brian asked his cousin as they watched Angelica get up and fold up her chair, then gather up all her stuff and walk to her car. Kevin nodded.

"Yeah I did, but there isn’t anything we can do about it. Brian you really should mind your own business." Kevin said picking up the ball to serve it. Howie’s heart went out to her as he watched her get into her car and leave

"Hey! Earth to Howie, anyone home?" Nick said waving his hand in front of his face. Howie shook his head

"Huh? What? Get lost Nick." Howie said pushing him.

Eric was waiting for Angelica in the living room when she came in. He had been drinking. Angelica went right to the kitchen and started to make supper not saying a word

"Angelica, get in here now!" Eric yelled from the living room. Angelica went to him.

"Yes Eric? What can I do for you?" Angelica said looking at the floor. Eric smiled,

"Come here." he said grabbing Angelica pulling her closer to him. She could smell the alcohol on his breath and it made her stomach turn

"You were at the beach again weren’t you?" Eric yelled forcing her to her knees. Angelica slowly lifted her head to look at him

"I thought it would be alright, Eric I am really sorry please let me go, you’re hurting me." she said fighting tears

"Shut up!" he yelled slapping her knocking her to the floor then kicking her he yelled

"Now get back in there and finish supper, I want it done and on the table by the time I get back.” Angelica got up and finished supper then waited for Eric’s return, she set the table for Eric and herself.

"Well, well, well, it looks like I am going to have to treat you like this more often." Eric said walking through the door. Angelica didn’t say anything but Eric grabbed her.

"Look at me when I am talking to you, you piece of trash!" Angelica again slowly lifted her head to look at him and was struck again.

Angelica ate supper quietly, then cleaned up the dishes and went to get ready for Eric to call her to get in the car so he can sit at the club and watch her work

"Hey tramp! Let’s go." Eric yelled. Angelica walked out in her uniform and got in the car. Eric drove to the club and her heart raced as she seen the purple corvette with the front plates saying SWEET D. Eric got out of the car and grabbed her wrist

"Don’t even think about telling anyone what happened, tell them you fell if they ask or you will get it worse when we get home. Got it?" Eric whispered. Angelica nodded and put on a fake smile as she always did.

“Hey Angelica, we need you in the private dinning room." Morgan said as Angelica clocked in, she nodded

"Okay Morgan, I’ll get right in there." she tied her waitress apron and started to walk into the private dinning room.

"Hello, I’ll be taking care of you tonight. My name is Angelica, what can I get you to drink?" she said not looking up from her note pad.

"Hey! I know you, you’re that girl I hit in the head with the volley ball" Nick said. Angelica looked up and Kevin noticed the bruise on her face.

"What happened to your face?" Kevin asked. Angelica looked down and stuttered.

"Oh I… um… well, I fell down the stairs back home, I am such a klutz." she said forcing a smile. Kevin smiled as well but he wasn’t buying it.

“We are still waiting on the rest of our group so I’ll take some water. Howie what do you want to drink? "Kevin asked. Angelica's heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. She looked at Howie and smiled a fake smile. "I think I'll have some ice tea" he said smiling back. Nick sighed

"I want a Mountain Dew" Angelica smiled,

"Alright I’ll get these drinks and I’ll be right back" she said smiling. Two minutes later she came back forcing a smile.

"Alright, here is your water, Mountain Dew, and Ice Tea. Will there be anything else?" she asked.

"Yeah my friend here wants your phone number, don’t you Howie?" Nick teased. Kevin kicked him under the table

"Ow, man that hurt!" Nick whined. Angelica blushed.

"Um… sorry, but I um, I have a boyfriend" she said looking down.

Howie looked up at Angelica and said

"Is he the one that did that to your face?” Angelica shook her head no but still refused to look him in the eyes.

“Well, if you are ever in any trouble call me anytime" he said handing her a piece of paper with his number written on it.

Angelica blushed and said

"Sorry I can’t take this, my boyfriend is the jealous type so I am sorry I can’t accept this number." she handed him the paper back and turned fighting tears. Howie stopped her and slipped the number in her apron pocket.

“Please just take it. Just in case.” He whispered.

Angelicas friend Monica came in to start her first day, and to get trained as a waitress.

"Oh my god Angelica is that who I think that is? Is that Howie, Nick, and Kevin of Backstreet Boys. Angelica sighed trying to force herself to look like anything was wrong. She cleared her throat

"Yes it is, and you have that table, so go over and stay professional. I need to go on break for a few minutes, I’ll be right back." she said to Monica walking out to have a cigarette. Monica had seen the bruise on her check and shook her head; Eric had been at it again.

"Yo Nick, man did you eat all the food before we got here? Hey D! What’s up man?" AJ said.

"AJ, not now. Where is Brian, Leighanne, Baylee, Kristen, and Amy?" Kevin said give AJ a warning look not to start his teasing because he wasn’t in the mood for it.

"Man, chill here they come." AJ said pointing behind him.

Eric sat watching everything

"Angelica!" he yelled and she walked over

"Eric please, this is my job I am begging you. I could lose my job please don’t do this; your drunk let me get you some coffee. Please Eric your embarrassing me" she pleaded near tears. Eric grabbed her arm hard and turned her around to face him

"Me? Embarrass you? That’s a laugh, look at you! You live in a world of make believe! Do you think for one minute that Howie of the Backstreet Boys would ever want a worthless tramp like you?" Angelica could feel everyone’s eyes on her

"Eric please, I already know I don’t stand a chance with any of them okay? You’re hurting me now, please let me go" Tears were streaming down her face messing up her make up, and showing the bruise more clearly that Eric had put there earlier.

Eric laughed and hit her shoving her backwards

"Just wait until we get home Angelica I’ll show you your place I’ll teach you to talk back to me!”

Monica had seen what happened and heard what Eric had said she shook her head "Poor Angelica, I wish she would just leave that jerk and find a guy that isn’t abusive." Monica said not paying attention to what she said out loud. Then she Howie look up at the mention of Angelica’s name.