𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 ─ new kids on the block

𝒙𝒙𝒊𝒊𝒊.

JUNE 23, 1990
→ T I N N I E

✦

AND JUST LIKE that, the boys were already singing the encore, Hangin' Tough. Donnie had just gotten back on the stage as he had been flying all over the damn arena.

Me, Emily and Anaiyah were vibing to the song and dancing like there was no tomorrow. We were having the absolute time of our lives, that was for sure.

As they finished singing, their band started playing the instrumental of Hangin' Tough as the guys started running back and forth on the stage like crazy, reaching the crowd to say their goodbyes. Every now and then, me and Joey would glance at each other and just forget about everyone else in the arena for a few seconds. Thankfully, no one else noticed our eye-contact.

Right before the guys completely disappeared fom the stage, they came over to me, Emily and Anaiyah and high fived us all. It was quite funny to us how none of the people in the crowd had any idea about our connections with the boys. Everyone surrounding us probably thought that we were just another group of crazy fangirls, trying our best to win the boys' hearts just like they had won ours and the thousand others' who were in the crowd that night.

✦

After the first show of the Magic Summer Tour was finished, we followed the boys backstage.

As we made it to the big room where we'd been in before the show, we met up with the New Kids. They were talking to three people who looked kind of familiar. And then I realized that they had been in the front row with us. They were probably fans.

"Hey!" Joey said as he approached me and gave me a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. I could sense the three others looking at us. They were probaby wondering whether me and Joe were dating or not...

Before anyone could say anything though, Donnie introduced us to the fans. "Girls—meet Marina, Austin and Wesley! They won concert and backstage tickets to the show tonight," Donnie said as he had his arm around the girl's, who was apparently named Marina, shoulder.

We all gave the three hugs and introduced ourselves as well, and started chatting with them. Turned out that they had all been Blockheads for quite some time, since the release of Hangin' Tough about two years ago, and they'd also been to a few shows before.

We spent about an hour or so chatting with them, until Mr. Scott came into the dressing room and told us all it was time to get on the bus.

Donnie, as the generous guy he was, offered Marina, Austin and Wesley concert tickets and backstage passes to the next show. He really just did that from out-of-nowhere—the bunch hadn't given a single hint of wanting that. Yet he did it anyways.

"Well, I guess we'll see you guys tomorrow. Have a good night y'all!" Donnie then said as we all gave them hugs before leaving the arena and going to the bus.

✦

There were two tour buses waiting for us—one for Emily, Jordan and Jon, and the other one for Danny, Donnie, Joey and me.

Since the ride from Lake Placid to Saratoga Springs, which was the next city the guys would be performing at, was about two hours long, our whole 'gang' decided to hop on the same bus since we weren't going to be sleeping. It was a little after 9PM which meant that we would be in Saratoga Springs by midnight at latest.

We had decided to bring Anaiyah with us on the tour bus too, even though she was originally going to be taking the plane with her cousin. We knew we'd be doing Danny, us and Anaiyah herself quite a big favor if we let her come with us instead—we didn't want her to miss out on any of the fun.

✦

We all seated ourselves on the sofas on both sides of the bus as Donnie grabbed a boombox from underneath the sofa he was sitting on, and inserted a tape into it. The song that started playing was Roam by The B-52's, a song that Joey had been obsessed with for more than a month. Because I'd heard him sing it so many times, I knew the lyrics to the song too, even though I'd never actually listened to the full song before.

We started jamming to music and talking about all kinds of things. I was sitting next to Joey who had leaned his head on my shoulder. I could tell that he was pretty tired from the show. Every now and then the guys would say something funny and he would let out the cutest laughs that made my heart flutter, and then I'd place small kisses on his cheeks. I just loved that boy with my all.

"So, what's the msost embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you, Tinnie?" I heard someone ask me all of a sudden.

"What? What are you guys playing?" I asked in confusion.

"If you and Joe would stop being so all over each other all the damn time you'd know. Now, back to my question—what's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you?" Donnie repeated himself.

I had to take a moment to think about that. "Hmm..."

"I know the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to Danny!" Joey then randomly blurted out.

We all started making those cliché ooh sounds the moment Joey said it because we all knew that it had to be something really good.

"Well sure, have at it Joe Mac," Danny said as he proudly sat back and awaited for Joey to start telling the story. From the look on Joey's face, I could tell that he was very excited to tell his story.

"So the year is 1989 and we're at a motel. Donnie is on his way to the lobby but then stops as he looks into Danny's room. And there he is—butt naked, giving himself a little treat!" Joey spoke proudly, shocking everyone.

"Oh my God, Danny!" Emily was laughing her ass off.

"Hey, hey! Laugh all you want, but I just want you to know that I'm not ashamed!" Danny tried to calm all of us down from laughing so hard, "and Joe, that wasn't even the whole story—care to tell the rest?"

"What? There's another half to it?" Emily asked.

"Oh, there is alright. Joe?" Danny said, motioning to Joey.

"So Donnie called me and Jordan over to show us what was going on in Danny's room. It was very funny at first and we were all laughing, but after a while, Donnie started feeling kind of bad because he told us. So eventually, we all just casually walked in," Joey said as the rest of us were waiting for the best part of the story.

"And then what happened?" I blurted out.

"Well... We didn't want to leave poor Danny stranded, so... We all did it!" Joey then spoke, revealing the big plot that none of us expected.

"Oh my God! You guys are crazy," I said, still laughing, as I looked at Joey. The laughs from hearing that story kept going for quite a while.

✦

It was now around 10PM and we were about an hour away from Saratoga Springs. Jon had gone to lay down in one of the bunks as the rest of us were still awake. Well, Emily and Joey had also passed out. Emily had fallen asleep on Jordan's shoulder, and Joey had fallen asleep on mine.

Me and Anaiyah were listening to music and talking whilst Donnie and Jordan were playing video games, and Danny was reading a book. We were having a very cozy time on the bus, and I just couldn't wait for more nights like these.