*Disclaimer - I do not own any of the members of 'N Sync (nor would I ever really want to.. I mean.. wow.. could you imagine trying to keep them all entertained?) they belong to their respective owners. I do, however, own all fictional characters such as Carli, Mike, Devon, Ashley and Rachel. Plagiarism is still against the law. Thank you.

Authors Note - As most of you know, I write about what I see and most recently I've seen a lot of school violence on the news. It's disturbed me in a way I can't describe, nor do I think mere words could express my regret that these things happen everyday. So, in light of this final part of the Justin story, I decided to write about this. If you find this a touchy subject, please do not read any further. And, a special note to the survivors of violence in their schools, my heart goes out to you and your families. I hope you find some measure of safety soon. Thank you. - Hellbent

Disney had been a wonderful experience for everyone involved, and something that Carli would treasure for the rest of her life. Janelle and Dan had gone with her and had spent the whole week with her and Justin going back and forth to the theme park and various other tourist attractions. The first day at Disney World, Janelle had worn herself out shortly after dark and Dan had taken her back to the hotel, leaving Carli and Justin to their own defenses, not that they minded in the least. The couple had wandered around hand in hand, looking in all the little shops and laughing over small things. Just even put on a pair of mouse ears just for her, even though he complained about having bad flashbacks to his escapade on the Micky Mouse Club television show.

The second day in Florida, the whole group got together to show her and he siblings around Orlando, taking them to all the hot spots so they could get a feel of the town. All in all, Carli had a wonderful time with all of them and was sorry to see the trip come to an end. Now she sat on her bed with a secretive smile playing on her lips as she fingered a small stuffed animal in the shape of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. Justin had bought the stuffed animal for her on her last day in Orlando, just before he took them all to the airport to fly back home. He had said he'd call her sometime tonight and now she was trying to get her mind to concentrate on the math work she needed to get done before she went back to school the next day.

Her cheeks and nose still stung from the sunburn she had received while traveling around the city. Justin and the others has poked fun of her for not wearing sun screen, but she had taken it all in stride and had to laugh when Justin took pains putting aloe on her face at the end of each day. She sighed, flopping back on her bed. She hadn't wanted to vacation to end and now that it was over, she was reverting back to her old self. Someone that had a hard time acting like a normal kid. She shook her head as she turned to her math book. Things would get better soon.

After she had worked on all the homework she had been assigned before she left for the week, she ran downstairs to find a book to read while she soaked in a cool bubble bath. Her burned skin was starting to throb in the most uncomfortable way. She found a book then filled the bathtub with warmish water and climbed in. She hadn't been soaking for more than ten minutes when the portable phone rang. Being that she was the only person in the house, she had taken the phone in with her. She reached over the side of the tub and picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Hi there, hot stuff."

"Hot stuff is right. My skin still hurts."

"You should have worn more sun screen than you did."

"I know, now."

"What'cha doing?"

"Taking a bath, what about you?"

"Nada. You're taking a bath while talking to me? Oh, the images my mind is creating."

"Don't be a pervert."

"I'm not. Just, how do you wash your back?"

"We have one of those back washer things. It's got a sponge on the end of this handle type dealy thing."

"Ah, bummer."

"Maybe for you."

"Definitely for me. You happy about getting back to school?"

"Absolutely thrilled."

"You sound it."

"Justin, you know the kind of hell I go through at that place. I can't wait til graduation. Then I'll never have to go back there again."

"Just look at it this way, three more weeks and its over for good. Then all you'll have to worry about is college."

"I don't think I'm going to college."

"Why not? You're a bright person, you could handle it."

"Its not that I don't think I can't handle it. Whose going to take care of Nell while I'm gone? I can't just pick up and leave her with no one around to take care of her."

"Carli, I think what you're doing with Nell is great, but you have to worry about yourself too. What kind of life are you going to lead without at least some college under your belt? Not many places are going to take high school diplomas in the next few years."

"I know, Justin, but I won't leave Nell like that. I can't. She depends on me."

"What happens after she's grown and you don't have anyone to take care of anymore?"

"Then I start working on myself. Justin, I've thought about this for years. This is nothing new for me."

"Alright, I'll drop the subject since you're so eager to get off it."

"Thank you."

"Yeah."

"So, what are you up to for the next few months?"

"Well, we're going to California to shoot a new video sometime within the next few weeks, plus we have a few shows to do around the country. Just the same old same old."

"Poor baby."

"Baby?"

"Well, you are the youngest in the group."

"Why must everyone remind me of that?"

"Because its fun."

"Alright, whatever."

"Don't you have anything better to do than talk to me?"

"Actually, Carli, I don't."

"Thank makes me feel so special. Thanks."

"Well, put it this way. I could be doing a hundred things to please my managers but I'm talking to you instead."

"Wow. I'm impressed."

"You should be, but I have to go. I'm being pelted in the head with flying pillows because I'm making everyone late to a meeting."

"Alright, take care."

"I will, you do the same."

"I'll try."

"Talk to you later."

"Alright, bye."

"Bye." Justin hung up the phone with a smile as he turned to the other guys. "How is it that y'all can talk to your women until dawn, but I can't spend more than twenty minutes on the phone with mine?"

"Because we're older than you are." Chris shrugged with a grin as he tossed Justin's jacket to him.

"The irony of it all, eh?" JC laughed as he ushered everyone outside. They all piled into the van and headed to the recording studio to talk to their manager about the possibility of a new album. Justin sat back in his seat and folded his arms across his chest. He wasn't sure what was going to happen between Carli and him, but he was willing to wait it out and see what happens. Carli was definitely unlike anyone he had ever met. She has such love in her heart for everyone she cared for. She sacrificed everything for those people. Sometimes he worried about he doing that too much for her own good, but somehow he knew she couldn't live without that responsibility, that it was as much a part of her as her personality. He smiled secretively to himself as the van pulled out onto the street.

Carli wandered through the hallway of the high school she attended. It was turning out to be an extremely long day, much her to dismay. Most of the girls who had shunned her were now trying to become her new best friend because she had been seen dancing with Justin Timberlake at the prom. Carli found it all quite humorous. A few weeks earlier they were pitying her because she didn't really have many friends at the school and she spent her life taking care of her family, and now they all wanted to be just like her because she had somehow snagged the attention of one of the hottest guys in America. She shook her head as she opened her locker. It was just after lunch and everyone was still loud and rambunctious from all the activity in the cafeteria.

"So, Carli." Stacey Walters smiled as she stopped next to Carli's locker. Nadia Peters, Whitney Bukater and Samantha Fitzgerald were standing behind their fearless leader, all with fake smiles and too much makeup on their faces.

"So, Stacey." Carli sighed as she reached for her Advanced French book while stuffing her Trigonometry book in her locker.

"The girls and I are throwing this monster graduation bash the night of graduation." Stacey started.

"Obviously." Carli forced a smile as she shut her locker with a bang and turned to the group.

"We were just wondering if you'll go. I mean, since you are graduating." Stacey fumbled on, glancing back at her friends.

"I don't know Stacey. I'll see if I can fit it into my busy schedule." Carli smiled before she walked away with a roll of her eyes. Her newfound popularity was going to drive her crazy. She shook her head as she headed toward the library where her study hall class was being held that day. Part of her was glad for the two hour study session because she needed to work on her math, but the other half of her just wanted to ditch the class and find the nearest telephone. She sighed as she took her seat and started in on her school work.

JC sat on the bed in his hotel room, waiting for the others to get ready for the meet and greet they had before the concert they were giving that night. He idly flipped through the channels on the television, looking for something interesting to watch. He finally settled on the mid afternoon news.

"JC, watching the news?" Chris mumbled tiredly as he walked into the room, holding his watch to his ear to see if it had stopped ticking. "I guess Timex can't handle life on the road. You have an extra watch I can borrow until I can get a new one."

"Yeah, I'm watching the news. People tend to do that to keep up with what's going on in the world." JC smiled as he reached into his back and fumbled around to find a watch his friend could use.

"Oh yeah, I forgot that its the easiest way to find out what's going on and get depressed at the same time." Chris nodded thoughtfully as he flopped down on the bed next to JC. Lance was dozing contentedly in the other bed, arm tossed across his eyes to keep the light out. JC pulled out a second watch and tossed it to Chris with a tired sighed.

"We've just received this news bulletin, it seems that there has been some sort of shooting at the Regis High School in Wichita, Kansas. The police are arriving on the scene as we speak. Walter Jones, from our affiliated news station in Kansas has more."

JC and Chris glanced at one another, faces gone slightly pale. Carli attended that high school. Chris jumped up and rushed from the room, in search for Justin.

"Good afternoon, Kathy. The scene down her is pandemonium. There seems to be a hostage situation inside the high school, it is unknown yet what the terrorists want or how many people are being held captive. Gun shots were hear moments ago and, again, we are unaware of any injuries or deaths at this time. Eye witnesses say they saw three teenagers walk into the high school from one of the back entrances, all wearing black outfits and carrying large duffle bags."

Justin came into the room, eyes glued to the television as the news report unraveled in front of him. He sat down on the end of the bed, elbows resting on his knees as he listened to the news report.

"Police officers arrived at the high school thirty minutes ago, just after the first shots were fired. As of yet, they are unaware of much at this point. They are, however, making plans to go into the building and try and disarm the shooters. SWAT teams have been called for this occurrence. We'll have more about this at a later time. Thank you."

JC rested a hand on Justin's shoulder and gave it a squeeze as Justin's head bowed for a moment. He came in half way through the news report, but it had sounded awful. He sighed shaking his head as he climbed to his feet. Meet and greet is in twenty minutes, he thought inanely as he walked from the room. JC climbed to his feet and gazed over at Chris.

"You might want to call the girls, have them come out here. Justin's going to need all of us around him. And call management, see if we can get a couple of days off. I know we have a concert tonight, but see if we can reschedule it for another time." JC stated softly before he followed Justin into the other room.

"Curly, you okay?" JC inquired as Justin searched his bag for a clean shirt to wear.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Justin mumbled distractedly as he discarded a shirt he pulled out. His heart thundered in his chest and, oddly, his body felt numb. Almost as if he weren't really affected by what was going on, but he was. Too closely for his liking. He felt like crying, he felt like screaming because he had no idea what was going on, or even if Carli was alright.

"Because you just found out Carli may be in a bit of danger." JC sighed as he grabbed Justin's arm.

"JC, I know you mean well, but don't. Please, just don't. I know that Carli's in there and I know that she may be hurt. But I can't think about that right now. As much as it kills me, I have to concentrate on the job at hand, which is meeting all those fans that have come out to see us." Justin shook his head. It seemed as if the air was a lot harder to breathe now.

"Justin," JC shook his head when Justin interrupted him.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to get ready." Justin sighed, back turned to his older friend. JC gazed at Justin's back for a moment before returning to the other room. Justin walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Steam drifted off the hot water as he stripped and climbed in. This is what you get when you become attached to someone. You've seen this stuff happen before. Why did you ignore all the warning and pleadings of everyone around you to be careful? Why couldn't you have just left her alone? He sighed, closing his eyes against his berating mind. Because you knew she was going to make you happy. Because you knew she was special, that she was a keeper. You knew right from the beginning she was going to teach you so many things about love and life. Because you need her. He braced himself with a hand against the wall as his mind and his heart fought for control of his emotions. He took a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm the beating of his heart, the loose and tumbling thoughts in his head. He rested his forehead against the wall, bitter, stinging tears coming to his eyes. This can't be happening. What other lesson do I need to learn this soon?

JC stood in the doorway, listening to Chris talk on the phone with his girlfriend. He explained what was going on in a hushed voice, sounding worse than Justin had only moments earlier. After a few minutes, Chris hung up the phone with a sigh.

"They're on their way. Dev said it should only take them about two hours to get here." Chris stated loudly enough to be heard over the television, which had been turned up so the latest breaking news could be heard over the commotion that was going on in the hallway.

"What's going on?" Lance mumbled tiredly as he pushed himself into a sitting position, rubbing his eyes.

"There's been some sort of fire fight over at Carli's school. No one knows what's going on." Chris answered as he climbed to his feet. "How's the kid doing?"

"He's not talking. Just wants to get on with the business at hand." JC shook his head, unsure of what to do next.

"I was expecting as much." Chris sighed, rubbing the back of his neck with a hand. They waited patiently for more news from either the news station or their manager, who was finding out about getting to Kansas. Finally, they found out that they could reschedule the next few concerts in lieu of what was happening. Chris and JC heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that would help Justin out. Justin walked into the room, hair still damp from the shower.

"How come everyone's not ready to go?" he inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Steven got it so we have a couple of days off. The concerts have been rescheduled for a later date and time." Chris answered, glancing over at the younger man who nodded with detachment.

"Alright, then I'm gonna go get some sleep." he mumbled before leaving the room again. JC sighed and glanced up when the door opened. Joe walked in with Devon, Rachel, Ashley and Mike in tow. Devon walked over the Chris and was immediately wrapped in a hug, as was Rachel with Lance. Mike walked over to JC, her eyes pained.

"How's the old man doing?" she inquired as she reached out and gave JC a hug.

"I don't know. He refuses to talk about it." JC answered with a sigh as his arms wrapped tightly about her waist.

"Where is he?" she questioned as she pulled away.

"In the other room." JC motioned toward the closed door on the other side of the room.

"Alright, let me go try to get him to talk." Mike nodded and gave him a quick kiss before she walked over to the door and opened it. No one had a chance to see what Justin was doing because she quickly shut the door behind her. The room was dark, the only light being the muted television. Justin sat on the bed, watching the latest news report, his head resting on his hands.

"Hey, old man." Mike stated softly as she sat down next to him on the bed.

"Hi Mike." Justin mumbled, his eyes never leaving the television screen. Without a word, he sprawled out on the bed and rested his head in her lap, eyes closed against the horror the news was revealing to the viewers of the world. Mike's hand rested on his hair, gently combing her fingers through the damp locks.

"You know, its okay to be upset over this." she commented softly. He sighed but remained silent. Mike closed her eyes and sighed silently, wishing she knew what was going on in her younger friend's head.

"I never thought it would hurt this much." Justin stated so softly she could barely hear him.

"You never thought what could hurt this much?" Mike questioned, her hand still combing through his hair comfortingly.

"Finding out." he shrugged with a sigh.

"You're losing me here, old man." she shook her head, watching the television screen absentmindedly.

"Finding out that you really care for someone. I mean, I knew I cared about Carli. Things wouldn't have happened like they did if I didn't. She was truly happy in Orlando. God, she was laughing and smiling, just acting like a normal teenager. And I found myself thinking all these things. Things I knew I shouldn't be thinking, things I knew that would only lead to pain." Justin sighed with a shake of his head, his voice becoming hoarse with the emotions he was trying to force back down into his soul.

"What kinds of things, old man." Mike pressed softly. He shook his head, falling silent again. "Come on hon, talk to me. Tell me what's going on in that head of yours."

"What do you want me to say? That I'm horrified with what's going on in Kansas. Fine, I'm horrified. You want me to tell you that I care more for Carli than I probably should. Fine, I care way too much for her. You want me to ask why me? Fine, why me? What the hell did I do to deserve having the one girl I care about be put in a situation like that? You want me to tell you that I'm okay, that I'll get through this and so will Carli? Fine, we'll both make it through this. You want me to tell you that I want to be there at the school so when she comes out, she can see my face and know that I love her? Fine, I want to be there so I can hold her and comfort her when she makes it out of there alive. Is that good enough for you?" Justin ground out as he jumped to his feet to pace the room like a caged animal. Mike climbed to her feet to stand in front of Justin.

"J, don't do this to yourself." she shook her head as he raked a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Don't do what?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Keep everything locked up inside. Do anything. Scream, yell, cry, punch the wall. Do something cause you're going crazy. I can see it." Mike replied softly as anger sparked in his eyes.

"You want me to get angry because I've lost it over a girl or because she trapped with a bunch of psychos who will most likely murder her?" he demanded hotly.

"Either, just do something so you can get it out and we can get on a plane for Kansas!" Mike retorted.

"Fine!" Justin stormed, turning in a tight circle to slam his fist into the closest wall. "You want me to get angry? Fine! I'm angry!" he pounded on the wall again, this time with more force. The door that connected the two rooms opened slightly and JC took a step to walk inside. Mike shook her head at him and motioned for him to shut the door again.

"I'm angry now! Are you happy?" Justin yelled loudly, tears clouding his vision. "Are you happy now?"

"Justin," Mike took a sep forward as Justin dropped to his knees in frustration. "You're like a brother to me, and I love you like I do my real brothers."

Justin nodded, eyes closed against the tears he swore he wouldn't cry. "Can we go now?"

Mike nodded as she helped him to his feet. "We should wrap your hand up first."

"Why?" he made a face as she lead him to the bathroom.

"Cause you're bleeding, dear."

Carli sat ramrod straight in her chair, hoping and praying the shooting wouldn't start again. One kid about her age paced in front of the large study hall class holding what looked to be a semi-automatic rifle in his hands. He looked oddly familiar, like she had seen him before somewhere. The guy next to her was bleeding from a gun shot wound to the shoulder. James, his name was James. He had always been nice to her and talked to her in passing in the hallways. He had tried to protect some of the females and had gotten shot for his gallant efforts. It had been almost six hours since the shooters had stormed the high school and started shooting people. So far, she had only seen three people carrying guns. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed James collapse onto a desk, his breathing coming in short gasps. Carli calmly climbed to her feet and walked over to the person who was holding the gun.

"What are you doing out of your seat?" he demanded loudly. His voice finally helped her realize where she had seen him before. He was in her French and Economics classes. Ralph Williams.

"James, he's not doing well. He needs medical attention." she stuttered in a soft voice.

"And this affects me how?" Ralph raised an eyebrow, his eyes cold.

"'He's going to die if you don't let someone help him." Carli tried again, this time with more power behind her voice.

"Honey, more people than him are going to die today. Why don't you go back to your seat like a good little girl." Ralph gave her a violent push back towards the table she had been sitting at. She stumbled as she turned back. One kid was already dead. He had gotten in the way of the flying bullets and had taken one in the neck. She had stumbled over his body. Jason Pitts. Senior editor of the school news paper, straight A student, all around nice guy, dating one of the reporters of the news paper. Carli's hand flew to her mouth to keep herself from gagging as she rushed back to her seat. She turned toward James and pressed down on the makeshift bandage that had been made for him out of someone's sweatshirt. She knew now that he was going to die, and she also knew there was nothing she could do to stop this from happening. It would be two deaths so far.

"Do me a favor?" James rasped, grabbing her hand tightly in his. She nodded silently. "Tell my parents that I love them and I'm sorry. And tell my girlfriend that I love her no matter about the fight we had. Its important that she know that. I've always loved her. And tell my brother to watch out for the kids, they're going to have a rough time of...." he gave her the instructions, but stopped suddenly with a wince of pain. "They're going to have a rough time of it. Tell them. Please."

"I will. Don't worry, I'll deliver the messages. I promise." Carli whispered, tears burning her eyes. James nodded, squeezing his eyes shut with the pain as he started shivering.

"Its cold. You ever realize that it stays cold her until June?" James mumbled with a hacking cough.

"Yeah, I've noticed. Would you like me to get something to cover you with?" Carli nodded, the tears escaping her eyes and flowing down her cheeks freely. James nodded with a soft groan. Carli climbed to her feet and walked over the where she had dropped her bag off, near the doorway.

"Where do you think you're going?" Ralph barked loudly, causing her to jump slightly.

"I'm getting my bag. I have a sweatshirt inside that James needs." she retorted loudly as she swooped up her book bag. She rushed back over to James as she opened her bag and took the sweatshirt out.

"Here you go, James." Carli sighed as she draped her oversized sweatshirt over the young man. He remained silent. "James?"

Carli covered her mouth when she saw his unseeing eyes. He was already dead. She sat down heavily in her chair, eyes closed against the horrific events that were happening around her. There were now two dead. How many more are there? How many more people are going to die before this nightmare ends? She rested her head on the desk, and tried to block out the cries of the people around her. People were sobbing, begging to be released. It was almost more than she could bear.

Justin arrived at the high school just as the sun was setting. The students had been held captive for nearly ten hours now and there was still no word on if Carli was alright. The police knew that there was a confirmed ten dead. Three teachers and six students. They also found out that the majority of the students were being held in the cafeteria and the library. The only thing the police had been able to come up with was that there were four or five gunmen that were spread throughout the high school campus in the most unlikely of places, each carrying firearms and possibly pipe bombs. The SWAT team was working on a plan to storm the building, being that the gunmen hadn't made any demands.

Justin sighed as he looked around for Dan, Carli's older brother who would be on the scene by now. Mike and Lance were with him while the others remained on the sidelines where they wouldn't be in the way of the proceedings.

"Justin, hey man. What are you doing here?" a familiar voice questioned. Justin turned to see Dan holding a silently crying Nell in his arms.

"I saw what happened on the news and decided to come down and give my support. Besides, I love your sister." Justin shrugged as Lance held out his arms to Janelle, who willing switched people.

"As far as I know, Carli had study hall when this whole thing started. Which means, she's in the library." Dan told Justin as he looked around, red and blue flashing lights causing everything to look strangely bright. Justin nodded with a sigh.

"What's going to happen?" Justin inquired as he glanced around the parking lot where the police had set up a barricade.

"I have no idea. We just have to wait it out." Dan shook his head.

Carli gazed tiredly about the room. It was nearly midnight and it had been a stressful day to say the least. A small firefight had broken out two hours earlier and seven more people had died. She counted in her head how many people's lives these gunmen took. The highest number she knew for sure was twelve. She shook her head as she glanced around the room. People were now sleeping fitfully, having nightmares about the events leading to this moment. The fear had subsided for Carli. She felt strangely numb. She knew she had to do something to help her classmates, but she hadn't a clue as to how to go about doing something like that. She rested her head down on the table in front of her and closed her eyes, letting her mind wander.

Carli sighed with frustration. She wished she knew why this was happening. She was worried about Janelle and Dan. She wondered if Justin and the rest of her friends in Orlando had heard about this little escapade on the news yet. Tears stung her eyes as the overwhelming feeling of fear and destitution crashed over her like an unrelenting tidal wave. She needed to get some fresh air, but she didn't dare move in fear of upsetting the person holding everyone captive in the room. Her eyes darted about the room. Mr. Peterson, the teacher who was in charge of Study Hall, glanced about the room making sure that the students were doing alright.

"That is so not fair. You can't do that. I'm seventeen years old and if I wanna go out in the sun, I'll go out in the sun." Carli exclaimed loudly giving him a playful shove.

"Oh yeah?" Justin folded his arms across his chest.

"Yeah." she nodded firmly.

"Okay, have at it Sun Girl." he shook his head with a smile as he left the bathroom.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Carli yelped jumping down from the counter to run after him.

"I'm going downstairs to watch some tv, but you don't want to join me because you want to go out in the sun. So, I'll see you later." Justin waved to her as he walked calmly down the stairs, trying to hide a smile.

"That's not fair." Carli yelled, leaning over the railing to watch Justin disappear around the corner.

"Life isn't fair. Get used to it kid." she heard Justin laugh from the livingroom.

"Kid," she muttered savagely to herself. "I'll show him kid." She burst out into laughter as she raced down the stairs to tackle Justin on the couch. A small wrestling match ensued, neither caring who the winner would be.

Carli sighed, glancing around the room. Her mind decided that now was the time to play tricks on her, showing her how good life could be just when it might be taken from her in the cruelest of ways. She shook her head, rubbing the fatigue from her face. She had to stop thinking about the happiness in her life, and concentrate on not doing anything to upset Ralph.

"No," Mike shook her head. "Its just that dreamboy over here has forgotten that I come from Boston. It doesn't get this hot in Boston, therefore I am unused to being drenched in sweat. I'm going to go take a shower."

"Honey, you don't have a change of clothes here." JC called out to her as she walked up the stairs.

"Carli, come upstairs and talk to me while I ransack JC's closet for something to wear." Mike called back with a laugh.

"Oh, for crying out loud. Why does she always go for my closet?" JC mumbled with a shake of his head.

"On my way!" Carli laughed as she grabbed a bottled water from the fridge in the kitchen.

"You just love me for my clothes, don't you?" JC yelled up the stairs.

"Something like that!" Mike yelled back from JC's room as Carli climbed the stairs. She stepped into JC's room and had to laugh at the sight Mike made. She was holding up a pair of pants that looked ten sizes too big for JC and about twelve sizes too big for her. She glanced up at Carli with a raised eyebrow.

"I'll never understand why those guys just don't wear pants that fit. Its gotta be hard to dance with the crotch hanging halfway down their knees." Mike shook her head with an amused twinkle in her eye.

"Maybe they're ashamed of their posteriors?" Carli shrugged, trying to give a helpful insight.

"Now, hold up a minute," Mike laughed holding up a hand to stop further comments from Carli. "I know first hand that those boys posteriors are just fine. I have seen them wear khakis and, well, lets just say that there's nothing to be ashamed of. Maybe I should steal all their pants and make them buy some that fit right."

"I think Justin would kill you." Carli laughed as she flopped down on the bed, gazing up at the ceiling.

"You're probably right." Mike nodded as she resumed searching JC's closet for something that could actually fit her, or, at least enough so she could wear it until she got back to her own clothes. "What's going on with you and Justin anyway?"

"I have no idea. He's out there shooting hoops while I'm in here ransacking JC's closet with you." Carli shrugged with a sigh.

"Oh." Mike grinned knowingly.

"What?" Carli demanded sitting up, giving her an expectant look.

"Nothing." she shook her head, ducking back into the closet.

"You can't start something like that and not finish it. What?" Carli shook her head as she jumped to her feet.

"If Justin tends to ignore you at times, it cause he likes you. Believe me, I know. I've been through this with the kid before. He's beginning to get a clue though cause he didn't start ignoring you right away, which impressed me." Mike explained with a wave of her hand as she pulled out a short sleeved shirt, made a face at what was printed on it, then shoved it back into the closet.

"So, because Justin is ignoring me, he likes me." Carli laughed with a shake of her head.

"Yeah. Its something all men do. JC ignored me for the first three months he knew me. I didn't understand it then, but I do now. Its just one of those things that they teach the male species. Ignore possible girlfriend else you will be labeled incompetent and be a disgrace to your species." Mike giggled as she finally decided on a Hard Rock Cafe tank top that was resting on the closet doorknob. She then moved to the dresser to find something to wear for pants or shorts.

"Yes, but, why do guys do it? Don't they understand that it totally turns off the female species?" Carli inquired, making a face.

"I honestly haven't formed a theory on that yet. I think you just kind of have to come up with something on your own. For every female, its different. Good Lord, his boxers are big enough for me to wear as shorts." Mike laughed as she held up a pair of JC's boxers.

"Go through my underwear drawer?" a familiar male voice questioned with amusement.

"I'm just looking for something to wear." Mike defended herself with a laugh as Carli flopped back down on the bed.

"In my underwear drawer." JC commented with a shake of his head.

"Not my fault. If you wore pants that actually fit, then I wouldn't have such a hard time finding something to wear. I mean, I'd need a belt, which I am not wearing today, just to keep the suckers resting on my hips." Mike waved a hand in the air and laughed when she noticed that it was the hand that held the boxers in question.

"Now she's using my shorts as a flag." JC groaned as he took a seat on a chair, folding his arms across his chest while watching his girlfriend with barely veiled amusement.

"JC, maybe you can clear something up for us ladies." Carli stated as she smiled over at the only man in the room.

"Yeah? What's that?" he raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued.

"Why do guys ignore the girls they like?" Carli laughed as she leaned back against the headboard of the bed.

"We have major insecurity problems. I don't know. We just do. Why do women always ask if clothes make them look fat? Why do children cry? Its one of the unanswered mysteries of the galaxy." JC shrugged with a smile.

"I do not ask if clothes make me look fat." Mike shook her head firmly.

"You don't?" JC laughed.

"No, I don't. Any man of mine, remember?" Mike's lips twitched precariously with a smile.

"I don't think I remember that theory of yours." he shook his head, not quite sure he wanted to know what she was talking about. Mike glanced over at Carli and wiggled her eyebrows.

"Any man of mine better be proud of me, even when I'm ugly he still better love me. And I can be late for a date that's fine, but he better be on time." Mike stated, folding her arms across her chest with a smile.

"Oh Lord, here we go." JC groaned, laughing.

"Here we go, one more time, everybody's feeling fine, here we go now!" Mike sang at the top of her lungs, bouncing around the room.

"I think she's lost it." Carli whispered conspiratorially to JC who laughed harder.

"She never had it to begin with." he promised her with a nod of his head.

"I heard that!" Mike yelled from the hall where she was slowly making her way to the bathroom.

"Uh oh, I don't want to piss her off. She'll make my life hell." JC shook his head with a sardonic look on his face

"I heard that, too!" Mike laughed loudly.

"I think you better quit while you're ahead." Carli advised wisely.

"I know I should, but with Mike, its too hard not to tease her." JC laughed softly.

"You know I heard that, Joshua Scott! You now owe me dinner and a movie." Mike yelled, a door slamming the final note.

"I was waiting for that." JC smiled with a nod.

"You do that just so you can take her out, don't you." Carli nodded knowingly.

"Guilty as charged. I love her to pieces, but we rarely have time to go out anymore. She makes the time for me to deliver on things owed to her. Sounds weird, but its just a little game we play. This way if anyone asks, we have a legitimate reason for blowing everyone off." JC shrugged as he climbed to his feet.

"Being a couple isn't enough?" Carli raised an eyebrow.

"Not with the career we have." JC sighed, leaving the room. Carli thought for a moment, pondering what JC had disclosed. Maybe that was why Justin was acting as peculiar as he was. She sighed, shaking her head, as she climbed to her feet and left the room.

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