| Justin sat and stared out the window. He couldn't decide if he was more sad or more angry. Clenching his fists, he decided on angry. The large, luxurious hotel suite still carried her perfumed scent. It burned his nostrils and stung his throat. He swallowed hard and reached for the half empty bottle of beer on the table. It was his third straight, and he was starting to feel numb. Justin downed the rest of it in one gulp, letting out a loud burp. He laughed, in spite of himself, in spite of the miserable mood she had put him in once again. He knew if she had been there, she would have shot him a look of disgust, and made a rude comment about how immature he was. Justin rubbed his tired eyes and got up. He felt like crap and knew this was all wrong. He had waited three weeks to see her, pining away for her, calling her daily and thinking about her hourly. Now she was here, and he couldn't be more miserable. The knock at the door surprised him and his heart leapt, just a bit, thinking maybe she was coming back to apologize to him. He paused for a moment, running his fingers through his curly hair. The last thing he wanted was to appear over anxious. Tossing the empty beer bottle in the trash, he approached the door slowly, taking deep breaths with each step. "Dude, open up!" Justin's face fell as he recognized Chris' loud voice. "Go away Chris!" he hollered back, kicking at the wall angrily. What am I stupid? Of course it's not her. She's never apologized in her life, especially not to me. Why do I put up with her shit? Why? "I ain't going away so better just open the freakin' door." Chris continued to bang his fists on the door. Justin cursed under his breath and unlatched the door. Chris pushed it open, letting himself and Lance in. Lance took one look at his friend and knew immediately that she had caused problems again. Wanting to shield him from Chris' overactive personality, Lance suggested that they go get a bite to eat, minus Justin. "Man, what's going on with you?" Chris pried, grabbing a silky pair of her panties from the bed. "Ten minutes ago, you were ready to hang with us, now you look like your dog just died. What gives?" Justin grabbed his girlfriend's panties back, and tossed them to the side. He rubbed the stubble on his chin and sighed. Lance grabbed Chris' elbow. "Come on, let's just get something to eat. His woman's in town anyways." Justin turned on his heels, staring at his two friends. "Naw, ya know what? Screw her! I'm in." Lance raised an eyebrow. "You sure man?" Only he knew all the problems Justin had with his girlfriend, he coldheartedness and cheating ways. He was also the only one pivvy to Justin occassional crying sessions. "Yeah, I'm cool. She split for the night." He grabbed a clean tee shirt and pulled it on. "Let's hit." Chris clapped his hands together, oblivious to the distraught look on Justin's face. "That's more like it. Let's go. Joey and JC are waiting." Lance let Chris walk ahead, hoping to talk quietly with Justin. He waited as Justin grabbed his wallet and hat. "So, what did she do this time?" he asked, trying to control his annoyance with her. Justin shrugged, closing the hotel door behind him. "Lance, it doesn't even matter to me anymore." Lance sighed and fiddled with the ring on his hand. "Well, if you want to talk about it...." He watched as Justin shook his head and walked ahead. He chewed on his lip and wished there was something he or one of the guys could say to make him realize what a destructive relationship he was in. The 9 months the two had dated, and Lance realized he'd never seen this side of his friend. Normally outgoing and fun loving, he'd turned into a virtual recluse, spending any down time calling her, or buying things for her. Lance had never seen her return Justin's affections. His anger at her boiled inside him. He recalled with distaste the night Justin met her at an industry party. She had arrived on the arm of a basketball star and left on Justin's arm, nearly causing a fist fight with the six foot seven inch giant. Lance remembered it well, and snorted in disgust. He hadn't trusted her right from the start and she proved him right within weeks. When Justin's 19th birthday rolled around, Lance had been put in charge by the rest of the group to contact Justin's mom and plan the party. Lance had called "her" to enlist her help. "I'm so sorry, Lance, but I can't make it." "What do you mean you can't make it? He hasn't seen you in weeks. You're his girlfriend. You have to come." "I have a girls night out planned with some friends. He'll have other birthdays for Christ's sake. And he is taking me to Vermont for a long weekend so I'll see him then." Lance hadn't been able to believe that she honestly wasn't coming and the night of the big bash, Justin was crushed. "Hey Lance, move your ass," Joey yelled from down the hall. "I need some food!" Lance snapped into the present and sighed, stepping up his pace. He got onto the elevator with his four friends. "So where we going?" he asked. JC pulled his sunglasses up onto his head and shrugged. "Hotel has a resturaunt. We could stay here." "You are so boring!" Chris laughed. "Come on, let's go someplace. Alone. No security. Won't that be fun?" JC's eyes widened. "No that will not be fun. We'll be shredded." Lance chuckled at the thought. "I'm in, I think it'll be fun to sneak out." Justin shoved his hands in his pockets and tried to get her out of his mind. He couldn't believe that he'd waited all these weeks to see her, and she dumped him the second night. "Justin, I've never been to Chicago before. I want to explore!" "But, I can't go out. I want to visit with you. It's been so long. Don't you miss me?" "Don't be selfish! You know I miss you, but if you think I came all this way just to sit on my ass in a hotel room just because you can't go out without being mobbed, well, you're insane." "But I...." "Justin, I'm going out and that's that. I'll be back early." Now here he stood, one of the most eligible bachlors in the USA, hanging out with four guys instead of spending a romantic evening with his lady. He bit back the tears that stung his blue eyes and clenched his jaw. He knew it had to end. He knew that she was no good for him. After he had caught her cheating that time in NYC, he should have dumped her ass. But her tears, however phony, had melted him, and he took her back. And the time she slapped him in the face right before a big MTV interveiw, leaving a welt that the make up lady had a hard time covering, he could have left her then. So why did he stay? He honestly didn't know, and if it wasn't for Lance, his confidant, he knew he'd go crazy. "Earth to Justin? You in?" Joey's voice boomed loudly in his ear and he snapped out of it. "Huh?" He stared at Joey, not knowing what the hell the question even was. "What a space case! I said are you coming with us to the club tonight? Just the five of us. No girlfriends, no family, just us. Like the old days." Justin felt his spirits lift a bit. "Yeah, why not? I'm in." The doors opened and N Sync stepped out into the lobby. Justin let out a small sigh and froze when he heard her shrill voice ring out across the room. He looked up to see her embroiled in a war of words with a 17 year old fan. "Shit," he muttered, hurrying over. "What's going on?" he demanded, grabbing her elbow. She spun around and glared at him. "This little bitch mouthed off to me and I want to know what the hell you're going to do about it?" Her grey eyes were cold and unfeeling, and bore a hole right into him. "Well?" she screetched. The rest of the group was over in minutes, followed by security. Justin smiled nervously at the poor fan, who was close to tears and in shock. "I'm so sorry," he said to her gently. Suddenly, he felt a sharp elbow jab him in the ribs. "Don't you dare apologize for me Justin Timberlake. Who the hell do you think you are?" She shoved him hard and stalked off, pushing her way past Lance and Joey. "You're all assholes, ya know that?" JC stepped up quickly to do damage control with the fan while Justin stood back in horror. He was so humiliated that she acted like this, not only embarassing him, but putting his career in jeopardy. The anger rose inside him and he pressed his lips together. "That's it!" he hissed. In minutes, he was behind her. "Stop!" he commanded. She did. Justin was a bit surprised. It wasn't often she listened to him, in any situation. Slowly, she turned around and straightened her stance. Her face was frozen and her cheeks were flushed. "What did you say?" she growled. Justin shook his head at her. He wasn't taking it anymore. He stormed over to her, guiding her into the abandoned breakfast bar. "Look, you and me, we're through," he said, feeling a sense of peace fall over him. He gazed at her and saw only hate in her eyes. He couldn't remember why he'd fallen for her at all. He pitied her now, there was no love, never was. "Excuse me?" she laughed. "I know you don't think you're leaving me!" Justin held back a grin. "Umm, yeah, I am. I've had it with your shit. You have shown your true colors more than once, and now, attacking a fan? That's low, even for you. I can't do it anymore." She stood back and glared at him. Mr. N Sync, Mr. Golden boy, breaking it off with her. She noticed over his shoulder the others heading their way. A loud laugh escaped her lips. "They put you up to this didn't they?" she gasped. "I know they did. You may look pretty, but you ain't got much inbetween those ears." She watched his face carefully, and was glad to see a hurt look cross his face. She raised her voice, sensing him crumble. "You know, it's better this way anyhow. You were a lousy lay. Now maybe I can find a real man to satisfy me." She knew this would crush him. He was insecure in bed as it was. At least she could destroy him for the next girl. Lance grabbed her from behind. "Leave now!" he yelled, green eyes full of hatred. Justin stepped in, glad to have his friends there for support, but needing to do this himself. "I am going out to a club with my friends. When I get back, I want your shit packed and you gone. Don't call me, don't write me, it's over." He watched as she recoiled, looking as if she'd been slapped in the face. He smiled, adjusted his hat, and sighed. "Ready guys?" Lance grinned and nodded. They started to walk away, leaving her there alone, shaken. Joey looked at Justin and smiled. "Dude, I have to do this." Justin looked at him quizzically. Joey turned around. "Hey," he yelled, getting her attention. He waited for he to look up and put his hand up. "Bye Bye Bye!" His four band mates groaned in laughter. Joey shrugged. "You know I had to do it!" They exited the hotel, ready for a night of excitement and fun. |
| ..you may hate me but it ain't no lie.. baby bye, bye, bye |