| JC sat anxiously in his seat. He tried not to fidget, but he knew that she was watching him for some kind of response. His heart was beating a mile a minute, and his throat was parched. Damn, but he wished he'd remembered his sunglasses, because at least then he wouldn't have to face her. Now there was no escape. "JC, are you listening to me at all?" she questioned, adjusting the glasses on her nose. "Hmm?" he asked, wishing one of his group mates would save him. It was not to be, however. They all abandoned him when they saw her approach. He supposed they thought they were being cute, especially Chris, who seemed to be in charge of their little exit. "Damn, I don't know why I even bother to speak to you." She threw her magazine down to the floor and stood up. "If you can't give me 5 minutes of your undivided attention, then...." He shrank back in his seat, feeling childish. "I'm sorry," he said sheepishly. "I'm listening. Go on." He watched as she eyed him, cautious to believe him. JC reached for her hand, tugging on it gently. "Sit, please. I'm here." His heart slowed slightly, and he remained calm. Finally, she sat back down, her green eyes filled with confusion. "I just want to know why you picked a fight with Brandon. You're supposed to be my best friend, and beating up on my boyfriend, well, honestly!" She watched him carefully, waiting for an answer. So far, there had been none. JC searched his mind. It was over three days since he had caught Brandon with another woman. Now she wanted to know just why he knocked his ass to the ground outside Club X. He didn't want to be the messenger of bad news for her, even if he did love her, even if he knew her man was a no good, lying sack of shit. He had bruised his knuckles for her, even been caught by the paparazzi during the fight. Now, she wanted answers and he didn't want to be an asshole and not have a good one for her. "I really....I guess I was drunk, and well, I don't have a good answer for you." His eye twitched, which it always did when he lied. Lance called him on it every time. Usually, she did too. "Anyway, I don't remember that much. Maybe he said something that pissed me off." She shook her head in disappointment. "Josh, I don't expect that from you. I don't know what exactly you have against Brandon, but I wish you would stop acting childish about it." JC sighed heavily. "Look, I said I was sorry." He stood up, trying to bite his tounge and not say anything he couldn't take back. "Are we through here?" She nodded solemnly, and stared up at him with trusting eyes. "Yeah, for now." She rose as well and stretched. "I'll catch you backstage for your wardrobe changes." JC nodded and shoved his fists into his pockets. She gave him a playful nudge to let him know she had forgiven him, at least this time. He tried to smile, but just wanted to get the hell away from her. She drove him insane with her innocense, her politeness, and her good naturedness. What she was doing with a player like Brandon, well he just couldn't figure it out. He'd been there for her, and only her, watching over her, and protecting her on this tour. When she hooked up with one of the stage managers, his heart had been crushed. Along with the relationship, JC had been made to stand back while she leaned on him, after all, the guy was a player, and be there for her, just in case. Since she joined the NSA tour as a wardrobe assistant, JC had fallen straight in love with her, or lust, if you listened to Justin talk about it. All he knew was that Brandon was cheating on her, and she was blind to it. The guys tried to persuade him to tell her, but he refused, not wanting to be the cause of her breaking it off. If he was to have any chance at all it had to be on fair ground. "Shit!" he grumbled, as he hopped up onto the stage for soundcheck. Placing his monitor in his ear, he replayed the conversation, second guessing himself. "Hey! You alright man?" Lance appeared beside him. JC nodded, then shook his head, then nodded again. Lance put his hand on his shoulder. "Well, which is it?" he laughed. "I have no fucking idea," he commented sourly. "I just want to get this show done and over with and go party!" Justin bounced across the stage. "I hear that! I'm ready for some serious partying." He poked JC in the ribs. "Ahh, but won't you miss her?" he teased. JC grabbed Justin's hand, bending the fingers hard to prove a point. "No," he stated flatly, "And I don't want you to mention her again! Understand pretty boy?" Justin pulled away, a pissed off look covering his face. "Yeah, fine!" he yelled. Lance rolled his eyes at Joey, who was looking on with interest. "What's up his ass?" he asked when JC was out of ear shot. "They had a talk about Brandon. Apparently, it didn't go the way JC wanted it to." Lance stooped to tie his sneaker and wondered why JC didn't just tell her how he felt. The band took the stage, a sign they were ready for soundcheck. Lance looked around, making sure his four friends were set. JC was no where to be found. "Joey, where'd he go?" Joey shrugged, adjusting his in ear monitor. Lance frowned. "Well, we can't have soundcheck without him," he said. Joey shrugged once more, and Lance surpressed the urge to smack him in the back of the head. Instead, he ran off stage, and called to JC. When no one answered, Lance began to worry. He knew that JC was having a rough time lately, with this wardrobe assistant, and between Justin and Chris, he was being teased mercilessly. Lance had not been completely innocent either, tossing the occassional comment his way. Guilt crept up on him. Maybe JC really did like this girl. Boyfriend and all. "Hey, JC, where are ya?" he called out. Ducking into the dressing room, Lance found him, sitting on the couch, staring into space. The sight was eerie. JC never did things like that. "Dude, we're ready. You coming?" JC glanced over at him and nodded. "Yeah, I just needed a minute." He hopped up, a smile plastered half heartedly across his lips. "Good to go!" He leapt from the room, causing Lance to raise his eyebrows. Something was going to have to give, and soon. Once on stage, JC turned into the ultimate performer. The band struck up the chords to ITS GONNA BE ME, and he turned into Mr. Perfectionist, Mr Critical, Mr. well, Mr. JC from N Sync. As soon as they were done with their soundcheck, JC left, quietly, and without notice. It took the rest of them several minutes to realize he was gone. "Damn!" Joey stated. "He needs to get some!" Chris chuckled at the reference. Lance shook his head. "You know, everyone could have a little more patience with him," he suggested. "I mean he did just get chewed out by the media for that fight, and you know how much he hates bad PR for us." Justin grimaced at the thought. "If he doesn't freaking tell her he likes her, I'm gonna do it! I've had enough of this shit. He gets more and more uptight with everyday, and I'm not taking it anymore. I seem to get it the worst." Joey and Chris laughed. Justin made a face. "Not funny," he said. "If I so much as miss a step, he rips me a new asshole and you think it's cute!" Joey bit back another laugh. "Aww come on, Justy, we don't think it's that funny." Their playful banter was interuppted by a teary eyed wardrobe assistant. "Anyone seen JC?" she sobbed. Lance rushed over. "What's wrong? Are you alright?" She sniffled. "No. I'm leaving the tour. I want to tell JC though. I'm leaving tonight." "Oh no," whispered Justin. "JC's not gonna like this." Lance shot his friend a look. "I don't know where JC is right now. Can you hang out until I can find him?" The desperation and panic in his face made her nod, and she followed him to the backstage area to help him look. They found him in the control room, checking over some last minute things for the show. One look at the object of his affection, and he dashed over. Lance bowed out, leaving them alone. He only hoped whatever it was that was causing her to leave wasn't too bad. Upon seeing her best friend, she sobbed uncontrollably. "Oh Josh," she bawled. He scooped her up and held her tightly. "What? What's going on?" "Brandon's going to be a daddy." JC's heart fell. He thought she was pregnant. Anger fumed inside him, his face grew flush, and his heart bounced around wildly in his chest. Sensing his confusion, she shook her head. "No, not me. Another woman." "Bastard," he spat, smoothing her hair down and searching for a box of tissues. "How did you find out?" "I got a call from the mommy to be. She's over 3 months pregnant. Three months, JC! I've been being played for over three months!" Her tears soaked into his tee shirt, and his mind raced. He had conflicting feelings over not telling her the real reason he punched her boyfriend, but damn, he was sure glad he did now. "I wanted to find you and tell you I'm going home tonight." "No," he cried, pulling away a bit. "Why? Why do you have to leave?" His eyes searched hers for some kind of rational. "I need time to think. With Brandon on your road crew, I just don't think I can stay." She grabbed JC's hand and squeezed it hard. "I hope you understand." A lump formed in his throat as she began to walk away. He shut his eyes tightly, fearful of letting her go. "Wait!" he whispered, lowly at first, then louder. "Wait!" She stopped and turned to look at him. "I don't want you to go," he stammered. She tilted her head and sniffled once more. "Why?" JC rubbed his hands over his face. "I just, I want you to know that I'm here for you. I can fire Brandon. I'd rather have you stay." "You would do that for me?" she asked shyly. "Really?" JC nodded, and approached her carefully. "I would." He grabbed her hands in his and pressed on them. "I don't understand," she started. JC sighed. "You don't need to. He's history if you'll stay. Please." Something in his blue eyes comforted her in a way it hadn't before. She moved closer to him. "I hate men," she laughed bitterly. "I really do. I'll probobly be a bitch the next few months." She was trying to warn him. He pulled her into him. "So what would really change then?" he teased. "JC that's awful!" She let him hold her, and felt calm overtake her. "What would I do without you?" she pondered aloud. He stayed silent, praying that he would never know. His heart ached for her pain, and he knew he couldn't tell her how he felt right away, but somehow, someway, he would be with her, no matter how long it took for her to heal. There was nothing that could stand in his way. JC just didn't fall in love, never had, but this feeling that she gave him, if it wasn't love, he didn't care. It was amazing, and he knew in his gut that someday, she would choose him, and until she did, he would keep her on tour with him, and protect her. He knew it was gonna be him, he just knew! |
| ...there comes a day when i'll be the one you'll see.. it's gonna be me |