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Chapter 4: JC
Well, it has been a week of shooting and I am getting nowhere with Kate. God, she is so wonderful... I wish I had never told Justin I liked her and agreed to that bet. He is making it so hard to get any closer to her by him taking her out every night. I am scared he is actually starting to fall for her and her for him. There has to be some way to get to her. Sure, she and I have had our talks and gotten to know each other better, but I've never had the chance to take her out on a date.
The storyline of this episode gets more and more interesting as the days go by. So far, it is known that Jennifer and Topanga are totally ripped off by a scalper to get tickets to see us, 'NSync, and get held up by our bodyguards upon trying to enter. Justin comes by just then and persuades the guys to let them in and gives them front row, center seats to watch us. After the show, they are heading out and Lance and I spot the two and invite them to the after party with us. They eagerly join us and totally forget about their boyfriends Shaun and Cory. Poor guys, they get there just as the two girls are seen in the limo pulling away. The next scene in this is going to be shot tonight but we have today off. Since they shut Disney World down for the day for repairs on some of the rides and walkways, we are given the chance to ride whatever we want to without the public being around.
"Okay, so what ride do we hit first?" Kate asks.
"I don't know. Don't you think this is creepy being here when no one else is?" Danielle asks.
"You would think that. I say we hit haunted mansion!" Ben yells.
"Boring! Splash Mountain is totally cool!" shouts Chris.
"No way! Space Mountain is the best mountain to ride in!" Joey adds.
"Think again Superman! It's all about Thunder Mountain," Justin states.
"Wait a minute! Why don't we all split up?" asks Ryder.
"What fun would that be?" I ask, not liking the idea of missing a day with Kate and a chance to maybe further my relationship with her.
"Lots of it if it becomes a bet."
"A bet?"
"Yup. Boy Meets World cast against you 'NSync boys. Whoever can ride the most rides wins. Losers have to do whatever the winners bid them to do."
"I don't know. That sounds really rough," Lance says.
"Come on Lance! It will be fun!" Ben says.
"Girls, what do you think?"
I watch as Kate and Danielle exchange looks and smile. "Sure!" they yell. It's settled, for the next two hours, we are going to be going on nonstop rides. Rules are that we cannot repeat a ride continuously and we have to have one of the crew with us to count. Kevin hears about this event and decides to be the official in it. He tells us to start and we all dart off in two different directions. In the beginning, we all argue over which ones we wanted to ride but then figure that we should just ride whatever we could get. Luckily enough, there are ride operators at each of the rides since they were prepared for our contest and were warned ahead of time. We ran into Ryder, Ben, Danielle, and Kate a few times but never talk as everyone is running. I could have sworn we rode every single ride at least once, well everyone except for Lance who ended up throwing up after Space Mountain. The poor guy had to sit out half of the rides.
At the end of two hours, we meet back at the front of the castle to have the crew tally up all of the different rides. I wait patiently while the rest of the guys fidget and bounce around.
"Well, the crew members have spoken and are a hung bunch of judges. See, Lance got sick and didn't complete the circuit with the rest of you while the cast stuck together through everything. Should that disqualify you or not, 'NSync?" a crew member asks.
"Not!" we yell.
Kevin walks towards us and asks what is going on and is told the situation. "Well, I'd say the cast wins since Lance did get sick and stopped going on the rides. Your entire team didn't go on all of them."
"You're just saying that because they are your cast!" Joey accuses.
"Maybe so but that's my opinion."
"I guess we win!" Ryder yells. The four of them let out a great big cheer and hug each other, jumping up and down.
"So, what are we supposed to do for you, winners of this bet?" Chris asks.
"To be honest, we don't know. Don't worry. We'll get back to you soon though. It will be good," Ben promises.
Great... Being at their mercy... Not the best situation for me at the moment.
Later that night, I find myself in a club like setting at one of the sound stages on MGM property. The guys and I are dressed in clubbing clothes, as are Danielle and Kate. Damn, Kate sure looks good in that black spaghetti strapped dress.
"Okay, here's the scene everyone. Topanga and Jennifer have finally made it to the after party with *NSYNC. Topanga flirts with Lance but before they could kiss, she gets a guilty conscience and pulls away. However, Jennifer doesn't stop JC from kissing her, which is when Shaun and Cory walk in to see it. Essentially, the wrap up of this show will be JC finding out Jennifer is taken and helping her get Shaun back because he knows he was the one that initiated the kiss. Everything through the kiss will be improv. Just flow with the music and the moment. JC and Kate, make sure you look really into each other. The focus in this scene is on you and that kiss. Make it good. Now everyone go over to the side of the camera and act like you are just coming in. Don't worry about the cameras, just have fun and do it! Now, places everyone!" Kevin instructs.
A kiss... This is perfect!
Kate and I get into our places and I grab her hand and hold it in mine. She looks up and I smile down at her. "We have to make this convincing, right?"
"Sure thing!" she says with a smile.
The music starts and we are cued. It's a fast song, so Kate and I just dance along with the beat, having a blast. Eventually, I forget the cameras are around, and I get the feeling that she does too. All that I know is that she looks beautiful tonight and is such a great dancer. The music slows down and I find myself wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her closer to me. I look down at her and tilt her head up, looking straight into her warm brown eyes. I can't fight it anymore. I lean down and lightly press my lips against hers, testing out how she feels. To my surprise, when I pull away, she closes the gap and continues it, deepening it as time goes on. I slowly open her mouth and slip my tongue in her mouth and play with her tongue, surprising her. After a while though, she gets into it and starts playing with mine, sometimes nipping at it. I let my hands roam up her back and on her sides.
Kate pulls back from the kiss and looks up at me. "Wow," she whispered.
"Yeah," I say, unable to say anything else.
There is an outburst of laughter and I realize that the music has stopped and everyone, cast and crew, are all looking at us. "What's going on?" I ask.
"Kevin yelled cut five minutes ago but you two just kept going and going! That looked like a great sport you were playing though. Tonsil hockey?" Justin teases.
"Get a life Justin!" I say, feeling my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.
Kevin laughs a little and then says, "Well, that was so perfect, I don't think we will have to do that again. Let's move on!"
The rest of the night flies by in a blur and I find myself back in the situation I was in a week ago, approaching Kate to ask her out while Justin is off doing something.
"Kate, would you like to come with me to Pleasure Island tonight?" I ask.
"Sure JC, I'd love that," she answers to my relief. I smile and grab her hand as I lead her towards my car.
"Whoa, hang on! JC, where are you kidnapping Kate to tonight?" Justin asks.
Drats. "To Pleasure Island."
"Cool! I want to come!"
"Sure Justin, let's go."
I lead the way to my car and drive the three of us over to Pleasure Island, where it is already pumping with life. Justin jumps out and immediately helps Kate out of the car. I secretly pull out my cell and dial up Britney. Man, Justin is in for a surprise if he thinks I would let him win this without actually trying. I tell her where we are, as I arranged with her earlier this week, and she says she would show up in twenty minutes around this one club. No problem there. I jump out of the car and head over the entrance with the other two who are laughing at something Justin said. I can't wait until I can be alone with her.
We walk along the pathway of clubs, arcades, and restaurants and end up at the meeting spot Britney and I agreed on. "Kate, do you want to go into this club?"
"Is it twenty-one and over?" she asks.
"No, it's cool. They only card you if you buy alcohol. You don't drink do you?"
"Nope."
"Well, I guess we'll see you Justin!"
"Wait! I want to come in. Don't leave me alone out here!"
"You won't be. Look!" I say, pointing towards Britney who is making her way to her boyfriend.
"Justin!" she exclaims.
"Britney?" he asks in shock.
"I missed you so much! Come on, let's go find somewhere private!"
I watch with satisfaction as Britney drags Justin away from Kate and me. I hear her say, "Wow, so the rumor is true. I didn't know that they were really dating each other."
"Yep, they have for a while now, off and on. That doesn't bother you, does it?"
"Not as long as you tell me you don't have a Britney somewhere."
Could it be she actually likes me back? "Nope, there's only one girl for me and her name is certainly not Britney."
I watch in amusement as I see her face fall. "Oh, I see. Let's go into the club now. I'm anxious to go dance!"
I follow her lead and am relieved that it is a slow song that is playing when we walk in. I immediately pull her into my arms and feel her rest her head on my chest. God she is really sweet.
"JC, I have to ask you something. Were you really acting before?"
"When?"
"During our kiss. Was that just acting?"
I look down at her and tilt her head up so that our eyes meet. "Of course not. That kiss was really powerful to me, basically because I have wanted to do that for quite some time now."
"Good."
"Why?"
"Well, I was afraid it was acting and that my heart would be crushed."
"Don't worry sweetie, I meant it," I say before leaning down and kissing her deeply. She actually likes me as much as I like her! This couldn't be more perfect! To think she was the one with the guts to actually admit it though. She is definitely one of a kind.
I break away as I hear an announcement that New Year's is going to be celebrated out on the main walkway in five minutes. I take her hand in mine and walk into the crowd of people gathered for the nightly celebration that goes on. I check out all of the stars in the sky and make a wish on one of them that this is only the beginning of a beautiful relationship with Kate. When I look back at her, she's smiling really big.
"What?" I ask.
"You really are adorable when you are thoughtful like that."
"Thanks, I think."
She laughs and turns her attention to a clock that is ticking down the minutes and seconds left. It's now or never buddy.
"Kate, can I ask you something?"
"Sure JC. What?" she asks, turning back to me.
"Would you consider being my girlfriend? I mean, I know this is our first date but I have admired you from afar for a long time and would love to make one of my dreams come true with you."
"JC, I'm not so sure. There are things you don't know about me that might change your mind."
"Kate, you are so special and unique, nothing could change my feelings for you. Absolutely nothing. Please?"
"You are right, it is only the first date we had together, but I have to admit, I've been fantasizing about you for months. It has been so great this past week and I feel as if tonight is a dream come true."
"I feel the same way. What do you say?"
"Sure," she says, smiling up at me. I take the chance and wrap my arms tightly around her as I feel her arms go around my neck, pulling me down. Our lips finally meet just as midnight strikes and fireworks go off. I'm sure there were those too in the sky as the confetti fell around us but the fireworks between Kate and me were definitely the most beautiful ones out there.