"Em," he mumbled against her lips as he tangled his hands in her hair, not being able to believe that this kiss was finally happening. He pulled back and looked in her eyes, seeing nothing but happiness swimming around in her orbs. He moved back in, this time at a new angle, and pulled her closer to him.

She let her arms slide around to wear they were resting on his neck as she tried desperately to keep up with him. For the first time in years, she felt free from any stress or pain that had burdened her life for so long. Being with him made her feel free. She pulled away from him and let her head rest gently against his. "JC.."

"Shhh," he whispered sending his breath onto her neck causing her to shiver in delight. The two of them sat on the car, neither saying a word and letting the atmosphere speak for itself. After sitting there in silence for hours, letting their thoughts and feelings occupy them, JC reluctantly spoke up, almost regretting opening his mouth. "Its getting late, Em."

"Maybe you should take me back to the hotel," she said softly, not wanting to go back to the cold hotel room that she had called home for the past few days. It would be a disappointment to end the night on such a dull note after everything that had happened.

"Em..why don't you stay tonight with me at my house.." he said suddenly, his blue eyes begging with her to accept his offer.

"But won't the other guys get suspicious when you aren't at the hotel?" she said as she nervously bit her bottom lip, causing JC's gaze to immediately go there.

"I just have to call Lonnie and let him know what's going on..please, Em..nothing has to happen I just don't want you to leave me yet..not this soon," he whispered to her as he pulled her body into his, wrapping his arms around her small frame to keep her close to him. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of her hair. Everything about her was beautiful. Her strong will to be independent, her eyes, her nose, and her personality were just a few of the things that attracted him to her.

"If you really want me to," she finally said as she pulled away from his grasp and walked to the passenger side of the car.

"Thank you," he said simply before getting into the car and heading home, taking all the streets that h e normally took. The only difference about going home tonight was he wouldn't be alone.

"I see that you're not much of a club person," Lance called to her over the music as he sat across from her, taking a long drink from the bottle he held in his hands.

"Its not that..I'm just not used to this."

"It use to bother me, but now I'm use to it," he said before leaning over and locking his eyes onto her. "Its a hell of a way to meet chicks."

"Thanks for sharing," she groaned before standing up and reaching for her coat. "I'm going back to the hotel..this is just too much for me."

Lance brought the bottle back up to his mouth before drowning the rest of its contents. "I'll escort you back so you don't have to go alone."

"You really don't have to do that."

He paid her no attention as he grabbed one of the members of security and motioned for him to follow the two out of the club. Once they were outside the club, the fresh air helped the both of them feel somewhat better. Stephanie turned to walk towards the limo that was waiting on the two, but only succeeded in stumbling to the side where she smacked into Lance. "Watch it," he mumbled before slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her body against his for support so she could make it to the limo. Once they were inside, she suddenly began to giggle as she stared at his face that was coated with confusion. "What?"

"You," she said simply before continuing to laugh. She finally stopped when she noted the serious expression that he wore on his face. "Sorry Mr. Bass...don't get all upset."

"You certainly don't have a high tolerance for alcohol," he mumbled before reaching over and flicking her ear. "Shut up and leave me alone."

She leaned her head against his shoulder before closing her eyes as the limo proceeded back to the hotel. "Remind me never to take you to another club."

There was no response from her and he groaned when he realized that she had passed out from all the alcohol that she had in her system. The limo came to a stop and the door was opened by Lonnie who rolled his eyes when he saw the young woman lying against Lance. He motioned for Lance to get out of the car, which caused her body to fall into the seat where she was picked up by Lonnie and gently placed across his shoulder. "She's going to be feelin real good in the mornin."

"I bet we all are," Lance said before walking into the hotel and making his way to the floor where everyone was staying. "Shit!"

"What's wrong?" Lonnie asked as his eyes darted around to make sure there were no groups of girls waiting to attack.

"I don't have her room key and I'm not even going to search her for it."

"I'm not either..she's just gonna have to crash in your room until the rest of them return," Lonnie said simply as he waited on Lance to open the door to his hotel room. Once the door was open, Lonnie pushed by Lance and dropped Stephanie on the bed and pulled some cover up over her to keep her warm. "If you need me, I'll be down the hall."

Lance nodded his head before pulling his shirt off and throwing it on the floor. He glanced over in her direction and couldn't help from smirking. He couldn't stop from finding the situation comical because it seemed as if it had been written for a movie. A young attractive girl was passed out in his bed, all now that needed to happen was for her to wake up so they could have sex.

Lance grinned evilly as he thought about the sex part, but immediately pushed those thoughts from his head when he became ashamed for fantasizing about a girl he barely knew. He sighed before walking over to the couch and plopping down as he felt the alcohol in his veins starting to take its affect on him. 'I'm gonna have one hell of a hangover tomorrow,' he thought to himself before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

"Come on! Just a little longer baby," he slurred as he reached out and brought her body crashing to his. He ground his hips up against her, which under normal circumstances would have turned her on, but made her frown in disgust.

"I'm going back to the hotel with or without you," she told him simply before rolling her eyes when he made no movement to follow her. She flagged down a taxi and instructed the man to the hotel as she looked out the windows taking in the city that was still booming with activity. As lovely as it all seemed, part of her was starting to miss the way that things used to be. In South Carolina, there might have not been clubs but it was so humble and small. You knew most of the people there and always had someone that was willing to help you do something if there was a job to be done. In a big city, there was no unity and no sense of pride for accomplishing something.

Once she reached the hotel, instead of going straight to her room, she walked out into the garden that was behind the hotel. She looked up and took a glance at the few stars that were out that night, closing her eyes as she silently prayed for an answer as to what she should do. She knew that she was developing something for Justin, but deep down in her heart she also knew that nothing could ever happen from it, no matter what he might insist.

"What are you doing out here?" she heard his voice call to her causing her to turn around.

"I'm just thinking," she said before making a move to walk past him but stopping when his arm reached out and stopped her. "Let me go, Justin."

She could still tell that he was drunk, but he had changed somewhat since she had last saw him at the club. She closed her eyes, knowing that he was about to say something.

"Why are you mad at me?" he asked, his words slightly slurred from the alcohol that was in his blood stream.

"I'm not mad, but let me go," she told him lightly before reaching up and removing his hand that was resting on her arm. She turned and left him alone in the garden, making her way towards her hotelroom. As she waited on the elevator, she knew that he wasn't far behind her, causing her to impatiently tap her foot on the carpet. When the elevator dinged, she glanced over her shoulder and saw Justin slowly making his way towards her. She stepped into the elevator and pushed her floor button before taking her gaze away from him as the doors closed.

Once she was on the floor where her room was, she slowly made her way down the hallway and stopping when she stood in front of her room. She reached in her purse to find the key, only to find nothing. "Damn it," she said when she realized the Stephanie had the key. She knocked on the door, already knowing that Stephanie was asleep or not there.

She let a sigh of frustration slip from her lips before sliding down the wall and leaning her head back. This night just kept getting worse.

"Looks like you could use some help," Justin said softly to her as he stopped just to the right of her.

She was stubborn and partially ashamed for the way that she had been acting. Justin knew nothing of what was going on inside her mind, yet she was treating him as if he SHOULD know everything. "I guess I could."

"I'll make you a deal," he said as he looked at her through tired eyes. "I'll let you stay with me if you'll completely be honest with me in the morning with what's wrong."

He had just offered her a deal that she shouldn't refuse. She would have a bed to stay in for the night, instead of having to crash in the hallway and she would be able to talk to him about everything. If only it were that simple. "I guess I'll have to take it."

"Come on," he said as he held his hand down to her and helped her stand up, laughing slightly when they both stumbled back as she stood before him. He slipped his arm around her waist as they made their way to the opposite end of the hall where Justin's room was located. Once he had unlocked the door, she made her way to his bed and laid down, her eyes already partially closed. She kept them open just long enough to watch him undress down to his boxers and climb into bed beside her before allowing them to fully close as it finally hit her why she was suddenly so scared to be with Justin. She was falling in love.

"This is amazing," she whispered as she took off her seatbelt and got out of the car, admiring the house from where she was. He held out his hand and she smiled before gently placing her small hand in his and following him to the front door. After punching in the security code, he pushed the door open and Emily gasped as the beauty of the house before her. It was decorated with many displays of art and very intellectual furniture that captured her attention.

"Your house is..its amazing, JC."

He chuckled before shutting the door and running his hand through his hair as he let his own eyes look around the place that he had called home for the past year. "Its not too bad, I guess."

"JC..its better than 'not to bad' this is beautiful." He chuckled before taking her hand again and leading her upstairs, which held just as much art as the downstairs had. He pushed open one of the doors at the end of the hall and gestured for her to walk on in. "This is where you can stay."

"Thank you so much, JC," she said softly before reaching up and letting her fingers trail over his face for a few seconds before allowing them to stop and rest against his lips as his hands circled her waist. "This has been one of the greatest nights."

"No problem Em," he said before licking his lips and leaning down to capture hers in a sweet and soft kiss that caused Emily to sigh in pleasure at how perfect everything seemed to be for those few seconds.

Never had she experienced a more amazing night than she was having with him. She pulled back and looked at his face with shining eyes. "I'm not very tired right now, unless you're just wanting me to go to sleep.."

"Why don't we watch a movie?" he suggested before leading her out of the room and to the one that was straight across the hall. "This is my room."

He flipped on the light, allowing Emily to check out the spacious room that was before her. In the right corner sat an entertainment center full of many electronics and DVD's, then on the other side there was a huge closet the was open allowing her to see the many sets of clothing that he had. He plopped down on the bed and patted the spot next to him before reaching for the remote and turning on the big screen t.v.

"I think I could get used to staying in a room like this," she joked as she climbed in beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. He chuckled before pressing a few buttons, causing the lights to go out and the movie to start playing.

"I hope you haven't seen this movie..but I think that you'll enjoy it either way. Its Sweet November."

"I haven't seen it but I heard that it was really good," she said snuggling up to him when he placed his arm around her shoulder. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead before concentrating on the movie.

It wasn't long before Emily had drifted off to sleep and JC wasn't far behind her. He turned the TV off and pulled some cover up over them before closing his own eyes, tightening his hold on her. It felt so right to have her so close to him and he didn't know if he'd be able to let her go in the morning.