He missed the feel of her skin against his and he missed the way she use to stare at him for hours, not saying a word, only letting her eyes penetrate to the inner core of his body..his soul. She could read his emotions, just as he could read hers. He missed her..he missed his soul mate. To him, that's what she was. He had only dreamed about finding a girl that could take over his body the way that she had, and now that he had found her and lost her, he wanted her back. He needed her back to make his life happy once again, and take away this deep dark depression that he was slowly entering.
He rolled over on the bed and reached into his suitcase, removing the picture of her that he always carried with him. His fingers gently ran over the glossy picture, tracing the outline of her face and lingering over her lips. "I miss you," he whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek and onto the picture. He gently wiped it away before sighing and placing it back into the suitcase, hidden from the rest of the world.
He thought that he was acting pathetic, but he couldn't let go..not yet at least. His mind was still keeping hope alive that she would call him up and ask him to come back to her, and he knew that he would go back as fast as he could. He wished that there were words to say how much he missed her, but there just wasn't. But he was determined to get her back, even if that meant letting go of a career that had helped him out in so many ways.
She pushed the door open and stopped to let Cait and Whitney see the dress that she was talking about. It wasn't all that elegant but the color brought out her eyes and showed off her figure. The dark blue was captivating and brought out a mysterious look in her eyes.
"You're getting that dress," Whitney announced as she pushed her friend into the dressing room so she could change back into her regular street clothes. Whitney and Cait had been able to find their dress at the second store they had walked into, but Emily liked to look around and neither of the girls really minded having to go to extra stores.
Emily emerged a few minutes later, holding onto the dress carefully as they headed to the counter to purchase it. Cait pulled out Justin's credit card and smiled brightly at the woman behind the counter. The woman looked at the name on the card and snickered at Cait before pushing it back across the counter. "Get real girl..now if you want this dress, I suggest you pull out your own credit card and not some fake one with a popstars name on it," the woman snapped at her.
"Excuse me?" Cait said not believing that she was having a problem. At the other store, they had accepted it with no problem. "If you'll just call the company, Justin has arranged everything through them."
"Listen lady, I'm tired of standing behind this counter. I'm sorry that you're prank isn't going to work. Now if you don't give me another credit card, cash or check, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the store!"
"Why don't you just call the company. If this was obviously a joke, wouldn't I just take the card and walk out the door instead of standing here and persisting that its cleared through the company?"
"I'm not fooled by the act," the lady snapped yet again before looking over at the security guard that was standing by the door. "Luke, escort these three girls from the store immediately."
The guard made a move towards them, but Whitney held her hands up and reached for the phone that was on the desk, snatching up the credit card in the process. She dialed the number to the credit card company and waited before punching in her pin number. She pushed the phone up in the clerk's face and glared angrily at her. "Listen!"
The woman huffed before placing the phone up to her ear, listening to the personalized message that Justin had left as a back up if something like this was to happen. The lady's face slowly registered embarrassment as she put the phone back down. "I'm so sorry," she started before Cait sighed and cut her off.
"Just ring up the dress so we can get out of here."
The clerk carefully scanned the dress before placing a piece of plastic over it and handing it to Emily who had been quiet throughout the whole ordeal. The three girls exited the store and slid into the awaiting limo. Once they were seated, they all three started laughing and talking at once. "Did you see..."
"That was hilarious!"
"I bet she feels like a dumbass," Cait giggled before resting her head against the seat. "I don't know about the two of you, but I'm exhausted. Shopping takes a lot out of me!"
"I totally agree. A nice hot bath sounds really good right now," Emily said as the limo pulled out of the parking place that it was in. "What time does all of the hectic things start tomorrow?"
"I think around six...which means you'll have to get ready around four because NSYNC usually takes a while to get there for some reason and there are always some delays so we try and be early."
"How long have you been working for the guys?"
"Since they moved from Transcon to JIVE. I was a new employee and it really shocked me when Johnny Wright, their manager asked me if I'd like to be like their secretary, public speaker type person..to be quiet honest..I don't really know what my job title is."
Whitney chuckled before smiling. "Who are you the closet with in the group?"
"Why all this interrogation?" Cait said jokingly before relaxing into a smile. "I'd say Justin just because he's opened up to me a lot and let me tell you, he doesn't do that with many people...which really surprised me that he opened up to you of all people," she said in a surprised tone that wasn't snobby or rude but honest.
Whitney blushed before looking over at Emily who was listening carefully. "He's not really opened up to me all that much..just about Britney.."
"He hasn't done that to me..he feels that he can trust you and Whitney, that's a special gift that he's chosen to let you share a part of..don't push it away."
Whitney nervously pushed her hair behind her ears before nodding her head. "As long as he's willing to open up to me..I'll listen."
Cait turned and looked at Emily who smiled knowing that the questions were about to be fired her way. "Has your situation improved any?"
"They told you about my situation?" Emily replied quietly, keeping her eyes down so that they were looking at her hands that were busy moving uncomfortably in her lap.
"I mean if you don't want to talk about its fine..."
"Things are starting to change," she said before sighing and leaning against the window. "He sat down and talked to me and we worked out some things so hopefully he's learning that abuse isn't the best way to in-force his opinions on me."
"I hope everything works out," Cait said sincerely as she tried to smile.
Emily's smile never faulted. "I know everything will."
Justin adjusted the brown leather jacket that he had chosen to wear that night before smiling into the mirror at how he looked. "You've got the style, Timberlake," he whispered as there was a knock on his door. He walked over to it and swung it open to see Cait and Joey standing together, looking like the cutest couple he had seen in a while. "Well, look at the two of you."
Cait blushed before spinning around in a small circle. "Do you like the dress that you bought me?"
"I must admit, its lovely," he said as his eyes took in the light yellow dress that fell loosely on her body. It wasn't exactly elegant but it looked extravagant on her. "You two look wonderful together...now where's Whitney?" he asked as he looked out into the hallway in hopes of getting a glimpse of her.
"If you're wondering where she is..you're going to have to head to Lance's room to see her," Joey said as he moved out of the way as Justin pushed between the two of them and headed down the hall towards Lance's room.
Justin reached up and knocked lightly on the door and smiled brightly as it swung open, but his smile soon disappeared when he saw Lance standing there instead of Whitney. "I wanna see her."
"Who are you talking about?" Lance asked as he leaned up against the door and smiled.
"You know who I'm talking about now move out of the way so I can see my date!"
"Your date isn't here. She's in JC's room, they most have told you the wrong room," Lance said before shutting the door in Justin's face.
Justin sighed before heading to the next room and knocking loudly on the door. "JC, open up!"
JC threw the door open with an annoyed look on his face. "What the hell do you want?" he said angrily before softening up some and offering an apologetic smile.
"Is Whitney in your room?"
"Why would she be in my room?"
"Damnit guys, stop playing the game on me!"
"Try Joey's room," JC said before shutting the door.
Justin was growing tired of this game they were trying to play with him. He angrily knocked on Joey's door before yelling, "Damn it, Joe I'm tired of playing this stupid ass game!"
The door swung open and there stood Whitney with a sly smile on her face. "I'm not Joe."
Justin's mouth opened to say something but it closed when he took in the dress that she was wearing. It was a long silver strapless dress that had a slit that stopped at her mid thigh. "Wow," he breathed as he let his eyes finally rest on her face.
"Cait picked it out for me," Whitney said as she looked down at the dress and carefully touched the material. "I've never worn anything this nice...it certainly makes me feel like Cinderella."
Justin held out his arm before smiling at her. "Trust me, your party isn't going to end at midnight."
"I hope it doesn't," she whispered as she slipped her arm through his and walked down the hall with him. "Britney. isn't going to pitch some type of fit because we're going together as friends, is she? I don't exactly like the girl."
Justin sighed before looking at her and shrugging. "I really don't know, and I really don't care. All I can tell you is just don't worry about it."
"I'm not worried about it because I know I can take her," Whitney joked as they joined Cait and Joey who were still outside of Justin's room. "Where's Emily?"
"She's already in the limo, just waiting for all of us to come out there," Cait said before resting her head against Joey's shoulder. "I'm already tired."
"I picked a dud for a date," Joey joked before moving away to dodge her oncoming fists. "I was just kidding there, Spicy..calm down."
"Spicy?" Justin asked as he took in the name and smiled. "That is the best nickname I've heard you come up with, Joe!"
"Neither one of you better call me that," Cait warned as she looked over at Whitney and rolled her eyes. "Boys refuse to grow up, yet we are attracted to the immature things."
The four of them stood around and made small talk while they waited for the others to join them. JC finally walked out of his room, a fake smile plastered on his lips and joined them so they could leave. As the cool New York air hit his face as they headed towards the limo, he sighed. He definitely wasn't looking forward to tonight because he hated smiling when he didn't want to.
He was the first one to slide into the limo and stopped when he saw a young woman sitting next to the window. "Who are you?" he asked as he watched her turn around and face him. Recognition hit him suddenly and he couldn't help but smile. "Emily! Its great to see you again."
"They made me come," Emily said suddenly before blushing slightly. "Lance was the one behind all of this."
"I need to thank him then for arranging for a friend to come and see me," he said as he slid further into the limo, letting everyone else get in.
"No need to thank me," Lance said as he sat next to Whitney, who was resting her head on Justin's shoulder. The ride to the arena was basically full of small talk among the pairs. They all felt it come to a stop and could see the camera flashes from inside the tinted windows.
"I think I'm gonna hurl," Emily said as she closed her eyes.
JC laughed before patting her arm lightly in a comforting way. "Its not really that big of a deal. All you have to do is smile and not talk because as soon as you open your mouth, they want you to talk even more."
"I think I can do that," she said softly as she watched the door open and Justin and Whitney step out. Screams erupted as soon as Justin had emerged from the limo completely and she could already hear questions about who Whitney was. All of the commotion was making her nervous and she was thankful for being the last one to exit. Once she stepped outside, her head began to swirl from all of the excitement. There were people everywhere, many holding cameras and screaming different celebrities' names.
"Come on," JC said softly as he took her hand and led her towards the rest of the group which had been stopped by a reporter.
"Justin, first off I have to ask who this lovely lady at your side is? Is this your way of killing the Britney rumors?"
Justin stood there silent for a moment as he contemplated his options that he had of answering the question. His face broke into a smile before he nodded his head and pulled Whitney tight against him. "This is Whitney...Britney and I are no more and that's the end of it."
"You guys are up for three awards tonight," the reporter said as he accepted Justin's answer. "Do you think you'll be able to beat out the competition such as Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys?"
"We're not really going to speculate on anything. We're here to have a good time and watch the show. We'll see what happens," Lance said before moving forward to signal that the interview was through. They all finally made their way into the arena and breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that it was somewhat calmer.
"They make a cute couple," Whitney whispered to Justin as she watched Cait lean her head on Joey's arm.
"Spicy n Joe...sounds like a type of restaurant or something," Justin joked as they followed an usher to their seats. His eyes landed on a girl with blond hair and he groaned loudly causing everyone to look at him.
"What's wrong?" Chris asked as he let go of Danielle's hand.
"Look who we're sitting right next to," Justin told them as they slid into the seats that were next to Britney Spears. "This is going to be hell," he whined as he sat down in his chair which was only two down from hers.
She must have heard his voice because she turned to them and flashed them a bright smile, licking her lips lightly when her gaze landed on Justin. "Hello baby."
"Hi Britney," he replied calmly before pulling Whitney down in the chair next to him and taking her hand as to give Britney a clue. "Britney, I'd like you to meet Whitney, my date," he said as little horns practically sprouted from his head.
"I love the boy," Cait whispered to Joey as she watched the exchange between Justin and Britney. "He loves pissing her off and I love to watch him do it."
"Has anyone ever told you that you're mean? You really shouldn't enjoy seeing someone get hurt."
"Shut up, Joey, you're ruining this," Lance said as he leaned over so he could her somewhat better.
"Why do you have her as a date? You told me that you were coming solo," she said as a fake pout formed on her lips. "If you had wanted a date, I could have made plans to meet up with you..after all you are my boyfriend."
"Ex boyfriend now..I can't stand you! Can't you see that? If I had wanted to bring you as my date, I would have said so. Now shut up so I can watch the show."
Cait giggled out loud causing Britney to shot her a hateful look. In return, Cait rolled her eyes and laughed into Joey's shoulder."Have I ever told you that I love my job? Comical scenes like that make it just so much better."
"I still think you're mean..but I have to admit seeing Britney get what she deserves puts a smile on my face."
"Joey," Cait said softly as she turned and faced him.
"What?" he asked as he reached up and brushed a piece of hair away from her face.
"Shut up so we can watch the show," she said before turning around in her seat as the lights went low.