6 months later…

“You want me to stick that where?” cried Joey in shock.

“Fatone. Just do it,” said Melanie, running her hands through her light brown hair. Joey grumbled incoherently under his breath and lifted his leg, placing it in the large, menacing exercise machine. “Now push,” she instructed.

“But I don’t want to,” whined Joey. “Come on Mel, can’t we just call it a day? I mean, I worked really hard earlier…”

“But you’re not working hard now,” said Melanie, shaking her head. “How are you supposed to see any progress when you won’t even go through an entire session?”

“Mel, please,” said Joey. “I’ve been coming to physical therapy six days a week since September, so give me a little credit, please. Besides, I’ve made tons of progress, now haven’t I?” he said defiantly.

“That’s true,” said Melanie. “But I want to see you running, and you haven’t begun taking laps yet, so until then…”

“If you beat the patient, I won’t tell,” came a voice behind them. Melanie turned around to see Chris approaching the two. Melanie rolled her eyes.

“Thank God you’re here,” she said. “I’m ready to throw this guy out the window.”

“And I’m here to help,” grinned Chris.

“Chris, dude, you have no idea what a slave driver this woman is,” said Joey, motioning frantically at Melanie.

“Joe, you aren’t going to get any sympathy from me,” said Chris, shaking his head. “When you start doing the choreography to “Bye Bye Bye”, then we’ll talk.”

Joey lay back on the machine, sighing dramatically. “No sympathy… no love… no respect.”

Chris rolled his eyes and turned to Melanie. “I’ll take him off your hands for now,” said Chris. “But I’m bringing him in nice and early tomorrow. Madison threatened my life if I don’t get him back to working order as soon as possible.”

“No problem,” smiled Melanie. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, bright and early,” she grinned, patting Joey on the leg before turning and walking out the door. Joey groaned and sat up, easing himself into his wheelchair.

“Tag teaming isn’t allowed,” grumbled Joey. “You were my friend first.”

Chris simply chuckled and began pushing the wheelchair into the corridor, looking down the hall after Melanie’s retreating figure. His heart let out a silent sigh as he pushed Joey’s wheelchair down the hallway, going to opposite way.

“Isn’t this place beautiful?” drawled Diane, Lance’s mother.

Jessie and Lance glanced at each other, thinking the same thing. “Yes, mom, this church is beautiful, but-“ began Lance.

“But what?” she shrugged. “There’s no question. Your wedding should definitely be held here.”

“Yes, but-“ began Jessie.

“Oh, and the preacher can stand over there,” she said, motioning wildly. “And we can decorate the aisle with bouquets of carnations along the pews, and…” Her voice faded as she moved away from the couple, ranting wildly about the “necessities” for Lance and Jessie’s wedding.

Jessie looked up at Lance helplessly. “What about the outside wedding?” she asked.

“I know,” he nodded.

“Just wait until my mom flies in,” groaned Jessie. “You think your mom’s tough, wait until mine.”

“Make sure you read the next three chapters before the next class meeting.”

Madison stood up, stretching her legs, tired after a two hour lecture. She hoisted her book bag over her shoulder and turned to leave, only to find a solid being in her way. She looked up in surprise, only to find her friend David smiling down at her.

“Hi Madison,” he grinned.

“Hi David!” she smiled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

“It’s ok,” he shrugged. “So, are you on your way out?”

“Yeah, actually,” she smiled. “Do you have a class in here now?” she asked, motioning to the lecture hall they were standing in.

“Actually, no,” he said. “I just had class in here.”

Madison furrowed her brow in confusion. “You just had Dr. Prince?”

“Yup,” smiled David. “18th century literature.”

“You mean you’ve been in here since the beginning of the semester and I never saw you?”

David shrugged. “Well, I tried to talk to you, but you were always on the phone or something after class.”

“Oh,” said Madison. “Well, sorry about that. So how have you been?”

David shrugged. “I’ve been alright. You?”

Madison smiled. “Good… I’ve been good.”

“It’s been forever since I last saw you,” said David, touching Madison’s arm. “The last time I saw you was the day that jerk Joey came to see you,” he chuckled. “How did you get rid of him?”

Madison’s face fell. “Well, um… I sort of didn’t.”

David furrowed his brow in confusion. “What do you mean you didn’t?”

“I mean I’m dating him,” she said.

David’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re dating him?”

“Yes I am,” said Madison, growing defensive.

“But… but why?” he managed.

“Because I love him, David, that’s why,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Madison, he’s the type of guy you mess around with… you don’t date a guy like that!” he cried.

“Who are you to tell me who I can and can’t date?” cried Madison.

“Madison, look, I know he’s a famous guy and all-“

“How dare you,” said Madison. “How dare you accuse me of dating Joey for his fame.”

“All I’m saying is that the guy cheated on you,” said David, holding his hands up. “You should respect yourself enough to leave a guy who treated you horribly.”

“I’ll have you know he never cheated on me,” said Madison. “Secondly, Joey’s a wonderful man, a man who I love! So back off, David. You don’t know anything about my relationship with Joey!” With that, Madison pushed David out of the way and stormed off.

“All I’m saying is that maybe you shouldn’t be on your feet so much… that’s all,” said JC, rubbing Alex’s back soothingly.

“Josh, really,” said Alex, looking at him skeptically. “I’m 8 months pregnant. Not disabled.”

“I know that,” he groaned. “Listen, Alex,” he said, holding Alex’s face so she was looking at him. “Let me do this. Let me paint the room.”

“Josh, this is our child and I want to help paint their room,” she said firmly. “Paint fumes aren’t going to hurt me or anything.”

“I don’t know,” he said slowly.

“Joshua Chasez, I suggest keeping your very pregnant, very hormonal wife happy and let me paint this room,” she said through gritted teeth.

JC held his hands up in submission, stepping back, allowing Alex to step forward and pick up the can of pale yellow paint, proceeding to enter the bedroom designated the future room for their child.

Alex, set in her ways and her mind made up, entered, tucking a strand of dark brown hair that had fallen out of her ponytail behind her ear. She stuck her tongue out between her lips in concentration as she carefully used a screwdriver to wedge open the can. She did so after much applied force. She grabbed the paint brush off the small table, only to have it slip out of her fingers and land on the ground.

JC, who had been admiring her from the door bit his lip, fighting a smile, as he watched her stare at the paintbrush lying on the ground in disgust, then back to her swollen stomach… the one that gave her trouble in simply getting out of bed in the morning.

She furrowed her brow in concentration and watched as she carefully began bending her legs, slowly lowering herself to the ground. She didn’t even get halfway when she stood back up, sticking out her bottom lip in a pout. “Josh!” she cried.

JC chuckled and walked in the room, kissing Alex gently on the cheek, and easily picking the paintbrush off the ground and holding it out to her. Alex glared at him bitterly and snatched the paintbrush out of his hand, ignoring his triumphant “I told you so” smile. JC shook his head, laughing, as he picked up a nearby roller, prepared to begin coating the walls in the pale yellow color.

“You know, I don’t think I can ever get used to that,” said Jen, walking up the walkway to her apartment.

“What?” asked Justin.

Jen dropped her groceries on the kitchen counter, turning to look at Justin in awe. “Oh I don’t know… maybe that horde of screaming teenage girls?”

“Oh… that,” shrugged Justin.

Jen rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky I don’t just drop your ass right here and now,” she said, a playfully grin tugging at her lips. “Teenies scare me. I don’t like to deal with them. And you’re a teenie making machine!”

“I can’t help it if I’m so charming,” he shrugged innocently.

Jen rolled her eyes and turned to open the fridge. Justin walked up behind her, gently kissing the base of her neck. “You find me charming, don’t you?” he whispered into her ear.

Despite dating for six months already, the husky tone in his voice still made her melt. ”Not at all, Timberlake.”

“You’re lying, Lea,” he whispered, gently kissing her earlobe, using the nickname he used when they were children. He knew as well as she did that it made her melt.

It was a good thing Justin’s arms were wrapped around her waist, otherwise Jen would’ve fallen to the ground. Instead, she remained silent, focusing all her attentions on remaining standing.

“You’re not as charming as you like to think you are,” said Jen.

“Oh, is that so?” grinned Justin. “Then why do you have goosebumps?”

Jen bit her lip to keep from smiling. He always managed to do that to her.

“You’re entirely too full of yourself, Mr. Timberlake,” she said, turning around and wrapping her arms around his neck, reaching up to kiss him.

“With good reason,” he smiled. “Look at the girl I’ve got.”

Jen smiled and rolled her eyes, giggling softly.

“Joey?” called Madison, entering his apartment.

“Over here,” called Joey from the other room. Madison dropped her purse by the door and walked into the adjoining room, smiling as she saw Joey seated on the couch. He grinned at her and patted the couch cushion beside him. “Sit,” he instructed. “I’ve missed you too much for you to stand there, looking beautiful.”

Madison rolled her eyes and sat down on the couch beside him, snuggling close to him, kissing him. “That’s better,” he smiled, sighing contentedly. “So how was your day?”

Madison sighed, remembering her argument with David earlier that day. “Alright, I suppose,” she sighed.

“What’s wrong?” asked Joey. “Did Dr. Zeckman grill you on that book again?”

“No, nothing like that,” she said, leaning her head against Joey’s chest.

“What then?” he asked, gently stroking his hand up and down the length of her back. “What’s wrong, Mads?”

Madison hesitated, biting her lip anxiously. She lifted her head and looked at him searchingly. “You never cheated on me, right?”

“Never,” said Joey immediately, his brow furrowing in concern.

“And you love me right?” she whispered.

“Madison, there is nothing in this world I love more than you,” said Joey, caressing her cheek gently. “What’s this all about?”

Madison sighed and leaned her head back down on Joey’s chest. “I ran into David today.”

“David?” asked Joey, gently running his fingers through her hair.

“Uh huh,” she nodded. “Do you remember him? He was the guy who said that he was my boyfriend?”

“Of course,” said Joey a moment later. “How could I forget?”

“Yeah…” said Madison. “Him.”

“So what did he say to you?” asked Joey, lifting her face to look her in the eyes. Madison bit her lip hesitantly.

“He lectured me about how I shouldn’t be dating you,” said Madison. “He said ‘you mess around with guys like that… you don’t date them’.”

Anger surged through Joey’s veins, but he remained calm nonetheless. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about, Madison. Don’t believe a word he says.”

Madison sat up, regarding Joey with a small smile. “I know. I told him off,” she smiled.

Joey chuckled and hugged Madison closer to him. “I knew I loved you for a reason.”

Chapter 2