This is my life, gee how'd you guess? Things haven't always gone my way but I've learned to deal. My life started out in a town just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee called Farragut. I lived there untill I was around seven. I was equipped with reddish brown hair, golden green eyes and yes the east Tennessee accent. But when I was was seven, my parents split up and my dad thought it would be better when I was older to live with my mom. So ultimately with no hard feelings I went with my mom and considered myself lucky compared to all the things I had heard about divorces. However, my mom failed to find a job and despite the help from my dad, couldn't support me and my sisters,Lily,who at the time was 4. So we went to live with my dad and finnally became reunited with my twin brother, Micheal. We were 8 and Lily was 6. Things went all and well the next three years. I got to see Mom on all the holidays and she called us nearly everynight. But then my work-a-holic dad, came home and said he felt awful of how he never was able to spend time with us and knew it wasn't a good situation. So he said he'd make sure we lived with someone who could. Lily, who was lucky could live with mom who was able to support one of us. Micheal and I were sent to live with a man named Paul Harless from Memphis who remarried and had a stepson a year older than us. So off we were to the other side of the state. I was NOT happy just thankful that Micheal at least got to come with me. When we got their I was greated by Paul's wife Lynn who was packing her car. She was going to take her son, Justin for some audition for something in Florida. We hadn't been their for only about 2 months and it was decided I was to go and live permantly with my grandmother in North Carolina and Micheal went off to some boarding school. June, 20 1992 *Knock Knock 'Oh what now?' I thought to myself from underneath my blanky for which seemed to be my only haven since I was born. "Can I come in?" I heard a high-pitched voice ask. "Micheal?" I replied. "No it's Justin, can I?" "Sure I guess." "I'm really sorry Liz, but it's not that bad! I mean I'm going to be on the DISNEY CHANEL! You can see me and then go and tell all your friends, 'I used to live with that guy!" The 11 year old said trying his hardest to make me feel better. We hadn't really talked to each other that much, I mean that much considering we lived together. "At least my grandma won't kick me out?" "Liz we didn't kick you out! I swear I feel awful! I'm really sorry! I wouldn't of taken the job if mom had told me all the times you've had to move." "You lie like a dog! Of course you would have taken the job and if you didn't I would've kicked your butt! Really Justin go, it's better anyway I would've had to move out of here at some point." I said because he really did have a sympathetic look on his face. "And if it means anything, we can still keep in touch I'll give you my address." "Justin what can we possibly have to say to each other we hardly talk anyway!"I said half laughing. "Point taken!" He said joinging me laughing. Then we hugged and I finished packing. Back to earth "Nana?" "Yes darlin?" "you remember those people I lived with before I moved in with you?" "Oh yea those sweet people that little young man that sang country?" "Yeah, look Lily left her magazine here when she came to visit. He started a band with that other guy from the MMC" "He turned into a cutie didn't he!" My grandmother said with a little smirk on her aged face. "Naaana! That wasn't what I was looking at I just wanted to show you!" "Sure now if I don't believe so we've gots some beans to can and a trip down to Mr. Lipsill's barnyard books I told him we'd come by today." "Nana it's a little shack on the side of a mountain that NO ONE goes to!" I said as she got her pocketbook and draged me by the hand. "Someday I hope you apprieciate good literature!" "'Kissed by an Angel' that was good literature!" I said contridicting her. "Ahh my darling the classics the classics!" She said leading me with a smile and English accent.
"Mom!" Justin yelled from across the hotel lobby waving. "Justin! It's been to long!" Lynn says kissing her son on the cheek, "Oh! Guess what I got a letter for you!" "Oh no they haven't found out our address have they?" He asks concerned. "No no no not yet! Cross your fingers but really let's go upstairs your going to LOVE IT!" "It's a letter..." Justin says skeptical. **In the Room** "Here." Lynn says handing her son the letter. "OHmigosh! It's Lizz! Ahhh I haven't heard from her in ages!" Justin says ripping open the letter. Hey Justin! How ya been! It's been ages! We were right! How were we gonna write each other when we never really talked anyway! Haha, well Lilly had a magazine with your lovely picture on it! Congrats! I heard your song on the radio the other day oh the top five! Your number one! Well I guess I'll have to catch you later I don't even know if this will get to you so let me know if it does. You can e-mail me or call me if it's easier, Edabet11@aol.com , 704-555-6792! Later~ Elizabeth "She gave me her number I gotta call her!" Justin practically yelled turning to his mom. "Well alright but use your cell phone...I don't see why your so interested in calling her! You haven't talked since we moved!" Lynn analyzed. "We never talked then either! It's...a long story mom..." Justin said remembering finding the ten-yr-old curled up on her bed crying with her blanky over her head. **My house** " So you think I should go with the 3-quarter sleeved shirt and the black pants?" I asked. "No I think you should go with the 3-quarter sleeved shirt and a SKIRT...but then I think any guy at RS Central would freak out if they saw YOU in a skirt! I even heard some of em say that they thought you'd wear pants to the PROM!" My best friend Natalie advised. "Hey now! I"m gonna show em sometime...I just don't wanna wear a skirt when I don't have to! Besides this isn't the PROM it's a DATE!" "Yeah and your first date in like FOREVER!" Natalie said. "Oh thanx for the ENCOURAGEMENT!" I replied as we both started laughin. *Knock knock "Come on in Nana." I answered "Telephone I think it's Matt..." Nana said handing me the phone. "He's calling you to warn you not to wear pants!" Natalie said snickering LOUDLY "Oh ha ha shut up Nat!...Hello?" "Lizz?" Matt asked. "Shyeah...that would be me I think." I said wondering why he thought it was someone else. "It's Justin! Hey! I got your letter! How's it goin?" My jaw dropped and I looked at Natalie. "What's he sayin?" she says knowing somethings up. "Hello?????" Justin says. "Ohmigosh! Hey! I thought you were and your not OHMIGOSH how are you I mean I'm great u? Your voice! It's SOO much deeper than that squeeky 11 yr olds!" "Yeah that happend ohhh I dunno about 3 or 4 years ago!" He said laughing! "So your still in FL?" I asked while Natalie stood there with a blank look. "Yeah sort of. Right now I'm in Nashville, we're touring,and your still livin with your grandmother? In Knoxville now?" "Yeah yeah well sort of me too cuz we're more in the mountains now in a town called Townsend, it's Hillbilly country though, so I usually live with my dad in Farragut during the shcool year." "Oh well we're going to Pigeon Forge for a photo shoot maybe I can stop by for a little while! "Oh yea sure definatly I mean that'd be real nice. I still can't believe you called me!" "Well it was the most convienient but listen I gotta go we're doing a meet-and-greet in about and hour so I gotta go get ready! I'll call you later about stopping by ok?" "Yeah sure bye!" I said hanging up the phone that looking at Natalie screaming. "What what I don't get it!!!" Natalie says completely confuesd. "You know 'N Sync right? And how I told you I lived wit the curly blond for a while?" "Yeah..."she said catching on. "That was him! I wrote him not expecting him to get the letter or even cared cuz we never really talked except for this one time when we had to move and I came to my grandma's and we only wrote once so then I just found his letter one day and out of boredom wrote him and gave him my number and he actually freakin called!" "He's a CUTIE!" "Yeah I know but I don't think I'd ever feel that way about him you know? He's like a brother, at 11 he left the toilet seat up I mean NOT a good sign!" I said laughing," But he's goin to Pigeon Forge, God only knows why,for a photo shoot and he said he'll try to stop by!" "They're just going to see if Dolly Parton's boobs are as big in person as they are in pictures! Hahah no they're probably gonna do some sorta mountain pictures, but ANYWHO, make sure I'm over at your house when he comes! Hahahah! At that Natalie started rolling on the floor, and couldn't really find what was funny so laughed even harder!
"Hey yo, Johnny, do you think we could possible swing by Townsend when we go to Pigeon Forge?" Justin asked hoping for the answer he wanted. "We could...if we were going to Pegeon Forge..." Johnny replied not looking up from his laptop. "And when were you planning on not telling us we were going?" Justin steamed. "We aren't going to Pigeon Forge, Justin, we ARE going to Townsend! What would we want in Pigeon Forge? I just told you guys that so that you would know around the area! No reason to get steamed up about it! Now go get some rest we leave at 3:00...AM. Oh yeah and by the way, why was it you wanted to go there?" "Uhh just a friend of mine I haven't seen in a long time, she lives there." "Well I don't know if we are going to be able to swing off, we are only going to stay for two days, well one we're leaving the second day-" "I know I know to go to LA...so can I?" "Just call her and tell her to meet us at the set and make sure she brings ID and let me know who she is so I can tell the sercurity gaurds can let her and oh yeah a picture would be nice we don't want anyone to get in except her." "Well the picture is gonna be a problem unless you want one of her when she was 10..." "Huh? Sure whatever that's fine" Johnny said as he went back to what he was doing. ***Mr.Lipsill's** "Elizabeth!" Mr. Lipsill called from behind a pile of books. " I've found just what you've been looking for! It's 'The Old Man and The Sea' by Earnest Hemmingway! Perfect tale for you and close enough for a classic that your Nana will approve!" "Mr. Lipsill.."I whined "YOu and Nana both knot that I'm not going to conprehend anything that I don't enjoy!" I continued picking up an old Lois Duncan book suprised that he had one. "Those mysteries are only going to fill your head up with nonsense and leave you scared throughout the night!" Nana disaggreed, "Besides that, what about all the books your reading for school!" "Exactly my point! The only book I remember comprhending ANYTHING from was where the Red Fern Blows, and The Bridge to Tereibithia in fifth grade! Now Mrs. McCloed! She knew what good literature!" I fought back. Nana just rolled her eyes and mumbled "Teenagers" as Mr. Lipsills and I both laughed at the 60 yr old woman rolling her eyes. "What about this Justin, boy anyway...how come he's all the sudden so bent on coming to see you?" Nana asked, "NOt that he's not a sweet boy...I do remember that about the five minutes I knew him." "I don't know I kinda want to see him too. Micheal, Justin and I never really spoke it was always me and Micheal, Justin and Jon, his little brother that still didn't talk...but when I was crying in my room before you came...you know how sometimes people say thr right things at the right times that you never thought that person would say?" I asked and Nana nodded. "Well he did that. I don't know I've always regreted not writing him." I added as I browsed through more dusty books I had seen a thousand times. "So you think you have an undeveloped crush on him?" Nana pryed. "What's with you and Nat! I don't have a crush on Justin I hardly even knew him then much less now! I'd just like to see him again!" "What about that sexy voice now!" Nana teased. "Naana!" I exclaimed by hearing her say SEXY about an 18 yr old. "It wasn't any deeper than Matt's! I actually thought it was Matt!" "Speaking of Matt...how was that once-in-a-lifetime date you had?" Nana pryed again. "Not you too?" I groaned, " I could get a date if I wanted! I just don't go flaunting around looking for one!" "Suuuure." Nanna replied. I don't know there's just something about your grandmother wanting to know about a 17 yr olds love-life that just doesn't go over well! IT's amusing none-the-less...I guess that's one of the reason's I should be glad my love life's as dead as it is. "So your going on another date with Matt?" Nana kept on. "Uhh let it go!!!" I said getting out of the bookstore half laughing, half agrivated. ***The Day*** "Hello?" "Nat! Ahh I'm SOOO excited!" I said to my half-asleep friend on the phone. "Yeah so am I..." She replied sarcastically. "Are you really that bummed about it? I'm already feelin awful about it!" I said conserned. "NOoo I'm just picking with you Liz you know that! Besides I don't even like N Sync all that much! Go and have fun!" She assured me. "Ok well I'm going to go now! Ahh, why am I so excited? This is crazy!" "Well he is cute!" Nat pointed out. "But he's JUSTIINNN!" I argued. "Sure whatever you say..." Nat insisted. "YEs I'm sure! Bye Natalie! You get some sleep deary ya hear me?" I joked. "I'd still be sleeping if someone hadn't woke me up at 6:30!!!! No names mentioned!" "Ok darlin! Bye!" I said inocently laughing. ***Around Cades Cove*** "Hey! ID please?" A big burly black guy asked me as I walked up to the gate, " Ahh so your Miss O'Neil! Right this way, he may not be able to talk to you very soon. I'm not sure what's in store for them but you can wait right here until he get's a moment." The gaurd assited me and sat me in a chair outside a trailor. "And if you get to cold just go right on inside the trailor there, oh here let me give you this ID, so everyone know's who you are." He said handing me a pass with a necklace around it. 'Ok what now' I wondered sitting in the chair looking around at all the people roaming around like they had something important to do. Figureing my legs were getting to stiff and I didn't exactly want to go in the trailor because I felt odd anyway around here I decided to walk around. There wasn't much else except more trailors and "important people". 'Ok I'm not sure this was worth the trip' I continued to wonder. "Cades Cove isn't that far from here, maybe I can go see if Natalie's there yet. (Natalie works there as a horseback riding instructor...sometimes I can bum a ride if it's not full) Nah Justin would get mad if he found out I left...wait a sec he doesn't even know me anymore how can he be mad! I'm the one that should be mad! I don't know what or where the heck anything is for all these people...there must be somethin else then just they're-"Liz?" I turned around and must of looked flustered "Ohmigosh are you okay?" I suddenly realized it was Justin and grinned the biggest grin I've ever grinned! "Hey! Yeah I'm fine! Man your tall! How are you? I can't believe it! Your Mr. Fancy now! Look at all this stuff!" I said to him trying hard not to strain my neck. "I know isn't it great? I know have you even grown since I last saw you? Come here!" He said reaching for a hug. "Don't you have to get back?" I asked. "Nah they're doin individuals right now I already had mine done. Come on let's get inside you look like your about to keel over from frost bite!" " I'm alright but not stupid enough to complain!" I said as I followed him. ****In the Trailor**** "You look alot diffrent than that curly headed country singin boy I used to know!" "I imagine that's a compliment thanx! Hhaha" Justin said laughing,"but you don't look a whole lot like ya used to either! No more braces or glasses maybe a little taller!" "Hey now! There's no reason to be rude! I've grown 5 inches and 3 quaters THANK YOU VERY MUCH." Dead silence came about... " I guess it's a little diffrent when neither of us are having to deal with problems!" Justin said trying to make it a little less nerve racking. "Yeah I couldn't think of a few though...I think, well the extent of my problems is the fact that there's a bet going on whether or not I'll wear pants to the prom!Hahah somehow I don't think I need your help on that one!" "Go for it!" Justin said joking, " My problem's run on sleep but I wouldn't trade any of this for the world!" "I don't think I would either! Speaking of which, when are you leaving?" I asked trying to figure out if I wanted it to be soon or not. "Tommorow I think, I'm sorry, I guess we'll have to try writing again..." Justin said looking down. "Hey! A job's a job! But somehow I don't think that's going to work out!" I said laughing, "But what are you doing afterwards?" "After the photoshoot? Hmm well I think we're suposed to go to a radio station in Knoxville and do some sort of broadcast but Im' not sure..." He said skeptically. "Really? Do you know what one?" " Uhh 93 some thin or maybe it's 91 I dunno" "93.1?" I asked "Yeah I think that's it!" He said. "Oh really I have a friend that works down there maybe I could go with you guys or something, I mean meet you there or something if it's alright." "Yeah sure! That'd be great!" He finish, "Ohh well I guess I should be heading back over there, you can come if you want or I'll just see you tonight..." "I think I'm gonna run, I promised a friend that works at Cades Cove that I'd hit up with her for Lunch...thanx for letting me stop by though! It was cool to see you again! I'll have to see if I can get Micheal to come or something." Yeah sure! Bye" And with that he left. Absolutly nothing. It was just like living with him, conversation was made to keep things interesting. I dunno though there was just somethin about him, I knew he wasn't like that really I mean on the phone last night he had seemed all funny and stuff...and then there's that somethin else. I just can't seem to figure out what it is.
"What do you mean there wasn't anything there? Excuse me if I didn't hear you BEFORE that there wasn't anything in the first place." Natalie said practically screaming across the picnic table. "I don't know I guess you guys got me thinking that there was after all you guys did do your fair share of insisting!" I calmly stated, "I mean eh, anyone can see the man's fine as a mug! But there was something diffrent I mean he wasn't as happy and cheery as he was on the phone. I don't know maybe he was just worn out." "If I'm not mistaken I remember, you were quoted saying 'but it's JUUUSSSSSTIN!' and now your saying you did have an interest in him before you met back up."Nat still agrivated me. "ANYWAY!", I interuped trying to get her to leave me alone. "They are doin an interview at 93.1 I'm going to weisel Matt into letting me come and sit in PLEASE come with me." "Hey I may think your crazy but I'm not! Sure why not..." Natalie agreed. ****At the Station**** Thanx to Matt I get to guest DJ sometimes so tonight he let me go on. "Hang on girls and boys, N Sync right after this on 93.1 They're right here I swear! And your guest DJ who we all know and love, Elizabeth O'Neil next on 93.1 Knoxville's only place for the hits you want!" Matt talked into the microphone as I walked into the room to see the guys waiting to go on air. I knocked on the half open door as I stepped inside. I winked at Justin as I came in the door then Matt jumps up. "Hey cutie!" He says as he pecked me on the cheek and gave me a hug while saying 'Sup Nat?'. Afterwards I gave Natalie a look that said 'I-didn't-think-it-went-THAT-well...' and she shrugged and took a seet as I put on head phones and sat at the other mike. "Aight now ya'll just hold on now I know what you want, here she is-" Matt said "Yes it's Miss Liz and Miss Liz I'd like you to meet 'N Sync who I understand you've met one of them before." As he said that Justin and I shot him a look that said don't even start that. "Yeah I met Justin down breifly today down around Cades Cove, at a photo shoot."I replied still looking at him trying to get the point through to leave it at that. The rest of the interview went on with a couple of jokes and callers declaring their love to each of the guys. Justin just stared at me the whole time with this simi-worried look. That's IT! I figured it out! As the interview ended I went over and asked Nat to meet me in the bathroom. ****In the Bathroom**** "Nat did you see how Justin's been lookin at me the WHOLE TIME?" I said to her. "Uhh excuse me but I thought you emplied that he wasn't interested at all?" She asked confused. "No it's this fragile look. With this concern in his eye! It's weird! It's like he thinks something's wrong with me! It all makes sense! When he saw me he goes "liz?" and I turned around and he said 'Ohmigosh are you ok?' and other than a little cold I was fine there was no-" "Liz" Natalie interupted, "If you honestly think that he think's somethin's wrong that say something." "Like what? 'Hey Justin what's your problem?'" I snapped. " I dunno what do you want written instructions?" She said walking off. "Well it'd be nice..." I mumbled. The walked out to catch Justin coming out of the radio room. I guess the rest of the guys were still talkin to Matt. "Liz!" We need to talk." he yelled as I was going in the opposite direction trying to avoid his strange eye. " Aboout what?" I asked innocently. "Are you sure your ok?" 'Perfect oppurtunity I guess' my head seemed to say. "Why do you keep askin me if I'm fine, what's the matter with YOU?" I snapped sort of hatefully. "Listen Lily told me how hard you took it when Micheal passed away and I'm really sorry-" He started "Whoa whoa whoa when did you talk to Lily and why are you saying Micheal passed away?" I said wondering if Lily had been up to one of her schemes again. "Lily told me you wouldn't admit to it, really though, you know I'm at my best when-" and I interupped him with laughter I was litterally bawling with laughter on the floor. " Umm Liz?" Justin asked bewildered "Lily huh? How did you talk to her? I'm going to have to think of something really slick to top that one! I have to admit she's pretty good at that..." I said still laughing. "You mean Lily was just messin with me?" Justin asked innocently. "Yeah isn't she great? hhhaaha That Lily's gettin slick in her old age!" "ohmigosh! I was SOOO worried about you! I swear! I could kill her but on account I don't really know her I'll let it slide! I was SOO worried! You have NO idea cuz when we left you said 'Maybe I'll get Micheal to come with me' I was think Oh no! She's gone off the deep end!" Justin says half laughing half angry. At that point I was laughin so hard I was crying! "Speakin of which why didn't he come?" At that I just looked up and stopped laughing,"What?" "Well, Micheal and I uhh we...don't...Micheal and I don't talk that much anymore, the last time I saw him was through a window at my dad's office. We sorta got in a fight it's a long story" Trying to avoid the subject. "Then why did you say it?" He asked confused. "Umm I really don't know. I guess originally I was going to make up an excuse...but since you got connections with Dear Lily, I guess that's not such a good idea!" "What's with you and Mr. DJ?" He asked curiously. "Matt?-" "Justin buddy! Ya wanna introduce us to your little "friend"?" Chris came up to us outstreching his hand. "Oh sorry! I guess I should've done that before the radion show!" Then Joey came up and kissed my hand as I curtsied to him. And JC and Lance just shaked and gave a nice to meet you. And with that we went out to get a desert at a local restaurant and I said goodbyes to the guys as Nat, Matt and I headed home.
This story was written by a girl named Elizabeth. email her at: Edabet11@aol.com
