A TIME TO REMEMBER

CHAPTER 1

"You know you want to go". Ali said in a taunting tone. She continued her enjoyable task of waving the tickets in Rose's face like candy. "I can see it in your eyes".

Rose was slumped in a recliner, watching TV. Her only movement was her moving her head back and forth to dodge Ali out of her view. "The only thing I can see is your little smurf hand!" She smacked it away. "I’m trying to watch this!"

Ali wasn't giving up. She waved the tickets right under Rose's nose, getting so close that she almost gave her a paper cut. "Give it up. I'm not going anywhere until you say you'll go."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Whatever". Then she tried to look serious. "I’m not sure if I’m ready to subject myself to that sort of corruption".

Corruption? What corruption? Who is this girl, some sort of religious quack? Nope. She's just a Backstreet Boys fan.

Meanwhile, Ali wasn't impressed. " Besides, I’m not taking anyone else, so you might as well quite while you're ahead. Aren’t you the least bit curious to see for yourself how kind Mother Nature has been to Lance since you seen him last?"

“Why? I see him on TV and every time you make me watch those damn videos!”

“The real thing would look even better”.

Rose put her tape on Pause and dropped her remote. She put her hands over her face and let out a shrill cry. "AAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKK! Make it stop!" Her cries then turned into hysterical laughter. "I should bring that yearbook and embarrass the living hell out of him". She began to fake a Southern drawl. "Mah name is Lance and ah am a dork!" By now she was laughing so hard that she was almost falling out of her chair.

Ali was laughing so hard that she too was on the verge of tears. "I can just picture it". Then she regained herself and grinned at her friend. "At least I got you to say that you'd go".

Rose rolled her eyes and went down to reach for the remote. "Ok, I'll go. But if I hear you after the concert saying how you and JC are going to start getting to know each other, you're a dead woman. And don't even THINK of trying to give Lance my phone number!"

"Oh where's your sense of adventure?" Ali asked with a laugh. Rose replied by hitting her square in the face with the nearest pillow.

Ali and Rose had been best friends since the fifth grade. They had had their share of swooning, but Rose was starting to worry about her friend now. Ali was nearly twenty-one and there were times that she acted like she was twelve. At only four foot nine and a half inches tall, she could certainly pass for twelve.

It not that she has a problem with Ali liking NSYNC. She couldn't blame her, cause she liked them too. She had brought the video and the CD when she visited Rose in her home state of New Jersey last December. Rose had to admit it was catchy. “I can see why you like them”, she told her. So she managed to peak Rose’s interest. That wasn’t the only thing that peaked her interest. She nearly passed out from shock when she realized that the Lance Bass that Ali was drooling over and whose voice she referred to as “Barry White’s competition” was the same goody-two shoes that she went to school with back in the day. It was back in junior high, when he was the braces-and-funny-haircut bookworm. She couldn't deny that Mother Nature placed the blessing of puberty on him. But she's never really been the type to sit and drool over movie stars or musicians.

Ali was a bit different. She wasn't a fanatic, just different. While Rose liked them, Ali was practically GAGA for them. She made sure that she didn’t miss any of their television appearances, and any that she did miss, she’d tape. However, the good part is that she didn’t cry a river if she missed one. She’d just whine for a day or two and ask whomever she came across what she missed. Then there’s her room. Her room resembled that of a teeny booper. Her walls were covered with posters, along with a separate wall completely devoted to Lance. She's in the process of changing the focus to JC, whom she now has fighting Lance for the number one spot. She even has an extremely large silver NSYNC charm that she wears constantly, and with pride. As long as she's not determined to marry them or bear their children, we're ok, Rose though to herself one day as she drove home.

Rose had only been down in Florida about six months, and Ali was already dying for them to go to a concert together. So she waited in line for nearly two and a half-hours to get third row seats for their concert at the Arena. If that wasn’t enough, she then managed to get her hands on backstage passes from the local radio station. “You’re loony.” Rose told her when Ali came home from the ticket office. “You’re absolutely insane”.

Ali just smiled. “Trust me, it will definitely be worth it. You need to see them for yourself. I’ve waited nearly two years for this. It was worth it!”

Rose remembers when she found about yesterday that Ali managed to score backstage passes. She had just come home from work. Suddenly she heard the sound of someone crying “WOOOOO HOOOOOO!” echoing through the hallway. Ali emerged, actually, bounced out of the living room. “I rule, I rule…I am da bomb!” She kept saying over and over again.

Rose knew right away that it was NSYNC related. “Ok, what now?” She was starting to think that Ali was going to bounce out of her skin.

“I scored!” Ali squealed, dancing around Rose.

Rose wasn’t sure what she was talking about. “Huh?” Then it clicked. She knew that there was a station giving away backstage passes to the concert, which was only about three months away. “You didn’t…”

“I did! Girl, we are going backstage!”

“Wait a minute. What’s this ‘we’ stuff?”

“I didn’t try to win two tickets for nothing you know." Ali replied, now that her voice was back to normal. "You’re got to go with me. You promised!” Now Ali was getting whiney. And the battle began. Now Rose is hoping that she won’t live to regret it.

As long as she doesn’t make a fool out of herself or me, I’ll let her live. She thought to herself.

As the day of the concert drew closer, Ali seemed to make a significant effort to stay calm. This was her first time getting decent seats to one of their concerts. The fact that she got backstage passes still had her in disbelief, but she was taking it in stride. She wanted Rose and her to go together so bad, she wasn't about to embarrass her. I told her it would be worth it and it will.

The day of the concert, she allowed herself to sleep in. She had her outfit, a black and white Fubu jersey and black jeans, laid out by her dresser. Rose was supposed to be home from work around three, and the concert was at seven thirty. This would give them plenty of time to get changed and run out for something to eat before they get there. She needed something for breakfast, so she jumped into her car, a light blue Miata that Rose called the "Smurf Mobile". She ran into McDonalds and gapped at the line. As she stood and waited, she got the feeling that someone was behind her. She turned around and nearly passed out.

JC? It can't be! She thought. He was sitting in a corner seat, and he was alone. What's he doing here by himself? He must've overslept and the guys made him go get his own food. She wanted to go and find out for herself. Then she hesitated. No way. I can't. I'll feel like a total idiot if it's not him.

But it had to be. She knew he didn't have a twin. Besides, he was by himself. At least if she made a fool of herself, she wouldn't have to add to the embarrassment by making the mistake in front of his friends. She shook as she got her food, and made her way to the little table about three seats down from him. She told herself to behave. She wasn't going to get all bent out of shape. He's a normal human being. He's just by himself. Let the man eat. Do not make eye contact. But finally her curiosity got the best of her, and she looked in his direction. He was staring at her! He winked and then took a sip of his drink. Water. Go figure. She went to take a bite of her food when she looked up and saw him coming over. If she hadn’t kept her cool she would’ve choked and their introduction would’ve been him having to perform CPR. Not a bad idea. But she snapped back to reality as he approached the table.

"Hey there", he said. You look lonely over here." His eyes were twinkling. Then he smiled and Ali felt her legs turn to water. He pointed to her shirt. "Nice jersey. Got one just like it".

Ali laughed. "Just killing time”.

“Mind if I join you?”

Ali smiled her sweetest smile. “Let’s see, a nice guy with a sense of humor. That’s a rarity. Have a seat. I wouldn’t mind the company."

Then he extended his hand. "Wouldn't make any sense to ask a stranger to sit with you. My name's Josh, but my friends call me JC."

"My name's Ali. Nice to meet you". She went to shake his hand. They were clean, and not sweaty. He’s confident on his own. I like that. She decided not to say anything about him being in any group or anything like that. That might spoil things. Besides, he's not on stage. He's being a normal guy.

He sat down. "Good. Now we're not strangers anymore. But don't worry, I’m not going to expect you to tell me everything about yourself. Just a little bit".

"What would you like to know?"

"Whatever you feel like telling me. I know your name, so the next thing that would make sense is to ask you if you live around here and why you're here by yourself."

"Well, actually, I live about three blocks away. My best friend is at work, so I'm just grabbing a bite to eat before I run my errands today.”

“Got a lot to do?”

“Not really. Just laundry and the bank. The usual. I need to get it all done before she gets home so we can start getting ready. We’re going out tonight."

JC laughed. "Girls night out?"

Ali grinned. "Sort of. She and I are going to a concert tonight. I managed to get really good seats and score some backstage passes, so I'm really psyched."

"What concert?"

"Oh…I guess you'd want to know that." Then she paused. Should she tell him? What will he say? "I don't know if I should tell you. First off, how old do you think I am?" She thought she should test him just to be safe.

"Oh jeez. I’m not the best at guessing ages." He looked her over. "Well, you look young, but you sound mature, so I'll say you're about nineteen."

Ali breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled. "You're close. I’m going to be twenty-one in February."

"Cool", he said. "I'll be twenty-four in August.” He knew she was trying to change subject, so he jumped back. Ok, Ali, nice try. Now 'fess up. What concert? I promise you, I won't say anything."

Ali was stunned. He actually was paying attention when she told him her name. This looks promising. She kept reminding herself not to slip, even though the temptation was almost unbearable. "We're going to the Arena to see NSYNC".

"Really?" he replied. "You may not believe this, but so am I. Where are your seats?"

Ok, now he’s playing along. This is good. "Third row. You?"

"I got some friends that work at the box office, so I snagged front row. I’m going with a bunch of people."

“That’s cool. I don’t meet too many guys that like NSYNC. Most of the ones I do meet are either into the harmony or the dance moves”.

“Yeah. I’ve gotten into their moves. Their harmonies are really good too.” Then he smiled. “I bet you and your friend are going to totally lose it when you meet them.”

“Nah. I’m going to be calm. My best friend’s not the type to drool over musicians any way. It was hard enough to get her to go to this with me, since she’s a Backstreet Boys fan.”

JC smiled. “Trying to convert her, I see.”

“Something like that. Any way, she went to middle school with one of the guys in the group, so I told her that its about time she sees for herself how kind nature has been to him”.

“Wow”, he said. “That sort of thing doesn’t happen often. Who’d she go to school with?”

“Lance”, Ali replied. “The one that does bass”. Then she looked at him to see if he’d say anything. He didn’t.

“They put on a great show. I love the special effects. Keeps everyone on the edge of their seats. I can guess that this one will be just as good, if not better.” He looked at his watch for the first time since they started talking and stood up. "Well, I need to get back before the guys start looking for me." The guys. Ali laughed. "It was great talking to you, Ali. I’m glad I came over. So I'll see you at the concert?"

Taken aback, Ali regained herself. He's going to see me there alright. "Sure thing. I'll make sure my friend and I find you."

He reached out his hand. Ali went to shake hands, but instead, JC went and kissed hers. “Until we meet again”.

By now Ali’s heart was about to explode out of her chest. JC! She couldn’t believe she had just talked with him for all this time, and didn’t break out and ask if he was the guy from NSYNC. It’s a good thing too, she thought as she headed out to her car. She saw JC drive by in his little black Jeep and honk the horn. “See you tonight”. He took a glance at her as she went to get into her car. “Nice wheels”, he said as he finally drove off.

Ali’s hands shook on the steering wheel the whole way home. What would Rose say? She’d probably think that she had food poisoning or the coffee had gone to her brain. But Rose was always the more sensible of the two of them. When Ali got a chance to talk to JC online once, Rose suggested that they might be able to keep in touch that way.

“There’s no way that’s going to happen. The guy’s got too much going on right now,” Ali said that night during dinner.

“So?” Rose replied. “He’s a normal guy, he just happens to be famous. You never know what could happen. There’s no rule that says you guys can’t be friends”.

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