CHAPTER 22
(Kaitlyn's apartment)
It was about one o' clock when Kaitlyn finally woke up. She thought she might have slept longer but her lingering dream about the past couple months on tour with the guys didn't really do her much good. She really didn't know what to do. She felt like somehow she was living her life just how it was before NSYNC, but she never stopped thinking about each one of them, some more than others. She slowly made her way into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. She took a sip and then brought it over to the couch and turned on the tv. Oddly, the tv was on MTV and News 1515 was having a little update on the NSYNC tour.
"NSYNC's fall tour is their first one here in the U.S. As well as it is going, there may be a few gliches in their tour. Sources in Chicago, where the guys are currently at, say that the group is experiencing problems due to a missing memeber. That missing member is none other than the young one of the group, Justin Timberlake. Sources say that Justin abruptly left a Thanksgiving party and was last seen on his way to O'Hare International Airport. Two shows in Chicago and one in Boise have been cancelled...." Kurt Loder said.
Kaitlyn felt a sinking feeling in her stomach start to form and she began to slouch on the couch miserably. Just because of her, Justin had very much could have ruined his entire career if MTV found out why he left.
"Just great Kaitlyn, you've just ruined the life of the guy of your dreams!" Kaitlyn moaned.
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(At the resturaunt)
Jennifer and Joey both ate their food and shared the pizza. They were having fun together. They really did enjoy each other's company.
"So...you up for some desert?" Joey asked hoping to keep her from leavng sooner.
"I would really love too, but I really do need to get back and pack." Jennifer said quite disappointed herself.
"Yeah, your right. Why don't you stay here and finish eating and I'll go get Tony to bring the car out front." Joey gave her an obviously plastered fake smile and walked towards the table where Tony had been sitting at.
"Hey Tony, could you get the car out. Jennifer has to leave soon." Joey said looking a little down.
"Oh too bad, and I thought you would've kissed her by now." Tony said getting up.
"What are you talking about?" Joey said trying to hide how he really felt.
"C'mon Joe, you know you like the girl. The two of you were sparking more sparks then on the fourth of July the whole time." Tony gave him a little pat on the back and said, "it's not too late. Heck, she's probably thinking about telling you the same thing."
Tony left the resturaunt to get the car and Joey stood there for a moment and thought about what Tony had just said. Joey slowly made his way to the table where Jennifer was sitting. There was something about her that truly intrigued him. He usually didn't even have to try to charm a girl but Jennifer was a different story.
"Umm..Tony's bringing out the car so we better get outside." Joey said as he helped her out of her chair and payed the bill. They stepped out of the restaraunt and the cold November chill made Jennifer shiver. Joey noticed how cold Jennifer looked.
"Here, looks like you need this more than me." Joey said puting his Nike jacket over Jennifer's shoulder.
"Thanks" Jennifer said sheepishly. She felt kind of awkward. It just felt weird to be around a guy who treated her the way she wanted to be treated. Tony pulled the car up to the curb and the two got into the car. For the most part, the car ride back to the hotel was dead silent. Every few minutes Tony would look in the rear view mirror and give Joey a funny look. He could definitly see the chemistry/tension between the two.
It was about two hours before Jennifer's plane was scheduled to depart. She rushed up to her hotel room and packed everything she needed to. Her door was still open a little and Joey just stood there watching her until she felt a pair of eyes watching her.
She turned around to see Joey there. "Oh hey Joey, I'm sorry I never noticed you. Something up?"
Joey looked up at her and stepped into the room closer to her. "Umm...no, I was just wondering if you needed some help?"
"You know what...that would be great. you can start by closing that bag for me." Jennifer pointed to a small black duffle bag that held more than twice it could.
Joey nodded and headed over to the bed to close the bag. He was being awfully quiet and it didn't seem right to Jennifer at all.
"You know, I had a wonderful time today. Thank you." Jennifer said turning to him and hoping to break the silence.
"Good, I'm glad." Joey said dryly.
"Is there something wrong?" Jennifer asked quite concerned.
"Well, I kinda have this problem."
"Well, I'm all ears." Jennifer said pulling her ears out in a gesture.
"It's like this, I think I really like this girl, but I don't know if she feels the same way and if and how should I tell her." Joey said in a round-about way
Jennifer kind of tilted her head back thinking about what he had jut asked her. His solemn face told her something was definitly not the way it seemed to be. "Well, first of all, you should know whether or not you like this girl. You wouldn't want to tell her and then lead her on. Know what I mean? But if you really do, then I think you should tell her. Everything is worth a risk."
"That's great advice." Joey said pretty amazed at her sensibility.
"Thanks. So are you going to tell this girl?" Jennifer asked still not quite catching on.
Joey stepped up closer to her until the two were just centimeters apart, "I just did." Joey leaned in and left a sweet kiss on Jennifer's lips. Her reaction was actually surprising to Joey because she didn't reject it. She linked her arms around his neck and let in on the kiss. It lasted not too long. But it definitly stood for something.
"So what I'm wondering, is if this girl feels the same way..." Joey asked as they still stood in each other's embrace.
Jennifer looked to side of her and thought for a second, then she lifted her head right back up at Joey, "I think this would answer your question." They both leaned in and kissed once more. Yet this time with a more powerful intensity between the two.
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(Back at Kaitlyn's apartment)
Kaitlyn flicked off the tv and decided to take a shower. The whole time, she thought about Justin. She couldn't help but wonder what her life would be like if she had never met him. She saw it like her life was the day before that meeting. She would still be stuck working for Disney in a dead end job, never fully making herself useful. But then she thought about life with Justin. All the laughs, the smiles, and yes, even the tears. Kaitlyn stepped out of the shower and got dressed. She sat on her bed and stared at the phone that sat on her nightstand. she took one deep breathe and dialed Justin's number....
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(Justin's bedroom)
Justin lay there on his bed throwing a spongy basketball in the air and catching it once again. It was funny how he couldn't sleep at all. He was to upset about the whole situation with Kaitlyn and everything. He saw his life on tour with he like a filmstrip playing over and over again in his head. He just couldn't take it anymore when he sat up and reached for the phone.....
"Hello?" Justin asked when the phone rang.
"Justin? It's Kaitlyn." She said with not much confidence in her voice.
"Oh hey." Justin said flat out. He was way too nervous to really stop and think about what he was saying.
"I need to talk to you. But I don't want to do it on the phone. So can I meet you at the Transcon parking lot in let's say an hour?"
"Yeah. I'll be there." Justin agreed.
"Okay. And if I'm right, I promise you that I'll end this whole problem between us tonight." Kaitlyn promised.
"I hope so." Justin said.
"Okay. See you then, goodbye Justin."
"Bye Kait." Justin pu the phone down and Kaitlyn did the same. It was only a matter of time when the two had to flat out face the music. And that's exactly what she had in mind.
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(Jennifer's hotel room)
Jennifer and Joey had been standing there talkin about what had just happened between the two of them.
"I really do like you Joey, but even you have to admit that long distance relationships don't usually work." Jennifer said sadly.
Joey looked at her and took her hand in his, "that's true. But this is different. We can make it work."
Jennifer really admired the determination in Joey. but she still wasn't sure if being in a relationship was what she needed or wanted at the time.
"Joey, I really do want this to work. But I don't think I'm ready to trust myself with a guy. I don't want to get hrt again."
"Listen to me, I would never hurt you. Never. I care for you too much. I mean, it's happening fast but I don't want to loose you, not now." Joey said reassuring her of his faithfulness.
Jennifer thought long and hard and she did it without looking at him in the face. She knew she couldn't lie to him if she had to. It just wasn't possible. "So how will this work?"
Joey stood there for a moment and came up with an idea, "I know you may think this is crazy and all, but what about you going on tour with us?"
Jennifer stood there in total shock. She couldn't believe what Joey was asking of her. But it didn't exactly sound horrendous. She knew what she was about to do was stupid, but once she explained circumstance to Kaitlyn and Cody, they would understand. "I know I'm going to kick myself for this, but yes. I will go on tur with you guys."
"You will?" Joey asked surprised.
Jennifer nodded and Joey swung her around in a tight embrace. They knew how stupid the idea was but it was definitly "worth the risk".
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Kaitlyn got out of her car and walked over to the tall figure leaning against a car. She knew it was Justin. He stood upright and started walking over to her when he saw her coming toward him.
"Thanks for coming." Kaitlyn said shyly.
"No problem." Justin answered.
"Justin, before we get into an argument and yell and everything else, I want you to hear me out." Kaitlyn asked him. Justin nodded and she continued. "It's not so much that I haven't thought about you because I have. More than possible. And I understand how you feel about me and I guess i's time I tell you how I feel about you. I have never felt so special as you have made me feel Justin. Out of every girl out there in the world, fate chose me to befriend you. I don't regret that all. but to fall for you was another thing. It wasn't a horrible thing, it wasn't stupid, it was.....more wonderful than anything in this world. And I could careless about age, or legal stuff, or Lou. What I need in my life is what makes me happy, and that's you Justin. And the only logical reason I can think of is because I love you."
Justin stood there for a moment and let hmself divulge in what Kaitlyn had just said to him.
"Please say something Justin. I feel like a babbling idiot."
"No, you're not a babbling idiot, you're not crazy or anything. Your YOU. And that's why I love you too." Justin took her into his arms and hugged he close to him. She could feel his heart racing as her head rested on his chest. She pulled away from him slightly and asked, "everything's going to be alright, right Justin?"
"Yes. Everything will be alright." Justin pulled her close to him and their lips met in a delicate and sweet kiss. It deepened and all their emotions were set free. They were happy, who cared what Lou was going to say, what fans ight find out, the only thing that mattered was that they were together. And nothing would ever get in their way.
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