Chapter2

~Flashback~

It was three summers ago that Vanessa had first encountered this Green eyed southern gentleman. She was at camp. The air was so heavy and humid that it seemed she had to brush it away from her face. It was around noon and she had decided to go to the stables and visit her favorite horse. As she walked towards Toby’s stall she saw a boy standing in front of it.

“It was three summers ago,” he thought. He was just a kid then. He was at camp but he wanted to be somewhere else. Nobody was there that he knew and his only friend had been Toby, a horse. He would talk to Toby while everyone else was in the mess hall eating lunch. One humid day he had gone to visit Toby, hoping he would be up to listening. He reached Toby’s stall and was glad to see the horse saunter over to him. Lance had suddenly felt someone watching him so he turned towards the stable doors. He saw a girl standing in the doorway.

~End Flashback~

“I never thought I would see you again.” He said in awe.

“I thought the same.” She said with a smile. “Sit down silly. You always were a weird kid!” She teased in a light voice.

“Thanks, I missed you too!” He said with a hint of sarcasm as he sat down.

“You know I am only joking with you. Gosh how I missed you!” She said with a soft smile on her face.

“Well I really did miss you too. So… what’s been going on?”

“Lance it has been three years! You expect me to tell you everything?” She questioned.

“It’s a long flight to Orlando.” He said with a mischievous smile.

She told him everything. He told her everything. She told him about her parent’s death and France. He told her about *N Sync and touring Europe. She told him how she was worried about coming back to the States. He told her the same.

“I can’t believe that I never heard about you guys while I was in France!”

“Well it sounded like you were pretty busy!”

“Yeah, a girl can only do so much.”

“So where are you headed? I mean I really want to keep in touch with you Vanessa.”

“I… I’m not so sure. First I’m going home to get all my things I left there. After that I really don’t have any plans except to start applying to colleges. All I know is I don’t want to stay at home, it would be too painful.” She finished quietly.

Lance saw the pain in her eyes. He couldn’t stand to see her hurt like this, after all they were friends.

“Vanessa, I don’t want you to have to go through this alone. I want you to come live in Orlando with me.” He said solemnly.

“Oh Lance I couldn’t, I don’t want to interfere.” She protested.

“Oh no! We’ll have none of that!!!! Besides, what are friends for?” Lance said as that crooked smile dance across his face.

“Rinnnnnnnnnnngggggggggg!!!!!”

“Hello, yeah this is Justin. Okay we’ll see you in a few.” Justin hung up the telephone and walked out of his house to the Basketball court. “Guys, that was Lance. He says him and Vanessa will be here soon."

“You know I think those two should just hook it up already! They are always together!” Chris said.

“Chris you know that’s their business so lets not turn it into an episode of Jerry Springer!” J.C. said.

“I’m only kidding around, I know their just friends. Don’t get your panties in a bunch ‘Daddy.” Chris said with sarcasm.

“Yo, both of you shut your pot holes!” Justin said with a grin, “They’re here.”

“Hey guys? Guys are you back here? Oh there you are.” Lance said as he walked onto the court.

Not far behind him was Vanessa. She was tan from the Florida sun. Her long hair was pulled up into a ponytail. She was wearing jean shorts, a white tank top, and white tennis shoes. On her neck was a sparkling emerald necklace.

She smiled as soon as she saw the guys. The first time she met them she was scared out of her mind but Lance assured her they would get along. She met them as they were all walking off the airplane. Joey immediately shook her hand and told her that a friend of Lances was a friend of his. J.C. sleepily gave her a hug and told her welcome aboard. Justin was excited to meet someone near his age so he accepted her with open arms. Chris, well Chris had a different reaction. He shook her hand vigorously and then asked he why she hung out with a loser like Lance. It shocked her at first but then she realized he was joking, like he does frequently, and she answered with “I don’t know.” and a mischievous smile.

“Hey guys!” Vanessa said. “Ready to have a girl whoop your butt at B-ball?”

“What are you talkin’ bout ‘whoop’ Willis?!” Justin exclaimed.

“You heard me boy, I said I’s gonna WHOOP your butt!!!” she said laughing.

“Oh no you don’t! Just because your Birthday is tomorrow doesn’t mean I won’t school you in ‘da skillz of B-ball girly!” Justin said with a smirk.

“How did you know tomorrow was my Birthday, Curly?” She asked.

“A certain person gave me the ‘Scoop’ about it.” Justin said with a knowing smile.

“Oh yeah? Well Scoop better start running like crazy before this girly takes him down!” She said as she turned towards Lance.

“I’m sorry!!! Don’t hurt meeeeeee!!!” He said as he started running.

She just looked at him and laughed, “Come back here! I’m only joking with you.”

“I knew that… I just wanted to make you laugh.” He said with a smile.

“Sure Scoop, I believe you. Yeah right!” She said with as much sarcasm as she could.

“Hey why are we all just standing around like fools? Lets play some Basketball!!!” Justin hollered.

After Justin’s team had won they all sat down for a breather and some lemonade. Justin leaned over and whispered something in J.C.’s ear. Vanessa wondered what they were doing. Then J.C. whispered something to Joey.

“Hey if you guys are playing telephone, I’d love to play too.” She said trying to get them to tell her what they were doing.

“We’re not doing anything.” Justin said trying to act angelic.

“Yeah right Curly, I’ve known you for two months and I can already tell when you’re planning something! So out with it, what’s up guys?”

“Well,” J.C. said, “we want to do something special for you for your Birthday!”

“No! You guys don’t have time, the tour is in two weeks.” She said with pout in her plead.

“Too bad! We always have time for our friends, especially on their 18th Birthdays.” J.C. said.

“Fine, but don’t forget that I know…” She hesitated. ”Where you live!”