CHAPTER 3
“Vanessa I… They’re… Vanessa your parents were killed by a drunk driver.”
“NO!!!!!! Grammy NO!!!”
Vanessa suddenly sat straight up in her bed. Her eyes were filled with tears and her heart ached. She couldn’t understand why these horrible memories come back to haunt her. ” I wish I could have saved them, “ Vanessa thought for the trillionth time in the past year.
“Knock, knock!!!” the door said.
“Can I come in?” Lance asked.
“Yeah, please do.” She said, a quiver in her voice.
The door swung open and in walked Lance. He was carrying a dozen yellow roses, a bunch of balloons, and a stuffed bear. His eyes were sparkling and a smile was spread from ear to ear.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!” He exclaimed.
“Oh Lance, you’re so good to me!” She said as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Vanessa I didn’t mean for you to cry…” He said with a hurt look on his face.
“No, Lance, I’m not crying because of you. I love your presents, all of them. It’s just that… I … I…” She sobbed.
“Shhhhhh, its all right Vanessa. You don’t have to explain to me, but just remember I’m always here for you.” Lance whispered in her ear as he hugged her tight.
“Oh Lance I know you are always there for me, and I love you for it.” She said sniffling and hugging him back.
“Well Birthday girl, are you ready for a fun filled day with those crazy guys from *N Sync?” He said trying to raise her spirits.
“Yeah, I could use it.” She quietly said as a small smile played over her lips.
“Okay then. Take a shower, get dressed, and meet me in the living room.” He said in an orderly tone.
“Yes Sir, Admiral Bass!” Vanessa said with a laugh and a salute.
Vanessa finished doing her hair and decided she was ready for whatever thy guys had planned for her. She walked out of the guest bedroom Lance had given to her as her own, and towards the living room. She walked into the living room and looked around. Couch, entertainment center, coffee table, lamp, but no Lance.
“Lance I’m in the living room! Where are you?” She called out.
“Hey Girly, you wouldn’t happen to be looking for me, would you?” a voice said from behind her.
“No actually I was looking for a very cute 17 year old with curly blonde hair, you know him?” She said knowing very well that Justin was standing behind her. She turned around and smiled.
“Hey what do you know, you found me!” He said walking over and giving her a hug. “Happy Birthday, Girly.”
“You know all I asked for my Birthday was for you to stop calling me Girly!” Vanessa said with a smile.
“Okay, okay! You get your wish. But I got you something else too, here.” He said as he handed he a neatly wrapped present.
“Let me guess, J.C. wrapped it.” She said opening it.
“How did you know?” He asked, puzzled by her statement.
“Only one person could wrap with such precision. Oh Justin you are too funny! I love it!!!” She exclaimed as she examined the Orlando Magic basketball.
“Well this is just the beginning!” Justin exclaimed as he took the basketball and set it down on the couch. “Com’on lets go have some fun!”
Justin grabbed her hand and led her outside. In the driveway was a long white stretch limo with four handsome guys standing beside it.
“Happy Birthday Vanessa!” All five guys yelled.
“Oh you guys, this is way too much!” Vanessa cried with a grin.
“Nothing’s too much for you.” Lance said as he led her to the limo.
She climbed in and all five guys piled in after her. As they backed out of the driveway of the condominium she was intrigued at where the limo was headed.
“Guys, where are we going?” Vanessa asked.
“Somewhere where the magic flows and the arcs are endless.” J.C. said in a cheesy tone.
“J.C. you sound like a corny commercial!” She teased. “No, really, where are we going?”
“Ahhhhh as a great psychology major once said… You’ll see when we get there,” Chris said with a smile.
The limo sped down the highway towards downtown Orlando. Vanessa and the guys started talking about the tour coming up. Vanessa couldn’t help but feel sad since she was certain that the tour would break her and her newfound friends apart.
“You look so sad Vanessa, is everything okay?” Joey asked, worried about the pretty girl.
“I’m going to miss you guys while you are on tour! Just promise you won’t forget me okay?!” Vanessa pleaded with a lump in her throat.
All the guys looked at one another with sad faces. They knew that they would miss her, after all they had become best friends with her.
“Of course none of us will forget you Vanessa!” Chris said with a serious face.
“Whoa, Chris, don’t look so serious! It’s just not you,” Vanessa said with a smile.
“Ohhhhhh were here!!!!!” Justin squealed, as giddy as a four year old.
As she looked out the window she saw the destination. The stadium rose up in front of her almost as fast as her excitement rose inside of her.
“I can’t believe it! I have never seen a Basketball game live, much less my favorite team live!” Vanessa squealed almost as well as Justin could have. “Were you behind this Curly?” She inquired with a warm smile.
“Yeah I kinda had the hook up.” He said with a chuckle. “ My step-dad knows the Assistant coach.”
“I love it you guys!” She cried with joy as the guys surrounded her in a group hug.
The game was great! The seats were mid-court, first row. Vanessa almost felt like she was in the game. During half time Justin had mysteriously disappeared and reappeared. A few minutes later Lance told her to look at the Jumbotron. She had looked up and found that the Jumbotron read ‘Happy Birthday to Vanessa from the Orlando Magic and her Best Friends!!!’. She was so surprised that she didn’t realize that the third quarter was starting, Lance had to pull her back to the seat. The Magic won against The Heat, 108-104. As they all headed back to the limo, Joey pulled Vanessa towards him.
“I have something for the Birthday girl too!” He said with a smile. He pulled a small box out of his jean pocket. “Here, it’s not much but it has Joey written all over it so you won’t ever forget me.” He said with a smile. Vanessa opened the box. Inside was a gold Superman pin. She laughed and hugged him. It definitely had Joey written all over it. They walked towards the limo chattering about how great the Magic played. They got into the limo and Vanessa was curious when she did not see J.C.
“Hey guys, where’s J.C.?” She questioned.
“In the front with the driver. He’s giving directions to our next Birthday stop.” Lance said as he looked over at her. He watched her stare out the window. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, and she was wearing black shorts with a green T-shirt and white tennis shoes. He remembered how upset the beauty had been this morning and he silently swore that he would always be there for her.
Vanessa glanced over at Lance and smiled. He was dressed almost the same as the other guys, jeans and a shirt, but she thought he looked very good. His green eyes sparkled and his crooked smile was faint but none the less still there. She could not explain how grateful she was to him. She owed him everything. He gave her a home, he gave her his friendship, and he gave her his caring. She could not think of a thing he hadn’t or wouldn’t give to her. She wished she had some way of paying him back for everything.
“Oh J.C. I love it!!!” Vanessa said as she hugged him.
Vanessa was sitting on a piano bench next to J.C. listening to him sing her favorite song, “Moondance” by Van Morrison.
“Can’t I just have one more dance with you my love?” He looked at her as he sang the last line and winked. She smiled and clapped. Whistles and cheers came from the back of the room where the other guys stood. He stood up, bowed, and smiled.
“So how did you know that was my favorite song?” Vanessa asked J.C.
“Well I got the ‘Scoop’ from a very good friend of yours.” He said with a little chuckle.
“Yeah seems this ‘Scoop’ guy even knows what size Fubu jersey you wear.” Chris said as he reached behind the piano for a box. “Happy Birthday, hope you like the colors.” Chris said as he gave her a hug. She sat down on the bench and opened the box. Inside laid a white jersey with purple print.
“Oh it’s perfect, Thanks Chris!!!” Vanessa exclaimed. She looked over at Lance, who was leaning against the back wall of the studio. “And you,” she said pointing, “ Scoop, Thank you! This has been the best Birthday I’ve ever had. If it were not for you it would have never happened.” She said softly as she walked over to him and hugged him tightly.
“Well, it’s not over yet.” Lance said with a grin. All six of them walked out of the Transcon building to the limo and got in. The limo started to travel towards the outskirts of Orlando on the highway. The driver pulled off the highway at Justin exit. The limo pulled up to Justin’s house. Justin, Chris, and J.C. all hopped out after giving hugs to Vanessa. The limo pulled out of the driveway and headed towards Joey’s house. The limo pulled along side his house and Joey gave Vanessa a hug then jumped out. She waved and the limo pulled away from his house. Lance slid over toward Vanessa and smiled. She looked at him and smiled back.
“Lance, I don’t know what I’m going to do while you are on tour. I’m going to miss you so much!” Vanessa said as she leaned her head on his shoulder. Lance quietly slipped his arm around her shoulder lightly. He knew that if he left, she would have to return home. He wanted desperately to keep her away from the heartache of going home. But what could he do?
“Don’t worry Vanessa, we’ll keep in touch.” Lance said as the limo pulled up to his condo. “Com’on, grab your presents and lets go relax for a while.” He said as he climbed out of the limo. Vanessa gathered up her presents from Joey and Chris. She followed him inside and headed towards the living room to pick up her present from Justin. She picked up the ball and headed towards her room to set her things down.
Lance was standing in the middle of her room. In his hand he held a skinny rectangle box with an emerald green bow on it.
“This is for you Vanessa. I want you to feel like I’m always there with you so I got you something to remind you of me.” Lance said as he walked over and placed the box in her hands.
“Lance I…”
“Don’t try and explain or say anything, just open the box.” Lance said with his crooked smile.
Vanessa untied the small bow and removed the top. Her eyes came to rest upon a gold necklace with a charm hanging on it. The charm, also gold, is a little angel holding a small emerald. As Vanessa looked up she felt her heart begin to ache.
“Lance it is so beautiful. I can’t bear to think of how life without you there to guide me will be but this will always remind me of you, my angel.” Vanessa cried softly as she looked into his eyes. He saw sorrow and loneliness in her eyes. He felt her pain as if everything she felt at that moment he felt too. Suddenly he knew he could not leave her alone and he had a way of keeping them together, no matter what.