I woke the next morning and rolled over on my side to see the alarm clock beside me that read 10:43 am. And panic washed over my entire body.
"It's almost eleven! Oh shit, why didn't my alarm go off!" I screamed at myself.
I jumped out of bed and in a mad rush raced into the bathroom. I didn't even have time for a quick shower. So I just did my hair, threw on some makeup and then started searching for an outfit. I tore through my entire closet until I finally settled on a crimson blouse and black skirt. Then put my black platform sandals on and hurried out into my Lexus.
"Second day on the god damned job and already I'm late!" I cried turning on the radio and pressing down on the gas. Then I remembered the previous night, with Lance. He had been so gentle and caring. Taking me out to eat and then dancing. Then we talked. We talked for hours on end about anything from relationships to our favorite TV shows as children. It had been so much fun. And for the first time in a long time I felt at ease. Normally I was too wrapped up in my work to have any fun. But just being with him at that cafe gave me a whole change of pace.
Not moments later was I pulling up into the studio and walking in to the lobby. Now an employee I simply walked in, showed the receptionist my i.d. and headed to the elevator. Just as the doors to the elevator opened there stood Lance on the elevator.
"Hi."we both said in unison as I got on.
"I was wondering why I didn't make it to my floor." Lance said as I pushed the button to our floor.
"Oh...." I nodded and looked away. Suddenly I was extremely nervous around him. Which was odd since we spent all last night together.
"I had a really great time last night." I said regaining my composure.
He smiled,"Really?" he asked.
I smiled back at him,"Didn't you!?" I cried pretending to be offended.
He caught my drift and took me on,"Well... it was okay, but not the best I ever had."
I glared at him trying not to smile,"And if you want to be frank, you sucked last night."
He laughed,"Why thank you, and you sucked pretty good too."
I blushed, here I was with a man I had just gotten to know the day before and already I was sharing raunchy humor with him as if we were best friends.
I smiled and looked at him as the elevator doors opened.
"Ladies first." I insisted letting him go before me.
Lance turned around and gave me a shove.
We walked down the hall together until we reached the doors to the studio.
"Trial day number two with Lynn Kent." Lance said with a sly smile.
My heart seemed to stop,"What this is a trial, like I don't have the job yet?" I panicked.
Lance laughed,"No... its basically our trial, see if you can handle..." he began and shoved open the double doors, "these guys.
And there stood the rest of the members of *NSYNC staring out the window at Orlando down below.
Until Justin turned around to notice the presence of the two of us,"Where have you two been?" he demanded looking at us.
Lance looked at me and then back to Justin,"We were late, the traffic was awful." he tried to explain.
"No."Justin said eyeing Lance and I,"Where did you two go last night."
"Yeah, we looked all over for you two last night!" Chris cried.
"We went out to get something to eat, we were getting sick of the club." Lance tried to explain.
My heart was pounded practically right out of my chest. Second day on the job and I was already at odds with my employers.
"But you could have told us where you went." Joey piped up.
JC rolled his eyes,"Joey, you shouldn't even talk because do you know how many times you have gone missing come to find out you were up all night with some no name woman?"
Joey did not respond only looked at me to see my reaction. More or less to see if JC's statements had shot down any chance with me. If only he had known I was way ahead of his game.
"Plus Justin and Chris, is it your business what Lance or Lynn do on their own?" JC began again.
"But..." Justin began to protest.
"C'mere." JC said pointing to the both of them. He whispered something to them that neither Lance or I could hear.
I looked up at Lance. I guess my fear was evidently written all over my face because Lance leaned over and in my ear whispered,"Its okay, just a group thing.They'll find anything to argue about."
I nodded feeling relieved that I was not the cause for any new group conflicts.
Finally JC split his huddle and Justin and Chris suddenly acted like there had never been a yesterday and we were all the best of friends.
"JC's good with the group thing." Lance whispered to me.
"Okay..."Jc said pulling out a seat for me,"Now we can begin."
Chris leaned back in his chair and began,"Because there are five of us, and one of you we figured it would be a little complicated working all at one time. So we set it up so each of us can meet with you one day of the week. And then on another day we all meet together, and one day of the week, well you have off. "
I nodded and listened as JC than began. "We've put together our ideas for songs that we would like to put more time into. Stuff that we just scribbled down on napkins and stuff that we would like to further with your ideas."
"We want you to feel comfortable getting started so if you have any problems with anything we have set so far?" Lance asked looking across the table at me, his green eyes truly concerned.
I nodded,"I'm A-Okay with everything."
"Great." Justin said taking out a notebook. "This is the schedule that we'll be meeting with you. All our numbers are on there in case you need to call any of us."
Joey smiled across the table at me and then winked. From the corner of my eye I could see Chris giving him a dirty look and Joey suddenly looked away.
"Speaking of the schedule, this is how it works, we will be giving you copy but this is how it reads, in order of the week starting with Monday. Justin, Joey, Chris, JC,and Lance on Fridays. Then on Saturdays you get the day off and Sundays you meet with all of us to discuss all that you have come up between all of us. Okay?" Justin asked looking up at me after reading the schedule.
"Yep." I said not knowing what exactly to say.
Then a thick silence settled over the room. And I noticed Lance looking at me. He was the only one in the room who I really knew, and who made me feel comfortable.
JC looked around at all of us and nodding his head slightly unsure said,"Alright then... this meeting is adjourned."
With that we all willing got up and filed out of the studio. Just as I walked out of the double doors Joey started to come up to me. Inside I started to panic.
"Hey Lynn... " Joey said slowing to my pace, which suddenly had become faster.
"Hi Joey." I said giving him a quick glance. It was not that he was not attractive. I just was not into players and was not tup for a roller coaster ride in a relationship any time soon.
"Sorry in there for ganging up against you about he whole disappearance thing. We just worried because Orlando's a big place and a girl can get lost in it all alone." Joey explained.
I stopped walking for a second,"I was not alone, I was riding around in a limo with Lance. And plus I'm a city girl. I'm used to them, I did grow up in Boston."
"Boston?" Joey asked," So you really don't know this city do you... well I'd like to show you around." he offered.
Just then, as my heart began to race in panic, as if on cue Lance walked up to the two of us,"Are you ready Lynn? We still on for today?" he asked looking me in the eye.
"Yep, I'm ready." I replied, relief suddenly flooding over me.
"Oh you two are going out tonight?" Joey asked disappointment in his eyes.
"Yeah, we had such a blast last night that we decided to go out again." I explained.
Joey nodded,"Have fun."
Lance smiled,"Oh we will, c'mon lets go now okay?" he said and led me down the hall to the elevator. Which we go on in a hurry and headed down to the first floor.
I sighed and leaned up against the elevator wall,"Thank you so much Lance, that was such a relief, I didn't know what excuse to give him."
"Is seven good?" Lance asked leaning up against the wall with a smirk fresh on his lips.
"Excuse me?" I asked a little taken back.
"Well you don't honestly think that that was just a diversion for you to get away from Joey." Lance said raising an eyebrow.
"Well..." I trailed off.
"Plus I saved your ass, you owe me." he laughed.
I sighed and smiled,"Its a date."
And with that the elevator doors to the lobby.