Helplessly Aware

By Charlie burton

Chapter 9

THE group had an autograph session in San Diego, it was going to be a long day from the crowds of fans that had turned up to see *NSync. Grace had placed herself well out of the way to the side of the guys, a note book and sketch pad in hand, pen stuck through her hair to keep it out of her face and a rosy glow tinting her cheeks – Justin had insisted the best way to wake themselves up was a large bowl of Apple Jacks and a heated one-on-one basketball game.

Tara dressed in another eye-catching outfit was stood chatting to some of the crew and security, keeping her eye on JC who was chatting happily to some of his youngest fans.

“Whatcha up to?” came the familiar voice as someone sat down beside her.

It was Johnny. “Hi there,” she burbled. “I thought you were gonna be out at the arena?”

“Yeah, well I changed my mind, decided to check out what’s going on at this joint. They certainly brought in the crowds today, huh?”

“They always do,” Grace replied gazing at the five boys whose tired eyes had been hidden with make-up, all chatting and smiling away to their dedicated fans.

“You’re proud of them, aren’t you?” Johnny asked.

She turned to look at him, a smile stretching across her lip glossed lips. “Yeah, I am. They work so hard, and it’s all worth it,” she murmured.

Johnny smiled too. “I know.” He noticed the drawing that lay on her knees. “JC, wow, did you draw that?”

She felt embarrassed. “Uh-huh.”

“Grace, it’s stunning! It looks almost photographic,” Johnny mumbled, wide-eyed at the pencil drawing of JC that seemed to jump out from the page. He glanced up to see that JC was almost in the pose that Grace had first captured him and the resemblance was beyond similar. “I think I may have a preposition for you. How about we pay you to draw portraits of all five guys, and we can either auction them for charity, or put them in a National competition to be won? Would you be up for that if I sort out all the necessary agreements?”

Grace’s face filled with surprise and her heat thumped faster, she couldn’t believe what Johnny was asking her. “O-of course,” she stammered.

“We’ll pay you good money.”

“That doesn’t matter, I’ll do it for nothing.”

Johnny shook his head. “I won’t hear of that, I’m a businessman, Grace. Sadly, money is a main part of businessman-life.”

Grace laughed a little, reaching out and hugging him tightly. “Thank you. I’d love to it for you.” She had to contain herself from jumping up and running over to Justin to tell him the news, but the learned rules of public behaviour around super-stars had taught her self-control. Just this time she wanted to lose it though.

“I’m off to see that everything’s in ship-shape order, I’ll be getting back to you very soon on this project, Grace,” Johnny beamed, standing up and walking off.

Oh my God, Grace trembled. Thank you Lord, thank you so much! She wanted to kiss the floor, the chair, the pad in front of her and she did kiss her sketchbook, it couldn’t be held back. She grinned to herself and then excitedly tried to finish her drawing of JC, toning in the shadow beneath his prominent cheekbone, softly on his lips and his hands, his hands were clasped together and his big fingers intertwining.

* * *

The show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena had a similar but heightened atmosphere that had been at the autograph signing and shows earlier that week. Mind you, all of the shows had an ecstasy fuelled ambience and it drove everyone’s pulse soaring who was a part of it – crew, security, techies, band, fans and even more so the five stars of the show. There was a huge charity organization that they’d been invited to at the Hollywood Bowl, and thankfully they weren’t performing for a change. Meg had been run off her feet satisfying the needs of Johnny and the boys suit wise. Their diverse personalities reflected in their clothes taste was something Meg knew well by now, but sometimes it proved difficult to cater for everyone’s different needs, even with her team. Grace, Tara and Meg also all had tickets too so it was going to be ‘family’ event.

The late afternoon and early evening was buzzing, people rushed around the hotel trying to fix outfits, hair, make-up, the full works in other words. Tara had shut herself in her room and would allow no one in, Grace had been hopeful that they would get ready together, sharing the excitement of the upcoming event, but no.

“Grace! Grace!” Meg called.

“I’m here mom,” Grace called, running down the hall in her underwear and a baggy shirt.

“Put some clothes on, Grace!” her mom replied, frowning at her daughter’s scantily clad body.

“Hey, I’m running around for everyone at the moment. Grace where’s this? Grab my glasses. Help me with the gel!” she protested, hands on hips with an exasperated grump.

Someone wrapped their arms around her waist and rested their chin on her shoulder. “Dressed to kill, I see,” Justin purred.

“For you baby, for you,” Grace flirted back.

“Justin! Why aren’t you dressed and ready?” Meg demanded.

He looked innocently at her, pouting a little and shrugging. “I dunno m’am.”

“Well find out why and put some clothes on!”

“Going,” Justin said guiltily, kissing Grace’s cheek and running off down the hall.

“What did you want with me?” Grace asked, fiddling with her newly washed hair that hung in dripping strands.

“Clothes, hair, forget about running around for everyone else. We have less than an hour before we should leave.”

“I need help with the top,” Grace said, she turned tail and hurried back into her room with her mom following. The outfit she was going to wear was laid out on the bed and the delicate sandals glittered from the floor. She smiled and thought of the evening ahead, she was going to get star treatment and it sent flutters through her stomach.

Unbuttoning her shirt she sprayed on some deodorant and slipped carefully into the eveningwear. Grace had opted for what Justin called the ‘sexy’ look, not that anyone had seen her outfit yet. It was a black cobweb bodice that was low cut and laced up at the back, her mom fitting it around her bare chest and making sure that the lacing was tight enough to hold her in securely but not so much that it would cramp her breathing. Grace felt silly standing there in a cropped bodice that fell to a point just above her belly button and her panties.

The moment her mother finished the lacing and left the room Grace grabbed the skirt and slid into it. It was a long jet-black satin skirt, very plain that held to her hips and the waistline was decorated with tiny Austrian crystals. Johnny had insisted on it to celebrate her new ‘project’ he had set up with her. Slowly gathering it up she wandered over to the full-length mirror, glancing at a reflection that didn’t look like her. Grace felt like Sleeping Beauty in the magical gown, the satin rippling about her and moving so gracefully that she felt a part of the clothes.

“Where’s Grace?” Johnny asked, everyone else standing in the boys’ main room.

Meg rolled her eyes and sighed. “Don’t ask. In fact, do. I’ll go get her.”

“No need, I’m here,” Grace said, cautiously stepping into the room of people.

Justin’s jaw dropped, literally, Joey grinned at her and JC would have drooled a little if Tara hadn’t slipped her arm through his at that very moment. None of the boys had ever seen their young friend dressed like this, she was always wearing casual clothes and ‘mucking in’ with the guys. Now she was stood before them in a swirling mist of the night sky, the crystals at her waist twinkling like stars.

Grace felt herself trembling and the bodice was better than a push up bra and she knew everyone could tell that she was nervous from the way her breasts rose and fell. “Can we just get this over with?” she gasped.

Justin knew his mind twisted at the comment, but by God she’d taken his breath away. He’d seen beautiful girls before, far prettier than Grace in the eyes of the world, but his best friend couldn’t be compared to right now. Justin walked over and held out his hand to her, she took it and Johnny lead the way down to the limousines that lay quietly at the back of the hotel and unnoticed by the press and fans.

“Ready?” Justin whispered. The limo slowed down as they waited third in line to reach the entrance. There was a buzz from outside, camera’s flashing away and people calling out as stars stepped from their sleek chariots. “This is the full shebang, red carpet treatment.”

“Stop it!” she hissed. “You’re making me nervous on purpose.”

“I’m just so excited that I’m about to step out of this limousine with the most remarkable and stunning girl here tonight.”

“Flattery gets you nowhere Timberlake,” she insisted. Tara was scowling at them as they whispered to each other like young children.

The door opened and Joey, Chris and Lance stepped out first, followed by JC and Tara, Justin and Grace were the furthest from the door and that only provoked the nerves inside her more. There was an uproar from female fans waiting outside the Hollywood Bowl and her heart sank. Justin kissed her cheek and stepped from the limousine, Grace’s fingers entwined firmly through his and she slid out too.

“Justin! Justin!” came the cries from the crowd. Camera’s flashed from every direction in a blinding host of stars. Grace had a smile fixed into her features, so did the rest of the five. Tara and Grace stood back from them briefly as the quintet was showered in a hailstorm of light explosions. Justin took her hand and led the rest of them into the building out of the canopy of camera’s, paparazzi and screaming fans.

“You did fine,” Justin assured her, squeezing her hand as they cooled down in the air-conditioned building. Grace felt her heart racing and the beating filled her ears as she took in the beautiful surroundings. With Justin in his Guess black jacket, a white shirt that revealed part of his tanned chest and chic leather pants she felt so special.

“That was amazing,” she said, smiling secretly at him.

He pushed her long golden locks over her shoulder and they continued to their seats, where she was sat between Justin and JC. Both men made her feel as though her feet were only just touching cloud nine.

The performances were dazzling and all five guys were extraordinarily pleased to be sat in the crowds applauding for once. It was a nice break. JC caught himself watching Grace a couple of times, her face was glowing with exhilaration and she was sat forward in her chair the entire time, it brought a smile creeping into his features. Tara ran her delicate fingers over his and he looked back at her, her thin lips created a magazine smile and he hugged her hand tight.

“Thank you so much for bringing me,” Grace thanked Johnny as they headed out from their seats. “It was like a dream come true.”

“Good,” he replied, smiling at Justin who was behind her and amused by Grace’s enthusiasm. “So, you are coming to the after-show party, aren’t you?”

“Miss dancing? Not on your life. I’m gonna be there,” she burbled.

“The first dance, please?” Justin asked.

“Second!” Joey called.

Grace laughed, “Of course.”

The after-show party was held in another area of the Hollywood Bowl, and everyone slowly wandered chatting to it. JC was completely convinced that Justin had stuck Grace in the plug socket before they’d left because she was still buzzing when they entered the room where the band was playing.

“Dance,” Justin insisted, leading her out onto the floor. The song was upbeat with a prominent bass, and the rhythm was the kind that got into your veins and you couldn’t help but bounce along to it.

She turned to face him in an unrestrained twirl, smiling at him and her stormy eyes glistening like the sun on an indigo ocean. Justin placed his hands on her hips and twisted her back away from him, pulling her body into his and grinding down to the beat. Grace felt like something had come over her, adrenaline dousing her nerves so that they were drowsy with dew that stuck to them, not allowing her to feel tense in the crowd of people.

“Justin and Grace ain’t wastin’ no time,” Lance commented to JC, who was standing alone while Tara chatted to the son of her dad’s partner, who was also attending the occasion.

JC watched the two nineteen year olds stealing the dance floor with arousing movements that was certainly bringing them a lot of attention. Justin’s big hands clutched her bare skin and held her lower torso in tight to his as she gracefully curled back round to face him.

She looked up at him from beneath long flirtatious lashes, and she had a small sexy smile carved into her face as she naturally moved in time with the imprisoning music. Justin moved his face down next to hers, their cheeks brushed and an irresistible breeze of oat milk and rose water drifted from her hair.

“Boom boom boogie,” Justin sang, laughter escaping her lips as he continued.