****
Sam must have only been asleep for a few moments when a slight wave of turbulence startled her back into consciousness. “I knew there was a reason I’ve always been too nervous to sleep during a flight,” she mumbled as she made herself comfortable in the luxurious private plane the guys had chartered in order to arrive from New York in time for the final concert of the tour. Lance was beside her next to the window, his seat reclined as he slept. Joey and Mel were in the oversized leather chairs facing them, both of them fast asleep, the armrest between them up as his head rested comfortably on Mel’s stomach. Sam could hear the sounds of the bodyguards snoring coming from the seats behind her as she glanced over to the sofa where Justin lay with his eyes closed and headphones covering his ears. She figured he was most likely sleeping as well until his lips turned up into a boyish grin.
“I can’t believe that little nothing woke you up you big baby,” he teased, his eyelids still covering the cobalt blue of his eyes.
“Easy for you to say Mr. World Traveler, but for those of us who can still count the number of times they’ve flown on their fingers, ANY little bumps are bound to rattle the nerves.”
“Whatever wuss,” he laughed as her mind once again trailed back to a conversation between them that for some reason, she hadn’t been able to completely shake from her thoughts since it occurred a couple of days earlier.
*****
“Did you not see the sign on the door?” Justin scowled as he rubbed the sleep from his eye. After singing the National Anthem at Jayson Williams’ charity softball game in the morning, the group had returned to the hotel to nap before their own charity event later that day.
“Yes I did. I just didn’t figure it applied to me,” Sam smirked as she walked past him into the suite. “Besides I didn’t expect you to still be sleeping.”
“Where does it say ‘Do not disturb unless your name is Sami’?” he asked, allowing the door to close on it’s own as he followed her to the couch and plopped down beside her in a lifeless heap.
“I kinda expected you to be all up and at ‘em, ya know, getting yourself all pumped up for the big b-ball game later. I’m surprised you’re not in uniform yet,” she teased.
“I have it on under my clothes,” he cracked, his lips forming a slight smile against the pillow his face rested on.
“I really hope you’re kidding,” she said as he reached for the zipper of his jeans. “NO! Really, I don’t need to know. Keep your pants on!” Sam shrieked.
He laughed at her as he turned on his back, resting his long legs over her lap. “Does Lance know you’re here?”
“I don’t exactly know how to take that question,” Sam furrowed her brow. “But Lance is still sleeping. I don’t need his permission to talk to you, but if he asks me where I was, I’ll tell him.”
“Well if he’s still asleep then why did you think I’d be awake?”
Sam giggled. “I’d be willing to bet that you were able to fall asleep quite awhile before he did.”
“Eww, I don’t want to hear about your afternoon nookie sessions,” Justin whined, crinkling his nose in disgust.
“Hey, you asked,” she shrugged.
“So what’s up? I’m guessing there’s a purpose for this visit.”
“There is. I need to talk to you about something.”
“I’m really beginning to hate that phrase,” he sighed. “It always seems to be followed by things I don’t really want to talk about.”
“Then I might as well continue the trend,” Sam started taking a deep breath as she continued. “Why don’t you ever talk to me about you and Britney?”
“What are you talking about? We’ve talked about her lots of times,” he said quietly.
“No, she’s come up in conversation a few times, but you never talk to me about your relationship with her.”
“Geez Sami, I knew you liked her, but I didn’t realize you were that big of a fan,” Justin joked, desperately trying to change the tone of the conversation. He could tell by the expression on Sam’s face that he was unsuccessful.
“Come on Justin, I’m serious,” she said looking down at him. “I’m always talking to you about Lance and our relationship. Why can’t you do the same with me?”
“I don’t know what to tell you Sami, some people just don’t feel the need to burden other people with their personal problems.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry to have bothered you all those times,” Sam said pushing his legs off her forcibly as she stood. “Stupid me for needing someone to talk to and expecting a friend to understand that.”
“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely, grabbing her arm as she turned to leave. “That was really awful of me. I swear I didn’t mean it,” he stressed, sitting up as he pulled her back to the couch. “You know you can always come to me for anything.”
“That’s the thing Justin, this friendship feels so one-sided and unfair to you. I want to be able to help you too, but if you won’t talk to me, how can I?”
“There’s nothing to say really. If there were, I’d tell you about it.”
“Don’t lie to me. I can tell there’s something going on with you lately. I don’t know if it has to do with Britney or not, but I do know that there’s obviously something the matter if you’re sending her flowers that in some way or another have something to do with me.”
“How did you know about that?” he asked surprised before answering his own question. “Jen read the card didn’t she?”
“No, she didn’t read it, but she did see my name on it when she gave it to the florist,” Sam explained. “Now please tell me what’s going on.”
“It’s really not that big of a deal. I told Brit about the earrings I got you for your birthday, she got upset, we had an argument, and I sent the flowers to say I was sorry.”
“She was mad because you bought me earrings?”
“Yeah, I think she feels threatened by how close we are and they just added to it I suppose. I don’t know why I told her about them,” he said shaking his head in disgust. “I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.”
“She feels threatened by our friendship?” Sam asked. “Why?”
“Actually, I think she’s afraid there’s more than just friendship there,” Justin confided.
“How could she think that? She knows Lance and I are together,” she questioned, her tone laced with confusion. He turned and gazed into Sam’s chocolate eyes. Something about the way Justin was staring at her coupled with his silence worried Sam. There was something more to the story. Something that for whatever reason, he wouldn't, or couldn't tell her. Sam searched her mind for explanations. “Does she know about what happened between us?” Sam wondered, realizing she must have said it out loud as she heard Justin respond.
“God no. We see other people, but we definitely don’t talk about.”
“Well at least it’s a comfort to know that I wasn’t the other woman. Not that I cared much about that fact when it was happening,” Sam kidded.
He smiled at her. “No worries, you’re still a respectable woman. We’re just dating, we’re not exclusive.”
“I imagine that’s difficult, casually dating your best friend I mean.”
“I have to admit, it’s not exactly ideal.”
“Well then why aren’t you exclusive? You obviously care about each other.”
“We don’t have the time to maintain a serious relationship,” he offered feebly as Sam rolled her eyes and started to disagree before he interrupted. “It’s not the same as your situation.”
Sam decided to let it go, he had already shared more with her than he ever had before. Now wasn’t the time to push. “So did the flowers work?”
“They always do,” Justin replied with a cocky grin.
*****
Sam had discounted it when it first happened, but why was the way he looked at her at that moment in particular so vividly etched in her memory now? What about it was so different than all the countless other times he’d looked at her? And why did he just sit there silently instead of answering her? She shook her head.
“You think too much. Overanalyze everything,” she scolded herself. “Forget it, it was nothing. You’re just imagining things.”
“While you’re at it, could you quit talking to yourself? You’re creeping me out,” Justin taunted.
“Shut up and listen to your music brat.”
“Well I would if you would quit your yammering.”
“Both of you shut up. I’m trying to sleep,” Mel grumbled.
“Sorry,” they chorused before bursting into a fit of giggles.
****
“Are you ready?” the stage manager asked. “You’ll be on in a few seconds.”
“I’m ready. You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this,” Mel smirked, recalling the moment that lead her here.
*****
“Mel,” Joey called out as he walked into her room and plopped on the bed. “Whatcha doin?”
She emerged from the bathroom with an armful of things. “What does it look like? I’m packing,” she said depositing the items into the open suitcase atop the bed. “How’d you get in here?”
“Jen let me in.”
“I didn’t hear a knock.”
“That’s because I didn’t. I was going to but she opened the door just as I was about to. Why are you packing?” he asked.
“Because I won’t feel like doing it after the show tonight,” she explained.
Joey looked at her strangely. “I thought we weren’t leaving New York until tomorrow night.”
“You’re not leaving until tomorrow night. I, on the other hand, have a flight in the morning back to Orlando.”
“What?! You’re not staying for the rest of the tour?” he asked shocked.
“No,” she laughed. “What made you think I was?”
“I don’t know. I just assumed you would I guess. It kinda seems like you’ve always been around, so I thought you’d be around until the end of the tour. Why aren’t you?”
“I came out to celebrate Sami’s birthday. That’s over, now I must return to the real world.”
“Why? You should come with us. It’s only like three more days. It’s not like you have anything better to do.”
“Gee thanks. I know I have no life, but you don’t have to rub it in,” Mel said narrowing her eyes at him.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that you’re not in school right now, you don’t have a job, so it’s not like you have responsibilities to get back to,” Joey clarified.
“I have a cat to feed,” she reminded. “And plants to water.”
“Which will all survive for a couple of extra days without you.”
“I’m sorry Joey, but if I don’t get back in the greater Orlando area within the next twenty four hours, Peggy is going to have a stroke worrying about me. She doesn’t even like it when I stay at Jen and Sam’s apartment and that’s only ten minutes from our house,” she said rolling her brown eyes.
“Why do you call your mom by her first name?”
“Why not?” Mel shrugged.
“Come on, you have to stay,” he whined. “You wouldn’t want me to relapse into my whoring ways without you around to turn to for guidance now would ya?”
“That is so low.”
“I know. Nothing like a good guilt trip,” he smiled. “So will you stay?”
“I don’t know if I have the extra money right now,” she sighed.
“Don’t even worry about that,” Joey said waving his hand in the air. “Better I spend my money on you than lose it gambling.”
“True.”
“So you’ll stay?” he asked excitedly.
“I’ll stay, but I have one condition.”
“Name it.” Mel giggled evilly after telling Joey her request. “That’s it?” he asked.
“That’s it.”
“Consider it done.”
“Oh, and one other thing,” she said picking up the telephone and dialing. “You tell Peggy the good news,” she said tossing the phone at him as she ran from the room laughing.
*****
Mel and Dani waited for their cue and then took their spots playing the bouncers for the skit during “Just Got Paid.” The two thoroughly enjoyed refusing the guys and pushing them away as they tried to get into the ‘klub’ before finally giving in and swinging the doors open. As expected, the group inside consisted of various friends and family members, including Jen and Sam. The guys had always tried to somehow include their loved ones in the last show of a tour.
As they were lead off stage, instead of returning to the VIP area with the rest of the group, the four girls slipped down to the quick-change area and waited for the boys to return for their next costume change. Minutes later, the five men darted into the small area and quickly began undressing, completely unaware they were being watched.
“Nice undies,” Jen finally said, causing the girls to burst into a round of laughter.
JC, who had been struggling to squeeze into the infamous red pants, lost his balance and tumbled to the floor. The pants stuck at his knees.
“I thought you said they weren’t that tight,” Jen taunted as he stood and finally got them around his waist.
“They’re not, but I’m all sweaty,” he explained, trying not to smile at her.
“Whatever, if they’re not tight, they certainly cling to you awfully tightly.”
“Okay, could we not talk about how JC’s pants hang and instead work on what the hell you guys are doing down here?” Justin screeched as he stood comically trying to cover himself with his arms.
“Don’t pretend like you’re too shy to be standing around in your underwear in front of four girls, cuz you know you’re loving it,” Mel teased. “We just thought we’d pull a nice end of tour prank of our own.”
“Aww, aren’t you sweet?” Joey cooed as he continued to dress, completely unfazed by the girls’ presence. “So did you enjoy knocking me on my ass out there?”
“You know I did. I think the toddler needs some help getting dressed Jen,” Mel said grabbing his shirt. “Arms up,” she directed Justin.
Jen followed suit and grabbed his jeans. “Come on, put your leg in here big boy.” He did as he was told and stood in front of the two girls dressed, well almost. “Can you get the zipper or do you need me to?”
“No, I got it,” Justin said swatting her hands away with a laugh.
“Okay, the purpose of this activity was not a make-out session Sami,” Mel scolded as she glanced over at Sam and Lance.
“Oh sorry,” Sam said clearing her throat as she pulled away from their kiss. “I was just telling him how good the show was.”
“I’m sure you were, the show in your room that is,” Dani giggled.
“Here, let me help you with your pants honey,” Sam said tugging on the zipper of the leather.
“These are the ones I just put on,” he smiled.
“Oops, my bad,” Sam grinned. “Let’s put your shirt on then.”
“Why aren’t you all over me like that?” Chris asked the blonde woman in front of him.
“Eh, been there, done that. Here’s your jacket thingy,” Dani said handing it to him unenthusiastically before bursting into a radiant smile.
“Jayce, you’re all dressed,” Jen said turning back to him. “Here let me help you with your wrist cuff thing,” she offered sliding the fabric over his hand.
“Thanks a lot,” he smirked.
“That’s my job, to assist you in anyway you need,” she reminded, sugary sarcasm dripping from her voice as she slapped his butt as he turned to grab his shoes.
“Come on guys, you’re supposed to be in place now,” the stage manager hollered. “I knew you girls were nothing but trouble,” he added playfully.
“That’s us, we’re bad, bad girls,” Sam snickered grabbing a handful of each man’s bottom as they passed her, the five of them rushing to the lifts that would hoist them to the stage for “Space Cowboy.”