I pulled away. "What?" I asked.
"We found someone looking for you." Ashley answered then he walked in.
"Oh my god" I whispered to myself in anger. I did nothing else but turn around and walk away past the couch.
"Jen" Aj called out. I kept walking and rounded a corner where I found Lance and the other guys.
"Oh my god. This is NOT happening to me" I said as I closed my eyes.
"Jen" I heard a different name call and I opened my eyes which now had tears in them.
There was Lance a few feet away calling me over to meet everyone else. "What's wrong?" He asked seeing my tears on my face and my lip quivering.
"This can't be happening to me." I said simply
"JEN!" Aj yelled once again as he too was now feet away from Lance.
"That is what is VERY wrong." I said. Lance pulled me to the other side of him and held me close.
"Get off of my girlfriend." Aj commanded.
"You mean your ex-girlfriend" Lance corrected.
"No my girlfriend."
"He's right Aj EX-girlfriend. You know about an hour ago you broke up with me" I stepped in.
"Listen I came here to talk to you. I didn't mean what I said. As soon as I called you I got in my car and came here cause Ashley told me she was bringing you here, and Jen, I want you back."
"HA HA "I want you back" stealing *NSync material now! Anyways you know that is so sweet. Too bad I can't say the same."
"So all of a sudden you hate me over one mistake?"
"I'm sorry but I don't love you, I don't like you." I said. Then all of a sudden I flipped into a child's voice. "There's this new boy and rumor is that he might ask me to the big elementary school dance. You're too old for me Aj. You could be my really really old older brother. Imagine that me dating someone so old, ha ha ha! That's so funny."
"You're not too young. You're very mature for your age I'll admit it. It was just an excuse."
Nearing closer to show time the opening act, Mandy Moore, began sound check. She couldn't have started with a more appropriate song...
You looked at my face thought you could get me
Better look twice it won't be that easy
Think it's because you're a little older
But all you'll get from me is my cold shoulder
You shouldn't judge someone by what you see
You may be wrong like you were about me
I walked over to the edge of the stage to watch her performance. Aj's presence was really annoying me at this point. I should've decked him but I figured the cold shoulder works even better.
Sure enough though he walked up behind me to watch. I continued to sing along to the song cause in some strange way it was helping relieve my anger.
Once the song was over they wanted Mandy to do it 2 times over to get it perfect.
"Hold on let me get some water." She said running off to our side of the stage.
"Hi." She said to me reaching into the cooler beside me for her water.
"That was really great" I said to her.
"Thanks, I have to do it 2 more times though to make them happy. I actually only need one more by myself." She took a sip of her water. "I saw you over here singing, Here's an opportunity for you, come sing this one with me. Get the real feel." She offered.
"Well I don't know." I said kinda shaking my head. It wouldn't be my first time on a stage but I wasn't too sure.
"Come on. I'll sing it with you."
I took a deep breath "What the heck." I said walking onto the stage with her and looking out to the empty seats. I got lost in the moment and just stared out thinking of my dreams as a little girl to be a performer.
"Here" Mandy said handing me a mic. "Ready?"
I nodded. I stood practically still the first few lines because I wasn't exactly comfortable with all these famous people I adored watching me.
You looked at my face thought you could get me
Better look twice it won't be that easy
Think it's because you're a little older
But all you'll get from me is my cold shoulder
You shouldn't judge someone by what you see
You may be wrong like you were about me
I began to losen up and walk around the stage. Mandy began to help me to losen up by giving me a reassuring thumbs up.
I'm not too young to know the right thing to do
And one of those things is not to fall for you
With that last line I emphasized it by pointing to Aj. This whole song was gonna be me being the biggest bitch to him just with my movements.
Boy I don't want no play, didn't you hear me say
I'm not gonna fall for you
So please just go away ( I shooshed my hand at him)
It didn't work out the way that you planned
Brag to your friends say you were the man( I made muscles like him all buff and tough)
Now what you gonna do since your plan is blown
Couldn't get this little girl now you're crying all alone
Too bad you judged me by first sight
It's too late now so kiss your chance goodnight( I blew a kiss )
You say you want me when you don't really know who I am
I don't want to play no games so catch me if you can
At this point in time Mandy stopped singing and I really hadn't noticed it so I continued to sing without her.
It didn't work out the way that you planned
Bragged to your friends say you were the man
Now what you gonna do since your plan is blown
Couldn't get this little girl now you're crying all alone
Too bad you judged by first sight
It's too late now so kiss your chance goodnight
~ "Not too Young" Mandy Moore
Over on the "sidelines" everyone began applauding. I felt my face become flush but I decided to also go with it and take the recognition. Although most of them were clapping for me Aj shot me dirty looks.
"That was pretty fun ya know." I said walking off the stage.
"It's even better with a packed audience." Mandy commented.
"Oh, I bet it is."
"Woah, woah, wait up a second." She said looking at me standing near Aj. "You two, together. I've seen you at the AMA's before."
"Yea, that was something I don't want to hurry back to. Aj and his crew are some sore losers."
"Whatever. Listen Jen we need to talk, now, please 5 minutes that's all I'm asking."
"If that's what it takes to shut you up then lets go." I said leading him to an unoccupied dressing room and shut the door. "You wanna talk, start talking and I'll listen." I said sitting on the couch as he came and sat next to me.
"I came all the way here, to an *Nsync concert to tell you what a big mistake I made. I didn't mean to hurt you and I wanna give us a second chance. Now please think about it. I love you."
"Aj," I said taking his hand. "You know I love you, and I always will. You were my first serious relationship and you hold a special place in my heart. you hurt me a lot today. I felt like I was nothing but a toy for you the last few months. I just can't go back to you. Plus you fucking cheated on me! How am I suppose to just forget that! You said you're with someone new now."
"I'm not seeing anyone. I was just saying it to get my point across. Are you sure you can't just try. For me? Please? Remember all the fun we had. How about that night your parents left town for a week and you were suppose to stay home but you and me ran off to your parents beach house and sat outside talking till sunrise in each others arms. And when we had the candle lit picnic out there and I sang you the song I wrote for you and I gave you that ring right here" he picked up my hand and pointed to the ring. "... And told you how we would be together forever. Does any of that matter?" He asked looking at me as I still looked at the ring.
"We have had some good times haven't we? I'll never forget those days. But the thing that worries me is what you said. I mean I can't be sure that it won't happen again, and you really hurt me a lot today. Aside of my parents you're the most important person who has been in my life and loved me. I'd love to give it a second chance but I really think it's best for us to be apart for awhile and test other waters and see if we're really meant to be. I seriously think we're better friends. I mean just because we're not going out doesn't mean we still can't have all the fun and do the same things we've done. So how about friends for now? Please?" I said taking off the ring and holding it out for him.
"If that's what you think is best for now, I'm fine with it. But do me a favor. Keep the ring. It means that we're together forever, not necessarily lovers the whole time but it can be our friendship too."
"All right thanks." I said getting up and walking out the door with him following. He shut the door and we stood facing each other. We embrassed each other tightly and tears fell again.
"I love you, Jen." He said.
"I love you too." I replied as we pulled away.
"I'll call you soon, friend, but only for now. We'll be together somehow." He assured himself.
"Ok, Bye." He gave me a kiss on the cheek and sqeezed my hand one more time and he turned and walked away. Not without looking back a few more times. Suddenly all the tears raced out and my lip quivered and so did the rest of my body. I walked back over to the couch I originally was sitting on. Come to find out Lance had been watching from a distance so he came over to see what happened.