Symone woke up with a start, and immediately regretted it. Her head felt like a ton of bricks had come down upon it. She had never slept so much in all of her life. The tears seemed to be a never-ending stream from her eyes. Since her fight with Justin the day before, she had done nothing but sleep and cry. She remembered a brief conversation with Lance that afforded her a chance to apologize, but other than that, her night was consumed with Justin. Her sleep was nowhere near peaceful, nightmares of the confrontation replaying until she woke in a cold sweat. Every hour, on the hour. Yet, she could not seem to pull herself from underneath the sheets, or stop the sobs that racked her body. It was now 9 am, and Symone felt that was an appropriate time to get out of bed. She padded past the mirror, and grimaced at her refection. Her eyes were bloodshot, large bags growing beneath them. Her hair, which had been casually thrown into a bun, was in a state of disarray, completing the "abused spouse" look. She went quickly into the bathroom, showered, and brushed her teeth. Returning to the garage, she threw on a pair of faded jeans and a black tank top. The ever-present sneakers were placed on her feet, short brown hair pulled into a low ponytail. A bowl of Lucky Charms were quickly eaten, sunglasses donned, and after grabbing her bass, Symone made her way out the door, trying very hard to control her emotions and memory as she crossed the threshold.
Slut.
Slut.
Slut.
The word continued to ring in her mind, and she winced each time. She ran from the door, not bothering to lock it, knowing that Nicole and Adrienne would be leaving soon anyway. She just had to get away from there. She walked purposefully toward Krysti's house, and heard the strains of her friends tuning their guitars, as Tony played a swing rhythm on his drum set. Symone took in a deep breath, and plastered a smile on her face.
"Hey everybody! It's a beautiful day, huh?"
Krysti saw through the act almost immediately. "Yeah, I guess. How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice concerned.
"I'm doing OK. You know me, always the trooper. You guys ready to play?"
Symone threw herself into rehearsal that morning. Never had her bass lines been executed with such perfection, her voice harmonizing with Krysti's so impeccably. The guys, who had no idea what was going on, were psyched at the sounds they were getting. Krysti, on the other hand, knew that this was a product of trying to forget a certain curly-haired blonde with a bad choice of vocabulary. She knew what she had to do, as much as she hated to admit it. Symone had to face Justin again, or she would be like this for a long time. And, as much as Krysti would love for Asylum Star to regularly sound this good, she really wanted her best friend back. 2 hours later, they were finishing up "Paranoid." As the last words left Krysti's mouth, she sat down.
"OK guys, that was an awesome rehearsal. I think we will definitely be ready for Paul's party. We should practice again sometime this week. Now you guys get out of here. Sym and I have a concert to get ready for!" The guys laughed, holding back their comments. As "serious musicians", they didn't exactly respect 'N Sync.
Symone looked around nervously. She had actually forgotten about the concert until Krysti mentioned it just then. "Could we do "Prodigal Princess" a couple more times? I'm not quite sure I've got it down."
Alex laughed. "Sym, you wrote that song! I think you pretty much nailed it! Besides, I have to be at work in an hour." He and Tony continued to pack up their equipment and the quartet loaded them into Alex's van. After hugs, kisses and "enjoy 'Lip Sync" comments were shared, they pulled out of Krysti's driveway.
Symone reluctantly walked back into the house, following her best friend. As soon as Krysti entered her room, she began searching for "the perfect outfit." Symone sat on the bed and watched, motionless.
"You don't seem too concerned with wardrobe there."
"Actually, I'm not going, so I have nothing to be concerned with." She replied, looking up at the ceiling. Symone held her breath; she knew what was coming.
"WHAT? What do you mean you aren't going?"
She let all the air out of her lungs before replying. "I don't want to see him again, if I can help it. I am not voluntarily going to this concert to watch him shake his butt."
Krysti understood her friend's reasoning. It was the sissy way out, but she understood. She started to laugh.
"What? What's so funny?" Symone's puzzled expression just made her friend laugh harder.
"It's just that…that I've known…you forever…and the first…person you ever try to…avoid is the biggest…pop star on the planet!" Krysti finally finished her sentence, giggles consuming her once again.
Symone had to laugh at that. It was true; she had never really tried to avoid someone before. If she had a problem with someone or something, she confronted it. Running away wasn't her style. 'Neither is crying and you sure as hell have been doing a lot of that lately. But then again, nobody ever called you a slut before.' Symone thought. "So, what did you do last night?" she asked knowingly. The only other thing she remembered about her conversation with Lance was that he originally called to get Krysti's number and directions to her house.
Krysti's face lit up, recalling how Lance had surprised her at the door, and the kiss they had shared. "He seemed to get a little distant at dinner, but that's OK. He asked me out again tonight, so we will see what happens." She paused. "I showed him the ceiling."
*flashback*
Lance walked Krysti to the door of her house. They had a relitively good time, being that Lance couldn't stop thinking of all those guys. But, after getting to know a little more about Krysti, he realized that he would have to try and deal with it. Try being the opperative word. "So, um, what are you doing tomorrow night?"
Krysti stifled a laugh. "Well, I am going to see these five losers try to sing and dance."
"The Backstreet Boys are in town?" Lance asked incrediously.
Krysti burst out laughing. They both stood on her stoop, gigling uncontroably. She was never this comfortable around a guy she just met. but there was something different about Lance. She had all but forgotten what he did for a living; she was just happy to know him for who he really was.
Lance stopped laughing first. "But, seriously, do you want to get together again before I have to leave?"
"You know it! Just let me know where and when, and I will see if I can squeeze you in." Krysti replied, with a wink.
"You are too much girl!" He said taking her hand and pulling her into the door she just unlocked. "Now, come on! You promised to show me the ceiling." When they got into the room, he stood in the middle with his arms crossed. "Well?"
She smiled at his impatience. He was like a child told he could eat his candy bar later. "Close your eyes and look up." When he complied with the orders, she turned the lights off and flicked on the black light. "Open them."
Lance was astonished. The ceiling was painted to look like the night sky, and it seemed so real. He felt like he was actually in the jungle. It was amazing. "Oh, Krys." he sighed, finally tearing his eyes away from the ceiling. "I have never seen anything mosre beautiful...but its not nearly as beautiful as you." he said, kissing her sweetly.
*end flashback*
Symone almost gasped. "Really? I guess he must be pretty special."
"Yeah, he really is. He loved it, said he had never seen anything more beautiful…"
"Besides you, right?" Symone wistfully said, the sensation of tears stinging her eyes becoming all too familiar. It sounded like something a sweet guy like Lance would say. Unlike Justin, who...'Stop thinking about him!!' "You're right, he is pretty special. Well, I'm going home. What time are you going to pick up Nicole and Adrienne?"
"I'll give you a call and let you know." Krysti replied, giving Symone a hug.
Symone jogged around the block a few times before she headed home. It usually helped her clear her thoughts, but today was an exception. When she got back to the house, her older sister and niece were just pulling into the driveway.
"Hey Sym, how was the date last night?" Nicole asked, wiggling her eyebrows. She hadn't seen her sister since walking in on her sleeping. After she and Addie left with JC, Nicole assumed that Symone went out as planned.
Tears began to well in Symone's eyes, again. 'NO! You are not going to cry over his sorry behind!' "Um, well, we didn't go…he…doesn't really want anything to do with me after the…incident at the park."
"Oh, I see. Well, you are still going tonight, though, right?"
"No, actually. I was just gonna sit here and write some songs." 'I don't think I Hate Justin Timberlake is a song title, but it will be soon!'
"Mone, you hafta go!" Adrienne said, pouting. " I wanna show JC our dances!"
Symone felt slightly bad about abandoning her niece, but as soon as they reached the door, she realized that she couldn't do it. She couldn't face him after everything that happened. "I'm sorry Addie, but I have to stay home and…"
"Wallow in self-pity?" Nicole asked, half-joking. They went inside and Symone threw herself on the couch, picking up the remote. Nicole walked into the living room and stood wordlessly for a few minutes.
"So, what really happened?" the older girl asked.
"What do you mean?" Symone replied warily, keeping her eyes glued to the screen. Nicole walked in front of her and shut the set off.
"You were crying last night. I walked into your room and saw you sleeping, but you had tearstains all over your face, and your sheets were soaked. So, I want to know what really happened." Nicole said again.
Symone sighed, and recounted the previous afternoon's events, just as she had been in her mind since the moment it occurred. If Krysti had been mad, Nicole looked ready to kill.
"I think I am going to have a word with that boy tonight. Actually, no, you are coming and demanding an apology." Nicole ranted. "He had NO right to call you that Sym, and God help me, if I ever hear that word come out of his mouth again, I will slap him from here to Kingdom Come!"
Symone just sat there and listened to her sister. When she finally finished, Symone replied. "I don't even want to think about it anymore, and I don't want you guys to, either. I am certainly not going tonight, and I don't want you mentioning it to Justin. I don't want him to have the satisfaction to know that I am upset by it. Is that understood?"
"Symone, I know he hurt you, but he IS still in your favorite group and you have front row tickets to the show tonight!"
"Correction, my ex-favorite…wait a sec, we don't have front row tickets!" Symone exclaimed.
"Yes we do. Josh gave them to me and Addie last night." A large smile took over Nicole's face as his name passed through her lips.
"Josh, huh? Hon, you have some explaining to do!" Symone said, and for the second time today heard of someone she loved escapades with the guy of their dreams. She tried to be happy for them, but it was very hard. When was she going to have the man of her dreams sweep her off her feet? 'Never,' her brain reminded her. 'He thinks you're a slut'
