"Let's Parrrrrrrrrrtay!" Joey shouted, as the happy group entered the banquet hall. Inside was a small crowd, consisting of family and close friends. A DJ was set up in one corner, and there were tables on what would later be the dance floor. A few little kids were running around the room. Symone quickly walked away from the main group to where Krysti and Lance sat at a table.
"Hey, girl, you look great!" Lance said, giving her a quick hug.
"Thanks, Lance, you look pretty spiffy yourself." Symone said, smiling. She looked at Krysti, trying to signal her with her eyes. Krysti, caught up with Lance, eventually got the message.
"Could you excuse us for a moment, Lance?" Krysti said, getting up from the table. With a small kiss, Lance let her and Symone go.
"What's up, Syms?" Krysti asked, running her hands over her hair. Symone looked at Krysti's reflection in the mirror.
"I just need to keep away from the public, and from Justin, tonight." Symone said, rubbing her lips together. She reached under the counter for the bag she had stashed the night before. Inside were her baby blue and white Nikes. She sat on the chair at the side of the room and began to put them on.
"Oh, what did that boy do now?" Krysti asked, impatiently. "I thought you two finally had it all together!"
"We did, but last night...I saw him kiss another girl at the rehearsal dinner." Symone said, focusing her attention on her laces so she didn't have to look Krysti in the face.
"He WHAT?" Krysti almost blew the mirrors out.
"Shhh, please, I don't want to ruin this for everyone." Symone said, trying to calm Krysti down.
"Just like I am so not going to let him ruin this for you." Krysti grabbed Symone by one wrist and led her out of the bathroom.
"Where are you taking me?" Symone asked, as people stared at the odd couple.
"To get an explanation!" Krysti's face was set her voice firm. She didn't like people, especially her best friend, to be mistreated, over and over.
"Krysti, no! Not here, not now." Symone snapped her wrist out of Krysti's grip and fled outside.
She paused to catch her breath when she heard the hollow thuds of.... A basketball?
Justin had left the party almost as soon as it had begun. He had left a pair of Nikes in the trunk of the limo and put them on quickly. Also stashed in the back was his basketball, as he knew there was a court behind the country club. He slowly made his way to the back, bouncing the ball at his side. His thoughts were on Symone, and trying to explain to her about Kayleigh. He knew how she must've felt when she saw Justin kissing the blonde; he had felt the same way when she had kissed Lance. He shot at the basket, missing completely. He hadn't played a decent game since he lost to Symone.
"Hey, what are you doing out here?" Her voice came through the relative stillness. She seemed as if she was nervous about talking to him.
"Just thinking, I guess," he replied, still dribbling the ball. "What about you?"
She sighed. "The same."
Justin frowned. He had never seen her this sad. Every other facet of emotion had been displayed to him in the last few months, but never sadness. Symone seemed defeated, as if she had nothing left to fight with. And he knew that was mostly his fault.
"Look, Symone, I wanted to talk to you..." Justin began, but Symone cut him off.
"No talking, just playing." And with that, she flashed in front of him to grab the ball in the middle of a bounce.
"Okay, now I want to know how you can play in heels?" Justin asked. Symone lifted up the edge of her skirt to reveal a pair of beat up tennis shoes.
"Don't leave home without them." Just looking at Justin made Symone want to hit him and kiss him all at the same time, but she put her emotions on hold, for the moment.
"I think we have a rematch to take care of." She said, carefully manuvering the ball around her full skirt.
"I win, I get to tell you what I want, you win, you listen to what I have to say." Justin offered. He said it so fast, Symone barely heard him.
"Deal, Curly. Now let's get this game going."
Justin locked his stance, slowly dribbling the ball. He glanced at Symone, her eyes still distant. He really wanted to talk, but if she wanted to play, so be it. He sprinted in, sidestepped her easily for the first shot.
"Make It, Take It." he said out of habit as Symone checked the ball. He tried the same maneuver again, but Symone was ready, blocking him. She snatched the ball from him, took it out and came back almost before Justin had time to think. The rest of the game continued until they scored was tied 9-9.
Symone had the ball, and Justin could see the sweat dripping off of her rolling down her dress. Her face was flushed, and the hair on her forehead was stuck there. Yet, she still looked beautiful. He knew he must look worse. Justin almost laughed at what a site they must make, playing basketball in eveningwear. The game had been fast paced, both at their best, yet it was much more relaxed than their previous encounter on the court. Symone watched Justin carefully, planning her moves. He knew just about all of her tricks, but she didn't think he would assume she would try the same thing as last time. She dribbled to half court and took her stance. Justin realized what Symone was going to do a few seconds earlier this time and he charged her as the ball was leaving her fingers. Justin, not being able to stop in time, plowed into Symone, knocking her to the ground and pinning her under him.
"You got quicker, Timberlake." she laughed from underneath him. The ball was heard bouncing on the asphalt; it had gone in despite Justin's effort.
"Nope. You just tried to beat me the same way again and I wised up. So, now that we've stopped, can we talk?" Justin asked hopefully.
"First off, get off me." Symone said, as Justin stood up, and helped her up.
Symone quickly checked out her dress. "And secondly, I won, so..."
"So you get to listen to what I have to say. You missed that part, I guess." Justin grinned, glad he had finally won, in a manner of speaking.
"Fine." Symone pouted. She didn't like being tricked. She took a seat on a bench near the basketball court, and Justin sat next to her.
"Okay, last night...God, last night. The girl you saw was my ex-girlfriend, Kayleigh. She wants me, and I want no part of her. Just as I was about to get rid of her, she turned around and kissed me. When I saw that you were our only witness, I ran after you. All I wanted to do was to hold you, tell you she meant nothing, and that my heart belongs to you. When I saw you walking down that isle, you looked so beautiful. You still do. And I knew then I had to tell you...I am in love with you, Symone." Justin finished, getting lost in Symone's eyes, which shined with tears.
"Oh, Justin, I didn't...I thought you lied to me, that you were using me. I was so hurt I just wanted to curl up and die. But now I know...I am such an idiot." Symone moaned, leaning her head against his shoulder. "But this idiot loves you." She looked up at him. He grinned again, and leaned down, touching his lips to hers.
The kiss was dizzying for the both of them. Never had they felt so close to one another or to any other human being they had ever encountered. They pulled away, breathless and smiling. A song was heard drifting through the open windows of the banquet hall.
Justin sat with his arms wrapped around the girl he loved, when she stood up. Symone turned to face him. "May I have this dance?"
He laughed. "Hey, I'm supposed to be the one doing the asking!"
"Says who?"
"I dunno," Justin shrugged. "It's just the rules."
"Let's make up our own rules." Symone said, pulling him to his feet, and wrapping her arms around his neck. She began to softly sing the words, and Justin was mesmerized by her voice. He joined in soon after, her eyes never leaving his, even for a second. They danced close, mouths moving to their own little duet.
Every now and then
We find a special friend
Who never lets us down
Who understands it all
Reaches out each time you fall
You're the best friend that I've found
I know you can't stay
A part of you will never ever go away
Your heart will stay
I'll make a wish for you
And hope it will come true
That life would just be kind
To such a gentle mind
If you lose your way
Think back on yesterday
Remember me this way
Remember me this way
I don't need eyes to see
The love you bring to me
No matter where I go
And I know that you'll be there
Forever more a part of me, you're everywhere
I'll always care
I'll make a wish for you
And hope it will come true
That life would just be kind
To such a gentle mind
If you lose your way
Think back on yesterday
Remember me this way
Remember me this way
And I'll be right behind your shoulder watching you
I'll be standing by your side and all you do
And I won't ever leave
As long as you believe
You just believe
I'll make a wish for you
And hope it will come true
That life would just be kind
To such a gentle mind
If you lose your way
Think back on yesterday
Remember me this way
Remember me this way*
"Symone?" Justin whispered, as the song ended.
"Yeah?" she breathed
"You definitely have more game than I ever will!" he replied, taking a step back and laughing.
"You better believe it, buddy!" Symone grabbed his arm and pulled him close again. "And now I have you."
"You certainly do. I love you Baby."
"I love you too, JuJu."
Realizing they had actually used those awful nicknames, they burst out laughing simultaniously.
"Let's go inside." Symone said, lacing her fingers through his.
"Yeah, I want to get me some of that chocolate cake!" Justin said, practically drooling.
"Chocolate? Nuh uh, vanilla all the way baby!" Symone retorted.
"OK, you must be joking..."
"Here we go again!' they both thought.
*Remember Me This Way by Jordan Hill
