"Come on," The girl stood.
"What?" Two male voices and one female voice chorused back.
"Come on," Britney sighed. "Get up. We're going out."
"Brit, we can't," Christina stared at her best friend.
"And why not, Chrissy?" Britney turned to look at the other blonde girl. "Because we're famous? Because we know how to sing? Big deal. We're no different than they are." Britney gestured to the world outside of the New York hotel.
JC stared at the two girls. "She's right," He admitted grudgingly. "What's the worst that can happen?"
Christina shrugged. "Good point. You in, Ju?"
Justin hauled himself off the recliner. "You bet,Tris."
"Let's get hot, then," Britney smiled. "None of this hiding behind a disguise crap."
Christina nodded. "Tonight we're just Chrissy, Brit, Josh, and Justin."
"Too bad the other guys aren't here," JC commented.
"Why? Two hot girls all to ourselves and you want the other guys?" Justin shook his head in mock dismay.
"Go get ready, boys," Britney laughed and disappeared into the room she was going to share with Christina for the weekend.
The group of friends was having one of their bimonthly retreats where the four ex-Mouseketeers got together for a weekend of fun. It kept them sane to disappear from the world of concerts, interviews, photo shoots, negative press, and stress. It wasn't easy being pop superstars, and this weekend was their weekend to unwind.
"What are you gonna wear, Chrissy?" Britney asked, digging through her suitcases.
"I'm thinking those new stretch flares I got? With the raw-hide ties on the hips," Christina said thoughtfully, rifling through her suitcase. "But I'm not sure if I brought my thong with the clear straps."
Britney shrugged. "Go 'commando'. You are the bad girl of pop."
Christina laughed. "That is such a joke."
Britney smiled. "What do you think of these pants?" She held up a pair of long slightly flared jeans that laced up the entire length of the outside of her leg, from ankle to the top.
"Ooh, you be a sexy thing," Christina smirked.
Britney laughed. "Huh-uh! I'm a sweet southern girl from Louisianna."
Christina burst out laughing. "Of course you are."
"Turn the radio on," Britney suggested. "Please."
Christina did as suggested and then shook her head as her own voice blared back at her. "How about a CD?"
"Works for me," Britney smiled. "I'll listen to anything."
"Me, too," Christina admitted, reaching for her CD case. "Wait, Justin just got Shaggy's CD the other day, let me see if I can borrow it."
As Christina returned, Britney finished changing, adding a simple white low-cut, sleeveless cross-over top to her outfit. "Management will kill us."
Christina smiled. "It'll be worth it for a night of fun with you guys."
"Yup," Britney nodded. "I missed you so much, Chris."
"I missed you, too, Bit-Bit," Christina smiled at her best friend.
"Good, now let's show these boys how to have fun," Britney smirked and the pair finished dressing.
The pair stood together in front of the mirror before heading out into the main room to meet the boys. Britney grabbed her camera and shoved it into her purse, then turned to look at Christina. "I hope this works out."
Christina nodded slowly. "Yeah. Me, too."
"I know you like him, Chris. But just...be careful, ok? I don't know how he feels," Britney heaved a sigh and Christina nodded.
"I know," Christina shrugged. "I just gotta take it slow, see what happens."
Britney sighed. "Well, I'll try to keep Juju in check for ya, then."
"I can't...I feel bad with Jorge...I'm not thinking about it," Christina resolved.
Britney smiled. "Chris, we gonna have fun. Tonight we get to be normal teenagers."
"We were never normal, Brit," Christina laughed and shoved Britney out the door to the main living room.
"Ya got that right!" Justin laughed.
"Shut up, Chia," Britney smiled affectionately at one of her best friends, who acted offended at the long-time pet name, referring to the wild mass of curls atop his head.
"Hey, just 'cause you weren't normal don't mean the rest of us weren't, right, Chris?" JC protested.
"Come on, let's just go," Justin shook his head.
Britney gave Justin a noogie, JC flipped Christina upside-down to see how loud she could squeal, and they all played tag, each of them being "it" at least once before they reached the elevator.
Justin, Britney, Christina, and JC ignored the awed stares of people around them as they walked out of the hotel arm in arm, in that order. Because tonight, they were just Ju, Brit, Chrissy, and Josh, the four friends from the Mickey Mouse Club.
Just older.