“What did you want to talk about?”
“I was just wondering why you’re so against going to the dance tonight. You’ve always loved dances. I can’t figure out why you wouldn’t want to go with Justin.”
I looked down at my glass. I sat there for a while thinking about how to tell her. “I’m going to tell you something, but you have to promise not to tell anyone.”
“I promise.”
“Ok. People at school think I paid the guys to come to school a when they dropped my off. As one girl put it ‘there’s no way guys like that would be friends with a girl like me.’”
“Let me guess. Lindsy?” I nodded my head still looking at my glass. “Don’t listen to her.”
“It’s not just her though.” I stood up and walked over to the counter. “It’s everyone at school. She told everyone and they all believe her. It’s died down now, but I’m afraid it will start up all over again if we go tonight.”
“Well, maybe the more they see of the two of you together, they will realize you two are an item. You should talk to him about it. Talk to him about going public or at least let him say something at the dance tonight.”
“No! I don’t want him to know about this.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s not his problem it’s mine.” I was yelling by now. Bri stood there stunned that I yelled at her. “Bri, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you.” I hugged her. Just then JC walked in.
“Is everything ok in here?”
I looked at Bri. “It is now.”
“Just checking.” Then he left. We sat at the table talking for the next hour.
“Oh man! It’s 6:15! I better wake Justin up.”
“Ok.” I went up to my room. Justin was still sleeping. He was cuddling with my pillow. I sat on the bed next to him. He looked so peaceful, I hated to wake him up. I leaned down to his ear.
“Wake up, Sexy.” He mumbled something. “Come on, Sexy. It’s time to get up.”
“Do I have to?”
“No. Not if you don’t want to go to the dance.”
Justin sat up slowly. “No. I want to go. What time is it?”
“It’s about 6:20. We probably should just eat a small dinner here. It will be faster.”
“Ok. I’ll be down in a minute. Where’s the bathroom?”
“Down the hall to the right.”
“Ok.” I kissed him quickly then went downstairs. I started to make some macaroni and cheese. Ten minutes later I felt arms wrap around my waist. I leaned into him.
“What are you making?”
“Mac and cheese.”
“Cool. What time should we get ready?”
“I’m starting at 7:00. We’ll leave here at 8:00.”
“But I thought the dance started at 8:00?”
“It does. But we have to be fashonably late.”
“Ok, no big deal. I’m used to being late. We’re never on time for interviews or anything like that.”
I tried to get out of his arms so I could get the strainer, but he wouldn’t let me go. I tried again, but he held tight. I set the pan down on the stove and turned around in his arms. I looked deep into his blue eyes. I ran my finger along his cheekbone. Then I ran my fingers through his curly hair and pulled his face closer to mine. As our lips were about to touch I felt his arms loosen around my waist. I quickly sidestepped out of his arms. I got the strainer and strained the macaroni before he said anything. “What was that for?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to get the strainer so I could finish the mac and cheese.”
“I’m sorry. I just love the feel of you in my arms.”
I walked over to him. “I love being in your arms. That’s why tonight is going to be so wonderful.”
“I can’t wait. You know you shouldn’t tease me. I don’t like it when people start things and don’t finish them.”
I looked up at him. “I intend to finish it. Believe me, later we’ll finish it. Now we need to eat. I walked to the door and hollered, “Bri, JC, if you want food it’s ready!”
“Oh. My baby has a pair of lungs.”
I looked up at him seductively. “I can outlast you any day, Timberlake.”
“Oh, really. We’ll have to find out someday.”
Just then JC and Bri burst in just about knocking me over. “Sorry,” JC said. “We just wanted to get to food before Curly ate it all.”
“That’s it, JC. You’re going to get it.”
“I’m shaking.” Justin started walking towards JC with mock anger. I stepped in front of him.
“Eat so we can change and get going.”
“Ok.” They all grabbed a plate and filled it with mac and cheese. Then they all sat down at the table and at in silence. After I had eaten half the food on my plate I looked up at the clock. I jumped up. I started cleaning up. When I started to do the dishes, Bri came up to me.
“I’ll do it. Go get ready.”
“It’s ok. I’m just about done.”
She pulled me away from the sink and pushed me towards the door. “Go!” I went to my room. I had to decide what dress to wear. I went through my wardrobe twice before I decided on a dark green velvet dress. It was long with spaghetti straps and had a flower vine embroidered along the right side. I jumped in the shower. I was drying my hair when the door opened. It was Justin. He stopped when he saw all I was wearing was a towel. He didn’t say anything. He just stared at me. I smiled. “Can I help you with something?”
“Sorry. I just wanted to ask if you were going to drive or if you wanted me to. I heard the hair dryer and just figured you were…um…dressed.”
“It’s ok, Justin. I’ll drive since I know where we’re going.”
“Ok. I’ll let you finish.” He left. I finished drying my hair and put my makeup on.
Justin walked down the stairs in a daze. When he got to the living room, he found JC sitting on the couch watching TV. He sat down next to JC. “Where is Bri?”
"She went to rent a movie."
“Cool.” Justin stared off into space.
“Justin, is there something wrong?”
Justin shook his head. “Everything’s so right it scares me.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I love Sophie so much. I’ve never felt like this before. And it’s only been a month. It scares me that I feel so deeply for her in such a short amount of time. I know deep in my heart that she is my soul mate.” He never once took his eyes off the wall across the room.
“Justin, that’s great, but what brought all this on?”
Justin blushed. “I accidentally walked in on her while she was drying her hair.”
“Yeah, so?”
“All she was wearing was a towel.”
“Ohhhhh…”
“Yeah. It made me realize that I want her in every way possible.”
“Justin, you have to think about this. You’re only 18 and she’s only 17. Technically that’s illegal.”
“JC, don’t you think I know that? I’ve thought about it time and time again. That and one other thing has stopped me every time.”
“That’s good. You should wait until it’s the right time for both of you.”
“Thanks, JC. I better go get dressed.” He got up and left the room causing JC to think about the conversation they just had.
At exactly 8:00 I walked down the stairs. I had put my hair up with curled tendrils hanging down. I saw JC and Bri sitting on the couch. “Hi, guys.”
“Wow!” JC said.
Bri jumped up and hugged me. “Girl, you look great.”
“Thanks.”
“I second that notion,” came a voice behind me. I turned around to see Justin standing behind me. Just looking at him took my breath away.
“I’m speechless,” I said.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said laughing. I just nodded my head. “Well lets get going so we’re not too late.” I came out of my trance. I grabbed my purse and keys, and we headed out the door. I was quiet on the drive. “Sophie, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you so quiet?”
“Just thinking about how wonderful it is to have you here with me.”
“There is nowhere else I would rather be than right here with you.”
“Thanks, Justin. That was sweet.”
“Nothing is as sweet as you.” Then he leaned over and kissed my cheek. We rode the rest of the way in silence with my hand in his.”
We were one of the first people at the dance. When they walked in there was a slow song playing. There were 5 or 6 couples dancing. “Would you care to dance?” Justin asked.
“I would love to.” We walked out on the dance floor. He put his arms around my waist loosely. I slipped my arms around his neck and pulled him close. I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. We danced for 3 songs never letting go of each other. Then a fast song came on. I opened my eyes and immediately wished I hadn’t. There stood Lindsy and her date Eric. “Let’s go sit down.” I lead Justin to the chairs by the wall. He sat down and pulled me down on his lap. “Justin, there is a chair right there beside you that I could sit in.”
“But I like you right where you are.”
“Ok. Just tell me when I get too heavy.”
“You’re light as a feather.”
Just then someone tapped my shoulder. I looked over my shoulder to see Lindsy and Eric. I got off Justin’s lap. “Hi, Sophie,” Lindsy said in a sickeningly sweet voice.
“Hi, Lindsy.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
“Lindsy, this is my boyfriend Justin. Justin, this is Lindsy and Eric.”
Lindsy’s eyes widened when I said Justin. She leaned closer to him to get a better look in the dim lights. “Oh my God! You’re Justin Timberlake!”
“Yeah I am. It’s nice to meet you Lindsy, Eric.”
“If you’ll excuse us, we have some dancing to do,” I said pulling Justin away.
When we got to the dance floor Justin asked, “What was that for? Kinda rude don’t you think?”
“No. She’s not my friend and she’s not nice.”
“But she seems so nice.”
“I know. She’s like that at the beginning especially with guys. Then you get to know her and see how really mean she is.” I was getting defensive.
Justin pulled me close to him. “It’s ok, Soph. I’m here with you. It’s just me and you.” I relaxed and held him tight for the rest of the night.
Back at the house JC and Bri were cuddling on the couch watching a movie. When the movie ended, they started talking. They talked about JC’s tour and Bri’s classes. Then they started talking about me and Justin. “I hope she’s doing alright,” Bri said.
“She’s at a dance with Justin. Why wouldn’t she be alright?”
“I’m just worried about her.”
“I get the feeling that there is something you’re not telling me.”
“I promised her I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“It’s just me. She won’t care.”
“Ok. But you have to promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
“I promise.” She told him everything. “Has she told Justin?”
“No, and she’ not going to. That’s why you can’t tell anyone.”
“He needs to know.”
“I know, but it’s her place to tell him not ours.”
“Well, can you try to convince her to tell him?”
“I’m going to try.”
“On to better subjects.” He leaned down and kissed me.
“What was that for?”
“Because you’re so sweet.” He kissed her again, this time with more passion and longing. She matched him kiss for kiss. They were interrupted by the phone ringing.
“Should we answer it?” Bri asked.
“I don’t know.” Neither of them made a move to answer it and it stopped ringing. “Now where were we?”
“JC, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, babe. Anything.”
Bri was blunt. “Are you a virgin?”
JC didn’t say anything for a while. “Well Bri, I’m going to be truthful. No I’m not.” Bri nodded her head. “Can I ask if you are?” Bri looked up at him with fear in her eyes. JC hugged her. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
Bri pulled away. “No. I want to. Yes, JC, I am virgin.”
“Bri, that’s ok. We’re going to take this slow. Nothing will happen until you’re ready.”
Bri hugged him. “JC, you are a wonderful guy.”
“And you’re a wonderful girl,” he said smiling. They stayed in each other’s arms and watched more TV.
There was only one song left and I wanted to enjoy it. I held on to Justin tighter. As we swayed to the music, he softly sang to me. The song ended all too soon. We let go of each other and left holding hands. “Do you mind if we don’t go home yet?” I asked.
“Not at all.”
“There is a route that everyone cruises on.”
“Sounds good.” We drove to the strip. Half the people from the dance were there already. We cruised for half an hour before a car flashed us. That meant they wanted to stop and talk. I pulled the car onto a side street and the car followed. It pulled up on the driver’s side. I rolled down the window and so did the other car.
“Hi, Soph.”
“Hey, Jess! Did you go to the dance?”
“No.”
“I didn’t think I saw you there. So what ya doing now?”
“Same thing you are.”
“What you’re bored too?” I laughed as Justin squeezed my hand.
“Yup pretty much. Dave here is as exciting as a rock.” We all laughed.
“Well I think we’re going to cruise a couple more times then go home.”
“Ok.”
“See you on Monday.”
“Don’t forget flag practice tomorrow.”
“Oh yeah. I forgot. I guess I’ll see ya tomorrow.”
“Ok. Bye.”
“Bye.” I rolled up my window and got back on the strip. “That was Jessica. She’s my other best friend. After the whole Brooke thing her and Bri were the only ones there for me. Anyway, that was her and her boyfriend Dave.”
“She seems cool.”
“She is. I completely forgot I have flag practice tomorrow. You could probably come and watch if you wanted to.”
“That would be cool. I’ve never seen flags before.”
“Well, it’ll be another learning experience for you.”
“I’m learning a lot with you. I like that.”
“Are you read to go home? I am.”
“Yeah, let’s go.” We pulled into the driveway at 1:00 AM. We quietly went into the house to find JC and Bri asleep on the couch. JC was leaning back against the armrest with his legs stretched out in front of him. Bri rested her head and hand on his chest with half her body laying on JC’s and the rest of her body wedged between the back of the couch and JC. We left them and went upstairs to my room. I changed in the bathroom and Justin changed in the bedroom. I walked in to see Justin sitting on my bed wearing only a pair of boxers.
“Hey, babe. Are you ready for some sleep?” I asked.
“If it’s next to you, anytime.” We both crawled into bed.
To Be Continued…