Chapter 3

Their first fight was that night.

'What was that all about man!?" Justin had shouted. "What was your problem? You wanted to talk to her so badly? You had the whole night."

"I don't need your attitude Justin. I don't need you telling me what's right and what's wrong."

"Oh God, J.C., you're just jealous that she spent the whole night talking to me. Can't stand being second best?"

"Justin, I don't need some 17 year old telling me what I feel. I don't need this crap from you. As for Liz, maybe she'd actually consider liking you after you've grown up!"

"Can you guys please cut that out?" Lance yelled from a bunk.

"Shut up." J.C. and Justin said at the same time.

"I'm more grown then you'll ever be J.C. And that's why you're so jealous. You can't believe that someone might actually like me over you."

"That's the biggest bullshit I've ever heard. You can take you stupid immature little reasoning and get the hell away from me."

"Gladly."

J.C. always regretted this fight. Not because Justin didn't deserve what was coming, but because it made the search for Liz's address and phone number a little more difficult. But J.C. always found what he was looking for. Even if he had to search through Justin's stuff while he was in the shower. All week J.C. and Justin were civil to each other, never talking about the argument, but never making any biting comments. All week, J.C. wondered if Justin had called her, and all week he had been straining to make the call. He wanted to hear her voice again, to hear her laugh. All week, he was quiet, too quiet, until Chris noticed.

"Why don't you just call her, man."

"It's not that simple…"

"Yes. You dial 1, the area code, then the number. Very simple. I'm pretty sure even Justin could master it."

J.C. chuckled. "I'm afraid he already has."

"Is this what you two were arguing about? Some chick?"

"Yeah…some chick. But Chris, you've met her, she's beautiful, witty, smart. That night you guy saw the difference in me. I can't even begin to remember the last time I felt this way about anyone."

"How about Nikki?"

"Oh yeah, and Liz isn't a stupid, back-stabbing, lying, cheating bitch. Don't ever compare Liz to her."

"Sorry man, but I got give you my honest opinion. Last night I heard Justin laughing away on the phone. With Liz. You want to make your move, make it now."

"I can't."

"You're scared."

"I'm not…'

"Scared of rejection, scared she might not be as perfect for you as you think, scared that she actually does like Justin more."

"He's too young for her. He's not even legal!"

"Actually, that depends on which state you're in, but never the less, you gotta make your move, boy. Take the advise of the group elder, por favor."

And so he did. The first phone call was not too bad. Slightly awkward, but overall okay. That's when he discovered e-mail. He found that writing to her was a lot easier than talking. Using the groups' laptop, he wrote to her almost daily, long letters, pouring out his feelings and frustrations, or short letters about funny things he'd seen. She'd tell him about school, about her friends, about how their latest concert sold out in five minutes. She was his connection to the real world, outside of touring, outside of the screaming fans. He knew he shouldn't take his life for granted, but often he'd find himself wanting to live normally, to be able to take her out on a date, walk around, go to the movies. But for now he had to settle for e-mails. Lots and lots of e-mails.

Justin was still talking to her however.

"Wow." Joey noticed one day, "Is Justin still talking to that one girl we met like in January?"

"Yeah." J.C. answered dryly.

"Sheesh. It must be serious." Lance noted.

"I think it's cute," said Danielle, Lance's girlfriend, whom J.C. never really disliked until then.

What's up with you and Justin. He's always up at the wee hours of the night, talking, gabbing away. Is that you he's talking to?

Justin is a great guy. He's funny, most of the time, he's actually really smart, but there's nothing really between us. We never talk about the stuff you and I do. He's not as deep, he tends to look at things from a materialistic point of view. But he looks great in those tank tops.