“Alright guys!” Brooke clapped her hands, signaling the end of rehearsal. “See you next week for final wardrobe fittings.”
“Bye mom!” Justin called to her, as he grabbed his things and headed out of the rehearsal studio.
“I swear to God, Timberlake!” Brooke laughed. “You call me ‘mom’ one more time and I’ll kill you, you got that?”
“Yes mom!” She heard from outside in the hallway. She laughed, rolling her eyes, glancing up when she heard someone else laughing with her. “Hey J.C. I didn’t know you were still here.”
“Just waiting for Megan to pick me up,” J.C. explained. “She’s normally not this late.”
“Megan’s the girlfriend, right?” Brooke clarified. J.C. nodded. “Do you want me to hang out until she gets here? Make sure you have a ride?”
“Sure mom,” J.C. snickered.
“Shut up.” Brooke had a stern look on her face but her eyes were dancing with laughter. “I’m not that much older than you. What? A year?”
“Something like that.” J.C. grinned. “But you’re still older.”
“Anyway,” Brooke stressed, changing the subject. “How long have you guys been together?”
“’Bout a year,” J.C. replied, grabbing his bag and following his choreographer out to the parking lot. “We met at a club in D.C. during our tour last year. She was the only girl in the place who had no idea who I was. It was kind of refreshing.”
“That’s nice,” Brooke smiled. “She coming on tour?”
“Nope.” J.C. shook his head, sadly. “She has to work. I can’t ask her to quit just for me, as much as I’d love to.”
“You’re a good guy, J.C.,” Brooke complimented, sliding her arm around his shoulders. “All guys should be like you.”
“What about Kevin?” J.C. questioned. “He respectful of your career?”
“Yeah,” Brooke sighed. “Most of the time. Although, I gotta tell you. He was not too happy about me taking this job.”
“Frolicking with the competition, huh?” J.C. joked.
Brooke giggled. “Yeah. I guess that was it. Worried that I’m going to run off with Justin or something.”
J.C. burst out laughing. “Oh, now that would be a sight. You and Justin. What the hell would this world come to? I don’t think you guys could stand to say two genuinely nice things to each other ever.”
“Oh come on,” Brooke playfully punched his shoulder. “We’re not that bad. We’re just kidding around.”
“I know, Brooke.” J.C. smiled at her. “I’m just playing.” He pointed to the black 4-Runner pulling into the parking lot. “Isn’t that your boyfriend now?”
Brooke glanced up to see Kevin rolling to a stop next to them. “Yup.” She stood up, following J.C.’s lead. “You sure you don’t want me to wait with you?”
“Positive.” J.C. pulled her into a hug. “Have fun with lover-boy tonight.”
“Oh believe me,” Brooke smirked. “I will.”
J.C. playfully covered his ears. “Too much information, mom!”
“Shut up!” Brooke stuck her tongue out at him as she climbed into the passenger seat of Kevin’s car. “See you Monday!”
“Bye!” J.C. called as she slammed the door. Brooke reached around and put her seat belt on as Kevin pulled out of the parking lot. “What was that all about?” he asked.
“Nothing,” Brooke giggled. “Just the usual shit that Justin, J.C., and Lance give me for being older than them.”
“Looked like some flirting going on to me.” Kevin looked at her, pointedly, trying to gauge her reaction to his statement.
“You’re kidding, right?” Brooke looked at him, eyes wide. “That’s J.C., Kev. He has a girlfriend. I have a boyfriend. I love you. He loves her. There was nothing more there than some casual conversation. There’s nothing wrong with that now is there?”
“No,” Kevin mumbled.
“Good.” Brooke smiled, sliding closer to his seat so she could peck him on the cheek. “Because I plan on showing you exactly how much I love you tonight.”
“Really?” Kevin asked, perking up a little bit.
“Yup!” Brooke grinned. “Just as soon as the girls and I are finished with some of the wedding plans.”
Kevin groaned loudly, causing a laugh to erupt from Brooke. “Come on, Brooke. Not tonight.”
“Whining only makes those plans take longer, Kevvy,” she warned, playfully. “Now, if you want us to get it done as quickly as possible, I suggest that you go hang out with some of the boys for a while. I’ll call you when we’re done.”
Kevin pulled the car in the driveway, watching as Brooke grabbed her bag and jumped out. “I’ll be back by nine!” he called through the open window. “You better be done by then because you’re coming back to my house with me!”
“Bye Kevvy!” Brooke blew him a kiss as she walked up the sidewalk towards her house. “Love you!”
Kevin shook his head laughing. “Love you too!”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Christine sat at a quiet table in the corner of the bar, sipping on an Amaretto Sour, and going over some paperwork for the upcoming ‘Nsync tour. She sighed and smoothed her hair back from her face. These guys were ridiculous. Some of the things they were asking for on this tour were insane and going to take up much more money that anyone could’ve expected. She let out a deep breath and reached for the tempting pack of cigarettes sitting on the table next to her drink. She pulled one out and lit it, the deep inhale calming her.
“Since when do you smoke?” Christine jumped at the sound of the all-too familiar voice coming from behind her. She slowly turned her head and saw Howie smirking at her.
“Only occasionally,” Christine admitted, lowering her eyes to the table. “It calms me down sometimes.”
“Mind if I join you?” Howie asked, hopefluly, glancing at the empty chair at her small table.
“Not at all.” Christine smiled, pointing to the chair. “Go ahead.”
“So why are you so stressed?” Howie questioned, after ordering a beer from the passing waitress.
Christine shrugged, putting the cigarette out in the ashtray laying on the table. “Just trying to budget some of this shit for Nsync’s tour. I swear to God, Howie, these guys are insane. How come you guys were never like that?”
Howie laughed. “I don’t know, Chris. I guess we’re just easy to please. Anyway, so how have you been otherwise?”
“Fine,” Christine lied. The truth actually that she wasn’t doing well at all. She had been having trouble sleeping at night. She was afraid to because the nightmares would return. The nightmares of that last night spent with Paul in Connecticut. The visions of him hitting her. When she awoke from the nightmares in a cold sweat, she swore that she could still feel his hands on her. Hitting her.
“You don’t look fine,” Howie commented, a serious look on her face. “You want to tell me what’s really going on?”
Christine smiled, grateful for his concern, but not wanting to get into everything. Especially with him. “I’m fine, Howie. Really. I’m just tired. Too much work and not enough time to do it in.”
He watched from across the bar, the menu hiding his face. Anger surged through him at the sight of the two of them together. Christine was his, damnit. She was always his. And he was damn sick and tired of Howie always getting in the way and ruining it. And it was about time it came to an end.