"Steph wake up," Justin whispered softly into her ear. It was about 10 am and the two were still on the couch from the night before. She moved a little bit before opening her eyes. "Hey."

"Hey," she replied with a small smile. "What time is it?"

"Around 10."

"Geez I slept a lot last night."

"Yeah, and I have to be at the studio in 25 minutes, so I gotta go get ready."

"Ok." She watched him get up and walk down the hall before disappearing into his bedroom.

A few minutes later Steph got up and went to check her voicemail messages since she realized she hadn't done that since she got there. She heard the water shut off from the shower so she figured Justin was done with his VERY quick shower.

"You have four new messages and one reminder for today. To listen to your new messages press one," Steph heard the recording come through the telephone receiver. She pressed one and waited to hear her messages.

"Hey Steph! This is Bri and I just wanted to make sure you got down to sunny Florida without any problems! Call me later cuz I got to tell you somethin I herad about Justy on TV! Lata!" Steph smiled hearing her best friend Brianna's cheery voice on her machine. She was totally obsessed with all of the guys of ‘N Sync, especially Justin, and she had no idea what was going on between him and Steph. The next message was another one from Bri and she was screaming so loud that Steph had to hold the phone away from her ear.

"STEPH!!!!! ‘N SYNC IS COMING HERE LIVE IN CONCERT!!!!!! We are sooo getting tickets so you best be calling me back girl!"

‘Oh great, she's gonna make me wait outside at night for hours just so we can get tickets to see them in concert.'

The next message was from Dan, it was left the day before Steph was to arrive at his house, a day before he died.

"Hey hon what's up? I'm just callin' to tell ya I can't wait for you to come tomorrow and that I have a little surprise for you. I want to introduce you to a friend of mine named Justin. You two will get along great! Love ya, bye!"

Steph felt a few tears burn down her cheek but she was happy that he had left her that message and she knew she would save it as a memory of him. The last message was one that she wished she never heard or knew anything about because it would change her life forever. She listened closely, too shocked to react or move. Her face paled and she stood there motionless, not believing what she was hearing. The message was over and she still kept the receiver clutched tightly next to her ear frozen in terror.

"Steph?" Justin asked coming into the room and walking over to her. There was no response. "Steph? What's wrong?" He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulder and slid them down her arms, then taking the phone from her hand and placing it back on the receiver. "Who were you talking to?"

"No one. I just checked my messages."

"What's wrong then?"

"Nothing, there was just...a-a message from Dan that he left the day before I got here. He said he wanted to introduce me to a friend of his named Justin and that he thought we'd get along great," she managed to get out putting a fake smile on and turning to face him. He squeezed her shoulders and gave her a small smile.

"He was right."

"About what?"

"He said his little sister was the most caring and unbelievable person to ever walk this earth." She put her arms around his neck and kissed him, savoring and memorizing everything about how this felt because it would be the last time she would touch him or kiss him in a very long time. She let her fingers play with his curls on the back of his head while his arms wrapped around her back to pull her closer. He slowly rubbed his hands up and down her back, wishing he could stay in this moment forever. She pulled away, gazing into his eyes, and at that moment she knew she loved everything about this man, even though she hadn't known him that long. "I better get going, I'll be back around 3," he said and softly kissed her one more time before walking towards the door.

"Justin, wait." He turned around to face her and she walked over to him.

"What?"

"Nothing...nevermind. I'll see you soon, bye," she said and kissed him again, not wanting him to leave because she knew it would be a while until she saw him again.

"Bye," he whispered into her ear and turned to leave.

"Bye." She watched him walk out the door and to his car, wearing baggy jeans, a white Nike shirt, and carrying his black bag with stuff he needed at the studio. He climbed in his car and drove off, blowing a kiss at her before he turned out of the driveway. She stood in the doorway watching his car until it was out of sight, and then broke into tears. She tried to wipe them away and walked to Justin's room where her bag was. She got out her wallet which had her money and credit cards, and her cell phone. She went back downstairs and searched the house for a phonebook until she finally found one in the kitchen. Steph took it and went over to the couch in the living room where she and Justin were the night before and put the book on her lap and her phone and wallet next to her. She dialed the number and waited for someone to pick up.

"Hi, I need one ticket to Raleigh, North Carolina for today please." She waited to get her ticket information, and then hung up the phone. The airport was only 20 minutes away from Justin's house, and she had to be there in 2 hours. It was about 10:30 now, so she would be on the plane and almost back in North Carolina by the time Justin was home. She packed her bags, got dressed, and ate some breakfast before taking a big step in her life and going to Dan's house. She tried to cram as much stuff into 3 suitcases as she could since she couldn't take everything with her because she drove down. She wrote a note to Justin, not clearly explaining what was going on, but a note that would change her entire future with him. She left it on the kitchen table so he would see it when he got home from work, and then she got everything in her car and drove to Dan's house. She didn't dare go inside, but just left the car in the driveway with a few things she couldn't take with her. Without a car she needed to find a ride to the airport, so she called the police. She got an officer who had been at the scene and knew the situation, so he brought her to the airport. By the time she got there she had about 45 minutes until the plane took off, and about 15 until she had to board. She went to her terminal and went into a small shop to get some gum for the plane ride. The first thing she saw when she walked in was a magazine with Justin's face on the cover. It was the November issue of the magazine, and inside it had poster's of him and exclusive interviews. She bought it so she could have a picture of him, because she didn't have a picture of the two of them together.

Justin came home at 3 that afternoon, and noticed Steph's car wasn't in the driveway. He walked into his house and didn't see her anywhere, so he figured she had gone out to get something. He walked to the kitchen to get himself some Coke and noticed a note on the table from Steph.

Dear Justin,

Hey, you are probably wondering where I am, and by the time you read this I am probably already on my plane to go home to North Carolina. This morning when I was acting weird it was because of a message on my voicemail, and I had to go back immediately. Trust me I didn't want to go but I didn't know how to tell you.

This morning I realized something very important in my life, something I've never known before my whole life. I know I haven't really known you for a long time at all, but in the time we've spent together I feel like I can look into your soul through your eyes. You've been nothing but kind to me and I thank you for it. What I'm trying to say is that I love you, and I always will, remember that. I don't know how long I'll be gone and I don't know when I'll see you again, but I am truly sorry for leaving and I love you with all my heart.

Love Always,

Steph

P.S. Call my cell....the number is (555)792-8310

He dropped the paper, not knowing what to think.

She loves me. She loves me.

He kept saying it over and over again, hoping maybe it would bring her back. She was gone, and she didn't really leave a clear reason, but he intended to find out very soon. He picked up his phone and quickly dialed her number. After about three rings, a voice picked up, but it was not a voice he was expecting. It was a male who sounded about 30, but Justin wasn't sure.

"Hello?"

"Um, is Stephanie there?"

"No, who is this?"

"Justin."

"Ah, the boyfriend?"

"Where is she?" he demanded.

"Not with you, and you'll be lucky if you ever see her again," and with that, he hung up the phone. Justin didn't know who that man was and he knew something was going on that Steph had no control over, but he had no idea how to get to her.

"Jason who was that?" Steph asked in a mean tone.

"Justin."

"JUSTIN!?! Why didn't you let me talk to him!?!"

"He doesn't deserve you, therefore, you will not talk to him."

"Jason you don't know anything about him! You have no right to say that!"

"How many times have I asked you to call me Dad? Yet you still call me Jason. You are such a retard Stephanie, and you'll regret it, I promise you."

"YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER! YOU NEVER WILL BE YOU JUST WISH YOU WERE!!" Jason was a man who had told Steph her whole life that he was her father, but she knew he wasn't. He knew her parents and he never told them he was telling Steph that he was her father, and he made sure she didn't say anything because if she did she would have killed her.

"Anyway, Stephanie, how was your trip to Florida? How is Dan doing?" He asked with a smile on his face. "Or should I say how WAS he doing?"

"You did it didn't you?" she asked barely audible.

"Me? Kill your brother? And your parents in the span of one week? Of course not!" He replied, still smiling.

"I can't believe it. You wrote the suicide note too didn't you," she said, more of a statement then a question.

"You have grown up to be a very smart girl haven't you? Don't you see? Everyone close to you will be gone, I promise you that. I'll admit I was stumped on anyone else who is special to you, but then your boyfriend Justin called, and that gave me the answer."

"No. No, don't even go near Justin. Don't."

"Awww, sticking up for your little boyfriend huh?"

"I swear if you go near him I will-"

"You will what?"

"Jason, stay away from him. Don't go near him. Anyone but him, he doesn't deserve it."

"I'm sorry you think that, Dear. I'm off to Florida, I have a meeting with Justin very soon. And thanks to Dan I have his address and know exactly where he is. Bye!" He yelled in a laughing tone on his way out the door.

"DON'T!" Steph yelled to no one since he was out the door already. Her hands were tied to the back of the chair she was in and her feet were tied together. She struggled to get out, and luckily it was pretty easy because Jason didn't tie very good knots. She went to her bag and dug for her cell phone, but it was gone.

Damn, Jason must have taken it.

She grabbed her bags and ran out of the building and about 9 blocks down to Brianna's house. She banged on her door and Brianna soon came running to the door.

"Steph! What's wrong?!?" She said, taking her into the house and noticing her tear streaked face.

"It's Jason. I need your phone."

"Oh my gosh, what did he do now?"

"I need your phone NOW."

"Ok, come on." They walked into Bri's kitchen and Steph practically ran to the phone, dialing as fast as she could. First she called Justin's cell phone, but he must have turned it off since no body answered. Next she tried his house number, and prayed he would be there. After four rings, he finally picked up.

"Hello?"

"Justin!" She yelled through tears and desperation.

"Steph! Oh my gosh are you ok?"

"No Justin, you have to leave now! He's coming to your house."

"Who?"

"Jason, the one who picked up the phone before. I don't have time to explain, but he's on a plane on his way to your house right now. He killed my parents and I just found out he also killed Dan, he didn't commit suicide. Justin he wants to kill everyone I'm close to, and you are next on the list." There was silence on the other line and she got worried. "Justin?"

"Where are you?"

"Mt. Gilead, North Carolina. Why?"

"Can you meet me at the Raleigh airport tonight?"

"Yes. Just please get out of there, I can't lose you."

"Meet me there around 7, at the American Airlines terminal, I can probably get a flight up ok?"

"Ok."

"Steph?"

"What?" She asked still shaken up and her voice quivering.

"I love you, and don't worry about me. I'll make it, ok? Promise me you won't worry."

"I promise."

"Ok, I'll see you in 4 hours, bye."

"Bye," she replied hanging up the phone, and turning back to a very confused Brianna.

"What's going on?" She finally asked, hoping she would get some answers out of Steph.

"It turns out Jason was the one who killed my parents last week, and he killed Dan the day I got to Florida," she said, starting to cry again.

"Oh my gosh Steph, I'm so sorry. Who was that you were just talking to?" That cheared her up a little, because Brianna still didn't know she was dating Justin from ‘N Sync.

"My boyfriend, Justin. Is it ok if he comes up here and stays with us for a while? Jason is on his way to find him and kill him. I can't let that happen to him."

"When is he coming, of course he can stay."

"At 7 tonight, we have to meet him at the airport."

"Ok, that's fine. Since when do you have a boyfriend that I don't know about?"

"It's a long story, but I am positive you'll love him."

"Why do you say that?" Bri asked with a little laugh.

"When you meet him you'll know why."

At 6:30 Brianna and Steph walked into the airport to get Justin who would be arriving in about 30 minutes. They went to the American Airlines terminal and and went into one of the shops, much like Steph had done earlier that day. Once again, they saw the magazines with Justin on the cover, and Bri immediately went over to them.

"Look at this face Steph! The boy is gorgeous."

"Yeah, he is," she said, smiling to herself. "Hey, come on, they just said the plane landed!" Steph practically dragged Bri out of the store and they went over to the waiting area for people waiting for their friends and family to get off the plane. Justin was one of the first to come off, frantically looking around for Steph. He had on the same thing as this morning, but with a jacket and a hat to cover his hair so he wouldn't be recognized. When he spotted her he practically ran to her and pulled her in his arms, holding her tightly. Brianna stayed back watching her friend be reunited with her boyfriend, and thought he looked strangely familiar, but she couldn't quite see his face.

"I love you so much," he whispered into her ear without letting her go.

"I love you too. I'm so glad you are safe, I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Don't worry, I'm never gonna leave you Steph, never."

"Come on, I'll introduce you to Brianna, she's my best friend from here, but she's kind of an ‘N Sync fanatic and doesn't know you are the Justin I'm dating, but I'll cover her mouth to prevent her from screaming." He laughed and grabbed her hand and they walked over to where Bri was standing.

"Bri, this is Justin. Justin, this is Bri." She didn't say anything at first, then all of a sudden her eyes practically popped out of her head when she suddenly realized who he was. She turned to Steph and playfully hit her on the arm.

"You never said you were dating Justin Timberlake!" she whispered into her ear. Steph just smiled and started walking out of the airport with Justin next to her and Bri next to Justin, a little in shock that she was actually standing next to him.