late 1994

”Hello?”

”Hey…”

Chris’ eyes went wide and a huge smile graced his lips at the voice over the phone. “Ron?”

”Yeah. How are you doing, Chris?”

”I’m okay.” He sat on his bed. “How are you? It’s been forever since we’ve talked.”

”I know.”

”What’s wrong?” he asked at her preoccupied tone.

”Nothing really…”

”Come on, Ron. You won’t feel better unless you talk about it.”

Roni sat on the living room couch and switched the telephone to her other ear. “I know. Just let me digest it first. Can we talk about you? How’s the search for singers, you future star you?”

”It’s going okay.” Chris laughed. “I’m getting in touch with this one guy. Everyone’s been giving me his name and I’m meeting him this Tuesday.”

”Cool.”

There was a silence and both looked out the windows next to them. Roni circled her fingers on the couch fabric. Chris took a deep breath. He could tell something was bothering her but he didn’t know how to get her to tell him. Chris smiled.

”That little annoying boy is still pestering me. Doesn’t he get the hint yet?”

Roni laughed. “Didn’t you tell me Joey’s now taller than you? The little and the boy part is insulting.”

”I know. But he is annoying. Ever since you left two years ago he’s always talking to me and saying hello.”

”Oh, come on, Chris, he’s not that bad.” Roni laid on the couch. “You’ve told me yourself that he’s a nice guy.”

”Yeah, I know. So do you want to tell me what’s wrong or do I have to call my mother or Molly? I’d rather you tell me though,” Chris added in hopes of her opening up.

”It’s just that…” She sighed. “Well, my mom heard from my ‘dad’ and he wants to meet me. If you can even call him my dad.”

”Woah.” Chris stopped his move to get up. “Your dad?”

”Yeah.” Roni bit her lip. “The man who donated his sperm to my mother only to leave her to raise me alone.”

Chris sat back down. “Damn. When?”

”He said he’s making a special trip next weekend to see me. He hasn’t been around in sixteen years. What’s so different about now that he wants to meet me? What, Chris?”

Chris heard the tears in her voice and his heart ached. He knew that over the years Roni had wondered about her father and wondered what it was like to have one. He couldn’t help her because he wasn’t raised by his own father. He always had an older male figure around but she only had him. He also knew she held resentment towards her father. The only acknowledgement he gave her were the occasional checks he sent Lydia. By his conversations with his mother he knew they weren’t much. He sighed.

”I don’t know, Ron. I have no clue. Maybe he’s seen the error of his ways.”

Roni snorted her disagreement and then whispered, “Yeah right.”

”Or maybe he’s really sick. You never know.” Chris swallowed. “So are you going to see him?”

”I guess. Oh damn. Hold on a sec.” Roni put the phone down and ran into the bathroom and grabbed some toilet paper to blow her nose. She threw the used piece of paper away and grabbed more to use in the living room. “Okay, I’m back. Am I going to see him? I guess so. See what the bastard has to say for himself.”

”Roni, that’s not the nicest thing to call your father.”

”Father? He hasn’t been a father to me. I don’t even want to call him Roger, which is his name. ‘The bastard’ is the best one since he made me one sixteen years ago.”

The sound of Chris’ surprise cam across the phone. “Damn.”

”That’s about it.”

”Oh, Ron, I wish I was there.”

”It’s okay.” She shifted on the couch. “You’re there making your dreams come true. Chris, do what you have to do. Meet that guy and form a group and become world famous.”

”So…uh…you think we might become world famous?” he asked nervously.

”Chris, I believe in you. You know your family believes in you. Take that knowledge and move forward. Don’t hesitate because then you might never do it. Chris, this is your chance of a lifetime. Don’t mess it up.”

”Yes, ma’am.” Chris laughed. “Well, it means a lot to me that you support me in this, Roni. I don’t know what I would do without you and my family behind me. Your blind faith keeps me going.”

”Oh, Chris,” she whispered, “you have the talent. Trust me. How much have you sung to me over the years?”

”Too many times to count.”

”That’s right. Listen, I’ve got to get going. Thank you for making me talk and for listening.”

”Anytime, Roni. You know that. You know I’m here for whatever you need, even when I’m famous. Love you.”

”Love you too. Hope everything works out.”

”Me too. Say hi to your mom.”

”I will. Bye, Chris.”

”Bye, Ron.”

Roni hung up the phone and sighed. She had needed to talk to someone but everytime she had tried something in her stopped and she couldn’t. She knew she would open up to Chris. That’s just the way he was. She could tell him anything. He always listened to her and let her talk. He also wouldn’t try to overtake the conversation, like her mother. He’d let her know he was listening with soft interjections or a few suggestions. All in all she felt better now that she talked to him. She nuzzled her face against the fabric of the couch and let a few tears fall.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Chris looked at the piece of paper in his hands and bent in nervously around his fingers. The cab slowed in front of a house and he took a deep breath.

”Here you go.”

Chris paid the cab driver and stood at the base of the driveway a few minutes before making his way to the front door. After a few tries he finally got the courage to ring the doorbell. He rang it again and a woman answered the door.

”Mrs. Timberlake?”

”Actually it’s Harless.”

”Sorry about that. Guess I was given the wrong address. Sorry to bother you.” He hung his head and turned to walk away. He didn’t know which, if any, of these houses housed the Timberlakes and he didn’t know if he wanted to take the energy to find out.

”Excuse me?”

Chris turned around.

“Are you Chris Kirkpatrick?”

”Yes.”

Lynn Harless smiled. “You’re at the right place. My son is Justin Timberlake.”

Chris visibly relaxed and turned back to the house. He walked through the open door and sighed.

”Justin’s out back. He’s trying to learn the guitar.”

Chris nodded and followed her to the kitchen. He walked to the back door and listened to the voice singing with the guitar.

”Mary had a little lamb.” The voice stopped as the curly head replayed the line in the music and then continued with the song. “Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow.”

Chris’ eyes widened as he heard the voice strain to stay with the song and not add its own notes. Now he knew why all his contacts gave him the number to this boy. He had potential. He could also be the young heartthrob, Chris thought to himself with a smile.

”Mr. Kirkpatrick?”

Chris turned and saw Justin’s mother next to him. “Yes?”

”He’s got talent, hasn’t he?”

”Yeah, he does,” Chris told her honestly. “He’s got a lot.” He turned to walk outside but was stopped by her hand on his arm.

”Mr. Kirkpatrick?”

”It’s Chris.”

”Chris. How serious are you about this? I don’t want him to get all into this when you could back out if something starts going wrong.”

Chris nodded. “I understand your concern. I promise you I am really serious about this. I’ve loved singing my whole life and I really want this. I can give you numbers of people who will tell you I go after what I want. And I want this, Mrs. Harless.”

She smiled. “It’s Lynn. Go ahead outside. Justin stopped playing and I’m sure he’s wondering where you are. Don’t break my boy’s heart.”

”I’ll try not to. I don’t want to.”

Before anymore could be said a voice called from the backyard.

”Mom? What time is it?”

Lynn looked at the clock in the kitchen. “It’s almost two-thirty, hun. Do you need some water?”

”Yeah. Do you think maybe he changed his mind?”

Chris heard the nervousness in the young voice and smiled. He wasn’t the only one that was nervous. He took the two glasses from Lynn and nodded a thanks as she shut the door.

”Sorry for being late. My car broke down and I had to call a cab.”

Justin looked up and blushed. He took the glass from the older male and took a long sip. The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes as they nursed their waters. They opened their mouths at the same time and Justin waved for Chris to start first.

”So you taking guitar lessons?”

”Nope. My friend from the MMC started teaching me and I’ve been trying to pick it back up.”

”You’re teaching yourself?” Chris asked in shock.

Justin shrugged. “Basically.”

”I’m impressed. It took me forever to learn guitar.”

”Well…” Justin shrugged bashfully.

”Let me properly introduce myself. I’m Chris Kirkpatrick.” He stretched out his hand for Justin to shake.

”It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Kirkpatrick.”

”Please, call me Chris. If we’re going to be in a group together that’s what you’re going to call me.” Chris smiled before turning serious. “I know we were supposed to meet together at TransCon tomorrow but I wanted to meet you in a more relaxed atmosphere because if we can’t get along outside of the music it just won’t work. But I think it should be okay. May I?” He pointed to the guitar and Justin handed it over. Chris played a few chords. “Now what song do you want to sing?”

Justin smiled and Chris had a feeling he found someone who would take the trip into the music business with him.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Roni closed her biology book and sighed. She was meeting her father for the first time tomorrow and she couldn’t stop thinking about what could happen. She still had some homework left to do but she’d do it during lunch tomorrow. How she was going to get through the school day, she didn’t know. After the last bell her mom was going to pick her up and take her to where her father was. She wasn’t sure what to think. But one thought lingered through her head…could she take the rejection again?

Roni stood up and made her way to the kitchen. She got herself a glass of water and found herself sitting on a rock in her backyard.

”Hey, Roni.”

The young girl looked up and saw Molly coming towards her. The older female wore a giant smile and Roni found it catching.

”Hi, Mol. What are you so happy about?”

”Guess.”

Roni looked at the widened smile. “I don’t think I need to, do I?”

Molly shook her head and sat next to Roni. She squealed quietly and shook her hands in excitement. Roni laughed at her antics.

”You and Chris are so funny when you get excited. You just get a lot of energy and just go. So what did he do this time?”

”He told me he’s always liked me and said he could see us lasting a lifetime.” Molly rubbed her hands together from the abundance of energy coursing through her body. Her legs were swinging and the heels of her sneakers were bouncing off the big rock.

”Have either of you told Chris yet?”

”No. I want to but how do we tell him this? You know how Chris gets when he gets into big brother mode. There have been so many times I’ve wanted to tell him in the past year. Maybe I’m just so used to keeping this relationship a secret that if I do acknowledge it to someone else, especially Chris, that something about it would be ruined.”

”I don’t know what to tell you, Molly. It’s something you have to decide, but he’ll find out somehow.”

”I know.” Molly finally looked into the eyes of the younger girl and her smile dimmed. She knew what the next day brought and was happy she didn’t have to go through it. “So how are you?”

”Well,” Roni sighed, “I’m okay I guess. I really don’t know how to feel.” She leaned into Molly when the older girl put an arm around her. “How is one supposed to feel when meeting the father who abandoned her before she was born and never gave her a chance?”

”Oh, Ron, I wish I knew what to tell you. Just don’t put yourself down over this. You have grown into a wonderful person and you are very loved. You have your mother, Chris and many others who care for you.”

”That’s right,” she sniffled, “I have my mom, bless her soul, Chris and Jamie to remind me about being cared about.”

”Roni, you know you’re a member of our family. Family isn’t just by blood, sometimes it’s by heart, and I know my brother loves you enough for all of us, but we all love you as part of our family.”

”Thanks, Mol. You all are a part of my family too.”

The two embraced and stared at the lawn for a few minutes before Molly broke the silence.

”We talked about my love life, how about yours. How are you and Jamie getting along?”

Roni smiled in gratitude and the two began a lighter conversation again.

~~~~~~

”Are you sure you don’t mind, Roni?”

Roni looked up into a pair of soft brown eyes and smiled. “No, I don’t, Jamie. I told you I didn’t expect you to come.”

”Are you sure?” Jamie leaned down and cupped her chin in his palm. “I feel really bad about not being able to go with you.”

”Actually, I’d rather you not go. This is something I have to do myself.” She closed her locker and leaned against it. “Go to your track practice. I’ll call you later.”

”I still feel bad…”

”Go.” She pointed down the hall.

”Yes, ma’am.” Jamie leaned down and gave her a soft kiss before jogging down the hall to the gymnasium.

Roni watched him go and sighed. She knelt and opened her book bag.

”Was that the infamous Jamie?”

Roni’s head popped up. “Chris?” She turned her head to the voice and her jaw dropped. “Chris?”

”In the flesh.”

He held his arms out and she ran into them. He swung her around and held her tight to him as he stopped turning. They held each other for a moment before letting go. Chris grabbed her bag and slung it over his shoulder.

”Chris, what are you doing here?”

”Well,” he held the door open for her, “your mom just couldn’t make it. There was no way she could drive.”

”Yeah,” Roni started somberly, “this is really hitting her. He’s back after all these years and…”

”I understand. Well, she was really bad and I offered to take you to meet him. Do you mind?”

She shook her head. “No not at all but what are you doing here? Why aren’t you in Florida with that other guy getting your group in order?”

Chris stayed silent. He didn’t know if he should tell her. The day before he had talked to Molly and his sister told him how down Roni was and what she thought the younger female was going through. After that he couldn’t get the situation off his mind. Justin had noticed the change in Chris’ behavior and had asked about it. After telling him the story Lou had walked in and offered to fly Chris up for a few days. Lou saw it as family business and didn’t let Chris turn him down. Chris had fought it, he didn’t like to take charity, but he was talked into the arrangements.

”Well I wanted to be here for you, Ron. Justin’s friend won’t be in for a couple of days so here I am.”

”But-“

Chris stopped her by placing a finger over her mouth. “Ron, I’m here because I want to be. Don’t try to analyze this.” He removed his finger and they continued to walk. After a few minutes of silence he spoke again. “Is it okay that I’m here?”

”Of course it’s okay.” She grabbed his hand. “I’m just surprised and all. I always like to see you. You’re like a brother to me.”

”And you’re like another sister to me.” Chris hugged her to him. As she pulled away Chris brought his hand to her head and messed her hair.

”Stop that. See, you’re even as annoying as a brother would be.”

”And how would you know that?”

”Molly and Katie.”

Chris stopped walking. Roni turned around and laughed at his expression. She walked back to him and grabbed his hand before dragging him in front of a building. Once outside she stopped and looked at the façade. Chris squeezed her hand and held it in both of his. He waited until she moved before letting her go.

”Are you okay so far?”

She nodded. She took a deep breath and walked into the foyer of the three-story building. She followed Chris to the elevator and once inside leaned against him. Chris wrapped an arm around her waist and let her bury her face in his shirt. The elevator opened with a shrill ring and the two stepped out. Roni took a piece of paper out of her pocket and looked at the suite number written on it.

”Three twenty-two.”

”This way,” Chris told her after looking at the suite listings.

The two walked to the mahogany door and paused outside. Chris let Roni open the door when she was ready and stayed directly behind her as she walked to the secretary’s desk.

”May I help you?” a middle-aged woman asked.

”Yes, I’m Veronica Da’Cord. I’m here to meet a man named Roger.”

The secretary stood up. “Yes, come this way.” She began walking to a wooden door. “Your friend can stay out here.”

”No,” Roni told her, “he’s coming with me.”

”All right, Miss Da’Cord. Sit in here and your father will be right in.”

The secretary left and Roni rolled her eyes. She was too nervous to sit so she walked around the conference room they were ushered into. She fingered the awards lined neatly on a shelf and brushed the dust off her fingers. She then walked to the window across from the door and took a deep breath.

Chris watched her from his chair. He wanted to say something, anything, but nothing sounded right so he sat quietly. He knew she didn’t really want to meet her father but it was something she had to do. This meeting could either start a relationship between the two or it might provide closure to the wounds she had been nursing for fifteen years. Just as long as this made a positive change in Roni he was happy. He knew something was going to happen, he just didn’t know what.

Chris and Roni looked at the door when it opened. Two men walked in, one in a suit and tie and another in jeans and a pressed white shirt. The man in the jeans walked forward and extended his arms for a hug.

”Veronica?”

Roni nodded and moved to sit next to Chris

”Yes…and you are?”

The man dropped his arms and stood at the other side of the table. The man was slightly frowning but Chris was having a hard time sympathizing with the man. Chris took hold of Roni’s hand beneath the table and gave it a squeeze. The man in the suit and tie sat in a chair and motioned for the other to sit as well.

”Veronica, I’m your father.”

”Yeah right,” Roni snorted and looked away from the two men. “I have no father.”

”I’m sure your mother has told you something about me or you wouldn’t be here.”

”Oh, yeah she’s told me about you. You’re the man named Roger who sixteen years ago got my mother pregnant only to leave her in her final trimester. You’re the man who sends those little checks every so often, checks that don’t amount to as much as child support should pay. Then again you and my mother were never married.” She stopped talking and looked Roger straight in the eye. “I guess you got lucky there, Roger.”

The man looked stricken.

”I guess I deserve that.”

”You guess?” She turned to Chris. “Did you hear that? He guesses he deserved that.”

Chris felt the older man look him over, trying to decide his threat. Chris’ eyes narrowed as the man raised an eyebrow at the couple.

”And who is this?”

Chris opened his mouth but Roni beat him to speaking.

”Who he is is none of your business.”

Roni stared across the table at Roger. Chris looked between them and saw the similarities. They both had the same color eyes and their lips were the same as they straightened them. Before anything else could be said the door opened and the secretary walked in.

”I’m sorry, Matt, but Linda is on the phone and she said Maddy was hurt.”

The lawyer stood up and began walking out of the room. “I’ll take it in my office.” He turned to the other three. “I’m sorry. This is family business. I’ll be right back.”

Roger turned to the other two again. “You’re my daughter and if you are ruining your life by getting serious about this older man I want to have my say.”

”I am not your daughter.” Roni stood, letting go of Chris’ hand. “You may have donated the sperm but that makes you a biological father, not a real father. And, again, who he is,” she pointed to Chris, “is nothing that concerns you. I was raised right by my mother and if you don’t trust her then screw you. She did the best she could under the circumstances she was given. She gave me all I wanted and needed. She also-“

A shrill ring cut her off. Chris reached for his pocket and smiled apologetically. He pulled out a cell phone and checked the number. He sighed.

”I’m sorry, Ron, but I need to take this. Is it all right if I step outside for a moment?”

Roni looked between Chris, the cell phone and Roger. She bit her bottom lip and nodded. Chris placed a hand on her arm.

”Be right back.”

Chris left the room and answered the phone before the fourth ring. He stepped outside the office and brought the phone to his ear.

”Yes?”

”No need to sound so snippy.”

”What do you want, Justin?” Chris asked impatiently.

”I just wanted to see how things were doing.”

Chris paced along the hall. “And that’s why you paged me with a ‘911?’ To see how things were doing? This is not a good time, Justin.”

”All right,” the younger male conceded. “Well, JC’s here. He’s all excited and we’ve been singing. Lou likes our blend of voices and I just know that when you come it’ll fit perfectly.”

”I hope so.” Chris sighed. “I really do. I so want this to work.”

”Us too, Chris.” Justin sighed. “This will work out.”

”Keep having faith. We still need more singers.”

”It’ll work, Chris.”

”I know. Listen, I need to get going. Right now I left Roni alone with her father. I don’t want to leave her there long.”

”All right. I’ll talk to you later.”

”Bye.” Chris hung up the phone with a sigh. He walked back into the office and saw Roni coming out of the conference room.

”Nice of you to join us, Chris.” She turned to the lawyer. “You seem like a good father. Want to know how I know that?”

The man nodded.

“Because you’re doing everything that man in there never did for me. Please give me a call when it’s ready. Come on, Chris.”

Chris looked confusedly between Roni, the lawyer and Roger, who was still sitting at the conference table. The lawyer shook his head and walked back into the room, closing the door behind him. Chris felt his arm being torn out of its socket as Roni pulled him from the office. Her grip on him didn’t let up until they were outside the building. She let go of him and began walking. He jogged to catch her.

”Ron? What happened in there?”

Roni ignored him and continued walking.

”Ron?” He grabbed her arm. “Why are you not talking to me?”

She turned around, tears running down her face. He began to pull her into his arms, but she violently shook and began to run. Chris stood there bewildered and ran after her. She had a good lead on him and it took him a few blocks to catch up to her. He grabbed her from behind.

”Chris, let me go.”

”No,” he held her tighter, “not until you tell me what’s wrong.”

”Like you care.” She twisted in his arms and bit him.

Chris let her go and watched as she ran into the street and almost get hit. He ran to her as she fell to the curb in tears. He sat next to her and she ducked out of his reach. He tried to move closer but she stood and began to walk blindly into the street again. Chris grabbed her before she got hit by a passing car and felt her go limp against him. He lowered her into his lap and let her cry. When she calmed down he wiped tears from her face and held her close to him.

”Do you want to talk about what happened when I left back there?”

”No,” she said sharply. “Like you care.”

”That’s the second time she’s said that to me,” Chris told himself as he walked quickly across the intersection behind Roni. “Why won’t she talk to me?”

Chris walked a few yards behind Roni the rest of the way to their houses. He walked up her front steps and watched her enter her house. He stood there, waiting for her to turn and say something to him. Instead he got the door slammed in his face. Chris waited a few seconds before knocking on the door.

”Ron?”

He was answered with the deadbolt being locked. He began pounding on the door.

”Roni?”

”Go away.”

”Come on, Roni, talk to me.”

”Get the hell away from my house and leave me alone. Forever.”

Chris heard her stomp away from the door. He waited at the door for a few minutes, stunned. When it became clear she wasn’t going to come back he slowly walked to his house. He entered his house and leaned against the door. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes. He felt the tears come to his eyes and hit his hand against the door. He repeated his actions until his hand was numb with pain. He bit back the tears that threatened to fall as he reached for the phone. He dialed a familiar number.

”Hello?” a tear filled voice answered.

”Ron? Why aren’t you talking to me? What did I do?”

”You broke your promise.”

After her statement Chris was met with the dial tone. He hung up the phone and redialed her number but instead of her he got ring after ring.

”Hey, Chris?”

Chris ran to the window and opened it to see Roni at a window at her house. ”What?”

”I disconnected the phone.”

Roni closed and locked the window. Chris’ jaw dropped as she closed the curtains in all the windows in the house. He slouched on the couch and was glad no one else was home. He didn’t want them to see the tears running down his cheeks.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

”Chris? Chris?”

Chris shook his head. “I’m sorry, Mol. So she hasn’t talked to you yet?”

”No. She’s not talking to anyone. I’ve asked her boyfriend but he doesn’t know anything.”

”But it’s been almost two weeks since she saw her father.” Chris switched the phone to his other ear. “She either won’t take my calls or hangs up on me. It might be easier if I knew I did anything wrong but I have no clue why she’s mad at me.”

”And since she’s mad at you she’s not talking to me. Guilty by association. It’s worrying me that you’re so worried.”

”Roni won’t talk to me. She always talks to me and now she won’t even let me talk to her. I’m sure something big happened while I wasn’t in the room and she’s not telling anyone about it. I’m not supposed to be worried that she’s burying this inside?” The doorbell rang and Chris opened the door to find Justin and a dark haired boy behind him. He waved them in and walked to the kitchen. “I’m sorry, Molly. I just wish I knew what I did that she feels the need to completely shut me out and then maybe I could fix it.”

”I know, Chris,” Molly sighed, “and if she doesn’t want to tell you or her mother about something she tells me and she’s not.”

”Listen, Mol, Justin and JC just showed up and I have to go. Will you try to talk to her again and let me know if there’s any progress?”

”Will do. Talk to you later, Chris.”

”Bye.”

Chris hung up the phone with a sigh. He walked back into the living room and sat on the arm of the couch. Justin had sat on the couch and JC was sitting in a chair. Justin looked up at Chris.

”So what’s going on?”

”Nothing much. What do you two want to do tonight?”

”Well,” JC started, “I’m kinda in the mood for dancing. Justin and I were talking and we know he can get into Pleasure Island. Is that game?”

”Yeah.” Chris nodded. “Let me just change.” Chris walked into his room and changed into clean clothes. “So who’s driving?”

”I will,” JC called into the bedroom.

”Cool. Let’s go.” Chris walked out of his bedroom and grabbed his apartment keys. “I haven’t been to P.I. in a long time.”

”Me neither.” JC followed Justin out the door.

”We’re goin’ dancin’” Justin danced as he waited for the older men to approach the car.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

”Okay, that’s enough of that. I never line dance. I hope that satisfied your country craving, Justin.” Chris looked at his watch. “I do have to work tomorrow but I don’t feel like leaving now, but where to go?”

JC looked down the main road. “8-Trax?”

Chris and Justin nodded. The trio walked to the club and stood in the short line to enter the building. Two minutes later they were in the club. They moved through the crowd and went down the steps to the main dance floor. The second song was underway when JC thought he heard his named called. He looked around the club.

”JC!”

JC looked behind Chris and smiled. “Joey. How you doin’, man?”

”Good.” Joey stood next to Chris and shook JC’s hand. “What are you doing in Orlando?”

”Well,” JC waved him closer to speak in his ear, “I think we might be starting a group.”

”Who?”

"Well, me, Justin from the show and this guy Chris.” JC pointed to Justin and then Chris and Joey’s eyes widened.

”Chris?”

Chris looked up and got a look at who JC was talking to. “Hey, Joey.”

”Wait a minute…” Joey looked between the two. “How do you two know each other?”

”Justin.”

Joey nodded to the younger boy.

Chris checked his watch. “I have to get going.”

JC nodded and turned back to Joey. “It was nice seeing you, Joe.”

”You too, Jace.” He looked around the club. “Actually I need to get going too. Where you parked?”

”H.”

”Me too.”

The four walked out of Pleasure Island and towards their cars. JC, Joey and Chris laughed as Justin continued to dance to the music coming from the group of clubs. Joey looked at Chris and JC talking and remembered something. He walked up between the two.

”You know what I just remembered, JC? The last time we hung out was at that party last year.”

”Oh god,” JC moaned. “That was an experience. I felt so bad for that girl…and for you. How did her friend not kill you?”

”Because he’s an understanding person.” Joey shot Chris a cocky smile.

”Wait a minute,” Chris said as the wheels in his head began to turn. “JC?”

”Yes?”

”No.” Chris shook his head. “What I mean is you’re the other guy who helped Roni home that night. Am I getting this right, Joe?”

Joey nodded and JC’s eyes widened.

”You mean your Roni,” he pointed to Chris, “is the same Roni who got drunk at that party and that he,” he looked at Joey and pointed to Chris again, “is her older friend that she was staying with?”

Joey nodded and laughed. “See you two have another connection now.” He walked between two cars and stopped. “This is my car.”

The four said their good-byes. Chris, Justin and JC continued down the aisle to JC’s car.

”Hey, JC!” Joey called to the retreating bodies and one turned around. “If you need another singer give me a call. My number’s still the same and it’s listed.”