JC looked up and a blush began to cover his face. "Hey, Heather, I have someone I’d like you to meet." He patted Gina’s leg so she’d get up and stood up and placed his hand at the small of her back. "Heather, this is Gina. Gina, my sister Heather."

Gina shyly held out her hand. "Nice to meet you."

"You too." Heather shook Gina’s hand and turned to JC. "Now this is the girl who fought you toe-to-toe this whole summer? Somehow I can’t believe that."

JC laughed and began softly rubbing his fingers along Gina's back. "Well, for some reason she’s being quiet now. Not completely like her."

"Well, most time when I meet people, especially people I want to impress, I’m not sitting on my boyfriend’s lap kissing him. Sorry if meeting your sister while I was on your lap threw me off a bit." She wanted to step away from him for his comment but she couldn’t make herself leave the comfort of his touch.

JC raised his eyebrow. "Now can you see it?" he asked his sister.

"A bit." She smiled. "Now you said her roommate is Tyler’s girlfriend. Now where are they?"

"Right behind you." Heather turned at the unfamiliar voice and shook the outstretched hand. "Hi. My name’s Lisa."

"Hi, Lisa. Heather. So you two actually are going out with these brothers of mine? I’m impressed with your ability to put up with them. I grew up with them and I can hardly stand them."

"Well part of it is that I hardly see him. I think that makes it easier. What about you, Gina?"

Gina shrugged. "I’d love to say that but it’s not possible when your boyfriend’s somehow one of the best looking guys according to teens. Where they get it from I don’t know." She shrugged again.

Heather smiled. "I think we’re going to get along just fine. I must say not many of Josh’s girlfriends have had a sense of humor about him, or a mind of their own."

"Hey, I’ve gone out with some nice girls."

Heather walked to JC’s side. "I know you have, Josh, it’s just that at some point most have decided to live their lives for you. You know I love you but a girl’s got to know who she is. Some of your past flames have lost that. I see that Gina here is smart enough not to get caught up in the hype of your career and just who you are. And I also see and from what I’ve heard Lisa here isn’t just into Ty because of who he is either. A sense of humor and brains. That’s all I ask your girlfriends to have." She looked at her brothers. "And I see that these girls have both. Now let me show you to your room. I don’t trust either of my brothers." She gave them a stern look before leaving the room.

"Come on, Heather, both of us will be up there. Nothing’s going to happen," JC called.

"I don’t care," she called back, "I still don’t trust you. One could leave and the other would be stuck there with his girlfriend. Do I even have to tell you what could happen?"

"No. It wouldn’t, but no. " JC leaned down and placed a quick kiss on Gina’s lips. "Go get settled in. We’ll have plenty of time later."

Tyler kissed Lisa’s cheek and squeezed her hand. "I’ll see you in a bit." he watched her pick up her bags and follow Gina and Heather upstairs before turning to his brother. "What do you think Heather’s going to tell them?"

JC shrugged. "I don’t know and don’t even want to. I don’t want to have to explain anything."

"Good idea. Now what are we supposed to do?"

"Talk about when you’re actually going to really kiss Lisa. Any plans?"

Tyler looked at the ground and blushed. "Well… Kinda…"

JC sat at the table and pointed to another chair. "Spill."

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

"Here we are." Heather opened the guest room door. "Sorry about only one bed but we don’t live as well as some people think. This is my parent’s, not JC’s, doing."

Lisa waved it off. "Don’t worry. We know that. This is your home. We never expected anything more than what we’re seeing. You are normal people with normal lives and a normal house. Just because one has struck it rich doesn’t mean that everything has to change. You’re still the same people."

Heather smiled at the other two women. "So tell me how you two met my brothers. On line?"

Gina shook her head and Lisa smiled.

"Now that’s not something you see everyday. Not only did you talk on-line but you met off-line and fell for each other there as well. And two brothers with two roommates. That’s almost mind boggling."

"Well, JC and I didn’t fall for each other at first sight."

"Go ahead and tell another lie, Gina." Lisa took out a shirt and folded it. "Damn, I think I left my shampoo at school. I can picture right where it is now. Right next to my bed. Damn."

"Don’t worry, Lisa, we have some extra I’m sure you could use."

"Plus, I brought some with me. Now what do you mean ‘tell another lie’?"

Lisa moved her bag to the floor and sat on the bed. "You and JC hit it right off. I know I wasn’t there but that’s what the other guys told me."

"They told me that too," Heather added. "But Josh is as stubborn as you and won’t admit it either. That only strengthens my belief that you’re good for him. You’re set in your ways and he’ll have to fight you to get what he wants." Heather sat on the foot of the bed. "Now how about you and my little bro?" She turned to Lisa. "What’s happening there?"

Lisa wiggled to get more comfortable. "Well, we’re together but we have a lot to work out."

"Meaning they haven’t kissed yet. Just on the cheek."

Lisa glared at Gina. "Thank you very much, Miss Gacona. Now, as I was saying, we need to just sit and discuss some stuff, in person. We know how everything works from a distance but not up close. I’m sure we’ll work it out. I know it will."

"Now that we know we’ll get along is there anything you want to know about those brothers of mine? I specialize in embarrassing moments."

Lisa looked at Gina. "I’m thinking we’re going to like her. Now start at the juicy stuff and don’t leave anything out, especially about Tyler."

"Don’t worry, I won’t," Heather assured her before beginning. "Some of these stories are equally good for both." She smiled and launched into a story.

Downstairs JC heard a wave of laughter. "I hope Heather doesn’t make them not like us anymore."

"What, the gorgeous and perfect JC worrying about a girl not liking him? What has this world come to?"

"Shut up. You know I’m not like that. I just hope what she’s saying isn’t that embarrassing. I mean what if she tells about the time a few years ago when she came on tour with us for a week? Remember?"

"Oh, man, do I remember. Do you want to go up and listen and if she’s starts to get into that we’ll interrupt?"

JC scrunched up his face. "Not a bad idea but I was thinking more of going in. It’s been forever since I’ve seen Gina and I don’t her to spend this whole weekend with Heather."

"Plus, you want to save some of your dignity."

"That too." JC shrugged. "So are you coming with me? She has just about as much stuff on you as on me."

Tyler sat for a moment before following his brother. "Count me in." They were halfway up the stairs when the front door opened.

"Hello? Boys? Heather? Hey, boys, where you rushing off to?"

Tyler looked between the guest room door and his parents. "We were just going to see the girls."

His father, Roy, took off his coat and hung it in the closet. "So I’m taking it that the laughter I hear is them and Heather and you want to get there before she completely embarrasses you two."

JC nodded. "That’s about the gist of it."

"Well, I’ll save you. This time." Roy stood at the bottom of the steps. "Heather? We’re home. Come on down and bring your brothers’ girlfriends with you."

"Yes, dad," was heard coming from behind the closed door followed by more laughter.

"Hey, mom," JC started as he followed his brother down the stairs.

"Hey, honey," his mother, Karen, said as she kissed his cheek. "Glad to see Gina again?"

JC smiled. "More tha-"

"Hey, mom, dad." Everyone looked up to see Heather run down the stairs followed by Lisa and, lastly, Gina.

Lisa walked down the stairs and pointed at Tyler then JC. "Do I get to choose? Which one should I pick?" she asked in mock confusion.

Tyler grabbed her finger. "You have no choice in the matter. You get me." He pulled her over to his parents. "Mom and dad I’d like you to meet Lisa."

"Nice to meet you both," Lisa said politely as she shook their hands.

"Nice to meet you too, Lisa. I’m happy to meet the girl who made my baby so happy."

Gina saw Lisa blush and decided to help her out. "And I’m Gina. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Chasez."

Roy extended his hand. "Please call us Karen and Roy. You’ll be staying the whole weekend so let’s make it as informal as we can. Make yourselves at home here."

Lisa nodded. "Thank you for everything. Especially for letting us share Thanksgiving dinner with you."

"No problem. Anyone my boys want to invite to a family dinner must be special so it’s no problem. And if you two want to call your families on Thursday don’t worry and just call them."

JC saw Gina’s face cloud over at the mention of family. "If no one would mind I’d like to drive around and show Gina some of the sights of Bowie. I know there aren’t many but there’s a few I’d like to show to her."

Gina squeezed his hands in thanks and turned to Lisa. "Is my jacket in the car?"

"Yeah, I think so. Here’s the keys."

Gina caught the keys. "Thanks."

"Actually," Tyler interrupted, "I think Lisa and I were going to get movies so why don’t you two take your car and we’ll take mine since Josh doesn’t have one here."

"That’s fine, but," she handed the keys to JC, "you’re driving. I have no clue where I am."

JC nodded. "Sure. Now I could make a remark about you being clueless but I’m going to refrain."

"Good boy. You don’t want our first fight this weekend to be in front of your parents. I’ve got such a smart boyfriend." Gina kissed his cheek and walked out the front door.

JC shrugged and smiled apologetically. "Gotta love her." He followed Gina and shut the door behind him. JC unlocked the car doors and sat in the driver’s seat.

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

"I’m sorry about the lack of heat. This old car takes forever to warm up. We might start to get warmth but the time we get to the movie place."

Lisa nodded and hugged her coat closer. "That’s okay. I don’t even have a car. I use Gina’s if I need to go somewhere. So any car is better than no car."

"Do you have a car at home in Ohio?"

"Nope. I use my parents’ cars when I’m at home. Even during the summers so I’m at their mercy. At least you have a car. That’s far better than where I am."

Tyler nodded. "Got it. Lisa? What was Gina so upset over earlier when she first called?"

Lisa thought for a moment before answering. "Well, we had just stopped at a service area to use the bathrooms and when I was finished I went into the souvenir shop and started flipping through magazines. Gina came out and-"

"Now did these magazines have my brother on the cover of them?"

"Well, he was one of the people on the cover, and you’d never guess the hunk I found a picture of inside. Damn, he was fine."

"Enough about his good looking guy you were drooling over. Finish the story."

Lisa shrugged. "Okay. If you don’t want to know that there was a picture of you in this magazine that caught my eye then fine. Be that way."

Tyler’s eyes shot up. "They had a picture of me? That’s rare."

"I know. Now I was making a comment about seeing you in there and Gina got to saying why wouldn’t she look at the mags because of being able to see her boyfriend more often and I guess some fan overheard us and confronted Gina about it."

"Oh, boy," Tyler interjected.

Lisa nodded. "Oh, boy, is right. So there Gina’s standing and has to lie no matter how much she doesn’t want to. I guess just talking to JC right after doing it got to her. She can usually handle it better than that."

Tyler shook his head. "I’d hate to be in their shoes. At least you don’t have to lie about going out with me."

Tyler was met with an unexpected silence.

"Right, Lisa? When have you had to lie about going out with me?"

Lisa took a deep breath and looked out the window. "Well, some of the times that Gina has had to lie I’ve been there and I’ve said your name so saying that, yes, I’m going out with you and Gina saying she’s not going out with your brother doesn’t really look good. They’d be knowing that one of us would be lying and I’m guessing they’re going to pick Gina and I don’t want to rock the small boat of secrecy that JC and Gina are on regarding their relationship."

"I understand. I wish it didn’t have to be this way." Tyler reached over and squeezed her elbow. "I should know that if one family member has to keep a secret then so do the rest of us on some things. I just wished that it would all be easy."

"Nothing’s ever easy and if it is than there’s something wrong with it. Just like there’s no decision if you aren’t leaving something with choosing the other."

"That’s enough thinking for tonight. We’re almost at the video store. Now let’s check out what’s on the radio." He listened to the radio and laughed.

"What’s so funny, Tyler?"

"Listen to what song this is." He pointed to the radio and turned up the volume. "I wonder if JC has this on in their car."

Lisa listened to the lyrics and burst out laughing.

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

JC changed the radio station and groaned.

"What?" Gina asked. "Put that back. I know that song."

"Please no. I don’t want to listen to that song. Anything but that. Please, babe," JC pleaded.

Gina shook her head and reached for the radio. "No. I want to find out what that song is and why you’re groaning to it." She began to fiddle with the radio buttons.

"Here. Let me do it. I knew I couldn’t avoid this." JC set the radio to the station and concentrated on the road.

Gina listened to the lyrics. "I know this song. How do I know it?" she asked no one in particular. A male voice began to sing and she instantly knew who it was. "Oh my. Now I know this song. This is you singing. Don’t try to deny it."

JC put on the blinker and turned left. "I’m not going to deny it. I only-"

"Wait a second," Gina interrupted. "This is my favorite part." She turned up the volume and sang to him. "Are you feelin’ my Tims, my baggy jeans, my thug appeal?"

JC glanced over at her shaking figure. "And what’s so funny, Gina?"

She placed a hand to her chest in hopes of calming down. "You having thug appeal." She burst into laughter again. "I’m sorry, Jace, but that’s funny."

JC pulled into a parking lot and turned off the car. "This is what I didn’t want happen. So what’s so funny about that?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

He pulled her hand into his. "I don’t know. Do I?"

Gina shook her head. "No you don’t. Let me explain it for you, dear boyfriend of mine. The only time I have seen you dressed as a ‘thug’ it has either been while you were doing a show or something or while you were in disguise. That’s not your regular attire."

"You have any problems with my regular attire?" He glanced down at his clothes.

She shook her head. "Of course not. Why would I have problems with shirts that fit you just so? Or that clean cut look you have, sometimes. Sometimes you stray but I like that. It’s you."

"It’s me? You actually like me. Not just my looks or anything material like that?"

Gina pulled her hand back. "Why are you even asking me this? Do you not trust me? I was on tour with all you guys all summer and did I ever once hang all over any of you? I’m sure I could have twisted Justin’s and my friendship into something else but I knew nothing was there. Just friendship. And if you’re in-"

JC held his hands up in defense. "I was just kidding, Gina. I know you’re not like that. That’s one of the things I like about you. You do what you feel and know is right. You don’t try to take advantage of situations for wrong reasons."

"And you know I’m like what the song says. I don’t need any fancy cars or diamond rings. All I need is you. Your time, your love, your space, your energy. Damn, I can’t stop quoting the song. It’s your fault for singing the song or I might have never paid attention to it."

"I’m sorry that you can’t stop quoting the last song but I’m not apologizing for doing a song with Blaque. I just can’t. So what can I do to make it better?"

Gina squeezed his hand. "Just hold my hand, look into my eyes and be there for me. Thanks for saving me back there. I don’t know what it is but sometimes when family is used in a close knit sense I just can’t think straight."

JC squeezed her hand and brought his other hand to her cheek. He brought his blue eyes to her hazel ones and smiled. As Gina got lost in the soft caress of his gaze smiled at his warmth. They sat silently in the car, amazed at the power the other had over them. Gina broke the connection first.

"So is this one of the sights you wanted to show me? I can only see a whole lot of darkness."

JC laughed uneasily. "Well, I kinda forgot it was dark out and almost all of the places I want to take you require sunlight. Maybe we can check them all out tomorrow. Listen. How about we meet Tyler and Lisa at the movie place and all pick one out to watch tonight?"

Gina nodded, then placed a hand on her growling stomach. "What about food?"

JC laughed at the noise. "I was thinking about that also. Why don’t we pick out a movie and then get take out. I’ll take you to the place that started my Chinese cravings."

"Chinese? Oh, baby, you treat me so good." She grabbed his hand and placed their intertwined hands on the gear shift. "Now let’s go meet Lisa and Tyler. Maybe we’ll interrupt something interesting."

JC laughed at her wiggling eyebrows. "This wouldn’t be how he planned it but things never go the way TJ plans it."

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

Tyler pulled into the parking space and turned off the car.

"Umm, TJ? This door isn’t opening."

"That’s because it sometimes sticks. Especially with a female as wonderful as you in the car."

"That’s a sweet thing to say but what other wonderful women have you had in this seat recently to prove that theory?"

"Ummm…ummm… My mother?"

Lisa tapped his cheek. "Good answer. Nice save."

"I try." He kissed her cheek before walking around and opening her door. He reached down and extended his hand to her.

"Thanks, Tyler. I know you’re just trying to make up for your previous comment." Lisa leaned on the closed door.

He stepped closer, his breath on her cheek. "Is it working?"

She nodded and stole a glance at his lips. "A little bit. Now what’s with this getting close crap? You planning on kissing me anytime soon or are we just going to stand in the cold and stare at each other?"

Tyler looked down and laughed. "Damn, you cut things to the quick, girl."

"Only when it’s ten below zero out. Right now I’m only thinking of ways to get warm and that’s to either go inside or for you to some closer. Now which is it going to be?"

Tyler took the last step towards her and ran his fingertips along her cheek. He looked to either side before settling on her brown eyes. "This wasn’t how I was planning on kissing you for the first time but you’re all but begging me to so I guess I’ll give in."

"Hey-" Lisa’s eyes widened only to close as Tyler quickly pressed his lips to hers.

Tyler felt the warmth travel from where his body was touching hers. It spread across his cheeks and down his arm. He kissed her for a few second before pulling back and smiling at her. When Lisa didn’t open her eyes he leaned in to kiss her again.

"Hey, Chasez, that you?"

Instead of lowering his head the few inches to Lisa’s mouth he leaned his head back and sighed before answering the call.

"Hey, Brian."

"Hey, Tyler, I thought that was you. And who’s this you have with you? Is it the infamous Lisa?"

"Yes, it would be. Brian this is my girlfriend Lisa. Lisa, this is Brian. He’s in my group."

Lisa stuck her hand out. "Hi, Brian. So I’m infamous, huh?"

Brian nodded. "Yup. None of us believed his story of a twenty one year-old going out with him but he just said wait for Thanksgiving break and I guess here you are."

"Yup. Here I am. Do you want to see my license to make sure I’m the right age?"

"No need. I was just joking anyway. Well, it’s really nice to meet you. I know I’ll see you again this weekend. See ya later, TJ." Brian waved and walked further into the parking lot.

Lisa returned her attention to Tyler. "What did he mean he knew he’d be seeing me? Is there something you haven’t told me?"

"Well, the group wanted to get together, mainly to meet you I think, on Friday. I was going to ask you about it tomorrow. So how about it? Up to meeting more of my friends?"

Lisa shrugged. "I’ll think about it. Now I’m definitely getting cold again. Why don’t we go inside and pick a movie now?"

Tyler placed his hands on either side of her. "I was thinking of maybe another kind of warmth to start off with."

Lisa smiled as his mouth neared hers again. She tilted her head slightly to the right as his lips met hers. She pulled away slightly and was about to meet his lips again when a car horn woke her out of the daze she had slipped into. She looked behind Tyler and saw a familiar window roll down.

"Lisa and Tyler sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

Tyler rolled his eyes and without turning around asked; "And how old are you again, Josh?"

JC laughed and rolled up the window. A minute later both doors opened and he and Gina climbed out.

"Give me one reason not to sing to you what you sang to me," Tyler asked his brother. "We saw the kissing that just went on in the car." He nodded his head towards Gina’s car.

"Because I’m older that’s why."

Tyler shrugged. "Whatever. What are you two doing here anyway? I thought you were going to drive around a bit?"

"We were but genius here," Gina nodded her head to JC, "forgot it was dark out and the places he wants to show require some sort of daylight. Since we couldn’t do that we figured we’d help you guys pick out a movie, pick up some Chinese food and all watch a movie together," Gina continued as the group made their way into the video store.

"Chinese?" Lisa and Tyler groaned.

"I’m so not in the mood for Chinese. Plus some of it doesn’t agree with me."

Tyler looked away from the wall. "Don’t worry, Lisa, I’m not that fond of it either and I’m in an Italian mood. How about we go pick up pizza or something like that?"

"Sounds good to me. Now let’s pick out a movie so we can pick up the food. I’m hungry." Her stomach growled. "See, my stomach even says so. Let’s get a move on."

"Yes, ma’am." JC and Tyler saluted her.

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

"So who sits where?" Lisa asked as the foursome stood in front of the "L" shaped couch. "Each side does have three cushions but one does seem to be a bit longer. "TJ and I claim that part."

"And how did you come to that conclusion, dear roommate of mine?"

"Because Tyler and I are taller than you."

"It’s because it looks bigger and would you look at that? It has a better view." JC sat on the couch. "And if we’re going by height I win. So I’m using your argument to beat you here. Gina and I get this section of the couch."

Whatever," Lisa grumbled as she sat on the couch and brought her feet beneath her. She took a bite of her slice and waited for everyone else to get settled. "How are you two going to eat like that? Please don’t tell me you are going to feed each other."

Gina looked up at JC. "Feed each other? Hadn’t thought of that, but we could. Couldn’t we, JC?"

"You betcha." JC dug his chopsticks in the food on his plate then proceeded to hold them steady for Gina to eat the food out of them.