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

"And that’s our show for today. Have a great weekend." Rosie waved to the camera and started flinging prizes into the audience. After the director signaled that the cameras were off she held up her hands for the audience to calm down. "Now some of you might know this already but *N SYNC has promised to stay and have a special session with all of you and give a special performance. These guys are going to go backstage for a few minutes and when they come back they’ll answer some more of your questions, and sing you a song from their Christmas album released last year."

The guys retreated to the green room and regrouped.

"Damn, I’m so nervous."

Justin looked up from tying his shoe. "I would be too. You’re about to come public with a very private thing and your world is about to be turned upside down."

"That’s a comforting thought, Justin. Just what I needed." JC fell on the couch and closed his eyes. The door to the room opened and closed and he heard Rosie’s voice.

"Now who is that girl up with your regulars and what does she mean to you?"

JC kept his head back, waiting for someone else to answer, and when no one did he opened his eyes to find Rosie looking directly at him.

"Huh?"

"You know who I’m talking about. The one with brown hair next to Justin’s friend." Rosie sat next to him and waited for an answer.

"How do you know she’s with me?" JC tried to ask casually.

"Well, your brother Tyler isn’t here, like you said he would be, and you and that girl have been having silent conversations all throughout the show with your eyes. During every commercial break the other guys and I would talk, but you’ve been staring into the crowd, at her specifically, using your eyes and facial expressions to have conversations. Now who is she?" Rosie demanded again.

JC sighed heavily. "Okay, you were about to figure it out in a few minutes so I’ll tell you now. She’s my girlfriend."

Rosie sat back, stunned. "Girlfriend? So those rumors that you’re seeing someone is true?"

"Yeah." JC looked at his hands.

"But what I don’t get is your comment about me figuring it out." She paused. "JC, are you about to reveal what I think you’re going to reveal?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I thought you might have known already because management has already talked to your producers."

"What do I know? I’m just the host." She shook her head in amazement. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, and before you ask I have talked it over with her. I’m just going to say that I’m attached, no names."

"But I do get to meet this girl, right? Before anything can happen like a break up. Not that I’m saying you should, but you know about relationships and this business."

"Oh, Rosie, they ain’t breaking up," Chris broke in. "I have faith they’ll make it through all the crap. They’ve made it this far."

"What else have they gone through?"

"Well, it all started earlier this year when-"

"There you are, Rosie, come on, the audience is getting restless." The assistant left the room as quickly as he entered.

"All right." She stood up and looked down at JC. "You sure about this?"

He nodded and squeezed the hand she offered. "Yeah, hey if you’re not busy later why don’t you stop by our recording session later. All the girls will be there and she can get your stamp of approval."

"Deal, but if she makes you as happy as it seems, then I’m sure she’ll pass with flying colors. After you." She pointed out the door and the two walked to the stage.

Lance, Joey, Chris and Justin had already taken their places in the chairs beside the desk. JC sat in the chair right next to the desk with Lance next to him and Chris in the last chair in the row. Justin sat behind JC with Joey on the stool next to him. Rosie sat in her chair and glanced at the petite brunette she had just found out held the secret to the heart of the man next to her.

The emotions were pouring out of Gina’s eyes as she held Nick’s hand for comfort. Her heart was beating so fast she didn’t understand why the sound didn’t over power the sounds pumping out of the studio speakers. She was trying not to stare at JC, but it was hard. They were about to start a whole new dimension to their relationship. At least he was as nervous about this as she was. Actually, he had more to loose than she did. Sure she would now be one of the most sought out females in the world and would loose a lot of her privacy, safety and sanity, but he would loose all that and more. This one decision he made effected his career and the careers of the four friends he shared his life with.

JC bounced his knee nervously. My knee’s bouncing even more than Chris’, he thought as he looked around the set. He had no idea how he was going to bring up the topic. He began tapping his fingers on the desk when Justin placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and leaned down.

"Relax, Jace, it’ll all be okay. You’ve got us all here and the woman you love up in the stands."

"Right next to the woman you love." Both men glanced up at the two women in the audience. "I’m just nervous, man. Isn’t a guy in my position allowed to be nervous?"

"Nervous? How about scared out of his wits. I’m surprised you haven’t wet your pants or- OW!" Joey rubbed his head where Justin hit him. "What was that for?"

Chris stood up and stood beside his Italian friend. "That was for saying something stupid like what you just said. And this," he whacked the other side of Joey’s head, "is also for that. JC needs comfort right now. I know we all joked earlier but the time has come to be serious and be behind him."

"Well, let’s hope the fans are behind him too, but let’s hope they don’t take it literally," Lance added with a laugh. "Imagine JC’s butt needing its own bodyguard. He’ll need to have a buttguard to keep all those fans away."

"Do you think we should ask Gina if she would like that job?" Justin asked. "It’ll give her a reason to come on the next tour with us."

"Huh? Gina’s coming on tour with us again?" JC looked over at his friends, still half in another world mentally. The other guys laughed at the confused expression on their friend’s face until Rosie sat at her desk and turned to JC.

"Are you sure about this?"

JC simply nodded and locked eyes with Gina, barely hearing Rosie’s next comment.

"That boy’s gone for good." She pointed to a producer and began speaking to the audience. "Hey, everybody, I’m glad everyone here could stay for this encore performance by the one and only *N SYNC." She had to pause because of clapping and continued. "The guys have said they’d undergo another round of questions. Who wants to go first?"

There was an unexpected silence throughout the studio. Half of the people remaining were fans that didn’t have the courage to ask a question and the other half were the parents of fans who were just there because of their children’s interest in the group. There were also a few older fans, but they didn’t want to get up because they didn’t want to be the first one up. Out of the corner of his eye Chris saw a hand rise and smiled slightly when he realized it was Jackie.

"I think we have a question over here in the third row," he called as he pointed to Jackie.

Jackie thanked the assistant who handed her the microphone and turned to the guys. "Hi, guys. My name’s Colleen."

"Hi, Colleen," the guys said together, all of them refraining from rolling their eyes at the name she got from a crazy fan letter Lance received.

"Hi," she pretended to be shy, "I was wondering if you could go into the studio with any artist who would it be?"

JC straightened his pant legs. "Now would that be singing with that artist, or behind-the-scenes as in producing or something along that line?"

"Either." Jackie sat down

"Well, I know I’d love to work with Sting, either in front or behind the mic. I love the singing aspect of recording but I also love to go behind the boards and work there. Doing both with him would be a dream of mine. Anyone else want to field this question?" JC waved to his group mates.

They answered a few more questions, some of them requiring thought, some questions they had been asked numerous times before. Finally Rosie called for the last question and a few hands went up.

"You guys pick who gets to ask the final question. Who will it be boys?"

The guys looked around the room and before anyone spoke up Justin pointed to Nick and said, "I think she’ll have the right question."

"But, Justin, she doesn’t even have her hand up," Rosie reminded him.

"So, I still think she should ask the next question. Don’t you think so, JC?" As he asked the question he gently squeezed JC’s shoulder in emphasis. JC nodded solemnly.

"Okay then. Bring that microphone over to that young lady sitting in the third row. What’s your name?"

"Lynn," Nick responded. Justin smiled to himself as she used his mother’s name.

"Now, Lynn, do you have a question for these boys? I know they did just throw this on you. You could pass if you don’t feel comfortable."

"No, it’s all right," she sighed and then her face brightened. "What I really want to know is your girlfriend status. There are rumors of girlfriends, but I want to know the truth."

"Guys?" Rosie turned to the five guys beside her.

"I am liv-ing sing-le," Chris began to sing the theme song to the television show, but making the "we" an "I" and the audience laughed.

"Well, like Chris so happily sang I’m single too, but I date occasionally when there’s time. Although don’t ask me when that is. We have a busy schedule." The other four agreed with Joey’s statement with nods, groans and comments.

"Joey just about explained it all,’ Lance started. "We really don’t have time to be in a relationship and give it our all. It’s really hard to try to be with someone that lives thousands of miles away from where you are most of the time. Since you’ve probably met them on the road you probably can’t even see them when you have time to spend at home because that’s not where they live."

JC knew his turn was coming up so he looked at the three girls. Jackie had a slight smile but looked as if she was deep in thought and Nick was smiling and gave him a thumbs up sign from where her hands were on her lap. Lastly there was Gina and he had to smile, she was leaning down to tie her shoelace. I bet her shoelace wasn’t even untied. She’s so nervous that she’ll keep tying her shoelaces until they’re symmetrical. I can’t believe we’ve gotten to this point already. His thoughts were cut off as Justin started to answer.

"Yeah, I’m single, but it’s not like I’m not trying to do anything about it."

Chris leaned forward to look at his younger friend. "First you have to tell the girl you want her, Justin." He faced Rosie. "See our boy here has a case of stage fright and is afraid of rejection."

"See, boys and girls, these guys are normal when it comes to matters of the heart. They’re afraid of the same things that we all are when we like someone, namely rejection. They don’t think that their cutie patutie looks can get them anything they want."

"Okay," he turned to Rosie, "can I say something into that camera over there." Justin pointed to the camera in front of the section where the girls were sitting.

"Sure. Whatever."

Instead of looking directly in the camera his eyes went straight into Nick’s. "Now I’m hoping she gets something from the line from one of our Christmas songs I’m going to sing." He looked down and took a deep breath before regaining eye contact with Nick. "I wished on a star, and girl here you are. Suddenly I realized. That I never knew the meaning of Christmas, till I looked into your eyes."

There was a long silence before Rosie spoke. "Well, I don’t think I ever heard a phrase with more meaning than that one. I hope whoever it is now knows your feelings."

"Me too," Justin said, still holding Nick’s gaze.

Gina would said something or elbowed Nick had it not been JC’s turn to speak. Instead she was intent on hearing what came next, but Rosie decided to give JC a way out and suspended Gina’s anticipation.

"Was that from the song you guys are going to sing for us today?"

"Yup," Chris nodded, "it’s called ‘I Never Knew the Meaning of Christmas.’"

"Well, ladies and gentleman, here’s *N SYNC with a song from their Christmas album." The other guys grabbed their microphones and sat in their designated seat. JC sat, but stood back up when the music started.

"Wait a minute. Can you please stop playing?" he asked the band. When there was silence JC closed his eyes tightly for a moment before reopening them. "I want to thank everyone up here, including Rosie, for trying to make things easier for me, and for giving me an out, but I don’t want one. You see, all the guys, but me, answered the girlfriend question. I know there are rumors about me being attached and I’ve come here to set the record straight. I do have a girlfriend. She’s a college student I met earlier this year. I’m tired of hiding it and I thought the fans needed to hear the truth. Now that I’ve said that, we can get back to the song. Thanks for listening."

He walked back to his seat and met his friends’ gazes. They all nodded and Chris gestured for the band to start the music again.

JC lowered his microphone and sighed. During the last line he made sure not to look over at Gina because the little privacy he might have would have been gone. The fans around the girls would either think he was looking at them, or know it was one of the three women sitting in a row near tears, each because of what a man on the stage had said.

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

"Hello?"

"Is it over yet?"

Gina put down the food in her hand and sighed. "If you’re talking about the show, then yes, it’s over."

"Whew," Lisa breathed into the phone, "how’d it go?"

"Considering JC, via me, just broke the hearts of many teenagers, okay."

"Just okay?"

Gina followed Nick and Jackie into a room adjoining the recording booth and sat on a couch.

"Yeah, just okay. It was pretty short. It was the last question and Justin had Nick ask it, and after Justin sang to Nick," she shot a pointed look to the younger woman, "the other guys and Rosie snowballed into the performance, but JC stopped the music and made the announcement. All in all it was pretty short."

"That’s good, at least it wasn’t drawn out into a whole speech. How’d the audience react?"

"I think it surprised them so much that they just sat back and let the guys sing. After that I heard some remarks, but I just wanted to get out of there."

"I understand."

"So how’s things in Bowie?"

Lisa sat back in the bed and sighed. "They’re okay. It is nice to just have some time with TJ. We haven’t had time to sit face to face and talk in a long time, and even then it was before we got together."

"So you’re in the ‘getting to know you’ stage?"

"Exactly. And later we’re meeting up with some of his friends and I’m a little nervous."

"Why? They’re all younger than you." Gina opened her soda and took a drink.

"Because," Lisa sighed again, "what you said, they’re all younger than me. You’ve been with me sometimes around Amherst when high schoolers are around and I feel like killing them. They can be so immature and I’m afraid I’m going to be spending a whole afternoon with a whole group of them."

"Well, you like spending time with Tyler," Gina weakly pointed out.

"I know, but people have a tendency to act like the people they’re around at that second. And you know how guys are around their friends, very immature."

"You don’t have to tell me that." Gina looked through the glass and laughed. "Right now I’m seeing a twenty-eight year-old about to give a wedgie to a very unsuspecting Joey."

"Now doesn’t that sound lovely," Lisa drawled sarcastically. "At least JC isn’t involved there."

"No, he is. He’s keeping Joey occupied in conversation so he doesn’t see Chris coming up behind him."

"Ahh, what true friends they are."

Gina pulled her lap top onto the coffee table beside the couch. "I know. Do you mind if I check my web site e-mail while we’re on?"

"Actually, I have to go. We’re going to his friend Brian’s soon. I’ll talk to you later, okay?"

"All right. Have fun and try to keep an open mind."

"I will. Bye, Gina."

"Bye." Gina hung up the phone and signed on-line.

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

"Hey, guys," JC called out, "the sooner we get this chorus done the sooner we can have lunch with the three fine ladies sitting in the next room." He glanced up and smiled when he saw the top of Gina’s head in the other room.

"And what happens if we don’t want to rush? I’m not in any hurry, neither Joey nor I have women out there so there’s nothing making us rush." Chris cowered in his seat as JC, Justin and Lance surrounded him.

"How about the three of us fix it so you won't be any good to a woman anymore. It won’t effect your voice since you already get high, so no loss to us."

"Chris Kirkpatrick," Gina’s voice floated through the speaker above their head, "why I ever put up with you is beyond me. If I didn’t love you like a family member so much you’d be toast."

Chris threw up his hand in defeat. "Okay, okay, I’ll give." He turned to JC. "How she did it I don’t know, but I know being threatened by the both of you in order isn’t good."

"So you’ll behave?" JC raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, I will." Chris held up his right pinkie as if to pinkie swear.

JC linked his finger with his friend’s and then proceeded to hit Chris in the head with his other hand. "Good. Now let’s get this done with. I’m hungry."

"And it’s not food he’s craving."

"Chris…"

"Are we going to finish this song?"

"Chris," JC laughed, "you are definitely the comic relief in here. Let’s just get this done. The sooner we’re done on Joe’s song, the sooner we get back to ours."

The five guys sat again in their respective seats. The technician in the other room began playing the melody for the guys to get back into the song. As the guys were preparing to start to sing the music stopped and the door from the connecting room opened, revealing a hurried Rosie.

"JC, you’d better get your butt in here."

JC looked up and smiled. "Hey, Rosie, we’re almost done here. Can’t this wait a few minutes?"

"Sure this could wait a few minutes, but I’d have to tell you that if it does then you’ll be a lonely man the rest of your life."

"And why would that be?"

"Because you’ll be without this girl out here whom by the way is crying her eyes out."

JC’s eyes bulged. "What happened? She was just threatening him?" He pointed to Chris.

"I don’t know, but I guess she read something that she didn’t like. I walked in and then she lost it, and I came in here for you. I can only guess it’s your ‘friend’ because I know the other two and you looked at her throughout the show."

"Oh damn." JC stood up and turned to leave but was restrained by the headphones that hung around his neck. He uttered an expletive and threw the equipment away from his body. "Damn headphones." He ran into the other room. He saw Jackie and Nick look up at him and part to let him through. Gina looked up into his eyes before falling against his chest and breaking down into sobs again.

The other guys still sat inside the recording booth, silent. Rosie had followed JC so they were alone.

"I can’t believe that just happened."

"I know, Lance, I wonder what Gigi’s crying about."

Lance shook his head and looked into the other room before turning to Justin. "No, I meant that JC pulled away from the music. I do want to know what’s happening to Gina, but he just dropped recording the last few lines before break without a second thought to rush to her side.

"I’m not saying Jace is an insensitive jerk that would leave his lady hanging, but I’ve never seen him pull so completely out of music that fast before. You know it can take hours if he lets it."

"Lance has a point, J," Joey added quietly.

"I know." Justin ran a hand across his forehead. "Now let’s go see what’s happening." He walked into the next room, followed by Joey, Lance and Chris. Justin saw Nick on the other side of Gina from JC and sat behind her. "What’s wrong, Nick?"

She pointed to the laptop thrown on the floor. JC motioned for someone to pick it up and let him see. Joey picked it off the floor and placed it on the table in front of his friend. After JC read the screen he hugged Gina tighter to his chest.

"Oh, baby, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."

Justin pulled the computer to him and read the e-mail on the screen. He bit his lip in anger. "I can’t believe someone has done this already. We only taped the show a few hours ago."

"What’s wrong, J?" Chris asked nervously.

"This e-mail," he pointed to the laptop, "is what’s wrong. Some people have some nerve."

Lance sat against the wall. "What does it say?"

"I don’t know if I can read it again." Justin looked at the machine in disgust. He pulled his arm around Nick and held her to him, burying his face in her neck to hide the tears in his eyes. She patted the back of his head.

"Why don’t I do it?"

"If you think you can, go ahead." Justin pushed the computer toward her.

She cleared her throat and began to read.

Dear webmaster,

  I just heard something and I thought you might be able to help me with it, since you know the guys. I just heard that JC does actually have a girlfriend. A friend of mine went to the taping of Rosie O’Donnell today and said that afterwards JC admitted to having a girlfriend. Is this true? And if it is, who is she? If you know the guys you’d have to know her.

  Can you please tell that bitch how many hearts she just broke, including mine- the future Mrs. JC Chasez. Let her know it won’t last. JC’s too good for her and once as he sees me she’ll be gone. That little whore doesn’t stand a chance against me and every fan out there.

  Wait a second? You’re a female. You could be the one. Are you the little bitch who’s doing all this, the one who’s playing with his heart, the one’s who’s after his money and fame? If you are then watch out. I’m going to find out and then JC will be single again. So either tell her, or yourself, that it won’t last and she’s/you’re not even worth the gum on the bottom of my shoe, forget about his.

Sincerely,
Jill Peterson

A silence filled the room, as everyone was too shocked to speak. The only noise that was heard in the next minute was Gina’s crying and not understandable mumbling and JC kissing her face and murmuring comforts.

"Well," Chris started, "I think we all need a break about now. How about we have lunch now?"

JC nodded against Gina. "I think that’s a good idea. Do you guys mind if we eat in here, alone?"

"Nah, that’s okay. I think that’s needed." Justin stood up and pulled Nick up beside him. He ran his hand along Gina’s hair. "How about I order something for the two of you? There’s that Chinese food place you like down the street, JC. How’s that?"

"Thanks, Just. I’d appreciate it if you don’t mind. I really don’t want to leave right now, even if it is to order food."

"We’ve got it covered, man. One of us will bring it in when it gets here." Justin led Nick out of the room and the others followed, sending Gina comforting words and gestures. Jackie had given Gina’s hand a squeeze and kissed JC’s cheek.

"It’ll be all right. I know you two can work through this."

Rosie knelt down beside the couple. "Hey, Gina?"

Gina looked up. Rosie placed a hand on her arm.

"I know this is tough, but I have a feeling that you’ll make it through this. Dealing with this crap is all part of it. If you ever need any help I’m here. Anyone who hurts these guys, deals with me. All right?"

Gina nodded and tried to smile. JC kissed her temple and mouthed a thank you to Rosie. He waited until she was out of the room before lightly pulling her to him and letting her collapse against his body. She moved her head up and nestled her face right below his chin.

"I knew this would happen, but…"

"Shh, shh, it’s all right, sweetie. Let it all out and then we’ll talk. I’m here. Just let it all out."

JC’s words unleashed another dam as Gina’s body racked with sobs against him. All he could do was hold her and wait.