March 18, 2000

"Are you sure you can’t stay a few more days?" JC pulled Gina next to him on the hotel couch.

"You know I can’t. I’d love to but I can’t. I just can’t miss that much school. With finals coming up I can’t afford to."

JC sighed. "I know. I just don’t want to see you go. I am glad you came to New York and spent your spring break with me."

"What else would I have done? Gone home and have my parents make me work in the store?"

A body sat next to Gina and she turned to see a pair of warm brown eyes. Chris turned his whole body to face Gina.

"Well, we’re all glad you’re here. Not just your hunka-hunka burnin’ love over there."

"Thanks, Chris. I wish I could stay for the album debut but I can’t. I’m just glad I could make it for the promo stuff this week. I’m also glad I’m getting paid for being here. Put another bonus for maintaining a web site about you. Money. I’ll be so absorbed in my books soon I won’t be able to even leave my room to eat."

"But at least you could say you spent a week here. I can only come for the weekend."

"Aww, Nick," Justin put his arms around her from behind, "just remember you’re graduating soon too."

"Yeah, from high school. I am so looking forward to being out of there. Valencia here I come."

"Hey, don’t say that like it’s a bad thing."

"I won’t, Chris, I know you went there. Plus I’m getting a free ride through there so why not take it?"

"Yeah," Justin rolled his eyes, "that’s what you get for being in the top one percent of your class. Two free years of college at Valencia then mucho off a four-year Florida school after that."

"I know. Plus my family might be taking on a border so that’ll be fun. Right, Gina?"

"Umm…"

"Gina," JC sat straighter, "why is she asking you if it’ll be fun?"

"You haven’t told him yet?" Nick looked at her friend puzzled.

Gina sighed and pulled herself out of JC’s embrace.

"I just talked to you today and I told you I hadn’t told him yet."

"Tell me what?" JC stood and looked at Nick.

"That she was offered a job in Florida."

"What?!?" JC stared down at Gina. "When were you going to tell me this?"

"Tonight. I just wanted to make sure I had a place to stay when I was going to be in town."

"Going to be in town?"

Gina stood and squeezed JC’s hand. She looked around the room at the confused faces of her friends.

"Why don’t you sit down, hun, and I’ll tell everyone about the job I was offered." She waited until everyone was situated before continuing. "Well, Bobby called me again and asked me if I’d like to take on another web site."

"So you’re making a site about another one of us?"

"I wish so, Joe, but I’m not. He offered me a job making an official site for a group in Tampa. I’ll still do Chris’ because it’s already up but most of my time will be making this new site and I’ll have to tour with them. That’s why I said when I was going to be in town. I’m going to be touring and coming back to Florida every so often. I was just wondering if maybe I could stay with Nick’s family and basically use them as a storage facility."

JC got up and walked to the sink to get a glass of water. "So your family is fine with this, Nick?" he asked as the water filled the glass. He raised the glass to his lips and paused as she answered him.

"Yeah. Well as long as a better offer doesn’t come along."

Her words stilled his hand. He knew exactly what she was talking about and his pulsed raced. He stood there and felt all his friends stare at his back silently. The silence filled his mind and it got to him.

"Well, she won’t get the better offer with all of you here. I think Gina and I need to be alone for a bit."

"Yes, sir. We’ll be gone in a jiffy."

JC didn’t have to look behind him to know that Chris had saluted him. Everyone said words of encouragement as they passed and quickly left.

"Jace?"

"Yes, Lance?" JC turned his head to his friend.

"Well, I just wanted to let you know I took stuff to sleep in in case you two need some time alone tonight. And…"

"And?" JC prompted.

"And I hope it all works out. It sucks when the person you want isn’t where you are at any given time. It’ll be nice to be able to see her when you’re both home because home is in the same town."

JC nodded and watched as Lance quietly left the room and closed the door.

"He’s still not over Jackie yet, is he?" Gina walked up beside him and rubbed his back.

"No he isn’t. It’s been almost four months but he really loved her. He just found out about her boyfriend too."

"Ouch." Gina closed her eyes. "Yeah, she’s happy with Billy but it took her a long time to be able to let someone else in. I think somewhere in her heart she’ll always have a spot for Lance but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. How did we get so lucky when they didn’t?"

"I don’t know how but we’re still doing it." He took his free arm and pulled her tight against him. She tensed in his arms before allowing herself to ask the question.

"What did you and Nick mean when you were talking about a better offer for me when I move down to Florida?"

JC pulled back and looked into her scared eyes. He knew his must look about the same. The subject they were approaching was a big one and it would be a big step in their relationship. Could they work it out? Neither of them were going to be in town very long the next summer and it did make sense. Why should she pawn her belongings off on a friend when it would just be easier to use his house, which had more room because just he lived there now.

Gina saw the thoughts pass through JC’s eyes and bit her lip. Was he really going to ask her what she thought he was? Were they ready for what the question entailed? Was she ready for this big of a commitment? There was only one way to find out and that was to let him talk.

"Well?"

"Well…ummm. Oh this is starting out great. You’re just asking a girl to move in with you, Josh, and how do you start it? With ‘well…ummm.’ Smooth one, Chasez."

"Am I allowed to be in this conversation too?" Gina asked with a laugh as she watched JC talk to himself. "And what were you asking a girl to do?"

JC finally took a sip of his water and took a deep breath. He lead Gina back to the couch and sat beside her. He grabbed her hands and brought them to his lips.

"I was asking the girl to move in with me. Actually, I was going to ask you to. You’re much better than some girl."

"Thanks."

JC threw her a crooked smile. "Anytime. Let me explain my thoughts before you answer me though. Why put more stuff in a full house when mine’s almost empty anyway? We’re both going to be in town so little why disturb a household when you can come home to an empty house that you can call your own? Sometimes it may not be empty because I may be stopping in but those will be just as much fun, if not more, then the time you’d spend with Nick at her house. I’m sure Nick’s family would love to have you but so would I. I just love you, period."

"I know you do, Jace. I love you too, but is this a good move? Are we ready for those times when we’re both in ‘our home?’ That means that we both have permanent residence there. And what would the press say? They already know I’m your girlfriend." She stood and paced before him.

"Is it a good move? Economically, yes and no. It depends on how much you make me have you pay of utilities."

"I’m expecting half."

"Thought so. And are we ready for when we’re there together? There’s only one way to find out and that’s to do it. I don’t think anyone thinks they’re ready and you never know until you try it. As for the press…" he trailed off. "Well we’ll tell the press you’re my housesitter if you’d like. Now stop pacing before you make me dizzy." He grabbed her waist as she passed him again. She took his hands in hers and sighed. She knelt down and soon JC found himself getting lost in the depths of her eyes.

"I’m your housesitter? Ok-ay. But what about when you’re home? What then?"

"That’s simple." He reached out and caressed her chin. "We’ll tell them you’re the babysitter."

"And who am I babysitting?" She arched an eyebrow.

He traced her eyebrow with his thumb. "Me. You know I can be a bad boy and I need to be watched closely."

"Oh really?"

He nodded and brought his face toward hers. Slowly their mouths met. Gina’s mouth opened under his and JC slid off the couch to kneel next to her. He slid his hands into her hair and let the feel of her lips touching his take over his body. He realized what a bad boy his mind was pushing him to be and pulled back. He smiled at her dazed open mouthed expression and kissed her again quickly.

"We’re not done talking here."

"I know." She looked away and smiled.

"You’re beautiful when you smile. God I’m going to love to see it when I get home from tour."

"And what if I just came home or come home after you from the tour I’m on and in no mood to spontaneously smile?"

"Then I’m going to have to make you smile," he said as if it were as plain as day. He grinned as her fingers entangled themselves with his.

"I still haven’t said I’m going to move in with you."

"I know but I just have this good feeling."

"Feeling about what?"

"That after we talk we’re going to come to an agreement."

"We’re not done talking?"

He shook his head. "Nope. Let’s sit at the table and work things out. I think this is going to be a long night."

"Why do you say that?" Gina walked to the table and sat in the seat across from JC.

"Because of the topics of our conversations. Starting with your parents."

"My parents?" She pulled a foot beneath her body. "What do we have to talk about there? They know about us now."

"That’s not what I’m talking about. Remember what we talked about in November, back when we were in this hotel last? That day we spent together?"

Memories flowed back to Gina’s mind and they started with the windy night they confessed their love on the roof of the hotel. They continued with the strawberries and whipped cream the next morning and to teasing JC about the horrible movie they had watched. Finally she remember when her father had called and the disagreement she and JC had afterward.

"Oh yeah. That. But I had conditions you weren’t willing to meet."

"Now I am."

She stared wide eyed at him. "You are? You’re willing to talk about-"

"Yes. I’m willing to tell you about my time in California. Not even the guys know the whole story. Hell, not even my family does but I’m ready to tell you. It’s not going to be easy though, as I’m sure the same goes for you."

"Yeah…"

"How about we start slowly, telling the basics, and then we’ll get deeper as we go on?"

"Sounds good. Wanna start?"

"Sure." JC paused for a minute as he collected his thoughts. "I guess I’ll start with telling you about where I lived and who I lived with…"

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

"Don’t make me have to get up, mommy. I don’t want to go to work."

"First of all, if you ever call me mommy again I’ll make you really cry for her, and, secondly, I can’t make you do anything, Jace, it’s all up to you. But I’m sure there are four guys who will beat down that door if you don’t show up on time."

JC groaned and pulled Gina closer to him. They had been up late the night before and he was mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted. He had no idea how he was going to make it through a whole afternoon at MTV, but it was his job and he had to work. It was a job he loved but he hated that it would take him out of such a warm bed with the woman he loved so early in the morning.

"Yeah, I know. I’m sure the fans wouldn’t appreciate it if four-fifths of *N SYNC showed up either. The good news is that you’re going to be there in the audience so I can look at you when I need something to make me smile."

"Aww, my boyfriend’s so sweet." Gina turned in his arms and rested her forehead against his chest. "I can’t believe the album is coming out on Tuesday."

"Me neither. We’ve worked on it for so long and so hard it’s such a relief that now the public can see our hard work." A solid knock came from the door. "I guess I’ll get that. It’s probably one of the guys."

JC pulled himself off the bed and answered the door. He groaned as his four groupmates and Nick came through, all laughing at his disheveled appearance.

"Really, Jace, don’t go all out for our sakes."

JC glared at Justin. "Is there any reason why you all came for this glorious wake-up call? Why couldn’t one of you come?"

Joey walked to the bed and sat beside Gina. "Well, we wanted to make sure both of you were up and out of bed. I’m sure it was getting hard for you to fathom getting up. Being all warm and all."

"Well, we’re up. Now will you all please leave so we can get ready?"

"Sure. Just remember that Gina’s stuff is in our room so she has to leave also to get ready. Plus Lance’s stuff is in here."

"I know. I’m coming, Nick." Gina slid out of the bed and stretched her arms above her head. Justin whistled and was promptly hit on the head by Nick.

"Ready, Gina?"

"Yeah. I guess. I’ll see you shortly." She raised her toes and kissed JC’s cheek. She laughed as the other guys gave cat calls as she left the room. She followed Nick into their room.

"So tell me, Gina. Am I going to have to tell my parents not to make room for your stuff?"

Gina nodded and Nick grabbed her in a tight hug. The girls laughed as they lost their balance and fell on Gina’s bed. The two continued to laugh until Nick let out a squeal.

"I can’t believe this." She rolled off the bed and ran her brush through her hair again. "I don’t think anyone would have guessed JC would have been the first to settle down."

"Come on, Nick, you’re making it sound like we’re getting married or something. We’re just moving in together and it’s not even really moving in. Neither of us will really be there enough for it to really sink in that we moved in as a couple. We’re taking it one day at a time. What I’m really worried about is my mother." Gina rummaged through her bag for clean clothes.

"Why’s that?"

"Because as soon as she hears that I’m moving into JC’s house she’s going to plan even more of the wedding she’s been planning since I officially told her about us. I mean she’s already asked me about invitations. I’m not ready to get married and who even knows if JC’s the one?"

Nick watched her friend close the bathroom door and shook her head. In time you’ll know he’s the one, just like I know Justin’s the one for me. But let’s not rush things. No one is anywhere near ready for marriage anytime soon but I know one day you’ll have kids and when they call ‘dad’ JC will be the one who’ll come running. I hope you’ll be ready for whatever comes your way.

A few minutes later Gina walked out of the bathroom looking refreshed. She stuffed her belongings in her bag and turned to her younger friend.

"I’m ready."

I sure hope you are.