I woke up in Justin's warm and loving embrace. The last embers of the fire were dying.
"Well, there goes the idea of trying your new bed." Justin whispered with a laugh.
I return the laugh, before kissing him. I felt as though I could stay here forever. The phone rang and I forced myself to answer it.
"Get Justin on the phone and turn on the t.v." J.C. commanded.
"Justin, hurry. It's J.C. He doesn't sound happy." I call to Justin.
I give him the phone before turning on the kitchen t.v.
"This is Rachel Starr and I am here in Lima, Ohio in front of Amanda Merricks's newly bought apartment. Amanda is Justin Timberlake of *NSYNC's girlfriend. Amanda, her sister Marta, and a few of their friends bought this apartment a few days ago. Amanda and Justin apparently spent the night together alone." I hear the E.T. reporter say.
"Oh, no." Justin said, also hearing the reporter.
"What are we going to do?" I asked.
"Shhh, J.C. is talking to me." He responded.
"We'll be there A.S.A.P." I hear Justin say, before I head upstairs to change.
Justin came up a few minutes later.
"Ok, Amanda. As we are leaving the reporters will swarm you. You have every right to answer their questions, but the suggested response will be 'No Comment.'" We quickly change and head for the doors.
"I will say whatever is best for everyone involved." I say, right before we start out.
"I love you," I say before we kiss one last time.
"I love you, too."
As we walked out of the doors, reporters swarmed us, as Justin had said. I think I might have uttered a few 'No Comments' before we got into the car.
"I'm so sorry about this." He said to me a little while later.
"No, you have nothing to be sorry about." I answered.
When we had gotten to Krystl's house, Lou called. He was very mad at Justin for what had happened. Our plane left at 8:00 p.m. so all of us got dinner before heading to the airport. On the plane, everyone fell asleep, except Justin. I felt uncomfortable trying to sleep with him wide awake next to me.
"Chrissy and Joey look like they are getting along again." I said, seeing Chrissy asleep on Joey's shoulder.
"That's good." He answered in an almost inaudible voice.
'I hope he's not still upset about this morning. Maybe the week at home will do him good.' I thought to myself before falling asleep on his chest. When the plane landed, we were quickly escorted to a private room to wait for a limo. Lou came in, and gave me the look of death.
"You have a week and a half to relax before the tour starts. I recommend you go home and get some rest." He said to all of us. "Oh, and Justin, we still need to talk some more." Lou added, before leaving.
We had to wait for a limo, because James was driving Justin's car back from Ohio for him.
"Let's go home." Justin said, grabbing his luggage and going out to the limo.
It was really late at night, so Justin's mom was asleep when we got there. On his bed she left a note.
"Hi baby, I'm glad you are home. Amanda, I am glad you are here. I'm looking forward to spending some time with the girl who has stolen my son's heart. Love, mom." Justin read aloud.
"Oh, that's sweet." I respond.
"Ya, I guess." He responds, starting to unpack his things.
He showed me the room his mom set up for me. I changed into my pajamas and went back into his room. I started climbing into bed, when he came out of his bathroom.
"Hey Justin."
"What?" He responded.
"Could I have a goodnight kiss?" I say, before leaning in, expecting him to say yes.
"No, stop." He said, putting his hand in between our lips.
"What's wrong with giving your girlfriend one little kiss?"
"Not now, Amanda." He responded.
"Fine. I'm going to sleep in the other room." I say, grabbing my pillow and heading for the door.
I accidentally hit the t.v., but I didn't stop. I heard some glass break, and Justin yelled my name, but still I didn't stop. I was too mad at him. ‘What’s going on?' I thought to myself, as I cried myself to sleep.
***J.C.'s house***
***J.C.***
"Man, I hope Justin and Amanda are all right." Michelle said to me.
"I'm sure they are." I answered, but I knew better.
Lou had yelled at Justin really bad, and he might have taken it out on Amanda. But, that wasn't the main thing on my mind.
"So, is Rory over you yet?" I asked.
"No, I ran into him at the store the other day. He says he misses me still, and will take me back if I want him."
"Oh." I answered, before she left to change for bed.
***Michelle***
'But, I don't want him back. You are the one I want.' I thought to myself as I change into my pajamas. When I was done, I found J.C. and Tyler helping Bonnie settle into her room.
***Bonnie***
After the guys helped me settle, I quickly changed. I was really tired, but I needed something to drink. I found Tyler raiding the furidge for a quick midnight snack. We talked for a while, and after I was done with my water, we gave each other a quick kiss goodnight.
***Chris's house***
***Krystl***
We quickly run back in the front door, making sure not to be cought.
"Wow, Krystl. That was really fun. I never thought that you could t.p. a house that good." Chris said, trying to catch his breath.
"I've had practice. I did it every summer at Girl Scout Camp."
"They are going to be really suprised when they look out their windows tomorrow."
"But, didn't they do it to you first, Chris?" I ask, thinking about what he had said earlier.
"Ya, they egged me. But, it's supposed to rain a little tonight, so it will stick to everything before they can get it off."
"That's really cool, ultimate payback." I say, heading upstairs to get ready for bed.
It took us a while to calm down, but when we were holding each other Chris was still talking to me.
"I love you, Krystl. You are the greatest woman I have ever met. Your all I ever wanted. I can't ever imagine my life from now on without you." He said before kissing me gently.
"I love you, too, Chris." I respond.
"Even though we have known each other for a short time, I know I will always love you." He turned me so we were looking deep into each others eyes.
"Will you marry me?"
"Of course. I love you so much." We fell asleep holding each other tightly.
***Lance's house***
***Lance***
"Hey, sweety. It's Marta. I just wanted to call you and tell you I got here safely. I hope your vacation is fun, and I'll see you in Las Vegas." I played her message a couple times.
I love hearing her voice. 'I hate how empty the house is right now.' I thought to myself as I walk to bed.
***Joey's house***
"Thanks for letting me stay here, Joey." I said to Joey, as I got a pop out of the fridge.
"No problem. But, I thought it would be uncomfortable if you stayed here." He
responded. "Less than if I were with any of them." I said sitting next to him. "I missed
you, Chrissy." He said putting his arm around me. "So did I, but I'm not sure I can trust
you, yet." "Chrissy, I never wanted to hurt you. I've always been a ladies man, but for you
I am willing to change. I really want this to work out." "So do I. But, the flirting has to
stop. I can never trust you when you are running around talking to every other girl on this
earth." "You can trust me now. I, Joseph Anthony Fatone, pledge to you, Christina
Elizabeth Richardson, that I will stop flirting for the sake of our future relationship." He
says, taking my hand and looking deep into my eyes. I couldn't keep myself from smiling.
"Joey, that was the sweetest thing you have ever said to me." We talked for a little while
longer, and then went to sleep.
***the next morning***
***Amanda***
“I feel so lousy, guys.” I say, as head into another store. “What’s the matter?” Krystl asks,
stopping at a rack of bathing suits. “Justin and I had a fight. Well, actually he just got
upset with me after Lou talked to him. We ended up sleeping in separate beds, and I cried
my eyes out the whole night.” “Sweety, Lou is a butt head. He probably said something to
Justin that made him re-think your whole relationship.” Marta said. “Ya, but we didn’t talk
this morning at all, except for the little bit when he walkd in on me in the shower. And, I
yelled at him then.” “It’ll be fine, just let him have some time. Lou probably just yelled at
him a lot and got him so mad, he’s taking it out on you." "Well, it had to be something Lou
said." Krystl said, entering Victoria Secret's. "Why are we stoppping here?" Michelle asks.
"I need a new bra and some lotion." Krystl replied, without concern. "Forget about it,
Amanda. He'll be fine in a few days. Just let him cool off." She added. "But, for it's my
fault he got yelled at! How can I forget about it?" "Things like this happen when you are
dealing with big stars. Their "image" can't be hurt, without consiquences." Bonnie said. "Amanda, we are not here to discuss our problems. We are here to shop for Las Vegas."
Chrissy said, looking through the racks. "Your right. What do you guys think of this one?"
I ask, picking up a white flowing nightgown from the rack. "Nice." Bonnie said. We finish
shopping there and leave. The rest of the afternoon was spent buying all the necesssities
we needed for the trip.
***Justin***
***Chris' house***
"Hey man, what's eating you?" Joey said to me. "Stuff. Man, Lou really yellled at me,
yesterday." "Well, the agreement was that we COULD have girlfriends. But, you were not
allowed to be caught at THEIR house, alone." J.C. said, remembering the speech Lou
gave them when they first joined up together. "But, I didn't mean to. I thought you guys
would be staying there, too." I explained. "But, forget about Lou. He's been really mean to
all of us lately. Especially wince we've started the new c.d."J.C. retorted. "But, that's not
all. I came home and was really mean to Amanda. We didn't even stay in the same room.
And, what made it worse is that I walked in on her in the shower." "And that's bad?" Joey
asked like I was crazy. "Ya, because we didn't say anything to each other all morning.
That just kinda added to the anger. I hope she doesn't hate me." "She doesn't. Women
have problems sometimes, and they take it personally." Chris said. "At least you get to see
your girlfriend more than twice a month." Lance added, with hostility. "Sorry, man. I
know you have it off worse." I said, consolingly. "Well, we'll all be happy when we have a
vacation in Vegas." Joey said. "Ya." We all said, thinking about the great time we would
have there. The rest of the afternoon was spent hanging out.