“What do you mean ‘JC had better
appreciate this’?” Michelle tried to contain her excitement. She had all but won the bet.
“Umm
nothing… just forget I said anything.”
“Oh
no you don’t. You just don’t say
something like that and then tell me to forget about it.” Michelle walked over and locked the door to
Laurie’s office. “Now spill.”
Laurie
decided to play dumb. “I have no idea
what you’re talking about.”
“Laur,
I’m going to be honest with you. I have
an idea of what’s going on between you and JC.
And I understand if you don’t want to tell me, because you both have a
lot on the line. But Chris and I like
our employees – and our friends – to be happy.”
Laurie
was stunned. How obvious were they
being if Michelle knew that something was going on? She thought fast.
“Michelle…
JC and I are just friends. Yes, there
was a time about five years ago when we were more. But we just have fun hanging out now.”
“Oh.”
“You
sound disappointed.”
“Well,
I kind of am,” Michelle sat down in the chair across from Laurie. “You’re so much better for JC than
Alexandria is.”
“I’m
also married.” Laurie held up her left hand.
“Bah…
that’s just a minor detail.” Michelle laughed.
“Hey Laur?”
Laurie
looked at her.
“If
the circumstances were right… would you want to be with JC again?”
“Honestly?”
“Yeah.”
“Absolutely.”
**********
“She’s
not being honest with you.” Lance said once Michelle relayed the conversation
that she had had with Laurie.
“I
didn’t think she was. At least when she
said they were just friends.”
“They’re
not just friends, trust me.” Lance laughed.
“How
do you know?”
“Because
I got it from the horse’s mouth when he involuntarily traded buses with Joey on
the way to Toronto. And when I was
talking to him earlier, he had even mentioned that he wants a divorce. But this goes no further.” Lance warned.
“I
promise I won’t say anything Lance.”
“Not
even to Chris,” she promised and laughed to herself. “I have other plans for him, but I’ve got to go I need to add a
few things to my list.”
“All
right. And remember…”
“Yes
Lance, I promise!” She rolled her eyes.
“Ok.”
“Goodbye
Lance.”
“Bye.”
Michelle
leaned back in the chair in her office and laughed. “I win.”
**********
“Hey
Chris.” Lance called out. They were in
the Much Music environment preparing for their interview.
“What?”
“How
good is your woman at keeping promises?”
“Pretty
good,” Chris shrugged. “Why?”
“Even
if she has to keep something from you?”
Chris
felt a shot of a panic streak through his body. “Lance… what does Michelle know that I don’t?”
“Lots.”
Justin laughed as he walked by and Chris took a swipe at him.
“Lance.”
“Chris.”
Lance was smiling.
“Dammit!”
He howled. “Did she say anything about
a list?”
“Now
that you mention it, I think she did, but I didn’t think anything of it… why?”
Chris
cursed again. “Because I think I just
lost!” He pouted and walked away.
**********
“FuMan
Skeeto, Laurie Williams speaking.”
“Wouldn’t
it be great if you could answer the phone by saying Laurie Chasez?”
“Hey
you.” She said softly and stopped what she was doing. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your interview?”
“I
still have another ten minutes or so before we go on. I just thought I’d give my favorite girl a call. And you didn’t answer my question.”
Laurie
blushed. “Yes, it would be nice.”
“Someday
Laur, I promise we’ll be together.”
Laurie
leaned back in her chair with a big grin on her face. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“You
don’t have to hold me to it, it’s a promise I have every intention of keeping.”
“Laurie
sighed happily. “I can’t wait.”
“Anyway
hun, I have to go but I’ll give you a call later tonight. I love you.” He told her softly.
“I
love you too.”
JC
reluctantly ended the call and sighed.
He hadn’t realized that Joey had been standing behind him for the
duration of his phone call. When he
turned around, Joey was grinning at him.
“You
must not have been talking to Alexandria if you said ‘I love you’.” He joked.
JC
decided to play along. “Yeah, you know
me Joe, a different woman in every city.”
“You’ll
never be anywhere near my league,” Joey winked and walked away laughing.
JC
rubbed a hand over his face and sighed.
He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. There was a tap on his shoulder and he turned to face Lance.
“I
think you either need to tell the rest of the guys or be a little more
discreet.” He told him.
“It’s
not that easy…”
Lance
raised an eyebrow.
“Look…
I love you guys, but I also need to keep some things to myself. The way I feel about her isn’t something I
want to be teased about.”
“The
decision is ultimately yours. If you
occasionally forget to hide your relationship around us and the rest of the
guys find out, that’s one thing – we’re obviously not going to go to the press. But if you forget and become even somewhat
affectionate in public, all hell is going to break loose and it won’t be as
easy to hide because everyone will be watching you.”
“Lance…”
“I’m
just telling you to be careful, that’s all.
I don’t want this to blow up in your face. But come on, we’re on in two minutes.”
**********
“’In
love?” They heard Chris say. “I thought we were in Toronto.”
“I
can’t believe he said that.” Michelle stared at the TV, dumbfounded. She was sitting with Laurie in one of the
few offices that had a TV and they were watching the guys Live at Much.
Laurie
was laughing. “He has a point, they are in Toronto. He probably won’t even remember that he said
it.”
“True,”
Michelle agreed but still felt a little offended.
“’Yeah
JC, how hard is it to date?’”
Laurie’s
mouth dropped open when she heard Chris ask that and Michelle burst into
laughter.
JC
shot a discreet glare in Chris’ direction.
“’I can’t date, Chris, I’m married.’”
“’Well
that’s good,” Justin laughed. “’Because
we don’t want you to date Chris.’”
Michelle
groaned. “It’s going to be one of those
days.”
**********
(A couple of days later – on the plane to
Minneapolis)
“So
did you tell Chris that you’re coming or is this a surprise?” Laurie asked
after ordering an iced tea from the flight attendant.
“No,
he knows. He had Melinda arrange for a
driver and a car to meet us at the airport.
What are your plans for tonight?”
“I
have no idea… I might just kick back, relax and order room service all night.”
“Sounds
like fun… it’s a good thing Jive is footing the bill.” Michelle laughed.
The
flight attendant’s voice rang through the speakers asking the passengers to
return to their seats and fasten their seatbelts.
“Landing
always makes me nervous,” Laurie commented.
“Me
too. I think its one of those things
you never get used to.”
Their
ears popped as the plane touched down and taxied to the gate. Laurie and Michelle unbuckled themselves and
grabbed their travel bags from the overhead compartment before making their way
out of the aircraft. The driver found
them easily and guided them to the Suburban.
“I
brought my suit, maybe I’ll go swimming when we get to the hotel.” Laurie comments as they climbed into the
vehicle.
“I
just want to change and have a shower after being on the plane so long. I feel gross.”
“I’m
sure Chris won’t notice,” Laurie paused.
“Are you going to ask him about the ‘Toronto’ comment?”
“Probably
not, unless he brings it up. I know he
loves me and you’re right – he’ll probably have forgotten that he even said
it.” She looked at Laurie
carefully. “It’s funny that JC didn’t
respond to the question though.”
“Maybe
he doesn’t love Alexandria,” she said softly.
“Maybe
he doesn’t.” Michelle agreed, silently
wishing that Laurie would just tell her the truth.
**********
Lance
knocked on JC’s door and when JC answered it, Lance leaned casually against the
door frame and grinned. JC looked like
he had just woken up.
“What
do you want Lance?” JC grumbled. “You
woke me up.”
Uh huh. “I know something you don’t
know.”
JC
rolled his eyes. “I don’t care. I’m going back to sleep.” He began to close
the door and Lance stopped it easily with his hand.
“Oh
no, C,” Lance was still grinning. “I
think you want this little piece of information.”
“What?”
He glared at him.
“Laurie
flew in with Michelle and they’re on their way to the hotel.” Lance laughed and
ran down the hall to his room.
“Lance,
get your ass back here!” JC yelled.
“I
can’t, I have umm… a conference call!” He hollered back and laughed wildly.
“Hey!”
Chris and Justin poked their heads out of Chris’ room. “What’s with all the yelling and why weren’t
we invited?”
“Because
its more fun to talk about you behind your back!” Lance yelled and closed the door to his room. JC shook his head and slammed his door while
Chris and Justin just looked at each other, shrugged and went back to play the
playstation.