Chapter Six

JC dropped Laurie off at home shortly before two in the morning. As she was walking around her house and making sure everything was locked up, her mind wandered back to what JC had said on the boardwalk. It would be wonderful if they could share their feelings openly, like they were able to do back in Europe. She shook her head. She didn’t want to think about what might have been if they hadn’t lost touch.

“Miscommunication sucks!” She yelled in frustration and hot, angry tears began to fill her eyes. She laid down on her bed and pulled the covers up around her chin. “Why can’t things be the way they used to?”

***Flashback – Five Years Earlier***

It was Laurie’s last night in Europe and she was reluctant to leave, although she couldn’t avoid it. JC picked her up at her hotel and headed in the direction of the best beach in Nice. When they arrived it was deserted, save for a few stray seagulls looking for bits of food leftover from the days’ tourists. The moonlight lit a path across the water and over the sand, guiding their way. He gently took her hand into his and they began to walk allowing the still warm grains of sand to caress the skin between their toes.

“I can’t believe it’s your last night here,” he mused and gave her hand a slight squeeze. “I wish I could fly back with you, but I’m stuck here for another three weeks.”

“It’s all right Josh,” Laurie laughed. “I’m sure we’ll see each other when you get back, even if we do live on opposite ends of the country. You guys are going to be really big one day.”

The shrill ringing of the telephone jolted Laurie out of her reverie. “I swear, if that’s Craig checking up on me… hello?”

“Hey,” JC said. “I’m sorry for calling you so late, but I forgot to ask you something. Since we start shooting the video tomorrow, I was wondering if you wanted to meet me there. I’m sure the guys would love to see you again.”

“I’m sure they wouldn’t even remember me!” She laughed. “But I would love to go. What’s the address?”

JC gave it to her and then said, “Be there around six tomorrow night, that’s when we’re supposed to start shooting… it never turns out that way, but maybe this time we’ll get lucky. Chris’ girlfriend lives around the block from the studio, so you’ll probably meet her.”

“What if people ask who I am?” Laurie asked apprehensively and started fingering the edge of the blanket.

“We’ll tell them the truth… you’re an old friend that I met in Europe and became reaquainted with while we were on our honeymoons.”

“Ok.”

“Besides, it’s not like we’re doing anything wrong,” he told her.

“There seems to be a lot of that sentiment going around,” Laurie thought. “If we’re not doing anything wrong, then why do we sound like we’re trying to convince ourselves of it?” Out loud she said, “True. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Oh, and you might want to eat something before you leave… it’s a new place and I can’t guarantee what the caterers are going to be like.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow Josh.”

“You’d better,” he grinned. “Sleep well Laur.”

**********

When Laurie arrived at the studio the following evening, there was a lot of activity around her and security didn’t even give her a second look. Almost. A large black man with a tag around his neck approached her.

“You look lost,” he said in a gruff voice. “Are you supposed to be here?”

Startled, she looked up at him. “I’m sorry?”

“This is a closed set. If you’re not supposed to be here, you need to leave.”

“I don’t know if this is the right place or not…” she hesitated. “Josh called me last night and invited me to watch the shoot…”

“Follow me please,” the burly man said and led her down a series of corridors to a small, stuffy security office. She watched as he mumbled something into his two-way radio. There was a reply and he glanced in her direction. “Your name?”

“Laurie Williams,” she replied with a hint of fear in her voice. “What if Josh forgot to tell them I was coming?”

“You’re clear to go in,” he told her and passed Laurie a tag identical to the one he was wearing. “Follow me.”

She followed the security guard out of the small room, relieved that Josh hadn’t forgotten. It was long before they reached a large empty room with what looked like hundreds of people milling about, and almost just as many cameras. There were props everywhere. The guard suddenly stopped and unlocked a door.

“In here,” he directed her. She walked into the room and saw Josh immediately.

“Thanks Lonnie,” JC said. Lonnie just nodded and left the room, leaving the two of them alone. “I hope he didn’t scare you too much.” He paused and nervously ran his hand through his freshly washed hair. “We have a slight problem.”

“What’s that?”

“Alexandria flew to LA with the rest of the guys this morning,” he replied. “Apparently she wants to apologize for what she said the other day.”

“Oh.” Laurie said, her heart sinking.

“And I realize that I haven’t yet told you what she said, it’s just really hard for me and it’s not something I want to readily admit.”

“Josh,” she rested her hand on his arm. “You shouldn’t feel the need to explain it to me. She’s your wife… what happens between the two of you is none of my concern.”

“She only married me for my money and my status,” he blurted out. “She isn’t with me because she loves me.”

“Josh, I’m…”

“That’s another thing,” he sighed. “When you’re here, you have to call me JC. Alexandria knows that the only people allowed to call me Josh are my family and the people I really care about.”

“Ok, I can do that.” She agreed, noticing the pain in his eyes when he spoke about his wife.

“Can I just hold you?” He requested suddenly. “Just for a few minutes… I need to have you in my arms.”

Laurie complied with his request by wrapping her arms around his waist. He did the same and just stood there with his head on her shoulder. A few minutes later there was a quiet knock on the door and they reluctantly separated.

“Thank you,” he gave her a quick kiss and walked over to the door.

“You’re needed in makeup.”

“Thanks,” JC said and closed the door again. “I’ll take you to where you need to be, then I have to go and get my hair and makeup done. If Alexandria says anything to you, she may or may not, just ignore her unless she’s being civil.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she paused. “I’d say ‘break a leg’, but after what happened to Joey, I think I’ll just keep my mouth shut.”

He smiled at her. “Thank you Laurie.”

“You’re welcome… JC.” She frowned. “It feels really odd saying that.”

“You’d better get used to it, at least for the time being. I don’t know how long Alexandria is going to be around. She usually doesn’t have the patience for this type of thing.”

“It’s ok,” Laurie reassured him. “I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”

“You’re the best,” he grinned and it lit up his face. “Come on, we need to get going.”

JC guided her back out to the main room and showed her where she could sit. He winked at her discreetly before heading to the makeup room. When he sat down in the chair, he noticed Chris was seated beside him, his petite girlfriend leaning against the wall with her eyes closed and her arms folded across her chest.

“I’m telling you Chris, it won’t work! It’s a conflict of interest!” JC heard her exclaim.

“What’s going on?” JC whispered to Chris as the stylist began to attack his hair. Chris rolled his eyes.

“We’re trying to establish a charity for FuMan, and we’ve decided to start a camp…”

“Let me guess,” JC interrupted. “Camp FuMan?”

Chris glared at him. “Shut up. Anyway, I think using the accountant we currently use for FuMan is fine, but Shelle disagrees with me.”

“Why?”

“Because,” she sighed, clearly exasperated. “The accountant for the business part of FuMan would obviously be more concerned about the money flow for the company than he would the Camp, because that’s where his pay is coming from. Camp FuMan wouldn’t get as much attention and it would suffer… therefore, we need a separate accountant!”

“Actually Chris, she does have a point.”

“Thank you JC.” Michelle paused as Lance entered the room. “Lance! Just the man I wanted to talk to. Chris and I are having a little disagreement, and since you’re so good at business…” she purred and straightened his collar as she explained the situation.

“She’s right,” Lance agreed. “Two separate accountants would be much more beneficial.”

“Fine,” Chris gave in. “Find someone… but I get final approval.”

Lance picked up the water bottle that he had come in to the dressing room to get and left again, shaking his head on the way out.

“Umm… I think I might know someone,” JC began. “I’ve known her for a long time… I don’t know if you remember her or not, Chris…”

“Spit it out C, that way I can figure out what you’re talking about.”

“Remember Laurie? I met her when we were in Europe, trying to get the group off the ground?” Chris gave JC a look that told him he had no idea who he was talking about. “Anyway, I ran into her again in New York, we were both on our honeymoons. She’s an accountant and she’s looking for a job.”

“And you trust her? Implicitly?” Chris raised an eyebrow.

“Absolutely.”

“Good enough for me. Leave her information with Michelle and she can call her.”

“Actually Chris… she’s here. I invited her to watch the shoot.”

“Are you out of your mind? Alexandria will rip her apart!”

“Alexandria wasn’t supposed to be here,” JC replied through gritted teeth. “Besides, if Michelle is out there talking to Laurie, I doubt she’ll even make the connection to me.”

“He’s probably right Chris,” Michelle mused. “I’ll go out and talk to her now.”

**********

Lance was half-heartedly listen to a joke Joey was trying to tell him. His eyes aimlessly wandered around the room, trying to get a feel for the atmosphere of the video. He was a little apprehensive about Wade taking over for Joey in the wide shots, but appreciative nonetheless. His eyes narrowed in concentration when his gaze landed on a woman who seemed to be in her late twenties.

“Hey Joe,” Lance interrupted whatever Joey was babbling about. “Does that woman over there look familiar to you?”

Joey turned his head in the direction Lance was motioning and he dragged his eyes appreciatively up and down her body, his gaze lingering longer in certain spots. “No, she doesn’t, but damn she’s hot!”

“I’m going to go over and talk to her… you can find Justin and tell him that he has to be ready to go in thirty minutes.”

“Yes sir!” Joey brought his feet together and gave Lance a mock salute.

“We won’t even go there,” Lance rolled his eyes and headed in Laurie’s direction. “Hi.”

Laurie looked up with a startled expression and moved over so that he could sit down. “How are you?”

“I’m pretty good,” he smiled easily. “But I would be even better if I could figure out why you look so familiar to me…”

“I’m Laurie… I think I look familiar to you because we’ve met before.” She smiled.

Lance laughed. “Care to fill me in?”

“When you guys were in Europe five years ago,” she said. “JC and I spent a lot of time together and he invited me to most of your concerts while I was there.”

“Ah yes… it’s all coming back to me now. I thought you and JC had lost touch?”

“We did. We ran into each other in New York while we were on our honeymoons… our rooms were right next to each other. And, as it turns out, we practically live around the corner from each other.”

“Damn…” Lance paused and chose his next words carefully. “Y’know… JC was pretty upset when you guys lost touch. I think he really wanted to see you again.”

“The feeling was mutual,” Laurie replied quietly and looked down at her hands. “JC and I…” Laurie was interrupted by the arrival of someone.

“Hi, are you Laurie?”

“Fine Michelle, don’t say hi to me.”

“Ok I won’t,” she flashed a grin at Lance and he rolled his eyes before standing up and walking away. “I’m Michelle… JC said that you’re an accountant?”

“I am.” Laurie affirmed. She couldn’t even begin to figure out where this conversation was going to go.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard of Chris’ clothing line, FuMan Skeeto?” Michelle waited while Laurie nodded. “We’re starting a charity for it, to send kids to camp and we need a separate accountant to handle the funds for it. JC said you were looking for a job and that he trusts you. Would you be interested?”

Laurie could only stare at Michelle in shock. She was being given the opportunity to do what she was good at, and her heart swelled at the fact that JC had recommended her for the job.

“I would love to give it a try,” she smiled.

Chapter 7