"Hi. My name's Dian. What's yours?"
"Lance." He replied in a deep, melodic voice that filled my ears and sent a shiver down my spine.
"Are you from out of town?" I asked him, already knowing the answer.
"You could say that." He sounded so mysterious.
I brought my eyes to his and my head seemed to swim. I was drowning in a deep, green ocean. He spoke again and I came back to reality. "I'm sorry. What did you say?" I was a little embarrassed for letting myself get so distracted.
"I asked if you wanted to dance."
"Oh sure." I answered and turned towards the dance floor. He put his hand on the small of my back and I melted under his touch. It was so light, almost non-existent. But at the same time, it was like the most commanding presence. I mentally shook myself for being so dippy. The table where'd I'd been sitting was close to the dance floor, so I made sure to walk right past it, giving my sisters and Kate a wink. Their mouths dropped open and they stared as me and my stranger walked out onto the dance floor. The DJ must have been feeling really sappy because "Unchained Melody" started playing from the speakers. We found an empty spot and Lance pulled me close to him. I put my arms up around his neck and breathed in the scent of his cologne. The smell filled my nostrils and I found myself absorbed in him again. I ran my fingers through his spiky blond hair as we swayed slowly to the haunting melody. I drifted off and soon it seemed like we weren't even in the club anymore, but under a blanket of stars.
"Lance?"
"Yes?"
"Nevermind, I'll sound physco." I decided against what I was going to say.
"It's okay. I feel it too." He whispered into my ear.
I pulled back a little so that I could look into his eyes. He locked his gaze with mine and we stopped moving and just stood there like that. I vaguely noticed that the song was over and looked around. I must have been hallucinating because we were standing on the dance floor just like we should be. I just shrugged it off and took his hand, noticing how soft and cool his skin felt next to mine.
"Would you like to meet my friends?" I asked as we walked off the hardwood and back onto the cement that made up the floor in the rest of club.
"Sure." He replied and followed me over to where Elise, Ginni and Kate were sitting.
part 2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hi guys." I said as I walked up to the table. "This is Lance. Lance this is Ginni, Elise, and Kate." I pointed to each of them as I said their names.
"Hello." Lance said quietly.
"Where ya from Lance? You look really familiar." Ginni asked.
Lance got a far away look in his eyes and seemed to think for a bit before he answered. "Mississippi."
"Oh. I must have been thinking of someone else."
"Well scoot over you guys so that he can sit down." I said. They did and we sat down and talked for awhile. Lance didn't say much, he mostly just listened to us gossip. After a while, another slow song came on. It was "Angel" by Sara McLaughlin. Lance squeezed my hand and we got up to dance again. I caught Elise and Ginni nudging each other out of the corner of my eye as Lance and I walked back out onto the dance floor. The haunting melodies of the song took over our senses as we stepped into each other's arms. Lance brought his arms around my waist and pulled me close again, as if to meld our bodies together permanently. My senses were exploding from being so close to him. Once again, I felt the words of the song carry us away to another place. This time we were standing by a moonlit lake. I wondered to myself what was happening. I didn't know why he had this strange effect on me. He was so mysterious and entrancing at the same time. It was like we were in our own little world where there was no one else. We drifted back to reality as the last few chords of the song slipped through the speakers. I didn't look into his eyes this time for fear of getting lost in them again. As we were heading back to the table, we heard the DJ announce last call.
I turned to Lance and asked, "Where are you staying?"
He looked at me quizzically. "I don't know."
"You don't have a motel room or anything?"
"No."
I thought to myself that he didn't talk much. But I said to him, "You can sleep on my couch tonight if you want. It's really late it would be really hard to find a motel room."
"Okay." He replied.
We walked back over to the table. We had brought two separate cars. Kate and I had an apartment and Ginni and Elise had one in the same complex.
"Are you guys ready to go?" I asked. Each of them said yes and I looked at Kate. "Lance is going to sleep on our couch tonight, if that's okay with you."
"Sure." She said.
We went out to the parking lot and got in our cars. Kate got in the back seat and Lance sat in the front with me. On the twenty minute drive to our apartment, he just sat and stared absently out the window. We pulled up in the parking lot at the same time as Ginni and Elise. We all said goodnight and Kate, Lance, and I went into our townhouse. Kate and I went upstairs and I found an extra blanket and pillow and took them down to Lance. He was sitting on the couch and looked up at me when I walked up beside him. I handed him the pillow and blanket and we talked for a little bit. Then I said goodnight and went back upstairs. I went into Kate's room to say goodnight.
She looked up from her book. "He's cute, but a little strange."
"I know. There's something about him, but I just can't put my finger on it." I told her. She just shook her head and smiled at me. We said goodnight and I went acroos the hall to my bedroom. I took off my clothes and slipped on a t-shirt and some boxer shorts and got into bed. 'Tonight sure was weird.' I thought to myself and drifted off to sleep. During the night I had a dream about a beautiful place covered with fragrant flowers. In the dream the flowers were all a strange shade of green and the sun shone brightly through the trees. The next morning I woke up feeling really tired. I just couldn't seem to get fully awake. Kate came in as she was leaving for work and I got up to go to the bathroom. I splashed some cold water on my face trying to wake up. I lifted my face to look in the mirror and noticed two small red marks on my neck. Turning my head to get a better look, I touched the marks with my fingertips. They weren't sore and I figured they were from the necklace I'd been wearing. I'd just bought it yesterday, so I though it had irritated my skin a little. Sighing, I went and laid back down. I must have fell asleep again because the next thing I knew, the clock beside my bed said 5:30pm and the sun had started to dip behind the buildings.
Kate walked into my room. "God woman! Have you been in bed all day?"
"I guess so. Is Lance still downstairs?"
"Yep. He's still asleep on the couch. It looks like he hasn't moved all day either."
part 3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I got up and went downstairs to find Lance sitting up on the couch. For some reason he didn't look at pale as he had last night. His cheeks seemed rosier, his lips redder. 'It must have just been the lighting in the club.' I told myself. I walked over to the couch and sat down next to him. He gave me a strange look, as if he didn't recognize me, then his eyes brightened and he smiled.
"Did you sleep all day too?" I asked.
"Yeah. But I do that a lot. I don't really like the sun." After he said that he ducked his head as if he were embarrassed. I decided not to press the issue. "Are you hungry?" I was still looking at him. He finally lifted his eyes to mine again. This time when our gazes met, I felt something else along with the strange sensation. I felt a sort of deep, inner bond had been formed without my knowing it. It was a strange feeling but I liked it.
"Sure. A little I guess." Lance said and got up off the couch. He went into the downstairs bathroom and came back out looked a little refreshed. He stopped in front of the front window and the deepening twilight caught a few droplets of water on his face. I got up off the couch and wiped them away with my hand. He brought his hand to mine and our faces drifted closer to each other. Just as our lips were about to touch, Kate came bouncing down the stairs.
"Ooops. Sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt." She said and went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
The moment gone, we both stepped away. I went upstairs to change. I threw on some loose jeans and one of my many FuBu jerseys. I also scrambled around in my clothes until I came up with some Adidas windpants and a Tommy t-shirt. I took them downstairs to Lance.
"Here. You can change into these." I handed him the clothes. He nodded and went into the bathroom to change. When he came back out, he looked at me for approval and I smiled.
"Hey Kate! We're gonna go get something to eat. You wanna go?" I hollered towards the kitchen. Kate walked into the living room.
"Nah, I'm just gonna make me a sandwich." She winked at me and went back into the kitchen. Lance and I went outside and got into my car. The sun was getting lower in the sky. There were a few wispy clouds on the horizon reflecting the orange, purple, and reds of the sunset. I turned to Lance.
"So where do you want to eat?"
He gave me the now characteristic quizzical look. "I'm not familiar with anything around here."
I could tell he was trying not to sound like a total idiot and that he really didn't know. I thought for a minute and decided on The Outback Steakhouse. A favorite of mine. I was tired of fast food and suddenly craving a really rare steak. Shrugging it off, I put the car in drive and headed off in that direction.
**Back at the apartment**
Kate made herself a sandwich and went into the living room to watch TV. On the way she noticed that Lance had left the bathroom light on. She sat her sandwich down on the coffee table and went to turn it off. The pants he'd had on were laying in the floor and his wallet was sticking about 3/4 of the way out of the back pocket.
Curiosity getting the better of her, she gingerly picked it up and opened it. Guiltily, she looked out towards the front door. She opened the wallet and gasped when she saw that there was about $500 in cash inside. Seeing his driver's license in the transparent panel, she looked at it closely. Seeing his last name, she said aloud, "Holy shit! I knew I'd seen him somewhere before!" Realizing that she'd said that out loud, she felt even more guilty and put the wallet back where it was. She turned out the light and went back into the living room and turned on the TV. She knew that she hadn't
recognized him right off because none of the other guys were with him. Just then she remembered something she'd heard on the news a few weeks ago. She'd been sitting in the living room with Dian, Ginni, and Elise when something on the TV caught their attention. The reporter talked about how 'N SYNC plane had gone down over Scotland. Justin, Joey, Chris's bodies had been found, but there was no trace of JC or Lance. It was sad and all them had started crying because they were really big fans of the group. It was weird that Lance was here now and hadn't said anything. She also couldn't believe that Dian hadn't noticed because Lance was her favorite. Shaking her head, she decided to have a talk with Dian when her and Lance got back from eating.
part 4~~~~~~~~~~~~
**At the restaurant**
Lance and I were sitting at a secluded table, waiting on our food. We'd both ordered extra rare steaks and were munching on a blooming onion while we waited. I thought to myself that he looked so familiar, but I just couldn't place where I knew him from. It was right there at the edge of my mind, but I just couldn't grasp it. He was being quiet, just like last night. I wished that I could get him to open up to me. He seemed so lost and troubled. I decided to try and get him to talk a little.
"So what brings you to Oklahoma City, Lance?" I asked.
He looked up at me and there was such pain and sorrow in his eyes that my heart ached for him. "Do you really want to know?" He asked.
"Yes." My voice was barely over a whisper.
Lance lowered his head again and began quietly. "I lost 3 of my best friends in a plane crash and one is still missing. I don't know if I'll ever see him again. I got lost in some really terrifying place for a while, I'm not really sure how long. The truth is, I don't remember how I got here or to that club you found me in last night. The only thing that I can remember about my entire life is that plane crash." As he finished, what seemed to be a tear slipped down his cheek onto the tablecloth.
I reached across the table and took his hand in mine. "I'm so sorry Lance. I wish there was something I could do to help. For right now, you can stay at my house, until you figure something out." I offered this, knowing that was the only thing I could give him at the moment. I looked at his face and it seemed that his skin had become pale again. There was no color in his cheeks, and his lips were the faintest shade of pink. He opened his eyes and looked at me. Again, I felt myself begin to slip away. But I was brought back to reality by the waiter sitting our food down on the table. I tore my eyes from Lance's face and stared at the steak on my plate. I cut a piece off and put it in my mouth. I savored the juiciness, chewing the meat and letting it slip down my throat. I continued eating, trying not to seem too hungry, though there was a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach screaming out for more. I looked across the table at Lance and it seemed that he was trying to exercise the same kind of restraint. He wasn't looking at me, so I took the liberty of studying his features. Before my eyes, he made a transformation. As he ate, the color came back to his cheeks and lips, his features became more vivid. I went back to eating my food before he caught me looking. Neither one of us spoke until we were done. Finishing off the last bite of meat, I looked up to find his eyes fixed on me. He smiled at me and my heart melted. I briefly wondered if I should be worried about the sexy stranger sitting across from me. Then I decided he was harmless and would never do anything to hurt me. Somehow I knew that just by looking in his eyes. Our dinner was finished and we both got up from our table. He started fumbling around in his back pocket, but I quickly pulled out some cash and laid it on the table with the check. Lance noticed what I had done and seemed embarrassed.
"Don't worry about it." I told him. "I'm the one that asked you to come with me, remember."
He smiled again and put his arm around my waist as we walked back out to my car. I stopped to get some movies then drove on back to my townhouse. Kate came out on the walkway and waved at us. She stepped back to let us go in and started to follow us. She noticed a dark figure standing on the ground watching us and quickly shut the door. Lance and I had sat down on the couch and were debating which movie to watch.
Kate started up the stairs. "Dian, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Sure." I replied, then told Lance, "I'll be back in a little bit." I went up the stairs to find her waiting in my room. "What is it Kate?"
"I think you'd better sit down for this one, girl." She said and patted the bed beside her.
part 5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What's the matter?" I asked after I sat down on the bed.
She turned to face me. "Do you have any idea who is downstairs in our living room?"
"Yeah. A guy name Lance that we brought home from the club last night." I replied a little sarcastically.
"Nope wrong answer. Can we say Lance Bass of 'N Sync is in our living room?"
I just sat there and stared at her. "No way. It can't be."
"It is. I promise. I found his wallet after you guys went to eat. I looked at his driver's license. There were some other 'N Sync things in there too." Kate told me quietly so that her voice wouldn't carry down the stairs.
"You looked in his wallet?!"
"It wasn't like I was snooping or something. I went in the bathroom to turn the light off and it was sticking out of his pants pocket."
"Omigod. What are we going to do, Kate? I don't think he knows. He told me that the only thing he remembers about his whole life is that he was in a plane crash with 3 of his friends and they died and one was still missing. I mean, do you think we should tell him?" I didn't know what to do. Surely people were looking for him. He couldn't stay here for long. Someone would surely recognize him.
"I think we should tell him. Maybe it will help him remember." Kate told me. I agreed and we went back downstairs together. Lance was still sitting on the couch staring absently at the TV. He looked up when we walked into the living room and smiled at me, his eyes regaining some of their sparkle. I sat down on one side of him and Kate took the other.
Trying to break things to him gently, I asked, "Lance, do you know what your last name is?"
"No." He replied sadly.
I looked at Kate unsurely before continuing. "It's Bass. I know who you were, are. You used to be in a singing group called *N SYNC."
He stared at me, nothing registering in his bright green eyes. I kept going, hoping for something to register with him. "Your groupmates' names were Justin, JC, Joey, and Chris. You guys' pictures are probably plastered on the walls of half the girls in America." I looked at him again, still nothing. Then I got an idea. "Wait. I know. Come with me." I grabbed his hand and pulled him off the couch and out the door. We walked across the courtyard to Ginni and Elise's apartment and I knocked on the door. Ginni opened in and I went straight to her bedroom.
"Dian, what in the hell are you doing?" She called after me.
"Just give me a sec." I hollered back through the apartment. I pulled Lance into the bedroom and pointed at the wall, where Ginni had numerous *N Sync posters hung. "See?"
He looked at the wall and a faint glimmer of recognition began to shine in his eyes. He turned to me and smiled. "I'm remembering a little. Thank you." He pulled on my arm, bringing me closer to him. Just when our lips were about to touch, Ginni walked into the room.
"Oops. Sorry sis." She mumbled and walked back in the other room.
Lance and I broke our almost embrace and followed her into the living room. Ginni and Elise were sitting on the couch watching TV. I cleared my throat to get their attention. "Girls, I would like to reintroduce you to my friend. This is Lance Bass."
Their mouths dropped opened as it dawned on them who he really was. "Why didn't you tell us this before?" Ginni asked.
"Because I didn't know before, gooberhead." I replied. "We're going back to my house now. I'll talk to you guys later." Lance and I walked back across the courtyard to my townhouse. I got a weird feeling that I was being watched and turned around. There was a darkly clad figure standing in the shadows under the stairwell. I pulled on Lance's hand and we walked faster. Once we were back inside, I told Kate that there was someone outside watching us.
"I know. I saw him last night. It's starting to make me a little nervous." She said.
"Well I'm gonna go to bed." Kate told us and went upstairs. Lance and I decided to watch movies. Neither one of us were tired because we'd slept all day. We sat watching the movie channels and talked about 'N Sync. I told him stuff I knew about the group and he told me some things that he remembered. About 3am, I got up and went in the kitchen to get something to drink. I shut the refrigerator door and found Lance standing in front of me. Sitting my pop down on the counter, I stepped closer to him. Since there was no one to
interrupt us this time, our lips came together softly. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my body to his. Finally, we broke apart and smiled at each other. Intertwining our fingers, we went back to the couch. When the first rays of the sun started to shine on the horizon, I went up to bed. I didn't dream of the beautiful place this time. My head was filled with nightmares.
part 6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I dreamed that I was in a dark, ominous forest. I was running through the trees, fearful for my life. My body was sore and bruised. Branches snapped behind me and I ran faster, as if the devil himself were after me. Bursting out of the woods, I came upon a house. In the doorway stood a beautiful woman, beckoning to me. I ran into the house to flee the danger in the woods. She welcomed me into the house and fed me. I slept there that night, on the sod floor of her house. I dreamed fitfully all through the night, waking the next morning with a terrible feeling that my life was slipping from me. I stayed there for almost a week, the same events
occurring every day and I had the same dream and woke the same way each morning. Though I ate and drank plenty, my body grew weak, til I could hardly move. Then, one night I went to sleep as before, but didn't wake until late in the evening the next day. This time I felt stronger, more able. Things went on this way for a few days until I was never awake when there was even a shred of daylight outside. I had made a transformation, but didn't want to believe it, or what I had become.
***
I woke up that evening. Sitting straight up in my bed, I noticed that I was covered with sweat. Where had such a vivid dream come from and what did it mean? I looked outside and saw that the sun was again dipping behind the tall building of the city. I had to get back in a normal sleeping routine. I had always been a night owl, but this was ridiculous. Kate came bursting through my door.
"What are doing girl? Do you realize you're two and half hours late for work?" She said, nearly shouting at me.
I jumped out bed. "Shit! Will you call work for me and tell them I'll be there soon? Please, Kate?" I ran into the bathroom and jumped in the shower. I washed myself quickly and stood in front of the mirror, drying off. When I was combing out my hair, I noticed that the red marks on my neck had almost disappeared. I went back into my bedroom and threw on some jeans and a t-shirt. I didn't have to dress any particular way, since I worked at 7-11. It was only a couple of blocks from our complex. I ran down the stairs and saw that Lance was still asleep on the couch. Kate was in the kitchen, looking through the refrigerator. She looked up as I searched for my keys.
"I called them and your manager said that you were in big trouble and to hurry up and get your ass to work." She told me.
"Thanks sweetie. Will you tell Lance where I am when he wakes up?" I asked.
"Sure dearie."
I finally found my keys and rushed out the door. Deciding not to bother with the car, I jogged to the store. When I opened the door, the manager glared at me.
"It's about damn time you decided to show up."
"I know, I'm sorry." I threw on my smock and took my place at the cash register. I'd worked there for over a year and was making $8.35 an hour. It wasn't the best job, but it paid the bills. I sure didn't want to lose it. The hours seemed to drag by, but finally 11pm came and the graveyard shift person came to relieve me. I stocked everything up and left, anxious to get home. But I walked this time. As I walked down the lighted streets, I felt as if someone were watching me again. I looked behind me and saw the dark stranger from last night. Feeling a little nervous I began to walk faster and heard his footsteps quicken as well. Just as I was about to break into a run, he called out to me.
"Wait!"
I stopped under a street light and turned around, waiting for him to catch up.
When he stepped into the light, I saw who it was. "JC. What are you doing here?"
I want MORE....
Main Stories Page
Home