Chapter Thirteen
She was laughing so hard that JC was holding her up as they walked towards his car. Brooklyn had been laughing for ten minutes straight, and it didn't look like she was going to stop anytime soon. "New York, it wasn't that funny, was it?" he asked, as she stumbled, bringing her hands up to wipe away her tears.
Stopping him, she turned him around to face her. "JC, the guy sitting beside us sneezed s hard that his...his..." There was no way that she was able to finish, and she bent her head, letting herself laugh again.
He couldn't hold it back and started to laugh with her. "I can't believe that it fell in his dinner."
"He was wearing a toupee! You think that I'm going to stop laughing anytime soon?" she asked, bending over so far that she was practically sitting on the ground. His head shook as he reached for her, helping her back up. "His hair fell in his soup. His hair. This is the sort of thing that you see in movies, not things that you see when you go out for dinner. You're not supposed to sit beside someone who sneezes so bad at the pepper that HE put in his soup so that his HAIR falls off his head and lands in his bowl."
JC finally got her to the car and opened up her door, easing her inside as she giggled again. "It was funny, I'll admit that much," he said, shutting her door and walking around to the other side. "I still can't believe that he told the guy to run water of it and squeeze it out so that he could put it back on his head." He had to lean against the side of the car while he laughed with her. "Why does this happen every time that we go out. Something always manages to happen."
Her head shook. "We either pick the wrong places to go, or we're blessed that way. Besides, we need stories to tell our grandchildren one day," she added, shrugging as he climbed into the driver's seat.
"So, you think that you and I are going to have kids, to the point where they have kids? Nice thought."
"Are you purposely twisting my words around all night, or am I just putting my foot in my mouth over and over?" she asked, tucking her hair behind her ears with a smile. "Every time that I've tried to say something, you make it sound like I'm dirty or I have a serious mental problem. Did I piss you off today or something?"
He couldn't help smiling as he turned the key in the ignition. "I can't help it. You're leaving yourself too open tonight. You never do that around me. You have to let me get in a few shots every now and then."
Rolling her eyes, she looked over at him. "Shots? What you've been giving me around more like knockouts." Brooklyn looked down and took a stack of cassettes from the console and looked through them. "I think I turned you into a country fan. Is that good or bad?" she asked, pressing in one of the tapes, turning up the volume a little.
"Now all I have to do is work on you listening to other music than country." She stuck her tongue out and leaned back in her seat as she listened to the song.
I'm so scared that the way that I feel
Is written all over my face
When you walk into the room
I want to find a hiding place
We used to laugh, we used to hug
The way that old friends do
But now a smile and a touch 'a your hand
Just makes me come unglued
It's such a contradiction
Do I lie or tell the truth
Is it fact or fiction
Oh, the way I feel for you
Brooklyn sat up a little straighter in the seat and looked out the window. She had heard the song a few times before, but listening to it while sitting beside JC was practically killing her. No one had ever been able to put everything she was feeling in a song before. She had listened to millions of love songs, and none of them even touched on what she had been feeling recently, but this...this hit it dead on. This was the last thing that she needed. She couldn't turn off the tape, either. It would be too obvious, wouldn't it.
It's so complicated
I'm so frustrated
I wanna hold you close, I wanna push you away/br>
I wanna make you go, I wanna make you stay/br>
Should I say it
Should I tell you how I feel
Oh, I want you to know
But then again I don't
It's so complicated (oh)
She had to put on that tape, JC thought, as he tapped one of his fingers against the wheel. He didn't even know where he got it from. All he knew was that he was about ready to take the tape and throw it out of the car. Hell, he should run over it like she did with her cell phone until he was sure that he wouldn't have to hear it again. Everything that he was thinking was being sung to him, and it was hell. Absolute hell. Stuff like this wasn't supposed to happen. He didn't want it to happen.
Just when I think I'm under control
I think I finally got a grip
Another friend tells me that
My name is always on your lips
They say I'm more than just a friend
They say I must be blind
Well, I admit that I've seen you watch me
From the corner of your eye
Oh, it's so confusing
Yeah, I wish you'd just confess
But think of what I'd be losing
If your answer wasn't yes
God, this was too much. Why had she ever agreed to talk with Chris. Why had she ever told him everything that happened that night. He had been telling her for the longest time that she was blind if she didn't feel the same was for JC. The only problem was how he felt about her. Sure, they had kissed. They had done that before, but did it mean anything? Maybe, maybe not. This wasn't helping. Brooklyn was so close to dropping her head in her hands and groaning. That would be too obvious, too. Far too obvious, and she didn't know if he felt the same way. He had to, she told herself. Then again, he didn't have to.
It's so complicated
I'm so frustrated
I wanna hold you close, I wanna push you away
I wanna make you go, I wanna make you stay
Should I say it
Should I tell you how I feel
Oh, I want you to know
But then again I don't
It's so complicated (oh)
I hate it
'Cause I've waited
So long for someone like you
Oh, what do I do
Why should I say it
Should I tell you how I feel
Oh, I want you to know
But then again I don't
It's so complicated (complicated)
So complicated (complicated)
It's so complicated, oh
Well, the singer got one thing right, he thought to himself. It WAS complicated. Incredibly complicated. There was something wrong with the song, though. He didn't want to push Brooklyn away, and he didn't want her to go. He wanted her to stay, but it was up to her to how she wanted to stay. Whether it was as a friend or something more.
It was hard to tell with Brooklyn, what she wanted. He was sure that he had been sending off mixed signals too, but how could he not? How could she not. What they were going through was incredibly strange. Just a few months ago, she was ready to marry the man that she loved. The man that she thought loved her. Now she was lost, just like him.
He knew how he felt about her. There was no doubt about that. He had known how he felt for her for a long time ago, but the whole problem was with what she felt for him. That's what he was unsure about. He was more than ready to admit that he loved her...to his friends. To admit that to her was something completely differently, because he didn't know how she was going to take it. Not only that, but if things didn't go the way that he wanted, he did want to have children one day.
Looking over at her, he saw that she had propped her head on her hand, staring out the windshield. "New York, who was that? The singer of that last song."
Her head raised quickly and looked over at him. A smile spread on her face as she thought about it. "There's no way that I could mistake that voice. It was Carolyn Dawn Johnson. She wrote two of the songs on my new album. She's incredible. It's nice to know that she finally recorded a CD and put it out there. You should hear her first song. It's so good."
"You know, it still amazes me how you can link any name back to you. How many people do you actually know?"
"I don't have enough fingers and toes to count." Chuckling, she turned towards him a bit. "Don't forget, I've been in the business for a long time, and I've met a lot of people that introduce me to this person or that person...it's a never ending chain for me. I think I know too many people."
For some reason, that struck him as funny and he laughed as he turned the corner, slowing down when he saw the red light ahead of them. "Too many people on your Christmas card list?" he asked.
Her eyes rolled. "Too many? I have a hand cramp before I get through a quarter of the cards that I have to write out, and wouldn't you know it, I'm the kind of person that has to send a card to each and every person that I've ever encountered in my life. Yup, I'm too nice, too."
"You're not too nice. You just care about every single person that you meet. I think it's cute."
Brooklyn wrinkled her nose and turned down Clint Black. "Cute," she muttered, looking over at him. "Cute is...little kids, not twenty five year old women. I hate it when someone calls me cute. Beautiful, stunning, attractive, gorgeous...those terms I can deal with, but cute? I'm this close to slapping you upside the head for that comment," she said, laughing.
"Well, it's better than what you had planned this morning. I was scared when you mentioned the butcher's knife. That's the last thing that I want to see in your hands," he told her, smiling brightly. Her head shook, and one finger tapped on the handle of the door beside her. "You've got a really strange look on your face. What are you thinking about?"
"Just thinking. Thinking about life, about love, about why I have to be such a complex person...the usual thing for me." She shot a smile at him, hoping that it didn't look nervous. Recently, she had been learning a lot more about JC, and it was all being filed away in her mind so that it could bounce back whenever it wanted and confuse her further. She was coming to accept her feelings, and she was accepting them willingly at this point. What she was going to do with them was another story.
Neither one of them knew that they were both struggling with what they were thinking, which at this point was the exact same thing. They were both thinking about each other, and what that could bring them. While they were thinking, JC pulled into an empty parking lot and turned off the car, staring ahead. Brooklyn couldn't find the words that she wanted to say at that point, and he was trying to work out the words out of his throat.
Finally, she sighed and looked ahead. "Where are...right, I said that I would go all cliché for this date, wouldn't I?" she asked with a laugh, taking off her seatbelt and going to open her door. "Hey, JC, the beach isn't going to come to you. You have to go to it. That's one of the few things that can't come to you," she said, leaning back to touch his arm.
When she touched him, he snapped completely out of what he was thinking and sighed. "I'm coming. I guess I just got lost in my thoughts there."
"Looked like some pretty heavy thinking, too. What's so important that you couldn't acknowledge me?" she asked, faking the hurt voice and pouting.
Honesty was the best approach. "You. I was thinking about you," he answered, watching as she took off her shoes and threw them back in the car before shutting her door.
"I can't be that important," she teased, pushing him when he joined her, barefooted on the sand.
He took her hand, and spun her around, before dipping her and looking down at her grinning face. "You'd be surprised how important you are, New York." One finger trailed along the side of her chain until it touched the 'k' on the necklace. "You know, I like having something of you that no one else can have." When she looked back at him, confused, he laughed and bent his head to kiss her cheek before letting her back up. "New York. That's something that n one else can use, but me. Has anyone asked you about the necklace yet?"
She nodded her head, as they started down the beach, Brooklyn digging her toes into the cool sand. "Yeah, but I never answer the question. I always tell them that someone very important in my life gave me the necklace and that I promised that person that no one else could call me that. They drop it after that." She shrugged and looked down at their entwined hands. "I think that, sometimes, they know it's you, but I'm always wrong."
"Yeah, we haven't been linked together for awhile now. Probably because you're on tour, and I'm...sitting at home doing nothing," he said with a grin. "They'll probably start up again, since your tour schedule says that you should be in Orlando right now, and they know I'm still out here. They should have fun with that for a little while."
Brooklyn started to laugh again. He loved the sound of it. "Wouldn't they just die to know that I'm staying at your place, too? That would make front page news, I'm sure."
His head shook. "Can't you just see the headline for this? They could have even more fun with this one."
"What, 'NSYNC Member Walking "Beaches of Cheyenne" With Country Singer'? That might be a little long, but I'm sure they could find some way to fit it in there." She spun around so that she was standing in front of him, a grin on her face. "Do you think I should quit the music industry and go into advertising? That didn't sound too bad."
Laughing, he brought his free hand up to his chest. "What, and disappoint your millions of fans?" Her tongue stuck out at him. "Be careful with that thing. Chris was right when he said that someone just might take that thing seriously one of these days." When he looked in her eyes, he saw the mischievous twinkle that had been missing through most of the dinner. Now, it was back and better than ever.
Slowly, she brought her eyebrows up and stared at him. "Honey, you wouldn't know what to do with it if you tried," she said, patting the top of his head before walking away a little.
He caught up with her and put his hand on her arm, making her look at him. "Was that a dare, New York, because you know that I take dares very seriously. I'm like you; I never pass on a dare. No one could ever call me a coward when it comes to them."
Was it friendly flirting or serious flirting, she asked herself and weighed the choices in her mind. Serious flirting, no doubt about it. She could tell by looking in his eyes. "You can take that anyway that you want. If you think it's a dare, then it was a dare. If you think it wasn't, it wasn't. You know I suck at making up my mind," she added, turning to walk again.
JC slowly released his lip from his teeth and sighed. It was his time to make a decision, and he thought that he had. He KNEW that he had made his decision. "And if I make up your mind for you?"
She stopped in her tracks and turned slowly, smiling lightly at him. She followed her own footprints back to him and winked once she was close enough for him to see. "I would be one very happy person, then." It was the truth, only because she couldn't make up her mind. She would be more than happy to have him make up her mind.
"And if I do something that you don't want?"
"I can pretty well guarantee that it wouldn't be something that I didn't want."
"And if my heart is telling me to go for it, and my head is saying 'watch out for where her foot is heading', which one should I listen to?" he asked in a whisper as he reached up to touch her hair.
Her eyes sparkled back at him seriously. "I'd say listen to the one that's speaking to you the loudest."
His head moved in a slight nod. "My heart is definitely shouting louder than my head at this point. I'd be a fool not to listen, huh?" he asked her. She didn't answer, but stepped closer to him. Just before their lips touched, they both groaned.
Brooklyn pointed down and smirked. "I think your pants are ringing. Do you keep an egg timer down there or something?" she asked, before turning to look out at the water. JC closed his eyes, taking out his cell phone and cursing the fact that he had brought it with him. He was sure that he had left it on his kitchen counter, but somehow, it was in his pants pocket.
"Hello?" he asked, annoyed. There was a slight pause before he spoke again. "Justin, the next time that I see you, my hands are going to find a permanent place around your neck, all right? Even when you turn blue and try to beg for mercy, I'm not going to listen to your gagging, gasps, and coughs."
She reached up and took the phone away from him, smiling. "Hey, Justin. I think you may have caught us at a bad time here, so you better have a good reason for calling, otherwise I'm going to sit and watch when JC goes to strangle you. Don't think that I'm going to lift one finger to help you, either."
A sharp intake of breath sounded on the other end. "Uh...I'm sorry? No, really, Brooke. What are you guys up to, anyway? You're not at the apartment, and you're both...oh, God, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize...is he really pissed off at me?" he asked softly.
Her eyes flicked towards JC before she smiled. "Probably not, and he'll get over it. You're just lucky that I took the phone away from him. You would have gotten a stern talking to, and I still want to enjoy the night, so I decided to save you. This is the only time that I'm going to do this, you understand, though. I have to go. Call JC in the morning, all right?" she asked.
"Sure, and I'm really sorry. Give him a kiss for me," he said mischievously.
"I'll leave you to do that for yourself. It would be far more interesting that way," she laughed before hanging up and passing him the phone. "Go easy on the young one, would you? He is sorry that he interrupted our...our walk," she said nervously, smiling at him. All she really wanted to do was chew on her lip or her fingernails, but she couldn't.
He nodded, pushing his hands through his hair. "Yeah, yeah. I know. I know what you mean." That didn't mean that he couldn't help letting his frustrated sigh being heard.
Brooklyn rolled her eyes before walking back over to the stereo and changing the radio station. She had tried listening to the current music, but wrinkling her nose and frowning took a lot of effort that morning, and she couldn't take it anymore. Instead, her thin fingers turned the dial until she found an oldies stations, and nodded her head to Jerry Lee Lewis as she walked back into the kitchen and finished pouring coffee into her mug.
As she did so, the front door to the apartment opened, and she heard someone clear their throat. "Is it safe, or should I duck?"
Laughing, she peeked around the corner. "It's safe, Justin. You can come in. JC went out a little while ago and he shouldn't be back for another hour or so." She went to pick her mug up from the counter and then walked out to meet him. "Besides, he's not mad at you or anything." Brooklyn had to reach up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Morning, cutie. What are you doing over here, anyway?"
He pouted as they walked outside onto the balcony together, with her still dressed in her pajamas. They sat across from each other at the same table that she and JC had had their 'kids' breakfast the morning before. "I've only seen you once since you got here. Once. I missed you, Brooke," he said with a bright smile. "Don't I get a hug for that?"
Her eyebrows raised and disappeared underneath her hair. "You interrupted something last night. The last thing you get is a hug from me. I'm not mad at you, but I'm a little disappointed. You have terrible timing."
"I guess that means that you guys are getting along pretty good, huh?" he asked, tapping the table with his finger. "Chris told me that you guys enjoyed yourselves that night, but he wouldn't tell me what happened. He said that I would have to ask you if I wanted to know. What does that mean? I'm a little too young to hear about what actually happened?" His tone was almost hopeful when he said that.
"Of course not, but it was enjoyable. Let's put it this way. If my mom was still alive, it would be something worth writing home about." She giggled and sipped her steaming coffee, wincing when the liquid burned her throat a little. "Hey, I was going to ask you. Are you coming to the concert I'm having out here, or does security say that it's too dangerous for you guys?"
His shoulders moved in a shrug. "I don't plan on telling them where I'm going. Lance didn't have a problem when he went to your concert last time."
Her finger pointed at him. "Ah, but you seem to forget that Lance wasn't in Orlando when he came to see me. This is your hometown, and if you guys are linked to my name a lot, wouldn't it be common knowledge that you would make an appearance to see me, especially since everyone knows that you're in town? Not only that, but the last thing that I would want is to see you guys get hurt." She paused for a moment. "Well, the last thing that I would want is for the other guys to get hurt, but after your performance last night, I wouldn't mind if you did."
"That's cruel. I didn't mean to interrupt you guys. You mean, he didn't go through with...uh...you know."
Her eyes rolled slowly. "Justin, I think you might have killed anything that we were feeling at that moment. I should seriously hurt you for something like that, but I'm not going to, because I don't want to be known for killing the curly haired cutie. Your fans would absolutely kill me."
Justin shrugged. "At least someone loves me. Not many people do at this point." He flashed that same million dollar smile towards her. "Don't you love me?"
"Of course I love you," she said in a bored tone. "Justin, there was something that I wanted to ask you about that night," she added softly. Brooklyn didn't have to say what night, because he knew exactly what she was talking about. He nodded, telling her to go on. "Well...I asked you guys to stop helping me. I don't understand why, if I asked you that, you would still set us up on that date. It's been bugging me for a little while now."
Sitting back, a wide grin covered his face. He couldn't wait to say this. "You know, Joey wondered the same thing when he went to go and pick you up, according to Chris. He asked why we would be doing this if you wanted us to stop." He paused and stared at her. She looked a little uncomfortable asking the question. "We did it anyway."
Her eyes met his. "Why? Because you wanted to do it?"
His head shook from side to side. "Nope, because you weren't the one that wanted help anymore. JC wanted help from us, and he didn't know that we had been helping you beforehand. So you see, you both want the same thing, you just don't know how to say it."
"Don't think that I'm an idiot. I've known that for a little while now. Wait," she practically shouted and leaned further towards Justin. "Are you telling me that JC, as in Joshua Scott Chasez, as in the guy that I'm staying with, wanted help on how to get me?"
Now it was Justin's time to look uncomfortable. "I don't like how you say that he wanted help on how to 'get' you. He doesn't want to get you, if that's what you're asking." She looked so crestfallen when he said that that he hurried to correct himself. "No, you're not listening to me! Brooke, please look at me. I feel so bad that I made you think that. He doesn't want to 'get' you, he wants to work his way into his heart. There's no 'getting' you in this. That sounds cheap."
She smiled. "Thank you, sweetie. It's nice to know that you have some manners and morals in that curly head of yours."
Patting his hair, he smiled proudly. "Why, thank you, Brooke. Nice to know that you think so highly of me." She giggled loudly. "Yes, I mean that JC, as in Joshua Scott Chasez, as in the guy that you're staying with, wanted help on how to work his way into your heart. Now doesn't that sound more romantic than what you said?" he asked.
"Much better. I still don't understand. When did this start?" she asked, running her hands through her messed hair. "I know that Chris didn't mention this to me, and he tells me practically everything."
"So I noticed. You guys are pretty close, huh? I just wouldn't want to be sitting between the two of you at a dinner table, because I don't think that I would survive to dessert."
Her shoulders moved as she laughed. "We wouldn't hurt you that much. Justin, would you please tell me when this happened? I'm really curious here. I'm going to kill Chris the next time that I see him. He's supposed to tell me these things. He's supposed to let me in on this sort of stuff. I'm not supposed to find out through someone else." Her eyes narrowed. "I hope he has his funeral plot all picked out," she added in a low tone.
Justin widened his eyes. "Whoa, never get me pissed off at you," he said with a laugh. "When did he ask Chris for help? He and Chris went out for lunch. It happened the exact same time that you called Joe and told him that you didn't want a part in this anymore."
A groan escaped her lips, and she dropped her head on the table hard, wincing at the pain. "I can't believe this. It's like missing someone at the last second at a train station or something. This sucks. The exact same time?"
He nodded. "The exact same time that you told Joey that you didn't want a part in our plans, JC told Chris that he wanted help. That's what pisses me off about this, because if we could have worked with the both of you at once, it would have been so much easier." He stopped and looked off to the side for a second. "Now there's something that I don't understand. We thought that we were going to have to start all over again. Since when are you and JC doing...what you've been doing lately?"
"How much has Chris told you?" she asked.
"Nothing, really. Just that you enjoyed yourself when you went on the date, and I know that you guys went out last night. Other than that, I'm as clueless as the blonde haired fan that sits outside my neighbor's house instead of mine all day and night. I thought that she would get the clue when she sees me walk out to my car, and my mom yells me name out the door, but no, she keeps staring at the other house with a blank look on her face. I swear, some people have major problems up there."
Her eyebrows raised as she laughed a little harder. "I feel so sorry for you, Justin. You're not getting the attention that you so richly deserve," she said sarcastically. "Okay, what happened on our date? We...uh...god, I'll just say it. We kissed. More than once, and don't ask for details."
Nodding his head, his lips pursed when he heard that. "About damned time, if you asked me. For some reason, I get the feeling that this isn't the first time that this has happened." She shook her head slowly, but didn't say a word. "Damn, you're leaving me out of the loop here. Does Chris know?" She nodded. "If I ask him, is it all right for him to tell me?" She nodded again. "But you don't want to talk about it." She shook her head. "Wow, conversations with you are a lot of fun," he added, smirking at her.
"You know you love me. How could you not?" she asked with a bright smile. "So where's Sleazy, Wheezy, and Cheesy today?" she asked, giggling when he laughed.
His hand raised. "I don't even want to know where you came up with those names, and I do not want to know what mine is."
"I'm going to tell you, anyway." She laughed again before answering. "Since Austin is already Dunk, I've named you Dink and I've named JC Doink. Cute names, I know. However, none of them know that I gave them special names. You can use them if you want, but don't link them back to me."
"Sure," he said, laughing at her sarcasm. He had come to love it in such a short time, and if he didn't hear it for a little while, it seemed like life was empty until he talked to her again. Brooklyn breathed life into each and every one of them in different ways, and they enjoyed it. "I'm not going to ask which is which, but I'll tell you this much. Joey is still sleeping, because nine thirty in the morning is far too early for him. Lance, as far as I know, stole one of the guards to go shopping, and the last time I talked to Chris, he was planning on spending the day to himself reading. He's practically obsessed with a certain writer."
Brooklyn sipped her coffee slowly. "Really, which one? Maybe I've read one of the books."
"There's only two, I think. Alex M. Colwell."
Her head nodded again. "Yeah, I've read his stuff before. It's pretty good. Anyway, what are you up to today?" she asked. "Planning on entertaining me for a little while or do you have something to do. Please say that you're staying for a little while. It would excite me so much."
Justin jumped in his chair like a little kid. "I knew you wanted me, and not JC. I knew it, I knew it. Just admit it, Brooke, you want me and you want me badly. I can satisfy you so much more than he can. You know that. It's common knowledge, baby."
She closed her eyes briefly. "You have NOTHING on Lance, especially when he lowers his voice. Now, if I was going to go for someone other than JC, it would be Lance. Not you, cutie. I go for substance over appearance, and it looks like that's all you got," she said, chuckling. She liked being around Justin. He was willing to take her teasing, and more than willing to give it back to her. That was the best part of it.
Just as he was about to answer, the phone rang inside. Brooklyn stood up, stretching her arms above her head. "I might as well go and answer it. It's probably JC, wondering where you are so that he knows whether or not to stop and get his butcher's knife sharpened." She laughed as his expression as he stood up and followed her in.
She picked up the phone and smiled. "Hello?" she asked.
"Brooklyn."
The way her name was said sent chills down her spine. Knowing who the person was made her shake all over. "What the hell? You aren't supposed to be calling me, Tim. You're not allowed to, as far as I can remember from the trial," she spat out, looking over at Justin. His brow furrowed, and she nodded. 'Yes, it's Tim,' she mouthed to him. "What the hell do you want before I call the cops on you, and how the hell did you know where I was going to be."
"Your phone was disconnected, sweetheart," Tim Croft said softly into the phone. "That was a present from me. Didn't you want it?"
She sighed deep and long. "I don't want anything from you, you asshole, other than to see your ass fry in the electric chair, but unfortunately, the death penalty isn't the common anymore. Darn it, anyway," she said, clicking her tongue into the phone. "I'll ask one more time. How the hell did you know where I was going to be? What part of that didn't you understand."
By then, Justin had taken his cell phone out of his pocket and looked over at Brooklyn. She nodded and he went outside to call JC. He went as far as sliding the glass door shut to a certain degree, but kept it open enough so that he could hear her conversation, just in case. "Your schedule said that you were going to be in Orlando, and who lives in Orlando other than your new boyfriend? I just wanted to say hi, Brooklyn, and ask if you had gotten my present yet."
"In New York? Yeah, I got that one. And don't call me Brooklyn," she said automatically. "No, wait, don't call me at all. God, do you know how badly I'm going to bust you with this? I can't believe you. Rot in hell, Tim." She hit the 'off' button and put the phone back on the hook, moving to sit on the arm of the couch. Her head dropped, and she held it in her hands as she tried to reclaim her normal breathing.
Something always had to happen and ruin her day. No matter what, something happened, and she was getting just a little sick of it. She didn't know what she wanted to do more; cry her eyes out or hit someone. Sadly enough, she preferred hitting someone, but the other person around was Justin, and Tim was on the other side of the country.
"Brooke, are you all right?" Justin asked when he came back in, bending down before touching one of her hands.
Her head came up lightening fast and she stared at him blankly for a moment before it registered who he was. "Justin, do me a favor. Don't come within arms length of me, because at this point, I'm not thinking or seeing straight, and I don't want to do something I'm going to regret."
He smiled and cocked his head towards her. "You know, you can hit me. I've taken worse before."
Her head shook. "I've learned some kickboxing moves from Mia. Believe me, you don't want me to hit you." A smile wouldn't appear on her face at that, and he shook his head slowly.
Standing up, he took her hand and helped her up as well, before leading her outside, ignoring her request. He sat her in her chair and took her coffee mug, looking at her. "Just stay here, all right?" When she nodded, and it took awhile to get that, he walked into the kitchen and put the mug on the counter. "Come on, I know you have something in here for when your dad comes over," Justin muttered under his breath, opening up cupboard after cupboard. "Oh, thank the Lord!" he practically shouted, taking down the bottle of khaula. He poured a shot of it and then emptied her coffee mug in the sink, putting the alcohol in there. He filled up the mug with coffee again and stirred it. "I can't believe I'm giving her alcohol right now. This has to settle her down a little," he told himself as he walked back out to her.
"What did you do, relieve yourself in my cup?" she asked dully, looking at it.
"No, I added a shot of khaula. It'll calm you down more than I can." He paused and looked back at her. "JC is coming over as soon as possible. He knows what's up." Her head shook and she forced herself to gulp down a little of the coffee. "You've...uh...got this weird look in your eyes. Should I be worried?"
She blinked a few times, but it didn't do anything. Her eyes still filled with tears. "Justin, my abusive slash murdering ex fiancé just called me to ask how I was. He's not supposed to be able to call me. He's supposed to have a guard with him at all times when he makes his calls so that he can't call me. He can't send me anything in the mail, because they know my address and everything that's going to it is blocked. My question is how the hell did he call me, how the hell did he send me the ring, and how the hell did he send me a letter?"
For a moment, Justin was frozen in his chair. He couldn't begin to comprehend what she was going through. He knew that this was nothing like what she had gone through the first time. This wasn't as bad, but it still hurt him to see her like that. "What do you mean, he sent you a letter. JC never mentioned anything to us about any letter."
Her head shook, and she drank more of the coffee. It was beginning to calm her down a little, but a little didn't do it. "That's because I never told him about it. I just kept it to myself. It's not something that I want as common knowledge, Justin. I didn't get one for the longest time, so I thought that whoever it was left me alone. I don't know if it was Tim or not that had sent it, but I THINK it was him, and I'm usually right with these sorts of things."
Justin didn't have the chance to say what he wanted, because the front door banged open, and JC came barging through, throwing his wallet towards the corner of the living room. As he stormed towards them, Justin winced as he heard the wallet and JC's keys bounce off the far wall and land on the floor with a clatter. "New York, are you okay, sweetie?" he asked, bending down at her chair and taking her hands.
She looked towards him and sighed as her chin quivered. "I'm fine," she whispered, looking past him towards the blue sky. There was no way that she would be able to look him in the face and not cry. It was enough of an effort not looking at him, but if she did look at him, the tears would be falling freely down her face, and she wouldn't be able to do a thing to stop them.
"Tell me the truth," he whispered, turning her face so that she had no chance but to look at him. That was when the dam broke. She fell towards him quickly and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face against him. Her body shook with her sobs as she thought about Tim's voice and what he had said.
Justin stood up and gestured towards the living room. "I'll be in there if you guys need me," he said quietly. JC nodded his thanks and moved a little closer to Brooklyn before he took his arms from around her and reached under her legs, picking her up as effortlessly as he would picking up a baby. He sat down in her chair and settled her in his lap, not wanting to lose contact with her. Only then did his arms go back around her, pulling her closer to him.
He brought his head down near hers and kissed the side of it, shutting his eyes. He didn't have the words to comfort her, and he wasn't going to tell her to stop crying, because that's what she needed. Still, the sound of it tore at his heart, and he had to content himself with just being there. There was so much more he could do, but he could only be there, because that's how she would have wanted it.
Her head pushed against him further, and he could feel her tears soaking into his shirt. He ran his hand over her hair, keeping his eyes shut. "I hate him," she whispered between her cries, her voice muffled.
"That makes two of us, sweetheart," he whispered back, kissing her again. "I would hate anyone who tried to hurt you, and he did more than that. He hid the real you for too long." By then, he had brought his voice up to a murmur. She brought her head up and looked at him. Tenderly, he wiped away the tears from her face before barely mustering a smile on his face. "Are you going to be okay, now?" he asked her again.
Her head shook. "I'll never be okay again. I know that much," she replied, sighing. "I hate this. I hate feeling so weak and like I need to depend on someone. I hate all of it." She leaned forward to hide her face again, but didn't continue crying. If she did, it was silent and he didn't know about it.
He rested his temple against hers and let out a deep breath, watching as her hair fluttered for a moment. "I know you do. I know you better than you think."
Once more, Brooklyn brought her head up and stared at him for a moment. When she stared into his eyes, she swore that she really could see into his soul. "Thank you. Thank you for being there," she told him, bringing one hand up to touch the side of his face. Both of them relished in the touch. It was something that she had never done before, and she enjoyed the feeling of his slightly stubbled jaw against her fingertips.
Turning his head, he kissed her fingers before speaking against them. "I'm always there for you, New York."
"I know." JC moved so that he could look at her again, and Brooklyn couldn't help herself. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his, taking her hand away so that she could wrap her arms around his neck again. He had breathed in sharply at the contact, but relaxed almost instantly, responding to her urgent kiss.
In the living room, Justin looked over to make sure that Brooklyn was okay, and widened his eyes. "Okay, I think I better go in the bedroom," he said to himself, getting off the couch and going into the guest room, so that he wouldn't accidentally interrupt them.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn was lost in the emotions behind the kiss, and the taste of JC Chasez. She was surprised when he pulled away and looked at her. "New York," he said softly. She leaned forward again, but was even more surprised when he picked her up again and put her back in the chair, standing up to walk to the edge of the balcony and rest his arms against the fencing. His back moved with his sigh, and she wanted more than anything to feel the strong muscles of it again, but didn't stand up.
"What?" she asked, looking down at her hands.
His head shook from side to side and a soft wind picked up his hair, blowing it gently from his forehead. "We shouldn't have done that."
Her eyes slammed shut before she stood up and walked over to him. Her hand rested on his arm and turned him around. "Why? Are you afraid of me or something? Are you afraid of what you're feeling for me, because I know that you feel something towards me. I know because I have the exact same feelings. And I know you too well, just like you know me."
"That's not the point," he said, his voice rough. "New York, the feelings behind it were wrong, and you know it."
Her eyes flashed with anger. "Maybe you think so, but not for me. God, why are you doing this? I've struggled with this for a long time, JC, and now you're pushing me away? Thanks, I appreciate it. Why don't I just pack my bags right now and get a hotel room. Maybe that would be better for you," she snapped, turning to walk away. Since when was she this blunt, she wondered. Since when did words flow out of her so easily.
He reached for her, and wrapped his arms around her quickly. She paused for a second before bringing her arms back around him and closing her eyes, just enjoying the feeling of being close to him. "That's not what I meant at all," he murmured, glad that someone had finally come out and said what they wanted so desperately. "It's just...I know that you're scared and that's the reason why you did that. I didn't want to take advantage of that, no matter how much I feel for you, or how I feel for you. I'm sorry, but I didn't want it to be something that either of us would regret."
"Thank you," she said again, leaning against him. "I barely had the guts to do that, I wouldn't have had the guts to pull away, and I don't know where that would have led me."
JC let out another deep breath and looked up to the sky. "All I have to say is thank God someone was able to stop it," he said weakly before letting out a strained laugh. "We might as well go get Justin. I think he may have disappeared, and I want to ask you about what happened, anyway." She nodded bravely, but reached for his hand when they separated. His thumb rubbed over her knuckles softly. "I'll be right there beside you."
Now she smiled, turning to look at him. "Good, because I'm going to need someone on my side," she said, her smile increasing a little.
They walked inside together, and Brooklyn sat on the couch as JC went to go and get Justin from the room that she had been sleeping in. He sat down and smiled at her before winking. She smiled back, and it got brighter when JC sat down beside her. "Okay, what did that ass have to say?" he asked, looking at her. He brushed her hair away from her shoulder and tried to smile for her benefit. It didn't work too well.
"Basically, he didn't say much. He asked why my cell phone was disconnected...smashing the thing was the best thing I could have done, I think...then he asked if I got his present, and apparently, he knows your phone number now. How he figured that one out, I'll never know."
JC frowned. "He knew my cell phone number, because he called me on it before, but he's never called me here. I know that he looked through your bag and got my number that way, so he could have gotten my home number at the same time."
She groaned, dropping her head. "Damn it, I forgot that I had both on the same piece of paper and in my purse. And to think that I used to trust him with my bag." She brought her head back up and smiled. "I'm sorry," she offered. He shook his head, in a way telling her that she didn't have to worry about it. "If it helps, I told him that I wished I could see him fry in the electric chair, even though I know it won't happen."
He finally laughed, along with Justin. "That sounds like something you would say," he said, pushing her lightly. "Anything else?" Her head shook. "Okay, I'm going to make a few phone calls and see how he could have called you, since he's not allowed to make any calls to you no matter where you are. That's what bothering me," he said before standing up. "Justin, can you stay until I get back? I don't want her to be alone."
"Gee, it's nice to know that you have so much faith in me," she grumbled, rolling her eyes. She was actually glad that she was going to have someone with her.
He nodded. "Sure, I'll stay with Brooke, but do I get paid for baby sitting?" his head moved from side to side when both of them shot him bad looks. "I guess not," he said softly, leaning back. "Don't worry about a thing. I'm not going to warp her or anything, man. She'll be the same person when you get back. Maybe I shouldn't have told you that. I'm sure that both of you would have enjoyed it if he started looking for bruises all over you."
Brooklyn just laughed and shook her head.
When JC came back after an hour, Justin left, saying that they probably wanted some time alone, which caused Brooklyn to blush brightly before she laughed it off. He came around the couch and sat down beside her, sighing. "Well, I called Mia and let her know what happened. She's pissed to say the least and wants you to call her tomorrow. I told her that you wouldn't be up to calling her today."
Her head shook. "God no. I don't have the energy to do anything but lay around. I think I used up a little too much energy out there, crying. Sorry about that, by the way."
"You were justified. Besides, there isn't a time when I don't mind holding you." When she saw the sly smile on his face, she returned it. "Okay, okay, I'll go on. After Mia, I called the lawyer that you dealt with and asked him, in specific terms, what your rights were against him. He told me again that Tim is not allowed to have any physical contact with you, and he is not allowed to call, write, or e-mail me no matter WHERE you are, so that extends further than Tennessee."
Brooklyn rolled her eyes briefly. "I knew that much."
He grinned and leaned back. "I just wanted to make sure," he said. "I knew that, too, but I wanted to make sure that I was absolutely clear on that. I also managed to get the phone number of the...what do you call him...the warden, I guess, of the jail that Tim is at in Tennessee, and he said that you would have to call and make a complaint, since you were the one that Tim called, even if it was my number. The most I could do was say that I didn't want Tim to call my number anymore, but you're the only one that can get him in trouble."
"I can do that tomorrow, too, right?" she asked.
"Yeah, I told him that you would call tomorrow, between nine and eleven. He's expecting your call around then. Actually, he said that he would be anxiously awaiting your call. I think he might be a fan."
She laughed and leaned against the back of the couch. "Well, if he helps me, I'll be sure to send him an autographed copy of the CD or something. Or is that against the rules. It might look like I'm bribing him. Anyway, I'll figure something out," she added, smiling at him. "I owe you so much for this. Thank you." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
"You don't owe me anything." He scratched the top of his head and looked at her curiously for a moment. "Oh, wait, you do owe me something. You're going to share a pizza with me tonight, whether you want to or not. I do not feel like cooking tonight, and I don't feel like dying from yours."
Her mouth dropped open. "I was fine with the pizza until you mentioned the fact that you don't like my cooking. What am I going to do with you?"
He leaned forward and grinned dangerously. "Anything you want, New York. Remember, I'm an open minded kind of guy."
All he got was a shove backwards into the pillows.
Chapter Fourteen
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