...With You

Chapter 10


JC watched Madison sleep on top of his chest. Every breath she took made him smile even more. Before he knew it, he was talking to her.
"My Madison," he sighed. "I've never been so happy than I am when I'm with you. Am I crazy for feeling this way? We only met three months ago and already I don't want to let you go. You have to know that I'd do anything to be with you for even a day." JC smiled and looked at the clock. His flight was in two hours. He sighed. "Oh, Madison" he said, kissing her on the forehead, "I love you."

**~*~*~*~**

Madison laid there in the bed and heard the shower start. She couldn't believe what she heard. 'He loves me' she thought to herself. She smiled and threw a pillow over her face. She didn't know whether to tell him that she heard him talking. For right now she'd just wait until he could tell her while he knew she was awake. She rolled out of bed and started out for the kitchen, kissing Jacey on the nose on her way. She flicked on the coffee pot and waited for it to start. Walking around the kitchen, she grabbed a box of cereal and the milk from the fridge. She felt two strong arms from behind turn her around.
"Good morning" JC said, kissing her lightly on the lips.
"Good morning" Madison smiled.
"Oh, I don't wanna go" JC whispered into Madison's ear.
"You have to go. I don't want to be responsible for the millions of disappointed teenage girls." Madison laughed.
"I know, I know. My ride's gonna be here in a few minutes anyway." JC said.
"Josh, thank you so much for being here. I can not tell you how much it meant to me." Madison said.
"Madison, you know you only have to ask me, and I'll be here whenever I can" JC said. "Well, I know now" she said.
JC smiled and looked into Madison's eyes. Leaving her became harder and harder every time he had to leave. He brushed a piece of hair away from her eyes.
"I'll be back soon, ok?" JC said. "You know I can't stay away too long."
Madison smiled. "Yeah, yeah. Now get outta here, before you miss your flight." She said. JC gathered the few things that he had brought with him and headed towards the door, giving Madison one last kiss on his way out.

**~*~*~*~**

One week later: Mid-May

"So where's Tara?" Madison asked.
"She's back in LA" Carson answered. "I hate when she has to leave, it kills me."
"Ha! I know exactly what you mean, babe!" Madison laughed.
"Yeah, I guess you do." Carson said. "How are the two of you?" he asked.
"Good. I haven't seen him in a week, and I'm going crazy but it's all good, I guess." She said.
"So, what are we doing for your birthday, sweetheart?" Carson asked her.
"I don't know." Madison smiled. "I don't believe I'm going to be twenty two"
"Yeah, it all goes down hill from there." Carson joked.
"Thanks, Cars. I feel so much better now." She smiled, rolling her eyes.
"Well, in any event, we'll find something to do." He smiled.
Carson flicked on the TV and sat back into the chair opposite to Madison.
"Now in Entertainment News. Boy band *Nsync, who are in their hometown of Orlando, held a press conference today to set straight some rumors going around. We were live at the scene earlier today." the news anchor said.
Madison and Carson glued their eyes to the TV as the screen switched to picture the five guys sitting behind a long table.

"So far, how's the tour going guys?" asked a reporter.
"The tour is going wonderfully" Lance said smiling. "We couldn't ask for a better show."
"On a personal subject." another reporter started, "Justin, it's rumored you're dating Britney Spears. Is there any truth to that?"
"No. Britney and I are just friends and nothing more." Justin spoke up.
The newsroom looked busy with pens write and reporters searching frantically for more questions.
"JC, we've been hearing rumors that you and a friend of Carson Daly's, Madison I believe is her name, are a couple. Can you confirm anything?" a reporter asked.
JC cleared his throat. "I have met Madison but I can assure you that there is nothing going on romantically. We are just friends." JC said simply.

"So there you have it. At least two out of the five are still available ladies. We'll be back after these commercials." the new anchor said.
Carson flicked off the TV and looked at Madison sitting on the couch across from him. "Madd? You ok?" he asked.
"What do you think?" Madison whispered. "He just totally denied it, denied me!" she said excitedly.
Madison felt tears welling up in her eyes. 'I will not cry' she thought to herself.
"Madison?" Carson said, walking over and giving her a hug. "It's gonna be alright, sweetie."
"I know. But I know I have to talk to him, and soon." Madison said angrily. "Hey Carson, can you watch Jacey for a few days."
"Yeah, sure. Where are you going?" he asked.
"Orlando." Madison said. "And we'll see if JC and I are still friends after I get back."

**~*~*~*~**

Meanwhile…

"I can't believe that you did that" Joey yelled towards JC. "You totally lied about Madison."
JC rubbed his hands over his face.
"Geez, JC. If you didn't want her, I'm sure there are guys lining up to have a go. How could you just dismiss her like that?" Joey went on.
"Joe, ya know I'm really not in the mood to be lectured." JC said.
"Fine. I just don't understand why you'd want to ruin a perfectly good thing" Joey said.
"Hey! Who said anything about ruining things with Madison. I want to be with her more than anything." JC said defensively.
"Really, buddy. Because the way you sounded this morning, it seemed that you didn't need or want anything to do with her." Joey said.
"Look, I just don't need to publicly announce my relationships." JC defended.
"And that's fine, but publicly denying them isn't gonna help either. What if Madison hears about this?" Joey asked reasonably.
"She won't" JC said. "At least I hope she won't."

**~*~*~*~**

Madison sat on the plane, it wouldn't be too much longer until she landed and she'd have to confront JC. She hoped to be coming to Orlando in a good mood. She usually was happy and upbeat when she was about to see JC. Not this time though. She was so humiliated that JC would just deny their relationship like that. Did the past three months mean that little to him? Madison understood the whole privacy thing, but this was blowing things a little out of proportion. She didn't know quite what she was going to say to him, but he wasn't soon going to forget this visit.

**~*~*~*~**

"Come on JC! Get with it!" Justin shouted at him from across the stage.
"Just knock it off, Justin" JC sighed.
"What is your problem man? We're totally off key!" Justin said.
"I'm sorry. Come on let's try it again." JC said softly.
Bobbie came out from behind the curtain where she had been standing.
"Hi guys!" she said smiling.
The guys stood there all in amazement.
"Bobbie? What are you doing here?" JC asked, surprised.
"Silly! Can't I come out to support my favorite guys?" she said smiling.
"Not without an ulterior motive" Chris muttered to Joey, causing Joey to laugh out loud.
JC gave the two a look that pierced through the thick air and then back to Bobbie. Bobbie ignored his confused look and went up and gave him a peck on the cheek and gathered him in a hug.
"It's been too long, Josh." She said.
"Not long enough, Bobbie" Justin said, leading her off the stage. "Now come on, we got a show to rehearse for." He said.
She shot Justin a look that could kill. He never did like her, not even when her and JC were dating. She had lost JC when she realized she couldn't keep him as close as she wanted. She had changed though, she realized she wanted JC and she didn't care about the distance anymore. The times together would make up for all of that. Seeing the press conference on the news last night was like a sign for her to make her move. Late last night she hopped a plane from California to try another chance with JC. Her only hope was that he would still be interested.

**~*~*~*~**

Madison had called Lonnie and told him that she had to speak to JC, but needed to know where they where. Lonnie had gladly given her the place where they were. Madison was riding in the back of the cab heading toward the venue where the guys would be performing later that night. 'They should still be at the sound check' she thought to herself. The cab stopped in front of the large building. How was she going to manage to get into here?
"Ms. Wilkes" a voice yelled from the side.
She turned around and saw a familiar face.
"Lonnie!" she said running toward him. "It's nice to see you again." She smiled.
"It's good to see you too." he said smiling. "Would you like me to take you back to see the guys?" he asked.
"Um, yeah. If you could." She said.
"Absolutely. They finished their sound check a few minutes ago so they're just chillin' in the back." He said.
"Sounds good. You lead the way." She said.

**~*~*~*~**

"What the hell are you doing here!?" JC asked her.
"Geez, Josh. I didn't know you'd get this upset by me being here." Bobbie said wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Bobbie, come on now. I'm with someone, you know that." JC said.
"Really? No, I didn't know that." She said. "Who's the lucky lady?" she asked cynically.
JC looked at her questionably. "Her name is Madison." JC said.
"Didn't you just tell some reporter that you and this Madison girl were just friends?" Bobbie asked innocently.
"Yeah, but that's not exactly the truth." He confessed.
"Then why would you say it?" Bobbie questioned.
"That's what I'd like to know." Madison spoke up from the doorway.
"Madison?!" JC said smiling and walking toward her at the same time.
Before he got to her she stepped away in the opposite direction.
"Madd? What's wrong?" JC said taking a gulp, knowing full well why she was here.
Madison looked in Bobbie's direction and Bobbie came towards her with an extended hand.
"Hi. I'm Bobbie. You must be Madison." She greeted her.
"Yes, I am. Nice to meet you Bobbie. Um, would you mind leaving so I could talk to my friend JC here?" Madison smiled.
"No, not at all." Bobbie said. She walked out the door and into the other room to join the rest of the guys.
She left, leaving JC and Madison alone in the room with a tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. Madison turned and looked at JC. A face that once brought her so much happiness was the source of every hurt feeling in her body.
"What was she doing here?" Madison asked.
"Madison, come on. You can't seriously think that Bobbie and I…." JC started.
"I don't know what to think, JC" she said shortly.
"Madd, we're just friends….if that." JC said.
"Yeah, well you seem to be 'just friends' with a lot of people these days" Madison said.
JC's face fell. He knew that Madison had seen the press conference and was upset.
"Madison, let me explain." JC pleaded.
"No, you've already done enough talking" Madison said.
"Madd, I…." JC started.
"No, JC. It's my turn." Madison said holding up her hand, motioning him to stop.
JC nodded.
"I trusted you with everything that I had. I let you into my life and I loved having you in it. I haven't had this in a really long time, and you helped me realize that I didn't have to be alone. I loved you for so long as 'JC Chasez' and now that you're just 'Josh' I think I loved you even more. Last night when Carson and I sat down to watch the news and that reporter asked that question, I thought that that was it and we wouldn't have to hide anymore. JC, the fame thing never mattered much to me, you know that or at least I hope you do. I don't care who you are, what you are, how many records you've sold. I didn't care that I didn't get to go with you to award shows and kiss you in public. I didn't care that I had to lie to my friends about where I was going and what I was doing. And I didn't care that Carson cared for me more than anything where you were concerned. I ignored his warnings, ignored his concerns, and what do you know….he was right. You had every opportunity to resolve this, JC. It was handed to you on a silver platter and you denied me and denied us." Madison said, collapsing into the couch.
"Madison? Why was that conversation in the past tense?" JC asked, afraid for the answer.
Madison sighed. "Because this is it. I'm ending this right here and now." She said.
JC swallowed the lump in his throat. "Madison, you can't do that to me." JC said simply. "I can't go on with my life knowing that you're not in it!"
"Well. Then maybe you should've thought of that yesterday." Madison said getting up and walking towards the door.
"Madison! I love you!" JC yelled, desperate to make her stay.
Madison turned around to face him.
"JC, don't make this harder for me than it already is." Madison said.
"Madison, do you hear what I'm telling you? I'm saying 'I love you', Madison." JC said.
Madison sighed. "JC if that were true, you wouldn't have said what you did."
JC looked into her eyes that were quickly filling with tears.
"Madison, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't know what else to say to make it up to you." He said.
"You really can't, JC. I just can't see you right now." She said, wiping a tear that was falling from her eye.
"Madison, it doesn't have to be like this." JC said.
"Yeah, it does JC. It's over." She said. "We can stay friends, if that's what you want." she said.
"No. No, that's not what I want. I want to be able to hug you, kiss you, make love to you." JC said.
Madison closed her eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry JC, I can't. Friendship is all I can give you right now. You hurt me too much to just forgive you and seeing Bobbie here really didn't help."
JC opened his mouth to say something but Madison quickly walked toward the door, desperate to leave before the tears started to fall.
"Goodbye JC" she said as she walked out the door.
"Bye Madison" he said. He collapsed into the couch, dropping his head into his hands.
'Well, Chasez, you did it again.' He thought to himself. 'You managed to make a really good thing go really bad'.

**~*~*~*~**

Bobbie watched Madison walk out from the room. Here was her chance to comfort JC, and she was hesitating. 'Bobbie, what's your problem?' she thought to herself. She looked into the room and saw JC sitting there with his head in his hands. Even she couldn't mess with this one. He really loved this girl, and he let her get away. Her heart went out to the guy, and even though she wanted him in her life more than anything, even she knew that this was neither the time or the place.

**~*~*~*~**

Madison rushed outside the venue through the back door. She walked outside and wiped a tear from her eye. She was grateful for her sunglasses that hid the fact that she was crying behind them.
"Madison?" Joey yelled.
Madison turned around and saw Joey, Chris, Lance and Justin playing basketball on a court a few feet from where she was standing.
"Hey guys" Madison said weakly.
"Hey girl" Chris said. "You come to see the show tonight?" he asked.
"Uh, no. I can't stay" Madison said.
"Oh. Ok, well then….what brings you all the way down here?" Joey asked.
"You guys really don't have to ask, ya know." Madison said. "I think you know why I'm here."
The guys nodded.
Madison smiled. "I don't want to be rude, but I have to catch a plane back to New York. So, I'll see you guys later?" she asked.
"You bet, Madd." Lance said, smiling.
"Alright, good." Madison said, turning away and walking toward the front to wait for her cab.
"Madison!" Justin yelled, running toward her.
Madison turned around and saw him coming toward her.
"You ok?" he asked.
"Sure. Why wouldn't I be ok?" Madison asked quietly.
Justin reached toward her face and lifted her sunglasses away from her eyes.
"If you're ok, why were you crying" he said, noticing her tear-stained eyes.
Madison sighed. "You caught me" she smiled. "I guess I'm not ok, huh?"
"You want to talk about it?" Justin asked.
"Um, short version. JC hurt me, I flew down here, found him with Bobbie, broke his heart by breaking up with him and now here I am." She said quickly.
Justin stared at her. "You and JC broke up?" he said surprised.
Madison nodded.
"Not over Bobbie, right? Cause seriously Madison, she just showed up. He didn't know." Justin tried to explain.
Madison shook her head. "No, it wasn't Bobbie. This is about yesterday and the press conference." She said.
Justin nodded. "Oh I see." He said.
"Maybe I'm over-reacting or whatever but I can't shake the feeling that I'm going to be an extra thing for him to deal with." She said.
"Madd, you know that's not true." Justin said. "He loves you. Ya know?"
"Maybe. But if he loves me so much he wouldn't have had to deny anything that we had." She said.
"So, it's really over huh?" Justin asked.
"Yep" Madison said softly. "I thought it could work too."
"I think we all did" Justin said.
The cab pulled up to the curb and Madison knew it was time to go.
"Thanks for the talk Justin, I feel better already." She smiled.
He enveloped her in a hug and didn't feel as if he would let go.
"Take care Madison. You call us if you need anything, alright?" he warned.
"I will. Thanks." She answered, pulling away from him.
Justin opened the door to the cab and Madison stepped inside. Closing the door to the cab with her inside, Justin knew that getting through this concert was going to be interesting. JC hadn't been a treat to work with lately, and now, after this he certainly wouldn't be happy.

**~*~*~*~**

Madison walked up the stairs to her apartment, never feeling so exhausted. It was late, 2 AM to be exact. She unlocked the door to her apartment and saw Carson sleeping peacefully on the couch. She quietly closed the door and started to walk towards her room.
"Madd? Is that you?" Carson said sleepily.
"Yeah, Cars. It's me." She said.
"I wasn't expecting you for a couple days." He said.
"Yeah, things didn't really take as much time as I thought." She said sitting down on the couch with him.
"Are you ok?" Carson asked.
Madison looked at Carson and shrugged.
"I guess I gotta be, right?" she smiled through the tears that were already starting to form in her eyes.
"Madison?" Carson questioned. "What happened?"
Madison collapsed deeper into the couch. "I broke up with him." She said simply.
"You what?" Carson asked.
"You were right, I shouldn't have started anything with him. I was setting myself up for heart break." She said.
"Now, Madd. I never put it quite like that." He said.
"I know, I know. But I am…now anyway." She answered.
"How did he take it? What did he say?" Carson asked.
"That's the funny part. He told me he loved me." She said.
Carson didn't know what to say. He looked at her sad eyes and wanted nothing more than to help her through this.
"Then why did he tell everyone else that you were just a friend?" Carson wondered aloud. "I don't know" Madison answered. "That's what I asked. He didn't have anything to say though."
"Madison, I'm so sorry." Carson said sincerely.
Madison smiled. "I know, but you have nothing to be sorry for, ok?"
"Yeah, I know." He said. "But you know I'm here if you need me."
"You always are." Madison smiled "And I wouldn't want it any other way.

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