...With You

Chapter 14


Sunday, 8/6 – JC’s Party

“Carson, please tell me why the hell I’m even going?” Madison asked him.
“Um, because you told JC that you were still friends and now your going to have to see him from time to time.” Carson answered.
Madison fell into the chair in the corner of her room. Justin had called the night before to remind her of the party. Like she could actually forget. The situation was so tense that Madison didn’t know why she even considered going in the first place.
“Earth to Madison!” Carson yelled, throwing something at her.
“Sorry, Cars.” Madison said quietly. “I just don’t know what to think about tonight.”
“Madison, just go and have a good time. You shouldn’t have to think about anything. You and JC are friends, right?” Carson asked.
She nodded.
“I know it’s a weird situation, but deal with it. You broke up with him, remember? Don’t you think he feels awkward too?” Carson said.
“I guess you’re right.” Madison smiled. “Now get out, so I can finish getting ready.” She said.
“No, that’s alright, I’ll stay.” He kidded.
“Carson….” She said warningly.
“Alright, alright…. I’m going” he laughed.
Carson walked out her bedroom and thought about the awkward situation Madison was about to encounter. He didn’t know how she did it. He figured that Justin had something to do with her going tonight, but he promised he wouldn’t get involved this time, and he intended to keep his promise.

The Party…

Madison walked into the club the guys had rented to have the party. She spotted Justin and made her way over to him.
“Hey.” She smiled.
“Hey yourself” he smiled at her and hugged her ‘hello’. “I’m so glad you came, Madd.” He said.
“Thanks for inviting me” She said.
Lance noticed Madison over by Justin and walked over to the two of them.
“Hey Madison.” He smiled.
“Hello Lance.” She said, giving him a hug.
“So where are the others?” she asked.
“Well, Joey and Chris are supposed to be bringing JC.” Lance answered.
“You stuck them with the responsibility of getting JC here?” Madison asked questionably.
Lance laughed. “They’re the most persuasive to get JC to go clubbin’ so we made it their job tonight.” He said.
“Yeah, they should be here in about ten minutes.” Justin said, looking at his watch. “Hey Lance, did you see JC’s parents yet?” he asked.
“No, I’ll go look for them.” He answered, walking away.
Madison looked at Justin. “JC’s parents are here?” she asked nervously.
“Well, Madd, I think they’d like to spend their son’s birthday with him, so yeah, they’re here.” He laughed.
“I guess you’re right” Madison smiled.
“Wait a minute. You never met the future ‘in-laws’ did ya?” Justin joked.
“Justin, this is not funny.” Madison smiled.
“Yeah, well, I’m a brat, remember?” he said devilishly.
Madison laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t make the mistake of calling you that again!” she said.
“Why not?” Justin said, innocently.
Madison smiled and nudged him. Lance looked up to where Justin and Madison were standing and motion to the couple in front of him. He had found JC’s parents. Madison found herself wondering if they knew about her. Probably not. JC never admitted their relationship to anyone. Justin’s cell phone rang.
“Yeah.” He answered. “Really?…..You serious?….You tried everything?…I don’t know what to tell you man?….Hold On….”
Justin covered the mouthpiece to the phone.
“Madd? Can you come here?” he motioned to her.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“We got a little problem with the birthday boy.” Justin answered.
“What’s the problem?” Madison asked.
“He’s not coming.” Justin said.
“Huh?” Madison said.
“Joey and Chris have failed in their mission. Do you think…” he started.
“You want me to get him here, don’t you?” Madison asked.
“Madd, you know he’ll come out if you call him. You’re my last hope! Please!” Justin pleaded.
“Oh, Justin, Justin, Justin. It is so not attractive for you to beg. Alright! Alright! Tell them I’ll take care of it. Just get them out of there so they can get here in time.” She answered.
Justin told the guys the new plan and shut off his phone.
He grabbed Madison from behind into a big hug.
“Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!” he said squeezing her tightly.
“Ok, Ok, Justin. But, you owe me!” she smiled, turning around.
The two were nose to nose. Madison could feel his breath on her face. He loosened his grip on her, but she did not move.
“I better get going” she said softly.
“Yeah, you probably should.” He said just as quietly.
“Alright, here’s what I’ll do. I’m gonna call him from outside and ask him if he wants to come dancing with me. Hopefully, I won’t have to talk him into it. I’ll make so excuse to make a phone call so if you get a phone call from me, we’re on our way.” She said.
Justin smiled. “Sounds like you’ve done this before!” he said.
“Surprise parties? They are my specialty.” She smiled. “I’ll see you in a bit. Wish me luck.” She said.
“Good luck, Madd” he said, as he watched her walk toward the door, smiling at Lance on her way out.
Lance walked over to Justin, wondering what was going on.
“J, why’d she leave?” Lance asked.
“Our two ‘convincers’ weren’t so convincing” Justin said.
“He’s not coming?!” Lance exclaimed.
“Don’t worry, he’ll come when Madison calls him.” Just said flatly.
“You got Madison in on it?” Lance said questionably.
“What else did you want me to do, man? We’ve got everyone here and out of them all you know that he’d go out with Madison if she asked. Besides, she lives here so it’s not like it’s a surprise that she’s around.” Justin explained.
Lance sighed. “I just don’t want to get his hopes up where she’s concerned.” He said.
Justin’s confidence dropped. He hadn’t thought of that. He didn’t want to put Madison in a position that would subject her to anything she wasn’t comfortable with.
“Me either, Lance. Me either.” Justin said.
Lance eyed Justin. It was obvious that Justin was hiding something. He may have been good at hiding what it was, but there was something.

Outside the club…

Madison waiting eagerly for a cab to get over to the hotel where JC and the rest of the guys were staying.
“Why can you never get a cab when you need one?” she asked aloud.
At that moment a cab pulled to the curb and the back door opened. Joey and Chris spilled out of it.
“Hey guys” Madison smiled.
“Hey girl! You on your way over there?” Joey asked, kissing her on the cheek.
“Yeah. Goin’ to do your dirty work, I guess!” she said laughing.
“Hey, we just don’t look as good as you, that’s all” Chris smiled, hugging her.
“Ah, well, thanks guys. Go on, get in there. I’ll have our boy there soon.” She said.
“We have every faith in you” Joey smiled.
The guys let her in on the details of what they said to JC so nothing would seem too obvious. She hoped everything would work out ok. Once in the cab, she pulled out her phone one dialed JC’s cell. She waited impatiently for him to answer.
“Hello?” he answered dully.
“Well, you do not sound happy!” she said excitedly into the receiver.
“Madison!” he exclaimed, instantly recognizing her voice.
“Hey JC” she greeted laughing.
“Hi Madd,” he smiled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so down.”
“That’s ok, what are ya up to?” she said, trying to make small talk.
“Nothin’. Joey and Chris tried to get me out but I put my foot down this time.” He laughed.
Madison smiled to herself. He was so stubborn. Why did he always have to make everything so difficult?
“Well then, I guess there goes my chance…” Madison said.
“Huh?” JC said.
“Mr. Chasez, I am in a cab, on my way over to come and get you because you, my friend, are coming out dancing…with me…tonight!” he stated.
“Oh, I am, am I?” he said.
“Yes you are.” she said affirming.
“Oh, the things I do for you…” he said smiling.
“Does that mean you’re coming?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’ll meet you and the cab down there.” He said.
“Alright. See you soon.” She said.
She smiled as she hung up the phone. That was too easy. She hoped JC wasn’t going to get the wrong idea by her asking him to come out with her. Yeah well, that was one thing she’d have to deal with. In the meantime, she had to call Justin. She picked up her phone once more and dialed the numbers to Justin’s cell.

**~*~*~*~**

::Ring, Ring::
“She could not have got him that quick!” Chris exclaimed, hearing Justin’s phone ringing.
“I wouldn’t put it past her” Justin said smiling and taking the phone out of his pocket. “Hello” he answered.
“Hey J, it’s me. He’s comin’.” Madison said.
“I don’t believe it. Girl, you’re good.” He said smiling.
The others shook their heads in disbelief.
“He’ll be down any minute so I can’t stay on long. We’re on our way.” She said.
“Alright, things are all set here. The guy up front knows what to do.” He told her.
“Ok, we’ll see you guys soon. Bye.” Madison said.
“Bye, Madd, and thanks” Justin said.
“No problem, bye.” Madison said, cutting the connection.
Justin hung up his phone and looked up at the other three standing there.
“She got him.” He said.
“Geez, he’s really got it bad for her.” Joey said.
Justin laughed. “Ya think?” he said sarcastically.
“It’s really not fair. We tried for almost an hour, she asks him once and he rolls over and submits.” Chris whined.
“I know, I know. But at least he’s coming. That coulda been a real downer. The guest of honor not showing.” Justin said.
Chris, Joey, and Lance nodded in agreement. It was only a matter of time before the two of them arrived. Justin just hoped Madison was surviving alright.

**~*~*~*~**

The cab waited in front of the hotel for JC to arrive. Madison had already explained the situation to the cab driver and he knew exactly what to do. Finally, she saw JC heading out of the lobby. She opened the car door and got out, waving for JC to come over. He saw her and immediately ran over.
“Hi Madd!” he smiled, giving her a hug.
“Hey JC.” She said, returning his hug.
They got into the cab and they took off.
“So, where are you taking me?” he asked.
“I told you, we’re going dancing.” She smiled.
JC shook his head. ‘How on earth did I let this one go?’ he thought to himself. The intrigue of being with her was enough for him to fall in love with her all over again. Not that he ever fell out of love with her.
“No Liz?” he asked.
“No. She had to head back home and get back to work.” Madison said.
“That’s too bad. Joey said he had a really good time with her” JC said.
“JC, Joey would have a really good time with anything female.” Madison laughed.
JC laughed. “That’s very true.” He said.
“So how many people did you call before you called me?” JC asked.
Madison was surprised by his question.
“What makes you think you weren’t the first person I called?” Madison asked.
“Was I?” he asked.
Madison smiled. How was she supposed to answer that one?
“Well…Carson wouldn’t come out with me tonight and I knew you guys were in town so I gave you a call” Madison smiled.
“Well, I guess that’s alright. Next after Carson, that has merit.” He laughed.
The cab came to a stop in front of the club Madison had left not too long before.
“Well, it looks like we got here at a good time. There’s no line.” JC said.
Madison and JC approached the guard at the door. Justin assured her that he knew what to do. JC walked a few feet behind her, letting her talk to the guard. She heard her say something that obviously made the guard laugh and he stepped aside and let her and JC into the lobby
“Is this new?” he asked her, I don’t think I’ve been here before.
“Yeah, it is actually. They just opened it a few weeks ago.” She smiled.
Her and Liz had been here the weekend before and they dubbed it the new hot spot.
JC heard nothing coming from inside the club. Madison turned to him and smiled and all he could do was smile back at her.
They walked in talking as he pulled back the doors.
“SURPRISE!!” the crowd screamed out.
JC’s jaw dropped as he turned from the crowd to Madison and back to the crowd again. As he walked further into the club he saw more and more friends that he hadn’t seen in weeks, months, even years.

**~*~*~*~**

Madison made her break from the front of the building finding her way back to the guys.
“Well, you did it” Justin said into her ear.
“Piece of cake.” She shrugged, smiling.
“Yeah, for you” Chris muttered from behind her.
Madison turned around to give Chris a look. “Sorry Chris, I know how hard you worked.” Madison said.
“Yeah, well….” Chris started.
They were interrupted by JC who had gotten to them in his rounds.
“You guys responsible for this?” he asked.
“That would be us!” Justin said proudly.
“You guys sure know how to throw a party!” JC smiled.
“Like you didn’t know that already!” Lance smiled.
JC looked over his group mates and saw Madison standing with Justin.
“You in on this?” he asked smiling.
“Hey, I was an innocent guest until these two couldn’t pull off their only job.” She said, pointing back to Joey and Chris.
“Are you ever going to let us forget it?” Joey asked.
“Um…No!” she said.
“Well, thanks, to all you guys. I really appreciate all the trouble you went through.” JC said.
“No trouble at all” Justin smiled.
“Ah. I see my parents. You guys really got everyone! I’ll talk to you later.” He said, walking off to greet his parents and the other guests.

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