...With You

Chapter 3


"You what!" Carson yelled at Madison.
"I had lunch with him" Madison said smiling.
Madison started to clear the dishes from dinner as Carson sat there amazed at the story Madison had just got done telling him.
"Look, Cars, it's no big deal, ok. I helped him out of a jam and then we went to 'Joe's'. That's it, end of story." Madison said firmly.
"I know, it's just that I know how you are about those guys. I can't believe you were calm." Carson said, only half joking.
"Carson, I know you'll be shocked to hear this, but I'm a big girl now, I can usually handle myself in tough situations." Madison smiled "But I do love you for worrying about me."
Carson had not only been worried about Madison. He liked JC and the rest of the guys, but Madison was your typical fan, except for the whole age thing. He would have introduced her to them long ago if she would've asked, but Madison would never ask, and if Carson could get away with it, he wasn't going to volunteer her to heartache. Celebrity lives were tough, he knew that as much as the next person. If she were to get too attached to one of them, he didn't want to see her hurt. Not after what Chase had done to her. Madison went up to Carson who was helping her clear off the table. She barely came up to his nose, but insisted on looking him straight in the eyes when they talked.
"Carson?" Madison said.
"What Madd -- " he said back to her.
"I'll tell you what. I'll forgive you for not introducing me sooner if you'll just lay off a little…" Madison said.
Carson laughed. "Alright, I'll start acting more like your best friend and less like your father, I promise!"
"Good. Now, what about dessert?" Madison smiled.

**~*~*~*~**

"I still don't understand how you thought you could walk around without being noticed, in New York no less." Justin sat rolling his eyes at JC.
JC had just got done telling them all the whole story while they ate dinner from the room service they ordered.
"I know, I know. But it was the middle of the day, I really wasn't expecting a school bus of kids to approach me!" JC made his excuse.
"At least you got to meet Madison out of the deal. You said she's a hottie, right?" said Joey. 'That Joey' JC thought to himself 'If he wasn't thinking about food, it was girls.'
"Yeah, she's gorgeous." JC said smiling in spite of himself.
He couldn't stop thinking about that afternoon. Madison had definitely made him feel that spark again. A feeling he hadn't felt in a really long time. Too long.

**~*~*~*~**

"So, what movie are we going to watch tonight?" Carson asked Madison.
It had become a Tuesday night ritual, Dinner and a Movie. Carson and Madison shared their Tuesdays together since the week they met. There wasn't anyone he'd rather spend his evening with.
"I don't know. What are you in the mood for?" she asked him.
"How about "Armageddon"?" Carson suggested.
"Ooo. Sounds good to me, pop it in, I'll get the popcorn." Madison smiled.
The phone rang and Madison picked it up as she walked into the kitchen to put the popcorn into the microwave.
"Hello?" Madison said into the receiver.
"Madison? It's JC" he said.
Madison's mouth dropped open. For a second she wondered how he got her number, but it didn't take a genius to open a phone book.
"Hi JC, how are you?" Madison answered.
"I'm good. How are you? Rescue anymore helpless men today?" JC joked.
"Only Carson." Madison joked back.
"Oh?" JC inquired.
"I cooked him dinner." Madison said matter a factly.
"Ah, I see" JC said.
"JC, can you hold on a second?" Madison asked.
Madison covered the mouth piece to the phone and made her way over to Carson.
"Babe, do you mind if I invite them over to join us?" Madison asked.
"No, not at all, the more the merrier." Carson said.
"You sure" Madison asked.
"Yeah, positive." Carson said.
Madison returned to the line with JC on the other end of it.
"JC?" she questioned.
"Yeah, I'm still here." JC answered.
"Hey, I was wondering if you guys were doing anything tonight?" she asked, hoping for the best.
"Um, no I don't think we have anything planned, why?" JC asked.
"Well, cause I'd like to invite you guys over here, if you'd like to come?"
Madison prayed she wasn't making too big of a fool of herself by doing this.
"Yeah, I'd love to. I mean… we. We would love to. Let me talk with the rest of the guys and we'll be there in a little bit." JC said, already excited at the thought of seeing Madison again.
"Ok, sounds good. Carson and I will be here." Madison answered.
"Alright, see you soon" JC said "Goodbye."
"Bye" Madison answered.
She hung up the phone and placed it on the receiver where Carson was now standing.
"You sure you don't mind?" Madison asked. "Because I'll call him right now and cancel if you're going to be mad at me."
"Madison, of course I don't mind. I like hanging with these guys." Carson replied.
“Alright, good. In that case…how do I look?” Madison asked.
“Oh Madison, you’re gorgeous. You’re always gorgeous.” Carson said while pulling her into a big hug.

**~*~*~*~**

JC was glad that the guys had agreed to going to Madison’s.
“Thanks for coming, guys” JC said to them as they got into the car that would take them over to Madison’s apartment.
“We should thank her for inviting us. I don’t know what we would have done sitting in that hotel for another night.” Justin said.
“Well, we’ll be sure to thank her then” JC said simply.
They drove up to the street that JC remembered all too vividly from this morning’s confrontation. They all got out of the car and walked up to the front doors of the apartment building. With one quick motion, he rang the bell to let her know they were there.

**~*~*~*~**

::Riiiiiing::
“Hello?” Madison yelled into the intercom attached to the speaker downstairs.
“Hey Madison, we’re here.” JC said.
“Alright, come on up.” Madison said while ringing them into the building.
“Well, here they come” Carson said as if announcing someone on TRL.
“Carson! You are going to behave, aren’t you?” Madison said, slightly whining.
“Don’t I always?” Carson smiled.
“No! That’s why I’m asking you to please behave…” Madison pleaded.
“Oh, well…alright. I’ll try.” Carson laughed. “Madison, you’re my best friend, like I would do anything to embarrass you.”
There was a knock on Madison’s door and Carson quickly gave Madison a kiss on the cheek before going to answer the door. Before Madison could stop him the door had opened to reveal her five obsessions standing there in the doorway.
“Hey man, we at the right apartment?” Justin said, greeting Carson.
“Yeah, you’re at the right place.” Carson said laughing. JC was the last one in the line of guys to enter into the apartment.
“Hey Carson, how are ya doin’?” JC asked.
“Pretty good. I heard about your excitement this afternoon. Nice one.” Carson said.
Just then Madison appeared from the kitchen.
“Hi guys” she smiled confidently.
The guys stood there awe-struck for a second before they realized they were being rude.
"You must be Madison" Justin said, extending a hand "I'm Justin."
"Nice to meet you, Justin" Madison smiled. When Justin smiled the room seemed to light up. He had one of those smiles that would win any girl over.
"Hey Justin, quit hogging her" Joey laughed. Justin dropped her hand as Joey grabbed it.
"Hi Madison, I'm Joey" he said as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly.
"Hey Joey" Madison said smiling. She could help but laugh to herself. He really was the flirt everyone said he was. How in character. Madison moved down the line to Lance and Chris and they introduced themselves. Madison finally made her way down to JC, who was still standing and talking with Carson. Why did that make her so nervous?
"Hey, do I know you?" Madison said to JC.
"Ouch, I'm hurt. I leave for a few hours and you forget me already!" JC said playfully.
"Oh, come on. You know I couldn't forget you. Not that quick anyway." Madison said.
"Oh, is that right?" JC said. He gave Madison a quick hug. Carson looked on. It looked harmless enough. 'Stop Carson' he scolded himself. Madison was right. 'She's a big girl, she didn't need you to protect her' he thought again.
"Make yourselves at home guys, please" Madison said making her way from JC to the group of guys accumulating in her living room.
"You have a great place here" Chris commented.
"Thank you." Madison answered. "It's home."
Just then Jacey decided to come out and make an appearance from Madison's bedroom. She ran out from the bedroom looking at the group one guy at a time.
"Is she gonna kill us?" Lance asked worriedly.
"Who Jacey? God no, she's a baby. She's just not used to so many people at one time." Madison explained.
"Jacey? Hey Chasez, I told you you were a dog!" Chris joked to his groupmate.
Madison felt her face get red. She never imagined introducing her dog to any member of *Nsync. JC and Carson made their way over to Madison and the guys. Carson saw Madison's face. 'Naw, it was too easy to put a comment in there' he thought devilishly to himself.
"What did you say Chris?" JC asked.
"Nothing man, forget it" Chris replied.
They all sat down in the living room.
"Do you guys want anything to eat or drink?" Madison asked
They all accepted the offer of drinks and Madison made her way into the kitchen to get them all something from the fridge.
"I'll help you out" JC offered, getting up off his chair.
Once in the kitchen Madison turned to JC and smiled.
"Thanks" she said "for helping, I mean."
"No problem." He said smiling back at her.
Madison and JC got drinks and a few snacks from the kitchen.
"Thank you for inviting us over" JC said.
Madison was almost surprised. She didn't think she was the one to be thanked. After all, *Nsync was in her living room. She almost felt she was the one to thank them.
"Oh, it's no problem." Madison answered. "Thanks for coming."
"Your welcome." JC said, just staring into her green eyes.
It wasn't long before Madison broke the stare.
"We better get out there" she said shyly. This was not her. Why did JC do this to her? It was like she went back to high school when he was around. She hated feeling like this. Like she had no control over her words or actions. It was the annoying part about youth that Madison was glad to had left behind, until now.

**~*~*~*~**

Madison glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already 10:30. She didn't believe the guys had been there for over 3 hours. Joey's words brought Madison back to the real world.
"So Madison, have you ever been to one of our shows?" he asked.
JC was glad Joey asked cause he was dying to know, but would never ask himself.
Madison smiled. "Yeah, a few" She said, giving Carson a look that said 'If you rat me out on this one I'll never talk to you again!'.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" Joey asked. "We like getting opinions from people outside of our team."
Madison nodded. "I enjoyed myself very much, you guys are amazing." Madison smiled.
"How many is 'a few'?" Chris asked.
"Yeah, Madd - " Carson smiled, "how many is a few these days?" Of course he already knew Madison's magic number. 'Oh this should be good' he thought to himself.
"Well.." Madison started, hesitantly.
"Ah, come on, make us feel good." Chris replied.
Madison looked from Carson to JC and then in the general direction of all of them. They all just stared at her as though she was giving a figure deciding life and death.
"Only about twenty." Madison said non-chalantly.
"Only?" Lance said.
"Twenty?" Joey repeated.
"Is that it?" Justin said sarcastically.
"Alright, alright. You caught me. I'm a fan, ok?" Madison said, raising her arms in surrender.
"See we do have fans over sixteen!" JC said triumphantly.
Madison sat there in embarrassment, but it didn't seem to phase the guys. She was glad that they took that so well. So yeah, she was what you could classify as an over zealous fan, but she didn't care. They were talented and she enjoyed watching them, even though she always got a good number of looks from the little teenyboppers among her. Carson always invited her to special events, so even though he never introduced them, he always brought her one step closer. She loved him for that, among other things of course.
"Wow, is that really the time?" JC said looking at the clock some time later.
"Is it really quarter of twelve?" Justin said also shocked.
"Yeah, it is, apparently." Madison responded. They had been talking for so long time just seemed to fly by.
"Geez, Madison. We're sorry." Lance said.
"What for?" Madison said.
"Well, we didn't on intruding on your evening all evening." He said.
"Oh, please don't apologize. I'm having a great time." Madison replied.
"Even so, I think we better go" JC said "I know you work tomorrow."
Madison smiled. "Yeah, I guess I do." She said. "But only till two, so I'll be ok." The guys started to get up to leave and Jacey sat in front of the door, not allowing it to be opened.
"Ah, Jacey! We'll be back, we promise." JC said.
"Jacey, come on, come here." Madison said. Jacey lazily got up from in front of the door and walked over to Madison.
"Look at that loyalty…" Justin said.
"She's the best friend I got" Madison said smiling.
"HEY!" Carson said, looking hurt.
"Well, except for this guy" she said to them "except Jacey listens to me!"
"Ha, Ha! Man, did she just cut you down!" Joey said to Carson.
"Ya see what I put up with?" Carson said, hugging Madison from behind.
"I'll trade ya?" JC said looking back at the other four who were fooling around behind him.
"Ah, no. That's alright, you got your hands full there." Carson replied laughing.
"Don't I know it." JC said.
"Well, good bye Madison, and thank you" said JC. "We'll see you tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, you will." Madison said. She hugged each of them goodbye and said goodnight to the guys. She shut the door and returned to Carson who still remained where he last stood.
"Well, that went pretty well, I must say." Carson said.
"Yeah, it did." Madison said smiling.
Carson looked at her while she started cleaning up the few dishes that remained. She was beautiful, and seeing her happy made him happy. If JC was who could do that to her, all the more power to him. These past few months have been tough on Madison, and nobody knew that better than Carson. Chase had put a damper on her spirits since the day he left and finally, he saw that sparkle come back into her eye.
"Madd -- I'm gonna get going." He yelled to her.
"Alright, alright. Hold on." Madison said making her was out from the kitchen.
Carson stood by the door. Madison kissed him on the cheek.
"Thanks Carson." Madison said.
"For what?" he asked.
"Ah. Just being you." Madison said. "Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow"
"Goodnight girl." He said.
Madison closed the front door. It was just her and Jacey that remained. Madison couldn't help but smile. This night had been amazing in every aspect. This day had been the best day since… well, since Chase. At that she went over to the end table, and without thinking for a moment took the picture of Carson, Chase and her and slid it into the drawer below.

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