...With You

Chapter 4


Madison looked at the clock on the wall of her office, 2:10. Why was it that when she wanted to get out of the office early, she found something extra to do.
Knock, Knock
"Come in!" Madison yelled.
Sam entered the office. She was never surprised to see Madison working hard at her computer.
"Madd -- I thought you were leaving early today?" Sam asked.
"I am. I just got started with some--" Madison was cut short.
"Madison Wilkes! Pack up your things and leave!" Sam yelled.
"Yes 'mam, Ms. Clinch!" Madison said, knowing she could joke with her boss.
"Madison, did anyone ever tell you that you work too hard? You're young, go have fun. You could've graduated last semester if you wanted to and you're still here to work. You're the most dedicated person I got here, so don't get me wrong, I love having you work here. But Madison, take time for yourself once in awhile, ok?" she said.
"Ok, ok. I'm leaving." Madison said. She picked up her purse and jacket and followed Sam out of her office. It was nice to have a boss that respected you and your work. She smiled to herself as she walked down the street toward the MTV studios, where Carson was waiting and now doubt worried because of her tardiness.

**~*~*~*~**

Chase walked down the crowded streets of New York City. He hoped he had the right day that *Nsync was on TRL. Madison had not returned his calls for weeks now, and he needed to see her. He still had a ticket left from the few that Carson had given him when him and Madison were still together. Madison…. He missed her too much to express. He knew he screwed up, but he regretted it now. She just had to hear him out. He gave her all the space she asked for during the past six months, now it was her turn to hear what he had to say. If this was the day *Nsync were on TRL, he knew he had a decent chance of seeing Madison there.

**~*~*~*~**

Madison got to the MTV studio in record breaking time. She approached the front desk and showed them the pass Carson had given her.
"Hello again, Ms. Wilkes." Said the receptionist.
"Hi Tammy" Madison smiled. She visited Carson so much they all knew her around here. Madison took the elevator up to Carson's dressing room. She took the turn and saw Carson already in make-up.
"Hey," she said peaking in the door.
Carson smiled, looked at his watch and gave Madison a worried look.
"You're late" He said.
"I'm sorry, Cars" she said, kissing him on the cheek. "I got tied up at work."
"That's ok" Carson smiled. "Hey, there's five guys over in the next room asking about you."
"Really?" Madison said surprised.
"Yeah. But hurry up, they're seating people in 15 minutes." Carson warned. "I know." Madison smiled while leaving the room.
She made her way down to the green room where most of the stars hung out before the show. She peaked in but saw no one. The voice from behind her brought a smile to her face.
"There you are…." JC said.
Madison turned around and saw JC standing there.
"Hey JC" Madison smiled as he gave her a hug.
"Carson told us you'd be here almost an hour ago" JC said.
"Yeah, I was supposed to be, but I got held up at work" Madison replied.
"Well, at least you're here right?" JC smiled.
"Yeah." Madison smiled. They held their stare until the other guys appeared in the hall.
"Hey Madison" Justin said.
"Hey guys, how are you?" she asked.
"Good, can't complain" Lance said.
"Madison!" Carson called from his dressing room. "They're seating!"
"Alright, alright. Thanks Cars." Madison said.
"Guess you gotta go, huh?" Chris asked.
"Yeah, but I'll be watching you" Madison warned.
"We're counting on it" JC smiled.
Madison said her goodbyes and made her way to the studio. Sara was busy doing her job and seating people as they came into the room.
"Hey Madison" she said once she saw her. "I was expecting you today."
"Oh really?" Madison said.
"Yeah, I just had a hunch" Sara said smiling. "Why don't you take that seat in the second row up by the window?"
"Alright, thanks" Madison said smiling. She didn't care where she sat today. She was just excited to be there. Seeing them on TRL today was different from the other times she'd been to appearances. Maybe cause she knew them now. Well, slightly knew them anyway.

**~*~*~*~**

Chase looked at his watch as he stood in the line to be seated. 3:15 He looked around for Madison but didn't see her anywhere. Just as he approached the front of the line her saw her. Sitting beautifully by the window. She had already started talking to the girl sitting next to her. Madison had always been friendly, even to strangers. It was one of the things he loved most about her. He finally made his way up to the young woman who was showing people to their seats.
"Why don't you take a seat in the front row in front of that young lady" she said as she pointed in Madison's direction.
Chase smiled. He didn't believe how lucky he got. He took his seat in front and to the left of Madison without her noticing him due to the fact that she was deeply involved in conversation with the girl next to her.
"I wish we could get closer." Said the girl
Chase knew that the opportunity was too good to pass up. He waited till Madison was talking to some girl behind her and then turned around to the row behind him.
"Excuse me" he said to the girl "I couldn't help overhearing. If you want to switch with me, I'd be willing."
"Wow." Said the girl "I'll take you up on that, thank you."
Madison turned back to face forward.
"Madison, the guy in front of us offered to switch with me, so I'm gonna sit down there" she said.
"Ok, have fun." Madison said.
As they switched places Madison was intrigued to see a guy that would give up his seat. Just then her smile turned into a frozen look of terror. 'Chase' she thought to herself.
Carson had already taken the platform when Chase took his seat next to Madison.
"Hey Madison, fancy meeting you here!" Chase whispered.
"Chase! What the hell are you doing here?" Madison whispered.
"We need to talk." Chase said.
"We are not talking here, do you hear me, we are not!" Madison whispered back.
"Fine, we'll stay for the show. But it's time you listened to what I had to say, baby." Chase said.
"Do NOT call me that." Madison said. "Look, Chase I would leave right now but I promised friends I'd be here. Please don't start anything."
Chase would have replied but the 'on-air' sign lit up and Carson started talking to the crowd. What was it about *Nsync fans that made the room seem twice as loud as normal? He never knew twelve-year-olds could be so loud and irritating. Time passed with Chase's thoughts and Carson went to the first commercial. Carson noticed Chase sitting next to Madison during the first video but wasn't allowed enough time to say anything. Poor Madison. What was that guy doing here anyway? Hadn't he done enough already? The first commercial break came and Carson approached Madison from the window side.
"Madd, you ok?" he asked.
"What the hell do you think?" Madison asked.
Carson's heart broke to see her upset.
"Oh, Cars, sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. You're the last person I'd want to do that to. I'm sorry." Madison said.
"Madison, it's ok. Really, I understand. Do you want him out of here? I'll call security." He offered.
"No. I don't wanna cause a scene." She answered.
"Ok. I gotta go. Good luck sweets." Carson said.
"Thanks." Madison said as Carson walked away.

**~*~*~*~**

'Yeah well, this is what I love about live television, right' Carson thought to himself 'Expect the unexpected.'
"Ok, we're back. Well, as you all probably know we have some very special guests with us here today."
Cheers filled the room.
"So, I feel no need to keep you in suspense any longer…." Carson said. "Please help me welcome….*NSYNC!"
The room filled with thunderous applause as the guys made their way out. Carson quickly looked Madison's way. She forced a smile his way and winked her emerald eye. JC, Justin, Lance, Joey and Chris worked the crowd to the highest extent. Shaking hands where reachable and smiling while doing so. JC spotted Madison and made his way over to that side of the studio. As he slapped hands around her he realized she wasn't her normal, cheery self. Madison forced a smile in his direction and he gladly returned her smile with one of his one.
The attention turned to Carson and the questions he was asking the guys.
"You guys must be happy to see such great reactions where ever you go?" Carson said.
"Ya know, we have the best fans in the world" Justin said.
"All the people that wait outside and stuff we appreciate more than we can tell them. So thanks to all of you out there." Lance said.
Again the crowd applauded.
"We have to get to the number 6 video right now, but we'll be back with more *Nsync…stay tuned."
The number six video played. Carson talked to the guys, but kept a close eye on Chase and Madison. One false move and he didn't care what Madison said, Carson would get him out of there in no time. He noticed JC's eyes wondering over to Madison now and then. Carson really hoped Chase wasn't here to cause problems. Madison was getting her life back on track, and she really didn't need this right now. The video ended and the interview continued.
"So, the new CD, No Strings Attached, is due out next month. I can imagine your excitement." Carson said.
"Ya know, it'll really be nice to finally get the CD out there. We've been waiting a long time and it'll be out March 21st." JC said.
"JC, you wrote for the album, correct?" Carson asked.
"Yeah, Justin and I both did for this album. We were all a lot more hands on in the whole process so ya know, it's that much more special to us." JC continued.
"Sounds good. We definitely can't wait for that. We gotta go to a commercial, stick around we'll have more *Nsync when we get back." Carson said.

**~*~*~*~**

This show couldn’t be over soon over for Chase. All he wanted to do was talk to his girl. Well, technically, she wasn't his girl. Something was sitting uneasily with him though. Why did it seem that, that tall dark-haired guy from the group was making eyes at Madison. He didn't know their names. JC, maybe? Who knew, and really who cared.

**~*~*~*~**

As much as she anticipated coming to see the show today, Madison could not wait to get out of here and leave this day behind. Why did Chase have to do this today, of all days. JC wasn't going to be in town for that much longer, and excuse her, but she really didn't feel like having a conversation with her ex on why he cheated on her. Yeah well, life goes on.

**~*~*~*~**

The audience members were asking questions now, but Madison was only listening with half an ear.
"Alright, I think we have time for one last question." Carson said.
The girl who had been sitting next to Madison in the beginning of the show suddenly had a microphone.
"Hi guys, I'm Ashley. I just wanted to know what kind of stuff you like to do while you're here in New York?" she asked.
"Hi Ashley" said Chris and Joey in unison.
"Actually, we're frightfully boring. When we're not touring or promoting we just lounge around. Last night we hung out with a couple friends and had a great time just talking and stuff. We love doing stuff like that cause we don't get to do it that often." Lance answered.
"Well, I'm gonna have to meet these friends of yours" Carson said laughing.
"Yeah, you should. I think you might like them." JC smiled.
"Anyway…onto the number one video. As if there was any shock, here is *Nsync with 'Bye, Bye, Bye'.
Applause came over the crowd and seemed to last through the whole video as the guys danced around the stage and talked to fans. The video ended and all that was left to do was close the show.
"I wanna say 'thank you' to *Nsync for coming on our little show today. We gotta get going. Thanks for watching Wednesday's TRL, we'll be back at ya tomorrow. Same time, Same place….lata dayz."
The show was officially over. The guys and Carson talked to the fans a little bit before heading back to their respective dressing rooms.

**~*~*~*~**

The studio was almost empty now except for a few wandering workers. Sara came in to check who was still in the room.
"Madison, is that you" she asked.
"Yeah Sara, it's me" Madison answered. "We'll be outta here in a second."
"No prob, Madd" she said. "I'll let Carson know where you are."
Ok, thanks." She said.
Chase looked down at his hands. He waited for this moment for so long, and now he didn't know what to say to her.
"Well?" she said angrily. "What is it that you need to say to me Chase?"
Chase knew she was angry. He really couldn't blame her.
"Chase…I'm waiting." Madison said.
"Madison, I….I…." Chase stopped himself.
"Look Chase, I have better things to do than sit here and listen to you sort through your thoughts." She said.
Chase didn't make a move. Afraid he might make her leave.

**~*~*~*~**

JC was on cloud nine. He couldn't wait to go see Madison. He knew he couldn't stay in the studio with her like he wanted to. Too many questions. Too many questions about a relationship that he didn't know what to do with. He looked in Carson's dressing room but saw no evidence of him there. He headed toward the studio where he saw Carson standing just outside the entranceway.
"Carson?" JC looked at him questionably.
Carson turned around to see JC standing there behind him. JC was definitely not the person that needed to see this.
"Hey JC, what's up?" Carson asked, knowing full well what or rather who JC was in search of.
"I was just looking for Madison, is she still in there?" JC asked with a goofy smile on his face.
Carson couldn't help but laugh at the guy. It looked as if this guy had fell hard for Madison, especially for a day. Carson changed his expression.
"JC, I don't think you should go in there." Carson said seriously.
"Why not, isn't she…." JC said, going into the studio and stopping when he saw Madison with some guy. Suddenly JC's smile fell flat and he began to walk away.
"JC wait!" Carson said. "It's not what it looks like."
JC turned around to face Carson, knowing full well that his affection for Madison was showing its true colors.
"Come over here so they can't hear us." Carson said. "I gotta tell you something."

**~*~*~*~**

"What a jerk!" Justin exclaimed.
Carson, against his better judgement, told the guys who Madison was talking to and the story behind it. She was probably going to kill him later, but he didn't want to see JC walk out of her life because of Chase. Despite his reluctance in introducing her to the guys, he'd never seen Madison so happy. He made a promise to himself to never stand in the way of that.
"Who would cheat on Madison?" JC asked, shaking his head.
"Chase would, and did. It took Madison so long to get over this asshole the first time, I don't know what makes him think he can come back and do this to her again." Carson said angrily.
"Should we go get her?" JC asked Carson.
"I don't think so. Not yet. She's too independent to ask for help, but if she needs us, she knows we're here." Carson said.
"Alright." JC said, knowing he was right. After all, Carson had been there from the beginning. He probably knew Madison better then anybody, he knew what was best.
"We can however, eavesdrop. I wanna be close if he tries anything. I'd like to show this dude a thing or two." Carson said getting up and walking out to where he was standing a half hour before.

**~*~*~*~**

"Chase I don't know what you expect me to do here. I've listened to you for the past 20 minutes say how sorry you are and that it will never happen again, but I can't just pick up where we left off." She said.
"So let's start over." Chase pleaded.
"Chase, I can't do that. There's too much history." She answered.
"Madison, I think 'us' deserves a second chance, don't you." He asked.
"A second chance? Really? Give me one good reason." Madison answered.
"I love you. I've never stopped loving you….I need you." He said. "Is that reason enough for you?"
Madison stared at him, not believing he had the audacity to do this. A cough came from in back of her.
"Madison?" his voice bellowed. At first she thought Chase had called her, but he looked up in confusion, proving it wasn't his voice.
"Madison…." JC questioned.
Madison turned around to see JC standing there. She smiled in spite of herself. "We were just going to grab something to eat, and I wanted to know if you wanted to come with us?" he asked.
She turned her head back to Chase and quickly turned back to JC.
"Yeah, I'd love to." She said as she got up.
Chase quickly grabbed with wrist to pull her back down.
"Madd -- we're not done here." He said firmly.
"Yes we are, Chase" she said. "We are so done."

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