"Ashlyn will you hurry up and open the door!"
"I'm TRYING Justin. My hands are freezing, I think I have frostbite. Whose idea was it to go out today anyway?"
"Erm...yours I think."
"Well never listen to an idea of mine again."
Everyone had just arrived back from a theme park. They were all wet and cold and now Justin wanted his North Carolina sweatshirt back that Ashlyn had "borrowed" the day before. Ashlyn insisted on checking on Alanna first though and borrowed the spare key from Alex.
"Just be quiet okay. Alanna is probably sleeping. She looked like crap this morning."
"Wow you're a nice best friend," Justin muttered.
"Just shut up will you." Ashlyn finally opened the door and her and Justin froze at the image before them.
JC and Alanna were wrapped in each other's arms inside Alanna's bed. Alanna's head rested on JC's shoulder as JC rested his head on top of hers. Alanna had her right arm wrapped around JC's waist and JC's hand rested on her shoulder.
"Go JC!" Justin smirked.
Ashlyn turned around and placed her hand on Justin's shoulder pushing him out of the door.
"When did that..." Ashlyn covered Justin's mouth with her hand and led him over to her room not removing it until she had closed the door.
"What did you do that for?" asked Justin.
"I'm sure they don't want their business spread around the whole hotel."
"So what's going on with them then?"
"I have no idea. What's JC said to you?"
"Nothing really. The whole subject of JC and dating has pretty much been banned from our conversations. Let's just say he got a little pissed at our last efforts of matchmaking."
"I thought they were supposed to be sick anyway."
Justin laughed. "You don't find seeing them in bed together sick?"
Ashlyn rolled her eyes at him. "Can you be serious for 5 minutes?"
"So what are we going to do?"
"YOU aren't going to do ANYTHING," Ashlyn warned Justin. "Alanna has been through a lot, don't ask because it's not my place to tell you. All I'm saying is the last thing she needs is rumours flying around about her and JC."
Alanna looked at Justin's face. He seemed to be contemplating his decision. On one hand he could do the right thing and keep his mouth shut. On the other hand he had one of the juiciest pieces of gossip in the ‘N SYNC camp for ages. Maybe he could blackmail JC..." Justin chuckled to himself.
"JUSTIN!"
"Okay, okay I'll keep my mouth shut."
"You know I don't trust you. You're staying in here tonight where I can keep an eye on you until we can confront them. Rebekah won't be back tonight, she's staying with a friend."
"Ashlyn if you really wanted to get me into bed you just had to ask," Justin smirked.
"JUSTIN I'm warning you. There are TWO beds and I plan on having them both used tonight."
"You wanna do it in BOTH!" Justin laughed. "Well if you're up for it then I am too." Justin ducked as a pillow was thrown at him. "Ooh you wanna get rough? I never would've imagined you to be the type."
Ashlyn stood red faced glaring at Justin as he rolled around the bed in hysterics.
"Justin...Justin...JUSTIN SHUT UP!"
"I'm sorry Ashlyn..." he gasped for breath. "Your face, it was priceless."
"Get your ass off my bed now," she ground out.
Justin continued to laugh.
"What makes you think I'd wanna sleep with a boy like you anyway?"
Justin immediately stopped laughing and his eyebrows rose in shock. "Boy...BOY? I'll have you know I am all man."
Ashlyn burst out laughing. "You...a man? Justin you're nothing but a momma's boy."
Justin's jaw dropped. "I'll show you momma's boy." Justin stood from the bed and pushed Ashlyn against the wall before claiming her lips with his own.
Ashlyn didn't have time to react. Within moments Justin had her pinned against the wall, his hot lips working over hers. She had no time to respond because it was all over and Justin was pulling back as they both fought to catch their breath,
Ashlyn was the first to pull herself together. She forced herself into typical "Ashlyn mode" and had to make a smart comment. "Okay so you're not a boy but I still say you're not a man. You're somewhere in between with a few things to learn." She forced a shaky smile.
At first she thought Justin looked hurt but then he grinned. "And you're going to teach me I suppose?"
Ashlyn rolled her eyes. "Go to bed Justin."
"Yes ma'am," he laughed.
Ashlyn went into the bathroom, changing into shorts and a t-shirt before re-entering the bedroom. Justin was in bed, his chest bare. She had no idea what covered his bottom half, if anything, because the bed covers were drawn to waist level.
Justin caught Ashlyn looking at him and he decided to play her at her own game. "Want to come and check for yourself Ash?"
Damn him, how could he read her thoughts like that. She tried in vain not to blush but could feel her face warm slightly none the less. She fought to find a witty response but her mind had drawn a blank. "Shut up and go to sleep Justin." She walked over to her bed and switched the lamps off which sat on the bedside table. As she settled beneath the covers she could still hear Justin chuckling quietly. She sighed before burying her head beneath the pillow, eventually sleep overcoming her.
~*~
Alanna tried to roll over but found she was being held down. She opened her eyes and turned her head to the right finding a hand on her shoulder. Her first instinct was to scream. A movement on her left made her turn though. She found JC curled up beside her, a content look on his face. Last night came flooding back to her. How JC had listened so patiently to her and then comforting her. It had felt so good to share everything with him. JC had also voiced his own past to her and it pleased her to know he trusted her.
Alanna looked at the clock, it was 8 am. They had a rehearsal at 2 pm but other than that she didn't have a thing to do until tonight's show. She closed her eyes intending to just rest them but slowly drifted off once again.
~*~
"Justin wake up."
Justin groaned and rolled over. "5 more minutes mom."
Ashlyn giggled. "I thought you weren't a momma's boy?" she shouted in his ear.
Justin sat bolt upright. "What the hell are you doing?"
"We're going to see Alanna and JC."
Justin looked at the bedside clock. "At 8 AM? Are you crazy? I don't have anything to do until this afternoon and you wake me up at this time?"
"I heard you were a grouch in the morning."
"Not funny."
"Go get a shower. Give me your room key and I'll go get you some clothes."
"You think I'm gonna find anyone to tell at this time in the morning?"
"I'm not taking any chances now move!"
Justin grabbed the covers and pulled them back angrily before stomping across the room to where his jeans lay. The mystery of what he wore to bed the previous night had been revealed...boxers. 'The little tease,' Ashlyn thought.
"Here," he said passing her the key.
"Thank you."
Justin watched through tired eyes as Ashlyn headed over to the door. As he saw the door begin to close behind her he made his way over to the bathroom.
"Oh Justin?"
He looked back the door. Alanna's head poked around it. "Cute butt," she giggled before shutting the door.
Justin shook his head, "women!"
~*~
Ashlyn let herself into Justin's room. The place was a pigsty. Clothes were scattered across the floor, the bed was unmade and his suitcase lay open at the foot of the bed. "He's a bigger slob than Alanna."
Heading for the suitcase Ashlyn made a mental list of what he would need. "Jeans, shirt, sweater..." Ashlyn’s eyes caught sight of a pair of boxers with hearts on them. "Oh no, he hasn't." Ashlyn’s couldn't stop the laughter. “He will NEVER live this down," Ashlyn smiled. Quickly grabbing some socks she left the room, items in hand.
She practically skipped down the hall, eagerly awaiting the chance to torture Justin. She let herself back into her own room. "Oh Justin," she called teasingly.
The bathroom door opened and Justin appeared clad in only a towel, water droplets still apparent on his chest.
Ashlyn gulped. "I found some clothes for you."
Justin seeing the affect he had on her at the moment decided to tease her for all it was worth. "Oh really, you see I was under the impression you wanted me OUT of the clothes, not in them."
"In your dreams little boy."
"Oh so we're playing that game again are we? What have I got to prove to you today? You want another demonstration?"
"I think I'll pass," muttered Ashlyn.
"Yeah you'd pass OUT. That's the affect I have on women," he chuckled.
"Can your ego get any bigger? Damn Justin! I think we need to bring you down a peg or two."
Ashlyn suddenly felt back in control. She approached Justin and placed her hand on his chest. She couldn't help but notice him shiver. Justin suddenly had a look of nervous excitement. She ran a finger down his chest, circling his navel before carrying on down to where the towel began. He immediately inhaled and Ashlyn could not help but smirk at what he thought was coming.
"Justin," she said huskily.
"Yeah," he choked out.
"Don't tell me you actually WEAR these," she shouted as she stepped back and threw the boxers at Justin.
Justin caught the black silk material sprinkled with bright red hearts. He looked at them and then back up at the laughing Ashlyn.
"Why you little..." he went to run after her.
"Uh uh uh. Get dressed, we have a lot to do today and you better be nice to me or everyone will find out about the only love getting inside your pants." Ashlyn was crying with laughter.
"That joke SUCKED!"
"Oh don't get me started on sucking," she said clutching her stomach.
Justin walked over to the door and pushed her out so he could get dressed.
Justin rested his head on the closed door. Why did he bother teasing her? The joke always got turned back around on him. Justin shook his head and repeated his new favourite word, "women."" He thought a moment longer, "or should I say Ashlyn?"
~*~
10 minutes later Justin left the room and joined Ashlyn in the hall. "Don't you dare," he warned before she could even begin to laugh.
She held her hands up in defence. "I wasn't gonna say a word."
"Yeah right. Come on; let's go find out what our friends are up to. You still got the key?"
"Yeah. I sure as hell hope we don't walk in on anything."
Justin grimaced at the thought.
Taking the keycard from Ashlyn he quietly opened the door. The couple was in much the same position as last night but even closer if that was possible.
Justin cleared his throat loudly. JC and Alanna stirred at the disruption. They opened their eyes and looked at each other in confusion at first before turning to the door.
"Hi guys," Justin said casually. "Wanna explain?"
Chapter 13
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