Justin knocked on JC's door and when the door swung open he greeted his friend.
"Hey C what's up?"
"Justin what do you want?" asked JC irritably.
"Man what's wrong with you?" Justin exclaimed.
"I'm just not in the mood Justin, now can you get to the point of your being here?"
"Gee sorry for bothering you. I'm wound up after the show and seeing as they won't let us go out I thought you might wanna hang out for a while. Sorry I bothered. I'll be seeing you."
Justin turned and began walking away. JC sighed. "Listen Justin, it's not you. I've got a lot on my mind right now. I just want to go to sleep."
"You just had to say. What is it with everyone tonight! First Alanna, now you."
Justin had caught JC's attention. "What happened with Alanna?" he tried to ask casually.
"She was tearing down that hall like a bat out of hell. She looked kinda stressed or tired or something."
"She did?"
"Yeah I was talking with Ash earlier and she said she's been acting kinda weird since they left Florida. Anyway I'll let you get to bed now. Night!"
"Yeah...night." JC closed the door before leaning up against it. "What the hell am I gonna do?" he sighed.
~*~
(The next day)
They had been on the bus for a while now. Ben and Daniel played on the Playstation in the back of the bus while Ashlyn and Rebekah caught up on some sleep in their bunks. Alanna was in her bunk as well but she wasn't sleeping. The bunk was the only form of privacy, except the bathroom, on the bus. Personal space had always been an important thing to her especially of late.
Now in her bunk she had once again taken out her diary. Why she had brought it along on tour she didn't know. When she had taken it out the other day she had originally thought it had been a one off. A need for her to have some kind of comfort from her childhood, a time when her only real problem was what she was going to wear to school. A time when she had a set routine and her parents sheltered her from the world. Perhaps she had brought the diary with her because of the secret within it. Whatever the reason she once again had it open in front of her, pen poised, ready to record her latest thoughts.
Dear Diary,
When will this end? When will the hurt go away? I've only known him a few weeks. We never dated. We only spent one night together so why do I feel like this? Why am I punishing myself? Why do I want to be back in his arms? See I just keep going back to that. After everything he's done to me I still want him. I'm so stupid aren't I! A lovesick fool.
I kinda stood up to him last night. I felt quite proud of myself. I was afraid I would break down in front of him and lose every bit of dignity I ever had. I held up though...even if it was a front.
So anyway I had a sudden burst of anger when I saw him. He acted as if nothing had happened. Maybe he isn't who I thought he was after all.
I told him to stay away. In a way I hope he does because every time I see him I have a simultaneous urge to wring his neck and kiss him senseless. JERK! Why do we let men do this to us? They aren't holed up in a bunk (or bedroom for so-called "normal" people) pouring their heart out to a sheet of paper. He isn't crying himself to sleep. Ugh forget about him. Get it into your head Alanna - NOT WORTH IT!
~*~
Alanna, Ashlyn and Rebekah walked towards the entrance of a club in the city they had performed at that night. It was Ashlyn's birthday and Alanna had decided to drag her on a "girls night out". After their portion of the show that night the girls had headed back to the hotel to get themselves "glammed up" as Daniel had put it. Alanna had managed to persuade Alex to stay back at the hotel on the basis that anyone who knew who she was would still be at the concert. They had then headed to a restaurant before making their way to the club.
"Thanks for tonight girls," Ashlyn grinned.
"You're welcome, I'm just glad you're having fun. You ready to dance the night away?"
Ashlyn looked at her best friend. "Well duh!"
Alanna laughed. Swinging her arm around her shoulder she led them towards the door. "Come on then, let's go party!"
Opening the door she pushed Ashlyn into the room in front of her.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLYN!"
Wide eyed, Ashlyn looked around the club. A lot of people from the tour and even a couple of friends and family were gathered in the room.
"You can close your mouth now Ash."
Ashlyn looked up. Justin, she might have known. Shaking her head she turned to Alanna. "Did you do this?"
Alanna shrugged. "I just wanted you to have a good day. Everyone helped out though."
Ashlyn hugged her. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Go mingle girl," Alanna laughed.
She watched as Ashlyn headed out into the group of people, hugging friends and family on her way. Ashlyn loved to be the centre of attention so she knew she was in her element right now.
Ben walked up to her. "Would you care to dance madam?" he joked.
"Why of course kind sir."
Alanna headed out to the dance floor intending to enjoy herself tonight.
~*~
Alanna sat at the bar laughing as she watched Rebekah and Joey dance together. Rebekah's professional background and Joey's ability to take over the dance floor was turning out to be quite some performance.
Justin approaching caught her eye. "And what can I do for you?"
"You have to dance with me."
"I HAVE to do I?" She raised her eyebrows questionably.
"Oh come on Alanna please. I was just dancing with Ashlyn and she dumped me for some guy out there. Do you know what that could do for my reputation?"
She laughed. "Why I couldn't let the one and only Justin Timberlake go without a dance partner could I? Even if I was only second choice."
"Don't take it personally Allie," he said as he grabbed her hand and dragged her out into the middle of the dance floor.
She danced a couple of songs with Justin but frankly the boy was wearing her out. When the song faded out she decided to try and make her exit while she could. "Justin I think I'll sit this one out. My feet are killing me."
"Oh come on Alanna, it's a slow song, you barely have to move. Besides not having a partner during a slow song is the WORST," he whined.
"Okay but this is the last one Justin," she agreed. Anything to stop him whining. He could be so mature for his age at times but when he wanted his own way he could be a real pain in the ass.
She leant on him to try and take some of the weight off her aching feet. It had been a long day, she was wearing uncomfortably high shoes and she was ready for bed.
"Well, well if it isn't Miss Thang," she heard Justin say above the music.
Turning her head there was Ashlyn dancing with JC. Ashlyn pouted playfully. "Oh Justin please forgive me?"
"Only if you dump JC too," he played along.
She looked at JC, then back to Justin and shrugged. "Okay."
"Gee thanks Ashlyn." JC looked at her hands on hips.
"Stop sulking and go dance with Alanna."
Alanna's eyes widened. "No that's okay I don't mind sitting this one out."
"Alanna just dance with the guy, one song, for me please?"
Ashlyn turned to Justin, wrapping her arms around his neck as they began swaying to the music. Alanna reluctantly stepped closer. "One dance and then I'm gone," she stated.
JC wrapped his arms around her waist and she hesitated before putting her arms around his neck. She looked over his shoulder refusing to look him in the eye. Her movements were stiff and she tried to put as much distance between them as she could.
"Alanna will you relax!"
She looked him in the eye for the first time. "Relax? You want me to relax? I don't think I should have EVER relaxed around you. Oh and for the record, I'm only doing this because I don't want to cause a scene on Ashlyn's birthday."
"Point taken," JC muttered.
Silence once again washed over the pair, a very uncomfortable silence. JC was studying her face. She was looking everywhere but at him. As the song came to an end she immediately removed her arms from around his neck. When he didn't release her straight away she grabbed his hands and forcefully removed them from around her waist and then she pushed past him leaving the dance floor as fast as she could. JC followed her as she headed towards the bathroom.
Alanna cupped her hands under the flow of cold water. Splashing her face with the water she tried to calm herself. That was the closest she had been to JC in a while. She dried her face with a paper towel effectively removing most of her carefully applied make-up.
She turned hearing the door open. Shock registered on her face as she saw JC shut the door. "JC what the hell are you doing in here? This is the ladies bathroom!"
"Yeah well I needed to talk to you and I figured this was the only privacy we were going to get."
"What would you have to talk to me about?"
He touched her shoulder and she pulled back making his hand fall, JC hadn't expected the movement and his hand brushed her breast as it fell. She gasped and stepped back. Angrily she looked at JC. "Get on with it JC so you can get out of here."
"We can't keep acting like this. Someone is going to notice something is wrong."
"Oh and we wouldn't want that would we."
"Do you want everyone to know what happened?" He held his hands up urging her to answer.
"Trust me JC, I'd love everyone to know what a jerk you are. I don't however relish the thought of everyone knowing I was stupid enough to fall for it."
JC looked down and Alanna thought she saw a hint of an ashamed look on his face.
"What do you want me to do JC? Act like we're best buddies? Get it into your head that when I look at you I am totally disgusted. Now I'll try to bite my tongue when I'm forced to be in the same room as you but remember our deal? Stay away JC. Unless there is a valid reason why you have to be there keep away."
The bathroom door swung open and the music from the club drifted in. JC and Alanna's eyes darted towards the person in the doorway, eyes widened questionably.
"Did I interrupt something?"
Join the updates list on the main page.
Chapter 19
Chapter Index
Main Page