“So my date won an award huh?”
Lance grinned. “Sure did.”
Summer nodded. “I’m impressed.”
“Why thank you.” He took a sip of his drink.
“Of course it’s gonna be hard to beat my 4th grade spelling award.”
“Oh now I’m impressed. My date is both beautiful and intelligent.”
“You bet, babe,” she grinned. “And what’s with the sweet talk? Anyone would think you were a nice guy.”
“Oh please,” Justin muttered, rolling his eyes.
Summer had had just about enough of him. “I’m sorry, did you say something?”
“Who me?” he asked. “Did it look like I was speaking to you?”
“Maybe not out of your mouth but you seem to do a lot of talking out of your ass!”
Lance’s eyes grew wide. “Okaaaay,” he said, pulling her away from the table, and from the beginning of a fight, onto the dance floor.
“Ugh! How do you put up with him?”
“He grows on ya.”
“Yeah like hair on your upper lip – it’s just something you don’t want around. Pity we couldn’t wax or cream him away.”
He looked at her, amused. “I think it’s Justin’s bizarre way of looking out for me.”
“Jeez, does he think I’m gonna rape you or something?”
Lance stopped in the middle of the dance floor and pulled her closer. “I’d like to see you try,” he laughed.
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever pop boy.”
He pulled her flush against his body. “Oh now you’re asking for it.” He realised they were standing still in the middle of the dancing crowd. “So can you dance?”
“I heard you can’t.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Do you always believe what people say?”
“Nah. I usually like to give them a test run,” she grinned mischievously.
“Well I say let the inspection begin, baby!”
Summer pushed the key into the lock. She opened the door as quietly as she could, pushing it gently shut behind her. She turned, shoes and bag, in hand, and took her first steps towards her room. Suddenly the room was engulfed in light. She held her hand up to shield her eyes from the glare.
“You have some serious explaining to do.
Summer lowered her hand. “Damn V, it’s…” She looked to the watch on her wrist. “It’s 4 am, I’m going to bed, which is exactly where you should be. Do mom and dad know you’re up?”
“Like they care! I think they’re still recovering from shock!”
“What are you talking about?” she asked tiredly.
“Oh I don’t know,” she said sarcastically. “I mean it’s an everyday occurrence, seeing your daughter on TV! And with LANCE BASS!” She practically shouted the last sentence and Summer’s hand flew to cover her sister’s mouth.
“Jesus Vanessa, shut up!” she hissed.
Vanessa pulled Summer’s hand away from her mouth. “Don’t tell me to shut up! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?” Vanessa’s eyes bulged and Summer relented in order to prevent a full out tantrum. “Why didn’t I tell you? Firstly, it really wasn’t any of your damn business, and secondly, your reaction right now just proves how immature you would have been about the whole thing. You’re not mad that I didn’t tell you who I had a date with, you’re mad because I got to spend some time with your favourite boy band.”
“You’re such a bitch!”
“Takes one to know one. And you just blew any chance of an introduction.” It had been a long night and she knew she was snapping at her sister but she hadn’t been ready for the interrogation. She just wanted to get to bed.
“You would have introduced me to them?” she asked quietly.
Summer sighed. “I probably won’t ever see them again. Vanessa, listen, I’m sorry I yelled.”
She shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“We cool?” Summer asked.
Vanessa laughed. “Yeah, we’re cool.” She paused for a second and then grinned. “You’re definitely a lot cooler than you were yesterday, just wait ‘til Tammy hears about this!”
Summer chuckled. “’Night Vanessa.”
“’Night. Hey Summer?”
She stopped in the doorway and turned back to her sister. “Yeah?”
“Were they nice?”
She looked at her sister’s expectant face and couldn’t bear to ruin her illusion of Justin. Lance had more than made up for Justin’s obnoxious attitude though and Joey had been great. She nodded. “Yeah Ness, they were. Goodnight.”
*NSYNC had a 7 am wakeup call. It was ridiculously early considering their late night…or early morning as the case had been. Whoever planned their engagements really needed to take into account after parties when organising their schedules.
Lance trudged out to the van, followed by Justin and JC, the least coherent of the bunch. He wasn’t even going to attempt to talk to Justin until at least lunch. The early start to the day had put him in a foul mood, and he’d also said goodbye to Britney, the two things resulting in him resembling an ogre. Yep, Lance was going to stay well clear of him for a while.
Tiredness aside, he’d had a great night. By the time they’d dropped Summer home, in the early hours of the morning, he’d been more relaxed than he had been in weeks. Her quick mouth, when it came to Justin, was all the proof he needed to know that she just didn’t give a damn. That was refreshing to him, to know that she wasn’t affected by his celebrity status.
Justin, however, didn’t appreciate her wit and sarcasm, with him being the main beneficiary of it all. Lance didn’t blame Summer though, Justin was being an ass, and the sooner he got that stick out of his backside, the better.
He climbed across Chris and collapsed into the seat between him and Joey. They were their usual cheerful and hyper selves. How they still managed to remain that way in the morning, he’d never know.
Chris removed his headphones. “So Summer seems cool.”
Lance raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware you talked to her.”
Chris shrugged. “I observed. She got some good jabs in on the kid.” He glanced back at Justin, who was seemingly unaware of the conversation taking place, in his sleep-deprived state.
“And that impressed you?”
“Hell yeah,” Chris grinned. “That boy has people wiping his ass for him day in day out, roll on someone who can take him down a peg or too.”
“Well I like her,” Joey piped up. “Kel too.”
Lance settled down to rest his eyes for a few minutes. He closed his eyes and a lazy smile appeared on his lips. “Well I’m glad you approve.”
“So is Lansten going after Summer?” Chris cooed.
Lance, his eyes still shut, smirked. “Maybe.”
Summer wandered into the family room and flipped the television on. She collapsed onto the sofa before taking a sip of her tea. Her eyes travelled to the TV screen and the tea immediately shot from her mouth. She went into a choking fit as she searched for the remote to turn the volume up.
“…arrived with a mystery woman to last night’s awards ceremony. When asked to comment this is what he had to say…”
Footage of the pair exiting the car was shown before it switched to Lance. She sat up and took interest of what he was about to say.
“Who did I come with tonight?” Lance grinned. “Let’s just say someone new. I’m making progress though. I didn’t have to drag her along tonight.
“Oh my God…” That had been an obvious reference to the night in the restaurant.
”So is it serious?”
Summer sat up, awaiting his response.
Lance shrugged. “Like I said, it’s new, but who knows. She could be a girl for all seasons.” He winked at the camera.
She scrunched her nose up. “A girl for all seasons? Didn’t I warn you about the name jokes!” She shook her head. “Bass, you are so cheesy.” She may have understood the ridiculous references to their meeting and her name, but 99.9 percent of this world wouldn’t have a clue. She was pretty sure the public had now determined that this fame thing had been too much, he’d cracked and was ready for the nut house.
She shut off the TV as the topic switched. It sure had been a crazy few days. Maybe now her life could get back to normal.
Chapter 6
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