The phone sounded in the back of the bus but it was nowhere to be seen. Maddy lifted magazines, cushions and clothes in her search for the object ringing incessantly. Finally, she found it, pushed down the side of the couch—usually home to all the bus’s remotes.
“Hello.” She fell backwards onto the couch breathlessly.
“Maddy, where in God’s name have you been?”
Maddy grimaced, recognising the voice immediately and knowing she was in trouble. “Hey, Claire.”
“You don’t call your best friend in three weeks and all I get is a ‘Hey, Claire’?” the caller demanded.
“Hey, Claire, I’ve been really busy…?” she tried.
“Throw in an I’m sorry for being such a thoughtless friend and we might be getting somewhere.”
“How about I get you front row tickets for the *NSYNC show in Memphis, and we’ll call it quits?”
“Oh please,” she scoffed, “As if I want to see those goons.”
Maddy smirked. “Whatever, Claire; I know you’re in denial.”
Purposefully ignoring Maddy’s comment, Claire continued. “So seeing as you haven’t bothered to call and offer information, I guess I’ll have to ask you myself, because, ya know, that’s what friends do.”
Maddy rolled her eyes. Claire was obviously in good form today.
She looked up as Jamie entered the back of the bus, giving her a strange look as she offered her a chilled bottle of water. ‘Claire’, she mouthed.
“How’s the tour going? Groupies galore, I’m guessing.”
“You’re sucked in by those tabloids far to easily, my friend.”
“So you haven’t seen, or dare I say participated in any orgies, yet?”
Good Lord! “No, Claire, but I might see if we can cram it into our schedule tonight. So how’s the hometown?”
“Still here.”
“That’s reassuring.” She unscrewed the bottle of water and lifted it to her lips to take a sip. The bus had been parked for a good hour and it was becoming increasingly muggy inside under the intense summer sun.
“Yeah well, ya know, if you visited once in a while you might see for yourself.”
Maddy sighed. It had been a long time since she’d been home, Christmas in fact. “You always were the master at guilt tripping.”
“So when are you and the boyboppers gracing this part of the world with your presence?”
She’d looked at and discussed the tour dates so many times that she could answer without so much as glancing at her diary or the dates pinned to the wall above her head. “We’ll be there in a couple of weeks, and in August I’ve got a bit of time off, so I’ll be back then for a longer visit.”
“So what you’re saying is that if I want to see you this time around I’m going to have to brave the teenies and come to the Space Odyssey?”
“Pop Odyssey, and I’m not gonna force you.”
Claire sighed dramatically. “The things I do for you, Maddy.”
Claire had always denied being a fan, but numerous incidences persuaded Maddy to think otherwise. The ‘No Strings Attached’ CD found under the seat of Claire’s car had been the first clue. Finding the link to their official website in her friend’s computer’s history archive had set warning bells off. And a signed Celebrity CD for her “cousin”? Maddy didn’t think so. Last time she’d checked Cousin Liz was rocking it out with the best of them.
“I’ll send you the details.”
“I’ll be waiting on tenterhooks,” she announced with obviously fake enthusiasm. “So what are you doing now? Relaxing in the Four Seasons?”
Maddy looked around the messy back room, clothes strewn across the back of the couch and magazines ranging from Cosmopolitan to Teen People piled on the table and floor. They were long due a cleaning spree. She snorted. “Try sitting in a bus, sweating to death without air conditioning in some stadium parking lot.”
“Oh what I wouldn’t give for the glamorous life of a tour manager’s assistant.”
“Your sarcasm’s killing me, Claire.”
Jamie chuckled from across the room. “Tell her hi for me.” She’d heard many a story about Claire, and eavesdropped on numerous phone calls, but had so far yet to meet her.
“Jamie says hi.”
“Ooh the elusive, Jamie. Send my regards. She’s the playthang of the excitable guy, right?”
Maddy muffled a giggle and cleared her throat. “Yep…” Her eyes moved to Jamie. “Jamie and JC are together.”
“She still in the room?” Claire asked knowingly.
“Uh-huh.”
Claire giggled. “So I guess changing the subject would be the smart thing to do.”
“Got it in one.”
“My boyfriend is a bastard,” Claire announced suddenly.
Maddy raised her eyebrows. “Oh?” Actually it wasn’t an uncommon declaration. Claire had a tendency to be dramatic and loved to make mountains out of molehills. Grumbling was an art form and her boyfriend was a favourite subject.
It was all talk, though, for her and Tony were still going strong after three years, while Maddy considered three months a personal achievement. Grudgingly, she would admit to being a little jealous of their bond from time to time. This new announcement, more than likely held no real importance.
“So yeah, we were just at the mall, browsing around discount CDs and the jerk had the nerve to ask for an introduction to Britney Spears. Can you believe it?”
Maddy threw her head back and let out a chuckle. Who was Claire to disappoint? “And there I was thinking that something was seriously wrong.”
“You don’t think my boyfriend wanting to meet another woman is wrong?”
“I don’t think you need to worry; Tony is completely devoted to you. Besides, I haven’t seen Britney around so far.” It was something that hadn’t gone unnoticed by some of the crew, and as much as she’d tried to stay out of the tour gossip, she did herself wonder if there were problems in paradise.
Jamie looked up from her laptop and shifted on the couch, her attention peaked.
“Oh? I thought she’d be trailing her boyfriend around the country.”
So had she. “It seems not.”
“Interesting… So how are the pop stars treating you?”
“Good.”
Claire chuckled. “Evasive much? Any progress with that country bumpkin?”
“Lance, Claire, and I don’t really know.”
Jamie had closed her laptop and was not even attempting to hide her eavesdropping any longer. She had so far failed to get any details about their dinner date, they had both been swamped with work from the second they stepped out of their hotel rooms, but the curiosity was now eating her up.
“We went out last night—this business dinner of his.”
“And?”
“And…it was nice.” She paused for a moment before adding softly, “He kissed me goodnight.”
“Tongue?”
“Claire!” She was horrified but really not surprised that the question was asked, she shouldn’t have expected anything less.
“Well what was it like? You can at least give me that.”
“Nice; and that’s all you’re getting.”
“Spoilsport. Listen I’ve got to go, Tony’s been so generous as to allow me a timeslot between Economics and Basketball. Bastard. So I’ll check in with you about meeting up later.”
“Do you want a ticket for your sister?”
“Eh…” She hesitated for a second.
“Your mom will beat you down when Tiffany comes whining to her about not seeing them,” she warned.
“Go on then,” she sighed.
“Aww you’re such a nice big sister,” she laughed.
“Goodbye, Madeleine.”
“Bye.” Maddy turned off her phone and set it on the table Jamie was working at. “I’ve got to head inside in a minute, I need to find Johnny. I gave you those fan passes, right?”
“Yup. Sit down and relax a second, you’re getting more uptight than me.”
Maddy chuckled as she sat back down on the couch. “Well at least you admit to it.”
“I’m going to ignore that. So I get to meet Claire at last.”
“Yeah, in Memphis.”
“Cool. And did I hear you talking about your date with Lance?”
Maddy narrowed her eyes. “Which reminds me, where were you? You were supposed to help me get ready.”
“I…uh…JC kind of distracted me,” she lied. She wasn’t about to admit to her scheming ways.
“Yeah well thanks, Justin ended up helping me get dressed.”
She raised her eyebrows. “And you’re complaining? But…uh…shouldn’t it be the other way round? Shouldn’t he be helping you get undressed?”
“Funny.”
“Oh come on, Justin’s cute. You telling me you wouldn’t like a piece of that ass?”
“Jamie!” Maddy cried, wide-eyed. Apparently people weren’t afraid to speak their minds today.
“What?” she said innocently. “Like you told Claire, Britney’s mysteriously MIA. You could be in with a chance there.”
“And Lance?”
“You tell me, Maddy.” Jamie stood up and exited the bus, leaving Maddy something to think about.
Justin stumbled out of the back of the bus, still half-asleep. “What’s going on?”
The driver turned and acknowledged Justin. “Seems we’re playing musical buses or something.”
“Huh?”
“The girls are changing buses.”
“That’s right.”
Justin turned to see Jamie climbing the steps of the bus. “You’re up for hanging out with…what did you call us…animals?”
“I’m going to be brave and enter the farmyard.” She scrunched her nose. “What is that smell?”
JC followed behind Jamie, pushing her further into the bus. “Must be Justin.”
“Ha ha,” Justin muttered. “Where’s Maddy?” If Jamie was joining them surely Maddy wouldn’t be staying on the bus on her own.
“Outside,” JC said before he disappeared into the back with his girlfriend.
Justin moved to the doorway and poked his head out to look for Maddy. If JC and Jamie were going to smooch in the back he didn't want to endure it alone.
“Anyone else joining us, J?”
“I’m not sure…maybe.” Right then he caught sight of Maddy stepping onto the bus ahead of them--Lance’s bus. And Lance was right behind her. But before he followed her up the steps he turned and caught sight of Justin. He paused and locked eyes with his bandmate, giving him an almost challenging look.
“Or maybe not,” Justin sighed. “Let’s get out of here,” he instructed, heading straight for his bunk.
Chapter 7
Tug Of Love
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