Tom's eyes narrowed in on Justin and he watched with pleasure as the young man's face showed a range of emotions. He could see jealousy as the number one feeling that was going on in his head, but he could also see confusion and a little fear mixed in. Justin was usually a very easy person to read and right now he basically had a billboard sign up that spoke volumes. Today his sign read "I like her, she's mine, I'm not sure where this is all coming from though, but new guy you better back off."
Tom grinned and shifted his weight onto the other foot as he continued to lounge against the wall beside the stage. "So our ever famous popstar has noticed that little Lauren is all grown up now. Hmmm…if they only knew how easily they just slipped this one right into my hands. Stupid children…stupid stupid children."
Lauren had no idea what was going on around her. She had no idea that Justin was staring her down and was looking at Tristan like he wanted to pull him apart. She was too busy working off some of the sugar she had digested with breakfast that morning and Mike was a pretty good dance partner if she did say so herself. She didn't feel a bit embarrassed by getting up and dancing in the middle of the empty square but why should she? There were only friends around and for the people who weren't friends…Tom…she didn't care what he thought.
In her state of oblivion she also missed the fact that Justin was staring at her like he wanted to pull her inside of himself to shield her from the world and she also missed the daggers that he was shooting at the new guy who was busy playing the hell out of the Monkees. He had come out of nowhere and Lauren could tell that he had what it took to go far in this business. There weren't many people who broke out with goofy pop songs whenever they were trying to impress people but this guy had and he was showing that he could get into music that almost didn't have a chance.
Mike was breathing heavy and she smiled up at him. "Are you dying?"
He gripped her hand as she twirled around him and chuckled. "Whatever you ate this morning little girl, don't do it again."
She twisted around in his arms until one of his beefy arms was around her back and she leaned back in a dip. "Yes sir. I wonder where Miranda is. If she was here then I'd leave you alone."
Mike easily lifted her and set her aside but Lauren grabbed him again and kept dancing. "Would you like me to call her? I can do that you know."
She wiggled a finger at him and when he leaned down cautiously she kissed his cheek and hugged him. "I'll leave you alone but I must say that you've got some moves."
He hugged her briefly and smiled at the young girl who he had watched grow up in much the same way he had watched Justin grow. She didn't need his protection and she didn't need his interference into her life but he had always felt like her protector as well as Justin's. "Looks like the guys are back and I should have been over there with them but I was distracted. Wonder why."
She gave him an innocent look, tilted her head to look at him, and folded her hands behind her back. "Absolutely no idea."
Chris looked at the guy sitting on the stage playing the guitar and nodded. "He's really good J. Hello Justin? Would you mind putting away your green scary mask and lightening up to LISTEN for a bit?"
Justin stood with his arms folded over his chest and he turned slowly to look down at Chris. "I've been listening the whole time thank you."
"Sure you have. Anyway I'm going down there where Lauren is so I can hear better. You coming?"
Justin was hesitant but he followed Chris down the stairs and walked over to where Lauren was swaying back and forth to the music as the song ended. "Having fun Val?"
She smiled at him and grabbed his arm but he shrugged her off and stepped back. "I see we woke up on the wrong side of the tour bus this morning."
Chris grabbed her hand and they danced around Justin until the song ended and even though Lauren was laughing she was curious about why Justin was acting the way he was. He kept staring at the new guy like he wanted to hurt him and that was a reaction she rarely saw out of him. He was a rather quiet guy around new people and it took him a bit to warm up, but this was something utterly male going on between them. Justin looked ready for a fight and that made her wonder if he knew him or had picked up on the pleased look that Tom had been directing their way for the last five minutes or so.
The song ended and Tristan looked up with a smile. His eyes immediately caught Lauren's and he grinned even brighter. "I was just goofing around."
Justin looked back and forth between Tristan and Lauren a few times before stepping up in front of her to block her from sight with his body and speaking up. "Can you play anything else? I know you were just goofing around but what else can you do with that guitar?"
Tristan shrugged absently and stood up to look at the band that had now taken their place behind him. "Depends on what you want to hear."
Lauren stepped up beside Justin and pinched his arm playfully before looking up at Tristan. "If you know anything from the eighties then I'll love you forever."
Justin groaned and rolled his eyes. "Let me remind you that you're not trying to impress her, you're trying to impress US. I don't like eighties music."
Lauren put her hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow at him. "Yes you do."
"No I don't."
"YES you do."
He leaned in and grinned as he whispered forcefully. "He's not auditioning for you Val."
She reached up and squeezed the bridge of his nose before smiling at Tristan again. "He's wanting boy band and I'm wanting eighties. Girls are your target audience and these are the guys you need to impress. Got anything to satisfy both worlds?"
Tristan laughed at her sarcastic tone and winked before turning to the band behind him. "I think I can strum up something here."
Lauren gave Justin the evilest Cheshire cat grin he had ever seen in his life and bumped his hip with hers. He shook his head and tried not to smile but that proved to be impossible. "Don't think that you've won this."
"Oh but I have."
"Not in this lifetime Val."
The music started and both of their attention was immediately drawn to the stage as the first few popping beats of If I Had No Loot by Tony, Toni, Tone began. Justin grinned arrogantly at her and cleared his throat. "I don't believe that's eighties music."
She gave him a dirty look and shrugged. "Close enough. It was just delayed a few years."
"Uh huh."
"Great dance music though. CHRIS!"
Tristan looked down from the stage at Lauren and Chris dancing and he fought hard not to laugh as he sang. "Talking about them times when I was by myself. I was always looking for somebody else. But as time went on I had a talk with my mind. Friends like you and you I gotta leave behind."
Miranda stepped up behind them and she gave them a once over before shaking her head. "What did I miss besides that guy up there who can tear up a song."
"You call me your friend, but you only want my ends. And I'll never see you if I had no loot. I'm just glad I know the truth and I'm payin' my own bills and I'll never ever depend on you."
Lauren stopped Chris from spinning her and she laughed for a second before looking at Miranda. "We're just trying our best to drive Justin crazy. He's in a strange mood."
Justin looked over his shoulder and yelled back. "No I'm NOT."
She held up a hand and turned back to Miranda. "Where were you anyway?"
Miranda put her bag on one of the nearby benches and sighed loudly as she got her thoughts back in order. "This has been one hell of a morning. I was late because I had to take JC to the airport. He's flying out to Los Angeles to help that group Wild Flower, Wild Orchid, whatever their name is, with a few songs on their album."
"And…"
She pushed her hair out of her face and grinned. "And all I have to say about that is the Wild Orchid bunch better just point their flower power in any direction other than in JC's." She looked up at Tristan and looked at him closely for the first time. "OOH he's cute. Just listen to that voice."
Lauren stood beside her and turned to look at the stage again. Justin and Chris were a few feet in front of them watching the performance and she had to smile because they closely resembled a Saturday Night Live skit the way they were standing there bobbing their heads to the music. "His voice is dreamy and very versatile. I don't know if the guys like him but he has my vote."
Miranda took a step closer and then mumbled. "Did you get a good look at those eyes?"
"Both of them and they are worth writing home about."
Justin looked over his shoulder at the pair and grumbled. "Would you two hush?"
They both smiled at him and were quiet for all of two seconds before Miranda spoke up again. "Look at those hands."
Lauren looked at his hands gripping the mic stand and she grinned devilishly. "You should have been here earlier and seen those hands play the guitar."
"I miss everything good. I can just imagine it though."
Justin looked at them again and held a finger up to his lips. "I'm trying to listen here. And Miranda, what would JC think if he heard you talking like this?"
"Are you threatening to tell on me Justin?"
"Maybe."
She reached down in her pocket, pulled out her hand-held tape recorder, and clicked it on before holding it out to him. "Make sure if it runs out of tape that you turn it over. It's much easier than trying to retell the story."
He groaned loudly and turned back around when the girls started giggling. They both watched him sigh and shrug his shoulders as if he was trying to get kinks out but just like the last time…they ignored his request to remain quiet.
"The lips are to die for. I can just imagine the fans screaming and licking posters that have those lips on it. Can't you just see the fans going wild over this guy?"
"I can see it…I can see it." Lauren smiled when Justin started fidgeting, breathing heavy, and tapping his foot back and forth on the ground in frustration. She knew there was a breaking point for him somewhere and they were close to hitting it but this was just too much fun.
Miranda was just as caught up in messing with Justin as Lauren was. "Nice white teeth too. Not too straight and not messed up or anything."
"I agree. Did you notice how his bangs kind of fall into his eyes whenever he looks down? Is that sexy or what?"
Miranda nodded slowly as if in deep thought. "That is pure raw sex appeal."
That was it for Justin. He finally whipped around and looked down at the two girls who were now chewing on their lips and staring at him like they were about to break out in laughter at any point. "OKAY WE GET THE POINT! My God! Next you'll be talking about the shape of his ears or the size of his feet."
They both fought not to laugh and Lauren covered her mouth with a hand to cover up her struggle. Justin turned back around to listen to the rest of the song and Miranda tilted her head from side to side while she looked at Tristan again.
"Now that you mention it. His feet are pretty big. You know what they say about big hands and big feet…"
Lauren couldn't hold back anymore. She busted out laughing and her laughter got even louder and harder when Justin held his hands up in the air and walked away mumbling. "Why do I even try? Sounds like you two are buying a racehorse. Lord ONLY knows why they've found their way into my life."
Lauren managed to fight back the laughter long enough to call out, "Awww Timbersnake feels cheap."
Miranda yelled through the laughter. "Justin, do you feel…dirty?"
He kept his eyes on the band and tried to concentrate on the music while he held a hand up behind them to symbolize that he wasn't listening to them anymore. Lauren and Miranda were laughing so hard at this point that they had to go sit down to compose themselves. Even though he wasn't trying to be funny, he was just too much fun to pick on and his expressions told a story all their own. There was nothing better than frustrating a popstar.
When the song ended Justin walked up on the stage with Chris and shook Tristan's hand. "I'm impressed man."
Tom walked up beside them and smiled proudly. "His voice can go in almost any direction. In the studio he has worked on pop, rock, R&B, and anything else you can name."
Chris held up his hand. "What about polka?"
Justin reached up to pop him on the back of the head before continuing. "We'll talk to our manager, the tour coordinator, and we'll keep you in mind. How long have you been signed with Jive?"
Tom answered before he could. "Four months but we've had him overseas working on his music."
Justin glared at him. "Thank you Tom but I was asking him."
Tristan would have been a fool not to pick up on the open hostility between Justin and Tom. "Just like he said…four months. I would really love the opportunity to tour with you guys but if it doesn't work out then it doesn't work out. Just as long as I'm out there making music then I'm cool. It's my life."
Justin didn't want to like him and he didn't want to respect what he stood for, but he had to. He sounded a lot like they had when they first started in the business. Any open door was better than nothing and this was like opening a freight entrance. This could take the man standing in front of him to new heights as a professional artist.
He pushed the Lauren thing aside and shook his hand one more time. "It has been really nice meeting you and listening to your work. Like I said, when we have the tour meetings next month your name will be mentioned as a possible opener. We can't promise anything but you know how that goes."
He shook their hands again and grinned boyishly. "I expect nothing around here anymore. Thanks for coming out and come on over for the show tonight if you can."
Chris bounced up and down in place. "I'm flying out to see my grammy."
"And as much as I would like to it's just not possible for me to go into crowds like that. Plus, I have plans for Val's birthday tonight."
Tristan swallowed the water he was drinking and gave a curious look. "Val?"
Justin pointed over to the bench where Miranda and Lauren were still sitting. "Lauren over there. It was her birthday a few days ago but we were out of the country so I promised to do something with her when I got back."
"You just called her 'Val'. Is her name Valerie?"
Justin didn't understand it, but he was suddenly feeling very defensive about answering that question or any other question pertaining to Lauren. "Val is a nickname I have for her. It's um…it's personal. I guess we'll see you around."
Chris shook his hand again and followed Justin down the stairs. "Nice meeting ya man. Good luck."
Tristan watched Justin walk over to the two girls and saw Lauren reach out her hand to grab Justin's as they started walking to the gates. The big security guard was walking with them chatting as if he were one of them and he got a really good look at how the "other side" of the business lived. They were one with their security almost as if it were a part of them and the perks were having beautiful young girls like the one who was smiling and holding Justin's hand in hers.
Lauren couldn't shake the feeling that someone was staring at her. Chris, Justin, and Mike were all in a deep conversation, deep for them, about their schedule for the next few weeks and so she ruled them out. She turned to look back at the stage and was taken aback by the way Tristan was standing on the stage staring at her. It wasn't a creepy stare like Tom was famous for doing, it was a curious and intrigued one that she had rarely seen directed her way.
She smiled at him and waved. Tristan saw the movement and smiled shyly at her before turning to grab his guitar and sitting on the edge of the stage again. She certainly knew how to move and how to grab his interest. Her outgoing attitude, her spunk, and the innocence she possessed had been clearly evident in the way she went about doing things. It was almost like she couldn't believe he was staring at her and he would bet money on the fact that she had no clue what Justin's attitude was all about.
Tom walked around to stand in front of him. "I think you were a hit."
He shrugged and kept looking down at his guitar. "I didn't sing anything they haven't heard before. I'll be really glad when we get my songs put together so I can sing material that was made for ME."
Tom looked over to see if Miranda was still sitting a safe distance away on the bench before speaking again softly. "Looks like the small sample of your target audience was impressed. Lauren couldn't keep her eyes off of you."
"She's beautiful but I'm not blind man. Her eyes were locked on Timberlake and he's got some seriously protective vibes directed at her. She has a fence around her that clearly says 'hands off…property of Justin Timberlake' and he's the one I see building that fence, not the other way around."
Tom nodded and scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm…yes I see your point and you might be right. Protective with a lot of jealousy mixed in for good measure. There's nothing quite as debilitating than a good case of jealousy. Jealousy and competition can be downright deadly don't you think?"
Tristan had only met this man about a week ago but he didn't like how he seemed to talk in riddles. Tom had been assigned to be his public relations director and he wasn't sure what that meant, but if he had to talk as vaguely and as creepy as he did then this was going to be a long career here at Jive. Long and confusing. "They make a cute couple. Who is that woman?"
Miranda was walking up and she had overheard the question. "I'm Miranda Hill and it's very nice to meet you Tristan. I've heard a little bit about you and I'm sure whenever Tom needs anything written about you then he'll turn my way. Let me know if you ever need any advice or any information on how things REALLY run around here. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go make a phone call before we can do that interview Tom wants done for your new website."
Tristan's eyes were huge as he watched her walk away and he looked up at Tom. "Was that venom directed at me?"
"That venom would have my name written all over it. Now THAT is a girlfriend. She's a professional journalist that I hired to write about N SYNC and to write a biography about them. Unfortunately she also fell for JC and vice versa along the way."
"This is a soap opera."
A slow grin appeared on Tom's face when he heard those words. "You're right, and just like in soap operas…there's always someone every now and then who ruins all the fun."