(Two weeks later. May 8, 2000. Biloxi, Mississippi.)
The schedule from hell had gradually slipped into the schedule of insanity as the first tour date came closer and closer to being reality. Crewmembers were prepped and instructed on how to make everything run as smooth as possible. While the stars of the show were doing everything in their power to make sure that the show they were performing would make all the hard work and effort worth all the sweat and tears that had been put into it.
Nobody would know if the show was presentable, amazing, or spectacular until it was finally put into motion on performance night in front of all the fans. They were the ones who would be the judge, jury, and executioner. Some things would be jaw droppers, some would be scream inducing, and as always…some things would go unnoticed or even misunderstood.
They were creating art through their music and their stage show. Every tour and every performance would be a risk, but they were going to have a good time and push aside every person who told them that this was just "good business practice" on their part. Whereas a lot of acts or artists dreaded being on the road after a while, the guys thrived on it. Sure they missed their families a great deal and the people who meant most to them, but performing on that stage every night, seeing their fans' love for them, losing themselves in the music that they alone created, and having the time of their lives every night was a powerful drug.
In a way, that stage and those crowds and that music all came together to form a family member in their hearts that had been gone for far too long. They were more than ready to have that piece of their hearts back in place, and they were restless. They were so restless to get out there and show people what they were made of. The songs were choreographed, the stage was laid out, the plans were made, everything had been rehearsed, and now it was time to let loose and show everyone exactly what they were made of.
Not to say that nerves weren't rampant among the guys. They were all anxious and nervous about how all the new songs would be taken and if they would even be able to execute them the way that they were designed to be performed. Everything was brand new and while it was exciting to think of the possibilities, it was also terrifying. So much was running through their heads that the running joke was that they needed cue cards or maybe a monitor to make sure that everyone was on the same page.
Lurking in the background and being hidden by all of the splendor of the new tour beginning, were a few negative and a few very positive points. Tom had been non-existent for most of the rehearsal times since his episode with Justin and Lauren. His absence provided some relief because if he wasn't around then nobody had to worry about his mouth or his evil intentions. At the same time, his disappearance was undoubtedly a way for him to lick his wounds, simmer in his anger, and provide plenty of time for him to think up new and unusual ways to be an even bigger ass than he already was.
Not having Tom around was a comfort for Lauren because the sight of him caused her to have hateful thoughts that she just might entertain one day, but she knew that he was up to something. As much as Justin and Miranda tried to calm her fears and assure her that he was just embarrassed…she knew that even they were stressing over this. As embarrassed as Tom was, he was never one to run away from his responsibilities or go down without a fight. His confrontation with Justin had been very one sided and it had to have pounded his ego into the ground to have a pair of nineteen year olds outdo him in any way.
His plan had failed, at least that's what their thinking was, but he was going to be back with a vengeance and Lauren didn't want to know what that was all about. What more could he possibly do and what more did he want to pull away from them? There had to be a point where he finally admitted defeat, but Lauren knew that he wasn't to that point yet. If anything, their battles had really only begun because where there was bitterness before…now there was anger.
Justin and Miranda were both terrible liars when it came to talking about Tom and assuring her that everything would be fine, but at least they tried. She could see it in their eyes that they were just as uncomfortable and concerned as she was. Seeing that didn't help, but she didn't feel like such a kindred spirit when she recognized their distress. There wasn't a day that went by that she didn't pray for strength, for honesty, and for a way to get all of them away from Tom forever. They were now playing the waiting game, and part of his plan had to include this discomfort. The longer they waited for him to take the next bite out of their lives…the more on edge they felt.
And the more Justin and Lauren drove everyone around them…utterly insane.
Lauren was pacing around her hotel room and wondering where Justin and the guys were. Security told her that they had left a few hours before to check out the stage setup and to do a few warm-ups with the band, but they should have been back a while ago. As much as she had wanted to fly to Mississippi with them the other day, it had been impossible to get out of Orlando.
Professor Buck had called her later the week before and had wanted her to think about showing her final project at one of the local art galleries. It was nothing huge or spectacular, it was a gallery for new artists and photographers, but it was an honor to say the very least. At first, she hadn't believed her. This was a project that she really never wanted to see again, but it did make her life a little brighter to get back to the things that made her happy and the dreams that she had held for her own for so long. Photography was her thing and it was her only direct link OUT of Justin's life. It felt good to hold her camera again and enjoy the simple process of clicking the shutter on images that would forever be captured.
So here she was in her empty hotel room, pacing around like an idiot, and waiting to see everyone. They had been there for two days already and it seemed like she had been separated from them for a lot longer than a measly two and a half days.
"I thought you gave up on that clingy stuff and you were going to move on as the new and independent Lauren who doesn't need Justin in her life to make her happy."
She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed as she flopped back on the bed. "But I DO need Justin in my life to make me happy. He's all I've ever known and all I've ever cared about. Is it wrong of me to want to forgive him completely and just move on? Is it completely idiotic of me to stare into those blue eyes and wonder how I could even THINK of pushing him away forever for the things he did? Lauren…you're a numskull."
She had to give Justin a lot of credit lately. He was trying so hard to not only bring her back into his life, but to bring her even closer than she was before. She knew it had to be frustrating for him when things just weren't moving quickly or they weren't improving much, but she thought things had progressed rather nicely. Neither one of them argued anymore, they didn't shut and lock doors between them, and they hadn't hurt each other in any way. In fact, Justin was almost being TOO nice. She had to wonder, if she just ran over him and stomped him into the ground if he would fight back or be too concerned about hurting her again that he would allow the torture. That alone was sad. It was sad that he was walking on eggshells so much around her that he really wasn't being himself anymore.
But boy had he been trying!
From spur of the moment dinners, to movies, to moonlight walks, and long talks about absolutely nothing…he had included her and pursued her in ways that she had never dreamed of. Oh she knew that Justin was slick and that he had moves that she had never experienced herself before, but this was a side of him that she definitely wanted to see more of. This part of his personality and this part of his heart was magical. He knew she was struggling with her feelings, she was struggling to get her life back in order, and even though he was going through those same things and having those same feelings…he put her first in his life a lot of times.
He was trying o hard to make her see that he regretted, that he needed her, and that he cared a lot about her. Those infamous three words hadn't been said, but he was showing her everything she needed to know. Every night he was exhausted, worn out in body and in spirit from rehearsals and the stress of it all, but still…every free moment he had was spent with her. There was honesty in his actions and in his words to the pint that she was forced to listen to him. He was making it very clear that he needed her and wanted her in ways that he hadn't before, but her female insecurities were getting the best of her. Was he doing this for the friendship, was he doing this because he felt he had to, or was he really being this honest because that's what his heart was telling him to do?
In all honesty, it wasn't fair to him because he should be having the time of his life, with only the tour and the excitement that came with that on his mind. But instead, he was worried about her, gave her time he didn't really have, and there was also the part she couldn't forget above everything else…his fight with Tom. He had put everything on the line when he had confronted Tom. Not only had he put her contract and his own contract on the line, but he had also put himself in the real danger of being put in jail or prosecuted over his actions. Luckily none of that happened, but the threat was still there and he had ignored it to show her that he intended to protect her and fight for her to be in his life.
Here was where they would really be tested and that went double for Justin. He was going to be pulled in a million different directions and she wasn't going to be a source or a reason for any regrets.
She stared up at the ceiling and crossed her arms underneath her head. This tour was going to be a lot of fun, but she just couldn't get past that huge feeling of dread. "It has to be Tom, and that means I'm letting him get to me when I swore I wouldn't. He's not going to do this. He's not going to push me away from Justin or from anyone else. I won't let that happen ever again."
The door unlocked and Lauren heard the squeak of the hinges as it opened and then finally closed. "You better enjoy actually sleeping in a bed because it's not going to happen often, Miranda."
Nobody answered her so she sat up on her elbows and turned to look over at the door. The bathroom wall blocked her view so she couldn't see if anyone had actually entered, but it seemed strange that someone would unlock the door and not come in. "Miranda, is that you?"
She waited and still there was no sound from around the corner. "Hello? If this is a fan that managed to sneak up to this room expecting to see Justin…you're out of luck. That's right, you just found a very confused and hormonal teenager who can't seem to pull her head out of her ass, but who could be very clearheaded and literal with this lamp over here."
A hand creeped around the corner and she recognized the masculinity in it right away. His fingers slid up and down the side of it in a caress and a smile came to her face. She wanted to bound up off the bed and run over there to scare the hell out of him, but if he wanted to play this little game, who was she to spoil all his fun?
"Oh my, there is a man in my room and I'm here all alone. Oh whatever should I do?"
The hand reached out again and two fingers were held up.
"Two? Two what? Two idiots sitting in a hotel room playing a game that neither one understands? Two hours until one of us has to be over at the venue for soundcheck? Two seconds before I get up and break both of those fingers?"
Justin peeked around the corner and all she could see was the top of his head, his amused eyes, and those damn two fingers. "Justin, should I dial security or go straight for the mental health unit? Oh wait, those are two examples! Go me!"
"Two days, Val. It has been two days since I've seen you."
She pushed up and sat Indian style in the middle of the bed. This was getting pretty good and it wasn't escaping her how cute he was being at that moment. "Yes it certainly has been."
"There's more."
"Oh really? Do tell!"
He pulled back and completely disappeared behind the wall again, but a few seconds later a huge bouquet of wildflowers were dangled over the edge and Lauren's eyes widened at the sight. "Oh you…are those…are they for me?"
Justin walked around the corner and held them out to her, but pulled them back away from her and studied them closely. "Actually, a fan gave these to me outside and I was wondering what you thought of them? I think they're rather beautiful and…"
Lauren leaned over and snatched them out of his hand. "Don't tease me."
"I wouldn't dream of it. You haven't given me two yet."
She looked up from the flowers and inhaled their sweet smell. "I've guessed twice so there's another set of two. I don't know, Justin. Why don't you kill the suspense and tell me before I jump off of this bed and maul you with my own TWO hands?"
He reached for her hands and yanked her off of the bed. She came up suddenly and slammed against his chest but his hands held her in place while he studied her face quietly. "You're such the violent one. We haven't seen each other in FAR too long and now that I have you here, at my mercy…" His eyebrows moved up and down playfully. "You're going to threaten me? Tisk tisk. What would mommy and daddy say?"
"I've told you this before…go straight for the curls, Lauren."
His smile broadened across his face and she almost turned into putty in his hands when the smile reached his eyes. "Two days, and I think the least I deserve is two kisses."
Oh yes, this was definitely the side of him that she could get used to. "You do, huh?"
Since she was toying with him and it had seemed like forever since he had seen her, he went ahead and took the initiative. His head lowered and he kissed her gently on her parted lips before pulling back a tiny ways. His lips brushed against hers as he spoke. "That one is for the first day when I couldn't stop thinking about you. And this…" His lips dipped again and they lingered longer this time. "This one is for the last two sleepless nights I've had without you."
The flowers slipped out of her fingers and landed at their feet when he kissed along her jawline and teased her earlobe with his teeth and tongue. She took a deep breath and clung to his shoulders for support. "Not to be the uh…the…the party pooper here but, oh my, that's three kisses."
His mouth latched on to the curve of her neck and he chuckled when she dug her fingers into his shoulder. "You know I was never all that good at math, Val."
"Hmmm…chemistry and anatomy are two VERY strong subjects for you. Oh my what you can do to my stomach."
His head flew back and there was a purely evil smile on his face now. "Hmm…speaking of stomach, I could always take another gander at that object of beauty you have hidden under this shirt here."
Her eyes rolled so sharply that he was afraid that she was going to do some kind of damage to them. "Justin, I have four things for you."
"THAT'S THE SPIRIT!"
"You…are…a…PLAYA!" She pushed against his shoulders and laughed when he landed flat on the ground.
"You're mean."
He looked so pitiful and adorable just lying there on the floor, pouting. His lips were all pooched out and the tangled wild state of his hair only added to the image. "How did everything go today?"
He pushed off of the floor and walked over to open the curtains. There were fans already gathered down below and he took a step back with a smile when a few looked up in his direction. "Things are finally coming together. I keep thinking, this time tomorrow and we'll be getting ready to take the stage. Is it really time? Are we ready for all of this?"
"You're more than ready."
"What if I forget the steps to No Strings Attached? I mean, that's the opening and if I mess up the first song then I'm going to blow the whole rest of the show and…oh my LORD would you look at that girl down there?"
She was borderline on feeling pity for him, but those feelings all left her when he slipped right into randomness. "Is it a groupie or a hoochie?"
"This girl could be Shai's twin. Just look at her and I think she's naked. You really have to take a look at this."
"I've seen the fans before and I'm going to see plenty of over the top outfits before this tour is over. Don't rush the dive into impurity that is going to overtake me tomorrow night at the venue."
She looked over at the mirror and pushed her hair back. "Trust me, Justin. I've seen all that they have to offer and more."
"Would you just come here and look at this? Seriously, this is unlike anything I've seen before."
He kept waving his hand at her and she slowly made her way over before he could complete his dog calling and actually whistle at her. "This must be pretty bad if you're spazzing out over it and I'm telling you that I've seen it all so…so…what the hell?"
Justin reached over and squeezed her hand as she looked down with amazement at the crowd below. There were six fans standing below and they all had something they were holding up towards the window. Four of them were holding up signs that had a word on each one, and the two girls at either end of the signs both held up a bouquet of flowers like the one that Justin had given her.
"Hmm…I wonder why they would make signs like that. I wonder."
She looked back and forth between Justin's evil grin and the girls holding up the signs. "I…missed…you…Val. You're responsible for this?"
"Oh certainly not. They all just missed you so much and I guess you're getting your own fan club here among the fans in Mississippi."
She pushed his shoulder and stepped away from the glass. "I…I can't believe you did that. I mean, I know you did but…oh my."
The girls screamed when Justin waved to them and they screamed even louder when he turned his back and started shaking his but up against the glass. "Like Mike's momma says…shake that money maker BABY!"
Lauren giggled at his antics and laughed outright when he shook his butt a little more and the screams below were enough to shake the walls of the room. "I'm not the one who needs help here."
With a laugh, he came away from the glass and walked over to stand in front of her. "I did miss you. I missed you more than you could ever know and it was only for two days. Two LONG days."
She pushed his hands back when he reached for her. "You're full of it."
"I'm full of a lot of things, but those things shouldn't be explained quickly or be rushed. There's a time and a place for everything, right?"
The serious look on his face and the warm glow in his eyes made her tingle all over. "I missed you too. I missed the REAL you and the guy I see in front of me right now."
He hugged her and kissed the top of her head when her arms slid around his waist and pulled him closer. "I'm right here and this is where I'm going to stay."
(The next day. Four hours before show time.)
Lauren chewed on her finger and stared out the window of the bus as it pulled around in front of the venue and fans started running alongside of it. They were all yelling and screaming as they chased and Lauren chewed harder when she saw all the signs that showed their devotion to the five guys who sat around her or beside her.
"Now there's a sign I like. I'll hold your pickle ANY day, Joey. THAT'S a fan!"
Chris turned away from the window to throw a pillow at Joey. "You hold your pickle enough as it is."
Lauren chewed harder and faster but stopped when Justin pulled her hand away from her mouth and leaned in close to her ear to whisper. "Everything is going to be fine."
"Why are you assuring me? You're the one who has to go out there and entertain these people. I'm not going to be onstage and I'm certainly not going to be the one who everyone drools over and daydreams about and…"
He kissed the back of her hand and interrupted. "You're the one who is going to have to be in the middle of the crowd and I know it's not going to be easy."
Chris plopped down beside her on the couch and grabbed her shoulders to shake them. "OH MY GOD! LAUREN ARE YOU SCARED THAT THE BIG BAD GIRLS ARE GOING TO ATTACK?"
She pushed his hands away and nailed him in the face with a pillow. "Don't ever touch me again."
He rubbed his nose and whined. "She hit me. Now my face isn't all purdy and the girls aren't going to lick my posters the way they lick Lance's."
Justin pulled on Lauren until she moved over his lap and sat down on the other side of him. "Leave her alone before she hurts you. I don't want to have to jump in between the two of you."
"She hit me!"
Lauren's head whipped around but Justin caught her face and pushed it back. "You just wait until I get my hands on your underwear."
Chris shrugged and turned back around to look out the window. "You don't scare me."
"But the stains on those things will scare whatever fan I hand them to."
The bus pulled through the security gates and all of the fans were held back as the gates were closed and secured. Usually the guys would exit when it was parked safely underneath the arena, but since it was their first show of the tour they decided to stop where the fans could see them getting off of the bus. That was what worried Lauren the most. The fans were generally cool whenever she had toured with them before because they either assumed she was a family member or they knew she was just a friend of the guys, but this time was very different.
It was stupid of her, but the night before she had surfed around the Internet with Miranda before going to bed and for the first time she saw how much people talked about her relationship with Justin. There were sites devoted to it, there were sites that debated it, and sites that wanted to kill her off because she had the gall to be someone important to him. Any one of those fans could have that same opinion and it worried her that she might somehow become a target of their distaste or hatred.
Justin held her hand and pulled her until her cheek was rested against his shoulder. Miranda was the first to stand up and she leaned over to kiss JC quickly before grabbing her bag and notepad. "Time to go to work, sweetheart."
Miranda was still hidden in the shadows and it would remain that way as long as they were on tour because she had a relationship and an interaction with the fans that was beneficial to the group. If the fans liked her and trusted her then they would fully understand the audience they were serving. If they hated her or disliked her for dating JC and being their voice on the website at the same time…her job was as good as gone.
After she left and walked over to the fence to talk to some of the fans, the other guys grabbed their own things and exited the bus. It was so quiet and almost painfully silent as Lauren sat there with her cheek against Justin's shoulder. He hadn't moved except to run a hand up and down her arm comfortingly and to hum softly.
"We have to get off of the bus some time."
She snuggled closer to him and nodded. "I know."
"I don't understand why you're acting this way. I mean, I KNOW, but I don't really know. That made absolutely NO sense."
"It was probably a bad idea for me to ride on this bus to the venue. All kinds of things are going to be said when we leave the same bus and after a long pause. They'll think we're in here doing all kinds of sordid things and…"
Justin turned to grin at her. "If they're going to start the rumors, we might as well enjoy them."
When his eyebrows moved up and down, she pushed back and sighed. "Don't get started."
"We can't stay on here forever. We're going to have to face a lot before all of this is over and taken care of, and this is the first of the many challenges ahead."
"I know but…"
He stood up and pulled her up beside him before grabbing his bag. "No buts. We're going to walk off of this bus…TOGETHER, and we're going to do it as a team. If they scream, if they yell, it won't matter. Do you hear me? I don't care what they think because they don't know or understand what I feel for you. There will never BE a time when they understand it and I'm not going to hide it anymore."
He grabbed her hand and started pulling her towards the steps. "We're going to hold hands? Are you crazy? You're going to get them boiling when…"
His steps halted and he turned to kiss her quickly on the lips. "They can boil all they want, because in the end I'll still have you. Stop worrying about my image or what they might think. Now relax and take my hand. We're about to show them what we're all about here, Val."
If that wasn't the best pep talk she'd ever heard then she didn't know what one was. "I'm right behind you."
Justin was the first one off of the bus and the fans started screaming hysterically when they caught sight of him. He helped Lauren down the steps and looked over at the crowd to size up their reaction, but all he saw were girls who continued to scream with enthusiasm and a few turn to whisper something to their friends.
Lauren stepped down and tightened her fingers around his as she looked over at the crowd. "Should we wave or something?"
Justin laughed and pulled on her hand. "Have you ever noticed how colorful this place is?"
She looked away from the fans and up at the building, but she still had no idea what the hell he was talking about. "Uhh…not really. I don't think I've ever been here before."
"Yes you have."
It wasn't the words as much as the fatherly tone he took when he said them that irked her. "No I haven't."
"I know you have."
The crowd continued to scream but it was all blocked out as she stared at him. "Justin, I think I would remember coming to this place and it's my life so I know where I have been and where I haven't."
"Whatever. You…have…been…here."
"I seriously can't believe that we're arguing about this. I've been to Mississippi, I've never been to this place, and that's that. Drop it, Justin."
He waved to a few of the fans and smiled back at Lauren. "Remember that fence over there? It was blue last year."
She tightened her fingers on his until he cringed from the pain. "There are fans sizing us up over there, I'm trying my best to get inside the building so they won't attack, and all you can do is try to tell me that I don't know about my OWN LIFE! Are you really this bored?"
He continued to smile knowingly and took his sunglasses off. "I'm not bored at all. I needed a way to keep your mind off of the stress you were feeling and pulling you into an argument, however stupid it may be, is the way to do it. You can relax that death grip you have on my hand. We're here."
She pulled her hand away from his and sighed. "This is the stupidest argument I've ever been in, and…and…when did we get inside?"
"We have been inside for a while now. You were too busy being mad at me that you didn't notice that we've been out of fan sight for a while."
She looked around and blushed when she realized that he was right and that she was being really stupid outside when all he was trying to do was get her inside and help her to get past her nervousness. "I'm an idiot."
"You've been calling yourself names a lot lately. What's up with that?" He handed over his bags to two crewmembers that would deliver them to the dressing room he was assigned to.
"I don't know why and I don't know why I'm suddenly so worried about your image or what the fans think about…"
He grabbed her hand again and pulled her down a long hallway. "Ok I've had just about enough of this. Come with me, Lauren."
She was acting scared and she was acting like someone who had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Things were falling apart of crumbling around them for the most part, but what he wanted to see the most out of her, the thing he needed the most, was to have his old Val back. The girl who couldn't care less about what other people thought of her, the girl who would fight hell or high water even when she didn't have a paddle, and this girl clinging to his hand and arm wasn't that girl. She was falling into the trap that many people did when they were close to a celebrity. She was putting selfish and petty needs above her own.
He found an empty dressing room that wasn't going to be needed, and closed the door behind them. Lauren watched him as he rested his hands on his hips and looked down at her. "When have you ever worried about what people think of you or your relationship with me?"
"It's not the same, Justin. It's…this is so different because…"
"Because we're more than friends?"
The words caught her off guard for a moment, but she snapped out of it and shrugged. "The fans don't see me as a friend anymore or just someone who is close to you. They see that I'm CLOSE to you. There's a big difference. I was always the person that they wondered about but who they knew as only a friend. Now you've gone public with your feelings and…and…WHY did you have to tell the world that you care about me?"
He hopped up to sit on the edge of the table and his legs dangled back and forth. "You're worried that you're now the enemy?"
"To some of them, I am. You don't understand because, well…you're you. It's not a rational thing they feel for you. It's obsessive, protective, and…and…"
He held his arms out to her and sighed. "Come here, Val."
She looked at his outstretched arms and down to the floor a few times before crossing the small distance between them and allowing him to pull her between his knees. He lifted her chin with a finger and tucked loose strands of her hair behind her ear. "I don't care what they think or say about us. Let them worry, let them speculate, and let them be ignorant. Through it all, at the end of this mess, we'll still have each other. Right?"
She looked down again and he pulled her chin up once more.
"Right?"
Her head slowly moved up and down and she shrugged noncommittally. "You make it sound so easy."
"Don't go all Miranda on me here, Val."
That brought her head up and her eyes directed on his. "What does that mean?"
"Miranda got caught up in protecting JC and protecting his image from the fans and it made her weak. She was terrified of a few pictures of her with JC in Hawaii and she allowed Tom to work his evil magic by using those pictures and her concern, against her. If you constantly worry about what people may think, what people could think, then you'll never look inside of yourself and see what YOU think about all of this."
"I don't ever want to be a reason for your dreams to be taken away. This is your dream, this is your life, and…"
He cupped her face and forced her to look at him. "You ARE my dreams. Don't you see that? You're every one of my dreams and YOU, Lauren Owsley…you are my life. If people can't understand that, if fans can't understand that, then they don't really understand ME."
Her eyes slowly closed as he kissed her softly and leaned his forehead against hers. "I'm so scared."
"I'm scared too. I'm scared that I ran off the only girl that I've ever felt something for. She's in there somewhere but you've got to find her again. I need her. I need her so much and I need her to help me prove a point or two to people who are trying their best to push us down."
There wasn't time to think about it and she blamed her next action on instinct alone. Leaning forward, her arms slipped up around his neck and she tilted her head against his until her lips were on his. His lips were tense with shock for a moment before he opened them wider and allowed her access to his body and to his touch. His knees widened and his arms tightened around her back to pull her against him and cocoon her in the comfort that only he could provide.
A few kisses later, she pulled back a few inches and whispered. "I want to be that girl again, Justin."
He leaned forward and whispered against her lips before claiming them again. "I know you do."
She felt him slide closer to her on the edge of the table and one of her arms came away from his neck to wrap around his back and urge him even closer. It had been a long time since they had lost themselves in a kiss, an even longer time since they had shared a highly passionate one, but this kiss with the feelings that were driving it was enough to make her toes curl. It was the restraint and the tension she could feel in every muscle on his body. He was coiled tight and fighting with everything he had not to rush her or push her in ways that she wasn't ready for yet, but that made everything better. It made it better because it showed just how much he wanted her and at the same time…how much he respected her and was willing to wait for her.
He kissed her one last time and leaned back to rub his thumb across her lips. "Right about now is when someone will knock on the door."
"I thought maybe we had broken that tradition."
They both waited in silence and then giggled loudly when there was a knock on the door followed by it opening slowly. "Lauren? Justin? Are you in here?"
Justin turned Lauren in his arms until she could lean back against his chest, and his arms went around her waist. "I'm telling you, that woman DEFINES bad timing. We're in here, Miranda."
Miranda cautiously walked in and held a notepad over the side of her face where she couldn't see them. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything, actually no I'm not, but Justin you're wanted down in the dressing room. Johnny wants to talk to you guys about tonight's show and about some change in the sound check schedule. I don't know what he's talking about but I do know that I was supposed to find you."
"You can put the notepad down. We weren't naked yet."
Lauren punched his shoulder as he stepped around her and smiled with gratification when he flinched. "Stop doing that."
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "A guy can dream, and I'm still waiting on that lap dance."
She pushed against him again and couldn't stop smiling as he strolled by Miranda, spun her around, kissed the back of her hand, and walked out of the room.
Miranda fanned her face with a hand and whistled softly. "Is this room hot or WHAT?"
"It would be hotter if someone hadn't interrupted."
Miranda took a step back and laughed nervously when she saw Lauren walking towards her. "I was just following orders. Lauren, you're scaring me with that look."
"I'm scaring you? Say it ain't so!"
"To completely change the subject here and to keep you away from gripping my neck, I talked to some of the fans outside and they're very curious about you. They were even more curious when you and Justin got off the bus together and holding hands of all things."
Lauren could feel the stress level inside of her building, but she took a deep breath and pushed it aside. "I really don't care."
"Overall, they were pretty understanding. They thought you two made a cute couple."
"Really? They said that?" One of Miranda's eyebrows raised and Lauren covered her slip. "I mean, that's cool. We're not really a couple but it's great to know that the fans are dealing with Justin actually having a life and being a normal guy."
Miranda followed her out into the hallway and chuckled. "I'd say he was being VERY normal when I came into the room."
"Enough of that. It's hard to explain but…"
"You can say it. It felt tingly and…"
Lauren stopped and gave her a strange look. "Hormone check, Miranda."
"They're all checked and in order. Proceed with your thoughts."
They started walking again and Lauren gave up. "Now I know why you terrify people, but I love you anyways."
"Were you going to go out and watch sound check?"
"That's where I'm heading right now. The openers should be out there and getting ready to practice."
Miranda opened up a door that led to the stage and looked up at the ceiling innocently. "You wouldn't be curious about Tristan, now would you?"
"I'm curious about the whole show and Tristan just happens to be a part of it."
Miranda almost tripped over a wire as they made their way around the side of the stage. "I thought it was awesome that he signed on for twenty shows, but why am I sensing some sort of explosion?"
"Probably because of the reasons why I'm sensing the same thing."
The sound of someone tuning a guitar hit Lauren's ears and she came around to the front of the stage to see Tristan sitting on the edge with his legs dangling down. His head was down as he concentrated on the instrument in his hands. "Hey there."
He looked up at her for a brief moment before his eyes scanned the area. "Uh…hey Lauren."
She felt Miranda pulling on her hand and she jerked it away from her to smile at him. "I haven't seen you around much lately."
He put the guitar away after giving both of them a curious look. "Nice to see both of you again. How are you, Miranda?"
"I'm actually busy so I'll catch you two later." She leaned in close to Lauren and whispered. "I want details! You better give me details later!"
Lauren pushed her away and gave her a hard look. "OKAY! Go…sic Suzy on Justin's head or something."
"Ooooh!"
Lauren turned to smile at Tristan and she knew that he must think she was a complete basket case. "I'm really sorry about that. We haven't seen each other in a few days and you know how women are when they get together."
He folded his legs and nodded his head with his fingers against his lips thoughtfully. "Not really but I'll take your word for it."
"I just wanted to say that I'm really glad that you landed one of the opening act spots. I've only seen you perform twice but both times I could tell that you were going to do very well if you managed to work your way here."
"I've been working so hard on my album, on writing songs for it, and doing promotional stuff that I almost forgot what it's like to perform in front of a crowd. This is going to be more than a crowd though. This is going to be insane!"
She looked around at all of the empty seats and nodded. "This is going to be unlike anything you could ever imagine. So that's why you haven't been around much? You've been working on your music and on getting your name out there?"
"My manager lined up a bunch of shows at fairs, amusement parks, and a few opening spots for a tour here and there. Nothing big but it was something to do."
"That's really great. I'm happy for you."
He watched her closely and leaned forward a bit. "What have YOU been up to, Lauren?"
"I've been lending moral support and helping Miranda pick pictures for the biography she's publishing. It's a big deal and she's been going crazy so…yeah." She wasn't sure why she felt nervous talking to him, but the way he was staring at her made her feel a bit out of place.
His eyes never left her as he unfolded his legs and leaned over to rest his arms on his thighs. "Sounds like you and Timberlake are hot and heavy. That's great."
"We're friends and…and we're getting there I guess. I don't really want to talk about it. I hope you understand."
"Oh how I wish I could find someone with as much loyalty as you have for that guy. He's a lucky man and he does know that, right?"
She looked away and saw that a few members of the crew were listening in. "Yeah he knows it and he knows that I would do just about anything for him. I would even cut a few safety cables and ropes that are holding the lives of certain crew members COMPLETELY IN THE BALANCE!" The eavesdroppers all quickly turned away and got back to work.
"Did you know that I'm going to be shooting a video soon?"
She gave them another dirty look before smiling at Tristan. "Really? Well, you're just becoming Mr. Rock Star here."
"It's for a slower song that I'll perform tonight and it will be on my album when it comes out. It's kind of a love song type thing but not really. I wrote it and I was about to faint when they told me that they wanted it to be my first single. I hope that they'll let me help with the video idea because I have so many good ideas. Romance is really my thing and the video could be beautiful if the right person handles it."
"You wrote it? I knew you wrote songs, well I think I did, but I didn't know you wrote any that are going to be on your first album. What's the song about?"
He hopped down and his eyes lit up with excitement. "It's a ballad, lots of guitar solos, and kind of that whole Spanish/Zorro vibe to it. It's about a guy who is achieving the dream that he always wanted, but along comes something that puts a wrench in his well set plans."
She was getting a strange feeling about this and she didn't know why. "Sounds sad."
"Oh but it's not. It's more bittersweet than it is sad. See, he has had his life mapped out his entire life and everything seems perfect, but then a girl comes along."
Lauren swallowed hard. "Uh huh."
"From the first moment he saw her, he knew that there was more to life than just his own dreams. There were sometimes people or feelings that he had overlooked because he was focused on only one thing. She is his awakening."
"Okaaaaaaay."
He grinned and reached out to touch her arm reassuringly. "She is unobtainable though because she's already in love with someone else, and he's completely fascinated with her but doesn't know how to give her what she wants."
"Let me guess, they're best friends?"
"They're close but not exactly close in ways that she would like them to be. So she's stuck in a rut and has no idea where to turn, but he doesn't know whether to step in and give her everything he could possibly give, or let her continue on the path she's already on. The song is his feelings towards her and a declaration of how much he sees the beauty inside of her."
Lauren took several deep breaths and stepped back to get away from his touch. "It sounds beautiful and I can't wait to hear it tonight."
"I can't wait for you to hear it either. I also can't wait to start rolling with the video. Now all I need to do is find the perfect girl for the video. A girl who represents the girl in the song in my mind."
She didn't like the way he was looking at her and she also didn't like the uncomfortable vibe he was directing her way. "That girl is out there and I know that any girl would be more than proud to complete your vision in the video."
"I know this is strange and I'm probably stupid for asking, but…"
She knew what was coming and it was hard to continue standing there when he was opening up himself to her and she was not interested in even the slightest sense.
"I wanted to know if maybe you would like to be the girl in the video. I'm not trying to pressure you or weird you out in any way, but I think you're perfect for this role."
Her eyes roamed over the stage and anywhere else she could find to land them other than on him. "I…I'm not so sure that would be a good idea. It's not that I don't want to help you but just look at me. I'm not exactly model material and any girl who can touch a man that way or stop him in his tracks to that point, has to be a Cindy Crawford or Naomi Campbell. That's not me and your video would be a joke if I was supposed to be the hot girl who makes the guy want to give up his dreams for her."
"You misunderstood me. He doesn't want to give up his dreams, he wants to include her in them."
They hadn't seen each other for a long time and now he was hitting her with this. "I…I don't really think I…I mean…I'm not sure about that. Can we change the subject please?"
"I didn't mean to make you nervous, but I want you to think about it. How hard would it be to make a video?"
With Justin around and her being Tristan's love interest in a video? It would be harder to pull off than he ever could imagine. "Have you talked to the guys yet?"
He looked dismayed by her change of topic, but went along with it. "I haven't seen any of them, but I did see Johnny wandering around earlier and Tom was over there before you walked up."
His name made her cringe and it was even worse when she turned around and saw him walk up beside the stage. He glared at her for a moment before looking down at the clipboard in his hands. "Just great. I don't know what I would have done if Tom wouldn't have joined the tour."
Tristan laughed, grabbed her shoulders, and moved her until her back was to Tom. "He can't hurt you if you don't see him."
"Good one." A movement over his shoulder caught her attention and she saw Justin come around the corner. His eyes immediately found her and they narrowed when he saw Tristan's hands on her shoulders. "Oh wonderful."
Tristan's hands dropped and he turned to see what she was looking at. "Speak of the devil, there's Justin himself."
Justin tried to act like he wasn't interested or even concerned, but it had been a while since Lauren had seen him walk that quickly. "Hello Tristan."
Tristan held out his hand and shook Justin's firmly. "Nice to see you again, Justin."
Justin's eyes moved between the two and they finally settled on Lauren. "You two discussing the show?"
"Actually I was telling her about the video that I'll be making soon. She seemed very interested in the concept."
Lauren knew that she had appeared interested, but it was a sick kind of curiosity because never in her wildest dreams did she think that Tristan would still cling to this liking he had for her. Not after the club fiasco and trouble that had come because of it. "I was just happy for him. You know how exciting it was for you to make your first video, Justin."
His arm went around her shoulders. "That I do. I want to thank you for agreeing to be one of our openers, Tristan. I'm sure you'll wow the crowds from the first note you play."
"I hope so. It's an honor to be here."
There was a loud noise behind them and they all turned to see that Tom had slammed his clipboard down on the side of the stage. Lauren looked up at Justin and saw that he was angered by the sight of him. "Ignore it."
"I'm ignoring. I'm ignoring."
Tom was very aware of what was being said between the three young people in front of the stage, and he was also aware of the fact that Justin and Tristan were being very civil to one another. There was a strain between them that could only be explained as Lauren, but they were being friendly and even joking around about some of the fans that they had already seen that day. This was not good and it certainly was not good for his plans. His strength had come from the fact that the two guys were bitter enemies and that they were completely jealous over who had Lauren or who could possibly have her. If they were buddies and if they were friends, then his next move would be blasted out of the water before it had a chance to begin.
He was still trying his best to get past the anger and the resentment he felt for both Lauren and Justin after the fight back in Lakeland, but the longer he waited and the more he thought about it…the more vengeful he became. It was eating him alive and those two needed to be taught a lesson that would leave a bigger impression this time. They needed to learn that he wasn't one to be pushed around by anyone.
"Justin?"
They all three turned to look at Tom again and Justin rolled his eyes. "What?"
"Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting right now?"
"I was in a meeting, now I'm not. Aren't you supposed to be in the back, putting some more antibiotic ointment on that lip of yours?"
Lauren reached for his hand and squeezed it. "Don't fall into it."
"I'm not."
"Justin, the other guys aren't out here and I'm sure that you're supposed to be somewhere other than here. This is a sound check, not a get together."
Justin started to move towards him and Lauren put herself in front of him to stop his movements. "Since when are you the tour manager, Tom? I have sound check too and there's a little fact that you seem to be forgetting here. This is my tour too, and I'm not going to be told where to go or where not to go by you."
Tristan was amazed at the hostility between Justin and Tom, and he was even more surprised by the fact that even though Justin hated the man so much…he was still around. "I need to get back to the stage but it was good seeing you two again. I'll try not to disappoint the crowds."
Justin gave Tom one last look and then smiled. "I'm sure you won't. Lauren, I need to talk to you about something important."
Tom sat down in an empty chair and watched the pair walk away. They were a team again and that was dangerous to him. Things had been so much easier when they were fighting and at each other's throats. That weakness had been so much fun to dominate and control, but that wasn't working anymore. When things weren't working the way he had planned for them to, it was time to come up with a new plan.
Even though Justin and Tristan had been openly cordial to one another, he could still see traces of resentment between the two guys. Tristan was a fool who wore his feelings on his sleeve too much and that scared Lauren away. He didn't realize what kind of girl he was messing with but all of that could be fixed with time. Justin was oblivious to just about everything other than jealousy when it came to Tristan, and that emotion was a very weakening thing when used the right way.
"Oh yes, jealousy means insecurity and that will definitely be my way in."
Someone sat down beside him and he looked over to see Shai. "I finally made it! You didn't give me everything I needed to get past security so I had to find other ways."
He turned away and stared up at Tristan on the stage. "Did you get them?"
She pulled a long envelope out of her bag and smiled. "Right here."
"Excellent. I'll take that and hold on to it for future use."
She rolled her eyes at him and plugged her ears when the music started. "Did you see those two together? I saw them get off of the bus and all those stupid fans could talk about was how cute they were together and how much Justin loved her. I almost puked right there."
"You wouldn't do that because it would mess up your hair." His eyes slid over to where Justin and Lauren were sitting together and talking quietly. They were all the way across the floor and he couldn't hear one word they were saying.
Shai followed the direction of his eyes and stomped her foot. "I'm sick of watching them paw all over each other. I thought you said that everything was going to work out!"
"Keep your voice down. Everything is going to work out just fine and they won't be that chummy after I get finished with Lauren tonight."
"OOOH! What are you going to do?"
He waved the envelope in front of her face. "How quickly you forget the power of proof."
She folded her arms over her chest and slouched in the seat. "You already tried to pull them apart and it didn't work. Just look at her! She's leading him on and has him wrapped around her ugly little finger. It's not fair! He doesn't need a girl like her, he needs a woman like me. I could take care of him and I could give him everything he could ever want. What does she have that I don't have?"
Tom smirked and his eyes narrowed on the pair when Justin leaned in and touched Lauren's cheek. "She has Justin."
"That wasn't funny, Tom. You promised me that if I moved to Florida and went along with this, that I would get Justin. I told you how rude he was to me at the hotel in Lakeland but you didn't seem to care. Maybe I should give up on you and try to get him my own way. I know he wants me but she has brainwashed him!"
"Give me two weeks and you will have him wrapped around YOUR finger. He'll be panting like a dog and so broken up inside that he'll turn to you for comfort."
She sat up and smiled when she heard that. "I love it when you get all confident like this. I'm going crazy though. I want him. I need him. I want him to need ME…not her!"
The envelope between his fingers lightly tapped against his leg. "Two weeks, they won't be able to stand the sight of one another, and this time it will be for good."
"But what about Lauren?"
He opened up the envelope and studied the contents. A sly grin spread across his face and his heart began to race. "You just leave Lauren to me."
"And I have entered the scream zone."
Lauren unplugged her ears and leaned close to Miranda. "What?"
"I can't hear you, Lauren! If these people would just stop screaming and LISTEN to them sing, they would actually get their money's worth."
Lauren laughed and quickly hugged her. "Most of them didn't come here for the music, they came to watch your man shake that cute ass of his. PIMP IT JC!"
"I really take offense to you calling JC a pimp all the time. He might have been one before I got my claws…er…hands on him, but I assure you that he's civilized now."
JC started jumping up and down on the top of the stage like a fool and Lauren gave her a 'get real' look. "He's really refined, Miranda."
"Shall I draw your attention to the guy you have fallen for? Yes that's right, Mr. Perfect who is going to pull something in his back if he keeps thrusting his hips that way. Tell me, how did he become so good at that?"
Lauren grinned slyly and shrugged. "I'm guessing the same way JC did…lots of practice."
"Oh that was cold and low…but surprisingly close to the truth."
Their friendship had developed so much in the last few months and for some reason they always found it great fun and a wonderful pastime to insult the other person's boyfriend. Insulting or degrading the other guy was always held in high regard and Lauren had to give Miranda props for getting better and better with her comebacks. They both adored JC and Justin, but it was fun to pick fun at two men that half of the world held in high regards as being perfection.
The concert hadn't been as stressful or as frightening as Lauren thought it might be. The fans kept their distance for the most part and the few that did come to her to talk or to take a picture, were very nice and curiously understanding. She was as nice as she could be to them but it did seem strange to have all of this attention being brought to her. Things were simpler when she could sit back and just enjoy the hoopla, but now she was a part of the hoopla that surrounded this act. Before, she was a direct link to Justin and that excited many people, but this was more than just a direct link. She was THE link and she could see the starstruck gleam in a lot of their eyes when they talked to her. Talking to her was like talking to Justin for some of them. Here she was, someone he cared about, someone he trusted, someone he knew well, and they were actually talking and looking upon someone who he had spent time with and who he had looked at.
Obsessive fans were freaks, she thought.
There weren't too many mistakes in the show, and none of them were noticeable except to the people who knew the choreography or knew the show well. They were spellbinding and there wasn't a person in the room who could take their eyes off of them as they sang their hearts out and danced. Lauren was waiting for one song and one song only. While she knew that Miranda was going to get her groove on and get her kicks with Digital Getdown, there was one song in particular that she had been looking forward to all night. And it had nothing to do with floor humping or sexual undertones.
All five of them stood up and Lauren watched closely as he smiled out at the crowd. "When we first started the group, we worked on our harmonies and this is one of the first songs we learned together. This album, No Strings Attached, is a very important step for us, and we wanted to go back to our roots and to the harmonies that got us started. Here we go guys. One…two…three…four."
Lauren leaned her head against Miranda's shoulder and sighed. "Oh what they can do to me with their voices."
The screaming was earsplitting when they began the first few notes of I Thought She Knew and Miranda shifted on the couch they were sitting on. "What did you say? You want to knee them with hoses?"
Lauren laughed and shook her head. "Nevermind. Just shut up and listen."
She was already a little breathless because of the show as a whole, the excitement from the crowd, and the pride she felt as she watched them, but her breathing stopped completely when Justin turned to look at her and sang his part of the song.
"She was my once in a life time. Happy ending come true. I guess I should have told her. I thought she knew."
His eyes met hers and through it all, through the lights and the crowds, she recognized the pleading look on his face. "She said I took her for granted. That's the last thing I would do. Oh I'll never understand it. I thought she knew."
Tears came to her eyes and she wiped them away quickly before anyone could see them. The song had always been her favorite, but it was funny how those words had become a reality for them. They had had it all, and it was all tossed away because of misunderstandings and truths that one assumed the other knew all along. They should have been open and honest with one another and they should have told each other things and shared things that were assumed to be already known. It was so true that assumptions were usually wrong, and that they had the power to destroy the truth. They definitely had the power to keep the truth from ever being known, and in their case that was exactly what had happened. If they wanted to get anywhere or if they wanted this to work, they were going to have to stop beating around the bush and openly go for it. It might hurt and it might be hard, but not knowing was even worse.
After the show was over, Lauren and Miranda were rushed to the bus and they both looked out the window and waited for the guys to board. It was customary for them to leave the venue before ninety percent of the fans had ever left the arena, but it still got rather hairy. Fans were catching on to the plan and already there was a crowd of them waiting by the gates to say goodbye.
"What did you think?"
Miranda looked over and smiled. "I think that I'm incapable of thoughts right now."
"So true…so very true."
"I didn't know that this was going to be their bus. We rode in on the other bus."
Lauren looked around and saw that while this bus looked a lot like the other bus, it was not the same. "Maybe they decided to change their assignment because so many people know James as their driver. There might be a switch down the road a ways."
They saw the guys come running out and they all ran onto the bus that was parked behind the one they were riding on. Their own bus shifted under the weight of a few people boarding and both girls leaned back to look down the hallway. It surprised them to see Tristan and Suzy, but what shocked them even more was to see Tom and Shai right behind them.
"Oh you have GOT to be kidding me!"
Miranda was at a loss for words herself. "What is going on here?"
The bus started moving and Lauren held onto the wall for support as she made her way down the hall towards them. "Wait a second. Why are we on this bus and why are you?"
Suzy plopped down on the couch and closed her eyes. "I love you too, Lauren."
"Not you, why are YOU TWO here?"
Shai made herself comfortable while Tristan moved out of Tom's way. "Pretty simple, we were assigned to this bus."
When Tristan didn't move quick enough, Lauren pushed him out of the way. "What are you up to now, Tom? Miranda and I were supposed to be with the guys and now we're here on this bus with you and the slut machine."
Shai sat up to say something but Tom held up a hand. "This is only a vehicle to get you from point A to point B. It's also a place to get some rest and to relax. If you'd like to complain to the tour manager, you'll have to do it tomorrow because the plans for tonight are set and we're not stopping this bus for you to run back to their already crowded bus."
Miranda threw her stuff up on one of the bunks and pulled out her cell phone. "I want off of this bus too."
"I want for there to be snow in hell, but that's not going to happen either."
Lauren put her hands on her hips and glared. "Making vacation plans already, Tom?"
"There's no reason why we can't sleep on the same bus and avoid each other for the trip to Little Rock. We all have separate bunks and I'm sure that most of us will be asleep in no time."
She didn't like this at all, and Miranda was already calling JC to let him know the situation at hand here. It didn't take a genius to see that Tom was behind all of this, and now the thing they were all wondering was why? Why would he go to these lengths to get these people on the same bus? Lauren stayed in the back with Miranda and listened in as she talked to JC. She could hear the strain in her voice as she worked things through with JC, and it didn't make the situation any easier to know that even Miranda was upset over this.
"Yeah I know that we can stand it for one night. Get some rest and I'll see you tomorrow. You were amazing tonight, JC. Love you too…goodnight." She clicked off her phone and turned to look at Lauren who was staring out of the window. "Nobody on that bus is happy and I'm sure that Johnny is getting one hell of an earful."
"Good."
"JC said that Justin is going to call you in a little while but he wanted to take a shower first and calm down some. It's just one night and things will be different tomorrow. At least they're staying away from us. Suzy and Tristan are already asleep and Shai and Tom haven't made one move to come back here and bother us. I'm going to go to bed myself but I'll be right outside the door if you need me."
"Thanks, Miranda."
When the door closed behind her, Lauren hugged a pillow to her chest and leaned her head against the window. She wasn't tired anymore and even though Tom shouldn't get to her this way, it was scary to think that she was on a bus with him. She felt dirty to be this close to him or to be confined in such a small space with him.
Her phone rang and she picked it up quickly. "Hello?"
"I'm SO SORRY, Val."
Her eyes closed and she hugged the pillow closer at the sound of his voice. "It's not your fault, Justin."
"This will be changed and I guarantee that it won't happen again. Johnny said that it was done because they were worried about how the fans might take you and Miranda being on our bus, but where Tom fits in I'm not sure."
"He fits in because he made himself fit in. I don't like the environment I'm in right now. I don't like the vibe I'm getting and I feel trapped. I feel like I've been locked up and I'm being held against my will, Justin. I don't want to be on this bus anymore. I want off!"
His voice was soft and smooth as he tried to reassure her, but she could tell that he was angry. VERY angry. "I know and I want you off of that bus, but we're stuck. It's only for a few hours. Go to the back of the bus, lock the door, pop in a movie, and try not to think about it." He yawned loudly before finishing. "I'll stay up and talk to you until we get there."
"No…no you need sleep. I can hear it in your voice and you put on one hell of a show tonight, Justin. I'll stay here, Miranda is right outside, and I can live through a few hours of this."
"I wish I could kiss you goodnight."
She looked up at the moon and smiled. "I wish you could too. Get some sleep. I'll be fine and like you said, everything will be better tomorrow."
The phone clicked in her ear and she put her own phone aside before getting up and locking the door to the back room. Deep down she knew that Tom wasn't going to do anything while he was on the bus because it was too easy and there were too many people around. But at the same time she wanted to know what he was trying to prove here. If Miranda hadn't been place on here as well, the buses would have been stopped and Justin would have gotten her off, but they were hoping that by some miracle that this as a mistake. Lauren was still uneasy, but she could deal for one night.
She popped in a tape, snuggled up to the soft pillows on the sofa, and watched the movie until her eyelids were heavy and finally closed. Her sleep was restful and surprisingly enough she didn't dream about Tom or anything else negative. Justin was there in her mind and he was smiling at her and assuring her that they would succeed in not only putting their lives back together, but also in destroying Tom's.
A clicking noise tugged at her ears until finally she came out of her unconsciousness and woke by degrees. It was the sound of someone flipping cards or some other kind of shiny set of cards. She inhaled deeply and stretched out across the couch before rubbing her eyes and turning to see what the noise was all about.
"Sleeping Beauty is awake I see."
Her breathing accelerated and her heart pounded when she saw Tom sitting on the couch across from her. He was leaning back comfortably and did not seem to be in any rush to hide the fact that he was there.
"What are you doing in here? I…I locked the door."
"The doors on this bus no longer lock. They've been meaning to fix them for weeks but I guess nobody got to them yet."
Lauren sat up quickly and looked over to the glossy pictures that were on the cushion next to him. "Why…"
He smiled confidently and ran a hand along his hair-roughened jaw. "You really are quite a sight when you're asleep. It's interesting to be so unknowingly close to a wild animal when she is in her most vulnerable state. It's rather exciting to be completely honest."
She licked her lips and looked back and forth between the door and where she was sitting. "I'm going to my bunk."
"No you're not. You're going to stay right here with me for a little bit."
Those words didn't calm her nerves at all. In fact, they caused a chill to run up and down her spine. "We're on a bus, and all it will take is for me to give out one good scream and…"
When she knew that he was paying closer attention to her talking than in what she was really doing, she jumped off the couch and reached for the door, but he caught her around the waist and pulled her away from it. She opened her mouth to scream out for Miranda but his free hand covered her mouth while his other arm crushed against her waist to keep her from moving away. Her arms were pinned at her waist and for the first time she realized that he was a lot stronger than she thought he would be. In fact, he was frighteningly powerful in the ease it took for him to restrain her.
He dragged her over to the couch and pushed her head down until she could see the photographs that were spread out on the cushion. "You're a photography nut. What could these prints mean to you, Miss Owsley?"
She rolled her head trying to get his hand away, but it didn't work.
"I'll tell you what they mean, they would mean the end of anything to do with Justin Timberlake and your relationship with him. Awww, the death of true love is so tragic. Don't you think?"
She struggled again and he shifted his grip on her to gain a more powerful one.
"I'm not going to hurt you Lauren, not in the way that you and Justin hurt me. I'm not going to give him a single reason to nail my ass to the wall, and hurting you physically would only aid his plan to ruin me."
He turned them until she could see her contract lying on the bookshelf and the sound of him chuckling with excitement almost made her throw up. He turned her head back and forth between the photographs and the contract.
"But nobody said that I couldn't have a little fun. I want to be honest with you here and no I'm not letting you go so Miranda can come in here like the nosey bitch she is. All you had to do was hate the guy. Was that too hard for you?"
She mumbled against his hand but he really didn't care what she was trying to say and he wasn't about to remove his hand.
"You hate him, he hates you, and I would have left you two alone. You couldn't do that though. It had to be drawn out, had to be painful, and you had to come back together and challenge me. Well I don't like that too much, Lauren. I don't like it when my plans fail."
He dragged her over to the bookshelf and showed her another set of photographs that made her knees weak. "When things don't go my way, I have to come up with new ideas and new plans to get what I want. You have pushed me to this point, and I'm afraid to say that this one…this one is going to sting a little bit."