“Brian!” I yell as the elevator starts moving. “What are you DOING?!”
“We need to talk,” he says and presses the stop button. The elevator jerks to a halt and we’re both thrown against the wall. Brian is so close to me. I can smell whiskey on his breath. “Jade,” he murmurs and I push him away.
“You’ve been drinking!”
“I had ONE whiskey. I think that’s pretty good for a guy who just found out his girl might be leaving him for another guy!” he exclaims. “Not to mention the fact that I had to sit through an MTV report about you and JUSTIN.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Do I?!”
“YES!”
“Ok, yeah, I know that’s not true. I mean, you’d never do anything to hurt Britney would you? You just don’t show ME the same consideration.”
“I never meant to hurt you,” I tell him. “I really didn’t.”
“Tell me, if we hadn’t split up would he have come back to haunt us?”
“I don’t know,” I say honestly and he sits on the floor.
“Oh God, what’s happened to us?” he rests his head in his hands and I sit beside him.
“If I knew, I’d fix it.”
“Would you?” he looks at me and I nod.
“I’ve loved you for so much longer than I’ve ever loved anybody else,” I tell him.
“Then tell him to go.”
“I can’t. I mean, I think I want to and then he touches me and I feel things.”
“I don’t think I wanna be hearing this!” he jumps up and walks across the elevator.
“I’m trying to be truthful.”
“Don’t I do things to you when I touch you?” he asks quietly.
“It’s different,” I say and he walks across to pull me up. He pushes me against the wall and kisses me hard. He crushes my lips beneath his and then stands back, breathing heavily.
“That was different how?”
“Don’t,” I mumble, touching me lips gingerly. “You hurt me.”
“Welcome to the way I feel,” he mutters dryly and walks away again. “Why did you have to meet him?!”
“I don’t know!” I yell. “I wish I hadn’t!”
“I guess it would’ve just been some other guy further down the line,” he mutters.
“It wouldn’t. It’s just JC, it’s who he is!”
“Startin’ to sound an awful lot like you love him,” Brian mumbles.
“I don’t!” I yell. “This isn’t getting us anywhere!”
“You’re right,” he presses the elevator button and it starts moving again. It makes me start to cry. Dumb I know but it feels like he’s just given up on us. I hit my head back against the wall, angry at myself, and sink back down to the floor. “Jade?” Brian asks, shocked.
“Everything’s falling apart on me!” I wail and feel the elevator stop again. “And I don’t know what to do to get my life back again…”
“Jade,” Brian sits next to me and pulls me into his arms. I rest my head against him and breathe in his familiar scent. I feel safe and protected but I don’t feel like I want to run away with him or go have sex. Like I do with JC. God, I need help. “Jade,” he gently lifts up my chin so that I’m looking at him. “I’ll give you all the space and time you need to sort through this.”
“Thank you,” I sniffle and lay my head back down on him. We sit in silence for a long time. Eventually Brian stands up and starts the elevator again. We both step off at the same floor and he walks me to my room. “Thanks,” I open the door.
“Catch you later Jade,” he says and walks away.
I watch him go before walking into my room. I walk straight over to the bed and throw myself down on it. I notice the phone light is blinking and I press play to pick up my messages.
Beep.
“You have four messages.”
Beep.
“Hey, it’s me,” comes JC’s warm voice. “I just wanted to say hey and let you know I booked a room here for tonight. It’s 703 so give me a call just to say you’re ok.”
Beep.
“Jade, it’s Ali. Are you ok? What happened? I tried to stop the elevator but I couldn’t. Well I guess you are talking, either that or he killed you. Call me, I’m in my room.”
Beep.
“Jade, I’m here!” yells Justin. “Where ARE ya girl? I really wanna see you. I’m with JC right now so give us a call and I’ll come right round to see you.”
Beep.
“Hey girl,” Britney drawls. “I just got here. I’m in 907 so come see me when you get back.”
Beep.
“Hi Pookie, where are ya?” asks my brother Jay. “I been trying your cell all day but it’s been busy or turned off. Call me back. I just wanna touch base with my lil sis. Love to Brian and Ali.”
Beep.
“No more messages.”
Beep.
The machine clicks off and I lie back on the bed with a sigh. A few minutes later I decide to call Jay.
“Hey Jay,” I greet when he picks up.
“JADE!” he exclaims. “Finally! I woke up this mornin’ with a yen to see how my lil Pookie is doin’ and you have been out of reach all day!”
“Sorry. It’s been a crazy day.”
“I figured,” he chuckles. “So, how are you?”
“I’m good. A little tired,” I explain away the weariness in my voice. “You?”
“I’m great. I have a few days off work and I’m livin’ ‘em to the full!” he laughs. “How’s Brian?”
“Uh, he’s good.”
“He there? I wouldn’t mind sayin’ hey.”
“No, he’s working. Y’know how it is.”
“Yeah. Actually, I had Sunday roast with mom and dad last week and we got talking ‘bout you guys,” he tells me. “They’re wonderin’ when they get to meet him, and mom was even describing her hat for the wedding.”
“We’re not getting married!”
“Hey, ya never know!” he laughs. “The guy seems pretty stuck on ya. If anybody could put up with you for the rest of his life, it’s him!”
“Just leave it Jay,” I sigh.
“Ok, what’s up?” he asks. “You sound weird. I was gonna just let it slide but now you’re bein’ all touchy over Brian. So tell me.”
“I’m fine. I just need some sleep,” I lie.
“Jade… This is me you’re talking to. Now are you gonna tell me or do I have to come out there and whup it out of ya?”
“Jay…” I groan.
“Tell me.”
“Fine,” I sigh. “It all started back in Florida…” I tell him the whole story, finishing up with what happened in the elevator. He only interrupts once or twice, something I’m very grateful for.
“Whoa…” he breathes when I’m done. “You sure don’t believe in having an easy life.”
“I didn’t exactly choose for this to happen!” I whine.
“I know,” he chuckles. “You know what you have to do though.”
“I do?”
“Finish it with JC,” he states. “I know you like him and stuff but he could never be what Brian is to you. He’s the real deal. I know you’re scared of committing and stuff, hell I would be too! But he really loves you and I know you love him right back. This JC guy? He’s just a distraction. At the risk of sounding like a dodgy 60s song – let love lead the way.”
“Jay,” I giggle. “I never thought I’d hear you say stuff like that!”
“I know, sorry!” he laughs. “But seriously, I think you know what you gotta do. You’re just too scared to admit it. JC’s given you an out and that’s hard to let go of.”
“Maybe,” I sigh.
“Don’t be afraid, ok?”
“Ok,” I tell him.
“And whatever I say, or anybody else says, you have to do what YOU feel.”
“Yeah,” I mutter. “Well thanks Jay.”
“Hey, call me anytime you need to talk. Or come stay with me to clear your head a little.”
“Thanks,” I smile. “I love you.”
“Love you too sis. Bye.”
“Bye,” I hang up and check the clock. It’s just after 4pm and I decide to go say hi to Britney and Justin. I pull a brush through my hair and head out to the elevators. First stop is the 7th floor and I knock on JC’s room where Justin had said he would be. JC opens the door and smiles at me.
“Hi Jade,” he says.
“Hi.”
“Here to see Justin?” I nod and he stands back so that I can walk into the room. Justin is sat on the couch flicking through the TV channels. He jumps up when he sees me and gives me a long hug.
“Hey Jade,” he grins as he steps back.
“Hey J,” I respond.
“Would you like a drink?” JC asks, gesturing to the mini bar.
“I’m ok, thanks,” I tell him and turn back to Justin. “And YOU, why did you have to come?!”
“For JC!” he responds. “AND you. I’m not gonna get involved unless I hear people dissing my boy so don’t worry. And things are no worse.”
“They will be pretty soon,” I mutter. “You know Britney is here too?”
“Britney?!” he stares at me and I nod.
“Uh huh. She’s here to give me impartial support.”
“She know I’m here?” he asks nervously.
“Yup.”
“Oh fuck,” he mutters. “I haven’t seen her since we finished.”
“Uh, you didn’t even see her then,” I remind him. “You took the coward’s way out.”
“Oh don’t remind me!” he groans and sits down again. “I’ll just stay out of her way.”
“Oh and have you seen People magazine or MTV news yet?” I ask and he shakes his head. “Oh, it’s a beauty. They have pictures of us hugging in LA and now I’m your girlfriend and the reason you dumped Britney!”
“No way?!” he exclaims. “When did they get those pictures?”
“I’m guessing when we had that coffee with Wade in LA. That’s the only time we’ve both been in LA together,” I shrug. “Britney called me about it. Luckily, she doesn’t believe it.”
“And it’s on MTV too?”
“Yup. They recognised me as Brian’s girlfriend so they’re making it out to be a rivalry thing.”
“Oh God,” he groans.
“Does Brian know?” JC asks.
“Yeah, he saw it on MTV. He knows it’s not true though.”
“That’s something I guess,” Justin mutters.
“Yeah, it’s only me he’s gunnin’ for,” JC says wryly.
“I think he’s calmed down a little,” I tell him. “I was just talking to him about it and he said he’d give me a little time and space to think this through.”
“He didn’t hassle you?” JC looks worried.
“Or slag JC off?” Justin jumps in.
“No to both questions. He’s dealing with this a hell of a lot better than I would,” I add.
“Me too,” JC agrees. “I would probably go seriously crazy if I was him.”
“Totally,” Justin nods. “The guy isn’t fighting for ya.”
“He is!” I defend. “He just knows I would leave straight away if he got all heavy on me. I can’t deal with heavy crap.”
“You should date me then,” Justin mutters.
“Well, MTV already think we ARE,” I say with a small laugh and JC looks pained.
“True,” Justin grins.
“I better go. Britney left a message for me to go see her.”
“Stay awhile,” JC touches my arm softly. “Just to hang out, that’s all.”
“You talked to Brian, you should talk to JC too!” Justin says.
“J, it’s not a competition,” JC tells him quietly.
“I need to go see Brit,” I walk out of the room and up two floors to Britney’s room. I knock on the door and she answers.
“Hey Jade,” she grins and we hug quickly. “I’m on the balcony.”
“Sure,” I follow her out onto the balcony and she picks up a lit cigarette, offering me another. I don’t usually smoke but I take it, lighting up and taking a deep drag. I blow the smoke out with a sigh.
“Things any better?” she asks.
“Nup. Brian shut me in the elevator with him for about twenty minutes.”
“Whoa, did he get heavy?”
“A little. He kissed me real hard and then he calmed down.”
“And have you spoken to JC?”
“I just saw him and Justin. Justin is TERRIFIED of seeing you,” I add with a wry grin and she laughs.
“He should be. Does he know about the pictures of you and him?”
“I told him. He was more concerned about what you thought about them.”
“I hope you told him I was way pissed,” she giggles.
“He’s already scared girl!”
“Good,” she finishes her cigarette and lights up another one. “So, JC huh?”
“Yup.”
“I thought he was the one guy in NSync you couldn’t stand though?” she asks.
“He was! He just seemed so arrogant when I interviewed him. But he was so different in Tampa, and now. I guess he was just having a bad day. Or maybe he hates being interviewed. I don’t know,” I shrug.
“JC can have his days,” Britney says. “Some days I just couldn’t talk to him!”
“Really? I guess we can all be like that sometimes,” I shrug.
“Yeah. How’s Brian taking all this?”
“Pretty well I guess. He went crazy at first but he’s calmed down. He says he loves me and that we can work through this.”
“And what do you think?” she queries as I light up another cigarette.
“I think I better sort this out before I take up chain-smoking.”