"Whenever You Call" Chapters 11 - 15

(~) Part 11 (~)

Justin drove down the back road en route to the public lake where he was meeting Jen for their dinner - she had to meet him there because she was coming from an afternoon with her family. He remembered that he had to pick up cups and napkins at the local convenience store, so he flipped on his turn signal and pulled into the parking lot of Anne’s Mini-Mart.

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“You, uh...you ready for this? ‘Cause I...I am...” Lance looked over at Amy nervously.

She looked just as nervous and her face was somewhat pale. “Yeah...I mean...we’ve wanted to do this for awhile. We’ll be fine, huh? Millions have done this before us, right?”

He laughed tensely. “Ummm...yeah! And they’ve been fine...” He patted her shoulder and noticed that her strap was twisted. He adjusted it gently, and she smiled at him.

“Thanks...I say we just go for it. This is QUITE a big undertaking...but I’m sure we can handle it. Is all you’re, ya know...gear...in place?”

“Yeah...I’m good. You?”

“Yep...uh, ready?” She looked at him and then thought about the obstacle in front of them.

They both nodded in agreement. It WAS an activity they had both wanted to do. It took a lot of mental and physical preparation, but they knew they’d be fine. There was NO reason to be scared.

They both took a deep breath and began climbing the HUGE, artificial rock wall in front of them at the local extreme entertainment center.

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Justin stepped into the mini-mart and headed for the aisle with the paper-goods. He was about to turn around to head towards the check-out line when he felt a tap on his shoulder and a voice purr behind him:

“Hey there, you sexy thing, you...”

Justin recognized the voice immediately and froze. She grabbed him by the shoulders and spun him around gently.

It was exactly who he thought it was. He stuttered out quietly, “Uh...h-hey, Adr-Adrienne...”

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Michelle had made up her mind. She was GOING to talk to JC. But how, though? How could she keep him from being suspicious too soon? She paced around her room, thinking for a few minutes. She needed to lure him to her house so she could just vent everything all at once. But HOW could she get him there without him knowing that he was being set up to receive some pretty heavy news...? ‘MAYBE...I could make him THINK that there will be oth...THAT’S IT!!’

She flipped over on her bed, picked up her phone, and dialed his number.

“Hey, JC?...
Yeah, it’s Michelle...Amy’s friend?...
I’m fine, and you?...
Good! Um...so I was gonna have some people over tonight to watch a movie...would you like to come?...
You would? Great! Amy’s, uh...gonna be here...so you’ll know her...
Wow...great, then. I’ll see you at 7:00?...
OK! Yeah...I’m, uh...looking forward to it, too...
Bye, JC...”

She hung up the phone and produced a delighted smile. It worked perfectly...and he was ACTUALLY looking FORWARD to it! But that smile quickly faded...

WHAT was she going to say?!?

She flopped down on her bed with an exasperated/nervous sigh, and started plotting out her ENTIRE speech.

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“Helloooo, Justin Timberlake...I haven’t seen YOU in awhile...” She started slowly running her hand up and down his arm. Contrary to what he wanted (or was willing to admit), it gave him chills to feel her seductive touch.

“Adrienne...I NEED you to understand...I HAVE a girlfri...”

Again, she silenced him - only this time, it was with a long, drawn out kiss.

Justin wiped off his mouth and stared at her, amazed. “Adrienne! I’m TIED! I HAVE a G-I-R-L-F-R-I-E-N-D! Don’t you understand?!?” He spelled it out, pleading with her.

“Do I UNDERSTAND?!? Yup. Do I CARE?!? Nope. Catch my drift, Sexy Boy?”

“Yeah, I catch your dri...” He started in an annoyed tone, but again, she pulled down his head and kissed him.

He just stood there and shook his head. “I cannot believe you!!! If you EVER do that again, I’ll...”

“You’ll what? You’ll WHAT, Justin Randall Timberlake?!? Tell me...what are you going to do to me?” She put her hand on her hip and looked him up and down in her captivating way. Her stare lingered on the spot just below his belt-buckle; he could feel her eyes burning into him, and it made him uncomfortable.

“...leave me alone...” he said miserably.

“But, babe...”

“HEY!!!” He interrupted her this time. “I’m NOT your babe...now leave me alone...”

“OK, fine...” She said in a tone of pathetic disappointment. “I will leave you alone if you just give me one last hug...”

“FINE...” Just to quiet her, he reached out his arms and she flew into them. Except this was no ordinary hug - she pressed her pelvis up against him firmly and slid her hands down to his butt and gave a good squeeze.

Finally, she pulled away. “I’ll leave YOU alone for a while...but I have a feeling you won’t we able to leave ME alone, TIGER...”

Justin shook his head disgustedly. “Now, LEAVE!”

“Bye, Beautiful...”

“Yeah...bye...”

He thought this was the last he would EVER have to even HEAR her name. BOY, was he wrong...

Justin had been facing away, with his back to the entrance, when a young boy of about 13 walked into the store. He heard nothing, and never saw Justin’s expressions, but he saw EVERY one of their actions. He recognized Justin immediately and watched on in horror as he was fondled by a strange girl. He flew out of the store and got on to his bike. He peddled his little legs furiously back to his house - back to tell his older sister, JEN, all about what he just saw her man do.

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(~) Part 12 (~)

‘Omigod, omigod....he’s here...he’s HERE!! Dear LORD, what am I gonna say?!?’ Michelle ran past her mirror and gave herself a once over. She produced a satisfied grin. (She HAD after all, spent a good 2 hours prepping herself...not to mention having full-fledged, two-sided conversations - switching back and forth between the rolls of both JC and herself.)

“Oh, GOD! Oh, GOD!” She cried breathlessly as she stormed down her stairs. She mentally prepared herself. ‘I CAN do this...I CAN do this...OH, GOD!’

She closed her eyes, and decided to just go for it. She flung the door open and waited for a reply.

“Shell...uh, why are your eyes closed?” Came the voice of a...female?!?

“DAMNIT! Caroline...what are you doing here?!?” She opened her eyes and glared at her friend.

“Sheesh, Girlie. That was some nice welcome, there...what crawled up YOUR ass and died?” She stood there with her hands on her hips.

“Uhh...sorry. Um...I was just leaving. I’ll see ya...”

She started to run outside and went to get into her car. Caroline just looked on with a stunned look on her face as Michelle ran past her.

“Oooo-kaaayyy...Uh, see ya, I guess. THERE BETTER BE A PRETTY DARN GOOD EXPLANATION FOR THIS!!!” She yelled after Michelle. She shook her head, laughed off what just happened, and got into her car.

Michelle pretended to be fumbling with her stereo as Caroline pulled out of the driveway. As soon as she was out of sight, though, she flew out of her car and ran back inside...just as a black Jeep pulled slowly onto her road.

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“How ‘bout just ONE more time...PERTY PWEEEESSSEEE?!?”

“Argh...Chris! We already rode this one FIVE times!” Megan looked at Chris with a pleading look in her eyes. They had spent the day at Great Adventure and he was HOOKED on the Medusa ride they had there. He had dragged her on five times...but he wasn’t done.

Chris glanced over to Megan with a puppy-dog look that was enough to make Megan melt instantly.

“FFFIIIINNNNEEEE!! I WOULDN’T have agreed...if you weren’t so darn cute.” She looked over at him and flashed a huge smile. Chris grabbed her hand and squeezed it, returning the smile.

‘Good, she agreed...it’s finally time. I’m gonna just go for it...’

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Justin stood there in the store for a few minutes, too stunned to move. He finally shook it off and purchased the plates and napkins that he needed.

He hopped in the Benz and drove the short distance to meet Jen at the park. What he saw in front of him disturbed him greatly.

Jen was standing next to an unrecognizable car, and also, next to another male. This male had his arms around her and was whispering something in her ear. He couldn’t see her expression, but it looked like she was laughing.

As he approached, he realized that the guy was one named Aaron...who Amy had briefly introduced to him as being...Caroline’s boyfriend?!?

Justin started to jog up to the car. He saw Aaron reach over and tickle her sides. ‘What the...?’ “Jen...WHAT is this?!?” He stood there with his hands on his hips and a questioning look on his face.

Jen slowly turned around to reveal a tear-stained face.

“I think I’LL answer for her, seeing that she’s a little up-SET...” Aaron replied caustically.

Justin pushed his arms off her shoulders. “Yo, PUNK...shut the HELL up...It’s Jen I’m talking to.” He turned to her and pressed on with his expression. “What is this...I’m not good enough for you anymore?”

Jen sniffed in and took a deep breath. She had a sarcastic edge to her voice. “Funny...I think it’s the other way around...”

Justin’s forehead crinkled. “What?!? What are you TALKING about?!?”

“Yeah...she knows...” Aaron began, laughing evilly.

“Dude, you better SHUT YO’ TRAP before I open up a HUGE can of WHOOP ASS on you...” He said, putting a threatening gleam in his eyes.

“Fine...fine...” He said, dramatically throwing his hands up in the air, but shrinking back a little when he noticed the broadness of Justin’s shoulders and the enormity of his biceps.

“Now, please, Jen, what are you talking about?” He asked softly.

She began to sob again. “She...her...my brother saw. You’re obviously with her. He SAW you hug and kiss her...and it DEFINITELY wasn’t a family kiss.”

Justin was so surprised that Jen knew about the Adrienne incident, he stuttered - appearing nervous and implicating himself even further. “O-omigod...no, Jen! She...she’s after ME! I want noth-nothing to d-do with her!”

“And you expect me to just BELIEVE that?!? You were all over her!”

“Nooooo, she was all over ME!” He shouted, becoming angrier by the moment. “Yeah, so what’s up with Aaron?!? I thought he was with Caroline?!?”

“He WAS!” Jen tried.

Justin let out a little “Hmph,” and threw his arms up.

“I mean...ah, GOD - he IS! Geez...he was here with his family, and he was just comforting me, ‘cause I was so upset!” She brashly wiped her eyes. ‘Really...for once, his intentions SEEMED harmless...’ She wanted to add. “What...are you ADMITTING that you’re with her by changing the subject?!?” Now JEN was screaming.

“NOOO!!! What are you...wh...Jesus, Jen! Why are you being like this?!?” He could hardly form words, he was so flustered.

“Like WHAT?!? Justin, you’re the one that’s being a slut behind my back...”

Justin’s baby blues turned icy. “A SLUT?!? Whoa, there, Girl. You are STEPPIN’ now...That was UN-CALLED for.” He just shook his head. “I don’t know what to say. Obviously, you won’t be honest with me...and you just won’t BELIEVE me...so...I’m just gonna go. Why does this always happen to us?!?” He shook his head, but then continued. “No, see this time its different; this time, someone’s actually wrong - and that someone’s you...” He glanced over at her with a sad look in his eyes, picked up his picnic basket, and jogged away, feeling hot tears swelling in his eyes, ready to spring forward at any moment.

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(~) Part 13 (~)

Chris and Megan reached the front of Medusa’s line and took a seat right in the front of the car.

“Ready?” Megan asked, smiling.

Chris just nodded his head and put on a look of pained agreement...inside, the butterflies in his stomach were steadily mounting.

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Michelle disappeared inside just in time - JC’s SUV pulled into view seconds after.

He turned into her driveway slowly, confused as to why he was the only one there so far. ‘It’s AFTER 7:00. Well, maybe they all walked or something...’ He popped a mint in his mouth and slid out of his Jeep.

Walking up to the front door, Michelle swung it open so quickly that he nearly knocked on her chest instead of the door pane.

“Whoa, Michelle! You scared me! Whew...how are you?” He said breathlessly after he nearly jumped out of his skin.

She laughed nervously and could only nod an OK. He looked so...incredible. He was wearing white sneakers, a pair of baggy dark jeans, a wifebeater, and a red, navy, yellow, and white plaid shirt slightly unbuttoned over it. On his head was a red fitted baseball cap that he wore backwards. All of this was finished off by his sweet, amazing smile. After a about a minute of gaped-mouthed staring, Michelle finally regained her composure and ushered him inside.

JC walked in and looked around with a confused look on his face. “Um, where is everyone, Shell?”

She looked down at her feet and felt overwhelmed. ‘I SHOULDN’T have done this...I SHOULDN’T have lied!!’ A tear fell from her eye and landed at JC’s feet.

He crouched down and looked up into her eyes. ‘Look at him...he’s an angel! Why did I do this to him...?’ She kicked herself.

“Michelle, Sweetie...what’s wrong? Did I say something?” He reached up and dried one stray tear. He gently pushed up her chin as he stood up straight.

‘He looks so confused. I have to just tell him...’ She tried to convince herself.

She took a deep breath and just started. “JC...I have to talk to you seriously. I, uh...didn’t invite anyone else over.” She cringed, ready to see him look at her disgustedly. All she saw, though, was the comforting, soft look in his eyes change to even more understanding. ‘He’s probably figured it out already...’

He reached out and put a warm, consoling hand on her shoulder. “Do you wanna sit down?” He asked, motioning towards her living room couch. She nodded and he grabbed her hand and led her over. The two sat down with little space between them. He continued holding her hand as she began to spill everything.

“JC...I...I like you. No, I love you...well, not really love, because love is two sided, and you don’t feel the same...but that’s why I wanted to talk to y...” She began in such a rush that it almost made his head spin.

“Whoa...Shell, slow down. Don’t be nervous...I won’t bite. Just tell me what’s on your mind...but please, keep it under 90 m.p.h., kay?!?” He smiled gently and she was put a little more at ease.

“Yeah...I’m sorry,” she continued. “I really don’t know what to say, except for what I already did. I don’t like to just bluntly come out and admit my feelings, but I needed to get it off my chest. I just can’t stop thinking about you...it’s not like me to fall so hard into something like this, but...” She got up quickly and walked toward her picture window, anticipating JC’s response.

He sat in silence for a moment, taking it all in. He chose his words carefully before starting. “Well, Michelle...I kinda saw that in you from the moment we met...but then again, I never thought it was this strong. I can’t say I feel EXACTLY the same...but...” His pause was enough to make her insane. “But...that doesn’t mean we can’t at least TRY something. I’m single, you’re single - there’s nothing wrong with two single people dating a little...ya know, feelin’ things out, right? You’re such a sweet girl...who knows what could happen?”

She spun around slowly and walked over to him.

“Do you really mean that?” She asked anxiously.

“Yeah...sure, why not?” He smiled and gave her hand a kiss. “How ‘bout tonight. I’m free - now! - and you seem to be, too. Wanna catch a movie?”

Michelle was in shock, but she excitedly nodded her head and the two slowly got up and headed towards the car. Michelle felt like she was walking on air - and from the goofy smile plastered on her face, everyone and their mother that they encountered on their way knew it, too.

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(~) Part 14 (~)

Chris reached over and grabbed Megan’s hand as the heaving car crept up the initial hill of Medusa’s track. He looked into her eyes and gave her a nervous smile. He tried to contain his excitement of what was to come. Earlier, he had disappeared for a few minutes while Megan had gone to the bathroom. She had wondered where he had gone to...but he refused to tell her. She was about to find out...(It was amazing what you could arrange when you were famous!)

Suddenly, Medusa’s car came to a screeching halt at the top of the track and a song began playing. It sounded like it was coming from a small portable radio, but Megan couldn’t see anything (Chris had struck a deal with the good-natured, middle-aged guy behind him). Megan looked over in confusion, but Chris just shrugged innocently.

All this time, the car had remained precariously perched on the apex of the hill, with the whole group of people just left there to wonder WHAT in creation was going on - well, all except Chris and his ‘partner-in-crime’ behind him, of course. Just as quickly as it had stopped, though, it jilted a little and then heaved its way over the hump. It was all but forgotten...until, laughing and joking, Chris and Megan climbed off the car and headed towards the area where you could purchase pictures of the ride.

“Hey, Meggers...wanna get a picture this time?” Chris looked over at her and smiled.

“I thought you decided that it was just a waste of money?” Megan replied, remembering how he had shot down the idea the first time she mentioned it.

He put his arm around her and replied, “Well, Meg...this time I think it’s a little different.”

She looked over at him, utterly confused. He just smiled again and led her over to where they displayed the pictures. There was an especially large crowd gathered in front of the monitors. There were points and stares at the screen with an occasional “Aww...” or “Look...that’s so cute!”

As the two approached the monitor, the crowd turned around, realized that it was actually the people in the picture, and parted to let them through. They were all decked out in devilish ‘I-know-something-you-don’t-know’ smiles.

Megan got right up to the screen and scanned it briefly. Her eyes fixed on the image of Chris when she realized that his shirt was up, flapping in the wind. It was TINY, but she looked closer and realized there was something on his chest and abdomen. Written in black marker were the words:

‘Meg...I can’t fight
This feeling any longer.
Would you be mine?’

She stood there, slack-jawed for a moment. Finally (after an eternity of silence for Chris), with a tear in her eyes and cheers from their ‘audience’, Megan turned to Chris and the two embraced with a kiss that was so meant to be...one that should have happened that night they were interrupted by the phone...a kiss that was enough to answer Chris’s question without even saying a word.

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(~) Part 15 (~)

Lance and Amy had just been sitting on the couch in Amy’s apartment watching late-night reruns of ‘I Love Lucy’. They had enjoyed their ‘exciting’ evening together, although Amy had nearly frozen with fear before she reached even half-way up the rock wall. It was still fun, though, just being able to spend some time together. Lance, who had been laying with his head in Amy’s lap, reached up and gently brought Amy’s face to his for a small kiss.

She looked down at him and smiled after he pulled away. “What was that for, Baby?”

“Because...because I love you.” He gave her a shy smile and kissed the hand that she had placed on his cheek. She smoothed his soft blond hair, and after closing his eyes, Lance let out a contented sigh and shifted himself slightly. With a newfound sense of alertness, she bent down and kissed his eyelids gently - they fluttered open and Amy could see the bright green so clearly; the flecks of yellow present in the irises were illuminated by the glow of the TV screen.

He slowly sat up on the couch. After staring at her for a minute, the two began kissing...softly at first, but then reaching almost to the point of madness. Both of their breathing became heavier - they hadn’t actually been intimate with each other yet...they had decided to wait for that. But by the way things were going, that looked like it was about to change.

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“Joey....JOEY!!! Wow...you are CRAZY!” Kristin giggled as he kissed her neck and tickled her sides.

“I KNOW!” He said as he gave her bum a squeeze.

“Joey!” She jumped forward a little, shocked. “Are you sure we should be doing this in public?”

She looked around from their perch on a bench at all the other people in the park. “I mean...what if someone sees us? Remember, Hun...we wanted to keep this quiet...” She looked at him questioningly.

“Oh, pish-posh...” He said with a giggle directed to the ridiculous statement. “Who would EVER see us he...”

“Yo...FATONE!!”

He spoke too soon.

“What up, Man? Hey, Kris!!” Joey froze and stopped his sentence short as an all too familiar voice filled his ears - the voice of Joshua Scott Chasez, to be exact.

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“Come on, Jen...stop cryin’! It’ll be OK!” Aaron put a protective arm around her. Jen didn’t shy away for the first time since she met him - she didn’t even have to energy to. She buried her head in his shoulder and sobbed heavily. ‘ASTOUNDED’...that was the only word that could describe what she was feeling.

“WHAT just happened...? Am I imagining things, or what?!?” She asked a rhetorical question, not meant to be answered...but of course, Aaron took the liberty to put his two cents in.

“No, Sweetheart...you’re not imagining it. I KNEW that Justin guy was no good. I could tell...just the way he prances around in those wifebeaters like he’s God’s gift to this EARTH. That prick’s probably been cheating on you since day one. You poor, poor girl...” He started stroking her hair and bringing her even closer to him. “That no-good, air-headed, big-egoed, ugly piece of sh...”

Jen’s head shot up. “ALL RIGHT!!! Enough...geez. Like you’re so much better?” She had heard enough. She finally snapped out of her daze and jumped away from him like she just discovered that he had leprosy. “Damn YOU! You come after me when you’re still with Caroline, and you think you have the right to call HIM a prick? You’re lucky I ain’t got a sharp object right now...or I’d be pullin’ a ‘Bobbit swipe’ on you. ALL guys are scum anymore...UUGGHHHH...” She shuddered with disgust.

“Awww...you don’t mean that, now do you, Jenny-Pooh?” He put his arm around her waist...but then it dropped down to her butt. He started groping it slightly. Just as Jen started to jump away, Aaron grabbed her upper arms and pinned her against his car.

“AARON! What are you...d-do-doing?” Jen started to feel a tremendous sense of fear...she had never wanted Justin more in her life. But...even after what he pulled? NO! She didn’t even care anymore. She needed him...she needed him to protect her.

Just as he started to press his body up against hers she burst out into a fresh batch of tears...only this time, they were out of fear.

“Hey...I don’t have time for this, Bitch...” He slapped her square in the jaw. THAT shut her up. “MUCH better!!” He cackled evilly as she stopped her tears with a stunned alarm.

He pressed himself even harder against her. This time, though...it hurt. She felt his belt buckle pressing hard into her abdomen...at least she HOPED that was all it was...

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“Sweetie? Amy...Hun? You awake?” Lance gently shook Amy, who had been resting peacefully on his chest.

She stirred and then let out a sigh. Finally, she opened her eyes, and gazed upward into his lovely green ones. A smile crept over both of their faces. It had to have been the middle of the night, because it was still pretty dark out. The light from the full moon through the open window illuminated both of their faces.

“You, um...OK?” He asked cautiously. He smoothed some hair away from her sweaty forehead.

“Yeah...just fine...” She gave him another huge smile, knowing that because of what they did...their lives would never be the same. Now they were bonded by both physical AND emotional love.

He kissed her gently on the top of her head just as the phone rang.

“Who in creation could THAT be?” Amy sighed, threw back the covers, cringed when she realized she had only a T-shirt on, then relaxed when she realized that Lance had just seen her in a lot LESS so she had nothing to be worried about, and finally, right before the last ring...picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Hey...Amy? Is Lance there?” It was JC...and he sounded REALLY upset. But JC? What was HE doing looking for Lance?

“AMY - you there?!? Please! I have to talk to Lance...is he with you? It’s really important - I have a message for him...I was the only one Diane could get in touch with...please...”

Amy jumped out of her confusion and jumped INTO worrying. She handed over the phone and sat up in bed, anxious to find out what was wrong.

Lance gave her a perplexed look but then took the phone.

Amy couldn’t hear the conversation past “Hello”, but she knew something was NOT good. Lance’s entire demeanor changed from just plain confused to being on the verge of tears. Finally, he slowly hung up the phone and turned to face the wall, away from Amy’s questioning stare.

“Lance? Baby...what’s wrong?” She asked tentatively.

He sighed like he was about to speak, but then got up and started hurriedly putting all his clothes back on. Amy watched on in sadness as he started to head out the door. She thought all was lost...until he spun around to explain.

“I’m sorry, Amy...I have to leave for a while. I gotta catch a flight.” He started to get choked up. “My, uh...my Grandpa died a few hours ago...I’m going to Mississippi...” And with that, he disappeared down the hallway. Amy ran to at least find out how long he’d be gone, but he had already jumped in his car and was starting the engine. He saw her standing there, and with a pitiful look on his face, he waved sadly and began backing out of the parking spot. Amy returned the wave, just as sadly, knowing the closeness between Lance and his grandfather. She knew her Lance would not be the same for a long, long time.

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