Running to the glass door that was the breaking point to try to escape from this unknown feeling, she put her hand on the cold metal and slid it open. With the jingle of the buckle on her sandals, jersey took her first step and she came crashing to the floor in front of her. The buckle got caught on the metal sliders that kept the door in. Putting her arms out to catch her fall, she landed on her side with a load thump. With her face the shade of a cherry lying on the carpet, she opened her eyes to see a foot on one side of her. Feeling hands being placed on her waist, she quickly pushed herself up, rising to her feet. Shrugging off the help of Chris, she went running into the bathroom, down the hall.

Hearing the snap of the lock being put into place, she grieved and sighed while sliding down the cold yellow tiles of the wall. The reflection of her angst was clear to her eyes through the mirror on the shower door. Ashamed, Jersey glanced away, having her eyes roll down to where her sleeve was pulled up and a red rug burn showed. Not being able to feel it, she ignored it by straightening her sleeve back down to her wrist. The glasses began to slide down her nose once again, and instead of pressing them back up, she crossed over arms and ripped them off angrily, clutching them in a tight grip. They fiercely unwind themselves from around her ears, crashing her knuckles against the hard ground while leaning back with frustration.

Stunned by the knock at the bathroom door, she ignored all calls of communication. When there began to be a constant knock on the door, her head was about to spin in frenzy. " Chris! Just leave me alone for a second!" Jersey yelled through the hard wood oak door.

Silence streamed through the hot depths of Jersey's breath while her chin came closer to her chest. The realization that the door was now open didn't occur until the cold hand of a gentleman swept it across her flushed face.

" I swear I locked that door," Jersey whispered.

" You did, but the lock is broken," Chris smiled as he took Jersey's long brown hair and nestled it behind her shoulder. Placing his hand above her ear on the other side of her head, he brought it down slowly tucking it nicely between his shoulder and neck. Agreeing with his motion, Jersey began to feel relaxed until she shot up and looked him straight in the eyes.

Brushing her hand against his chest to feel the wool material, her eyes wandered carelessly as she thought before she spoke, " I just... I had everything planned and nothing is going right. Then I tripped, don't tell anyone I did that." Barely being able to laugh at herself, her face kept straight the whole time.

" I'm just glad that we are here, together," A light kiss was placed on both of their lips as Chris cradled her in his arms.

Joey pulled up to the front of the hotel, slowly dropping his car into park. Before getting out of his Acura, he efficiently slipped some sunglasses on and a hat, not forgetting what his identity meant to the public. The bellboy standing outside opened the door for Joey. He nodded, quickly mumbling some words to him explaining he would be back for his car in five minutes. The bellboy dressed in his red work suit, nodded, graciously accepting the five-dollar bill that Joey slipped into his hand. The boy wished Joey a good evening as soon as he was through the door. Joey looked back and smiled.

Reaching into his khaki pants, he pulled out a crumpled piece of baby blue paper that had Justin's scribble all over it. His eyes wandered over the paper, searching for her room number in the midst of all the other things written on the paper. Finally, his eyes landed on it, just as Joey reached the elevator. Punching the 3 button, he stuck his hands in his pockets, softly whistling to himself. Too much of Joey's regret, the elevator dinged at the floor and he found himself already the room number that he needed to be at. Taking his time, Joey removed the sunglasses and hat, and raised his hand to knock on the door. Before he even got a chance to knock, the door swung open revealing a tall, red haired girl, with a huge smile plastered on her face. Joey started to say something, but was over powered by her strong voice.

"Hi, you must be Joey. What am I talking about? Of course you're Joey! Anyway, I'm Autumn." Her voice rang out, extending her hand, intended for a handshake. Joey took it, giving his best smile that he could put on tonight, returning the handshake. Then cocking his elbow and holding it out for Autumn, she slipped her bare arm in and linked arms with his.

From the depths of their affection in the silence that crept throughout the bathroom, you could hear the beating of each other's hearts while Chris held jersey. Her small body was the right size to fit safely in his arms. Jersey's eyes were shut lightly drawing a blank mind of free spirit. The cold floor increased being able to now feel it against their skins.

Nudging her head slightly, her body was motionless except for the hum of her voice trying to show recognition. Getting up from his awkward position, Jersey's body began to sink slowly to the floor. Before she hit, Chris placed an arm beneath her knees and another around her back, picking her up easily from practice. Without knowing, her glasses slipped from her hand being left on the ground as Chris began to carry her to the living room.

" Chris..." Jersey whispered between her dry lips, scratching his forehead against his chin. Her arm wrapped around his neck, bringing her Face closer towards his body instead of resting it against his shoulder. Her green eyes still shut, she felt Chris's attention on her as the movement stopped. " Chris... don't leave me again..." her lips brushed against his cheek as her forehead drooped down to replace them. Inhaling the scent of his cologne was the last memory that she had for that night before she fell asleep.

Without expression, Chris closed his eyes deeply as the words came from her mouth. The pain that they both felt when they were apart was far more scaring than being rushed to the emergency room. His job was there before she came into his life, but Jersey has turned him around. Not wanting her to feel loneliness and heartache she experienced the month without him, there wasn't anything he could respond with. Silence was left instead of a promise with a fear of being broken. Kissing Jersey gently on top of her head, he laid her on his couch and covered her with a light blanket near by.

Joey pulled out Autumn's chair for her, as soon as they were lead to their table for the night. Even though it was slightly rude, Joey kept on his sunglasses and hat, since they were in the public eye. He hoped that Autumn would understand, though he had a feeling she would. He was acutely aware at how Autumn seemed to know everything about him, and how she seemed to understand the fame life. "It's probably from being around Justin." Joey thought to himself, remembering that Justin had once been in the spotlight, before *NSYNC took off. He watched as Autumn picked up the menu, finally deciding to pick his up also. Scanning down the page at unfamiliar Chinese words, he snuck a glance at the red head sitting in front of him. She didn't strike him as the type that would hang out with Justin. There was just something about her, something that wasn't real and Joey couldn't figure out what it was.

A small Chinese lady came up to the table and took their drink orders. Then at almost the same moment, a bus boy came with a pitcher of tea. Being a gentleman, Joey asked Autumn if she would like any tea, and quickly poured it for her when she replied affirmatively. Joey tried to think of something to ask her, when he glanced down at his place mat.

"What Chinese symbol are you?" Joey questioned, pointing down to all the different animals listed on the table. Autumn ran her finger over the different animals, looking for her birth year. Suddenly, she announced she was a monkey.

"Let's see here. The spunky Monkey is one heck of a party animal! Charming and energetic, Monkeys crave fun, activity and a mighty good time. They can often be seen swinging from one group of friends to another, attracting a motley crew in the process." Joey read, smiling. "Maybe this girl wasn't as bad as he thought," Joey's mind told him.

"What's yours?" Autumn inquired. After Joey told her that he was a snake, she began reading his. "The Snake, quite simply, leads a charmed life! Diplomatic and popular, the serpentine ones are lucky with money and will generally have more than they need. Even if money isn't their greatest pursuit, they will always have more than enough to survive. The charming and generous qualities ascribed to Snakes will allow them to attract many potential mates. " Autumn finished, "Aren't I the lucky one?"

"So Joey, what's it like to be famous? To have met all the greatest stars of all time?" Autumn pressed, sounding more interested in this, than anything all night. Joey groaned. Was there ever a time where he could just kick back and forget that he was famous? He guessed no, and reluctantly started to answer Autumn's question. "I knew this date was going to turn out bad." Joey thought, sighing, before taking a sip of tea.

Waking up disoriented, Jersey lifted her head up slowly though bringing it back down to her arm. Her eyes felt heavy and her body felt cold. Using her arm for a pillow, it could barely move from its position that it had been in all night. With the other arm, she brought the blanket that was around her body up to her chin, curling it in towards her neck. Rubbing her head back and forth, trying to find a smooth spot against her bony arm, she could hear the squeaks from the floor pass through her ears.

Without a remembrance of her dream, Jersey couldn't keep an image in her mind except for the dark blankness of a hole. Breathing in the scent of his Polo cologne that reminds her of the first time they met. Making a humming sound in her throat, Chris came over sitting on the side of the couch while he leaned over to kiss her forehead. That's when Jerseys' emerald eyes finally decided to show a glimpse. Removing himself from the couch with a squeak, he placed himself in a chair that sat close to Jersey's view.

Letting go of the blanket, kicking her feet she tried to expose her bare feet. After finding comfort, she remained on the couch while staring into Chris's brown eyes. " I fell asleep, didn't I?" She mumbled, arching her eyebrow in a concerned look.

" Don't worry about it Jerz," Chris smiled.

" I left all that cleaning for you. I totally ruined the night, the least I could have done was help clean up. You are such a dork for not waking me up."

" Actually, now that you mention it, I left everything where it is. Last night I watched you sleep for a little bit until I got tired myself and went to bed. So lucky you, you can clean all you want, be my guest."

Smiling while shaking her head back and forth, Jersey let out a small groan and then covered her head with the blanket and tried to disappear. Saying that just to be kind, she felt to weak to even lift her own body up, let alone clean the dishes.

The sound of music suddenly appeared as unique sounds of such a telephone dialing came into the room. The two of them, searching about found a green beeper lying alone on the carpet. " It must have slipped from my pocket when I fell. Chris, baby, can you get it?" Jersey batted her eyes sweetly and Chris couldn't resist.

Bending over to pick it up, he didn't want to be nosey and look at the message, so he handed it unread to Jersey. " Shit, Chris, it's my mother."