A couple days later it was December 31st. Lexi got out of the shower at about 4 PM and laid out the dress she had bought in Maryland for Justin’s party.
“Damn I love this dress!” she said out loud. She then got an idea. She reached over her bed, picked up her phone, and dialed JC’s number. The answering machine picked up and Lexi was about to leave a message, but then an out of breath JC picked up.
“Hello?”
“Hey…why do you sound so out of breath?”
“Oh, I just got out of the shower.”
“Oh, me too.”
“Hey, we were showering together!”
Lexi laughed. “You’re so silly, but you have seem me…”
“Ok changing subjects. What’s up?”
“Nothing. I was just calling to tell you that I’ll pick you up around eight.”
“Wait a minute…you’ll pick me up?”
“That’s what I said. You do way too much, and I haven’t driven in over a week. So I’ll pick you up at eight.”
“Ok, as long as you understand that this totally defies the male standard of doing things.”
“Yeah, but there’s a first time for everything.”
“I guess so. Speaking of which…I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I can’t tell you now.”
“So why did you tell me that you have something to tell me?”
“Just so that you’re aware of it.”
Lexi laughed. “All right. I’ll see ya in a few hours. Bye.”
At 8 PM sharp Lexi rang JC’s doorbell, and he opened the door looking fine as ever. He was wearing a black suit, a blue dress shirt, and a dark blue, satin tie. Lexi was wearing her black mini dress (with hints of glitter) and black strappy heels.
“Wow,” they both said at the same time.
“You look great!” Lexi said.
“No, you look amazing!” JC returned.
They both laughed. “Well,” she said, “I guess we look good together.”
“I’d definitely have to agree with that one.”
About twenty minutes later, JC and Lexi walked into an almost full house. JC knew most of the faces, but was surprised by how many people were there. Justin saw them and came towards them.
“Hey, guys! How was Maryland?”
“Great!” JC said as he gave Justin a hug.
Justin whistled. “Well hello, Miss Lexi! You’re lookin’ mighty fine tonight.”
Lexi laughed as he gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You don’t look too bad yourself!”
“Thanks. Oh, I want you guys to meet someone.”
Justin turned around and shouted towards the dance floor. “Lindsey! Come here for a sec!”
A cute, tall blonde emerged from the dance floor and made her way to where JC, Justin, and Lexi were standing.
“Wussup?”
“Hey, Lindsey. I’d like you to meet JC and Lexi.”
“Oh, hi! I’ve heard a lot about you two. You’re right, Justin, they do make a cute couple!”
Justin looked at her, and she realized what she said and tried to cover.
“Oh, I mean…you guys are so cute because you’re friends and stuff…” She realized that her cover wasn’t working. “Well, it was nice meeting you guys!” She headed back to the dance floor.
“Oh, I see someone I know. I’ll be right back.”
Once Justin was sure that Lexi was out of hear shot he said, “So, I’m assuming you haven’t told her yet.”
“No, but I plan on doing it.”
“When? Tonight?” Justin laughed.
“Actually, yeah.”
“What! Man, that’s great! Ya better tell me how it goes!”
JC and Lexi danced for a long time. They ate, drank, and danced some more…the whole time JC was rehearsing what he was going to say to Lexi. He kept on saying to himself Ok, after this song I’ll take her outside and tell her…Ok, definitely after this song…In ten minutes I’ll tell her. He did this to himself so many times that eventually it was about 11:50. Just then, You’ve Got A Way by Shania Twain came on.
“Oh, our song!” Lexi said jokingly.
They began to slow dance, but JC couldn’t take it anymore. He took Lexi by the hand and led her outside by the pool were no one was.
“Josh, what’s wrong?”
“Remember I said that I had something to tell you?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, I’m gonna tell you now.”
“Oh,” she said taken by suprise, “Ok.”
JC took a deep breath as butterflies began to form in his stomach. He gathered his thoughts and started to talk.
“I consider you one of my best friends. You’re funny, intelligent, beautiful…it’s a rare thing when I meet a girl who doesn’t really acknowledge my profession as the most important thing about me...you’re the first person I’ve met that actually forgets that I’m in *NSYNC, and I love that. You don’t care about what I do. You just mean so much to me…”
“You mean a lot to me too, Josh.”
“Please, let me finish,” he said gently. He took another deep breath and continued. “It’s really hard being in a relationship because I’m always on the road…well you know. All the women I’ve ever been with didn’t last because they didn’t see me for me. They couldn’t handle my schedule. I don’t think they understood why they couldn’t get 100% of my time. Another issue was they never got to know me, and I think the only way two people can stay together is if they’re the best of friends and can tell each other everything…and that’s you, Lexi. I feel totally comfortable around you, and my family and the guys feel the same way. I consider those people the most important aspects of my life, and now you…” He stopped for a second to gather his thoughts then began again. “I love my life. I’m doing what I love, and I have four great friends to do it with, but something was always missing. I need that person that I can tell what I don’t tell the guys or my family. And believe me there are things that I don’t tell them. Lexi, that person is you. You’re the thing I’ve been looking for, for so long, and I’ve finally found it. Everything about you I love: your smile, your personality…I need you. I need you to fill this empty space that I’ve been harboring for so long. I’ve wanted to tell you this for a while now, but I’m glad that I waited because now I’m sure that you are what I want. You are the thing that I need to fill this empty void in my life.” He paused as he stared into Lexi’s eyes that were now filling with tears. “When I’m with you…my soul is complete.”
Tears began to stream down Lexi’s face. She started to think that this was simply another dream, but it wasn’t. JC was standing in front of her, baring his soul to her. As she digested his words all she could hear in the background was 10…9…8…
JC wasn’t taking Lexi’s silence well. He began to think that he made a mistake.
…7…6…5…4… Lexi walked closer to him and JC started, “Look, Lex, maybe I…”
…3…2…
JC didn’t have a chance to finish his words. Lexi finally pressed her lips against his.
…1
Shouts of “Happy New Year!” and other yelling was going on inside, but they weren’t aware of it. They were only aware of each other and the passionate kiss that they have been awaiting for so long.