(At Pizza Hut)

"Okay, Chas, who's the guy?" Linzi asked, looking at Chasity expectantly. "I bet's it's Justin, isn't it?!" she continued, with a knowing grin.

"What are you talking about, Linz?" Chasity asked, thoroughly confused.

"What do you think I'm talking about?!" Linzi replied, exasperated. "I'm talking about you and Justin. You've had this dreamy little look on your face all day, and you've barely even heard a word I've said. I think you like him," she added in a sing-songy voice.

"Of course I like Justin. He's my friend."

"That's not what I mean and you know it!"

"Well, what do you want me to say? Justin is only a FRIEND. Nothing more. And I don't want him to be anything more."

"C'mon, Chas," Linzi pleaded. "I'm your best friend. You can tell me the truth."

"The truth?" Chasity asked bitterly, vividly remembering what had happened the last time she told the truth about love. "That'll get me real far in life."

"Chasity," Linzi gently scolded. She had to get Chasity to open her eyes and realize her feelings for Justin. They were meant for each other!

"Okay, fine, I'll tell you the truth," Chasity replied softly in a sad voice. "The truth is that I don't know.....I just don't know." Her eyes starting misting over and she had to take a deep breath before continuing. "Whenever I'm with Justin it's like all logic just fades away. I'm so confused! We were only supposed to be friends...but sometimes.....sometimes it feels like we're so much more. He brings up emotions in me that I thought I'd never want to feel again. And that's what makes him so dangerous. I'd be so easy to surrender to the...the love...that engulfs me when I'm with him........I don't want to love him!" she cried out pitifully, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Oh, Chas, honey," Linzi said sympathetically as she went around the table to hug her friend, "you can't stop yourself from falling in love. I know how badly Daniel hurt you, and that's why you won't let yourself love anyone, but not all guys are like Daniel. Especially not Justin. I honestly believe that he'd never intentionally hurt you."

"I know," Chasity replied sorrowfully. "But I still can't ler myself fall in love with Justin. His life is too different from mine....I probably won't even have a place in his life once he starts touring again. Right now is like a dream come true, but soon reality will kick in again." She hastily wiped her eyes and quickly got up to pay the check. She didn't want to talk about this anymore.

Linzi slowly stood up and sadly watched her best friend as she went up to the cash register. I don't think you can help it Chas, she thought to herself. I think you've already fallen in love.

"I guess the guys still aren't home yet," Chasity said as she unlocked the front door. "Not that it's a big surprise. They'll probably be gone for a few more hours."

"Yeah, Linzi agreed as she and Chasity tiredly dropped their pile of shopping bags on the floor. "What should we do while we wait?"

Hmmmm...I know!" Chasity exclaimed, her eyes growing bright. "Let's give each other makeovers and manicures. We can totally fix ourselves up for tonight. We haven't done that in forever." she added, laughing.

"That'd be so much fun!" Linzi said excitedly as she followed Chasity upstairs. She was glad that Chasity was feeling, and looking, so much better. If there was one thing that would take Chasity's mind off things, this was it. She loved anything to do with makeup and clothes.

"Hey, let's wear those kinda-matching outfits we got today," Chasity suggested. She was referring to the pair of capri pants and matching spagetti strap tanks they'd both bought.

"Okay," Linzi replied enthusiastically as they shuffled through their all of their bags, trying to find the outfits. As soon as they found them they quickly tore off the price tags and threw them on.

"What do you think? Is it me?" Chasity asked as she modeled her outfit for Linzi. Her white capris showed off her wonderful tan and fantastic figure. The tank top she had on was different shades of blue in a swirly pattern, and enhanced her clear, blue eyes.

"Yeah, it's totally you," Linzi agreed. "You look fabulous!"

"Thanks," Chasity replied. "You look really great too. Red is definitely your color." Linzi had on a pair of black capris and a swirly red tank top, which contrasted beautifully with her dark hair and ivory skin.

Chasity and Linzi were just putting on the finishing touches of their makeup when they heard the front door open.

"Honey, I'm home," Joey called from downstairs. Chasity and Linzi glanced at each other before dissolving into a fit of giggles.

"C'mon, let's go see what they think," Chasity said as she pulled Linzi out of the room. They ran to the top of the stairs and Chasity cleared her throat loudly, trying to get the guys to notice them. Joey was the first to look up and Chasity laughed at his wide-eyed, yet appraising, glance.

"Wow, you ladies look hot! Too bad ya'll are already taken," Joey teased.

By then, the rest of the guys had noticed Linzi and Chasity. They were all staring at the girls in geniune approval, and Justin, especially, couldn't keep his eyes off of Chasity. She looked unbelievably sexy, yet almost childlike also. Her silky blonde hair was carelessly twisted on top of her head and Justin had this wild urge to unpin her hair and run his fingers through it.

"Taken? Who said anything about me being taken?" Chasity asked Joey as she walked down the stairs, a teasing smile on her lips. "I'm as free as a bird!" she added as she spontaneously skipped the last few steps and jumped into Joey's arms. Justin winced at the sound of Joey's laughter and watched, jealously, as Joey swung Chasity around in his arms; her blue eyes sparkling with laughter. Lance, seeing the disturbed look on Justin's face, smiled to himself. It looks like Justin is finally starting to realize his feelings for Chasity...and it's about time, too!

As soon as Joey released her Chasity ran over to Justin, oblivious of he hopeful expression on her face. "So, what do you think?" she asked as she twirled around in front of him.

"You look absolutely gorgeous," he replied huskily. They were lost in each others eyes for several seconds before Chris finally brought them back down to earth.

"C'mon, guys! I'm ready to go!" Chris said impatiently. Justin and Chasity reluctantly looked away from each other, their hearts pounding.

"Hey, is it okay if Linzi and I go off by ourselves for awhile?" JC asked Chasity and Justin. The rest of the guys had already taken off earlier in the night and this was the perfect time to get Chasity and Justin alone together.

"What? Are we not good enough for you two?" Chasity asked playfully. In truth, she was actually kind of scared to be alone with Justin tonight. Especially after that intense moment they had shared before they'd left. She hadn't sorted out her feelings for him yet, and she didn't want things to get complicated.

"Umm, no comment," JC replied with a silly grin. "Anyway, you don't mind do you?"

"It's okay with me," Justin said as he looked at Chasity questioningly. She nodded her head in agreement and they watched as JC and Linzi disappeared into the crowd. Justin just stared at Chasity for several seconds, inhaling the sweet scent of her perfume. She's so perfect, he thought to himself tenderly. His eyes suddenly widened as the realization that he was falling in love with her, finally dawned on him.

"So, what do you feel like riding now?" Chasity suddenly asked as he turned towards him, lifting her head slightly so she could see him better. She looked so innocent and Justin just wanted to pull her into his arms. Take it slow man, he told himself.

"How about riding the ferris wheel? Think you can handle it?" he asked, trying to keep things light.

"Of course I can handle it. The question is, can you handle it?" Chasity teased, visibly relieved that they had gone back to their normal, bantering, style.

"You better believe it," Justin replied with an adorable grin. "I can handle anything."

"I'm actually starting to believe that," Chasity said seriously, with a shy smile. Justin was one of the most put together guys she knew.

"Next," the ferris wheel operator said, motioning to Chasity and Justin. They quickly walked up to the ferris wheel and sat down in the vacant seat.

"It's so beautiful up here," Chasity whispered, overwhelmed. as they were lifted high into the sky. Looking down she could see the entire fairgrounds, the people only specks in the night. And above her the sky was filled with millions of twinkling stars, almost close enough for her to touch. She felt like she was in heaven.....or at least close to it.

"Yeah, it is," Justin agreed, his eyes on her. He slowly lifted his arm up and rested it against the seat, right behind Chasity. He glanced down at her to see if she minded and was relieved to see her smile at him tentatively then snuggle up against him, her head on his shoulder. The sultry night air seemed to relax them both, making them feel at total ease with each other. A gentle breeze caressed them, freeing some wispy strands of Chasity's hair, and Justin tucked them back behind her ear, his hand lingering on her cheek.

"You know, being with you just feels so right," Chasity confessed softly, her eyes closed. "It's like we've known each other forever." She was drowning, falling head first into the icy cold grip of love, but she didn't care. All she wanted to do was stay this way, in Justin's arms, forever. She felt so safe with him.

"I wish you had come into my life sooner," Justin whispered as he gently lifted her head up and stared deep into her smoky eyes. "And I hope that we'll be together forever," he continued as he slowly lowered his head to kiss her. Their lips were just about to touch when the ferris wheel suddenly came to a screeching halt. Chasity quickly looked up, startled, then felt herself blushing. She spotted Lance sitting on a nearby bench and she ran towards him, trying to get the the image of what had almost happened....what she wanted to happen....out of her head. She was so confused!

"Hi, Lance!" she said breathlessly when she finally reached him. Her mind was still reeling from her near-kiss with Justin and she hoped that Lance hadn't seen it.

"Hey, Chas. You look like you've been running from the big bad wolf," Lance said amused. "Or maybe I should say the big bad Justin," he added with a wink. He had seen Chasity and Justin's close call but he was going to keep that his little secret for now.

"What's that?" Justin asked, coming up beside Chasity. "Did I just hear my name?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant. His heart was still beating wildly from almost kissing Chasity and it took all of his self-discipline not to pull her into his arms and finish what they'd almost started.

"Yeah. I was just telling Chas that we needed to find you and the rest of the guys and get out of here. I need my beauty rest." Lance replied with a grin.

"Uh, okay," Justin said, his eyes still on Chasity. He knew they'd have to have a talk sooner or later, and he was dreading it. What should he say? What should he do?

"Hey, Chas, can I talk to you for a minute?" Justin asked as he knocked on his bedroom door. After several hours of intense thinking he still hadn't come up with what he should say to her. I guess I'll just get straight to the point.

"Uh..sure...come on in," Chasity replied hesitantly. She quickly grabbed a book from the nightstand and pretended to be reading it. She had a pretty good idea what it was that Justin wanted to talk to her about, she'd been thinking about the same thing all night, and wanted to get the conversation over as soon as possible. She'd just have to play it cool.........

"Hi," Justin said as he came into the room, looking adorable like always. "Ummm...about tonight....I'm really sorry..."

"Don't worry about it," Chasity interrupted softly, giving him a sweet smile. He was so cute, apologizing for almost kissing her. So unlike Daniel......"It was such an incredible night and I think that we both just got carried away. It could've happend to anyone," she continued, banishing Daniel from her mind.

"Yeah," Justin said uncertainly, realizing that this wasn't the time to confess his feeling for her. "Do you mind if I ask you a personal question, though?"

"Umm...no, I guess not," she said, a baffled expression on her face.

"Well, the other night you told me that you'd given up on serious relationships. Why?"

"I don't really want to talk about that right now," she answered, looking up at him with troubled eyes. "I promise that I'll tell you sometime....but not now. I'm not ready to, yet....But please always be there for me.....as a friend," she added desperately.

"I promise that I'll never leave you...Together forever....as friends, of course," he added in a whisper.