Starla turned towards the icy voice, fixing a polite smile on her beautiful face. "Thank you for inviting me, Leslie. The party is wonderful. You've really outdone yourself." And it was true - the party was sensational, with the entire mansion beautifully decorated and countless black-tied servants rushing about, making sure you had everything you could possibly need or want. Unfortunately Starla had never been very comfortable in such elite, formal parties and the fact that she didn't really like the other guests, nor did they like her, made the party quite boring for her. She couldn't wait to leave. Unfortunately that wouldn't be for several more hours, proper etiquette being that you didn't leave until well into nightfall.
"Yes, well, father will do anything for me," Leslie boasted. "There was only one thing we didn't agree on and that was the guest list. Although I got to invite everyone I wanted, there are several people here who I could do without seeing. Of course, you know how it is. Father couldn't possibly risk upsetting some of the 'big names' around here by not inviting their daughters....Even if they don't belong."
Starla ignored the pointed comment, by now used to being snubbed. "Oh, the price you have to pay for being rich," she replied with mock sympathy.
Before Leslie could reply a short, slightly over-weight girl with a royal purple dress on, that couldn't possibly be worth half the ten-thousand dollars that was payed for it, came rushing up to them. "Guess what?!" she exclaimed, bouncing up and down. "N*Sync has finally arrived! This is my chance to make Joey fall in love with me!"
Starla smiled at the girl's exuberance but Leslie just looked at her with disgust. "Really, Sarah Anne, I hope you're not planning to act like that around them. You're going to scare them off before they even get in the door."
"I'm sorry," Sarah Anne said, properly chagrined. "It's just that they're all so gorgeous and talented and I've never met them in person before. Plus I saw Chasity Phillips getting out of the limo and she looks absolutely breathtaking. Like a golden goddess. She and Justin make such a great couple. I hope I get a chance to talk to her."
"Chasity is here?" Leslie asked sharply. "What the hell is she doing here? I didn't invite her. Besides, I thought she was still in Florida."
"Maybe she flew up to spend the holidays with her boyfriend," Starla suggested, unsure of exactly who Chasity Phillips was. From what she'd gathered so far, though, it seemed like she was one of the band member's girlfriend. Starla wasn't really into the boy bands and didn't know much about N*Sync or their personal lives - just that they were pretty well-known and tended to make young girls go crazy when they saw them.
"I don't want to talk about it," Leslie retorted furiously. "And I hope that everyone will have the good sense to stay away from the little bitch."
Starla smirked as she watched Leslie storm off, Sarah Anne following close behind her. If she wasn't mistaken, Leslie was jealous of Chasity....very jealous.
I need some air, she thought to herself as she quickly manuevered her way out of the stuffy rooms in the mansion and into the lavish garden outside. She strolled leisurely through the garden, content to be alone, listening to the birds sing and the leaves rustle. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a small figure sitting on a bench, humming quietly to herself.
"Hi," Chasity said with a smile as she made her way towards the girl. "I thought everyone was inside, enjoying the party." Chasity half-expected the girl to look at her with disgust, like all the other guests were doing, but she was surprised to see the girl look up with a start, a terrified expression on her face. When she saw it was Chasity, though, she relaxed and offered a small, shy smile.
"I'm just taking a little break," she replied in her melodic voice, "It's so peaceful out here."
"Yes, it is," Chasity agreed as she took a seat beside the beautiful, fragile looking girl. "I'm Chasity, by the way."
"Yeah, I figured you were. Your presence here has caused quite a stir." Chasity looked down sheepishly and the girl laughed gently, happily surprised to find out that she felt very comfortable with Chasity. "My name's Starla."
"Starla - Wow, that's such a beautiful name!" Chasity exclaimed. A beautiful, feminine name for a beautiful, feminine girl, she thought to herself. Starla's long, violet dress just enhanced her natural beauty even more. The intricate cut of her dress and her perfect posture, not to mention gentle demeanor, indicated that she was used to having money....and lots of it. Starla should be happy and carefree but Chasity sensed this heart-wrenching sadness about her. Like some very bad things have happened in her life. Oh, Chasity, your imagination is running wild on you again. You barely even know the girl as it is.
"Thank you," Starla replied. "I think Chasity is a very pretty name, also."
"You're so sweet!" Chasity burst out affectionately. That wasn't what she had meant to say but it was nice having someone actually talking to her. And this girl, Starla, seemed to be a total doll. "Please don't be offended," Chasity continued, "but what are you doing at this party? You don't seem to have much in common with the other guests - you're actually polite and nice."
Starla laughed. "My father made me come," she confessed. "I didn't want to come and Leslie didn't want to invite me but since our father's know each other we didn't get much say in it."
"She probably didn't want you to come because she's jealous of you," Chasity suggested, unable to understand how anyone could possibly not like Starla.
"No, it's actually you she's jealous of. I think she has a thing for your boyfriend. At least I think he's your boyfriend..."
"Yeah, it probably is. His name is Justin Timberlake and she, along with thousands of other girls, want him."
"That must be fun for you," Starla replied sympathetically.
"Yeah, well it has its good points and its bad points. I get to travel a lot and I have not only Justin but four other really great guys to talk to. We're all really close."
"That's wonderful. So N*Sync is made up of five guys?"
"I can't believe you don't know about N*Sync!" Chasity exclaimed, acting astonished. "They are only THE hottest group. And one of the lead singers is all mine," she teased, trying to sound arrogant.
"I've heard of them but I don't really pay that much attention to 'boy bands'."
"Boy Bands?! Honey, these guys are men!"
"Well, excuse me," Starla laughed. "I'll remember that next time."
"You'd better." There was a slight pause in the conversation as the two girls shared a happy look. Neither Chasity nor Starla really ever got to enjoy in some girl talk - Chasity because she spent most of her time with the guys and when she was at home most of the girls avoided her like the plague, jealous of her, and Starla because she was an only child with no close friends. It was very refreshing for both of them.
"So, your boyfriend is Justin Timberlake, god of all boy bands?" Starla asked with a smile. "How long have you two been together?"
"Umm, we've been 'seriously dating' for a little over a year but we knew each other before then." Chasity's eyes sparkled as she added, "We met at Disney World."
"Disney World?! I've always wanted to go there."
"Oh, it's so great! I love going on those scary rollercoasters with Justin and he always holds my hand while I close my eyes, sure that if I open them everything I ate will come up."
"You must love him a lot," Starla commented softly as she watched how Chasity became flushed with pleasure at the mention of Justin's name and how her eyes sparkled when she talked about him. Starla was actually a little in awe. She'd never witnessed such pure love before.
"I do. I love him with all my heart. Whenever things get tough I just think of him and I know that I can overcome it, whatever it is."
"That's so sweet," Starla said in a whisper, her eyes wide. "I'm so happy for you."
"Thanks," Chasity replied with a self-conscious smile. She didn't usually get so emotional with people she had just met. There was something different.....special....about this girl though. "We had better go inside now, though. The group should be performing any minute and I want to point out Justin to you. Oh, and you'll definitely have to meet him and the rest of the guys when they're done. Joey would never forgive me if I didn't introduce such a beautiful girl to him," Chasity teased. She looked up at Starla's startled, and a even a little frightened, expression and laughed. "Don't worry, Joey is just harmless. He loves to flirt so if he gets on your nerves just smack him. He won't mind."
Starla laughed nervously and followed Chasity inside. She wasn't sure how to act around normal guys, much less superstars. She was so afraid she was going to do something stupid. Of course, if that happens I can always run off and then I'll never have to worry about embarrassing myself in front ot them again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chasity sighed as she unconsciously smoothed down her long, golden colored satin dress. Justin and the rest of the guys had already left to warm up for the performance, leaving her alone with the crowd of snobs. And at first she had tried to be polite, even attempting to strike up a friendly conversation with some of them, but after being blatantly ignored she stopped trying and just wandered around by herself. She wished she had never agreed to come.
