"What am I going to do when I get there?" I whispered to myself. "Just go, knock on the door, and say, 'Hi, think you could tell me if you're really Justin Timberlake from *NSYNC and why you and JC left the group?' No way." I silently wished that I had Lindsey with me. She could sweet talk her way into any situation.
The bus stopped on the corner of Fishborne and Greenbriar Avenue. I stepped off the bus and looked at the address I'd written on the paper. 8431 Fishborne Lane. A raindrop fell onto it, causing the ink to run. I sighed, and started walking down the street, studying the addresses. I walked past 8439... 8437... 8431 was the last house on the street. I was completely amazed at it. All of the houses on Fishborne are basically mansions, but this house was huge. It was very classy, red brick with navy blue trim. There were tons of rosebushes around the lawn, as well as a few weeping willows. I stood there, completely in awe of the house, when suddenly someone behind me said, "It's gorgeous, isn't it?"
I turned around. A Hispanic girl, about eighteen, was behind me. "Oh, I was just... looking for a house."
"Do you know what the address is, hon?" the woman asked.
"Uhh... 8432 Fishborne," I lied.
"Something tells me you're not looking for that house," the girl said. "You're looking for something else."
"Umm... yeah."
"Care to tell me what it is? We could go to my house and talk about it. I live next door. I'm Kim, by the way." She smiled, almost offering me trust.
I nodded. "Okay."
*********
"So, Macey," Kim asked. "What're you doing over in this side of town?"
"It's a long story."
"I'm willing to listen."
I sighed, and began to explain everything, starting with Ms. Robinson giving us the project and ending with me discovering "Justin's" address. When I finished explaining everything, Kim looked thoughtful.
"We-ell," she began, "it sounds a little plausible."
"How so?" I asked.
"Every night-well, almost every night-I hear someone playing music. It sounds like someone at the piano. And also, I can hear someone singing too. During the summer, my windows are open and I can hear this amazing voice singing."
I took all of this in. "Wow."
"Yeah. I think he might be who you're looking for. Want some more hot chocolate?" Kim asked.
"Sure, but I think I better go." I got up. "I have a former pop star to track down."
Kim smiled at me. "Good luck. And if you do find him, give me a call." She scrawled her phone number onto a napkin and handed it to me.
"Thanks for everything, Kim. I appreciate it." I got up and headed out the door.
"See you later Macey!" She waved to me as I walked to the house next door.
"Alright Cooper, pull yourself together," I muttered as I walked to the door. "Here we go." I rang the doorbell once... then once again. "Come on, come on..."
The door swung open, and my breath caught in my throat.
"Macey? What're you doing here?"