"You bitch.Who the hell was on the phone?!"Michael screamed at Erica as soon as she hung up.
"My friend.."Erica said,determined not to show her fear."Why the hell do you care anyway?!"
"Don't talk back to me!"He slapped her across the face,then both stopping,glaring at eachother."Tell me who was on the phone."
"Never."She spit at him.
"Was it one of your fantasy boyband friends?Huh?!You KNOW they don't even talk to you.Even if they did,they wouldn't be friends with you."He spat out at her,making Erica's wall drop."Yeah!That's right.NOBODY wants to be friends with you.You're a no good bitch."He smacked her,causing Erica to drop to the floor in pain.
"Why are you doing this?"She asked,looking up at him,pain etched in her face.
He kicked her side,then kicked her head.She fell to the floor,unconcious."No good fucker."Michael grinned to himself and walked out the door.
+++++
"She isn't answering."Lance said,pacing back and forth,holding the cell phone up to his ear."She said she'd be home!"
Justin shrugged.He could really care less at this point.She was being rude.Just thinking about how she kept hanging up on him,he kicked the table.The guys looked up at him,and he smiled.
"Guess what."Justin grinned at their confused faces as they tried to think of something to say to reply."I'm back with Monica."
"WHAT?!"Everyone asked,shocked.Lance hung up the phone and set it down.
"I called her today.She said she was sorry and she wanted to start over."Justin smiled and the guys all looked at eachother.
"Don't fool us like that man."Chris chuckled,thinking it was all a joke.
"Dude,it's no joke."Justin said seriously."We're back together."
"After 2 years,you're back together with the bit-"Joey was cut off by JC elbowing him.
"That's great Justin."JC smiled at his friend,thinking of how disgusting having Monica call all the time again.
'I hope she doesn't cheat on him again.'Dani thought,sighing as Chris wrapped his arms tighter around her waist.
The guys looked at eachother as Justin grinned.He finally had a girlfriend again.But he was still missing something..
+++++
Erica woke up,laying on the floor.Her head was pounding,and her hip was sore.She forced herself up,and looked into the nearest mirror.The right side of her face was bruised.She lifted up her shirt and her hip and a bruise and a gash there.She didn't remember Michael cutting her.She inspected the cut and concluded that it wasn't serious.The phone started ringing,making her jump.
"Hello?"She answered,looking at her watch and saw it read 10 pm.
"Why didn't you answer the phone earlier?!Lance was worried.."Justin's voice came from the other end,kind of teasing.
"Well-"Erica started to tell Justin what happened.
"Oh gotta go bye."Justin hung up the phone before Erica could say anything.
"What a jerk!"She clicked off the phone and kicked the table,then doubled over in pain."Shit.."
She made her way to the couch,and layed down.This wasn't going to be easy.She touched her stomach softly,then picked up the phone.
"Hi..mom..how are you?"
+++++
"Ok..uh huh...sure baby..."Justin nodded his head as he held the cell phone to his ear.It was good to hear Monica again.He really missed her."Ok hun.Hey,I gotta go.We're about to go onstage.Yep,bye baby."He hung up,and got a look that was thrown from Chris to JC,JC acting like he didn't see it."Do you have a problem with me dating Monica again?"
"Yes."Chris said plainly,Dani kicking him under the table."You know she'll hurt you again.And you'll get pissed off and probably shoot fans down.And you won't talk to us because you won't trust anyone.And you'll continue calling Monica after you break up trying to get back with her.Well Justin,tune into reality.SHE DOESN'T LOVE YOU."
"CHRIS!JUST SHUT UP OKAY?I KNOW WHAT I'M GETTING MYSELF INTO.YOU DON'T NEED TO BOTHER ME AND WORRY ABOUT ME.I'LL BE FINE!"Justin yelled at Chris,then looked at all the other's in the room,turned and left the room,slamming the door behind him.
"At least he's happy..."Felicia said quietly,not knowing what had happened.
"She's playing him again.And he's gonna get hurt."JC said quietly."I don't like her."
Rounds of 'me eithers' went through the room,and they sat in silence.
"We better get out there.Do our ritual."Joey cleared his throat,hugged Felicia bye and they all filed out of the room.They made a small circle,Chris's arms wrapped around Dani's waist.Justin stood off,not paying much attention.They hackeyed,but couldn't get it because Justin wasn't concentrating.
"Argh.."Chris sighed heavily."We'll NEVER get this.I'm not gonna do it anymore."Everyone got quiet.They never quit unless they got it right.
"No..Chris..I can do this."Justin said quietly."I know I can."
Chris stared at Justin,then kicked the hacky to him.Justin kicked it,and it landed right on JC's foot.It went around the circle,then stopped in front of Justin's feet.He bent over,picked it up,and threw it at the wall in frustration.
"What's wrong?"Dani moved Chris's arms and wrapped her arms around Justin's neck.
"Everything Dani...It's all wrong and messed up."Justin whispered so only she could hear.
"Tell me after the concert,ok babe?Try to concentrate."Dani kissed his cheek softly,and scooted back to Chris,hugging him tightly."Good luck guys."
The guys nodded and ran into position,strapping themselves into harnesses and ropes to their arms,then letter the machine lift them into the air behind the giant sign that said *NSYNC.They got their cue and positioned themselves right as the sign dropped.
'Ok.Concentrate.Don't think of anyone else but Monica.'Justin thought while he took off his hat and positioned himself onstage.But his thoughts started drifted to Erica,and he missed a couple dance cues and notes while he sang.The concert was going to be horrible.
+++++
"God you sucked tonight."Joey growled at Justin after the concert as he passed Justin in the hall.
"Sorry.."Justin whispered after him as Chris came up with JC and Dani.
"Great goin man.We really wowed them tonight."JC said sarcastically as Chris nodded his head and Dani looked at him sympathetically.
"Sorry.."Justin repeated again,feeling lousy.
"Think you could've ruined us more?"Lance asked sarcastically,throwing his towel at Justin."Pay attention.You couldn't even see the damn towel coming your way."
"WILL YOU STOP THAT?!"Justin shoved Lance against the wall."I'M SO SICK OF THIS.THIS IS CRAP!THIS ISN'T WHAT I WANT TO DO ANYMORE.I DON'T WANT TO SING.I DON'T WANT TO DANCE.AND I DEFINATELY DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND YOU."Justin turned and walked down the hall,leaving Lance shocked against the wall.
"Ooh damn."He whispered,watching Justin go through the crowds of girl swarming him and him pushing past them.He walked into the dressing room where JC was changing into his regular pants."Justin just got pissed off..."
The guys stopped and looked at eachother,then darted through the door,leaving Felicia and Dani alone.
"What's going on with all this?"Felicia asked,confused.
"Justin's just depressed.He can't find his...spot...in life.He'll be okay.I hope."Dani looked out the door,feeling helpless.
"Nobody's trying to help him?"Felicia asked,getting mad at the guys for not helping.
"We can't help him.He won't let us help.He's blocking us out and doesn't care.I know he doesn't care about Monica.He's trying to get Erica back.She hurt him on accident.She's the one helping him out.He just doesn't know it yet."Dani knew she couldn't do anything,but had to.She just didn't know what to do yet.
