"Oh man, I'm missing the Lakers game tonight."
"Did you want to take notes or something? Watching the Lakers, won't help you tomorrow."
"I don't need the Lakers, I can beat your butt all on my own. I wasn't a 4-year varsity all-star for nothing. It's just that I don't normally give up a night with Shaq and Kobe for just anyone, so you should feel privileged"
"In that case, thank you so much for gracing me with your presence."
"Just sharing the gift that is me."
"About that all-star thing, that was when you were in high school, right? How many years ago was that??"
"Dang, it wasn't that long ago, I'm not that old. Plus I play pick-up games in the park a couple times a week, gotta keep my game up for moments just like this."
Charetta interrupted, "I for one, will be putting my money on my sister." She put a twenty on the table.
JC agreed, "Sorry J, I'm with Charetta on this one. Nothing personal."
"That's cool man, I still got the other guys."
"Actually," Chris paused "I gotta go with Coretta too. She's extremely confident about this, I like that."
The others all put their money on the table. Becca and Kat put their money on Justin while Joey remained undecided.
"Girl, you know we love you, and you got game, but hello, Justin?? I just don't think you can take him."
"It's all good. Just remember as I'm taking your money, I told you so."
"I'm ready to get out of here and do some dancing, what do you think?"
"Sounds good to me. If we leave now, we can make it to Pleasure Island before it gets too crowded."
"Won't a lot of people notice you?"
"Not if we go to the 21 and over clubs."
"Good plan, except for the fact that Becca and Kat aren't 21, and correct me if I'm wrong, but neither are you Justin."
"Trust me baby, I can get us into any club in the area."
"I think I'll just ignore the baby comment, let's go."
This club was much bigger than the club they went to a few nights earlier was. As before Kat and Becca went to dance, followed by Justin and Chris. Charetta and JC found a table, while Coretta headed to the bar with Joey.
"Let me get you a drink, maybe you'll loosen up some." Joey offered.
"Loosen up? I'm plenty loose thank you."
"Really? That could be interesting."
"Must you always be so hormonal?"
"I'm just trying to get you to lighten up and have a good time."
"You don't know anything about me. If you did, you wouldn't be trying to get me to lighten up."
"I know more about you than you think."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Coretta demanded.
"Exactly what I said." Joey said simply.
"Whatever." Coretta rolled her eyes.
"Do you want to dance?"
"Are you sure you can keep up?"
"Only one way to find out."
*****************
"So Chris tell me about Dani."
"How did you know her name?"
"Obviously you don't spend much time on the internet reading about yourself."
"No, I guess I don't."
"The internet is full of stuff about you, all of you really. Sadly, I know things you probably didn't even realize other people knew. Most of it is gossip I'm sure, but every so often something true slips through."
Justin joined the conversation. "I still don't get that. I mean we're just 5 normal guys doing what we love to do. What's the big deal?"
"Justin, please" Rebecca said, "You're part of a hugely successful group, you don't exactly lead the typical life."
"True but it's not like we're only doing this for the fame and fortune."
"Don't act like you don't like it."
"I didn't say I didn't like it." Justin laughed, "I'm just saying it's not all about that."
*****************
"You're a good dancer."
"Was there every any doubt?"
"The night just started, and already you've gone from hormonal to egotistical, this should be fun."
"I know I've told you this before, but you really should loosen up, you were a lot more fun the other night."
"I also had a lot more to drink the other night."
"Well, maybe you need another drink then."
"Just shut up and dance."
"As you wish." Joey grabbed her and led her around the dance floor in a series of spins and turns followed by a dramatic dip. As much as she tried not to, Coretta couldn't help but smile.
"What was that? Was that actually a smile from the queen of brooding?"
"Shut up" she laughed.
"Oh wait, and laughing too?? I think she might be having fun."
At that moment a slow song played. Both stood awkwardly.
"It's customary to dance at a club, especially when you're on the dance floor."
"Huh? Oh right, dancing." She slowly drew her arms up around his shoulders as he placed his arms around her waist.
*****************
JC turned from his friends to check out the dance floor. He did a double take when he saw whom Joey was dancing with. "I thought the only time we would see your sister that close to him, she would be strangling him."
"Strangling who?" Charetta searched for her sister, "Dang, she got out of her little mood fast."
"Uh oh, things are about to get ugly."
"Why do you say that?"
"See that redhead that just walked in?"
Charetta looked to the door where JC was pointing. "Yeah, and I see what you mean about things getting ugly."
"That's not what I was talking about, I meant...."
The redhead cut off JC as she came to the table. "Where the hell is Joseph?"
"And hello to you too Angela."
"Yeah hi, are you going to answer me or not?"
"I'll tell you if that means you and your stank attitude will leave." She didn't know who the girl was, but she could already tell she didn't like her.
Angela turned as if noticing the other people at the table for the first time. "And you are..??"
"None of your business, what do you want with Joey."
"Not that it's any of YOUR business, but I'm his girlfriend."
Out the corner of her eye Charetta could see the look on Chris' face. She followed his gaze out to the floor where Joey could be seen leaning down toward Coretta. Smirking she said, "In that case he's right out there." She pointed to a spot where Joey now stood alone running his hand through his hair.
*****************
Oh so long for this night I prayed
That a star would guide you my way
If allowed may I touch your hand
And if pleased may I once again
So that you too will understand
There's a ribbon in the sky for our love
"I love this song, Stevie Wonder is amazing."
"You like Stevie Wonder?"
"How could anyone not like him, the man is a genius."
"A woman after my own heart."
"You wish."
"Maybe"
"Oh geez..."
This is not a coincidence
And far more than a lucky chance
But what is that was always meant
There's a ribbon in the sky for our love
"I think I'm having more fun with you now than I did the other night."
"I'm not really sure how to take that since most of that night is still a bit cloudy for me. I'm surprisingly having a good time too."
"Surprisingly? Now I'm not sure how to take that."
"No offense, I just had my own idea of Joey Fatone - the NSYNC member who definitely does not hide his love of women."
"Yeah sure, no offense Joey, I just think you're a womanizer."
"No...well, yeah, but I kind of like this particular side of you."
We can't lose with God on our side
We'll find strength in each tear we cry
From now on it will be you and I
And our ribbon in the sky
Ribbon in the sky for our love
Ribbon in the sky - Stevie Wonder
"All of our friends seem to have left us."
"I hadn't noticed."
"Now they're all watching us, man they need lives."
"Like I said, I hadn't noticed, I was watching you."
Coretta looked at Joey who was now looking deeply in her eyes. "Oh this can't happen, not yet." she thought and Joey leaned down.
"Look Joey, this is not the time or the place." she turned and pushed her way through the crowd of people. Joey sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "What just happened here?"
*****************
Back at the table Angela turned just as Coretta left. "Why is he standing out there by himself? Doesn't really matter I guess, I'll just go get him and we'll be leaving."
"Thank God" Chris said
"What was that Christopher?" Angela asked
"My name is Chris damn it! Only my grandma calls me Christopher, and I was saying thank God that you were leaving, although, I really don't think Joey is ready to go."
"Joseph will be ready to leave when he sees me."
"You got that right" Justin said, "And it's Joey, why do you always have to call him Joseph?"
"Because that is his name Justin Randall." Angela gave a snide grin and went to talk to Joey.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I really don't like her."
Kat agreed with Becca, "Me either, and what's up with that name thing?"
"I don't even know. She's always done that, she calls us by our full names. She even calls Lance, James. I really hate being called Justin Randall."
"I didn't even know he had a girlfriend. Did you two?"
"Looks like you need to do some more reading about us."
"Shut up Chris."
"We knew, he told us in the car on the way to Justin's."
"Who told who what, on the way to Justin's?" Coretta asked as she sat down at the table.
"Joey told us about his girl....OW!!" Kat said as Rebecca and Charetta kicked her under the table, "About his, umm, girl dog he was getting."
Angela then came to the table practically dragging Joey behind her. "Tell them Joseph."
Joey rolled his eyes, "Guys, Angela and I are going to head out now, it's getting pretty late."
Rebecca cleared her throat to get Joey's attention. "Oh Angela, I want you to meet some people. That's Katherine, Rebecca, Coretta and Charetta. Rebecca and Coretta are the new group Chris signed today." Joey took a deep breath, "This is my girlfriend, Angela."
"Oh you sing, that's adorable, congratulations."
"Um, thanks, I think."
"Coretta and Charetta, are you twins?"
"Do we look like twins??"
"No, but your names rhyme. That is so cute."
"I'll show you cute..." Charetta said starting to get up.
"I think I need a drink." Coretta said loudly, "Anyone else want one?" Coretta got up, noticing that Joey was watching her, she rolled her eyes, shook her head and walked away.
"Joey, don't forget the game tomorrow."
"Joseph is busy, we have plans."
Joey tried to remain calm, "Our plans are before the game, but you're welcome to come along." He offered this knowing she avoided any chance to interact with his friends. Which made it all the more shocking when she agreed.
"Well, I think I just might do that. Now come on, we're leaving."
No one said anything until finally Kat spoke up. "What is he doing with a girl like her?"
"We ask him that all the time."
"I mean she's not even a little bit nice." Charetta added, "She don't know how close she came to catching a beat down, Omaha style with that how cute crap." They all started to laugh and joke about her, but stopped abruptly when Coretta came back to the table.
"What??"
"Nothing"
"Must be something, you stopped talking when I got here."
"We did not, there just happened to be a pause in the conversation at the very same moment you came back."
"Justin, as much as you had to lie when you were with TransCon, one would think you would be better at it." Everyone laughed
"We were talking about how annoying Joey's girlfriend is."
"Hmmm, I hadn't noticed."
"Sure you didn't. If looks could kill, she and Joey would have been 6 feet under the moment they approached the table.
"Was it that obvious?"
"Girl, a neon sign is less obvious."
"Oh well, that just proves my point about him." Justin was about to defend Joey, but stopped when he saw the look Coretta gave.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm ready to go. I've got to be rested for kicking Justin's butt tomorrow." She looked at her watch and saw it was 2 am, "Make that today rather."
Once they were outside, Justin walked next to Coretta and put his arm around her. "Woman you could sleep for a week and still not be rested enough to beat me."
Coretta stopped walking and could only laugh, "Justin as many times as I've told you not to call me woman, I have just one word for you."
Justin grinned, "What's that?"
"Run."
The phone was ringing when the girls walked into the hotel suite. "Who the hell is calling at this hour."
"Someone that's about to get a serious cursing out." Rebecca picked up the phone, "Hello, Do you realize it's," She stopped to look at her watch. "it's 2:30 in the freakin morning and people are trying to sleep?"
"Yes, I know most people are. Except you girls just got back."
"Dang Mike, how did you know that?"
"As luck would have it, the only room left in this entire hotel, is the one right next to yours."
"So you thought now was a good time to call and say howdy neighbor?"
"No, like most people, I think now is a good time to sleep. As loud as you all were getting off the elevator, I thought I would call and tell you to shut up before someone else did."
"Oops, sorry Mike. Goodnight."
"Night"
*****************
Joey paced back and forth in his room, unsure of what to do. He felt bad for not being completely honest. "Then again," he spoke out loud, "I wasn't dishonest, I never said I wasn't with someone. It's not like we ever had a conversation where it came up. Besides I've only known her for a few days. But, I did almost kiss her."
Joey's brother Steven, popped his head in the room. "Talking to yourself again little brother?"
"Hey man, when did you get in?"
"A few minutes ago. I was on my way to bed when I heard you talking, so I came to see what's up."
"See the guys and I met these girls at a club the other night..."
"I should've known this was about females. I thought you were with that Angela still."
"I am, well sort of. Will you just shut up and listen."
"Okay, okay, I'm listening."
"Anyway, we've been hanging out with them a lot since then, two of them sing and Chris just signed them to FuManSkeeto."
"Wait, Chris signed a new group??"
"Yeah, but once again, shut up."
"Hurry up and get to the point then."
"To make a long story short, one of the girls and I danced, I almost kissed her, and then introduced her to Angela."
"In my experience with women, I've found it's usually a bad idea to hit on a girl, and then introduce her to your current girlfriend. A very bad idea. I could be wrong, maybe you have a different approach to these things."
"No, see I didn't mean to try and kiss her. We were dancing, and it seemed right. I definitely didn't mean for her to meet Angela."
"As much as that girl is around, she was bound to meet her at some point. What's up with her anyway. I gotta tell you Joe, I think you could do a lot better."
"Everyone keeps saying that. I'm starting to see that myself. Man, I thought vacations were supposed to be a time to relax and forget the stress in your life."
"Dude, if she's stressing you, it's time to let her go. Besides, it sounds like you might be trying to hook up with someone else."
"I think I've messed everything up. It took me this long just to get her to be civil."
"No point in worrying about it right now, there's nothing you can do at this hour."
"True, besides, I've got a lunch date with Angela and a basketball game with Justin tomorrow."
"Please tell me you aren't playing basketball with Justin."
"I'm not, but Coretta the girl I was telling you about, is."
"You mean to tell me someone, a chick at that, challenged Justin to a game?? This I've got to see."
"Don't let her hear you call her a chick, she goes ballistic whenever Justin calls her woman. We gotta be at Justin's at 3."
"Okay, I'll meet you there, night man."
"Night bro."
*****************
The phone began to ring, Coretta rolled over and tried to ignore it. Looking at the clock she saw it was shortly after 11. After a few more rings, she decided no one else was going to answer it so she got up. As she passed the rooms she yelled, "No, let me get the phone." A chorus of thank yous rang out.
"Hello?"
"Just wanted to make sure you were ready to get your butt kicked."
"Am I ready? Yes. Will I be getting my butt kicked? Not likely. On the other hand, will I be kicking your butt?? No doubt."
"I like that confidence. I'm almost going to feel bad about winning."
"If you don't mind we'll be taping my victory. I want to have documentation. You know, just in case you try and pull that crap about letting me win."
"If you think that's gonna help, do what you gotta do."
"I need to go, the others aren't even up yet, and we still have to go to the mall."
"There's a church down the street from my house, you might want to stop by on your way over. Any extra prayers you can squeeze in would be good I'm sure."
"Just for that, I'm not even going easy on you."
"Bring it on baby"
"Bye Justin."
"See ya later."
Finally the other three girls were up and moving. Coretta however, was growing impatient. "Could y'all hurry up?!!?"
"I know you're not tryin to rush somebody."
"That's what I'm sayin."
"Look, I have to go, so if you're coming, then let's go, otherwise, see ya when I see ya. Coretta grabbed her keys and walked out the door. Before she reached the elevator, she heard the three behind her.
"How are you just gonna leave us like that?"
"Easy, I was getting in the car and driving off."
"I see how you are. Now I'm glad we put our money on Justin." They all looked at each other and laughed.
They found the mall with almost no trouble. Not being one for shopping, Coretta quickly found what she needed and off they were to Justin's.
"So what are we doing tonight?"
"I don't know, but I really don't feel like clubbing again."
"You and Charetta have been out at one club or another every night, so I'm not surprised. We could just stay in, we only have a couple more days together."
"Speaking of that, what are you two going to do? Are you staying here? Moving to L.A.? What?"
"I haven't even thought about that. I better call Mike when we get back."
"You could just ask Chris."
"I guess that would make sense too. I still haven't gotten used to the idea that we're going to be working with him." They arrived at Justin's house the same time as Chris, Lance and Steven.
"Hey girl, are you ready to make me some money?"
"Make you some money?? If you're nice, I'll cut you in."
"Whatever you do, don't get hurt, I want to get you in the studio late next week."
"I wanted to talk to you about that."
"Later, right now you've got a game to play."
"Since these two boneheads won't do it, I'll introduce myself. I'm Joey's brother Steven, in case you didn't know." He noticed Coretta roll her eyes at the mention of his brother's name. "You must be Coretta."
"How did you know?"
"Just a hunch."
"Since you know me, let me introduce the others. This is my sister Charetta. Yes, our names rhyme, and no we're not twins."
"I take it you get that a lot."
"More than you know. That's Kat, and next to her is Becca."
"You and Becca are the ones that sing, right?"
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"My brother tells me everything."
"Let's go inside, I want to shoot around a little before the game." JC arrived just then, and everyone went inside. Justin was just getting ready to open the door when everyone walked in.
"Hey Steven, what's up man? Come to watch me defeat yet another innocent soul?"
"I don't know man, I hear she's pretty good."
"How many "pretty good" people have you seen me beat?"
"Good point, my money is on Justin."
"What about you, Lance my man? You've been pretty quiet."
"I'll just watch, and be neutral, like Switzerland."
Justin and Coretta began shooting to get warmed up. Justin made his first three in a row. Coretta made a few from the three-point range. "Lucky shots." Justin said.
"Enough talk, now it's time for me to take that ego down a few notches. You can even take the ball out."
"No, you take it, I've already got home court advantage, and of course the advantage of just being me."
"We play to ten, 1 point a basket, 2 for outside the free throw area."
"Alright, let's go."
"Becca get that camera started, NSYNC fans are going to love this footage."
An hour later Justin was ahead 5-3. They stopped to take a break just as the back gate opened. Joey and Angela walked over to where everyone sat around the court. As they got closer Joey dropped Angela's hand.
"Hey what's up, you all know Angela."
"How could we possibly forget?"
"You play sports too?? Aren't you just the all around girl."
"Yes well, we all can't spend our time chasing pop stars."
"Of course not, very few of us are worthy of them."
"You are so right, and yet somehow you still managed to date one."
"I don't think you should be talking to me like that."
"That's funny because I was thinking you shouldn't be talking at all."
The game resumed and the score was now 8-9, Justin still in the lead. "If you give up now, I'll understand. You've still done better than most."
"I've got two more points, you think I'm letting you off that easy? I've held you to 9 for the last 30 minutes while I've managed to come within a point of you." Coretta stopped dribbling and took her shot. "Looks like I tied the game. Did you see that?? Nothin but net."
"Just give me the ball."
"Not getting mad now are you? You can't help it if you're not as good as you thought. You just can't be the best at everything."
Steven had been watching Coretta and her sister, something seemed very familiar about them. Then it hit him, he had met the girls on many occasions. He turned to Charetta and struck up a conversation. "So, it's been a while what have you and your sister been up to?" Charetta turned to him in shock, she couldn't believe that he remembered them, actually she was kind of hoping he'd forgotten.
"Yeah, it's been a long time. I didn't think you would remember us. You've met so many girls."
"Considering the fact that you were at so many shows this last year, you're kind of hard to forget. How many concerts did you end up going to?"
"Umm, 6 or 7 I think and a couple of after parties. I lost count, but I think we talked to you at every one. My sister even saw you when she went to California."
"Oh that's right, I knew Becca looked familiar too. I remember that."
Joey saw his brother deep in conversation with Charetta like they were old friends. He went to see what they were talking about. "Remember what?"
"I knew I had seen these girls before, they've been to quite a few of the concerts in the last year or so."
"Really? I never pegged Coretta as much of a fan."
"Are you kidding??" Charetta practically yelled. "She and Becca even drove all the way to California to see you guys."
"Interesting, I'll have to keep that in mind for future reference."
Justin was starting to get frustrated, he charged around Coretta, knocking her down in the process. He went up for a lay-up, but he was so frustrated, he missed. When he turned around he saw everyone in a crowd on the court.
"Justin, I just signed them, and now you kill her, good job."
"This isn't going to be good for publicity."
"I can't go to jail. I don't want to be Big Bubba's new friend. I'm too young. They eat guys like me for breakfast."
"Yeah, that's not all they do to pretty boys like you." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Coretta sat up. "No, no don't help me, I'm fine."
"Whoa, sorry, lost my head for a minute." Justin reached down and helped her up. "Are you okay?"
"A little dizzy, but fine." Coretta looked at where she was standing and took the ball from Justin, then gave it back, then took it again. Justin looked at her strangely.
"Maybe you hit your head harder than you thought, you should sit."
"Okay, but first I had to check the ball before I went to do this," she shot the ball and it went in with a swish. "Notice where I'm standing Justin. I do believe that was 2 points. Looks like I win and you lose."
Justin stood in amazement. "She did not just do that."
"Yes she did, and we got the whole thing on tape. Want to see an instant replay?"
"No, that's quite alright. I, Justin Timberlake, was beaten?? By a girl? This can't be happening."
"Believe it Timberlake, I won. You lost. Game over."
"I demand a rematch!!"
"Maybe one day, but for now I'm going to revel in the moment. I plan on reminding you of this day, well probably for a long as I know you."
Justin continued to pout as people conversed around him. Angela had gotten tired of Joey's friends and decided it was time for them to go. "Joseph, I'm ready to go."
"In a little while, Lance is telling me about his date."
"You can talk to James later, I'm ready to go."
Coretta had tried to be nice to the girl, but that was all it took. She was tired and a bit cranky already. "If you're ready, then there's the door, don't let it hit you in the butt on the way out."
"I was not talking, to you, with you, or about you, so mind your own business. Joseph, let's go now!!"
"Since you're talking to me now, I'm making it my business. Why don't you just make us all happy and leave?"
Angela was getting mad. Who did this girl think she was? She had tried too hard to get to Joey and she had no intention of letting some random girl step into her relationship. She got up and walked to the side of the room where Coretta stood. "Look, I don't know who you think you are, but...."
Coretta quickly cut her off, "If you don't get you're hand out of my face, I'm going to be the girl kicking your butt!!"
Joey stepped in between the two, "Angela if you want to leave, that's fine, but I'm staying."
"Joseph stop this right now. I'm ready, so let's go. I'm leaving and if you aren't right behind me, then we're through." Joey just looked at her. Finally she stormed out the door.
"See ya, wouldn't want to be ya!!" Charetta yelled, "And his name is Joey not Joseph for crying out loud!"
"Now that she's out of the way, what do we do next?"
