Ten:

Ten:

 

Stacy wanted to say something, anything.  She remembered her earlier visions of dazzling him with witty remarks and glowing smiles, but she now had no idea what those remarks were or even just how to make the corners of her mouth curve upward.  Her mouth dropped open and her eyes grew wide.

 

“Hey, that’s pretty cool!  I had a goldfish that looked like that once, but he died.  How about this one?”  Chris crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out, using his hands to make antlers.  That did it.  The ice was effectively broken.  Stacy laughed in his face.  In fact, she was laughing so hard she couldn’t stand up; her knees bucked and she was well on her way to meeting the floor when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her up.  Pressed against Chris’ side, Stacy forgot all about the other people in the room, no longer hearing the chaotic noise caused by that many people in such a small room.  “Well, I guess we should introduce ourselves, huh?” Chris said.  “I’m Chris and you are that really cute girl from the ice cream place.  Oops!  I just said that out loud didn’t I?”

 

“Yes, you  did,” she managed to respond, and quite steadily too.  “I’m Stacy.”

 

“Stacy . . . STAcy . . . Staaaacy . . .” Chris kept on like that for at least two minutes, rolling her name around his mouth, trying it out.  Stacy just watched, finding it all highly amusing.

 

Chris released her and stuck his hand out.  “Well Stacy, it has been a real pleasure, and I hope we can do this again very soon, but right now I have to go rescue my assistant from Lance and Joey.  Excuse me.”  Just like that he was gone, bounding across the room with a high pitched, shrieking war cry.  Stacy couldn’t contain her grin as he jumped into the middle of the wrestling match in the center of the room.  She turned to say something to Sarah and realized her friend was conspicuously absent, as was JC.

 

 

Sarah sighed in contentment.  She had followed JC to a room just down the hall, just to go somewhere quiet.  “So what happened that you guys are still here?”

 

“Bomb threat,” he said casually, as if that were a common occurrence.

 

“What?”

 

“Someone called security and said there was a bomb on one of the buses but refused to say which one.  The buses are in the lot being checked by security and plain clothes police and we’re waiting until it’s all clear.”

 

“How can you be so calm about this?”

 

“I have to be.  Besides, this isn’t the first time it’s happened.  It always turns out to be a bunch of dumb kids who think it’s a great joke.  They don’t understand how illegal it is.”

 

“Oh.”  OK, she knew it sounded dumb, but what else was she supposed to say?  She was silent a moment then voiced the thought neither of them could avoid.  “I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow.”

 

JC absently stroked her hair.  “I don’t want to,” he said.

 

“But you have to.”

 

“Yeah . . .”  They didn’t speak again until security knocked on the door, announcing that the buses were safe and it was time to leave.  They found everyone else gathered near the doors leading outside.  Screams from outside vibrated through the walls in a dull roar.

 

“Listen up, people,” a man with a clipboard called.  “The fans somehow found out we weren’t gone.  The police are here and trying to keep them back, but we have a real mob on our hands.  Security, Steve, Wade, and the guys are going back to the hotel on the bus.  No one else, is that clear?”  Sarah couldn’t help feeling insulted, even though she knew the remark wasn’t specifically aimed at her.  Actually, the man was staring at Gina where she stood between Lance and Joey.  She rolled her eyes and nodded.  Her eyes met Sarah’s and she pushed her way across the hall.  She waited as JC whispered something to Sarah and kissed the top of her head, but when he left she lightly tugged on Sarah’s sleeve.  Sarah followed her back into the hallway, where Stacy was waiting very impatiently.

 

“It’s just a precaution,” Gina said.  Sarah wasn’t sure exactly who she was talking to.  The hurt in her voice was unmistakable.  It made Sarah wonder why, but she didn’t ask.  She noticed that Stacy seemed to be effectively ignoring Gina and resolved to find out why as soon as possible.  It was hard to miss the tell-tale signs of repressed anger in Stacy and Sarah felt instantly guilty for leaving her earlier.

 

“Hey Lola, you have a phone call!” a crew member called.

 

“Excuse me,” Gina said before disappearing through the door.

 

“All right, buddy, spit it out.  What’s wrong?”

 

“Nothing Sarah, don’t worry about it.”

 

“Yeah, right, you should know me better than that by now.”

 

“I’ll tell you later.”

 

They stood in silence for about five minutes.  Sarah wanted to keep trying, but she couldn’t push anymore because Gina returned.  “OK, the guys are half-way back to the hotel.  Security wanted to let you two know that you can go on and catch up with them in the lobby.  Someone will be waiting for you there.”

 

“Fine,” Stacy said and spun on her heel, marching for the exit.  Sarah looked at Gina and shrugged before following her.  Gina watched them go, wondering what she’d done.

 

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