Nineteen:

Finally, after trying repeatedly all day, Joey caught Justin alone. He slipped into the room and closed the door, seeming very nervous.

"Something wrong, Joe."

"Well, um, yeah, I guess so." Justin waited patiently, fairly certain he already knew what it was. "See, I have this friend."

"Oh, please. Just say the name. We both know who you’re talking about."

"OK, fine. There’s something wrong with Gina. We used to be really close, but now . . . well, I think she’s avoiding me. I miss her."

"So why don’t you talk to Gina about this?"

"I can’t."

"Why?"

"I don’t know, I just can’t. She doesn’t want to be around me, and I don't know what I’ve done and, well, she talks to you, J."

"And you were hoping I knew what was wrong." Joey nodded. "Sorry Joe, but she hasn’t told me anything, and I really think this is something you need to discuss with her." Justin’s cell sprang to life and Joey left the room, granting his friend a little time alone to talk to Britney.

 

Gina laughed as Britney hung up after talking to Justin. It was obvious that the surprise was working. He still thought she was across the country, spending her day off watching television, eating junk food, and missing him.

"Are you really going to make him wait until the show’s over tonight? I mean, I just didn’t think YOU could stand it that long."

"Actually," Britney said, "I was thinking maybe we could take Stacy and Sarah and provide some constructive feedback on their soundcheck."

"Oh, that’s right, there’s no soundcheck party and the meet and greet is later. You know, B, I think you might be onto something there. But shouldn’t we ask Kelly if she wants to go?"

"You are WAY too nice for your own good. No, I don't think so."

"Britney!"

"What? It is so beyond obvious that you want Joey. Why would you put yourself through that?"

"I do not! And even if I did want him, Kelly is his girlfriend and the mother of his child. She has a right to him."

"Yeah, whatever . . . so, what do you say we head over and hide out on Cat’s bus or dressing room or whatever. That way you can size her up, make sure you think she’s worthy of Lance."

Gina laughed. "Oh, come on, Brit, you know you’ve already planned their wedding."

"But shhh . . . don't tell anyone, I want it to be a surprise." They were still laughing when they knocked on the door to JC’s room. Sarah opened it, Stacy on her heels. "We were planning on heading over to the arena. We just wondered if maybe you two wanted to sit in on a sound check and offer a little constructive criticism." Of course they agreed. It was too good a chance to pass up. Britney wouldn’t allow anyone to invite Kelly, pointing out that she was probably sleeping. The four piled into a white van with darkly tinted windows, accompanied by Britney’s bodyguard.

"Hey, turn that up," Britney called.

"Oh, I love this song!" Sarah said.

Stacy nodded enthusiastically. "Wait, that’s Catherine, right? Isn’t she joining NSYNC’s tour?"

"Her first performance is tomorrow night," Gina said. "But she’s at the arena. She’ll be watching the show with us."

"That is too cool!"

"Um, Stace, we’re dating NSYNC members, riding with Britney Spears, and you’re still reacting like that?" Sarah said.

"Well yeah. You know you are too."

"Good point."

The van parked behind the arena, between a few buses. "That one’s mine," Britney said, pointing to the one in the middle which couldn’t be seen from the arena or parking lot.

"Do you really have a tanning bed on there?" Stacy asked.

"Oh, yeah. I don't have a choice. Wardrobe says I’m not allowed to have tan lines or get pale. At least it’s kind of relaxing." She shook her head. "That’s Cat’s bus. It’s actually one of the old NSYNC buses but now it’s just Cat and her dancers."

They got inside without being spotted, and Gina checked to make cure the coast was clear every time they came to the end of a hallway. They got to Cat’s dressing room and knocked. Cat slung the door open and ushered everyone inside. She wasn’t too surprised to see extra people. Actually, she was starting to believe nothing could surprise her anymore. She greeted them politely and Britney made introductions before filling her in on their plan. "It’s just lucky they went ahead and gave me a dressing room for rehearsals and stuff," she said after hearing that Chris, JC, and Justin had no idea Stacy, Sarah, and Britney were there yet. They spent the next hour or so getting to know each other. Eventually, Gina left but came back in ten minutes.

"They’re heading to the stage now for soundcheck. Come on." Giggling like schoolchildren, they followed her through a maze of hallways and found seats to the side of the stage where they weren’t likely to be noticed until they did something to draw attention to themselves. It was the most fun they’d had in a very long time.

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