Twenty-One:

In the little free time they had before the show, while the other couples were making out or talking or whatever else it was they did, Lance and Catherine were talking, and everyone else was working, Chris and Stacy played hide-and-seek. " . . . Eighteen . . . Nineteen . . . Twenty! Ready or not, here I come!" Chris looked around him, trying to decide which way Stacy would have gone to hide. To his right was the stage area. Fans were already filling in. No, she wouldn’t be there. To the left were dressing rooms and offices with people bustling every which way. She wouldn’t have gone there either. That left behind him. Behind him were storage rooms and the exit to the buses. Stacy had to be down there somewhere. He pressed his back against the wall and slid down the hallway.

Stacy slapped her hand over her mouth and fought not to laugh. It had been years since she had played hide-and-seek. Chris pushed the door open and peeked in, of course spotting her right away. They had been taking turns hiding in the exact same spot for the past half-hour. That decision had been made as soon as Chris announced that they were playing by "Icky Grown-up Rules" which, he explained, meant kissing instead of tagging. It was turning out to be quite fun.

"Ha! I found you!"

"Oh no! How did you ever track me down?"

"I’m just good. Now come here, woman!" Stacy laughed as Chris tackled her, knocking them back onto the sofa and then kissing her thoroughly.

"Chris?"

"Hm?"


"This time, let’s skip the hiding part."

"Yes ma’am, whatever you say." He kissed her again, pressing her into the cushions. The weight of his body on hers was really quite pleasant. He seemed to be greatly enjoying it too, and Stacy didn’t mind that at all. His kisses were playful and passionate. She was ready to dismember anyone who crossed her path after they were interrupted because Chris had to get to make-up, and wardrobe. He left, cursing under his breath, a far cry form the playful imp Stacy had spent the earlier moments with. Stacy watched him leave, trying not to drool. How anyone could prefer Lance or Justin or JC or any other man was beyond her.

Stacy felt as if every nerve in her body was on fire. If just his kisses could have this effect, what would it be like when they moved to that proverbial "next level?" A delicious shiver went through her at the mere thought and she was determined to find out before the weekend was over. She shook her head, trying to force away naughty thoughts, and went in search of Sarah.

 

Cat followed Lance off the bus. "Thanks for the tour, Lance. You guys have so much stuff on there. I figured it would be more like mine . . . you know, empty and bare."

"No problem. You’re going to be part of our dysfunctional little family for the next couple months. When we’re not traveling, the buses kind of become extra rooms, especially when we’re at smaller venues. You’ll start collecting stuff before long. We all have our little distractions. Some stuff is loaded on the trucks and unloaded into the game room, and the rest is left on the bus for long rides. Sometimes it just gets crazy when we’re all cooped up together."

"You really like to hear yourself talk, don’t you?" she asked, grinning. She was rewarded by a scarlet flush creeping up his neck and across his cheeks.

"Well, it’s nice to have someone who actually listens." He blushed again and Cat left it alone this time. They walked in silence back inside, security following at a discreet distance. They strolled down the halls, talking and laughing, until Lance had to go get ready for the show. He led Cat to a small side room, where they found Gina, Britney, and Sarah sitting around a small table with sandwiches and drinks. Kelly was sitting on the other side of the room in a rocking chair, a sleeping Briana on her lap.

Stacy came in a few moments later and joined them. "Gee, I wonder if they’re going to lock us in, you know, to protect us from the rabid twelve year olds out there." Her comment earned soft chuckles from the others.

"They might, they’ve tried it before," Kelly said.

"Oh my gosh! I remember that!" Britney stage-whispered, trying not to wake the baby. "It was after I left the tour. I came back for a visit and Lou had security lock us all in this tiny room. Kelly and I almost killed Bobbie. When she finally locked herself in the bathroom to pout, we tied Dani to a chair and picked the lock." Hearing the names of JC’s and Chris’ former girlfriends was slightly disturbing to Stacy and Sarah, but the obvious distaste Britney and Kelly showed for them was comforting.

"Well ladies, do you want to see the opening acts?" Gina asked them after glancing at her watch. They all nodded. "Well come on, we need to get you seated." Everyone but Kelly stood to follow her out. As much as she wanted to just leave the other woman there, Gina managed to talk her into watching the show. "Joey can watch her until I get back, and then I’ll stay back here. Go ahead, you need a break. I’ve seen the whole show so many times I can recite their supposed ad-libs by heart." She ignored the looks Britney was giving her and stayed far enough away that her friend couldn’t lecture her on how she wasn’t helping herself any.

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