"Everthing's fine here." She lied. "Everyone's so nice. Erik Estrada gave me a ride home, and Ashley Angel showed me my dressing room. Can you believe I get my own dressing room ?'

That's great Jo, I'm so happy for you."

"How's everything at home ?"

"It's okay I guess. It's still depressing. The Miller's never leave their house, Josh's sister said she's not going back to college. I wish I was with you, away from this all."

Joey sighed. "It's not much better here. I may be away in body, but my mind's still there."

"You're missing him ?"

"So badly you wouldn't believe how badly I wish he was here. Mike, I miss him so much."

Mike tried to comfort his younger sister. "I know Jo, we all miss him. But it'll get better. It can't get any worse, it's only going to get better."

Joey felt a little better. "I know, Mike. It's just, when ?" She paused and there was a silence. Changing the subject, she told Mike about Erik, and how sweet he was, but she didn't tell him about the necklace. She didn't him to tell her parents that things weren't going good, after they had sacraficed so much for her.

"I better get to sleep now, so I'll call you later, okay Mike ?"

"Sure. Have fun sis. We're all so proud of you, remember that."

"I'd never forget it." She told him. Almost immeadtly after hanging up the phone Joey fell into a deep sleep, one of the few restful nights she had had in the past few weeks.

As Erik drove back to the stage later night all he could think about was Joey, how emotional she had been about losing her necklace, he knew how important it was to her, and he knew he had to get it back for her, no matter how long it took him to find it.

After searching the whole place for over an hour for Joey's necklace, Erik was tempted to give up and go back to the hotel for some well needed rest, but then he remembered Joey's face, and her depression when Dave ripped off the necklace and threw it into the seats.

"I've got to get that necklace." He repeated to himself. "I owe it to Joey, she needs that necklace. Like I need her." He felt silly for falling for Joey after meeting her only hours ago, but since that first glace the infactuation had grown and he couldn't get her off his mind no matter how hard he tried. He felt so much passion for her he felt as if he'd known her his whole life.

Then, finally Erik spotted it, the necklace laying under a seat near the left. He grabbed it and held it like he had found the answer to his prayers, it was like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

"Thank God." He whispered. He notcied the clasp was broken. "Damn, I have to get it fixed. I can't give it to her with a broken clasp." Putting it carefully into pocket he left the stadium, content.

The next morning before rehersal Erik got up early and left before the other four even awoke. He drove to the nearest jewelers.

"This is a very expensive necklace." The jeweler said, looking it over. "And it will be extremly pricy to replace the clasp."

"Anything, it doens't matter." Erik said, pulling out his Visa. "Just as long as it gets fixed, quickly, I don't care how much it is."

"Alright. Then it will be around $ 700 dollars. And you can come pick it up in three days."

The price was very high, but Erik couldn't complain. He didn't care, as long as it made Joey happy. After paying, Erik left and drove to the stadium, and arrived on time.

As soon he arrived he spotted Joey, talking with Ashley and Trevor. She noticed him and waved for him to come over.

"Hi Joey." He smiled. "How are you ?"

"Good thanks. You ?"

"I'm okay I guess."

"We don't rate high enough for a hello ?" Ashley looked at Erik.

"Oh yeah," He had forget about the other two after locking his eyes on Joey. "Hi."

Trevor and Ashley started to walk away. "We better go get ready." They said in unison.

For a moment Joey and Erik just stood, a few feet apart, not sure of what to do or say. Then finally Joey found her voice. "Dave's not coming in today." She smiled. "And Ashley told me that Mark was sick."

"So, we have no supervisor and no stage director ?" Erik smiled back. "What ever will we do."

"I wonder."

Suddenly, Jacob appeared. "Hey - are we ready to get to work ?" he asked, actually excited about exurting energy when he wasn't forced to.

"But Dave and Mark aren't here." Erik explained.

"So ? Are we five year old children who can't function without someone to hold our hand ? Erik, you didn't practice yesterday, you should do something today."

Erik sighed. "And I actually thought I was going to have fun today. You know, Jake, you're starting to sound a little like Dave."

"That's not funny." Jacob said, smiling. "I guess we can have a light day, but we still need to practice."

With the help of Dan, Jacob set up the music and the five practiced, with Joey as their audience. Erik felt such compassion when he was singing "Baby I Would", the whole time directing every word towards Joey.

After their preformance Joey had to go up and sing by herself, which was extremly intidating seeing she had Jacob, Ashley, Dan, Trevor, and Erik as her audience. Unlike fans, fellow singers would easily recognize everytime she screwed up.

Erik, again came to her rescuse. As she was about to start her first song he ran on to stage. "I think we should make this a duet, okay ?" He asked, grabbing a mic. Together, they sang the three songs Joey'd be preforming.

"Now what ?" Ashley asked as they all sat, croweded into Trevors dressing room, all wondering what they could waste their day doing.

"We could go to the mall." Dan suggested.

"Sounds good to me." Trevor agreed, not knowing what else to do.

They all eventually agreed to go to the mall. Joey went with Erik, and the other four all piled into their rental van.

"Erik, why do the other four guys all go in vechile and you have your own ?"

"Well, isn't it obvious, I'm more important." he paused, then laughed. "Actually, they made me get my own car. Jake said I took too long getting ready in the morning and made everyone else late."

"I see." Joey nodded.

When they arrived at the mall, the first store Erik saw was large toy store. "Let's go to the toy store !" He said, sounding like a child.

Dan looked at him. "No way man." He shook his head.

Erik didn't give up. "Come on, it'll be fun." He urged the others who finally gave in.

In the toystore, Erik was looking at everything like a little child would, and Joey had to point it out. "You sound like a little boy." She told him.

"You're one to talk, Miss I'm still in high school." He joked.

"Exactly, high school, not pre-school where your mind often wanders."

The other four laughed, but they both knew that the two were majorly crushing on each other.

As they went down the ball aisle, Erik grabbed a nerf football and through it down the aisle. "Go long" he told Joey, which was impossible seeing she was standing right next to him. Instead of Joey racing to get it, she stood there, and the ball bounced off an old lady head, causing her wig to fall off.

Joey burst out laughing, but didn't want to lady to see so she turned around and buried her head in Erik's chest, placing her hands on his two shoulders. Ashley, trying to contain his laughter walked over to the lady and apologized for what Erik had did. The lady gave them all a lecture, which made it harder for all of them to stop laughing. As she left, Joey pulled away from Erik and slapped him on the chest.

"That was nice of you." She said sarcasticly. "And I always thought you were a nice guy." She shook her head. "Boy was I wrong."

"Well if you would've caught the ball this wouldn't have happened." Erik directed the blame towards Joey jokingly.

"Both of you guys belong in Kindergarten." Ashley said, continuing along the aisle.

"Hey." Joey picked up soccer ball. "Let's see if we can knockout a toddler."

"Shut up." He smiled. At the end of the aisle was a big shelf full of stuffed animals.

"Oh my gosh, Eyeore !" Joey picked up an eyeore stuffed animal. "I love eyeore. He's the coolest of Pooh's friends."

"Now who's being the child ?" Erik looked at Joey.

"I used to have one of these." She told Erik. "And one day, at school this little brat boy stole him and I never got it back. It scarred me for life."

"Well, if you want it, it's yours." Erik smiled.

Joey's eyes lit up. "Really ?" She squeled.

He nodded, putting his arm around her he said. "Yeah, I guess you were wrong. I'm not a nice guy." He joked.

Jacob, Dan, Ashley and Trevor stopped and watched as Erik and Joey slowly walked down the aisle, Erik with his arm around Joey, Joey resting her head on Erik's shoulder.

"They're so hot for each other." Jacob said, "All day they've been continously flirting with each other."

"I've never seen him like this before." Ashley shook his head.

"Like what ?" Trevor wondered.

"Head over heels in love."

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