More Than Friends
by: ukbootyliciousbaybee
Amber followed two of Nsync’s security guards that Justin had insisted escort her from Miami to Orlando, through the arrivals area of Orlando International Airport and outside to where a black limo with tinted windows was waiting for her.
“Ok,” said the one called Jerry, “this is where we say goodbye, have a good trip.”
“Thanks,” Amber said, as the chauffer opened the door for her, she climbed in and had the shock of her life when she saw JC sitting inside.
“Oh my God,” she exclaimed, “you nearly gave me a coronary.”
“Surprise,” JC laughed, “I told you I’d pick you up from the airport!”
Amber reached over to hug him, “come here you, I’ve missed you loads.”
JC hugged her back, “me too,” he told her. His girlfriend Bobbi had some mad idea that JC harboured a secret crush on Amber so they didn’t really get to talk often, just the occasional email and phone call, normally done in secret on his side. He thought back to when he had first met Amber when she had supported Nsync on one of their US tours two years ago, straight away she had hit it off with JC and Justin and now she was like a sister to them. Fortunately she had always gotten along with Britney, unfortunately Bobbi had hated her on sight. He could see why a lot of women would feel threatened by her, she was stunningly beautiful, the kind of woman who turned men and women’s heads when she walked down the street, long wavy light brown hair, big green eyes, toned body, light coffee coloured skin and on top of all that, the world’s number one selling female music artist. But to him and Justin, she was just Amber, the person they’d played drinking games with at 2am in the morning, had food fights on tour with. He just wished Bobbi would give her a chance, he hated being stuck in the middle.
“Very nice,” Amber said as she took in JC’s ultra modern penthouse apartment, “I especially love the roof-top swimming pool.”
JC nodded, “that was the deciding factor for me to buy the place, no white bits when you tan out there!”
Amber laughed, “too much info babe.” She walked over and sat down on the black leather wraparound couch that took up a corner of the living room, “so what activities have you got planned for me?”
JC sat next to her and flicked the TV onto MTV, the new Usher video was playing, “well a new nightclub in town is having it’s VIP opening night tomorrow, naturally yours truly has been invited and I know the owner would love it if you turned up too. So how about being my date for the evening?”
“I’d be honoured,” Amber smiled, “but what about Bobbi, she does know I’m in town visiting you, right?”
“Umm, sure she does,” JC lied, he quickly changed the subject “anyway, what are you gonna wear, so I can colour co-ordinate with you.”
Amber walked out to join JC in his living room, as she stepped through the door, he gave a low whistle of appreciation, “You look amazing.”
Amber did a little twirl, she was wearing a knee length fuchsia strapless dress, slit to almost the top of her thigh on one side, black stiletto sandals with a diamante ankle strap, her only pieces of jewellery was a diamond encrusted cross around her neck and big silver hoop earrings, “thanks,” she said, “you don’t scrub up bad yourself.” He was wearing black trousers and a tight black long sleeved sweater, which showed off his toned torso.
JC smiled, “you sure know how to make a guy feel good, why didn’t we hook up when we had a chance?”
Amber laughed, “Maybe because the first night we met you and Justin saw me puking my guts up at 3am?!”
“Aah yes,” JC said walking over to the bar in the corner of the living room, “did I ever tell you vomit in your hair is not the best way to seduce a guy?”
Amber poked her tongue out at him, “funny, anyway, you weren’t in great shape yourself that night, and may I remind you that the drinking game was yours and Justin’s idea.”
JC laughed, “yeah we had some fun back in those days, huh?” He reached into the small refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of champagne, “how about we get this party started right? Champagne?”
Amber walked over to join him, “sure, may as well start as I mean to continue!”
As they sat in the stretch black limo being driven to the nightclub, Amber turned to JC, “I forgot to ask, who is going to be at this party tonight?”
“The usual crowd,” JC told her, “local celebrities, members of Natural, LFO, I’m the only Nsync member in town, Lance is in London, Joey & Chris are in LA and you know where Justin is.” He reached over and flicked on the sound system, it was tuned into a local radio station, “Oh and I did hear that AJ was going too, which is going to make things very interesting when he sees you.”
Amber looked puzzled, “what do you mean?”
“Well, he’s currently dating a member of this new girl group, Phase Three, who are performing at the party tonight,” JC told her.
Amber still looked puzzled, “So?”
“So,” JC said, “he’s been dating her for about 6 months but in every magazine, TV, radio interview he’s done over here the past eight months, when asked who his ideal woman is, guess who he’s said?”
Amber groaned and closed her eyes briefly, “please tell me it isn’t me,” she said when she opened them.
JC grinned, “got it in one, babe. It would seem that he’s got a lil’ crush on you.”
“Great,” Amber said, “another girlfriend hating me. I’ve never even met any of the Backstreet Boys, how does he know I’m his ideal woman?”
“Look at you,” JC said, “you’re gorgeous, smart, funny, successful, any straight guy would have to be an idiot not to see that.” He handed her a miniature bottle of champagne from the mini bar, “you haven’t done anything wrong, let’s just concentrate on having a good time and if you bump into him tonight, just be polite and move on as quickly as possible!”
As their limo drew up to the curb outside the club, the crowd outside, sensing that it was gonna be someone good, started cheering, the driver got out and opened the door, JC stepped out onto the red carpet leading up to the front entrance. Camera bulbs exploded all around him and his name was shouted from all directions. Then Amber followed him out and the crowd went wild, no-one had had any idea she was going to be there, including the nightclub owner, who was at the entrance greeting all the most important people as they arrived. Amber looped her arm through JC’s as they made their way towards the entrance, stopping to sign a few autographs on the way, the paparazzi were jostling each other trying to get the ultimate picture for their newspaper. Amber waved over at them and then turned to greet the nightclub owner, who was a young, entrepreneur straight out of college, and was speechless to have the world’s number one female star turn up at his club’s opening night. “Hi,” he managed as he shook her’s and JC’s hands, “I’m overwhelmed to have you here, what an amazing surprise when you stepped out of the car, no-one expected it.”
Amber smiled, “Thank JC for inviting me, he knows I love to party.”
“I couldn’t have imagined this kind of publicity,” he told them, “anything you need tonight let me know.”
“Thanks,” JC told him, he turned to Amber and indicated inside the club, “shall we?”
Inside, the club was packed, the latest Nelly tune was playing and a few brave people were already on the dance floor. JC led the way upstairs to the VIP section. The word had gotten around already that Amber was there and heads turned as they walked past.
“Drink?” JC asked as they reached the bar in the VIP area.
“Sure,” Amber said, “whatever you’re having.”
She glanced around the room as JC ordered their drinks, she vaguely recognised a few faces, mainly people she had performed with at various summer festivals in the US when she was just starting out. Then as she looked, she saw an instantly recognisable face coming towards her.
‘Damn’, she thought to herself, she glanced around quickly for JC but he was caught up in conversation with someone at the bar. She was just contemplating a quick exit to the ladies room when she heard,
“Hi, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you Amber Carson, I’m a big fan.”
Amber looked up, “Hi,” she said, “AJ from the Backstreet Boys right?”
“Got it in one,” he said, “can I get you a drink?”
“Someone’s already getting me one but thanks anyway,” Amber told him. She was trying to remember JC’s advice, be polite and move on, but she was finding herself strangely drawn to him.
“So what are you doing in Orlando?” he asked her.
Amber nodded over at JC at the bar, “visiting a friend,” she told him, “my new album is coming out next month so I’m taking a break while I can.”
“I’ll definitely be buying a copy,” he told her, “same kind of sound as your last one?”
“Umm, more or less,” Amber told him, “although it’s got a more of a UK garage mixed with r&b feel this time.”
“Oh yeah, I’ve heard some UK garage,” AJ said, “people like So Solid Crew & Misteeq right? I love the UK garage tune on your debut album you did with Craig David.”
Amber grinned, “well you’ll definitely love my new album then, there’s a lot more songs like that.”
All thoughts of being polite and moving quickly on had gone from her head, as far as she was concerned he was a really cool person who she had instantly clicked with, she glanced up as JC appeared next to her.
“Hi, AJ,” he said as he handed Amber her drink, “how’s it going?”
“Good man,” AJ told him, he smiled at Amber, “well it’s been great to finally meet you, how about saving me a dance later?”
Amber smiled back at him, “sure, come look for me.”
JC frowned as she watched him walk away, “what happened to my advice?”
Amber shrugged, “I honestly don’t know, I was saying to myself, ok, be polite and move on and then we started talking and, I dunno, something just clicked between us.” She glanced over at where he had disappeared down the stairs.
“There’s just something about him,” she said more to herself than JC, “I don’t know what it is yet but there’s something there.”