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Chapter 3
Jordan exited the taxiway into the Orlando Airport. She looked around for a familiar face, and saw one.
Jordan had remembered what JC looked like from the funeral, and now he was standing in a corner trying to remain unnoticed. She waved to him, and he smiled back.
JC had never seen anybody who looked more like Caryn than Jordan. It almost brought tears to his eyes. For a moment he thought it was Caryn, coming back from a visit to Jordan's.
Reality set quickly in. Jc greeted Jordan d hurriedly rushed her to a limo waiting outside. Jordan almost passed out. She came from freezing rain in Jersey, and in Florida the air was thick enough to grab. She was wearing a leather jacket, hat, and gloves, but now she was praying that she was in a tank and shorts. JC hurried her into the limo, and they were off. Once inside he removed his hat and sun glasses.
"What's the rush?"
"If someone other than you recognized me in that airport, we'd never get home. Now, I'm going to fill you in very briefly. We're in the studios now recording our second album. You signed on at a good time. You won't have to be doing too much work, just press fending and stuff like that."
"Press fending?"
"Yeah, you know, keeping the press off our backs, giving them stories, that kind of thing."
"Oh, okay."
"So anyway, we have a house that we stay in when we're not touring. You get to live for free with us; the record company pays for everything. You get paid one-third of our earnings. Whatever we make, they pay you a third of that amount. Of course, that's out of their own pockets; it's not our money. We get to practically keep all of our money. So?"
"Hey, I'd rather be here than hangin' with my loser friends back in Jersey. I mean, now that my buddy Justin moved back to New York, I have no one to hang out with."
"What about family?"
"I usually hang out with my sister Michelle and her boyfriend. All the others are married and stuff. I mean, even my little sister Jaimie has a boyfriend, and a job, and she's only eighteen."
JC chuckled, "So what?"
"Well, I'm gonna be 22 in a few months, and the last diploma I got was my High School one."
"Take a correspodance class."
"Yeah, sure, if I even knew what I wanted to do."
JC interrupted Jordan by pointing out the window. "Here we are." He announced.
Jordan almost passed out. "Holy shit," she breathed, "we live here?"
"Uh huh. I help you with your bags. I'll show you your room, then you'll meet the guys."
"Um, okay."
JC carried Jordan's suitcase while she grabbed her backpack. They trekked up an enormous staircase and down a long hall before entering a door on the right, and next to the bathroom.
"You won't need to use that," JC said suddenly, "you have your own in the room." He opened the door, put down the suitcase, and headed to the window. He pulled open the curtains. The room was the biggest Jordan had ever lived in. They had a big house in Jersey, but this was haneous. A king-sized bed sat across from the windows, and was draped in lace curtains and ornate with gold. Parallel to the bed was a fishtank and on the wall at the foot was a home entertaiment system. The bathroom was a whole nother heart attack. It was all blue marble with a crystal shower half blocked by glass, and the other side walled in by mock waterfall stones.
"This is too much," Jordan whispered, "I can't accept this," She said louder.
"Bullshit. You're one of us now Jordie. Get unpacked, then come downstairs to the kitchen. Later you can go shopping for some new things."
"Okay."
"Welcome to our family Jordan. Look, I now it's going to be hard, but I think with each other, we'll get over it. That's why I brought you here. It was my sister's dying wish."
"She was your sister?"
"Not blood, but practically."
"Oh."
With that, JC left Jordan to get settled in. Jordan took a minute to get over the shock of this drastic change, then began unpacking. When she finished, she changed into cooler clothes, and headed downstairs.
In the kitchen, *NSYNC was assembled around the counter. Some were eating, and others were talking. They all stopped what they were doing when Jordan came in.
"Hi guys. I, uh, I'm Jordan Ford, you're new road manager. Um, I know all of your names, and I just want to say that I hope we can be good friends. I know I can't replace Caryn, but I will work as hard as I can for you guys."
Chris held up the soda he was drinking, and in a mock English accent cried out: "Here! Here!"
Everyone shared a laugh. Everyone except Lance. He gave Jordan an angry stare, and left the kitchen.
"What was that all about?"
"PMS." Chris replied. He came over to Jordan, and put his arm around her shoulder. "Just ignore him. He'll get over himself in good time. While we're waiting, can I show you around?"
"Sure."
Jordan walked out of the kitchen with Chris. JC followed her with his eyes until she left, then turned to Joey.
"What do you think Joey? Keeper?"
Joey and Justin smiled together. "Keeper."