I left the next morning with a heavy-ness in my heart. I had lied to Rich and I felt terrible. If only my mother hadn't come home early…I defended. What was the use? I knew I shouldn't have done it. I boarded the plane and settled in to watch the flight's movie, but fell asleep instead.
When I woke up I looked at my watch. I was flying over Orlando as I peered out the window. I quickly fixed my hair and glanced in my mini mirror. I looked great. When I landed I was carefully watching for Justin. I went to baggage claim and was waiting still. I checked my watch for the third time. He was late! What kind of impression is that to make after not seeing each other for years? Suddenly I saw a really hot group of guys coming my way. I smiled and hoped they would notice me. I really liked the one with his dark hair and huge smile. His neck displayed a lion necklace on it. Cute…I thought as they came closer. I watched as one of the guys, a blonde haired one, said "Are you Nicole?" He had a thick southern drawl. "Um, yeah. Are you with Justin?" I asked. I knew it sounded stupid, but I didn't know who these guys were. They could've been molesters for all I knew. "Yeah, we are. Justin never told me how beautiful his friend was," the guy with a superman T-shirt said to me. I blushed a bit. "Well then, can y'all help me with my stuff?" I asked. They all agreed and we went to go get my things. I asked where Justin was. "Oh, well he's waiting outside. He wanted something to be a surprise," the guy with a crazy glint in his eye said. He looked old enough to be my father, so I reasoned he was the manager of the group. "What are your names?" I asked with utmost interest. "I'm JC, this is Joey, this here is Chris and last but not least this is Lance," JC replied pointing to each member. We got outside where a limo was parked. I wondered who came in the limo, when all of a sudden I saw Joey placing my stuff in it. This must be my surprise! I figured. Justin got me a limo? How sweet! I followed the guys in the back seats to come face to face with Lynn, Justin's mom. "Hi! How have you been Lynn?" I asked her. She chatted with me about how she was with the group for a while and that Justin was waiting for me at a restaurant just outside of town. The guys all talked to me, but I liked talking with JC and Lance the best. They were really cool. I was wedged in between Chris and JC the whole limo ride. Lynn got out at one point and said she hoped we had a good time at the restaurant. I said good-bye and thought of how much she hadn't changed. Maybe Justin had though. As soon as Lynn left, Joey and Chris opened the mini fridge to reveal two previously made up drinks. I looked at one of them for help but all I got was Joey saying "Cheers" to Chris. So these were the "type" Justin hung out with huh? I thought to myself. I could get used to this. I really think I could.
At the restaurant we were seated right away. I followed the guys to our table. When I saw the table, Justin was sitting there, a single red rose in hand. I nearly melted right there. That's why we were such great friends all those years ago- -we complimented each other. I smiled and took the rose, thanked him, and sat across from him. Next to me were Chris and Joey. JC and Lance were seated across from me. I stared quickly at JC. He is so cute! I thought to myself. Justin started the conversation off and we began to catch up with each other's lives. I told him about Rich, he told me about his record deal. We were happy for one another. Chris made me laugh with every joke he told it was remarkable somehow. Lance was real quiet, Joey almost ate the restaurant out of house and home, and JC was acting all charismatic. Justin hardly talked to me. I felt it odd, but I told him we could talk alone later. He agreed and then he asked me to dance. I was in awe. He was being so nice to me, you'd think he were my boyfriend! I said to myself as I was whisked away from the table. All I could hear as I was pulled away was Chris utter "They make such a cute couple". Suddenly the song "I'll make love to you" came on and Justin wrapped his arms around me. Justin seemed to be more at ease. He began talking to me like he used to when we were younger. Innocent. Softer. "Am I getting the real Justin Randall now?" I asked him. He nodded a yes. He told me that he acted that way because the people he hung out with rubbed off on him. I knew that. I could see it in his crystal blue eyes. "So what do you want to do later? Maybe watch a movie Nicky?" I replied an agreement and we danced till that song and three others were complete. We hailed a taxi back to Justin's house. Through much deliberation this is how the seating went. All six of us crammed in the taxi, me on Justin's lap, Joey on Lance's. It was a tight fit. Justin didn't really talk to his friends, just me. He sang to me this one song called "I want you back" or something. He had a true talent. Then Joey and JC joined in and soon the whole cab was full of crooning voices. The cab driver gave funny looks but the guys didn't seem to care. We finally arrived at his house and we paid and got out. Chris ran up to Joey and gave him a noogie. Lance was behind me, chatting with the cab driver. I didn't know what else to do but follow Justin and JC. Lynn opened the door and we proceeded to the back room of the house. JC said that was where they were staying for a while, till they went to record in Sweden. JC seemed extremely excited to be doing it. I could only imagine. I sat on one of the messy made up beds and watched as Chris and the others came into the room and pushed some stuff around. JC lay down beside me and shut his eyes. He said goodnight and was immediately asleep. Joey used the phone at the far end of the room and dialed carefully. Lance was with Justin trying to do some dance steps, or what I thought were steps to him. They didn't acknowledge my existence at all. Then Chris came over to talk to me. He was really cool, I thought. He began to tell me that he really wanted to get braids in his hair. I didn't really like the idea but he asked if he should do it and I heard myself say: "Yeah, get braids. They'd look really good." He thanked em and was on his way. I shook my head and hung it down a bit. I couldn't belive I told him that. Maybe I was a compulsive liar and didn't know it. Suddenly I heard someone say: "He'll never get the braids, you know. But it was nice of you to tell him they would be cool," It was JC. I turned and smiled at him. He returned the smile and we spent the next hour talking. I told him about the silly things Justin had done. The things we'd done together. It felt so easy, and so nice. JC must be a really good friend of Justin's I decided.
After dinner Justin offered to take me out again. He had in mind some clubbing. I had never gone but only one time. I hadn't even liked it. Yet something made me go. It could've been because of all the pleading Joey did, but I wasn't sure. I changed my clothes and we left at 8:30pm. Lynn was telling Justin he had to be back at a reasonable time. They had a vocal and dance meeting tomorrow. This time Lance drove us. I was next to Justin and JC. Joey said he wanted to stay in the back of the truck. I laughed at him. He was so strange I couldn't put my finger on it. Chris was up with Lance, bothering him while he drove. Lance told him to stop it or else they'd be pulled over. Chris just didn't listen. Next thing I could remember was the sound of screeching brakes and screams.