Chapter
11: Date Night.
It had been a week since Clare
had notified the winners of the competition and she'd spent the time in
between to make a few final preparations. She made sure the guys had signed
the merchandise and double-checked the restaurant booking. The date was
tonight and she wanted everything to run as smoothly as possible. The fans
'N Sync had met in the past had always been well behaved and never got
out of hand, but there was always a first time for everything and Clare
knew she had to prepare for the worst, if it was to happen.
After she'd made a final draft
of the monthly newsletter and gave it to a trainee to photocopy for her
she joined Libby, Lisa and Jamie down at the dance studio where Sara was
taking the guys through routines for 'Here We Go' and 'I Need Love'.
"So everyone ready for tonight?"
she asked as the music faded out and she made her way over to sit on the
floor with the other girls.
"As ready as we can be!" Justin
replied as they all relaxed.
"What's happening tonight?"
Sara asked curiously.
"The date with the fans."
Clare said sitting on the floor.
"Is that tonight?"
Everyone nodded silently.
"I'm only glad we haven't
got to be subjected to the constant screams and I love you's!" Libby said
looking at Clare with a raise of her eyebrows.
"How do you think I feel?
I have to put up with it everyday for months straight when we're on tour!"
Jamie said with a groan.
"You're all coming with us
tonight!" Justin informed them.
"I do not think so!" Clare
spat out as her eyes shot up to his. "I told you last week, the topic of
conversation tonight is not something I want to listen to for two hours
straight, not when I work with the talented crooners that these six girls
worship and dream about every night of their sad little lives!"
'N Sync all looked at Clare,
disgrace on their faces.
"What! Just because I work
for you and think you're a great bunch of guys does not mean I have to
listen to the music or the fan hysteria that goes with it!"
JC laughed, "You listen to
our music. I've heard you in your office when you think we've all gone
home singing along to our CD!"
"I only listen to it because
it's in the CD player and I can never be bothered to change it!"
"What about the other night
when we came over?" Justin asked to catch her out.
"What about it?"
"Just admit you like our music."
Lance probed.
"I do like your music, the
lyrics leave a lot to be desired but the music is good!"
Lance's jaw almost hit the
floor.
"Come on admit it 'giddy up,
giddy up, giddy up now' are not the best lyrics ever written!"
The truth was 'Giddy Up' was
one of her favourite songs but she'd never openly admit it to any of them.
She sniggered at the look
on everyone's faces. They were looks of pure unadulterated disgust, so
she continued, "It's no Hanson, is it?"
"You don't like Hanson!" Justin
exclaimed.
All eyes rested on the youngster
as they waited for what Clare had said to sink in. Suddenly his eyes widened.
"There it is!" Libby said
with a smirk.
"You just don't want to admit
to us that you like our sounds." Chris said to Clare.
"Oh yeah Chris, there's something
about that palm tree on top of your head, the Superman wannabe, the Curly
monster, pretty boy and the Luke Perry wannabe that really makes a girl
positively swoon. You all turn me on like nothing else and my job won't
be done until I've played kissy face with everyone of you." Clare said
exasperated, "Maybe in your dreams!"
"In who's dreams?" Justin
questioned, "Not mine! I like my women to have a sensitive side and smile
occasionally!"
"I smile!"
"Yeah, when you're lost in
thoughts of…" Libby began in a whisper before Clare nudged her in the rib
cage, causing her to stop talking before she mentioned his name.
"Well, I've invited Jen along!"
Lance said just for everyone's general interest.
"And Lisa's coming 'cos we've
arranged to do something afterwards!" Joey said. "So are you gonna come
tonight?"
"Oh jeez. Okay, I'll come
and before they say different," Clare said standing up and pointing to
the other girls, "They're comin' too! At least then I can have some intelligent
adult conversation at some point in the night!"
"I dunno about intelligent
and adult but you got the conversation bit right!" Joey said.
Lisa shot a deadly look to
her boyfriend, "Button it Fat One or you can go through this torture alone!"
"Well you can count me out!"
Jamie said as she stood up, "I listen to the screams and I love you's enough
on the tours. I do not need to be subjected to it at close range, thankyouverymuch!"
"Oh no Jam, if I gotta do
it, you do too." Clare said as she got up and walked over to the stereo.
She skipped the CD to one of her favourite songs before walking over to
Libby and pulling her to her feet.
As 'I Want You Back' began
the two girls started to mess around going through the choreographed routine
they knew by heart because they'd seen 'N Sync perform it so many times.
The boys rolled around laughing as Clare attempted to flip Libby like Joey
and Lance had flipped JC and Chris. She was finding it difficult to do
but they got passed it and finished the routine despite the fit's of laughter
coming from everyone else in the room.
~~~~~*~~~~~
At 6 o'clock the whole gang got
to the restaurant by there own means of transport and prepared themselves
for the two hours they'd spend with the six fans. The guys of 'N Sync sat
in the private room while Clare and Jamie went to see if the fans were
all present and accounted for.
"Here we go!" Clare whispered
to Jamie as they walked into the main restaurant area where the fans had
been told to wait and were greeted by glowing smiles from each of the young
girls. They all sat around the table each clutching an autograph book and
smiling up at the two strangers.
"Hello girls," Clare said
with a smile trying to make them feel more at ease, "I'm Clare, I run the
fan club and this is Jamie, she's 'N Syncs tour manager."
"Are you all ready to do this?"
Jamie asked.
Each girl nodded eagerly.
Both Clare and Jamie could
see the mixed emotions that were sat around the table with the fans. They
were excited and scared at the prospect of meeting the guys who's music
they'd each enjoyed for so long.
"Well if you're all ready,
let's do this!" Clare said as she moved her hands in a 'after you' gesture.
All the girls stood up and
followed Jamie to where the guys were waiting. They each took it in turns
to embrace each member and introduce themselves.
"How you all been?" Rachel,
the 16-year-old girl from Orlando, asked as if she already knew the group
which caused a puzzled look to form on Clare, Libby, Lisa, Sara, Jenny
and Jamie's faces.
Chris looked at the women
and explained, "This is Rachel, she's Alyson's sister."
Libby, Jamie, Sara, Lisa and
Jenny were still puzzled but Clare knew of her so she smiled at the young
woman before they all sat down around the room so questions could be fired
and answered.
"So when do you go to the
UK?" Sharice asked as she smiled sweetly at Justin. He was her favourite
'N Sync and it showed, the glow in her eyes since the minute she'd set
them on him was a dead give-away. She was a beautiful 14-year-old New Yorker
with long blonde curly hair and green eyes.
"It's been pushed back 4 weeks
so we'll be leaving in August." Justin replied with a smile.
"How long will you be gone?"
Kate asked. She was a 15-year-old Hawaiian with blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Around 4/5 months." Chris
replied.
There was a short silence
as the fans obviously tried to think of other questions to ask.
"When will the new album be
out?" Amanda asked out of the blue. She was a 15-year-old girl from California.
She had black hair and brown eyes.
"We only just started laying
down some new tracks so it could be a while. Maybe 6 months, we're not
too sure!" JC replied with a smile, realising that Rachel's eyes were permanently
fixed on him. Clare noticed too and sat looking the girl up and down trying
to remember what her sister had looked like.
"So do any of you have girlfriends?"
Elise asked. She was a 14-year-old girl from Missouri, she had dark eyes
and her brown hair was tied back off her face.
"Ah! The burning question!"
Libby commented.
"I have. We've been together
for 18 months now and I'm very happy!" Joey said as he glanced at Lisa.
"Ahhh!" Clare and Libby chorused
looking at Lisa. She blushed and smiled over at her boyfriend. She was
getting deadly glares from the fans but she didn't care. She wanted the
world to know he was her boyfriend and she loved him like nothing else,
but she'd settle with a few fans to set the ball rolling.
"We're all still single. I
mean we do date we've just got no one special in our lives right now!"
Justin said volunteering himself as spokesperson.
"But is there someone out
there you'd like to make special in your lives?" Rachel asked probing them.
"Well there is this one girl,"
Lance began as he looked over at Jenny. She looked back and smiled. "I'd
like to have for my girlfriend."
"I like someone who works
with the group." Chris said glancing at Jamie who wasn't looking back in
his direction. Clare saw the look and smiled mischievously.
All eyes fell on Justin. "Er…
yeah. I know someone I'd like to get serious with but, I dunno, the timing's
not right!" he said uncomfortable. He didn't like talking about his private
life with a bunch of strangers so he'd decided to keep it simple.
There was a short silence
as the fans awaited a reply from JC.
Rachel could see he wasn't
gonna give it up voluntarily so she pushed him. "So how about you JC, anyone
special in your life?"
He looked up at the young
woman and smiled, "Yeah, there's someone special in my life. She's not
my girlfriend but I'd like her to be!"
Instantly Clare and Rachel
had the same thought, "Alyson!"
~~~~~ A While Later
~~~~~
Libby looked over at each of the
girls and rolled her eyes before gesturing that the conversation was beginning
to bore her by a fake yawn. They'd been sat with 'N Sync and their fans
for an hour and when Clare nodded toward the door the other girls agreed
it was time to get out.
"We're gonna leave you to
it." Jamie said as she stood up.
"Have fun!" the girls all
chorused as they walked out of the door closing it behind them.
"I love the song 'God Must
Have Spent A Little More Time On You', the lyrics are just the best and
the video makes me cry every time!" Clare said mimicking one of the fans
as they walked into the main restaurant area.
"Urgh!" Jamie said putting
two fingers in her mouth and sticking her tongue out.
"I know all the choreography
for all your songs!" Sara mimicked leaning toward Clare fluttering her
eyelashes.
"I… I… I… I think I want your
children!" Lisa stammered playfully.
"How do they put up with that
all the time?" Jenny asked with a smile.
"I have no idea!" Jamie exclaimed
as they all laughed among themselves.
Each of the girls ordered
their own preference of food and drink before they found a table and sat
down so they could chat.
"So do any of you know who
that Rachel girl is?" Sara asked as they settled down and made themselves
comfortable.
"Like Chris said, she's Alyson's
sister!" Clare replied sarcastically.
"Well that would help us if
we knew who Alyson was!" Lisa said just as sarcastically.
"Alyson is one of JC's ex's."
"The one who put the story
in the papers?"
Clare nodded, "Only, he doesn't
believe that little miss goody too shoes would've done something like that!"
There was a brief silence
as they all began to pick at their dinners.
"Does anyone know who Chris
has a thing for?" Sara asked curiously as she placed a French fry in her
mouth.
"I think it's our Jamie!"
Clare replied flashing a smile at the accused.
"Yeah and I'm sure that if
Chris had a thing for anyone it would be me. I mean, I am the most likely
candidate," Jamie said sarcastically as she blushed, "I am, after all,
everything a man looks for in a woman. I mean, would you look at me! I'm
a workaholic; I have absolutely no spare time. I'm the best dresser, jeans
and T-shirts do it for me and I'm what some people would call normal. I
don't know the meaning of the word excitement - no sire Bob, give me work
any day. Of course Chris has a thing for me, yeah right!"
~~~~~ An Hour Later
~~~~~
Once 'N Sync had said goodbye
to each of the fans, they began to look around for the girls that had disappeared
halfway through the 'date'. They walked into the open restaurant to find
them sat around a table with six guys. Jealousy sunk in quick and fast
for all of them. It was only Joey that felt no envy at all. Lisa was faithful
to him and he knew he could trust his partner. He noticed how she was sat
beside Jenny both looking bored, unimpressed and eager for their saviours.
Sara had one of the guys undivided
attention, she was laughing and it was obvious she was having a good time.
Justin saw one of the men sat with his arm around Libby; she was smiling
and seemed to be enjoying his company. Chris noticed how close Jamie was
sat to the guy who was whispering something in her ear and JC could see
how flirtatious Clare was being with the last one of the guys. It was such
a shock to him and seemed out of character for her because he'd never seen
her like that in all the time he'd known her. They all walked over and
Joey bent down to kiss his girlfriend. The six guys sat around the table
looked up instantly to see Lance smiling down at Jenny, JC stood behind
Clare, Justin stood behind Libby and Chris stood behind Jamie.
"So who are these guys?" Chris
asked as he looked at Clare.
Clare glared up at him for
a second before she introduced them all in turn; "This is Scott that's
Nick, Luke, Mark, James and Jon."
"Well look," Scott said looking
up at JC who was making him feel uncomfortable by the smile he was giving
him. "We'd better get off!"
"Yeah, a lot of work to do
for tomorrow." James said to Libby as he stood up and came face to face
with Justin who gave him a quick smile before sitting down in the seat
the guy had left vacant.
"Don't let us keep you!" Lance
said flashing a smile at Jon who had been sat with Jenny.
The six males said their goodbyes
to the girls and made their way out the restaurant.
"Thanks for comin', bye!"
Chris called to them as he sat next to Jamie.
"Yeah," Justin called, "and
don't bother comin' back!"
Libby, Clare, Jamie and Sara
glared at Justin and then at Chris.
"Gee, thanks you guys!" Sara
said to them, "We were being chatted up!"
"You don't need losers like
that!" Chris said with a smile.
"And how do you know they
were losers?" Clare questioned.
"Did you see the suits they
were wearing?"
Lisa and Jenny smiled in amusement.
"Oh, excuse me but we might
like dating losers!" Sara exclaimed.
"Nah, not those losers, they
weren't your type!" Justin said.
"And how do you know what
our type is?" Clare questioned again.
"Oh come on, I've seen you
swoon over Dexter Holland from the Offspring more times than I can count!"
Clare knew the youngster was
right and couldn't help but join Libby in a smile.
"So is it all over can we
go now?" Lisa asked looking at Joey. They had planned to go down to the
beach and watch the sunset. They'd both been so busy lately, her with studying
and him with work that she was eager to have some time alone with him.
"Yeah," Joey replied as he
stood up and pulled her to her feet graciously, "Later guys." He put his
arm around Lisa and they disappeared from everyone's sight.
"Come on then, let's get goin'!"
Jamie said to Clare as she stood up.
Jamie and Sara had planned
to stop over at Clare and Libby's that night - one of their ritual sleepovers.
"You comin' Jen?" Libby asked
as they all got to their feet.
"Why not?" Jenny replied with
a shrug.
"The night is still young.
Why don't we all invade Joey and Lisa on the beach?" Chris asked as they
walked out of the building.
Clare smacked him on the back
of the head, "Because they're going to watch the sunset Lucky. Sunsets
are romantic and, in case the obvious has escaped you, those two are the
only one's in love!"
"Oh give him a break Clare,
romance is probably something he's never been able to associate with,"
Libby teased as she turned to Chris, "Never mind, maybe someone will teach
you the meaning one day, if you're lucky… Lucky!"
"I know romance!" Chris said
as he rubbed the back of his head, "I've been there, done that and got
the licence!"
"Then you will undoubtedly
know that the 'lovebirds' will want to be alone!" Jamie said as they stood
on the car park at the back of the building.
"But it's only 8:30 and I
want to do summat!"
"Then go jump off a bridge!"
Clare teased.
"But can't you tell he already
did that?" Libby joked, "he landed on his face. You don't actually think
he grew up being that ugly, do you?"
"I'll have you know, I've
always been this handsome Sex God that you see before you!" Chris said
as they separated by their cars.
"Oh, you poor baby," Clare
continued, "Not only must you have had a cruel childhood but you're delusional…
Sex God! "
"So what are we gonna do?"
Justin asked going back to the original question.
"I'm going home. This is the
first official night off I've had so I'm taking full advantage of it!"
Clare said as she, Libby, Sara, Jamie and Jenny got into her white Jeep.
"Right everybody, back to
Clare's!" JC shouted before he and Chris got in his black Jeep and Lance
jumped into Justin's pale blue M class Mercedes Benz.
Chapter
12: Night Fever.
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