Story6

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Chapter 21: I Want You Back. "Well don't all say 'hi' at once!" Sara said from the doorway of the games room where all of 'N Sync were gathered playing their own games.
"How was the vacation?" Justin asked as he lined up the white ball for his break.
"Good. We had a lot of fun. We lay tanning all day and we went clubbing every night. It was a blast and we're gonna do it again, someday!"
"So d'ya bring us anything back?" Joey asked as he watched the ball Justin had hit go down into the pocket.
"I got you all a stick of rock!" she replied sitting down on the couch next to JC.
"Gee thanks!" Justin said with obvious sarcasm.
"So where's Giddy? She gone home to unpack?" Chris asked causing JC to pay close attention.
"She didn't come back with me. She needed some more thinking time."
"But she is coming back, right?" Justin asked playfully.
"Do you really think she could live without us?"
"Well I'm guessing she'd rather live without me!" JC commented.
"She couldn't! She's hurting but trust me not a day has gone past without her thinking about you. I don't think she could hate you as hard as she's trying. You two are really close and I think she knows how important you are to her."
"I tried calling her."
"She's had her phone switched off. Just give her some time, you'll be back to normal soon enough." Sara said sympathetically.
There was a short silence before Sara got up to her feet, "Right well I'm off to see Nick and give him his present. I'll see you guys down at the studio to run though the third part of the set later okay?"
They all groaned in agreement.
"It is so good to see such enthusiasm. If you could just try and act happy about it!" she said playfully.
"Rehearsals. Yay! I can't wait!" Justin said sarcastically.
Sara smiled and shook her head before she left the room. ~~~~~*~~~~~ Clare walked into her hotel room and placed her suitcase on the bed. She unpacked her laptop and placed it on the dining table before starting it up. She had to check her e-mails in case there was anything important from the fan club or her family.
Clare sighed as she looked at the screen; she had 43 e-mails. One from Jamie… 'I've finished the re-scheduling and everything is sorted. Find the new schedule attached… enjoy your vacation. Love Jam.'
One from Lisa… 'I've been to the hospital had loads of tests and it looks like there's nothing wrong…'
One from Justin… 'I couldn't get you on your phone so I thought, e-mail. The doctors say Libby could make a full recovery, she's off the danger list :) How are you? Mail me back and soon!'
Three from Chris… 'Turn on your phone!' 'Turn on your phone'. 'If you don't turn on your phone I'm gonna…'
And 37 from JC. Clare looked at the screen, 37!
She highlighted all his messages and clicked on the delete button. Are you sure you want to delete these messages? The computer asked her. She clicked on 'yes' and they were gone. ~~~~~*~~~~~ The door opened and there he stood, his blue eyes staring back at her.
"Hi, you miss me?" Sara asked her boyfriend as he gave her a welcomed smile.
"Did I ever!" Nick said pulling her into his arms and placing a kiss on her lips.
"I brought you something." She said as they pulled away from each other and walked inside the house.
"You came straight here?"
"I dropped by to the fan club first."
"I bet you're knackered from your flight."
"Yeah but I couldn't go home until I saw you, I missed you."
Nick smiled and pulled her into another hug.
"That feels good." She commented closing her eyes and getting lost in his arms.
"Next time you go on holiday, I'm coming." Nick said as he released her.
"Is that a promise?"
"You bet. These past two weeks have gone so slow without you around."
Sara smiled, she was glad to be back.
Her and Nick had been dating for a couple of months. He didn't really know the guys in the band because he'd never really met them. He'd always been too busy with his work to meet any of Sara's friends or family. He worked in the music business himself so he understood her workload and she his. They didn't get much time together but they were happy and that was all that mattered to them. ~~~~~ Two Weeks Later ~~~~~ Clare picked up the phone in her hotel room and dialled Chris' cell phone number. She hadn't spoke to anyone of the group in a month since she'd left; she'd only spoke to Libby's mother just to check on her progress. She thought it'd be better to distance herself from everyone who would surely bring up JC's name at every opportunity. She'd gone away to get over him so it was something she didn't need. She knew she was sure to get loads of verbal abuse from the elder man but she was returning to Orlando the next day so she thought it best to get it over and done with.
Suddenly she was brought back from her thoughts by Chris' voice at the other end, "Hello?" his voice repeated.
"Hello." She replied.
"Hello?"
"Hello."
"Hello?"
"Okay, if we keep this up it's going to be a very expensive call!" she joked, with a smirk to herself.
"Giddy?" Chris' voice exclaimed.
"This is she!"
"Where are you?"
"On vacation!"
"That I know, but where?"
"Miami!"
"We tried contacting you on your cell phone loads of times but it was always switched off!"
"Well unwanted phone calls have never helped the weak detach themselves from all emotions!" she continued to joke. The sound of his voice cheered her up immensely. If she was honest she'd missed being around them all, even JC.
"I remember the last thing you said to me at the airport was 'I'll call soon'. You lied and for that you will pay!"
Clare laughed. He always knew how to do that. They all did. They could always bring a smile to her face.
"So how you doin'?" he asked seriously.
"Okay I guess. I've blown away a lot of emotions although love is one I'm having to have counselling for," she said starting serious and then thinking better of it. She'd been too serious lately. "I'm getting somewhere though, I no longer have the urge to love or be loved. The doctor calls it progress so I'm almost clean!"
"Uh-huh! Have you been taking your pills?" Chris asked playing along.
"Which ones? I've got so many these days that I forget which ones I need to take to stop me becoming human like the rest of you!"
"Any similarity between you and a human is purely coincidental, you're in no danger of even becoming one so I'm sure it won't hurt to miss one or two here and there!"
"You know a sharp tongue does not mean you have a keen mind!" she retorted playfully.
"I know but you love me!"
"Love - a concept I'm familiar with. Isn't it a dirty trick played on us to ensure the continuation of the species? No wait! It's like cheap wine - it leads you to the stars, but leaves you with the gutrot of tomorrow!"
Chris laughed at the other end.
"True love is like ghosts which everyone talks about, but very few have seen." she continued, "I've come to the conclusion that there is only one way to be happy by means of the heart, not to have one." There was a short pause. "Anyways, how is everyone?"
"Good! Justin is frequently at the hospital. Joey and Lisa are more in love than ever. Lance is like a bear with a sore head since Jenny left. Sara is working us raged and JC…"
"Oh right, what about you?" she said cutting him off, "How are things with you and Jamie?"
"Good. We reached stage 2!"
"So you've both said the 'L' word?"
"Ya-huh!" there was a pause; "There's someone here that wants to talk to you."
"Who is it?"
There was no reply.
"Chris, who is it?" she repeated in a panic.
"Hello!"
Clare's heart jumped into her mouth. It was a voice she wanted desperately to hear so many times but it pained her too. "Hi." She said shortly.
"What have you been up to?"
"Soul searching! You might do well to try it - you might just find one!"
"Okay, I deserved that!" JC said a little hurt.
"No. You deserve a lot more but insults are as close as I get to hurting you from this distance."
There was an uncomfortable silence.
"I tried to get to the airport to see you. I really need to talk to you!" JC said.
"Oh you do. Sorry but I think you're obviously mistaking me for someone who gives a damn!"
"Clare don't be like this!"
"Like what?"
"I think we should talk! We need to sort this out!"
"There's nothing to sort JC. I've only just buried that part of my life, don't dig it all up again! I'm no good at heartache. It's leaves me feeling so empty."
"But…"
"You want to just be thankful I'm still talking to you. Don't push it!"
There was another short silence.
"'Lo!" she heard Chris' voice say.
"Okay tell me why you put him on the phone!" Clare said bitterly.
"He wanted to speak with you. I think you should give him a chance!"
"Oh you do! I'm sorry but was it you he chewed up and spat out when he'd had his fun?"
"Wow! He really did a number on you didn't he?"
Clare didn't respond.
"When you comin' home?" Chris asked her.
"Tomorrow!"
"You want me to pick you up?"
"Whatever! My flight gets in at one, if you're there you're there if not then I'll see you at the club!"
"I'll be there!" ~~~~~*~~~~~ Chris looked at JC as he hung up the phone. He could see the desperation in his eyes. He needed to talk to Clare but she wouldn't listen to him.
"She'll never forgive me for this." JC commented.
"Forgive you for what? You were doing the right thing. You were torn between two people and one was pregnant, you owned up to your responsibilities, not a lot of guys would do that." Chris said trying to make him feel better.
"But the kid wasn't even mine."
"You didn't know that at the time. If I was in the same situation, I'd 'ave done the same thing! Giddy knows you wouldn't hurt her intentionally, she's just dealing with this the only way she knows how at the minute. She'll get over it we all do!"
JC looked up at Chris, "I really hope you're right!" ~~~~~*~~~~~ Sara walked into the dance studio; they had another rehearsal to get through. The tour was in three weeks and she needed them to run through the routines one more time before they left for the UK. They had put all their energy into the ten days and had worked hard but they always did. She looked around and only saw three members of the group, "Okay, where is Chris and JC?"
"Chris got a call from Giddy and went outside, JC followed and they haven't come back in yet!" Joey answered.
"Go and find them!" Sara ordered Justin.
"What am I? Errand boy?"
Sara shot him a look making him aware not to argue.
"Okay I'm going!" Justin said throwing his hands up in the air and making his way from the room. ~~~~~ The Next Day ~~~~~ Clare woke up early. Today was the day she was going back to Orlando, back to her job and her life. She was looking forward to seeing everyone again, even JC. The past month had been hard for her but she felt ready to get on with things. She couldn't stay on vacation forever.
She sat up and flicked on the TV to find Justin staring back at her, MTV were playing the boys video for 'God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You' on their top bands weekend. She loved that song, the whole feel of it, the music arrangement, the vocals, the video concept, everything!
She looked up fondly at the TV, they all looked so handsome in their white suits, so pure and innocent, but she knew them better than that. They were her friends and she loved them all like family. They were her family; they had been for 2 years and they would be for a long time yet, she hoped.
As she saw JC's face she remembered back to the video shoot, it was a hot day and the boys had invited her, Libby, Jamie and Sara along for a break. ~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~ "Okay you guys, the director is getting edgy, are you all ready?" she shouted to them through the dressing room door.
The guys all walked out of the dressing room in single file.
"I hate suits!" Justin commented as he tugged on the collar of his suit.
"Justin!" his mother said to him as she pulled him around to face her so she could put his collar straight.
Libby sniggered as embarrassed Justin stood before his mother allowing her to dress him.
"I seem to be having a little trouble with this tie!" JC said turning and smiling at Clare.
Clare smiled back, "A grown man who can't even dress himself!" she said reaching up and doing his tie. "There you go Romeo!"
"Thank you."
"All ready on the set." The director shouted.
Clare looked them all up and down, "I guess you'll have to do!"
"We don't have enough time to make you as handsome as we'd hoped." Sara said playfully.
"And the plastic surgeon is on vacation!" Libby added.
"Oh that's funny. You're such a funny, funny person." Justin retorted.
"I do believe I got to you!" she shouted to him as they followed behind the guys onto the set for the video. ~~~~~~END OF FLASHBACK~~~~~~

Clare smiled at the fond memory before she got up and had a shower ready to leave for her flight back home.

~~~~~*~~~~~ "Well today is the day that I finally get rid of you!" Jamie said to her cousin playfully.
"It's not like we've spent loads of time together anyway!" Kelly retorted.
"That's called work hun!"
"At least I got to meet 'N Sync!"
"It's a bit hard not to, when I work for them!" Jamie said with a smile as she helped Kelly pack her suitcase.
"I know you're eager to get rid of me but helping me pack isn't gonna bring my flight forward!" Kelly said resting her hands on her hips.
"No. But I thought you might want to go shopping before you go home."
"You know I hate shopping."
"Not when it's my money, you don't!"
"So you're buying?"
"Well it was your birthday last month and I still haven't had a chance to get you anything."
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
"I knew you'd change your mind!" Jamie said as she picked up her purse and headed after Kelly who was on her way out the door. ~~~~~*~~~~~ "What time do we leave for the airport?" Justin asked Chris as they stood on the basketball court shooting some hoops.
"Well Kelly has got a flight at half twelve, so we'll take her about twelve and then hang around for Clare to get in at one!" Chris replied throwing the ball at the hoop.
"And who's gonna be going exactly?"
"Well let's see, I'll be there 'cos I'll be driving… Jamie will be there 'cos she's gotta see her cousin off, so Kelly will be there too."
"I'm in!" Joey said as he ran after Lance, to get the ball.
"And it goes without saying that JC will be there. Justin?"
"I'll be at the hospital, the doctor is assessing Lib again today." The youngster responded as he took the ball from Lance and dribbled it past JC who had walked onto the court.
"Lance?"
"Nah, I'll see her later. Stacey is coming over the house and I want to spend some time with her and Ford before they leave tomorrow." Lance replied with a smile.
"Lisa comin'?"
Joey shook his head; "She's going to the hospital for a routine check-up."
"So that's me, Jamie, Kelly, Joey and JC."
"What's this?" JC asked curious as to why his name was mentioned.
"The airport!" Justin replied passing the ball to Joey.
"Oh!" he was not looking forward to seeing Clare after the response he got from her on the phone. ~~~~~*~~~~~ "Call me when you get home!" Jamie ordered her cousin as she gave her a hug goodbye.
"I will!" Kelly said hugging her back. "Thanks for having me stay."
Jamie smiled as she pulled away, "Even if I wasn't there half the time?"
"Yeah."
"Look after yourself kid." Chris said with a smile to the young girl.
"Thanks old man!" she responded playfully.
"Maybe you can come back and visit when we get back from the UK."
"Maybe. If Jamie will have me back?" she asked looking hopefully back at her cousin.
"Anytime you wanna visit just let me know and I'll settle it with your folks." Jamie replied causing the young woman to smile.
"Flight 10 to Canada is now boarding." They heard over the tannoy.
"Ooh, that's me!" Kelly said not really wanting to leave. She'd had a lot of fun in Orlando and she didn't want it to end.
"Well don't forget to call me and give those things to my mom for me!" Jamie reminded her delivering another hug.
"Okay, okay!" ~~~~~*~~~~~ Clare walked out of the airport with her suitcases and spotted a familiar face, "Fat One!" she called to him.
"Gid!" Joey said turning at the call of his name to see her stood a few feet behind him.
"Jeez, I see you were so impressed with your first chin that you added another!" Clare said playfully as she hugged him. "I remember when you only had the one stomach too!"
"And I remember when you weren't so bitter and twisted!" Joey retorted.
"You can remember that far back?" she said with a snigger.
"The wanderer returns!" she heard a voice say to the side of her.
"Chris!" she said turning to see him and Jamie walking toward her. "So anyone else here?"
Jamie nodded and signalled behind Clare with her eyes.
Clare shot round to see JC and then quickly turned back to face Chris. "And why d'ya bring him?"
"I came because I thought we could talk!" JC said.
"Well brains aren't everything! In fact, in your case they're nothin'!"
"Did you take a degree in insults while you were away?" Joey asked sarcastically.
"No. That's something that comes natural!" Jamie responded as they walked toward the car.
Clare flashed Jamie a smile; "If I want any shit from you I'll squeeze your head!"
"How can someone so small hold so much hate?" JC asked trying to get her to talk to him, even if it was only to bite his head off.
"It's a monster you created." She shot back loading her bags into the boot of the car.
Chris got into the driver seat and Jamie in the passenger seat leaving Clare in the back with Joey and JC. Joey got in the furthest side and JC stood behind Clare waiting for her to get in the middle.
"Oh no!" Clare shouted realising where she'd end up. "I am not sitting in between you two! Joey, out! You can sit in the middle!"
Joey climbed out and Clare climbed in. JC smiled at Joey as he stopped him climbing back in. Clare gazed out of the car window and didn't realise until Chris had started to drive that JC was sat next to her. She turned and cut her eyes at him. He smiled back and she had to turn away she didn't want him to see her break out into a smile of her own. JC had always been persistent she knew that but she didn't understand why he was putting so much energy into this. He had a fiancée now surely he knew she'd get over it all he had to do was give her time to get used to the idea.

Chapter 22: At Last. Back