That Friday morning, Justin was up almost right as the sun reached over the horizon. He took a quick shower and after getting dressed and trying to calm the curls on his head, he began trying to finish packing his things. Most of his bags were by the door, he just had one more to pack and he'd be done. The phone rang, he leaned back on the bed and reached across the desk to reach the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey J."
"Hey Chad, what's up?"
"Talkin' to your ass way too damn early in the morning."
Justin smiled, "You didn't have to get up this early."
"S'okay. So, how's it going?"
"I don't know...I'm ready to get this thing going."
"You excited?"
"You know it."
"You done packing?"
"Yes...mom"
"Smartass."
Justin laughed, "I know.."
"So what are up to now?"
"I'm getting ready to go wake up McKennah..I figured it'd be better to let her sleep so she wouldn't be so cranky."
"Man, what a job. I'd looove to wake her up."
"Whatever Chad."
"I would! Don't tell me you haven't noticed how fine she is."
"She's pretty...okay, gorgeous. But dude, she's one of my best friends and she lives with me. Plus, too much baggage comes with trying to date someone in my position."
"I hear that...but man, she is FIINE!"
Justin laughed, "You have Aimee."
"I never said I didn't love Aimee, but McKennah just does not know what she does to the male species!"
Justin laughed again, Chad was one hormonal guy.
Chad continued on, "And you get to be with her all summer. Ten bucks you two hook up."
"Ten bucks we don't.," Justin said as he dragged his bags out into the hallway and set them by the stairs.
"Wanna bet on it?"
"No."
Chad's turn to laugh, "Okay, okay. So, see you tonight?"
"Yep. Come backstage before hand too, ok?"
"Ok, see ya then."
"Later Chad."
Justin hung up and tossed the phone back into his room. He then went and opened McKennah's bedroom door and poked his head in. She was curled up on the very edge of the bed; the covers pushed off of her slightly. Her hair had once been in a ponytail but was now out all over the place. He spyed her bags by her closet door, her clothes for that day on top of them, all of her other necessities were also sitting beside the clothes. He walked in quietly and leaned down, "Kennah?"
One eye fluttered open and she groaned, "Go away!"
He stood up straighter, "Come on, we gotta get to the O Arena."
"At what time?"
"9. It's a little after 7 now."
She groaned and rolled over onto her back, "But I was having SUCH a nice dream about AJ McLean...," she said with a dreamy sigh.
Justin rolled his eyes, "Anyways..are you planning to get up this millennium, or should I go on tour without you?"
"Noooo..I'm up, I'm up."
"Cool..we can go get something to eat."
She nodded as he left the room, "Ok."
She showered, dressed and got ready pretty quickly and finished packing her things. Her cell began to ring as she drug everything downstairs. "Hello?"
"Hi sweetie."
"Hey mom!"
"I just wanted to say hi real quick before you leave for the tour."
"Mom, you act like I'm never comin' back."
Her mother laughed, "You know I want you to come back. Turns out I won't be able to see you off after all...duty calls, as always."
"Oh..well..that's okay mom. I understand."
"You always do honey. But listen to me, ok?"
"Ok. What?"
"I want you to obey all the things that Johnny and Justin's security say ok? And I also want you to listen to Lynn, ok?"
"Moooom.."
"Don't 'mooom' me young lady."
"I'm 19..," McKennah whined.
"You're still my daughter."
"I know."
"But do those things, ok?"
"Ok. I promise."
"And don't forget to call your old woman sometimes, k?"
"Mom, you're not old. And I'll call you at every new place, alright?"
"Alright sweetie, talk to you later. I love you."
"Love you too mom."
"Tell mom I love her too!," Justin yelled from the kitchen.
McKennah laughed, "Justin says hi and that he loves you too mom."
Her mom laughed as well, "Ok, tell him I love him too and to take care of himself."
"Ok, I will."
"Bye McKennah."
"Bye mom."
She hung up and turned her phone off and put it in her purse. "Yo J!"
"Yo what?"
"My mom said to tell you she loves you too!"
His head poked around the corner and he smiled, "Cool.."
"She also said to tell you to take care of yourself."
"You know I will."
"I know, so are you ready or what?"
"I be ready if you be ready."
McKennah followed him out to his car, "Thank you ebonics king."
"No prob. Let me get that.," He said reaching for one of her suitcases.
"Oh. Well..thanks."
"No problemo..what do you want to eat?"
She shrugged, "You pick the place."
Later that evening, McKennah was seated by Lynn and Jon in the 'family' section that had been appropriately set up, in the Orlando Arena. The opening acts had finished five minutes before and the lights had just gone down again; signaling N'Sync was about to appear. McKennah held Jon, so he could see, as he excitedly watched for his big brother. The screams grew deafening as the five guys dropped from the ceiling...
McKennah carried a sleeping Jon to the back of the bus and tucked him into one of the bunks. "Kennah?"
"Yeah Jon?"
"Where's Justin?"
"He's on his bus."
"I don't get to see him?," He asked almost too innocently.
"No, I'm sorry sweetie, not right now. They have a meeting or something and you were asleep, so I thought."
He smiled, "If I sleep now, I can see Justin quicker, huh?"
"That's true."
"Can you read to me?"
"Sure can buddy, lay down and I'll go find a book, ok?"
"Ok!"
She stood up and walked to the very back of the bus where Lynn was crashing on the couch watching tv. "He asleep?"
"Nope..he wants me to read him a story."
"Oh ok, thanks McKennah."
"No problem..he's a cute kid, and he knows it!"
She laughed, "I know!"
She grabbed the book, closed the door behind her and walked back to Jon's bunk. He sat up a little, "McKennah?"
"Yep?"
"you like my brother?"
"Sure I do, he's my very good friend."
"But do you like him like my mommy likes my daddy?"
"Well...I don't know Jon. That's a very strong feeling between a guy and a girl."
"You two are always together!"
"True, but that's because we live together. Now, how about that story?"
"Yes!"
"Lay back and I'll start...."
Neither of them felt the bus shift as someone came on. The door closed and McKennah shifted slightly as the bus pulled out of it's spot. She leaned back against the bunk across from Jon and continued reading.
Not halfway through, she looked over at Jon to see him fast asleep. McKennah smiled, reached in and flipped off the light, then closed the curtain over him.
"You're too good with him."
She jumped and turned around to see Justin, "You scared the shit out of me!"
He smiled slightly and scooted down so he was sitting on the couch itself and not leaning back against the window. "Sorry..you are though."
She flopped down next to him, "I am what?"
"Good with him. He always listens to you."
She shrugged, "He's a good kid. Now, what are you doing over here buddy?"
"My mom's on here, hello!"
"Ohhh that's right."
He leaned against her shoulder and yawned, "So..what'd you think of the show?"
"It was great Justin. You all looked really good up there. Although, I must admit I was quite shocked at a certain part in umm..Digital Getdown."
She felt Justin's head move as he laughed, "Forgot to tell you about that one, huh?"
"Umm..YEAH!"
"You liked it, admit it."
"Ummm...no."
"Kennah!"
She laughed and layed down against the couch, placing her legs in Justin's lap. "It was good."
He smiled, "You tired?"
"Exhausted."
"Me too.."
Her eyes closed as he slowly began massaging the bottom half of her calf. "J?"
"Yep?"
"Promise we'll always be friends?"
"Of course McKennah."
"Ok."
"Why are you asking?"
She shrugged and opened her eyes, "I dunno..it just kinda popped out."
He nodded, "Oh."
"Do you ever wish you had a girlfriend right now?"
"I dunno. Kinda. But then, I wouldn't want to put that kind of load on someone."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, like what JC and Christina have. They're wonderful together but then there's the times when one of them starts an arguement with the other on the phone. JC's in a bad mood for like a week. Then, they make-up and everything's back to perfection. Plus, we're always away from home for like 8 months of the year....that'd be hard to be away from that person for that long. I mean, we do it with friends and family and that's hard."
"But if you were in love, you'd feel as if you were missing out on something every second you weren't there?"
He nodded and smiled, "How'd you know?"
"Don't know."
"Why don't you have a boyfriend?"
"Cause all the guys I know are too hormonal or have serious girlfriends."
"Kennah.."
"It's the truth Justin. Plus, why would some guy wanna go out with little ole me? HELLO! There's girls out there that look like Britney Spears and Christina Alguilera and Jessica Simpson...guys want girls like that, not girls like ME."
"McKennah, that's not true. Britney and Christina have their flaws, as I'm sure Jessica Simpson does."
She shrugged, "Still though. Ask any guy 19-21 who'd he rather have, Britney or me? They're going to pick Britney."
"Not necessarily."
"Oh really? Then who would YOU pick Justin Timberlake?"
"I don't know.."
"Why?"
"Cause for one, you're my best friend and I've known you for like forever. And two, I've known Britney for awhile too.."
"And you dated her!"
"For like 6 months, dude!"
"Still!"
"She's pretty, you're right...but so are you McKennah."
She snorted, which made them both laugh. "I AM NOT!"
"McKennah..can you honestly tell me you don't think you're pretty?"
"I think I'm normal."
"Stand up.," He said pushing her legs off his lap.
"What? Justin...?"
"Stand up.," He commanded.
She did so, grumbling. He then took her hand and led her towards the bathroom. He swung the door open, pushed her in there and then closed the door on them. It was a very tight squeeze, considering it was a buses bathroom. He turned her towards the mirror, his face visible over her shoulder. "What do you see?"
"Me."
"No, what do you see?"
"A girl.."
"Ok..what do you think of her?"
She shrugged, "I don't know.."
"Come on Kennah..."
McKennah cocked her head to one side, her eyes squinting slightly as she looked at herself. "She's..tall...thin...tired as hell cause of a certain best friend."
He smiled, "Well..what else?"
"She's..normal."
"Well..want to know what I see?"
"I guess so."
"I see a woman who has grown up SO much over the past couple of years into one that is so strong and so independent. She's gorgeous and could have any man in the world; she's just too scared to go find him. She's also a little insecure cause of a certain hottie for a best friend, so ya know..."
"Justin!"
He laughed, "I'm joking..but seriously, I think you underestimate yourself."
"I guess so..."
"You do.."
She shrugged, "Are we done here?"
"Yeah..after you..," He said opening the door.
She stepped out, he did after her, closing the door. They made their way back to the sitting area when all of a sudden the bus shifted almost violently. McKennah stumbled, tripping backwards. Justin caught her just before her head hit the edge of the table and he fell almost on top of her. "Wow..that was close.."
He nodded, "Uh huh."
It was then
their eyes locked.
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