(The Next Day, Day Before The Tour Starts)
Siobhan sighed heavily and spun around in her chair. She had finally managed to finish Lance’s interview and she was typing up all her notes. She still had to edit Justin’s biography she wrote and she hadn’t even started on writing Lance’s.
Siobhan had been so determined to find out all the dirt on the five guys she hadn’t realized how much work she still had ahead of her. The tour started the next day and she had barely even thought about packing.
Siobhan placed her hands on the keys and began tapping away incisively. Her mind started to flood with thoughts and words she wanted to use in Lance’s biography. She was so into her writing she didn’t even hear the soft knock on her door.
The knock was repeated and Siobhan finally looked up curiously. She waited again and the knock came once more. Siobhan checked her wrist watch and her eye’s slightly widened at the time. She hadn’t even noticed most of the office workers had gone home a half hour ago and it was past time for JC’s interview.
“Come in,” she finally said.
Siobhan began gathering her notes on Lance and filing them neatly so she wouldn't lose anything. She saved all her documents and closed down her computer.
JC peeked his head in and smiled tiredly, “Hello Miss Westing, I thought you had left since you didn’t answer right away.”
“Well Mr. Chasez for your information I do have other things than be at your beck and call, but I thought I would wait a little longer,” Siobhan said, not looking up.
JC chuckled, “I see you’ve been preparing for my interview from your comment.”
Siobhan looked up and smiled sarcastically. “Please have a seat Mr. Chasez.”
“Actually I was thinking maybe we could go somewhere else,” JC said, stepping into her office full way.
“Where?” Siobhan asked. “I don’t have all night I have other things to do and--”
“Let’s go out to dinner while we do this, I have things to do also, like pack and sleep before the tour tomorrow. I’ll make it quick and we’ll both eat during the process. Kill two birds with one stone,” JC interrupted.
Siobhan sighed and thought about his offer. “I guess so...but promise me one thing.”
JC raised and eyebrow, “Depends, what is it?”
“You won’t give me a hard time during this interview,” Siobhan said, fixing her stare at him.
His blue eyes sparkled mischievously, “You have until after dinner is finished, once dessert comes I’m at liberty to say anything I please.”
Siobhan chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, thinking about his proposition. “I guess that’ll work...but remember! I have until AFTER the full meal is eaten.”
JC nodded his head, “I am a man of my word.”
“I bet,” Siobhan muttered, standing up and gathering her belongings.
She placed Lance’s folder in her briefcase along with all the other papers and files she needed. She closed her laptop and shut down, disconnecting the travel computer and gently placing it in it’s case. When she was finally ready she took one last glance around her office to make sure she didn’t forget anything.
JC was watching her from the door way, waiting patiently, with a smile on his face. Siobhan sighed and turned around towards the door, where JC was standing. She lugged the two bags and walked to the door, reaching him.
“Can I help you with anything?” he offered with a smile.
Siobhan looked at him suspiciously before shrugging her shoulders and dumping both bags in his extended arms. JC’s knees bent slightly, then straightened when he regained balance quickly. He let out a small grunt and a sarcastic smile.
“I got it, no problem,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Be careful with that stuff, if you break my computer it’s not going to be pretty and I didn’t spend all that time filing those papers to have them scattered all over the floor,” Siobhan instructed, pushing JC out into the hallway, gently.
She turned around and shut the door behind herself, turning the lights off also. She locked the door and checked the door once more. She turned around and looked at JC.
“Well are we going or what?” she asked.
JC sighed and kept his lips sealed. He nodded his head and started towards the elevator. Siobhan walked beside him at a faster pace.
“You walk a little slow, can we speed this up a little? I’m hungry and I want to get this interview over with,” she whined.
JC smiled, “What’s the rush Miss Westing?”
Siobhan’s eye darted over to his face and studied it closely, trying to determine if there was any hidden sarcasm. She found none that she could see and shrugged.
“I have to pack for the next two to three months and I haven’t even started, I doubt I’ll even sleep tonight,” she said casually.
They reached the elevator and Siobhan pushed the button. She turned back to JC who was still carrying all of her things. JC whistled in a low tone and had a smile on his face, innocent and mysterious.
Siobhan raised an eyebrow curiously and wondered what he was thinking. She couldn’t let him get to her again when he wasn’t even doing anything, but that was the thing, he COULD get to her by not doing anything.
The elevator opened with a small ding and they both climbed on. Siobhan pushed the button for the lobby and JC continued to whistle softly. Siobhan tapped her foot and checked her watch repeatedly. She kept sneaking looks over to JC and her foot sped up in it’s rhythm.
JC smiled again, not showing any sarcasm or hidden amusement, just innocence. Siobhan growled to herself and shook her head, trying to shake thoughts out of her head. She wasn’t having much success.
The elevator reached the lobby and they both stepped off, making their way to the door. They said good-bye to the night security guard and stepped outside into the night air. Siobhan inhaled deeply and let out a sigh. She paused on the top step and waited for JC to catch up. By now he had gotten used to the weight of her belongings and strolled at a steady pace.
“We’ll take my car,” Siobhan stated.
“How will I get to mine after dinner?” JC asked.
“I’ll take you back here afterwards and you can take it home,” she said simply.
JC nodded his head and smiled again. Siobhan bit her tongue from saying anything and started down the steps. JC followed her silently and began whistling his tune again. Siobhan reached her car and unlocked it, popping the trunk. She walked back to where JC was patiently waiting for his next instructions and took her briefcase off his hands. She laid it carefully into the trunk and did the same with her laptop.
JC let his arms down in relief and rubbed his hands together. He walked over to the passengers side of the car while Siobhan made sure her things were securely placed in the trunk of her car. When she was satisfied, she shut the trunk and walked over to the driver’s side.
“You can get in, I’m not going to make you run along side, though that would be interesting now wouldn’t it?” Siobhan smirked.
She climbed in and JC did the same without a word. He simply smiled at her and buckled his seat belt. Siobhan paused for a second and studied him carefully. She sighed and shook her head, starting her car. She pulled out of her parking space and onto the highway.
“Mind if I turn on the radio?” JC asked politely, after a long silence.
Siobhan shrugged, “Just don’t put anything stupid on.”
“I’ll try not to.”
Siobhan looked over him and waited for a smile to slide across his face and show he was being sarcastic. But he wasn’t, Siobhan focused her stare back on the road and gripped the steering wheel tighter.
JC turned on the car radio and flipped through the stations until he found a song he liked. He looked over at Siobhan as if asking for her approval. Siobhan nodded slowly and didn’t say a word. JC leaned back in the car seat and shifted until he was comfortable.
He looked out the car window and hummed along with the song coming out of the speakers. He drummed his fingers dully to the beat of the music, on the car handle. Siobhan kept stealing glance over at him and waited for him to say or do something, but he did nothing.
This was going to drive her crazy, she wasn’t going to last until after dessert, she could never tell what he was thinking or what he really wanted to say. Siobhan took a deep breath and tried to contain herself. She wasn’t going to give in.
Siobhan turned into a restaurant parking lot and parked. “I hope you like Italian.”
JC smiled, “Your the driver, whatever you want, I like.”
Siobhan gripped the wheel and stayed silent. “Yes...well...then let’s get this over with.”
They both climbed out of the car and Siobhan popped the trunk again. She walked to the back of her car and got the things she was going to need for her interview with him and shut the trunk when she was finished. JC waited patiently for her, when she caught up they both walked into the restaurant together.
The hostess seated them and handed them menu’s, then told them a waitress would be right with them. They both nodded and thanked her, picking up their menu’s to look them over. Siobhan peeked over the tip of her menu and studied JC.
His jaw twitched slightly as he looked over the menu and started debating in his mind what he wanted to order. He eyes traveled over the words slowly, as if he was taking everything into consideration. He breathed deeply and a soft smile rested on his lips.
Siobhan shook her head and looked back down at her menu. There was something about him that made her wonder. Wonder what he was thinking and if he was really making fun of her inside. But then on a different note, wonder what went through his mind in the course of a day.
Something about him just intrigued her and she was actually looking forward to interviewing him, she had thought long and hard about the questions she wanted to ask. She was now burning with curiosity to find out his answer.
A waitress came over and introduced herself and took drink orders. They were both ready to order their meals so they order them also. When the waitress had written everything down, taken the menus, and walked away, Siobhan and JC finally had a chance to talk again.
Siobhan looked down to the tape recorder and pressed record. “All right JC let’s get started.”
JC smiled and nodded his head, “Fire away.”
Siobhan chewed on her lip and looked over her questions, “First question...how does it feel to know that your a major influence on the younger generation?”
JC leaned back in his chair and looked around the room casually. “Not a bad question to start off with.”
Siobhan smiled cautiously, “It’s my job.”
JC shrugged and sighed. “How does it feel? You know what I think people misunderstand all the time? Is the fact that nobody has been CHOSEN for this ‘job’ of being a major influence on the younger generation. I think everyone assumes that we gladly accepted the challenge of that task.” He paused, “Now don’t get me wrong, because I don’t mine the responsibility, but I think whenever ANYONE gets into the entertainment business they don’t expect HALF of the things then encounter.”
Siobhan tilted her head to the side, “Like what?”
JC smiled softly, “Like being given the task to uphold a perfect image so that everyone you influence will follow. Sometimes you feel like one kick of the tiniest pebble can shatter the glass house your standing in.”
“Glass house?”
“Our image, our picture perfect image,” JC said. “It’s like you’ve stepped into this whole new world and you hope for the best, but you never expect the worst.”
“The worst?” Siobhan asked.
JC sighed and leaned forward, “Tell me Miss Westing, when you decided you wanted to pursue a career in writing, did you ever think there was going to be hard times? Did you ever once stop to think of the things you’d be sacrificing and the loved ones you might even put into danger. People you would hurt along the way and you would lose...had that ever occurred to you when you took your first writing job? Tell me, what did you see when you saw your future?”
Siobhan seemed trapped in a haze, JC’s words hauntingly taunted her, almost trying to drag out her past without her permission. She stared off into space, thoughts in another part of the time zone they were both sharing.
“What did you see?” JC asked again, softer this time.
“I saw...I saw my dreams...I saw my name being published with great pieces of art...I saw true happines...written all over my face...” Siobhan trailed off, mumbling.
“And when you got there...did you find all of that, that easily?” JC asked.
Siobhan shook her head and looked down at her hands. “Everything I saw seemed to vanish like an illusion.”
JC leaned back in his chair, “After all you’ve been through, do you see all those things anymore?”
Siobhan thought about his question for a moment. She shook her head slowly, “Their not as beautiful as they used to be.”
JC smiled gently, “Now your getting my point.”
Siobhan looked up and her eyes met his. The minute they made eye contact she seemed to snap out of her trance. She blushed deeply and smiled, covering her mouth with her hand.
“I’m sorry, we’re getting off topic, this is an interview about YOU, not me.”
JC didn’t say anything, just continued to stare at her. “Well to answer your question short and simple, it’s not something I WANTED, but kind of like something I GAINED. It can be a beautiful thing and an ugly thing at the same time. Though everyone has their ups and downs, this can be either or.”
Siobhan chewed on her lip and thought about his words. “I guess we can go back to that question later.”
JC let out a small chuckle.
The waitress came back with their drink orders and walked away quickly, after placing them in front of them on the table. JC leaned in and took his drink, tasting a sip slowly. Siobhan ignored the drink and scanned over her notebook again.
“Next question...I’ve heard you started to help producing songs for other people and for yourself as well, tell me about that.”
JC’s eyes twinkled with excitement at the mention of music. A smile crept across his face and he propped both arms on the table, leaning in more to dive deeper into the conversation.
“Music is such an extraordinary thing,” he began. “It can take you on a roller coaster of emotions but then keep you in the reality you live in. Have you ever listened to a certain song that can always make you cry? Then you switch over to a song that can always make you start to dance. Have you ever noticed how certain songs can bring back memories of things you’ve experienced, good or bad?”
Siobhan leaned back, slightly surprised from his sudden enthusiasm. She had struck a cord and didn’t know how much the vibrations made him tremble.
“I guess so...” she started.
“Have you ever had the worst day of you life and just go home, put on a song, and suddenly the world seems brighter?” he asked curiously, now staring intently on her.
“Well I mean...”
“Or how about, being in a situation where you love someone so much that your words can even express how you feel, then the perfect song comes along and that’s the way you tell them how much you care...” JC cut in.
Siobhan sighed, “I’ve never been in love.”
JC stopped talking and sat back again. “Oh...sorry.”
Siobhan shook her head and tried to brush it off. “No don’t be sorry, love comes sooner for some than others, right?”
JC nodded and gave a weak smile. “Well music is my life, literally.”
Siobhan smiled.
“Was that a smile I saw? And I caused that by making an actual innocent comment?” JC asked with a hint of playfulness.
“Yes it was, but don’t get TOO big headed about it,” she said, turning away.
JC grinned, “I’ll try not to.”
“Music, how do you feel about producing music?” she asked, trying to get back to the topic of the conversation.
JC’s smile softened and he looked into space adoringly. “Music...” he murmured. “What a great thing...whoever discovered it should be given...given...an award...or...a medal...SOMETHING...if they only knew what they’ve done for our society today.”
Siobhan studied him carefully. “I take is music is a passion of yours.”
JC snapped out of his thoughts and looked over at her with a smile, “Yes it is.”
“What would you do if you weren’t making music?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t be here, that’s for sure.”
Siobhan smiled at his remark.
“I don’t know what I would do, something in the entertainment business...if I couldn’t sing the songs and put on the performance, then I would be behind the scenes, creating the sound and encouraging the aspiring singers and performers.”
Siobhan nodded her head, “Next question...have you ever been in love?”
JC seemed to blush from her question. Siobhan smiled and knew she hit something inside of him, not that she hadn’t noticed what she stirred up with the question about music. She looked over at him and waited patiently for his answer.
“I...I don’t have time,” JC finally managed to get out.
Siobhan raised an eyebrow, “So your telling me that in all of your 23 years you’ve been on earth, you’ve never been in love? Not once?”
“You make it sound like I haven’t lived,” JC said slightly offended. “I assure you Miss Westing that I’ve lived a lot more than you think, but to answer your question, no I have not had the privilege to fall in love with someone. I’ve fallen in love with music and what I do for a living...”
“That doesn’t count,” Siobhan said.
“And why not? It’s love isn’t it?”
“But it’s a DIFFERENT kind of love, you know the kind of love I’m talking about,” she said with a sigh.
“I suppose I do, but you never clarified what SPECIFIC love you wanted to know about,” he said with a casual shrug.
Siobhan sighed, “Well I meant love with another person, a companion.”
“Well I’ve already answered that question, no I haven’t,” he said.
The waitress came and placed plates in front of them. They both thanked her politely and she walked away after checking they both had everything they needed.
JC pressed stop on the tape recorder and Siobhan’s mouth opened with slight surprise.
“Excuse me...what do you think your doing?” she asked.
“Eating, I don’t think we should continue with the interview until dinner is eaten and out of the way.”
“Well at least finish this question,” Siobhan protested, pressing record again.
JC pressed stop, “I already answered it.”
“You haven’t finished,” Siobhan insisted, pressing record.
“Yes I did,” he said, pressing stop.
“No you haven’t,” she argued through gritted teeth, pressing record.
“YES I HAVE,” JC replied sternly, pressing stop. He grabbed Siobhan’s hand before she could press record again. “I don’t really think you want all this recording tag on your tape for future references, so just let it go and eat.”
Siobhan narrowed her eyebrows, “You promised until dessert.”
“I’m not TRYING to give you a hard time, your just no cooperating,” he said plainly, not letting go of her wrist.
Siobhan took a deep breath to contain herself and she wriggled her wrist out of his grip. She crossed her arms and didn’t respond.
JC brought his hand back by his side and began to eat. After a few bites he looked over at Siobhan who was still sitting in the same position she had set herself in.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” he asked.
Siobhan didn’t respond.
“Come on Siobhan, don’t let this get in the way of eating, we’ll pick it up right where we left off once were done eating, I PROMISE,” he said, placing his fork and knife down.
Siobhan didn’t move.
“Siobhan...come on...” JC pleaded.
Siobhan remained in the same position with the same look on her face.
JC sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “Fine, I don’t have the energy for this, you win ok?” JC pushed the record button on the tape recorder and looked back over at Siobhan. “Why have I never fallen in love before? Because I believe it’s not planned, I didn’t set a certain age limit to where I’m supposed to meet the deadline. I’m going to fall in love when the time comes and when I meet the right person. Until then I’m going to let my world keep revolving and I’m going to keep living my life. But don’t think I forget about the possibility of encountering love with every day that passes me by, because I don’t.”
JC held up his wrist and pointed to a blue beaded bracelet held on his wrist. Siobhan looked at is curiously but kept her lips sealed.
“Go ahead, ask what it is,” JC urged.
Siobhan shrugged, “If you don’t want to tell me than...”
“It’s for the women of my dreams,” JC cut in. “When I fall in love, she’ll know she’s the one for me when I hand her this bracelet. Sounds childish doesn’t it? Adding to the fact that I made it myself, sounds even MORE childish don’t you think?”
Siobhan shrugged and shook her head slowly.
“Well if it sounds childish so be it, the woman that I fall in love with will hopefully love me back as much as I love her and think it sounds wonderful. Once I slip this on her wrist she’ll know how much I care about her. She’ll know that she’s my new reason for waking up in the morning, she’ll know she’s the one that can shine light on any rainy day that comes along. This will show her that she’s the one I want to be with and that I’ll love her with all my heart and soul. This may be a simple bracelet to some, but to the both of us, it’ll be so much more,” JC finished softly.
He let his wrist drop back onto the table and Siobhan remained silent. After a few moments went by, Siobhan leaned over and pressed stop on the tap recorder.
“I think that’s enough for now, let’s eat,” she said carefully.
She waited for JC’s reaction and didn’t know what to expect next. A long silence passed and she watched him closely. Finally, the corners of his mouth twitched and curled up into a smile.
“It’s about time...I’m starving.”
Siobhan smiled softly and placed her napkin on her lap.
After dinner was finished JC leaned back in his seat, full from the meal and smiling from the easy flowing conversation going one between the two of them.
“I think it’s dessert time,” he said slyly with a wink.
Siobhan groaned, “And we were playing so nicely.”
JC grinned, “All good times come to and end, where heaven ends hell begins.”
“I take it I’m the heaven and your the hell, am I right?”
JC laughed, “I see you HAVE been preparing for this interview.”
Siobhan shrugged, “I have no need to prepare, I say my honest response when a question is directed at me.”
JC smiled broadly, “Trusting your memory was the right way to go, you seem to remember our quotes quite well.”
Siobhan smiled, satisfied. “It’s good to know I’m not getting rusty, I still have a few more years to go before I can start to lose my mind.”
JC laughed out loud. It wasn’t an amused laugh because he knew some secret she was dying to find out or a sly mischievous laugh. It was a whole hearted laugh and Siobhan had caused it by actually being funny and making a joke. This surprised her.
JC’s laugh died down and fell to a silence. He looked over at Siobhan who was staring at him intently. His lips closed together and Siobhan continued to stare.
“Do I have something in my teeth?” he asked, running his tongue over his teeth.
Siobhan giggled, “Yeah...I mean no...”
JC grinned, “Thanks for your help.”
“Anytime.”
They both let out a laugh.
“Are you about ready to leave?” JC asked.
Siobhan nodded her head, “Yeah just let me get my purse and my--”
“I got it covered,” JC cut in.
Siobhan paused and looked over at him, “No I think I can pay for this...I mean I may only be a lowly writer but--”
JC held up his hand to interrupt her, “Don’t even say it.”
“Excuse me...but I’ll say whatever I please and for this--”
“I’m paying, stop arguing,” JC stated.
Siobhan’s mouth hung open, baffled.
“If you keep your mouth hanging open any longer your bound to catch flies soon,” JC said with a wink, while handing the waitress his credit card.
Siobhan’s mouth clamped shut and she scrunched her lips together. “I swear sometimes you can be such a...”
“Gentlemen? Well my mother always taught me how to be--”
“That’s not exactly the word I was thinking about,” Siobhan cut in with a smirk. “But we’re not going to start calling each other names, after all we’re adults aren’t we?”
JC grinned, “Everyone’s a kid at heart, haven’t you ever heard that saying before?”
Siobhan nodded her head, “Some more than others.”
JC was taken aback from her comment, the look in her eye flickered a part of her he never saw before. He kept staring but in the same instant it flickered it vanished in the same moment. Siobhan’s guarded wall shot back up and she laughed nervously to shake JC’s eyes studying her carefully.
“Well come on we have to get you home before ten so you can get your beauty rest for the upcoming tour, it’ll be the last night in your bed for awhile so enjoy it!” Siobhan said, standing up.
“We have to wait until I get my credit card back,” he said softly with a smile.
“Oh...heh...I was just testing you to see if you were paying attention...”
“Oh I’m sure, thanks for that pop quiz, tell me Professor Westing, did I pass?”
Siobhan raised an eyebrow and tapped her chin, “I’d say you BARELY passed because you never call the teacher on their faults, they can flunk you like that,” she said with a snap of her fingers.
“I’ll try and remember that,” JC nodded with a grin.
Siobhan laughed and sat back down in her seat. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I’m seeing the normal side of you...of course your smart ass comments could never be held back but something is better than nothing...right?”
“What do you mean my comments could never be held? I could hold my tongue if I wanted to,” JC protested.
“Yeah right,” Siobhan said, rolling her eyes.
“I could too,” JC said defensively. “I think I can control myself and what I choose to say.”
“All right Mr. Chasez, since you think your so big, I challenge you,” Siobhan said with a sly smile.
JC smiled in return, “State your challenge and I’ll be more than happy to oblige.”
“I challenge you not to utter a smart ass comment for the first two full MONTHS of the tour, starting tomorrow.”
“That is quite a long time...” he began.
“Wuss,” Siobhan muttered.
JC raised an eyebrow and ignored her last comment, “And what do I get if I win?”
“Get?”
“Of course, all challenges or bets have to have a prize that your striving for, right?” JC asked, crossing his arms and fixing his stare on Siobhan.
Siobhan smiled, “Oh so your raising the stakes? I hope you can take what you bring.”
JC raised an eyebrow again, “I can take a lot more than you think.”
“Ooohh...all right Mr. Chasez...let’s see...if I win...you have to tell me ANYTHING I want to know...” she said carefully.
JC nodded slowly, “All right and if I win...you do anything I SAY.”
“For how long?”
“Just one thing I choose,” JC said.
“Oh...all right Mr. Chasez, you’ve got yourself a deal,” Siobhan said, holding out her hand.
JC smiled mischievously, “And so I do.” He took her hand and they both shook on it.
The waitress came back with the receipt and JC signed for it, then stood up and escorted Siobhan outside back to her car. Siobhan shivered from the sudden change of temperature and JC placed both hands on her arms. He rubbed them gently to warm her up and Siobhan suddenly stiffened from his touch. She slid out of is grip and started walking towards her car.
JC watched after her for a brief second before shrugging his shoulders and following after her. His last move had been strictly innocent, just a reaction to someone who was cold. He hadn’t meant to startle her and he had a feeling he did.
They both reached the car and climbed in after Siobhan placed her things carefully in the trunk of the car. Siobhan started the car and backed up. She pulled into the road and proceeded in driving back to JIVE’s building so she could drop JC off.
The ride back was silent with a slightly awkward air. Siobhan turned on the radio to fill up the silence and drove, keeping her focus on the road and on the road only. They finally reached the studio parking lot and JC climbed out carefully. He leaned back down and peeked into the car.
“Well that was interesting night,” he smiled.
“Very,” Siobhan replied.
“So when does our bet officially end?”
“Let’s make it July 4th,” she suggested.
“Done,” JC said. “Have a pleasant evening Miss Westing, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
“The bet doesn’t start until tomorrow.”
“Practice makes perfect,” he said, then shut the car door.
Siobhan hesitated for a second before speeding off into the night. JC looked after her car and the soft mist of smoke her car had left behind.
“I wonder if she knows what she just got herself into,” JC said to himself. He paused and thought about it for a second then shook his head and climbed into his car. “She’s in for a roller coaster of a ride now isn’t she?”
