Alyssa pulled up to Lance's house about 7:30. Several cars were outside his house, so she had to park a few houses down. As she stepped out of her car she was greeted with the cold night air. She shivered grabbing her things and walking up to his house. `A large stained glass door was in front of her, and she rang the door bell, not knowing why she was feeling nervous all of a sudden. As soon as the door swung open, and revelaed Lance her nerves slipped away.
"ALYSSA!" Lance smiled brightly allowing her to come inside before he hugged her tightly.
"I've missed you man!" She laughed again, feeling better than she had in weeks. The sweet sounds of Christmas music lingered in the air, and she could smell holiday cooking coming from the kitchen. Familiar faces were all around her, and it put her at ease just to know that she wouldn't be spending Christmas alone.
"Lets see here, I think that Chris and Joey are in the living room, and the last time I saw Jc he was at the piano, and Justin is..." Lance saw Alyssa's expression harden we he said Justin's name. He sighed not finishing his sentence. The seperation was really hard on both of them, it was plainly obvious.
"Thanks," She gave half smile wondering into the spacious living room. She spotted Joey and Chris sitting beside each other on the couch, laughing. A huge grin was across her face as she hurried over to them, sitting casually beside Joey. He turned his head slowly in the middle of his conversation, his face lighting up when he saw her.
"Lyssie!" He shouted, making several heads turn towards them. Alyssa giggled standing up to hug him. He jumped up wrapping his arms around her tiny frame. He spun her around in a circle kissing her head softly.
"We missed you girly!" It was now Chris's turn to hug her, and draw attention to himself. Alyssa couldn't help but to smile in his embrace. She patted his shoulder sitting down between him and Joey.
"So whats been going on with you? Dang,it feels like I haven't see you in forever!' Joey placed his hand on her knee smiling over at her. "Jeez, I've been so busy. It just seemed like all of a sudden I didn't have time to breathe! But I love doing what I'm doing, so it's all worth it."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. Happy is just like everywhere girlfriend! You are turning into a little diva!" Chris poked her in the side making her giggle slightly. Being around these guys always brought the little kid out of her. They seemed so happy and carefree all the time.
"Yeah, my life changed ever since that video shoot..." Alyssa stopped her sentence her eyes moving down. "I mean, thats when everything started changing..." She struggled again with her words. "Dang, you know what I'm trying to say? My whole life DID change that day. But, I mean that after the video came out my popularity just took off," She laughed in frustration. It seemed that no matter how she tried her words and her thoughts always got tangled in her and Justin's fight.
"And LOOK who's here, and didn't even come to see me?" Alyssa almost screeched when she saw Jc leaning against the wall. All eyes turned to her as she jumped out of her seat and ran up to him. A smile crossed his face as he engulfed her in a hug.
"You look so pretty... " Jc smiled pushing a curl behind her shoulder.
"Why thank you! You look pretty sharp yourself!" Alyssa reached up hugging him again.
"Come on, I want you to meet my mom," Jc grabbed her hand pulling her in the direction he had just came from.
"Mom,this is a very good friend of mine Alyssa Taylor," Alyssa smiled at the woman strectching out her hand. She had the same warm eyes as Jc, and the same comforting vibe Jc gave off.
"I'm Karen. It's so nice to meet you sweetie! I've heard some wonderful things about you,"
"Thank you, it's a pleasure here as well..."
"Ok, I'll be back mom. I want to go find Lance. You coming Lyss?" Alyssa thought about it for a moment before shaking her head.
"Nice metting you again mrs. Chasez," she smiled following Jc across the festive living room.
"I think I'm going to step outside and get a little fresh air. I'll catch up with you later Jc," Alyssa squeezed his hand walking past a clutter of people and out into the back yard. Lights were twinkling everywhere, and the sky was filled with more stars than she had ever seen. She sat down on the porch swing, swaying back and forth gently.
She didn't even notice Justin as he walked outside. Her head was tilted upward concentrating only on the sky. Justin watched her rock back and forth on the wooden swing. The pale glow of stars danced across her face. Every asset of her made him want her even more. He couldnt find anything wrong with her.Her every flaw was seen to him as complete beauty.
"I guess we had the same idea," Justin smiled over at her leaning against the wall.
"Yeah, looks like it," Alyssa gave a nervous smile, her mind was giving her no words to say. She knew she shoud make an atempt to patch things up, so she scooted over on the swing.
"Would you like to sit down?" Her voice came out soft, and hesitant. Justin shook his head sitting down beside her. Chills went up her body as his leg brushed against hers.
"It's so beautiful tonight..." It was hard for Justin to keep his eyes off of alyssa. She nodded her head in agreement, gazing up at the blanket of lights. The stars filtered through her eyes, all Justin could do was stare as he watched them twinkle.
A gentle gust of wind blew, causing Alyssa's curls to brush across his face. It was torture not to be able to reach his hand out and touch them. Justin saw her shiver slightly her hands covering her bare arms.
"Cold?" ALyssa shook her head in response trying to make the least amount of eye contact she could. Justin shrugged off his jacket draping it across her shoulders.
"You don't have to do that Justin, really..." Alyssa started to pull the jacket down her arm to return it to him.
"I know...I want to," he placed his hand on top of hers stopping her from pulling down the jacket.
He had leaned in the talk to her and now their faces were only inches apart. Alyssa could feel his warm breathe against her face, and smell the sweet scent of his cologne. Her senses went into over drive, as she closed her eyes briefly, just savoring the position she was in. Until then she hadn't reliaze how perfect her life was when he was in it.
