Roni laid in bed and stared at the ceiling. She had already been in Germany for five days and she still couldn’t sleep. Every time she tried old memories came up and kept her awake. She knew having Chris sing to her would probably clear her mind but she was too proud. Not like he was home much at night. He was usually out with Kat. Once she did try to sneak downstairs to ask him to sing to her but she found Chris and Kat making out on the couch. She obviously didn’t stay around to watch that.

During the day she followed the guys where ever they went. She’d been to photo shoots, interviews, recording sessions and other business outings. Once when she was out walking with Chris and Lance the guys got stopped and asked for autographs. That’s when reality hit and she realized Chris was becoming famous, all of them were. The Chris situation here and the Jamie situation at home occupied her thoughts too much already. Did they have to creep into her sleeping time also? Roni tossed a few more times before getting out of bed and walking to the door. She slowly opened it and crept across the hall. She lightly knocked on the door and awaited an answer.

"Yeah?" a sleepy Joey asked as he opened his bedroom door.

"Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to wake you up." Roni turned but Joey stopped her.

"Ron, it’s the middle of the night. You had to know you’d wake me."

"Well…" She blushed and hung her head.

"What’s wrong?" Joey leaned against the doorframe.

"Umm…I couldn’t sleep."

"Then why don’t you ask Chris to sing to you? He’s told us thousands of times about when he used to do that to you and how he’s missed it."

"Well, Chris doesn’t seem to be home at the moment, and when I did swallow my pride two nights ago I found him and Kat making out on the couch."

"Oh." Joey’s face fell. "Do you want to come in?"

"Can I?"

Joey stepped back and allowed her to enter his room. He sighed as he closed the door. He watched Roni sit uncomfortably on the foot of the bed. He walked to the bed and sat in the middle.

"Is there something you want to talk about?" Roni stayed silent. "Do you want me to sing you to sleep?"

Roni shook her head and turned to Joey. She bit her lip and looked at her lap. A few mintues later she looked up with tears in her eyes. Joey slid across the bed and held her close to him. He rocked her as she breathed deeply.

"It’s going to be okay, Roni. Is there something you need to talk about? I’m here and I’m willing to listen. Is there something back home? Is there still something with Chris?"

"Both."

"Both?" Joey’s eyes widened. He thought everything with Chris was resolved, even though she had hung back from him a bit in the last couple days. "I’ll listen to whatever you want to tell me. I won’t push you to talk about something you don’t want to."

Roni took a few deep breaths before nuzzling her face into Joey’s chest. She held her face there until she was ready to talk. When she was she sat against the headboard and waited for Joey to join her.

"I guess I’ll start with Chris." She paused. "Damn, I haven’t talked about this with anyone."

"I know." Joey took her hand in his and squeezed it. "I feel honored that you’re willing to with me…but only if you want to."

"I do. But only on one condition."

"What?"

"You don’t tell Chris."

"Ron, I don’t know if I can do that. I see him everyday."

"Joey, please?"

Joey saw the lost look in her eyes and found himself nodding. "Okay. The best I can tell you is that I’ll try."

"Thank you." She squeezed his hand.

~~~~~~

Chris finished washing the last dish and placed it back into Kat’s cabinet. He sighed and looked out the back window of her small house. He felt two arms encircle his waist and a chin on his shoulder. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Kat’s profile. Her arms squeezed his waist and he closed his eyes.

"What are you thinking about?"

Chris sighed. "I’m just thinking about Roni and how I’m so glad she’s here."

"You’ve really missed her."

Chris nodded and turned to face Kat. "Yeah, I have. She’s like a part of my family and it feels so good to know that now she’s talking to me."

"Well, you seem happier."

"I am happier."

"I like you happier."

"You do?"

Kat nodded and pulled Chris back to the table.

~~~~~~

"Roni, you should really talk to Chris."

"I know." She ran a hand through her hair. "It’s just that I feel so betrayed, so alone."

"Well, you told me and when you tell Chris that’ll be someone else so you aren’t alone." Joey took Roni’s hand. "Please tell me you’ll think about talking to him about this. Ron, the reason you’re mad at him is a bogus reason. How was he to know what was going to happen?"

"I don’t know, Joey. I just felt so…so..betrayed. He left me alone when he’s always told me I’d never be hurt when he was around. I was hurt and he left me."

"Oh, Ron." Joey reached across his body and pulled her to him. "You need to talk to him. Do you even know how much he cares about you? He’d never leave you intenionally if he thought you might be hurt. Please promise me you’ll at least think about it."

Roni nodded her head against his neck.

"Good. Now do you want to talk about what happened with Jamie?"

Roni moved her head so she could see the clock. "It’s almost four in the morning, Joey. Are you sure you don’t want to go to sleep?"

"Nope. It’ll be okay. Do you want to go to sleep?"

"I’d like to keep talking if that’s okay."

"Go right on ahead."

Roni placed her head on his chest and exhaled loudly. She felt Joey run his hands over her hair. It had been a long time since she’d been comforted by a guy and held like this. She closed her eyes and reopened them when she knew where to begin.

"Well I thought everything was going well. We were even voted prom king and queen. I guess sometimes what they say is true. Love is blind."

Joey pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head. "What happened?"

"When I found out I was coming here he was the first one I told. He seemed so sincere when he told me he’d miss me, he’d miss being around me for two weeks.. The day before I left for Germany I went by his house to say good-bye." She paused and laid her hand beneath her chin against his chest. "Let’s just say he missed me so much he decided to find a replacement for me before I even left."

"Oh, Roni, I’m sorry. Some guys are such scum."

"Trust me, I know that now. The first thing he said was that he thought I’d already left. As if whether I was gone or not justifies him cheating on me."

"Of course it doesn’t. Guys are just stupid."

Roni looked up at him. "Even you?"

"Even me." Joey looked down and his eyes met Roni’s. "Especially for what I’m thinking I’d like to do."

"And what’s that?" Roni whispered.

"This."

Joey brought his hand to cup Roni’s chin. Roni moved her hand on his chest to his knee for better balance. She bit her lip and tilted her head slightly to accomidate the angle of his head. Joey’s gaze fixed on her lips until they were a breath away from his own. He watched as Roni closed her eyes and lifted her mouth so he could placed his on hers.

Joey lowered his head the millimeter he needed to for his lips to touch hers. He held back because he knew she was in a vulnerable condition. He slowly backed away but Roni pulled him closer and placed her lips on his. Joey was surprised when he felt her tongue run along his lips. After a minute of restraint he deepened the kiss and moved his hand from her chin to the back of her neck. There was an urgency in her kiss. Somehow Joey found himself lying on his bed, half over Roni. He felt a hand roam down his side and Joey realized what was happening. He grabbed her hand and brought it away from his body.

"Roni, no. This is wrong. We shouldn’t be doing this."

"I know." Roni pulled away. "I’m sorry."

"No, I’m sorry." Joey stood up and walked across the room.

"You shouldn’t be sorry."

"But it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have even mentioned it."

Roni stood behind Joey and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Joey, I participated whole-heartedly. We’re both to blame. Now we both agree that it was a mistake and let’s move on. Okay?"

Joey nodded. He walked to the door and opened it quietly. He stuck his head out and looked both ways before waving to Roni.

"No one’s up yet. The coast is clear."

Roni nodded. "Okay. I’ll see you in a few hours."

Roni hugged Joey and he kissed her forehead. He sighed heavily and closed his door.

~~~~~~

Chris stared at his bedroom door. He had just walked up the stairs and upon reaching the top he saw Roni leaving Joey’s room and entering his. He sat on the top step and closed his eyes. His mind was going into overdrive. He knew he shouldn’t think that anything would happen between Joey and Roni, but they did have a past. A past that did involve kissing. And why was Roni in Joey’s room anyway?

Chris stood and walked to Joey’s door. He lifted his fist to knock but his hand hung in the air. He wanted to confront his friend, but respect for Joey interferred. He knew Joey was a good guy and wouldn’t make any moves on Roni. Chris then looked at his bedroom door. He was tempted to enter and check on Roni but he knew she had probably just laid down and was still awake. He hadn’t sung her to sleep at all during her stay.

Chris turned away from the door and headed back to the stairs. He went to the living room and pulled out his bedding. After changing he set his alarm and laid down to sleep for a few hours.

~~~~~~

Chris stared at Joey. He couldn’t help it. He had been doing it all afternoon. He couldn’t get the thought of Roni leaving the younger male’s room early in the morning out of his head. Every time he tried to shut it out his mind would think of when he saw them kissing in Orlando. Chris shook his head. This wasn’t productive.

"Chris?"

Chris shook his head again and faced the producer.

"Yeah?"

"How about you and Joey go in the booth?"

Chris took a deep breath and nodded. He followed Joey into the recording booth. He quickly glanced sideways at the brunette and adjusted the headset over his ears. He listened to the producer and sang. During his solo Chris saw Joey make a face through the glass. He followoed Joey’s eyes to see who the look was for. The look was directed at Roni; who was now laughing her head off. Chris glared at Joey again and continued to sing. He was concentrating so much on not letting Joey and Roni get to him he didn’t pay attention to the music.

"Chris?" JC’s voice came over the microphone.

Chris stopped singing and saw the brunette through the window. "What?"

"The music stopped a minute ago and the producer left the studio."

"Where’d he go?"

"Bathroom." JC paused. "Are you all right?"

"Why wouldn’t I be?" Chris stood up and stretched.

"Because, Chris," Roni’s voice came through the speaker, "you were off key at the end. You know I don’t know much about music but you were off."

Chris looked up and their eyes locked.

"You started with the same voice I have heard my whole life and then your voice changed. Got worse."

"So that means I had a bad voice and it got worse than before?"

"Chris, you know that’s not what I meant. You normally have a very good voice. It’s just that it sounds like your mind wandered or something."

"Yeah, or something," Chris muttered to himself. He looked at Joey. "Please keep your funny faces to the peanut gallery to a minimum."

"What faces?" Joey asked innocently before laughing.

Chris shook his head and turned it back to the glass when the mic was turned on.

"Hey, Chris?"

"Yeah, Ron?"

"What kind of peanut am I?"

Chris’ face turned in confusion. "Huh?"

"You just said out here was the peanut gallery, so I was wondering what kind of peanut I was."

"Umm…ummm…I don’t know. It was just an expression."

"I know what kind of peanut Roni is," Joey interjected.

"What?" Chris and Roni asked simultaneously.

"Honey roasted. She’s sweet," he winked at Roni, "and she’s hot."

Chris glared between the two before pushing Joey off his stool. "Ha ha. Very funny. Let’s finish this song."

~~~~~~

Roni looked around the living room and sighed. The guys had a full day today and she had decided to stay at the house. It had been a few days since her kiss with Joey and she was glad nothing seemed weird between the two of them. Things seemed more tense between Chris and her but she didn’t know why. She was trying to fix things between them, or at least make them not so tense.

Roni jumped as a hand touched her shoulder. "Joey?"

"Nope," Justin sat next to her on the couch, "try again."

"Hey, Justin, what’s up?"

"Nothing much. Actually, I was just about to ask you the same thing."

"Same. Just watching some TV." She pointed to the television.

Justin squirmed on the couch. "Well, I wanted to ask you what was up with you and Joey."

"What do you mean? Nothing’s up."

"Roni, I saw you leaving his room the other night. I know you two have a past and I just want to make sure nothing’s resurfacing."

"Justin," she shook her head, "there’s nothing between us. I needed to talk and he said I could come to him anytime, so I went to him. Nothing more, nothing less." She paused. "You didn’t tell Chris, did you?"

Justin shook his head. Roni let out a sigh of relief and sagged against the back of the couch. She patted his arm.

"Thanks for not telling him, Justin. I really don’t need for him to know. Neither Joey nor I want him to know. Chris has an active imagination and I can just imagine the things he’d think of." Roni shook her head and laughed.

Justin stood. "I just wanted to make sure no one was playing and no one was going to get hurt."

"Don’t worry, Justin. Joey and I are just friends. We never plan on being anything but friends. Just please don’t tell Chris about me being in Joey’s room."

"Don’t worry. I won’t."

Justin leaned down and gave Roni a hug before turning to the kitchen. He walked over the tiled floor until he got to the backdoor. He opened the screen door and closed it behind him when he got outside. Justin ran a hand through his curly hair and sighed. He sat on the grass in the corner of the yard and looked under the large tree next to him. In the tree’s shade sat Chris.

"There’s nothing going on, Chris. They’re just friends. Nothing else. She went to his room because she needed to talk and he had an open door policy for her. They’re just friends."

"Really?’’ Chris raised his head and faced his young friend.

"Yeah. They both said it to me. Both of them."

"Then that should be it, shouldn’t it?"

"Yeah, it should." Justin got up and stood before Chris. "Are you okay?"

Chris nodded "Yeah. Thanks, Justin. You’re a good friend. Thank you."

"No problem, man." Justint urned and walked a few yards before turning back to Chris. "Oh, and one more thing."

"Yeah?"

"They both, like, begged me not to tell you I saw her walk out of Joey’s room. Which I told them I would because I technically didn’t see her walk out of Joey’s room, you did."

"I know." Chris sighed and looked down. "Thank you for asking them for me. They have no reason to lie to you."

"Chris, the reason they didn’t want me to tell you is that they were afraid you’d take it too far in your head."

Chris looked up and saw Justin’s raised eyebrow. Chris waved him away. "It’s over now. You soothed my suspicions."

"If you say so, Chris," Justin said as he walked back to the house.

Chris watched Justin close the back screen door. He ran a hand down the back of his neck before leaning his body into the base of the tree.

"I wish I could be as strong as you, tree. I wish I could stand there and make things go around me."

Chris closed his eyes and scooted into a more comfortable position. He bit his bottom lip before letting a sigh escape his lips. As much as it was a relief hearing from Justin that both Roni and Joey claimed to be only friends something bothered him. He now knew why Roni had been in Joey’s room. It was because he hadn’t been available like he always said he would. He needed to talk to Kat. Chris stood.

"Guess there’s no time like the present."

~~~~~~

Roni flipped through the television channels again. Finding nothing interesting on she turned the television off and flipped the remote on the coffee table. She curled her legs beneath her and leaned her head against the armrest. Her peaceful position was disturbed when a body crashed on the cushion next to her. She opened one eye and shot Joey a glare.

"What’s up, girl?"

"Me." She cocked her head and looked aorund. "Where’s everyone else? It’s too quiet around here."

Joey laughed. "Well, JC went with Lance and Justin and their moms to the recording studio and Chris said something about needing to see Kat."

"Figures. So we’re all alone?"

"Yes, we are. Lucky me." Joey smiled and began crawling toward her.

"Joey, get off me." Roni tried to push him off her. She finally got him off balance and squeezed off the couch. "Ha ha, you can’t catch me."

"Just watch me."

Joey shot off the couch and followed Roni around the room. He had almost caught her when she dashed into the kitchen. They ran around the center island. At one point they stopped on opposite sides of the counter. Roni threw an apple at Joey who took a bite out of the fruit and placed it on a napkin. He wiggled his eyebrows and took off after her.

Roni squeeled and ran out into the backyard. She dashed around the few trees and the lawn furniture. She noticed she didn’t hear Joey’s breathing behind her and stopped. She looked aorund and found him by the door.

"What are you doing? Giving up already?"

"Nope," Joey crossed his arms, "the only way back in the house is through this door. So at some point you are going to have to come here so I’m blocking your escape route. The only way to get out of the yard is to give up."

"I guess you’re right." Roni began circling the yard next to the fence.

"That’s right. Come to poppa."

"Don’t flatter yourself, Joseph. Plus, I think you forgot something."

"What?"

"You forgot that I could go out the fence door and go back in the front door."

Roni made a break for the fence latch but was stopped by Joey’s arms a few feet from her destination. He picked her up before turning her around and holding her against the tall fence. She struggled against his hold.

"You’re not going to get away, little girl." He lowered his mouth to next to her ear. "So just give up."

"Never." She shook her head. When she stopped her head was turned away from him. She felt his breath on her neck. "It looks like it’s going to rain. We’d better get inside."

"You’re not getting away that easily." Joey pulled back and looked at the sky. He focused back on her face. "You know you’re not."

"Joey, let me go." She put a hand on his chest and tried to push him away.

"Nope." He shook his head. Unknowingly he had stepped closer to her.

Roni saw the step and flattened against the fence. She felt him take another step and his hip press against hers. Her eyes shot up to his. She opened her mouth to speak but he stilled it with a finger. She slumped against the fence. Her hand began to slide up his chest. She tilted her head and began closing her eyes as he lowered his head to touch her lips.

Then it began to rain.

~~~~~~

"Damn, it’s pouring," Chris exclaimed from his perch inside Kat’s front door. "It doesn’t look like I’m going home anytime soon if this keeps up."

"I don’t mind." Kat wrapped her arms around his waist. "You can stay as long as you like."

Chris smiled and kissed his girlfriend. "I know. Let me call home and tell them I won’t be home until this lets up."

Kat released him and followed him to the living room. Chris picked up the phone and dialed the house. He sat on the arm of a chair as he waited for the phone to be picked up.

"Hey, Joey, it’s me."

"Oh, hey, Chris. What’s up?"

"Well, it’s pouring out."

"I know. Roni and I just got caught out in it. I didn’t even know it was supposed to rain.

"Yeah, I know. Well, I’m going to stay at Kat’s until it lets up. Let me see what’s up with the weather."

Chris picked up the remote and turned the television on. He changed the channels until a weather report came on. He watched it and let out a slow breath. He turned the television off.

"Well, Joe, it seems like this is a whole big system that may not let up until late tonight."

"Wow. Guess we’ll see you when you get back."

"Yeah, I guess. Who all is there?"

"Just me and Ron. Everyone else is at the studio."

"Oh." Chris paused. "Okay. Well, you two have fun, but not too much fun. You hear me."

"Yes, sir," Joey’s voice shot through the phone. "Everything will be okay, Chris."

"I know." Chris sighed. "I’ll see you later."

"Later."

Chris hung up the phone and sighed again. He slid onto the seat of the chair. He leaned his head against the other arm. He looked up as Kat’s shadow appeared above him.

"What’s wrong, Christopher?"

"Roni and Joey are alone at the house for god knows how long. Why him?"

"Joey’s not a bad guy."

"I know," he sat correctly in the seat, "it’s just that I’m afraid something’s starting up between them. They both claim to be just friends but they don’t need any chances to change that. I just wish if she were going to be spending a bunch of time alone with one of the guys it would be one of the others, like Justin. She doesn’t like younger guys."

"If you say so. I’m getting myself a drink. Want anything?"

Chris shook his head. He then looked outside and stared at the sheets of rain falling.

~~~~~

"Okay, bye, Diane." Joey hung up the kitchen phone and began to turn. "Well, it looks like we’re going to be-" He cut off as he noticed he was along in the room. "Roni?"

He walked through the rooms on the first floor and started up the steps when he didn’t find Roni.

"Ron?"

"In here," her voice floated out of the bathroom. A few seconds later she emerged, towel drying her hair. "What’s up?"

Joey leaned against the wall. "Well, it looks like we’re going to be alone for a while. Chris called from Kat’s and Diane called from the studio. It’s raining too hard to drive. They’re all going to stay where they are until it lets up, and Chris said it’s not supposed to until late tonight."

"So that means I only have you to entertain me for a while?"

"Yup. It’s me or the TV." The lights went out. "Let me rephrase that. It’s me or…me."

"Oh joy."

"Oh, come on. You weren’t complaing while we were just outside."

Roni bit her lip and looked away from Joey, who was cursing himself for his word choice. Roni wrapped her hair in the towel and turned to him. They stared at each other for a moment before she walked past him. She turned at Chris’ door.

"What are we doing, Joey?"

"I don’t know." He walked to his own doorway. "I know we’re nothing but friends but…"

"But we continue to want to kiss each other."

He hung his head. "I know. We need to talk about this."

"We do. Do you think we can change into dry clothes before we do though? I’m starting to get cold."

"Me too. Be right back."

Roni nodded and close dher door. She quickly rummaged through her suitcase and pulled out an outfit. She took the towel out of her hair and hung it on the back of the desk chair. She changed and picked the towel up. She walked to the door to open it so when Joey opened his he’d see she was done. She opened it and she dropped the towel. It seemed that Joey hadn’t closed his door at all and was looking for a clean shirt.

"Umm, I’m done whenever, Joey," Roni stammered and walked swiftly to the bathroom with the towel.

"Sorry, Ron. I’m done now."

Roni left the bathroom and found Joey now fully dressed. She looked down to hide her blush and walked past him to her room. She sat on the bed and looked up to see him at the door.

"So…" Joey entered the room and sat backward on the chair.

"I don’t know. Hey, did Justin talk to you earlier and ask you what was going on between us?"

"Yeah. He talked to you too?"

She nodded.

"That’s weird." Joey looked out the window. "I could have sworn he was asleep. I heard him singing. Justin has a tendency to sing in his sleep. Weird, I know, but we all have our quirks."

"Yeah, we do. I asked him not to tell Chris. I’m so afraid of him knowing. Your group is just starting and you don’t need a rift going on, especially over me."

"Roni," Joey started wringing his hands. He paused as he decided to change his direction. "Speaking of Chris, are you going to talk to him while you’re here?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "I was going to do it either today or tomorrow." She looked outside. "I guess it’ll have to be tomorrow."

"That’s good."

"Yup."

They both looked away from each other, not knowing what to say. Roni stood up and began pacing. She stopped and took a deep breath.

"We have time alone now and we need to figure out what’s happening here. You’re a good friend to me, Joey, but I just don’t…"

"Think of me romantically. That’s okay. Same here."

"Let’s hope you don’t see yourself romantically."

Joey smiled and looked up at her. "Can you stop pacing? You’re making me dizzy."

"I’m sorry. It’s a nervous habbit."

"If you don’t stop, I’ll have to stop you myself." He watched her pace another minute before standing and grabbing her arms.

Joey’s hands on her arms surprised Roni. She looked up in surprise and her eyes met Joey’s. Without warning her hands laid on his waist and she stepped closer. She felt Joey’s breath catch and smiled. She tilted her head back and licked her lips.

Joey watched her lick her lips and licked his own. He lightly bit his bottom lip before smiling himself. He was about to start lowering his head when he pushed her away.

"Ron, no."

"I know." She stepped away from him. "We can’t do this. It’s wrong." She paused. "Maybe that’s why we want to kiss."

"Huh?"

"Maybe we want to kiss because we know we shouldn’t. It’s so tempting that we just want to do it."

He shot her a confused look. "You think so?"

"Got a better explaination?"

"No." He walked to the window. "So you’re saying that we want to kiss because we shouldn’t. So does that mean we should make it okay to kiss and then if we do we could be over whatever comes over us?"

"Maybe." She stood next to him. "Do you want to try it?"

"I don’t know." He walked out of the room. A minute later he was back. "Do you think it’ll work?"

She shrugged. "I don’t know. What would it hurt if we kiss? Plus, we’ve almost kissed twice in the past half hour. If I don’t kiss someone soon I’m going to scream, but it feels so wrong to want to kiss you. And you’re the only one I know enough to kiss."

Joey laughed softly. "I kinda feel the same way." He looked in her eyes. "It’s okay for us to be kissing."

"Yeah." She nodded. "I trust you, Joey." She looked at the ceiling. "Please let this work."

"Amen to that." He walked to her. "Ready?"