"Hey, Tyler. What’s up?"

Tyler looked up and covered the computer monitor. "Nothing, Justin. Just typing an e-mail to a friend."

"Well, if it’s just an e-mail to a friend then why are you covering it up so I can’t see it?" Justin tried to look around Tyler’s arms.

"Well, excuse me for wanting some privacy. Give me a few minutes and I’m all yours."

"Oh, TJ, I didn’t know you cared," Justin teased in a high falsetto.

"Get outta here." Tyler took a swing at Justin with one arm while covering the screen with the other.

"I’m out, but tell that babe you’re talking to if she wants a real man to come see me."

Tyler rolled his eyes and placed his focus back at the task at hand. How hard can this be? Just hit send and you’ll enter a new dimension of this relationship. Come on, TJ, you can do this.

Tyler hit send and released the breath he had not noticed he was holding.

"You done yet?"

Tyler turned in his seat. "Yeah, Justin. Just let me shut this thing down."

"No need to, bro. I want to check my e-mail."

"And see if your chica is on. I get it." Tyler stood up and pointed to the chair. "All yours."

JC sat in the chair and logged on under his name. He looked at the name as he logged it in and sighed. "I need to change this name. Heidi and I broke up. There is no need for this name but what should I change it to?"

JC sat and thought about it for a few minutes. After a few minutes an idea came to him. Now who’s on that I can tell them about my new name? JC checked to see who was on and smiled.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

no1goofy: hey, gina baby!

gigisucks: who is this?

no1goofy: don’t tell me you forgot me already. i’m hurt, babe.

gigisucks: very few people know about this name and none of them have your screen name.

no1goofy: well now they do.

gigisucks: will you please tell me who you are or am i going to have to block you?

no1goofy: oh please block me, sugar.

gigisucks: ok. that’s it. bye bye.

no1goofy: don’t block me. please.

gigisucks: and give me one reason not to.

no1goofy: it’s jc.

gigisucks: all the more reason to. plus how do I know you’re jc?

no1goofy: you are sitting in the room next to me at the hyatt in philly. my brother and justin just left to go work out. anything else i can help you with?

gigisucks: ok, ok. so you are jc. so why are you contacting me? i see you’ve gotten a new name. told you that old one was going to be outdated at some point.

gigisucks: hehe

no1goofy: what’s so funny, your highness?

gigisucks: i’m just sitting here picturing you trying to think of the new name. i bet you talked to yourself a lot in the process.

no1goofy: i heard talking to yourself was a sign of mental stability.

gigisucks: then you must be the most stable person I know

no1goofy: now I know why i talk to you

gigisucks: why?

no1goofy: bc you do such good things for my self-esteem

gigisucks: I help your self-esteem? didn’t think you need help with that. with all the screaming adoring fans I thought you were in paradise. oh that’s right. no more heidi to tell you how perfect you are (not).

no1goofy: using heidi was low. I haven’t said anything about that italian stallion who was after you.

gigisucks: joey wasn’t after me. was he?

no1goofy: no he wasn’t, i was talking about dean.

gigisucks: oh, the guy your newly ex-gf jumped on after she dumped you.

no1goofy: to set things straight (for the thousandth time) i dumped her. not the other way around. ok?

gigisucks: if you insist.

nogoofy: i do.

gigisucks: whatever.

no1goofy: i know you thrive on our little conversations like this but it’s getting late and i have a sore throat so i’m going to bed.

gigisucks: oh yes you know me sooo well. you are my reason for living. i can’t survive without you.

no1goofy: just as I thought. adios.

gigisucks: ciao.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

JC shut off his computer and yawned. He got ready for bed and crawled under the covers. He was close to being asleep when the door opened and the lights blinded him.

"Hey, can’t you see I’m sleeping here?"

"Oops, sorry, JC. TJ and I will go into my room. Why are you in bed this early anyway?"

"I have a sore throat. I just want to sleep and hope to wake up with it gone. Is that okay?"

"Gotcha. Come on, Tyler. Let’s let your brother sleep."

"Be right there, Justin. Let me get some clean clothes. I’ll be there in a few minutes."

Jusrin nodded. "All right. See you in a few."

"Just give me a minute, Josh, and I’m out of your hair."

JC turned over and pulled the covers over his head. "Whatever, just don’t make too much noise."

"I’ll try." Tyler quietly collected clothes and peaked over at his brother. He’s asleep. I think I’ll just check my e-mail again. Tyler turned on the computer and glanced at JC to make sure he didn’t stir. When JC did not move TJ released his breath and continued. He checked his e-mail, waiting for a certain response. When he saw it there he nervously opened it and read the contents. A slow smile crossed his face as he read.

He finished and quickly shut down the computer. He slowly crept out of the room.

JC heard his brother turn on the computer and sighed. What is so important that he can’t wait until morning? Oh well, it’s his life. Who am I to comment on it? Plus if I say something he’ll just bring up senorita. Come on, JC, you need your sleep.

JC tried to clear his thoughts and turned over. As he drifted to sleep a figure with brown hair appeared in his dreams. The figure was faceless but he sensed it had dark eyes.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Gina shook her head at her discussion with JC. She could not believe his nerve. She thought of the one person who could turn her mood around so she turned on her other name. She sighed dejectedly as she saw he was not on.

Oh well. I guess I’ll just go to bed myself. As she brushed her teeth she wondered where sleepygoof was. She really wanted to talk to him. She got used to him being on.

As she was falling asleep Gina saw two blue pools appear. As she neared them she realized they were eyes but could not tell whose.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

"Hey, Lance, have you seen my yellow pull-over?"

Lance looked up from his magazine. "Sorry, Gina, I don’t think so. When did you last see it?"

Gina thought for a minute. "Hmm, I think I had it in the back."

"Then what are you doing up here looking for it?"

"Because I already looked in the back, genius."

"Ooh, she called me a name. Isn’t that privilege usually reserved for JC?"

Gina sat beside him and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. "Lance, my boy, don’t ever compare yourself to JC. You two are nothing alike."

"I bet I could think of a few similarities."

"And what would those be?"

Lance turned to face her. "Hmm, where should I start? Okay, here we go." Lance started counting on his fingers as he spoke. "We’re in the same group, have the same closest friends, have been touring together forever, are from states that begin with the letter ‘M’, as do you I think I should point out, and-"

"We’re both stuck on a tour bus with you for another month or so."

The couple turned and saw JC looking in the refrigerator. Gina opened her mouth to spit out a response but was interrupted by an exited Joey.

"Hey, guys, guess what? Steve’s coming back on tour with us."

"Steve your brother?"

Joey nodded.

"Oh no. Now I have to deal with two Fatones," Gina groaned.

Joey raised an eyebrow. "And what is so wrong with that?"

"Other than the fact that two Italian male egos together aren’t the best mix."

"Don’t forget that you’re Italian also, Miss Gacona."

"That’s the reason why I know what two Italian male egos together are like. I grew up with them. You should see my family functions. Each one trying to outego another. It’s not a pretty sight."

"Well, you’re just going to have to deal with it. He’s usually on tour with us but he got really sick and needed a break from the road. I’ll let him know about your concern and we’ll try to make sure to act that way around you." Joey sat next to Gina and leaned his body weight against her to squish her.

Lance, being on the other side of Gina, groaned. "Why do I get to be the innocent bystander in this? I did nothing yet I’m being smushed. Thanks, Joey."

Joey stood up and patted Lance’s shoulder. "Anytime, man, anytime." Joey walked out of the room to tell Justin and Chris the news.

Gina sighed and stretched her arms. She glanced up at JC and her eyes narrowed. "JC, what are you doing wearing my sweatshirt?"

"Your sweatshirt? I pulled this off my bunk."

"I don’t know how you could have done that since it’s mine. I’ve been looking for that yellow sweatshirt for almost half an hour."

"Yellow? Isn’t this my orange one?" JC looked down and saw the sweatshirt he was wearing was yellow, not orange. "Okay, it’s not mine but it was still on my bunk. In the darkness yellow and orange look almost the same. I’m not to fault here. You’re the one who left it on my bunk."

"I guess I thought it was my bunk. Justin and I were talking and I guess I-"

"Forgot about which was left and which was right. I have a simple way of determining the two."

"And how is that, oh great one?"

JC patted Gina’s head. "I see your learing. Okay, here’s how you determine the difference. You make an ‘L’ with your pointer finger and thumb. Whichever is a normal ‘L’ is your left. And there’s something else that the "L" is used for."

"Ooh, I’m on the edge of my seat with anticipation."

"I’m not going to hold you in suspense anymore. What you can do is put the "L" against your forehead and look at someone," JC placed the "L" shape against his forehead and looked directly at Gina, "And say, loser."

Gina’s eyes widened. "No. You did not just do that. Please tell me you are not stupid enough to do that."

"Oh, I just did it but I wasn’t stupid. I knew exactly what I was doing and," he looked into her eyes, "I meant it."

Gina shivered. "Can I please have my sweatshirt? I was looking for it because I was cold."

"No problem. Here you go." JC lifted the edges of the sweatshirt and in one swift move removed it, and his shirt underneath.

"Oh geez. Can you please put your shirt back on? I really don’t want to be seeing your chest. In fact let me go to the bathroom and get rid of what’s rising in my throat." She pointed to her throat and cleared it.

"Well, since you like it so much maybe I’ll just keep my shirt off."

Gina roller her eyes. "Lord grant me the strength. Can I have my sweatshirt back now?"

"Yeah, just let me get my shirt out of it."

"Here let me pull on my shirt and you take yours." Gina reached for the collar of her sweatshirt.

JC grabbed onto the bottom of his t-shirt. "Fine with me. On the count of three pull. One, two, thr-"

JC never got the word "three" out because the bus made a hissing sound and started shaking, causing JC to tumble into Gina.

Gina shivered again and pushed JC off her. "Get off of me! Here’s your shirt." She pulled his shirt out of hers and handed it to him. "And I would appreciate it if you wore it."

JC snapped his shirt out of her hand and placed it over his head. I guess I was colder than I thought, JC thought to himself as he saw goosebumps on his arms.

"Thanks for putting it on. I don’t know if I could stand looking at you a second longer."

"I didn’t put it on because of you," JC retorted. "Before I was looking for my sweatshirt because I was cold so being shirtless kind of defeats my original purpose."

"Oh my gosh, you have a purpose on this earth other than being adored by girls less than half your age?"

"No, that’s Chris’ department. I most definitely have many fans over eleven."

"Hey, I heard that," Chris’s voice came from the back. "Don’t use me in your spat. I won’t have it."

"Whatever, Chris," JC and Gina replied in unison. Realizing what they did they glared at each other and went their separate ways.

"I’m going to go kick Tyler off my computer." JC headed towards the back room.

"I’m going to see what the youngin’ is up to." Gina walked to Justin’s bunk to find him on the phone.

"Okay, Donny, I’ll tell the others. Thanks for letting me know." Justin hung up the phone and sighed.

"What’s up, J?"

Justin peaked over the edge of his bunk and peered at Gina. "Well, it seems like the bus is getting a little tired of all this touring and is giving us troubles."

"So what did Donny tell you?"

"Here, let me get down." Justin climbed down after Gina moved aside. "Let’s get everybody together and I’ll tell you all at once so I don’t have to repeat this."

"Okay. Want to get everyone together in the front?"

"Good idea. More room. I’ll go back and get whoever’s there and met you up there."

"Gotcha. See you there." Gina walked forward and took the magazine out of Lance’s hands. "Justin just talked to Donny and has some news to tell us," she got out before he had a chance to protest.

Just then everyone else came up and sat down. JC as far away from Gina as possible.

Justin stood at the entrance to the bunk area and sighed. "Okay, I just talked to Donny and it seems as if this bus is on the verge of breaking down. They had planned for us to get a new bus anyway but now they’re pushing up when we’re getting it. In two days we will be spending a few days in Chicago so that’s where we’re going to switch buses. Any questions?"

"I have one," Lance spoke up. "Why were they planning on getting us a new bus? We’ve been through a lot on this one and it has memories."

"Well, they were a little worried about the size. With Steve coming all the bunks would be full and we would be cramped."

"We’ve been okay before. I told them adding someone to the tour would be a mistake."

Lance, who had been present for their earlier fight, spoke before Gina could. "So the new bus is bigger?"

Justin nodded. "Yup. I forget how many bunks it has but it has more and is longer."

"More room to get away from JC," Gina mumbled.

"What was that, Gina?"

Gina looked at JC and gave him a fake smile. "Nothing. I was just thinking."

"Woah, call out the National Guard. Gina Gacona is thinking. Well, I think I’m going to lay down for awhile." He quickly made his way to his bunk.

Everyone else dispersed but Gina and Justin.

"I can’t believe that boy. He’s got some nerve. Some of the things he’s said to me today. Argh!"

Justin sat across the booth from Gina and smiled. "If I were to say what he just said you would have laughed and let it pass."

Gina sighed and placed her head on her hands. "But you’re just kidding when you say it."

"So is he."

"You say it as a joke and light. He’s being cruel when he says it."

"And you’re not cruel to him? Come on, Gina. You dish it out as well as he does." Justin reached over and pushed her arm.

Gina glanced up at Justin and sighed. "I guess I can but-"

"No buts. You can. You two are so perfect for each other why can’t you stop being so stubborn and let your heart speak, Gigi."

"My heart is speaking and it’s made a decision."

"What’s that?"

"That it doesn’t like when people like you try to make decisions for it. Now if you’ll leave me be I’m going to turn on my computer and see who’s on."

Justin reached down, picked up her computer and placed it on the table between them. "Here you go."

Gina set up her computer and turned it on. She glanced up at Justin. "Are you just going to sit there and stare at me?"

"Yes."

"Boys." Gina shook her head and focused on the screen.

"So is Romeo on?"

Gina shook her head. "Nope, but Lisa is."

"Oh, goody. Shove over." Justin switched sides of the booth and shoved her over with his hip.

Gina sighed and contacted her friend.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

senorita78: hey babe

craziebabe: hey chickie. what’s up?

senorita78: nothing much but before we continue i think i should let you know justin is sitting right next to me.

craziebabe: thanks for warning me. i just don’t want to reveal how much i’m in love with him while he’s there. ooops. i think i just did. now you know my big secret justin. i’m in love with you

senorita78: hehe. very funny lisa. i guess i shouldn’t say how i really feel about you. how i really hate you. can’t stand you.

craziebabe: my, justin, you’re just as charming as gina makes you out to be.

senorita78: aww, shucks ma’am. it ain’t nothing.

senorita78: i’m sorry about this lisa. he just won’t leave me alone.

craziebabe: don’t worry about it, gigi. i talked to a worthy guy earlier.

senorita78: so you actually talked to him? impressive.

craziebabe: yup. later also if he’s on.

senorita78: wait a minute. what’s this about a guy? don’t you love me anymore, lisa?

craziebabe: sure i still love you, justin but i need my space. you understand don’t you, honey?

senorite78: whatever.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Gina turned her head at the sound of a phone ringing. "Damn, I think that’s mine."

As if reading her mind Tyler walked into the area with her phone. "Phone, Gina. I think it’s your mom. I can’t be sure since I’ve never talked to her before."

Gina sighed and took the phone. "Mom, hold on for a second."

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

senorita78: sorry, li, but i have to go. my mom just called.

craziebabe: i’m sorry, gina. will you be on later?

senorita78: hey, what about me? i can stay on.

craziebabe: talk to you alone? i don’t know…

senorita78: pretty please with a cherry on top

craziebabe: i guess it wouldn’t hurt.

senorita78: goody. well, she’s gone now.

craziebabe: she didn’t even say bye. oh well. so what do you want to talk about?

senorita78: do you live in cleveland?

craziebabe: yeah. why?

senorita78: just wondering.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Gina walked back to her bunk and climbed in. "What’s up, mom?"

"Who was that who answered the phone? Someone new?"

"It was Tyler. JC’s brother."

"JC? Is he the one you’re close to?"

"No, that’s Justin. JC’s the one I don’t get along with well."

Gina heard her mom sigh. "Yet you stay there. I don’t get it. So is this Tyler guy anyone interesting? Since you’re not interested in one of the members of the group I guess siblings have certain notoriety."

"Mom, I can’t believe you’re saying this. Actually, I can but I’d hate to admit how shallow my mother can be. Next you’ll be telling me to play nicey-nice with Steve Fatone."

"Is that another brother? He sounds Italian also. Another point."

Gina closed her eyes and laid against her pillow. "Mom, why did you call?"

"Well a chance for you to redeem yourself has come up."

"Redeem myself from what?"

"From when you missed Talia’s party," Gina’s mom replied as if Gina was stupid for not knowing what she was talking about.

"Mom, I was working. I can’t just take off to go to a party while I’m working. It doesn’t go that way."

"It would if you came home and worked for your father and I. You would-"

"But I’m not," Gina interrupted her mother. "You have to face facts, mom. I have my own job and am doing well at what I like to do. I’m not coming back to the store. I have a year of school left and then I’m on my own. If I stay in touch with you and dad all depends on how you treat me."

"So you’re saying you’d just cut your father, Anthony and me out of your life if we don’t treat you how you want to be treated? Isn’t that a little self-centered?"

"That’s not what I meant, mom. Well, it kinda is but you took it to an extreme."

"Really, how?"

"I’d never do that to Anthony."

"But you’d do it to your father and I?"

"If you two don’t start treating me with a little respect I might. Before you get mad I don’t want to do this but I’m not afraid to."

"Yeah. You don’t want to do it. You’ve wanted us out of your life for years now."

"Mom, that’s not true. We might have disagreed a little. Okay, a lot, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. You're my mother. I’ll always have a place for you in my heart."

"As if I’m going to believe that after what you’ve just told me. Well I guess you don’t care about the engagement party."

"Who’s getting married?"

"Why should I think you care? You just told me you wouldn’t think twice about leaving this family."

"Mom!" Gina was met with a dial tone. "Mom? Mom? I can’t believe this. She hung up on me. My own mother hung up on me." Gina curled into a ball and started to shake from sobbing. As she continued to cry a passing voice caught her ear and she reached out to grab the owner’s hand.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

JC stared at the game Chris and Joey were playing before deciding to check his e-mail. Anything’s more interesting than this. Maybe senorita’s on. She is. Now I have something interesting to do.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

senorita78: so it’s set.

craziebabe: yup. just remember not to say a word to gina.

senorita78: me? what about you?

craziebabe: i don’t see her everyday. you do.

senorita78: smartie pants.

craziebabe: always and forever. listen, I have to go.

senorita78: ok. talk to you soon. bye, lisa.

craziebabe: bye, justin.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Justin smiled at what he accomplished and shut down the instant message program. As he did a message screen started to pop up.

"Ooops." Justin shrugged. "Well, they would be expecting to talk to Gina and they wouldn’t be able to so it’s for the best," Justin reasoned as he continued to shut down the computer.

He stood up, stretched and went to lay down.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

JC sent his message and waited for a response. Instead of one he saw senorita78 sign off. Damn, I guess I just missed her.

JC checked his e-mail and then shut down his computer.

"I’m going to get myself something to drink. Anyone want anything?" JC stood up after getting all negative responses. He started to head up to the kitchen area when a hand stopped him. He looked down and was angry when he realized who it was.

"What do you want?" Not getting an answer JC threw the curtain back and asked again. "What do you want?"

"I’m sorry, JC. It’s just that I love the song you were singing and I could really use to be sung to. Please sing it to me? I know you hate me and I hate you but could you just do this one thing for me? Please?"

Normally JC would turn her down flat but something told him not to. She looked like she was on the verge of breaking into tears, again, so he agreed. "All right. I’ll sing it for you. Don’t expect me to always do this."

"I won’t. And JC?"

He looked at her.

"Thanks."

JC gave her a slight smile. He tested his pitch and began to sing.

"That’s as good as I can do without the music guiding me." JC looked down to see Gina sleeping and a small smile on her face. He quietly closed her curtain and walked to get the drink he was originally going to get.

He felt something tugging at his heart but mistook what emotion it was and slammed the refrigerator door close in anger.

Slowly Justin pulled back his curtain and looked at JC. He heard another curtain open and smiled when he saw Lance peek through the other curtain sharing his younger friend’s smile.

They both were startled when another curtain opened but smiled at the occupant as he gave them the thumbs up signal. They were glad to have another person an their side.