Chris saluted Gina. "Yes, ma’am."

"Get outta here." Gina waved Chris away.

She got out of the program she was using and decided to check her e-mail and see who she could talk to. "I wonder where goof is? I haven’t talked to him since we got on the road," Gina muttered at the lack of the one name she wanted to see on her list but saw another that was almost as good.

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

craziebabe: hey, gina!!!

senorita78: hey, roomie

craziebabe: what’s up, mamasita?

senorita78: nothing much. just finished a session w/ chris. you?

craziebabe: just got home from work. fun as always.

senorita78: i know that was sarcastic.

craziebabe: you know me so well.

senorita78: that’s what happens when you live with someone for two years.

craziebabe: going on three =)

senorita78: =)

senorita78: and how i’ve let you live this long is still a mystery.

craziebabe: oh, shut up. how’s life on the road? you are on the road right?

senorita78: yup we’re ont he road. it’s ok. except for jc everything’s great.

craziebabe: jc? you having problems with him?

senorita78: problems? no. huge personality clashes? yes.

craziebabe: like what?

senorita78: like he’s a self-centered jerk. And his gf… forget it.

craziebabe: he has a gf?!????

senorita78: oh geez. no one’s supposed to know about her. you don’t know and you don’t tell. got it?

craziebabe: oh, ok. I will not tell or write anyone about that little piece of info.

senorita78: you’d better not. at first they weren't going to tell me but she made sure that i knew so that ‘she wouldn’t try to get her claws into my boyfriend.’

craziebabe: she actually said that?

senorita78: yup. and then dimwit started to defend her and it all went downhill from there.

craziebabe: so you two really haven’t hit it off? i’m sorry.

senorita78: don’t worry. the other guys and i get along great. actually justin and i have gotten to be really good friends.

craziebabe: justin? so do you like justin? *wiggles eyebrows*

senorita78: sure i like justin but not like that. he’s a really good guy and i can talk to him about anything.

craziebabe: but jc…

senorita78: he and i just don’t see eye to eye and never will

craziebabe: all right. if you say so. hey have you talked to sleepygoof?

senorita78: i did when i first got out here but since we’ve been on tour i haven’t.

craziebabe: i bet you are going crazy not talking to him. I remember you logging on everynight to see if he’d be on and…

senorita78: and?

craziebabe: and you’d be in not the best mood if you didn’t get to talk to him.

senorita78: really? i wouldn’t?

craziebabe: no, you wouldn’t. trust me.

senorita78: sorry about that. guess i kinda got close to him and liked to talk to him.

craziebabe: liked? I’m thinking of another four letter l word and like isn’t it.

senorita78: what are you talking about? on second thought i don’t want to know.

craziebabe: you know what i’m saying. don’t deny it.

senorita78: listen, lisa. I’d love to discuss this further with you but for right now i’m on jc’s account and he wants to get on.

craziebabe: all right. it’s been great talking to you. we have to do this more often.

senorita78: yeah, we do. if you get something from ‘gigisucks’ that will be me.

craziebabe: gigisucks?

senorita78: yeah. jc made it up. i walk out of the room for a minute and that’s what happens.

craziebabe: you two really aren’t getting along.

senorita78: nope. I really do have to go.

craziebabe: all right. i’ll talk to you later. look for an e-mail soon.

senorita78: i will. talk to you later.

craziebabe: bye, senorita

senorita78: bye, crazie

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

Gina shut down her buddy list and looked up to see JC plop down on the bench on the other side of the table.

"Is the princess done?"

"Yes, JC, I’m done. Give me a moment to completely sign off and then it’s all yours."

"Finally." JC placed his laptop on the table and began to hook it up.

"I’m sorry if I have to work."

"I understand you working but after Chris left you did some personal things. I saw you talking to someone for about thirty minutes before I decided to make sure you knew you aren’t the only one on this account."

"I know I’m not. You and your brother are on it also. I’m aware of that. I was talking to my roommate. I haven’t really spoken to her since we left school. I’m sorry if I wanted to talk to someone I’m close to. I’ll think twice before I do that again." Gina closed the top to her computer.

"Whatever. How’d she respond to you when she read gigisucks?"

"Oh, I used my normal name."

"Your normal name?"

"Yeah. The name I used at school. I have it on my computer so I signed on to that name after I was done with Chris."

"You have your own screen name yet your on my account? How does that work?"

"It’s just a name. Not an account. All I can do is connect one way. I can’t log onto the full service with that name. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it," JC replied dryly. "Actually, I have the same thing. I have another name I got before setting up this account that I still use. Only a few people have that name though."

"If you knew what I was talking about why did you keep on asking about the name?"

"Because. I just wanted to make sure it was just a name and not an actual account."

"And you just wanted to pick a fight with me."

"I didn’t do it to pick a fight but if that’s the outcome why not enjoy it."

Gina slid out of the booth. "Whatever. I’ll leave you to your computer and to the person who’s never on. I bet they realized how much of a jerk you are and decided to change their name and dump you."

JC shook his head and looked up at her. "Nope. She’d never do that."

"She?" Gina raised an eyebrow. "Does Heidi have some competition here?"

"Competition? Please. I’ve never met this person. How could you fall for someone over the internet?" JC paused. "Hey, isn’t there someone that you look for everyday? Some foolish guy that doesn’t see through your facade?"

"What facade?"

"The one you use to hide your self-centeredness, snobbishness, close-minded-"

"JC," Gina interrupted him, "I thought you were talking about me?"

JC looked at her, puzzled. "I was."

"Then why are you telling me about yourself?"

JC slid out of the booth and stood up to look down at her. "I’m not talking about myself, Gina. You have all those qualities and one’s worse than them. That’s just the beginning."

"What are others?"

"Honestly, Gina, I don’t think we have the time for me to list them. I do have a whole tour to do."

"I didn’t think I had so many good qualities?"

JC snorted. "You don’t. That would take even-"

The bus jerked and sent JC and Gina on a couch with JC pinning Gina down.

"What the…? What happened?"

Gina placed her hands on JC’s chest. "I don’t know, JC. I was too busy hearing you tell me how horrible a person I am. Now, got off me."

Before Gina got to push JC off her Justin walked up from the back with a phone in his hands. He stopped when he saw the couple on the couch.

"Ummm, JC, TJ’s on the phone. I’ll tell him you’re busy." Justin turned to leave but JC stopped him.

"That’s not necessary. I was just getting up." JC got off the couch and grabbed the phone. "I’m going to be in my bunk. Hey, Tyler."

Justin walked over to Gina and helped ger sit up. "What happened here?" He asked as he sat next to her.

"When the bus shook earlier it knocked JC and I, who were arguing like always, onto the couch and I was just pushing him off as you were coming in. Nothing was happening. Nothing will ever happen between me and that boy."

"Are you sure, Gigi?"

Gina narrowed her eyes at the figure next to her. "Justin, what accusations are you making? JC and I don’t get along and I doubt we ever will. How could you think something like that?"

"Sometimes enemies make the best lovers."

"Now you’re saying JC and I are going to fall in love?" Gina put a hand to her head and shook her head. "Justin, Justin, Justin, is that bleach starting to effect you again? I know you took a break but I think it’s starting to get to you again."

Justin knew this conversation would go nowhere and decided to change the topic. "Speaking of the bus shaking. Have we stopped or is it just me?"

"With the conversation we just had I would say it was just you but I have noticed we haven’t moved either. I wonder what happened?"

As if to answer there questions the bus door opened and the tour director, Mike, walked on.

"Hey, Justin, Gina. Where is everybody else?"

"Joey, Lance and Chris are in the back fighting over the remote and JC is in his bunk talking to his brother. What happened, Mike?"

Mike switched his phone from his right hand to the left. "Well, it seems like the bus has a flat tire. It totally blew out."

"We have a spare, don’t we."

"It appears that the tire that blew was the spare. We forgot to replace it after the last flat."

Gina was trying to grasp what was happening. "So that means…?"

Mike sighed. "That means we are stuck here until we can get another and fix it."

"How long should that take?"

"I don’t know, Justin, but we hope not too long. We’re just happy it’s night so that girls can’t see the bus and stop. I’ve got to go and wait for the tire. Will you tell everyone what’s happening?"

Justin nodded his head. "Sure."

"Thanks, Justin, Gina. See you later." Mike walked off the bus leaving Gina and Justin sitting ont he couch.

Justin got up. "I guess we should tell the other guys."

Gina lifted her hand and Justin pulled her up. "Yeah. They might like to know what’s going on. But you tell JC. I’m not going near him."

Justin shook his head as he followed Gina towards the rear of the bus.

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

"Oh, that’s just great," JC groaned into the phone.

"What’s that?"

"We have a flat tire and have to sit here for a bit."

Tyler laughed. "Glad I’m not there. By the way, we have to talk about when I’m coming."

"TJ, to be honest with you I don’t know if we have the room."

"Not have the room? You have eight bunks and with you guys and Gina I only count six."

Before JC could reply the curtain to his bunk was opened.

"We have a flat and no spare so we’re stuck here until one comes."

JC nodded and Justin shut the curtain and walked away.

"As I was saying. We have enough sleeping room but I don’t know about living room. If Gina wasn’t here we would but she is and we all have to sacrifice."

"You and her still not getting along?"

"’Not getting along’ is too nice for what we are."

"Then what are you two?"

"I don’t know but she’s constantly jumping down my throat and can’t say a nice word to me. The only time we talk is when we fight."

Tyler made a tsking noise. "Josh, with your temper and stubborness I bet you aren’t any nicer to her then she is to you." Tyler’s sentence was met with silence and he smiled. "I’m right, aren’t I? You’re just as bad as she is. Don’t worry, bro. I still love you."

"That’s all I want and need in my life. To be loved by my brother," JC scoffed. "Thanks, TJ, but I have Heidi for all the loving I need."

"How is the old ball-and-chain?"

"Tyler, don’t call her that. She’s fine." JC thought for a minute. "Come to think of it I haven’t talked to her in a few days."

"A few days? Are you losing your touch? I’m sure she’s not happy with you not returning her calls."

"That’s just it. She’s only called maybe once since I’ve been on the road. She used to call everyday, a few times a day."

"Huh, that is weird. I remember you not being able to go out until you called her. I mean she wouldn’t tell you what you could and couldn’t do but you always made sure to call her."

"I know. I guess we’ve come to a point in our relationship where talking everyday isn’t exactly necessary. She knows how busy I am on tour and I know she has a life outside of me so this is a good sign." Right?

Tyler sighed. "I guess. Now I don’t have to hear you talk about her all the time so I’m happy to hear that."

"This doesn’t mean I’m not going stop talking about her. I’ll still talk about her just as much."

"Really? I doubt that."

JC laid down on his bed. "Why?"

"Because, big brother, it took you almost half an hour before you said her name. It used to take you half a minute to say the name Heidi."

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

JC sat in front of his computer in wonder. Where is she? I haven’t talked to her in days. He had not talked with senorita78 since he had started touring and it was bothering him.

She was the only one he knew that he could tell his problems and would not give an overly biased opinion. She did not know either him or his girlfriend so she gave him an outsiders opinion. And that’s just what I need. Someone who doesn’t know me and Heidi. Someone who will just listen and give advice as if they were giving advice to a stranger. Because, after all, we have never met face to face or even talked on the phone.

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

"Finally, a night of quiet," Gina said to herself as she fell on one of the back couches in the bus.

She had bowed out of attending that night’s concert despite constant protests from Justin and Lance. Her job did not depend on her being at any concerts but she usually went to placate the guys. She enjoyed goofing around with them backstage. Well, all but one.

Mr. JC Chasez. It is good to get sometime away from him. We spend so much time near each other it’s ironic. We can’t stand each other and the few times we do speak it usually ends up in a fight and we are thrown together in such a small space that even that doesn’t help us understand each other. Like I could ever understand someone like that. I know the only reason he was on my side tonight was because if he won he’d be without me for the concert. He must be enjoyinng himself to no end without me. Gina would have continued to think about her and JC’s hate relationship but her thoughts were interrutped by a phone ringing in the bus. She turned over and groaned.

"When will I ever learn never drop my phone off somewhere on the bus and forget where I put it?" Gina had been constantly leaving the phone she was given where ever she was not. "I have to get used to carrying this thing." She picked up the phone and pressed the "send" button.

"Come on, guys. We have a show to do. Hurry it up please."

"Hi, JC. Bossing everybody around as you normally do I see."

"What a greeting. I have to tell Hallmark about that one."

"I know you didn’t call without reason. What’s up?"

"Well it seems that Mr. Kirkpatrick here forgot he took a part of his costume last night for a joke he played on Joey and left it in the bus. He was wondering if you’d find it and bring it here."

"Why didn’t Chris call me? Or any of the other guys?"

"I know what you want to ask. Why am I, out of all of us, calling you, of all people? Well it’s because I am the only one even remotely ready."

"I can say one thing about you."

JC fixed his cuffs and looked in the mirror. "What?"

"You sure know how to cut my words to the quick." She sighed. "What does this thing I’m supossed to be looking for look like?"

"It’s a yellow piece of cloth. Almost like a thin see-thru scarf."

"Does he have any clue where he left it?"

"I don’t know. Let me ask him." JC turned his head towards Chris and Gina heard him ask where the garment was but did not hear the answer. After ample amount of time she asked:

"Well, does he?"

"Not really. He said to check by his bunk."

Gina walked over to Chris’ bunk and looked under everything. "Nope. Not here but I have an idea."

"What?"

"Hold on a sec." Gina walked to Joey’s bunk and climbed to look inside it. She saw a piece of yellow cloth and pulled it out. "I got it."

"Where was it?"

"Joey’s bunk. I figured if Joey was the one the joke was played on it could have been there."

"Good thinking. Can you bring it here please?"

"It depends on what you give me."

"You’re asking the wrong person for things, princess. Just bring it here. Okay?"

"Yes, sir. Whatever you say, sir." Gina looked down and tried to figure out how to get down. She figured the best way was to remove one foot fromt he lower bunk she was standing on and jump.

JC signed the pictures put in front of him but stopped when he heard a crash on the other line and someone saying "ow."

"Gina? Are you all right?"

A few seconds of dead air floated over the phone before Gina was steady enough to respond. "Yeah, I’m all right. I just fell getting down from the perch I was on when I went into Joey’s bunk."

"I don’t have problems getting down from bunks."

"Well, you aren’t 5"2’."

JC shook his head. "Nope, I’m not. I’d hate to be that short."

"JC, I’m sure Chris needs this thing I just retreived from Joey’s bed-"

"Retreived. What a perfect word for you."

"As I was saying. I’m sure Chris wants this thing I have in my hand so just tell me where I’m supposed to take it without starting a fight."

"I’m not starting a fight. You left yourself wide open for these comments and I see that I have a right to say them if you invited them."

"JC, I really don’t have time to be playing the insult game with you right now so please just tell me what I am to do with this." She turned her hand over and glanced at the yellow piece of cloth in her hands.

"Just bring in to the side door and one of the bodyguards will show you to the dressing room. Just make sure to bring it by our first costume change."

"And when would that be?"

"After the third song."

"And how much time would that be?"

"You’ve been to our concerts before. I’ve seen you look at your watch enough to know when our changes are." JC hung up and smiled.

"So, did she find it?" Chris had walked up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

JC nodded and threw his phone onto the table. "Yup. She’s bringing now. Come on guys lets go. I’m tired of waiting." He ran out of the room with Joey and Chris behind him.

"Lance?"

Lanced turned to face his only younger groupmate. "Yeah, Justin?"

"I think your premonitions about the couple being Gina and JC are correct."

Lance nodded and sighed. "Me too. I so wanted to be wrong for JC and Heidi’s sake but I know I’m not. Did you see the look that flashed across his face when he asked her if she was all right about something?"

Justin nodded. "Yeah. It only flashed quickly but I saw it."

"That one look told me all I needed to know. It was a look of pure emotion and worry. It showed me that he has begun to fall."

Justin took one last look int he mirror before heading toward the door with Lance. "And hard too."

"Yup and he's falling hard. I wonder if she feels the same."

"Trust me she does. My Gigi is head over heals for him also. It’s so amazing to me that neither one sees it."

"I think neither one wants to see it and they just hide everything behind their fights. If Heidi wasn’t in the picture then I think this would be much easier."

Justin smiled. "Then maybe we should get Heidi out of the picture."

"Hey, guys." Lance and Justin looked up to see JC at the door. "Get your butts out here. We’re going on in a few minutes."

"Be right there, JC." Justin turned to Lance after JC had left. "I hope he didn’t hear what I just said about Heidi."

"Me neither. I’m going to pretend I didn’t even hear it. If you are going to cook up a plan I want no part in it."

"Party pooper."

The two blondes left the dressing room and joined everyone else by the stage.

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

Gina stared at the phone in her hands. "How dare he hang up on me. Who does he think he is? Just because he’s JC Chasez and has millions of girls wrapped around his fingers doesn’t mean I’m just going to fall in line behind all those young girls."

Gina walked towards the arena the concert was being held in and looked for a bodyguard by a door. She spotted one and headed towards it.

"Hey, Mike. I was told to bring something to the dressing room. Can you tell me where it is?"

"Since I’m outside I’m not supossed to talk about the layout of the arena in case there are fans sneaking around trying to get it but Jay is inside down the hall and he can tell you."

"Thanks."

Mike opened the door for her. "Anytime, Gina."

Gina adjusted her eyes to the darkness of backstage and headed in the direction Mike had sent her. She found Jay and he directed her to the dressing room. She walked in and found the guys rushing around finishing getting there costumes on.

"There she is. Do you have it, Gina?"

Gina turned to see Chris rushing towards her and held out the yellow scarf in her hand. She smiled as he kissed her cheek.

"I knew I could depend on you. No matter what JC said."

Gina laughed. "You should know by now, Chris, not to trust anything JC says about me."

"Come on, Gigi. That’s not true."

"Oh really, Justin. Tell me one thing nice he has said about me?" Gina asked Justin who had joined them.

"Ummm…ummm…okay. You’ve got me there. So are you going to stay for the rest of the show?" Justin batted his eyelashes and stuck out his bottom lip after she shook her head no.

Gina laughed and placed her hand on his arm. "I’m not falling for it this time, Timberlake. I want a nice quiet evening tonight."

"And you can’t get it here at the show? I find this very relaxing. What are you going to do? Turn on your computer and wait for your on-line Romeo to come on? Which, may I point out, you haven’t talked to in almost two weeks."

"Yes, I am going to see if he’s going to be on and no, you can’t point that out. You guys have a show to do. Go!"

Gina laughed as four guys rushed by her, kissing her cheek on the way out. Doing what she came to do she turned to retreat back to the bus when the fifth member of the group ran out of a back room.

"I need someone to rebutton one of these buttons. It keeps on coming undone and I don’t have the correct angle to button it correctly."

Gina looked around for who he was talking to.

"Come on. I have to get out on stage. Someone please help me?"

Again seeing no one but herself in the room Gina decided to help him. She walked behind him and brought her hands up to the button in the middle of his back. Come on, hands. Why are you so shaky? I must need more sleep or maybe it’s spending so much time at the computer. Her hands finally cooperated and she managed to secure the button.

Feeling the hands at his back JC shivered. Whoever this is has cold hands. I should tell them before our next change. He turned around to thank the person who helped him.