(In the waiting room)
“Hey, you guys, I’m gonna go down to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Any body want any thing?” Justin asked as arose from his seat.
“Coffee.”
“Coffee.”
“Tea.”
“A sandwich.”
“Coffee.”
“Ok, three coffees, a tea, and a sandwich.” He walked towards the elevator to go downstairs.
Once Justin was out of hearing range, Liz turned to Christi.
“This is really hitting him hard isn’t it?”
“I feel bad for him. He feels like he has to protect her, and he can’t.”
“Oh I know. He’s trying to be her knight and shinning armor, and when he sees that he can’t be, he’s gonna be crushed.”
I tried to tell them, but I couldn’t. Justin wouldn’t let me. He knows.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
“JC, what are you doing in here? They’re gonna be in here any second now to take me to the operating room.”
“Well then, I have a few seconds to be with you.”
“How did you get in here?”
“I just walked in when none of the nurses were looking,” JC looked closely at Erika and could tell something was bothering her. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Justin. I feel like I let him down.”
“How so?”
“He always worries about me and protects me. He’s just always there for me. And now he knows what’s gonna happen and he’s disappointed with himself.”
“How can you tell?”
“I just can. And knowing that he feels bad for not being there to protect me, well, it makes me feel bad.”
“What do you mean, ‘what’s gonna happen’?”
“The doctor said...”
“Mr. Chasez. I’m sorry, but your are not allowed back her at this time.” The doctor said as he strolled into the room. “I know you care a lot about your friend but this isn’t the time to visit.”
“I know, I’m sorry, I’ll be leaving now.” JC walked over to Erika, placed a kiss on her forehead, and walked out of the room.
“Time to go under the knife.”
“Fun.”
(In the Waiting Room)
JC walked into the waiting room and everyone looked up at him.
“Where did you go?” Asked Rachel.
“Just walking around.”
“Uh huh.”
“I was.”
“Sure you were you just keep telling yourself that.” Rachel stood up and walked towards the giant windows.
Justin walked off the elevators with food and drinks in his arms.
“Everyone, come and take your stuff cuz imma drop it.”
Liz leaned closer to Christi, “Look at that, he’s all smiles trying to play it off.”
“That’s so sad.”
“Uh, guys, we have a problem.” Rachel said without turning attention from the window.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s press everywhere.”
“WHAT?” All the guys shouted simultaneously.
“MTV, CBS, ABC, FOX, you name it, there all here.”
“This isn’t happening.” Justin went over to a chair in a corner.
“What are we gonna do?”
“What should we say?”
“Should we tell them the truth?”
“How do they know we’re here?”
Liz looked around and noticed Justin wasn’t there. She walked over to where he was sitting in his corner.
“What are you thinking about?”
“This isn’t happening. Her parents didn’t die, she didn’t get hurt, we’re not in this damn hospital, she will dance again, and those pitiless reporters are not hounding us.” Tears began forming in his eyes.
A lone tear slid down his cheek and splattered against the floor just like his ever present world...crumbling always crumbling.
Liz was stunned. She didn’t know how to respond to that.
Justin’s world was crashing around him and there was nothing any body could do.
Without saying a word, she patted his knee and left him. Liz walked over to the rest of the group.
“Shhh.” the group silenced and faced Liz, “Do you guys hear that?”
There was nothing.
“That’s that’s the sound of Justin’s world shattering.
“Liz, what the fuck are you talking about? This isn’t the time to be sarcastic!”
The elevator’s bell rang, and it’s doors opened. Out came a swarm of reporters, cameras, microphones, and bright lights.
“What happened that Nsync is at the hospital?”
“Is it true that one of your dancers has died?”
“Why is JC’s hair so blonde?”
Reporters were asking questions.
Cameramen were video taping.
Paparazzi were taking photographs.
And Justin, was in his corner, rocking back and forth.
Christi stepped out of the bathroom and began to walk back to the waiting room. She noticed a lot of action but assumed there was just another accident with victims.
As Christi looked closer, she realized her friends were in the middle of the mob scene, all except Justin. He went unnoticed where he was.
She quietly made her way across the room, making sure she wasn’t seen by any of the cameras.
“Justin, baby, listen to be, we have to get out of here before they see us.”
He was awoken from his daze and looked at Christi in front of him.
“Where do we go?”
“Anywhere but here.” She took his hand and helped him stand.
They quickly made their way through halls in the hospital and reached a dead end.
“Shit.”
“We can go in here.” Christi pointed towards a door that read ‘Doctor’s Lounge’.
Doctors who had already finished their shifts were relaxing drinking coffee and eating.
“You can’t be in here, you must wait in the waiting area.”
“We understand that, but you have to listen to us.”
Justin explained their situation, and the doctors agreed that they could stay there for the time being.
(Back in the Waiting Area)
“We are here because a friend of ours is hurt.”
“No, one of our dancers did not die.”
“And my hair isn’t THAT blonde, c’mon now people.”
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chapter 11