True, Joey wasn’t exactly experienced in the matchmaking department. He had his own fiancée and daughter at home and hadn’t been playing the field for at least two years. But that didn’t mean he had totally forgotten how to date. He was still the flirt in the group, though he had toned down greatly since his engagement. His hobby is still going to clubs on Friday nights, though he never walked in the door drunk anymore. And his love for Superman was rubbing off on his daughter. In many ways he hadn’t changed. In just as many ways, he had.
It seemed to him that it was Justin who had forgotten how to date. It almost made him sick watching him mope around feeling sorry for himself. Lots of people had noticed the change in him, including some fans. Of course, Justin was oblivious to it though.
“Joey!” Megan screamed running towards him.
“Princess!” He called back. She let out a giggle and jumped into his arms. He hugged her tight and laughed at her exuberance. “It’s been so long.”
“Almost a year.” She acknowledged. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too.” He set her down. “How was France?” (Megan had been studying to be a dancer.)
“It was phat! I don’t think I fit in too well there though.” She said with her slight New York accent.
“I don’t see why not. Maybe it was your accent.” Joey picked up her bags and they started walking toward his car.
“But when you went to France you didn’t get crap for your accent.” She pointed out.
“Yours is a lot thicker than mine.”
“It didn’t used to be.” She pouted. “What happened to yours anyway?”
“I’ve lived in Orlando for almost 10 years Megan.” He explained. “It just kinda wore off.”
“Nothin’ a year in the Bronx wouldn’t fix.” She said under her breath. Joey laughed lightly.
“You haven’t changed a bit, have you Princess?” He asked.
“Nope!” She smiled proudly.
During the drive to Ericsson Stadium in North Carolina, where their concert would be later that night, Joey and Megan talked and laughed and caught up with what they had missed over the past year. Joey decided to tell Megan about the plan they had for Justin. She would be staying on their bus while she was with them so it would be perfect.
“So you’re telling me I have to act like I like him?” Megan asked.
“Megs, I know for a fact that you DO like him.” Joey said. “I’ve known you since before you could walk. You can’t hide things from me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She said looking away. She started chewing on her thumb, a give-away that she was nervous.
“You still bite your thumb when you’re nervous?” He asked.
“I’m not nervous.” She retorted removing her thumb from her mouth. She started playing with her hands, another nervous habit.
“Will you calm down!” Joey let out an exasperated lauh. “Just don’t worry about it.”
“But you said so yourself that he’s been so cold lately.” She said. “What if I do something wrong and he hates me forever?”
“He won’t hate you forever.” Joey said. “Just be your lovely little self and you’ll be fine. It’s not like you’ve never met him before.”
“I was 14!” she exclaimed. “I was an immature child. Besides, I had a boyfriend then.”
“Speaking of which, did you meet some fine French boy to sweep you off his feet?” He asked.
“Nope, that trip was strictly for studying.” She said proudly.
“You mean you didn’t break every heart in Paris with your big blue eyes and charm?” He was truly surprised.
“Not everyone lives to defeat every member of the opposite sex like you do Joey.” She joked.
“Hey, I got a fiancée and daughter at home now.” He defended.
“When do I get to meet this fiancée and daughter?” Megan asked.
“Tomorrow, they’re gonna fly to D.C. and stay with us on the bus for a while.”
“Doesn’t JC live in D.C.?”
“Yup. His fiancée, Bobbee, is gonna come with us too. Lance’s girlfriend is coming in a couple of days. And Chris’s girlfriend’s gonna be here next week.”
“How are we gonna fit all these people on one bus?” Megan asked. With all the guys and their guests, plus security and the bus driver there would be over 15 people.
“Our security is on another bus and we’ve got an extra if there still isn’t room.” Joey explained.
“Oh.” She said.
“Here we are!” Joey announced. Megan looked at the giant building towering before her and gasped. The stadium probably fit 20,000 people. “We’ve really moved up in the world.”
“You’re telling me.” She mumbled.
“You’re gonna need this.” He handed her a guest pass that everyone had to have to get backstage. As they were walking to the back of the venue, Megan noticed a familiar face she hadn’t seen in almost a year.
“Chrissy!” She called. Chris’s head shot up.
“Meggers!” He called back. She ran to him and he enveloped her in a big bear hug. “How have you been? Joey told us you were in France. Are you a pro dancer yet?”
“Not yet.” She smiled. “I just got my under grad last month.”
“Cool.” Chris said. “Well, the other guys are inside. I gotta go call Kristin.”
“What happened to Danielle?” Megan asked when Chris was out of ear shot.
“Oh, they broke up last year.” Joey said solemnly. “It was really bad. He was kinda like Justin is now, only not as bad.”
“Well, he’s happy now right?” She asked trying to cheer Joey up.
“Definitely.” Joey perked up. “When the other girls come, I’m sure y’all will get along great.”
“Me too.” She said. “Let’s go find the others.”
They found the toy room and another round of hugs was given to Megan. Joey told the other guys that she had been informed of the plan for Justin. That made Megan notice that Justin wasn’t with them.
“Hey guys, where’s Justin?” She asked.
“Who knows!” Chris said.
“He never shows up until, like, 2 seconds before we go on stage.” Lance explained.
“I’m gonna go look for him.” Megan said wandering from the room.
“Good luck!” Joey called after her.
Megan wandered through the halls, smiling at people she passed, looking for Justin. She looked in all the rooms she came by, but had no luck. Finally, she came to the last room at the end of the long hallway. The door was slightly open and she could hear loud music. It sounded like Jay-Z. Definitely hip-hop. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open. In the room, was every 12-year-olds dream.
Justin’s weight bench had been moved from the toy room to this one. There he was, the man she’d had a crush on for 5 years, clad in a wife beater and black tear away pants, benching at least 200 pounds. Her breath caught in her throat. He still hadn’t noticed she was there. She could still leave without him noticing, before she made a fool out of herself drooling like a teenybopper. As she turned to leave, Justin spoke up.
“Ya know Megan,” He said mid-lift. “You could at least say hi. I mean, after you took all that time to find me.”
“Oh, hi Justin.” She said, like nothing had happened.
“Is there anything-” He took a deep breath and lifted the bar. “I can do for you?”
“I just wanted to say hi.” She said softly, looking at the ground. “I haven’t seen you in a while, ya know? I thought maybe we could catch up a little before the show.”
Justin set the weight on the weight bench and sat up. He walked over to the stereo and turned it off, taking a drink from that ever-present water bottle. He sat on a chair and looked at her.
“What’s there to catch up on?” He asked. “Nothing really interesting has happened to me lately.”
“Let’s start by you telling me why you’re in here and not in the toy room with the other guys.” Megan said sitting next to him. “Why are you pushing them away?”
“I see they’ve been talking about me behind my back.” He sighed and shook his head.
“No, Joey just told me about Britney and-”
“Look!” He said harshly, making her jump. “What happens in my life, is MY business. I don’t need you, or Joey, or anybody else butting in and causing more problems.”
“I’m sorry.” She whispered. “I was just trying to help.”
“I don’t need your help.” He snapped. She didn’t say anything. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a concert to get ready for.”
He got up and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him, causing Megan to jump again. She could feel her chest swell and she started wheezing. Her asthma was acting up again and her confrontation with Justin hadn’t helped it at all. She took a couple of puffs from her inhaler and then just sat there, wondering what she did wrong. She felt tears coming to her eyes and blinked them away. This was going to be harder than she thought.
