"Now, Now Princess," Steve (Joey's Brother) scolded. "No need for language, your mother is going to see this."
"Well, tell Justin to quit flirting with me!" A 15 year old Megan whined.
"Oh, quit complaining and talk to the camera." Steve said.
Megan rolled her eyes but smiled. "Hey Fatones!" She waved. "I love you guys, thanks for everything! And Joe, when you and the guys become famous, you better not forget me or I'll - - "
Justin came up behind her and poured a cup of ice water over her head.
"JUSTIN!" She screamed. She looked at the camera and smiled. "Excuse me." She said sweetly. She took off after Justin and pushed him into the water. Steve's laugh could be heard just before the camera went off and the TV screen went blue.
"Those were the days, huh?" Justin asked.
"Yeah..." Megan nodded slowly.
"Did you really not like the way I flirted?" He asked.
"Well, it's just that sometimes you got so annoying!" She said. "Like any girl enjoys getting a cup of ice water dumped over her head."
"I didn't know what to do. I pretty much missed everything there is to teenage life, because of the group." Justin said.
"I know you did. Sometimes I forget that you didn't get to do the same things I did."
"I wanted so bad to be able to go out on dates and do things that normal teenagers did, but it never happened." Justin sighed.
"You've been on dates before." Megan said. "I'm sure girls like the places you take them to."
"Well, maybe I want something more than fancy restaurants and big fancy hotels with jacuzzis! Maybe I want to go miniature golfing, or to a movie without having to disguising myself! I can't even go into a damn mall because some 12-year-old might tear me to pieces!" He yelled.
"Justin, I'm sorry..." She whispered.
"Don't you see what I'm saying?" He asked. She shook her head. "WE could do those things together! I couldn't do those things with Britney because she only wanted to go to exclusive clubs and expensive restaurants."
"I still don't understand Justin."
"I want to go to theme parks with you. And Midnight Bowling and places that normal people go to." He explained.
"Why me, though?" She asked. "I'm no pop princess."
"But that's exactly my point. You're the normality that I need."
"I didn't know you felt like this." Megan said.
"I know that I didn't act like I needed you when we were young because I thought that I didn't need a girlfriend tying me down. My ego went through the roof when the group took off and it's only gotten worse because of Britney. Her ego was just as big as mine and that's why I didn't realize it, because I couldn't tell. When I yelled at you yesterday and I saw what it did to you, I realized that I couldn't act like that anymore. And I need someone that won't let me be like that. I keep driving away the people that love me and I'm driving you away too."
"You never drove me away, Justin." Megan said.
"But you've only been here two days and all I've been is an ass hole...I don't know how I can make it up to you, or everyone else." He said moving closer to her "I need you Megan." He captured her lips with his.
The kiss that Megan had been waiting for was everything she had hoped it would be. It was giving and demanding, gentle and fervent, pure and spirituous. And she could have guaranteed that the earth had trembled and fireworks had exploded at the instant his mouth touched hers. She felt at home, safe and protected, loved and cherished.
"We're back!" They heard Lance call. Justin sighed and laughed a little.
"We'll finish this later." He said.
"Angela's here!"
"Angie!" Justin yelled. He gave Megan a quick peck before dashing out of the room.
"Hey Cutie!" She heard Angela say. Justin picked her up and spun her around.
"How have you been?" He asked.
"Pretty good, been missing yall though." She said with an obvious country accent.
"C'mon, I want you to meet someone." Justin grabbed her and and took her to the back lounge. "This is Megan. Megan, this is Angela, Lance's girlfriend."
"Nice to meet you." They said to each other.
"We're at the hotel now!" They heard Lance call.
"Justin look at this room!" Megan said running into the penthouse suite. "It's huge!"
"And it's all for us." Justin said wrapping his arms around her waist.
"What do you want to do tonight?"
"Didn't you say something about bowling earlier?" She asked.
"Yeah...you want to go bowling?"
"That would be fun. Let's ask the others." Megan ran to the phone and called the other's rooms. Plans were made to meet in the lobby for Midnight Bowling. The guys decided they didn't want to take body guards so they had to put on disguise gear. By the time they were done, the only people that would be able to recognize them were the girls.
Within an hour they arrived at the bowling alley and started a game. They decided to put all of their names on one lane.
"Lowest score has Bus Duty." Chris announced. There was a chorus of Boo's, especially from Lance. Bowling wasn't really his sport.
"I had to clean it last time!" He whined.
"It's not our fault you suck at basketball." Justin said. Lance continued to pout.
"Alright, Let's get this game started." JC said.
"I'm first!" Chris exclaimed. He explained to everyone exactly how to hold the ball and how far to stick your butt out and rolled the ball down the lane. He split them right down the middle. "Man!"
"Hey Chris you still got one more." Megan encouraged him. While he was trying to hit the pin, his ball went straight into the gutter. He pouted and sat down.
"My turn!" Megan jumped up.
"Go Baby!" Justin slapped her butt.
"Hey!" She exclaimed. The others laughed. Justin watched as she grabbed her ball and determined her shot.
His eyes started at her feet, which were held by bowling shoes. He had to laugh a little. Minutes earlier she had been complaing that "it didn't feel right wearing shoes hundreds of people have already worn."
She wore light pink short shorts and a white halter top. Her makeup was simple, but cute. Pastel pink eyeliner and lipgloss. He didn't know where she found pink mascara but it made the whole thing come together.
The strobe lights made her movements seem quick and jerky as she threw the ball. A strike. She let out a whoop and jumped in the air sticking her tounge out at Chris.
"Beat that baby!" She taunted.
"You just wait, Princess." Chris shook a finger at her. "This is only the first frame."
"Ohhh! I'm shaking in my bowling shoes!" She said sarcastically. She came over and sat next to Justin.
"Nice shot." He said.
"Thanks." She smiled. "This was a good idea. I'm already having fun."
"Me too, but I can think of something more fun." He smiled slyly.
"What?" She asked not really paying attention. She was watching Joey bowl.
"Look at me." He said. She turned toward him and their lips met. The kiss was soft and sweet and they pulled away smiling.
"OK you two Love Birds, it's Lover Boy's turn."
"Shut-up Joe!" They both said.
