“Ooh, what does this button do, Melly?” Jonathan asked reaching out to touch.
Melissa rolled her eyes and pulled the curious child out of the elevator. “Remember what I said about touching things, Jon? Don’t touch.” Melissa walked down the hall then inwardly cringed. Her tone of voice sounded freakily like her mothers. She smiled. “On the other hand, you’re 6, you’re cute, AND you’re Justin’s responsibility. Touch whatever you want to,” she said devilishly.
Jonathan ran off and began to mess with the buttons on the open elevator.
“Were you deprived as a child or do you just get pleasure from being evil?” a voice called out sarcastically.
Melissa turned around and saw Johnny’s secretary, Sonia getting a soda. She gave her a smirk. “I was deprived of my sanity. I blame that on Justin.”
Sonia laughed and the two chatted for a few minutes, discussing the new painting Melissa had done that Justin had been raving about earlier this week.
“Before I forget, where is J, anyway?” Melissa asked nonchalantly, despite the fact that the thought of talking to Justin face to face made her stomach turn.
Sonia chuckled. “Aren’t you the least bit worried about where mini-Justin is running off too?”
Melissa spun around just in time to see Jonathan run around the corner of the hallway. She groaned. “Can I say for the record that Justin owes me his life?” Melissa rolled her eyes. “See ya later, Sonia!” she said running taking off after Jonathan.
“Have fun!” Sonia said smiling returning to her office.
Melissa rounded the corner, to only find an empty hallway. “Jonathan Timberlake, when I catch you little buddy, you’re so dead,” she groaned, irritated. She followed a childish giggle down another empty corridor and stood perfectly still, holding her breath as she gazed all around. The sound of little footsteps came again, closer to her.
Melissa tiptoed in the direction of the noise, keeping close to the walls. If there’s one thing she learned while with Justin all this years, it was on how to sneak up on somebody.
She sighed when she spied Jonathan on his hands and knees peering into an open doorway. Melissa crept up to him silently, afraid he’d run off again. “I’ve got you now, you little monster,” she said springing on him, tickling his belly a little.
Jonathan giggled, leaning in closer to her, giving her a hug. “I love you, Melly. I’m sorry.”
Melissa’s heart softened immediately. He might be a little monster, but he was an adorable little monster. “I love you too, but you shouldn’t run away like that from me, Jon. You know that I don’t want anything bad to happen to you, sweetie.”
Jonathan nodded and put a small finger to her lips. “Shh, Justin is singing,” he warned her in a child-like whisper.
Melissa peered into the doorway and sure enough, Justin was deep into song. Her entire body flushed at the sight of him, and a strange tingling sensation fluttered up her spine. For a moment, Melissa felt as if all time had stopped.
Justin opened his serene and beautiful blue eyes and made a connection with her like she had never felt before.
She was my once in a lifetime,
Happy ending come true.
Oh I, guess I should have told her,
I thought she knew.
She said I took her for granted,
That’s the last thing I would do.
Oh I, guess I should have told her,
I thought she knew…
I thought she knew my world,
Revolved around her.
My love light burned for her alone.
But she couldn’t see the flame.
Only myself to blame.
I should have known,
I should have known…
Jonathan looked away from Justin and tugged on Melissa’s hand. “Melly, let’s go inside,” he said.
But, Melissa just gazed at Justin, spellbound.
“Melly!” Jonathan repeated.
Melissa blinked. “Yes, Jonathan?”
“Can we go inside?”
Melissa looked at Robin, who shrugged with a smile. She leaned into the mike. “Listen to the playback Justin and then we’ll have JC record his dub.”
Jonathan ran inside and jumped into Justin’s lap, talking animatedly with his hands.
JC came up to Melissa from behind. “Hey Mel.”
Melissa smiled sheepishly. “Hey JC. What’s up?”
“Nothing much. We saw the final cut of the video this morning. The suits thought it looked great,” JC replied, referring to Jive’s head executives.
Melissa inwardly cringed. “Don’t remind me about that. Let me be the first to say that my music video days are over, starting officially now.”
JC shrugged sitting down on the couch. “It was actually pretty good. You acted really professional.”
“Yeah, its real professional, when the actress starts crying because she’s afraid of getting cooties by kissing the talent,” she said bitterly. Melissa shifted her backpack on her shoulder. “I’ve got to get back to class. Tell Just, I’ll see him at the house later, o.k.?” She walked out of the room giving everyone a silent wave.
“Hey, Mel?” JC asked, coming up behind her.
“Yeah?” Melissa turned around and faced JC.
“Don’t fight it, ok? If you feel it deep within you, then let your heart do the talking. Make it easier on yourself.” JC said, touching her on the arm, concerned.
Melissa looked at JC thoughtfully for a few moments, and then gave a small smile. “See ya later, JC.”
JC waved to her and went back into the studio.
Melissa walked out of the building, the sunshine hitting her face. She shook her head. If only things were really that easy.
Melissa pulled a heavy and drying painting and 3 bags of groceries out of her car, later that day. She dragged them up the sidewalk and reached the gate. With her teeth, she managed to get the keypad open. “Hey, Just! Can you buzz me in?” she asked breathlessly.
“What, don’t you have hands?” Justin replied sarcastically.
“Wow, you’re becoming quite the comedian lately. You should quit your day job. Oh, wait, you can’t!” she replied with a little more bite then she intended. “Are you going to open the door or not? And while you’re up you can help with these groceries.”
“Ooh, did you buy cereal? We’re all out of Apple Jacks and all we have is that Bran crap you like to eat.”
Melissa rolled her eyes. “Number 1, Bran is not crap. It’s healthy, unlike the freeze-dried sugar you like to scarf down. Number 2, could you open the damn door?!.” She waited for a few moments and was about to scream all the profanities she could think of at the speaker, but then gate creaked open. She dragged the stuff up the drive and pushed opened the door with backside. “Justin, did you not hear me? I told you to get your butt down-whoa!” she said tripping over one of the bags. Two strong arms reached out and steadied her before she fell. Melissa found herself staring face-to-face to the thing she had been dreading for the past 24 hours.
“You rang?” Justin asked with a grin.
Melissa’s face flushed red and she pushed herself up right. “I said, to help with the groceries. Where were you when I needed you five minutes ago?”
“Talking to Chris,” he said picking up the bags and headed to the kitchen with a smirk.
Melissa picked up her painting, willed herself not to smack Justin upside the head with it, and headed upstairs to her room. She took a quick shower and headed to the kitchen. She found a carton of noodles in the fridge and made her way back upstairs. She was about to settle down with her favorite book and some music when she heard a tiny knock at her door.
“Melly?”
Melissa put down the book and smiled at the face who peeped in the doorway. “Yes, Jon?”
He bounded in the room and jumped onto her bed. “What are you doing?”
“I was about to read a book. Is there anything you want?”
“Justin wants to know if you’ll watch a movie with us.” His big blue eyes, peered up at her expectantly.
Melissa sighed, closing the book and turning off her CD player. Resistance was futile when it came to her and kids. “Sure,” she said grabbing her food. The two of them headed to Justin room and Melissa plopped down on Justin’s bed. “What’s on the boob tube tonight, curly?”
“The Lion King, part 2,” he replied pushing her away a bit. “Who said you could eat in my room?”
Melissa slurped a noodle in his face. “I did.”
Justin wrinkled his nose. “Get your vegetarian garbage away from me. I can smell those soybeans all the way from here.”
“Shhh, I’m trying to watch the movie,” Jonathan whined from the floor.
Melissa poked him with a chopstick. “Yeah, shut-up, Justin.”
Justin picked a pillow and hit her with it. “Do us all a favor and smother yourself.”
“Only if you go first,” Melissa replied sweetly.
“I have to go to the bathroom!” Jonathan announced loudly.
Justin stopped the movie and MTV popped up on the screen. “Don’t forget to wash your hands, Jon!”
“Gees Just. You sound so domesticated,” Melissa piped up.
“Hush, girl,” Justin said in a fake southern drawl. He turned his attention back to the TV.
Carson Daly appeared on the screen. “Their new album, after its long-awaited release, has skyrocketed to the top of the charts, selling 1.0 million in its first day and their ‘No Strings Attached’ tour starts out next week, in Biloxi, Mississippi. Here’s Nsync with their debut video of “This I Promise You.”
At the mention of those words, Melissa turned pale and began to choke on the noodles she had in her mouth. Justin quickly reached over and slapped her back.
“Are you ok?” Justin asked her concerned.
Melissa nodded as the color returned to her face. She stared at the TV as she watched herself laughing with Justin as they frolicked in the water. The opening strands of the ballad had begun to trickle out of the speakers.
“Actually, I wanted to talk about it. You know the kiss and all,” Justin began.
Melissa sighed and turned to him. “What about?”
“Why did you run away from me, Melissa?”
Melissa put down her food, rolled over, and stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know, Justin. It’s complicated. I reacted on my emotions.”
“So my kissing you, caused you to feel like crying?” Justin asked raising an eyebrow.
She sighed again. “No, it’s not that. I don’t want things to change. I’m scared for things to change.” Melissa looked at him again. “You’re my best friend, Just. We’ve always had that relationship outside the norm. I don’t want to do something I’ll regret later. I don’t want to jeopardize the things we’ve shared.”
Justin leaned over and touched her face. “Do you regret me kissing you?”
“No,” she replied softly, leaning into his touch. If Melissa had been confused before, than she had no way to explain all the mixed emotions that were running through her now. She felt confusion, love, pain, longing, and most of all, lust.
Justin’s face mirrored her own as his beautiful cobalt eyes spread a heavy gaze over her. “When we kissed yesterday, I felt things, things that I’ve never felt before. It was like magic. I want to explore that. I want to feel something deeper. Do you feel it?”
“I do, but I-”
“Then what? Why won’t you give in? How could something that wonderful, be so bad?” Justin asked leaning towards her.
“I don’t know. But I think I’d liked to know.” Melissa whispered.
“Then let me show you.” Justin leaned in and took her chin in his hands and sent her a heavy gaze that made chills down her spine. “Let me show you that you don’t have to be afraid.” He lifted her face to his. “Let me show you where you belong.”
“I’m back!” Jonathan exclaimed jumping on the bed, completely ruining the moment that he and Melissa were about to share.
Melissa jumped and flipped off the bed with a thud. “Ow, my butt!”
Justin rubbed his face in his hands. “That did not just happen. Please, someone tell me that it didn't happen.”
"It did happen. My butt hurts too much for it to have not to," Melissa said groaning.
“What did I do?” he asked innocently looking down at Melissa.
“You know, I just don’t know anymore. I give up. It’s time for bed, Jonathan.”
“But the movie, you promised!” he said pouting.
“It’s past your bedtime anyway,” he said getting up. “You can either sleep here or in the guest room.”
Jonathan looked at him sulkily.
“Jon,” Justin said, with warning in his voice.
“I’ll sleep in here,” Jonathan said sighing.
Melissa got up and stretched, rubbing her buttocks gently. “I have to pick up Brit in the morning anyway. Bye guys.” She gave one last fleeting look at Justin and retired to her room.
Justin smiled wryly and tucked Jonathan in. He reached for the remote and looked at the television. The video was ending and he could see himself kissing Melissa softly. He turned off the TV and crawled into bed with a sigh.
Melissa groaned as she felt the bed shift the next morning. Sunlight had already begun to peek through the pale silk curtains that covered the balcony and she covered her eyes with a pillow.
“Melly?” a little voice called out in a whisper.
Melissa ignored the voice. Melissa loved Jonathan dearly but if she didn’t get some sleep soon, the world would have to deal with her hellish attitude.
“Melly?” Jonathan asked coming towards the bed. He leaned over and lifted up one eye-lid. “Are you awake?”
“No. Go back to sleep Jonathan,” she replied with her eyes closed.
“Can I stay here with you?”
Melissa pulled back the covers with one arm and felt the younger Timberlake cuddle up against her. She sighed and struggled to get back to sleep. She rolled her eyes when she felt Jonathan turn over and shake the bed a bit. She gritted her teeth and rolled over. The bed continued to shift and Melissa gave up. “What is it, Jonathan?” she asked exasperatedly.
“Can you fix me breakfast?” Jonathan asked with hope.
“Why didn’t you ask your brother to?” she asked opening her eyes.
“He said that you would do it.”
Melissa frowned and looked at the clock that said 6:57. Justin would pay. She sighed and rolled out of bed. “Come on then,” she said rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
“Yea!” Jonathan exclaimed running out her room. He began to talking animatedly about all the things he wanted for him and Justin to do today.
Melissa cringed at the hi-pitched chatter that Jonathan was making. Justin would pay dearly.
When they reached the kitchen, Jonathan sat at the kitchen table and watched as Melissa began to pull out items from the fridge. Within a few minutes, Melissa had prepared a small serving of pancakes and eggs for Jonathan. “Jonathan, can you go tell Justin that breakfast is ready?” she asked setting two plates down on the table.
Jonathan nodded and ran up the stairs. He returned a few moments later. “Justin’s not there.”
Melissa gave Jonathan his breakfast and headed upstairs to Justin’s room. She hesitated and knocked on his door as she stepped inside. “Just, breakfast is ready if you…want……some,” she said trailing off slowly.
A towel hung loosely on Justin’s hips and water droplets glistened off his tanned skin. His arms and stomach were toned and muscular as were his legs which peeked out from under the towel.
Melissa stared at him slack-jawed. All memory of why she had come up to his room in the first place, had slipped her mind completely.
“Yes?” Justin asked, rubbing a towel through his hair. “What’s up?”
Melissa shook her head. “Breakfast is sexy-err, I mean ready,” she said quickly.
Justin raised an eyebrow at her. “Ok, thanks. I’ll be down in a sec.”
She nodded dumbly and walked out of the room. She closed her eyes and hit her head against the hallway wall repeatedly. She needed to grab a hold of herself. She couldn’t let herself be trapped like this. She took a deep breath and made her way downstairs.
Justin came to the kitchen a few moments later, dressed and looking fresh. He smiled at her as he ruffled Jonathan’s hair. “So, what’s for breakfast, Jon?”
“Pancakes and eggs,” Jonathan said with his mouth full. “It’s good.”
Justin took a bite and nodded. “It is good. We’ll have to give our compliments to our lovely chef here, won’t we?”
Melissa rolled her eyes and sipped a cup of coffee. “It’ll be the first.” She glanced at her watch. “Ooh, I promised I’d get Britney at the airport. Her flight comes in at 9:00.”
Justin finished his breakfast and put his and Jon’s dishes in the sink. “Go get dressed Jon. We got to go too.”
Melissa stretched and started up the stairs. “So, where are you two headed today?”
Justin followed her up the stairs and to her room. He sat down on her bed as she ran into her bathroom. “I don’t know really. Lisa says that Jon and Steven are really growing out of their clothes. Maybe we’ll pick up Trace and hang-out at the mall for a while.”
Melissa wrinkled her nose in distaste at the mention of Trace’s name. “I still don’t know why you hang around him so much.”
Justin chuckled looking at her sketchbook. “You just don’t like him cause he tried to kiss you in the 4th grade.”
Melissa came out the bathroom, changed, shaking her head. “I never said I didn’t like him. It’s just that I distinctly remember Trace and a certain someone in the 3rd grade who stole my Betsy.”
Justin rolled his eyes. “Jesus, how long are you going to hold this grudge? We were 8 for god-sakes!”
“Trace pulled off the head of my doll and buried it the sandbox. You didn’t even stop him. And as for the kissing thing, back then, in 3rd grade, everybody was a little messed up. But when he tried to kiss me last Christmas, that’s where I draw the line,” Melissa said combing her hair in her vanity mirror.
“I still don’t see why you had to hit him though,” Justin said laughing, his eyes twinkling as he recalled the moment.
Melissa smiled sweetly. “Nothing says, let’s just be friends more than a quick jab to the liver.”
Justin came up behind her and put an arm around her waist. “Then I guess that won’t be happening to us.”
Melissa swallowed hard at the nearness of her and Justin. “What won’t happen?” she asked softly
“Us hitting each other. Because just friends is looking kind of boring now. I want to move on to something new.” Justin said putting his head over her shoulder, staring at their reflection. “Something exciting.”
Jonathan bounded into Melissa room dressed and jumped on the bed. “I’m ready, Justin!”
Justin leaned over and kissed Melissa on the side of her head. “We’ll see you later, Lissa.” He grabbed Jon and swung him onto his shoulders.
Jonathan giggled and looked to Melissa. “Aren’t you coming too, Melly?”
Justin gave her a strong gaze. “No, I think Melissa needs to be alone. I think we’re starting to get under her skin.”
The two left the room and Melissa heard the front door close. She stared at her reflection and touched where Justin had put is lips seconds earlier. He has no idea.
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