1991
"Wow."
Justin's blue eyes scanned the dressing room in awe. He ran into the room taking in everything from the video game compsule to his own private bathroom."I can't believe this."
"Neither can I. Who knew they'd give so many perks to a scrawny brat from Memphis Tennessee," a voice said coming from behind him.
Justin frowned. "Momma, Lissa is insulting me again!"
Melissa gave a look of innocence. "What? You don't think you're a scrawny brat? If there's one thing in this world that I'm positively sure about, it's that you're a scrawny brat, Just."
"Didn't we have enough bickering on the way here?" Lynn asked sighing from he doorway.
"Thanks for bringing me along, Lynn. I'm really glad that I came." Melissa gave her a quick hug.
Lynn smiled at the 11 year-old girl who had captured her son's friendship over the years. "Think nothing of it, sugar. Besides I would never hear the end of it from Justin if I didn't. He can be so darn annoying sometimes."
Melissa nodded. "Tell me about it."
Justin gave them his signature pout. "I never get any respect! I finally make it on Star Search and all I do is get belittled!"
"Belittled?" Melissa raised an eyebrow at him.
Justin shrugged. "It was a long trip. The dictionary has some great words, though. Hey, Lissa, do you know what a homos-"
"Maybe we should start ironing ut your costume for tonight, Justin," Lynn said quickly.
"But mom, there's at least 3 hours before the show starts and I was just going to tell Melissa about vagi-"
"Justin," Lynn said warningly.
The boy sighed and opened his duffle bag."I never get to have any fun."
Melissa giggled at him.
"Five minutes till showtime!" a stage directed popped his head into the dressing room.
Melissa turned to her friend. "You ready, Justin?"
"Justin?"
"Justin!"
Justin stood ther frozen holding his cowboy hat in his hand. "I think I'm going to throw up."
Melissa walked ove to Justin and held his hand. "Justin, you've rehearsed the song at least 20 times here. Probably even in 84 times back in the car. Nothing going to go wrong. You'll do just fine."
Her statement snapped him out of his nervous stupor. "No. I want to do better than fine. I want them to be the best. I want them to love me." He stared into his best friend's cat green eyes."Are they going to love me, Lissa?" he asked softly.
"Of course they're going to love you, just like the way I love you. Afterall, who cannot resist the powerful charms of Justin Timberlake-Boy Wonder!"
Justin laughed, squeezing her hand. "I'm glad you came with me, Lissa."
"Me too, Just. Me too."
From the corner of the room as she watched the two kids talk, Lynn could feel the tears spring up to her eyes.
There was an ultimate silence on the way back to Memphis. Lynn glanced into her rearview mirror.
"Justin, honey, don't be upset. There's nothing wrong with 2nd place. You even have that nice trophy to go show your daddy and everybody back home. Won't that be great?"
Justin's stony figure stared out the window without a reply.
Lynn sighed and looked to the quiet girl in the corner. She might be a little hell-raiser herself, but if anyone would be able to make her son feel better in this situation, it would be her.
Melissa scooted over to Justin and laid his head into her lap. "You want to know what the best thing about being in second place is?"
"What?" he asked quietly, sniffling slightly.
Melissa rubbed his soft brown curls. "It gives you another chance to succeed. That girl who won today? She's done. The ride's over for her. But for you, the ride's just begun. This gives you a chance to learn from your mistakes and better yourself. It gives you another chance to win other things and experience the world. One of these days Justin, you're going to be great, I can feel it. But if you let yourself get down like this, it won't ever happen. You have to roll with the punches and keep on going. This isn't the Justin Timberlake I know. The Justin Timberlake I know would go back to his happy, yet overly egostical self. That Justin knows that in every dark cloud there is always a silver lining. The Justin Timberlake I know would be whinning about how much better he was and how he was robbed." She poked him in the side causing him to crack a smile and giggle. "See? I told you second place isn't so bad."
Justin smiled back at his friend in the darkness. "Thanks Lissa."
1992-----
"This better be important Justin Randall Timberlake," Melissa said yawning clamboring through his bedroom window. "It's 1:00 in the morning and we have a spelling test tommorrow."
"It is," Justin insisted pulling her over to his bed.
Melissa flopped down on his bed tiredly and waited expectantly. "Well?"
Justin opened his dresser drawer and pulled a letter. He handed it to her. "I got this in the mail today."
She ran a finger over the mouse embellem faintly. "Is it..."
Justin nodded.
Melissa thrusted it back into his hands as if they were playing a game of hot potato. "Well? Open it!"
He stared at the carpet and he pushed his toe across it. "Well that's kinda why I asked you over. I want you to open it for me."
"You-you do?" Melissa asked slightly turning pale.
"I know, I know it's silly right. But I just have this feeling if I open it, I might jinx it or something. Will you do it for me, Lissa? Please?"
Melissa gulped. She took the envelope from his hands and opened it carefully and pulled out the letter.
"You're in."
"What?" Justin asked increduosly.
" I said, you're in. They want you."
Justin's eyes widened excitedly and his mouth dropped. "Oh my god, Lissa! I can believe it!" He grabbed her into a hug. "I'm finally going to be famous! I made it!"
Melissa forced a small smile. "I'm so happy for you, Just," she said quietly.
Justin was too excited to notice his friend. If he had been paying attention, he would have noticed a tear streak down her cheek.
"Flight 24 to Orlando, Florida now boarding."
Melissa's mother Tara stood up and gave Lynn a hug. "Oh it's just not going to be the same without you guys next door." She brushed away a tear and laughed. "Look at me, I'm blubering like a big old baby."
Lynn hugged her back. "We're going to miss you too. Especially this little spitfire here," she said tousling Melissa's curly hair. "I want you to send me lots of pictures of you at your next skating competion, o.k.?"
Melissa nodded meekly, hugging her.
Lynn and Tara then watched as Justin pulled Melissa over by a window to talk.
"Here," he said pulling a box out of his back pocket and giving it to her.
"What is it?" Melissa asked curiously.
"Just open it," Justin insisted.
Melissa opened the velvet slowly. There nestled in the satin lining was a silver necklace with a tiny green emerald hanging off it. "It's beautiful," she mummured softly.
Justin opened the clasp and put it around her neck. "I bought it yesterday at the jewelry store with my mom. It reminded me of your eyes."
Melissa slid the silver ring off her finger. "It's for you too. I was going to give it to yesterday but I guess today seemed more appropiate."
Justin twisted it on and gave a wavery smile. "Thanks."
She hugged him tightly. "I really am going to miss you, Just. You're my best friend."
Justin didn't reply. He just held her close, inhaling in her smell and memorizing her touch.
"Justin, honey," Lynn said tapping him, "We have to go now."
He nodded. he gave Melissa a long sideways glance, picked up his backpack, and turned to leave.
He had almost reached the gate when he heard somebody call after him.
Mleissa ran up to Justin and whirled him around. She grabbed his face and kissed him. It was slow but yet it was full of innocence and sweetness. She broke away. "Don't forget the promise," she said softly.
Justin nodded slowly. He still held on to her hand, until his mother pulled him away and he could hold on no longer.
Melissa stared out the window as she saw Justin board the plane. She knew that she didn't have to do this. But it was the only way she could feel safe in knowing that her best friend would be alright. She abruptly turned away and walked off towards the elevators.
"Melissa! Wait honey! Don't you want to see the plane take off?" Tara shouted after her daughter.
"No. I promised myself that no matter what, I would never let him see me cry," she replied trying to hold back sobs that begging to be released from within her.