I sighed into the phone as I folded a pink tank top and gently placed it inside my small suitcase. “Kyle, you know I have to go,” I mumbled, exasperated at the attitude I was getting. I took the tank top out and replaced it with a light quarter sleeved baby blue shirt.
“But why Briley?”
“Kyle, I promised JC I would go. I have to.”
Kyle grew quiet. “Are you going to tell him?”
I paused. “Kyle, I can’t right now. You have no clue how hard this is. JC has been so great to me... and I don’t know if I can tell him. I’m going to try, but... I just don’t know.”
“Briley, let me ask you something. That night when we hooked up... why did you ask if I could keep a secret if you would have eventually told him anyway?”
“Because, I needed to work up to being able to tell JC. I knew that if we were too public about all this, the news would get to him sooner.”
“Briley, you need to tell him... I mean... come on baby... the sooner you do it, the sooner we don’t have to sneak around anymore.”
“You don’t get how hard this is for me, do you? Kyle, I didn’t think I would ever find a guy who understood me as well as JC did, then, I thought I HAD found it in you... I guess I was wrong.”
“We’ve just wasted so much time when you wouldn’t give me a chance... and now that you have, I just want to take advantage of all the time we do have.”
“Honestly, I don’t think I can do this right now. It’s like, ‘hey Briley... you ready to jump out of the plane without a parachute?’ No! No, I’m not ready to tell JC what I really need to tell him.” I sighed. “Kyle, this is such a big weekend for JC... I mean, they’ve finally gotten a huge chance... to perform LIVE at Madison ON HBO for heaven’s sake. It would crush him if I told him that I need a break this weekend.”
“Then wait until right before you leave,” Kyle suggested.
“Kyle, just let it go. I’ll tell him when I tell him, okay? Just forget it.”
Kyle sighed into the phone. “Fine, fine. I’m not going to argue with you about
this.”
My mouth dropped. “Kyle-”
“Briley, who’s driving you to the airport?”
“I sent for a cab.”
“Don’t do that. They are so impersonal. Let me drive you to the airport.”
“Kyle, I think I can handle-”
“Briley, I’ll be there in fifteen.” The phone went dead in my head. “Damn it!” I
yelled as I hurled the cordless phone across the room. I just couldn’t be around him when
I was going to see JC. It just didn’t feel comfortable to me. But, there was nothing I
could do about it now. I just had to suffer and make sure Kyle didn’t effect me too much
on the way to the airport.
“Hey babe,” I greeted with a smile as I slowly lifted my lips up to be claimed by
his. After a few seconds, I looked up at him and asked, “Come on, where’s that best
friend of mine?”
“She’s in the dressing room, most likely fighting with Lance.”
“Fighting?”
“Don’t ask,” JC wearily replied as we began walking. “Anyway, how was the
flight?”
“It was good, long, but good.”
“Sorry I couldn’t meet you at the airport. I couldn’t get away.”
“Eh, that’s okay. Melinda took good care of me,” I said with a smile, talking
about Melinda Bell, their Special Projects Producer who was sent to pick me up and
deliver me to JC. I took JC’s hand as we approached the dressing room.
“Damn it Lance!” I heard Kelly exclaim as JC lead me toward the dressing room
at Madison so that I could see Kelly during their scheduled appearances and soundcheck
for the afternoon. As for the next evening’s show, Kelly and I had reserved seats right
there in the front row.
I abruptly stopped, causing JC to tug slightly on my hand. “Okay, so what’s going
to happen to me? A girl leaves to tour with y’all all innocent like, and then, the next time
I see her, she’s cussing like a sailor? Is that how it works?”
“Hell, I can’t believe they are fighting again. I can't believe I was right.” JC rolled his eyes as he accented
the again.
“Again?” I questioned.
“Well, you know how Lance just started his movie production company, right?”
“I’ve read.”
“He’s been throwing around a few movie ideas, all of which include him playing
the male romantic lead...”
“And Kelly doesn’t like the idea of him kissing another girl.”
“Bingo.”
JC and I listened to the few minutes of muffled arguing before the squeak of a
couch signaled that someone had stood. “Then let me do it!” Kelly exclaimed.
“Kelly, we’ve discussed this... you can’t play the damn part!” Lance yelled back.
It grew quiet again and this time, we heard calm whispering. JC and I approached the
door. I set my hand on the doorknob to enter the room, but JC stopped me.
“I wouldn’t do that just yet.”
“Why not?”
“Give them a second... they’re making up.” I stood impatiently, wanting to see
my best friend, for a few seconds before I pushed the door open and waltzed myself into
the room. There, I found the two of them locked in anything but an angry embrace.
Neither noticed JC and I in the doorway as Lance leaned his forehead against Kelly’s and
spoke to her once more in a loving whisper.
“Babe, you can trust me... how about this... if there’s anything in the script you
don’t like, it goes.”
“Like you kissing another girl?” Kelly whispered before gently giving his lips
another small kiss.
“How about you be on set for any kissing scenes to be taped?”
Kelly gave an exasperated sigh before slowly placing her lips against his one last
time. “I guess that would be okay... can I help in casting?”
“Kelly, he’s a big boy, I’m sure he can handle it,” I spoke up, breaking the two
from the trance they seemed to be in. Kelly jumped and stepped away from Lance, giving
me a bright smile.
“Briley!” She squealed, running over to me and enveloping me in a huge hug.
“What is up my sister?” She imitated Shannon Elizabeth from ‘Scary Movie.’
I laughed a bit and hugged her back. “Not a whole lot.” I shot her a look that
begged her to get rid of JC and Lance so that we could talk. JC stood uncomfortably
behind us before speaking.
“Hey Lance, we’ve got that interview for HBO to do, so what do you say we head
on over?”
Lance looked down at his watch before answering. “Nah Jace, we still got a bit of
time.”
JC glared at him for a second. “I think the ladies need some time to talk, what do
you say Lance?”
My mouth dropped and I glared over at Kelly for a split second. “He’s lying
Briley. I don’t tell him everything. Alot, but not everything.”
Lance grinned. “Now Briley... from the look in your eyes, I’d have to say it’s...”
he studied my face for a few seconds. “A boy problem.” He patted the couch next to
him. “Now, come on and tell Lance what the problem is.”
Lance reluctantly stood and began walking to the door. He spun around just
before he reached it. “Tell me this at least... am I right? Is it a guy thing?” I bit my lip
and stared at my shoes. Lance approached me and lifted my chin, forcing me to look at
him.
I nodded slowly before I began pleading with him. “Lance, don’t say anything to
JC, please? This is something I need to figure out on my own.”
Lance sighed and held my gaze. “I won’t say anything.” I nodded, trusting his
word. “Just Briley, do me a favor and remember something, okay?” I waited for him to
continue. “Listen... love isn’t necessary... if it isn’t for you, the world is still going to
keep on turning. But, if something that good is right in front of you, take it. It’ll make
the ride worthwhile.” Thoughtfulness passed over his features before he stepped away
from me and pointed at Kelly. “Hey! Write that down for the movie! That’s pretty
good!”
She rolled her eyes as she picked the small notebook up and scribbled the words
he had just spoken. “Anything else master?” She asked with a small hint of sarcasm.
“Since you asked, yeah. Can you call Meredith and touch base with her? Just
make sure everything is going okay with her photo shoots?”
Kelly slowly nodded. Lance opened his mouth with another request, but she
interrupted. “Lance, I want you to know something.” He stepped closer to her,
enveloping her in his arms as he laid a small kiss on her lips.
“And what’s that?” He gazed down at her.
“Next month, when we go on the cruise, if you bring any work along, and sure as
hell if you attempt to ask me to help you with any of it, I’m throwing your butt
overboard.” The smile slid off his face as he stepped back and stared down at her.
“Now...” she pushed him away from her. “Be a good boy and go to work.” The
expression stayed on his face as he left the room, finding it useless to argue with her. She
yawned and collapsed on the couch.
“Tired?” I asked with a raised eyebrow as I perched in a chair across from the
couch.
She nodded. “You have no idea how hard it is to get a full night of sleep with this
bunch. Between Lance snoring, Justin being too energetic to sleep at all, Chris talking in
his sleep, and the various bodily noises that come from Joey, consider yourself lucky you
choose JC to be the one to sleep with.” She stood and went to retrieve a bottle of water
from a small cooler sitting on a stool. She twisted the cap on her journey back to the
couch and looked at me quizzically. “Now, what’s the problem? I know you’ve been
dying to talk, so spill.”
I sighed and tucked my feet under my body and began to talk... or ramble was
more like it. “God Kelly... I love JC so much... I would do anything for him... you have
no idea.”
She smiled at me. “I think I do,” she said softly.
“But... he’s not...”
“There?” Kelly supplied. She nodded. “Sometimes it’s good though. It makes the
times when you can be together even better.”
“Kelly, it’s not just issues with JC not being there... you see, there’s this guy,
Kyle.” Kelly’s mouth dropped open as the dressing room door banged open, Lance and
Justin both falling into the room.
“You’re cheating on JC?” Justin exclaimed loudly, the shock value raising his
voice.
My mouth dropped open. “I... uh...”
“Justin, Lance... OUT,” Kelly commanded, pointing at the door. “And don’t
breathe a word of anything to JC. I mean it... you two don’t want to piss me off.” Lance
lowered his head, leaving the room, Justin following. Kelly rolled her eyes. “You know
Briley, I think it would be a good idea if the two of us left and finished discussing this
somewhere else.” She gathered a few necessities together and tossed them into a
backpack. I followed along behind her, Kelly leading to the main arena where the five
were having their soundcheck. She waved Lance over the side of the stage where we
were standing.
“Hey babe, we’re going to head over to the Hard Rock to grab something to eat,
okay?”
“Do you want to take security?”
Kelly looked around cautiously, then looked back at him. “No. We’ll be fine.
The chance of us being attacked by rapid teenies is rather slim.”
Lance nodded. “Okay, be careful.” He leaned over and placed a kiss on top of
her head. My eyes searched out JC who was standing in the left wing, going over a few
dance steps with a taller blonde who I immediately recognized as Wade Robson. He gave
me a smile and blew a kiss in my direction, where Wade immediately turned to look. He
sighed and snapped his fingers in front of JC’s face and then, pointed to his feet, talking
the entire time. JC just shrugged at me and went back to what Wade was saying.
I shook my head in annoyance and turned to leave, leaving Kelly behind. I was
walking towards the back exit when I heard feet running to catch up to me. I felt a hand
on my arm and was immediately spun around by Kelly. “What the hell do you think
you’re doing?” She shouted. Her eyes flickered to the front where Lance was staring at
her before she lowered her voice and jerked me out of the room. “Briley, you amaze me
sometimes. Did it just slip your mind that we are in New York City? The number one
city for crime? Crime which includes muggings, kidnappings, and rape? What is your
problem? You can’t just wonder off alone! Not to mention that this building is more or
less surrounded by teenage girls just waiting to get a glimpse of those five men, girls who
can do a lot of damage to you, seeing as how you are JC’s girlfriend. Did all of that just
slip your mind? You can’t forget things like that.” She stared at me, amazed that none of
that occurred to me. Instinct told me to yell back and defend myself, so I did the exact
opposite since she was yelling out of love and wanting to protect me.
I stared at the ground. “Kelly... Lance stopped doing what he was doing to talk to
you. JC didn’t take a minute to see me.”
Understanding passed over her delicate features before she stepped closer and
enveloped me in a hug. “Oh Briley... honey, you have to understand...” She stopped
when shouting and hollering came from outside the glass doors to the front of the
building. We turned to see a few men standing there, cheering us on. It was obvious they
thought we were hugging because we were lesbians, not because she was my best friend
who was consoling me. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “Briley, we need to go
somewhere else.” She turned and began pulling me towards the back hallways again. As
soon as a door swung shut behind us, she began complaining. “Geez, you know, that is
so disgusting. Just because they have one doesn’t mean they have to be one.” She
shuddered at the thought.
I followed along behind her as she made her way out the back of the building. As
soon as she opened the doors, screams greeted us and then, died off as the girls realized
we weren’t anyone of importance. She grabbed my arm and pulled me to a curb at the
corner of a street that I recognized from TV. She threw her arm up and yelled. “TAXI!”
A bright yellow car suddenly stopped right in front of us and Kelly threw me a look.
“Isn’t this cool?”
I smiled. “Awesome.”
Kelly threw open the door to the cab, and slid in. “221 West 57th.” The cab
driver made eye contact with her in the rearview mirror before he pulled out into traffic.
No sooner had I got settled back into my seat and we had made 4 turns, about six minutes
later, the cab driver was pulling to a stop in front of a building with a car sticking out of
the top. Kelly handed a ten up to him. “Keep the change,” she told him as I opened the
door and slid out. She followed me and we walked into the building.
The hostess, a tattooed and very pierced young woman, greeted us as we came
through the door. “Hey! Welcome to the Hard Rock Cafe’ where we’ve had over 30
years of great rock ‘n roll moments! Is there only going to be two of you today?”
“Yes,” Kelly answered her as she grabbed two menus.
“Right this way then!” The girl turned and practically ran through the restaurant
leading us to our table near the kitchen. “Is this okay for you?”
“Perfect,” I replied as she set our menu’s down.
“Great! Rachel will be with you in just a moment!” The girl practically sprinted
back to her post.
“Okay, can anyone say Mary Poppins on speed?” I asked with a slight laugh as
Kelly opened her menu.
“She’s something all right,” Kelly mumbled the waitress bounded over to the
table.
“What’s up?” She asked as she plopped down in the spot next to me. She didn’t
give us a chance to answer as she just kept on talking. “I’m Rachel and I’ll be taking care
of you today. Can I start you off with something to drink?”
“Tea please,” I replied.
“Water,” Kelly answered.
“I’ll be right back with that to give you two a chance to look over the menu a bit
more.” Rachel stood and walked briskly back to the kitchen. The two of us stayed quiet
until Rachel came back with our drinks. “So, have you decided yet?” The two of us
ordered and grew quiet again, busying ourselves with watching the TV monitors that at
the moment was playing a Lenny Kravitz video.
“So... uh, can I ask you something?” Kelly asked softly as she twirled the ice
around in her glass with her straw.
“Uh oh... is this the sex talk?” She nodded a bit as she began to blush. “Go
ahead... I know you’ve been compiling a list of questions ever since you found out.”
“Okay... umm... what’s it like?” I raised an eyebrow at her. “I mean, every
aspect... physically, emotionally... everything. What’s it like?”
“You know Kelly... that’s one I know I can’t answer for you. It’s different for
everyone. I will say that it’s... it’s an amazing experience though.”
“Will I like it?”
“Kelly, once again, that’s something I can’t answer exactly. However... I think
you’ll enjoy it. I think you’ll enjoy Lance.”
She smiled a bit at me. “How so?”
“You know all those old wives tales about boys with big feet, big hands, and their
build?” She nodded. “Given Lance’s build and shoe size... I have to say, you’ll be very
satisfied with him.”
She sighed and leaned her head on one hand. “God Briley, I don’t think I can
wait. You have no idea how much I want that boy.”
I smiled at her. “You know, there are ways to enjoy each other without actually
having sex.”
“Oh, I know, but I don’t exactly feel comfortable with all that either. I mean, it is
something to think about, but I highly doubt that’ll be happening.”
“He’s offered, hasn’t he?”
Kelly’s face turned several shades of crimson as she nodded slightly. “Well, not
exactly, yes, but no. He hasn’t offered per sey... things have just naturally progressed at
times and that had been a possibility.” She took a drink of her water. “It’s just really
hard to stop at times.”
I smiled at her as it registered that the attitude she was displaying was mine only a
short time ago. “Kelly, it is a great experience, but you know, I do have a few regrets
about actually going all the way with him. I don’t know if he’s the one I want to be with
anymore, so that makes me wonder if I’ve actually made a terrible mistake.” She sighed
and took a drink of her water. “Kelly, you two have come so far without sex... you don’t
need it now. It’s worth it to wait, you know that.”
“I know that, but I just don’t know how much longer I’ll have the strength to say
no to him. It’s not that easy.”
“Kelly, you will. You can do it.”
The two of us stopped talking when Rachel brought our plates out to us. She set
them down in front of us. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”
“No,” Kelly and I answered her in unison.
“Great, I’ll check back in just a bit then.” Rachel left us to our food.
“So, what’s with this Kyle guy?”
“Good grief.” I set my head in my hands. “I don’t even know where to start on
this one.”
“Okay, well, honey, do you like him?”
I sighed. “Yes, and no. I think what I like the most about him is that he’s just
there. He’s there for that physical touch and that listening ear and hugs and kisses.”
“Briley, there is just one thing that I want you to think about, okay?” I nodded
and waited for her to continue. “I’m not one to tell you what you should do. Only you
can decide what’s right for you. But, you should know that JC is hopelessly devoted to
you. If you leave him, you may never get him back. Now, if you think that giving up
something that is so wonderful is worth it for just having someone physically there all the
time, then that’s your decision. However, if that’s the route that you decide to take, I
think you’ll be making a huge mistake.”
“Kelly, that’s the frickin’ problem! I don’t know what I want to do! JC is so
wonderful, but Kyle is there and can give me what JC can’t. Then there’s the other side
of me that’s saying just stay with JC because ‘N Sync can’t last forever and eventually
we’ll be together.”
“Do you love him?”
“Didn’t you just ask me that? Kelly-”
“No. JC. Do you love JC.”
I fell silent. “I thought I did, but now, I’m not so sure.”
“Briley...” Kelly sighed and thought for a moment before she continued. “You’re
my best friend and it kills me when I know you’re hurting. But JC’s my friend to, and I
don’t want either of you to get hurt. I’m not taking sides in this, but you know how I feel.
I think you’ll regret leaving JC.”
I opened my mouth to interrupt, but quickly closed it when someone slid into the
booth next to me. “You girls doing okay?” Rachel looked between the two of us, but
didn’t leave.
“We’re fine,” I answered for the two of us.
Rachel nodded. “Good, good. So, what are the two of you up to? Where are you
from?”
“We’re both from the St. Louis area,” Kelly answered.
“Cool, cool, so what are you doing here in NYC?” Rachel looked between us and
then, answered her own question. “Oh, I bet you’re here for the ‘N Sync show, aren’t
you?”
“How’d you guess?”
“Come on, college girls in New York with a boyband in town, of course that’s
what you’d be doing.” I glanced over at Kelly and hid a smile as I watched her gently
tuck the backstage pass she was still wearing inside her jacket. “Now, you gotta tell me,
how’d you get tickets? I had friends camped out, friends on the Internet, and on the
phone and I still didn’t get tickets to that thing!”
“I suppose we just have good luck,” Kelly said with a smile across the table at me.
“Where are your seats?” Rachel fired the questions off.
“They’re not very good,” Kelly began. “In fact, I’m almost positive they’re gonna
suck.”
“But at least you get to go!” Rachel exclaimed. She sighed and stood up. “Can I
get you anything else right now?” I shook my head and waited until she left before I
began to talk again.
“Okay, she’s getting on my nerves.”
Kelly’s cell phone rang at that moment, not giving her a chance to reply. She
pulled it out and flipped the phone open. “Hey Lance.” She grew quiet. “Lance, listen to
me... first, I’ll call Meredith when I get back. Second, I don’t care about-” She rolled her
eyes and made a sarcastic face in reference to whatever he was saying. “Lance, you can
have the leads in your movie meet however you feel like.” She was quiet. “My opinion
doesn’t-” She took a deep breath. “You know good and well it doesn’t! You’re gonna do
what you want to do regardless of what I say.” She sighed as she unzipped her backpack
and pulled out a small notebook. “Hang on!” She exclaimed, flipping to a blank page
and clicking her pen open. “Fine, call Mandy about singing the title song in a
collaboration...” She scribbled Mandy Moore on the paper, then, under it, John Leshay at
Storefront Entertainment. “Hey, you’re talking too fast!” She wrote a few more notes,
then, continued speaking. “Lance, I’ll talk to you later, okay? Dude, you have an entire
list for me. Let me do this first!” She paused. “Okay... okay... alright. Bye... love you
too...” She snapped the phone shut and sighed.
“So...” I began, changing the subject to her. “What’s going on with this movie
thing that he wants to do?”
“First of all, he’s got the name for this company, ‘A Happy Place.’ Hello! A
HAPPY PLACE? Do you realize how-”
“Gay that sounds?” I finished for her. She smiled at me. “Apparently I do.”
“I keep trying to get him to change the name of the company, but he won’t listen
to me.” She shrugged. “Not that I believe in this entire astrological thing, but he’s one of
the few people I know who lives up to their star sign.”
I giggled. “He’s a Taurus like me.”
“Exactly... stubborn and bull headed and won’t take advice from anyone!” She
shook her head. “And don’t get me wrong. I think it’s awesome that he’s in the process
to make a movie, but why is he insisting on playing the lead? I just don’t like the idea of
him going out and sucking the tonsils out of some other girl! It makes me really
uncomfortable. And do I really have to mention the “7th Heaven” episode that he guest
starred in?” She shook her head in disbelief. “Honestly, the boy can’t act to save his
life!”
“Well, that and he sat around and made out with Beverly Mitchell the entire
time.”
“That’s another thing... I wouldn’t mind if the girl playing the lead in this movie
respected me and everything, but Miss Beverly, oh, she so didn’t. She hated me. I’m just
afraid we’re going to see a repeat of that.”
“You know, I bet if you talk to Lance he’ll let you help in the selection process for
the other parts in the movie. And he even said that you could stick around for all the
kissing scenes.”
“Yeah, I know.” Her phone rang again. She glared at it before flipping it open.
“What?” She exclaimed. She sighed again. She seemed to be doing that alot lately.
“Lance, listen to me. First, we are fine. No rabid teenies yet. Second-” She got cut off.
She listened for a moment. “I’m hanging up on you now.” She closed the phone. “He’s
getting annoying. Don’t get me wrong, I love being on tour with them and helping out
and everything, but it’s like I’ve become his own personal secretary lately and I can’t
stand having someone tell me what to do... especially not a man. You know how I am.”
“Hey gals! Here’s your check... let me know if I can do anything else for you!”
Rachel exclaimed as she bounded over to the table. She set the slip of paper down and
left.
Kelly grabbed the check and reached into her bag, pulling out two twenties. She
set them all down and stood. “Aren’t you going to wait for change?” I asked cautiously
as I stood also.
“No, let’s just get out of here. Besides-” She winked at me. “That dinner was
courtesy of FreeLance Entertainment.”
“Kelly?” I asked with a smile.
“Oh come on... who did you honestly think handles Lance’s end of the finances
while he’s on the road? I mean, the portion that he has to have a hand in? I make sure he
keeps a nice supply of petty cash on hand.” She walked through the restaurant and onto
the street before turning to me. “What do you say we walk back to MSG? It’s a nice day
and it’s not far.”
“Sure,” I agreed as the two of us headed down the street.
We walked in silence for about a block before she spoke to me again. “Briley,
how is everything else? School, work, parents?”
“School, stressful as all get out. I never thought KEEPING a full load would be
that hard, but you know what, I was SO wrong. I am keeping my grades up though.
Barely. Work... not getting many hours. I’m sure you’ve heard that I’m preparing for the
history bowl.”
“When is that?”
“Early fall, I think.”
“Well, I want to come to it if I don’t have any other obligations.”
I nodded and continued. “But, I don’t know how well the preparing is going,
because Kyle is my tutor.”
“Oh!” Kelly stopped walking and turned to me, understanding dawning on her
face. “That explains so much that you were leaving out.” She nodded. “So, even if you
tried to separate yourself from Kyle to keep things platonic, you’d still have to see him
and in close quarters more or less.”
“Right,” I agreed with Kelly’s explanation. “Family is... well, family. Mom is
still living in Illinois with dad so I don’t get to see them very often. I miss them alot.”
“Well,” Kelly said with a smile as she slipped an arm around me for a hug. “You
still got us.”
“Now, should he get a number or name or anything?” Lance questioned as he
doodled in the margins of his notebook.
“No!” Kelly and I exclaimed together. Kelly continued speaking. “If you want it
to be a truly fate and coincidental thing, he can’t know anything about her.”
“She’s right Lance. If you really want to play up the serendipity aspect, he can’t
know anything.”
He made a few notes before speaking again. “But how are they going to meet?”
He thought for a second. “Maybe on a bus or something?”
“But that doesn’t help with HOW,” I pointed out.
“Have it be something weird that not many people have in common,” Joey
suddenly said, pulling his attention away from the cartoon for a split second, before
turning his eyes back to it.
“That’s a good idea,” I elaborated. “Maybe they can both recite something or
know some weird useless facts.”
“I know all the books of the bible in order,” Kelly began. “Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, Duetoronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2
Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah-”
“Kelly, no.” Lance balanced his chin on his hands. “But, that’s a good concept,
what about...” Suddenly, his eyes lit up. “How about the presidents in order?”
“That’s stupid,” Kelly said. “No one actually knows that.”
“Actually...” I began. “Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison-”
Kelly interrupted. “No one normal knows it. I still think you should go with the
books of the bible.”
“Kelly, that’s stupid. Moronic,” Joey gave his input from across the room.
Lance looked back at her raising an eyebrow. “And that’s from a man who is
watching a cartoon and thoroughly enjoying it.” Joey looked over at her making a face at
her. “Anyway, I say you don’t worry about it, because once you figure out the personality
of your male lead, the rest of the plot will fall into place.”
“And what is this personality type?” Lance questioned. “What do you suggest?”
“Make a male version of me. The poster child for the romantically challenged,”
Kelly finished.
“Kelly, you know I hate it when you say things like that about yourself,” Lance
said softly, as not to upset her.
JC stood up from outside and came into the room, pulling the chair he was sitting
on behind him. He approached the table and leaned over, closing his arms around me. I
smiled up at him as he whispered in my ear. “What do you say we get out of here?” He
asked.
I stood up in reply. “Well guys, this brainstorming session has certainly been
stimulating, but I must retreat to other forms of dissipation.” JC linked his arm around
my waist as we started for the door.
“Hey JC!” Joey suddenly called out. JC and I turned. “Is this yours?” He held
up a photo of a teddy bear. JC practically sprinted across the room and tore the photo
from Joey’s fingers before he and began to leave again. “No, don’t go yet! Not before
you tell us why you carry around a picture of a teddy bear.”
JC sighed and turned to face the three in the room. “I carry that picture because
it’s Briley’s bear and the picture reminds me of the day I met her.” I bit my lip, trying to
keep the tears from breaking lose of their dam and falling. I had no idea that he did that.
I looked over at Kelly and saw her writing tenaciously in Lance’s notebook. I knew then
that the idea of someone carrying around something to remind them of someone would
end up in the movie. With Kelly helping, it definitely would. She was too much of a
romantic to let that idea pass.
As the door clicked shut, I turned to JC. “So, what do I owe the honor of having
only your company?”
“I have a surprise for you,” JC stated as he slid the keycard into the slot on the
door. He took my hand, leading me inside to where there was a small keyboard sitting on
the table. He sat down in front of it, leaving me sitting on the edge of the bed, before he
spoke again. “Now, I’ve never played this before, so it’s probably going to be rough, but
I’ve been turning this melody over and over in my head, and I’ve had the lyrics for a few
days, so not only are you hearing this for the first time, it’s the first time I’ve actually put
the two together.” JC took a deep breath before he let his fingers glide effortlessly over
the keys. After a few bars, he began to sing along.
“You can call me selfish, when all I want is your love. You can call me hopeless,
baby, ‘cause I’m hopelessly in love. You can call me unperfect, but who’s perfect? Tell
me what do I gotta do... to prove that I’m the only one for you, so what’s wrong with
being selfish?” JC played a few more bars before a twinkle, that glow of inspiration,
entered his eyes. He continued to play and do what I assumed, making up the words on
the spot. “I’ll be taking up your time, ‘til the day I make you realize, that for you there
could be no one else, I just gotta have you for myself. Baby I would take good care of
you, no matter what it is you’re going through, I’ll be there for you when you’re in need,
baby believe in me...”
I took a deep breath as he stopped playing. “Did you just make that up?” I
whispered.
“The verse, yeah.” He gave a loud chuckle. “And now, I’ll probably never
remember what I just sang long enough to write it down.” I smiled as I reached out and
set my hand on his knee. “What do you think?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat before speaking. “I think it’s perfect.”
