As soon as I stopped, Briley ran into me. "Oh!" I groaned from the impact of her hitting me. Parked in front of our driveway was a white stretch limo. Then, my dad was taping us again, to forever capture my reaction. "Wow! Thanks dad!" I gave him a hug. "Thanks mom!" I hugged her too.
"You four better get going," my mom told us. Lance and Justin returned to the living room and retrieved their backpacks, seeing as how they wouldn't be returning that night.
"Thanks Kristie," Lance said, hugging my mom. Justin also hugged her.
"No problem Lance," she replied. He and Justin didn't say anything to my dad, but they both shook his hand.
"Your welcome here anytime," my dad told them.
Then, we got in the limo and were on our way to Becky's, because Briley's parents were there and they also wanted pictures of the four of us. After twenty more minutes of pictures, we were on our way to prom.
"Kelly, did you happen to mention what the theme is?" Briley asked.
"Um, no. Actually, I wasn't going to," I said slowly.
"What is it?" Lance asked, looking from me to Briley.
"It's 'A Little More Time' which was shortened from '(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You,'" I explained.
"Is that a problem?" Justin asked, smiling. "It's kinda flattering actually."
"Justin, there's also a slight problem with you. You have about two or three hard core fans that will probably be there," Briley told him.
"Wow..." Justin mumbled. "Cool."
"That's what your saying now... just wait until you get ambushed by them," Lance said, laughing.
"Oh, that won't happen. One's a junior and she couldn't do anything to mess prom up. The juniors had to work their butts off to even have enough money for a prom this year," Briley said.
"That's good," Justin laughed. "Anyway, why did you think it would be a problem? The theme, I mean."
"The thing is, I don't like for you guys to keep referring back to your jobs when your with us. I see you as a couple of regular guys... just friends... well, not just friends," I explained, looking at Lance when I said the last part.
"And that is why your so darn cool," Justin told me.
"Which reminds me: How did the concert in Houston with Alex and her friends go?" I asked.
Justin laughed. "Me saying your cool made you think of that?"
"No, not necessarily that. In general, you made me think of Alex."
"Oh," Justin said, then started laughing again. "Ask Lance about her best friend."
"I turned to Lance. "So Lance. What about Alex's best friend?"
"She kinda... uh... she... um... had this thing for me," he mumbled.
"Oh... dang Justin. I already knew that! I thought I was going to find out something new."
"You know that she likes me?" Lance asked.
I grinned. "Yeah. In fact, since we just started being friends, I was one of the ones who suggested not to mention me and let her have fun."
"Did Alex tell you that Chris almost ruined the plan?" Justin asked.
"No, she didn't."
"Well, he did. But, JC saved the day!" Justin laughed.
"You are the only girl I know who doesn't care if other girls flirt with your boyfriend!" Briley said. "If I was dating one of them, I would be so overprotective!" Lance and I exchanged a smile when she said this. What Briley didn't know was that Lance, Justin, and I had a plan to get her and JC together. What we didn't know is if it was going to to work.
"It's not that I don't care, but I had to save the friendship. Besides, I figured with all the girls who scream for him every day, why would one more really make a difference?"
"Hey, what was that smile for?" Briley asked, as if she had just ignored every word I had just said.
"What smile?" I asked innocently.
"The one you gave Lance before you explained all that," Briley told me. "Lance?"
"Oh, nothing," Lance said.
"Kelly?"
"I plead the fifth!"
"I know there is something that you three aren't telling, and I guarantee, I will find out what it is!" Justin laughed softly. "Justin, do you have something to tell me?"
"No! Of course not! Why would I have something to tell?"
"That laugh just sounded like you might have something to tell me."
"I don't have anything. Now, Kelly on the other hand..."
"I don't have a thing to tell!" I exclaimed, giving Justin a look that clearly said, 'die!' Just then, we arrived at the place where prom was being held.
Going along with the song, the decorating theme was celestial dream or something like that. The place was already packed full of teenagers. I spotted a few of my friends across the room, and I took Lance's hand and made him walk over to them with me. I tapped one of my best friends, Serena, on the shoulder, who was standing with her boyfriend, Aaron. Aaron was also a good friend of mine.
"Serena?" I asked.
She turned. "Kelly! You came! I thought you were skipping tonight!"
"Well, I was. Until I found out there were a few flights Lance could take from Seattle to St. Louis."
"Oh! So, this is Lance." Serena gave him a friendly smile. "Hi, I'm Serena, one of Kelly's best friends." She shook his hand. "I feel like I've known you for years because Kelly has told us so much about you."
He smiled at me. "You talk about me to your friends?"
"Of course! And from what I've heard, you don't exactly hold back when it comes to talking about me."
"Who told you that?"
"JC."
"He over exaggerates. He's crazy."
"I thought he was the sanity in the group."
"Oh... I... uh... he... okay, so he is," Lance turned red. Serena and Aaron were standing in front of us grinning.
"Briley was right..." Aaron started to say.
"Yeah! They are cute together!" Serena exclaimed.
Lance and I both shut up and looked at Serena and Aaron who smiled at us. Simultaneously, we turned and looked at Briley. We both slowly turned towards Serena and Aaron again. "She said that?" I asked.
"Like, back in December... when you two first got together," Aaron told us.
"Wow... I... wow..." I stuttered over my words. "I think I need to go discuss something with Briley. Lance, your coming with me. I'll talk to you two later." Lance and I walked over to Briley and Justin. "Briley, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Yeah."
"Well, Serena and Aaron just told me the funniest story about something you told them."
"And that is?"
"I think it has something to do with how you told all of our friends how cute Lance and I look together."
"You do!" Briley exclaimed. "Don't you think so Justin?"
"I... uh..." Justin stumbled over his words. "I hate to say this, but dang, she's right!"
"What is it? The seven inch height difference? The blonde and brunette contrast? Or is it his green eyes and my brown ones?" I questioned.
"Kelly, don't get mad," Briley said.
"I'm not. I'm just confused on why all of our friends knew this and you didn't mention it to me."
"It's just one of those things you don't say to the people actually involved. Think of it this way: you two will have really cute kids one day," Briley finished by saying.
"Whoever said we're even getting married?" Lance asked, saying his first words in the conversation.
"Oh, you know you will one day," Justin said.
"I'm not saying that would be a bad thing, but don't you think you two are jumping ahead a little here?" Lance asked.
"Yeah, whatever," Briley paused. "Hey, you two better go get your pictures done."
So, Lance and I went over and got the pictures taken by the professional who does prom pictures for our school. As soon as we finished, a heavy set girl by the name of Katie ran over. "Kelly, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Yeah." I turned to Lance. "I'll be done in a second." Katie pulled me off to the side a little. "What do you need Katie?"
"Is that who I think it is?" She asked excitedly.
"That depends... who do you think it is?"
"I think it's Lance Bass... is it?"
"Yeah," I answered her.
"Ohmigosh! Your his girlfriend?"
"What's so amazing about that?" I asked, laughing at her.
"Nothing, nothing at all. I just saw an interview and Lance said that he has a girlfriend. When he got asked about her, he just said that she's a senior in Missouri. But, I never thought... wow..." Katie said. "Is Briley Justin's girlfriend?"
"No. Her name is Alex and she's from Texas."
"Oh. Then, why are they here together?"
"They are pretty good friends."
"Oh."
"Hey, Katie? I hate to cut this short, but I kinda need to get back. I don't get to see him too much, so... you know..."
She interrupted. "Oh, sure. Go ahead." She moved out of my way and I went back to Lance. I sat down next to him and he took my hand, interlocking our fingers.
It was then that prom got underway. I wasn't too hungry, so I went through the food line and picked up some fruit, under protest that is. Lance noticed my longing looks towards some chocolate covered strawberries, and he picked up some. We went back to the table that we were sharing with Justin, Briley, Serena, and Aaron. I ate a majority of what I had gotten, then, the dancing started. Serena and Aaron immediately got up. As I looked across the table at Briley, I noticed the strawberries. My eyes got wide and I clamped one hand over my mouth.
"You want to dance?" Justin asked Briley, and they stood up and walked away.
I looked up at Lance. "You really want one of those, don't you?" I nodded. "Then eat one." I shook my head. "Why not?"
"I can't... it's the chocolate."
"Please?" Lance looked deep into my eyes. I shook my head again. "For me?"
Something occurred to me and I smiled. "On one condition." Lance looked into my eyes and smiled this incredibly gorgeous and sexy smile that I love. He reached over, picked up one of the strawberries, and put it in my mouth. After I ate it, I grinned innocently. "How did you know that's what my condition was?"
Lance smiled. "It's mine too," he whispered. That's how I spent the first part of my senior prom. I think I was the only one who noticed, but the two 'Lance-fans' that were there stared at us with jealousy as Lance and I fed the strawberries to each other. Finally, on the fourth song, I put my hands up to stop him.
"I can't eat anymore!" I laughed. "I think I'm going to explode!"
"Don't do that. What would I do without you?" He asked quietly.
"Definitely not this," I said softly as our lips met in a long and well deserved kiss.
What seemed like hours (though it was probably only a minute at the most) later, Lance and I pried our lips apart. The fifth song was beginning, and it would be good if we actually danced. We walked out to the floor and put our arms around each other. I laid my head on his chest as we danced together. I couldn't help but smile when my favorite line from the song, "Under My Tree" from their Christmas cd sprang to my head. It's the line that says, "Slow dance together, two become one..." I looked up and saw Briley and Justin next to us. Briley mouthed, "You go girl!" when she saw me smile. After this song, they played "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears. The four of us danced to that, and we were soon joined by Aaron and Serena.
During the next song, I laughed more than what I had that entire day. I didn't know the song, but Briley, Serena, and Aaron had taught me a dance to it one time. The reason I laughed so much is because we were teaching it to Justin and Lance. Justin caught on really quickly, but Lance on the other hand... never again would I saw I was the uncoordinated one in the relationship.
Later, as we walked off the dance floor, I heard one of two voices I was hoping to avoid that night. "Hi Kelly."
Slowly, I turned. "Hi Sarah."
Sarah smiled at me. "Care to introduce us to your dates?" She asked, referring to her and Jennifer.
"Sarah and Jennifer, this is my boyfriend, Lance. And this is one of me and Briley's good friends, Justin. Justin and Lance, this is Sarah and Jennifer," I introduced them.
"Can we have your autographs?" Sarah asked.
"Sure," Lance and Justin answered together. She and Jennifer gave them two of the little books that you get at prom with the signature pages.
As they signed the books, Sarah told me, "Kelly, I think you should know that I really hate you now."
"Why do you hate her?" Justin asked.
"Lots of things- as a joke- but now, it's because she's here with you two."
"Sarah... if I dance with you, will you take Kelly off of this... 'hate list' you have against her and Briley?" Justin asked her.
"You would dance with me, just to get her off of my hate list?" Sarah repeated.
"Yeah."
"Umm... okay." So, the next slow song, Justin danced with Sarah. I had never seen her look as happy as what she did in that three and a half minutes. Later, Briley and I switched dates so that I could get my promised dance from Justin.
Finally, the second to last song came one. It was "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by Backstreet Boys. Justin and Lance jumped up and pulled Briley and me out to dance. The four of us were goofing off, so we began to do the dance that the Backstreet Boys do in the video. Towards the end of the song, I felt something in my back start to hurt. I figured that I had just pulled something out of place again. Since I've had back problems for awhile, it happens often. Luckily though, when it got bad, it was time for us to sit down. As everyone filed off the floor, I was walking slower than usual.
"You okay?" Lance asked, walking beside me.
"Yeah... I think..." I mumbled. Lance put his arm around me, mainly across my lower back for support. I gave him a grateful smile as we sat down. Now, it was time for the senior prophecies. They went through the class, eventually getting to me. I had no idea what was going to be said about my future, especially since Sarah Dawson was on the prom committee that wrote them.
"Kelly Arquette won a contest in the summer of 1999, which let her go on tour with *N Sync for a week. However, their costume coordinator had to quit, so Kelly took her place. Over time, she and JC became a steady couple. Eventually though, relationships with all five of them developed at the same time. With her being an *N Sync slut, that was inevitable. One year later, she went completely crazy and committed herself to a mental institution, where ten years later, she still resides."
My friends and I laughed about this, basically because of how we knew that none of that could ever happen to me. I mean, JC? Come on. A lot of people there also laughed, but then again, none of them really knew that I was dating a member of *N Sync... and that two of them were present. Next came the prom king and queen candidates. After they announced the winner, the song "(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You" was played. The four of us got up to dance. Lance hummed along with the first verse. Just as Justin sang, "I never thought that love could feel like this..." I was doubled over in pain from my back.
"Are you okay?" Lance worriedly asked.
"No," I said tearfully, because my back hurt so bad. Lance then did the only thing he could do. He picked me up and carried me to the table. Lance sat me in my seat and then sat down in front of me. I couldn't sit back so I leaned up against him wtih my face buried in his neck. Lance put his arms around me and because of this position, his mouth was next to my ear.
When it got to the chorus, he softly began to sing his part. "Your love is like a river, peaceful and deep. Your soul is like a secret that I never could keep. When I look into your eyes, I know that it's true. God must have spent a little more time on you." He put his hand under my chin and lifted my face up so I was looking at him. "I think about you every time we sing that." He smiled at me. "I love you." Lance gently placed his lips on mine, and when the song ended is when the kiss ended.
"I love you too," I whispered as Serena and Aaron came over to say goodbye. As for Lance, Justin, Briley and myself, we waited until the place began to clear out. I slowly stood, then, Lance picked me up again.
"Is it your back?" Briley asked as we walked out to the limo.
"Yeah," I answered her, nodding. Lance carefully sat me on the edge of the seat and I slowly slid across the seat. Lance got in next, sitting next to me. Then, Briley, and then, Justin. Onc we were on the way to St. Louis, Justin turned to me.
"Don't you have any pain-killers you can take?"
I nodded and pointed to my backpack. "They're in there." Briley leaned up and got the two bottles out. "Give me two of each." She shook them out into my hand as Justin handed me a bottle of Pepsi One. As the three of them watched me, I took all four pills.
Thirty minutes later, they had kicked in. My back didn't hurt, but I was pretty drugged up. I was sitting in the seat, leaned over with my head on Lance's shoulder. Before long, I had fallen asleep.
An hour and a half later, I was dreaming about Lance and I's first kiss together. Then, in the point where your not awake and not asleep, I thought, 'This dream is realistic.' Suddenly, I realized that it wasn't a dream, but I was being softly kissed. I kissed Lance back and when I opened my eyes, I said, "Wow. What a way to wake up!" He laughed.
"Actually, Justin gave me the idea... anyway... we're at the club."
"Oh... okay, okay." I sat up and immediately grabbed my head. "Oh man."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm still lightheaded..." Then, I burst out laughing. "And I'm really doped up from this stuff!"
"That's funny?" Lance asked, grinning. I nodded, still laughing. Lance opened the door, got out, then helped me out. I leaned heavily on him as we walked up to the door.
"I.D.'s?" The bouncer asked. Lance handed him both of our driver's licenses. "Is she drunk?"
"No, she's on some really strong medication for back problems," Lance explained. The bouncer nodded and let us in. Lance led me through the mass of people until we found Briley and Justin.
We spent the next three hours dancing and having a good time. Before long though, it was time for us to leave so Justin and Lance could catch their flight back to Seattle. Once in the limo, Briley broke the silence. "Kelly, did you get the tradition?"
A confused look came over me, then I grinned. "I sure did!" I threw my left leg over Lance and much to his surprise, pulled my dress up to about two and a half inches above my knee. I pulled the garter off and pressed it into his hand. "You have to give me your tie."
"Okay..." He slowly said as he took the tie off and handed it to me.
"If you weren't so drugged up, I would think that that was really weird," Justin said, laughing.
"Well, be assured, I'm going to go about this in a more subtle way," Briley said. Then, she simply reached under her dress, pulled the garter off, and handed it to Justin. He gave her his tie.
Once we arrived at the airport, we sat in the terminal for forty-five minutes and talked. Soon, a voice came over the loud speaker, announcing the flight to Seattle. The four of us stood, Justin hugging me and Lance hugging Briley. Then, Briley and Justin started walking to the gate.
"I had a really good time tonight," I told Lance.
"I did too."
"Thanks for flying all the way down here just for me."
"Of course I would! I'd do anything for you!"
I took a step closer and put my arms around him. He did the same. The voice came over the speaker again, again announcing the flight. Lance looked down at me and I closed my eyes...
