Claire came home early from work that day. It was 7:30 p.m. She would start her new job in five days. Claire was in the process of moving. She hadn’t heard from Drew since the day that she told him to leave. Claire bought a new bed and new comforters along with a new couch. She had sold all of the old ones. There was a knock at the door. Claire opened the door to find Drew standing outside. She picked up a cardboard box that was beside the door and threw it near his feet on the ground.
"I don’t want to ever see you again." – Claire
"Claire wait-" – Drew
"Don’t call me at work anymore. Turn around and walk out of my life forever." Claire slammed the door. Drew bent over and to everything that he had ever left at her house or given her. He picked up the box and left. Claire sat down on the couch. There was another knock on the door.
"Drew go away!" – Claire
"It’s JC," his voice was muffled by the door. Claire got up and opened the door.
"Sorry." – Claire
"Who’s Drew?" – JC
"Nevermind, just forget it," Claire paused for a moment, "Come in." JC walked in and looked around.
"What happened? Where did everything go?" – JC
"Oh, I’m just moving closer to JIVE. It is also closer to school so---" – Claire
"So you accepted the job offer?" – JC
"Yes I did but don’t let it go to your head. I need the money for the Fall." – Claire
"So when are you moving?" – JC
"Day after tomorrow." – Claire
"We start the video shoot tomorrow." – JC
"Oh really? For what song?" – Claire
"No Strings Attached. You should come and watch and maybe get a head start on your job." – JC
"We’ll see." – Claire
"You doing anything tonight?" – JC
"I want to go to sleep, I don’t often get to go to sleep this early." – Claire
"Well, it’s 8:00 so I must be going. I’ll call you tomorrow." – JC
"Bye." – Claire
"Bye." – JC. Claire closed the door behind him. She fed her dog, Dodger and went to sleep.
The next day Claire stayed home from work. She had become ill. Lacey came over to help her move and nurse her back to health.
"I was just fine yesterday. After Drew left I went to sleep. I don’t know what happened." – Claire
"Well maybe your sick from a broken heart." –Lacey
"Don’t tell anyone about Drew. I don’t want their sympathy. So as far as I’m concerned I still have a boyfriend ok?" – Claire
"But I thought you-" – Lacey
"Yes I did tell him to take a hike but I don’t want the guys to know what happened and why I’m moving and why I took the job at JIVE.
"Ok I won’t tell anyone. Let’s put the stuff in the car so we can get you to your new place." – Lacey. Lacey was walking toward the door when someone knocked on the door. She answered it. There stood JC and the other 4 guys behind him at the foot of the steps. There was a UHUAL truck behind them in the street.
"We thought you might need a little help." JC said smiling. Claire coughed as she walked to the door.
"Oh my god." – Claire
"We heard you were sick and you were trying to move at the same time so we thought you’d might like some help." – JC
"What about the video shoot?" – Claire
"It was postponed. Darren couldn’t be there." – JC
"Can we get started now?" – Justin. Claire stood back and held out her hand to motion them in. They walked in one by one.
"Let’s get the furniture first," Chris said preparing to lift the couch. Soon they had everything in the truck. Claire’s old apartment was now empty. Claire put on a big hooded sweatshirt with her pair of jeans she already had on. Chris had already hopped in the driver’s seat of the truck.
"I’ll be right back. I have to go give the key to the land lady." – Claire
"I’ll do it for you," JC said, " You shouldn’t be moving around too much anyway."
"Ok." Claire handed him the key. Then she turned to Lacey. "You can drive. I don’t want to get natious and explode." – Claire. She handed her keys to Lacey. Lance got into the backseat. Joey had gone with Chris and Justin in the truck.
JC knocked on door 2B. The door opened.
"Yes?" the lady, said. She looked about 50 years of age.
"I’m returning the key for Claire Saunders." – JC
"Oh ok," she said looking him up and down. " You the new boyfriend or something?" JC smiled not sure of how to answer but she started again before he had a chance to. "Hope you’re better than the last one. She bounces back fast that one." – Landlady. JC just smiled and nodded confused at what she had just said.
"Well I gotta go now." JC
"Ok, good-bye." – Landlady
"Bye." JC turned and walked away. ‘What did she mean better than the last, she bounces back fast?’ – JC. When JC returned Claire looked in the back seat to find Lance staring off into space. She opened the door to the front seat and sat down. Lance had a humbled look on his face that broke Claire’s heart every time she saw it. JC got in the back with Lance and they were on their way. Lacey turned the radio on. It was Claire’s swing station. Claire quickly changed it to 102.7 KIIS FM. It was Pink’s "There You Go." No one said a word. Claire stared out of the window then she sneezed.
"Bless you." Lance said not thinking.
"Thank you." Claire said quietly. Just then "It’s Gonna Be Me" came over the radio. Claire wasn’t sure if she should change the station or just turn the radio off all together. She remained still. JC started singing along with the radio. Lacey giggled. JC laughed with her. Claire smiled slightly while Lance remained expressionless.
As soon as they got there they unloaded everything. By the time they were done it was 1:30 p.m.
"Dude I’m hungry." – Justin
"Me too. JC can we go eat something now?" – Chris
"Yea I guess. Where do you want to go Claire?" – JC
"No I don’t want to go. I don’t want to barf or anything. You guys can take Lacey. I’ll stay here." – Claire. JC nodded and JC sat down in her new apartment.
"Ok then we’ll be back." – JC
"Ok bye." – Claire. They all exchanged their good-byes and left. Claire lay down on the couch and went to sleep.
- - -
"So Lacey how long have you known Claire?" – JC
"Since the 8th grade." – Lacey. Lance was staring out of the window. He had a sullen look on his face. JC looked upon him with concern.
"Lance what’s wrong?" – JC. Lance didn’t look away from the window.
"Nothing," he said quietly. ‘ He’s mad because Claire likes me and not him,’ JC thought. Chris looked at Lance sympathetically. Then he looked at Lacey.
"So how’s Claire’s boyfriend?" – Chris. The car swiveled due to JC’s shock. Everyone except Lance was staring at Lacey waiting for an answer. Lacey looked helplessly at their faces. She smiled nervously.
"What boyfriend? Claire doesn’t have a boyfriend." – Claire. Lance jerked his her direction. ‘What? She told me had one.’ Lance thought for a moment, ‘She lied to me because she wants JC.’ Lance’s heart filled with hate and despair. He returned to his position, staring out the window. Chris is knew what Lance’s conclusion was.