When they returned they found Claire asleep on he couch. Lance and Chris refused to finish things up due to severe headaches. So Joey, Justin and JC put the bed in the bedroom and everything else in the proper room. Lance and Chris stayed outside. It was 99 degrees outside. Lance didn’t want to be around Claire any longer than he had to. JC was slightly confused at Lance’s withdrawal from the competition and with what Chris and the Landlady said.
One week later Claire had started her new job and made finishing touches on her apartment. She had recovered from her sickness but was still living with a broken heart that no one was aware of. Not even Lacey knew every detail.
That night Claire’s friend Alana called. She was coming to visit from New York. Lacey was planning a get-together with all of their friends in hopes to raise Claire’s spirits.
"Should I invite ‘N Sync? Do you think they’ll come? I wonder how everyone act." – Lacey
"I don’t care. I feel like crap." – Claire
"So tell them what happened. Oh that reminds me, Chris asked how your boyfriend was doing when they took me to lunch the day they came to help you move and I told them you didn’t have one. I froze. " – Lacey. Claire looked at Lacey.
"So now Lance thinks I lied to him so he would back down so I could get JC. Well let me tell you this, if I had to choose I would pick Lance. I liked him ever since we saw him before the concert. But don’t get me wrong I like JC and everything but he’s more your type than he is mines. However the last thing I need from anyone is sympathy about a boyfriend that I lied about to begin with." Claire took in a deep breath and then sighed. "Now Lance is convinced that I’m in love with JC. Hell isn’t this great I have pop stars fighting over me. Wouldn’t any 16-year old girl love to be in my place? I’ll tell you now that I’d be more than happy to switch with them." – Claire. Lacey started laughing.
"Boy do you need a vacation."- Lacey
"Tell me about it." – Claire
- - -
Lance was in the house they had rented for the summer. It was June 25th when the phone rang.
"Hello?" – Lance
"Hi Lance?" – Lacey
"Oh hi Lacey, this is Lance." – Lance
"Hi, well I’m kind of having this 4th of July party with a bunch of friends because Alana one of my friends, is visiting form New York and I’m planning a BBQ type thing. So I was wondering if you and the other guys would like to come." – Lacey
"Where are you having this?" – Lance
"At Claire’s mom’s house. It has a back yard and a patio and everything." – Lacey
"Who else is going to be there?" – Lance
"You wouldn’t know then." – Lacey
"Tell me their names anyway." – Lance
"Well there’s Terra, Wendy, Susan, Alana, Daniel, Jerry um, Rachael, Melissa, David and more.
"What does Rachael look like>" – Lance
"She has long hair that is light brown. It’s weird cause her eyes match her hair color." – Lacey
"Ok. I’ll be there. I’m sure JC will be there," he said in a sarcastic tone," and where’s there’s a party there’s Justin and where there’s girls there’s Joey and where there’s people there’s Chris, so yea we’ll come." – Lance
"Great. I’d like to apologize before hand if we have any mad groupies. I’ve warned everyone before hand so there shouldn’t be any problems." – Lacey
"Haha, that’s ok." – Lance
"Ok bye." – Lacey
"Bye." – Lance
- - -
It was the day of the big bash. Claire and Lacey had gotten to know the guys well over the past three weeks. Claire saw them all the time in her new office building. They were doing photo shoots for official fan club memorabilia for the past two weeks. Anyway Claire, Alana and Lacey were inside preparing for everyone to arrive.
"I still can’t believe you got ‘N Sync to come to this." – Alana
"There’re out friends. They wanted to come." – Lacey
"Free of charge." – Claire
"La De Da." – Alana. There was a knock at the door.
"I’ll get it." – Lacey. Lacey opened the door and found Lance, JC and Justin.
"Hi! Where are the others?" – Lacey
"They are coming later. They wanted to finish things at the studio first." – JC
"Oh, ok," Lacey said, "Well come in."
Soon other people started coming it was the early evening; everyone was gathered outside enjoying themselves. Lacey walked up to Lance.
"Hey Lance? Do you think you can help me with something?" – Lacey
"Sure. What is it?" – Lance
"Here, come with me." – Lacey. Lance followed Lacey to the kitchen where they found Claire. "She’s trying to make a dessert. Can you help her so it will be done when we get back form the park?" – Lacey
"Uh huh," he said unenthusiastically.
"Good." – Lacey. Lacey turned around and left. Lance stood there waiting for further instruction.
"Here you can stir this." – Claire. Claire stepped back and Lance took over. Claire turned on the water on form the faucet. She started washing strawberries.
Outside Lacey was setting up food platters.
"Hey JC can you help me with something?" – Lacey
"Sure." – JC. JC followed Lacey inside where they found more platters of food.
"Can you help me take these out?" – Lacey
"Ok," JS said grinning. JC looked through and open doorway and found Lance and Claire in the kitchen. JC snickered a little then walked outside with the platters.
"Ok." – Lance. Claire walked over to Lance and stirred a few times to test it’s thickness.
"Ok you can finish rinsing off the strawberries and I’ll cut the peaches." – Claire
"Ok." – Lance
Outside it was dark. The sun was finishing setting.
"I think we should head over to the park to get ready to watch the fireworks soon. Let me go check on Claire and Lance." – Lacey
"Ok." – Joey
Lacey went into the house to find Claire and Lance still working on the cake.
"I still say it needs more sugar." – Lance
"You say a lot of things." – Claire
"How you guys doing?" – Lacey
"FINE." Claire and Lance said together.
"Ok, ok. Look it’s about time to head over to the park for the fireworks. Are you guys going to be ready?"- Lacey
"We’ll finish up here and meet you guys over there." – Claire
"Ok. Have fun." – Lacey. Lance and Claire glared at Lacey clenching their teeth smiling. "Farewell." Lacey went outside and announced that they were going to depart for the park. Meanwhile back in the kitchen Lance and Claire were having problems of their own.