CHAPTER ONE

Authors Note: For those of you who don't know: The song in the beginning is called: "Hailie's song"

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August 27, 2003

Yo, I can't sing - I feel like singing....I want to fuckin sing....cause I'm happy - yeah, I'm happy. Ha! I got my baby back. Yo, check it out-

"What the hell?"

Looking up from her position on the king-sized bed, Christina couldn't help but slightly blush at the startled look on her tour-mate's face.

Shit

Without even bothering to answer Justin's rhetorical question, the currently black haired singer made fast work of reaching for the remote control on her hotel room's nightstand; turning off her CD player before Eminem could even get his first verse out. "Justin..what are you doing here? I thought you and Cameron were going out tonight."

Not one to let anything slide, Justin quickly replied that they were--but later on--before taking a few steps foreword; making his way through the door that connected his room to Christina's and towards the bed that she sat on. "But back to the subject at hand...did my ears just deceive me or was that actually an Eminem song coming from your hotel room's speakers?"

After rolling her eyes at the amused look on her friend's face, Christina stood up and threw an annoyed glare down at the now seated Timberlake. "You and I both know that it was, Justin. And before you even start to criticize my taste in music, let me just remind you that I am not the one who owns all nine Vanilla Ice CD's and practically drools all over his collection of Neil Diamond tapes, thank-you-very-much."

Without even bothering to stop himself, Justin couldn't help but chuckle at the look of anger on Christina's face. But then after noticing the murderous glare she was throwing his way, he quickly managed to turn his laughter into a small grin. "Aww Chrissy, you know I'm just playing with you....we both know that Eminem is practically a lyrical genius. It was just a little bit surprising to hear his music coming from your CD player....I mean, I thought you couldn't stand him."

Even though she knew Justin was right, she really couldn't stand Eminem--even though she had to admit he was a really good rapper and a pretty okay actor--Christina couldn't help but move her eyes away from Justin's somewhat identical blue eyes and shrug her shoulders nonchalantly before replying: "Well, like you always say J...some things and some people can change...sometimes for the better."

Knowing that the woman in front of him was right, Justin couldn't help but give a slight smirk before standing up so he was face to face with his ex-Mickey mouse cast member and replying: "Good point...and now if you'll excuse me, I think I should take my just-got-told off ass back to my room and throw on an old Neil Diamond tape while you get back to your latest Eminem craze."

After smirking slightly and rolling her eyes at the younger man in front of her, Christina told Justin to go do that and that she'd see him later. And then afterwards proceeded to wait until the taller man had left her room--shutting the door behind him--before turning The Eminem Show back on and starting it over from where it had just ended.

Somedays I sit, staring out the window...watching this world pass me by. Sometimes I think, theirs nothing to live for...I almost break down and cry. Sometimes I think I'm crazy...I'm crazy, oh so crazy. Why am I here, am I just wasting my time? But then I see my baby...suddenly I'm not crazy. It all makes sense when I look into her eyes...

Nine O'clock

It was an hour and a half after Christina heard Justin walk out of his hotel room when the once-blonde singer realized besides him and Cameron, she really didn't know who all else was already in town for tomorrow night's festivities.

"I just wish one of my dancers was...then I wouldn't have to be cooped up in my hotel room all night long."

As if reading her mind, not even a second after the words had flown out of Christina's mouth did the cellphone beside her begin to play it's musical tone of the week.

"Like a virgin...how fitting." Christina slyly mused to herself, before reaching over and picking up her cellphone off it's charger. "Hello?"

"Chrissy..hey, what's up?"

After taking a second to recognize the voice on the other end, Christina briefly smiled before saying: "Nothing girl, just bored as usual....why, what's up with you?"

"Nothing.." The other woman responded back, before giggling slightly; telling Christina that it was more than nothing that was going on-on the other end of the phone. "I was just calling to see if you had made it to N.Y safely and if you wanted to go hang out tonight....there's someone here that I want to introduce you to."

Hearing the almost giddy tone in her friend's voice, Christina realized this could only mean one thing. "Don't tell me Miss. Mya's finally found herself a boyfriend...?"

After pausing a second to slightly laugh, Mya hesitantly replied: "Something like that.....can we meet you in an hour and a half at B.O.B's? It's on the lower eastside between Houston and Stanton Street."

After quickly jotting down the information on a nearby piece of paper, Christina was about to open her mouth to say: "Okay..I'll meet you then." But interestingly enough, Mya spoke first; causing Christina to slightly roll her eyes in annoyance.

"Oh, and Chrissy....wear something fierce. One of Curtis's boys is supposed to be coming with us and I just know you'll get a kick out of it when you see him."

With a somewhat sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, Christina nonchalantly replied: "I just bet I will."

~*~

B.O.B's

By the time Christina had made it to the club of Mya's choice two hours later, the place was all ready jam-packed and the petite woman didn't know how she was going to find her Lady Marmalade costar.

Luckily enough for her though, Mya must've figured Christina would find herself in this predicament because when the black haired singer entered the club, her friend was waiting for her at the entrance near the bar. "Chrissy, over here!"

After a few minutes of making her way through the crowd--sweetly turning down a couple of wanna dance requests, in the process--Christina finally found herself in the arms of one Mya Harrison. "Girl, it's been so long...let me take a look at you."

While stepping out of the embrace so Mya could get a good look at the new curvy version of her, Christina couldn't help but notice the man who was standing directly behind her friend with one hand on a Corona bottle and the other hand on Mya's hip.

Oh my god..

Noticing her staring in his direction, the older man slightly smiled before gently squeezing his girlfriend's waist; causing her to look up startled until she realized why he had done so.

"Shit, I almost forgot my manners......baby, as you can guess, this is my homegirl Christina. And Chrissy, as I'm sure you've already guessed, this is my friend Curtis...a.k.a 50 cent."

After slightly raising her eyebrow at the emphasis Mya had put on the word friend, Christina inwardly giggled to herself before reaching out her hand and shaking Curtis's. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"You too." Curtis replied, before wrapping his arm back around Mya's waist. "Well, now that you're here, we might as well head back to the table..my boy is saving us a seat."

Christina wasn't too sure but she could've sworn that their was a hint of laughter in the man's voice when he spoke of his friend. But unfortunately enough, she didn't have time to question it before Mya and Curtis had turned around and begun to make their way towards the V.I.P area; Christina hot on their heels.

God, please let this not be another one of Mya's attempts of hooking me up with someone...lord knows that because of her, I've had my share of bad blind-dates since Jorge and I broke up.

With that thought in mind, Christina began to prepare her Thanks, but no thanks speech. But interestingly enough for everyone around her, when reaching the table and seeing who was seated, saving Mya, Curtis, and her a seat, she was too shocked to say anything but:

"Eminem..?"

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