Tell Me

Abbey smiled softly as JC opened his next present. She felt a familiar nervousness enter her stomach as she realized it was hers. She�d spent a lot of time trying to come up with the perfect gift, but it had been well worth it. He glanced up at her and grinned boyishly before tearing into the paper. The look on his face when he pulled out the black leather portfolio was priceless. The portfolio was the perfect size for sheet music and staff paper, some of which was already inside the case. The blank staff paper had �Music and Lyrics by Joshua S. Chasez� written in small type calligraphy in the top right corner, adding the personal touch Abbey was famous for. The sheet music for �Selfish� and �The Two of Us� was also included, written on the same staff paper, with the appropriate names added. As another �Abbey touch,� JC�s initials had been monogrammed in silver on the side of the portfolio. Her heart swelled when she saw his eyes light up and his jaw drop at her gift. He ran his fingers over the shiny leather and raised monogram.

�Open it.� Abbey said softly from her place across from him.

Slowly, his strong fingers opened the clasp and reached inside. He pulled out the papers and gasped when he saw the sheet music. He flipped through both songs slowly before seeing the personalized blank paper. His amazing blue eyes met her as he stared in shock for a minute. When he spoke, his voice was full of emotion. �Abbey, this�this is too much. This is way too much.�

She stepped forward and pulled him into a hug. �No, it�s not,� she answered, �It�s for you, Jace, it could never be too much.�

JC could only shake his head as the next gift was pushed into his hands.

JC stood when he saw Abbey walking toward him. She couldn�t help but smile back at him when she saw how well the dark blue suit fit him and how the striped blue and yellow tie brought out the color of his eyes perfectly. His brilliant grin told her that she�d made the right choice in her attire as well. Abbey felt particularly feminine in her hunter green silk sheath dress, with her copper-colored hair pulled back into a French twist.

�Hey Abs,� he greeted her warmly, �You look beautiful tonight. I don�t think I�ve ever seen your eyes so green before.�

�Why, thank you, JC. You don�t look so bad yourself.�

They both took their seats and ordered quickly; they both loved Sushi and already had their favorite dishes. As they waited for their meal, JC looked at Abbey carefully.

�I still feel bad, Abbey,� he finally said, �You throw me this huge birthday party with just about everyone I�ve ever met, and all you�ll let me do for you is take you to dinner.�

Laughing, Abbey took a sip of her Sake. �this is a Japanese restaurant, Jace�a very fancy Japanese restaurant, with a very famous head chef; it�s not like you�re buying me a Big Mac or something. Besides, you love seeing a million of your friends in one place, and that�s not really my thing. You know that.�

�I know, but still, I feel like dinner just isn�t enough.� As he spoke, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. �I saw these when Justin and I were picking out a necklace for Brit, and I knew they were perfect for you.�

�JC!� she scolded, �I told you not to buy me anything!�

�You always say that you want me to do the things that make me happy. Giving this to you will make me happy.�

Abbey rolled her eyes and sighed, reaching for the box he pushed towards her. She glanced at him once more before slowly opening the box. Nestled on a bed of white satin was a small silver cross, with a beautiful sapphire in the center. Next to the necklace was a platinum ring with a brilliant princess-cut sapphire edged with tiny round diamonds.

�Oh, my,� Abbey breathed, �Jace, this�oh, my.�

JC chuckled under his breath, obviously pleased with her reaction. �Look inside the band.�

Still in shock, Abbey tilted the ring to read the engraving: �AL and JC�forever friends.� She blinked back sudden tears, feeling a familiar tugging at her heart. �Oh, JC, it�s beautiful.�

�I�m glad you like it.�

She slipped the ring onto her right hand and unclasped the necklace. �Will you put it on for me?�

�Sure.� He stood and moved behind her. Abbey felt goose bumps popping out over her body at the feel of his fingers on her bare skin. He quickly fastened the clasp and sat back down.

�You must be psychic.� Abbey mused.

�Come again?�

�You�re psychic,� she said simply. �That�s the only explanation.� She saw the confused expression on his face and continued. �I didn�t tell you, but I�ve been looking for a cross like this for months. Where on earth did you find it?�

�Buyer�s secret,� he answered vaguely. The truth was, he�d had it made especially for her, knowing she�d love a classic silver cross, coupled with her favorite gemstone. The ring had been a pleasant surprise find, and it had matched the style of the cross perfectly, and he�d had to purchase it as well. �Besides, I�m not the only one who�s psychic. Did Justin or Lance tell you I was wanting a portfolio for my music?�

�No,� she replied, blushing with pleasure. �I saw it in the store and knew it was perfect for you. I didn�t want to give it to you empty, so I came up with the idea for the sheet music and staff paper. Well, with a little help from The Wedding Singer.�

JC smiled softly. �I guess we just think alike.�

�Scary, huh?�

He was still laughing at that when their food arrived. They both thanked the waiter and looked at their plates appreciatively. �Oh, my gosh!� Abbey said with wide eyes, �how are we going to eat all this?� JC laughed again as the two stared at the spread of food before them. A California roll and Rainbow roll were there for them to split, along with pieces of salmon, tuna, and sea urchin roe for each of them. They also each had a dish called �Morimoto�s Sashimi,� which featured five different types of sushi with seven different sauces, each a favorite of Chef Morimoto. They dug in, each finishing the �Morimoto Sashimi� and about half of the remaining fish.

�Ugh!� Abbey groaned, �I don�t think I can eat another bite! I�m so full!�

�Yeah,� JC agreed as he picked up another piece of Rainbow roll, �but it�s so good!�

Abbey giggled at him, then glanced up and froze. Confused, JC turned around and grinned at what he saw. A large bowl of Japanese ice cream, complete with a lit birthday candle, was being carried towards them�by Chef Morimoto himself. Abbey stared as he set the dish in front of her.

�Red bean,� he grinned, nodding toward the ice cream. �Your favorite, yes?�

�Yes! Thank you so much!�

He smiled again. �Dinner was good?�

They both nodded. �It was wonderful, sir. I�ve never tasted better.�

�Thank you,� he said, bowing. �Happy birthday, Landrie-san.�

�Thank you!�

Abbey was still staring at Morimoto in shock as he walked away from their table. JC chuckled. �Um, Abs? Your ice cream is melting.�

�What?� she looked at him, startled. After coming back to reality, she began eating again, sharing her ice cream with JC. �We should have asked for some Green Tea ice cream for you, Jace.�

�Nah, this is good too. Besides, I�m full as it is.�

�I can�t believe he actually came to our table!� Abbey said softly, a star-struck look in her eyes. �And he wished me a happy birthday�by name! Iron Chef Morimoto knows my name!� Suddenly, she focused on him, looking suspicious. �Hey�how did you do that, anyway?�

�Do what?�

She tried hard not to roll her eyes. �Well, correct me if I�m wrong, but I don�t think the very busy head chef regularly leaves the kitchen to bring a dish of ice cream out to his customers.�

He grinned and looked down. �Well, I may have mentioned it was your birthday today.�

�Yours too, Sherlock. And anyone could say that. What else?�

�I may also have mentioned that you were a huge fan of his since his Iron Chef days.�

�Again, something anyone could have said�plus he knew my name. What else?� When JC finally looked back up at her, he looked sheepish. �JC�what did you do?�

�Um, they may have gotten a phone call that JC of *N Sync was coming tonight for his best friend�s Abbey Landrie�s birthday.�

Groaning, she tried to look angry, but failed. �Joshua, normally I would be extremely angry with you for playing the Pop Star card, but since it�s Morimoto, I�ll let it slide this time.�

His confident easy smile returned. �I knew you would.�

�Really? So that would be why you were shaking in your overpriced shoes a minute ago, huh?�

�Of course. Well, that and the fact that you love me too much to ever stay mad at me for long.�

She laughed. �Unfortunately, very true. You�re my baby.�

�Mama,� he joked, accidentally knocking over his dish of wasabi.

Abbey rolled her eyes again. �Oh, Lord! I thought we�d made it through the terrible twos.�

They were still laughing as they paid their bill and headed toward the door. He was holding the door open for her when Chef Morimoto appeared again. �Chasez-san,� he called to JC, then spoke something in rapid Japanese, handing him a long envelope and leaving. Confused, JC turned to the nearby hostess for a translation. She grinned.

�Morimoto-san wishes you to have a gift certificate for free meal for you and girlfriend. Says you make good couple.�

The young people both blushed. JC managed to thank the hostess, send compliments to the chef, and lead Abbey outside before falling into fits of laughter. Abbey frowned slightly.

�Um, Jace? You all right?�

�Oh, that was classic!� he gasped, �Isn�t that the funniest thing you�ve ever heard?�

�What?�

�That,� he panted, trying in vain to catch his breath, �Morimoto and the hostess thinking we�re together!�

Abbey�s heart sunk as she faked laughter herself. �Yeah,� she agreed weakly, �a couple�who would think such a thing?�

He seemed to sense her mood and sobered up. �Oh, Abs, I didn�t mean it like that, sweetie. I just meant, you know, it�s kinda funny that he�d think we were in a romantic relationship.�

She was quiet for a moment. �To us, yeah,� she finally said, �but to outsiders�people who don�t know us�it would look like it. You did spend a lot of money on our dinner tonight, and I�m sure they saw you giving me that beautiful jewelry.�

�You�re right. Hell, sometimes even the guys say they�d think we were together if they didn�t know any better.�

The two got into the car and settled into a comfortable silence on the drive through Philadelphia. While calm on the outside, Abbey�s mind was racing. JC was her best friend; she only wished he could see her as more.

They parted ways at the hotel, each going into their own rooms. Abbey found it surprising that she�d managed to go a whole day without seeing the Four Musketeers. She could hear them though. Chris and Justin were next door arguing over a video game. She knew Lance was probably in his room, quietly working on something for FreeLance, and Lord only knew what Joey was up to.

Abbey walked to her bed, stopping just long enough to grab her bag from the floor. Once settled, she pulled out a small photo album that she always carried with her. She couldn�t stop a smile from forming on her face as she looked at pictures of her and the gang over the years.

She�d loved JC from the beginning, ever since the first day their moms brought them to play with each other when she was three and he was five. Over the years, her love for him changed as they grew. She went from adoring him as a big brother to as a best friend to�whatever he was to her now. He was more than a best friend�so much more. She loved him with all her heart, and it killed a little part of her that he couldn�t feel the same way. She was sure he knew he was important to her, but she doubted he knew just how much. There were many nights she cried herself to sleep when he was gone on tour without her, she missed him so much. Abbey didn�t just like having him around, she needed him, like she needed air to breathe. Somehow, he always knew when she was right on the edge; just when she thought she�d go crazy if she didn�t hear from him, he�d call, just like a good friend.

He was always just like a good friend.

She didn�t know what else she could do to make him see how she felt about him. They were so perfect together, so good for each other. She didn�t understand why he didn't love her as she loved him.

Abbey thought about her situation long and hard over the course of the guys� promotional mini-tour, and by the time they arrived back in Orlando, she had made a decision. She was in love with JC; she�d finally admitted it to herself. Now, she was just going to let him know how she felt. For the first time, Abbey felt confident about telling a guy she loved him. She knew in her heart that JC loved her as well. That just as she had, he had known they were meant to be together from those first precious moments. Nothing had ever felt more right to her. Her new confident attitude did not go unnoticed. She met up with Joey and Lance in the hallway of the Compound as they were headed for the studio.

�Abbey?� Joey said, sounding shocked. �Girl, you look great! What�d you do to yourself?�

She shrugged. �Nothing new, Joe. I�m still the same old Abbey.�

Lance grinned slyly at her. �I know that look,� he said, �it�s one of two things, and since you�re not the type to sleep around, you must be in love.�

Her face turned bright red as Joey looked at Lance amazed. �How�d you do that?�

He shrugged. �That look can only be two things: sex or love.� He turned back to Abbey, �So, who�s the lucky man?�

�None of your business, Mr. Bass.�

He laughed as they once again walked in the direction of the studio. Joey slung an arm over her shoulder. �You came on a good day, girlie. JC�s new girlfriend is here, and he was wanting you to meet her.� His words caused Abbey�s throat to close up suddenly, and she fell into a coughing fit in an attempt to breathe. Frantically, Joey beat on her back for a few minutes. �Dang, girl�breathe much?�

�Very funny,� she countered, her voice sounding raspy. She cleared her throat once more before speaking again. �JC has a new girl?� she asked casually, �What�s her name?�

�Um�Cory?�

Lance shook his head. �Cora.�

Abbey nodded, trying not to show her feelings. She couldn�t hide it well enough though, and Lance caught the flicker of emotion that appeared briefly in her eyes. When she glanced cautiously at him, she could see the understanding there and waited for him to say something. Instead, he gave her a sympathetic smile and nodded, putting an arm over her shoulder as Joey had done moments before. Abbey sighed softly and leaned against him. Minutes later, the trio entered the studio that *N Sync was using that day. JC immediately stood, seeing that Abbey was among them.

�Abs!� he greeted enthusiastically, �Girl, I�m so glad you�re here. I want you to meet someone.� The girl he pulled over to her was tiny, with baby-fine white blond hair, cut to her shoulders. She smiled hesitantly as JC�s arm settled around her. �Abbey, this is my girlfriend, Cora. Cora, this is my best friend, Abbey.�

�Nice to meet you, Cora.� Abbey said automatically, holding out her hand.

The girl�s brown eyes gave her a once-over before she coolly reached out and took Abbey�s offered hand. �Same here.�

With the forced greeting out of the way, Abbey tore her eyes away from the couple and looked at the others. �So, what are you guys working on today?�

�New songs!� Chris shrieked, bouncing up and down.

Abbey rolled her eyes. �Really? Dang Chris, here I was thinking you were just going to re-record your first album. Silly me!� Chris crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her in response. �Way to go, Christopher. I knew you had a mature side in there somewhere.�

After a few seconds, Chris joined in laughing with the rest of them. It was then that Abbey noticed that Cora wasn�t laughing along with them. Instead, she was looking at all of them like they�d sprouted seconds heads. Abbey shook her head. If this girl was going to be JC�s girl, she�d better develop a sense of humor and fast.

While no one was watching, Abbey studied the girl carefully. Cora was very pretty, she�d give her that much, but she didn�t seem to even be trying to fit in with the rest of the group. She stood as far away from them as she could get with JC�s arm still wrapped around her, and instead of laughing and joining in with the guys� antics, she seemed disdainful; it was as though she considered herself above their playfulness. All afternoon, she kept to herself, not saying a word to anyone unless absolutely necessary.

That is, until Abbey was suddenly the object of JC�s undivided attention.

�Hey, Abs, what�s that?�

She turned away from Justin to find herself being pulled towards JC. He turned her around, and she could feel his hands on the back of her thigh. �JC, what the hell?� She looked at the others, confused, as he examined something on the back of her leg. Glancing over, she caught the heated look in Cora�s eyes as she watched to two. Finally, JC turned her back around.

�What happened to your leg, Abs?�

�My leg? JC, what are you talking about?�

�I�m talking about the huge bruise on the back of your leg. What happened?�

She shrugged. �Who knows? I probably just ran into something. You know how much of a klutz I can be.�

His cobalt eyes bore into hers suspiciously. �I know. I also know what a rat bastard your ex-boyfriend was.�

That statement got the attention of everyone in the room. �Oh, no,� Justin muttered. �Abbey, tell me you�re not seeing that guy again. Please tell me that.�

Abbey was beyond shocked. �Duncan? You think I�m seeing Duncan again? You�ve got to be kidding me!�

Cora opened her mouth to say something, but JC cut her off. �Abigail, the next words out of your mouth had better be �no, I�m not seeing Duncan again.��

�JC! No, of course I�m not! Why would you even think I�d be that stupid?�

The look on his face softened somewhat, but she could tell he still wasn�t completely convinced. �I don�t think you�re stupid. But it just seems weird to me that you could have a bruise that big and not remember hitting something, and that happened a lot when you were with Duncan.�

�I�m not with Duncan, and nobody did anything to me.�

His eyes still looked doubtful. �You promise?�

She smiled and cupped his face, leaning forward to kiss his cheek. �I promise. And you know I�d never lie to you, sweetheart.�

The term of endearment proved to be the last straw for Cora. �Okay, that�s enough!� she said loudly, pulling the two apart. �Joshie, you promised to show me around the Compound. Can we do that now?� She flashed him a sugary sweet grin and batted her eyes. A few seconds later, she led a rather confused-looking JC out of the room. Chris and Joey managed to hold off their laughter until the door closed.

�Oh, that was good!� Joey cried, �Abs, that was incredible. I bow to the master!�

Now it was Abbey who looked at the as though they�d grown second heads. Hoping to find some understanding, she turned to Lance, and was shocked to see that he too was laughing quietly. �What is so funny?� she demanded. �I�m glad you find the fact that Jace�s new girl is a bitch amusing.�

Lance grinned. �Nope, that�s not funny. What is funny is that she was completely and totally jealous of you.�

�Me? Why would she be jealous of me?�

Chris shook his head and laughed louder and Lance reached forward to hug her. �Because, my dear Abbey,� Joey answered, �it is obvious that JC loves you in a more-than-friends kind of way, and she knows that it is just a matter of time before he realizes that and boots her butt to the curb.�

Abbey could only stare at him in shock. �Are you insane? There�s no way JC would ever feel that way towards me. He only sees me as one of the guys.�

�Lord, Abbey, you�re as blind as he is,� Chris laughed. �I suppose next you�re going to say that you don�t have any feelings for him.�

�I�d never deny what I feel for him. He knows I love him; I tell him all the time.�

�Yeah, you do,� Lance said, �but does he know that it�s �more than friends� love?�

�No,� she whispered.

All four men looked at each other, then at her. �So, she finally admits it,� Justin said. �I never thought the day would come.�

�Shut it, J.� Abbey retorted.

Lance squeezed her shoulder. �You need to tell him, Abbey. He loves you too, but something is stopping him from admitting it. Maybe this well be just the push he needs to be honest with himself. And with you.�

�Maybe,� she said before walking out of the studio.

Once again, the guys looked at each other. �Do you think we got through to her?� Joey asked.

The others shrugged. �One thing�s for sure,� Lance said, �we�ve given her something to think about.�

They�d definitely done that. Abbey left the studio and made her way out to the dock by the lake. She sat down on the edge and took off her sandals before hanging her feet over the edge into the water. She folded her arms and rested them on the rail, leaning her chin down on her forearms. Sighing, she thought of the way Cora had acted and what her friends had said. She sat there and thought for a long time

An hour later, JC rejoined his friends in the studio, minus one snotty girlfriend.

�Where�s her Royal Highness?� Justin asked.

JC gave him a stern look before answering. �She had to go home. Where�s Abs?� Joey and Chris shrugged, Justin suddenly refused to meet his eyes, and Lance glanced at him briefly before looking away. JC got a sinking feeling that something was wrong and his friends had a hand in it. �Guys, what did you do? Where is Abbey?�

Lance nodded his head towards the window. �Out there.�

Turning his eyes to where Lance motioned, he saw Abbey sitting on the edge of the dock. She sat very still and appeared to been deep in thought. �What happened?� he asked softly, �Is she okay?�

They shrugged. �I don�t know, Jace,� Lance finally answered. �She�s been out there since right after you and Cora left.�

�What�s she doing?�

�Just sitting.�

�I�d need to go talk to her. I�ll be right back.� He left the room, looking incredibly concerned about someone who he considered �just a friend.�

He approached her slowly, wondering what was bothering her and how he could make it right. �Abbey? Are you all right, sweetie?� He watched as her head moved up and down while her eyes remained focused on the water. He walked to her other side and sat down next to her, mimicking her stance. �What are we looking at?�

She shrugged. �Nothing really, just the water.�

JC turned his head to watch her. �Abs, what�s wrong?�

�Nothing�s wrong, JC, I�m just thinking.�

�You�ve been thinking for a while.�

�Well, I have a lot to think about.�

His eyebrows rose. She�d never been this evasive with him before, and it was beginning to worry him. �Talk to me, Abbey. What�s wrong?� Finally, she turned to face him and instantly he saw the pain in her eyes. �Abbey?�

�Jace, I�I don�t know how to say this.�

She looked completely miserable, so he reached out and gently took her hand. �Just say it. It�s just me, Abs. It�ll be all right.�

Taking a deep breath, she locked eyes with him. �JC, I don�t like your�Cora,� she said, not surprised that she couldn�t refer to her as his girlfriend. �I�m sorry. And I know it�s none of my business, but that girl� She�s not the right one for you.�

He�d have been lying to both of them if he pretended to be shocked. He�d seen the looks that had been shot back and forth between the girls and was not at all surprised to find that Abbey disliked Cora. The feeling was definitely mutual. The entire ride back to her apartment had been filled with the sounds of Cora�s unflattering remarks about Abbey. He didn�t understand it, but it was clear to see that the two were not going to get along, and he sighed.

�Abbey, I�m not going to say I completely understand this instant dislike you two have for each other, because I definitely don�t. And I�m not going to ask you to be best friends with her. I�m not even going to ask you to try. What I am going to ask you to do is not purposefully upset her or make her feel out of place. Can you do that for me?�

Now it was Abbey�s turn to sigh, heavily. �Okay, I�ll do that�for you. Can I ask you to do something for me?�

He smiled at her. �Of course.�

�Be careful.� She reached out to move his head so he was looking right at her. �Please, JC. I know you don�t understand, and I can�t explain it to you, but I just have a really bad feeling about her.�

�I�ll be on the lookout for anything off-key,� he assured her.

�Thank you.�

A week passed before Abbey was able to see JC again. By then, her frustration level with him had reached and all-time high. He hadn�t been returning her phone calls, and the few times she�d been able to talk to him and not his voice mail, he�d cut the conversation short, and she�d been able to hear Cora complaining in the background. By the time he�d missed their second weekly call-in, Abbey had had enough. First thing the next morning, she headed to Johnny�s.

The rehearsal was in full swing when she very loudly threw the door open. Everyone froze, not knowing what to do. They had never seen Abbey so angry; she stood stock-still, hands on her hips, staring furiously at each of them before narrowing her eyes at JC. Wade glanced back and forth between the two, knowing the guys needed to rehearse, but also knowing that Abbey was about to blow. He wasn�t about to get in the middle of what looked to be a very large fight.

�Um, Abbey?� he ventured, �is there something we can do for you?�

Her angry eyes turned on him. �Not you,� she answered, �I do need to borrow one of your performers for a moment, however.�

�Yeah, okay�just keep in mind we�ll need him later.�

�Whatever,� she muttered, grabbing JC�s arm and yanking him out the door, slamming it behind her.

Once outside, JC�s blue eyes drilled into her. �Abs? What on earth has gotten you so upset?�

�Excuse me?� she snapped, �Excuse me? Joshua, I know the words �what�s gotten you so upset� did not just come out of your mouth!�

His jaw dropped to the floor in shock. The entire time he�d known Abbey, she�d never spoken to him like that. Never once had he seen her so furious�let alone have that fury directed at him. �Abbey, are you going to tell me what I�ve done, or are you just going to scream at me in the hallway and wait for my mind-reading skills to develop?�

�Don�t get smart with me, Josh. My God, do you honestly not know what you did?� JC didn�t answer. Instead, he leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. She sighed. �Did you forget something, JC? Something important, maybe?�

�Not that I know of.�

�Think hard�I know it hurts, but try.�

�This is getting annoying, Abbey.�

�No kidding.�

They stared at each other for a few very long moments, neither one having enough control over their emotions to speak.

�Joshie, there you are!� A high-pitched voice echoed down the hallway. Abbey turned to see Cora strutting down the hallway and flinched. She assumed JC�s stance against the wall as she watched the girl virtually attack JC in front of her. She rolled her eyes and sighed loudly, and Cora turned to look at her.

�Oh, it�s just you,� she said, �do us a favor and run along. Go play with Justin or something, would you?�

�Oh I'm sorry, but we�re not scheduled to play �House� until later. He�s busy playing �Cowboys and Indians� with Chris and Joey right now.�

�How nice for them. And where�s Lance?�

�Gee, I don�t know, Corka�I mean, Cora. Why don�t you go find him?�

�Because I came to see my boyfriend Abbey. Privately, I might add.�

JC stood there, shocked at the way the girls were fighting like children. He decided to put a stop to it before it got too out of control. �Girls, hey, stop it.� When they kept at it, he stepped in between the two of them. �Hey�Abbey, stop it. Girls stop!� Finally, the verbal battle ended. �What on earth has gotten into you guys?� The girls glared at ach other silently. �Okay, we�ll do this another way. Abbey, what was that all about?�

Her eyes were as big as saucers, and JC was startled to see tears forming. �You�re kidding, right? Josh, please tell me you�re kidding! You�ve been standing there for the whole conversation, and you have the nerve to ask me what my problem is? She waltzes in here after keeping you from talking to me for over a week�over a week, Josh�and then she starts talking to me like I�m seven years old, and you want to know why I got upset?� She was screaming so loudly that the rest of the guys, along with Wade and Johnny came out to see what was wrong.

�What�s with all the yelling, guys?� Johnny asked calmly.

�Ask her.� Abbey spat out, glaring at Cora.

He turned to look at Cora, who has assumed a shocked, hurt look. �Well, Cora?�

She shook her head in mock-amazement. �I have no idea, Mr. Wright,� she answered innocently, �I just came up and gave Josh a kiss, and she freaked.�

�What?�

Johnny put up a hand to stop Abbey from finishing her sentence. �Is that all, Cora?�

�That�s it, Mr. Wright, I swear.�

Everyone there could tell that Abbey was livid with anger, and they all waited to see what she would do. Abbey looked from JC to Cora rapidly before turning to him. �Josh, please tell him what happened,� she begged, �tell him what she said!�

JC still had a look of confusion on his face. �I don�t know what happened, Johnny. One second, Abbey and I were out here talking, and the next, she and Cora were getting into it.�

A sound of utter helplessness escaped Abbey�s throat as she stared at her best friend in disbelief. She couldn�t believe he would do this to her. He�d taken Cora�s side over hers after witnessing the heated exchange between them, after promising to be careful, after seeing first hand the way his girlfriend treated her. Anger flooded through her, but was followed almost immediately by despair. She looked to her right to see the angry and sympathetic faces of the other guys before looking back at JC. He still wore the same expression, and she sighed.

�Fine,� she answered finally, �fine, JC, you�ve made your choice.� When she tuned and began to walk away, she felt the guys� hands on her and heard them trying to stop her. She shrugged them off. �No! Leave me alone, guys. Just�just leave me alone.�

They all stared as she walked away and jumped when they heard a door slam, followed by her car pealing out of the driveway. Slowly, six pairs of eyes turned to stare at Cora and JC.

�What? Why are you looking at me like that?�

Lance stared at him incredulously. �Oh you have got to be kidding me. I can�t believe you, man.�

�Lance, wait.�

He shook his head and walked back into the rehearsal room, followed silently by the others, until only Justin remained in the hall with the couple.

�I feel sorry for you, JC,� he said, anger clear in his voice. �You had everything a man could want in a woman, and you threw it all away�for that.�

�Now, wait just a damn minute, Justin. I will not let you talk about Cora like that.�

Justin let loose an ugly laugh. �You won�t let anyone say anything bad about her, and yet you say nothing when she spits out the most disgusting lies about Abbey�about your best friend since childhood. What does that tell you, JC? Think hard.�

The rest of the rehearsal had been so strained that Wade had finally given up and let them all go early. JC received one last dirty look from each of his friends as they walked out, and he sighed. Glancing up, he watched Wade gathering his things silently. He stood when Wade headed towards the door.

�Are you not speaking to me, either?�

Wade sighed. �I�m not giving you the silent treatment, JC. I just thought it would probably be a good idea to focus on the choreography and keep my mind off what I wanted to say to you.�

�Which was?�

�Ask yourself if you really want to know the answer to that question.�

�I do.�

He looked at his friend carefully before answering. �JC, you really messed up. You stood out there in that hallway and defended your bitch of a girlfriend when you should have been defending the person who was right�Abbey.�

�That is what I don�t understand. Why does everyone keep saying that I defended Cora, or chose her side, or whatever? They were both shouting at each other. Both of them said things they shouldn�t have, including Abbey.�

�I don�t understand how you can�t see that Cora was responsible for that fight in the hallway.� Wade said, shaking his head. �C, we heard what Cora said�that crack about playing with Justin�that was completely uncalled for and unprovoked, and you know it. Abbey was obviously upset about something and needed to talk to you about it. She needed to talk to her best friend, and not only did you blow her off, you allowed Cora to treat her like dirt, and then you defended her. How would you feel if she had done the same thing to you?�

Reality finally hit JC head-on. His blue eyes closed in shocked understanding. �Oh, my God,� he murmured. �No wonder she was so angry. She felt like I was picking Cora over her.�

�Newsflash, JC�you were.�

Now it was Abbey�s turn to avoid phone calls. She hadn�t seen or spoken to any of the guys since the incident at the compound, and it was killing her. She missed them, especially JC, and she honestly didn�t know if or when they�d ever get their relationship back on track. It seemed she�d cried more in the last two weeks than she had over the whole course of her life, and she was tired of it. She was tired of trying to make him see what he did to her. Maybe she�d been wrong. Maybe they weren�t supposed to be together after all. Abbey shook her head and broke down in tears again. It felt as though her entire life had been one huge joke. Everything and everybody she believed in seemed fake. Giving up on actually facing the day, she crawled back into bed and huddled under the covers. The chill she felt was from inside, though, and blankets couldn�t warm her heart.

She stared at the ceiling, not really wanting to sleep. Her dreams were plagued with images of JC; she didn�t know which was worse, the happy dream where she and JC were together, or the nightmares where he once again chose Cora instead her. Both made her wake with tears in her eyes and a sick feeling in her stomach. No matter what she did, she couldn�t get him out of her mind. She knew she needed to learn to live without him, but she just didn�t want to.

Abbey was startled awake a few hours later by her front door opening. She froze in her bed, wondering who could have to key to her apartment. Realization dawned on her only seconds before she heard him call her name.

�Abbey, where are you?�

She couldn�t read anything into his voice, which bothered her. He didn�t sound angry or happy or sad, but he didn�t sound like himself either. The door to her room flew open, and the blank expression he wore quickly turned to one of concern.

�Abbey? Are you all right? What�s wrong?�

Anger and hurt flared up inside her again. How dare he barge into her home and then act as though nothing he happened between them. �Nothing�s wrong, JC. Just go away and leave me alone,� she answered, rolling to her other side to face the wall.

She knew beyond a doubt that she�d hurt him a lot by turning away from him, but she didn�t care. She wanted him to hurt as much as she did. Still, her heart ached hearing the pain laced in his voice when he spoke next.

�Abbey, please listen to me. Let me explain.�

�There�s nothing to say, JC.�

�But there is,� he whispered, �so much.�

The gentleness of the way he spoke made her turn toward him automatically. She�d never seen him look so sad and vulnerable before. When she�d turned JC immediately took both her hands in his. Abbey had always loved it when he held her hand; it had always made her feel safe from everything. Now, she had to remind herself that what she needed to feel safe from was him.

�What do you want, JC. Shouldn�t you be making sure Cora has everything she could possibly want? I don�t want her coming after me again for taking ten minutes of your time.�

�There�s no more Cora.�

She jerked her eyes around to meet his. �What?�

�Cora�s gone,� JC said. �You were right. You were all right. She was everything you said she was and everything she said you were.� Abbey was startled to see tears now in his eyes. �I�m so sorry, Abbey. I�d give anything to take back what I said and what I did. I talked to the guys this morning and they said�well, they told me that you�that at one point in time you said you loved me. I�well, I guess I was wondering if you still do.�

Abbey was speechless for a few long moments before answering him. �Josh, I�I�ve spent the last two weeks trying to forgot; forget everything that happened between us, forget how much I loved you, and forget how you were never going to feel the same way. I can�t tell you how many times I asked myself, �Why? Why can�t he see me? Why can�t he love me?� Then I decided not to ask anymore. And as much as I wanted to and tried to forget you, I couldn�t. I couldn�t do it, JC. I loved you too much to let go of that dream.�

�Loved,� he echoed, �as in past tense?�

�As in I tried�but I couldn�t.�

New hope shone faintly in his eyes. �Really? You still feel the same?�

�Yes,� she answered, tired of pretending, �how do you feel, JC?�

His sparkling blue eyes met hers. �I love you, too, Abbey.�