Alissa woke up late the next morning to the sound of the ringing phone. She figured that the only person who'd call her on Saturday morning was Carrie, and she guessed correctly.

"Get your ass awake and tell me everything, girl. You weren't home all night." Alissa groaned, and then started pouring out the entire events of the past evening leaving the kiss for last.

"OHMIGAWD! He did what?" Carrie shrieked so loudly that Alissa was sure every dog in the neighborhood could hear her. "Holy shit. Do you know how many people would die to be in your place? Me included. And not only does JC kiss you, but you've got him warning other guys off." Carrie stopped to sigh. "Do you think my poor Lance is heartbroken? Should I come console him?" Alissa laughed momentarily. "Finally, you're laughing. Why is this upsetting you so much?" Alissa's turn to sigh.

"I don't like him warning Lance off. I don't want to be like leading him on or anything, but I'm really not interested in JC, Care." Carrie understood, and tried to help her friend, all the while wishing they could trade places.

"Just make sure JC knows you're friends and that's all, Liss. That's all you can do."

"I know, I know." She sighed again.

"So what are you wearing?"

"That's the other problem. I don't know." There was a beep on the phone. "Hold on, I've got another call." She clicked the receiver. "Hello?"

"Alissa, it's JC."

"Hi."

"You still willing to go Monday?" He wanted to make sure she wasn't having second thoughts about agreeing.

"Sure, that's what friends do, right?" She hoped she didn't stress friends too much.

"I was thinking that maybe, I don't know, but you might not have a dress and that maybe, I don't know. Since it's last minute, that maybe you don't have time to find anything. . . " Alissa was amused by how hard it was for him to say what he wanted to say, but figured she'd put him out of this misery.

"Actually Carrie and I were just talking about that on the other line. I do need to get a dress."

"Look outside the door."

"Excuse me?"

"Just go look." Alissa got up, the phone still in her hand and looked out the peephole. She didn't see anything.

"There's nothing there JC."

"Just open the door." Shaking her head, she undid the lock and swung the door open. She looked in both directions and then turned to go back inside.

"Still nothing,. . . ohmigawd. What did you do?" She heard him laughing.

"Danielle gave me your size from when you were trying on FuMan Skeeto stuff because I found that this morning and it was too perfect." Alissa's phone beeped again.

"Can you hold on a sec, JC?"

"Uh, sure." Click "Hello?"

"Thank you for keeping me on hold for so long, what the hell?"

"Oh gawd, I'm sorry Care. JC's on the other line. He bought me a flipping dress." Alissa held the phone away from her ear while Carrie screamed. "Gawd, Carrie. It's not like you're in the same room as him. And it's only JC."

"Only JC, huh?" Alissa spun around at the sound of his voice.

"Shit, you scared me! I should have figured you'd be around. The dress couldn't materialize out of nowhere." Alissa was suddenly acutely aware that she was still in her pyjamas, but was distracted from her discomfort by Carrie's voice on the phone.

"Alissa! Alissa. Who are you talking to? If JC's there you damn well better tell me!" Alissa chuckled.

"Carrie. JC's here." Another loud scream, during which Alissa handed the phone to JC. "You talk to her, she won't believe me otherwise."

Carrie kept JC on the phone forever, refusing to let him give it back to Alissa, until Alissa flipped on the speaker phone.

"Bye Bye Bye, Carrie." Carrie groaned at the triteness of the song title.

"Okay, okay, I get it. I'm gone. Oh, wait. One last thing. *NSync is better, right? You can finally admit that?" Alissa laughed.

"Nice try, Carrie. But just because I'm standing beside one of them doesn't mean my Boys still don't kick his ass."

"Damn! You gotta do something about her JC." Alissa heard Carrie hang up the phone, but missed JC's mumbled answer.

"I intend to."

Alissa couldn't contain her jitters at work on Monday, and Danielle noticed immediately.

"What's got you all worked up today?" Alissa was surprised Danielle didn't know, or if she did know that she would have to ask.

"JC asked me to be his date tonight. You didn't know?" Danielle looked surprised.

"JC asked? Hmmm." Alissa was confused.

"Yes, JC. Why?"

"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."

Alissa went back to her work, still puzzling over Danielle's comments, until she was interrupted by a knock at her office door.

"Hey Chris, whatsup?" He looked a little nervous, which Alissa knew was unusual for him. Justin trailed into the room after him.

"Well, we have this dilemma."

"Oh?"

"Ya. You know we all agreed to bring dates tonight and dumbass over here," he motioned to Justin, "assumed that he and Britney could go together which for obvious reasons can NOT happen." Alissa crinkled her nose and spoke before she could stop herself.

"You are actually dating her?" She knew her tone was rude, and Justin was immediately defensive.

"Yes, I am. I told you this wouldn't fly, Chris." He got up to leave and Chris pushed him back into his chair.

"Sit down, Bounce. Alissa, we want to ask you a huge favor. We need a cover to get rid of some of the Britney/ Justin rumors. So would you be willing to be Justin's date?" Alissa started to speak and Chris stopped her. "I know it's last minute and you can have the rest of the day to find a dress. Justin'll even pay." Justin started to complain and Chris silenced him with one look.

"It's a nice offer and everything but I already have a dress because JC asked me to go with him on Friday night." She watched the look that passed between Justin and Chris with interest, when she mentioned JC and Friday night.

"Okay, well, I guess we need to talk to JC next, then."

"Talk to me about what? Danielle told me you were all down here. Hey, Alissa." JC rounded the corner into Alissa's office. Alissa put her head in her hands and sighed.

"Might as well make this place the damn *NSync conference room." Nobody laughed as Chris started explaining to JC.

"Damn Justin. You cause more need for damage control than the rest of us combined." Justin shrugged weakly not defending himself against JC's comment. "So, Alissa, what are you going to do?" She looked carefully between the three faces and sighed.

"How about this. I am officially according to the press, Justin's date. BUT, I get to have two handsome men escort me." It was the best compromise she could come up with, and she was relieved when everyone nodded. She had to throw in a comment to lighten the mood a little. "Not as handsome as my Boys, but still not too shabby." The three guys stared at her for a minute while she smiled, and then they went on as if they hadn't heard her.

"Alright, so the limo pickup is at the hotel first, then we'll come get you Alissa. She nodded, and waited until they left the room before letting her head fall to the desk. Damn life is complicated with these *NSync people.

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