�Where�s my room?� I asked.
�You�re gonna be in my room,� JC responded.
�Really?�
�Uh huh,� he replied, taking another box upstairs.
�Where�s Heather�s room?� I asked.
�Guess.�
�Lance.�
�Yup.�
�And Michael?�
�He gets his own room.�
�Oh. Ok.� I was a little jealous of Michael for not getting my own room, but at least I was sharing a room with a guy who actually uses the laundry room.
I followed JC up to his room.
�Where am I gonna put my clothes?� I asked, setting down a box.
�In the closet.�
I walked over to the closet and opened the door. I looked up and down. Half of the closet was cleared away, stocked full of hangars.
�On this half?� I asked.
�Yeah. Where else?�
�I didn�t expect you to have the space to share,� I explained, hanging up some clothes.
�Yeah and let my beloved girlfriend to live out of a box,� he said sarcastically. �Yeah right.�
�I think I�ll take that as a compliment,� I joked with him.
He laughed.
�Oh yeah and one more thing.�
He stopped. �What?�
�I get the side of the bed closest to the wall.�
�Oh. Ok. Fine with me,� he said, walking out of the room.
I hung more and more of the clothes. I finally got them all done.
I went down the stairs.
�What�s up guys?� I asked, getting a Coke out of the fridge.
�Nothin� really,� Chris responded.
�Oh ok then. Where�s JC?�
I sat down next to Justin on the couch.
�He said he had to get something out in town, but he�ll be back soon,� Lance informed.
�Oh. What�s he getting?�
�I dunno.�
�Hey guys. Since tomorrow�s my birthday-�
�Tomorrow�s your birthday?� they chorused, except for Heather, who sat in the corner, still reading her book.
�Oh! I forgot to tell you guys!� I slapped my forehead. It completely slipped my mind.
�Nah. We knew,� Justin replied, not taking his eyes off the screen.
�How?� I asked.
�Heather told us,� Chris revealed.
�Chris!� Joey cried, slapping the back of his head. �You weren�t supposta tell!�
�Whoops.�
�It�s ok you guys.�
�So wanna go see a movie guys?� Justin asked.
�After JC gets back,� I interrupted.
�Ok. But that means we�re gonna see a movie, right?�
I nodded.
�Then go change!� Heather cried, suddenly jumping up and grabbing me, dragging me to the stairs.
�Ok, ok. I get your drift,� I surrendered, prying her strong fingers off my arm.
�Now come on.�
I looked in my closet. Finally, I decided on a knee length, black skirt with a slit up the right, and a light blue tank top. I pinned my hair up with a hair claw.
I knocked on Lance�s room door.
�Yeah?�
�Is Heather in there?�
�Yeah. But she�s changing right now,� he called out.
�Oh then-wait a minute. Then why are YOU in there?�
Silence.
�Oh brother.�
I turned and went down the stairs.
�Whoo! Alright Jessie!� I heard Justin call out.
�Shut up Curly.�
Justin was wearing a blue Nike t-shirt and black cargo pants. Joey was wearing a red long sleeve shirt and beige khakis. Chris was wearing a black FuMan Skeeto shirt and dark green cargos.
�Where�s Lancey Poo and Heather?� asked Chris.
�They�re still up there changing.�
�Really? In the same room?� Joey asked.
�I know. That was my first reaction too.�
�Are you sure they�re not doing anything up there?� Justin asked cautiously.
�I dunno. But it�s none of my business, so I�m gonna stay out of it.�
I sat down on the couch.
Chris looked at his watch. �JC should be back by now.�
�Call him,� I suggested.
�Ok. I�ll do it,� Justin volunteered.
He whipped out his cell and dialed the digits.
After a couple seconds Justin said, �Hey C. Where the heck are you?�
�Oh. Get your butt back over here aiight? We gotta get to the theatre before the movie starts!�
Couple seconds more�
�I don�t care if you didn�t get it. We are waiting here and you are at some place down town! Your girlfriend isn�t very happy.�
I looked at Justin. I wasn�t mad. I was just concerned.
�Oh c�mon C.�
He sighed. �Aiight. We�ll see ya later then.�
�Ok. Buh bye.�
Click.
�He can�t come, can he?� I asked sullenly.
He shook his head.
I looked up at the ceiling and sighed.
�What�s he doing right now anyway?�
�I dunno.�
�Oh well. We can still go and see that movie,� I sighed.
�Yeah. Let�s go,� Joey agreed, getting up.
�But what about Lance?� Chris asked.
�I�ll go check,� I volunteered.
I trudged upstairs and went to Lance�s door. I could hear giggles inside.
I backed away and went back down the stairs.
�I don�t think they�ll be joining us anytime soon,� I reported.
�Ugh. That�s what I thought,� Chris agreed. �Let�s just go to that movie.�
�I�m in,� I seconded. �At least we�ll get to do something.�
<<>>::::<<>>
BBBEEEEEEEEEEPPPP!!!
�Ugh�� I groaned, reaching over and pressing the snooze button.
But instead I hit something else. Something warm and moving.
�What?� I mumbled to myself.
I struggled to open my eyes even slightly, trying to decipher what was in my way.
It was JC.
�Oh.�
Then I closed my eyes.
BBBEEEEEEEEEEPPPP!!!!
�Ugh,� I mumbled, burying my head under my pillow, trying to block out the horrendous noise.
The bed shook and I knew JC was moving.
�Mmm�what time is it?� he grumbled.
�Ugh. Please shut that alarm off,� I begged.
�Done.�
�Thank god,� I murmured, muffled by my pillow.
<<>>::::<<>>
�C�mon Jessie,� JC rushed, throwing some clothes at me.
�This is what I�m supposed to wear?� I asked, looking at it.
�Well, it�s better than what you�ve been doing: throwing clothes around, trying them on, then hanging them back up again.�
�Ok, ok, ok. I�ll wear it.�
�I�ll be waiting outside.�
I quickly pulled on the short, tight purple t-shirt and black super flares.
Then I put my hair in a half ponytail.
�Are you done Jessie?� called a faint voice.
�Yeah! I�m comin� out right now.�
Once I emerged from the room, he spoke.
�See? Didn�t I tell ya?� he smiled.
�Shut up. Now where are we going?�
�You�ll see. C�mon,� he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me down the stairs.
�I�m 22 now. I can walk by myself.�
�Come on then.�
I sighed and followed, only barely anticipating what lie ahead.
<<>>::::<<>>
�Whoa. Look at that!� I cried, pointing at a crane.
�Wow.�
I snapped a quick picture.
�Sit down Jessie. Other people wanna see too,� JC scolded, pulling me down onto the chair.
�Sorry.�
<<>>::::<<>>
After the little tour of the Everglades, we went to lunch. Then we went to a little shopping, dealing with some fans along the way. Then we went to see a movie. And by the time we were done, it was already 3.
�Whew I�m pooped,� I sighed, plopping down on the soft leather seats of the Jeep.
�Believe me, this is just the beginning.�
I looked out the window, waiting to get home.
<<>>::::<<>>
�Ok. Let�s go.�
JC unlocked the door and it swung open.
I walked inside.
Then-�SURPRISE!!�
I jumped back in surprise, practically slamming into JC�s chest.
Justin laughed and went up and hugged me.
�Happy birthday girl!�
I smiled and hugged him back. �Thanks.�
I looked around at the decorations. Streamers hung down in doorways and on the ceiling. Balloons adorned the corners of ceilings and walls, and the music was blaring now. Obviously Chris�s new sound system had come in handy.
�Wow. This is so cool!� I commented.
�Thank you.�
And so the party began.
<<>>::::<<>>
JC and I were still dancing. It had been an hour into the party.
Hearing the song, I put my arms around his neck.
�Do you remember this song?� I asked JC softly, making sure no one could hear.
�Of course I do,� he replied, putting his arms around my waist. �It�s the first song we ever slow danced to.�
I rested my head on his chest, his heart beating a mile a minute.
We swayed silently along with Heather and Lance, Joey and his date Vanessa, and Chris and Danielle.
Once the song stopped, Chris shouted, �Ok! Present time!�
I sat down on the couch. Everyone put the presents on the floor in front of my feet.
�Here, open mine first,� JC insisted, holding out a thin velvet box.
�Ok sure.�
I opened the box slowly.
�Oh my god,� I muttered to myself.
Delicately I picked up the gold chain. Attached to it was a heart shaped locket also made of gold. There were 2 lines bordering the heart, curving elegantly at the points of the heart. In the middle of the heart was a small diamond. It glistened under all the lights. I felt something bumpy on the back so I flipped it around. I read the inscription. It read: Love has no limits� I smiled. Then I pried open the locket. I looked at the picture at the right side. We were sleeping in JC�s room. I had my head on JC�s chest. �Funny. How�d they get this picture?� The other picture was of me and him-awake. It was when we went to see a movie. We were smiling, holding each other.
�Wow. This is beautiful,� I breathed.
�I knew it. He shouldn�t have gone first. Now all of our presents will look like junk next to his,� Chris joked.
We laughed.
�I�d appreciate any gift you gave me.�
�Really?�
�Yeah.�
�Then what if I gave you a rat?�
My eyes widened, causing them to laugh.
I quickly regained my composure. �What else?�
Justin handed me a gift wrapped neatly in an almost flat box. Immediately I assumed clothes.
I ripped off the sparkly blue and green wrapping paper. Then I took of the top.
I laughed. I picked up the North Carolina jersey with care.
Justin had a huge grin on his face. �Like it?�
�Like it? I love it,� I laughed.
Of course, Lance, Heather, and Joey had no idea what we were talking about so their faces were of disbelief-or in Heather�s case, disgust.
�Mine next!� Chris shouted, handing me a box.
Clothes again.
Once again I ripped off the black and blue paper and tore off the top.
I picked up the pink tank top. It was from his clothing line, FuMan Skeeto.
�Wow. I don�t think I have one �o these.�
�You probably don�t.�
�Thanks Chris. I love it,� I thanked.
�Good.�
�Ok. Mine now,� Heather declared, handing me a small package.
I opened it with ease. I threw the spotted paper away and looked at the present. It was a metallic blue CD player with the works.
�Wow. Thanks Heather.�
�Welcome.�
�How much money did she have to borrow from ya Lance?� I asked.
He blushed. �Actually, only 10 bucks.�
�Oh. Ok.�
�Now mine,� Joey said, handing me his present.
Feeling all the curves and bumps, I was instantly curious. I clawed off the paper and went after the present. It was a camera. Very fancy one too. It was a sort of metallic tan color.
�Thanks Joey. It�s awesome. Thanks.�
�Welcome. Hard to shop for a girl ya know.�
�I�m sure it�s impossible for you Joe,� I joked.
�Yeah well��
�Now mine.�
I took the present from Lance.
It was in a small envelope. I opened it and took out about 50 bucks.
�What?�
�I didn�t know what to get you so I decided to let you decide for yourself.�
I laughed. �Thanks. Who am I missing?�
�Me.�
�Ok Michael. Let�s see it.�
I opened it slower than the other ones, for it was my last present.
Once I saw what it was, I gasped. �You remembered?�
He smiled lightly. �How could I forget?�
I stared at the box I had in my hand. Inside there was a glass rose. The petals all neatly painted, the stem glittering. Every detail had been shown.
�Where did you get it?� I asked.
�Keith.�
My head snapped up. �What?�
�He was gonna give it to you. He got it when he was traveling with the team. But then things got a little mixed up,� he explained softly.
Slowly, the tears began to gather in my eyes.
�And there�s another thing he wanted to give you,� he remembered, handing me an envelope.
I took it carefully in my hand. I opened it and read it carefully.
Jessie~
I hope you got the rose ok. I made sure Michael didn�t break it.
Look in the envelope Jessie. Right now.
I put the note face down in my lap. Then I reached into the envelope and took out a golden ring with a small diamond on it. I quickly picked up the note again.
All was silent as I continued reading the note.
That�s the ring I bought. I was gonna ask you to marry me�but I���� guess you already found someone. And I only hope he loves you back. You never knew how much you meant to me, and I don�t think you ever will. But keep that ring. I can�t assure myself that you will, but please�keep it memory of me.
I hate myself for what I have done to you. But please, believe me�I didn�t know what I was doing. I let the jealousy and rage get the best of me. I shouldn�t have judged JC like that, and I�m sorry. Now that I can�t see you, I wish I could take it all back. You mean more to me than anything. I guess I should�ve told you that. But I guess it�s too late now� But at least you have an idea of what I feel.
I just have one thing to ask�just please forgive me�and try not to forget me. You know I�ll never forget you.
I�m just sorry it had to be this way�I�m sorry�
������ Love you forever,
������������������� Keith
Tears fell from my eyes as I finished reading the note. I had no idea. And what made it worse was that I never told him that I forgave him. And I hated myself at that moment.
I looked at the note. There was a stain at the end of the letter-a tear.
I clutched the ring tightly in my hand. I knew I�d never lose it.
And I vowed that I would visit him and let him know he was forgiven.