Just an Accident 5

He slid the card key into the slot.
Blink!
The light turned green as Josh opened the door.
It looked like a typical hotel room except for the group of guys playing Nintendo on the floor.
One had short, spiky blonde hair; another had spiky, brown hair; one had curly, dirty blonde hair; and one had just plain messy brown hair.
And they were cheering obnoxiously loud.
�Hey!� Josh shouted.
The cheering stopped immediately as they looked at me. The only sound was the video game continuing on.
�Is that her?� asked curly.
�Yup.�
The blonde spiked one stood up in a flourish and extended his hand.
�Hey I�m Lance. And you�d be Crystal?�
�Uh, yeah.�
The others followed. First was Lance; then curly haired Justin; messy haired Joey; and then finally brunette Chris.
�We finally get to meet you,� said Lance.
�Yeah. You wouldn�t believe all this crap we had to go through. All those lectures and stuff about you comin�,� agreed Chris.
Justin slapped him. �Shut up Chris.�
�Hey!� he cried.
�Guys, please,� Josh said. �I don�t want her to think you�re complete idiots.�
�Pssh! She probably does already,� Justin smirked, gesturing toward Chris.
I laughed.
�So she laughs,� Chris shouted, pointing at me. He was in a fighting stance.
�Oh my god,� Josh grumbled.
�It�s ok really. These guys are cute,� I laughed, giving Josh an assuring squeeze of my hand.
�You think we�re cute?� Justin asked.
�I guess so, yeah.�
�Cool!�
These guys were funny. Hilarious even. But Josh obviously didn�t think so.
�Oh god,� he sighed, sitting down on a bed.
I sat down next to him. �What�s wrong?�
�I wanted them to make a good first impression.�
�It�s alright Joshy. It was good enough for me.�
�Yeah. Right,� he said.
�C�mon C! Stop mopin�. She likes us already, so what�s the big deal?� asked Joey, not looking away from the game.
C? Why did they call him THAT?
�The big deal is, is she gonna think you�re capable enough to act like humans,� he shot back.
I giggled.
�We�re humans. We are at the top of the food chain,� Joey said.
�What food chain? I think you ate the rest of it,� Justin shouted from his seat.
I laughed. They were too funny.
�So Crystal, you live around here?� Lance asked.
�Yeah. Pretty close.�
�JC has been talking about you non-stop ever since like 3 weeks ago. My god! Seriously, I was ready to throw him to a psychologist.�
�JC?� I asked curiously.
�Yeah. Him,� he said, pointing to Josh.
�I thought your name was Josh.�
�It is,� he said, glaring at Lance.
�Then why did he just call you JC?�
�It�s my nickname.�
�Oh.�
�You can still call me Josh.�
�Ok.�
�So do you really want to sing?� Lance broke in.
�I-I guess.�
�Uh huh. Did you ever think that it would happen?�
�No way,� I said. �I know Josh said he was in the music business, but I didn�t really think I�d get any closer.�
�Oh my god C you didn�t tell her?� Lance asked him.
�Tell me what?� I asked.
�Yeah Lance, tell her what?� Josh asked almost angrily.
�Um, nothing. I was just wondering if you knew what he did.�
�Oh. He writes songs, doesn�t he?�
�Yup. So he DID tell you. Ok.�
�Yeah. Ok. That was weird�
�So Crys, what do you think of my man C here?� Justin asked, patting Josh on the back.
�I think he�s a very nice, thoughtful, sweet guy.�
�Uh huh. C�mon. He�s gotta be more than that!� he pressed playfully.
�Uh, well, there really isn�t much I can tell you,� I stammered.
�Ha. I knew there was something else!�
�Shut the hell up Justin,� Josh grumbled.
I ignored the feeling of discomfort when the normally kind Josh swore at one of his best friends.
�Ok, ok. I�ll back off. For now.� He laughed and joined the video game the rest of them were playing.
�So Angel, if I�m gonna stay at your place I gotta get my stuff huh?�
�I think that would help.�
He smiled and walked over to the far side of the room to get his things.
�So you attached to anyone right now?� asked a voice.
I turned and looked to see who spoke. It was Joey.
�Um, no. Not right now. I sort of broke up with a guy about a month ago,� I admitted.
We hadn�t spoken to each other at all ever since he left. And I didn�t even miss him as much as I thought I would. I was actually very happy.
�Ah. Why did he break up with you? You seem so nice.�
�He had to go to Europe for business.�
�Is he coming back?� he continued.
�Um, he said he�d be back. So we�d be together,� I said softly.
�So what would he do if he found out you were hangin� with JC?�
�I dunno. I never really thought about it actually.�
�I see. If I were him, I�d be kickin� myself,� he joked.
I laughed despite my uneasiness.
�God Joey. You have never gone back to any woman you�ve been with!� Chris laughed, racing ahead of Joey.
�Shut up Chris. At least I HAD women!� Joey snapped back.
�Well sorry if I don�t get with every woman I see.�
            �God you guys shut up,� Lance said, concentrating on his character, which was far behind the others.
�Maybe we will Lance. When you start talkin�!� Joey shouted, crossing the line for 2nd lap.
�Shut up you guys!�
It was Josh. He had a suitcase in one hand, and a carry-on in the other.
�Hey Joshy.�
�Hey. Um, I�ve got some more bags. You don�t mind do you?�
�No problem. You could even use the other room if you needed to.�
�Oh great.�
�JC, where ya goin�?� asked Justin.
�I�m stayin� with Crystal.�
�What? No fair!� they cried out.
�What�s no fair? I met her, she asked me to stay,� he replied, walking to get some of his other bags.
�Then why don�t you invite US to stay?� Justin asked.
�Cuz I wanna get AWAY from you J.�
�Hey!�
I laughed. Even just being there for about 20 minutes, I felt like these guys could be my closest friends.
After about 5 more minutes, Josh came back with all of his bags. And boy did he have a lot! He had about 3 or 4 carry-ons, all in different sizes; 5-6 suitcases; 1 or 2 backpacks; and 3 duffle bags.
�Oh my god Josh. Have you heard of packing LIGHT?� I asked.
�This IS light.�
�I�d hate to see you pack heavy.�
�No, you�d hate to see JOEY pack heavy. He brings like his whole closet or something. And if you�ve seen his clothes, you�ve seen a lot. Looking in his suitcase is like looking in a forest full of wild animals,� he laughed.
�Oh my god, really?�
�You have my word.�
�C�mon. We should be going.�
�You�re right. I�ll get Slim and Andre to get these.�
�Ok.�
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
He parked the Jeep in the 2-car garage.
�Ok. C�mon. Let�s lug your stuff up to your room.�
After about 45 minutes, we finally got all of his stuff in his room, which was next to mine.
I slumped on a stool and pressed the button on my answering machine.
Message 1. Saturday, 2:43 PM.
    �Hey Crys. This is Gen. Call me back ok? You know the number.�
Message 2. Saturday, 2:50 PM.
   �Hey Crys. It�s Michael. Call me back all right? It�s been about a week since we�ve talked. Alright, bye.�
Message 3. Saturday, 3:26 PM.
�God girl where are you? Call me back.�
Message 4. Saturday, 3:59 PM.
�Crys, this is Tuesdey. I just wanted to call and say hi. So call me back if you wanna talk.�
I pressed delete.
�I have never heard of anyone named Tuesdey before,� Josh laughed.
�Well you have now.�
�Who�s Michael?� he asked.
�He�s one of my best friends.�
�Oh. And Gen is the one who thought I would kidnap you?�
�Uh huh.�
�Did YOU think I was gonna kidnap you?�
�No! Of course not. I knew you wouldn�t.�
�Good.�
�Hey, do you wanna meet her?� I asked.
�Uh, no. Maybe later. Just not now,� he stammered.
�Oh. Ok. If you don�t want to,� I said.
What was he so scared of?
Ding Dong!
I got up and answered the door.
�What are YOU doing here?� I asked.
She pouted. �Can I come in?�
�Rene, what do you want?� I asked impatiently.
�Is that Rene?� Josh asked.
�Yeah.�
He walked up behind me.
�Hey Rene. We spoke before?�
Rene froze and her jaw dropped, trying to form words.
�And Rene, don�t you EVER tease Crystal again. You got me?� he asked.
She nodded stupidly.
�Great. See you later then huh?� he smiled, closing the door on her.
�How did you do that?� I asked in awe.
�I have my ways.�
�It must�ve been how hot you were,� I joked, sitting down next to him.
�Nah. That wasn�t it.�
�How can you be so sure?�
He shrugged.
RING!
I sighed and took out my cell phone.
�Hello?�
�Crys?� someone slurred.
I froze. Bullets of sweat formed on my forehead.
�Crystal? Yoo hoo? Are you there?�
�Uh, yeah. Hi.�
�Guess what? I�m comin� home Crys!� he slurred.
�Adam are you drunk?� I asked nervously.
�No! Of course I�m not! I was just havin� some fun with the guys.�
�God Adam you�re drunk! In some place you don�t even know!� I shouted, tears falling down my face.
�Angel what�s wrong?� Josh asked, his face filled with worry.
�Don�t worry Crys, I�ll be home before ya know it.�
Then�CRASH! The line went dead.
My eyes were wide and glassy. My lower lip trembled as I clicked �off� on my cell.
�Angel what�s wrong?� Josh asked again, putting his arm around my shoulders.
I shut my eyes tight and leaned up against him.
�It�s gonna be ok. It�ll be ok,� he whispered.
�You don�t even know what�s wrong Josh!� I said, my voice breaking at about a million places.
�Will you tell me?� he asked softly, rocking back and forth.
I sniffled. �Adam�s drunk.�
�Who�s Adam?�
�He�s my old boyfriend.�
�Where is he then?�
�Europe.�
He stayed silent, stroking my hair.
�This isn�t how he should be spending his time� I thought to myself.
I got myself together and sat up. I wiped my tears away.
�Are you ok?� he asked.
�I�ll be fine. I can�t help him. It�s his problem.�
I blew my nose on a tissue.
�You wanna stay here? I have to go to the studio.�
�No. I wanna come.�
�Ok. You need anything?�
I smiled. �My car?�
He laughed. �We�ll get that later. C�mon.�
I was in better spirits already. Things like this would usually take me a day or two to overcome.
�Alright.�
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
�Ok we�re here.�
I looked at the building. It was a simple beige rectangle, made up with rough-textured rectangles. Windows rectangle, door rectangle. Weird really.
�Crys, come on,� Josh hurried, pulling my hand.
�Alright I�m coming!�
We walked inside to the secretary.
�Hello Mr. Chasez,� she smiled.
Chasez?
�Please Katie. Call me JC,� he insisted.
�It�s ok Mr. Chasez-I mean, JC. It�s in room A363.�
�Thank you Kay.�
He led me to a door marked A363 and opened the door.
�Hey JC. Come join us,� a black man said.
I recognized just about everyone except for the black man.
�Hey Johnny. This is Crystal. The one I�ve been tellin� you about,� Josh introduced.
I smiled meekly.
�Hey I�m Johnny. Lemme tell ya, I have heard A LOT about you. I was afraid he won�t be able to sing anymore!� he laughed.
�Sing?�
�Yeah. Didn�t-�
�Johnny!� Josh interrupted. �Can I have a word?�
�Uh, yeah sure. Be right back.�
They went off into a corner of the room in deep conversation.
I sat down in one of those huge office chairs next to who else but Justin.
�Why is Josh acting so weird?� I asked myself.
�I dunno.�
�I wasn�t talking to you Justin.�
�Oh, sorry.�
A pause went by.
�So did you really meet JC on the net?� he asked.
�Yeah.�
�And you guys just started talking?� he asked skeptically.
�Well basically yeah,� I replied.
�Oh. Maybe I should try that.�
�It wouldn�t work for you.�
�Why not?�
�I dunno. It just wouldn�t. Maybe they won�t like you.�
�I just gotta say I�m Justin Timberlake and poof! They�ll know who I�m talkin� about,� he said.
�Ok whatever.�
�What the heck was he talking about?�
�Hey Crys. I�m back,� Josh said, coming up behind me.
�Hey.� I stood up.
�No, no, no. Sit. I�ll grab another chair,� he insisted, pulling out another identical chair.
�Ok.�
He pulled up right beside me.
�So guys. We�re here about the tour. Any ideas?� Johnny asked.
To put it short, I had no clue to what they were talking about. A tour? For who?
�I think we should put a bunch more lights,� Chris said. �It�s like pitch dark in the back.�
�Alright. Got it.� Johnny scribbled down the idea.
�A huge stage,� Joey added.
�Got it.�
For the next half hour they rattled off ideas and Johnny wrote them down.
�Alright. Now the set list. Guys?� Johnny said.
��No Strings Attached� definitely,� Josh said.
What?
��I Want You Back�,� suggested Justin.
��This I Promise You�,� Lance recommended.
�Let me ask,� I interrupted, �What are you guys talking about?�
�The tour Crystal,� Lance said.
�For who?�
�For us,� they chorused.
�For what?�
�Ooh this is gonna be tricky,� Justin said.
�What is gonna be tricky?� I asked exasperatedly.
�Explaining.�
�Explain what?�
�I�ll tell you later Crys,� Josh whispered.
I nodded.