Test Of Your Sanity

�I said I was sorry!� Jessie shouted.
�SORRY? SORRY?�
Jessie nodded.
Heather smiled. �Ok. Just remember- we�re at war now!� It was hopeless to be mad at her best friend and only girl on the tour. She�d go crazy living with 5 guys. She went to the door and opened it wide.
�Hey,� Nick and AJ greeted.
�Hey.�
�Ready?� Brian asked, Leighanne standing next to him.
�Yup,� they answered, hooking arms with their dates.
�C�mon.� Kevin started down the hallway, his wife in tow. �The limo�s waiting.�
�Coming.�
***
The cameras flashed their hot flashes as each of the guys stepped out with their dates. Both Jessie and Heather felt out of place as they walked down the red carpet.
�Hope they don�t start asking questions,� Nick said to himself.
�They�ll probably forget about us once the next limo comes.�
�They probably will. NSYNC can always make a grand entrance,� Jessie said.
�Speak of the devil,� AJ grumbled, seeing the black limo open.
Chris Kirkpatrick stepped out of the car, looking good in his casual navy blue suit and black cargo pants. Then it was Justin Timberlake, wearing white cargos and a white blazer. AJ and Nick pulled the girls along the carpet, finally getting into the building.
Everyone from Jive was there, including Britney Spears and Christina. The room was crowded, but there was a dance floor and loud music. The lights were bright too. Waiters and waitresses walked around, offering food and drink to people sitting or standing.
They guys got 2 large tables in the north part of the ballroom. Being as hungry as they were, they ate first.
�C�mon AJ. Let�s mingle,� Jessie said jokingly, standing up.
�Ok. Hang on a sec.� He finished off his Coke and stood up, grabbing her hand. �NOW we can mingle.�
�See you guys,� Jessie said, waving to her friends.
They weaved through the crowds, saying hi to almost everybody. Then Jessie felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around.
The man�s brown eyes sparkled as he said, �Hey Jess. Long time no see.�
Jessie smiled. �I know. I can�t believe I didn�t go with you guys. No offense AJ.�
�So are you guys dating?� Chris asked.
�No.�
He nodded thoughtfully. �Hey let me get the guys. I�ll be back in a sec.�
AJ looked down at me. �And you like HIM better than ME?�
She punched his shoulder. �I never said that.�
�But I can�t help thinking��
�If you don�t want to believe me, fine!�
�Hey!� came a loud voice.
Jessie turned her head and smiled. �Hey Justin. What�s up?�
He gave her a huge hug. �Nothin� much.� Then he whispered, �I still think you should�ve come with us. JC still likes you.�
Her face became hot as she said, �Shut up.�
Joey came up behind Justin and said, �Ok my turn.�
Jessie laughed and hugged the older man. �Hey.�
Lance followed Joey, shaking her hand. �How are you?�
�I�m fine,� Jessie smiled, happy to see her long time friends. Her breath caught in her chest when JC walked up next.
�Hey,� he said softly.
She worked up a smile. �Hey.�
�It�s so great to see you,� he laughed, hugging her.
She could�ve melted to the floor. �You too.�
He let go and looked around. �Do you have a date?�
�Oh. Yeah. He�s-� I looked around, but AJ was no where in sight, �not here.� Then she spotted him over at the table, talking to Heather.
�Oh. Um, since he�s not here�do you� wanna dance?� he asked nervously.
�Oh.� She thought about it. �Sure.� She took his hand and walked onto the dance floor.
Take me back into the arms I love
Lead me like you did before
Touch me once again
And remember when
There was no one that you wanted more
Don�t go
You know you�ll break my heart
She won�t love you like I will
I�m the one who�ll stay
When she walks away
And you know I�ll be here standing here still
I�ll be waiting for you
Here inside my heart
I�m the one who wants to love you more
You will see I can give you
Everything you need
Let me be the one who wants to love you more
-�To Love You More� Celine Dion
***
�Hey I thought Jessie was YOUR date, not JC�s,� Heather said, pointing to the two figures dancing slowly to the song.
�It�s just ONE dance Carrot Top,� AJ said, not really minding.
�Don�t call me that,� she said.
�Why not?�
�Because I don�t want you to.�
�Too bad Carrot Top. It�s not good enough,� AJ smiled, popping a grape into his mouth.
�Why don�t you go dance with your date?�
�She�s dancing with someone already.�
�Well ever heard of �cutting in�?� she asked.
�Nope.�
�You just LOVE to annoy me don�t you?�
AJ smiled. �It�s my job as your best friend.�
�You�re not my best friend,� she said. �Jessie is.�
�Yeah. And she dancing with�THE ENEMY!� AJ laughed, repeating what Heather had said weeks before.
�Oh shut up.�
***
The song finally ended and they stopped dancing.
�Um that was nice,� JC said.
She just smiled. �Yeah.�
�Who IS your date?� JC asked.
�Um,� she trailed off, debating if she should tell him that she was here with AJ.
�Ok my turn!� Chris shouted, pulling her away.
�Help me!� she laughed, dancing to the slow song.
JC just smiled lightly.
Chris put his arms around Jessie as they swayed to the song.
She was just an inch shorter than him, so they looked a little odd.
�Jessie?�
�Hmm?�
�Do you still like JC?�
�Of course. He�s like my best friend.�
Chris looked her in the eye. �I meant as a boyfriend.�
She looked down. �Uh��
�It�s a yes or no question Jessie,� Chris said.
She looked back at her close friend. �I don�t know.�
�You should know Jessie. They�re YOUR feelings.�
�Chris I don�t know.�
�Cuz I can tell you now, JC still loves you,� he said softly.
Jessie�s heart started beating faster and she breathed in sharply. �He does?�
He nodded.
�How could you tell?�
�He was so disappointed when you couldn�t come with us. And the fact that you were going on tour with 5 other guys didn�t sit too well with him either. He was goin� on and on about what could happen.� Chris smiled. �He�s sorry.�
Her eyes burned with tears as the song ended. �Thanks. I�ll be outside if you need me.� Without another word she turned around and ran to the open doors of the balcony.