Chapter Two

    Adrianne sat at a big oak desk in her new office. It was the size of her living room almost. Her first day was going well despite the incident with Chris. She had met Lou, and Melinda. Melinda was her boss for the upcoming US tour. Since Adrianne's assignments didn't really start until they were on the road, she was just getting a feel for the whole thing. A knock on her door startled her back to reality.

"Come in." She said sweetly.

A tall young boy with very blonde hair came through the door. "Hey, Adrianne right?" Justin said smiling his huge grin.

"Thats right. And you must be Justin. I remember you from outside, playing basketball." She smiled back at him and stood up to lean against the front of her desk. "So how can I help you Justin?"

"Well, you can call me J. That's what everyone else calls me. I came down to see if you wanted to have lunch with us in the cafeteria."

Adrianne looked like she was thinking hard. "I'd like that. I mean I better get used to you guys now." She grabbed her jacket and followed Justin out the door. He turned around to say something else and she bumped right into him. They busted out in laughter when they both said ouch at the same time.

"Just one thing." Justin said after they calmed down. "No wrestling matches with Chris at lunch."

Adrianne looked at him with a hint of anger in her eyes. "I'll try my best, but I can't promise anything." Justin was nervous until her gaze softened and she grinned. "Don't worry Jus....I mean J. I'll behave."

She walked past him on her way to the cafeteria, leaving him with a huge crush on her in the hallway. "She wants him." Justin said to himself. He took off after her and they joked all the way to the cafeteria.

The rest of the guys were already in the cafeteria eating and talking loudly at the same time. Joey nudged Chris with his elbow when Adrianne and Justin walked through the door laughing. Chris stopped eating and watched her cross the room towards the buffet.

"Chris, earth to Chris." Lance said, waving his hand back and forth in front of him.

"Huh, oh....what?" The others laughed, but Joey refused to let the subject drop.

"So, you want her don't you? I mean cuz if not I'll gladly take my chance." Joey grinned and growled as he took a bite of his sandwich. "She is totally fine bro."

Chris ignored the comment made by Joey and watched Justin flirt with Adrianne out of the corner of his eye. "Looks like Justin has a thing for the older woman. Besides that go for it Joe. She isn't to fond of me."

All four quieted down when she started over to the table. "Hey, guys. Uh....since we will be spending a lot of time together I hope you don't mind if I sit and get to know you." Her gaze fell on Joey's as she slowly said the word you. He cleared his throat and moved his tray over to make room.

"So, Adrianne, I um.....I'm sorry about the crap before. I think we may have gotten off on the wrong foot." She smiled at Chris and he felt a bit better about the first impression he gave her. Johnny had heard about the incident at the airport and made it clear to Chris he had to be civil towards Adrianne. He watched her and noticed her eyes sparkled when she laughed at Joeys' stupid jokes.

"So, Adrianne." Joey started. "Has anyone offered to show you around Orlando yet?" He gave her a killer smile knowing she couldn't resist.

Her heart sped up. "Uh.....no actually I don't know anyone except for the people in this building. Is that an invitation?" His face turned red.

"Well, if you want we can grab something to eat tonight."

Adrianne nodded, as the others tried to pretend they weren't listening to the conversation. The rest of the lunch went well, considering. Adrianne seemed to get along well the guys, even Chris. She actually found him amusing, and she could see herself becoming friends with him.

Adriannes' alarm beeped on her purple Roxy watch. It was the last birthday gift Leyla had given her before the accident. Just having it around her wrist constantly reminded her about the mistakes she had to make up for in her life.

A tear escaped from her almond shaped green eyes. The phone in her pocket rang and she wiped the tear away, frustrated she had gotten lost in the past.

"Hello?" She answered, not sure of who would be calling her at her new number.

"Honey, I'm so glad I reached you. I was so worried when you left without giving daddy and I your new number."

Adrianne sighed and sat back in her overstuffed chair. "Mom, please you know I was in a rush to catch my flight."

"I think it goes deeper than that sweety. You know you can't run from all your problems."

Justin was stopped his hand mid air, as he was about to knock on Adriannes' office door right before her phone rang. He turned to walk back the way he had come but stopped when he over heard the conversation she was having. He walked back and leaned in towards her soft voice through the door.

"I'm not running mom, I needed a change, a new city and some new surroundings. Penn state was just........just.......it was just to hard mommy."

Marla Green, Adriannes' mom was well aware of the burden her daughter had carried away from that accident six years previous. Her heart broke for her beautiful daughter everytime the topic was brought up.

"Listen mom, it's time for me to get out of here. I'll talk to you later."

"Adrianne, sweety, you make sure to call me. I worry about you dear. I really think you should let me come out and help you get settled."

Adrianne shook her head silently. Her mother couldn't come to Orlando. She made her face the past that she wanted so much to forget. "It's fine mom. I'm fine, just let me find myself by myself. Ok?"

Marla placed a trembling hand over her thin mouth. The diamonds from her large ring sparkled in the light from the chandelier. "Whatever you think is best dear. Daddy and I are always here when you need us." Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"Don't cry mom please. I have to get going. You guys have done so much for me and now it's my turn to get away from having everything given to me............and taken away." Adrianne pushed the end button on her simple black cell phone. It beeped and echoed in her large office.

Justin made a face at no one in particular as he backed away from the door. He turned towards the elevator and walked swiftly. Something was going on with the new girl and he had to let the guys know.

All five guys were standing around in the parking lot when Adrianne walked out the door towards her rental car. They stopped their whispering, when she walked by and smiled. Justin gave Joey a look, seeing he was the best candidate to find out what was going on with Adrianne.

Joey jogged to catch up to her and opened her car door for her to get in. "So, I'll catch up with you tonight?" He smiled his smile as she wrote her number on his outstretched hand.

The other guys watched as Joey flirted. "He has a better chance than any of us." Justin said as he pulled his car keys out and walked to his car.

Lance turned towards JC and Chris with an unsure look on his sweaty face. "Guys, are you sure this is a good idea. I mean she seems harmless."

"Lance, if there is somthing up with this girl than we wanna know right?" JC nodded in agreement with Chris.

"But, why don't we just ask her instead of spying on her and having Joey do all the dirty work? I mean she is a really nice girl." Lance shifted his weight to his right foot. "Nevermind, you guys do what you want. I'm just saying it's not the best approach." He walked away and got in his car, shaking his head the whole way.

JC lifted his bag from the hot pavement and dug his keys out of the side pocket. "He has somewhat of a point dude. See you tomorrow." He got in his car and drove away, leaving Chris to his own thoughts.

Chris looked across the parking lot at the white mustang he had collided with that morning. Expecting to see Adrianne in her car, getting ready to go home, he was surprised when he saw her kneeled down expecting the damage to the car. He slowly drifted over to her. The closer he got the better he could see she was crying.

Adrianne thought she was alone in the lot and was completely unaware Chris was standing behind her wondering how to console this crying woman.

"Ugh, Adrianne?" He hesitated hoping she wouldn't cut loose on him once more. She remained silent. "Adrianne, we can get that fixed, or even get you a new rental. It's not that bad."

Adrianne stood up with her back still to Chris. Slowly she turned, tears staining her face along with the black mascara that was once on her eyelashes. Chris was shocked at the state she was in over the little fender bender they had had earlier.

She opened her purse and pulled out a kleenex. While wiping the  black streaks from her face she spoke softly to the confused man standing in front of her. "It's not the accident ok. It's the car itself."

Chris looked even more confused.

"Listen it's a really long story, can you uh......would you mind giving me a lift home. I can't drive this car." Her eyes darted to the ground when his became questioning.

"Sure, just get your stuff and I'll meet you over at my car." He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Justins' number. He walked faster across the lot so Adrianne wouldn;t hear his conversation.

"Hello?"

"J, man, you were slightly wrong about Adrianne. There is something going on but I am pretty sure it has to do with her personally. Like a personal kinda thing."

"I'm lost, what happened?" Justin took at bite of his sandwich, and leaned back further in his chair.

"Well I can't tell you everything since I'm giving her a ride home."

"Chris, please tell me you didn't hit on her. Joey is gonna crap his pants." He laughed at the thought of Chris actually stealing a date from Joey.

"No, no thats not it. She was still here when you guys left. She was bent down looking at the damage to her rental car and when I walked over she was crying."

"Crying? Man, it must have been whoever called her on the phone. She sounded upset."

"Yeah, so you better call Joey and tell him to mind his own business tonight. Whatever she has in her closet should stay there until she's ready to share." Chris ran a hand through his braids and turned to see if Adrianne was headed his way yet.

"You got it. I'll call him later. Listen man I told you Lance would rub off on us all sooner or later." Chris laughed on the other end as Justin flipped his phone shut and continued chewing on his sandwich.

"Are you gonna be ok Adrianne? I can stay a while if you want." His caring about her well being shocked her.

"Uh.....well, ya know you can stay if you want. I have uh to get ready for dinner but I have video games and such."

Chris leapt at the word "video games" and helped her out of the car. "I haven't met a man yet that can say no to video games." His grin was from ear to ear causing her to smile as she unlocked the door.

Joey was getting ready himself ready when the phone rang. He opened the bathroom door and followed the steam all the way to the cordless.

"Yeah?"

"What a way to answer the phone Joey. Ya think you would be happy to hear from me."

"Shit, Kelly it's been a while. What are ya up to now?"

"Actually I'm down at Orlando International. Can you give me a ride?"

Joey almost choked on the toothbrush in his mouth. "Uh, sure I didn't know you were coming in so soon. Let me get dressed and I'll be right there." He pulled the phone away from his ear and reached for Adriannes' number. It rang five or six times before someone answered.

"Uh....hello?"

"Chris? Why are you answering the phone? Wheres Adrianne?"

"She's in the shower, I was helping myself to the wide selection of video games she has. I've never seen any woman have so many."

Joey laughed under his breath. "Listen, man Kell just called and shes in town. I have to pick her up so go ahead take Adrianne over to Hard Rock. I'll meet you guys there with Kelly."

"Aight man, no problem. See ya later." Chris put the phone back in it's cradle and wandered back to the couch in the middle of the room. The soft cushions gave way to his weight, and he leaned back to get more comfortable. His eyes roamed the beige walls in search of family pictures, friends, basically what he considered a healthy living room.

Adrianne swung her bedroom door open and stepped out while still fastening her bracelet.

Chris sat up quickly, smoothing his shirt. "Joey called, he had a close friend suprise him so he's going to meet us later with her."

He waited for her to be angry or maybe upset over the situation. "That's fine, um, but did you say us? You're going to take me?"

"Oh yeah, that's no big deal, but I was thinking I should give the others a call and make this a group dinner. I make a better date than Joey in the first place."

Adrianne laughed and leaned on the kitchen counter. "To be honest, neither one of you guys are my type."

His mouth dropped and he started to protest as she lost her composure. She laughed so hard the counter became a support.

"What is so funny Adrianne? Huh? I'm a great looking guy. I have a list of girls I could date."

The look on Chris' face just made her giggles worse. "Spare me Chris please." She stood up straight and wiped the tears from her eyes. "You really know how to brighten the day."

With his cell phone in hand he cracked a smile and stepped outside to call the other guys.

Suprisingly, Hard Rock was quiet as the host led Chris and Adrianne to the reserved table. Chris was a gentleman and took Adriannes' sweater as he pulled the chair out for her.

"Thanks, this place is nice." She looked around at her surroundings and breathed in the smell of hamburgers and fajitas.

"Well, Taco Bell would have been my choice but Joey tries to impress. The others should be here soon, JC is usually late."

Adrianne laughed and gave the waitress her drink order. She swiveled in her seat and noticed Justin sauntering over with a petite brunette on his arm.

"Adrianne, you look nice." She smiled and eyed the new girl. "Oh, this is Dee, an old friend."

Dee smiled brightly and startled Adrianne when instead of a handshake, she greeted her with a small hug.

"Nice to meet you Adrianne. It's about time these guys had a lady bigger than me to push them around." She pulled at Adriannes' hand, leading her to the ladies room. "I need a breather, how about you?"

"Sure, uh lead the way."

JC had driven over with Lance, who made sure they were on time. JC was expected to have Marie, his girlfriend of two years on his arm. Chris heard Marie befor he saw her and knew her first move would be towards the restroom.

"That girl needs a mirror implanted......."

"Be nice Chris, she's ok when you spend some time with her." Justin smiled as Lance and his date walked over. "Heather, long time no see. You gotta get out with us more often."

Heather sat and signaled the waitress over. "Well, ya know between school and actually tracking this guy down," she pinched Lance on his arm, "things get pretty busy."
 
 
 

Adrianne and Dee were giggling over the bathroom sink when Marie walked in, swinging her maroon purse from her thin arm. Dee turned and gave her a smile.

"Marie, nice to see you again. You planning on touring with JC this time?"

Marie plastered a beautiful smile on her face and ignored the question, instead she turned to Adrianne and held her manicured hand out.

"I'm Marie, JCs' girlfriend. And you might be??" She swooshed her hair back and forth in the mirror waiting for Adrianne to answer her.

"I'm Adrianne Green, I'm working for Melinda. It's nice to meet you." She shook Maries' hand suprised at how nice she was being.

"Ladies, our gentleman are waiting." She looked towards the door. "Shall we?"

Dee walked out leaving Marie and Adrianne behind. Marie stopped Adrianne before she could walk out and stood in front of her.

"I take it your here with Chris? Well, let me tell you he has had his eye on my sister and I think they may work out so don't get attached. Besides, I don't think he would date in the company."

Adrianne stood shocked as Marie smiled her famous smile and walked out towards the table. She followed slowly, wondering if Marie was serious. Chris called her name shaking her back to her task at hand. Getting to know the five guys she was going to be spending a lot of time with.