"So, Adrianne. What did you do before you moved to Orlando? You did just move right?" Marie glared at her from the other end of the table.

Kelly and Joey had arrived minutes after the drinks were served and introductions were made. Adrianne automatically liked Kelly. She was hardly as forward as Marie.

"Do we have to pry it out of you girl? We want to know some about you."

JC placed his hand on Maries' and squeezed. "Give her a chance Marie she's only been here one night. I'm sure this lifestyle is overwhelming for her." Marie gave him a look and turned her attention back to Adrianne.

She could feel all the eyes on her, burning into her, waiting for an answer. "Well, I uh didn't do much after high school. I had a part time job at the Wal-Mart."

"Wal-Mart huh? I figured you a high class kinda gal. You didn't apply to college or anything, because I would have sworn Johnny would have required that."

The others sat uncomfortably in their seats, watching the interrogation go on. They all knew how Marie was, and they knew JC would keep his two cents out of it as usual.

Adrianne felt sick to her stomach as thoughts of her last year in high school rushed through her mind.

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Her headache grew worse with the ringing of the fourth period bell. Grabbing her books she made her way down the crowded hall to the tan lockers that seniors were assigned. The kids still stared at her, they still whispered when she walked past trying to hide the pain in her eyes.

A sharp push from behind sent Adrianne flying forward, her books scattered all along the hallway floor. Laughter erupted, causing Adrianne to cry as she tried to gather what books she could find.

Hearing the commotion, a teacher had come to her rescue, and escorted her to the nearest bathroom. Blood had started to trickle down her pale face.

"Adrianne, honey are you ok?" The teacher wiped the stream of blood from her forehead. "Would you like me to call your mother dear?"

"No, I'm fine I'll just walk home." The last thing Adrianne wanted was her mother.

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"Um, I'd rather not talk about it Marie. Some other time ok?" She glanced around the table catching looks of what she thought were pity.

"Whats the matter Adrianne? Are you scared to tell your story? I talked to Johnny before you came and he told me all about you, so I think yours is a story Chris might want to hear. Since you two are on a date. Isn't that what you talk about on your first date?"

"Marie! Cut that shit out. Have some compassion for gods' sake!" Chris turned to ask Adrianne if she was ok, but she was already headed towards the nearest exit.

Rage was all aglow in Chris' eyes when he turned back to the table. His gaze locked on Marie as she sat innocently sipping her mudslide. "You, you.......I have never seen anyone be so ruse and get away with it. So don't sit there and think I'm not going to say anything. First of all this was a way for all of us to get to know each other, not any kind of date. And where did you get the nerve to check up on Adrianne before you even met her? How is that any of your damned business Marie?"

JC stood to intervine. "JC, man, you are like a brother to me but I think you and your woman need to have a serious heart to heart about other people and privacy."

Marie was shocked and stood to join JC. She looked to him for support but he turned his head and cleared his throat. "Marie, get your things we're going."

"C, you can;t let him...."

"I said get your things and lets go." JC held his arm, pointing towards the door.

Chris acknowledged JCs' apologetic look as he led his girlfriend out. He turned in the opposite direction to find Adrianne, all the way hoping Marie hadn't done to much damage.

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The night air was chilly and Adrianne mentally cursed herself for leaving her sweater inside. There was no way she was going back in to face that bitch. She had decided Marie was a bitch and she didn't deserve the time or the energy. At least she had her purse, with her cigarettes and lighter. She lit a cigarette, and hugged her knees closer to keep the chill of the night out.

"Thats a bad habit, ya know." Chris had been watching her for a minute or so. "I brought your sweater. You look cold."

She took the sweater and threw the rest of her cigarette out. "I'm fine Chris, you can go back in and eat your dinner. I'm just still adjusting to the area thats all. It is hard to be in a new place with no one to talk to."

Chris pulled the chair next to her out and flipped it backwards. He sat and turned his body towards her. "I know we uh didn't exactly start off right but You were wrong about having no one. I might never act serious, but I am more than willing to lend you an ear." He felt unsure about what he had just said, and most of all why he said it. Something about this girl made him want to spill his guts to her.

He caught her off guard, for the second time that night. For someone who seemed very irritated the first time they had met, Chris was sure proving all her gut instincts wrong. "That's very sweet of you Chris, thank you for the offer."

"So, shoot. Tell me what that was all about because I am going to need a very good reason for telling JC and his girlfriend off."

She looked up towards the stars as tears welled up in her eyes once again. Chris scooted the chair closer and put his arm around her shoulders.

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"Adrianne Michelle Green, get your body down these steps immediately!" Jack Green had just gotten the phone call from the high school. They were worried over Adrianne since she hadn't been in school for a week. Of course not wanting to ruin his daughters record or his own reputation he had lied and said she was ill.

"Girl if you don't get down these steps I'm going to come up there after you."

Adrianne was scared to death of her father. She walked down the stairs, dressed for dinner. "What is it daddy? I was just getting ready to set the table."

"Don't daddy me girl! I know you've been hooking school. Get on down here."

She made her way down the remaining steps, dreading what was going to happen. Her father had the worst temper and had always taken it outher mother and herself. He grabbed her arm and yanked her off the landing. She landed face first on the marble entry way.

"Daddy please! You don't understand, daddy!" She tried to sit up, but he had already caught her by her hair. His hand caught her face again and again.

"Why do you give me reasons to do this girl? Can't you behave like your mother?"

He let go of her limp arm and she fell to the floor once more. Her mother came out of the shadows to help her up.

"Why do you make him do it Adrianne, why??" Her mother sobbed along with her.

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"Listen I won't say anything to the guys if thats what you're worried about. You can tell me."

Adrianne wiped her eyes and turned to face Chris. "I'm ok , it'll be ok. Plus this isn't the time or the place to talk about my troubles. I think we've ruined everyones dinner."

Chris smiled. "Unless you spit in everyones plate on the way out I hardly think you've ruined anything."

Adrianne laughed out loud startling herself.

"Well, you do know how to laugh how about that. By the way since we're out here confessing and all that, I have something to tell you. I'm uh....I'm the S in Nsync, not the C."

She rolled her eyes and tugged one of his braids. "Now we can all dine in peace knowing you admitted to something so life altering."

He grinned and held out his elbow for her. "Now thats the spirit. It makes me happy to know you can insult me without hesitation." They walked arm in arm back into the restaurant, Chris swinging Adriannes' purse the whole way.

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JC sped down Apopka-Vineland completely ignoring the speed limit. His temper was hardly flared by Marie, but this time he had had it. She was completely rude to Adrianne. She leaned over and tried to nibble on JCs' ear, but he leaned away.

"JC, baby come on. She had it coming. She can't just waltz in and think Chris is hers."

"Marie get a grip. She was there with Chris because Joey had to pick up Kelly. He was supposed to take her out."

"Well still, Joey has Kelly, he doesn't need Adrianne. She's a nut C, I swear it. Johnny felt sorry for her and thats why he gave her the damn job." Marie lit a cigarette and turned away from JC.

"Marie, you need to mind your own damned business. This has become a habit, I am sick and tired of you ruining our nights out."

She turned the radio up and muttered. "Thats because we can't have sex in public."

"What? I hope you didn;'t say what I think you said." He turned the SUV into Maries' driveway and shut it off. She opened the door and hopped out not even waiting for him.

"I guess you'll be going to your own place then. Right? I mean since I ruined the whole damn night." She worked up some quick tears, and stamped her foot. "Dammit JC, you always make me feel like shit, every time."

He felt guilty and walked up the front walk to join her on the steps. "Marie, baby, Im sorry I didn't mean to make you feel that way. Just promise me you'll be nice to Adrianne."

Marie pouted as she unlocked the front door. "I can do that. I promise."

JC leaned over and lifted her into his arms. He kissed her full on the lips as he entered the house and kicked the front door shut.

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No one spoke of the episode the rest of the night. Chris felt a little better knowing Adrianne was beginning to open up to them all a little bit. Mostly he was glad he could be a friend to her. She seemed more troubled than she let on and he was going to be there for her. The remaining guys refused to let the ladies pay, so Heather and Adrianne snuck out front to grab a cigarette, while Dee and Kelly looked on.

"It was really nice meetin you Adrianne. I had a blast tonight." Dee smiled at her.

"Yeah, you are more than welcome to call me, remind me to write down my number for you." Heather dug in her purse for a pen and paper. "Matter of fact let me get you all of our numbers and we can have a ladies night out. Those guys get to stuffy sometimes."

Kelly and Dee laughed.

"Amen sister. Those guys can get old really fast. You'll find that out on the road with them Adrianne."

"I can't thank you all enough girls. I didn't have many.......uh....close girl friends back in Pennsylvania. I really appreciate this."

Dee put her sweatshirt on, trying not to get make-up on it. "Heather and I have known each other since high school, we were on the dance team together......"

Dee and Heather carried on, but Adrianne didn't hear them. The words high school and friends had triggered an unwanted memory.

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"I'm not spoiled, Charly. I didn't even ask for a new car. Mom and dad suprised me just twenty minutes ago." Adrianne started the car and backed carefully out of her parking space. They drove all over town and growing bored fast, Adrianne decided to take the girls back to Charly's car at the school.

The rain came harder and was making it hard for Adrianne to see the road ahead of her. She rounded the curve leading to the school, but noticed a yellow light coming towards her. "What's that?" Adrianne asked no one in particular.

Leyla screamed and looked over at Adrianne before the truck hit them. It was a semi, and the other headlight had been blocked by the curve in the road. Silence was all their was.

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"Adrianne? Hello are you in there?" Dee waved her hand in front of Adriannes' face. The blood had rushed away from it, causing her to go pale.

She snapped out of her thoughts and turned to Dee. "I'm........sorry. Look I've got an early morning. Tell Chris I caught the bus and I'll see all of them in the morning." She walked away quickly so no one could stop her. Dee stood wondering what she had said to make Adrianne so uneasy.

Chris and the other guys came out still laughing over Justins' lack of manners in public.

"Where is Adrianne? You guys didn't scare her off did you."

"Very funny Chris and no she got all weird on us and left. She said she would catch the bus and see you all tomorrow."

Chris shrugged, knowing she had seemed ok. He made a silent vow to find out what she was made of, and why she was so secretive about her life.