Chris drummed his fingers on the table impatiently, waiting for his mother to pick up the phone. He cradled the phone under his chin as he chewed the nails on his other hand.

"Hello?" His mom answered cheerfully as always.

"Mom, hi. How are things?" Chris tried to change his mind about getting her advice on Adrianne. Somehow he knew his mother would see through his attempts.

"Well, hun, when you tell me why you really called I'll answer your question. That's a fair trade right?" Bev smiled on her end of the line, knowing it was hard to get Chris to the point.

"Actually mom there is this new girl over at the office, she is working for Melinda. I know she is really troubled over something but I can't seem to prove myself enough. She isn't willing to talk to anyone about it."

"Sweetie sometimes a woman has a good reason to keep things to herself. At least you've made yourself accesible to her. Thats the important part." She sighed and switched ears, trying to wash some dished while Chris talked.

"You're right, I knew you could put some manly thoughts in my head. I swear if the other guys had you as a mom I would be able to stand them."

Bev laughed a hearty laugh and let the water from the sink. "You know better, the other moms had a much easier time getting through those thick skulls. Besides, I know what I'm doing, you still call me for advice. How many near twenty-eight year olds do you know that do that?"

"I just let you think that, I've been making up excuses to call you for years. Thanks anyway mom."

"Anytime, just think of something a little better next time. I can't pretend to help you out with girls forever ya know." She expressed her love and placed the phone back in it's holder.

He felt a lot better after talking to his mom, but she made it seem like he was interested in a relationship. That was the last thing on his mind in Adriannes' case, and he was sure she felt the same way about himself.

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Sunlight invaded Adriannes' sleep before her alarm had the chance. She rolled over to check the time and frowned when she saw it was only five am. Snuggles, who she was very jealous of, was curled up at the end of the bed. His light breathing let her know the sun was no problem for his cat nap.

"Must be nice." she murmured as she stumbled to the bathroom. It was no use to try to get some more sleep in, she was already awake and unhappy about it. Making a mental note to invest in some mini blinds, she grabbed her toothbrush and began the usual morning routine.

Melinda had given her the day off to prepare for the tour. There was bags to be packed, paperwork to organize.................

The shrill ringing of her house phone echoed in the small apartment. With toothbrush in hand she shuffled into the living room, preparing to give whoever was calling that early an earful. Nothing had prepared her for it to be Chris.

"Sorry to call so early Adrianne. I uh...I just knew you had the day off and wanted to tell you I did too."

"Thats great news Chris but I seriously doubt it was worth calling me for. I am barely awake and I warn you I can be rude with a lack of sleep. So if thats all you needed to say I have things to do."

"No, Adrianne, wait. I'm sorry I just didn't know what else to say to you. I do have a valid reason for calling though." He leg bounced up and down repeatedly as he talked to her.

She sighed and flopped down on the couch. What can it hurt? She thought to herself. Besides she was already waking up. "All right, I'm all ears, Use your time wisely."

His mothers' words still rang so true in his mind as he tried to word his next sentence correctly. "I've got some free time, ok a free day today and I am gonna be home most of the day, so if you need anything, then, well...."

"Chris!" She snapped him back to reality. "You're rambling, and I have some errands to run so I doubt I'm going to need the supervision. But thanks for the offer."

"Ok then. I'll talk to you tomorrow then. Joey wanted me to help wash his car, so...."

Adrianne suddenly remembered her abandoned rental car that had caused all this attention from Chris. Great, how am I supposed to run errands without a car? "Wait!, ok Chris I give up, but you have to drive ok? I mean you can't complain, or I'm not ever going anywhere with you again."

Laughing he sat back in the chair. "That will be really hard considering you are going to be a bus away for three months."

"You're pushing it man."

"Ok, ok I agree to your terms Miss Adrianne. I'll be over in an hour or so. Go put your face on or something." Chris smiled as he hung the phone up. She knew he was serious about getting to know her, and thats exactly what he wanted.

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Hours and bags later Chris knew The Florida Mall was the wrong place to take Adrianne. She shopped around for office supplies, house decor, and other odd things. Once thing she didn't buy that puzzled him was clothing. She was an attractive girl, but she didn't seem to notice. Her red hair was always straight, or twirled up around two sticks. Her cheeks were a bit pink due to the sun, but there was no make-up. Compared to JCs' girlfriend she was plain. But then again Marie was into fine clothes and make-up.

He helped her lug the bags into the apartment, before colapsing on her couch. Snuggles invaded his space, and pounced on his lap. Chris laughed and scratched the back of the nosy cats' ears.

"Your cat is very friendly." He called into the other room.

"I'm sorry I didn't hear you." Adrianne strolled out into the living room catching her cat in Chris' lap. "Oh, I'm sorry. Snuggles you know better. Get. Get." She swatted at his rear to move him.

"He was ok, I just don't usually warm up that fast on the first date."

Adrianne rolled her eyes and sat down on the sofa next to Chris. "Thanks for going along. I really appreciate it." He was looking right at her and into her eyes. It was like he was searching for something. Something Adrianne had been keeping to herself for a while. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, she turned her head and grabbed the remote. "So, anything you wanna watch, since you don't seem to be leaving."

"I'm enjoying your sofa, thats all. Um, I was thinking we could talk. You did say the other night that we could talk some other time." He cursed himself mentally. He didn't want to seem prying.

She sighed softly and turned the tv off. There was an uneasy silence as she ran her hand through her hair nervously. The subject hadn't come up since her last week in Penn state. Talking to her mother about it was hard enough, so the thought of telling Chris was untterly terrifying.

"I............"

The look in his eyes startled her. He was waiting, hoping for anything to help unravel this womans' mystery. "I'm here to listen, it's all right." He blew a breath out slowly.

"This is really hard for me Chris I......." The shrill ringing of his cell phone cut her confession short.

"Shit.......I've got to answer it, but I'll be right back." He made his way to the kitchen with the phone to his ear.

What am I doing?? Get a hold of yourself Addy. Her mind raced, knowing she almost told her whole life story to this guy she had met only a week ago. She hadn't even liked him the first time she saw him. Something about his eyes, the way his heart shone right through his eyes made her want to spill her guts. She wanted to let it all out and cry on his shoulder.

"Adrianne? Look I've got something to take care of. JC needs these lyrics he left in my car, so uh...."

"You've got to go?"

He nodded.

"I'm really tired anyway. Besides I need to catch up on LOST SLEEP!" Her voice rose as she finished the sentence causing him to smile. He made his way to the door, then he was gone. Adrianne fell against the cool metal door. Her walls were crumbling, and she didn't know how to stop them.

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Chris drove to Maries' as he had many times before. JC was always there, like he was afraid to leave the woman alone for two minutes. If Chris had to give his opinion, it was because he never knew what she was going to say next.

The front porch light flipped on when he pulled into the paved driveway. He grabbed the sheets of music and lyrics from the front seat and made his way up to the door. Marie yanked the door open before he could even knock.

"Well, well Chris how are you hun?" Marie asked as she stepped aside and let him enter.

"I'm good. JC told me to drop these off here. So, uh point me in the right direction so I can give them to him." The less time he spent talking to Marie the better. She hadn't always been a bitch. When JC had first met her she was the sweetest girl. Something had changed in the two years they had been together. No one could trust her mouth anywhere anymore.

"JC just slipped down to the store and he'll be back soon. I'll take them for you." She held her jeweled hand out.

"Thanks, well I'm headed home so." He turned to leave, but Marie stopped him.

"I want to talk to you about something first." Her wicked smile gave him the chills. "You think you know Adrianne so well? I don't think so." Her thin finger waved back and forth as she left the room. When she came back she had a sheet of paper in her hand. She explained as Chris looked over the sheet. "You see Adrianne is a murderer. Ok, so not to the law but to her friends back in Pennsylvania."

Chris' eyes were like saucers. "I didn't know she was from Pennsylvania."

"Oh but she is and she isn't wanted there. Because of her a young girl died six years ago and another is paralyzed. What do you think of that?" Marie sat and crossed her tan legs. "Just thought you might wanna know what kind of person your little girlfriend is."

"She's not my girlfriend..." Chris said, halfway shocked. He turned and left, fumbling for his keys. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this." He said to no one in particular.

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Everyone had the day off thanks to Justins' mom. She didn't think they needed to rehearse so close to the tour since they had rehearsed for two months straight. All the guys planned to attend a cook out Lynn had arranged at her home. Adrianne would have been happy to stay at home and hide in her comfy bed, but Melinda had called and insisted she meet the families.

Chris was in a pissy mood when he stepped into Lynn's backyard. His emotions were on overdrive, wondering how Adrianne could have hidden something so huge. He removed his shirt and took a seat by the pool. The mid afternoon sun was hot, so he puled the shades down onto his eyes.

Ten minutes later Adrianne walked through the large wooden gate, carrying some veggies and dip. She smiled as she passed the familiar faces. After setting the tray down Melinda took her around introducing her to all the people. Chris caught sight of her joking quietly with Dee and Heather over near the patio. Now was his chance.

As he made his way over he pulled the clipping from his bathing suit pocket. Adrianne hadn't noticed him but the other girls had.

"Chris, hey!" Adrianne said smiling through her sunblocked nose. Her smile quickly faded, when one never appeared on his face.

"What the hell is this shit?" He asked shoving the paper in her face. She was startled, as she tried to catch the paper.

"Excuse me? I......." Her eyes skimmed the sheet, that she was now the same color as. "Where did you get this?"

He just stared, waiting for an explanation.

"I said WHERE DID YOU GET THIS!" Her voice carried through the backyard. She felt her body start to shake and she knew she had to get out of there.

"Tell me Adrianne! Why didn't you say something?" He demanded.

Marie smiled from her tanning spot near the pool.

"You........I can't believe you!" She left a trail of tears, all the way out the gate.