Chapter 2
Many people had pulled over on the side of the road to see what the commotion around the huge bus was about. Though nobody could get through the line of policemen blocking the bus, many could see the forlorn looks of four *N SYNC members. They could also see the two bodies that were covered in white sheets,being loaded into the ambulance. "Just back up people, there's nothing to see here," one of the guards stated. The crowd that couldn't see anything began to disappear, but those who could see all that was going on stayed to find out what had happened, and where the fifth *N SYNC-er was. Not that they didn't know, but nobody found it easy to believe. Celebrities didn't die at that age� not at that point in their careers. "I said there's nothing to see here� now scram. This is not a public matter. Read about it in the news," the guard continued. The people left as the ambulance sped away. Then four boys all sighed and entered their tour bus. *** "Joey! You're not coming in at the right time!" Justin shouted. It was the next night, and the guys were on the bottom level, working on their performance. "I am too! Four beats after we start snapping! Right after� Lance," Joey countered. "Guys! Chill out! We hafta work through this! We've got the next performance tomorrow night, remember!? We just have to do without Lance!" Chris stated "But he's the one who starts the oooh- thing. Then Joey comes in� then I do� but it doesn't sound right! JC! JC, stop reading that blasted paper!" Justin shouted. "Have you guys read this? It's on the cover� listen-" JC started. "We don't care about the article! We know it's in the news!" Justin cried, throwing his arms up and storming out of the room. "Justin, come back here! We can't practice without you!" Chris shouted to the door. "Fine with me! I'm going to bed!" they heard through the door. "Chris, give it up, man. He's too ticked to do anything right now. Just leave him alone," JC suggested, standing up and stretching. Then he left the room. "JC's right, you know. Why don't you try again tomorrow," Joey said, following JC. *** Sammie sat on her bed, the shock finally leaving her body. Lance Bass was dead. Murdered. And now the members of *N SYNC were falling apart. She knew, she had heard the arguing that was going on downstairs. And she had heard Justin come up and slam his door shut. She had also heard JC come up the stairs. He had not stormed up, but he hadn't exactly tip-toed, either. Right after that, Joey came up, trying to work out how to do both his and Lance's part in the song they had been trying to sing. Finally Chris had come up; he had scared the crap out of Sammie when the floor creaked by her door. She had opened it and found him fumbling with the lock on his door. He looked tired and forlorn, like every other person on the bus. "What in the world has happened?" she asked nobody in particular, half expecting an answer. However, that answer that she had been hoping for never came, and she wound up crying herself to sleep. *** There was a funeral held the day of the concert for Lance. He was buried, and all the while Sammie was bawling and tears silently fell from the remaining four *N SYNC-ers. His whole family had come and they, too, were all bawling hysterically. That afternoon, the four boys walked down to the lunch area only to find that it was full of luggage. Looking around in a quite confused manner, the guys never noticed Sammie walk in. Her eyes were still red, but very well hidden under make-up. "Hi guys!" she shouted with false enthusiasm, causing all of them to jump. "Sammie, what's with all this stuff?" Joey asked, waving a hand over the luggage. "It's my stuff. I'm getting out of here. Going to live with my mom," she replied. "Your mom? Sammie, you can't do that! She lives in Dublin! We'll never see you again!" JC declared. Sammie, hung her head in an attempt to hide the tears that stung her eyes. "I have to. It hurts too much to stay," she whispered, grabbing one of the smaller bags and walking over to the door. "Bye guys, and good luck with the group. I'll read about you," she whispered again and left the bus, leaving four bewildered and hurt faces. Soon a taxi driver came in and, while gaping at the guys, picked up the rest of the baggage and left. Sammie climbed into the small cab that was to take her to the airport. It was tiny compared to the limos that Lance and his friends always got. But she had to forget about them. Well, as much as she could. Surely they would forget about her. In her state of thought, Sammie didn't realize she had reached the airport. When she did, she hurriedly got out of the car and got all of her stuff together. When she had checked it all in and gotten her first class ticket, she walked through the airport to the gate. Looking around, she noticed a magazine post in a far corner that seemed to be very busy. She walked over to find the latest copy of Teen Magazine, out early, featuring the murder. Now she realized that half the girls were crying. Wait, scratch that. Tears were flowing like rivers down their faces. Sammie purchased one of the few copies of the magazine that were left and walked over to her gate. She began reading the article. ***And today in the news, the shocking tradgedy of young Lance Bass' death. A member of the pop band NSYNC, he was stabbed on Monday by his girlfriends ex-boyfriend. Our hearts our with the family and fans of the beloved Lance Bass in their time of greiving.......***
