beyond the boundaries*
chapter 05
Amanda drove into the parking lot of the park that Josh took her to eariler that day. Before she stepped out of the car she looked at the clock. It read 7:45pm. She got out of the car. Walking around the park for about 5 minutes. She spotted someone sitting at the water fountain. She walked closer and noticed it was Josh. She walked over to him. She sat next to him.
There was silence for a while. She was waiting for him to talk.
"How'd you find me?" He finally asked
"You promised me eariler you'd bring me here at night. I suspected you'd be here."
"Your good."
"I guess so...poor Justin, you got him worried. He didn't know where you went."
"I didn't mean to worry him, you should call him and tell him I'm alright."
She pulled out her cell phone. "Why don't you call him and tell him yourself.: She handed him the phone.
He dialed the number and put the phone up to his ear.
"Hello?" A worried Justin answered.
"Hey J, I'm alright."
"Oh thank god! You scared me a little there C!"
"Sorry bro. Amanda found me. We'll be ther later on sometime."
"Okay. See you later."
"Yeah. Bye." He hung up the phone and gave it back to Amanda.
"Thanks." He said
"No problem." She smiled.
There was a akward silence.
"Josh..."
"Yeah."
"Are you sure your ok?...What's wrong?...You can tell me."
He had his face in his hands leaning over. He took his face from his hands, looking up at her. He has tears running down his face, red eyes.
"Amanda...I'm scared." He quietly said
"Aw! Josh it's ok. You'll be fine." She took his and and squeezed it.
"How do you know that?...Why the hell would someone what to hurt us? What did we do?" He said still crying.
Amanda didn't know what to say or do. She didn't want to make a move, making him think she wanted something. Well maybe she did...but she couldn't. Pushing the thought into the back of her mind. She confidently pulled him into her arms. He wrapped his arms around. Taking the comfort and enjoying it.
"I know for sure you'll be ok Josh. You got many people watching your back and making sure your safe, like Rick said...Now I'm not sure why someone would want to hurt you guys...your right you didn't do anything, remember this isn't your fault." She said now noticing that she had been running her hand along his back, calming him down.
"I know...Amanda." He looked up at her." I want you to know that I trust you completely."
"Thank you." She said kissing the top of his head. 'Maybe that was a bad idea', "...that makes my job a lot eaiser."
A few minutes later. Josh pulled away from her. He looked straight at her.
"I know this is probably a bad time to tell you, or to tell you at all...but, Amanda I really like you and that's why I've been wanting to spend so much time with you. Your so sweet, and nice. Your confident of yourself and I like that in a woman. You have a great personality, good sense of humor and your so beautiful." He said. He ran his hand across her cheek. Looking her in the eyes. He slowly leaned into her. Ready to go in for the kiss, when Amanda turned her head and he ended up kissing her cheek. He pulled away from her. Feeling a little ashamed of his actions.
"I-I'm sorry." He said
"It's alright Josh. It's just that...I...can't get involved with you...I could lose my job...but I will admit that I do like you too..." He smiled. "And I would have let what just happen...happen, but I can't afford to get into trouble. Can you understand that?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry again."
"It's ok don't sweat it."
"Okay." He smiled.
"Well we better get back to the hotel."
"Yeah."
They got up and drove in their cars back to the hotel.
Ever since Josh tried to kiss Amanda he felt akward around her. He really liked her and was disappointed that he couldn't be with her. He did have his own rules too. But he didn't care. He felt something special about her.
Eve and Amanda sat at the lobby having a cup of coffee and talking. Eve looked at the two people walk in the hotel out of the corner of her eye.
"Who's that with Josh?" Eve asked
Amanda looked behind her and saw Josh and a guy with him walking into the lobby.
"I don't know."
The 2 guys walked up to them.
"Hey." Josh said
"Hi." Marcie and Amanda said
"Uh...Amanda, Marcie I'd like you to meet Ryan."
"Hi." Ryan said shaking their hands.
"We've been best friends since who knows when." Josh said looking at Ryan.
"Yeah. I know all his deep dark secrets." Ryan laughed.
Josh laughed with him
"Well we got to go." Josh said
"Nice meeting you two." Ryan said
"Yeah you too." Marcie and Amanda said
Amanda looked at Eve. "He seems nice."
"Yeah kinda cute." Eve said
Amanda chuckled.
"Don't laugh."
"Sorry, my bad." Amands stood up. "Let's go."
"Ok." Eve stood up and they went back up to their room.
*NSYNC was leaving to New York City. Amanda, Marcie, and Brad had to go with. They were all packed up and ready to leave.
Amanda put her last items in the bus. They were taking all their luggage on the bus to the airport and arriving at the airport in cars. Amanda shared a car with Brad, Josh, Ryan, and Chris. Marcie went with Justin, Joey and Lance.
During the 45 minute drive to the airport. Chris kept talking, keeping everyone laughing. Amanda was a little quiet. She noticed how the 4 guys got along talking and laughing. Staring out the window, then looking back at the guys she noticed Josh looking at her. He quickly looked away when she caught him looking at her. She kept staring at him waiting for him to look back. 10 seconds later he looked back at her. She lightly laughed. He smiled sweetly at her before putting his attention back on Chris telling a joke. She smiled and looked back out he window.
Amanda walked on the plane looking for her assigned seat. She found the seat, next to the window and next to her seat was Josh. He was looking down reading a book she assumed.
"Already ready for the flight." She said
He looked up. He had glasses on. Looking very good! He smiled at the look on her face.
"Where you sitting?"
"Right there to your left."
"Ooo...lucky me."
"Lucky you." She said walking past him to get to her seat.
Everyone boarded the plane and it soon took off. Amanda took her seat belt off settling in.
"Josh, I didn't know you wore glasses." Amanda said
"Yeah. Sometimes need them to read...Or else I just wear them to look good." He laughed.
"O-K." She laughed.
"What it works, I got a pretty good look from you." He nudged her lightly. Smiling he looked over at her, she was lightly blushing.
He chuckled, "So...anyway. How have you been?"
"Good, busy and you?"
"Same here."
"When did Ryan get here?"
"Oh a few days ago. He just came by the hotel yesterday to day hi to the guys. He'll hanging out with us for a while maybe."
"Cool. He seems like a nice guy." She said silently reminding herself a mental note to get a background check on him.
"Yeah he is. We've been good friends for a long time."
"Good friends like that are always good to have around."
"Yeah."
They were quiet for at least 30 minutes. When finally Josh started up another conversation.
"Amanda...why has it been akward between us?" He asked
"I don't know...ask yourself that, your the one who's been avoiding me." She looked at him.
"I have? I'm sorry...but honestly after I tryed to-..." He trailed off.
"Kiss me." She finished his sentence.
"Yeah...I feel ashamed for what I did and I didn't know how to act around you. I feel weird."
She lightly laughed. "You don't need to act different around me. I won't bite ya too hard."
He chuckled.
"And why do you feel ashamed?"
"I don't know? I was confused."
"I knew you were going to say that...I was trying to comfort you but not make you think the wrong thing...know what I mean?" She said looking at him.
"Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I know I can't...and you can't get involved but I didn't care."
"Geez you must really like me." She looked at him
"I do."
She smiled. He smiled back.
"Oh c'mon just admit you really wanna sex me up..." He said joking.
She laughed. "Oh really?"
"Yeah you wanna just go wild and take me in that bathroom right now!"
She laughed even harder."Oh you know it baby!"
"See told ya!"
"Passengers. Please fasten your seat belts and stay seated. We will be landing shortly." The pilot said over the speakers.
Everyone fastened their seat belts and continued what they were doing.
20 minutes later they were all exiting tha plane.
Josh and Amanda were walking down the terminal. Josh put his arm loosely around Amanda's shoulder as they walked into the airport.
"So you owe me a night out." Josh said
"Me? Why?"
"Cause your so cute and I like you."
"O-K."
"Hope you like to dance." He said
"I guess so."
"Ok I'll call you so we can set our date." He said walking away.
"It's not a date Josh!" She yelled back
He turned around pointing at her and winking. He waved goodbye.