| Chapter 2 The music ended and Miranda looked at Johnny to see for his reaction. "You're very good, Miranda," he spoke. "You need work, though." Miranda frowned. She had to get this job. She needed it. she couldn't let herself and her child live in the projects. "But it's nothing you can't work on while on tour." She beamed and the security guards clapped for her. Suddenly doors in the back of the studio opened and she could hear five pairs of feet walk in. She looked over at the door and was surprised to see her new friend, JC, walk in. "Hey!" she smiled. "I didn't know you were in a band!" "Yeah, well," he said looking around. "*laughing* We kind of don't like to mention it to people." "Haha." "So I'm guessing you're the new choreographer?" "Yeah," her eyes traveled to Justin, who was giving her evil looks. Girls shouldn't be choreographers, he thought. They should be the dancers! "Unfortunately," she added. JC followed her gaze and whispered into her ear. "Don't mind him, he's just an asshole. Lonnie won't let him touch you." "Hey welcome to the tour," Lance said as he walked up. He held out his hand, waiting for a shake. "Hi, I'm Miranda," she shook it. Chris came up to greet her, then Joey. "Why don't you come say hello to the lovely lady?" Joey looked over at Justin. Justin walked over, shook her hand, squeezing it enough to hurt. "Hi," she smiled up at him. He's such a jerk, she thought. That hurt. "Yeah, whatever." She took her hand back as if he'd bitten her and rubbed it. "What the Hell is your problem, man? You almost broke my fucking hand!" "I don't have any problems. I'm Justin Timberlake. Life's perfect." Just then Johnny clapped his hands, gaining their attention. "Ms. Burns?" he called. "Would you please demonstrate for the boys?" Miranda nodded and stood in the center of the room. God, she was still nervous. The music started again and she began to show her moves. "Wow, she's really good," JC whispered into Lance's ear. "Yeah, this tour's gunna be awesome," Chris commented, overhearing JC. Joey was watching intently, trying to learn a little, and Justin rolled his eyes. "I think Wade's better," he spoke. "She should be like a backup or something." "How in the Hell can you not think she's great?" JC whispered rather loudly and looked at him. "She's a girl, girls are backup dancers." JC rolled his eyes as the music ended and gave Miranda a thumbs up sign. "You're awesome, man!" "Thanks," she blushed, walking over to him. "You're quite welcome." "Hey Johnny," Miranda turned away from JC and looked at the manager. "When does touring start?" "Next month so you guys had better start practicing," was the response. Miranda looked at her watch suddenly. "Oh shit I gotta get home! Y'all meet me here tomorrow at 2 if you're not busy, okay?" She received a few 'okay's' as responses and grabbed her bag. She ran out the door, waving to the guys, and jogged down the hallway. On the walls were some posters of BSB, Aaron Carter, Britney Spears. She stopped when she came to an old picture of *NSYNC. It must've been back a year or two because it was rather wrinkled, but that's not what made her stop. It was the fact that Justin had curls in the picture. He looked so familiar. She shrugged it off and continued on her way. ~*~ "Katie I'm home!" The young brunette with curly hair looked up from her BB magazine and then stood up. "Okay!" she laughed. "Mattie's upstairs taking a nap. Ate a handful of cheerios, some of my spaghetti for lunch, and some gummi bears for being so good." Miranda smiled at her. "Where'd you go today, though? It's Saturday. You work Monday through Thursday." "I went to Jive records." Miranda teased. "Why?" "My dance instructor told me to. And guess what?" "What?" "I get to dance for *NSYNC!" "WHAT?!" the eighteen year old squealed. She jumped right up from the couch and bounced over to Miranda. "Shhh not so loud," Miranda hushed. "I'm *NSYNC's choreographer!" "Oh my God! You are so lucky! Justin's so hot!" She smirked. "He's also an asshole. He ran into me and yelled at me for bumping into him. But JC was nice. He's pretty cute too." "You touched Justin Timberlake!! Oh my God!" She shook her head, laughing, then looked at the stairs in time to hear Mattie's mad screaming. Miranda sighed and walked up the stairs, into the kid's room. She went over to the bed and sat down. "Hey, Matt," she smiled. "Did you miss Mommy?" The four-year-old nodded, thumb in mouth. "What'd you do today?" "Me and Tay-tee went to the pawk," the little girl spoke. "And we wode hew bike! It was fun, Mommy! I got to wide a big giwl's bike wif da wheels! Shem said I was a good wid-ah," she giggled, "and den we tame home and watched Lil Mermaid. Den she made me take a nap." "Sounds like you had fun!" "Uh-huh! What'd you do today, Mommy?" "I got a job." "Whassat?" "It's something Mommies need to do to get money for food and stuff." "Ohh! Tan I get one?" Miranda smirked, Mattie was just too cute sometimes, as she nodded her head. She knew it was wrong to lie but sometimes she just needed to see that beautiful smile that seemed to light up the world, which seemed rather dim as she looked at the small window to her daughter's room. She made a mental note to herself to get a new pane, somehow, since the old one was rottingand falling off. She sighed. This small house was getting too expensive. Miranda prayed her new job would pay her enough so she could pay off all the bills without needing a loan from someone. She didn't like having to live off someone else. She helped Mattie off the bed, watching as her beautiful daughter scampered out of the room, along with her pride. She sighed again and prayed that her new job would give her enough money for food, too. ~*~ Justin stood in shock as the dial tone rang throughout his head; starting at his ear, seeping into his brain which probably resembled a chunk of swish cheese due to his "thing" for weed (which he stubbornly refused to admit was a problem), taking over his every thought, and striking a cord that was attached to his broken, hardened heart. A bruised cord that had been struck too many times. He looked at the phone in disbelief, then somehow managed to hit the 'Off' button even though he had no feeling in his fingers. She'd call back, right? She'd say yes, wouldn't she? Yes. She would. She loved him. She'd told him long ago that he'd be the only one for her. But, oh God, that changed. She'd really moved on, hadn't she? The phone wasn't ringing. He set it back on the cradle, then paced the small hotel room nervously, running a hand over his bald head and scratching his neck. "Wait," he spoke to himself as tears stung his cold blue eyes, "just wait. She'll call. Ring, phone, ring! Dammit!" When the phone didn't ring, a small sob escaped his full lips, and he slid down into the corner as more over took his body. He began to tremble, not believing how weak he really was for allowing his heart to control him like this. Britney was all he thought about, all day. And when he wasn't thinking about her, he was thinking about his drugs. His most prized possession. The reason why he was still alive. Hah, how's that grab you, Brit?, he thought. You've been replaced by a plant. You hear me?! A FREAKING PLANT! But then again, she was the reason he smoked the damn joints. Sort of. He wanted to forget. To forget her smile, and the sound of her laugh, musically filling the air. To forget that loving twinkle in her eyes that she once shown for him, when the world was right. But most importantly, to forget that feeling of rightness whenever she was in his arms... that was what stung him most. He'd never be able to feel that again... or would he? He knew, somewhere, deep down inside, that he wouldn't. |