Chapter 4
"Where the fuck is Bledsoe?!" Miranda hollered at the TV, leaning forward on the couch as she munched popcorn.
The game was tied, 17-17, fourth quarter. Justin's face beamed, the Rams were catching up!
"Go Grant!"
"Oh well, that's all right, we'll win this!"
"Yeah, right! Pats suck!"
"Not nearly half as bad as your personality does, Mr. Wonderful! We're gunna fuckin' win this game!"
Justin looked at her, eyebrows raised.
"You really think those half-assed LOSERS are gunna beat St. Louis? Damn, you're dumber than I thought!"
"Least I went to college, you fuck! And I graduated a year EARLY, not LATE!"
"That only happened to me because I was on fucking tour half the friggin' time so I couldn't GO to a school, for your God damn information!"
"Yeah, right."
"Actually, yeah, right! And at least I'm smart enough not to invite a complete stranger to my house while dressed like a God damn whore! What if I was a fuckin' rapist or something? I could've killed you that night."
"I might have odd taste in clothing, but at least I don't date chicks that are fucking whores!"
"You FUCKER! I hate you!"
Justin left the room in a hurry, looking at the ocean view from the patio. The wind blew in his face, ripping over his bald head, and making his tears flow towards his ears, rather than his chin. A few minutes later, he could hear the other four men whoop and holler in victory at whatever team won, and rather wished he could be a part of *NSYNC again.
Yeah, sure, he still performed with them, appeared on TV with them, but that was an act, now. His whole life was a big act. He couldn't seclude himself on the TV. Half the fans were watching for him alone. They'd think it odd if he weren't Mr. Happy on the television, and they'd ask questions. He didn't want another person to pry into his life. That was confusing. Wishing someone would care enough to reach out to him but not wanting them to pry into his life. Was that even possible?
Justin sat down on the patio, dangling his feet over the edge, remembering how if he did that when Britney was below, she'd tickle his feet if she could reach.
"God," he looked up, "Please bring her back. I need her."
Miranda could see him out there, crying. She felt a twinge of sympathy shoot through her, and closed her eyes.
"Ugh." she muttered quietly.
"What's wrong?" JC asked, turning towards her, the scent of Doritoes on his breath.
"Your breath," Lance, who was on the other side of her, stated as he smacked JC in the back of the head. JC lounged at Lance, knocking Miranda over and making a JC, Lance, and Miranda sandwich.
"Interesting positions," Joey stated, looking at the trio but once again diverting his eyes back to the TV. JC pulled his fist back in preparation to smack Lance, who wrapped his arms tighter around Miranda and pulled her up, into his lap as a means of protection.
"AHHH!!" she shrieked. "You big baby! You can't even defend yourself from Stickman!"
"Baby?" he questioned.
"Stickman," JC asked in the same tone of voice.
"Oh you just said that to the wrong little doodle," Joey said, guzzling another Budlight.
"Don't forget Tommy Pickles." Chris laughed.
As she looked at Chris and Joey, Lance and JC shot each other secret looks. Lance's grip around Miranda's slim waste tightened, and he crossed his arms so he could spread hers without her escaping.
"Lemmee go, lemmee go, lemmee go!" she squealed as JC got off the couch, knowing nothing in her favor was about to happen. He left the room and came back about 20 seconds later, with something hidden in his hands, and she started squirming.
"No! No! What do you have in your hands, Joshua? LANCE! LET! ME! GO!"
By now he was at the couch, and whatever he was holding was dripping from his hands. He crawled onto the couch on his knees, somehow managing to keep his balance, right up to her, then quickly dumped the ice down her shirt and ran. Miranda screamed, reaching down her shirt, and scooping the ice out as she darted up the stairs after him, to see Mattie's bedroom door open.
"Oh, fuck," she muttered. She entered the room to see JC looking at a picture of Mattie on her first day at the beach, when she was three.
"You got kids?" he questioned, studying the photo closely.
"Uhh. Err. Ummm." she played nervously with her belt.
"She's beautiful," he smiled, setting the photo back down. "Like you."
"Thank you," she blushed.
Damn, he sure knew how to turn on the charm. But she still couldn't help but wonder if those were the thoughts actually going through his mind. Her eyes met his, his shining like two oceans on a bright, sunny day, hers trying to pry into his soul to see what he was really feeling, but he guessed she gave up because she quickly looked away.
Deep down inside, he was feeling a horrible guilt for lying about Justin like that. Happiness, because she was actually curious as to what he was feeling. His smile broadened. He swallowed at the lump in his throat, nervousness now clouding his eyes over. He unbuttoned the top of his shirt, and she could see a few chest hairs poking their ways out. She licked her lips as an image of him, shirtless, crossed her mind.
"Listen," he spoke, his voice smooth as silk, "You uhh. you wanna watch me and the guys shoot the video for 'Up Against The Wall'?"
She was too busy trying to get a peak at his, what was sure to be, jacked stomach, to notice the question at hand. God damn he's gorgeous, she thought. She was practically drooling, and JC snapped his fingers in front of her eyes with a chuckle. She stopped undressing him with her eyes and looked at his face.
"Huh-wha?"
"I was asking you if you'd like to go watch me and the guys shoot the new video on Saturday."
"Oh. OH! Sure!"
"Alright, so it's a date?"
"Yes sir."
~*~
"Alright, Justin, you stand right. there," the director pointed out.
"And JC, you're beside him. Lance, you're in between the two in the back, and Chris and Joey, you're last row, on either side of him. Got it?"
The five nodded and Miranda wiped the sweat off her face as she watched the cameras start rolling while they all did the new choreography for the video, "Up Against the Wall". She founded it basically impossible to tear her eyes off of Justin's ass during the whole shoot, as he worked his hardest for the camera.
So he does know the choreography, Miranda thought. He just likes to mess with me.
After a couple minutes of sitting and staring, the shoot stopped and Justin sat on the floor next to her.
"Good job," she smiled.
He rolled his eyes, thinking it a sarcastic remark.
"No, I mean really. You seriously did a nice job."
He looked at her strangely, as if she had five heads, but then smiled slightly.
"Thanks."
"Your welcome."
What the fuck? Were those butterflies in her stomach? Since there was no press in the room, Justin rolled a joint and lit it, taking a puff. He rested his head against the cool wall. Damn, he was sick of this. He was sick of feeling so empty. He was sick of crying for someone who'd never be there for him. He was sick of looking for a hand to hold onto.
Miranda saw the joint he was puffing and her eyes turned to two little black slits.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!"
"Going on a pony ride. What's it look like? I'm chilling."
"Yeah, well," she grabbed it out of his hand.
"You'd better find another way to 'chill' otherwise I won't teach your punk-ass the choreography so you'll fuck up onstage. Got me?"
"Yeah, whatever."
He reached for it but she stubbed it out on the ground.
"Fucking bitch!"
"Oh yeah, I'm just the biggest God damn bitch in the world for watching out
for you, even if I don't like you all that much."
IIf looks could kill, Miranda'd be dead and buried by now. The death look he was giving her sent chills up her spine and she sighed. Suddenly her mom's teaching came to mind, always try to befriend your enemies. Miranda looked up at the ceiling with a frustrated look on her face.
"Damn you, Mom," she muttered. She turned to Justin, to find him still glaring at her.
"Listen, Justin, I'm only trying to help you here. This shit's gunna kill you if you don't stop."
"Good, I hope it does," he mumbled.
"What'd you say?"
Just as he was about to explain, JC walked over and he decided against it.
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
Josh sat down on the other side of Miranda and draped an arm around her. He smiled at her and she smiled back, once again feeling giddy. She bit her thumbnail and blushed slightly.
"I was just telling Justin how awesome you guys did! I'm really impressed!"
JC's face turned pink and he grinned wide. "Thank you."
And then, oh God. He kissed her cheek. He kissed her cheek! Her eyes widened and then he got up.
"C'mon, Just," he spoke. "We gotta go get our makeup fixed and shit."
Justin nodded and heaved himself up, and Miranda couldn't help but watch as his muscles flexed when he stretched. The two left the room and she went to get herself another water, having finished her first, when she felt something sharp poke her inside her pocket. She reached inside to find a folded up sheet of paper, and looked at it.
Me and the guys are going clubbing tonight. Wanna come? Call me.
JC
Miranda giggled as she stood up, and darted towards her cooler.