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| Chapter 2 |
| 2 weeks later... Savannah dragged her carry-on bag through the airport, fighting through the mess of people. The heat was rediculous- she�d almost forgotten what it was like since she�d gone and moved to California. Standing on her toes, Savannah squinted her eyes over the tops of heads and scanned the crowd for a familiar face. An arm waving in the distance caught her eye and Savannah squeezed her way to that area. "Savannah Rae!!!!" was all she heard before being engulfed in a hug suddenly. Savannah had to laugh at her cousin for being so excited. "Melinda, dear it�s just me, your cousin?" Melinda rolled her eyes and grabbed the carry-on from her. "Oh be quiet! You know you've missed me too!" Savannah smiled in reply, and led them to the luggage claim. "So how was your flight?" Melinda made conversation. Savannah gave her a glare in warning. Flying was not one of her most favorite past times. Melinda just shrugged and repressed a giggle. "Tou-chy, didn�t think a� proper lady� could get so upset!" Melinda backed away while laughing to avoid Savannah�s �backlash�. Savannah gasped at her cousin�s teasings and pushed at her shoulder while pretending to be so shocked. The two girls smiled and giggled together like old times. Melinda dragged one of her two suitcases with both arms, using all of her strength. "what- did you put in this?" she heaved through deep breaths. Savannah's eyes twinkled. "Why a� proper lady� needs all of her clothing," she replied nonchalantly. "I had to ask," Melinda sighed. After packing all of Savannah's luggage in Melinda's SUV, they hopped in, as Melinda drove them to the compound. Gossiping like excited teenagers, the two cousins caught up with each other's lives, and all the happenings. "Just leave all your stuff in here, we'll only be here for a few minutes," Melinda motioned for her to join her. Savannah scoped her surroundings out in awe. The building could take up almost two blocks atleast. She could see why they called it the compound now. "This is so marvelous! It�s just like being back at Ruby Lotus!" "Almost," Melinda replied with a grin. As they walked through the number of twisting hallways, the bass of a song could be heard getting louder the farther in the building they went. Pictures of all sorts of musician's lined the walls, along with gold and platinum albums of musical artists. Melinda stopped in front of a door that no doubt led to the source of the mysterious music. "Before we go in.... please remember, not all guys.... not all guys are.....umm..." Melinda bit her tongue to keep from laughing at how serious she had to be. "Not all guys are what?" she questioned Melinda's vagueness. Melinda chewed on her lip as she whispered it, "not all guys are.... gentlemen." Savannah's face twisted in amusement and she playfully slapped at Melinda�s arm. "I know that! I haven�t been sheltered all my life you know!� Savannah just laughed at her cousin�s over-protectiveness, and pushed open the door in front of them. Melinda prayed the boys inside would mind their manners. Savannah had grown up in a world of dreams and enchantment. Ruby Lotus, her family�s plantation home, sheltered her from everything bad. It was like a sanctuary for all who lived in it or around it. Melinda remembers her summer visits there as the best days of her lives. Her Uncle and Aunt (Savannah�s parents), were firm believers in the Old South, and raised their daughters in such a way. Spoiled and rich indeed Savannah was (or is), but her parents always made sure she was thankful for all she had in the world. Shaking her head of those thoughts, she stepped inside the dance studio. Savannah looked around the room at the 6 sweaty guys dancing to a song blaring from the speakers of a cd player. She knew the song from a cd she bought of the group's shortly after learning she'd be their photographer. One of the men stopped his dancing to analyze the rest, commenting over the music to them of their improvement. After catching the girls' eyes from across the room, he stopped the music and threw a towel at one of them. "Don't faint on us Fatone, we still have an hour left," he laughed as the man pretended to collapse on the floor in exhaustion. They all walked over to a bucket of bottled water and drank what they could down quickly. Melinda cleared her throat loudly from behind them. "CHICKEN!!" one of them shouted and wiped his sweaty forehead all over Melinda. "Ugh, get off of me Timberlake," she repressed the urge to wipe his sweat back onto him. JC, being in a playful mood, grinned evilly when he heard her voice and turned around, aiming a stream of water from between his teeth at her. Only... Savannah was standing in the line of fire. Her jaw dropped in shock at the feel of the cold substance hitting her shoulder. JC, in embarrassment, rushed over to her and apologized profusely trying to wipe the water off of her shoulder. Savannah coiled at his touch and blushed in embarrassment and anger as well. "Smoooth Jace, that'll catch a lady's attention," Justin laughed at his friend. Savannah grabbed for the towel out of JC�s hands and began to roughly clear the water from her dress. JC, caught a glare from Savannah, and returned to his water across the room, "It was an accident," he mumbled. "I apologize for my friends inappropriate behavior, I'm Justin, that's Lance, Chris, Joey, and the human water fountain over there is JC.. and you are..?" Savannah smiled at the man's kindness. "My name is Savannah Rae Bell, your photographer for the tour. I�m most certainly pleased to meet you sir." Justin grinned at her accent and bowed in return to her introduction. �If my ears aren�t mistaking me my dear Savannah, I�d say you are most certainly from the South.� �Why how ever did you guess?� she winked playfully at him and turned to the others in the group. Joey didn�t take his time rushing to her hand and kissing it slowly, then of course wiggling his eyebrows at her. Melinda rolled her eyes and pushed Joey away. �Okay boys, there will be plenty of time to sweep Savannah off her feet in the future, for now, get back to work!� Melinda grabbed Joey by the shoulders and turned him toward Wade and pushed him as he groaned in displeasure. While pointing in the direction Joey headed off too, Melinda said to Savannah, "That's Wade Robson, their choreographer. These guys probably see more of Wade then they care to pre-tour," Melinda joked loud enough for Wade to hear and give a grunted "hey!" in reply. "Amen to the little woman!" Chris threw his hands up in the air in mock playfullness of church-goers. Savannah couldn't help break into a small grin at his joking mood. "Okay guys, breaks over!" Wade shouted at them across the room. Groans of protest were given through the group, but they all obeyed at once. All of the guys gave Savannah a smile and welcomed her to the family, even JC whom wasn't sure he meant it. After exiting into the hallway, Savannah couldn't help let got of a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "They're not so bad are they?" Melinda smiled at her cousins glare. She shrugged and skipped down the hall as if she�d lived there her whole life. "They were okay I guess, friendly indeed! That one man was... well.. it's going to be an interesting summer," she sighed as the jet lag started to kick in. Melinda furrowed her eyebrows, "JC? He's not so bad once you get to know him, that was just a freak accident!" Savannah sighed, "I hope so, I don�t want anyone to be irritated with me.� The guys walked back to the center of the room to prepare for more strenuous workouts. "She was pretty cute," Joey stated after the door closed behind Melinda and Savannah. "She was fiiine," Chris imitated Justin's southern drawl. "Yeah until JC spit on her, real smooth man," Justin patted JC on the shoulder. He rolled his eyes and sighed in annoyment, "It was an accident, it happens. Besides, she didn't have to look so horrified, it was just water." "I'm sure she was just embarrassed is all Jace, forget it, and besides you don�t understand ladies of the south like I do," Justin said with a purposely strong accent. JC rolled his eyes, �Whatever man. Come on, back to work everyone. We�ve got a long day ahead of us.� |