| Chapter Nine JC was sitting in the front lobby of Subway Records, waiting for Joey to come out of the bathroom. Joey finally emerged, with a big smile on his face. �Damn, that felt good,� he said. �I had to piss like a Russian racehorse on its way to the finish line.� JC groaned. �Thanks. Now I can go on with the rest of my life. Before you told me that, I had doubts that I would get through the day.� Joey laughed heartily and clapped JC on the back, nearly knocking the smaller man over. �And they call you the boring one.� JC laughed. �Um� Okay. Hey Joey, I was thinking about having a party tonight. At the hotel. Good idea, or nah?� Joey pretended to think it over. �Hey man, a party is a party! I�ll invite the chicks; you buy the beer.� JC laughed. �What a coincidence that it�s Friday too.� Joey nodded and headed over to the desk where the front receptionist was sitting. �Hey there, sugar plum, what�s your name?� *~*~* �I was 16; she was 14. Lizzie was my best friend�s little sister. I used to ignore her mostly, just that I couldn�t do it for very long. She had big blue eyes and such pretty brown hair. I always knew she liked me, and I guess I liked her too, but nothing could come of it because of her age and besides, her brother was my best friend. �Anyway, it was cool, until the night I was asked to go pick her up from her friend�s house because my friend was out with some girl. That would have been okay and all, just that her brother didn�t know I was drunk. I picked her up and we went out cruising the back roads. I just took advantage of her and took things too far.� Justin stopped talking; tears rolled down his cheeks. Dawn and Patty just stared at him, astonished. �Did you see her again after that?� Dawn asked. Justin shook his head. �No. About that time is when *Nsync was really starting to take off, so I just left without saying anything to either of them. I saw her today, but she didn�t seem to recognize me. Which is weird, I guess, because my damn face is being plastered on every magazine every damn month.� Justin scowled. Lizzie, Lizzie� why does that name sound so familiar? Patty thought. She checked her watch. �Damn,� she cursed. �It�s 1:40. I have to head back.� Justin looked at her. �Um� what about me?� �You can hang out here with me, if you want. And I have my Excursion, if you need a ride later,� offered Dawnovan. �Is that cool, Patty?� Justin looked at her beseechingly. Patty nodded. �Be cool, Justin. I�ll be back in a couple of hours.� She leaned over and gave him a kiss on his cheek. He looked up at her gratefully. Patty walked out the front door with only one thought in her mind, Oh my God, Justin raped someone. Chapter Ten HOME |