"Thanks Steph. See ya later." Christina waved to Stephanie as she walked out of hair and makeup.
It was a few weeks later and Stephanie had just finished her hair in record time.
Britney came stomping down the hallway, some kinda gook in her hair.
"Britney! What happened?" Christina gasped.
"What do you think? It's another one of Ryan's funny-funny jokes."
Christina tried to hold back her giggles." Maybe he likes you."
She almost exploded with laughter at the look on Britney's face.
"Oh Gawd, no!" She drawled, horrified.
"Aw! What's wrong with Ryan?"Christina said,still laughing.
"He's so not my type.Anyway I have to get my hair washed now." She stomped off again. Christina ran into the game room where Ryan and Justin were still laughing and playing video games.
"That was mean,Ryan." Christina laughed.
"Nah! It was just a joke." Ryan said, still concentrating on trying to beat Justin.
"Come here,J. I need to talk to you." Christina said, grabbing his hand and pulling him up.
"Wait!" Ryan said. "I've almost beat him."
"Face it,Ryan. You've never beat him before and you never will." Christina joked.
Ryan fell back against the sofa, clutching his heart.
"Oh the pain of the wrath from player two's girl.
Christina gasped."I'm not his girl!" she said, blushing,eyes wide.
Ryan grinned at Justin. "Wow Justin. I've never seen your face that color before. But I think it's quite flattering on you. Does your face do anymore tricks?"
Christina swallowed back nervous giggles as Justin glared at Ryan. Then Christina pulled him again.
"Um...come on."
"I finshed it." Justin grabbed his control and hit a button.
Ryan's mouth dropped open as the screen flashed
PLAYER TWO WINS. GAME OVER
Christina and Justin laughed as they walked out of the room and into the hall.
" So what did you want to talk to me about?" Justin asked, running his fingers through his mass of curls.
"Yeah...um, do you think Ryan has a thing for Britney?"
"Well..." Justin hesitated.
"Come on Justin. You tell me everything!" She persisted.
"Well yeah he does. She is pretty hott." Justin said.
"Oh...yeah." Christina said feeling a little jealous before she shook herself. What's going on with me? This is Justin, your best friend.
she said to herself. She quickly hid her feelings,like always and said, "You think we could set them up?"
"Sure! Why not?" Justin said, a mischevious look in his eyes.
Christina wrinkled her nose." Justin, I know that face! What's up?" She said, suspiously.
"I promised Ryan I wouldn't interfere.He said he was going to take care of it. But if you think it's the right thing to do. We should do it!" His eye gleamed.
Christina's mouth dropped open andshe smaked Justin's arm. "Justin, you're awful."
Justin rubbed his arm and laughed loudly.
Christina linked arms with Justin as they walked back down the hallway.
"If Ryan's going to take care of it. I'm guessing he's going to ask her out. And if he doesn't...then we'll interfere." Christina laughed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Christina and Justin were standing in the shadows of the studio watching Ryan and Britney.
"What are they saying?" Justin whispered.
"Shh!" Christina motioned.
"Hey Britney." Ryan was saying.
Britney looked up from where she was finishing some homework."Um..hi Ryan." She said wrinkling her forehead at his weird behavior.
He was quiet for a minute then said."So how are you?" he finally said, making Britney raise her eyebrows,
"I'm good." She looked back down at her homework.
Ryan stood there, trying to think of what to say next.
Britney looked up and sighed, throwing her arms up in the air. "Ryan, do you want something?"
Ryan looked down. "I...I-" he stuttered.
"Look Ryan, I really don't have time for this." She started to gather her things together.
"I was wondering if you would like to go to the movies some time." Ryan blurted out.
Britney dropped her math book and stood up quickly, causing the rest of her book to scatter all over the floor.
"To the movies?" She repeated.
"Yeah.Like Friday?" he stuck his hands in his pockets.
"With you?" Britney asked.
"Yeah."
Britney looked stunned for a minute, then seemed to pull herself together and she began picking up her scattered homework.
Ryan helped but Britney didn't say anything until she stood back up.
"Look Ryan. You're my friend and I just don't like you in that way." She bluntly.
Ryan looked down and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Nah! That's fine. I just thought I'd ask."
"Anyways! I'll see you later,ok?" Britney said, her usually bubbly self, she gave him a friendly hug and bounced off.
"Aw. Poor Ryan!" Christina murmered.
"Well Britney's a very er... open person." Justin raised his eyebrows." She'll only settle for a knight in shining armor."
Christina rolled her eyes and grabbed Justin's arm."Come on."
They walked slowly to Ryan, who was still standing there, stareing at the floor.
Christina whisper quietly to Justin. " Say something, J!" She gave him a little push.
"Say what?" He backed up.
" I don't know! Think of something!" She pushed him foward again.
"Hey...Ryan." Justin said.
"Smooth, J. Real smooth." Christina rolled her eyes. Ryan kept looking at the floor.
"Ryan, are you okay?" Christina asked, softly.
"Yeah why wouldn't I be?" he said, trying to act like all was normal.
"We were um... saw what happened man...sorry." Justin said.
Ryan shrugged and Christina wrapped her arms around him.
Justin stood there as he watched Christina hug him and whisper soothingly to Ryan. Justin was unsure of what to do. He knew he couldn't do what he wanted to do which was punch something, perferably Ryan.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Later that night, Christina and Justin lay on the trampoline in Justin's backyard, stareing up at the stars.
"Justin?"
"Yeah?" Justin answered as he rolled over to look at her. She kept her eyes on the sky.
"You ever look at the stars and wonder." She paused. "Wonder what it would be like to be one of them?"
"What do you mean?" he looked back up to the stars.
"Like what it'd be like to be up there, above all the buildings, above all the trees. Shining your very best cause you know, You just know that someone's looking up at you,waiting for you to shoot across the sky and take their breath away?"
Justin smiled. "You mean like to be on a stage, above everything else,singing, being your very best. Cause you know someone looking at you, waiting for you to take their breath away. To be a star."
Christina looked at him and smiled. "Yeah. That's what I meant." She said, truthfully.
Justin smiled at her again and she blushed. "What?" she asked."
"How much do you want to be a "star"?"
"How much? I want so much I can taste it.I'm willing to fight for my dreams. I won't let anyone or anything stand in my way." She said,passion in her eyes.
Justin's heart sank.Anything or anyone. Even him.
"What's wrong, J? Christina asked. He could never hide anything from her.
"I'm cool,Christina." Justin said, turning to lay on his back.
As he did something rolled out of his pocket. Christina reached for it but Justin got it first.
"I got you something." he said, knowing she had already seen it. He handed her a small jewerly case.
"What for?" She asked,puzzled.
"For my best friend." He shrugged.
Christina slowly opened the box revealing a a necklace with the word "Christina" on it.
"Oh!" Christina gasped. "It's so beautiful!"
"It's for good luck" Justin said. "Whenever you get scared you can remember you always have good luck from me."
"Will you help me put it on?" She held her hair up as Justin fastened it with trembling fingers.
"Thanks Justin." She snuggled close to him, wrapping her arms around him in a hug.
When she didn't move a wave of hope moved through Justin.
"You'll always be my best friend," She said her eyes closed. The hope disappered.
"Mine too,Chris. My best...friend." He sighed.
To be continued.........