| JC headed into the studio just after Kelci left the next morning and worked steadily until nearly 6 p.m. He called it a day and drove over to the studio lot where she was working. He proudly presented his laminated pass and signed the clipboard before listening to the guard's directions. He navigated the busy lot and parked outside studio 11A. He grabbed the deli sandwiches he'd picked up and headed inside. No one seemed to notice him until he came up on the camera crew filming an elaborate fight scene featuring Kelci against Drew, Cameron, and Lucy. It was a complicated scene with each girl attached to wires to maneuver the difficult moves easier. The women were all focused and into it, but remained aware of the potential injuries. Lucy's foot seemingly smashed into Kelci's chest and Kelci was sent backwards into a stack of drum barrels. "And CUT! Very nice, ladies. Take 10 while we reset for the next scene," the director shouted and Drew, Lucy, and Cameron helped unbury Kelci from the empty drums. "Are you OK? I didn't hurt you, did I?" Lucy asked as Kelci was helped to her feet. "Nope, not at all. I'm fine. This padding works very well," Kelci stated as she patted the chest piece she was wearing. "It looked very real," Cameron said as Drew spotted the visitor. "Looks like someone has a very handsome visitor." "Who?" Lucy asked and they followed Drew's pointed finger. "Who IS that? He looks familiar, but the hat is throwing me." "That's JC," Kelci smiled and waved. "Oooh!" Cameron cooed as she was released from her wires. "Introduce us." "He already knows who you are, but come on and say hello," Kelci invited once her wires were unhooked then lead them over to the star struck JC. "Here there, handsome." "Hello, my lady," he smiled and kissed her quickly. "That looked so cool. You aren't hurt, are you?" "No, I'm fine. Padding took it all. Josh, this is Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Lui. Ladies, this is JC Chasez." "Hello." "Nice to meet you." JC hooked his pinkie with Kelci's once he'd shaken the others' hands. Sure he knew who they were and had probably met them at some highly publicized event, but this was different. They were his girlfriend's co-workers and he was almost speechless. "I...uh...," he snapped back and remembered the sandwiches. "I passed the deli on Columbus Avenue and got you that turkey wrap thing you love. Have you eaten yet?" "No, we'll probably stop within an hour to eat. Thank you," Kelci smiled at his kindness. "Would you like to stay and eat with me?" "Us," Drew corrected as she and the other two smiled at the couple. "I'd love to as long as I'm not in the way." "You won't be. We'll get you a seat right up front," Lucy smiled. They chatted for several minutes before leading JC over to the director's chairs marked with each girl's name. He settled comfortably as the director called them back to the set. JC watched as Kelci was buried back under the drums then they were called to action. The scene played out beautifully to JC's untrained eye each of the five takes. He watched over and over as Kelci's character explained herself to the Angels. Her talent surprised him as rehearsed tears streamed down her face when she spoke of her sister's murder. They wrapped the scene two hours later and headed to craft services. The sandwiches JC brought were delicious and the group enjoyed pleasant conversations. He saw how Kelci was again personable with everyone no matter what their job was. He decided to make the same effort on their next tour and winked at his girlfriend. "Did you find out about this weekend?" he whispered. "Yeah...I have Friday thru Monday off so we can go either really late on Thursday or early on Friday. I can book the flight when I get home." "No, I'll do it." "Oooh...a lover's weekend in paradise?" Cameron chided across the table. "Um...well..not really. We're going to Kentucky." JC interrupted, "C thinks she needs to buy a house away from Hollywood. Doesn't want to live with me." "That's not entirely true. Stop poutin'. And you agreed that a place away from here would be nice," Kelci laughed then rolled her eyes at JC. "Besides...you haven't been neglected...yet." Everyone laughed as they finished their dinner. "Are you going to stay a while?" Drew asked as they walked back to set. "Nah...I think I'll head on home. Got a beat flowin' in my head and I wanna try out my studio some more. Thank you for having me," he smiled and said good-bye to the others before turning to Kelci. "I'll see you at home." "OK." "Oh, I almost forgot...Here's your key to the house." "Oh...uh...thanks," she smiled down at the key ring. "I'll try it out tonight." "OK. If I'm not in bed, come down to the studio to at least kiss me good night, OK?" "Yeah." "Um...is it OK to kiss you here?" She grinned at his nervousness as she stepped closer and whispered, "You'd better kiss me or I might not show up at the house. Just...be gentle." With a smirk on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes, he cupped her face as his lips found her's. The kiss was tender and sweet, but not over the top-hey-look-at-us. It was Kelci's tongue that asked for admittance and JC quickly gave it, but neither got carried away, with her pulling back first. "I'll see you later," she whispered as she wiped a little bit of saliva from his lower lip. "Mmmm...OK." He kissed her once more before heading out. ************ Kelci paid the cab fare and headed up to JC's front door. She used her key, entering quietly and found Tyler asleep on the couch in his boxers. She covered him with the afghan from the back of the couch and turned off the TV before heading upstairs. She changed into pajama pants and tank top, washed her face, brushed her teeth and headed to the basement. "Hey baby," she whispered once he looked up at her in the doorway. "Hey. You just get here?" "Yeah." "Everything go OK?" he asked as he pulled her onto his lap, making her straddle him. "Mmmmhmmm...but now I'm tired." "Awe...my poor baby," he laughed and hugged her tight, loving the reaction her nipples had to the cool basement air. "Did you book the flight?" "Yeah and I spoke to Rach. She's gonna leave your car at the airport." "Good," she sighed and kissed his neck, trying to work a little magic before she spoke again. "Will you play me something? Please....pretty please...with sugar lips on top." "Girl...get away from my neck....you know that's my weak spot." "I know. Please, baby. I rarely ask." "Oh, no...do NOT turn the eyes on me, too...No, Kelci..." "Pretty please," she whispered with a pouty bottom lip then quickly nibbled his own lower lip. "Just a lil' bit." "Tsk," he clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. "What do you want to hear?" "Something slow...you choose." "OK...come in the booth with me." Kelci moved off his lap so he could enter the little room. Silently she sat on the edge of the piano bench as he stacked his music sheets and cracked his knuckles then his back. He let out a deep breath and turned to her. "Just listen, OK, baby?" he asked and she nodded, her fingers on his cheek. "OK," she whispered and kissed him tenderly. He licked his lips with a smile and stroked the piano keys without pushing down on them. Easily, his slender fingers danced across the keys, creating a slow light melody. I just don't understand Why you're running from a good man baby Why you wanna turn your back on love Why you've already given up See I know you've been hurt before But I swear I'll give you so much more I swear I'll never let you down Cause I swear it's you that I adore And I can't help myself babe Cause I think about you constantly and my heart gets no rest over you (Chorus) You can call me selfish But all I want is your love You can call me hopeless (hopeless) Cause I'm hopelessly in love You can call me unperfect But who's perfect? Tell me what do I gotta do To prove that I'm the only one for you What's wrong with being selfish? Kelci turned to straddle the bench and slipped her arms around his slim waist, resting her cheek on the back of his shoulder. As JC started to sing the second verse, her fingers eased under the front of his shirt and up his chest until her palm rested directly over his life organ. I'll be taking up your time Until the day I make you realize That for your there could be no one else I just gotta have you for myself Baby I would take good care of you No matter what it is you're going through I'll be there for you when you're in need Baby believe in me If love was a crime Then punish me I would die for you Cause I don't want to live without you Oh what can I do? Chorus Why do you keep us apart Why won't you give up your heart You know that we're meant to be together Why do you push me away All that I want is to give you love Forever and ever and ever and ever Chorus Selfishly I'm in love with you Cause I've searched my soul and know that it's you Selfishly I'm in love with you Cause I've searched my soul and know that it's you Selfishly I'm in love with you Cause I've searched my soul and know that it's you… To prove that I'm the only one for you So what's wrong with being selfish, selfish, selfish, selfish... So what's wrong with being selfish... The last notes seemed to hang in the air for hours as the couple remained silent and motionless. Kelci could feel JC's rapid heartbeat and heavy breathing under her hand. She had heard the song before, but hearing it now as he had played it so beautifully and intimately for her had blown her away and she wasn't sure how to react. Finally she found her voice, but still didn't lift her cheek from his shoulder blade. "Wow! That was...absolutely...beautiful." "It plays in my head every time I look at you," he whispered and wrapped his arm around. "I lo.." "Shh! I know." "Then let me say it." She finally lifted her head up and caught his eyes. She had heard him say it, nearly every night that they'd shared a bed, but she never told him. Her green eyes danced around his handsome features for several seconds, her hand still on his heart, and neither spoke for a long time. "I do care a great deal about you, Josh, but...how can you be so certain? It's only been two months." "I knew the moment you smiled at me from across the hotel lobby. Every time I see you enter a room...my heart flutters and for a split second....I can't believe you even KNOW me....but then your eyes lock into mine and you smile at me...that sweet, loving smile that's meant ONLY for me...and I get this warm...safe...loving feeling that starts in the pit of my stomach and consumes my entire being." She removed her hand from his shirt and raised it to his lips, hoping to stop him from continuing to read her own thoughts and feelings, but he only paused for a moment before surging on. "And when you touch me....with your lips...or your fingers...I...there's this...electricity that tingles all throughout my soul." "Josh..." "You know how much I love touring and making music, right? Well, the thought of doing it has dimmed it's appeal because I'll be away from you," his words were so warm and heartfelt. "Well, we can NOT have you disappointing all those adoring fans," she smiled and he pulled her back to straddle his lap. "Including this one." "No, we can't disappoint. So...will you come on tour with me? Or, at the very least, visit as often as possible?" "I'll come out for as long as I can once I wrap this movie, but I...I'm auditioning for another movie that'll start filming this summer," she spoke softly. "OK, I'll take that," he smiled as he pulled his hands out of her shirt. "For now, let's head to bed." "Sounds like a plan." |