| Angel |
| Dedication: This story was written in memory of Aaliyah. It's so sad that she only lived 22 years. Anyway, this story is for her, and please keep her family and friends in your prayers. |
| *Nsync was at dance rehearsals when they heard the news. Each of the guys reacted in different ways after hearing about Aaliyah�s tragic death. Justin sunk to the floor and sobbed, his face in his hands. Lance left the room immediately, cell phone in hand. JC sat down on the couch as tears silently streamed down his face. Chris turned on the TV, not knowing what else to do. Plus, it drowned out Justin�s heart-wrenching sobs. It wasn�t that he didn�t care about Justin, but Chris wasn�t the one who could help him. Joey, trying to control his own emotions, bent down and gathered Justin in his arms, carrying him out of the room. Joey carried him all the way to the car, put him in the passenger seat, and got into the driver�s seat. He put his car into drive and then slowly connected his right hand with Justin�s left. Justin had stopped sobbing now, but tears were still making their way down his face. He looked up when Joey took his hand, and cried even harder when he saw the look in Joey�s eyes. The look that Joey was giving him showed pain, grief, care, and love. Justin looked away, not able to stand the look in Joey�s eyes any longer. �How could this have happened?� he asked himself, �we just hung out with her a little while ago. She was so young.� And then he thought about his own age. He was twenty. What would happen if he died in two years? He had so much more that he wanted to do in life. Sure, he�d succeeded in the music business, but he wanted to fall in love, get married, and have children. Aaliyah would never be able to do that. Justin was so sad. He was sad for Aaliyah, he was sad for her family and friends, and he was sad for himself. He felt selfish for being sad for himself. He was so scared that something like that would happen to him. he was scared that we would live long enough to find true love and start a family. He didn�t want to die unloved. He suddenly felt like he should explain to Joey why he was so upset, but he couldn�t even speak. Joey was being so caring right now. He hadn�t asked any questions, he was just bringing Justin home, and taking care of him. They pulled in to the driveway of Justin�s home a few minutes later. Then Joey spoke for the first time since they�d left the studio, �can you walk inside, or do you want me to carry you?� Justin felt silly about being carried, so he got out of the car and tried to walk by himself. Joey was at his side in a second when he almost collapsed to the ground. �Guess your legs aren�t too strong right now, huh?� Joey asked, trying his best to smile. But it didn�t work too well. His smile looked more like a scowl. But at least he had tried. Joey carried him the rest of the way into the house and then asked Justin where he wanted to go. Justin pointed towards the stairs since he still couldn�t speak. Joey struggled a bit while carrying him up the stairs, but made it and then headed for Justin�s room. Justin whimpered when Joey put him down on the bed and turned to walk away. Joey turned around and looked at Justin�s sad face. Justin finally spoke, saying, �please don�t leave, Joe.� Joey hadn�t planned on going anywhere, but he wanted to get Justin into some more comfortable clothes. �I�m not going anywhere, J, I just wanted to find some pajama pants for you to wear,� Joey explained. Justin pointed to the dresser in the far corner of the room and Joey went over to it, pulling out some striped pajama bottoms and an oversized tee shirt. He brought them back to where Justin was sitting and handed them to Justin, leading him to the bathroom. Once they were there, Justin sat down on the closed toilet, not trusting his legs. �Can you do it yourself, or do you need help?� Joey asked quietly, not sure if Justin had even heard him. �Help, but Joey, can I take a bath?� Justin asked, pouting a little. At that moment, Joey would have let Justin do whatever he wanted to do. �Of course you can, do you still need help?� Joey asked, hoping that he wouldn�t, but knowing he would. �Yeah,� Justin said in a small voice. �Ok, I�ll start the water,� Joey told him, walking to the jacuzzi sized tub and turning on the water. He poured in some bubble bath too, and turned on the jets when the tub was full. Then he turned back to Justin. �Do you want me to help you get undressed?� he asked, his voice wavering a little. He had good self-control, but he wasn�t sure if he would be able to resist if he had to help Justin undress. Justin nodded, pulling off his tee shirt with Joey�s help. Then Joey helped him stand up, and pulled down Justin�s jeans, bringing his boxers with them. He tried not to look at Justin as he got into the tub. Joey took Justin�s place sitting on the toilet, and watched as Justin�s body sunk into the tub, and as Justin closed his eyes. When Justin opened his eyes ten minutes later, he felt a little better, but he was still scared. He wanted to talk to Joey. �Joe,� he said, and his voice broke. �Yeah?� Joey asked, �you ready to get out?� �Um, yeah,� Justin answered, trying to stand up on his own, but still not able to. Joey went to the tub and helped Justin stand up and step out. He reached for a towel and handed it to Justin. He helped Justin dry off and get into his pajamas. Then he led Justin to the bed. �Can we talk, Joey?� Justin asked in an almost child-like voice. �Of course,� Joey replied with a smile. It was force, but at least it looked like a smile that time. �Um, I don�t know where to even start,� Justin told Joey, trying to figure out what to say. �I guess I should say �thank you� first.� �For what?� Joey asked. �For taking care of me, and not questioning why I was so upset,� Justin responded, taking Joey�s hand. �That�s what friends are for,� Joey forced out, his heart hurting as he said it. He didn�t just want to be Justin�s friend, he wanted to be so much more. If only he could get the courage to tell Justin. �Yeah, but I still feel like I should thank you,� Justin started, and continued after sniffling. �I guess the news about Aaliyah really scared me. I mean, she was so young. I started thinking about her family, and then I thought about the fact that she�s never going to be able to start a family of her own. And then I was thinking that I�m only two years younger than her, and I haven�t even begun to do the things I want to do with my life. I mean, I love being in *Nsync, but that�s not all I want. I want to fall in love with someone wonderful and start a family with them. I want to do so many more things,� Justin stopped when he began to cry again. Joey pulled Justin to him, and whispered in his ear, �Justin, what happened to Aailyah was an accident, as very devastating accident. But it�s not going to happen to you. You are going to life a full life, with a family and children, and someone who loves you,� Joey told Justin. �How can you be sure of that?� Justin questioned, wiping the tears from his face and still holding tightly to Joey. �Well, I can�t be sure of most of it. But there is one part that I am sure of,� Joey replied, trying to get the guts to tell Justin how he felt. �What�s that?� Justin asked curiously, pulling away to look into Joey�s eyes. �Because there is already someone who loves you more than life itself,� Joey responded, looking away from Justin�s gaze. �Who?� Justin asked, using his hand to make Joey look at him. �Me,� Joey answered as fear flicked in his eyes. �You?� Justin repeated as a question, a little surprised. �Yeah, Justin. I love you. I�m *in* love with you,� Joey told him with a true smile this time. �Really?� Justin asked, wanting Joey to be completely sure. �Yes, really.� �I love you, too,� Justin said, pulling Joey to him for another hug. He had finally found love. But that didn�t mean he wasn�t scared anymore. At least this time, he knew that Joey would be there for him whenever he was scared again. And he would always remember Aaliyah as his angel for bringing Joey to him. THE END |