| "Josh, could we talk about something else?" She set her salad and water on the desk, waiting for him to leave to eat. "Sure, what about your parents?" He took a few steadying breaths, then sat in the chair across from her. He had to do this, he was going to fight the urge to be rude. "My father is retired army, my mother is a teacher. They live about an hour south of here. You?" She took a sip of her water, debating going into the closet to avoid his stare. "They live up north." He kept his gaze on her, making her go to the closet at last. "Did you finish that song?" She called from the closet, where she was looking through nothing in particular. "Yeah, actually got a couple written." He looked at the back of her head, begging her to turn around with his eyes. "That's good, I'd love to hear them some time." She pulled out a file of old interviews and returned to her desk, fearful if she stayed much longer, he'd know she was avoiding his gaze. "Yeah, have you heard Justin's?" He ran a hand through his hair, hopeful it would somehow give him something to say. "No, maybe I'll weedle them out of him tonight." She flipped through the file, landing on an old picture of the group. "Wow, he was just a baby." She pointed to Justin, letting her eyes wander over to JC. She had to admit he was very cute, when he was smiling, something she had yet to see. She glanced up at him, noticing how the stress around his eyes had hightened. "I have to go, the guys should be up soon and I'd like some time in the studio without them." He stood and left the room, this time the door shut with a click. Quickly, she ate her lunch, then began her work for the afternoon. Every few minutes her mind would wonder to JC, and their conversation from that afternoon, hoping he would try to be more civil with her. She didn't need to fight with him, she had more important things to do with her time at work. "Hi." Justin greeted as he hopped onto her desk, his new favorite seat. "Hi Justin, just give me a few minutes and I will be ready." She continued her work without looking up, knowing he would be the only one to enter her office, and sit on her desk. "OK, what are you doing?" He peeked at the paper she was filling out, looking it over. "I am filling out your rider for the tour. Or at least a rough copy, I'll pass this around you guys, then you can put in anything you think of, or take off anything you want." She continued copying the old information onto the new paper, waiting for Justin to speak again. "Bri, you get off at five, it's five thirty." He whined, leaning further over the desk, hovering inches above her head. "I know, but I wanted to finish this before I left today." She swatted above her head, causing him to retreat to the other side of the desk. "How much longer?" "About ten minutes, I have to make copies after I am done." "Ok, I'll be back in fifteen minutes. You better be here and ready to go." He hopped from the desk, then left the room without another word. "Uh huh." She called after him, sure he hadn't heard her, but did so out of reflex. "Uh huh, what?" JC asked from his place in the doorway, causing her head to snap up. "I was talking to Justin, have a seat." She pointed across the desk to the empty chair, and he obliged. "What are you doing?" He cozied himself into the chair, setting his hands on the edge of the desk. "Just a little work for the tour." She finished the last line, then stood to make her way to the copy machine in the corner of her office. "What are you doing tonight?" JC ran his finger along the edge of the desk, keeping his attention on the task. "Working out with Justin, you?" She set the copy machine and placed the paper on the tray. "Not much. Brianne, I was thinking about what you said earlier, and I think we got off on the wrong foot. I just wanted to say I'm sorry about the coffee shop that day, and everything since then." "I'm sorry, too, Josh." She pushed a whisp of hair behind her ear, then pulled the copies from their tray. "Will you look this over and see if there are any changes you need done?" She handed him one of the copies, then tidied the others. "Of course." He looked it over briefly, seeing if anything caught his eye. "Thanks, I really appreciate it." She threw herself into her chair, and slipped off her shoes, unwinding from the days activities. "Your welcome, I have to run now, maybe I'll see you later." He stood, and walked to the door, looking back briefly to see her leaning her head against the rest on the chair, eyes closed. "What are you doing here so late?" Justin asked JC when he saw him in the lobby. "I stopped by to see Brianne, she's ready to go." JC looked down at the paper in his hand once again, looking over her handwriting. "Good, see you later." Justin put a hand on his shoulder as he jogged to the elevator, ready to start his workout. "I'm ready." She greeted Justin, as she slipped her shoes back on, grabbed her purse, and walked around the desk to join him. "Good, let's go." He led her out of the office, and to the elevator, then finally to his car, opening her door for her then walking to his own. "Justin, my car." She pointed to her car, the words to tell him she wanted to take it not coming to her mouth. "What about it?" Justin slung his arm across the steering wheel, turning to look at her car. "I'll drive it, I have to stop by my house anyway." She opened the car door, only able to get one foot out before Justin spoke. "Ok, I'll follow you, then you can follow me to my house." Justin gave a charming smile, then watched her exit the car in favor of her own. Twenty minutes later they were walking into her house. "Wait here." She ordered as she ran up the stairs to change into her workout clothes, leaving Justin to entertain himself. "Help yourself to a drink." She called from the second story, but Justin decided looking over her pictures was more important than a drink. "Can we go now?" Justin questioned when she came down the stairs, in sweats and a tank top. "Yeah, you have fruit at your house?" She grabbed a light jacket incase the wind picked up. "Of course." He put a hand at the small of her back, leading her out the door and to the cars. "Good, I always crave fruit after a workout." She informed, before climbing into her car, waiting for him to back out first. |
| Chapter Five |
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