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| One Boy, One Girl |
| November 2nd, 1998 Jive Records Studio - Orlando, Florida Justin�s POV I can feel my throat tightening up as I pace back and forth across the blue carpet of Johnny�s trendy executive office we are all waiting in. My hands are shaking and my breaths are shallow. Why am I so nervous? Calm down J, it�s just Britney. Yea Britney, my childhood crush, the same Britney that I use to be completely infatuated with, the same Britney I haven�t seen in over 2 years. �Calm down J!� Joey says and looks at me like I�m a freak. I look at the guys and they all have that same �your nuts Justin� look on their face. �I�m calm!� I snap. �I�m calm�� I say softer trying to convince myself. �Calm�� I mumble again to myself. I�m getting impatient, my mom is sitting at the desk shuffling through papers with Johnny. Then I hear the door open, and I see her walk through it. �Alright, guys. This is Britney Spears� Johnny stands up from the desk and motions to her with his hand. My breath catches in my throat, my stomach tightens up, I cant breath, I can�t move. All I can do is stare. I�m excited, and nervous, and anxious, and happy, and terrified all at once. She�s definitely grown up since MMC, and she�s definitely grown up in the two years since I�ve seen her last. An awkward 14-year-old with scraggly hair and braces to� wow� to� a 16-year-old drop dead gorgeous, total knock-out. She must be beating the guys off with sticks. �Britney! Sweetie. So good to see you!� My mom walks over to her and envelops her in a hug. �You too. Thank you again for this Lynne.� She says sweetly. �Oh honey I didn�t really do anything. And it�ll do these guys some good to have a lady to keep them in line when I�m not around.� She says and motions to the guys and I. She�s wearing a pair of low rise jeans and a light pink baby T. Her hair is done up in a messy pony tail. I can�t believe that is the same Britney. I finally snap out of my daze when she makes eye contact with me. I quickly glide over to her, scooping her up in my arms. �Brit!� I tighten my grip around her back. �J!� She squeals hugging me back, resting her chin on my shoulder. I pull away, still holding her in my arms and look into her eyes. I�m smiling like an idiot. I open my mouth to speak but can�t seem to form any words. I look her up and down once quickly. She flashes me a huge grin as her cheeks turn a nice shade of pink. �You�ve grown�up.� I manage to say with a chuckle. She giggles. She�s grown more beautiful that is. She�s much taller than she was in MMC, but she�s still a shorty, about half a foot shorter than I. �So have you J.� She says and smiles. �That�s what people tend to do�grow up.� I roll my eyes at myself, a little embarrassed with my lame comment. I reluctantly release my grip on her and take a step back, still lost in her eyes. I hear someone clear their voice behind me. I turn glance in back of me to see the 4 guys lined up, eagerly awaiting their introductions. Never taking my eyes off Britney, I place my hand on the small of her back and turn my body around to face my group members. �Britney, this is the group�� You already know JC.� �Of coarse she does! How�ve ya been Britty?!� JC asks as her gives her a big bear hug. �Good. It�s so good to see you!� She pulls away and flashes him a smile that would melt anyone�s heart. �And this is-� I begin. �Chris, I�m the good looking one out of this pack of barkers��. incase you haven�t already noticed.� Chris interrupts and winks at her. He opens his arms for a hug. Britney giggles, and glances at me, I roll my eyes. �Oh I have.� Britney plays along and walks into his arms. �Alright, that�s enough.� I speak up subconsciously up when Chris doesn�t let go. �Ooh, Sor-ry Timberlake.� Chris says sarcastically and laughs. Britney smiles at me shyly. �Yea, yea.� I smirk. �Well this here is Sir Lancelot.� I say and motion to him. �It�s Lance actually.� He says as he follows suit and gives Britney a quick hug. �Nice to meet you.� Britney smiles and Lance smiles back. I pause and watch her. I can�t believe Britney is here, I hadn�t realized how much I�ve missed her until now. Until she�s standing right in front of me. Britney turns too look at Joey, then looks to me, waiting for an introduction. I guess she notices me gawking at her, because her cheeks flush as she tries to hide her smile. Joey glances back and forth between us then speaks up. �And I�m Joey�� He says intentionally loud, snapping me out of my gaze. Britney smiles at Joey. �I uh� yea�� I try to save myself, glancing at all the guys. �Thanks bro.� Joey adds sarcastically as he pulls Britney into a hug. �Smooth J.� J.C. whispers into my ear. �Alright guys�, Johnny walks over to us. �Now that everyone has gotten introduced we can get down to business.� We all sit down, J.C. and I plop down into swivel chairs next to the sofa where Britney, Lance, and Joey sit. I have a clear view of Britney until Chris grabs a chair and places it between mine and Britney�s side of the couch. I narrow my eyes at him and he just turns and wiggles his eyebrows at me. That flirt is always trying to get under my skin. �We�re going to be touring several large venues throughout the country within the next 1 and a half months. This includes meet and greets, signings, and various other promotional appearances.� As Johnny continued to rattle on about boring tour details my mind drifts to Britney. I slyly glance behind Chris at her, she�s listening intently. This is her first real tour, I can tell she�s excited and a little nervous. I still can�t believe she�s actually here, I can�t believe she�s going on tour with us. I look back over at Johnny who�s still rattling on, then I look at the guys. They�re all dozing off, except for J.C. who�s as interested in what Johnny is saying as Britney is. Even back in MMC J.C. was anal about memorizing his lines as soon as he got the script. And he was always pushing the younger members, including Brit and I, to practice practice practice. We were like a big family. I was crushed when the show ended. That show was my life and I missed it for 4 months after it ended but I had missed her for 4 years. She was my best friend, its sad how we slowly lost touch over the years. It was hard, we were only 13 and a long distance relationship was impossible, were growing up and living our own lives, trying not to dwell in the past. �Okay guys� and Britney. I think that�s about it for now. I want you all to get a good nights sleep and I�ll see you all bright and early tomorrow morning for rehersals.� Johnny finally finishes and flashes us a quick smile before gathering his papers and walking out of the conference room. We all stand up and my mom approaches us. �Okay, I�ve got a few more things to get done tonight before I fly out tomorrow morning. Britney are you okay staying with the guys for a bit? Felicia is in the food court downstairs. I can let her know you�ll be spending the evening with the guys if you want.� My mom says. Britney glances around at the guys inquisitively, then her eyes land on mine. �Brit can hang out with us tonight. We need to get started on our bonding rituals before the tour.� I say with a crooked smile. My mom smirks at me. �That okay Brit?� She asks. �Yes of coarse, it�s not everyday I get to spend the evening with 5 charming gentlemen.� �Mmmm hmmm.� My mom looks around at us suspiciously. �You boys better make sure she stays in one piece�� If you go out take Lonnie with you.� She looks to me with those motherly eyes, always worrying. �Yes mamma.� I exhale and glance at Britney who�s smiling at me. Chris snickers because I still call her mamma. �Okay, see ya�ll later.� She says before she closes the door behind her. �Who�s up for a burrito run?� Joey says with a wild grin on his face and claps his hands together eagerly. �Dude� we just ate 20 minutes ago.� J.C. says. �And�?� Joey replies. We all stare at him blankly. �Whatever, that�s cool, I�d rather not watch you slobs stuff your faces any ways.� Joey pretends to be offended by our lack of enthusiasm. �Well I could go for a burrito Joe. I haven�t eaten since before I boarded the plane to Orlando.� Britney steps up and smiles at him. �Nice!� Joey says holding out his arm for Britney. She grabs it and they head for the door. �You guys coming?� He turns back to us with a cocky smile and a raised eyebrow, trying to look slick on Britney�s arm. She giggles and smiles at me. �I�m in.� I say and nod my head. �Me too.� J.C. adds. �Me three.� Lance chuckles out. �Me� uh�� Chris pretends to count on his fingers and we all laugh. � At the Mexican joint. Britney�s POV We sit at a booth across the room from Lonnie, the guys� head of security, and four other big bodyguards. It�s a little weird, but none of the guys seem to even notice they�re there. I guess you get use to it. There are only a few other people in the restaurant. An old couple and a few stray men sitting alone at the counter. The guys all cram into a U shaped booth with tall red seats, I slid down in the free spot Chris saved for me. And when I say saved I mean shoved Lance out of. He�s crazy. I casually look around the restaurant for Justin. He got up to take a phone call. The guys all seem really cool, and nice, but I don�t really know them all that well yet and I just feel more comfortable with Justin around. I know J.C. of coarse, but I wasn�t half as close to him as I was to Justin. When Johnny said that I�d be touring with Nsync the first thing that popped into my mind was Justin. Not that I�m still hung up in him or anything, I mean I was only 12. But for a long time after the show ended I was completely miserable, my best friend was taken away from me. He was my first boyfriend, and he gave me my first kiss, there�s no way I could have forgotten him. But that was a long time ago, now we�re older and we�ve both changed. But then why were we gawking at each other the entire car ride here. I couldn�t help it, he hasn�t outgrown those amazing blue eyes that just draw you in and lock you there. I can�t shake this feeling, this chemistry. I�m snapped out of my daze by the guys� antics at the table involving various condiments and eating utensils. �So Brit� got a boyfriend? Or are you on the market?� Chris wiggles his eyebrows and slings his arm around my shoulder. I giggle and open my mouth to respond. �Not for you old man!� Just says with a warm smile on his face. He sits down next to me and gently removes Chris�s arm from my shoulder and all the guys laugh. �Who was on the phone J?� Lance asks curiously. Justin has this cheesy grin on his face when he looks at me. �Your mom.� Justin states simply. �My mom?� I say a bit taken back. �Yup. She�s just checkin� up ya.� �Oh� I called her before I left. I guess she�s just a little freaked, first time alone in the big apple." I can feel my cheeks start to warm up as the guys all smile at me. �So Brit, do you or don�t you have anyone special back home?� Joey asks. Special? Oh yea, my boyfriend. Well I don�t know how special he is, maybe special ed. I�ve been dating him for like� ever. I haven�t thought about Reg since I�ve been here but he�s got some good qualities I guess. He�s nice, and smart� sorta. And� yea� he�s um� Who am I kidding, he�s boring and safe, the town wonder boy. Captain of the football team, Prom King. A perfect catch, any girl would be lucky to have him. Any brainless bimbo, who�s willing to be a trophy girlfriend. �Well actually there is someone.� I stare at the table, not wanting to make eye contact with Justin. I can feel his eyes burning into me. �His name�s Reg, we�ve been dating for a while now.� �Awww, shucks.� Chris pouts. �So how does he feel about his girl being halfway across the country, he must be a pretty cool guy?� Joey asks with a curious smile. Reg made it perfectly clear how shitty a person he thought I was for leaving him and Kentwood behind. He�s an unsupportive asshole. But I don�t tell the guys that, I can�t unload all my problems with Reg on them. So I lie, I don�t tell them about the huge fight we had before I left, mostly because I don�t want to have to explain all the unpleasant details. �He�s really excited that I�m finally living my dream, I mean of coarse he�s missing me but he knows what an amazing opportunity this is.� I plaster a fake smile on my face as I glance around at the guys nervously, hoping I�m being convincing enough. Justin furrows his eyebrows, and plays with the napkin on the table. I�m not sure whether he knows that something�s bothering me, or that I�m not telling the truth, or he�s just bothered by something else. �He sounds like a great guy.� Justin states plainly in a low voice. I just nod my head. We order our food and hang out at the restaurant for an hour or so. I learn all about the guys� likes and dislikes, their hobbies, favorites. I already have a pretty good gist of what each of them is into, I do read teen magazines. Surprisingly I have a lot more in common with Justin then I had expected. He�s changed in many ways but in others he�s the same exact boy I knew on MMC. I regret loosing touch with him over the years. When the show first ended we spent every free moment on the phone, or writing letters to each other, we even visited each other a few times. Sadly those phone calls and letters became shorter and less frequent. We were growing up, and growing out of our old lives. We were so far away, but even though we hadn�t spoken in about a year I never forgot him. He is too much a part of my childhood, and who I am. He gave me my first kiss, and the only time I felt anything that resembles true love was with him. Throughout the night I sneak sideways glances at Justin observing everything about him. The way his blue eyes sparkle when he laughs, how his jaw muscles work when he chews, how his cheeks flush and his mouth does the cutest little thing when one of the guys say something to embarrass him. The guys and I go back to the hotel where we will be in the next few days going over specifics, rehearsing, and getting everything perfect for the tour. I do a few radio spots and small magazine interviews. I�m keeping pretty busy, but meanwhile I become really close to all the guys, mostly Justin. Whenever we have time to spare we spend it together, being with him against makes me feel like we�re 13 again on MMC. I thought I�d get lonely, not knowing anyone, having none of my friends there, but Justin has become my best friend all over again, he�s always there, and I always want him there. |