It had been a long night for the band N*Sync. They had gotten back together to promote their newest cd and had to work overtime since everyone figured that they broke up because of Justin's break out career as a solo artist. Sure they loved hanging out with each other and meeting the fans but boy could it be tiresome and they were seeing that for themselves tonight. After their third show at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit they were ready to hit the hay. They honestly didn't care where they laid down as long as if a pillow was involved. It was their last night and the city and they'd be on their way to Ohio afterwards. With much convincing they stayed over in Motown and slept in a real bed and not those flimsy things they called a bed on their tour bus. All 5 tired guys shuffled their ways into the Athenaeum, a really posh hotel downtown blocks from the Joe for a night of sleep, sleep and um, more sleep.
"Hi, do you guys have anymore rooms?"
"Let me check" the front desk clerk checked the computer over and over looking for a room to accomadate the guys. While they waited, tiredly Justin began to stare off into space.
{Please Lord let them have a room, I don't think I can take another step.} Just as he thought about a nice soft bed out of nowhere she emerged. An angel, or at least in his eyes. She walked into the hotel wearing a tan off the shoulder sweater and tight low rider jeans. She was so beautiful. Her butter pecan skin glowed, her reddish brown hair that laid on her shoulder flowed and her dark brown eyes seemed so mystic, even from afar. If his heart was beating, he couldn't feel it. He was mesmerized by this beauty who seemed to be walking his way. Slowly he stood up from the counter and stared at her. She was coming closer and closer and closer and right past him, huh? She totally passed him. She walked up to the front security, showed a badge or a card and kept walking. What was up with that? No, no, no, she wasn't supposed to keep walking. He wasn't sure if it was the lack of sleep and food but this spark that flowed through his entire body let him know one thing and one thing only; this girl was his soul mate. Call him crazy but he just knew. He almost could imagine it now and just when he was ready to follow her a arm gripped around his.
"Dude where are you going?" Joey asked. "Our room is this way."
"Huh?"
"He's sleepier than he looks" laughed Lance.
"Must be, come on."
"No guys you don't understand, I just saw my soul mate walk right pass me."
"If she was your soul mate why would she walk right pass you?"
"I don't know! I gotta find her." Now the rest of the guys were looking at Justin like he was crazy now. He was talking about some `soul mate'. Didn't he know that stuff didn't exist? Ask Britney.
"You need rest, now." Chris grabbed Justin's arm, to his dislike and carried him along with them to their conjoined rooms on the third floor.
{I know they think I'm crazy but I saw her! I know I did! God please let me see her again!} Justin and the guys got down and laid down in their comfy beds. The bright lights from the Greektown Casino across the street was shaded by their black drapes which made it all the more perfect for rest. But there was one out of the fold that couldn't sleep and that was Justin. He just kept seeing her face over and over again in his mind. Why was she haunting him so? Tried as he did, she just wouldn't let go and he didn't want to. With the help of some sleep medication Justin finally gave way to a deep slumber. Morning came and everyone woke up around 8. They didn't have to be in Ohio till 3, so that gave them time to eat breakfast before leaving out of town.
"So Justin, where's your soul mate?" Joey laughed.
"Shut up."
"Leave Justin alone, he was just probably really tired and saw things."
"No I didn't!! I saw her alright, she was beautiful and she looked like Mya, except better."
"Sure Justin, sure." Why didn't anyone believe him? Had he made it up? Had he really dreamt up some girl from sleep deprivation? Why'd it seem so real?
"Look Krystal you know I'm here for you, you're my best friend!"
"Thanks, I know I can always count on you."
"Girl you know it. Hey remember when we first came here to help decorate for the prom before us and we just ran around the place?" she laughed.
"Yeah, but nothing beats our prom here."
"Did we look good or what?"
"Totally" they laughed. Besides staying after prom that night, this was the first time in almost 3 years that they had been at the hotel. It was a little rich for their blood but last night Krystal, Kristina's best friend got in another argument with her family. She wouldn't have been here if her friend Kia who they both went to high school with, hadn't paid for the room and at the last minute couldn't make it. After a long talk last night and a few movies to remind them of their teenage years, Krystal was back on track. Both wanted to get some breakfast but it seemed so crowded downstairs that it might be an option.
"Look just get me something to drink, I'll make us something to eat at home."
"Alright, what do you want?"
"Anything that doesn't have strawberries."
"Alright."
"I'll go get the car." Krystal went to get the car while Kristina went to get drinks.
"What can I get you?"
"Um, two large orange juices please." Kristina ran her naturally long nails against the table. It was so crowded that it'd be awhile for something as simple as an orange juice. It little too long, Kristina got frustrated and decided to leave. As she walked through the caf� she felt a pair of eyes on her but couldn't exactly figure where they were coming from.
{Girl you are paranoid.}
There she was walking on the other side of the caf�! Justin had to get the other guys to see her.
"There she is!" Justin pointed her out to his friends.
"That fine piece with the tan sweater?"
"Yeah."
"Damn."
"No I see why you were buggin'"
"I gotta talk to her."
"Dude we're in disguses! You'll blow our cover!" Lance warned.
"Hey, we're about to leave anyways, I can't let her get away."
"Alright fine." Justin jumped from the table and ran to her. To his luck she was right in front of him. She abruptly stopped, causing him to run right into her. Quickly she jumped around to see the jerk the bumped into her when there was obviously enough sidewalk for everyone.
"Excuse you!" When she turned around her whole demeanor changed. She thought that maybe coming in so late she was seeing things but that was definitely Justin Timberlake standing behind her. She thought she saw him last night but chalked it up to someone who just looked like him. She was never really a big fan of the group because she was a fanatatic of Backstreet Boys, but she had to admit, little Justin was a cutie. But she wasn't some little teenybopper that was ready to flip her wig cuz Justin Timberlake was standing in front of her, she was 20 years old for Pete's sake.
"Sorry."
"Its ok, are you ok?"
"I'm not sure." Kristina began to look confused, but he just laughed. "I'm not sure if I'll be ok if I don't get to know you." {Yeah right, Justin Timberlake wants to get to you know? Tah!} Justin looked at her, as she looked at him skeptically. He really meant what he said.
"I mean it, I saw you last night and I was captivated." Wow no one had ever said anything like that to her. Swallowing the lump in her throat, a smile slowly graced her face which made him smile. She had a gorgeous smile.
"Kristina" she smiled, holding out her hand to shake.
"Justin, very nice to meet you." Justin returned her handshake happily. It was as if when their bodies touched, even as simple as a handshake made everything complete. This was only the beginning of great things to come.
Chapter 2
Kristina started this day off uber happy. She woke up early and made herself a delicious breakfast (or at least what she considered a delicious breakfast was) and just got ready for her day. Today was abnormally warm for April but she had no complaints. Winters and most times spring were just horrific. It never really got above 30 degrees and today was a 65 and for Michiganders that was summer. So as the sun peered into her yellow drapes, Kristina peeled out of the tub and danced along to Ghetto Heaven by Common and Macy Gray as she got ready. You couldn't really wipe the smile off her face. The other day she got none other than Justin Timberlake's cell phone number! Can you believe it? She certainly couldn't and chalked it up to perhaps a dream, but when he called around midnight last night and talked till 3 in the morning it made it all real. The little yawn that escaped her mouth made her laugh. She was just amazed at how nervous she was when his number popped up on her cell. When she answered she didn't know what she was going to say but after the awkwardness died down between the two it was smooth sailing. How could someone who was so rich and famous could be so funny, so down to earth, so completely normal? It was as if she was talking to her best friend Richard, except the cuter version. She was just so happy from last night that she sung across the whole house. The shrill of her cell broke her singing.
"Hey Clarke."
"Hey, we still going?"
"Yup, just gotta put some clothes on and I'll be good to go."
"Cool, then I'll be on my way then."
"Alright." Krystal, Kristina's best friend didn't live far. She was right at the freeway that took her to Kristina's apartment on 8 mile (West 8 mile, not east 8 mile like in the movie. She had to check people on that all the time) Quickly she slid on her wet seal low riders and off the shoulder pink lace shirt ready for Krystal to come and get her for a day of shopping at Fairlane Mall. She figured now that she was talking to Justin, the least she could do was get a hot outfit just in case she saw him again. Note the words in case, what if this was just some fling? What if it he wasn't serious about this? Was she? All these thoughts clouded her mind until her Nextel rung again.
"Bring ya ass on out."
"Alright" she laughed. If anyone could get her out of crazy thoughts it was her girl. They had went to a small private Lutheran high school with only 69 students in total together but didn't become friends till that last year and now they were inseparable, weird huh? "Who you trying to look cute for?"
"What you talking about? Its warm!"
"Yeah whatever, you letting this little Justin Timberlake thing get to your brain."
"And?"
"And I don't blame you, come on lets go get something for you to wear for the next time you see him." If there was a next time.
************************
"And did I tell ya...."
"Yes Justin, you told us that Kristina likes He-Man the movie almost as much as you do. I swear I feel like I'm dating her from everything you told us."
"Shut up Chris, I think our boy here has just got a taste of love at first sight" J.C. said putting his arm around his buddy Justin. He was happy for him. His whole break up with Britney was more than crazy and that whole delusion he thought was a girlfriend with Cameron was just out of this world. They were polar opposites and even though he and Justin considered each other brothers, he knew deep down inside Justin was hiding the fact that he was really only dating Cameron for publicity. This, what he had from just one conversation with this girl Kristina was the real deal. He didn't know how to explain it, but it was something about Justin's presence was just different. There was a spark in his eye that you just couldn't really duplicate, that spark that something was happening. A little thing called love. he didn't want his friend to jump the gun so fast but if he was happy and she made him happy even if it was some little phone call then more power to him.
"Yeah, yeah yeah" Justin tried to scoff. Sure he was trying to play it cool but it was written all over his face. Suddenly Justin's phone began to ring. He was hoping it was Kristina but instead it was someone else.
"Is this Justin's number?!" This was definitely another teenage fan that somehow once again got his number. He had to continuously get new numbers because people kept getting his number and bugging him. Without saying anything he just hung up the phone.
"Damn I gotta get another phone."
"Another fan?'
"Yup."
"Damn man, that's like you're 3rd phone in a month?"
"Try 4th. I think I'm going to get something more sleek this time."
"Cool." Justin waited after the fellas got a little food on their stomachs before finding an empty AT&T to stop in and get a new phone. Justin got a nice little sleek blue phone with a new number.
"Let me see your phone." Justin passed it over to Lance.
"Very very nice man. So did you save your numbers?"
"Huh?"
"The numbers from your old phone, did you save them."
"I have them all up here" he said tapping his forehead. Wait, well except one, Kristina's!" Justin wanted to stop the tour bus but it was too late, they were far away. He didn't have Kristina's number remembered nor did he have it written down. He threw the paper away once he stored it in his phone. If he could bend over and kiss himself in the ass he certainly would. Justin's face turned pale and everyone knew what happened.
"Please tell me you didn't write Kristina's number down!!"
********************
"I must say so myself, those are some cute outfits you've got." That was a compliment from Krystal who only opted for blues and blacks. Kristina was different, she loved reds, oranges, pinks, yellows, etc.
"Thanks." Kristina carried her bags from C'e la vie, Express,Moci and Fashion Cafe. She had been saving up money for the longest and today was her day to go and spend some of that. She found the cutest Ecko white jumpsuit(think J'lo's I'm real at the end where she's dancing) a cute blue striped dress, a Detroit Piston's jersey dress, some hot low rider jeans and a white halter with Scareface on the front and last but not least a cute black pair of pants and salmon pink sweater. She was out some duckets but she definitely had some new cute clothes. So now after they completely shopped, they were ready to drop.
"Want some Starbucks?"
"Of course, I could kill for a Tazo berry." Krystal and Kristina walked up to the starbucks booth but something was amiss. "Um Krys, did I put my purse in one of these bags?"
"Um no you had it in your hand." Kristina looked around and around her purse wasn't to be found. "Ohmygosh I lost my purse!" They both went to each store and looked and looked, no purse in sight. Finally they made their way back to Sam Goody, the last place they went to.
"Have you seen a little black Gucci handbag?"
"Yeah someone just turned this in." The Cashier passed Kristina her purse. Everything was in there, luckily for her she always put her money in her pockets. But something was missing, her phone. "Damn someone ganked me for my phone." Suddenly Gone began to play on the televisions above them. Kristina could've literally jumped over the railing of the third floor. Her cell phone had Justin's number on it! She didn't have it memorized!
"I'm guessing from the fainty look plastered across your face Justin's number was on that phone and you have no clue what it is by heart huh?"
Chapter 3
"They are not going to let me in!" "Yes they will." "Krystal, everyone tells me that I look younger than what I already am. This is a 21 and up club, most people assume I'm 16!" Due to her height, 5'3 and her baby face everyone always thought Kristina was much younger than what she really was despite the fact she was a few months older than all her friends.
"Look grandma you're going to get in, now stop fidgeting and come on." Kristina took one deep breath and moved up with Krystal in the Club Blue line. Finally they made it to the front of the line. Before Kristina and Krystal could even pull out their fake Id's the guards let them in. Krystal grabbed Kristina's hand and led her on in. She knew that she would probably freeze up from shock if she hadn't moved her, it would've been obvious that she wasn't of age. "Didn't you say Jasmine and Darnise was going to be here?"
"Yeah, somewhere around here." Jasmine and Darnise were Kristina's friends from another small private school, except middle school. They all made a date to go to Canada and hang out at some club. Practically anyone who grew up in Detroit crossed the AmbassadorBridge and went to club over in Canada. The clubs were better and youonly had to be 19 to drink there. This was her first time there. Shewas never a club person but she loved to dance. The hot bodies dancedupon each other as Krystal and Kristina made their way through thecrowd. They made their way and found Jasmine and Darnise, along with Chris and Prince Jeter, two more people she went to middle school with.
"Hey you made it!" Jasmine hugged her friend.
"Yeah."
"We were wondering when you were going to come already!"
"Took some time on the bridge since my birth certificate is kind of ratty."
"Oh, well have a seat." Kristina and Krystal sat down with the rest. They ordered up some drinks and talked as the hip hop music played above them. ****************
"Thanks" Justin reached over for the beer he asked Chris to get for him. They were all chilling out after a concert in Windsor. It was one of their last one for their promotional tour and they wanted to celebrate. They had been on tour for almost 6 months and tonight it was all over. Thank goodness! Their nights had been filled with going from city to city, radio show to television show to in store appearances, so it wasn't so bad keep Kristina off his mind but it was still hard none the less. How could he be so stupid to loose her number? He was sure that she kept calling him but with his new number she wouldn't be able to get in contact with him. The guys knew how disappointed he was. Watching him beat himself up for an honest mistake was hard. J.C. more than all of them knew how crazy he was for this girl and now everything was right out the window. The tour was now over and they would have off time for the next 3 months. Detroit was a big city and there was a possibility that he wouldn't find her.
"Poor Justin" J.C. thought to himself. If there was anyway he could help him. J.C. walked over to Justin who was nursing his cold Corona. "Dude why don't you find someone to dance with?"
"We've been dancing for the past 6 months, I'm not really up for it. I just want to chill and relax, ya know?"
"Yeah, but you might meet someone you know."
"I met someone."
"Justin, dude I'm your best friend and I love ya but you aren't going to see Kristina again. Don't keep yourself in the dark, you're young go out and have fun. Apparently it wasn't meant to be." Justin just shrugged him off and pulled the cold beer up to his mouth. Maybe it wasn't meant to be, but that didn't take the pain away.
*************************
"I love this song!" Kristina said dancing along in her chair.
"Well come on then" Chris grabbed Kristina's hand and led her to the crowded floor. Luckily for them they found a spot that wasn't too crowded. Darnise, Krystal, Jasmine and Prince all followed along. Change Clothes by Jay-Z got the whole crowd moving, especially the 5 friends. Each were all pretty good dancers, even catching a few of the others in the clubs eye with their moves that came natural to them but seemed like they were straight out of a music video. Kristina could move her ass with the best of them, Beyonce, Shakira, J'Lo. She and Chris moved their hips along to the beat as well as Prince and Krystal while Jasmine and Darnise dance with each other. Everyone separated and moved amongst another partner, still dancing along to the music.
"Me and you?!" Kristina yelled over the music.
"Yeah come on!" Jasmine grabbed Kristina's hand and Darnise danced behind her. They were all comfortable dancing with each other like that because none of them were gay they were just having a good time. Grinding up against each other, gave most of the guys in the club sweat marks. Seeing the girls dance like that was almost every guys fantasy.
"What's going on down there?" Joey asked. "Hmmm?"
"Its like some huge crowd or something forming." Justin, Lance, J.C. and Chris got up from the table and looked down from their VIP lounge to the main floor. There down on the floor were three girls dancing up against one another causing almost every guy to watch. Every N*syncer looked wide eyed at the women who were dancing. Justin's heart almost stopped when the girl in the middle moved her hair. It was Kristina! How was that possible?! Without saying anything Justin bolted from where he was standing and ran for the stairs.
"Where is he going?" J.C. looked a little harder, that was her.
"Dude that's Kristina!"
"Huh?"
"The girl that's been obsessing with! That's her in the middle!" They all took another glance. That was her alright in the flesh getting down. The last time they saw her she was wearing jeans and a tan shirt now tonight she had on this sexy blue striped dress that just made it past her underwear and these killer heels that showed off her legs. The song had now changed to My love is like Whoa and only Kristina and Prince stayed on the floor dancing. Though she wasn't far away it seemed like it took forever to get to her through the crowd. Jealously rode through Justin's body. The way she was dancing up against that guy made him mad. Sure they weren't in a relationship in fact they only talked that once but J.C. was right, he had fallen head over heels for this girl and he didn't want her dancing up on another guy like that. Just then Justin was stalled by some people standing in front of him. He couldn't let her get away not this time. "Kristina!! Kristina!!" Kristina could've sworn she heard her name being called. But all her friends were close so she would've heard it better. From a distance she looked around for whoever it was calling her. "Kristina!!" Kristina turned around and there standing about 25 feet was Justin. This had to be a dream right? Maybe she had too many Rum and Cokes because this just wasn't happening.
"Is that who I think it is?" Prince asked. Ok, if Prince saw him then he had to be there! Happily she left Prince and began making her way towards Justin.
"You then mess with the wrong muthafuka now bitch!!" Two guys in the distance began to fight but neither noticed. They were just happy to see one another.
"Justin!" she smiled, making her way towards. Finally they were within 2 feet of each other. Neither could believe that this was happening. Just before they were about to grab out for one another gun shots erupted in the crowd. Kristina ducked down a little not knowing where it was coming from. Justin looked around as the crowd now began to dismember.
"What the fuck?!"
"Kristina we gotta get out of here!!"
"Huh?!" Krystal grabbed her arm and yanked her away. "No wait!"
"No wait?! I ain't waiting around here to turn into a sponge, come on!"
"Wait Justin." Just tried to catch up with them but was stopped by someone grip. He looked back. It was his bodyguard Terrance.
"Justin we need to jet before this get out of hand."
"No, I'm leaving with them."
"No you're leaving with me." Just tried to fight against the 6'4 300 pound man but it was no use. He kept his eyes on the crowd hoping to see Kristina but it wasn't working. The five guys and their bodyguard hopped into their Excursion and sped off.
"Dude I'm sorry about what happened" Lance said trying to pat Justin's shoulder.
"Don't fucking touch me." Justin got up and moved to the back seats that were empty.
"Kristina, say something" Jasmine said. They had known each other for 8 years now, Darnise 11, they both knew when their friend was upset and she was definitely upset.
"I have nothing to say. Tonight was the first time I went to a club where I almost got killed."
"That's not what's bothering you." Kristina sighed, they were right.
"I was just dragged away from quite possibly the best thing that's walked into my life."