AN: In which JC finally makes a move, albeit a stupid one, but a move none the less.  
And I think I finally got some inspiration back on this story.  Let's hear it for 
sappy ballads, 98` style!  

Feedback.

Adoration.

Smiles.

inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com



************************* Blindsided: Chapter Fourteen ***********************



Laura was part of the crowd by the time *NSYNC crowded onto the stage for their segment 
of TRL.  It looked smaller than on TV, not that she had seen it often.  She was an untried 
factor in the entertainment industry and she never failed to be grateful to Johnny for 
the opportunity he had provided for her when he had taken a chance on a young, shy 
assistant so many months ago.

Laura had come a long way since her first day though, when she had been star struck by 
Justin and had vowed to worship Chris because he had gone out of his way to introduce 
himself and smile nicely at her.  Laura smiled proudly at her boys from her perch in the 
wings of the adoring studio audience.  She had turned off her headset so she could 
concentrate on their segment of the show.

They looked comfortable up there, like they belonged, and they did.  Joey was grinning 
with the presence of a true actor, while Lance looked mildly uncomfortable, like he 
often did during television interviews, especially live ones.  Chris seemed more than 
happy to feed off the energy of the enthusiastic crowd and Justin was basking in his 
spotlight, though he took the time to wink impudently at her right before TRL came back 
from commercial.  JC looked, well, distracted, like he had more important things going 
on in his head than being a guest and the number one video on the long running TRL.  

Laura wondered if he was thinking about music.  She saw his lips moving quietly to 
himself and smiled.  Sometimes, she knew him too well.  

Carson Daly was host today.  He came back sometimes for special shows with important 
guests.  He smiled as well as the "On Air" sign flashed on.  "Welcome back to the show.  
Today we have some very special guests.  Everyone, you might remember them from back in 
the day, join me in welcoming back our favorite pop group, *NSYNC, with their video 
going on its second week at number one."  The audience burst into appropriate applause.  

Carson talked to the guys for a couple of minutes, asking some general questions to 
catch the fans up on what the five of them had been doing since their last album and 
before this one, Forever.  Right before Carson had them announce themselves as the 
triumphant number one video he asked his last question, "All right, all right, business 
aside, I know you all have been asked this a million times but, before the video, what is 
everyone's relationship status?"    

Laura rolled her eyes but grinned as Chris jumped in eagerly.  "I'm currently single and 
looking...  I like long walks on the beach and slow bubble baths."  

Carson raised his brows.  "Don't you mean long bubble baths and slow walks on the beach?"  

Chris's saucy grin was answer enough and he smirked, pleased with himself, as the audience 
hooted.  He nudged the disgruntled Joey to go next.  

"Umm I'm not in anything too serious and not looking to be.  I may not be a spring chicken 
but I'm definitely not as old as Chris."  

Lance was chuckling when he answered simply, "I'm not seeing anyone right now."  

Girls swooned.  

Justin was next and rubbed the back of his buzzed curls, obviously uncomfortable.  It was 
an unusual occurrence to see him so awkward in the spotlight because no matter how insecure 
he really was in real life, Justin Timberlake was King in front of audiences.  "I'm, 
uhh..." he cleared his throat nervously before continuing in a sudden rush, "I'm seeing 
someone.  Its pretty new so I won't mention names but she's pretty special to me and I 
just wanted her to know that."  

Laura silently cheered him and hoped desperately that Jess was watching.  

"How come this so called special someone doesn't already know how much she means to you?" 
Carson asked jokingly.  

Justin winced and shrugged sheepishly.  "I'm a fool, that's why."  

The audience laughed through its collective disappointment and turned its attention to JC.  

JC blinked, obviously started out of his daydreams of music and song and melody.  He looked 
befuddled.  He looked adorable.  Laura shook herself, hard, and waited for him to answer 
that he, along with the majority of *NSYNC, was single.  "Oh, well," he tugged on his 
overly long bangs absently with heart stopping sweetness, "I'm currently seeing someone.  
Its sort of serious, at least I hope it is."  

Laura felt like she had just been punched in the gut.  

Carson coughed, startled by JC's proud and candid response as the rest of *NSYNC frowned 
in confusion.  "Is there a name to go with this hopefully serious girlfriend?"  

Joshua Chasez nodded happily.  "Of course, Laura, Laura Danon."  

Make that sucker punched.  Sometimes she didn't know Jayce at all.

Chris and Justin's eyes were bulging out of their heads as they stared in mute shock at 
their band mate.  Lance had his eyes squeezed shut as he rubbed his brow, warding off a 
fierce headache.  Joey was the most calm, at least outwardly, but his face was a bright, 
scarlet red.  

The camera swung in to focus on *NSYNC's assistant but she was gone, having slipped out 
before the crew alerted people as to who she was.  "Okay, wow, let's umm get on with the 
number one video before we run out of time.  Coming in at number one, again, is *NSYNC with 
'Let me Love You'.  Thanks for coming down guys..."

The video immediately began to play.

***************************************************************************************

JC knocked timidly on Laura's hotel room.  He had fled from TRL without his band mates, 
wishing to avoid their wrath, though the only anger he actually feared with that of the 
woman who unknowingly held his heart.  He knew the guys hoped he would take a more active 
role in wooing her.  

Or seducing her.  

But somehow he thought the scene he had made this afternoon wasn't quite the action they 
had been hoping for...

Laura opened the door, looking tired.  She had been crying, JC noticed with a swift pang 
as he took in her red eyes and flushed cheeks.  She had changed into soft flannel pajamas 
even though it was only mid-day, and her glasses were shoved back into her soft brown hair.  

He sucked in a sharp breath.  JC had never seen another woman look more beautiful.  He 
swallowed the words for now, as well as his urge to pet her, and asked instead, "Can I 
come in?"  

She sighed wearily and tried to run a hand through her hair, stopping when she realized 
that her glasses were in the way.  He swallowed a smile.  "Yeah," Laura finally answered, 
"Come on in C."

They settled down with comfortable familiarity on Laura's bed and stared at each other.  
He waited for her to break the silence, passing the time by silently tallying every mark 
of her incredible beauty in his head.  JC was up to fifty-seven by the time she spoke.  

"What the heck was that today Jayce?"  

He shrugged with fluid grace and watched how the hotel lighting highlighted the soft curves 
of Laura's cheeks.  "I dunno."  

"You dunno?!"  

JC flinched.  She sounded mad, and panicked.  

"Josh, I mean, that was, why would you say something so absurd?  If you're going to make 
up a girlfriend at least pick someone believable, a actress or a model, even a porn star..."  

His head snapped up, affronted.  "But I meant everything I said!"  

"JC," Laura said, her voice a warning.  

He frowned fiercely, "But I did.  How can you not see how wonderful you are?  You're 
creative and kind and speak fluent German for no reason other than loving the language.  
You hate Kevin Richardson.  You never paint your toe nails and you wear your glasses 
perched on the tip of your nose and..."  

Laura shook her head and pressed her hands over her ears.  "Stop Jayce, just stop!  Its okay, 
it doesn't matter.  I don't want to talk about it.  Let's, let's just forget what happened 
and not talk about it.  Can we do that?"  

He looked at her with soft, wounded eyes.  "If you want to."  

She swallowed and was almost lost in their sapphire depths.  "I do," Laura whispered.  

JC nodded once and looked down, breaking his hypnotizing gaze.  "Still friends?" he asked 
in a small voice.  

Laura blinked heavily and nodded, not at all sure about what had just happened.  "Always."  

Joshua Chasez hugged her so tightly she forgot to breathe.  Laura Danon hugged him back hard 
enough that they were both breathless and just as confused as before.