Falling Into Love

***Back in the Room***

The 6 left in the room had broken off into seperate conversations. Joey and Justin were talking about the show, what to change, and what to keep. Lance and Stacy were off in their own little world. Chris and Jana were getting to know each other.

"I don't know how to thank you enough for what you did. I could have been seriously hurt and then we would have had to cancel or postpone a lot of shows." Chris said.

"I'm just glad we noticed." Jana said. "Do you mind if I ask you what happened?" Jana wasn't sure if he would mind that Stacy had already told, so she decided to wait and let him tell her if he wanted to.

"Well, long story short, my girlfriend broke up with my a couple days ago. She was the first girl I let into my heart." Chris told her. Jana could tell this was painful for him to talk about.

"If you don't wanna talk about it it's ok." Jana told him.

"Do you wanna go for a walk?" Chris asked, standing up and holding his hand out to help her up.

"I'd love to." Jana said as they left the room.

"I wonder where they are going." Stacy said breaking out of the conversation between her and Lance.

"I don't know, probably off to have meaningless unadulterated sex." Lance said with a laugh. Stacy just shook her head at him.

"I can't believe that ya'll are leaving in just a few minutes." Stacy told Lance. "I wish you could just come home with me. I miss you so much."

"I know. I do too, but, I do have an idea." Lance said, breaking into a smile.

"What's that?" Stacy said, knowing he couldn't mean he was actually going to come home.

"Well, the guys and I talked about it the other day, and they said that it was ok with them if you wanted to come on the road with us for the rest of the summer. I mean, that is if you want to. Living with 5 guys on a bus for 3 months may not be your idea of a summer vacation, and I would understand if you say no. But I would really love for you to." Lance told her, kinda worried what she would say.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS???" Stacy practically screamed. "I would love to. Are you sure you want me to, and the guys don't mind??"

"Well, if you keep screaming like that we'll take it back!" Justin said from across the room.

"Oh no, you won't! You've said ok and I'm making you stick to it!" Stacy said as she gave Lance a huge hug. "I can't believe it. Oh, I've got to call my parents and get some clothes and..." She didn't have time to finish because Lance leaned over and kissed her. He knew if he didn't, she wouldn't stop till she listed everything, including buying Christmas presents!

"Hey, whats all the excitement??" JC asked as him and Leah entered the room. They heard Stacy screaming all the way down the hall.

"Lance just invited me to join you for the rest of the summer!"

"Oh yeah, that." JC said, like it was no big deal. "It'll be fun having you with us, Stacy. Now we have someone to cook, clean, do our laundry-- ya know, all that stuff."

"I said I was coming, not a maid! If you expect me to do that stuff you're sadly mistaken." Stacy said laughing at them. She had seen their bus and knew how bad they could be.

***Outside***

"...and thats basically the whole story." Chris finished. He had just told Jana about what happened between him and Heather, and the concert mess up. He found himself telling her things he didn't even tell the guys. She was so easy to talk to and that's what he needed. Someone he didn't see everyday, that he could talk to. The guys were his best friends, but sometimes he needed an outside perspective. Jana listened to everything he said. She looked truly concerned for him. They had already walked most the way across the building, and decided to turn around, and head back to the room. As they approached Chris stopped before they went in so he could tell Jana thanks again. "I really do appreciate your listening to me ramble all night."

"Really, it was not a problem. I don't know if you'll want to-- but if you do, I could give you my number and e-mail address if you ever need to talk." Jana told him.

" I would really like that. You are a real sweet girl. I hope we can be friends." Chris told her and really meaning it.

"I would like that. Here ya go." Jana said, handing him a piece of paper with her information on it.

***Back in the Room***

Leah looked around the room, and noticed Jana and Chris were both gone. "Hey, where did Jana go? And Chris?"

"Oh, we don't know. They left a little while ago and didn't say where they were going." Justin said. Just then the door opened and Jana and Chris walked in, both smiling.

"And where have you too been??? Hmmmm??" Leah asked in a questioning tone.

"We just went for a walk." Jana said with as little explanation as possible.

"Well guys, the bus is about to pull out. I think it's time to go." Joey said. "Leah, Jana, it was really great to meet you both." He said as he turned to leave.

"Yeah, it really was. Sorry we didn't get to talk more. Ya'll both seem really nice." Justin said as he gave them both a hug and left.

"I have a feeling we are going to be good friends. She's really easy to talk to." Chris said. It had been awhile since he'd had a girl that was just a friend. He really missed it. Both of them turned and went back to the bus, thinking about the two girls who just drove away.

***Leah's Car***

Both girls had done their best to stay calm till they got away from the guys. After they were a safe distance from them, Leah turned to Jana "Now?"

"Yeah--" Jana said, and Leah pulled over to the side of the road, and put the car in park. At that moment both girls started screaming uncontrollably. "I can't believe we met them!!!!! Oh, my gosh! This has been the best night of my life!!!!!" Jana was in total shock of what all had happened.

"I KNOW!!!" Leah screamed back as she pulled back into the road. "So, where did you and Chris dissappear to?" Leah couldn't stand not knowing.

"Oh, just for a walk...ya know nothing really." Jana said, trying to be as vague as possible cause she knew it was killing Leah.

"GIRL! You better tell me or your riding in the trunk all the way home!"

"Ok. I'll just take out your CD player while I'm back there." Jana said, and they both laughed, thinking back to when that first started. "Ok, he just needed someone to talk to about his ex-girlfriend. I mainly just listened to him. What about you and JC? I know he didn't wanna just show you where the bathroom was! Did you see the way he looked at you, girl??"

"Yeah, he was nervous. It was so cute. But I don't think it was anything like that. I did get his e-mail address, so I will write him soon, I think. Just to see what's going on." Leah said laughing. She started thinking about her and JC. "Could Jana be right? Did he really like me like that? Nah-- there are girls around him all the time. I'm sure he was just being nice."

***The Bus***

"Hey ya'll, lets take some pictures real quick." Joey said

"Man, we're all tired-- can't we do it another time??" Lance complained.

No. You know we take the funniest pics right after a concert! Plus, when we're tired, we get crazier." Justin said looking at Joey. They really needed to take these pics tonight.

"Come on Lance, just do it. Here-- there's no way I'm taking any looking like this!" Stacy said as she grabbed the camera from Joey. The guys got together and started posing. There were about 20 pics left on this role, and she figured the guys had another roll with them. She just started snapping and finished that role, and as she figured, the guys passed her another roll.

***Hotel***

"Hey Jana, give me my camera-- I wanna put it away so I won't have to pack anything, except what I use in the morning." Leah said as she was walking around the room gathering stuff up after her shower.

"I don't have it. I thought you did." Jana said, looking confused.

"Ok wait, we had it last when we were backstage. Then I took it to the...OH NO! I left it in the room!!!! NO NO NO! All our pictures gone." Leah sat on the bed about to cry.

"Ok wait, lets calm down maybe it's in the car. I'll go check." Jana said as she grabbed Leah's keys and rushed out the door. She was trying to stay calm, but she was panicking herself. While gone, Leah decided to try and call the Coliseum and maybe someone would still be there. Both came up empty. They agreed there was nothing to do about it now and they would try to get back into the coliseum in the morning.

***Bus***

"Ok, that was the last picture." Stacy said. She took almost 50 pics of the guys in some of the weirdest poses. They even managed to get her in a few. Her personal favorite was the one where Joey was messing around, and ran over to Chris and kissed him. She was lucky she got the pic because they would NEVER do it again! Everybody died laughing, and at first Chris was too stunned to speak, then he tried to get the film from Stacy-- chasing her all around the bus. The guys ended up tackling him to get him to stop chasing her.

"I'll be right back." Justin said and went up to talk to the driver. "Can we stop here?" He asked, giving the driver the name of a hotel.

"Sure thing, Justin."

"Thanks man, it won't take but a minute." with that Justin went back with the rest of the guys. "Joey, it's all done." He said to where only he could hear. Joey and Justin then collected all the film and camera, and put it back in it's case.

***5am the next Morning***

"Jana, if we're going to make it back to Tuscaloosa by 10 we HAVE to leave! COME ON! We're doing this for you!" Leah yelled. Jana was running late as usual. "We still have to stop at the coliseum!"

"OK OK! I'm here!" Jana said, running out of the bathroom with her toothbrush in her hand, and with the other brushing her hair.

***Front Desk***

"Here are our keys--" Leah said as she gave them to the man at the front desk.

"I hope you enjoyed your stay. Oh, and this was left for you last night." The clerk said. Leah looked at what the clerk was holding and about freaked out.

"JANA! Look! The guys must have found it last night. And look here's a note from the guys:

Dear Leah and Jana,
We found your camera after you left last night. Here it is. I hope
you didn't worry about it too much. It was great to meet you both. Thanx
again!

YOUR fans,
Justin, Joey, JC, Chris, Lance, and Stacy

...oh that was so sweet! I always knew they were sweet guys and tonight is pure proof. I can't wait to get all these developed! I'm going to do it as soon as I get home, and I'll get you a copy, and you can have it as soon as you get back." Leah said.

***The next Saturday***

"Hello?" Leah said answering her phone.

"Hey Chick! What up??" Jana answered

"Hey girl! When did you get back??"

"Late last night. How ya been?"

"Pretty good! Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, it was great!"

"Oh, I've got a HUGE surprise for you!"

"REALLY?? Cool. I love surprises!"

"Well, get your butt over here!"

"Ok. I need to check my email. Can I do that there?"

"Sure, just hurry! I am about to burst!"

"Ok, be there soon!"

***20 min Later at Leah's house***

"Ok, so what is it????" Jana said as soon as she walked in the door.

"These!" Leah said as she handed Jana the pictures. When Jana realized what they were, she squealed and Leah laughed at her. "Just wait till you see what they are of!"

"Well, *Nsync of course! But I thought we only took one roll."

"Just take a look--

"OH MY GOSH! Where did these come from???" Jana asked in total surprise.

"I guess the guys took them before they gave it back." Leah said. It was the only thing she could think of.

The girls spent the next hour looking at all the pictures. There were so many of them. There was a really good group shot of them, including Stacy. Then some of them beating up on each other. Jana's personal fave was the one where Chris and Joey are kissing. She was dying to hear from Chris, so she could ask him about that one. Leah loved the one of JC leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. It was one of the few crazy ones. She assumed she had Stacy to thank for that one. After they finished looking at the pictures for the second time, they headed downstairs so Jana could check her e-mail.

"Woo Hoo! People love me!" Jana said when she saw she had mail.

"Anything good?" Leah asked.

"I don't know yet. Let's see the Daily Bible Verse, thanks for covering for me by the way!"

"Yeah well, you'll owe me!"

"I know, I know. Let's see...da da da...boring stuff...oh, this one looks interesting. OH, MY GOSH! Leah ,guess who it's from!" Jana almost screamed.

"Who??"

"Chris!"

"What does he say???" She asks, jumping off the couch and running to the computer.

***Chris' E-mail***

Hey Jana!
What's up? I hope everything went well on your trip. We've been really busy around here with the tour and all. I know I've said it, but I really do mean it, thank you so much for what you did at the concert. During and after. :) Tell, Leah that JC says "Hi" and will write as soon as he can, and Stacy says the same thing. Joey and Justin say hello too, and wonder if you liked their surprise? I don't know what they are talking about, but they said you would know. Let me know! Well, it's really late and I need to get my rest for the concert tommorrow night.

Chris

***Jana's Reply***

Chris,
Hey! It was great to hear from you! My trip was awesome--not as good as your show, though! We did a lot of shopping and sunning! You're very welcome for the whole thing at the concert, but stop thanking me, it was my pleasure! I'm glad I could help you--both times. Leah sends her hello to everyone. Oh, and about Joey and Justin's surprise, I can't believe you didn't know, you were in on it! I guess they took our camera while we were both outta the room, and then returned it to our hotel before ya'll left Nashville. They finished up the last 2 rolls we had. Tell them we loved the surprise and the pics were wonderful and funny! Well, I have to get going, but it was really great to hear from you again! And break a leg--but not literally!--at your next show!

Jana

***Back to Reality***

"Wow Leah, I can't believe he e-mailed me." Jana said,when she signed off.

"That's so cool! Hey, do you wanna do something tonight?"

"I would love to, except I have to go over to Rob's house to get the rest of my stuff from this week. Justin is supposed to meet me in about 30 min, actually."

"You just spent a week with the boy! I swear, you're joined at the hip!" Leah said. Leah and her sister liked to make fun of Jana because she was always with Justin. Of course, not Justin of *Nsync. Justin was her best friend for the past year.

"No! But, I can't go much longer without all my stuff! How about we do something tomorrow after church?? We can go to lunch. K?" Jana asked.

"All righty, then. Well, if you're going to meet him you better go. And don't forget you're copy of the pics." Leah said.

"Ok, I'll give you a call when I get out of church tomorrow. Invite Angela if you want to." Jana said as she hopped in her car and headed out.

Leah went back inside to get online. Before she could the phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hey. Leah?"

"Yeah, this is her. Who is this?"

"So you've forgotten me already?" The voice on the other end said.

"Well, give me a hint." Leah told him.

"Jaunary 28th 1995--" He told her.

"Hmmm, that date sounds fami...JEFF???" Leah practically screamed, when she realized that January 28th, 1995 was the day of their first date. Leah hadn't seen him in almost a year.

"You guessed it."

"Where are you??"

"I'm at home-- well, my parents house. I just moved back here and I'm looking for a place of my own." He told her. "I was mainly calling to see what you were up to and if you would like to go out to lunch tomorrow."

"Oh, normally I would say yes, but I just made plans to go to lunch with Jana. You remember her, right?"

"Yeah, I think we met once or twice. Well, I don't wanna intrude on that. What about Monday?"

"All right, we can do that." They made plans to meet around 11:30 Monday, and then they hung up. Leah started to think back to the time when she and Jeff had dated. They always had fun together. They dated their last semester in High School and all through that summer. They even planned on going to college together. Then one day he told her he got a full scholarship to the University of Texas. They talked about staying together, but both knew it couldn't happen. He would regret it for the rest of his life. Then they decided to go ahead and spend the rest of the summer together, and then break up when he went away. They were both starting something new and a little overwhelming, and knew they needed to focus on that and not a long distance relationship. They made sure to get together everytime he was in town, though. Each of them have dated over the past few years, but non of those relationships even compared to the one they once shared.

***On the Bus***

"That show last night really wore me out." Chris said as he walked into the room. Everyone else was already up. Stacy, Lance, and Joey were watching some news show on TV. Actually, Stacy and Lance were watching, and Joey was trying to get them to turn on something funnier. Justin was talking with Dre, and JC was on the computer. He decided to see what JC was up to. "Whatcha doing?"

"Oh, I finally decided to e-mail Leah. I've put it off so long because I wasn't sure what to say to her. I hope she didn't think I forgot about her." JC told him.

"If she does, she's totally wrong, because that's practically all you do think about." Chris said, joking with him. But it was true. He noticed JC zoning out a few times the last few weeks, and anytime he asked what he was thinking about, it was always Leah. She really did something to him.

"Ok Joey, we'll watch what you want now." Stacy said, after she saw what she wanted to on the news. As soon as Joey got the remote he changed it to cartoons. Chris heard the show come on, and immediatly went over there to watch with Joey, leaving JC to finish his letter a lone.

***JC's Letter to Leah***

Dear Leah,
Hi! How have you been? I'm sorry it took so long to write you. We've been really busy with the tour and all. I really had a nice time talking to you the other night and I hope you can make it down here for our Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa concerts. Hope to hear from you soon.

JC

***Back of the Bus***

"So Stacy, how have you been enjoying this so far?" Lance asked her. She had been on the road with them for about a week now.

"I'm loving every minute of it! I am so happy we get to be together everyday. I don't ever wanna be apart again. I can't wait till we get married." Stacy said, looking at her ring yet again.

"I know-- I can't wait, either." Lance told her as he pulled her close for a kiss. "But you know, marrying me is marrying my music, and basically the other guys, too. I've always had one definition and that was music. Now I have two-- and the second one is you. You'll always come first in my life. Please know that. But, my job is a close second." He said as he kissed her again.

"I know how dedicated you are to your music and I would never ever make you give it up. It is a part of you, just like you are a part of me. I will never make you chose between me and the music." He kissed her again. She loved this. Being able to talk to him and look into his eyes at the same time. It had been so long since they had seen each other for such a long period of time. When she first started out on this trip she thought that they wouldn't get much time to themselves, but he made sure they always did.

***Sunday at Lunch***

Leah and Jana were at lunch at one of their favorite restaurants, O'Charlies. They had just placed their drink orders and were looking at the menu. Both already knowing what they wanted. It was what they usually got there. Loaded Potato soup and Virgin Strawberry Daquri. "So Leah, have you heard from Stacy or JC?" Jana asked.

"I heard from Stacy. She just wanted to know how we have been. I gave her your address when I wrote her back. Oh, and you know how I'm going down to Tampa at the end of May?" Jana just nodded a yes. "Well, the guys are doing a couple shows there the 24th and 25th, but before then they will be in Ft. Lauderdale. She invited us to fly down there and then meet up with them, and then travel with them to Tampa, and then I could meet up with my family there. And I talked to my mom and she said it would be ok if you wanted to just stay with us till we came home." Leah explained.

"Wow, I would love that! When is it?" Jana asked, thinking about seeing them again.

"Well, thats the bad part it's the 22nd and 23rd. Thats when they will be in Ft. Lauderdale." Leah said, hoping Jana would still be able to go.

"That's two days from now! Can we get tickets??"

"Yeah, they have a flight leaving tomorrow afternoon."

"My parents are going to kill me for leaving again so soon, but I can't say no."

"Oh, and guess who called me yesterday!" Leah said, suddenly remembering. Jana just gave her the "who?" look. "Jeff!" Jana almost chocked on her food when Leah told her.

"Oh, my gosh! You haven't heard from him in forever. Where is he?"

"He's back here and we're going to have lunch tomorrow. I hate to leave right after he gets home but I can't say no to seeing *Nsync again." Leah said as Jana started to think about when he left and how heart broken Leah was. Jana had always thought those two would get married. "Now that he's moved back," Leah continued. "I wonder if maybe he'll wanna date again." She couldn't help but wonder this. They always talked about getting back together when he moved back.