Chapter 7:
*2 days later*
JC finished loading everything in Michelle's car while she said good-bye to her family. "Are you sure you don't want to come down and help," she asked her parents.
Her mom smiled, "No honey, you and your friends can handle it. We don't want to get in the way."
"We'll come down for a visit after all the work is done," her dad said with a laugh.
She hugged her parents and sister. JC came over to shake her dad's hand and to hug her mom and sister. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of her."
"We know you will," her mom said.
"Michelle, we better go. We have a long drive."
"Okay," she said before hugging her family one last time. JC held the passenger door open for her while she climbed in. He got in on the driver's side.
"Are you ready to do this," he asked before starting the car.
She nodded her head, "Yes, everyone else is waiting. Justin was with Krystine in her car, and Lance, Stacy, Chris and Joey were in a rental car.
"Michelle, why don't you try to get some sleep. You look tired."
She wiped a tear that had rolled down her cheek, "Good idea. Are you sure you are okay to drive?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I got plenty of sleep last night. Don't worry about me," he said as he took her hand in his.
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before settling back to sleep.
****Krystine's car****
"Thanks for riding with me, Justin. It would not have been fun to try to make this drive by myself."
Justin smiled, "My pleasure. Whenever you want me to drive, I'll be happy to. I don't think you want to drive for 13 hours."
"No, I don't-- trust me. I will let you know when I get tired."
"So, have you ever been to Orlando?"
Krystine laughed, "Actually........no, I haven't. I went to Disney World when I was two years old, but that doesn't count. This is a totally new experience for me. All I know is that my apartment is about a mile from Michelle's."
"Oh, you are going to love Orlando," Justin said. "I will be happy to show you around."
Krystine smiled, "That would be terrific!"
****In the rental car****
"Joey, could you turn that music down please," Stacy asked from the back-seat.
"Hey Stacy, you okay? You look pretty rough," Chris asked as he looked in the rear view mirror.
"Yeah, I'm just tired. I stayed up late with Michelle last night. She was upset about moving away from her family."
Lance put his arm around Stacy, "I think we should do what we can to keep Michelle from being homesick. That means being nice you two."
Joey looked innocent, "What'd we do?"
Stacy laughed at him, "You never do anything, Joey! No, I think Michelle will be fine. The best thing to do is to treat her normally. If you treat her with kid gloves she will know something's up."
"You are so smart," Lance said as he kissed her on the top of her head.
"Oh no! They are going to get mushy on us," Chris whined.
Lance grabbed a piece of candy out of Joey's bag and threw it at Chris. He dodged it and said, "Hey, this is a rental car!"
Stacy began to wake up when she heard Lance, "Hey, sweetie. We stopped for lunch, you ready to eat?"
She looked up at him and smiled, she had been sleeping on a pillow in his lap. "Boy, is that a nice face to wake up to."
"I'm starving," Joey said as he dug around for his hat and glasses.
"Joey, you are ALWAYS starving," Stacy said as she sat up and stretched.
Joey smiled when he found his hat, "That's true, but right now I am exceptionally hungry! My stomach has been talking to me for hours."
"Oh, poor baby," Chris mocked.
*Michelle's Car*
JC put the car in park and looked at Michelle who was sleeping soundly. He picked up her hand and kissed it. "Angel, we stopped to grab lunch."
Michelle stirred awake, she looked at him and smiled, "How long have I been sleeping?"
"Oh, about four and a half hours. Feel better?"
"A little," she said as she got out of the car. She and JC met up with Lance and Stacy. "Where is everyone else?"
Lance laughed, "Inside. Joey was STARVING!"
"Of course," JC said as he grabbed Michelle's hand. The four walked into the restaurant to find the rest of the the gang in line to order. Luckily, the lunch hour rush had cleared out and the resaurant was almost empty.
Justin smiled when he saw his friends coming toward them, "Hey! Can't Dance Lance in da house!"
Everyone started laughing hysterically except for Krystine. "What? I don't understand."
Michelle tried to stop laughin long enough to explain but couldn't. JC wrapped his arm around her when she buried her face in his chest.
Stacy caught her breath, "You see, my boyfriend here is the worst dancer in the group. 'Can't Dance Lance' was a nickname Rolling Stone put up on their website. It is kind of like an on-going joke!"
Krystine smiled, "I'm sorry, Lance."
"Oh, that's okay. I am a good sport about it. I admit I am not the best dancer in the group."
Chris smiled as he took his order, "it's a good thing that you are okay with it because we will never let you hear the end of it."
"Didn't think you would," Lance said as he stepped up to the counter to order for him and Stacy.
"Poor Lance," Krystine said as she sat down across from Joey.
"No, Lance is fine with it. It is all just in good fun. Are you going to eat those fries?"
"Joey! She just sat down, you are like a bottomless pit," Justin said sitting down by her.
Michelle sat down at a table next to them, "Joey, are you trying to eat other people's food again?"
Chris smiled, "Yeah, he is! You'd think Joey never gets fed."
Stacy and Lance came to sit at the table with Michelle and JC was close behind.
"Justin, are you being nice to Krystine?" Michelle asked, as JC handed her a hamburger.
Justin looked at Krystine and smiled, "It's hard not to."
Michelle looked over at JC and whispered, "Uh oh! Looks like Justin has the hots for Krys."
He nodded, "I think you're right."
Everyone finished their lunch and headed for the parking lot to get back on the road.
"Hey Justin, heads up," Krystine yelled as she tossed him her car keys.
Michelle grabbed her friend by the arm and stopped her, "Girl, what's going on? Is there something between you two?"
"I don't know, I really like him. He is sweet, cute, funny......Oh, I could go on forever. What should I do?"
"Keep doing what you're doing. Just be yourself, he obviously likes you."
Michelle hugged her and then the two ran to catch up with everyone else.
"So, are we still going to stop somewhere for the night," Lance asked once the whole group was gathered together.
"Definately," Michelle said as she wrapped her arms around JC's waist. "If we don't, it will be after one in the morning before we get back to Orlando. If everyone is in agreement, we should just stop somewhere."
Stacy nodded, "Michelle's right, it would be too exhausting to try to drive all the way back tonight."
"Great, then it's settled," Chris said as he went to the driver's side of the Expedition they had rented. "Let's ride!"
"Sweetheart, you want me to drive," Michelle asked as she and JC walked over to her car.
"No, it's okay-- I can drive," he said as he opened the car door for her.
"Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride." He leaned down to kiss her.
"Hey guys! We don't have time for you two to make out! We have to go," Joey yelled.
JC looked up and rolled his eyes while Michelle climed into the car laughing.
*Krystine's Car*
Justin waited behind Chris to pull out into traffic. Krystine reached for the radio and flipped it on. A familiar tune floated through the speakers, 'Show me the meaning of being lonely....'
"EW!" Krystine reached for the radio and turend it off. "How about a CD instead?"
Justin laughed, "What's the matter, don't like the Backstreet Boys?"
"Gosh no! They are all punks. One of them can't decide who he is, he has two personalities. One is American and the other is British. Then there are a couple of them who wear girls clothing. Not to mention they are all just gross, and cocky, and......"
"Okay, so tell me how you really feel."
She laughed, "Sorry, I didn't mean to get on my soapbox."
"No, that's alright. What would you like to listen to?"
She picked up a CD out of her cas and popped it in the player, "How about Will Smith?"
He smiled, "Sounds good. Um Krystine, can I ask you a something?"
"Certainly, what is it?"
"I was wondering if you would join me for dinner later this week?"
"I would love to," she said.
"Great, we'll work out details later. I am looking forward to it."
"I am too," she smiled at him, then looked out the window at the scenery passing by. Michelle was right, Justin did like her.
Chapter 10:
*The next day*
Stacy, Michelle, and Krystine rushed around their hotel room trying to get ready as so to leave for the last leg of their trip. "Where is my hairbrush," Krystine asked.
"By the TV I think," Michelle said as she stepped into the bathroom.
"How did my hairbrush get all the way over there," she asked, before there was a knock on the door. She ran to open it to find all the guys standing outside. "Um, we are almost ready."
"Take your time," Lance said as Stacy went to hug him. "We will take any luggage to the cars if you are ready."
"Those bags by the door can go," Stacy said pointing to the luggage.
Chris bent down to pick up baggage, "I am the CEO of my own company and I am forced to be a bell hop." He started out the door and stopped to turn around, "I'm just kidding!"
"That's Chris, always the kidder," Lance said as he followed him out the door.
Michelle came out of the bathroom and noticed JC in the room. She immediately walked over to him. "Hey you," she reached up to kiss him.
"Babe, you need to shave!"
He laughed at her, "Sorry, I didn't get a chance to this morning."
"We'll meet you guys outside," Krystine said as she and Stacy left.
"JC, I am so ready to get to Orlando. I can't wait to see how my new furniture looks in my new apartment."
"Stacy said she made sure everything was delivered and put in place last week. She said it looks great."
"Yeah, she told me that too," Michelle said smiling. "But, I still have so much to do."
"Don't worry," he said putting his arms around her waist, "I will help."
"Really?"
"Of course, I will do anything you need me to do."
"Perfect," she said as she stepped out of his hold on her. She grabbed her purse then took his hand to lead him out of the hotel room. "You know I will have to go to the grocery store, and to Pier One, and ....."
He just shook his head and followed her out of the room.
Chapter 11:
~*~Author's Note~*~
In case anyone didn't know, I read somewhere that one of Justin's nicknames is "Bounce."
Michelle put the key into her apartment door for the first time. She looked up at JC and Krystine and smiled, "Well here goes. My new apartment." She turned the key and opened the door. All the furniture she had picked out was in place.
"Michelle, this place is great! Everything fits in here just perfectly," Krystine said as she put down her suitcase.
Justin walked into the door and put down the bags he was carrying. He looked around to get a good look at the place. "Hey Michelle, we could throw a slammin' party here sometime."
Michelle spun on her heels to stare at him, "Think again, Justin! Not gonna happen in my new apartment."
JC laughed, "Why did you even mention it, Justin? You know what a neat freak she is? She would follow everyone around with coasters all night!"
"I would not," Michelle said putting her hands on her hips.
"Yeah, you would," Krystine said laughing.
Michelle stuck her tongue out at her friend, "Watch it, missy. Come on, I will show you to the guest room so you can put your stuff away."
Once the girls were in the room, Michelle shut the door. "So tell me, how was the rest of the ride down with Justin?"
"Well, you know, he asked me to have dinner with him at the end of the week. This morning, he offered to go furniture shopping with me tomorrow to help me pick out stuff for my place."
"Justin? Our Justin, is going furniture shopping? Girl, he really must like you!"
*In the living room*
"All right, Bounce-- what's going on with you and Krystine," JC asked as he sat down on the couch.
Justin grinned and sat down on the chair across form him. "I don't know, man. I like everything from her beautiful smile to her quirkiness. She is different from most girls and I like that. Her mustang is even baby blue! It can't get much better than that."
"You know, she is one of Michelle's best friends, and she has always spoken highly of Krystine. From what I have seen, she is genuine and I say to go for it if you're ready."
"We'll see how our date goes Saturday night," Justin said.
Michelle and Krystine walked into the room a couple of minutes later. Michelle sat down next to JC on the couch and Krystine sat in the chair next to Justin.
"What have you two been gossiping about," Michelle asked.
JC put his arm around her, "Angel, guys don't gossip, we discuss."
"Then what were you discussing," Krystine asked with a laugh.
"If we told you, then we'd have to kill you," Justin responded.
Chapter 12:
*The next night*
The whole gang decided to go to dinner to celebrate them all being in Orlando together, for the time being.
Stacy walked into her living room to find Lance sitting on her couch watching TV. She cleared her throat to get his attention. When he looked up she turned around in a circle to model for him.
"Wow!" he said standing up. "You look amazing. But then again, you always look amazing."
"Thank you very much," she said before giving him a kiss. "You look pretty good yourself."
At the sound of a knock on the door, she went to answer it to find Chris and Joey on the other side. "Hey guys, come on in."
Lance looked at the guys as they walked in and saw Joey in the worst outfit he had ever worn. "Joey, don't wear that!"
"Save your breath, Lansten," Chris said as he sat down. "Joey and I went round and round about it. He refused to change."
"Oh, leave him alone," Stacy said. "He has to be himself."
When there was another knock on the door, Lance answered it, "hey ya'll, come in." Krystine, JC, and Michelle walked in.
"Looks like Justin is the only one we are waiting for," Joey said.
As if on cue, there was another knock on the door. Lance opened it to allow Justin to come in.
"Where ya been, man," JC asked.
Justin smiled shyly, "Sorry I am late. I couldn't get my hair right."
"Justin, you are such a primadonna," Lance said laughing.
"Okay, so is everything set up," Michelle asked.
"Yes," Chris said standing up. "I called the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney this afternoon. We should have a tabe waiting for us and they promised as much privacy as possible."
Stacy picked up her purse, "Excellent, let's go. We have some celebrating to do."
Justin walked up behind Krystine, "Hi."
She turned around, "Hi yourself. You know, I could hardly tell you had problems with your hair tonight. It looks great to me."
"Oh, thanks," he said laughing. "You look lovely tonight. Might I be your escort this evening?"
"I would be honored," she said, as she took his arm before walking through the door.