Fresh Start

Chapter 13:

The evening went over rather peacefully and everyone had a good time.� After the meals were paid for, everyone decided to part ways.� Chris and Joey went to Pleasure Island, Stacy and Lance drove to the beach, JC and Michelle went back to her apartment to unpack boxes, and Justin decided to show Krystine around Downtown Disney.

Krystine looked around in amazement at everything, "Wow, look at that dinosaur in the water over there."

Justin smiled, "You know, the whole thing is made out of Legos."

"Really?"

"Yup, pretty cool, huh?"

She giggled when she looked over at him, "What's cool is you in that Goofy Hat!� You look pretty funny."

He reached up and adjusted his hat a little, "Hey, stop poking fun at my hat.��It's so that I won't get recognized and so far it's working."

She smiled at him, "I'm glad because I like having one on one time with you."

"Yeah, so do I.� So, how did you like the Rainforest Cafe?"

"Oh, I loved it, it was amazing.� The atmosphere was very unique with the greenery, not to mention the exploding volcano."

"I like it there, too.� It is Michelle's favorite place to eat.� That is where JC took her for their first official date."

Krystine nodded, "I think I remember her saying something about that."

"Well, it looks like we have taken the whole tour of Downtown.� What would you like to do now?" Justin asked.

"How about going to the House of Blues?� I noticed that the band playing is Scarlet Road, I have always wanted to see them live."

"Perfect," he said taking her hand, "House of Blues it is."

*At the Beach*

Stacy reached the water's edge and let it roll over her bare feet.� She smiled when Lance came up behind her and put his arms around her waist.� "You know, I am so glad you are here for three months.� I know you are still going to be busy, but knowing you are in the same town helps."

He kissed the top of her head, "You know, I won't be too busy for you!� We will have a lot of time together."

"Good, I was hoping you would say that.� How is the planning going for the charity show going?"

"Great, we are going to have it at the Magic Kingdom and every penny we raise is going for school music programs.� Oh, and Disney is going to match what we raise."

She turned around to face him, "Lance that is incredible!� Are the guys excited?"

"Oh yeah, espcially Justin.� He is already looking for the schools who are in most need of the funding."

"I am so proud of you guys.� You do so much good for others.� It makes my heart swell."

"You make my heart swell."� Lance brushed the hair away that blew in her face. He took her face in his hands and leaned in for his lips to meet hers.

Chapter 14:

JC began unpacking a box, while Michelle changed clothes in her bedroom.� He ran across the picture that was taken the night Stacy had introduced Michelle to the group.� He had instantly fallen in love with her that night.

***FLASHBACK***

"So Michelle--" JC said, "What are you in school for?"

"Secondary Education-Language Arts, I want to teach Jr. High or High School."

"I don't want to sound stupid, but what exactly is language arts?"

Michelle smiled, "You aren't stupid, there are never stupid questions.� Language arts is english, drama, debate, theatre and journalism.� All of my favorite subjects, well except for history."

JC shifted his weight nervously, "You know, I was wondering if I could ask you something.� Would you like to go to the beach with me tonight after the show?��I would really like to get to know you better, I know you are only in Orlando for a few days."

"I don't know," Michelle said thinking.� "Can I let you know after the show?"

"Oh, of course.� No pressure at all."

* * * * * * * *

"JC, what are you doing?"

"Huh?� Oh, hey sweetie.� I just ran across this picture and got caught up in memories.� Do you remember this night?" He asked handing her the picture frame.

"Do I," she said sitting on the floor.� "How can I forget, it was the night we met."

"Yeah, it was.� Hey, I have always wanted to ask you somthing.� Why did you have to think it over when I asked you to go over to the beach with me that night?"

"That's easy; number one, I had so many bad relationships int he past and I was scared to death; number two, we had just met; and number three, I thought you were so cute and sweet that you made me completely nervous.� I didn't think I would be able to handle it."

"Oh really?� I made you nervous?� Well, you were making me pretty nervous, too," he said putting his arm around her.

"Well, I did agree to go with you.� I remember feeling so safe with you that all my worries just flew out the window.� You know, I haven't lost that feeling yet."

"Do you think we would have ever found our way to each other if you had turned me down that night?"

She laughed, "I think so.� Lance and Stacy would have shoved us together!"

"Yeah, you got a point there."

Michelle looked at the picture of her, Stacy and the guys.� "Where should I put this picture?"

He shrugged, "I don't know.� How about on top of the TV?"

"That would work." She got up and crossed the room to put the frame in place.��"Yeah, I like it here."

"I like you here."� JC got up and crossed the room to where she was.� He kissed her gently at first, then with growing passion.

Michelle reluctantly pulled back and tried to catch her breath, "Hey Cassanova, we have to get these boxes unpacked."

"What boxes?" he asked before kissing her again.

Chapter 15:

*Saturday Afternoon*

Michelle grabbed the phone when it rang, "Hello?"

"'Chelle, you gotta help me out!"

"Justin?� What's going on, is something wrong?"

"Yes, I have no idea where to take Krystine for dinner tonight," Justin said.��"You know her real well, what kind of place would she like?"

"Oh, that's easy--" Michelle said, "just take her to Planet Hollywood or Hard Rock Cafe."

"Are you sure?� I mean, is there any place that she would like better?" He asked.

"No, I am sure on of those places will be fine."

"Thanks Michelle, I owe you big time," he said.

"No problem, just treat Krystine right and we will call it even."

"You got it!� Talk to you later."

"Bye Justin."� Michelle put down the phone and headed for the kitchen, but stopped when the phone rang again.� She picked it up, "I am positive that one of those will be fine!"

"One of what?" JC asked.

"Oh, sorry sweetie!� I thought you were Justin," she said laughing.� "He called before you did, bugging me about where to take Krystine tonight.� He sounded real nervous."

He laughed, "Ah-- tonight is the big date, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is.� I talked to Krystine this morning and she is real excited," Michelle said.

"Well, I hope it all goes well.� Listen, I called because I was going to ask you to do me a favor."

"Sure babe," Michelle said as she sat down on the couch, "What do you need?"

"On your way to the studio, will you grab me something to eat?� I haven't stopped all day and I am starving!"

"Anything for you.� You want Chinese?"

JC laughed, "You know me so well.� That would be great, thank you."

"Okay, well I will leave here in about fifteen minutes."

"Good, I will see you in a litle while.� I love you."

She smiled, "I love you too, bye."� She put the phone down and began searching for her shoes.� As soon as she found them there was a knock at the door, "Man, it's like grand central station around here today."

Stacy walked in when Michelle opened the door.� "I have a big favor to ask you."

Michelle shut the door, "Okay, what is it?"

"Could I possibly borrow your leather jacket?"

Michelle smiled, "Sure you can.� Come on, I will get it for you.� So what are you and Lance doing tonight?"

"We are having a picnic dinner at the beach," Stacy said smiling.

"Oooo, how romantic."

"Yeah, I know.� Are you and JC still working in the recording studio tonight?"

Michelle handed her friend the jacket, "Yeah.� I am on my way to get him something to eat.� Of course he has been there all day and never stopped to eat."

Stacy laughed, "That is the JC we all know and love.� The workaholic.� You just don't let him work all night."

"I won't, you guys have a wonderful evening."

"We will, thanks for the jacket.� I will bring it back tomorrow."

"Okay, bye!"� Michelle slipped on her shoes and grabbed her keys before running out the door.

"Hey Stace, when did you get that jacket?"� Lance opened the car door for her.

After he got into the car and shut the door, she said, "This is Michelle's."

"Wait a second.� Is that THE leather jacket that JC gave her for Christmas?"

"One and the same!"

Lance began to pull out into traffic, "Man I can't believe she let you borrow.� I mean, when JC gives her something, she guards it with her life."

"Oh, but Michelle and I are best friends, we are like family.� She knows I will take care of her jacket."

"Oh I see," Lance said taking her hand. "One of those girl things, huh?"

She laughed, "No it isn't just a girl thing.� It's the same bond you and the guys have.� Ya'll are like brothers and we are like sisters."

"Aw, how sweet," he teased before she slapped him playfully on the arm.

*~*45 minutes later*~*�

�(Authors Note: I don't know how possible this could
actually be.� I know Lance plays the piano, but I don't know about the guitar.� Just go with it :)

Stacy finished cleaning up the trash from their dinner as Lance pulled out his guitar.� Stacy leaned back on her hands and smiled at him, "Are you going to serenade me now?"

"As a matter of fact, I am.� I wrote this song for you and I am going to sing it to you."� She just stared at him in shock as he began to play.

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope I'll be your love
Be everything that you need.
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly, madly, deeply do
I will be strong I will be faithful
'cause I'm counting on

A new beginning
A reason for living
A deeper meaning

I want to stand with you on a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky,
I'll make a wish to send it to heaven
Then make you want to cry
The tears of joy for all the pleasure in the certainty
That we're surrounded by the comfort and protection of

The highest powers
In lonely hours
The tears devour you

I want to stand with you on a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

Oh can't you see it baby?
You don't have to close your eyes
'Cause it's standing right here before you
All that you need will surely come

I'll be your dream I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly, madly, deeply do

I want to stand with you on a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

As Lance finished the last chord, Stacy wiped her tears, "Lance.........I don't know what to say!� That was beautiful!"

"No, that was just okay.� You're beautiful."� He put down the guitar and to her face in his hands.� He leaned down and kissed her.

***Music Credit: Truly Madly Deeply written by Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones, 1997 EMI Blackwood Music Inc

Chapter 17:

Krystine studied her menu, trying to decide what she wanted to eat.� Justin watched her from over his menu.� She looked up and caught him, "What?"

"Oh nothing, you just look beautiful tonight and I can't stop staring," he said slightly blushing.

Krystine looked down at her menu in embarrassment, "thanks, Justin.� Thank you for bringing me to Planet Hollywood,too.� How did you know I would want to eat here?"

He smiled, "Oh, I had a bit of help."

"Michelle?"

"Busted!� Yeah, I called her since she knows you so well.� I wanted her to suggest the perfect place to take you."

"Well, Michelle knows me pretty well.� This is exactly where I wanted to come."

"Are you ready to order," the waitress asked when she came to their table in the back corner of the restaurant.� She took down their order and left for the kitchen.

"So, how is your new job going?" Justin asked.

She put down her water glass, "Oh great, I love it!� The people I work with are super nice and I have some great clients."

"That's terrific."

"Yeah, and I love it here in Orlando, too.� Michelle was right when she said it was a great place to live."

Justin laughed, "Yeah, it is.� But even if you didn't like it here, you couldn't tell 'Chelle that.� She hates being wrong!"

"Don't I know it," Krystine said laughing.� "As long as I have known her, she has been that way.� But she's a pretty terrific friend."

"That she is, but enough about her.� Let's concentrate on us!"

"All right, are you excited about recording this new album?"

"Definitely, it is going to kick!� JC is at the studio now getting things ready for Monday.� There are technicians at the studio to do it, but he insists on doing it himself."

"Michelle has always told me that he works hard.� You know, I am glad you are here with me instead of helping him," Krystine said.

Justin smiled, "that makes two of us."