| Chapter 2 I planned to go out with JC to the park tonight just to look around and admire the scenery or something like that. I really didn�t know why I was actually going because I don�t really care about nature or anything related to it. He said he would swing by my room at eight and he was already thirty minutes late. I stared at the door, wishing I would hear a knock come from it soon. I must�ve wished right because it came true. At exactly 8:46 PM, a loud banging was heard from my door. I walked over to it and swung it open. �You�re late.� I stated plainly, grabbing my tennis shoes and putting them on. �Very late.� He smiled, apologetically. �Sorry, I swear it was an accident. My girlfriend just came from Chicago so I�ve had to run around in a hurry.� My smile faded for some reason, but I quickly replaced it with a fake yawn. �Well, we might as well go right now before it gets too late.� I walked down the hall with him and stole a scent of his cologne. I�m pretty sure it was Ralph Lauren for men or something like that. �So what are we doing tonight?� I questioned, skipping down the hallway enthusiastically. �I�m so hyper right now, you don�t even know it.� He laughed, lagging a few steps behind me. �We�re hanging out and enjoying what Missouri has to offer.� I sighed, not even knowing we were in Missouri. �Hey JC, are you going to stay the rest of the tour or something because it seems like it.� He laughed, putting a hand to his heart. �You want me to stay because I can if I ask Sarah to come along. She�s great, Starr. You�ll like her a lot.� I looked at him, skeptically. I had a weird feeling that I wouldn�t like her a bit, but maybe I just assume negative things like that. Sarah wasn�t a name like the rest of the girls he�s dated. It was a normal name so hopefully she wasn�t like the rest of the girls he has dated. He stopped and looked at her. �She kind of reminds me of you. The way she acts around me and everything.� �And how is that?� I questioned, pacing myself out of the hotel. �I don�t really know how to explain it. It�d be kind of weird if I did explain it. But, when I�m around her I don�t care who I am. I let myself be free to have fun and be crazy. I don�t normally do that, you know.� I nodded. It seemed like a long walk because JC said we were only half way there. �I know what you mean JC. I get the same feeling when I�m around you,� I said truthfully. He placed his arm around my shoulder, comfortingly. �You�re the best Starr. I�m so glad I have you as a friend.� I nodded, my hopes soaring down to a negative zero. We walked the rest of the way in silence, only listening to the steps of our feet and the beating of my heart. �We�re finally here!� JC said, running up to the small park in front of them. He smiled, placing a blanket for both of us on the grass. �Hallelujah!� He exclaimed, excitedly. He sat down and I followed, nervously. I don�t know why I was nervous, I shouldn�t have been. I guess JC makes me feel nervous sometimes and I can�t help that feeling. �Hmm� looks interesting.� I said, lying myself on the blanket. It really only looked dull to me, but I lied to make him feel better about the exciting park he said he�s been to a million times. �It gets better.� He stated, sitting next to me. He took out another blanket and covered our bodies. He then took a few other objects out of the bag like a Snapple for me and water for him. He handed me the Snapple, knowing I had a mad obsession with them. �Thanks!� I spoke, taking it in my hands. �No prob.� He lied down next to me, looking up at the sky that was orange and pink because of the sunset. �It�s beautiful Starr. It somehow makes me think a lot about life and every happy moment I�ve ever had.� I looked up, understandingly. Now, I understood why JC took me here. Just to get our thoughts and emotions out, to be ourselves, and to be freed from our hectic lives. �I remember when I first met you, Starr. I thought you were the prettiest thing that had ever come into my life. That was back when we were on the Mickey Mouse Club. You were so pretty and had that amazing talent of dancing. I always wished I had someone like you. Then, we became friends and everything changed. I stopped getting so nervous around you, but I still cared a lot for you. I was so happy I met you.� He placed his water down before continuing, �I remember you were hanging out with Christina and Britney and you guys were best friends. I was hanging out with Ryan back then, and we�d always try and walk up to you guys and start shit just to be cool. When you were mad at us, you�d always give us this look that was so unexplainable. It was like a look that could make me burst into tears because I felt like I let you down or something. You really mean a lot to me, Starr. You would never realize how much you�ve impacted my life and my decisions.� I sighed, blissfully. I would never want to leave this park. �Then explain to me, JC. Tell me about it because you never have told me.� JC placed a hand on his forehead before going on. �When we were younger, it was always all of us together. I never wanted anyone to hurt you because you were my angel. If anyone would talk about how they liked you or how they kissed you at a party, I would get angry because I was jealous of them. You meant so much to me, Starr. Now, it�s still all of us together like old times. It�s still Justin, Christina, Britney, you, and me. You�ve always been there for me like a mentor when nobody else could understand. When I wanted to give up on my dreams, you begged me not to. That�s why I�m the man I am today- because of you.� I smiled, looking at the now dark sky. �Well, I�m glad I mean that much JC. I truly am glad I met you too.� He stared over at me, �I never thought I could find a girl like you. My sister introduced me to Sarah a few months ago. When I met Sarah, she seemed like all the rest of them, but she had this spark to her that reminded me so much of you and that�s why I decided to give her a chance. Now, I really do care about her and I think she�s the one for me.� My heart dropped, but I glanced away to hide the sadness evident in my eyes. �I�m happy for you, Jace. I�m glad you finally found someone who cares.� I glanced up at the sky, pondering for a few seconds. St. Louis was one of the most amazing cities I�ve ever been to, unless I was too busy to realize all the other cities were this pretty. He looked over at me, placing a hand behind his head. �A penny for your thoughts?� He questioned, seriously. �I guess it�s my turn, huh? I�m just thinking about how I never want to leave this spot and I never want to go back to the hotel. You�ve made me realize how much I miss being home and being with everyone I care for the most.� He saw the longing in my eyes for someone to care for me. Only JC could ever recognize when I was sad or lonely just by looking in my eyes. �Taylor Marietta, you know I care about you so much, right?� He used my real name, which was really uncommon. I nodded, leaning my head against his shoulder. �Well, I�m happy that you know that I would die for you. You�re such a good friend, you really are.� I smiled looking up at the stars. �Make a wish, JC. Make sure that you mean it, and make sure it�s important.� He wished silently to himself. �I wish that Starr will find a guy that she loves and that he loved her back.� He thought, closing his eyes. �It�s your turn, Starr.� I looked up, finding the right star to choose on. I found the smallest one you could barely see. �I�m gonna wish on that one, JC.� I pointed up to it and his eyes followed. �What that one? It�s so dull.� �That�s why JC. Maybe the dullness is a good thing, you never know. Don�t underestimate something just because it�s small or you think it�s unworthy.� I looked up at the star, smiling to myself. �I wish that JC could realize how much I care about him.� She glanced at the star one more time, knowing it seemed silly. �I�m done.� �Good cuz we gotta get back now. It�s getting late.� He smiled, lifting her off her feet. �Thanks for the wonderful night, JC. You really do make me appreciate more things around me.� Chapter 3 |