The rest of the night Jamie heard all about the performance, and how incredible it was, both from Luke and the guys. Justin thought it was amazing that Luke was so into the whole stage show, and the two had a long, involved conversation about the special effects and all the fun that went with them.
She sat on the sofa at the back of the bus and stared out the window. Several times she had tried to turn on the TV, only to be shushed into silence a few moments later. So far she had counted five 7 Elevens, three kids with skateboards, ten beetles, and about a dozen cattle farms. This ride was getting very boring.
Jamie sighed and glanced at her watch. It was late, she was tired and she was really bored. So she got up and walked to the door of the lounge, only to be stopped by Justin’s words.
“Where are you going?” She turned and gave him a hard look.
“A place where I’m wanted….my bed.” Justin and Luke exchanged strange glances and resumed their conversation like nothing had happened. Jamie huffed and closed the door behind her.
“Men.”
Dave sat in his office and skimmed the news paper with his eyes. He sipped his coffee and let out a satisfied sigh. Although he had been shipped back to Orlando for a week or two, he was still happy about the fear he was now holding over Jamie. Although she said she wasn’t scared, he could see the fear in her eyes whenever he was near.
A swift knock sounded on the door and his secretary stuck her head in.
“Mr. Malloy…it’s the mail you wanted.” She stepped into the room carrying a big 5 pound bag stuffed with letter.
“It’s all the mail that’s going out to the tour?” The woman nodded her head and he smiled. “Thank you very much, that’ll be all.” She bowed out of the room and Dave sat down, opening the bag.
“Let’s see…fan mail, fan mail…”He skimmed through the letter, disgusted at all the mail that the guys had received. He spent about twenty minutes flipping through dozens of letters until he came across something interesting.
“Hmmm…Miss James Tanning…wonder what this is about?” He smiled gleefully. He knew exactly what the letter was for, and he was going to make sure that Jamie didn’t receive it. Sticking the letter in his desk he leaned over and shoved all the letters back into the bag. “Mary, you can come pick up the letters now, I’ve checked them all.” A half a second later his secretary came back in and grabbed the bag.
“Tough luck you got there, Mr. Malloy. I mean, I think you’re much too important to have to scan all the mail for the tour. Aren’t there other people to do that for you?”
“Oh it’s not bother Mary, really. I don’t mind helping out the guys and Johnny and way I can.” Giving her a slimy grin he waved her out of his office and picked up the letter and opened it without a second thought.
His eyes skimmed the words carefully…
Miss Tanning,
I am a doctor at the Ft. Lauderdale Hospital and I have written to tell you that your father, Allan Tanning, has been admitted. He has been having heart complications and has asked us to get in touch with you. His condition is serious, but I’d rather not discuss this with you through a letter. If you could please call this phone number, 845-2210, we can go over your father’s health and steps you may want to take.
Dr. Jacob Bethune.
Dave smile maliciously and threw the letter in the trash.
“Oops…”
A week later it was just Jamie and the guys again. Luke had gone back to Tennessee and although Jamie missed him, she was glad for a small break from his constant antics. Luke was a very outgoing, rowdy person, and at times he was worse than all five of the guys together.
She sat in one of the dressing rooms enjoying a moment of relaxation and quiet. The guys were doing sound check, and she took this time to glance over a magazine and take some time out from the constant screaming that seemed to follow NSYNC.
A knock on the door pulled her from her trance and Andy poked his head in. “Hey, is J’s cell phone in here?” Jamie looked around and saw the small silver phone sticking out from his bag. “Yeah, its right there…do you need it?” Andy stepped fully into the room and grabbed the phone from the bag. “Yeah, I don’t know why though. I was told that all the cell phones on the tour need to be in one room tonight. That’s going to be one hell of a task if you ask me.” He grumbled and moved toward the door. “Do you have a phone James?” “No, I just use Justin’s…who asked for all the phones anyway? I mean, people actually need those.” Andy shook his head and shrugged. “Don’t ask me. All I know is that this Dave Malloy guy said that all cells need to be with him tonight, some security check or something. I think it’s an invasion of privacy.” “Justin’s going to have a cow. All the guys are. Those phones are their lifelines.” “I know that…so, ah…do me a favor and don’t tell him I was the one that took it. The moment he knows it’s gone he’s not going to listen to reason and he’ll come right after me.” Jamie chuckled and nodded, watching Andy walk out the door.
Dave was up to something though. She knew that. What she didn’t know was why he wanted all the cell phones. She didn’t have one, so it’s not like he could look into her personal information or anything, and he knew better than to go into Justin’s or any of the other guys. It worried her, that he was doing this. First of all, it was ludicrous, and second of all…what was he trying to prove? He was the new guy on the tour, and he was acting like he owned the place. And to top it all off, he had decided that he was against Jamie and was going to so whatever it took to make her stay a miserable one.
Shaking her head she threw the magazine down and stood up. Justin should be getting done with the sound check soon, and she wanted to tell him about the cell phone gathering. He was going to be pissed, and hopefully, if enough people complained, their phones would be returned and Dave wouldn’t be able to do whatever it was he was going to do.
She walked down the hallway and listened to the laughter coming from the arena. It sounded like the sound check was over for the most part, and now they were all just playing. Turning the corner she bumped into someone and was about to apologize but stopped.
“Excuse me, Miss Tanning.” Jamie shuddered as Dave’s eyes roamed over her and she wanted to gag.
“I’d like to get to the stage, if that’s not too much to ask.” She tried to walk past him but he grabbed her arm and pulled her close.
“I’d like a word with you, Jamie…” He started to pull her away from the stage but Justin’s voice stopped his movements.
“You’re not going anywhere with Jamie.” His eyes traveled down to Dave’s hand on Jamie’s arm and he looked ready to shoot fire out of his eyes. Dave noticed this too and he dropped her arm and backed away.
“Don’t tell me how to do my job, pop star, and I won’t tell you how to do yours.”
“Jamie has absolutely nothing to do with your job, and if I ever see you put a hand on her again…you’re going to be doing your job from a hospital bed.” Dave’s eyes narrowed and he muttered under his breath.
“Just wait until your boyfriend isn’t around.” He stalked away and Jamie hurried into Justin’s arms.
“That man gives me the creeps.” Justin hugged her tightly to him and kissed the side of her head.
“Me too James…Me too…”