Chapter 3
‘Man! Why didn’t I ask for a room number, or at least a name? JC, sometimes you can be such a dork.’ JC thought to himself. He and Justin had arrived at the hospital to visit as promised. Halfway through the ride there, JC realized he wouldn’t know how to find Abby. All he had was her first name, and that wouldn’t help him any since it was her friend who was being hospitalized.
JC and Justin sat in the lobby of the hospital thinking. They had already asked the person at the front desk if she knew anyone named Abigail, and even gave a description of her, but it was no use.
“I can’t believe you didn’t get a last name or anything,” Justin said, while sighing. “Now we came out here for nothing.”
It had taken both JC and Justin to convince their manager Johnny to let Justin come. He wanted Justin off his foot at least a day. Also to make matters worse, they wanted to go without a bodyguard. After much talk, Johnny agreed to let them go without their bodyguards and it was agreed that they would wear their usual disguises of hats and sunglasses and to pay extra attention to stay low. Justin couldn’t afford to have fans attacking both him and JC with his foot, as well as having no bodyguards. It also occurred to JC that their bodyguards might make the girls feel uncomfortable. So now, here they were, in the middle of the hospital lobby, with no luck of finding this mystery girl.
“So sue me already. I’m only human,” JC replied.
“How much?”
“Very funny Justin.” JC was getting frustrated. He really wanted to see Abby again. Just to make sure she and her friend were ok… or so he kept telling himself that was the reason, but deep down JC knew the real reason why he wanted to see her again, even if he didn’t want to realize it.
“So, what was her friend’s name again?” Justin asked.
“Carol, I think she said,” JC replied.
“Why didn’t you tell the receptionist that?”
“A: I have no last name, and there could be 50 Carol’s here. And B: It could also be a nickname.”
“Oh. So what does she look like?”
“I don’t know. Shouldn’t YOU be able to tell me that? You were back there after all.”
“Dude! I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere. And as much pain killers they put me on, I was surprised I was still sane. Hospitals are no fun,” Justin pouted.
“Now you’re starting to sound like Chris. Anyways, those nurses looked VERY happy to help you with anything.”
Justin shrugged. “What can I say? All the ladies love me.”
JC rolled his eyes, but laughed anyway. “Oh please,” JC said, shaking his head. He quickly glanced at his surroundings, noticing a familiar face. He looked up again, not quite sure he had seen right. His brown-haired, golden-brown eyed beauty was walking into the hospital.
‘This has to be some crazy twist of fate.’ JC thought as he watched her enter. He could tell that she had gotten rest and was in a much better disposition than last night. She looked more beautiful than before.
“Abby!” He called out. She stopped and looked at him. JC waved as he and Justin made their way over.
Abby stopped, having heard her name being called out loud. She looked around, only to find JC and Justin walking over. She smiled faintly and waved. Abby could not believe that JC Chasez had actually come. Her heart fluttered at the thought. After Abby’s description of the two guys to Carolena, she had learned who they were. Abby wasn’t too much into modern music, but she would have to learn it if she wanted to be a journalist. She felt awkward not knowing who they were. They were currently the largest names in the music business. Carolena had known them because she was into their music a little bit, but hardly a fan of their group. At least now Abby was up to date.
“Hey Abby. We were just about to go home since we didn’t have enough information to find you or your friend. By the way, how is she?” JC asked, once he and Justin reached her.
Abby blushed. “Yeah. Um…sorry about that. My mind was in other places at the time.”
“Completely understandable. My mind was elsewhere too, or else I would’ve asked,” JC said, smiling. Abby smiled back.
“So how’s your friend?” JC asked once again.
“Great actually. Better than expected. She has some cuts and bruises, but she’s fine. Other than her broken foot, just fine.”
“Guess she and Justin here can spend a lot of time together huh?” JC joked, motioning to Justin who stood on his crutches. “Glad she’s ok.”
“Yeah, I guess they could. And I’m glad she’s alright too. Hello Justin,” Abby said, turning to Justin the first time that day.
“Hello. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to notice I was here.” Abby laughed at Justin’s remark. It was the first time she laughed genuinely since yesterday. Abby felt revived now.
“So why don’t you guys come up with me and you can meet Carolena,” Abby suggested.
“Carol’s her nickname.” Both JC and Justin nodded.
“Told you,” JC whispered in Justin’s ear, who rolled his eyes in response.
As they walked past the receptionist’s desk, Abby flashed her bracelet to show she had clearance. The hospital had given her one last night before she left.
“They’re with me,” she told the receptionist as looked up at Justin and JC.
The three rode up to Carolena’s floor talking about nothing in particular. The whole time Abby was talking to the two, she still couldn’t believe that JC actually came back. JC seemed to be a really great guy.
“FINALLY! I’ve been waiting for you so I could leave!” Carolena said as Abby opened the door. Abby rolled her eyes and walked in, with the guys following. She sat in the chair placed next to the bed.
“Good morning Carol. How was your night? I bought you a gift. By the way, this is JC and Justin,” Abby said, rolling her eyes once more.
“Good morning to you too smartass and-”
“Must we be so hostile this early?” Abby interrupted. Carolena glared at her.
“It’s after twelve.”
“Then technically it’s not morning.”
“Alright, fine. Good AFTERNOON. No, my night was terrible. I am feeling better though. Gimmie the gift! Thank you. Hi Justin, JC, how are you? I’m Carolena, but everyone calls me Carol. Can we go now? I’ve been ready since eight,” she finished, grabbing the teddy bear that said “Feel Better” on the heart. The two girls looked at JC and Justin and laughed at their expressions.
“My, my…someone was on some extra caffeine this morning,” JC said smiling.
“Are you two always like this?” Justin asked.
“YEP!” the two girls chorused. JC shook his head
“So you’re the famous Carol huh. Glad to see you’re doing ok,” JC said shaking her hand.
“I should be saying the same thing,” Carolena said with a smirk. JC blushed, knowing that Carolena knew who both he and Justin were.
Justin hobbled over on his crutches to say hello. Justin and Carolena shook hands, holding on longer than necessary, gazing at each other. It took them a while to regain their senses and then let go.
‘Girl has been struck!’ Abby thought to herself, smiling. But soon her smile faded. ‘But what about Jack?’
‘She’s beautiful.’ Justin thought as he continued to smile at Carolena.
‘I never realized just how fine…WAIT! I already have a boyfriend! Besides all he is, is an ego-enlarged so called “pop prince”. What am I thinking?!’ Carolena thought to herself, turning to Abby, breaking contact with Justin.
“So can we leave now? I need to get outta here!” Carolena questioned, looking at Abby strangely.
“You’re allowed to leave?” Abby asked.
“Are you deaf or somthin’? I just told you about a minute ago! YES I can leave, now let’s GO!” Justin smiled at her anxiousness to leave. He could tell that Carolena was the “always on the go” type girl.
Abby looked around the room, and sure enough, all of Carolena’s stuff was packed and ready to go. She shrugged and grabbed Carolena’s bags as she got out of the chair while Carolena climbed out of bed, grabbing her crutches.
“Would you guys like to come over for breakfast, lunch, or whatever? You know, since it was a short visit?” Abby asked, turning to JC and Justin. They nodded their heads yes, since they came strait over to the hospital when they woke up. Also there was nothing else better to do. The other three guys of the group were still at the hotel getting ready, by doing some last minute work and packing for their weekend stay at Justin’s.
“You didn’t eat yet?” Carolena asked, shocked that her friend came on an empty stomach.
“What did I tell you about switching roles on me? I can’t help that I was worried about you and came strait up here as soon as I woke up!” Abby defended herself as they left the room.
The four of them walked outside, Justin and Carolena in front, hobbling together, and JC and Abby trailing behind. Both groups were talking and becoming more and more attached. JC and Abby found it funny that Justin and Carolena had broken their foot, and on the same day. Justin and Carolena had no idea why the two were laughing at them. They continued their conversation completely ignoring JC and Abby from behind.
“So where do you wanna go eat?” Abby asked JC with a smile on her face. JC shrugged in response. He didn’t feel like being bombarded by fans right now, and he knew Justin certainly wasn’t. The fact that Justin had broken his foot, made them both want to stay out of the public eye more, especially since they didn’t have their bodyguards with them. Plus, Carol also had a broken foot and he didn’t want to put her through it either.
“How about you come over to our apartment and have a nice ‘home cooked’ meal?” Abby asked, putting quotation marks with her fingers. Soon a smirk came to JC’s face.
“That’s the best offer I’ve had all day,” he said with a chuckle.
“Great! We’ll order something. Are we taking your car ‘cuz uhh…we kinda don’t have one anymore,” Abby said, blushing.
“Of course you’re coming in our car. That would be just rude making you guys take a cab or bus…by the way what happened to a ‘home cooked’ meal?”
“Would you like to risk death eating our food?”
JC laughed. “That bad huh?”
“You have NO idea. Last time we tried to fix something in our oven…lets just say we nearly burnt the whole apartment down.”
“Don’t worry. We’re not any better. You should see the five of us trying to fix something to eat. You’d think it was a three-ring circus act or something. I guess we were put on this Earth to sing and not to cook.”
“Good. At least I won’t feel bad,” Abby said laughing. JC laughed as well. He could definitely get used to her sense of humor.
“Alright. Our rental car is just right over there,” JC said, pointing to the jeep.
“Rental car?” Abby asked, slightly confused.
“Yeah, we just got back into the state last night, since we had to postpone our tour. Me and the other three guys are spending the weekend at Justin’s house to, you know, help him out and stuff. Then we go back to our own houses in Orlando. Right after we stay with you guys for a while, I’m taking this jeep back for my own car.”
“Oh I see,” Abby said. Soon a smile came to her face. “Hey three feet! We’re taking their car. They’re coming over to eat with us,” Abby hollered at Carolena, who was a few feet ahead of her, with Justin. Carolena nodded and followed Justin over to the car, happy to be spending more time with him.
‘He really isn’t that bad a guy. I guess it’s that damn media and also those stupid rumors that make him seem so egotistical.’ Carolena thought to herself. “Call me three feet one more time, and I’ll make sure one of them is permanently shoved up your ass,” Carolena threatened, catching Abby’s first attack. Abby and JC laughed, receiving a glare from Carolena.
They walked to the jeep, each in a conversation, also enjoying the time they were spending together.
“Alrighty, where do you girls live? I’m all ears,” JC said, once after everyone was seated in the car. Each of the girls took directions to their apartment, arguing, because the other forgot which direction they lived in.
“Right.”
“No, left.”
“We live that way Carol,” Abby said, pointing right.
“No we don’t Abby! Jeez, you’ve lived here longer than I have and I know the way better than you do!”
“Nuh-uh!”
“Yeah- huh!
This went on for a good half an hour before they finally got their directions right.
“Finally, we’re here,” Carolena said, sighing and throwing her hands up in exasperation, as they approached the ten-story apartment building.
“Home, sweet home,” Abby said with a smile. JC and Justin both shook their heads. They had no idea how the two girls could go from arguing to completely happy in seconds.
JC pulled into the residential parking lot the girls showed him.
“Remind me to never drive with you two again,” JC joked.
“Hey, it’s not my fault. Abby is the one who’s horrible with directions, not me,” Carolena defended.
“Like you know everything, almighty smart ass,” Abby huffed.
Carol was just about to reply, but was cut off by Justin.
“Ok, we already have two injured people in the car. We don’t need s breakout of World War III,” he said, looking directly at Carolena.
Justin had been quiet the whole trip, up until now. He looked to be deep in thought, so nobody really wanted to bother him. Carolena guessed her and Abby’s little fight got him annoyed. She had been slightly worried about him and wondered what he was thinking about.
When they got out of the car, Carolena decided to ask him. “You ok?” she asked, bumping her shoulder against his, since they were both on their crutches. Justin stumbled a bit, not expecting the contact. He faced her and smiled.
“Yeah. I’m fine. Just thinking.” Justin loved how she seemed so worried about him. Maybe she was interested in him. He was going to spend every minute he could, trying to figure out if it were true or not.
“About what?” Carolena asked, bringing Justin out of his thoughts.
“Nothing in particular. My mind just wandered off for a bit.”
“Alright,” Carolena replied, excepting his answer…for now.
Everyone walked in silence until they reached the elevator.
“Which floor are you guys on?” Justin asked, breaking the silence.
“Fourth,” Abby and Carolena said in unison. They looked at each other and started laughing. It was freaky how they kept doing that.
When the elevator doors opened, the girls led the way to their apartment.
‘Shit! I never got the chance to clean up the apartment!’ Abby thought. She was a neat freak and always looked out for Carolena, who really didn’t care if there was a small mess. The two were complete opposites, but got along so well.
Abby turned to both men when they reached the front door.
“Ok guys, our apartment is kinda messy. It looks like a tornado ran through it.”
“Oh come on Abby! It’s not that bad. They won’t mind seeing a few things outta place…will ya guys?” Carolena asked, turning to JC and Justin.
“Nope,” Justin replied.
“Besides, it can’t be as bad as our bus when we’re traveling. A hurricane could blow right through and it wouldn’t make the mess any bigger,” JC said chuckling.
“Thanks for being so blunt C,” Justin said rolling his eyes. “Like they really need to know what kind of slobs we are on tour.” ‘Aww, shit! Shouldn’t have said that!’ Justin thought, blushing ten shades of red.
“What! You know its true Justin! Especially you. You can be the worst sometimes and-”
“Ok JC! I think we all get the point!” Justin said, cutting JC off.
“And you say WE’RE bad?!” Abby asked, arms crossed and tapping her foot up and down, trying to hold the serious look on her face. It failed, and both girls started laughing. Both of the guys blushed.
“Let’s just go inside, ok, I’m starving,” Abby said, finally calming down and unlocking the door.
The four of them entered and went into the living room, led by Carolena.
“So what do you guys wanna eat?” Abby asked as she took her coat and shoes off. “Make yourselves at home guys.”
“Chinese,” JC answered. Abby scrunched up her face. She hated Chinese.
“How about pizza?” Carolena suggested, knowing of Abby’s dislike of Chinese food.
“Pizza sounds good,” Justin agreed.
“Alright. Is that good for you JC?” Abby asked, knowing he was going to give in.
JC nodded.
“Topping?” Abby asked, picking up the phone and dialing the number to the pizza place.
“Pepperoni!” everyone answered.
