PART ONE: A/S/L?
Late November, 1998
Have you ever been so tired and so exhausted that you couldn't sleep? It seems like an impossible thing, but to Justin Timberlake, in that moment he was living a life of exhaustion, and yet the simple act of sleep wouldn't conquer his body. He tried fluffing his pillow in every imaginable way. He tried putting more covers on and then throwing the covers back off him when he got too hot. He placed his headphones over his ears, trying to block out the heavy snores and loud road noise. And after lying there, counting to sheep number 139, he gave up.
With a growl of a sigh, he sat up slightly in the cramped bunk, readjusted his pillow to cushion his back and flicked on the tiny reading light in the cocoon like box that had been his home for months now.
He looked around the forest green sleeping bag that was covering his body from the waist down. At the foot of the bunk, his CD case and player was tossed in the corner, a few letters and his book bag were all stuck against the wall. His jacket and some other articles of clothing were scattered around him. And he wondered why he felt just slightly claustrophobic?
But now a feeling worse than claustrophobia and not being able to sleep crept over him. BOREDOM. If it was one thing Justin hated, that was being bored.
He wanted some company. He didn't mind being alone, but being tired, bored AND alone was a BAD combination. After thinking about moving for about 3 minutes, Justin moved. He swung his legs off the bunk and gently hopped out into the small hallway. The last thing he wanted to do was wake everyone else up, because then, when he FINALLY got to sleep they might not be as courteous.
He contemplated going in the back and watching TV or a movie. But it was almost 4 in the morning. Nothing would be on the tube and he had watched all the movies they had about 3 times each. So he figured he would grab a snack. When all else fails, food will comfort you.
He pulled back the curtain that separated the bunk area from the rest of the bus and walked into the mini kitchenette. He searched the cabinets, realizing he really wasn't that hungry. His hand gripped the refrigerator handle and he opened it and scanned the contents. He decided on a bottle of water.
A groan escaped his lips as the bus hit a rough spot in the road and his balance failed him. His thighs hit the hard counter of their booth and he looked down, happy that the small growth spurt in his torso the past year had just saved him the feelings of major pain right then.
"Sorry bout that. What are you doin up Curly?"
Justin looked up and smiled as his blue eyes met the brown ones of their bus driver in the rear view mirror. He plopped sideways in the booth, letting his long legs stick out straight and his bare feet to rest against the small couch opposite the table. "Hey James. Can't sleep."
James noted the stuffiness in his voice. "You still got that cold?"
"I think so." Right as the words left his mouth he took in a deep breath, covered his face with both hands and snapped forward with a awfully loud noise. He pulled away and looked at his hand. "That's disgusting." He reached over on the table to a small box of Kleenex and wiped away the sticky nastiness on his fingers.
He sat the used Kleenex on the table and popped his neck. "I'm bored."
"Wanna drive?" James chuckled.
"No thanks." His cobalt eyes scanned around the place he was starting to call home. Well in his mind at least. It would never REALLY be home. He was ready to be HOME. In a house, with his family.
His elbow rested on the booth and his palm supported his head as he sat there, thinking....about how bored he was. "This sucks."
"Why don't you take one of those sleeping pills Chris does? He gets knocked out pretty quickly."
"Have you seen how he is when he wakes up though? Dang, he is like Richard Simmons and Robin Williams put together."
James smiled and kept his eyes on the road. "Why don't you check out the new laptop Lance brought in yesterday?"
"Lance got us a new puter?" Justin looked around, and sure enough there was a small briefcase looking thing lying beside his feet on the couch.
"Well, its not yours. It's Lance's. I think you were in the back with Joey when he brought it in. He said anyone could use it."
"James I love you. Now I got something to do." Justin reached over to the couch and pulled the cushiony case up on the table in front of him. He sat up straight and unzipped the case. After a few minutes of trying to hook the laptop up, he pressed the start button and waited patiently for the computer to boot up.
A minute or two later the desktop picture loaded with all its icons. "Oh, gosh..." Justin groaned.
"What?" The bus driver inquired.
"The desktop screen is this huge thing of Janet. I knew Chris was bad, but Lance TOO!"
James' chuckle got louder and louder with time. "Boy, you know you have it bad for her too. Just don't let Miss Jackson herself get on this bus and see it. Then she will realize the obsessive freaks she asked to come on tour with her."
"We aren't obsessive freaks." Justin defended himself, double clicking on the AOL icon. "We just thinks she's hot."
"Yeah, last night you 5 boys had a 3 hour conversation on how perfect her smile is. No, not freaks at all." James said sarcastically.
"Whatever...just drive James." He had signed on under Guest and was now typing in his name and password.
"Yes, sir." He mumbled with a smirk.
As soon as the "Welcome, you've got mail" was heard, Justin sighed. Finally he was no longer bored. He checked his mail; all of it was junk basically. There were a few from his friends, but he didn't want to take the time NOW and write them back. So he just saved the emails for later.
He looked around the screen, moving his finger on the touch-sensor mouse and contemplated where to go. He finally went to "Member directory."
He wanted someone to talk to. Preferably female, since he lived on a bus with at times the least 4 other males. In the box where he could type in words to search for, he typed; "female, single, 1981, basketball." He looked over the words and bobbed his head in a nod. That should do for a girl suitable enough to talk to.
He clicked on the check box for only members online and pressed search. As AOL searched for profiles that contained the things he looked for, he wondered who his age would be on at that time of night. He figured someone must be on. Finally a list of about 200 screen names presented themselves.
He pressed down on the scrollbar and randomly double clicked on a name. But he immediately Xed it when he saw the screen name was "JustNluvslave" and her profile was dedicated to the "sexy, curly muscle machine" that was...himself. He cringed in disgust. That girl didn't even KNOW him.
-Maybe this is a waste of my time. - He let out a deep breath and double clicked on another name. The computer screen was making his eyes droopy and he was now, ready for bed.
He scanned over the profile, but had to stop and read it, because well, this girl was quite witty. He read over the profile for DMBluvr81
Member Name: does my name REALLY matter to you? Are you THAT bored that you even CARE? Ask...maybe I'll be nice and tell you. But don't get your hopes up. By the way, my name is Elizabeth.
Location: Sitting in my computer chair. Where did you THINK I was? Telepathically sending my profile to the Internet while I'm driving my car?
Sex: Female
Marital Status: Uh, no. I don't live on the prairie. I don't marry before I reach the voting age. (I'm single, moron)
Hobbies: Sitting here, waiting for something exciting to happen. By my screen name you can tell I like the Dave Matthews Band. But I like other music as well. I have a weird obsession with the Food network. I like kids. Anything else, your honor?
Computers: Yup, got one. Wait, if I didn't have a computer how would I have a profile for AOL? Hmmm, another bright idea the geniuses of America Online thought of. (that's a little bit of sarcasm for ya folks.)
Occupation: Studying, baby-sitting my neice, watching life pass by me, plopped down in a rocker on my front porch waving at the neighbors that walk by...(sigh)...cant you hear the theme music for the Andy Griffith Show?
Personal Quote: "It's a...(insert disappointed noise)...girl...again." -My dad, 1981. "Don't you wanna play kiddie league soccer?" -My dad, 1989. "Why don't you try out for tennis, Liz?" -My dad, 1994. "Aww, you got cut from the basketball team. Why didn't you TRY harder?" -My dad, 1997. "Me and my dad don't get along. Can you tell?" -Me, right now.
Justin smiled. This girl seemed interesting. He clicked on the "IM now" button and on instinct typed "a/s/l?" and pressed sent.
CurlyJay23: a/s/l?
Justin was about to forget it, because 2 minutes had past AT LEAST and he was getting tired. But right as he was about to X out the screen the bling of an IM hit his ears and his eyes widened when he saw the LARGE message she sent him back.
DMBluvr81: a/s/l????? Oh my gosh? Are we 13 years old or what? Let me ask you something, buddy...when you meet someone in person do you go up to them and say "a slash s slash l????" I DONT THINK SO! No, you greet them with a kind, "Hey, how are you doing today?" I just checked out your profile "JAY" could you be more CREEPY!?! All you put on there is your name and hobby. You like b-ball and your name is Jay. You are not even worth the time for me to write this, if you cant take the time to fill out a STUPID profile. Ya know what? Usually I would just canc
He pondered why she stopped but soon got another bling.
DMBluvr81:...stupid text limit...usually I would just cancel anyone who asked me a/s/l but ya know what? I'm FED UP WITH IT! It's just an easy way to see if someone is worth your time or not. NEXT TIME USE SOME MANNERS!!!!
Justin stared at the screen in shock before a smug grin claimed his face and his fingers began typing.
CurlyJay23: That time of the month?
DMBluvr81: I didn't know they taught puberty to 4th graders.
CurlyJay23: I'm 18 thank you.
DMBluvr81: Well let me remember to send a hallmark card for our accomplishment. The world has managed to survive the immaturity of Mr. CurlyJay for 18 years.
CurlyJay23: Are you always this bitchy? Or is it something you do when you have a crush on someone?
DMBluvr81: WHAT?!?! Oh MY GOSH! You know what? It's WAY too late for me to be this worked up. I have a Chemistry test tomorrow and you are making me MORE stressed out than I already am. Just go back to your illegal porno sites, buster. Or better yet go into the "teen chat room" and try your little a/s/l pick up line there. I'm sure some giggling middle schoolers would be thrilled to talk to a charmer like you.
Justin liked this girl. She was rude, obnoxious and didn't mind telling you what she thought. His fingers worked even faster.
CurlyJay23: Hmmm...you must visit those chat rooms a lot since you know so much about them.
But when he pressed send a box popped up that said, "DMBluvr81 is not currently signed on." With a frown he clicked ok and stared at their conversation. He grinned. That girl had just worn him out. His eyes closed for a moment and he shook his head and woke himself back up.
Minutes later he had shut down the computer but didn't bother unplugging it. He stood up and stretched while he mumbled. "Night James."
"Good morning Justin." James retorted chuckling.
Justin stook his head and sauntered back towards the bunk area. He hopped back in his small "bedroom" and snuggled under the covers. But long after he had turned out his light, he was awake...
...Thinking about the spunk that DMBluvr81 girl had. Every girl he knew fell at his feet and was giddy and immature. They would do anything for him at the snap of a finger. He hated it.
And even though he had just been told off for a harmless act on the internet; it had been refreshing to say the least.
He was still tired, but now it didn't matter. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander about the mystery girl he had just talked to. He wondered what she looked like, where she lived, what she did for fun. He knew if any of the other guys knew he was thinking this, the jokes would never end.
But he was 17 years old, would be 18 in a couple of months. The road was wearing on him and he was feeling more and more lonely as time went on. It couldn't harm him to spend his restless night dreaming of a girl he had never met. His fans did it all the time.
Who was there to say Justin Timberlake could dream a little himself?
But then again, the girl he was thinking about now had just told him off, insulted his ego, and made him feel like an idiot. It was the first time a female had done that to him in a LONG time.
Sleep claimed Justin finally around 5 in the morning. With a faint grin on his lips and the curiosity behind the girl of DMBluvr81 nagging on his mind, he had drifted to sleep.