Joey awoke to the smell of coffee brewing and something else that he couldn't quite name. When he entered the kitchen, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he found Shay at the stove. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her move from the stove to the counter, putting something on the plates that were sitting there. She was so gorgeous, wearing nothing but a long shirt, her hair all mussed from sleep. Pushing away from the door, Joey entered the kitchen. He moved, silently to where she was and wrapped his arms around her, making her squeal. Shay smacked him on the arm for scaring her and handed him his plate. She had been up for a couple of hours and had decided to make breakfast for them. She had made her specialty, western omelets. Joey sat down with his plate and dug in, moaning appreciatively.
"Joey, I need to talk to you about something," Shay took a bite of her omelet, relishing her favorite dish. Joey mumbled something around a mouthful of his and Shay shook her head at him.
"I can't go back to California with you today," Shay said, her eyes lowered. Joey stopped chewing and swallowed.
"What do you mean you can't go back," he argued, "I thought......."
"I've still got school and a job here Joey," Shay reminded him, "I just can't go to California right now." Joey was dumbfounded. He'd assumed she would be going with him. He couldn't stand the thought of returning there alone. He sat back in his chair, the remainer of his food untouched. Shay wasn't coming with him. What was he going to do now? She looked so unaffected by it that he was completely confused.
"Don't you want to come," Joey asked softly.
"Yes, I do," shay answered, placing her hand atop his, "But I just can't. I've got responsibilities here right now that need taken care of."
"So, where do we go from here," Joey wondered aloud.
"I don't know," Shay replied. Joey quietly got up from the table and strode over to her.
"Well, I'm hoping that you'll change your mind," he said taking her hand and leading her back to the bedroom, "But since I can't make you, at least I can have something to take with me." Shay knew what he meant. He wanted to remember every inch of her body as she did his. He wanted to be able to picture her, lying there after they'd made love, talking quietly, bodies still entangled. Shay wanted the same thing and she walked behind him without hesitation.
~*~
The airport was the hardest thing either of them had ever done. Now, finally knowing the truth, it tore them up to be separated, but Joey understood that she had to do what she felt was right. They didn't talk much, but they didn't have to. They'd already said everything possible at Shay's apartment. He'd begged her to go and though it killed her, she remained firm. They called for boarding and Joey hugged her tight to him before kissing her, long and gentle. They stared at each other, tears already falling from Shay's eyes and glistening in his. Abruptly, he turned from her and hurried down the hall. Shay stayed at the window and watched until the plane was no longer even a speck in the sky.
When she returned home, the apartment was even more lonely and depressing than before. Shay looked through her address book till she found the number she wanted. She picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hey JC, it's Shay," she said when he picked up.
"Shay?" JC sounded surprised, "I......what.......I mean, is everything okay? I thought you'd be on your way here."
"Well, as you can see, I'm not," Shay sighed.
"How come?" JC asked, frantic now, "Joey had called me and told me how well you two were getting along. He was positive that you'd be with him when he came home."
"I have some things I need to take care of," Shay replied vaguely, "I need a favor from you though. You owe me for this little escapade you've put us through." JC chuckled and told her to name it and he would do anything she needed. Shay explained what she wanted done and he promised to get right on it. They said goodbye and hung up the phone, Shay smiling to herself.
Chapter Seventeen
Joey sat in the dressing room of the arena, waiting for the show to start. It was the first one of the tour and he was in a bitchy mood. He hadn't seen Shay in almost a week and hadn't been able to get in touch with her except once. Even then she'd been running out the door and they couldn't talk for long. Everyone, even the guys pretty much left him alone. He didn't want to talk to anyone and he definitely didn't feel like singing and dancing, but he knew he had to, no matter how he felt. Nothing mattered since he'd left Shay in Florida. He wanted to see her so badly. He could still picture her, tears running down her face when they'd said goodbye at the airport.
"Joey," Lance stuck his head in the door, "Um.....we're ready to go on. We've got to take our places." Joey grunted at him and blew out a deep breath before pushing himself out of the chair. He followed Lance silently down the hall, shoulders slumped. They reached the doors leading to the stage and Joey wanted nothing more than to turn back.
"Joey," JC ventured, "I know you've been down in the dumps about Shay."
That's an understatement, Joey thought to himself. God, he wished he could just run away right now. Run away from the knowing looks on the guys' faces and the way they treated him like something that would break. JC continued, oblivious to the looks Joey was giving him.
"......so, I figured we could maybe do something to help you out a little," he was rambling again and Joey rolled his eyes, sighing, "We want you to be happy and I think this might do that for you. I could be wrong, but just try it, please. Just take a look and if you don't like it, we'll send it back, I promise." Joey fixed a hard glare on JC.
"Would you just shut the fuck up," he growled, "I can't stand you talking anymore. There isn't a damn thing you could show me that would make me happy so just SHUT UP!!!!!" JC's smile faded quickly and he stepped back, letting Joey rant.
"Everyone keeps trying to make me feel better," he yelled, "I'm sick of it. I'm telling you now, just leave me the fuck alone." When Joey was finished, they just stood there, staring at each other. Slowly, a grin came over JC's face as well as Justin's, Lance's and Chris's. Joey looked at them in disbelief. Were they actually smiling at him? What the hell was the matter with them? Joey opened his mouth, ready to land another tirade on them.
"Joey?"
He stopped. That voice. No. It couldn't be. Joey turned, wanting not to hope, but praying it was. She was standing there, smiling at him. His mouth still open, Joey just stared. He heard the guys snickering behind him, but he didn't care. All he could see was her. Finally, he broke through the surprise.
"Shay Bear?" he asked, still not able to believe that she was here, "But, how......when......I thought you weren't coming."
"Now, I never said that did I," Shay said playfully, "I said I had some things I needed to take care of first. Well, now they're all taken care of." Joey didn't understand and he waited for her to continue.
"I said I had the job and school right?" Joey nodded and she moved closer to him, "I took a leave from school and quit my job. I had to let my landlord know I was moving and have all my stuff flown here, which is a pain in the ass by the way, but the guys were very helpful in that aspect." Shay grinned at him and Joey looked over towards the guys who were grinning. It finally clicked. She was staying. Joey whooped and grabbed her up in his arms, spinning around. He kissed her with a resounding smack on the lips and spun again. Shay laughed at his antics and when he finally put her down, she pulled him aside, where the guys couldn't hear.
"I love you," she whispered and he whooped again, making the guys laugh. He kissed her a few more times, utterly ecstatic.
"Uh....Joey," Lance called, "We hate to interrupt your little reunion here, but......"
"Yeah," Justin pretended impatience, "We have a show to do here. You know......we dance......we sing......little girls scream their hearts out......" Joey laughed and looked at Shay again.
"Go on," she said, "I'll watch from the sidelines and be waiting here for you when you're done. Go be my Joey and perform." Joey's face broke into a huge smile and he kissed her again before turning and running through the doors to the stage.
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