The next morning, Joey stretched out on the bus and went over to Andrea's bunk, determined to crawl in it and give her a good morning kiss. Surprisingly, the bunk was neat and tidy, with no Andrea sleeping inside of it. Joey was a little shocked, but blew it off; Andrea always liked to walk around outside before the guys woke up, so he smiled and started to get his breakfast.
He saw the other guys' sitting in the kitchen/lounge area with sullen looks on their faces. Joey was totally confused now, "What's going on, guys? Merry Christmas to you, too!" he said.
"Uh, you might want to read this," Lance handed him the infamous letter that Andrea had received from JC last night and another smaller note in Andrea's writing. He read it, his happy face turning into shock:
Miss Marsiglio,
There is no way to inform you of this easily, but I'm afraid your parents have been murdered. And you haven't known the whole entire truth about your past. Your parents, Rick and Maria Parks, had you, Andrea Rae Parks, but decided not to keep you since your mother was very young. You were given to me, your aunt Anna, to take care of you for 10 years. Your parents changed their last names and became foster parents shortly after I had given you back to them. They had finally figured out they were ready to have children, and they accepted you back with open arms. Your mother has suffered a severe bullet to the head and your father committed suicide shortly after, revealed by the autopsy. I'm so sorry, Andrea Rae Parks.
Aunt Anna Parks
P.S. Enclosed is your real birth certificate, stating your true name, Andrea Rae Parks.
Joey stared at the small birth certificate in his hand and started to feel bad, but he was still confused, "Where is Andrea?"
"You might need to read the other note for that answer," Justin said, feeling tears brim up in his blue eyes.
Joey started reading the other paper in horror, with dark blood stains on it:
Joey and friends,
My parents have been killed. But Justin, you don't even know the whole entire truth. I told you a lot, I confided in you with my whole existence. Thank you for being my friend.
Lance, you came around and were such a friend as well.
Chris, you always found a way to make me laugh when I felt like shit.
JC, even though we didn't get along, you taught me to tolerate people, no matter what shit they put you through.
And Joey, you taught me to love.
Thank you all immensely for the support you've given me. But I'm afraid I have to make this decision by myself. I'm leaving. I don't know where I'm going or where I'll end up. But I'll try to drop you a line when I can.
Andrea Rae Parks
Joey broke out in a small fit of sobs after he had read Andrea's goodbye letter as the song "Dumpweed" by Blink 182 was lightly playing in the background. The lyrics were also written on the paper, by coincidence. All of *NSYNC thought she had committed suicide. And were well convinced of it.
But then again, hadn't she become a cunning liar?