Summary: Kelly’s having a dinner party, but how can both Justin Timberlake plus her own boyfriend get along? Will it take the help of a girl named Jamie Lynn?

 

Chapter One

 

 

“Cake’s all done!” Kelly Clarkson sang as she pulled the pound cake out of the oven. She stirred the chicken soup and kept an eye on the freshly baked pie and cookies she’d made earlier.

She set the cake on the countertop, grinning from ear to ear. So far, everything was working out the way she planned. Kelly’s cooking had vastly improved from the previous year. Back then, people had to suffer through her pancakes filled with goo and eggshells, her burnt peas, her hard-as-a-rock fruitcakes, and just about anything else that wasn’t instant.

Kelly was planning to have a dinner party, to show off her cooking and talk with friends (Okay, it was mainly to show off her cooking.).

Kelly took some lettuce out of the crisper and began to slice it up for salad. The chop-chop noise of the knives began to drown out as she began daydreaming.

Joseph, Kelly’s youngest friend, who was visiting that day, poked his head into the kitchen.

“Hey, Kelly!” He replied, marching into the kitchen in his swimming trunks and flippers.

Kelly turned around, out of her daydream. “What’s up, Joe? How’s the swimming going? Where’s Justin?”

Joseph shook his head. “Don’t know. I’m waiting for him to come back.”

Kelly beamed. “Well, now that you’re here, you can help me make this salad. Can you pass me the tomatoes?”

Joseph made a face. “Tomatoes are disgusting,” he grimaced.

“Yeah, but they taste so good in salads.”

“What kind of cake is that?” Joseph asked, pointing at the cake on the countertop.

Kelly began to chop the tomatoes. “It’s a marble layer cake. Jebbie taught me how to make it.”

Joseph licked his lips hungrily. “Looks yummy. Can I have a slice?”

Kelly shook her head. “As much as I love you, Joey, I have to say no. The cake’s for the party.”

Joseph looked disappointed. “Not even just a little bitty slice?”

“Not even a little bitty slice. C’mon, do you think people want see a half-eaten cake? And I’ve worked hard to make that cake.”

Joseph sighed. “Okay. I won’t touch it.”

“Promise?”

“Promise. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.”

Kelly laughed. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far.”

At that moment, the phone rang. Kelly sighed. “Okay, I’m gonna go answer that. Remember, don’t touch that cake!”

Joseph shook his head. “I won’t.”

“Good. See you then!” She replied, running to get the phone.

After Kelly left, Joseph stared forlornly at the cake, licking his lips. Boy, that cake looks good! He thought.

He walked towards the countertop, his stomach moving ahead of his consience.

He leaned up on his tippy-toes, his arms stretching around the huge cake. He tipped the cake off the counter, trying to pick it up, but it was too heavy. He ended up chin-deep in the cake.

Oh, boy! Kelly’s gonna kill me! He thought frantically. He began to think of excuses and alibis to back him up. He didn’t have to think anymore, because at that time, Justin Guarini had walked into the kitchen, watching Joseph struggle with the cake.

“What are you doing?” He asked, trying hard to stop from laughing.

“I’m not even supposed to be eating this cake, but I couldn’t help it!”

“Why couldn’t you help it?”

“The cake was calling me! It wants me to eat it!”

The wheels in Justin’s brain began to turn. “Did Kelly make this cake?” He asked.

“Yup.”

Justin shook his head. “Well, let’s get you cleaned up and we’ll decide what to do with this cake. C’mon.”

He grabbed a paper towel, lifted the cake up, and wiped Joseph’s chin.

“Is Kelly here?” He asked.

“No. She’s still on the phone.”

“Good. Now, I’ll get the cake, you get some saucers, okay?”

Joseph nodded, dumbfounded.

“What are you gonna do?” He asked, shivering a little. He watched as Justin grabbed a huge knife.

“Watch this,” Justin replied. He began to cut a huge slice in the middle of the cake, leaving a hole in the middle.

He put the slice on the saucer and put it on the table.

“What about the hole?” Joseph asked.

Justin looked around frantically. “Uh, let me see…AHA!”  He grabbed a handful of paper towels and stuffed them inside the hole. Afterwards, he spread some chocolate frosting over the paper towels.

“Ooooh! What is Kelly going to say when she sees that?”

“Shhh! If we don’t say anything, she’ll never know!”

“Can I have a piece of cake then?”

“Sure,” Justin replied. “But first, I want to have the first taste.”

Before Justin could sink his knife in the piece of cake, Joseph tapped his shoulder.

“Not now, you’ll get your slice,” Justin replied.

“But Justin, Kelly’s here!”

Justin’s eyes widened. Think, Justin, think!

He pushed the plate towards Joseph. “That’s his slice, not mine. I was cutting it for him,” he lied.

Joseph’s mouth opened. “He cut it!” he yelled, pushing it back towards Justin.

Justin pushed it back to Joseph.

Kelly giggled. Then she returned back to the cake. “What did you guys do to my cake?”

“It’s all his fault?” Joseph and Justin protested, pointing at each other.

Kelly shook her head. Then she pulled out the ball of paper towels Justin had stuck in the cake.

“Well, well. Look what we have here. I knew I couldn’t trust you guys with the cake. Well, I guess you guys won’t be having any dessert then.”

Justin and Joseph both frowned and stared at each other glumly.

 

 

 

Kelly sat in the living room, busy with her guest list. So far, she’d invited fourteen people. Most of them were her close friends, but others were new people she’d met.

“Hey, Justin! I need your help!” she yelled.

Justin arrived in the living room with a huge chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk.

“Hey, I thought I said no dessert!” Kelly protested, laughing.

“But I’m hungry!”

Kelly frowned. “Why didn’t you just eat something like…an apple or something?”

“Um…my jaws are too stiff and tired to just stand there and chew something like that.”

Kelly rolled her eyes, but she burst out laughing.

“What you got there?” Justin asked, nibbling his cookie.

Kelly smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It’s a guest list and I need your help with it.”

“Okay. What help do you need?”

“I’m just going to read the names of the people I invited. I want five more people, but I can’t think of anyone else.”

“Okay. Read away.”

“Alright. I’ve got Tamyra, R.J, Christina, Ryan, Ejay, Jim, A.J, Nikki, Paula, Jebbie, Boo, Joseph, Justin, and_”

“Whoa! Wait a sec…Who’s Justin? Isn’t that me?” Justin asked.

“Yeah, but there’s another Justin. I invited Justin Timberlake over.”

Justin nearly choked on his cookie. “Justin Timberlake? Why’d you invite him for?”

Kelly rolled her eyes. “Oh, Justin. Grow up, okay? Just because you guys have the same name_”

“My name has nothing to do with anything. Kelly, you remember what he did at the KCA’s the last time we saw him.”

Kelly burst out laughing. “Justin, he was not trying to hit on me. He was just being nice.”

Justin snorted. “Yeah, I’ll bet. Kel, the guy has a crush on you.”

“He does not. And besides, we’re friends. He was just being a gentleman.”

Justin rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right.”

Kelly sighed. “I don’t know why you’re so bent out of shape. So, he kissed my cheek. So what? Big deal, okay? You weren’t so thrilled to see him, anyway.”

“Yeah, because whenever I tried to show any kind of contact, he was always there!”

Kelly picked up her book. “Can we get back to the planning? Justin asked if he could bring Jamie Lynn Spears over. You know, Britney Spears’ little sister. And Britney’s cousin is supposed to be watching her in case Justin has somewhere else to be.”

Justin shook his head. “Don’t try to change the subject, Kelly. I’m not through, yet. How could you invite Justin Timberlake here and not tell me about it?”

Kelly sighed again. “I’m a grown woman, Justin. I can invite anyone I want to.”

“But not him.”

Kelly threw up her hands. “I give up! Look, Justin, J.T’s coming over here, whether you like it or not. He’s one of my friends and I can’t tell him he can’t come because you don’t like him.”

Justin sighed. “Whatever. But he won’t speak to me!”

Kelly left the room. “See if I care!”

 

 

“Jebbie, he’s starting to be impossible,” Kelly complained to her best friend, Jessica Brake.

“Wow, I never thought Justin could be so stubborn,” Jessica mused.

“Well, he is. As soon as he found out Justin Timberlake was coming over for dinner, I haven’t heard the end of it.”

Jessica cleared her throat nervously. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Kelly,” she said. “But don’t you think Justin is being a little overprotective of you? I mean, Boo is like that with me all the time.”

Kelly sighed. “I know that, but all this overprotective ness is starting to get on my nerves. I mean, I can’t even see one of my friends.”

“But tell me this, what exactly happened at the Kid’s Choice Awards the day you guys met Justin Timberlake? Was that your first time ever meeting him?”

“No. Well, not for me. I met him first, remember?”

“Okay. Well, what did you guys talk about?”

“Well, the first time we met, we just talked about small things. He wanted to know about American Idol and Simon and Burleson and myself. And then he told me about himself and all.”

“And that’s it?”

“No. The day I saw him at the pre-Grammy party, he gave me his cell phone number.”

“Did Justin even know?”

“Who? Justin T. or Justin G.?”

“Justin G. You know, your boyfriend.”

“No…I told him a few weeks later.”

“Well, then. No wonder he’s mad at you then,” Jessica replied.

“What’d you mean?” Kelly asked.

“Kelly, don’t you get it? I think he’s jealous.”

“Why would Justin be jealous? I’ve told him time and again that JT and I are just friends. There’s no reason for him to be so bent out of shape.”

Jessica sighed. “Kelly, look. I think maybe your boyfriend feels like you’re putting him out of the picture all the time and everywhere he looks, this other guy keeps putting himself in. I mean, no one wants to feel like you’re putting them second in everything

you do.”

Kelly sighed. “Okay, what should I do? It’s not like I don’t talk to him.”

“Well, maybe you should communicate more and show Justin that as a boyfriend, he comes first and not other guys.”

Kelly thought about it. “Hmmm…I think you’re right. I’ll talk to him.”

“Is he there now?”

“No. He went somewhere, but he was so mad, he forgot to tell me where he was going.”

“Okay. When he does come and you guys do talk it out, call me and tell me what happened, okay?”

“Okay. My party’s tomorrow. Be there, okay?”

Jessica laughed. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Kel.”

The two laughed. After Kelly hung up, the phone rang again. Kelly picked it up.

“Hello?” she asked.

“Hey, Kelly! How’s it going?” Justin Timberlake replied.

“Hi, Justin! How are you?”

“I’m cool, I’m cool. Listen, I called to tell you why I have to bring JL with me tomorrow.”

“Oh, Jamie Lynn. How is she?”

“She’s cool. She’s with me right now. Britney’s mom, Lynne, is busy. Britney can’t watch her with all that work, and I know Lynne doesn’t want her with her father. And her brother, Bryan, is on vacation with his wife.”

“Cool beans. What’s she up to right now?”

“Talking to her friend on her cell phone. Look, the reason I’m watching her is because I’m not busy this week. But, if for some reason, something happens, I have to bring Britney and Jamie Lynn’s cousin over. Her name is Laura Lynne Covington.”

Kelly nodded. “Okay, well…thanks for telling me.”

“Hey, where’s your boyfriend at?”

Kelly stiffened. “He’s…somewhere.”

“Oh. Well, tell him that Justin Timberlake said hello.”

Like he’d want to talk to you, Kelly thought, frowning.

“Hey, Kelly? Jamie Lynn wants to talk you and then I have to hang up. Is that okay?”

“Sure. I’d love to talk to her.”

“Great. Hey, JL? Kelly Clarkson wants to talk to you.”

Several seconds later, Kelly found herself talking to Jamie Lynn Spears.

“Hi, Jamie Lynn. How are you?” Kelly asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you going to be busy tomorrow?”

“No. Justin said I’m comin’ to your party.”

“Oh, yeah. I can’t wait to see you!”

“Me, too. My sister is your biggest fan!”

“Oh, really? Tell Britney that I said thanks, okay?”

“Sure. Hey, is your bf gonna be there? That’s who I wanna see.”

“I hope he’s here. You like my boyfriend?”

“Oh, yeah! He’s so cute!”

Kelly refrained herself from laughing. Justin had a way with all sorts of ladies.

“Well, when I see him, I’ll tell him that you said so.”

“Oh, no! Don’t! I’d just die if you said that!”

Kelly giggled. “How old are you, Jamie Lynn?”

“I’m twelve.”

“Well, that’s old enough. You can have my boyfriend. I’m getting tired of him, anyway,” Kelly joked, even though she half-meant it.

Jamie Lynn laughed. “Oh, cool! I just cannot wait to meet him! All the girls in Kentwood have a crush on him!”

Kelly giggled. “Okay, Jamie Lynn. Look, I gotta go and finish putting the party together. When Justin comes, I won’t tell him you have a crush on him, okay?”

“Yep!”

“Good!”

When Kelly hung up, Justin walked in.

“Who was that?” he asked.

“Oh…Just Jebbie…” Kelly lied.

“Oh.”

He turned around and walked out of the room.

Why is he being so damn stubborn! What’s wrong with him today?

“Justin, can’t you listen to me?” Kelly begged.

“Why? Aren’t you going to call Justin Timberlake first? After all, he’s first on your list.”

Oh, my God! Jebbie’s right! What if I am putting Justin second?

“Justin, stop it! You’re not being fair at all. Justin is just a friend and_”

“Kelly, I don’t want to feel like second best, that’s all. Remember the day after you won and you said that nothing could come between us?”

“Of course I remember, but I don’t think that Justin would do that. Why would he try to steal me away from you?”

“Because he’s a flirt, Kelly. I know what he was trying to do when he kissed you.”

Kelly rolled her eyes. “It was just a simple, little kiss on the cheek. I still don’t understand what the big deal is.”

“The big deal is is that I don’t like him and I don’t want him kissing you again.”

Kelly’s mouth flew open. “I don’t believe this! Justin, I had no idea how insecure you are! How am I going to make you understand? We’re just friends, okay? There is nothing between us. Are you going to talk to him?”

“No.”

Kelly gritted her teeth. He’s so stubborn!

“Okay, Justin! I’ve had it. JT is coming to this party and nothing’s going to stop me! And you are going to get along with him!”

“Yeah, right.”

“Well, fine! I don’t care if you ever talk to him, but you’re gonna at least exchange words with him!”

In anger, Kelly marched upstairs to her room to calm down. I don’t believe this! Talking to Justin is like talking to some wall. You can’t tell him anything when he’s stubborn and mad.

Kelly looked at her favorite stuffed bear. “What do you do when the people you love sometimes don’t understand you?” she asked the bear.

 

 

“Hey, Justin! I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Where have you been?" Joseph demanded.

“Huh?” Justin replied, looking up from his lap.

Joseph sat next to him on the couch. “You look sad. Something wrong?” he asked.

Justin shook his head. “Me? No.”

Joseph frowned, disbelievgly. “For some strange reason, I don’t believe you,” he replied.

Justin nearly chuckled. There was nothing that couldn’t get past Joseph. He could read you like a book.

Joseph put his hand on Justin’s shoulder. “Come on, tell me. You can tell me. I’ll understand.”

Justin shook his head. “It’s something way too complicated to understand, little J-Man.”

“How do you know? How’s it complicated?”

“Um…”

“Is this about Kelly?” Joseph asked.

Justin sighed. “Yeah, something like that.”

“What’d she do?”

“Nothing. Just being stubborn.”

Joseph had never heard of Kelly being stubborn. He wasn’t sure what to say.

“Hey, Joey. Can I ask you something?” Justin asked.

“Okay. What?”

“Do you like Justin Timberlake?”

Joseph frowned. “No way. I mean, he’s a good singer and everything, but…I like you better. You’re the only Justin I like.”

Justin blushed a little. “Thanks, man, but don’t flatter me.”

“No, really. No Justin Jeffre or Justin Timberlake. No Kelly Rowland or Kelly Osbourne or Kelly Ripa. The only Justin and Kelly I know and love are you guys.”

Justin grinned. “Well, at least you don’t like Justin Timberlake,” he replied.

“Are you and Kelly having a fight?” Joseph asked suddenly.

“Not really... It's more of a disagreement.”

“What are you guys disagreeing about?”

“Well…Kelly invited Justin T. over and I don’t want him here.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t like him.”

“Why don’t you like him?”

“Because I think…I think I’ve said too much. Joey, these questions are getting too personal. Kids shouldn’t be asking too many personal questions,” Justin replied.

Joseph nodded. “Okay, I respect that. But before I go, I only have to tell you one thing.”

“Which is?”

“Whatever you’re mad with Kelly about, just tell her you’re sorry. Okay?”

A car horn beeped in the distance. “Oh, that’s my mom! But, do what I said, okay? I hate it when people fight, especially you guys.”

Justin nodded. “Thanks for the advice, big guy. Will do.”

Joseph went upstairs to say good-bye to Kelly.

I’ll only apologize to Kelly until she realizes how stupid it was to invite him, Justin thought bitterly.

 

 

 

“Hey, guess what?” Jamie Lynn Spears told her friends in school.

It was a warm spring day in Monroe, Louisiana at Bayou Academy. Jamie Lynn used to attend Parklane Academy, the school that Bryan, Britney, and Laura Lynne all used to go to. Lynne, Jamie Lynn’s mother, had made Jamie Lynn change schools because the students in Parklane  had been giving Jamie Lynn a hard time. BA was the school in Louisiana. All of the richest and smartest people attended the school. At first, Jamie Lynn tried to fit in, but now she knew she was trying too hard. Many of them were like her, teased by many because of their changed lifestyles.

“What?” One of Jamie Lynn’s closest friends, Kaylee Davis, asked.

“Tomorrow, my sister’s ex-boyfriend is taking me to Kelly Clarkson’s house for a party. Isn’t that great?”

“Really? The Kelly Clarkson? The girl who won American Idol?” Kaylee asked.

“Uh-huh. Justin is friends with her, so she invited him to come.”

“Jamie Lynn, that is so cool! Kelly’s house!” Kori Smith squealed.

“I wonder if Justin is gonna be there, too,” Kaylee wondered.

“You mean Justin Guarini?” Kori asked.

“Yeah.”

“I heard he’s going out with Kelly. Is that true, Jamie Lynn?” Kaylee asked.

Jamie Lynn shrugged. “I don’t know. Who knows?”

“Could you, like, spy for us?” Kori asked.

“What?” Jamie Lynn replied.

“Well, we can’t come and we’d just love it if you got the scoop for us. And almost the entire school are Kelly and Justin fans. With you going, you’d get the scoop and the whole school will love you.”

Jamie Lynn frowned. “I don’t know, you guys. That sounds wrong.”

“It isn’t wrong. It’s just…doing a small favor. We’ll pay you back, I promise!” Kori replied.

“I just love Jelly!” Kaylee shouted.

“What?” Jamie Lynn asked.

“Jelly. You know, you take the J in Justin’s name and take away the K in Kelly’s name. Put in J in Eelly and you’ve got JELLY!”

“That sounds so stupid. Jelly isn’t a person. It’s a food,” Jamie Lynn scoffed.

“But it sounds so cute!” Kaylee squealed.

“And that’s why you’ve got to get the Jelly scoop for us. I’m tired of visiting these boards. I mean, none of them are really reporters or know these people, so maybe you can get the scoop for us. Please, Jamie Lynn, please?” Kori begged.

“Please?” Kaylee added.

Jamie Lynn nearly burst out laughing.

“And besides, you’re the one with the famous family. You and your family are talked about almost everyday,” Kori replied.

“Okay, okay. I’ll do it for you guys. I don’t care about this ‘Jelly’.”

“Jamie Lynn, trust us, the Jelly is real!” Kaylee squealed.

Jamie Lynn shook her head. As far as I’m concerned, me and Justin G. should be together. If I mixed up JL and J, that’d be JLJ. Or maybe_

“Hey, Jamie Lynn? Can you take pictures?” Kaylee asked.

“Yeah, some pictures would be cool! Maybe I can scan ‘em up on one of the boards! The Jellies will be so jealous!” Kori gushed.

“The what?” Jamie Lynn asked.

“You know, the people who believe in the Jelly are called Jellies! Me and Kori are Jellies!” Kaylee replied.

Jamie Lynn sighed. “I like Kelly and Justin, but I’m not gonna go that far!”

“Oh, come on, Jamie Lynn! Being a Jellie is fun!” Kori protested.

“Maybe for you guys, but I’m not a Jelly. I think it’s just some kind of foolishness. None of you Jellies have real proof of anything. You only believe what you hear and see. When I see some real ‘Jellyness’, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, there is no Jelly!”

With that, Jamie Lynn marched off. How can people be so gullible? And how do they really know about stuff like this?  It’s not like they actually stand with them, writing everything they say and do.

Jamie Lynn smiled. But Jelly or no Jelly, I’m pretty sure Justin and Kelly will become the best friends I ever have. I can’t wait to go to this party!

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