JC opened the door and saw Hope standing at his doorstep.
“Hi.” He forced a smile and turned and walked back to the house.
Hope looked at him and sighed. “It hurts me to see him like that.” She thought.
JC walked into the kitchen and within a few seconds he walked out with a can of apple juice.
“Apple juice?” he asked. Hope nodded her head and replied, ”Yeah, thanks.” She said and stretched out her hand. JC passed the can to her and sat down on the sofa.
JC looked around and kept quiet. Hope was feeling uneasy and she decided to take the initiative to talk to him.
“JC, wanna catch a movie?” She asked, “There is a great one starring Sandra Bullock and I really want to watch it.”
JC looked up, “No. I don’t feel like going out today.”
Hope was upset over it but she tried not to show her emotion freely. She thought about it for some time before she said, “If you need someone to talk about what had happened, I..”
Before she could complete, JC stood up and stared at her, “Hope, I don’t feel like talking about this.” He said and walked towards the door and opened it, “I need to be alone, if you don’t mind,” he didn’t completed his sentence but Hope knew what he meant. He wanted her to leave right at that moment.
She walked towards her and then tears started dropping. She could not control her feeling and raised her voice, “DON’T YOU KNOW THAT I REALLY LIKE YOU! IT HURTS ME TO SEE YOU IN SUCH A MISERY. ALL I WANT IS TO STAY WITH YOU. I LOVE YOU.” She turned back and walked back to the house, “I’m not going to leave you alone here.”
JC looked at her with his mouth opened widely. He was shocked. That was the first time Hope had shouted at him. And all these time, he did not know that Hope was in love with him.
“Thanks for the treat.” Lucy smiled sweetly.
Jocie smiled back and said, “No problem.” Lance tapped his finger on Jocie’s shoulder and gave a cute look, “Thanks too.”
Jocie glared at him, “Yucks! Stop giving me that look. It’s so disgusting.” She said and turned to face Lucy, “That’s so childish.” She whispered.
Lucy started laughing and Jocie looked at her and started laughing together.
Lance looked at them, “What’s so funny?” he asked with a clueless expression.
Jocie laughed and said, “Nothing.”
Lance, Jocie and Lucy walked towards the mall. Lucy turned around, “Hey guys, I’m meeting my friend here so I see you tomorrow.” She said while she looked at Lance.
Lance nodded, “2pm at my office.”
Lucy gave Jocie a huge hug and whispered right into her ears, “It’s great to meet you and I can’t wait to sing the songs you wrote for me.” After that, she started running towards the entrance of the mall and before she went in, she turned back and waved to them.
Jocie smiled and said, “This girl is going to be famous. She is sweet and we clicked.”
“Yeah! She has a great personality and good voice. I’m so sure she is gonna make it big too.”
Lance and Jocie continued walking. Lance looked at Jocie’s silky light brown hair. It was so beautiful. At that moment Lance felt an urge to confess everything to her. They were always together as a group and never had a chance to be alone. Lance knew that that was the perfect time. He tried to hold her hand. Finally, he touched her hand but it was only for a few seconds.
“OH MY GOD. LANCE!” A fan screamed and together with her friends, they started running towards him.
Jocie saw them and she quickly let go her hand and turned back.
Lance turned and looked at her and then looked at the girls who were running towards him. He sighed, but being a nice guy, Lance couldn’t run away and so he stood there and forced out a smile.
He stood there and started chatting and signing autographs. He kept turning back and looked at Jocie.
Jocie looked at him and gave him a weak smile. She pointed her finger and signaled him that she would be waiting for him right at the opposite of the road. Lance nodded his head.
“Lance, you are so handsome.” One of the girls giggled.
Lance smiled and said, “Thanks.”
The other girl started asking him when would they release their next album.
“We are preparing for it now.” Lance lied. He knew that it was not the appropriate time to tell the girls so he had to lie but he was well prepared on what to say.
After a couple of minutes, Lance apologized to the fans, “Girls. It is great to talk to you but I have something important and I need to go. Thanks for supporting Nsync.”
The girls were disappointed that Lance had to leave but they nodded their heads, “Bye Lance.”
Lance smiled and looked at the traffic before he crossed the road.
Jocie was sitting on the bench near the fountain.
“Hey.” Lance sat beside her.
“Hey.” Jocie replied back and looked away.
Jocie was usually very lively and chatty. Lance noticed that she was very quiet. “I am sorry, are you angry with me.” He asked.
Jocie shake her head. “These girls are crazy about you and Nsync.”
“Yeah.” Lance smiled but he knew obviously that something was bothering her.
After a few minutes of silent, Jocie stood up and said, “I’m going home.”
“Why Jocie?” Lance stood up and held her hand.
Jocie pushed his hand away, “Don’t touch me, we are in the public.”
“Why?” Lance questioned, “Because you are afraid that people see us?”
“I don’t know. I have a strange feeling. I don’t want people to see us together. No! We are not even together, we are just friends.”
“Jocie please. You know I love you and I know you love me too. Why? I thought we are together after I touched your hand before those fans appeared.”
Jocie looked at him and kept quiet.
“I know you don’t like to be under the limelight. But don’t worry. I’m not going to sing anymore and I will just be a normal guy working in the office.”
Jocie looked at him, “No! How can you guys leave the group just like that? How about Josh?”
“We know that we are hurting him by wanting to split but I’m tired of singing.
Jocie, I’m really tired. All these years, I never have a good rest and I need it.”
“But, you guys are Nsync. You are breaking the fans’ hearts.”
“I know! But I have to think about myself. I’m really sick and tired. You don’t want to be with me because I am a celebrity so I just quit!
“I don’t want you to quit but…”
“Aren’t you contradicting yourself?”
Jocie stood there and she seemed to be lost of words, “We talk about this elsewhere. We are in public.” She said and walked away.
Lance looked at her and all he could do was to follow her.
