Do What Feels Right
Chapter 3
Lance
*~*~*Jackson International Airport: Jackson, Mississippi*~*~*
�What is it with *N Sync and being late?� I asked as yet again, we stood near the baggage claims area with all our stuff.
�No kidding,� Megan said, looking at her watch again, �It�s been 10 minutes now. I would�ve thought Lance would be the one, besides JC, who would be on time.�
�I know!� I exclaimed in agreement, �I wonder if Lance is going to pick us up or some person from WEG.�
�I don�t know.�
�Excuse me,� a girl who looked like she was maybe 12 or 13, �Are you the two girls who were on TRL last week who had those funny posters about *N Sync?�
�Funny posters?� I said, giving Megan a strange look as she shrugs in reply, �You mean the posters that ask MTV if they could help us make *N Sync look normal again?�
�Yeah.�
�Yeah, we�re them, who are you?� I asked.
�Jenny!� the girl yelled to another girl behind her, �It IS them! Come here!�
I quickly grabbed the camera out of the bag and started recording.
�What are you doing?� the girl asked me as her friend came and stood next to her.
�Recording.�
�Why?�
�I�ll tell you why as soon as you answer my question.�
�What did you ask?�
�Who are you and who�s your friend?�
�I�m Rachel, this is Jenny,� she said, pointing at her friend, �We saw you two on TRL when Carson brought you up into the studio, and we were watching when you called in yesterday. So why are you recording?�
�No reason,� I replied, �Just to show MTV our first encounter with fans � who knows, you might see yourselves on MTV when we get back to New York.�
�Hi MTV!!!� Rachel said loudly, waving to the camera with Jenny, �So are you guys really meeting *N Sync?!�
�Yeah,� Megan said, �We�re meeting Lance tomorrow� or today � I�m not sure. Somebody�s late picking us right now.�
�What are you girls doing here? Has school ended yet?� I asked.
�School ended last week,� Jenny replied.
�What grade are you girls in?�
�We just finished 7th grade.�
�So why are you here?�
�We heard that you might be here, and we wanted to see if it was true,� Rachel said, �And it is!�
�Where did you hear this?� Megan asked.
�Some people on the �net. They were trying to figure out where you guys would go next, and most of them said probably here to visit Lance,� Rachel explained.
�So how did you get here?� I asked.
�My mom,� she replied.
�Your mom drove you two all the way to the airport just to see if you could meet us?� I said in disbelief.
�We live here in Jackson,� she quickly said, �And my mom works here.�
�So you�re spending the whole day at the airport with practically no adult supervision?� I questioned.
�Uh� that�s right,� she nervously said.
�COOL � I wish my parents would have done that!� Megan exclaimed.
�Megan!� I quickly said, �There�s a reason why your parents didn�t leave you walking around an airport by yourself when you were 12. In fact, there are a couple reasons why they didn�t do it��
�But my mom knows the security,� Rachel interrupted, �They look out for us��
I paused to think, then sighed, �Well whatever. You�re not my kid. Anyway, is there anything you wanted?�
�Do you think we can come with you to meet Lance?� Jenny asked.
�No.�
�Why not?�
�We�re the only ones who could go talk to Lance. Besides, what would your mother say?� I asked.
�Lynne � they�re walking around the airport by themselves,� Megan pointed out.
�Good point,� I said, �The answer�s still no.�
�May I have your attention please,� a lady over the PA system said, �Would Lynne Clark or Megan Thomas please pick up a red phone - you have a phone call. Lynne Clark or Megan Thomas - please pick up a red phone - Thank you.�
�We gotta go,� I said to the two girls.
�I�ll go find a red phone,� Megan said, �You stay here and talk to the girls.�
�Can you get an autograph for us when you see Lance?� Rachel asked as Megan walked off.
�Autograph? Isn�t it enough that I ask him questions that you want answered?� I asked.
�Come on, please?�
�No � I don�t even know you two.�
�How about a picture?�
�What am I � your servant?�
�Is there anything you�ll do for us?�
�Tell me questions and I�ll ask them, but that�s about it,� I said.
�If we write a note, can you give it to him?� Jenny pleaded.
�Well,� I thought, �It depends what it says. If it meets my discretion, I�ll give it to him.�
�Cool!� both girls ecstatically said.
�Do you have any paper and anything to write with?� Rachel asked.
�What? I�m gonna be your delivery girl and now I have to be your supplier too?� I said as both girls gave me a puppy look, �Oh don�t give me that� stop it, I mean it� oh FINE, hold on.�
I still had the camera going as I reached into my backpack and grabbed a notebook and a pen. �Here � don�t write a book.�
A few minutes later, Megan came back. �What�s going on?� I asked her, as she got closer.
�Some chick from Free Lance Entertainment � she said for us to take a cab to Jackson State University, which I guess is close by. There�s a limo waiting for us,� Megan said with a perplexed look.
�Jackson State? Why didn�t they just send the limo here?� Rachel asked, looking up from the notebook. Megan and I just gave her a look of death. �Sorry.�
�Yeah � what she asked,� I said as I pointed to Rachel.
�Because the chick said she had to do something on campus, and she wants us to meet her there,� Megan complained.
�So where on campus are we going?� I asked.
�She said the business school,� she replied, �She said the cab should know where that is and that when we get there, the limo should be right out and the driver will pay for the cab.�
�Okay,� I said, then looking at the two girls in front of us, �Are you two done?�
�Yeah,� Rachel said as she finished signing her name, �There you go. Thank you!�
�No problem,� I said, �Say goodbye to the camera.�
�Bye MTV!� the two girls said in unison, then turned away and started walking off.
�And that, folks,� I said as I turn the camera towards me, �Is our future right there. Isn�t it nice to know that the leaders of tomorrow are spending their childhoods roaming the airports, stalking innocent people?�
�I hope they don�t air that on MTV,� Megan replied.
�I guess we�ll find out, won�t we?� I laughed, �And MTV � what the hell�s going on? You send some jerk to pick us up in Orlando � some guy who definitely gave us a bad first impression of Wright Entertainment Group. And he wasn�t even ON TIME. Now, we have to take a cab to Jackson State University� I�ve never even heard of that place� and meet some lady representing Free Lance Entertainment� why don�t we just go to our hotel?�
�Because the lady has our hotel information, remember?� Megan said.
�Oh yeah,� I said, looking back at the camera, �Is this part of your plan? To send us all over the place? Or do you just wanna broaden our horizons and learn about Mississippi?�
�Come on, walk and talk,� Megan said, �We gotta catch a cab, the chick�s waiting.�
�Okay,� I said, putting on my backpack and grabbing my suitcase, �Anyway MTV, I know we shouldn�t be complaining since you ARE paying for everything, but would it hurt you to just send someone to pick us up ON time? Or at least give us the hotel information so that when we get into town, we can just take a cab to the hotel? We know how to check into a hotel.�
�We like to think that we�re competent,� Megan said into the camera as they both walked outside, �TAXI!�
A taxi pulled up and the driver popped the trunk. We put our backpacks and suitcases in there and got into the backseat of the car.
�Do you mind if we record the scenery?� Megan asked the driver.
�Go ahead, I don�t have a problem,� the driver said, �Where to?�
�Jackson State University � the business school.�
�This isn�t a very exciting place, is it?� I asked the driver a few minutes later.
�Not anything worth taping,� the driver said.
�Okay, see ya later MTV,� I said as I turned off the camera and putting back in it�s case.
When we got to the business school, we saw a stretch limo parked along the side of the building.
�Park right behind that limo,� Megan said as the driver nodded.
The limo driver was leaning up against the limo, looking at us as we got out of the cab. �Lynne Clark and Megan Thomas?�
We both nodded as we got our stuff from the cab�s trunk. The limo driver walked to the cab driver and paid our fare.
�Thanks for the ride,� I said as we walked past the cab driver.
�Thank you,� he replied and drove off.
�I�m Max,� the limo driver said as he popped open the trunk.
�I�m Lynne and she�s Megan,� I said as we put our backpacks and suitcases in the trunk, �Who are we meeting again?�
�Uh, I think her name is� damn, too many names in a short amount of time!� Megan said, resting her forehead on her palm, �� Lisa! That�s her name.�
�Correct,� Max confirmed, �She should be out in a few minutes.�
�What�s she doing here?� I asked.
�She needed to talk to one of the professors,� he replied, �And she figured that by the time you two get here from the airport, she should be done.�
I got out the camera and pointed it at Max, �This is Max, the limo driver. I just found out that the chick who called us at the airport is named Lisa. Take a look at the building � pretty nice looking, isn�t it?�
�Yeah,� Megan replied, �Their alumni probably helped pay for a lot of this. It�s probably a lot nicer looking then their School of Education building where those alumni hardly HAVE any money to give.�
�Isn�t that the truth?� Max replied, �You think the university would try to attract more teachers instead of turning them away.�
�EXACTLY!� we both exclaimed.
�Ah well,� Megan said, �All they care about is money. The business school alumni gives more money to the university than the education school alumni, because they can afford it.�
�A sad state of affairs if you ask me,� I commented as I shot the whole business school, �The inside probably looks pretty nice too.�
�Naturally,� he said, �Are you college students?�
�We were � we just graduated a few weeks ago,� Megan said.
�Where from?�
�Indiana University.�
�Wow � Big Ten. What were your majors?�
�Elementary Education with middle school and computer endorsements, area of concentration in social studies, and a minor in music,� I replied.
�Journalism with a minor in photography,� Megan replied.
�How impressive,� he said.
Megan laughs, �And we�re sharing all of this on tape!�
�Oh crap, I forgot!� I yelled, �I�ve had this thing pointed at the entrance too! Don�t mind us, MTV! Where is Lisa anyway?�
�There she is,� Max said, pointing towards the entrance, �She just walked out the entrance.�
�Which one is she?� Megan asked, �The old scary-lookin� lady who�s wearing the ugly orange skirt that�s too short for her or the other one?�
Max laughed, �It�s the other one!�
�Geez, Megan!� I chuckled, �Can you be any more blunt?�
�What?!� she said in surprise, �It�s the truth!�
�No comment from the peanut gallery,� I said, �Remind me to recharge the battery when we get to the hotel.�
Lisa made her way towards the limo. �Sorry it took me so long. That lady whom you saw me talking to had to give me some rather important papers.
�
�I�m Megan Thomas,� Megan said, shaking Lisa�s hand.
�I�m Lynne Clark.�
�Lisa Miller � shall we get going?�
*~*~*Hampton Inn: Clinton, Mississippi*~*~*
�I knew Mississippi was boring, but I didn�t know it was that boring!� Megan said as we enter our hotel room.
�Man,� I said, falling on the closest bed, �You would�ve figured she changed the subject when we just stared at her with blank faces.�
�And that she would�ve noticed the glossed over look in our eyes,� Megan said as she pulled out the laptop and started to set it up, �Don�t forget to recharge the camera battery.�
�Oh yeah,� I said as I got up and headed for an outlet, �Please God, don�t let Lance be as boring as his business partner� I don�t think I can handle another dose of that��
*~*~*The next day*~*~*
�Hi ladies - how are you?� Lance said with a smile at the front entrance of his house.
�Doing well,� I said, shaking his hand, �I�m Lynne.�
�And I�m Megan. You have a nice looking estate here,� Megan said, shaking his hand.
�Thank you,� he said, �Come on in!�
He escorted us to his library, and we all sat down.
�I hope Lisa didn�t bore you with Clinton history or Free Lance Entertainment information,� Lance said as Megan pulled out the camera and started recording.
�All I have to say is,� I started, �I really hope you�re not like her.�
�She did, didn�t she?� he replied, sounding disappointed as we both nodded, �I told her not to do that, I�m sorry.�
�At least we have to put up with it one more time,� Megan said, trying to make it sound okay.
�Yeah, she�s probably just really proud of Clinton and the company,� I said. Oh please, we already got one guy in trouble. Please don�t let us do it again with Lisa, I thought.
�Yeah,� Megan said, �She was really nice and very courteous though. She even made sure we had everything we needed at the hotel.�
�I�ll talk to her,� he said.
Oh God, Megan thought, not again. I swear, if this happens one more time, I am not going to complain anymore � just go with flow... go with the flow�
�But speaking of Free Lance Entertainment,� I said, trying to steer the conversation away from Lisa, �how�s that going?�
�It�s going great!� he replied, suddenly changing his mood to a more uplifting disposition, �Meredith Edwards, our first artist, has an album out now � which we�re very happy about. You should really check out her album, Reach, if you haven�t already. It�s really good.�
�We�ll have to check it out then,� I replied.
We talked a little bit longer about his company and his future plans about it.
�So Lance, how�s your movie going?� Megan asked.
�It�s going great � I�m really enjoying it,� he replied.
�So are you gonna dye your hair back when the movie�s over with or grow it out and cut it?� she asked, hoping he would say yes to either option.
�Uh, I don�t know. The dark hair is growing on me,� he said with a wink, then notices our apparent heartbrokenness, �Don�t like the dark hair?�
�Well, it�s not like we don�t like dark hair in general,� I said, �But it just doesn�t look natural with you. It�s like me going blonde � it just wouldn�t look right.�
�Oh c�mon, I needed the change though,� he convincingly said.
I just looked at Megan, then back at Lance, �Well, I guess that�s better than growing out your hair so you look like a mop.�
He gives us a strange look. �Are you talking about JC?�
�Uh�� I wasn�t sure what to tell him, but then I figured it was going to come out sooner or later, �Yeah.�
�Don�t like his hair either, huh?�
�Well, I�m getting use to it, but I still don�t like it,� I replied, �I mean � when he first started growing it long and had it long enough to have spikes, that was kinda cool. But when it started going past his ears� I don�t know. It was weird looking. I know he had long hair when he was on the Mickey Mouse Club, but that time it was different.�
�Yeah,� Megan said, �It was all natural and he had it parted. Now he�s doing some funky stuff to it and it looks like he just woke up and went to work.�
�But guys have long hair all the time � like you see in other bands,� he said, �What makes JC different � or any of us in the group for that matter?�
�It�s one thing if you already had that haircut to begin with � but when you start out as a clean-cut guy, it�s a little hard to get use to when you start to be a little more� grungy,� I replied.
�Good point,� he said.
Lunch was served to us in the library, and we ate as we talked.
�So Lance � have you checked out www.lancebass.com?� Megan asked.
�You know, I think I saw it once. I was actually surprised there was one,� he replied.
�You know what�s weird,� I said, �You�re the only one who has your own domain.�
�Really?!�
�Well � there�s a www.josephfatone.com one, but that�s just starting out and has some hosted fan fic on it,� I replied, �But you�re the only one who has a domain and the site�s actually a shrine to you,� I said.
�Fan fic? What�s that?�
�Fan fiction � when they write stories about you,� Megan explained.
�They actually write stories about us?!�
�Yeah � some are actually pretty good, but some are pretty ridiculous,� I said.
�That�s kinda� freaky��
�But back to your domain � you said you actually looked at it?� Megan asked.
�Once � briefly. It looked� nice, I guess,� he said, �It�s strange to see websites upon websites devoted to you,� he said.
�I would imagine,� I said, �That website is actually pretty cool. But let me tell you � there�s info on the girl who did the site � there�s some scary crap on that page.�
�Wasn�t her name something like Karen or something?� he asked.
�Uh, Kelly, I think,� I said, looking over my notes, �Yeah, Kelly. She�s a cheerleader at some high school.�
�Yeah� I think I saw somewhere on there that she bleaches her teeth,� Lance said, getting weird-ed out, �Who puts that on a site?�
�I know,� Megan said, �And she even tells what kind of makeup and stuff she uses. Like I really needed to know that about a girl.�
�And you know what�s even scarier,� I said as Lance got a frightened look on his face, �There�s more info on HERSELF that there was on your bio page.�
�Omigod,� he said, �That is scary. She must be full of herself or something.�
�Yeah, you think,� I said, �She even contained some cartoon image of some chick and said that she closely resembles that cartoon character � looks-wise. Really freaky. I was surprised she didn�t include an 8x10 of herself.�
�Actually, she does have pictures of herself on there,� Megan said.
�Seriously?� I asked.
�Yeah � there�s some links to it.�
�Go figures,� I said, �Why��
�Did you know she drinks alcohol?� Megan interrupted.
�What?!� both Lance and I yelled at the same time.
�Yeah, somewhere it lists her favorite drinks, and among some sodas and stuff, she lists daiquiris and Mike�s Hard Lemonade,� she stated.
�I missed that part,� I said, looking over my notes.
�Me too,� Lance added, �And after we made a commercial about underage drinking��
�Exactly,� she said, �And to do it on a well-known domain like lancebass.com � that�s pretty stupid of her.�
�She shouldn�t have done that,� he said, shaking his head with a disapproving expression on his face, �I need to talk to management about that. It�s not good.�
�Definitely not,� I said, �It makes you guys look like hypocrites when someone on a domain that has your name in the address puts that they drink alcohol.�
�And that they�re underage too,� Megan said.
�Yeah, I�ll definitely have to check that out a little further and let you guys know,� he said, �Can you pause the camera for a moment � I need to talk to you ladies about something��
�Uh� sure,� Megan said as she stops recording, �Okay, it�s off. What�s going on?�
�I wanted to say something about JC for just a minute��
�Uh� okay, I guess,� I said, wondering what he wants to talk about it.
�When you see him, can you not bring up Bobbee?�
�Why not? That was one of the main things we wanted to talk about with him��
�He�s a little touchy about that subject, and I don�t want him going off on you two if you bring it up,� Lance cautioned, �So please don�t bring it up unless he brings it up first��
Megan and I just look at each other, remembering what Chris said two days earlier. �We� can�t promise you anything� but we�ll� try our best�� I said.
Lance then gave the go-ahead to start recording again. We talked a little longer. When it got time for TRL, I called into MTV and all three us talked to Carson to give him an update.
~*~*~*~*~
�So you two know how to get to Justin�s from here?� Lance asked as we stood at the front door.
�Uh� we have a map and we know how to get to Memphis,� I said, �Chris gave us Justin�s supposed address, but I think he�s trying to pull a joke on us and make us go to Graceland.�
�What address did he give you?�
�Uh�� I searched my stuff for the piece of paper, �3764 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN 38119. The street is what sounds suspicious.�
�What�s that look for?� Megan asked, noticing Lance�s mischievous face.
�Nothing.�
�It�s something.�
�No no, just call Chris if you have any troubles,� he said, �I�ll see you ladies later.
�Okay,� I said, unsure of the whole Justin thing, �Thanks for doing this.�
�It�s no problem.�
*~*~*Back at the hotel*~*~*
�You know, I really think Chris is sending us to Graceland,� I said as I turned on the laptop.
�I think so too,� Megan said, sitting across the table, �Can you check on the web to see if that address belongs to Graceland?�
�Good idea,� I said as I connected to the Internet.
Sure enough, Chris did give us Graceland�s address. �Do you still have Chris� number?� I asked Megan.
�Yeah, let me go look,� she said, �While I do that � e-mail check time.�
�You know what�s strange?� I asked as I checked our e-mail.
�What?�
�What Lance said about Bobbee��
�That was a little bizarre, wasn�t it? I wonder why he contradicted Chris.�
�I wonder if he even knows what Chris said.�
�Question is � what do we do? Do we listen to Lance or Chris?�
�I honestly don�t know,� I said, �Let�s just see if Justin or Joey says about Bobbee, if they even say anything. Then we�ll make up our minds when we get to LA.�
~*~*~*~*~
�Chris? This is Lynne � I need Justin�s address.�
�I gave it to you when you were here!� he exclaimed.
�No, you gave us Graceland�s address. I need Justin�s before we head out tomorrow.�
�How did you know?�
�It�s called the Internet. You should use it more often.�
�Damn. I guess I have to tell you now how to get there.�
�Yeah, that would be good.�
��Go to Graceland.�
�What?�
�You have to go Graceland � take �The Platinum Tour,� then meet Justin right out front of �Sincerely Elvis,� a small museum somewhere in Graceland,� he explained.
�Couldn�t we just skip the tour and meet him at the museum?� I asked, trying to get out of the tour.
�No, you gotta take the tour. There�s gonna be someone who�ll make sure you go on the tour, otherwise you won�t be able to meet Justin and go to your hotel,� Chris said.
�But what�s the purpose of the tour?� I complained.
�To educate yourself about Memphis� pride and joy,� he explained and paused before going further, �Haven�t you figured it out by now? They set you up with Lisa so you get to know about Clinton. Now you have to get to know Graceland.
�
�There was a purpose to her ramblings?� I asked, �Lance seemed pretty upset when he found out that she was telling us stories. And how come we didn�t get the grand tour of Orlando?�
�Yes, Lisa was there to serve that very purpose. I forgot to tell Lance. And you didn�t get the grand tour of Orlando, because you already knew all about Orlando, and you already visited Orlando�s pride and joy � Disneyworld.�
�How did you know?�
�I have my ways. I need to go - I�ve already told you too much,� he said.
�Okay, bye Chris,� I reluctantly said, �Thank you.�
�You�re welcome.�
�What about Graceland and Lisa serving a purpose?� Megan asked when I hung up the phone.
�We have to take the damn tour at Graceland to learn about Memphis �pride and joy.� And we can�t get out of it, because they�re gonna track us. If we don�t take the tour, we don�t see Justin or get to our hotel,� I sadly said.
�Where are we meeting him?�
�At some museum that�s on the estate,� I said as I look at the notes I just took during the conversation, �It�s called �Sincerely Elvis.� And Lisa�s ramblings was to educate us on Clinton.�
�So how come we didn�t get that �education� in Orlando?�
�Chris said something about we already knew about Orlando, and that we�ve already been to Disneyworld � their �pride and joy,�� I said.
�How did he know we�ve been to Disneyworld?�
�I don�t know, he didn�t say. I have a funny feeling about this, Megan,� I said, �Chris said right before he hung up that he had just told us too much.�
�He did?� she said, noticing my concerned look, �Look � I�m sure MTV or *N Sync won�t do anything to jeopardize our lives. If anything bad happens, we can always back out.�
�That�s the problem,� I said, �We can�t back out. We have to stay till the very end.�
�What do you mean?�
�That�s what it said in the contract,� I explained, �We have to stay till the very end. If we back out any earlier, than MTV can sue us for breach of contract and make us pay for everything.�
�Are you serious?� she nervously said as I just nod my head, �God help us.�
[chapter 4] [Do What Feels Right]
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