chpt13

Alexis sat on her couch with her long legs tucked beneath her. Her eyes scanned the newspaper in front of her as she took another sip of her coffee then placed the mug down beside her. She turned the page and continued to scan. It was all the same thing, as it had been every week. The headlines all read the same, �A murderer finally captured,� �a tax raise from our government?,� �a cease-fire called in Israel�. Nothing new and exciting to report. She put down that section and idly picked up the next section in the stack. She opened the page and scanned around as she always did. Her eyes landed on a small report on the upper left hand side of the page. She squinted a little to get a better look before bringing it down toward her. �Another sighting� read the headline.

��This time they were seen in the �happiest place on earth� enjoying the rides and the few days they have off before their tour kicks off again in a about a week. They were mostly alone, except for their body guards and Chris Kirickpartick�s little sisters, oh and did we mention that girl that was seen with them not too long ago? Well she was with them too, or should we say with JC. Sources tell us she is a Doctor at our fine Orlando hospital and goes by the name of Alexis��

Alexis sat there stunned staring at the words and the picture till it all blurred together and she could no longer make anything out. But she did make out the caption under the picture, once again it read anonymous. The picture was of her sitting on the bench with JC�s hand on her shoulder. Her face visible this time although it was her profile.

After a few minutes she took in a deep breath and blinked her eyes a few times. �It�s ok, so they know my name, no big deal, and where I work, it�s all worth it, it�s all worth it.� She kept repeating to herself out loud. She wasn�t trying to convince herself because she truly believed it, she was just shocked and frightened that was all. She gave a loud sigh �who reads these things anyway?� She prayed no one really did.

Alexis set down the paper with another sigh and a shake of her head. She picked herself up off the coach and treaded toward the kitchen. Her hair was up in a messy bun on the top of her head and she pushed back two strands that had gotten in her face. She turned on the faucet and began washing her mug as her mind began dissecting what she had just read.

A knock at the door was what broke her away from her thoughts. She didn�t want to get it at first figuring it was someone trying to sell something or they just had the wrong apartment. But the knocking persisted.

�Go away!� She blurted out. Then she wished she hadn�t said anything at all.

�Alexis are you there? It�s JC,� he yelled from the other side of the door.

Alexis�s eyes became wide and she grabbed a dishtowel to dry off her hands before she made her way to the door. There stood JC in jeans a shirt, freshly shaven, with a smile on his face and flowers in his hand. Alexis looked from him down to herself. There she stood in p-jama pants with a matching tank top. Her hair a mess and an expression of confusion on her face, which soon turned into a smile.

�Hey cutie,� he said as he looked at her. He bent down and gave her a soft kiss on her lips, which lingered for a few seconds.

�Hey,� she replied in a soft voice. �What are you doing here? And look at me I�m a mess.� She said with a slight laugh as she stepped aside so he could walk in.

�I wanted to surprise you, and no you don�t look like a mess, you look really cute in that�almost too cute.� He said eyeing her up and down as a mischievous grin formed at his lips that reached his eyes.

Alexis closed the door behind him and rolled her eyes playfully.

�Here these are for you.� JC said as if he had almost forgotten.

�Thank you, they�re beautiful.� She grabbed the bouquet of assorted flowers and began to look for a vase to place them in.

JC stuck his hands in his pocket and stood there admiring her. The way she looked in the morning, it was something he could get used to. It was something he wouldn�t mind waking up to every single morning. He smiled at this thought and the way it made him feel, the way she made him feel. It was unlike anything and it scared him a little to have such strong feelings, but it excited him more.

�So you wanna get dressed so we can go?�

�Go where?� She asked as she walked over to her center table to put the flowers down, admiring them for a second before turning around to face JC.

�I can�t tell you where, but go get ready.�

�You really love surprises don�t you?� She put her hands on her hips.

�I like giving surprises not too much into receiving them.�

�Ah I see, so you wouldn�t like it if I gave you a surprise then huh?�

�Coming from you I think I could handle it.� He said as he moved closer to her with a smile.

�You think you could, well that�s good to know.� She took a few steps closer to him.

He stood right in front of her now and wrapped his arms around her waist. He looked down into her eyes and saw them staring back with the same sparkle he possessed. He dipped his head and kissed her full lips with the passion he had felt from the moment she opened the door and saw her again. Their lips parted and Alexis took in deep breaths to regain her composure. He looked at her now swollen lips and gave a little laugh.

�I think..� he stopped and kissed her once again after looking her up and down taking in her natural beauty, thinking about how bad he wanted her at that moment. �You should go get ready now,� another kiss. He licked his lips and she smiled. �Before we do something we�re not quite ready for.� He finally finished.

�Yeah you�re right.� Alexis said with confidence as she too though about how bad she wanted him right then. She reached up and gave him another kiss before pulling away and heading toward her room to get ready.

JC stood there and watched her walk away with a stupid grin on his face. His hand went to his mouth where her lips met his just moments ago and he brushed them lightly, and then licked them to savor her taste. He gave a lustful sigh then plopped himself down on the couch. He put his right ankle over his left knee and stretched out his arms on the back of the sofa and looked around still thinking about what just took place minutes ago. His heart still raced a little and his stomach churned, just the thought of her, the smell of her, the taste of her made him weak in the knees.

His eyes wondered to an end table next to him and a stack of newspapers lying there. He reached out for the one on top and began reading; entertainment was the section of choice.

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Alexis closed the bedroom door behind her and leaned against it with her hand resting on the handle. She took a few deep breaths, closed her eyes, and smiled. She could still taste him and the scent of him still lingered in the air around her. Goosebumps formed on her skin at the mere thought of what had just taken place and her heart raced with excitement.

Her smile brightened when she thought about who had taken the initiative to stop things before they got of hand. She completely agreed with his decision and would have stopped it herself but JC had beaten her to it. It just goes to show that he wants her for more then just a good time, but that could have been clearly seen before this. This just set it in stone for Alexis.

She pushed herself off the door and quickly went to change.

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�She read this I�m sure she did,� JC said as he finished reading the article and looked over at the picture. �And they know her name and where she works, wonderful just wonderful,� he said with a sigh, as he flopped the paper back on the end table. He stared off into space and came to the decision that he wouldn�t talk about that article unless she brought it up, or at least try to. � Why start the day on a bad note?� JC said half aloud.

�JC?� Alexis asked as she walked out of her room and saw him staring off into the distance. �Are you ok?� �Huh,� he shook his head and turned it toward her. �Yeah, yeah I�m fine, you ready to go?� He asked with a smile. He then stood up and offered his arm for her to take.

�Let�s go.� She wrapped her arm in his and they were out the door.

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They walked hand in hand along a park that was close by to JC�s residence. It was large, with trees surrounding and a lake filled with kids around it racing remote control boats. Other small children where giggling loudly as they chased each other around a jungle gym. The scene was serine, just the way she wanted to spend JC�s last few days with her before he was whisked off on tour.

It was a beautiful day as the breeze whistled through the bushes and the sun shimmered down to keep them warm. JC was wearing sunglass and a baseball cap and kept his head hung low. He held a blanket and basket in his free hand as he led her to a spot where he knew they wouldn�t be disturbed

A smile formed on her lips as she looked behind them. �You ditched Mike again I see.�

He looked over at her with a boyish grin. �Yeah I�m getting pretty good at it too. Had to sacrifice a few things in the process, but it was all worth it.�

�Sacrifice? Sacrifice what?� She asked with a confused expression.

He laughed out loud. �Don�t ask, all I have to say is that the guys wont be too happy with me while we�re on tour.�

�Ok,� she said, still just as confused as she was when she first asked.

He laughed again. �I promised Mike that after the concerts we would be staying in more then going out in the cities that we actually stay in for more then a day. Which for me really isn�t a problem, I have no reason to go out, my reason is right here.� He looked at her now and gave her a heart-melting smile and she understood perfectly. He saw in her eyes that she understood what he said. �So I promised I would convince the guys not to go, cause if they don�t go that means more rest for Mike and Lonnie and the rest of security.�

She giggled, �Everything comes with its price huh?�

�Almost everything.� He slowed his pace and tugged on her hand till they stopped, he lowered his mouth over hers and kissed her gently. �If I�m not mistaken that doesn�t come with a price.�

�As I said everything comes with some sort of price, it�s just how you look at it.�

�Here we are,� JC said as he let go of her hand to place the blanket down underneath a huge willow tree that provided just enough shade.

They sat in silence most of the time just enjoying one another�s company as they ate the lunch JC had packed. Soon Alexis was leaning against the tree with JC sprawled out next to her with his head on her lap. Her fingers idly ran through his hair as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath just taking in the moment.

JC, with his eyes closed as well soon spoke up, not moving a muscle as he did so. �I saw that article at your house this morning and I know you read it too.� He said it with the utmost ease, as though it meant nothing, he was just stating the obvious.

Alexis flinched a little and continued running her fingers through his soft brown hair as she answered. �Yes, yes I did,� she stumbled with the words at first. She wanted to leave it at that, but in a way she knew JC wouldn�t, and she was right.

�And are you ok with it?� He opened his eyes and angled his head toward her to look her straight in the eyes.

Alexis felt his movement against her leg and fluttered open her eyes to stare down at him. �I�m, I�m ok with it, a little worried but I�m ok with it.�

JC�s hand went to her face and he lightly rubbed her cheek as he spoke. �I�m sorry, I�m sorry someone found out your name and where you work, I really didn�t expect this to happen so soon, I thought we�d have more time.� He stopped not knowing what to tell her. He saw the look in her eyes, her smile did not reach her eyes, and they showed worry mixed in with a little bit of fear. And that broke JC�s heart.

She reached for his hand still rubbing her cheek and gently kissed the back of it before resting it next to her. �It�s ok, don�t be sorry for what you can�t control. I knew what I was getting myself into, or at least I thought I knew, I�ve gotten a few surprises and I�m sure there are more to come.� She laughed a little but JC just lay there looking at her intently, so she continued. �This was bound to happen, true it was earlier then either of us expected but it�s something I�m just going to have to deal with, no big deal.� She tore her eyes away from his.

�Something we will deal with Alexis, we, not you alone. Remember that for me ok.� His hand reached for her chin forcing her to look at him again. �Remember that ok, now and especially when I go off on tour.�

�I�ll remember,� she said timidly.

JC tried to change the subject for the better. �You know our fans really aren�t that bad, they�ll love you, plus I think we have some time before this hits main stream media, by then you will have a following of fans who love you.�

Alexis couldn�t help but laugh at his statement. �Oh yes they will love me for taking thee JC Chasez of Nsync off the bachelors list.�

�Well it was bound to happen sometime,� he said with a grin. �And if they really love our music they�ll accept it. Don�t worry Alexis this won�t get out of hand with crazed fans, we have people who work for us who try their best to keep our private lives under wraps.�

�Yeah I figured that much, so I have nothing to worry about right?� She asked as she relaxed and leaned her head back against the tree.

�That�s right nothing to worry about, I will be with you each and every step of the way.�

Those words rang in Alexis�s head and gave her the reassurance she so desperately needed. Being the sheltered and private person she was she needed to know the fact that he would be there for her through it all.

�You do plan on meeting up with us on tour right?� JC asked after a few moments of silence.

Alexis smiled at his statement, �Are you inviting me?�

�Are you accepting?� JC�s eyes filled with hope.

�Imagine what news that would stir.�

�Let it stir.� JC replied

Alexis laughed. �Well if I could get time off of work I would love to met you guys on tour and see one of your shows.�

�Ha, that�s right you haven�t seen us perform live, you�re in for a treat you know.�

�I�m sure I am.�

They sat in silence for a few minutes as JC lay there contemplating on whether or not he should mention this party going on tomorrow night. He knew it would be a lot to ask her to go out with him to such a public event knowing the evident fear she had, but he felt as though she deserved to be told anyway. He wasn�t sure if this was the right time, especially after he told her it would be some time before the news of her would hit mainstream. But either way he felt as though he should tell her. �Might as well be now,� he thought.

�Ok umm..� he began as he collected his thoughts. �I just want to tell you this and I don�t want you to feel as though you have to go with me ok, I just want you to know.�

�Ok?� Alexis said with a slight giggle as she looked at his flustered and confused face as he thought.

�Tomorrow night the guys and I are attending a gala for a known charity, we were invited to perform for them as well. It�s gonna be a really publicized event�� He trailed off and took a deep breath. �I just wanted you to know, I�m not sure if you�re ready to go to this type of thing yet. But if you are, well then, I�ve laid the invitation on the table, it�s up to you and I understand if you�re just not ready yet.�

Alexis sat there for a second and thought about it. She looked at the beautiful man lying there next to her, how his head was resting on her leg, and how his eyes sparkled against the stream of light peaking through the tree, but most importantly how much she cared for him and wanted to be with him as much as she could. She took a breath and answered him, �I think I can handle that, I would love to go with you.�

�Are you sure?�

Alexis looked at him straight in the eyes and told him, �If you want me to go with you then I will go with you.�

JC sat up now and looked at her seriously. �I don�t want to scare you but you should know exactly what you�re getting yourself into if you go with me. Like I said, it�s a highly publicized event, after tomorrow night your picture will be in more places then just our local paper, it�s a question on whether or not you�re ready for it �

Alexis put a finger over his lips and moved in to kiss him. When their lips parted she spoke. �Enough of this talk ok, I don�t know you as the superstar or date you for your status, ok Mr. Chasez? You have an event to go to tomorrow night and I will go with you, simple as that.� Alexis surprised herself at her confidence. She knew this was a huge step, but she also knew she wasn�t taking it alone and that gave her all the strength in the world.

�But you�re not..I know that�� JC stumbled knowing this was a lot to ask of her.

Alexis placed her lips on his to stop his stuttering. She deepened the contact by pressing her body closer to his. She teased his mouth open with her own and took total control

�Ok then Miss. Gray,� he whispered against her lips.

As their lips parted for a moment and with her eyes still closed she thought about what she had just gotten herself into and wondered if she was truly prepared for it.