chpt14

I

�Yes Marissa!� Alexis screamed into the phone as she rushed back into her room to find her earrings. �I woke up and was at the store when it opened to find the perfect dress ok. There I said it, are you happy? Now hold on while I put on my earrings,� Alexis took the phone away from her ear before Marissa could say anything.

�What does it look like?� Marissa asked when Alexis came back to the phone.

�I don�t know, it looks like a dress, sheesh girl. It�s black, plain simple and elegant that�s what I was going for.�

�Sounds good, so are you ready for this?�

�Well, if you would let me get off the phone then I can really get ready.� Alexis was getting very nervous now and her friend antagonizing her on the phone just wasn�t helping.

�That�s not what I meant, are you ready to go to this type of thing?�

�I sure hope I am cause it�s too late now if I wasn�t.�

�Ok now I really know you�re nervous, you�re being too sarcastic for me. But seriously, he didn�t force you to go did he? He knows you�re, well, private and stuff and a little scared.�

�Well yeah, and we talked about it, and I want to go with him Maris, I�m only looking at him as a man I�m going out with who has a function to attend to this evening, that�s it.� Yes that�s it nothing else, Alexis kept repeating to herself as she took a deep breath. �I�m gonna have to go finish getting ready ok, I�ll call you tomorrow.�

�Ok I�ll buy the paper tomorrow to see what your dress looks like.� Marissa said with a laugh, but received none on the other end.

�Ha, ha, ha, very funny, bye!� Alexis hung up the phone and thought about her friend�s comment and how true it could be. Starting tomorrow morning her name will be in magazines and newspapers around the country, her name attached to JC�s. This thought made her stop dead in her tracks. Is this what she really wanted? For thousands of people to know her name and know who she is? To be linked to a celebrity this way, because that�s who he was, no matter how she looked at him, JC was a celebrity and nothing less. Her heart began to race a little as she stood in the bathroom looking at her reflection. �What the hell have you gotten yourself into this time Alexis?� She asked herself aloud. That might have been what her mind was thinking but her heart was telling her something totally different, and for the first time in her life Alexis was going to be brave and listen to her heart.

Alexis was almost finished putting on her make-up as a knock came at her door. �He�s early!� She practically screamed as she looked down at her watch. She rushed to stuff things in her purse and slip on her shoes as she headed toward the door. She took a deep breath and plastered a smile on her tired face as she opened the door. Her eyes set upon a gorgeous looking man in a suit holding a long stemmed red roses for his date. She looked up into his eyes but didn�t see the glow she always saw, instead almost sad, empty looking eyes met her. Right away Alexis knew something was wrong with JC.

�You�re looking beautiful tonight as always.� He said as he mustered up a smile. He handed her the long stemmed rose and lightly brushed his lips against hers.

�Thank you, you�re looking very handsome yourself.� She kept staring into his eyes with a confused expression. She figured maybe he was nervous and quickly turned around to put the flowers in water and head out the door.

They stepped into the limo that was waiting downstairs. The silence was killing Alexis; she couldn�t take it any more. JC was not being himself, he sat there next to her with a lost look on his face and he hadn�t said a word to her other then commenting on her looks. Alexis turned her body toward him, looked at him then asked, �JC are you ok, are you nervous or something?�

JC slowly turned his head away from the window and that was when Alexis saw the anger mixed in with sadness on his face. �I�m, I�m not nervous,� He stammered with his words then sighed. The words came out before he could stop them, before he could even think. �It�s Tyler, he hasn�t talked to me, hasn�t even looked at me ever since I came back and he got hurt, and now I�m leaving in a few days and I have not spent anytime with my own brother. He looks at me like he hates me, what have I done to deserve that? I know this has been really hard on him, I understand, but I�m here to help him and all he does is push me away and argue and�.� He stopped his words as he saw Alexis staring at him and listening intently. Right there he was reminded of her profession and how she stuck her nose where it didn�t belong, in his family. This enraged him even more, how could he be so stupid like that and spill his personal problems about his family like that? That wasn�t him, that wasn�t what he wanted to do or say, but he couldn�t take it back, it was said.

�JC why did you stop? Continue tell me, let it out.� Alexis said sympathetically as she really thought what kind of a mother did he have for not sitting him down and explaining Tyler�s obvious hate. This proved to Alexis even more that she had to be the one to tell him, but she was still worried on how he would take hearing it from her and not his mother.

�No forget it never mind, I said nothing.� He said this with an angry tone as he turned his attention back to the window.

�JC, talk to me, why can�t you talk to me?� Alexis urged hoping she would get some kind of a response, a decent one.

�Look Alexis you know how I feel about this topic, you know I don�t like to talk about it. I slipped, I needed to get that out and I did. Just don�t expect it to happen again, I don�t need your shrunk stuff to come into play here ok?�

�JC, if you don�t want to talk about it now, well then fine, but don�t, don�t put down my profession because it�s something I wanted to do my whole life and I like doing it.�

JC stared at her and wished he could take back those last few words. Alexis saw in his eyes how regretful he was for implying that. �I�m sorry Alexis that�s not how I meant it, I just don�t like discussing my family, my private life. Maybe, maybe later on, but not now, I still feel as though, I don�t know��

�Yes JC, as though I intruded and insulted your family, well I�m sorry for that and there is nothing I can do to take it back. You know what, when you�re ready and you feel as though you can trust me with this matter, because right now obviously you don�t feel that way, you let me know ok. And as you have told me, I�ll be there for you.� Alexis sat facing forward with her arms crossed in front of her chest. She had said what she needed to and she thought it was enough. But in the back of her mind, she knew, she just knew this subject wasn�t over with. It wouldn�t be over until JC was able to accept what she did for a living. Until he is able to open up this part of his life to her and trust her, their will always be a sore spot in their relationship. A spot that can end up hurting them if pushed the wrong way. But Alexis knew it will indeed be brought up again and she will be the one who will set things straight once and for all. Right now as she sat in that limo with her arms crossed she decided JC needed to be told the whole truth and she would just have to be the person to do it, no matter how much he�d dislike her for it.

�Alexis,� JC said as he slowly moved his hand toward hers and held onto it. �I�m sorry, I don�t want this to get in the way of tonight, I don�t want either one of us to be upset about this. I leave the day after tomorrow and I don�t want to spend these last few days like this.�

�I�m not upset at you JC, hurt yes, but it�s out of my control, when you decide to fully trust me is up to you.� She turned her head and looked at him straight in the eyes as she said this. She could see the hurt deep within him and couldn�t stand the fact that she had caused some of that hurt. But she too was feeling some of that hurt. She moved toward him and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. �You�re right, let�s forgot about this�for now.�

JC�s eyes squinted slightly in confusion as Alexis stuck in those last few words. He knew she deserved to be let in, for him to fully trust her on such matters. But right now he wasn�t ready, he didn�t want to, it had got him in trouble in the past and this time he wasn�t going to let that happen again. No he decided, he wouldn�t talk about it until he felt he was ready. He gave a loud sigh and leaned his head back on the seat and closed his eyes, his hand still holding on to Alexis�s. She soon slipped her fingers out of his grasp and turned her attention toward the window

JC, noticing her movement opened his eyes and looked over at her. He stared at her as her features became visible as they passed by streetlights. The limo came to a stop and the privacy glass that had been up the whole time slowly came down.

�You two ready to get this party started?� Mike asked from the passenger seat of the limo. Alexis looked up startled, surprised to see him there.

�Yeah, yeah just give us a minute ok?� JC said. �You ready to go?�

Alexis slowly moved her attention over to JC. �As ready as I�ll ever be.� She tried to give him the best smile she could, but her heart was no longer in it.

�Alexis, please I�m sorry,� JC began as he saw the look in her eyes.

She placed her finger on his lips to quiet him. �No JC, come on let�s go.�

JC stared at her for a few moments longer before he told Mike they were ready. Mike stepped out of the car and opened the door. A rush of noise swept into the limo. JC stepped out and that was when Alexis heard the hysteria; his name being called out, questions being thrown at him and camera flashes going off in every direction.

JC stuck his head back in, �Come on sweetie, it�s ok let�s go.� He held out his hand for her to grab, she did so and pulled herself out of the limo. Nothing could have prepared her for the sight she saw. The screams got louder, the questions were directed at both of them and the flashes of light were more frequent. Alexis stood by the door frozen, looking around at the scene before her. It seemed like it was a movie, it wasn�t real and it definitely wasn�t happening to her. Beofre her was a red carpet, lined with reporters and photographers all seething at the teeth, dying to know who she was and why she was there with JC. It seemed as though the entrance to the building was a mile away as she looked ahead. She knew it would feel like a mile away as she began to walk down it on JC�s arm.

JC bent down slightly and began whispering in her ear. �Umm..Alexis, we kinda have to walk to the door, it doesn�t come to us. Come on you can do it, just ignore everyone around you and walk; it�s just you and me ok? Pretend we are walking along the beach, remember that night?� Alexis didn�t even notice she was walking, or better yet being dragged along gracefully by JC. She tried her best to smile as she looked around her nervously.

�JC, JC over here.� FLASH �Who�s that lady friend with you JC?� �Is that your girlfriend?� FLASH �Is that Alexis the doctor we�ve heard about?� �JC come on answer us!� FLASH.

JC just walked forward and smiled. Stopping a few times for the more prestigious photographers to snap a picture. �It�s ok baby, just smile and it�s over with.� He told her. Alexis was like a puppet right now, she did as she was told. She was too nervous and scarred not to.

Alexis�s eyes darted around as she kept the smile on her face. All she saw were people with cameras, people with tape recorders in their hands and even some people with television cameras. As her eyes swerved in every which way they finally landed on an oddly familiar face. She racked her brain for anyone she knew in the media business but came up dry. Her eyes locked with his dark ones. She was positive she had seen this person before, he looks like, he looks like�FLASH�Alexis blinked a few times to regain her eye sight. She looked in the same direction but the man now had a camera up to his face, blocking his features. All she could make out was the fact that he had light hair.

�JC, JC, you and Nsync are singing tonight correct?� A shout came from a reporter. Alexis noticed her feet had stopped moving, she now heard JC�s voice responding to the reporter.

�Yes we are.� He replied with the outmost ease. Alexis looked at him and saw how relaxed and composed he was. �We are very honored to be here tonight for such a wonderful cause. We are very glad they invited us and we can only hope enough money is raised.�

�Who�s this beautiful lady with you JC, is this the young lady Alexis who�s been seen with you before?�

Alexis�s eyes widened at the mention of her name but she tried to keep her composure as she waited for JC to say something.

�We�re here tonight for the children we are trying to raise money for, that�s all that should be talked about.� JC said nicely as he smiled at the reporter and turned away.

�So you�re not denying that�s her are you JC?� FLASH. �So my guess would be right to say she is your girlfriend?� FLASH.

�Come on you two hurry up!� Mike said as he cut in front of the couple and opened the door that was now in front of them.

�Sweetie, can you loosen that death grip you have on my arm a little?� JC asked in pain.

Alexis looked down at her arm wrapped around JC�s and the way her hand had been clutching to his arm. �I�m, I�m sorry,� she said timidly still trying to get over her shock. JC took her to a corner of the elaborate lobby they were now standing in. It was filled with important people dressed to look their best, and ready to impress anyone who walked by them.

�Alexis, are you ok? I know that was a little overwhelming out there, but it�s over now ok, we�re inside where there are no reporters.�

�Yeah no reporters, just all these famous and important people.� Alexis�s fears came out before she was able to stop them. �I mean, no, you�re right it�s ok and I�m fine now.�

JC smiled at her and kissed her quickly on the lips. �Who cares about these people, it�s just you and me.� He told her again.

Alexis couldn�t help but smile at the look on his face as he offered his arm and they began to enter the huge dinning room where the charitable event for the evening would be taking place.

Alexis sat at a round table surrounded by the rest of Nsync along with some other people JC introduced her to, but now she couldn�t remember their names. Her legs were crossed neatly under the table; her back was straight against the rest of the chair and her eyes wandered around the room, taking in its beauty.

�It�s all glam, no true meaning behind any of it, especially the people, the only good thing is we�re collecting money for the kids.� Justin, who was sitting to Alexis�s right leaned in and whispered.

Alexis broke away from her daze and turned to look over at Justin. �I figured that much, it�s nice though none the less. You guys do this stuff often, come to charity events like this?�

�Whenever we can.�

�Oh,� Alexis sighed and slouched a little in her chair, her eyes now sad stole a quick glance at JC who seemed to be lost himself.

�You ok?� Justin asked taking notice of Alexis�s down cast eyes and the lack of gleam in them. �Did those reporters get to you out there? They can be pretty cruel, but it seems like you made it through all right..�

Alexis cut off his words. �No, no nothing like that, it was a bit scary I�ll admit but no that�s not the problem, nothing is the problem.� She said quickly to cover up.

Justin raised one eyebrow and looked at her doubtfully. �Why do I doubt that nothing is the problem?�

Alexis looked at him directly in the eyes and gave him a smirk. �Because you�re a perceptive person and that�s just too bad cause I�m not about to fed your curiosity.� She smiled even brighter when she saw Justin�s shocked expression. Alexis felt a hand settle on her upper thigh under the table and she closed her eyes for a second. She tingled at JC�s touch and her heart healed just a little from that, the words spoken in the car slightly erased from her memory. She heard him talking to the man to his left now.

�Fine, fine, but don�t forget,� he leaned in close to her to get the full affect, �I always get my way and I always find out.�

He went to pull away but Alexis caught him by the tie �Well Mr. Timberlake there�s a first for everything now isn�t there?�

�Yo JC seems like you need to keep on eye on your girl there, she�s making the moves on the little one.�

�Ha, ha, ha, very funny Chris.� Justin said as he pulled back and fixed his tie that had grown a little tight in that close encounter. He was now feeling a little warm as well and he felt the color begin to creep to his face.

Alexis took notice and couldn�t help but smile at the fact that she had caused thee Justin Timberlake to get flustered. She placed her hand on top of the one lying on her lap.

�I don�t think I have anything to worry about there Chris.� JC responded as he looked at Alexis with a warm smile.

�I don�t know man, a beautiful girl like her, I don�t know why she�s with you when she could have oh I don�t know me?!� Joey said.

Everyone at the table (well at least the guys and Alexis) laughed at Joey and he looked at them as if asking what they could possibly be laughing about.

�Oh please Joey, no one wants you, that�s why you keep going from women to women, and to make you feel better we call it flirting, when it�s really nothing but rejection.� Lance said casually.

Everyone exploded in laughter at that, it was so loud that people from other tables stopped what they were doing to watch the �young children� make fools out of themselves at such an adult gathering. Mike, along with a few other security guards who were standing by the door shook their heads in disapproval at their uproar.

Alexis was the first to take notice of the scene they had just caused and tried to calm the others down which was a futile task. Out of the corner of her eye she saw someone approaching them and thought they were in for it.

�Excuse me,� the man said as he reached the table. �If you will please follow me.�

Oh no, Alexis thought, they�re kicking us out?

�You need to go to the back to get ready for your performance that will take place shortly.� The man finished and Alexis breathed a sigh of relief.

JC�s hand rubbed up and down Alexis�s leg a few times and she felt nothing less than electricity flying through her body at the simple touch. �I�ll be back soon, enjoy the show.� He spoke softly in her ear then kissed her, just missing her lips. All Alexis could do was nod her head in response. He got up and followed the rest of the guys out.

�Oh god he drives me crazy in more ways then one!� Alexis whispered to herself, taking into account the discussion in the car and now this. She sighed heavily and tried to straighten things out in her head as she sat alone at the table.

�Hey JC are you ok?� Justin asked as they stood in a room waiting to go out on the stage. If he couldn�t get it out of Alexis he knew JC would tell him.

�Huh?� JC asked as if he had no idea Justin or any of the other guys were in the room with him.

�I asked if you�re ok, you don�t really seem too happy.�

�Oh, I umm�I�m ok.� He sighed; giving in because he knew Justin would get it out of him if it killed him. �I don�t know man, things aren�t going well with Tyler at all, he looks at me as though he wants to kill me, he hasn�t talked to me once, I don�t know what�s wrong with him. We�re leaving in a day for two months and I haven�t once spoken to my own brother.�

Justin knew a piece to this puzzle was missing, Tyler had to have a reason for this, he�s been open to the rest of his family but why not JC? Justin�s mind chewed on this thought for a while. �He needs to talk to Alexis, I think she can help,� he thought

�Then..then on the car ride over here,� JC continued. �Alexis and I got into a little argument, I guess that�s what you could call it. I was so frustrated about Tyler I let some of it out and told her. Then I saw how she was looking at me and listening like she was so interested, just like s shrink or something.�

Justin heard the tone of his voice change with those words. � JC, maybe cause she is a shrink!�

�But I don�t need her to get into that mode when she�s with me, I don�t need that crap!� JC almost screamed and took a few steps away from his friend

�JC, calm down it�s ok, she was just there for you and listening, you know something a girlfriend is supposed to do. You can�t be so upset for something like that.�

�Look we all know how I met her, we all know what she was doing, and I can�t let go of that, I�m sorry but I can�t. She insulted me and my family by talking to my mother from a professional standpoint. And it�s just not that easy to forget.�

�JC I have a newsflash for ya, if you really like her as much as we can all see then you�re gonna have to forget ok, it wasn�t meant to insult it was mean to help. And you�re gonna have to let her into your that aspect of your life soon enough. The sooner the better things will go.� Lance said who had been listening in on the conversation.

JC looked over at him with an angered face. His arms were defiantly crossed over his chest. �Look guys I don�t need you telling me what I should do. We talked about it in the car and everything is ok.� JC knew he was lying, he knew everything wasn�t ok as her words re-played in his head.

�Nsync, you guys are up.� A person with a clipboard in their hand informed them. They followed the man out and got up on the small stage.