~Chapter 1~
"Justin," Joey sighed, "why don't you cheer yourself up?"
"I am cheery," Justin sighed, lying.
"I think you're lying to cover up something."
"I'm no-"
"You are."
Justin sighed & looked up at Joey who was across the room from him. For the past few days, Justin had been lacking in effort & happiness. He just wasn't himself anymore. The others were beginning to get worried, afraid it was drugs or alcohol.
"Justin, why don't you just come out & tell us the truth? We won't laugh at you. If you need help, let us know so we can try to give it to you. We won't even make it public," JC sighed, running his fingers through his hair.
"Because you can't help!" Justin snapped, burrying his face in his hands, then rubbing harshly at his eyes to push back threatening tears. He couldn't help but remember that today was the anniversary of the day he lost track of Kathryn.
Her mother & her moved away to Paris, France shortly after he & Lynn moved to Florida. After that, the two ladies realized that their phone bills would be unpayable & made the decision to try letters. The postage soon got to be too much & they had to give up. It made him die inside when he heard the news that the women were no longer speaking with each other.
"Justin, if you don't think we can help, can you at least tell us what's wrong?" Chris asked.
Justin looked up at JC. "JC..."
JC looked at him. "Yea?"
"Kathryn."
JC frowned. "Okay. I know what's going on."
Joey, Lance, & Chris loked at him. "What?" Lance asked.
As JC told them the story of who Kathryn was, Justin pushed the conversation out of his mind. He wasn't in the mood to hear it.
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Kathryn nervously stepped off the plane & into the wait area. It was her first time back to the States after she & her mother left for Paris, & truth be told, she was scared out of her mind. She only knew two people here & had no idea of where to find them or start looking. Being frightened was never the best thing for her to be. She always had a habit of saying the wrong things if frightened. Her mother had saved up money with her to send her back to the States since she preferred it more. Walking to a car rental service in the airport with her luggage, Kathryn turned her French money into American money & rented a car.
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~The Next Day~
Chris & Justin were out on Lake Dot, jetkiing. Both were having a blast as they raced over the water, bumps in the water making them bounce on the jetskiis as the wind whipped through their hair. It had been a while since they had had this much fun without the interferance of fans &, or, large crowds.
As Chris raced past Justin on his jetski, Justin grinned & sped up, trying to go past, or catch up with, his nutty friend. He was just catching up with him when he happened to glance at the traffic that was waiting for the light to change. He felt a strange stir inside himself when he noticed one particular car. He quickly veered his jetski to towards the traffic, his jetski cutting through the water. As he neared land, he slowed & took a closer look at a black corvette.
"It can't be," he thought to himself. The girl he was looking at, looked just like Kathryn. "But it isn't possible," he reminded himself & sped up his jetski, not even taking notice that he had just sped away from Chris, who chased after him, feeling very confused.
Justin docked, shortly followed by Chris, who hopped off his jetski & ran up to Justin, who was standing by the cars, crying off the water that had splattered him during his ride.
"Man, what was that about?" Chris asked, grabbing himself a towel.
"What?"
"That slow down then speed up stunt!"
"Sorry, I thought I saw someone I knew."
"Who?"
"Kathryn..."
"But I thought she was in Paris?!"
"That's why I think it was just someone that looks a lot like her!"
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~That Night~
Kathryn drove along the long stretch of road that led to the hotel she was staying at while she looked for somewhere to stay. This road creeped her out during the day. Night was turning out to be worse. The Corvette she had bought earlier was giving her trouble & she was afraid of it breaking down. Suddenly a rattling in the engine confirmed her fears were coming true. The car slowly came to a stop & she locked the door, turning on her emergancy lights. She had managed to pull the car off the road & park it on the side.
Suddenly she just wanted to be home in her own bed, asleep, knowing that when she woke up the next morning, she'd be safe & sound. But this...this was just plain insane! Why couldn't she have just stayed in sweet Paris?! Why did she even come back here, when she didn't even know where to look for Lynn & Justin? Oh, this was all just a terrible mistake.
She whimpered as she thought of what could happen to her out here. Alone. Miles away from her hotel. She shuddered as a tear trickled down her cheek.
Around the corner a few hundred feet behind her, bright headlights peirced the darkness.
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Joey turned the corner & sped down the dark road. Ahead he saw the emergancy lights of a broken down vehicle.
"Maybe they need a lift," Joey thought to himself.
Slowing to a stop, he pulled up behind the car & turned on his brights & stepped out of the car with his hands held open to the person's veiw so they would know he meant no harm.
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Kathryn looked at her side mirror to see Joey. She grabbed her purse & keys, stepping out of the car.
"Do you need help ma'am?" Joey asked, standing a few feet back from her.
"Actually sir, I do," she replied. "My car broke down & I am not from around here. Can you give me a lift to my hotel?"
"What hotel?"
"Comfort Inn."
"I really don't know where that is ma'am. But I have a friend who might & I was just on my way to see him. Would you like a ride to his house so he can give you a ride?"
Kathryn hesitated a moment before nodding. She didn't want to stay here & she had no other choice but to trust him.
Walking to his car, Kathryn & Joey got in, Joey turned off his brights & began driving to his destination.
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