dont think that just b/c dave, walter, and jacob r n jail that u r safe b/c ur not. c, they got ppl 2 back them up. so me and the rest of our crew r gonna make u pay 4 puttin our boyz in jail. got that? so if i was u i'd b watchin my back 24/7
Ebony looked at JC with a look of complete fear. He put his arm around her to comfort her. He got his cell phone out of his back pocket and dialed a number. "Hey Chad. This is JC, uh, Ebony just got an E-mail threat from Walter, Dave, and Jacob's 'crew'. So she's gonna need extra security around her, 24/7, no matter what. ... Thanks." He hung up. "Security is on their way." Ebony smiled. "Thank you." she said hugging him. "You know, I'm really glad you're here for me to keep me safe." "All that matters to me right now is that you're okay." She smiled and kissed his cheek. They heard gunshots and the windows on the bus shattered. They dove onto the floor and JC dove on top of Ebony to protect her. A minute later the shooting stopped. "Are you ok?" JC asked. "Yeah, I-I think so. Are you?" "Yeah I'm fine." JC slowly rolled off of Ebony and leaned against the seats. Ebony rolled over. "I'm scared, really, really scared." "I know, me too. Come here." JC said. Ebony crawled over to him and sat in between his legs. She laid her head down on his chest and he put his arms around her. She started to cry. "It's gonna be okay," JC said, "eventually."
"Oh my God, Ebony, are you ok?" Destiny yelled running up to her as she and JC were walking out of their bus. "Yeah, I'm fine." "Are you?" she asked JC. "Yeah." "What happened?" "Do you think I know?" "Well...." Ebony sighed. "I'm going to my room." she said walking into the hotel. JC walked next to her. "You don't have to walk me up, I'll be fine." "I don't want to take that risk." She smiled as she pushed the button on the elevator. They got on and she leaned against the wall. JC pushed the floor button and stood next to her. "You ok?" "Yeah. I'm just a little shaken up. Do you think they'll come back to, uh, finish the job?" "If they do I'll kill them." She smiled. "I really can't thank you enough for what you've done for me the past few days." "I already told you you don't have to." "Yes I do." she said as they got to their floor. The door opened and they walked to her room. "Well, I want to be alone now. So, I'll see you later. I'll call you if I need anything." "Ok. Bye." "Bye." she said opening the door and sticking her head inside. After she felt that it was clear she walked inside and waved goodbye to JC. She sat down on her bed and the phone rang. She stared at it for two rings and then finally picked it up. "Hello?" she asked shakily. "Honey, are you ok?" "Mom." she said heaving a sigh of relief.
The next morning Ebony slowly opened the door and looked down the hallway to see if anyone was there. One of the bodyguards came walking to her door. "Ready to go?" he asked. "Yeah." she said walking out and closing the door. "We've looked everywhere for the people who shot at the bus, but we haven't found anyone." She frowned. "I hope you catch them soon." "I do too." he said pushing the elevator button. A few seconds later the door opened and they walked in. "So, what's your name?" she asked as the door closed. "Like it matters to you." "Huh?" he pushed a button and the elevator stopped. A look of fear shot across her face. "Umm....." "How dare you do that to Jacob." Oh shit. "I didn't do anything to him! He's the one that tried to rape me!" "Shut up," he said pulling a gun out of the back of his pants. "If you would have cooperated they would still be here." "But-" "And how did you manage to get out of that situation?" "Umm, someone came to the room and asked what was going on." "Who?" "I don't know. I kind of passed out." "I think you know." he said putting the gun to her head. She started shaking. "No, I don't." "Who?!?" "Why do you need to know?" she asked quietly. "Because after I kill you, I'm going to kill them." "But I honestly don't know." "Tell me." he growled. Oh God, there's no way I'm getting out of this one. Please help me. "I don't know." "Fine. Then I'll just go kill your precious JC." "What?" "Tell me or I will." "I don't know!" He shot her an angry look and she closed her eyes.
"Why isn't the elevator working?" JC asked Justin and Destiny as he started pushing the button repeatedly. "Maybe we should just take the stairs and tell the manager person." Destiny said. "Yeah. Come on JC." Justin said taking his arm and walking towards the stairs. "So, where did you say Ebony was?" JC asked Destiny. "A bodyguard took her down to the bus a few minutes ago." "Oh. Well, while you guys talk to the manager, I'm gonna go see how she's doing." "Ok." she said. They got to the lobby and JC walked outside. He walked onto the bus and didn't see Ebony. "Hey Zoe. Have you seen Ebony?" "No, she hasn't been here yet." "She hasn't?" "Nope." "Ok, thanks." he said walking back to the hotel. "Destiny, did you say the bodyguard took her to the bus?" "Yeah, why?" "She hasn't been there this morning." "Hmm. I wonder what's up." "Is the manager fixing the elevator?" "He sent someone to see what's wrong with it." They heard a gun shot.
JC took off towards the elevator, where it came from. He started banging on the door. A repair man came up to him. "What are you doing?" "Did you not hear that gun shot?!?" "That could have come from anywhere." "Would you just open the elevator?!?" "Alright. Calm down." JC stood back as he opened the door. JC stuck his head in to see the elevator stuck in between the second and third floor. "How do you get in?" "Well, you have to be on top of the elevator." "Then come on!" he yelled running to the stairs. He got to the third floor and the repair man came behind him. He opened the door and JC jumped on top of the elevator. He heard a girl scream. He found the door and opened it. He looked down to see Ebony standing next to the bodyguard, but the bodyguard was laying on the floor. "Give me your hands." he said sticking his arms in. She took his hands and he pulled her out. She hugged him. "Thank you so much." He lifted her up so she could get out of the elevator shaft. He jumped out after her. They walked downstairs. "What happened?" he asked. "Well, he came and picked me up this morning and when we got on the elevator he put a gun to my head and stuff. And then I kicked him in the crotch and his gun fell to the floor and went off. Luckily I dodged it. And then I picked it up and hit him over the head with it. And then you came in." He stopped and hugged her again. "I'm so glad you're ok. I'm never letting you go anywhere without me again." "JC, I think I'm going to be ok now. I mean, we know who's been doing this to me." "You never know if there's more." "Yeah." "So, from now on, I'm your bodyguard." She smiled. "Thanks."
"Shit, Ebony, are you ok?!?" Destiny asked as she and JC walked into the lobby. "Yes, I'm fine. You all act like I can't take care of myself." "Well..." "I can!" "Ok. Well, we better get the rest of the real security to get this guy. And then we can leave and live a normal life." "Yeah right." Ebony said under her breath. JC took her hand and held it in his. She looked up at him and he smiled. "You ready to go?" he asked. "Umm, yeah." He smiled again and started walking to the bus, still holding her hand. They got on the bus and she sat down. "Are you going to be ok? Do you want me to stay on this bus?" he asked. "I'm going to be fine. It's not like the bus driver is out to get me too." "Well, ok. But call me if you need anything. I'll make the busses stop and I'll come get you. Or, do you want to come to my bus?" "No, I'm fine. Really." "Ok. Well, I'll see you later." he said walking away. "Bye." she said as he walked off the bus. Alyssa sat down across from her and smiled. "What?" Ebony asked. "What was that about?" "Well, I was almost killed by a psycho bodyguard who was a friend of Jacob's and he just wanted to make sure I'm ok." "Mmm hmm." "God," she said putting her head onto the table and closing her eyes. "I think I'm gonna take a nap." "Why don't you go to your bunk?" "I don't like it in there."
JC sat on his bus fidgeting and playing with his shirt. "I wonder if she's ok." he said. "Why don't you just jump out of the bus to their's and find out." Justin said. JC shot him a nasty look. "It's not my fault you're getting on my nerves. All you've been talking about for the past hour is Ebony. Ebony this, Ebony that, I hope Ebony's ok. It gets old." He got up and walked to the back room. He got out his cell phone and dialed Ebony's number. "Hello?" "Hey. Are you doing ok?" She laughed. "Yeah, I'm fine. You need to calm down." "Well..... I don't want anything happening to you." "I'm on a bus full of people. What could possibly happen to me?" "A lot." "Well, I'm fine." "Well, ok. Umm, I guess I'll let you go then." "Ok. Bye." "Bye." "JC!" "What?" "Thanks for earlier." "Oh. You're welcome." "Well, umm, I guess I'll be going now. Bye." she said hanging up.
A month later Ebony, Destiny, JC, Justin, and Chris sat in Justin's hotel room playing monopoly. "Oh, you landed on my boardwalk with a hotel! Pay up!" Ebony yelled at JC. He sighed. "Can I mortgage anything else?" "No." He handed her all of his money and properties. "I'm out." he said laying back against the bed. "Yes!" Ebony said. He reached across the board and took the bowl of popcorn. "Want any?" he asked Ebony. "No thanks. I'm too busy winning to eat anything." He smiled and took a handful of popcorn and shoved it in his mouth. "Pig." Ebony said smiling. "You know you like it." "Oh, yeah." "Justin honey, please give me Illinois for $200." Destiny said. "No way. I'm not giving you a monopoly." "You won't be giving it, you'll be selling it." "No." "Oh come on. Please!" "No." She leaned close to his ear and whispered something. He smiled and gave it to her. "Thanks!" she said kissing him on the cheek. Ebony rolled her eyes and Chris took the dice. "You know, that could be considered cheating." Ebony said. "No it's not. That's how it happens in real life." Destiny said. Ebony smiled and leaned back next to JC. She stuck her hand in the popcorn bowl and took out a few pieces. "I thought you were to busy winning to eat anything." he said. "All this money making is making me hungry. So shut up."
"See you guys tomorrow." Ebony said as she, JC, and Chris walked out of Justin's room. "Yeah, have fun." JC said. "We will." Destiny said smiling and closing the door. "So, what do you wanna do now?" Ebony asked. "I'm going to sleep." Chris said walking into his and JC's room. Ebony sighed. "I hate Destiny for leaving me all alone in an empty room." "I can keep ya company!" JC said smiling. She smiled. "Well, I guess I'll settle for you. You're better than nothing." she said as they walked to her room. "So, what do you wanna do?" Ebony asked as she fell onto her bed. "I say we play a game." "What game?" "Seven minutes in heaven." She started laughing. "Are you making fun of my suggestion?" "Yes." "Well fine then. I didn't want to play anyway." She smiled. "How about a board game?" "What board game?" She got up and walked to her suitcase. She pulled out a box and walked back to the bed. "Destiny and I play this when we get bored." she said sitting down. "Pretty pretty princess?" "Yeah! Ever played?" "Umm, no." "Then you've never really lived." she said taking the top off. "What if I don't want to play?" "You're playing." "But-" "I don't care what you say, you're playing." He sighed. "Fine."
Ebony sat back against the head board as JC put on the crown. "Ha ha ha!! Look who's the princess now!!" he shouted. She laughed. "Is that really something you want to be proud of?" "Yes!" He jumped off the bed and started dancing. Ebony crept to her suitcase and got out a camera. "JC!" she yelled. He turned around and she took a picture. "Hey! You will burn that as soon as it's developed." "Yeah right." He jumped at her and tackled her to the ground. "Ahhhh!! What do you think you're doing?!?" she yelled trying to squirm away from him. "You're not going to show that picture to anyone!" "Oh yes I am!" "No you're not. I'll tickle you." "AHH!! NO!!" "Tell me you're not going to show anyone that picture." "No!" "I swear I'll tickle you." "Please don't." "Don't show anyone that picture." "Your crown's falling off." He pulled it off and threw it across the room. "There, it's not anymore. Now, are you going to show anyone that picture?" "Yes." He started tickling her under her knee. "AHH! STOP!!" "Not until you promise me you won't show anyone that picture." "NO!" He sat down on top of her and started tickling her even more. "Stop!!!" "Promise me!" "Fine! Now stop!!"
He stopped tickling her but stayed on top of her. "Well I hope you're happy." she said. "I am." "Mmm hmm. Get off now." she said pushing him. He leaned down closer to her. "I'm not moving." "Get off." she whined. "No." He laughed as she tried to push him off. "It's not funny." she said letting her arms fall to the ground. He looked down at her for a few seconds and kissed her. When he stopped Ebony pushed him off her and stood up. "I thought I made myself clear last week when I told you we are just friends." "I couldn't help it." "Yeah sure. I think you should leave now." she said opening the door. "Ebony, I'm sorry. But I-" "I don't want to hear it. Leave." He stood up and walked to the door. He took off all of the jewelry and handed it to Ebony. "Umm, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." "I guess." she said closing the door.
"So he kissed you again?" Destiny asked Ebony on the bus the next morning. "Yeah. I don't know what his deal is. He's never going to have me, why doesn't he just give up?" "Guys are weird..... And horny. You're just going to have to get used to this." "But I want to be friends. This liking me thing isn't going to work." "Don't you think you're over-reacting a little?" "No! I've been putting up with this for too long! Why is it that the guys I want to like me never do, and the guys I don't want to like me always do? This sucks!" "I guess life just sucks for you." "Yeah no shit." JC walked onto the bus and over to where Ebony and Destiny were sitting. "Can I talk to you?" he asked Ebony. "Yeah." she said not moving. "Alone?" She stood up and walked outside with him. "Ok, I've come to realize that we are going to be friends, nothing more." "It's about time." "But, before I give up all hope of ever having anything with you, can I kiss you?" She sighed. "No." "Please, it'll never happen again after this." She looked around. "Fine." He smiled and kissed her. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him. She slowly put her arms around his neck as the kiss got more passionate. A few minutes later he stopped and let her go. "I'll remember that forever." he said walking away. She stood there for a minute and finally decided to get back on the bus. "And what was that about little missy?" Destiny asked. "Huh?" "Don't think I wasn't watching everything that happened." "I swear I'm going to kill you one of these days." "So, what happened?" "I thought you said you were watching." "I was, but I couldn't hear what was being said." "Well, he just said that he knows that we're going to be friends, and he asked me if he could kiss me, since he was giving up all hope of ever having anything with me. So, I let him." "Well?" "Well what?" "You looked like you liked it. Did you?" "Well....... Yeah." Destiny smiled. "That's all I wanted to know."
"Are you ready yet?" JC asked. He fell back onto the bed and looked up at the ceiling. "Almost!" Ebony yelled from the bathroom. He sighed. He thought about the week before when Ebony actually let him kiss her. He smiled. I can't believe she let me. At least she didn't get all weird about it. Ha, who would have thought that we'd be going to a movie together. "Ok, I'm ready." she said walking out of the bathroom. "It's about damn time." he said standing up and picking up his hat and sunglasses. "Do you think I'll ever need to wear those?" she asked as they walked out of her room. "Sure. You'll be as famous as me someday." "Gee, that's just what I want. Thousands of screaming girls following me around wherever I go. Sounds like fun." "It is."
They got into the car and pulled out of the hotel parking lot. "So, you didn't tell anyone where we were going?" Ebony asked. "No. I didn't want security following us around all night." "Umm, we're just going to a movie. Not a whole lot of following involved." He smiled. "I just didn't want them going with us." Ebony turned up the radio. A few minutes of silence passed. "Are you looking for the street?" JC asked. "Yeah. I haven't seen it yet, I would have told you." They stopped at a red light. "About what you said earlier," JC said. " do you think you're not famous?" "Yeah, basically." "Are you really that stupid?" "Huh?" "Do you not see the way the audience reacts when you two are on stage?" "Well...." "And Chris's niece loves you all." "Well, we're not as famous as you are." "And you never will be." She laughed and hit his arm. "Oh, that hurt so much." he said sarcastically. "That's what you get." The light turned green and she looked out the window and looked for the street the movie theater was on. "Umm, I'm supposed to ask you something." JC said. "What?" she said not moving her head. "Well, we've gotten a new song, but it only calls for two people. And one of them is a girl. I'm singing in it, and your voice apparently matches mine better than Destiny's. So, I've been told to ask you if you want to sing it with me." She smiled and looked at him. "I'd love to." He smiled. "Great!"
Ebony stood with her arms crossed watching the crew of their new video get things ready. Destiny walked up to her and looked at everyone with her. "Isn't this weird? We're making a video." Destiny said. "Yeah. And now MTV will have to notice us. I'm making the guys take the video in when they go there next week." Destiny laughed. "Smart." Ebony smiled as the director walked up to them. "You guys ready to get this started?" "God yes." Ebony said as they walked away. She looked to the door and saw JC run in. He leaned over and tried to catch his breath. "I'll be there in a second." she said to Destiny and the director as she walked over to him. "What are you doing here?" she asked. He looked up at her. "I just wanted to see the making of your first video." She smiled. "Did you have to run or something?" "Yeah. I thought I was gonna miss it." She smiled and took his hand. "Come on, I'm gonna get in trouble if I don't get there in a second." She walked to the set with JC. "Ok, wish me luck." she said. "Good luck." JC said as she let go of him and walked to Destiny.
Ebony sat on her bed talking to Cailin. "It was so much fun! You should try it sometime." "Making a video? I think you have to sing to do that sweety." "Well... You should sing." "I don't think so." "Why not?" "I see what you and Destiny have to put up with. There's no way in hell I'd wanna do that." "Fine then." "So how's JC?" "Alright I guess. Why?" "I was just wondering if he's done anything to you lately." "What would he do?" "Sleep with other girls. He's done it before, who's to say he wouldn't do it again?" "He's changed since you were here." "Sure." "He has! I don't know why, but he has." "Uh huh. Anyway, where's Destiny?" "With Justin, where else." Cailin laughed. "Is that all they do?" "Yeah. She's never here anymore. Chris has permanently moved into JC's room." "She leaves you alone?" "Yeah. But JC comes over sometimes." "Oh."