They walked out of the bus and quickly got out their phones. Ebony dialed her mom's number. "Hello." "Mom!" "Ebony! Oh sweetie! Are you home yet?" "Yeah! I'm coming home at about nine. I can't wait to see you again!" "I can't wait to see you either! How are you doing?" "I'm good." "Oh yeah, with all this commotion I almost forgot. Happy birthday!" She smiled. "Thanks. I really thought you forgot." "You're my daughter. How could I forget?" "Well mom, I'm sorry I have to get off so quick, but we have stuff to do." "Ok. Have fun, and get home safe." "Ok. Bye. I love you." "I love you too. Bye." "Bye." She hung up, turned around, and ran into JC. "Who were you talking to?" he asked. "My mom." "Oh." he said walking into the stadium with her. Joey walked by. "Hey JC, isn't it nice being in good 'ol Kentucky? Yee haw!" He laughed. "Yeah. Where's yer cows billy bob? What do you have shoes on fer?" he said in an accent. Ebony shot them dirty looks. "What? Do you not think it's funny?" JC asked. "No. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, I won't be here tonight, I'll be visiting my mom and sister and sleeping at my house." she said walking off. "Oh shit." JC said.
Ebony walked up to the top of the bleachers and looked at the cars drive by. JC walked up to her and sat down. "I'm really sorry. I had no idea you were from here." "You know, I hate it when people say that kind of stuff about us. We don't have accents. Well, ok, I'll admit it, some people do. And it's always the one's who end up on tv. But you obviously didn't know I was from here." "Yeah. I'm really sorry." She rolled her eyes and looked at the cars again. He kissed her on the cheek. "Happy birthday." he said. She smiled. "Thanks." "So, you're not going to be here tonight? You're going to miss me turning 25." "I'll be here tomorrow." "But you won't be here at midnight tonight." She smiled. "I think you'll manage." "I guess I can try." he said. He looked out at the cars driving by with Ebony. "So, you were born here?" he asked. "Yeah. Me and Destiny. So I advise you don't say that kind of stuff around her. She'll take it a whole lot worse and you might lose an arm or something." He smiled. "Ok. So, you have your own place?" "Yes. And no, you're not going there with me." "I wasn't going to ask that." "Sure." "Why don't you talk about your past?" "I don't know. There's really nothing to tell." "Are your parents still together?" "No. They got divorced about ten years ago." "What about Destiny's?" "Yeah. Her family is too perfect to be broken apart. They remind me of the family on 'leave it to beaver'. Ever seen that show?" "I might have seen an episode. But I know what you're talking about." She smiled. "Yeah, she has a twin brother. He's hot." He frowned. "Oh." "Oh stop it. I can't go out with him. He's Destiny's brother. That'd be kind of gross. But then again it'd be kind of cool. Having Destiny as a sister-in-law." "Does she know you like him?" "Yeah, but she likes to forget." He smiled. "So, do you have any pets?" "Well, kind of. We got him when I lived with my mom and he still lives with her. He's a demon cat." "Demon?" "He's evil! He'll just attack you for no reason!" He laughed. "He does. But other than him, nope, no pets." she said. "Hey Ebony!" Destiny yelled from the stage. "Get down here! We have to kill Chris and Justin! They took the name of Kentucky in vain!" Ebony laughed. "Well, let's go." she said to JC as she stood up.
The doors opened and the people started coming in. Ebony walked around backstage. JC walked up to her with his hands behind his back. "Nervous?" he asked. "Just a little. What do you have?" she asked. "Your birthday present." She reached behind his back but he backed up. "Uh uh. Be patient." "Why? I see no point." He smiled. "Ok. Here." He gave her a tan teddy-bear. "Aww. How cute." she said. "Look around the neck." She looked and there was a necklace with a little diamond heart. She gasped. "Oh my God. It's beautiful! Thank you!" she said throwing her arms around his neck. "You're welcome." He said hugging her. She pulled away and looked down at the necklace. She took it off. "Can you put it on?" she asked. "Sure." She turned around and lifted her hair up. Destiny walked by. "Hey! What are ya doin?" "JC's putting on the necklace he just got me." She looked at her neck and smiled. "Wow! Is that real diamonds?" "Yeah." JC said. "Wow. Real gold?" "Yep," he said clasping it. "Ok." She let her hair down and looked down at her neck. She smiled and gave JC another hug. "Thank you so much."
Ebony pulled into her mom's driveway. She got out of the car and walked to the door. Before she could even knock the door flew open and her mom hugged her. "God, you scared me." Ebony said. "It's so great to see you again!" her mom said letting go and letting her in. "It's great to see you too. Hi Dana!" she said giving her sister a hug. "Hi. How have things been going?" "Great! It's so much fun!" "Is everyone nice to you?" her mom asked. "Well, yeah. For the most part." "Who's mean to you?" "Well, JC and I fight a lot. But we're ok now. And there were these guys..... Well... I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to worry you. Umm, well...." "What did they do?" "Well, they tired to rape me." "What?!? Oh my God!! Not my baby!! Are you ok?!? Did they do it?!? Are they in jail now?!?" "I'm fine, yes they're in jail, and no they didn't do anything." "What stopped them?" Dana asked. "JC. It's really a long story." "We have time." Dana said. "Well, ok." She told them everything. "So, this JC boy, is he your boyfriend?" her mom asked. "Oh God no. But I know he wishes he were. He got me this for my birthday." she said showing them the necklace. "Wow. And you won't go out with him?" Dana asked. "No. Another really long story." Her sister raised her eyebrow. Ebony sighed. "He used to sleep around a lot. And I don't want to be some other girl he's slept with." "Used to? As in, he doesn't any more?" Dana asked. "Well, yeah." "And the problem is?" "What do you mean another girl he's slept with? You'd sleep with him?" her mom asked. "Well, uh, umm, uh....." Dana started laughing. "Shut up!"
At about 1:30 Ebony went home. She walked into her house and took a deep breath. "Ahh, home." she said walking upstairs to her room. She picked up her phone and called the hotel. She asked for JC's room. "Hello?" "Happy birthday!" "Ebony! Aww, you remembered! How sweet." She laughed. "Sure. So, what are you doing?" "Just hanging out in my room with Chris." "Hi Ebony!" Chris yelled. "Tell him I say hi." "She says hi. So, are you home?" "Yeah. I just got back from my mom's house. God was that painful." "What happened?" "I was just reminded of how great touring really is." He laughed. "What did they do?" "They were just asking me about every little thing. And then they started asking about you. And then I said the wrong thing and my mom was like 'you'd sleep with him?' That was awkward." "What did you say?" "When?" "What did you say to make her say that?" "Uh, nothing." "What did you say?" "Nothing." "Girl, don't you even do this to me." "Well, first my sister was asking me why I wasn't going out with you..... So I told her I didn't want to be some other girl you've slept with." There was silence. "Ebony..." "I know! Sorry." "Mmm hmm. You know I wouldn't do that." "Yeah, I know." "Ok, just so you know." "Yeah. Well, I'm tired and I just wanted to tell you happy birthday. So, I've gotta go." "Ok. See ya tomorrow." "Ok, bye." "Bye."
The next morning she got to the hotel ten minutes before the busses were going to leave. She yawned and leaned against her bus. She was falling asleep when someone came up to her, picked her up, and started spinning her around. "I'd kill whoever this is, but I'm too tired." she said slumping over. He sighed. "You're no fun." he said putting her down. "JC, don't ever do that again." "And why not?" "Because it's not fun." "I think it is." "Well I don't. Do you want me throwing up all over you?" He smiled. "No, not really." "Ok then." she said sitting down and closing her eyes. He sat down next to her. "So, did you have fun sleeping in your own bed last night?" "Oh yeah." "I'd love to sleep in my own bed." She put her head on his shoulder and fell asleep. When she woke up she was on the couch in the back of the bus. She sat up and stretched. The door opened and Destiny walked in. "It's about time you woke up!" "What time is it?" "Eleven. We're almost there." "How did I get back here?" "JC carried you. He wanted to take you back to his bus, but I wouldn't let him." She smiled and leaned back. "Have you given him his present yet?" "No. When do you think I had the time?" "Oh yeah. I forgot. When are you?" "Later."
"JC!" Ebony yelled running up to him after the concert. "Yeah?" "Come back to my room with me." He smiled. "Ok." "We're not doing that. I just want to give you your present." "Damn. Ok." They got back to the hotel and went to her room. She handed him his four dvds. "Thanks." he said hugging her. "I feel kind of bad because this present isn't as original as yours." "I like it though." "Well, I wanted to get you something else." He smiled. "You don't have to." She smiled. "Yes I do. And I did." "What is it?" "Well, it's not exactly something you can have." "Umm, ok?" She smiled and put her arms around his neck. "Happy birthday." she said kissing him. After a minute she stopped. He smiled. "Wow. Thanks." She smiled. "You're welcome!"
That night JC slept in Ebony's room. "So, what do you want to do now?" JC asked. "Sleep." "That's not fun." "Sure it is." "But you slept earlier." "So? I'm tired." He sighed. "Fine. You can sleep, but I'm gonna watch tv." "Ok, but you have to turn the lights off." "Ok." He got up and turned the lights off. "Good night!" "Night." ~*~ Ebony sat on top of JC kissing him. She smiled and sat up. "I'm so glad we finally got together." she said. "Me too." he said pulling her back down and kissing her. He flipped her over so he was on top of her. He started kissing her neck. The light flipped on. "Jesus Christ! I'm kind of busy!" Ebony yelled. "Ebony, shut up. I just have to get something." Destiny said. "Can't it wait?" "No. I'll be gone in a second. Chill out." Ebony sighed. JC smiled and sat up. "What do you need to get?" he asked. "None of you damn business," Destiny said smiling. "I need to get a few condoms." "Justin doesn't have any?" She laughed. "No, he ran out." "That's gross Destiny." Ebony said. "Hey, what are you two doing?" "I don't go around telling people though!" She smiled and pulled a few out of her suitcase. "K, I'm outta here! Have fun!" she said turning off the lights and closing the door.
JC pushed Ebony back down and kissed her. The lights flipped back on. "Destiny, I swear to God!" There was a gun shot and JC stopped moving. "JC? JC? JC! JC!!!!" ~*~ "JC!!" Her eyes shot open and JC was sitting by her side. "It's ok, I'm here. It's ok." he said running his fingers through her hair. She sat up and hugged him. "It's ok. It was just a dream." he said. She sighed but held on to his shirt. "It's ok." he said again still running his fingers through her hair. She whimpered and let go. "Are you ok?" he asked. "Yeah, just a nightmare I guess." "What was it about?" "Someone shot you." She started crying. He took her in his arms. "It's ok. It's over now." She fell asleep again in his arms. He smiled and laid down with her. He closed his eyes and fell asleep too.
Ebony woke up and felt an arm around her waist. She rolled over and saw JC sleeping. She gently took his arm off her and stood up. She stretched and walked to the bathroom. When she walked back out JC was still asleep. She sat down next to him and leaned close to his ear. "JC, you need to wake up. We have to leave soon." He still didn't move. "JC, wake up." Still nothing. "JC!!!!!!" He jumped and looked around. "Oh good, you're awake!" she said standing up. "Oh gee, how wonderful." he said laying back down. "Boy, get up. We need to leave." "I don't want to." "But you have to." "No." "Fine, stay here, I don't care." "Ok. Bye." he said pulling the covers over his head. She sighed. "Get up, please, for me." He sat up. "Ok." he said standing up. She laughed.
"I can't believe the tour is over in a week." Ebony said to JC. They were sitting alone on his bus. "I know. Are you going to go home?" "Where else would I go?" He smiled. "I don't know. I'm gonna miss you." "I'm going to miss you too. But we'll talk and stuff, you know, on the phone." "Yeah, I guess." he said looking down. "Don't get depressed about it! We still have a week left!" He smiled. "You're right. So, we should do something every night. What do you want to do tonight?" "I don't know. How about, maybe just walking around the city. And maybe get some ice cream." "That sounds great! You come up with the best ideas." "I know." Justin and Destiny backed onto the bus kissing. They fumbled to the back room and closed the door. JC rolled his eyes and got up and turned the radio on. He sat back down and tapped his fingers on the table along with the song. She smiled and looked around. "Well, this is one thing I'm not going to miss. Damn busses." she said. JC laughed. "I know what you mean. All cramped up for hours. Yuck." Chris and Joey walked onto the bus. "Are Justin and Destiny in here?" Joey asked. Ebony looked at Chris and saw he was holding a camera. "Yeah, why?" JC asked. "Well, we saw them stumble in here and decided since the tour is almost over that we'd catch them in the act." Chris said holding up the camera. "Well, I doubt that they're actually doing that on the bus." JC said. "I bet they are. They're back there." Ebony said pointing to the room. The crept to the door and Chris got the camera ready. Joey counted to three and threw the door open. Chris took as many pictures as he could before they noticed. "Get out of here!" Justin yelled jumping up. Joey and Chris took off and Justin ran after them. Ebony laughed. "I'll miss this." she said.
"So, what are you going to do when you get home?" Ebony asked JC as they were walking after the concert. "Probably start working on our next cd. You know, write songs and stuff. What about you?" "Hang around and do nothing. It's gonna be great." He laughed. "I wish I could do that." "Why don't you?" "I have too much to do. You know, you're lucky you can walk around your city without being mobbed." "You're lucky everyone loves you." "Not everyone does." he said frowning. She looked away. There was silence for a few minutes. "So, did you figure out where there's an ice cream place around here?" Ebony asked. "Yeah. It should be right around the corner." "Ok." They turned around the corner and saw the ice cream place. They walked inside and walked to the counter. "What do you want?" JC asked. "A chocolate shake sounds good." she said reaching for her purse. "Don't, I'll get it." "JC, you don't have to do that." "I want to." he said as someone walked to the register. "JC, I want to pay for my own." "No, I'll pay for you." "But I want to pay for me!" "Hush," he said turning to the lady, who was really a teenager. "Hi. Can I get two chocolate shakes?" "Sure." she said after staring at him for a few seconds. "How much is it gonna be?" he asked. "Damnit! I am paying for my own!" Ebony said. "No." She crossed her arms. "Umm, it'll be $4.38." "I swear to God-" "Ebony, would you hush? I'm paying for you and there's nothing you can do about it." He said getting out his wallet. He handed the girl a five dollar bill. "Umm, aren't you in Nsync?" she asked. He smiled. "Yes." "Oh my God, can I have your autograph?" "Do you have a pen and a piece of paper?" She looked around and picked up a piece of paper and a pen and handed it to him. He signed it and handed it back to her. He looked behind him and saw Ebony looking at the pictures on the wall. A minute later the girl handed him the two shakes. "Thank you." he said picking them up and walking to Ebony. "You ready to go?" he asked. She turned around and smiled. "Yeah." He handed her a shake and they walked back outside and sat down on a bench. They drank their shakes in silence. "Umm, about what I said earlier, I'm sorry." JC said. "Don't be. If that's they way you feel, fine. But you don't have to apologize for every little thing you do." "Well, I guess so. But it's just that it's made things a little awkward." "Yeah." They finished and JC threw their cups away. "You ready to go back?" "Yeah."
Ebony stood in her room packing her stuff and getting ready to leave. There was a knock at her door. "Hold on!" she said running to the door. She opened it and JC was standing there. "Hey! You ready to go yet?" "No. I will be in a second though. Come in." she said. He came in and she closed the door. "I just have to get a few things from the bathroom." "Hurry up." She ran out of the bathroom and threw the stuff into her suitcase. She zipped it up and picked up her two bags. "Alright, I'm ready to go now." He smiled and opened the door for her. "Everyone else is already in the limo ready to go to the airport." he said as she locked her door. "Well I'm not, and neither are you." He laughed. "I was there. I came back to get you." he said as they walked onto the elevator. They got downstairs and she handed her key to the lady behind the counter. "Ok, I'm ready to go now." she said. JC took one of her bags and they walked out to the limo. They threw her stuff into the car that was going behind them. "Ok, let's go!"
They got into the limo and JC closed the door behind him. "It's about damn time. We thought you died and sent JC to check on you." Destiny said. "Ha ha." Ebony said. "I'm so glad we finally get to go home." Lance said. "I'm not." Justin said holding Destiny's hand. "Aww." she said kissing him. JC leaned close to Ebony's ear. "I'm really going to miss you." he whispered. She smiled and leaned close to him. "I'm going to miss you too." she whispered. "Mmm hmm, so what's going on here?" Chris asked looking at JC and Ebony. "Nothing. What do you think?" Ebony asked. "Oh, I don't know. It's just that you two sure have been close lately." She rolled her eyes and JC smiled. "But we all know JC's happy." Lance said. She looked at JC and he smiled. She smiled and looked out the window.
"So, when is your flight leaving?" Ebony asked JC as they walked through the airport. "A half an hour after yours does." "Oh." "I don't want to leave." Destiny said putting her head on Justin's shoulder. He kissed her head. "We'll see each other again. I'm coming up for Christmas. And maybe you could come to Orlando sometime." "It just won't be the same." "Yeah, you won't be able to have sex every night." Joey said. Destiny hit him on the arm. "Shut up!" *Flight 126 to Louisville, Kentucky is now boarding.* "That's us!" Ebony said. They all walked with Ebony and Destiny. When they got there Ebony turned to JC. "Well, I guess this is goodbye." "Never say goodbye," he said smiling and taking her hands in his. "Promise me you'll call. You have my number right?" "Yeah. You have to call me too you know. I'm not the only one who's phone bills are gonna suck." He smiled. "Ok. Well, um, I guess you have to go." "Yeah." She looked at the ground but JC didn't let go. She looked back up. "If I'm gonna leave you have to let go." He leaned in and kissed her. When he stopped she kissed him back. "Goodbye JC." she said picking up her backpack and turning around. "Bye." he said.