She got home and went to her room. She threw her stuff on the floor. She stretched and put on her pajamas. She went to the bathroom and got a glass of water. When she walked back into her room the phone rang. "Hello?" "Hey Ebony!" "Destiny, I talked to you ten minutes ago." "So?" "I want to go to bed." "But you slept on the plane!" "I want to go to sleep." "Fine. I guess I'll talk to you later." "Ok. Bye." "Bye." She hung up and fell down onto her bed. She took a Valium and laid her head down on her pillow. After a few minutes she fell asleep.
"Ebony!! Are you alive?!?" She slowly woke up and turned over to see Destiny. "What are you doing?" "I called you the day before yesterday and you didn't answer your phone. And I called you today and yesterday and you still didn't answer your phone. I thought you died or something." "Well I didn't. Can you leave?" "Why haven't you been answering your phone?" "I've bee asleep." "For the past four days?" "Yes." "How?" "Well, whenever I woke up I took a Valium. I haven't even eaten." "That's not healthy. You should get up." "I don't want to." she said rolling back over. "Ebony, you're going to kill yourself from an overdose if you don't get up." "Good." "Ebony!" "Would you leave?" "No, I'm worried about you." "Why? Because I'm sleeping?" Destiny looked at her desk and took the bottle of Valium. "Give those back." Ebony said. "No. I don't want you to hurt yourself." "I'm not going to! Give them back!" She walked out of the room with the Valium. She sighed and got up. She walked downstairs and saw Destiny sitting on the couch. "I'm up. Are you happy?" "Yeah. You have some messages." She walked over to the answering machine and pushed the play button. *You have four new messages.* *Ebony, this is JC. Why didn't you call? That's not very nice to promise something and then not do it. Well, just give me a call when you get this. Bye.* *Ebony sweetie, this is your mom. I know you got home yesterday, why didn't you call? I figured you were tired from the plane ride, but then you haven't called me today. You're probably asleep. Get up! Call me back. Love ya, bye.* *Yes, Ebony, these are the voices in your head calling. We haven't heard from you in quite some time, what's the deal bitch?!? Well, give us a call, err, you don't have to call, just start talking.* Ebony looked at Destiny and she started laughing. "You're a nerd." *Hey Ebony, this is JC. I'm starting to get a little worried about you. Where are you? Why didn't you return my call? God, I sound desperate. Call me when you get this. Bye.* *End of messages.* "Maybe you should call JC." Destiny said. "Yeah." she said picking up the phone.
"Hello?" "Hi JC!" "Ebony! Where have you been?" "Well, I've been home, but I've been asleep." "For four days?" "Yeah." "I'm not going to ask. How are you?" "I'm good. I'd rather be sleeping, but Destiny is being a bitch and she took my Valium." "That's what you've been doing the past four days?" "Yeah." "Ebony, you're going to kill yourself." "No I'm not. I'm awake now, aren't I?" "Don't do it again." She sighed. "Ok." "Good!" "So, how are you?" "I'm good. Bored, but good." "Have you done anything interesting?" "Not really. I went to the studio yesterday. That was good. I love it there." "Why?" "I don't know. I just get to be all creative and stuff. And I get some privacy there. That's always good." "Yeah. How are the guys?" "They could be dead for all I know. I haven't talked to them since we got back." "Oh, ok. Why not?" "I needed my space for a while." "Space? Are you all breaking up?" He sighed. "Yeah, I'm really upset about it." "It'll be ok. Just take it one day at a time and the pain will eventually go away." "Ok. I will. How's Destiny?" "Good I guess. Destiny, how are you?" "I'm good! I miss Justin!" "Did you hear that?" "Yeah. Tell her Justin's cheating on her." "What?" "He's not really, just tell her to see what she says." "I'm mean, but I'm not that mean." "Fine. It would have been funny though." She laughed. "Yeah." "I miss you." "I miss you too." "Are we ever going to see each other again?" "Sure." "When?" "I don't know. But we'll see each other again."
A half an hour Ebony looked at the clock. "Well JC, I've gotta go. I haven't eaten since the plane ride." "What?!?" "I've been sleeping." "Well, ok. So, I'll talk to you later?" "Yeah. Bye." "Bye." She hung up and walked into the kitchen. Destiny came bouncing into the kitchen after her. "So, what all did he say?" "Stuff." "Did he say he misses you?" "Of course." She smiled. "So, did he sound upset at all?" "Huh?" "Did he sound upset that you were gone?" "I don't know." "Yes you do." "No, I don't." She sighed. "So, what all did he say?" "Well, he asked me if he was ever going to see me again." "And?" "I told him yes." "When?!?" "I don't know. We'll see each other again. I just don't know when." "God Ebony." "What?" "Nothing." she said walking out of the room.
A week later Ebony and Destiny went to diner with Cailin. "Oh my God, this stuff looks great!" Cailin said picking up her fork. "Oh yeah!" Destiny said. Ebony just stared at her plate. "Aren't you going to eat?" Cailin asked. "Umm, I'm not really hungry." "Why?" "I don't know, I'm just not." Cailin looked at Destiny and she shrugged. "Something bothering you?" Cailin asked. "God, why is it that every single time I do something wrong you guys get on my case?!? Nothing is wrong with me!" "Damn, sorry I asked." Ebony sighed. "Sorry." she mumbled. "You sure are being a bitch lately." Destiny said. Ebony stood up and picked up her purse. She got out some money and threw it onto the table. "Here. I'm leaving. I'm tired of listening to your shit." she said glaring at Destiny. "How are you getting home?" Cailin asked. "I'll walk." "But-" "I'll walk!"
She got home a half an hour later and fell onto the couch. She pulled her legs up to her chest and took a deep breath. She turned on the tv and Nsync was on. *"So, how was touring like?" "It was great! Especially since I was with the woman I love. If you're watching, hi Destiny!" Justin said waving at the camera. Ebony rolled her eyes and sat up. "Speaking of Destiny, how were the famous 'Fantasy' girls?"* "Famous?" *"They were so much fun. They're really nice girls. JC and Ebony recorded a single together, did you know that?" Lance asked. "No, I didn't." "Tell them about it JC." "Well, we remade the Lonestar song 'Amazed'." he stopped talking and smiled. "Umm, forgive JC, he's been acting really weird lately." Justin said. "Yeah, ever since Ebony went home." Chris said. "Can we please not talk about that here?" JC said. "What's going on with you and Ebony?" "Nothing! We are just friends," he said. "But I wish we were more." he whispered. "Yeah, you would no-" Chris started to say when Justin put his hand over his mouth. "Shut up. JC doesn't want to talk about it." "Ok."* The door opened and she turned the tv off. She turned around and saw Destiny. She rolled her eyes and turned back around. "Ebony, I'm really sorry." "Sure you are." "Ebony-" "Why are you in my house?" "Well, I'm trying to apologize." "Well don't even bother. Leave." "But-" "I swear to God I will kick your ass if you don't leave." She turned around and walked out of the house.
She woke up the next morning to the phone ringing. "Hello?" she answered groggily. "Ebony? Did I wake you up?" JC asked. "Yes." "Do you want me to let you go?" "No, I'm fine." "Well, ok." "I saw you on tv yesterday." There was silence. "You did?" "Yeah. After I got back from diner." "What happened?" "I walked home." "Why?" "Destiny was being a bitch and I couldn't take it anymore." "How did she get home?" "She drove. I walked." "She didn't even offer you a ride home?" "No. Cailin did, but Destiny didn't." "Damn. Did you get home ok?" "Yeah. I made it. But God am I tired." "What time did you go to bed?" "About midnight." "Oh. Are you sure you don't want me to let you go?" "I'm sure." "Ok. So, other than what Destiny did, how are things going?" She laughed. "Good."
Ebony sat on her couch playing paddleball. "100, 101, 102, 103-" The phone rang. "Hello? 106, 107-" "Ebony?" "Yeah. 109, 110. Who is this?" "It's Justin. What are you doing?" "Playing paddleball. 116, 117. Is everything ok?" "Yeah, why?" "Well, you called me. 124, 125... Why would you call me unless something's wrong?" "Well, ok, something's a little wrong. Destiny's really upset." "Fuck her. She's the one being a bitch." "Ebony-" "No! I'm not talking to her! First she takes my Valium-" "She didn't want you to die." "I wasn't going to die! Damnit!" she yelled as the ball fell down. "What?" "The ball just fell. And second..... Well, she's being a bitch!" "I don't think that's a very good reason to be mad at someone." "Well you're not me. So, when you talk to her, tell her to stop getting her boyfriend to call to try and make things better." "She didn't tell me to. I did it because I hate it when she cries." "Oh darn, is she crying?" "If anyone is being a bitch here it's you. What crawled up your ass and died?" "Justin, don't you even get me started on you." she said as her phone beeped. "Hold on, I've got a beep." "Alright." She clicked over.
"Hello?" "Hey Ebony!" JC said. "Oh good. Now I can get off the phone." "Huh?" "Justin's on the other line." "Why?" "He's trying to get me to apologize to Destiny. Hold on." "Ok." She clicked back over. "Justin? I've gotta go." "Who is it?" "Uh, my mom." "Who is it?" "It's JC. I've gotta go." "Well, ok. Just please think about how stupid this thing with Destiny is." "Whatever. Bye." "Bye." She clicked back over. "Ok, I'm back." "Why won't you apologize to Destiny?" "I don't apologize to anyone. And if I do, I don't mean it." "Well, I think you sh- Wait, you don't mean it when you apologize?" "No." "So, when you apologized to me, you didn't mean it?" "Nope. I just wanted to talk to you again. What, did you actually think I meant it?" "Well, yeah. I feel hurt." She laughed. "Aww, isn't that a shame." "I can never trust you again." "Darn." "Hey, I'm being serious here! You lied to me." "It got us talking again, didn't it?" "Well yeah, but now I feel so..... violated or something." "JC, I didn't rape you." He laughed. "Oh, what am I talking about? It wouldn't be rape." she said. "Damn straight."
"So, what is going on with you and Destiny?" he asked. "She's being a bitch." "Why?" "She just is." "Because she took away your drugs?" "Well, that's part of it." "Ebony, she's just worried about you. You're lucky you have a friend that cares about you that much." "I guess. But still, she's being a bitch." "You need to get over it." "I don't see why you care so much." "I care because she's your friend. I know if it was me you were mad at I'd want you to get over it." "But it's not you. And you don't understand. You never will." "I'm trying though." She sighed. "I guess I could call her. But I will not apologize." "That's fine. She might apologize to you. Well, I'm gonna go so you can call her." "But-" "Call her." "Fine. I'll talk to you later." "Ok, bye." "Bye."
She hung up and picked her phone back up. She dialed Destiny's number. "Hello?" "Hey." "Ebony?" "Yeah. I was forced to call you." "Well, I know it wasn't Justin, he told me he had no such luck." "No, it was JC." "Oh. Well...." "Yeah." There was silence. "I'm sorry for being a bitch." Destiny finally said. Ebony smiled. "You should be." she joked. Destiny laughed. "Well, I hope you don't mind, but I have to go. You know, long distance and all." "Yeah. Well, I'll talk to you later." "Bye." "Bye." She hung up and went to her room. She laid down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. She closed her eyes and thought about JC. She smiled and fell asleep.
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A month later JC sat in the corner of his room playing with his robe. He was trying to write a song, but after a week he got no where. He sighed and slouched down. He put his head in his arms. A few minutes later the door opened. Justin walked over to him and knelt down. "JC? Are you ok?" "No." he said not moving. "The guys and I are really worried about you. Your music has been suffering, you never come out of your house, and you've lost a lot of weight. What's up?" "Nothing." "Damnit JC." "Nothing is wrong. Can you go away?" "No. You're going out to eat with us tonight. So come on, get up." he said tugging on his arm. "I don't want to go." he said jerking his arm away. "JC, you need to get out. Or at least eat. Please." "I don't feel like it." "You don't feel like eating?!?" "No." JC could sense that someone else walked into the room. "Can you help me get him up?" Justin asked. "Yeah." It was Joey. Each of them took an arm and pulled him up. "Why can't you guys leave me alone?" JC asked. "We're worried. You need to eat. When was the last time you did?" Justin asked. "I don't know. Maybe yesterday. I just don't feel like eating." "But you need to." Justin said dragging him out of his room. He sighed and let them drag him down the stairs.
When they got downstairs he saw Chris and Lance standing in the living room. "Why did you all come over here for?" "Well, we figured the more of us we had, the easier it would be to carry your lifeless body out of the house." Chris said. "Gee, thanks." he said sitting down on the couch. "JC, we really are worried about you." Lance said sitting down next to him. "Yeah, I know." "Why are you doing this?" "I don't know. I just don't feel like doing anything anymore." "Not even eat?" "No." Lance gave him a look of pity and looked up and the guys. "What are we going to do?" he asked. They all shrugged their shoulders. "I was thinking take him to the hospital." Justin said. "Oh please, it's not that bad, honestly." JC said. "We think you might have an eating disorder." Justin said. "I do not! I can eat whenever I want!" "Then go out to eat with us." He sighed. "Fine. Let me take a shower though." he said standing up and slowly walking upstairs.
While JC was in the shower the phone rang. "JC's house." Chris said. "Umm, who is this?" a girl asked. "Christopher." "Chris?" He laughed. "Yeah. Who is this?" "Ebony." "Hi! Man, it's great to hear ya again!" "It's great to hear you again too. Is JC there?" "Yeah, but he's in the shower. May I take a message?" "Umm, can you just tell him I called?" "Yeah. Hey, wait! Do you know what's wrong with him?" "No. What's wrong?" "He's just gone downhill. His music is suffering, he never comes out of his house, and he's lost a lot of weight. I just thought maybe you knew what's wrong with him." "No. He never even told me anything was wrong. I assumed everything was fine. How long has this been going on?" "Probably about three weeks." "Oh. Well, just tell him I called and tell him I say hi." "Ok. Well, it was nice hearing from you. Bye." "Bye Chris." He hung up. "Well, Ebony doesn't know what's wrong with him." "Maybe it's Ebony that's wrong with him." Justin said. Chris shrugged. "Maybe."
JC stood in his room in front of his mirror fixing his hair. He sighed. "Why am I doing this?" He walked over to his bed and sat down. Someone knocked on his door. "Yeah?" "Are you done?" Chris asked. "Yeah." The door opened and Chris walked in. "Ebony called." "What?!? You didn't get me?!?" "You were in the shower. She says hi and you need to call her back." JC leaned over and picked up the phone. "After we get back from diner." Chris said taking the phone and hanging it up. He frowned. "So, are you ready to go?" "I guess." "Alright! Lets go!"
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Ebony and Destiny talked and listened to music in Destiny's room. "So, a month till Christmas. What are you gonna get me?" Destiny asked. "Nothing." "Ah! Oh yes you will! And it better be something good!" Ebony laughed and turned on the radio. "I need to see JC soon." "Why?" "Well, I have to give him his Christmas present sooner or later." "Oh yeah. Maybe you could give it to Justin when he comes up, and when he goes back home he could give it to JC." "It won't be the same as me giving it to him. And plus, I haven't seen him in a few months. I really want to see him again." "You could have gone down with me when I went to see Justin." "He was in DC when you went to Orlando." "Oh yeah." She sighed and laid down on the bed. "What's wrong?" "Nothing." "That's bologna! You've been acting all weird and stuff. And you haven't been eating." "I'm just not hungry anymore." "And you sleep all the time." "I'm tired." "Ebony, I'm starting to get worried about you." "Don't be. I'm fine."
Destiny's phone rang. She looked at the caller id and squealed. "Hi baby!" she screamed. "Hey. How is the most beautiful girl in the world?" Justin asked. "I wouldn't know." "You know it's you! Don't deny it!" "Oh ok! I'm good! Ebony's over here." "Tell her I say hi." "Justin says hi." "Hi." "She says hi. So, what are you doing sexy?" "Wishing I were with you. I can't wait to see you again. Girl, I'm gonna keep you up all night." She giggled. "I can't wait! Oh, it's gonna be so fun! I've missed you so much. It's been so long since-" "Destiny would you shut up!" Ebony yelled. "Ok, we need to move on to a new topic. Umm, how are the guys?" "Great. Well, everyone except JC." "What's wrong with him?" "He's still not eating a whole lot. And he's really not being productive." "Hmm, that's weird." "What?" "Ebony's doing the same thing." "I knew it." "What?" "They're in love and they just don't know it. Either that or they just won't admit it." "I don't know about that. I'm sure Ebony would have told me." "Maybe I'm wrong. But I'm pretty sure I'm right." "I doubt it. But anyway, how have you been?" "Pretty good. But of course, I'd be better if you were here." "I wish I could come down, but I can't. We've got to fly up to New York next week. I'm so excited we're gonna be on TRL!" "You'll love it. Carson is really nice." "Yeah! Ahh!" "So, what are you going to do if they ask you about me?" "Tell them the God damn truth. You think they'd get over it by now. I mean, how long has it been? Seven months?" "Yeah. We are going to do some major celebrating when I get there." "Oh yeah."
She hung up about an hour later. "What in the hell did you two talk about for so long?" Ebony asked. "A bunch of stuff. Us going to New York next week, how the guys have been, you know, stuff like that. But mostly we talked about what we're going to do when he gets here." Ebony rolled her eyes. "Please don't say anymore." "Well, ok. You wanna go get something to eat?" "I'm not really hungry." "Well, ok. At least go with me to pick something up." "Alright." she said standing up. Destiny picked up her purse and bounced into the hallway. Ebony walked after her. She watched Destiny skip down the stairs. God she's annoying. "Come on slow poke!" Destiny said as Ebony slowly walked down the stairs. "I'm coming. Don't rush me." They got outside and got into her car. "I can't wait till Justin gets here!" Destiny said. "You've got a month. Don't get too excited." She sighed. "You sure are a party pooper." She smiled. "Yeah."