Belle and I stood in my room packing the last of my stuff in boxes. "So, why are you moving?" "I already told you, I have to move down there because that's where my manager and stuff is. This is strictly professional." "And JC living across the street has nothing to do with it?" "It's an added bonus, but it's not why I'm moving." "You sure could have fooled me." I threw a stuffed animal at her head. "Shut up." "JC and I are just friends, nothing more. I would never move just for him." "Why are you just friends?" "Because men piss me off. If we were more than friends I'd have to kill him." "You mean to tell me you don't ever think about what sex with him would be like?" "Well, I might have once or twice, but I'm just curious! I don't like him like that." "Like hell you don't." she said taping a box shut. "What is that supposed to mean?" She looked up at me and smiled. "Fess up, how do you really feel about him?" "I don't feel about him. We're just friends."
"Are you doing ok?" JC asked me. "Yeah. I think I'm actually going the right way." I drove my car past the Georgia-Florida state line. "I should be there in a few hours. You don't even understand how excited I am about this." "I think I have a pretty good idea." I smiled. "So, what do you want to do my first night there?" "Uh... Sleep." "I mean something fun." "Who said that's not fun?" "I did. Come on, you can be a little more creative than that." "Ok ok. Uh, how about this? I cook you an elaborate dinner consisting of a pasta related dish and a fine wine. We drink a little too much and end up having more fun than you could ever imagine." "What are you implying?" "A night of never-ending, super hot sex." I laughed. "I don't think so. Try again." "That's all I got. It's either that or sleep. Or that and sleep." "Or you can help me move in." "That's good too."
"You actually want me to unpack your clothes?" JC asked as we stood in my room unpacking my things. "Yeah. They're all organized in boxes, all you have to do is unpack them into the drawers." "You're absolutely positive?" "Yes. Unpack." I watched him as he opened a box and stared into in longingly. "What's in there?" He slammed it shut and smiled innocently. "Nothing." he said quickly. I walked over to the box and opened it to see my underwear. I smiled. "Enjoy what you saw?" He laughed uncomfortably. I put my hand on his back and led him out of the room. "Alright, you don't have to unpack anymore."
We walked downstairs into my living room and he sat down on the floor. "When is your furniture coming in?" "Tomorrow." Nefi ran into the room and jumped into JC's lap. He smiled and started petting her. My mouth dropped open and JC gave me a weird look. "What?" "She's never like that with men. Not a lot anyway." "She must like me." "Yeah." I sat down next to him and Nefi jumped up and ran away. "Where are you sleeping?" he asked. "In a sleeping bag." "No, don't do that. You should come across the street. I have beds." I smiled. "You're too sweet. Thank you so much." "No problem. Just helping a friend."
Late that night I woke up with an incredible thirst. I quietly walked out of the guest room and downstairs into the kitchen. I stuck my head around the corner to see if JC was around. The pajamas I was wearing were a little revealing and I didn't want him to see. I opened the refrigerator and got out a coke. Adrenaline ran through my veins when I heard someone coming down the stairs. I looked around and grabbed the first thing I saw to cover myself with: a dish rag. He walked into the room and smiled when he saw me. "What's with the rag?" "Uh, I was, uh, cold." "And the rag is making you warmer?" "Yes." He laughed and walked past me to the sink. He got a glass of water and turned to face me. "Why are you awake so late?" "I was thirsty." I said holding up the coke. "Ah. And cold too?" I smiled. "Yes. Why are you awake?" "Can't sleep." "Why?" "I don't know. I just can't." "You sound like me." He smiled and began to walk back upstairs. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"They don't even give me time to move into my damn house. Are you sure you're ok with letting the mover guys in? I mean, if you're busy I can find someone else." I explained to JC as we stood next to my car. "I'm not busy, trust me." "Ok. Thank you so much for this." I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his cheek. "I'll find a way to repay you later." "Moving across the street is enough." he said smiling. "How sweet. I'll be back in a few hours. Bye." "Bye." I got into my car and left for the studio. They know damn well I just got here yesterday and that I haven't so much as unpacked, but no, I have to come in. Bastards.
"We've gotten all your songs that you've written, and some of them will be included on your new cd. You'll be needing to come in almost every day-" "Can't I have a break for this first week? I haven't even unpacked yet." The manager stared blankly at me. "Do you want to get this done or not?" "I'm just asking for two days to get settled." "I'll give you one." "I want two." "One. That's all I'm giving so don't even bother arguing. Now, we've gotten the music background figured out for one. You can hear that in a minute. Ok, we also need to get public appearances set up as well." He droned on and on about things I hear every day of my life. All I could think about was getting home to JC. He understands what I'm going through and he'll know how to make me happy. Who am I kidding? He makes me happy anyway.
I furiously wrote down my schedule for the next month as Dick quickly said it. "Could you slow down a little bit?" He shifted annoyed, and stopped for a few seconds. He began to speak again at the same speed, if not faster. What have I gotten myself into? The first week is filled with waking up at four in the morning, running around town all day, and going to sleep at midnight. If things don't slow down I'm going to be admitted to the hospital again. When he stopped I sat down my pen and rubbed my wrists. My hands haven't hurt this bad since high school. I hate writing. "Do you have all that?" he asked looking over my shoulder at my paper. "Yes." "Good, because we have to start working today."
I drug myself into my house ten hours later. My eyes widened when I saw my living room set up with furniture. I ran up to my room to see JC sitting on my bed, smiling. "How was your day?" I jumped onto the bed and hugged him. "You didn't have to set everything up." "It looked crappy with everything all over the place." "Thank you." "You're welcome. So, how was your day?" I let go of him and rolled my eyes. "Shitty. I get tomorrow off but after that I go back to twenty hour days." "Oh. Uh, sorry." "So am I. I'm going to sleep all day tomorrow." I said laying down. He laid down next to me. "Can I join you?" "I don't care."
The sun shone through my window when I woke up the next morning. I could hear the birds chirping outside and a breeze swept through the open windows. JC's arms were wrapped around my waist and my hands were holding his. How did we end up like this? I went through different scenarios of how to get out of his arms without him waking up, and then decided I didn't want to move. He took a deep breath and I knew he was awake. "JC?" "Yeah?" he asked groggily. "You awake?" "Yeah." I rolled over still in his arms. I smiled when I saw his hair. It was sticking up in every which direction. "You're looking a little rough." He ran his hand through his hair and then put it back around me. "Yeah." "Do you remember putting your arms around me during the night?" "No. I do it automatically. Instinct I guess. Do you want me to stop?" "Uh, no. I was just wondering if you remembered." He smiled and closed his eyes. "Going to sleep again?" "I thought the plan was to sleep all day." "Yeah." "So that's what I'm doing." I smiled and closed my eyes with him. "Kara?" "Yeah?" "I want to hold you like this forever." I opened my eyes to see him looking into them. There was an awkward silence. "What?" he asked. "Uh, maybe I should get up." I sat up and saw him frown. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." "I'm not upset." I said getting up and leaving the room.
I sat on the edge of my pool with my legs in the water. It was noon and JC and I had just finished eating lunch and he went to his house to "clean up." I don't understand what he has to clean up, but whatever he wants. He's starting to scare me. I don't want him to like me. All I want is for us to be friends. I closed my eyes and laid down on the concrete. "Kara." I opened my eyes expecting to see JC but instead saw someone I was hoping never to see again. "Mitch! What are you doing here?!" I jumped up. "I wanted to see you. I've been searching desperately." "I-I thought I told you I've given up on men." "I decided not to listen to you. Kara, I've missed you so much. Letting you go was the biggest mistake of my life and I'm sorry." I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. "How did you find me?" "You're friend Belle." "What?!" "She said that I would be better for you. Whatever that means." "Mitch.... You shouldn't be here. It's taken a long time for me to get over you." "I'm aware of that, but I want you so much. I can't stop thinking about you. Ever since we had sex-" "Can we please not bring that up?" "I have to. I know you loved it and I know it's been on your mind." As much as I hate to agree with him, I know he's right. He took me in his arms and kissed me. Oh God, this isn't happening. I can't be enjoying this. He stopped and I searched for the words to say. I opened my mouth and he put a finger over it. "Don't say anything. I just want to be with you."
We laid on my bed kissing. Something in me was telling me to stop, but I couldn't. I have missed the way his hands move over my body. I heard my front door open but I couldn't move. A few moments later the bedroom door opened. "Kara?" I jumped up and saw JC. Thank God. "JC!" I ran up to him and threw my arms around his neck. "Thank God you're here. Please don't leave." I whispered into his ear. "What's going on? Is this man supposed to be here?" he whispered back. "Umm, hello?" Mitch called out from the bed. I let go of him and turned to face Mitch. "Yes?" "Can this wait? We were in the middle of something." he said impatiently. "Uh, no. I really need to talk to her. Can I see you in the living room?" JC asked me. I smiled thankfully. "Yes."
We walked into the living room and I sat down on the couch. "Thank you so much for getting me out of there." "Who is that?" he asked sitting down next to me. "Mitch. He used to be one of my back-up dancers." "The one you screwed?" I looked at him in disbelief. "Yes." "So, why did you want to get out of there? I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do." "JC, stop it." "What? I know if I were him I'd want you again." "Well I don't want him. Please help me." He sighed and looked to the ground. "What am I supposed to do?" "Tell him that we have some important business thing to do." He reluctantly walked back to my room. A few moments later he came back to me. "He wants to talk to you." "Great." I mumbled walking away.
"Mitch, I have to go." He got out of bed and walked to me. "I know you're lying." "No I'm not. I have somewhere to be." "Alright, fine. When are you going to be home?" "I don't know, but you shouldn't be here when I do." "Why?" "I don't want you here. Please just go home." "You sure did seem like you wanted me here a few minutes ago." "Go." He walked out of the room. I have to thank JC. I walked back out into the living room to see Mitch running out and JC rubbing his fist. "What just happened?" I asked. "I hit him." I smiled. "Why?" "He called you a manipulative bitch who only uses people to get what you want. I had to hit him." I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. "That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me!" "Really? That's sad." I laughed. "Thank you." I said kissing him again. He turned bright red. "Uh, you're welcome."