�College Life.� She looked really confused now. �How did��
�JC told me and I insisted I come.� He said smiling. �Oh, yay.� She said bitterly. �Wait downstairs for me.� She showered and changed into a pair of jeans and a blue tank top, and put on a bandana. She heard a knock and sighed. �Justin, I told you to wait downstairs�� She opened the door. �And it�s not Justin.� JC smiled. �Hey.� She nodded. �Hi.�
�You ready?� She nodded again. �Almost.� She walked back and put on sandals. �It�s safe to come in.� He walked in. She put on her makeup, but stopped when she felt his eyes on her. �It�s really hard to put on makeup with people staring, ya know.� He blushed. �Sorry.� She remembered her dream. �Forget about it, he�s an old friend, nothing more. Then, geeze, why I am wigging if he�s just a friend?� �Um, ok, let�s go.� He nodded. �Ok.� She followed him out and walked downstairs. Justin spotted them coming and gave them a nod of acknowledgement. �Hey, ya�ll. Got your sunglasses?� They nod and head out. �It�s not that far, so we can walk.� JC said. They start walking when Justin puts himself in the middle.
�So, Katie, tell us about Matt. What�s he like?� Justin asked curiously. �Ahh, um, Matt? He�s great.� She said not really wanting to elaborate. �Oh, c�mon, details!� he prodded. �Um, well, he�s got a band, and they�re really good� and he�s really sweet��
�And?� She was beginning to get annoyed. �And what? He�s nice guy. But since we�re on the topic what about you?� Justin laughed. �I�ve kept my distance from girls for awhile� ya know after Jenn� I wrote you, remember?� Katie nodded. �Yeah, but I figured the all-famous Justin Timberlake would�ve bounced back into the game by now.� His eyes narrowed. �Not as easy as you think.� She shut up, knowing when to let it go. �Mm. JC? What about you?�
�Nope.� Came his reply. Katie raised her eyebrows. �Wow, you have a lot to say in that area.� JC shrugged getting slightly pissed at Justin. Justin pointed. �Hey, look there it is.� Katie looked awed. �Wow, it�s awesome.� She laughed. �How very pathetic, I�m getting awed by a college.� JC laughed. �Hey, it�s cool.� Katie smiled. Justin glanced back and forth between the two. �What the heck? There�s gotta be something going on between them.� �So, Katie you miss home?� She nodded. �Yeah.�
�Man, you must really miss Matt, eh?� he kept on. �Yeah, geeze, Justin, why the 20 questions?� He shrugged. �Hey, just trying to make conversation.� She grabbed her cell phone and started punching in numbers. �Ali? Heya! Yeah, I�m here! What dorm? 324, ok, which thingy? I�m at the entrance. Uh-huh, right. So we go this way�� She lead the way. �And right here. Open up.� Ali threw open the door. �K!� Katie grinned. �Sup?� Ali hugged her. �It�s been sooo long!� Katie nodded. �I know! Oh! This is my annoying cousin Justin, and JC.� Ali smiled. �Hi.� JC smiled also. �Hi.� Justin who stared mesmerized, managed a hi. Katie shook her head. �Gosh, it�s great to see you!� Ali nodded, excitedly.�I know! Oh, hey! Guess who else goes here?!� Katie looked at her, questioningly.
�Who?� Ali smiled. �I dunno, if you remember, but Rae and Steven!� Katie squealed. �Really?� JC covered his ear. �Dang girl!� Katie smiled. �Steven?� She laughed. �I remember we used to fight over him.� Ali nodded excitedly. �I know!� Katie grinned. �So give us the tour?� Ali nodded. �Sure thing.� She shut the door behind her. �Let�s go.� Katie noticed Justin sneaking glances at Ali. �Ahem, so Ali, don�t tell me you of all people got a boyfriend.� She pretended to look offended. �Hey! So, I�m picky? No, I don�t. And what about you, eh?� She glanced over at JC and raised her eyebrows. Katie nodded. �Yeah.� Ali grinned. �Ooh! Really? So, how�d you two hook up?� She asked referring to her and JC. Katie looked taken back. �What? No! His name�s Matt�� Ali grinned sheepishly. �Oh, sorry. I just kind figured� nevermind. Anyways, over there is the place where we supposedly study, but really it�s a coffee shop that everyone chills at, and over there is the Delta Zeta Kappa�s frat house and they throw the best parties- trust me- I�ve experienced them. And here�s the courtyard/fountain where everyone just hangs. This place is so great being in L.A where the best night-life�s at.�
Katie nodded. �I hear ya. I experienced some of it last night.� She grinned. �Ooh.� She showed them around and her and Justin delved into a deep conversation, ignoring the other two.
Katie looked around at the incredible view of the ocean and leaned against the rail overlooking it. �It�s great, huh?� She turned around to face JC. �Yeah, it sure is.� He stared out past her. �Gosh, no, man, she has a boyfriend. Dude, it�s the 2nd day and already I�m way too attracted to her? This gonna be a looong tour, unless she broke up with her boyfriend, which isn�t gonna happen with the way she talks about him� But just looking at her with the wind blowing her hair� No man! Stop!� Her voice interrupted his thoughts.
�Seems like Justin and Ali hit it off.� He looked back at them and nodded. �Yeah, they sure have.� Katie watched him. �Just like we did� Only nothing can happen there..� �So, do you really like living in Tennessee?� She nodded. �It�s alright. Though I�m thankful I don�t have a southern drawl and didn�t grow up on a farm.� He laughed. �Good point.� She forced a smile. �Gosh, don�t laugh. He�s got the greatest laugh and the cutest lil smile�� �Does it ever suck not being able to go to high school?� she asked. He nodded. �Yeah, I mean, no glee club or anything like that for me� no prom, no football games�� She shook her head. �I can�t imagine what it�s like� all those things are what made high school livable.� He nodded slowly. �Yeah, but MMC was fun, I mean, we were all close� and if I hadn�t had that experience� then who knows where I�d be now?�
She nodded understandingly and looked around for Justin and Ali. �Hey, where�d they go?� JC looked around as well. �Pssh, who knows? Let�s just go.� She looked at him. �Go? Go where?� He shrugged. �I dunno� I�m hungry, how bout you?� She contemplated the idea, when she heard her stomach rumble. �Actually, yeah I forgot to eat�� He smiled. �So, let�s go.�
�But what about��she started. �They�ll be fine, they can find their own way I�m sure.� He said knowingly. She nodded. �Ok.� They walked off, down the street. �So where we gonna eat?� she asked. �You like Chinese?� She looked down. �Well, I�ve never really had it�� He looked at her shocked. �WHAT?! You�re kidding me!� She looked up at him. �What? Why is that such a surprise?�
�I dunno� but it�s my favorite and I can�t believe you�d never had it!� She laughed. �Well, then let�s go!� He nodded. �Alright. I know a place. Of course the night we got here I looked it up.� She mocked him. �Of course.�
�Hey!� He pushed her. She looked totally offguard. �Hey! Push me again! I dare you!� He smiled evilly. �Alright!� He pushed her. She grinned slyly. �Oh, you totally asked for it!� He pretended to make his hands shake. �Ooh! Whatcha gonna do now?� She grinned evilly. �This!� She reached up at totally screws up his hair. He tried to pull away. �Hey! C�mon! Never ever the hair!� She laughed. �Oh, no!� He kept laughing. �Hey, look.� She looked. �Where?� He pointed. �There.� She squinted her eyes. �I don�t see anything.� He smirked and took the distracted opportunity to sling her over his shoulder. She squealed. �Uh-uh! What are you doing? Put me down!!� She started kicking at him. �I swear, JC!! If you don�t put me down, I�m gonna seriously hurt you.� He grinned. �No one ever messes up my hair!� She started whining. �Well, I just did, now put me down!�
He groaned and put her down. �You�re lucky we�re here.� She smacked him. �Don�t you ever pull that again. I�ll kill you. I don�t care if I�ve known you for 7 freakin years, I�ll hurt you.� He laughed. �Don�t mess up my hair.� She put her hands on her hips. �You started it!� He snickered. �Suuure.� They walked in and sat down. She looked at him skeptically. �Ok, looks like you�re gonna have to pick for me, cuz I know none of this, and I swear if you get me eating something nasty like raw fish, you�ll regret it.� He laughed. �Ok.�
They order and sit talking. �Alright, so c�mon, what type of music do you listen to now? I remember when it was all about New Kids on the Block.� She laughed. �Yeah, I always had a thing for Joey. But I like Richard Marx- he wrote This I Promise You, right?� He nodded. �Yep. That was incredible.� She nodded, agreeing. �I love him. And Brian McKnight is the ultimate best. And like Lance- I�m into Garth.� He looked at her, interested. �You really like Brian McKnight?� She grins, nodding happily. �Yes!�
�Alright, then what�s his best song?� he challenged her. She frowned, thinking. �Oh, gosh, I don�t know� um, 6,8,12 and oh! Never Felt This Way is awesome, but not too many people like it cuz it�s too jazz-like.� He smiled, leaning back in his chair. �Well, I�m one of the few who like it then, cuz the song is the best.�
�I like Joe, too! I can�t believe you guys got to work with him!� He smiled. �Yeah, he was pretty awesome. It was a great song.� She grinned, waving her fork about. �Man, this stuff is really good. I�m hooked!� He laughed. �Hey, I got an idea. How bout we go to that new Jim Carrey movie? They�re having the premiere of Me, Myself, and Irene.� Eyes raising, she nearly choked. �Hollywood premiere? You can go?� He nodded. �Yeah, why not?� She looked at him. �And you�ll seriously take me?� He rolled his eyes. �No, I just asked for no reason, whatsoever.� He said sarcastically. She laughed. �Ok, I�ll go, but only cuz I love Jim Carrey.� Standing, he held out his hand. �Well, let�s go.� Reaching for his arm, she stopped. �Wait! I�m not dressed to go!� He shrugged. �Ahh, they don�t care.� She frowned. �Hey! I care! Isn�t E! always at this stuff?� He nodded. �Yeah, but if you haven�t noticed, I�m not exactly dressed to kill either.� She looked at him skeptically and saw that with his trademark leather jacket and jeans, he was right.
She sighed. �True.� He pulled her. �Well, c�mon.� She stood up. �Geeze, ok, chill.� Paying, they walked back onto the streets. �So, where�s it at?� Glancing around, he frowned. �Um, if I remember, Johnny said, it was at the corner of South and Sunset�� She hit her head. �I hope you know where that is Mr. Wizard, cuz I sure don�t.�
Chapter Seven