One Week Later, First Week Of March (Orlando, Florida)
Vanessa observed the monstrous tour bus that rumbled before Gillian and herself, in the parking lot of the Four Seasons Hotel. The brand-new tour bus was about as long as a coach bus and about two times as wide. Strategically placed on each side were five, large, square shaped, tinted windows. The bus was jet-black with shimmering gold streaks across the left and right side only.
Gillian let out a low-pitched whistle as they approached the bus. Both girls had packed the night before. The next morning, after dragging themselves out of bed, they got ready; waiting for their tour bus to pick them up.
The bus doors opened with a swish, revealing the driver of the bus.
"Hey girls. My name is Amy Radcliffe and I'll be your driver for the Nsync Pop Odyssey tour," Amy cheerfully proclaimed.
Amy appeared to be in her late twenties/early thirties. Her chestnut colored hair, pulled up in a low-ponytail clearly stood out from her light, peaches and cream complexion. Her ice colored eyes gazed down at Gillian and Vanessa. In each ear were two earrings; gold hoops on the bottoms and small, diamond studs in the top. Dressed in a pair of hip-hugging, dark denim, Express, boot-cut jeans and a V-neck, black, Delias T-shirt with a pair of baby-blue stripped Adidas, Amy gave off the illusion that she should have been modeling in a Gap ad rather than driving a bus.
"Hey Amy, I'm Gillian and this is my best friend and personal assistant, Vanessa. Where should we put our bags?" Gillian politely greeted with a friendly smile.
"Hey there, Vanessa", Amy replied. Vanessa smiled, glad that Amy possessed such a welcoming attitude.
"Hi," Vanessa responded. Amy craned her neck to get a view of the ten large suitcases, (five for each girl), two carry-ON's and one royal blue duffel bag.
"Just leave them there. I'll get them," Amy announced.
"Are you sure? We can help if you need it," Gillian offered.
"Naw, it's ok. While I do that though, you girls can check out the inside of the bus," Amy ordered.
Amy got off the bus first and headed straight to the bags. Gillian and Vanessa followed through on Amy's suggestion and stepped into the bus, immediately gaping at the surroundings before them.
In the front left side, there was a square, mahogany table that could seat four people. Across from the table and chairs was a matching cabinet on the wall. It began at the end of the table and stopped approximately behind the driver's chair; about the length of a large picnic table. A microwave was underneath the cabinets.
A small, Kenmore fridge was underneath all of this. If you kept walking further down, it lead into "living room." A jet black, leather couch consumed the back, starting at the left window and curling to the right. Small, fluffy, brick red pillows littered the piece of furniture. In front of the couch, nestled into a series of shelves was a Sony, 36 inch TV. In a shelf next to it was a DVD player and down below that was a Playstation 2. On the very bottom of the wooden case was a cabinet that slid open. Inside was a collection of DVD's, such as: Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, Scream 3, The Sweetest Thing and My Best Friend's Wedding. An assortment of playstation disks accompanied the DVD's, which included: Kingdom of Hearts, Tony Hawk's Pro-Skater 3, Final Fantasy 10 and Test Drive 5.
At the very, very back of the bus was a set of 2 bunks thats height started at the floor and ended halfway up into the air; about the height of a mattress on a bed frame. Crisp, new sheets, blankets and pillows accompanied the bed.
Overall, the tour bus was simply their new home away from home.
"Holy shizzles, this tour bus kicks ass!" Vanessa exclaimed. Gillian nodded.
"Ha, yeah now I can brag to the guys how much better ours is when they get here," Gillian smugly boasted.
"When they get here?" Vanessa demanded, an expression of disgust crossing her features at a mental picture of Lance. Gillian rolled her eyes.
"Yes, when. We're supposed to follow them to San Diego. Now will you quit acting like a fifth grader and grow up?" Gillian advised.
"Why should I? It's not my fault he's such an asshole," Vanessa grumbled.
"Have you ever stopped to think of reality? You're going to be on tour with him for three months. That's three months of seeing him, hearing him and spending almost every waking minute with him, whether you like it or not," Gillian warned. Vanessa snorted.
"And you bet I'll use those three months to find every possible way to avoid him," she vowed. The sudden noise of a wheels screeching to a halt sliced through the air. Gillian's face lit up like a florescent light bulb in a pitch black, windowless room.
"That must be the guys!" she giddily informed. She quickly scrambled past her friend and dashed out the open door to meet JC, like a woman rushing to catch the bouquet at a wedding.
Vanessa sighed and prepared herself to face her best friend. Gillian had wasted no time in shmoozing with the guys, flashing a dazzling grin to JC every few seconds.
"Hey everyone," Vanessa called, trying to drench her sour tone with fake sweetness.
"Hi Vanessa," they all greeted, not in unison.
"How are you doin?" Justin asked, suddenly remembering their previous conversation. She shrugged, an authentic smile beginning to appear.
[Awww, how sweet is that! He actually remembered my little rant at the club. What a great guy...unlike someone I know...] she mused.
"Oh all right. What about you?" she asked, walking over to him and standing in the open space of the elliptical shape the group was standing in.
"Well, you know. I was doing ok..but now that you're here, everything's better," he confessed. Vanessa laughed at his flirtatious smile.
"Justin, I think being single for more than three days has caused serious damage to your brain," she teased.
"More like to my eyes; you're the only one I can see," he corrected, half kidding, half flirty.
"Ok guys, I think you're going to need a new band mate. Justin has some major issues," Vanessa warned, facing JC, Joey, Chris and ignoring Lance.
"What happened, did he try to hit on you?" Joey asked.
"Wow, how'd you know?"
JC, Joey and Chris turned to each other and snickered.
"Ever since Britney and him split, you're the only girl he talks about. We can't get him to shut up," JC teased. Vanessa blushed.
"Yeah and he even has a picture of you hanging in his bunk!" Chris exaggerated.
"JC, I'd shut up if I were you. We wouldn't want me telling everyone about that secret stash of crack in your sock drawer," Justin shot back, clearly embarrassed.
"Woah there, looks like Lil Juwstin has a temper!" Chris teased, in a voice of a toddler.
"Aw, c'mon guys, stop picking on Justin," Vanessa cut in. Justin shot her a grateful expression. She grinned.
"He hasn't had his afternoon nap yet."
Everyone laughed, minus Justin, who was too busy glaring.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist," Vanessa apologized, in-between giggles.
"Hey, guys, get on the bus! We've gotta leave now if we're going to make it to San Diego on time," Nsync's bus driver, Rob, announced.
"Hey, Gillian, I was wondering if you wanted to watch a movie with me, on the way there? Or we can just...talk or whatever," JC offered, fumbling a little with his words.
Gillian slowly grinned.
"Sure. I'd love to."
As Gillian began walking to the Nsync tour bus, she stumbled back, as someone grabbed hold of her arm.
"What are you doing? Are you just going to leave me by myself?" Vanessa asked.
"You can join us, if you want. I'm sure JC and the guys won't mind; especially Lance," Gillian answered, shooting a glance at Lance.
"You know what, I think I'll pass. See you in San Diego," Vanessa snapped. Gillian sighed and walking to JC, who was waiting for her.
Vanessa let out a puff of air, frustrated at her friend's choice of action and marched to bus. She stormed into the back of the bus and flopped onto the soft couch; searching for the remote. She flicked on the TV and began watching MTV.
The doors shut and Amy began driving out of the parking lot, when it came to an abrupt halt.
Vanessa frowned.
[I wonder why we stopped...]
Suddenly, the doors opened, shut then the whir of the wheels could be heard as Amy began driving again.
[Hmmm maybe it's Gillian, coming back to apologize?]
But the site of the person in front of her was totally unexpected. Her heart began to pound like a war drum in her chest. Her palms began to sweat and a tidal wave of emotions entrapped her like a rabbit caught in a snare.
Lance quickly turned off the TV and sat down next to her, keeping a poker face.
"Nessa, we need to talk."
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