|
�Better Than Best� Chapter 12: Slacker �Uh guys? Would someone please explain to me what's going on? Like now?� I said with a touch of annoyance in my voice. �You wanna know what's going on?� Ashley�s voice rose. �You go off for the day and Dan can�t even get himself out the door. Trevor yells at him, he yells back, Jacob and I get involved. Dan�s so wrapped up in you that he can�t even focus.� I just stared at Dan�s blank look as he walked up behind Ashley. �Oh my gosh,� I could barely breathe. �Ashley I don�t know where you�re taking this but Dan is standing right behind you, so make it quick.� Ashley followed my glance and stared Dan in the eye. �Dan! I can explain but it�s true, you know it�s true.� �I don�t care what you think. I love Jenna more than anything and that will never change,� Dan�s voice broke. �Don�t do this, Ashley. Just stop right now,� I said. �Jenna, you were not here today. You did not have to put up with Dan slacking off,� Trevor said. �Slacking off? Dan never slacks off. He�s the most focused one. You�re right, I didn�t see what happened today, but I know what happens every other day. You three slack off while Dan works his butt off. He�s allowed to slack if you guys are,� I had walked over to Dan�s side and held his hand. �Fine Jenna. Have it your way. You win. You always have to win. The best at everything,� Jacob muttered. �Don�t be so immature!� I screamed. �It�s not about me, it�s about you guys. You can dish it out but you can�t take it!� �Calm down Jenna. You�re blowing this out of proportion,� Ashley said. �You brought it up. I am out of here,� I stormed out the door. I ran to the SUV. I heard someone behind me so I turned and saw Dan. �Thank you,� I said silently as I waited for him to catch up. When he was at my side, I said, �Dan, are you okay?� �Yeah, I�m fine. The guys weren�t the same today. I think they were jealous,� Dan replied. �Jealous of what?� I prompted. �Jealous that you�d like *NSYNC better than us,� he mumbled. I laughed. �You�re joking right?� �Nope. Not at all,� Dan looked at me strangely. �Dan, what really happened today?� I asked knowing that someone was leaving something out. Dan hesitated for a moment. �I did slack off. I just couldn�t stop thinking about you and how you were surrounded with successful guys. I don�t want to lose you.� I trembled. Dan�s words were so serious and so wholehearted that I wanted to cry. I threw my arms around him. �Oh Dan. No, no I won�t leave you. I don�t want to leave you. You�re already successful in my book.� Dan held me close. �It�s good to hear you say those words. I don�t want to leave you either. No one can take me away from you.� �Dan, let�s go talk to the other guys. We really need to work things out between us.� Dan and I walked back toward the building wrapped up in each other. Dan held the door for me and we walked into the middle of a pity party. The air around us was so strong that I almost turned and ran. �They blow everything out of proportion. Why should we get blamed?� Jacob complained. �Come on you guys, let�s talk,� I said. Ashley, Trevor, and Jacob looked up at the sound of my voice. �Jenna. We thought you left,� Ashley said. �Well I didn�t. Guys, I know that it wasn�t right of me to leave and do my own thing. I should�ve been here today. We�re a band and we need to stick together,� I smiled trying to lighten the mood. �Jenna, it�s not your fault. We all kinda figured that you didn�t want to be a part of us any more. That�s why you were so thrilled to hang with *NSYNC. We didn�t mean it,� Jacob said. �We�re sorry. We shouldn�t have jumped to conclusions. You forgive us, I hope,� Trevor pleaded with me. �Oh course!� I said. Trevor jumped up and hugged me. �But you gotta be nicer to Dan.� �Done,� Ashley said as he patted Dan on the back. �Let�s go get some dinner. I�m starving!� We laughed as we walked to the cars. We drove back to the hotel and checked out the restaurants. �Anybody up for an all you can eat buffet?� Trevor asked. �I bet I can eat more than you,� I joked with him. �You�re on,� Trevor and I raced to the line. The other guys followed us. We got a table and Trevor and I were off piling our plates high. We skipped the salads and went straight for the main courses and desserts. Laughing, we sat down and ate.
|