Needafriend

   �Ok guys, I�m going home,� Justin Timberlake announced after 3 hours of recording. All the other guys decided to follow Justin�s lead and leave.
    �Hey Joey, wait for me! I have to check my messages,� Lance Bass called to his band mate before he could leave. Joey quietly sat in a chair, watching Lance listen to his messages. �There�s one from Johnny, and one from my mom,� Lance informed Joey. Suddenly, Lance�s face went stark white, and he dropped his phone to the ground. Joey immediately jumped from his seat, and caught Lance before he could fall to the ground.
     �Lance? What is wrong? Lance,� Joey asked worriedly, but Lance did not respond. After sitting Lance into a chair, Joey reached for Lance�s phone on the floor. Joey heard Lance�s mother�s voice on the other end. �James, honey, I�m sorry to tell you this over the phone, but...well you see...gosh this is hard...James, Colleen died this afternoon. It was a car accident. I�m so sorry, honey. I�ll call later, okay? I love you,� Lance�s mother said in a strained voice. �Joe, she�s dead.� Joey turned to face Lance, who still looked ghost white, but at least he was talking.
     �Who�s Colleen?� Joey hesitantly asked. Lance looked up at Joey, tears brimming in his eyes. �Colleen was my best friend in Mississippi. I remember the day I met her...

<Flashback> 1987
        �Mom! I want to go to the park,� 8 year-old Lance hollered, pulling on his mom�s apron.
        �Not now, James. Go play in the backyard.� Lance grudging followed his mother�s orders and headed outside. Sulking, Lance sat on his slide refusing to play like his mother wanted.
        �Hey you!� A small voice cried from the other side of the fence. Bewildered Lanced walked to the fence and looked through a crack. He saw a young girl, probably 6, with blonde hair and green eyes.
        �Are you talking to me?� Lance asked afraid that she wasn�t.
        �Yes, I am. My name�s Colleen. I moved in a week ago. I saw you looking sad. Need a friend?� Lance eagerly nodded his head and pushed a loose board in the fence, so Colleen
could come into his yard.
        �My name�s James. I call myself Lance cause there�s already a James in my class at school.�
       �You wanna play?� Colleen asked as she ran to the slide. Lance ran to catch up to her, but she was too fast. Boy, was he glad his mom was mean.
<End Flashback>

Lance sighed remembering his rambunctious friend. �We played everyday. Even when we started growing up, she was still my best friend.   She was my first kiss.

<Flashback>
      13 year-old Lance stood by the lake with his fishing pole in one hand and a peanut and jelly sandwich in the other.
     �You caught anything yet?� Colleen yelled from the other side of the lake. Lance turned around to grab the fish he had caught, but when he to face Colleen, she was gone.
     �Colleen? Where did you go? You�re not funny,� Lance yelled, his tone giving away his fear.                   �I am too funny!� Colleen yelled as she jumped in front of Lance. Lance didn�t jump, scream, or anything. He just stood looking off into space. �Lance? What�s wrong?� Suddenly, Lance leapt forward, knocking Colleen to the ground.
      �It�s for the tickle monster,� Lance laughed as he began tickling her.
      �You�re...so...immature� Colleen managed to say her fits of giggles. Before either knew what was happening, Lance lowered his face and gently grazed Colleen�s lips with his. They both sat up, looking lost. �That was gross,� Colleen laughed breaking the silence.
       �I know what you mean,� Lance agreed.
<End Flashback>


       �So there was never anything more than friends?� Joey asked noticing that talking about Colleen helped Lance stay calm.
      �We tried once. It was really awkward, so we decided that we were meant to be friends.� Lance was silent for a few minutes, and then he turned his attention to his hands while he said, "You want to hear about the last time I saw her?� Joey simply nodded his head. �It was about 2 months ago...

<Flashback>
        Lance sat in the dressing room alone. He was used to being alone nowadays. The guys had friends
and family to talk to, and he didn�t want to intrude. Here he was the part of the biggest pop group, and he�s all alone.
      �Is that Lance Bass? Oh my gosh it is!� Lance turned to see Colleen approaching him. He hurried to meet her half-way and engulfed her in a hug.
      �I didn�t know if you would come,� Lance said tightening his hold on Colleen. �Not come to an Nsync concert? I founded this group you know.�
      �Did you really,� Lance asked wanting to see how far she�d carry this �and how did you do that?� Colleen gave a smirk and answered, �Who do you think paid your old vocal coach to suggest you to Justin? You didn�t really think he did that on his own, did you?�
      �Awww...you sure do go for the jugular� Lance said grabbing his throat, where he assumed his jugular was.
      �Well Lancey, I have to go grab a seat. Look for me! I made a sign,�Colleen shrieked as she skipped away. During the concert, Lance looked for Colleen, but a sign caught his eye.
      'You look sad. Need a friend?�
<End Flashback>

     �She knew you were lonely?� Joey asked. Lance nodded.
     �She always knew how I felt. You know what Joey? I�ll never be alone. I�ll have my memories of Colleen to keep me company,� Lance said as he wiped a tear away.
     �She sounded like a great person.� Lance nodded his head,
     �She was.�