Chapter Fourteen
On Friday morning, Eryn and Sasha arrived at Eryn's parents condo at 11:30am.
"Hey mom! Hello, dad! How are you?" Eryn ran to her parents and hugged them hello.
"Sasha! You look beautiful," Eryn's dad smiled and hugged her. They brought them inside and got settled. Eryn's mom called Sasha into the other room.
"Sasha, dear, you can drive my car to the concert, okay? And can you give me Justin's number? I want to talk to him about the plan." Eryn's mom asked.
"Sure, no problem. I will do it right now," Sasha said. She picked up the phone and dialed.
***
"Someone get the damn phone!" Chris yelled. "I'm trying to beat JC here!" They were playing N64.
"Hello?" Joey answered.
"Um, which is this?" a voice said.
"Is this Eryn?" Joey asked.
"No, Sasha… who is this?" Sasha said.
"Hey, Sash! It's Joey," Joey smiled. "How are you?"
"Good, but you know the plan thing? The Operation Justin and Eryn together?" Sasha asked.
"Yeah," Joey said.
"Well, Eryn's mom wants to talk to Justin. Is he around?"
"Yeah, hold on," Joey said. "Curly! Phone!"
Justin picked up. "Hello?"
"Hey, Justin. It's Sasha. Eryn's mom wants to talk to you. Here she is." Sasha handed the phone to Eryn's mom.
"Hello, Justin."
"Hi," he answered. "The plan is set. I hope it works."
"I think it will," she answered. "Don't worry, okay Justin? My daughter is forgiving. It's obvious she still likes you, dear. Don't worry, okay?"
"Thanks," he said. "I have to go, though. Bye."
"Bye," she answered.
Justin sighed. He didn't want to talk about Eryn until he had to. It was upsetting enough. He went into his room, to go over what was going to happen at the concert.
***
The next day, Sasha and Eryn got ready for the concert. Sasha put on white shorts and a navy blue tank top. Eryn was still deciding what to wear.
"How about this?" Sasha asked her, pulling a baby blue dress out of her suitcase.
"Baby blue?" Eryn shook her head. "I don't like that colour."
"You don't like it because Justin likes it. Don't be like that. You know you still like him," Sasha said.
"Okay, I will wear it. And I will admit that I still like him. But he hurt me bad. And I can't forgive him." Eryn took the dress and put it on. "Okay, let's go."
They got into the car. Eryn's mom rented it at the last minute. It was a baby blue convertible mustang.
"What's with all this baby blue?" Eryn asked.
Sasha shrugged, and they drove to where the concert was.
When they got there, Eryn asked for her ticket.
"Don't worry about it," Sasha said, knowing it said N Sync on it. "I'll take care of it."
They got in the concert hall, and found their seats. Suddenly, everyone in the place started chanting as the lights went down.
"We want N Sync! We want N Sync!"
Eryn froze. "N Sync? N SYNC? You tricked me, Sasha!"
"I know, Eryn, but just stay, please," Sasha said. "I am really sorry, but…"
"But what? But nothing! Was my mom in on this too?" Eryn asked, angrily.
"Yeah, but Eryn, just stay. Just cause Justin is a dick, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the concert," Sasha said.
Eryn's face softened. "Sorry I flipped out on you. You're right. You know me well, because I really do like the music still. Sorry." She hugged her friend.
"No problem," Sasha smiled. "Let's enjoy it."
N Sync ran out on stage. "Hello Orlando!" They shouted. The crowd went wild.
JC scanned the front row, until his eyes rested on Sasha, they exchanged a smile, and then the group went 'Here We Go.'
Eryn smiled. She did love N Sync. Just not all the members. And, she had to admit, she was having fun.
***
The concert was almost over. The five guys pulled out stools from the sides of the stage and sat on them. Justin stood up.
"This one is dedicated to someone in the audience. Names aren't necessary." Justin smiled, and took a deep, shaky breath.
"Lying in your arms
So close together
Didn't know just what I had
Now I toss and turn
Cause I'm without you
How I'm missing you so bad
Where was my head
Where was my heart
Now I cry alone in the dark
I lay awake
I drive myself crazy
Drive myself crazy
Thinking of you
Made a mistake
When I let you go baby
I drive myself crazy
Wanting you the way that I do
I was such a fool
I couldn't see it
Just how good you were to me
You confessed your love
Undying devotion
I confessed my need to be free…"
As the song continued, suddenly Eryn understood the words to the song. Tears sprung to her eyes, when she realized that she was the person who the song was dedicated to.
"Sasha…" she whispered. "Is it me?"
"Yeah," Sasha smiled. "Look up."
Eryn looked up, and saw Justin in front of her on stage, singing to her, staring in her eyes. She was overcome with a need to forgive him.
"Wanting you the way that I…do…" the song finished. Tears sprung in Eryn's eyes. Tears first of happiness. Soon, it faded. What are you thinking, Eryn? She asked herself. He's an asshole, and he's going to just break your heart. Don't take him back. Her heart said yes, and her head said no. She went for no.
People began to leave the concert hall. It was over. Sasha and Eryn had backstage passes.
"Sash… I don't want to go backstage," Eryn said.
"Please, Eryn, I really want to see JC," Sasha begged.
"Well, I will wait for you in the car," Eryn said, and turned around.
Sasha grabbed her arm. "NO! Please, please stay. Don't you want to get back together with Justin? After he sang to you and everything?"
"What? Is that why I'm here? Oh, God, Sasha… leave me alone, and let me live my own life. You said we were just coming. You're right. I love N Sync. I love their music, and… and…" Eryn looked away.
"What?" Sasha said. "And what?"
"And I love Justin," Eryn said. "I never felt that for anyone." Tears began to fall down her cheeks. "Then he broke my heart, and I don't want it to happen again. You don't understand what it feels like. But since you like JC, I will go with you."
"Thanks," Sasha said, and hugged her friend.
They headed backstage, and JC was the first to spot them. "Sasha!" he said. He leaned in to kiss her. "I've missed you."
"Yeah, me too," Sasha smiled. She leaned close to his ear and whispered. "Eryn doesn't want to get back with him. It didn't work."
JC pulled away. "Shit," he said. "Well, we can't pressure her… I don't know what to do."
Justin stared at Eryn, not able to look away. She looks so beautiful… I wonder if she wants to get back together. "Lance," Justin said. "Come here, okay?" Lance walked over.
"Is this about Eryn?" Lance asked.
"Yeah," Justin said. "I need to talk to her, can you tell the body guards to send the other people with backstage passes home?"
"Sure," said Lance.
Soon, backstage was clear.
Justin walked over to Eryn. "Hey," he said, tentatively.
She looked at him, and looked away. "Hi," she replied quietly.
"Listen, Eryn, I want to talk to you," Justin said. "Can we go to my dressing room or…"
"Look, Justin. I don't WANT to talk to you, okay?" Eryn looked at him. "Can you leave me alone?"
"But, I saw you crying and…" Justin stammered.
"Okay, Justin. You got me. I was touched. You're sweet… when you want to be. But you hurt me, okay? Bad." Eryn felt tears welling up in her eyes. "And I just can't forgive you."
"Eryn," Justin pleaded. "I didn't mean it. I mean, you looked just like Madeline. I didn't want to hurt you."
"Well, you did," Eryn said.
"It was totally unintentional," Justin took Eryn's hand. "I…"
Eryn shook his hand away, disgusted. "I'm not taking this, I'm leaving." She turned around, told Sasha she would meet her in the car, and walked out of the room.
"…love you," Justin finished, to himself.
End of Chapter Fourteen