Chapter Sixteen

Sasha sat in her bunk, unable to sleep. It was the first night in the bus, and her mind was on Eryn. She heard JC breathing deeply in the bunk beside her, and Joey and Chris were in the other room, playing N64. Lance and Justin's bunks were at the front of the bus.

Lance looked over at Justin. He was having trouble sleeping, and tried to work out his thoughts. Every few seconds, he heard Justin mumble Eryn in his sleep.

That guy has all the bad luck, Lance thought to himself. This is one time, I am glad I am not him. Suddenly, he heard the bus phone ring from halfway down the bus.

Sasha heard the phone, but didn't want to get it. It was dark, and she wasn't sure where it was.

Chris and Joey, too involved in the game, didn't hear the phone.

JC didn't move.

Without opening his eyes, Justin mumbled, "Lance... get the phone..."

Lance sighed and walked over to where the phone was.

"Hello?" he asked, wondering who would be calling at this hour. There was no answer. "Hello?" he repeated. Still nothing. What the hell... he thought, then walked over to his bunk.

***

Eryn shuddered. She wasn't sure who had answered the phone, but she thought it was Justin. It was hard to tell, because the person was whispering.

But she had to try again. She needed to talk to someone... especially... She dialed.

***

The phone rang again. Lance was on his way back from the phone, so he turned around and headed back to it.

"Hello?" he asked.

"Um, who is this?" said a voice.

"Who is this?" Lance shot back.

"I really need to find out who this is before I can say who I am," the voice begged.

"This is so weird," Lance said. "This is Lance. Now who is this?"

He heard a sigh of relief on the other end of the phone. "This is Eryn. Sorry Lance."

Suddenly Lance understood. "Oh, I get it," Lance said. "You didn't want to talk to Justin."

"Yeah," Eryn said. "Sorry."

"That's okay," Lance said. "Do you want me to get Sasha for you? She's asleep, but I can wake her."

"Actually, Lance," Eryn said. "I called for you."

"For me?" Lance asked, surprised. "Why? No offence, but JC or Sasha… you were always closer to them. Well, especially Sasha."

"Lance, I can't talk to Sasha… she's too hooked on JC right now," Eryn admitted.

"Oh, I know," Lance said, smiling to himself. "I see that with JC too."

"But the thing is, I can't get over Justin. He really hurt me, and you are always there. You're so nice… I just need a good friend right now, to keep my mind off of things," Eryn said.

"Eryn? I will ALWAYS be here for you," Lance told her his cell phone number. "We'll have a code, okay? When I answer the phone, I'll say 'hey' instead of hello. If someone says hello, hang up. After awhile, you'll know my voice. You call me anytime."

"Thanks so much, Lance," Eryn said. "You don't know how much that means to me."

"Well, it means a lot to me too, since you chose me!" Lance laughed.

"Yeah, I did. I want to hear about your life Lance, tell me everything." Eryn said. "I need to get my mind off of… him."

"Sure," Lance said. "You picked a good day, cause I'm not tired."

"Great!" Eryn said. "Oh, maybe I should give you my phone number, too."

"Sure," Lance said. She told him, and he wrote it down. "Thanks."

"Okay, start talking," Eryn said. "I really want to hear all about you."

"Well, I was born is good old Mississippi… and my first name is James actually," Lance began. "And then…" he kept talking.

Eryn smiled to herself, and listened to Lance. She loved his deep voice, it was so soothing.

***

Lance yawned and glanced at his watch. It was 6:30am! I've been talking to Eryn all night, and I'm not even sick of her, Lance thought to himself.

"…anyway," Eryn was saying. "That's the end of my life story."

"It was fascinating," Lance said, really meaning it. He had never realized that someone could have such a life full of ups and downs, and she was only seventeen.

"Thanks," Eryn said.

"Yo, Lansten! Who you talking to?" Justin shouted from his bunk.

"Oh, shit, Eryn," Lance said. "Justin is up, he saw me on the phone. I have to jet, but it was really nice talking to you. I mean it. Call me later, okay?"

"For sure," she answered. "And thanks."

"You're welcome," Lance said. "Crap, Justin is walking over here. Bye." He said, hanging up.

***

Eryn hung up the phone, smiling. Lance and her had talked all night, and it made her feel better. She didn't even cry when they talked about Justin. Lance was a friend. A great friend.

***

"Who were you talking to?" Justin asked Lance, walking over to him.

Lance thought fast. "My mom," he said, with a straight face.

"Oh, okay," Justin said. "Who called last night?"

"Oh, two prank calls in a row," Lance shrugged.

"Okay," Justin's face fell. "I thought… I was hoping… never mind." He walked away.

That was so close, Lance thought to himself.

"Hey, buddy," JC walked up to Lance.

"Hey," Lance answered. "Where's Sasha?"

"Sleeping, she said the phone kept ringing, or someone was talking outside," JC said. "I have no idea what she's talking about."

"Me neither," Lance lied.

"Anyway, I was told to remind you we have an autograph signing this morning at the local HMV, and a concert tomorrow night," JC said.

"Yeah, thanks," Lance said.

***During the Signing***

"Oh, Lance, you are my favourite!!! And those Backstreet Boys are crap compared to you! Hear that? CRAP!" A girl yelled in Lance's face.

"Well, thanks," Lance looked down at the picture he just signed, "Katelyn. Have a nice day."

"Oh, I will have a nice LIFE now that I met you. You are the reason I wake up, eat, sleep and do what I do!" Katelyn shouted.

"That's great! But other people have to get autographs, and --" Lance began.

"Autographs, shmatographs," Katelyn said, spraying spit in his face. "I love you." She got on the table. "EVERYONE! I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!" Heads of people everywhere looked towards Katelyn. "Lance and I… we're getting married!"

"Okay, that's enough," one of the bodyguards picked up Katelyn. "Sorry, little girl." He said, and brought her to the door, while she shrieked, "I LOVE LANCE!"

Lance laughed, thinking about how psychotic some people get. Eryn wasn't like that when she first met us. That's how a fan should be, he thought.

***At JC's End of the Table***

"There you go, Diane," JC said, to an overweight women, who looked to be about forty-five. "Have a nice day," he smiled.

"Thanks," she said, and walked away.

JC called over the bodyguard, and told him to watch his place. JC walked behind the table, to get a glass of water. Suddenly, a very familiar face caught his eye. He closed his eyes and looked again. That was definitely her.

"JC!" the bodyguard called. "The fans are getting rowdy."

JC walked over to his table again. After about seven more fans, a little girl came up.

"Hello, can you sign this? My name is Meghan," she said, with a smile.

"Sure," he took the picture. "Is it M-E-G-H-A-N?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered, and he signed it. "Um, sir?"

"Call me JC," he said.

"Okay, JC," she smiled again, revealing her missing teeth. "My sister says she knows you, and she wanted me to tell you she said 'hi'."

"Meghan," he said. "Who is your sister?"

"Melissa," she answered.

"Melissa who?" JC asked.

"I am not supposed to give out my last name," Meghan said.

"Well, what if I said it, and you said yes or no?" JC asked her.

"Well, I guess that's okay," Meghan answered.

"Is your last name Johnson?" he asked.

"Yes!" she laughed. "How did you know?"

"I went to school with her," JC answered. That was the truth, but there was more to it. Melissa and JC had dated for six months, and the only reason they broke up, was because JC moved. "Tell her I said hello."

"Okay," Megan said. "And thanks!"

"Your welcome," JC said. "Tell Melissa to come here, okay?"

"Sure, bye," Meghan said, running off.

After about five more minutes, HMV closed the doors to the fans, and N Sync was led out the back to their bus. JC turned around, to see Melissa looking after them.

"Hold on," JC told the others. He ran back to Melissa.

"Hey, Josh," she said. "How've you been?"

"Well, successful," JC laughed. "I've missed you. Want to get together later? I have tonight off."

"Sure," Melissa said, and gave him her number. "See you later."

"For sure," JC said, smiling. "Bye."

He ran back to the others.

"Who was that?" Joey asked JC.

"This girl that I used to… hang out with in high school," JC said. "We went out briefly, but it was nothing. Anyway, we're getting together tonight."

"What?" Joey asked. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"

"Yeah, buddy, that's incredibly mean," Chris said, with a frown.

"You shouldn't do that," Justin said.

"I agree," Lance added quietly.

"Do what?" JC asked. "I really don't understand what you are talking about."

"Sasha, man," Justin said. "You can't go on a date with someone else."

"A date?" JC laughed. "This isn't a date. I haven't see her in about five years."

"Well…" Justin hesitated. "I wouldn't tell Sasha."

"Like you know how to keep a girl!" JC yelled.

Joey, Chris, and Lance froze.

Justin looked at JC. "What did you just say?"

"Look, I'm sorry, I never meant to say that," JC said. "I was just mad…"

"Whatever, man," Justin said. "That was the worst thing you could have said to me. JC… this is the first time I have ever been really pissed at you. Don't talk to me for awhile. I can't take you."

"Justin…" JC began, but Justin ran to the bus.

"I can't believe you just said that," Chris told JC. He followed Justin into the bus.

"That was a mistake," Joey said, frowning.

"I KNOW!" JC yelled.

"Look, I know you said it out of anger. It's hard to teach Justin, because we are so much older than him," Lance said. "Well, I'm not, but the others are. And, Justin… sometimes he's just an idiot. He thinks before he acts. Don't worry about it, okay?"

"Thanks Lance," JC said. They walked into the bus.

***

Justin sat on his bed, on the verge of tears. He couldn't believe JC said that, only after trying to help him out with the Melissa/Sasha dilemma. He needed to get Eryn back. He needed to talk to her. He picked up the phone, and dialed the not so familiar number.

"Hello?" said her voice.

"Eryn," Justin said. "It's Justin."

"Justin? What are you doing? Calling me?" Eryn said, surprised. "I really don't want to talk with you… now, or ever."

"But Eryn," Justin said. "Just let me explain."

"I know what happened. There is NO need to explain," Eryn said. "Good bye."

"But," Justin started. He heard the dial tone.

Justin sighed and laid back in his bunk, feeling more alone than he ever had in his life.

***

"Hey, baby," Sasha said to JC, leaning over and kissing him. "How was the signing?"

"Good," JC said. "Well, great actually. I have to tell you something."

"What is it?" Sasha asked, immediately concerned.

"Well, I ran into an old friend… from high school," JC said.

"Yeah…" Sasha said. Her smiled started to turn into a frown.

"And, well, her name is Melissa, and we are going to get together tonight, to talk about old times," JC said, unable to look in Sasha's eyes.

"Oh," Sasha said, frowning. JC looked and her and she forced a smile. "Well, have fun. But can I ask you something before you go?"

"Sure," he said, grateful that she didn't yell at him.

"Um, did you have any… past with her?" Sasha asked.

JC didn't know whether to lie or to tell the truth. "Yeah. We did."

"How long?" Sasha asked. "I'm not trying to be nosy… I'm just…"

"That's okay," JC said quickly. "Six months… we were steady for six months. Saw eachother about a year prior to that."

"Really…" Sasha said. "Oh."

"But Sasha," JC said, taking her hand. "I'm with you now. Why does it matter?"

Sasha ignored his question. "Why did you break up?"

"Why are you giving me the third degree?" JC shot back.

"Fine. Fine…" Sasha said. "Have fun." She walked towards her bunk.

"No!" JC ran after her. "We broke up because I was moving."

"So you liked her when you moved?" Sasha asked.

"Yeah, I did, at the TIME," JC said. "But that was five years ago. Sasha, I have zero interest in anything except for a friendship with Melissa. Okay?"

"Okay," Sasha smiled. "I'm sorry. I trust you." She leaned up and kissed him. "Just don't look too good, okay?"

"Okay," JC said. "I have to go get ready. I will tell you everything tomorrow, because I want you to go to bed early so you can stay with us later at our concert, okay?"

"Okay," she said. She kissed him again. "Bye."

"Bye," he said, heading towards the room where they change, and where all their clothes were.

***

"Hey Melissa," JC said, as she opened the door. He took in a breath. "You look outstanding." He said, and he really meant it. She was wearing a tight fitting short back dress, which complemented her long legs, slender body, and mahogany hair.

"Not so bad yourself," she answered.

End of Chapter Sixteen