After dinner, JC and Melissa walked down the streets of downtown.

"It's beautiful here at night," JC said.

"I know," Melissa said. "So… are you going to be here long? It was great seeing you again. Just great."

"Thanks," JC said. "It was great to see you too. Only for tomorrow night. It's the concert."

"Concert? Oh, yeah," Melissa smiled. "Meghan wanted to go, but we couldn't afford tickets."

"Really?" JC smiled. "I have an idea. Why don't I give you two front row tickets?"

"No… that's okay," Melissa said. "It's like I was asking for them."

"Here," JC pulled out his wallet. In it were two tickets. He didn't remember why they were in there. He handed them to her. "I presume I will see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah! Thanks, Josh… I mean, JC," she said. "This is great!"

They walked the rest of the way to the bus, talking about the concert.

***

Sasha sat in bed, unable to sleep. Every five minutes, she looked at her watch, and it was getting later and later. Where the hell is he? Out with that stupid… ugh! She thought. Sasha picked up her magazine, and opened it. Her eyes blurred with tears.

***

Justin tossed and turned. He couldn't get to sleep. All his thoughts were on Eryn.

+ FLASHBACK +

"Here, JC," Justin said. "Hold onto these for me okay?"

JC took the tickets. "Whose are they?" he asked.

"One's for Sasha, and one's for Eryn… maybe she will show," Justin said hopefully.

+ END OF FLASHBACK +

"I doubt that will ever happen," Justin murmured. And soon, he fell asleep.

***

Lance sat at the phone, quietly waiting for it to ring. He knew Eryn was going to call, he just didn't know when.

***

Melissa and JC walked towards the bus. JC glanced at his watch. It was nearly three. Sasha's gonna kill me! Oh, well. She won't know, I guess. JC thought to himself.

"Well, JC," Melissa laughed. "It's weird calling you JC…"

"Call me Joshua, then," JC said. "I'm still him."

"Okay, Joshua." Melissa smiled. "I really had fun."

"Me, too," JC said.

"And… I want us to get back together," Melissa said.

"Mel… I have a girlfriend," JC said. "I'm really sorry, but…"

"That's okay," Melissa said. "I understand."

"Good. Thanks," JC smiled. Melissa was always so understanding.

***

Sasha sat up with a start. She heard voices. Very slowly and quietly, she opened the heavy blue curtain on the bus and looked outside at the two familiar figures in the darkness.

***

"Where does your girlfriend live?" Melissa asked.

"With her friend, Eryn, but right now she's bussing with us," JC answered.

"Oh, really?" Melissa asked, raising an eyebrow. "That's interesting."

"What's so interesting?" JC asked.

***

Yeah, what's so interesting? Sasha wondered.

***

"What's interesting is, that we are all alone, it's three in the morning, and your little girlfriend is asleep," Melissa said.

"What's your point, Mel?" JC asked.

***

Little girlfriend? Sasha shook her head in disgust.

***

"My point is, we could do anything, right here, right now," Melissa said, smiling.

***

Oh, shit, JC… don't do anything… Sasha thought.

***

"Melissa, I have a girlfriend. I like her a lot, and…" JC was cut off.

"Yeah, well you told me you loved me," Melissa said, "and love never dies."

JC frowned. "Why are you doing this? We were together five years ago! It's over!"

***

Sasha couldn't believe it. Melissa was such a… a BITCH. And JC was sticking up for her, not Melissa.

***

"JC…" Melissa smiled. She pushed him back so his back was against the bus. She pinned back his arms with her hands.

"What the hell are you doing?" JC asked.

"What I should have done hours ago," Melissa said, leaning towards JC. "After this, you'll forget about whatever her name is." She started to kiss JC.

***

Sasha watched in horror as Melissa kissed him. It wasn't just any kiss. It's a damn kinky kiss, Sasha thought furiously. But what made her the most mad was JC… inches taller, and weighing more, and very able to… didn't even try to push her away.

***

JC gave in to the familiar taste of Melissa's kisses. Finally they pulled away. "Melissa…" JC began.

She placed her index finger on his lips. "Shhh…" she said. "We shall never speak of this again. Our love is gone, but if you ever are in the mood for anything else, just call me." She took out a piece of paper with her number and address on it, and put it in JC's back pocket of his jeans. "I've changed… in more ways than one." She winked, and walked away, not looking back.

JC stared after her, not believing what just happened. He felt guilty… but he LIKED the kiss. He didn't know what to do.

***

Sasha sat in her bed, stunned. Suddenly reality kicked in. I can't take this. Getting involved with him was a big mistake… Sasha thought, and grabbed her bag from under her bunk. She threw in the clothes she brought, and grabbed her other stuff. She ran down the aisle of the bus, stopping near the front, and hiding in a seat.

JC walked into the bus, still confused. He knew he was with Sasha, but Melissa was so familiar. He was torn.

Sasha watched quietly as JC walked by, struggling to hold her tears in. She watched him sit in his bunk, at the other end of the bus. Sighing, she woke the driver.

"Sir, I have to go, okay? But don't tell the others. Just tell them I found a way home," Sasha said, a few tears falling gently down her cheeks.

"Are you okay, miss?" The driver asked, concerned.

"Oh, yes," Sasha smiled. "Stupid allergies. Anyway, thanks for carting me around, but I am off. See you soon." She stepped out of the bus, into the dark night, finally letting out her tears.

End of Chapter Seventeen