Chapter Twenty Six

"JC! Why?" Sasha cried. "Twice, damn you, TWICE!"

"Sasha, I'm sorry," JC said. He looked at the picture again. It was painfully clear. He was staring at another girl, near them, but visible in the picture. And it clearly looked like he didn't want to be there, beside Sasha. "I have a headache, I didn't want a picture."

Sasha laughed, loudly. Too loudly. "Whatever, JC. You're full of shit."

"Sasha," JC said. "I really am sorry. I didn't realize... I mean, you never check out guys?"

"No! Unless they are like, TV stars that I will never get. Like Seth Green, or Ryan Phillipe... people like that." Sasha shook her head. "I was wrong. I thought that things were going to be great, we were finally back together. JC, I think you need a break from me. Be free for awhile. It's obvious that you have trouble having a girlfriend."

"No, Sasha, please," JC pleaded.

"JC..." Sasha hesitated. "I don't know, it hurts me when you screw around like this."

"I swear, Sasha, give me one more chance," JC said. "I love you. You're everything to me."

"Am I really?" Sasha asked. "Or is she? Or she?" Sasha randomly pointed to girls walking around them. "Come on, JC." She took his hands. "Do you really think that we should stay together? Do you think it will work?"

"Of course," JC said. "Please. Can we stay together?"

"I might regret this," Sasha said. "But I really want to stay together."

"That's great," JC said, and pulled her close for a kiss.

***

"Wow," Justin whispered.

Lance looked in disgust. Eryn did look good, but it was obvious Justin wanted her. Just his look gave it all away. And the baby blue didn't help.

"Get that," Justin said, finally regaining his voice. "It looks... great." He still stared in awe.

Eryn turned to Lance. "What do you think?"

"I like it, but it's not really what you were looking for, right? It's dressy. I think you should get the khaki one," he said.

Eryn looked at herself in the mirror. After twirling around, she spoke. "I think so, too, Lance. Thanks guys." She went back in the change room to take it off. Justin looked really disappointed.

"I think you should get the khaki one," Justin mimicked. "Come on, man. She looked great."

"Yeah, she was okay," Lance lied.

"What's your problem lately?" Justin asked.

"What are you talking about?" Lance asked.

"You know what? When did you and Eryn become such good friends?" Justin asked.

"We've always talked," Lance answered, trying to stay nonchalant.

"You've always talked?" Justin said. "No you haven't."

"You aren't me. And you aren't Eryn," Lance countered. "How do you know when we have talked, and when we haven't?"

"I was just saying..." Justin stopped when Eryn came out of the change room.

"I'm done, and I am getting the khaki one," Eryn said. She walked up to pay.

"Okay," Lance said.

Justin looked at him. "We are finishing this conversation later, okay?"

"Sure," Lance said.

***

Later that night, Eryn and Sasha sat in Eryn's room, catching up on the day. They whispered, assuming the guys were asleep.

***

JC laid in bed, unable to sleep. He knew his relationship with Sasha was rocky, and he had to think of something to impress her... to keep her interested.

***

Joey glanced over at Chris. He needed to talk to him, but he would have to wait until tomorrow.

***

Justin got out of bed, and went into the room where Lance was sleeping. Still awake, Lance walked with Justin on to the back porch.

"Okay, so what's going on between you and Eryn?" Justin asked, right away. "I mean, you hardly talked to her, when I was with her..."

"When you were with her?" Lance laughed. "That was so long ago. Let it go."

"I'm not going to. I still like her," Justin admitted.

"You do?" Lance asked. Suddenly he felt sick to his stomach.

"Yeah," Justin said. "But don't tell her."

"I won't," Lance promised.

"So how close are you with her?" Justin asked.

"We have talked on the phone for a few months," Lance answered.

"Really?" Justin asked. "Oh."

"I'm sorry if you are mad," Lance said, "but she needed to talk to someone, and she said I was her choice."

"Okay, well, whatever," Justin forced a smile. Then he yawned. "I'm tired."

"So am I," Lance said. "Good night."

"You, too," Justin said, and he walked inside.

End of Chapter Twenty Six