Leah James

JC Chasez

Lucky

Tyson Andrews

Bobbie Thomas

Jaime

Jillian "Jill" James

Aiden James

Kevin Anderson

Orlando, Florida

June 16, 1994

"Stop! JC stop it, it's not funny!" Seventeen year old Leah James yelled, as her best friend, JC Chasez chased her around his backyard, spraying her with a supersoaker. Thinking she had being invited over to watch a movie, she was completely caught off guard when JC greeted her outside with a water gun! "Joshua Scott Chasez, you are getting my clothes soaking wet!" Leah screamed. No matter how fast she ran, she wasn't fast enough to escape JC.

"Well then maybe you should just take your clothes off!" JC teased. The two best friends always teased each other like this, but never took each other seriously. JC had now managed to chase Leah from the backyard all the way to the front and onto the empty street.

"As if!" Leah replied. The two were now back in the Chasez's front lawn, and just as Leah was about to surrender, she felt her foot slip from underneath her, and her pink flip flop went flying into the air. JC immediately rushed over to his friend on the ground.

"Oh my God, Leah! Are you okay?!" He asked, rushing over to her. As he dropped the gun on the wet grass beside her, Leah rolled over and grabbed it. She jumped up from where she was and began to pump the water gun, and spray JC in retaliation.

"Oh man, that's not fair! That's foul play!" JC screamed, getting up from his place on the ground and beginning to run back to the backyard again.

"Yeah, well you caught me off gaurd, so I say were even Chasez!" Leah laughed, chasing him. She pumped the water gun furiously getting him soaking wet, when all of a sudden no water came out. Noticing the sudden drought, JC turned around. When he saw the gun was out of water, he gave her a sly grin. A look of shock flashed through Leah's eyes at the sudden realization of the empty water gun. "Oh, now come on! This is just not fair, today is most definitely not my day!"

Out of breath, the two teenagers both looked each other up and down. JC burst ou laughing. "What?" Leah asked, with a tone of annyonce in her voice.

"Look at us, were both soaking wet!" JC chuckled.

"Yeah, well whose fault is that?!" Leah fought the urge to laugh. As much as she wanted to be mad at JC for water gunning her, she couldn't be mad. She could never stay mat JC for long, no matter what he did. She didn't know why, but he was the only person who had that effect on her. Not being able to fight it any longer, she burst out laughing too!

"Come on, let's get out of these wet clothes!" JC replied.

An hour later, both Leah and JC were dried off. JC in in dark rinse jeans, and an orange Disney World t-shirt. Leah, in one of JC's oversized white t-shirts, while her clothes were drying. They were settled down in the basement, and had ordered a pizza. They were watching one of their favorite movies "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2". Leah and JC sat in silence on the couch, as they watched the movie. It wasn't an awkward silence, though. They could spend hours together, and not say anything. Sometimes words weren't needed. Sometimes they only needed to be in the company of each other, and that was enough. As the infamous Freddy Krueger made his first appearance on the screen, Leah let out small whimper and cuddled next to JC. Although, they had both seen this movie plenty of time, Leah still got scared at all of the same scenes in the movie. So JC knew exactly when his friend needed to bury her face in his neck. JC wrapped his arms around her and laughed a little. Although this had become almost a tradition, he couldn't help but feel different this time, when he felt her face rub up and down against his neck. The sensation sent chills down his spine.

"Is it over yet?" Leah asked, looking up into JC's piercing blue eyes. For some odd reason, looking in JC's eyes gave Leah butterflies in her stomach. She continued to stare at him. Was there something different about her friend, that she didn't seem to notice at first? No, he was still the same. So she couldn't figure out why looking into his eyes made her stomach flutter.

"Yes, Freddy's gone!" JC answered, laughing a little, gazing down into her deep green eyes. For the first time, her eyes seemed to be breath taking to JC. Both feeling a little weirded out they abruptly atopped staring, and focused their attention back on the movie. "You know, I don't get it," JC began. "We've seen this movie like a thosuand times, yet you act like you don't know what happens! I don't even know how you manage to watch this movie so many times, and still keep your face buried in my neck!" JC teased.

"Whatever!" Leah smiled, rolling her eyes. The room was filled with silence again. While Leah focused back on the movie, JC focused on Leah, intently. For some reason, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Not just now, but the past few weeks have been like this, he would just sit there and stare at her. Not in a creepy way, but in a more admiring way. He was admiring Leah's beauty. Her brown caramel skin tone, her electrifying green eyes, her slender nose, full lips, and her long dark brown hair that reached the middle of her back. She was beautiful, he always thought she was beautiful, but always as a friend. Now he was beginning to develop feelings for her. He wondered if she felt the same way? He often thought of acting on his feelings and kissing her. Would she reciprocate? Or would she back away, and be weirded out. He wanted to tell her what he felt, but was afraid, that she wouldn't feel the same and that he would lose his closest friend.The friend he could tell anything. He confided in her when he felt his guy friends wouldn't understand, and she listened. She genuinely cared about him. Leah always made JC feel special. 

JC and Leah had had been best friends for three years now. They first met when they were cast on the Disney Channel show, "The All-New Mickey Mouse Club". The two had immediately clicked. They had a lot in common, and shared a lot of the same dreams, so they formed a close bond. JC felt like Leah was his platonic other half. Almost like a girl version of himself. JC and Leah spent so much time together on and off set. Wherever there was JC, there was Leah, and vice versa. Leah had always been there for him, and for her undying loyalty, JC began to be fiercely overprotective of his friend. Justin, one JC's MMC friends gave him the nick name "Pitbull" because he'd rip any guy's head off if they ever thought of hurting his friend. They had become so close she was like a part of his famiy, and he apart of his. So it was no surprise that after the Mickey Mouse Club had went off the air a month earlier, the two remained close. Still staring at Leah, he thought of how much closer, they'd become over the last six months, and he wasn't willing to lose that. So he decided to shake his feelings off, down grading them to nothing more than "lust feelings". No, he would not ruin 3 years of friendship, in one moment of weakness.

Leah could feel JC's eyes on her, and she began to feel self conscious. Was a hair out of place? Did she have something on her face? She silently wondered to herself. Wait, since when did she feel self conscious around her best friend? She knew, since she began to have these stupid childish feelings about him. It was stupid she knew, because JC would never in a million years be interested in her. She wasn't even his type! She looked up at him. "Josh, is there something wrong? Do I have something on my face?" Leah asked.

"No, nothing's wrong." JC replied, turning his gaze back to the television screen. Nothing's wrong with you at all, Leah. JC wanted to say. You're perfect just the way you are.
 

 June 30, 1994

It had been a long two weeks. Leah had flown up to New York City to work with a producer on a couple of songs to put on her demo. She had written, and co-written about 12 songs, and she was singing about eight hours a day. She had recorded about 12 songs in two weeks, and only 6 of those 12 would go on her demo. She wanted to make sure she had a variety of different material to put on her demo, so that the record labels she would shop them to, could see how diverse of an artist she was, and hear her broad vocal range. She wanted all of the record executives to know that she was a true artist. Needless to say, that after all of this she was exhausted. Now, all she wanted to do was go home, and lay in her bed, before going to see JC. Even though it was only two weeks, it felt like an eternity since she's last seen him.

Meanwhile JC had stayed in Orlando with Justin over the course of the past two weeks. He met a guy named Chris, who was a friend of Justin's. He was looking to form a group. Both Justin and JC knew a guy named Joey who had they had been friends with for a while. He had gone to school in Orlando, where he sang, dance, and acted. He was good friends with a lot of "Mouseketeers". He was really talented. So now the group was a quartet, and they were looking for a fifth member to complete them. While Leah was gone, he couldn't keep his mind off of her. It's not like they had never been apart before. They had been apart for weeks and weeks at a time before! It wasn't like he didn't miss her before, he just missed her even more now. He longed to see her face, or just hearing her voice would be enough. They had been playing an endless game of phone tag.

When Leah stumbled through her front door, she greeted her parents, and checked the answering machine. As tired as she was, she just had to check the answering machine to see if JC had called. She was happy to see that he called, and said that he wanted to see her the following day. She smiled at the sound of his voice. She couldn't wait to see his face again. Now, she could finally get some sleep. She crawled up the steps that lead to the upstairs hallway, when she reached her room she dropped her bags on the floor, stepped out of her shoes and didn't even bother to change into her pajamas. She crawled underneath her Hello Kitty bead spread, and fell asleep.

The next morning, Saturday, Leah had plans to sleep in all day. However, those plans fell through when she heard the telephone in the hallway ring.

Ring.

The telephone shrieked in it's excrucitaing high pitch.

Ring.

Ring. And it rang, and it rang, and it rang. At first Leah tried to ignore it, hoping her mom, her dad, brother, sister or grandmother would pick it up. She covered her head with her pink fluffy pillow hoping to drown out the phone. But whoever the caller was, had no mercy on her this morning and would not give up. Finally it stopped. Whoever it was left a message. She couldn't hear who it was though from her bedroom. All she could hear was the sound of a muffled voice coming from the machine. Great, now she was up and couldn't get back to sleep. Now she would be in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Just as she began to relax again, and almost drift off to sleep, she heard that damned phone again!

"Does anyone not hear the freaking phone besides me? Is everyone deaf but me? Or is this some weird version of 'The Tell Tale Heart'?!" She said to herself frustrated. Sighing, Leah rolled out of bed, and stepped into the hallway. she walked down the hallyway to the white table that the phone sat on.

Ring.

Ring.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Leah grumbled. When she got to the phone, she realized that she was home alone. She answered the phone, anxious to hear who this needy person on the other end was. "Hello?" Leah answered in a frustrated tone.

"Well good morning to you too Miss Grumpy!" JC's cheerful voice poured into her ear. Instantly Leah's mood softened, and she was wide awake. And suddenly she felt guilty for sounding so rude to JC, when he sounded so happy to hear her.

"Hey, Josh. Sorry I'm so cranky, I'm just exhausted!" Leah explained.

"Tough two weeks huh?" JC asked, in a very understanding tone. He was always so kind and caring.

"Yeah. How about you? Did you find a fifth member?" Leah asked, genuinely interested in how his two weeks had been.

"Actually no, well not in Orlando anyway. But Justin got in touch with an old buddy of his named Lance, he's in Orlando for a while. He's so talented, and we're trying to recruit him, but his mom is so strict." JC explained.

"Well if anyone can convince someone it's you Josh." Leah replied. 

"You think?" JC asked.

"Yeah, you can persuade anyone to do anything. You're funny, you have a great personality, you're caring, and kind, and compassionate, and cute and charming..." Leah rambled on.

"You think I'm cute?" JC asked, surprised at what his friend had said. Dammit! Did I just say that? I must be delirious. God, why did I say that? Leah silently thought to herself.

"Um, yeah, well you know, you're cute, you know people just love you!" Leah said, trying to backtrack, and cover up her confession.

"Thanks." JC replied. Leah just knew he was giving her a smug grin, on the other side of the phone, and she just wanted to die of embarrassment right then and there.  

"So," JC continued. "I was wondering when you were free? I miss you, and we need to catch up." JC said.

"Yeah, I missed you too. I'm free for the next three days, in fact!" Leah replied, hoping not to sound too eager.

"Perfect! Get dressed, because I'll be there to pick you up in twenty minutes!" JC said excitedly.

"But Josh I -"

"Twenty minutes!" He cut her off, and hung up the phone. Leah sat on the other end of the phone, so many emotions running through her at once. She was happy that she would get to see her best friend. Embarrassed that she had admitted to him that she thought he was cute. And partially pissed off because he knew it would take her longer than twenty minutes to get ready. He just loved to mess with her!

JC waited a few minutes before he left his house, figuring he'd give Leah a five minute head start. Knowing his best friend, he knew there was no way in hell she'd be ready in twenty minutes. But oh how fun it was to mess with her!

And JC had been right. Her shower alone had taken twenty five minutes! After fifteen more minutes of waiting on the living room couch, he could no longer take it anymore. He walked up the stair case, and barged into her room. "Come on Leah, the day will be over, before you can even get ready!" JC said restlessly, as he opened up her bed room door. He walked in to see her in a white knee length sundress, medium silver hoop earring, and simple ballet flats. The simpicity of her outfit highlighted her natural beauty. Her dark brown hair cascading her face in loose ringlets. JC saw her reflection in the mirror as she was about to apply her makeup. He stood there, frozen in his place, in awe of her beauty. "Um, I'm almost ready, I'm just about to put my makeup on, then I'll be ready." Leah explained, a little caught off gaurd by him barging in her room, and for some reason, a little nervous in his presence. He walked towards her, closer and closer, until he was right behind her. "You don't need makeup, you're beautiful just the way you are." JC said gently, and sincerely. He stared at her beautiful face in the mirror, admiring her features.

"Thanks Josh." Was all Leah could say, at a loss for words. He thought that she was beautiful? "I really do mean it Leah, and I promise you I'm not just saying it because I want you to hurry up!" JC said spinning her around to face him. Their eyes locked in the most electrifying intense moment that either of them had ever felt before. The house was eerily silent. Were they having a moment? Was something about to happen? All of a sudden JC was leaning closer to Leah, and Leah was leaning closer to JC. JC's plams began to sweat. Leah's stomach began to flutter. Then all of a sudden... Ring, Ring! That damned phone! Both JC and Leah nearly jumped out of their skin. Coming to their senses, Leah took a step back against her dresser. "I'll get that," Leah said walking around JC, out of her room and into the hallway.

While Leah went to go answer the phone, it gave JC a moment to regroup. What was he thinking? Kissing Leah? If he did that it would forever change their relationship. For the better, or for the worse, he wasn't willing to take that chance. But damn, what he would give to feel her lips against his if only just for one moment. As annoying as that phone sounded, JC was glad it interrupted him from making the biggest possible mistake he could ever make. 

It was Jill on the phone, Leah's older sister. She had called to say that she would be home around eight, and to leave mom and dad a note. She informed Jill that she would be gone with JC all day. After she hung up the phone, she pause for a minute to regain her composer. Was she hallucinating, or was JC just about to kiss her? Was she about to kiss him? If only the phone hadn't rung. Fate is a funny thing huh? Maybe it was for the best.  "So I guess I'm ready!" Leah called out to JC, trying to steady her shaky voice. This was going to be an interesting day.

Leah and JC had spent the whole day together, leaving their "moment" behind them. JC just wanted to kick it with his friend, and Leah had wanted the same. Just to be with him, as friends. JC knew that they were both becoming adults. Leah had just turned seventeen in May, and JC would be eighteen in August. There was no more "Mickey Mouse Club", and most of their friends were starting to drift in the their own directions. It seemed that only JC, Justin, Leah, and a few others had made Orlando home. Most of their other friends either moved back to their home towns, went to college, or either made the move to New York or L.A. to further their careers. Although Orlando was home, he and Leah both wanted to acheieve great things, and see the world. They made a pact three years ago, that wherever life took them they would always stay friends. But they both knew that they wouldn't be together for much longer. Especially if they both got record deals. So JC wanted to spend every moment with her that was possible. At noon JC had taken Leah to breakfast, at one of their favorite spots. It was a local place called "Gigi's", it was right off the beach, and the diner had a retro '50's feel. While eating breakfast they caught up, and talked about things that had been happening in their lives. And they totally pigged out on pancakes! After breakfast at "Gigi's", they spent the day Disney World, riding on all of the rides. Leah, and JC would not leave until they had ridden every single roller coaster in the amusement park! Leah was having the time of her life. Although she had been to Disney World many times before, it never felt this good. The fact that she was with JC just made her have even more fun! JC loved to see Leah's thousand watt smile, and he would do anything to put a smile on her face! When JC and Leah walked pass a ring tossing booth, Leah saw a big pink fluffy elephant that caught her eye.

"Wait JC, I want to win that!" Leah exclaimed stopping dead in her tracks,

"Go for it!" JC replied. After waiting her turn, the lady at the booth gave Leah a handful of large rings in exchange for fifty cents. Leah stepped back a little, and threw the first ring towards a glass soda bottle, and missed it. She threw the second ring and missed. The fact tha she had no hand-eye coordination didn't help much at all! With each ring Leah threw, she missed all the bottles, and didn't win her prize.

"Wow! That sucks!" Leah said, walking back over to JC, who one of his arms around her.

"Well at least you tried." JC replied trying to cheer her up, he could tell she was a bit bummed.

"Hey, I'm gonna go to the bathroom, okay?" Leah said.  "Okay, I'll wait here." JC said. When he saw Leah disappear into the bathroom, he fished two quarters out of the pocket of his khaki shorts, and walked back up to the ring toss booth. He was handed a handful of large rings. In under three minutes he managed to toss each ring onto a soda bottle perfectly. He won a prize, and he picked the big pink floppy eared fluffy elephant. Just as he was handed the stuffed animal, he saw Leah come out of the bathroom looking for JC.

He walked up to her and presentd her with the stuffed elephant. Her eyes grew large. "JC! You didn't?!" Leah, said in surprise.

"I could tell that you really wanted it, and I wanted you to have it!" JC replied with a smile on his face.

"Thank you Josh. It really means a lot to me, I mean I know it sounds silly, but it just reminds me of childhood." Leah explained. She was very appreciative. No guy except for her father had ever done this for her before, not even a boyfriend. 

"Well, when you get that big record deal, and travel all across the globe, you'll have something to remember me by." JC said, almost a little sad. Leah smiled, JC was one of very few people in her life who truly believed in her, and she believed in JC exactly the same way.

"Well, you probably won't even remember little ole' me, when you guys blow up and all of the pre-teen girls will be ripping your clothes off!" Leah said, lightening the mood a bit. JC blushed a little. Damn, how did she always manage to make him feel that way? All crazy inside. Noticing JC blush, Leah reiterated her last statetment. "I'm serious, you guys are gonna rock this world, it'll be like Beatlemania, only bigger!" Leah said smiling up at him.

"C'mon let's get outta here, I'm starving again!" JC said. JC took Leah to dinner at a resturant on a boat called "The Silver Clover" that overlooked the ocean. This was the perfect setting, JC thought, if only this were a date it would be perfect. No, what was he thinking? He couldn't think of this as a date, this is just a friends day out. Just a friend's day out, he kept telling himself. Dinner went smoothly, and after dinner JC took Leah for a long walk on the beach. It was night by then. The weather was warm. They both took off their shoes to feel their bare feet sink into the sand.

"This is nice." Leah said.

"Yeah, it is." JC replied. There was that silnce again. The kind where they didn't need words, or they didn't need to try to strike up a fake conversation, they just loved to be in each other's company. This moment right here, with Leah felt so special, it meant everything to him. He wondered if she felt the same way.

JC glanced over at Leah as they continued to walk down the beach, the ocean water washing up against their ankles, shoes in hand. He studied her for a moment, and could tell that she was in deep thought.

"Hey Leah, where's your head at right now?" JC asked, dying to know her thoughts.

"I'm just taking in the moment." She replied honestly. "This may sound weird, but tonight just feels so special, I don't want it to end." Leah stopped walking, and turned to face JC. A look that he couldn't quite decipher appeared on her face.

"I don't want this night to end either." JC replied. Leah gave him a sweet smile, and more silence followed.

After another moment of silence, JC began to speak again. "Promise me again." JC pleaded, as he placed an arm around her, and they started walking again.

"Joshua Scott Chasez I promise, no matter where life takes us, you will always be my best friend!" Leah recited the credo that they came up with three years ago. She then stopped again and looked up at him. As if magically reading his thoughs, she added, "fame, boyfriends, girlfriends, money. Nothing will ever tear us apart. I never thought that I would ever meet someone like you JC, and I don't wanna lose your friendship. I want you in my life for the rest of my life." If only we could ever be more than just friends, Leah wanted to add. She reached up on her tippy toes and gave him one big heart felt emotional hug. JC held her close to him tightly never wanting to let go. To be honest JC was kind of scared of the future, and what it may bring. He was afraid of losing her. But when Leah held him in her arms like she did right now, he felt safe. He felt like everything was going to be okay. Leah gave him hope

When JC arrived at Leah's house, he got out of the car, and rushd over to the passenger side of his black Grande Cherokee to open the door for her, then he walked her to her doorstep.

"Well, my, my, my," Leah teased in a southern accent. "I guess chivalry isn't dead after all!"

"I guess not!" JC responded.

"But on a serious note Josh, I want to let you know that I've had the time of my life today. And no matter what, I will remember this day for the rest of my life." Leah said genuinely.

JC didn't know what to do, so he did what he felt in his heart. He couldn't hold out any longer, He leaned down towards Leah, and planted a soft gentle kiss on her lips. At first Leah was shocked, but soon began to kiss him back. She parted her lips slightly for him to enter. As his tongue entered her mouth, so many emotions were running through her body. Shock, pleasure, fear. Standing there while JC kissed her, he reached up, and softly stroked her cheek. Leah could literally feel every nerve in her body. When JC finally broke the kiss he realized what he had just done. He'd done what he wanted to do for the past few months, but now he wasn't sure he did the right thing. He looked back at her regretfully.

"Leah um- I'm sorry!" JC stammered. 

"Sorry?" Leah repeated. He was sorry that he kissed her? Now Leah felt as lame as ever. Not only lame, but truly hurt and disappointed. JC could see the hurt and confused look on her face, and knew that he'd screwed up. He didn't know what to say he just stood there like an idiot. He could see that she was visibly crushed.

"I've gotta go." Leah said abruptly.

"Leah wait!" JC called, but he was answered with a red door slamming in his face. JC had royally screwed up the most perfect day of his, and his best friend's life in one moment of weakness.

Leah ran past her parents in the living room, dashed up the stairs, and into her room. She didn't bothered making it to her bed, she slammed her door shut, and slid to the floor crying. The guy she thought she'd fallen in love with, would never feel the same way that she felt. Leah sat on the floor in her bedroom and cried herself to sleep, as her heart slowly shattered, breaking into a million pieces along with each tear that she cried.

July 04, 1994

It had been four days. Four days since he had seen Leah. Four days since he had seen her face, or heard her voice. Four days since he had kissed her. The kiss. The kiss that shattered it all. How could he have been so stupid? JC wondered to himself. For the past four days, he had been mentally kicking himself in the ass. It had been obvious that Leah hadn't felt the same way about him, that he does for her. Otherwise, she would've called by now, or stopped by to see him. This is the longest amount of time that they had gone without seeing or talking to each other, being so close by. They only lived twenty minutes away from each other! He had made her cry. He couldn't blame Leah for crying. He caught her completely off guard. She was probably hurt that her one best friend had saw her in a different way. 

He knew he shouldn't have kissed her. But he couldn't resist. For the last couple of months, he couldn't help the feelings he had been developing for his best friend. But in all honesty, JC would rather hide his true feelings for Leah, and have her in his life as a best friend, then to tell her how he truly felt, and risk losing her forever. But now, he possibly could have lost her forever, all by one moment of weakness. Sure, JC had other friends. Some best guy friends, but not one like Leah. Leah was the one person in this world, whom he completely trusted, and told everything to. Only now he couldn't share his most intimate feelings with  her, because well, she was her. How could he possibly tell her he was beginning to fall in love with her. How would she react? There was always the very, very small possibilty that she could have feelings for him too. But then there was the more logical outcome. That she saw him as nothing more than a friend, like a brother. Then things between them would be awkward, and they'd grow distant. He just couldn't risk it, he decided. Her friendship was all too much to lose. 

JC leaned his head back on his bed, and stared up at the ceiling. He replayed the day that they had together, how just four days ago, everything between them had been perfect. JC wondered what he and Leah would be doing right now, if only he could have taken that last part of the night back. She would have most likely spent the last four nights at his house while they stayed up all night, and watched some of their favorite movies together, while pigging out on junk food like they always did. Leah practically lived at his house. Or they'd probably sneak out of the house, and drive to the beach, and lay out in the sand. Looking up at the stars, while they made plans for the future. JC turned his head, and looked at his computer desk. He still had Leah's pink stuffed elephant that he had won for her at Disney World, four days earlier. She had forgotten it in his car. He smiled a bit thinking of the smile on her face when he presented it to her. JC then sat up and smiled to himself, as he suddenly remembered. Today was the Fourth of July! JC had been so wrapped up in his self pity that he had almost forgotten the holiday. Every Fourth of July, his family hosted a big barbeque in their backyard and invited all of their friends. They'd eat great food, play games, dance, karaoke, and light fireworks at the end of the night. Leah came every year, and as tradition she would stay, and spend the night. Knowing his best friend, better than she knew herself, he knew she would be there! No matter what happened between them, she would be there. He just knew it. When she came, he would bring her up to his room, he would apologize, give her the stuffed elephant, and all would be forgiven! He couldn't wait!

Leah sat in her room, curled up on her bed contemplating whether or not she should go to the Chasez's Fourth of July Barbeque. Was it too soon? She wondered. Just four days ago JC had kissed her. Then he had apologized. He had regretted kissing her? How was she supposed to take that? For the past couple of months, she tried to ignore the increasing feelings that she had developed for her best friend, and when she finally thought that she was doing a good job at hiding her feelings, then this happens. At first she wanted to melt in his arms when she kissed him. She thought that this was the moment that would change everything. He would say that he had feelings for her, then she would confess the very same thing. Wrong. After he had abruptly ended their kiss, he had said "sorry." Seriously?! Sorry? She had been so stupid to think that the beautiful, smart, sexy, talented JC Chasez would ever have feelings for her. Leah realized that she would never be nothing more than just a friend to Josh. How humiliating! How could she possibly face him now? She had no choice. She definitely didn't want to spend a beautiful day like this at home by herself. He parents, and her grandmother, -"Nana", her family had affectionately called her- had flown to St. Bart's for the holiday.

Dear Leah,

We're off to Saint Bart's for the holiday. Didn't think you'd want to come, it's a "grown-up" vacation. W'ell be back on Sunday!

Love,

Mom, Dad, and Nana

P.S. We stocked the fridge with food, and left a credit card and some money in the cookie jar!

Was what the note had read. Okay seriously, who the fuck left the country for Independence Day? Only her parents. With her older sister Jill, being away at college in California at Stanford, and her oldest brother Ty at college in Cambridge, Massachusettes at Harvard, Leah was home by herself. It wouldn't be the first time, Leah thought to herself. She hardly ever got to see her parents. If they weren't working in their offices at all crazy hours of the night, then they were vacationing somewhere. The only one in her family that Leah felt she could confide in was Nana. Sixty year old Nana was actually the closest thing to a real mother Leah had. Nana was always there to dry her tears, and comfort her. She was wise, and strong.  Most times Leah felt like she was the black sheep in her family. She wasn't a genius, she wans't super great at math or science, and she was definitely not gonna be a doctor, lawyer, or scientist. The only thing she was good at was singing, and dancing. She felt that she was pretty much useless at anything else. "Don't think that way", JC would tell her, instantly cheering her up. "You're good at lots of things, only you don't realize it!" He would tell her.  

"Like what?" She would ask.

"Well for one, you're an amazing writer. I've never seen anyone come up with a song at the drop of a hat, like you do. You put feelings into the most profound words, that no one would ever be able to verbalize." JC would reply. 

A smile instantly spread across her face, at the thought of her firend. She did miss him. Leah had finally gathered all of her nerves up, and decided that she would go to the barbeque today. She got up from her place in bed, and walked into the hallway. She dialed Lucky's number. Lucky St. James was her second best friend after JC, her girl best friend. Leah had been friends with Lucky almost as long as she had been friends with JC, and since she couldn't talked to JC about how she felt about him, she would talk to Lucky. After three rings Lucky had picked up. 

"Talk to me." Lucky answered.

"Lucky, it's me." Leah replied.

"Oh." Was all Lucky said in response. Although, Lucky didn't sound happy to hear from her, Leah took no offense. This was just how Lucky was. She was a loner, and acted all "to cool for school". Like nothing had effected her nonchalant facade. She was very low-key. Despite her breath taking beauty, Lucky really could care less about how she looked. She had an olive complexion that seemed to have a natural glow, round hazel eyes, plump lips, long straight jet black hair, and stood about five nine. However she hardly ever wore makeup and always dressed in neutral colors; grey, black, or white. And she always wore the same black Chuck Taylors, that she had doodled and written quotes on.

"So what are you doing?" Leah asked.

"Reading Lolita for the fourth time." Lucky replied in a montone voice. Leah could hear the muffled sounds of Nirvana playing in the background. That was so Lucky. Leah and Lucky were the complete opposite of each other. That's why they were such great friends. They balanced each other out. While Leah loved to listen to R&B music, Lucky loved her Grunge music. Leah sometimes cared too much about how she lookd to the point of being self conscious, Lucky was so sure of herself, and didn't care what anyone else thought of her. Leah was more of a peace keeper, and Lucky was more confrontational. While Leah was a hopeless romantic, and still a virgin, Lucky was a "hit it and quit it"- as she put it- kind of girl, who did not believe in love at first sight, or fairytales. They were the total opposite, but couldn't get along better.

"So on the Fourth of July, you decide to stay holed up in your room, reading about the sexual encounters of a perverted old man, and listen to Grunge music all day?" Leah asked.

"Exactly." Lucky responded. Leah could practically feel her grinning smugly on the other end of the phone.

"I was wondering if you would come to Josh's with me today?" Lea asked, crossing her fingers.

"Why? So that I can be around a bunch of sweaty boys, throwing footballs, and celebrating a country that was found on slavery?" Lucky argued. Leah rolled her eyes. Sometimes her friend could be so damn difficult!

"No. So that you could provide moral support to your one and only friend." Leah said. It was true. Leah was Lucky's only friend. Lucky didn't socialize much. It was most definitely not because she was the shy type. More because she was the bitch type. She loved Lucky, but that was true too. She could be a bitch at times, which is what most people said about her. She was not a "people person". She was a loner.

"What do you mean moral support?" Lucky asked, sounding slightly amused.

"I kissed Josh!" Leah confessed for the first time aloud to anyone.

"Shut the front door!" Lucky exclaimed on the other end of the phone, her voice coming alive, sounding genuinely shocked and interested. "Now this is news!"

"Well, he kissed me actually."

"When?"

"Four days ago." Leah answered, barely above a whisper.

"And you're just now telling me?" Lucky asked in disbelief.

"Well, I'm barely coming to terms with it myself!"

"How did it happen?" Lucky asked all too eagerly. Leah went into account of how she had spent her Saturday with JC, and how it had ended. She also told Lucky about the feelings she had for JC.

"Lucks, what am I supposed to do? He's my best friend! How can I face him?" Leah pleaded.

"Are you seriously asking me this right now?" Lucky asked.

"Um, yeah!" Leah said in a 'duh' voice, a little confused.

"If you and Josh are really as tight as you say, then you'll go to the barbeque tonight, and talk to him. So what if it's embarassing? If he's really your best friend then you can get past a little embarassment." Lucky explained. Leah smiled, feeling a little more confident in the situation. Lucky was always good at this. While Leah always thought with her heart, Lucky always thought with her head. Lucky was logical. The voice of reason. "And yes, I'll be there to give you 'moral support'!" Lucky added, mocking Leah's words. 

It was already six o'clock, and Leah hadn't showed up yet. The party was in full swing, and if Leah were coming she would've been here by now. JC checked his watch for the tenth time.

"Not here yet?" Justin asked JC, taking a seat next to him on the porch steps.

"No." Was all JC could mutter. Maybe he truly had screwed up this time. Maybe there was no way he could fix there friendship. 

"Maybe you should just give it time." Justin said, seemingly reading JC's thoughts. Justin was the only person that JC had confided in about the kiss. 

"Yeah maybe, or maybe I really ruined it for us." JC replied.

"Listen Josh, if you two are as close as you say you are, then you'll be able to get past this. Just give it a little time to blow over. You know, there's a chance that she could feel everything that you're feeling right now." Justin assured his friend.

"Or maybe I scared her away." JC said.

"Or maybe she just pulled up, and is walking this way!" Justin said as he noticed that Leah and some girl had pulled up.

"What?" JC asked cluelessly. He then looked up to see Leah, and her friend walking right up to them.

"Um, hey Josh." Leah greeted him shyly.

"Hi, Leah." JC replied in disbelief. He couldn't believe that she had actually showed up.

"You know what? I'm gonna see if I can go find Britney." Justin excused himself, getting up from his place on the steps and walking away.

"Josh. This is my friend, Lucky. Lucky, JC." Leah introduced one friend to the other. They exchanged quick hellos, and handshakes.

"Um, Leah do you mind if we can go up to my room to talk?" JC asked. 

"Sure. Lucky, do you mind?" Leah asked, turning to Lucky.

"Me, no. I'm just gonna go grab some food. You wouldn't happen to have anything vegan would you?" Lucky asked JC.

"At a barbeque?" JC asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Right." Lucky replied, a little frustrated, she rolled her eyes, and stomped off towards the backyard. Leah giggled a little, then burst out lauging when she noticed the weirded out look on JC's face.

"Don't take it personal. That's just how she is!" Leah laughed, the tension between them seemed to melt away.

"No offense, but your friend's a little strange." JC said.

"Yeah, but that's why I love her!"

"C'mon." JC said. He opened the front door, and lead her up the stairs and into his room. Once in his room, JC shut the door so that he and Leah could have some privacy, and work out their problems. JC walked over to his dresser and handed Leah the pink stuffed elephant from Disney World.

"You forgot this the other night." JC said, handing her the stuffed animal.

"Thanks, Josh." Leah replied, taking the stuffed elephant, and plopping down on his bed. A smile spreading across her face. JC was glad to see that she didn't have any bad feelings about it.

"So, about the other night." JC started. 

"Yeah about it." Leah replied, now standing up. A dead silence followed. Although the both of them had planned what they would say to each other when this moment came, neither of them could bring themselves to say a word. It was all so awkward. Taking a deep breath, Leah was going to say what Lucky had told her to say on the drive here. To just say what she felt. That's what she was gonna do, she decided. She would finally tell JC what she had been feeling for the past few months.

"Listen I-" the two said in unison.

"You first." Leah said.

"Okay, well first, I wanna say I'm sorry." JC apologized. Leah's heart sank. Not again, she thought.

"Josh, sorry for what exactly?"

"For doing what I did. For kissing you." JC elaborated.

"Oh." Was all that Leah could say, she felt disappointed, but refused to let it show.

"It's obvious that I caught you off guard, and I didn't mean to hurt you." JC went on.  You're hurting me now! Leah wanted to scream. 

"I understand that you don't have any feelings for me, and it wasn't fair for me to put you in that position." JC continued.  But I do have feelings for Josh, I love you! Leah silently screamed to herself.

"To be honest, I don't even know why I did what I did. I guess I just got caught up in the moment." But JC wasn't being honest with himself. He knew exactly why he had kissed her, because he wanted to! Because he was falling deeply and madly in love with her. He just couldn't bring himself to tell her in fear that she didn't feel the same way. He didn't want to tell her that he saw her as more than a friend, partly because he knew it could change their relationship for the worse, and partly because, well, he was afraid. He didn't think he would be able to hear her say that she didn't feel the same. It would crush him.

"It's fine Josh. We're fine." Leah said, trying her best to even her voice out. She felt like she was gonna burst out in tears right in front of him. It took everything in her to get those words out and come off as fine.

"Really? We're okay?" Josh asked.

"Yes, we're okay. Just don't let it happpen again!" Leah tried to play it cool. Because if you do kiss me again, I don't know what'll happen! She wanted to add.

"Great!" JC said, walking over to her and hugging her. "Because I really can't lose you as a friend." JC held her closely, happy to be back in her good graces. It was better to have her in his life as a friend, than to confess his feelings to her, and lose her for good, he kept reminding himself.

September 05, 1994

It was Labor Day and Leah and JC were with their friends in Kennison Park for the annual Labor Day party, The Right Way to End Summer, as it had been advertised. This was also the end of an era for JC, Leah and a lot of the former Mouseketeers. Now that the show was over, and summer had come to an end everyone was going in their different directions. JC was staying in Orlando, but moving out of his parents house, and into one with Justin, Chris, Joey, and Lance where they would record their demo, and shop their demo for a deal. Leah was packing up and moving with her parents to New York City, where she had gotten accepted into LaGuradia High School for the Arts, where she would complete her senior year of high school, and work on a solo career. Britney was also moving to New York, and Christina to LA to work on their solo careers.

Over the course of the last month JC and Leah had put the infamous kiss behind them, and were closer than ever. They wanted to spend every moment of their last four weeks together. It would be hard for them to be apart, but had promised to stay in touch.

"Hey Leah, dance this last dance with me." JC said. Leah got up from her place on the picnic bench and JC lead her to the designated dance area. The DJ played, "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men. JC wrapped his arms around her, locking his fingers at the small of her back. Leah wrapped her arms around JC, her fingers lacing at the back of his neck. She rested her head on his shoulder, while they swayed back in forth to the music. All Leah could think about was this being the last night with her best friend. Not ever. Just for a while. She knew they would keep in touch, but it wouldn't be the same. It would be hard, but they would have to adjust without seeing each other for long periods of time. It's just a part of growning up. Leah kept telling herself. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Or, if you love someone you have to let them go, and if it's meant to be, then they'll find their way back to each other. Is what Karen, JC's mom would tell him. He had finally confessed to his mother what he was feeling for Leah.

Since Leah didn't know when the last time she would see JC was going to be, she decided that now would be the moment. She would finally confess to JC her true feelings. If not now then never, she figured.

"Josh." Leah looked up into his beautiful blue eyes.

"Yeah, Leah?"

"I love you." Leah confessed. She felt JC stop dancing, and she leaned back up. He stared at her in utter shock. Her heart rate sped up, suddenly not sure whether or not she should have said that.

"You what?" He asked in disbelief, looking down at his friend. He thought he'd misheard her.

"I-I love you, Josh." Leah repeated back stuttering, afraid of what he would say next. He just stared at her for what seemed like forever. Then he leaned in and kissed her. At first, Leah didn't know what to do, but after a moment she began to kiss him back more passionately. She parted her lips, allowing for his tongue to enter. He caressed her cheek, as they continued to kiss. They didn't care who was watching, it just felt so right. Leah felt chills all up and down her spine. When JC gently pulled back from the kiss, Leah opend her eyes to see JC staring down at her.

"Leah."

"Yeah, Josh?"

"I love you too."

"You do?"

"Yes. I've loved you all along." JC admitted. He felt like he had a huge weight lifted off of his chest, after telling her. Now everything was out in the open.

"You have?" Leah asked in disbelief.

"Yes." JC answered. Then he felt a crushing blow to his right shoulder. He felt like he'd been hit by a grown man! "LEAH! What the hell?!" JC yelled out in pain.

Suddenly, all eyes were on the two of them. "You mean you've felt this way all along and didn't tell me? You let me go on feeling like a complete and total idiot, for having feelings for you, and you've had feelings for me this whole entire time?!" Leah raised her voice slightly, partly happy and relieved that JC felt the same way, and partly pissed off because she thought she was alone in her feelings.

"Well, that's only because I was afraid." JC said, rubbing his sore shoulder.

"Afraid of what?" Leah asked in confusion, now lowering her voice. The party had resumed, and all of the attention was off the two of them, and the DJ continued to play "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men.

"I was afraid that if I told you how I felt, that you wouldn't feel the same way, and that it would put a strain on our friendship, and push you away." JC explained.

"Really?"

"Yes, really. So you really love me?" JC asked, not believeing his luck.

"Yes, Josh. I really do love you." Leah smiled.

"I love you too." JC replied. Leah laid her head back on his shoulder, and they continued to sway into the next song, "I Swear" by All-4-One.

"Josh."

"Yeah?"

"Make love to me." This stopped JC dead in his tracks. JC didn't know how many surprises he could take in one night.

"What?" JC asked, in what seemed to be the thousandth time of disbelief.

"Make love to me." Leah said again, this time looking up at him. Then he knew by the most sincere look in her eyes, that she was for real.

"Are you sure? I mean, you are a virgin. Are you really sure you wanna do this with me?" JC asked seriously. This was a big step.

"Yes I'm sure Josh. Do you not wanna do it?"

"Of course I wanna do it! But I want this to be right for you. You're special to me, and I would never do anything to hurt you." JC said, taking her chin in his hand, and tilting her head up to look at him.

"This is right Josh, I feel it. And who knows the next time we're gonna see each other again. It could be a month, it could be a year. Depending on where our careers take us, we may never have this opportunity again. We don't even have to start a relationship, we could just have tonight, and I'll be fine." Leah said, speaking for the first time in months, to Josh, truly from her heart.

"Leah, are you sure that you really wanna lose your virginity to me?" JC asked. He had to make sure she really meant it, and not just acting on impulse. Once they went there, they couldn't take it back.

"Josh, there's no one else in this world who I would want to lose my virginity to than you."

"If you're sure, then I'm sure." JC replied looking deep into Leah's green eyes.

"My parents and my grandmother won't be home until after midnight, they're at some fancy party!" Leah's eyes twinkled.


Once at Leah's house, JC and Leah rushed up the stairs, down the hall and into her room. On their way inside, Leah shut off the light. JC turned it back on. "I wanna see you baby." JC said kissing her. Leah didn't have a problem with that, she hardly ever felt insecure around Josh, because he always made her feel so beautiful. Laying back on her bed, Leah reached her arm over to her night stand to grab a condom from the Trojan box that Lucky had given her a few weeks ago, "just in case".

"I've waited for this moment for so long." Leah confessed to JC. Her heart pounded so loud she wondered if he could hear it. She was partly nervous and excited. After tonight, she would never be the same.

"You have no idea baby!" JC replied. He wanted to do everything he could to make this night special for Leah. He was gonna take his time, and make sure that this would be a night she would never forget. He planted a tender kiss on her lips. Her lips were so soft, he could kiss them forever. He made his way down to her neck and kissed her there. Leah closed her eyes, and let JC take over. He then leaned up to undress her. She kicked off her socks and shoes, while he lifted her white t-shirt up and off, and slid her blue jean shorts down to her ankles, where she kicked them off. He stared down at Leah, who was now in nothing but a baby pink lace bra, and matching thong. He took the time to admire Leah taking in her beautiful body, and her glowing brown skin. Leah pulled her bed spread back, while JC undressed himself. Once under the covers, JC resumed where he left off. He planted kisses on her neck, and worked his way to her right shoulder, and slid her bra strap down, and did the same thing to the left side. He reached around to unhook her bra, and released her full c-cup breast. JC leaned down, and took one hard nipple into his mouth, and began to gently suck. JC then repeated this action on her other breast. A soft moan escaped Leah's mouth. She couldn't believe that this was happening to her right now. It felt so special! So amazing! JC planted kisses from her chest, down to her flat stomach. When he got to her navel, he made a circling motion with his tonge. He felt her writhe a little beneath him in delight. She then lifted her hips, motioning for JC to take her panties off. He slid the lace pink thong down her thighs, and then flung them onto the floor. Leah readily parted her thighs. JC made his way to her most sensitive area, flicking his tongue over her clitoris.

"Mmmmm," Leah purred, enjoying the new sensation that she had never felt before. She combed her fingers through JC's hair, and arched her back. "Yesss." She moaned, not wanting this feeling to end. JC flicked his tongue faster, bringing Leah closer to the edge. Her head felt like it was spinning. She couldn't take anymore. "Josh, I need you now!" Leah said through clenched teeth, practically begging.

Josh came up from his position between her legs, and was now hovered over her. He took a long deep look into her lust filled eyes.

"Are you sure?" JC asked, making sure this is what she really wanted.

"Yes, Josh, I'm so sure." Leah replied anxiously. JC then took the condom from Leah's hand, unwrapped it, and sheathed himself.

"You ready?"

"Yes!" With that being said, JC slowly entered her. Leah bit down on her bottom lip, trying her best not to yell out in pain. JC was so big, and he throbbed inside of her. The feeling of JC inside of her was almost too much to handle. They had gone from being best friends, to making hot passionate love in only a matter of hours.

"Am I hurting you?" JC asked, a little worried by the pained look on her face.

"I'm good," Leah replied. "Don't stop." JC did as he was told. He rocked in and out of her at a slow pace. The pain soon turned to pleasure. "Oh yes! Faster Josh." Leah demanded. Doing as he was told, JC slid in and out of her at a faster pace. "Leah, look at me, baby." JC said, pumping in and out of her. Trying her best, Leah opened her green eyes to look into Josh's deep blue ones. The feeling was so intense, Leah thought she'd die of too much pleasure! "Ooh Josh!" Leah moaned, looking into his eyes. JC loved the look of pleasure in her eyes. "Oh my god! Josh!" Leah screamed, once she reached her peak.  Leah arched her back, rolled her head back and shut her eyes. Clawing at his back, JC felt Leah begin to quake underneath him. He loved the sight of her enjoying her very first orgasm. When he felt her walls clench him, he couldn't take anymore, and joined her in ecstacy.

Rolling over, JC discarded the used condom, and Leah lay her head on his chest. He placed an arm around her, and slowly and gently stroked her back, comforting her.

"Are you okay Leah?" JC asked. He wanted to make sure, that everything had been perfect for her, and that she didn't regret anything.

"I'm perfect Josh." Leah replied, sleepily.

"Josh?"

"Yeah, Leah?"

"Promise me again." Leah smiled. 

"Leah, look at me baby." He took her chin in his hands, and tilted her head up towards him. He then began to recite the promise that the two had made three years ago. "Leah Danielle James I promise, no matter where life takes us, you will always be my best friend." He whispered, stroking her cheek. "I want you in my life, for the rest of my life. I don't want to lose your friendship, but I wanna gain so much more with you. We may not be able to have that just now, but trust me, we'll have that one day."

Leah looked up into JC's eyes. Silence filled the room. Not the awkward silence. But the kind of silence, where they didn't need words. Just being there, in that moment lying next to each other was enough. JC broke the loving gaze, with a gentle kiss. He didn't want this moment to end. For so long, he had wanted this with Leah, and now that he finally had it, it would end all to quickly. 

"Josh, I don't want this moment to end." Leah admitted.

"Neither do I." JC agreed. For the rest of the time they had together, they lay in silence, her in his arms.

After a few hours had passed, Leah had awaken, she glanced over at her digital Hello Kitty clock: 12:30 am. Leah panicked a bit. She got up from her place on the bed, and was relieved when she looked out the window, and saw that her parents black Mercedes, was not in the drive way yet. She silently thanked God. She walked out into the hallway to confirm that she, and Josh still had the house to themselves. Once back in her bedroom, she walked to her dresser, and pulled out her pajamas. After she slid the pink tank, and white baggy cotton pajama bottoms on, she tip toed back to her bed. She looked down at a sleeping Josh. He looks so peaceful, she thought. She didn't want to wake him up, but she had to, her parents would be home at anytime. She wasn't ready yet for Josh to leave her side, they'd only just confessed their true feelings for each other, and she didn't want to let go. But she had to be strong. She remembered what Nana had told her once; If you love someone you have to let them go, and if it's meant to be, then they will find their way back to each other. With those words in mind, she leaned over to gently shake Josh. "Josh!" Leah whispered, gently shaking him. "Josh, baby you gotta wake up." Josh, turned his head, and slowly opened his eyes. When he saw that it was Leah waking him, a smile spread across his face. "Josh, believe me I don't want you to go, but my parents will be home at anytime now!" Leah explained. Josh, quickly awakened. After giving her a quick kiss, he slid his close on. Leah then walked him to the front door, where he held her in his arms.

"What time do you leave for New York?" JC asked.

"We leave for the airport at five thirty a.m., and board our flight at seven." She replied.

"Call me as soon as you get to New York." JC said seriously.

"I'll call you as soon as I can, baby." Leah promised. JC leaned in to kiss her. They shared a slow lingering kiss not wanting to let go.

"I love you Josh." Leah said, barely audible, a tear escaping her eye, and falling down her cheek.

"I love you too, Leah, and I always will. More than you could ever know." JC replied wiping her tear away. They shared one final kiss.

"Goodbye, Josh." 

"No Leah, not a goodbye. A see you later." Josh smiled. Then Leah smiled too feeling a little more hopeful.

"I'll see you later Joshua Scott Chasez."

"I'll see you later Leah Danielle James."

July 23, 2000

"Hey Leah, it's me, Josh! I wanted to let you know that I'll be doing a couple of shows in New York this week. I wanted to know if we could meet up sometime between Tuesday and Thursday? It seems like I haven't seen you in forever, and I've really missed you. So get back to me as soon as possible!" Leah listened to the message that JC left on her phone, as she left the recording studio. It had been six months since she had last seen her friend, and she could not wait to see him again.

Now at twenty-three and twenty-four years old, the two friends were very busy with their successful careers. JC, with his group Nsync were on tour promoting their second studio album (fourth overall) No Strings Attached, and Leah was preparing for the release of her third studio album So True. After the summer of '94, and the friends went their separate ways, both JC and Leah amicably decided that it was best they stay friends. Although they loved each other very much, it was hard to maintain a long distance relationship. There was no love lost, and they maintained their freindship the very best they could in this crazy business.

Leah smiled when she heard the message. She really did miss his voice. When she arrived home, she called JC on her home phone. It only took one ring for JC to answer. "Hello?" JC answered. He sounded tired.
"Hey Josh!" Leah replied, smiling.

"Leah, hey!" JC immediately perked up at the sound of his friend's voice, today had been a tiring day, and hearing the sound of Leah's voice had been the one true highlight of his day.

"So, I got your message."

"Great. So are you free at all this week?" JC asked, knowing that Leah was just as busy with her career as he was with his.

"Actually, I am. This is the only free week I'll have in a while! Starting next Monday I start promoting for the album." Leah explained.

"So I was wondering if we could hang out this Tuesday, while I'm in town." JC suggested.

"That sounds great, Josh." Leah replied, smiling.

"Good, so I have to go, but I'll call you as soon as I get to New York."

"Sounds good. Bye Josh."

"Bye Leah." JC rang off.

As JC hung up on his end, he leaned against his bed and sighed. "Was that Leah?" Justin asked, sitting on the bed across from JC in the hotel room they were sharing together.

"Yeah, I'm gonna meet up with her when we get to New York." JC stated matter of factly, turning his head to look at Justin.

"Does Bobbie know about this?" Justin asked, referring to JC's girlfriend.

"It doesn't matter if she knows or not, Leah and I are just friends." JC said defensively, now sitting up on his bed.

"Yeah, but that's not all you used to be!" Justin replied, getting up from his bed and walking into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

"Key word is used." JC put an emphasis on the word used. "We were just teenagers then, and it was just puppy love, but now we're all grown up and strictly platonic! And, I would never shut Leah out of my life just because I have girlfriend, she's one of my best friends. Besides, we don't feel that way about each other anymore, nothing's going to happen between us. Like I said, we're just friends." JC reiterated.

"Mmmhmm, sure, okay." Was all Justin said in response.

"Really, I'm not in love with her anymore!" JC said, trying to convince himself, more than he was trying to convince Justin.

July 25, 2000

Six months. It had been six months, two weeks, and three days since Leah had seen JC. Yep, she had been counting. Yes, it was pretty sad, but she couldn't help it. She counted each day since the two had seen each other. But at least she wasn't counting the hours. As pathetic as it was, when Leah and JC first went their separate ways in the summer of '94, and attempted to maintain a long distance relationship, she counted every hour that they were a part. The first two months, she couldn't keep him off her brain. She couldn't help it, she was love sick. Then finally, she got a hold of herself, and started to focus on the one thing she could control. Her music. It was the only thing that kept her mind off of JC, and what he was doing, or wondering how he was feeling. She put all of her feelings and emotions about JC into the songs she wrote. She spent day in and day out recording, and rehearsing, preparing for the moment that she would get picked up by a label.

While Leah was trying to get her mind off of JC in New York, JC was trying to do the same in Orlando. He along with his bandmates Justin, Chris, Joey, and Lance were constantly rehearsing dance routines, and recording songs trying to get recognized. This was good for JC, because anytime he wasn't busy he was constantly thinking about Leah, and whether or not she met any new guys in New York that could potentially take his place. The thought of Leah with another guy made JC sick to his stomach, and he got incredibly jealous. Which was so unlike him. This is crazy, JC would think to himself. I'm jealous over something that hasn't even happened!
While the two kept busy focusing on their careers, the letters they wrote to each other became few and far between, and the phone calls scarce. It was almost like they weren't even in a relationship anymore, and the agonzing that they were doing over each other wasn't healthy.

Then came that fateful phone call. Leah could remember it like it was just yesterday.

November, 1994
It was a Saturday, and Leah was just coming home from a studio session. As soon as she walked through the door she heard the phone in her bedroom ring. She walked down the hall and into her bedroom, she looked at the caller I.D. and saw JC's number. Her heart began to race and instantly picked it up.

"Josh!" Leah answered excitedly. The sound of her cheery voice instantly made JC's heart ache. He was contemplating whether or not he should do what he's been agonzing over all night.

"Hey Leah." JC replied solemnly. By the tone in his voice Leah could tell that something was wrong, and her heart plummeted to her feet.

"Hey, how's it going?" Leah asked, a bit suspicious.

"Nothing much, just same old, same old." JC answered back. 'C'mon man, don't drag this out', he silently told himself. 'You can do this, you have to do this.'

"Oh, well same here." Leah replied. Damn! Why was she at such a lost for words? She hadn't talked to her boyfriend in a whole week, and for those seven long days she's been planning on what she would say to him. But now, now it was different. She didn't know what to say to him, or what to do to break the iceberg that was increasingly growing between them.

"Hey, listen." JC spoke up.

"I'm listening, Josh."

"It's like this." JC continued.

"It's like what?" Leah asked, growing suspicious of where the conversation was heading, and not wanting to go in that direction.

"It's obvious that we've been growing apart, we don't get to see each other anymore, and we hardly even get to speak to each other, and when we do, we don't even know what to say."

"Josh." Was all that Leah could say, trying her best to steady her now shaky voice.

"You know that I love you, and I always will. But it's just not the right time for us." JC said, trying to convince himself that what he was doing was the right move. His head was telling him this was the logical solution, but his heart was feeling the complete opposite.

"Josh, what are you saying?" Leah asked, a tear falling from her eyes, and rolling down her cheek. But she knew exactly what he was saying. Like he said, it was obvious.
"I think we should take some time apart, you know to regroup, and figure out our lives separate from each other." JC explained.

"You mean break up." Leah stated. It was more of a statement, not a question.

"No. Not break up-"

"Josh, just say it!" Leah said, her voice rising. Now she was starting to get angry. In the back of her mind, she knew that the end for them was near, but she just didn't want to face it, and now that the time came, JC wanted to sugar coat things, just to spare her feelings. It was so typical for him to try to spare her feelings. Since they had first become friends on The Mickey Mouse Club, JC was always protecting other people from hurting her, and now he was the person who was hurting her. He was trying to let her down gently though, she realized. But at that point, she didn't care. JC was no longer her friend, he was her boyfriend who she had fallen madly in love with, and now he was breaking up with her, and she was emotional. And when you're emotional, almost nothing makes since anymore.

"Leah listen," JC sighed.

"No, if you really want to 'take time apart'", Leah said quoting him, "then just call it what it is, a break up." Leah reiterated.

JC took a long sigh, "Fine, it's a break up." JC surrendered. "But that doesn't mean we can't still be friends."

"No, Josh. That's exactly what that means. It's not like we can just be friends again. Not after all that we've been through together."

"Leah." JC's heart felt like it was literally being ripped open, he didn't know what to say. It's not like he was trying to hurt her. He would never do anything to intentionally hurt her. He loved her! But he knew, and she knew that they could not go on like this. It wasn't good for either of them.

"Do you honestly think it's that easy? To just go back to being friends as if nothing ever happened? That our feelings for each other are just going to disappear into thin air?

"Leah, I'm not trying to hurt you, okay?"

"You know what? Save it Josh!" And with that, Leah hung up her phone, and the line went dead. More hurt than ever, the tears were now rolling faster and faster down her face, and her heart felt like it was going to burst. Deep down, she knew. She knew that their relationship was deteriorating, but she didn't want to believe it. 'It's just a rough patch', she would tell herself. 'We'll get past this, just give it time.' But in the back of her mind she knew it was inevitable that they would split. JC was right, he ws completely right, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt. Time just wasn't on their side, but she wanted so badly to defy everything that kept them apart, and at that point it was impossible. It just wasn't meant to be. And on that very day, her worst fear came true; That once they crossed the line from friends, to lovers, it would never be the same again. And it wasn't the same. That day, Leah had not only lost her boyfriend, but she had lost her bestfriend too. She felt like she was mourning the death of a friend.

Ring. Snapping back into reality, Leah reached across the bed to grab her phone. When she checked her caller I.D., she saw that it was Tyson, her boyfriend of the past six months. "Hello?" Leah answered

"Hey babe!" Tyson said into the phone.

"Hey Ty," Leah replied. For some reason, she was a bit put off by his phone call. She didn't know why, but she wasn't super excited to hear his voice.

"Is there something wrong?" Tyson asked, sensing the frustrated tone in her voice.

"No baby, not at all." Leah replied trying her best to sound as sweet as possible, she really didn't want to pick a fight with him. Not today of all days. Today she would have a good day. She would not let anything get in the way of her having a good time with her bestfriend.

"Well good! So, do you have anything planned for the day?" Tyson asked. Leah now became slightly irritated. More with herself, than with Tyson. Damn, she had forgotten to tell him about her day with JC!

"Um, well actually Tyson, JC's in town today, and I was thinking I would spend the day with him!" Leah explained.

"Wait. JC's in town? How long have you known?" Tyson asked, his skin growing a little hot.
Leah's palms began to sweat and she started to pace her bedroom floor. She contemplated whether or not she should tell him the truth. Wait. Why should she lie to him? And why was she starting to feel guilty all of sudden? It's not like she wasn't allowed to have friends of her own, she reasoned with herself. She was her own person, and Tyson was gonna have to learn that she was gonna do separate things sometimes. Taking a breath, she decided to tell him the truth.

"I've known since Sunday." Leah stated.

"I see." Tyson said, trying his best to keep his composure. He didn't want to blow up on his girlfriend just because she was seeing a friend. A guy friend.

"I'm really sorry Ty, but I haven't seen JC in months." Wait. Why did she feel the need to apologize. It's not like he asked her to clear her schedule for the day. And it was most definitely not like he owned her. After all, she was a grown woman, and she could do what she wanted, when she wanted. He was her boyfriend, true, but's it's not like they were married, and she didn't have to answer to him.

"That's okay baby, I understand. Go, have fun!" Tyson said, trying his best to come off as understanding, although he was kind of hurt.

"Really?" Leah asked, hoping he wouldn't get angry at her. Although, she was a bit annoyed now, she really did love him, and didn't want him angry at her over something so stupid.
"Yes really! I get it, although I was really hoping we could spend the whole week together, seeing as you start promotion for your new album next week, and I'll hardly ever get to see you." Tyson said, playing the guilt trip. "But, hey I mean what's one day right?"

"Actually, JC won't be leaving until Thursday." Leah said, barely above a whisper.
"Thursday?" Tyson asked in disbelief, his voice rising. "That's three whole days!"
"Yeah, I can count Tyson! Don't be so freaked out!" Leah replied, growing more and more annoyed with each passing second.

"Freaked out? Leah you're my girlfriend, and I love you. Don't you realize that starting next week you'll be traveling all around the world, and I'll just be stuck here? I just want to spend these last few moments with you, before you start promotion." Tyson said. Leah understood that it was hard on him for her to be away, it was hard on her too.
"Baby, I won't be gone for that long." Leah replied, trying to make her absence seem much less painful.

"Sure, you say that now, but then you're album will probably go number one, then you'll be promoting the album with a year long tour. Then who knows what will happen to us?" Tyson asked, confessing his worst fear to his girlfriend.

"Really? You think my album will go number one?" Leah asked. She was joking of course, she wasn't that vain. She was just trying to lighten the mood. To be honest, her relationship with Tyson was new territory for her, and their love got so intense so fast. She hadn't fallen this deep since, since, well since JC, and she was still having trouble dealing with the "Needy Boyfriend" type. JC was never needy, so sometimes, she didn't quite know how to handle Tyson.

"Leah."

"Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood. Tyson, do you honestly think this long distance thing isn't going to kill me too? It totally will! But we'll just have to work on it babe. I love you, you know that. And don't worry about me leaving you behind. I won't forget about you. How could I forget about you? I love you!" Leah said, and to be honest she felt sorry for Tyson.

"You mean that?" Tyson asked, already knowing the answer.

"You know I do! Listen I have to go, but I'll call you as soon as I get back!" She promised.
Tyson let out a long breath. "I love you."

"I love you two, bye!" And with that the couple hung up. After she placed her cordless, back on it's hook, Leah sat on her bed, taking a moment to clear her head. If she wasn't mistaking, Tyson had almost sounded jealous. Which was strange, because although he could be needy sometimes, he was never really the jealous type, and it's not like she was gonna go there with JC all over again. It had been to hard to get back to being friends after their disastrous breakup. Well, he has no reason to be jealous, Leah reassured herself. Besides, it's not like that between JC and I anymore. 

Leah glanced at the digital clock on her nightstand, it was 9:30, and JC would be there in another hour to pick her up for breakfast. She got up and walked over to her walk-in closet and decided to try on one last outfit. She had already tried on six different outfits. She was so nervous about seeing him for the first time in six months, and she didn't know why but she felt the need to look perfect for him, which meant; she had to have on the right outfit, the right shade of lipgloss, her hair had to look perfect, and she had to smell heavenly! She couldn't figure out for the life of her why she felt the need to be perfect whenever she was around him, when she never felt like that aorund Tyson.

Finally, Leah settled on her new baby pink Tally Weijl babydoll dress, with a white chasmere cardigan, her black patent leather Kirna Zabete wooden wedge heels with nude satin lace up ribbons, and to top off the look, silver Tiffany bezet hoop earrings adorned her ears, and her silver Tiffany and Co. pendant heart necklace hung from her neck. She decided to wear her brunette naturally curly hair up in a ponytail. Deciding to keep her face natural the only make up she wore was concealer, and the "Internationalist" shade of M.A.C. Lipglass, the pink shade shimmering on her full lips. After she sprits some of her Victoria's Secret Love Spell body mist on her skin, and grabbed her black leather Chanel Portobllo Tote, she heard her doorbell ring. She took a deep breath, heading for the door. Before she opened it, she glanced at herself in the mirror giving herself a once-over. After confirming that not a hair was out of place, she stepped away from the mirror, and opened her apartment door.

When she saw JC standing there, her heart began to beat faster, and faster. She couldn't help it but she felt like her seventeen year old self all over again. Breathe, she told herself, just breathe, get it together girl! "Hi Josh!" Leah exclaimed, trying to steady her voice.
"Hi, Leah." JC replied, completely mesmerized, and butterflies in his stomach, like he was a damn teenager! How was it that she still managed to take his breath away? "Um, these are for you." JC handed Leah a bouquet of her favorite flowers, a dozen long stemmed red roses.
Leah was a taken aback. She hadn't expected roses, but she thought it was sweet, and she really appreciated them. "Wow! Thanks, Josh! These are beautiful! Come in. I'm gonna go set these in water, then I'll be ready to go!"
"Okay," JC replied, stepping into Leah's penthouse apartment, and sitting down on her sofa. When Leah disappeared into the kitchen, JC let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding in. She was beautiful, she looked like an angel. Now, he didn't know how he was going to make it through the day, without feeling like it was a date. Without feeling like they were together again. Dammit JC, pull it together man, you have a girlfriend! JC thought to himself. This was gonna be interesting!

After Tyson, had hung up from talking to Leah, he let out along sigh, and threw the long stemmed red roses he had gotten her into the garbage. He had planned on showing up at her place, surprising her with her favorite flowers, taking her out to breakfast, and spoiling her all day. In fact he had planned on spoiling her all week, and showering her with lavish gifts. This was the last week they had together for a while, and he wanted it to be special. He wanted to remind her of why she fell for him in the first place. Then along came JC Chasez, international popstar, and a longtime "friend" of Leah's. He was trying his damndest to understand. But it was so hard. Especially when her bestfriend was not only a guy, but a guy from the hottest boyband in the world. He was the JC Chasez, and Tyson was just Tyson. Just a regular guy. Tyson laughed to himself, he had never considered himself as "just a regular guy", all his life he was the guy. He was always the most popular, guys looked up to him, and every girl wanted him in the sack, he came from a wealthy family, so money was no object for him. He stood around six feet tall, had jet black curly hair, hazel eyes, honey colored skin, and the perfect smile, no girl could ever resist him.

That was until he met Leah. She wasn't impressed by his money, or his model good looks, and his arrogance turned her off. Leah was different, she's in showbusiness and met guys like that all the time, so it took more than the material things to impress her. He was so intrigued by her the first time he saw her. She was at a C.D. signing in the mall. He'd never heard her music before, but he brought one of her C.D.'s anyway, just so he could meet her. When he got to the front of the line, he tried to spit game at her, knowing she wouldn't be able to resist. She looked at him, simply rolling her eyes at his cockiness, and asked his name, so she could sign her name on the C.D., and move on.

"Tyson Andrews." He said. He handed her the C.D. along with his phone number, and walked away.

Out of curiosity, Leah called Tyson later that night. "Look, I don't know who you are but, if you're some crazy ass stalker, then I can have you arrested!" She yelled into the phone, a little freaked out, because a fan had never given her their phone number before. A stuffed animal, or a letter sure, but never a phone number.

"Please, one night with me and you'll be the stalker." Tyson responded.

"Who are you?" Leah asked disgusted.

"Who are you?" He asked back.

"Um, my name is Leah James, I though you knew that, since you did buy my C.D." Tyson froze in his place. Leah James? The Leah James, as in the hottest popstar on the planet? He didn't actually take the time to look at the C.D. he picked up, he just figured she was some local artist, trying to make a name for herself. But then he realized that she was the Leah James. The one whose posters were all over his younger sister's bedroom wall, the one who was on the cover of Seventeen Magazine!

"Oh my gosh, I am such an ass!" Tyson blurted out after, he realized his mistake.

"Um yeah, you kinda are!" Leah exclaimed. "You're like really cocky, and don't be fooled but not every girl is into that!" Leah continued, sounding like any normal twenty-three year old woman, not an international celebrity.

"Will you go on a date with me?" Tyson asked.

"Um, excuse me?" Leah asked, completely put off, and shocked. This was the most bizzare thing that had ever happened to her.

"Yeah, did I stutter?" Tyson asked, he had a huge set of balls!

"No. I will not go on a date with you!" Leah answered

"Why not?" Tyson asked, now it was his turn to be shocked.

"Because, like you said, you are a huge gigantic ass!"

"You don't have to embellish."

"Well, until you show some manners, and treat a lady with respect, I have nothing to say to you." And with that, Leah hung up. Tyson stood there stunned. Partly because a girl had turned him down, and partly because he just had a private conversation with a celebrity, and partly because he got turned down by a celebrity. He quickly jotted down her number, that was left on his caller I.D. and decided that he would do whatever it took to win her over.

It wasn't easy, Tyson really had to change his attitude, he had to change himself as a person. Leah was the first and only he girl, he was sure of that could change him. He was completely intrigued by her, and not because she was famous, and not only because she looked liked a young Tyra Banks. But because she wasn't like every other girl who was impressed by him. She didn't need or want him And why should she? She was fucking Leah James! She could have any guy she wanted. And he wanted to be that guy, her guy! After doing tons of research on her, and reading a lot of her interviews, he found that she was a very loving, and compassionate person with a kind and giving soul. He soon realized that it would take a lot to win her over. Not money, or expensive jewlrey. But other things, like charm, and chivalry, and long walks on the beach, and all of that sentimental shit. She was looking for a deep connection with a guy, and Tyson wanted to make that connection.

So over the next three months, Tyson did everything he could to win her over. He sent cards, to her house everyday, each card telling a different reason of why she should give him a second chance. He would call her twice a day, just to ask how she was feeling. At first it was a bit weird for her, and he had to convince her that he wasn't a stalker, and promised that he wasn't out to kill her! So she started accepting him as a regular guy trying to win her affections, not as some crazy fan, because it was so obvious that he wasn't a fan of her music. Which was actually refreshing! After months of trying, he felt like he should just give up, that she would never be into him. So on his last attempt to win her over, he flew all the way to Paris on his private jet, to come to her show. When she saw him at her backstage meet-and-greet, she was completely shocked! Never had a man flown across the globe, just to try to win her over. Never in her life had she felt so special!

After she had finished signing autographs, and taking pictures with her fans, she walked over to Tyson and said, "Well I guess I don't have a choice now, huh?" And the rest was history! Over the next six months they had grown closer than ever! Leah had slowly began to open her heart back up again after her breakup with JC, and Tyson was no longer just "The Cocky Rich Boy", he had truly changed, and Leah was the girl that changed him! He was now sensitive, caring, and down to earth.

Not to mention insecure, Leah was the only girl to ever make him feel insecure. He felt like he could lose her at any moment. Especially now more than ever, now that JC was back in the picture. He knew that they used to have a relationship, and that bothered him more than anything. He tried not to be insecure, needy, and jealous. He really did try. He didn't want to be that guy. But he couldn't help it, he knew that Leah and JC had a very special friendhip, and to be completely honest it made him sick to his stomach. Deep down inside, very deep down, he knew that Leah still had feelings for JC, but he just couldn't accept it, he wouldn't, and he wasn't ready to let her go. For the first time in his life, Tyson wasn't "Tyson Andrews, Ladies Man", he was just "Tyson, Regular Old Guy."

JC took Leah to a nice cafe in downtown Manhattan, where they ate outside. "So, what's going on with you?" Leah asked, wanting to catch up with him.

"Well, the album is number one again." JC said, keep the conversation light.

"Yeah, I think I'm personally responsible for that!"

"What?" JC asked, lauging.

"When you guys' album dropped, I bought like seven of them!" Leah exclaimed

"Wait, seriously?" JC asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, and then about a week ago, I bought three more!" Leah admitted, now embarrassed.

"Like for real?" JC smiled.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe that I'm actually telling you this right now! But I couldn't resist, the critics are praising you guys! It's like Beatlemania, and I'm such a huge fan!" Leah confessed.

"Well, I don't know about that, but I'm flattered!" JC lauged. He couldn't believe that she had bought ten of their albums, but it was something that was so typical of her. She had her own quirks, that's what he loved about her, she was different. And he didn't know if Bobbie would've done that for him, he didn't even know if Bobbie had bought No Strings Attached at all! Her unwavering support and loyalty to him touched his heart, not just any girl would do that, especially not someone who had the status that Leah had. "So what did you do with all of those C.D.'s anyway?" JC asked curious.

"Well, I kept two of them, and the other eight I gave to a children's charity. What twelve year old girl wouldn't want an Nsync C.D.?" Leah replied.
"Wow!" Was all JC said in response. Leah had such a kind heart, she was always thinking of the less fortunate.

"By the way, the music sounds amazing! I'm so proud of you guys!"

"Thanks, Leah. That really means a lot! Okay, so enough about me, let's talk about you!"

"Josh," Leah sighed.

"No really, you haven't done too bad for yourself either, two consecutive number one albums! That's crazy!"

"Can you believe it's been six years since we were just kids in Orlando? It feels like just yesterday that we were taping episodes of The Mickey Mouse Club!" Leah said, changing the subject, she always got uncomfotable when people complimented her.

"Can you ever just take a compliment?" JC asked. He was amazed at how humble Leah was, after all of the success she had. Grounded people were hard to come buy in the entertainment industry. He looked across the table at Leah, and it was still the same girl that he met back in Orlando nine years ago, before any of the craziness between them started to happen.

"Thank you Josh." Leah smiled.

"And no, actually I can't believe it, it does feel like just yesterday!"

"So much has happened since then..." Leah trailed off, not wanting to take the conversation into uncomfortable territory. She didn't want this to feel awkward for them.

"Yeah, a lot has happened." JC agreed. Being in a relationship, breaking up. JC wanted to add. For some reason, he wished they could talked about it, but it was like some forbidden part of their lives, that neither seemed to talk about. Almost like how in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, where a part of history was vanished forever, and no one ever spoke of it again. Like it never happened. But in a way, JC understood. They loved each other very deeply, no one really understood how much they loved each other, and their relationship was so deep, yet so fragile, and it hurt when they broke up. So in order to maintain their friendship, it was best they not talk about their relationship.

"Excuse me." Both JC and Leah, broke their instense gaze, and looked up to see a girl around thirteen or fourteen years old at their table. She had pig tails and freckles. She wore a white Britney Spears T-shirt, black capri pants, and purple flip flops, with a Lisa Frank notebook and pen in hand.

"Are you JC Chasez and Leah James?" The girl asked, a little nervous.

"Yes," JC and Leah said in unison.

"Do you think I could get your autographs?" She asked with a hopeful look on her face.

"Of course honey!" JC answered for the both of them, giving her a smile. Leah smiled too, and a wide smile spread across the girl's face. She handed JC the notebook, and ink pen. "What's your name?" JC asked.

"Cara!" She replied shyly. JC signed his name, then passed the pen and notebook to Leah for her to sign. "I can't believe this, my favorite singer, and my favorite member of *Nsync! Both of my favorite celebrities all in one place. This is like the best day ever!" Cara shrieked.

"Awww, that's so sweet! Thanks so much!" Leah replied, flattered. Cara was so cute, she reminded her of one of her cousins!

"Wait, so are you guys like a couple?!" Cara asked excitedly. JC and Leah shared awkward glances at each other, waiting for the other to answer the question. A cute moment, soon turned into a very awkward one for the both of them. Wait. Why was this awkward for them? They both knew the answer, of course they weren't a couple. But to be honest, they both wanted the answer to be something different. This was crazy!

"No, we're not a couple." Leah finally answered. Of course they weren't a couple, but it kind of stung JC to hear those words aloud. Damn, suddenly JC didn't like this girl anymore.

"Oh. My bad, it's just that you took look like you sorta belong together! Well, thanks anyway!" Cara said, walking away, leaving the two alone in an awkward silence.

"Isn't it weird?" Leah asked, breaking the ice.

"What?" JC asked, anticipating where this was heading.

"The word celebrity." Leah replied.

"Oh." JC sighed, partly relieved, partly disappointed.

"You know, when people say the word 'celebrity' I think like Michael Jackson, or Mariah Carey, or somebody, but most definitely not me!"

"Oh, I know right! It's so weird! Especially when someone wants my autograph!"

"Remember signing your first autograph?! You signed your second grade picture for me!" Leah said.

"Yeah, and you told me that my autograph would be worth a lot someday." JC smiled remembering the day clearly. It was a rainy Saturday in his basement.

Leah sat on the carpeted basement floor looking through one of his families photo albums.

"Oh, how cute!" Leah gushed, pulling out a photo of JC in the second grade. JC rolled his eyes.

"Ha ha, very funny!" JC replied.

"No really, it's cute Josh! Can I have it?" Leah asked.

"Really? You want it? Why?" Josh asked.

"So someday, I can say that I knew JC Chasez way back when!"

"Really?"

"Yeah! Here, sign it!" Leah said, sliding the photo and a pen to JC, who was sitting on the couch.

"Sign it?" JC asked confused.

"Yeah, you know, your first autograph. It's gonna be worth a lot someday, and I wanna be the one with the very first autograph from 'The JC Chasez'" Leah said smiling.

"And I was right!" Leah replied, snapping JC back into reality.

"Huh?" JC asked.

"I was right! I bet if I were to put that picture up on eBay right now, it would sell for millions!"

"You still have that picture?" JC asked amazed.

"Of course I still have that picture, and trust me I wouldn't sell it! It's not just an autograph Josh, it's an important part of my life." Leah answered honestly.
Her support truly touched him. It's nice to know that after all they've been through, they could still be there for each other. They were an integral part of each other's lives. That's the way it was, and the way it would always be.

"Wow, Leah, that really means a lot." JC replied, Leah smiled. Her radiant smile warmed his heart. Suddenly, Leah's phone alerted her that she had a text message.
"Sorry." Leah excused, retrieving her phone from her purse. It was Tyson. As, she read the message on her phone her face lit up.
Leah,
Sorry for my jealous behavior, it's just that I love you so much. Can I make it up to you sometime tonight?
-Tyson

"Sorry, it's Tyson." Leah apologized.

"Tyson?" JC asked. Damn, that's right. She hadn't told Tyson about JC, and she hadn't told JC about Tyson either.

"Um, yeah. My boyfriend." Leah replied, almost nervous about JC's reaction. Why did she feel like she was cheating on him?

"Your boyfriend?" JC repeated the word.

"Yeah, Tyson is my boyfriend." As she said the word boyfriend, JC felt as though she had stabbed him in the heart. It's not like they were a couple, but still. To know that there was a man in her life bothered him. A lot.

"Oh." Was all that JC could say.

"So, how did it go?" Justin asked JC, referring to his breakfast with Leah.

"It was good." JC replied, as he walked into the hotel room, where Justin was already getting ready for rehearsal. He purposely left out the part about the girl Cara asking if they were a couple, and him being disappointed about Leah having a boyfriend, because he already new what Justin would say.

"What happened?" Justin asked curious.

"Well, when I went to pick her up, I gave her flowers, then-"

"Wait what?" Justin asked, sounding shocked.

"What?" JC asked confused.

"You gave her flowers?" Justin asked in disbelief.

"Um, yeah." JC answered, wondering where this was heading.

"And you don't have feelings for her?"

"Justin, like I've told you a thousand times, I'm completely over her, man!" JC said defensively.

"Right, so you're over her, but you bring her flowers?"

"What's wrong with that, we're friends?" JC asked innocently enough.

"No you give your girlfriend flowers, not your friend. Especially when she's a girl!"

"Justin, come on. Don't be rediculous. It meant nothing."

"JC, it couldn't just mean nothing!"

"It meant nothing!" JC reiterated, getting a bit irritated.

"Okay dude, just remember that you have a girlfriend." Justin said, putting his hands up in surrender.

"I know I have a girlfriend!" JC responded, walking over to his suitcase to get ready for rehearsal.

"Correction. You do have a girlfriend, and her name is not Leah!" Justin said, almost teasing.

"Ha ha." JC said sarcastically, tossing Justin a look.

Three Weeks Later
5:30 am, is what the alarm clock read. It was five thirty in the freakin' morning, and yet Leah couldn't get to sleep. Her show was over at 11:00, and she got back to her hotel room around 12:30, taken a long hot bath to relax, and mentally prepared herself for the busy day of promotion to come. Since 2:00 o'clock she lie in her bed waiting to fall asleep. She was in a huge king sized bed, and yet she couldn't sleep. Any normal person would've fallen asleep as soon as she hit the pillow, but not Leah. Her mind is what kept her up, it's like she couldn't shut it off. Sure the bed was fluffy, and the sheets were soft, and the pillows felt like Heaven. She had a big comfy bed all to herself. All to herself. That was the problem. There was no one to share the bed with. No warm body, no strong arms to warp around her, and make her feel safe and warm. Every night was spent in a different hotel room, in a different bed alone. Alone, left with nothing but her thoughts, and that's what kept her tossing and turning all night.

All she could think of was, Tyson, and if he was lonely without her. Or her family, and if her grandmother was okay. Or JC. She couldn't stop thinking about JC, and she didn't know why. Sure, she thought about her friends, but not as much as she thought about JC, but the thought of him nagged at her. It nearly drove her crazy.

Sighing, a frustrated Leah got out of her bed and decided that she needed some air. She tossed the white cotton hotel robe on, and walked out onto the balcony. Leaning on the rail and closing her eyes, Leah took a deep breath, taking in the night air, trying to clear her mind. She leaned her head back and opened her eyes, admiring the beautiful stars. Leaning her head back up again she took in the beautiful city of Milan. It seemed so beautiful, so peaceful, so serene at night. Times like this made her think of JC. When they younger, their destination was always Italy.

"If you could be any place in the world right now, where would you be?" JC would ask Leah, as they lay on a blanket in his backyard listening to the radio, and eating junk.

"Italy." Leah would reply.

"Why Italy?" JC asked.

"I don't know. I've read a lot of books on Italy. It seems like a really beautiful country. I wanna see Milan, Capri, Rome, Venice. I wanna see as much of Italy that I can see. And it's far far away from home." Leah explained.
"Why would you wanna be so far away from home?" JC asked. Although he loved to travel, he couldn't imagine wanting to be away from home.

"My parents. They just don't get it. They don't get me I'm the total black sheep of the family."

"Come on. No your not."

"I am! Aiden just got accepeted into Harvard, and Jill is like a super genius. And what am I doing? Singing and dancing!"

"You make it sound like it's a bad thing." JC said.

"To my parents it is." Leah replied, now rolling over to look JC in the face.

"You don't know them Josh," she continued. "They don't understand how important this is to me, that this is what I love to do. They think me being a musician isn't realistic. I'll never be important to them unless I'm a doctor, or a lawyer, or a scientist, or unless I win a Nobel Prize." Leah sighed.

"Well, look at it this way. You at fifteen years old, already have a career, when your brother and sister don't. You get to be on T.V. doing what you love for millions to see! How many teenagers get to say that!" JC said putting things in perspective. JC was always good at that, making Leah see the brighter side of things.

"How do you do that?" Leah asked.

"Do what?"

"Put things in perspective like that. Whenever I feel down about something, you make me see things in a different light." Leah answered.
"I just hate to see you down. Besides, I'm sure your parents love you and want the best for you. You can't choose your family, so you should stop trying to run from them. They're your family, not monsters!"

"Like I said Josh, you'd just have to know them! My family is so insufferable. I can't wait until I'm eighteen. I'm out of that house, and moving so far away, so fast!" Leah said.

"Just remember, 'Home is where the heart is'." JC said, reciting the old saying.

"Yeah, well my heart's in Italy." Leah replied.

"Well, I guess I'll have to go with you then. What kind of friend would I be if I let you runaway to some foregin country, where you don't even know the language!" JC pointed out.

"I could learn the language!" Leah giggled.

"Yeah, but then you wouldn't know anyone there. So, I'll still have to go with you, and protect you." JC replied, half joking.

"Protect me? Really?" Leah asked, smiling.

"Yes protect you." JC said.

"Wow, I must really have the whole damsel in distress thing going for me huh?" Leah quipped.

"No, not really, I know you can hold your own. But you know me, I'm just being overprotective. Besides, I'll use any excuse to be by your side." JC said honestly taking her hand in his.

"Same here Josh." Leah said, laying her head on his chest. The mood had suddenly changed to one more sentimental.

"Anywhere I'm going, you're coming too." JC declared.

"Josh." Was all Leah could say, a lump forming in her throat. She closed her eyes, blinking back tears. It touched her, it really did. She'd never felt so deeply cared for by anyone in her life, not even by her family, with the exception of her Nana.

"I mean it, no matter what happens, I would never leave you behind."

"Ditto." Leah agreed. The two lay there for a moment in silence.

"A house." JC said, breaking the silence.

"What?" Leah asked confused.

"We'd have to buy a house to stay in when we get to Italy. You know, instead of paying to stay in a hotel every night." JC explained, fantasizing, trying to lighten the mood.

"A house would be nice." Leah said, going along with the fantasy, laying her head in JC's chest.

"Nothing big or flashy, maybe a small cottage in Sicily, just big enough for the two of us." JC envisioned.

"A cottage sounds nice. And let's not forget the food! Delicious, authentic Italian food every night! How amazing does that sound!"

"Yeah, but we can't eat out every night. You'd have to learn how to cook of course." JC joked.

"There is nothing wrong with my cooking!" Leah gasped, elbowing him.

"Moving on!" JC joked. "We could ride in gondolas at night and watch the stars." JC said.

"Yeah, that sounds nice." Leah smiled, picturing the perfect escape.

"How about this, when we're not out conquering the world with our music. We'll spend our down time in Italy. Just me and you in the perfect vacation house." JC suggested.

"For real Josh? You really mean that?" Leah asked in disbelief, she hadn't actually took him seriously.

"Of course I really mean it!" JC responded

"That sounds perfect. Our perfect little escape! This could be just our thing!" Leah said, smiling feeling butterflies in her stomach, and a warm feeling in her heart.

"It is perfect, we could go there together and just get away from it all when we need to." JC said, gently stroking Leah's back.

"Yeah. Our special place."

"No matter what crazy things happen in our lives, we'll always have our special place of escape. We'll always have Italy." JC promised.

  Now as adults, their wildest dreams came true. They were making music, touring the world, seeing some many different places, and most importantly impacting people's lives. But at the same time, they were always at opposite ends of the earth at different times. Their schedules were crazy and hectic. They worked hard and and hardly ever got any downtime. They didn't eat any decent meals, or get in a good sleep. This kind of life was crazy. She sometimes wondered if she was doing the right thing after all. Leah looked down at the city of Milan over the railing, and sighed. She knew she shouldn't complain. She was so blessed to have a music career, and get to travel to places, and do things that were beyond some people's wildest dreams. But with the good, also comes the bad. There was a downside to all of this. She was lonely. Sure, she had Tyson. She wasn't alone, but she was lonely. She loved him dearly, but he just didn't get it. Not like JC. And here she was in Italy her most favorite place in the world, and she couldn't even see it. The thing that stung the most? That she had made it to Italy, and JC had too. Just not together. A tear rolled down her cheek as she remembered the promise JC had made to her. "We'll always have Italy." Well, things hadn't gone exactly as planned after all.

"Wish you were here Josh." Leah whispered to herself, as she walked back into her room.

"I like you the way you are,
when we're driving in your car,
and you're talking to me one on one,
but you become,
Somebody else,
'round everyone else,
watching your back,
like you can't relax, try
to be cool, you look like
a fool to me. Tell me...
Why you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you're acting like you're
somebody else gets me frustrated,
Life's like this you, you fall, and you crawl,
and you break, and you take what you get,
and you turn it into, honesty, you promised me
I'm never gonna find you fakin'
No, no, no."
-Avril Lavigne

It was now November and Leah had ended the relentless promtion tour for her third album. So True had went number one on the Billboard Top 200, and the UK Albums Chart. Her lead single, "Let You Go" had gone number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, and her second single "Waiting for the Moment", was in the top ten. Now she could go home, rest a while before her summer tour started, and spend some time with Tyson.

"Hey babe!" Leah said into the phone.

"Hi Leah." Tyson replied, he hadn't sounded so excited to hear from her.

"I'm sorry, are you busy?" Leah asked, hoping she wasn't interrupting anything.

"No." Tyson replied, simply.

"Oh, well okay." Leah said getting out of the taxi she was in. "I just... I needed to hear your voice." Leah admitted, now walking down the sidewalk filled with busy New Yorkers rushing to get to work, or school.

"I'm all ears, baby." Tyson replied.

"Well I really miss you." Leah sighed, turning into Central Park.

"I miss you too."

"I'll be home soon." Leah replied.

"I can't wait to see your face. In person, not on the cover of a magazine, or on MTV!" Tyson said.

"I know this is hard for you baby, I'm sorry." Leah apologized for her absence.

"So, how have you been doing?" Leah asked, walking into a building, and getting on an elevator.

"So far so good, Chase and I got a loan from the bank and we can start up the company soon."

"Wow, that's great! But I thought you were borrowing money from your dad?" Leah asked, remembering what Tyson had told her during one of their late night conversations.

"Yeah, well that didn't work out so well. He wants me to be independent and-" Tyson stopped mid-sentence, hearing a knock on his apartment door. "Hold on babe, someone's at the door." Tyson said, excusing himself.

"At seven in the morning?" Leah asked confused.
Tyson walked to his front door curious as to who it could be, since he wasn't expecting anyone. When he opened the door, his eyes rested on the beautiful five foot two girl, whom he'd fallen for almost a year ago.

"Oh my god, Leah! What are you doing here?!" Tyson asked confused and excited all at the same time. She smiled up at him, and he picked her up off her feet, hugging her. He then carried her into the spacious living room.

"Some dates, and interviews in Europe got cancelled, and I got to come home early!" Leah explained.

"This is awesome!" Tyson exclaimed.

"So awesome!" Leah agreed. "So now, I can sit back and enjoy my time with you!" Leah continued, sitting down next to him on his couch. The couple shared a long passionate kiss, and looked deep into each other's eyes. "You have no idea how much I missed you baby."

"I think I do," Tyson concured. The two shared another passionate kiss. They kissed as if they'd never have the experience again.

"I should get out of this coat." Leah said, suddenly feeling the room grow hotter and hotter by the moment. She stood up, slipping out of her pink Yves Saint Laurent trench coat.

"Yeah, along with your shirt, and your pants, amongst other things." Tyson said slyly, a grin forming on his lips.

"Pig!" Leah gasped, jokingly.

"What? All I'm saying is that you should get a little more comfortable." Tyson replied with a grin on his face.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah! I'd especially want you to get comfortable, since you'll be here all day and night." Tyson declared.

"Oh really?" Leah asked.

"Really!" Tyson replied.

"Well, what makes you so sure?"

"Well, wasn't it my cocky charm that hooked you in the first place?" Tyson joked, pulling Leah into him, and kissing her on her forehead, and wrapping his arm around her.

"Uh, no. Your cocky charm practially made me barf. I changed you!"

"Oh, you changed me? Is that right?" Tyson asked.

"Yeah that's right, before you met me you were probably some wild frat boy. And now, now you're pratically whipped."

"Am not!" Tyson argued, a little offended.

"Whoosh!" Leah imitated the sound of a cracking whip, and gesturing her hand as if she actually held a whip in it.

"Oh come on."

"It's true. Like a little bitch!" Leah joked. Tyson gave her a look.

"Oh baby, I'm only joking." Leah said, poking her lip out.

"Ha ha." Tyson replied dryly. He took her remarks to heart, because he honestly felt like a housewife with Leah. He felt like he was doing nothing with his life, while she was out traveling the world, and her career was always taking a positive turn. He felt like

"Mr. Leah James", like he no longer had his own identity. His title was "Leah James' Boyfriend", rather than Tyson Andrews.

"So, it's early, are you hungry?" Leah asked, switching the subject.

"Starving!" Tyson replied

"Good!" Leah said, hopping up from the couch and walking into his kitchen. She looked into one of the cabinets, and got out some pancake mix. Then over to his refrigerator and got out some eggs, milk, and bacon. Once at the counter, Leah reached for a big mixing bowl and spoon. Added the necessary ingredients for pancakes into the bowl, and began to mix them together. While she was doing so, Tyson walked up behind her, and reached his arms around her, wrapping them around her tiny waist.
"It's good to have you back babe!"

JC sat in silence, while his four best guy friends goofed off around him. They were eating breakfast at a Denny's in wait... where were they? They were in some small town in Wisconsin. They were definitely in Wisconsin. That much, JC was sure of. He was tired, and a little crabby. The most annoying thing was that he couldn't get Leah off of his mind. Why had he kept thinking about Leah? The thought of his friend nagged at him, even though it shouldn't. Then there was Bobbie his girlfriend. He love Bobbie, but lately, lately she's been acting so different. So damn complicated.

She knew he had a career, she knew he had to be away a lot. So why was she acting like this was all new to her. She acted as if she had to have his attention constantly. Bobbie said that she understood his life style, and she had promised to be patient with him. Well, she broke her promise. Not to mention, she was constantly picking fights with him. It was like she just didn't get it. Not the way Leah got it anyway.

"JC, you alright man?" Joey asked, noticing his silence.

"Yeah man, I'm cool." JC lied.

"Or you're probably just thinking about Leah again!" Justin piped up. JC shot him an evil glare. Justin knew what he was doing. He gave JC grief about Leah on purpose. He wanted to push him to admit his feelings for Leah, because they belonged together. They were like Corey and Topanga! He wanted to see JC and Leah together, because they were good for each other, and they deeply and genuinely loved each other. They just needed to quit bullshiting, and get it together! He didn't know why they pretended not to have feelings for each other, when they both knew damn well that they couldn't possibly love anyone else the way that they loved each other!

"Leah?" Joey asked, and everyone stopped what they were doing at the sound of her name. Everyone knew of their intense relationship, and were interested in seeing which turn it took this time. "As in Leah from Orlando Leah?"

"Yes that Leah," JC replied annoyed.

"So are you guys on again or what?" Chris asked. "Wait, did you even break up with Bobbie?"

"No, I did not break up with Bobbie, and no, Leah and I aren't 'on again'." JC answered, quoting Chris.

"But he wants to." Justin replied, to both of JC's answers.

"Shut up Justin." JC warned.

"You want to break up with Bobbie, and you want to be 'on again' with Leah." Justin continued, ignoring JC's warning.

"That's rediculous, I don't want to break up with Bobbie, I love her. And I'm over Leah." JC defended himself for what seemed like the thousandth time.

"Ooo, someone's getting defensive." Lance chimed in.

"Am not!"

"You are too." Justin said, he seemed to be the main problem.

"I am not, and how many times do I have to say that I do not have feelings for Leah anymore!" JC retorted.

"Until you actually start believing it!" Justin argued.

"I'm over her."

"Dude. You talk in your sleep!" Lance laughed, taking a sip of his milkshake.

"I do not!" JC stammered, growing more and more frustrated by the second.

"Yeah, you do!" Joey agreed.

"Oh Leah!" Justin mocked in a high pitched voice.

"Dude, I am so going to kill you!" JC said, and began to throw fries at him. Justin threw some fries back, and soon Joey, Chris and Lance joined in starting a food fight.

Why am I here? Why am I here? Was all that Leah could think to herself. She was sitting on a couch, at a house she's never been to, smushed between to drunk, sweaty guys. Tyson had invited her to one of his friends house party. He claimed that he "wanted her to meet his friends, and show her a different side of him, show her how he 'got down'." But when they got to the party, all he did was flaunt her, in front of his already wasted friends, who ogled her like she was a piece of meat, which was pretty disgusting. He gave his friends suggestive facial expressions, and high fived them all. Then he disappered into the party. That's where she found herself a place all alone, on a lovely white couch. Well, she was alone until two drunk guys squished her in the middle.

She was hot, and miserable, and thirsty. She didn't like to drink alcohol, because she didn't like to get sloppy, and she wasn't fond of the taste. The most that she ever drank was a simple glass of red wine or champagne occasionally, and she just knew that the "punch" had to be spiked. The loud music made her head throb. She couldn't take it anymore.

"Fuck it, I'm going to find Ty!" Leah said frustrated, to no one imparticular. She hopped up off the couch, pulling her black leather Gucci mini skirt down.

"Nice ass honey!" One of the men on the couch shouted at her. Leah held her head high and kept walking. As hard as it was, she didn't want to say anything to the already drunk man, and have things escalate. When she got out into the foyer, and into the crowd of people, she didn't know where to start. The mansion was so huge, Tyson could be anywhere. She made her way into the kitchen to look for him but all she found was a couple making out with the girl's ass on the island, and her legs wrapped around the guy. Ugggh, Leah thought to herself. She walked pass them, and out the back door to search for him by the pool, she didn't seem him. She then made her way to the guest house where the sight was much worse. Their were at least seven high school aged kids involved in an orgy! Oh my word, this is rediculous! Leah thought to herself. Now she wasn't prude, but this was just all kinds of sick and disgusting!

Bolting from the guesthouse, and back to the main house Leah decided to check upstairs. She checked at least three rooms and a bathroom, and caught no sight of her so-called boyfriend. Frustrated, Leah wanted to give up, but decided it couldn't hurt to check the last room. The last room was the last door on the left, and was slighly cracked. Leah lightly tapped on the door, and poked her head through. She saw someone, not Tyson. She saw what looked to be a girl with long jet black hair. It seemed as if she were crying.

"Go away", she cried. "I told you I'm done!" She turned to look at the door, and the expression on her face changed once she realized that it wasn't the person she intended her rant for. "Oh god, I'm sorry, I thought you were my boyfriend." The girl explained. Leah could see that her eyes were red and swollen, and mascara ran down her face. Leah hesitated. I can't just leave her here, she thought. Poor thing, she looks so helpless. "Umm, are you okay?" Leah asked, stepping into the room, and sitting down on the bed beside the girl.

"Why would you care?" The girl asked, wiping her face with a tissue.

"Um, because I have a heart." Leah replied.

"Sorry, sorry. It's just that I'm really emotional right now, I really don't mean to lash out on you."

"No, no, it's okay, really. So what's wrong?" Leah asked, rubbing her back.

"I got into a horrible fight with my boyfriend Derrick, I caught him in the guesthouse and this girl was giving him a blow job!" The girl sobbed.

"Oh, poor thing I'm so sorry!" Leah said, showing empathy. She truly felt sorry for this girl. She seemed so naive. She took a good look at the girl. She looked to be around eighteen or nineteen. Her shiny raven hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and contrasted against her pail skin, her icey-blue eyes were filled with sadness. "Well, he deserves to have his balls ripped off!" Leah continued, and she thought she could see some trace of a smile on the girl's face. "Has he done this before?"

She nodded her head. "I've known about other girls, but I've never actually seen him have sex with anyone else and-" she stopped mid-sentence.

"What?" Leah asked confused, watching the girl's eyes grow as big as saucers.

"Oh my god. Are you Leah James?" The girl asked curious. Oh. Leah actually forgot that people knew who she was, and it was weird for her still.

"Um, guilty." Leah replied, a little uneasy.

"Wow, you're like the coolest. I love your voice! 'Waiting for the Moment' is like my most favorite song ever! It's the whole reason I made the move to New York in the first place." She exclaimed, her mood instantly changing to that of a happy one.
This, this right here is exactly why she did what she did. Why she loved making music. The paparazzi, and the attention she wasn't that crazy about, but to know that she had impacted someone's life, to sit here and make this girl feel better in an instant, was why she was an artist. It was a moment like this, that made all of the crazy things she went through worth it.

"Oh, well I'm so flattered. Thank you so much!" Leah replied gratefully. She was mostly glad she could comfort the girl in her time of need.

"So what are you doing here?" She asked pointing to the floor.

"Well, I came with my boyfriend, only he's been MIA since we got here." Leah explained.

"You're boyfriend? Well maybe I know him, what's his name?" She asked.

"Tyson. Tyson Andrews." Leah answered.

"Wait? Tyson's your boyfriend? No way!"

"Yeah, you know him?"

"Are you kidding? That's my boyfriend's- well ex-boyfriend's best friend!

"No shit." Was all Leah could say, as pathetic as it was she could actually see how Tyson could be friends with someone like this girl's boyfriend. Lately Tyson was acting like such a jerk, but only when they were in public. Whenever they were alone, he was so sensitive, and sweet, and caring, but when they hung out in public he started to act like his same old self; A cocky, arrogant, self-absorbed ass.

"As a matter of fact I think I saw him go down to the basement, when I was on my way up here!"

"Thanks so much." Leah said, relieved that she had met someone in their right mind, and someone who had been of actual help.

"No, I should be the one thanking you. You've turned the most horrible night of my life, into the best night of my life!"

"Well, we are girls, and we do have to look out for each other. If we don't then who will? Definitely not the men! Hey, when I see that a sister's down, I gotta help her out!" The two girls shared a laugh. "I didn't get your name by the way." Leah mentioned.

"Oh, my name is Jaime, Jaime Reed." She introduced herself.

"Well Jaime Reed, it's a pleasure to meet you! My name is Leah James." Leah formally introduced herself, and held her hand out for Jaime to shake.

"Wow, it's not even like I'm talking to a celebrity, I've felt like I've known you forever! You seem like just a normal girl." Jaime smiled, shaking hands with Leah. Leah winced at the uncomfortable word of 'celebrity'. She hated any kind of special treatment.

"Well, I hope I'm normal! And, I don't really see myself as a celebrity, it's just a label that people use!"

"You are like so down to earth!" Jaime said in complete aww.
Leah gave the girl a good once over, and decided that she seemed like a nice enough girl, and that she could trust her. "Thank you. You know, if you ever wanna talk, I'm all ears."

"Really?" Jaime asked, as she took some Kleenex to wipe the running mascara off of her face.

"Sure, do you have a phone?" Leah asked.

"Yeah, it's right here." Jaime reached into her clutch and pulled out her cell phone. She handed it to Leah, and Leah put her home phone, and cell phone number into the contacts.

"It was nice meeting you Jaime. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go find my jerk of a boyfriend." Leah said. She slid off of the bed and headed for the bedroom door.

"Well good luck!" Jaime called.

"Thanks." Leah replied, giving Jaime a smile. She then turned, and walked out of the door.

Once downstairs, Leah made her way to the basement. As she walked down the steps leading to the basement. A strong smell hit her in the face, she let out a sneeze, and realized that it was smoke. When she made her way down the stairs, she spotted a group of preppy boys in a circle smoking marijuana! She looked closer, and saw that Tyson was involved! Leah felt nauseous, and dizzy. Partly, because of the smoke, and partly because of the fact that she caught her boyfriend smoking an illegal substance.

"Tyson!" Leah yelled.

"Hey Leah baby, take a hit!" Tyson invited. Leah was shocked. This was a completely new side of Tyson that she had never seen before.

"No, I will not take a hit!" Leah exclaimed, offended. "Tyson, what you guys are doing is illegal!"

"Look Leah, now is not the time." Tyson warned, his pupil dilated.

Oh my god. Leah thought. He's high! "I don't give a damn Tyson! How are we supposed to get home?!" Leah asked through clenched teeth, now completely and totally angry.

"I'll drive." Tyson answered in a 'duh' voice, as if it were obvious.

"No, you're not driving me home, not while you're under the influence. You can put your own life at risk all you want, but not mine!"

"Chill baby! I know you're famous, but damn, you don't have to be a walking talking public service announcment all the time!" Tyson laughed, the whole circle joining in and laughing at her expense. This was not her Tyson, and this was not okay. He was doing drugs for crying out loud! Leah didn't even know how to respond to this situation.

"I'm so outta here!" Leah huffed, she turned on her stilletos, and headed up the stairs, and out of the basement. She was back into the crowd of party people, who were either on drugs or alcohol. Damn, now how am I going to get home? Leah asked herself. She didn't know anyone there, and didn't have her cell phone on her. Hell, she didn't even know where she was! She's never even been to this part of New York before. She just wanted to burst out in tears, she needed an exit, any exit. She turned around ready to run, when she bumped into someone. The impact of the collison left both of them on the floor. She was so relieved when she looked up to see a familiar face.

"Jaime hi!" Leah sighed relieved, getting up from her spot on the floor.

"Leah, did you find Tyson?!" Jaime asked, oblivious to what just happened.

"Yeah, I found him alright, downstairs in the basement, smoking marijuana! He's completely out of his mind, and under the influence. Now I have no idea how I'm supposed to get home!" Leah explained.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry. Well, I was actually on my way out, I can give you a ride home!" Jaime offered.

"That's really sweet of you Jaime, but I couldn't let you do that. It's already two in the morning, and my apartment is ways and ways away."

"Well, my apartment isn't too far from here, you can crash there if you want."

"Really?" Leah asked in disbelief. "I wouldn't want to impose."

"No, no! Trust me it's fine. Especially after all you've done for me tonight! And, besides, I gotta 'help a sister out!'" Jaime said, quoting Leah's words.

Leah smiled. "Thank you so much, it really means a lot!"

"No problem. C'mon, let's get out of here, this place is a mess!" Jaime said, leading Leah out of the mansion, and to her midnight blue Ford Taurus. She unlocked the door, and the two got in. Once they were pulling out of the drive way Jaime turned on the radio, and Leah rested her head on the cool window, it provided some relief to her throbbing headache. The ride was silent but not awkward, Leah was to wrapped up in her thoughts for conversation. All she could think about was how much of a jerk Tyson had been acting lately. In the beginning, she let it slide, but tonight was the final straw.
Once they arrived at Jaime's apartment, Jamie showed her around. It was a small, but cozy place. "So, here's my place, it's not much, but you can crash here. I only have one bedroom, but you can sleep there if you want..."

"No, no! The couch is fine, really! I'm just lucky enough, you're letting me crash in the first place!" Leah said.

"Well, I totally wasn't gonna let you walk home! I'll be right back!" Jaime excused herself. She disppeared down the hall, and into her room. She soon came back with a large comforter and pillow.

"So, you can make yourself at home, and I guess I'll see you in the morning." Jaime said.

"Really again, thank you so much for all of this. This has been the night from hell, I promise I'll be out of your hair in the morning." Leah said, apologizing, feeling like she was intruding.

"It's no problem really!" Jaime smiled. With that, she exited the living room, and Leah lay on the couch.

Her mind went back to Tyson. She couldn't believe how he had acted tonight. Whenever it was just the two of them, everything was fine. He's polite, and sweet. But, when they were around everyone else, he practically treated her like shit. The sad part was, Leah even admitted to herself that her boyfriend was treating her like shit, but wouldn't do anything about it. To be honest, she didn't want to let go of him, because she felt like maybe she could be the one for him. Maybe, just maybe, she could be that one special girl to change him, like she had in the beginning. Damn, why was Tyson so complicated?

"So, when's the last time you've talk to or seen your mom?" JC asked Leah over the phone, while he layed back on his bed, watching Star Wars for the hundreth time.

"About two years ago." Leah replied nonchalantly, sitting down on her couch in her living room.

"Leah." JC scolded.

"I know JC, I know it's bad."

"Yeah, it is bad. You need to reconicle with your mother, before this whole thing gets out of hand." JC said.

"Whatever 'it" is." Leah responded.

"Yeah, what is "it"? What happened between the two of you that you haven't spoken in so long?" JC asked curious about the rift between Leah, and her mother, Gabrielle.

"Like I've told you a million times in the past nine years that we've known each other, my mother is insufferable! She just doesn't get it. She still thinks uthat I'm wasting my life, that this- living my dream- won't last forever!" Leah explained.

"Even after you've made it, she still doesn't support you?" JC asked in disbelief.

"No." Leah said, a lump forming in her throat. Sure, Leah and her mother didn't see eye to eye, but at the end of the day, she was still her daughter, and she still needed a mother's love.

"Maybe you should have an open discussion with her." JC suggested.

"Maybe, but I highly doubt it. It's Gabrielle's way, or the highway."

"She just needs to understand that you're just as successful as Jill and Aiden. You're independent, and you're living your dream, you get to do what you love every single day, and not many people get to say that. She needs to realize that, and accept you for who you are." JC said, comforting his friend, when she was in need.

"You're so good at this." Leah replied, now smiling.

"What?" JC asked.

"Helping me through a crisis as usual."

"Well, what do you expect me to do, allow you to cry and wallow in self pity? It's what friends do!"

"And you're a good one."

"No worries babe. Now, get your butt on the next plane to Louisville, and go spend the holidays with your family!" JC said.

"The holidays? Christmas and New Years. That's over a month!"

"Fine. You have to walk before you can run. I'm begging you to at least spend Thanksgiving with your family. It's one dinner." JC compromised.

"Fine. One dinner." Leah agreed.

"Do it for Nana." JC reasoned. That put things in a totally different perspective. Nana, was getting older, and she was sick. She had alzheimer's. Leah hadn't seen her in so long, that she felt guilty. If it weren't for Nana, she wouldn't come home at all.

"Thanks, JC. I gotta get going, I'm gonna start packing. I'll be out of here in the morning." Leah said, a tear now rolling down her cheek.

"Remember, it's just one dinner, okay?" JC reminded her. "Call me when you get home."

Leah cringed at the word home. To her, New York was home. She knew that sounded bad, but Lousiville, Kentucky just held too many bad memories for her. "I'll call you as soon as I get home."

"Bye Leah."

"Bye JC", Leah rang off.

I can do this, Leah thought to herself. I'm doing this for my Nana. Leah walked to her bathroom, and packed all of her necessary toiletries. She then walked to her connecting master bedroom, and over to her walk-in closet and packed just enough outfits for the time she would be spending with her family, no more. She called her manager, to notify her that she would be going home, for the holiday. Leah then locked up her apartment, and headed for the airport.

Outside of Louisville International airport, Leah scanned the parking lot. She heard a honking horn, and craned her neck to see her sister, Jill enthusiaticlly waving her down. Oh joy, they sent Jill, Leah thought to herself. She wheeled her one suitcase (yes one, for a change), towards her sister's brand spanking new silver 2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. "Hey Leah, over here!"

Leah walked across the parking lot, towards her sister, dreading every step she made. Boy, this is going to be a long weekend. Leah thought as she placed her one suitcase, and purse in the backseat, and then sat in the front. "Hey girl, how's it going?!" Jill asked in the phoniest most annoying voice ever. Since when did she speak like a Valley Girl? Leah's guess was after her trip to Malibu, with her lawyer fiance.

"Fine." Leah replied. She wanted to say as less as possible, because whenever she and Jill got together, the ever competitive Jill always started a round of 'I'm more successful than you are'. Why should they have to compete?

"How was your flight?" Jill asked, pulling out of the parking lot.

"It was pretty good."

"Great. So, I was thinking that when we get home I could catch up with my favorite-est sister in the world!" Jill exclaimed, awfully chipper for it to be six am.

Oh really, because from what I recall I was quote 'The Jan to her Marsha, I didn't really matter. No one would remembered me!' Leah wanted to yell. "Sure", she replied instead. The car ride was otherwise silent, that is until Jill put her Milli Vanilli C.D. in the C.D. player. Oh God, kill me now. Leah silently prayed. Jill sang along to "Baby Don't Forget my Number", adding so many unnecessary riffs, and runs.

"You know, I really should have gotten all of those solos in choir, instead of you!" Jill said, over the loud music. Where did that even come from? Leah just tossed her sister a look that read 'Please not now'.

"Just saying." Jill said matter of factly, turning into the Highlands area, where their parents lived. Leah pressed her head to the cool window, not having enough energy to fight with her sister. Not having enough energy to fight with her mother. She'd been fighting them almost her whole life, and she was tired of it. They'd drained her mentally, and emotionally, and she was sick of it. As a matter of fact, this whole enitre situation was sick. The fact that she hadn't seen or talked to her mother, or sister in two and half years was sick. The fact that they were fighting was sick, they shouldn't be fighting, they're family for crying out loud! Leah didn't even fight her enemies this hard. The fact that Nana, was sick, but Leah stayed awayed, not wanting to put up with her insufferable mother, was thr worst thing of all. How could she be so selfish? She should've been there for her Nana, the one true person in her family who she depended on to be strong, and now she was there for Nana to depend on.

Besides, Nana, she got along pretty good with her father. But it wasn't always like that. Her relationship with her father, was just like her relationship with her mother, up until four years ago. Her father, Daniel, showed up at her nineteenth birthday, in New York, and asked to spend the day with his daughter. They caught up over breakfast, and put the past behind them, they spent the rest of the day crying, and lauging,and having the time of their lives. Ever since that day, they'd been nearly inseperable. Her brother Aiden, however was a different story. She's almost never fought with Aiden, he was more into himself, and didn't care about what anyone else did. He didn't put up the energy to fight. He just went to school everyday, played Soccer, and came home and minded his own business. So all in all. Her family was pretty disconnected from one another.

Leah let out a long sigh, and looked out the window, at all of the giant houses, on big hills. The Highlands, where Leah grew up, was one of the fanciest areas in all of Lousiville, everyone lived in a big house where everyone was either a Lawyer or a politician. Everyone at least drove a Mercedes, and had a swimming pool in their backyards. Nothing ever happend there. The Highlands was it's own safe little world, no one ever got in, it seemed, and no one ever left. The Highlands were the definition of boring. She never thought she'd make it out. That was until her parents announed that they were relocating to Florida, where her father would take a position at a law firm in Orlando.

"Oh Jill honey, hi!" Gabrielle James greeted, embracing her eldest daughter in a hug, a smile on her face, and an apron around her waist. The mother and daughter hugged in a strong embrace that seemed warm and loving. After Gabrielle and Jill broke their hug, Gabrielle then made her way towards her youngest child. Both Leah and Gabrielle just stared at each other in awkward silence. Their eyes locking. Should they hug? What was there to say after all of this time? They both wondered.

"Hello, Leah." Gabrielle said simply, breaking the silence.

"Hi mom." Leah replied, uneasily, giving a small wave of her hand. Gabrielle then made her way toward her youngest child, and reached her arms out. Gabrielle embraced Leah into a very distant, and awkward hug. The two quickly separated. "Um, so where's dad?" Leah asked.

"Oh, he just went to Kroger, he'll be back in a second." Gabrielle answered, looking past Leah, and out of the living room's bay window.

"At six thirty in the morning?" Leah questioned. "Mom, none of the stores around here open until at least 7:00." She knew she'd been away for a minute, but the stores have been opening at 7:00 every morning, since before she was even born, and Kroger wasn't even three blocks away, so she knew it didn't take half an hour to get there and back.

"Well, you know the store hours have been changed. Things are different now." Gabrielle replied.

"On Thanksgiving? Kroger's opens super early on Thanksgiving? Since when?"

"Leah, stop." Gabrielle warned, a stern look on her face. Leah stopped dead in her tracks. Why? Why did she have to go and question her mother, they're relationship was like walking on eggshells! She didn't know what to say or not say around the woman!

"Okay mom, I just thought it was a bit odd." Leah reasoned.

"Leah you never backed down from an argument. I've always said that you should've been a lawyer." Gabrielle stated, changing the subject. Let the games begin! Leah thought to herself sarcastically.

"So, where's Nana?" Leah asked, switching the subject again.

"She's upstairs in her room." Gabrielle replied. With that, Leah raced upstarirs, luggage in hand, and placed her suitcase and purse in "her room", and then walked three doors down to her Nana's room. The door was half open, and a smile crept upon her face at the sight of Nana sitting in her rocking chair contently watching "The Sound of Music". That was their thing. Their special thing that they always did together. They always watched "The Sound of Music" when Leah was growing up. Although she didn't really miss anything about "home", she could honestly say that she did miss watching the classic musical with Nana.

Leah softly knocked on the cherry wood door, and walked in. "Hi Nana!" Leah cheered, her heart feeling warm and full.

"Who are you?" The woman in the rocking chair asked, with a confused look on her face. The smiled faded from Leah's face, and her heart that was once full, had now been bursted, and was empty.

"It's me Nana, your granddaughter. You remember me right? Daniel and Gabrielle's daughter, the youngest." Leah described.

"Oh Leah, that's right. I'm sorry honey, I forget things sometimes, but of course I remember you. How could I not?" Nana replied. Leah smile returned, this time a bit weary. Nana wasn't like this before. The last time she saw her, she was a normal healthy woman. Now it's like she wasn't even in her right mind. Leah wanted to bust out in tears right then and there. How could it be that the one person who she loved most in the world didn't even remember who she was.

"It's okay Nana!" Leah smiled, and then wrapped her arms around the woman. She sat down on Nana's bed, and watched "The Sound of Music" with her. As she sat on the soft Queen sized mattress, trying to feel that old nostalgic feeling again, she couldn't. She wanted to pour her heart out to Nana, and tell her about the thing that happened in her life, about Tyson, about her career and how sometimes she felt like just giving up. But she couldn't. Now, Nana needed her, more than she needed Nana. She didn't get that amazing nostalgic feeling when Julie Andrews sang "My Favorite Things", or when The von Trapp children learned to sing. It just wasn't there anymore, so much had changed. Things would never be the same, this was no longer her home. And Nana was no longer her same Nana. This was real, her illness was real. The magic was gone, and this was real life. And her family had to stop ignoring it, as if everything were perfect.

Leah tried, she tried very hard to get into the movie, but it was hard to when she kept staring at Nana. She looked like the same person, but she wasn't, and she may never be again. Once her thoughts about Nana had subsided, her cell phone kept vibrating, bringing her thoughts about Tyson to the forefront. He had been calling her, and calling her over the course of the last couple of weeks since the party incident begging for forgiveness. But he really didn't get it, he'd really screwed up this time. And now, was not the time to be dealing with "boy issuses", she had real issues, that needed to be taken care of.

After "The Sound of Music" went off, Leah headed back to her room, to get some much needed rest.

"Leah!" Jill yelled, banging on her bedroom door, waking Leah up from her sleep. So much for subtle. "Time to eat."

Already? Leah thought. Turns out, she needed more sleep then she had thought, hell she hadn't slept in two days! Getting up from her place on the bed, she smoothed her hair down, slid on her Hello Kitty slippers, and headed down stairs.

Dinner wasn't as bad as Leah had anticipated. Nana was quiet, giving small nods of a approval at whatever they were talking about. Jill and Aiden gushed over their many acheivements (shocker), and Leah stayed under the radar, trying to keep the day smooth and uneventful. She noticed however, that her parents weren't particularly affectionate, like they usually were. They seemed distant. It was odd, because her parents have been married for 30 years, and seemed extremely close all the time.

After dinner, Daniel tucked Nana into bed, and a family meeting was called. Weird, the last time they had a family meeting was when they anoounced their move to Orlando. Leah sat on the maroon couch inbetween Aiden and Jill, while their parents stood infront of them.

"What's going on? If this is a family meeting then shouldn't Nana be here?" Leah asked suspiciously.

"Just listen," Daniel started, ignoring the question, a very serious look on his face. Something about this Family Meeting didn't sit right with Leah, as well as her siblings.

"What's wrong?" Aiden asked.

"Don't beat around the bush, just get to the point!" Jill demanded.

"Well, we want you to know that we love you all very much." Gabrielle said. Except me, Leah wanted to add

"And this isn't an easy decision," Daniel continued. "But we've agonized over this for months now, and we've come to the conclusion that..." Daniel looked to his wife, to finish what he couldn't. He couldn't bear looking into his children's eyes and tell them the news.

"Your father and I." Gabrielle paused. "Your father and I are getting a divorce." The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Leah couldn't believe what she was hearing, she felt like she was gonna pass out.

"You can't!" Leah yelled, finally breaking the silence.

"Leah be quiet, you'll wake Nana." Gabrielle said.

"No, she's right mom, you can't." Aiden agreed.

"After all of these years? What happened?" Jill asked, chiming in.

"You cheated on mom!" Aiden accused.

"Of course not! I would never do anything to hurt your mother, and you know that." Daniel replied, hurt that his son would accuse him of adultery.

"Then what happened?" Leah asked, growing impatient.

"Well we've just grown apart." Gabrielle answered.

"That's it? You've grown apart? Couples do that all the time, you guys just need to reconnect." Aiden declared.

"Honey, it's not that simple." Gabrielle sighed.

"But, where will you guys live. Who's moving out? Wait, will you guys have to sell the house?" Leah suddenly asked, confused, angry, and hurt all at the same time.

"Well, I actually have my own condo." Daniel answered.

"What?" The three asked in unison in complete disbelief.

"Well Leah, you know when you asked where your father was this morning, and I told you that he went to the store? Well, he was actually on his way from his condo. We've been living separately for the past three months." Gabrielle explained.

"What about Nana? Does she know?" Jill asked.

"Well, with Nana being sick and all, we've been able to get it past her." Daniel responded. How much they used the word sick made Leah sick. She wished they'd quit referring to Nana as sick, and address the issue that she has Alzheimers.

"Well where does Nana fit into all of this exactly?! You guys need to stop being so selfish, get over your own problems, and focus on Nana. When do you plan on telling her?" Leah yelled, all of her emotions building up inside of her, ready to explode in an instant. Everyone just stared at her in complete silence, at a loss for words. "Exactly, you don't have an answer, because you know that if you told her, it just about kill her, if the Alzheimer's doesn't first!" Leah continued yelling, her voice laced with hurt an anger. Now standing up, she ran out of the living past her family, and she raced up towards the stairs. Once in her room, she turned on the radio, to help clear her mind. Tears now flowed endlessly from her eyes, and down her face.

A divorce? Seriously? This could not be happening. Okay, so she knew she didn't exactly have the best relationship with her parents but still, she didn't want them to get a divorce. The two of them together, as a united front was all she's ever known growing up. In fact she couldn't picture one without the other. It was impossible. More than anything, the main reason why didn't want her parents to divorce was because of Nana. Nana always had the perfect picture of marriage in her mind. Two people who loved each other together forever. That's how it was in her mind. After their Grandpa died twelve years ago, Nana never even considered dating, or ever loving a man as she did her late husband. So Leah knew that it would just crush Nana when she learned that her eldest daughter was splitting from her husband of thirty years.

Leah lay back on her bed staring at the ceiling. Tears rolling down her cheeks, and the wheels spinning in her head. How could this be happening? When had their relationship hit a snag? There has to be something I could do! They can't possibly go through with this, especially not now. Just as Leah was getting deep into her thoughts, a song came on the radio, the beat instantly grabbed her attention. It was a new song by the artist P!nk that she had never heard before.

As the song played on, Leah continued to cry, the song spoke to her. She felt as if P!nk had been speaking to her personally. She felt as if each lyric were punching her hard in her gut. As the song ended, Leah rolled over onto her stomach, and reached over the edge of her bed and pulled out a replica of the family portrait that hung downstairs in the living room. She looked at the photograph of her family. An innocent fourteen year old version of herself in a velvelt burgundy cap sleeved dress stood next to a sixteen year old Jill in a mathcing black dress. Next to Jill, Nana, Gabrielle and Danielle sat on oak window seat, and Aiden, in a black suit stood on the opposite side of the seat. They all had these big bright smiles on their faces, they looked like a real family. A happy family. But Leah knew the truth, and so did her family. They were all there that day. Leah could remember like it was yesterday.

That was the day that started it all, Leah remembered. The day that Leah had become extremely body consious. The day that she began to literally hate Jill for making her feel so self consious, hate her mother for not standing up for her like most moms would do, and fight for their love and acceptance all at the same time. Looking back down at the photograph of her family, she saw the big smile on her face, the smile that hid it all. Despite the drama that happened that day, the family seemed to pull it together, and come off as a happy loving family, like they had done for so many years, as long as Leah could remember. To outsiders they seemed like the perfect family. Like The Cosbys, or The Seavers. But the reality was they were very dysfunctional and had their fair share of issues. But somehow, however they did it they managed to pull off normal, and it had worked for them for so long. So how come it couldn't work now? Why wasn't it enough anymore? Why couldn't their parents just play pretend like in their family portrait, and act like it came natural to them? If not for their children, at least for Nana. They may not act like a family, and they may not be close, but now was the time more than ever to be that picture perfect family, and be there for Nana.

Thanksgiving had come and gone, and Christmas was quickly approaching. With two weeks until the holiday, JC was ready for some down time with his family before he started working again. He was back home in Bowie, Maryland visiting his family, and had invited his girlfriend, Bobbie to spend a few days with him.

"So Josh, I was thinking that for New Years, we could fly up to New York and watch the ball drop in Times Square!" Bobbie suggested speaking up.

"Huh?" JC asked. He was a little spaced out, his mind drifting off to other places, other people. He wasn't even paying attention to "It's a Wonderful Life", which he and Bobbie were cuddled together watching on the couch.

"Where's your head at babe?" Bobbie asked, once she realized that he wasn't even listening to a word she was saying.

"Huh?" JC replied, still not listening to his girlfriend.

"I said where's your head at?" She repeated.

"Just thinking about this last show we have coming up after New Years." JC responded.

"Okay." She replied. She knew what he was thinking about, who he was thinking about. She just didn't know how to drag it out of him without souding like the jealous girlfriend, that she was slowly becoming. Bobbie then decided to switch the subject, because she no longer wanted to think about that certain someone.

"How about we spend New Years Eve in New York?" Bobbie tried again.

"Sorry babe, can't do that." JC apologized, not actually sounding apologetic.

"Well why not?" Bobbie asked, her heart dropping.

"Because the guys and I are doing this MTV New Years Eve Special in Vegas." JC answered.

"Oh." Bobbie said simply. She dared to ask the question that was nagging at her the most. "So who's all gonna be there?"

"Well there's gonna be us, and Britney, Christina, and Leah are all gonna be there too." JC explained. "We're all slated to perform."

Bobbie's heart began to pound. "Leah. Leah's gonna be there?" Bobbie asked nervously.

"Yeah." JC confirmed. Bobbie didn't know what to say. She wanted to break out, scream and protest that he couldn't spend the entire weekend in Vegas with his drop dead gorgeous ex-girlfriend! She knew jealousy was a horrible feeling, and that JC and Leah were just friends, but sometimes she couldn't help but wonder if that's all they'd be if she weren't in the picture. She knew that Leah and JC had known each other for a very long time, and even dated at one point, and the fact that they still remained so close made her sick to her stomach. She couldn't help it. JC was the first guy that she ever truly loved. She could see herself spending an eternity with him, and she hated the thought of letting him go. "JC," was all that Bobbie could get out of her mouth, her throat feeling tight. She willed herself not to cry.

"Yeah?" JC replied, getting from his place on the couch.

"Promise me you won't do anything." She demanded, her voice now shaky.

"What?" JC asked, turning to face Bobbie, stopping in his tracks.

"You heard me." Bobbie stated.

"Bobbie, where is this all coming from?" JC wondered.

"It's coming from the fact that you're going to be spending New Years Eve in Las Vegas with your ex-girlfriend!" Bobbie yelled.

"Bobbie c'mon, I know you're not jealous." JC said in disbelief. He couldn't believe they were having this fight.

"What if I was Josh? What if I was jealous?" Bobbie tempted, she couldn't believe she was heading in this territory.

"Bobbie, you have nothing, absolutely nothing to be jealous of." JC reassured his girlfriend.

"I have everything to be jealous of!" Bobbie admitted, a tear now rolling down her cheek. "She's known you longer than me, she knows you better than I could ever hope to know you. She knows everything about you, and I don't. She knows what makes you cry and what pisses you off, and me, your girlfriend of the last four years doesn't even know that! You know why Josh? Because we never see each other. If your not halfway across the continent, then you're off visting her and tending to her needs, comforting her when she's sad and alone. What about me Josh? You know why I'm jealous? Because she's prettier than me, she's funnier than me, she's smarter than me, she's talented and the whole frickin' world just loves her, including you. She's everything you love. I can see it in your eyes that you still love her. I try and I try to ignore it, but deep down I know that I'll never be the one that you want to spend forever with because there will always be Leah. She's eveything you love, everything I'm not, and everything that I could never be." Bobbie sobbed, now in hysterics.

"Bobbie." Was all that JC could say. His heart ached at the sight of his girlfirend so broken hearted. He didn't know what to do or say in this moment that would fix things, because everything that she said had been true. He'd been trying to deny it for the longest but he couldn't anymore. He still loved Leah.

"Josh you know it's true." Bobbie accused.

"Bobbie listen," JC started, walking across the room to console his girlfriend. He sat down on the couch next to her. "You are my girlfriend, and I love you. I will never do anything to hurt you, and you have nothing to worry about. You have my word." JC promised. Once again, he spoke the words that he thought he was supposed to say to get him off the hook, not what he felt. Because in all honesty his heart wasn't there. But he couldn't just up and leave Bobbie. Sure, they had their issues but, at the end of the day he did care for her, and wouldn't just leave her like this. He wasn't heartless.

"Josh, just promise me one thing." Bobbie said seriously, looking JC dead in his eyes.

"Anything." JC replied.

"Promise me that you won't get drunk, and sleep with her." Bobbie said, with tears in her eyes.

"Bobbie, don't be ridiculous."

"Damn it! Promise me JC!" Bobbie demanded, her voice rising again.

"I promise." JC repsonded. JC had never cheated on any of his girlfriends, and he didn't want to ruin his good streak now, but a weekend in Vegas with his ex-girlfriend, who he still loved, was going to make that really hard.

*************

"Oh my god, no it's not!" JC replied.

"Yes it is, and we won't let you off the hook until you admit it!" Tyler, the youngest Chasez sibling teased.

"Fine! I liked Tracey Anders!" JC admitted, referring to his seventh grade crush.

"Liked? Honey don't you think you're being a little subtle?" Karen, JC's mom asked chiming in.

"Yeah, she was all you ever talked about! The first thing you did when you came home from school was call her, it was kinda borderline stalker! You even made up a cheesy song about her!"

"Knock it off Tyler." JC warned, blushing.

"Aww, look at him now!" Heather teased. Although his family was lauging at his expense, truthfully JC wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, he knew it was all in good fun! He missed his family, and was glad to be home for Christmas. To the world he may be JC Chasez, but to his family, he was just Josh, and they treated him no differently then they had before he got famous.

"Speaking of girls son," Roy, JC's father spoke up. "How are thing between you and Leah anyway, are you two going out again?" He asked.

"Dad, I'm still with Bobbie." JC answered. He hated this question.

"Still?" Karen asked. "But honey don't you think Leah's better suited for you?" Karen suggested.

"Mom, Leah and I are just friends. Our whole 'relationship phase' is over." JC explained.

"Well that's a shame, because Leah is a such a nice girl." Karen responded. "Plus, you two were so cute together."

"It was just puppy love mom." JC said, down playing his relationship with Leah.

"I agree with mom, I miss Leah." Heather concurred

"Yeah, me too. Bobbie's cool I guess, but sometimes she can seem like a real uptight bitch!" Tyler added.

"Tyler, watch your language." Roy scolded.

"Tyler, she's till my girlfriend." JC reminded. Although he did have to stick up for his girlfriend. He did agree with his family. He didn't even know why he was still with Bobbie, she wasn't even a joy to be around anymore. Sure, he and Leah had a few problems when they were a couple, but they mostly had fun when they were togther. Bobbie was becoming more and more insecure, where on the other hand Leah never took herself too seriously.

Other than the uncomfortable talk about JC's love life, the day was pretty aswesome. After dinner, the family exchanged gifts and watched old home videos of the Chasez kids, and Christmas movies. Taking a minute to excuse himself from his family, JC went back into the kitchen for a moment alone.

He decided to call Leah. Since she wasn't really all that close to her family, JC knew that she'd most likely be spending Christmas alone. There was that, and the fact that he had been doing a lot of thinking over the past couple of hours. For the past few months he'd been contemplating whether or not he should break up with Bobbie, and once again pursure his feelings for his best friend. Since he didn't want to admit to his friends what he still felt for Leah, he wondered if he were being crazy, and should just leave it alone. But the conversation at the dinner table with his family further confirmed what he already knew. He was the one for Leah, and Leah was the one for him. It was now or never; he decided to tell Leah how he felt now, before he chickened out. He would just have to deal with Bobbie later. He picked up his cell phone and dialed Leah's number, with each number he pressed, his heart pounded faster and faster. Before he knew it the phone was already ringing. It rang about four times before someone picked up.

"Hello?" The sound of a male voice took JC by surprise.

"Um... Is Leah there?" JC asked, not sure whether or not he had called the right number.

"Sorry man, she's not here." The male voice replied. It was the right number, JC's heart dropped.

"Alright, then tell her Josh called." JC responded, sounding defeated.

"Sure thing." The voice replied, before hanging up. JC set his phone down on the counter. Maybe it's the universes way of telling me we're just not meant to be. JC thought to himself, sighing.

"Who was that?" Leah asked coming from the kitchen, and sitting down on the couch next to Tyson.

"Wrong number," Tyson lied. He knew who it was, but he didn't want him talking to Leah. Now that he finally had her back, he was going to make sure that nothing was going to ruin their relationship again, not even JC Chasez.

December 30, 2000

"What is it Tyson?!" Leah yelled over the phone, growing irritated.

"I just wanted to know how you were doing" Tyson replied innocently.

"For the fifth time this morning?" Leah asked, while packing her suitcases.

"Well excuse me for caring."

"No, it's one thing to care, but it's another to be completely and totally obsessive. I thought that if we we're gonna make this work, you wouldn't be so intense."

"Sorry, I'll try to ease up." Tyson apologized.

"Now, if you'll excues me I have some packing to do!"

"Fine!" Tyson yelled hanging up the phone. He hated that Leah was going to be gone a whole weekend in 'The City of Sin' with her ex-boyfriend. He wished that there was something, anything that he could do to stop it. But he knew there wasn't, and it drove him crazy.

Leah stared at her cordless phone, shocked. She tried to work things out with Tyson, but he was more controlling, and more rude and disrespectful than ever. She didn't know how much more she could tolerate. She was thankful for the mini vacation heading her way. A whole weekend in Las Vegas with her old friends. There was no better way to ring in the New Year! She was so ecstatic when MTV called her and offered her a spot to co-host "The MTV Ultimate New Years Bash" along with Nsync, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera, she immediately accpeted! Hanging out with all of her friends was exactly what she needed to relieve all of the stress that she had been feeling!

*************

"We're here!!!" Chris screamed to the top of his lungs when the guys opened the door, and entered their suite at the Palms Hotel and Casino, where they would be co-hosting the New Years party downstairs in the Rain Nightclub.

"Dude shut up." Joey said, dropping his bags, and walking around to check out the suite. "You're like all wound up twentyfour-seven!"

"Please, like you're not all excited to be in Vegas!" Chris teased.

"Yo, check this out!" Lance screamed from the other side of the suite. The other four guys rushed to see what Lance was all excited about. All of their eyes, bulged when they saw that their was a swimming pool off the side of the room, and looking over the side of the building.

"Dude, this is awesome!" Justin exclaimed. All five of the guys immediately stripped down to their boxers and jumped in the pool. All though they were all adults, they didn't take themselves too seriously and all took the time out to play around, and enjoy themseleves.

Although JC looked as if he were having fun, on the inside, he was a nervous wreck! He didn't know how he would react when he saw Leah. He had all of these pent up emotions inside of him, and he didn't know how things would all play out. He kept trying to tell himself that he still had Bobbie, and that he and Leah we're just friends. However, he didn't know if that were enough anymore.

*************

As Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears were getting settled into the suite they would be sharing, the phone rang. Britney raced to pick it up. "Hello?" She answered. "Oh, we're settling in just fine... No, we're still waiting on her to get here... Sure, that sounds great... Yeah, we sure will... Thanks for everything, bye!" Britney hung up the phone.

"Who was that?" Christina asked, coming out of the bedroom in the suite that she chose to stay in.

"That was George Maloof." Britney replied, referring to the owner of the hotel.

"What did he want?"

"He wanted to know how we were liking it here so far. He invited us and the guys out to dinner with him tonight at The Eiffel Tower." Britney explained.

"Oh, that sounds cool, I've always wanted to go there!" Christina exclaimed, joining Britney on the couch.

"Oh yeah, and he's having a bottle of Champagne sent up here to us." Britney added, reaching for the remote and turning on the plasma screen T.V.

"Does he know that we're not even twenty one yet?" Christina asked.

"Yeah, I don't think it matters to him!" Britney said, shaking her head.

"It's so weird when you have status, you get all of these adult privileges, and you don't even get carded." Christina said in disbelief. In the last few years, her and Britney's careers had really taken off, and they were still trying to adjust to this "fame" thing, and all of the special treatments it garnered.

"Yeah, well I wouldn't mind taking advantage of it every once in a while and getting a little tipsy!" Britney said naughtily. Christina laughed. "What? It's a special occasion!" Britney shrugged. Just then there was a knock on the door. "Champagne's here!" Britney cheered.

"You are all to eager missy!" Christina teased.

"Dibs!" Britney cried, jumping up from her place on the couch, and racing towards the door.

"Hey!" Christina called, getting up and running to catch up with Britney. "Cheater!" When they got to door, Christina stopped Britney from opeening the door. "Wait," she stopped in front of Britney, guarding the door. The person on the other side knocked a little louder.

"What?" Britney asked, a little irritated. Christina couldn't help but to giggle at her friends eagerness to get to the alcohol.

"What if it's like a serial killer or something?" Christina questioned, suspicious.

"Christina really? Paranoid much? You really need to stop watching so many Lifetime movies!" Britney replied. The knock on the door continued.

"I'm just sayin'. And some of those movies are true stories!" Christina said in defense. She looked around for the closest object, she then grabbed a vase full of fake flowers off a nearby table, and dumped out the flowers. She held the vase up like a baseball bat.

"What are you going to do with that?" Britney asked in disbelief.

"What? It's how all the heroines survive in the movies." Christina said innocently. Britney just shook her head. Christina could be out there out times, but that's why she loved her. "Who is it?" Christina called to the person on the other side of the door.

"It's me!" A female voice yelled.

"Me who?" Christina asked skeptically.

"It's me you silly goose, now let me in!" The light bubbly voice on the other side of the door demanded.

"Oh for heaven's sakes!" Britney cried, her southern accent coming out, she pulled Christina away from the door, and opened. Standing in the hall, was a five foot two brunette with green eyes, and a big smile on her face.

"LEAH!" Britney and Christina squealed in unison, excited to be reunited with their old friend from The Mickey Mouse Club. When she stepped in the suite with her luggage, both Britney and Christina embraced her in a super tight hug.

"Oh my god, it's so good to see you!" Christina exclaimed, vase still in hand.

"What took you guys so long to answer the door, and what's with the vase?" Leah asked in confusion.

"Oh nothing, Christina just thought you were a crazy psycho serial killer." Britney answered sarcastically. Leah gave Christina a weirded out look.

"Christina, seriously?" Leah asked, setting down her luggage.

"It's the Lifetime movies getting to her head!" Britney explained.

"Oh-kaaay. Well then, I guess it's a good think I'm not a serial killer, because man Christina, I would've been totally toast with that vase and all!" Leah laughed. Christina and Britney laughed too. "So where's my room?"

"Follow me." Christina said, taking Leah's luggage. Leah and Britney followed behind.

"Yeah, you better carry my luggage, as long as you had me waiting. I thought my arms were gonna turn to Jell-O!" Leah teased.

"Like I said, you could've been a serial killer!"

"Me? Little ole' me? Please, I'm 5'2. And have you seen me fight? I couldn't hurt a bumble bee, it would sting me first!" Leah chuckled.

"Hey, ya never know! It's always the least suspecting ones!" Christina replied. Leah and Britney gave each other a knowing glance, and then rolled their eyes. Christina came to a stop. "Here's your room!" Christina, Leah and Britney walked into her room, and plopped down on the king sized bed. A moment of peaceful silence followed.

"It's so good to see you guys!" Leah said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah it's been a while!" Christina replied.

"This weekend is gonna be so much fun!" Leah exclaimed.

"Yeah, especially for you!" Britney said, pointing to Leah.

"What do you mean especially for me?" Leah asked.

"Oh come on, you and JC!" Britney replied. Leah's eyes widened, and she playfully poked Britney on the shoulder.

"I told you, JC and I aren't like that anymore." Leah reminded. "And besides, you're one to talk. Your boyfriend's here!"

"Yeah, but that's different. Justin and I are a couple. An official couple, and everyone knows it. We're sort of...setteled! But you and JC are much more interesting." Britney explained, Christina nodded her head in agreement.

"How?" Leah asked.

"You and JC are like a real live soap opera." Christina chimed in.

"Are not!" Leah argued.

"Are too." Christina replied. "It's like are you on again, or are you off, which is it? It's so damn hard to determine."

"I told you, we're just friends."

"Mmmhmm. That's what you say." Britney cut in. "To outsiders it may seem that way. But you can't you can't fool us. You see, we know the truth."

"The truth is, we are just friends and nothing more." Though I wish we were more. Leah wanted to add.

"Give it up Leah, we've known you for years!" Christina said. "Spit it out. You can trust us!"

"Yeah you can trust us!" Britney cosigned. Leah looked back and forth to the two girls in front of her. She's known them just as long as she had know JC and Justin, and she knew she could trust them. And to be honest, she couldn't hold her feelings in any longer. She'd been dying to tell someone. Lucky had been out of town, vacationing with her family in the carribbean where there was no cell reception, so she couldn't talk to her. And it's not like she could talk to Jaime about her problems; she didn't even know Josh, and they hadn't even known each other for that long, so she had no idea about her and Josh's history.

Leah closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Well the truth is... I'm still in love with Josh." Leah admitted. It was the first time since her and JC were a couple that she actually said what she had been feeling for her bestfriend aloud. When she didn't hear a response, she opened her eyes, scared of what Britney and Christina might think. She saw the two content faces staring back at her.

"I knew it." Britney said.

"But you can't tell." Leah said seriously.

"Why not?" Britney said deviously.

"Because Brit, we said that she can trust us. And besides, if Josh finds out that Leah's in love with him, don't you think that Leah should be the one to tell him?" Christina reasoned.

"Which he won't be finding out anytime soon." Leah said.

"Why not?" Christina asked this time.

"For too many reasons." Leah answered.

"Reasons like what?" Christina asked.

"Well there's the fact that he has a girlfriend." Leah said.

"Who he totally doesn't love." Britney assumed.

"And then there's the fact that we tried being in a relationship before."

"Okay, and..." Christina said.

"I'm just afraid. The last time we were in a relationship, JC broke up with me. I was so broken hearted, and I thought that I had lost my bestfriend forever. It was so awkward after the break up, it took the longest time for our friendship to get back on track. And I don't want for that to happen again. What if we don't work out again, and even after that we don't remain friends. Josh is my bestfriend, I don't know what I would do without him in my life. He's been through all of these things with me, things that you guys don't know about. He's been my rock, and I'm not ready to risk that again." Leah explained her reasoning for not telling JC that she was still in love with him. "There's that, and the fact that he may not feel the same about me anymore. What if he's not in love with me anymore? I mean he is with Bobbie, and they have been together for almost four years! More than likely, he's moved on. Then what would I look like? I'd be a complete and total dork if I poured my heart out to him, only for him to tell me that he doesn't feel the same." Leah continued, tears now falling from her eyes. It felt so good to get that off of her chest.

"Oh honey." Christina said, reaching her arms out and hugging a crying Leah. Britney then reached over and hugged her too. Sometimes a hug from your friends was all you needed to make you feel like everything was going to be okay.

"Listen I can't pretend to understand what you're going through," Britney spoke up. "But we've known you and Josh for a really long time now, and we've witnessed your friendship, and relationship. We know how much you two love and care for each other. I know you're scared, but honestly, don't be. I can't prove it, but I just know that Josh just has to feel the same way about you. If he says that he doesn't have feelings for you anymore, that's at total lie. In case you didn't know, it's obvious to everyone else that you two are meant to be together. You guys can pretend all you want that you've moved on, but you both know deep down that you're meant for each other. You guys have been through too much and love each other so deeply, there's no way you two won't end up together." Britney said, finishing her lecture. She's been dying to say that! Leah wiped her eyes and smiled.

"Thanks guys, I'm glad you understand." The three shared a group hug, and silence came over them. Suddenly there was the sound of a ring tone breaking the silence. Leah took her cell phone from her purse. When she read the caller ID and saw that it was Tyson, she pressed ignore. She rolled her eyes, and let out a sigh.

"Who is it?" Christina asked, curious by Leah's reaction.

"My ex-boyfriend Tyson. He totally screwed up a few months back, I broke up with him, he apologized, and I told him we could be friends again, but now he's being a completely possesive and obsessive freak. He actually thinks that we have a chane at getting back together." Leah explained.

"Wow. What did he do?" Christina asked.

"I went to a party with him, and I caught him smoking pot. He was high out of his mind, and left me with no way home. Not to mention, he's a complete and total asshole!" Leah answered.

"That's a big no no." Britney said.

"You're telling me." Leah replied.

"Which is a sign telling you, that JC is the one for you." Christina said smiling. "It's so obvious. Your one boyfriend besides JC is a jerk, and JC would never do that to you!"

"I agree." Britney concurred. "Now, get dressed." Britney demanded, changing the subject.

"Why?" Leah asked.

"Because, George Maloof is taking us out tonight!" Britney answered.

"Seriously? Where?" Leah's eyes lit up with interest.

"The Eiffel Tower." Christina replied.

"Cool!" Leah responded.

"And no pressure, but where your sexiest dress, because the guys are coming too!" Christina added, and Leah rolled her eyes. Heading out of Leah's room, the girls heard a knock on the door.

"And that's the Champagne!" Britney cheered.

*************

"So how are you guys liking the Palms?" George Maloof, the owner of the luxurious hotel asked the guys of Nsync along with Leah, Britney, and Christina from the head of the reactangular table.

"Oh, well we actually love it!" JC spoke up for the group, the rest nodding in agreement. George Maloof had met up with the group at The Eiffel Tower, the famous French Restaruant in Las Vegas. He allowed them to order what ever they wanted, on him.

"You know, it's really an honor to have all of you stay at my hotel." George said. The group all thanked him. "Now, lets get down to business. I have invited you all here for a reason." He continued. "I'm really grateful that you are shooting your New Years Eve Bash here, it's a lot of great promotion and good for business. So as a thank you gift, I would like to sponsor all of your tours." Everyones eyes lit up in disbelief. They had been called by MTV to go to Vegas to host a New Years celebration, they hadn't expected for the actual owner to meet with them and drop this bomb on them! Sponsoring four tours? That was gonna be more than expspensive, but hey if any one could do it, it would be George Maloof of all people, the man was known to give extravagant gifts to the celebrity guest staying at his hotel.

"That is so very generous of you!" Christina exclaimed, she couldn't believe this.

"Well it's the least I could do, the four hottest acts in entertainment are staying at the Palms all at once, do you now how great that is for business?" He asked.

"But Mr. Maloof, we've already finished our tour, we only have one more show on left on the 18 in Rio de Janeiro, after that we're pretty much done." Justin explained.

"Well for your next tour, consider it covered." George replied.

"Thank you so much Mr. Maloof." Lance said.

"Hey, Mr. Maloof is my father, call me George." He smiled.

"Okay, George." Leah remarked, smiling.

The dinner continued, everyone (almost everyone) having a good time, drinking, eating, and more drinking. JC slowed down on the drinking though, becuase he didn't trust himself. He was afraid that with alcohol in his system, he would get bold, make a move on Leah, say something stupid, and mess up his relationship with Bobbie, and ruin his friendship with Leah. At this point he was more tense then ever. He looked at Leah, who was sitting directly across the table from him. She was engaged in a conversation with Lance, who was sitting next to her. While she wasn't paying attention, JC took the opportunity to look at her, something he had hardly been able to do all night. God, she's beautiful, JC thought. A smiled spread across her face, laughing at whatever it was that Lance said. She had the most beautiful smile that he had ever seen, and he got a little jealous. He wanted to know what Lance had said to her to make her laugh, he wanted to make her laugh, to make her smile. The most he'd said to her all night was "Hi, how are ya!" 'Hi, how are ya?' Really? He said that as if they were neighbors who didn't really know each other, but spoke to each other in the supermarket just to be nice. Or like a stranger, who he had just met for the first time. They had known each other for nine years! His feelings for his bestfriend were getting really bad. So bad that he was getting jealous of Lance! Lance of all people. He knew Lance would never cross that line, because he was his bestfriend, and because he knew that JC and Leah had once dated. Besides, Lance had a girlfirend, Danielle. But that didn't really mean anything. JC had a girlfriend, but that didn't mean that he wasn't in love with Leah either.

As Lance was telling Leah a funny story about a prank they pulled while on tour, Leah couldn't help but think about the one across from her, JC. It's not that what Lance was saying wasn't interesting or funny, because it totally was, but still... She couldn't get JC off of her brain. It was insanity! Sure, she was happy that she would get to spend a whole weekend in Las Vegas with some of her bestfriends, but the whole time she was packing, and her whole flight here all she could do was think about him. She was so nervous, she didn't know how she would react to seeing him again. After "The Tyson Incident", as she dubbed it, she reevaluated her relationship with him, and asked herself what she really wanted in a guy, and all of those answers led back to JC. Which totally sucked because a.) JC had a girlfriend, and b.) she was pretty sure that JC no longer felt the same way about her. They were a couple six almost seven years ago, and she was sure that JC didn't share those same feelings for her. He was the one that broke up with her after all. She couldn't help it, but she was jealous of Bobbie. She wondered if Bobbie knew what a great guy she had, and she hoped that she was treating JC right. He was a great person, and deserved nothing but the best.

"Well, I have to get going guys, I have a meeting to go to, but you can stay and order anything you want on me." George said, snapping Leah from her thoughts. It wasn't unusual for people in the entertainment business to have meetings at eight o'clock at night, it was the norm.

"Thanks George!" The group said in unison. George exited their private room, and that left just the eight of them together. After dinner, they had a dress rehearsal for the New Years Eve Bash at The Rain Nightclub in the Palms. They went over the list of videos on the "Top 100 videos of 2000 Countdown", each act rehearsed the songs that they were slated to perform, and practiced introducing other artist, interviewing the party goers, and practiced counting down each second as the ball dropped. Although it was work, it really didn't feel like it! The group had a blast hanging with each other. JC and Leah's tension towards each other had dissolved, and they were back to being the bestfriends that everyone knew they were. When they were around each other it was just like they were fourteen and fifteen again! Everyone teased each other, laughing hysterically as they did when they were kids! It was just like the good old days! JC wished that things could stay like this forever.

When they were finally finished rehearsing, it was two a.m., and officially New Years Eve. "So what she would do now?" Joey asked the group, as they were all gathered in the empty VIP area. The club had been closed for the day, so that they could rehearse for the New Years special.

"Why don't we hit up a club?" Chris suggested.

"A club?" JC asked. "It's already two now, and besides we'll be partying all day in a few hours, and well on into the New Year. We have a good, I don't know say fifteen or sixteen hours of partying ahead of us." It was true, they had a full twelve hour spot on live television, not to mention the few hours after midnight that the party would continue. Everyone but JC and Leah groaned in disappointment.

"JC's right." Leah spoke up, defending her friend.

"You would say that." Chris teased. JC shot him a look the burned holes through his skull.

"No, seriously. If we go to a club now, then when will we get back to our rooms? Five? When we have to be up at six." Everyone just stared at her. "C'mon guys we're gonna be working for twelve hours straight, live on television. I'm not saying it won't be fun, but what good would it do us if we wear ourselves out now? All I'm saying is that, if we go to a club now, what good will it do us in the morning? We'll be so tired and cranky, that it'll suck the fun out of everything." Leah reasoned. They knew it was true, so they said nothing.

"Killjoys." Chris finally said pouting, as he was sitting on the red velvet couch. JC and Leah were perfect for each other, Chris thought as he sat looking back and forth between the two of them. They were just alike. Ever since he had known them, they had always been the voice of reason. The mature ones. They had always shown a united front, defending each other's actions, as if they were a married couple. So Chris couldn't figure out for the life of him why they wouldn't stop beating around the bush, and be together like everyone hoped they would.

"C'mon guys, unfortunately JC and Leah are right." Joey said, giving in. "We should all just go back to our suites."

"Thanks a lot Mom and Dad!" Chris teased, poking his tongue out at them like he was little kid. Leah and JC just shared a knowing glance and laughed.

"Consider the source" JC mumbled. As the crew was about ready to head out of the club, they noticed that there were two of them missing.

"Where's Britney and Justin at?" Christina asked. They all looked around for the couple, when they finally spotted them in a corner making out, Britney sitting on Justin's lap.

"C'mon you two love birds, it's time to go!" Lance shouted in their direction, Britney jumped when she noticed that they had an audience. She got up from her place on her boyfriends lap, and they both stood up.

"What club are we going to?" Justin asked.

"We're not." Lance answered.

"Why not?" Justin asked.

"Thanks to JC and Leah, we now have a curfew." Chris sighed.

"Aww man, I really wanted to go to a club. My only chance to drink. I won't be able to tomorrow because MTV is gonna have camera's everywhere, and I'm supposed to be 'a good role model'." Justin complained, quoting Stan Lathan, the show's creator. The group laughed.

"Well role model, practice what you preach." Lance replied. Justin glared at him.

"Thanks a lot Mom and Dad." Justin pouted, as Chris had just done minutes before. The group the began to head out of the club.

"Oh no, not you too!" JC exclaimed.

*************

"So how was it for you?" Christina asked, coming out of the bathroom in her pajamas, and into her room.

"It wasn't as nerve racking as I had anticipated." Leah answered, referring to being in the same room as JC, as she flooped down on Christina's bed.

"Tonight was great!" Britney stated, coming into the room, and sitting on the bed beside Leah.

"Yeah it was!" Christina replied, sitting on the bed. "It was like we were kids again!"

"Yeah, you know what it reminded me of?" Britney asked the two.

"What?" Leah asked propping herself up on her elbows.

"Back when were on the MMC and we would spend weekends together." She replied.

"Yeah." Leah and Christina agreed.

"Hey remmeber how we always used to eat at Gigi's?" Christina asked.

"Yeah, and that old creepy guy who used to take our orders! I swear, he was looking down our tops." Leah laughed.

"That man, freaked me out!" Britney exclaimed. "What was his name?"

"Mr. Moretti" Leah answered. "Or Crazy Mell Moretti." Crazy Mell Moretti is what the neighborhood kids had dubbed him.

"That's right!" Christina said. "Wow, that man must of been like 100 years old!" She pointed out. "One time I went to the bathroom, and I was washing my hands, I thought I was alone, but then Crazy Mell come's bursting out of a stall, you know because Gigi's had co-ed bathrooms, and there wasn't like a special one for employees or anything..." Christina went on. "He gave me the weirdest look, and he washed his hands, but kept his eyes on me the whole time. I washed my hands as soon as I could and dahsed out of there!" She shuttered. The others laughed.

"Whatever happened to Crazy Mell anyway?" Leah asked.

"I think he died." Britney replied.

"Oh." Was all that Christina, and Leah said in response, the smiles on their faces fading.

December 31, 2000

"Hey guys, this is Leah!" Leah said through a microphone introducing herself to the at home audience. She along with Britney, Christina, and a television crew were standing on top of the roof of the Palms Hotel and Casino.

"I'm Britney!" Britney introduced herself, standing next to Leah, holding her own microphone with the MTV logo on it.

"And I'm Christina." Christina intoduced herself as well, on the opposite side of Britney, with her microphone in hand. "And we're here chillin' with the guys of Nsync here at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas!"

"And you are watching The MTV Ultimate New Years Eve Bash!" Leah cheered reading the teleprompter back behind the camera.

"We'll be here all day and all night counting down the top 100 videos of the year!" Christina explained.

"That's right, you guys at home picked em', and we're gonna play em'!" Britney read enthusiastically.

"After the video countdown, stick around for another countdown. A countdown of the seconds that is, as we ring in 2001 with a bang!" Leah said, reading her line.

"We'll be back in a few, but first a word from our sponsors." Britney read.

"So sit back, relax, and don't change that channel." Christina said.

"Cut!" Steve Paley, the director called from his place in his director's chair. "That was great guys! Excellent!" He smiled. Since they had a good three minutes before the were due back on camera, the hair and make-up artists rushed to their sides to give them quick touch-ups.

"Ooo, I have to pee!" Britney said anxiously, sliding away from the hair and make-up artist and rushing towards the bathroom.

"Ughh, TMI!" Leah laughed, as she watched Britney hightail it to the ladies room Britney made it back just in time before the camera's started to roll again. She picked up the microphone, and stood beside Christina and Leah as if she had been standing there the whole time.

"Welcome back to The MTV Ultimate New Years Bash!" Christina welcomed the at home audience back. "We're here at the Palms Hotel and Casino celebrating the year with 100 videos that you at home have chosen!"

"Coming in at number one hundred here's Faith Hill with Breathe." Leah said, introducing the first video on the list. "100? Really?" Leah asked, once the camera's were off. Since they were filming live, they couldn't just pre-record their parts, they had to introduce the video, and then wait anywhere from three to six minutes, depending on how long the video was, then pick up filming again. "I really like that song. Hmm, I had more faith in our viewers." She said seriously as she sat down in a chair with her name on the back. Christina, Britney, and the crew all laughed at her. "What? I'm just sayin'... We totally should have chosen the videos."

"Yeah, but that would take out the interactive part." Stan Lathan, the producer and creator explained. "We want to reach out to the audience."

"At number ninety-nine is Blink 182's All the Small Things." Christina said. After announcing what the next five videos were, the film crew stopped rolling, they were now going to be shooting Nsync's portion of the countdown, ninety-three through eighty-six.

*************

"And our number one song is Bye Bye Bye by our very own Nsync!" All three of the girls cheered, announcing the final song of the video countdown. They were in the VIP section of the Rain Nightclub, surrounded by Justin, JC, Joey, Chris, and Lance, as well as a crowd of celebrities and party goers. The crew stopped filming while the Bye Bye Bye video was being played to the at home viewers. By it being the number one song of the year, the DJ played it, and everyone in the club started to dance. Justin with Britney, Joey with his girlfriend Kelly, Chris with some random chick he pointed out in the crowd, and Lance with his girlfriend Danielle Fishel who played Topanga Lawrence on the TV show Boy Meets World. Leah and JC just sat on the couch, wathcing everyone else dance. Leah didn't have anyone to dance with, no one asked her, and JC just didn't want to get into anymore trouble with Bobbie. If he wasn't with Bobbie, he would so ask Leah to dance.

Leah eyed, JC and scooted over next to him. "Congratulations." She whispered in his ear. Her lips on his ear sent a chill down his spine, and caused him to grow hard. He crossed his legs trying to hide his erection. Oh boy, he thought to himself.

"For what?" He asked nervously.

"Duh, for having the number one song!" Leah replied.

I'm trying to have fun, but you keep making my dick grow hard! JC wanted to scream. "Yeah sure."

"Jace are you okay?" She asked. "You seem... I don't know, you seem tense!" JC scooted further away from her, and she knitted her eyebrows together in confusion.

"I'm fine!" He blurted out. He couldn't take this anymore! Being this close to her, and not being able to have her? It was killing him! Did she know she was flirting him? Did she know how much she turned him on!

"Okay, we're ready!" The director shouted. "Everyone to the roof!" Leah, Britney and Christina along with the guys of Nsync, and the filming crew all made their way to the roof along with a group of lucky fans, who would watch the ball drop with them.

Once everyone made their way to the roof, which was decorated silver, black, and white, the crew rushed to set up. These last few moments were all about impeccable timing. One tiny slip up could ruin the whole thing! "And we're rolling in 3, 2, 1... Action!" The director called.

"Welcome back everyone! We're all here on the rooftop of The Palms Hotel and Casino where any minute the ball will drop, and we'll ring in the New Year!" Joey said into the camera, the rest of the group crowding around him. The crowd of fans behind them cheered, pining for a spot on national television. Cindy, the second assistant director gave Joey a thumbs up, the okay to start the countdown.

Joey started the countdown from 30, and everyone joined in with them. Leah got a knot in her stomach, the way she always did when ringing in the New Year. She was nervous and excited all at the same time. A new year meant new things, they could either be good or bad. She sure as hell hoped that this year would be better than her last.

"15, 14, 13, 12..." The crowd counted down. "10, 9, 8, 7,..." Here it comes, here it comes, Leah thought to herself, linking arms with Christina and Britney. "5, 4, 3, 2, 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!" The crowd shouted in excitement. Fireworks went off, and music blared extra loud. Leah looked around. She spotted Justin and Britney in a lip lock, Christina shared a small peck on the lips with a guy she had been dating, Joey was kissing his girlfriend Kelly, Lance shared his first kiss of 2001 with Danielle, and Chris was making out with some random girl. Everyone for someone, but no one for Leah. She looked aross the roof top and spotted JC standing alone. How she wished that he was her New Years kiss. She decided to walk up to him.

"Happy New Year!" She greeted.

"Happy New Year!" He smiled.

"So..." She trailed off at a lost for words.

"Pretty awesome night huh?" He asked her.

"Yeah." She replied.

"Leah."

"Yeah?"

"Can I get you a drink?" JC asked.

"Sure." Leah answered. Ah, what the hell? It's New Years!

"C'mon lets go back inside!" JC pulled her by her hand and took her back to Rain.

Soon one drink turned into two, and two into three, and JC and Leah had lost track of how many drinks they had had. The hadn't moved from the bar since JC bought their first drinks. They were pretty buzzed, and were very playful and touchy feely with each other. JC then stood up, walked behind Leah and wrapped his arms around her. "Dance with me." He whispered into her ear seductively. It was more a demand, than a question. He then took Leah by the hand and she followed him onto the dancefloor. The DJ played the song "Music" by Madonna, and JC and Leah were dancing their hearts out on the floor. The alcohol drowning out their sorrows and loneliness, the only thing that mattered to them in that moment was that they were together, and that they were having the time of their lives. Leah was having so much fun, and never wanted the song to end, but when it finally did, she couldn't wait until the next. "This next song, is for all of you couples out their. Grab the one you love, and get your butt on the dancefloor for the first slow song of the year." The DJ announced. Feeling uncomfortable, Leah didn't know whether she should dance the next song with JC, or just go sit down somewhere.

Hearing the first few notes of the song, Leah felt like she was gonna faint. This couldn't be happening. The sounds of violin strings rang loud in her ears. "This is our song." Leah said, barely audible, her voice shaking. She felt a lump in her throat. As she heard Steven Tyler sing the first few lyrics of "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", she looked for a way out. Turning around to leave the dancefloor, she felt a hand on her wrist. She turned around, it was JC, catching her before she ran off.

"Dance this song with me." He said gently.

"Okay." She replied. JC pulled Leah close to him. She placed her arms around his shoulders, he wrapped his arms around her tiny waist. As the song went into the chorus, her heart began to pound inside of her chest.

Listening to the words brought tears to her eyes. She remembered when she and JC went to go see Armageddon the day it came out in theaters. The movie was powerful and really touching, but what touched her most was not when Bruce Willis dies in the end, but when the Aerosmith song is played. She remember it bringing tears to her eyes, and JC glanced over to her and asked her what was wrong. "Nothing," she replied. "It's just.. This song is so... So beautiful, so touching."

"Well how about we make this are song?" JC asked.

"I'd like that!" She replied, laying her head on his shoulder in the dark movie theater. Okay, so they weren't a couple when JC declared that I Don't Want to Miss a Thing was their song, so it was more like a bestfriends song, but still, it meant so much to their relationship. Whenever she heard the song, it reminded her of him, and every single time she heard it, she wished they were together again, like she wished they were together now. She then laid her head on JC's shoulder like she had done that day at the movie theater. She wanted to be with him so bad. It was so hard being this close to a person, and know that you can't have them.

When the song ended, the DJ played another song, this time a more uptempo one; That's the Way Love Goes by Janet Jackson. Oh boy, JC thought. How is this even possible. "Oh my god, Jace! You have to dance this one last song with me! Please?" Leah begged.

"Sure," JC replied, not wanting to turn her down. JC didn't know how much more he could take. First the DJ played their song, now he's playing what could possibly be one of the horniest songs known to mankind. This could not be happening. JC didn't know if he could control himself now with Leah grinding him like she was. He did want to remain faithful to Bobbie, but at the same time he was a man. As the song played, he couldn't help but to grind harder into her.

Leah didn't know what had come over her, maybe it was the champagne, but when the song came on, she began to dance seductively with JC. It's as if the song spoke volumes. It said what she wanted to say to him, without even having to say anything.

"A-are you sure?" Leah stammered, taken by surprise. This had seemed to sober her up a bit. Here he was, the man of her dreams, asking her to come with him to his room. So why was she so hesitant?

"Yes." JC replied simply.

"Okay," Leah answered. JC took her by her hand and led her out of Rain.

Justin looked over the balcony from the VIP section of the club, pleased by what he saw. He knew that after a few drinks in them, they wouldn't be able to resist a few love songs. Justin eyed the DJ from the DJ booth and gave him a thumbs up. His plan, "Operation Hook Up", as he liked to call it, had worked! Score!

After JC had used his key card to open the door to the suite that he shared with the guys, he and Leah, kissing roughly and passionately, made their way to his room, knocking over flower vases and picture frames in the process. "Mmmm." Leah moaned as she backed into his room. Standing in front of the bed, JC stripped Leah of her clothing. He pulled down her black sequined strapless mini dress, as she kicked of her shoes. He smiled to himself when saw that she wasn't wearing a bra. JC took off his shirt, as she took off her black lace Victoria Secret thong. Not being able to wait any longer, Leah decided that JC needed some help. She got down on her knees, and unbuckled JC's belt, and unzipped his pants. Coming back up she planted a kiss on his soft lips, and pulled back the covers, and laid on the bed. JC followed, climbing on top of her. Once in the bed, JC pulled his boxer briefs off, and slid them down to his ankles, and tossed them to the floor. They continued to kiss passionately, their hands roaming each other's bodies. A million thoughts were running through JC's mind. This is what he's been wanting for the longest, and now he was finally going to take advantage of the opportunity. He was tired of always doing what was right, he wanted to finally do what he felt in his heart. It was just him and Leah, no one else. He finally had her all to himself, and he wasn't going to let the moment pass him by, like he had done time and time before. He and Leah belonged together, and he didn't care if she was taken or not, fuck being polite!

"Mmmm, Josh..." Leah moaned, as JC made his way down her neck. "Josh?"

"Yeah baby?"

"What about Bobbie?" Leah asked before they went too far. JC stopped dead in his tracks, his heart beating fast.

"Me and Bobbie are over." He lied. "What about you and what's his face?" He countered, looking deep into her eyes.

"You mean Tyson? We are so history." She replied. That was music to JC's ears! That's all he wanted to hear. He needed to know that there was no other man in her life. That was all the confirmation he needed, to know that she was all his. He made his way down her chest to her stomach and down in between her legs. She spread them, for JC's access. He rubbed one of his fingers against her slit. "Josh!" Leah called.

"Yeah baby?" He answered

"I need you." She groaned, not being able to take the his slow teasing torture.

"Not now baby."

"C'mon Jace, I need you." Leah moaned. JC smiled, he loved to hear her beg. He had her right where he wanted her. JC dove right in between her, thrusting his tongue in and out of her.

"Josh please!" Leah cried out, she didn't know how much more she could take, all she knew was that she needed to feel him insider of her. Still not listening, JC found her bud, and flicked his tongue across it. Leah felt like her head was spinning, she thought she going crazy. "Josh, I can't take it anymore. I need you inside of me now!" He continued to flick his tongue across her bud. "Josh," Leah cried. "I already know what you can do, remember? So stop showing off, and fuck me!" She demanded. JC came up to her, until they were face to face. This is exactly what he wanted, for her to beg. For her to tell him how bad she wanted and needed him. He smiled at her smugly.

"Are you sure?" He asked, already knowing her answer.

"Yes Josh, I'm fucking sure!" He coudn't help but to laugh a little to himself, it was funny to hear her swear, because she hardly ever did it. "Josh please!"

JC took his shaft, and gently glided it over her opening, sliding up and down, teasing her. He smiled when she writhed beneath him, he knew exactly what he was doing. "Josh, please don't tease me she moaned." He planted slow soft kisses on her lips, and down to her neck, before slowly entering her.

"Ahhhh!" Leah cried out in pleasure. She hadn't felt this amazing in forever, and she never wanted for this feeling to go away.

"Mmmm..." JC groaned from deep in his chest, she felt so good, just like it was their first time all over again. She was still slick and tight, just like he remembered.

"Oooh, faster baby." Leah purred. JC thrusted faster inside of her, the friction driving the both of them nuts. As JC thrusted faster and deeper insider of her, he looked deep into her eyes, feeling everything that he was supposed to feel. In that moment, everything just felt right to the both of them. This was how it was supposed to be. They fit together so perfectly physically and emotionally. This wasn't just any ordinary fuck, no they were making love. Hot and passionate love.

"Shit, Josh I'm cumming." Leah moaned. She tried her best to hold on, but she could no longer take it. Her head began to spin, and she lost all control. When JC felt Leah clench him, he knew he was close. Thrusting now deeper, and harder JC pounded into Leah at a rapid pace. Looking deep into each other's eyes, they both came together, their bodies melting into each other.

JC rolled off of Leah, and she rested her head on his bare chest. He wrapped his arms around her, and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Mmm, that was so good." Leah said.

"Yeah it was." JC replied, stroking her hair. "Leah."

"Yeah Josh?" Leah asked, looking up at him, and into his beautiful blue eyes.

"I love you." He confessed what he had been feeling for the past few months.

"I love you too, Josh."

"Josh." Leah whispered, pulling the covers up over her bare chest. "Josh," she repeated, this time leaning over to gently shake a sleeping JC. JC, rolled over, and blinked up at Leah. "C'mon on Josh wake up," She panicked, an urgency in her voice.

JC immediately jerked up at the sight of his bestfriend in his bed. "Leah what the hell?" JC whisper-yelled.

"I don't know, you tell me!" Leah replied, wide eyed.

"Did we? Oh no!" JC panicked. He leapt out of the bed, searching for his clothes, Leah doing the same.

"I can't believe this!" Leah shrieked, the previous nights events all coming back to her at once. The alcohol, the music, the...sex! Oh. My. God! Leah grabbed her dress, and slipped it over her head, she glanced over at the digital clock. It was seven in the morning! Her head pounding, she paused for a moment to gather her thoughts. Leah was so embarrassed, she couldn't believe what she had just done. She was never the type to lose control like that, she felt like such a...whore! "Oh my god!" She groaned.

As JC slid his jeans on and buttoned up his shirt, a million thoughts raced through his mind. He and Leah had just did it. They had sex. Drunken, sloppy, slutty New Years sex. He then looked over to Leah. But it wasn't just drunk sex. It was sex with Leah, which made it different right? It wasn't like he got so drunk that he didn't know the difference between up and down, and that he just crawled into bed with some random chick, no, it was Leah. That made everything okay, right? This was different, it wasn't just some one night stand, it was his bestfriend who he truly and deeply cared for. It wasn't just drunk sex, it wasn't just sex either, he may have been a little out of it, but he remembered everything that had happened in that bed. It wasn't just sex, they had made love, and it was beautiful. So why did it feel so wrong? Snapping JC from his thoughts, he looked around the room, from the floor to the trash can searching for a condom wrapper. He didn't see one. Panick started to wash over JC, everything coming back to him in flashes, like a camera. He remembered stumbling up to the suite, busting into the bedroom, and rushing to get their clothes off, hopping into bed, but not unwrapping a wrapper, not putting on a condom. He felt like a bad PSA for safe sex. How can I be so stupid? "We didn't use a-"

"It's okay, I'm on the pill!" Leah interrupted. She was growing more frantic by the minute as she searched for her other shoe. Looking down at a black stilleto, JC picked it up and tossed it to Leah. After putting her shoes on, she met JC's gaze. "Josh...I- I don't know what to say." Leah stammered. How could she possibly explain herself?

"Leah." JC sighed. What should he say? He didn't want her to place all of the blame on herself. He was the one that offered her a drink, asked her to dance, and invited her up to his room afterall.

"Where does this leave us?" Leah asked nervously.

"I don't know." JC replied honestly. He still had a lot to figure out. He stll wanted to tell Leah how he felt for her, but was afraid that it would be the wrong move, that and he was still with Bobbie. Shit, Bobbie. I forgot! JC's actual girlfriend had completely slipped his mind. He had made a promise to Bobbie, that he wouldn't get drunk and sleep with Leah, and that's exactly what he had done. This was a messy, messy situation.

"I should go." Leah said, barely audible. With that, she walked out of the door, and out of the suite, JC too stunned to stop her.

The first thing JC did when he got back from Las Vegas was go to Bobbie's house. He had to be a man and accept what he had done. He wasn't proud of the fact that he had cheated on Bobbie. He had made her a promise, and broke it. In every single one of his relationships that he had ever been in, he had never cheated on the girl- until now. He hated the fact that he had betrayed Bobbie, she was a sweet girl, she didn't deserve that. Bobbie had been by his side for the past three going on four years, and this is what he does in return? Some boyfriend he was.

Althouh he felt bad for being unfaithful to Bobbie, he didn't regret what he did with Leah either, and in all honesty he wished he could have that one night with Leah all over again. But this time, he would do it completely sober, he wouldn't need alcohol to give him the balls that he didn't have on his own to tell Leah what he really felt for her, and he wouldn't have led Bobbie on either. He should have just told Bobbie the truth when he first realized that he had feelings for his best friend again. He should have broken up with her before he had gotten the chance to hurt her. The worst part was, not only had he lied to Bobbie, but he had also lied to Leah. When Leah had asked him about Bobbie, he had basically told her that Bobbie was non-existent. Dammit! What the hell did I get myself into?

Taking a deep breath, JC lifted his arm to knock on the bright yellow door. When Bobbie saw JC standing there, a huge smile spread across her face. "Josh, baby I missed you so much!" She exclaimed, flinging her arms aroung him. JC was taken aback by her enthusiasm. "Come in." Bobbie said with a wave of her arm. As JC stepped into the foyer, his heart beat faster and faster with every second that passed by, nervous in anticipation of what was to come. "How was your weekend?" She asked, walking into the livin room. "I had a blast, the only thing that could have made it better was having you there!" She gushed. "Josh, why are you just standing there?" JC hadn't even realized that he was frozen right in his spot. He then preceded to walk toward his soon to be ex-girlfriend.

When Bobbie saw the distant look on JC's face, she automatically knew. "Josh, you did, didn't you?" She asked, barely above a whisper. JC stood silent. He lifted his head to meet Bobbie's eyes, who was now standing right in front of him.

"Bobbie listen-" before JC could continue, all he could feel was the stinging sensation of Bobbie's palm connecting with his face. "Bobbie what the hell?!" JC screamed, startled that she had actually just slapped him. But really he deserved it, and he knew it too.

"You promised me Josh! You promised that you wouldn't do anything!" Bobbie cried. "You had sex with her didn't you?" Bobbie already knew the answer, when he didn't say anything. "God, how could I be so stupid to believe you when you said, that she meant nothing?" She sobbed, tears now streaming down her face. JC hated the fact that he made her cry, he hated that he had betray her trust, and broken her heart.

"Bobbie, I can explain."

"Really Josh, can you? Can you honestly tell me that you don't still love her?" This is when JC knew that he should just stop lying to Bobbie, and lying to himself, before he dug himself into an even deeper hole.

"I'm sorry Bobbie, but I can't tell you that." JC answered honestly. Bobbie gave him a look of disbelief.
"Don't be sorry Josh, if anyone should be sorry, then it should be me. I should've seen this coming all along. I know you still love her, I've tried to deny it for the longest." Bobbie replied exasperated, as she plopped down on her couch. Suddenly JC felt even worse. He loved Leah true, but he never meant to hurt anyone in the process. Not knowing what to do or say, he sat down next to Bobbie on the couch, and pulled her into a side hug.

"Bobbie, I'm sorry, I really am. I never meant to hurt you."

"Just answer me one thing; If you love her, why did you choose to string me along?" Bobbie asked curiously. "If I'm not the one, then why did you choose to stay with me for this long, knowing your heart belonged to someone else?" This was a question that JC didn't know whether he should answer or not. He didn't want to lie to her anymore, yet he didn't want to hurt her anymore either, and besides, this was a loaded question. In all honesty, JC thouht that if he jumped into another relationship, it would distract him from his feelings for Leah, and he also hoped that maybe his feelings for her would somehow magically disappear. Wrong.

"Because I didn't want to hurt you." JC replied. So, it wasn't exactly a lie. He didn't want to hurt Bobbie, that was never his intention.

"But you did anyway."

"I'm sorry."

"You already said that."

"So I guess this means..." JC lingered. He didn't want to be the one to end it. Did he want it to end? Sure, but he didn't want to be the one to end it. As weird as it was, he felt like if he told Bobbie it was over, he would just be hurting her even more, and it may make things easier if she confirmed the status of their relationship.

"It's over." She stated simply.

z88;

When JC walked into his house, he heard his phone ring. When he read on the caller ID that it was Justin, he answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey man!" Justin answered, sounding a little too enthusiastic. "Sooo..."

"So what?" JC asked.

"How did it go with Leah?"
"Wait what? How did you know about that?" JC asked incredulously.

"Dude, I may be yougner than you, but I'm not stupid. We did share the suite dummy! When me and the guys finally got in, there were flower vases, and picture frames strewn all across the floor. We figured that you guys knocked them over on the way to the bedroom. Besides, I planned the whole thing!" JC could practically feel Justin smiling smugly on the other end of the phone.

"Justin, what the hell do you mean you planned it?" JC demanded.

"I told the deejay to play those songs while you guys were out on the floor dancing. The both of you were sooo wasted! Man was that a sight to see, because usually you two are like the most straight-laced people I know! Anyways, back to the point, I knew that once I played your song, it was a wrap. You two would not be able to resist each other!" Justin explained proudly.

"You did what?" JC asked, growing angrier, and angrier by the second. Could today possibly get any worse?

"JC chill out."

"Justin, in case you hadn't notice, I had a girlfriend, Bobbie! And we were really good together, and now look what you did!" JC yelled.

"Look what I did?" Justin asked, now he was getting angry. "I didn't do anything! I wasn't the one that got drunk, I didn't sleep with Leah! All I did was ask the deejay to play a few songs I'll admit to that, but it's your fault that you didn't have any self control. It's your fault that you messed things up with Bobbie. So don't get mad at me for something that you did. You screwed up, I didn't!" Justin yelled back.

JC took a deep breath. He knew he shouldn't have blown up on Justin like that, he was just taking all of his frustations out on him, because he was mad at himself. "Look man, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone off on you like that." He apologized. "But why did you feel the need to set up me and Leah?" JC asked curiously.

"Dammit JC, you can be so blind sometimes." Justin sighed. "Don't you get it? I get it, everyone else gets it. You guys belong together. I just don't understand why you guys keep fighting it. I spend enough time with you to realize that you're still in love with her, and it's so obvious that she loves you too. To be honest, you and Nikki were good together, and you and Bobbie are good together, but you and Leah are so amazing together. It's real love between you two. You guys just have to stop being so afriad, and let your guards down. I know you can never love someone as much as you love her, and she can never love another guy as much as she loves you. Besides, whether those songs were played or not, you guys were bound to do something, the sexual tension was so intense between you two." Justin explained.

"I don't know what to do." JC admitted. "Bobbie and I are broken up and Leah won't answer my calls. I bet she's really angry at me."

"Wait when did you and Bobbie break up?" Justin asked. This was news to him.

"About an hour ago." JC replied.

"So this means that you can reconcile with Leah, and then you two can finally have the happy ending that you guys both deserve!"

"Well, I don't know about all of that."

"Why not?" Justin asked.

"She's my bestfriend."

"No shit." Justin replied.

"I can't screw this up. I might've already screwed us up. What if she doen't want to see my face again?" JC asked.

"Dude, chill out. She's your bestfriend, you guys are gonna work this out. Now, hang up the phone, and call Leah, and if she doesn't answer, then call her again, and if she doesn't answer the next time, then show up at her house, and make her face you. You can't just sit by and do nothing, if you really want to be with her then fight for. Or else some other guy is gonna come along, and steal her heart." Justin said.

"Thanks man." JC replied.

"No problem. Now, call her before I kick your ass!"

Leah peaked her head out from under the covers, when she heard her phone ring. She didn't bother looking at the caller ID, because she already knew who it was. It wasn't that she was mad at JC, she just couldn't face him, she was too embarrassed. She couldn't believe that she had gotten drunk, and slept with her bestfriend. That wasn't her. That was someone else. Not her. He probably thought that she was some slut. She sure felt like one. In fact her self esteem had taken a huge nosedive. She lay in bed all day, eating a gallon of her favorite Haagen-Dazs Cookies-n-Cream ice cream, while crying her eyes out, and watching a "Wonder Years" marathon. She felt low, she felt lower than low. Whenever she felt this bad, she'd usually call JC, and he's make her feel better. Only now she couldn't. She needed to talk to someone. When the phone stopped ringing, Leah picked up her cordless phone and decided to call Lucky, her other bestfriend.

The phone rang three times before someone picked up. "Hello?" Lucky answered cheerfully.

"Lucky, it's me." Leah replied.
"Oh, hey girl! What's up?" Lucky asked. Despite feeling down, Leah couldn't help but smile a little. If this were nine or ten years ago, she knew that Lucky wouldn't be so peppy. Although she was the same old Lucky, she had changed a lot as well. For instance she was no longer a loner, she had plenty of friends besides Leah now. Plenty of male friends specifically, and ironically enough, she was a fashion stylist! She also wasn't that same misanthropic girl she used to be. She now had a different perspective on life, and a cheery disposition. Leah figured her going to the Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising in LA, really got her to break out of her shell.

"I need your help on something."

"Uh-oh what'd ya do now?" Lucky asked knowingly.

"I slept with Josh!" Leah blurted out.

"Hold the phone!" Lucky gasped. "It's about damn time!"

"Don't be so excited."

"Well, why the hell not? And why exactly am I more excited than you?" Lucky asked.

"Well, it was this past weekend in Vegas, and we both got really drunk and really sloppy." Leah replied.

"Wait, wait a minute! You drunk? Are you serious? Well this is news to me!" Lucky exclaimed, now Leah had her undivided attention. Leah went on to explain the weekend, and how she ended up in bed with JC from start to finish.

"And now, he won't stop calling me, but I can't answer the phone, because I don't know what he'll say." Leah said sobbing into the phone.

"Awww babe, don't cry." Lucky said, trying to comfort her friend. "If he keeps calling you then I'm pretty sure he wants to talk to you." She reasoned.

"But what if he's mad?"

"What if he's not?" Lucky challenged. "You know, this reminds me of a conversation that we've had say, I don't know, about nine years ago, only it was a little less X-rated, and a little more PG-13! And you know what?"

"What?" Leah asked.

"You got through it then, and you'll get through it now." Lucky replied. Leah smiled, she knew Lucky was right. "And was the outcome nine years ago so bad? I mean you did end up as a couple, am I right?"

"Yeah, but we broke up."

"Only because it wasn't the right time for you guys. You we're both young and trying to get your careers started. It's not like you broke up because you didn't love each other. Besides you guys did do it afterall! It's not like he tried to stop you, and that means something." Lucky said.

"But we were drunk." Leah reminded her.

"But you know what they say!"

"What?"

"A drunken mind speaks a sober heart! Trust me girl, he still loves you!"

"Thanks Lucky, you're always there for me." Leah smiled.

"That's what friends are for. Feel better?" Lucky asked.

"Yeah." Leah replied.

"Great, now I can totally tease you!"

"Nooo." Leah pleaded.

"You did it, you totally did it, you did the nasty, with Jayceeeee!" Lucky sang over the phone.

"Lucky, stop! Please!" Leah begged.

"You bumped uglies! You did the nasty! You shucked oysters! You did the horizontal mambo! You did the bump-n-grind! You were knockin' da boots!" Lucky laughed, naming several different names for sexual intercourse.

"Oh my gosh Lucky, you are so nasty!" Leah couldn't help but laugh with her friend.
"Me? You're the one who did it!" Lucky scoffed, pretending to be offended.

After talking to Lucky, Leah felt a little bit better about herself. She decided to take a shower, to relieve some stress, and finally talk to JC about what happened, and where they stood. To be honest, she was scared shitless. She wanted so badly to tell JC that she still had feelings for him, that they had never truly gone away, but she was scared of what he might say. Whenever she was around JC she felt like her seventeen year old self all over again. She felt like her frienship with JC was one endless cycle. They were friends, then they were more than friends, then they went back to being friends again, then she had feelings for him all over again. In all honesty, she hated being stuck like this. In a perfect world she wished that she could be with JC, and let it be that. She didn't want to be just friends with him, and try to hide her feelings on and off, like she had been since she's known him. That's it. She couldn't take it anymore. The next time JC called, she would just lay it all out there for him, and he could take it or leave it.

When Leah heard the phone ring. Her heart began to pound. She was nervous and excited all at the same time. You can do this, you can do this. She whispered, giving her herself words of encouragement. Before she could stop herself, she picked up the phone, and pressed the On button. "Hello?" She answered.

"Leah." A female voice replied gravely, on the other end of the phone. It was Jill. Leah's heart sank in dissappointment. What was Jill doing calling her? They hardly ever talked. "It's me Jill."

"Jill what's wrong?" Leah asked noticing the sound of her voice. She hardly ever talked to her sister, so for Jill to call her, something had to be wrong. Seriously wrong.

"Nana's dead."

As Leah watched her grandmother's casket being lowered six feet into the ground, she took in her surroundings. Her parents, holding hands, her mother crying hysterically. Her aunt Lorraine, dabbing her eyes with a piece of tissue. She looked beyond her family, and friends, and at all of the other graves in the cemetery. It was really sad, how many graves there were, it reminded Leah of just how many people died. There were so many graves filled with someone's mother, father, sister, brother, child, grandmother. Imagine how many people have lost someone so close to them so unexpectedly. One minute they were here, the next they were gone. Just like that. She thought that Nana would always be there, never had she imagined that she would just die, it was odd really. When someone close to you dies. It's like, they were there all along, your whole entire life, they had been there for you to talk to, a shoulder to lean on, and now they were gone. You'd never see that person again. There's always the memory of them, but they're gone.

Nana was the closest person to Leah, and now she wasn't here anymore, yet Leah hadn't shed a tear through the whole entire funeral service not when she saw her Nana's cold lifeless body, not when Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men performed their song "One Sweet Day", and not even when Jill called her up and told her a week ago. In fact, she hadn't cried at all. It's not like she didn't love Nana- she loved her more than anything in the whole entire world- and it's not like she was happy that she was gone- in fact the very opposite- she just didn't cry, and she didn't know why. She was numb. She didn't want to come off as some cold heartless person, but she was numb. She was taking it differently than everyone else. Maybe it was because she wasn't extremely close with her family, and other than having Nana to talk to she pretty much bottled all of her feelings up inside.

A cold wind blew, and Leah looked past the minister, and at the few dead leaves that were being swept away by the January wind. His words went in one ear and out the other. She didn't know what was wrong with her, but she felt nothing, absolutely nothing. It was all so bizarre really. Here she was at her grandmother's funeral, that was her casket right in front of her. She never thought she's see this day come. She knew that Nana's was sick, but still, it's hard to imagine that the one you love could just die... just like that. It seemed like just yesterday that Nana had knitted her and Jill a special quilt when they were five and six, and they would cuddle togther with the quilt while they watched Winnie the Pooh. It seemed like just yesterday, when she was fourteen years old, and it was the night before her first day on "The Mickey Mouse Club", and she was so nervous, and couldn't sleep, so she stayed up all night and Nana gave her comforting advice. And now she was here... at her funeral.

After the burial, everyone gathered at Leah's family's house, sharing stories and fond memories of their time with Nana. Not in the mood to socialize, Leah went upstairs, and into her Nana's room. There it was, it was like a picture; it had been months since Leah had last visited, but it still looked exactly the same. The bed was made up, the TV was turned off, and all of Nana's belongings were still in the room, as if she still occupied the space. Leah shivered as she stepped into the room. She felt like Nana could walk in any second, and things would go back to normal. She wished things would go back to normal. If anything else happened, Leah was afraid that she just might snap. Out of the corner of her eye, Leah spotted something that caught her attention. She walked over to Nana's sewing machine, and picked up what looked to be an unfinished quilt from the slide plate. It was a cotton Cerulean quilt with Yellow roses all over, with her, Jill, and Aiden's names embroidered in the middle. With the quilt still in hand, Leah sat down on the queen sized matress. She sniffed the soft blanket, it smelled of Lavender; just like Nana smelled, or used to smell. She smiled a sad smile and looked around the room. Suddenly this place didn't seem so scary to her anymore. Why had she been so afraid of this place, her home? What was it that made her want to run, and never return? She felt so stupid now. For the longest she had been rejecting this place like it was some sort of flesh eating disease. She was so selfish, never realizing how much her family needed her. How much Nana needed her. This was her home, where she belonged. And all of this time, she'd been trying to run from it.

Taking her from her thoughts, Leah hear a small knock on the door. She lifted her head to see her sister, Jill. "Hey Sis." Jill greeted, before walking in and sitting next to Leah on the bed. Leah laid her head on Jill's shoulder. About a week ago, this is something that Leah would never feel comfortable doing, but in the midst of all of this comotion something between them had happened. Since their parents had been too distraught to plan Nana's funeral, Leah, Jill and Aiden all had to come together, put their differences aside and plan the funeral themeselves. They all seem to agree that they would do what was best for Nana, and fulfill all of her dying wishes. They made sure her farewell was fit for a queen. Her service was held in the same church she got married in, her casket was topped with white lilacs, and Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men performed "One Sweet Day". She had a large black immaculate headstone with a picture of her twenty one year old self in the middle in black and white, and her epitaph read:

Leah, Jill, and Aiden made sure every little detail was how Nana would have wanted it. They even had her buried right next to her husband.

Leah and Jill sat in a comfortable silence, taking everything in; the way the room looked, how it smelled, remembering a much simpler time, before things got so complicated. For years, Leah actually disliked her sister, almost to the point of hating her. They never saw eye to eye, and she often felt like Jill wished she were never born. But since Nana died, the two became closer than ever, almost like they were little kids again. Her only wish was that it wouldn't have taken something so tragic to bring her closer to her sister, she wished Nana had lived to see the day that they both really and truly got along. Lifting her head from Jill's shoulder, Leah held up the quilt. "I found this," she stated. "It was in Nana's sewing machine." She explained, handing the unfinished quilt over to Jill so that she could see it. When Jill's eyes met the quilt, she gasped in surprise, and tear fell down her cheek. She stared at it a few moments before she spoke.

"You know what this mean Leah." Jill said, her fingers strokingthe soft fabric. "Nana remembered us!" Jill cried. "She actually remembered who we were!" Leah heart began to pound at the sudden realization. A month ago, the Alzheimers got worse, and she actually forgot who she was, so I was pretty sure she forgot everyone else. But she started working on this about two weeks ago, so that means she remembered who we were!"

"Oh my God." Was all Leah could say. It hurt that Jill knew more about Nana's condition before she died then Leah did herself. She always felt like she was special, like she was Nana's favorite, but she didn't even know how Nana was doing before she died. Did she even care? She was way too wrapped up in her own drama to give her mother a call to check on Nana. Leah was more ashamed of her now than she had ever been before. She was a horrible person. Before Leah could speak again, there was another knock on the door. This time it was Aiden.

"I don't know how people can eat at a time like this." He stated, walking in the room and sitting next to Jill.

"Look what Nana made." Jill responded. She handed the quilt over to Aiden. Taking the quilt in his hands, he looked it over. A smiled spread acroos his face. "Why are you smiling?" Jill asked dumbfounded. She felt like if they were happy at a time like this, then it would betray their grandmother. They weren't suppose to be smiling, they were supposed to be sad.

"Because, now I can sleep at night knowing that Nana passed away knowing who we were. She may have had Alzheimers but she never forgot us." Aiden explained.

"Oh my God," Jill muttered.

"What about mom?" Leah asked. "Is she going to be okay. I mean dad left, and now Nana's dead. How is she going to handle all of this. She's needs us now more than ever."

"Well, school starts back next week, so I can stay until then." Jill answered.

"I'm pretty sure that I can take some time off from the hospital." Aiden, who was a resident at hospital in Chicago piped up.

"I have some business meetings next week in New York, that I can't get out of, but after that, I can fly back here." Leah explained.

"And Aunt Lorraine said that she and Zoe and Gia could stay." Jill added.

"I can't believe that this is even happening. I can't believe Nana's gone." Leah stated.

"Neither can I." Aiden replied. A few moments went by before any of the siblings said anything.

"What time is it?" Leah asked.

"Six o'clock." Jill answered. "Why?"

"I have to start packing soon."

"You're leaving already?" Aiden asked.

"I'm sorry, I have to. Like I said, meetings that I absolutely can't get out of. If I could I would. But soon as I'm done, I'm back here I promise."

"I understand." Aiden replied.

"Thanks." Hopping up from the bed, Leah went to her room, and got out her suitcase to start packing. She hated to leave her family, she knew they needed her, but work kept her away. This is the part where she wanted to kick herself in the ass. Growing up she always wanted to be a "popstar" who traveled the world. Mostly because she got to do what she loved, she got to make music, and make people happy. But also because she got to be anywhere but home. She wanted to get away from her family. And now, that she actually not only wanted, but needed to be with her family, and stick by their side, she couldn't be. Be careful what you wish for right?

Hearing footsteps, she turned to see Jill entering her room. "I don't want you to leave." Jill declared.

Leah sighed. "Jill, I told you that I have to leave. I don't want to leave, but I have to leave. I know that we need to be together at a time like this, and I soon as I can I'll be right back here, I promise."

"I'm more concerened for you." Jill replied honestly.

"Me?" Leah asked confused, turning to look her sister in the face.

"Yes you. You were the one that was closest to Nana out of all of us. I know this must be killing you." Jill answered. "And I know we were never close, so I know you put your guard up whenever you're around me." She added.

"I'm numb." Leah responded honestly. "I can't help it, but I'm numb. I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say."

"It's okay." Jill reassured her, putting her hand on Leah's shoulder. No, it's really not okay, Leah thought.

"I'm worried about Mom. I don't know what to say to her to make her feel better. Whenever I'm around her things get so awkward. I mean what do you say, 'don't cry, she's in a better place now?' Because I hate it when people say that, it's like it doesn't stop you from hurting.."

"I know right?" Jill agreed. "But there's nothing you can say to Mom to make her feel better, you just have to let her heal."

"Yeah I guess you're right." Leah concurred. Silence descended upon the sisters. Usually being back in her old room, would give Leah an uncomfortable feeling, and she was desparate to escape it, but now, she wanted to just jump in her bed, crawl up under the covers and never come out. She wished she could lay in that bed, until she was a kid again. She would do everything all over again. She would try to get along with her mother, and her sister. She would stop running away from her problems, and she would take better care of Nana. Maybe if I took better care of her, she'd dtill be here with me, Leah thought sadly to herself. " I should get going." She spoke up, barely above a whisper.

"I'll drive you to the airport." Jill replied.

*************

Stepping into her apartment, Leah hung her coat up on the coat rack, and took off her magenta beret. She didn't feel like carrying her suitcases all the way upstairs, and to her room, so she left them by the door. Expecting her apartment to be cold, she was surprised to find it warm, and all of the lights were on. That's funny, I specifically remember turning everything off before I left. It was almost as if she'd never left. Like someone had been living there while she was gone. Leah became hesitant, she had a fear of the unknown. Had someone broken in? Great, that was all she needed. Leah proceeded towards her living room two steps at a time in fear and trepidation. She could hear her heart beating louder and louder with every step she took. Once in her living room she saw a dark haired guy sitting on her couch. He turned his head, and his blue eyes locked with her green ones. Leah let out a sigh of relief when she saw that it was only JC. She had forgotten that she had given him a spare key when she had first moved into her apartment, he very rarely used it.

"Josh you scared me. What are you doing here?" Leah asked.

"Sorry, I missed the funeral, I couldn't make it back in time, so I decided to come here." JC explained.

"Josh, you didn't have to do that." Leah replied, sitting down next to him on the couch.

"You would do it for me." JC said. It was true, she would do it for him in a heartbeat. "So how are you holding up?" He asked.

"I don't know." She answered honestly. She kicked off her boots, and propped her feet up on the couch, and laid her head in JC's lap. He stroked her hair, just like he used to do whenever she was feeling down. In that very moment, it was as if things had changed between them. Everything that had happened between them before, no longer mattered. What mattered was, that JC was with her when she needed him the most. "I didn't cry." Leah stated. "Can you believe that? My grandmother's dead and I didn't even cry."

"It's okay Babygirl." JC responded. Leah sat up and looked at him.

"Damn it! Why does everyone keep saying that? It's not okay JC!" Leah said, raising her voice a bit. "The most important person in the world to me was just buried, and I did not shed one single fucking tear! Who does that?" Leak asked in disbelief, her voice now cracking. "I am such a bad, bad, cold hearted, sick person." Leah cried, tears now rolling down her cheeks.

"Hey, don't be be so hard on yourself." JC turned to face her, and wiped the tears from cheeks. He embraced her in a hug as she began to cry.

All of Leah's emotions suddenly hit her just like a brick. She realized, her grandmother, the one person that she loved the most in this world was gone, and she was never coming back. There was nothing she could do to fix this, and that feeling was so overwhelming.

Holding Leah in his arms, it hurt him to see her so hurt. He wished that he could just take all of her pain from her. He hated that there was nothing he could do to make this all go away. His heart broke for her.

Leah cried in JC's arms for what felt like an eternity. She felt all of this pain. It was sadness mixed with anger, mixed with guilt, and she just wanted it all to go away. She would do anything to no longer feel this pain, she wished she could escape. Sitting up, she wiped the tears from her face.

"Do you need anything?" JC asked her, concerned.

"I need you." Leah answered, her voice eerily distant, and hoarse from crying

"Okay, I'm here, what do you need?" JC asked.

"I need you." Leah repeated, putting an emphasis on the word 'you'.

"Oh." Was all that JC said. A moment went by, as JC kept replaying in his mind what she had said. JC was shocked when it finally dawned on him what she actually meant. "Oh! You mean..." JC trailed off, stunned at her request. Leah nodded her head.

"I want you Josh." She blinked.

Was now the time for that? His bestfriend was in mourning, and he didn't want to take advantage of that, but at the same time, he didn't want to reject her, in her emotional state. He felt like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

"Leah." JC said, looking her dead in her eyes. They were swollen and red from the tears she had cried. "Are you sure?"

"Josh... I just need to get away, if only for a moment, I need for time to just stop. Ugghh...I just... It's just, the pain that I feel inside is so unbearable. I just need you to make that go away, just for a little while. Can you do that for me?" Leah pleaded, looking up at him. JC hated this, he hated that she was hurting like this, and would do anything, anything in the world to make her feel better. But was this right? He knew he shouldn't, but he hated saying no to her. Looking into those green eyes of hers, they practically screamed 'Help Me!' His head was telling him one thing, and his heart was telling him another.

"Yes." JC finally answered. "C'mon, let's go upstairs."

z88;

The past week had been a blur. One big messy blur. Leah didn't know how to deal with her Nana's death, so she chose not to deal with it at all. She went on about her life, doing what she had to do. Meetings with her label, studio sessions with producers, and interviews on Donny and Marie, and Good Morning America. To the outside world, she seemed like the same old Leah, but to those who knew her, she was in fact a completely different person. Deep down, her grandmother's death hurt Leah more than anything. She was hurt beyond words, but she didn't know how to cope with the loss, so she blocked it out, almost like it didn't happen.

Kevin, Leah's manager kept a close eye on her though. Kevin Anderson, who has been Leah's manager for eight and half years, knew her better than anyone, even JC, and he didn't want her to go back down the path of self destruction. He knew that the best way Leah dealt with life when things got tough, was to not deal with it at all, and instead take it out on her body. He didn't know what would be worse; Her binging and purging to cope with her grandmother's death, or her not eating at all. Kevin knew to pay close attention to her eating patterns. He didn't want a repeat of the summer of '97. That was the summer that Leah's career had taken off, the summer that things had gotten worse between her and her mother. In one horrendous fight over the phone, Gabrielle had actually told her daughter that she hated her, and told her that Leah was the worst mistake she had ever made. Leah took it so hard, that she completely shut down, not talking to anyone for the rest of the day. There was that and the fact that the label kept putting pressure on their rising star to lose weight. There was even a copy of the National Enquirer with a picture of Leah on the cover, the headline read, Leah James: The Disney Starlet Refuses to Lose Baby Weight. When Leah saw the cover of the tabloid, she snapped. It was bad enough that the average sized girl had already restricted herself via orders from the label, but then she started to not eat at all. She would skip meals, and rehearse choreography and workout for hours. Then after days of fasting, she would just binge on all of this food, and then purge. At first Leah was secretive about it, but soon when people caught on to what she was doing, she didn't care who knew, as long as anyone didn't try to stop her. It was sickening, but no one in her camp would step up and offer her help. They had become enablers.

In time, Kevin watched Leah's weight drop from 130 pounds, to 125 pounds, to 115 pounds. She was alreday short, so the fact that she kept losing weight was not healthy at all. The more weight she lost, the more the tabloids praised her. Soon her phone was ringing busy with offers from Gucci, Armani, Chanel, and Vercase to be the face of their product. That's when she felt special. All of these famous designers begging her to be the model for their clothes! Everyone knew that only the ridiculously skinny, gorgeous models and celebrities were chosen to be in the high fashion ads, so this made Leah feel worthy of someone's attention. That's when the binging and purging, starving herself, and over exercising stopped. She appeared to be happy again, and things had started to go back to normal.

Then came the phone call from Leah's father, informing her that Nana had been diagnosed with Alzheimers. Leah was absolutely devasted. Especially being so far away from home. That only triggered her unhealthy eating patterens all over again. It got so bad, that Leah was too weak to dance, and the purging had begun to ruin her beautiful five octave voice. When Leah's weight had hit an all time low, 89 pounds, Kevin couldn't take it anymore. He would be a sick individual if he sat there and did nothing to help her. It was like he was watching someone die a slow and miserable death right in front of him. He loved Leah, she was like a daughter to him and his wife, and his two young daughters looked up to her like an older sister. He refused to let anymore time go by without Leah getting the help that she needed. Kevin checked Leah into a treatment center for eating disorders in Colorado. She wouldn't go without putting up a fight, but he got her there. He checked her in himself, so that she wouldn't be able to check herself out. She was registered under an alias so the media wouldn't know that she was in treatment. Kevin wanted her to get well, without the burden of the media, who would only interrupt her healing process.

Fast forward to a few months later, Leah's happy, healthy and back on track, and more successful than ever. In a only a few years, Leah's managed to sell millions of albums, and win multiple awards. But now, her grandmother's death has been the absolute worst thing that's ever happened to her, and Kevin is afraid that she might relapse.

"Are you gonna get that?" Kevin asked walking into the room where Leah was getting her hair and makeup done. Leah picked up her cell phone from the vanity table, and read the caller ID. When she saw that it was JC, she pressed ingnore. She couldn't face him. Not yet. She was still embarrassed about what happened that night, when she got back from the funeral. She was afraid of what JC might say to her. He probably thought that she was some kind of slut or nymphomaniac. She hated the fact that she had messed things up between them, because she needed him now more than ever. Now, she had no where to turn.

"Nope." Leah replied, closing her eyes shut so that her makeup artist, Trish, could apply some eyeshadow on her lids.

"You can't just ignore him forever." Lucky stated, who was sitting behind Leah in the dressing room, on the couch. "Whatever it is that's going on between you two, you have to let it go. Whatever it is, is probably not as bad as you're making it out to be." Lucky continued. She had flown all the way across the country to be with her bestfriend, who she knew needed her, and was her subsititue stylist for the day, since Flo, her usual stylist was out sick.

"When did my life become such an open book?" Leah snapped, cutting her eyes to Lucky. Lucky didn't respond, not wanting to cause a fight. Sure Leah was being a bit bitchy, but Lucky knew she didn't mean it. She had all of these emotions bottled up inside of her that she hadn't dealt with yet. That and the fact that she had to perform so soon after her grandmother's death had really put Leah on edge. Everyone was walking on eggshells around her.

Leah just wanted for the world to leave her alone. She didn't want to have to work. She just wanted to crawl up in bed and be sad and left alone. She couldn't do that however, because she had too many people depending on her. Kevin, the record label, her band, her back up singers, her choreographer, her dancers, and her whole entire entourage were dependent on her. If she didn't make money, then they didn't make money, and they had lifestyles to support and families to feed, so she had to keep going.

"Okay moving on..." Lucky said, switching subjects. Once Leah was done in hair and makeup, Lucky walked over to the clothes rack and picked out a silk black and red striped halter top, and black leather pants. "How about these?" Lucky suggested, holding up the ensemble.

"Yeah sure, that looks great." Leah replied, getting up from her chair, and walking over to Lucky. Kevin, and the hair and makeup artists left, leaving only Leah and Lucky in the room. Taking off her white T-Shirt, Leah replaced it with the silk halter. "The top looks great." Leah commented studying herself in the full legnth mirror. Lucky handed Leah the black leather pants, and she removed her jeans and slid on the pants. Leah noticed how her thighs seemed to feel a bit tight in them. When she pulled them all the way up, she tried to to zippen the pants, but the zipper wouldn't budge. Panic started to sink in, and all Leah could think was that she was gaining weight again. She had been doing so much emotional eating lately, she must have gained at least ten pounds. "Oh my God!" Leah exclaimed.

"What?!" Lucky asked, turning away from the clothes rack to see what all the commotion was about.

"I'm huge!" Leah cried. Oh no! Lucky thought to herself. This isn't good. She noticed her friend studying herself in the mirror, staring at all of her imaginary flaws. With all of the crazy things going on in Leah's life the last thing she needed was to relapse.

"No, no, no, no! Calm down!" Lucky instructed her friend. "Take slow deep breaths." Leah did as she was told. "Turn away from the mirror now, and look at me." Leah turned away from the mirror, and looked Lucky in the eye. "Take off the pants." Leah took the pants off, and handed them back to Lucky. Lucky checked the inside of the pants. The tag on the inside of the pants had the number 2 on it. Shit! "Leah, you are not huge. These are a size two! Nobody is a size two! That doesn't make you huge okay?"

"Okay." Leah agreed.

"Good, now try these on." Lucky switched the size two pair of pants out for an identical pair, in a size four, her correct size. Leah slipped on the pair of pants, and they zipped up with ease. "Now isn't that better?" Lucky asked.

"Yeah." Leah answered.

"Great. You can't let your mind play tricks on you. You're perfect just the way you are, so stop trying to find a problem where there isn't one." Lucky said. Leah turned to Lucky and embraced her in a tight hug.

"I'm so glad you're here, I couldn't do this without you." Lucky admitted.

"No problem." Lucky replied, smiling. The girls were interrupted when a producer knocked on the door to let them know that Leah was to perform in five minutes. The girls were at MTV Studios, backstage at TRL. Leah was to perform her single I Wanna Love You Forever, which was number one on the countdown.

Five minutes later, Leah was performing her number one hit ballad, to the teenage audience of Total Request Live, every single person in the audience singing along to every word. On the outside looking in, Leah was a girl who had it all. She was a chart topping superstar living in a world where everyone told her yes. But in reality, she had just as many issues as the next person. The only difference was, how she chose to deal with those issues.

Ring!

Ring! JC jerked up, now wide awake. He reached out into the blackness searching for his phone. He found it on his nightstand. Who in the hell could be calling at 3:30 in the fucking morning? JC thought to himself, pissed that he didn't get to finish his dream.

"Hello?!" JC barked into the phone, highly irritated.

"Um... JC?" He heard a female voice speak into the receiver.

"Who is this?" JC asked confused.

"Sorry, it's Lucky." Now JC was not only wide awake, but alert. He and Lucky weren't necessarily friends. They only connection to each other that they had was Leah. So the fact Lucky was calling him at this ungodly hour made JC panic. He immediately assumed the worse.

"Oh my God, is Leah okay? Is she hurt? What happened?" JC blurted out anxiously.

"No, she's not hurt, but I don't think she's okay." Lucky answered him.

"So there's no emergency?" JC asked, calming down a little.

"No. No emergency, but I'm really worried about Leah." Lucky replied. "Where are you?" Lucky asked.

"I'm at my house in Orlando, the group is doing some recording here." JC replied. "Why?"

"Are you planning to be in New York anytime soon?" Lucky asked.

"Yeah in a couple days we have an interview on the Today Show to tape." JC replied.

"While you're there I need you to check up on Leah, I'll only be here until tomorrow, and I'm really worried about her." Lucky said, putting an emphasis on the word really.

"Okay, you're still not telling me what's wrong." JC replied, now confused.

"She really taking her grandmother's death hard. Of course anyone would, but the thing with Leah is, she doesn't know how to deal with it. She's shutting down, and I'm afraid that she'll go back to being her old self." Lucky responded. Now JC was really confused. What did Lucky mean by Leah may be going back to her old self? That was a good thing right? Because as far back as JC could remember, Leah was always a happy-go-lucky kind of person.

"I don't understand." JC admitted, turning his lamp on.

"JC, there's something you should know." Lucky said.

"Okay." JC replied.

"Leah has an eating disorder. Or had one anyway. A few years back when her career started to pick up, the label kept putting pressure on her, and she had family issues, and she couldn't take it anymore, so she caved, she felt like she had no control over her career, or her family, or what people thought of her and she developed an eating disorder. Anorexia and Bulimia to be correct. Kevin got her help, and she went into treatment. She's been better ever since, but now since this has happened, I'm afraid that she'll go back to being weak again. I'm scared for her. I'm scared that she'll relapse." Lucky explained, she willed herself not to cry.

"Wait a second, back up!" JC said, completely shocked at Lucky's revelation. "An eating disorder?" It was 3:40 in the morning, and maybe he hadn't heard right.

"Yes." Lucky confirmed.

"Why don't I know anything about this?!" JC demanded, raising his voice.

"Only Kevin, myself, and the people in her camp know. That's all. She was too ashamed for anyone to know about her problem. We were all sworn to secrecy." JC knew that he shouldn't be mad at Lucky, she was only trying to help, but he couldn't help but to feel hurt that Leah would keep something so important from him.

"So where was I when all of this happened?" JC demanded, wanting very badly to know how this very big piece of information got passed him.

"Germany." Lucky replied. JC began to feel guilty. He wasn't their for his bestfriend when she needed him the most.

"I don't understand, why wouldn't she just come to me? She knows I'm always here for her."

"JC, people with eating disorders suffer in silence. They don't want anyone to know, because they don't want anyone to stop them."

"So what do I do?" JC asked.

"Keep her from shutting down. Try to get her to talk to you. Try to help her deal with this. Let her know that she's not alone." Lucky instructed. "And please, please, please watch out for her eating patterns. If anything at all seems to be suspicious then let me know."

"Okay." JC sighed, trying to take all of this information in. "I can do that."

"Remember JC, she does love you. She just has her own way of dealing with things. A very unhealthy way of dealing with things."

"I'll let you know when I get to New York." JC said.

"Thanks." Lucky replied.

"Thank you for telling me Lucky."

"Bye."

"Bye." JC hung up his phone, and laid back down in bed. He couldn't believe what had just happened. There was no way in hell he could get back to sleep now. Now with what Lucky had just told him. An eating disorder? JC couldn't believe that. It didn't seem like Leah to him, not his Leah. He always thought that despite not seeing eye to eye with her parents, she seemed like an overall happy person. Or at least he thought. How could he let the fact that she was so unhappy completely escape him? How could she let this happen to herself? Does she not love herself? Better yet, what made her think that no matter what she was going through, she couldn't come to him? She knew he was always there for her. He would never turn his back on her, no matter what the situation was. He was her bestfriend. Or was he?

"I'll be fine Lucky, don't worry." Leah assured her bestfriend, helping her pack her suitcase. They were in one of the guest rooms in Leah's apartment, and Lucky was about to head back to Los Angeles.

"I just worry about you." Lucky replied, folding a pair of True Religion jeans and placing them neatly into the suitcase.

"Lucky, I am a grown ass woman who can take care of herself." Leah said. She aprreciated all of Lucky's help, and loved the fact that she had flown all the way across the country just to be with her, but she couldn't take it anymore. She hated everyone constantly having to watch her as if she would have a nervous breakdown at any moment. She was twenty-three going on twenty-four years old for cyring out loud! She did not need a babysitter.

"It's just that... What if you ummm... You know." Lucky mumbled, avoiding Leah's intense gaze, afraid of bring up the touchy subject of Leah's eating disorders.

"I'm not that same girl anymore." Leah sighed. Why did she have a feeling that Lucky would bring this up? She knew that she hated talking about this.

"How can you be sure?" Lucky asked. She didn't care if she was crossing the line anymore, she seriously cared about her bestfriend, and if anything happened to her at all, she wouldn't be able to live with herself.

"What the hell?!" Leah asked, her voice rising. She was now offended that Lucky didn't believe her. "So now you don't trust me?"

"No Leah, you're taking this the wrong way! It's just that I'm concerned for you." Lucky replied. This was not how she wanted this conversation to go.

"And I keep telling you not to be concerned for me!" Leah yelled.

"Well you know what? That's really hard for me to do when you won't come to me when you have a problem! Instead you'd rather do something sick like purge or starve yourself, which by the way, I've tried and I'm mean I've tried so damn hard to understand your illness, but I just can't okay! I've read books, and done research on Anorexia and Bulimia, but I still can't understand why you would choose to do this to yourself when all you have to do is pick up a fucking phone, and I'll be on the first flight out!" Lucky yelled, her voice shaking. She was now in tears. She couldn't hold it back anymore, she's been biting her tongue, since she's been here, but she can't just go on and pretend like nothing's wrong, and watch her bestfriend, no her sister, completely relapse.

"Lucky, I-I don't know what to say." Leah studdered, above a whisper. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat, but to no avail, the tears began to fall freely down her face. She was completely thrown off guard. The one thing she hated more than anything was being confronted by her issues.

"Leah, I know you said that you're not that same scared little girl that you were before. But to be honest I'm not so sure. Ever since your Nana died, you've been completely closed off. Even worse than before. I know that it's hard for you to deal with. But you have to deal with this sooner or later. You have to come to terms with this, or you'll go back to dealing with your grief in other ways like, binging and purging." Lucky said, sitting down on the bed, and wiping the tears from her face. Leah turned away from Lucky's knowing gaze. It's as if she had a radar on Leah. "Oh my God, you've been doing it again haven't you?" Lucky asked incredulously.

"No." Leah mumbled, looking anywhere but at Lucky.

"Dammit! Yes you have!" Lucky insisted. Lucky felt guilty, she wasn't doing such a good job of looking after her bestfriend if she had let this get past her. "When?" Lucky pressed.

"I don't wanna talk about this." Leah admitted, storming out of the room. Lucky followed after her.

"You can't run from this! No matter how much you try to avoid this, it won't go away!" Lucky persisted, following Leah into her bedroom. "When was the last time?" Lucky asked.

What had only been a few seconds, seemed like forever until Leah finally answered her question. "Only a few times. Right before Donny and Marie, after TRL, and this morning." Leah confessed. She felt ashamed. She had completely disappointed Lucky.

"Leah!" Lucky cried. "You can't keep doing this!"

"Well I can't help that I feel fat! I'm fat and disgusting, and I hate it!" Leah replied.

"That's bullshit, and you know it! First of all, you're tiny. Second, you're beautiful. Third, you're only using this as a cop out to cover up your real problems that you refuse to face!"

"Lucky, you don't understand." Leah replied.

"You're right, I don't understand why you won't be a woman, and deal with your problems!"

"Because I can't!" Leah yelled.

"Yes you can." Lucky replied.

"No I can't!" Leah argued.

"Why not?!" Lucky challenged.

"Because, she dead!" Leah cried. "My grandma's dead an there's nothing I can do about it. I wasn't there for her like I should've been! I was being stupid, and selfish! And there's all these things that I wish I could tell her, but I can't, and now I 'll never get a chance to, because she's gone and she's never coming back! Lucky what am I supposed to when the person in my family that I'm closest to is gone forever, and there's absolutley nothing I can do to change that, and it's all my fault!" Lucky confessed everything that she's been holding in since that night with JC. She tries to control her sobbing.

Lucky felt as if her heart had broken into a million pieces watching her friend fall apart like that right in front of her, not knowing how to help her. Her issues were way deeper than anyone could ever imagine. "Leah, this isn't your fault. Death happens, and sometimes for no reason at all. It's apart of life. I'm so sorry for your loss Leah, believe me I am, but you can't blame yourself. Would Nana wanna see you like this? Would she wanna know that you wasted your God given voice by purging? I know she wouldn't wanna see you too weak to stand, let alone dance! Newsflash Leah, your grandmother lived one hell of a fulfilled life! She hand a very grand life, and she would want you to live life just as she did! By not being afraid, and by not running away every time life starts to get tough. You have to come to terms with this, or else you'll live your life with this illness holding you back."

"I know. Everything you're saying is right, but I just... I just don't know how." Leah admitted, wiping her tears away.

"Remember when Liam died?" Lucky asked, referring to her older brother who died in car accident when he was twenty years old, and Leah and Lucky were fifteen.

"Yeah." Leah replied.

"When he died, you held my hand at the funeral the whole entire time without letting go. You spent the night at my house for two weeks staright. Whenever we weren't together, you constantly called me on the phone to make sure I was okay." Lucky said, tears forming in her eyes all over again.

"I remember." Leah stated, a fresh set of tears on the verge of falling from her eyes.

"I thought it was so unfair, how that damned drunk driver walked away from that without a scratch, and my brother got buried six feet under. I hate him, and until this day I still hate that guy, and I hope he pays for what he did. And yes, I still do miss Liam like crazy, I always will, but I know that he'd want me to live my life for me, so that's what I did. And I want you to know, that I couldn't have done it without you. That was the worse summer of my life, and to be honest, I don't know how I would've gotten through that if it weren't for you. You were there for me, just like I'm here for you now." Lucky cried.

"I love you, you know that?" Leah replied, hugging Lucky. Lucky wrapped her arms around a very vulnerable Leah.

"You scare me you know that?" Lucky responded, breaking their embrace. She sat down on Leah's bed.

"I don't mean to scare you." Leah replied, sitting down beside her.

"I don't wanna see you like that ever again. So weak, so depressed. That's not you. You're the happy bubbly girl that I met at Disney World nine years ago. The girl that was so happy, that it was damn near annoying. I miss that girl. You have to get back to being that girl. If you keep going on like this you could..." Lucky trailed off.

"I could what?" Leah asked

"You could die." Lucky answered. Leah was taken aback by her answer.

"Lucky that's ridiculous, I'm not going to die."

"If you keep going on like this you could. You don't know how many models that I've seen die. From Anorexia, and from Bulimia. They think they can handle it. They refuse to belive that they have an illness, they think they can control it. That's all they want is control, and instead their lives spiral out of control, much like I see yours doing. It's not good. You have to promise me that you'll stop this, or believe it or not you could die. I've lost my brother, and I don't think that I can take losing you. Especially when you're doing this to yourself. You can stop this, right now, and you can choose to live, and I mean really live." Lucky said, placing an arm around Leah, who rested her head on Lucky's shoulder.

"It's so hard." Leah admitted weakly.

"I never said that it would be easy, but you can't give up the fight. The next time that you choose not face your problems, and to purge or starve yourself instead, call me, because I'll always answer. You have your brother, and sister, and your whole entire family who believe it or not loves you, and are grieving just like you are. You don't have to go through this alone. You have your family, you have me, you have Kevin, and you have five incredible guys that would do absolutely anything for you." Lucky said. "Especially JC. He loves you, I mean he really, really loves you. You just have to let him in."

"I know." Leah sighed.

"You have to promise me that you'll stop." Lucky demanded, looking Leah in the eye.

"I promise." Leah replied. "I don't know what I'd do without you Lucky."

"Same here. I don't know what I'd do without you." Lucky said, wiping the tears from Leah's face. "You just have to let me be the friend to you that you've been to me in the past nine almost ten years."

"I can do that." Leah said.

"Good. That's all I want. Bubbles!" Lucky said, calling her by her nickname.

"I'm coming!" Leah yelled, walking down the stairs, after hearing the doorbell ring. She wondered who it could be this time of morning. Since Lucky had left the previous night, Leah wasn't expecting anyone. When she finally got to the door, she opened it, only for her green eyes to meet a familiar pair of hazel ones.

"Tyson! What are you doing here?" Leah asked, shocked to see her ex-boyfriend standing at the door.

"Um, I heard about what happened." Tyson replied. "Mind if I come in?" He asked. Should she really let him in? Tyson was not someone she wanted to see right now. Especially with how their relationship ended on such a bad note. It just seemed like whereve Tyson was, drama was sure to follow, and that wasn't what she needed in life right now. On the other hand, he did come to see how she was doing, so his intentions weren't all bad. After all, Tyson did go out of his way just to pay her a visit, it would be mean for Leah to just slam the door in his face.

"Um, yeah sure come in." Leah said, giving in. She stepped out of the way to let Tyson in, and shut the door. Leah led Tyson into the living room.

"These are for you." Tyson said, pulling his hand from behind his back revealing a bouquet of long stemmed red roses. "Your favorite!"

"Thanks, Tyson." Leah replied, accepting the flowers and setting them down on the coffee, feeling weird at the same time. Being that they were broken up, was this appropriate? "So..." She trailed off. This is awkward. Leah thought to herself.

"Um, How are you doing?" Tyson asked.

"Fine." Leah lied.

"Fine? Really?" Tyson asked. He knew what Leah's grandmother meant to her, so he knew that she wasn't fine.

"Considering the cirsumstances, yes I'm fine." Leah replied, not going into detail. In all honesty, Tyson made her uncomfortable, and she wasn't sure that she could trust him with her feelings anymore. "So is that it?" Leah asked.

"No, actually there's another reason I'm here too." Tyson explained.

"Oh-kaay." Leah said, sitting down on her sofa. She felt a bit uneasy. What is it that he wanted?

"Well I wanted to talk to you." Tyson said.

"About?" Leah asked.

"Us." Tyson answered.

"Us?" Leah repeated.

"Well yeah." Tyson replied, sitting down next to her on the couch. "I just feel really bad about what happened between us, and how we ended. I really messed up. I owe you an apology. A real apology. I'm here to say I'm sorry."

"Tyson, that means a lot. You know most guys wouldn't do that." Leah said, accepting his apology. She had to admit, that she was touched. Now she could honestly see why she fell for the guy in the first place. Sure, he was a jerk sometimes, but deep down he was a really sensitive guy. He just didn't like to let it show. Damn, he smells good too. Leah thought to herself, inhaling his Old Spice cologne.

"Well, I'm not most guys." Tyson replied, leaning forward. Now was the perfect opportunity, and wasn't going let it pass him by. Tyson leaned closer in, until his lips met Leah's kissing her passionately.

What the hell? Leah thought to herself. Should I be doing this? This is crazy! But she couldn't resist. His lips were so soft, and he smelled and looked so damn good. Once again she was lost in his spell. The same very spell that he had cast on her almost a year ago, that made her fall deeply and madly in love with the charming bad boy. But should she really fall for him all over again? Was now the time to get mixed up in the drama of Tyson Andrews with all that she was going through? Especially with how she felt about JC. This would just get her even more mixed up and this would make things even more complicated than they already were.

"Tyson stop!" Leah commanded, her senses kicking in. "We can't do this." Leah said, pushing him back.

"What why?" Tyson asked confused. He thought this was working.

"I can't do this. I'm in a very bad place right now." Leah explained.

"But I love you." Tyson said innocently.

It almost broke her heart to him say that. Why was this so hard for her? Right now in this moment, it was so hard to resist Tyson, and his charm, but at the same the same time, something in her subconscious mind kept telling her that she shouldn't go there. But damn, was he making this hard. Very hard. Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me? Leah thought to herself.

"Tyson, that's very sweet of you." Leah admitted.

"So then what's the problem? Don't you love me too?" Tyson asked. "Is there someone else?"

"Um... I uhh-..." Ding Dong! The sound of the doorbell cut Leah off mid-sentence. Yes! Saved by the bell! "I gotta get that!" Leah said, hopping off of the couch, and walked to the foyer, leading to the door. Leah silently thanked God for interruping such an awkward moment. But honestly, who else could it be at 9:30 in the morning? Opening the door, Leah had a damn near heart attack at the sight before her. "Josh?!"

Seriously? How many surpises could a girl take in one morning?

"Wh-What are you doing here?" Leah asked, stuttering. She was shocked, surprised, astonished, and just about everything else.

"I came to see you!" JC replied. She noticed he had a bag in his hands.

"Okay, well come in." Leah said panicking. She didn't know how she would handle both JC and Tyson being in the same place. Her ex-boyfriend who so desparately wanted her back, and her bestfriend the guy that she's been in love with for a very long time. She knew that Tyson had a jealous streak, and would probably would freak out at the sight of JC.

"I have someone I want you to meet." Leah told JC, leading him into the living room.

"Okay." JC replied. He wondered who it could be.

"Tyson, this is JC." Leah said, introducing the two men. Leah looked on, as the two stared each other down. Seriously? How was JC supposed to react. It's not like they were together or anything, but still he hated knowing that this guy was here. Her ex-boyfriend, or whatever he was to her. He didn't even know the guy,but he already hated him for the simple fact that he got to kiss Leah, the way that JC wanted to kiss her. He got to touch her, in all of the places that JC wished that only he could touch her.

"So, this is him?" Leah heard Tyson finally speak up from his place on the couch. JC stood standing their. Oh God this is so awkward. Leah thought to herself. Tyson's eyes rested on the infamous JC Chasez. The one who had Leah's heart. Tyson couldn't tell if he was either angry or hurt. He felt angry because his moment with Leah was ruined. The one perfect moment he had to get her back. He was angry because that perfect moment had been ruined by none other than JC Chasez. He was hurt because no matter how hard he tried, he knew that he would never be equal to JC in Leah's eyes. As much as he tried to deny it, deep down he knew that Leah was in love with JC. That's the way that it was, and that's the way it would always be.

"Tyson." Leah said in a warning tone.

"So this is the guy who you're so fucking head-over-heels in love with?" Tyson asked, completely ignoring her warning.

JC looked at Leah shocked. Did Tyson just say what he think he said? Or did Tyson feel threatened by his presence. Either way JC stood there, completely entertained. He liked the fact that he posed as a threat to this guy. Maybe he would leave Leah only for good!

"Tyson stop!" Leah demanded.

"Just tell me now Leah. Do you still love this guy?" Tyson asked, putting Leah on the spot. He stood up, his hazel eyes locked with her green ones.

How dare he? How dare he put her on the spot like that right in front of JC, trying to make her confess her inner most feelings? Who did this jackass think he was?

"Tyson." Leah said slowly above a whisper, angrily. "I don't owe you anything. I don't owe you an explanation. Anything that happens in my life is my business. You are no longer a part of my life."

"So when did you decide that? When my tongue was in your mouth just about, I don't know ten minutes ago, or when he walked in?" Tyson challenged.

Leah felt JC's gaze on her, and her cheeks began to grow hot. Tyson was completely humiliating her, and she wanted to die right there in her spot.

"Tyson, I think you should leave." Leah said, growing angrier by the minute. "Now."

"Fine." Tyson replied, shoving Leah, and heading towards the door. Leah stood shocked that Tyson put his hands on her. She wanted bust out in tears.

That's when JC refused to just stand their, and not do anything. No one put their hands on Leah, and got away with it. Leah watched JC walk towards Tyson. Whatever was about to happen could not be good, so Leah stepped in front of him before things escalated.

"JC no!" Leah exclaimed. "He's not worth it, just let him leave." Leah pleaded.

"Are you sure?" JC asked taking a deep breath, trying to control his anger.

"Yes." Leah replied. "Tyson leave, now." Leah demanded. And with that, Tyson left. He was gone.

Leah went to lock the door after him. This was not how she expected to start her morning off. It was only ten o'clock and she was a nervous wreck.

"Oh my gosh, Josh I am so sorry for that!" Leah apologized, walking back into the living room, sitting down next to JC on the couch.

"Are you okay?" JC asked in all seriousness.

"I'm fine." Leah replied.

"Are you sure, because you know that I'll kick his ass!"
"JC I'm okay, I promise."

"So that was Tyson?" JC asked.

"Yeah." Leah replied.

"I thought you said you were broken up." JC said.

"We are!" Leah said. She didn't want JC to think that she was back with Tyson. "He just stopped by completely unexpected, and comepletely out of the blue!" Leah said, reassuring him.

"So is what he said true then?" JC asked. Leah's heart dropped.

"Which part?"

"The part about you being in love with me." JC answered, feeling hopeful. "Are you still in love with me Leah?" JC asked. He hoped that he could finally get the truth out of her once and for all. He just hoped that the truth was something he wanted to hear. He so desparately hoped that the way she felt about him in Vegas weren't just intoxicated feelings, that they were real.

Leah took a deep breath, contemplating on whether or not she should tell JC the truth. Should she tell him how she really felt about him? It seemed like everytime she did something came inbetween them. Could she really put herself out there like that all over again? What if he didnt feel the same about her anymore? What if he felt like the relationship they had years ago was just puppy love and nothing more? "Leah." JC called, taking Leah from her thoughts. "Are you still in love with me?" JC asked again.

Well, here goes nothing... "Yes." Leah answered him. She watched him, trying hard to read him. When he didn't say anything, Leah just let it all out. "Yes JC, I'm still in love with you. I know that our relationship happened such a long time ago, and only lasted a few months, but I never stopped loving you, the only reason why I didn't tell you was because I was afraid that it would get in the way of our friendship and make things awkward, but of course I already did that when I had sex with you in Vegas, and then again after my grandma's funeral so I guess I kinda-"

"Shut up!" JC exclaimed, cutting Leah off.

"What?" Leah asked crushed. So JC didn't feel the same afterall.

"Leah just shut up and kiss me!" JC grinned. When Leah didn't move, JC took the initative, and leaned forward. He leaned in closer and closer, until his lips met hers. This felt so right. This is how it should be. JC and and Leah together. It was the only way that made sense. Not Leah and Tyson, and not JC and Bobbie or JC and Nikki or whoever else. JC and Leah, that was the beginning of it, and that was the end of it. They belonged together.

"Josh." Leah whispered breathlessly, breaking away from the kiss.

"Yeah?" JC asked.

"So this means..."

"It means I love you too Leah." JC said, staring deep into her eyes. "I never stopped. I tried to ignore my feelings for you, but that's only because it seemed like you moved on."

"But I never did." Leah admitted.

"So where do we go from here?" JC asked.

"To be honest." Leah sighed. "I can't be in a relationship with you right not Josh. Not because I don't want to be, but it's just that I'm in a really bad place right now. I want to be able to give you all of me, but I can't do that right now. But that does't me that I don't want to in the future. I just need to get myself together." Leah explained.

JC could handle that. He understood that she was in no position to jump into a relationship. He knew she was going through a lot. He decided not to bring up the issue of her eating disorder.

"Okay." JC replied. "But you know I'm still here for you no matter what right?" JC asked.

"Yeah I know." Leah responded.

"I understand you're going through a lot right now, and I want you to know that I'm not going anywhere, and I'll wait for you until you're ready to open up your heart. I don't care how long it takes. I'll wait forever if I have to." JC said, declaring his love for her.

Leah was speechless. Here was the love of her of her life, telling her that he felt the same way that she felt about him, and that he would be there for her. Tears started to fill her eyes, but she willed herself not to cry.

"Jace I... I don't know what to say."

"Just promise me that you'll let me be here for you, and that you won't shut me out." JC said. That's the difference between JC and Tyson. Tyson had a sensitive side, but didn't like to let it show. JC on the other, was the type to lay his feelings out, and that's what she loved about him.

"Okay I promise." Leah replied, placing a kiss on his lips. Maybe they weren't a couple, yet, but they knew how they felt about each other, and it wasn't awkward, if anything it made their relationship that much stronger. "So what's in the bag?" Leah asked, her gaze shifted to the shopping bag on the coffee table.

"Why don't you open it and see?" JC smiled. Leah reached out, and grabbed the bag, placing it in her lap. She dumped out all of the contents in front of her. About eight different DVDs spilled out of the bag.

"No it's okay, we can watch it." Leah assured him. It's not like she hadn't already seen the movie a million times. "I still can't believe you did this!"

"I wanted to help make you feel better." JC replied.

"You just being here makes me feel a whole lot better." It was true, whenever JC was around, she didn't feel so alone.

"So which movie do you wanna watch first?" JC asked.

"How about Ferris? I'm not gonna make you suffer through a Chick Flick!" Leah laughed.

"Good!" JC replied.

Leah reached over to the coffee table to grab the remote and turn the movie off. She let out a small chuckle, looking down at her lap at a sleeping JC. Poor baby, he must be so tired, he and the guys really work their asses off. It was so sweet that he took the time out just to come and see her. He made her feel special. Sometimes she wondered why they weren't together. No wait, she knew. She was way to guarded, and scared. But at least he knew how she felt, and she knew he felt the same. She guessed that it was best to just take things slow. She actually liked where they were. Not quite a couple, but they were on their way there. In fact, this is the most open they've been with each other in forever. Once their relationship ended all those years ago, and their careers took off, they were still close, but not nearly as close as they used to be and she seriously missed that. She missed hearing him call her honey! She missed being his honey! She was lonely. Now maybe they could finally get back to that closeness that they had before.

Leah smiled down at JC's sleeping face. He was sooo adorable when he slept. He looked completely at peace, and so innocent. She ran her fingers through his soft dark brown hair, which was now growing out. He didn't move a muscle. If she didn't see his chest rising up and down, or know him at all, she would think he was dead. JC could fall asleep at the drop of a hat, it didn't take much, and once he was out, he was out like a light, and it was hard to get him up!

Looking down at JC, Leah's heart began to flutter. Just like it did the night that she lost her virginity to him. Dammit! Even when he was asleep, he made her feel all nervous and bubbly on the inside! That's the effect that JC, and only JC could have on her. Tyson was her only other boyfriend that she's ever had, and she never felt that way with him. At one point, she figured that maybe you only feel that feeling once and that was it, but after she left Tyson, it's as if things had become so much more clearer. JC was the one. He made her feel good all the time. There wasn't a moment when being in his presence never felt so right. That night, when Leah had flown back home, after her grandmother's funeral, and JC was there, it meant the world to her. The way he held her, the way he was there for her. She felt safe and protected in his arms, like no one could harm her. And she never felt insecure around him. She never felt the need to skip a meal, or count a calorie or secind guess herself when he was around. He made her feel beautiful! And that's how she wanted to feel all the time. She craved that connection, and that sense of safety and security.

Feeling JC roll over on his back, Leah looked down and her eys met with JC's. He blinked a few times, taking in his surroundings. Leah's smiling face came into focus. He could get used to this! "The dead has risen!" Leah said.

"How long was I out for?" JC asked.

"About an hour and a half." Leah replied.

"Damn, that's the whole movie!"

"Yeah pretty much, as soon as the previews started you were out like a light. You hungry?"

"Yeah, a little. I brought gummy worms." JC said innocently.

"I am not going to let you get full off of gummy worms! You are getting homecooked meal." Leah replied. "When's the last time you've had one of those?" She asked.

"Christmas." JC replied.

"Aww, poor baby. I'm totally cooking for you." Leah said, getting up from her place on the couch. JC rolled his neck, and stretched his arms.

"Okay, well I won't stop you." He replied, smiling. Leah walked into the kitchen and looked in to the freezer to see what she could find. Wow, it's a great thing I went grocery shopping, she thought to herself. She pulled out a bag of cocktail shrimp, and a bag of mixed vegetables. She decided she was going to make one of JC's favorites, Shrimp Stir-Fry. She got soy sauce, a red peper, a green pepper, broccoli florets, and an onion from her refrigerator. She went over to her cabinets and got out some garlic powder, and then to her pantry to get out the cornstarch, ginger, and olive oil.

Leah put everything out on the island, and got out all of the kitchen supplies necessary to make the dish. JC walked into the kitchen. "So what are you making?" He asked.

"One of your favorites." Leah replied. "Shrimp Stir-Fry."

"You're amazing you know that?"

"I try!" Leah smiled. She walked over to the sink to wash her hands, and preceded to cook. She combined water, cornstarch, garlic powder, soy sauce and ginger in a bowl, and mixed it up. She then poured olive oil in the skillet and turned the stove on to let it heat. "Hey, could you turn on the radio please?" She asked JC. He did as he was told, and sat down at the kitchen table watching her cook.

The song "Butterfly" by Crazytown started to blare from the speakers.

Leah jumped right into the third verse, rapping along to the song. "Hey suga mama come and dance wit me/ The smartest thing you ever did was take a chance wit me/ Whatever tickles ya fancy, gurl it's me and you like Sid and Nancy/ So sexy almost evil, talkin' 'bout butterflies in my head/ I used to think that happy endings were only in the books I read, gurl you made me feel alive when I was almost dead/ You filled that empty space with the love I used to chase and as far as I can see it don't get better than this/ So butterfly, here is a song and it's sealed with a kiss and a thank you miss!" JC let a light chuckle at Leah's rapping, and watched in admiration as she wound her hips, and rolled her perfect little ass, which the blue jeans that she was wearing accentuated perfectly. She was cute, and that's what made her sexy. She was so beautiful, and didn't even know it. Getting up from where he was, he decided to walk over to her.

As Leah added the broccoli florets to the skillet, she felt JC's hands wrap around her waist, and he began to dance with her. He made her so nervous, she thought she would drop the wooden spoon that she was holding. She thought she would die, when she felt his lips on her neck. "Wh- what are you doing?" Leah stuttered.

"Living in the moment." JC replied, placing light kisses on her neck, he slid the strap of her white tank top down, and began to place subtle kisses on her shoulder. She smelled so sweet. Like a topical mix of passionfruit, strawberries, peaches, and apples. Her body was soft, her curves were in all the right places. When JC held her in his arms, he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be. Everything just felt so right.

"Mmmm..." Leah let out a low groan at the wonderful sensation of JC's soft lips upon her skin, which gave her goosebumps. It was absoulute ecstasy! When JC touched her like that, when he kissed her like that, when he held her like that, she felt so weak in the knees. Almost breathless. There was not sweeter feeling than how she was feeling at that moment. In the arms of the perfect man. She let out a light giggle, as his lips moved back up to her neck, then slightly nibbled at her ear lobe. "Dammit Jace, do you wanna eat or not?" Leah asked laughing.

"I can't help it, you're so beautiful, that I can't resist." JC replied. Leah could feel her cheeks growing hot.

"Jace, if you don't stop, you are going to majorly inflate my ego!"

"The way you look, the way you smell, the way you laugh... everything about you is so irresistible. It's impossible for me to keep my hands off of you." JC admitted. He loved the fact that Leah confessed that she still had feelings for him. It cut out all of the awkward tension that had been between them. He knew how she felt, and where she was at, and she knew how he felt. There were no more limits between them, and he loved that. He could kiss her, tell her how beautiful she was, he could hold her, and it was okay. So maybe he wasn't her boyfriend just yet, but they were more than friends now, and he was more than okay with that. Just as JC was about to start kissing his girl again, he heard his phone ring. "Damn!"

"You better get, it could be important." Leah said. JC unwarpped his arms from around Leah and went into the living room to get his cell phone. When JC left the kitchen, Leah let out a breath that she didn't even know she had been holding. To have JC hold her like that, and touch her like that in such a personal way, drove her absolutely crazy! But in the best way possible! She hadn't felt that wonderfuly delirious in so long. Whenever he was around she got butterflies in her stomach. JC took her to a whole nother world where she forgot about everything that had been bothering her. He was her natural high that she never wanted to come down from. Boy, she could get used to this!

Snapping back into reality, she decided that she better add the other ingredients to the skillet before the broccoli burned! Leah added the chopped red pepper, onion, garlic, mixed vegetables, and shrimp to the skillet, and cooked those ingredients, then added the the cornstarch, water, ginger, soy sauce, and garlic powder.

"Well does she like Mediterranean food?... Then don't take her to a Mediterranean restaurant." Leah heard JC saying into the phone as he walked back into the kitchen. "Makes since doesn't it? Alright man, bye." JC said before hanging up his phone. "That was Chris, he was freaking out about where to take Danielle since his reservations got cancelled." JC explained.

"You don't have to do that ya know." Leah replied.

"Do what?" JC asked innocently.

"You don't have to tell me who calls you every time your phone rings. Whoever calls you, it's your business. And you don't have to worry, because I won't check your phone when you leave the room either." Leah responded. JC had almost forgotten how chill Leah was. When he was with Bobbie, she wanted to know who was on the other end of the phone every time it rang.

"Oh, okay." JC replied.

"I'm not one of those crazy paranoid, and over possessive girlfriends who constantly wants to know you're whereabouts every second of the day." Leah said. "Can you please set the table?" She asked, stiring the ingredients in the skillet. "It's almost ready!"

"Did you just say girlfriend?" JC asked, his eyebrows raising.

"Uh... maybe?" Leah replied hesitantly, her heart thumping in her chest. She tried to backtrack in her mind what she had said. "I guess it just felt natural to say that." JC smiled as he got plates from the cabinets, and forks from the drawer.

"How do you like that title?" JC asked, placing the utensils on the table, then grabbed glasses from another cabinet. He liked the fact that Leah said girlfriend. Was she his girlfirend now? God only knows how long he's been wanting to claim that.

"It has a ring to it!" Leah joked. JC walked back over to her, and wrapped his arms around her waist. God, it felt so good to be wrapped up in his arms. She felt like she was right where she was supposed to be.

"I really want you to be my girlfriend." JC whispered into Leah's ear, sending chills down her spine. Hearing those words from JC meant everything. She wanted to be his! When she was with him, everything felt how it was supposed to feel. She didn't want to be a fool and let the opportunity pass her by again.

"And I really wanna be your girlfriend." Leah admitted.

"So then what's stopping us?" JC asked seriously. It seemed like every single time, just as they started to get close again somehow something had always managed to come inbetween them, and JC be damned if he'd let that happen again. He belonged to Leah, and Leah belonged to him. They both knew it and that's the way that it was supposed to be.

"We've tried this before." Leah said.

"Yeah, I know, I was there." JC said sarcastically, nuzzling Leah's neck.

"And what happened?" Leah asked

"We were teenagers." JC replied. "We didn't know anything about relationships then."

"But the timing was wrong." Leah said. "I was trying to start my career, you were trying to start your career. We were always in different places at different times, and it was hard to make the long distance thing work."

"I don't see your point. We're always in different places and different times now, and we both have really successful careers." JC said. Once the stir-fry was ready, Leah turned the skillet off, grabbed the plates off the table, and put some on a plate for herself, and JC. She sat the plates on the table, and turned around to face him, so that she could look him in his eyes. His beautiful clear blue eyes.

"My point is, all those years ago, back in Orlando, that was the first time we tried to do the couple thing, and we only had one night together. One amazing night. And then we barely even saw each other after that. We rushed into it. Just like we rushed into having sex on New Years, and then that night after my grandma's funeral. Well, the second time was completely my fault, but my point is, we've always rushed into things, and look how it ended up. After our breakup, I was completely heartbroken." JC's heart ached to hear her say those words. He knew it was all his fault, because he was the one that had broken up with her. "You're my bestfriend Jace, you're more than that, and words can't express how much I love you, so losing you hurt like hell. I didn't have my bestfriend anymore, and I went through some things that I couldn't talk to you about." JC didn't know if he should mention the fact that he knew about her eating disorder. "Not having you in my life sucks." Leah said. She could feel the lump forming in her throat, but she willed herself not to cry. "And it took forever just for us to be friends again. I want to be yours Jace, I want to belong to you, but I'm just afraid that if we rush into things too soon, it'll all end so fast. I don't want that again. I can't lose you again. It hurts too bad." Leah confessed, the tears falling from her eyes.

It hurt JC, to see Leah so hurt. He felt like he caused this, and he would do anything to fix this. "Leah, you could never lose me. Ever! No matter what happens between us, I will always be here." JC said, lifting his hands to her face and tilting her chin up, so that she could look him in the eyes. "I want just as much as you do to make this work. I don't want to be with anyone else, I just want you, and only you. Okay?" Leah nodded her head, and smiled.

"I love you Jace." Leah whispered.

"I love you too Leah." JC replied, embracing her in a tight, comforting hug. Being in his arms made all of her fears and doubts about their relationship just melt away. He was no Superman (Joey was!), but there's something about him that made him seem so powerful. Like she was completely safe whenever she was with him, and like he could make all of her burdens just go away.

"Jace?"

"Yeah babe?"

"I'm hungry!" Leah giggled.

"Okay well then let's eat!"

*************

"Oh my gosh! I can't believe you have me doing this!" Leah exclaimed. "If I break my face, then I'm totally gonna kill you!" She said as JC led her into the circle of the slick hardwood floor.

"Relax, you're not gonna 'break your face'!" JC replied, quoting Leah. He held her arm, as she began to wobble. "I don't know why you're so freaked out, you used to be the best skater in all of Orlando!"

"Uh, key word used! Josh, I haven't done this in forever!"

"Which is why we're here. I figured you could use some fun in your life." JC said, holding onto her arms, while he skated backwards. Roller skating was something that all of the MMC kids used to do together for fun, and he thought that taking Leah skating would be a good way to tap back into her inner child and relieve some stress. That was what she was missing in her life; fun! She needed for someone to take her out of her element for just a little while, and have her let go! So he rented out a little out of the way roller rink, just for the two of them. Besides the DJ and the Rollerskate Attendant, JC and Leah were the only ones there.

"I'm gonna fall, I'm gonna fall, I'm gonna fall!" Leah shrieked.

"I'm not gonna let you fall!" JC reassured her. Leah gripped JC's arm so tightly that she was sure she'd leave her fingerprints on his skin. JC skated backwards, while he guided her fowards, their eyes remained locked.

"I trust you." Leah breathed.

"Just relax you got this." JC said. "And why out of all of the skates here did you have to pick those?" JC asked, he was trying to take her mind off of the fact that she was afraid of falling, he knew that if she didn't focus so much on falling, she would just let go and have fun, and a debate about footwear would be the best thing to get her going!

"What do you mean?" Leah asked.

"Look at them!" JC said, eyeing the horrid Pepto Bismal colored skates with purple leopard print shoestrings, with white poms at the toes, and silver glittered wheels. "They're fucking ugly!"

"They're pink!" Leah exclaimed, defending herself. Ever since she was a little girl she's had a serious affinity for anything pink and/or glittery, she loved it so much that it sometimes borderlined on tackiness. When Leah laid eyes on the skates it was Heaven! It was everything she loved pink, glitter, and girliness!

"That doesn't stop them from being ugly! It looks like My Little Pony threw up all over them!" JC laughed.

"But it has glitter, and poms, and purple leopard shoestrings." Leah added faux pouting.

"But it's still ugly!" JC said.

"Take it back!" Leah teased.

"They are ugly and tacky!" JC replied

"Yeah sure, call me when you burn that hideous black fur and leather jacket that you wore to the VMAs last year!" Lead responded, losening her grip on JC's arm.

"Whatever, that jacket was sexy, and you know it!" JC said, pretending to sound offended. Leah began laughing, and she couldn't stop. Her smile was contagious. God how he missed seeing her smile everyday. He loved her smile.

Before Leah knew it, she was skating without using JC as her crutch. She had forgotten how great it felt to just let go and feel free. She really needed this. "Oh my gosh! I love this song!" Leah squealed when she heard 'Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough' by Michael Jackson blast from the DJ booth. "So get closer, to my body now, just love me 'til you don't know how!" Leah sang along to every word.

JC loved to see her like this! He love to watch her have fun. It made him happy just to see her so happy. She deserved to be happy, and he would do anything it took to make her happy. JC watched as she freely skated backwards and fowards, and spun around in circles laughing and singing her head off. Like a kid in a candy store!

Leah skated towards JC. "I can't believe you did this!" Leah exclaimed. "How exactly did you do this?" She asked.

"You will never know." JC grinned slyly. He loved the kiddy and anxious look on her face. Like a child on Christmas morning. It was a nice change from her serious personality.

"C'mon Jace, skate with me!" Leah said, pulling JC by the arm.

"Whoa! You better not make me fall!" JC replied.

"Who me? No! I was the best skater in all of Orlando remember?!" Leah laughed. For a while, Leah almost forgot that she was twenty-three years old, she actually felt twelve, and loved it! For a little while, she got to have a piece of her childhood back. A place where she had to worry about absolutely nothing, and JC did that for her. That meant more to her than anything. A moment like this was what made her heart scream; Are you crazy! Can't you see he's the guy for you? Cut out all of the bullshit now, and just be together! Do it before you lose him!

She wanted that so badly, no one else got her like JC did. He knew her inside and out better than anyone. Hell, he even knew her better than she knew herself. If it wasn't for him, she honestly didn't know if she would ever stop feeling sorry for herself.

JC and Leah skated for hours listening to the best disco roller skating songs. Everything from Blondie to Donna Summer to ABBA. The two had a blast. They were like two kids!

"Oh my gosh! I am so exhausted! My body is gonna be so sore in the morning!" Leah said, while zipping up her black knee high leather boots over her dark rinse jeans, and then pulling her messy hair back into a high ponytail, and putting on her white trench coat over her gray off the shoulder sweater.

"Well, I hope you're not too tired." JC said, pulling on his black pea coat. "Becasue, I have just one more place to take you!"

"Jace, it's already midnight. Where is there to go?" Leah asked. He knew that she wasn't a club person.

"Honey, it's New York City, there's always somewhere to go!"

*************

"Everything's so beautiful from up here!" Leah whispered. It was so quiet, and peaceful that she felt like she needed to whisper. The only thing that they could hear were the faint sounds of Christmas music playing in the background.

"Well, it's no Disney World, so I figured this is the next best thing." JC replied, smiling. He loved Leah's reaction. It was everything he hoped it would be.

"I can't even believe this! It's so amazing!" Leah said, taking in the scenery. She looked down at the snow covered ground from the top of the ferris wheel they were on in the middle of Coney Island. Since the amusement park was closed during the winter, it was probably one of the only places in New York, where the snow was pure and untouched. "How in the hell did you get us in here?" Leah asked, amazed. She loved the fact that he rented out the roller rink for just the two of them, but this? This was on a whole nother level. How in the world did he manage to get them into a closed down amusement park after midnight?

"I know a guy, who knows a guy." JC replied, placing an arm around Leah, and pulling her close to him.

"Yeah, everyone who says that, knows a guy, who know's a guy, who's cousin is some skeevy guy who stole a key from the guy who works at one of the concession stands, and we're the one's who get caught, and sent to jail!" Leah joked. "So who's this mystery guys that you know?" Leah asked.

"If I gave away the secret, that would ruin the illusion." JC said.

"What illsuion?" Leah asked.

"The illusion that I'm just that good!"

"You are that good!" Leah said. "So are you really never gonna tell me?" Leah asked.

"Nope." JC smiled.

"I still can't believe you did this. What made you think of this?" Leah asked.

"Well, remember that time a about two years ago, when you were in New Zealand, and you called me. You said that you were homesick and needed to hear my voice?" JC asked, Leah nodded. "We started to talk about the things that we wanted to do if we ever got to have day off. You said that you didn't know exactly what you wanted to do, but you said that you wanted to do something that you've never done before. So I figured that going to an amusement park at midnight, in the dead of winter was something that you've never done. I know how much you love the snow, and I figured that it would look pretty magical from up here. It's not exactly a Winter Wonderland, or anything like that, but I hope that you'll still like it all the same."

Leah's heart fluttered, and a lump formed in her throat. This is the sweetest most nicest thing that anyone had ever done for her in her entire life. It felt like they had had that conversation over a million years ago, and the fact that JC still remembered her every word was truly something special. Most guys wouldn't take the time out to pay attention to the details. Tyson would have never done this for her. He would've never been as caring, thoughtful, sensitive and creative as JC was being right now. Tyson cared about his ego way too much.

"You remembered that?" Leah asked, almost speechless.

"I remember everything you tell me. Everything that you say is important." JC admitted.

"No one's ever done this for me before." Leah said, as the ferris wheel went down. A single tear fell from her eye, and JC wiped it away.

"Well I would hope not, because then that would've totally ruined my speech about you doing something that you've never done before!" JC laughed.

She love his laugh. She loved everything about him. His heart, his passion, his soul, his dorkiness, his sensitivity, his creativity. How much he loved her. How he would do anything to get her to smile. All of the signs were there, he was the one for her. There was absolutely no one else who could ever care for her, and love her, and protect her as much as he could. And she didn't feel right being with anyone else. She felt perfect right where she was, with him. It felt so right to put her heart out there, and know that he wasn't going to break it.

"How do you do that?" Leah asked.

"Do what?"

"Everytime something's wrong in my life, you can always manage to make it right somehow. And you're the only one who could ever do that."

"I hate to see you sad. I hate to see you cry. I can't stand to see you like that, and not do anything about it. You're not that girl. You're the bubbly girl that I met on the first day on the set of MMC. You're an amazing person, and you deserve to be happy." JC said. Those words hit Leah hard. She had never heard those words before. She had never had someone who cared enough about her to insure her happiness. Someone who wanted to take care of her. She would be crazy if she shut him out.

"And I love you for that!" Leah replied, before pecking him on the lips. When she kissed him, everything in JC told him that she was the one. The one that he wanted to wake up to every morning, the one he wanted to marry, the one he wanted to have children with. The one who was his everything. He really could see spending the rest of his life with her, and he would do any and everything to insure that that would happen.

As the ferris wheel came back to the top, Leah took in the scene. Here they were, just the two of them on top of a very high ferris wheel. And she thought she felt free when she was skating. Well she really felt free now. Looking down at the beautiful sparkling snow covered amsuement park, she felt as if she were on top of the world, with her man right by her side. Thats right, her man! She had decided to claim it already. That's all she needed. In that moment she truly felt invincible. Snowflakes lightly began to fall from the midnight blue sky. Ironically enough the "City That Never Sleeps" seemed so peaceful and quiet, almost like a whole nother world. Leah looked up into the night sky at all of the beautiful stars. This was the first time that in New York City she could actually get a clear view of them, and boy were they beautiful. She felt as if they were her lucky stars tonight. Like God was watching down on her, and telling her to just follow her heart tonight. Like He telling her anything could happen. And for the first time in a long time, she truly believed that.

*************

"Janet Jackson." JC said.

"Are you kidding me?" Leah asked, taking an Oreo, and dipping it in peanut butter, 'Parent Trap' style. "Out of all of the women in the world that you'd like to spend one night with, other than me, you have to pick the hottest woman on Earth?" Leah said, taking a bite of her cookie.

"You said any woman!" JC said, defending himself.

"Yeah, but not the hottest woman on Earth! What a way to ruin my self esteem!" Leah joked. She should've known that she was setting herself up, when she asked JC if he could get a 'hallpass' and spend just one night with any other woman besides her, who it would be. After the amusement park, JC had broken his promise of one more surprise, and had surprised her again. This time, he had rented out the most popular movie theater in the city, and they had watched "Armageddon", their movie, that contained their song, Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing". It was totally unexpected, and had topped the night off. So now, at five o'clock in the morning, the two were sitting on the floor in the living room, with blankets, the TV turned off, candles lit, and the stereo turned on. It was perfect, cozy, and intimate. They were pigging out on leftover shrimp stir-fry, and tons of junkfood. They had talked about any and everything. Leah loved being in his presence. Usually, it was just her in this big penthouse apartment, all by herself. Alone. But now, with JC here, she didn't feel alone. She didn't want to be alone. She didn't realize how much she truly needed him, and how alone she really was, until he showed up early yesterday morning. It's like this huge void had been filled. It would be tough to see him go. She knew she would have to be strong when he left.

"Fine. If you could spend one night with any guy in this world, other than me, who would it be?" JC asked Leah before stuffing a handful of Skittles into his mouth. Leah took a minute to think about it. She had a few celebrity crushes. James Dean, Ginuwine, Rob Lowe when he was in "St. Elmo's Fire", Slash from Guns N' Roses, Usher, Jason Priestley, she was even 'Livin La Vida Loca' for Ricky Martin for a minute. But there was one man who she had fallen for when she was sixteen years old, and that love had never seemed to die down...

"Lenny Kravitz." Leah said.

"What the hell Leah?" JC asked. "Lenny Kravitz? Really?"

"Yeah! Have you seen his ass in the the 'Again' video?" Leah asked.

"Sorry Leah, but I don't look at other men's asses." JC replied. "But I mean Lenny Kravitz, for real?"

"Yes, Lenny Kravitz! Got a problem with that?"

"Um, yeah!" JC said. "When did you start liking Lenny Kravitz?" JC asked.

"Are you serious? What do you mean 'when did I start liking him'? I have every single one of his albums!" Leah said, pointing to her CD collection.

"Yeah, but I didn't think you had a thing for him!"

"Guys can be so oblivious sometimes." Leah stated.

"The guy's like a rock god, if you got to spend one night with him, I'd never get you back!" JC said.

"Aww, don't be silly, of course you would!" Leah said laughing. "Are you threatened?" Leah asked.

"Kind of." JC admitted.

"Aww how cute!"

"You can stop mocking me now!" JC said.

"I met him once!" Leah said, she liked that she was torturing him this way. It was kind of fun!

"You did not!"

"Yes I did. I went to one of his shows in London, and I got to meet him backstage. I even have a picture! He said we should work together sometime!" Leah lied about that last little part, knowing that it would get to him. When she saw the expression on his face, she burst out laughing. "I was totally kidding about that last part! You should've seen the look on your face!" She laughed. "So now you know how I feel about you being with 'Miss Rhythm Nation'!"

"Whatever!" JC said. The two then burst out laughing. They weren't usually the jealous types, but when it came to each other, they were fiercely overprotective of one another. The thought of Leah with anybody else killed JC inside, and seeing JC with anybody else had the same effect on Leah. It was just funny how jealous they were over each other's fantasy lovers!

The two spent hours into the morning continuing to joke and talk about just about anything under the sun. They enjoyed each other's company.

Leah yawned. "I'm surprised you haven't fallen asleep yet!" Leah said, glancing at the clock on the wall that read 7:30. They had stayed up until seven thirty in the morning, and JC hadn't so much as yawned yet. Wow, he set a new record!

"That's because; I don't wanna close my eyes/ I don't wanna fall asleep/ 'Cause I'd miss you baby/ And I don't wanna miss a thing..." JC sang the lyrics to their song, and Leah's heart melted. She was convinced that this man had the world's most beautiful voice.

"Aww! That was so cheesy, but so freaking touching." Leah said, scooting closer to JC, and placing a kiss on his lips. Their backs were up against the the couch, and the coffee table had been moved to the side of the living room. JC put an arm around Leah, and pulled her closer to him. Leah pulled the covers over them, and they she layed her head on his shoulder, and shut her eyes. JC held her in his arms, and layed his head on top of hers. She wished that they could stay like this forever. This moment felt so good, and she never wanted it to end. "JC." Leah said, opening her eyes.

"Hmmm?" JC asked, opening his eyes, and releasing his hold on Leah, so that he could look her in the eyes. He could tell that by the tone of her voice, that she had something very important to say.

"I love you so much from the bottom of my heart, and I really, really, really want to be with you. I don't want to beat around the bush anymore. I love being with you. I love being wrapped in your arms. I feel so safe, and so protected, and I love how you love me. Tonight has been the most amazing night of my life, and that's all because of you. You made me forget about everything that's been going on in my life. You make me so happy. I love how you love me, and no one has ever made me feel so special before. You make me feel important. You were the first guy I've ever kissed, the first man I've ever made love to, and I want you to be the only man that I ever kiss and ever make love to again. I can see myself marrying you, having your babies and watching them grown, I can see us spending a life together. Maybe I'm a fool for confessing this, because I have no idea if I'm even that girl for you, but I just have to get this off my chest. Words can't express how much I love you, and how much I want to be the one for you. I'm putting my heart on the line right now, and while I'm being honest, it scares the hell out of me. I want to be that girl, your girl, but the thing is I'm scared, and I'm really messed up right now." Leah said, confessing her soul to the man that she loved. Her heart was beating fast, and the tears were now free falling from her eyes. She was so afraid of what he was going to say next.

JC turned to face Leah. He looked deep into her eyes, and took both of her hands into his."Leah, you are that girl for me! Don't you get it? You're the only person who I could ever see myself with. I love you, I always have, and I always will. You mean everything to me, and I can't picture myself ever living without you in my life. You don't have to be afraid of me hurting you, because I won't. And I don't care about all of your imperfections, because you're always beautiful to me, no matter what. And I accept you with all your complexities, flaws and all. I love you baby." JC said, kissing her forehead. He meant every single word of it. It was important that she knew how much he loved her, and that he accepted her for who she was, and that it was okay to be vulnerable around him, because he would be strong for her, when she couldn't be strong for herself. She needed to know that he would be there for her through everything she went through. He would be her rock.

"I love you too Josh." Leah said. JC brought his hands to Leah's face and wiped her tears away.

"So does this make us official?" JC asked. "Are you my girlfirend now?"

Leah nodded her head and smiled. "Yes Josh, I am your girlfirend now. For real this time!"

"It's about damn time!" JC replied, before giving her a long and passionate kiss. It was official, they were official. JC was Leah's, and Leah was his. And that's just the way it should be.

Part Three, Chapter 19: Home Sweet Home?

A week had gone by since JC and Leah had officially declared their relationship, JC was back to work with the guys, and Leah was prepared to go back home to Kentucky, to check up on her family. Leah packed reluctantly. She kept thinking about how off things were going to be, going back home without Nana being there. That was usually the most exciting thing about going back home, was to see Nana, and now she wasn't there anymore.

Leah moved around her master bedroom, packing in a timely fashion. With the plasma screen that was attached to the wall across from her king sized bed turned off, as well as her record player, the room was eerily silent. As a matter of fact the whole house was eerily silent. Leah stopped dead in her tracks, in front of her bed to take a look around the large bedroom. The blush colored carpets, and the white walls with a film strip border at the top and bottom. When Leah first found this apartment five years ago, she was so excited to move into such a big place. At eighteen years old, she was so happy to finally get away from her family, and be an independent woman- out in New York on her own. Like she always dreamed. Little did she know then, the true meaning of loneliness.

Taking in her 1940's Old Hollywood style bedroom, Leah was seriously growing tired of her apartment. She needed a change of scenery. She was tired of being alone in this big apartment all by herself. That was her biggest issue; Loneliness. When Leah was at the eating disorder treament center in Colorado a few years back, one of the psychologist told her that her fear of being lonely was the root of her eating disorder. No, not what the tabloids said, or what magazines wanted her on their covers, but the issues that she had with her family, and her feeling alone. It's not like she liked not being close to her family, and she definitely didn't hate them. In fact it hurt her more than ever that she wasn't close to them. She wished she had a close knit relationship with her family like how Lucky did, or JC did. Sometimes she wished that she could just talk to Jill about everything that she was going through, but she knew that her sister wouldn't understand.

She always wanted to have a good relationship with Jill. She always wanted so badly to be friends with her. She wanted her sister's love and acceptance. She's been through so much in the past few years, and she just wanted to spill her guts out to Jill, but she couldn't. They were just too different. The only thing that had brought them closer together was Nana's death. Jill had actually been nice to her. Leah hoped that now that the funeral was over, Jill wouldn't go back to being her old self again. Hopefully the sisters could form a strong bond this time around.

Snapping Leah from her thoughts, she heard her cell phone ring. It was JC. "Hey baby!" Leah answered.

JC smiled, he love to hear the sound of his girlfriend's voice in the morning, he only wished that she was laying beside him, instead of being an ocean apart. "Hi honey." JC said.

"How's Spain?" Leah asked.

"Beautiful, the only thing that's missing is you." JC said. Leah could feel herself smiling an incredibly cheesy smile. The kind of smile that you smile when you're in love.

"Awww baby, I wish I could be there." Leah replied.

"So, I'm calling for a reason." JC said. "The Grammys are next month."

"Yeah." Leah said, they were both nominated.

"And I have a proposition."

"Okay, shoot." Leah said.

"Why don't we go together." JC proposed.

"As in..."

"As a couple." JC said, finishing her sentence.

"Like for real?" Leah asked.

"Yeah, is that okay?"

"Of course it's okay! It's more than okay!" Leah exclaimed. So far, the public didn't know that JC and Leah were a couple. JC and Leah decided that they needed a little more time together, before the media got involved. JC, like Leah, was a very private person. He protected everything that was close to him, and wanted to make sure that his relationship with Leah was rock solid. With the Grammys being a month away, he figured that was just enough time for them to get adjusted. Usually he kept his relationships extremely private, but with them both being public figures, that would be a challenge, and besides, he loved Leah so much that he just wanted to scream at the top of his lungs that Leah was his, and that he loved her and didn't give a damn about what anyone had to say about it! JC figured that the Grammys would be the perfect place to publicly declare their relationship status.

"But that's only if you're ready." JC said, stretching his legs out on the couch. Joey came by, and knocked them off, sitting next to JC on the couch. JC then flicked Joey in the head.

Leah comtemplated in her head. Going public with JC meant twice the paparazzi constantly chasing them, their face would probably be on evey tabloid, and most likely there would be rumors that either one of them was cheating on each other. To be quite honest, her privacy was a lot to sacrifice, especially with JC. She wanted to be able to walk down the street with him hand-in-hand, or be able to kiss him, or go out on a date with him, without a slew of gungry, sleazy, photographers with six inch lenses constantly chasing them, and shouting- not asking- but shouting personal questions at them. But at the same time, she didn't want to feel as if she constantly had to sneak around with him, like a high school girl, sneaking a boy past her parents, and into her room. She didn't want to be asked about her relationship status by Rosie O'Donnell or Carson Daly, and have to lie and say she didn't have a boyfriend, and feel guilty about it. This was the first time that she had been happy in a long time. She was in love dammit! And she wanted the whole world to know about it! And the last thing she wanted was for their relationship to be "outed" by the media. When people found out about it, she wanted it to come from them, not from OK! or Star magazine.

"Leah, I know exactly how you're feeling." JC said, filling the silence. "I know it's not the easiest thing in the world to give up your privacy. And every time I step out with you, I don't want there to be a paparazzo yelling vulgar things at us. But whether we like it or not, we're are two prominent people, and their is going to be a lot of outsiders in our business. But I want announce our relationship, before someone else gets a chance to."

Leah knew that he was right. There was no way out of it. Whether they announced their relationship or not, they were going to attract alot of media attention. For so long things had come inbetween JC and Leah, keeping them apart, and now that they were finally together again, she did not want anything to come inbetween them ever again. She loved and cherished JC more than anything in the world, and she would do anything to protect their relationship. "I know, I know..." Leah sighed. "You're right, and I agree. I just don't want anything to come inbetween us again."

"Anything as in what? The paparazzi. Well, I'd like to think that our bond was a little more stronger, then to let a bunch of outsiders, who don't know a thing about us, break us up." JC replied. Leah smiled, he was absolutely right. They were stronger than that.

"Of course it is. I'm just..."

"Scared?" JC said, finishing her sentence. "Don't be. I'm in this too you know. You think I'm not freaking out about this over here?" JC asked.

"I guess I just never thought about it like that. JC, you just seem so cool, calm and collected at all times." Leah said.

"Not always." JC replied. "Which is why we should talk about things, 'cause you know, that's what a couple does. Talk. You need to tell me these things, Leah."

"Yeah I know babe." Leah replied, taking one of her sweatshirts, folding it up, and placing it in her second suitcase. She knew that what JC said was right, she was just use to handling problems by herself, and not with someone who truly cared for her. She'd have to get used to having a good boyfriend in her life. In a moment of feeling fearless, Leah let the words slip out of her mouth, before she could even think about what she was about to say. "You know, what? Let's do this!"

"You sure?" JC asked.

"Yes."

"Are you positive?"

"I'm positive, Jace, I wanna do this. I don't wanna hide 'us' anymore. I want everyone to know about it!"

A huge smile spread across JC's face when he finally heard the answer that he had been searching for. "You really mean this?"

"Yes." Leah said smiling. She wanted to do this. She needed to this.

"So... it's you and me hand in hand, walking the red carpet?" JC asked.

"That's the plan." Leah replied, sitting on top of her suitcase, trying to make sure that every item was packed tightly inside, so that she could zip it up. "Ugggh." She grunted, bouncing up and down on her suitcase.

"Just pack a third one." JC said knowingly.

"But... How did you... How did you know?" Leah asked, panting.

"Because, I know you. You can never just pack one suit case. I'm sure you have at least ten things you don't need." JC replied. Leah jumped off her suitcase, and off the bed, and popped it open. Okay... so maybe he was right. Maybe she did have more shoes than she needed. But it was so hard to pick just one pair.

"Oh whatever, you just don't know what's it's like being a girl." Leah teased.

"Yeah, and I'm glad!" JC said. "Manolos, Louboutins, Jimmy Choos oh my!" JC teased in a high pitched tone. Leah couldn't help but to laugh. It was funny.

"Fine. Less shoes it is." Leah surrendered. She looked at the six pairs of shoes, she had in her suitcase. She didn't need to bring her new sparkly Ferragamo pumps, and she didn't need her 'Spice Girls' platforms either. She decided to take those, and the Giuseppi Zanotti's out. Leah then folded the flap back over the suitcase and it easily zipped up. "See you can even solve the smallest of my problems just like that! Even when we're an ocean apart."

"That's what I'm here for." JC replied. "So, have a safe flight, and call me as soon as you land."

"Alright babe, I love you my sexy ass boyfriend."

"Love you too, my fine ass girlfriend ." JC teased back smiling.

"Bye."

"Bye." JC rang off.

"You are so fucking cheesy!" Joey exlaimed.

"Shut up." JC said, picking up a white couch pillow, and throwing it at Joey. It him dead in the face.

"Oooh! My fine ass girlfriend." Joey said, mocking JC. "I can't wait to tell the guys this!" Joey said, shoving a fistful of M&Ms into his mouth.

"Great, because I can't wait to tell them all about the conversation that you had with Kelly last night." JC threatened.

"You wouldn't." Joey said, narrowing his eyes.

"Oh yes I would! I love you too my little love bunny!" JC said, mocking Joey. Joey then took the pillow from his lap, and flung it at JC, hitting him in the face.

"Dude you suck!" Joey said.

*************

z88;

"Two suitcases? Really? You're only staying a week!" Jill exclaimed standing outside of her Mercedes Benz with the trunk open.

"Oh please, Jillian, don't give that, 'Miss High Maintenance'." Leah replied playfully, picking up one suitcase and putting it into the trunk.

"Hey! I resent that comment." Jill replied, taking Leah's other suitcase, and putting it in the trunk. "Damn this is heavy!"

"It's true, you are high maintenance." Leah said. walking around the car, and getting in on the passenger side, and shutting the door.

"Am not!" Jill disagreed, getting into the drivers seat, and shutting the door. She put the key in the ignition, and started the car.

"Is too!" Leah said.

"Well, at least I don't have Louis Vuitton suitcases." Jill replied.

"Well at least I don't have Burberry suitcases." Leah said.

"Touche'." Jill replied, pulling the car out of the airport parking lot, and turning on the radio. The song Breathless by the Corrs came on.

"Oh my gosh, we're such dorks!" Leah exclaimed laughing. "Hey, whose cars are in the driveway?" Leah asked noticing two cars in the circular driveway. A candy apple red Lexus, and a silver BMW.

"You'll find out in a minute!" Jill said smiling, before turning the car off. the look on her face said, I know something that you don't. Leah wondered who it could be. Jill and Leah got out of the car, and to the trunk to get her luggage. Jill, who had the upper body strength of an infant, broke out into a sweat trying to lift one of her sister's suiitcases. "Damn girl, what all did you pack?" Jill panted.

"Oh Jill, stop being such a wimp! They're not that heavy!" Leah replied, picking up her other suitcase.

"Easy for you to say, you used to be cheerleader. You used to lift humans into the air for cyring out loud!" Jill said. Once she got the suitcase out of the trunk, she looked to house, which was only a few feet away, and back to the suitcase. Her gaze shifted to the house, and back to the suitcase. From the suitcase to house, and back again. If she had to carry this heavy ass suitcase all the way up to the front door, and then up the stairs to Leah's room, surely she would have an asthma attack- and she didn't even have asthma! "You know what? This is a man's job!"

"What do you mean? Don't be such a prima donna Jill! I carry twice as much when I'm on tour and-"

"BOYS!" Jill called up to Aiden's room window, which was open. "COME AND HELP!"

"Boys?" Leah asked. The last time she checked, she only had one brother. "Jill it's totally freezing out here, we could be in the house by now!"

"Oh hush." Jill said. "Everyone knows that a girl never carries her own luggage." Leah rolled her eyes.

"Like I said, high maintenance." Leah replied. "I swear I don't know how Tristan deals with you." Leah said, referring to her sister's fiance. In a matter of seconds Leah saw Aiden coming out of the door, behind him was one of his longtime friends, Charlie."Oh my gosh, hey Charlie! I had know idea you were hear!" Leah said hugging him.

"Hey babygirl!" He said, calling her by his special petname for her. He reached out and embraced her into a hug. He picked her up off her feet, and spun her around. "Well I guess you're not such a baby anymore huh?" He asked amazed at what he saw. She definitely was not a little girl anymore. She was stunning, and her body filled out nicely.

"Yeah I guess not! It's been what seven years?" Leah asked.

"Yeah, and you're still a shorty!" He teased. She stuck her tongue out at him, like she used to do, when she was much younger. Only now, it made his nether regions twitch a bit.

"So how's my favorite cousin?" Leah heard a familiar voice call. Looking over Charlie's shoulder, her eyes nearly popped out of her head, and her jaw dropped. Charlie nearly got knocked over, as Leah pushed passed him to get to the person.

"JERR!!!" Leah squealed, racing to get to Jeremy, one of her most favorite people in the whole entire world.

"I'm appalled!" Aiden gasped. "I thought I was your favorite cousin!" He joked.

"LeeLee!" He yelled, holding out his arms for her to run into. She ran as dast as she could and into his arms. He picked her up and she hooked her legs around his waist, like a little kid. The cousins hugged.

"Yo it's freezing out here!" Charlie said. "Can someone please break up Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey over here?" Charlie asked annoyed.

When he finally let her down, leah squealed again. "Oh my GOSH! What in the hell are you doing here?" Leah asked, completely surprised. Leah looked back at at Jill, who was smiling at her. That was the big surpise.

"Okay, so now that you guys are here. I can get warm again." Jill said. "You take this, and you take that." Jill instructed pointing to both Aiden and Charlie, and to the two suitcases. "You guys can just put them in Leah's old bedroom. Now if you'll excuse me, there's a latte in that house calling my name." Jill said, before flipping her long jet black hair over her shoulder, and storming off into large cobble stoned house.

"Yes Ma'am!" Aiden and Charlie called in unison. They grabbed the suitcases and headed inside. Leah and Jeremy followed suit. Leah was so excited to see her cousin Jeremy, who she hadn;t seen in about two years.

"I still can't believe it's you, here in the flesh!" Leah said excitedly, shutting the door behind her, and stepped into the foyer. The warmth hit her face, and she could smell the scent of baked chocolate chip cookies wafting through the air. It was so weird. It actually felt like home here!

"Well, I could say the same thing about you 'Miss Popstar', it takes almost an arm and a leg just to get you back to Louisville." Jeremy replied. Leah ducked her head, feeling a bit guilty.

"Well, I'm here now!" Leah replied, awkwardly. "So enough about me, how's life treating you? Oxford man!" Leah asked, giving him a playfully little push on the shoulder. Just as Jeremy was about to respond, Leah heard five familar voices.

"Yes." Jeremy mumbled. He was a twenty four year old man, and he had an Nsync ringtone!

"Well are you gonna get that?" Leah asked, watching her cousin, who was gwoing more and more embarassed as each second ticked by. Jeremy sighed, and pulled his phone out the pocket of his jeans, and checked the caller ID.

"This is my girlfriend, I'm gonna take this upstairs." Jeremy said.

"Aww Jerr, you have a girlfriend!" Leah gushed. She remembered the old days, when they were in middle school, and he couldn't get a girl to look his way. He's really come a long way! She was proud of the little stud!

Jeremy ignored her comment. "Anyway, when I get back, we have a lot of catching up to."

"Alright." Leah replied, as Jeremy disappeared up the steps. Leah followed the smell of fresh baked cookies into the kitchen, and was once again surprised by who she saw.

"I knew those were your cookies I smelled Aunt Celia!" Leah called to the woman was takiing the tray of baked goods out of the oven. Leah sat on the stool at the island across from Jill who was quitely sipping on her latte.

"Leah honey!" Leah's Aunt Celia exclaimed. "It's so good to see you! You have to give me hug!" Celia placed the tray of cookies on top of the stove, and walked over to her niece. Leah got up from her place on the stool, and wrapped her arms around her aunt. Celia- who was Leah's mother's youngest sister, and Jeremy's mother- embraced Leah in a tight hug. It was sooo good to see Aunt Celia again. And not to mention, she looked amazing! Anyone who didn't know her would swear that she was 25 instead of 43. The woman did not age!

"Oh my gosh Aunt Celia, it so good to see you again!" Leah gushed. A wave of emotions hit her, and she fought back tears of happiness. She had just gotten here and didn't want to get all sappy. The last time that she had seen her Aunt Celia was at the funeral, but it was such a surprise to see her now, because she thought that Celia had gone back to San Francisco afterwards.

"So how's New York been treating you baby?" Celia asked bringing the tray of cookies over to the island. She took a spatula, and began to place them on a plate, Jill reached for one, and Celia smacked her hand with the spatula.

"Ow!" Jill cried, rubbing her hand, which was now stinging. "What was that for?"

"Wait until they're finished cooling off." Celia said calmly. "So Leah, how's the Big Apple been treating you."

"Oh fine." Leah said. She unbuttoned her white peacoat, and took it off. Both Celia and Jill noticed Leah's noticeably thinner body frame. Leah walked out of the room, and back to the foyer, to hang her coat on the coat rack. While Leah was out of the room, Jill and Celia exchanged a look.

"How is it in San Fran?" Leah asked, walking back into the kitchen. She went over to the cabinet, and grabbed a mug. She poured some latte from the coffee maker in it. The perfect way to unwind was always coffee! "What's it like to own an art gallery?" Celia, who was the artistic one out of the three of her sisters was an artist, and she recently opened an art gallery in San Francisco with her husband, Rich.

"Well, it's definitely more business than I thought it would be. But Rich takes care of the business part, while I mostly take care of the creative side. It's hard work, but very rewarding." Celia said. A peaceful moment of silence washed over the women.

"Aunt Celia, may I please have a cookie now?" Jill asked, breaking the silence.

"Oh go ahead." Celia sighed.

"Thank you!" Jill snatched a cookie as quickly as possbile, and took a bite out of it. Aunt Celia's cookies were way better than anything the Pillsbury Doughboy could come up with. She always claimed to use a special ingredient, and she's never told anyone what it was. But whatever it was, no one could resist it! No one except Leah, she had learned to build up a strong resistance to her 'trigger foods'. Besides, she ate like a pig when she was with JC, and she couldn't afford anymore empty calories. She was almost positive that her huge thighs were bursting out of her jeans by now. She could pratically feel her ass grow wider inch by inch.

"You want one?" Celia asked Leah. Jill glanced across the island at her sister. Leah ducked her head to avoid eye contact. She knew that she shouldn't eat a cookie. She possibly couldn't. But turning down food in this family was considered rude. She didn't want to disrespect Aunt Celia.

Leah looked at Jill. Un-fucking-believable! Just when Leah thought that she could actually bond with her sister, she goes back to being the same of superficial Jill. First she calls her fat, and now she wants to comment that she's getting thin? What the hell was she trying to do? Leah didn't know whether to be hurt or angry. Suddenly, she felt like her fourteen year old self again, completely inferior to her older, smarter, much prettier and perfect sister. Maybe coming back to Louisville wasn't such a great idea after all. Leah looked back up to Aunt Celia and Jill who were patiently waiting for her explanation.

"Well, there's nothing that Wade Robson's choreography couldn't fix!" Leah said lightly. She couldn't believe that she had just came up with that lie like that. She hadn't seen Wade in months, since her choreographed her last tour. Leah looked back up to see that Celia and Jill didn't buy her excuse.

"Oh-kaaay." Celia said giving her niece a suspicious look. This time an awkward silence passed.

Leah silently begged anyone to come in and break up the tension in the room. When Leah heard her cell phone ring, she silently thank God. Leah reached into her purse, and grabbed her phone. She checked the caller ID and saw that it was JC. "Hey baby!" Leah answered.

"Baby?" Jill mouthed to Celia, and Celia shrugged and smiled.

"My flight was great... Yeah I just got here... Break a leg tonight baby! Love you to babe... Bye!" Leah said before hanging up. Hearing JC's voice had completely calmed Leah down, and changed her whole mood. He just had that effect on her.

"Baby? Who's 'baby'?" Jill asked.

"Yeah who's 'baby'?" Aunt Celia asked, putting her elbow on top of the island, and propped her chin in her hand.

"Baby is JC!" Leah announced smiling. Celia could see the change in her neice when she said his name. Her eyes lit up. Jill's jaw dropped.

"You're with him?!" Jill asked excitedly.

"Yeah, he's my boyfriend." Leah gushed.

"Well, it's about damn time!" Jill said.

"Watch your mouth young lady."

"Sorry, Aunt Celia." Jill replied. "So, when did all of this happen?"

"Um about a week ago." Lead answered. She went into the story about how he surprised her at home, and defended her in fornt of Tyson, and how they watched movies and spent the day together, and she told them about their magical fairytale-esque date.

"Oh honey he's a keeper!" Aunt Celia said.

Just then, they all heard the door knob jingle, and the door open. "We're back." Leah heard her mother call.

"We're? Who else is here?" Leah asked.

"You'll see!" Jill said with a smile. When Gabrielle walked in, she was pleased to not one but both of her daughters. And to top it off, they weren't down each other's throats for a change.

"Leah, honey when did you get here?" Gabrielle asked, placing her shopping bags on the island.

"About half an hour ago." She answered.

"Is that Leah's voice I hear?" Leah heard a familiar voice call.

"Aunt Lorraine, hi!" Leah said, as she saw her mother's younger sister walk in. Gabrielle, was the oldest girl, her brother Tony was the oldest, and Lorraine was the middle sister.

"Hi sweetie." Gracie said, giving her niece a hug. "It's so great to have you back." Just like Gabrielle and Celia, Gracie had inherited the 'young' gene. She looked all too young for her age, without the help of surgical enhancements. Looking around at all of her aunts, Leah realized just how much she looked like them. She as well as Aiden had all inherited Gabrielle, Lorraine, and Celia's green eyes, and button nose. Jill on the other hand took her after their father, Daniel. She had his light bronzed skin, wavy black hair, ski-sloped nose and dark brown eyes. She was a complete and total bombshell if you asked Leah's opinion.

"Well it's great to be back." Leah replied.

"Take those off NOW!" A voice screamed. Leah craned her neck to see who it was.

"But they look better on ME!" A second voice yelled back.

"Well, THEY BELONG TO ME!!!" The first voice yelled even louder.

"Lord Jesus, these girls are getting on my last nerve!" Lorraine sighed, squeezing a small ball to relieve her stress. "Gabrielle where do you keep your Asprin?" Lorraine asked her older sister.

"In the cabinet above the stove." Gabrielle said, pointing to the cabinets. Lorraine grabbed the bottle of Asprin from the cabinet, untwisted the cap, took two out, put the cap back on the bottle, set it on the counter, and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. She couldn't have opened the Evian bottle quicker to shove the pills down her throat chased it with the water. Lorraine let out a long sigh, and rested her head on the counter.

"Have they been at it like this all morning?" Jill asked.

"To the mall and back." Gabrielle answered. All of sudden there was a loud thud.

"MOM! She's attacking me HEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLP!!!!!" One of the girl's cried. All of the women dropped what they were doing and raced into the living room to see what was going on. It was almost comical. Lorraine's two daughters was on the ground. One ontop the other, literally trying to pull her sister's jeans off of her body.

"Gia get off of Zoe, and I mean it right now!" Leah demanded.

"No! I'm Gia! I'm the one that's getting attacked!" Gia cried.

"Right sorry! Zoe, get off of you sister now!" Leah firmly demanded. Zoe did as she was told, rolling off of her sister, and getting up. Gia was still face down on the ground, her pants pulled down to her knees.

"Oh my God! I can't believe you're here!" Zoe shrieked racing up to Leah and hugging her. "This is so cool!" Leah hugged her her younger cousin back.

"Wait who's here?" Gia asked, completely discombobulated. She rolled over on her back, facing the celing, and pulling her jeans up over her hips. When she finally got up, she realized who that person was. "Oh my gosh Leah! I can't believe it's you, here and in the flesh, and not on Access Hollywood!" Gia raced over to hug her older cousin, who was also her idol.

"Okay, so what are you guys doing fighting?" Leah asked, looking down at her twin cousins, Zoe and Gia. They were fourteen years old, and at that very rebellious age. It seemed like all they did was fight over boys, clothes, makeup and CDs.

"She stole my pants!" Zoe accused her twin.

"I thought they were mine!" Gia defended herself.

"Yeah since when do you own a pair of zebra printed jeans?" Zoe asked.

"Like I said you're just jealous because they look ten times better on me!" Gia replied.

"Yeah? Well you're just a Lizzie McGuire wannabe!" Zoe yelled back in frustration. "The crimped hair, purple streaks, the accessories! Everything!"

Gia walked over to Zoe so they were now face to face. "How dare you call me a Lizze McGuire wannabe? You're nothing but a two bit Scary Spice knock off! At least I don't walk around with two puffballs in my hair! Who's the real 'Wannabe' now?" Gia yelled, referencing to The Spice Girls number one hit single.

"Whoa, whoa what's going on down here?" Aiden asked descending the stairs, followed be Jeremy and Charlie.

"The twins are at it again." Jill replied.

"If this is PMS problems, then I'm staying out of this!" Jeremy said, raising his hands in surrender.

"SHUT UP!!!" The twins yelled angrily in unison.

"Girls, girls, girls, calm down and breathe for a minute. Whatever's going on, I'm sure can be fixed." Leah said. "Now sit." She ordered. They did as they were told.

"Incredible!" Lorraine said incredulousy, "she listens to them but not me!" The twins were willing to do anything that Leah told them to, but only because she was a popstar. It their eyes it was the coolest thing in the world. At fourteen the coolest thing in the world to a girl is always either one of two things; a popstar, or a boy. Leah was an influence on the girls, who were extremely impressionable. So why not use her powers for good? She would be a positive influence on the girl's and she would also be helping to bring Lorraine's stress level down by notches.

Now that the girl's had stopped scratching each other's eyeballs out, the room was quiet again, Celia went back to baking, and Jill went for more cookies. Gabrielle went to go put up her new clothes, andthe guys went back to playing video games. Leah sat down on the love seat that was positioned across from the couch.

"You know what? I am going to let you handle this Leah." Lorraine said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to get an ice pack for my head, and I am going upstairs to lay down." And with that, Lorraine disappeared to the kitchen. "Girls," she called from the kitchen. "I'm telling you this now, if you don't listen to Leah, then you're on the first flight home back to Arizona and back to your father."

"Okay, with that being said, Zoe, why did you attack Gia?" Leah asked Zoe.

"So, did you really feel that it was necessary that you had to take it upon yourself to physically pull the pants off of your sister?" Leah asked. Zoe ducked her head.

"But they're my pants. And she didn't ask me if she could wear them" Zoe said, defending her reasoning.

"So why didn't you just ask her to take them off?" Leah asked. Zoe stayed silent. It hadn't occured to the fourteen year old that she could've just asked her sister for the pants, rather than attacking her.

"Now, Gia. Why did you take your sisters pants without asking her?" Leah asked. "When you take something without asking for permission, that's called stealing. You don't want to make stealing a habit, it'll make you an unproductive member of society."

"Relax, it's not like I'm a Al Capone or anything." Gia replied. "And besides she stole my boots, and I didn't say anything about that." Gia said, pointing to Zoe's feet. Leah glanced down at the gray Moccasins on Zoe's feet. Leah looked at Zoe, and raised an eyebrow.

"So what do you have to say for yourself Zoe?" Leah asked. Zoe didn't reply. "So, Zoe, you took Gia's boots, and Gia you took Zoe's jeans, is that right?" The twins shook their heads. "And I though that girls hated to wear the same thing. Especially twins." Leah said. "Okay, so how about this. I'll take you girls to the mall, and you can buy whatever you want on me. Zoe, I'll buy you a pair of gray Mocassins, and Gia, I'll buy you a pair of zebra print jeans. Deal?" The girls shook their heads excitedly. "Good. Gia, you go change into your own pants, and Zoe you go and change into your own shoes, and I'll me you guys in the foyer in ten? Okay?"

"Yeah, will see you in ten minutes!" The girls replied in unison getting up from their place on the couch. Gia's phone began to ring.

The hook to Christina's famous song was abruptly interrupted when Zoe raced over to the purple Nokia phone to answer it. "Zoe what are you doing? That's my phone!" Gia cried. She tried to snatch it from her sister, but was too late.

"Hello Braaandon!" Zoe greeted, putting an emphasis on the boy's name. Zoe's eyes widened in horror.

"Give that to me you little brat!" Gia whisper-yelled trying to catch Gia. Gia was now chasing Zoe around the couch.

"No, actually this is Zoe, Gia's busy picking the jam between her toes, but I'll have her call you back when she's all done! Bye!" Zoe said before pressing the red end button. Zoe gasped.

"You are Satan's spawn!" Gia yelled, her anger steadliy building.

"Well, you shouldn't have touched my pants, let alone look at them!" Zoe snapped before turning on her heels, and heading towards the stairs. Before Zoe could do so, Gia ran up to Zoe and jumped on her back, causing Zoe to fall to the ground.

"And you, shouldn't have attacked me!" Gia yelled, pulling Zoe's head back by her one of her Pocahontas-esque braided ponytails. Leah was shocked. If these girls didn't stop, they would kill each other for sure.

"GIRLS!" Leah yelled. "If you don't stop fighting, then I'm not taking you to the mall!" Leah warned. But the girls didn't stop. Okay this was not working. Before yelling again, Leah cleared her throat. "Okay so, who wants to speak to JC Chasez?" Leah asked, putting an emphasis on her boyfriend's name. Gia immediately stopped pulling Zoe's hair, and Zoe snapped her head up.

"Did you say JC Chasez? As in the JC Chasez?" Gia asked, getting off of her sister, and walking back into the living room towards Leah. Zoe, then got up and followed behind Gia one side of her had had a long braid over her shoulder, and the other side was freely flowing down her back.

"From Nsync?" The girls asked in unison. Leah had to used to the whole twin-tuition thing.

"Yeah! You can talk to JC, Justin, Lance, Joey, and Chris." Leah said, holding up her phone. The girl's eyes immediately lit up. Nsync was their favorite group of all time! They would do anything to meet them. "You see all I have to do is dial a number, and you guys can meet them!" The girls excitement was increasing by the second. "On one condition!"

"Whatever it is we'll do it! We'll do anything to meet Nsync!" Zoe shrieked. Gia nodded her head in agreement.

"All you have to do is behave yourselves and get along through this shopping trip, and when we call back, I'll let you meet the guys." Leah said.

"We'll be good, we promise!" Gia exclaimed.

"We will."Zoe cosigned.

"Alright, get upstairs, get changed, and meet me back here in ten minutes." Leah instructed. The girls immediately ran up the stairs and did as they were told.

Leah took a long and relaxing deep breath. Great, now her head was hurting. Those two were a hand full. Leah's always wanted to get married and have kids one day, but if this is what it was like to raise teenagers, then Leah didn't know is she could handle it! She literally felt like she was being tag teamed! This was insane! She remembered when they sweet little angels, and now they raging teenagers!

"I do not know how Aunt Lorraine does it!" Leah exclaimed, walking into the kitchen. "And they've been like this all morning?" Leah asked. Both Celia, and Jill nodded their heads. "Hey Jill, can I borrow your car? I told the girl's that I'd take them to the mall." Jill handed Leah her keys, and Leah made a mental note to rent a car for the week. "You wanna come?" Leah asked, inviting Jill along.

"Are you friggin' kidding me? You could not pay me to ride in a car, and spend a whole shopping trip with those two! Do you know what you've just gotten yourself into?" Jill asked.

"They're fourteen how bad could they possibly be?" As soon as Leah got the question out of her mout, they could hear very loud stomping across the ceiling.

"You're just jealous that Brandon told me that I looked like Raven-Symone'!" They could hear Zoe yell.

"Newsflash! We're twins stupid! If you look like Raven-Symone', then that means that I look like Raven-Symone' too! And besides he only told you that, because he thought that you were me!" Gia yelled backed.

"TWO WORDS GIRLS" Leah screamed loud enough for the twins to hear. "N, SYNC!" The fighting ceased. "Are they always at it like this?" Leah asked already exhausted.

"They used to be inseparable." Celia said.

"Well what changed?" Leah asked.

"They became teenagers." Celia replied.

"Oh my goodness." Leah said.

"Here, you're gonna need these." Jill said, she held out Leah's hand, and sprinkled two Asprin into them, and handed her a bottle of water. "So. You think you can hang with us for a whole entire week sis?" Jill asked. Leah gave Jill a tired look. "Welcome home! Home, sweet home darlin'!"

*************

It was Monday, and the guys were in London, England for promotion. They had scheduled appearances to be on TRL UK, CDUK, and Top of the Pops as well as radio interviews, and a performance. Since they had a day off JC decided to do a little shopping for the one he loved. Since he was a memeber of Nsync afterall, he had to escorted by a bodyguard. He also asked for Lance to come along to help him pick out something for Leah. He knew that Lance was the only out of the guys who wouldn't a.) constantly fart every second (Joey) b.) constantly talk about his nipples (Chris), or c.) check himself out in every memory he walk past, just to make sure that every curl on his head was there (JUSTIN). Besides JC, Lance was the most mature out of the group, and very business-like and professional.

"So, what do you think she'll think of this?" JC asked Lance holding up a silver heart shaped necklace with the Tiffany and Co. logo on it. Tiffany's was Leah's favorite jewlelry company, and since there was one a few blocks from the hotel that they were staying in, JC thought it would be the perfect opportunity to buy his girlfriend something nice. He thought he'd be jumping the gun if he bought her a promise ring. He didn't want her to think that he was trying to rush her into marriage or anything like that. So he thought that a necklace was appropriate.

"Honestly JC, I think she'll like anything you give her." Lance said. He'd been in this damned store for over an hour, and wanted out. Why did JC pick him to help pick out jewelry? He wasn't good at this! Whenever he wanted to give jewelry to someone he had a stylist pick it out for him.

"Yeah but that's the point. She'll like anything that I give her." JC replied.

"Oh-kaaay. So what's the problem?" Lance asked. He was bored out of his mind.

"The problem is, she'll like anything I give her, just because it's the fact that I gave it to her. So whether or not she actually likes it, she'll still tell me that she loves it. I don't want a pity 'Oh JC I love it!' and then she never wears it when I'm not around, no! I want her to genuinely love what I give her. I want her to think of me whenever she looks at it." JC explained. Honestly, Lance didn't know that it took all of that just to pick put a piece of jewelry. But since Lance knew how much Leah meant to JC, he would stick out this painful shopping trip. Lance had known JC and Leah for a long time now, and knew about their history together, and was happy that they had decided to finally be togther, but still, Lance hated to shop!

"Okay, well what screams Leah to you?" Lance asked. Actually that was a pretty good question. JC knew that he was right to bring Lance along. "Just look at different pieces, and which ever one catched your eye the most, go with that one. Don't try to read too much into each piece of jewelry just follow your gut instinct." Lance advised.

"Lance that's brillant!" JC replied. Lance didn't really think of it as brilliant, he was just saying anything so that JC could hurry up so that they could get the hell up out of there. Lance was starting to grow antsy. JC knew Lance had ADD, but still picked him anyway!

The woman behind the counter showed JC eight different necklaces before he found the perfect one. The moment he laid eyes on the necklace, he knew it would be perfect for Leah. The saleswoman showed JC a diamond sterling silver key heart pendant; a heart pendant that connected to a skeleton key. It was perfect!

"Hey Lance, look at this one!" JC said, showing off the necklace.

"I think it's great." Lance said flatly.

"But that's what you said about all of the other ones." JC pointed out.

"Because they're all great." Lance replied. To be honest jewelry was just like clothes to Lance. All you could do was wear it, he really didn't care what the difference was between white gold, and silver, or Gucci and Pucci. They were all the same to him. "JC. Do you like this piece?" Lance asked JC.

"Yes." JC replied.

"Well go with your gut dude." Lance replied. He was seriously dying a slow and painful death.

JC knew Lance was right, but he just wanted this to be the perfect gift for Leah. He wanted the necklace to be a symbolism of his love to her. He knew that she wasn't about all of the material things, but he still felt like she deserved the best. Taking a look at all of the necklaces laid out onto the glass counter JC decided that the key heart pendant one was the best choice. It jumped out to him. It really meant something.

JC paid for the necklace with his credit card, and he and Lance made their way out of the shop with Lonnie, one of their bodyguards. Finally, Lance thought to himself. He loved JC like a brother, but he hated shopping.

"Okay, so next we're gonna go see Big Ben." Lance said, as he, JC, and Lonnie who walked behing them started down the sidewalk.

"I don't wanna go see Big Ben Lance, we've already seen Big Ben." JC replied.

"Yeah, but you said that if I go jewelry shopping with your for Leah, then we could do anything that I wanted to do for the rest of the day." Lance said, reminding JC of his promise.

Shit, I did say that, didn't I? JC thought to himself. Damn him and his promises! But since JC wasn't one to fall through on promises he would have to endure sight seeing. Not that he didn't enjoy traveling and seeing sights, but what he wanted to do more than anything at that second was to just go back to their hotel room, and talk to Leah. He really missed her, and needed to hear her voice. He so desperately wished that she was right there with him right now.

"You know what? It's cool. Go back to the hotel and talk to Leah, and I'll go sight seeing." Lance said, reading JC's mind. JC's face automatically lit up.

"You sure?" JC asked, he didn't want to seem like a self absorbed asshole. Lance nodded. "You're cool with this?" JC asked Lance.

"Yeah I'm cool with it." Lance said. You know how people get homesick? Well, Lance knew that JC was definitely Leah-sick. He missed her, he wanted to be with her, and Lance got that. JC was in love, and he was happy for him. Lance hadn't seen JC this in love since... well since in forever. He knew that JC genuinely did love both Nikki and Bobbie, but not the in the smae way that he loved Leah. Leah was his soulmate, and everyone could feel it.

Lonnie and Lance dropped JC off at the hotel, and Lance went sight seeing. Tiffany's bag in hand, JC was relieved to see that their weren't any fans stalking the hotel lobby surprisingly. As JC rounded the corner, heading to the elevator, he felt someone crash into him. Whoever it was fell to the ground. "Oh God, I'm so sorry!" JC apologized bending down to help the girl up. The girl was now on her knees, and scrambling to grab her things; a black Chanel purse, a tape recorder, a pack of Wrigley's doublemint gum, a notebook, and a laptop computer case. "Here let me help you." JC said, helping the mystery girl gather her things up.

"No, it's okay I got it." Msyetery Girl mumbled. She hid her face behind her light brown hair.

"No I insist," JC replied politely. He grabbed her computer case.

"No really it's fine." She replied. Once she got her gum and tape recorder back in her purse, she stood.

With Mystery Girl's computer case in hand, JC stood as weel, and nearly dropped the case again at who he saw. "Bobbie." JC said speechless. There she stood, his ex-girlfriend, all five foot five inches of her.

The moment that JC ran into Bobbie, she immediately knew who he was. She had heard that Nsync was staying at the hotel, and she wanted to avoid her ex at all cost, so once she got word that JC had left the building with Lance, she decided to make her move. Obviously she calculated wrong. "Hi." Bobbie said, she was unable to look him in the eyes.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" JC asked, stumbling over his words. He was shocked to see Bobbie here.

"I'm here to do an article on S Club 7, I'm not stalking you I swear." Bobbie said, defending her reasoning for being in the same hotel as him. "I got promoted from advice columnist to an actual journalist." Bobbie elaborated about her job a J-14 magazine. Wait. Since when did she have to defend herself to her ex-boyfriend? She shouldn't have to explain herself to him. So what they were staying at the same hotel? It was a free country afterall, and she did have the right to be there too. Them staying in the same hotel was merely a coincidence.

"No, I didn't mean it like that." JC said, now he felt bad that she felt he need to explain herself to him. Man this was awkward. "So umm, here's your case." JC handed Bobbie over her laptop case.

As he was doing so, Bobbie noticed the Tiffany's bad in his hands. He had been shopping. For a girl. And although Bobbie didn't want to admit, she had a feeling that she knew which girl it was. "Thanks." Bobbie said, before grabbing her laptop case, and walking in the opposite direction.

Bobbie waited until she was all the way around the corner before she let the tears fall. No matter how hard she tried, she still was not over JC. Seeing him again, literally made her want die. Even though he hurt her, she couldn't live without him. JC was her first love, and she seriously thought that she would marry him, and have his babies. Ever since that day after New Years when they had broken up, she vowed to neevr fall for a man again. She thought that maybe, just maybe, if she had buried herself into her work deep enough, that maybe it would ease the pain, but it didn't. When she saw him again, all of the feelings that she had for him immediately came rushing back. And to know that she was no longer his girl, that Leah was, almost too much to handle. What really pushed her over the edge was knowing that Leah was that girl. She was JC's true soulmate. His heart belonged to Leah, and there was nothing that she could do to change that.

As the cold London air hit Bobbie's face, her tears stung her cheeks. Her emotional pain had converted to physical pain, and become to much to bear. Right where she was Bobbie crumpled to ground, her back against the the cold stone of the hotel bulding. She heaved and sobbed until she felt dizzy. She didn't know how to make this pain go away, but it slowly took over her, eating her alive. She had to deal with the fact that the love of her life belonged to someone else, and she would never get him back. No matter how hard she tried, or how hard she wished, hoped, and prayed, she would never be that girl. The girl that JC's heart belonged to. And that was just about enough to kill her.

"Oh my God! I can't believe that we just talked to Nsync!" Zoe gushed, sliding off of Leah's bed and onto the carpet. A permanent smile spread across her face.

"I asked Justin to marry me, and he said he would wait until I turn eighteen!" Gia exclaimed, sitting cross-legged towards the edge of the bed. Yeah, he said that because he knows that by the time you do turn eighteen, you'll have your sights set on the next big popstar! Leah thought to herself. It was cute though how the girl's were so excited over meeting their favorite group. "Leah will you be my Maid of Honor?" Gia asked.

"Sure thing!" Leah replied, while sitting at the top of her bed, and curling her hair with a curling iron.

"What about me? I'm you sister!" Zoe said.

"Well, did you introduce me to Justin Timberlake? I think not!" Gia replied. Zoe simply roled her eyes.

"Everyone knows that the Maid of Honor title is reserved for sisters, or bestfriends if you're an only child." Zoe said. "And besides, do you honestly think that Justin will ever leave Britney for you?" Zoe asked, pushing her sisters buttons.

"Sure he will, one look at me and how could he not want me?" Gia asked flipping her hair.

The twins were so cute. They wanted so badly to be grown, but yet they still freaked out over Nsync, Backstreet Boys, body glitter, leather pants, Radio Disney, Seventeen magazine, and notes from boys with check yes or no if you like me boxes. Zoe and Gia wanted so badly to be adults, but Leah wanted to tell them to stay young as long as they could. Being an adult wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. She would do anything to get her teen years back.

"Well, you can keep curly, but Lance is all mine! I cannot resist that sexy southern deep voice of his." Zoe gushed.

Leah was happy that she got to spend time with her cousins, and that she got to grant one of their wishes. After they got back from the mall, Leah called JC up, and asked if he and the guys would meet the twins, two minutes later and BAM!... fantasy fulfilled! Leah would forever be revered as a legend in their minds.

"So, do you actually know Christina?" Gia asked.

"And Britney?" Zoe asked.

"Yeah, they're my friends." Leah said nonchalanty, unplugging her curling iron, and wrapping the cord around the base.

The girls gasped in surprise, and exchanged glances. "What are they like?" Zoe asked, rolling over on her stomach and propping her chin up in her hands, looking up at Leah. Gia did the same on the bed. "What are they like?" Zoe asked.

"They're just normal girls." Leah replied.

"No way, they can't be that famous and still be normal." Zoe said.

"Trust me, they're normal, they get zits, and have bad hair days just like you do." Leah said. She wanted to erase the illussion that the twins had of celebrities. She wanted them stop praising celebrities, and know that being famous isn't everything.

"I don't buy it they always look perfect." Gia said.

"Not always, there are a lot of things that make celebrities look perfect. Have you ever heard of airbrushing?" Leah asked. The twins shook their heads, and blinked.

"Okay, well airbrushing is when photographs are majorly altered. They can hide any flaws that I have. Like my album cover for example, I had a horrible alergic reaction from some new type of makeup that the makeup artist used on my face. I had a horrible rash, and broke out in hives, it was a disaster! But I still had to shoot the pictures for my album" Leah said.

"So, why couldn't you just wait a few days until your face cleared up?" Gia asked.

"Well because, time is everything in the music industry, and we had a deadline to meet. So I had to do the photoshoot anyway, and the photographer retouched the photos, so it looked I had a face full of makeup on." Lead explained. The girls stared at Leah dumbfounded.

"So you had no makeup on whatsoever?" Gia asked.

"None." Leah replied. "Oh yeah, and my hair was at least three shades lighter than it actually was on the cover." Leah added.

"Whoa." The girls repsonded in unison. Twin-tuition again.

"Yeah, nothing is what it seems in the entertainment business." Leah responded.

"But you're all so tiny. I wish I was that small." Gia said. Alarms immediately went off in Leah's head the moment she heard Gia say that.

"Trust me, no one, and I mean no one is that small." Leah said.

"But you are." Zoe pointed out.

"Listen to me, and listen to me good." Leah demanded. She sat at the edge of the bed, and the twins gathered around her. "Unfortunately music, is not the only part of the music business. Image is everything, and how my body looks is a very important part of my job. No one in the real world looks like this." Leah said pointing to herself. "It's no fun working out for four hours a day on top of dance rehearsals, and then following a super strict diet. It's not healty, and it's not realistic. Not to mention that the magic of computers and editing can make you look even more thinner than you actually are. I want you guys to know this; Hollywood is nothing more than smoke and mirrors, so don't be fooled by what you see. What you see is not always what you get, almost nothing is real. So I don't want you guys to get all caught up in trying to look like a celebrity or wanting to be famous, because, trust me, it's really not that great. Listen, you guys are fourteen! You're babies! Don't be in such a rush to grow up. You have the rest of your lives to figure out what you want to do, and who you want to be. Please don't try to be famous because you think it's cool. You're way too young to be worried about how much you weigh, or what your body looks like. You girls are beautiful, and you don't need to be focused on losing weight."

"Wow, I think that's the most impactful thing that anyone's ever said to me." Gia said, wiping tears from her eyes. She looked up to her big cousin and constantly tried to be like her, so everything that Leah told her really hit her. Trying to be perfect really did take a lot out of a person.

"She was talking to me too, you idiot!" Zoe said laughing. Leah couldn't help but to laugh too. Zoe was always the comdeic relief. She always broke the ice during a tense moment.

"Shut up!" Gia laughed and playfully swatted her sister on the arm, wiping her tears away.

I need you guys to make me a promise." Leah said, the girls nodded their heads. "If you ever feel the pressure to be perfect, then I want you call me. Don't get caught up in perfection, because that's such a dangerous place to be." Hearing her cousins talk like that scared her. She didn't want for her cousins to look up to her, or want to be like her. She didn't want them to feel the lonliless that she felt. She didn't want them to feel the pressure that she felt. And she didn't want them to form an eating disorder like she did. After going through what she went through, she wouldn't wish it on her worst enemies. For the last few years, she's felt miserable, and she hardly ever felt comfortable in her own skin, and it would break her heart to see her cousins following in her footsteps. "Do you guys understand me?" Leah asked. The girls nodded. "Great! Now let's go downstairs and eat!" Leah said.

*************

Two days later, as Bobbie stepped into the West Coast J-14 Magazine headquarters, she was anticipating for it to be a good day. She was back in California, and she was pretty sure that Nsync was far across the pond, and that's how she wanted it to stay. Needless to say, she was still suffering from the syndrome known as a 'broken heart', so out of sight was out of mind for her. Well, almost anyway. She was excited to be back at work, and that's where all of her attention would be focused. Being promoted from an advice columnist to an actual fashion journalist meant that Bobbie was only one step closer to her dream; Being the executive fashion editor for a major fashion magazine like Vogue or Harpers Bazaar! Now that she was back in her element, Bobbie felt invincible, as if nothing or no one could touch her. Not even a boybander, and his spoiled bitch of a popstar girlfriend. Okay, so maybe that assumption wasn't fair, but she couldn't help it. Although she didn't exactly know Leah, except for a few hi's and bye's here and there, she hated girl. She was just all too perfect. Nothing seemed to be wrong with her, not a hair out of place, and not an ounce of fat on her body. When Bobbie was with JC, every time Leah came around, Bobbie always felt as if she were being pushed to the side. And she absolutely hated it if the other girlfriends were around; Britney, Kelly, Danielle, and Danielle, because Leah was friends with them all. They all had a history together that Bobbie wasn't apart of, and she felt like a total loser. Like there was this inside joke that everyone was in on but her.

She should just stop, she was starting to let this get the best of her again, and she promised that she wouldn't do that. At least not in the workplace. No, she was here to be a professional, and that's exactly what she'd be. When she approached her boss's door, she tapped lightly. The woman in the swivel chair turned around at the sound of knocking on her door.

"Bobbie, hi!" Linda Foster greeted, a pleased smile spreading across her face., She turned to face Bobbie who looked fashionista perfect in a black Diane Von Furstenburg dress, and red Stella McCartney blazer. A pair of black four inch Salvatore Ferragamo pumps, and gold and silver Alexis Bittar teardrop earring tied her look together. Hmm, simple yet chic and very office appropriate, just like I taught her. Linda thought to herself. I'm so proud of my little protege'!

"You said you wanted to see me?" Bobbie asked.

"Right, come in." Linda motioned, waving her arm. "Have a seat." Bobbie sat in one of the two chairs in front of Linda's desk. "So, I wanted to congratulate you on doing such a fantastic job!"

"Thank you!" Bobbie replied graciously.

"Only two weeks as a fashion journalist, and you're already doing better than some of the executives around here!" Linda was quite impressed with her little protege's work. Bobbie smiled.

"I'm just really passionate about what I do." Bobbie said smiling. She loved work! It was the only place where she was the best at what she did, and was constantly praised for it! Who wouldn't want that?!

"I can tell." Linda said. "Which is why I'm picking you for my next project." Bobbie perked up excitedly. "I'm launching a website." Linda said. "It is going to be an extenstion of J-14. A website dedicated to teen fashion."

"Wow! That's incredible! But where do I fit in in all of this?" Bobbie asked.

"I'm picking you to be j-fashions.com's style editor-in-chief!" Linda announced. Bobbie could feel her heart racing in excitement!

"Me? You're picking me?" Bobbie asked in complete disbelief.

"Yes! I'm choosing you Bobbie!"

"I hope you don't mind my asking but, why me?" Bobbie asked. She knew to never ever question Linda Foster, but this just didn't feel real to her. She pinched herself to see if she was dreaming. She wasn't.

"Are you questioning my decision?" Linda asked, arching her left brow. Linda could go from friendly to mean in three point five.

"N-n-no. Not at all, I was j-jus-just-, there are just so many more qualified people here for the position." Bobbie stuttered. Damn the woman could make her so nervous!

"Would you like for one of them to take your place?" Linda asked sharply.

"No!" Bobbie replied quickly

"Well, if you must know. I feel like you have a lot of potential. You simply have more drive and determination than anyone else here. You want it more. You have a very impressive work ethic, and are the best person for the job. Don't be fooled. You got this far on hard work and hard work alone. You've earned this. So don't second guess yourself. You almost remind me of a young version of myself. Like the daughter I never had." Linda explained.

Bobbie felt deeply touched by Linda's words. It was so rare that a boss actually cared so much for her employees. It made her feel great that Linda truly believed in her so much. "Why thank you Ms. Foster, I promise that I won't let you down." Bobbie assured her.

"Oh I know you won't." Linda replied. "So for your first order of business, I want you to be a fashion correspondent on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards next month!" Linda said excitedly.

Bobbie's heart started to race again. And this time, not excitedly. Is this what a heart attack feels like? Bobbie wondered as she felt the bullets of sweat slowly start to roll down her forehead. Is is just me or is it getting hot in here? "Y-y-you want me to what?" Bobbie asked, almost panting. She had to make sure she heard right.

"I want you to be a red carpet fashion correspondent at the Grammy Awards next month." Linda repeated herself.

"I-I-I-I um, wow! I don't know if I can do that." Bobbie stammered nervously. No, she knew she couldn't. She couldn't possibly be there! It was music's biggest night, and she knew exactly who'd be there, and who he'd be with.

"Okay, no problem, I could just call in Aileen to be the style editor-in-chief for j-fashions.com if this is a problem for you." Linda said all too nonchalantly, her hand on her phone. She knew exactly what she was doing, and Bobbie didn't like it one bit.

"Fine, I'll do it!" Bobbie snapped.

"There, that's what I thought." Linda said, hanging the phone back up. Bobbie looked down at her feet, feeling completely defeated once again. Linda gave her a very condescending look. "Oh, you're not worried about that JC guy now are you?" Linda asked. Bobbie didn't say a word.

"Okay." Bobbie surrendered. "I'll do it."

"I knew you'd come through. So the Grammys is just about a month away, that'll give you just enough time to prep. I want you to know the names of thirty important designers that artist may be wearng that night, I need you to know the names of all of the important celebrities attending the event, and I'll need you to prepare a set of standard questions to ask the celebrities on the red carpet. I'll need those questions on my desk by the end of the day. Oh, and don't forget to pick out a killer dress!"

Bobbie stared at her boss's icy blue eyes. They seemed to have no soul, heart or compassion whatsoever. She knew that Linda wasn't kidding. Looking at Linda in her black Armani pant suit, her blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun, and her berry lip gloss tinted lips, she knew that Linda meant business. She was as serious as a heart attack. She was a woman who showed no mercy. She was Satan himself in a designer suit.

"You're dismissed." Linda announced. Bobbie arose from her seat on very wobbily legs. She knew that whatever lay ahead for her, was not going to be at all good. All she could do was brace herself for the drama, and hoped that she could handle it as gracefully as possible. As Bobbie turned to leave, Linda stopped her.

"Remember Bobbie, everyone is replaceable." Linda said icily, narrowing her eyes at Bobbie. She could practically smell Bobbie's fear, and gave her a wicked smile out of pure satisfaction.

A cold chill ran through Bobbie, and she could've sworn she felt herself shiver. Bobbie couldn't have been happier to be out of that office, and out from under Linda's gaze. Once out of Linda's office, she immediately made a run for it. Linda was so confusing. Sometimes Bobbie felt as though Linda could be a type of mother figure, and Bobbie constantly sought her validation, but then she could completely turn and become a monster. With a shaky hand, Bobbie wiped a lone tear from her cheek. She honestly couldn't decide whether or not taking on this job was a blessing or a curse. She just hoped that whatever she did for this job would all be worth it in the end.

z88;

Back in her office, Linda sat satisfied, knowing that she had Bobbie right where she wanted her. Bobbie loved her job so much, and Linda knew that the girl would do just about anything to keep it. Linda almost felt sorry for her. Poor girl, just broke up with the love of her life, and is trying to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Maybe she shouldn't mess with her. But hell, who was she kidding? She was Linda fucking Foster, she could do whatever the hell she wanted. Sure, she had a heart, but this was business, and this was a cut throat industry. Her reputation was on the line, and she wasn't going to let some 25 year old, fashion editor wannabe ruin her. Linda couldn't stand how Bobbie thought that she was hot shit, just because she dated JC Chasez from a little band by the name of Nsync. So when she found out about their breakup, Linda decided to become somewhat of a 'Maternal Figure' to Bobbie. Take her under her wing, and give her guidance, show her what it meant to become a single and independent business woman. She couldn't even believe it that Bobbie had bought that "You've earned this" or "You're like the daughter I never had" bullshit! What a fool! She was so naive. Although, she had to give it to the girl, she had to handle herself pretty well. She sent the girl to London, even put her in the same hotel as her ex-boyfriend, and she hadn't gotten word of a physical altercation! Good girl! Linda took this opportunity as sort of a 'hazing' experiment. This was the ultimate test. She wanted to see if Bobbie could handle the pressure of working with her ex, and truly remain professional. She wanted to see if the little bitch would break.

*************

"Hi babe!" She could here JC's voice greet her all cheerily. What was he so fucking chipper for?

"Jace..." Leah slurred.

"Yeah?" JC asked, she didn't sound so good. Was she sick? "Are you okay?"

"Are you okay?" Leah asked back.

"What do you mean?" JC asked confused. Did he really just asked that? He calls at an undecent hour and he doesn't know what she means?

"What do I mean?" Leah asked back. "J.C. where are you?" Leah asked, her speech becoming more coherent.

"Budapest," JC answered.

"Right, and what time is it in Budapest?" Leah asked.

"It's 10:17 here... which means that-"

"It's four a.m. here, in Louisville, Ky." Leah said, finishing his sentence.

"Wow honey, I'm sorry. I didn't even think of the time difference, I just really wanted to talk to you." JC apologized.

Awww! How could Leah possibly be mad at that? He somehow always found a way to make her heart melt. "Aww baby that so sweet! Is everything okay?" Leah asked, now fully awake.

"Yeah, everything's fine." JC said. Okay, well he didn't sound fine. He sounded sort of sad, and it broke her heart.

"You don't sound fine."

"I am." JC reassured her.

"What's wrong?" Leah asked.

"Nothing, I promise." JC said.

"C'mon Josh, I've known you long enough to know when something's bothering you." Leah replied. "It's me you're taling to."

"I miss you." JC confessed. Everything was going great in his life. He got to live his dream with four of his bestfriends, he was finally with the love of his life, his family was taken care of, and he was truly happy. The only thing that was missing was Leah being right by his side. He missed her. He needed her to be with him. He needed to hear her voice every second of the day. He wanted to hold her, and kiss her, and squeeze her so badly. He wanted to look deep into her beautiful green eyes while making sweet love to her. He wanted her. And no amount of pictures, emails, or phone calls could equate to her actually being right there with him.

"I miss you too baby. So badly." It was true, Leah did miss him too. She hated that they had so little time together. She tried to keep her mind occupied on other things to keep from missing him, but whenever she was alone she thought of him. That should be a good thing, but because they were constantly miles and miles apart, that was a horrible thing. Being in a relationship was absolutely wonderful, but being apart so much really took it's toll. Her heart ached being away from him, she hated missing him. She almost felt incomplete, like she wasn't whole without him. It was torture. "I miss being held in your arms." Leah admitted.

"I miss holding you in my arms." JC replied. Leah could feel a lump forming in her throat, and she willed herself not to cry, but she couldn't help it. The tears slowly started to roll down her cheeks. She was a girl in love, and she missed her man.

"This sucks." Leah said, wiping her tears away. "This sucks sooo bad."

"You're telling me." JC sighed.

"I hate this." Leah said. She wanted- no- needed to be close to him.

"Leah?" JC asked.

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever... ya know... had phone sex?" JC asked.

"Jace!" Leah gasped. Okay, so she wasn't a virgin, but Leah still considered herself to be somewhat shy when it came to expresing her sexuality, and JC on the other hand, definitely wasn't!

"Well, I'm just sayin', if we can't be together physically, then we have to be together some kind of way."

Oh Lord, my man is a freak! Leah thought to herself. "But Jace... I mean... Phone sex? Really?!" Leah asked.

"Yeah." JC replied, a little to eager. Her voice alone was sexy enough to get him off.

"You're serious about this, aren't you?" Leah asked.

"Yes I am!" JC replied. "C'mon Leah, you're talking to the man who wrote Digital Get Down!"

Leah could practically feel herself blushing. Even with JC, she was so shy when it came to talking about sex. "Oh my," was all that she could say. She really wasn't sure if she could satisfy this man's sexual appetite from nearly five thousand miles away.

"C'mon Leah, it's the communication age! Don't be such a prude!"

"I've never done this before Jace." Leah admitted shyly.

"So are you saying yes?" JC asked.

"I might sound like a complete and total idiot." Leah warned.

"You're saying yes!" JC exclaimed excitedly, he could practically feel his manhood rise already.

"Yes, I'm saying yes Jace!" Leah couldn't believe that she was actually about to do this.

"Are you alone?" JC asked.

"Yes." Leah replied. "Are you?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure?" Leah asked. She knew how meddlesome boys could be. "Yes, I'm sure!" JC laughed. All of the guys had went out to get breakfast. JC had told the guys to go without him, so that he could hang back and talk to Leah. They understood and gave him his space. "So why don't you start us off." JC prompted, lying back on the bed.

"I wouldn't know where to start." Leah blushed.

"Okay, tell me what you're wearing." JC instructed.

Leah looked down at herself. A Minnie Mouse tank top with matching boy shorts, weren't exactly sexy. "If I told you what I was wearing it might kill the mood." Leah said so very innocently. "So... how about if I take it off..." Leah said, this time more seductively.

JC could feel his hard member start to rise in his boxers. "I like the sound of that." JC replied. He could picture her naked body, lying there, lusting for him.

What do I say next? What do I say next? Leah wondered, internally panicking. "So... here I am... naked... lying here." Leah said awkwardly. Okay sexy, did not suit her at all. Being sexy felt so weird to her.

"Mmmm." JC moaned, as he began stroking his manhood.

"I can imagine you doing some very sexy things to me." Leah purred.

"Mmm, like what?" JC asked, stroking himself and throwing his head back.

"Some very sexy things involving your tongue." Leah whispered into the phone huskily, her voice sending chills down his spine.

"Whoooaaaa..." She knew that voice, and she knew that it most definitely wasn't JC's. Oh. My. God.

"CHRIS!!!" the couple yelled into the phone, both completely mortified.

"Sorry," Chris replied embarrassed that he had gotten caught.

"JC! I thought you were on your cell phone!" Leah cried.

"No, I'm on the hotel phone!" JC replied, pulling his pants up, and scrambling to pull his clothes back on before anyone could burst through the bedroom door. God, I'm so stupid! JC thought, mentally kicking himself in the ass. Being a man, he was totally thinking with the wrong head!

"I thought you said you were alone!"

"I thought I was!" JC said, trying to defend himself. He was not expecting this to happen at all.

Leah felt so embarrassed, she knew this was going to a bad idea. Dammit! They never had any privacy! "Yeah, well I have a feeling that Chris is only the fall guy in all of this!" JC knew that Leah was right. Justin, Joey, and Lance were probably listening in as well. Well, maybe not Lance, but most definitely Justin, Chris, and Joey.

"What a way to kill the mood." JC stated. He had gone from being embarrased to fully pissed off. "Hey, you know what? Why don't you go back to sleep, and I'll call you later, this time on my phone." JC suggested.

"That sounds like a good idea." Leah agreed. "So, I guess I'll talk to you when you know for sure that you're alone?"

"That sounds like a plan. Bye Leah." JC sighed, embarrassed and disappointed all at the same time.

"Bye Josh." Leah said before hanging up. Lying back on her bed, Leah honestly didn't know whether to feel embarrased or relieved, because she had absolutely no idea how phone sex worked, and she wasn't comfortable being super kinky. Note to self: Brush up on your freakiness! Immediately! Leah thought to herself. She would have to ask Lucky for sex advice, she was really open with that stuff.

"Hey, is everything okay in he- Oh my God!!!" Jill shrieked at the sight of her sister lying naked on top of her bed. Ew!

"Oh my God! Jill! Have you ever heard of knocking?" Leah asked, rolling off the bed, and struggling to pull her pajamas back on. She could not believe this was happening! Getting caught twice in less than five minutes? Damn her luck. Was it possible to die of embarassment

"Well, I just... I heard you scream and I thought that... you...um... Wait. What in the hell are you doing naked?" Jill asked. She didn't know whether to be disgusted or intrigued by the fact that her prude little sister could've possibly be doing something kinky. "Wait, were you, ya know... Masturbating?" Jill asked.

"No!" Leah snapped, wrapping her silk robe around her body. "Of course not!"

"Well then what were you doing? Because I didn't see you come out of the bathroom!" Jill said, posting her back up against the doorframe, patiently awaiting an explanation.

Well, there was only one way Jill would leave her alone, and that was to tell her the truth. Taking a deep breath, Leah closed her eyes, and let the words spill from her mouth before she could even think about it. "I was trying to have phone sex with my boyfriend."

"No way! No freakin' way!" Jill gasped in disbelief. "Mary? You?"

"You know I really hate it when you call me that." Leah said. How was it possible to feel this level of embarrassment. Now Leah's had some pretty embarrassing moments, but this definitely took the cake.

"You had phone sex? I can't even picture you having sex period!" Jill exclaimed, coming into the room, and shutting the door behind her.

"I'm twenty-three years old Jillian!" Leah said, calling her sister by her full name. "Did you really expect me to be a virgin?" Jill nodded her head. "And don't you think it's weird to picture your sister having sex period?"

"Oh it's not like I actually visualize you having sex or anything, it's just that you're so prude." Jill replied. Before sitting down on the bed, she checked it for stains.

"Nothing happened." Leah said.

"What do you mean nothing happened?" Jill asked, sitting down next to her sister.

"We got interrupted before we could even get started. The guys were listening in our conversation." Leah explained.

"Wow! I'm so glad not to be you right now!" Jill said.

"Yeah, go ahead and rub it in Jill!" Leah sighed.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad." Jill replied.

"Jill! That conversation was supposed to be private!"

"Well, obciously you didn't get too far. I didn't hear you screaming out in ecstasy, so how much could they have possibly heard?"

"They heard enough to know that I was naked!" Leah said, reliving the horrid moment all over again.

"Okay, now that pretty much tops all of my most embarrassing moments." Jill replied.

"Yeah, not helping!" Leah said.

"It's alright you'll get it over." Jill said.

"Yeah I hope so." Leah said. "Hey Jill, no offense or anything, but I think I want to be alone right now, you know, to take in all of this embarassment without your incessant taunting!"

"Oh I get it!" Jill smiled. "You want to be alone," she winked as she got up from her place on the bed. "I can totally read inbetween the lines!"

"Jill," Leah sighed, slightly annoyed. "Get your head out of the gutter."

"I understand, the physicality of a long distance relationship can take it's toll!" Jill teased, as she walked towards the door. Leah gave an evil glare. "Fine! I'm leaving." Jill opened the door, but before she left said, "and just so you know, I'm not going to let you live this down!" Leah picked up one of her pillows and threw it at Jill. Jill left, and closed the door before the pillow could hit her face.

"Ugggh! My life is so not fair!" Leah groaned as she collapsed back on her bed.

*************

"It was all his idea, I swear!" Chris said, pointing at Justin. JC had marched out of his room, and into the living room area of the hotel suite. He knew for a fact that it was Chris and Justin who had listened in to his private conversation. Well for obvious reasons being Joey was out like a light on the loveseat, and Lance wasn't even in the vicinity.

"What? No!" Justin exclaimed. "Chris is the one who picked up the phone!" Justin tried to defend himself. JC's intense glare shot to Chris, wanting an explanation. He was pissed.

"Dude! Don't put that on me!" Chris said to Justin, who was sitting next to him on the couch. "I didn't even know you were on the phone, I swear!" Chris explained. "When I realized that you were on the phone, I was gonna hang up, but Justin took it upon himself to continue to listen in on your coversation."

"And you didn't stop him?" JC fumed.

"He's his own person, who am I to tell him what to do?" Chris asked, shrugging his shoulders.

"But you listened along with him." JC accused.

"Well we weren't expecting you guys to... ya know... do that!" Justin said.

"Right, you had no idea what me and Leah were talking about, because you had no right to listen in on a very private conversation." JC scolded. He felt very upset, irritated, and most of all humiliated. Sure the guys like to joke around and play pranks all the time, but this? This was crossing a line! But then again, that's what you get when you put the oldest and the youngest together; complete and total chaos!

"Look C, we're sorry it won't happen again. Right Chris?" Justin said. When Chris didn't repsond, Justin nudged him in the side with his elbow.

"Huh? Oh yeah, we won't do it again." Chris said. JC took a deep breath, trying his best to remain calm. They did apologize, so he should let them off the hook, right? He needed time to think, to just be by himself for a little bit. Time to cool off. He needed to get out of there before he said something out of line.

"Okay fine." JC sighed. "I'll be back in a little while." He said, before grabbing his jacket and heading for the door.

"Where are you going?" Chris asked.

"Out." JC replied icily. JC yanked open the door, and rushed passed Lance, who was just getting back from the gift shop.

"Whoa! What was that all about?" Lance asked, taken aback by JC's urgency to get out of the hotel room.

"You don't wanna know!" Both Chris and Justin said in unison.

*************

Later that same morning, after showering and getting dressed for the day, Leah headed downstairs. The smell of maple bacon, pancakes, and fresh coffee directed her straight towards the kitchen. "Morning Aunt Celia." Leah said, greeting her aunt, who was frying bacon in a pan. She made a cup of coffee, and sat down at the island.

"Morning honey, breakfast is almost ready." Celia replied.

"Aunt Celia, you're going to spoil me with all of this cooking." Leah said, inhaling the glorious scent of a homecooked breakfast, something she never did for herself.

"Well someone's got to, because by the looks of it you're not doing such a good job of feeding yourself." Celia responded rather bluntly. Leah stared at the back of her aunt's auburn hair in complete shock. She couldn't believe that she had just said that to her. She almost felt caught, like she had been caught shoplifting a belt from the mall. Leah's rate started to speed up a little, although she tried not to show signs of panic, as not to acknowledge the fact that something was wrong.

"It means that you look like you haven't eaten in weeks, and to be quite honest I don't think you've been taking care of yourself properly." Celia turned to look her niece in the eyes. Dammit! Leah hated when her aunts gave her that look. That was the 'I-know-that-you're-hiding-something-from-me-and-you-better-tell-me-what-is-or-else-I'll-make-you-tell-me!' look. Leah hated that look. Leah shifted uncomfortably under her aunt's gaze.

Should I tell her? Leah contemplated. No I can't! She'd be so ashamed of me if she ever found out! "I think I'm taking care of myself just fine." Leah finally said. Afterall, Leah was a grown woman who was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Wasn't she?

Celia raised an eyebrow at her niece. That look was the 'I-know-you're-lying-to-me-and-you-know-that-we-don't-lie-in-this-family' look. Leah hated that look too. She knew that no matter what crap she told her aunt, it would never work. But what in the hell was she supposed to say? 'Hey Aunt Celia, I just happen to have Anorexia and Bulimia too'? She couldn't say that!

Celia knew that something was seriously wrong with her niece, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Something was off about her, something was different, and it wasn't good. She was determined to get to the bottom of this mystery before the week was over with, if it was the last thing she did. "I think you should stay longer, maybe being back home is good for you." Celia suggested.

"But I don't have enough clothes." Leah replied.

"Child, you brought enought clothes with you to last a lifetime, and anything you don't have with you, you can buy here." Leah could come up with all of the excuses that she wanted, but Celia wasn't planning on letting her off the hook anytime soon.

"But I have studio sessions scheduled, and I have a meeting with my label, and a photoshoot that I-"

"You work too hard." Celia said, interrupting her. "You can afford to take some time off." Celia was only being so hard on Leah, because she loved her. She could see that her niece was transforming into a different person. She was changing for the worst, and Leah needed a little tough love so that she could get back to being her old self. She wasn't her niece's fan, she was her aunt, and she wasn't going to tiptoe around her just becuase she just so happened to be a celebrity, nope, she was going to be blunt, and tell it to her like it was. Leah needed to be treated like a person, not a product.

If Aunt Celia didn't stop, Leah was sure to break out in a sweat. She hated lying! Depsite years of acting classes, Leah was a pretty bad liar. "Listen Aunt Celia I-"

"Good morning everyone!" Jeremy's voice rang throught the entire kitchen. Saved by the frickin' bell! Leah thought, releasing a breath that she hadn't even realized she had been holding. "It smells great in here, is breakfast almost ready?" Leah missed Jeremy's over-the-top cheery attitude. He that amazing quality about him, where he could instantly cheer anyone up in 30 seconds or less! She missed him! It had been so long since they had been able to just hang. Leah felt a pang of guilt stab at her heart. "Morning mother, you're looking beautiful as always!" Jeremy said, before placing a kiss on Celia's cheek.

"What do you want?" Celia asked, fighting the urge to smile.

Jeremy had a look of faux-shock on his face and gasped. He was so over dramatic! "You mean, I can't tell my own mother that she's beautiful? What kind of world do we live in?" Jeremy gasped. Leah laughed.

"Good morning to you too baby!" Celia replied, and went back to cooking.

"Morning Leelee!"

"Morning Jerr!" The cousins greeted each other with their nicknames that they came up with for each other. No one could ever call her Leelee except for Jeremy, and no one could call him Jerr, except for Leah, that was their thing.

"So what are your plans for the day?" Jeremy asked.

"Well I was going to go rent a car. If I'm gonna be here all week, I'd like to have my own wheels, instead of constantly having to depend on Jill to get me from point A to point B. I can tell that she's already getting tired of me." Leah said.

"Let me take you, we have a lot to catch up on!" Jeremy replied.

"Oh we do!" Leah concurred.

"Breakfast is ready!" Celia announced.

"C'mon let's make our plates before Aiden comes down, they guy is a bottomless pit!" Leah said. Both Jermey and Celia laughed. Leah, Celia, and Jeremy then all made their plates, and headed to the dining room, waiting for everyone else to come down and eat with them.

After breakfast, Leah and Jeremy had left for the car dealership. Meanwhile, Celia had set her plan in motion, and needed her sister's help. As everyone cleared out of the dining room, Celia held Lorraine back. "Hey Lorr, could you please help me with the dishes?"

"Yeah sure." Lorraine replied. Stepping out of the dining room, Celia checked to make sure that no one was arround, and that she and Lorraine were the only ones downstairs. When she saw that the coast was clear, she closed the door. "Um, Celia, is everything okay?" Lorraine asked.

"No." Celia answered. "Something's wrong with Leah."

"You mean you see it too?" Lorraine asked incredulously. She thought that she was the only one that noticed.

"Yeah isn't strange? I can't put my finger on it, but something's definitely wrong with that girl." Celia said.

"She doesn't seem happy." Lorraine pointed out. "Do you think it's Mom's death?" Lorraine asked. "They were pretty close, so I imagine that she's taking it pretty hard."

"That's definitely part of it." Celia agreed. "But I feel like there's something more. Something she's not letting us on to."

"Do you think it's a boy?" Lorraine asked. "Maybe she's got a broken heart."

"No it's not that, she got into a relationship with that JC guy, and when he called her the other day her eyes completely lit up, so that's not the problem I'm sure." Celia explained.

"So then what could it be?" Lorraine asked.

"I don't know, but she's changing, I thought maybe it was because I hadn't seen her in a while, or that she was getting older but- no! It's almost as if she's a different person. When she came downstairs this morning, I mentioned to her that she's lost so much weight, and she kept trying to avoid the issue. Something's definitely wrong." Celia said.

"I agree." Lorraine replied.

"So what do we do?" Celia asked, turning towards her big sister.

"Confront her."

*************

As Leah pulled into the driveway behind Jeremy, she turned the key in the ignition to shut the silver BMW that she had rented. It was nothing like her Range Rover, but she would get used to it. Grabbing her purse from the passenger seat, Leah got out of the car, and locked it, and met Jeremy in the house.

"Hey Jerr, why don't we go to the movies later. I'm dying to see Save the Last Dance!" Leah suggested.

"Yeah that sounds great." Jeremy replied, taking his coat off, and hanging it on the rack. Leah did the same.

"I'll drive this time, and it's my treat!" Leah said.

"Good! Having a celebrity in the family is finally good for something!" Jeremy joked.

"Well," Leah scoffed playfully. "All this time you were only using me! I should've known!" Leah and Jeremy both shared a laugh. Just then, Leah heard her phone ring, she checked her caller ID and saw that it was Lucky. "I have to take this." Leah said, excusing herself, and walking up the stairs.

"Alright, I'll see you in an hour." Jeremy called after her.

"'Kay!" Leah called back before answering her phone. "Hello." Leah greeted.

"Hey how are you?" Lucky asked. "How is it being back home with the sister from hell?" Lucky asked.

"Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be." Leah said, walking into her room. "Surprisingly, Jill's actually been nice to me."

"Wait. Am I getting bad cell reception here, or did you just say that Jill is being nice to you?" Lucky asked in disbelief.

"No, you heard right. She's actually being nice to me. Keep your fingers crossed!" Leah said.

"Will do." Lucky replied.

"So, how's everything with you? You doing okay?" Leah asked.

"I'm doing great actually!" Lucky said. "I was actually wondering if there was enough room in the Big Apple for the both of us?"

"Wait. What are you getting at?" Leah asked, sitting in the chair to the computer desk.

"Well, since I am a freelance stylist after all, I decided to move to New York!" Lucky announced.

"Oh. My. Gosh!" Leah exclaimed. "Lucky are you for real?" Leah asked. She was completely astonished and excited! Having her bestfriend- no her soul sister- in the same city would be amazing! They wouldn't be so far away from each other now, if one of them needed the other. "What made you come to this decision?" Leah asked.

"Well there are two specific reasons." Lucky explained. "Number one, New York is the fashion captial of the world, and two, I've decided when Autumn rolls around that I'm going to apply to NYU!" Lucky was anxious to her what Leah thought of her big news to go back to school. She already had a degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institue of Design and Merchandising, but now she wanted a business degree.

"Lucky, that's fantastic!" Leah congratulated. She was so excited for Lucky. Lucky's been wanting to have her own clothing line for a while now, and Lucky's been talking about going back to school for business, and Leah was happy that Lucky finally made the decision to do so.

"Yeah, I just hope they accept me." Lucky said nervously.

"Of course, they'll accept you. You're a successful fashion stylist, and you graduated from FIDM with top honors. If they don't accept you, then I'll go to the Dean of Admissions, and give him a good piece of my mind. Or her."

"Wow, thanks mom!" Lucky teased. Leah always had Lucky's back, and Lucky's always had Leah's. No matter what! "So I wanted to get settled there and I'm looking for an apartment. What's the name of your realtor again?" Lucky asked, a pen and paper in hand.

Just then a thought popped into Leah's head, almost out of thin air. Maybe she was cazy for what she was about to do, but she just hoped that Lucky wouldn't shoot her down. "Um, why don't we live together?" Leah asked, the words spilled from her mouth before she could form a fully hatched plan in her head. She was totally wingin' it here.

"What?" Lucky asked, not sure she'd heard right.

"Why don't we live together." Leah repeated.

"Leah that's great, but I don't wanna impose." Lucky said. She knew that if the two were to live together, the very next week Leah was sure to regret her decision. Leah was very Type-A, organized, and bordeline OCD when it came to her record collection. Lucky on the other hand was almost too laid back for her own damn good, and was a complete and total mess. If the two lived together, Leah would get tired of constantly telling Lucky to pick up her shit. No, she couldn't do that to Leah. When she was in college, and Lucky moved into her very first apartment with her roomate Samaire, she told Lucky that she was the most obnoxious roomate in the history of roomates.

"You would not be imposing Lucky." Leah insisted. "You're like a sister to me. C'mon Lucky, we could be like Laverne and Shirley 2.0, except we'd be in New York!"

"Where is all of this coming from?" Lucky asked, she could tell when something was wrong with her friend. They had that instant friend-tuition, where they could easily sense when something was wrong with the other.

"Okay, to be honest, I need this Lucky." Leah admitted, putting an emphasis on the word need.

"What do you mean you 'need' this?" Lucky asked, quoting her.

"I'm lonely." Leah confessed. She knew that she could talk to Lucky about anything. "I'm starting to hate my apartment. I can't live there anymore. It's way to damn big for me, and I hate it. It just reminds me of just how lonely I am, and you know what it's like for me to be alone. I'm not good by myself."

Lucky sighed. She knew exactly what Leah meant. It wasn't good for Leah to be by herself. "I'm afraid I'll relapse." Leah said near tears. "I can't be by myself Lucky, I can't go back to my old ways, I just can't. I need to be around people. I need to be around you. Lucky I need you, you're the only person that can help me." Leah felt so pathetic pleading to Lucky like that. It was almost embarrassing. She hated asking for help. She usually tried to keep her life under control, but she didn't want to pretend to have things under control, when she actually didn't. She refused for her life to spiral out of control again. Not when she had everything going for her.

Lucky wanted to break out in tears at Leah's plea. She sounded so desparate. She hated to hear her friend sound so weak, especially when Lucky knew just how string she was. Lucky hated that Leah didn't know her own strength. It almost seems as though she knew how to be strong for everyone else, but she didn't know how to be strong when it came to herself. She needed to there for Leah, and she would be. She didn't want to witness Leah on a down spiral again. "Okay, I'm in." Lucky declared. "As soon as you get back to New York, call me, and we'll go apartment hunting!"

"Lucky, you really mean that?" Leah asked.

"Of course I mean it, what kind of friend would I be if I left you alone? Us living together is totally gonna rock. It'll be just like a slumber party every night!" Lucky said, trying to lighten the moment.

"Just like summers in Orlando." Leah stated, feeling wave of nostalgia beginning to wash over her. She missed those days so badly.

"Just like summers in Orlando." Lucky repeated.

"Thanks so much for this Lucky. I can't relapse. I don't wanna go back to that. No one can see me like that. Not even Josh."

"You mean he doesn't know?" Lucky asked, trying to hide the nervousness that was trying to creep it's way into her voice.

"No! I would freak if he found out! Lucky, he can't see that side of me- ever! When I was dealing wit my eating disorders, I was at my absolute worst. He can't see me like that."

Lucky could practically feel the blood draining from her face. She looked as if she had just seen a ghost. She looked down at her hands that were now shaking. Had she made a mistake by telling JC about Leah's eating disorders behind her back? Had she betrayed her? Lucky could pratically visualize the train wreck that was to come. "He won't, I promise." Lucky said. She knew that she shouldn't make promises that she couldn't keep, but she couldn't blow her cover now. Chances are, if JC hadn't told Leah that he'd known by now, that he wouldn't bring it up anytime soon right? Lucky silently tried to convince herself that everything would be alright.

"Thank you so much Lucky! This means everything to me! I want you to know that I really do appreciate everything you do for me. One day, when I'm not so fucked up, I promise that I'll make this all up to you."

"Are you kidding me? You know that I'd do anything for you." Lucky said. Silently freaking out on the other end of the phone. "This is gonna be great! So, I have a meeting with a client, so I'll talk to you later, Laverne!" Lucky affectionately called her.

"Alright, I'll talk to you then Shirley!" Leah said, before hanging up. A wave of relief washed over her. She really did need Lucky to help get her back on track. She honestly didn't know what she would do if she didn't have Lucky.

z88;

Meanwhile, Lucky was back at her house in Los Angeles, nevously pacing across her living room floor. Okay so she lied, she didn't exactly have a client to meet with, but she couldn't stay on the phone much longer and keepher cool. She had to get in touch with JC before he told Leah that he knew about her eating disorders. A million questions began to race through Lucky's mind.

What if she finds out that I told him?

Would Leah feel like I betrayed her?

Would she understand that I was only trying to help?

What if she hates me?

Lucky needed to get in touch with JC, and fast! She had to stop this train wreck before it happened. Lucky grabbed her cordless phone, and quickly dialed JC's number. It rang once, before going straight to voicemail. "Dammit!" Lucky groaned feeling helpless. Great, right when she needed JC, he wouldn't pick up. Lucky had to find a way to get to JC, she had to tell him not to mention Leah's eating disorders to her whatsoever. If Leah knew that JC knew, then there was going to be a big problem. Leah's eating disorders were her deepest secrets and very few people knew about it. She knew how ashamed Leah felt, and she could understand why she didn't want JC to know. Lucky just wished that she could instantly fix this. She was afriad that if Leah found out that she told JC, that Leah would hate her, and losing her bestfriend was too much to risk.

The next day, Leah had caught up with two of her old friends from middle school, Melanie and Raychel, and they decided to just hang out at the mall, like they did in middle school, just for the nostalgia.

"So, we were at the club right, and I meet this guy, he's good looking and all, so I started dancing with him, and then all of a sudden, outta no where some bitch comes up to me, and spills a drink on me! Turns out it's his girlfriend! By then I'm really pissed, so I kicked her ass!" This was Raychel, she's a girly yet tough wildfire. She's a no nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is kind of person who doesn't bullshit. If you loved her, then she loved you, and if she hated you, then she really didn't give a shit. She was unapologetic about who she was, and you could either take it or leave it. Maybe it had something to do with her being a native New Yorker.

"Yeah, and then we got kicked out of the club." This is Melanie. Like Raychel, she was bold, but not nearly as tough. She was more comedic out of the two, over exaggerated everything, and she would do anything to get you to laugh. Actually, she reminded Leah a lot of Chris come to think of it.

"Raychel," Leah said. "You have to control your temper, you can't just bash someone's face in like that!"

"Well, she threw a drink on me first!" Raychel replied, defending herself. "And I spent good money on that dress."

"Have you ever heard of turning the other cheek?" Leah asked. The girls then came to a stop, and sat down on a bench.

"Oh yeah, I forgot that you were 'Miss Kumbaya-We Are the World- Let's All Hold Hands and Be Friends'!" Raychel said sarcastically. Leah laughed. She'd really missed her old friends.

"Oooh! Hottie alert!" Melanie said excitedly, as an Abercrombie and Fitch model type walked past them. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go work my magic!" Melanie said, before getting up, and power walking over to the food court, where the hottie was headed to.

"Fast Ass!" Leah jokingly called after her. Melanie was soooo flirtatious. Always had been. Even when they were in middle school. And the boys loved her. In fact, looking back Leah couldn't remember a time when Mel didn't have a boyfriend, or gentlemen suitor of some sorts.

Leah and Raychel turned around and watched as Melanie turned on her charm. She flipped her hair, did that flirty laugh that she always does, and flashed that killer Miss America smile, and WHAM! In less than a minute, they were exchanging phone numbers! "I'll admit, the girl's got game!" Leah said, as Melanie happily skipped back towards the bench.

"Works every time!" Melanie smiled.

"Give us the details." Raychel said.

"His name is Dylan, he goes to the University of Louisville, and he's an aspiring underwear model, so you know his body has got to be killer!"

"You found all that out in one minute?" Leah asked in disbelief. Melanie nodded proudly

"And I also told him that you could get him booked by Calvin Klein." Melanie said to Leah.

"You did not!" Leah gasped in disbelief. Melanie again nodded her head proudly. "I can't do that!"

"Why not? You're a celebrity aren't you?" Okay, now Leah was beginning to almost hate that word.

"But I don't know Calvin Klein!" Leah replied. "And I know nothing about modeling! And besides, how can you promise a guy something, when you haven't even known him for five minutes? I swear, you have some sort of guy addiction, there should be some medical term for it!" Leah and Raychel laughed.

"'Sup Mallrats!" Leah, Melanie, and Raychel turned to see Charlie, and his younger brother Jesse. "I see after all these years, nothing's changed." Charlie said, referring to the fact that Leah, Melanie, and Raychel used to practically live in the mall when they were younger, even if they didn't buy anything, they'd just hang out there, and hunt boys! In fact, they loved the mall so much that Aiden and Charlie used to call them Cher, Dionne, and Tai, from the movie Clueless. "Except for the fact that you used to be all over me!" Charlie said to Leah.

"Boy, please! I was never all over you!" Leah replied, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah sure!" Charlie said.

"Hey Leah, you think you could hook me up with Mandy Moore?" Jesse, Charlie's sixteen year old brother asked. "She's hot, I could definitely rock her world!" How cute, he was a player all ready. Leah, Melanie, and Raychel burst out laughing.

"Sorry Jess, I think Mandy may be taken." Leah replied.

"Alright fine then, hook me up with Britney." Jesse said.

"She's with Justin."

"Damn I gotta start me a boy band, those guys get all the girls!" Jesse exclaimed, and everyone laughed.

"So, are you coming by our house later?" Leah asked.

"Yeah I am, so I guess I'll see you later then?"

"Okay! 'Bye guys." Leah said before they walked off."

"Hey Melanie! Call me!" Jesse called out to Melanie, forming his hand in the shape of a telephone, and placing it to his ear.

"You're a baby Jess!" Mel replied.

"Wow Mel, I guess all the guys really are atrracted to you!" Leah said.

"It can be a curse sometimes, really. But I can't help it that I'm this hot, it's like a job ya know!"

"Conceited!" Leah and Raychel said in unison.

"Okay, okay, whatever! Enough about my love life Leah, let's talk about yours." Melanie said.

"What about my love life?" Leah asked.

"You need to get laid!" Raychel replied.

"Um well, I kind of already have been." Leah said, blushing.

"You? getting laid?" Raychel asked in disbelief. Leah nodded in embarrassment.

"When?" Melanie gasped.

"And by who?" Raychel asked.

"JC." Leah replied. "He's my boyfriend now."

"Well it's official. Leah James had finally beaten me in the boys department! A popstar, I can't compete with that!" Melanie said. "Unless, you can hook me up with AJ Mclean, he's got that whole bad boy thing going for him, and I really like that!"

"Melanie, you are a mess!" Leah replied.

"Or Howie if you can't get AJ, I'm fine with Nick too, he's a little young for my liking, but I could do something with him!"

"What happened to your underwear model? Did you forget about him that quick?" Raychel asked.

"It's good to have options." Melanie defended herself.

"You know what they say when a girl has too many options...." Raychel lingered, implying that Melanie was on the verge of slutiness.

"Oh shut up! Anyways, what's important is that Leah over here, is finally getting some!" Melanie said, taking the attention off of herself. Leah rolled her eyes. She hated when her friends teased her about being a prude. She preferred the term old fashioned. "You know what?" Melanie said. "I'm gonna announce it to everyone!"

"Mel you wouldn't!" Leah exclaimed.

"Just watch me!" Melanie said. And with that, Melanie climbed on top of the bench, and cupped her hands together like a microphone, and yelled, "Hey everyone! Leah James is finally getting-"

"Melanie!" Leah gasped. She took Natalie by the calves, and yanked her down.

"I can't believe you just did that!" Leah said. At first she was a bit angry and embarrassed, but how could she stay mad for long? It was Mel of all people!

"Aww, are you mad?" Mel asked pinching Leah's cheek.

"No, I'm not mad, let's just get out of here before people start staring!" Leah, Melanie, and Raychel, all grabbed their bags and decided to go to Preston's for lunch, the restaurant which Natalie's dad happened to own. They knew they'd get free food there!

*************

"So, speaking of getting laid, you know that Charlie's like totally into you right?" Raychel asked Leah. Leah's eyes widened in shock.

"Uh-uh!" Leah replied.

"Uhh yeah, he's so into you." Melanie said, taking a bite of her Jambalaya. "You should've seen the way he was looking at you!"

"Gross! Charlie's like my brother!" Leah exclaimed. "Ugghhh!"

"Well, he definitely doesn't see you as a sister." Raychel says.

"Whatever! He's so not into me!" Leah said.

"Yeah right!" Melanie replied. "Remember you used to have a crush on him?"

"It was not a crush!" Leah said.

"You were like obssessed with him. Remember that time when Aiden, Charlie, and a bunch of their friends made plans to go to Kentucky Kingdom?" Raychel asked, referring to the Lousiville's Six Flags amusement park.

"Yeah, and you made us ride our bikes there and 'coincidently' bump into them." Melanie said.

"Oh come on! We were twelve! And besides, they were high school boys!" Back when they were in middle school, getting to hang out with the 'high schoolers' was the coolest thing to them!

"Yeah whatever, keep denying it, but Charlie so wants to bang you!" Melanie said. Leah, then nudged Melanie in the side with her elbow. "Owww! What was that for?"

"Parent alert!" Leah replied, as Natalie's dad made their way over to the booth.

"Hey girls, you guys okay?" John Preston asked.

"Yeah Daddy, we're fine." Melanie replied.

"Leah! I haven't seen you in the longest! How are you?" John asked.

"I'm good Mr. Preston." Leah replied, giving the former professional football player a hug. Everyone loved Melanie's dad because he was the cool dad, and just as wacky as his daughter.

"So what's happenin' girls?" John asked, trying to seem cool. He put his elbow on the table, and proppped his chin up in his hand, pretending to be genuinely interested in girl talk.

"Daddy, you're embarassing me!" Melanie said. Raychel and Leah slightly giggled.

"Fine, fine, I'm going! Have fun girls!" John said before walking away.

"Oh my God! I love my dad, but he can be so embarrassing sometimes!" Melanie said.

"Be glad your parents care enough to be embarrassing." Leah said bitterly. Damn, did I just say that out loud? Oops! Leah looked up to see Raychel and Melanie's looks of sympathy. "Sooo... um how about that Dylan guy, why don't you call him?" Leah said, quickly changing the subject.

"Are you kidding me? I can't call him now! I'll come off as desparate!" Melanie exclaimed.

"Well aren't you?" Raychel asked.

"Oh shut up! Anyways, everyone knows that it's a rule, the guy has to call the girl first."

"What rule?" Leah asked.

"It's an unwritten rule, in the dating code!" Melanie explained. Leah laughed, ever since the sixth grade when Melanie had gotten her first boyfriend, she had sworn by some secret dating handbook.

"If you like a guy, why can't you just call him up? Why does there always have to be a game to play?" Leah asked.

"Hey listen to the girl, she knows what she talks about, she is the one with a steady boyfriend afterall!" Raychel said.

"Hey! I have a boyfriend!"

"Which one? Steve, Jason, or Dylan?" Raychel quipped. "Which one is it this week?"

"What are you implying?" Melanie asked offended.

"What do you think I'm implying?" Raychel retorted. Leah loved to watch Melanie and Raychel go back and forth, even after all these years they still hadn't changed. She also loved the fact that after she changed the subject, they didn't push the issue. That's what she loved about them. Sure they cared about each other, but if someone didn't want to talk about something, then they didn't have to. They always had fun together, and it was sort of like this unwritten rule, that they didn't really talk about anything serious. They just always had fun, there was no drama between the three, and that's one thing that Leah honestly did miss about being back in Louisville.

Leah and Melanie had first met in kindergarten and had been bestfriends since the first day of school. Leah was always shy, and reserved, and Melanie was the tougher out of the two. If someone tried to take Leah's cookies away from her, or push her off a swing during recess, Melanie was right there to push them down, and make them eat dirt! Growing up, Melanie always had her back. That was also the case, when they first met Raychel in the third grade. Raychel and her family moved to Lousiville from Staten Island in the middle of the school year. Raychel being the only new girl, automatically made her an outcast, and her strong New York accent, didn't help either. Sometimes kids can be cruel, and shun you if you're different.

And Leah, Melanie, and Raychel had been bestfriends ever since.

"Oh my gosh! Is that Adam Baker?" Melanie shout-whispered.

"Whose Adam Baker?" Leah asked.

"From high school." Raychel explained.

"I used to date him!" Melanie said.

"You used to date everybody!" Raychel replied. Melanie elbowed her.

"So who is this guy?" Leah asked.

"He transfered from St. Mary's in the eighth grade." Melanie replied.

"Oh." Leah said. The summer before eighth grade was the year that Leah and her family had relocated to Orlando. She remembered crying her eyes out the day that her parents broke the news to her that they were moving to a whole nother state. Every plan that she had made with Melanie and Raychel had gone down the drain. The day that she moved, Raychel and Melanie had helped her pack, all three of them sobbing uncontrollably. At the time, she honestly thought her life was over. Although now looking back, the move to Orlando was probably one of the best things to ever happened to her (JC, Lucky, MMC etc...), sometimes she still felt kind of jealous that Raychel and Natalie got to go to high school, and college together, and made all of these memories. They had a much closer bond because of it, and more often than not it made Leah feel like a third wheel.

"Damn, he's even hotter than before!" Melanie said.

"Mel please don't..." Raychel pleaded.

"I'm gonna go see if he's single!" Melanie said, before getting up from the booth, and making her way over to his table. Leah and Raychel exchanged a look, and just shoock their heads.

*************

"Hey honey, I know it's probably like three am where you are, so just give me a call when it's daytime there. Love you!" Leah smiled at the sound of JC's voice. She hated that they kept missing each other like that, and she couldn't wait until they finally got to be together again.

"Humor me." Melanie said. "Why are you guys making us watch you play basketball in the freezing cold?"

"Because, we need a couple of hot chicks to watch us!" Aiden replied, before shooting the basketball in the hoop. Melanie rolled her eyes.

"Wow Mel, that was probably the first guy that you haven't been interested in!" Raychel teased, Melanie gave her the finger.

"Well, except for Leah and Jill, because if I thought you guys were hot, then that would be really sick and disgusting!" Aiden said. Leah, along with Jill, Raychel, Melanie, and Mel's younger sister Melissa, and Angela, one of Jill's old friends, were all sitting in front of the James' home in lawn chairs watching Aiden, Jeremy, Charlie, and Jesse play basketball on their private basketball court.

"You guys should at least put a jacket on, you'll catch pneumonia!" Raychel warned.

"Okay Mom, we'll get right on it!" Charlie said sarcastically.

"Ughh! Boys!" Melissa groaned. "Remind me, why are we doing this again?"

"Because you love me!" Jesse winked. Melissa rolled her eyes.

"As if!" Melissa and Jesse were the same age,a nd they group up together, Jesse was always shamelessly pursuing her, and Melissa never gave in to him once. "Seriously though, why are we here?"

"Because you followed me like a sad little puppy." Melanie replied.

"Because you have no life!" Charlie said.

"Because it's good that we all finally get to be together and spend time with each other!" Jill said. Everyone turned to look at her. "What?" She asked.

"I'm just surprised that you thought to care about anyone other than yourself." Leah said. Damn, had she just let that slip too? Jill shot her a surprised look. "What? I'm only being honest?"

"Come on, let's be real. When's the last time we all hung out together like this?" Jill asked, ignoring Leah's remark about her being self-absorbed.

"As in all nine of us?" Melanie asked. "Never!"

"Exactly! Which is why we should all cherish these special moments. Next week, I'll be back in California, Aiden and Charlie will be back in Chicago, Jermey will be in Atlanta, and Leah will be off traveling the world. Who know's the next time we'll all be together like this? We should have all done this a long time ago!"

"You're right." Angela said. "I guess I can stand the cold just a little while longer. Closest to thirty points right?"

"100." Jeremy said.

"What?" Melissa squealed.

"But you guys are only at sixteen points!" Leah exclaimed. It was Aiden and Jeremy against Charlie and Jesse, and so far they were tied.

"It's eight o'clock now! We'll be out here all night!" Raychel said. "You guys are nuts!" Leah couldn't believe that they were actually going to stay out all night and watch the guys play basketball. She was never much into sports, except when she watched games with JC, but tonight she didn't mind it. Surprisingly enough Jill was right, they did need to spend time together, becuase they didn't know when the next time they were all going to be together was.

"Hey guys, I'll be right back." Leah announced.

"Where are you going?" Jill asked.

"Well, if we're gonna be out here all night, then we have to stay warm and fed. I'm gonna go make some hot chocolate and order some pizza."

"I want a supreme one!" Charlie said.

"I want a cheese one." Aiden said.

"And I want a pepperoni one!" Melissa chimed in.

"Okay, supreme, cheese, pepperoni, got it!" Leah said, before walking off. From the basketball court, she took the back route, and entered through the sliding back doors to the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, Leah grabbed the phone from off it's hook and ordered the pizzas, then boiled some water for hot chocolate.

"Hey." Leah turned around when she heard a male voice, and saw that it was Charlie.

"Hey!" She replied. "Did you guys finally get tired of freezing your balls off?" She asked.

"No, your brother had to pee, so we took a break."

"Oh."

After a moment of silence passed them Charlie spoke up again, "You know after being in Chicago for so long, I don't think that any pizzeria in Kentucky can cut it for me." Charlie said.

"I feel the exact same way about New York pizza!" Leah smiled.

"Yeah, but Chicago's way better."

"Yeah, well I beg to differ!" Leah replied.

"Oh yeah?" Charlie laughed.

"Yeah!"

"We'll see about that. How about I make a deal with you?" Charlie said, walking up to Leah.

"Okay, what would that be?" Leah asked.

"How about the next time you visit Aiden, I take you out for a night on the town, and I'll buy you a slice of real pizza?" Charlie proposed.

"I'd like that." Leah said. Then all of a sudden out of nowhere she felt Charlie's lips pressed up against hers! Shocked, Leah immediately pushed him back. "Charlie what the hell?!" Leah exclaimed

"I-I-I just thought that-"

"You thought that what?" Leah asked.

"Shit! I thought you were into me!" Charlie replied.

"Into you? Since when?"

"C'mon, back in the day you used to constantly follow me around."

"I was twelve." Leah sighed.

"Well what about earlier?" Charlie asked.

"Earlier?"

"At the mall. You were flirting with me!"

"I was not! Charlie, you're like my brother!" Leah said.

"Trust me Leah, I if I were like your brother , I wouldn't have these feelings for you." Charlie admitted.

"Feelings?" Leah asked.

"When we were younger, and you used to like me, I always saw you as my sister, but now, you're all grown up, and let's just say, you're not like a sister to me anymore. I never realized how beautiful you were until now. You're beautiful, and intelligent, and funny, and so perfect."

"Charlie I'm flattered. But I'm sorry that I don't feel the same way." Leah said. Charlie looked crushed, and Leah felt horrible. "Come on Charlie, you can get over me, I'm not the one for you. Trust me, you're gonna that girl. The girl that you know is going to be your wife, from the very first moment you look at her. Believe me when I say I'm not that girl."

"So there's no way that you could ever feel the same for me?" Charlie asked. Leah shook her head no.

"I have a boyfriend." Charlie looked even more crushed.

"Any chance of you guys ever breaking up?" Charlie asked. Leah shook her again. Come on I know he's gotta be a jerk?" Leah shook her head. "Cheater?" She shook her head again. "A womanizer?"

"He's perfect." Leah said, and Charlie sighed.

"If you don't mind my asking, who is this 'Mr. Perfect'?" Charlie asked.

"His name is JC." Leah replied.

"You mean the dude from Nsync?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, the dude Nsync." Leah laughed.

"Shit I gotta start a boy band, those guys get all the girls." Leah laughed again. Wow, she couldn't believe that she's heard that twice in one day!

"I'm really sorry Charlie." Leah said.

"Don't be." Charlie replied. "If he makes you happy, then I'm happy for you." Charlie said, giving her a hug.

"Thanks Char, it means a lot." Leah said, hugging him back. As soon as they realeased each other, Aiden came down the steps.

"Hey Charlie, you ready?" Aiden asked, eyeing the two suspiciously.

"Yeah man." Charlie replied.

"I'll meet you guys out there." Leah said, before both Charlie and Aiden went back outside. The moment he was out of sight, Leah released a breath that she hadn't relaized she had been holding. Did that really just happen? How would she explain that to Josh?

"Hey did you order the pizzas?" Jill asked, walking through the door.

"Oh. My. God!" Leah gasped. She felt like she needed an inhaler. "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! This is bad, really bad!"

"What happened?" Jill asked, startled by Leah's outburst.

"Charlie just kissed me!" Leah whisper-shouted!

"What when?" Jill asked, her eyes growing wide.

"Just now! He told me that he has feelings for me!"

"Oh my God! You're kidding right?" Jill asked.

"No!"

"Did you tell him about JC?" Jill asked. Leah nodded.

"Now, how do I tell JC about Charlie?" Leah asked.

"He's understanding right?" Jill asked.

"Yeah."

"He loves you right?"

"Yeah."

"Well then you guys should be okay." Jill said.

"Ya think?" Leah asked, catching her breath. Jill nodded.

"Yeah."

"Okay, well can you please make the hot chocolate, while I go somewhere and silently freak out?" Leah asked.

"Yeah sure, go ahead." Jill said.

*************

Finally at eleven o'clock, the basketball game was over. Charlie and Jesse had jtied with Aiden and Jesse, and both teams were so competitive that they didn't want to give up until it started raining. After dropping Melissa off at home, Melanie came back to join Raychel and Leah at Leah's house, for a sleepover, again, for the sake of nostalgia. The girls were all in their pajamas and watching movies downstairs in the basement, and had laid out sleeping bags. Leah had decided not to tell her friends about the kiss, because she knew she'd hear 'I told you so's' from both Melanie and Raychel.

"Well despite freezing my ass off, I had fun tonight." Raychel said, sitting down on top of her sleeping bag next to Leah.

"Yeah me too." Leah said joining them. "I think Melissa softening up a bit to Jesse."

"I know, I think it's so cute." Melanie replied.

"Hey guys have you seen my phone?" Raychel asked. Both Leah and Melanie shook their heads. "Damn, I must've left it in my car, I'll be right back." Raychel said, before racing up the basement steps.

"You know I really had fun tonight with you Leah." Melanie said.

"Yeah me too."

"It's great having you back in town, we've all really missed you."

"I've missed you guys!" Leah replied. "I've missed hanging out with you and Raychel!"

"It's gonna suck when you leave." Melanie said.

"Mel, I'm sorry." Leah apologized. Now she felt all crappy. Like she was abandoning the people she loved.

"No it's okay, I know you have a life and career and everything. I just miss my bestfriend sometimes." Melanie said, scooting closer to Leah.

"I miss you guys too! Being back here with you and Raychel is the most fun I've had since I've been back, I'll definitely missed that." Leah said, hugging Melanie.

When Melanie hugged Leah, she couldn't help but to feel some sort of spark. She smeled so good, she was so pretty. Melanie couldn't believe what she was about to do, but she just couldn't fight the urge. She just decided to do it, she leaned in and... kissed her!

"Oh my God! Melanie!" Leah squealed. "What was that?" Leah asked completely shocked for the second time in one day. Had Melanie just kissed her? "Melanie!"

"I-I-I-'m sorry. I should just leave." Melanie said. Getting up, to put her jeans on. She couldn't believe what she had just done! She felt so ashamed, and embarrassed, and Leah could since that. Leah didn't mean to make her feel bad about herself.

"Melanie wait! Don't go, please." Leah pleaded, pulling her back down. "Talk to me. What's going on."

"I can't talk about this." Melanie cried. "Not with you."

"Why not?" Leah asked. Although she, Melanie, and raychel never talked about anything serious, she wasn't about to let her friend feel like what she felt was bad or wrong.

"Because you're you, and you're a celebrity!" Melanie said, freaking out.

"But I'm you're friend first." Leah replied. "C'mon Mel, you can talk to me? I'm not mad or anything, I promise."

"Fine." Melanie said, sitting back down.

"So Mel, are you a... lesbian?" Leah asked.

"I don't know!" Melanie answered honestly. "There was this girl, Carla, she was my roomate in my senior year of college, the first girl that I ever had any romantic feelings for. The first girl I had ever kissed. I never even questioned my sexuality until the day I met her. We even had a brief relationship. But nobody knows about it."

"So what happened?" Leah asked.

"After graduation we went our separate ways. She went back to Connecticut, while I stayed here. We figured it was for the best. I thought me liking girls was just a phase, but then you came back in town, and it triggered those emotions all over again."

"Wow." Leah was stunned. She had never suspected Melanie of being lesbian or bi-sexual, mainly because she surrounded herself with so many guys. But maybe that was onnly a guise so that no one would suspect her. "So... do you have feelings for me?" Leah asked curious. To be honest, she was kind of flattered that she had attracted attention from the opposite sex! Maybe she didn't give herself enough credit afterall!

"Oh God no!" Melanie said. "I mean I thought I did, I thought kissing you would be something magical, but really it wasn't."

"Oh." Leah said, a bit disappointed. "So I'm not like totally sexy to you?" Leah joked.

"As if! You're like my sister!" Melanie laughed, shoving her playfully.

"Whatever, you know you want this!" Leah joked, flipping her hair.

"Don't flatter yourself kid!" 

"But seriously though, I don't care whether you're gay, straight, bi-sexual, or whatever it doesn't matter to me, you're my bestfriend, and I love you. Whoever you decide to be, it's okay."

"Thanks." Melanie said.

"Do your parents know?" Leah asked.

"No!" Melanie replied. "They'd kill me!"

"C'mon Mel, no they wouldn't, you're parents are great, they always have been."

"Yeah, but they're conservative Catholics and being gay is unacceptable, they'd hate me forever. they'd be so ashamed." Melanie said, crying.

"Melanie, I know your parents. They love you unconditionally. They may be a little hurt when you first tell them, maybe even confused, but trust me when I say, they will accpet you for who you are."

"I'm scared." Melanie admitted.

"What if I do it with you, you know tell your parents." Leah suggested.

"You'd do that for me?" Melanie asked.

"I would."

"You're my bestfriend!" Melanie said, before throwing her arms around Leah. "Thank you so much!" She cried, this time happy tears. Tears of relief. She felt like a major weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. After Melanie released Leah from her arms, she wiped her tears away,

"Hey guys, what'd I miss?" Raychel asked, descending the stairs, cell phone in hand.

"Nothing!" Both Leah and Melanie said in unison. Raychel sat down next to Leah on her sleeping bag.

"Hey, how about we watch My Best Friend's Wedding?" Raychel suggested.

"I'm cool with that." Melanie replied. When Raychel got up to put the movie in, Melanie took Leah's hand and gave it a squeeze, and mouthed the words Thank you. Leah gave her hand a squeeze in return.

Although Leah was happy that she could help out Melanie, she was also freaking out inside. Not because one of her bestfriends was a potential lesbian, but because that was the second time that she had gotten kissed that day! And she had a boyfriend! She felt so awkward, she wished she could talk to Lucky about it, she always knows just what to say. How would she explain this to Josh?

Melanie Preston

Raychel Esposito

Charlie Blake

Jesse Blake

It was a Friday night, and Leah was sitting on the couch next to Jill watching "She's All That" starring Freddie Prinze, Jr. (a total hottie!) and Rachel Leigh Cook, along with the twins who were wrapped up tightly in their brand new Spice Girls sleeping bags, (which Leah and Jill were forced to buy, by losing a bet to the twins). Upon popular request, Leah had decided to extend her stay for another few days, and in all honesty, she didn't mind. Being home was nice. Leah just thought of how weird it was to consider this place home, she never thought she would, but it for once almost felt natural. Maybe their family was starting to get as close to normal as possible.

Right when Laney Boggs made her unveiling, after undergoing a transformation from a nerdy duckling to a swan, Leah's cell phone began to ring. Glancing at the caller I.D. she sighed. Deloach, Ashley it read, aka Nikki Deloach, Leah's former Mousketeer buddy. This was the fourth time that Nikki had called her today, and the fourth time that Leah had hit ignore. Seriously? Why was Nikki calling her after all of this time? So much had happened between them and not once within the last seven years has she ever tried to reach out to her. So why now? All Leah wanted to do was try her best and get her life back on track, and she just wasn't ready to face Nikki yet, for fear that she would just be doing major damage to her recovery.

Leah's phone rang again, snapping her back into the present, she saw that it was Nikki again, and let it go to voicemail. Suddenly, she wasn't in the mood to watch a movie anymore, or eat either. "You know what, I think I'm gonna head upstairs and take a shower." Leah whispered to Jill, as she set her plat of pizza onto the coffee table.

"Why? This is the best part." Jill replied, eyes glued to the screen, and stuffing handful after handful of buttery popcorn into her mouth.

"I'm just really not in the mood to watch a movie right now." Leah said. Jill turned to her sister, sensing that something was wrong.

"Are you okay?" Jill asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little tired." Leah lied.

"Well, at least take your pizza, you haven't eaten all day." Jill replied. Leah literally hadn't eaten anything all day, and Jill found her sisters behavior patterns around food awfully strange. Some days she'd eat like a gluttonous pig, and some days she would hardly eat at all.

"No thanks, I'm not that hungry." Leah said. Jill raised an eyebrow, looking at her strangely.

"Well, if you ever wanna talk-"

"I don't." Leah snapped, abruptly cutting her off. She grabbed her cell phone and headed upstairs. Sure, Leah and Jill had grown close, but not that close. She can't remember ever having a heart-to-heart with Jill. the only time that she could remember trying to have a sisterly talk with Jill was the time that she got her first kiss, and she wasn't very helpful. Leah raced up the stairs, and into her room. She put on her pajamas and threw her robe over it. She was headed to the bathroom to take a shower when her cell phone rang again. She was prepared to hit ignore, when she saw that the caller ID read, St. James, Lucky. "Hey Lux," Leah answered calling Lucky by her nickname.

"Hey Leigh, what's going on?" Lucky asked. Poring through racks of clothes. She had to find the perfect dress for Natalie Portman for an upcoming event, or it was her ass.

"Nothing much."

"Is Jill treating you right? If not I could check her for you." Lucky smirked.

"No, no, everything's cool." Leah giggled.

"What about Gabrielle? Is she being nice?" Lucky asked.

"Yes!" Leah replied. "I'm surprised that we've actually been getting along for this long. I didn't think it would last."

"Me either!" Lucky replied. "Hey, what do you think Natalie Portman would wear?" Lucky asked.

"I don't know! Why?"

"Because, she hired me to be her stylist for this event, and it's in less than sixteen hours, and so far I have found nothing."

"Lucky, you're constantly surrounded by gorgeous designer dresses, how can you not find anything?" Leah asked.

"I don't know, nothing screams 'Natalie' to me." Lucky said.

"What do you expect? For a tiered blush silk organza Atlier Versace gown to just jump out at you and scream, 'Natalie, Natalie, Natalie!'?" Leah fake-cried, laughing.

"Exactly." Lucky laughed.

"So guess who keeps calling me." Leah said.

"Who?"

"Nikki." Leah answered

"As in Deloach?" Lucky asked.

"Yup."

"Ewww, why?"

"I don't know, I guess she wants to try and be my friend again?" Leah guessed.

"Or maybe, Innosense wants to be you opening act on the tour you go on." Lucky stated.

"Are you saying she only wants to use me?" Leah asked.

"Uh, yeah! Why else would she be calling you up out of the blue after all of this time? I swear, she's sooo fake. Stay away from her Leah, she's not a good friend, she never was." Lucky had a gift for sniffing people out. She could see their true colors from a mile away, it was like a sixth sense. While Leah on the other hand, could sometimes be a bit naive, she truly believed that every person was good, and had a heart of gold, that is until they hurt her. Lucky would go to great lengths to protect Leah, and didn't want to see her hurt again.

"Maybe you're right." Leah said.

"I am." Lucky replied.

"Ugh! You are so cocky." Leah laughed. "But thanks, because I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Aww tear!"

"If you were here, I'd do throw my pillow at you!"

"Leah you are a genius!" Lucky exclaimed, abruptly changing the subject.

"What I'd do?" Leah asked confused.

"Blush is the perfect color for Natalie Portman! It goes great against her skin!" Lucky squealed.

"Aww! Is my little Lucky having a girly moment?"

"Shut-up!"

"Well, I'll let you get back to work my little rottweiler," Leah teased. "Call me back when you're not so busy."

"I'll call you tomorrow to tell you how the event went."

"That sounds great, I'll talk you later." Leah said.

"Okay, bye." And with that Lucky and Leah hung up.

Leah laid back on her bed and decided to go through all of the messages that Nikki had left her. Five too be exact.

Message number one:

"Hey Leah, this is Nikki, I know it's been a while since we've last seen each other, and I wanted to see how you were doing. Call me back!" She said cheerfully.

"Ha! Saying we haven't seen each other in a while is a bit of an understatement, huh Nikki?" Leah said to herself.

By the third message, she didn't sound as hopeful, but not completely at a loss:

"Hi Leah, it's me again. I wanted to let you know that I'll be in New York next month, and I wanted to know if we could catch up? I think it would be great for the both of us. Get back to me and let me know what you think. Bye"

"Sure, Nikki, fat chance in hell!"

So maybe if she forgave JC, she could find it in her heart to forgive Nikki? Maybe she should, but Lucky's voice was still in her head telling her not to. Leah hated cutting people out of her life, but she had learned the hard way that if she didn't, then she would only end up getting burned. One of Leah's issues had always been trust. She was always too trusting, and some people liked to take advantage of that.

That night, Leah contemplated whether or not she should let Nikki back into her life. More than anything she wanted to make up with Nikki, but something kept telling her that she just might end up regretting it.

It was Thursday morning, and just as Leah was about to get ready to take a shower she heard her cell phone ring. "Hello?" She answered.

"Leah hon, I've got some good news, and I've got some not so good news."

"Good morning to you too, Kevin." Leah said, greeting her manager.

"So what do you want first, the good news or the bad news?" Kevin asked.

"Hmm, let's see, no matter what you're still gonna have to give me the bad news, am I right?"

"Correct."

"Then give me the good news first." Leah replied.

"You know most people want the bad news first, so that the good news can soften the blow." Kevin said.

"Well, I'm in a good mood this morning, and I kind of want to prolong that, so let's keep it rolling with the good news." Leah responded.

"Well the good news is that you've just been booked for a photo shoot." Kevin announced.

"Okay, that's good." Leah said, taking in the news. She didn't mind being primped and pampered for a few hours and wearing clothes that she didn't have to buy. "So what's the bad news?" She asked.

"The bad news is that it's for Crystal Swimwear." Kevin said.

"Wait what?!" Leah exclaimed. She could practically feel the blood slowly draining from her body. Not a bikini photo shoot. Sloane Stallworth, New York socialite, and the designer of the Crystal Swimwear line was known for making her bathing suits notoriously skimpy, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. She would be practically naked, and considering Leah's body image issues, this was not good! "Kevin." Leah groaned.

"I know, I know." He replied. "If you don't want to do it, I can call and cancel-"

"No!" Leah interrupted him. "I'll do it."

"Are you sure?" Kevin asked.

"Yes Kevin, I'm sure." If Leah canceled this photo shoot, she's look like a flake, and that would give her a bad reputation. People would label her as "difficult to work with, and unreliable" and then no one would want to work with her at all. She felt stuck. Damn her luck. Plus, this was a big opportunity. Sloane Stallworth was particularly selective about the cover models for the Crystal Swimwear catalogues. If she could remember correctly, Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, and Adriana Lima had graced the covers of the last three issues of the catalogue. Leah swallowed hard. She didn't stand a chance.

"Are you sure you can handle this?" Kevin asked.

"Don't worry Kevin, I'll be fine." Leah assured him. Liar, she silently cursed herself. "I can handle this, I promise. So when is the shoot?"

"March 2nd." Kevin answered.

"March 2nd?" Leah had suddenly remembered something about Lucky saying that most beach and swimsuit photo shoots were shot in the winter and spring months for some reason she couldn't quite remember. Yeah, the fashion industry was just weird like that. Leah thought about this for a second. The photo shoot was a little after the Grammys which was on February 21st, which would give her just enough time to figure out a diet plan and meet with a trainer. Ugh, she hated exercise. She really truly did. "Okay, I'll do it." Leah said finally making up her mind. Besides, it's not like she's never done a photo shoot before. She's just never done one almost completely naked. No worries. No worries at all.

After showering and getting dressed for the day, Leah's nerves were a bit on edge, so she decided to head downstairs to see what her family was up to, hoping that it would take her mind off of the impending photo shoot. Once she entered the kitchen she was hit in the face with the aroma of Starbucks caramel coffee- her favorite! Suddenly Leah felt like she were actually back in her favorite Starbucks down the street from her apartment in New York. "Morning." Leah said, announcing her presence.

"Morning Baby, I brewed your favorite." Gabrielle replied, placing a mug in front of her daughter as she sat down at the island.

"Thanks Mom, this is just what I needed." Leah said, taking a sip. It had just the right amount of cream and sugar. She was surprised that her mom remembered how Leah like her coffee.

"Is something wrong?" Gabrielle asked.

"No." Leah replied quickly.

"If there is you can tell me." Gabrielle reassured her.

"I'm fine Mom." Leah said, staring down into her mug. No, she wasn't fine, but she wasn't about to let her Mom to know that. She was an adult now, not some poor defenseless girl who wasn't capable of taking proper care of herself.

"You know, I know that I haven't exactly been 'Mother of the Year', and that we haven't always had the greatest relationship, but at the end of the day, you're still my daughter, and no matter what Leah I love you. I always will. So if there is anything wrong, or if there ever is, then it would kill me if you felt like you couldn't come to me."

That was the problem. She didn't feel like she could talk to her mom about anything. She didn't know how to just get over the rocky relationship that they had endured ever since Leah could remember, to now all of sudden her mom becoming her number one confidante. Now, Leah did like the fact that they were growing closer, this is what she's always wanted, what she's always dreamed of, but now that she and her mother were finally getting close, she didn't know how to just let it all out. She had held everything in for so long, and had dealt with everything on her own, without the support of her family for so long, that she didn't know how to communicate with her mother. She hated not being able to confide in her mother with all of her issues, she wanted so badly to just break down and tell her mom everything right then and there. But she just couldn't, it's like she wouldn't't allow herself to, she didn't want to feel vulnerable, she hated feeling vulnerable. She was also afraid of letting her mother in, in fear that after she left, everything would go back to being the way they were before she came back, and that she would lose that closeness again. So she chose once again, to keep everything hidden deep down inside, where they couldn't even scratch the surface.

"Mom, you and Dad raised me right. Don't worry about me, I'm okay, I'll be just fine." Leah stated. Now if only she could just get herself to believe that. Sometimes Leah actually did blame her parents for psychologically fucking her up. "So what's for breakfast?" Leah asked quickly changing the subject. No sentimental Full House moments here.

"Red velvet doughnuts!" Gabrielle replied.

"Mom! Red velvet doughnuts?!" Leah exclaimed. "Those are my favorite!"

"Which is why I bought them." Gabrielle said, pulling out the box of doughnuts and placing them on the counter.

"Wow Mom, you're really pulling out all of the stops." Leah stated.

"Well it is your last day here, so I wanted to make it special." Gabrielle said. "I'm really going to miss you honey." Leah couldn't believe that she had been here for almost two weeks. Initially, Leah didn't even think she'd last two days.

"Well Mom, you're always welcome to visit me in New York, you totally deserve a vacation, and besides, my apartment can get pretty lonely sometimes." Leah replied honestly. Her mother had been through a lot in a very short amount of time, going through a divorce, losing her mother. She didn't know how her mom could handle it all, and after Leah, Jill, Aiden and their aunts and cousins all left, Gabrielle would be in this big house all by herself. Leah wouldn't;t mind having her mother visit her in New York. She would totally give her the NYC Treatment; hair and nails at Warren/Tricomi, shopping at Barney's and Saks Fifth Avenue, a stroll through Central Park, seeing a show on Broadway... Leah could definitely imagine a good time.

"Wow, it would be nice to see New York again." Gabrielle replied. "You know you were conceived there." She stated very matter of factly.

"Mom!" Leah exclaimed. "Ewww!" Ugggh! The thought of her parents getting it on? Gross! That's an image that no child deserves to have stuck in their mind!

"Well how do you think you got here? The stork?" Gabrielle asked sarcastically.

"No!" Leah replied. "But that doesn't mean I need to know every detail of my conception!"

Gabrielle laughed good naturedly. "Oh honey, you're such a prude!" The mother-daughter moment was interrupted by the ringing of the phone.

As her mother went to go answer the phone, Leah opened up the pink box across from her, twelve perfect red velvet doughnuts teasing her. Her favorite. How could she possibly resist? But then she thought about the photo shoot that she had coming up, and drew her hand back. No, she shouldn't. She really shouldn't, the doughnuts were good true, but they were also 360 calories of guilt. Leah had a weird habit of memorizing how many calories were in food. Over the years counting calories had become an obsession. But then again, her mom bought them especially for her, and that was an effort on Gabrielle's part to show that she really did care about her daughter.

She didn't want to rude and offend her mother. But she knew that if she ate a doughnut, that she couldn't eat just one, she'd end up eating the whole box, and very quickly. She'd make herself sick, and then she'd feel all of the guilt and shame, and then head for the bathroom to relieve herself of the shame. And then after that, she'd feel guilty for purging. The very thought of purging was terrifying. The act of purging hurt, and it was physically, mentally and emotionally draining. Yup, that was the exact effect that food had had on her. She couldn't just eat like any normal person. Everything she ate she had to mentally analyze it, and either restrict herself completely of something or binge on it altogether. She didn't want the guilt of the doughnuts, or the pain of purging, but at the same time, she'd didn't want to pass up the peace offering.

They were so delicious, and tempting, and she hadn't had one in over a year. Again, the thought of the photo shoot sprang into her mind, and she drew her hand back again, but then she could feel her stomach grumbling. And besides, they weren't just doughnuts, they were a sort of gift. Her mother knew she liked them, so she got them for her. She had wanted nothing more than to be close with her mother, like the way that Lucky was close with hers, and how JC was close with Karen. She craved that closeness. Maybe she could just suck it up, and sacrifice her feelings, and eat just one damn doughnut like a normal person.

I can have one doughnut, and that's it. Nothing else for the rest of the day. Leah promised herself. Leah then reached for a doughnut, and instead of drawing her hand back, she grabbed one. After one bite, she totally scarfed it. In almost no time, she was already on her second one, when her mother walked in. She placed the half doughnut down when her she saw Gabrielle. She was always so self conscious eating in front of people, even if it was only her mother. "So Mom, where is everyone?" Leah asked, suddenly noticing that they were the only ones in the house.

"There out buying things for your going away dinner." Gabrielle replied.

"Going away dinner?" Leah asked, surprised.

"Yeah, your father's coming." Gabrielle responded.

"Daddy's coming?" Leah asked. Wow, she couldn't believe that her parents were putting aside their differences just for her. What was happening to the world? Was she in the Twilight Zone?

"Of course he's coming, he wouldn't miss it for the world." Gabrielle said, before grabbing her purse. "Are you almost done?" She asked. "I have a big day planned for us."

"Big day?" Leah asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, Jillian's going to meet us at the mall to do some shopping, and then I made reservations for us to eat at Vicenzo's for lunch." Gabrielle explained.

Vicenzo's used to be Leah's favorite Italian restaurant (before she actually ate in Italy). This was not good. How could she avoid food now?

"So Leah, are you ready?" Her mother asked.

"Yes." Leah replied. But No, is what she really wanted to say.

********************

"So are you sure that's all you want?" Jill asked Leah, eyeing her salad.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Leah replied. "I had a big breakfast."

"...Okay, that's perfect... great!" Both Leah and Jill looked to their mother, who was talking to someone on her cell phone.

"I can't believe that Mom is actually planning me a goodbye dinner." Leah whispered.

"Maybe she's trying to make up for lost time?" Jill suggested, as she dug into her Fettuccine Alfredo.

Leah looked at in longingly. Carb City, she thought. "I wonder what she's gonna do when you Aiden leave." Both Jill and Aiden were staying for at least two weeks longer.

"She's probably going all out for you because she doesn't get to see you as often." Jill replied. With Leah's career, she didn't get to come home as often, whereas with Jill and Aiden, they came back home as much as they possibly could. Well, it wasn't like Leah had actually made an effort to be back home more either. "She really misses you, you know."

"She does?" Leah asked.

"Yeah." Jill replied.

"Does she ever say that?" Leah asked, hopeful.

"Before you came back, Mom was saying how she really wanted to make things up to you. She feels horrible about how rocky your relationship is." Jill whispered.

"She said that?" Leah asked, voice almost cracking. Jill nodded. Maybe, just maybe, things were finally changing. She would finally have the ideal mother-daughter relationship with her mom that she had always dreamed of. And it was also great to finally have a great relationship with Jill too.

"So, girls what'd I miss?" Gabrielle said, turning back to her daughters.

"Not much, we were just waiting on you." Jill replied.

"Leah Honey, is that all you're going to eat?" Gabrielle asked, looking at her daughter's dry salad.

"Yes Mom. I'm not really that hungry." Leah replied.

"But you barely ate breakfast." She pointed out.

Jill's eyes widened. "I thought you said you had a big breakfast."

Avoiding both her sister and her mother, Leah just looked down at her plate. This is not happening, this is not happening. This can't be happening.

"Leah you're starting to worry me, and Celia and Lorraine are worried too." Gabrielle said.

"You guys have been gossiping about me?" Leah exclaimed.

"No, it's not that... It's just that well, you're different." Jill chimed in.

"Oh so now you're in on it too?" Leah asked incredulously.

"Honey, all we're saying is that you've changed." Gabrielle said.

"Oh well of course I've changed in the last ten or say fifteen years since you actually gave a flying fuck about me!" Leah said, raising her voice.

"Leah be quiet!" Jill hissed, looking around to make sure that no one was paying attention.

"What, so I can just sit here and let you guys harass me like that?" Leah asked.

"We only want to know what's going on with you." Jill said.

"Oh so you really wanna know what's going on in my life? You actually care?" Leah asked sarcastically. "Did you bother to ask about my feelings when you made all of those fat jokes, or treated me like complete shit Jill?"

"Leah that's not fair, we were kids."

"Yeah, well it's stuck with me Jill, and I've had to live with that. And Mom, where were you to defend me, or to make me feel better when I felt like total shit. You just totally alienated me, like I wasn't even your kid. Well I'm sorry Mom, but if you haven't noticed, I'm different. Sorry that I couldn't be your perfect daughter."

"That's fair. I know that I haven't always been the perfect mother, and that we haven't always had the most perfect relationship-"

"Understatement of the year." Leah interrupted her mother.

"But I know, that this isn't you. the mood swings, the lack of appetite, the apparent weight loss. Just let me in." Gabrielle looked at her fuming daughter expectantly, as did Jill. The three sat in silence before Leah finally spoke up.

"You want to be a part of my life so badly? You really want to know what's going on with me? Fine. I'm a recovering anorexic and bulimic. I have anxiety, which is always heightened when I come back home, and I think I might have OCD. I've gone to rehab, and I'm still psychologically fucked. Some days I don't eat, and when I do, then I dispose of my food via purging. There, you happy?"

Gabrielle and Jill both stared at Leah stunned. Everything that they had ever known about her was forever changed. They would never see her the same way again.

"Yeah, I thought so." Leah said, her voice wavering. "And on that note I'm leaving." She said, before getting up from her place at the table, grabbing her coat and purse and storming out of the restaurant.Soon as she could get a cab back to the house, she was packing her bags and leaving for good. Fuck a Bon Voyage dinner. As soon as she hit the cold January air, she grabbed her cell phone from her purse, and tried to take deep breaths, because she could feel a panic attack coming on. 

"Leah stop!" Leah turned around to face her sister.

"I'm leaving." Leah replied. She opened her phone, and tried to remember the number to the Yellow Cab service.

"As in leaving Louisville?" Jill asked.

"Yes, as in leaving Louisville."

"Oh so you're just gonna leave like that?" Jill asked. "You're just gonna run from your problems."

"News flash Jill, I've been dealing with my problems for the last ten years, and I've done it all by myself." Leah snapped back.

"Well maybe that's the problem." Jill replied. "Listen Leah, you can choose to leave Louisville and go back to your life in New York, and act as if we don't exist. You can keep this wall up between us, and choose to stay guarded, and refuse to let us in, or you can stay, and let us help you. It's your choice Leah," Jill said. "So what are you gonna do?"

It had been a month since Leah’s confession and simultaneous confrontations by her aunts back home about her eating disorder. Aside from her grandmother’s death it had been the worst thing to ever happen to her. All eyes were on her, and she was this close to suffering a nervous breakdown. All she wanted to do was get on the quickest flight back to New York, but her family wasn’t about to let that happen. Her parents wanted to keep her on lockdown, and sign her into rehab. She thought her life was over. It took three whole days, a lot of begging, pleading and crying to convince her family that she’d be alright.

She’d never seen her mother look so frightened before. It was sad that it had to get to that point for Leah to see that her mother was ever truly concerned for her well being. Aiden, being the doctor of the family felt guilty that he hadn’t noticed the signs sooner. Leah had to keep reassuring him, that it wasn’t his fault; she kept her eating disorder so hidden that not even a PI could figure her out. He wouldn’t let her out of his sight for the last three days that she was there. All Jill could do cry hysterically. She blamed herself as well. As much as Leah wanted to blame her, she felt that she would only be taking advantage of the situation. Her aunts tried to “fatten her up” by cooking all of her favorite foods, and constantly try to stuff her face. As much as she loved them, she wanted to kill them. They just didn’t understand. And then there were the twins; Zoe and Gia. They were so upset; they wouldn’t even talk to her, let alone look at her. Here Leah was trying to be a perfect role model to them, and she wasn’t even leading by example. She felt like such a hypocrite. The only person who treated her normally was Charlie.

“They’re only acting this way because they care about you.” He said, as he and Leah were taking a walk around the neighborhood. It was a little after six, and it had already started getting dark. She was

irritated, and needed to get out of the house, but her parents didn’t trust her by herself, so she texted Charlie. She didn’t know why, but he was the first person that came to mind.

“I know,” she sighed. “God, I’m so stupid, I don’t even know why I said anything. I should have just kept my mouth shut; it was my last day here!”

“You reached your breaking point.” Charlie stated. “Maybe it was your subconscious telling you, that you’d had enough.” He rationalized.

“Maybe.” Leah replied.

“You’re not that tough you know.” He said.

“Excuse me?”

“You try to act like you have everything under control, but after awhile everyone needs their family. It’s okay to have a break down you know. You’re only human.”

Charlie’s words really resonated with Leah. Maybe it was finally time to let her family in. It seemed like they were trying so hard to change for her, so the least she could do was cave a little for them. So that night she had a private talk with her parents. She told them everything. From the first time she ever purged, up until her stint in rehab. It was a major breakthrough between Leah and her mom, and she learned a lot; like the reason Gabrielle never approved of Leah’s lifestyle. Gabrielle had been a dancer. A professional ballerina, she trained for years, perfecting her craft. She would do whatever it took to become the perfect ballerina, including purging to maintain her weight. She was finally about to get her big break when she had the chance to audition for the American Ballet Theatre, then during rehearsal she fell and broke her leg, due to brittle bones caused by her eating disorder, forever ending her dancing career. After that a crushed Gabrielle, decided to go to law school, and never looked back.

Gabrielle never approved of Leah’s career ambitions because she was afraid that he daughter would end up like her, or worse. Now it was all happening, and she couldn’t be more heartbroken. Now she was willing to do any and everything possible to save her daughter.

“Mom, I’ll be fine. I promise.” Leah pleaded. “I can take care of myself.”

“Doesn’t look like it from where we’re standing.” Daniel, Leah’s father said.

Then after what felt like hours and hours of begging and pleading, her parents finally let her fly back to New York on conditions. Yes conditions. These conditions were that both Gabrielle and Danielle be allowed to spring surprise visits on her at any given time to check up on her, and that she calls her parents every night to update them on what was going on in her life. She had been independent for so long, that she wasn’t sure she’d be able to live her life that way, but if that’s what it took to get out of there, then that’s what she would agree too.

Now, here she was back in her New York apartment trying to deal with the aftermath of what had happened. Lucky for her it was moving day, so she wouldn’t have to think about it too much. Lucky had finally made the big move from LA to New York, and she and Leah had found the perfect cozy apartment to share in together in SoHo. Her parents were so relieved to find out that she wouldn’t be living alone. They were now in their living room, unpacking.

“So, you never told me what happened while you were back home.” Lucky said, unwrapping silverware.

“I told you, everything went fine.” Leah lied.

“Yeah since when’s the last time you were with your family and everything went fine.”

“Since I saw a flying pig on my flight back here.” Leah joked.

“Ha ha. So not funny.” Lucky replied. “Don’t worry; I’ll get it out of you one of these days.” She promised.

Leah knew she was right. There was nothing she could hide from the girl.

“Damn, are you sure there are only shoes in here?” Justin huffed.

Leah and Lucky turned their attention to the six-foot curly haired man in the doorway. It had taken a lot of convincing on JC’s part to get Justin to help the girl’s move, but since he wasn’t doing anything better he figured why not. And JC didn’t want to be the only guy around.

“Only shoes,” Lucky replied. “And when I open up that box, they better not be scratched, scuffed, or ripped. Am I clear?” She asked, staring Justin dead in the eye. Justin swallowed and nodded. Lucky scared Justin and she knew it, so she liked to play with him. Justin, like most people, held on to the theory that Lucky was a witch. So, she thought it was fun to play on that theory, that way, people gave her complete and total control, for fear that she might turn them to stone or some shit like that. It was fun to scare the piss out of grown men.

Leah laughed to herself. She even had to admit that Lucky did look like a witch. She had the whole Goth thing going (even if Lucky did find the term derogatory). She was always dressed head to toe in black, and lace, and her black lipstick and eye shadow deeply contrast against her pale as ghost skin. Grownups and children alike shivered in her presence, but only those closest to her knew that she was completely harmless. Well, almost everyone.

“You can set those in the very back room Justin.” Lucky said, lighting a Marlboro cigarette. Justin did as he was told.

“He fears you.” Leah giggled.

“And I’m taking advantage of it.” She smiled, before taking a long drag of her cigarette.

“More shoes?” JC asked, making his way through the door with a big brown cardboard box in his arms.

“Oh, those are mine.” Leah said. “Thanks, babe,” she said, placing a kiss on his lips, after he set the box down.

“So is that it?” JC asked.

“Yep, that’s about it. Are you guys staying?” She asked. “Lucky’s cooking.”

“You know, as much as I’m looking forward to barbeque Tofu, I think Justin’s just a little creeped out.” JC replied.

Leah laughed. “Yeah, maybe it’s a little too much for him to take in. But we’re still on for tonight right?” She asked.

“Of course.” JC replied, before kissing her again. Leah and JC were finally at a good point in their relationship. After publicly stepping out at the Grammys as a couple- and awkwardly facing the wrath of bitter journalist, Bobbie Thomas- JC and Leah were at a great place. She liked this. Her boyfriend kept her sane. This was the easy part of her life, and she planned on keeping it that way!

 *********************

 “Yes, Aiden. I’m fine I promise… Lucky’s here and everything’s fine.” Leah said. Aiden was calling to check up on her again, and as annoying as it was, she reminded herself that it could be worse.

“I still can’t believe you’re living with the Voodoo High Priestess!” Aiden exclaimed, making light of the situation.

“Shut up Aiden!” Leah laughed.

“Okay, okay, but to be fair, I’m just so glad that you’re not alone.” Aiden replied.

“I’m not unstable you know.” Leah said. “I may have my shit to deal with, but I’m not Judy Garland unstable or anything.”

“And I want to keep it that way.” Aiden replied.

“Well thanks for your concern Doctor Aiden, but I must be going now, I’m going on a date with JC, and I have to go get ready!” There was an awkward pause on the other end of the line. “I’m fine!”

“Fine, I believe you, but don’t ever lie to me again.” Aiden said.

“Aiden.” Leah sighed.

“Fine, fine, I’ll let you go.” Aiden surrendered. “Bye.”

“Bye.” Leah said before hanging up. Before Aiden had called, checking up on her, Leah had just gotten out of the shower, trying to wash the smell of Lucky’s incense out of her hair. Clad in her bathrobe, and Hello Kitty slippers, she made her way down the hall to Lucky’s room.

“Hey Lux, I was wondering if I could borrow your black spiked Loubout-“ Leah began to ask, but stopped when she saw her roommate jump, and hide something behind her back.

“Oh sorry, was I interrupting something?” Leah asked. “Were you sharing an intimate moment with your little battery operated friend?”

“Oh God no!” Lucky exclaimed.

“Then what were you doing?” Leah asked suspiciously.

“Voodoo!” Lucky exclaimed. “Haha, you caught me!” She laughed nervously. There was this girl back in LA, The Wicked Bitch of the West, is what I like to call her and, she deserved this major karmic retribution, and umm, yeah.”

“Yeah right.” Leah said, calling her bullshit. “You’re hiding something.”

“Shit,” Lucky sighed.

“I know you just as well as you know me.” Leah reminded her. “Hand it over.” She said, holding her hand out.

Lucky closed her eyes, and took a deep breath before handing over the contents in her hand. She handed Leah a crumpled up magazine.

Leah unfolded the crumpled pile of paper to reveal an issue of OK! Magazine with Leah, JC, and Bobbie’s face on the cover, with the headline reading Leah James: Homewrecker. “What is this?” Leah asked confused.

“I really didn’t want you to see this.” Lucky said. Leah immediately started flipping through the pages until she got to the cover story. “I didn’t buy it or anything; it was left on our doorstep.” She explained.

Once Leah got to the cover story, she carefully read the article that gave detail to what happened between she and JC in Las Vegas over New Years. The article was very detailed, as in only Leah and JC knew what had happened that night. So how did it end up in a tabloid two months later? She then went on to read how JC has slept with Leah while he was still with Bobbie! But JC had told her that he and Bobbie were over! And now, the article was accusing Leah of knowingly stealing JC from Bobbie, and painting her in a bad light! What the hell?!

“What the fuck?!” Leah exclaimed.  “What the hell is this?” Leah asked in disbelief. Her eyes shot to a picture of JC and Leah at the Clive Davis Grammy Party together, with the caption A relationship built on lies, underneath it.

“Reporters make up stuff to sell tabloids all the time.” Lucky said, trying to make Leah feel better.

“But Lucky, Josh and I actually slept together over New Years.” Leah said above a whisper. “And I never told anyone, except for you.”

“And you know that I wouldn’t tell a soul!” Lucky exclaimed

“No, I know, I know! I’m not blaming you.” Leah replied, sitting down on the bed next to Lucky. “But this article has details that no one else could possibly know, and the only people in that room were me and Jace.”

“So, maybe he told Justin. I mean you told me.” Lucky tried to rationalize.

“But I know Justin, and he would never run his mouth to anyone! Especially not a tabloid, or gossip blogger!”

“So, then who would?” Lucky asked.

“I don’t know, but I’m sure as hell gonna find out!” Leah said angrily, stomping out of Lucky’s room.

“Don’t do anything stupid!” Lucky called after her.

After Leah had gotten dressed, she paced frantically around her room trying to call JC, but he didn’t answer. Their date wasn’t for a whole hour, but it still bothered her that he wasn’t picking up. Maybe he saw the article too? Usually it didn’t bother her when people started rumors about her, but what bothered her most was that every single detail of that article was true. They did sneak up to his suite shortly after midnight on New Years, and yes, they did have sex. So does that mean that part about JC still being with Bobbie at the time was true? Was Leah the Homewrecker? But JC looked her in her eye that night, and told her that he and Bobbie were over, and he wouldn’t lie to her. He never lied to her. But then again he was drunk. And horny. Now Leah was all confused. For the first time, since they had been back together, she had actually started to doubt her relationship with JC. Could it be that the one rock solid thing in her life wasn’t so rock solid? She wasn’t sure that she could take much else.

Looking at the clock, Leah saw that it was ten minutes until nine. JC would be there any minute to pick her up, so she decided to meet him downstairs. The whole ride down the elevator was an anxious one. She couldn’t wait to see JC, she need to know the truth. As Joe, the doorman held the door open for Leah, she made her way outside. Before she could catch her breath, she was confronted with a paparazzo. “Hey Homewrecker, say cheese!” The man exclaimed, clicking away on his camera, the flashing light blinding, and paralyzing her. Before she could even wrap her head around what was happening, she was surrounded by paparazzi, and all she wanted to do was die right there. Just when she thought that the worst was behind her, something else just had to happen.

“Who in the hell did you tell?!” Leah asked, pacing frantically. She was now in JC’s hotel suite at the Four Seasons, where the guys were staying while they were recording. After JC had rescued Leah from the paparazzi attack, they decided to forego their date. The paparazzi followed them all the way to the hotel, so there was no sense in going out together, because they wouldn’t be able to enjoy their date with nosy ass photographers watching their every move.

“What?” JC exclaimed, he was sitting on the edge of the bed. “How do you know I even told anyone? Besides, I know you told Lucky, you tell her everything.” He said, defending himself.

“Lucky wouldn’t say anything.” Leah replied, plopping down beside JC. The two sat in silence, trying to connect the dots for what felt like an eternity. “Does Justin know?”

“I didn’t tell him, he figured it out.” JC said. He conveniently left out the part about Justin setting that whole night up. Leah was already beyond furious, and he didn’t want to be responsible for his friend’s death.

“Who else did you tell?” Leah pressed.

“Why do you assume I told someone what was nothing but our business, you know I’m not like that.” JC replied.

“Because the only person I told was Lucky. I never told anyone else about that night. Not even my own sister!”

JC knew that Lucky was a faithful friend to Leah and would never do anything to cross her. So that option was out.

“So you didn’t tell anyone about that night?” Leah tried again.

JC thought back to the aftermath of that night. That morning, after Leah left, JC found himself confused, and trying to pick up the pieces. Everything about that day had just been messy. He thought to the conversation he had had with Justin. Then how he broke up with Bobbie. Bobbie. Shit! Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! But Bobbie wouldn’t do that to him. She’s not that person. She’s not vindictive like that. But then again, she was exactly that person. Fuck! “I told Bobbie.” JC confessed.

“You what?” Leah asked, the words coming out slowly, and JC knew that he was in for it. “Why would you tell Bobbie?”

“I, um,” JC stammered. “I told her, when I broke up with her.”

“So it’s true then.” Leah said, her voice wavering. She was shaking. She didn’t want to believe it, but she knew that Bobbie Thomas was a writer for some magazine, and that she had the power to destroy her.  She wanted to scream, she wanted to throw things. She was furious. But what was the point in throwing a fit? It wouldn’t solve anything. What’s done is done, and she couldn’t do anything about it. “So everything that I read, everything that’s been printed. It’s all true?” She didn’t want to believe that JC was that person, but it turns out he was.

“Leah…” JC said. But what could he say? He had fucked up, and now he was caught?

“So you were fucking me, while you were still with her?” Leah asked. “You told me that you guys were over!” Leah cried. Leah was beyond angry, she was hurt. The one person in her life who she felt wouldn’t fuck her over, was the one currently fucking her over. Both literally and physically. She felt low. Like a slut. She couldn’t blame anyone but herself. No one forced her to sleep with JC. She made the decision herself.

“So what about all of those other nights, huh?” Leah pressed. “Like last summer in Prague, were you actually single, or were you lying to me then too?” Leah exclaimed, referring to a series of one night stands they had last year, when she and Tyson had taken a break. She always thought that JC and Bobbie were an on-again-off-again couple too, but now who knows? Maybe he was with her all along. All along she thought that he was the one, and that she was the one for him. But now she was coming to the realization that she may have always been nothing more than The Other Woman. “How fucked up is that Josh?” Leah was now up again pacing. She felt so stupid. As badly as she wanted to place the blame on JC, she remembered what her grandmother used to say. “A man can only do to you what you let him.” And she let him in again, and got burned. Again.

“Leah, just let me explain.” JC sighed.

“What is there to explain Josh? That you cheated on your girlfriend with me? I thought what we had was real, but now I feel like I’m just some one night stand. A mistress.”

“Baby, you know you’re more than that.” JC said pulling her into a hug. She was hurt, and it was all his fault and he felt like shit. “You mean the world to me Leah.” He said, pulling her close to him.

She believed him. She felt safe in his arms, like he was the only person in the world who would never do her any harm. She couldn’t fight the effect that he had on her, and she didn’t want to. And when he placed a kiss on top of her head, and gently stroked her back, she almost forgave him. Almost. “You lied to me.” She sniffed, gently pushing him away. “We said we’d never lie to each other. We promised.”

“So it’s only okay for you to lie?” JC asked, becoming more upset. He knew that he had fucked up, but Leah was no saint either.

“What are you talking about?” She asked.

“We said we wouldn’t keep things from each other Leah, so let’s not pretend that I’m the only one in the wrong.” He snapped.

“Wait, what the hell are you talking about?” She asked.

“You never even planned to tell me that you had Anorexia did you?”

Leah felt as if a huge bucket of ice water had just been poured over her head. “W-what did you just say?” She stammered. How? Who? What? When had he found this out? Leah was at a lost.

“When were you planning on telling me?” JC asked, turning the tables. “When it would eventually land on the cover of Us Weekly, or when you faint? Were you ever gonna tell me?”

“But how-“

“Lucky. Lucky told me everything.”  JC replied, answering her question. “She told me about how she found you, passed out in your room, about your stint in rehab. Rehab Leah, really? How could you keep that from me?”

The night was just getting crazier and crazier. First Leah was betrayed by her boyfriend, and now her best friend? She didn’t know what to feel anymore. She didn’t know who to turn to, or who she could trust. She didn’t know if there was even a category for how angry and hurt that she was. Everything she felt was just beyond. It was indescribable. If there was ever a moment to feel vulnerable, it was now. If there weren’t a million photographers outside of the hotel right now, then she would take the fastest taxi home and blast Lucky. Her secret was out. To everyone. It was out to her family, it was out to her boyfriend. The one person on earth that she didn’t want to know about her illness now knew. She never wanted him to know. That was the secret that she was willing to take to her grave. “Jace, listen, you don’t understand.”

“I don’t understand what?” JC exclaimed. “Okay I lied to you, but Bobbie and I were basically over. Our relationship was coming to an end anyway. But what you lied about was way worse.”

“I never lied. I just didn’t tell you, and it’s not even like we were together.” Leah tried to explain her reasoning, but JC wasn’t buying it.

“Bullshit.” JC replied. “We’re supposed to be friends first, and a couple second. You kept something major from me, and the fact that I had to find out that you almost died from someone other than you hurt like hell.”

“Josh, you don’t understand.” Leah repeated.

“You’re right, I don’t understand. I don’t understand how you could keep this from me. I mean come on, it’s me, Leah. Did we really grow that far apart? No matter how bad things ever got between us, you should have never felt like you couldn’t come to me. I would have been there. I would have taken time out for you.”

“I know you would have.” Leah said, willing herself not to cry, but to no avail.

“So then why didn’t you tell me?” JC pressed.

“I don’t know.” Leah said. She did know. She didn’t want to tell him because so many areas of her life had been complete Hell, and being with JC was the one place where she felt in Heaven. And, as far as JC knew, she was a well put together person, not some weak vulnerable self-harming girl. She didn’t want to tell him that she had a problem, she never wanted him to see that side of her; to see her hunched over a toilet coughing up blood. She was afraid that he’d look at her differently, and she just couldn’t handle that. But of course, she couldn’t possibly tell him that. She couldn’t face the truth. Hell, she could barely face it now. But this wasn’t just anybody, this was JC. So why did she have her guard up, and why was she so afraid of letting it down?

“So where are you at now? Are you over this thing?” JC asked, this time calmly. Leah was visibly upset and shaken (who wouldn’t be), and JC was just tired of fighting. He just wanted things to go back to normal between them.

“I want to say yes, but then I’d be lying.” Leah said honestly. “I mean for the most part, I have everything under control, but some days are harder than most, and I have my moments.”

“So do you need, like, professional help?” JC asked. Leah closed her eyes shut at the mention of professional help, and JC could see that it was sensitive subject for her.

Leah couldn’t even stand the idea of rehab. Rehab was the last place she ever wanted to go back to. She’d rather relive last weekend with her family a million times than to go back to rehab. “I need you.” Leah said.

“Baby, you got me.” JC replied, pulling her close to him once again. Leah clung to him, and inhaled the familiar smell of Old Spice. Being wrapped up in his arms just felt like home, and it was then that she realized how stupid their fight was. JC slipped up, but who hasn’t, and it wasn’t like she didn’t lie to him too. She was stupid for ever doubting his love for her, and now that her secret was out, there was nothing holding them back anymore.

“Jace,” Leah said.

“Hmm?”

“I need you to promise me that you won’t treat me any differently now that you know.” Leah said.

JC didn’t know if he could promise her that. It would be hard for him not to monitor her eating, or be super protective over her. He loved her, and just wanted to make sure that she was okay. “As long as you promise not to keep anything from me ever again.”

“Hey, that goes both ways.” She replied, before kissing him. “I love you.” She said.

“I love you too, baby.” JC replied, still holding her. “Looks like we got through our first fight,” he pointed out.

“Yeah we did didn’t we?” Leah said. “So, what are we going to do about our date?” She asked. “I don’t exactly feel safe stepping outside of this room right now.”

“How about we order room service, and order a movie on Pay-per-view?” JC suggested.

“Godfather?” Leah replied. “There’s a special commentary by Francis Ford Coppola and Al Pacino.”

“It’s a date!”

Although the night hadn’t gone as planned, JC was happy that he and Leah had gotten their skeletons out of the closet. Now that everything was out in the open, he hoped that their relationship was smooth sailing. Fuck the paparazzi, fuck the press, fuck people’s opinions, and fuck Bobbi. He was going to live his life, and do what made him happy, and that was being with Leah, and no one was going to get in the way of that.

The very next day, JC and Leah remained in JC’s hotel suite completely cut off from the world. Their main priority at the moment was to simply spend time with each other. JC looked down at a sleeping Leah in his arms. He smiled lovingly at her, watching her chest gently rise and fall. She was so beautiful when she slept. Now that the worst was over and all of their issues had been resolved, he couldn’t wait to start over with her. Looking down at her brought back so many memories. They’d been through so much together, that he couldn’t fathom being with anyone else.

He thought back to ten years ago, just after they’d first met, and they’d gone to the beach together.

“You act like this is your first time at a beach!” Fifteen-year-old JC exclaimed, as he watched Leah turn cartwheels on the sand.

“Wrong! It’s my second time!” She giggled excitedly, finally turning upright.

JC couldn’t help but to laugh a little himself, her attitude was infectious. He had to admit she was bubbly, and adorable. “Where are you from?” He asked.

“Kentucky!” Leah replied.

“So, what do you guys so for fun?” JC asked. “Ride horses?”

“Haha, very funny!” Leah said. “But gosh, it’s so beautiful out here,” She marveled. “Can you believe we actually get to live here for the next six months?”

“Pretty crazy huh?” He replied.

“Yeah, I can definitely get used to this!” And with that, Leah stripped out of her innocent blue jean overalls, to reveal a red Baywatch-like swimsuit. This time it was JC’s turn to marvel- only silently. “Hey, let’s get in the water.” Leah suggested. “Last one in the water buys me a milkshake!” She called, running off toward the ocean. “And by last one I mean you!”

“Not if I can help it!” JC called, running after her.

JC smiled, thinking back to that day. Even though at that point they were only friends, it was then that he fell in love with her spirit. It was her heart, and her spirit that made JC fall in love with her. It was her uplifting spirit that had picked JC up through some of his toughest times. Like right after the group had won their lawsuit against their former manager Lou Pearlman and had begun work on No Strings Attached. The guys had a lot more creative control on this album, and JC was really under a lot of added pressure. He had been venting to Leah over the phone, and she could sense his frustrations, so being the true friend she was, she’d taken a break from her own recording, and had traveled from London to Orlando to be with him.

“I feel like this is our one chance you know.” JC was telling Leah. It was nighttime, and they were sitting out on the patio of Johnny Wright’s compound. “Our one chance to prove that we’re more than just a product.”

“But you guys are more than just a product.” Leah said.”Your fans have stuck by you this long Jace, what makes you think they’ll turn their back on you now? All you guys have to do is just keep being yourselves.”

“But what about the critics?” JC asked wearily, biting down on his thumbnail.

Leah gave him a look. “Since when have you guys ever worried about what critics have thought about you?” She asked him quizzically. “Jace, critics are just assholes with opinions!”

“Yeah, assholes who can make or break your career,” He replied.

“No, your fans are who make or break your career and don’t you forget that!” Leah said seriously. “It’s because of those fans that your first album went ten times platinum.”

JC knew that Leah was right. The fans had been amazing, and their support was astonishing.

“Remember why you’re doing this.” She reminded him. “Remember when we used to hang out in our dressing rooms at MMC and how we would get so excited to perform in front of a live crowd?” Leah asked.

“Yeah,” JC replied, smiling a little.

“And remember what you told me?” Leah asked.

“Yeah. I used to say how nothing compared to the feeling of performing in front of a crowd full of kids and making their day.”

“And now, you and the guys have thousands of people cheering for you guys.” Leah said. “Thousands of people believe in you. I believe in you.”

JC’s eyes met Leah’s and for the first time in months he felt that creative spark again. She had made all of the pressure and stress of impressing people all just melt away, He was so grateful for her, and he didn’t know what he would do if he didn’t have her friendship.

Leah had been with JC through the lows, and she had also been with him through the highs. When No Strings Attached had sold an astoninishing one million copies in its first day, and 2.4 million in its first week, he knew he wanted Leah by his side to celebrate with him.

“Don’t you think this is all a little odd?” Justin asked, yelling over the music. The guys were all at their album release party.

“What’s odd?” JC asked.

“That Leah’s here, and Bobbie’s not.” Justin said. “You know, considering the fact that Bobbie’s your girlfriend.”

Maybe JC should’ve considered that as a red flag back then. “Bobbie had things to do, besides, I’d rather be here with Leah anyway.” JC said honestly.

“Hey Popstar!” Leah said, approaching JC.

“Hey!” He said, hugging her. “Thanks.” He whispered into her ear.

“For what?” Leah asked, confused.

“For everything,” JC replied. “I couldn’t have made it through this whole thing without you.” He said, gratefully.

“That’s what friends are for, and like I said Jace, I believe in you.” Leah smiled.

Leah had seemed to have amazing faith in JC, and she had always been there for him. Looking down at his girlfriend, he couldn’t believe all that she had been through, without him. A pang of guilt suddenly hit him. Now that he knew what she was dealing with he made a promise to be there for her, even if she was too proud to admit that she needed help. He pulled Leah’s body closer to his. He’d screwed up with her once before, and he wasn’t about to do it again. This time he’d be strong for her the way that she was for him, he was not about to lose her. He loved her, and he would fight for her.

Leah began to stir, her eyes fluttered open and met his. “Hey,” She smiled.

“Hey,” JC smiled back. He could get used to this feeling.

“What time is it?” She asked.

“Quarter after twelve.” JC replied.

Leah sat up and rested her head on JC shoulder, the previous nights events all coming back to her; the tabloid frenzy, the cheating incident, the eating disorder confrontation, and the subsequent fallout from it all. Everything had seemed to happen at once, but Leah realized that maybe it needed to happen that way to get to where they were now. And she couldn’t be happier where they were now!

“So, about last night,” Leah started.

“It happened.” JC said.

“Yeah, and I’m ready to move on.” Leah said.

“Sounds like a plan.” JC replied. “Listen Leah,” he said, taking Leah’s hands into his. “It’s okay to be vulnerable.”

Leah sighed heavily. Not this again, she thought.

“Hey, it’s me.” JC said. “It’s okay. I’m here for, you.” It was JC’s turn to be there for Leah, the way that Leah had been there for him. “I believe in you, okay?”

Leah looked up at him and smiled knowingly. “Okay!” Maybe it was Leah’s turn to finally let JC in. It was then that she came to the realization that things didn’t have to be difficult. They could be easy, if chose for them to be, and today, she’d much rather for them to be easy. JC believed in her, and that was all that she needed. She knew that she’d be okay.

Later that night, Lucky was back at the apartment, preparing dinner for herself, and her boyfriend Jean-Paul. Like Leah and JC, Lucky and Jean-Paul had a long distance relationship as well. By Lucky being a stylist, and Jean-Paul being a French indie-film director (12 years her senior), their careers took them in different places. So since he was in town doing some casting for his latest project, they had decided to take advantage of the opportunity. Instead of going out, Lucky had decided to make a nice vegetarian lasagna for the two. With Leah out with JC, Lucky and Jean-Paul would have the apartment for themselves for the night.

Or so she thought…

Just as she had placed the lasagna in the oven she heard a knock at the door. Excited to see Jean-Paul, she hurriedly ripped off her apron, smoothed a few stray hairs down, and spritzed on some Chanel No. 5. “Coming JP!” She called giddily, prancing to the door. (Since when did she prance?)

Before opening the door Lucky took in a deep calm breath, and then let it out. Swinging the door open, Lucky’s heart sank in disappointment, and a confused look crossed her face. Huh? “J-jill?” She stuttered. Lucky found that Leah’s sister was standing in her doorway, with not one, not, two, but three suitcases in her hands. “Jillian James, what are you doing here?” Lucky demanded.

“Hi.” Jill said timidly.

Funny how in one swift second your perfect night could be thrown out the window, Lucky thought.

“So, tonight was amazing.” Leah said, a smile spreading across her face.

“It was.” JC agreed.

Leah grabbed JC’s hand stalling; they were in the back of an Escalade, with James, JC’s chauffeur in the front seat. They were outside of Leah’s apartment building, and she didn’t want to get out of the car. The past two days with JC had been so blissful, and she didn’t want to leave his side.

“So what are you doing later tonight?” JC asked.

Leah’s heart leapt a little full of hope, but of course she didn’t show it. God, why was she acting like such a teenager? “Nothing,” Leah replied, hoping she hadn’t sounded too anxious. “Why?”

“The guys and I are going out, and I thought maybe you and Lucky would like to come, it could be like old times.” JC suggested.

“That sounds fun.” Leah said, her insides jumping for joy. “I’ll mention it to Lucky. Text me later.” She said, before opening the car door. She gave him a quick peck on the lips before getting out.

Approaching the building, Leah was greeted by Joe, the doorman, who let her in. The whole elevator ride up to her apartment, Leah was on a natural high. What had gotten off to a rocky start had been the best two days of Leah’s life. She was so excited to finally move past all of the drama in her life and finally be happy. She couldn’t wait to tell Lucky everything!

When the doors opened on her floor, Leah got her keys out of her bag, and walked up to her door. Before she could get her keys into the lock good, the door swung open. “Lucky what’s wrong?” Leah asked, a little taken aback.

Lucky gestured toward the couch. Stepping into the apartment. Leah was shocked to see her sister sitting on her couch. “Jill?!” Leah exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

Jill looked up to see her younger sister. “Hi, Leah.” She said, her voice sounding distressed.  Leah sat down next to Jill on the couch.

“Why are you here?” Leah asked confused. She looked to Lucky who was waiting impatiently behind the couch. Lucky shrugged and gave her an, I don’t know what the hell is going on either! look.

Jill’s bottom lip began to quiver; she sucked in a tight breath and let out a hard sob. “Tristan broke up with me!” She cried, dissolving into tears. Her shoulders began to shake uncontrollably.

“Wait, what?” Leah asked. “I, I thought you guys were getting married.”

“He said,” she sobbed. “He said I wasn’t right for him. He said he loved me, b-but I wasn’t right!!!!” She laid her head on Leah’s shoulder, instantly wetting it up.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, you poor thing.” Leah said, gently patting Jill’s back. Leah didn’t want to be rude, but this was awkward, and the most random thing ever to say the least. All of a sudden, her sister’s here in her apartment in New York. A big blubbering mess.

“I just don’t know what to do!!!” She cried.

 Leah grabbed a tissue from her purse and placed it up to Jill’s nose. “Here, sweetie blow.”  Jill did as was instructed. “So the first thing you thought was to grab everything, and fly to New York?” Leah asked.

“I just wanted to be away from everything that reminded me of him.” Jill heaved. “I can stay here right.” She said. It was more of a statement than a question.

“Um…” Leah stalled, looking towards Lucky. Lucky’s eyes grew wide.

HOTEL!!! Lucky mouthed.

SHE’S MY SISTER!!! Leah mouthed back.

FINE!

“Sure.” Leah said.

“Oh Leah you’re such a lifesaver!” Jill wrapped her arms around her sister, and embraced her in a big hug. “I owe you!”

“Yeah, and me,” Lucky mumbled under her breath. Lucky’s date night had officially been ruined, she’d have to call Jean-Paul and tell him about their change of plans. Damn Jill, and her moment of crisis. As if on cue, the timer on the oven went off.

“Oh my God, I’m starving!” Jill exclaimed. “What’s for dinner?”

You’ve got to be kidding me, Lucky thought to herself. “Vegetarian lasagna,” she said through gritted teeth, trying her best to be a welcoming host, despite the fact, that Jill was being intrusive.

“It’ll do.” Jill said, getting up from her spot and making her way to the kitchen, teetering in a white Dolce and Gabbana dress, and six inch Louboutin heels.

“Okay, I had no idea, she’d be here.” Leah said, once Jill was out of earshot.

“Yeah me neither, and tonight was supposed to be my night with Jean-Paul!” Lucky exclaimed.

“Oh God, Lucky I’m so sorry.” Leah apologized. “I was not expecting this at all. You know what; she’s my sister and my responsibility, so I’ll take her out tonight, so you and Jean-Paul can have the apartment to yourselves.”

“Yeah only now, Jill’s digging into my lasagna.” Lucky said, pointing towards the kitchen.

Leah fished out a few twenties from her wallet and gave them to Lucky. “Sorry.” She said again. “How about dinner on me?”

“No it’s okay,” Lucky said. “Really. It’s not like you knew she was coming either.”

“Just give me a minute, I’m going to go put her things in my room, and talk her into going out with me tonight.” Leah said, eyeing the three designer suitcases. “Gosh, why’d she have to bring so much?”

“Now I see where you get it from!” Lucky quipped.

“Whatever!”

“So Jill, I have a proposal.” Leah said. The two were now sitting on Leah’s bed. Jill a little too comfortable, sitting cross legged underneath the comforter with a huge plate of soy lasagna. Those were new crisp white 300 thread count sheets, and Leah was so afraid of Jill spilling lasagna on them, that if she weren’t in such a fragile state, she’d absolutely freak out.

“Shoot.” Jill replied, in between bites of food. Jill was gorging down on the lasagna like Leah had never seen before.

“How about we go out tonight?” Leah suggested. “You know to sort of take your mind off of Tristan, a little,” she said, treading lightly around the subject.

“God, I’ve been dying to get out!” Jill exclaimed, her mood turning a complete 180. “It’s been forever since I’ve been in the city! This is going to be so much fun!” She clapped, leaping up from the bed. Leah quickly picked up the plate of half eaten lasagna, and left her room, closing the door behind her.

“Okay, so there’s definitely something freaky going on with my sister.” Leah declared, as she walked into the kitchen.

“No shit.” Lucky said.

“I mean, I know she just broke up with her fiancé’, and all, but something about her is a bit off.” Leah said.

“Hasn’t it always been?” Lucky asked.

Leah snorted. “Sorry about your lasagna,” she said, tossing the plate into the trash.

“Its okay, JP cancelled on me anyway.” Lucky replied.

“Oh, Lucky you’re kidding.” Leah said. Lucky shook her head.

“He had an emergency production meeting he had to attend to or some shit like that.” Lucky explained. “So I guess that means I coming out with you guys.”

“Great, the less awkward it’ll be for me.” Leah smiled.

“So where are you guys going anyway?” Lucky asked.

“Actually JC had invited us to come out with the guys tonight, he’s supposed to text me with the details.” Leah replied.

“Sounds fun minus Jill.” Lucky said honestly. One of her best and worst traits was her blunt honesty.

Suddenly, Leah heard the familiar sound of her phone ping, to alert her of a text message. Pulling her phone out of her jacket pocket, she read the text from JC.

“It says the guys are planning on going to Vino’s.” Leah said, reading the text.

“The pizzeria karaoke bar?” Lucky asked. Leah nodded. “Drinks and bad singing.” She mused.

Leah texted back and informed them that Leah and Lucky, and Jill, who had surprisingly showed up, would meet them there in an hour. 

“So, I can totally borrow one of your dresses, right?” When Leah got back to her room, she saw that Jill was already going through her closet despite the fact that Jill had three suitcases full of what Leah was sure was Chanel, Dior, Dolce and Gabanna, Roberto Cavalli, and the like.

“Actually, we’re going out to a really low key pizzeria and karaoke bar, so you don’t have to exactly dress up.” Leah said.

“Oooh karaoke sounds fun!” Jill squeaked. “Can I wear these?” Jill asked, picking out a pair of Armani jeans.”

“Sure.” Leah said, already exhausted. She had made a mental note to call her mother first thing in the morning.

“Yay, yay, yay! Night out on the town!” Jill cheered clapping her hands together, and spinning around in circles.

20 minutes later, the girls were dressed and everyone was ready to head out. “Ooh wait!” Jill said, before they left out the door. “I forgot something.”

“What now?” Lucky asked irritated.

“My happy pills!” Jill exclaimed.

“Your what?” Leah asked.

“My happy pills!” Jill repeated. “Dr. Roseman gave ‘em to me,” She elaborated, as if that explained things. Jill pulled out a prescription bottle from her purse, and twisted the cap off taking a little white pill out. She popped it into her mouth and then dry swallowed it.

“Jill what are you taking?” Leah asked, marching over to her sister. She snatched the bottle, from her sister, and read the label, and her eyes bulged when she read the strength of the medicine.

“Xanax!” Leah exclaimed. “Jill! How many of these did you take?” Leah demanded.

“Only one.” Jill said innocently enough. “One on the plane, and one just now.”  Which totally explained her wacky behavior. She really was taking this break up pretty hard. A little too hard.

“Oh shit.” Lucky said.

“That makes four.” She giggled, holding up four fingers.

“Hey Leah, maybe it’s not such a good idea to take her out tonight.” Lucky whispered.

“Shut up! Shut up! I’m a grown up, and I do as I damn well please!” Jill said in a high-pitched voice, marching out of the door ahead of them.

“Oh boy.” Leah sighed, feeling a headache coming on.

“Surprise, surprise!” Lucky said in sing-song vice, walking out of the door.

“Surprise, surprise.” Leah repeated, following suit.

“No Jill, stop, that’s not a statue, that’s a real person.” Leah said wearily, dragging her sister into Vino’s, the low-key pizzeria in Bensonhurst that was run by one of Joey’s cousins.

“But he’s too tall to be a real person!” Jill whined.

“No, stop don’t touch him!” Lucky said, slapping Jill’s hand

“Owww!!!” Jill cried. “That hurt!”

“Sorry.” Leah said, apologizing to the unsuspecting stranger. “She’s got issues.”

“Hey guys, sorry we’re late.” Leah said, approaching the table that JC, Justin, Joey, Chris, and Lance were waiting for them at. She and Lucky were both a little out of breath from dragging Jill from Manhattan to Brooklyn. They had had to hail multiple taxis, since Jill was too afraid to take the subway.

“It’s okay.” JC reassured them.

“Um, so JC, Justin you know my sister.” Leah said, nervously, watching Jill’s every move. “Joey, Lance, Chris, this is my older sister Jill.”

“Hi, how ya doin?” Joey stuck his hand out to shake Jill’s.

“I know you guys are.” Jill slurred. “I see you guys on the TV all the time.”

“I am so sorry.” Leah apologized in advance for everything that was going to come out of her sister’s mouth.

“Xanax.” Lucky explained.

“Oh.” Justin said.

“I personally like the Backstreet Boys better, but you guys are okay too. Wait Leah? Aren’t you dating one of these guys?” Jill whisper-screamed, not so discreetly.

“Jill.” Leah grimaced, her face turning bright red.

“Oh my God, you’re Joey Fatone right?” Jill asked, ignoring Leah. “You’re not as fat as you look on TV! Good on you!”

“Jill, shut your mouth!” Leah gasped.

“It’s okay.” Joey reassured her. “This one seems like fun.”

“Again, I am so sorry.” Leah said. JC rubbed the small of Leah’s back sympathetically.

“Maybe we should move to a booth now.” Lance suggested, trying to ease the tension.

“Good idea.” Leah said. “C’mon.”

As the group moved toward a booth, Jill sidled up to Chris and linked her arm with his.

“Hey mama!” Chris said excitedly.

“You’re cute!” Jill said.

“Well, you’re pretty hot yourself!” Chris replied, and the two started flirting.

“Keep her busy the whole night, and I owe you.” Leah whispered to Chris.

“No problem.” Chris winked.

“God Leah, whisper to your own man, and get away from mine!” Jill slurred.

“That’s right babe.” Chris said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen your sister this loose before.” Justin whispered, as they settled into the booth.

“Yeah, well me either.” Leah replied.

“So what happened between the time I dropped you off and now?” JC asked confused.

“She sprung a surprise visit on us.” Lucky said. “She just popped up.”

“Her fiancé’ broke things off, and so she popped a couple of Xanax to mend her broken heart.” Leah explained.

“Man.” JC said.

“So, how many is a couple?” Lance asked.

“Two.” Leah said.

“Two?!” JC, Justin, Lance, and Joey asked at the same time.

“’Fraid so.” Leah replied.

“Oh boy,” Lance said.

“Oh my God you guys isn’t he just so cute!” Jill squealed, squeezing Chris’s cheeks. “Isn’t he just like the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?! He’s just like a lil' leprechaun!”

Joey burst out laughing, and Justin nearly choked on his coke. Jill turned to Chris. “Let’s have Leprechaun sex!” Lance nearly choked on his drink as well. “Hey guys!” Jill screamed out into the restaurant “Chris Kirkpatrick and I are gonna have leprechaun sex!!!!” 

“This is gonna be good!” Lucky said, sitting back, and sipping on her tea.

An hour later, and one beer in her system, Leah began to loosen up a little. JC had convinced her that tonight could be fun. Jill was harmless, and nothing she said was taken seriously. As long as they kept her safe, she was alright. So Leah should just relax a little and have fun.

“Maybe a Xanax would do you some good!” Joey had joked. “Loosen up a little Leah; your sister’s really fun to be around.”

With that said, Leah began to see the lighter side of the situation. It’s not like Jill had overdosed, she was just a little loopy, and it’s not like she was drinking, she was just a little silly. Maybe tonight would be fun.

“Hey guys, let’s do karaoke.” Chris suggested.

“Yay! Karaoke!!!!” Jill clapped. “I love to sing. I can sing real good, c’mon Chris!” She said, pulling him by the hand, and leading him up to the stage.

“Okay now this will be good!” Leah laughed.

“Can she sing?” Joey asked.

“No!” Leah replied.

“Okay, okay, okay, okay guys!” Jill said into the microphone, looking out into the audience of people. “Okay. I chose to do this song, because I feel like my soul knew Chris’s soul in another lifetime, and we’re soul mates forever, okay guys?” Jill said, all childlike, in a nasally tone.

Leah couldn’t resist the urge to laugh, as the familiar tune of Reunited by Peaches and Herb blared over the speakers.

I was a fool to ever leave your side
Me minus you is such a lonely ride
That break-up we had has made me lonesome and sad
I realize I love you 'cuz I want you back, hey-hey

Chris sang, in his beautiful tenor voice. Then Jill began to sing:

I spent the evening with the radio
Regret the moment that I let you go
Our quarrel was such a way of learning so much
I know now that I love you 'cuz I need your touch, hey-hey

Well, more like wailed, very much off-key.

“Oh my God, she’s worse than Cameron Diaz in My Best Friend’s Wedding.” Justin said.

By the end of the song, Jill had pretty much taken over. “Okay Chris, get off, my turn!” She slurred. “Bye, Bye, Bye!” She giggled. “Get it guys! Get it?” The audience laughed, “I know I’m funny right? I know!”

“Okay, Leah,” Chris said, once back at the booth. “Your sister is awesome!”

An hour later, Jill was still on stage. She had rocked out to the likes of Heart, Blondie, and Aerosmith. She had the crowd drunk swaying to Bon Jovi, and Garth Brooks, and had aroused a lot of men singing I Touch Myself by the Divinlys. As bad of a singer as she was, she was sure as hell entertaining, and the crowd loved her. They kept egging her on to sing just one more song. “Okay guys, so this next song, is dedicated to my douche bag ex-fiancé, ‘cause ya know you just can’t make some people happy.” Jill said, before singing Sheryl Crow’s If it Makes You Happy.

“You know, maybe tonight isn’t so bad after all.” Leah said to JC, leaning back against him. “I mean look at her, how can you be mad at that?” She laughed, pointing at her sister twirling around on stage.

“She sure is a far cry from that snobby girl in Orlando.” JC said, recalling how Leah used to vent to him about all of the horrible things Jill would do to her.

“Yeah she is.” Leah said. Despite the Xanax induced behavior, Jill really had changed, and Leah came to the realization at how much things were all changing for the better in her life. “Her voice sure hasn’t changed though, that’s for sure.”

JC chuckled, and wrapped his arm around his girlfriend. This wasn’t exactly the night out that he had planned, but it certainly made for great stories years down the road.

“One more song!” Some random guy called out to Jill, once the song was over.

“Thanks guysssss!!!” She slurred.”But really, no, my time is up, ‘cause I have to pee really, really bad, ‘cause I drunk like a lot of Diet Coke, but it was only Diet Coke, I promise I swear….” She rambled, crossing her legs one over the other.

“She’s acting like Courtney Love.” Lucky stated.

“But before, I gooooo,” She continued. “I have juss one more surprise for you guysss 'kay? Alright, on the count of three.” Jill said, holding up three fingers.

“What is she doing?” JC asked.

“I don’t know.” Leah asked, she quickly got up from her seat, and made her way to the stage, sensing that something was about to happen.

“1, 5, 3!” Jill counted. Before Leah could get to her, Jill had managed to lift up her black halter top, and expose her braless breast to the crowed.

“Jill!” Leah panicked. “No!”

The audience whooped and hollered, and all Leah could think to do was pull Jill from the stage and throw her over her shoulder, and run out of the restaurant. All Leah could hear was the audience chanting “Jill! Jill! Jill! Jill! Jill!”

“Leah Danielle James, you put me down this instant!” Jill demanded.

Leah would’ve refused to put her down, except she was completely out of breath, so she had no choice. “Jill, you’re making an ass out of yourself.”

“You’re such a kill joy!” Jill yelled back. Her breath reeked of garlic.

“Okay, I laughed while you were flirting with Chris, and insulting my friends, and singing songs, but you flashing your boobs? What has gotten into you?” Leah asked.

“I jusss wanna have a lil’ fun!” Jill whined, furiously flapping her arms around.

“Jill this is not you.” Leah said. Jill stuck her tongue out at her.

“You’re popping Xanax now? I think you should see a doctor.” Leah said seriously. Lucky and the guys were now just a few feet away, watching the confrontation.

“No! You’re not having me put on lockdown in a sanatorium like Neely O’Hara!!!” Jill said, referencing Valley of the Dolls, and before Leah could stop her Jill took off running down the street.

“Jill stop!” Leah called, running after her

“GET AWAY FROM ME!!!” She yelled, running with the speed of a gazelle.

“Thanks guys.” Leah said. She was exhausted. After finally catching up to a barefooted Jill in Bensonhurst Park, Joey had managed to catch her, and bring her back to Leah and Lucky’s apartment, where she was now safe, and asleep, tucked in Leah’s bed.

“No problem.” Joey said.

“I’m gonna go check on her, make sure she doesn’t wake up and try and climb out of a window.” Lucky said, and with the way things were going tonight, that wasn’t a joke.

“Sorry guys.” Leah said, apologetically.

“You have nothing to be sorry about.” Justin said. “Your sister on the other hand, will probably be really embarrassed once she comes to, or won’t remember a thing.”

“Yeah,” Leah agreed with him on that.

“So Jace, we’re out.” He said.

“Alright, I’ll meet you guys at the hotel.” JC said, and with that, Justin, Lance, Chris, and Joey left the apartment.

“So, tonight was an adventure.” JC said, sitting down on the couch.

“It was kind of an adventure huh?” Leah replied, sitting down next to him.

“Yeah, the stuff, John Hughes would write about.” JC said. “Is she gonna be okay?” JC asked.

“I think so. This is kind of out of character for her. I don’t think she’ll do it again, but I’ll really get into her in the morning.”  Leah suddenly began to laugh.

“What?” JC asked.

“Jill’s singing.” She giggled.”It’s terrible!”

“The part where she called Chris a Leprechaun,” JC said. “Was probably the highlight of my night. I think that’s the most action he’s gotten in months.”

“You know what? This was the best night I’ve had in a long time, and I’m glad I’ve got to spend it with you.” Leah said.

“Well, it’s nice to see you happy,” JC said before kissing her. And Leah knew in that moment, that she couldn’t be happier.

“Mom,” Leah said into the phone. It was the very next morning, and the first thing she did as soon as she woke up was call her mother. “Did you know anything about Jill and Tristan breaking up?” Leah pressed, pacing across Lucky’s bedroom floor. Since Jill had slept in Leah’s room, Leah had slept with Lucky.

“Break up. No honey, they’re not broken up, they’ve just called off their engagement.” Gabrielle replied.

“Mom, did you know that Jill’s here? In my apartment.” Leah asked. Suddenly she got the feeling that Gabrielle was just as in the dark as Leah was.

“In New York!” Gabrielle exclaimed. “I thought she was in California.” Gabrielle said incredulously.

“She’s in my bedroom Mom.” Leah said. “She just sprung up on me and Lucky last night, all loopy on Xanax, crying saying that Tristan had broken up with her.”

“Xanax!” Gabrielle shrieked. “Broken up!”

“Yeah, Mom,” Leah nodded, as if, she could see her. “And that’s not even half of it.” Leah then quickly filled her mother in on Jill’s pizzeria antics in Brooklyn.

“You’re kidding.” Gabrielle sighed.

“I wish I were.” Leah replied.

“You Father will be very disappointed.” Leah winced, instantly feeling bad for Jill. She knew from years experience what it was like to the shame of the James family, and now it was Jill.

“Don’t worry Mom, I’m gonna get to the bottom of this, and I’m gonna have her checked out by a doctor as well.”

“Thank you.” Gabrielle said.

“No problem, Mom, I’ll talk to you later.” Leah said, signing off.

Hanging up the phone, Leah tossed it back on the bed, next to a sleeping Lucky. She left Lucky’s room, and headed down the hall for her own. Opening the door, she was surprised to see Jill already awake. “Hey.” Leah said.

“Man, that was a good night’s sleep.” Jill said groggily. “So what’s for breakfast?” She asked,

“Oh, well I was gonna grab some breakfast sandwiches from this truck that this guy Lenny runs,” Leah said.

“You expect me to eat from a truck?” Jill said.

“It’s actually really good, look there he is now,” Leah pointed out of her window, down to the food truck that Lenny Solis ran. “The best part of New York is that you don’t even have to cook if you don’t want to, you can just get what you need on the street.”

“Oy vey, I am not in the Hills anymore.” Jill said wearily.

“Welcome to the City sis!” Leah smiled. She was getting a kick out of her pampered Beverly Hills sister getting used to the ways of New York City. “So, about last night…” Leah said, not so swiftly changing subjects.

“What about it?” Jill asked nonchalantly.

“Oh, God, you don’t remember do you?” Leah asked. Jill shook her head, looking very confused.

“As far as I can remember I came here, and hopped in your bed.” Jill said innocently.

“That’s what you remember?”Leah asked. Jill nodded. “Well okay, this is what happened,” Leah said, recounting everything that had happened last night. The crying, the flirting, the singing, the flashing, and the running barefoot through Bensonhurst Park, screaming, “I’M NOT NEELY O’HARA I SWEAR!!!”

“Oh, God, I did that?” Jill asked in disbelief.

“Yeah, you did.” Leah said.

“That doesn’t even sound like me.” Jill said.

“Jill, what’s going on with you?” Leah asked.

“Well Tristan and I broke up.” Jill started.

“That much I know.” Leah said.

“His dad said that I’m not good enough to marry into their family.” Jill said.

“He what?” Leah asked, in disbelief. “Does the bastard know who I am?” Okay, usually Leah didn’t like to pull that card, but no one treats her sister like that.

“His father married into the Vanderbilt family, he doesn’t care if his son is dating the sister of a pop star!” Jill cried. “And he’s running for governor, so he’d prefer if his son married into another political family, you know so they can breed political babies, or some bullshit or something like that he said. I don’t know, I was too distraught o care!” Jill blubbered.

“And so, Tristan just broke up with you?” Leah asked. “Just because his father wanted him to?”

“Y-yes.” Jill sniffed. Leah could only imagine how broken Jill’s heart was. She and Tristan had been together for years. He was the one love of her life. This explained the Xanax, but still didn’t excuse it.

“That spineless fuck,” Leah muttered, holding her sister in her arms. “Jill I am so sorry.”

“I don’t know if I can get over this.” Jill cried.

“Of course you can.” Leah said. “You don’t need a guy like Tristan. He’s not good enough for you, and I wouldn’t want him for a brother-in-law anyway. Someday, you’re gonna meet a guy whose going to make you better, not make you cry.”  Leah said. “He’s going to bring out the best version of yourself; he’ll love you for you.”

“Kind of like the way JC loves you?” Jill asked.

“Yeah,” Leah smiled. “Like that.” She knew she was lucky to have JC. Guys like him didn’t come around often and she certainly did not take that for granted. “So listen, first things first in getting your life back on track.” Leah said. “I’m throwing your Xanax out before you become addicted, and you’re not getting anymore.”

“Okay.” Jill said.

“And get dressed.” Leah ordered, getting up from the bed. “Because I’m taking you to see a doctor.”

“Fine,” Jill sighed. “But can I at least have coffee first?” Jill asked.

“Sure.” Leah said, heading for the door.

“Are you gonna make any, or does that come from a vehicle too?”

“Very funny,” Leah said. “I’ll put on a pot.”

“Oh and Leah,” Jill said.

“Yes Jill?”

“Is it bad that I wish I can remember last night, because I sounded pretty damn awesome! Sounds like the most fun I’ve had in ages!”

“Oh, Jill,” Leah said, it seems as if the sisters were much more alike than Leah had thought.

“Well, I guess we can have more fun adventures together, once I move here.” Jill said.

“Wait, you’re moving here?” Leah asked, shocked.

“Unless of course you don’t want me to,” Jill said.

“No, of course I want you too; I’m just shocked that’s all.” Leah replied.

“Well, yeah now that Tristan and I are dunzo, there’s no reason for me to be in California anymore.” Jill said.

“So, who’d ever thought that my sister would make the move to New York?” Leah asked incredulously.

“I guess I’m just full of surprises, huh?” Jill said smiling.

“Surprise, surprise!” Leah sang, before leaving the room.

“You know what? I have this really pretty shade of red Dior lipstick that would look just great on you-“

“Jill!” Leah snapped. She was sitting in front of her vanity mirror, getting ready for a date with JC, and Jill was sprawled across her bed giving her unsolicited fashion and beauty advice.  “I like my lip gloss just fine thank you.” Leah had been applying pink Lipglass by MAC when she had just enough of her sister’s input. “If I need an opinion on my outfit, makeup, or hair, I will gladly ask for yours.” She said through gritted teeth.

“I was only trying to help.” Jill said, pouting.

It had only been three days, since Jill had unexpectedly dropped in on Leah and Lucky, and she was already overstaying her welcome.

“So, since I can’t give you my opinion, am I at least allowed to ask you where JC’s taking you tonight?” Jill asked.

“JC is taking me Demarchelier for dinner.” Leah replied, smoothing down her freshly blown out hair, and giving it a once over.

“Ohh, fancy! I remember, for our three year anniversary Tristan surprised me with a trip to the City, and got us reservations there.” Jill said sadly.

Sensing another oncoming meltdown, Leah decided to change subjects. There’s no telling how many Ibuprofens Lucky and Leah had had to down, from all of the crying spells that they’d had to endure over the past seventy-two hours. Literally anything had reminded Jill of Tristan, and Jill had cried more than a newborn baby, and Leah and Lucky had gotten less sleep than any new mother.  “So, I know it’s only been three days, but have you thought about work yet at all?” Leah asked. The sooner Jill got back on her feet the better.

“Oh God no,” Jill said, much to Leah’s dismay.

Dammit, Leah thought to herself.

“I’ve been so down lately that work hasn’t even crossed my mind.”

“Well, there are plenty of good firms here.” Leah replied. “With your education, and resume, I’m sure you’ll be able to find something in no time.” Leah said, assuring her sister, but also dropping subtle hints. It’s not that she didn’t love her sister; she definitely did, and she was glad that her sister wanted them to be close but they could do that from separate apartments right?  She understood that Jill was heartbroken, and that she and Jill were trying to work on their relationship, but one thing had remained the same over the last twenty plus years; That Jillian James was an absolute spoiled brat! Jill had taken over Leah and Lucky’s apartment, eaten their food without replacing it, and expected them to do damn near everything for her. It was time for her to move on.

“So, are you sure you still want to go out tonight?” Jill asked.

“Jill.” Leah sighed, warning her. No, she would not let her sister take her on another guilt trip. She had already cancelled one date with JC to stay home with Jill and watch The Way We Were. Twice! And the whole time Jill cried about how she thought that Tristan was her Hubbell Gardiner. Jill had officially ruined that movie for her, and she couldn’t even listen to the song anymore.

“Okay, fine!” Jill relented. “I’ll just stay here. By myself. With nothing to do.”

She was trying to pull a guilt trip, and Leah wasn’t biting. “You won’t be by yourself, Lucky will be home from work soon.”

“C’mon, you and I both know that Lucky hates me.” Jill said.

True. It had taken everything in Lucky’s power not to strangle her. She had never liked Jill, for how she used to treat Leah, and she wasn’t about to start now. “Well, how about going out?” Leah suggested. “It’s New York, there’s always something to do.” She pointed out.

“But then I’d have to get dressed.” Jill whined. Leah looked at her sister. She’d been in baggy sweatpants and t-shirts for three days, and her hair tied back into a ponytail. Forget about makeup. She’d never seen her high maintenance sister look so- low maintenance. 

“Well, wouldn’t it be worth the effort?” Leah urged.

“But I don’t know anyone.” Jill said.

“Well you can meet people.” Leah replied, putting on her Juicy Couture diamond hoop earrings. “Maybe even a guy. How about you go down the street to Delia’s and just simply pick up a cup of coffee. There are always lots of cute guys there.”

“Um unlike you Leah, coffee shop singer/songwriter, guitar strumming artsy guys aren’t my type. I’m more into guys of high society.” Jill quipped.

Okay, there’s my sister! Leah thought. She may be down, but she still hadn’t lost her sassiness. “Well, I tried.” Leah said. “But, now I have to finish getting ready.” Leah got up and walked over to her closet. She traded in her camisole and jeans for a white, skin tight, spaghetti strapped Diane von Furstenberg dress that stopped at her knee. She slid on a pair of knee-high, stiletto caramel suede Guess boots, and her toffee leather Burberry jacket.

“So, how do I look?” Leah asked.

“Like you have a life, and a boyfriend that loves you and I don’t.” Jill said, gloomily.

“Oh-kay, not the response I was going for, but thanks, I guess.” Leah said slowly. Her sister really needed to get a grip. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. “That’s JC, I have to go.” Leah said, grabbing her black Armani tote from her dresser. “Lucky will be home shortly, and remember she has a very short fuse, so whatever you do, try not to make her angry.” Leah reminded her, before heading out the door.           

“Gotcha!” Jill called, but Leah wasn’t quite sure that she had. Upon opening the living room door, Leah’s eyes rested on her devastatingly handsome boyfriend. Before she could say anything he wrapped an arm around her waist, bringing her close to him, and placed a kiss onto her lips. Just what she needed.

 “Hi,” She said breathlessly.

“I needed that today.” JC said.

“Me too,” Leah said. “C’mon, let’s get out of here, before we get roped into watching The Way we Were. I cannot take that movie again!” Leah grabbed JC by the hand, and shut the door behind her.

*********************** 

“Twice?” JC asked, laughing.

“Yeah, and on top of that, I’ve gotten next to no sleep between Jill’s crying, and Lucky’s snoring.” Leah said. The two were now, at Demarchelier, an upscale French restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. With crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and classic art pieces hanging from the walls, the restaurant offered a peaceful and serene setting; A nice change of pace from Leah’s chaotic apartment. “So, enough about me, how have you been?” Leah asked.

“Better, now that I’m with you.” He smiled.

Leah couldn’t help but to smile back. It was nice, being out with her boyfriend. Especially since their first two dates gotten cancelled. The first due to the tabloid frenzy, and the second due to Jill’s unexpected arrival, and subsequent breakdown. So, it was nice to be out on a proper date, just her and her man.

“So, I have an idea.” JC proposed.

“Yeah?” Leah replied, taking a sip of wine.

“I was thinking that we should get away. Just the two of us.” JC said. “I was thinking that maybe, we should just take a break, and get away from the world.” He explained. “You know us, the beach, no paparazzi, and a place where we can lead a nice and quiet existence, well for a while anyway.” He went on.

“Jace, you had me at just the two of us.” Leah stopped him. “So where is this magical place that you speak of?” She asked.

“Orlando.” JC replied.

Orlando. Leah always looked forward to going back to Orlando. Orlando was home. It was where her life started; Where she met JC, where she met Lucky and all of her other friends, and made the most memories. Not a single bad memory was attached to Orlando. She thought of the beach, and the ocean, and of course the people. She loved New York, but its inhabitants weren’t exactly known to be the nicest people. A slower pace, warmer weather, and a whole lot more privacy sounded like the perfect getaway. “I’m in.” She finally said.

JC looked over at his girlfriend and smiled. He couldn’t wait to spend a few uninterrupted weeks with her. Things were better between them now than they had ever been, and knew that they would only get better.

“There’s just one thing.” Leah spoke up.”Can it wait a few days? Just until I can get Jill moved out; I can’t leave her alone with Lucky, or Lucky just might kill her.”

“Yeah, that’s probably for the best.” JC replied, knowingly.

 *********************************

Later that night, Lucky was just turning the key in the lock to the apartment door. She couldn’t wait to get on the other side, and wallow in her misery. Saying that today was a disaster was an absolute understatement. First, she had to style some insufferable high fashion model, for a Chanel press event. Anabela Francois had been impossible to style, and she was always referring to herself in the third person. It was “Anabela don’t want this”, or “Anabela don’t want that!” Everything was either “Too Beige” or “Too opaque.” Or some other bullshit that she kept coming up with just to piss Lucky off. If her career weren’t on the line, Lucky would tell her where the hell she could go, and where she could shove those dresses.

And then there was some new bitch named Rachel Zoe, who had totally stolen her client! She was supposed to style Jennifer Garner for the Oscars! She had been looking forward to it for months now, and now some new chick from YM magazine, had just snatched a client from right under her nose! Did she work for a firm? Did she even have an office at least! Ugh! Lucky was so over this day, all she wanted to do was curl up on the couch with a bag of kale chips and glass of wine and watch re-runs of The Twilight Zone.

Only she couldn’t, because when she opened the door, she saw that Jill was there. Watching The Way we Were. Again. Oh joy! Lucky thought. This is exactly how I wanted to spend my evening. Oh yeah, she was definitely going to need that wine now. Maybe even the whole damn bottle. “Where’s Leah?” Lucky asked, placing her jacket on the coat rack, and tossing her bag and briefcase in the closet.

“Out with JC.” Jill replied.

Lucky rolled her eyes. Leah knew better than to leave her alone with Jill. “Great,” she muttered under her breath. Deciding to avoid confrontation, Lucky wandered off into the kitchen. At least she still had her kale chips to look forward to. Or not…

Lucky checked everything from the pantry to the cabinets to the bread box. They had to be somewhere in here. After searching the entire kitchen for her chips to no avail, she knew that there was only one explanation, because Leah sure as hell didn’t eat kale chips.

“Hey Jill, have you seen my kale chips?” Lucky asked as calmly as possible, walking back into the living room.

“Oh, those were yours?” Jill asked hesitantly. She was looking everywhere but at Lucky. “I, sort of um ate them.”

Lucky looked at her wide-eyed. This was the fifth time in three days that she had taken something of hers without replacing it. “Jill, I’ve asked you repeatedly, if you take something that’s mine, then replace it. Is that so hard?” She found it hard to believe that a Stanford educated girl couldn’t comprehend the simplest of things. Either that or she was just an inconsiderate Bitch.

“Listen, I’m just really going through a hard time right now.” Jill said.

Oh, not this shit again. Lucky thought. If she had to hear that stupid excuse one more time, she would have to heavily sedate herself. If everyone acted the way that Jill did just because they got dumped by some guy, then the world wouldn’t even be functioning. “Yeah, I don’t actually like you enough to care.” Is what Lucky wanted to say, but she opted not to. Instead, she trudged back into the kitchen for wine, and to search for what she considered to be comfort food. Maybe some dried pears. Lucky opened the sub-zero refrigerator, and reached to the very back of the top shelf, pulling out a cold bottle of Pinot Grigio. The white wine would have been the one highlight of her night, had the bottle not been nearly empty.

What the hell? Lucky thought. She had just bought the bottle two days ago. There wasn’t even enough wine in the bottle to leave a buzz, let alone fill a glass. “Jill!!!!” Lucky screamed. By now, she was livid! Lucky stomped down the hallway, and back into the living room, the bottle in her hand. “Did you drink my wine too?”

“Okay, I thought that was Leah’s.” Jill responded nonchalantly. Her nonchalance was pissing Lucky off even more.

Lucky positioned herself in front of the television, and turned it off.

“Hey, I was watching that!” Jill cried.

“I’m talking to you.” Lucky said. “Listen, if you’re gonna stay under this roof, we’re going to have to establish some boundaries.” She said firmly. “This isn’t Beverly Hills, and you don’t have maids at your beck and call anymore. I’m not going to clean up your shit, and you can’t just eat and drink my food without replacing it.” It was time that Lucky put her foot down.

Jill blinked rapidly. Should she speak? She was afraid to even make a sudden movement for fear that Lucky would kick her ass. So what if she ate a bag of chips, or didn’t do laundry? It wasn’t that big of a deal. Was it?

“I’m just telling you, what Leah’s too nice to tell you. And turn on the lights in here; we don’t live in a fucking cage.” Lucky said, walking over to the wall, and flipping a switch. She sure wish that she hadn’t, because if she hadn’t then she wouldn’t have seen her empty pint of vanilla bean coconut milk ice cream, her empty bag of raisins, and her half eaten jar of almond butter. Had she left the lights off, she also wouldn’t have noticed that Jill was wearing her PJ Harvey sweatshirt, and had gotten a stain on it.  

“Is that my shirt?” Lucky squeaked, her free hand clenched into a tight fist, and the other wrapped tightly around the nearly empty bottle of Pinot Grigio.

“Um…” Jill stalled.

Fight or flight, fight or flight. Lucky went over her options in her head. Fight or flight… Oh fuck it, this Bitch is dying tonight!

******************** 

“Tonight was amazing.” Leah said, walking hand in hand with JC, up to her apartment door. After dinner JC had surprised her with a horse and carriage ride through Central park, something that she had never done before. It was almost enough to make her forget that Jill was staying with her. Almost.

“Um, Are you sure, you wanna go in there?” JC asked, upon hearing the sounds emanating from behind the door. First a knock, then a thud, then a slam, then a scream, followed by a bang.

“Oh shit.” Leah sighed. She knew that whatever was happening on the on the side of that door could not be good. “Help me?” She asked.

“Oh, no,” JC said, raising his hands, as if to surrender. “You’re not pulling me into this.” JC knew Lucky, and he knew Jill, and he knew that it was only a matter of time before their personalities clashed. It was like fire and fire. “You’re not pulling me into this.”

“Josh, if you love me, then you’ll go in here with me.” Leah said.

JC stood his ground. Chick fights were not his specialty.

“Jace, please!” Leah pleaded. There was no way she could handle those two by herself.

“Fine,” JC relented.

“Thank you.” Leah replied, before unlocking the apartment door, dreading the oncoming confrontation. Once Leah opened the door, the world of chaos unfolded before her eyes. Pictures from the mantle had been knocked over, and the floor had been littered with what looked to be an ice cream container, a jar of almond butter, and various amounts of empty food packages. And behind the couch were the culprits; Lucky had Jill in a headlock and Jill had a fistful of Lucky’s hair.

“Oh my God!” Leah exclaimed. Although it seemed almost inevitable that her sister and best friend would clash, she was hoping and praying that it wouldn’t lead to this. And not so soon! Leah and JC rushed over to the dueling duo. Leah grabbed a hold of Jill, and JC, Lucky, trying to pull the two apart.

“Lucky, Honey, let go of her head.” JC instructed. He had Lucky by the hips, trying to pull her away, without Jill head being ripped off in the process. “Lucky Amelia St. James, let go of Jill’s head now!”

“Bite me!” Lucky snapped. Nothing pissed her off more than the use of her full name.

“Jill, Jill, let go of her hair!” Leah demanded, trying to unclench her sister’s fist.

“Fat chance in hell!” Jill screamed.

JC and Leah gave one last pull before finally breaking the two apart. All four of them were out of breath. Lucky tried to go for Jill again, but JC had to hold her back.

“Cut it out you two!” Leah demanded. “What is going on here?” She asked, exasperated.

“She attacked me!” Jill said accusingly.

“Lucky!” Leah gasped.

“She’s taking over my life!” Lucky cried as JC dragged her away. He figured it was best to remove her from the situation. “She’s taking over my taking over my liiiiifffeeee!”

******************

“So, another night of chaos it looks like.” Leah said, walking JC to the door. After Lucky and Jill had calmed down, the cops had showed up, courtesy of Mrs. Atherton, their seventy-something next door neighbor. Leah had to convince two burly, and very unfriendly female cops, that she and JC were not involved in a domestic disturbance, and that it was all a huge misunderstanding. They almost didn’t believe her. They told her to blink once for yes, and twice for no. It was terrible. “I am so sorry.”

‘It’s not your fault.” JC replied.

“Well, on behalf of my sister, and my best friend, I’m sorry. It seems like every night since Jill’s been here, it’s something new. I’m trying my best to be accommodating, but it’s so frustrating. ”

“Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’re being a good sister.” JC said.

“Yeah?”

“Totally. Just keep your head up, Babe, everything will work itself out. I promise.” JC replied, stroking her cheek.

“Thanks for everything.” Leah smiled. She was determined to not let Lucky and Jill’s little mishap ruin the night that she had with JC.

“No problem,” JC said before kissing her.

“Call me when you get in.” She said, before closing the door behind her. Leah took in a deep breath and let out a long and hard sigh. Before the night was over she had to talk to Lucky. She tried to talk to Jill, but she had dissolved into a fit of tears, so she made it impossible to verbalize anything.

“Knock, knock.” Leah said, once she finally got to Lucky’s room, cracking the door ever so slightly.

“Hey.” Lucky said. She was dressed in a black camisole and black boy shorts. Her jet black hair was piled high on top of her head into bun, a big change from the mess that it was about an hour ago, after Jill had tried to pull it out. Honestly, Leah was surprised that Lucky wasn’t bald. She was also surprised that Jill still had her head.

Leah made her way into Lucky’s room, and sat next to her on her bed. Lucky was sitting cross legged, reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu. “I’m really sorry Lucky about Jill.”

“It’s not your fault that she is the way she is.” Lucky replied. She couldn’t be mad at Leah. It wasn’t Leah’s fault, and she felt bad for fighting her best friend’s sister, but she couldn’t take it anymore. “But, something has to be done about her.”

“I know.” Leah huffed, leaning back against the headboard. “I know, I just don’t know what. I don’t know how to help her. She’s frustrating me just as much as she’s frustrating you, but she’s my sister, and I feel responsible for her.” Leah felt helpless. She was felt stuck between a rock and a hard place, and she didn’t know what to do. Jill’s emotional outbursts were wearing both Leah and Lucky thin.

“First off, she’s an adult, so she’s responsible for herself, and second, maybe New York isn’t the place for such a fragile being.” Lucky said.

“Maybe you’re right.” Leah said, coming to a possible solution in her head. “Lucky, you actually sounded like you cared.”

“I do.” Lucky replied. “About you.” She placed an arm around Leah’s shoulder. “You’re finally at a place in your life where you’re happy, and I’m not about to let anyone fuck that up. Not even your batty sister.”

Leah laughed a little. She was happy to have Lucky, no matter how eccentric, temperamental, or misunderstood she maybe. Despite tonight’s brawl, she didn’t know if she could survive Hurricane Jill alone. She was fortunate to have a best friend to whether the storm with. “So, is there any chance at all we could trade sisters?” Leah joked. Lucky had a five year old sister named Elliott, who threw less temper tantrums than Jill. Right now, Leah would much rather take care of a five year old than a twenty-five year old.

“Ha! Not on your life!” Lucky replied.

“Oh, well I tried!” Leah said, laughing a little.

“Hey, where are you going?” Lucky asked when Leah got up from the bed.

“I’m going to go talk to Jill.” Leah replied. “I think I may have finally found a way to help her.”

“Well, if it involves her moving out then don’t let me stop you.” Lucky said only half jokingly.

“I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll do my best.” Leah replied, before leaving Lucky’s room, and shutting the door behind her. On the way to her own room, Leah thought things through, and she knew what she must do. She genuinely did love her sister, and knew it was for the best. JC was right; everything would work itself out.  She had a really good feeling about this.

“It’s really great to have you back Leah!” Karen, JC’s mom exclaimed. Leah and JC were back in Orlando, at his parent’s house, eating dinner.

“Well, it’s great to be back Karen.” Leah replied, taking a sip of wine. The great thing about your boyfriend being your best friend was that there was no awkward ‘meeting of the parents’ scenario. Growing up, Leah had spent enough time in this house that she had practically become family. Enough time that JC’s parents insisted long ago that she call them Roy and Karen.

“I tell you, it’s really good to see you two together again.” Roy said, sitting at the head of the table. Leah smiled, and JC placed a hand on her thigh under the table. Roy was pleased to see his son happy with the girl he always thought was right for him.

“Thanks, Dad.” JC replied, taking a bite of his crab cake. Right before his and Leah’s flight took off, JC had called his parents- who split their time between their hometown of Bowie, Maryland and Orlando- to let them know that they were planning on spending a week in Orlando. Always excited when any of her children came back home, Karen had invited JC and Leah over for dinner their first night in town, and she had spent all day preparing a huge seafood meal fit for a king. “So Ty, how’s school?” JC asked his brother Tyler, who was in his sophomore year of college.

“Great, In fact, I made the Dean’s List last semester, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be making it again at the end of spring semester.” Tyler said, wiggling his eyebrows in his father’s direction.

“That’s great Ty!” JC exclaimed, proud of his little brother.

“Oh, boy,” Roy groaned, jokingly.

“Wait, what’s that supposed to mean?” JC asked.

“It means that I made a deal with Dad that if I made the Dean’s list for the third time in a row, then I get a new car.” Tyler smirked. “Time to break out your wallet, Dad.”

“Yeah Dad, I’m sure Ty just hates picking up Lindsay in JC’s hand-me-downs.” Heather spoke up.

“Oh so you have a girlfriend?” Leah asked. “Go Ty!” Leah remembers when Tyler was just a ten year old wanting to be just like JC, and now he was a young adult with a life of his own. And a girlfriend! Cue the Awww moment.

“And Heather, how’s work going?” JC asked. Heather was finishing up her first year as a teacher at a high school in Maryland.

“Well, I’m glad the year’s almost over.” She answered honestly. “Those kids are bad as fuc-“

“Heather!” Karen interrupted.

“Sorry. Anyway, I hope the school board moves me to another school next year.” Heather said.

Leah laughed at her honesty. Being back at the Chasez home was like being back with family, and she was having a great time. Leah sat back, and enjoyed the verbal banter going on between JC and his family. This week would be all about relaxation. Now that Jill was back in Louisville, and out of Leah and Lucky’s hair, Leah officially had no worries. All she wanted to do have a good time with her boyfriend. This was going to be a good week.

************************** 

A while later, JC and Leah were down in the basement, a place where many of their teenage memories had been made. It hadn’t changed much since they had been young, aside from the brand new furniture, and seventy inch TV screen.

“Okay, it’s been forever ago since I’ve been down here,” Leah said. “And it hasn’t changed a bit.”

“Man we’ve had some good times down here.” JC stated. He sat down on the couch, and Leah followed suit. “So, ready to relive some terrible haircuts and horrendous fashion choices?” JC asked, picking up an old scrapbook that was on the coffee table in front of them.

“Ugh, I don’t think I’m drunk enough for that!” Leah groaned, as JC opened up the book.

“Hey remember this?” He asked. The picture was of Leah and JC outside, the sun had set, and JC had his arm draped over Leah’s shoulder, and they had these huge cheesy grins on their faces.

“Oh my God,” Leah marveled, looking at the picture. “That’s on the night we first met.” JC and Leah had been at a cast party held at MGM Studios. That was a day she would never forget. That had been like the first day of the rest of her life. “What was up with your hair?” Leah teased.

“My hair? What was up with those overalls?” In the picture, Leah had on a pair of denim overall shorts with a red T-shirt underneath, and a pair of Converse.

“Oh don’t knock the overalls!” Leah laughed. “I specifically remember you and the guys going through an overall phase that lasted about a good two years! And besides, you were totally checking my ass out in those shorts!”

“I was not checking your ass out!” JC replied. Leah glared at him. “Okay, fine. I was checking your ass out.” He admitted. “But that's only because you have such a great ass.” JC said, before planting a soft kiss on Leah’s lips.

“Nice save, Chasez.” She whispered, playfully, before turning the page. “Oh no! Can we just refer to this period as The Dark Ages?” The next picture was of JC and Leah at the Chasez annual Fourth of July cook out back in ’92.

“What? I thought you looked cute in your glasses.” JC replied.

Leah wrinkled her nose. Since getting contacts, she barely wore her glasses outside the confines of her home. “Ugh, you really think so?”

“Yeah, it brought out your eyes.” He replied.

Leah blushed a little. Oh God, she was in his basement, blushing! Was she sixteen again? She sure felt like it and she didn’t mind. “Okay, now I can’t even defend this!” Leah laughed, after JC had turned the page. There was a picture of him and Tony Lucca. JC in a pair of orange and black striped parachute pants, a white t-shirt, and green blazer. Tony was in almost the same except his pants were black, and his blazer was purple.

JC burst out laughing. “I just… I uh- Hey, I don’t even know!”

“You look like a cross between Zack Morris and MC Hammer!” Leah laughed.

“Yeah, maybe we should call this period this period The Dark Ages!” JC said.

“But we did have some good times.” Leah replied.

“Some great times,” JC smiled. Just as he was about to flip the page again, something had fallen out of the back of the book. JC picked up what looked to be an old photo strip, and turned it over. “Wow,” JC marveled at the series of photos of him and Leah at seventeen years old.

“Oh my God, I remember that!” Leah exclaimed. “It was that day we went to Disney World; I think that was our last time going together too.” Leah could remember like it was just yesterday; she and JC had spent the whole day together riding rides and having a blast.

“That was the night I kissed you.” JC said.

“Yeah.” Leah smiled, thinking back to how freaked out she was.

“I thought you’d be so mad at me.” JC let out a small laugh, thinking back to how silly he’d been.

“And I thought my world was gonna end when you told me that you only liked me as a friend.” Leah admitted.

“Really?” JC asked. He remembered thinking that Leah would never be into him.

“Totally! We were such dramatic little teenagers!” Leah sighed.

“You’re telling me? I was so afraid to make the first move.” JC said.

“No shit! I had to make the first move!” Leah replied.

“Yeah, and when you did, it was… Wow!” JC exclaimed, thinking back to the night when they made love for the very first time.

“Remember how we’d been so afraid of change?” Leah asked JC.

“Yeah, and we made promises about how we would always stick by each other’s side.” JC replied.

“So far it looks like all of those promises are kept.” Leah said. She thought back to the time when they were seventeen and promised that they wouldn’t forget each other when they went on to achieve their dreams.

“And now things are even better.” JC said, reaching for Leah’s hand and interlocking his finger with hers. He brought her hand up to his lips, and kissed it.

Leah could feel those butterflies in the pit of her stomach, and the blush slowly creeping up her face like it had many times when she was a teenager in JC’s presence. She hadn’t felt this good in forever, and she really didn’t mind.

“Hey, you ready to get out here?” JC asked, breaking Leah from her train of thought.

“Yeah,” she simply replied, ready for some much needed alone time.

******************** 

“So, we’re finally alone.” Leah said to JC in between kisses. The two were back at JC’s house, upstairs in his bedroom.

“Exactly what I’ve been waiting for,” JC said, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her close.

“You know what would be great babe?” Leah asked, shivering, as JC traced kisses along her neck and down to her collarbone.

“What’s that?” he asked, mindlessly.

“If you could get that bottle of Merlot out of the fridge,” Leah suggested.

“What?” JC looked up at her. “Now?”

“Yeah, it’ll be good, don’t you think?” Leah asked.

“Really, now?” Leah nodded. When she didn’t budge, JC figured the quicker he did as he was told, the better. “Fine,” he sighed, starting towards the door.

“Thank you.” Leah said sweetly. She felt a little guilty, but knew that in the end it would be worth his while. As soon as she heard JC’s footsteps start down the stairs, she immediately started to undress. She knew it wouldn’t take much time for JC to get a bottle of wine and two glasses, so she would try her best to stall. “Hey Babe!” She called.

“Yeah?” JC called back.

“I think I left my phone downstairs, can you see if you see it anywhere?” By now Leah was hopping out of her jean shorts.

“You don’t need it tonight do you?” JC asked from the bottom of the stairs.

He was so confused, and she knew it. “I know but, I’ll probably forget about it in the morning and lose it. Can you just look around a bit?” Leah had tip toed quickly across the hardwood floor, so that he wouldn’t hear her.

“Wait what? Alright, fine. I’ll be up soon.” JC sighed.

He sounded defeated. Poor baby. Once Leah was out of her jeans and tank top that she had worn earlier, she had dashed back across the other side of the room, and into JC’s spacious bathroom. Damn, why does his room have to be so big? She thought.

A few minutes later, a very frustrated JC was making his way back up the bedroom, Merlot and wine glasses in hand. “Leah, I didn’t see your phone anywhere downstai-“ He stopped midsentence when he saw that the lights had been dimmed and candles had been lit. “What did you do?” JC asked. Not that he was complaining. He most certainly was not complaining, but wow that was fast!

“You. Sit.” Leah demanded.

JC laid his eyes on Leah, who he noticed was wearing a change of clothes; she wore nothing but his red Valentino dress shirt that came down to her knees, a black oversized belt, and black fishnet stockings. Her hair was clipped up into a bun and she had on that vanilla body mist that he loved. JC swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. His mouth went dry, his dick got hard, and his mind drew blanks.

Leah rolled her eyes playfully. “Gosh, do I have to do everything? Sit!” She repeated, taking JC by the hand, and leading him to the front edge of the bed. She took the wine and glasses from his hand, and placed them on a nightstand nearby. Without saying a word, Leah walked over to the chair that she had placed in the middle of the room, and turned on the stereo with the remote she had in her hand. Baby-Baby-Baby by TLC blasted over the speakers, and Leah began a chair routine which she had choreographed, and had been working on for the past week.

As the music started, Leah pulled the hair clip from her hair, tossed it across the room, and let her long flowing hair fall down into soft curls around her face, before straddling the backward facing chair and beginning the routine. Leah winked at JC before, swinging her head around and whipping her hair, then wrapping her legs around the chair.

The look on JC’s face was priceless, as he watched Leah dance, and sensually caress the chair.

Do you want my love, well, that's alright
Well, it will be there for you morning, noon and night
But you gotta be good and do it right
Ain't got no time for part-time lovin' in my life

As the first verse started, Leah swung one of her legs to one side of the chair to meet the other and rolled all the way back across the chair. In one fluid motion, Leah rolled back up, and stood on top of the chair and, very slowly, very sensually began to caress her body. She removed her belt, and tossed it far across the room. Coming down from the chair, Leah abruptly turned it around, and strutted to the front of the chair.

Well you wanna be loved (uh) 
Hey that's O.K. 
Cause it falls in line right with my sexuality…

Leah dipped down low in a squatting position, and spread her legs before quickly closing them again.

JC bit down hard on his bottom lip, while clenching the bed spread.

Oh baby, baby, baby 
I got so much love in me 
Ooh (baby, baby,) baby, baby, baby 
Cause if you're gonna get me off 
You got to love me deep…

Sitting back on the chair, Leah began to take off her stockings one by one, and threw them at JC.

Well you want my heart (uh) 
And all my time 
Well it won't be there if you can't deal with my mind 
Cause a girl like me (uh) 
Won't stand for less 
I require plenty conversation with my sex 

As the song went on, Leah performed her Burlesque routine, showcasing her flexibility and sexuality, both of which turned JC on.

I can have any man that I want to 
Time and place that I choose to 
But I think you know that I'd rather be here with you 

Yeah 
That's actual and factual 
You're the one I seem to run back to 
Just to get me off 
You got to love me, got to love me, got to love me 

Leah started to unbutton her, well his, shirt to reveal a lacy black La Perla bra, showcasing her perky c-cup breasts. When she saw that JC was getting even more excited she stopped halfway through, and began to dance again. The man was sweating. Tired of teasing, he wanted to get his hands on every inch of her glorious body, and to kiss her every curve.

By the time the chorus came back around, Leah finished unbuttoning the shirt, and took it off completely, now in nothing but the bra, and matching thong. As the song ended, Leah confidently strutted toward her man. She straddled his lap, and locked eyes with him. “I thought I’d give you the honors of taking off the rest.” She whispered very sensually and huskily into his ear.

JC looked up at Leah, her green eyes piercing into his. So much lust, and want filled her eyes, but more than that, such boldness. She was filled with a fierceness that he had never seen before. She was so bold, and confident, and sure of herself, and JC found that so sexy.

Bringing her fingers up to the back of his hair, Leah pulled JC in for a passionate kiss, her tongue massaging his, and her legs wrapped tightly around his torso. She tipped him backward, and JC rolled back onto the bed, taking Leah with him.

And that night, Leah and JC had made the most intense, mind blowing and earth shattering love to each other. After they had both reached their climax, they spent the night in each other’s embrace neither one of them willing nor wanting to move or be apart from each other. That night had been paradise, and all they needed was each other to feel complete.

April 2002

“I don’t know Babe, I’d just feel a whole lot better if you were here with me.” JC said through the phone.

“I know, I know.” Leah sighed, looking out of the window and down below at the remnants of what the city used to be. “I’ll tell you what; I’ll talk to Lucky, and call you back later. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.” JC replied. “Love you.”

“Love you too. Bye.” Leah hung up the phone and leaned back against the wall deep in thought. She was positioned on the seat underneath the bay window, rethinking some life decisions. It was eight months post- 9/11 and she, along with everyone in the entire country was still pretty shaken up. Everyone in Leah and Lucky’s lives had been trying to convince them to move out of the City, for fear of another attack, and they had been mulling it over the past couple of months.

Leah’s parents had wanted her back in Kentucky with them, and Lucky’s parents had wanted her in Florida. JC wanted her to move into his house in LA, and Jean-Paul wanted Lucky to move to Paris, which she had already ruled out as an option. While California, Kentucky, and Florida weren’t completely out of the question for either of them, neither of them had been willing to fly; Leah had gone on an extended hiatus, and Lucky had kept all of her work in the City. With the singer Aaliyah dying in a plane crash, and then the attacks happening just a few short weeks later, they were pretty much done with flying altogether.

“Hey.” Leah looked to the door, to see Lucky coming in with a suitcase in hand from a photo shoot.

“Oh, hi.” Leah replied.

“You’ve been thinking.” Lucky said intuitively. She placed her suitcase by the closet, and joined Leah on the seat underneath the window.

“Yeah, I just got off the phone with JC.”

“And?” Lucky asked.

“He really wants me to be with him.” Leah replied. Being that JC was originally from Washington DC, and a lot of his family worked in and around the DC area, he had been affected as well. Luckily, no one got hurt, but he was willing to do any and everything to make sure all of his loved ones were safe, and that included Leah as well.

“You know I won’t be mad if you decided to move to LA.” Lucky assured her. She had been doing some thinking and was going back and forth with making some life altering decisions of her own.

“I know, it’s just…” Leah sighed,

“What?” Lucky asked.

She had never talked to anyone about this before, so it was hard to verbalize, but maybe if she told Lucky, then maybe- just maybe- she would get some sleep tonight. “We’re really fortunate.”

“Yeah, I know.” Lucky said.

“We didn’t lose anyone, and our apartment is still intact.” Leah huffed, struggling to find the right words. “Janae lost her mom, and Tim lost his wife.” Leah said referring to the family down in apartment 3B. “I mean it could be worse, so I feel really guilty complaining, when I still have you, and JC, and my family. I feel bad for wanting to get away from it all.” Leah said fighting back tears.

“And you think I don’t” Lucky replied. “I feel the exact same way. There’s not a day that goes by where I didn’t wish I could get out this place, and just escape the paranoia that something’s gonna happen, but I can’t shake my fear of flying.” Lucky said honestly. “And that’s the fucked up part about it, because I used to love flying, I don’t know… It just used to feel like riding in a car, but now all I can think about is, What if it goes down?”

Leah took in everything that Lucky had been saying. “I just wish that I could go back to September 10 again. Back when everything was still good you know?” Leah said. It seemed like everything in life had changed in an instant; one minute everything was fine and life was great, and the next, people lived day to day in constant fear. It hurt to see missing person flyers, and debris in the streets. She couldn’t imagine what the people who had lost someone were actually going through. She hated having to catch her breath every time an airplane flew over their building for fear that it would crash. She hated being in Manhattan and passing the collapsed World Trade Center. And she hated breaking down and crying about it in public in front of complete strangers.   And now here she was presented with the opportunity to just leave this all behind, to be with her boyfriend and to try to get her life back to some sense of normalcy. Try to be happy again. Maybe being around JC would be good for her.

But could she really leave all of this behind? New York was her home. She had been here for the past eight years, and she’d really felt like a native. The City was who she was. She had become a New Yorker. The loyalty that she had felt to this place was paramount. She felt like she’d be bailing if she left everything now. Leah was torn.

“New York will always be here, Leah.” Lucky said as if reading her thoughts. “You’ve been here much longer than I have, so I know that this is home for you, but this isn’t worth the sake of our sanity. I’ve been doing some thinking,” she continued. “I was thinking about moving back out to LA once the school year ends.” Lucky had been attending the Fashion Institute of Technology, majoring in Fashion Design while working as a Stylist.

“How about you move to LA with JC, and I stay here until school’s out.” Lucky suggested. “And if you decide that LA’s not for you by June, then you can always come back here, but if you do decide to stay with JC then we can sell this place.” Leah sat there mulling over the possibilities.

“Don’t answer me now. Give it awhile.” Lucky said before giving her a pat on her back, and standing up to head back to her room.

Leah sat there for hours going over her options, before finally coming to a decision. After what had happened, she knew that she was grateful for her life, and the people in it. She couldn’t live another day in complete fear and agony, and like Lucky said, New York would always be there. After all, there was nothing wrong with change.

May 2002

As Leah walked through LAX, it was the first time in months that she had actually felt free. It’s as if she could feel the weight practically melt off her shoulders with the change of scenery. She knew that everything wouldn’t magically go back to the way things were before- they never would- but this was definitely a step towards happiness, and she knew that she had made the right decision when she’d laid her eyes on JC standing there at the baggage claim.

“Hey Baby,” JC said enthusiastically, before picking Leah up, and spinning her around. He placed her back on the ground, and his lips crashed down onto hers. “God, I’ve missed you so much,” he said, his arms wrapped tightly around her. It felt so good to finally have her in his arms again.

“I’ve missed you too.” Leah smiled, hugging him tightly. Being in JC’s arms again felt like home. She felt safe and secure.

“It’s so good to have you here.” JC said, relieved to know that she was physically safe and okay. “So, you ready to go?” He asked, picking up her bags.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Leah replied. And she was. She was ready to get on with her life, ready to get back to being happy, and ready to face whatever life had to offer.

One Week Later…

As a lot of Leah’s things had been coming in from New York, she and JC had been busy unpacking, and settling into his LA home. Since JC had just wrapped up the PopOdyssey tour with the guys, this is only the second time that Leah’s been out to his place, since he’d first bought it.

“Damn Woman, you have more shoes than Mariah Carey!” JC joked, referring to Mariah’s infamous episode of MTV Cribs, when he opened up yet another box of shoes.

Leah beamed. She loved being compared to her idol whether it be musically related or not.

“Don’t take that as compliment.” JC said, reading her mind.

“I wasn’t.” Leah said, trying to defend herself, but JC knew better. She moved on to the box marked Kitchenware, and began to unpack it. “Besides, that’s not even all of them,” she quipped, walking from the living room, and into the connecting kitchen to place two coffee mugs in the cabinet, and back again.

JC glared at her.

“I’m joking, I’m joking!” Leah laughed. “I’m pretty sure those were it. Just be careful, they’re my babies!” She called, walking back into the kitchen, with two more mugs in hand. She placed them in the cabinet alongside the other two, but stopped when something caught her eye. It was a Grant new issue of Star Magazine. Well it had to be new because she was on the cover, and so was JC; it was a candid photo of the two of them leaving LAX last week, Leah in her royal blue Juicy Couture tracksuit and, and JC in his Von Dutch t-shirt and rugged Calvin Klein jeans, and his long curly brown hair perfectly intact. The headline read J-Leigh Takes Hollywood! And showed JC and Leah walking hand in hand out of the airport.

Leah took a moment to look over the picture, sure she didn’t look her best, but considering the fact that she had been on an airplane for five and half hours she didn’t look half bad either. JC on the other hand, looked like a Greek God as always. The guy didn’t have a bad day. He could’ve worn a garbage bag, and made it look sexy. She wasn’t bothered much with the magazine cover, and what the fluff piece inside read, considering last year’s tabloid frenzy, she’s read much worse. And since neither JC nor Leah read any of the tabloids she figured that Imelda, JC’s cleaning lady, must have left it this morning. She was a sweet woman, but she loved gossip.

“Okay, why do you have a Jordan Knight poster?” Leah heard JC call. Wait, what?

“Huh?” Leah asked, walking back into living room.

“What are you, ten?” JC snickered, holding up a life sized poster of a shirtless New Kid. “You know this is not hanging up in the bedroom right?”

Leah wrinkled her nose. “Ugh! Lucky must have put that in there.” She blushed, in embarrassment, thinking back to her New Kids on the Block phase she had as a teenager, and how Lucky wouldn’t let her live it down. “She’s totally mocking me.”

“Uh huh,” JC said skeptically.

“It’s not mine, I swear.” Leah replied. JC just looked at her. “What? It’s not! Stop looking at me like that!”

“Yeah, whatever!” He quipped. Leah took a pillow from the couch and threw it at him as he continued to unpack.

“So, have you checked this out?” Leah asked, handing JC the magazine. “Apparently we’re the hot new couple.”

“J-Leigh,” JC said slowly, reading the title. “Huh, they gave us a name.” He mused.

“At least it’s better than the OK! cover.” Leah stated.

“Oh, don’t remind me,” JC replied, tossing the magazine on the loveseat and reaching back down into the box. “Wow.”

“What?” Leah asked. She had her back turned, unpacking a collection of books: Wuthering Heights, Valley of the Dolls and Breakfast at Tiffany’s to name a few.

“You still have this thing?” JC asked, amazed.

Leah turned around to see JC holding up the pink stuffed elephant that he had gotten for her that night at Disney World, eight years ago. “Yeah, of course I still have it.” Leah said. “That was one of the best nights of my teenage life. Well, until you made me cry!” She joked.

JC thought back to that night, and couldn’t believe that she had kept it all those years. They had been through so much since they were seventeen. “Well, may I ask why you have it in a Ziploc bag?” He asked, laughing a little.

“Because I’m protective of my shit!” That little elephant had seen a lot in the past eight years, and had endured a lot of wear and tear, so when Leah traveled with it, she liked to tuck him in a Ziploc bag to keep him safe. Ugh! Not that anyone needed to know that. Well, no one except JC.

“Cute.” JC smirked.

“Oh shut up!” Leah replied, turning back to the box to finish unpacking her books. The two spent the next few hours unpacking Leah’s things, and putting them in their proper place, all the while goofing off and having a great time just being with each.

 “So, are you ready to get back out on the road?” JC asked. The two were now in JC’s bed, cuddled together, and watching Friends.

“Yes! I cannot wait until my car gets here.” Leah replied. Her car was due to come on Wednesday, and she could not wait to get behind the wheel. She had mercy on the poor pedestrians who dared to cross the streets the day she started driving again. “But then again there’s the test.” Since Leah was now officially a resident of the state of California, she had to have a California’s driver’s license. One problem; She’s hadn’t taken a driver’s test since she was sixteen years old.

“Oh.” JC said knowingly.

Anyone who knew Leah James knew that she wasn’t the very best driver. She was just as bad a driver as Cher Horowitz, and had passed her driver’s test by the skin of her teeth. Plus, she had spent the last eight years in New York City; she rarely drove! When she had gotten her first royalties check, she had stupidly decided to splurge and buy her dream car; an all white Range Rover, which had hardly seen the outside of her garage. But now, being in California, she’d be spending plenty of time in her car going from point A to point B.

“Exactly,” Leah said. “I am so going to fail this test.” The written part, that was easy, that’s where she shined. But the driving part was the real kicker.

“Hey, no you won’t” JC said nudging her. “How about I take you out tomorrow and you can practice just driving around the city?” He suggested.

“Really, do you think that’s a good idea?” Leah asked.

“I don’t see why not, you’re gonna have to get behind the wheel at some point.”JC replied. “Besides, you’re not that bad of a driver.”

JC was absolutely wrong about one thing; Leah was that bad of a driver. Unfortunately for him, it was too late to take that back.

“You fucking asshole!” Leah yelled, completely frustrated when a black Saturn on the opposite corner had turned before her. They had only been in JC’s Mercedes for twenty minutes, and he already feared for his life. Feeling a little cautious, he decided to ride with the top up. LA traffic was one thing, but Leah in it, was a whole other level.

“Actually, they had the right of way Babe.” JC said.

“What?” Leah asked.

“Whoever approaches the Stop sign first has the right of way.” JC explained.

“Right.” Leah replied taking a deep breath. She tried to remain calm, but the LA driving was really freaking her out.

“How about we take a little break, you know, get a bite to eat?” JC suggested.

“Maybe that’s a good idea,” Leah agreed. “Where to?” She asked, turning onto a main road.

“How about Mel’s Diner?” JC asked.

“That sounds good- What the FUCK?!” Leah exclaimed midsentence. A yellow Hummer had swiveled over into their lane without warning. “Their called blinkers, you Dumbass! Use them!” She shouted, before blowing the horn repeatedly.

JC chuckled. You could definitely tell that Leah had spent the last eight years in New York. Her rampant road rage was evident enough.”Calm down, Tony Soprano!” JC teased. “It’s not that deep.”

“Like hell it’s not! What if we had to be somewhere?” Leah gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. JC was convinced that had she gripped even tighter, then she would definitely lose her fingers.

“But we don’t” JC replied. “So just sit back and wait it out. “

“Whatever,” Leah huffed. “Californians can’t drive.”

“No, I think it’s the other way around.” JC said.

“What are you talking about? Everyone walks in New York.” Leah said.

“Then why is there so much traffic?” JC asked.

“Touché’” Leah replied, turning on the radio. Since it looked like they would be here a while, she might as well find some way to enjoy herself, and relieve some tension. Someone to Call My Lover by Janet Jackson was on.

“Okay, now take a deep breath and focus.” JC instructed her. “The line’s moving forward.” He said. As the cars ahead of them slowly started to inch forward, Leah pressed her foot down on the gas pedal. “And remember, if you wanna pass this test, you can’t let every little thing piss you off.”

“I’m fine.” Leah said. “I’m totally chill- Oh HELL NO! You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!!!”

Okay, maybe she needed to work on her road rage as well.

“Well, that was quite the adventure.” JC said, plopping down on the large plush couch. Leah was not too far behind.

“Ha! You’re telling me.” She muttered. After lunch, JC had offered to drive them back home, since he was not willing to risk his life or hers. “I fucking hate driving.” Leah sighed. “I can’t believe I have to re-take this test, when I already have Orlando license. I mean that should prove something, right?”

“So wait, you didn’t take a driver’s test in New York?” JC asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Leah shook her head.

“Wait, what?” JC asked, puzzled. “But you lived in New York for eight years.”

“Yeah, and?” Leah asked, not understanding what he was getting at.

“So you never had a New York license?” JC asked,

Leah shook her head again.

“So, you were living in New York, with a Florida license?” JC asked, trying to make sure he was getting everything straight.

“Pretty much, yeah.” Leah nodded.

“And you got it renewed when?” JC asked.

“Um, I didn’t.” Leah said.

“So, let me get this straight, you have an expired Florida driver’s license that is of no use to you here, or in New York.”

“Uh, yeah.” Leah said very matter of factly.

“Leah!” JC exclaimed, in complete bewilderment.

“What?!” Leah exclaimed. “You say that like you just discovered that I’m the head of the Gambino Crime Family!”

“You can’t just do that!” JC said.

“It’s not that uncommon back in New York, okay.” Leah said defending herself. “I’ve been touring, and traveling a lot, and when I was home, I’d either walk to get to where I had to go or catch a taxi, or use the subway. And then when it came to events, I’ve always been chauffeured.” She explained.

It finally sunk in for JC. Now he got why she was such a bad driver. “Huh.” JC said, coming to this realization. He chuckled to himself thinking about just how much she would have to get adjusted to California culture. This would be an interesting first month! “So, is there anything else I need to know? Like, is there a warrant out for your arrest?” He teased. “Are you wanted for tax evasion?”

“Haha, very funny!” She said, smacking his arm. “And before you ask, no, I am not a descendant of Al Capone. Smartass!”

JC let out a deep hearty laugh. It was that infectious laughter that she missed when she was away from him, and made her happy with her decision to make the big move over to the West Coast. Even if she did have to make some adjustments, he was well worth it.

“So, I think we should give this driving mess a break, and just have some fun tonight.” JC said, changing the subject.

“What do you have in mind?” Leah asked.

“I was thinking maybe we could go out to ULTRA, have a few drinks, dance a little, and I could introduce you to a few friends.”

“Sounds fun,” Leah said optimistically. She usually liked anyone that JC liked. He kept himself surrounded by good people, so she trusted him. “So, can I drive?”

“Oh, no!” JC replied. “I am not letting you get back behind the wheel until you’ve read a driver’s manual at least five times through!” He exclaimed, before hopping off the couch, and heading upstairs.

“Hey!” Leah scoffed. “But, I’m good at the written portion!” She called after him.

************

“Leah!” JC called for what felt like millionth time. He was sitting on the couch watching reruns of Home Improvement, while he not so patiently waited for her to finish getting ready for their night out. “C’mon!”

“I told you I’d be there in five minutes, so stop calling me every half hour!” Leah called back from the upstairs bathroom.

JC had to laugh at that. “My woman!” He said to himself.

A few minutes later, Leah slowly made her way down the stairs, careful not trip in her five inch, silver, crystal, YSL sandals. She was not about to have a Laney Boggs, She’s All That moment, no, she had had way too many of those in the past.

“One does not simply rush perfection!” Leah said, making her presence known, once she had reached the landing of the staircase.

JC sat there amazed, taking in the sight of his girlfriend. She was every bit of perfection in her pink, skin tight, body hugging, satin Versace dress that had stopped right at the middle of her thigh, revealing her petite, but nonetheless perfectly toned legs. Her hair had been flat ironed with a center part, and JC noticed that she was wearing the Cartier studs he had gotten her for their anniversary.

“Damn baby.” JC said, walking over to her. “Maybe we should stay home tonight.” He said, nibbling at her neck. And God, she was wearing that vanilla body mist too! Did she want them to make it out of the house?

Leah giggled at his touch. “Okay, I did not just waist an hour and half of my life to stay home!”

“Oh that was no hour and half!” JC replied. “But, it was well worth the wait,” he said before giving her kiss. “C’mon let’s get out of here.”

************

The club scene in LA was totally different from the club scene in New York. As in not even in the same hemisphere! Whereas Leah and Lucky would usually grab a pair of flats, and hit up the local bars and clubs in New York on a random Friday night, LA was completely exclusive. It was all about who you knew or who you were. Lucky for Leah and JC, their names were at the top of the list at ULTRA, the super exclusive nightclub owned by American business magnate Ronald Stein, who basically owned half of Hollywood. Everyone who was anyone was there, or at least wanted to be there.

Leah had been once before, a year ago when the after party for the American Music Awards had been held there, and that was it. It had seemed just like a club to her, striking no impression on her whatsoever.

“It’s not just a club.” Jill had told her, sounding almost offended. “It’s the club to be at.”

“Um, okay.” Leah replied. Maybe it’s because she had instant access to ‘celebrity treatment’ or whatever the hell it was, but all of that stuff really didn’t have any effect on her. She could be at the YMCA in fucking Idaho for all she cared, as long as she was around people she cared about and was having a great time, it didn’t matter where she was.

“Leah, JC over here!” She heard someone call, and the blinding lights of cameras going off in their faces had snapped Leah out of her reverie.

“Ugh!” Leah groaned, forgetting about the paparazzi. She put her hand in front of her face to block the flashes of light. This was another thing she was going to have to get used to. Sure there were photographers back in New York, like back when the news broke that she and JC had been dating, but that was a rarity. She didn’t have to deal with them on a day to day, or even on a night out. In LA, it they came out in full force like pack of piranhas. She was used to photographers at red carpets, charity, and press events, but in her everyday life? That was something she would have to get used to.

“Here,” JC said, offering his hand. Leah took it, and interlaced her fingers with his. JC took his free arm, and wrapped it securely around her waist, escorting her into the club, and protecting her from the lecherous photographers.

“And you deal with that every day?” Leah asked incredulously, once they had made their way into the club. It was dark, with searchlights flashing, in place of disco lights, and the DJ was spinning Always on Time by Ja Rule and Ashanti.

“You get used to it after a while,” JC said nonchalantly. JC went on about his day-to-day life, working and just being himself. “As long as they keep to themselves at a safe distance and respect my privacy, then I don’t see a problem.” He said.

“Well that’s an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one!” Leah snorted.

“C’mon, we’re here now, let’s have fun!” JC said, taking Leah by the hand, and leading her up to the VIP section of the club.

“Hey, you guys finally made it!” A very metrosexual man called from one of the tables. He was joined by two other guys, and girl.

“Hey!” JC called back excitedly, making his way over, and Leah following. When they got to the table, JC’s friends stood up to greet him and he introduced each one to Leah. “Leah, this is Chad,” he said of the metrosexual, who was clad in a crisp pink and white striped Ralph Lauren button down, and Armani jeans. His dark messy hair had that whole bed head look to it, but Leah could tell he probably spent just as much time in the mirror working on it she had on hers, and she could smell his Axe body spray from a mile away.

“And, this is Grant,” JC continued, making the introductions. Grant, who stood at around six feet, just an inch taller than both JC and Chad, had a much more laid back vibe than Chad. He was dressed in a simple white t-shirt with a long silver and diamond ‘LA’ chain hanging from his neck. He wore a brown leather jacket and matching baggy leather pants and matching Timberland boots that complimented his skin tone. Had Ginuwine ever needed a stunt double in a music video, Grant should’ve been first in line for the job. Leah made a mental note to find out if he were single, deciding to play matchmaker for Jill. 

“And this is Autumn.” JC said, making the last introduction. Leah’s eyes fell on a petite girl about her height, with porcelain skin, brunette hair that fell past her shoulders, and wait for it, green eyes. She wore a black strapless Gucci dress that left almost nothing to the imagination, and a pair of red five inch Christian Louboutins. “Guys, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Leah!” JC said, proudly.

“Hi!” Autumn, squeaked happily embracing Leah in a hug, taking Leah by surprise.

“Oh. Hi!” Leah said, stunned by the greeting.

“I’ve heard so much about you!” Autumn said. Everyone had begun to take their seats around the table.

Really? Because I’ve heard nothing about you! Leah wanted to say, but knew she shouldn’t. “All good things, I hope!” She said instead, giving a generic answer.

“But of course!” Autumn replied. “Josh is just crazy about you!”

Did she just call him Josh? Leah thought to herself. Only people super close to him call him that. How close were they exactly? She really didn’t like the way Autumn hugged him when they first got to the table. No, stop it! Leah thought. You’re being stupid. Autumn is just a friend. She’s a friend the way that Chad is a friend, and Grant is a friend. JC is allowed to have friends. She reminded herself.

“Thank God you’re here; it’s great to finally have another girl here!” Autumn exclaimed.

See, Autumn is nice. Leah reasoned with herself. Autumn is my friend now, and I need all the friends in LA I can get! Leah had decided to stop being a judgmental little bitch. She was not that girl. She was not that possessive girlfriend. She hated those kinds of girls. She had no reason to hate Autumn, so she wasn’t going to look for one. She was just going to enjoy her night out with her boyfriend, and get to know his friends, and have a good time.

A minute later, two waitresses had brought drinks to their table that Autumn had taken the liberty to order before JC and Leah had arrived.

“In honor of Leah’s first night out in LA, drinks are on me!” Autumn said, taking a sip.

“Wow, thanks Autumn,” Leah said before doing the same. “Mmm,” Leah savored the taste of her drink. “Bailey’s mixed with Butterscotch Schnapps. A girl after my own heart!” She said, said tossing back the drink.

“Take it easy Babe,” JC said.

“What for? I’m not driving remember?” She shot back, before giving him a flirty wink.

The rest of the night had actually turned out to be fun for Leah. She had gotten to know JC’s friends, and had found out that Chad was, well, Chad didn’t really do anything. He was taking a break from USC (where his major was undecided), and living off his trust fund until he “Found himself.” He was a second generation Vietnamese-American, whose parents were self made multi-millionaires and owned one of America’s largest Fortune 500 companies. He along, with his brother Ryan were heirs to the company, but until it was time to grow up, Chad was “coasting,” as he so nicely put it.

Grant, who was an up and coming music producer, was a protégé’ of Dallas Austin, and the son of Terrence O’Day, a nine time Grammy winning producer, and Melinda O’Day, one of the best entertainment lawyers in the business. He had graduated from the Berklee School of Music with a double major in Contemporary Writing and Production, and Music Business and Management. He had met JC through Dallas, and they had begun working on music together and had been tight ever since.

Autumn, Leah had found out, was an actress, model, and producer. The triple threat, who was a native of Costa Mesa, had done guest spots on Scrubs, Smallville, Alias, and 8 Simple Rules, and also just wrapped up an indie film titled By the Moon, shot by none other than Jean-Paul Badeaux, Lucky’s boyfriend. Small world. Autumn had also appeared in a Neutrogena ad. And a Skechers ad. And a Colgate ad. Oh and she also once had a Golden Retriever that got hit by a pickup truck when she was seven.  Leah had found that when filled with enough alcohol, Autumn tended to be an over sharer. 

“So, you have a pretty interesting group of friends,” Leah said turning to JC. They were in the car, on the way back home, both exhausted from a night of dancing.

“You really like ‘em?” JC asked.

“Yeah, I do.” Leah replied.

“I’m really glad, Babe.” JC said, reaching over the center console and grabbing her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You’re going to fit in just great!”

***************

Later that night, Leah had watched JC was deep in sleep, dead to the world. Another thing about LA that she would have to get used to? Sleeping. Okay, maybe that wasn’t necessarily an LA thing, but when she was in New York, she never really went to bed at a certain time. She had always been that way ever since she could remember, but New York had seemed to suit her irregular sleeping habits. They didn’t call it The City That Never Sleeps for nothing. One night, she’d fall asleep at 2:00 am, and then the next, 5:00 am. There was always something to do in New York City at any given time to soothe her never ending thoughts. She could just put on her shoes and go. But here, here she was in a gated community, where everyone was tucked away safe in their homes, asleep in their beds, and the streets were eerily quiet. It was all so creepy.

A few seconds later, Leah slowly eased out of bed, as not to wake JC (like that was possible), and took the phone off the dock. She headed down the stairs, and into the living room. She flipped on the lights, turned on JC’s stereo system, and quietly played, her Sheryl Crow album. She played the track, A Change Would Do You Good, and listened contently. As the track faded, and switched to Home, Leah dialed her old phone number, knowing her best friend would be up despite the fact that there was a three hour time difference.

The phone rang twice before Lucky picked up. “So how goes it on the West Coast?” Lucky answered, she didn’t have to be at work for another two hours, but she was going through her closet trying find an outfit to where.

“Pretty good.” Leah replied, smiling at the sound of her friend’s voice. It sounded like home. “I have to get used to some things, but otherwise things are going pretty great.”

“Getting used to some things like sleep?” Lucky asked knowingly, otherwise Leah wouldn’t have been calling her at 2:15 am West Coast time.

“Yeah,” Leah sighed.

“I just kind of don’t get the whole, going to bed at a decent hour ordeal.” Leah said.

“Sleep is a good thing, my friend, get used to it.” Lucky replied. “Trust me, if anyone needs it, it’s you, it’ll save you from your thoughts.” Lucky said, knowing how Leah’s mind could tend to go into overdrive if she wasn’t careful.

“Yeah, maybe you’re right.” Leah said, leaning back into the couch, and propping her feet up onto the coffee table.

“So what else is bothering you?” Lucky asked, knowingly. She took a black Christian Dior blazer out of her closet, and held it up to her, checking it out in her full length mirror.

“We went out to a club tonight.” Leah said.

“Ooh, which one?” Lucky asked, tossing the blazer on the bed, and turning back to her closet for more options.

“ULTRA,” Leah said.

“Oooh, exclusive.” Lucky mused. She had gone to that bullshit pompous ass club countless times for events that she had to host for certain celerity clients. Lucky had witnessed some shady things happening in ULTRA.

“Ugh, there were paparazzi everywhere, well, I guess I have no right to complain, but anyway JC wanted me to meet some of his friends, and there’s this girl named Autumn.” Leah said, with a slight bite in her voice. She hadn’t meant to sound so harsh, but it just came out that way. Maybe it was better that she discuss it with Lucky first so that it wouldn’t become an issue later on.

“Wait, a girl?” Lucky asked.

“Yeah.” Leah said.

“What’s she like?” Was the first thing that came to Lucky’s mind.

“She’s like the white version of me.” Leah blurted out. “She’s the same height as me, we have the same color hair, and eyes. The same personality and everything.” Leah had finally gotten it off her chest. She had known that guys had a type, but damn!

“You have nothing to worry about though.” Lucky said. That she was sure of.

“I know.” Leah replied. “That’s the problem.”

“Okay, so what’s the problem?” Lucky asked, confused.

“The problem is, I’m making a problem out of nothing!” Leah said. “I felt so bitchy and judgmental towards her, and I don’t even know her. It’s sad, and she was so nice to me. She even bought me drinks.”

“That Bitch,” Lucky muttered, and then the two burst out in a fit of giggles.

“I’m being silly, aren’t I?” Leah asked.

“Yeah you are.” Lucky replied. “You’re being a huge bitch!” Leah was glad that she had an honest friend who wouldn’t hesitate to call her on her shit.

“I know, I know,” Leah sighed. “But honestly, what would you do if Jean-Paul introduced you to a French version of yourself.”

“Then I’d have to cut the bitch.” Lucky joked. Leah laughed a little. “Go to bed Leigh, your thoughts are consuming you.”

“Fine, fine!” Leah relented. “I will try to go to bed! Goodnight Lux,” she said, getting up from the couch, and cutting the stereo off.

“Uh, more like good morning!” Lucky laughed, watching the sun come up from her bedroom window. “Have fun, and soak up some of that California sun for me!”

“Will do, ‘bye!” Leah said before hanging up. She thought about everything that Lucky had said, and realized how crazy she was being. JC was amazing, and she had nothing to worry about. She felt guilty even thinking she had something to worry about.

After shutting down the living room, Leah headed back upstairs to the bedroom. She climbed back in bed with JC, and still, in a deep a sleep as ever, he rolled over, and wrapped a heavy arm around her pulling her close to his warm body. She smiled. If this is what sleep was like, she could definitely get used to this. The feel of his body perfectly molded against hers; they fit together perfectly. She had to try this sleep thing more often. Oh yes, sleep was good!

**************

The next day, Leah had taken Autumn up on the offer to go out for coffee. She had explained her current driving situation, and Autumn had seemed more than happy to pick her up, since JC was in a meeting, and there was no way in Hell he’d let her get behind the wheel, unless it was in an empty parking lot. So now, she was with Autumn sitting outside, at a table, under an umbrella, at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in West Hollywood.

“So thanks for inviting me out Autumn, I really appreciate it.” Leah said taking a sip of her Red Eye, which she desperately needed considering the fact that she was not a morning person. She had pulled her wet hair up into a bun piled high on her head, and threw on the largest pair of sunglasses she could find, to hide the circles under her eyes.

“Oh no problem,” Autumn said, taking a sip of her own Espresso. “I know how hard it can be to make friends out here. And besides, I needed this,”she said referring to her coffee. “It’s vital to those of us, who certainly don’t get enough sleep.”

“Oh, you too?” Leah asked, surprised that she finally found someone who understood her situation.

“I haven’t had a full eight hours since grade school. In fact, I wouldn’t even know what it meant to get a good night’s sleep if the Sandman came and knocked me out himself.” Autumn said.

“Right?!” Leah exclaimed. “I just don’t get these people who can fall asleep at the drop of a dime. Like my boyfriend case in point.”

“Oh well, I always say they miss out on all the fun!” Autumn said.

“Yeah!” Leah agreed, laughing.

“Besides, who needs sleep when you got coffee?” Autumn joked.

“Uh… yeah…” Leah stammered, staring of f into the distance.

Autumn turned around, and looked behind her, when she noticed Leah looking a little distracted. There was a small huddle of paparazzi clicking away outside the fence of the establishment. “Ugh! Are you fucking serious?!” Autumn exclaimed, getting up from hair chair. “Get the fuck out of here, the poor girl’s just trying to get a cup of coffee!” She yelled, causing the guys to quickly scramble, but not before taking one last picture.

Leah felt absolutely mortified. Maybe she should’ve done more than slip on JC’s old Washington Redskins jersey, blue jeans, and Uggs. “Thanks for that,” Leah said grateful for Autumn’s interference. She wouldn’t have the guts to do it herself. “You really didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh it’s nothing, you shouldn’t have to be accosted every time you step outside your door.” Autumn replied.

Leah hardly considered that as being accosted, but, it was pretty invasive.

“So, what are you doing after this?” Autumn asked, changing the subject.

Leah checked the time on her phone. She didn’t have to meet up with JC for another three hours. “Nothing.” Leah replied.

“So, I was peeping your shoe game last night Leah James, and I’ve gotta say, you give me a run for my money.” Autumn said smiling.

“Uh, no. I saw those Louboutins you were wearing.” Leah replied. “I have to admit I was feeling a bit jealous. But just a little!” Leah said, holding up her pointer and thumb, and leaving a small space between them.  

“I’ll tell you what, how about we go wreak havoc on Rodeo Drive and buy as many shoes as we can?” Autumn suggested.

“I’d say you’ve got yourself a date, Federici.” Leah grinned, taking her up on her offer. Leah had only been in LA over a week and she had already found a friend who loved coffee, hated sleep just as much as she did, and had shared shoe fetish. She had really started to like this girl. “Autumn, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!” Leah said, repeating the phrase from Casablanca. Maybe the adjustment to LA wouldn’t be so hard to make after all!

“Yo, you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be!” Leah replied anxiously, but excitedly. She was back in the studio for the first time in months, recording for her new album, her first in almost two years. Being with JC and being in love gave her so much to write about. She felt so good, and couldn’t wait to sing about it.

She was two years older than when she started recording the last album, and so much had changed since then; she was happy, in love, more mature and confident, and she wanted her music to reflect that. She wanted a completely new sound, so she recruited Grant to produce a few tracks.

Being back in the mic booth again was like being back home. When she had on those headphones about to sing she felt invincible. She was in her zone, and no one could touch her when she was hot!

As Grant started the track on the other side of the glass, behind the mixing board, Leah began to sing the verse that she had written with one specific person in mind:

You tell me there’s

Nothin’ better than me,

So you draft me like I’m

Top pick of the league, then

You gave me what I need, so

Fly it was like you planted a seed,

Oh, and even when there is trouble,

You handle it before I know, so I’m

Letting you know, It’s beautiful us together

Who can ask for more?

“How was that?” Leah asked, once the music had stopped.

“Hot!” Grant exclaimed.

Leah beamed. Yes, I’m back! She thought as she took a sip of her throat coat tea, before recording the second verse.

So deep that I ain’t worried

Thinking baby you’re out there

Runnin’ the streets, no, you’re

Playin’ with me so perfectly,

That’s why you got me convinced

You were made for me

Oh, you’re everything I been

Missing, with you there’s no second

Guessing, you with me is a blessing,

That I can’t and just won’t let go of…

The track was uptempo and fiery. It was much more R&B oriented than her last two albums that had a more pop feel.

After the music stopped, Grant motioned for Leah to come out of the mic booth. She placed the headphones back on the mic, and joined him on the other side, “I have a very good feeling about this!” Grant said, rubbing his hands together. He had been just as excited about producing the song as Leah had been about writing and singing it. The track he created was blazing, and Leah’s butter smooth vocals complimented it perfectly. The song had gold and platinum written all over it. The two of them collaborating together had been magic!

“Yeah, you and me both,” Leah replied sitting down next to him in a black leather rolling chair. Usually, Leah was such a perfectionist, over analyzing everything, and constantly re-recording vocals. But today, everything had just felt so easy. The track was so breezy that she just wanted to go with the flow, and not obsess and mess with everything too much. And she loved how she and Grant just clicked musically; he was so ambitious, yet laid back. Everything just fell so perfectly into place. “I can’t wait until JC hears this,” She said, thinking of her muse.

“I can’t wait until the world hears this!” Grant said excitedly. He had a good feeling about Hold me Down; he felt like this song would propel him to where he wanted to be. It would make the difference between him being Grant O’Day, and then just being Terrence O’Day’s son. “I have a few phone calls to make.” Grant said. “How about we take a break, and come back and finish the rest?” He suggested.

“Fine by me, I could use something to eat.” Leah replied. Just as she was turning on her Blackberry, a certain someone came bursting into the studio.

“Yo, Grant, I’m crashing your sesh!”

“Damn, Autumn who let you in?” Grant huffed, feigning annoyance.

“Ivy, the receptionist.” She replied. You’ve known me long enough to know that I make friends wherever I go.”

“Yeah, well you can’t keep doing this.” Grant warned.

“Ha!” Autumn snorted. “And so you’ve said the time before that, and the time before that!”

Leah loved watching the back and forth between the two. They drove each other crazy, but it was all love.

“You’re lucky we’re on break anyway,” Grant said, scrolling through his phone.

“Oooh, I feel so threatened!” Autumn teased, and Leah burst into a fit of giggles.

“Uh-uh Leah, don’t back her on this.” Grant said.

“Oh, don’t be mad because Leah’s got my back!” Autumn replied. “As a matter of fact, I’m gonna get comfortable and sit myself down right here.” She said playfully, sitting down on Grant’s lap.

“Yo, get off my lap.” Grant said, but not sounding like he really meant it.

“Or what?” Autumn challenged. “You’re going to give me some spiel about how I’m all up in your atmosphere, and how I’m going to mess up your creative flow or some shit like that?” She said, putting air quotes around her statement.

Leah sat back in her chair, watching the two, thoroughly entertained.

“Autumn, I don’t have time for your business today; I’ve got business to take care of.” Grant said impatiently.

“See that’s why nobody likes your serious ass!” Autumn said getting back up.

“Yeah, you weren’t saying that last night!” Grant quipped, finally having leverage in their war of words.

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” Leah chanted. At first she thought it was a great comeback, but then when she saw Autumn turn beet red, and silenced, she knew the truth. “Oh.” Leah said flatly at the sudden realization.

“Yeah, well fuck you Grant.” Was all Autumn could say.

Huh. He had finally silenced her.

“Yeah, I already did last night remember.” He snapped back. “Twice!”

“Enough of you Mister,” Autumn said, ending their verbal sparring and turning her attention to Leah. “Anyway, I came to pick up Leah for our date. You ready?” She asked.

“Yup,” Leah said, anxious to get out of the studio as quick as possible to get the details of last night. She slid on her light pink Havaianas, because she always liked to record barefoot (it was just her really weird artistic thing), grabbed her caramel oversized purse, and slipped her Chanel shield sunglasses on top of her head. “Well Grant, I’ll be back in about half an hour,” she said standing up to leave, and grabbing her car keys (because yes, she was now a licensed driver!), and she hooked her arm in Autumn’s as they were about to head out the door.

“Yo, Leigh, does ‘C know you’re creeping out on him?” Grant teased.

**************** 

“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him!” Leah called back, before she and Autumn headed out of the studio.

“Wow, you and Grant. I never would have guessed!” Leah exclaimed, taking a sip of her iced tea. The two were sitting outside at Ambience, a nearby café. As the hot California sun beat down on her skin, Leah was glad that she had gone simple in a white tank, and a dark denim Baby Phat miniskirt. Man, Tony! Toni! Tone! was not lying when they said that it didn’t rain in southern California!

“Me and Grant? No! It’s only a sometimes thing.” Autumn said, nipping it in the bud. She did not want Leah to get the wrong impression.

“Oh, so it’s one of those deals,” Leah nodded.

“Yeah, he gets lonely sometimes, so I’ll stroke his ego, and he gives me physical satisfaction. It’s a win-win.” She explained. “I could never be with Grant, the guy drives me crazy. I’d have to kill him!”

“I see.” Leah said, before taking a bite of her salad.

“So, enough about me, onto you!” Autumn said, changing the subject.

“What about me?” Leah asked drily.

“A little birdie told me that you have a birthday coming up!” Autumn said.

“And I’m gonna take a wild guess and say that the little birdie was JC?” Leah replied.

“Mmhm,” Autumn said, before sipping on her iced latte.

“Are you also gonna tell me what that birdie got me?” Leah asked, getting a little excited. But only a little bit.

“Oh no. That’s a secret you’re not getting out of me until the 23rd of May.”

“What’s the point in having a side piece if it comes with no benefits?” Leah joked, pouting.

Autumn laughed lightly, and playfully kicked Leah underneath the table. “You know what you need?”

“What?” Leah asked.

“A party.”

Leah quickly shook her head turning down the suggestion.

“Why not?” Autumn asked. Who didn’t want a birthday party?

“I don’t need a party, Autumn. Just a couple of friends out to dinner is fine by me.”

“C’mon Leigh, you’re gonna be twenty-five! That’s like the last monumental birthday. There’s sixteen, eighteen, twenty-one, and then twenty-five.” Autumn explained.

“What about thirty and fifty? Aren’t those monumental too?” Leah asked.

“Trust me, you’re not gonna want to be hitting up any clubs at fifty!” Autumn quipped. “You’re having a party!” She declared.

“I guess I really don’t have a say in the matter then, do I?” Leah asked.

“Nope,” Autumn replied, sitting back in her chair, and sipping on her drink.

*************** 

“So, I’m guessing you know about my party?” Leah asked JC. They were out back on the patio, drinking wine after dinner (Leah cooked, while JC boiled water).

“Well, if you’re talking about the party that’s been in preparation for a while now, then yes, I know all about it.” JC winked.

“Well damn, what if I turned the down the whole idea?” Leah laughed.

“Autumn wouldn’t have let you.” JC replied.

“True.” Leah said, staring off into the distance. It was so beautiful out. It was just getting dark, so that stars had started to come out. While it was still warm out, it had cooled off a lot since earlier, so the temperature was perfect. The honeysuckles were in bloom, so the air was sweet and they were only accompanied by the sound of crickets far off into the distance. It was the perfect night.

“So, about the strippers…” JC said in reference to the party.

“Wait, what?!” Leah gasped.

“Ha!” JC chuckled. “Chill Babe, I’m totally fucking with you.”

“Well if Autumn’s involved in the planning process, then you never know…”

“That is quite true.” JC mused.

“So, how did things go on set today?” Leah asked, changing the subject.

“Great, actually.” JC replied. Since the group was on hiatus, everyone had decided to try their hand at different things.  JC had been doing guess spots on television shows, and had just finished filming a guess role on a new WB show, called Greetings from Tucson. “Dallas has been trying to get me to cut an album though,” He said.

“Really, you gonna do it?” Leah asked, piping up.

“I don’t know,” JC said hesitantly.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Leah asked. She thought that’d be an automatic yes, being that music was his passion, but she could since that something seemed to be a bit off about him.

“I mean, I don’t even know if I have it in me,” JC stammered.

“What do you mean?” Leah asked incredulously. “Jace, you’re the most talented person I know. I think you owe it to yourself to make an album.” Leah said. While he was great with the guys, it’d be a shame if he’d never try to do anything on his own.

“You really think I should?” JC asked skeptically. Being in Nsync was his comfort zone. He worked well with the guys and had done it for years. It wasn’t like he’d never flirted with the idea of doing a solo album, but there was a lot at risk. He’d be completely on his own with no one to fall back on. What if the fans didn’t like it? As confident as JC appeared to be, he sometimes too had his moment of self doubt. He’d been loved and admired in Nsync for so many years, that he’d hate to feel the backlash if he fell flat on his face. It was the fear of the unknown that he couldn’t get past.

“I don’t see why not, Justin’s doing it,” Leah said.

“Yeah, but Justin’s, Justin.” JC replied.

Leah crinkled her eyebrows in confusion. Since when had JC become so unconfident in himself and his abilities? “Yeah, and you’re JC fucking Chasez!” Leah said. “What in the hell makes you think you’re not good enough to record your own album?” She asked, and started back up again before he could answer. “Have you heard yourself sing, I mean c’mon dude, I hear you singing and I see you writing, and you’re constantly coming up with the most amazing melodies. I’m sure you have enough material for two albums.” Leah saw firsthand just what JC was capable of, and the passion that he had for what he did, so it made no sense for it to just stop at Nsync.

JC had been taken aback by Leah’s strong opinion on the topic. He opened his mouth to speak, but she proceeded to talk.

“You’re the best fucking musician since Prince.”

“Well, that’s a pretty bold statement,” JC said, finally getting a word in.

“It’s a pretty true statement,” Leah replied. “It’s just that I see how passionate you are about what you do, and I don’t want you to lose yourself, just because the group may be up in the air right now.” Leah said, honestly.

Although the group had gone on hiatus before, this time it felt different. It really had felt as if everything were up in the air, as Leah had put it. They were all growing in different directions, and Justin, well, Justin was preparing to propel his solo career to new heights. Everyone saw it coming. For the first time, no one knew what the future held for the group. So maybe, just maybe, JC did need to take that next step. “So, I guess I’m doing an album,” JC finally said, looking back at Leah.

Leah smiled back at him proudly, and reached over to grab his hand, interlocking her fingers with his. She could tell he was scared, but she knew it would be worth it, because she knew that nothing made him happier. “Hey,” she smiled. “I’ve got your back,” she said reassuringly. And she would be right there for him, the way he’d been there for her time and time again. No matter what happened, she’d be there.

“Watch it, don’t burn it Fatone!” Christina teased, walking up behind him.

“Woman, I got this!” Joey replied, turning the steaks over on the grill.

The air was warm and thick with the scent of honeysuckles coupled with the hickory smoke of the grill. The moon shone brightly, and the stars danced above them. The atmosphere was perfect for celebrating.

“I cannot believe you pulled this off,” Leah said before taking a swig of her Corona.

“Yeah, well it is you’re twenty-fifth birthday after all, so it has to be special,” JC replied.

Leah was in complete disbelief over the fact that one; JC had managed to get everyone in one place. Two; he had completely transformed their backyard, without her knowledge. And three; how he had her convinced that Autumn was planning some over-the-top elaborate rager. She was in complete aww that he would do this for her.  “This is amazing.”

“I try,” JC said, before softly brushing his lips against hers. Pulling off this party was no easy task, but it was worth it once he saw how happy she was.

The party, which was a very small and intimate gathering, took place in the backyard, rather than a nightclub, and in place of a DJ, the sound system had been set up on the patio. JC had invited Lucky, all of the guys, Kelly, Heather, Tyler, Grant, Chad, Christina, and Britney (who, for obvious reasons, wasn’t there, but sent a gift), along with Leah’s childhood friends Melanie and Raychel.

The party flowed smoothly, and everyone got along great. Justin took control over the sound system, while Joey took control over the grill. Chris had seemed to make a connection with Melanie, who thought it was hot that she swung for both teams, as he so nicely put it.

“So, it looks like I finally get you all to myself,” Lucky said, approaching Leah.

“Yeah, now that my other half is gone, I have my other, other half,” Leah joked. “Thanks for coming Lux, it really means the world to me.”

“Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!” After getting the call from JC, Lucky immediately started packing. She’d been in LA a full two days, without Leah even knowing. Her reaction upon finding out and seeing her best friend face-to-face again, was priceless. “You have a really amazing guy, you know.”

“I know, I’m very lucky,” Leah replied, sneaking a glance over at JC was on the patio talking to Lance. Everything was finally coming full circle for her, and it was all because of him. He had changed her life, and he didn’t even know it. She would be forever grateful to him.

Later, the gang was all gathered around the bonfire, sharing stories about the birthday girl, in the years that they knew her. “And, then I told her that pink was the color of Mother Nature’s vomit, and that her shirt was ugly as hell,” Lucky explained

“And I told her that she looked like she was dressed for her own funeral, and that’s how we became friends,” Leah said, finishing the story.

“Morbid,” Justin joked.

“So Josh, when are you gonna pop the question?” Raychel asked, changing the subject.

“Whoa!” JC exclaimed, caught off guard.

“C’mon guys, that’s not a fair question,” Leah said trying to take some of the heat off of JC. Marriage was not that they had ever discussed.

“Well, why not?” Autumn asked. “I mean you guys live together, you’ve been together forever…”

“Um, how about you and Grant?” Leah grinned, and Autumn shot her look. Leah erupted in giggles at their inside joke.

“Something I need to know?” JC whispered in her ear pulling her close.

“No,” Leah replied, before quickly kissing him. “It’s nothing.”

The group ended up staying out until the wee hours of the morning, sharing stories, laughing and just enjoying being in each other’s company. The little gathering was perfect, and just what Leah needed; to be around all of her friends after the most stressful two years in her life. Looking around the circle, she knew without a doubt that each and every person would always be in her life. These were the people she leaned on when she needed to the most. They were more than just her friends, they were her family. And that was more than she could ever ask for.

“You should lose some weight.”

Those words had been ringing heavily in her ears.

“Image is important. And to be blunt, you’re fat.”

Did she really look that bad? Leah knew how superficial this business could be, so it shouldn’t have come as a shock, but it was still a little unsettling. Especially coming from Rob. He was supposed to be her A&R guy, not her publicist. He was supposed to judge her music, not her body. She didn’t know what hurt worse; the fact that he told her, or the fact that he did it front of everyone. And they seemed to agree with him too; well they didn’t exactly say anything but their silence spoke volumes.

As a million thoughts raced through her mind, it felt like forever before she finally got to her car. Once she was within the confines of her Range Rover, she rested her head on the steering wheel. Squeezing her eyes shut tightly, she tried to steady her breathing to prevent an anxiety attack from coming on.

“Look these songs are amazing, they’re hits, but no one’s going to even be remotely interested if you look like that…”

The more she tried to shake what he had said, the harder it hit her. As her chest began to heave in and out, the tears had finally fallen. Not because of the oncoming crop of pop girls, or whoever, but because she had allowed her confidence to be so easily shaken. After working so hard on her music, and feeling so good about her work, she had been reduced to nothing in only a matter of minutes.

“This is what you need to get back to,” Rob said, pointing to the wall, at Leah’s platinum plaque of her first album. She was 19, contoured, airbrushed, and a size 2. She’d hardly recognized herself. She couldn’t be that Leah again, she refused to be that girl again: lost, Bulimic, and miserable.

Leaning her head back against the head rest, Leah slowly wiped her tears. She didn’t even know why she was disappointed. Rob wasn’t her friend; he was her A&R guy. It wasn’t his job to coddle her and tell her everything she wanted to hear. He was supposed to tell her what everyone else thought, but was too nice to say. He didn’t care about her feelings. But still, it wasn’t personal; he probably told Pink and Shakira the same things. She was a product; nothing more than an interchangeable object.

As Leah sat in silence her thoughts weighed heavily on her. Was she really fat? Sure, she had gained maybe a little weight, but had it really been that bad? She wore a size six. She didn’t think that she was that big, but maybe she could be wrong. Maybe she had in fact gotten a little too comfortable with herself. Lifting up her shirt, she began to grip her stomach, checking for imaginary rolls of skin. “Stop,” she said aloud. “Do not do this to yourself.”

She knew she was being ridiculous. Playing the same mind games with herself that she used to when she was a teenager. She wasn’t fat and she knew it. Not by normal standards anyway, but industry standards were different. She knew that anything bigger than a size two was unacceptable, and if she wasn’t willing to change, she might as well get in line at the unemployment office.  

When she had finally found herself, and thought to have had some inner peace, she was being accused of losing who she was. And just as she felt like she was finally pulling herself together, she was being told that she let herself go.

“Shit,” she sighed, wiping away the last of her tears, as she felt a headache coming on. All she wanted was for this day to be over. At least she’d be going home to the most amazing man ever.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, Leah had heard the vibration of her cell phone. Pulling the Blackberry out her purse, she smiled at the name that appeared on the screen. “Hello?”

“Hey, how’d your meeting go?” JC asked.

“Ugh, I don’t even want to talk about it,” Leah sighed trying to mask the fact that she had been crying.

“Are you okay?” JC asked, sensing that something was wrong by the tone in her voice.

“I’ll be fine,” Leah replied, turning the key in the ignition and starting up the car.

“Well whatever it is, just let it go, don’t let it mess with your head.”

“I’m trying not to.”

“Do you need me to kick someone’s ass?” JC asked, which cause Leah to burst out laughing, even though he was serious, which is why it was funny. And touching.

“No Baby, don’t worry about it, I’m good,” Leah assured him, smiling.  

“I’ve got your back, you know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know. Thanks, Jace.”

“I love you, hurry home.”

“Believe me, I will. I’m on my way, love you, ‘bye” she said, before she hit the end button, and tossed her phone in the passenger seat. Clearing her mind of the day’s previous events and how terribly wrong her meeting had gone, now, her only mission was making it home to the loving and understanding arms of her man. And nothing could get in the way of that.

As Leah began to pull out of her parking space, the skies had turned grey. Lightning had struck and thunder began to crackle loudly through the sky. Soon after, the rain began to heavily pour down, without letting up. “Fuck my liiiiiife,” Leah groaned, before turning on her windshield wipers.

An hour and a half later, Leah had finally made her way home, after being stuck in rain and traffic, and trying to bob and weave through the sea of paparazzi cars. She was drenched, and exhausted, and freezing, to say the very least. As soon as she stepped foot through the door, she heard a now familiar barking as Maisie, the jet black teacup maltipoo that JC had gotten for her birthday, raced toward her. “Hey, Girlie!” Leah said, her face instantly lighting up at the presence of her baby. “I hope your day was better than mine,” she said, bending down to rub the maltipoo’s ears. Maisie panted in contentment.

“Hey you finally made it,” Leah looked up to see JC coming towards her, towel in hand. “And you’re soaked.” He was always there, taking care of her. Just looking at him instantly made her forget about everything else.

“Yeah, just my luck to get caught in the rain,” she sighed, as he enveloped her in a hug, while wrapping the towel around her torso. It felt really good to be in his arms, even if she was freezing and soaking wet.

“Bad day?” He asked, before placing a kiss atop her head.

“Mmhmm,” Leah replied, her voice muffled by his chest. Maisie danced anxiously around their ankles.

“Wanna talk about it?”

“No,” she pouted. That’s the last thing that she wanted to do. “I’m fine really, just having an off day. I’m gonna go upstairs and get out of these wet clothes.” Leah said, turning away from him and heading upstairs.

After calming her nerves, and swapping her wet clothes for a pair of boy shorts and one of JC’s Redskins jerseys, Leah headed back downstairs. She was instantly met with the aroma of orange chicken when reached the bottom.

 “Since we both know I can’t cook, I decided on the next best thing,” JC said when he saw Leah entering the living room. “I got all your favorites.” He patted the spot next to him on the couch, motioning for her to join him.

“You seriously are the best,” Leah said plopping down next to him.

“I try,” JC replied, handing her a fork and a box of orange chicken and vegetable fried rice.

Leah leaned back against the arm of the couch, and propped her feet up onto JC’s lap. For the rest of the day, the two spent their time together on the couch eating, laughing and ordering movies from pay-per-view. Dude, Where’s My Car?, American Pie, and Rush Hour were the perfect distractions. JC really was amazing. Words couldn’t even express how she felt right now. Here she was having this crappy day, and he does something as simple as ordering out, and watching her favorite movies with her. He could read her without any verbal communication, and always knew what she needed. She was more than lucky to come home to him every day.

“So, are you ever gonna talk about what it is that’s bothering you?” JC asked, breaking her from her train of thoughts. She was now lying against his chest, while he combed his fingers through her damp hair.

Was she? She knew that starting over with JC meant that she’d be completely honest with him about everything that was going on in her life. No more hiding. She’d made a promise that she wouldn’t try and deal with her problems on her own anymore, because now she wouldn’t have to; he was there. She should tell him, and she would tell him, but just not now. Everything was going great, and she just wanted to be in the moment.

“I will,” Leah finally responded. “When I’m ready.”

“I’ll be here,” JC said assuring her.

And she knew he would be. There was no doubt in her mind about that. The problem lied in the fact that she struggled in her ability to be completely open. Something she’d have to work more on. But right now, she was just grateful that JC was everything that she needed him to be, and she couldn’t thank him enough for that.