A soft pain filled melody fills in. The sweet sorrow of a violin and deep percussion of piano among the thundering sounds of an orchestrated bass fills the air, creating an emotion of sadness, loneliness and,

Pure heart break.

Alone in a dark empty house sits Meghan. Clad in only a pair of dark blue faded jeans and a tight fitted black tank top, her legs are curled underneath her as she wraps her arms around her body baring a blank emotionless expression. The room itself radiates a cold breeze surrounding the grey feel all around. The setting is black and white as her vision lands on the shattered frame of a picture on the hardwood floor. Pieces of glass lay strayed across the ground as the picture itself lay perfectly atop the sharred pieces.

A picture of him and her.

Tearing her gaze away her eyes filled with hurt she stares off to the side as her lips begin to move to the first verse

You took your love away
Too fast
Left no chance to say
Look back
And now I know the truth it makes it easier
Maybe when time goes by
I'll understand

The room slowly begins to spin in a blurred motion and everything around the room begins to come alive as the chorus flows through. The glass on the ground magically begins to take shape once again transforming itself into a perfect frame before it was broken.

Let's pretend, that I've moved on
Then I'll tell myself, that life goes on, without you

The fallen over lamp that had been knocked from the table quickly finds it's way back onto the coffee table the tiny light bulb inside flicking itself on lighting up a section of the room. As opposed to her surroundings, Meghan remains in her position on the sofa oblivious to all that is happening around her. Her lips move in slow motion with the chorus. Her light blue eyes are now a darker shade of midnight blue and her long hair flows past her shoulders in soft waves creating a curtain around her face.

Open my eyes, take a look deep inside
I Run away
I Run away
I Run away
Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhh


By the time the chorus ends the room had magically come back together. All that had been broken was fixed. All that had been torn up was like it had been before. The lights which had been cut out were bright, illuminating the room. The red stain of wine that had seeped onto the white carpet near the fire place had vanished with the wine glass sitting still on the mantle where it had been earlier. The fireplace which had been damp with logs of black coal instantly set ablaze the orange- yellow cinder colors reflecting into her eyes.

Aahhhhh
Aahhhhh

As Meghan looks around the room she begins to take notice that the damaged appearance of the livingroom was no more and everything was back to normal. Rising from the couch she steps with her barefeet where the broken glass from the picture should have been and trudges down a dark narrow hall way. The second verse coming into play.

You threw it all away
So blind

The hallway is in a disorder as the living room had been before. Pictures on the wall hung lopsided and crooked where it is more than apparent that she had taken out some of her anger. A long narrow crack on the wall displays a sign of her actions. It tells the story of the betrayal she felt coursing through her and images of her banging her fist upon the wall previous to now begin to play.

Tears run down her cheeks as she pushed passed him out of their bedroom and into the hall. Trying her best to get away from him she finds herself struggling against him as he grabs her from behind. Turning her so that she was facing him his eyes are pleading with hers and he begs her to listen.

Pushed me far from you
And your life
( life, life }

Snatching her wrists from his hands she pushed against his chest with all of her might. Stumbling backward his back hit the bedroom door. Angrily he pushed himself off of the door and stepped to her. Her face was red and her body shook with anger as she yelled at him. It was evident that she was more than displeased with him. Giving up on his attempt to hold her and calm her down when she pushed him away the second time, he let his frustrations get the best of him and also began to shout. Hatefull words were sent back and forth as well as objects that she had thrown at him. Anything she could get her hands on went flying in his direction as he ducked and dodged the best he could.

Throwing his head back with his fists clenched at his sides he snapped his eyes shut willing himself not to get any angrier than he already was. After all, he was the one to blame. It was no one elses fault but his own. He had been the guilty party. He's the one who had been unfaithful. He's the one that caused the strain in what was once a beautiful relationship. Not her. Him.

Jabbing her finger into his chest his heart broke as her words pierced through him with venom. They were so harsh. So mean. So hurtful. And he knew she meant every word of it. Fisting his shirt inbetween her fingers she continued shouting at him while he remained silent. Her eyes were begging with him for an answer but her mouth saying other wise.

Now I know the tears won't lead
To loneliness
Baby when time goes by

And that was it. It was the one word that set everything off. The word that caused everything to come to a halt. He said it. He said it loud and clear. The word she didn't want to her she heard. And that's what set it off. That's what made her step back and stare at him with wide eyes as he brought a hand up to his burning cheek.

She slapped him.

He hadn't expected it and neither did she.

Her hand that was poised in the air was now covering her mouth as a fresh set of tears brimmed her eyes. Each step forward he took she took one back. They did this until he had her backed against the wall. Placing his hands on either side of her face he rested his forehead onto hers. His own set of tears now apparent. Not believing what she had just done she shook her head from side to side while he whispered comforting words to her. His lips touched hers for a brief second until she pulled away. Wiping her mouth with the back of her had the anger that had disappeared in a matter of seconds returned as the kiss reminded her of where his lips had previously been hours before.

On hers

Storming into the bedroom she emerged with his leather jacket. Shoving it into his chest she pointed toward the front door telling him to get out. She shoved and shoved him until they stood at the top of the staircase. Spinning on her heels she was prepared to lock herself into the bathroom like she had done many times before when his last words stung her heart as he called after her.

He was going to be with her.

The slamming of the door made her jump slightly. Biting down onto her lip she turned her attention to the vase on the hallway table. Picking it up she hurled it against the wall bits and pieces of glass flying into the air. The flowers that had been in it fluttered to the ground. Feeling herself go weak in the knees she fell against the wall for support banging her fists upon it as she slid down it helplessly.

I'll understand.

The sound of tires squealing resounded in a loud echo in her head as she stared at the crack in the wall. The crack alone shared the events of that night in vivid color. Skimming her index finger along the wall she crooned the rest of the chorus. Glancing over her shoulder so that she had a clear view of their bedroom she stepped forward halting just in the doorway.

The room was a disaster.

Nothing was left untouched. Everything had been destroyed.

What love had helped create. Love helped annihilate.

Let's pretend, that I've moved on
Then I'll tell myself, that life goes on, without you
Open my eyes

Standing there in a state of emptyness she was in a state of oblivion as the room and the hallway began to take affect. Just like before, everything started to move around in a blur and come together. She stood frozen in the midst of it all. The once crack in the wall was now straight and perfect, clear of any damage. The vase sat back on the table with flowers perched neatly inside. The bedroom in a complete haze was transformed brand new right before her eyes. The dressers which hung open had been closed. The bed sheets and pillows on the floor were placed neatly against the head board. The perfume bottles and papers lined up neatly along the vanity. The clothes on the ground hang neatly in the closet and once again the darkness that surrounded all in it's sight was gone.

The lights had magically turned back on erasing the bad memories recovering them with old happy ones.

Look deep inside
I Run away
I Run away
I Run awaaaaaaaaaaay

Still in her broken mind set she couldn't see all that was occuring around her. She couldn't see the signs that she didn't need him anymore. She couldn't read the writings on the wall. The house was trying to tell her something. It was telling her that it was time to move on. Telling her to get past it all. Telling her that she was stronger than all of this. The house had come together and it was distinctively trying to get the message across that she was to pull herself together just like it had done.

But she ignored it.

And as the house fixed all that was damaged and turned them anew she was blind to it all. Everytime she would walk past something that was broken or messed up the moment she brushed past it it would end up like it had been before.

Outside, the sound of rain began to patter against the window pane. The lightening was fierce and the thunder was booming. With a heavy sigh, distraught was marked all across her features. Running her hand through her hair she turned away from the bedroom doorway and headed downstairs. Passing by a broken mirror she stared into it. The reflection that stared back at her was one of a broken girl. Hey eyes didn't hold that light that they used to and her smile never once made an appearance. She held a permanent frown.

Not being able to face her reflection any longer she gathered her keys and headed for the front door. As soon as her back was turned the tired reflection that was holed up in the mirror changed. Kept inside was her reflection before tragedy struck. The once beautiful cinderella was replaced with the soul of the tortured step daughter upon the arrival of her prince.

But it was too late. She was already out of the door before she had to chance to witness that she still was cinderella.

I Run awaaaay

The rain pattered against the hood of her car completely drowning it with droplets of water, covering the windshield as she drove on the sleek pavement of the black roads. She couldn't distinguish between her tears and the rain making it difficult for her to see clearly.

The chorus fades out and an intense instrumental break displays the many emotions coursing through her body. The violins stand alone stringing the chords in sync with the chords of her heart. As the melody begins to overtake all together.

Following the melody is the rain.

The more intense and vigorous it gets the harder the rain begins to fall.

The more labored her breathing the more rough the violins play.

The harder her fingers grip the steering wheel the darker the sky becomes.

The faster her tears begin to spill the quicker the clouds come rolling in.

As quick as the beating of her heart begins to pace the louder it echoes with the clapping thunder.

The images that flow through her mind flash across the windshield of her car like a theatre screen.

Him and her kissing. Him and her making love on their bed. Him carressing her body with his soft hands. His hands smoothing down her back. Her hands tuggging at his hair. His lips grazing the spot beneath her ear. Her tounge slithering across his neck. Their naked bodies shuffling across the sheets.

All the while the images burned into her memory another blur came over her and this time she was sitting in the passenger seat of her car. She had an outer body experience. Now instead of having a breakdown she was watching herself go through the motions like an innocent bystander.

I Run away ( way way way way )
Ahhhhh
I run away ( way way way way )
Ahhhh

Reaching her hand out to take hold of her other selfs hand it was to no avail as her touch faded once it came in contact with her. Her hand simply passed through her like a ghost.

Realizing there was nothing she could do she continued to look on and watch herself get swallowed into the disaster that lie ahead.

The Meghan who was driving the car pressed her foot further onto the gas as the images kept on with their haunting.

Her whispered words of I love you's

His groans

Her moans of pleasure

Their names dripping from each others lips

I Run away
Ahhh
Way
I Run away
Way
Way Way Way Way Way

Their quiet giggling

It was all to much to take and she never saw it coming.

All melody ceased and it was just her voice belting out the lone lyrics to the light strumming of a guitar.

Let's pretend, that I've moved on
Then I'll...

Speeding down the empty roads, bright lights from the car ahead flashed immensely immediately corrupting her vision. Along with the booming melody with the music that came tumbling back in came, the crashing of two cars.

Tell myself, that life goes on, with out you
Open my eyes ( Ahhhhh )
Take a look deep inside
I Run away ( I run away )
I Run away
I Run awayyyyyyyyy

Ambulance and news camera surround the scene as she is lifted on a stretcher and placed in the back of the ambulance truck covered in a white sheet from head to toe. Standing off to the side in a grassy area near the forest road was her otherself. She looked on as chaos ensued the scene. Turning her head she watched herself get pulled from the car by the medics and get placed in the back.

Lifelessly.

Yellow caution tape was tacked all around the scene while cops held reporters at bay while clean up crew took on trying to clear away the mess.

Media stations and T.V. reporters clamored back and forth filming the entire scene. A latin woman dressed in a red suit held her mic up to her lips while she spoke into the camera. Her voice filled with apparent shock.

' Rosala Lindez with breaking news, Pop singer Meghan Carter, ex-wife to singer Justin Timberlake moments ago has just been involved in a tragic car accident and has been pronounced dead on the scene. Once again, Breaking News. Singer, Meghan Carter has just been involved in serious accident and is pronounced dead.'

( I Run awayyyyyyyyyyyyyy )
Let's pretend, that I've moved on
Tell myself, that life goes on, without you
Open my eyes ( Ahhhhh )
Take a look deep inside
I Run away
( I Run away )
I Run away

The loud sirens of the ambulance sound off in the distance as the ambulance rushes away before everything begins to fade. The rain had stopped falling and suddenly the clouds in the sky began to seperate. Standing alone watching everything around her begin to disappear into nothing, Meghan herself slowly starts to fade away until there is nothing left but sheer white.

Let's pretend, that I've moved on
Then I'll tell myself, that life goes on, without you
Open my eyes...

Sitting in her car unmoving, Meghan blinked longingly and stared back at the house infront of her. She had remained in her driveway all along. With movements ever so slow she slipped the keys from the ignition.

Take a look deep inside
I Run away
I Run away
I Run away

Opening the door she set one foot down onto the ground followed by the other. Looking up to the sky the clouds began to part and a tiny beam of sunshine began to peek through. Suddenly the sky changed color from dark gray to baby blue.

Let's pretend, that I've moved on
Then I'll tell myself...

A slow smile crept itself onto her face as she padded up the cobblestone drive way toward the front steps into her home.

She realized that she didn't need to run anymore.

Life goes on

And soon enough her heart will too

That life goes on, without you
Open my eyes
Take a look deep inside
I Run away

I Run away

' I Run Away' song credit: Britney Spears

Meghan sat perched in her high chair infront of her vanity table adjusting her bangs that had fallen over her eyes. With a quick exhale of a breath she closed her eyes briefly going over her routine in her head once more.

" Focus." She silently coached herself. " No need to be nervous you have this in the bag. You can do this chick." When she opened her eyes she was met with her reflection in the mirror staring back at her.

With a positive nod of her head she slid from her seat and stood tall.

" You can do this." She repeated more sure of herself this time.

Adjusting the torn shreds of her black top she walked over to the tan sofa across the room where her arm bands lay strewn on the cushions. Quickly slipping them on each of her forearms the ripped material added the finishing touches to her costume completeting the sassy, sexy, gothic appeal she had been going for.

Over her shoulder she checked her apperance in the mirror and had to smile at herself. Never in her life had she ever put on an outfit that was as provocative as the one she was wearing now but then again she wasn't that girl anymore. Today standing before her was a whole new person. She had changed for the better and in lieu of that her personality and image had taken a dramatic makeover also. Ever since her divorce with another said popstar she had taken all of the pain that she had kept inside for so long and turned it into something else. Something stronger. The heartbreak she suffered had been her motivation to drop and rid herself of the 'woe is me' act and spin it so that it was now an ' take no shit' act. And she didn't.

And tonight was the night where she was going to make it clear not only to herself but to the whole world.

A sudden knock at the door shook her from her thoughts as she waited for the person to make themselves known.

" Come in."

Then a gentlemen that she recognized as one of the backstage stage hands poked his head inside. A garbled voice floated from his headseat and he spoke into it nodding in the affirmative.

" It's showtime. Are you ready?" He asked politely although there was a slight quickness to his voice. Not wanting to blantantly rush her out of her dressing room he spoke in a manner in which meant she needed to get a move on.

" Let's do it." She responded with a smile. Opening her door wider he allowed her to pass by him following her out into the white halls. Bustling through the hustle of the backstage area her assistant as well as her entourage escorted her down the hall prepping her for the performance as well as speaking words of encouragement.

" I want you to kill this performance tonight ok?" Her choreographer told her as he stood behind her giving her shoulders a quick massage.

Blowing out a short breath she accepted the mic from a crew member wriggling her hands at her side. After a quick hype from her choreographer she was directed to her mark on the stage. As she moved forward to take her place behind the curtains she paused and turned her head to him.

" I'm not going kill this. I'm going to murder it." She whispered with a smirk.

Shooeing her off he gave her a thumbs up and anxiously looked on from the backstage cameras where a live shot of the audience was shown. Rubbing his hands together nervously his face was one of disgust when the camera rested on him. Him who in his mind had given a far from spectacular performance tonight sitting behind a piano with his stupid mini camera all shoved up in his face.

Shannon appeared at his side seconds later also showing a look of distaste when she noticed him in the camera grinning ever so charmingly in his gray suit all hugged up against none other than the person who had been his accomplice in his infidelity against their friend, Cameron Diaz.

" Ugh. They damn well deserve each other." She spoke with malice. Rob made a noise in response.

They watched as Lupe Fiasco took the stage and prepared to introduce the next performer of the night. Their hearts began to beat with excitement as the audience began to cheer when her name was spoken. The camera quickly cut to Justin for a reaction when the name of his ex-wife was said but found none.

Rob shook his head.

" What goes around does come back around. Just wait and see Timberlake."

" Wait and see."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dressed in an all black formal tux Lupe Fiasco took the stage holding up the mic to his lips as he addressed the crowd

" Our next performer of the night has sold millions of albums and sold out auditoriums world wide. She remained off the scene for awhile but now she is back with a fierce new album and she's been hittin it hard. Here tonight at the 49th annual Grammys she will perform her new single ' Dirty Woman ' for the first time ever. Everyone put your hands together for the ultra sexy... Meghan Carter."

The clapping of the audience began to subside as the curtains raised revealing a shadow cast in black standing high in the middle of the stage on a platform of steel steps. The background singers, the band, the dancers, everyone and everything was hidden in the dark.

Suddenly the long awaited silence had been interrupted when the sound of a heavy electric guitar riff echoed loudly through the auditorium. A white fog started to spread across the stage and a single blue light shone on the shirtless guitarist as he appeared from the shadows to the front of the stage. His brief solo lasted only a few seconds before two more guitars joined in and the music began to start up.

It was slow, dark, and angry. Not something you would expect from a popstar.

And as Meghan brought the mic up to her lips she figured but then again she wasn't a popstar anymore. No. After tonight, she was going to be a rockstar.

Oh no...
Oh no...
Oh no...

The stage still hidden none the less was now being illuminated by a tiny delve of light. It wasn't bright enough to see clearly but it was enough to distinguish her features as it cast down onto her from above. Looking out into the audience she could see the eyes of her fellow celebrities as they looked on in shock and some in waiting anticipating her next move. She knew what they were probably thinking. This is definately not what they were used to.

But as she stood tall and powerful soaking up all of the energy of the room and what the already screaming fans were giving her she pushed their opinions aside as prepared herself to deliver a performance of a lifetime.


You'll never make him stay
So take you're weight off of him
I know your every move
So won't you just let him be
He's been there times before
But he was too blind to see
That you seduce every man
A shame that he fell so easily

Taking the steps one by one the heels of her leather boots clanked against the steel as she moved about in a tantalizing manner. Sliding her fingers down the railing as she got to the last step she remained there gripping the rail in her hand tightly.

She's saying that's ok
Hey baby do what you please
I have the stuff that you want
I'am the thing that you need

Leaning her body agaisnt the staircase she bent over backwards slowly running her hand across her chest seductively. Standing upright she skimmed her hands down her leather clad leg before bringing it back up to rest on her hip. Turning her head in the opposite direction she narrowed her eyes at one of the male dancers who came up behind her. Grinding her body against his front she spun around so she was facing him. Fisting his t- shit in between her fingers she brought his face closer to hers.

She looked him deep in his eyes
She touching him so to start
She said theres no turnng back
She's trapped him in her heart

Roughly pushing the dancer away so that he fell to the ground she stepped over him toward the guitarist as she got ready to dive into the chorus.

She's a dirty woman, nah
She's a dirty woman, nah
She's a dirty woman, no

A blast of orange flames burst up from the floor on either side of the stage. They heavy fog that floated was lifted as red and orange laser lights engulfed the stage. The band in the back pounded on their instruments as the back up singers belted out as loudly as they possibly could. The three male dancers and the three female dancers moved in sync with each other perfecting the well put together routine they had rehearsed days earlier.

A dirty woman
Let him be!!

She shouted the last part with such force matching the vibrations of the drums and guitar mixed into one. Once again the lights dimmed as to what they had been before and a hazy fog engulfed the stage again.

Oh no...
Oh no...

Leaving his side Meghan sashayed over to the mic stand in the middle. Placing her mic in it's holder she switched her hips in a lethargic motion swiping her tounge across her lips peering down into the fan pit below her. She grinned as their hands reached up to touch any part of her that they could.

Oh no...

With a playful shake of her index finger she shook her head 'no' leading into the second verse

She likes the boys in the band
She knows when they come to town
Every musicians fan after the curtains come down
She waits at backstage doors
For those who have prestige
Who promise fortune and fame
A life thats so carefree

Snatching up the mic again the stand began to wobble. She caught it sliding her body down it before throwing it to the ground harshly. Now on her knees she swiveled her hair around crawling closer to the edge of the stage like a prowess on the hunt.

She's saying that's ok
Hey baby do what you want
I'll be your night loving thing
I'll be the freak you can taunt

During that last line she made a bold move. Seeking out a male in the audience she picked out one who was closest to her. Using her finger as a motion for him to come closer his eyes widened and a broad smile spread across his face as she wrapped her fingers around the back of his head and swiped her tounge across his earlobe, her breath hot on his neck. Pulling away she winked at him as she slithered around on her knees. The leather material of her pants sliding against the glossy stage. The boy in which she had just violated remained jaw dropped as a couple people excitedly egged him on.

And I don't care what you say
I want to go too far
I'll be your everything
If you make me a star

A dirty woman, nah
A dirty woman, nah
A dirty woman, no
A dirty woman...

Grinding against the leg of one of her dancers he grabbed a handful of her hair and forcefully moved her head from side to side. Dipping her head back she thrashed around back and forth her eyes tightly shut. As gold and silver sparks erupted near her she made sure to keep herself a few inches away inorder to save herself from injury.

A dirty woman, nah
A dirty woman, nah
A dirty woman, no
A dirty woman...

Now on her feet she gripped the mic in her hands tightly. Pushing through her dancers who where grinding all on her in a cirlce she ran down the narrow walkway that stopped just before the celebrity seats. She dropped to the ground sliding the rest of the way as she screamed the next few lines

She's dirty!!
She's dirty!!
Damn filthy!!
She's dir...dir...dir...dirty!!

Everyone looked on in awe and amazement at her performance. Jaws dropped, wide eyes, at the edge of their seats it was all one big circus. Lights, fire flames, pyro shooting off in every which way, torn outfits, half naked dancers, smoke, loud and blaring riffs, just plain....pandemonium. And they were eating it all up.

Suddenly the music began to slow down like it had been in the intro. After her little air guitar stint she was hunched over as if she were in pain. With one hand planted on the ground she lifted her head her wild hair falling over her eyes. Staring out into the audience her chest heaved up and down and her body shined with perspiration.

Staggering to her feet she walked to her right stopping at the edge of the stage looking out into the rows high above

She said I have to go home
Cause I'm real tired you see
But I hate sleepin alone
Why don't you come with me
Then he said my baby's at home
She's probably worried tonight
I didn't call on the phone
To say that I'm alright

After serenading the right side she stalked over to the left side but instead of going to the end of the stage she stood a few feet away from it standing in the spot that she deemed perfect for a clear view of him. Her eyes bounced off all of the many faces purposefully skippng over his. Justin looked up at her trying to keep his face as emotionless as he could. Inside he was raging. He knew the lyrics were about him. They have had to be. She was putting him on the spot and it was more than embarrasing to him. She may not have been staring directly at him but she was getting the message across as clear as glass

Clenching his jaw he continued to watch as she made a mockery of him on national television. Cameron on the other hand latched her hand onto his with a roll of her eyes.

But no, she walked up to him
She said I'm all yours tonight
He said he ran to the phone
To say baby I'm alright
But the lies continued on
When he told her but unlock the door
Because he forgot the key
She said he's not coming back...

Turning her head slowly her eyes narrowed visibly as she focused solely on Justin and Cameron with a piercing gaze. The fire that blazed through her icy blue eyes was more than evident and caused quite a stir up as the people begin to stare at them and whisper with eyes brows raised. Justin eyes locked with hers and he was unable to tear his gaze away. Cameron fidgeted in her seat uncomfortably trying to play it off to the cameras by smiling but Meghan's next words forced her to look back up at her as they hit her like a ton of bricks.

Because he's sleeping with me!!!

Meghan had sung that last part so loudly that it rang throughout the crowd and hit them with such force. It was more than unexpected to say the least.

Then suddenly a herd of gasps erupted as explicit images and words displayed on the big screen in the background high above the air. Words like: Cheater. Scum. Whore. Unfaithful. Disgusting. and many other defaming words.

A dirty woman, nah
A dirty woman, nah,
A dirty woman....

Being the bold person that she is Meghan pointed her finger directly at Cameron with a sharp glare switching up the words of the chorus.

You dirty woman, nah
You dirty woman, nah
You dirty woman...

You can't beat me!!!!!

Swishing her head around violently both of her guitarists joined her side and the three of them banged their heads back and forth jamming out true rocker style.

Meghan brought the mic back to her lips urging the crowd who were already on their feet cheering loudly.

Come on!!
Come on!!
Come on!!
Come on!!

Carelessly dropping the mic onto the floor she raked her hands threw her hair bowing as her performance came to an end. The auditorium were on their feet giving her a much desereved standing ovation. With a smug chuckle she looked to Justin and blew him a kiss. Turning her attention to Cameron she swiftly gave her the finger.

Not wanting to stick around for their reactions she spun on her heels strutting back up the stage with a smirk on her face. Disappearing behind the curtains she could still hear the roar of the crowd as she was escorted back into her dressing room.

" That was...oh my god... that was sick!! Meghan you were soo damn good." Rob and Shannon exclaimed bounding into her dressing room smothering her with hugs.

" Thanks you guys. I feel really good." She said with a shortness of breath donning a cocky smile.

" Wish we could celebrate more but we need to get you in your dress and back out there." Shannon said going to the closet for her dress.

" Ok." Stripping off her sweaty costume she slipped into her dress as her make up and hair artists arrived for a re touch up on her hair and face.

On her way back to her seat Rob nudged her with his elbow and she turned to look at him.

" I don't remember that last part being in the routine." He said with a knowing grin.

She shrugged coyly thinking back to the end of her performance.

" Hey, in the famous words of my ex what goes around comes around right?" They shared a quick laugh slipping past the reporters and photographers clamoring around her asking her about the amazing stunt she just pulled.

Now in her seat she leaned over and whispered into his ear as Beyonce accepted her award for best female.

" More than you'll ever know."

Song credit: Michael Jackson ' Dirty Diana'

Seated in a booth surrounded amongst four of her girlfriends, The group raised their glasses in the air above the center of the table, beaming as the liquid threatened to spill over the rim.

" Ok, I would like to propose a toast." Eva Mendez spoke, casting her eyes between them all.

But before she could go on any further, Meghan, already caught up in her own festivities, threw her drink back swallowing it all in one gulp. In a fit of giggles she set her glass down on the table, using her finger to swipe up the remains as it dribbled from the side of her mouth.

Eva nudged her with her elbow eliciting a few sniggers from the others who's drinks were still poised in the air.

" Meghan!!" She exlaimed. Meghan maintained her innocence with a quick shrug followed by a hiccup. " Jeez girl, your supposed to wait until after I finish. Not before I even start the damn speech."

With a sideways grin, Meghan playfully rolled her crystal blue orbs as Eva motioned with her hand to the bartender for another round of drinks.

" I'm sorry guys. I'm just so ready to get this party started."

Dancing in her seat to Three Six Mafia's ' Doe Boy Fresh' as it pumped loudly through the speakers down below on the lower level of the club, a male waiter set the round platter full of shot glasses on the center of the table.

" Get this party started? We haven't even been here an hour yet and you've already had a Champagne Rainbow, A Devils Tail, a shot of Jack, and two, no wait..." Counting the empty glasses infront of Meghan, Eva raised her brow." Make that three Rum n Cokes."

Accepting her glass from Eva, Meghan looked to the other girls with a look of annoyance.

" I really appreciate you observing my alcohol intake but last the time I checked I was over twenty one mom." With a short nod of her head she backed up her last statement by taking a small sip of her 'Tequila Sour', savoring the taste as it dissolved in her mouth. " Plus, this stuff is just way to good." She added comically.

Jessica Simpson, who had been sitting to her right, shook her head with a bemused chortle. " She is sooo gone."

" Am not!!" She defended. " I'm just, what's the word?" She paused a second, casting her eyes upward in thought.

" Drunk." Janaie, her bestfriend supplied or more so clarified as the girls agreed in amusement at their friends lack of intelligence at the moment.

" No." She replied with a playfull glare. " I'm buzzed. Yeah that's it. Buzzed."

With a wary glance in Meghan's direction, Janaie leaned toward Shannon, Meghan's P.A. and also bestfriend. " Dude, if Johnny were to find out about this, you know we would be so screwed right? She said in a whisper.

Shannon merely nodded in the affimative.

" Big time." The two chuckled.

" Ok, just checking." Janaie then fell back into the conversation.

Replacing her now empty glass with a full one, Shannon sat back and watched as Jessica, Eva, Janaie, and Meghan quarrled with each other over some subject matter or the other. Staring off to the side, she watched as various celebrities strolled around the V.I.P. , mingling with their friends and what not. Three Six Mafia's ' Doe Boy Fresh' ended and now the D.J. was spinning a cut from Fat Joe's ' I Make It Rain'

Yeah, I'm in this business of Terror
Gotta handful of stacks, better grab an umbrella
I make it rain { I make it rain )
I'm in this business of Terror
Gotta handful of stacks, better grab an umbrella
I make it rain ( I make it rain )
I make it rain on them hoes
I make it rain ( I make it rain )
I make it rain on them hoes


" Meghan!!"

" Meghan!!!"

Loud chatter between the girls ceased as someone or someones seemed to be beckoning for the star's attention. Peering off in the direction of which the voices were coming from, by the entrance of the V.I.P. behind the red ropes were a pack of photographers clamoring to find their way inside. Held back by security guards, they opted to shout out at the celebrites instead. Blinded by the zillions of flashes that went off as soon as they turned their heads, the girls faced forward seemingly have calmed down some after their brief debaucle in which surprisingly she won.

Now, the girls somewhat more inebriated then before, returned to raising their glasses in the air for another attempt at a toast.

Meghan began.

" Alright. I think that it is only fair that I give the toast after having screwed up the last one,"

" Damn right." Eva muttered. Bumping her with her knee, Meghan flung her napkin in Eva's face after she ever so discreetly called her a ' coke whore'.

Laughter resounding aloud, she went on.

" Ok, I would like to dedicate this toast to my girls. Seriously, I have no clue what I would do without you guys." She spoke looking inbetween their faces. " You all have been there for me through thick and thin. You've stood by me and supported me through all of my rough times and for that I'am forever grateful,"

Pretending to swipe away a fake tear, Eva put her hand to her chest as if she were trying to keep her emotions in check in which the girls then fell out laughing.

" So, I say that tonight we make this our-"

" Would you please hurry up? I would like to see the dancefloor sometime today." Janaie huffed with an impatient cross of her caramel legs. Meghan sent her a look cracking a tiny smile. " It's not the freakin Grammys in here." Janaie also added.

" Dang Jana. What in the heck has gotten into you?" Shannon questioned, befuddled all the while exhilirated.

Jessica waved her off.

" Eh, she just wants to hurry up and catch that Taye Diggs look alike guy standing in that corner over there." They swiveled their head in the direction she nodded. " She's been eyeing that guy ever since we walked in here." She finished causally.

The guy posted against the wall speaking with three or four others noticed the girls looking at him. As he caught Janaie's stare he winked at her with his green eyes and sent her a grin.

" Ooooohhhhh, Lookie lookie here," Eva taunted as Janaie's cheek turned an immediate shade of red. All turing to stare at her, the teasing was relentless. " I think Janaie has got herself a little boyfriend."

Janaie went flush.

" Shut up." She pouted, securing her arms across her chest. Meghan laughed aloud throwing an arm over her friends bare shoulder.

" Ok ok. Let me hurry this up so Janaie can hurry up and snatch Mr. 'How Stella Got Her Groove Back' before he get's taken by someone else." She hugged Janaie to her side when she grumbled calling her a ' Bitch'.

" As I was saying earlier, I love you girls with all of my heart and I look forward to another ten years of this crazy friendship. So I say, to a girls night out."

Clinking their glasses happily, they repeated the saying once more in unison.

" Girls night out!!!" Slamming their drinks down onto the table, they all fell back into the booth with gratification

I see your lips movin, but I don't hear nothin
Everybody talkin like they really know something about us
But they don't know nothin about us

I'm just tryin to live
But you're all up in my grill
How's a girl to breathe with the media
Staring down my mouth with a four inch lens
I'm just trying to hit the mall with some of my friends

They talkin bout us so I guess we doin somethin right
Ballin in the mix with the camera lights shinin bright
They know we caked up but they don't know how much we worth
People clear the celing off because we gettin work

As Brooke Hogan's feat Paul Wall 'About Us' began to bump, Janaie set her Gucci purse down next to her and stood from the booth.

" Where are you going?" Jessica asked.

She pointed to the ladies room. " I'll be right back." Smoothing down her mini skirt, she primped her hair a bit, adjusting her top.

Passing knowing glances back and forth, the girls watch their friend take off as she strutted across the room.

Sitting up, Meghan called after her. " Um, the ladies room is over in that direction sweet heart." She shouted pointing to the opposite side of the room.

Winking at them over her shoulder, Janaie purposefully switched her hips infront of a group of middle aged men seated at the bar as she went her own way.

" Oh no she didn't!" Eva exclaimed. Falling over eachother with loud cackles, they couldn't help but mull over the fact that instead of heading to the 'Ladies Room' their pal instead went in the direction of the ' Mens' where she had last seen her Mr. Taye Diggs scamper off to.

" I love that girl. I truly do." Jessica spoke, gently waving at Adrian Brody as he quickly passed by.

" Right." Meghan sounded after a while.

We flying the first class
Up in the sky
Poppin' Champagne
Livin' the life
In the fast lane
And I won't change
By the Glamorous, oh the flossy flossy

The Glamorous
The Glamorous, glamorous ( the glamorous life )
By the Glamorous, oh the flossy flossy

Surveying her surroundings, Meghan sighed a small sigh of contentment. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, the smile currently placed on her face wasn't one of phoniness, it was one of happiness. Pure and clean happiness. Going back to the last year in her life which in her opinion was one of the hardest, she would have never thought that she were ever going to get another chance relinquish herself with another sunny day or a laugh of exuberence. According to the media, she was supposedly suffering from some sort of post partum depression after the divorce. Launching herself into a morose state of health and all of that crap. True, she did feel a bit dejected at a time and maybe a little discouraged, but that was that. She wasn't some helpless, spiritless, woebegone that the tabloids made her out to be.

She was far from that. After maybe a month, month and a half, or could be less of sulking a bit, she was right back on her feet as if nothing had happened. All though you wouldn't have been able to tell because according to the media she was just another ' helpless star going through a harsh divorce'. They never tended to speak on how well she was doing, or print the pictures of her smiling and having a good time. No. Only the photos of her at a moment in which she seemed sad and desperate were the only ones that seem to catch everyone's attention.

Such is a life huh?

Well, atleast tonight was one of the best night's she's had in a long time. It took some serious talk and a bit of persuading to get her manager Johnny Wright to give her the day off, seeing as she has been working herself to an early grave the last couple of months with her album coming out as well as preparing for another vigorous world tour, but as soon as he gave the 'okay' she was on the phone faster than the speed of light dialing up her girlfriends. Coincidentally all of them had the day off as well, so it all worked out perfectly.

Tonight was going to be her night. She was going to make damn sure of it too. Nothing was going to bring her down. No way. Not the papps who have been snapping away pictures of her all night, not the whispers of the few wondering what she was doing out in club instead of crying at home, not the strict alcohol limit that Johnny had told Shannon to put her on, which she has been ignoring by the way, Nothing.

Tonight it was just about her and her gal pals. She was on top of the world and if she has anything to do with it, it was going to remain that way. Nothing was going to bring her down. Nothing at all.

" Justin!!"

" Justin!! Hey man over here!!"

" Lookin good JT!!!"

" Justin, just one for the camera!!!"

" This way Justin, this way!!!"

Except for that.

Sending a message on her two way, Eva halted in her doings to look up. " What in the hell." Shifting to get a better view, the girls squinted as nothing but bright lights went off near the entrance. Photographers were at an uproar as they shouted and hollered at the Mr. Sexyback himself, shoving and tripping over one another.

" Justin!!!"

" Justin man!!!"

Using his bodyguards Lonnie and Tiny as a blockade round himself, Justin entered the club behind him lagging an entourage of which consisted of, Trace, Pharell, Tyler a friend of Trace's and Trace's new model girlfriend. Dressed in familair Timberlake attire, A maroon William Rast T shirt with the initials written in yellow, blue jeans, white sneakers, and a black cap that read ' Jack Daniels'. All smiles and occasionally making small talk with the photogs, Justin Timberlake and his crew manuvered their way into the tightly packed club, stirring up more and more commotion as other's recognized his prescence.

Stopping at a nearby table, he shook hands with Snoop Dogg before getting lost in the sea of bodies on his way to the bar.

" He is not all of that important." Jessica stated. Before they could face forward another uproar started but this time it was for Cameron Diaz. Her heels clicking on the ground as she walked, she refused to acknowledge the papparazzi who were desperately vying for her attention. Flipping her bangs out of her eyes, she kept on in the direction of which Justin had gone.

The photogs were not pleased at all and resorted to calling her names such as ' Low class actress' ' Ice Queen' ' Tooth pick' and things.

One even went as far as to say ' Eat a hamburger you flat chested stick.'

Even though he was thrown out for that comment, Meghan and a few others couldn't help but begin to crack up at the man.

" Bunch of bitches anyway." Eva refered about Cameron and Justin. Dismissing it all with a flick of her wrist, she resumed tinkering with her phone, deciding on placing a quick call to her boyfriend.

" Hey, you alright?" Jessica whispered. Rising from her seat she opted to sit next to Meghan who had suddenly become quiet.

With a tight smile she replied with an " I'm fine."

Jessica nodded, gently laying a hand on her thigh. " You know, if you're up for it we can leave. I heard that ' Spot' was really good tonight. We could head on over and check it out."

Meghan patted her hand but shook her head ' no' opting to let out a breathy laugh for her friend. " Jess, you don't have to worry. I'm fi-"

She was interrupted by Janaie who came bounding over to the table as if her heels were hot on fire. Catching her breath some, she stared at them wide eyed.

" Guess who I just saw over by the bar supposedly getting his ' swerve ' on or whatever it is that he calls it." All the while she spoke her hand flailed wildly about.

" Justin and Cameron."

Jessica, Meghan, Shannon, and Eva, who was tangled in a conversation on her phone replied in unison.

Clamping her mouth shut, Janaie let out a soft ' oh ' and plopped down in the booth next to Shannon who gave her an inqusitive look, wondering about her whereabouts for the last forty minutes.

I see you windin and grindin up on that pole
I know you see me lookin at you and you already know
I wanna love you, you already know
I wanna love you, you already know

A brief silence fell over them and as she looked around Meghan noticed that all eyes on the table were on her. They were looks of unsure on how they should react and tenderness toward their friend.

Staring back at them, Meghan finally released a sigh and cleared her throat. She knew what it was they were thinking. She was thinking the exact same. Things were really going to blow over once Justin catches word that he just walked in and took over the same room as his ex.

Sitting up, she blew out a breath flipping her auborn hair over her shoulder as she spoke with her hands.

" Will you guys please stop with all of the sympathy glances? Seriously people, I'am ok." She reassured them with a small smile. " Just because it just so happens that he's here doesn't mean I'm going to automatically break down and cry. I'm so over him you guys." With a disdained wave of her hand she continued. " He's not even apart of my life anymore and for that I'm happy. So if I'm happy then that means that you guys should be happy too alright? I've said it once and I'll say it again, forget his ass. I'm not going to let someone as stupid as Justin Timberlake ruin our night alright."

Signaling for another round of drinks, as soon as they reached the table, she told them each to grab a glass.

" Now, no more staring at me like I'm some fragile piece of glass ok?" She looked back and forth between them adamantly. Gripping her cup, the pink liquid swirled around. " We came here to party our asses off and dang it that's what we are going to do! Now if you guys don't throw back these drinks and let loose then I will personally see to it that I kick all of your asses individually understand?"

After a hesitant moment of quietness, Eva spoke.

" Hell Yeah!!! That's what I'm talking about!! I want to get drunk!!" She boasted just a bit to loudly that a few onlookers stared at them with beguilement across their features.

Meghan laughed to herself, clamping her hand over her friends mouth.

Shannon clinked her nails against her glass. " Well said dear. Well said."

All inhibitions thrown out of the window the girls agreed then excitedly downed what was to be a chorus of drinks by the end of the night.

The rest of the night was spent enjoying themselves. Drawing much attention to themselves the girls engaged in many different activites. From body shots atop the bar, hitting the dancefloor a couple of times, dancing atop the tables, nothing was off limits. Meghan had even been invited by the D.J. to mix a few songs here and there in which the club goers went wild, snapping away pictures of the singer on their phones.

Signing a few autographs and posing for a few pictures, the more than blantantly drunk females resorted to taking a few pictures for their own keep sakes, posing in very erotic postions, well as erotic as you can get in a public place. The pictures were very borderline 'girls gone wild' just without the showing off the boobs and ass but as for everything else, it was all very amusing to watch.

Later on in the night, the girls were engaged in a round of pointless gossip when a photographer happened to break through the red ropes unseen by the security.

" Meghan, smile."

Caught off guard as he began to snap away, the girls were to drunk to even care at the moment and automatically began posing. Throwing her head back in a fit of giggles, from the corner of her eye Meghan noticed that Justin was staring in her direction. With his beer in hand, he leaned aganist the bar and shook his head in disgust. Cameron was off somewhere with Trace's girlfriend at the moment. Mouthing a few words to Trace who stood beside him speaking with a friend, he glanced in the direction in which Justin had spoke of. Letting out a laugh he shook his head also and the two turned away from the scene.

This pissed her off. How dare he have the nerve to look down on her after what's he's done. Who does he really think he is?

Biting down on her lip, a brilliant idea formed itself in her head.

She'll show him.

Smiling sweetly at the photographer she put her hand up to stop him ." Wait, wait, wait. " Hiccup. " Could you hold on for just one second?" She put her finger to her lips and hiccuped once more.

He smiled holding his camera that hung around his neck. His cap was placed backwards on his head as he reloaded the film.

Meghan dug into her purse for a pen but found none so she turned to Jessica.

" Meg, what are you doing? What are you looking for?" Shannon questioned.

" Quick, give me a pen or something." She spoke hurriedly. Finding a permanent marker in her bag, Jessica handed it to her. " Thanks."

The girls shared befuddled stares as they watched her snatch a white napkin off the drinks platter and scribble a few words on it.

" Okay you guys, listen up..." Capping the pen she informed the girls on what she had planned. Ecstatic after learning of the plan, the girls then proceeded to huddle together and smile chessily for the camera.

" Girl you are so good!!!" Eva beamed. Meghan simply shrugged with a smirk.

" Alright we're ready." Meghan informed the man. Directing his camera he prepared to snap away. " Alright you guys ready?" They nodded. " 1..2...3"

Holding up the napkin in her hand front and center, the girls with big smiles on their faces proceeded to lift their fingers in an obscene gesture. Meghan, who was bunched in the middle held the napkin with both hands, smirking openly.

The photographer, as he read what was written on the napkin, silently thanked the heavens above for he knew that as soon as he printed the picture he and his family were going to be set for life.

Front Cover
' Star Magazine '
Meghan Carter's Wild Night Out On The Town!!!!

'We wonder what ex hubby Justin Timberlake has to say about this photo?'

On the cover of 'Star' magazine was a photo of Meghan, Eva Mendez, Jessica Simpson, Shannon and Janaie flipping off the camera with bright smiles while Meghan held up a square white napkin. And in bold capital letters it read,

' Fuck Him'

An edgy pop beat begins as the start of the video. The screen then cuts to inside the living area of a lavish hotel room brightly illuminated. The camera passes by the television but no sound is coming through. As the beat progresses, the focus lands on a silver Razr cell phone placed neatly on the middle of a coffee table next to a stack of magazines. The background lighting of the LCD screen is blue and the focus zooms in closely as the name ' Nikki ' pops up as the caller id.

The focus stays on the phone as a hand with french tipped fingernails lifts it, flipping it open. The screen is then split into two as Meghan appears on one side and the caller appears in the other. Nikki, her friend in the video is standing against her car in a parking lot across the street from a night club with her phone pressed to her ear. It's night outside as club goers mingle around the sidewalks near the entrance. A bouncer with black shades and a t- shirt guards behind the red ropes unclipping it to let a few people in.

Next to Nikki, is her friend Mina perched on the hood of the car watching as the scene infront of her unfolds. She looks to Nikki briefly pointing across the street. Nikki only nods her head as the person on the other end picks up.

" Meghan, you are never going to believe what I'am looking at right now."

Meghan's face is zoomed upclose as she furrows her brow slightly

" What are you talking about?"

" You know your man? Mr. Wonderful? The guy you're always talking about?"

" I know, he's so hot, right."

(Oh oh, yeah)

" Yeah, hot, whatever. Ok, anyways, he is all up on that girl Jade."

The focus stays a bit longer on Nikki, then follows her line of vision across the street onto a boy and a girl posted against the brick wall of the club. The girl has her back against the wall as the guy before her leans his down toward her neck. She turns her head and giggles, halfheartedly pushing at his chest. Pulling back, he places his hand underneath her chin tilting it upward as he stares down at her. His other hand is planted against the wall as he steps closer and pulls her in for a a kiss.

" Jade?" What are you talking about?" Meghan inquired through a short breathy laugh.

(Oh yeah, yeah eh yeah )

" Yes. I'm telling you girl he is playing you."

The beat intensifies to rougher more bass pumping sound as Nikki confirms surveying the couples every move. On Meghan's side, her features are one of disbelief as she rolls her eyes finding the situation to be amusing.

" Whatever." Meghan digresses now full out in laughter.

Nikki jaw drops slightly as she breathes out putting her mouth closer to the mouth piece. Mina tugs on her arm gesturing wildly across the street at the girl and Meghan's cheating guy. Nikki passes her a look of impatience as she attempts to convince Meghan of her findings.

The beat drops and is acceuntuated by synthesizers mixed with a light hip hop sound.

" Meghan, I'am serious! He is all over her! Believe-"

Snatching the phone from Nikki's grasp, Mina slid off the hood of the car and put the phone to her ear just as she heard Meghan say, " Whatever. I do not believe you." In between soft laughter.

Securing her purse strap onto her shoulder, Mina speaks into the phone in a rushed tone.

" Meghan, I swear it's true. I was watching them. I can see them right now! It's so disgusting!" She voiced with a look of distaste.

( Oh oo oh )

As the situation becomes less amusing, Meghan eyes begin to narrow a bit and her lips draw into a thin line.

" You guys...." She sounded feeling a bit unsure.

( Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah )

Nikki snatches back the phone. A few feet from them Meghan's boyfriend has wrapped his arms around the girl's waist from behind. A few of his friends walk up to them and they stop to talk. The girl clings to his arm protectively with a smile on her face as she pushes his head away when he leaned over to suck on her earlobe.

" You better- Girl, I'm serious. You better call him up right now."

Raking her hand through her hair, Meghan's suspicions begin to take over " What do I do? What do I say?" She stammers.

" I don't know, but I'm looking at him. I mean, you gotta tell him the truth. You gotta tell him how it is."

( Oh oo oh )

" He's playing me?" Meghan blurts out suddenly.

Standing side by side, Nikki and Mina shake their heads eyeing the scene unbelievingly. " He's playing you soo bad."

( You wanna play a game boy )

With a sigh, Meghan's side takes up the full screen as she stands in the middle of the room with an icy glare. Ending the call, she dropped the phone onto the table and walks from the room.

The screen switches back to Nikki and Mina as they climb inside her car and pull away from the parking lot before the picture fades then returns with Meghan.

Wearing a pair of midnight blue leather cut offs and a top exposing her midriff with her breasts pushed up, the background behind her is all black with burnt orange and red lighting. Using special effects, yellow orange flames cascade in the back in a falling motion. There is a single chair in the middle of the semi glossed floor. Straddling the chair, Meghan gives the camera a smoldering stare under her lashes as the first verse kicks in.

You told me that you would always be
The only thing that I'd ever need
And all my friends, that they were never good enough
To be with me

Smoothing her finger over her lips, her bangs hang before her eyes as a tranquil shot of her biting down on her bottom lip glides by in slow motion.

A beamer rides up the cobblestone driveway of a house with a pack of cars parked alongside. Parked near a Lexus, the headlights shine brightly before being shut off. The doors fly open and, Meghan steps out meeting her boyfriend half way. Tucking her hand into his he leads the way inside the house and they are met with loud music and people dancing and hanging around. Walking further inside, Meghan simply smiles as her boyfriend greets his friends on his way by.

You want me to stay at home
And like a fool, I did for you

Attaching herself to his side, Meghan sips from her red plastic up taking in the noise around her while her boyfriend chats it up with a few of his guy friends ignoring her prescence. Halfway turning when she felt a light touch on her arm, Meghan smiled and hugged one of her girlfriends as three more walked up.

They talked a bit then one of her friends gestured toward her boyfriend which Meghan brushed off with a roll of her eyes seeing as he hadn't been paying her any attention. Gripping her wrist gently, Nikki signaled with her head for them to go hang out by the balcony. With a quick nod, Meghan was about to follow after them when she felt someone pull her back.

Gesturing toward her friends, her boyfriend stared over her head at them. They were passing him cold glares in which he returned. Pulling Meghan closer to his side, he mouthed a few words which made her face fall into a frown. Turning toward her friends with an apologetic glance, she watched them walk off whilst shaking their heads.

Looking to her boyfriend, Meghan narrowed her eyes as he kept on with his friend as if nothing had happened. Once again forgetting that she was even there.

Now I see the game that you playin on me
Oh oh

The chorus drops just as the scene changes.

You go out with your friends at night
Like it's alright
Cause you're hot like fire

Retrieveing his phone as it vibrated in his pocket, he examined the caller id before putting it away without answering. When he looked up his friend gave him a look with a raised brow. With a smug grin, he shook his head as if to say 'forget it'. Meghan watched the exchange between the two with suspicion. His friend nodded his head in her direction with a smile and she removed her boyfriends arm from around her waist. Staring down at her, she pushed her red cup into his chest mouthing a few words before walking off, manuervering her way through the crowd.

Other girls call your cell phone, boy
You can't help yourself
Cause you're hot like fire.

Back to the main set up, Meghan is seated sideways on the chair tilting it until it stands on two legs. She places one hand on the ground to balance herself and the other is holding onto the back of the chair. As she sings the chorus different shots of her abusing the chair range from her standing on it, crouching on it, to her sitting in it with her hands on her thighs as she throws her head back then leans forward. The flames and the orange lighting coincide in a tranquil pattern with one another as the lighting brightens then darkens continuously with each movement she makes.

You didn't know she was my bestfriend, baby
You just played yourself
Cause you're hot like fire
Baby, don't try to run your game on me

Now lying underneath the chair on her back trapped in by all four legs with her arms above her head, Meghan slides out from under it with her hands on either side of the seat halfway pulling herself up.

Cause it's plain too see
That you're hot like fire

Standing in front of the chair, she gives it a powerful kick sending it flying backwards. It flips slowly in the air three times almost 3D like before nearly crashing into the screen before landing on it's side.

Fire, like fire, like fire

The bass pounds three times and the screen cuts into four seperate lines and in each line Meghan is frozen in mid step. As the beat picks back up, each still begins to merge into one whole screen like pieces of a puzzle as she completes the choreography. The second verse coming into play.

You said you loved me, baby
And we never will fall apart

It's a friday night and everyone has gathered together in an empty parkinglot to watch a drag racing contest. A bunch of guys have brought out their best souped up rides and were placing bets on who was to win. Cars were lined up side by side with their heads lights on in a half circle leaving the middle of the lot clear. A bunch of girls dressed up in skank outfits traipsed around in their two bit skirts flirtatiously winding up the guys. Meghan soon walks up and spots her boyfriend decked out in loose jeans with a chain on the side pocket, a plain white tee with a black beater underneath with his cap backwards on his head. Coming up from behind him, he turns to give her a one armed hug and a kiss on the cheek.

You even told me once
That you suffered from a broken heart.

Affectionately swiping her chin with his knuckle, she watched him saunter over to the starting line as the enemy line threw haterous glares in his direction. Nodding his head as if to say ' do something' her boyfriend smugly climbed into his car, buckling himself up when to his left he noticed his competitors ride pull up next to his slowly. Mugging one another fiercely, their engines roared as smoke filtered from the tail pipes. A few feet away a female held up a checkered flag waving it to and fro as she counted down.

Gearing up the gas, once she gave the ' go head ' their tires squealed forcefully and both cars took off down the street lanes at break neck speed.

Made plans to share a summer romance
A dream for two
Just me and you

The cars were on their way back to the finish line and Meghan's boyfriend pressed on a tiny red button next to the wheel which sent his car zooming past the yellow mark.

Hopping down from the back of a car, Meghan excitedly made her way over to him but stopped short when a girl came out from the other side of the parkinglot and bum rushed him. His arm immediately went around her waist as he lifted her off the ground and twirled her in a circle. The enemy lines waved him off as the victorious side crowded around him in celebration.

But now I see what you're really about
Oh

As the chorus hits again, the parking lot is cleared except for the cars parked in a semi circle and dancing in the open gap in the middle is Meghan. Her costume has changed. In red and black hot pants with a matching top and shades, she leads the group of seven dancers as they execute a series of dance moves.

You go out with your friends at night
Like it's alright
Cause you're hot like fire
Other girls call your cell phone, boy

Standing atop the hood of a silver and gray 'Lamborghini Concept S' designed in futuristic detail, the focus on Meghan is from the ground up and she stares down into the camera popping and rolling her hips. The screen follows her round the car as she remains on top, performing a few hand movements, followed by a high kick and spin ending with a split, her extended ponytail swishing in every which way.

You can't help yourself
Cause you're hot like fire
You didn't know she was my bestfriend baby
You just played yourself
Cause you're hot like fire
Baby, don't try to run your game on me
Cause it's plain to see
That you're hot like fire

As the beat simmers down a bit shots from the main set up and the parking lot set up play into each other fading then coming back in. The choreography remains the same in each scene as the images continue to interchange.

Fire, like fire, like fire
Fire, like fire, like fire
Fire, like fire, like fire
Fire, like fire, like fire

Synthesizers and the bass begin to intensify as the screen changes back to the main set background except for this time, full length diamond shape mirrors surround her bouncing off from reflection to reflection. Panning up to one mirror in particular, the screen is sucked inside and brought into another dimension. This time, the background is devoured in complete flames as they hang from the ceiling in droplets and rise from the ground. On an octagon shaped platform lit up by tiny bulbs attached all around the edges, it floats in the air and spins as Meghan is lying on her back from an aerial view.

Oh, tell me who'd you think I was
Did you think I was your fool

Days after the drag racing fall out, Meghan finds herself in her car accelerating through traffic to the club where her cheating boyfriend is currently located. The review mirror captures the side of her face as she continues to sing but her attention is solely focused through the windshield. Gripping the steering wheel she makes a sharp left turn as she weaves through the tunnel of passing cars.

Maybe you've taken other girls for a ride before
But I got your number

Parked outside of the club with the engine still purring, Meghan observes the entrance from the passenger side window. Seated in the backseat, Mina and Nikki lean forward and the three begin to discuss their plan for the evening. With the plan set in action they exit the car and make their way inside the smoky building packed with gyrating bodies.

Meghan's fixation diverts to the upper level of the club as she passes by the steps. Mina and Nikki scampering off in other directions, the screen stays with Nikki as she pushes her way through the throngs of people over to the section where the D.J. is mixing. Pacing up the side of the steps she comes up from behind him and whispers something in his ear. Nodding his head she slyly slips the device into his hand then goes on her way.

See, baby, I can play your game

Connecting a few tiny wires onto the device, the D.J. with his head phones round his neck, stuck a micro sized black mic onto the back of it. His moves being captured in slow motion.

And you can tell me how it feels

Rising from the booth, the unknown female stood from the lap of Meghan's boyfriend pacifying him with a kiss on the lips before making her way through the curtains. On her way to the ladies room, her heels clanked against the hard steel of the ground underneath her feet as she eyed the female coming her way.

Meghan, her face expressionless cut her eyes at the female brushing past her, looking over her shoulder at her bare back. The exchange lasted what seemed like hours as the screen slowed down capturing the two's icy glare. Green eyes to Blue.

Cause everything you've ever done to me

Glancing to her left then her right making sure no one had seen her, Meghan slipped behind the black curtains leading to a private booth. The screen then changes pace and lands on her boyfriend who is in the next booth having the time of his life. In a white button down, he holds his beer in his hand, with a wide smile as he chalks it up with his friends.

The screen goes back to the D.J. who looks up and spots Mina in the corner with a phone in her hand. She looks back at him and with a quick nod of his head to confirm that all was in place, she immediatly dialed Nikki. On the other side of the club, Nikki recieved the message then went ahead and dialed Meghan.

Can be done right back to you....

A slick smile came to Meghan's face after Nikki's call. Everything now being set in action, she scrolled her contacts for one name in particular. Her movements were languid as she pressed the send button and waited.

Ring
Ring
Ring
Ring

Gathering his phone from his pocket, her boyfriend checked the caller id to see who was calling. It read ' Girlfriend 3' Shifting the unknown female in his lap, he nodded at one of his buddies who nudged him on the shoulder before answering.

" Hello?"

As soon as his voice came through, the music in the club came to a halt and his voice echoed from the speakers loudly. All of the dancing in the club came to an abrupt halt as they looked about in confusion.

Maybe you thought you could play me
Thought that you would make a liitle move and fake me
See honey, I don't need to be
Just another quick notch on your belt
That's not me
I'll never be a prize on your shelf
A real player, you'll never be
You need to run that game on someone else instead of me
Look at you now, poor baby
You're so through
So tell me how it feels
Now that someone is playing you.

After hearing a sharp click, he stared down at his phone bewildered and in a state of shock. Hearing the commotion of the crowd down in the lower level, he stood to go see what everything was all about. Pushing aside the black curtain he was instantly met with stares, laughter and chorus of jeers. Jaw agape, he stepped back when he saw himself on the huge screen above the D.J.'s head. Coming to realize that his conversation had been secretly recorded, heard, and seen for everyone to see, the screen followed his movements when he swiveled his head to the left and standing there was Meghan wiggling her phone in her hand and surprise, the girl he had been cheating on her with.

Standing closer to the table, Meghan reached down and picked up a pitcher of beer emptying it's contents all over him. High fiving one another, the two turned their backs leaving the clup wide eyed and jaw dropped. As if he couldn't have been humiliated any further, the screen ahead replayed everything all over again as the crowd began to escalate with laughter once more.

You go out with your friends at night
Like it's alright
Cause you're hot like fire
Other girls call your cell phone, boy
You can't help yourself
Cause you're hot like fire

Singing the chorus through, the screen cut to all three main set ups. The parking lot, to the orange/red room, to the mirrored flames room with the floating octogan platform. In each, Meghan appeared with her dancers then by herself. It repeated going back and forth for a few more lines of the chorus.

You didn't know she was my bestfriend, baby
You just played yourself
Cause you're hot like fire
Baby, don't try to run your game on me
Cause it's plain too see
That you're hot like fire

Ecstatic, hanging over each other in laughter as they burst through the doors of the club, Meghan, Mina, Nikki, and the unknown female who turned out to be Meghan's bestfriend, Deanna, Meghan accepted her keys from the valet as the girls climbed into her car beaming with excitement.

You go out with your friends at night
Like it's alright
Cause you're hot like fire
Other girls call your cell phone, boy
You can't help yourself

Revenge couldn't have been any sweeter.

Cause you're hot like fire
You didn't know she was my bestfriend baby
You just played yourself
Cause you're hot like fire

As the last round of the chorus came in, the back of Meghan's car was the last thing seen as she pulled away from the club following that, all three main setups interchanging then ending with her car driving further away as the chorus faded out.

Baby don't try to run your game on me
Cause it's plain too see
That you're hot like fire

You go out with your friends at night
Like it's alright
Cause you're hot like fire......

Song Credit: Jessica Simpson 'Hot Like fire'

And in other news...

Trace stared at the television somewhat in a trance. With a shake of his head he lazily lifted the remote from his lap and flipped the channel. Resting it on Access Hollywood, he didn't bother to acknowledge Justin who had just entered the television/ familyroom until he planted his bottom in the seat next to him heavily.

" Man, that is some crazy stuff." He suddenly said out of nowhere, his eyes dancing around the screen.

Justin shifted so he was lying slightly on his back propping his left foot upon the Cherry Oak round coffee table before him.

" What is some crazy stuff?" He questioned, stealing the small pillow that was currently behind Trace's back and placing it under his head.

His back support now gone Trace fell back into the couch, stretching his arm he gestured toward the television with the remote.

" Her. She. That girl right there." He then looked to Justin with a persistant stare " She is crazy."

Justin returned his stare with a perplexed one of his own. Then turning toward the television, he brought his thumb to his lip and began to chew on his nail as he observed the girl that his friend deemed ' Crazy ' as she spoke with a reporter at some random charity event. From what he could tell it was the Challenge For The Kids Event from two years ago.

" She's not crazy man. What are you talking about." He said lowly more so entranced by the girl on the screen that he was all too familiar with.

Trace snorted unconvicingly.

" Yeah, whatever. Your only saying that because you just got finished smoking that blunt. You're brain must not be functioning in the proper order at the moment because I know, were you to be sober you would have definately agreed with me just then."

" Dude sober? There's no getting sober when you're high. As far as I can tell I'am sober. I'm just calmer than usual." Justin rattled off.

" Wow." Trace marveled at what he found to be one of the lamest excuses that he has ever heard in his thirty one years of living. " Maybe you are right. She's not the crazy one. You are."

Ignoring his last comment, Justin lightly scratched just under his chin, resting his other arm behind his head.

" I'm so hungry man. Do we have any left over of that pizza we ordered yesterday?" Scrunching his face, Justin smoothed his hand over his stomach just as the growling noises began to kick in.

Trace found this funny and began to laugh at his expense. " No man. You finished it all last night after you smoked up about half of my stash."

Justin winced when his stomach growled a bit louder this time.

" Well, shit man. Don't we have anything to eat around here?"

Trace shrugged. " Hell should I know. I don't live here."

" But you eat here." Justin countered.

Again another shrug. " Who am I to pass up on an oppourtunity at free food." He supplied.

Justin made a disapproving noise, opting to lay on his side in hopes that the hunger pains he felt in his stomach would soon cease.

" All you do is free load man. What in the hell am I paying you for?" Justin grumbled his calm mood now messed up on his wanting to eat something.

Trace could hear the irritation in his voice. It was only to be seconds before he was fully annoyed so Trace decided to rush the process as he thought up his best witty comeback.

" Hey, being your bestfriend is not the easiest task in the world. And since I'm the one that has to clean up after your shit 24/7 I might as well get some compensation for my services."

Staring at him from the side, Justin furrowed his brow. " Trace, just shut the hell up man. You make no kind of sense."

With a goofy grin on his face, Trace slouched lower in his seat, planting his feet on the coffee table, then dropping them after Justin told him to remove his feet from his table. Trace looked at Justin's foot that was on the table in which Justin sent him a look that read ' My house. My feet. My Table.'

" Whatever dude."

The commercial on the television was over as quickly as it came and now Debbie Matenopoulos was on the screen filling in for Pat ' O' Brien who was absent. A segment about Mischa Barton had just finished as Mark McGrath sent it over to her for her report on the more recent of news.

" Man, she is so damn fine. Nick Lachey is one lucky as bastard." Trace said as he drooled over the E! correspondant.

Justin nudged Trace with his sock covered foot. " Turn it up."

Raising the remote, Trace turned up the volume to a considerable tone.

Lately, there is no doubt that a certain pop singer has been stirring up quite a commotion leaving spectators and the media at a loss for words. Yes, I'm talking about the one and the only Meghan Carter,

A small photo of Meghan then appeared on the right hand corner of the screen. It was an upclose shot of her face as she beamed brightly her hair cascading in soft waves down her shoulders, her bangs swept to the side.

Just two weeks shy of the 49th Annual Grammy Awards where she delivered what some say as ' a performance of a life time' fitted in an all black costume similar to one of a Domintarix, Meghan was on fire as she slithered and sang her way across the stage, leaving the attendes of the show jaws agape and in shock of the pop tarts sudden transformation. The once too innocent, songs sweet as bubblegum pop teen idol, and little sister to Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, that we all once knew and very much still love has broken free from her ' pure virginal' days, now dominating the role as the music's industry ' Reigning Queen Of Pop' and she surely shows no sign of slowin down any time soon.

Speaking of slowing down which seems not to be Meghan's case, It's the media's attention that this pop princess seems to have gotten a strong hold of. Ever since the release of her much anticipated comeback album ' Breathe Heavy' back in November, Carter, 24, has been storming up the tabloids all across the country but, maybe not in the way that your thinking. It's her nasty split from ex- husband Justin Timberlake a year and a half ago that has everyone still buzzing. Though it is still speculated that the cause of Carter's almost career downfall was brought on by the divorce, her reps as well as Carter say otherwise stating that ' It was all a bit rough at first and extremely heartbreaking, but we all took this as a sign that a break away from the spotlight was in her best interest. The divorce may have played a major role in her sudden hiatus but it was the labels and Meghan's choice to become as secluded as she possibly could. Not because of the divorce, but because it was just that time. Years and years of being in the studio and on the road was beginning to take it's toll on her physically, mentally, and emotionally. All that she was asking for was for her privacy and we respected her wishes dutifully.'

Well, now a days it seems that Carter is more than ' well rested ' which brings us to our whole reason of reporting today. As of late it seems that Meghan has been really enjoying the single life since she has been spotted on more than numerous occasions leaving L.A.'s hottest nightclubs in the wee hours of the mornings. It's Meghan's second week of being captured by photographers as she ventures out on her ' wild night's out' seen stumbling on the sidewalks in three inch heels to almost even pulling a ' Britney peekabo' just four days ago in the ' Cabana Club' parking lot. But, it's not Meghan's partying ways that has the media running around in a circus. It's this recent picture released nation wide that has everyone buzzing.

Joined by long time gal pals, Jessica Simpson, Eva Mendes and bestfriends Shannon Peters and Janaie Brookland, the four entered through the private back door entrance of ' Zone' around 11: 15 p.m. escaping the burden of papparazzi staked out in the front. Witnesses inside the club say that Meghan and the girls set off the night with a bang, ordering round after round of drinks then spending the rest of the night ' livin it up'. It was from a club goers phone that we were able to view these pictures of Meghan on the bar in a game of 'body shots' and scratching a few records with the D.J. which turned out to be a real crowd pleaser. All may have been fun and games for the ' pop princess' but this photo of her holding up a napkin with the words ' **** him' written in ink while all four ladies generously flipped off the camera says it all. The photo is said to be aimed at none other than ex Justin Timberlake who coincidentally happened to be there that same night. We couldn't reach Timberlake's representatives for a comment but reps for Carter claim that the incident was a prank aimed at no one in particular.

Yeah, we don't believe that either.

When we caught up with Meghan just two days short of the incident, in a small interview when questioned about the incident, Carter simply laughed saying " We were just having fun. I mean, if I really wanted to confront him I wouldn't do it on a piece of napkin, I would say what I have to say to his face. But then again I wouldn't blame him if he took the hint."

Ouch!! I believe that them are fighting words.

Now, ending this on a much lighter note, while in Germany for a press conference, J. C. Chasez, former Nsyncer and close buddy to Timberlake has revealed that he and Meghan will soon be joining one another in the studio. Hmmmm? Possibly, maybe a duet in the works? No other information has been released at this time but we'll be sure to keep an update when we get more.

Whew, now that was a lot to spew! Back to you Mark.

Victoria Beckham aka Posh Spi--

Abruptly switching to another channel, Trace let out a low whistle and turned to Justin who lay emotionless on his side. His face bare no expression but his eyes seemed to be in a hypnotized state as he stared at the screen not once batting an eyelash.

" Well, I'm going to get a beer." Trace announced suddenly jumping up from the couch. " Want one?"

For a minute Justin lay still before slowly coming to. " Yeah." With the help of Trace, Justin sluggishly rose from the couch and into the kitchen with Trace.

" Here ya go man." Justin accepted the ice cold beverage choosing to sit atop the counter near the sink as Trace closed the door with his foot, leaning with his elbow on the island counter top.

Uncapping the top with the faucet, Justin took a quick gulp, letting his eyes roam the expensive kitchen appliances.

" Sooo," Trace began watching the foam dissipate in the bottle as he tilted it from side to side. " Wanna talk about it?"

" Talk about what?" Was Justin's immediate response.

Trace hung his head low with a soft chuckle. His friend was so stubborn.

" Whatever the hell it is that your thinkin about that has got you so quiet over there?"

" Who said I was thinking about something? Can't I just enjoy a few mintues of solace without you going and opening your mouth and ruining it?"

See. More stubborn than a bull.

" By all means you can go ahead and enjoy all the quiet and peace in the world you need but I know that that's not the reason why your acting like a recluse right now."

Justin stared at Trace who's bottle lingered at his lips nonchalantly. Tilitng his head to the side, Justin folded his arms across his chest.

" Is that so Trace?"

Trace simply nodded.

" Really now?"

Another nod.

Setting his beer down next to him he gave Trace his full attention.

" Okay, since you seem to know so much about me, how about I humor you and let you enlighten me about what I seem to have circulating my mind. Go ahead. Tell me about me or my ' thought's' as you seem to say." He finished with air quotations.

Trace merely sipped from his drink, sliding up a stool so that he could sit comfortably.

" I got one word for you." He spoke calmly resting against the back of the stool.

Justin, with his brows motioned for him to continue.

" Meghan."

" Man, your just saying that because you just watched her on tv not ten seconds ago." He rebutted with irritation resuming to bumping the bottom counter with the heel of his foot. " Nice try, but no dough. Guess you don't really know me like you think you do."

" You are so full of it my friend." Trace commented under his breath.

" Man, whatever."

His calm mood from his high now messed up, Justin was feeling the slow affects of a migrane soon coming on. Eyeing his beer, Justin opted not to drink anymore pouring the contents down the drain.

Trace observed his movements quietly relinquishing in his own frosty beverage. Silence fell over the two. Trace didn't want to press the issue with Justin any further but deep down he knew his best friend was hurting. Talk about one hell of a bruise to his ego. For the first time since he'd known her, Trace has never pegged Meghan to be so cruel. She used to be so kind and sweet. So...so...so not the ' media whore' that she had become. The words sounded extremely harsh in his mind but it was hard to describe her as anything else. She's just soo, Different. Not acting like her true self in the tiniest bit. Maybe, it could be that it's all an act that she's putting on for the cameras. A publicity stint to get her album sales to raise higher, get more tickets sold, or whatever but, if this is the person that she has truly turned into then another down fall doesn't seem too far ahead. In fact, at the rate she is going, it's sure to be right around the corner. Trace didn't honestly want to see her pave her own way into a class ' A' destruction but that's all that he could see as her future if she didn't save herself from her worst demon.

Herself.

It's clear that she's not to blame for her recent unexplainable behavior. It was Justin who went ahead and did what he did unbeknowst to him and the rest of the world but then again she was partially to blame also. I mean, Justin have had to have a reason of why he decided to ruin his marriage and cheat with one from his past. It could have been a fall out between the two or, something that caused the demise of what was once a healthy,beautiful marriage because there is no way that his friend would kill the one thing that meant the entire world to him. She was his light. His world. His entire reason for breathing. Well, atleast she used to be.

Sure, she may be hurting but what about him. Has he not been affected by it all? Has he not suffered the lost of a companion? Has he not been a victim of constant media speculation and abuse also? Has he? All of that doesn't seem to matter to anyone. All they see is that he cheated and she seemed to be the most afflicted at the end. But what everyone doesn't know is that he had been constrained also if even not more. He may not act like it from time to time but it's there. Just buried way down deep inside away from the public's eyes.

As Trace reclined in his seat and let his mind wander, a sudden thought or question made itself weasel it's way through the crevices of his skull.

What really happened?

Sure as Justin's bestfriend for thirty one years now, he knew more than anyone else, besides Lynn, everything that went down. But to be fair, he's only heard what Justin had told him. He'd never gotten the chance to hear Meghan's side of the story. With all that he knew, Trace still couldn't help but feel that there was still more to that he didn't know of. More that was being left out. More to tell. More that he could only find out from one person.

" Can I ask you a question?" Trace sat up. " And after I do will you promise to answer me honestly? The truth and that's it?"

Justin stared down his friend with inquisition as he rested his forearms on the counter interlocking his fingers together. He hadn't even bothered to look at him but just stare into the fruit bowl ahead.

Justin flipped his bottle cap into the air with his thumb. " Depends." He caught it then flipped it again. " Does this have to do with that bowl full of whip cream and that pink feather boa you found under your bed the other day?" He eased into laughter hoping to let up on the tension he could feel rising in the air.

Trace didn't laugh. Justin took notice and cleared his throat. With a sigh, he twirled the cap with his index finger and his thumb.

" Sorry. Go ahead."

" Why did you do it?" Trace asked without the slightest bit of hestitation in his tone, staring Justin dead in the face only Justin's eyes stay glued to the vanilla patterned tile down below.

Stopping mid twirl, Justin shifted uncomfortably. He was quiet for a long moment before he spoke, his eyes still casted downward but Trace could hear the emotion in his voice.

" If I told you you wouldn't believe me." He said in almost a whisper but Trace heard clearly.

The stool screehed against the tile as Trace scooted himself closer to the island, folding his arms on the counter. " Try me."

Justin sighed again. This was going to be hard. He hadn't told anyone of his real reason. He sugar coated it all to make himself look like an asshole but he knew that Trace knew him too well. His jig was up. He couldn't lie anymore. It was time to tell his bestfriend the truth. The complete truth.

" For her," He started picking imaginary lint from his shorts. " I did it for her."

Trace's brow crinkled.

" Who? Who is her?"

" Who else do you think?" Justin questioned not giving Trace room to respond as he went on. " Meghan. I did it for her." He repeated.

Befuddled, Trace was still at a lost.

" I don't understand."

Justin straightened his slumped form and blew out a long strenuous breath preparing himself for what he knew was going to be a very long night.

" Okay." He breathed, resting the back of his head against the cabinet, looking up to the ceiling. " You remember the day that I proposed to her right?"

Trace nodded, even though he couldn't see.

" And you remember how you and everyone else were always telling me that she was too young to get married? That she wouldn't be able to handle all of the responsibilites, pressures and commitment that came along? That twenty was too young of an age to get settled down so quickly?"

" Mhmmm." Trace sounded as he somewhat had a clue of where the direction of the conversation would be leading.

"Well," He paused. " You were all wrong. It wasn't her that wasn't ready for marriage, it was me."

That threw Trace in for a loop.

" I mean, the reason why I blocked all of you out whenever you would begin to tell me that I had made a mistake was because Meghan showed me that she was ready to be a wife and she was damn good one at it too. Sometimes I can't even believe how perfect she was... still is. I don't know...it's just...it's like, I had everything that I had ever dreamed of right in the palm of my hands. She was that girl that I had been looking for all of my life. The girl that I had long since dreamed of her being my wife when I was younger. The woman that I wanted her to be the mother of my children. The woman that after Britney, Alyssa, Cameron and all the other's, I've never felt a love so strong for. A connection that was more than real. It was true. And for the first time since I've ever been in a relationship, it felt right. It felt like of all this time, she was the one that I was supposed to be with. She was the one that I was supposed to profess my vows with. She was supposed to be my to ' have and hold'. She was supposed to be my ' till death do we part'. She was all of that. I belonged to her and she belonged to me. We belonged to each other. And that scared me. I mean, it freaked the living shit out of me man."

" But four years though. You two were together for four years. Blissful years might I add. How and why is it now that all of that suddenly started to sink in?"

Trace questioned. Hopping of the counter, Justin decided to pull up his own seat opposite of his friend. Propping his elbow up, Trace leaned his cheek against his hand anxiously waiting for him to carry on.

Justin was aware of the eagerness in his eyes and had to inwardly laugh to himself. He always knew that his personal life was interesting but not that interesting.

" Honestly, I can't even answer that question myself. I've tried and just...." He shook his head blankly. " All I know is just one day everything just hit me like a ton of bricks. I vaguely remember waking up that morning and looking to my left and there she was. Sleeping like an angel." A warm smile spread across his face as he traced imaginary circles into the marble with his finger in a far off daze. " She looked so peaceful. And the first thing that popped into my head was, ' What am I doing?'. ' How could I do this to her?'--"

" Do what? What did you do? You hadn't cheated on her already had you?" Trace sprightly interrupted.

Justin tilted his head to the side with annoyance. For someone who wanted to find out the truth he sure had a lot to say.

" Are you going to keep interrupting me or can I finish telling the story?"

Trace sat back, resting his feet on the bar underneath his chair. " Sorry. Go on."

" But yeah, I realized that," He paused to stare across at his friend"... this made sound weird to you, but to me it makes all the sense in the world. I realized that I had never given her the chance to love. I took that away from her."

Justin put his hand up when he noticed the signs of Trace coming on with another interruption. Trace clamped his mouth closed again and listened.

" I've had my fair share of love and I've had my fair share of heartbreak but Meghan, she's never experienced any of that before. Well, up until now. But what I'm trying to say is, she was only eighteen when we first started dating. She was still just a kid. I mean, at eighteen you don't know what love is. Love has no meaning just yet. All's that's there is just a relationship. A relationship based on honesty and trust, but not love. Not saying that there wasn't any love in our relationship because there was more than just that...is this making any sense to you or am I sounding like I'm close to the edge and about to fall?"

Trace snickered at the desperate look on his face. It did make sense to him. Just... very little.

" You're cool man."

Justin slumped into his seat heavily as he struggled to explain just exactly what he wanted to say. " Right. Like I was saying, before she and I met she had like what...one or two boyfriends previous?"

Trace made a face as if to say ' how should I know.' even though the question wasn't meant to be directed towards him. Justin was mainly thinking out loud.

Trace stopped him. He figured the more Justin went on the more lost he was going to keep sounding.

" Ok wait. So what you're trying to say is that because of you, Meghan really never got to experience the whole ' dating world'. If that's how you want to put it. Your telling me that by you marrying her, you unintentionally deprived her of the chance to go out and seek love with someone else before coming to the realization that spending the rest of her life with you was something that she wanted to do?"

" Am I telling the story here or are you? Cause I could have sworn that I thought I was."

Chuckling, Trace took a swig of his no longer ice cold beer. " Hey man, I'm just trying to get a better understanding here." He spoke holding up his bottle.

Scoohing his chair back, Justin mumbled incoherently, rounding the island on his way to the fridge. " Well you basically have got it down to the wire." He remarked, moving aside one of the many beer bottles opting for a can of Minute Maid lemonande instead.

" But? Okayy..." He drawled at a loss of words watching Justin pop the top but not moving to take a sip.

" But, what does all of this have to do with you cheating with Cameron? Did she drive you to it?"

Justin sighed, firmly denting his index fingers onto his temples in a circular motion.

" Don't you see it yet Trace? Have you not figured it out yet? When I told you that I did it for Meghan what I was hoping that you got by now after all of that was, the only reason I cheated with Cameron was for Meghan."

Trace blinked. " Ok, I'm lost again."

Frustrated, Justin looked off to the side then at him again. " Do I have to spell it out for you Trace? Look, I cheated on her with Cameron so--"

" That she would divorce you when really you were supplying her with a way out. You were giving her another chance to live her life the way she should have before you trapped her into this marriage. Well, not trapped but you know what I mean."

Trace divulged all in one breath. It took him a second to glue all of the pieces together but still. At times he may have his moments but Trace Ayala was as smart as they come.

" But don't you think that was a little unfair? Shouldn't it have been Meghan's right to decide if she wanted to venture out in search of something or someone else? You can't choose that for her. You can't make that decision for her You have no right. It's not even in your place to do that."

" It may not have been in my place but I still felt compelled in where--"

" It's not like you two were unhappy with each other. From what I could tell there was absolutely nothing wrong with the way things were."

Justin was silent.

" Why couldn't you have just spoken with her about it, instead of in your eyes ' fixing ' the problem by being unfaithful? You automatically predicted that you doing what you did would be best for her but, how do you know that that was what she wanted?"

" I don't know man. I don't know." Justin spoke with exceeding frustration, cradling his face inbetween his hands. " At the time it seemed like the right thing to do. I just.... I didn't think that everything was going to end up the way it did. Sure, I knew she'd hate me for awhile and I thought that I was going to be prepared for all of the backlash that was soon to come but...."

As Justin trailed off, Trace could see that he was still evidently hurting still. It was in his eyes. The hurt and regret he was feeling over his, how could he put this... ' stupid ' actions. His intentions may have been good but either way he was wrong in the way he went about it. He could just have easily discussed with her about it. Why didn't he choose to do that instead? Or just gone and asked for a divorce? Things could have been that simple. But no. Not Justin. He always tended to make things that much harder. That much more difficult instead of opting to take the easy way out.

No. Trace wasn't seeing it the way Justin wanted him to see it at all. So this is what was the truth. This is what Justin has been keeping inside. This is what he didn't want Trace to know from the beginning. Come to think of it, he was now wishing that he hadn't even asked at it all. He should have just ran with the first story. For the first time since he's ever known Justin, he was sure, no positive that his bestfriend had just made one of the biggest mistakes in his life.
He may have played it off for others but Trace knew at that very moment that it was eating him up inside. There hasn't probably been a day gone by or a lonely sleepless night that he hadn't wept or felt remorse for himself. And by the pained expression that just flashed in his eyes, Trace was probably right.

Glancing at the timer above the oven, they had been speaking for a little over two hours and Trace felt that it was getting late. Just as he was about to call it a night, he had one more question to ask.

" Why Cameron though? Of all of the women in the world, why did it have to be your ex?" Justin tiredly fixed his head to stare at him. The last two hours have been really draining him.

Before he could supply an answer, his phone rattled atop the island next to the fruit bowl where he had set it earlier. Reaching for it, he flipped it open. When the caller id read ' Cam ' he snapped it shut and gently laid it back down, switching it to silencer.

Trace awaiting his answer grabbed his bottle and was ready to trash it. Justin remained staring at his phone before looking to Trace with a shrug and a sorrowful shake of his head. His lips drew in a thin line.

Trace nodded. " Another night?"

" Yeah man." Justin spoke quietly removing himself from the stool, leaving behind his untouched lemonade. Trace dumped his drink in the trash and followed Justin back into the living room.

" Any suggestions?" He asked switching the channels with the remote tucking a pillow behind his back.

Justin slunk into the cushions, propping his elbow on the arm rest as he pressed his palm into his cheek. " Nah man. Just whatever." He said holding a pillow against his chest, nibbling on the corner of the fabric.

Flipping through random stations, Trace passed Deal or No Deal catching it right when it finished and Showbiz Tonight began.


I'm Sibila Vargas bringing you tonight's Top stories. Kicking off our first story of the night, Pop singer Meghan Carter is at it again....

" So Justin, your perfromance tonight man. What is it that you have hidden up your sleeve this time around? Do you think that you'll be able to top last years VMA's performace that you did with Cold Play?"

Staring past his shoulders, Justin waved quickly at the crowd of girls screaming his name as they jumped up and down squealing behind the barricades.

Facing Damien, he daintily cached a hand into his pocket. His other holding the mic he shrugged impassively with a bland grin.

" To be honest with you man, I really don't have anything special planned at all. I'm just going to go up there and do what I do best." He spoke with confidence

" Which is make the girls scream like they are right now huh?" Damien inserted. Justin quickly looked behind him once more, chuckling at the scene down below.

" Well can you blame them? After all, I'am the one who did bring sexyback." Justin gloated as he arrogantly nodded toward the camera filming them live.

Cracking up himself, Damien patted Justin on the back then stared straight into the lens. " Ladies and gentlemen, you've heard it hear first. Justin has once again owned up to being the mad creator behind Sexyback." He joked.

The two shared a laugh.

" Ahem, but no man, I'm not really looking to top last years performance. Come to think of it... I don't think there is any topping that." He spoke casually. " It was a very cool experience being able to share the stage with Christopher Martin." His eyes darted around the red carpet as he spoke. " I've been a fan of his music for years now and Chris, he is an amazing artist to collaborate with in the studio. For the short amount of time that I actually had the chance to really sit down and just watch him work; I'd have to genuinely say that I have never been so intrigued with his vision and his craft."

Rubbing the stubble underneath his jawline, he nodded his head a few as he continued. " So yeah, for me to have an oppourtunity to work with someone as artistically talented as him, that's a performance that no matter how hard I try, there is no better than that. But for tonight, I guess we'll just have to see how it all plays out." He finished smoothly.

" Words spoken like a a true artist." Damien spoke eliciting a hearty chuckle from Justin. " Well Justin, I'd like to thank you for doing this interview with me-"

Justin shook his hand that was placed infront of him. " No problem man. Anytime. Anytime."

" And as I'm sure the rest of the world will be watching, I can't wait to see you get up there on stage tonight. Good luck." Turning back to the camera, Damien added one more thing very quickly. " Oh, and congrats on the 3 nominations tonight."

Justin said something inaudible before making his journey through the red carpet.

" That was Justin Timberlake just seen leaving there folks, looking very sharp in his Armani suit tonight I must say." Damien brought his finger up to his ear gently pressing on his ear bud so that he could hear over the clamor outside of the Metropolitan Opera House. " Now, the show is due to start in less that ten minutes so I'm going to send it back to Susie right now who is standing by with Rich Boy as the countdown to the 2012 Mtv Video Music Awards continue."

" Susie?"

~*~

Hosting the show that night for the second time around was comic legend Chris Rock. Two hours into the show and perfomances by Fall Out Boy, Mims, Gwen Stefani, KT Tunstall and Thicke, it was finally Justin's time to take the stage.

An angle from the left zoomed up to where Chris Rock was standing in the aisle between the rows, ready to introduce the next act.

" Yall ready? Yall ready? Cuz if ya aint, we can wait a little bit longer." The comic ran up and down the aisles in a hilarious fashion causing the audience to laugh hysterically at his antics. " Well too damn bad because we need to keep this show runnin like Chris Brown."

More laughter as the camera caught a glimpse of the teen heartthrob smiling in his seat next to his mother. " Ok. Now our next performer doesn't even need an introduction. His name says it all so I'm just going to say it....Justin Timberlake everybody!! Come on, give it up now!!!"

Screams and more ear piercing screams followed by tumultuous applause sounded as the long red curtain drapes rose and the intro to his latest single began to play.

The set up of the stage was of a mock night club/ gentlemens club. Off to the right of the stage was a bar fully equipped with, stools, a counter top, and Liquor bottles. It also came with it's own bartender. A very scantily clad model of latin and african american descent, swung her thick hips along as she twirled two bottles of Barcadi in each of her hands like a true professional. Her skin tight booty shorts and bikini style top of gold clung to her body like a second skin. Her jet black hair flowed past her shoulders and her caramel skin glistened under the club lighting.

Five small sized tables spaced out from one another took up some parts of the stage. Complete with three chairs each accompanied by models for each seat, as practiced before the lovely ladies pretended to chat and relish their time on stage just as they were instructed to do so. Just in front of where a D.J. was scratching in the back off to the side on his podium, a booth with purple leather covering was placed. Infront of it was a round table with a female dancing upon it. Seated in the booth up close and staring up at the women were the two members of Three Six Mafia, Juicy J and D.J. Paul. Among them were a bevy of alluring women gently feeling up on them feigning their need for attention.

Yup
Yeah
Hey
It's goin....goin....It's goin down

Tennessee
Justin Timberlake
Timbaland
Three Six Ma...Ma...Mafia

Sitting on the back of the booth with their feet planted into the cushions, Juicy J and D.J. Paul hollered into their mics. Tinted shades shielded Juicy's eyes and Paul in his signature hat and jacket bounced his shoulders up and down. Each man had a female situated in his lap bypassing their attention of the model currently doing her thing atop the table.

Tennessee
VA
Dirty South
Dirty South

Moving the girls aside, Paul and Juicy stepped away from the booth opting to go off in seperate directions as they hyped up the audience. Paul skirted off to the left while Juicy made his way over to the bar where he sat atop the counter, his legs dangling back and forth as he moved along bouncing his shoulders up and down.

That's how we do wut we do man
When we do what we do
What!

Suddenly a thick cloud of smoke flooded the ground as it rose and cleared with each passing second. When the smoke cleared away just enough, a candy apple shiny red cutlass supreme appeared from somwhere behind the D.J.'s podium and ever so slowly rolled up on the stage. Windows deeply tinted and all. It came to a halt and the front began to bounce up and down in the air on hydraulics. Chromed out in thick silver and in diamonds the front of the grill read the initials ' JT'. Stopping, the vehicle ceased in it's bumping and rested it's tires quietly on the ground. Rising from a nearby table, an asian model fitted in a revealing Valet outfit sashayed her way over towards the car. Her hand rested against the door handle but she had yet to open the door.

What!
Watch that shit, Wut!

Taking that last line as her cue to open the door, the female slightly bent her knee as she seductively leaned forward and with the help of the person inside, the door pulled open. The audience quickly fell into chaos as Justin arrogantly stepped out and watched her back as she shut the door behind him. Mic to his lips, he brought her round front of him so he could lean against the door.

I know you see me lookin, girl go on and act right
A little closer, let me see you in the spotlight
Now turn around and let me see just what you curve like

Taking his Fedora from his head and placing it on her's, with the help of Justin, he held her hand above her head as she twirled around and bent over bringing herself to upright as he blantantly eyed her hourglass frame. She turned round to face him again and this time closed the small gap in between them. Her legs spread open a bit as he placed his right leg in the space between her thighs. Smoothing her hands down the front of his button up, she undid the first two. Catching her wrist, he placed his finger below her chin and smirked at her. Tilting his head to the side, her spun her round once more and held her against him as he sung into her neck.

Go grab your friends and ya'll can come to the back
Oh-oh

With a gentle pat on her behind, he watched her saunter away as she looked over her shoulder at him. Stepping over to the bar, he eased himself into the stool that another girl had ever so kindly pulled out for him. Letting his eyes roam over this one with pleasure, he signaled to the bartender for a glass of champagne. Pretending to fill his order, she slid the glass down the counter top and he caught it just in time. With his finger he motioned for her to come closer to him. Rightly so, she leaned over the top with a smile as he slyly stuffed a twenty down her top. Swiping her finger against his cheek, she caught his wink before turning her back to continue holding down the bar.

Why don't you take a sip up on this champagne
Relax, ( relax ) take ya coat off, and let me get ya name

Switching his attention back to the female currently straddling his lap, he picked up the glass of champagne and offered it to her. Accepting it graciously she went ahead and let him remove her white mini fur coat off her body, dropping the coat onto the ground. Cupping her chin with the palm of his hand, with a feather light touch, he trailed the outline of her succulent lips with his index finger. In one swift motion he brought them both to a stand. Her back facing the bar as he stood before her, she tossed the champagne glass aside and quickly after a shattering sound effect followed. She tugged hard at his tie bringing him forth while he courtly ran his hand down her side where he then gently squeezed her thick hip.

I love that hour-glass shape you got up on that frame
I like the way you talk your game, we might be one in the same

Now I know you got a buzz off that alcohol
I got a house that can entertain all of ya'll
Maybe later on, I'll give you a phone call

Her fingers intertwined with his from over his shoulder, lagging behind him, he led them away from the bar as he moved about a random spot on the stage. Bringing her round front and turning her so that her back was flush against his front, her arms secured themselves around his neck. Taking a business card from his pocket, he slipped it inside the waistband of her hot pink mini shorts. With a pat on her behind and a gentle push, she unlocked her grasp on his neck. Biting down on her finger teasingly switching her hips in a tantalizing manner, she sent him a flirtatious wink as she went about her way.

I'm bout to slide out but I'll get back at ya
Oh-oh

And when I call don't give me the run around
I ain't gonna have you try and play me like a silly clown

Hating to see her leave but loving every minute of watching her ass bounce as she walked away, Justin pivoted on his heels toward the part of the stage where one of four diamond encrusted stripper poles were located. Coming up behind the red headed female, he stood solid and merely enjoyed as she began to use his body as her makeshift pole. Circling him round, Justin stared down at her as she fell to her knees and roamed his lower half with her hands.

Don't second guess it girl there ain't nothing to think about

With that last line, Justin tapped her temple lightly with his finger. Crawling up his body like a rope the female rose to a stand. Her hand planted firmly on his chest, she shoved him backwards and went back to manipulating her pole. Stumbling lightly off of the platform, Justin flung a twenty dollar bill onto the ground. Winking at her, he looked on as she took it inbetween her teeth seductively. He also looked on a bit more as she did wonders on the pole, hanging upside down on it with extreme upper body strength and flexibility. Her legs were like a snake curled on a tree branch the way they wrapped around the pole.

An appreciative shake of his head and Justin pivoted on his heels again. Two ladies seated at a table eyed him on his way passed. Justin stopped to acknowledge them with a stare of his own. Holding his arms out for them to take, the two rose from their seats and over to him. Linking their arms with his, Justin strutted them with him to the center of the stage.

Cause you got me feenin but girl you don't hear me

Just as he were to bring about the chours, the two ladies seperated themselves from him on either side, moving to stand farther along the stage. Soon joined by four others, Now six, they all began to fall into their provacative choreograped dance movements. Justin quickly eyed them on either of his side before turning away his full attention to the audience.

Little lady ( lady lady )
You got me just
( Screwed Up )
Off of your melody
Little lady ( lady lady )
C'mon and don't
( Chop me up )
Please don't make a fool of me

Little lady ( lady lady )
You got me just
( Screwed up)
Off of your melody
Easy baby ( baby baby )
C'mon girl don't
( Chop me up )
Please don't make a fool of me

An uproar of cheers followed by booming applause soon erupted as the passenger side door of the cutlass, being held open by an asian model, flew open and Timbaland stepped out in time for his verse.

You're kinda cute baby are you new in town
My name is Timb aka Thomas Crown

Thanking the model with a short head nod like a true gentlemen, Timbaland manuvered his way through the throngs of beautiful women over to the VIP section of the makeshit club set up. Dipping behind the red ropes, he sang at the single table being occupied by three ladies. Above them a sign that read ' Pimps Club' lingered high as if flashed in blue and green neon lights.

I heard you're lost do you know your way around
If you gotta a problem baby I can hold you down
Oh-oh

I can be ya navigator or your compass
Better yet a genie baby make ya first wish
You the party baby I'm just the guest list

Singing at a female in particular, Timbaland gave a quick shug of his shoulder as he pointed at her chest then to himself. Not bothered as she clung herself to his side, Timbaland strode through the red ropes and toward the tables where he dropped her off. He nodded and Juicy. J. as he chilled with three to four of the girls surrounding him fully. Flashing his killer grill, Timbaland somewhat grinned. Joining Justin, the two did a brief shoulder lean before he decided to move about and take on the left side of the stage.

I think I need some Tylenol you got me restless

Now grab your friends and let's take it back to my house
Let's watch Sex In The City or Desperate Housewives
Simon says touch yours while you touch mine

The last line clearing up, all music ceased and everything came to screeching halt. The blaring sounds of police sirens echoed aloud as red laser lights swam all about the stage. Justin, Timbaland, and everyone else on the stage swiveled their heads toward the back at the D.J. Hands raised in a ' what's the deal' manner, they acted as if they were upset and were waiting for an explanation expectantly. Pulling the mic closer to his face, the D.J. then leaned forward and spoke in a low distorted tone.

Parental Discretion Is Advised

Having said that, everyone then nodded their heads as if they understood and threw their arms up in the air as they shouted out the next line.

Oh-Oh

Still flowing steady with his verse, Timbaland embraced the stage once more. Entering the long narrow walkway that led to the row of seats ahead, Timbaland escorted two of the stage models along with him as he stopped short of the walk way. Slapping hands with the fans on either side, the crowd went wild as they snapped away pictures of the rapper/ producer on their camera phones.

Y'all can be the star in my freaky spotlight
Studio 54 if we get the props right
All we need right now is a little bit, a little bit of act right
Y'all lookin shy but ya act like y'all don't hear me

Coming up to his side, Justin sung it out with Timbaland as they took on the chorus once more. Like before, All of the six female dancers claimed their positions front and center. Imitating their choreography, four other dancers fell into movement on top of the tables. The stage was soon full of gyrating hips and rotating arms and legs as well as bodies. The extra female stage hands who were placed around for merely looks and sex appeal, opted to dance around in their seats the best they could. Even while all four dancers on the poles did their thing on all four corners of the stage, the female bartender went on with twirling her bottles in her hands while she shook and shimmied about.

Little lady ( lady lady )
You got me just
( Screwed Up )
Off of your melody
Little lady ( lady lady )
C'mon and don't
( Chop me up )
Please don't make a fool of me

Little lady ( lady lady )
You got me just
( Screwed up)
Off of your melody
Easy baby ( baby baby )
C'mon girl don't
( Chop me up )
Please don't make a fool of me

Emerging from their positions on the stage, D.J. Paul and Juicy J of Three Six Mafia took heed as their cue to begin rapping their verses took place. Police sirens blared once again as the beat dropped and red laser lights swam the stage and the audience. Scaling down the steps on the right side of the stage, D.J. Paul took his rap into the rows of the audience as he was first to display his skills.

See girl you stronger than the strongest drug I ever had
You could mix em all together you still be twice as bad
Cause you the worst best girlfriend I ever had

Skimming past the front row of the seats, D.J. Paul deliberately aimed his gaze at a certain person in particular, taking his rap to the open area of the red carpet.

Meghan who hadn't taken his fixation literally simply looked on as D.J. Paul executed his lines. Seated inbetween her manager, Johnny Wright and at her left her platonic date for the evening Channing Tatum, Meghan turned her head in his direction when she felt a hand gently graze her fingers. Turning away after a moment after noticing that Channing had gotten entranced with the performance, Meghan diverted her attention else where. With a bored expression etched upon her features, she quickly shaped up and plastered on an interested facial expression before any of the cameras could catch her true feelings. Turning her head toward Channing once more, she quickly blushed as he gave her a look, silently informing her that she had been caught.

Shifting away with a shy smile she shifted her gaze away from his piercing green eyes. With a small chuckle, Channing wrapped his other hand round the back of her seat. Bringing her closer into him, his hand gently fell onto her exposed thigh as she covered hers with his. Not meaning to draw any attention to themselves, it seemed somewhat impossible as a few on lookers surrounding them wondered if maybe the two were going to be Hollywood's newest pairing. Speculation rose a bit more as he moved his lips closer to her ear. In response, Meghan simply smiled and turned her head a bit so she could respond with playfull poke at his shoulder with her finger. Whilst getting cozier and cozier with one another, Channing was unaware of the cold glower that was currently being aimed in his direction from up above.

Harder to quit then cigarettes and green bags
Harder to escape then jail cells and billed mail
You had me lost since that Philly girl in pigtails
Like Michael Jackson " Why you do me this way "

Crinkling her brow just a tiny bit, Meghan had the smallest inkling that the last line sung seemed to be louder and clearer then need be. Something told her to look toward the stage as soon as possible. Doing so, she could have sworn that she had caught a glare directed at her from him. Her specualtion somewhat proved true as she watched Justin scale down the steps with Juicy J. in tow. As he passed her by he did the quickest of sneers before fixing his face with an arrogant grin.

Quick to catch on, Meghan inwardly scoffed. She had half the mind to trip him with her foot on his way passed but quickly dismissed the thought with a silent giggle as the picture of him falling flat on his face played out in her head. Noticing a gleam of amusement dancing round her features, Channing gave her thigh a quick squeeze taking on her gaze with questioning eyes and a raised brow. Shaking her head at him, she bit down on her lip some to keep from laughing. Releasing a small laugh of his own, he only pulled her closer against him as he delved back into the performance currently on display.

Got me cryin rivers like Timbaland and Timberlake
Yeah

Side by side with Justin and Paul, Juicy J opted to expand further down the rows as he dominated his up coming verse. Flashing his monster grill, his stunner shades hid his eyes from the crowd as he went ahead and slapped hands with LL. Cool J and Ashton Kutcher a few rows above.

They call me Juicy J straight up out the Three 6 Mafia
Ghetto fab playa on these streets I'm tryna holla atcha

Sauntering over to female rap star Eve, he slyly took her hand in his and kissed the back of it as she fell into a fit of giggles. Snatching her hand back, she shooed him away all the while smiling broadly. Her brother seated next to her tapped her shoulder with an ' Mhmm' look which she dismissed with a flick of her jeweled wrist.

Quit playing games girl you got my head spinning round
I ain't gonna track your mobile phone and chase you all over town

Lifting a cell phone from his back pocket, he flipped it open and fixed his face in a ' whatever ' manner before accidentally/ purposefully tossing the phone as it coincidentally landed in her lap.

Staring down at the phone with an surprised yet unsure stare, Meghan lifted it in her hands and let out the shortest of laughs. Playing off her irritation at the tiny stunt with cutesy smile for the few who were now staring at her, she gave away an innocent shrug. Reassuringly patting her knee, Johnny removed the phone from her hands then turned his attention back over to Justin, his other main musical prodigy with a beaming grin.

I just want to pick you up and take you to my bachelor nest
Is it good, is it good
And have a liitle smack fest

Rasing their hands in the air, Justin, Juicy, and Paul began to clap their hands along with the smacking and grunting sound effects in the background, enticing the crowd to clap also. Timbaland who opted to remain on stage was looking too cool in his all black suit as he engaged in his own two step. Mocking him, a few of the female dancers were drawn to his goofy grandpa movements, imitating him all the way. The crowd then fell into laughter as the rapper/ producer began to bump hips with the ladies.

So if you never see me I'll be somewhere down in Tennessee
Washing away my sorrows in a cold cup of Hennessy

As the chorus ran through again, Meghan shifted slighly in her seat. Leaning toward Johnny, she whispered something in his ear along of the lines of going to use the restroom. Nodding at her, she then turned to Channing and informed him that she would be right back. Removing herself from his embrace, she accepted the kiss upon the cheek from him. She gave his forearm an affectionate clutch as she uncrossed her legs and prepared to slip away.

Little lady ( lady lady )
You got me just
( Screwed Up )
Off of your melody
Little lady ( lady lady )
C'mon and don't
( Chop me up )
Please don't make a fool of me

Before she could make any further movement to stand, a hand suddenly appeared in front of her from out of nowhere. Her brows drawn together, she followed the limb upward until she came face to face with it's owner. When her eyes met with his, Justin smirked down at her, his open hand still extended for her to take hold of.

Without an inch of movement she only continued to peer up at him with her mind traveling a million miles a mintue. She couldn't help but brood over just exactly what it was he had conjuring up in his brain right now. The longer she sat and contemplated the more and more stares she could feel currently boring a hole into her back. Deprived of less and less time to think, she reluctantly slipped her tiny feminine hand into his. Cordially bringing her to a stand infront of him, she hesitantly followed behind him as he ushered them up the right side of the stage but not before quickly glancing at Johnny and Channing.

Once there, Meghan secretly eyed the barely clothed models with distaste on her way passed. Her eyes took in the whole set from a now up closer view and she had to admit that Justin had really outdone himself this time. Not paying any attention ahead of her, she almost ran into his hard body not realizing that he had come to a stop and was now peering at her with an amorous stare. Directing her to sway along to the music with him so she wouldn't look like a complete idiot just standing there, Meghan complied with him for the time being. She couldn't stop watching his lips as he ingratiatingly sang the chorus into his mic with his unmistakeable southern twang.

Little lady ( lady lady )
You got me just
( Screwed up)
Off of your melody
Easy baby ( baby baby )
C'mon girl don't
( Chop me up )
Please don't make a fool of me

But it was at that moment when he tore the mic away from his lips for a brief second that she lowered her head and addressed him in a harsh whisper.

" Justin, what the hell do you think you are doing?" She gritted through clenched teeth.

His response was to chuckle lowly and constrict his grip on her hand when he felt her try and slip out of his grasp. In addition to that, he guided her hand to rest upon his broad shoulders with his free hand as he placed his on the small of her back. Her other hand immediately went to his other shoulder from the impact of him pulling her closer and nearly slamming her body into his.

Their faces now inches apart, Justin could depict the anger and disturbed emotions she had swirling around in her crystal blue orbs. As hard as she tried to read into his eyes, she couldn't. He was just too good at this little game he had currently brought her into. But from the corner of her eye she was sure that the audience didn't have their gaze fixed elsewhere except for on them.

As she turned her head to face the audience, she stood corrected. The entire auditorium seemed to be gawking at the scene ahead. Baffled stares filled with awe, ardor and wonder, Meghan was all too sure that she could already hear the whispers and see the tabloid headlines already forming for the next day. It was the first time in a year almost two that Justin Timberlake and Meghan Carter were seen in public together let alone in each other's arm displaying very inviting thoughts with their current body language.

What made it even worse or better for the media to spin this however they please, was that Cameron Diaz, Justin's girlfriend who was suspiciously missing from her seat was subject to sit back and watch as her man and ex- wife seemed to be stirring up gossip with the show that they were currently displaying.

Hey
Hey
Hey
Hey
( Screwed Up )
Hey
Hey

Feeling his fingers press into her back, Meghan sharply turned her head to face him nearly bumping her nose with his due to their severe closeness. Alertness began to kick in when she gazed into his eyes that were permanantely fixed on hers. She noticed a small sign of sincerity in them and the other...lust? Her mind was to boggled to actually figure it out because before she could even blink she could feel his lips inching closer and closer to hers. A chorus of gasps escaped the audience and her breath then became lodged in her throat. With no time to think and also against her will she could feel her lids begin to betray her strongly as they began to flutter all on their own.

Hey
Hey
Hey
Hey
( Chop me up )
Hey
Hey

The crowd on their edge of their seats and toes in waiting on what would be the most talked about musical performance in the history of award shows if the kiss were to follow through, they surely had no clue that their hopes were soon to be given up for his next surprise was making it's way over right now.

Meghan felt his lips ever so lighly graze hers that it was as if she were kissing air. Before she could actually pull her mind together and stop him like she should have long ago, it had already been done for her. So in a daze about what had just occured, Meghan blinked rapidly when she realized that she wasn't pressed against him anymore but seemed to be staring at the back of a head with long black shoulder length hair.

Coming up on either side of her, she felt an arm wrap itself around her shoulder. Swiveling her head she saw that the arm belonged to Juicy. J. With a quick flash of his grill, he tucked something into her hand then skipped away with D.J. Paul to join, Justin and Timbaland and also Cameron. Staring down at the device in her hand, Meghan unwillingly flipped open the phone seeing as that's what he must have wanted her to do since he was so keen on giving it to her.

Just as she was about disregard it and march up to Justin and tell him a few things not caring if what she was about to do would mutilate his performance, a short text halted her from doing so. As she read it and it embedded itself into her mind, her eyes sharply averted forward where she was met with his brash gaze and her tiny finger wave.

Coming to the conclusion that she had just been without a doubt humiliated under the cold hands of her ex- and his girl, Meghan was proven corrected as from the corner of her eye it was clear that all attention was now on her. Swallowing all of the courage that she could, it apparently wasn't enough as her emotions began to get the best of her and she hastily made her way to the nearest exit backstage.

Hey
Hey
Hey
Hey
( Screwed Up)
Off of your melody
Hey
Hey

Following on with the performance as it neared the end, Justin and the others had gotten the crowd to bounce their hands up and down as they were astounded and enthusiastically taken away by the superstar.

Hey
Hey
Hey
Hey
( Chop me up )
Please don't make a fool of me

Hey
Hey
Hey
Hey
Hey
Hey

Finally the performace came to a dramtic finish and the entire room seemed to jump to their feet in a trance as they awarded him with raucous applause and blustering cheers.

Backstage Cameron was clamoring all over Justin with hugs and kisses.

" Yes!! We finally did it!! We finally got that bitch back! Oh my god you don't even know how excited I'am right now. And, oh baby you were soo good up there tonight, I just...."

Her yapping voice seemed to drone into oblivion as they continued on their way to his dressing room. As Cameron made a stop to chat with some celeb or the other, with a roll of his eyes Justin decided to leave her and go on by himself. Earning a few pats on the back and congrats on his way to his room, his steller mood fell dramtically when he noticed a women with a head set that looked as so she were one of the people from Meghan's camp dash past him with a bottle of water and a box of kleenex.

She headed straight into Meghan's dressing room, slamming the door shut behind her. Seemed to be now stuck where he was standing it was then that Justin's conscience began to get the best of him.

Trudging into his dressing room the first thing that he did was plop down onto the black sofa against the wall and duck his head into his hands. He didn't care that his shirt was clinging to his perspirated body. At that moment his mind was only set on one person and one person only. When the door creaked open he didn't bother to lift his head from his hands. He heard the shuffle of feet and then a voice. A voice which seemed less appeased with him at the moment.

" You have five minutes to quick change back into your suit and get back out there. Oh and just so you know, as I'm sure you do, it's a field day backstage so you better do and say the right things." And with that Trace was on his way out.

" Trace wait-" Justin was met with the slam of the door.

Shuffling to his feet, Justin shook his head. All of a sudden he didn't feel too good. Glancing at his watch on his wrist he realized that he needed to get back out there quick fast and in a hurry. Though his movements to get dressed were quick his mind still only relayed on one person.

With the last tie of his laces, Justin zoomed out of the door and back into the chaos of the backstage area. Planning on dashing straight for his seat his route was stopped as a reporter halted him for a quick question.

" Ok man, but just one. I need to get back out there so you need to make this quick." He rushed.

And just like that he shifted right back into asshole mode despite the gnawing feeling of guilt, melancholy and shame he felt rumbling in the pit of his stomach.

The reporter fumbled for his pen and pad. " Alright, alright. Just want to know. Your spectacular show you put on tonight. How do you think it turned out?"

Just as he opened his mouth to respond, from his peripheral vision he saw a door open and out stepped a burly security guard and a few others. Justin immediately recognized the man as Meghan's bodyguard, Big Dav. A few other members of her entourage emerged and it was then that he saw her reveal herself. Her eyes were puffy and her cheeks tearstained. Though you couldn't tell because of the magnificant cover up her make up artist must have performed. She may have shined with beauty right then but Justin knew better.

" Mr Timberlake?" The reporter called. Coming out of his trance a quick frown passed his lips but was immediatley replaced with an air of cockiness.

" It couldnt have gone any better."

And with that he left on his journey to his seat.

Song Credit: Justin Timberlake ' Chop Me Up '

" I said how could he ohhh noo...."

" Better, but this time when you end with the 'noooo', hold it out for a couple of more seconds. And you're stalling after the 'ohhh'. Don't do that. Here, like this...... I said how could he ohhhhhhh noooooooo."

Meghan, watched his lips and studied his tone intently. As he finished he turned to her awaiting for her to take one more go at it.

A soft clear of her throat, she set her fingers against the ivory keys and tried again. This time perfecting it.

" I said how could he ohhhhh noooooooo."

" Perfect!" He beamed.

Pleased with him being pleased with her, Meghan began to tinker a random tune on the piano. Her hair done in a cute messy bun, she started to play the beginnings of Monkey and the Weasel.

" You know, you kinda have a knack for this sort of thing. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've been doing this for years." She spoke without even a bat of an eyelash.

J.C. peered at her from under his lashes as she pretended to busy herself with the piano. Relenting under his boring gaze, she cracked a smile which turned into them both sharing a few laughs.

" Just go get in the booth." He demanded with a light shove to her arm. Rising from the leather bench they shared, Meghan raised her arms above her head for a quick stretch under the eyes of J.C.

" I'm goin, I'm goin." She mumbled as her barefeet padded across the carpet and into the booth.

J.C. who had already taken his seat behind the soundboard busily set up the controls to synchronize with her vocals all the while Meghan merely sat in the stool provided and waited.

" Alright mami you ready?" He questioned peering at her through the thin glass that seperated the two.

She opted to respond with a nod. Placing her headphones on her ears, she stood from her stool and took her position behind the mic. Her eyes momentarily scanned the lyrics she had brought with her before giving him the thumbs up.

He nodded. " Now remember, this is just a test take so there's plenty of room for mistakes. But if you do screw up, keep in mind that I show no mercy." He quiped.

A tiny smile crept onto her face with a narrow of her orbs. Tilting her head to the side she rolled her eyes upward.

" Just a warning." He added for fun. Even though she acted as if her patience were wearing thin with him, he knew better.

He chucked silently.

" Ok. Let's hear it."

Reaching over to his left toward the top panel, J.C. pressed down on a tiny black button and as soon as he did the result was the soothing sounds of a soft melody echoing from the speakers. The music consisted of a studio violin but the notes of a piano were all her.

Firmly holdling the phones to her ears with both hands, Meghan gently closed her eyes and let the melody consume her as she began to effortlessly belt out the lyrics.

How could he be so cold to me? When I gave him everything. All my love, all I had inside.
How could he just walk out the door? How could he not love me anymore.
Won't somebody tell me, so I can understand.
How could the one I gave my heart to? Break my heart soo bad.
How could the one that made me happy? Make me feel so sad.
Won't somebody tell me? So I can understand,
If you looooove me how could you hurt me like that.

How could the one I gave my world to, throw my world away?
How could the one who said I love you, say the things you say?
How could the one I was so true to, just tell me lies.
How could the one I gave my heart to go and break this heart of mine.
Tell me.

Reclining in his seat, J.C. gazed at her form intently. It was undeniable that the girl had a voice on her but with all of the filters and backtracks she uses in her albums, she has never really got to showcase it but at a rare moment like this he was more than happy to sit back and witness it for himself.

His cell vibrating in his pants pocket, J.C. was pulled from his trance as he retrieved his phone. It had already stopped before he had the chance to answer so he viewed the id and made a mental note to call that person back.

Finishing off the last line with a sweet high note she brought her voice down a few octaves adding in a few ' ohhh's' and ' mmm's' here and there. Holding out the last 'ohh' she slowly brought the song to a close.

Sitting up in his chair, J.C. fingered the button that halted the music. Pressing down on the control that activated the intercom he grinned with satisfaction.

" Meghan. Wow, that was...that was amazing. Beautiful job mami. Beautiful."

Replacing the headset back onto it's holder, Meghan could feel her cheeks begin to warm up. She was never one for compliments. She may have gotten them every five seconds of the day but that didn't mean that she was any more used to them.

" Thanks Jace." She responded in a more firm tone so that to hide her bashfulness.

J.C. who pretended to swipe away a tear had yet another distraction as his phone buzzed again for the third time in one hour. The call must have been important as for this time he caught the person before they could hang up.

" Hey, Meghan take five. Sorry but..." He lifted his phone and wiggled it as a signal that he had a call.

" Oh, no problem." She dismissed lightly as she gathered her papers. " While you're out I'm headed to the fridge. Do you want something to drink?"She asked peeping her head through the leather door of the booth.

With a soft ' no ' and a smile she watched him saunter out of the door and into the hall. Fully removing herself from the booth, she trudged over to a small square table near one of the black couches against the wall. Dropping her papers onto it, one fluttered onto the ground but she was already on her way into the small kitchen that was connected to the booth.

Rummaging the fridge and deciding on a simple bottle of water, she closed the door shut with her foot. Untwisting the cap, she took a small swig. Her eyes catching a Chinese delivery brochure left on the counter, she stepped over resting her elbows on the counter and idly read it. Bottle still in hand, she used her right foot to scratch just below her ankle on her left foot.

" Sorry about that. It was my brother." At the sound of J.C.'s voice, Meghan instantly looked up from her read as he entered the studio. " Seems that he's deciding to fly out here and monday for his business and apparently he needs me to be his personal chauffeur for the day."

Meghan stepped into the room just as he shrugged off his brown coat and draped it over the back of the couch.

" I don't run a taxi cab company. Who does he think I'am?" J.C. remarked with a quick rub of his slightly stubbled chin. His hair remained in springy curls as he left it earlier.

" Well, you definately could have fooled me." She cracked plopping down on the couch next to him. She patted his knee for good measure as he sent her a glare that read ' you think you're funny.'

" Oh, lighten up."

His eyes darting toward the table infront of them, he stole a tissue from the Kleenex box and threw it at her. It fluttered into her lap though it was meant for her face.

" Why aren't you practicing on the piano?" He beseeched. She watched him rub his eye with the palm of his hand.

God did he have such gorgeous eyes.

" Same reason why you're not." She replied as she pasued to sip from her drink. " I'm taking a break."

He sent her look.

" Well, breaks over." He announced suddenly coming to a stand. Meghan stared at the hand that he had held out for her. She took note of the silver band on his thumb. " C'mon girl. I don't have all day."

She relunctantly latched onto it and let herself get pulled from her comfortable spot.

" You're worse than Johnny you know that? And that says alot considering that the man is actually my manager." She commented as she passed by him.

He chuckled at her back before joining her side at the bench. Their knees occasionally bumping one anothers.

" Doesn't matter to me none. As long as I'm still getting paid then I'll be whoever you want me to be."

Meghan sharply turned her gaze onto him with her jaw slightly agape.

" Jace!" She exclaimed.

The look on her face was priceless and that was all that he needed as he fell into hysterics.

" I'm playing, I'm playing." He spoke through giggles with his hands up and surrendering. " You know I love you girl."

" Right." She voiced as she cut her eyes at him ." I need to get my water." Retrieving her forgotten water across the room, mid sip she stared at him under her lashes and nearly choked on it from laughing as he began to suggestively waggle his brows at her.

With a shake of her head, she took her seat placing the bottle by her foot and sat up straighter.

" You need to be evaluated." She muttered but loud enough for him to hear and lightly bump her knee as she flipped through the pages of her lyrics journal until finding the song that she was looking for.

Setting it up on the stand for the both of them to see, J.C. and Meghan soon got to work as they turned her scribbles into what she hoped would be another multi-platinum record. Though her current record ' Breathe Heavy ' was still fresh from release, it didn't hurt to get an early start on another project so soon. In fact, Johnny, her manager was all for it.

Two hours later and Meghan was ready for another break but J.C. was not having it.

" I'm thirsty Jace! My throat feels dry enough as it is and I'm not going to be sounding like an old smoker on my next album because you want to be a workaholic all of a sudden."

Letting out a deep sigh, he let his shoulders slump a bit, his black 'Rocker' T- shirt showing his muscles flex under the material, as he relented to her whines and that one threat she gave him earlier.

" Fine. Take five. Go get another bottle of water or something."

Meghan had already bounded over to her oversized Gucci bag near the drums as she dug through it for some change.

" Nah, I'd rather get a Creme Soda from the machine outside. Speaking of the vending machine, do you have any spare change on you? Possibly in the form of a quarter? I only have bills."

Zipping her bag, she set it back in it's original place before trampling over to J.C. as he dug into his pocket and pulled out a fistful of loose change.

" Why should I give you a quarter?"

He questioned with a raised brow as if he were upset with her standing before him.

Snatching the quarter from inbetween his fingers she turned her lip at him while slipping on her blue and pink wedge sandals with diamonds on the strap.

" Because you owe me for the quarter that I let your ass borrow yesterday." She pointed out using the same tone and attitude as he used on her seconds ago.

Already on her way out the door his voice called after her so she shifted sligtly so that she was facing him as her hand remained on the handle.

" Yeah?"

" Get me a Pepsi." He cheesed with a child like expression.

She caught the quarter that he flicked in the air with a playfull groan and disappeared into the halls.

Taking a moment to read her horoscope off a poster plastered on the wall, she politely greeted the receptionist Melinda before halting at the illuminated vending machine with a oversized photo of Sprite on the front. Dropping the money into the slot, she fingered her selections and waited as they tumbled down. Bending down to grab the ice cold cans, she chewed the inside of her lip and stood.

As quick as she was to turn around she hadn't felt the prescence of a person standing behind her and abrubtly ran into the chest sending her drinks falling to the ground.

" Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know anyone was behind me." She apologized already moving to pick up the drinks.

" No, It's my bad." Said the other as his hands already snatched up her Creme Soda. " I shouldn't have been stand-."

" Trace?"

Still crouched low to the ground, Trace immediately lifted his head only to have his eyes connect with her confused ones.

" Meghan? What are you doing here?" He fired as they both came to a slow timid stand.

Her eyes darted down the hall slightly before holding his again.

" Uhhh, I'm working. I should be asking you that question?" She shot back.

His hand scratched the base hairs of his neck. " Oh, you know. I'm just......hanging out."

Hanging out? She knew exactly what ' hanging out ' meant. It meant that Justin wasn't too far off somewhere.

" Whoa, long time no see huh?" He spoke with uncertainty.

" Yeah it has been." She responded just as hesitant.

" Sooooo...."

" Soooooo...."

" How ya been?"

The question came out simultaneously and at that they both began to chuckle. It wasn't an uneasy chuckle but it wasn't a comfortable one either.

Trace was first to respond.

" I've been doing good." He said with a sure nod. " How about you? I've been hearing a lot about you lately. How is everything going?"

" Great. Just fine I guess. Back into doin the whole recording thing so...yeah. I'm doing good."

" Cool."

" Yeah."

As Trace began to rock on his heels, Meghan let her eyes divert over to Melinda who tried to be discreet in watching the two but failing miserably.

Meghan had to smile at that.

" Ummm, I should get going. I need to go and finish up some things. My producer is in there waiting for me." She somewhat lied as she gestured her thumb toward hall 'C'.

Trace nodded understandingly.

" Oh, sure of course. I wasn't trying to hold you up or anything."

" No, it's cool. Ummm, it was nice seeing you Trace." She offered him a genuine smile this time.

" Yea you too." He said returning his own crooked grin. He looked down at the Creme Soda he still held in his hand. " Ooops...umm I think this belongs to you."

She accepted it and was just about to thank him for it when she heard a voice that sounded like it was coming their way. Both turned their attention toward hall ' A ' in time to see Justin who was gabbing away on his cell phone appear. He looked deep into his conversation and didn't bother to acknowledge any sort of human prescence.

At the sight of him, Meghan felt her veins run cold and the need to throw up came real fast to her stomach. But she held it down just enough.

" Yea so, bye Trace."

" Bye Meghan." Before he could even get her full name to fall from his lips she had already hurried off down the hall. The last thing his vision caught was the back of her designer spaghetti strap camisole top.

" Hey man," Trace turned to face Justin who pat him on the shoulder. " Who's the chick that you were just talking to?" He asked dropping some change into the machine.

Trace looked down the hall again then at Justin who had already gotten his Creme Soda and was taking a sip.

Trace glanced at the can in his hand and raised a brow before shrugging. " No one you know." He told him.

With a shrug of his own, the two walked side by side back into their rented out studio for the day.

Meanwhile, Meghan had just stepped into the room to find J.C. glancing down at his watch impatiently as he sat on the couch with her notebook in his hands.

" Took you long enough. Damn, was there a line or something." He spoke at the sight of her.

Ignoring his comment, she handed him his drink then snatched her notebook away from him.

" Ever heard of privacy Jace?"

He snatched it back before she could even blink.

" No." He simply commented as she relaxed into the couch next to him. " Seriously though, why the hour long wait?"

Popping the top on her can, she set it to stand on her thigh as she pulled her legs under her. " No reason. Just a familiar face."

" Anyone I know?" He said watching her from the side as he drank from his Pepsi. He noticed her stall for a bit and her change in demeanor upon asking.

" Nope." She lied then quickly took a sip.

As much as he wanted to push the question because he was one of the few that knew when she was lying, he decided not to. One because if she lied then that meant she obviously didn't want him to know and two, it really wasn't any of his business in the first place.

" Ok." He responded.

Meghan knew from the way he said that ' ok ' that he didn't believe her but she wasn't going to say much else about her encounter with Trace moments earlier. Though it was good to see him but at the same time strange it was better to forget it ever happening. And just like that it was forgotten.

The silence that fell over them was about to drive her out of her mind. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, she had just grown used to him talking her ear off these last couple of days but now his eyes were just wandering the instruments in the room.

With her foot, she dented her big toe into his thigh to gain his attention.

Staring down at her french manicured toe then at her, he smirked. " What?"

She shrugged with a smirk of her own. " Nothing. You're just quiet."

" Would you like me to say something?" He questioned fiddling with the silver Tweety Bird charm wrapped around her ankle.

" You have been for the past couple of days. Why all of a sudden bequiet now?" She shot back propping her elbow against the back of the couch to lean her cheek into her palm.

J.C. stared at her this way for a minute. " Just thinking about some things." He finally replied resting the back of his head against the soft cushions. His other hand still holding his drink.

" Some things?" She questioned with a look. " Care to share?"

With a lazy loll of his head in her direction his eyes caught her's again and she held his gaze. " Nosy much?" He smiled.

" Eh," Untucking her legs from underneath her body she stretched them out so they were lying in his lap. " Only when it counts." She joked lightly.

Letting his hand rest ontop of her jean clad legs, he began to absentmindedly run his fingers up and down the gold patterns threaded into them.

Not taking his touch as any sign of affection, Meghan shifted a bit so that she could lean forward and put her now empty can on the table. Sitting back again, she took his hand that had been grazing her thigh and began to delicately massage his long fingers.

" Talk." She commanded.

Letting out a soft chuckle, he did as she and placed his drink on the table before settling back into the couch and using his other hand to trace the outline of her jean patterns.

" Ok, it's not a 'something' more than it is a 'someone'." Her eyes quickly brightened at the mention of a person. Gently cocking a brow she let him continue as she worked wonders on his fingers.

He grinned. " By that face that you just made I'm pretty sure that you already know it's a girl that I'm talking about so I'll just get right into it."

" Hmmm, actually I was going more for a gu-"

" Shut it." He warned with a gentle squeeze of her calf.

" Shutting." She said. " Go on."

She listened intently as Jace seemed to get lost into his own world as he spoke of this girl. From all that Meghan had gathered she was funny but at the same time sharp witted, she had what he liked to call ' classic beauty ' and really knew how to hold her own. He said what made her soo amazing was that even though the last few months of life consisted of a few rough and tumbles here and there she never let any of that bring her down. She never let herself get caught up in things that she's never wanted to do. She's always had a mind of her own and in her type of work environment, he appreciated that about her. He adored how she wouldn't allow the dumb things to get into her head. He found it sexy that she carried her own opinions and did things her way.

But what he admired most about her was that no matter how hard it got for her....she always remained the intelligent, sweet, person that he knew her to be. Except for a few minor appearance alterations here and there but he didn't let her know that one.

Halting in her massage, Meghan sat back a bit stunned. If J.C. had all those wonderful things to say about just one person then that person must really be something.

Something like lucky because guys like J.C. were one in a million. Atleast that's how she felt.

" Wow. Sounds like you have found yourself a really special young lady." She spoke kindly picking up where she left off as she tended to the muscles in his hand.

He nodded his head then looked to the ceiling. " She is. Definately."

" Have you made any move to ask this ' friend ' out to dinner yet?" She questioned with a small laugh.

When he informed her that it was a ' friend ' that has currently left him infatuated she couldn't help but think that with all of the friends that he has it could be just about anybody. Hell, it could even be Avril Lavigne! She did somewhat fit his description.

Sort of.

" No, not yet. Honestly I'm a bit nervous on what her answer will be. The last thing I want to do is get rejected. Talk about a bitch ass blow to my ego." He admitted.

After a brief fit of laughter at his comment, Meghan rested his hand that she massaged on her lap and gave it a gentle squeeze.

He whined with a small pout. " Why did you stop? That was feeling really good mami." He wiggled his hand hoping that she would continue in her wonderful doings but frowned when she only tugged on his index finger.

" Because you're not paying me." She quipped with a smile then adjusted her leg as he playfully applied pressure to her knee cap. " But yea, as soon as you get your answer you better call me and let me know." She mildly warned. " Just in case I have to have a talkin to this girl who would be a fool to turn down J.C. Chasez."

Attempting to hide his blush, he settled for a goofy grin. Another comfortable silence consumed them. As he traced the designs of her jeans, Meghan had her attention focused elsewhere. More so in her notebook she had placed in her lap. She would occasionally hum a few tunes here and there in which he would enjoy listening as she hummed whatever soft tune it was.

Shifting so that he was sitting up straighter, Meghan ignored his movements not noticing how he would gently squeeze her leg every so often.

J.C. let his eyes drift over to her face and before he could stop himself he removed her notebook from her lap and the hand that she used to twirl a strand of her hair around her finger, he took into his.

Her attention now focused on him she watched as he scooted closer to her and with the shyest of smiles began to rub circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.

" Meghan? Will you go out on a date with me?"

Stunned, Meghan could only stare into his eyes that were sincerely gazing into hers with a look of confidence and hopefullness. She stammered in her brain a bit to find the words but after a second of gathering her composure she threw her legs down so that her feet were on the carpet and shifted so that she were closer to him.

And she was close enough in which the scent of his Addidas cologne lingered in her senses a bit.

Glancing down at her hand still in his, she looked to him as she fixed her mouth to speak.

" Jace, I-"

Then there was a knock at the door.

TO BE CONTINUED.......

Song Credit: Aaliyah ' The One I Gave My Heart To '

Meghan's lips still slightly parted, J.C. offered up a tight smile as he released her hand creating a minimal amount of space between the two as he scooted further along the couch.

Without a word, Meghan inwardly released a breath. Looking to him apologetically, she stood to her feet and marched over to the door. Upon opening it, she somewhat crinkled her nose as she came face to face with her personal assistant Shannon.

" Shann? What are you doing here?" She questioned moving aside to allow her entrance.

" Sorry to interrupt but, " As she stepped further into the room, Shann acknowledged J.C. who had moved back over to the soundboard with a short wave.

" Hey Jace."

" What's up Shannon." He replied with a wink. Turning his back, he busied himself with the controls as Shannon turned back to Meghan.

" Where is your phone?"

Thrown off by Shann's random question, Meghan stared back at her confused.

" Huh? What do you mean? It's in my bag."

" Then how come you haven't answered any of my calls? I've been trying to get a hold of you for like the past forty minutes."

Exasperation filled her tone and she watched as Meghan moved around her in search of her purse.

" Really? Shoot I must have set it on..." Rummaging through her bag as she spoke, she retrieved her cell and flipped it open revealing thirteen missed calls. Fingering the side of her phone she clicked on the button that set the volume. " Yea, sorry. I forgot that I set in on silencer earlier today."

Shannon declined her apology with a flick of her wrist. " That's fine but the only reason why I came down here was to tell you that Johnny wants to see you in his office."

" That's it?" Meghan inquired as she cleared away the last of her calls not believing that her assistant had driven clear across town just to relay that bit of information. " Alright fine. As soon as J.C. and I finish up in here I'll drive right over."

Shannon shook her head.

" No. I mean now. He told me to get you over there as quickly as possible."

The stern tone in her voice made Meghan and also J.C. turn to her.

" What's the big emergency?" Meghan inquired after stealing a quick glance at J.C.

Shann shrugged. " I couldn't tell you. And even if I knew, I still wouldn't tell you." She supplied with a smirk. J.C. let out an amused snort.

Meghan scowled at Shannon's back as she answered her ringing phone and stepped from the room. " I'll meet you in the car." She threw back at Meghan before speaking to whom Meghan assumed was Johnny on her way out.

" Nice assistant you got there." J.C. commented swirling in his chair to face her.

Meghan merely shook her head. " The best." She spoke dryly.

Meghan stood there momentarily staring at the spot where Shannon just was before dropping her phone back inside her bag and then setting the bag on the coffee table next to the stack of magazines and their soda cans.

She looked to J.C. as he rose from his seat and strolled over to her with his hands cached calmly in his pockets.

" So, I guess we'll be picking this up same time tomorrow mami." He sounded peering down at her.

She casually slipped her hands into her back pockets with a tiny bounce of her shoulders. " I guess so. Maybe tomorrow we might even get some work done." She threw in.

" You are walking on a thin line girl. I happen to think that my producing skills are finely adequate." Meghan held in a giggle as he moved around her to retrieve his coat draped over the couch. " Insult my talent. I don't think so." He grumbled slipping it on.

She threw her head back and laughed aloud. " You make it so easy. Like really."

" Like really." He mimicked lifitng her journal from the cushion.

Meghan with her bag now strapped to her shoulder held out her hand for it. " Thank you." She said as he lent it to her then snatched it back.

She rolled her eyes at the smirk playing on his lips.

" C'mon Jace. You know I don't have time for this. I need to be at Johnny's office right now. You heard Shannon."

He said nothing and instead watched her as she attempted to reclaim her notebook. This went on for a few seconds when she finally latched onto it but his grip was to tightly secured and she couldn't tear it away from his hands.

Defeated, she began to whine.

" Will you stop already and give it to me?"

" On one condition. Say the magic word and it's all yours." He taunted holding on as she tugged roughly on it.

" Now." She demanded tugging on it once more. Though she didn't know that he was going to let go, when she tugged on it she stumbled backward slightly and the back of her knees came in contact with the edge of the couch as she plopped onto it heavily with a gasp.

" You are so lucky that I didn't end up on the ground buddy." She warned mustering up a menacing glare as he stood there chuckling.

" My bad. I have a really bad case of butterfingers." He emitted wiggling all five fingers on his hand.

She accepted his hand as he helped her back to her feet.

" I don't like you." She stated.

He frowned playfully then moved closer to her to cup her chin in his hand.

" Don't say things that you don't mean."

It was her turn to cup his chin as she stared up at him. " I never do." She spoke lowly causing him to cock a brow.

J.C. couldn't stop his eyes from traveling to her pink lips back up to her eyes. As badly as he wanted to just capture her lips with his, he knew he'd be overstepping his boundaries. That's the last thing he wanted to do considering she has yet to reply to his dinner invitation.

He took a step back and chuckled. Removing his hand from her chin, he took hold of her wrist and moved her hand down from his jaw. He brought her hand to his side then intertwined their hands together.

" C'mon let's go." He nodded his head toward the open door. " I'll walk you to your car."

She snickered. " Aww, such a gentlemen."

He cheesed slinging his arm around her shoulder.


Allowing her to move through the double doors of the studio first, Meghan and J.C. conversed mirthfully walking side by side across the parking lot where Shannon's car was parked. She sat behind the wheel looking over a manila packet and was unaware of the two making their way over.

They stopped just a few feet away. J.C. stood before her.

" I think Invisible would go good for your next single. It seems that you already have the concept of the video down so I don't see why not."

Meghan looked off to the side momentarily. From across the street she could have sworn that she discovered the likes of a photographer mingling around but disregarded it.

" Yea, but then again I'm torn inbetween 'Invisible' and 'Candle lights'. They're both great songs but I'm having the hardest time choosing which one will actually make the better video. I mean if I go with Candle lights then there's that whole demand of casting a male lead for the video but if I go with Invisible I won't need to cast a male lead, but then again the song kinda calls for some sort of romantic scene and I-"

J.C.'s orbs squinted at her under the glaring sunlight. He shielded his hand over his forehead inorder to see her better

" Well then I say just scrap them both. If you want my real opinion on the subject matter, I think you should go with 'Touch Like That'. That song is off the hook and I know it would get some serious play on the radio."

She tilted her head. " Really? You think so?"

He nodded.

" Hell yea. Plus the lyrical content basically creates the concept of the video. ' Touch Like that'? Yea, all you have to do is put on some lacy outfit, feel on yourself a little and maybe do a little ass shaking and Voila! There ya go. Number 1 on TRL just like that."

Meghan huffed and slapped his arm lightly. For a moment there he was sounding a bit serious.

" Not helping Jace."

His hand tended to the spot as he laughed softly to himself.

" Listen, don't worry yourself about it. I'm sure whatever you decide to go with in the end will turn out great. You have a knack for these kind of things. I mean, I have yet to see a video of yours fall past number two on the charts. Don't stress mami. You'll be fine."

This time around he was actually serious when he spoke. Meghan took notice and smiled a sideways one.

" I guess, whatever. Thanks." She replied unenthusiatically. Looking over her shoulder, Meghan peered at Shannon in the car. She figured it was time for her to get a move on.

" She doesn't look too happy. I better get going."

" Yea, me too. I need to meet up with a client in an hour soooo..."

J..C. opened his arms wide with a grin. " Get over here."

Meghan smiled and ever so slowly moved into his embrace. As soon as she was in arms reach he roughly pulled her to his body which made her outright laugh.

Securing her arms around his middle, Meghan rested her head against his chest as he began to lightly rock them from side to side. He then began to playfully hum ' Rock a Bye Baby ' which had her shake her head. Lost in their small world at the moment, the two were oblivious of the photos being snapped of them from the photographer across the street dressed in plain street clothes.

" So stupid." She spoke though her voice was muffled.

He gently squeezed her. " You like it." He conceeded.

The honking of a horn broke up the tender moment. Both turned in the direction of Shannon's car. J.C. simply waved at the impatient assistant as she motioned to her watch for Meghan to hurry up.

" I'll call you a little later on alright." He told her.

" Yea." She responded moving from his embrace. Peeking on her toes, she planted a small kiss on his cheek then playfully patted it. " Stay out of trouble."

" Trouble? Girl you know me."

He waved her off and watched her back as she stalked toward the car. Retrieving his keys from his pocket he was about to pivot on his heels and over to his car when her voice calling him halted his step.

He turned to look at her. " What is it?"

As she spoke she took slow steps backwards. " Tomorrow at 8:00. I'll be waiting." She hollered at with that she winked before rounding toward the passenger side of the car and climbing inside.

The biggest of smiles grew to his face and he licked his lips. With a quick nod and a finger wave as Shannon zoomed past him, he twirled his keys around his finger as he merrily strutted over to his car.

Let the headlines begin.


( The Ivy Restaurant )

Meghan smiled at J.C. from over the rim of her champagne glass. She shook her head.

" I don't know how you can just eat it like that. You can still see the blood seeping through from the inside." She commented on his steak that he was currently slicing up with his knife and fork.

" That's what makes it taste so much better. The blood mixed with the juices from the sauce," He paused forking a cut of steak into his mouth. " Mmmm, delicious."

He chortled at her scrunched face as she watched him chew then looked at his plate of Sirloin steak and vegetables in fright.

" That's a Mad Cow disease waiting to happen." She supplied setting down her glass that she was still holding. Lifting her fork, she stabbed at her Fettucini and brought it to her lips. " If you ask me, I think medium rare steaks are just an epidemic waiting to break out and wipe out the nation."

To complete her sentence she took in her fork of noodles. Licking her lips she savored the warm, sweet taste of the Alfredo sauce.

J.C. munched on a piece of broccoli clearly amused.

" You talk about it as if it's still alive." He laughed.

She raised both brows.

" It might as well be. I wouldn't be suprised if at any moment it jumped up and bit me."

She muttered just before taking a bite of her Shrimp.

" I don't know why you're so against it. It's really not all that bad." Cutting up a small chunk, he forked it and held it up guiding it toward her lips. " Here, try a piece."

Meghan politely shook her head as she eyed his fork. " No thanks. I'll pass. Maybe another time."

He grinned. "No, c'mon just taste it. It's really good. I promise you."

She refused once more this time turning her head away. " Aww, just a tiny bite." He offered with a pout.

" Jace, I assure you that I will do fine without it. Please just remove that...thing away from my face and eat your food."

" Sorry can't do that. You are going to try this steak and you are going to like it."

Meghan surveyed his movements as he rose from his side of the booth around the table and sat directly next to her. Still holding his fork in the air.

" Will you move back to your seat. I don't want to taste it." She giggled moving away from him.

" No, no no. C'mon, here." He said pulling her back. He held the fork at her lips.

Meghan stared at it intently tucking her lips into a thin line. She looked to J.C. who was staring at her with eagerness. When she shook her head ' no ' once again, he nodded his head 'yes '

Inching his face closer to her's his warm breath tickled her nose as he co erced her sweetly. " For me." He spoke with an innocent gaze tapping her lips with the fork.

She could sense that he desperately wanted to laugh from the smile playing on his lips. But seeing as he was looking so good tonight, she just had to give in.

" If I get sick, I'm knocking on your door ok." She warned then relunctantly opened her mouth allowing him to slide the fork inside.

" Good?" He questioned watching her silently chew. Gently he tucked one of her stray auborn curls behind her ear for her.

She was quiet for a second taking a moment to swallow the food.

" I'll live." She spoke with the tinest of grins. J.C. narrowed his eyes on her breaking out into his own smile. " I'm kidding. You were right. It's pretty tasty."

She confessed as he moved back to his original side of the table. He grinned triumphantly.

" I knew you would like it." He spoke sipping from his drink. " You want another bite?"

Wiping the corner of her mouth with her napkin, she kindly declined.

" Let's not get too drastic now. Baby steps ok. Baby steps."

J.C. threw her an enchanting stare. His green eyes gleamed under the dim lighting of the private area of the retaurant. Meghan returned his stare with one of her own as he reached over the table to take her hand into his.

Continuing on with light conversation, J.C. held onto her hand a moment longer before a male waiter approached their table and he broke the contact.

" Sorry to interrupt but would you two care for a refill of our finest champagne? Compliments of our manager."

" Please, thank you." J.C. spoke kindly as the waiter then poured their drinks.

His eyes averted over to Meghan with pure admiration as she sat back and looked on with a smile on her face at the waiter while he refilled her glass.


J.C. kept his hand on the small of her back as he escorted her to her door. She handed him back his coat that was draped over her shoulder.

" I had an amazing time tonight. It was absolutely wonderful. Thanks so much for such a great dinner, I really enjoyed myself with you."

" You're more than welcome beautiful. But I should be the one to say thank you for letting me take you out. I don't think I could have asked for a better date this evening. I mean, you and that dress. You really blew me away tonight. You look beautiful mami." He spoke sincerely

She blushed twirling the single red rose in between them that he had given to her earlier.

" Thank you."

Resting his hand on her cheek delicately, J.C., leaned forward and replaced his touch with an airy kiss.

" You're welcome." He told her peering into her eyes. Closing the distance between them, his lips began to descend onto hers as she gladly accepted the initiation. The kiss was short and sweet. Just the way he intended it to be, but nonetheless it was enough to send a small shiver coursing through both their spines.

Parting, the tingly feeling of his lips still lingered on hers.

He ran his thumb alongside her jawline and whispered. " Have a goodnight Meghan."

She smiled warmly.

" Night Jace."

Another feather light kiss on her lips and J.C. strolled from her doorstep over to his car. Unlocking her front door, Meghan sighed happily to herself and bit down on her lip giddily.

Dashing toward the kitchen to place her rose in a vase, she tossed her purse and keys aside, filling a vase with cold faucet water and dropping the rose inside. Removing herself of her heels, she carried them in her hands and released the clip from her hair on her way from the kitchen and toward the stairwell.

" What a night." She breathed pressing the tiny red button on her answering machine located at the side table on her way up the steps.

'One unplayed message. Message recorded at 10:19 p.m. August 5th....

' Ahem....ummm, I know that I'm probably the last person that you would expect to call but....umm....yea, when you get this can you please call me back? I know that you're probably thinking that I must be outside of my mind right now but, I just....I really kinda need to talk to you. Soooo, yea, get back at me ok. Hopefully you still have my number which I doubt but, if you don't here it is: 784-0745. I'm serious about this Meghan. Call me alright? Ok, um... bye.'

Her hand frozen in place on the banister, Meghan blinked slowly. Finally making her way back down the steps with her shoes still in hand, she stood before the answering machine as it beeped.

That was your last unplayed message. To hear this message again, press 1. To save this message, press 7. To delete this message from your phone, press 9.

Staring blankly at the machine, Meghan slumped her shoulder bringing her thumb to her lip and taking a moment to nibble on her nail. Upon making her selection she mildy fingered a button then turning on her way back up the steps toward her bedroom.

You have deleted this message from your phone. There are no more messages, Goodbye.

Justin exhaled with dismay as he lazily dropped his cell phone onto the cushion next to him. Gliding his fingers through his unruly curls, he bent forward and lifted the television remote that had been lying on the ground at his feet.

Leaning back against the sofa, he slumped down in his seat and scanned through the channels. Not finding anything of interest at the moment, he set it on the Discovery Channel and watched the Elephants trample in a herd across the screen. His face crinkled with boredom as his phone went off beside him to the sounds of ' Hip Hop Is Dead ' by Nas. His movements were quick as he snatched up the phone and it fumbled in between his fingers as he flipped it open and answered without even bothering to check the caller id.

" Oh, " His face fell upon recognizing that it was his cousin Rachel phoning him. " What do you need Rach?"

After a five minute conversation with his cousin, Justin offered up his credit card number at her request. She was out running his errands and had decided that it would be a nice gesture to spruce up his wardrobe so she was currently at the mall in search for a few T- shirts and Jeans.

" How much!" He distressed and sat up a bit upon hearing how much she said she had needed. " $ 1,355? The fuck-- what in the hell for?"

Apparently not only was she buying him a new wardrobe, she suddenly decided that her wardrobe was also in need of a bit of glamour.

" Fine," He relented slinking back down into his previous position. " But you better not trash those receipts. I want to see them all when you get here. Yeah, even the ones for the Tampons you bought too. I don't care, it was with my money that you bought them with anyway."

Trace came to a sudden halt as he caught word of Justin speaking something along the lines of female products. Letting the conversation dissipate in his mind, he walked further into Justin's home Theatre room and parked his bottom on the Tan loveseat opposite of where Justin was seated on the Tan double. Silently signaling for the remote, Justin lighly tossed it and he caught it with ease.

He chuckled at the antagonized expression of his friends face. Before rising from his seat, Trace switched the television so that it remained on a blue screen before crossing the room and opening the DVD stand that held Justin's Xbox 360 console. Flipping it on, he slipped in a Madden Football game and carried the controller back to his seat. Turning up the volume a bit, he was soon into his game just as Justin was finishing up with Rachel.

" Sure Rach, whatever. I'm not even going to waste my breath and tell you not to do it because since when do you ever listen to a word I say anyway."

Trace could hear Rachel's witty response and chuckled to himself. Justin on the other hand was not charmed.

" Ha ha very funny. Alright, I'll see you a little later on. And don't you forget to bring me back those receipts. I ain't playing with you girl. Ok, like you too. Bye."

" She still hasn't returned your call I presume." Trace spoke with his eyes still glued on the game ahead but still full on aware of Justin's crabbed manner.

Justin eyed him momentarily. " No." He murmured fixing his eyes on the screen.

Trace bounced his shoulders.

" Go figure."

Justin's lip twitched and he let out a huff. So much for words of encouragement. He rolled his eyes at his friends lack of understanding.

" Why are you even here man? Don't you have somewhere to be other than at my house?"

" Nope." Came his astute reply. The controller rattled in his hand as he fiercely handled the colored buttons. " Actually, " He began. " I was supposed to be headed over to Kate's place but, I decided that being over here is much more fun." He stated. " And, because she doesn't own an Xbox."

Justin grunted.

" And neither do you." Justin pointed out to Trace who was more focused on scoring a touchdown. "You're so gay Trace. Just wait until the day she decides to drop your sorry ass. I don't even want to hear a word of it as I'm sure it will be coming soon."

" Trust me you won't. Unlike you, I actually know how to keep the women I want."

That response earned Trace a pen to the head.

" The door is that way." Justin spoke as he returned to his seat with the second controller in his hands.

The hit didn't even bother Trace. He was more upset by the fumble he had just performed then to be bothered by Justin's mild threat.

" You say something over there?"

Refusing to acknowledge Trace's lack of intelligence, Justin tuned into the game. Often he or Trace would either poke fun at the other for lack of playing skills or even resort to calling one another a string of disapproving words, but in the end it was Justin that defeated Trace by 105 to 97.

" Booyah baby! Unh, right there!" He exclaimed as he spiked his controller onto the ground and stood from his seat.

Trace looked to the heavy controller on the ground laying upside down. " I think you broke it."

Justin stopped mid victory dance. " And I say again, you are so gay." Returning to his seat, Justin planted his bottom right on his cell phone. Seconds later it rang.

" I think your ass is calling you." Trace snickered as he turned off the game and set the television on the food channel. Rachel Ray was cooking up something or the other.

" Dumbass." Said Justin even though he had to laugh a bit himself. He had to admit that Trace was just a basket of laughs at times. " What's up Johnny?"

Trace took notice of how Justin's demeanor dropped slightly as he entered the room again after having stepped out with his phone. In one second he went from an arrogant bastard then back to the sullen mood he had greeted Trace with earlier.

" What's up man? Everything ok?" He inquired.

Next thing, Trace's eyes moved to the tabloid magazine that Justin harshly threw on the table after picking it off his door step. He reached out for it.

" Obviously some people are more ' ok ' than others." Came Justin's bitter reply as he left the room for the kitchen.

Trace perturbed by his comment looked at Justin's back before settling on the tabloid in his hands. Having read the front cover headline it was then that he figured out what had gotten Justin to fall so pissy all of a sudden.

' Star Magazine's Sizzlin Summer Romances!'

" Meghan Carter and J.C. Chasez ignite gossip columns all over the world with said, ' New Steamy Relationship'. The fireworks flying around these two is undeniable. Has Meghan finally found herself a new Beau? Or could this be just another Hollywood Hookup? Page 28 holds all the spicy details."

Quick to flip to the page, Trace observed the many photos taken of Meghan and J.C. Two full pages were dazzled with photos of them out and about on Rodeo Drive and other Hollywood attractions. Some from just walking up and down the sidewalks to others of them enjoying lunch at various restaurants.

But what really captured his interest was a photo of them seemingly in a very intimate embrace at as Trace recognized, the parking lot of Battery Recording Studios.

He studied their profile a bit longer just as Justin entered the room again carting a bottle of Mikes Ice Hard.

" Where's mine?" He asked looking from his magazine to witness a grumpy Justin plop down. The glare he sent to Trace was the only incentive Trace needed to get the picture that Justin was in no mood for jokes at the moment.

" Maybe that's the whole reason why she hasn't called me back yet." Justin suddenly spoke. " She's been too busy gallavanting all around Los Angeles with him." He motioned grimly toward the magazine with his bottle. " My supposed brother." He chided with air quotations. " Now is it me, or is that just the worst form of betrayal on his part?"

Trace took a moment to respond as he engrossed himself with an article about Hayden Pannatierre.

" I could be wrong here but I'm going to take a stab at it anyway. Maybe she hasn't called you back because, hmmmm......would it be possible that she hates you? Or despises you even? But then again that would be stretching it a bit far don't ya think?. I mean, you did only embarrass her to the fullest extent of humiliation last month at the Music Awards but, " He paused a second to flip the page. " Who cares about that right."

Justin kept his tone eerily calm but his labored breath and his closed eyes said more than anything that he was a jellybean away from losing his cool.

" Trace, I am really not in the mood for your sarcastic ass comments right now. If you want to act like a dick, then as I said before, the door is that way."

Trace, finished with the magazine, set it in his lap. Shifting, he draped his leg over the arm of the couch and crossed his arms. He silently examined Justin's profile as he nursed his drink and stared into space with a sour glare.

" Well what in the hell do you expect me to say dude? Huh? Tell me the words that you want to hear that is supposed to make you ' Mr Perfect ' feel all better."

Trace was met with silence. He had to kick Justin off his high horse soon because in his case, though Justin was his bestfriend the guy was a far line away from perfect.

" Please tell me now so that the world can start spinning again and everyone can then again go on about their day." Though his words were meant to bite Justin in the ass, Trace kept his voice steady and restraint.

Once again silence. The only noise was him flinging the magazine onto the coffee table. He didn't miss how Justin's eyes immediately settled on the cover before him. On the cover was Meghan and J.C. happily holding hands while strolling out of the Kitson clothing boutique.

Trace sighed.

" Listen man," Trace started, cracking his knuckles. " I hate to be the one to add on to the rain pouring on your parade but, you seriously need to get yourself a big reality check. Now, note that the words that I'm about to spiel, you may not like or want to listen to but just hear me out ok. I'm not picking sides here and I'm still always going to be in your corner but this is some real shit that I'm going to shoot to you right now so listen clear."

Justin's eyes remained transfixed on the article but from the corner of his eye he was aware of Trace jittering around in his seat for a more comfortable position. He did that regularly whenever he was about to get into something serious.

Content, Trace began.

" This....this ' thing ' that you're doing, um, trying to make it right with Meghan, don't get me wrong I'm all up for you wanting to fix your mistake but then again, you need to go about it the right way. When I say ' right way, what I mean is that you can't let yourself get disheartened over articles and crap such as these."

Justin watched the liquid run round inside the bottle as he swirled it. No disrespect to Trace but Justin was really in no mind set on wanting to listen to a lecture. Regardless, he was going to anyway.

" Justin, initially you're going to have to accept the fact that she's moving on. You can't really presume that she's just going to sit on her ass all day in wait for the Justin train to come rolling back around."

Justin barely cracked a smile. Justin train? That was a new one.

" It doesn't and it won't ever work like that. You were the adulterous one in the relationship, not her. Keep in mind that she's not going to rekindle yall's relationship again with open arms. It won't be that easy. And I know that you know this. And seeing as it won't be that easy that means that you are going to have to push twice as hard to get her to even spit a glance in your direction. A simple message left on her answering machine is not going to do the trick. Hell, knowing her she probably just deleted it."

Trace held his hands up when Justin sharply fixed his gaze on him.

" Hey, I'm only being real here." He defended himself. " Look, Meghan is living her own life now. Infact, she's doing the things that you, yourself, have wanted for her. Isn't that why you cheated on her? Wasn't that your main reasoning? You wanted her to and I quote: ' seek love with someone else before coming to the realization that spending the rest of her life with you was something that she wanted to do.' Well, she's doing that. She's fufilling your wishes. The only downside to that is that she won't come to the realization that she wants to spend the rest of her life with you because basically... there is no ' you ' anymore. You took that from her man. And now you have to live with it....."

Justin bit the inside of his cheek with discomfort. Trace's words were just eating at him like termites on wood. Casting his gaze onto the table before him, he willed himself not to get emotional as his friend drilled into his head all of the things that he had already knew himself but had been to stubborn to actually acknowledge.

But as Trace's voice droned in the background, no matter how hard he bit down on his cheek it wasn't enough to stop the feeling of anguish he felt bubbling to the surface.

And for the first time in what felt like years he let a single tear escape.

Who knew that the happiness of one person could cause damage to another.


Meanwhile in Germany........

Meghan with a pillow tucked under her head stolen from the sofa had her legs propped on the couch as she lay on the soft beige carpet engrossed in a magazine of her hotel living area. The television sounded in the background and the french doors belonging to the patio remained open wide as a gentle breeze flowed through the room.

Soon, there was a pound at the door. Scrambling to her feet, she skipped over to the door forgetting that she was only in sweat pants and a lace push up bra.

Sometimes the brain of a popstar doesn't always seem to be functioning around the clock.

" Who is it?" She asserted still into her magazine.

" Room Service." The voice sounded. At this Meghan perked up. She had been dying for that Strawberry Cheesecake and glass of orange juice she ordered earlier as her breakfast.

" Finally." She breathed softly and was quick to open the door. A frown quickly formed on her face when she saw that she had been decieved. It was her assistant.

" Did you atleast bring some Cheesecake with you?" She asked hopefully though she knew she was to be let down as Shannon made her way inside.

She eyed Meghan up and down as she closed the door behind her.

" The better question would be where in the hell are your clothes?" Meghan examined herself. " What if it wasn't me at the door? I'm pretty sure that whoever was to be serving you today would get one hell of an eye full."

Slipping off her sandals she crossed the room. " Or more so one hell of a handfull." She bit into the green apple she retrieved from the complimentary fruit basket with a devious smirk.

Though her boobs were literally spilling out of her bra, Meghan ignored her friend and took her original position on the ground.

" Don't end up like Snow White and choke on that apple ok." She retorted.

Shannon cackled and moved to the couch.

" Nice one. I see you seemed to have gotten your hands on the latest edition of Meghan Weekly." Shannon joked commenting on the Star Magazine in her hands with her and J.C. gracing the cover.

The magazine shielded Meghan's face from Shannon's eyes.

" Yeppers. Only this time we're on two pages. Not four like the one in Spain."

Shann shook her head at the false disappointment in her tone.

" Poor you." She spat with sarcasm. " So what's it say this time?"

Meghan animatedly wiggled her rainbow sock covered feet against the cushions.

" Eh, the usual." She passed on casually. " Summer Romances, Me and J.C., Sizzlin like the sun, blah, blah, blah."

Shannon chortled. Digging inside her bag she pulled her nail file and began to file her nails.

The television was now on some commercial about Pro Active. Kelly Clarkson was promoting the product.

" The sun huh? I'd say that's pretty hott. Scorchin even." She blew her nails. " So what's been up with the two of you lately? I've been traveling with you for the past four weeks now and yet I still haven't seen as much of you as he has. Care to share?"

Meghan softly sniggered. " Not really. If you really want to know what's going on, turn to page 28."

Shannon chucked her file at Meghan's knee. " Rudeness."

Meghan released a long breath. She set the magazine beside her and sat up indian style.

" I always found it weird that you fancy reading while on your back. Let alone read a magazine that's not even in english."

Meghan shrugged relieving the itch on her head with her fingers.

" Luckily the German part of me tends to kick in at times like these and helps me decipher the things that you can't."

" You're cute."

Meghan cheesed taking on the image of an innocent five year old girl. Bouncing her shoulders for the full effect.

A knock at the door again and Meghan was quick to scramble to her feet when Shannon stopped her.

Pointing her finger at her. " Sit. I'll get it." She commanded.

Meghan rolled her eyes comically. Shannon was on her way to the door mumbling something along the lines of Meghan having issues with answering the door half naked scaring off innocent people and such.

Opening the door, Shannon stepped aside and let a male pushing a cart glide into the room. He stopped just before the tall glass table perched behind the couch. His red vest clung to his chest and his black slacks fitted his bottom perfectly. He looked to be somewhere around twenty two to twenty three. His brown hair was spiked and his green eyes gleamed.

" Is that the Strawberry Cheesecake I ordered?"

Meghan piped up from her position on the floor. She craned her neck upward to see three silver covers.

" It sure is Ms. Carter. I'm terribly sorry for the long wait. The chef wanted to personally make this one himself. He is a really big fa--"

The stammer that took over his motor skills was a result of Meghan who had came to a stand and was rounding the couch. Speaking, his head was down but as soon as he looked up he was on his way to drool city.

Shannon who still held the door open closed her eyes with a shake of her head.

" Oh, that's ok." She kindly dismissed with a light wave of her hand. " I don't mind. Just as long as it was here before Judge Mathis came on." She joked.

" I... uh...well...aha..."

Cheeks reddening and the back of his neck heating up, the boy opened and closed his mouth as he looked off to his left then his right. Anything to keep his eyes from straying toward her chest.

Innocently, Meghan stepped closer to the table unaware of the hormornal server desperately trying to keep himself in check. Uncovering the Cheesecake, Meghan lifted the small plate into her palm and smiled happily.

" This looks yummy." She spoke eyeing the small pieces of strawberreies sprinkled on the top.

" I'll... I'll... I'll be sure to relay your satisfaction with the chef. I'm sure he'll be pleased. Um, en..enjoy your meal Ms. Carter. Glad to be of service to you."

Pivoting on his heels, he dashed from the room with his head bowed.

On his way passed, Shannon caught his rushed words in German and laughed to herself as he scurried down the hall and onto the elevator.

Meghan as she swirled her tounge around her fork, sighing at the taste of the whipped cream, she looked to the open door then at Shannon.

" Was it something I said?"

Shannon shut the door. Stepping over, she took her own plate of sliced peaches and the girls rounded the couch.

" What does ' Wirklich grole bruste mean '?" Meghan crinkled her nose at her sloppy attempt at German.

" Why?" She questioned forking some cake into her mouth. She was seated on the floor again. Shannon on the couch.

" For future references. Now what does it mean?"

Meghan flipped the channel manually to the German version of Judge Mathis.

" Really big boobs." She educated.

She furrowed her brows at Shannon who nearly choked on a peach as she covered her mouth with her hand at an attempt to stifle her giggles.

" You're weird." Meghan declared.

Tuned into the thirty minute episode of Judge Mathis in which he ruled in favor of the plaintiff, the two had finished their sweet goodies and Shannon had brought back up the topic of her and J.C.

" I thought I already told you. Page 28." Shannon huffed impatiently and Meghan relented. Not before killing her with a long silence just for her enjoyment.

" Everything is going great. He's great company and I like him a lot." She revealed.

" That's it?" Shannon posed nearly on the verge of lunging at Meghan for more answers. Meghan stared at her.

" Is there more that you need to hear?" Shannon clamped her jaw shut and sat back.

" Anyways, when are you two going to go ahead and make it official?"

Meghan fiddled with the ring attached on her pinky.

" When you find yourself a boyfriend so that we can all double date." She replied.

Shannon ignored her grin.

" Well," She started with a toss of a stuffed animal in Meghan's direction. Meghan caught the small white tiger and began to groom it's fur. " As your bestfriend of eleven years I say you and J.C should go ahead and just be together despite what others have to say about it. You two would make a great couple."

Meghan listened intently. Shannon's focus was on the band around her wrist as she spoke. " But as your personal assistant slash publicist I really can't anticipate that the two of you together would be the best thing for you right now."

Meghan dropped the stuffed animal as it landed on the ground. Sitting up, she opted to move to the couch opposite of Shannon.

" Elaborate." Was all she said.

Shannon sighed with a rub of her eyebrow. " As your publicist Meghan you know that protecting your image is my main concern. Now I find that it's great that you have found someone that could possibly be your next long term relationship but I can't even begin to stress how bad it looks to the media that you have not only moved on to a former band member of Justin's, but also a close friend and almost brother to your ex husband. Doesn't that come off as a bit...awkward to you?"

Meghan shrugged, raking a hand through her hair. " Not at all. Mostly because I don't care about the opinions of the media. Who are they to me?"

Shannon untucked her feet from under her and moved to sit on the couch next to Meghan who seemed to be just a bit too careless about the situation.

An arm around her shoulder, Meghan rested her head on her.

" They are your entire career that's who they are. Babes, I'm not telling you this to make you feel bad, I'm just letting you know before hand that pursuing a relationship with J.C. right now is definite to bring on some major drama. The last thing that you need right now is bad publicity. We need to leave that all to Justin." She joked mildly.

Meghan smiled at her attempt to make light of the tense situation. Tilting her head to the side, she slid further down until she was on her back and laid her head on the arm of the couch. She looked on at the figures dancing across the screen.

" Shann, I'm already aware of everything ok. I'm very much aware but this is my life. It's my life and I'm going to live it the way that I choose to. The media doesn't run my personal life. I'm in charge of that. Always have been and I always will be."

And with that she was done. Shannon stared her on a bit longer. With a gentle pat on her knee, she sat back and tuned into the television.

There was nothing else to be said. Meghan wasn't that little girl anymore to be told what to do. She was now a grown woman.

A grown woman which in Shannon's eyes, she couldn't have been anymore proud.

Moments later, her cell phone sounded from the bedroom and she hopped up to get it.

" It's J.C." She informed Shann in a whisper as she covered the mouth piece with her hand.

Shann winked and watched a perky Meghan skip to the patio so the two could maintain their privacy.


Back in Los Angeles, Trace had just left Justin's house an hour before. Justin was left to stew in his thoughts and Trace's words of fortitude.

Smoothing his hand over the back of his neck, Justin puckered his lips and stood still in the living room. Trace's words had really sunk into him this time. His eyes darted around the room as a deep silence took over. Then with a slow but sure nod he knew what he needed to do.

With quick strides Justin was in his kitchen and on the phone in record time. He dialed the number and waited patiently until the other line picked up.

Rocking on his heels a bit, his fingers drummed the counter top rapidly. Hanging up with Johnny after getting the information he needed, he dialed the number to an airline.

" Hello, yeah, I'm calling to make a flight reservation."

After supplying the female attendant with his information and things Justin anxiously listened on as she sprouted of the price of the tickets.

He smiled.

" Perfect. Yes I'll take them. And you said the earliest flight will be in the next hour?" Justin stole a glance at his oven timer that read 11:32 p.m.

" That's correct Mr. Timberlake. And again, you're wanting the flight to Germany?" He confirmed that she was correct. " Then all is set up for you Mr. Timberlake and everything will be ready to go upon your arrival."

Justin thanked the lady and hung up the phone. Taking the steps two by two into his bedroom he then took on the task of packing a bag and moments later headed out of the door on his way to the airport.

An opening scene reveals a bedraggled inner city neighborhood in the streets of Brooklyn, New York. It's a cold frigid night and the dark streets are being illuminated by tall street lamps posted on the side walks and headlights from various cars driving past the block. Distant honks and accomodating street chatter fill the air as kids begin to pack up their jump ropes and other play things and head inside for the night. Newspapers and bits of trash take over the side walk near a lone bench at a bus stop.

Coming into the picture are two slightly older guys. They look to be twenty five to twenty seven or somewhere in that area. In large oversized Rocafella coats, the male characters named, Darius and Ty, Ty being portrayed by actor Micheal Ealy and the other just a video model, sit on the first step of the concrete stoop just outside an apartment building lit up by lamps of the tenants shining through their windows.

Ty, whilst taking a drag of his cigarette is staring out into the streets ahead. He listens as Darius wraps up a joke and chuckles at the end results. Tapping the ashes from his smoke, his green eyes watched them fall on the step below before he turns toward Darius with an all too knowing look.

" Yo man." He falls quiet for a second but Darius's interests peak up.

" What up?" He insinuates with the smallest of grins. The becomings of frustration on Ty's face is all too familiar for him.

With a sigh, Ty takes in another drag then hanging his head low, gives it a shake. " You know what?"

" What?"

" Here me and Meghan go again." He states in disdain.

Darius only raises his brows in a sad fashion. For this wasn't anything new to him

" Damn dog!"

" She saw me talkin to shorty the other day man-"

" Shorty here from the block?" Darius interjected with his thumb pointed in the opposite direction of their block.

With a curt nod, Ty replied. " Yeah. You remember shorty...?"

Daruis nodded his head furiously.

" Yeah, yeah."

" That wasn't nothin man!" Ty exclaimed with his hands. He made a disapproving noise as he eyed his smoke before taking it between his lips.

" We was just havin a conversation about the studio!"

" No doubt." Darius conceeded as backup.

Ty watched the smoke disappear into thin air as he blew out of the side of his lips. " But nah, Meghan had to take it somewhere else! I mean, she know I'm down for her forever.

" Fo sho!" Darius agreed.

" I don't know why she even go there!!"

Discouraged, Ty stood from his sitting position and flicked his cigarrette aside. Darius followed suit and the two just stood before each other with their hands stuffed deep into their coat pockets.

With irritation filling his green orbs, Ty tiredly scuffed his sneakers against the ground. " Man!"

" What?" Darius questioned over his shoulder on his way down the steps and over to the curb where his SUV was parked.

Ty followed behind and reached out to open the passenger side door. But before climbing inside he glanced over at Daruis with a somewhat serious expression on his face. " I guess I'm stayin the night wit you dawg!"

A smile came over his face as Darius out right laughed and the two climbed inside and pulled away.


Building up is a electric guitar riff followed by a rugged pop beat. The hard beat keeps on as the bass kicks in with a dance along hip hop sound. Synthesizers and violins mix in with the sound as the two black lines of a widescreen focus begin to open up and captures a pair of long silky legs from the thighs down. From knee up the legs are adorned in a pair of brown punk lace up boots.

Hey ey eyyyyyy
Ooooooo

Switching gears, it is only from behind that the person is now viewed. Her auborn hair flows down her back and her hips careen to the music as she keeps on walking forward. Then it's only her pink glossy lips which are seen before casting a fierce gaze of her blue orbs lined with shimmering sliver shadow and black liner and mascara which help elongate her lashes to full length.

I ain't gon' take this no more, no
No babaaay ey, no

Coming in into full view but still in widescreen, the chorus of the song comes in and the unknown female is revealed. The set up is an empty parking garage of a random building. Without missing a beat, Meghan is in yet another revealing costume consisting of a green camoflauge mini skirt and a matching hoodie that reveals her pierced navel. The zipper is pulled down to reveal a large amount of clevage doused in shimmering body lotion. Around her neck is a sliver chain with the intitials 'TY' in appreciation of her boyfriend. Hoop earrings hang from her ears and she begins the start of the video in true Meghan fashion as she stomps toward the camera with a ' So What' attitude.

Bounce baby out the door
I ain't gon' take this no more
Bounce baby out the door
Get up and move
Don't make me act a fool

Pivoting on her heels, the camera has now captured her walking from another angle far off. Five profile shots come in then followed by an aerial view of her then one from the ground up. In each, her hair is blowing against the wind and the screen would often slow down then speed back up to it's original pace.

Just bounce baby out the door
I ain't gon' take this no more
Bounce baby out the door
Get up and move
Don't make me act a fool
Just bounce

The picture has now come to a residental fenced basketball court. A slew of shirtless guys ranging from all different races seem to be battling out on the court on a hot summer day. The sweltering heat bounces off their backs and chest as tiny beads of sweat slide off their well toned abs. It's supposedly supposed to be a well rounded out game but it doesn't seem that way as the winning team seem to be running after one of the guys dribbling the ball down the court. As he makes the basket, the screen slows speed and the ball going into the rim with a swish is what is shown. The game goes on as the guys rough and tough each other out, when the screen then moves pace across the court where the benches are lined up against the fence.

Camped on them are a round of girls who seem to be interested in each others gossip then the actual game. In the midst of it all, Meghan is seated on the upper part of the bench dressed down in blue denim shorts with a graphic tee knotted up in the back and white and blue converses. Beside her, some girls are engaged loudly over soemthing or the other about the few guys seated a few rows away as they wait for their turn. The focus then goes back to Meghan and her alone as she belts out the first verse.

Said you're going with your boys today and,
Don't worry cause I'll be home late but,
I know you're cheatin', out there ' creepin',
You've been 'freakin' babe

The shot then goes back onto the game. It's zooms in on one guy in particular which happens to be Ty. With a double fake to the left, he manuvers out of the way with the ball in his hands down toward the basket. The opposing team are hot on his tail as he dunks the ball into the basket, knocking down one of the players in the process. The arrogant smirk on his face remains as he stares down the boy while his teamates pat his back on their way down the other end of the court. The game resumes but the focus mainly stays on Ty.

So let me tell you how it's going to be
You can run your game but not on me, boy
So who the hell are you trying to kid
You know this is what I did I

Sweaty and out of breath, the game comes to an end as the guys step over to the bench in search of some towels and water which the girls so kindly hand over to them. Reaching into his duffle bag set on the ground, Ty busily searches for his towel when a tap on his shoulder has him spin round. His eyes land on a petite female with her own towel in hand. He smiles down at her and she makes it more than obvious than she into him as she takes initiative and wipes down his chest for him.

From across the court, Meghan is full on watching but has not made any move to do anything about it. Distracted by her friends beside her and the commotion of the boys engaging in a friendly water fight, she shields her hand over her face when a few squirts of water come her way. Retreating off the bench, she attacks one of the guys who purposefully sprayed her while her friends join in as help against the others.

I called your pager and your two-way boy but no response
Start lookin and I found you in some other's woman's arm

Wet but not entirely drenched, Meghan stands aside with a few others as they look on at one of the girls chase a light skinned guy with cornrows out of the court and down the street past the fire hydrants. Beaming with laughter, she jumps slightly and drops the water bottle in her hands when an arm finds itself around her waist. Turning she comes face to face with her green eyed, caramel skinned boyfriend who quickly steals a kiss off her lips. Scrunching her nose in mock disgust, she goes to push his shirtless, sweaty body away from her but he encircles her waist with both arms and traps her in his hold. Sqealing at the feel of his lips attacking her collar bone, she wraps her arms around his shoulder as he lifts her off the ground. Just as he set her down, to hit one of his friends who smacked him in the back with a towel, Meghan still holds on to his arm when as she turned to her left her smile turned into a thin line as she seen the female who was with him moments ago leave the gate entrance way. Catching her gaze, the girl smiled wickedly at her with a taunting wave of her fingers.

Don't try to front boy cause I saw you there with my own eyes

Tearing her gaze away from the heated moment when she felt a tug on her hand, Meghan was pulled closer against Ty's chest as he secured his arm over her shoulder but was still addressing his guys standing before the bench. Staring up at the side of his face, she contemplated on whether to question him about what had just gone on between he and the girl but decided against it. Watching him grab up his bag and hoist it over his shoulder, she entangled her hand with his as he led them off the court and to his car. Tossing his bag in the back, both climbed in and secured themselves. His lips seemed to be moving a mile a minute as he spoke about something random but it was what Meghan was staring at in the side mirror that caught her attention. Walking down the side walk was the female from the court earlier and in her hand was a cellphone.

Dialing a few numbers here and there, Meghan shifted in her seat and sat forward as the female faded further away the further they drove. The last she could see of the girl was her putting her phone to her ear and at that exact moment she noticed Ty's phone illuminate as it sat on the console. Snatching it up quickly all he did was silence it before pocketing it in his shorts. He then turned to Meghan just as they hit a red light with a small grin and shifted over so he could place a kiss on her cheek. Smiling, Meghan turned toward her window and as he wasn't looking wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.

Just get your stuff boy cause I'm tired of hearing all your lies

As the chorus draws in again so is the scene of her stalking through the parking garage. Buttering up the camera with come hither stares and risque freestyle dance routines, the screen flips gears and is now following her every step as she locates a white door at the end of the garage. She stares down the door for a minute before pushing it open with both of her hands. Hanging above the door as she steps on through reads a sign that is marked ' Do Not Enter'. Of course oblivious to the warning, the moment she set foot inside, she embarked upon what looked to be twelve flights of spiral steel steps.

Bounce baby out the door
I ain't gon' take this no more
Bounce baby out the door

A quick gust of wind flew by her in slow motion then the slamming of the door followed. The moment the door closed behind her, Meghan gripped the top railing with her hand and lifted her foot to take the first step. As soon as her foot landed down a surge of electricity exploded throughout the place and as the lights above began to flicker on and off. A blast of wind picks up and the room is transformed into a rotating cylinder glass like hallway with a different variety of techno colors swirling round in the background. Tempting the screen with her eyes and hardcore attitude, Meghan follows along the moving floor beneath her doing a few hand twirls and backflips.

Get up and move
Don't make me act a fool
Just bounce baby out the door
I ain't gon' take this no more

Traveling along the pexi glass covered ground, Meghan has finally reached the end of the hallway and waiting for her is another door. She moves to push it open with one hand and soon as she does, she finds herself in another level of the parking garage. In a split second her outfit has changed and she was now fitted in sexy type street clothing with blue jeans and a barely there top. Her hair cascaded down in soft waves and her bangs were swept over her eyes on one side. From the far end of the garage, headlights appeared in the shadows and soon the roaring of engines sounded. Seconds later five large black and Yellow Hummer trucks soared up the pavement and all came to a stop a little ways from where Meghan stood before the door.

Bounce baby out the door
Get and move
Don't make me act a fool
Just bounce`

The second verse approaches and simultaneously the doors of the cars fly open and out step an entourage of up to seven girls in their own sexy type street attire. Bounding over to Meghan, a security camera hidden in a secure position is now filming the girls conjure up something or the other. Now armed with metal bats and chains, the screen cuts back to Meghan and the girls as they execute a small dance sequence with their weapons. Meghan leads the pack as they stalk up and down the pavement, dancing round the cars and such.

Baby boy I know you'll never find
No stuff as good as mine

Kneeling so she was face to face with the camera, Meghan suggestively tempted it with a look of sheer innocence before pretending to shove it away angrily. Shots of the dance sequence blend in with shots of Meghan positioned on the hood of a yellow Hummer feeling up her torso and other arousing scenes before coming into a sketch involving Ty.

She can't work you like I did
You can look but you know I got that good shit

Bent over a pool table aiming his stick at a striped number 15 ball, Ty takes his shot and sent the ball flying into the corner pocket knocking in two more in the process. The Billiards Hall is packed full for the night as music pumps through the speakers and the television above the bar displays a random 2 pac music video. Men and women gather round in full party mode as they drink from the mugs and beer bottles mingling the pool tables and the arcade games surrounding the room.

His pals egging him on, Ty goes to make another shot but then the soft feel of hands glide up his chest from behind. The whole night Ty had been getting hit on and felt up by the females in the room so he as so much didn't even flinch from the feel of this one. The slick grin on his face gave way that he was actually enjoying all of the attention. Hands on his chest roamed up and down before leading a trail toward his belt buckle where fingernails latched on. Screwing up his shot from the distraction, Ty slowly turned over his shoulder where a pair of deep brown eyes stared up at him. His friends shook their heads with false shame as Ty let the girl guide him toward a vacant hall near the bathrooms.

Entranced by her ' look of an angel ' expression but drawn to her volumptuous full figure, Ty closed the gap inbetween them as she remained with her back pressed into the wall. In wait for her to make a move, his lips descended onto hers in a full fledged kiss as her fingers curled round the back of his neck. His hands found her hips where he held on a firm grip as if she were going to run away at any minute.

I know that you hating it
But you better stay with the one you're with

Making her way inside the hall, Meghan acknowledged a few of her friends before heading over to the table where she noticed the familiar faces of some guys and girls. Chatting it up for awhile, she moved to sit on a stool when a certain Blackberry caught her eye that was resting on the ledge of the pool table. Lifting it into her fingers, she posed the question of did it belong to who she was thinking it did and surely enough it did. Out of her view, Darius and another gentlemen spoke quietly within each other opting whether or not it was possible that Ty had gotten himself into a real mess this time. Standing by with hope that nothing bad would soon unfold, Darius looked on as one of their friends pointed his finger toward the direction where he had last seen Ty scamper off too. With a nod, Meghan headed on over. Behind her though, Darius and two others angrily shoved the one who told. As that scene was going on, Meghan was quickly on her way toward the bathrooms. Just as she rounded the corner, Ty meet her halfway and was a bit surprised on seeing her.

Greeting her with a quick kiss and a hug, Meghan was hesitant to lock her arms around his neck but did so anyway. But pulling out of the embrace, she held up his Blackberry for him to see with questioning eyes. Then with a roll of his, he released it from her and pocketed it telling her that he must have forgotten that he left it on the table. Going along with his excuse, she let him led the way back to the pool table area. As Darius seen them coming up he passed a look to Ty. From over his shoulder, Darius seen the girl that Ty was with slip through the exit doors. With a raised brow and a lick of his lips, Darius caught the wink that Ty sent at him before turning his attention onto an unsuspecting Meghan thinking that he was in the clear.

You made your bed and now you have to sleep up in it baby

I called your pager and your two-way boy but no response

With the bridge coming back in, as that last line sung through, the similar Blackberry that Meghan had found at the Billard Hall was currently in her possesion. Her movements were slow as she threw the Blackberry in the air and took a fierce swing at it with her bat and sent it flying across the garage as it shattered in the air. Clearly satisfied with her doings, a content smile found it's way onto her lips for as she turned round the picture was taken back to the cylinder like hallway.

Start lookin and I found you in some other woman's arms

Back to the Billiard scene, Meghan conversed with a few of her girls across the room but often kept an eye on Ty when a female approached her suddenly. She whispered something in her ear in which Meghan stared at the girl before her with uncertainty. Informing her girls that she would be right back, Meghan followed behind the girl as she led them toward a private part of the Hall. She instructed Meghan to take a seat on one of the couches which she did. Crossing her leg over the other, Meghan observed her movements as the female switched on the mini televison above and slipped something round into the player.

What captured Meghan's eyes first was the familiar black and blue jersey that clung to her boyfriend's body. Then immediately her attention was fixated on the female who hand's were roaming the back of his neck. Then as the kiss followed, Meghan's expressions went from shock and disbelief to downright livid.

Don't try to front boy cause I saw you there with my own eyes

Blackened with humor, Meghan nodded her head as if she completely understood. Lowering her head, she breathed an impatient laugh and lightly scratched just above her eyebrow with her finger. As the girl reacquired the small disc from the player Meghan had already rose to a stand. Nothing was said between the two but Meghan did reposses the disc from her only to stuff it inside her bag. After she and the girl shared a look of understanding, Meghan left the girl to be alone in the room as she made her way back toward the Pool tables.

Meanwhile, the female that had just ratted out Meghan's boyfriend smiled contently to herself as she was actually the acomplice in the video she had just shown Meghan. Since her small frame had been shielded as a result of his tall frame hovering over her there was no realization that she apparently was the mistress in it all. Though as of right now it is unclear of her reasons why she had just revealed Meghan her boyfriend in the act of cheating, it would soon become clear later on in the video.

But back over to Meghan who was currently walking in Ty's direction, he moved to the side just in time to see her coming his way. He smiled instantly and against her will, Meghan dropped the scowl from her face and returned his smile with a sideways grin. Though just the whiff of his cologne made her insides boil, Meghan still moved into his embrace and planted her hand on his chest while he held onto her with one arm. It was then that Meghan felt the need to come up with a plan of action. Suddenly playing the ' tired ' role, Meghan informed him that it was getting late and she wasn't feeling much to hanging out anymore. Frowing a frown that he knew always seemed to get to her, Meghan inwardly scoffed to herself and refused his tempting offer if she was to stay with him for a few hours longer.

Signaling her friends over, Meghan squeezed his hand that had been tugging on her's gently. Blowing him a kiss as a sure fire way of telling him that she was going to see him later on, he relunctanly let go and watched her back as she and her friends made their way toward the double door exits. Soon as the girls were out of sight, Darius and the other boys bounded over to him and began to grill him about his ' adventure ' with the unknown female by the bathrooms. Darius opted to keep his mouth shut and only grin arrogantly in which his boys threw him haterous glares and dismissive waves.

As the boys contiuned to be loud and boisterous with one another, the focus shifted and came to focus on the movements of the girl who had shown Meghan the video, emerging from the private area of the Hall. She stared across the room at them briefly before leaving through the double doors. And this time she was gone.

Just get your stuff boy cause I'm tired of hearing all your lies

Meanwhile, while all of the drama was going on inside of the Hall, Meghan and her girls were out in the parking lot when Meghan stopped suddenly and eyed Ty's car as it was parked a few feet away. She held her finger up at her girls who were questioning her and silently made the walk over. Reaching for an empty beer bottle she seen lying on the pavement, Meghan stalked right up to his car and stood standing in front of it. For a moment she just let her eyes glaze over the expensive vehicle. Just then the camera surveyed the car and all of the fancy details that came along like his license plate that read 'Playa 1'. At this, Meghan merely smiled. Then taking a step back, she gripped the beer bottle in her hand and ever so languidly sent it flying toward his windshield. As the bottle spun in the air, it crashed through his windshield and landed in the drivers seat of his car, all the while bits of glass flew left and right.

As the head lights began to flicker and the car alarm rang loudly, Meghan's friends stood back awe struck as she nonchalantly stepped over to her car and unlocked the door. Mid step of climbing inside, she eyed her friends who remained in shock at what just happened, asking them if they were coming or not. Them all looking toward one another, the girls quickly scurried toward the car and climbed inside just as she started it up. Pushing and instigating for answers, Meghan was quick to drive off just as a crowd began to form from inside the hall and toward the parking lot curiously.

Ty, as he nursed his cup of beer furrowed his brow and turned round when he noticed most of everyone in the Hall trampling to run outside. Looking to his boys then telling them to follow, he had a hard time pushing through the crowd as he finally made his way to the front. His boys came up behind him just as he furiously threw his cup to the ground and fuming, stormed over to his car. He surveyed the damage with disbelief. Grappling his head with his hands outraged, He addressed the crowd behind him demanding to know who in the hell wrecked his car. Innocent hands went up in the air and eyes were wide as no one supplied him with an answer. His boys merely stood watch as Ty ranted and raved over his car, when Darius just happened to look at his right and on the ground lied Meghan's necklace. Bending down, he lifted it into his fingers then stared at Ty. Coming to the conclusion that it was possibly Meghan who could have initiated the damage, he stuffed the necklace into his pocket and stalked over to Ty.

Bounce baby out the door
I ain't gon' take this no more

Leaving off the scene just as Darius approached Ty while reaching into his pocket and pulling out the necklace, Ty's reaction was just missed as the picture switched back over to Meghan who had just smashed in the windshield of the Hummer she was dancing on with a metal bat as she stood tall atop the hood.
Jumping off the hood and taking the bat to all of the rest of the windows, the camera dodged the many shards of glass that flew in every which direction as she mutilated the car to her best ability.

Just as she smashed in the back window of the Hummer, dropping her bat to the ground, it was from one of the hidden cameras of the parking garage that Meghan was seen using a can of spray paint to tag all over the vehicle's body. She wrote ' Scrub ' in big sloppy letters along the left side of the car. Discarding the weapons on the ground, Meghan and the dancers climbed into two seperate trucks and started them off. Tires screeched as both cars took for the spiral road way that led all the way down to the main floor of the garage.

Bounce baby out the door
Get up and move
Don't make me act a fool

In the meantime while the scene in the parking garage played through, the screen flipped to find Meghan just entering inside his apartment with her girlfriends in tow. Looks of determination immediately alerted that something was up. The assumption was proved correct when Meghan pointed to the left and the right side of the room and the girls set to work. Seconds later, the girls were knocking over his possesions, untidying the rooms, marking his stuff with markers, breaking his plates and so on. Mina, a regular in Meghan's videos, sifted through his DVD/CD stand and pulled out a stack of cd's. She wiggled them in the air catching the attention of the girls and began to fling his precious cd's into the air like they were a collection of sliver frisbees. While this went on Meghan decided to take a visit inside his bedroom. The first thing that caught her eye was his favorite Jersey laying in a crumple on his bed.
Digging in one of his dressers she acquired a pair of scissors and got to snipping. She cut it up into itty bitty pieces and threw them up in the air and made jersey confetti.

After having her fun with that she really set to work. She gripped the sheets on the bed and harshly tossed them on the ground. One by one she poured the bottles of cologne she found in his bathroom and poured them over the sheets. Seconds later she found herself in his closet ripping his clothes off the hangers. They fell to a pile on the floor. Once she was satisfied and his closet was basically empty she gathered up the clothes and dumped them inside the tub. She ripped the shower curtain also just for added fun. She piled his shaving creams, toothpaste, combs, brushes, toilet paper, everything she could get her hands on went in the tub.

Then coming up behind her with a bottle of Clorox Bleach, Meghan put her hand out for it and took it from Mina. The rest of the girls filed into the bathroom after having destroyed the front of his apartment. They stood at her side as Meghan uncapped the jug and poured it all over. She held her hand out for a match which Mina set in her palm. Lighting it up, she twirled the tiny stick of fire and smiled before tossing it on the pile. Slow flames started to spread until it erupted into one big fire. The girls then immediatly left the apartment before the chance of them getting caught would come.

The rest of the chorus resumed as it showed Ty rolling up to an apartment set in flames. Once again the picture flipped before his reaction was shown.

Just bounce baby out the door
I ain't gon' to take this no more
Bounce baby out the door
Get up and move
Don't make me act a fool
Just bounce

Having reached the bottom parking lot, the two cars drove out onto an empty street except for the one exotic race car sitting there. Perched on the hood was a male in a brown and yellow G- unit jacket with his hat lowered over his eyes to the side. On all four intersections of the road the traffic lights would change from red, green, then yellow. The two Hummers halted a few feet away from where his car was parked and Meghan was first to climb out as she made her way over to the male.

Upon seeing her come up to him, 50 cent began to spit his rap for the song,

So wait a minute, Meghan give me a chance to explain
I was just looking at shorty, don't even know her name.

As soon as she had gotten close enough to him, 50 reached out for her and pulled her to him by her wrist. Meghan kept her expression uncaring as she sucked her teeth and lolled her head from side to side. 50 cupped her chin with his hand and secured his tattoed arm around her waist.

He fixed her head to stare at him while he rapped his lyrics with passion.

I ain't lookin for no one to come and take your place
Ain't no one out there baby that could fill your space ( no )

While 50's rap kept on clips of Meghan would range from scene to scene. She was currently involved in a rough dance choreograpy scene with her dancers underneath a traffic light. Then it would change from there to her in the cylinder like hallway, being filmed on security camera, then to her stomping along the garage by her lonesome.

Don't need to find a nickel got a dime at home
Plus I love every night the freaky ways we bone ( ohhhh oh )
I ain't trying to get gone, ain't trying to play the roll
And I'd rather stay a part of your blue-eyed soul.

As 50's rap came to an end Meghan was done dealing with him. She kissed her fingers and pressed them to his cheek before stealing his hat and placing it on her head as she stalked away from him. 50 was left to shake his head as he rounded his car and climbed inside, skidding down the streets and vanishing into the fog.

The chorus came back in and so did the scene with Ty and his burning apartment.

Bounce baby out the door
I ain't gon' take this no more, no
Bounce baby out the door
Get up and move
Don't make me act a fool

Fire trucks and fire men filled the scene. The fire fighters aimed their hose at the apartment building as they were quick to contain the fire. Neighborhood citizens stood watch at the disasterous scene on the block. A cop was busy questioning Ty but Ty was at a loss for words. His hands flailed wildly as he angrily spoke with the officer having no clue who could have done this. He then motioned to his broken windshield and explained to the officer that he didn't know who did it either.

A few feet away from him Darius shook his head. He knew who did it but for some reason he wasn't speaking a word of it. His hand clutched the necklace deep inside of his pocket. Suddenly Darius caught a figure emerging from the shadows of the darkness around the corner. It was night so his vision wasn't as clear but then she came into sight. Darius recognized her as the female from the Hall. He could see her peering at him before she disappeared into the curious crowd of people.

As if his night couldn't have turned out any more strange, Ty recieved a text on his Blackberry that instructed him to arrive at the basketball courts in ten minutes. He scrunched his face in confusion and in annoyance. He sighed loudly and relunctantly climbed inside his car, leaving Darius behind. Darius looked on as his car speed down the street then took off down the side walk.

Just bounce baby out the door
I ain't gon' take this no more ( no more, no )

His car parked along the curb, Ty hurriedly climbed out of the vehicle and looked to the fenced in court ahead. With a dreadful sigh, he alarmed his car and stepped onto the sidewalk. Pushing open the gate, in the distance he noticed three figures all dressed in black from head to toe.

As he timidly approached them further, Meghan was first to slip off her hood. Ty's expression was of surprise. Then coming up behind her two more hoods were removed revealing the faces of the female he had kissed in the Hall and the other person, Darius. Ty took a step back. No words were exchanged as Meghan pulled out her own Blackberry with a small disc. She slipped the disc inside and handed him the device.

Ty was unsure what to do but figured she must have wanted him to watch something on the small screen. The words' loading' appeared before film of him and the female making out in the hall took his breath away. He looked to Meghan but she told him to keep watching. The footage of her bashing in his windshield with a bottle came into view as well as footage of her mutilatiing his apartment. He was paralyzed and couldn't speak. As the screen then cut to black, he looked at the three infront of him.

Darius dug into his pocket and handed Meghan her necklace. Ty watched the exchange between the two. Meghan held the necklace up to his face then crumbled it in her hand and threw it at his chest in disgust. She was so done with him.

Bounce baby out the door
Get up and move
Don't make me act a fool ( Yeeeeeahhh)
Just bounce ( Booooounce )

Meghan was first to brush past him and purposefully bumped his shoulder. Then the female known as Chelle followed and lastly with a shameful shake of his head, Darius.

The scene then ended with Ty standing in the dark alone on the court.

Back to the street scene, Meghan sang the chorus lyrics as again the scenes interchanged.

She was standing with 50 as he spoke the endings chorus dialogue.

" You know I ain't trying to front you girl."

Meghan eventually secured her arms around his neck with his hat still on her head. She smiled at him with flirtation as his hand found her bottom.

Just bounce baby bounce
Don't make me act a fool
Just bounce

Meghan initially laughed as 50 began to toy with the hat on her head. " Why we gotta go there huh?" He questioned while continuing to flirt with her. Though it was just only for video purposes. There was no real atttraction between the two. Though she did think he was cute.

Just bounce baby bounce.

" You know I ain't trying to lose you girl." 50 spoke into her neck as she playfully pushed his head away.

Just bounce baby bounce.

As the song came to an end, scenes from the whole entire video rapidly whizzed by as the song's beat intensified signaling that it was almost over.

" There Meghan goes again. "

50's voice played in the background as a clip of Meghan tempting the camera with her movements and sexual gazes zipped by then her alone in the street amongst a cloud of fog. Her silhouette couldn't be distinguised in the night fog and the only thing that could be seen was a female figure and hair being blown against the wind as the last line of the chorus was sung and the video ended.

Just bounce


Song Credit: Sarah Conner ' Bounce '.

Meghan remained on auto pilot as she smiled cordially at the talk show correspondent seated in the high chair adjacent from her. She would often look to the studio audience and laugh slightly when a funny comment was made. She was doing her job which was to appease and satisfy the audience and the host when really on the inside she was dying of extreme boredom and exhaustion.

After breakfast this morning she had no time to squeeze in just the tiniest of naps because the moment nine o clock hit that was the time when all the chaos began. Her overflowing schedule didn't even leave her any time to enjoy her usual thirty minute shower. She was in and out of the shower in fifteen minutes and then seated in a chair getting her hair and makeup done then after that she was fitted in her clothes for the day which consisted of straight leg jeans that flared at the bottom shielding her Jimmy Choos and a creme v neck top with lace straps on either side. After a quick briefing in the elevator courtesy of Shannon, Meghan was whisked into an awaiting Expedition along with her entourage to start the day of endless interviews and television show appearances.

She was currently on the most popular talk show in Germany ' Thema Ein- Fuhrt mit Robyn Auf ' which meant ' Topic A- List With Robyn. ' To say that she was in the least bit excited about being on the show would be the biggest understatement of the year. In all honesty she couldn't stand to even be in the backstage area let alone on the set. Not to be rude but she felt that the talk show was all one big drag. She had been on it numerous times to know and to expect what questions were going to be asked and what questions weren't. The important questions never ever seemed to come up in all the talking that the host Robyn seems to do. No siree. It was all about getting down to the nitty gritty and airing out every celebs dirty laundry.

If asked most celebs who very rarely liked to guest appear on the show they would all tell you the same thing. The show was like one major tabloid magazine. Only difference was that it was actually live and broadcast throughout Germany and atleast six different other countries. Luckily none of the show aired on U.S. television. The only show close to this was Tyra and Meghan would trade in Robyn for Tyra in a heartbeat.

Meghan could literally feel her eyelids wanting to slowly droop to a close and a yawn wanted to desperately escape her lips but she appropriated her composure and opted to cross her leg over the other in an attempt to keep herself alive.

Robyn had made what seemed her thousandth comment out of the million she had and the reaction of the studio was bubbling laughter. Meghan resisted from joining in but she did crack a smile. What in the world was so funny? Beats the heck out of her.

Finally, after endlessly squabbling about a recent encounter she had with Hollywood actor Brad Pitt, Robyn ultimately focused the attention back on to Meghan.

" So Meghan," She began shifting in her seat a bit. Meghan folded her hands in her lap and listened intently. " Last month we had Ashton Kutcher appear on the show and he spoke of an upcoming film that you and he will be starring in." Meghan nodded politely. " We didn't get to hear all of the details of the film since we ran so short on time so can you maybe fill us in a bit and pick up where he left off and tell us why you chose to be a part of it?"

Robyn spoke in the fashion that all young talk show hosts seem to do. Her cue cards dangled from her fingers as she waited on Meghan with a pretentious smile.

Meghan gently cleared her throat and smiled back. Robyn's smile was one of the fakest that she had ever seen. Still, she returned it with her own genuine smile. Or atleast that's what it looked like.

" Sure. Yea...um, as of four months ago I got a call from my manager Johnny Wright and he was telling me about this movie script that he had recieved from Jacob Duchombe, the film's director and he was like Jacob wanted me to look over the script to see if I would maybe be interested in this new film that he was directing titled ' Ideal Guy '. So a couple of days later I read the script and automatically I just like fell in love with it. Immediately what attracted me to it was the personality of Ashton's character and how mine and his character eventually came together."

Meghan was about to go on but Robyn abruptly cut her off short. Meghan wasn't surprised one bit.

" It's a comedy film correct?" She asked as if she were authentically interested.

Meghan all the while nodded again. She bent over slightly to adjust the strap on her heel as she answered.

" Yeah, it's one of those romantic, comedy films though. Where guy meets girl, girl doesn't like guy, guy does everything to impress girl then at the end the inevitable happens and the two subsequently fall in love with each other and that's the happy ending." She lightly explained folding her hands in her lap again. " It's really just your overall humdinger kind of movie. You'll probably laugh all the way from beginning to end."

Robyn raised a discreet brow. " Hmm, sounds promising." She voiced blandly sifting through her cue cards. Seconds later she was back to her overly bubbily tone. " So, tell me, what was it like working along side Ashton?"

Meghan inwardly rolled her eyes but answered none the less. Robyn's attitude was initially calling for Meghan to just wring the woman's neck. Luckily, Meghan found a way from doing so. After past experiences on the show she found that if she kept her hands folded in her lap then she would be able to act accordingly.

Though strangling her did seem tempting at the moment.

" Oh, it was great." She beamed. " Ashton is a really funny person and a blast to get along with. He was such a goofball on the set and everything. Sometimes it was just so hard to focus on the set because he was constantly doing or saying things to make everyone laugh. But yea, he's a real sweet heart and he's great at what he does." She revealed with indubitable kindness.

" Awww, that's cute." Robyn passed quickly. " Was it your first time...you know...meeting him and working with him?"

" Ahh, no actually." Meghan spoke. " I mean, well.... This is the first time that we will be starring in a movie together amongst other things but as far as being strangers to one another, " She shook her head. " I've known Ashton for a good couple of years now. He and I have been friends for the longest and I think that's why we got along so well on the set because we knew what to expect from one another. So yeah, Ashton is one of those fixtures in my life and in other people lives that you just can't get rid of." She added with a short chuckle. " Not that I would want too anyway."

" I bet." Robyn sounded shortly. She curtly flipped her bangs from her eyes. " Now let's move on from all this boring chatter and get down to the good stuff." She beamed arousing some laughter from the audience.

Meghan raised a brow. She was not amused.

" Did you and Ashton flirt with each other at all? I know that you two shared some pretty steamy lip locking sessions. Was that fun for you at all?" She asked with just a little too much excitement. She sat foward and rested her hand on her knee.

'Is she serious?' Meghan silently questioned. " Umm," Meghan released a breathy chortle. " It was what it was." Meghan answered. She was a pro at easing her way around these type of questions. " Ashton and I have a mutual respect for one another and the only flirting that was going on was when the cameras were rolling. Besides that, it was nothing."

Robyn made a face that had the audience erput with laughter. " Oh, c'mon." She stressed. " You're sitting here telling me that yall two didn't flirt with each other at all? As good looking as he is?" She waved her hand and sat up. " I'm not buying that. I'm not as naive as most people out there. Sie Konnen Robyn nicht tauschen." She spoke in German aiming her attention at the audience who began to cheer.

Meghan ever so quickly narrowed her eyes on the blonde one. She then grinned and shrugged when Robyn averted her attention on her again. " You don't need me to make you look like a fool. You seem to have a handle on that yourself." Meghan retorted sweetly. She would have replied back in German but found it better to humilate her for the few american viewers currently watching.

Small gasps erupted in the audience then another round of laughter followed. A few cheers even.

Robyn tried to remain unfazed but Meghan knew it was eating her up inside.

" Right." She almost seethed crossing her leg in the same fashion as Meghan. This time Meghan's smile was actually earnest. " Anyways, like I said earlier there is no fooling me. I bet next you're going to tell me that you and J.C. Chasez are ' only friends ' " She displayed with finger quotes. " Despite all of those photos of the two of you swimming around right at this moment." She declared. " What is the relationship between you two anyway? Is he going to be just another hookup or is there something really going on?" She pried. The mischevious smile made it's way onto her lips and she eyed Meghan as if she dared her to deny the allegations.

Meghan let out a real laugh this time and tilted her head to the side, " I'm sorry but I'm allergic to those type of questions. They tend to make me sick and sick of the person asking them." Her tone was laced with sarcasm and her smile faltered to a taunting grin.

Robyn's lips surfaced to a thin line but she replaced it with her signature smile and laugh. She looked to her cards then faced the audience. " Looks like it's time to cut to a commercial break." She addressed the camera. " More with Meghan Carter when we return and after she's going to be performing her latest single right here live so stay tuned."

As the camera cut away and panned over the audience, Meghan opted to ignore the woman across from her and charmed the audience who began to clap and cheer with a wave and a few smiles.



Justin had just arrived in Germany a little over an hour ago. He cursed himself for not bringing along his body guard Mike as he barely escaped the clamor of photographers hanging right outside the airports entrance. It was a mad circus out there and an even crazier circus in the streets outside of the hotel. Papparazzi, fans, and news stations were swarming outside like bees to a honey comb. If he didn't know any better he would have sworn that the Pope had just entered the building with as wild as they were acting. He was surprised that the police hadn't been called by hotel security yet to come and tame the frenzied mass of people.

" Damn." He breathed peeking through the long curtains of his window. Down below the street was crowded with people shouting out and screaming. Some held camera phones and some held signs and magazines waving them furiously in the air.

Justin's eyes zoomed in on a magazine that some girl was holding and on the cover was a photo of Meghan. He recognized it as the recent Rolling Stone magazine. She wasn't the only one holding up the singers artifacts. Most of the crowd consisted of die hard Meghan Carter fans but at the sight of Justin he sparked a whole nother level of pandemonium.

He shook his head and removed himself from the window letting the curtain fall back into it's place. Atleast he knew that he would be able to find her around here somewhere. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was a little past three p.m. He didn't know whether or not Meghan was still in her hotel room or not but he strongly figured that she wasn't. If he knew Meghan then he definately knew her schedule and how jam packed it always is. He thought about it for a minute and was more than positive that she was probably out at a photoshoot or something of the other.

But then again he could be wrong. Whatever the case was he really just wanted to buy himself some time to prepare himself before just knocking on her door uninvited.

He stepped into the bathroom connected to the bedroom and switched on the golden faucet. Bent foward he cupped some cold water into his hands and splashed it over his face. He shuddered a bit at the ice cold feel before going at it again. Turning off the faucet he found a small cloth flipped over the towel rack at his side and wiped his face. Leaving the cloth on the counter, he walked into the bedroom and removed the hat from his head and tossed it on the center of the bed. Making a beeline for the living room, he rummaged the fridge for something to drink. Settling on a bottle of plain water he stepped over to the sofa's and sat down.

Lifting the remote off the table ahead of him he flipped on the television and set it on some random channel. Taking his phone from his pocket he decided to place a quick call to Trace.

" Hey man, it's me." He greeted as soon as Trace's voice filtered out.

" Jay? Dude where the hell are you? I swung by your house earlier today and no one answered. What the hell man. Did you decide to skip town and head to White Castle without me again? If so man then I swear-"

Justin laughed.

" Trace what the hell are you talking about? Shut up man I'm in Germany right now." He confessed eyeing the surroundings of his hotel room

Trace made a faint noise. " Excuse me, I don't think I heard you right." He paused. " Did you just tell me that you're in Germany?"

" I didn't stutter did I." Justin retorted.

" When in the hell did you find the time to fly all the way to Germany from when I just left your house like....I don't know not even twenty four hours ago?" Trace exclaimed.

" Right after you left actually. Literally like ten minutes after your short ass decided to jump ship and get the hell out." He cracked. Trace called him an obscene name in which he rolled his eyes.

" Shove it dude. Anyway, so what is there in Germany that you needed to Fed Ex yourself overnight?"

Justin finally untwisted the cap of his water but hadn't moved to drink from it yet. He let it stand on his thigh.

" Nothing. I'm here on business." He replied.

Trace snorted. " And by business you must mean Meghan." Trace figured within two seconds.

Justin made a face. " How in the hell do you know that?"

" I wasn't born yesterday dude." Trace spoke simply. " And because I made a phone call to Johnny to find out where you were." He cheesed.

" You're so lame man." Justin declared. Trace's chuckle filled his ears.

They talked on for a few moments longer over pointless subject topics. Family, football, Trace's girlfriend Kate and other things.

Justin rose from the couch to trash his bottle with his phone to his ear. " Sooo, you think that may-"

" No." Trace interrupted. He knew just what his friend was going to ask and quite frankly he was not up for it.

Justin grunted at the short man. " You don't even know what I was going to ask you. I could have been offering you a ticket to the Lakers game or something and you just up and said no."

" Number one, I'm not as dumb as you think and number two, I already have season passes."

Justin made a tsk noise and decided to step over to the window again and gape down at the crowd. As soon as he was in sight the people below went insane. " Whatever. I have V.I.P. access so there."

" Ha ha ha, good for you man. Listen, you know I can't come down there. This is something that you have to do by yourself. Whatever the outcome you know I'll be rooting for you but until then my happy ass is staying in California." Trace spoke seemingly content with himself.

" Yeah stay your ass down there. I don't need your stumpy behind getting lost in the crowd anyway."

Trace let that one go over his head. " Is that all of the screaming and shit that I hear?"

" Yeah. It's ridiculous." Justin moved from the window just as a photographer was gearing up his camera for a shot of him.

" Tough." Trace breathed. " Well I would love to continue such lovely chatter but my minutes are running low as it is and I don't do long distance calls. Next time make sure to call me collect. Saves me money."

" Are you--never mind." Justin pinched the bridge of his nose at his friend who he could hear talking to someone in the background. Trace could be so dumb most times. " I'll see you when I get back I guess."

" Alright, later dude and good luck."

" Yeah. Bye."

Justin snapped his phone shut and clutched it in his hand. He mainly stood around anticipating what his next move should be. Glancing at his watch once more forty minutes had gone by and he was still so sure that Meghan hadn't come back yet but who was he to know. Either way he was getting tired of waiting around.

" Might as well give it a shot." He said to himself. Crossing the room into the bedroom he observed his appearance in the mirror and was satisfied with himself before scooping up his red hoodie and slipping it on. Deciding to visit the Cafe in the lobby real quick he retrieved his keys and his key card and tucked them in his pockets then made his way out of his hotel room.


" By the way lovely way to present yourself on Robyn's show today Meghan. Absolutely cunning."

Meghan dismissed Shannon's corrosiveness and slipped on her shades. Shannon followed behind her into the building as Meghan's bodyguards Big Dav and Kelly protectively led the way inside the double doors and into the hotel lobby.

" Shann, just to let you know, I really do not care how I came off to the cameras today. That Robyn lady is such a bitch." She voiced stepping onto the elevator when the doors parted. " Sorry but it's true. She thinks that she can talk to anyone whichever way she pleases just because her show is the highest rating in seven different countries." She stood behind the two large men as they served as her blockade at the moment. " Not me sweet heart. If she wants to talk then I'll be glad to give her something to talk about." She continued. The bracelet on her wrist jiggled as she tussled her hair with her hand.

Shannon was currently at her side furiously messaging something on her Black Berry. After the show, Robyn had decided to have a word with the show's producer in which the singer was now banned from the show. Shannon immediatly alerted Max, Meghan's other publicist as they were working together serving as damage control before the news could be leaked back to the states.

" Oh, you definately gave her something to talk about." Shannon spat. " And because of that, I'm going to be working around the clock to try and stop this incident before the media finds out about it. You know that they are going to spin it to make it out to be all of your fault." She told her.

Meghan shrugged. " Let them spin it. Again, I don't care. As long as I don't have to ever appear on her show again then I'll be more than happy to have it all be on me. Infact, I'll publicly take the blame myself."

The elevator soon dinged and the doors slid apart. Meghan thanked Kelly and Dav gratefully before heading down the hall toward her hotel room while Shannon in tow was giving her an earful of nothing that she wanted to hear.

" Yeah, yeah yeah, Don't have an anuerism now." She murmured as Shannon closed the door behind them. Meghan disappeared into her bedroom momentarily.

" I better see an extra zero in my next check for this one Meghan." She hollered on her way to the table in the kitchen. Her other phone in her bag rang and the moment she picked it up it was Max now giving her an earful.

" Not." Meghan's voice faintly floated from the room.


Justin polished off his Passion fruit tea and donut and was now taking the elevator up to the fifteenth floor. His hands were tucked inside the pouch of his hoodie as he subconciously began to wring his fingers together. The elevator dinged and he swiftly stepped off when the doors parted then came to a close.

He studied the black numbers located on the small silver plates next to the doors until his eyes came upon the one he was looking for. He stood infront of the door and gaped at the slab of wood.

" Ok. You can do this."

He took a moment to gather his composure before discharging his hands from his pocket and raising his fist to the door. He pounded on it twice and let his hand casually drop to his side. He could hear shuffling and movement come from inside and he exhaled a quick breath


Meghan emerged from her room to find Shannon at the table speaking a mile a minute. She looked up and glared at Meghan in which Meghan blew her a loving kiss.

" Don't get up. I'll get it." She teased moving toward the door after hearing a knock.

" Two zeros Meghan and I am not joking." Shannon spoke.

Meghan waved her hand. " Uh huh." She laughed turning round to childishly stick her tounge out at Shannon while at the same time throwing the door open.

" You know you love m-" She stopped dead in her tracks as she took one look at the person on the other side. For a second she merely stared them down before locating her voice again.

" What are you doing here?" She spoke in a tone near grave. Her hand was secured hermetically on the door handle and her eyes narrowed low to a vicious standard.


Justin took a step backward as his gaze held hers after she poised the question at him.

His mind began to reel a mile a minute as he furiously attempted to comtemplate the vision before him. He opened his mouth to speak but instead his words were lost and he started to stammer.

" I....I... you...."

" Justin what are you doing here, oh my god!" Cameron launched herself into his body and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck. Her legs found his middle and Justin hadn't given it a thought and latched his hands on her bottom completely unaware of him doing so.

He relunctantly stepped inside all the while she clung to him like a monkey on a tree. She left kisses all over his cheek and his neck before calming down a bit as Justin set her on her feet again.

" I can't believe that you came out here to surprise me! I forgot that I even told you that I was going to be here." She ranted wrapping her arms around him again.

Justin furrowed his brows in all seriousness and confusion but slowly returned the embrace ever so lightly smoothing his hand up and down her back.

" Cameron I-" He began not even knowing how to decipher what the heck just happened.

She kissed his lips before he had the chance to begin or even finish his sentence.

" Oh baby, I love you too." She kissed his lips once more and squealed happily. " Wow, I don't even know that else to say. I can't beleive that you would surprise me like this." All the while she was speaking she tore herself away from him long enough to head over to the open hotel room door and close it.

Talk about a surprise for him also.


Meanwhile, Janaie brushed past Meghan and into the room.

" Well, hello to you too popstar." She mocked spinning round to roll her eyes at Meghan who had just shut the door.

Meghan bounded over to Janaie with a giddy smile on her face. " I'm just kidding with you girlie. Come over here and give me my hug."

The girls engaged in a pleasant embrace. Janaie then playfully pushed Meghan away from her. " You're such a dork." She smiled.

Meghan shoved her back with a scoff. " I for one am not a dork." She confirmed. " If you want to call someone a dork then aim your words at Shannon because I can't decide which one of you is the bigger one." She retorted tugging at Shannon's pony tail on her way into the kitchen.

Shannon grumbled something and Janaie found her way over with a smile on her face. " Whoa, who ran over your dog?" She cracked upon seeing Shannon's angry brows. " What in the world crawled inside her butt?" She questioned at Meghan while pointing her thumb in Shannon's direction.

Meghan peeped her head out of the fridge as she retrieved a canister of Honey Roasted Nuts.

" Damage Control." She relayed.

" Ohhhh." Janaie drawled. " What did you do this time?" She laughed just as Shannon nearly plugged her hair from her head.

" Tell you about it later." Meghan replied popping a nut into her mouth. " Until then come and help me pack my bags please."

Janaie was taken off guard. " Pack your bags? Are you leaving tomorrow?" She inquired following Meghan into the bedroom. She was met with two open suitcases on the ground and a bundle of clothes and things on the bed.

Meghan popped another nut inside her mouth then set the can on a nearby dresser. " Today. As in right now." She answered bending over to pick her sock off the ground and find it's matching pair.

Janaie observed her movements. " Today? But I just got here. You already accomplished everything on the schedule? But I didn't even get to stick around and check out the stores and stuff." She whined throwing herself on the bed atop Meghan's clothes. " What about the sexy German men? I didn't even get to go guy hunting yet."

Meghan crouched on her knees and folded a shirt while finding her bestfriend's dramatics quite amusing. " I told you to get here two days earlier." She reminded. " I was here all week."

Janaie rolled onto her stomach and pouted. " It's not my fault that I have to go to work. Plus my flight was delayed so I had to take another one." She sounded sitting up and helping Meghan fold some more clothes. She folded two shirts and a skirt and handed it over to Meghan who neatly placed it inside her Gucci suitcase.

" Well why didn't you call me and tell me the flight was delayed? I would have arranged for you to take the Jet."

Janaie made a disapproving sound. She handed Meghan a yellow Camisole. " Unlike you, I am not that damn spoiled. Such a Diva." She muttered under her breath.

" You're the diva." Meghan commented flinging an article at her which happened to be a blue Victoria Secret bra.

" Eww, nasty." Janaie voiced tossing it back in Meghan's direction.

Moments later Shannon entered the room.

" Dav's here. Are you guys finished up in here?"

Meghan nodded and rose to a stand with the help of Janaie who had just zipped up her last case. " Yep, bring him in."

Meghan and Janaie carried her bags into the living room and set them by the door. " Five minutes babygirl and then we are out of here." He informed her in his deep tone as his talkie garbled in his hand.

" Alright, we're ready." She told him then placed a kiss on the burly black man's cheek. Dav showed no emotion as he helped the bell boy take her bags out to the limo but Meghan knew better. He was currently in security mode so that meant that he had to remain tough. Truly, he was just her big teddy bear. Kind of like a second father to her. Fourteen years and counting.

Shannon, Janaie, and Meghan engaged in their usual chatter as Meghan once again slipped on her shades and with an enormous amount of security, made their way out of the hotel and into a black stretch limo.

Meghan waved at the lustrious crowd of fans and even posed for a picture before climbing inside the vehicle where she was safe from the chaos outside. Mintues later they were soon on their way to the airport where she would board her Jet to Ireland for some more interviews and a performance at a Breast Cancer benefit concert.

Janaie opted to sit on the side seats while Meghan sat next to Shannon in the one opposite.

" Hmmm, this one comes with a mini television. I wonder what's on." Janaie flipped down the screen that hung from the roof of the limo. Switching it on the moment the screen opened up it was set on a local news channel and being reported was Justin Timberlake arriving in Germany hours before.

This caught their attention except for Big Dav who sat in the passenger seat next to the driver. Shannon looked up from her papers and all was quiet as a reporter spoke in the background.

The male reporter spoke in German so Shannon pestered Meghan for a translation.

" What in the world is he saying?"

Meghan was quiet as she listened and watched on the screen Justin slip into a car before the segment came to an end.

She sat back in her seat not really caring about the entire segment. Big deal. So, Justin Timberlake flew to Germany. Whoo hoo. Was it really all that special?

" Well?" Janaie inquired eagerly.

Meghan rolled her eyes. " They weren't really saying much. Just that Justin Timberlake arrived in Germany a few hours ago. They're speculating that he's here on a surprise visit to see Cameron Diaz who's apparently here also in preparation for some ad campaign. See, nothing important." She spoke with little emotion.

Shannon crinkled her lip. " I didn't know that Cameron was here."

Meghan shrugged. " Neither did I." She passed.

" Did they say what Hotel she was staying at?" Janiae questioned folding up the small screen.

" Does it really matter?" Janaie raised a brow and Meghan sighed. " The Swiss." Meghan answered rummaging her purse for a clip to put her hair up.

" Wow, so coincidentally Meghan Carter and Cameron Diaz precisely happened to be sharing the same Hotel together. How convienient." Shannon commented not missing the glare being sent her way by Meghan.

Janaie giggled and picked up where she left off. " And to think, both lovers of Justin Timberlake."

" You two need to get help and fast." Meghan declared tying her hair into a pony after unsuccessfully searching for her hair clip.

Janaie pulled open the mini fridge and took out a small bottle of Baileys Irish Cream drink. " Hey, maybe Justin didn't really fly out for Cameron. Maybe he was here for you. He's probably sorry and found the time to pull his head out of his ass so he can come beg for your forgiveness." She supplied.

Shannon stifled her laughter and busied herself with her papers while Meghan cut her eyes at Janaie who was smirking at her behind her bottle.

" Jana, drink. Don't speak." She ordered.

Shannon spoke up. " Hey, it could happen."

Meghan huffed as the girls began to laugh at her expense.

Meghan directed her finger at Shannon. " You, damage control." She then pointed at Janaie. " And you, you're paying for that drink." She determined then sat back with a smile when Janaie frowned at her. Meghan laughed obnoxiously on purpose just for fun and to mock Janaie even further.

" You suck." She told her putting the drink down.


In the meantime Justin had escaped from the claws of Cameron long enough to lock himself in her bathroom. He paced the tile floor back and forth with his phone glued to his ear as he waited for Johnny to pick up. Instead it went straight to his voice mail.

" Johnny, it's Justin." He lowered his voice so that Cameron wouldn't catch word. " You need to explain to me and explain fast just how in the fuck the numbers you gave me somehow has gotten me trapped inside Cameron's damn hotel room. I'm fucking serious Johnny call me as soon as you get this message."

He angrily snapped his phone shut and threw his head back. He clenched his fists at his side and willed his eyes shut as he inhaled a deep breath.

" Jay? Babe are you alright in there?"

Her voice floated into the bathroom and Justin dropped his head. " I'll be right out." He replied roughly pinching the bridge of his nose.

Smoothing his tounge over his teeth he silently divulged every profanity known to man before moving to open the door.

" Fuck." He grumbled.

Opening the door, he flicked off the lights and regrettably joined Cameron in the bedroom.

Justin grimaced at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He leaned in closer as he surveyed the damage imprinted on the right side of his face about an inch close to his jaw. With a feather light touch his fingers grazed over the deep pink indentation and flinched when the tiniest of stinging sensations flowed through out the entire right side of his cheek bone. The more he observed the better he could see the markings of a palm connected to five fingers.

He hissed after he compressed an ice pack to his cheek as the sounds of Mims ' This Is Why I Rock ' floated into the bathroom from his bedroom.

" Yeah?" He grumbled holding the ice pack in place while taking a seat on the edge of his bed.

It was Johnny on the other end.

" Justin, it's Johnny. I just recieved your message." Johnny had just entered his office to take a seat behind his large oak desk. " Now you want to tell me again what the big sudden emergency is?" He inquired arranging his golden nameplate on his desk.

" Big emergency? The ' big emergency ' is about to make it's way back across the hall in a few minutes." He angrily spat while diverting his narrowed eyes toward the open door of his hotel room.

" I don't understand. Justin, what exactly are you saying here?"

Justin rose from his bed with aggravation and stalked back into the bathroom to examine his cheek in the mirror again.

" Cameron and I just got into a fight." He revealed grazing his finger under his jaw. The swelling on his cheek had lowered considerably." And you wouldn't believe what the hell she did to me. She wailed on me Johnny! The bitch went all psycho and wailed on me!" Justin's tone was on the brink of shouting as he replayed the violent event in his head once more. He still was not believeing that it actually happened.

" Say what now?" The older man spieled flabbergasted. His fingers paused on the keyboard as he was in the process of creating an e-mail for Clive Davis the CEO of Jive Records.

" Yeah, I know." Justin relayed upsettingly.

If Johnny only really knew how upset he was. No, more like raging pissed.

" Are you hurt at all? Did she get you really bad? Do you think that you might need to seek medical attention?" Johnny fired question after question.

Justin pulled the phone from his ear and gave it a look. His manager was talking crazy now.

" I'm fine." He grouched putting the phone back to his ear. " She did get me pretty good on my right cheek though. The swelling has gone down but I can already tell that there's going to be a bruise."

Johnny picked up where he left off on his e-mail. Justin could hear the faint sound of keys clattering on a keyboard.

" Damn Justin, I'm sorry." Johnny sympathised. " Um, you didn't touch her back did you?"

" What!" Justin exclaimed at the absurdity of the question." How could you even ask me that? Of course I didn't hit her. I would never lay a hand on any female. What the fuck kind of question was that Johnny?"

His manager apologized severely.

" Justin I know that you would never but I had to ask. I mean you could never know with situation types such as these." Johnny explained.

Justin rolled his eyes and dropped his ice pack on the counter. " Well the answer is no, I didn't hit her." He grumbled on his way to the living room so he could shut the door he left open on his mini tirade. " She's lucky I didn't though. I'm against all kinds of violence but Cameron should be thankful that I don't head back in there and knock her fuckin head off her shoulders." He scowled deeply.

Johnny couldn't help the deep chuckled that emitted from his throat.

" I'm at a loss for words right now." He paused to hit send on the email then leaned back into his executive chair. " How did this all come about anyway? What in the world were you two arguing about that it had to result with her slapping your teeth from your mouth?"

" Not funny." Justin spoke sliding apart the glass door connected to the patio. He pulled up a chair from the small table and sat it next to a flower plant close to the door. From where he was seated it was hard to get a glimpse of him from down below so the crowd still down in the streets had no clue that he was out there.

" Before I say anything let me remind you that a considerable amount of blame will be put on your shoulders." He began peeping up at the sun in the sky." If it wasn't you who had supplied me with the incorrect piece of information then none of this would have ever occured."

Johnny nodded. " Ok, I'll take that. Now what happened?"

Justin rolled his eyes again. This time he focused on the cars whizzing by. From where his patio was located he was blessed with a beautiful view of the city.

" I had just gotten finished chillin out in the Hotel's Cafe and I was on my way up to Meghan's room. So I take the elevator and I get off on the floor that I thought was Meghan's which turned out not to be." Justin made sure that his tone reminded Johnny that this was all his fault." Anyway, when I knocked on the door, 2741, I was all waiting for Meghan to be on the other side when nope....I came face to face with Cameron who thought that I had come to surprise her. Yeah right." Another swirl of his orbs and a grunt, he continued on. " Long story short, I figured it was time to just tell her that I was through with her and that's when she went all Incredible Hulk on me and started swinging. I was trying to get out of there as quick as I could but just as I was about to leave she nailed me with an open hand slap."

Johnny released a stunned breath. " Wow." He shook his head sadly.

" Tell me about it." Justin replied. " Who knew that she would have hands like Tyson. I mean, I'm no punk but that shit seriously hurt." He put his hand to his mouth and open closed his jaw. The pain was minimal but nonetheless it was still pain.

" So I take it that she didn't take the break up to well huh?"

" My face obviously answers that question." Justin retorted.

Johnny sat up in his chair and logged on to his computer again when something popped up. It was a reply to the e-mail he sent.

" Again, Jay, I'm sorry that this has happened. I clearly have no clue how the room number I gave you landed you in such an apalling predicament. I probably accidentally switched the numbers around or something. I was pretty busy when you called."

" Still doesn't make it any less your fault." Justin tossed in. " What was Meghan's, not Cameron's, Meghan's room number anyway?" He questioned.

Justin wasn't going to let this incident set him back. He was still on a mission and there was no way that he was going to back out now.

" Um, hold on and I'll pull it up for you." Justin waited patiently while Johnny rustled around in the background. " Alright, room 2147 fourteenth floor."

Justin flung his head back and sighed loudly. Not only did he get the numbers mixed up but went one floor above then the one he was going for.

" So, what are you going to do now?" The older man broke the silence. Justin ran a hand over his head and dropped it heavily on his leg.

" I don't know." He lied. He knew exactly once he got off the phone with Johnny he was going to high tail it up to her room.

The door opened ahead and Johnny's secretary Julia peeped her head through the door. She informed him that Clive was on line two. Johnny nodded his thanks.

" Justin, I'm going to have to cut this short. I have Clive on hold and we have some specifics that he need to discuss but while I have you I might as well tell you that there's an event lined up and the planners have asked if you would be up to doing a performance."

Justin scratched the middle of his head.

" What kind of performance and where at?"

" Well, it's a benefit concert. I'm sure you've heard of it; Women of Breast Cancer Foundation. I recieved a call from Sasha, the head of the foundation and she said it would be a great honor if you would maybe perform a song or two. It's headlined with a whole bunch of other musical acts already but they want you to join the line up also."

Justin mulled over it for a minute. On one hand he didn't mind it because it was for a good cause but on the other hand, he was on his break. He really didn't feel like leaving his comfort zone for just one idle stage performance. He would have to rack up the band and his dancers and all of that drama.

It wasn't sounding to appeasing at the moment but the fact that it was to raise money for Breast Cancer then he couldn't help but say yes.

" Sure, I guess. Um, where is it? Am I going to have to fly back to the states or what?"

" No, you'd be flying out to Ireland. It's all going to be held at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast two days from today."

Justin ran his hand over his stubbled jaw and winced. He momentarily forgot about the throbbing side of his face. " Cool. Sign me up then. I just have to call Marty and we'll see what we can come up with."

" Great." Johnny beamed. " I'll call them in a few minutes and let them know." Julia poked her head in the door again and Johnny held up his finger. " Ok, I really have to go now Justin. I'll give you a call later and then we'll see what's up alright?"

" Yeah." Justin spoke propping one leg on the patio railing. " I'll talk to you later."

" Oh and Justin?" Johnny halted. " Next time you leave me a message such as you did on my voicemail again, I assure you next time I won't go so easy on you. Seems that Cameron had already done it for me. Ok, that's it. Bye."

" Ass." Justin remarked toying with the phone in his hand.

He sat out on the patio and took in the city and the fresh air a moment longer before retreating back inside. He let out a sneeze and shook his head with a sniff as he crossed the room for the phone to place another call. This time it was to the front desk.

" Swiss Hotel, Gustave speaking how may I help you?" Justin had to strain to comprehend the man's thick German accent.

" Yeah, this is Justin Timberlake in room 3969 and I was wondering if you could help me out and supply me with some information?"

The man nodded pleasantly. " What is it that I can help you with today Mr. Timberlake?"

" Uh, can you tell me the room number of a Meghan Carter?" He asked bringing up his thumb so he could chew on the nail. It was a habit of his.

It's not that he didn't trust Johnny. He just didn't want to come in contact with anymore ' surprises '. And because he didn't trust Johnny.

The receptionist clacked on his keyboard while he searched for the information. " I'm sorry Mr. Timberlake. There is no person by the name Meghan Carter in our records.

Justin was confused. " What? What do you mean-" He paused suddenly and removed his thumb from his mouth. It was then that he remembered that she must have given her alias name to check into the hotel. Most celebrities did it all of the time for security reasons.

He began to snap his fingers and he tried to remember what it was that she went by. She had way too many to account for." Umm, can you check under Stephanie Addison?"

" Stephanie Addison?" He repeated searching the database." Yes, we do have a Stephanie Addison checked into suite 2147."

Jackpot.

" That's great can you-"

Gustav cut him off short. " But unfortunately she checked out a little over an hour ago."

This was not news that Justin wanted to hear. " She checked out?" He frowned rubbing his forehead.

" That is correct Mr. Timberlake. Is there anything else that you would like me to do for you today Mr. Timberlake?"

" No thank you. That will be all." Justin hung up the phone before the man had a chance to response.

" Shit." He gritted sliding a hand down his face and the other on his hip.

He leaned his back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. Where could she have gone off to now? There were millions of places on the continent that she could have jetted off to. He would call Johnny and hope that he would know where she was headed considering that he was also her manager but remembered that he was off handling other things.

His best bet was to just hope that she would be attending the benefit concert but he figured that it was a far stretch. She wouldn't be able to find the time to squeeze such an event into her schedule with her tour and stuff. But then again.....

" The benefit concert!" Justin sounded as if the idea just smacked him in the face. " Duh."

Meghan was the most charitable person of them all. He has never known her to pass up an opportunity to help others. Tour or not she wouldn't let that get in the way of things.

Looks like he was just going to have to be there and find out.


In the meantime while Justin was gearing up for his second trip, Meghan, fitted in a Boho print banded halter top and low rise bottom bathing suit shivered in the arms of male model Channing Tatum as the two posed for the photographer on a private Beach rented out specifically for the photo shoot. Both were dripping with fresh salt ocean water and grains of sand glued itself onto their bodies.

" Please tell me that that's a flashlight you have hidden inside those shorts." Meghan commented adjusting her position in his arms.

Channing was holding her from behind and she sat in between his legs on one of the beaches massive rocks. A light wind blew in the air and Meghan shivered in the cool breeze.

" It's a flashlight."

Meghan wanted to look over her shoulder at him but was unable to as the photographer was gearing up another shot of them. She didn't really even have to look at him to figure that he was probably smirking widely behind her back.

" This is wrong. Just... so wrong." She declared just as Rico, the photographer addressed the two.

" Meghan, lean back into his chest a bit more." She did as she was told. " And Channing, bring both of your arms forward and wrap them around her knees." Meghan brought her legs up so that he could do so.

Rico studied their profile. " Meghan rest your head on his shoulder and I want you to look off at the side while Channing you keep your eyes on me."

Meghan and Channing assumed their positions which brought a smile to Rico's bearded face. " Perfect. Hold that right there."

While he snapped away Meghan began to get antsy. The cold air mixed with the ice cold water on her skin was making her extremely uncomfortable.

" Will you stop wiggling around like that?" Channing told her lowly. " My flashlight is going to be turning on pretty soon and I refuse to be held responsible in participating in the reaction that you are now causing."

" Alright you two. You guys can take a break now." Rico called over his assistant. " Clara, get them some towels will you?"

Meghan smiled up at Clara as she pushed off Channing's chest and rose to a stand. With the aid of Clara Meghan was soon warm and wrapped in an oversized beach towel.

" You repungent individual." She ever so kindly stated.

Channing chuckled musically at her. He draped his towel around his shoulders while he and Meghan were carefully led onto lower ground.

" Don't deny me Meghan. You know you like it." He stated with faux arrogance.

She cut her eyes on him. They were being surrounded by crew members who were patting and drying them off with more towels in order to prevent them from catching colds. The weather in Ireland did not call for them to be outside let alone dawdling in ice cold beach water.

" I want you as much as I want a cold sore. And sorry, but a cold sore seems the better way to go." She emitted brushing away the sand from her thigh

This elicited laughter from them all.

" Thank you." The two spoke in unsion after voicing that they were warmed enough.

They walked side by side toward a tent set up by their trailers. Channing poured them both two small cups of hot chocolate. Meghan dipped her straw into hers and swirled the liquid and blew on it before taking a cautious sip.

Rico and his crew were bustling back and forth on the sand reloading the film and other miscellaneous things.

Channing looked on as Meghan sipped from her cup and tipped the botton of it his with his finger. " Watch out. It's really hot."

Meghan jerked the cup away from her mouth before the smoldering contents could spill on her.

" Jerk." She conveyed with a shove to his arm. " You are this close," She pinched her thumb and finger together. " from a second degree burn. I will not hesitate to pour this all over you ok." She warned him.

" You are all talk. You wouldn't dare throw shit on me. " She sounded a disapproving ' yeah right. " But you can feel free to jump me whenever you'd like. Now that, I wouldn't object to." He chessed and offered her a wink.

Meghan recoiled with an act of repulse. She pretended to gag and clamped her hand over her mouth. " Excuse me, I think that I may have threw up in my mouth a little."

Channing shook his head at her theatrics. " Stick to singing ok. Acting is not your feature field."

" Ugh." She scoffed lowering her eyes at him. He laughed and reached for her and smothered her in a hug. Their banter went on until Rico called them back out for some more photos.

He had them both lay in the sand. Meghan was on her back while Channing positioned half of his body ontop of hers. One of her legs were entangled with his. Her hands were interlocked above her head and Channing's hands were free to roam her body. The scene behind them was breath taking. The ocean sparkled underneath the light and the palm trees from afar gently swayed to and fro. The purpose of the shoot was for Meghan's new fragrance line ' Intimate Lust.' She had called on Channing Tatum being that he was a good friend of hers for five years now and asked if he would engage in this photo shoot with her.

The photos and scenes yielded some very intimate embraces possibly borderline sexual and the only way she would feel comfortable was with the help of a familar prescence. The touch of just some random male model didn't fly with her in the least bit.

But Channing being himself wasn't planning on making it easy for her. Since the beginning of the shoot he had sprouted out every crude and perverted comment known to man. It was his way of thanking her for having him freeze his ass off just for her sake.

" Channing, gently cradle the back of her head." Rico directed. Channing did so. " Beautiful. Ok, now stare into each eyes as if you two are long lost lovers lusting for a kiss."

Meghan slighly wrinkled her nose but followed his orders. Channing merely simpered. " Weird." She mouthed.

" Ok, hold it."

Meghan wanted so badly to giggle with the way his eyes were boring onto hers. " You look crosseyed." She told him in a low whisper so that she wouldn't disturb the shoot.

Channing bit his lip to refrain from laughing. A few shots more and Rico informed that he was almost through. " And you look so damn sexy with that booger hanging inside of your nose."

Meghan's lip twitched and she closed her eyes to keep from laughing but it was to no avail. A sudden bust of laughter erupted from her mouth and she brought her hands to rest on his shoulders to push him back slightly.

While the two sat up all the while in hysterics, Rico sighed aloud. Luckily he had got his last shot before the two fell out.

" Alright everyone. We're done. That's a wrap."

With the help of Channing, Meghan stood to her feet and apologized to Rico. " I'm sorry. I couldn't keep it in any longer. Channing was being a pain in the ass."

Rico dismissed them with a grin. " It's cool. The shot was already complete but that would have been a good one also. You're fine."

" Thanks Rico." She moved to hug him but he put his arms out infront of him. " Whoa, I'm not trying to get sick now. You need to dry up if you want me to hug you."

She rolled her eyes at the man and watched him walk off with his camera toward the tents.

" Pain in the ass huh?" Meghan was about to swivel round as Channing came up behind her but it was too late. Securing his arms around her waist he hoisted her into the air and traveled back in the direction of the water with her over his shoulder. The water swam up to his ankles as he twirled in circles under her relentless cries.

The display caught Rico's attention and he was quick to whip out his camera. He ran down the beach and began to photograph them both frolicking in the water. The shot was pure magnificence. It looked so real and that's what he had been wanting to achieve. No poses or nothing. Just true authentic desire.

" That was golden you two. I loved it. I think that I just found the cover shot for the ad." Rico beamed at the two as he held onto his camera as if it were a sacred item.

Channing and Meghan walked up to him hand in hand. Meghan squeezed the water from her hair and tilted her head at him. " Huh?"

Rico just smiled and waved his hand in the air. " Beautiful." He stated then skitted off under the tent again to finish packing the materials

Channing looked to Meghan and they both exchanged glances. He shrugged and then so did she.

" Eh, whatever." Channing agreed and he and Meghan conversed with each other all the way up the beach until they seperated into their own trailers.


The day was long but it wasn't quite close to being over. After the shoot with Channing, Meghan found herself scrambling back into her original attire for a quick radio interview then lunch with Shannon and her aunt Debra and also Channing who had decided to tag along. Soon enough she and him parted ways and before she could even blink she was already being taken to her next destination which happened to be the Odyssey Arena for rehearsals for the Benefit Concert being held tomorrow night.

She had been dancing and sweating it out with her dancers for almost an hour now and her limbs were already growing tired of the rigorous dance routines and the demanding directions of her choreographer Wade Robson.

He stood down below just near the front of the stage and every so often would find an error in the movements that he had to halt the music and correct whose ever fault it was.

" Jamar, when your skimming your hand across her stomach don't forget to make direct eye contact. And Meghan,"

" What?" She snapped. She didn't mean to but Wade was working her last nerve. He wasn't even her real choreographer. Rob, her true choreographer had a family emergency and couldn't be there so he sent Wade in as his back up.

Wade scaled the side steps on the stage and over to them. Frustration was clearly radiating from his form.

He wasn't the only one. Jamar stepped back and allowed Wade to take his place behind Meghan so that he could display the correct movements.

Wade dropped to his knee with one hand gripped to her hip and the other wrapped around her mid section. " Like this." He spoke over his shoulder at Jamar who nodded. " Now Meghan, when he's doing that right when his fingers come in contact with your pelvis that's when you grab hold of his hand and pull him up."

She inwardly groaned at the man. " Jamar, take your place and let me see it."

The two did what they were told and executed it perfectly. The others stood watch until Wade sounded of with his approval.

" There you go. Now let's start off from the top. Que up the music." Wade shouted as he trekked across the stage and into the seats for a better view.

" Kill me." Jamar whispered into her ear. Meghan sighed.

" Tell me about it."

The track started up from the beginning and Meghan and the dancers assumed their positions. Once the opening line and first verse hit Wade was happy with how perfect it was all coming along.

Touch like that, baby
Touch like that, oh baby
Tonight I'm jaded; touch like that

Heeeey,
I am smoldering in anticipation
Let's stop waiting
Plaaaay,
Our favorite track that gets us in the mood
Can't stop my mind from racing
Oh baby, you're drivin me crazy

Keep it hotter than fire, raise me up even higher
If you get into it, I'll do your favorite trick
Lets start the show
Show me how it's done
Over and over and over, oh baby

As the chorus then hit Meghan and her dancers were already on the verge of wanting to stop and have a water break. Though the lights in the arena were dim it didn't make the place any less hotter. Or maybe it was just them. Meghan went through the motions concentrating more on the dance movements then her actual singing. She'd worry about that at the rehearsal before the show tomorrow.

Just a touch like that
Brings me to life
I've been dead
But you're casting spells
So I'll rub you boy, feel it now, all the way to the ground
I've gained composure now, but that's not the case when you...

Touch like that
And lure me to you
Please don't stop
I'll explore this land
Feel it inside, grasp the scent, memorize the flavors
Let's make it all night long
We've got something goin on
Touch like that

The Junkie XL remix rendition of her single ' Touch Like That ' had finally come to an end. Scattered applause echoed from the crew and others lingering around and Meghan was thankful that it was finally over. That was more than two and a half hours of dancing around well spent. Especially with a choreographer like Wade Robson.

" Well done everyone." Wade commended. None of the dancers were really listening as groans and chatter followed while going off in seperate directions.

" Great Job Meghan."

Meghan lolled her head from side to side and gave him a tired smile. " Thanks Wade." She pulled him into a hug. " Oh, and I'm sorry about snapping on you earlier. It's just that you were being a real jackass." She spoke which made them both chuckle.

She was never one to sugar coat the truth.

He rubbed her arm. " I was wasn't I?" He chortled when she gave him a look. " Well apology accepted even though you really didn't need to. That's just how I work. Guess I should change it up huh? I'm starting to think that your dancers aren't to fond of me."

Meghan swiped the perspiration off her neck with her mini towel. " Don't worry. You'll break in soon enough." She sent him a crooked grin.

They made idle chatter until Shannon made her appearance infront of the two. Meghan accepted another embrace from Wade and Shannon waited until he was gone to speak.

" What's up?" Meghan questioned gathering up the strands of her hair and wrapping it into a sloppy bun. Her chest was a light shade of pink from all of the perspiring that she had been doing.

Shannon lent her her Vitamin water and Meghan took a generous sip. " There's a situation going on inside of your dressing room so we are going to have to relocate you into another one." Shannon explained.

Meghan listened as they made their way around the backstage area. The stage had to be cleared because in just a few moments the shows secret guest was set to rehearse. The buzz around the arena was endless. Everyone was wanting to be in the know about who the secret performer was. The arena was set to be closed off to all persons but the one's who did know were not willing to spill the beans.

" My dressing room?" Meghan repeated. She crinkled her brow. " Well what's going on? Is everything ok?" It was then that she noticed Shannon carting her purse on her shoulder.

Shannon dispersed Meghan's worry. " I'm sure everything is fine. It's something about a leak coming through the air conditioning vents. Security just wants to be catious and make sure it's not a gas leak or something along those lines so they want to check it out before sending you back in there."

Meghan noticed that Shannon was taking her to another side of the backstage area where she didn't even know they had dressing rooms. They stopped infront of a white door.

" Safety precautions." Shannon supplied as she opened the door. Meghan stepped inside and surveyed her surroundings. It was nice to say the least. The usual star status material.

Meghan noticed a few items placed on the ground near a tiny table that held a lamp. " But wait, I think someone is already in this room. Are you sure that I'm in the right room?"

Shannon eyed the jakcet and backpack. " Oh, it's ok. Probably belongs to one of the crew members or something. Don't worry about it." She made her way back toward the door. She curtly left Meghan's purse on the vanity table near the door. " But listen, I need to get back over there. If you need anything then there will be a guard posted right outside the door so just let him know. Until then, I wont be gone long. Maybe ten to twenty minutes so just relax and chill out ok?"

" Alright." Meghan had no other choice but to agree. She smiled at Shannon who returned the gesture and quickly she found herself alone.

She aimlessly observed the many details before crossing the room where a table sat with all kinds of junk food, candy, and various treats.

" Someone is not a healthy eater." She commented when her eyes landed on a single platter of Asian salad. " So sad."

She half chuckled and opted to munch on a slice of cucumber. She was satisfied with the taste so she opted for another one when she heard distinct voices outside of the door.

She didn't care to much about them and went ahead and picked at the salad some more.

The door then opened and she soon heard a male voice. " Excuse me, do I know you?"

Meghan dropped the crouton in her hand and wiped her fingers on a napkin. Just as she turned round to politely explain herself her orbs bugged out of her head and she ceased in movement.

" Meghan?" Justin with slow steps entered the room while the door closed behind him.

All Meghan could do was cock a single brow. " You have got to be kidding me."

Justin raised a brow of his own. He fixed his mouth to speak but that was a no go as Meghan then pushed past him and toward the door. She pulled it open and was instantly met with the guard that she was told was going to be there.

" Is everything alright Ms. Carter?"

She looked to him then over his shoulder into the hall. " Yeah, is there anyway that I can exchange rooms?"

He shook his head. " Under strict orders I was told to keep you here. Is there a problem?"

She chewed on her inner lip. " More like an emergency. Could you please radio my aunt or Shannon and tell them that I would like to speak with them Asap?"

The man obliged and retrieved his talkie from his belt. " Um, that won't be necessary. I believe that she's overreacting at the moment so just give us a minute and I'll calm her down."

Meghan whipped around to find Justin standing directly behind her. She stared up at him with dismay but he opted to ignore her glare.

" Um, excuse me but I don't ever remember inviting you into this conversation." She fired at him.

Justin sent the guard a look and reassured him that everything was ok. The guard stared at them both with bewildered etched upon his features.

Justin cupped her elbow and led her back inside the dressing room. " Excuse us." He directed at the man then disappeared behind the door.

Meghan snatched her elbow from his grasp. " What do you think that you are doing? Who gave you the permission to even come in here?"

Justin stared at her as if she should have already known. " This is my room I'll have you know."

" Yes it is and because of that fact, I will be getting the hell out of here." She was quick to side step him when all of a sudden a wave of nausea over came her entire body. " Please move out of my way." She demanded pushing the feeling aside. Unconsiously she relieved the itch she felt creeping on her arm.

Justin was silent but observed her closely. His gaze was not one of wanting to just scoop her into his arms and kiss her until she agreed to take him back but of other reasons.

A tell tale sign of redness began to appear along her neck line and the color in her cheeks were beginning to drain out.

" Why are you staring at me like that? Will you please remove yourself out of my path way?" She bit but her tone didn't sound as harsh. It came off more weakly then either he or she expected.

He catiously placed his hand on her forearm. He sceptically took her in from head to toe. The redness had spread from her neck onto both of her arms.

" Come here."

Against her wishes Meghan reluntantly let him led her toward the couch. For some reason unbeknowst to her, a dizzying effect began to take over and her vision was becoming slighly clouded. He sat her down on the cushion but opted to crouch infront of her.

" When did it get so freaking hot in here?" She questioned in a softer tone. Her voice was even unrecognizable to her own person.

Justin placed both of his hands on her arms and gave her a gentle squeeze. Concern was detailed all over his features as Meghan began to feverishly run her nails across her wrist. It took him a moment but the signs and symptoms were becoming all to clear to him. He identified the redness on her form as warnings of a rash.

" Meghan, I think you might be breaking out." He strongly informed her.

She made a sound as if to say that that couldn't be possible. " Justin, I would know if I were breaking out or not. Even if that were the case I still need to get out of here. Now move." Her attitude was back full force but her body language said otherwise.

Justin kept a strong grip on her when she moved to stand but instead her legs had all of a sudden weakened and she fell back.

It was then that a red alert went off in his head. She was having an allergic reaction but the question was to what?

His eyes darted around the room in search of any and everything that could have set off the reaction but found nothing until his eyes averted to the food table.

Justin tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear and moved his face closer to hers so that he could hold her gaze. " Meghan I need to know. Did you eat anything of the food from that table while you were in here?"

Meghan was now feeling a strong need to empty her stomach contents all over the ground. She shook her head as she recounted the thought.

" I had... I had.... um, a few cucumbers and that was it." She revealed placing her fingers to her temple in hopes for the room to stop spinning.

Justin affectionately rubbed her thigh through her sweats. He crossed the room and took a bottle of water from the cooler and placed it in her hand. " Here. Drink this and I'll be right back."

Meghan did as requested while Justin rounded the couch for the table. His eyes immediatly set on the salad and with a fork provided he began to sift through it. It was then that he discovered bits of red onions scattered at the bottom.

Fuck. The onions must have seaked onto the cucumbers in which Meghan must have accidentally devoured. Meghan was highly allergic to red onions and Justin knew that it would only be a matter of time that she would need to be rushed to the hospital for some medication.

It was when Justin heard a gasp did he rush back over to her. He was crouched infront of her again and held onto her hand.

" Meghan." He called her name in an attempt to regain her attention. He noticed her eyelids begin to flutter and that just made him further worried. " Meghan, I think we might need to take you to the emergency room. There were red onions in the salad and I think you might have eaten one by accident. Meghan?"

Meghan remained silent as her breath became shallow in her throat and her vision was extremely blurred. She could faintly make out the sounds of someone calling her name but she was restrained from responding.

It was then that world around her fell black.

Justin hovered over her as he situated her so that she was lying on the couch. " Meghan. Meghan, sweetie can you hear me? Meghan." He gently patted her cheek and cupped her jaw awaiting for a response.

When he got none that's when he hollered out to the guard in the hall.

" Tim! Get in here!" It wasn't a second that the large man bursted into the room. He looked to Meghan then to a frantic Justin.

" Get an ambulance now! She's having an allergic reaction!"

Tim needed no further explanation and was on his talkie alerting the entire security circle to call for an ambulance for Meghan. " She's unconscious and we need medical in here right now! Over."

Justin smoothed his hand down the side of her face as his hand held onto her other one. He once again began to lightly pat both sides of her face.

" Come on Meghan wake up. Open those eyes for me Meghan. Come on wake up."


Song Credit: ' Touch Like That ' BOA Kwan

Ok, first off I want to begin by just saying.....this sucks. Lol, alright, now that I got that out there, I might as well begin my long drawn out message that I don't want to write, but I'm going to anyway. It seems that as of recently I have been bitten by this terrible little insect that I like to call ' writers block'. I don't know when or how it happened, but that little sucker has unfortunately claimed me as one of it's victims and apparently the case is serious because these last couple of weeks or should I say this last month has been.....insane. I figure that it must be the stresses of work, school, and all of this other stuff that I've been dealing with, but whatever the cause is, like my brain is having some weird malfunctioning problem. Ha ha, yeah that's the word for it. But yea, just attempting to finish a chapter or even begin one is proving to be a real pain in the butt at the moment. So far I have only managed to update a chapter on two stories. Newlyweds and This Is My Story, and still then I'm having issues just trying to complete them. The rest of my stories.....eh, I don't even know. So to cure myself of this so called ' writers block ' phase that I'm going through, I decided that a little vacation out of town for a couple of weeks will do me some good I guess. Refreash my mind and maybe revive some of those dead brain cells up there. :) So to all who have been reading and also reviewing all of the stories, I just want to give you all one big hearty thanks and hugs all around, but sadly um, I don't even want to go and call it a hiatus because it's definately not even close to that, I guess I'll just say that my stories will just be sitting pretty on the shelf until I come back. So yea, I should hurry and wrap this up before I ramble on and on and bore you people to death.

So to end this I'll just say expect some fresh new updates soon, ( hopefully, I can get it together by then ) and another very, very, very big thank to all of you readers!! This site is really nothing without all of it's members, readers and authors!! :) Ok, I'm done. Off to go pack.



- Beth.

" Ok, Meghan, can you tilt your head back for me just a tiny bit?"

Her mouth wide open, Meghan lifted her chin upward and bent her head back. Her eyes casted upward and she glanced at the ceiling momentarily.

" That's perfect, sweet heart. I'm only going to take a few seconds ok? I just want to observe your glands one more time."

Meghan found a tender comfortness in her doctor's soothing tone. He placed a wooden tounge depresser into her mouth and was careful not to shove it too far down the back of her mouth.

With his mini flash light, he observed her tonsils, and glands, then moments later removed his materials from her mouth and informed her that it was ok that she close her mouth again.

" Give it to me straight Doc. Just tell me now that I won't be able to sing anymore and I'll try my best to hold back my tears as you leave."

Dr. Shiloh's white gloves snapped loudly as the man in his mid forty's slipped them off and discarded them inside of his black medicine purse. To Meghan it looked like one of those heavy bags that those magicans tote around with bunnies and doves hiding inside.

Dr. Shiloh smiled warmly at his patient. The girl could be down with the flu and still, her spirit would never falter.

" If I were to tell you that, then that would make me a liar. You of all people should know that I am not one to be untruthful to my patients."

He caught the skeptical stare being sent his way and chuckled. Zipping up his bag he set it down onto coffee table and sat down beside it. " Now, don't give me that look. I was just kidding with you when I said that you were going to need surgery that last time." He conveyed, slipping off his thin glasses to tuck them into his coat pocket.

Meghan sounded with an ' Mmhmm' and narrowed her eyes on him while securing her purple fluff blanket around her body a bit more. She was sitting crosslegged on the sofa before him.

" I'm still holding that against you, you know. Everytime that I get cold, your words seem to come back to haunt me like a bad dream. It's a wonder why I haven't had a check up in over four months."

Meghan was refrained from sharing a laugh with him. Her voice had become horse and her throat still felt a tiny bit sore. But on top of her pale features and slight headache, she felt fine.

" Oh, you're done already?" Meghan's aunt Debra just entered the door and she looked to Dr. Shiloh with the same concern in her eyes that she acquired last night. " How is she Dr. Shiloh? Does it look too bad? Did you already tell her about the prospect that she might not be able to perform anymore?"

Like auntie, like, niece. Underneath all of her worry and concern still lied her humorous nature. Debra smoothed her hand over Meghan's head and seated herself in the cushion next to her.

" She's perfectly fine Debra." He kindly assured her. " I checked her vitals and inspected her throat and everything seems to be in working order. So to answer both of your worries..." He fixed his gray orbs on Meghan with a nod. " Yes, you can still sing those pretty little notes that you do so well."

Meghan pretended to frown at the good news until her aunt lightly bumped her side with her elbow. She brightened. " Thank you Dr. Shiloh." She graced.

" You're very welcome my dear." He responded, leaning forward to place a small peck on her warming forehead. " Just remember to take your medicine every six hours and drink as much fluids as you can. Tea with a drop honey will work fine as well."

Meghan nodded in the affirmative and Debra stood along with Meghan's doctor of fifteen years now and embraced him in a hug. " I just want to say thank you again for flying out here on such short notice. It must have been such a hassle and-"

Dr. Shiloh waved his head. " Please Debra, it was no problem at all. If Meghan is ever in trouble, I don't care whether it is day or night, just call on me and I will surely be right on my way. You all have been like family to me. Doesn't matter if I have to fly half way round the world, when I'm needed, I'm going to be there."

Meghan beamed up at him and he winked at her. Debra looked to be as if she were on the verge of tears. " Thank you soo very much Dr. Shiloh. Let me walk you to the door." She offered.

He nodded and lifted his bag. He directed his finger at Meghan. " Feel better ok. And get plenty of rest. No singing today for you."

" Music to my ears." She joked aside. He shook his head with dismay and offered her another peck, but this time on her cheek.

Meghan glanced over her shoulder at her aunt and doctor making their way toward the door. They were speaking of something of the other that she found not to be of interest so she faced foward and let her eyes wander toward the windows.

Outside, the rain was pouring hard and the weather had dropped in tempature, making it more chillier than need be. Meghan was dreading it all. Snuggled underneath a blanket and mountains of pillows, Meghan decided to confine herself on the living room sofa with the televison, a few books, and her medication.

After last night's dilemma, she had been rushed to the nearest emergency room and treated within a couple of hours. Her stay at the hospital was meant to be an overnight one but Meghan highly refused. She despised hospitals. It's been a fear that she had never been able to succomb to ever since she was little. The doctors strongly advised her that if she were to stay it would be much better for her but Meghan was not swayed. That was when her aunt dialed Dr. Shiloh all the way from Los Angeles and asked him to fly out to see her. Hours later, Meghan had been released only to have Dr. Shiloh care for her all through the night until this morning.

Spoiled? Not in the least bit.

Coughing, though it pained her much, Meghan fell into the pillows and buried herself in until she was comfortably lying on her side with her blanket pulled all the way up to her neck. She resembled a small child who had fallen victim to a fever. She held her stuffed white teddy against her breast and focused on the television playing in low volume.

" Dr, Shiloh is a godsend. You are so lucky to be under his care, honey." Her aunt praised, entering the room once more. She stood behind the couch and peered down at her niece.

Meghan softly grunted.

Debra reached down to delicately stroke her hair. " You feelin ok there, Meg Mcmuffin?" You gave us all quite a scare last night at the arena."

Meghan grunted again. More so at the sound of her nickname.

" You need anything while I'm here? You want me to phone down for some chicken soup?"

Debra tucked a strand of Meghan's hair away when she recieved another grunt followed by a low croak. " I'll take that as a ' no ' then." She smiled and looked to the television briefly. Cartoons. Just like Meghan.

" Well, since you seem to be okay over here, I'm going to head to my suite across the hall and finish with a few calls. I'll have Shannon with me and Dav will be coming to join you shortly alright. I'll be in to check up on you later ok?"

When she got no response she bent over to place a kiss on the top of her head. " I know I know, Unh." Meghan chuckled after her aunt perfected the grunt precisely well. She heard the door close for the second time that morning and sighed.

Snuggling deeper into herself, she intently watched the coyote chase the road runner across the screen.


Debra, softly pulled the door closed when she heard her name being called down the hall. She turned round thinking that it was Dav, but was a bit surprised to find Justin marching toward her.

" Justin, um hello. What, what are you doing here? I thought that you were checked into the Hyatt?"

Justin came to a stop a few inches away from the refreshingly young blonde. She was only four years older then him at thirty five. But unlike Meghan, Debra had no ill fated feeling toward Justin. She mostly felt disappointment for him and at him. She absolutely felt that he was the perfect husband for her niece. Funny how people change so vastly.

Justin curled a hand over the back of his neck and the other at his side. " Yeah, I am. I just... I just wanted to come over and see if she was ok." They both looked to the door before he fixed his eyes on her. " How is she doing?"

Debra nodded. " She's fine. Just resting right now."

" That's good." He breathed. " I'm relieved to hear that."

Debra stepped aside and gestured toward the door. " Would you like to step inside and see her?"

Justin was enlightened but a bit hesitant. " Are you sure that that would be ok? I mean, I don't want her-"

" It's fine. If it wasn't for you being there last night, we don't know what would have happened. Justin you practically saved my niece's life. It's more than ok with me if you want to go in and talk with her."

It may have been ok with her but he wasn't to positive about Meghan.

He took her offer anyway. " Um, sure. Yeah, that would be nice."

She set her hand on the door and told him to hold on. She opened the door wide and gently called inside. " Megz, honey you have a visitor waiting to see you. You think you feel up to it?"

When she recieved another grunt, but much stronger this time she smiled and motioned for Justin to enter inside. Justin stepped in then mouthed the words ' thank you'. She smiled and softly closed the door, leaving the two alone.

Meghan stuck her hand out of her blanket and reached down for her bottle of Apple Juice when she all of a sudden inhaled the scent of Paul Gautier cologne. It was soft and strangely calmed her senses. She didn't need to sit up to figure who it was. She already knew.

" If you're just going to stand there the entire time, I don't mind, but do you think you can keep it down?"

Justin had been a bit fidgety since he entered inside and his William Rast Jacket rustled in reaction.

" My bad, I'm mean, sorry." He apologized and walked around the couch to sit on the loveseat at her left adjacent to where she lay. She finally came into his view but he couldn't see much. She was literally drowning underneath her blanket and pillows.

" You're ok." She mumbled keeping her eyes transfixed on the television ahead rather than at him. She set her juice on the floor.

Neither seemed to have a problem with the silence fallen upon them, so it remained that way. While Justin was contemplating on a way to get them both to begin speaking, he was interrupted by a sudden giggle. Sounded more like a strained gargle but it was a giggle nonetheless.

He followed her gaze toward the television where the coyote had just happened to be trapped underneath an anvil and the roadrunner had escaped down the road with his signature, Meep Meep.

" That never gets old." She voiced quietly.

He grinned sideways but it faltered when he looked to her. From the small distraction he hadn't noticed that she had sat up and was staring him dead in the face.

" Why are you here?"

Could she have caught him anymore off guard? But he quickly recovered.

" Because, I wanted to see how you were doing." He stated the obvious." After last night, I got really worried and-"

Meghan shook her head.

" No, Justin." She tapped her fingers against her forehead and shut her eyes before her headache ached on any further. She sighed a heavy one then aimed her dreary eyes past his head. " That's not what I meant."

He was more concerned with why she all of a sudden was avoiding looking at him than what she was actually saying until he dwelled on it for a second.

She wasn't searching for the answer he supplied her with. Her question was based with a whole nother meaning behind it.

He picked up on it. " We need to talk." He spoke as straight foward as possible.

Meghan didn't miss a beat. " Talk? Talk about what?"

He sat back against the seat and interlocked his fingers with a simple shrug. " Us." He was going to try and play it cool.

" Us? As in......me and you?" Before he could respond and explain his position she continued. " Well, there really isn't any use for that conversation because there is no ' us '. Justin gave her a nod to insure her that he was listening. " Now seriously, why are you here?" She questioned. More like demanded.

Justin decided not to respond and instead licked his lips and stretched his long legs out infront of him. Meghan immediately picked up on the gesture. She knew exactly what is what that he was doing. This was his way of telling her that his first initial answer that he had given her was the one that he was going to stick with.

But in her case, she felt that his reply of ' us ' was not one that applied to the both of them anymore so he might as well should just start heading to the door because there was obviously nothing that the two had to talk about.

Now it was just another unforgiving silence that had fallen upon the room again. That was until her cell phone rattled on the coffee table.

Justin, under the tense situation, preserved his calm, collected demeanor and fixed his eyes on the television so it seemed as if he wasn't listenting in on her conversation with whoever was on the other line.

Meghan on the other hand, the thought to call Big Dav and just have him escort Justin from her room had approached her but she abstained against doing so. She just merely hated the guy but in no means did he serve as a potential threat to her, or anyone for that matter.

Eh, she'd deal with it her own way. If she ignored him long enough that she was positive that he would just leave on his own. But with her knowing him the way she did, she highly doubted that that would happen.

" Hello?" She greeted.

Meghan's gloom toned regained some of it's bounce the moment she heard his voice. The instant his voice hit her ears it was filled with concern and tenderness. It seemed that some how J.C. had found out about her ordeal early this morning and Meghan had been reassuring him that she was fine and in good health. It's amazing how fast news can travel these days.

" Don't worry, I'll be fine. There is no need for you to jet from San Francisco all the way over here. I'm not going to die." She humored. " The doctor says that I'm one hundred percent ok."

After spending a good fifteen minutes convincing J.C. that it would be useless to book a flight under less than important conditions, she had eventually calmed his racing senses enough to where he was positive that she was good and well. But just the simple fact that he missed seeing her face and holding her hand was enough reason for him to want to jump on the first flight to Ireland.

Meghan smiled softly as he began to profess how much he missed her since the last time that they had seen each other which happened to be one month ago. A small ' miss you too' from her and a few more words than him, the two seperated with gracious goodbyes and Meghan's phone had found itself back onto the table.

Meghan inhaled a pleased breath but slowly released it when Justin posed a question at her. She had momentarily forget that he was even there.

" How is he doing?" He asserted with a tone of interest. He made it seem as if he was only caring about the man's well being rather that seem as if he were prying for personal information.

" How is she doing?" Meghan fired back. It was he that wanted to go there.

" I wouldn't know." He seen her brow lift. " It's over."

" Hmmmm." She hummed. " How did that come about?"

Another shrug. " I just........realized that she and I, eventually in the long run, wouldn't have worked out. So I ended it."

" Hmph, I could have told you that." She mumbled, falling into silence. " So, is that what happened to your face?"

The injury he'd sustained from the hands of Cameron was still evident on the right side of his cheek but it wasn't as bad as it had been previous. The swelling was almost invisible and the redness was replaced with a light bluish, purplish color. Meghan had first noticed it back at the arena last night but at the moment in being so caught up in trying to get rid of him, she hadn't really the chance to point it out to him. Not that she cared anyway.

His hand reached up and grazed his cheek and he slightly chuckled. " Oh, yea, kinda."

She nodded and removed herself from the couch. " You really know how to pick them don't you." She murmured, returning from her bedroom with a small pink tube she retrieved from her make up bag.

He examined it with curiosity after she tossed it in his lap.

" Vitamin K Cream Solution?"

" It'll help with the discoloration." She pointed at it. " If you use it correctly than your cheek should be back to it's normal tone in a few short days."

He shook his head and tossed it back. It landed on the cushion next to her. " Thanks, but I'll be fine."

" Ok." She asserted. " If you want to travel around looking like Scarface all day then, that's your prerogative."

He sent her a look which she returned with an innocent shrug. " Alright, give it here."

Squeezing out a tiny drop of the white product on the tip of his finger, Meghan shook her head watching him barely apply the cream onto his cheek. She dropped the remote in her hand and moved over to him.

" That's not how you do it. You never objected to having your entire face painted with concealer but your afraid of what a little cream might do to you." Squeezing out a wealthy portion into his palm, Justin stared blankly at the glob then at her.

" Where am I supposed to put all of this?" He questioned.

" Where else?" She countered.

" This is too much. I'm not going to rub this gunk all over my face. For all I know it could irritate my skin. I'm not taking any chances with this stuff." Meghan rolled her eyes. " I have to perform tonight and I'm better off with some cover up."

Swiping her fingers across his palm, she gripped his jaw and tilted his head to the left, massaging the cream where it was needed. With her index and middle finger, she rubbed small circles around his cheek. Justin fell quiet as she did this, inhaling the scent of her peach aroma and her breath that smelled of Apple Juice and throat Lozenges as she took steady breaths while concentrating on the task at hand.

" There." She breathed. " All done. That wasn't so bad now was it?"

" It kind of was." He joked aside. Her reaction was to roll her eyes again.

As he watched her suanter back to the sofa, leaving him with the cream, the sudden urge to just reach out and pull her into his lap only grew stronger with each passing second that went by. The moment her fingers grazed his face it began to feel like old times where she would often get fed up with his complaining and take over by forcing things upon him just like what she did just now.

He missed that alot. Her missed her alot.

" Well consider it as we're even."

Her voice broke his thoughts and he gave her an unsure expression. " What?"

" Consider us even." She repeated. " You saved me last night and I returned the favor. You saved my life, I saved your face."

He was completely lost. " How does you putting cream on my face constitute with me actually saving your life?"

She shrugged only to lay back in her previous position under the covers. " Honestly, I have no clue. It must be the medicine talkin."

This caused him to look at her funny then chuckled. She chuckled also and for the first time in a long time, they shared a genuine laugh. Together.

A knock at the door removed her from her spot. Justin offered to answer it but she refused. Turning the handle, she was met with Dav on the other side switching off his talkie.

" Hey babygirl, I just came by to check up on you. Is everything good? Are you ok? Need anything?"

Meghan shook her head and smiled at the burly man. " I'm fine, you don't need to get me anything. I'm officially putting you off duty for the rest of the day. You work too hard. Take a break and also pass the word along to Kelly."

He shrugged which caused her to snicker. Rarely did he ever give in that easy. She usually had to shout at him to take just a five minute break. Seems like today must be an 'off ' day for everyone. Case in point, she and Justin actually seemed to be getting along. Well, more like she being civil to him, but it was all the same thing.

" Ok, but only for an hour though and I'll be right back to check on you."

She knew that him actually listening to her was too good to be true. Well, it was fun while it lasted.

" Alright, I'll leave you alone now."

" Yeah, right." She laughed and reached up to hug him. Dav embraced her with his usual bear hug when he peeked inside of her room to find Justin on the couch. Justin wearily smiled at the man in which he crinkled his brow and his demeanor hardened.

Meghan caught his expression and furrowed her brow. " What? What is it, what's wrong?"

Dav pulled her closer to him so that she was slightly out in the hall with him.

" What is he doing in there? Is he bothering you? Do you want me to get rid of him for you?" When he began to crack his knuckles, Meghan raised a comical brow and rubbed his forearm. " Just say the word Meg, and he is gone."

" Dav, it's ok. I'm fine." She looked over her shoulder in which Dav was glaring inside at him and pulled the door closed slightly. " He can stay."

Dav then sharply fixed his gaze on her. " Are you sure about that? I mean..."

Meghan cut him off when she nodded. Biting down on her lip, she looked off to the side as if she were contemplating her decision before nodding once again to confirm it.

" Yeah, I'm sure."

Dav was hesitant but could do nothing to change her mind being that it wasn't in his position to do so anyway. Though the fatherly instincts he had over her told him to barge in there and toss the boy from the balcony, he was going to refrain from doing so. " Ok, I'll be in my room then. Call me if you need anything."

" I will, thanks." A kiss upon the cheek and another embrace, Meghan watched him bumble down the hall into his room before staring over her shoulder at her door and entering inside.

She grinned shortly at him and Justin looked to the door where Dav just stood.

" I'm guessing that he doesn't like me too much."

Meghan plopped down on top of her blanket instead of snuggling under it. The sudden laughter that erupted from her lips made him smile. With her eyes focused on the television, he thought for a second that she wasn't going to even answer his question when she reached down below and took hold of her Apple Juice. She held it against her lips and mumbled loud enough for him to hear.

" Not one bit."

Stomping out her cigarette on the ground with the heel of her stiletto, Meghan fitted in an elegant satin baby blue gown, sipped some red champagne out of the flute that she carted in her right hand. Alone in the back alley of a Jazz nightclub, her back is to the wall as she basks in her own thoughts underneath the stars and the moon glowing in the sky. Down the far end of the alley in the streets, cars honk their horns and headlights shine bright as traffic moves slowly due to the nights congested traffic. The weather outside is frigid and a wisp of cold air and a mixture of smoke passes through her lips of red as she lights up another cigarette.

Next to her are a stack of wooden wine crates where a white fur coat made of sheep skin lies ontop of them. Meghan's to be exact. She takes another drag of her smoke at the same time warming her insides as faint chatter floats from the front of the club around to the back alley. Meghan turns her head to the left, the direction of where the voices were coming from. In the distance, the sidewalks were filled with men and women moving about as they exited their vehicles with the help of valet services, entering inside the club, all anxious for the night's lounge performer.

Cutting around the corner of the building, infront, a red carpet is laid out on the ground as men and women of wealth and a small portion of middle class society file their way inside the double doors of the front entrance. Women link their arms with their male counter parts and some opt to carry on on their lonesomes, smiling curty, though a few a bit snobbish, being graciosuly escorted inside. The street ahead is filled with cars manuvering their way from lane to lane and the sidewalk where benches and light posts are lined, newspapers and other miscellaneous trash, scatter the ground, blowing softly along in the wind. Light's illuminating from the club spark brightly, lighting up a general part of the city. Above the club holds a sign that reads: Meghan ' One Night Only ' in black with dozens of tiny yellow lightbulbs cascading in a square.

A newspaper being harshly pushed against the wind across the ground, stops before the opening of the alley and lays perfectly on the ground face up. Panning closer, in black print the top reads New York Times and centered below the headline is a black and white photo of the lounge singer covered in a white sheet from head to toe, being wheeled into the back of an ambulance.

' Lounge Singer Takes Final Bow '

" Hey doll, it's time. The crowd's starting to get restless." One of her band members opened the door and peeped his head outside. He was fitted in a black pinstriped suit complete with a matching hat.

Meghan nodded but her gaze kept transfixed on the brick wall ahead. " Give me five more minutes, Joe."

Stepping out, Joe glanced over his shoulder as voices inside began to rise. " Doll, you don't have five minutes. They're waiting for you in there. Don't you hear them?"

" I hear them Joe," She somewhat snapped. " But can't you see that I'm a bit busy? Jeez, just give me five minutes and then I'll be ready. Tell the band to start playing a song or something. That should hold them over in there." She murmured with another sip of her champagne.

Their dialouge was spoken with somewhat of a Manhattan twang laced in between.

Joe stepped off the small step and over to her. He snatched the cigarette, stained with red lipstick from her mouth. Meghan glared up at him as he brought it to his own lips.

" What if that doesn't work? What if they start asking for their money back, and you know they will. You know how demanding and uptight these bougiere folks can be."

Meghan took hold of her cig from his fingers and rolled her eyes. Purposefully blowing the smoke into his face, Joe slightly coughed and waved his hand infront of his nose.

She smirked with a shrug. " I don't care. Give them their money back, I certainly don't need it. I have millions remember. They can keep their little dollars for all I care. Bunch of worthless fucks anyhow." She grumbled. " As a matter of fact, go back in there and tell them that I said they can all go fuck themselves." She bit.

Joe chuckled at her but she remained serious opting to rest her back against the wall behind her. Stealing her cig once more, he took a drag then this time instead of giving it back to her, he flicked it on the ground and stomped it out.

Meghan glared at him with irritance. " What did you go and do that for? That was my last one." She then began to search through her clutch that lied atop her coat but he snatched it from her. She snatched it back and again, he chuckled.

" You really have changed haven't you, doll?" He commented, caching his hands into his pockets.

Failing in finding another smoke, Meghan huffed and flung the clutch on the ground in a puddle of left over rain water. " What the hell are you flapping about? Changed how?"

His fingers toyed with a strand of her perftecly styled hair that rested on one side of her shoulder. " Well, ever since you left what's his face, you've become so bitter and.....one of them in there. I mean, it's not like he was the only one at fault you know."

Meghan eyed him as he took a step closer to her and bowed his head as he took a whiff of her hair. He then skimmed his finger along her jawline and cupped her chin with his index finger and thumb. " I vaguely remember you partaking in your own little affair also." He smiled and ran his thumb over her bottom lip. " I bet he doesn't know about that one, does he?" He spoke lowly before crashing his lips onto hers.

Meghan recoiled and pushed him back. He stumbled but quickly caught himself. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, her red lipstick smeared, now ruined and she eyed him with distate.

" Fuck you, Joe. That was a long time ago and a big mistake at that. I would have never slept with you if I would have known back then what I know now. You're a sleaze Joe. A good for nothing sleaze. And the only reason why I even let you touch me was because I was vulnerable. Desperate and vulnerable...."

" Oh really," He cocked a brow. " What about all those times that you snuck into my hotel room before you even found out that Mr. Man of yours was skating around on you?"

" I never-"

Meghan fixed her mouth to refute whatever it was that he was going to say but clamped her mouth shut. Glaring into his eyes, Joe gave her an arrogant smirk as he awaited her response. When she gave him none, he gave her a soft kiss on the cheek and smoothed his knuckles where his lips had been.

" Maybe you should reconsider who those lyrics that you seem to write so well are really about, huh?" He told her, moving past her toward the door. " Now c'mon, they're waiting."

He held the door open and held his hand out for her.

Tossing her champagne flute aside, it shattered on the ground as she slipped on her fur coat and shot him with an ice cold glare before rejecting his hand and brushing past him inside.

As the door came to a slow close, Meghan walked in the direction of where her vanity table was located and sat herself in the high chair provided. Harshly rummaging the cosmetics scattered on the table, she swiped a napkin lying in a crumpled heap and wiped away her lipstick while reapplying a fresh coat. In the background, a small tinkering noise what sounded like the high notes of a child's music box came into play.

Soon after, her movements began to slow down. Staring straight into the mirror, her appearance began to transform into that of a lounge singer of the 20's era with her hair now styled in the likes of Marilyn Monroe. Her outfit remained the same but everything around her had morphed also. Removing herself from the table, Meghan slipped off her coat and dropped it on a couch in her dressing area before stepping out and making her way toward the front of the small private stage.

Passing by Joe who held the deep purple curtain open for her, she relunctanly accepted the kiss upon the cheek as she emerged on the stage and he moved over to the black grand piano positioned on the side of the stage.

Staring out into the audience, round tables were set up with glasses of champagne set for each of the persons eagerly awaiting the singers prescene. It was all silent as Meghan situated herself in the lone stool behind the mic stand. A member from her band appeared from the side and removed the stand leaving her with the mic before he disappeared behind the curtains again. Crossing her leg over the other, her thigh exposed from the long slit cut in her dress and she fixed her posture so that she were sitting up straight.

Panning over her form as she stared out into the distance as well as panning over the entire room and it's guests, the lights in the room then dimmed to a lower stance and without a single word or introduction, she began to sing as all eyes in the room stayed glued on her silouhette.

Everyday, I'm in a daze
Looking for that someone
And everyday, I sit and kneel and pray
Oh, sweet love, can I get some

The songs beat had a very mellow kind of bluesy tone to it. Joe sat behind the piano and played the simple keys that went along with melody that he and Meghan were producing and as this continued, the screen pans over to the left of the stage and into a different setting.

Opening up to a boudoir located in a pent house on the top floor, Meghan in a rose garter panty and bra set, her sheer robe hangs open as she emerges from the double doors into the living quarters. Headed toward the sofa area, she looks ahead as Joe enters the door of her hotel room. He shrugs off his coat and gives it a light shake from the rain water and tosses it aside. Going for the glass of alcohol set on a platter on a table in the middle of the room, Meghan drinks from the rim and ignores his prescence with a roll of her orbs as Joe comes up from behind and skims his fingers down her arm before securing his arms around her waist, toying with the material of her panties connected to her hips.

So why do you desert me, baby boy
I need your love right now

Wordlessly removing herself from his grasp, he lets her wander away from him as he tips off his hat and sets in on the back of the couch. Undoing his tie, he slid the article across his neck and placed it next to his hat while he undid the buttons to his dress shirt, leaving them open to reveal his well defined chest hidden underneath a wife beater.

Headed for the bathroom, Joe passes a look her way as she sits on the side of the bed staring down a telephone. With a shake of his head, he enters inside the bathroom and Meghan turned her head in time to see him close the door shut.

And if you desert me, baby boy
Don't you leave me in your crowd
Unh, yea, yea, yea

Now with the phone pressed against her ear, she patiently waits until the other end picks up. When it's clear that she is speaking with said person, the melody in the background remains but is lowered considerably so that the conversation could be heard. Mainly her side, but it's evident by her sour mood that the conversation does not seem to be going well.

" Hey baby, what time are you gonna get home?.......oh, really?" With a frown and a sigh, she fiddles with the buttons on the base of the phone before sniffling and staring off ahead with her head tilted to the sky as she glances upward momentarily.

" Alright, well, I'll......see you later, then." Her back is to the bathroom door as Joe steps out and is staring at her form. " Oh wait, would you mind getting me some um......" She pauses with her head bowed as he already knows what she asks of him. " Yeah, when you come home. Yeah, that's it."

With sad eyes, she tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear as she prepares to end the short lived conversation. " Ok, I love you too, bye."

Hanging up the phone, Meghan pulls away from Joe as he crawls onto the bed behind her and caresses her neck with his lips. Stepping out onto the small balcony, she over looks the city and the tall buildings all around. Letting the night wind blow past her face, she moves closer to the railing and grips the bar lightly.

" You know," A voice appeared at her side. " I don't even know why you take the time to bother with him. It's obvious that you know just exactly where he is and what he's doing. It's like, he's not even attempting to hide it from you anymore."

She stared at the side of his smooth but stubbled face as he gazed upon the city down below.

" You don't know what you are talking about. I know him, ok. He would never do that to me. He loves me." She spoke, though it seemed that she was saying it more to herself.

" Does he love you?" Joe inquired.

Meghan kept her tone calm and soft. " Yes, Joe he does. He loves me and I very much him."

She heard him sigh then chuckle lowly to himself. A small table with two chairs on either side, Joe made his way over to it and seated himself in the chair farthest from where she stood. " Don't be so naive, doll. You know just as well as I do that you're not even sure of it yourself. Why kid yourself? Why are you so wanting to believe and hold on to something or someone that is not even there?"

She smiled, refusing to give him her attention. " You don't know what you're talking about so just, leave it all alone Joe." She repeated.

Licking his lips, he crossed his ankle over his knee and interlocked his fingers in his lap. " He doesn't love you doll. I'm telling you, he doesn't want you anymore."

Meghan blocked out his words and his entire prescene as she studied a single star that she seen glimmering in the sky. Occasional loud honking of vehicles from down below floated high above to where she stood.

" Why do you think that he's out with her right now instead of coming home to be with you?"

Meghan chewed her inner lip and willed her eyes closed as she exhaled a silent breath, " You don't know that."

" I do. I do know that, and so do you. It's time to stop fooling yourself, doll."

Meghan heard him rustle in the back and felt his warm heat radiate from his body as he stood behind her and placed his hands onto her shoulders with a gentle squeeze. " Face it doll, it's over. He doesn't love you anymore. There is no use in hanging on anymore when the thread is already broken."

Meghan was fed up with him at this point and whipped around to face him. Her eyes bore into his. " Stop saying that! Are you trying to convince me of it? You're not around when he's around Joe. You're never there when he tells me he loves me, ok. You're not. And that's why I'm damn sure that he does loves me because he let's me know that he does everyday."

" Is that right, doll?" He was unconvinced

" Yeah, that's right." She quickly retorted.

Joe was quiet, then took a step back, folding his arms across his chest. " Then why exactly are you here with me, instead of with him?"

His question had defeated her. She had no answer to that. Why was she here with him and not her actual lover? There was only one reason to that and even though she knew what exactly that reason was, she wasn't strong enough to voice it. She didn't want to believe, but sooner or later, she was going to have to.

" You need to stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong and mind your business, Joe." She spoke lowly.

On her way past him, she felt a grip on her wrist and pivoted on her heels as he moved closer to her. His eyes darted back and forth into her's and he shook his head.

" Doll, you are my business."

His words were left to linger in the air as she wordlessly removed her wrist from his embrace and entered into her bedroom.

Oh, oh, ohhhh, ohhhh, ohhh, oh, oh

Finding herself alone in her dressing area at one of her many shows, her performance had come to an end minutes before. Seated at her vanity table, she began to remove the pins that kept her hair in place as she smiled in the mirror at her makeup artist who momentarily stepped from the room. Massaging her scalp with her fingers, Meghan let out a pleasured sigh as she stood and slipped on the gray silk robe provided for her on the sofa. Spending a few minutes in making herself a bit more comfortable, she crossed the room to close her door fully and lock it. Moments later, she found herself at her vanity once more staring down a line of white powder. A mini shot glass of alcohol, Jack to be more specific at her side, she glowers longingly at the magical dust before plugging one of her nostrils with her finger, bending her head down, and it's only from the mirror that she is seen with her head bowed but it's all too obvious that she has partaken in an illegal activity.

Ohhh, oh, oh

Harmonizing into the mic, the camera captures the audience who seem captivated by the starlet before switching back to the dressing room where a very intoxicated Meghan, wipes at her nose with a constant sniff before gulping another shot of Jack. She looks a bedraggled mess as she stares at her reflection in the mirror, mascara staining her cheeks black, and her eyes puffy and pink. A small photo that clung on the side of the mirror, Meghan gently takes the picture in between her fingers. A lone tear that slid from her cheek landed on the paper, instantly dampening it. Deciding to trash the photo, the cig that she had lit earlier found it's way ontop of the photo burning a hole into it before it becomes devoured in flames and formed into a black ashes.

Oh, oh, ohhhh, ohhhh, ohhh, oh, oh
Ohhh, oh, oh, ohhhh

A single light shining on only one part of the stage, Meghan is highlighted as she holds the mic with a firm grip and moves into the next verse with a slow passion. From afar, Joe looked up from his skilled playing and directed his eyes onto her form. His head bobbed slowly to the sound that she set and from his own perspective, he could visibl see all of the heartache emanate from her insides and into the mic.

Someday, when you see my face
You will think that you have won

Inebriated, and highly likely to cause a danger to herself, Joe and Meghan seem to be in a heated battle as he chucks the bottle that she had been feening from all night against the wall and it breaks to her dismay. Tired of her irresponsible actions it seems, her bloody nose is a result of him accidentally striking her with his hand after she and him engaged in a brief scuffle when she threatened with an attempt to throw him out of her room.

"This ends right here, doll. I'm not going to sit around and watch you drink yourself into oblivion. You're killing yourself doll." He shouted roughly.

Meghan carried over to the bar set up in the corner of the room." If you don't want to watch me ' kill ' myself," She spat fierce venom, reaching over the bar counter for another alcoholic beverage. She held the glass in her hand with a firm grip and faced him, wisps of her bangs fallen over her eyes. " Then why don't you go and gather all of your shit, and hit the road. Leave me the hell alone." She spoke that last part to herself.

Joe approached her and reached for the drink but she turned away so he wasn't able to. " No, get away from me."

" Give me the glass, doll." He reprimanded with another attempt.

This time she shoved him back with her hand to his chest and stumbled her way across the room. " I said No, Joe. Get out of my room."

Thinking she was a safe distance away from him, standing behind a large porcelin Siberian tiger artifact, she swayed uncontrollably to and fro.

Joe was on the brink of becoming irate. He was concerned for her safety at the moment and concerned of the person, the alcoholic, that she had turned into in the matter of a few short months.

" Meg, this is enough." He demanded, now using her full name. " Don't you see what is happening to you? How you're letting all of this nonsense affect you like this?"

She snarled a low chuckle. " You call my husband sleeping around with some two bit street whore ' nonsense'?" She greedily slurped her alcohol then smiled viciously at him. " You want to know something Joe?" She didn't wait for his response. " Fuck you." She coiled slowly.

Down to his boiling point, he stomped across the room before she could even blink and the two began a tug of war over the glass in her hand.

" Let it go!" She hollered in his face, her breath nearly cindering his brows from his face.

Refusing to let go, she and Joe stumbled around the room and nearly tripped over the rug that lay on the ground.

" Doll, stop it! You're going to end up hurting yourself! Just give me the glass!"

" No!"

Edging closer and closer to a small glass coffee table located at the end of the sofa, Meghan had her back faced towards it as Joe advanced closer to her, struggling to release the glass from her hand. Finally, her fingers slipped and she lost grip, sending her crashing into the table, shattering the glass.

" Oh my god, doll, are you alright?" Joe rushed to her side and was about to kneel down when her bare foot collided with his chest and she kicked him away.

" No, get away from me, don't touch me!"

" But doll, you're bleeding. Let me just see where-"

Lifting the 1 pound figurine lying next to her on the carpet among shards of glass, Joe ducked his head out of the way when she threw it and it went crashing into the wall. " Get out of here!" She wailed.

Joe stood to his feet and peered down at her with dismay. " If this is how you want things to be then, fine! Drown in your sorrows all alone then. Better yet, why don't you just do like all of those other ones out there and pick up the blade."

His words did nothing to sting her as the slam of the door echoed off the walls and he was gone.

Now, alone on the floor in only a robe, hot tears stream down her face and chin as she ran her hand through her hair. A bloody mess with pieces of glass stuck to her skin and blood dripping from her nose onto her clothing, Meghan eventually rose from the ground unstable and unable to see through her blurred vision, she ambled into the bathroom, falling against the door on her way in, and bumbled toward the sink. Switching on the faucet, leaving blood stains everywhere, she observed herself in the mirror. Sliding open the drawer on her left side, she reached for a pair of sharp scissors. Taking a lock of her hair into her fingers, she snipped away a few strands and watched them flutter to the ground. Soon, more and more hair fluttered onto the ground until she surveyed herself in the mirror once more and her shoulder length perfect blonde hair was now a short, messy, uneven bob that barely reached her collarbone.

And someday, when It's all away
Our love just begun

Her eyes closed, Meghan blocked out all persons in the room as she delved into her own piece of mind, away from all reality, though she still sang her words in a manner in which all who were there felt her pain and also all who hadn't known, know now. From the audience view, the starlet was just a lit candle as her beauty glowed throughout the night.

A women who looked to be twice the age of Meghan's quietly leaned toward her male partner and whispered something to which he nodded and surely passed the word along. Not long were all of the tables buzzing with whispers and praises all complimenting the incredible display she was currently putting on. The camera then panned back over to the stage before delving into another scene.

So why did you desert me, baby boy
I thought that you, you were the one

Trails of hair and blood led to the oval shaped tub in which Meghan, still in her robe lay with her head rested against the back of the marble, surrounded by water that had turned pink from the mixture of blood seeping from her cuts and bruises all over. She peacefully closes her eyes as the effects begin to take over. Her arms dangling from either side of the tub, drops of blood fall to the floor in a pattern. Her right fist clenched tightly, soon her body begins to relax and her fist loosen up to the point that a single silver razor blade tumbles onto the cold tile floor. Sinking into the water, Meghan is completely submerged under the water as bubbles rise to the surface.

Returning from the elevator, Joe takes slow steps down the hall until he ends up at her door. Unlocked, he pushes it open and advances into the room of pure chaos. Broken glass, items flipped over, vases shattered, the scent of alcohol, he shakes his head sadly and looks to the ground where Meghan had been only to find the broken remains of the table and a deep spot of red.

" Doll?" He called out tenderly. " Doll, where are you?"

He traveled and checked every room in the lavish penthouse but found no sight of her. He had yet to check the bathroom and was on his way there.

" Doll? Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean all of those things that I said earlier." Outside of the door, he dropped his head and leaned against it. " I really didn't. Can we just try and work things out? I don't want us to end this way. It's not right. All I want is for you to hear me out for just a couple of minutes. Doll?"

He gently rapped on the door with his knuckles when he heard no movement or response. His brow furrowed when the door creaked open at the contact and then horror set through his body at the sight.

" Doll!!" Quickly tearing off his jacket, Joe jumped into the tub and switched off the water over flowing the tub. Reaching into the water, he grabbed hold of her by her arms then cradled his hand around her head as he positioned her limp body in the best sitting position that he could.

Blue lips, and her skin white as snow, he gripped her jaw with his hand tightly and shook her roughly. " Shit, no! How could I let this happen? No! Doll, wake up! Wake up for me doll, wake up!!"

His attempts proved futile and his cries went unheard. Holding her body against his chest with all his might, her head lolled back as he cried into her shoulder. " Doll, no, come back to me. Come back to me baby, come back."

It was then as he wailed hysterically did his eyes catch a glimmer of silver and he located the bloody razor blade on the floor. Snapping his eyes shut, he fell into the tub and laid her body against his, holding her tight never wanting to let go as his words from earlier then came back to him full force.

Joe stood to his feet and peered down at her with dismay. " If this is how you want things to be then, fine! Drown in your sorrows all alone then. Better yet, why don't you just do like all of those other ones out there and pick up the blade."


Joe smiled at Meghan with pure tenderness from behind his piano as she sat there underneath the stage light beaming like an angel from above. Gently peeping her eyes open, Meghan observed her surroundings and even opted to smile at the faces calmed by her soothing voice. Lowering the mic slightly, her eyes drew shut once more as she sung the last of the lyrics and she and Joe brought the song and performance to a heart felt close. Inhaling a silent breath, Meghan then stood as the colorful audience stood to their feet gratefully with generous applause. Meghan took a bow and fixed her eyes on Joe who sat back and marveled at her. Winking in his direction, she them smiled shyly at the crowd and remained standing.

So if you preferred the, other one
She won't bring you the sun

Fading from the lounge, outside, a newspaper being pushed against the wind lands face up on the sidewalk. Below the headline is a photo of the lounge singer covered in a white sheet from head to toe, being wheeled into the back of an ambulance. Photogs, ambulance and on lookers stand just outside of the lavish hotel as medical travel away with the body while police calm the yellow caution taped scene. The headline read:

' Lounge Singer Takes Final Bow '

Song Credit: ' Unknown' Britney Spears

( On Locaton, Denver Colorado )
Production Set; Ideal Guy

" You sure you've done this sort of thing before? I mean, no offense but.... you're kind of looking a little wobbly over there."

" Who me? Nah, I've been skating plenty of times. It's just these skates. I think the blade on my left foot might be a little loose."

James stomped his foot against the concrete ground repeatedly, observing the sliver blade on his skate that tilted slightly. Mumbling an incoherent profanity, Alyson stood by and looked on with almost concerned eyes.

A party of four teenagers moved around his form that was currently blocking the entrance into the rink. Not fazed by the light brush against his shoulder from the young man stepping past him, his concentration remained on the loose blade. Stamping his foot onto the ground again but with a bit more force, the silver blade, to his content, remained in place.

" Hmph, there we go." He conceeded with a sure nod. Casting his gaze unto the girl at his side, he gave her a smirk for her benefit. " Stupid rentals. The price you pay for is what you get, I guess. Five dollars really says it all." He cracked, jiggling his leg for that main purpose. " So, what are still standing here for? Let's hit the ice."

" Um," Alyson stalled. " Are you sure you don't want to go back and replace those with another pair? Perhaps, one with the blade intact?" She fell into step at his side, placing her hand on his arm to keep his stumbling form steady. " Looks like that one could fall off at any given moment."

He made a noise with his lips that told her not to worry. " Don't worry, it's not going to." He assured, stomping one last time as they came to the entrance of the rink. His arms gripped the walls at his side that stood tall at his waist. " I'm pretty sure I jammed this sucker good enough that it will stay on."

Moving his arm so that she could brush past him, Alyson glided onto the ice. Spinning round so that she were facing him, her hands went to her white beenie on her head and adjusted it so that it were more snug.

" I think I can even feel it cutting through my heel on the inside." He clowned in between a light chuckle.

Alyson's features remained skeptical. " Ok." She relented. " If you're sure but, there's still time to get them exchanged." She gestured toward the rental booth with her hand but dropped it at her side when he shook his head with the same refusal noise as earlier.

" Really it's no big deal. I can twirl around in these perfectly fine." He boasted though he still hadn't yet actually stepped onto the glossy ice. Testing the cold floor, he glid one foot back and forth. " See... look at that. In just a few minutes I will be dancing all around this entire rink like Michelle Kwan."

Floating backwards, Alyson skated closer toward him when she seen him get ready to enter. Her first instinct was to attempt to stop him from setting foot in but observing his foot work, he seemed to be getting along just as he said he was.

To her surprise, he even perfected a circle. A sloppy one but a circle nonetheless. When he finished he raised his arms out on either side triumphantly.

" Tada! I'm still standing." He chessed. " See, absolutely nothing to worry about."

With nothing left to do but purse her lips and shrug, a highly amused giggle fell from her lips as she watched him hobble his way before her.

" I guess you proved me wrong, Michelle." She joked.

Fitted in all winter attire; sweaters and gloves, the rink was full to it's capacity with kids, teens, and adults of all ages enjoying themselves on the frigid after noon. Bodies soared off the ground as others jumped and twirled their way around the circular block of ice while others mingled near the walls, snapping photos of their loved ones or just simply enjoying small cups of hot coffee on the nearby park benches.

A young girl around the age of four or five, happily scattered pieces of her cotton candy onto the ground where a flock of pigeons instantly pecked at the sweet confection. Her mother or baby sitter chatted on a cell phone and at the same time bent down to acclaim the rattle that the infant boy in the stroller next to her must have dropped. Quieting the baby with his toy, she cast her eyes on the girl aiming towards a tree and called her back over.

" Well, there is a lesson learned for you. You should never underestimate me. I'm underestimatable."

Her features were humored. " Underestimatable?" She scoffed through a chortle. " We need to go and buy you a thesaurus. Christmas is coming soon so I'll mark it on my calender just incase I forget."

" No need." He spoke, skating circles around her. " It's all up here." He confirmed with a tap to his temple.

She let him continue to drive her dizzy and skate around her. " Much must not be going on in there then." She commented when she felt his arms tackle her waist and spin her round.

Gasping as she almost slipped and fell, she balanced herself before that could happen. His hands extended towards her with a cunning grin on his lips.

" All of this talking you're doing is getting us nowhere. Now, I don't know about you but I came here to skate."

His brows were lifted upon waiting for her reaction or response. Alyson held out for a moment before slipping her gloved hands into his and laughing as he pulled her along while he manuvered backwards.

" Lead the way."

Cold air blew from her lips into the air as she coasted along the ice as if she had been doing it for years. James followed suit but was troubled at times keeping up with her fast pace. Laughter erupted from the both of them as well as on lookers as he performed a series of twirls and things to which a few ended with him on his back.

" You're really bad at that." She teased, sailing along. " Maybe Michelle Kwan wouldn't mind giving you a few pointers on your technique."

Slowing down to slow her breath from another round of snickers, she slowed to a stop and extended her hand as he truobled to regain his footing. " Or lack thereof."

He latched on and pulled himself to a stand. " Well sorry ' skating idol '. Not all of us have been skating since the day we were born like you. Most normal people, like me, were still trying to distinguish or fingers from our toes."

She offered him a playful swirl of her orbs." Looks like you never found out how to do that either." She insulted as her voice faded away. Her eyes were glued on his and she smiled at the glare sent her way.

He feigned a stunned expression. " Ohhhhh, ok. No, you're going to get it." He nodded the thought furiously. " Yeah, you are. C'mere." He motioned her over with his finger which only caused her to move faster around the ice and soon the chase was in session.

" Oh, sorry." He apologized after bumping into a girl who ended up spinning onto the ground. He looked back at her for a second and shouted out another apology before focusing on Alyson ahead.

" James, stop. You're going to end up hurting someone." She cried in between laughter, repeatedly glancing over her shoulder to find him hot on her tail.

Knocking out a group of small children and sending a man crashing into the wall which ended up with him flipping over and kicking another person's pretzel wrapped in a napkin from their hands, James shook his head and scrunched his face at the disaster." Too late."

Mayhem ensued the rink as the both of them manuvered their way around the rink, occasionally bumping a person or two, or in his case, a dozen.

" You're going to get us both hurt then." She warned. " I'm sorry, ok? I take back what I said, now will you stop." She pleaded.

It fell on deaf ears as he contiuned to run after her. " You can't take it back. The damage has already been done. I'm sure Dr. Hathaway would love to hear about this one."

Dr. Hathaway was the name of the therapist that he claimed he was seeing when he and Alyson were first introduced. It was a joke that hadn't boded over well with her in the beginning. She really did think that he had some mental issues going on but he promised that it was all a good natured joke.

" Whoa, shit." He exclaimed.

Alyson glanced over her shoulder at him quickly. He was recovering after almost taking a fall. " I'm telling you man..."

His footing slipped due to his blade becoming loose once more but he dismissed it. Instead he sped up once he noticed that she began to slow down to make sure that he was ok. Using this advantage his arms grazed the back of her sweater to which she squealed and sped up but was too late.

" Not quick enough now are we?" He taunted, securing his arms around her waist.

Her arms instinctively grasped onto his forearms to maintain both of their balances. She eventually apologized after he relentlessly probed her on doing so.

" Alright you win." She surrendered, attempting to move out of his grasp. " Now, can you please let me go before we both end up breaking our asses? I don't want to take any chances with you."

He made an accusing noise. " You just keep going don't you." She felt him shake his head with faux disappointment and his grip then located her slim hips where he held firmly. " Well, all I can say is that you better hold on."

She gasped, feeling his fingers dent into her skin and her feet begin to rise off of the floor. Slight concern and terror filled her eyes. " Aahhh, wait... no.... James don-" She stammered.

Heads swiveled curiously in their directions. It was as if he were attemtping to pull off a stunt seen in olympic shows on television. Only difference was that they were actually trained professionals.

His strong muscles had her completely in the air now. Her pleas for him to put her down safely on the ground still went unheard as he spoke with confidence that she was in protective care. He spoke of having performed this stunt with a childhood friend of his back when they were teens. fifteen to be exact.

His hearty chuckle filled her ears as he spun a circle with her. " It's ok. I'm not going to drop you. Calm down. I'm completel- whoa!"

Unexpectedly his foot began to wobble uncontrollably as the blade on his skate snapped and glid somewhere down the ice. Quickly, his hold on her hips loosened sending them both toppling hard onto the ice. Falling onto his back, her weight landed ontop of his body and her hands flew to the ground to protect herself from diving face first into the ice, though her head did bump against the ground.

" CUT!" A voice then hollered. It echoed loudly in the open park area and quickly all movement ceased.

A small groan escaped Ashton's throat as he sat up and moved closer to Meghan to help in sitting her up also.

" You ok?" He inquired with concern and a hint of amusement.

She soft chuckled and mumbled a ' yeah ' though her fingers tended to the spot on her temple where she came in contact with the ice. " Thanks for breaking my fall though." She mused.

After returning the question if he was the one ok, Ashton settled her worries and spoke that he was fine. " All in a days work." He beamed. " I think you took a small beating there when you hit the ice." He addressed, seeing as she repeatedly rubbed her forehead. " Lemme see."

" Yeah." She winced when his fingers gently grazed the abrasion. Near by, a camera snapped away pictures of the entire scene. Reloading his film, a photographer fitted in plain clothes blended in with the crowd that had formed earlier on in the day to watch the filming of the production and to get a glimpse at the star casted set. A metal barricade was set up by security feet away from the set so that there would be no disturbances.

Movement on the set came to a slow halt as production crew and on set medical attendees skitted onto the ice in protective shoes, rushing to tend to the fallen two. The fall was in the script and panned out perfectly except for the moment when she crashed head first. Initially she was supposed to fall directly onto Ashton, into his chest, but he happened to let go to soon which threw her off guard and screwed her landing. Extra's on the set stood by and looked on while others skated off the ice to the demand of the director to have the ice cleared.

" Hey," A voice neared. " You both ok?"

Director, Jacob Duchombe bounded toward them with his cap on his head, headphones around his neck and a megaphone in his hand. Crew and medics were already on the scene aiding them off the ground onto their feet. Ashton voiced his well being but informed that Meghan was the one in need of attention as her forehead suffered a small cut.

" It's fine really. Just a tiny nick. I'm sure I'm not going to need a cat scan or anything like that." She passed.

" How about you go and rest in your trailer for awhile? I'll can call for an hour break and you can rest up before we shoot the next scene. Passing out on the set definately will not look good on either of us."

Meghan squinted her eyes once she felt the effects of the alcohol pad sting her head slightly. Just a bit of blood dripped from the cut just below her hairline and a female medic at her side carefully cleaned and tended the wound.

" Oh, I really don't want that. Yeah, it would be better for the both of us if I just slipped into a coma in my trailer where no one will see me." She spat sarcastically. " Way to show compassion there, Jacob. Like really, I feel so much better knowing that you care so much."

A small butterfly stitch bandaid was attached to her head. Sliding her finger over it afterwards, Meghan joined in on their chuckles.

" I'm sorry." He told her. She responded with a playfull glare. " But, are you sure that you aren't hurt or anything?" He expressed his true concern for her, examining the bandaid for himself.

She dismissed with a flick of her wrist. " All in a day's work. I'm fine." She informed, quoting her co-star's words from moments ago. " Right Ashton?"

" Exactly Meghan." He cooed. Pulling her closer to himself her lugged his arm over her shoulder. " This is a fierce ass chick right here. Nothing can break this one." He beamed at their direction.

Jacob agreed. " Well then, if you both are ok and if everything's fine then let's get a move on shall we."

Leading them off the ice, Meghan latched onto Ashton's hand as they shuffled toward the exit doors of the rink conversing mirthfully with one another.

" Ashton!!! I love you!! Ashton you are so hott!!!"

" Ashton!!!"

A brunette stationed behind the barricade repeatedly shouted at the actor, furiously waving to gather his attention. She succeeded and squealed dramatically as he politely waved back and grinned.

Meghan lent him a questionable gaze. He caught it and returned with a boyish grin. " What? I told you. It's all in a days work."

She declined to respond to his sudden arrogance and just carried along with him.

They were nearing the production tent where they would proceed to remove their skates and get prepared to head back to their trailers. Jacob shouted orders through his megaphone for a set change. " Ok everyone. Moving onto another location. Let's get everything set before we start to lose all of our light."

Relaying her goodbyes with actress Jennie Garth who played the role of her older sister in the film, Meghan waved her off as Jennie relocated farther down the parking lot where her trailer was located among the thirteen that were there.

Traveling up the steps of her own, Meghan turned the handle which she kept unlock and entered inside the fully furnished area only to find it empty of any occupants.

" Shann?" She called.

Removing the rolled up script tucked inside the backpocket of her jeans, she abandoned them on the coffee table before the couch and headed toward the back in search for her missing assistant figuring that she must have fallen asleep on the single bed. She had been up since four in the morning along side Meghan. Production ran at five which while Meghan had been behind the camera a majority of the day, Shannon had been performing her tasks as P.A., scheduling, confirming, and setting up appointments for the girl.

" Hmmm." Meghan sounded, returning to the main area. " Where'd she go?" She murmured quietly.

Ambling toward the fridge she spotted her cell phone resting atop the counter. It blinked repeatedly displaying that she had a message waiting. Picking out a banana from the fruit bin, she lifted the phone with her hand and flipped it open to find a message left on there from Shannon. It read that she had to step out for a moment and that she would be right back. It didn't disclose a location of where she was but that she would appear in close to five minutes.

" I guess." Meghan spoke, not knowing what else to do or say. Bouncing her shoulder she carted the phone along with her toward the back where she was in search of her bag.

" Knock, knock. Anyone home?" Though already inside, Ashton rapped his knuckles along the door panel to secure his prescence.

" I'm in here. I'll be right out."

She emerged seconds later with a cheekfull of banana. She smiled at the sight of her co-star. " Hey, what's up?"

Advancing further inside, he spotted the couch and planted himself in it. " Not much. Just wanted to come by and see how you were doing. I don't know.....hang out for a minute."

Meghan was on the end of the couch as he was on the one adjacent. She stared him dead on. " Demi left the set early didn't she?"

He dropped his head and released a chortle. " An hour ago." After her ' Ahhh ' he was quick to explain himself. " But that isn't why I came over here. I really wanted to come by and have a chat or something. Is that so wrong?"

His mock offensive demeanor elicited a chuckle out of her. " I'm just messing around. You're welcomed to my trailer anytime you want, man."

Upon recieving that bit of information he settled himself into her couch as if he were in his own, bouncing his tush into the cushions." I like this couch. I need to request one. "

" Just, don't get too comfortable and don't touch any of my stuff." She added. Following her mild threat he assumed his position on the couch like before and surrendered his hands in the air.

" Duly noted." He stated. Discarding her banana peel in the waste basket near the fridge, she bounded toward her seat again this time pulling her legs up and tossing one of the couch pillows in his direction.

" So tell me..." She started with a cheery breath. " What does Kutch have planned for these next three days that we have off? Hoping to get some of that family time in huh?" She inquired.

He flipped the pillow in the air quietly before letting it fall in his lap, grinning lazily.. His arms went on either side of the couch and his head fell back with a loud sigh.

" Something along those lines." He crossed his ankle over his thigh. He observed the space of her trailer. " Scout is having her graduation ceremony happening tomorrow in Palm Springs and I--"

" From the university? Meghan interjected. " Oh, I didn't know that the semester was already over."

He nodded. " Yeah, two weeks ago. Tomorrow it's all caps and gown for her."

" That's great." She beamed. " Tell her I said congrats."

He wrinkled his nose. " Not a chance but...." Her expression fell to which he snickered. " I'm just fucking with you, I will. But yeah, it's her graduation and then Tallulah's high school graduation a day after that, and lastly, day three belongs to me and Demi. Just me, her, Tahiti, and hopefuly an entire night locked in a bungalow on the beach butt naked in the bed." He finished with a crooked grin.

" You just had to didn't you?" She inquired, her face contorted with disgust. He shrugged passively.

" What about you, miss innocent? What does old Mary Sunshine have written down in her calender. Nights at home in front of the televison with her favorite Danielle Steel romance novels?"

She was not amused.

" Only on the weekends." She retorted smartly." I am though, going to that T- Mobile Sidekick Event tomorrow night. And then after that, Jive is having another annual label party happening in New York that you know all the cool people are going to attend except for you." She simpered. " Cause you're not cool and then after that it's spend the night in my bedroom all hugged up with Daniel Steel and a bottle of Jack."

" You little party animal you." He spoke boredly. " I knew you had a kinky side that no one must have known about."

She quietly raised her right hand. " Guilty." She pledged.

Enjoying the company of one another for a moment longer, Shannon made her appearance at the door and soon Ashton was on his way out recieving both hugs from each girls and a promise from Meghan a card sent to the both of his step daughters. With the clock ticking and no time to waste, Shannon reminded Meghan that the flight to Los Angeles was still awaiting the woman and with the help of her temporary bodyguard, they were escorted from the set and to the airport with just minutes to spare.

( 1 week later; Salt Lake City, Utah )

" I think that you should seriously just stick to singing from now on. As a matter of fact, I'd advise you to."

Removing her thick goggles as well as her white beenie cap, Meghan poked her chin out of her thick bomber jacket that had been zipped up to it's ending point.

Lugging her snowboard inside, she posted it against a nearby wooden beam and brushed off a clump of snow away from her shoulder.

" Hey," She pouted." Go easy on me. I haven't snowboarded in like, a year. So, I'm a little rusty."

Tyler agreed with a snort. Posting his board next to hers, he started to slip off his snow gloves. " Yeah. It shows."

He chuckled under his breath to which Meghan whined and discreetly told him to pick on someone his own size.

" You're one to criticize people, Tyler. You were smacking into trees more than I've seen Tiger Woods smacks golf balls. And that's a lot of balls."A voice entered belonging to the one named Ambrina.

Following behind Ambrina, a friend of his, J.C. as well as, Jessica, Eva, Dominic and Blaine, J.C. was last to enter the extravagant two story lodge cabin that the group had taken up for the next few days. Closing the door behind himself, he shook off the fallen snow from his coat.

" And she's just putting that in lighter terms for you." He spoke, his board tucked under his arm." But me, not so much. You looked competely hilarious out there. Atleast she made it past the beginners slope."

Meghan smirked at Tyler after Ambrina and J.C. came to her defense ever so quickly. Her coat now completely off, leaving her in a gray wool sweater, she gave him a triumphant stare. " I rest my case. Thank you guys."

In response and playfully, he lightly tossed his cap in her direction. She caught it before it could hit her in the face and threw it back at him.

" I see your ' comittee' seems to have a lot to say at the moment." He commented. He directed his gaze on his brother and shamefully shook his head. " And you, my own brother. Such a traitor."

J.C. ruffled the young mans hair to which Tyler shrugged away the contact and disappeared somewhere further into the next room which happened to be the kitchen. Dominic and James followed suit as everyone else removed all of their gear and comfortably situated themselves around the lodge.

" He'll get over it once he realizes that there is still some left over pizza in the fridge from last night." J.C. stated.

Not a second later did Tyler stroll by with a content expression on his face and a slice of cheese pizza aiming for his mouth. Into the den he went where he switched on the massive television. On the screen was a college football game.

Nodding her head, Meghan pursed her lips with dismay. " Sad."

J.C.'s laugher floated into her ears as he dropped one on her cheek, retrieving her jacket in her arms and made his way toward the coat closet.

Eva emerged from the den seconds later, aiming for the staircase. " I don't know about you guys but, I'm ready to dump out of these clothes." She announced.

Meghan glanced down at her lunky snow pants and boots still attached to her bottom half.

" I'm right behind you." She conceeded.

Jessica as well ambled toward the steps and their boots clonked loudly against the wood as well as left small water footprints lingering behind.

" I'm definately not cleaning that up." Ambrina declared upon noticing the mess on the steps. Skipping the steps two and two until she made her way to the top, in the hall upstairs, downstairs she heard J.C.'s faint voice filter aloud.

" Will you ladies please try and refrain from flooding the house with your shoes. I would appreciate not having to foot the bill."

' Bequiet ' was the response he recieved which floated out of Meghan's open bedroom door that she shared with Eva. Jessica and Ambrina shared the room three doors down, the boys room further along down the hall.

" Who said that?" He demanded loudly.

Eva quietly snickered at Meghan through the bathroom mirror. Meghan was seated on her bed removing the last of her boots and rolled her eyes at his booming voice.

" Who said that?" She mimicked, breaking into a mini grin.

She recieved a finger wag from Eva just as she rummaged her luggage for a shirt to wear.

" Terrible."

Meghan watched her strut around the room in her newly bought Karen Zambos baby doll dress and sneered. Locating her earrings, she applied one to each ear when a flip flop sandal hit her backside, courtesy of Meghan.

" You can bequiet too." Slipping on a yellow Primrose wrap cardigan over her white tank complimenting her knee length skirt, she bumped Eva over with her hip as she acclaimed a rubberband off the dresser and wrapped her hair in a pony.

" Wouldn't you say that it's a bit too cold outside for that dress?"

Swooping her bangs over her forehead, Eva crinkled her nose at what she deemed an absurd question.

" When is it ever too cold for beauty?" She inquired replacing her necklace with a beaded one. " You have so much to learn about fashion, honey. Don't worry though, all in due time."

Meghan eyed the woman next to her. " Right." She spoke unsurly. Eva laughed at her when she turned her back with a shrug.

Entering the kitchen behind, Dominic, Jessica seen a familiar form peeking his head through the fridge and subtley pinched his cheek with her finger.

J.C. shot up and snapped his head back. " Hey, hey, now. Not while everyone else is in the room." He winked, tending to the stinging sensation left on his behind.

She laughed him off and rounded him so that she had access to the fridge. Acclaiming a Lipton green tea bottle.

" I always knew that you were trouble Chasez." She stated with narrowed eyes. " Luckily Meghan is just as bad. It's sickening how much you both deserve each other."

" Is someone green with envy?" He accused arrogantly.

She grunted. " Until the ends of the earth." Sarcasm dripped from her words and she offered him an innocent gaze before rolling her orbs. In response he made a face at her and went to reach for her bottle for a steal. She quickly turned her back on him so that he wasn't able to and his long arms went around her shoulders as his front pressed her into the counter.

" Please, not while I'm in the room. Let's save it for the hot tub, huh children?"

Jessica finally escaped him and ambled toward safety, next to Meghan on the other side of the island.

" See, I warned you didn't I?" She told her. Both women lowered their gaze on the him with mild shakes of their heads.

J.C. surrendered his hands. " Okay, I get it. I'm the bad guy here but, can I just go on record and say that in my defense, she was the one who initiated it? I only jump when I'm provoked. So really, who's the the real one to blame here?"

He was met with blank stares. Finally, they cracked. Jessica's laughter echoed as she exited the kitchen leaving the both of them alone.

Meghan pushed away from the counter and took hold of the freezer door. " Incredible." She declared at him over her shoulder.

J.C. dropped his hands. " Hey, you can't blame a guy for trying."

" Actually I can." She countered, removing an ice cube from the tray. She popped it into her mouth just as he rounded the island, planting his bottom on a stool infront of her.

" May I ask why?" Slumping his shoulders a bit, he stared up at her inquisitively.

Sucking on the cube, she tucked the ice inside of her mouth completely. " Nope." She mumbled, slurping the water that threatened to spill from her lips. She wasn't as successful though because she got a few drops on his forearm.

She covered her mouth and snickered as the rest of the ice finally melted inside of her mouth. " I'm sorry." She got out.

J.C. turned up the corners of his lip and crinkled his nose in disgust. " That's gross, mami."

He got up to wash his arm off in the sink. Shutting off the faucet he tore a piece of napkin paper from the roll and patted his arm dry. Luckily he wasn't wearing his watch.

Meghan ignored the dirty looks he was casting. " I said I was sorry. What else do you want from me?" She spoke with exasperation.

Making a swish into the trash with the balled up napkin he folded an arm over his chest and the other toyed with the small amount of hair on his chin. " Hmmm, that's a tough one sweet heart. I'll have to get back to you on that."

" You do that. Until then, I'll be infront of the television." She perked already turning on her heels when his voice halted her step.

" What's the rush for, Can you wait just a second? I wanna tell you something."

Meghan planted her hand on her hip and cocked her head to the side. " Ok. What?"

With his back against the counter, he casually imitated her actions, cocking his head to the side. " I can't tell you if you're all the way over there."

She humored him and took a step forward. " Ok. Now, what?"

" No, closer."

Another step foward. " Yes?"

He shook his head. " Nope, a little closer."

She sighed and obliged. Any closer and she was going to find herself glued to his chest. " Hmmm?"

Yet again he was not satisfied. He motioned his finger in a come hither motion and pointed at the tile floor before him where he wanted her to stand.

Stalling, she slowly took the step and was inches from his form.

She smirked. " Ok, I'm here, now what? Why do you need me to be so close to the point that I can literally get a glimpse of those baby nose hairs. What's on your mind?"

Slightly deterred by her comment, before she knew it, his arms had snaked around her waist and loosely settled themselves on her lower back.

" Nothing. I just wanted to hug you that's all." He admitted into her hair.

Meghan felt her stomach flutter at his words. " You're such a dork. A cute, sweet one and that but still, a dork." She asserted with a crooked grin.

He skimmed his fingers up her spinal cord and nuzzled his smooth cheek on the top of her head. " Nice way of putting things, mami. Lovely ego booster."

Her voice was muffled by his neck but he caught bits and pieces of her mumblings. Her arms found his middle and as serene as the moment was, it quickly fizzled when Ambrina filed into the kitchen, bag and sunglasses in hand.

" Aww, how cute." She gushed, clapping her hand together. " Now, save some for later. Meghan we're waiting on you."

Meghan spun around but was still catpive in his hold. J.C. took in Ambrina's appearance. " You clean up nice. You look nice there, girly." She curtised in response.

" So, where are you ladies venturing out to today?"

" Nowhere really. I just need to pick up a few things for the premiere tonight. Lord knows that I'm not trying to be seen in People Magazine wearing last weeks accessories. I need to update."

" Um, ok." He declared. " Hey, would you guys mind if I tagged along? I was lookin to get a new tie anyway. Care for an extra traveler?"

" Of course not." She beamed. " The more the merrier. C'mon."

Meghan craned her neck to get a glimpse of him and cheesed. " Yes, my fellow. C'mon." She gladly pulled him along behind her.

The pack of five casually strolling down the side walk, enjoying the fair breeze of the wind and the light heat of the sun upon them, all of them toting Starbucks containers, small talk ensued as Eva led them inside of their last destination, a boutique where they were immediately greeted and serviced on the spot.

Meghan had her arm linked with Jessica's, observing the scented candles located on the south side of the room, while Eva and J.C. conversed lightly and Ambrina ventured off towards the back with the store owner in search of a scarf to her liking.

" I absolutely love coming up here whenever I get the chance." Meghan confessed, whiffing the Kiwi Apple candle in her hand apprectiavely. " Just the atmosphere and the way things run so smoothly around here.... I might even begin looking for a more permanent situation. I mean really, a girl could get used to this."

Jessica inhaled the Pinecone scent of a soap bar carved like a chest nut and sighed. " Please, save me an extra room."

Lingering around the boutique a moment longer, observing everything from soaps, perfumes, bath beads, to shoes, hand gloves, jackets and sweaters, Ambrina rung herself up at the cashiers desk as well as Jessica and Meghan who couldn't resist the candles and purchased a few small boxes, shopping bags rustled in their hands as the five exited the store and set on the journey back to Eva's car parked further down the street.

Paparazzi lurking behind, following their trail since having arrived in Salt Lake, the five casually opted to ignore the stunning flashes popping off so close by, nearly blinding them from all sides. Flashes and questions mostly being thrown at the yet to be official couple, J.C, quietly released her hand so that she drifted inbetween Eva and Ambrina once their ride came into view. Collecting the keys from Eva, he short smiled at the relentless photographers and disarmed the locks on the door while on the other side of the car, Meghan politely asked one of them to step aside who's camera was literally shoved in her face so that she could climb inside the back after Jessica.

Buckled and safe, J.C. took off down the street. Ambrina in front, Meghan, Jessica and Eva in the back, Jessica tucked her bags in between her legs on the floor as the clamor left behind faintly echoed in the distance.

" So, still thinking about that permanent situation?" She questioned Meghan who glanced over her shoulder at the vehicles now following them. She comfortably sat back and didn't hesitate for a second.

" Definately. It doesn't get any better than that." She comically gestured at the scene behind them.

Jessica nodded for sure. " Exactly."

Ambrina spoke up from her seat up front, the air from her rolled down window, blowing her hair to and fro. " Hey, I'm calling up the others and telling them to meet us for lunch. Any suggestions?" She questioned, already dialing on her cell.

" The Blue Iguana." Two voices simultaneously boasted.

J.C, caught Meghan's stare from the rear view and grinned.

Jessica cocked a brow at the sudden likeness, a bit weirded out. " Wow, you two really do deserve each other."

" I'm not complaining." Came his reply over the radio.

Meghan retrieved her blackberry when it vibrated against her hip sgnaling she had a text. She flipped it open to view it but not before responding. " Neither am I."


Red carpet, reporters, celebrities, designer as well as casual duds, personal questions, live televised candid interviews, flashing and more flashing, J.C. assumed his composed demeanor, often smiling and waving at the photogs behind the metal barricades, strolling along with one hand cached into his pokcet. Fitted in a black long sleeved that complimented his form perfectly, sleeves slightly rolled up on either side, midnight blue jeans with red stiching and a white belt clung neatly to his lower half as fresh black and white sneakers adorned his feet. Topping off his attire was the black and white patterned scarf wrapped around his neck. His mini faux hawk gave him that added touch of sex appeal as his blue eyes gleamed under the lights.

Behind him stood a large poster display of a film titled ' Witness ' where he reserved the main characater along side Dustin Hoffman and Ryan Gosling. The loud voices of the reporters were deafening as various celebrities posed and strutted along the carpet. Conducting what seemed like his hundreth in a matter on ten minutes, J.C. kept his fair distance away from the news correspondant he was conversing with, but easily answered each question appropriately. Displaying his pearly whites from time to time.

" Tell me J.C.," J.C. made a motion for the man to continue. " What was it like working alongside Dustin Hoffman with such a demanding director like David Caruso filming from behind the camera? It's been said that Caruso at times can be unmerciful when it comes to his films. Was it difficult at all transitioning into the role of this emotionless...killer that you potray when coming off from a movie like ' Post Hostage Effects ' filmed last year? I mean, how do you go from being the victim to becoming the murderer?"

" Well...it was a definite challenge in the beginning. I think that I.." His eyes casually darted back and forth between the chaos beside him and the reporter before him as he went into a detailed explanation on how complex he found it to be when auditioning for both films when another uproar further down the carpet escalated full force.

Meghan stepped onto the red carpet stunning casually in a Maroon Christopher Fischer Cashmere sweater, fitted True Religion jeans and gold ballet flats. Her hair was let down from her pony tail earlier in the day and straightened delicately. Displaying her signature smile, her makeup was done lightly which accentuated her natual beauty even further. She also went light on the jewelery opting for only a single red bangle bracelet and a silver chain necklace.

Being shouted and tugged at in every which direction, Meghan settled for a quick interview with Shaun Robinson of Access Hollwood. Meghan exchanged a warm hug with the caramel beauty before her and the interview went underway.

" Now you know that there is no way that I can't ask you these next few questions. It's the dirt that we look for over here at Access."

" Oh, of course." Meghan exclaimed. " I think that I would be a little scared if you didn't. It's all about that nitty gritty. That raunchy business, right?" Meghan entertained.

" Yeah, that raunchy business America." Shuan repeated with a look into the camera." That's what we like to hear aint it?"

Meghan fixed her gaze into the lens as well. " Just want the dirt on all of us celebrites." She comically added in.

Composing themselves after a brief laugh of their goofy actions, Shaun held her mic in between them both and cleared her throat. " Ok, let's do this."

Meghan bobbed her head. " I'm ready. Give me all you got." She amused.

" Alright, but first off, I just want to congratulate you on the first leg of your tour coming to an end. I'll admit that it was probably one of the hottest shows that I have been to this year.Woman, you were really working it out this summer!"

The mic was now aimed at her for her response. " Aww, I do my best but thank you. The first half was great and I really enjoyed getting to fly around the country and perform in crazy places like India and Estonia. Just...unheard of places like that where I didn't even know my music existed. I was kind of like' whoa ' are these countries even on the map and if so, where the hell have I been? But yeah, It was all incredible and I can't wait until the second legs kicks off next month."

Her theatrics brought on a chortle as Shuan drove into her next question.

" You don't even have to tell me twice. I have my tickets already on reserve. So while you have this break inbetween all of your touring, do you have any plans or other projects that you're working on? Like say follow in the foot steps of Usher who's already in the studio recording for a new album only a month into his tour?"

They way she spoke it was as if she were saying that his whole idea was absurd.

" Crazy ain't he!" Meghan spoke widening her eyes." No, I can't be Usher. I think it's going to be awhile before I even look at another song lyric let alone get behind the soundboard." She breathed, calming after a laugh. " I don't know how he does it but more power to him I guess. I'm pretty much preoccupied going into next year with the In/Exhale World Tour."

" So, I'll take that as an ixnay on the possibility of another album being fit into next year's artist line up?"

" Not completely." Meghan asserted. " You can expect to hear atleast something or the other...just not in the form of a definite studio album. A greatest hit's maybe with probably a few unreleased singles?"

" Can I hold you to that? Or is this just useless information that you celebrities like to feed and give all of our hopes up like always."

Meghan beamed at her sour/ dirty expression. " No, no. I wouldn't dare do that to you guys. There will be a greatest hits out soon. You can go ahead and quote me on that and if I fall though then you can....print some... nasty rumor about me, for example, like, me picking my wedgie in the street or losing my underwear somewhere in a gas station bathroom. I know how you all would like that."

Shaun perked at the notion " Its' a deal then. Nice touch on the wedgie." She addressed the camera. " You all heard it hear first. Reporting live from Sundance. This is no ploy people."

Grilled to the core with all sorts of personal questions containing her private life as well as questions referring to one unsaid popstar, Meghan found herself under the same situation she had been with Shaun except this time with a reporter from a station that she wasn't all too familiar with.

" We hear that you have been spending the last few days snowboarding down the hills with a certain someone recently." The reporter pried. " Care to share what's going on there with you and J.C.?"

Meghan furrowed her brow and maintained a baffled expression. " J.C.?" The reporter nodded. She looked off to the side as if she were in deep thought. " You mean J.C. Chasez? That guy from that group Nsync back in the day?"

The reporter was unsure of what to say until he seen her lip twitch with a mischevious grin. He was quick to catch on.

" Yep, that's exactly who I'm talking about. J.C. Chasez, he's here to promote his new film in Sundance."

Meghan was stunned. " You mean... he's here... like... here in Sundance right now?"

" Yes. He's actually walking down the red carpet as we speak."

Meghan let out a gasp and smiled. " You're kidding me. He's here right now? On the red carpet." The man conceeded. " Oh my god, that's so great. I've always wanted to meet him. You're not joking with me are you?"

Finally putting her antics aside, Meghan calmed herself and rolled her eyes though she was laughing. " I'm just messin." She breathed. " I have taken a few strides down the slopes since I've been here and yeah and I did run into him a couple of times while I was up there but it was nothing. I'm just here hanging out with a few friends and for support."

" And that ' support ' would be for J.C. wouldn't it?" He eased.

Meghan looked to the sky with a cutesy expression, cocking a brow. " No." She drawled with a slight pitch to her tone. " For all of the actors here tonight. He just happens to be among them all."

The man was not convinced one bit but accepted what little she was willing to give him.

" There you are, babe. I've been searching all over for you."

A new voice entered the picture from behind and both she and the reporter turned their heads to find Ryan Gosling ambling over to them. Meghan couldn't stop the laughter bubbling out of her mouth when he ever so sweetly embraced her into a hug. A billions flashes seemed to shoot off at the contact and the amused reporter looked on.

Ryan turned his attention to the reporter and shook the man's hand. " Don't mean to interrupt but are you all done here? I'd like to escort my girlfriend inside before all the seats get taken up."

" Oh! Your girlfriend you say?"

Ryan nodded at the man. " Yep. This is my lady right here. We've been dating for the last eight months. Ain't that right darlin?"

Meghan was too amused by him to say much and released a snort. He came along every unexpected.

Ryan himself had to chuckle. " That's means ' yeah '."

" But what about J.C.?"

Ryan grunted. " J.C. is old news." He held her at his side closely. " We're the new sizzlin couple in Hollywood right now."

Meghan finally found her voice and agreed, though her grin was from ear to ear. " That's right. It's all about Meg-Ryan."

Ryan beamed at her thought to mesh their names together so perfectly. " Always thinkin. Give me some." A quick kiss was dropped onto her lips so quick that the camera barely caught the scene.

Ryan's publicist called for him to which Ryan waved off the reporter bringing Meghan along with him.

" I owe you." She hugged the tall blonde.

" Not at all. Just remember to ring me up if unfortunately it doesn't work out between you and him. I'll be waiting." He joked before vanishing among the chaos that was the red carpet.

Unfortunately for Meghan she found herself stuck in another interview but this time with the help of Shia Labeouf at her side who made it all the more fun.

" Sorry man, but you know I have to ask?" The man began.

J.C. anticipated the question that seemed to rattle every single reporter there that night. " You're not sorry. You were going to ask me one time or another." He cracked.

" True." The man agreed then prepared himself. " Alright, you and Meghan? Official or not? I saw you two shopping earlier today with some friends. What's up man?"

" Oh, you haven't heard yet?" J.C. questioned out of no where.

The prying reporter shook his head just as J.C. was summoned by his publicist informing him that it was time to head inside the venue.

" Heard what?"

J.C. shook his head in mock shame at the man as if he should have known the answer to that. Disbelief fell over his features before he broke out into a simper.

" It's all about Meg-Ryan right now. They're hot."

And with that he was escorted inside of the venue where he met up with Meghan and they ambled toward their seats hand in hand.

Happy faces entered inside the threshold of the lodge, voices loud as each person praised J.C. for pulling such an amazing job on the big screen. The movie premiere went off without a hitch and the after party couldn't have gone any better. Still in their attire, having not changed at all, hours passed as they all gathered in the den situated around the large fireplace and television.

" You want your life then you better get down on your knees and beg me for it." Tyler began as he quoted the line in the film that would secure J.C.'s status as the next big Hollywood actor. " Say... you ever stare down the barrel of a gun before? Wanna take a look inside? It's kind of like a Cracker Jack box except..."

Everyone then spoke the last part. " You won't find a prize inside this one. Bang!"

J.C. buried his face into Meghan's back as she sat in his lap on the couch that they shared. She shifted in his arms slightly so that she could run a soothing hand down his arms that clutched her middle.

" Awww, Movie Star is all red now." She taunted.

Meghan gently fell into the couch when he stood abruptly. " I'm thirsty. Anyone want a drink?" To laughter and applause he was out of the room mumbling to himself about how strange these people were.

" Get me a Crystal Light please? The red bottle." Eva shouted out from her position on the rug.

Reaching over the head on the ground before him, Tyler stole the remote out of Ambrina's grasp. The televison was displaying a product of hair extensions.

" Hey!" She sneered.

He gave her a light pat on the head before setting against the pillows on the couch.

" Now, for some real television. Might even catch the last five minutes of UFC." He flipped through the channels until halting on Spike.

" Here."

" Thanks babe." Eva spoke as J.C. handed her her drink.

Meghan shifted over to make room for him. " Hey." He spoke.

She rested her hand on his thigh. " Hey, yourself." Leaning against him, her back to his front, the room settled into a comfortable zone, enjoying the television.

" Hey, change it to Comedy Central real quick. I just remembered that Dave Chappelle's Laugh Out Loud special was coming on earlier. Maybe it's on a re run. Let's see."

Tyler obliged to her request when his finger accidentally grazed over the wrong button and the channel ended up on Inside Edition.

You've heard the speculation, but is it true? Well a source has the evidence that proves it other wise. In our top breaking news story of the night; Proof that it's exists is here and I'm not talking about aliens here. The Justin and Meghan Sex Ta-

" My bad you guys..." Tyler apologized as he fumbled with the device

" No!" Jessica burst. " Change that back, Tyler!"

He did so unaware of the stunned expressions in the room at the last sentence spoke before he abruptly cut it off as he was not paying attention to the reporter. Meghan had already sat upright and the color on her face drained when he switched it back just in time for the segment to begin.

Welcome to Inside Edition, I'm Deborah Norville, and I'm Bill O' Reilly.

After the mini introduction Deborah had taken over. Behind her on the large screen held a photo of a VHS Tape with the words Sex Scandal etched in bold on the center. Just then the photo switched to a photo of Justin Timberlake and Meghan Carter with other famous faces plastered around the screen.

'Paris Hilton, Tommy Lee, Pamela Anderson, Colin Farell, and Kim Catrall are just a few of the names listed in the on going wring of celebrities exploited by such private vidoes and dvd's which have since then embedded themselves onto the internet on sites such as ' Star XXX ' and the most infamous of them all ' V.I.P. Axcess '. But just how are these tapes finding their way onto the net and into public hands but the bigger and most poignant question of them all is not ' where ', but ' who ' are they coming from?

Acquired off of stolen laptops or even going as far as breaking and entering or....in most cases....black mail, all of the these three actions have been performed in either most or all cases in the crime against illegal extortion and distribution occuring to it seems most of Hollywood's best and sometimes even worst. Even though investigations steeming deep into these videos and dvd's prove neccessary, results have been futile in the actual capturing and arrest on these so called ' anonymous ' or sometimes ' secert sources ' who seem to be the masterminds behind the demise of these victimized stars.

And just when you think that the list couldn't get any bigger, the pages only begin to get thicker. To name a few who kick started off into popularity behind the camera, Hayden Pannatierre and now ex- beau Milo Ventimiglia were the latest involved only a few short months back and not forgetting most recent of the bunch, Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony who are both proud parents of newly born baby girl, Thalina 'Raquel' Anthony endured the sudden infringment on their private lives, but the former couple now set to stand before a jury of millions?

You've guessed it and though it comes as a shock to us all, Hollywood's once reigning king and queen of love surpassed and a marriage which lasted four years; Justin Timberlake and estranged wife Meghan Carter will now have to face the scrutiny of it all.

Not much detail has been given about the spicy footage but it is said and warned to be extremely explicit and that it would make Paris Hilton's infamous home made sex movie seem tame. Possibly filmed in a private location along the islands of Jamaica, it's not sure whether the footage was filmed before the two became nuptials or during the period of time that they were married. One thing for sure is that it's said to be ' all real ' and completely ' raw '.

Meghan, 24 has been photograped days earlier taking in the slopes at Sundance in Salt lake and seems to have no intention of leaving just yet as reports tell of a small outing earlier today with gal pals, Jessica Simpson and Eva Mendes. Joining the trio also was friend Ambrina Owen and J.C. Chasez who this week will be promoting and premireing his second on screen debut at the Mcmenamins Theatre to an anxious crowd of thousands. Still, though. Carter and Chasez have not confirmed nor denied speculation of a ' more than friend's ' relationship as of yet.

Representatives for Timberlake as well as Carter have been unreachable at this moment in time and messages sent have failed to be returned.

In other news related to Timberlake, it seems that the thirty one year old singer has landed himself back into the dating game just weeks after an interesting split from girlfriend, turned ex, to girlfriend again Cameron Diaz. Who's the luck lady this time? None other than' Sexiest Body ' in the world two time title winner, Jessica Biel.

That concludes our top breaking story of the evening and more details in soon on the Justin/Meghan Sex Tape as we receive them throughout the program.

Bill now stood infront of the large screen fitted in an all black suit and demeanor ready to speil the latest of celebrity gossip.

Mark Wahlberg is ok after an accident on set injured.........

To be continued.....