"What?" She asked.

Andrew looked at her strangely.  "Phoenix?" He chuckled.  "You know?  The place you went this weekend?"

"Oh, um..." Aubrey swallowed as she looked down at her hands.  "It was..."  She cleared her throat nervously.  "It was..."

"It was?" Andrew prompted with another chuckle.  "What's wrong?" He asked nudging her with his shoulder.

Aubrey looked up at him.  She'd been debating with herself since Sunday on when and what to tell Andrew about her weekend with Justin.  She knew he deserved the truth.  He deserved to know what had happened and what kind of woman she was.  It was obvious she was unable to control her emotions and hormones and she knew she didn't deserve him.  She looked down again, unable to meet his gaze.

"Bre?" He asked, leaning closer. 

"I didn't go." She said quietly, glancing up at him from beneath her lashes.

Andrew looked at her, his smile fading as his brow furrowed in confusion.  "You didn't...then where did you go?" He asked.

Aubrey pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she looked up at him.  She needed to tell him before he saw another picture of her and Justin in some tabloid magazine but she was scared.  Although they hadn't really been harassed by any fans while they'd been in Cabo, there was always someone around with a camera and she'd bet money that sooner or later and picture of them would surface.  Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and told him.

"Cabo San Lucas." She said.

Andrew laughed.  "Yeah," he said nodding his head.  "Right."

"Andrew..." Aubrey said, reaching over and taking his hand. 

"Okay." He said with a chuckle, still clearly disbelieving of her answer.  "Okay then, who did you go with?  Justin?" He laughed.  Aubrey said nothing--holding his gaze steadily--her heart racing frantically.  She saw understanding slowly dawn in his blue eyes and she felt horrible.

"You lied to me?" He asked quietly.  "Why?"

"Because--"

"Did you sleep with him?" He asked.

"No." Aubrey shook her head, scooting closer to him.  "That's not what happened." She said. 

"Then what did happen, Aubrey?" He asked his voice hard as he removed his hand from hers. 

"We made a bet over something a few months ago." She told him.  "Our wager was that if he lost he had to take me somewhere exotic.  Well...he lost and he surprised me with the trip last weekend."  She said, giving him the Reader's Digest version of what had led up to her going away.

"I can't believe this!" Andrew exclaimed.  Aubrey winced as he stood suddenly and looked down at her.  "You lied to me." He accused again.

"I know." Aubrey nodded as she hung her head.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because--"

"Because you knew I wouldn't want you to go." Andrew cut in.  Aubrey looked up at him, feeling about two inches tall at the moment.    "You told me you wanted this," he said gesturing between them. "But in the time we've been back together all I hear about is you and him!" He shouted.  "I realize he came into your life before I came back and I was willing to overlook the fact that you being friends with him didn't sit well with me but this is too much." Andrew began pacing angrily in front of her.  Aubrey sat, silently watching him from the couch, afraid to interject.  "If you didn't want to be in this relationship you should have told me.  We're supposed to be dating and yet you've been sneaking around the whole time lying to me about these little rendezvous' with your celebrity lover."

"He's not my lover!" Aubrey interjected, finally breaking her silence.  "Nothing happened while we were there!"  She said standing.

He laughed bitterly.  "You're going to stand there and tell me that you went to Cabo, with Justin Timberlake and nothing happened?" He asked, folding his arms across his chest as he glared at her.  Aubrey swallowed.  She'd never seen Andrew so angry.  She was suddenly thankful that Justin was who he was--if he weren't a celebrity she knew Andrew wouldn't hesitate to track him down and beat him up.

"I knew it." Andrew said, taking her silence for an admission.  He took a step to leave.

"No!" She said, putting her hand on his arm to stop him.  "Nothing like what you're thinking happened." She said.

"How in the hell do you know what I'm thinking?" He shot back. 

Aubrey winced.  "I don't." She said.  "But before you go throwing accusations around you need to listen to me."  Andrew shrugged her hand off his arm then folded his arms across his chest--his jaw clenched tightly.  "We had separate rooms." She told him.  "We spent the day shopping, and snorkeling and sitting on the beach talking.  Saturday night--after dinner--he tried to kiss me." She said.  Andrew inhaled a sharp breath, the accusatory fire in his eyes scorching her.  "But I pushed him away." She told him.  "I told him I couldn't do it...because of you."

Andrew was quiet for a moment.  "How do I know you're telling me the truth?" He asked.  "How do I know that's all that happened?"

"You're just going to have to trust me." She told him. 

"I used to." He replied, his words piercing her heart.  She looked at him in shock--feeling like the wind had just gotten knocked out of her.  She'd never had anyone tell her they'd lost their trust in her before and even though she knew she deserved it, it still hurt to hear him say it. 

"Andrew." She reached out to him but he pulled back from her, contempt clouding his blue eyes.  Everything was falling apart around her.  She'd pushed Justin away because of Andrew and now she was losing Andrew in spite of it.  She felt tears start forming as she watched him walk past her. 

"Don't call me for awhile." He said.

Aubrey stood, frozen in place, watching as Andrew walked away from her.  She heard the front door open and close then collapsed on the couch.  She put her hands over her face as the tears started to fall and she'd never wished harder for a way to travel back in time.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Grams asked in concern as she came into the Family Room a minute later.  Aubrey looked up at her, her tears falling harder.  Grams sat down beside her and Aubrey fell into her open arms, sobbing against her grandmother's chest.

"It wasn't supposed to happen like this." She cried.  "It wasn't supposed to happen like this."

~~~~~~

"Ooh!  You don't look so good." Rachel remarked to Aubrey as she came into the office Thursday morning.  The younger girl looked like her entire world had just crumbled around her feet.  "Are you okay?"  She asked in concern.  She'd never seen Aubrey look so dejected and forlorn.  The sparkle was gone from her eyes and the smile was completely absent from her face.

"No." Aubrey shook her head and sniffed.

Rachel saw the tell-tale sheen of tears in Aubrey's eyes and her heart went out to her.  She didn't know what was going on but it was more than obviously that Aubrey was struggling to hold it together right now and needed a shoulder to cry on. 

"What can I do?" Rachel asked. "Anything." She pledged.  "You name it."

"I know you're busy right now with everything but..." Aubrey paused, her bottom lip trembling slightly.  "Can we talk?" She asked.

"Absolutely." Rachel nodded as she came around the front desk.  She leaned down, putting her arms around Aubrey from behind.  "When?" She asked.

"Are you busy tonight?" Aubrey asked.  "We could go out to dinner or...something." She wiped at the stray tears that had escaped.

Rachel pulled back.  "I have a better idea." She said reaching into her purse and pulling out a tissue.  She handed it to Aubrey.  "JC's out on tour right now, so why don't you come over to the house." She smiled softly.  "That way you can cry as much as you need without a bunch of random strangers watching you.  We can order a pizza and just talk."

Aubrey nodded as she wiped her nose.  "Okay." She said.  "Thanks, I really appreciate it.  I don't really have anyone else..."

Rachel leaned down and gave her another hug.  "It'll be okay." She said, even though she had no idea what the problem was.  Aubrey nodded as she pulled back and Rachel smiled.  "You know where my desk is if you need to talk before tonight."

"Thanks." Aubrey said as she took a steadying breath.  Rachel looked at her for a moment longer than turned and walked back towards her desk, praying she'd be able to help Aubrey with whatever it was she was struggling with right now.  I wish Megan were here.  She thought.  She'd know what to do.    

~~~~~~

"Okay.  What's going on?" Rachel asked as she sat down next to Aubrey on her couch later that evening. 

Aubrey looked over at the girl who, up until a few months ago, was just another face she said hello to in the morning and good-bye to at night.  In the time they'd gotten to know each other Aubrey's entire life had changed and she was grateful--without Rachel's friendship she knew she'd be even more of a mess than she was right now. 

"Andrew hates me and I've pushed Justin away." Aubrey said, hanging her head and putting her hands over her face.

"Why don't you start at the beginning?" Rachel suggested. 

Aubrey sighed as she looked up at Rachel.  "Do you remember that day we went shopping and I bought the dress I wore on my birthday?  We ran into Justin at lunch?" She asked.  Rachel nodded as she took a bite of the chicken, spinach alfredo pizza they'd gotten.  "Justin and I made a bet that day..."  She said and proceeded to tell Rachel everything-from the conditions of their wager to the "normal" day she'd given Justin when it appeared he had won.

"So that's why he..." Rachel shook her head as she laughed.  "Oh, he's going to pay for that."  Aubrey looked at her in question.  "Don't listen to me." Rachel said.  "Continue."

"Then there was the night of my birthday." Aubrey said.  "And your whole scheme of getting us together."

"Scheme?" Rachel asked innocently.  "What are you talking about?"

Aubrey just looked at her.  "You're not as sneaky as you think you are, Rachel." She said.

"Was it really that obvious?" Rachel asked.

"Yes." Aubrey said making Rachel laugh. 

"Okay." Rachel said.  "I'm sorry. But, let's get back to you.  What happened that night?"

"I told him, because it was obvious that he hadn't been able to get you to leave us alone, that he owed me.  He asked me where I wanted to go and I told him to surprise me."

Rachel lifted a brow and made an interested noise.  "That's a dangerous thing to say to that man." She mumbled under her breath as she took a drink of her soda. 

"You got that right." Aubrey replied. 

"So what happened?" Rachel asked. 

"So...he surprised me." Aubrey said continuing her story.  She told Rachel the lengths Justin had gone to, to keep their final destination a surprise.  She told her about the condo and the day they'd spent swimming and playing on the beach.

"Wait." Rachel said, stopping Aubrey's narration.  "What about Andrew?" She asked.  "He was okay with you going away for the weekend with Justin?"

"No." Aubrey said looking down.  "He...he didn't know where I was."

"What?" Rachel asked.

"Or who I was with."

"What?!" Rachel exclaimed. 

Aubrey pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she looked over at Rachel.  "That's why I needed to talk." She said.  "I...I lied to him about where I was."

"Where did you tell him you were?" Rachel asked.

"I told him I was in Phoenix." Aubrey replied.  "With you."  Rachel looked at her in shock. 

"You lied?" Rachel asked in disbelief, her jaw hanging open.  "I can't...but you're Aubrey!" She said.  "You don't...you lied?!  I don't believe it."

"Thanks." Aubrey said dryly. 

"No I mean..." Rachel hesitated.  "I'm just surprised.  What did...does Andrew know now where you were?"  She asked.

"Yes." Aubrey said.  "But I'm not to that part of the story yet."

"Sorry." Rachel replied.  "So did anything else happen in Cabo, or was that it?"

"He tried to kiss me." Aubrey blurted out.

"What?!" Rachel exclaimed.

"We went back to the condo Saturday night.  Justin had ordered room service from the resort and we ate out on the patio.  We talked and laughed and then afterwards we were standing out there, looking up at the stars and he...he leaned in and...I stopped him." Aubrey paused.

"I'm sorry, what?" Rachel asked looking at her in confusion.  "Justin Timberlake--Mr. I'm bringing sexy back--flew you down to Cabo San Lucas on a private jet, reserved a private condo for the two of you to spend the weekend at, spent the day shopping and snorkeling with you, shared a romantic dinner under the stars with you and you pushed him away when he tried to kiss you?  Who does that?!" She asked.

Aubrey sighed.  Closing her eyes she placed her elbows on her knees and covered her face with her hands.  "That's what I've been asking myself for the last five days." She said.

"And have you come up with an answer?" Rachel asked.  "Cuz I'd sure like to know.  Heaven knows if I were in your shoes I wouldn't have--"

"Are you sure?" Aubrey asked, cutting her off as she looked up at Rachel.  "If you were in my shoes, you'd have kissed him?  Really?  What about JC?"

"Well, I..."

"Exactly." Aubrey said.  "You would have pushed him away too and you know it."

"Is that why you pushed him away?" Rachel asked.  "Because of Andrew?"

Aubrey put her head back against the couch as she let out a sob.  "I don't know why I pushed him away.  I know part of it was because I felt guilty about Andrew..."

"And the other part?" Rachel asked. 

"I don't know." Aubrey replied.  "I just...since we met I've been just a friend to him and then all the sudden, standing out there on that balcony, he wants to kiss me?"  She scrubbed her hands over her face.  "Why?"  She asked.

"Why not?" Rachel countered. 

Aubrey looked over at her.  "Because he's Justin Timberlake and I'm just...me."

~~~~~~

Just do it.  He told himself, looking down at his cell phone Thursday night. 

Justin paced around his front room--Buckley and Brennan both watching him intently--as he debated on what he should do.  It had been five days since he'd seen or talked to Aubrey and he'd had to talk himself out of calling her about a dozen times each of those days.  He hated that he'd ruined their friendship by trying to kiss her and knew it was up to him to fix things.  The only problem was, he also knew that no matter what he did it would look like he was trying to pursue her--that he wanted to steal her away and that he didn't care that she was in a relationship with someone else--when all it was, was that he missed her and wanted to spend time with her.

Justin sat down on the couch, leaning his forearms against his legs as he hung his head.  He'd realized over the weekend, just how much she'd come to mean to him.  She was smart, funny and beautiful.  She made him feel like just a regular guy.  She didn't care that his face and name were recognized the world over--to her he was just Justin.  She wasn't afraid to be herself.  She made him laugh.  She made him think.  She surprised the hell out of him on a regular basis and he loved it! 

Brennan stood up and came over to him--nuzzling his hand--as if she knew who it was he was thinking about.  The boxer looked at him with her big brown eyes and Justin sighed.  "I'm being ridiculous, aren't I?" He asked her.  Brennan whined as she sat down beside him and Justin laughed.  "I should just call her, huh?  Get it over with.  Alright," he took a deep breath as he pressed the button to select Aubrey's name from his phonebook then held the phone against his ear.  "Here goes nothing."

~~~~~

Rachel shifted on the couch so she was sitting sideways--facing Aubrey.  "You don't give yourself enough credit." She said but Aubrey just rolled her eyes.  "Is that why you were crying this morning?  Because Justin tried to kiss you?"

"No." Aubrey shook her head.  "I told Andrew what happened last night." She said.

"And?" Rachel asked when she paused.

"He was so angry!" 

"And with good reason." Rachel said. 

"But nothing happened!" Aubrey replied.  "I tried telling him that, but he...he didn't believe me.  I don't know what to do." She said.  "Nothing happened the way I thought it was going to."

"What did you think was going to happen?" Rachel asked. 

"I didn't think Justin was going to kiss me!" Aubrey said.  "I didn't think I'd push him away and I didn't think Andrew would be as angry as he was."

"Well of course he was angry!" Rachel said.  "What did you expect?"

"I don't know!" Aubrey exclaimed in exasperation.  "I don't know." She covered her face again with her hands.

"Listen," Rachel said reaching out and placing her hand on Aubrey's leg.  "The point isn't that nothing happened between you and Justin last weekend.  The point is that you went.  And you lied about it to Andrew.  That's a major trust issue right there and take it from me," she said putting a hand to her chest.  "Nothing good ever happens when you lie to the people you care about."

"What am I going to do?" Aubrey asked, lowering her hands.

"I don't know." Rachel said.  "What are you going to do?  What does your heart say?"

"I never thought Justin would...see me...as anything more than just a friend." Aubrey said.  "So when Andrew came back I..."

"Do you love him?" Rachel asked.

"Who?"

"Andrew."  Rachel said.  "Or Justin."

"Justin is a fantasy." Aubrey replied. 

"Sometimes fantasies come true." Rachel smiled.  "It just depends on how hard you're willing to work for it."  Aubrey remained quiet, thinking, as Rachel continued.  "Are you going to be content with Andrew for the rest of your life, always wondering what could have been?  Or are you willing to take a chance and find out if the fantasy of Justin is better than any reality you could have planned for?"  Aubrey looked at Rachel in stunned silence. 

"Andrew is...safe." Aubrey said.  "He's not going to hurt me."

"You don't know that." Rachel replied.  "There's always the possibility for anyone to hurt you.  That's what happens in life.  People hurt each other.  But, like my best friend, Megan, told me once when I was struggling with this same problem--you either forgive them and move on, or you don't.  It's a choice you have to make."

"But why would he--"

"Justin is not your stereotypical celebrity." Rachel cut in.  "The reason I was trying so hard to get you two together was because I could see that you were what he was looking for.  He's looking for something real--something like you--and if he's finally woken up and realized that you're the one he wants and needs, you'd be a fool to push him away again.  Aubrey, getting hurt is a part of life and you can either suck it up and face it head on, or you can hide away in a corner but take it from someone who hid from love for a long time because I was too afraid to face the pain I'd gone through--hiding in a corner isn't very much fun."

Aubrey sat, dumbfounded at all that Rachel had just told her.  She didn't know what to say or how to respond.  She should have known that Rachel would try and push her to choose Justin but she was scared.  She knew what Rachel had just told her was true but knowing something and actually having the strength to put it into action were too very different things.  How could she be sure that if she chose Justin he wouldn't hurt her in the end?  How could she be sure that two, three, or five years down the road he decided he was looking for something else-something that wasn't her?  She may not be as pop culture savvy as some, but she read and watched enough to know that relationships in Hollywood never lasted long.  Sure, Justin may not be the typical celebrity as Rachel pointed out, but he was still a celebrity and there was no guarantee that a few years down the road he wouldn't trade her in for a newer model. 

Aubrey jumped as her phone began ringing in her purse.  She bent down and picked it up, almost dropping it when she read the name printed on the screen.  "He's calling." She said looking at Rachel in a panic.  "He's calling!" 

"Who?" Rachel asked, confused.

"Justin!" Aubrey exclaimed.

"Answer it." Rachel replied.  "What are you waiting for?  Here's your chance!"  Aubrey looked at Rachel imploringly--she didn't want to answer it.  She wasn't ready to make her decision yet.  "Answer it!"  Rachel commanded.

Aubrey closed her eyes as she flipped open her phone and placed it against her ear.  "Hello?" She asked timidly.

"Aubrey?" Justin's voice asked in uncertainty.

"Yeah." She breathed. 

"Hi." He said.  "How's it going?"

"Uh..." Aubrey swallowed.  "I've been better.  What's up?" She asked standing and turning her back to Rachel.  She couldn't look at her, knowing what she wanted her to do and say. 

"I was calling to see if you were busy Saturday night." He said.

"Don't you have your fashion show this weekend?" Aubrey asked.

"Yeah, that's...that's why I'm calling.  I wanted to see if you wanted to come with me."  Justin told her.  "It's just...I liked the comments and suggestions you gave when you were looking at the designs with me.  I gave them all to Trace and he liked them too.  I thought you might like seeing everything come to life." 

"Oh." Aubrey replied, her heart pounding nervously in her chest.  "I don't--"

"Please?" He asked.  "I really want you to come."

"Justin, I'm not sure that's such a great idea." Aubrey said.  "Andrew's really upset with me about last weekend and if I were to...I just don't think this is a good time for you and I to do anything else together."

"I promise I won't try to kiss you again." He said.  "I-I...I learned my lesson."

"It's not that." Aubrey tried to assure him, hating the awkwardness between them and the dejection she could hear in his voice.  She felt so frustrated and confused she wanted to scream!  "I need some time, Justin." She told him.  "I'm just...things are a little crazy right now and I just need some time to figure it all out."

He was quiet for a moment then, "I'm sorry." He said.  "I didn't mean to...if I could go back in time and change what I did, I would."  What does that mean? Aubrey wondered.  Did that mean he hadn't really wanted to kiss her?  That he regretted it?  That is had been what she had thought--just a reaction to the environment they'd been in?  She closed her eyes as a tear slipped down her cheek.  "If you change your mind," He said.  "You know my number."

"Yeah." She replied, not trusting her voice for anything more than a one-word answer.

"Bye." He said.  Aubrey lowered her phone--closing it--and stood standing in place. 

"Call him back." Rachel said, reminding Aubrey of her presence and making her jump.

"What?" Aubrey asked, wiping the tears from her face as she turned back around.

"Call him back." Rachel repeated her arms folded across her chest.  "Whatever it was he wanted you to do, call him back and tell him you'll do it."

"I can't." Aubrey replied. 

"Can't?" Rachel asked, one eyebrow rising.  "Or don't want to?"

"I gotta go." Aubrey said, walking over to her purse.  Grabbing the bag she picked it up and slung it over her shoulder.

"Wait." Rachel said, reaching out and placing her hand on Aubrey's arm.  "I'm sorry.  Don't go."

"It's okay." Aubrey said forcing a smile.  "I'm not mad.  I just...I just need to go.  Like I told him," she lifted the cell phone still in her hand.  "I need some time to think about everything."  She reached her arms out and put them around Rachel.  "Thank you." She said sincerely.  "For everything.  You'll never know how thankful I am that we've become friends."  She pulled back and wiped at her tears again.  "Someone upstairs knew I would need you and I'm grateful."

"Aubrey..."

"I'll see you tomorrow." Aubrey said as she turned and quickly left before she made anymore of a fool of herself--getting all sappy and emotional.  She had a long night of thinking ahead of her and she knew it wasn't going to be easy--things that really mattered rarely were.  She also knew, whatever decision she came to, it was going to hurt, one way or another.        

~~~~~~

"I ruined it." Justin said as he put his phone down.  Closing his eyes he put a hand to his forehead.  Brennan whined as she put her head on his knees.  "We're not even dating and I ruined it!"

Everything he'd been looking for had been right in front of him this whole time and he'd lost it.  He was such a fool!  He'd lost the one thing he'd spent his entire life searching for before he'd even had a chance to tell her how he felt. 

"It's over." He said.  Before it had had a chance to even begin, it was over and Justin had never felt so helpless.  No matter what he did now, he knew it wouldn't make a difference.  Aubrey was gone and he had no one to blame but himself.