She watched his tense frame as his head bobbed to the music they were playing. She could always read him even when others couldn't. Some would say that they were attracted to one another from the very beginning but she would disagree. In the beginning she had been attracted to his music, seeing him play and work the audience had set her insides on fire. She had been attracted to Justin Timberlake the musician.
Now she knew him though, probably better than the back of her hand. She liked him even when he was annoying and whiney. She liked him when his ego was a little too much to handle.
They had become fast friends in the studio. She had listened to him better than she had listened to her mom and dad. When he told her a sharp A would work better than a C or when he encouraged her to just play. His ear was always right and never let her down. It lead to late night jamming sessions and a couple of co-writing sessions. He was the only person she would ever co-write with, she trusted him.
Even after all this drama with them getting married and divorced they were still friends. They still had their late night talks where they shared everything that was going in their lives. When you're in this business sometimes the only people that understand you are other people in the business. She wouldn't say he was mentoring her, he was just being a friend. He was her sounding board and she was his. Unfortunately for them it caused them to rely heavily on each other and certain more than friend feelings had emerged.
Even now though they only had the best of intentions in regards to one another. She wanted him to be happy, even if it wasn't with her. His confession earlier in the day confused her though. The alcohol had been her front, the one thing that she was able to place the blame on. Lord knows she would never blame Justin. After all they both went into that hotel room knowing it would just be them against the world.
Her eyes stayed trained on him even when they were through playing and he gave them the approval to record. He told them he would find a studio they could record in because they were obviously on a roll. She waited until everyone had cleared out of her room before she approached him.
He was rubbing his neck, trying to work out the kinks in his neck as he looked up at her and threw her a tired smile. She walked behind him and started to massage his tired muscles, smiling as he let out a satisfied groan.
"So...." She said as she continue to work out the knots in his back.
"I told Jess to leave the tour." He said simply and her hands faltered for a minute.
"Why? I mean, she was only here for half a day." She exclaimed confused.
"Uh.....she slapped me. So, I told her to leave." He said as he ran his hand over his face in frustration or tiredness, she couldn't tell.
"Why did she slap you?" She asked as she worked on his shoulder blades and he let a groan.
"Because I told her that her career needed to be attached to my name! Do......d-do you ever dream about that night?" He asked as she stopped massaging his back and made her way to sit beside him.
"Of course I do. I think that's why no one believes us when we say nothing happened that night. I know for a fact I've said your name in my sleep more than once. Why do you think Billy hates you so much?" She stated as he grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"I know......it's just every night before I go to bed I think about you. I wish you were by my side, in my bed, with that awful scrap metal ring around your finger. So I can't help but say your name and dream about you." He stated as she scooted closer to him.
"So, what does this mean for us? Do we keep ignoring the obvious or what?" She asked as he cupped her neck and brought her face closer to him.
"W-What if.....what if we got married again and didn't tell anyone?" He asked as she shook her no.
"We tried that and they found out anyways. Besides I thought we both agreed we would just be friends?" She said as he pulled her closer to him.
He cocked his eyebrow at her, "You and I both know we didn't decide that, management did."
"Yeah J but we let them. We have to live with that. We can't be selfish right now." She said as she pressed her forehead against his.
"I know. Like I told you before they separated us, we will be together." He said as he dipped in for a kiss and she giggled at him.
"I know we will." She said before she deepened their kiss.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*Five Months Ago*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"What do you mean we have to get divorced?" Juliet asked as her and Justin looked at Lynn and Johnny.
"Justin is dating Jessica-" Johnny started to say before Juliet scoffed.
"Not anymore." She muttered and Justin chuckled.
"As Johnny was stating....Justin is with Jessica. You are with Billy. Can ya'll imagine the field day the media will have when they find out ya'll married each other while in relationships with other people? The best thing right now is to separate ya'll and have ya'll divorced as soon as possible. The sooner it's done the sooner we can act like nothing happened. No one but us have to know ya'll were ever married." Lynn stated as Juliet looked at her in shock.
Her husband's mother wanted them to get divorced! Her husband's manager wanted them to get divorced. She looked at Justin who was staring at her.
"Jules, come talk with me." Justin suggested as she walked to him and let him lead her into the hallway.
"They're right about the media. They'll tear you apart worse then me. My career will be just fine but yours won't be. We have no choice but to agree." Justin stated as his blue eyes pleaded with her to understand.
"So you want this?.......I should have known! I should have known!" She shouted as she angrily ripped off her scrap metal ring and threw it at him, "Take your fucking ring back and your last name."
If she hadn't been so mad he would have thought she looked absolutely adorable, especially when she threw that flimsy piece of metal at him.
"Juliet Rachelle Timberlake! You stop right now!" He yelled and she stopped walking away from him but she didn't turn around.
He approached her slowly before wrapping his arms around her waist. He nuzzled against her ear nipping at the skin behind it slowly before kissing it lightly.
"You know we'll be together eventually. Not once have I ever thought our marriage was a mistake. Bad timing...yes but a mistake...never." He stated as she turned around in his arms and hugged him tight.
He stroked her hair as she rested her head against his chest.
"Promise me that if we agree to this we'll still be this close." She whispered as he kissed the top of her head.
"Always. I know I haven't done good on some of my promises but one...I promise to get you a proper ring...two...I promise we'll be together eventually...three...I promise we'll always be this close because at the end of the day baby girl it's us against the world."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-Present Day-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"This is Top Twenty Countdown on CMT. I am your host Lance Smith. In the studio today we have country band Texas Roots. We're going to ask them about their summer tour and new album. So stay tune because we got great music videos up and a great band waiting to be interviewed." Lance Smith said from a small TV backstage in the band's dressing room.
"Do you think he'll ask about Justin and Esmee?" Cassie asked as Juliet laughed.
"Of course he will. They are on tour with us." Juliet said as she nervously twiddled her thumbs.
"Do you think he'll ask about the tabloids?" Josh asked as they all looked at Juliet.
"He's going to ask. Everyone wants to know about it. I prepared an answer though which is the truth." She replied as they were informed that it was time for their interview.
They walked out onto the small stage as the show went to commercial. They said their hellos to Lance and got comfortable in their seats as the show came back from commercial.
"Welcome back to Top Twenty Countdown. We have Texas Roots in the studio with us. Welcome everyone, how are ya'll doing?" He asked as he took a seat across from the band as they all greeted him and smiled at the camera.
"So how is the summer tour? Ya'll are touring with Justin Timberlake and label mate Esmee Denters, right?" Lance asked as they all nodded.
"Yeah. It's been so great. Our shows have all sold out and we get to test out some new material. I'm glad we decided to do it." Chris stated as Lance nodded.
"So how does a country band do a tour with two R&B artists? Are there some fans that just don't understand the concept?" Lance asked as they laughed.
"There are a few but at the end of the day we're all musicians. Besides we've worked out a fairly decent routine. We play one day and then Justin and Esmee play the next day." Juliet explained before Cassie took over.
"So we are able to actually see the city we're touring in and they get to too. Plus the fans get to choose who they want to see. If they want to see us or Justin or Esmee....their ticket actually allows them to choose who's concerts they go too. They can choose all three or just one or just two." Cassie explained as Josh picked up after her.
"Surprisingly so we're learning that 97% of fans stay for all three shows. That's great news for all of us." Josh said as Lance turned towards Juliet.
"So, Juliet? There have been rumors of a breakup and then you were seen going to dinner with Justin. Have you and Billy indeed broken up and are you secretly dating Justin Timberlake?" Lance asked as Juliet threw out a laugh.
"Billy and I have not broken up. He's on tour right now and so am I so we haven't seen each other in a month. The media thinks because we haven't been seen together that we're automatically breaking up but we have jobs that keep us apart sometimes. It comes with the territory. As far as Justin goes...he is a wonderful man and provides some sanity in my hectic life. I would even go as far as to say he has quickly become one of my best friends. It was just dinner with a friend and the media turned it into so much more." Juliet explained as Lance listened to her.
"How is Esmee doing?" He asked as Chris spoke up.
"She's good. It's her first big tour and she's doing a fabulous job. She's selling out her concerts and her album is doing really well on the charts. She's going to be big. Justin has a great eye for finding really great musical artists." Chris said as he winked at the camera, knowing Justin and Esmee were watching their interview back at the hotel.
"So, I heard that ya'll brought a bonus video for us." Lance said as they laughed.
"Yeah. It's called "Stay". It will be released as a single and also on our new EP that will drop at the end of summer." Juliet said.
"Okay everyone, the new single from Texas Roots "Stay"." Lance said as the music video began to play.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*Justin's Hotel Room*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
The hotel TV screen filled with a black backdrop and all three members of Texas Roots dressed in black. Juliet was dressed in a white lace tank top and a pair of white slacks holding her chain with her makeshift wedding band.
Josh is standing behind his keyboards to Juliet's right as Chris and Cassie sit on stools to her left with their guitars. Juliet stands in the middle as the first chords of guitars ring out through the TV's speakers.
Justin takes a deep breath as she looks up and he sees the pain in her eyes. Her beautiful brown eyes already misty as she starts to sing and he just wants to pull her into his arms.
"I've been sitting here staring at the clock on the wall
And I've been laying here praying, praying she won't call
It's just another call from home
And you'll get it and be gone and I'll be crying
And I'll be begging you, baby, beg you not to leave
But I'll be left here waiting with my heart on my sleeve
Oh, for the next time we'll be here
Seems like a million years and I think I'm dying
What do I have to do to make you see she can't love you like me?
Why don't you stay? I'm down on my knees
I'm so tired of being lonely, don't I give you what you need?
When she calls you to go, there is one thing you should know
We don't have to live this way, baby, why don't you stay? Yeah"
She keeps singing as tears start to roll down her cheeks. She clutches tightly to her wedding band as she starts on the next verse, a part of the song he's never heard before.
"You keep telling me, baby there will come a time
When you will leave her arms and forever be in mine
But I don't think that's the truth
And I don't like being used and I'm tired of waiting
It's too much pain to have to bear to love a man you have to share
Why don't you stay? I'm down on my knees
I'm so tired of being lonely, don't I give you what you need?
When she calls you to go, there is one thing you should know
We don't have to live this way, baby, why don't you stay?"
She looks away from the camera for the first time since she started singing, her bottom lip trembling. Her nose starts to run from her crying and she raises the back of her to her mouth as it starts to tremble. She violently shakes her hands before staring at the camera again. He looks over at Esmee who is wiping away tears as she continues to watch Texas Roots play.
"I can't take it any longer but my will is getting stronger
And I think I know just what I have to do
I can't waste another minute after all that I've put in it
I've given you my best, why does she get the best of you?
So next time you find you wanna leave her bed for mine
Why don't you stay? I'm up off my knees
I'm so tired of being lonely, you can't give me what I need
When she begs you not to go, there is one thing you should know
I don't have to live this way, baby, why don't you stay? Yeah, oh"
The song finishes and Justin and Esmee stand up, clapping alone in his hotel room.
"That's your girl J. She had me crying along with her." Esmee confessed as she continued to wipe away her tears.
"She makes me so fucking proud. I mean I know she's all about her band but she just....she just makes me proud as hell when she performs. She's so fucking hot." He exclaimed as Esmee laughed at him.
"She was just balling her eyes out and you found that hot? You are one weird man! I'm going to go Cassie and congratulate them. Do you want me to tell your girl anything?" Esmee asked as she grabbed her things and got ready to leave.
"Nah, I'll call her. We got some things to discuss." He said as Esmee just laughed at him and left.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*Back At CMT Studios*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"Hey, did you watch the interview?" Juliet asked into her phone as they were ushered into a SUV to head back to their hotel.
"Yeah I did. So why did you go out to a dinner alone with Justin?" Billy asked as she let out a deep sigh.
"Like I stated before it was just a dinner with a friend. Nothing more, nothing less." She stated as she looked at her siblings.
Josh and Chris were having a conversation with each other and Cassie was on her cellphone with her husband. Why did he have to do this now?
"You went to dinner with your ex-husband. I've seen the pictures from the tabloids Jules. The way he was holding your hand and looking at you...that was not just a dinner between friends. I may be a redneck hillbilly but I'm no fool." Billy said into his phone as Juliet rolled her eyes.
"I really don't want to do this now Billy. I don't want to argue with you. I'm tired of arguing with you about Justin." She said with a sigh before leaning her back against the headrest.
"I got a week off so I'll come visit you. Justin better not be hanging around." Billy said as she raised her back up in surprise.
"It's his tour too. He'll be around Billy. He's one of my friends." She stated as he let out a scoff.
"Yeah one of your best friends. I saw the damn interview remember? Just make sure he's not hanging all over you when I come to visit. I have to go. Bye." He stated quickly as he hung up on her.
"Stupid redneck asshole." She muttered as her siblings laughed at her.
"I'm guessing Billy didn't want to talk about the new music video?" Chris asked as Juliet bitterly laughed and shook her head.
"We didn't even get that far in the conversation. He only wanted to bitch about Justin. Ugh." She exclaimed as her cell phone began to ring, "Hello?"
"Hey Jules. Your interview was great. I loved the music video baby girl. That song is Grammy good." Justin said and she smiled big even though he couldn't see her.
"Thank you J. That means a lot to me, especially coming from you. Did you see that I worked in the scrap metal ring?" She asked as he laughed.
"Yeah I saw that Jules. Esmee loved it. She was crying during the whole video. You were beautiful baby girl. I'm so proud of you." He told her as she blushed even though he couldn't see her at all.
"Thanks J. Listen I have to go. We're at the hotel. I'll come see you in a bit." She told him and they said their goodbyes.
Chapter End Notes:
Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I will try to get to them tomorrow. The song used is Stay by Sugarland. Again thanks for reading and reviewing. Ya'll rock!
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