Chapter thirteen

     John looked across the table where Juliana sat impatiently. He had gotten a strange vibe when he had met one of the guys from Nsync earlier that evening. John and Juliana had decided to go ice-skating and to a movie. Juliana wasn't saying much and John couldn't help but wonder what was up with her.

"Alright Juls spill it!" John said to her throwing a French fry to her side of the table.

"Spill what John? If you don't lay- off I'm putting you on the plane and not in a nice way."

"Well I don't want to or will leave without knowing what's bothering you. You were all smiles and jolly when I got here this morning and during the whole day. Now here you are with your face all scrunched up, which by the way isn't very attractive. And it leads me to think that you aren't telling me something. Am I right or am I right?" John looked at her concerned. He had a feeling that what was coming wasn't' going to make him happy. But jealous? Yes!

"What makes you say that? John, I'm just a little tired from ice-skating." Juliana said hoping he wouldn't see through the lie.

     He was right Justin had been on her mind since the confrontation in his hotel room two weeks ago. She had done a great job avoiding him. She picked the farthest dressing room from his. And talked to the others when they came to see her on her bus. Bobbie was away for a week so she was on her own most of the time. Danielle had come on board a couple times but didn't stay more than 2 days at a time. She was alone and it was killing her. And all because HE couldn't stand her. She knew that with her attitude she would loose her job. Whether she liked to admit it or not Justin had been right. He had the power to have her off the tour if he wanted to. What she didn't understand was why? Why did he treat her the way he did?

"Juls? Hello? Earth to Juliana." John said waving his hand in front of her face.

"Oh I'm sorry Johnny. I got distracted. What were you saying?"

"Alright well I think I know you a little better than that. What's going on Juls? Did something happen to you? Did that jerk say anything disrespectful to you? Tell me Juls." John said now a little agitated.

"He's not a jerk!" Juliana snapped at him. Juliana caught herself in her words and looked down. Why the hell was she defending him now? He had been a jerk to her and disrespectful to say the least. "It's nothing John. So what time do you have to be at the airport?" Juliana said changing the subject.

"At midnight. Juls don't change the subject. Come on I'm your friend Juls." Juliana just looked at him and smiled. She didn't want to hide anything from him but she herself didn't know what there was to hide. She never mentioned anything about Justin to John on the many phone conversations they had for the past month. "I'm okay John please just let it go. I don't see why you can't stay longer. You can stay on the bus with me."

"I know you just changed the subject and I will let it go for now but you owe me. And as far as me staying I'm sorry sweetie I have to be at the restaurant at two tomorrow. I'm sorry but I can't stay, although I wish I could." John said smiling sweetly at her.

"Well I'll be in New York in a week. So I'll see you then. Maybe I can bring the guys over to Jake's. I know Melissa and Jaime would love that." Juliana said remembering what two air heads they were. She missed taunting them but she liked her job now. She still had some things, and people who she needed to overcome but she loved strutting herself down that catwalk. And although her heart was aching she wasn't going to give up her job that easily.

"I know, I can't wait. Hey sweetie it's eleven already. My plane leaves in a little more than an hour. Should I take you to the hotel now?"

"Oh I think I'm going to go with you to the airport. If you don't mind of course?"

"I would love that but how would you get back to the hotel. You travel by bus remember?" John said laughing.

"Alright lay-off the bus. That thing rocks me to sleep. Jc was right about that. I'll just take a cab back. Come on lets go."

     They walked to the rental car John had and drove to the airport.
 

................Hotel.................

     Juliana stepped  out of the cab in front of her tour bus. She needed to get her things and go to her room. She wanted a nice comfy bed to sleep in and she was looking forward to getting to her room. She opened the door and was startled by Joe, the bus driver.

"Oh hey kiddo. Sorry I didn't mean to scare you. Come on in, it's your bus."

"Thanx Joe, and it's not MY bus, it's everyones. I'm just getting my things. I'll be out of your way in no time."

"Take your time I'll be outside." Joe said before stepping off the bus.

     Juliana looked at her watch. Two thirty. She had gone to a beach and walked around for two hours after she left the airport. It relaxed her. And she also wanted to avoid the hotel until after the guys had gotten back from the show. And she didn't want to run into all the fans in the lobby either. She finished getting her bags and walked towards the entrance again. There were a couple of girls trying their hardest to look inside the dark windows. They were pushing and shoving trying to get a glimpse. Juliana laughed out loud when she thought of what Joey did for fun at hotel lobbies. He once told her he would stroll down to the lobby wearing sunglasses and walk around just to tease the fans out side. It was cruel but obviously that's what was happening. She walked up to the policeman and showed him her pass from the tour. He let her in and she kept looking back at the girls outside the window. She followed their eyes to where all there attention was. She didn't see Joey but a guy wearing a baseball cap. He was sitting at the coffee shop, and now looking at her.

     Juliana froze when she noticed who he was. He put down the cup and the paper and was walking towards her. Juliana quickly turned around and walked the opposite way.

"Juls hold on."

"My name is Juliana, Mr. Timberlake. My friends call me Juls and you are clearly not one of those people. What are you stalking me now? You seem to have a very large distate for me and yet I find you looming over me twice in one day. I stayed away from you for thirteen days. So don't even tell me I've bothered you in any way." Juliana whispered. She didn't want the girls outside to see that the model and Justin were arguing in the middle of the lobby.

"Thirteen days? You counting?" Justin walked up closer to her. The only thing that was separating them was her bag, which she had in front of her. He looked her in the eyes and managed to keep from smiling. He could tell she became shy when he was that close to her.

     Juliana didn't know what to say when he asked her that. Of course she was counting it was thirteen days since he had stood that close to her. Thirteen days since she saw those penetrating blue eyes. "Yeah, I am counting! Thirteen days of pure heaven." Juliana said lying through her teeth.

"Alright I guess I deserve that. Can we talk?" Justin asked stepping away from her but still facing her.

"No. Mr. Timberlake we may not. Here. Nor now." Juliana said grabbing her second bag from the floor and walking towards the elevator.

"Oh, when then?" Justin felt like he was getting through to her. He got into the elevator with her.

"You seem to know where I am in the most surprising ways. You figure something out Mr. Timberlake."

"Can you please stop calling me that? Justin. Just Justin."

"Okay Justin, this is my floor so good-bye" Juliana walked off the elevator to find four curious smiling faces. "What is this? Spy on Juls night?! I know this one has major ass kissing to do." she said pointing at Justin now standing next to Jc. Who was now shoving Justin back into the empty elevator. "Its past two in the morning aren't you guys supposed to be at some after party?"

"Well we didn't have one tonight. Plus we had to come watch Justin kiss butt." Chris joked.

"Besides we miss having you around. What happened to the party girl?" Lance asked.

"I'm sorry guys but I don't go where I'm not welcomed. So if you'll excuse me I'm heading to my room." Juliana said adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

"Hey hold on I'll walk you down." Juliana felt her bag come off her shoulder. What had gotten into him?

"Why?" Juliana asked with a slight attitude.

"Why not?" Justin asked smiling up at her as he reached for the bag in her hand.

"Because you hate me. That's why!" Juliana stopped where she was and looked back at the four guys who were now walking towards the other end of the hallway. This was some kind of setup and she wondered what she had done to deserve it.

"Hate? No. I wouldn't exactly call it that, per say." Justin said looking behind his shoulder. He kept walking towards her room.

"Then what was it?"

"Here, this is your room."

"Why don't you answer my question? But wait how do you know which one is my room?"

"I just know, don't worry about it."

"Why are you being like this? You are scaring me here. What do you want?"

"What makes you think I want something? I mean I do want to talk to you but nothing more. I promise."

"See, that's just creepy." she was stopped in the middle of her sentence when she felt his lips against hers. She closed her eyes and was lost in his kiss. He gently put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He deepened his kiss when he noticed her relax in his arms. She was kissing him back and that was a good thing. No, what are you doing Justin?  He slowly removed her hands from his neck where she was caressing him just seconds before.

"Oh god I'm sorry Juliana. I didn't mean to...." he was babbling.

"I, I'm..." Juliana was at a lost of words.

"I mean I do mean it but damn I know you have a boyfriend and...."

"Boyfriend?" Juliana was now extremely confused not to mention light headed from the kiss. Damn what that boy could do with those lips was beyond her.

"Yeah, look I'm sorry for doing that without warning you. I will talk to you tomorrow. There is something for you in there." Justin walked away from her towards his room. Which she noticed was on the same floor.

"But, I.."

"Goodnight Ms. Moore" Justin said shyly and continued walking. He should have been happy about what had just happened. She felt like heaven against his lips, but he couldn't help but feel awful about what he just did. Justin was big on being faithful and he had just been a hypocrite. He had just kissed a girl who he knew had a boyfriend. That wasn't cool. But a kiss like that somehow made it seem so right.

     It took Juliana about five minutes to snap out of the trance state Justin's kiss had caused. She was in shock. She walked into her room and flicked the lights. What she saw was indescribable. WOW!