The very next day, JC and Leah remained in JC’s hotel suite completely cut off from the world. Their main priority at the moment was to simply spend time with each other. JC looked down at a sleeping Leah in his arms. He smiled lovingly at her, watching her chest gently rise and fall. She was so beautiful when she slept. Now that the worst was over and all of their issues had been resolved, he couldn’t wait to start over with her. Looking down at her brought back so many memories. They’d been through so much together, that he couldn’t fathom being with anyone else.

He thought back to ten years ago, just after they’d first met, and they’d gone to the beach together.

“You act like this is your first time at a beach!” Fifteen-year-old JC exclaimed, as he watched Leah turn cartwheels on the sand.

“Wrong! It’s my second time!” She giggled excitedly, finally turning upright.

JC couldn’t help but to laugh a little himself, her attitude was infectious. He had to admit she was bubbly, and adorable. “Where are you from?” He asked.

“Kentucky!” Leah replied.

“So, what do you guys so for fun?” JC asked. “Ride horses?”

“Haha, very funny!” Leah said. “But gosh, it’s so beautiful out here,” She marveled. “Can you believe we actually get to live here for the next six months?”

“Pretty crazy huh?” He replied.

“Yeah, I can definitely get used to this!” And with that, Leah stripped out of her innocent blue jean overalls, to reveal a red Baywatch-like swimsuit. This time it was JC’s turn to marvel- only silently. “Hey, let’s get in the water.” Leah suggested. “Last one in the water buys me a milkshake!” She called, running off toward the ocean. “And by last one I mean you!”

“Not if I can help it!” JC called, running after her.

JC smiled, thinking back to that day. Even though at that point they were only friends, it was then that he fell in love with her spirit. It was her heart, and her spirit that made JC fall in love with her. It was her uplifting spirit that had picked JC up through some of his toughest times. Like right after the group had won their lawsuit against their former manager Lou Pearlman and had begun work on No Strings Attached. The guys had a lot more creative control on this album, and JC was really under a lot of added pressure. He had been venting to Leah over the phone, and she could sense his frustrations, so being the true friend she was, she’d taken a break from her own recording, and had traveled from London to Orlando to be with him.

“I feel like this is our one chance you know.” JC was telling Leah. It was nighttime, and they were sitting out on the patio of Johnny Wright’s compound. “Our one chance to prove that we’re more than just a product.”

“But you guys are more than just a product.” Leah said.”Your fans have stuck by you this long Jace, what makes you think they’ll turn their back on you now? All you guys have to do is just keep being yourselves.”

“But what about the critics?” JC asked wearily, biting down on his thumbnail.

Leah gave him a look. “Since when have you guys ever worried about what critics have thought about you?” She asked him quizzically. “Jace, critics are just assholes with opinions!”

“Yeah, assholes who can make or break your career,” He replied.

“No, your fans are who make or break your career and don’t you forget that!” Leah said seriously. “It’s because of those fans that your first album went ten times platinum.”

JC knew that Leah was right. The fans had been amazing, and their support was astonishing.

“Remember why you’re doing this.” She reminded him. “Remember when we used to hang out in our dressing rooms at MMC and how we would get so excited to perform in front of a live crowd?” Leah asked.

“Yeah,” JC replied, smiling a little.

“And remember what you told me?” Leah asked.

“Yeah. I used to say how nothing compared to the feeling of performing in front of a crowd full of kids and making their day.”

“And now, you and the guys have thousands of people cheering for you guys.” Leah said. “Thousands of people believe in you. I believe in you.”

JC’s eyes met Leah’s and for the first time in months he felt that creative spark again. She had made all of the pressure and stress of impressing people all just melt away, He was so grateful for her, and he didn’t know what he would do if he didn’t have her friendship.

Leah had been with JC through the lows, and she had also been with him through the highs. When No Strings Attached had sold an astoninishing one million copies in its first day, and 2.4 million in its first week, he knew he wanted Leah by his side to celebrate with him.

“Don’t you think this is all a little odd?” Justin asked, yelling over the music. The guys were all at their album release party.

“What’s odd?” JC asked.

“That Leah’s here, and Bobbie’s not.” Justin said. “You know, considering the fact that Bobbie’s your girlfriend.”

Maybe JC should’ve considered that as a red flag back then. “Bobbie had things to do, besides, I’d rather be here with Leah anyway.” JC said honestly.

“Hey Popstar!” Leah said, approaching JC.

“Hey!” He said, hugging her. “Thanks.” He whispered into her ear.

“For what?” Leah asked, confused.

“For everything,” JC replied. “I couldn’t have made it through this whole thing without you.” He said, gratefully.

“That’s what friends are for, and like I said Jace, I believe in you.” Leah smiled.

Leah had seemed to have amazing faith in JC, and she had always been there for him. Looking down at his girlfriend, he couldn’t believe all that she had been through, without him. A pang of guilt suddenly hit him. Now that he knew what she was dealing with he made a promise to be there for her, even if she was too proud to admit that she needed help. He pulled Leah’s body closer to his. He’d screwed up with her once before, and he wasn’t about to do it again. This time he’d be strong for her the way that she was for him, he was not about to lose her. He loved her, and he would fight for her.

Leah began to stir, her eyes fluttered open and met his. “Hey,” She smiled.

“Hey,” JC smiled back. He could get used to this feeling.

“What time is it?” She asked.

“Quarter after twelve.” JC replied.

Leah sat up and rested her head on JC shoulder, the previous nights events all coming back to her; the tabloid frenzy, the cheating incident, the eating disorder confrontation, and the subsequent fallout from it all. Everything had seemed to happen at once, but Leah realized that maybe it needed to happen that way to get to where they were now. And she couldn’t be happier where they were now!

“So, about last night,” Leah started.

“It happened.” JC said.

“Yeah, and I’m ready to move on.” Leah said.

“Sounds like a plan.” JC replied. “Listen Leah,” he said, taking Leah’s hands into his. “It’s okay to be vulnerable.”

Leah sighed heavily. Not this again, she thought.

“Hey, it’s me.” JC said. “It’s okay. I’m here for, you.” It was JC’s turn to be there for Leah, the way that Leah had been there for him. “I believe in you, okay?”

Leah looked up at him and smiled knowingly. “Okay!” Maybe it was Leah’s turn to finally let JC in. It was then that she came to the realization that things didn’t have to be difficult. They could be easy, if chose for them to be, and today, she’d much rather for them to be easy. JC believed in her, and that was all that she needed. She knew that she’d be okay.