If I’m Not The One
Chapter 10
Before reaching for the doorknob, JC listened intently to what was happening inside. He noticed that Cassandra’s voice sounded frightened and Thomas sounded angry, again. Other than the day he had met the man at the hospital, anger was the only tone he had ever heard come from the man. His blue eyes darted around, trying to hear what was going on in the house. The words were muffled, but the tone was very obvious. Thomas was there to cause more grief for Cassandra. JC drew a deep breath and shook his head. This was going to have to stop. He knew that Cassandra wanted Thomas out of her life, and JC was going to do everything he could to make that happen.
He slowly turned the knob and looked down at his hand as he felt resistance against his palm. It was locked. Damn! Now, JC would have to find another way in. He began to walk around to the back side of the house. As he approached one of the bedroom windows, he could clearly hear the argument that was going on inside. JC stopped to listen to what was going on inside.
“Answer me. You little slut! Why in the hell were you wearing that dress that I gave you?” He held up the purple dress she had worn to the interview earlier that morning. “You know that was for you to wear when you went out with me. Not just for the hell of it! What were you trying to do?”
Thomas’s anger was apparent as he directed his comments at Cassandra.
“Leave me alone, Thomas. Just get out of here.”
Her voice quivered in fear as Thomas loomed over her. He had backed her into a corner and was standing over her in a menacing manner. He used his height difference to his advantage to intimidate her. What JC hated was that it worked.
“You didn’t answer my question! Why were you wearing the dress I bought you? Were you out with ‘music man’? How dare you wear that around him.” He brought his hand up and slapped her across the face.
“Thomas, stop it. I am not going to take this from you anymore!” She brought her hands up and pushed them against his chest, trying weakly to move him out of her way.
“Oh, do you think you can stop me? You are such a pitiful bitch! I can’t believe you think you can stop me. You know, I can do anything I want to you. You can’t possibly stop me.” With that said, he reached up and grabbed her by the hair and pulled her away from the wall and pushed her toward the bed. The pink terrycloth robe she had on fell open as the belt fell loose around her waist. It revealed that she was wearing nothing underneath but her underwear. A sadistic gleam showed in Thomas’s eyes.
“In fact, I know something I want to do right now, just to teach you a lesson, of course. There isn’t any other reason I’d want to do this.” His voice was cold and harsh and Cassandra screamed in pain from him pulling her hair.
He pushed her back on the bed, and climbed on top of her. JC chose that exact moment to look through the window, himself frightened by the words Thomas chose to throw at her. He saw Thomas on top of her, holding her by the hair.
“Thomas, stop!”
“Shut the hell up, bitch!” He slapped her again. “You can’t give my goods to someone else. What you have here,” He roughly grabbed her in her most intimate spot and she screamed in pain. “It’s mine. You will not give this to anyone else, do you understand that?”
Tears streamed down her face.
“Stop that ridiculous crying. I guess I’ll have to show you what I’m talking about, since you are too damned stupid to understand.” With both hands, he grabbed at the waist of her panties and, with a force Cassandra had never seen in him, he ripped the thin silk fabric from her body.
That was more than JC could handle. This man was going to hurt Cassandra if he didn’t intervene. Without even a second thought, JC raised his elbow and crashed it through the bedroom window. In a matter of seconds he was through the window and standing in front of Thomas and Cassandra. JC’s breathing was erratic as he looked down at Cassandra’s exposed body and Thomas hovering over her.
“You son of a bitch! Get the hell off of her!” JC screamed.
“You have no business here, asshole! Get out! This is between the slut here and me!”
“I said, get off of her! Don’t make me say it again.”
“JC, get out!” Cassandra cried out to him.
“Shut up!” Thomas turned to her and slapped her again.
“Man, that’s it!”
JC shot across the room and grabbed Thomas by the back of the collar of his shirt and pulled him off of Cassandra. He spun Thomas around and slammed into Thomas’s abdomen with a powerful right hook he didn’t even realize he had the ability to throw. JC was not a fighter, but seeing the scene unfold before him was more than he could deal with. The blow from his hit threw Thomas back against the wall and knocked the wind out of him.
JC moved toward him and threw another punch to Thomas’s chin, snapping the man’s head back, causing it to contact abruptly with the wall. Blood spurted out of Thomas’s mouth and down his chin. JC grabbed him again, this time by the front of his shirt and shoved him hard, throwing him to the floor. A hard, swift kick to Thomas’s back came next. JC had powerful legs from his years of dancing, and kicking Thomas would be more punishing than any punch that JC could throw. Thomas let out a low grunt from the impact. JC repeated the action several times. He was overcome with emotion and all he could think of was hurting this man as much, if not more, as he had hurt Cassandra.
Cassandra had pulled herself up on the bed and covered herself with her robe and was crying hysterically. She was shaking and trembling uncontrollably. She wanted JC to leave before he was hurt. Yet, it was Thomas who was taking the brunt of the action.
“Cassandra,” JC said as he stood over Thomas, his foot resting on Thomas’s throat as Thomas moaned and held his stomach.
Cassandra didn’t respond.
“Cassandra, come on. I need you to snap out of it. I need you to call the police. Come on, Cassandra. Do this for me. Baby, come on.”
Cassandra blinked the tears away and looked pitifully at JC.
“That’s it, baby. Grab the phone and call the police.”
She nodded her head and reached for the phone. Picking it up in trembling hands she dialed 911.
Through a choked voice, Thomas glared at her. “Put it down, bitch!”
Her eyes opened wide.
“No, Cassandra. Do it.” JC instructed as he pressed his foot down harder. “You shut the hell up, you freakin’ asshole! This game is over. You pushed the envelope a bit too far this time. Not only do we have you for assault and battery, but attempted rape! You’ll rot in jail for a long time. Now, if you don’t shut the hell up, I might just have to crush your windpipe with my foot! Any questions?”
JC listened as Cassandra managed to give the details to the police. Her voice quivered a lot and tears continued to stream down her face, but she gave all the important information and was told that a car would be dispatched immediately.
“Cassandra, give me the tie off of your robe.” JC instructed her as she hung up the phone.
She looked at JC confused, but pulled it away from her and moved to hand it to him. With a swiftness that even surprised JC, he moved to quickly tie Thomas’s hands behind his back. The tie wasn’t much, but in the way that JC had tied it, he felt confident that Thomas wasn’t going anywhere.
Slowly he walked over to Cassandra’s trembling form. He never wavered his blue eyes from her face. He wanted to be sure she knew he was looking at her and that he was there for her. JC eased himself onto the bed and sat close to her, raising a hand to her tear stained cheek.
“Get your hands off of her! She’s my bitch!” Thomas growled at JC.
“You know, asshole! If you don’t shut the hell up, I’m going to stuff a rag in your mouth until the cops get here.” JC said coldly.
Thomas glared at him. When he opened his mouth to speak, JC was right in his face again. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and stuffed it roughly into Thomas’s mouth. The man grunted and groaned, but no coherent sound could be understood.
JC moved back to Cassandra.
“Honey? It’s going to be okay. It’s over now. He’s never going to hurt you again.” He gently laid a hand on her shoulder. He hated the way her body trembled under his hand.
Her brown eyes looked up at him. Her bottom lip quivered and tears pooled in her eyes again.
“No, honey. Don’t cry anymore. He isn’t worth it. Once the cops get here, he’ll be gone and you’ll be free of him.”
“JC?”
“Yes, baby.”
She started to cry. “Please, hold me.”
Without another word, he wrapped her in the shelter of his strong arms. His blue eyes had turned icy as he looked at the man lying on the floor across the room. If he had just a couple of more good hits, JC probably would have killed that son of a bitch. But, instead he had pulled his senses together, and just beat the hell out of him.
Within minutes, the police cruiser pulled up in front of the house. JC helped Cassandra off of the bed and walked her toward the living room so that he could let the police officers in.
Directing them in the direction of the bedroom, the two officers headed down that way to locate and arrest Thomas. JC and Cassandra, in the meantime, took their places on the sofa in the living room.
Once Thomas had been escorted to the squad car, the lead officer returned to the house to question Cassandra and JC. He asked JC to wait on the porch while he talked to Cassandra. He informed JC that when he was finished with Cassandra, he would question JC.
Cassandra sat curled up in the corner of the sofa, clutching her robe around her. She swallowed hard as the officer took a seat in the chair across from her. He pulled out a little notebook and pen as he prepared to ask her the important questions.
“Miss Hamilton, can you tell me what happened here?”
She looked at him helplessly. She didn’t want to relive any of what had just happened. But, knowing she had no choice, she began to tell him all the details. She told the cop about the job interview. How she had come home to change when Thomas had arrived. She admitted to letting him in. She told the police officer how Thomas had grown angry when he saw the dress she had worn, lain out over the back of a chair. The tears fell silently as she told the officer many of the cruel things Thomas had said.
“If JC hadn’t come when he did, I don’t even want to think what Thomas would have done to me.” She finished her statement.
“Is there anything else you’d like to add?”
She shook her head as she closed her eyes.
“Just rest here, Miss Hamilton. I’m going to talk to Mr. Chasez. Do you think you need to go to the hospital? I could call for an ambulance.”
“No!” Her response was quick and firm.
The officer only nodded as he headed out to the front porch where JC waited.
“Mr. Chasez. I’d like to ask you a couple of questions.”
“Of course.” JC responded as his icy blue eyes stared at the squad car holding Thomas.
“Would you please tell me what you found when you arrived?”
JC proceeded to tell the officer the events that had unexpectedly unfolded right before his eyes. He told the officer how the front door had been locked. He mentioned hearing Thomas raising his voice at Cassandra. He explained why he had walked around the house to find a way into it. Then the hardest part, how he felt the need to bust through the window in order to save Cassandra.
“Man, I’m telling you, that asshole would have raped her if I hadn’t come in. I had no choice.”
“Is there anything else you’d like to add to what you have already told me?”
JC shook his head. “Can I go back in there with her?”
“Yes, sir. We’ll be in touch.”
The officer headed off of the porch and got into the passenger side of the car. JC noticed how Thomas looked back at him as the car pulled away from the curb. The man had the eeriest eyes JC had ever seen.
Turning back to the house, JC crossed the threshold, closed and locked the door and went into the living room where Cassandra was curled up on the couch crying. He noticed how her shoulders heaved with each sob that escaped her.
Taking a place next to her on the sofa, JC placed a comforting hand on her arm. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
“Honey,” he started.
“Oh, JC!” She sobbed and leaned into him. He wrapped her in the circle of his arms and pulled her close to him. He brought one of his hands up to lovingly stroke and caress her hair as he whispered comforting words to her. Her body was racked by hard, uncontrollable sobs. She needed to cry and he let her do all she needed. He held her in the safety and warmth of his embrace until she had cried herself to sleep.
JC sat quietly, holding her tightly in the crook of his arm. He felt her nestle her head against his shoulder, and he heard a low whimper as she dozed off to sleep. He rested his head on top of hers and sat there, content in knowing that she was now safe and that maniac could no longer cause her any harm.
After nearly thirty minutes, JC decided he wanted her to be more comfortable. He cautiously guided himself out from beneath her, and gently eased her back against the corner of the sofa. He looked around and found a blanket folded on a laundry basket of clothing sitting in the corner near the hallway. He went over to the basket, picked up the blanket and brought it over to cover Cassandra’s sleeping form. JC smiled as he watched her cuddle against the sofa and pull herself further into the blanket. Then he took a seat in the chair next to the sofa and watched her, his gaze never wavering.
Cassandra’s red and swollen eyes fluttered open. Cautiously she took in her surroundings before even making a move on the sofa. She looked down to find the blanket covering her. She was alone. As she started to move so that she could stand, she felt aches in places she didn’t even realize existed. She moaned out loud at the first onslaught of pain. It was unexpected and many of her joints hurt terribly. Swallowing hard, Cassandra raised a shaky hand and ran it through her disheveled hair. She looked down at herself covered in the terrycloth robe and realized that she had not replaced her undergarment that Thomas had removed. She shivered at the thought. Clutching her robe around her, she gave silent thanks that JC had arrived when he had. Cassandra knew that if it hadn’t been for him, Thomas would have carried out his threat, or perhaps done even worse.
Then she realized JC wasn’t there with her. A new sadness swept over her. She wanted him there. She wanted to see him. She wanted to thank him. And more than anything, she wanted him to hold her. The more Cassandra thought about the earlier events, the more she trembled. She tried to draw a deep breath, but even that was unsteady. She glanced at the clock and realized that she had been sleeping for nearly two hours. It was no wonder that JC had left. She was certain that he had much more important things to do than watch her sleep. She also realized that her sister would be home in three more hours. That would give her enough time to shower, clean up her room and call to get an estimate done on the bedroom window. None of those things seemed very important, but Cassandra had to do something, and she had to keep Marissa from finding out what had happened.
She stood to head toward the bathroom when the telephone started ringing. For a second she stood motionless and stared at it. Then, thinking it could be JC calling to check on her, Cassandra decided to answer it.
“Hello?” Cassandra’s voice still sounded weak and quivered.
“Hey, Cassandra! It’s Lynette.”
“Oh, hi, Lynette. How are you?”
“I think from the sounds of it, I’m doing better than you. Did I get you at a bad time?” Her friend was picking up on Cassandra’s tone of voice.
“I’m just not feeling too well.”
“Geez, I’m sorry, Cassandra. How about if I call you later?”
“Lynette?”
“Yeah?”
Cassandra started to cry. “Could you come over?”
“What’s the matter, hon?”
“It’s Thomas again.”
“Oh my God! I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Sit tight, okay?”
“Thanks, Lynette. I really don’t want to be alone.”
“I’m on my way.”
Both girls hung up the phone simultaneously. Cassandra’s hand lingered on the receiver as she watched helplessly as her hand shook nearly uncontrollably.
“Hey, you aren’t alone.”
Cassandra screamed and spun around, only to find JC standing in the doorway between the living room and kitchen. Quickly he walked over to her and took her into his arms.
“Whoa, baby. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I was in the kitchen making something for you to eat. I thought you were still asleep. Then I heard the telephone and came in to answer it and saw you talking on it. I’m sorry.” He kissed the top of her head.
Pulling back to better look at JC’s face, Cassandra managed to give him a weak smile.
“That’s okay, JC. I just didn’t hear you come in. I thought you had left while I was asleep. I, uh…” her tears began to fall again.
“Cassandra, you have been through hell today.” He reached down to wipe away her tears. “Why don’t you run in, grab a warm shower, put on something comfortable and by the time you’ve finished I’ll have something for you to eat.”
“But, Lynette is coming over. I didn’t know,”
“That’s okay. I’ll fix enough for her, too. Now scoot. Grab that shower and hurry back so you can eat a little something.”
JC eased her back from him and headed her in the direction of the bathroom. Watching her walk away from him, he closed his eyes tightly. He didn’t think he’d ever forget how hard her small body was trembling while he held her. He knew he’d never forget the sadness in her eyes as her tears streaked down her cheeks. He vowed he’d never see that fear in her eyes that he saw when she turned to see him standing in the doorway. JC was going to make things better for her and he was going to start this very afternoon. He would wipe all memories of Thomas out of her mind. JC would put that man in Cassandra’s past, exactly where he belonged.
Within thirty minutes, many things had happened. Cassandra had taken a shower and dressed into a pair of baggie blue jeans and a maroon American Eagle t-shirt with its gold emblem on it. Her friend, Lynette had arrived and was trying to get Cassandra to explain what had happened without getting upset again. JC had fixed a pasta salad and a pitcher of iced tea, and there was plenty for the three of them to eat.
The threesome sat around the small dining table as Cassandra tried, albeit shakily, to explain the events of the day. JC tried to rest his hand on her forearm in an effort to allow her to draw from his strength. It was then that she happened to look down at his hand and notice the condition of his knuckles.
“Oh my God, JC! Look at your hand. We need to do something about that.” Cassandra said in a near panicked voice.
“Shhh. It’s fine, Cassandra. I’ve had ice on it while I was making the iced tea. I don’t need anything else.” He gave her a reassuring smile.
“But,”
“Nope.” He shook his head. “It’s just fine. In fact, I’m kind of proud of it. I think of it as one of my battle scars. I worked hard for it and I earned it.”
Cassandra’s eyes went from staring at his hand to looking into his crystal blue eyes. When she became lost in his gaze, she knew there was no point in trying to battle with him. She would ultimately lose.
Lynette watched the exchange between the two. Lynette was a pretty girl. She stood a couple of inches taller than Cassandra. She had shoulder length, light brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. She spoke with a slight southern drawl that only served to emphasize that she was not from Florida, but originally hailed from Kentucky. Her smile was broad and infectious. There was concern showing in her eyes for her friend. She knew that Cassandra was an easygoing type of person, and that something pretty harsh had to have happened for her to be so distraught. She listened intently as Cassandra tried to tell her about the events that had occurred. She gasped in horror when Cassandra explained how JC had to crash through the window in order to get her away from Thomas.
Cassandra fought valiantly to keep the tears at bay. With both JC and Lynette at her side, there was nothing to be afraid of. There was no one that could come in and hurt her. She was the safest she had been in a very long time. Thomas was in jail. Lynette was here with her. JC was here; ready to hold her at a moment’s notice. She truthfully couldn’t ask for any more.
Lynette helped JC clear the dishes from the table. Together they rinsed the dishes, loaded them into the dishwasher and went back out to the living room to sit and keep Cassandra company.
The three chatted up a storm. Lynette told JC little tidbits about Cassandra’s childhood that she thought he would find interesting. Cassandra and Lynette had been friends since high school when Cassandra had moved to Kentucky with her family. When Cassandra had moved to Florida because Thomas had told her to, Lynette decided to follow suit. Lynette admitted to never having really liked Thomas, but because Cassandra had, she kept her opinion to herself. Now, she wished she had been more verbal in voicing her dislike. Even Lynette had no idea of the torment that Cassandra had been put through for all those years she was with Thomas. Lynette looked over at JC. There was something about him she instinctively liked. He seemed genuinely concerned for Cassandra’s well-being. He looked like he was worried and Lynette knew he would do anything he could to help Cassandra through all of this.
“JC?” Cassandra looked at him.
“Yeah.”
“This is the friend I was hoping we could get together with Justin.”
“Oh, no you don’t!” Lynette piped up immediately.
“Now,” JC cut in. “You don’t even know my friend. Justin is a great guy. You’d love him. He’s fun, kind, a bit egotistical, but he has a great personality.”
“Now I know this isn’t going to happen!” Lynette responded with a smile. “You just gave him the blind date kiss of death. He has a great personality? And probably a nose that’s a mile long and zits all over his face, and crooked teeth and more than likely, bad breath to top it all off. Forget it! No, thank you!”
Cassandra smiled and even let out a small laugh. JC looked at her. That was the sound he liked to hear coming from her.
“It’s not funny, Cassandra. You get Mr. Handsome, here.” Lynette nodded in JC’s direction. “And I end up with the creature from The Black Lagoon. I don’t think so!”
“Lynette, listen up a second, will you?” Cassandra held up a hand, a steady hand. “Justin is NOT the creature from The Black Lagoon. He’s very nice looking. He is funny and cute and has the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. I’m serious. He is not a dog! You will like him.”
“She’s right, Lynette.” JC joined in. “J’s a lot of things, but he is not a dog. Why don’t you just meet him?”
“Guys,” Lynette tried to stop them.
“In fact, let me call him and have him stop over. That is if it’s okay with you, Cassandra?” He looked in her direction to see if she was up to having a bit more company.
“That’s fine, JC. Go ahead. You can invite him over.”
Lynette just looked at Cassandra with unbelieving eyes. She couldn’t believe that her friend would put her in this position. But, knowing all that Cassandra had been through, she decided that it would be easier to allow Cassandra this one little indulgence rather than to argue with her.
“Yeah, go ahead. I’ll meet the turkey.” Lynette conceded.
JC smiled and walked over to the telephone. He picked it up, dialed Justin’s seven digit telephone number and waited for him to answer. Once he had spoken to Justin, explained what they were doing, he convinced Justin that he would have a great time if he would come over right away. Justin agreed to head in the direction that JC had told him. Now all they could do was wait for him.
Lynette fidgeted nervously as the three waited for Justin to arrive. Without having said anything, Lynette knew who JC was and had a good idea who his friend, Justin was. Justin had been in the middle of a card game with another of their friends. Finishing the game, and winning as usually happened, Justin jumped into his car and followed the directions that JC had given him. Blind dates were always awkward, no matter who it was that set you up, but Justin figured that if JC and Cassandra were going to be there, it really couldn’t be construed as a true date. That way, if he didn’t click with the girl, he wouldn’t be obligated to see her again. That thought brought a smile to his face. No obligation, that was a good thing.
JC heard Justin’s car pull up outside. He rose to his feet and walked over to the front door. Opening it, he stepped onto the front porch. He pulled the door closed behind him and waited for his friend to approach him.
“Hey, C!” Justin’s smiling dark blue eyes met JC’s lighter blue eyes.
“How’s it going?” JC asked him back.
The two men shook hands and JC patted Justin on the back.
“Hey, before we go in,” JC started. “I just wanted to tell you, there was quite a scene here a little while ago. I got myself into quite a mess.”
Justin looked skeptical. He cocked his head and arched an eyebrow. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“Cassandra’s ex was here when I got here.”
“Damn! What the hell did you do?”
“I’ll fill you in later, J. Let’s just say, I put him in his place.”
JC raised his hand and Justin saw the bruises on the back of it.
“Shit, JC. That doesn’t look good.”
“You ought to see him!” JC smiled and Justin began to laugh.
“Now, what’s this about Cassandra’s friend?”
“Wait until you see her.” JC beamed.
“Why? Does she have two heads or something?”
“Hell no! She’s beautiful. You are going to love her! She’s got gorgeous blue eyes, blondish brown hair and she’s just your type!”
“Don’t you dare say it!” Justin laughed.
“Yep! She’s female!”
Justin slapped his friend on his shoulder. “I told you not to say it! Come on. Let’s get this blind date crap over with.”
The two men turned and walked inside. JC led the way, guiding Justin into the living room. He stepped sideways, allowing Justin to take in Lynette. For a moment, Justin just stood and stared at her. JC had told him the truth. She was gorgeous. Her tiny waist, long legs, mid-shoulder length hair and blue eyes took his breath away. He slowly moved toward her. He lowered his gaze and met her with a huge smile.
“Lynette? I’m Justin.” He stretched out his hand to meet hers.
“Hi, Justin. It’s very nice to meet you.” She accepted his hand and when their fingers met, she swore that she could feel electricity shoot through her entire being. She felt herself becoming lost in the depth of his dark ocean blue eyes. She knew she was staring at him, but she could not help herself.
He was so perfect. He didn’t have a huge nose; a face covered with pimples, or crooked teeth. She wasn’t close enough to know about the bad breath, but judging from his appearance, she doubted that would be a problem. His full, pink lips looked like they were made for kissing. Lynette could only hope she would get to find out how luscious they were.
She smiled as he pulled his hand back from her grasp.
“Why don’t we all sit down?” Cassandra offered.
“Oh, yeah. Let’s sit down.” Lynette responded absently.
She turned to take her seat on the sofa and noticed how quickly Justin moved to sit next to her. His thigh brushed against hers as he positioned him next to her. Lynette felt that current of electricity shoot through her again.
“So, how did the card game turn out, J?” JC asked, forcing conversation into the air.
“I beat Chris, just like always!” He sounded so self-assured.
“So, how much does he owe you now?”
“I think we’re up to the price of a small island. He’s so deep into debt with me; he may never get his head above water! I don’t know if he’ll ever learn his lesson about gambling against me.”
“He’s smart enough to know not to play one-on-one basketball against you!”
Justin laughed.
“No one plays against old Tennman! I am the ultimate!”
“Cocky, too.” JC completed the thought.
Justin just laughed again.
Cassandra and JC smiled, as Justin and Lynette seemed to hit it off so well. The conversation was light and fun. Everyone enjoyed talking and getting to know one another. Having friends over helped Cassandra relax and come to terms with the events of earlier. There was no way she could possibly put those things out of her mind, but having people over helped to push the thoughts to the back of her mind.
The slamming of the front door halted the conversations immediately. Cassandra looked toward the door, her eyes wide and terror filled. JC noticed immediately that she was frightened by the sound of the door. He rose and turned to face the intruder that would be coming into their territory.
“Cassandra?” Marissa’s voice sounded from the hallway.
Visibly, Cassandra released a sigh of relief.
“Marissa. We’re in the living room.”
“We?” Marissa questioned as she came through to see who was with Cassandra. She stopped cold as she saw JC next to the sofa. Her recollection of the way she had reacted when she first met him caused her to blush noticeably.
“Oh, hi everyone.” She said quietly as she looked from her sister, to JC, to Lynette, to…
“Oh, my God!” She had noticed Justin Timberlake standing beside JC.
“No way!” She practically screamed. “You’re Justin! Cassandra, what the hell are you trying to do to me?” She was gasping for breath as she yelled at her sister.
“Sis! Please calm down.” Cassandra tried to tell her.
“Calm down? How in the hell can I calm down? You have JC Chasez and Justin Timberlake in our house and you expect me to calm down? There is no possible way I can calm down. They are just two of the hottest guys in the world!”
“Thank you.” JC said smugly.
“I don’t believe we’ve met.” Justin said in a smooth, deep voice as he approached Marissa. “I’m Justin.” He held out his hand and Marissa stretched hers to meet him. He took her hand, turned it over, and raised it to his lips and kissed the back of it gently. A soft squeal of delight escaped from her throat.
“I’m, uh, Cassandra’s sister, uh, Marissa.” She was shaking.
“Marissa, it’s so nice to meet you.” Justin was a smooth operator.
“It’s really nice to meet you, Justin. I just can’t believe you are here, in my house.” She turned to look at her sister. “Why do you keep doing this to me?”
“Marissa, I’m not doing anything to you. I have a new job. I work for their management company. Well, starting Monday, I work there.”
“What? Oh, my God! Cassandra that is too awesome!” Marissa was overjoyed at the news.
“Yeah. I kind of think so, too.”
Lynette sat, smiling at Marissa’s reaction. She had felt much the same as Marissa, but had her excitement in check, knowing that she had been set up as a blind date, and only suspecting that it was with someone famous.
Marissa forced herself to acknowledge Lynette.
“Hi, Lynette. I haven’t seen you in quite a while.”
“Hey, you know how it is. There’s always something going on to keep a girl busy.”
“Yeah, I do know that.”
“Well, if you guys will excuse me, I’d like to go freshen up and get a little more presentable. I’m going out with Jennifer tonight, Cassandra.”
“Jennifer? Marissa that makes the fourth time this week.”
“I know. But you like Jennifer, so it’s all good. Right?”
Cassandra looked at her sister doubtfully. “You know, sis.” She started. “It wouldn’t hurt you to stay at home at least once in a while.”
“You’re right, it wouldn’t. But, then I couldn’t party like I like to.”
Marissa cocked her head and gave it a little shake.
JC and Justin laughed and looked at each other. Without missing a beat, they both said, “Lance!”
“What?” Marissa asked.
“Oh, nothing.” JC quickly covered their comment.
“Fine. I’ve got to hurry. I’ll say good-bye before I go.”
Marissa turned and made a quick exit. Hurriedly she rushed into her room and closed the door. She leaned up against it, trying to catch her breath. She tried to understand how both JC and Justin could be in her house, visiting her sister and her sister’s best friend, and just act so casually. Weren’t they aware that these two guys were the most sought after men in the country? Marissa closed her eyes and shook her head. It always seemed that the best things happened to her sister. If only she could have the luck that Cassandra had. Now, she was going to work for their management company. Marissa would have to be happy working at the local diner, trying to scrape up enough money to buy a new car. Her sister, on the other hand, would probably be traveling the world with the number one group in the nation. She pushed herself away from the door and told herself how unfair life really was.
“What’s with the Lance crack?” Lynette asked.
The two men looked at her.
“Does Marissa like to party all the time?” Justin asked.
Cassandra looked at him with confusion on her face. “Why?”
“Because, our friend Lance likes to party. That’s why we both said his name. Maybe Lance and Marissa would hit it off if we introduced them.” JC explained.
