Chapter 14

The next day was an off day for Alexis.  For the first time in weeks, she didn’t have anything scheduled.  Michelle was in class, meaning Alexis had the house to herself.  It was almost noon and she’d decided she needed to eat something.  The only thing she’d had so far that morning was a cup of coffee and a bagel with cream cheese.

She was hungry but unsure of what she wanted so there she was, standing in front of the fridge, the door open, staring into it blankly when the doorbell rang.

Her stomach growling Alexis shut the fridge then shuffled to the front door.  She wasn’t expecting anyone and she didn’t think they had any packages being delivered so she had no idea whom it might be.  Secretly, she was praying it wasn’t a fan that had found her address.  She wasn’t in the mood to deal with fans right then.

Alexis opened the door and her jaw dropped.  It was Josh standing on the other side.  He was dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a Rolling Stones T-shirt.

“Can we talk?” JC blurted out.

Alexis crossed her arms and made a face, but didn’t move from the doorway.

“I don’t know, can we Josh?” She shot back.

“Lexi, please?!” He said sighing.

His eyes had that broken, pleading look.  The same look she’d seen the day April had broken his heart.  Alexis gave in immediately.  She wasn’t about to act the way April had.  He didn’t deserve that a second time.

Alexis stepped aside and motioned for him to enter then followed him to the couch.

JC sighed and began to rub at his neck.  It was a nervous tick.  One she remembered from when they were younger.  It made her feel bad.

“I’ve been an ASSHOLE.  I know that.  I should have told you what was going on but PLEASE believe me when I say that I really was just trying to avoid you getting the wrong idea. It didn’t work out so well.”

Alexis nodded.  “We used to tell each other EVERYTHING, even the awkward stuff but NOW, now I have no idea what’s going on in that head of yours.”

JC chuckled awkwardly.  “Neither do I sometimes, especially lately.”

His response surprised her. 

“What does that mean?” She smirked.

He laughed a little and cracked a smile.  “I used to wonder what happened to you.  How you were after I left.  Then I heard from Dale and Tony that you’d moved to LA.  I started hoping we’d run into each other.  I realized after I left, during our first tour, that it was YOU I missed the most.”

JC paused to look at her.  Her eyes were wide and she was biting her lip.  She was hearing every word so he decided to keep going.

“Then, I walked into the studio that day and there you were.  It was like I was seeing a ghost.  There was something about you that was so familiar and your voice…GOD your voice was haunting!  I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something between us.  Then you told me who you really were and I FREAKED THE FUCK OUT!”

It was then that Alexis stopped him.  She put a finger to his lips and shook her head feverishly. 

“My turn!”

He nodded but kept quiet.

“There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by since you left that I haven’t thought about you.  I wanted to hate you, I wanted to hate you so badly.  Then, you walked into that studio and all I could think about was how much I didn’t hate you!  It was just the opposite, and you were so FUCKING Charming!  That’s when I knew you had no idea who I really was.  I wanted to scream it at you.  I wanted to tell you everything I’d wanted to say to you for the past eight years.”

“Go ahead.” He said cracking the tiniest of smiles.

“Excuse me?” Alexis replied in shock.

It wasn’t what she’d expected at all.

“Say it! Whatever you want to say! I told you I wasn’t going anywhere this time.  It’s time I show you I meant it.”

Alexis shifted so she could look at him directly. She looked up into his blue eyes and allowed the words to just tumble out.

“I don’t hate you! I never did! I couldn’t hate you, because I was in love with you!  I hated HER, for what she did to you, for taking away the one person that mattered the most to me! I still hate her for that!  When you said that you couldn’t stay friends with me because I reminded you of her a part of me died inside, and when you left, when you walked away, it felt like you ripped my heart from my chest and took it with you!”

Alexis took a moment to catch her breath then looked up at him again.  He was looking back at her but she couldn’t gauge his expression.  She had no idea what he was thinking but he was hanging on her every word.

“I’ve dated. I’ve been with other guys, but it always felt like I was just trying to fill a void.  I just wanted the pain to go away, to fill the hole but no matter what I did or what I told myself it just made me miss you more.  Then you guys…*NSYNC blew up and suddenly YOU were everywhere.  I tried to block you out, to pretend like you didn’t exist but DAMN you made it near impossible.”

JC smiled a bit.

“You WERE in love with me?” JC asked, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

Alexis smirked and shook her head.

“Really Josh?! I just pour my heart out to you and that’s your take-away, the fact that I said I WAS in love with you.”

He inched closer so that their foreheads were touching and grinned.

“How do you feel about me now?”

“The truth?” She asked quietly.

“Please.” He whispered back.

“I don’t know.  One minute you piss me off and the next you have the butterflies in my stomach doing flips.”

He chuckled softly and nodded.  “That’s fair.”

He pulled back a bit and smiled at her.  He was determined to get this out now.  He owed her that.

“You make me crazy Lex! I CANNOT get you out of my head!  If I am being honest, I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since the day I walked away, and yeah, I’ve been a player, had my share of one-night stands and done things I’m not proud of, but if I thought for one second…”

She gave him a warning look but he just took her face in his hands and lowered his voice.

“If I thought for a second that there was even a chance, that you might let me in…”

“Josh don’t.” She whispered her voice wavering.

“Lexi…I mean it! If there was even the smallest chance that we could be something, that you could love me again I would give all that up.”

“Josh please.” She whimpered softly.

He leaned in again and very gently pulled at her bottom lip with his teeth.  Alexis inhaled sharply as one hand went around her waist, while the other went to the back of her head as he threaded his fingers through her hair.  Alexis placed her hands at his chest, trying to push him away but he wasn’t letting her go.  In fact, he used the leverage he had on her to pull her more into him, almost pulling her into his lap.

“I’m not letting you get go.  I’m not walking away, not as long as there is even the slightest chance.” He whispered against her lips.

“Don’t you DARE make me regret this!” Alexis whispered back.

In the next instant she was on top of him, her knees straddling his waist as she pushed him back on the couch so that his head was resting on the arm cushion.  She deepened the kiss, thrusting her tongue between his lips as his hands instinctively grabbed at her ass.

“OH MY GOD LEXI!” He groaned in her ear.

His hands went to her back, sliding under her shirt and up to her bra.  With just a flick of a finger the hook was undone leaving her bra dangling from her shoulders.  Meanwhile, her hands had found their way up his shirt as well and were now resting on his chest.

In her haze, Alexis heard someone clear their throat. 

“Ahem! Don’t mind me, I just live here.”

Both JC and Alexis sat up quickly, their heads colliding as they straightened themselves.

“Michelle! I didn’t hear you come in.” Alexis squeaked as she struggled to catch her breath.

Meanwhile, JC was willing his heart to stop racing as well as calm the rest of his body too.  He was more than just a bit excited.

“That’s obvious!” Michelle smirked.

Alexis rubbed her head and bit her lip.

“Sorry…Josh just came over to talk.”

Michelle laughed.  “Talk?! Ok, yeah, because that’s TOTALLY what was just happening.”

Alexis gave her sister a look.  Meanwhile, JC was trying to not smile. 

Michelle looked to Alexis and back to JC and couldn’t help but grin.

“Whatever! I don’t care! Actually, if you ask me, it’s about DAMN time, but could you maybe keep it in the bedroom.  I really don’t want “JC juice” all over my couch.” Michelle teased.

“Michelle!” Alexis squealed.

“I’m just sayin’! That couch isn’t easy to clean.”

“OH MY GOD! I hate you!” Alexis shot back, trying not to laugh.

Michelle just smiled and gave JC a wink. 

“Josh…did you want to stay for lunch? I’m making tacos.” Michelle asked grinning.

“Sure.” JC said smiling.

Michelle looked over at her sister again and grinned evilly.

“Might want to go fix your bra then Lex, Justin will be here in about five minutes.”

“Justin?” Alexis asked her eyes wide.

“Yeah. I invited him over for tacos.”

“Justin who?”

Michelle laughed.  “Justin Timberlake.”

“Timberlake?! You and Justin Timberlake?  Did that happen at the Album release party or when you met him before that?”

Michelle blushed.  “About that.”

“Yeah, about THAT!  Were you going to tell me you met *NSYNC, or just let me look like an idiot?”

“You didn’t look like an idiot.” JC chimed in chuckling.

“No, but you will if you don’t go fix yourself before Justin gets here. “Michelle smirked.

Alexis didn’t respond.  Instead, she shot Michelle a look then turned down the hall to go “fix” herself before Justin arrived.

Almost as soon as she disappeared the doorbell rang, signaling Justin’s arrival.

“Well, this is a surprise.” Justin said grinning at JC as he stepped through the doorway.

“I was in the neighborhood.” JC replied smiling.

“I see.” Justin laughed.

Alexis returned to the living room to find Michelle in the kitchen busy working on the tacos while JC and Justin sat at the counter sipping on beers.  Apparently, this was her life now.  It was weird, and then, it wasn’t.

“Hi.” Justin said smiling at Alexis.

“Hello Mr. Timberlake.” Alexis replied.

Justin grinned and shook his head.  “It’s Justin.  Really.  We’re going to be recording a song together, might as well drop the formalities.”

Michelle’s jaw dropped.  “Wait?! What?! You’re recording a song with Justin?!”

Alexis grinned. “No! I’m recording a song with *NSYNC.”

Michelle’s eyes went wide as saucers.  “You’re just telling me this NOW! YOU?! My sister?! My big sister is recording a song with *NSYNC!

“Are you gonna “Fan girl” right now ‘Chelle?” JC teased.

Michelle smirked.  “Not over you, but over my sister, ABSOLUTELY!”

Justin grinned and nodded.  “As it should be!”

Alexis blushed. “Stop!”

“Why? Girl, you can SAAANG, and that album of yours…DAMN!” Justin whistled.

“You’ve listened to it?” Alexis asked surprised.

“Hell yeah!  That song, “Bang, Bang” that’s a BOP for sure! You’ve heard it, right JC?”

“Of course, he has, he produced the album.” Michelle replied.

This time it was JC that blushed. 

“Actually, I did produce the majority of the album, but not that particular track.  There were a couple of tracks that were done before I came on board.”

Justin grinned.  “You NEED to listen to that one.”

Alexis giggled.  “Umm…actually…that’s the 2nd single off the album.  It’s supposed to drop in a couple weeks.”

Justin’s grin grew a bit and he couldn’t help but shoot a look towards JC.

“YES!! Please tell me there’s going to be a video!” Justin exclaimed.

Alexis laughed now.  The fact that Justin Timberlake was excited about one of her songs was surreal to say the least.

“We’re working on a concept now. “

“I can’t wait!” Justin said shooting JC another look.

JC shot back a questioning one.  Apparently, he was going to have to listen to this track.  The way Justin was going on about it and giving him looks had definitely sparked his interest.

Truth be told, lunch with Justin and JC was a lot of fun.  They talked about music, among other things but it was completely casual.  It was perfect.

It also felt good to have everything out in the open between her and JC.  Now Alexis had to wait, and wonder as to what would happen next.  It was thrilling, but also scary as hell.

***

It was the end of July now.  JC and Alexis were talking daily, mostly on the phone or through text because of their busy schedules, but it was better than nothing.

On this particular morning Alexis was headed to the studio to start recording the song with *NSYNC.  She was both nervous and excited. 

The label had sent over a demo of the song and a copy of the lyrics several days before and from the moment she heard the song she knew it was going to be a hit.  It was THAT good!  She couldn’t wait to get started.

Alexis walked into the studio that morning to find the guys of *NSYNC already busy recording.  JC and Justin were in the booth when Alexis entered the studio while Joey, Chris and Lance were sitting with the producer and an engineer behind the control panel.

The song they were working on had a heavy beat with a bit of an electronic back beat but the moment JC opened his mouth and started to sing Alexis froze.

But you keep picking away

How much can one take

Before the walls start to break

You love to see me crumble

You love to see me fall

But you can’t break me down

His voice was so aggressive and gravely.  It was HOT as hell and she felt her temperature start to rise and the warmth in her cheeks as she stood there watching him.  His eyes were closed and he was putting all of the power in his voice into the song.  It was definitely getting to her.

“FUCK!” Alexis whispered to herself.

The things she was thinking and feeling right then would probably make even him blush.  Watching him in his element, doing the thing that he loved and seeing him put that much of himself into it was SEXY as HELL!

Moments later the sound of someone saying her name snapped her from her trance.

“Hey Alexis.” Justin said.

Alexis didn’t respond.

“Alexis?!”

Still nothing.

“Umm…Miss Moretti.”

Alexis blushed and shook her head a bit. 

“Sorry…I …umm…I guess I just got caught up in watching you guys do your thing.  That was…umm…yeah…impressive.” Alexis managed to reply.

“You liked it?” JC asked grinning.

Alexis nodded and tried with all her might to not blush more. 

“I did!  Really…I had no idea you guys could…DAMN! That was something.”

Justin chuckled while the others just smiled.

“We just might make you an *NSYNC fan yet.” Justin teased.

Alexis laughed at this. 

“Between you five and Michelle I would say that the chances are pretty high. I am not signing up for my “fangirl” card yet, but I have the application.”

All five men chuckled at this.  In fact, even the Producer and the Sound Engineer were chuckling a bit.

“We’ll take it.” Joey added with a grin.

“Are you ready?” JC asked smiling.

It was cute, and completely out of character to see her flustered like this.  Alexis wasn’t the type to get embarrassed or act shy so to see it with his own eyes was definitely a new experience for him.  Knowing he’d been partially responsible for it thrilled him.

“Am I ready to record a song with *NSYNC? Umm…if I am being honest, yes and no, but I told you I would and I am already here AND Michelle would KICK MY ASS if I didn’t.  Not to mention that whole breach of contract thing.  In other words, I am as ready as I am going to get.”

“Are you nervous Miss Moretti?” Lance asked chuckling a bit.

Alexis nodded.  “Very! I mean…you’re…well…you’re *NSYNC.  Even I know that’s a big FUCKING deal!”

“Don’t sweat it girl, you’re gonna rock this!” Justin replied grinning.

Alexis smiled and nodded.  “Thanks, Mr….”

Justin cut her off quickly with a wink and a smile.  “Nope.  Formalities aren’t necessary.  It’s Justin.”

Alexis nodded then looked to the others.  Joey and Chris both nodded.

“What do I call you?” Alexis asked looking to Lance.

Lance laughed.  “I would ask you the same thing.  Your name is Alexis, JC calls you Lexi and the rest of the world knows you as Danielle.  Which one do we use?”

Alexis giggled a bit and nodded. “That’s a fair question.  Alexis is fine.”

Joey, Chris, Lance and Justin all nodded and smiled.

“You can call me Lance.  Practically NO ONE calls me James anymore.” Lance replied.

“I think Lance suits you better.” Alexis said smiling.

Lance grinned.  “You’re not alone in that.”

“Should we get to it?” JC asked.

He was trying to hide his excitement as well as his nerves.  The idea of singing WITH Alexis was making him incredibly nervous.  Truth be told, he didn’t think he’d EVER been this nervous about a collaboration.  They’d worked with likes of Richard Marx, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez and Nelly among others and he’d never felt as he did right then.

Alexis nodded.

She was nervous too.  She knew full well what a big deal recording with *NSYNC was, not to mention that she would now be sharing a booth with Josh.  It felt intimate, like she was sharing her soul and she wasn’t quite ready for that.

“How about we start with your vocals with Justin.” The producer suggested.

Alexis nodded then traded places in the booth with JC.  Without a word she placed the headphones over her ears and looked to Justin.

“You got this girl!” Justin said grinning.

Justin looked to the producer and the engineer and nodded.

“Whenever you’re ready.” He said grinning.

His part of the verse was first

Now as the summer fades I let you slip away

You say I’m not your type but I can make you sway

It makes you burn to learn you’re not the only one

I’ll let you be if you put down your blazing gun

Then Alexis came in.  And as soon as she opened her mouth the room was all smiles.

Now you’ve gone somewhere else far away I don’t know if I will find you

But you feel my breath on your neck, can’t believe I’m right behind you

They went through the first part of the song a few more times, making adjustments as needed but and not once did anyone on the other side of the glass stop grinning.

JC could NOT tear his eyes away from Alexis.  There was just something about seeing her, in the booth with Justin doing what they both loved that was making him weak in the knees, and her voice as she sang, it was making him dizzy.  She was INCREDIBLE and Justin had been absolutely right, she was PERFECT for this song.

“Girl, you are FIRE!” Justin said grinning during a break.

Alexis giggled. “Thanks.”

“I have to agree, this song is gonna be DOPE!” Joey added.

“Dope?! I didn’t know anyone still used that term.” Alexis teased.

Joey chuckled then shrugged.  “Your voice…it’s like a damn drug, so it seemed appropriate.”

Alexis blushed.  “Well, ok then.”

“Yeah, if you were in Florida back then, why weren’t you in the Mouse Club with Justin and JC? Why didn’t we ever meet you?” Chris chimed in.

Alexis smiled and then laughed a bit.  It made sense, Josh was their friend so of course, they were curious.

“I thought about auditioning.  My parents were cool with it, but then I got there and I chickened out.  As to the why we never met, you would have to ask Josh that question, but my guess would be that it was because things were already headed south with April by the time you guys came into the picture and he didn’t want to drag you into it.  That, and I was pretty busy doing my own thing by then.”

“That about sums it up.” JC said awkwardly.

It was the truth, but it did still sting a bit.

The short break was over and now it was JC’s turn in the booth with Alexis.  He stepped into the booth and placed the headphones over his ears then turned to face her.  Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. 

The playback started and as soon as Alexis opened her mouth to sing fire flashed in JC’s eyes.  His eyes were smoldering and it was directed right at her.

Sometimes you move so well it’s hard not to give in

JC licked his lips and sang back to her making the hair on the nape of her neck stand on end.

I’m lost I can’t tell where you end and I begin

The chemistry between them as they sang together was like watching fireworks explode.  It was like nothing anyone outside the booth had seen before.  It was magic.

It makes you burn to learn I’m with another man

I wonder if he’s half the lover that I am 

“DAMN!” Justin whistled when they finished the first round of takes.

“Right?! SHIT girl, are you sure you’ve never done a duet before?” Joey added.

Alexis laughed.  “Umm…once…when I was like 16, I got Michelle to do a duet with me for the school talent show, but not since then.”

“Wait?! What?! Michelle can sing?” JC asked in surprise.

Alexis shook her head and giggled. “Yes and no. She has good tone, and a little bit of range but she’s more into the hip-hop, rap and R & B thing.  You guys are like the exception to her rule.”

Justin laughed. “I would have never guessed that.”

Alexis laughed and then gave him a look.

“The rap in “Bang, Bang.”

“Yeah?” Justin asked raising an eyebrow.

“That was Michelle.  She came with me to the studio one day and we were just messing around.  She came up with it off the fly and they left it in.”

“SHUT UP?!” Justin exclaimed.

“She’d kill me if she knew I’d told you that, so maybe keep that between us.”

“Mum is the word.  But NOW that for sure is my favorite song on the album!”

Alexis giggled and nodded.  “Thanks.”

“I think I need to hear this song.” JC said chuckling.

Justin’s jaw dropped and the others couldn’t help but grin.

“DUDE! You haven’t yet?!” Justin exclaimed.

“No.  I’ve been meaning to. I just haven’t yet.” JC confessed smiling bashfully.

“You’re missing out.  That one is …yeah…”Joey added grinning.

Alexis giggled. “Ok, you guys need to stop, you’re making me blush.”

“It looks good on you, work it girl!” Lance teased.

“You four are going to get me in trouble.” Alexis laughed.

“Oh, HE is trouble alright.” Justin said nodding to JC.