Justin watched as Amber maneuvered the car down the highway and couldn't help but gaze at her thoughtfully. She had grown up over the past year. It was amazing to him really, how he had watched this girl grow from a baby to a beautiful woman. A beautiful woman that prior to recent events, he had always thought of as the little sister he never had.

However, now he was seeing her in a new light. A bright light that was causing him to wonder how it felt to have her in his arms. How her lips felt against his. How it felt to just know she was his. And how these new thoughts scared him.

He wasn't supposed to possess such thoughts and feelings for her. his friend, his best friend. He wasn't supposed to be falling in love with her.

Immediately, Justin's eyes widened at the final thought. Turning his head, and trying to get his thoughts under control, he looked straight out the window. Still, the weird feelings remained. Resting his head against the cool glass window, Justin sighed low. He was still trying to recover from his recent breakup and the last thing he needed was to dive head first into another relationship. Hell no. Not right now.

"You okay Jus?" she asked

"Yeah I'm fine," he replied with a sigh, offering no further explanation.

Though not convinced, Amber slowly focused back on the road. "Alright, well we got another 5 miles to go then we'll be there."

"Okay, can't wait" Justin said leaning his head back against the seat and closing his eyes. He was still having a hard time dealing with what he was feeling and wasn't really in a talking mood. In all reality he didn't know if she felt the same and didn't know how he would deal with her only thinking of him as a friend. So it was better to push his feelings off to the farthest corners of his mind. He plastered a smile to his face as they exited the freeway and turned to look at her. "So how did you and Lyz meet?"

"Uhm, we met in seventh grade, we had the same math teacher. Well she would help me with the math problems because hell I sucked at math. And we kind of formed a friend ship out of it. I think it also helped that we were fans of you guys, well she didn't know how much of a fan I was, and that I knew you. She didn't find that out till later. But ever since we have been real close." Amber explained pulling into Lyzzie's neighborhood.

"So she is a fan of us?" Justin asked with a raised brow.

"Oh yeah, her favorite is Chris." Amber chuckled.

"Oh god, couldn't it had been C or Lance, why Chris?" Justin groaned rubbing his hands over his face and chuckling softly.

"Well you can ask her yourself, because there she is." Amber said pointing to the small blonde sitting on the front porch of her house. Amber quickly pulled in the driveway then threw the car in park and cut the engine, before dashing out of the car and into her friends arms. "Hey Lyz."

"Hey girl," Lyz replied returning the embrace, looking over her friends shoulder at the curly haired man getting out of Amber's ford focus. "Oh he's a lot cuter in person Ambs." She whispered pulling back from her friend and watching Justin walk up to the two.

Amber chuckled softly at her friend. "What would Chris think if he knew you were talking about another man." Amber joked poking her friend in the side.

"Shut up Ambs." Lyz retorted with a glare in her friends direction.

"Alright, well Lyzzie this is Justin Timberlake." Amber said introducing the two.

"It's nice to meet ya Lyzzie." Justin said extending his hand out.

"It's nice to meet you to Justin. Amber's told me all about you." She replied shaking his hand in her own.

Justin slowly tugged his hand away and reached inside his pocket to retrieved his ringing cell phone. "Hold on a second girls I got to answer this." Justin said with an apologetic smile on his face, he answered the phone while turning on his heel and walking towards the car.

"Okay J." Amber replied then turned towards Lyzzie. "I've got to talk to you about something."

"What's that honey?" Lyzzie asked noting the confused expression on her friends face.

"Justin asked me to go back to Orlando with him. He also said that he could help me get a record contract." Amber said nibbling her bottom lip.

"Well that's awesome babe." Lyz exclaimed, "Why aren't you happy about this?"

Sighing softly she looked down at her feet while taking a deep breath then looking back up. "I'm ecstatic really I am." She trailed casting a gaze to Justin making sure he was still on the phone, then returning her gaze back to Lyz. "I want you there with me, I don't think I can do this without you. You've been my rock for the past 5 years so I can't imagine doing this without you. And I'm scared, what if I don't get the record contract what am I going to do? Follow Justin around the world like a lost little puppy."

"First off I have faith that you'll get this contract, talent is just oozing out of you they would be crazy not to sign you, and you know you're good to, but you're letting your anxiety get in the way girl. You can't let that hold you back, you've let it take a control of you, all you're life." She pointed out. "An I'm honored that you want me there and you know all you have to do is ask an I'll be there. I wouldn't miss you following you're dreams for anything in the world."

"Thanks Lyz, I knew you would put this in perceptive for me, and you're right I can't let my anxiety hold me back anymore. So I'm going to do this. I'm going to show the world that I have what it takes to be a star." Amber replied a smile taking over her features. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Snickering softly Lyz put her arm around Amber shoulder giving her a half hug. "You'd probably die with out me, there to keep you in check."

"You're so right." Amber chuckled looking up in time to see Justin walking back towards them. "Who was on the phone J?"

"It was just my mom seeing how I was, she said for me to tell you hi." Justin replied pocketing his phone. "So what did you two girls talk about while I was busy? Anything important"

"Well I told Lyz about you asking me to go to Orlando with you. Which brings me to what I need to ask you." Amber said with a sweet smile.

"Okay. What's that?"

"Well seeing as I'll be moving clear across the country and all I wanted to take a little piece of home with me." She replied motioning towards Lyzzie with her hands. "And Lyzzie is that little piece of home."

"So let me get this straight. The only way you'll go is if Lyz comes along?" he asked receiving a nod from the two girls. "Hmm that's a hard decision." He continued letting a smile spread across his features. "I don't see any problem with her coming, hell maybe she can finally meet Chris and tame his hyperactive ass."

With a squeal of delight Amber launched her self into his arms hugging him to her small frame tightly. "Thank you Jus."

"You're welcome sweetheart." He replied wrapping his own arms around her, closing his eyes and savoring the feel of her in his arms.

Lyzzie watched as the two hugged and couldn't help the smile that took over her features. They didn't have a clue how cute they were together, or how perfect they were for another. The sparks between them were plain as day, you'd have to be blind not to notice them.

She knew from past conversations with Amber that she was starting to look at Justin with more then friendship, and from the look on Justin's face now, she knew he was feeling the same thing. Things were about to get really interesting in Amber & Justin land, an she had front row seats to the action.

"Lyzzie are you alright?" Amber asked waving a hand in front of her face.

Shaking her head softly to whisk away her thoughts, Lyz blinked her eyes a couple of times to focus on her friend. "Yeah I'm fine, what were you saying?"

"Well Justin and I were talking about going back to my place so he can look over my lyrics and such."

"Okay" Lyz replied

Couple Hours Later

"So Justin do you think this next album will be a hit?" Lyz asked leaning up between the seats.

"I don't know if it will be or not. You can't really tell if it will be or not till the fans hear it or it is completely done, right now were in the process of finishing the album we've only recorded about 4 songs because we've been busy with appearances, award shows and photo shoots so we haven't really had the time to work on this album." Justin replied with a groan. "And were about to get even busier with the rehearsals for the two award shows coming up soon, and a short tour this summer."

"Whoa, not to seem pushy or anything, but with all of the stuff you've got going on how are you going to make time for Amber?"

"Well we have rehearsals for another couple of weeks, so during the time I don't have them I'll be helping her get a demo together or something along those lines. I really don't know at this point I'm still trying to figure that out."

"Don't worry about it J, I know you got a busy schedule, so when you have time we'll work on it. I can always just watch ya'll rehearse and pick up a few dance moves in the process." Amber said with a wink. "And it will give me some time to check out that new choreographer ya'll got."

"Oh I heard he was a sexy beast." Lyz said with a growl.

"Mhm a damn sexy beast." Amber chuckled casting a glance towards Justin.

"What am I, chopped liver?" Justin asked with a pout.

"J you know you're sexy so I don't have to tell you." Amber joked turning her head to give him a smile. "Stop pouting you big baby."

"Hey I might be a baby, but I've learned that the pout works to get me my way."

"Oh yeah the almighty Timberlake pout." Amber replied sarcastically.

"Hell I think a pout is sexy on a man, I don't know how you can stand it Amber."

"Eh be around him you're whole life and you tend to be immune to such things." Amber shrugged while spinning the wheel to turn into her driveway. "We're here." She announced cutting the engine and pulling her keys out.

"God this place brings back memories." Justin smiled opening the door and stepping out into the humid Utah air.

Smiling softly to herself Amber stepped out of the car and swung her purse over her shoulder. "Mhm, nothing has changed much since you were last here, it's still the same home I grew up in. An looks like no one is home." Amber said walking up to her front door and pulling the screen open to unlock the door. After getting the door unlocked she pushed it open then motioned for Lyz and Justin to step inside.

As Justin stepped into the foyer he took a look around and smiled softly, a rush of memories hit him some good, some bad and some just not worth mentioning but they were memories after all that he cherished nonetheless. "Just like I remember." He said walking over to the pictures on the wall, letting his eyes wander over the many photos of Amber, her family or himself. "Wow I forgot about this one."

"Which one?" Amber asked walking over to stand beside him. She let her eyes roam over the photograph and let a small grin spread across her features. The picture was from Halloween, Amber was dressed up as Beauty and Justin dressed up as the beast. They were dancing together at one of her moms many Halloween parties. "I think I was in kindergarten and you were in fourth grade I believe."

"Yeah I was in fourth grade, it was a few months before I left for Orlando to join the Mickey Mouse Club."

"Yeah I remember." Amber said with a smile. "Well how about ya'll have a seat and I'll go grab my notebook."

"Okay." Justin and Lyz replied in unison.

While Amber ran upstairs Justin continued his perusal of the pictures hanging on the wall. He furrowed his eyebrows when he came across one he didn't recognize, it was of Amber and blonde haired guy, from the looks on there faces they were dating. "Hey Lyz who is this guy?" Justin asked

"Oh that would be John Lawson, Amber's first love." Lyz ground out. "A real asshole if you ask me."

"Where was this taken?"

"At Junior prom. It was right before they broke up." Lyz said

"Why'd they break up if you don't mind me asking?"

Lyz shifted her weight a couple of times then looked down at her shoes, she didn't know much about what happened only bits and pieces, she knew enough of what happened to cause her to despise John, besides it wasn't something she liked to remember, it caused her blood to boil and her temper to rise with just a slight hint to that kind of discussion. She also felt that it was something that Amber should share with Justin when she was comfortable enough. "I don't feel comfortable sharing something like this with you, it would be wrong of me. You'd have to ask Amber."

"Okay I respect that." Justin replied glancing between Lyzzie's frown and the smile on Amber's face in the picture. She looked beautiful, so happy and carefree like he remembered her to be, it was like he was staring at a different person all together.

"Sorry it took me so long, I couldn't find my notebook." Amber said softly padding down the stairs and coming to a stop next to Justin.

"It's okay, I was just looking over these photographs." Justin said quickly glancing at her then back to the wall full of memories.

She followed Justin's line of sight and the picture he held in his hands caused her breath to catch an a million awful memories to flood her.

Noticing her sudden change of stance Justin waved a hand in front of her face. "Ambs you okay?" he asked with worry lacing his tone.

The sudden movement across her line of sight she slowly snapped back into the present, blinking her eyes trying to whisk away the fog that clouded her sight. She finally focused on the man in front of her, the expression on his face made her want to get down on her knees and beg for mercy, he looked so damn confused and worried that it warmed her heart but at the same time made her want to share this with him, but she knew she couldn't do that not yet. Not when she wasn't ready to accept it and move on.

She cleared her throat and plastered a smile on her face. "Yeah I'm fine. Let's look over these lyrics." Amber suggested holding up the tattered book in her hands and motioning towards the couch. "Shall we?"

"Are you sure you're okay Ambs?" Lyz asked raising her eyebrows in questions, the now happy face her friend was sporting didn't fool her, she wasn't happy and was only putting up this front so Justin wouldn't worry about her, but she knew different. She had seen the same thing happen many times. Someone would look at the picture or bring up the name and it would cause the same reaction she had just scene.

"Yes, I'm fine." Amber said flashing her teeth towards her friend in hopes to reassure her she was.

"Here it's full of poems and lyrics I don't have music for any of them yet tho." Amber said handing over the notebook.

"Alright." He said grabbing the notebook and flipping open to the front page. He read over the first couple of lines and smiled softly. "When I'm lost in the rain...In your eyes I know I'll find the light to light my way... When I'm scared, losing ground...When my world is going crazy." He read aloud quietly. "This is good, I like it Ambs."

"Thanks, here I want you to read my favorite." Amber said reaching over and turning the page.

He let his eyes scan over the words and smiled softly. "I like this verse." He replied putting his index finger at the beginning. "Will you sing it for me?"

"Sure." Amber smiled reading over the words and clearing her throat. "I was naive, your love was like candy... Artificially sweet, I was deceived by the wrapping... Got caught in your web and I learned how to bleed...I was prey in your bed and devoured completely" When she finished she looked up at Justin with a soft smile playing on her lips. She was shocked to find that there faces were only inches apart, staring softly in to each others eyes, she couldn't help but think they were the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

Clearing his throat he broke the contact and focused back on the notebook in his hands. "That was beautiful Ambs, it really was." He spoke softly shooting a glance at her through the corner of his eye. "I really like these so far."

"It really was Ambs." Lyz agreed, she had been watching them and didn't miss the sparks that were flying between them, you'd have to be blind not to notice them. "Oh show him my favorite song. Fighter"

"Okay." Amber replied turning the page allowing Justin to read over the lyrics.

"Well I thought I knew you... Thinking that you were true...I couldn't trust, called your bluff...Time is up cuz I've had enough...You were there by my side...Always down for the ride...But your joyride just came down into flames...Cuz your greed taught me how you changed...Mhm"

"Wow now that is a song. That one I like." Justin said amazement clearly written across his features. "You've got a real knack for this kind of thing Ambs."

"You really like them?" Amber shyly asked

"Yeah there amazing. When we get to Orlando you should show these to JC, I think he could come up with some sick beats for a couple of these. I can almost guarantee you, he'll love Fighter." Justin said

"Alright I'll do that." Amber replied

"Good" Justin grinned putting his arm around her shoulders and hugging her sideways. "By the way what is Fighter about?"

"This song explains something that happened to someone close to me. Uhm, It's about a girl who has been beaten down so many times she can't count, between physical and mental abuse but she finally decides to fight back against everyone who has ever hurt her or told her she wasn't good enough, it's basically saying she is stronger from all the pain she has endured in her life between family, school and friends. So it's her redemption really." She explained

"Well I like it nonetheless and hearing the explanation really puts it in perceptive for me and I also understand where it is coming from." Justin replied he just hoped that she would share this deep dark secret that she was holding in side of her self with him so he could understand her better. The past couple of hours he had noticed changes in her, it was understandable that she would change as she grew up, but these weren't good changes. She was more cautious and quiet, which wasn't like her at all.

Usually when they hung out he couldn't get her to shut up so he could get in a word edgewise. An now it felt like he was pulling teeth to get her to talk to him. So he decided to make a vow that he would find out what happened to her, to not only help her get over whatever had this hold over her and also to hopefully return her to the Amber he knew and loved.