May 29, 2002 (Minneapolis, MN)

"Great! Looks like we're finally here...now the hard work can begin!"

Looking up from the US! Weekly magazine she had been skimming through, Cathy couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise as she took in the scenery in front of her.

"Theirs so many people here....I thought the concert didn't start until seven o'clock tonight."

"It doesn't." Rebecca replied, while continuing to frown at the handful of teenage girls who were standing outside of the Minneapolis Metrodome; waiting for any sign of one of the Nsync guys. "These are just some of the guy's more diehard fans who follow them around city to city; almost always getting to the venues hours before the lighting and set designers even have a chance to get the stage ready and set up."

"Wow..." Cathy slowly replied; not even bothering to keep the somewhat impressed tone from her voice. It's no wonder some people think Justin is egotistical. With this large group of people following him around, I couldn't blame him if he really was that way.

"Excuse me, ladies, but we're about to head into the parking lot. And at Mr. Wright's request, I ask if you both could please back away from the windows, thank you."

After furrowing her eyebrows at Leon, the driver's, request, Cathy did as he asked; followed shortly after by Rebecca. "What was that all about?"

As if it was just a normal routine for her--like Cathy assumed it was--Rebecca shrugged nonchalantly before saying, "For two reasons. The first one being that most of the fans know me as one of the guy's closest friends and if they see me they'll probably want to get as close to the bus as they possible can--resulting in a few minor or major injuries. And the second one being because of the Justin and Kayla situation. Assuming one of these fans is really an undercover reporter, they can just take a picture of you and me and say that one of us is Kayla's mother; which would probably add more flames to the fire that is already building around this tour, don't you think?"

Even though Cathy knew she should be writing this information down in Kayla's case file, she instead just nodded yes to Rebecca; causing the younger woman to respond with: "I thought so."

After what felt like a half-n-hour, but was really only a mere ten minutes, Leon finally stopped the vehicle; causing the two women to quickly get up from their spots on the bus's pull out couch and grab their backstage passes--afterwards heading out to meet with the other members of the crew.

"Hey Leslie!" Rebecca called out, to a woman, who was walking off the bus in front of theirs, "Do you know if they've set my stuff up yet?"

While absentmindedly watching as the petite redhead in front of them closed the distance between the three--so Rebecca wouldn't have to yell anymore--Cathy mentally guessed that Leslie was the guy's wardrobe stylist; judging by the garment bags that were placed in her hands.

"No, but to be honest, I'm not even sure if they've set my stuff up yet. Fred and Fritz told us all last night that their objective for the remainder of the tour was to be as lazy as they possibly could be without getting fired in the process."

"Well, we'll just have to see about that, now wont we?" Rebecca replied angrily, before turning her attention back towards Cathy; an annoyed expression covering her face. "Come on, I'll show you where the guy's green room is before I go kick a couple of backstage manager's where the sun don't shine."

After smirking slightly at the comment, Cathy quickly followed Rebecca and Leslie through the backstage door of the venue and then down two long hallways; which, interestingly enough, lead them to a room filled with all sorts of things for teenage boys. I hope they realize Kayla is a little bit too young and a little bit too feminine for some of this stuff.

As if reading her thoughts, Rebecca replied: "This is where the guy's hang out before and after their sound check. It's kind of like their own little gateway back to the days before fame and fortune had begun."

"Wow, and I thought it was just another one of their ways to transform Kayla into a tomboy."

After smirking at the comment, Rebecca replied back with: "Over my dead body." Before saying that the guy's would be coming in soon and Leslie and her still needed to catch up with Fred and Fritz, the two--soon to be dead--slackers.

"All right, I'll just wait for them in here, if that's okay."

"Okay.." Rebecca replied, before grabbing Leslie's arm and leading her back through the hallway, "I'll see you in a few."

"Not if I see you first."

(Eight O'clock)

"Ouch, Becca! Will you quit it...your hurting me!"

"Well, if you would just sit still for one more minute, Lance, I wouldn't have to hurt you." Rebecca scowled, before pulling another one of her best friend's blonde strands of hair into an even spike; causing the older man to growl slightly in frustration. "You know, I'll probably deny it if you ever tell anyone I said this: But as we speak, I can honestly say that I like Joey, Chris, and Justin a hell of a lot more than I like you and JC right now. I mean, they at least had the decency to shave their heads halfway bald before coming back on tour. But not you two..oh no, you guys just had to make it hard for me, didn't you? Didn't you?"

As Rebecca roughly pulled on another piece of Lance's hair, Cathy couldn't help but wince for the younger man.

I would not want to be in his shoes right now.

Just from watching the two in front of her, Cathy figured if she hadn't spent the majority of the day with Rebecca, she would've guessed that the brunette hated the blonde, in front of her. But if truth be told, it was the exact opposite.

Rebecca loved Lance. But she was also pissed at him and the rest of the guys--minus Justin, who had spent most of his non-work related parts of the day with Kayla--for taking the labels off of her hair styling products; causing both her and Cathy not to know the difference between the jar of hair mayonnaise and the jar of shaving cream.

Fortunately enough for all four of them, one of them was smart enough to remember to put the label names on the bottom of the jars.

"Come on, Becca. We have to be on stage in ten minutes, aren't you finished yet?"

Without bothering to answer the question outloud, Rebecca instead just pulled on another strand of Lance's hair--causing him to groan outloud--before pushing her friend out of the styling chair; afterwards saying: "Go tell the artist, formally known as Curly, that he can come in now."

"Yes, Ma'am." Lance spat out bitterly; before bringing his hand up to rub on the uncomfortable areas of his head. Unfortunately not getting that far, because after just one look from Rebecca, he immediately put his hand back down. "I'll go get him now."

After watching the younger man practically run out of the room, Cathy couldn't help but stifle a grin as Rebecca turned towards her, with a questioning eyebrow raised. "What's so funny?"

While shaking her head, Cathy replied, "Nothing." But then after a second or two, she finally asked the question that she'd been dying to ask ever since she had met Rebecca and Lance the day before. "Would it be too personal if I asked how you two came to be such good friends?"

"Not really. Almost everyone who meets us has asked us that exact same question, and I usually tell them-" Rebecca began, only to have to cut her next statement off as Justin came into the room--carrying, a surprisingly sleeping, Kayla. "Consider me stunned speechless."

Knowing that hadn't been what Rebecca was about to say caused Cathy to smirk slightly. But then as she got a closer glimpse of the peacefully sleeping Kayla, in Justin's arms, her facial expression soon turned to one of amusement. "Hmm, she's knocked out. I guess this means that I wont be hearing any Nsync tonight. Sucks for me."

Noting the sarcasm in Cathy's voice, Justin had to chuckle softly before saying, "Don't worry, you'll get your fill of it tomorrow. I forgot to pack Kayla's copy of the concert so I asked David, our video director, to do me a small favor and tape tonight's show for me. Our choreographer, Wade, put in some new steps for us to work with, so it'll be like Kayla's seeing the whole thing over again for the very first time."

Realizing, because of this information, Kayla would want to watch the video as many times as she could, caused Cathy to playfully narrow her eyes at Justin before replying: "I hate you." Causing the younger man to chuckle and Rebecca--who was silently eaves dropping on the two--to roll her eyes in amusement.

"Well, I better get going before the guys start the show without me." Justin said, before gently kissing Kayla on her forehead; and then afterwards placing her in Cathy's arms. "The concert should end around ten or ten-thirty. But either way, I don't really want to take the chance of her waking up to a bunch of loud, sweaty and obnoxious men. So after I take a shower, I'll probably just wait until we get to our first stop and then switch buses, if that's okay with you two."

Knowing that they had more than enough beds on their bus to accommodate both Kayla and Justin, Cathy waited until she had gotten the okay nod from Rebecca before saying, "Sounds good to me. So, I guess we'll see you later, then."

"Not if I see you first." Justin playfully replied back, before walking out of the room; leaving Cathy to raise an eyebrow in questioning as Rebecca stared at her new friend in amusement.

"What?"

After rolling her eyes slightly, Rebecca replied, "Nothing, I was just thinking." And then after another second, she mentally added to herself:

She doesn't even realize it yet.

(Milwaukee, WI)

The morning after the guy's first concert, Cathy wasn't really sure what it was that woke her up. It could've been the sun light streaming through the open window beside her. Or the realization that the bus wasn't moving underneath her. Or it possibly could've been the younger man, who was sitting across from her, with his head bowed down in a thick note book.

She really didn't know...but she had a gut feeling that it was the latter.

After sitting up slowly, causing Justin to glance upwards and smile hello at her, Cathy raised an eyebrow in questioning towards her surroundings "How did I get here?"

While a semi blush started to creep across his face, Justin replied: "You and Kayla were both sacked out when I got on the bus last night. And you looked uncomfortable seated up right with her on your lap. So, me being the nice guy that I am, got a few blankets off of one of the spare beds in the back and practically forced you to lye down, with them on top of you, before taking Kayla and calling it a night myself."

Not really knowing how to respond to the very sweet gesture, Cathy instead just mumbled a slight thank you before switching the topic of conversation all together. "You look kind of lost over there, a penny for your thoughts?"

Bringing his attention back towards the book in his lap, Justin nonchalantly shrugged before saying: "It's nothing really. I'm just stuck on a line in this song and don't really know where to go with it next."

Without bothering to think about it first, Cathy replied: "Well, they always say two heads are better than one....maybe I can help you out with it."

As Justin looked up from his notebook, a look of confusion evident on his face, Cathy opened her mouth to say: "Nevermind." But before she could do so, Justin cut her off by passing her the open notebook and softly replying: "It's the one in blue."

After nodding her head slightly, Cathy looked down at the book in her hands and almost immediately regretted her offer to help Justin with the song; seeing as by the first line she could tell it was a very personal one.

And one very much about Debra.

With that thought in mind, even though she knew she shouldn't, Cathy continued to read the lyrics on the page.

The beautiful lights, the star filled nights
they don't mean a thing
cuz you are my star so it don't seem right
without you here with me
now I can try to act real strong
but you and I both know its hard for me to say...
you were my soul

Now I could say that I don't love you no more
and I could say that I've closed the door for our love
and I could tell you I'm feeling its time for us to go our separate ways
but baby I just wouldn't be the same, cuz girl your love is still on my brain

Without bothering to read the rest of the lyrics, Cathy silently handed Justin back his notebook before stating: "Theirs no need to add anything else. It's perfect."

While raising an eyebrow at this information, Justin slowly sat back on the other couch and asked, "You really think so?"

After nodding mutely, Cathy responded shortly with: "I know so." Before saying, "I'm assuming that the song is going to be on your guy's next album?"

Adverting his eyes towards the book in his hands, Justin silently noted that he would soon need another one, before saying: "I don't think so. This really isn't a song that I think the guys would feel to much in the studio, if you know what I mean."

Once again, without bothering to think about it before she responded, Cathy replied: "Then why don't you just record it on your own. You know, make a solo CD."

As soon as the words came out of her mouth, a somewhat uncomfortable feeling passed over the room; causing Cathy to realize that she had probably just said the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Once again.

Not knowing what to say at the moment, Cathy quickly stated, after a seconds pause: "Well, with that being said, I probably should go take a shower now. I promised Rebecca, last night, that I'd go out to brunch with her while you guys did your own thing this morning."

"Right on!" Justin replied, afterwards absentmindedly watching Cathy as she got her blankets together and headed towards the back of the bus; leaving him to ponder the words that she had said a couple of minutes ago about a solo deal.

Maybe...you never know.

(Johnny V's Classic Cafe)

"Oh, and could I have a coffee instead of a hot chocolate with that......I'll probably need as much caffeine as I possibly can get today."

"Yes, Ma'am." The older man quickly replied, before placing his notepad in the front pocket of his white apron and saying: "I'll be right back with your drinks."

After smiling politely at the waiter, Rebecca turned her attention back towards Cathy and hit the older woman with a confused eyebrow. "So, what were we talking about before we were so rudely interrupted?"

While smirking slightly at the question, Cathy took a sip out of one of the complementary waters they had received, after being seated. Then after a second, she shrugged nonchalantly before replying: "I think you were about to continue on with your story from last night and tell me how you and Lance came to be such good friends."

"Oh..right!" Rebecca sarcastically retorted back; knowing full well that she had not been about to do such a thing. "Well, you might want to sit back and get comfortable because this is going to be somewhat of a long story."

I figured as much.

Waiting until it looked like she had Cathy's undivided attention, Rebecca sighed slightly before beginning her story: "Well, it all started when I was around nine and Lance was about ten. We both had just respectively moved away from our homes and into Clinton, Mississippi and after only being there for about a week and a half, we both started to become ostracized by our entire fourth grade class. Me, because I'm only one part white, and two-thirds Puerto Rican. And him, because he preferred singing in the church choir over having to play sports with the other guys."

Ouch.

After seeing the semi-apologetic expression on Cathy's face, Rebecca outwardly said, "It's okay," before continuing on with her story. "Anyway, I really can't remember all the details of how it began, but one day during lunch, I was sitting by myself in the back of the cafeteria when all of a sudden some skinny looking kid came up to my table and asked me if anyone was sitting in the chair across from me. Of course, I looked at him like he was crazy--seeing as how he looked like he could use a couple of days in the sun--but then after a second's pause, I told him to go ahead and sit down."

"So, it was like friendship at first sight?" Cathy asked, before taking another sip of her water. Causing Rebecca to respond back with, "Not really," before absentmindedly fingering the silver necklace on her neck--which Cathy inwardly guessed was a gift from Lance.

"After he took a seat across from me, we began to have one of the world's most uncomfortable conversations; showing both of us that we literally had nothing in common. And I don't know if it was my secret love for boredom or his ability to be able to sit through some of the most awkward situations on this planet, but it was like every day until he joined Nsync, a few years later, that lunch with him would become a daily routine for me. He'd come in with his bagged lunch, ask if anyone was sitting in the seat across from me, and I would look at him like he was crazy before telling him to go ahead and sit down. It was really strange and still is..but I guess that's how we became to be such good friends. We survived the awkwardness together."

Without bothering to hide the amused expression that soon came over her face, Cathy let a brief second pass between the two of them before saying: "That's really sweet...you two are very lucky to have one another."

"I know." Rebecca softly replied, before gently continuing to finger the necklace in her hands. An action, which caused Cathy to wonder if the younger woman felt more than just friendship towards her best friend.

She wouldn't be the first woman in America that has....and probably wont be the last, either.

"Damn!"

After shaking her head, snapping herself out of her thoughts, Cathy shot Rebecca--who was staring over her shoulder--a questioning eyebrow. "What?"

Without bothering to turn her head away from what was behind Cathy, Rebecca quickly replied, in slight amusement: "I guess Joey and Chris weren't lying when they said Justin had hired you a bodyguard."

"Excuse me?" After turning her head around, Cathy couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise as she caught Lonnie--the bodyguard who she had briefly met the day before--trying to hide behind one of the restaurant's potted plants. I don't believe this.

"I'm guessing by the expression on your face, that you aren't too pleased by this turn of events. I'm impressed."

Turning back around, Cathy hit the younger woman with a questioning glare, before asking: "Why would I be pleased? I mean...I just found out that the man I'm doing a favor for thinks that I'm so much of a vulnerable woman that he has to go out and hire me a bodyguard. If anything, I should be pissed off right now, don't you think?"

While chuckling softly at the anger evident in Cathy's voice, Rebecca reached for her glass of water and took a small sip of the slightly cool drink, before saying in an amused tone: "First of all if it helps any, from what I've seen and heard so far, I can honestly say that Justin's thoughts of you are the complete opposite of thinking your a vulnerable woman."

The complete opposite?

Before Cathy could open her mouth to ask what that was supposed to mean, Rebecca continued: "And second of all, in reply to your question: Why would I be pleased? Well, to answer that, I'd first have to ask you: Why wouldn't you be pleased? I mean, a man who--I personally know--can care, sometimes, too much about other people, is so worried about your safety on this tour that he goes as far as paying for you to have your own bodyguard. Now, I don't know about you, but if I was in your situation and someone did that for me, the first thing that I would try to do is--not get pissed at him--but thank him for caring about me so much......and then later on--after we've kissed and made up--then I'd curse him out for being somewhat of a chauvinist pig. But remember, that's only after I thanked him."

While slightly laughing at the younger woman's last comment, Cathy couldn't help but nod her head slightly; realizing that the younger woman was right and that she really couldn't blame Justin for what he did.

I guess, even though he went about it the wrong way, I should still thank him for trying to protect me from having to deal with all these reporters...I just wish I knew how.

Unfortunately before Cathy could ask Rebecca for some ideas, the waiter came back with their drinks in hand.

I guess I'll ask her later.