May 2007

“So I was thinking of coming out there for a few days at the end of July when I get back,” Justin said.  He and Emma managed to talk on the phone at least once a week even though he was on tour in Europe, and he wanted to see her again.  They were becoming quick friends for sure, and he was starting to like her as more.

“That’d be cool,” Emma smiled.  “But I’m warning you now, that there is nothing overly spectacular to do here.”

“That’s okay.  I just want to hang out with you anyway,” Justin responded honestly.  Emma was glad he couldn’t see her blush.  For some unknown reason she was developing a crush on him.

“Well … um,” Emma started, “Just let me know when you come, and I can pick you up from the airport.”

“Cool. I’ll set something up then.”

“Okay.  So where are you going to be this week?”

“France and Germany,” Justin answered.

*  *  *

 July 2007 

“Welcome to Arkansas,” Emma smiled when she saw Justin step off the escalator at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.   

“Thanks,” Justin smiled.  He was happy to see her again.  Justin wrapped his arms around her, and she returned the hug.  “You weren’t kidding when you said this airport was small.”  He looked around and then back at her.  The airport only had 10 gates and two baggage claims so it wasn’t hard for her to spot him at all. 

“Yup.  So did you check anything or is that all you have?”  Emma asked noticing the rolling suitcase he dragged behind him.

“This is all,” Justin answered and lowered the baseball cap he was wearing when people started to give him weird looks.  They were obviously wondering why he would be in Arkansas.

“Great,” Emma said.  “We’ll head out then.”  She was nervous and unsure why.  They talked about his three and a half hour flight as they headed out to her brother’s truck.

“I’m driving Trevor’s truck today,” Emma explained as they walked up to the beat-up old Chevy Silverado.  “You can just put your stuff on the backseat.”  She walked around to the driver side door and unlocked it and the rest.  Justin opened the back door to put his suitcase in it and then climbed into the front seat.

“We have four extra guests with us this weekend,” Emma said and started the truck.  “So instead of putting you in the guestroom you’ll be in the den.”

“Whatever works,” Justin smiled.  He was just glad to be in her presence again.

“They’ll be leaving tomorrow morning anyway,” Emma explained.  She maneuvered the truck through the parking lot and out onto the two-lane highway that would lead them toward I-540. 

Emma and Trevor had bands staying in their house just about every weekend.  It was something they didn’t mind doing because most of the bands were starting up or were just on small independent labels. 

“So who’s staying this weekend?”  Justin asked.  He knew all about the bands staying at her house and thought it was nice of them to do that for people they didn’t really know.

“Inhale/Exhale.  They’re show is tonight.”  She answered.  “Which I have been recruited to be at, at the last minute because Trevor’s playing, and I have to watch the merchandise.”

“Okay,” Justin nodded and looked out the window at the green scenery that was passing them by.

“You’re welcome to come with,” Emma glanced over at him and then back on the road. 

“Why not,” he shrugged.  “How many people will be there?”

“Eh, that depends.  If people get the word out that The Wedding is going to be there, there could easily be 500 kids.”

“That’s a decent crowd.”

“Mmhmm … especially at this venue,” Emma replied. 

Thirty minutes later they pulled up to Emma’s house.  She drove past her driveway so she could back into the grassy spot in front of where the trailer was parked.

“We have to hook up the trailer for the show tonight,” Emma explained as she turned around so she could see what she was doing.  “All of the merchandise and amps for their shows are in there.”

“No one bothers it?”  Justin asked.

“Nah,” she shut the truck off.  “We back it up right against the fence.  No one can get in.” 

Justin unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door.  The house he was looking at was very small and there was another van with a trailer parked in the street.

When Emma got out of her side of the truck, she saw her elderly neighbor standing on his front porch.

“Hello Mr. Davis!”  Emma waved.

“Hi Emma,” he waved back.  “You have more visitors?”

“Yes sir,” she closed the door to Trevor’s truck and then walked further into his yard. 

Mr. Davis was 87 years old and had lived in his house for nearly 60 years.  His children and grandchildren wanted him to live somewhere else, but he insisted on his freedom.  Emma and Trevor had come to love the old man who was very tolerant of their many houseguests and band practices.  His children weren’t.

The two did whatever they could for him.

“How are you doing?”  She asked.

“Wonderful.  Sally and her kids are coming by this afternoon,” he answered with a smile on his face.

“That’s great.”  Emma smiled too.  He was always happy when his granddaughter visited with her own children.

“Who’s the young man with you?” Mr. Davis nodded toward Justin who had just made his way to where Emma was standing.

“This is my friend Justin Timberlake,” Emma turned toward Justin.  “Justin this is Mr. Davis my neighbor.”

“Nice to meet you sir,” Justin said.

“You too son,” Mr. Davis stated.  “Now that name sounds familiar.”

“He’s a pretty famous musician,” Emma grinned.

“Oh … yes,” the older man nodded.  “I think I’ve seen you on the TV.”

“Probably,” Justin smiled.

“Is there anything we can do for you?  Have you had lunch yet?”  Emma asked.

“No. No. I’m fine,” he waved her off.  “Sally’s going to get me out of the house for a bit to go to lunch when she gets here.”

“That’s great,” Emma responded.  She knew he didn’t get out enough.  “Just let me know if you need anything.”

“I will.  Thank you Emma,” he sat down on the rocking chair on his porch.  “You two have a good day and tell Trevor he needs to come by so we can talk.”

“Will do,” Emma replied.  “See you later.” She nodded her goodbye.  Justin waved and then followed Emma.  He grabbed his bag and the two headed inside her house.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” Emma waved her arm out in front of.  “It’s nothing spectacular but I love it.”

“That’s all that matters right?”  Justin asked.  Emma nodded.

The front door opened right into the living room, just to the right of the door was the dining room/kitchen, and in front of them was the hallway that led to the bedrooms and bathroom.

“Obviously this is the living room and the dining room with the kitchen.”  Emma said.  “Let me show you where you will sleep.”

“Okay.”  He followed her through the dining room and into the tiny kitchen that had double doors leading out to the den, which was an addition.

“I’m sorry it’s nothing fancy,” she said in reference to the sofa sleeper he would be sleeping on.

“Hey,” Justin grabbed her hand.  “It doesn’t matter.  I came here to hang out with you not to sleep, so don’t worry about it.  Besides who needs all those five star hotels?”  Emma rolled her eyes. 

“I’ll show you where the bathroom is,” she turned back to the doors leading to the kitchen.  Justin didn’t let go of her hand as he followed her.  Emma didn’t mind.  “Help yourself to food and drinks.  The plates are in here, silverware, and cups.”  She opened and closed each of those cabinets and drawer for him to see. 

They walked through the doorway that led into the hall.

“There are towels in here,” she pointed to the linen closet.  “Right here is the bathroom. Sorry about the mess, Trevor was supposed to clean it, but that didn’t happen.  That’s the guest room, Trevor’s room and my room.”  She pointed to each of the doors near them.

“‘No Boys Allowed’?” Justin read the sign that Trevor had taped to her closed door.

“Yeah, Trevor made that for me when we moved in and started having all these bands staying here.  My room is only for me,” Emma shrugged.  Justin couldn’t help but wrap his arms around her and she returned his gesture.

“I’m glad I came out here,” he said.

“I’m glad you did too,” Emma looked up at him with a smile.  “You hungry?”

 “I could eat,” Justin shrugged and reluctantly released his hold on her.  He followed her back to the kitchen where she pulled out everything they would need to make a sandwich or two and chips.

Justin and Emma were still standing in her kitchen eating when her brother and four other guys walked into the house from the Bible study they went to that morning.  They all seemed to be talking at once.

“Hi boys!” Emma said loudly.  She set her sandwich down on the counter as they all came into the dining room/kitchen.  “I have stuff for ya’ll to make sandwiches if you’re hungry.”

“Great,” Trevor said studying the man who was standing in his kitchen.  “Introduce us.”  He nodded toward Justin.

“I was getting to that,” Emma looked at Trevor impatiently.  “Everyone this is Justin Timberlake.  Justin this is my brother Trevor,” Emma pointed to the guy who had just spoken. 

Justin wasn’t surprised to see that Trevor had a piercing below his lip and in his noise, or those things in his ears that stretched out his earlobes a bit, which were covered by his shaggy black hair, and the tattoos covering his right arm.  He and Emma looked a lot like each other, but she didn’t have the tattoos and only had piercings in her ears. 

“And this is Ryland Raus, John LaRussa, Jeremy Gifford and Chris Carroll,” Emma introduced each of the guys who were now standing in the small kitchen.  They were in similar states of dress as Trevor was.

“Nice to meet you guys,” Justin shook each of their hands and then moved out of the way so they could make their lunches.  He struck up a conversation with Ryland and Chris while they made their sandwiches.

“So how was Bible study this morning?” Emma asked Trevor as he pulled out two slices of bread.  She made her way around to the other side of the counter and sat down on one of the stools.

“Really good,” Trevor answered and started to explain what they had discussed that morning.  The other guys pitched in with their own comments. 

Emma was happy to see Justin fit in with this rough-looking bunch of guys.  She knew it could be intimidating for some to get around people who dressed the way they did, but Emma figured Justin was around so many different types of people all of the time he could fit in anywhere.  She zoned out watching him while everyone else talked.

Justin grinned when he caught her staring at him.  She blushed and turned her attention back to where Trevor was telling Jeremy about his show at Cornerstone Festival the previous summer.

*  *  *

“This is where they’re going to play?”  Justin asked as Emma drove the truck with the trailer into the parking lot.  They drove past a fast food restaurant and to the warehouse-looking building behind it. 

“Sure is,” Emma said and turned the corner in between the restaurant and The Music Hall to park where they could unload the back of the trailer easily. 

Trevor had ridden along with Inhale/Exhale, and they pulled in shortly after Emma and Justin did.  They parked their van and trailer on the other side of the tiny parking lot. 

“This is The Music Hall.”

“Small,” Justin said as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

“Well not everyone is as famous as you are,” Emma smiled to let him know she was just teasing.  She turned the truck off just as someone pounded on her window.  Emma jumped and turned to look at who it was.  “You suck Cody!”  She yelled at the guy who was standing there and then turned to look at Justin.  “He’s so mean to me.”

Justin smirked and then opened his door to get out.  Emma got out and punched Cody in the shoulder because he was still standing there.

“Ow! What was that for?” he grabbed his shoulder.  Emma rolled her eyes and shook her head before walking around the truck.  Justin had already made his way to the back and was talking with Kevin Kiehn another member of The Wedding.

“Trevor didn’t mention you were hanging out with the big wigs now,” Kevin said to Emma.

“Well this is only the second time we’ve seen each other,” Emma unlocked the trailer doors and opened them before smiling at Justin.  “Where’s Jeremy and Joe?” She noticed the other members of their band weren’t around.

“They are inside talking to JB,” Kevin answered and grabbed one of the amps sitting at the front of the trailer. 

“Ah,” Emma nodded and stepped inside the trailer to move the boxes forward that had shifted during the drive.  “Are you going to help us out?”  She asked Justin, who by that time had introduced himself to Cody.

“Sure,” he shrugged.

“Well grab an amp then,” Emma pointed to one while Cody picked up another one.  Justin did as she asked and followed Cody.

“She’s a slave driver,” Cody said loud enough for Emma to hear as they walked through the doors into the building.  Emma picked up one of the boxes full of T-shirts and jumped out of the trailer to take it inside.

Both bands unloaded their gear, and while they set up and did sound check, Justin helped Emma set up the merchandise table.

“I sometimes forget how much work it takes to do all the set up and tear down,” Justin said. “I mean, I know how hard my crew works for me, but these guys are doing it all themselves.”

“They always will too,” Emma replied and watched as Trevor and Cody laughed about something one of the guys in Inhale/Exhale said.

She was really proud of her brother and friends for all they had accomplished as a band.  They might never be very popular or super famous, but they had a great fan base and were doing what they set out to do.

Justin was enjoying watching Emma in her element.  She fit in with this crowd, and he wondered if she would ever fit in or want to fit in with his crowd.  He loved that Emma had her own little world that she lived in, and that it was really different from his world.

“They love every minute of it,” she smiled.

“I can see that.” 

The small room was starting to fill with fans who were talking to each other or the guys in the bands.

“Do they usually sell a lot of merchandise?”

“That depends where they are at.  Here not a lot because most of the kids who come are regulars and already have the shirts and CDs and everything else,” Emma explained just as a couple of girls wandered over to the table pretending to look at the merchandise.  Emma and Justin looked at each other and smiled knowing exactly what they wanted – and that didn’t involve The Wedding.

“Can I help you?” Emma asked.

“Um …,” one of them started and looked between Emma and Justin,” can we have your autograph?”

“Sure,” Justin shrugged.  “Do you have something I can sign?”  He really hadn’t been expecting to do this just from looking at the crowd, but you never know.

“We don’t,” the other girl sighed.

“I’ve got some paper down here,” Emma squatted down and pulled out a box from underneath the table.  Inside was their money box, a legal pad, which she used to keep track of everything they sold, some pens and sharpies.  She grabbed the legal pad and a sharpie, and handed both to Justin before standing up again.

Justin flipped to the last page and signed the paper twice for each girl.  He tore it off of the pad and then ripped in half to give one to each girl.  They thanked him and went on their way, giggling.

“Does the crowd get rowdy?”

“Oh yeah … it can get pretty ridiculous,” Emma nodded.  “By the end of the night half the crowd will have ended up on the stage because it’s so low to the ground.  Thankfully no one has ever been hurt.  It’s pretty much an anything goes venue, but that is of course within reason.  The kids are pretty respectful.”

Justin nodded.  He had noticed how the fans didn’t make a big deal over the fact that any one member of each of the bands could be standing right next to them.  “Must be nice.”

“Aww …” Emma reached over and rubbed his back a few times when someone else approached the table.  The boy bought a copy of the new CD and then wandered off into the crowd.

“I am enjoying the fact that, give or take a few, no one seems to care that I am standing here.”  Justin said truthfully.  It was nice to have a break.

“It is good to know that you don’t always have to be the center of attention,” she smirked. 

Justin kind of shoved her playfully, before grabbing her arms so he could pull her in for a hug.  He had wanted to do that all evening. 

Even though she didn’t want to, Emma pulled away after a few seconds and smiled at him.

“I’m going to go grab a chair to sit on from over there,” she pointed behind the counter where people were paying to come into the show.  “Do you want a chair?”

“I can go grab them,” Justin offered. 

“Thanks,” Emma replied and watched him walk over to where she had pointed and get two metal folding chairs for them.

*  *  *

“Did you have fun tonight?” Emma asked Justin much later that night.

“I did,” Justin replied.  “There was a lot of energy in that place.”  Emma nodded in agreement.

She grabbed the pots that were sitting on the stove and put them in the sink so she could start washing those.

“So …” Justin started.  It was really the first time they had been alone since he had been picked up from the airport.  The guys from Inhale/Exhale and Trevor had all gone to bed as soon as they had eaten the spaghetti Emma made for them.

“You want to talk?”  Emma could tell that he had something on his mind the whole evening.

“I know we haven’t really been around each other, but I’ve enjoyed the time we have and all of our phone conversations,” he said.  “I like you Emma, and I’d like to try having a relationship with you.”

Emma smiled at the thought.  It wasn’t really something she had considered, she knew she liked him, but never knew where he stood – until now.

“Okay,” Emma turned away from the sink to look at him.

“Really?”  Justin asked.  He sounded somewhat shocked.

“Why not?”  She asked, “I like you, you like me.  That only makes sense.”

“I’m glad you feel the same way,” Justin stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her in a hug.  Emma returned it and looked up at him.  He leaned down and kissed her.

Emma sighed.  She had been curious about kissing him the whole day, and normally she would not have gone for it this soon, but he was different.  And it was nice.

“Justin,” Emma hated to pull away from his kiss, but as soon as his fingers snuck up a little under her shirt she needed to stop him.  She pulled away from him a little, but he followed her movements and kissed her again.

“Justin,” Emma repeated a little more firmly and this time placing her hands on his wrists to push his hands away.

“What?” He asked frustrated.  Just dropped his hands to his side.  He had been enjoying their kiss.

“I guess … uh,” she paused not sure how to approach this with him.  Emma knew he was used to certain things, but she wouldn’t go there.  “We have to set some ground rules if we’re going to be together.”  She turned back toward the sink to continue rinsing plates off.

“I’m okay with kissing … I hate to sound like a prude,” she groaned.  “But just … um, there are a lot of things I won’t do unless I’m married.”

Justin leaned against the counter and then grabbed her hand before she could pick up another dish.  It was a little wet, but he didn’t care.  Emma looked over at him and then down at the floor.

“That’s okay,” he said.  “I can respect that Emma.”  She let out the breath of air she was holding.  “If I cross a line just let me know, okay?”

“Okay,” Emma responded.

“Hey,” he said and pulled her so she was standing in front of him.  Justin wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer.  Emma wrapped her arms around him too, and rested her head on his chest. 

“I want us to work Emma.  I’m going to do my best for that too happen.  I respect your beliefs,” Justin explained.   “You’re special and I want to see where we can go with this.”  He gave her a squeeze.  “Got it?”

“Yeah,” Emma smiled up at him.  She stood on her toes so she could give him a quick kiss. “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” he grinned.

“I need to finish the dishes,” Emma pulled out of his embrace and took the one step toward the sink.

Justin was amazed at how much she did for her brother and the bands and artists they had come through their house.  Here it was almost 3 a.m., and she was cleaning up from the very late dinner she had made for them after the show, and everyone else was asleep.

“What can I do to help?”  Justin asked.

“Nothing,” Emma answered.  “You’re a guest.”

“Emma, please …” he pouted, “Can I help?”

“No, I’m almost done anyway.” Emma responded and put the plate she was rinsing into the dishwasher.  Justin sighed in frustration, but didn’t fight her on it.

“Why do you do all of this for people you don’t know?” he asked.

“Because I love it,” Emma answered honestly.  “I love hosting people and cooking for them.  You know?  Plus it’s nice for them to not sleep in the back of their vans or buses, and have a nice meal.”  She yawned as she turned off the sink.

“How long have you been up?”

“Since six,”  she answered and put soap in the dishwasher.

“Geez, please tell me you’re going to sleep in tomorrow.” Justin said.

“Umm …” she started the dishwasher and looked at him.  “I’m getting up for church at eight.  You’re welcome to come with Trevor and me.  I don’t know if the other guys are going.”

“Sure.”  Justin shrugged.

“Do you have everything you need for bed?”  Emma asked.

“Yeah.  Thanks for everything tonight.”

“It’s no problem.  Goodnight.”  She moved to kiss him, which he happily returned.

“Night.”