Cassy sat up in her bedroom writing when she heard Ashley's frantic voice calling for her. Putting
her pad of paper and pen down, she quickly exited her bedroom and went to the stairs.

"Ashley? Oh my god, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Cassy became worried at the sight
of her best friend bawling her eyes out. She had just dropped her off so what could have
happened in that short amount of time?

"Lance...he...I...." It was all a jumbled mess. Cassy had no idea what was going on. Did
something happen to Lance? Putting her hands on Ashley's shoulders, Cassy looked into her eyes.

"Ashley, clam down. You're not making any sense. Take short deep breaths and tell me, what's going on? Did something happen to Lance?"

After taking a couple deep, calming breaths Ashley calmed down a little. "Justin is what
happened to Lance."

Well, now wasn't that a vague statement? "What do you mean?"

"He saw Pat and I hug and kiss in the mall so he went back to the house and told Lance I'm a
friggin' player or something! Cassy, I would never cheat on Lance! I love him too much. But he
wouldn't let me explain to him about what was really going on. He just locked himself in our
bedroom and told me to go away. God! I could kill Justin right now. Cassy, I don't know what to
do. I just took the car and drove over here." Ashley said, amazingly enough in one long, fast
breathy sentence.

Without saying anything, Cassy grabbed her purse off the nightstand and went downstairs,
Ashley following behind. "Where are you going?"

"Chris, can I take your car?" Cassy asked him as she entered the game room. That room seemed
to be the one he was in the most. Well, that, the kitchen, and the bathroom. He is a guy!

"Uh, yeah sure. Whatever."

"Thanks." Turning to Ashley, she told her to stay there, she'd be back in a little bit.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to go give someone a harsh reality check. Play with Chris or something. I shouldn't be
long." And with that, Cassy was out the door and Ashley stood in the doorway. She could always
count on Cassy to help her out.

As Cassy drove down the street she dialed Justin's cell phone number. They had exchanged them
a little while ago at the welcoming party. She honestly didn't think she'd use it so she tried
refusing it. Now she was happy that he wouldn't let her. He was probably going to throw a fit
when he heard her angry voice, but hopefully he would just shut up and obey her.

He picked up after three rings. "Hello, Cassy. What's up?"

"Where are you?"

"What?" He was a little confused. She sounded a little upset with him, but about what? He hadn't
done anything to her. Well, at least he didn't think so.

"Where are you?" Cassy said, a little more loudly.

"I'm on my way home. Cassy, what's going on? Why are you so mad?"

"I'm gonna tell you this once. Turn around and meet me at Lance's."

"Oh, I'm gonna take a wild guess here. Ashley told you what went down over there and now you're on the little whore's side, huh?"

"I swear to god if you don't meet me there right now I will find out where you live and I will drag
your ass there myself! And if you call her a whore one more time I will beat your ass into the
ground! I may be little, but I grew up with guys. I can take care of myself." She hung up and
threw her phone in the passenger's seat. Hopefully she got it across that Justin had better meet
her at Lance's. And she was pleasantly surprised when she pulled up to the house and she saw
Justin's car there. Justin leaning against it, seemingly waiting for her.

Turning off the car, Cassy got out and walked over to man. "Good. You decided to come."

"I figured I might as well hear what it is you're gonna try and feed to Lance and I about the lit..."
He quickly corrected himself when he saw the look on Cassy's face. Ok, so he was never scared of a girl in his life. But he did know how girls turned out when they grew up with all guys. They
were tough. And Cassy definitely looked like the type who kept to her promises of beating the crap out of someone. Especially if they pissed her off enough. "About Ashley." He said in a low
voice.

"Good boy. Now come on." Cassy tuned towards the house and began walking to the front door,
Justin following in tow. "Now, Justin. You made a mess of something and I want you to clean it
up."

"And how do you want me to do that?" He said, rolling his eyes at her.

"You are going to tell Lance that you got your stories crossed. You had no idea what you were
talking about. And if you roll your eyes at me one more time, I swear you won't have any to roll
pretty soon."

"You swear a lot, you know that?"

"Only when I'm sure of something." He rolled his eyes again and she quickly turned around and
looked like she was going to kick him in the balls. Justin held up his hands in defeat and backed
away.
"Ok, ok! Sorry." Damn this girl knew every little thing he did. Ok, Justin was officially creped out.

"Don't be sorry, just don't do it." Cassy turned back towards the house and opened the door
forcefully, leaving it to slam against the wall. Ashley had said Lance was in the bedroom when
she left so maybe he was still there.

When she reached the top of the stairs Cassy saw that the bedroom door was still shut so she
figured he was still in there, hiding like a little baby. Going up to the door, she pounded on it
forcefully.

"Lance! Open up!"

"Go away Ashley! I really don't wanna see you right now!"

"Oh boy you better open up this damn door now before I kick it in!"

"Listen to her Lance! She'll do it too!" Justin yelled through the door to his friend.

The two heard a click and then the door opened to reveal a very sad looking Lance. Cassy almost
felt bad for him, but then she remembered she was suppose to be mad at him for thinking Ashley
was actually capable of something like cheating on him.

"What do you want, Cassy? I really just want to be alone right now."

"I'm sorry. But I can't do that Lance. I just really wanted you to hear something from Justin
about Ashley."

"I already heard everything I need to know."

"And I know what I saw! I'm not going to tell him that I saw something else or I was mistaken or
whatever the hell it was you wanted me to say. I know exactly what I saw and what I saw was
his girlfriend, your best friend, hugging and kissing another man. Why would I lie about
something like that?"

"I know you're not lying about that. Because I saw the same thing." Cassy simply shrugged.

"Ok, now I' am so confused! You made Justin come back here so he would tell me he was
mistaken about what he saw, but now you're saying you saw the same damn thing. Someone
please explain this all to me ‘cause it ain't makin' a bit of sense!"

"Yes Cassy. Please, explain this to us. I would really like to know just what you meant by that."
Justin said, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Well maybe if you two assholes would shut up for one goddamned second I could tell you!
Damn." Cassy snapped at them. Why were guys such...girls? "Ok, you two wanna know exactly
what happened? Fine. Yes, it's true Lance. Ashley did hug and kiss Pat. But, there's a very big
thing you two didn't know. Justin immediately assumed she was having an affair and cheating on you with him. But Justin, if you would have just stayed for like two more seconds, or gotten a
little closer to hear what he said, you would have found out that he's gay. And has been so since
fourth grade." Cassy will never forget the look on both of their faces when she broke the news to
them. Did she actually have a break through with them? Was it possible to get through Justin's
thick, stubborn skull and hit his brain? Apparently so.

"He's gay?"

"Yes dickhead. He's gay. Now Lance, if I were you, I'd go to Chris' house and fix what you just
screwed up because of Mr. Heartbreak here. Actually, better yet, Justin should probably fix it, but
he probably would just make it worse."

"Hey!"

"Oh come on! You know it's true."0

Lance finally looked up at Cassy. "I can't believe this."

"Did you honestly believe she could have done something like that? Lance, she loves you way too much to ever be capable of cheating on you. She's not like that."

"I'm sorry, Cassy."

Cassy shook her head at him and grabbed his hand. "Don't say sorry to me. Say it to the one
person who actually means something to you." They left the house and drove back over to Chris's
house. They walked into the front hallway and Lance followed Cassy into the living room. Ashley
quickly stood up upon seeing Cassy walk in with the love of her life. Had she made things right
for them? Lord did she ever hope so. But he was here. That meant something good, right?

Cassy winked at Ashley, who had visibly been crying the entire time she was gone, and then went
up to her room. After Cassy left, Lance slowly walked over to Ashley. Taking her by the hands, he
said, "You're shaking."

Unable to form words by this point, Ashley simply nodded her head. "I am so sorry I could have
ever believed Justin for a second. I don't know why I thought you would be capable of that. I am
begging for your forgiveness, and please, take my dumbass back?" He smiled when he got a little
laugh out of her.

Looking up into his eyes, Ashley pulled him in for a hug. Wrapping her arms tightly around his
neck, she whispered to him. "Take me home." Lance pulled away from her embrace and met her
lips with his own. He was so relieved she was forgiving him. He had been half expecting her to
turn him down.

"Come on! Not in my house I don't wanna see any of that lovey-dovey shit." Chris interrupted
their moment.

"Sorry, Chris. We're going. I'll see you later."

"Thanks for keeping me company, Chris."

"Yeah, yeah. Now go on. Get outta here." He told them, turning off the TV. It was eight-thirty
and he had a date. Calling upstairs, Chris told Cassy he was leaving and not to wait up for him.
Cassy resisted the urge to make a very sarcastic comment on that. She tried to play nice
sometimes, much to her dislike.

Sitting alone up in her room, Cassy was just flipping through the TV when her phone rang.
Turning the television set off and throwing the remote off to the side, Cassy rolled to the other
side of her bed and picked up the annoying object.

"Hello?" Maybe it was someone she could do something with.

"Hey, Cassy. What you up to?"

"Not much, JC. Chris just left and now I'm all alone again. Can you believe he actually had a
date?"

"Oh, I know. Our little Chris is growing up." JC loved when Cassy laughed. He loved it even more
knowing he was the one responsible for it. "So, since you're sitting there, bored out of your mind,
how about we go for a walk?"

"JC, you live about ten miles away from here. You wanna come and get me just so we can go for
a walk?"

"No. Not just a walk. Maybe get some ice cream, walk around the park, and basically just keep
each other company. Come on, I haven't seen you all week."

"Hey, it's not my fault you had to go to Louisiana for that show."

"Yeah, yeah. Besides, I already drove all the way here. You better not say no to me." With that,
Cassy heard the click in her ear and knew JC was waiting for her down at the front door.
Grabbing her black sweater and sneakers, Cassy ran down and opened the front door, only to be
met with the black of the night. Just as she got bummed enough and began to turn around to
head back inside to call the little liar, she felt someone poke her in the side and say something
rather loudly. Cassy jumped around and screamed at the top of her lungs.

Putting one hand over her heart she smacked JC in the arm with the other.

"Own! What was that for?"

"You scared the crap out of me! God! Why does everyone insist on doing that to me?"

"Because you're easy to get maybe?"

"Do you wanna go out tonight?" She asked smartly, crossing her arms and giving him the ‘look'.

"Ok, I'm sorry. Now come on. I hear a double chocolate scoop on a wafer cone calling my name.

"You know, for a man who eats so much, you really are skinny. I hate you."

"No you don't. You love me." He teased. After locking the door, Cassy turned back to him. "Not
right now I don't."

JC rolled his eyes and wrapped his one arm around her neck and pulling her into him, causing a
fit of giggles to escape her. "Come on, you."

~*~

As Cassy and JC walked through the park, eating their ice cream cones, Cassy tilted her head
back to laugh at something JC had said when she walked right into some guy.

"Oh, god! I am so sorry...Jerry?" A look of recognition washed over the man's features.

"Cassy? Wow, you look incredible." For some reason, the way the guy called Jerry was looking
Cassy up and down, it just didn't sit well with JC. He could feel the over protectiveness coming to
the surface.

"Thanks. So do you."

"I look the same."

"Yeah, well, you know you always looked great."

"You did too." He always knew what to say to get Cassy to turn ten shades of red. "I had no idea
you were in Orlando."

"Oh yeah. Ashley and I just moved here a little bit ago. Oh god! I'm sorry. JC, this is Jerry. Jerry
this is JC, my...um." What exactly was he? They knew they loved each other, but were they still
anything more then friends? Or is that what they remained?

Smiling at Cassy, JC held his hand out to the guy. "Boyfriend."

Jerry nodded and shook the guy's hand. "Nice to meet you." Cassy got the feeling that was a
little forced. Oh well. "So, I'm gonna be in town for another week or so. We should get together
or something. I don't want another year to go by without seeing your face."

"Same here."

"Is your cell number the same?"

"No I changed companies a little while ago." After giving Jerry her new cell phone number, they
hugged goodbye briefly before he left her alone with her new boyfriend.

Cassy was silent for too long for JC's liking so he started up a conversation. "So, is he like an ex
or something?"

"Yeah he is. He was actually my most serious one. We went out for almost three years."

"It seems you tow split on good terms."

"We did. We'd probably still be together if it wasn't for his parents."

"What do you mean?"

"They're a wealthy family, JC. The thought of him carrying a fat, ugly, unwealthy girl on his arm
was horrible to them. It was like, unthinkable or something. So we broke up."

"That seems kind of...I dunno what word I'm looking for. But how could you let someone's family
break you apart?"

"You didn't know them JC. They were vultures. Probably still are. Anyway, I don't want to talk
about that right now. I'm here to spend time with my new boyfriend." She couldn't even say it
without smiling profusely. He made her so incredibly happy. She had let him in, hopefully he wouldn't break the trust he worked so hard to get. It was so hard for Cassy to trust a man, well, anyone for that matter. Trust was just too hard for her. But now JC had it. Hopefully he wouldn't take advantage of it like Steve had.

CHAPTER 17
~2 Months Later~

"Dr. Tonaus, we need you in the ER right away." Cassy's daydream was interrupted by a nurse. She had been up in her office looking over some x-rays when her mind just left her. Now apparently it was time to be getting back to work. She quickly and swiftly followed the nurse down the hallways, to the elevators and to the ER, the nurse filling her in on the patient's condition. It was a 23 year-old male with a seemingly broken ankle or foot. She continued to explain he needed "special attention." Taking the patient's chart from the nurse, Cassy entered the room.

Looking up from the chart, Cassy was a little shocked to see it was none other than Justin Timberlake laying on the bed in agony. "Oh my god, Justin! Are you ok? What happened?" She rushed to his side and grabbed his hand.

"Cassy?"

"Hey. What happened?"

"I really don't know. All I remember is I was at this club, having a dance-off with some guy who
thought he was the shit, and then I win, of course. And we're leaving to go to another club and
as we're walking down the V.I.P stairs the next thing I know, I'm at the bottom on my ass! That
bastard probably pushed me! I have no doubts about that one! He was really bitter about me
winning!"

"Ok, Justin. Just calm down. I have to take a couple x-rays to make sure it's broken before they
decide to put you in a cast."

"Alright. My life is in your hands, Doc." Ever since Cassy had gotten the job at the hospital, Justin
had resorted to calling her Doc. She kind of liked it though if truth be told. All of the guys seemed
to have their own nicknames for her.

As Cassy and a couple other nurses wheeled Justin to the correct room, the other doctors
watched in disbelief. One of their very own radiologists knew a celebrity? And one of the fab five
at that?

Cassy got Justin situated in the radiology room and told him the normal warnings. You know the
ones, why the special vest, what position to be in, yadda yadda yadda.

"So, tell me Justin. How many times is this that you've broken your foot?" Cassy smirked at him.

"Not appreciating the smartness right now, Doc." Justin laughed at her. "But seriously, I don't
know. I think this is number three for a foot. And once for my arm."

"Alright, here we go." After taking the rays, Cassy decided to show them to Justin. It's amazing.
All the bones that boy had broken in the time since he was a little kid, none of the doctors have
ever taken the time to show him what a broken bone looks like. Cassy couldn't help but to smile
at herself. He was so much like a little kid. He kept saying how weird it looked, and it was just
strange that that's what happens when you break a bone.

The next thing Cassy knew her mind was running a thousand miles per minute about Justin and
his cute ways.

"Cassy? Hello? Miss Doc??" Justin began waving his hands in front of her face.

"Huh?" Cassy shook out of her thoughts. "Oh, sorry. Um, get back into your wheel chair and I'll
take down to get that cast put on your foot."

"Where'd you go?"

"What? Nowhere. What makes you ask that?" Justin thought she had said that a little too fast.
Well, at least he wasn't the only one.

"Cassy, I've known you for a little over two months now. I know when a woman goes somewhere
else. I know when you have something on your mind. So, I'll ask again. Where did you go just
now?"

Smiling, Cassy replied. "Just thinking. That's all."

"You gonna tell me what about?"

"I just, I talked to my parents the other night."

"Well that's good. What'd they say?" Cassy had told Justin she was avoiding telephone calls with
her parents because she was afraid of what they would say about her dating someone already.
Yes, it had been two months, and Cassy felt horrible about cutting their conversations short and
lying about having a man in her life, but she just did not need a repeat of last time.

"Yes, it is good and I feel a lot better with them knowing. But my mom wants to meet him."

"And you don't want her to?"

"Justin, you don't know my family. My mother insists on embarrassing the hell out of anyone I
bring home. Like when she first met my friend Jackie, it was at my graduation party. You know
what she said?" He shook his head to say no. He had no clue. "Your bra's showing." And with
that, Justin burst out laughing. "It's not funny!"

"Then why are you laughing?" Ok, so he had a point. Cassy actually did find it quite funny. But
her mom did like embarrassing her friends. Not to mention boyfriends.

"But I'm serious. She will insist on embarrassing the hell out of him. Just ask Ashley. She was
there with Kris."

Justin stopped laughing as they entered the room so he could get yet another cast put on his
foot. "Ok, ok. So when do they want you to go home with him?"

"Next month for Thanksgiving. My brother's even coming home so I know for sure I'm going. I
just don't know if I want to take JC with me." Cassy helped the doctor get Justin onto the table
and then proceeded to put the x-ray of Justin ankle on the light for him. After looking at what
kind of break it was, the doctor began the cast.

"And where is it that your brother went?"

"Air force. He finished boot camp last March in Texas and then went to college to become a
police officer. He graduated in August and spent the past year and three months in North Dakota,
training. I haven't seen him since his graduation."

"He doesn't have to go over to Iraq, does he?"

"No! God no!" She almost shouted. That was the last thing any of them wanted. Having him so
far away was hard enough. Actually having to live with the knowledge of him possibly dying any
second would kill her along with her entire family. "Well, I'm going to let you get finished up here
and when you're done, come to my office. I'm almost done with my shift so I'll take you home,
ok?"

"Sounds good to me." He shot that lopsided grin her way and she left.

Cassy was finishing up some paper work as her phone began ringing. Putting down her pen, she
answered. "Hello?"

"Hey baby."

"Hey JC. Shouldn't you be doing a concert right about now?"

"Actually, we just got out. James is trying to pull out of the parking lot as we speak." It was then
that Cassy heard the screaming and crying for her man. "So, you still at the hospital?"

"Yeah. I'm almost done so I should be leaving in like twenty minutes. Or whenever Justin's
done."

"Justin?" Why did the knowledge of Justin being there get to him so badly?

"Yeah. He was out clubbing and this guy pushed him down the stairs from the V.I.P. section
because he lost to a dance off he and Justin had, and well, needless to say, Justin's here with yet
another cast on his foot." Cassy said all in one breath.

"Oh. He alright?" Well now that made sense. And to tell the truth, JC felt completely relieved that
the only reason Justin was there was because he's a patient.

"Oh he'll be fine. He should be use to the pain by now." She let out a small laugh. "Oh, he's done
so I have to finish this up and then I'm going to take him home. You know, make sure he's ok
and everything. Talk to you later?"

"Of course. Love you."

"Love you too. Bye baby." She hung up finished up the little bit of papers she had left and helped
Justin down to her car. "So Justin, what are you planning on doing for Thanksgiving?"

"Probably going home to Memphis to be with my family. Like you, ya know?"

"I mostly want to see my grandparents. I really regret not going to see them more often."

"Where are they?"

"In some elderly home about twenty minutes away from my parents' house. I don't even know
how much longer they're going to be alive."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. My grandpa, he's in really bad shape. And Nanny? She can't see so well anymore and
can't even stand up on her own." Cassy's voice cracked and Justin knew this was a difficult
subject for her to discuss. "I mean, I never got to say goodbye to my grandma. I don't want that
to happen with them, ya know?" Justin saw her wipe away a few stray tears as she pulled up in
front of his gate to his house. Instead of telling her the code, Justin leaned over and hugged her,
tight.

Cassy was a little shocked at first, but then found herself hugging back just as tight. She didn't
know just how much she needed this until it actually happened. Yeah, of course she and JC
hugged, but it was just always different with a friend. She couldn't explain the difference, but it
was.

Justin rubbed Cassy's back and spoke in a soothing tone until she began to calm down. She
pulled away and wiped her eyes before looking into Justin's soft features.

"Thanks Justin. I really needed that."

"Anything I can do to help."

Smiling at him, she asked for the code again and then helped him into his home and up to his
bedroom. After making sure he was alright and settled in, she left to go back home.

After getting out of the shower, Cassy heard her cell phone ringing. Picking it up and looking at
the caller ID she saw that it was JC. And suddenly, she didn't feel quite the same.

Chapter 18

Hearing the annoying ring of her cell phone, Cassy quickly wrapped a towel around her body and ran out into her bedroom to grab the phone before her voicemail picked up. Not having time to look at the caller ID, she just answered it. "Hello?"

"Hey, Baby. What you up to?"

Hearing JC's voice helped ease Cassy's fears and wandering mind that had been running all day. "Hey sweetie. I just got out of the shower."

"Oh man. I wish I was there with you."

"Oh really? I think someone has a little bit of bottled up sexual frustration going on there."

"You have no idea, Cass. I can't wait until I get home and get to be alone with you."

"Typical male ego. Always think that within the first ten minutes of being alone with their girl after a long separation they‘ll automatically be getting some ass." Cassy playfully said to JC. She loved torturing him, although this time it wasn't working so well.

"Ten minutes? I was thinking at the very most two." JC retorted.

"Mhmm." Cassy gave up. "So, how much longer until you can come home?" She changed the subject.

"Two more weeks." JC sighed heavily into the phone. He missed his baby girl and couldn't wait that long to see her. Unfortunately, he had no choice if he didn't want to piss anybody off. "I miss you."

"I miss you too. But we get to be together soon."

"I know. Well, I better going and I'll let you get back to your shower or whatever you're doing tonight. I just wanted to hear your voice."

"Ok. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye, baby."

"Bye, Jace." Cassy waited until she heard the phone click off on the other end before hanging up her phone. Sighing, she willed herself not to cry. She missed him so much, and she wasn't so sure how much longer she could dodge the daydreams she had been having lately for Justin.

Not even two minutes had passed before the phone began ringing again. Becoming extremely annoyed, Cassy picked it up, half ready to throw it against the wall. "I am so not in the mood to talk to anyone right now." She said before picking it up and hitting accept. "What?" She answered really annoyingly.

She heard a little chuckle on the other line and knew exactly who it belonged to. "Nice to talk to you too."

"What do you want Justin? I'm really not in the mood."

"I'm sorry, I was just wondering what was going on tonight ‘cause I'm bored and I don't want to be alone."

"I'm not doing anything. Just sitting at home."

"See? You're bored, I can tell. Let's hang out."

"Justin, what in the world would we do? Your foot is in a cast!"

"I dunno. I'm sure we'll figure something out. We can like watch movies and pig out on goodies."

Rolling her eyes, Cassy pulled on a pair or shorts and a tank top. "Justin, you know just as well as I do that you can't eat ‘goodies' as you call them. They'll interfere with your diet and that's a trainer no-no. You know Jason will have a cow if you gain even a pound."

"Oh fuck Jason! My foot is broken so he can give me some slack. Besides, as soon as I get back on my feet I'll burn it all off."

"Whatever."

"So, you coming over or not?"

"Yeah, I guess. Just give me a few minutes."

"Ok. See ya soon."

"Yeah." Cassy hung up the phone and slid on her sandals before grabbing her purse and phone and leaving the apartment, locking the door behind her.

About twenty minutes later Cassy pulled up at Justin's gate and punched in the code Justin had told her, then she drove up the driveway and parked in front of the house. Getting out, Cassy went up to the door and didn't bother to ring the door bell. Walking right in, she found Justin in the very over-sized living room, sprawled out on the gigantic couch, watching Entertainment Tonight.

"So this is was celebrities watch when they‘re off, huh? Amazing." Cassy said, plopping down on the couch next to Justin.

"Yeah, well, someone's gotta see what I'm up to now-a-days."

Shouldn't that be your mother? Besides, you are Justin Timberlake, you should know what the hell you're up to."

"I know, but it's so much fun seeing how the media twists everything around."

Cassy laughed a little bit at Justin and turned her attention to the TV just in time to see the camera cut to Bob Goen.

"and on that note, it seems another Nsyncer, JC Chasez, has a new flame in his life. The woman's name is unknown, but the two were seen eating lunch at DiGuilio's Last weekend. Could this mystery woman be the new object of JC's affection? We'll keep you updated. Now, onto Britney Spears' new video..." The camera cut out of the picture of JC and Cassy eating their private lunch and Cassy fought the temptation to throw the remote at the TV.

"Oh my god! I swear this guy is such an incompetent bastard who can't tell head from a hole in the ground, stupid asswipe. Yes, JC and I are dating, and have been for a while now. And Last weekend? Try last month you dumbass!" Cassy went off, throwing insults at the television. "I mean come on, don't you guys have something better to do with your time than stalk people who just happen to have a better career than you?"

Justin was watching and listening in amusement. It was too funny hearing her flip out over that when he was so use to it. It was obvious she had never been in the news or in a newspaper before in her life. Leaning over towards her, Justin put his hand on her back.

"Calm down, sweetie. It's not worth getting riled up over. Trust me, this will blow over. Tomorrow there'll be something about Paris Hilton's new sex tape or Michael Jackson's molestation charges again and you and JC will be forgotten until someone gets another picture of you two fucking in the window sill or something."

Looking at Justin, Cassy couldn't help but to laugh. "Why do guys always have to have sex on the brain twenty-four/seven?" Cassy asked rhetorically.

"Because we think with the wrong head." Justin smiled at her before leaning back against the arms of the couch. "Can you go and get me another beer, sweetums?"

"Do I look like your fucking waitress? Get it your damn self...wait. Did you say another beer?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Justin, you can't have alcohol with your medications. You should know that by now."

"I know, but the pain killers weren't strong enough and I needed something for the pain. It works wonders ya know!" Standing up and looking at Justin's eyes, Cassy couldn't believe she didn't notice before. His pupils were slightly dilated, and his speech was impaired. If he was able to walk, Cassy would bet anything he would fall flat on his ass. Diverting her attention to the end table beside Justin, Cassy's eyes widened. "You didn't drink all these by yourself, did you?"

"Well, who else would have drunken them?" Justin said, slurring a little bit more. Picking up the six empty beer bottles, Cassy took them into the kitchen and sat them on the counter. Shaking her head, Cassy went back out and sat beside Justin once again.

"Promise me you wont drink anymore while you're on these meds, Justin. Please?"

"I won't Cassy. I promise." Justin said. Then he began staring at her, making a weird face like he was thinking up something to do.

"What?"

Scooting closer to Cassy, Justin said in a whisper, "Why do you take such good care of me?"

Smiling, Cassy pat him on the cheek. "Somebody has to while Lynn's not around."

Justin leaned even closer to Cassy and look straight into her hazel eyes. "Can I tell you something, Cass?"

All Cassy could do was nod. Her voice didn't seem to want to work right now, and she was thankful. If she did get something out, it probably would have cracked. She waited for Justin to say something, anything, but he never did. Instead, Cassy found herself laying down on the couch, Justin on top of her, kissing her as if there was no tomorrow.

Realizing what was happening, Cassy pushed Justin off her and sat up. "What are you doing?"

"Come on, Cassy. I can't take this anymore."

"Can't take what anymore?" Cassy asked him. She was so confused. Had she given him any reason to believe she wanted him this way? Yes she liked him, yes she thought he was hot, but she was with JC, and she loved JC. There was nothing that could, or would happen between them.

"I see the way you look at me when JC's not around. I know you want me, probably just as much as I want you, if that's even possible." Justin's mouth was next to her ear now and she could feel his hot breath on her neck. Closing her eyes, Cassy allowed Justin to lean his head down and kiss and suck on her neck. It felt so good. Soon, Cassy found herself back laying down on the couch, Justin on top of her, kissing her passionately, his hand sliding up her shirt slowly.

"Justin..." Cassy sighed breathily as she felt him cup her breast.

"What baby."

"I...I can't..."

"Shh, just go with it. Let it happen." Cassy felt the tears come to her eyes when Justin wouldn't let her up.

"Please, Justin. Let me go. I can't do this."

"Yes you can. You have to let yourself. I know you want this to happen."

"No, your wrong." And with all her might, she pushed Justin off her and she stood up. Grabbing her purse and shoes, Cassy ran to the front door. But before she could leave, Justin was in her way, blocking her path to the exit to safety. She never knew she could be scared of this man, or that someone with a broken foot could move so fast. "Get out of my way."

"Why won't you just let me have you? Why do you have to be so damn difficult all the time?" Justin was getting angry now. He was not a pleasant drunk, everyone knew that. And he was really scaring Cassy. All she wanted was to get out of there and go home and sleep and try to block this night from her mind. Why did she have to agree to come over here? Why couldn't she have stayed home and watched her normal chick flicks like she had planned?

"Justin, let me go." That didn't come out at all the way she had hoped. She meant it to be forceful and full of anger, instead it was weak and powerless.

"No." Was all he said before pushing her up against the wall, devouring her mouth with his once again. She tried to push him away but she couldn't. He was so big and strong, and she was so little and weak. Feeling his hand creep down her stomach and into her shorts, Cassy cried out. This could not be happening. It was too much for her take. She could handle deja vou, but not this kind. "Just relax, Cass. I want this, and one way or another I'm going to get it. So you might as well give up and give in." And he attacked her lips once again, tasting every crevice, ever curve of her beautifully constructed mouth.

"Stop it." She cried out, but he didn't. "Justin, stop!" This time, she got the message across. She lifted her knee up and collided it with his groin. He immediately fell to the floor, holding his hurt organs.

"What the fuck, Cassy!" Was all Justin could say. She had obviously done that before, she knew exactly where to aim her knee to cause the most pain.

Picking up her fallen purse, Cassy stood over Justin, looking down on him. "I promised myself I would never let that happen again." And then she was gone, out the door, into her car and down the street with no thoughts of ever going back there. Letting the tears stream down her face, Cassy contemplated not answering her cell phone, but maybe it was Ashley.

Looking at the caller ID, Cassy smiled a little when she saw it was her. "Ashley?"

"Cassy? Are you alright? Did something happen?" Ashley could immediately tell something wasn't right. They had been friends for so long, it wouldn't take a psychic to tell her something was wrong with her best friend

"No, Ashley. I'm not alright. I need to talk to you. Can you meet me at the apartment? I'm driving home now."

"Yeah, of course. Are you sure you're ok to be driving?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine. I'll make it." Then she hung up the phone and sped the rest of the way home. She just wanted to take a shower and cleanse herself of Justin's touch and feel safe again. Why did every guy turn like that around her?

CHAPTER 19

As soon as Ashley arrived at Cassy's apartment, she jumped out of her car and ran up to her
home. Letting herself in (Cassy had given her a key), she found Cassy sitting in the corner of her
room with her knees pulled up to her chest, tears rolling down her face.

"Cassy, what happened?" Ashley whispered while going to sit next to her. When she reached
around Cassy to put her arm around her for some form of comfort, she was a little surprised to
hear Cassy scream and jump up away from her.

"Oh, Ashley. It's you. I didn't even notice you were here already." She was visibly shaken up and
Ashley carefully stood up and went to the woman who was hugging herself.

"Cassy, what happened?"

"Justin is what happened." She said angrily, never looking at Ashley.

"Sit down. Take a few breaths and tell me the whole story."

After doing what Ashley asked of her, Cassy told her everything that went down at Justin's house.
And why she was so shaken up now. "After I talked to JC, Justin called me. He was bored and
lonely and asked me to come over and keep him company. So I'm like, sure. Whatever. It was no
big deal, I've hung out with him before. But tonight was different."

"How so?" Ashley asked when Cassy stopped.

"When I got there, he had already downed about six beers. And he just got more and more
drunk as the night went on." Why did Ashley suddenly have a bad feeling about where this story
was headed? Anyone who knew Justin knew he was a mean drunk. "He was ok, at first. But then
he started touching me and telling me to relax. That I wanted it to happen. And he's right, I did.
And I know I'm a horrible person for wanting to sleep with Justin because I'm with JC. But then,
my conscience got the better of me and I told him to stop. But he said he couldn't do that. He
wanted it and one way or another he was gonna get it." Tears began falling down Cassy's face
harder as she told Ashley about her near rape experience. "God, I was so scared. I don't even
have any idea how the hell I got away. I mean, he's so much bigger and stronger than I am. It's
probably because he has two weaknesses right now."

"What are those?"

"A dick, and a broken ankle." They both laughed a little at that statement. Ashley knew it would
be hard for Cassy to laugh or smile for a little while so she was glad when she laughed at herself.

"Cassy, you got away because you went through that before. You swore you wouldn't let it happen again." Cassy couldn't say anything, she just nodded. Ashley asked the inevitable question. "Are you going to tell JC?"

Shaking her head, Cassy shrugged. "I don't know. I really don't." Cassy looked at her best friend
in the entire world as a few more tears rolled down her cheeks. "God! I want nothing more than
to tell reporters and the media everything that guy has done! Anything to expose the real jackass
that he is!"

"But you can't, right?"

"Yeah. But why though? I mean, I should hate him right now. But I find myself blaming all the
beers that he had had. Not him for drinking them and being an asshole. And that's what pisses
me off the most. Not the fact that he tried to rape me, not the curiosity of how many vulnerable
women he has already raped in one of his drunken states. But the fact that I can't even hate him
when I know I should! Why? Please, tell me Ashley. Why can't I hate him?"

Never taking her eyes from her friend, Ashley slowly spoke what she believed to be the truth.
"Because somewhere between the call and forceful groping, you were afraid. Not because he was
going to rape you, because somewhere inside of you, you wanted it to happen. Just not when he
was a drunken fool."

Cassy's eyes met Ashley's, and more tears fell. Only because she knew Ashley was right. And
that's what killed her the most. The fact that she wanted to sleep with another man when she
was with the one man who ever treated her like a human being. The one man who truly loved
her. She didn't deserve him. She deserved someone who cheated. Because that's what she was.
A cheater.

~1 Week Later~

"Come on, Cassy. Will you stop avoiding the phone! Jc's been calling me annoying me to death
until I hang up and don't answer my own damn phone! Will you just call him?"

"He'll be home soon. I'll talk to him then." Cassy said stubbornly as she got dressed for work. All
week she had been avoiding both Justin's and JC's phone calls. JC's because she didn't want to
tell him what had happened last week at Justin's house, and Justin's because, well isn't that
obvious? "Look, Ashley, I gotta finish getting ready for work. I'll call you tomorrow." Cassy didn't
even wait for a reply. She hung up the phone and finished getting ready then left.

Cassy was walking around the hospital when a flood of paramedics came rushing in. Cassy was a
little curious so she went a little closer. As soon as she saw the man's face, she was sorry she
had been so curious. Her heart skipped a few beats and she got a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Jerry?"

Chapter 20

Cassy slowly made her way over to the ER, her eyes never leaving the man she called her first
love. Before she could even think to ask what was going on with him, what had happened,
someone came running up to her.

"Tonaus! You can't be here now, we don't need radiology and it's too crowded as it is." It was
Jane, the head Doctor you could say. Basically she was her boss. She grabbed Cassy's arm, but
not too tight, and tried to move her away a little.

"No! Wait, what's wrong with him? What happened?" Cassy fought against her.

She found herself crying when nobody would tell her anything. She didn't like this feeling. This
feeling of not knowing, being helpless to your friend. All she wanted to know was what had
happened and if he was going to be all right. Was that so much to ask?

"I'm sorry, Cassy. But we can't tell anyone anything. Not even you." Cassy looked into Jane's eyes
and knew she was sorry. But she was the boss, and she had to follow procedure. Nodding, Cassy
walked away and took a seat in the waiting room, amongst all the other people waiting to hear
news of their loved ones. But she knew most of their news would be bad. And she hoped to god
hers wouldn't be.

After sitting in the waiting for over two hours, finally Jane came over to her. Sitting down beside
Cassy, She didn't look at her. "You want to tell what that was all about in there?"

"I'm sorry Jane. It's just, when I found out that it was Jerry being brought in on that stretcher, I
just lost all control. I couldn't believe what I saw, you know? My first instinct was to find out what
happened to him. No matter what."

"I know exactly what you mean, Cassy. I've had that feeling before." Jane looked at Cassy and
asked the question that had been repeating in her mind. "How do you know that man, if you
don't mind me asking."

"Oh...uh, we used to date." Cassy laughed a little. "Actually, that would be an understatement.
We were engaged."

"So what happened?"

"Basically, in short, his family is what happened." Cassy could feel herself getting angry about the
O'Malley's again so she tried changing the subject, well, back to the son anyway. "So, how is
Jerry doing?"

"Oh. Not so good actually." That was the last thing Cassy had wanted to hear. Her week was just
getting better and better, wasn't it? "Jer...Mr. O'Malley was in a pretty bad car wreck. He was
jammed between the steering wheel and the seat." Jane heard Cassy's sharp intake of breath
and knew she wasn't taking this so well. And she didn't expect her too. She seemed upset of him
just being brought in let alone hearing about his condition. She reached over and rubbed Cassy's
back. "He was rushed in for emergency surgery. He had a collapsed lung. We were able to fix it
though and he's now stable for the time being. But, he's in a slight coma. And we don't know
when, or if he'll wake up." Cassy wiped away a few tears and looked a Jane.

"Can I see him?"

"Of course. Follow me." Cassy followed Jane into the room and stopped in her tracks. Never in her life did she think something like this was going to happen to someone this close to her. She slowly made her way over to the bed and sat down beside it on the chair provided. Cassy looked at Jane and she took that as her cue to leave them alone. Cassy looked over Jerry's lifeless body and tried to hold the seemingly never-ending tears back. Carefully, she reached over to his lifeless and held it in her own. Looking back to Jerry's face, she began to speak to him.

"God, Jer. Never in my life did I expect this to happen to you. Remember that promise you made me when we met? You promised you'd never leave me? Well, you're breaking that promise if you think you're dying on me now. I gave you three years of my life, Jerry. And those were three of the greatest. I'll be damned if I let you give up now. You have too much going for you. So please, I'm asking you as a friend and your first love. Please, wake up. You can beat this. I know you can." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, noticing how warm it was. That was good, wasn't it? She may not be a doctor who "fixes" people as they use to say when they were little, but she did know that if someone was close to dying, they were colder than normal.

~4 Hours Later~

"Cassy. Wake up." Cassy awoke to someone shaking her trying to wake her up.

"What time is it?" She asked, still half asleep.

"Almost eleven-thirty." Cassy sat up and looked around her.

"How's he doing?"

"The same. You should go home and get some rest. His condition won't be changing any time
tonight. And if it does, we'll be sure to call you."

"Ok. Thanks, Amy. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Ok. Try and get some sleep." Cassy nodded and left the hospital.

She drove home and went up to her apartment. As she entered her home, she noticed there was
someone in the kitchen, making quite a racket. "It's 11:30 at night, who could possibly be here
now?' Cassy thought to her self, growing more nervous as each second passed.

Slowly and quietly, she crept over to her closet and pulled out a baseball bat. Holding it up, she
made her way over to the kitchen where she saw the figure moving. As she got into the
doorframe, a man practically jumped out right in front of her. That man being JC. They both
screamed upon seeing each other and Cassy clutched at her chest.

"Jesus JC! You gave me a friggin' heart attack!" She said, trying to regain her normal breathing.

"Uh, can you put the bat down, please?" JC smiled cutely and nervously.

Looking at her hand, Cassy lowered the bat. "Oh, sorry. You just scared me. What are you doing
here?"

"I thought I'd surprise you. I got in earlier today and you were working all day so I figured I'd
make you a late dinner. Is that alright with you?" He said playfully, slowly walking over to her
with that sexy grin on his face that no girl could ignore.

"I guess." Cassy smiled back. Wrapping her arms around his neck she met him halfway in a not
too long, not too short passionate kiss. "Hmm, I missed you."

"I missed you too, Baby." JC quickly let her go and went towards the bedroom.

"Where are you going?"

"I got you something." He smiled coyly before disappearing into the room. Curiosity got the best
of Cassy so she followed him.

When she got her room, Cassy found him fiddling with something. JC saw her standing there out
of the corner of his eye, just standing there. Watching him carefully. "Cassy, this is a surprise.
Now how can I surprise you if you're standing right there?"

"Ok, fine. You win. I'll go back into the living room." Cassy whined like a little kid as she went and
sat in the living room, thinking about what he could possibly have for her.

"Ok Kitty Cat. Shut your eyes and don't peek." JC said, walking back into the room.

Cassy complied and closed her eyes. She could feel him moving closer and closer to her, and
when she felt him right in front of her, she heard a whimper followed by him saying she could
open her eyes. Her hands immediately flew to her mouth to suppress an excited squeal. "Oh my
god! JC!" She looked up at him in disbelief. In his arms was a tiny baby pug. She had told him a
while ago she had always wanted a pug when they were walking through the mall. She
remembered saying how much she missed her own dog back in New York. "I can't believe you
bought me a puppy."

"You said you wanted one." JC said simply, handing her the small dog.

"I didn't think you'd actually buy me one though." She said, playing with it.

"I love you, and I'd buy you the world if I could."

Looking at him all sappy eyed, Cassy leaned forward and planted a kiss right on his lips. "I love
you so much."

"I was thinking we could call her Kit." JC looked so cute and sad at the same time, and Cassy
knew why. When he was a little kid, JC had a dog who he named Kit. But his dad got rid of her.
JC was so upset about it. So how could she say no to that?

"I think Kit would be perfect."

"So, what should we get to eat?" Lance asked Ashley as they made their way into the food court.
They had gone shopping at the mall for a day out. Now they just had to decide on what they wanted for dinner.

"I don't know. Oo! Panda Express sounds so good right now!" Ashley said hungrily, looking at
Lance. "What?" She didn't like that look he was giving her.

"I thought you didn't like Chinese?"

"I don't. But lately it's been tasting really great." She said nonchalantly, pulling him towards the
line. They were almost to the table and about to order when Lance noticed a girl coming towards
him. Lance looked around for a place to duck into, but he didn't find any.

"Baby, let's go."

"But we didn't get our food yet."

"It's ok, we can stop somewhere on the way home."

"But I..."

"Ashley, please."

"No, Lance. I am ordering me some Chinese and I am going to eat it here. You can wait to Jack
off or whatever it is that you want to go home so early for." Ashley stated quite rudely before
turning back around and waited for her turn to order. Just then she saw some woman, who in
her opinion looked like a whore just walked right out of Moulin Rouge and up to her man.

"Hey, Lance." She said in one of those annoying low voices.

"Oh, uh, hey Shenice."

"Ah-hem." Ashley cleared her throat as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Oh, Shenice, this is Ashley. My girlfriend." The way he said girlfriend made Ashley question how
the hell these two knew each other. "Ashley, this is Shenice...an old friend."

"It's nice to meet you, Ashley." Her smile seemed too fake for her own good. Ashley just wanted
to rip out her perfectly straight, fake blonde hair.

"You too." She smiled back just as fake.

"Well, I have to get going. I just wanted to say hey. I'll talk to you later, Lance."

"Bye, Shenice." Ashley noticed Lance looked a little uncomfortable. Too uncomfortable for them
to just be ‘old friends'. Suddenly Ashley didn't feel so hungry so she walked away from Lance and
the line to the Polar Express. "Ashley? Where are you going?"

"I don't feel so hungry anymore. Let's just go home."

"Ok." He noticed she seemed a little pissed so he didn't argue. Actually, he'd been noticing mood
swings with her for the past few weeks or so now. Oh well. He figured it was just PMS or
something. Nothing serious.

As Ashley and Lance walked into their home, Ashley seemed even more pissed with him than
before.

"Ashley, are you ok?"

"I'm fine." She snapped at him.

"You sure? Since you met Shenice you've seemed like you were made with me."

"Are you two really just old friends?"

"I'm not cheating on you, Ashley."

"I didn't ask if you were cheating on me. I asked if you two were really what you claim."

"Yes, ok? We are just old friends. Nothing more, nothing less. Just friends."

"Ok. I'm going up to take a bath." That was it? That couldn't be it. She seemed to drop it too
easily. But Lance didn't have the energy to fight with her tonight about Shenice so he just went
into the living room to watch a movie.

By the time Ashley got out of her long, hot bath and did her hair and make-up it was already
10:00. She was now choosing the perfect lingerie for Lance. She decided that she was being too
mean to him lately and tonight she would make that up to him.

After choosing the perfect outfit, Ashley walked downstairs and over to Lance. He was a little
startled when she took the remote out of his hand and turned off the TV. Stratteling his legs that
were resting on the coffee table, Ashley looked him square in the eyes. "why don't you come
upstairs, cowboy?"

"What's all this for?" Lance asked coyly, running his fingers along the outline of Ashley's brand
new pink lace boy-cut panties.

"I realize I've been moody towards you lately and I just wanted to make it up to you. You in the
mood?"

"I'm always in the mood for you baby." Lance said, kissing her hard. Ashley stood up and pulled
him toward the stairs. "Uh-uh. I have something else in mind."

"And what's that?"

"We have this big house to ourselves. How about we spice things up a bit?"

"Hmm, I think I like that idea."