Chapter 5: Confessions and One Night Stands
Whistling down the hallway Justin entered the Jive complex with an extra bounce in his step this morning. He had an amazing night with an amazing woman; and to think at first meeting he couldn’t stand her; Funny how life turns out.
“Hey Jay,” JC greeted grumpily, “Bout’ time you got your lazy ass here.”
Joey bounded over to Justin and threw his arm around his shoulder. “Don’t worry about Jace, man, he didn’t get much sleep last night, if you know what I mean.”
“Neither did Justin.” Lance mumbled.
“What was that Lanston?” Chris spoke up.
“His mother called me last night looking for him.” He smiled and Justin groaned pushing Joey away from him and taking a seat on the couch in front of the sound booth.
“Oh really?” JC asked suddenly alert.
“She said he took Elaine home and never came back.” Lance added.
“You f***ed Laney?” Joey announced incredulously.
“I don’t even want to know.” Johnny stated with his hands held up a defensive manner. “Let’s get to work guys. Life Touch faxed over the article Ms. Jacobs did I you guys.”
Joey excitedly ran over to Johnny and grabbed the article out of his hands. “What does it say about me?”
“Give me that!” Chris yelled yanking the paper our of Joeys hands.
“Hey!” Joey objected grabbing for it again which of course led to a wrestling match that ended with ‘daddy’ JC getting the article.
JC cleared his throat as all the guys gathered around to listen. “If the person now interviewing *NSYNC were a teenage girl, a CPR-certified paramedic would need to be on hand. Justin Timberlake is sitting inches,” Joey playfully elbowed Justin and raised a suggestive eyebrow. Justin only responded with a groan and a frown. “to the right & Chris Kirkpatrick inches to the left. The rest of the band--Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, & Joshua "JC" Chasez--are also gathered around a view-of-Central Park table for lunch at New York City's Tavern on the Green. Of course, a teen-led Q&A with this Orlando-based singing group would be pointless. Any adolescent already knows Timberlake is a sneaker nut,”
“F**k!” Justin exclaimed punching Chris in the arm after he made yet another smart comment about him and Elaine. “Stop f**king with me man!”
“Touchy, touchy.” Joey sneered.
"ANY WAY," JC continued. “Fatone collects Superman memorabilia, Chasez is a dog lover, & so on.”
“Other common knowledge in high school hallways: The group hit platinum status in the last millennium; now they're diamond (more than 10 million CDs sold). Their 1998 debut, *NSYNC, was a virtual conveyor belt of hits--"Tearin' Up My Heart," "I Want You Back" & "I Drive Myself Crazy." Even their '98 Christmas Cd was a million-plus seller.”
”Now their March 21 release, No Strings Attached, is expected to trump both, led by the smash single "Bye Bye Bye." The song's high-octane video has parked itself in the top half of MTV's viewer-voted Top 10 countdown, Total Request Live, & the network doesn't seem to be saying good-bye to it anytime soon.”
”Regulation teen hysteria is expected with boy bands. But the particular frenzy over *NSYNC--& fellow boy phantoms the Backstreet Boys--is nothing less than a throw-back to Beatlemania. "To girls, they're like a guy in class," explains Johnny Wright, *NSYNC's manager.”
”Or, perhaps, the class clowns. "Food fight with the caviar!" says Kirkpatrick, 28, leaning across the table. (Happily, no fish eggs actually fly.) The guys collectively summon the waiter to buy a glass of water for the woman at the next table. Between Tom Green impressions, Timberlake, 19, asks if he can do a shout-out to rap star Missy Elliott into the reporter's tape recorder. Chasez, 23, Bass, 20, & Fatone, 23, tend to spontaneously burst into animated song ("Here she comes, just a-walking' down the street...")”
Lance reaches to his right to seize the article and take over the roll of reading. ”Meanwhile, the restaurant's manager safeguards their table, as he probably has for the string of presidents who have dined here. A sound bet: The heads of state were not dressed in cargo pants, Nikes, frayed fishermen's hats, baseball caps & hooded sweatshirts. Attire is slightly different for the presidents of pop music. Some might say vice presidents, arguing that the top post belongs to the Backstreet Boys.”
“That’s crap!” Chris yells pumping his fist in the air for extra emphasis. Lance ignores his comment and keeps on reading.
“In the teen world, the groups' rivalry & soured business deals have been publicized to Monica-gate proportions. Having hit the music scene 10 months earlier than *NSYNC, the Boys consider themselves the vanguards of the pop universe.”
"It's frustrating on the creative side," Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson has said. "It's like, 'Find your own identity.'" Truly, to most people past voting age, the two groups appear no different than say, skim milk & 1 percent. Both feature five young men who harmonize on similar sounding pop songs. Both specialize in elaborately choreographed dance moves. And both were hatched in Orlando, with the same managerial team.”
”But in this tale of two boy bands, many observers would say *NSYNC are as innocent as their tender ballads."I got the group together," says Kirkpatrick, a Clarion, Pennsylvania, native who moved to Orlando after high school to pursue a career in music & theater. In 1995, he was singing in the '50s doo-wop group at Universal Studios & taking tourists' photos (or, as he recalls, "annoying people") at Sea World. Then he met Lou Pearlman, an entrepreneur who’s Trans Continental Companies then included Learjets, Chippendales dancers & the Backstreet Boys.”
"I knew that if Lou put money being a group, he would make it big," says Kirkpatrick. "As far as his motives, I don't know if he started [us] as competition for the Backstreet Boys. I can tell you my motives: I like to sing."
"Through his agent, Kirkpatrick heard about Timberlake, a Memphis high school student & veteran of the Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club (back at age 12)--as were Chasez (then 16) & future teen sensations Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears & Felicity's Keri Russell. "I was a little punk," Timberlake says of his Mouseketeer self. Recalls Spears, 19: "Me & Justin, we did duos together, & we would always eat lunch together in our dressing rooms. We were babies." for her part, Russell, 24, didn't recognize Timberlake's budding heart-throb status--especially "seeing that Justin came up to my chest," she says, giggling. "Actually, JC was my best friend." Though he was raised outside Baltimore, Chasez says of the MMC, "That's where I grew up."
”So Kirkpatrick called Timberlake, who called Chasez. "And we both moved to Orlando," says Timberlake. "Then we found Joey hanging out at a nightclub [at Disney's Pleasure Island]." At the time, Brooklyn-born Fatone, who'd moved to Orlando five years earlier, had been performing in Universal Studios' "Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue." "But we knew we still weren't complete," says Kirkpatrick, "because we needed a bass." Timberlake's vocal coach suggested a boy named, coincidentally enough, Bass, a high school student in Clinton, Mississippi, whom he'd spotted singing in a group that traveled throughout the state.”
”Moneyman Pearlman enlisted then-Backstreet Boys manager Wright to take on *NSYNC as well. The pain followed the Backstreet game plan: Record an album, tour in sugar-pop-friendly Europe, return & conquer the States. The plan worked--for both groups. Trouble was, the Boys never counted on a kid brother.”
"I understand to a point," Kirkpatrick says of the Backstreet Boys' animosity, which led them to fire Wright. (The group turned their guns on Pearlman in May of 1998 for, they felt, taking more than a fair share of their earnings. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum that October, and the Boys split.) "But that had nothing to do with us," Kirkpatrick adds. "We have no malicious feelings toward any of them."
”By all appearances, *NSYNC tries to seek the softer side of show business. They're devout Christians who pray before going onstage; they often trade WWJd (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelets with fans. "I've probably gotten more than 200 of them," Bass says. "Then I'll throw 'em out to the audience. I just think it's a great message."
”But the group was hit with a not-so-great message last summer when they tried to renegotiate a contract that allegedly gave Pearlman a large chunk of their profits. "Everyone goes into the music business with the understanding that if you become successful, there's go to be a financial renegotiation," says Wright. But, says Chasez, "Pearlman wouldn't budge." *NSYNC tried to leave him & RCA, their label, but Pearlman shot back with a $150 million lawsuit. The group countersued for $25 million. Settling out of court, *NSYNC walked in December. Though they eventually signed with Jive Records (ironically, the home of the Backstreet Boys), they recorded their symbolically named No Strings Attached without a label.”
”The resulting CD is their grittiest to date, with electronic beats, a guest rapper (TLC's Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez)--even a few risqué lyrics. The most provocative song, "Digital Get Down," could be interpreted as hailing the joys of cybersex. Do they think the braces brigade in *NSYNC's audiences will recognize the R-rated oomph?”
"For adults, [the lyrics] could be construed that way," says Timberlake. Even if they were, Fatone adds, "Think about the Spice girls. The kids never knew what they were talking about." Timberlake grins. "I think it's quite safe sex if you ask me," he says. "What's the next question?"
”For Timberlake, any question would be preferable to one about his love life. He's been linked in print to Spears roughly 14 million times; the latest tabloid scuttlebutt has them living together in a Hollywood mansion. For the record, the spokeswoman for both singers categorically denies the story. Says Timberlake, "I live with my mother [Lynn]" in Orlando. As for tabloid reports: "I'm not going to talk about it."
”Kirkpatrick notes, "If our target audience knew we had girlfriends, the appeal would be gone a little bit. But we don't lie about it, either." So? Two have steady flames they'd rather not name--Kirkpatrick ("She works with me on a clothing-line side project") & Chasez ("She's a college student in California"). Bass has been single since the end of his nine-month relationship with Boy Meets World star Danielle Rishel. Fatone dates "whenever I'm home, but it's not 100 percent serious."
”That's understandable, with a three-month American tour kicking off May 9, then a movie starring all five to shoot this summer. "It's going to be like 'American Pie,' sort of," says Fatone. In fact, acting is already in the group's repertoire. Just recently, Bass made his dramatic debut as Beverley Mitchell's love interest on 7th Heaven, which Timberlake played a supermodel in ABC's TV-movie Model Behavior.”
”As for their current behavior at Tavern on the Green: Kirkpatrick is now arranging his caviar into tiny droppings being the printed reindeer on his napkin. "You're moronic, man," says Timberlake. "It was Joey's idea," Kirkpatrick responds.”
”It may sound gross, but a teen reporter would definitely save that napkin.”
“You think she could talk about JuJu a little more?” Chris pouted.
“Shut-up man!” Justin yelled angrily getting into Chris’s face.
Chris grinned. “What’s wrong with you man? Get up the wrong side of the bed?”
“Now, he just got up in the wrong bed period.” Joey answered with a snort of laughter. They slapped high five. “That was too good man!”
JC quickly pulled a very irritated and red-faced Justin away from the two laughing hyenas. “Just let it go. They’re only trying to get a rise out of you.”
“Lover-boy, your girlfriend is here.” Chris snickered from the other side of the room.
Ignoring the cat calls and crude comments from his friends Justin went to greet Elaine.
(Elanie’s POV)
With a grin the size of Montana he gently grabbed my shoulders and pulled me towards him for a kiss. As naturally as I could manage I averted my head and dodged his kiss, stiffly pulling away from him.
“It’s nice to see you again Mr. Timberlake.” I held out my hand for him to shake. He looked confused and hurt as he took my hand and silently moved away from me as the other guys came to greet me as well.
I feel kinda bad for having to do that to him, but what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t just make out with him in front of his manager and my boss; I could get fired.
Trying to block out Justin’s solemn expression, I introduced my boss, Mr. Stevens, to the guys. “So what did you guys think of the article?”
“We could go with out any mention of the Backstreet Boys.”
~*~*~*~
“Hey.” I look up from the salad I’m pushing around my plate as Justin entered the dimly lit kitchen of the WEG Compound. You would think that with all the money these people make they would fix up the break room a little bit. “Can we talk?”
“Sure.” I say motioning to the seat across from me. He takes a seat and fidgets nervously in his seat. Is he just going to sit there or did he have a purpose for coming in here.
“What do you want to talk about Justin?” I ask bluntly stabbing a piece of wilted lettuce with a flimsy plastic fork.
“What was up with you earlier?”
I don’t remember Justin being this shy before. He won’t even look up at me. “What do you mean?”
“Well when I tired to…kiss you,” He began quietly picking fuzz of his blue sweater. “You brushed me off.”
Oh….so that’s what’s wrong with him. How can I put this nicely? “If my boss had seen that he would have fired me.”
He smiled understandingly and began leaning in towards me. I turned my head just in time so that his lips only managed to graze my cheek. Justin pulled away looked rather confused. “This isn’t just about my boss. I can’t do this with you.”
“What do you mean? I thought that after last night we had something.” He said standing up to pace the room out of frustration I assume. He is not seriously upset with me about this; is he?
“We don’t have anything Justin.” I say standing up as well and cutting off his thoughts. “I don’t even know you.”
“How can you say that?” I don’t mean to sound harsh but who is the girl in this again?
“I have heard all about you Justin and your ways. I know that you’re a player and you do that kind of stuff all the time. It’s fine I knew that when I did it. I was upset about Mike and you were there and….I thought you would be happy to be off the hook.”
“What if I don’t want to be ‘off the hook’?” He whispered looking pleadingly into my eyes.
“I don’t want a relationship Justin. I just got out of one.”
“Is it the age thing?” Did I forget to mention that everyone thinks I’m really twenty-three? Oops, my bad. I kinda had to lie a little to get my job with the magazine. I’m sure you understand that not many people are willing to hire a nineteen year old so I fibbed just a bit.
“No Justin, it’s not the age difference.” That’s the honest truth.
“Then what is it Laney?” He asks with desperation to his voice. He walks with purposeful strides over to me and takes my right hand in his. “I really like you. I’ve never met anyone like you before.” I try to cut him off but he continues anyway. “You’re so smart and funny and we seem to have this…this connection. So what is it? What do I have to do?”
“There’s no thing you can do I just…..I just don’t want to….be with you.” I stutter.
“So last night was nothing?” He asks bitterly. “Just a one night stand?”
“If that will make you feel better,” I say. “then yes.”
Now I know what you all are thinking. How did she go from gushing about Justin to her friend Emma and defending him, to acting like last might meant nothing? Am I right? Well, I just did some thinking about the whole situation and I really don’t think I’m at all ready for another relationship. Not to mention the fact that if Mr. Steven’s were to find out I would most definitely get fired, but I would never seen him anyway with his schedule and all the traveling he does. Things will just work out better this way. He’d just be weighed down having to worry about a girlfriend while he was away working. He may not see it now but he’ll thank me later….right?
TBC.....(Thanks to everyone who has been leaving feeback and I'm sorry it took me so long to update and that this update isn't that great. More to come soon!)
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