Chapter 12
When Christi woke up to an arm slung over her waist, she began to panic. She didn't remember getting into bed with anyone. In the heat of the moment, she threw the arm off of her and ran to the bathroom. When she returned from the bathroom, she was able to put a face to the arm that was previously wrapped around her. Justin was now wide awake, sitting up, and looking around for a clue as to where she had ran off to. He found her leaning back against the wall with her eyes shut.
"What happened last night?"
Rubbing all the sleep out of his eyes, Justin explained, "You fell asleep sometime while we were talking about Jessi's mom, and your mom and I agreed that you shouldn't leave in the condition you were in last night. So, I carried you up to your room and came to sleep in the guest room. Sometime during the middle of the night, you found me watching TV in here and told me that you had a nightmare. That was when you climbed into the bed and fell asleep."
When he finished talking, Christi took it as her cue to speak but not much came to mind but "oh."
Still worried, Justin asked, "Are you okay now? When you came in here you were sweating and looking kind of pale."
"Yeah. I just had another anxiety attack. The nightmares kind of do that to me."
Justin patted the spot next to him for her to sit, "You wanna tell me about it? It might help some."
Christi climbed back in bed and stretched her legs out toward the foot of the bed as she rested her head in his lap. Justin's fingers found themselves in her hair like clockwork.
"The nightmares that I have are actually me reliving everything. And when I relive it, I get the attacks. Before I woke up ten minutes ago, I was just getting to the part where I couldn't reach Jessi's mom. The weight of your arm holding me down made it feel so real."
"Oh. Sorry about that."
"You didn't know, and it's nothing new. The same thing used to happen with Jordan. If it helps any, I would have woken up anyway. I always do. I just think of it this way. If I keep taking the medicine Dr. Collins gave me on Friday, then the intensity of the nightmares will start to minimize over a matter of several weeks."
Justin had a couple of questions of his own to ask as curiosity arose in him. "Is there a name for whatever it is that is causing this?"
"Post-Traumatic Stress."
"How long has this been going on for?"
"Two years."
"And how much sleep have you had since then?"
"Not much."
"Well, close your eyes. You have a lot of time to make up for, "He ordered.
With that said, she dozed off to sleep after five minutes of peaceful silence and Justin's fingers toying with her hair. He sat there watching her sleep for a little bit before getting up to use the restroom.
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Christi awoke several hours later to chatter going on around her. Her tired eyes were met with her brother and his wife sitting on the edge of the bed talking to Justin.
"Well, good morning sleeping beauty. Tired much?"
Still somewhat tired, Christi didn't have the strength to laugh at his wit. Groggily, she asked Justin, "What time is it? And, when did they get here?"
"It's a little after five. And they got here about twenty minutes after your mom and JC returned from the hospital."
Finally deciding to sit up, she questioned him, "You let me sleep all day? Why didn't you wake me up?"
"You needed your sleep so I let you sleep."
"Didn't you get hungry, have to use the restroom, or just do something?"
"I did. You were so out of it that you didn't notice I moved from under you whenever I had to get up."
Christi turned back to Chris and Adriana and asked, "So, what's the big news?"
"Oh, she's just carrying my child. No big deal."
Because Chris was so nonchalant when he said that, Adriana elbowed him in his side for his seemingly lack of enthusiasm.
Christi's, eyes wide with excitement, pulled Adriana into a tight hug as she congratulated the both of them. She was wide awake now. After the excitement died down, Justin caught Christi up to speed on what they had been talking about when she woke up. And the topic of conversation happened to have been the events of the previous night.
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Christi and Jessi spent the rest of June entertaining and showing JC and Justin around Houston. They now knew their way around all the different areas of the city and some of the outskirts. The trip was finally coming to an end as the guys had to fly out to Miami to prepare for the Challenge for the Children’s 5th annual weekend. They had been booked on an early flight for the following morning, but right now they were seated in a window booth at Araceli's. Justin and JC sat on the side of booth that allowed them to have their backs to the entrance.
Araceli's was a cozy little Mexican restaurant that was decorated with festive lights adorning the tangerine-painted walls. There was a live mariachi band playing tejano music. As for the food, Justin hadn't tasted any of it, but he was positive that whatever the chef was cooking in the kitchen would taste like heaven just from the smell of it. He was pulled from his train of thought as Christi started talking to the well-dressed man that approached their table.
"Well, well, well. If I wasn't seeing how you're dressed with my own two eyes, I wouldn't believe it. I must say that you clean up well."
"Why thank you, boss."
Christi smiled at the term "boss." She hated the term until it grew on her a couple of months after taking over her father's position as manager. Her relationship with the other workers remained the same when she was promoted. The only thing that changed was that they had to come to her it there was a problem or they need her to sign something.
Christi introduced them, "Jorge, this is Justin and JC. Guys, this is Jorge. He took over my position as manager when I decided to go on maternity leave."
The guys nodded their heads in acknowledgement of what she said and as a greeting to Jorge. Jorge stayed at the table a little longer yapping it up with Christi. He was catching her up on everything involving the restaurant, telling her how much everyone missed her, and asking her when she thought she was going to come back. After talking for a while, Jorge decided to take their orders and left them in peace to eat.
Justin watched as Jorge turned around and left before asking Christi, "Do you plan on returning?"
"I haven't decided yet. I'm still weighing my options. I know I want to work again but I have Kaci to take care of. So, if and when I decide to work all depends on if I'm flexible enough to handle both. But, Kaci most definitely comes first."
"What about daycare or a babysitter?"
"I think she's too young for that right now, but if I didn't think she was too young, I still wouldn't because I don't want anyone else raising my child."
Justin nodded that he understood and left everything at that. The topic was changed when Jessi and JC’s birthdays were brought up. Jessi's birthday was July 31st while JC's was August 8th. Justin and Christi had come up with the idea of throwing them a joint birthday party at Justin's house in Orlando. They decided the date would be August 4th, since that’s half way between the two birthdays, and that it would be huge. Jessi and JC had no doubt in their minds that it would be huge with the two masterminds planning the whole thing. The rest of the conversation that night was light, especially after they were all full from eating.
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Later that night, JC was packing his suitcase as Jessi laid in bed. Some things had been on his mind for a while now. More specifically, ever since he saw that tape of her at SilverLeaf. Since the room was quiet he decided now would be a good time to approach her on the issue.
"Jessi?"
"Yeah?"
"Have you ever thought of pursing a career in singing?"
"Why would I? I have modeling, and that's still going strong."
"Yeah, but working on an album could be a side project."
"But I don't have the same kind of passion for it as I do for modeling. And since I don't feel strongly about pursing that field, I simply don't do it. The album would just be some half-assed job I tried."
He knew he was prying, "So, you do have any interest in it?"
"If any, it's little."
"What if you had people working with you to guide you and show you what it could be like?"
She thought about it for a little bit before shrugging off her answer, "I don't know. Maybe."
JC sounded a little too hopeful when he asked, "So, would you do it if I set something up for you?"
That statement in its own caught Jessi onto what he was getting at, and in no way, did she plan on using his contacts. People would think that she was just using him to further her career. "Nope."
"Why not?"
"Because I said no."
He argued, "But a second ago, you were thinking about it."
"That was before you brought up the fact you would call in people for me. I don't want anyone thinking I used our relationship to further my status in the industry. So, no buts."
Her statement rang loud and clear as a firm "no" so he let it go, for now. Finished packing, he closed his suitcase and got into bed beside her.
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The next morning, Justin and JC left for the airport at seven to catch their nine o'clock flight to Miami. The plan was for Jessi and Christi to meet up with them the day before the challenge and then head to Orlando with them for the party.
Before all that was to happen, Christi had a custody hearing she had to appear for in two weeks. It was a case that wasn't open-shut either. Jordan's claims of Christi's workaholic tendencies, keeping him from his child as revenge for his affair, her irrationality for refusing to give Kaci his last name, and his excitement for being a father had the judge as putty in his hands for a while. It took Christi's evidence of Jordan’s assault on her, his abandonment of Christi and Kaci while she was in labor and her leave of absence from work to take care of Kaci to sway the judge in her direction. In the end, the judge ruled in favor of Christi having sole custody of Kaci. However, Jordan had a chance at earning shared custody. All he had to do was go to court-appointed anger management classes for a couple of months to gain supervised visitation rights. If he showed signs of improvement, he could then file again for shared custody. Christi was relieved about gaining sole custody. However, the thought of Jordan coming back into the picture didn't exactly make her jump for joy.
After a long day at court, Christi went home and told Jessi everything that happened. After talking with Jessi, who had a few choice words to say about Jordan, Christi called her parents and brother before calling Justin. She had saved Justin for last because she knew she would be able to express herself without outside influences.
Jessi and Chris had been quick to go off on tirades while her parents tried to be optimistic about everything. As she talked to Justin, she wished that he was around to play with her hair and tell her that everything would be okay like he always did. He had a way of calming her nerves. She loved how he was willing to do all that despite the fact that it really bothered him to hear that Jordan could come back for Kaci if he wanted to try to. Both Christi and Kaci had helped him through his time of despair, and now Jordan could take that away from him.
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Challenge for the Children had come and gone in no time. That weekend had been the first official appearance Jessi and JC had put in as a couple. They had confirmed their relationship months back, but never really heard what his fans thought of it. They had learned that the news was received well and that the fans thought they were a good couple. Of course, there was the occasional obsessed fan that would sneer at Jessi for her and JC's PDA’s which were kept to a minimum. They just weren't the type of couple that flaunted their relationship.
As for how the two girls got along with the rest of NSYNC, Jessi and Christi had a blast with Joey, Chris, and Lance. They were finally together under better circumstances. The girls were also introduced to Kelly and Brianna for the first time . Christi and Kelly hit it off right away, talking about what it's like to be a mother, while Kaci intrigued Brianna. Three-year-old Brianna had taken a liking to making faces at the six month old, who was kicking her feet while giggling from her car seat. That weekend, Jessi and Christi also got acquainted with plenty of other celebrities besides NSYNC, such as Usher, Emmanuelle, and Beverly.
The most important person that Christi met was Lynn, Justin's mom. This had been the first time they met each other. Ever since they talked on the phone at the cabin, they talked every time Christi was around Justin when he was in town and on the phone with Lynn and they would gang up on him. Sometimes, they would talk when he wasn't around. Lynn though of Christi as if she were her own daughter, so, when they first saw each other and were introduced by Justin, Lynn wouldn't go for that whole handshake bull. She pulled Christi into a tight hug as if they were old friends getting reacquainted. Justin loved the fact that they got along. His mother meant the world to him and for her to accept Christi and Kaci meant o whole hell of a lot to him.
When the weekend was through Jessi and Christi, along with Kaci, went to Orlando for the party.
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A disgruntled JC had woken up to the sound of his phone ringing. When he realized it was Jessi, he was confused since she was right next to him. That's when he realized he was the only one in his bed. Tuning back into what she was telling him, he caught that she had to run some errands and would meet him at the party. JC didn't know what errands could take all day but he was too tired to argue. Hanging up the phone, he turned over and went back to sleep.
When JC arrived at Justin's house, it was only nine and the place was already jam packed with his and Jessi's fellow friends , family, and other celebrities. Looking around, JC ran into just about everyone except Jessi. Kaci, Brianna, and Justin's brothers were playing around and were being supervised by JC's sister Heather in a guest room. The rest of NSYNC except Justin, Joey's brother, and JC's brother were laughing it up by the pool out back. He had also seen his friend Dallas socializing while some of the other celebrities were out in the backyard, with everyone else that had shown up, dancing to the music the DJ was currently spinning. Matthew Perry, Rebecca Roman-Stamos, Shannon Elizabeth, Jessica Simpson, Sheryl Crowe, Fergie from B.E.P. and P. Diddy were all at the party. He then spotted Christi and Justin on the dance floor and figured that if anyone knew where Jessi was it would be those two.
JC was pleading with Christi to tell him where she was when he heard her voice over the huge speakers. She was singing.
Sometimes I get emotional
Sometimes I do some stupid things
Sometimes I say what I should just keep inside
Sometimes I'm sad about everything
Sometimes I'm mad and break some things
Sorry times 10 but you just got in the way
Don't give up now running away
I won't hurt you sometimes I'm just a pain
And that's the way it is
That's just the way I am
Sometimes I feel like crying
Laying down and dying
That's when I need you
Laughing's always easy, but sometimes I'm just scared you'll leave me
That's when I feel emotional
The crowd of people on the dance floor began to part like the Red Sea as Jessi, who wore a traditional yet vintage black dress that ruched through the bodice and was pieced together with a pleated skirt gave the black spaghetti strap dress a textured look, made her way to JC with a microphone in her hand.
You say I'm just impossible
Totally unpredictable
I'm just a girl get use to it
No big deal
You can't change me why would you try?
I'm no angel but I can make you smile
And that's the way it is
That's just the way I am
Sometimes I feel like crying
Laying down and dying
That's when I need you
Laughing's always easy but, sometimes I'm just scared you'll leave me
That's when I feel emotional
Don't give up
I won't hurt you
Oh, sometimes I'm just a pain
And that's the way it is
That's just the way I am
She looked amazing in JC's eyes. And, he was glowing with pride by the time she stopped in front of him and finished the rest of the song, nailing every high note.
That's when I need you
Laughing's always easy but, sometimes I'm just scared you'll leave me
That's when I feel oh yeah
That's when I need you
Sometimes I get emotional
That's just the way I am
Sometimes I feel like crying
Laying down and dying
That's when I need you
Laughing's always easy but sometimes I'm just scared you'll leave me
That's when I feel emotional
When she was finished, she took the microphone and placed it on the closest table. She whispered in his ear, "Happy Birthday".
He hugged her to him in appreciation of what she just did. He had been so persistent over her getting into the music business ever since he saw the tape of her at the cabin. So fed up with his constant nagging, she refused to even hum to the radio in front of him for the past couple of weeks. And here she was singing to him for everyone to hear, especially him. JC pulled back from the hug to gaze into her eyes. He cupped her cheek with his hand as he leaned forward to initiate the kiss he had wanted to give her since he heard her voice over the loud speakers. The series of short, sweet kisses turned into a full one possessing heated passion as they got carried away. JC and Jessi reluctantly pulled away from each other and blushed as they heard whistling and hollering coming from every direction around them. Apparently, all one hundred and some-odd-number of guests witnessed their little moment.
The party resumed as the cake was brought out, lit, and cut. Many of the guests praised Jessi for her voice and JC for catching someone with such talent throughout the rest of the night. Toward the end of the party, the couple found their way over to where Justin and Christi were sitting on the porch swing in the front of his house. Justin was sitting up right, running his fingers through Christi's hair while Christi was curled up next to him with her head in his lap. They were soon joined by the rest of NSYNC and carried on with a light conversation due to the fact that they were all too tired to do otherwise.
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