| Need a Friend? |
| “Ok guys, I’m going home,” Justin Timberlake announced after 3 hours of recording. After making sure they'd done all they needed to, all the other guys decided to follow Justin’s lead and leave. “Hey Joey, wait for me! I have to check my messages,” Lance Bass called to his band mate before he could leave. Joey nodded and quietly sat in a chair, watching Lance listen to the voice messages on his cell phone. "Johnny's called a meeting for tomorrow at...hold on, this one's from my mom,” Lance informed Joey. Lance’s face went stark white as he let his phone slip to the ground. Joey immediately jumped up and caught Lance before he could fall to the ground. “Lance. Man, talk to me. What is wrong? Lance,” Joey asked as he lightly slapped his friend for some response., Lance didn't respond. After carefully sitting Lance into a chair, Joey reached for the phone Lance had dropped on the floor. Lance's mother's voice filled Joey's ears. The sadness in her was evidient as she said in between sniffles, “James, honey, I’m sorry to tell you this over the phone, but, well you see-- gosh this is hard-- James, Margret died this afternoon. It was a car accident. She didn't see him coming, oh I can't believe she's gone. I’m so sorry, honey. Call me when you get this message, or I'll call you back later. I love you,” “Joe, is she really dead?.” Looking at Lance, who still looked pale, Joey responded solemnly, “I think she is, man. Are you going to be okay?," he waited for Lance's assurance before hesitanly asking, "Do you mind if I ask who Margret was?” Tears brimming in his green eyes, Lance sighed, “I don't mind. Margret was my best friend in Mississippi. I remember the day I met her... >Flashback (1987)< “Mom! I want to go to the park,” 8 year-old Lance hollered, tugging on his mother’s apron. Diane Bass pulled her son's hands off her apron and shook her head. “Not now, James. I'm busy. Why don't you go play in the backyard?” Lance stomped out of the house with his hands folded across his chest. Sulking, Lance sat on the bottom of his slide refusing to play like his mother wanted. It was his idea of rebellion. “Hey you! You on the slide,” a small voice cried from the other side of the fence. Bewildered Lanced walked to the fence and looked through a small crack. He saw a young girl, probably 6, with blonde hair and green eyes smiling back at him. “Are you talking to me?” The little girl nodded. “Yes, I am. My name’s Margret; my family moved in a week ago. I saw you looking sad. Need a friend?” Lance eagerly nodded his head and pushed a loose board in the fence, so Margret could come into his yard. “My name’s James. At school they call me Lance cause there’s already a Lance in my class. It's my middle name.” “My middle name's Sophia, but I only go by Margret or Margie. So you wanna play?” Before Lance could respond, Margret was already on her way to the slide. Lance ran to catch up to her, but she was too fast. Boy, was he glad his mom was mean. >End Flashback< Lance sighed remembering his rambunctious friend. Wiping at the few tears he'd shed, he continued. "We played everyday after school. I don't have any childhood memories that don't involve her in some way. We did everything together. She was even my first kiss. >Flashback< 13 year-old Lance stood by the lake with his fishing pole in one hand and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the other. “You caught anything yet?” Margret yelled from the other side of the lake. Lance turned around to grab the small fish he had caught, but when he turned to face her, she was gone. “Margie? Where did you go? You’re not funny at all,” Lance yelled, his tone giving away his worry. “I am too funny!” Margret yelled as she jumped in front of Lance. Lance didn’t jump, scream, or anything. He just stood there looking off into space. The smile on Margret's lips dissapeared. “Lance? What’s wrong? Say something.” Suddenly, Lance leapt forward, knocking Margret to the ground. “It’s time for the tickle monster,” Lance laughed as he began tickling her sides. “You’re...so...immature” Colleen managed to say during her fits of giggles. Before either knew what was happening, Lance lowered his face and gently grazed Margret’s lips with his. They both sat up, looking lost. “That was gross. You're like my brother,,” Margret laughed breaking the silence. “I know what you mean,” Lance agreed before grabbing his fishing pole and resuming his fishing. >End Flashback< “So there was never anything more than friendship?” Joey asked noticing that the color had returned to Lance's face. Lance smiled slightly. “We tried once during high school, but like Margie said 'I was like her brother. We decided that we were meant to be friends.” Lance was silent for a few minutes, and then he turned his attention to his hands while he asked, "You want to hear about the last time I saw her?” Joey simply nodded his head in response. “It was about 2 months ago... >Flashback< Lance sat in the dressing room alone. He was used to being alone nowadays. Ever since he'd left Mississippi and joined Nsync, he felt like an outsider. Everyone else had known each other from past work or through friends, and he was the new guy. It hadn't been so bad in Orlando with all the other performers looking for a break who he could talk to, but now that they were touring all over Europe with people who spoke entirely different languages, friends were hard to come by. So many times he wanted to quit and go back home to his friends and family, but he couldn't leave his dream. Justin and JC were sightseeing with his Justin's mom right now; Chris and Joey were checking out the local hot spots. He didn’t want to intrude on any of their groups, so he just sat backstage, hours before the concert, and waited. Playing with his thumbs, Lance warmed up his voice like he usually did. “Oh my lanta! Is that James Lance Bass? Oh my gosh it is! Someone catch me before I faint.” He couldn't have jumped up any faster. His smile was blinding as he hugged Margret. “I can't believe you're here. I've missed you so much, Margie.” Lance said tightening his hold on Margret. "I can tell," Margret laughed, "I've missed you too, Lance." Reluctanly, he let her out of his embrace. "How did you get here? Did you fly? It's great to see you," Lance gushed like a school boy. He was so happy to see his friend. "One of your very nice group mates sent me a ticket and said you needed to see me. I couldn't turn that down. Besides, I was wondering when I'd get to see Nsync perform live. I founded this group you know.” “And how'd you do that?” Margret gave a smirk and answered, “Who do you think paid your old vocal coach to suggest you to Justin? You didn’t really think he did that on his own, did you?” Lance laughed heartily for the first real time in months. It felt wonderful to have Margret with him. They caught up on old time for the next few hours until everyone returned. Margret got up from her seat and kissed Lance's forhead. “Well Lancey, I have to go grab a seat. I don't want to miss a single song. Oh, look for me during the concert! I made a sign,” Margret shrieked as she skipped away. During the concert, Lance looked for Margret, but couldn't find her anywhere in the audience. Until a sign caught his eye. In big, bold red letter it said, "You look sad. Need a friend?" >End Flashback< “She knew you were lonely?” Joey asked. Lance nodded, “She told me after the concert that she could see it in my face whenever she watched an appearance. She always could read my emotions like a book. You know, without her I would have probably quit the group. I couldn't have lasted another day of being lonely." "Who sent her the ticket? It wasn't me." "She bought the ticket herself. She just said that it was one of you, so that I would feel like you guys cared. Her plan worked." Joey couldn't help but smile. “She sounds like a great person.” Lance nodded his head, “Oh, she was. She'll always be my best friend, and I'll never forget her." |