| Chapter Eleven |
| Two months later, August Justin sighed as he plopped down in a chair on the tour bus. They had just finished their last show, and after nearly getting his favorite necklace torn from his neck by some crazy fans waiting by the buses, he was glad. He was exhausted, and it was going to be nice to get some down time at home. But the thing he was looking foward to the most was getting to spend time alone with Crystal. He wanted to get to know her again. To be close with her like they had used to be before everything had happened. The door opened once again as JC, Lance, and Joey all ran onto the bus. Hysterical screams could be heard from the outside as the door of the bus closed behind them. "Jesus! They're like animals!" JC laughed as he headed towards the bathroom. He was covered in silly string. Justin had to laugh. "That's what happens when you linger behind." he smiled as JC went into the bathroom, probably to take a shower. "Where's Chris?" Joey asked confused. "He stopped to sign autographs." Lance replied, shaking his head. "He fucking insane!" Justin exclaimed. "Those aren't girls out there. Those are crazed maniacs." "It was Crystal's idea. She's out there now. There's some girl out there who loves Chris and Crystal couldn't get her a pass so she promised her the next best thing." Lance said. "Are you serious?" Justin asked in disbelief as he cracked open the window. Sure enough there was Chris talking to some hysterically crying girl as Crystal snapped picture after picture with the girls’ camera, looking happier than ever. Of course one of their bodyguards had accompanied them. He couldn't believe it. No one else that worked for them would have taken the time to do that besides her. Nobody. "I'm going out there." Justin smirked. "Are you crazy? Chris is one thing, but they'll trample you J." Joey laughed. Justin ignored his friend and walked outside the bus. Screams immediately errupted from the group of about 15 girls in the small parking lot. "Oh my God it’s Justin!!" one girl screamed. "I love you!!" another one yelled. One girl immediately broke down in tears. Crystal looked over her shoulder in disbelief. Justin? Signing outside of a meet and greet? Yeah right. But sure enough there he was, immediately escorted over to her by a very annoyed looking Fritz. "No way, Timberlake. If Johnny knew about this, he would shit." Fritz said sternly speaking to the three of them. "Oh have a heart Fritz, do it for the kids. They're the reason you have a job." Crystal smiled pecking her friend on the cheek. He rolled his eyes. "Yeah man, have a heart." Chris said in a corny dramatic voice. "Fine, I'm giving you and Chris ten minutes and only you and Chris. Ten minutes. Then we're leaving." Fritz replied, looking the other way. "J, I'm so proud of you. This is really decent of you." Crystal smiled, yelling over the screams. "No, I'm proud of you. It's the least I can do on the last show of the tour," he smiled as he walked over to the hysterical group of girls. "Guys calm down! Justin and Chris are going to get to try to get to everybody, but they won't be able to until everyone calms down." Crystal yelled smiling at the young girls. After a few moments the noise turned into mild yells and shreiks. "How do you do it?" Justin asked her in disbelief. "I just have the magic touch, here go to her first J." Crystal smiled leading him over to a hysterically crying young girl, who was holding a sign that read "God must have spent all his time on Justin." "She was the first one here." Crystal informed him. "Hi. What's your name sweetie?" Justin smiled as he took her program to sign. The girls jaw dropped in disbelief. "E-elsa." the girl stuttered. Justin smiled and wrote: To Elsa, with love and signed his name. "C-can I please get a picture with you?" She asked as he handed her back her program. "Sure." he smiled. "Here give me your camera sweetie." Crystal smiled, taking Elsa's camera. "Smile." she said and took the picture. It went on like that for twenty minutes. Even though Fritz had only said ten, he had let them slide when he saw how under control the situation was, the venue security had closed the gate to the bus corral so that no other fans could get inside. Which made it easier for Justin and Chris to get to everybody. As soon as the group of fans were escorted out the three friends went back to the bus. "So did you get slaughtered?" Joey laughed. "No, Crystal tamed the wild beasts." Chris laughed. "Wasn't that sooo much fun you guys?" Crystal smiled happily as she sat down next to an exhausted looking Justin. "More fun than I thought it would be." Justin smiled. "Where's JC?" "He's sleeping, like I would have been if we could have gotten our asses moving. Can we get the hell out of here please?" Lance whined. Crystal tossed a Hershey's kiss at Lance's head. "Hey!" he said crankily. They all cracked up as the bus started moving. Hearing Lance whine was always good for a laugh. *************************** "Umph! Thats the last!" Justin stood back and sighed as he plopped the last duffle bag on the floor. "I told you to let me help you silly boy," Crystal laughed from her relaxed position on the sofa. "That's what you get for being stubborn." "I told you, I owe you this. You proved me wrong in so many ways, with so many things. I deserve to carry your bags for the rest of my life." Justin panted as he wiped the sweat off of his forehead. Crystal chuckled. "Well when you put it that way J, I really can't disagree. Now go make me lunch bitch!" "Who you calling a bitch?" Justin yelled playfully as he grabbed a pillow off of the sofa Crystal was sprawled out on. "No please! I take it back!" Crystal laughed as Justin jumped on top of her, wacking her with the pillow. "Aaa!" Crystal yelped as they both crashed onto the floor beside the sofa, laughing hysterically. Catching Justin offguard she quickly grabbed Justin's weapon and wacked him over the head with it. "Oh that's it...you crossed the line now!" Justin yelled as she jumped up and ran out the back door that led to the pool. Justin followed closely behind her. "No! Justin....Justin!!" Crystal yelled in despair as he grabbed her from behind and threw her into the pool. She burst to the surface just in time to see him dart inside the house. "Grrr...I'm going to kill you J!" Crystal yelled after him softly smiling to herself. She pulled herself out of the pool and flipped her hair up and down a few times, shaking it out. She couldn't believe he had asked her to stay with him. She couldn't believe she had agreed to. She couldn't believe Justin had bought his own house barely at seventeen, granted Lynn had helped him but it was still his house. It was a normal sized house, but it was his house and they both loved it. Her attorney wasn't to pleased with her either, but what could he do? It was her life and she was going to live it, weather Todd was out there lurking around or not. She wasn't going to live in fear. She couldn't, she hadn't had much of a childhood, and she wasn't about to lose her young adult years to that psyco. It had been a month since the tour had ended. The group had remained in Germany a little longer after the tour had ended, finishing up the new album and doing more radio and tv promotion, but now they were finally back home, and finally they had a couple of weeks off to relax before promoting the NSYNC album in the United States. Johnny thought Crystal had done such an excellent job coordinating the meet and greets he offered her the postion of personal assistant to the group. Crystal had been shocked, but accepted greatfully. Justin and the rest of the group couldn't have asked for a better person for the job. Each one of them had become close to Crystal and she considered them more like a family than just the other members of the group. There was Chris, wacky Chris who could make any situation seem hilarious and exciting...even when it wasn't supposed to be. There was Joey who was the biggest flirt she had ever met, he could probably charm the pants off a ninety year old lady. There was Lance who was quiet and shy but was really good to talk to when no one else was around, no one else really knew it, but he was one of the best advice givers ever. He always had an answer when there was a problem, a good answer. Crystal had spent many nights talking with him, telling him things that she didn't think she would tell anyone besides those very close to her. Then there was JC, he was funny, crazy, and full of energy. If you put him and Justin in the same room everyone knew to look out, they were the craziest pair she had ever come across. They played so many pranks on security she was surprised that security hadn't quit yet. And then there was Justin. Justin who had changed magically before all of their eyes. Justin who had been so cold and self absorbed was now so kind, sweet, and funny. He was the Justin she remembered, and she was glad to have him back. Everyone was. She couldn't describe her feelings for him. She was confused about them. She had never fully understood what had happened that day in the elevator, and neither Justin or herself had brought it up since he had confronted her about it at one of the concerts. It was too awkward to talk about. Deep down inside her soul she knew there was something more between her and Justin than just friendship. Hell, everyone knew it...but no one wanted to admit it. She hadn't told anyone what had happened that day in the elevator and she was probably going to keep it that way. It was too much to deal with at the moment. She didn't think she was ready for a relationship yet, she had just battled a terrible, abusive one and she didn't know if she could really ever give her heart to anyone like that again. But on the other hand, if she did she figured Justin would probably be the one she would give into. They had been in love once, and they would probably fall in love again if time allowed it. She walked back into the house, peering around for any sign of a michevious Justin lurking in the shadows, but he was nowhere to be found. "Justin!," she called out. "Im dripping water all over the house and you're gonna have to mop it up! Come on swabby! Come swab the decks!" she laughed as she drifted towards the sound of music that was softly playing from one of the upstairs rooms. As she climbed the stairs the music became more understandable, and the smile on her face quickly faded as she realized what Justin was playing. ...isn't it obvious? that i dont know what i'm doing anymore i'm feeling like a little girl caught up in emotions im out of control isn't it obvious? Crystal stood outside of Justin's bedroom staring at him with a pale look on her face. Why was he playing that tape? Of everything he could have played he dug that up? "W-where did you find that?" Crystal finally spoke, making Justin jump a little not realizing she had been standing there. "I-i've had it...all this time I've had it. Some nights when I just missed you more than I could stand I would listen to it. It kept me sane Crystal. Even though everyone thought I forgot about you, you were always on my mind. You're voice...it's incredible. Please...will you sing for me now?" Justin replied quietly looking into her eyes. "No Justin. I-I can't." Crystal said slightly trembling. Singing had been everything to her once, but now it was like a long forgotten memory. Singing reminded her of the past, of the person she had used to be. Of all the terrible things she had gone through. She hadnt even realized how hard she was shaking until she felt Justin’s arms around her, supporting her so she wouldnt collapse. He slowly led her over to the bed so she could sit down and quickly switched off his stereo. "I'm so sorry Crys' I should have known it was too soon. I just wasn't thinking. I'm so sorry." Justin held her close to him and stroked her hair gently. "If you ever need to talk, if you ever need something. You can always come to me. I care about you so much, and I really want you to be happy I dont ever want those awful memories to come back and haunt you." he looked deep into her eyes as he spoke to her. "I-i'm sorry J, maybe one day I'll be able to do some things I used to. You know I'll always love music, hell I work with NSYNC. But singing...it just reminds me of so much. But I'm glad you understand J. I'm glad I have someone like you in my life." Crystal half smiled and wrapped her arms around him and surprised herself as she caught herself looking into his eyes. Here they were again...another awkward moment. Ring... "Son of a..." Justin groaned as the phone rang and the moment was broken once again. Crystal flopped back on the bed cracking up. What the hell had just happened? |