| Chapter Thirteen |
| One week later "What…do…you…mean??" Jessica Simpson gasped into the phone, not believing what her friend had just told her. "God, Jess I have to talk to somebody about this, try to be a little more understanding." Crystal rolled her eyes as she replied. "No its ok, it’s ok. I want you to talk to me. Its just…wasn’t it a little rushed…the whole sex thing?" Jessica questioned. Crystal wasn’t surprised at her friend’s reaction. Jessica was born a virgin and Crystal knew if she never got married, she would die a virgin. She would have much rather talked to Tina about the whole situation, but she was away on vacation and wouldn’t be back for another week. "I don’t know Jess, it just happened. I really don’t know what to think. All I know is that things have been really weird around here since that night. I mean we talk and stuff, but we just go about our lives as if nothing had happened at all. Like the morning after we ate Apple Jacks in bed and watched cartoons…it was the strangest thing ever, it was like something out of a dream. We didn’t even talk about it, even though we were lying there butt ass naked the entire time." "Apple Jacks and cartoons? You two are hilarious, don’t worry Crys’ I don’t think any less of you. Just be happy ok? And you need to talk to him about what happened. It’s important. You have to decide where your relationship stands." Jessica replied warmly. "Listen I gotta go my 5 minute break between recording is up, I’m going to come and see y’all in New York for the whole NSYNC album release. Tell Justin I say hi and he owes me his life the next time I see him." Crystal laughed. "Alright Jess, talk to you later." "Bye." "That’ll be three hundred fifty nine ninety eight miss." The cashier told her. Crystal handed her a visa card. It was amazing how much stress you could relieve by spending money. ************************** Justin sat at the kitchen table eating a ham and cheese sandwich and thumbing through the latest edition of Sports Illustrated. He couldn’t concentrate. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything for the past week. Not since that night. That beautiful, magical, confusing night that he and Crystal had shared together. He was afraid to bring it up for the fear that he would drive her away if he told her what he really felt about the whole situation. He knew that he wanted to be with her. But did she want to be with him? Was she ready for that? "What’s with you dude?" Trace asked his friend in between bites of his own sandwich. Justin had barely spoken two words all day, which was really weird considering that he usually had to tell Justin to shut up so he could get his opinions in sometimes. It was obvious that something was on his friends mind but he didn’t really have any idea what it could be. "Huh? Did you say something Trace?" Justin said looking up from his magazine he was pretending to read. Trace laughed. "What’s up man? You’re never this quiet." "Oh…nothing. I’m just resting my voice. Big day tomorrow with NSYNC and all that stuff." Justin replied nonchalantly. "You are so full of shit." Trace shook his head, Justin couldn’t lie to him. "What are you talking about?" "Alright…who is she. It’s must be some girl. That’s the only thing I can think of besides something happening to your family or to the group, and I know nothing is going on with any of that." "I don’t have any time for a girl Trace, you should know that already." Justin lied, rolling his eyes. Trace stood up from the table and put his plate in the sink. "Alright dude, if you don’t wanna talk about it that’s cool. I understand…I’m a little hurt maybe…but I understand. Just call me later if you feel like talking." Trace turned towards the door and smiled knowing that Justin would call him back any second. "Trace…wait…" Justin said softly. He didn’t want to talk about this with anybody. But he and Trace had been through everything together. He couldn’t keep this from him, he knew if Trace had the same problem he wouldn’t keep it a secret. Trace snickered quietly to himself. Damn, he was good. ********************* The screams were deafening. He had never been so thankful to be inside a television studio. He didn’t know how much more he could take. It had been the same thing for months now. The Backstreet Boys were huge. They’re latest single "As Long as You Love Me" had sent them skyrocketing to the top of the charts. He was a household name. Just like he had always known he and the other guys would be. Everywhere he went he got recognized. He loved it and hated it at the same time. The guys had told him this was what was going to happen, but he never imagined it would be at this level. God, he couldn’t even take a crap in peace without Kevin yelling at him to get moving. Then sometimes when he had a moment of sanity and his mind cleared, he would think of her. That beautiful face and that perfect body. He hadn’t heard from Crystal McKay since the time he had talked with her in Germany. He never had the chance to go on the computer and when he did he never saw her online. He always wondered where she was and what she was doing, and if she was ok. One day he hoped he would see her again. Maybe then he would get the chance to get to know her. "Nick…" "NICK!" Kevin yelled, snapping his younger friend out of his daze. "W-what…what happened?" Nick replied, startled. "Oh nothing…we’re just about to go on Good Morning freaking America and you’re off in lala land. Come on wake up!" Kevin Richardson said sternly. "Awww c’mon Kev don’t be so hard on him." Brian snickered. "He’s just a baby." "Shut up man!" Nick made a dash for Brian who quickly darted away. "I’m gonna get you good Littrell…you better run fast…real fast!" Nick called after his friend as they chased each other around the backstage area, appalling the other employees. "Guys! Guys come on! Grow up!" Kevin sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Kids,"he muttered out loud shaking his head. "What happened?" AJ said walking into the room with Howie. "Just get ready, you’re both late!" Kevin exclaimed. "Owwww!!" they all heard Brian exclaim from somewhere down the hall. "That’s what you get!" they heard Nick laugh. "I think that pretty much sums up the situation." Howie snickered. "Am I the only professional one here?" Kevin asked. "Kev," AJ said slapping a hand on one of Kevin’s broad shoulders. "You gotta get out more dude." "The day in the life of a Backstreet Boy. Isn’t it exciting?" Brian said breathlessly as he reentered the dressing room. "I’m not a baby." Nick said entering after Brian. "I think we established that Nick." Kevin rolled his eyes "Five minutes till air!" a stagehand yelled as he walked by the dressing room. "Alright guys get yourselves together so we can do this. When we get back to the hotel I promise you can jump on the bed or whatever it is you need to do. Just please act mature out there." Kevin pleaded, directing his attention mainly on Nick, Brian, and AJ. The three exchanged glances. "We can do that." Brian smiled. "Great." Kevin said sarcastically. |