| Chapter Twenty-three |
| "So what was so bad that you had to run away with me?" Britney giggled, taking a sip of her coke. "God, I don't even know where to start. What isn’t bad?" Justin rolled his eyes and put a forkfull of salad in his mouth. Britney looked at him skeptically. NSYNC was hugely popular. He had a ton of money, and was extremely good looking. What could be so bad? She just didn't get it. But how could she. All she cared about, was looks and money anyway. Britney Spears had a lot of things, but brains she did not. "Come one Justin, what's bothering you? You can tell me. Your secret is safe with me." She smiled her irritatingly perfect smile. Justin sighed. He had been so angry when he was at the hotel he didn't care that he had gone out with Britney, even though they hadn't really seen each other in about five years. They had been on MMC together, and had been really close. He remembered he had had a crush on her and they had even shared their first kiss together. But that was as far as the relationship had ever went. Even though he had kissed Britney, his heart had always belonged to Crystal. And now here he was, fighting with Crystal and eating dinner with the only other girl he had ever taken the time to notice besides Crystal McKay. "My girlfriend and I are fighting and today the other guys were really getting on my nerves. I just had to get away for a little while. Really, I'll be ok." "Oh...who are you dating J. The last I heard you were single." Britney questioned with a shrug. "Me and Crystal got back together." Justin said stirring his coke around with his straw, not meeting her gaze. "Oh wow. I heard she survived that whole thing....freaky huh?" She giggled stupidly. That's crazy that you guys are together!" Britney exclaimed wide-eyed. "Why is that crazy?" Justin asked her, shaking his head. "Well, I mean think about it. She was thrown into like, this nightmare for so long. It's amazing she can act normal around people." Britney chuckled. "She's not some retarded idiot." Justin rolled his eyes. Now he knew why he didn't hang out with Britney. "Yeah, she went through hell, but she's a smart girl. She gets better as time passes. She just needs time." He could have slapped himself right then. The whole reason that he and Crystal were fighting was because he wasn't giving her enough time and space. Sirens sounded off in his mind. He was such an idiot, he just wished he had realized it sooner. He had to get back to Crystal, before everything fell apart. "Justin? Where are you going....you barely touched your food!" Britney questioned him as he rose up from the table. "I have to go somewhere. Sorry Brit...thanks for listening. Maybe we can get together sometime." He concluded and quickly walked out of the restaurant. "God...whats so good about Crystal McKay anyways?" Britney fumed. She would make Justin hers in time. They had kissed before and they would do it again. She would make sure of that. ****************** The meet and greet that night was anything but ordinary. The kiss Crystal had shared with Nick had left her speechless, and as much as she knew she should have slapped him across the face for taking advantage of her like he had, she hadn't wanted to. She had kissed him back, and which had only made there kissing more intense. Actually, if they both hadn't fallen off the bed like they had, she didn't know what would have happened. She couldn't believe herself, she had cheated on Justin. There was no way she could keep this from him. She had to tell him. Any chance of salvaging their relationship was gone now. She had screwed up big time. She didn't know how Justin was going to react when she told him. He was going to be crushed...mortified. She would be lucky if they could remain friends after all this. "Hey." Crystal snapped out of her daze and whirled around. Nick was standing behind her, with a sad, serious look on his face. "Oh...hey. Shouldn't you be getting ready? They're going to let the fans in any second." "I'm sorry I kissed you Crystal." Nick said, not hearing her. "Nick....can't we talk about this later?" Crystal groaned, and glanced around cautiously. "I don’t need Alex overhearing this." "No we can’t...and screw Alex, this isn’t any of his business...and I know how he’s been treating you. I promise you, the next time I’m alone with him I’ll put him in his place. Nick said sternly. "But Nick..." "Girl...would you just wait a second?" He asked her, with a pleading tone. "I need to get my feelings out in the open before the show tonight or I'm never going to be able to perform." Crystal let out an annoyed sigh and folded her arms across her chest. "Fine Nick...fine." "Look Crys’, I shouldn't have done what I did. You were confused and I took full advantage of that. I'm sorry." He shook his head. "Yeah, well I'm sorry too. I'm going to be even sorrier in a day or two when my boyfriend leaves me for good." Crystal replied trying not to cry. "The kiss...it was a mistake Nick. And I just want to forget it." Nick raised a questioning eyebrow. "Was it a mistake Crystal?" He whispered. "Or are you just so afraid of how you really feel about me, that you’re trying to convince yourself that it was?" Before she could reply a flood of fans were led into the room. There wasnt time to think about their problems right now. She had a mob of screaming fans to deal with. ************************ Two nights later.... Crystal stood against the wall and watched Nick as he happily signed autographs and took pictures with his fans. She was impressed. Not once on this whole tour had he refused to sign an autograph or take a picture with a fan. Even when it was an off day and he got spotted he would still stop and talk to his fans. He was much better than Justin, who only signed autographs and took pictures when he was obligated to. Nick was so good with his fans. He enjoyed being around them, which was more than she could say for a lot of other people. He was letting some of these girls take three or four pictures with him. He was such a sweetheart. "OK Nick, we gotta go." Billy told him as the other members of the group were led off to their dressing room. Nick paid no attention and continued to talk with the half dozen girls that surrounded him. Billy sighed. They were late enough as it was. "Nick." Billy groaned. "Let’s go." "I'm coming! Sorry girls...I gotta go. I hope you all have fun at the show tonight." Nick replied finally. "Bye Nick." The girls said at once as he, Billy and Crystal all exited the small room together. Once he was sure Billy was out of sight Nick grabbed Crystal and pulled her into a side hallway where they couldn't be seen. "Nick what the hell are you doing?" Crystal exclaimed. "We need to talk about the other night. You can't avoid it forever Crystal." Nick whispered. "I'm not avoiding it....it's just...." Crystal paused. "It's just what?" Nick asked. "I don't know how I feel about all this Nick." "What are you saying?" Nick said with a confused tone. "I'm saying I don't know if I have feelings for you or not. And if I do, I dont know if I should be having them. I mean I haven't even told Justin what happened yet. I mean granted I tried calling him, but he didn't answer his phone." Crystal shook her head. "Well Crys' I think its pretty obvious that I have feelings towards you so I don't really need to explain myself. I wish I could have held back. I really wish I could have. You're just so beautiful. I feel like I've been in love with you since the day I saved your life. When I look at you...when I look into your eyes...I know...I know that you’re it for me. I just wish you could all of this like I see it. I know you love Justin, and you have every right to want to be with him. But I just want you to know that if something happens and you feel like you have no one else to turn to...I just want you to know that I’m going to always be there for you, no matter how bad things are. I mean I know that's not much but and I know I’m not some big macho hunk like Justin, but I am who I am and I just wanted you to know how I feel. Even if it is stupid...or not thought out right." Nick stumbled with his words. He was so bad at expressing himself, especially around women. Crystal probably thought that he was a moron. "Nick...I...I never thought you could be so sweet." Crystal said with tears streaming down her cheeks. They held each other for a few moments and before she knew it there she was again, kissing Nick's soft silky lips. She couldn't help herself. It felt so right. Like she was meant to kiss Nick and no one else. Not even Justin. |