| Chapter Five |
| One month later Crystal McKay gazed at the photo album. The pictures seemed so foreign to her. She couldn?t remember ever being that happy. And Justin, he had looked at her so differently then. She didn?t even realize how much in love with her he had been, and she had totally destroyed what she could have had with him. No wonder he acted the way he did when he saw her. She had practically destroyed him. How could she have done that? Why was she such a terrible person? When she talked to her shrink about Justin, she had said it wasn?t her fault. He was just struggling with too many emotions at once and he needed time to resolve them. She didn?t believe that. But then again Justin had changed a lot in a year. So she really didn?t know what to think. She really needed him to be there for her, and he wasn?t there. That hurt her most of all, because he had always been there in the past. Not that Jess and Tina weren?t great friends. They had helped her more than anyone. But Justin was different. She wanted him to be there. She wanted him to be the one to tell her everything was going to be ok. She just wished he would call her or write her. Her heart ached for him; she needed her best friend back. She hated living in seclusion like she was. It was a really nice house, the police had paid for it and everything, but she couldn?t tell anybody where she was. The FBI had yet to find Todd and until they did she would have to lay low. She detested it. Her shrink kept telling her to get out and try new things. Take a few steps forward every month. How that hell was she supposed to get out and try new things when nobody was supposed to find out where she was? The only people that knew where she was living were Jess, Tina, and Justin?s mom Lynn. Her own mother didn?t even know and she wanted to keep it that way. She didn?t need that drunken tramp traipsing around and screwing up her life anymore than she had already. Lynn Harless was everything that Crystal had ever wanted out of her own mother. The woman practically raised her and her and Justin had known each other their whole lives. When she was a little girl and her own mother would be too hung over from the night before to get up and take her and her brother to school Lynn would always be there. When she turned thirteen she ended up moving in with Lynn and her family to try and pursue her dream of singing. Her mother didn?t protest much. She still had Brad to show off to her tennis club friends. Crystal became the forgotten child, and she liked it that way. That year Justin, Jessica, and Crystal traveled to Florida and tried out for the Mickey Mouse Club. Justin made it right away and when it came time to decide the last female spot it came down to her and Jessica. She had to compete against her best friend. It was one of the hardest things she had ever had to do, but in the end she got the part and Jessica went home empty handed. Thankfully, Jessica was a good sport about the whole thing and the two remained good friends. That year was the best one she ever had. It not only brought her and Justin closer, but she was finally getting to work with other kids that loved the same thing she did. She couldn?t have asked for anything more, and she was heartbroken when the show was cancelled. After the show was cancelled Lynn, Justin, and Crystal remained in Florida where Lynn met her second husband Paul and a year later got married. Meanwhile, Justin had started his own singing group called NSYNC with JC Chasez who also was on MMC, but it was only a thing to do for fun back then. Back then no one could have imagined what the coming years had in store. She heard the mail slot in the door squeak open and fall back shut again. She walked over to the door picking up that days mail. A few magazines, a letter from Jessica, and a letter from?what? Trans Continental Records? Why in the world would they be writing to a nutcase like her? She shrugged and tore open the letter curiously: Dear Ms. McKay, We have heard from several sources that you would be beneficial to our NSYNC European Summer Tour. We are offering you the position of Event Coordinator. If you are willing to accept this opportunity please call our Tour Productions offices at 555-7863 ASAP. Sincerely, Johnny Wright Manager P.S-I?m sorry about everything?you will be well protected. Please say you?ll join us. Love, Justin Tears of joy escaped her eyes. Finally, he had accepted it all. Finally, they could start on the road back to what had once been. She ran to her bedroom and dialed the number that was on the paper. She couldn?t wait to see Justin again. She couldn?t wait to be able to confide in him again. Little did she know who was really behind this. ********************* "Ok guys, time to listen up, we have alot of paper work to look over so lets get going." Johnny Wright's voice boomed across the conference room as he handed out tour itineraries to each member of the group. Justin drummed his fingers across the table, filled with complete and utter boredom. He didnt want to be here. He wanted to be onstage where he could show off. He rolled his eyes as Johnny ran through the rules of the tour, the curfew times, and all the other mumbo jumbo crap that went along with the tour. "Now if you'll all please turn to page 3 I'd like to introduce some new people that will be joining our team. Including one that was brought to my attention from Justin himself. Good call Justin, she seems very promising." Johnny said nonchalantly and started reading the list of people and what each of their jobs entailed. Justin froze in his seat. New crew member? Since when? He had never said anything about a new crew member to Johnny or anybody else. He frantically scanned down the list of names. When he found one that he recognized his heart literally jumped in his throat: Crystal Mckay-Events Coordinator This job entails: -organizing meet and greets -organzing interviews -personal assistant to Mr. Timberlake -organizing all other social events If in fact the person(s) listed cannot complete the tasks assigned to him/her that person will be removed and replaced immediately. Justin glanced around the room and caught Chris staring right at him with a michevious smile on his face. "Motherfucker." Justin mouthed out to Chris silently. Justin raised his hand to get Johnny's attention. "Yes Justin?" Johnny said impatiently. He wanted to get through this mumbo jumbo quick, the boys had to go to rehersal at 5 and it was already 3:45 and they had a assload of papers left to cover. "Sorry Johnny, but I dont recall ever saying anything to you about this person being on tour with us." Justin said pale faced Chris, Lance, Joey, and JC were all holding their breath. Trying their best not to laugh. When Chris had told his other bandmates his idea everyone had thought he was a genius. What better way was there to get Justin back for all the shit he had been putting them through? Besides they had all met Crystal before and they liked her, and the job wasnt hard, anyone with half a brain could do it. Chris had requested the personal assistant stuff though, just to add that extra touch. "What the hell are you talking about? You sent me that email a few weeks ago about how much it would mean to you if I could get this girl on the tour with us somehow. I pulled alot of strings for you on this one Justin. I cant change it now." Johnny told him, even more annoyed now. "Oh come on Johnny, this is me you're talking about here." Justin smiled his "you know you love me" smile, while the other four members of NSYNC proceeded to vomit in their shoes. "Sorry J...not this time. I cant do it." Johnny shook his head. "But Johnny I'd really feel better if..." Johnny cut him off. "Justin the answer is no...be a man and live with it." Justin put his head in his hands and started rubbing his temples, while Johnny continued on. personal assistant to Mr. Timberlake What the hell was he going to do? |