Fogged in in Dallas on my way to LA
Staring up at the screen, all flights were delayed
When a voice from behind me asked
"Stranger, how have you been?"
I was caught off-guard when I saw her face
Stumbled my way though an awkward embrace
Somehow I managed to say
"Good to see you again."
Lance stood up from his uncomfortable airport chair in frustration. He walked over to the desk, trying to calm his frayed nerves.
"Ma'am, can you please tell me when the flight to Los Angeles will board?" he asked politely.
"I'm sorry, sir, but there's no way to know that. All flights have been delayed until this fog lifts."
Lance sighed again. The guys are not going to be happy with me. He thought. It had taken everything he had in him to convince them to let him spend an extra few days with his family. He'd promised to catch a flight to LA in time for their concert that night. He knew if the fog didn't lift within the next two hours, he would not make it in time. And if he didn't make it in time... Lance shuddered to think of what would happen.
He walked back to the screen which showed his misfortune. He looked up at it again, hoping that his flight's status had miraculously changed. He sighed again, seeing his hopes dashed.
"Hey stranger. How have you been?"
A female voice startled him, and he turned around quickly. He looked at the young woman standing in front of him carefully, taking in her curly blond hair and deep blue eyes. He was just about to ask her name when realization dawned on him. His mouth fell open in shock.
"Jo?" he whispered. She smiled and nodded. He reached over to hug her hesitantly.
"It's, um... It's good to see you again." Lance stuttered.
Does she think about that night we spent on Crystal Lake
Wrapped up in a blanket til the brink of day
So many times I've wondered does she think of me that way
But I didn't ask, and she didn't say
"It's good to see you too, Lance." she said.
Lance managed a smile. "So, how have you been? What are you doing in Dallas?"
"I've been good, Lance." She blushed. "I got married two years ago, and I have a little girl now."
"Really?" Lance asked, shocked. "Who did you marry?"
"Ryan Scott. Do you remember him?"
Lance nodded. He was once again struck speechless. Ryan and Jo? Married? With a baby? He remembered all the time they'd spent together. He'd liked her since the sixth grade and had finally gotten up the nerve to ask her out when he was fourteen. They'd had two good years together, and he had loved her with all his heart.
**Flashback**
"Gosh, it's beautiful out here." Jo whispered into Lance's ear.
Lance squeezed her tighter. "Yeah, it is."
She looked up and realized he was watching her. A blush spread over her cheeks and he laughed. He could always make her blush.
"Oh, shut up, you smooth-talker." she laughed, reaching up to get a kiss.
He replied with another hug, then pulled the blanket that was draped around them tighter. It was May, two months after they'd begun dating, and they'd decided to drive up to Crystal Lake to watch the stars. He knew Jo loved astronomy and watching the stars, and he was content to do the same, as long as she was in his arms.
**End Flashback**
Lance shook himself out of his trance when Jo's voice brought him back to the present.
"So, how have you been, Lance?" she asked quietly. "I assume good, from what I can gather from the media."
"Yeah, things have been good. I miss spending time with my family and stuff, but..." he shrugged, not knowing how to continue. He wondered if she ever thought about those times, if she ever missed what they'd had. He guessed not, since she was married with a child.
"Um, can I see a picture of..." Lance trailed off, realized Jo hadn't yet told him her little girl's name.
She smiled. "Madison. Madison Rose. And yes, of course you can see a picture." She fumbled through her purse until she found her wallet, which she opened and held out to him.
Lance studied the picture carefully. Madison was definitely Jo's daughter. She had her mother's turned-up nose and sparkling blue eyes. Her blond hair took on Ryan's curls, though, and fell around her face. She looks like an angel. He thought.
"She's beautiful." he said to Jo. "She looks just like you. How old is she?"
"Um... That was taken when she was a year old. She's almost twenty months now." She smiled more, almost beaming as she thought of her daughter. Lance could tell that she loved Madison immensely.
"I still can't quite believe you and Ryan are married, Jo. I never would have guessed the two of you would get together."
Jo's smile fell slightly. "Yeah, well, sometimes life can surprise you." Lance looked at her carefully. When he looked into her always expressive eyes, he was startled to find hints of regret and pain evident there. Lance thought back on all she'd said, and realized that she'd been pregnant before she and Ryan were married.
"Jo? You okay? Did I say something wrong?" He asked, concerned that he had brought up bad memories.
She sighed and sat down. "Lance, I haven't been entirely honest with you. The truth is, I'm flying back to Mississippi. I sent Maddie back home last week."
Lance sat down next to her. "I take it this trip isn't just to visit your folks."
"No, it's not." she answered sadly. "I'm leaving Ryan. I didn't want to marry him in the first place, but Daddy forced me to when he found out I was pregnant. The first few months were bearable, but after Maddie was born, Ryan just got worse. He screamed at me day and night-- that's when he was ever home, anyway. Maddie and I usually had the apartment to ourselves while he went to the bar. Finally, last week, he completely lost his temper. He hit me, and started walking towards Madison. I was terrified he'd hurt her, so I grabbed her and ran. I called Mother and explained everything to her. She arranged for someone to come pick up Maddie. She left the next day, and now here I am, going home to be with my daughter." As Jo finished her story, Lance was saddened to see a single tear make it's way down her cheek.
"Jo?" Lance asked quietly. "Can I ask how you and Ryan got together in the first place?"
More tears fell down her face. "Um... We were at a party, we got there separately, but sorta ran into each other there. He was drunk, and he dragged me to a bedroom..." she left off there, knowing Lance could figure out the rest. Lance was stuck speechless again, horrified that the girl he'd sworn to love forever had suffered so much. The silence seemed to envelope them both as they each lost themselves in the past.
I wonder if she thinks about Jackson Hole
Nights beside the fire and angels in the snow
So many times I've wondered does she think of me that way
But I didn't ask, and she didn't say
Jo looked up at him and smiled shyly. "I hear you live in Florida now. Is it any hotter there than in Mississippi?" she said, trying to change the subject.
Lance answered her questions about Florida half-heartedly, not really paying attention to what she was asking. His mind once again returned him to the past, and he remembered their skiing trip to Jackson Hole just before he left to join *N Sync.
**Flashback**
"It's our last day here." Lance complained. "Do you really want to go skiing again?"
She looked at him with a mischievous smile on her face. "Well, this is a ski lodge. What else did you have in mind?"
Lance grinned and shrugged his shoulders casually. "I don't know. I guess I was kind of hoping we could cuddle by the fire or something."
"Why Mr. Bass! I never knew you were such a romantic!" she laughed, watching him blush.
He grinned, then wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug.
**End Flashback**
That night had been the best night of his life. They'd made snow angels in the fresh powder outside the lodge, then come in and cuddled by the fire, drinking hot chocolate. He wondered if she felt the same way; if she ever still got goosebumps thinking about that night. He opened his mouth to ask her when the airport's PA system interrupted him.
"Flight 218 to Los Angeles now boarding. Flight 218 to Los Angeles now boarding."
Lance looked at her regretfully. "That's me. We've got a concert tonight."
She smiled. "Well, good luck. It was good to see you again. If you're ever back home, be sure to give me a call."
He nodded. "You got it. We'll keep in touch this time." She nodded, and they hugged tightly, then she watched as he walked away.
Lance sighed as he stood in line at the security checkpoint. He wished he'd been able to tell her how he felt, and ask her if she ever thought about him. As he stood, his attention was drawn to the song coming out of the airport speakers. He recognized the voice of Tim McGraw, and almost laughed when he heard the song that was playing. Unconsciously, he turned back toward the spot where he and Jo had been standing. Her back was to him, but he saw her head tilted up as she concentrated on the lyrics she was hearing.
"Sir, it's your turn to go through." the guard called to him.
Lance sighed again and cast one last look at Jo's back. He turned and disappeared through the gate just as she turned around for one last look.