*Disclaimer - I do not owner any of the members of 'N Sync (yada yada yada) they belong to their respective owners. I do, however, own all fictional characters such as Carli, Janelle, Mike, Ashley and Devon. Plagiarism is against the law. Thank you.

Carli smiled as she watched Lance hold her little sister in his strong, capable arms, her ear pressed to his chest. He softly sang 'Happy Birthday' to her as his chin rested gently on top of the little girl's head. Though Carli hated to admit it, each of the young men were wonderful with her little sister, not to mention wonderful with her too. She hadn't had this much fun since before her mother died.

"A penny for your thoughts." an excruciatingly male voice sighed from behind her.

"Not enough money. Inflation and all." Carli shrugged with a smile as she turned to face Justin.

"All right, a quarter but that's my final offer. Take it or leave it." he amended with a laugh.

"She's becoming too attached to you guys. When you leave, she'll be heart broken." Carli answered with a sigh.

"So is Lance. He adores her. We all do." Justin commented with a nod. She nodded, falling silent as she took a seat at the edge of the stage.

"What will happen after you leave?" Carli inquired, glancing over at him as he plopped down next to her.

"Well, as weird as it sounds, I'd like to keep in touch with you." he stated, hating how nervous he sounded to his own ears. Carli remained silent, gazing down at her hands folded in her lap.

"I mean, I don't get to talk to too many girls my own age without them screaming in my face because of all this." Justin grimaced as he gestured to the stage behind them with his hand. "From what I know of you, you're a nice girl and I'd hate to lose touch with the nice girls I meet." he finished lamely.

"I'd like that, Justin." Carli replied softly with a nod.

"Yeah?" Justin smiled tentatively. Carli nodded then turned to glance around the venue. For the first time, she noticed how big it actually was.

"The last time I came here, mom and dad took us to see some old rock group. I can't even remember their name, it's been so long." she sighed, a far off look in her eyes.

"You miss her, don't you." Justin stated with understanding.

"More than anything else in this world. I have so much trouble sometimes. Raising Nell, going to school full time, and working part time on the weekends and after school most days. It's a wonder I haven't gone insane yet. But I take one look at her chubby little face, and I know I have to make everything all right for her. That I need to be strong. After she's grown and she can start taking care of herself, then I'll weaken just a little bit. But until then, I don't really have a choice." Carli sighed with a shrug. She had waited for so long to pour her heart out to someone, that it felt good to get some of this off her chest. She just hoped Justin didn't spook easily.

"I can't imagine not having my mother around." Justin shook his head as he placed his hands on her frail shoulders and started to kneed the tired, drawn muscles.

"It's no pleasure cruise. I'm up nearly twenty-one hours on a normal day, just to make sure everything is done and ready for the next morning. Sometimes, God, sometimes I wish I was just a normal kid that didn't have to worry about anything other than 'does the boy who sits next to me in Biology like me?' My friends don't know just how lucky they are." she shook her head, eyes closed as her muscles slowly relaxed under his tender administrations.

Justin's heart went out to this young woman who had the weight of the world on her tensed shoulders. He found himself wanting to protect her, to make the lines of fatigue disappear and be replaced with lines of laughter. He wanted to make her eyes shine with mischief. He wanted to hold her and tell her things would work out for the best. He found himself falling, falling deeper into the web of their beginning friendship.

"I wish there were something I could do." he mumbled, continuing to rub her sore muscles.

"Justin, if you really want to help, just be my friend. Lord knows I have so few of them." Carli replied, head beginning to hang, the effort to hold it up much too great.

"You got it." Justin smiled to himself, as he delivered one of the best back massages he had done in a long while.

"You sing, you dance, you have a great smile, and you give great massages. Is there anything you can't do?" Carli teased when he slipped his hands from her now lose and flexible shoulders.

"I can't do a cartwheel to save my life." Justin laughed, shaking his head.

"I don't believe it. Not with all the stunts you guys do." she shook her head, lips twitching with amusement.

"How do you know I do stunts?" he inquired lifting an eyebrow.

"I don't live in a time warp, Wonder Boy. I do watch MTV, eventually. I might be a few months late on the current music, but I still know what's out there." Carli reprimanded with a playful shove.

"Oh, my bad. I just thought you were psychic or something." Justin snorted, rolling his eyes.

"Actually I am. In the near future I see you becoming a slave to laughter." Carli stated mysteriously. He gave her a quizzical look and she laughed as she pounced on him. He burst into a fit of hysterical laughter as she tickled him.

"Oh God, help!" he cried out weakly as the others looked on with amusement. Though none of them would say anything, it was good to see Justin having fun again. He had seemed to become way too mature for his own good, and had taken a lot on his shoulders.

"I don't know, J. Something tells me you deserve this." JC smiled with a shake of his head.

"Thanks a lot, pal." Justin cried out tossing a mock glare in his friend's general direction.

"No problem, man." JC laughed as he walked over to where Lance and Joe were standing, watching the antics of the pair on the edge of the stage.

"Justin, stop jerking around so much or you'll go over the---," Joe called out a little too late as the pair went tumbling over the edge of the stage and landed with double cries of pain. Carli whimpered, rubbing her tail bone as Justin groaned loudly.

"You two okay?" Mike inquired with a raised eyebrow from her chair in the front row.

"Yeah. The only thing damaged is my pride." Justin groaned as he rubbed his lower back.

"I'm sorry, are you seriously hurt?" Carli questioned, her expert hands roaming up and down his back, trying to find anything out of place.

"No, I'm fine. Just a bit sore." Justin grimaced as he climbed to his feet.

"Sure, he likes to do tumbling acts that vicariously take him over the edge of the stage." Mike rolled her eyes as she got back to typing in her laptop computer.

"What are you doing anyway, Michaela?" Justin inquired walking over to her.

"Typing up a paper for one of my many tedious classes." Mike sighed giving her young friend a brilliant smile.

"No rest for the wicked, eh?" Justin laughed shaking his head.

"Something like that." she countered.

"JC, you really gotta do something about her." Justin called out, causing Carli to arch an eyebrow.

"What do you expect me to do about her?" JC countered as he sauntered over to where the three were gathered.

"I dunno. You have some sort of power over her, right?" Justin snorted with a shake of his head.

"Wait, she's the witch, I thought she had the power." Carli commented with a knowing smile. "I think it's time to give up the charade, boys, don't you think?"

"All right," JC nodded. "Mike isn't our witch, she's my girlfriend. You happy now?"

"Implicitly." Carli replied with a smirk.

"Why do I have the feeling everyone's talking about me as if I weren't sitting right here?" Mike questioned drily.

"Gee honey, I don't know. Why?" JC retorted as he closed down her laptop.

"I was working on something important, Josh." Mike sighed testily.

"And he's not important too?" Justin raised an eyebrow.

"All right, I give. Where's the party?" Mike tossed her hands into the air.

"Follow me." Justin grinned taking Carli's hand in his own. JC draped an arm along Mike's shoulders as the four walked over to the side stage area where a table was set up and filled with various kinds of snack food. Joe and Ashley laughed together over something that had happened on the girls' trip to the venue, Lance and Nell were still in each others arms, and Chris was on the phone talking animatedly with someone. Body guards were spread out doing their own thing, eating and talking among themselves.

Carli took in the scene with a smile. Was this what being a teenager really like? She had no idea, but she wasn't going to let the opportunity of fun slip away. Music played softly from a stereo set up near the table and Joe pulled Ashley out onto the stage to dance with her. Lance followed suit with Nell, causing Carli to smile with sentimentality. This was an experience she would hold near and dear to her heart for a long time.

"Little bird, dance with me." Carli heard JC murmur to Mike, who nodded with a smile. The two walked out onto the stage and started slow dancing to the fast pace song.

"Seems like everyone else is doing it. I know peer pressure can be a bitch, but would you care to dance?" Justin grinned impishly.

"I'd love to." Carli smiled. Justin held out his hand to her and she took it with a smile. Justin wrapped an arm around her small waist, taking her hand with his free one and pulled her into a slow dance as the music changed from a fast tempo song to a slower jazzy song. Carli closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder, hoping that the Justin she knew now would be the same Justin she would always know. She knew fame and circumstance could change people, she just hoped it wouldn't change Justin.

"Hey guys, time to get ready." Steven, the tour manager called from the backstage area. Everyone groaned loudly when Steven shut down the stereo.

"All right, lets go." Joe sighed, draping his arm along Ashley's shoulder. Everyone made their way to the dressing room, grumbling about not being able to do anything fun anymore. The ladies flopped down on the couch while the men headed for the wardrobe and shower room. Carli sighed as she rested back on the couch.

"Looks like someone is getting a bit frustrated." Mike commented with a smile.

"What?" Carli inquired, confused.

"Oh, nothing. You see, I'm very observant. I had that same look when I realized that I was falling for JC, even though I didn't want to. Ashley and Devon also had that very same look. It kind of comes with the territory when those guys are involved." Mike smiled, curling up on the couch.

"What do you mean?" Carli inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Justin's sweet on you." Mike answered with a shrug.

"I'd say more than sweet." Ashley mumbled under her breath.

"He barely knows me, and with all the baggage I have in my life. Well, let's just say that no seventeen year old would want to deal with it." Carli shook her head as she glanced over to where Nell was playing with a stuffed animal that had been given to Lance from a fan.

"We all have baggage, dear. Some baggage is just different. Justin has baggage, too. It's just one of those things." Mike shrugged and yawned.

"He can't be sweet on me. He isn't going to be here for very long." Carli sighed, becoming aggravated.

"That's not something a person can control. But I'm sure you'd be surprised with Justin. He's a great kid, and if I were a few years younger....." Mike laughed, trailing off.

"If you were a few years younger, what?" JC inquired as he walked into the room in his blue china doll outfit.

"Oh Lord, those things have to go." Mike shook her head. "I was just telling Carli that if I were a few years younger, Justin would be mine."

"I feel loved. Thanks, little bird." JC countered with a sigh.

"Awe, my poor muscle man. Come here." Mike laughed holding her arms out to him.

"No, forget it." JC replied shaking his head as he started signing CD covers for a radio station.

"Oh, come on Josh, you know I was only teasing you." Mike groaned loudly as she tried to climb to her feet. JC shook his head, turning his back to her so he could hide the smile that was taking over his face.

"What'd you do now?" Justin inquired as he walked in wearing his own color of the china doll outfit.

"Nothing. Mr. Serious doesn't know how to take a joke." Mike grumbled as she walked over to JC, her arms folded over her chest.

"Oh." Justin shrugged as he walked over to check out the gifts fans had left for them. Mike walked up to JC, and rested her forehead on his back.

"You know I was teasing you, right?" she inquired softly.

"Maybe." JC shrugged as he continued signing CD covers.

"Oh, I give up." Mike sighed, tossing her hands into the air. "Men. Who knew they'd be so sensitive about things. Look, dear heart, I was teasing and if you can't tell that then something's wrong with this picture."

"Uh oh, trouble in paradise?" Chris raised an eyebrow as he walked into the room.

"Something like that." Carli nodded, giving Mike a sympathetic smile.

"Lord, those two go at it all the time." Chris groaned as Joe walked in behind him. Joe picked up the pile of CD covers and started signing his name to each one.

"Ten minutes to show time, guys." Lance called from the hallway were he held up the hack. JC glanced up and nodded. Joe, JC, Chris and Justin all filed out of the room to play their mandatory game of hack before the show started. Mike shook her head as she watched them leave the room.

"That was interesting. Does he always act like that?" Carli inquired as she took a seat in between Ashley and Mike.

"No," Mike shook her head. "Something's bothering him."

"We better get going to where we were told to sit for this extravaganza." Carli sighed motioning for her little sister to join them. Nell put her doll back into her bag and ran over to where the rest of the ladies were sitting. Carli signed quickly that they were going to their seat and the little girl jumped up and down, clapping her hands with excitement.

"Where is this area anyway?" Carli inquired making a face.

"The general area for family and friends. The side of the stage. We get to stand and watch them work up a sweat. It's a thrilling experience, let me tell you." Mike countered sarcastically. Carli nodded, suppressing a giggle.

"All right, let's go." Ashley sighed tiredly. She still hadn't recovered from classes and work and driving all night. Carli swooped down and lifted her little sister up into her arms, then followed Mike and Ashley out into the hallway. The group of men were huddled together, talking softly like they had done for years before each concert. Carli looked on with amusement as Nell motioned she wanted to join in on the little ceremony.

"All right, good luck out there, boys." Steven stated loudly as the huddle broke apart. The members of 'N Sync now had on rip-away space suits that they opened each show with, holding the helmets that completed the outfits. Lance walked over to Carli with a smile.

"Will you ask Nell if I can have a good luck kiss before the show?" he inquired softly. Carli nodded and did as she was asked. The little girl beamed up at the young man, then placed a loud, smacking kiss on his cheek. Remembering the sign for thank you, Lance smiled as he signed the words to Nell.

"No fair, PooFoo got a good luck kiss and I didn't." Justin pouted folding his arms across his chest.

"What? You want a kiss from Nell?" Carli laughed, raising an eyebrow.

"No, a kiss from you will suffice." Justin nodded giving her a playful wink.

"Oh, I see. You make a new friend and you immediately want them to kiss you. Is that written in the rule book somewhere?" Carli questioned with an impish smile.

"Yup, it's rule number three hundred and ninety-one." Justin nodded, presenting her with his cheek. Carli shrugged with a laugh and place a loud, smacking kiss on the boy's cheek. Justin grimaced with a mock look of resentment.

"Now, that was not a kiss. That was a raspberry wannabe." Justin shook his head.

"Hey, beggars can't be choosers." Carli reminded him, wagging a finger in his face.

"All right, all right. Yeesh." Justin laugh, holding his hands up as if to ward off an attack.

"Well, Joshua, if you don't friggen trust me then we have no relationship!" Mike yelled loudly enough to startle everyone in the immediate area.

"I guess we don't have a relationship!" JC yelled back, looking obviously angry enough to spit nails.

"Whatever! But just think who the hypocrite in this situation is. If anyone has right to doubt one's faithfulness, it should be me!" Mike stormed, her face flushed, betraying just how upset she was.

"It doesn't matter anymore, does it?" JC spat out with venom.

"What does that mean?" Mike demanded as Justin and Chris walked over to the arguing pair.

"It's over. Done. Finished. Have a nice life." JC stated with finality.

"You son of a bitch." Mike cried out. "You have nothing to back up any of the accusations that you've made! Nothing at all! But in your court of law, I'm guilty until proven innocent! I am not Samantha! I didn't cheat on you, nor has the thought ever crossed my mind! And even if it had, where would I have found the time? If I'm not at class, I'm at work. If I'm not at work, I'm studying. If I'm not studying, I'm with you. And if I'm not with you, I'm sleeping for God's sake! When do I have time to find a man to have an 'affair' with, let alone do anything conspicuous?"

"Listen to me carefully, Michaela, because I'm not going to say it again. It's over. You got that? Over." JC yelled, gesturing wildly with his hands.

"Screw you, Josh." Mike countered hoarsely as Justin grabbed her arm and pulled her away from everyone. Justin brought her into the dressing room and slammed the door shut.

"What's going on?" he demanded softly.

"Nothing you have to worry yourself over, old man. You have a show to do." Mike reminded him, swiping angrily at the tears that threatened to fall.

"Tell me, little girl." Justin shook his head.

"Lori, that conniving little.... she can't stand me, so she decided to put it into JC's head, through rumors, that I was cheating on him. And he believed her. Teaches me a valuable lesson about love." Mike sighed bitterly.

"Yeah? What's that?" Justin inquired pulling his friend into a hug.

"That you pay for all the ex's mistakes." she answered giving him a quick squeeze. "Now, you have to go out there and knock them dead, old man. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" he inquired, his eyes filled with worry.

"Yeah, now go." she nodded, giving him a gentle nudge toward the door. Justin sighed then nodded.

"All right. Will you be here after the show?" he questioned, turning back to look at her.

"No. I'm going back to the hotel to get some work done, type up my resignation paper and pack my things. But you can stop by and see me after you get back and after you drop Carli off. By the way, old man, she's a nice girl. I like her." Mike replied as she grabbed her jacket from the couch in the corner.

"Everyone but JC will stop by and see how you're doing later." Justin stated before he disappeared out the door. He strode over to JC with fire in his eyes. "What the hell was all that about?"

"Nothing Justin. Mind your own damn business." JC snapped irritably.

"This is by business, JC. You just accused a friend of mine of something she says she didn't do." Justin retorted as Chris walked over to them, arms folded across his chest.

"What happened anyway?" Chris inquired with interest.

"Nothing. I've just been hearing things. What she does when I'm not around." JC shrugged as he yanked on his collar with a hint of aggravation.

"Yeah, you've been hearing things from a person who loves to spread rumors to spite people." Justin commented with sarcasm.

"Drop it, Justin. I'm in no mood for a verbal game of survival of the fittest. Besides, we have a show to put on." JC ground out, trying desperately to remain calm.

"Whatever." Justin snorted slipping on his space helmet. The others followed suit, each taking a huge black sheet to wrap around themselves to hide from the audience. They walked in silence to the backstage area and wrapped up in the sheets. The arena suddenly was pitched into darkness and the group took the stage. The live band started playing the opening bars of 'Crazy For You' and one by one, the group through off the sheets and started dancing. At the end of the intro, each member took off their helmet and started singing.

Carli stood off to the side with Janelle, who was dancing around and clapping excitedly, and watched with barely veiled amazement. They were even better live. The group seemed to thrive off the crowd's cheers and screams. After the first song finished, they immediately started into another. To anyone other than the people who knew them, no one would have guessed there was dissention in the ranks. Carli caught Justin glaring at JC repeatedly, and found that she was grateful that none of the fans could see that mutiny was on the minds of at least two members of the hottest pop group in America.

They closed out the show with a rousing mix of all their current hits, going quickly from one to the other, only singing a verse or to of each. Each member thanked the crowd and said goodnight before running off the stage. It was now a mad rush to get to the bus before any of the fans could leave the arena. It was one of their rules and it made things easier, not to mention people were less likely to get hurt if they disappeared right away. Justin gave Carli and Nell a quick smile and a wave as he passed the two. Steven had told her that after the concert she had a total of ten minutes to get to the tour bus if she was leaving for the hotel with them, but being that she had driven to the arena, she saw no sense in leaving with them only to come back later and pick up the car. Nell took Carli's hand as they headed out to the parking lot to climb into the car. She had intended to drop off Nell back at the house, then head over to the hotel to see how her new friends were doing.

Nearly an hour later, Carli stopped in front of Michaela's door and knocked loudly. A few seconds later, a very angry and hurt looking woman pulled open the door.

"Hi, I'm glad it's you. Justin's been playing the counselor and won't leave me alone about this whole business about tonight." the woman sighed with a smile as Carli walked in.

"Justin? A counselor?" Carli giggled with a shake of her head.

"Yeah. I'm guessing he's watched too many daytime talk shows. Now if I were a transvestite male who's in love with a alien abducted father of twelve, then he might be able to help." Mike retorted with a shrug of her shoulders.

"I can see that. And how do you feel about the possible sex tests done by aliens on the man you love?" Carli inquired holding an imaginary microphone in front of Mike.

"Well, now, I really don't care. Aliens don't make good lovers." Mike replied in a high pitched southern drawl.

"You ever notice how a lot of people down south have seen UFO's?" Carli questioned as she took a seat on the bed.

"You know, you just may have something there." Mike commented, nodding as she pulled out a sheet of notebook paper.

"What's that?" the younger girl asked.

"My resignation letter. I quit working for the fan club." Mike sighed, regret in her voice.

"You know, you don't have to quit. You don't have to give him the satisfaction of leaving because he's an ass." Carli suggested. Mike sat down and smiled sadly.

"Once JC makes up his mind about something, that's it. Nothing can change it back. He thinks I cheated on him, end of story. The credits have been over for quite some time. I just never thought nearly two years of love would end up like this." Mike shook her head as another knock sounded at the door.

"Who?" Mike called out loudly, refusing to move until she knew who it was and what they wanted.

"Chris. Lemme in, you fool!" Chris called back, the door muffling his voice. Mike climbed to her feet and pulled the door open, letting Chris into the room.

"Greetings and salutations, earthling." Mike grinned, closing the door behind him.

"Hey, how are the two of you holding up?" Chris inquired, looking serious for once. Mike shrugged her shoulders and handed him the slip of notebook paper.

"What's this?" Chris inquired with confusion as he looked down at the paper.

"My resignation paper." Mike answered simply.

"I can't accept this." Chris shook his head, tearing the paper into tiny pieces.

"What did you do that for?" Mike demanded with a sigh.

"Because I'm not letting you quit. You need the work, and we don't trust anyone else to do it." Chris shrugged.

"Oh, come on. It's not like this is a top-secret thing. I don't hide things from anyone and I don't specialize in cover ups in class." Mike tossed her hands into the air.

"I think what he did was right." Carli spoke up and Mike turned to her with an incredulous expression.

"I'm sorry Mike, but Justin's right on this one. JC was wrong, and he'll apologize. You just have to wait it out." Carli stated in a rush.

"She knows the kid for a couple of days and is already agreeing with him." Mike commented, rolling her eyes heavenward. Another knock sounded on the door and Mike groaned loudly as Chris opened the door. Justin walked in and smiled to everyone.

"Carli, just the person I was looking for." the young man exclaimed.

"Why? What'd I do now?" Carli questioned suspiciously.

"Nothing. I just wanted to see if you'd join me for a walk." Justin shrugged with a grin.

"Oh, okay. Yeah. Mike, remember what I told you." Carli stated as she headed toward the door. Mike let out an ear piercing scream and both Justin and Carli flinched as they stepped out into the hallway, quickly shutting the door behind them.

"So, how'd you and Janelle like the concert?" Justin inquired, glancing over at Carli as they strolled down the hallway.

"I was slightly impressed. I never realized just how popular you guys are until someone told me that she and her friend drove six hours to see you perform tonight." Carli nodded, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her jacket as they stepped out into the cool twilight air.

"Yeah, the fans we have are amazing." Justin agreed, nodding.

"What's it like, being up on stage?" she inquired as they slowed their pace to a very lazy stroll.

"It's unlike anything imaginable. It's the single most intoxicating experience. When the house lights come up and the screams become so loud it's deafening, it gives you such a rush. It's my own personal euphoria. It's hard to explain, really, but what I can say is…I can't or don't want to live without it." he shrugged as he stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets.

"I couldn't do it." she shook her head. "Stage fright. I would very much resemble a deer caught in headlights."

"It's really not that bad." he laughed. "When you're up there singing, it's so intense that you're not even thinking about the fear aspect. Now, don't get me wrong, we all suffer from nerves right before we go on, but it dissipates quickly."

"I still don't think I could do it." Carli shook her head with a laugh. "I can't carry a tune in a tin can."

"Awe, but you make up for it with your personality." Justin smiled as he draped an arm along her shoulders.

"Thanks, I think." she countered giving him a sideways glance.

"No problem." he laughed.

"What's it like to travel so much?" Carli questioned.

"Boy, full of questions tonight, are we?" he teased with a small smile. "It's hard. You end up missing the little things like your own bed, the quiet solitude of your own room, being able to do laundry in your boxers. Those little things added onto the bigger things, like missing the family and friends, it kind of dims the prospective excitement of a new city, state or country."

"I can sympathize, but don't you ever act like tourists and see everything you can?" Carli giggled.

"Oh sure, when we have the time. With all that we do, it gets hard." he shrugged as they turned a corner.

"That's another thing I could do. I'd want to see everything." she sighed with a shake of her head.

"Name the first place that comes into your mind that you'd like to visit." Justin stated suddenly.

"Well, Dan wants to go to California." she shrugged.

"That's not what I asked." he shook his head.

"The first place that come to mind?" she inquired, trying her best to stall.

"That's what I said." he confirmed with a nod.

"Fine. Disney World." she sighed dejectedly with a smile.

"Mind if I ask why?" Justin smiled down at her.

"I honestly don't know. I've always wanted to go there someday, to just have fun. I don't get to do that very often. And Florida seems like a nice place to vacation." Carli shrugged, laughing softly.

"I can attest that Orlando is a wonderful place. The only place I call home, anyway." he grinned.

"Maybe someday I'll make it there." she sighed softly as they stopped walking.

"I'll make a deal with you. I'll take the time to go sight seeing, and send you a little something from every city we hit if you take the time to have a little bit of fun every once in a while." Justin suggested raising an eyebrow.

"Pretty tall order for someone who can't go anywhere without being recognized." Carli commented as the started walking again.

"It's a pretty tall order for someone who thinks of others before themselves." Justin countered softly, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"How will I know that you're actually the one who goes out and sees things to get me the small something?" she laughed softly, gazing up at him.

"You'll be able to tell, just by what I send." he replied with a grin.

"How will you be able to tell if I've actually done anything fun for myself?" she questioned yet again.

"I'll be able to hear it in your voice." Justin stated as he felt himself drowning in her eyes.

"Well, I can hardly say no to a deal like that, can I?" she laughed. Justin smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Good, I was hoping you wouldn't turn me down." He whispered against her skin, causing her to shiver slightly. Justin immediately shrugged out of his jacket and draped it around her shoulders.

"Thanks. So, when do you have to leave?" she smiled up at him after a lengthy pause.

"The day after tomorrow." Justin sighed as they started walking back to the hotel.

"So, it's dinner tomorrow night then." Carli laughed sadly.

"Yeah, dinner tomorrow night." he agreed with a nod.

"Just cause I don't want to get sappy tomorrow night in front of everyone. Thank you for everything you've done. You are definitely one of the most interesting people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing." Carli smiled, turning to face him.

"Likewise." Justin smiled resting a hand on her cheek.

"I almost don't want to see you go." she sighed with sudden frustration.

"I know, me neither." he whispered as he brought her closer to him.

"I've become way too attached to you for my own sanity." Carli stated as her eyes fluttered closed.

"Me too." he replied, inches from her lips.

"I think I may be falling for you." Carli stated, not daring to open her eyes again.

"I'm glad." Justin smiled just as his lips met hers in the softest kiss she had ever experienced. Oh Lord, what happens now?

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