*Disclaimer - I do not own any of the members of 'N Sync (nor would I ever really want to) they belong to their respective owners. I do, however, own all fictional characters such as Mike, Devon, Ashley, Rachel and Carli. Plagiarism is illegal. Don't do it. Thank you.

The tour was kicking into it's forth week and had already hit most of the metropolitan areas on the east coast. The group was now heading toward the mid-west area. Things had begun to calm down considerably; David hadn't been seen since the day JC first started to teach her how to defend herself and the mood had become happier and lighter with everyone involved, though Mike was still nervous being around so many men and still flinched when anyone went to touch or hug her. The group now sat in the bus, talking about the upcoming show the next night. Chris and Justin sat on the floor playing one of the many video games they had accumulated over the months; JC, Lance and Joe were talking about the rehearsal they had accomplished earlier that day; and Mike sat in the corner reading a novel she had picked up in a book store the day before.

"I'm gonna hit you in your head if you don't knock it off." Chris warned ominously, pushing buttons furiously on his control pad trying to keep his character alive long enough to see the next board of the game.

"What? I'm not doing anything wrong!" Justin laughed with a shake of his head, eye glued to the television screen.

"Yeah right. You're cheating." Chris exclaimed loudly, causing everyone to glance over in their direction.

"I am not." Justin stood his ground, pushing a number of keys on his own controller, making his character whoop the tar out of Chris's character.

"You are too, cause you can't do that." Chris grumbled, his valiant efforts at saving himself were not working out the way he had hoped.

"How am I cheating?" Justin inquired with mock innocence.

"What you just did! Look! You did it again!" Chris gestured to the screen with his hand as Justin's character made his disappear in a cloud of smoke. He tossed down his control pad with a disgusted look, tossing a glare in Justin's general direction.

"I think we should create a program for the two of them." Lance mumbled, shaking his head with a smile.

"Yeah? What would that be, PooFoo?" Chris raised an eyebrow, lounging back against the wall.

"Video Game Freaks Anonymous." Lance retorted with a laugh.

"Lance, I think you're too late. They already have a twelve step program set up for that." Mike commented softly with a smile before she turned back to her book.

"You traitor! Shut your pie hole, Chichi." Chris yelped, grabbing a pillow to throw at her.

"Now there's a come back that's as old as you are Chris." Mike rolled her eyes, biting her tongue to keep from giggling.

"Are you insinuating that I'm old?" Chris raised an eyebrow as he climbed to his feet.

"Insinuate nothing. I was telling you." Mike finally laughed.

"Well.... I never!" Chris huffed, exiting the room with panache.

"He deserves an Academy Award for that little performance." JC shook his head, his eyes dancing with laughter.

"I heard that!" Chris yelled from the bunk area.

"And your point would be?" JC yelled back.

"Don't talk about me behind my back! Its rude!" Chris retorted as he walked back into the room.

"Oh, he thinks I'm being rude. Can you believe that?" JC inquired, glancing over at Lance who threw back his head and laughed.

"And now your talking like I'm not even in the room." Chris rolled his eyes with a shake of his head. "I hate being ignored!"

"I'm sorry, did you say something Chris?" Mike mumbled distractedly, glancing up from her book.

"You know what? Screw you guys, I'm going home." Chris sighed, turning to leave the room once again. Just then, someone's cellular phone started ringing.

"Saved by the ring." Joe laughed as everyone checked their cell phones. It turned out to be Chris's phone.

"Hello?"

"Is this Chris Kirkpatrick?"

"Unfortunately."

"This is Mr. Costeo."

"Oh wow, hold on a second." Chris placed his hand over the phone, turning to the guys. "I'll be back."

"Okay Arnold." Mike groaned at his bad impersonation of the famous actor who had made the line a popular culture phrase. Chris ignored her and walked into the other room to resume the conversation.

"Okay Mr. Costeo, what can I do for you?"

"I had to wait until my wife left town for a couple of days before I called. My daughter....how is she?"

"She's healing. She was hurt more emotionally and mentally than anything else."

"You said he..he beat her?"

"That's correct. We haven't seen hide nor hair of him since she came to Orlando, but just in case, a friend has been teaching her how to defend herself."

"Good."

"Mr. Costeo, why don't you just talk to her yourself?"

"Because I can't. My wife wants nothing to do with her. She made the decision and it almost killed me. I love both too much to chose. So I just didn't chose."

"But you have chosen. And it wasn't Mike who came out the victor."

"Thank you for giving me the information I asked for."

"Would you please talk to her? She really needs you, Mr. Costeo."

"I can't. I'm sorry."

"You can't or you won't?"

"It doesn't matter. I have to go. Thank you again."

"She loves you and needs your support."

"I know."

"Will you just say hello to her?"

"Alright. But just hello."

Chris gave a triumphant smile as he covered the mouth piece of the cell phone and called for Mike. She stumbled into the room, tripping over Justin who had sprawled out on the floor. He handed her the phone without a word then stepped from the room. Mike gave a sigh of a laugh, shaking her head before she held the phone up the her ear.

"Hello?"

She was met by nothing but silence.

"Hello?" she inquired again.

"Hi pumpkin."

"Daddy?"

"Yeah."

"Why did you call here? You disowned me."

"I know, baby girl. I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"Why? I'm dead to you. You and mom said as much."

"I know. I was just worried."

"After all this time, you're worried now? When I'm not in any kind of danger?"

"Yes. I just wanted to say, that no matter what's happened between us the past two years, I still love you." her father stated in a shaky voice before hanging up. Mike gripped the phone in an iron clasp, her knuckles turning white and shaking slightly as the dial tone sounded loudly in her ear. She slowly closed the phone, leaning back against the bunks behind her. She placed the phone on the bed behind her and stood there, motionless. Her father had refused to talk to her in two years.

"How can I talk to someone who is dead to me?" her father inquired, raising an eyebrow before he left the room. She opened her mouth, but no sound was issued from it. She stood there for a moment, knowing her siblings were watching her from their hiding places, then stiffened her back and walked from the house that she had grown up in with only what she had at the college for personal belongings. Let them keep the rest. I want nothing from them.

Mike shook the memory from her head, tears filling her eyes. Just when she had started to feel better, feel like her old self, things had to get bad again. Though she felt oddly numb, she also felt the intense pain of knowing that she was alone. She heard footsteps walking toward the bunk area, so she quickly swiped at the tears that dotted her cheeks. JC walked in, looking down at a magazine he was holding, ear to his cellular phone and oblivious to the world around him; especially her.

"Mom, she's been hurt. I don't want to pressure her into anything....no mom....I know you liked her when you met her...okay mom...I'll go out with her friend...yes mom...okay...yeah...no..we're hitting California in a week...I will... okay... yeah... talk to you then...love you too...bye mom." he sighed shaking his head, a rueful smile on his face. He tossed the magazine and the phone onto his bunk and turned to grab something off the floor.

"Mike? What're you doing back here alone?" JC inquired, sounding genuinely concerned. That was the straw the broke the proverbial camel's back. She turned to him, lower lip quivering dangerously and walked over to him without a word. She buried her face in his chest and sobbed for everything she hadn't sobbed for before. JC arms came up slowly about her, trying not to scare her into bolting. What is all this about? The silent question went unanswered. JC glanced up when he heard someone walk into the room. Chris shook his head, eyes filled with anger when he saw that Mike was crying.

"What happened?" Chris inquired walking further into the room. Mike pulled away, wiping the tears from her eyes with the tips of her fingers.

"You could have warned me. You could have said who was on the phone." Mike sighed, shaking her head. JC watched the exchange silently, arms folded across his chest.

"I couldn't Chichi. I called him a while back and he didn't want to hear it. He called me tonight, asking me all sorts of questions. I told him to talk to you." Chris shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"He told me I was dead to him. You could have told me he was on the phone. You should have warned me." Mike exclaimed, forcing herself not to get teary eyed again.

"I'm sorry, I just thought it would be better this way." Chris explained, gazing into her eyes.

"It wasn't better this way. I didn't need to talk to him. I didn't need this. Not after all the work I've done to get my life back and to return to the person I once was. This just puts me back." Mike shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Chichi." Chris sighed, his head hanging slightly.

"Me too." Mike replied walking from the room.

"What was that all about?" JC finally inquired.

"Her father called." Chris answered simply with a shrug.

Justin and Chris sat on the floor of the room Chris and JC were sharing, playing a video game while JC got ready for a date with a girl that his mother had set him up with. Justin was sorely losing this time and Chris was making every effort to rub it in the younger man's face. Justin just took it all in stride, knowing that he had beaten Chris at this game far more that Chris had beaten him. JC strolled out of the bathroom, semi dressed up wearing a pair of loose fitting khakis and a black button-up shirt.

"Whoa. Who are you and what have you done with the real JC?" Chris inquired, glancing over at his friend for a second before turning back to the television. They had hit California two days ago and would be spending the next two weeks hitting various cities for the tour.

"No kidding. Isn't it past your bedtime?" Justin smirked over at JC who just nodded and smacked him in the back of the head.

"Its not like I had a choice on this one guys. My mom set me up with her. I kinda have to go." JC mumbled as he headed toward the door.

"Have fun!" Chris and Justin called out in unison as the door closed firmly behind him.

"Ten to one its the date from hell." Chris snickered as Justin's character died on the screen.

"I think you're right. He's too damn picky for his own good." Justin grinned. "Play again?"

"Yeah, reset the game." Chris nodded.

Mike strolled down the street, head slightly bowed as she walked around. She hadn't wanted to spend the entire night cooped up in a hotel room, so she had decided to walk to the nearby park to see what was going on there. Usually there were some people playing various musical instruments to entertain the people walking by. The park was only three blocks from the hotel and with Gus following her like he always did, she knew she would be safe from harm. The moon was full, it's color a red-orange. Harvest moon, didn't think I'd see one of those so soon. She shook her head with a faint smile. She had always been a night person who loved to go out and watch the sun set and the moon rise. David had tried to change that about her. He wanted her at home throughout the night. He even refused to let her watch numerous things such as meteor showers and the lunar eclipse that had happened the year before.

Once at the park, Mike looked around. There were only a few people scattered about on park benches listening to a couple of people play Beethoven on violins, cellos and various other string instruments. She glanced at her watch and found that it was only eleven o'clock. She continued to stroll through the park, stopping to watch the people performing the beautiful music on their strings. What I wouldn't give to be able to play the piano again. Sonata 13. My sanity. She shook her head, turning away from the musicians after dropping a twenty dollar bill into the violin case that had been left open for the purpose of selling tapes and CD's. She started walking away when the group started to play Beethoven's 13th Sonata. She spun on her heal and gazed directly at the band.

"I kind of thought you might like to hear it." a familiar voice stated, stepping up next to her with a smile. She glanced over at JC with a small grin.

"I didn't think you'd remember the trifling details like this." she commented.

"You were playing this the day we met you." JC shrugged, hands stuffed deep into his pockets.

"I thought you had a date tonight." she raised an eyebrow, gazing over at him.

"I did." he laughed softly with a shake of his head.

"Well, how did it go?" she pressed on with amusement.

"Aaaaack. It was the proverbial date from hell. We had nothing in common. She looked like those Jersey girls you see in the movies. Big hair, chewing gum, loud voice. She was a bit on the obnoxious side. I'm glad it's over. What about you? How was your night?" JC smiled as the two started strolling down the sidewalk away from the small group playing classical music.

"It wasn't bad, it wasn't good." Mike shrugged, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her jeans. "I just couldn't see myself spending the whole night inside my room. Not when its so beautiful outside."

"I know what you mean." he nodded in agreement.

"So, I take it you didn't meet the girl of your dreams tonight. The teenage girls of the world are infinitely happy that you didn't." she smiled, glancing over at him.

"I know. The price you pay for not having a personal life." he laughed with a shrug.

"What happened to make the night end so quickly?" she inquired as they continued to stroll.

"She didn't know how to tango." he replied with a roll of his eyes.

"I don't know how to tango either, but you don't run screaming from me." Mike countered with a smile.

"You don't know how to tango?" JC demanded loudly, mocking a shocked expression. Mike just shook her head.

"Well, we'll just have to rectify that. Won't we?" he smiled as he started walking back toward the mini orchestra. He talked to one of the musicians for a moment before walking back over to Mike with a triumphant smile.

"They're going to play the music we need, come on." JC held out his hand to her. She gazed down at his hand for a moment, then up into his eyes before she reluctantly placed her hand in his. They walked over to the orchestra and assumed the position of dancing the tango on the grass behind them.

"I don't know the steps." Mike sighed as the music started.

"That's okay. Neither do I. We'll just improvise." JC grinned down at her as he wrapped an arm about her waist.

"How are we going to do this without making fools of ourselves?" Mike hissed, raising an eyebrow, heart beating a wild tattoo in her chest at their close proximity.

"There's no one here." he reminded her as he swung her into the first steps of the infamous tango. She giggled, following his moves the best she could in the darkened park, her cheek pressed against his. Suddenly, JC whirled around, taking her with him, and proceeded to pressed his other cheek against hers.

"This is insane." Mike laughed as they stopped and looked at each other for a moment. She yelped loudly when he brought her down into an exaggerated dip, gripping his biceps tightly to keep from toppling over.

"Yes, but its fun." JC smiled bringing her back up, his faces only inches from hers.

"Would ya warn me the next time you do that, please? My brain almost leaked out of my ears." Mike grumbled, trying to keep the smile she felt from surfacing. People had gathered around them to watch with barely veiled amusement, clapping with the beat the orchestra had started.

"Would you look at that. We're famous." JC commented as they continued to dance around in a smallish circle.

"What do you mean we? You have a mouse in your pocket or something?" Mike raised an eyebrow, causing JC to chuckle softly.

"Dip." he warned and Mike barely repressed another shriek as he brought her down into the final dip of the dance. Just as the music ended, the sprinkler system set up in the park went off, soaking the pair to the bone immediately.

"Oh my God! Josh, I'm going to kill you for this one! You knew there were sprinklers here!" Mike yelped running to the safety of a nearby park bench. She flopped down on the bench and watched as JC signed a few autographs before joining her.

"I didn't know about the sprinklers, though it was a nicely added touch." He smiled over at her, his lightweight jacket folded across the back of the bench. "I think we should take our show on the road. Teach people how to improvise the tango in a park with the sprinklers on."

Mike glanced over at him with a shake of her head. "Come here, you have lipstick on your cheek." she commented softly. He leaned closer to her with a roll of his eyes.

"When do I never have lipstick on my cheek?"

Mike smiled as she gently rubbed the makeup off his cheek. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, JC's hand encircled her wrist gently. Her eye darted to his, slight fear showing in them. She was unused to being this close to a man again and it scared her even though she knew JC would never hurt her in a million years. His free hand reached up to brush back a lock of hair that had escaped the tight confines of the ponytail she forever kept it in. She flinched slightly, but didn't make a move to leave.

"Why do you never wear your hair down?" he inquired softly, his thumb gently caressing the inside of her wrist.

"David always said it made me look like..." she started when she caught herself. She had been trying to quit saying things like that.

"No, go on." JC prodded gently, gazing intently into his eyes. What are you doing, man? This is insane. You promised yourself that your career would come first. Your career is your woman.

"He would always say it made me look like I belong in a harem." She finished, lowering her eyes so she wouldn't have to see his agreeing nod.

"He's wrong. I think you'd look beautiful with your hair down around your shoulders." JC commented with a shake of his head. Mike suddenly climbed to her feet, turning her back on him.

"I should get back to the hotel." she told him, glancing around for Gus. She found the bodyguard a few feet away, keeping himself a discrete distance from the pair.

"Mike, why are you running from me?" JC inquired climbing to his feet.

"You want too much from me too soon. Besides, I've read all the interviews. You want to concentrate on your career and I'm getting in the way of that. So, I'm going to keep my distance. But thank you, Josh." Mike stated nervously as she leaned over and kissed his cheek gently. She gazed at him for a moment before rushing over to Gus, who waited patiently for her. The two started walking back toward the hotel, Mike with her head bowed down, hands stuffed in her pockets and Gus with a concerned look gazing across his face.

JC sighed, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he watched her walk away. He couldn't pinpoint the second he had started falling for her, but it was now something that was as much apart of him as singing. He shook his head. She knew him too well; knew all the promises that he had made to himself. She knew that he had wanted to keep his dating life on the back burner and concentrate all of his energy into the career he and his four friends had started. In his line of work, there was no time for serious relationships. But she had changed his mind. She made him want and miss those certain things that only a relationship could bring.

JC sighed as he started strolling back toward the hotel. He wasn't quite sure he wanted to go back this early and be ridiculed by the guys, but he really didn't have anything left in the park to keep him there now that Mike had bolted. His clothing was almost dry by now because the weather was still quite warm. He gazed up at the luminous sky, watching the stars twinkling a rapid tattoo of light. It was utterly amazing that a person could see the stars in a city of the size of that they were in. He shook his head and continued to stroll, but stopped abruptly when he saw a shooting star. I wish I knew what to do about Mike, his heart whispered before he could think to stop himself. A small smiled tugged on his lips when he thought of her laughing in his arms. It was one of the greatest feelings he had felt in his twenty-two years of existence. You're losing it, my man. You have to remain focused on what's in front of you, not what could be in the distant future. You have a job to worry about and a new album to record soon. You have no time for the pleasures of the heart.

Mike gazed up at the stars as she slowly walked back to the hotel. She knew that JC was acting a bit more odd toward her than normal, but she had no clue as to why. She had guess that because of the overpowering urge to protect her, he had mistaken it for something that it was not. The truth was, she had fallen for him weeks ago when he had decided to teach her how to protect himself. He had been gentle with her, yet firm in his instructions and she had learned everything with no fear of being so close to a man. He had taught her how to trust again, though she still had a hard time with it. She sighed shaking her head. She knew that what could happen between the two of them would never happen. For one, he had to concentrate on making the youth of the world happy with his music; and for two, she didn't want to take that away from him. Not that he would actually let go of his concubine.

A shooting star fled across the inky black sky, causing her to stop momentarily with her eyes closed, making a wish. I wish I would stop flinching when he tries to touch me. She continued walking after the irrelevant wish was made, Gus only a foot behind her. She finally made it to the hotel unscathed and fell into bed, tears of regret for what could never happen stinging her eyes. She fell into a dream filled sleep dotted with flashbacks of a time that she tried so hard to forget.

David walked into the apartment that they shared, a look of fury on his face. He had found out that she had gone to see Chris at the concert that was held at Great Woods in Boston. He had forbidden her to go, but she had ignored his demands and left anyway. Now she would pay for it dearly. He walked over to her and grabbed her by the shoulder, spinning her around so she slammed into the wall with a jarring thud. She gazed up at him, fear evident in her eyes and he smiled at her. He actually smiled at her, as if to tell her everything would be alright. Then he had hit her.

She sat bolt upright, a scream dying on her lips as she slowly realized where she was. She had hoped the nightmares would abate, but they hadn't yet. Her mind drifted to a song that had described her mood earlier that night as she glanced at the clock near the hotel bed. It was nearly four in the morning. She had been asleep for just under three hours.

Mike climbed out of bed and made her way to the bathroom to take a relaxing hot bath. Hopefully that would clear away the last remnants of the nightmare that had woken her. She sat on the edge of the tub and turned the hot water faucet all the way before she walked back into the room to grab a clean nightgown and her favorite soap.

She climbed into the tub, her heart lying heavily in her chest. She relaxed against the warm porcelain, reaching over the side to grab the bottle of sleeping pills she had barely touched over the past few weeks. She opened the bottle and looked inside. Thirty pills were left. It would be so easy to stop the pain forever. To never have to deal with David ever again. To forget that her father had broken her heart. To forget everything to the point where it wouldn't matter anymore.

Mike shook her head, rebuking herself for even thinking such a thing. She tossed the small bottle over the edge and it landed on the floor with a rattle-like sound. She closed her eyes as a small smile tugged on her lips when she thought of her night at the park with JC. It had definitely been an interesting experience for her. She felt sleep threaten, so she climbed out of the tub and dried off, slipping the clean nightgown on before she put on one of the hotel robes and padded outside to the balcony that adjoined her room to Chris and JC's room. The three had been suitemates since the tour kicked off and she had to admit that she liked knowing they were right next door in case anything should happen. She towel dried her hair as she gazed out at the city. It was almost five now, and the sun was making it's first appearance of the day. The sky was tinted with soft hues of red, orange and yellow making it look almost like a Monet painting that she had seen a print of in an art gallery. She leaned against the railing to watch as the sun rose slowly at first then at a faster pace, bathing everything in it's warming rays.

She leaned against the railing to watch as the sun rose slowly at first then at a faster pace, bathing everything in it's warming rays. It was truly a majestic sight to behold.

She turned to gaze back into her room and notice a form sleeping in an awkward position in one of the chairs in the corner. JC had fallen asleep outside. She gazed at him for a moment, a smile on her lips. He looked more peaceful asleep than he had been during his waking hours, especially as of late. The crease the furrowed his brow whenever he was around her, was no longer in sight and he looked almost happy. She walked inside to grab the top sheet off her bed then walked back out onto the deck. She quietly walked over to him, then draped the sheet across him. His eyes opened instantly when the cool fabric touched his skin.

"Morning." he whispered.

"Morning." Mike replied in kind.

"You know something, I'm falling for you and that's impossible. My music is my girlfriend and yet you make me want to change that." JC muttered sleepily as his eyes fluttered closed again. Mike opened her mouth to say something, but stopped short when she realized that he had fallen asleep again. She walked back to her room in a state of bewilderment at the words he had spoken. Surely he was talking nonsense. He had just woken up from a dream and thought he was still asleep or something. Her mind tried to explain away the small detail that he had been looking directly at her when he had said the words. She flopped down on her bed and rolled onto her stomach, hoping that she would soon fall asleep again.

The party that 'N Sync was required to make an appearance at was crowded with people, fans and executives alike, all listening to new music by new groups that were now making a huge scene in the music industry. Mike has been taken along by the group because they wanted her to experience a little of what they went through on a daily basis. If Chris wasn't by her side, then Justin was. JC had decided to take the night off from caring for her because he was mingling with a group of people on the other side of the room, though he kept glancing at her when she wasn't looking.

"You know, I think he likes you." Justin stated what seemed obvious to his eyes, giving Mike a smile.

"No, he doesn't. He sees me as a job. Something that he wishes weren't there but takes care of anyway." Mike shook her head as the two walked over to the table where the drinks were being handed out to the guests. Both Justin and Mike grabbed sodas then turned back to the people in the room.

"If I didn't know that we had to perform a little something tonight, I'd say lets bail." Justin sighed with a rueful smile.

"But you can't because you have to stay." Mike smiled, giving him a playful push with her shoulder. JC and a beautiful young woman walked over to the table they were standing next to. Soft strains of music floated through the air and Mike tried as hard as she could not to glance over at JC and his new friend.

Through Mike's better judgement, she glanced over at the pair standing on the other end of the table and saw that JC was also glancing in her direction. She flushed and looked away, the words of the song hitting home on the most peculiar way. She shook her head slightly as Justin nodded his head in time with the music.

"Excuse me, Justin. I need some fresh air." Mike smiled over at her younger friend before she head toward the door, needing to escape the claustrophobic feelings that were beginning to infuse her. She took a couple of deep, calming breaths as she leaned back against the wall. When did I fall for him? When did this whole situation become so messed up? She didn't have answers for those questions, though she wanted them badly enough.

Mike glanced up at the ceiling, not quite sure of what to do next. There was a whole cornucopia of actions she could take. It was just whether or not she had the courage to do any of those things. She wouldn't tell Josh, she couldn't and wouldn't put him in that situation. Things would probably be a whole lot better off if I just went back to Orlando and enrolled for the late term. She shook her head, folding her arms across her chest.

The door opened, causing Mike to look up from her brooding stance down the hall. JC turned to her, eyebrow raised in silent inquiry. She shook her head, turning away from him as she started walking down the hall toward the front door. He caught up with her and grabbed her arm in a soft but firm grip. She stanched the instant fear that griped her and turned to face him.

"Where are you going?" he inquired softly, refusing to let her go.

"Back to the hotel. I'm not feeling well at all." Mike shook her head. "But you have to get back in there before they start to miss you."

"Yeah, I know." JC sighed with a nod.

"Guess the song fits in more way then one. I'll see you around Josh." Mike smiled sadly as she turned to leave again.

"I'll come by and check on you when we get back." he called out to her, but she pretended she didn't hear him as the door shut behind her.

JC watched her walk away, a look of consternation on his face. She seemed different somehow, but he couldn't put his finger on it. She seemed more down that usual. He shook his head, returning to the small party, trying to forget the sad smile she had given him before she left. Chris walked over to him with a smile.

"So..what's going on?" his older friend questioned softly so no one else could hear the exchange.

"She's not feeling well. Went to go lay down or something." JC shrugged with a sigh as he glanced around the room. JC wandered away, a distant look on his face as he drank from the glass he picked up from the table. Why are you so worried? Its not like she can't take care of herself. She gave you a shiner for God's sake. She knows how to defend herself. Don't worry so much. Just relax, have a good time and forget about her. He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment as a popular country song by Garth Brooks floated from the speakers set up all around the room.

JC groaned silently as he downed the rest of his drink. It would figure they'd play a song that would remind me of her, past and present.

JC walked over to where Joe and Justin stood, laughing at a joke that a patron of the party had just told them, hoping that he could lose himself in a good time while trying to forget the lyrics of the song that was now playing.

The song ended and JC breathed a silent sigh of relief. The song had only intensified the confused emotions that were already coursing through him at the moment.

"You okay?" Justin inquired, raising an eyebrow at his older friend.

"Yeah, just have a headache." JC answered with a nod and a smile.

"You should get outta here then. Management won't mind. They canceled our little performance anyway." Joe stated, a knowing smile turning his lips upward. JC had gotten into this mood as soon as Mike had left.

"Nah, I'll be fine." JC shook his head with a shrug.

Mike unlocked her hotel room door and quickly let herself inside. Gus stood guard out in the hallway, making sure nothing would happen to her. Who would have thought a nobody like me wouldn't be able to leave the hotel without a bodyguard. She shook her head as she changed out of the clothes she was wearing and into something more comfortable before turning on the television and flipping through the channels. She flopped down on the bed and curled up under a blanket, suddenly chilled to the bone. Nothing interesting was on, so she settled on one of the movie channels that was playing 'The Object Of My Affection', a movie that she hadn't seen before. David hadn't liked her going to the movies, so she had stopped going. He had ruled her life with an iron fist. She sighed and glanced at the phone with a pang of regret. She wished she could call her father and spill everything to him, but that was an impossible dream. He had chosen her mother over her and that was a hard reality to face and accept. She had a lot to overcome, one of the many reasons why she refused to tell Josh what was going on in her head.

The bathroom door opened, giving her a start. She jumped up from the bed and started backing away when she saw David walking toward her with a smile on his face. Why does he always jump out of the shadows? She shook her head silently, trying to keep as much distance between the two of them as she could.

"What's the matter Michaela? You look like you've seen a ghost." David commented softly as he took another step forward.

"David, why can't you just leave me alone?" Mike whispered, too afraid to raise her voice any louder. What I wouldn't give to still be at the party or at lease here with Gus in the room with me.

"Because, dear, have you forgotten? You are mine." David laughed as he took another step. Mike had backed up all she could, her back now pressed against the wall. She shook her head as David placed a hand on either side of her head, her heart beating so wildly she swore it would beat right out of her chest.

"I left you." she was finally able to manage.

"Yes, but I forgive you and am willing to take you back." he whispered, brushing his lips against her cheek. She shuddered, the taste of bile rising in her throat as she turned her face away from him.

"I'm not going back to you." Mike stated more firmly than she actually felt.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page