The screaming was enough to blow her ears out. It was the end of Britney Spears’ act, and some radioman was introducing the next performance.
“I think you’ve all heard of this band…” he started, walking across the stage. “They’ve sold millions of albums all over the world, and with their smashing new hit, More Than That-”
The screams erupted when he said that, even Jessica couldn’t hold back a shout.
“-here are the Backstreet Boys!” he shouted, holding out his arm as he walked off the stage.
The huge curtain slowly rose, and the familiar chords of her favorite song sounded through the venue.
And their voices filtered through the speakers.
“I can see that you’ve been cryin…you can’t hide it with a lie…” Brian sang, looking out into the crowd, finding Jessica and winking. “What’s the use in you denyin…that what you had is wrong…?”
She smiled at him. She loved his voice. There was just something about it that had drawn her to it, but she never knew what. Maybe it was just part of the allure, but it didn’t matter.
“I heard he promised you forever…but forever’s come and gone…baby he would say whatever…it takes to keep you in line…”
“Tell the truth, between the lines…”
JC watched her carefully from where he stood behind the curtain.
“Yo Jace whatcha lookin at?” Joey asked, walking up behind JC and looking out into the crowd.
“Look at Jess.”
“Yeah so?” Joey asked when he spotted her.
“Just…LOOK at her.”
The younger man rolled his eyes and looked closer, nearly squinting. “Dude.”
“Yeah.”
“See, this is what I meant by “you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into”,” Joey said as-a-matter-of-factly.
JC sighed. “I think you’re right.”
They watched Jessica, and there was no mistaking the look on her face- one of total complete adoration.
-;- -;- -;-
“NSYNC! MAKEUP!” someone shouted.
Joey and JC stepped away from the curtain and started for the makeup room. They met Justin along the way and they opened the door.
“Guess who?”
The guys smiled and shouted, “NOOO!”
Makena screwed up her face. “That wasn’t quite what I was expecting.”
“What’d you expect? A party?” JC joking, sitting himself in front of a mirror.
“Not THAT much…at least a hug or SOMETHING.”
“Makeena!”
Makena’s eyes widened and she grabbed JC’s chair, spinning him to face Chris as she ducked. “Stay away.”
“Aw c’mon Makeena…” Chris said, trying to find a way around JC.
The guys laughed and pointed as the blonde hid behind JC.
“What’s happening?” Lance asked, seeing Chris acting like a buffoon.
“Nothing. Tell Makeena to come out of hiding,” the older brunette said, nearly getting kicked by JC’s foot.
“Makena’s here? Where?”
“Uh DUH! She’s behind Jace,” Joey said, pointing.
“Makena…” Lance sing-songed. “C’mon I’ll save you.”
In a matter of seconds she was behind Lance. “When I said I wanted a hug, I did not mean from him.”
Chris pouted. “Fine. I’ll find someone else to hug…JESS!”
“Nuh uh you are not getting out of this,” Makena said sternly, grabbing the collar of his shirt as he tried to make for an exit. “Jeez who the hell DRESSED you guys?”
“We picked these things out ourselves!” Joey said defiantly.
“Oh. Well…what are YOU guys on huh? You guys look like you got dressed in the dark…”
“Well, they forced me to wear these things,” Lance said, pointing to the ripped black shirt he had on.
“Yeah right Lance you saw it and you said DUDE THIS IS COOL!” Justin laughed.
“Did not!”
Makena laughed. “Ok whatever you guys. Let’s get this show on the road.”
“I think I was first,” JC said, raising his hand.
“He only wants to go first so he can wipe it off while you’re busy with us,” Justin said, rolling his eyes.
“Not quite…”
“Hey Lance where’s Jess?” Chris asked. “I wanna play with Lance.”
“Um Lance is right there,” Makena said, confused.
“Oh. I was um…talking about uh…”
“Ok. Chris Kirkpatrick is stuttering. Should I be worried yet? Or is Justin gonna admit he’s white first?”
JC snickered.
“Don’t move Jace. I’ll poke you with this brush.”
His eyes stared down at the cosmetic with disgust. ‘I HATE makeup’
“I know you hate makeup, just sit tight ok?”
“Then it’s me!” Justin called, looking up from the magazine he was not even reading.
“Then me!” Lance said.
“I’m gonna find Jess…gimme a ring when you need me!”
“Chris…” Makena threw a glare at the older man.
“On second thought, I’ll be right here,” Chris said, sitting himself down on the couch.
“Besides, Jess is watching the show, doesn’t matter,” Lance said.
JC looked at the mirror and caught Joey’s eyes.
“So I get the impression Brian and Jessica are good friends…?” Joey asked, ignoring the sharp glare he received from JC.
“Um yeah they are…I mean he saved her and everything, so I would expect so,” Lance mumbled, turning the page in the magazine.
“Jessica? You mean the same Jessica that answered your cell when I called?” Makena asked suddenly, standing up straight.
The blonde looked up. “When you called?”
“I called a few days ago and she picked up.”
“Oh…”
“Who is she anyway?”
“Lance’s girlfriend,” Chris said in a falsetto voice.
She looked confused. “But she said that she was your sister’s friend.”
Lance blushed crimson. “Oh.”
“Ok never mind.” Makena shook her head and finished JC off. “Thank goodness you guys are last…I’d be so off timing if you weren’t.”
“Don’t you have like a sub or something to help you?” Justin asked.
“I don’t know where the hell that woman is,” she rolled her eyes. “Thinks she can up and leave whenever she damn feels like.”
“Well doesn’t sound like you like her much,” Joey said.
“Um NO?”
The guys chuckled and fell silent, listening to the constant drone of the fans waiting outside.
-;- -;- -;-
“There’s Daddy, Mommy!” Lance shouted, pointing to the 5 figures on the stage.
“I know,” Jessica smiled.
They had performed “Pop” and “Gone”. Now it was time for their “grand finale”.
“For this song, we’re each going to bring one of you, the audience up on stage,” Chris said, looking out at all the screaming fans, which only got louder as he made his little announcement.
So, with bodyguards for each of them, they made their way down into the audience, each picking out one person each.
“Oh god…” Jessica mumbled as Lance smiled and grabbed her hand.
“C’mon…”
She tried to smile despite her utter embarrassment and nervousness. Grabbing her son’s hand, they slowly walked up to the stage. Jessica was becoming even more aware of the volume of the crowd and bit her lip the heat and glare of the lights overwhelming her.
All the other guys slowly brought up their choice, and they had them sit on the stools they had been sitting on.
“This next song,” JC started, “is on the European album Celebrity…and I think it really speaks for itself. Ladies and gentlemen…Falling.”
Each member grabbed the hands of the ladies’ hands as JC started to sing.
I don’t know how,
I don’t know why
But girl it seems
You’ve touched my life
You’re in my dreams
You’re in my heart
I’m not myself
When we’re apart…
Somethin strange has come over me
A raging wind across my seas
And girl you know that your eyes are to blame…
What am I supposed to do?
If I can’t get over you
I come to find that you don’t feel the same
Cuz I’m fallin, fallin
Girl I’m fallin for you
And I pray you’re fallin too
I’ve been fallin, fallin
Ever since the moment I laid eyes on you…
Baby fallin, fallin, fallin (when I laid eyes on you)
Girl I’m fallin, fallin, fallin…
“Those guys actually have a decent song,” AJ said listening from backstage.
Brian chuckled.
“You wanna know what I think?” Nick asked suddenly, sitting up.
“What?” AJ asked. But Brian held no such mercy.
“Whoa you THINK??”
“Yes, that makes me…not related to you!”
AJ laughed. “OOH call the fire department cuz you. Got. BURNED!”
“Oh shut up,” Brian said. “OK now what were you saying?”
“That this should be your song,” he said, leaning back on the couch.
Brian’s eyebrows rose. “What?”
Nick grinned. “I have no idea.”
“You moron,” he laughed, chucking the small throw pillow at his best friend.
Nick just kept grinning.
“Dude what are you SMOKING?” AJ laughed, taking another sip of Coke.
“I found your crack under the bunk,” the blonde murmured, going back to reading his magazine.
Brian snorted and broke into hysteria as AJ jumped up crying, “What?!”
“Actually,” Nick snickered, “I just had a few too many Cokes and Skittles today.”
The tattooed man threw his arms up and rolled his eyes. “What the fuck ever.”
“You’re only bein bitchy cuz I got ya good.”
Brian giggled behind his hand when AJ copied his action by throwing the pillow at the blonde.
“Hey…I got two now!”
“Now that we know you can count…” Brian snickered, “What’s there to do in this joint?”
Girl what have you done to me
To make me fall so desperately?
To think that I don’t even know your name…no, no
How am I supposed to live,
If I can’t get over this?
If you decide that you don’t feel the same
Cuz I’m fallin, fallin
Girl I’m fallin for you
And I pray you’re fallin too…
Girl I’m fallin, fallin
Will you stay or will you go?
(Heaven) Heaven knows what the future holds
(Questions) Questions linger on my mind
(Daybreak) From daybreak to dark of night
(I’m fallin) I don’t know what’s come over me
Can’t you see that I’m fallin, fallin
Girl I’m fallin for you
And I pray you’re fallin too…yeah…
Fallin, fallin
Ever since the moment I laid eyes on you…
Jessica couldn’t stop smiling. For one, it was a beautiful song. And two, Lance was singing to her.
Their trance was broken when the cheers grew immensely louder. Jessica finally looked out into the audience and her stomach lurched. She made it a point to ask Lance or Brian how they could bear to stand in front of so many people. They interlocked hands and bowed to the crowd before the curtain lowered.
Jessica just stared at the lowering curtain with blank wide eyes, frozen.
“Jess?” Lance called, waving his hand in front of her face. “Jess are you ok?”
“Dude ya gotta do it the old fashion way man,” JC shook his head and walked over to them. He stopped by Jessica and slapped the back of her head, snapping it forward as he called out, “YO JESS! WAKE UP!”
“AGH!” she cried, grabbing her head.
“See? It worked!” JC grinned, walking away quickly to avoid Lance’s glare.
“YOU MORON!” Jessica shouted, holding the back of her head in her hands.
“JC!! MEANIEHEAD!” Little Lance shouted.
“Aw c’mon Lil B I was just jokin!”
Jessica laughed. “Oh it is so easy for him to break…just so easy…”
“I heard that!” JC yelled, interrupting his conversation with Justin, Joey, and Chris.
“It would have been wasted if you didn’t,” she shouted back, grinning.
“Ooh ouch!” Lance laughed, resting his chin on her shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her middle.
“Yeah ain’t it great?”
“Heyo let’s get a move on! I just remembered-”
“Joe someone TOLD you.”
“Shut up. I just remembered the afterpartay! Let’s go!” Joey yelled, walking toward the door.
“You heard the man! Let’s MARCH!” Justin shouted, marching behind Joey.
“Oh brother,” Chris laughed, rolling his eyes. “Alrighty, lets march then.”
“Mommy what party?”
“Something Lance and Chris gotta go to.”
“And JC?”
“And JC.”
“And Justin?”
“And Justin.”
“Even JOEY?”
“Even Joey.”
Her son gave an exaggerated sigh and she laughed, ruffling his hair.
“You wanna come?” Lance whispered.
“I dunno…can I?”
“Lets ask shall we?”
She just shrugged uncertainly.
Lance weaved through everyone to find the payphone. Realizing he had no change, he groaned. He panned the area and tapped on someone’s shoulder.
“Excuse me sir, do you happen to have any change?” Lance asked.
“Um yeah sure…just a quarter though…”
“That’ll do.”
“Ok here.”
“Thank you SO much,” Lance smiled, shaking the man’s hand before rushing to the payphone.
“Hello?”
“Um hi I was wondering if I could bring someone to the after party tonight. No…I just asked her…really? GREAT! Thank you so much!” Lance hung up the phone and ran back to where they had been.
“So…”
“You can come!”
“FUN!” Jessica mimicked his excitedness.
Lance glared at her.
“Well that’s what you look like!” she snickered.
“It’s true!” little Lance added.
“Hey I thought you were on MY side!” Lance laughed.
The toddler shrugged.
“Ok so what do we do?” Jessica asked. “I still have to change…”
“I’ll have Lonnie pick ya up,” he said, spotting the tall burly bodyguard quickly. “LONNIE!”
He jogged over almost at once.
“What are they guard dogs?”
“Whadaya need this time Bass?”
“I need you to escort this lovely lady to the party after she changes,” Lance said.
“Can I come?” the younger replica asked.
“Now sweetie-”
“Of course he can!” Lance interrupted.
Jessica looked up, “But-”
“C’mon Jess you need to loosen up a little!”
Jessica rolled her eyes. “Alright alright…”
“YAY!”
-;- -;- -;-
“God I hope I’m not underdressed,” she whispered to herself.
She found the only decent dress inside the closet of the room she usually stayed in, and hope it looked all right. The red dress went down to her knees and had a small slit so she could still walk. It had thin straps that criss-crossed down the open back.
“MOMMY!!” cried Lance for the fifteenth time. “Are you done YET??”
Jessica laughed and rolled her eyes, happy she hadn’t decided to do her hair. They would have been there for forever.
“I’m coming sweetheart!”
“FINALLY! Lonnie’s getting…irr…erm…irridated!”
“OK we can go now,” Jessica laughed, hoisting Lance up on her shoulder.
“When are you planning on comin home?” Harold asked from the couch.
“Honestly? I have no clue,” she answered. “But probably early enough to get this little boy to bed.”
“But Mom!”
“No buts,” she said in that motherly type voice. “Alright Lonnie, lets hit the road!”
-;- -;- -;-
“Lance what the hell are you worrying about- it’s only been half an hour,” Makena said, rolling her blue eyes. “Go mingle or something.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. The almighty Makena is always right.”
Lance snickered. “If I’d have known that would have inflated your head some more, then I wouldn’t have said it.”
“Hey, at least I can fit my ass through the door,” she retorted good-naturedly.
“That’s only because you don’t have one.”
“You are such a prick.”
He grinned. “Ok Ms. Go-Mingle, wanna dance?”
Makena stared at him for a second, wondering if it was a trick. Shrugging, she caved, “Sure.”
“Hey Joey look- Keena’s dancing with Lance!” Chris said, pointing to their friends on the dance floor.
“Ow ow!”
Makena turned and gave Joey the finger and Chris laughed.
“Did I miss something?” Justin asked, confused at Chris’ laughter.
“Nothing really- Makena’s dancing with Lance. That’s basically it.” Joey shrugged and took a sip of his drink.
“Oh.”
“So where’s your date Justin?” Chris asked, wondering why Justin was alone.
“She’s “freshening up”,” Justin told him.
“Uh huh… and is that Jess I see now?” Chris squinted with his hand over his eyes.
“That’s her old man. Don’t tell me your eyes are going too!”
“You know I’d kill you right now…” the singer’s eyes darted left and right, “but there are too many witnesses.”
Joey snickered behind his glass and Justin rolled his eyes.
“Hey Jess! Sup? Good, good,” he said without giving her a chance to answer.
Jessica laughed. “What did you DRINK Chris?”
JC, her escort, chuckled. “You know how it is- may I take your order sir? I’ll have the most affricated drink here!”
Jessica snickered as Chris glared his evil glare at the brunette.
“Hi Chris!”
“Hey little guy…”
Little Lance glared daggers into the older man and he realized his mistake. “Er, big guy.”
They laughed at his compassion for the toddler.
“Hey Jess, where’d you get the dress- I’m sure Lance will melt when he sees you in that.”
“I’m sure. Where is he anyway?”
“He got sick of waiting and ditched you to dance with Pamela Anderson Lee,” Chris said casually.
“You are such a boob Christopher,” Jessica laughed, smacking Chris well upside the head.
“Well put,” JC snickered.
“You’re next artsy boy,” Chris threatened.
“Lets not fight children…”
“Weirdos…” Little Lance said, not getting the conversation at all.
“Hey wanna hang with me big guy?” Chris asked, leaning down to talk to the toddler.
“Sure!”
“Just don’t let him drink and don’t drop him,” Jessica warned.
Chris rolled his eyes. “It’s not like I’m gonna drop kick him…”
“Sure Chris,” Joey commented.
“Hey, where’d Justin go?” JC asked, finally noticing the absence of the blonde.
“Probably getting his freak on with Britney,” Chris replied cheerily.
They laughed and took turns slapping him.
“Why does everyone pick on ME?”
“Cuz it’s too easy…” JC chuckled, ducking behind Jessica when Chris tried to take a swing at him.
“Children…” Jessica said warningly.
“Who are you calling children? I’m older than you!” Joey retorted.
Chris snickered and hoisted Lance up into his arms. “C’mon let’s have some fun.”
“Finally. I was getting bored Uncle Chris.”
“It’s only cuz you don’t know what they’re talking about.”
“What ARE they talking about?”
Chris took a peek at the others and whispered, “I don’t think you’d wanna know.”
-;- -;- -;-
“I’m a slaaavve, for you!” Nick sang off-key.
The guys snickered at his imitation, while their dates laughed politely.
“Hey Rok, how come you’re goin stag?” Kevin asked.
“Leigh couldn’t make it,” Brian said quickly.
Howie glanced over at him. “Oh… why not?”
“She didn’t say.” Brian was starting to feel warm in the limo. Lying was never his strong suit. But he didn’t want them to know about Leighanne so he would give his hand at it.
“Oh.”
The limo was aggravatingly silent for the rest of the way, until they could hear the yelling of the media and fans.
“Here we go again…” AJ said for the group.
They were used to the glare of the extremely bright lights, used to the calls of the many reporters, used to the heat of fame. They even taught themselves not to squint at the hot flashes of cameras. The nameless faces screamed and shrieked their names, but they learned not to pay attention. The crowded club seemed like heaven to the tired celebrities.
“Damn I hate it when they do that,” AJ muttered.
“But no worries! It’s party time!” Nick shouted, weaving his way through with his date.
Brian rolled his eyes. “Oh brother.”
He turned around and found out that the rest of them had also gone to mingle with the other partygoers. He was alone.
So the lone man snaked his way through the crowd- a skill he had perfected over the years- and tried to find a familiar face.
Then at last, he saw a face that he knew the name of, and he wondered why she was there. Then it hit him. Of course she was with him. But at the moment, she was dancing with JC.
“JESS!” he shouted over the thumping of the music, drawing a few looks.
Her head turned and she smiled while she waved. She said something, but he couldn’t hear her over the pounding of the bass.
“Hey I didn’t know you were going to be here,” he said as he hugged her.
“Neither did I,” she laughed. “Lance said I could come.”
“Cool.”
“Hey you wanna dance? Lance is off somewhere with his friend… what’s her name again Jace?” she asked the brunette beside her.
“Makena, stupid.”
“Shut the fuck up JC,” she joked, hitting his arm.
“Oh watch me cry…tear, tear,” he said, sticking out his tongue and running a finger down his face.
“Fuck you,” Jessica said.
“No thanks, that’s what my girlfriend’s for,” JC winked.
“You’re sick.”
“I know.”
“I feel the love,” Brian laughed.
“Wait, JC! You don’t HAVE a girlfriend!” Jessica realized before noticing JC had ditched them. “Oh screw him.”
“No thanks-”
“Just don’t talk,” she laughed, putting her hand up in front of his face.
“Alright… wanna dance?” Brian asked timidly.
Jessica pretended to think hard, and he hit her arm.
“Come on,” Brian pouted.
“Fine. But only because I need to do more charity work…hey! I was joking!”
Brian turned around and grinned, “I know.”
“I hate you,” Jessica said, pounding him on the arm like always.
“Hey back off woman I need that arm to dance.”
She pouted but she relented.
“Dance?”
“Alright…”
So she took his hand and they tried to dance to the beat of Jennifer Lopez’s “Waiting for Tonight” without grinding into each other like some other couples were.
“Damnit I can’t dance in this dress,” Jessica grumbled, pulling down her skirt for the 10th time. “If I don’t stop my skirt it going to be up to my stomach.”
Brian smirked. “Do you wonder why guys don’t wear skirts?”
“So they’re butts aren’t seen to be flabbier than they actually are?” Jessica asked innocently.
Brian almost choked with his sudden laughter. “Um not quite.”
Jessica shrugged. “That’s what I thought…”
“Hey, slow song. No more skirt lowering for you,” Brian snickered.
“Oh shove it up a tree hole B,” she said, glaring as she put her arms around his neck.
-;- -;- -;-
“I love this song,” Lance said.
“Jewel, right?”
“Yup…finally a song where I don’t have to shake my ass…”
Makena rolled her eyes. “Which is good… not every girl within 15 feet is droolin on it.”
“Yes so you don’t drown in your own spit right Kena?”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“And why not?” Lance grinned.
“Because…it makes you look bad.”
“And your point is?”
“Just stop talking Lance, just don’t talk.”
“That’s just like me calling you Makeena, you know that right?”
Makena rolled her eyes. “And to think I thought I’d ENJOY this dance.”
“Oh but you ARE.”
“Oh brother.”
“What?” Lance asked innocently, who couldn’t suppress the boyish grin that surfaced on his face.
“You know, I know you do. So I’m not going to give you the satisfaction.”
“Oh come on Kena…”
“Come on what?” the blonde asked.
Lance laughed. “You are so difficult.”
-;- -;- -;-
Then at last, the song ended, and Jessica smiled. “That was nice… I liked the song.”
“Do you need me? Like I need you?” Brian sang off key, mocking the chorus of the song.
Jessica laughed and hit him.
“You should really stop doing that, you might dislocate his arm,” a familiar deep voice said behind her.
She spun around. “Lance! The guys said you were off somewhere.”
Brian’s happiness came to a sudden halt, which created an internal thump in his chest. Or maybe that was his heart, he couldn’t tell.
“I’m gonna go,” Brian said to her back. He pursed his lips when she didn’t hear him, and left.
-;- -;- -;-
“Jess! Jess snap out of it!”
“Huh?” an intoxicated Jessica answered.
“What’s wrong with her?” little Lance asked worriedly. “Mommy! HELLO?”
“She’s fine,” Lance assured him, hugging the little boy tighter. “She’s just…very, very stupid right now.”
“That’s mean!”
“I know, but there’s no other way to say it,” Lance chuckled. “JESS!”
“Do I need to demonstrate this again?” JC asked exasperatedly, approaching the group.
“NO! No you don’t,” Lance said quickly. He sighed when she gave him a stupid smile. “Oh boy.”
“What?” Jessica asked, walking toward him. She had no such success, for she nearly tripped over her own feet and hurled.
“UGH GROSS!” Chris and Joey groaned.
“It’s on. My shoe,” JC tried to say calmly. “IT IS ON MY FUCKING SHOE.”
Justin howled with laughter. “Poor shoes!!”
Little Lance laughed. “They’re just shoes Uncle JC!”
“They’re EXPENSIVE shoes!” JC wailed.
“Oh brother,” Lance laughed.
-;- -;- -;-
Jessica sighed and whined. “You have to go NOW?”
Brian laughed. “YES we have to go now… remember, 3 weeks. That’s it.”
She pouted like a little kid. “Don’t leave meee!!”
“I’m not LEAVING you…I’m…taking a trip.”
“Gee I really believe that one,” she said sardonically.
He grinned. “Ok well I gotta go…”
She sighed and slumped her shoulders, throwing her arms around his neck, purposely squeezing the life out of him.
“Eck…” he gasped hoarsely.
She giggled to herself and pulled back. “Don’t get into trouble ok? If you need someone to talk to… you know, about Leigh? You can give me a call any time. Unless I’m at work.”
He nodded grimly. She could see the gloom rise in his eyes and she cringed inwardly for bringing it up.
“Ok, I guess I’ll see you later then…” she said softly, glancing at the awaiting bus. As an afterthought, she gave him a quick kiss on the mouth, then breaking away to scoop up Lance. “Remember- I love you no matter what.”
Brian snapped out of his trance. “Even if I become a prostitute?”
“You wouldn’t become a prostitute you idiot!”
Brian grinned. “Ok maybe I wouldn’t but that’s ok! Alright I’ll uh, talk to ya later J-Dawg.”
“HA! Don’t go Justin on me.”
“Yeah that’d be like…”
And his voice was cut off as the doors closed. He just waved and she waved back. The bus’s red taillights were visible in the black darkness as it drove away, and she slowly walked back to the building. She licked her lips, making her smile. Hoisting the sleeping boy in her arms, she turned around and walked around the corner to the front, ignoring the loud media and the flashes of cameras.
“Done?” Lance asked, a bit irritated at the long period of waiting he had done that night.
“Yup.”
“Ready to go?”
“More than ready,” she said, giving him a smile. “I think we’d better go quick before Mom and Dad yell at me.”
“Your wish is my command!” Lance joked.
-;- -;- -;-
The car stopped in front of the Littrell home and Jessica slowly got out of the vehicle, holding her son in her arms. “Thanks Lance.”
“No problem. And I’ll see you in a few months… god that sounds like such a long time,” Lance half groaned, half laughed.
“That’s because it IS… but the time will fly. It’s got to. I don’t think I can go that long without seeing you,” she grinned.
Lance smiled. “Alrighty, I’ve got to be going… but I’ll call you ok?”
“Of course.”
The green Neon sped away in the night, and Jessica opened the door as quietly as she could, for it was at least 1 in the morning. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Harold on the couch, sleeping with the newspaper laid on top of his body.
She sneaked upstairs and laid Lance on his bed, kissing his forehead. Still not feeling tired, she logged onto the Internet to check her email. She had one message, entitled “Fwd: Beware”. Curious, she opened it up. It was a simple message, but it got the point across very efficiently.
Until next time.
-Scream