Chapter Seven

  "I wonder how Lonnie's doing?" Joey asked as her and Georgia took off their skis in front of the resteraunt.
  "I hope he's doing okay," Georgia said. "That guy sure is a trooper."
  "He has to put up with us," he reminded her as they went to wait in line. "He's a saint."
  The place was extra crowded and the line went all the way out the door. Lance and Michele were already in line and they were in each other's arms laughing softly as they exchanged kisses. Joey coughed loudly as they walked up to them.
  "Hi guys," Lance said without looking away from her and then kissed her again before turning to them. "How was your day? Anyone fall?"
  Georgia laughed. "We tried a blue today and we both fell like every five seconds."
  "It was hard," he said. "My butt is hella sore too."
  "Hey here comes Syd and JC," Michele said. "Where's Lonnie? Did he not ski?"
  "Oh, he skied," JC said with a chuckle. "He was all cocky too, until he actually skied down the mountain."
  "It took as an hour to get all the way down. He was terrified."
  "So, he sat out for the second round," JC said and they all laughed as the line began to move.
  "It's crowded today," Sydney said as she looked around. "Looks like it'll be awhile."
  "Fine by me," Joey said as he rubbed his butt. "My ass needs a rest."
  "Did you fall?" JC asked.
  "Every five seconds," he winced. "Me and Georgia kept falling so much we couldn't help but laugh. We were a pitiful site."
  Georgia linked arms with his. "Yes, but we had fun."
  "Me and Michele skied down a narrow trail through the woods," Lance said. "Talk about hard. We were going so slow we were holding up the line of people."
  "They kept yelling at us," Michele said with a giggle.
  They continued to talk about their day as the line slowly began to move. They were right under the doorway laughing about Lonnie flirting when Lance interrupted. "Hey hey," he said with a grin as he pointed up above JC and Sydney. "Check it out guys."
  JC and Sydney both looked up to see a mistletoe dangling above their heads. JC swallowed hard as he looked over at Sydney who was biting her lip. She finally made eye contact with him and she looked like she was going to faint. He sighed. "Guys," he said uneasily. "I don't wanna...."
  Sydney muffled his words when she grabbed the back of his neck with her hand and gently pulled his lips down on hers. JC's brows rose as he closed his eyes and let out a surprised moan against her lips. Her lips were soft and warm against his and if he didn't have an audience he would have pulled her against him and devoured her.
  He was just about to say, 'the hell with it' and do just that, but she pulled away before he could. He slowly opened his eyes and stared down at her while he licked his lips. The gesture made her knees go weak, but she just gave him a cocky grin and shrugged. "It's tradition," she said calmly even though her whole body still tingled from the kiss. She had to use all her strength to keep herself from kissing him again.
  He grinned. "Well, I wouldn't want to break a tradition."

  After a long day of skiing, they retired to their condo as the sun went down. They all agreed that it would be best to just stay in tonight after the fiasco last night and just watch a movied and order in pizza or something. Everyone spent the next hour just laying around, taking showers and putting on something comfortable for the evening.
  Sydney was the last one ready. When she got out of the shower, the rest of the gang were already dressed and waiting for her downstairs. She put on her gray cotton pants and then slipped on a light blue tank top and a pair of slippers. Her and JC hadn't talked much since the incident during lunch. They still smiled at each other and laughed, but she could tell it was on both of their minds. Every time, he looked at him she could tell he was thinking about it. She shivered at the remembrance of his lips against hers. She didn't know why she kissed him, it was just sort of a reaction. He just looked so cute standing there under the mistletoe, all shy and nervous. She couldn't help it, she had to kiss him.
  She was in the middle of drying her hair, when she heard her cell phone ring. She placed her hairdryer on the counter and ran to the phone. "Hello?" she answered cheerfully.
  "Aren't we happy-go-lucky, this evening," Brad said at the other end.
  "Brad," she said as her smile died and the funny tingly feeling inside her swept away. "How are you?"
  "Don't try to be all nice," he shot back. "I KNOW you're mad at me."
  "Mad? Why would I be mad?" she shot back. "You were only suppose to call me twenty-four hours ago, why would I be mad."
  "Syd, don't go all weird on me," he said with a sigh. "I was out with..."
  "The guys, yes I know," she said finished for him. "What else is new?"
  "Don't be a bitch, Syd," he said tiredly as if he knew he was still in control of her. "You know I don't like it."
  "I don't give a flying rats ass what you like, Brad!" she shot back. All the anger she had for him was building inside her and she was ready to explode. "I don’t care what you think about me."
  He laughed harshly. "Now, you and I both know that's not true. You may think that now, but as soon as your home you'll on your knees begging me to take you back. So, you better keep that pretty mouth of yours shut."
  "I'd die first, before I crawled back to you," she hissed. "You are the most arrogant and pigheaded man I have ever met."
  "Thank you my dear," he said.
  His voice sent chills down her spine. "What the hell happened to you?"
  "I got tired of you, that's what," he said. "You're so naive, Syd. Thinking this whole time that I've been faithful to you, and waiting for you until you were ready to sleep with me."
  Her eyes widened. "You didn't," she said warily.
  "I waited for a month and got impatient," he said. "Do you actually expect a man to go a whole month without sex?"
  "You've been cheating on me for four months!" she yelled. "You ASSHOLE!"
  "Whatever," he sighed. "You know I'm glad we had this talk, Syd. I'm finally rid of you."
  She felt the tears fall. "How could you," she cried.
  "Oh, stop it, you baby," he said annoyed. "I can't hear this anymore, I'm hanging up."
  "Brad wait," she said quickly.
  "Yeah, what?"
  "Aren't you going to ask why I sounded so happy-go-lucky?" she asked with confidence.
  He sighed. "Fine, you want me to play along I will. Why were you so happy?"
  She laughed harshly. "Because I'm falling for a man, Brad. And he's not you."
  There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Why you stupd little, bi....."
  She cut him off when she clicked off the phone. She threw her cell phone on her bed and let out a shaky sigh. Yeah, she had the last word, but it still hurt. The fact that he cheated on her all this time, made her feel so naive and stupid. She felt a tear slip down her cheek and she furiously wiped it away. Angry at him for making her cry. He wasn't worth her tears.
  She sniffed and wiped her tears away as she turned around. She jumped when she saw JC standing at the doorway. He had a look of sorrow in his eyes, which meant he had heard the conversation between her and Brad. "How...How long have you been there?" she asked warily as she felt the tears start to come again.
  "Long enough," he said as he stepped toward her and pulled her trembling body in his arms. "Long enough."
  She shut her eyes and developed his warmth as she rested her cheek against his chest. She took deep shaky breaths as she tried to control herself. “Just let it go, sweetheart,” she heard him say as he kissed the top of her head. “Let it all go, you don’t have to be brave for me.”
  That’s where she lost it. Her tears started to stream down her face like tiny rivers. Brad’s hurtful words echoed through her mind and so she clutched tighter to him so he could make it go away.
  He didn’t give her words. It was the last thing she needed right now. All she need was a shoulder to cry on and he was more than happy to give it to her.
  “I’m so stupid,” she finally said as she wiped the last tear she was ever going to shed for him.
  “No your not,” he said softly as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He breathed in her wonderful scent she carried from her recent shower and let out a shaky sigh. “He’s the stupid one. He was stupid enough to take you for granted.”
  She sniffed. His words began to heal her, and she slowly started to feel better. “But..Why didn’t I see it?”
  He leaned back and cupped her face gently. “I think you did see it, Syd. You just didn’t want to believe it, so you ignored it.”
  She reached up and grabbed his wrists as she shut her eyes. He was right. She knew all along that Brad wasn’t right for her, but she pushed it aside. She finally realized the truth when she got to know JC. He was kind and gentle towards her; he even made her laugh. Brad was never that way with her. She didn’t know what it was like to feel wanted until she met JC Chasez. She finally opened her eyes and dazed into his caring blue ones. “Why do you have to be so wonderful?”
  Now he shut his eyes as the emotions he felt for her swept through him. “Syd,” he managed to say. His voice cracked when he spoke. He leaned over and planted a kiss on her forehead. His lips skimmed her temple and then kissed away a tear that slipped down her cheek. “You’re an amazing person, Sydney Johnston,” he told her as he buried his face in the crook of her shoulder and he held her tight.
  They held each other like that for a long time. They didn’t know how long, but they would have stayed like that forever. Unfortunately, Lance’s booming voice interrupted them. "ARE YOU GUYS COMING!” Lance yelled from down stairs. “THE MOVIE ABOUT TO START!”
  JC cleared his throat as he leaned back and wiped his watery eyes. “Yeah, we’re coming!” he yelled as he turned toward the door, but then turned right back her. He ran his fingers through her hair and then cupped the side of her cheek. “Are you going to be okay?”
  She closed her eyes as she leaned into his warm hand. She nodded. “Yes, I’m going to be fine.”
  “Are you ready to go downstairs?” he asked as he slowly dropped his hand and let it fell to his side.
  “Yes, but could you not mention any of this to them,” she asked. “I’m gonna tell them, but now’s not the time and I don’t want to talk about it.”
  He smiled and then grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “You’re secret’s safe with me. Let’s go.”
  They walked down the stairs together hand in hand and they already had the movie going and the lights were off. The couches were already taken. Joey and Georgia were sprawled out in one. Joey was on his back, and Georgia was curled up next to him and her head was resting against the crook of his shoulder. Lance and Michele were on the other two, but their heads were on opposite ends and they shared a blanket. Under the covers, Lance had his hand under her pant leg and was lazily stroking her calf.
  “It’s about time you two showed up,” Joey said as he hugged Georgia close.
  “I guess we’re stuck on the floor,” JC said.
  “I sure as hell ain’t moving,” Lance mumbled.
  “Me either,” Joey said. “Just make a pallet on the floor.”
  JC walked over and grabbed a couple of blankets and spread one out on the floor and motioned for her to lay down. “Milady,” he grinned.
  She smiled as she laid down and thanked him when he handed her a pillow. They stretched out on the blanket and JC pulled the other blanket on top of them as they got comfortable. “What movie are we watching,” Sydney asked as she put her hands behind her head.
  “What Lies Beneath,” Lance said.
  Her eyes widened. “Are you kidding me?” she asked as she sat up.
  Georgia rolled her eyes. “She HATES scary movies.”
  “I can’t STAND them,” she said nervously.
  JC chuckled. “Just lay down and relax,” he said as he reached up and pushed her down on her shoulder. “You’ll be fine.”
  “Like hell I’ll be,” she mumbled as she laid back down.
  “Shh…it’s starting,” Michele said as she snuggled under the covers.
  Sydney let out a nervous moan as she pulled the covers over her head. JC smiled as he reached over and found her hand under the covers. When he found it he gave her an encouraging squeeze, to let her know he as there if she got too scared.
  The movie started and Sydney hunkered down until the blanket stopped right under her eyes. JC had let go of her hand after the squeeze, and she wanted to reach out to him again. But she told herself that she was not gonna curl up to him like a scared female. Then something jumped out of nowhere on the screen and she cursed as she turned toward JC and buried her face in his chest. “That was so not cool,” she mumbled as she clutched to him.
  JC chuckled as he patted her hair. “Oh, sweetie you’re too funny.”
  Georgia buried her head in Joey’s neck as well, when another scary part came up. Joey grinned as he pulled her close. “You see, this is the reason why I suggested this movie.”
  Georgia responded by lightly biting his neck and he jumped. “Shut up, Joey.”
  He just chuckled and pulled her closer. “Okay,” he said.
  Michele jumped for the third time. “Oh, I can’t take this anymore,” she said as she got up and crawled on the other side of Lance and fell on top of him. “Damn you guys for getting this one.”
  “Good choice, Joey,” Lance said as he stroked her hair.
  “I can’t do this,” Sydney said as she turned her face into his chest again. She pulled the blanket over her head. “I’m just going to close my eyes for the rest of the movie.”
  JC laughed softly and then pulled the covers up and she looked up at him. She looked adorable the way she looked up at him, almost as if she was pleading with him to make the scary movie go away. “Are you going to make it?” he asked with a grin.
  “No,” she whined.
  “Just close your eyes and relax,” he encouraged her. “Drown it out.”
  “I’m such a baby,” she sighed as she turned her head and rested her cheek against his chest.
  When the movie finally ended, Lance sighed iredly. “I’m exhausted, that movie wore me out.” He looked down to see Michele still buried against him. “Michele…huh? You okay?”
  “Is it over?” she asked.
  He chuckled as he kissed the top of her head. “Yes, it’s over.”
  She let out an exasperating sigh. “That was pure torture,” she said and then looked at him. “Don’t ever put me through that again.”
  He grinned and then gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “You’re pretty.”
  “Don’t try to get on my good side with words,” she said. “I mean, that was…”
  He chuckled and then swallowed her words when he cupped the back of her neck and crushed his lips against hers. Her eyebrows arched in surprise, but then moaned when he turned his head to the side and deepened the kiss. He nibbled at her lips before he finally pulled away. “Did that make it better?” he asked out of breath.
  “Better?” she managed to say. “Hell, I’d sit through that again in order to kiss you like that again.”
  He grinned and kissed her softly. “You won’t have to.”
  “Okay, honey, Joey can’t breath,” he said when Georgia clutched to him. “The movie’s over now, you can let go.”
  She shook her heads. “No, I think this condo is haunted.”
  He chuckled. “Don’t be silly,” he said and he tried to get up, but she wouldn’t let go. “Can you let go for a second, sweetie. Then once we are in bed you’ll never have to let me go.”
  She looked up. “Promise?”
  He winked. “Promise,” he said and then kissed her before he sat up and pulled her up on her feet. “JC, how did Syd…”
  He stopped when he saw that they were both sound asleep on the floor. JC was on his side and he had Sydney’s back snuggled up against him. His arm was draped over her side and his face was buried in her hair. “That’s so sweet,” Georgia whispered.
  “Let’s not wake them,” Michele said. “They look too peaceful.”
  Joey grinned. “I think it’s safe to say that the boyfriend is out of the picture.”
  “Good,” Georgia said and then grabbed his hand. “Let’s go.”
  The four left the two quietly sleeping. The fire was still crackling with life beside them and the cover’s were pulled up to their shoulders. At one point, Sydney opened her eyes and smiled when she felt his warm body next to hers. And right then she felt content.

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