PART NINE

    The girls only made one wrong turn and they managed to find their way back quite quickly. They pulled into the parking lot at the mall and were astonished by the size of the mall. Their mall was definitely not this large. Cierra could barely wait to check out their Abercrombie.
    They parked the car and made their way in. They walked to the closest map and looked at it. The finally decided that it would just be easier to walk through it and find things as they went. Trying to find a store and then get to it from where they were was just too hard and took too much thought.
    Cierra and Missy made their rounds on the bottom floor and went into a whole bunch of the stores. They even bought a couple of shirts. Just the bottom took them two hours. They were getting pretty hungry so they went up the elevator to the next floor because when they asked when the food court was the lady told them it was in the center of the second floor. Both of them went to a little place that sold baked potatoes. For as long as they could remember, they always ate a baked potato with bacon and cheese on it when they went to the mall. It was their favorite meal.
    Of course the two of them gossiped while they were eating. They talked about how great it was being with the guys and all that. They knew that it was coming up on a busy part of the guys' schedule and that they were about to fly out to Europe to do some promo stuff and do a portion of their tour. They would see them for at least a month. It would be hard, but they knew that they could deal.
    After they finished eating they started their rounds on the second level. They passed up about four stores and then they came upon Abercrombie and Fitch. Cierra had died and gone to heave. The store was the largest one that she had ever seen. She was almost afraid to go in there because of the fear of what she would do to her credit card.
    The two of them went in there and started to look around. Cierra found like four shirts that she wanted; two pairs of shorts, and a pair of jeans. They decided to take them to the dressing room to try them all on. They got to the back dressing room and were surprised to see someone that they knew.
    "Cierra! Missy!" this guy said as he reached over and gave the girls a hug.
    "Oh my God! Justin," Cierra squealed as she wrapped her arms around him. "What are you doing here. Aren't you afraid of some crazy teenybopper trying to hit on you?"
    "Notice the hat and shades," he said as he pointed to them.
    "Wow, I totally just looked over that one. How do you pull off shades in a mall?" she laughed.
    "People probably either think I am dead drunk and the light hurts my eyes, or I got beat up and have a black eye that I am ashamed of!" he joked back.
    "Yeah, I guess so! So anywho, how are you? I haven't talked to you at all since I've been here and it has been a couple days."
    "I know and I'm sorry. I've been really busy. I got lucky today and Joey got called to do that thing with C and Lance. This is the only free day I have really. We leave for Germany in a week."
    "Well, I gotta go try this stuff on. Are you gonna have time to stay for awhile so we can chill together?"
    "Yeah, I've got some time to burn," he answered.
    "Let me go try these on and see if they fit. I'll be out in a second." Cierra showed the cute guy with the key how many things she had and then she went into the dressing room.
    "So, Justin, have you talked to Anna lately?" Missy asked.
    "Yeah, actually I talked to her last night. She said to tell you all hello. She also said that she hasn't heard from y'all since you left. She was worried that something might have happened."
    "I know, we have been really bad about calling people. Really, our parents are the only people that we have called. How is she anyway?"
    "She's pretty good. She is excited about going to Germany here in about four months. What, it's August now. We first met you gals in May and then again in June. So I guess she'll be going up there in December, and she'll be there till January. She said that her sister is going to get married on January first, and she wants to be there."
    "Wow, Alex is getting married? That is so great. I guess that Mark finally got up the guts to ask her." Missy had never met Alex, Alexandria, but she had heard so much about her she felt like she knew her well.
    "Yeah, I guess so."
    A couple minutes had passed and Cierra walked out of the dressing room with all the clothes still in her hand. That must have meant that they all fit. "Ok, let's go check out," she said as she headed to the front desk. She gave the cute guy at the counter her credit card and he rang her up and put her stuff in a couple of bags. 'Cute guys everywhere she thought'.
    They all walked out of the store and sat on a bench in a little area kind of secluded next to Sears. All of them talked for awhile about everything that had happened. Justin was surprised to hear what had happened on the lake, but we ever so happy that she was okay. He asked them what the rest of their plans for the week were. Neither of them knew.
    "I know that I want to go to Disney World tomorrow. I know that we can't hit all the parks in one day, but I'm going to drag Missy through as many as I can," Cierra said.
    "I wish you guys didn't have to do so much tomorrow. You see what I am going to get stuck doing all day?!" Missy said in a joking way.
    "Oh cool it. We're gonna have a blast!" Cierra said.
    "Yeah, I know what you mean about all the work. Tomorrow is so booked. I can't believe we have so much to do in one day. I am glad that you all are so understanding though and aren't pissed that we have to fly out of here for the day. You didn't want to come?"
    "We thought about it, but we decided we'd just hang around here," Missy said. "Thanks for another offer though!"
    "If y'all are sure," he said again to just to make sure.
    "We are," Cierra said.
    They all sat around for about an hour just talking and then they got up and walked around some more. Missy and Cierra wanted to get to see the whole mall. After they finished the whole mall, about three two hours later, they decided that they would go see a movie. They went over to the theatre and decided on a movie. Justin bought all of their tickets and even supplied all of them with soda and candy or popcorn. Cierra didn't like popcorn so she got Reeses Pieces, her favorite. Justin sat in between both girls and they watched the movie.
    Two hours passed by and the movie was nearing its credits. Missy let out one last scream. She wasn't much for scary movies. Poor Justin probably had bruises on his arms from where Missy grabbed him every time she got scared. Cierra jumped a few times, and grabbed Justin's arm a little, but it was nothing compared to poor Melissa.
    The credits rolled and the girls and Justin got up. They left their cups and trash sitting on the seat. What a messy group those three were! They looked at the time and noticed that it was getting pretty late. Justin asked them if they wanted to get something to eat before they left. The girls were famished so of course they agreed. They stopped in the food court and all got some pizza.
    After they finished eating Justin told them that he would lead the way back to JC's. It was dark and he didn't want the girls to get lost. "I still can't believe he let you drive his car Missy," Justin said as they got to Lance's car.
    "Don't tell me that you believe JC's stories of how terrible we are in a car," Missy said back.
    "Well, he's pretty convincing of his stories ladies!" Justin laughed.
    Missy slapped Justin in the chest and asked him where he was parked. He grunted when she hit him. 'She hit pretty hard for a chic' he thought to himself. "I parked over by the entrance to the food court," he said. He hopped in the back on Lance's car and Missy followed his directions to where he was parked. "Well, you aren't that bad of a driver," he said. "That's where I parked. That lane over there," he said and pointed.
    "Oops," Missy said as she turned into an isle that she was going down. "I guess this is an up lane," she said as she pointed at arrow on the street.
    "Lord, I guess I spoke too early," Justin yelled.
    "Oh shut up. You're still alive aren't you," she said as she stopped the car next to Justin's.
    "Well, I think so," he said as he felt up himself.
    "Don't enjoy yourself too much now Justy," Cierra joked.
    "Funny CiCi," he said. "Ok, just follow me!" Justin got in the car and backed out. He led them through the parking lot, even up and down the correct lanes. Then they hit the highway to get back to JC's house.
    They finally got back to JC's place and the three of them went inside. They were all sitting on the couch when Alex walked in. "Nice to see that you have clothes on today CiCi," he joked.
    "Clothes on?" Justin said in surprise. "What's that all about?"
    "Absolutely nothing!" Cierra proclaimed.
    "Ahh, she's just a little embarrassed Justin."
    "About?"
    "Damnit, if you must know - Alex came in the other day and I didn't know he was her and I walked out in nothing but a small towel. It was very embarrassing!"
    "Cute though," Alex said. "Cierra, you know I am just teasing you right?" he said to make sure that he wasn't making her upset.
    "Yes, I know," she said as she stood up. "Do you need something or are you just here to bless us with your presence?"
    "Just wanted to say HI and bye I guess. I am heading up to Canada for a couple days and I knew you'd both be gone when I got back."
    "Oh well thanks for thinking of us," Cierra said. She walked over and gave him a hug and told him that it was really nice meeting him and that she hoped that she would get to see him again sometime.
    "I am sure you will," he said as he made his way to Missy. "It was a pleasure meeting you both. Tell C that I will call him up later this week before he heads out."
    "Later Alex," Justin said.
    "Bye J," Alex said and then he walked out of the room.
    "He's a really nice guy," Missy said.
    "Yeah, he's awesome," Justin said back.
    "Well, what now?" Cierra asked.
    "Wanna play some cards or something?" Justin asked.
    Missy thought back to the night at the hotel back in Texas. She remembered how bad she beat Lance at Monopoly. "How about some Monopoly," she said.
    "Sounds good to me," Cierra said. "Justin?"
    "Sure!" he said and then got up and went over to the cabinet where JC kept all the games.
    They had been playing the game for almost an hour when JC and Lance walked in. They both looked really tired. "Looks like you ladies had a good shopping day," JC said as he looked beside the door and saw all the bags lying around.
    "Oh, baby, I'm sorry. I'll go put those up so they aren't all over the place," Cierra said as she started to get up.
    "No, babe, they are fine there. I was just seeing how much to had bought," he laughed.
    "Well I'll get them anyway. Lance keep an eye on my money," she said as she handed him the monopoly money.
    "Let me help you," Missy said.
    "It's ok Missy, I'll help her," JC said as he picked up a couple of bags. Cierra and JC gathered up all of the bags and carried them into the room. They set them all in the far corner out of the room so that they were out of the way. After JC set down his portion of the bags he walked up to Cierra and kissed her. "I missed you," he said.
    "I missed you too," she said back as she wrapper her arms around him and kissed him again. Then they walked back into the living room, hand and hand, to meet up with the others. Cierra took her money back from Lance and thanked him for protecting it. She knelt back down on the ground and rolled the dice.
    "Well what's up J?" JC asked Justin. "You been here long?"
    "Probably an hour. I met the girls at the mall and I came back with them so they didn't get lost. And hey Lance, much faith in your girl eh, letting her drive your car and all." Missy reached over and hit him in the stomach again. "Girl you're going to kill me if you keep hitting me like that."
    Missy stood up and kissed Lance on the cheek and thanked him for letting her use his car. "We didn't hurt it at all," she said to Lance, even though she directed the message towards JC.
    "I knew you wouldn't," Lance said almost relieved.
    "Well ladies, it is getting late, I should get home. Looks like I was about to lose anyway. I haven't got much money left," he said as he flashed them his money. "I'll stop by before you all leave. Have fun tomorrow." Justin got up and gave them each a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He shook Lance and JC's hand and then left.
    Missy cleared off the game and put it back into the box. "I am pretty tired myself," Missy said.
    "That makes two of us," JC said.
    "Three," Cierra said.
    "No, four," said Lance.
    "I'm gonna head on upstairs. I'll see you all in the morning," JC said. He walked over to Cierra and gave her another kiss.
    "Goodnight baby," she said back. "Missy, you coming?" she asked.
    "Yeah, in a little bit. I'm gonna stay and talk with Lance for a little bit."
    "Ok. I'll probably be out cold in a couple minutes."
    "Alright, I won't wake you up."
    Everyone else said their goodnights and then JC and Cierra headed off to their rooms. JC went up and took a shower and then crawled into bed. Cierra took off her clothes and put on a long shirt and then crawled into bed herself.
    Lance and Missy sat on the couch and talked. They talked about how much they would miss each other. Missy told Lance that she just wanted to lie in his arms all night.
    "We can arrange that sweetie," he told her. After saying those words he slid back some on the couch and lay down on it. He pulled Missy down with him and then wrapped his arms around her. Her head rested on his chest. It didn't take either of them long to fall asleep. Both of them were so tired.
    An hour passed by and Cierra was tossing in her sleep. She just couldn't get comfortable. She looked over and saw that Missy's bed was empty. She got out of bed to see where she was. She quietly walked into the living room and saw the both of them cuddled together on the couch. Cierra didn't want to sleep alone. Once she had slept with JC, she felt weird sleeping by herself. She tip toed up the stairs and made her way into JC's room. She didn't want to wake him up.
    She looked at him sleeping so pleasantly. She crawled into bed with him ever so carefully. Without even a thought, JC put his arm around her. 'This is more like it' Cierra thought to herself. She felt like she would be able to sleep so much better. She lay her head on his chest and shut her eyes. Within seconds, she was out.

Part Ten