Part Seven
Mercedes hair stuck to the sides of her as she pulled her head above the water. It was still early and she wanted to relax a little before the evening in store for her, so Chris‘s pool seemed rather inviting to her. She kicked her feet under the water and pushed off from the side of the pool.
“Mer!” Chris yelled from inside.
Mercedes just barely heard his call. “Out here!” she yelled back.
Chris slid open the back door and stuck out his head. “Company,” he said and then pulled back and Justin appeared at the door.
“Oh hey, Justin,” she said and headed towards the stairs of the pool.
“You don’t have to get out,” he smiled and walked towards her.
Mercedes smiled in return and sunk back into the water. Her hair fell flat against her bare shoulders and her hot pink bikini top shone through the sparkling blue pool water. “What can I do ya for buddy?” she teased.
“Well beautiful, you could do me for free,” he teased back.
She laughed and propped her arms on the edge of the pool side. “So what’s up? It’s early,” she stated.
Justin sat down on the pavement by the pool. “Yeah I know. I just wanted to bring you something.”
“Bring me something?” she said with a questioning look.
“It’s nothing really,” he blushed. “I just thought they would look nice on you tonight.”
“Justin...“ she started.
“Here,” he smiled and held out a small box.
Mercedes looked up into his eyes and then to the box. She licked her lips and then took the box with both hands. Slowly she popped the box open and was met with flashy sparkles. Before her was a pair of small diamond earrings. One small stone and then two little ones that dangled from beneath them. “Justin they’re beautiful,” she said still in awe.
Justin smiled.
“I can’t take these Justin,” she pushed them towards him.
“Yes you can,” he insisted.
“But Justin,” she began.
“It’s nothing Mer. I just thought you’d like them,” he said coyly.
“I do,” she said quickly. They’re just...” she didn’t know what to say. “Justin I don’t wan t to lead you on,” she finally said.
“Mercedes look, I know we’re just friends. I’m not asking for anything more than that. Honest I’m not. You’re just really cool and I enjoy spending time with you. Besides, you deserve something for not killing C yesterday at the studio,” he laughed.
She couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you Justin,” she leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I just don’t want you to think...” she started to say.
“I don’t. It’s okay really.” Justin stood up and brushed off his backside. “Look, I’ve gotta jet. I’ve got a few things to do before I pick you up.”
“Alright. Bye.” As he walked towards the door she said, “hey,” she said and he turned around.
“Yeah?”
“I’ll see you tonight.”
“Bye Mer,” he smiled and then opened the door and stepped in.
“Have a seat man,” Chris said as Justin entered the kitchen.
“I’ve only got a second,” he said and took the chair next to Chris’s.
“What did you need Mer for?” he asked and glanced out the back door towards the pool.
“Just making sure the plans were all set.”
“Cool cool. I saw her dress,” he teased.
“Nice?” he asked.
“Bring a drool rag man. I’ll keep an eye on your mouth for ya!” he laughed.
Justin laughed and said, “Yeah well I kinda figured she’d look amazing."
“If you only knew,” he added.
Justin just shook his head with a smile.
“So I hear that y’all had a lot of fun at the studio.”
“Heck ya. Did you know that she can sing!?” he exclaimed.
“I knew that she liked to, but I don’t think I’ve actually heard her sit and sing a song. I’ve heard some humming and stuff, but that’s it.”
“Well she’s got an amazing voice man. Oh and did she tell you that her and JC almost played nice?”
“Ha, yeah, she mentioned that he showed up too.”
“You know, they fight, but there are so many sparks flying it is unreal.”
Chris flinched. “You’re kidding?”
“Dead serious man.”
“So you think they fight because they have a thing for each other?”
“I don’t know. But there are sparks. I don’t care what they say or do. It’ll hit them eventually I am sure.”
“Not if Bobbie has anything to do with it,” Chris laughed on cue.
“Yeah, no kidding.” Justin stood and looked out at the pool once more. “I should go. I’ll see you tonight already.”
“Sure thing,” Chris said.
“Later,” Justin said and headed for the main room.
“Later,” he replied and watched as Justin opened the front door and then exited through it. He looked out at Mercedes running her hands through her chlorine filled hair. “Sparks huh?” he laughed. “Not a chance,” he said and then stood up to go to his room.
A few hours later, after a short nap and a nice long shower, Mercedes stood in front of the mirror looking at her new dress. She stood tall in her black shoes. The dress was a navy blue one with little silver sparkles evenly spread throughout the entire dress. The slit of the side of the left leg allowed you to see from ankle to knee. Mercedes’s body fit in the dress perfectly. It fit close to her and had a small hole just in the small of her back. Above the hole was a little zipper that stopped right at her shoulder blades. It was a strapless and her breasts were just enough to keep the dress up.
Mercedes put on a silver necklace that had a diamond heart charm on it. She also wore the beautiful diamond earrings that Justin had give to her earlier that day. Her lips were glossed over with lip shine and a hint of lip liner. Highlights were added to her cheeks with a fair shade of mauve blush. A light silver and blue shade of eye shadow topped over the lids of her eyes and her lashes were accented by a touch of mascara. Her hair was pulled back in a loose French twist, and she had a few odd tendrils that fell throughout her hair. No specific place at all. She didn’t need anything else. She looked perfect.
“Mercedes?” she heard someone say just outside her door.
“Come in,” she said as she reached around her bed for her purse.
Justin slowly opened her door. He was speechless. She was breathtaking. “You look amazing,” he finally managed to utter very quietly.
Her eyes lit up by his comment. “You look good yourself Timberlake,” she said as she looked him over. “Shall we go?”
“We shall,” he flashed her his million dollar smile. “Chris was leaving just as I got here. So we will have a fashionable entrance.”
“Just what we need,” she smiled and followed him out of her room, down the stairs and to his car. He held the door open as she got in and he smiled all the way over to his side of the car.
Justin held his car door open as Mercedes carefully stepped out. She pulled her dress up slightly so that it didn’t hit the grounds when she got out. Justin closed the door and locked his arm through hers and they walked towards the restaurant.
“Hello Mr. Timberlake, your party is just this way,” the guy at the front door said.
“Mer you’re killing my arm. Why are you locking me up man?” Justin asked as Mercedes’s arm was tightly clenched around Justin’s.
“Huh? What?” she shook herself back into reality.
“My arm,” he said and motioned to it.
“Oh,” she softly laughed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be nervous Mer. It’s just the guys.”
“Yeah and your manager and a bunch of other people I don’t know,” she added on as the followed the guy to the large room in the back of the place.
Justin let out a small laugh. “It’s okay,” he smiled.
Mer took a deep breath and loosened her arm around Justin’s. She really didn’t know why she was nervous. They entered the room and it was filled with people. “I thought it would be like ten other people,” she stated.
“I guess Johnny went overboard,” he said and looked at the crowded room of people sitting at tables and walking around.
“Over here!” a man’s voice yelled from the other side of the room.
Justin looked in that direction. “There’s the guys,” he said and pulled Mercedes in that direction.
“Hey,” Joey said as they approached them. “Damn Mer,” he looked her over.
“Put your eyes back in your head,” she giggled.
“She looks good huh?” Justin smiled and pointed at his date.
“You’re telling me.” Joey had a girl with him, but she was used to his obvious looking at other woman. It wasn’t like he was groping her. Justin glancing her over.
“I thought this was gonna be smaller,” Justin grinned.
“Man I dunno,” Joey stammered. He looked at all the people. “I have no clue what Johnny wanted us all for.”
“Oh well,” Justin said and then pulled the chair out for Mercedes.
“Can I go say hi to Chris first?” she asked and pointed to the table that Chris was standing at.
“He’s sitting over here with us. He‘s just mingling I guess,” Joey said.
“Oh,” she smiled and then sat down.
Justin slid her in a little and then took the seat next to her. “See this isn’t so bad,” he smiled at her.
She smiled back. “I know,” she sighed. “Thanks for asking me to come.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” he said and placed his hand on top of hers for a brief moment and then removed it.
“I’m going to run to the ladies room right quick before we have to order or something.”
“Alright,” Justin said and stood.
She giggled. “You don’t have to stand for me,” she smiled.
Justin blushed. “Habit,” he said and then sat back down.
“I’ll be right back,” she said and turned. She stopped. Mercedes looked around and then turned back to Justin. “Justin where am I going?” she laughed.
Justin laughed too. He stood up again and pointed through the crowd. “Right through there,” he said.
“Thanks,” she batted her eyes at him. Mercedes made her way through the tables and people, occasionally smiling at the people she passed. Finally she saw the signs for the restrooms, so she headed towards them.
It was obvious that they were in a classy restaurant. The bathrooms were a peach color and there were small sofas planted all around the second part of the restroom. “Nice,” Mercedes said to herself as she walked over to the sink and turned on the water. As her head was down and the water was running over her hands, the restroom door opened again and in walked Bobbie. Mercedes didn’t raise her head, just glared at her through the mirror.
Bobbie didn’t even notice Mercedes as she walked in and past her. She headed into the main restroom and closed the stall behind her. Mercedes took that as her opportunity to leave. She in no way wanted to get caught up in a conversation with Bobbie. Good things probably wouldn’t come of it. So Mercedes grabbed her small bag off of the counter and made her way back out into the restaurant. She weaved in and out of people and was almost at her table when she was stopped.
“Mer,” Jessica said.
“Oh hey girl,” she smiled.
“Here’s that number I told you I’d bring you,” she handed her a folded sheet of paper.
“Thanks so much,” she took it and put it in the small flap at the back of her purse.
The two of them walked towards their table and talked along the way. All the guys stood as they approached. “Does this bother you too?” Jessica said softly to Mercedes.
She giggled. “Totally.”
“Aren’t you two getting chummy,” Joey joked.
“Shove it Joe,” Lance said and leaned over to give his girlfriend a kiss on the cheek. “Did you talk to Marco?” Lance asked in reference to the man that Jessica was talking to when she stopped Mercedes.
“Yup. Everything is ‘A OK’ in his world,” she laughed.
“Good,” he said and then took pulled out her chair. Marco was a friend of Johnny’s family, so they were making sure that this big dinner deal wasn’t anything bad. Nosy bunch they are.
JC eyed Mercedes as she stood next to the table talking with Chris. She looked great. He then looked over at the smiling Justin standing next to her with his hand on the small of her back. His thoughts were interrupted when Bobbie came back.
“You alive?” she asked to break his trance.
“Huh? Yeah,” he said almost immediately. He pulled out her chair and the two of them sat.
Bobbie looked at Mercedes standing before them and realized that she was in the bathroom with her earlier. Bobbie almost wished that she would have stayed in there while she was there. Even though she didn’t want confrontation, she desperately wanted to let her know that she knew the whole ‘fighting charade’ with JC was a bunch of crap, and not to even try to get near him.
“So we’re standing in front of a bunch of chairs,” Chris pointed out. “Let’s order. I’m starving.”
Everyone laughed and followed his lead as he sat down. It was only a minute later when the waiter came up to take their drink orders. Once content with all their orders they continued the small talk amongst them. Jessica and Mercedes made it a point to sit next to one another so that the could gossip during their meals. Chris sat on the other side of Justin and made the usual goofy conversational talk with him. JC sat almost direct across from Mercedes, but thanks to Bobbie, he had no time to even glance a look at her. Bobbie kept his eyes on her almost the entire time.
Almost an hour and a half had passed by and everyone was just starting to eat their dessert. They had spent the previous time talking and laughing over stupid little things. Mostly the things that Chris was saying. Finally Johnny Wright stood up at his table and held the elbow of his wife and she stood next to him. He grabbed the Champaign glass off of the table. He also grabbed a knife and turned it around then clanked the side of the glass.
“Everyone,” he said loudly. With that said the whole room soon came to a silence and looked at the two standing people. “I am sure that all of you are wondering why we had this dinner and such. We may have hinted or even told some of you one reason, but it wasn’t a real reason. We wanted all of our closest friends and family here tonight with us as shared the news that,” he looked at his wife. “That we’re going to have a baby,” he smiled.
“Awe,” One lady said a few tables over.
The guys looked at each other and stood at once. JC held up his glass and the rest chimed in. “Congratulations,” he said.
“The kid couldn’t ask for better parents,” Justin followed.
“Name him Chris, or her Christina,” Chris laugh.
“Don’t you dare,” Joey said quickly.
“You‘re kid is going to be so spoiled,” Lance had to add. All of the guys loved kids and knew that they would spoil that kid rotten.
They all laughed and said, “Cheers,” and then everyone clanked their glasses around the room.
As time continued the entire room managed to make their way over to congratulate Johnny and his lovely, one and a half month pregnant wife. They smiled as everyone confronted them and gave them their best wishes. Johnny hadn’t been so happy since he wife said yes when he proposed. They hadn’t been married very long, but they knew that they would have many years together in the future.
“And here you thought this was going to be some business dinner,” Mercedes laughed to Justin.
“And it was only something better,” he smiled. “Are you having a good time?”
“I totally am,” she smiled up at him.
“Well you‘ll have even more fun at the get together in the ballroom.”
“Ballroom?”
“This is part of a hotel Mer. You didn’t know that?”
She blushed, “Well, no.”
Justin laughed. “Yeah, it’s just off of it. I guess you weren’t paying attention when we drove by it.”
“My nose was stuck in that magazine,” she giggled. “Well no wonder the bathroom was so nice,” she laughed again.
Justin smiled at her and laughed. “Yeah, that’s probably why,” he said. “Come on, let’s go head over to the party.”
“As you wish,” she whispered as she followed behind Justin, but with their finger tips locked together, so she wouldn‘t get stuck behind in the swarm of people.
Justin and Mercedes walked into the room together and headed towards Lance and Jessica. Justin knew that Mercedes felt comfortable around her, so he wanted to let them have their fun as well.
“Drink?” Lance said and held up the bottle in front of Mer and Justin.
“Yeah,” Justin said.
“Sure,” Mer then said. She giggled a little then said, “I am so not having much of this stuff tonight.”
The other three laughed at the thought of what happened only a few nights before. There were all way too trashed. It was fun though, so that what all that mattered to them.
“Wanna dance?” Justin asked Mercedes.
She smiled. “I’d love to.” She placed her glass on the table and then followed Justin to the dance floor in the middle of the ball room. There were already a lot of people there, but plenty of room for the two of them to get their grove on. That is exactly what they did too.
Justin wrapped his arms around her waist as they moved with the music. Both of them sang to the music and laughed about how obnoxious they must have looked to everyone else. They were ridiculously tossing their heads from side to side. All and all just having a lot of fun goofing off. It was a few minutes later when they had to calm themselves because a slow song came on. Mercedes’s arms were wrapped around Justin’s neck and his hands were politely placed on her slim hips.
“Thanks for inviting me,” Mercedes said as they swayed together with the soft beat of the music in the background.
“Thanks for accepting,” he smiled back at her.
Mercedes just smiled and then laid her head against Justin’s broad shoulder. As they slowly made there way in a circle in place Mercedes noticed JC and Bobbie sitting at a table just to the left of them. She looked at Bobbie and then at JC and basically saw nothing. It was if they weren’t even acknowledging one another. Just as Mercedes was about to turn her head to the other side of Justin’s body, she caught JC look up at her. As he noticed her looking at him as well, he reached over and held tight onto Bobbie’s hand. She answered his action with a simple licking of her lips and then a turn her head.
Justin heard Mercedes sigh as she did so. “You alright?” he asked and pulled back a little so that he could make eye contact with her.
“I’m fine,” she swallowed her words.
“Sure?”
“Uh huh,” she said and then put her head back on Justin’s shoulder.
Justin looked over just to notice JC sitting there with Bobbie’s hand within his. Justin wasn’t dumb. He knew what was going on. And with that, he knew that he had to do something about it.
The song ended and Justin told Mercedes that he was getting thirsty so he wanted to know if they could go sit down for a minute. Of course she said yes. The two of them made their way to the table, which was right next to the one Bobbie and JC were sitting at.
“Oh man,” Justin said and quickly stood up. “I’ll be right back. I have to make an important phone call,” he lied.
“Oh, uhm, ok,” she said back then turned to her empty table and took a sip of her drink. Lance and Jessica had already went out onto the dance floor, so she was alone for the time being.
Justin turned the corner and went out into the main hallway outside of the ballroom. He turned on his cell phone and set the timer for his phone to go off in a few minutes. Justin then called up the front desk and asked them to page a Bobbie Thomas and say that she had a phone call. After that was done, Justin filed his way through the people back over to Mercedes.
“Better?”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” he apologized.
“It’s alright,” she said.
“Miss Bobbie Thomas you have a phone call at the front desk,” a woman’s voice announced over the loud speaker in the ballroom.
Bobbie looked at JC with a look of question. “Who would be calling me at the front desk and not my phone or yours?”
“I don’t know,” JC said a little confused as well. “But it must be important if they paged you all the way in here during a party,” he stated.
“Do you know how far that is from here?” she whined. “The front desk is like on the next floor and totally on the other side of the place.”
“Well you’re going to miss that call if you don’t hurry then.”
“Ugh,” she groaned and stood up. She expected JC to stand as well and go with her. When she saw that he made no such movement, she stomped off in the direction of the door.
Just as Bobbie reached the door Justin stood up and asked Mercedes if she wanted to dance with him. Of course she didn’t turn him down. She rose and just as she did, his cell phone went off.
“Damn,” he said. The song playing was almost over and Justin looked at the empty table they were standing at. “I really need to take this,” he said apologetically as his phone went off again.
“It’s okay,” she sighed and was about to sit down.
“Uhm, here,” he said and pulled her in JC’s direction. “Dance with him.”
She looked at him as if he was crazy. “No way.”
JC looked up. “No way what?”
Justin grabbed JC by the arm and pulled him to his feet. “Dance with her please.”
“No way,” he said quickly.
“See,” she said.
“Just go,” he pushed them both to the floor and opened his cell phone like he was actually talking on it.
JC and Mercedes angrily walked on to the dance floor. The next song started and they both were upset that it was a slow song. “Man,” JC sighed.
“I don’t want to dance with you either, you know,” Mercedes snapped.
“Well, then why are we?”
Mercedes looked over at Justin who still had his phone to his ear. He waved his hand as to tell her to dance. “He insists,” she muttered.
“What?”
“Because Justin is actually a gentleman and didn’t want to leave me alone at the table.”
“Oh and he thought that arguing with me was a better outlet for you?”
“Look, can we just get this over with?” she asked.
“Fine by me,” he huffed and pulled her close as the gentle voice of Richard Marx began to sing.
Just when I believed
I couldn't ever want for more
This ever changing world
Pushes me through another door
Mercedes fumbled her hands all around until she finally found a comfortable spot around JC’s neck. Justin just watched and hoped that something good would derive of his evil plot to get the two to dance.
JC was nervous to have her that close to him. He was afraid that he would move his hand the wrong way and that she would turn and hit him. He looked down at her and saw the soft curl of her lashes and he couldn’t help but smile just a little.
I saw you smile
And my mind could not erase
The beauty of your face
Just for a while
Won't you let me shelter you?
JC pulled her a little closer to him and Mercedes hands brushed the nape of his neck as she readjusted her arms again. She just couldn’t seem to get into a position that she liked. JC felt chills go through his body when he skin gently brushed against his.
“Why didn’t you go with Bobbie?” she asked to try to break away the sweetness of the song.
Hold on to the night
Hold on to the memory
“What do you mean?”
“Well she left and you didn’t go with her.”
“The call was for her. I didn’t want to walk all the way over there with her just so I could stand there while she talked on the phone. She’s a big girl. She can do it by herself.”
I wish that I could give you something more
That I could be yours
‘Jerk,’ she though to herself. If he were a real man he would go with her anyway just so that she didn’t have to be alone. Like Justin had just made her dance with a man that he loathed, just so she didn’t have to sit alone again.
How do we explain
Something that took us by surprise
Promises in vain
Love that is real
But in disguise
“Getting nice and chummy with Justin I see,” JC said to break their silence again. The song was really getting to him. How is it that for a girl that you can’t stand, you can relate a beautiful love song to?
“Jealous?”
“Ew, no.”
“Why do you care then?”
“Because he’s my friend and I don’t see how he can be around such a person as you and actually enjoy himself.” He was rude, but he didn’t know what else to say.
“We’re friends and that’s it.”
What happens now
Do we break another rule
Let our lovers play the fool
I don't know how
To stop feeling this way
“Do you and Bobbie always look at each other like you’re angry?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You two never look happy. Even when you kiss it just looks like a chore. Something that has to be done."
“You don’t know anything about our relationship so frankly I don’t think you have any beings discussing this with me.”
“Why are you with her if you don’t like her?”
“What are you insinuating?”
“What are you taking out of it?”
JC was silent.
Hold on to the night
Hold on the memory
If only I could give you more
Justin watched them yet once again. “What are they talking about?” he said out loud to himself. “Don’t even tell me they are arguing. This is such an act. It’s obvious that they like one another.”
Well, I think that I've been true to everybody else but me
And the way I feel about you
Makes my heart long to be free
‘I love Bobbie. I do.’ JC tried to tell himself as he listened to the words of the song.
Every time I look into your eyes
I'm helplessly aware
That the someone I've been searching for
Is right there
Mercedes glanced up at JC’s deep blue eyes and felt her eyes start to water up. She reached a hand up and wiped them. “I can’t do this,” she said very softly and then pulled away from JC and ran towards the nearest exit.
Hold on to the night
Hold on to the memory
I wish that I could give you more
Hold on to the night
JC was left standing there as the song ended.
Justin closed his phone as he saw Mercedes run out of the room. “Damn,” he cursed to himself. He walked towards JC and gave him a slight push on the arm to get his attention. “What did you say to her?” he asked.
“I didn’t say anything,” he snapped back in defense. “She just took off. J, you know we don’t get along. You shouldn’t even push.”
“Look I had a call and I didn’t want her to sit there alone,” he lied, but for a good reason he thought.
“Yeah, and you just had to get off when she goes running huh?”
“Get off it C,” Justin said and walked back towards the door that Mercedes went through.
JC sighed and then went back to his table.
In the meantime, Mercedes was shuffling down the hall towards the bathroom. At least she hoped she was going in that direction. As she was going around a corner she ran right into Bobbie. She looked up and just wanted to hit her. “Sorry,” she said though and then went around him.
“Whoa,” Bobbie said as she was brushed off. She continued to walk and then bumped into Justin. “Jeeze,” she said when he ran into her.
“Did you see Mercedes go through here?”
“She took off that way,” she pointed. “What did you do to her?”
He couldn’t exactly tell her that it wasn’t him, it was JC, so instead he said, “I don’t know. I gotta catch up to her.”
“Okay,” she sighed and rolled her eyes and continued on her way.
“Mer!” Justin yelled when he caught sight of her. “Mer wait up!” he jogged towards her.
She stopped and covered her eyes. “Justin,” she tried.
He put his hands on her arms. “What’s wrong? Did you and JC get into it or something?”
“Not anymore than usual,” she replied truthfully.
“Then what’s wrong?”
She looked up at him and a tear fell down her cheek. “I just... and... and I was... then...” There was no way anyone could make sense out of that.
“Start over Mer,” he said softly. “Do you wanna go home?”
“No,” she said quickly. “I... I just need to freshen up some okay?”
“You sure?”
“Yeah,” she nodded and wiped her eyes.
“Ok,” he said and ran his thumb over her cheek. “I’ll wait here.”
“Thanks,” she said. “I just.... can we not talk to JC tonight. Please?”
“Sure thing,” he said. He for sure thought that if he got them together that something good would come of it. Justin then figured he might be wrong. Or maybe they was a real reason for their hostile ways. It would get out eventually. It had to.