Part Sixteen
Natalie smiled when the door shut behind her. She nailed it, she thought with a smile. She knocked them dead. She let out a giggle as she walked to the lobby where Joey was waiting. She opened the door and as soon as she opened it, Joey lept up from his seat. She walked over to him and grabbed
his hand and yanked him out of the room.
"Woah," he said as he dragged her out the glass door and headed outside. "Nat...aren't you going to tell me how......"
As soon as they were outside she swung around and flew her arms around him and muffled his words with her lips. She kissed him over and over again, while Joey placed his hands on her hips as he stood still and let her
continue to nip at his lips. "I take it....that it...went well," he managed
to say between her feverent kisses.
She kissed him again this time longer and let out a happy shriek against his lips, before tearing her lips away. "It was fabulous!"
He let out a laugh as he picked her up and swung her in circles. "I'm so excited for you."
"They said that they were very impressed with what I had to offer," she told him as he put her down. "And that I might want to look for places to live, just to be safe."
"That usually is a definite yes," he said and then hugged her again. "We, are going to celebrate tonight."
She smiled. "We are?"
"Yep, the whole gang. We are going out clubbing."
"Oh, that sounds wonderful," she said as she linked her arm with his. "I want to get you on the dance floor."
"And we'll get so drunk we can't walk and just love life," he teased.
"Sounds perfect," she laughed and then turned into his arms. "Thank you." She then leaned up and kissed him softly.
"For what?"
"For being you."
"Oh, well it's not too hard to do."
She kissed him again. "Let's go spread the news."
"Is there anything else on besides Jerry Springer?" Mary Ann asked as she lifted her head off his chest and looked up at him. They were sprawled out on the couch and they hadn't moved in the past two hours. JC was on his back, and Mary Ann snuggled up against him on her side. Their legs were
intwined, and MA had one arm drapped over his waist, while JC casually
caressed her back with one hand under her shirt, while the other hand held
the remote.
"What's the matter, sweetie? You don't like women beating the shit out of each other?"
She sighed. "I realize that watching two women tustle on the floor together is a big turn on for you, hun, but it doesn't do me much good."
She then reached over and tore the remote away from him.
"Oh, you did not just violate code 125," he said in shock.
"Oh, stop it with you and your codes," she mumbled as she flipped.
"You flip too fast," he whined.
"Shove it," she said as she kept flipping.
"How the hell can you tell what's on?" he asked as he watched the channels flash quickly on the screen.
"I can tell," she said. "Oh, now we are talking!"
JC laughed. "Save by the Bell! I love this."
"Who doesn't?" she said as she tossed the remote on the floor. "I love it when they replay epidsodes. Man, I had the biggest crush on Zach."
"Zach was a bad ass," he said as he pulled her closer and shifted to get comfortable. "He got like every girl."
"Yeah, even Lisa...do you remember that episode?"
He chuckled. "Yeah, and they broke Screech's heart."
"Poor Screech," she teased.
"Oh, this is the best episode of all times!" he exclaimed. "Remember this one?"
"Oh my god, YES!" she laughed. "Hot Sundaes baby!"
"Put your mind to it, go for it...get down and break a sweat," he started singing.
Mary Ann started laughing. "Oh no...how bout this? I'm so excited, I'm so...so..."
"SCARED!!" they both exclaimed dramatically and then laughed together.
"Man, JC, even YOU were a Saved by the Bell dork," she teased.
"Yeah, I was a big dork," he said with a grin. "I still am."
"Yeah," she agreed with a chuckle and flinched when he poked her in the side. "But, hey so am I!"
"Well, duh, why do you think I'm so attracted to you? Your dorkiness is just a major turn on."
"Just be thankful that you're as cute as you are," she said as she shifted until she loomed over him. "Or else I'd be kicking your ass right now."
His brows raised. "Is that a challenge?"
She chuckled as she lowered her head and then kissed him softly. "Nah, I'm not in the mood to kick your ass today."
He rested both hands on her waist and pushed her down until all her weight came down on him. "What if we were tussling on the floor like those girls on Springer?" he asked as she began to run her lips down his neck.
She chuckled softly and then rolled her tongue along his colarbone, silently thanking him for taking off his shirt earlier when he got too hot. "Well, that's different I guess."
He smiled softly and closed his eyes as her mouth began to explore him.
"Well then....I just might have to kick your ass."
Mary Ann just laughed as she playfully bit his collarbone, as JC ran his large hands up her sides. "Do that...that thing you did last night?" he managed to say.
"What thing?" she asked innocently before she nipped at his lips.
"You know....what I'm...talking about," he said between her kisses.
"Ohh, you mean...."
JC grinned as she leaned down and whispered in his ear. His brows rose. "No, although that was good, too. The OTHER thing...."
She sighed. "You're gonna have to start naming them or something, cuz I loose track," she said and then buried her face in his neck. "But is this what you meant?"
JC gasped softly when her tongue flicked out and did it's "thing". "Oh yeah, that's the one," he said and Mary Ann chuckled in triumph.
She was about to continue to please him with her clever tongue, but the sound of the front door opening and closing stopped her. JC groaned in
frustration when he heard Joey and Natalie's laughter. "Sorry sweetie," she
said and then rested her cheek on his chest.
JC's chin rested comfortably against the top of her head and he let out a sigh. "To be continued."
"Well, well, don't ya'll look cozy?" Joey snickered.
"We are thanks," JC said. "How'd it go, Nat?"
"Wonderful," she said. "They told me to go ahead and look for a place down here."
"That's great, Nat!" Mary Ann exclamied as she pushed herself off of JC.
JC sat up as well. "Yeah, I know what that's like, and it definitely means yes."
Joey wrapped her arms around her waist from behind and grinned proudly. "We're gonna go out and celebrate," he said and then kissed her cheek. "All of us."
"Sounds fun," JC said. "Doing what?"
"Clubbing," Natalie said. "This ankle is well rested and I'm in the mood for some dancing. I didn't get to do much on New Year's."
"Which is all my stupid fault," Joey said with a frown. "But I'm gonna make it up to ya."
"What time should we be ready?"
"I figure we have our quality time until ten tonight, and then go on out with everyone."
"Sounds good," JC said. "Talk to Justin yet?"
"Yep, him and Brit are coming, and so is Chris...Lance got in today so he'll be there."
"Fun, we'll finally get to meet the last of the five dorks," Mary Ann teased.
"HEY!" JC and Joey exclaimed while Natalie just laughed.
"To Natalie," Joey said as he hoisted up his drink and everyone at the circular table did the same. "For being the strong and wonderful person
that she is."
"Here, Here!" JC said.
"Amen, brothah," Chris teased and they all laughed as glasses clinked.
"And Natalie," Lance said. "I've only known you for about twenty minutes, but I can tell that all the things Joey rambled on about for an hour on the phone....are true."
Natlie laughed and clinked her glass with his. "Thank you, Lance."
"I was not rambling," Joey said.
Lance chuckled. "Yeah you were. You rambled for an hour and then yesterday I got to hear JC ramble for another hour about Mary Ann."
"Hey," JC said. "I rambled for an hour and TEN minutes." He put his arm around her. "I couldn't possibly fit all the good things about my girl in an HOUR."
Mary Ann giggled. "Such a charmer."
"Such a dork," Justin teased and then just laughed. "Come on, Brit...let's dance."
"Good idea," Chris said and dragged Dani to the floor, followed by Lance.
"I'm sure I can find someone here to dance," he said with a wink and then walked off.
"Natalie, it's time to dance our asses off," Joey said as he pulled her out of the booth.
"I am ready!" she said as took one more sip, before following him to the floor.
JC frowned. "I showerd, I swear."
Mary Ann laughed and yanked at him. "Come on, hun...let's go shake some money maker."
An hour slid by and everyone was dancing up a storm. Natalie and Joey never left the dance floor and their bodies were in constant motion. The music blared and the lights were flicking on and off, lazer lights danced in the air, and bodies were shaking.
Joey slid his arms around her waist and buried her face in his neck while they still moved to the music. He kissed her shoulder, and ran his lips up her neck as they slowed their pace. "I want you to get that job so bad," he mumbled in her ear.
She smiled. "I know you do."
He chuckled. "Not just because you'd be living here and I'd get to see you all the time," he said and then kissed her temple. "But also because I know how much you want it."
"I do want it," she said. "When I first came here, I wanted it SO badly, but now I want it so bad I can't even breathe."
"You'll get the job, Nat," he said and then kissed her softly. "I know you will."
"And when I do, it's off to school for one more semester...then I'm going to Italy for four weeks, and then...it's back to Orlando."
"And I'm gonna see you plenty of times between now and that time."
"You couldn't keep me away," she said and then they kissed one last time before they hugged each other close and continued to dance with the music.
"MA," JC murmured in her ear as he slowed down, not matching his pace with the muisic but didn't care.
"Hmm?" she mumbled and sighed when his tongue flicked out on her skin.
"I was thinking," he said as he ran his lips up her neck.
"Yeah?"
"That maybe we could...you know....do another body shot?"
She chuckled and then looked up at him. "Okay, but you have to do one on me this time."
He grinned and kissed her soundly on the mouth. "Gladly. The booth is open so you go and...."
"No, I'll get the drinks so you won't get bothered," she said as she rummaged through her purse.
"Okay, here's some money," JC said as he went through his wallet.
Mary Ann grabbed his hand. "Nope, my treat," she said and then kissed him quickly on the lips. "Get your cute butt on over there and I'll meet ya there."
He laughed. "Well, yes mam," he said and then kissed her one more time before walking off to the booth.
Mary Ann smiled as she made her way to the bar. She waited impatiently for the bartender and then ordered to shots. She waited a good three minutes before she finally got the shots. She tipped the bartender and turned around and flinched when she ran into someone, spilling a small amount of liquor on to the floor. "I am so sorry, I...."
"Watch where your going," the woman said angrily as she glared at her.
MA glared at her. "Geez, it was just a accident."
"So you're the bitch who stole JC away, huh?" the girl said as she put her hand on her hips.
Mary Ann's eyes widened. "Um...excuse me?"
"I saw you on the dance floor with him, and Bobbie told me she saw you two walking in his house the other day.....holding hands."
"Bobbie?" she asked.
"That's right...Bobbie my friend, and JC's girlfriend...ring a bell?"
"Um...new's flash, they broke up," she said and tried to get by her but the girl grabbed her arm. "Let go of me."
"I wouldn't go back to the booth if I were you," she warned.
"Why is that?" she asked annoyingly.
"Because," she said as she turned her towards the booth. "That's why."
Mary Ann's heart dropped and her hands shook so hard that her shot glasses slipped from her hands and shattered at her feet. "Hey watch it," some guy said but she didn't hear him. Bobbie was there....with JC...and she was kissing him...
"You didn't honestly think he would have a plain girl like you, did you?" the woman said from behind her.
She felt the tears of humilation start to fill her eyes. She couldn't see them anymore, because people were in the way, but the vision was still clear in her mind. She felt like her whole world had fallen, and her heart shattered. She had to leave...she had to get out of there.
She shrugged off the girls hands and ran through the crowd. She pushed and shoved her way through and bumped right into someone. "Woah, Mary Ann," Justin said as he grabbed her shoulders. "Watch it there you....." He
froze when he saw her tears. "MA?"
"I...I gotta go," she said as she tried to move around him.
"No, wait...what happened?" Justin asked and his eyes fell on the booth and cursed when he saw Bobbie all over JC. "Shit, MA...don't go it's not what you....."
"Leave me alone, Justin," she cried and flung his arms off and ran through the crowd.
Justin ran her hands through his curls. "I'm gonna kill her."
"Who are you gonna kill?" Britney asked as she came up behind him.
"Bobbie," he said.
"Bobbie? Why?" she asked. "I mean I'd love to help you but....."
"Mary Ann saw Bobbie kissing JC."
"WHAT?!" Britney exclaimed and then saw JC trying to push Bobbie away.
"Oh, that bitch."
"Come on," Justin said as he grabbed her hand and dragged her through the crowd.
"Bobbie," JC said with annoyance as he pulled her away. "Stop it....would you STOP!"
"Jaaycee," she whined. "Why are you being like this?"
"Look, I'm sorry that your having trouble understanding this, but it's over. I want to be friends with you, but...."
"You little BITCH!" Britney yelled in fury.
"Britney," JC said in shock. "What the hell is...."
"You knew she was watching didn't you....you made sure Mary Ann saw the whole thing."
"What?" JC asked suddenly. "MA saw us...I mean her kissing me?"
"I'm afraid so, C," Justin said.
He turned to Bobbie. "How could you do that??"
"JC, how could I not? I love you, I had to do SOMETHING!"
JC laughed harsly. "Bobbie, you were the one that said you wanted to take a break, and honey you got it. I'm sorry you want to get back together, but it's not going to happen."
"But JC, I...."
"These past couple of days have been the happiest day in a long time and they had nothing to do with you." JC saw her eyes widenen in shock. He had never said anything like that to her, she had always been the one that was in control of the relationship....and he was sick of it. "I'm sorry Bobbie, but I have to go."
"JC," she cried as she grabbed his arms. "What do you see in her? I mean, what does she have that I don't have?"
He sighed. "It's simple Bobbie. I can be myself around her. I could never be the person I wanted to be when I was with you."
"JC, I..."
He held up both hands to shut her up. "I have to go," he said and then scooted out of the booth. "Where did she go Justin?"
She ran out of the club. "My guess is that she took a cab back to Joey's."
"Okay, I'll talk to you guys tomorrow."
"Go get her, C," Britney said with a smile.
"I will," he said with a wink. "And as soon as I get her back, I'm not letting her go."
Mary Ann slammed the bedroom door behind her and the tears were still flowing down her cheeks as she collapsed on the bed. She turned to her side and hugged a pillow, wishing it were JC as she felt her heart begin to
crumble. How could she have been so stupid, she thought angrily as she buried her face in the pillow. 'Did you honestly think he would have a plain girl like you?' Her voice kept echoing in her mind, and her words strung her, because they were so true. She wasn't his type at all.
She was just a girl. She wasn't into glamour or fancy parties. And she sure wasn't a supermodel. JC could have any girl with a crook of his
finger....so why would he want her? These past few days have been the
happiest days of her life, and she was so blind to see for what it really
was. A fling. Obviously JC still had feelings for Bobbie, or he wouldn't
have.....
A loud bang on the door jolted her up. "Mary Ann, open up!"
"Leave me alone, JC," she cried as she laid back down and hugged the pillow tight.
"Mary Ann, please....let me in. It's not what you think. I care about you and....."
Mary Ann interrupted him by swinging the door open. "Not what I think?? JC, what do you want me to think when I see you kissing your girlfriend."
"She's NOT my girlfriend," he said as he walked in the room. He sighed when she backed away from him. He hated seeing her like this. He hated singing the distrust in her eyes. "Sweetie, let me explain.....please."
"You don't need to explain," she said softly. "I was the idiot to actually believe this meant something."
"What?!" he exclaimed angrily. "What the hell does THAT mean?? You think the times we spent together haven't meant anything to me???"
"Well, obviously it didn't or you wouldnt' have kissed your gir...."
"For the last time, she's NOT my girlfriend!"
She shut her eyes and turned away from him. "Just leave me alone."
"No," he said forcefully as he tugged at her arm and pulled her around. "Not until you listen to what I have to say."
"It's not gonna change anything, JC."
"The hell it isn't, Mary Ann, I love you!"
Her heart lept to her throat and her whole body began to tremble. "Wh...What?"
"Mary Ann," he said softly as he cupped her face. "Shame on you for thinking I've been using you." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I
have never been so happy as when I am with you."
She refuse to get her hopes up. "But...tonight you...."
"I didn't even know she was there," he explained as he slowly pulled her down until she sat ont he edge of the bed. He knelt in front of her and placed his hands on her legs. "She just showed up and I told her this
wasn't the time and that it was over, but she wouldn't listen."
"JC, you don't have to tell...."
"Yes I do," he interupted. "You need to know exactly where I stand with Bobbie. She wouldn't listen and the next thing I knew she was kissing me. I was so shocked at first, I didnt' know what to do, but then I finally tried pulling her away, but she wouldn't let go."
She looked at the floor and wiped a tear that ran down her cheek. "One....one of Bobbie's friends made sure I saw it."
He cursed softly as he took her in his arms. MA held on tightly to him, afraid that if she let him go, he would leave her all alone. "What did she say?" she heard him ask her softly as he began stroking her hair.
"Do you honestly think he would want to be with a plain girl like you," she mumbled against his shirt.
"Oh, sweetie," he said as he leaned away and cupped her face. "And you believed her?"
"I...She's right JC, I...."
"No, she's not....she's far from right." He leaned in and kissed her softly. "I know who you are Mary Ann, and that's all that matters. I don't want you to change, do you hear me? True, you're not into glamour, or fancy things, but instead you are into the people around you. You are caring, and loyal. You have a smile that can turn any day into sunny day. You make me
laugh, you make me want to be a better person. I love you for the person
you are. I love you for being YOU...Mary Ann. I love you."
She bursted into tears of joy as the words flowed over her. She has waited her whole life to hear those three words being said to her, and JC just gave her that and more. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, JC," she cried. "Thank you for loving the real me."
"She's the only one I know, and she's the one I love," he said as he began to massage her back with his large hands.
She buried her face in his neck and kissed it lightly and ran feverent kisses up his neck, trailed his jawline and then found his lips. She kissed him long and slowly, savoring the feel of their lips together. She finally pulled back and rested her forehead against his. "JC, I don't know how this happened, or when I fell for you. But I do know that I was born to love
you." She smiled softly at him as she cupped his face. "And I DO love you,
JC. I love you SO much."