Chapter 2: Let me think....No!

Mikayla had to admit that Taylor hadn't been lying when she said that the seats were front-row. They were right in the center, with a great view of the stage. Pink was finishing up her opening act, and the crowds of teenagers were chanting at the top of their lungs, making Mikayla cringe at the booming sound.

She glanced at Taylor, and took comfort in seeing her younger cousin smiling and chanting along with the rest of the people. She had sung 'N Sync songs all the way to the concert arena, much to Mikayla's horror. The already deafening sound grew louder as the stage lights dimmed. "C'mon, Mika! Dance with me!" Taylor shouted above the sound as the much-anticipated members of 'N Sync ran out onto the stage. Mikayla smiled in resignation and got up out of her chair.

* * * * *

"You've got no choice babe, but to move on you know, there ain't no time to waste," JC sang into his microphone while the guys danced behind him. Fans were jumping up and down and dancing everywhere and it gave him a rush to see how much they enjoyed the music. The song ended, and they all rushed offstage.

"Whew," Joey said, taking a sip of water. "I'm glad it's our last concert for the next two weeks."

"Yep." Lance answered, "Three more songs to go, and it's VACATION TIME!" He said cheerfully. They had a break in schedule, but they had to stay in the San Jose area, but no one had any protests against that. They re-entered the stage, and the cheers became yet again deafening.

"She was my once in a lifetime," Justin started, grinning at no on in particular in the audience. JC took this time to study the front row of the arena. Sometimes he laughed inwardly at the sight of pre-adolescent girls swooning over Justin during this song, and there were times he'd find a fan and give her a wave.

He was scanning the crowd, flashing that smile that was plastered in millions of girls' bedrooms. His gaze came to the center of the front stage, when he noticed one girl in particular sitting there. Something about that smile, it looked incredibly familiar, and those brown eyes. She was whispering to the girl next to her, who shared her eyes, who was staring at Justin adoringly.

* * * * *

There's something really familiar about that guy, Mikayla thought as she looked at the dark-haired guy on the stage. He seemed to be looking right at them, but turned his gaze away and waved at a fan at the edge of the stage. No, it couldn't be She thought, her mouth widening in shock. The white pendant that hung on his chest on top of his outfit made her certain it was him. She reached her hand to the place below her neck where her own identical necklace had once hung.

* * * * *

JC saw the strangely familiar girl staring at him, wide-eyed. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew her. Oh, my God!, his brain screamed when he saw her reach below her neck. It's Mikayla! He hadn't recognized her immediately because of her change in appearance. Her brown hair was shoulder-length and cascaded down her shoulders, and she was tanner than he remembered. As it came time for his solo, he sang with more feeling than he had ever since the tour began.

"I thought she knew my world revolved around her, my love light burned for her alone," He said, singing with as much emotion and depth that he could muster. "but she couldn't see the flame, only myself to blame, I should have known, I should have known." He wondered what she was thinking, whether or not she still possessed all of the hard feelings that he had himself imposed her to feel.

Mikayla couldn't believe this. It had to have been at least six years since she'd last seen him. The pendant around his neck was a physical reminder of what she had felt for him, and hearing him sing brought back painful memories. A female ex-best friend popped into her mind, reminding her of how much she had been betrayed.

* * * * *

After 'I Thought She Knew', the guys launched into a faster song, Digital Get-down. The fans screamed wildly at this song, and as JC was eager for it to finish. He ran backstage quickly during their break.

"Bobby!" He called to one of the security guards, "can you go down to the front row, center, and tell the girl wearing the light blue shirt and khakis to come backstage? Take her friend with her."

"Ok, JC," Bobby answered dutifully. JC thanked him and quickly ran back outside to finish off the performance with 'Bye Bye Bye'.

* * * * *

"Wow, weren't they great?" Taylor said dreamily as they got up and waited for the long line of people to evacuate the arena. A tall, well-built guy came out from behind one of the curtains and stopped them.

"Ma'am?"

"Yes?" Mikayla answered, wondering why this guy was stopping her.

"JC Chasez would like to see you and your friend," He said, motioning to Taylor, "backstage."

"Let me think," Mikayla said, "tell him I said no. Let's go, Tay."

The Lion Pendant Contents | Chapter 1 | Chapter 3