Chapter 3: Bitter Memories

"Mika!" Taylor yelled, grabbing her hand, she glanced at Bobby, "hold on a second okay?" She pulled Mika a couple of feet away.

"Are you crazy?" She asked incredulously. "JC Chasez just asked you backstage and your not going to go??"

"Exactly." Mikayla answered, looking sternly at her younger cousin.

"But…..but…." Taylor spluttered, "why"

"I have my reasons," She said.

"But c'mon Mika!!" Taylor said, "Please? We've come here, and the guys have to be really neat! Please, please, please, please?"

"Okay, fine, Taylor." Mika said, "but let's get this straight, I don't have to talk to this 'JC' okay?"

Taylor threw her a puzzled look, "alright." And they headed back to Bobby, who had been waiting patiently. He led them backstage.

* * * * *

JC showered quickly and changed into khakis and a blue checkered shirt over a wife-beater. He combed his hair, waiting anxiously. He couldn’t believe that after all these years, he was going to see her again.

"Why the rush to get dressed, JC?" Justin asked.

"You wouldn’t believe who's out there right now." JC answered.

"Who?"

"Mikayla."

Justin whooped happily. "Are you serious?" He asked. He didn't wait for JC's answer, he left the room. JC watched him leave. He was more than a little bit scared of how Mikayla would react once she saw him, after all, they hadn't parted on good terms.

* * * * *

"Mika!" Mikayla heard a voice call her name. When she had recognized Josh, Justin's face had immediately clicked in her mind.

"Justin?" She said, shocked. "You look like you've grown at least two feet since I last saw you!" She said, giving him a big hug.

"You look great…wait, not just great, you look gorgeous," Justin commented, checking her out.

"Yeah, yeah," Mikayla said, blushing. "This is my cousin, Taylor."

"Hi." Taylor said, suddenly shy. Justin gave her that flirty smile of his.

"Hi. Hey guys!" Justin called out, seeing Lance, Joey, and Chris at a distance.

"Yeah?" Lance called back.

"Come here, I want you to meet some of my friends!" They came over.

"This is Mikayla and this is her cousin, Taylor." Justin said.

"Mikayla? Hold on a second, aren't you JC's-" Joey started, but clapped his lips shut when Chris elbowed him quickly.

"Yes, I am." Mikayla said calmly, knowing what he had been about to say. Joey's eyes widened slightly, but he remained composed.

"Hey guys," Mikayla heard a voice said, one she would never forget. Memories came flooding back.

* * * * *

"Mika! You ready for that party yet?" Eighteen year old Josh Chasez called from the bottom of the stairs. Eighteen year old Mikayla Watson came bounding down the stairs, leaping into Josh's arms.

"Yup." She said, giving him a kiss. He returned the kiss, but they quickly parted in case Mikayla's parents saw them.

"But first, I want to give you something," He said, shyly. He handed her a small black box.

"What is it?" She asked, opening up the box. She pulled out the white lion pendant and gazed at it. "Wow, it's beautiful, Josh!" She loved lions, and was extremely touched by the gift.

"That's not all," He said, reaching beneath his red polo shirt. He pulled out a chain that had a pendant exactly like hers on it. "I had them made especially for us."

"Thank you!" Mika said happily, giving him a kiss before they left to go to her best friend's party.

When they arrived at the party, many familiar friends hooted at the sight of Josh and Mika holding hands. Everyone had known they'd get together eventually, but it was only recently that they had discovered their feelings for each other.

"You want a drink?" Josh asked.

"Sure." She answered, "hey! There's Meredith. I'm going to go talk to her okay?"

"okay," Josh answered, kissing her and leaving her to go get a drink.

* * * * *

"Hi!" Taylor said quickly, knowing the Mikayla wouldn't say anything. "I'm Taylor."

"JC." He answered politely, shaking her hand. "Mikayla?" Both Justin and Taylor's eyes begged Mikayla not to make a scene.

"Hi, Josh… or should I say JC, now?" She finally said sweetly.

"Either's fine," JC said, uncomfortable shifting his weight to his left leg. "You look great."

"You do too." JC said, admiring her brown eyes. They seemed much more knowledgeable, more hurt, he decided, and knew that was his own fault.

* * * * *

Josh had gone to the kitchen to get two cups of punch when he saw Mikayla's best friend, Allison, come up to him.

"Hi, Josh!" She said sweetly.

"Hey, Allison." He answered politely.

"You enjoying the party?" She asked. He grinned and nodded.

"Well, I have to go and find Mika." He said, glancing down at the two cups of punch he held.

"Come outside with me," Allison said, "there's an easier way to get to the living room than back through the kitchen." The kitchen was crowded with people milling around.

"Okay." He followed her outside, but had a confused expression when he didn't see a door to the living room. "Where's the way to the living room?"

"Actually," Allison said in that sweet tone of hers, "I lied. I just wanted to get you alone. I- I have feelings for you, Josh." She pulled his shocked face to hers and kissed him. Josh dropped the two cups of punch and yanked his head away, but the gasp of anguish behind him made him turn away before he could yell at Allison.

"Josh? Allison?" Mika asked, hurt pouring into her words. Her brown eyes filled with tears at the realization that her boyfriend and her best friend were outside, kissing.

"Mika, no! It's not what you think- " Josh said, rushing over to her. She flung her arms out, trying to keep him away from her.

"Stay away from me, Joshua!" She screamed. "I loved you, I really loved you." She said, feeling numb inside. "How could you do this to me?" She said, softly before she ran back into the house screaming.

"Mika! Mika, come back! I love you! It's not what you think!" She could hear him yelling above the sound, but she kept on running.

The Lion Pendant Contents | Chapter 2 | Chapter 4