"Yeah, you look tired," She said, studying his eyes.

"I'll live," He answered with a shrug, "how's the mom and her baby doing?"

"They're doing great. I think they're keeping her in for a day for observation but otherwise, they'll be going home soon." Marielle answered, happily thinking about the lives they had saved earlier.

"Hey, Mari." Peter said, walking. He eyes JC curiously, who also studied the doctor.

"Hey, Peter." Marielle answered. "Just got in?"

"Yep. You want burgers today?" He asked, opening the refrigerator.

"Hmm, I don't know. I'll think about it and let you know, alright?"

"Okie doke." He said jokingly, giving her a wink as he left the lounge with a soda.

"Who was that?" JC asked, trying to sound uninterested.

"Oh, another doctor that works in the wing," Marielle answered with a shrug. "I should really get to work-" She started, standing up.

"No, wait." He interrupted her, placing his hand on her arm. "Marielle, I'll do anything."

"It won't work, J." She told him firmly. "You already had you're chance." She uttered the words like a death sentence, not just for him but for herself as well. As much as she wanted to take him in, to kiss him and hold him like she hadn't been able to in France, she wouldn't let herself. He'd only hurt you later on, She reasoned to herself, watching JC leave the lounge.

"Whoa, you're home early," Gabi commented as Marielle stumbled in through the front door.

"I know," She said, smiling, "I have a three day vacation." She kicked off her working shoes. "I'm staying home tonight." She said, going into her room to find something to change into.

"What? Why?" Gabi asked, surprised, as she followed Marielle into the room.

"Will you two stop making all that racket!" Jessica hissed as she stuck her head out of her room. Her face was full of irritation, "I'm trying to work here!"

"On what? Another artpiece?" Marielle asked.

"Yeah, it's for the concert tonight."

"What concert?" She asked, stopping what she was doing to look at Gabi.

"You didn't know?" Gabi asked, shocked. "The guys' concert is tonight. We have to go, Ari!"

"You two can go, I think I'll just stay home." Marielle told them.

"Aww, no, Ari! It won't be the same!" Gabi insisted. "Please? I know you and JC had a fall out this morning after you rescued those people, but remember the other guys too? How do you think they'll feel if you don’t show up?"

Marielle's mind flew to Justin, Chris, Lance, and Joey. She sighed, "fine, I'll go. But only because I don’t want to disappoint the guys."

"Great!" Gabi said enthusiastically. "You can hold up one of the posters we made!"

"Feels weird to be back in costume," Lance commented, looking down at his concert dress.

"I know," Justin answered, straightening the top of his shirt and his top hat. The screams from the crowd were already extremely loud as they waited in anticipation. "you think Jess is out there yet?" He asked, craning his neck so he might be able to see her in the front row.

"Wow, these seats are right up in front," Gabi exclaimed happily.

"Well, what did you expect you're boyfriends to do? Give you seats back there?" Marielle asked teasingly, pointing to the furthest seats from the stage. "And let me see the posters!" She added, trying to glance into the large plastic bag that Jessica had the posters in.

"Not yet!" Jessica said, smiling. "My works of art shall be revealed in due time. And Justin's not my boyfriend, yet." She said, grinning mysteriously. The sound of music began to blare out of the enormous speakers, and the three of them were silent.

"I see, the things he does to you," JC sang into his microphone, following along to the music with his smooth dance moves, "all the things he put you through." They stepped into the familiar routine that was almost natural to them, the waving and smiling at the crowd.

Justin grinned down at Jess for a second, but had to turn his attention back to his dancing. When the song ended, they all rushed behind the stage for a quick costume change. "She's there," Justin breathed out.

"Yeah, but she and Gabi look like they're up to something." Lance said, grinning. "Go out there and do your beatbox."

"Oh my God, that is so cute," Jessica said admiringly as Justin began his beatbox routine. "I didn't know he could do that."

"Yeah, but then again, the guy doesn't know you're a professional artist," Marielle pointed out. She was also pretty impressed with how Justin executed the perfect rhythm and beat.

"Oh well, he will tonight." Jessica said, smiling as she reached into her plastic bag.

"They call me Lake. Timber-Timber-Timberlake." Justin said, grinning. He glanced down at Jessica, who was reaching into her bag. His eyes widened with shock as he saw the beautiful painting of himself on a large posterboard, with the words 'I Think I Love You' drawn elegantly beside it. She held it up as she, Gabi, and Marielle danced to the rhythm that Justin was making. The picture was so lifelike, he almost stammered but caught himself and the beatbox ended and he headed offstage.

"Do you think he saw it?" Jessica asked eagerly, watching as Justin ran offstage and the rest of the guys ran on.

"Put your hands up!" They called out, everyone in the arena dancing. Gabi ignored Jessica's question, smiling up at Lance. He was grinning down at her.

"Of course he did," Marielle answered, "I mean, the guy nearly stumbled in his performance because of you." She said teasingly.

"I know," Jessica answered, smiling at Justin. Joey grinned down at Marielle waving at her. JC seemed to look at her every now and then, but his expression was always painful whenever he looked at her and she sensed he was trying not to. That was just the way it was, she mused, he just wasn't hers.

Back To The 'We Met In Paris' Contents | Chapter 9 | Chapter 11