"I can't believe you get to spend New Year's in Hawaii, Steph!!"
"I know, I can't wait to get there but I have to go finish packing so I'll talk to ya later."
"Alright, later girl."
Stephanie hung up with her friend and turned her attention back to her suitcase. She put one last item in and struggled to get it closed.
"Geez, you got enough clothes?"
Stephanie turned around to see her 12 year old sister standing in her doorway. She walked into Stephanie's room and sat on the edge of the bed.
"One can never be too prepared," Stephanie said finally getting the suitcase zipped up.
"I wish I was going."
"Maybe next time, by the way, has Justin called?"
Carrie hopped off the bed, "nope, when are you guys leaving anyway?"
"We're supposed to leave tonight and Justin said he'd call me before he comes to pick me up; help me carry these downstairs, would ya?"
Stephanie handed Carrie her duffel bag as she grabbed her suitcase. They got downstairs and set her stuff by the door. Stephanie looked at the clock...it was 6:45pm and their flight was set to leave at 8:15pm. She hoped Justin wasn't caught up with anything.
"Mom said she might not be here when you left but she said to tell you to have a good time."
"Figures," Stephanie mumbled under her breath.
Her father was a was always away on business and her mother was a lawyer who was never home. She tried to understand their busy schedules but was still bitter to the fact that they were never there for her or her sister. She sighed and collapsed on the couch. Carrie sat next to her and leaned her head on her shoulder.
Another half hour passed and just as Stephanie was getting nervous, the doorbell rang. She rushed to the door and opened it.
"Justin, where the hell have you been?"
"Man, calm down; we got caught up at an interview."
"Did it slip your mind we have a plane to catch?"
"Well, what're you waiting for girl, let's go!"
Justin grabbed Stephanie's bags and carried them out to the awaiting limo. Steph hugged Carrie good-bye and rushed after him. She climbed into the limo followed by Justin.
"Wassup Steph?"
"Oh hey Trace."
"This is my girlfriend Jenny. Jenny this is Stephanie."
Stephanie leaned over and shook Jenny's hand. She seemed nice enough and anyone who could put up with Trace's crazy ass had her respect.
"Justin, when did you get a girlfriend?" Jenny tried to whisper to Justin but Stephanie overheard them.
"He didn't. We're just old friends," Stephanie interrupted.
"Oh," Jenny blushed with embarrassment and turned her attention back to Trace.
They had been riding to the airport for about 15 minutes when Justin noticed that Stephanie seemed unusually quiet.
"Steph?", he whispered.
"Hmm?"
"You alright?"
"Uh, yeah, I'm fine," she said and forced a fake smile.
But Justin knew her too well to fall for it. He had seen her that way a million times. It was usually because she was stressing over her parents. Justin tried to listen but he could never truly understand her situation since he always had his parents to turn to. He had tried to be there for her but since joining NSync, their once strong friendship had dwindled some. Justin looked at her, her brown hair hiding all of her hurt. He wanted to make things better between the two of them and figured this trip would be the best thing.
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The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath
Emeralds from mountains thrust toward the sky
Never revealing their depth
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Look, don't sweat it Steph; we're on our way to Hawaii and we're going to have the time of our lives."
Stephanie looked into his smiling face as she felt a grin creep across her face. He always said the right things even if they were small, they meant a lot to her.
"Is that a smile I see?" he said lifting her chin.
"Okay Timberlake, you've made your point," she said, letting her smile get bigger.
"That's better, come here girl!"
Justin grabbed Stephanie and began to tickle her. That was when Stephanie was vulnerable the most as she screamed in torturous happiness. Justin finally stopped after she pleaded with him. She rested her head on his shoulder and he put his arm around her. It was at that moment that all of Stephanie's worries were the farthest things from her mind.
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Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated
I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above
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