Part 3
Chapter 12
As Dani and Alyssa drove home from the show, Alyssa wouldnt stop talking about Joey. Dani caught a few of her friend's sentances here and there, But she wasnt listening. She stared blankly at the road...nodding her head occasionaly to Alyssa's comments.
"I mean I just cant believe after all this time..I never thought I would like an Nsyncer ya know?"
"Mmm hmm.."
"But Joey is just..Ohmigosh..He's just so amazing..Geez why didnt you go for him Dani?"
"Mmm hmm.."
"And umm...thats a purple cow over there.."
"Mmm hmm.."
"Didnt you eat crayons in kindergarten?"
"Mmm hmm.."
"DANI??"
"WHAT??"
"You havent listened to a word Ive said have you?"
"Yes I have!"
"Then what did I say?"
"You..said that uhh..That Joey was cute."
"And..?"
"And ummm...that he was nice?"
"Ok..and where are we going tomorrow?"
"I dont..know..."
"See! You werent listening!"
"Yes I was! I just didnt hear that part!"
"Well anyways...We are invited to a pool party at that dude's house."
"That dude...?"
"Yeah the dude...you know! The webpage dude."
"Johnny?"
"YEAH him..Joey invited us to the pool party tomorrow."
"Whoa whoa wait..Andrea and Vanessa said that that was a going away party for Ellie because she's going back on tour while the guys are staying here. Im not going."
"But..."
"NO Lyssa..Im not going."
"But Dani! I came with you tonight!"
"But that's diffrent."
"How?"
Dani tapped her fingers against the steering wheel and pondered her thoughts. She couldnt believe Lyssa was asking her to go to that!
"You said you werent jealous of her Dani...So why cant you go and have a good time? Come on it'll be fun. We can get to know Andi and Vanessa better. " Alyssa pleaded.
"Ok...I'll go."
"Yay!! Thank you thank you thank you!"
"So do I still have to get my belly button pierced?"
"Oh youre not getting out of that one that easy!"
"It was worth a shot." Dani said laughing.
The next day Dani and Alyssa went to the pool party at Johnny's. The pool was indoors and heated, but it wasnt too cold outside. Even in the middle of November. Dani felt her stomach begin to ache as she and Alyssa got out of the car and headed towards the mansion.
"Lyss you owe me big time for this."
"I know...But just try to have a good time, ok?"
"I'll try."
"Guys! You made it!" Andi said coming out to greet them.
"Hi Andrea."
"Hey Andi! Where's Red?"
"Umm if you mean Joey..He's inside with the others."
"Thanks!" Alyssa said as she happily ran inside ahead of them.
"Are you gonna be ok Dani?"
"Yeah..I'll be fine."
"Well, after today she'll be gone, Thank goodness. Then you can start working on getting him back."
Dani stared at Andi in confusion. "Getting him back?"
"Yeah. You know you want to."
"Well I..."
"And you know just as well as the rest of us that she isnt right for him."
"Thats true. But, The way he acted to me last night. I just, Its just you know, Not the same."
"It'll change once she's outta the picture." Andi said smiling. "Just trust me on this. I have a gut feeling about it and My gut feelings have never steered me wrong!"
"If you say so." Dani said as they walked into the pool area.
Alyssa had already changed into her bathing suit and was splashing around in the pool with Joey. Chris and JC were running around with some Supersoakers, while Vanessa was streched out in one of the lounge chairs laughing at them as they ran past her. Lance was lying in the one next to her. And Justin and Ellie were in one corner of the pool, off to themselves.
"That's revolting." Dani mumbled. Andrea started laughing at her.
"What? the way they're standing or her suit?"
"Oh she has on a suit??" Dani said and then shrugged her shoulders sarcasticly. Ellie was wearing a black bikini that left absolutely NOTHING to the imagination. Dani couldnt believe it! Even Andi and Vanessa had on nice, one-piece, covering suits..And they were MODELS!
After changing clothes, Dani got into the pool with the others. She looked around and didnt see Justin and Ellie anywhere..Not that she cared though. She was here because Alyssa wanted her there. That was the only reason.
"Dani I just got a great idea!" Alyssa said while splashing water on her.
"Oh no..."
"No no..Listen..listen..listen!! We can invite Joey along with us to see Limp!"
"Ok...thats fine, but that leaves one more..."
"And Justin!"
"No!"
"Daniiii..."
"Lyssa NO! I dont even think so."
"Dani, Why?? Why do you suddenly not want to be around him?"
"Long story..lyss you wouldnt understand."
"Well no I dont guess I would, being that youve never told me what happened!" Alyssa said raising her voice.
"Dani..Dani Im sorry..are you crying??"
"No.."
"I didnt mean to raise my voice like that but, I just dont understand why you wont tell me what happened!
"Ok well..Come on. Lets go somewhere else. I dont want to talk about it here."
They got out of the pool and dried off and then went into Johnny's Den/gameroom. Dani told Alyssa everything that happened..about the dream, about Vegas...why she left..everything! Alyssa sat there in shock taking in every word. She couldnt believe that Dani had never told her about any of this. But then she started to understand why.She could see how much it was bothering Dani to even mention Justin's name.
"..And well now..the guys are back and Justin's all 'happily in love' or whatever.."
"Dani I am so sorry."
"Its ok Lyss.."
"No it isnt! I shouldnt have forced you to come with me today."
"You didnt know! and besides I forced you to go with me yesterday."
"Yeah but then I met Joey...and ummm ok sorry."
"Dont apologize Lyssa its ok!"
"Well then..How do you feel about him now?"
Dani sighed and stared at the floor. "I dont know...I dont know how I..no no Yes I do know, I just miss him so much Lyssa..I dont know what to do."
Lyssa ran over and hugged her as she started crying.
"Why did I leave? Why did I have to be so stupid?"
"You werent stupid."
"Yes I was..I just let him go so easily! If I had stayed everything would be better now. We would both be happy. And I know he's just as miserable as I am. I know he is! I can tell by the look in his eyes. He's not himself...he's someone else."
"Ok ok. calm down..and listen." Alyssa said placing her hands on Dani's shoulders.
"Invite him to come along with us to the concert. You guys need to build your friendship back up. I think once the hoochie mamma is out of the picture and he starts hanging around you more he'll come back to his senses and be himself again. Dontcha think?"
"Yeah I guess so.."
"Then invite him to the concert!"
"Ok." Dani said smiling. "I'll go try to find him and ask him now." she said walking back out to the pool.
Alyssa decided to try to find a bathroom somewhere before joining the others. she opened the doors and stepped out of the gameroom only to run face first into a baby blue football jersey.
"Uhh...oh sorry.."
"Justin? Youre...not in the pool??"
"umm N-no I came...in to change because I umm..was gonna take Ellie to the airport and..."
"How long have you been standing here??" Alyssa asked him.
"A while?"
"How long is a while??"
"Long enough?" he said while uncomfortably shrugging his shoulders.
"Well then." Alyssa said crossing her arms. "What do you have to say about it?"
"Alyssa I really do love Ellie." Justin said as she stared at him blankly.
"I mean I thought that Dani had forgotten about me and moved on...because she never called or."
"Ok HOLD IT dont give me that! She didnt call??? Why didnt YOU call? Oh wait I forgot..'hectic schedule'"
"Whats that supposed to mean?"
"Well you guys say you never have time for nothing but you had plenty of time to find ya some lil ditzy a..."
"Look Id appreiciate if you would STOP insulting my girlfriend!"
"Well I'D appreiciate it if you would STOP treating my best friend like DIRT, comprendre little boy??"
"I never meant to hurt Dani...Thats the last thing I wanted to do."
"Oh hey Justin there you are." Dani said coming back in the gameroom. "No wonder I couldnt find you outside..you were in here."
"Yep..I was here..." He said forcing a smile.
"Well hey me and Lyssa are going to the Family Values concert. She invited Joey and we have an extra ticket sooo...Would you like to come along?"
"Sure that sounds great!" Justin said as Alyssa shot him a dirty look.
"Ok then we'll be by your house Friday around 6?"
"We could take my Benz if you want..."
"Well actually I was wanting to take my 99' MUSTANG if thats ok with you??"
"Dani's got a Stang huh??" He said laughing.
"Yeah I drove it tonight wanna go see it?"
"Sure!"
"Justin Im ready to go!" Ellie said stepping out of the bathroom.
"Huh?"
"The airport Justin!! Youre still taking me arent you?"
"Oh! Oh yeah..sure babe..Im sorry! Well I'll see you all later I guess."
"Yeah bye Annie.."
"Its 'Dani'"
"Oh yeah..sorry. Bye, Come on Justin. " Ellie said wrapping her arm around his and practically dragging him away.
"Thank you so much Lyssa!!" Dani said hugging her. "I feel so much better now! You were right...Once she's gone me and Justin can start talking again, and we'll become friends again and..."
"Yeah Dani that sounds great. Well come on lets go get back in that pool!" Alyssa said hurrying out the door ahead of Dani. "Great..now what have ya done Lyss!"
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