JC woke first, finding Jennifer wrapped around him.  He kissed her hair softly, and she stirred, pressing herself closer to him.  Feeling her warmth next to him, JC thought back to the night before.  Let’s see, that makes it twice we’ve been interrupted before anything happened.  We need to put a sign on the door that says ‘Do Not Disturb’ on it or something.  He ran a hand down her hair.  Close, but no cigar, he thought with a smirk.  He lay quietly for a few more minutes before deciding to wake his girlfriend.

“Jennifer,” he whispered.  “Time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”

“Shut up,” she muttered back.  “Don’t even think about waking me before ten o’clock.”

JC grinned.  He remembered that she never liked to wake up early.  He ran his finger along her cheek.  “Come on, now, time to get up.”

Jennifer just groaned and turned her face into the pillow.  JC then heard some muffled words, which he didn’t think he wanted translated.  Laughing, he ran his finger over her bare shoulder, then down her back.  “Jennifer,” he said in a singsong voice, “if you don’t wake up, I’ll be forced to use my…” he cleared his throat, “‘charm’ on you.”

Hearing this, Jennifer rolled onto her side.  She opened one eye and looked at him.  “Your ‘charm,’ huh?”

He grinned wickedly and nodded.

“I’d like to see you try,” she challenged.

JC reached over and scooped her into his arms.  She closed her eyes again and leaned her head on his shoulder.  “I like your style,” she sighed.

You won’t think so after what I have planned for you, he thought to himself.  “Keep your eyes closed, okay?” he said.

“Okay.”

He carried her into the bathroom.  She had almost fallen back asleep on his shoulder when he set her inside the shower.  “Are you ready?” he asked.

Jennifer breathed deeply and opened her eyes slowly.  “You bet I am,” she whispered.  She then rubbed her eyes and tried to focus.  “Wait a minute…” she said as she realized where she was.

Her words were cut off as JC turned the cold water on, full blast.  He ran back into the bedroom, laughing at the sounds of Jennifer’s screams.

Jennifer turned the water off quickly and stepped out of the shower.  I’m going to kill him, she thought as she stalked back to the room.

JC was lying on the bed, still laughing, as Jennifer stood in the doorway to the bathroom.  “I can’t believe you did that,” she said sternly.

“Wasn’t it charming?” he choked out before he began laughing again.

“I should kick your ‘charm’ to the curb!”  She searched for a towel so she could dry herself off.  “If you’ve ruined this nightie, you’re going to have to replace it.”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s fine.”  JC sat up at this point to look at her.  “It’s…” His words slid back down his throat as he saw her.

Framed by the doorway, Jennifer had glistening drops of water all over her skin.  Her wet nightie clung to every curve of her body.  Taking her in, JC thought, God, she’s beautiful.  He slowly ran his eyes over every inch of her.

Jennifer noticed his silence.  “Honey?” she asked, a little concerned.  “Is something wrong?”

“No…nothing…nothing at all.”  Almost entranced by her, he stood and walked to her.  Taking her into his arms, he looked deep into her eyes.

“JC, as much as I love having you hold me,” Jennifer began, “I’m all wet.”

“I know.”  He kissed her thoroughly, taking her breath away.  “It makes you even more beautiful.”

She smiled at him.  “So, if being wet makes me look good, will it make you look better?” she joked.

“Baby, I would jump into the shower with you any time,” JC joked back.

“Well, if that’s the way you feel about it,” Jennifer said in a low voice, then kissed his bottom lip.  She took his hands and started walking backward, leading JC to the bathroom.  “Why don’t we…” a knock at the door cut her off.

“Shh,” JC whispered.  “Maybe if we don’t say anything, they’ll go away, and we can…” he got his meaning across by pulling Jennifer’s body tightly against his and kissing her neck.  Jennifer closed her eyes, enjoying the rush of adrenaline flowing through her, and ran her fingers through his hair.

“I know you two are awake,” Chris called through the door.  “I can hear your moaning.”

Frustrated, JC lifted his head.  “We weren’t moaning,” he yelled back.

“Ah, but since you’ve now answered me, it proves you’re awake,” Chris stated logically.

JC opened his mouth to reply, but he couldn’t think of anything worth saying.  Jennifer grinned and whispered, “You have to admit, he got you there.”

“Yeah, but that wasn’t fair,” he answered, voice lowered.

“Hey!”  Chris spoke up.  “May I remind you that there is someone waiting patiently outside your door?”

“Just a minute, Chris,” Jennifer called out to him.  Turning back to JC, she said, “Go ahead and let him in.  I’ll just grab a robe.”

JC watched as Jennifer walked into her closet.  Thank goodness we’ll be alone tonight for our date, he thought.  Sighing, JC walked over to open the door.  “Hey, Chris.”

“Good morning, my friend!  And how are we this fine morning?”  Chris walked inside the room and sat down.

“Please, come in,” JC said sarcastically.  “I’m okay, thank you for asking.”

Getting comfortable, Chris continued his line of questioning.  “And where, may I ask, is your beautiful girlfriend?”

Jennifer walked in as Chris said those words.  “Good morning, Chris.”

Both Chris and JC looked over at Jennifer, who was drying her hair with a towel.  “Hey, Jen.  Just get out of the shower or something?” Chris asked.

Jennifer threw a glance at JC, who just smiled innocently back at her.  “Something like that.”

Hmm, Chris thought as he witnessed the silent exchange between Jennifer and JC.  I must have interrupted something.  I wonder what it was.  Chris smirked, thinking the worst.

“What’s so funny?” Jennifer asked him.

Shaking his head to clear his mind, Chris replied, “Oh, nothing.  Just thinking about something, that’s all.”

“Well, anyway,” JC interjected, “so why did you come to see us, Chris?”

“Oh, yeah.  I’m supposed to tell you breakfast is ready.  And Jen, Kathy wants to talk to you about some shopping thing you two are doing later.”

“Oh, yeah!” Jennifer said, remembering.  “Kathy and I are going out later to look for clothes.  Thanks for reminding me.”

“Sure,” Chris replied.  “I’ll let you two get ready now.  We’re all in the kitchen, so come join us when you’re done.”  With that, he left.

“Well, I guess it’s time to get dressed,” Jennifer said, turning to walk to her closet.

JC stopped her by grabbing her hand and turning her back to face him.  Pulling her close, he kissed her hard and then said, “We’ll finish this tonight.”

Jennifer could only look into his eyes.  She could see the passion swimming there.  Before she could think of anything to say in response to that, he turned away and walked into his closet.  She exhaled audibly and went to get ready for the day.

**

Jennifer and JC ran into the kitchen just as everyone else finished breakfast.

“What took you guys so long?” Justin asked.

“We woke up late,” Jennifer explained.

“Jen, you know we have class at eleven!” Kathy exclaimed.  “And you know I hate being late for class!”

“I know, Kathy, I know…I’m really sorry.  I just couldn’t seem to get up.”

“Well, get your butt in gear!  We have to leave soon.”

“I’m trying, okay?  Just chill.”

As Kathy and Jennifer were “discussing” their time predicament, Justin, Lance, Joey, and Chris looked at JC.  “You woke up late?” Lance asked.

“Sure.  You guys know I like sleeping,” JC said.

“Do you like ‘sleeping’ itself, or do you like ‘sleeping’ with Jennifer?” Joey questioned, wiggling his eyebrows.  Justin, Lance, and Chris grinned as JC sat down.

“Come on, Joey, it’s not like that with Jennifer, not at all,” he answered.

“Oh, so it was that way with others before Jennifer?”

“No, that’s not what I meant!”

“Okay, so what do you mean?” Chris asked.

“I don’t know, exactly.”  JC tried to find the words to explain.  “I mean, I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.  I guess I just don’t want to mess it up, that’s all.”

“Hey, that’s cool, man, you don’t have to explain it to us,” Lance said to his friend.  “We understand.”

“Yeah, JC, it’s just that we’ve never seen you so far gone before, you know?” Justin added.

“I know.  I’ve just never really loved anyone before Jennifer,” JC admitted.

“That’s great then…we’re all happy for you,” Joey said.  “And…I’m sorry about that ‘sleeping’ remark I made earlier.  It was totally out of line,” he apologized.

“It’s okay.  I guess I can understand why you would say that…I mean, just look at how Jennifer and I have been acting around each other lately,” JC said.

“Like your hormones are out of control?” Chris teased.

“No!” JC replied firmly.

“Yo, chill, JC, I was just kidding.  You guys are in love, and you haven’t seen each other in six months.  You two have a right to act that way,” Chris explained.

JC, Justin, Lance, and Joey just stared at Chris.  Chris looked back at their faces and sighed.  “I did that ‘sensitive-guy’ thing again, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, and I appreciate it,” JC said.  All five guys grinned, the seriousness of their conversation fading away.

Jennifer walked over to JC’s chair and placed her hands on his shoulders.  “Hey, guys?  Kathy and I have to leave for class soon.  Are y’all doing anything today?” she asked the group.

“We should probably go into the studio and work on the rest of the new material,” Lance suggested to the other guys.

“Good idea, Lance.  We need to finish up some stuff there,” Chris said.

“Okay, so when do you think you’ll be back?” Jennifer wanted to know.

“Well, we have our date at seven,” JC began, looking up and smiling at Jennifer, “so probably around six or so.”

“Okay, works for me,” she replied.  Everyone began standing up from the table to leave.  Walking through the living room to go outside, Jennifer whispered to JC, “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me anything else about our date tonight?”

“No, sweetheart.  You’re just going to have to wait.  Remember, though, you have to dress…”

“Formally.  I remember.”  Frustrated, Jennifer frowned, wanting to know more.

JC saw her expression and laughed.  Once they were outside, he tilted her chin up for a kiss.  “Patience is a virtue, my dear,” he said quietly.

“Patience sucks,” Jennifer muttered, pouting.

JC laughed again and turned her to face her car.  “Look, Kathy’s waiting patiently for you to leave.  Let’s make everyone happy and not linger, okay?”

Jennifer took a deep breath and began walking to the driveway.  She glanced back at her boyfriend standing on the front walk.  “You think I can’t be patient, don’t you?  Well…I can’t!”  She grinned widely, then got into the car.  After putting on her seat belt, she pulled out of the driveway.  JC watched as she and Kathy waved as they drove away.  When they were out of sight, JC hopped into the limousine at the curb, where Justin, Lance, Joey, and Chris were waiting.

“Sorry, guys,” JC apologized after he climbed inside.  “Let’s go,” he called to the driver.

As the car pulled away, JC looked around to see four faces watching him intently.  “What?” he asked, frowning slightly.

“Nothing, we just like looking at you,” Joey joked.

JC chuckled, then asked, “You mean I’m nicer to look at than Justin now?”

“Well, you are easier on the eyes because your hair doesn’t glow like Justin’s,” Lance teased.

“Yeah!  I feel like I have to wear sunglasses every time I look at Justin’s head so I don’t get blinded,” Chris added.

“Hey, look, y’all, let’s get off my hair for a while,” Justin replied to the comments.  “So, JC, what do you have planned for your date tonight with Jennifer?”

“Gee, how come everyone’s asking me about that now?” JC wondered aloud.

“What do you mean?” Lance asked.

“Well, I remember Derrick asking me about it last night,” JC said, “you know, when we were playing pool downstairs.”  Lance nodded, thinking back to that night.  “Then Jennifer asked me about it herself, now you guys are asking me.  I’m surprised Kathy hasn’t asked me yet.”

“We just want to know what you’ve got planned, that’s all,” Justin explained.

“Oh, I know,” JC said, not wanting his friend to take it the wrong way.  “I just want it to be a surprise and everything.  Don’t think I believe you guys would tell her, but…”

Lance cut him off.  “That’s okay, man, you don’t need to tell us.  We’re just happy for you and her, that’s all.”

“Thanks, Lance,” JC said.  “I just want everything to be perfect tonight.”  Lapsing into silence, JC thought about Jennifer and their date.  Everything will be perfect, I know it will.

**

Kathy was lecturing Jennifer as they drove to campus.  “Jen, you know I don’t like being late for class.”

“I know, I know, and I’m sorry I woke up late, but I’ve apologized, like, twenty-five times already!  Could we please get off the topic of me waking up late?” Jennifer pleaded.

“Okay.”  Kathy silenced for a minute, then looked over at her friend.  “So, did you try to get JC to talk about your date?”

“No, I couldn’t get him to spill even one little detail!  Sometimes he frustrates me so much…”

“Oh, come on, Jen, at least he’s got all this planned just for you.”

“Yeah, but you know me, I have to know everything that goes on around here.”

“Mm hmm.  You’re nosy.”

“I’m not nosy!” Jennifer said in defense of herself.  “I just like to know everything…okay, I’m nosy.”  Both Jennifer and Kathy laughed at Jennifer’s admission.

“It’s okay, Jen,” Kathy said as their laughter died down.  “I guess someone has to know what’s going on all the time…” she teased.

“Oh, stop,” Jennifer said, still giggling.  “Anyway, so what are our plans for today?”

“Hold on one sec and I’ll tell you.”  Kathy pulled her planner out of her bag and opened it up to a page full of writing.  “Okay, we have class from eleven to twelve, then we are supposed to have lunch.  Oh, yeah,” Kathy interrupted herself, “Derrick called this morning and wanted to know if we wanted to have lunch with him.  I told him I would check with you, and then he said to have you page him if it’s okay.”

“I guess we can do that.  What about after lunch?  We’re going shopping, right?”

“Yeah,” Kathy affirmed.  “After we go shopping, we head home to get ready.”

“Okay, sounds good.  I predict we’ll finish lunch around one-thirty, get done with shopping around three-thirty, and then be home by four.  Wait…two hours to get ready?” Jennifer speculated.

“Hey, I want to look good for Lance!” Kathy declared with a grin.  “Don’t you want to look good for JC?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then we’ll need two hours to get ready.”

“Oh, I see, you think I look so bad, it’ll take me two hours to look decent for someone?” Jennifer joked.

“No…you know what I mean, Jen.  You want to look extra special, so you have to spend extra time on getting ready.”

“I know, I’m just kidding, Kat.  Chill.”

“I will.  So tell me, what are you going to wear tonight?”  The girls talked excitedly about their dates as they drove the rest of the way to the university.