I sat and watched as Justin talked a mile a minute. He wasn't aware that I'd already known Chris for several months and neither one of us were going to change his mind just yet. He was so excited about this forming of a new pop group that he hadn't even noticed when Chris and I had shaken hands and then held on for a few minutes longer than necessary.

As Justin talked and talked about who we could possibly get to round the group out I could feel Chris' eyes on me. He continued to run his eyes up and down my body until I finally got up and moved so I was out of his line of site. I got a weird feeling that he could see that I wasn't quite what I was trying to pass myself off as.

I stood behind the sofa that Chris was sitting on but was still within the direct line of sight for Justin so Chris couldn't turn and look at me without Justin getting suspicious.

Lynn came in to the room with a smile and three glasses of juice for us, "I brought you boys some orange juice."

"Thanks mom."

"Thanks, Mrs. Harless." Chris said.

"Thank you, Mrs. Harless," I stated as she handed me the glass. I promptly sat the glass on the windowsill and didn't give it another thought the entire time we were there.

Lynn watched Chris and I while we were there and finally, about ten minutes before I was about to make an excuse to leave asked the one question I was most afraid she'd ask.

"Boys, do you two have a place to stay tonight? I know you (she looks at me) just arrived back in town today. But what about you Chris?"

"No ma'am." Chris answered. "I just got into town myself."

Justin looked at me with hope in his eyes. I tried to smile (I think) and said, "No ma'am. I haven't had a chance to find a place yet."

"Good. Then it's settled. You boys can all stay here for now. Don't even think about arguing JC. You know you won't win. You find a decent place to live and then I'll let you move, til then you're stuck here. You know the rules but for Chris I will explain once again. I don't expect you boys to be in at 10:00 pm every night but if you're going to be past midnight I would `appreciate' a call. If you're going to be out all night then I would like to know. I don't want to call the police, thinking something has happened to you to find out you stayed at some girls house. These are the only rules I have for you boys. Justin has a separate set of rules because he is my son, so don't try talking him into covering for you or anything. He'll only get in more trouble."

I smiled at her, "Thanks Lynn, glad to see the rules haven't changed too much."

"Glad to see you're not that strict ma'am."

"Please call me Lynn, Chris."

"Ok, Lynn."

"JC, you can take the same room you used to have. Justin will you show Chris to his new home. JC? Do you plan on going out tonight?"

"Yes, ma'am. I've gotta go get my stuff from the locker in the airport."

"You left your stuff…" She trailed off when I gave her this blank look. "You gotta quit doing stuff like that. Someone could of taken it."

"I know, but I didn't have anywhere else to leave it at the time."

"You be careful son."

"I will, I'll be back in a couple hours."

"Ok."

I gave her a kiss on the cheek and walked out the door. "Damn, now where the hell was that blood back again?" Good, here's a taxi. I get in, "Take me to the nearest blood bank please."