"Come on let me have a little fun!"
"Allie, you know that you're not supposed to play volleyball for a few more weeks."
"Oh come on, Lance. I feel fine. Plus Dr. Nelson said that it's fine to play a little, just as long as I don't jump. He only said that so I could be ready to play once school starts."
Lance Bass looked over at his best friend. He hadn't seen Allie Richards this happy in months. She had been confined to a wheelchair for the past few months due to knee surgery. She had to get a cancerous tumor removed from her knee. And the good thing was that it had been found early enough that the cancer hadn't spread. Now she was able to walk on her own, but she still had to wear a knee brace.
"Okay, we'll play. I just don't want to push you around for another three months in a wheelchair."
That was when he got hit in the head with the volleyball. He turned to look at Allie. The petite girl with brown hair and sea green eyes was sticking her tongue out at him. He simply laughed.
2000:
Lance and Allie may have gone off to do totally different things in their lives, but that didn't change their friendship one iota. He had gone off to become an international superstar because he was one-fifth of the hottest boy bands on the charts.
Allie had gone off to college at FSU just like she always wanted. To make it even better she went on a full ride scholarship because of volleyball. And her major was in International Business.
One afternoon, she and a few of her friends were playing volleyball, when Allie sprained her knee. That was when something else happened.
"All we're going to do is go in with this little scope and take a little look around. It's just a precaution due to the surgery you had a few years ago," Dr. Reilly said.
"So there probably isn't anything wrong, right?"
"Right. Since you haven't had knee problems until now, we're just making sure that the cancer hasn't returned. We'll look at your knee on Tuesday, before the break. So just take it easy until then."
Allie left the medical center, still not convinced. She didn't want to call her parents in Europe. So, she decided to call the next best person.
The guys sat sitting around, trying to think of something to do. Nothing came to mind.
"Why don't we go clubbin'," Joey suggested.
"Naw, we did that last night," Justin said.
"The longer we sit here, the more tired I get. So, I'm going to bed. I'll see ya'll in the morning," JC said yawning as he stood up. The others said goodnight as he left the room. That was when a cell phone's ringing broke the silence.
"Lance, its yours," Chris said, tossing the cell phone to Lance. He looked at the number and knew it was Allie.
"Hey Allie, what's up?"
There was dead silence.
"Allie, what's wrong?"
Lance could hear sniffles in the background. He began to worry. He stood up and left the room. The others were trying to piece it together. They did know that one of Lance's close friends was named Allie.
"Allie, please tell me what's wrong,"
"I sprained my knee today,"
"That really isn't anything to cry about, Allie."
"Yeah it is. Dr. Reilly told me that he is going to use this little scope to look inside my knee."
"Why?"
"He wants to make sure that the cancer hasn't returned."
"That's not bad. What's there to be scared of?"
"Lance I have a third degree sprain! I scared that another tumor is there and this time the cancer spread!"
"Come on, Allie. This is the first time in 5 years that you've hurt you knee this bad. Why would it return now?"
She didn't answer. He could tell that she was upset.
"Allie, would you like me to be there when they look at your knee?"
"Please,"
"Sure. When is it?"
"Tuesday at 9 am at the University Medical Center."
"I'll be there. So don't worry."
"Thanks Lance. You're the best." Allie said as she hung up the phone. Lance could tell that she was now feeling better.
"Okay Allie, there isn't any sign of cancer anywhere. Just take it easy on your knee for the rest of today, then tomorrow you can put on your smaller brace."
Allie took a deep sigh of relief. Lance gently rubbed her shoulders. He knew that she would be okay.
"Now is your medicine still working?"
"Yes it is Dr. Reilly."
"Just call when you need a refill. And take those pain killers I gave until tomorrow," he said leaving the room.
Lance helped Allie off the examination table. "What kind of medicine are you taking?"
"Medicine to keep cancer in remission. It's just a precaution." Allie said as she slowly made her way through the door on crutches. Lance followed her.
"So now that you have a clean bill of health, what do you want to do?" he asked.
"I still haven't met your friends in Orlando."
"But you have school,"
"No I don't. We have the rest of the week off until next Tuesday. And mom and dad aren't coming home this weekend, so I'm not going home to Mississippi."
"That sounds fine,"
They walked back to her dorm so she could pack a bag for the next week. Her roommate, Donna, was there, reading a book.
"Hey Donna, this is my friend Lance. Lance this is my roommate Donna." Allie said making introductions. They said hello to each other.
"I'm going down to Orlando for the break, so if my parents call tell them I'm with Lance. They'll know how to reach me." Allie said as she put a few things in a bag.
"I can do that. And don't forget your pills," she said tossing a bottle to Allie.
"Thanks."
Allie turned to look back at Lance. He was looking at a picture on her desk.
"Hey wasn't this taken a few days before I left?"
"Yep. That's one of the last pictures I have of us together. So are you ready to leave?" she asked.
"Yes," he said taking the bag from her hands. She slowly made her way to the door.
"Bye Donna! I'll see ya on Tuesday!"
"So how does it feel to be loved by people around the world?"
Lance looked over at Allie. He could tell by the tone of her voice that she was asking one of her stupid questions that she liked to ask.
"It took sometime to get used to. And even now it's still a shock."
"Its just because you're a home grown southern boy," she said in her deep southern drawl, that she only spoke with on occasion.
"If I'm that, then you're are a Southern Belle."
"Damn right! My daddy always says I am."
He turned to look at her again. She smiled at him, and then turned to look out the window.
He could tell that she had calmed down considerably. He made up his mind that he would finally tell her how he felt about her. She was all that he wanted in a girl. He just hoped that she wouldn't over react. He still had to decide when he was going to tell her.
"I got an idea!"
"What's that?" he asked, being jolted out of his trance.
"Let me cook for you and your friends tonight."
"If you want to, just as long as you aren't on your knee too much."
"Don't worry, I won't be."
"So what are you going to cook?"
She thought about it for a second. "Manicotti, with a salad and garlic bread."
"And could you make your to die for chocolate chip cookies?"
"Sure. I'll do it because you drove all the way to Tallahassee to be with me for the tests done on my knee."
"Why wouldn't I of? What else are friends for?"
Once they got to Orlando, Lance called the others to see if they wanted to come over that night for dinner and to meet Allie. They all said that they would.
"How long will it take you to cook?" Lance asked.
Allie looked at her watch. It was 3 pm. And they were almost done grocery shopping.
"At least an hour for the manicotti and the cookies would take about an hour also."
"Okay, cause I told the guys to be over about 6 pm."
"That sounds fine."
Lance watched Allie as she got the manicotti ready to go in the oven.
"So what's the low down?" Lance asked.
"Low down on what?"
"Everything. What you've been up to, stuff you've done, things like that."
"Well I've mainly been focusing on my classes. And that's really it, besides volleyball."
"Yeah, that I kinda figured, Miss ACC player of the year. So are you dating anybody?" he asked, hoping that she wasn't.
"Not since Ryan in high school. I really haven't found anyone I click with. Not to say that I haven't gone out as friends with a guy."
"Poor Allie,"
"I really don't care. I kinda like it this way," she said as she put the manicotti in the refrigerator, to be cooked later. "Now that that's taken care of, let's start on the cookies."
"These I can't wait to eat."
"Well you've gotta wait about 45 more minutes," she said as she began to mix the various ingredients.
When she had her back turned, Lance took some flower from the bowl. Once she turned around, he threw it at her and hit her in the face.
"What was that for?" she asked wiping the flower from her face.
"Because I felt like it,"
Allie picked some flower up and threw it at him. She hit him right between the eyes.
"Is that how we're going to play?" he asked standing up, as he wiped the flower from his face.
Allie tried to limp away from him. But she couldn't move fast enough. Lance grabbed her by the waist.
"Gotcha ya!" he said picking her up so she couldn't get away.
"No fair! I'm injured!"
"Well then, you need to take a break. You've been standing on your knee for the last thirty minutes," he said as he sat her down on the couch. He sat down next to her. She propped her knee up across his legs.
"Do you remember when you were in the wheelchair after your surgery?"
"Oh yeah. You would push me around and pop wheelies with me in the chair."
"And you loved every single minute of it."
"I did. I did," she said laughing.
Lance gently pushed a few loose strains of hair from her face. She smiled at him.
"Allie, do you know what I just realized?"
"What's that?"'
"You're beautiful."
She turned her head away from him as she blushed. Lance put his hand to her cheek and turned her face back towards him.
"Allie, you mean the world to me. I love you so much,"
She looked into his eyes to see if he meant what he said. And she could tell that he was telling the truth. She put her finger up to his lips to stop him before he could say another word.
"I get what you're hinting at. So just shut up and kiss me already,"
Lance smiled, pulled her close, and softly kissed her lips. He was amazed that she knew what he wanted. But she always had a tendency to figure these things out.
Allie ran her fingers through Lance's hair after their kiss. "Why didn't you ever tell me how you felt?" she asked.
"I couldn't find the right words."
"So I take it we're dating?"
"What do you think silly?" he asked, trying not to laugh. "I think those pain killers Dr. Reilly gave you are still working."
"My mom always said that we would end up together."
Lance smiled as she stood up. She softly kissed his forehead before she went back to baking cookies.
He could tell that this would be a good thing. In his eyes, she was now much more than his best friend. So much more.
About six, Allie went to make sure that she looked okay. Lance had reassured her that she did, but she wanted to make sure.
While she was gone, the guys showed up. "So who is this girl we're meeting?" Chris asked, as the guys sat down in the living room.
"My friend Allie. She decided to come down and visit me for the rest of the week while she's out of school."
"Where does she go to school?" JC asked.
"FSU. She's there on a volleyball scholarship."
"Cool, so where is she?" Joey asked.
"I'm not sure. Let me go find her," Lance said getting up. He walked back to the guestroom and softly knocked on the door. "Allie?" he asked opening the door.
"Yes?"
She was sitting on the bed, trying to open a bottle of some sort.
"Are you okay?" he asked sitting down next to her.
"I can't get this bottle open. I need to take my pills. Can you open it?" she asked handing it to him. He opened it on the first try.
"Thanks," she said taking the bottle from him. She swallowed a pill that she took from the bottle. She stood up, ready to meet Lance's friends. He stood up, brought her close, and softly kissed her lips.
"I take it that you're going to walk without your crutches since you put on your other knee brace,"
"Yep."
Lance took a hold of her hand and led her into the living room.
"Everyone this is Allie; Allie this is Justin, Joey, JC, and Chris." Lance said making introductions.
All the guys said hello and Allie smiled.
"If ya'll will excuse me, I have to go and finish dinner," she said walking/limping away.
"Lance, why is she limping?" Justin asked.
"She sprained her knee a few days ago," Lance said sitting down on the couch.
A few minutes later, Allie walked back in the room, sat down on Lance's lap, and leaned against him.
"So you play volleyball?" JC asked.
"Yes. Oh have I told you where I get to play volleyball in September?" she asked turning to Lance.
"Where?"
"Sydney,"
"Why?"
"You know the year 2000. Sydney, Australia. A thing called the Olympics," she said standing back up. The timer in the kitchen was going off.
Lance sat in shock for a second after she left.
"Lance actually knows someone who is good at sports!" Justin said. Everyone laughed except Lance. Allie walked back in the room and said that dinner was ready.
"So tell us about you Allie," JC said, as they ate dinner.
"Where to start? Eat, sleep, school, and volleyball. That's just about it."
"Aren't you Allie 'the Cat' Richards, the ACC player of year?" Justin said finally making a connection.
"Oh God. That nickname," she said sighing, "Yes, that's me. I really hate that nickname,"
Allie gave Lance an evil look from the corner of her eye.
"What? What did I do?"
"You gave me that nickname in the 6th grade!" she said pointing her finger at him. Everyone laughed.
"How'd you end up with that nickname?" Chris asked.
"Lance tell the story," Allie said giving up.
"In the 6th grade, she was the scrawniest player on her youth basketball team. She would constantly fight for the ball. So, I gave her the nickname 'cat', cause you know that alley cats get in fights. And it struck with her. If you watch her play, its quiet evident."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked getting defensive.
"Oh Lance is about to get charged!" Chris said, jokingly. Everyone laughed.
"Don't take it personally, Allie. It's just that way you play. You just can't play your position as setter. You're all over the court."
"And when was the last time you saw me play?"
He thought about it for a minute or two. "It's been a while,"
They all laughed again. Allie excused herself from the table a few minutes later so she could start to clean the kitchen.
"Since you cooked dinner, we'll clean up," JC said, as he and the guys followed her into the kitchen. Lance led her over to a chair and made her sit down. Within 10 minutes, the kitchen was spotless.
"Allie, dinner was superb," Joey said kissing her cheek. Everyone agreed.
"I'm sorry to leave so early, but I'm exhausted," JC said.
"You're always tired, JC." Joey said.
"I know I am."
"We all better get going," Chris said. "Allie you're lucky to catch us on a down week."
After the guys left, it was about 9 pm.
"So did you like them?" Lance asked, sitting down on the couch.
"They're pretty funny. And I liked them all. So what do you have to do tomorrow?" she asked as she curled up next to him.
"Like Chris said, we have an off week. So, no practice or anything like that. We can do anything we like."
"We'll figure that out in the morning," she said yawning. She closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into Lance's arms.
"Allie, you know with us dating, it's going to make your life a nightmare."
"I kinda figured that out. And guess what? I don't care. But I have a question for you."
"What's that?"
"What made you figure out that you wanted to date me?"
" I really don't know. I've wanted to ask you out since the first time I met you."
"In the fourth grade!"
"Long time hun? But we became such good friends; I couldn't bring myself to ask you out. I thought that it was just a case of puppy love, yet my feelings grew."
"Why now?"
"Hearing you upset the other night and seeing how relieved you were today, made me realize that I had to tell you what I felt."
She turned her head and kissed his lips. She snuggled into his arms again. He just held her for a while longer.
"You know if you would have asked me out in high school, I would have said yes," Allie said a few minutes later.
"But you were always with one of the popular guys,"
"And you weren't popular? Lance, you're dreaming."
"Not like them. Sure I played sports, but I wasn't the captain of the football team, like Ryan,"
"Give me a break," Allie said, standing up. "I'm wiped out, so I'm going to bed."
She kissed his cheek and headed off towards the guestroom.
The next morning Lance was up at about 8:15. When he found that Allie wasn't awake yet, he decided to cook her breakfast. He tried to think of her favorite breakfast meal. It was pancakes, from what he could remember.
He found a recipe and began to cook. About an hour later, a pair of slender arms wrapped around him from behind. Allie laid her head on his back.
"What time is it?" she asked still half asleep.
"About 9:15. A little after."
"How long have you been up?"
"A little over an hour."
"You get up too early," she said as she went to sit at the table.
Lance brought over a plate of pancakes and set them on the table. He then brought over plates and silverware for both of them.
"What's this?" she asked, a little more awake.
"Since you cooked last night, I made you breakfast this morning. Now what would you like to drink?"
"Milk please."
Lance got the drinks and came back over to the table. He sat across from her and watched her take a few bites before he started.
"So what do you want to do today?" he asked.
"I really don't care. Even if we hung around here all day, I'll be perfectly happy."
Allie's cell phone began to ring. She got up, grabbed her cell phone from her purse, and answered it."
"Allie! It's Melissa,"
"Hey, where are you?"
"Roger, Micheal, Liz, and myself are in Orlando for the break. I called to see if you were at the dorms and wanted to come down with us, but Donna told me that you were already down here."
"What are y'all doing today?" Allie asked, as she sat down on Lance's lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist, while she put an arm around his neck.
"We're probably going to Disney World. Liz has never been there."
"That sounds fun,"
"We called to see if you wanted to come,"
"Hang on a sec," she said putting down the phone. She turned to Lance. "My friends called to see if we wanted to go to Disney World with them,"
"They already know about me?"
"No. But you can come with me. Please. I can live with all your fans bugging you."
Lance laughed. "Are you sure you're willing to put up with it?"
"Yep, I'll just ditch ya if it gets too bad."
"Gee thanks. I don't care if we go."
"Thank you," she said kissing his cheek. "Hey Mel, were do you want to meet?"
"We're planning on going to most of the parks, so buy a park hopper pass. Meet us at 11 right inside Epcot."
"Got it babe! See ya then!" Allie said as she hung up the phone.
"So what are the plans?" Lance asked.
"We're meeting them at 11 inside Epcot. They're going to go to Epcot, Disney World, and MGM Studios. We don't have to go to all of them if you don't want to."
"I don't care. But it's almost 10, so we better get ready."
Within 15 minutes, Allie was ready to go. Lance was amazed that a girl could get ready that fast.
"So is it going to be James or Lance today?" Allie asked as they were driving towards the park.
"Is this another one of your stupid questions?"
"No! I never ask stupid questions!"
"You do too! You asked two of them yesterday."
"I'm not talking to you anymore!" Allie said turning away from him.
"Come on Allie! I was just joking!"
She didn't answer him. She wouldn't talk to him until they were out of the car at Epcot.
“Allie Nicole Richards, what's wrong?" he asked as he stopped her in the parking lot.
"I'm kidding. I'm not mad at you," she said as she hugged him. The lines for tickets weren’t that long, given that it was in the middle a week.
As soon as they were inside the park, someone was yelling for Allie. It was Melissa.
"What took you so long?" Mel asked as the two girls hugged.
"Traffic. We left 15 minutes after I got off the phone with you,"
"Who is we?" Micheal asked.
"Oh this is Lance," she said pulling Lance in front of her from behind. "Lance this is Micheal, Roger, Mel, and Liz. Micheal and Roger both play football, while Mel and Liz play volleyball with me."
"Except Allie can wipe the floor against us. That's why she's the captain for Team USA." Liz said.
"Please don't mention volleyball, the Olympics, school, or the USOC today. I'm sick and tried of it all!"
"Come let's see what's here. Then we'll head over to Disney World." Roger said.
The group walked around Epcot for a while before deciding to go over to Disney World. As they rode the tram in-between the two parks, Mel and Liz pulled Allie off to the side.
"Where did you find him? He's a hunk!" Liz said.
"Yeah. I thought you said that you weren't going to date anyone until after college. And don't tell us that you two are just friends! You two certainly aren't acting like 'just good friends'. "
Allie tried not to laugh but couldn't help herself. "You two ask too many questions!"
"Well why don't you answer our questions then,"
"Okay, Lance and I are dating."
"Where did you meet him?" Liz asked interrupting.
"I was getting there. He's my best friend from Mississippi."
"Aww the best friends turned to boyfriend/girlfriend scenario. How sweet," Mel said.
"I agree,"
"Will you two just leave me alone about it," she said, going back over to where Lance was sitting. She sat down, took a hold of his hand, and leaned against his shoulder.
"You know, Allie, you're breaking hundreds of guys hearts at FSU." Roger said.
"So what," she said. Then she whispered something into Lance's ear.
"I wonder how many millions of hearts you're breaking?"
"Too many,"
The rest of the day the group spent it mainly at Disney World and MGM. Only once did a few girls come up to Lance. But he was standing off on his own. Allie did see it out of the corner of her eye.
About seven, Allie and Lance left. As they were driving home, Chris called. Lance let Allie answer it.
"Hey Chris, I thought it was an off week?"
"Let me guess. Allie right?"
"Who else could it be?"
"You never know with Lance. He's quite the gentleman, who girls love."
Allie laughed. "Now if that ever happens with me around, I may do something to him,"
"Now are you his girlfriend or something?"
"Yeah."
"Well then, what are you two doing tonight?"
"We're not sure. But Lance will call you later if we decided to go out."
"That's fine."
Allie hung up the phone. "What did Chris want?" Lance asked.
"To see what we were doing tonight."
"I'm not up for doing much."
"That sounds fine to me."
"Hey what did Lance say?" Justin asked.
"I talked to Allie. She said that they would call us later if they decided to go out tonight."
"I hope that they decided to do something, because I want to get to know Allie more. She is so hot!" Joey said.
"Sorry Joe. She's taken. That I just found out." Chris said. "Lance has struck again, by sweeping the girl off her feet first."
All the guys laughed.
Allie walked out of her room wearing a pair of flannel pants and a tank top. She found Lance lying on the couch with his eyes closed.
"Baby, are you okay?" she asked as she ran her hand along his face. He opened his eyes and looked at her.
"I just have a headache," he said. "When did you get glasses?"
"A few months ago," she said as she said sitting on the floor. She sat so that she could see Lance. She stretched her knee out.
"How's your knee today?"
"It hurt a little earlier in the morning, but now its fine. So did you like my friends?"
"They were nice. I take it that they are dating each other?"
"Yep. Mel and Roger are dating, while Liz and Micheal are dating."
"Why did Roger say that you were going and breaking 100's of guys hearts down at FSU?"
"I have had so many guys ask me out in the past 3 years, it not even funny. I would go out on maybe 1 date and then never go out with them again."
"Only better for me," he said leaning towards Allie and softly kissing her lips.
"Come on sit up," Allie said after the kiss. Lance sat up while she slid behind him.
He lay his head back down on her lap. She gently ran her hands along his neck and forehead trying to relieve his headache. She gently massaged his temples, shoulders, and neck.
After a few minutes, Lance was asleep. She sat there for a few minutes. She had her left hand resting on his chest, while her right hand gently lay off to the side. She fell asleep soon after that.
About an hour later, Lance slowly woke up. He looked up and saw that Allie was asleep. Her head was tilted off to the side. She looked like an angel to him. An angel that was now his -- his to love, cherish, and protect.
He could already tell that their relationship would be different than his and Danielle's was. Here was someone who already knew how he ticked. Already they shared a love that was irreplaceable. Even if they did break up, which hopefully they wouldn't, they still would be best friends.
He gently took a hold of her right hand and held it. As Allie slowly woke up, she squeezed his hand. She leaned over and kissed his forehead.
"When did you become so good at giving massages? You put me right to sleep."
"When my mom was pregnant with Caylia, she constantly had backaches. So that's when I mastered the art of massage."
Lance sat up so he could look into Allie's eyes. He took ahold of her hands and kissed them.
"You know that this relationship is going to be hard. We won't have that much time for each other. And I want to be there for you whenever you need me,"
"Lance, you already are. I know that we won't have time for each other, but as long as I can talk to you like once a week, I'll be happy. Besides, I'm going to be criss-crossing the globe so many times this summer, it's not even funny."
Lance smiled. He pulled Allie into his arms, hugged her, and simply held her in his arms.
After a few minutes, Allie stood up. "Where are you going?"
"To get something to drink, so don't worry,” she said walking into the kitchen. "Baby, do you want something to drink?"
"Sure,"
Allie came back carrying two glasses of water. She handed Lance his glass and set hers down. And then she left the room again. She went to get her pills.
"Hey do you want to watch a movie?" Lance asked, as she came back into the room.
"Sure,"
Lance got up and put a movie in the VCR. "Is October Sky okay?"
"Yep," she said as she sat back down next to him.
"Hey don't you remember when we learned about derivatives and all that jazz in Calculus?" Allie asked during the movie.
"Unfortunately yes. Just think, we can figure all those equations out. And I still don't know why I tortured myself in that class,"
By the end of the movie, Allie was crying her eyes out.
"Why are you crying?"
"It's so sweet! They launched their largest rocket, the dad showed up, and they all went to college!" Allie managed to say in between the sniffles.
"Aww, poor Allie," Lance said as he hugged her. She wiped her eyes while she leaned against his shoulder. He softly kissed the top of her head.
"I love you, Lance." Allie said a few minutes later.
"I love you too,"
Lance wondered in what context she had meant. But all that mattered was that she loved him. Sure they had been going out for only two days, but that didn't matter to him. He didn't mind saying it to her, because he did love her; he always had.
"Baby will you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Hold me all night."
"Sure."
A few minutes later, Allie was asleep in his arms. Lance carried her into his room. She mumbled something and snuggled deeper into his arms as he carried her.
He softly set her down on the bed and pulled the covers around her. He kissed her lips, took off her glasses, and placed them on the bedside table.
He stood there a few more minutes, watching her sleep before climbing into bed with her.
Lance wasn't sure how close to get to her, yet she did ask him to hold her. So that's what he did. Allie curled up against him, with out saying a word.
The next morning, Allie was the first awake. She softly kissed his lips to wake Lance up. He inhaled and slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Allie smiling at him.
"What?" he asked rubbing the sleep from his eyes, "Why are you smiling?"
"You're so cute when you wake up."
Lance smiled. "If you don't mind me asking, why did you want me to hold you all night?"
"You had been holding me for the majority of the night anyways. And I know this part is going to sound sappy, but I loved the feeling of being in your arms. It made everything else disappear."
"What's wrong?"
"The Olympics are less than 6 months away and we still don't have a full roster. The USOC is continually pressuring Coach Taylor to complete it. And some of that pressure falls on my shoulders."
"Just think of how much fun you have when you're playing."
"I know,"
"And the better thing is that it's the Olympics. Now that's awesome."
"You were the one who helped me practice in the seventh grade."
"And you helped me with my dancing before I went over to Europe with the guys."
Allie laughed. "At least you aren't like my father who has two left feet."
Lance smiled as he stroked her cheek. "I still don't know why I just didn't tell you how I felt back in high school."
"Maybe God intended for it to be now."
"Have you actually been paying attention in church?"
"Of course! It's grandpa preaching! He always says that God intends for certain things to happen when they do. Maybe that's why I injured my knee now."
"Probably so. But we'll never know now will we?"
"Nope, but what we do know is that you love me and I love you; yet we just never told each other how we felt until now."
"Exactly!" Lance said as he leaned in for a kiss.
“So what adventures await us today?” Allie asked sitting crossed legged on the bed.
“It’s a clean slate.”
Allie thought for a minute or so about what to do. “Well I do need to go shopping for summer clothes, and I bet that you don’t want to go and do that.”
Lance interjected. “Why don’t you go shopping while I figure out what we’ll do.”
Allie agreed.
Lance sat thinking of something romantic he could do for Allie. Three days sating and he already wanted to be romantic. Oh well. It was Allie. Then he thought of something perfect to do.
“So did ya miss me?” Allie asked kissing lance’s lips as she got home.
“Of course. Is my car still in one piece?”
“Yes! I don’t drive like you.”
“Is that supposed to be funny?”
“Yes,” she said walking back to her room. She sat her stuff down then went back to where Lance was sitting in front of his computer.
“So what are we going to do for the rest of the day?”
“Go pack enough clothes for tonight and tomorrow,” he said turning towards her.
“Why?”
“It’s a secret. And you need a swimsuit.”
Allie did as he asked.
“Please tell me,” Allie begged.
“We’re almost there. Just be patient.”
Allie knew it had to be a good surprise if he wouldn’t tell her. She did figure out that they were going towards the beach. But she didn’t know which one.
She just sat back and watched the scenery. A few minutes later, they pulled up to a nice hotel. She looked over at Lance.
“Okay what exactly do you have planned?”
“It’s a surprise.”
She rolled her eyes at him as she got out of the car. The valet parking guys took out their luggage. They also parked the car.
The couple walked into the lobby. Allie sat down in a chair while Lance checked in. her knee was starting to bug her again. A few minutes later, he walked back over to her.
“Ready?” he asked helping her up.
“I guess.”
They went up to the 5th floor where their room was.
“Now why exactly are we here?” she asked once they were in their room.
“I wanted to get out of Orlando for the day. And since you were here, I decided that now would be a good time,” he said, as he pulled her closer by her waist. He looked deep into her eyes as he stroked her cheek.
“Allie does it feel that we’re moving a little fast?”
“A little, but its not like we haven’t known each other for what seems like forever. But let’s not do anything stupid,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Agreed,” he said as he kissed her lips. He was surprised by how much passion Allie put into the kiss.
After their kiss, Allie placed her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her.
“This is so crazy.”
“Why’s that?”
“I still can’t get over what’s going on between us,”
“Well just believe it and go with it,” he said kissing her lips. She smiled.
“Okay it’s 3 o’clock. So what do you have planned for the rest of the day?” she asked sitting down on the bed.
“I thought that we would go out to dinner tonight and then we’ll figure it out from there,” he said sitting down next to her on the bed.
“That sounds fine with me. But I’m going to go and lay out by the pool,” she said grabbing her swimsuit from her bag. She walked into the bathroom and shut the door.
She walked back out a few minutes later, wearing a pair of blue jean shorts with a spaghetti strap shirt.
“Are you coming with?”
“I’ll be down in a few minutes,” Lance said kissing her lips. She took a pair of sunglasses from her purse and left the room.
Lance changed into her swimsuit, but before he went downstairs he walked out onto the patio. He looked to see where Allie was. She was lying out, just taking it easy. He decided that he’d better join her, or someone else may snatch her.
“Are you going to lay here for the rest of the day?” Lance asked looking down at her.
“Yes, unless you can think of something else better to do,”
“Well we are at the beach and you’re sitting by the pool. That doesn’t make sense. Come on; let’s go for a walk.
Lance helped her up. As she was pulling on her shorts, he noticed something.
“Now when did you get your belly button pierced?”
“A long time ago,” she said as she put her shirt on. “Do you object to it?”
“Not at all. I think it’s cute.”
She smiled.
For a few hours, they spent it at the beach. He eventually picked her up and threw her in the water. She wasn’t too happy. But she got back by pulling him under with her.
About 6 o’clock they headed back to the hotel. Allie went to take a shower so they could go out to dinner.
By 7, they were both ready. They didn’t go out to a fancy restaurant, but a simple one. It was a local seafood place. Allie insisted on paying, since Lance had already done so much for her.
“But Allie, you’re my girlfriend and I’m paying!”
“Then I’ll just break up with you, so that I can pay.”
“No you can pay.”
“Thank you,” she said grabbing the receipt from him. She looked at it, took out her wallet, and found the credit card that she wanted to use. She handed it to the waiter.
“Now was that so hard?” she asked.
“No. But now I get to buy desert,” he said as he help her up out of the chair.
“Just as long as it’s Baskin-Robbins ice cream,”
“Deal.”
Allie got her Gold Medal Ribbon ice cream and all was good.
“You know I’ve read all these different things about you, so I really don’t know what to think.” Allie said as they walked into their hotel room.
“I’m still the same Lance that you love,”
“I know that. But we all change a little,” she said sitting down in the middle of the bed with her legs folded under her. “Even I’ve changed.”
“I highly doubt that,” he said sitting next to her.
“Okay let’s ask each other questions to find out different stuff on each other.”
“Okay. You start.”
“What’s the stupidest thing that you’ve ever done?”
“Fought a bull in Mexico and almost got killed. What about you?”
“Went skydiving.”
Lance laughed. “Well then what’s the one thing that you would change about yourself?”
“I would change the fact that I got cancer in my knee. How about you?”
“The size of my Adam’s apple.”
“Why? I think it’s sexy,” she said as she softly kissed his Adam’s apple. He blushed.
They continued to ask questions for about an hour longer. Then Allie curled up with a pillow and fell asleep. Lance softly kissed her good night as he climbed into bed with her.
The morning, Lance awoke to find Allie’s arms wrapped around him with her head resting on his shoulder. Some how she had managed to turn around and curl up next to him during the night. But she was so cute when she slept; well that’s what he thought.
“Baby, I’ve claimed you as my teddy bear,” she said waking up.
“I can see that,”
Allie kissed his lips and nuzzled back against his neck. He softly stroked her back and neck.
“We’ve been going out 4 days and there’s so much I want to tell you.” Lance said.
“Go on tell me. You never know, I may just feel the same things.”
“Well you’re sweet, innocent, considerate, gorgeous, and drop dead sexy,”
Each time he told her something, he kissed her neck, collarbone, cheek, forehead, and lips. She was impressed by what he thought.
“You’re all the above,” she said kissing his lips with a passion. Lance held her close as they kissed and slowly ran his hands along her body. He wanted to do so much more with her, but they agreed not to do anything stupid. Allie knew what Lance wanted. And in some ways she wanted it too. For once in her life she felt wanted and truly loved.
Eventually one thing lead to another. Yet it was in the heat of the moment. And both Allie and Lance let their emotions get the best of them.
“What’s your new definition of anything stupid?” Lance asked as he gently stroked her arm and played with her hair.
“Go out, get drunk, and then do something with a complete and total stranger.”
“Just making sure,” Lance said softly kissing her lips. “Baby you’re so beautiful.”
She blushed and hid her face in his shoulder.
“Well its 11:30 in the morning. So what do you want to do now?”
She thought about it for a minute or two. “I do need to go more shopping.”
“What is it with girls and shopping?”
“Well everyone needs clothes. And girls just need more. We can’t live in just that same few outfits,” she said kissing her lips as she slid out of bed. He watched her slender body walk into the bathroom and disappear.
He lay in bed as the images flashed back through his head. He realized that he didn’t want her to go back to FSU on Monday. But it was just one of the many sacrifices that they were going to have to make, to make this relationship work.
Once they got back to Orlando, Lance got a call from JC. He wanted to know if and Allie wanted to go clubbin’ that night. And Allie was all for it.
“I have never danced to much in my life!” Allie said as she collapsed in a chair as they walked through the front door. Her shoes were in her hand. “Plus my feet are killing me.”
“Well tomorrow you don’t have to do anything.”
“Why?”
“I’ve already planned the next few days,” he said as he softly kissed her lips. She simply smiled.
“Carry me to bed,” she asked sweetly.
Lance picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. She didn’t even change into her pj’s before she was sound asleep.
The next day Lance took Allie horseback riding all day. She was in heaven. She, like Lance, always loved horseback riding. And it made her want to go home even more and ride her horse, Streak. That night her cooked dinner for her. She had gotten a little too much sun that day and she had a headache from it. So Lance got to baby her that night.
She had fallen asleep, while he was massaging her neck and shoulders. He carried her to bed a few minutes later. She always acted like this when she had gotten too much sun. And in the past few days she had.
The next morning, Allie was up bright and early, ready to go to church. Lance was a little surprised, yet remembered that she was the granddaughter of preacher.
Later that day, all the guys came over for a cook out. And they didn’t let Allie raise a finger at all.
“I have had so much fun these past few days. I don’t want to go back to school,” Allie said on the way back to Tallahassee on Monday.
“So you really think that I want you to leave? And I had just gotten used to holding you all night.”
Allie laughed. “well school’s out in a few weeks anyways.”
“Yeah right when we start our summer tour.”
“That sucks.”
“I wish that there was a way that you could come with us,” Lance said. “Hey wait. What’s your major again?”
“International relations and business.”
“Good. I may have gotten you a job until you leave for volleyball.”
She didn’t say a word. And she hoped that she would of gotten this job, no matter what it was.
Lance kissed Allie’s lips before he left to go back to Orlando.
“Call me when you get back, since I probably won’t be able to talk to you until sometime next week.”
“You’ve got it, baby. I love you Allie.”
“I love you too,” she said kissing his lips once more before he left.
Allie sat in the commons area of the dorms watching Seventh Heaven. And it just happened to be the episode with Lance in it. Towards the end of the show, she was hit up side the head with a magazine.
“What was that for?” she asked looking up at her assailant. Standing there was Liz and Mel. They didn’t look too happy.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were dating him?” Liz asked, showing Allie a magazine with a picture of Lance in it.
“How do you know its him I’m dating?”
“Well let’s see, he is your friend from back home in Mississippi and you both are from the same town. Besides his name is Lance.” Mel said.
Allie simply smiled and didn’t answer either of them.
“You are dating him!” Mel said.
“Keep it down.” Allie said.
“Tell us everything!” Liz said as the two girls sat down in front of Allie.
“Okay I’ll tell you. But let’s go up to my dorm room.”
“You are so lucky!” Mel said.
Allie laughed. “Why are you laughing?” Liz asked.
“Nothing it’s just you two.”
“So he’s your best friend from Mississippi and he came up here last week because of your knee?” Mel said trying to get the story straight.
“Yes.”
“Then you went down to Orlando with him,” Liz said
“And he spilled his heart out to you. So now you two are dating.” Mel said continuing.
“Yes,”
“Allie, I just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.” Liz said.
“I do.”
The next week the guys were in LA filming their new video for No Strings Attached. That weekend Allie flew to London to pick up Caylia. She and Lance managed to talk all of an hour on the phone that week. She told him that she would be home in Mississippi that following weekend.
“Well, well. It’s May 4th and someone turns 21 today.”
Lance laughed at the voice on the other end of the phone. “hey baby. How are you?”
“Tired of studying. And I realized that I hadn’t called you on your birthday yet. Now don’t go and have too much fun without me.”
“I’m having no fun at all. But go study. And I’ll see you this weekend at your grandparents.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
On Saturday, Lance called Allie bright and early, so that they could spend the day together. But that was quite in the cards.
“Baby, I promised Caylia that I would spend the day with her. I’m sorry.”
“That’s fine. But will you call me later?”
“Of course. Besides, she won’t want to spend the entire day together. So maybe I’ll swing by your parents house later.”
“Okay.”
“Allie why don’t you do gymnastics anymore?”
Allie looked up at her little sister, Caylia, as she was helping balancing her as she walked across the balance beam.
“How’d you know that I was in gymnastics?”
“Mommy told me.”
“Well I hurt my knee a long time ago. So I quit.”
“But you play volleyball.”
“I know. But it isn’t as hard on my knee.”
“Oh.”
“Come on. We better get home so grandma doesn’t have the police looking for us.”
“Okay,” Caylia said as she jumped off the beam into Allie’s arms.
That night, Allie went over to Lance’s parents house for dinner that night. Lance’s sister, Stacey, and her husband were over. So it was a pretty full house.
“Okay how did this all come about?” Stacey asked Allie when it was just the two of them.
“You know, it’s so crazy, I’m still amazed myself.”
“That’s not what I wanted to hear.”
“Okay, a few weeks ago, I had to go back in for some tests on my knee. I was so scared. Since my parents are living in London there, I didn’t want to call and worry them; so I called Lance. He drove up to be there with me. After that I went down the Orlando with him. And that’s when he told me.”
“Aww. That’s so sweet. I could tell that he always had a thing for you.”
Allie laughed, just as Lance grabbed her from behind. She struggled to get free, but couldn’t. “Please let me go,”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to,” he said as he carried her outside. Stacey just laughed at them.
“Here,” Allie said handing him a card and a wrapped gift, before she got into her car to go back to her grandparents house. “Happy late Birthday.”
Lance opened the card first and read what she wrote. She had written him a short little poem and he thought it was sweet. He then opened the gift. Inside was a book titled, Up Words for Down Days. It was full of quotes. And that was just what he needed.
“Thank you Allie,” he said kissing her lips as she got into the car. “Be careful.”
“I will. I love you Lance.”
“I love you too.”
The next day, after church, Lance came over for Sunday dinner at Allie’s grandparents house. They were sitting out on the front porch talking before dinner. That was when he told her that Johnny Wright wanted her to help with *Nsync’s summer tour, as a tour manager in training, so to speak.
“Are you serious?”
“Yep. You and I leave for Biloxi on Monday.”
Allie hugged Lance and kissed him on the lips. “Thank you!”
“Hey it was the only way I was going to be able to see you. Oh and make sure that you bring some nice outfits and your passport.”
“Why?”
“On the 16th, we’re going to be at the Cannes Film Festival in France.”
“Oh yeah. *Nsync’s film.”
They sat outside and talked for a few more minutes until Caylia came out and told them that dinner was ready.
“Now I know where Allie learned to cook,” Lance said, after they were finished eating, to her grandmother. “It was good, Mrs. Richards.”
“Thank you Lance.”
He and Allie cleaned the kitchen after dinner. He had already told her grandparents about the job and they though t it would be good.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Allie said kissing him goodbye. “I love you baby.”
“Love you too.”
For the next three months, Allie was in pure heaven. She got to be with Lance. And she had so much fun. Even though she had to work, they still managed to spent time together each day.
The favorite part of the entire trip was when she got to go with them to the Cannes Film Festival.
Besides that she had to do stuff that involved volleyball. She made guest appearances on TRL and David Letterman. And as a kick off before the Team USA volleyball team left, they played in a charity volleyball game. They played against *Nsync and some other people before the Challenge for the Children II basketball game. And the guys only lasted 15 minutes.
After the tour ended, Allie left for volleyball. They had games in London, Brussels, Paris, New York City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Dallas, and Washington DC. When the games were in the US, Lance was at those games. And sometimes, the other guys would come too. He didn’t care where in the US the games were; he just wanted to see Allie.
For a few days in early September, she had it off so that she could relax before the Olympics. And that was when the news that Lance Bass was in a serious relationship broke. At the MTV, Video Music Awards, she and Shaq were the presenters of an award.
“Here to present the award for Best R&B Video are the LA Lakers Man of Steel and an alley cat, Shaquille O’Neal and Allie Richards,” the announcer said as Allie and Shaq walked towards the podium.
“Man I feel short,” she said.
“And now I have a new arm rest known as Allie the cat.” Shaq said as he put his arm on Allie’s head. The audience was rolling with laughter.
“Thanks,” Allie said before they presented the nominees. And Sisqo won the award.
Afterwards, the world discovered who Lance was dating. Immediately there were hundreds of girls posting messages all over the web at how mad of happy they were.
On September 16th were the opening ceremonies for the 2000 summer Olympics. And that also happened to be Allie’s 21st birthday. Talk about a great birthday present. The guys weren’t at the opening ceremonies. They were on their way to Tokyo for a concert, but they would be down to Sydney as soon as they could and they would stay until the end.
On the 26th, Team USA women’s volleyball was in the gold medal game. And the arena was pack for this game. No one thought that this team would make it this far. But they surprised everyone.
The game was against Cuba. And it was a close game. In the final play for the USA win, there was a brief chance that Cuba would make a comeback.
Allie was closet to the ball to block it. She jumped up and blocked it. The Cuban team couldn’t dig it out and the USA won the gold.
Yet when Allie landed, she rolled her right ankle. She lay on the court, clinging to her leg. A hush fell over the crowd, as USA trainers surrounded the fallen team captain.
“Please don’t let it be her knee. Anything but her knee.” Lance said aloud. The other guys turned to look at him.
“Okay Allie, what hurts?” Dr. Martin asked.
She kept holding her right leg. Tears were streaming down her face.
“Is it your knee?”
She shook her head no as she tried to fight back more tears. She pointed to her right ankle.
“Your ankle?”
She nodded yes. Dr. Martin looked at her ankle. He gently removed her shoe and sock. The ankle was already almost triple in size. He gently felt her ankle. Allie cringed in pain, yet didn’t scream.
“Allie your ankle is broken. That I know. But I don’t know how badly. We need to take x-rays now.”
“No.”
Dr. Martin was surprised at how forceful she said that with as being in as much pain as she was. He knew that she wanted to stand with the team as they received their gold medals.
Two of his assistants helped her up and practically carried her over to the team bench. Tasha and Natalie took over and helped Allie.
The entire arena gave her a standing ovation. After Cuba and Russia received their medals, the USA got theirs. As soon as Allie got off the platform, Dr. Martin’s assistants carried her over to a stretcher.
“Tasha, tell her parents that we’re on our way to the hospital. And bring her stuff to the hospital.” Dr. Martin said before he left. Kyla said that she would.
Tasha went and found Allie’s parents. “How bad is it Tasha?” Steven, Allie’s father asked.
“They don’t know how bad she hurt her ankle. But she’s one her was to the hospital for x-rays. I’ll take care of her stuff.
“Thanks Tasha,” Allison, her mother said.
Tasha smiled and headed for the locker room. By then Lance and the others had found them. “So?” Lance asked.
“She’s hurt her ankle and is on the way to the hospital. So let’s head on over there,” Steven said.
“Hey Lance, we’ll see you at the hotel later. Go with them,” JC said.
Steven, Allison, Lance and Caylia made their way through the crowd of reporters that had formed at the hospital entrance. They took pictures, asked all sorts of questions, and wouldn’t leave them alone. Lance was carrying Caylia and she was almost in tears. She hadn’t been exposed to anything like this before. Lance told her that it was all okay.
“Is Allie okay?” she asked after they were inside.
“Yeah. Don’t worry.”
“Where’s Allie Richards?” Steven asked at the front desk. “She came in with Dr. Martin, from Team USA Volleyball.”
“She just left x-rays. Dr. Martin has her in room 3.”
“Where’s that?”
“Right down this way,” the nurse said pointing down the hall.
“Thank you,”
The group walked down the hall. As they entered the room they saw Dr. Martin looking at the x-rays of Allie’s ankle. Allie was lying on a nearby bed, with her ankle elevated so the swelling would go down. Plus there was an ice packet on it.
Allison and Steven walked over to Dr. Martin, while Lance sat down on the side of the bed next to her. Caylia stood off to the side of her sister. She took ahold of his hand and squeezed it tightly. She looked up at him. He could tell that she was in a lot of pain. He pushed the sweat-matted hair from her forehead and softly kissed her forehead. He mouthed, ‘I love you’ to her. She smiled.
“How bad is it Dr.?” Steven asked.
“It’s a clean break, so she’ll be in a cast for 6 to 8 weeks,” Dr. Martin said, “so that means no volleyball for a while.”
Allie didn’t say a word. Instead she turned her head towards Lance, trying to fight back her tears. He gently massaged her back.
“Are you ready to set your ankle?” Dr. Martin asked.
“How long will it take?” she asked, wanting to be out of pain.
“Just a few minutes. Now if you will all leave. I need my space.”
Allison, Caylia, and Steven left. Lance tried to get up but Allie pulled him back down.
“You can stay if she wants you to,” Dr. Martin said looking at Lance.
“Okay,”
As Dr. Martin took ahold of her ankle, Allie buried her head in Lance’s arms. It didn’t take long to set her ankle. And about twenty minutes later she was ready to go.
“Now in about 2 weeks you’ll get a walking cast. And if it hurts later on, just take aspirin.”
Allie told him thanks and the left.
Allie leaned against Lance in the backseat of the car. Her dad drove her back to the Olympic village. Lance decided to hang around with her for a while.
As she made her way through the dorms of the USA athletes, she was given another standing ovation. She smiled and slowly made her way on.
After she changed clothes, she and Lance went to get something to eat. And everyone that had any affiliation with the USA said something to her. The news had spread fast of what had happened.
Over the next few weeks, Allie adjusted to sitting on the bench. Her replacement was a freshman named Kyla Watson. And this girl was amazing.
The final game of the season for FSU, Lance was in the stands cheering along with the rest of the guys. Allie was able to play in the game for a few minutes. And she was in heaven.
Over Thanksgiving, she and Lance split their time between her grandparent’s and his parents. It was a pretty crazy weekend. Allie still couldn’t quite walk that well, so Lance was more than happy to help her. He loved to baby her.
When the fall semester was over, Allie graduated from FSU with full honors. Johnny immediately offered her a job. And she accepted it, since she would be working with the guys. He gave her some time off, so her ankle would get better.
Allie went with the guys to the Billboard Music Awards shortly after graduation. Of course, the press wanted pictures of her and Lance.
A few days before Christmas, she moved into an apartment down in Orlando. It was only a few blocks from Lance, so that made him happy. Then they left for Mississippi, where they were going to spend the holidays with their families. Their families were having a joint Christmas. And there was something that Lance had to ask Steven Richards.
“Lance, you have my permission.” Steven said.
“Thank you sir.”
The next morning, when Lance came over, Allie wasn’t even out of bed. And it was about 11 in the morning. And this wasn’t like her.
“You can go check on her if you’d like.” Allison said.
Lance went up stairs, softly knocked on Allie’s door. There was no answer. He opened it just enough so he could stick his head in. “Allie?”
She was lying on her bed, asleep. He softly sat down on the end of her bed. With her eyes still closed, she moved around, so that her head could be in Lance’s lap. “I don’t feel good,” she said.
Lance stroked her back. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t sleep much last night. I think my cold is coming back.”
“Poor baby. Do you feel okay to head back to Orlando?”
“Yeah. Give me a few minutes to get dressed,” she said softly kissing his lips before he left the room.
Lance went back downstairs and waited for her. A few minutes later, she slowly made her way into the living room, where Lance was waiting for her. “Ready?” he asked.
“Yep.”
“We’re going where?” she asked as they were driving back to Orlando.
“To Athens, Greece, for a cruise on the Mediterranean.”
“Why?”
“It’s your extremely late birthday present and part of your Christmas present,”
“Lance,”
“Allie hush and enjoy yourself. Besides I need a vacation and I wanted to bring you along.”
“Gee I feel special.”
“You are.”
They flew from Orlando to NYC, where they catch another flight to Athens. They barely managed to get to the cruise ship before it left. Allie had never been to Greece before, and she was in awe.
The cruise lasted from the 28th of December to the 4th of January. The cruise went to Alexandria, Crete, and around the Aegean Sea. So that meant that they were going to be on the ship for New Year’s Eve.
Lance sat looking at a diamond ring that he held in his hand. He was planning on asking Allie to marry him that night. He had asked her father’s permission on Christmas and he said that it was fine. Besides he knew that Allie had no idea that he was going to propose to her. They had talked about it some, but not much.
He had debated it for a few weeks before making up his mind. He knew that it would come about sooner or later, so why not now?
“You’ve been quiet all night.” Allie said as they were walking on the top deck, holding hands.
“I’m just thinking.”
Allie smiled at him. She stopped and looked towards land. It was just about midnight and time to ring in the year 2001. Lance wrapped his arms around her to keep her warm. A cool breeze had begun to pick up. They stood in silence for a few minutes.
He knew that he had to ask her soon, but he wasn’t sure how he was going to do it. Then he thought of something.
He took the ring from his pocket and slipped it onto her left ring finger. He did this all without looking and saying a word. Allie felt Lance put something on her finger. She held up her hand to see what it was.
Tears weld up in her eyes as she saw the three-diamond ring -- two smaller diamonds around a larger one.
“Marry me,” he whispered into her ear. Allie turned around in his arms and kissed his lips just as the clock struck midnight.
“I take that as an yes?” he asked. Allie smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. He continued to hold her for a few more minutes.
After the cruise, they spent a few days in Athens before heading home. Allie was still shocked that Lance had asked her. She wasn’t expecting this so soon.
When they got home, Allie immediately called her parents. Lance had already told his parents that he was going to ask her She could tell that her mom was crying on the other end. Allison said that she would come down to Orlando so that they could get started on wedding plans.
“Do you know when you want to get married?”
“Mom! He asked me 6 days ago. Give us a few more days. I’ll call you after the AMAs. Then I’ll be able to think straight and we’ll have planned some of what we wanted to do.”
“Okay. That’s fine.”
The news of Lance Bass’ engagement spread like wild fire. And everyone immediately knew who it was that he was going to marry.
For the most part of January and February, the guys weren’t doing much except going to the AMAs and the Grammy’s. So it was the perfect time to plan the wedding.
They had set the date of the wedding for June 9th. The guys weren’t going on tour until the beginning of July, so that was the perfect time. They were going to have the wedding in Mississippi. Allie and Lance wanted Allie’s grandfather to preside over the wedding. And he was more than happy to.
“Oh man, I am so nervous. Why am I so nervous?” Lance asked.
“Probably because you’re about to get married,” Justin said.
“Now didn’t we all say that Lance would be the first to get married?” Chris asked.
“Yep. And he is.” Joey replied.
Lance stood at the front of the Sanctuary, with Justin, JC, Lance, and Chris. He took a deep breath as the bridal procession walked down the aisle. Allie’s bride’s maids were Liz, Mel, and Caylia, while her maid of honor was Donna.
“Well we are, Mrs. Bass,” he said softly kissing her lips. Allie smiled and snuggle closer to him.
“I like the sound of that,”
Allie lay in a little ball in the middle of the bed. For the past few days she hadn’t been feeling too good. Lance was going to be home that night. He had to go up to Nashville for a few days for business. She decided to stay home.
She found that she had no energy what so ever to do anything. She managed to drag herself out of bed. The only reason she did this was because she had a doctor’s appointment.
She was glad that they had decided to move back to Mississippi for the most part. She had to admit that she really didn’t like Orlando for some reason. But she could live with it when they had to go down there when the guys where recording, which wasn’t often.
Allie sat waiting for a phone call back from the doctor. He said that he wanted to run some tests and she shouldn’t worry. And he would call her later that evening with the results.
She sat twiddling her thumbs. That was when a pair of arms wrapped around her. Lance softly kissed her neck.
“Hey baby,” he whispered in her ear
She turned and kissed his lips. “What are you doing home so early?”
He sat down next to her on the couch. “It’s 6:30. This is when I said I would be home.”
“Oh.”
Lance looked at her funny. He knew something was up. That was when the phone rang. Lance reached for it, but Allie beat him. She sat on his lap, while she listened to the phone call. She kept saying, ‘okay’, over and over. Lance watched her with a curious look on his face.
“Thank you Dr. Nelson,” she said before she hung up the phone.
“What was that all about?”
Allie just laid her head on her husband’s shoulder and didn’t say a word. He just let her lay there for a few minutes, until he felt warm tears on his shirt.
“Allie what did Dr. Nelson tell you?”
She sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes. “You know that extra room we have?”
“Yeah,”
“Well it’s going to be put to good use in say about nine months,” she said with a smile on her face.
Lance sat there in shock for a second. He couldn’t believe what was going on. Did his wife just tell him that she was pregnant?
“We’re going to have a baby?” he asked quietly.
Allie nodded. Lance gently ran a hand along her face, as he savored this moment. He was going to be a daddy.
Lance didn’t travel as much the further Allie got in the pregnancy. The guys could understand. They all had gotten married and were starting families of their own. Besides when they found out that Allie was going to have twins, he really didn’t want to leave her side.
On October 17th, Allie was induced. Lance was by her side the entire time. And when it was all finished, they were the parents of a healthy baby boy and girl. They had already agreed on the names -- Jayson Christopher and Courtney Rebecca.
“He better have the name Christopher, it’s a great name,” Chris said a few weeks later, when Lance and Allie had came down to Orlando with the twins.
“I think that they both got all of Allie’s looks.” Justin said.
“And that’s a good thing.” Joey said.
“Hey just give them a little time, they could end up looking like me sometime,” Lance said trying to defend himself. Everyone laughed.
A few years after that, they had another boy. They named him Alexander James, but called him Xander for short.
Sure they both had a place in world history. Him and music, her and volleyball. So then they would forever be young in the eyes of future generations. Besides isn’t every day that you get to live out your dreams.