| Chapter Ten |
| KNOCK KNOCK "I got it JC!" Nikki yelled as she stood from the breakast table and opened the door. She stifled a scream as everyone poured into her living room. She hugged everyone at once, and her grin was a mile wide as she called JC downstairs. "Nikki, what is it? Its ten in the morning and I have yet to have caffei..." As the group attacked JC, Mandy stayed back. "Nikki? You haven't called in a long time." "Mandy, I know and I'm so so sorry. Its just, time got away from me, and with the baby coming and all that, It just didn't... It never crossed my mind." She threw her arms around the girl, and hugged her close. "Forgive me?" "Yeah, but Nikki, don't forget us. Please. That was the whole reason we flew down to suprise you was that we didn't know how else to get ahold of you. Don't shut us out, Nikki. Please don't shut us out." "Mandy, I would never...." "You would never mean to, but you will. Its inevitable. I know it. Everyone knows it. But I just want to spare mysled the pain of losing my best friend, so I am not going to leave this house. I swear on... well I just swear. You just gained a boarder." She threw an arm over Nikki's shoulders and they walked into the kitchen. "So what exactly would the perfect couple have in their fridge, cause really, I'm quite famished." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That night, JC and Justin were chilling by the pool, trying to catch up without the constant interruptions of Hurricane Chris. "... And then Britney goes, 'Yeah J, you sure made an impression'. My butt was covered in plaster." JC laughed whole-heartedly, it was great being with his best friend again. "Oh, man. So you and Britney are doing ok?" "Yes, Dad. We aren't looking to be like you and Nikki quite yet, but we will be. Eventually." "Yeah. So on a scale of one to ten, one being clueless, and ten being steamed, exactly how mad at me is Johnny right now?" "What?" "Stin, come on. I know Johnny must be fumed. I left the group so suddenly for this long... I can see his face." He shuddered, "And it sure don't look like flowers." "Well... I'd say a 2. He's more confused than anything. When we told him, he pretty much hit the roof. But when he started to think about it, he was like, 'huh'? He had no clue." "All he said was 'huh'? I thought I meant more than that." JC stared out into the sky. "Well, you're coming back, right? So he understands. Especially with Nikki being pregnant and all." "Ok." JC said. But I'm not coming back. Later that night.... "So it was really good seeing them again." Nikki whispered as she and JC lay there that night, snuggling together against the cold Florida night. "Mmhmm. Hey Nikki. Humor me. What would you think if I didn't go back to *NSYNC?" He turned on his side and gazed at her. She gasped, "What? JC are you sure about that?" "I said humor me." "But you were serious. So, are you sure about that?" "Yeah. I mean, I want to stay here with you, and I sure as hell don't need to work. I just want your opinion." "Well, It's your life, your career, and your decision. I just want you to be happy. Just be sure that you think it through, ok?" "You got it, babe." Happy... What would make me happy? |