Just Around the River Bend 4-5
Let me set the scene...A nice long hot bubble bath...no cold water at all...a hot cup of herbal tea...a cozy flannel blanket...Lee Ann Womack and Boys II Men. I am so relaxed right now...
So here it is y'all, chapter four. You should be so excited people! I am writing and I am enjoying the hell out of it. I feel so calm right now, I am so at ease. It's three sixteen in the morning on Saturday, August 19, 2000. Before I get on with the story I have some business to deal with and then we will get right with it.
As most of you know, unless you have been living under a rock, the Boy Band Story Awards are coming up. All of you lazy bums should vote. There are a lot of good stories that have been nominated. Go Vote. GO MSR! Ok, sorry, just had to promote that awesome story. Ok, I was just informed that the voting ended at midnight. Therefore I am a total retard. GO MSR anyway. I am gonna leave that up so you can see my blondeness.
I must thank people now. I would like to thank those of you that have e-mailed me. It means a ton to me. I haven't received much e-mail... So just tell me why, please. Does my writing suck? Are you all mad at me about Lonely Lance? This is just frustrating...anyway... First and foremost, Jill, you are just awesome babe, we get each other through so much. I am so lucky I have you in my life. Next, I would like to thank Gabriella. Girl you kick ass. Thanks. Mike, thanks for all those straight to the point e-mails. Of course, PJ and Matt, wish the both of you the best of luck :).
Everyone...AOL Sucks!... I just got kicked off for the third time tonight...GRR!
Disclaimer: Big, bold and underlined for the visually impaired. If you are not allowed to read this, you shouldn't. Naughtiness is naughty. I don't know the sexuality of any of the characters in this story. We can only hope, pray, and wish upon stars.
It's amazing, I don't have to urinate. WOOHOO! I am too comfy right now to get up. Blah Blah Blah... OK here goes. BTW... From now on I am going to name the chapters as well as number them. After about the fifteenth chapter I am gonna make a soundtrack for this story and then zip it so anyone that wants it can have it. Ok, here we go, chapter four.
**
Just Around the River Bend
Chapter Four
I Hope You Dance
**
Millions of thoughts were running through my mind. I had a crush on Josh, I'll admit that. I didn't want to fall for anyone again, especially not a celebrity. I had been byrned once, I couldn't handle it twice. I walked over to my briefcase which was sitting on the desk and opened it. I took out the room list and found Josh's room number. I picked up my room key and put it in my pocket and walked to room 3504, the room Josh was staying in.
"Josh, it's Jeff, let me in please." I called out as I knocked on the door. What was I doing? It's four in the frickin' morning and here I am knocking on this boy band guy's hotel room door. Ok, he isn't coming, thank God! I'll just go back to my hotel room and I'll deal with this in the morning. Wrong!
"What do you want?" I heard through the door as Josh fumbled with the lock. His voice sounded like I had just woken him up. Just dandy.
"I need to talk to you, but if I..." His head peeked out the door and I finished my thought. "If I woke you I can come back in the morning." I said, he was vulnerable at that moment, he just looked so upset. I could see that he had been crying, his eyes were bloodshot...Poor guy.
"No man, it's alright, I wasn't asleep." He paused. "Do you think we could talk in your room, my room is trashed." He asked me.
"Sure." I said. I started to walk towards my room and he shut his door and followed after. He was not even close to being as cheerful as he had been a few hours before. Surprisingly enough, he didn't seem too mad at me. He was distant, but not mad. I didn't even know what to say. I opened my room, let him in and then closed the door. There was an awkward silence as I sat down on my king size bed. He sat next to me, at the other end.
"So what did you want to talk about?" He asked, sounding a little annoyed. He broke the silence, thank God. Now it was my turn. Breathe Jeff, Breathe.
"Look Josh." I turned my head and looked at him in the eyes. "I am very sorry for the way I acted earlier. It was uncalled for and it was mean. I didn't have any clue as to what was going on here and you took me into that room and it was just so uncomfortable. I overreacted. I would really like to be your friend, seeing that right now all the friends I have are in Orlando. You are a cool guy." I think I am in the clear.
"I want to be your friend. I knew that the very instant I saw you." This boy loved to dig himself holes. Oh if I was a viscous prick I could have really gotten mean. Since I am a nice guy, I gave him a break. "I have been going through so much lately, it seems like everyone is against me right now. In a way, I miss being a nobody. I miss having my own life without having to worry about what millions of people thought of me. I want to be happy, and lately, I haven't been."
"Justin told me everything Josh, everything. I am perfectly comfortable with who you are." He needed some support right now. He had such a depressed appearance right now. After my last comment though, he seemed a little pissed.
"That little prick. He had no right to tell you that." His face turned beet red. Uh oh. He sat up fast and started to walk away. I grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. He fell, luckily onto the bed. I don't want to be blamed for damaging an N Syncer... What would the tabloids think?
"Josh, calm down. He didn't say anything bad. All he said is that you are gay and that you wanted to get back with your abusive ex-boyfriend. That's what the argument. That's all he said." He immediately became un-pissed.
"That's all he said?" Josh asked a little puzzled.
"Yup, why, what did you think he said?" I asked. I already knew, but just to see what he was willing to tell me.
"Oh, nothing." Josh said. He avoided that at all costs. Whoa there buddy. We sat there for a moment in silence. He still looked sad. I wanted to help, but I need my beauty sleep. I had my first day tomorrow and I had to look beautiful, what's a girl to do?
"Josh, I am sorry, I am really tired. I need sleep. But before you go, I want to give you this CD, listen to it when you get to your room, number 5." I said and walked over to my CD case that was sitting on the desk. It was a burned CD I had made. Number 5 is Lee Ann Womack, I Hope You Dance.
"Thanks." He quietly said. He had tears in his eyes. He hurt so bad. He had been burned by someone he loved with all his heart. He stood up and was about to start walking to the door. I stepped in front of him for a second before I spoke.
"Josh, it's ok, don't be afraid, you were hurt, let it out, I am not gonna judge you." Well I wasn't quite expected for the jaws of life. He wrapped his arms around me immediately and squeezed as hard as he could and cried and cried. I just held him there. What else was I to do? After about fifteen minutes he slowly let me go.
"Thanks, I needed that." He said. He sniffled and wiped the tears from his eyes. He walked to the door with the CD and opened it. "Good Night."
"Night." I said in return. He walked out the door and slowly closed it. I shut the lights off and just went to bed. I was dead tired now. 4:30 was just a little past my bedtime. I must have fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow.
Josh went to his room and put the CD in his Discman. He shut off the lights in his room and laid down on his bed. He put the headphones on and turned number five on repeat. He cried himself to sleep that night. The lyrics moved him like nothing ever had before. The fact that they were coming from Jeff touched him even more.
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance,
Living might mean taking chances but they're worth taking,
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to selling out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance.
**
Just Around the River Bend
Chapter Five
Just One Kiss
**
Some people just have absolutely no sense of time whatsoever. When you go to bed at 4:30 a.m. the last thing you want is someone knocking at your door at 9:00 a.m. Of course though everyone loves Jeff.
"Mr. Cooper. Good Morning." The older man standing at my door said when I opened it. He obviously worked for the hotel, probably the manager or something.
"Good morning." I said in return. Usually a wake up call is all I need, not some scary old guy knocking on my door.
"This fax came for you this morning." He said and gave me an envelope with a fax in it.
"Thank you." I said.
"Also sir, I am here to inform you that breakfast will be served in room 3501 at ten. A Mr. Justin Timberlake requested your attendance." Don't I feel special. Sleep anyone?
"Thank you." I am one for words, can ya tell?
"And a Ms. Karen Mills would like to meet you at the elevator bank on this floor at twelve sharp." The old guy said to me. He gave me a piece of paper. It had all the junk he had to say on it. I signaled one minute to him and went to get my wallet. I had money, but no ones, the lowest denomination I had was a ten, and I just can't stiff him. UGH!
"Thank You for your service this morning." I said and shook his hand and gave him the ten dollar bill.
"Thank You Mr. Cooper, Have a pleasant day." He smiled as he saw I gave him a ten. He walked down the hallway and left me. Thank God, he had that old man scent, you all know it. Well, I guess I can live off of four hours of sleep. I decided I would open the fax and then take my shower and get ready for the day ahead of me. The fax read...
Tard Boy,
Thank you for the lift home. I felt like sucha prostitute when I woke up in the back seat of a limo. I hope the driver didn't try anything funny while I was asleep. Even you for that matter. Ok so anyway, enough of that. I got news. I called a friend when I got home and she said she could get me a ticket for tonight. So I am going to the N Sync concert. I will find you somehow. I work for the UN, I have my ways. Anyway, have a great day. See you tonight.
:) Dawn
How sweet of her. I put the fax in my briefcase. My shower was wonderful and I was dressed and ready by quarter to ten. Coffee. I needed coffee. I can be a morning person. Just not today. I just kinda sat there and blanked out for ten minutes and then left my room for Lance's room. I knocked on the door.
"It's open." I heard yelled from inside. It was a really deep voice and I remembered from last night that Lance had a deep voice. This was his room. Two plus two equal four, it's Lance. I walked in the room and Lance was the only one in there. The food had just been delivered. MMM, I smell coffee.
"Good morning." I said to Lance. He was dressed and all ready for the day.
"Morning Jeff." He said kindly to me. Total 180 of last night. "You a morning person too?"
"I wish." I said. I laughed. "I can be, but not today. Didn't get much sleep last night."
"Neither did I. I don't think anyone did, it was a rough night, I think you saw that though." Lance said as I poured myself a cup of coffee. I like my coffee black with a little sugar.
"Yeah." I said. What else was I going to say?
"I am sorry Jeff for being an asshole last night." Lance said. "It was just..." I interrupted the boy.
"No explanation needed. Apology accepted. Justin talked to me last night and I understand everything. It's all cool, don't worry about it. Coffee?" I said to him. I held up the carafe.
"Yes, please, thanks." He said and smiled. I poured him a cup of coffee and as I gave it to him Joey came in the door. Total opposite of Lance. Track pants and a tank. He appeared to have just gotten out of bed.
"Morning." I said. "Coffee?" I asked before he could respond to my `morning`.
"Morning." he said groggily. "Please." I poured him a cup of coffee and gave it to him.
"Here ya go." I said.
"Thanks." he said as he took a sip of his coffee. I took a plate and a bagel and some cream cheese. I sat on the couch and got myself away from the coffee so I wouldn't have to pour anymore. Joey got himself a plate of food and so did Lance. We all sat around and ate.
"I thought there were three more of you." I said. I heard a thump outside the door followed by `asshole'.
"Speak of the devil." Lance said. Soon Justin and Chris walked in the room. They were both dressed and showered and stuff. They were horsing around. Justin seemed a little pissed.
"The asshole tripped me. Can you believe that?" Justin said, referring to Chris.
"You'll be ok fro-boy." Chris said and patted Justin's fluffy hair. Everyone laughed and Justin punched Chris in the side of the ribs.
"No one calls me fro-boy.' Justin said as he made sure his hair was in place.
"FRO-BOY!!" Everyone yelled in unison, including me. Justin took a pillow that was sitting on a chair and chucked it in our direction. It hit me.
"You throw like a girl Justin." I said.
"It looks like you are going to fit right in." Chris said. Everyone agreed with him. We all ate and talked and just had a good time. I looked at my watch and it was 10:45. Josh still wasn't here.
"Hey, where is Josh?" I asked. They all kinda looked around and noticed that someone was missing.
"Well, since you're the new guy, and we all want you to fit right in." Joey said. "You can have the honor of waking Josh up this morning." How kind of him. They all sorta agreed on it.
"Thanks, last time I say anything." I said and walked over to the door.
"I have an air horn if you need it." Lance said. He was serious too.
"I think I will be ok." I said and walked out the door. I was awake and alert now. I walked down to his room and knocked on the door. No answer. I tried the door handle and it wouldn't open. I knocked some more and still no answer. This was frustrating. I turned my head and saw Lance running my way.
"Here, this is a key to his room, I have to hold on to one for everyone just for this purpose." He said and gave me a key. He smiled and ran back to his room. I opened the door slowly. I didn't have any clue as to what I would be walking into. The room was pitch black except for the little light coming from the edge of the heavy curtains covering the windows. I turned on the lamp next to his bed and there he was. He was so beautiful. I could hear I Hope You Dance playing through the headphones he had on. He was laying in the fetal position holding on to a pillow for dear life. I kneeled down and took the head phones off of his head.
"Josh. Josh. It's time to get up." I whispered. He was facing me and after hearing his voice he opened his eyes. He didn't move. He just stared at me.
"Is this a dream?" He asked quietly.
"Nope. Why?" I asked. Still whispering.
"Because I never thought I would be able to wake up to your face, to your voice, to you. Now that I have, I never want to wake up without you." He said quietly. Oh boy. Did he realize what he just said? God, he made me melt right there. He was so sweet. So kind. I wasn't expecting what happened next. He kissed me.
TBC...
Hope you liked it. I owe a hug thank you to Jill. She helped me so much. Jill, thank you!!!!!!!!!! Next chapter Monday. Have a great day everyone. E-mail me. Spifty214@aol.com.