Chapter 4

Madison woke up on a pallet in the floor of the guestroom at Veronica’s house. Jasmine and Courtney had claimed the bed by time she and Lance had found the door.  The bed was now vacant and she forced herself to crawl into it. The sun was beaming into the room as she gathered her thoughts staring at the ceiling. The drums in her head were in rock mode and her eyes were swollen. Courtney bounced into the room with a thud chipper as always and sat on the bed. 

“Are you okay?” she patted Madison on the leg.

“Please don’t yell, considering all things I’m fine.” She slowly sat up stretching.

“I didn’t yell, damn it has been a while since you tied one on, huh?”

“You could say that.” Madison said rubbing her face back into the world of the living.

“Well everyone is asking about you, are you ready to get up?”

“I’m good, I just needed some sleep. How can I get up with you in my lap.” She yawned out the words.

“Umm is that Lance’s shirt girlfriend?” Courtney cheesed to call her out. Madison looked down to see that she was still wearing his shirt, and twisted a little to confess.

“Yeah, umm… I’ a…”

“Spit it out!” Courtney grew hyper at Madison dancing around the issue. “Ooow let me smell it… He smelled so good last night!” Madison swatted at her.

“Look freak, it was freezing outside, don’t make it out like it was anything else.” Concerned about her safety she bounced off the bed and stood close to the door.

“Just explain one thing then.”

“What?!?” Madison barked when she saw that she wasn’t going to get any peace over it.

“Why is he in the living room waiting for you to get up when he was supposed to be at sound check over an hour ago?” Courtney stated the facts with a smile. Madison’s mind raced and her heart skipped a beat in her throat.

“What did you say?” she squeaked out.

“You heard me, now get up…” Madison stumbled off the bed and headed for the door. “Hold up, hold up… Hell no!” Courtney stopped her.

“What?”

“Mouthwash honey! In there on the sink, man no wonder you're single.” Madison went into the bathroom and slammed the door to Courtney’s dis and cleaned herself up a bit trying to undo some of the night before.

Lance sat on the couch talking on his cell when she came into the room. He stood up to greet her. It was a homey scene Jasmine was talking to Veronica and the guys were watching TV. Lance hung up the phone and walked over to her. “Good afternoon everyone” she announced before he could reach her. They all nodded but didn’t speak.

“Hey girl, are you ok?” he stood in front of her with concern.

“I’m fine, I was just a little drunk last night. Sorry for being such a lush.” She looked up at him. He shook his head and smiled putting a hand on her arm.

“You were no trouble at all.” That made her relax and tense up all at the same time. “Look, I’m running a little late for work. Can I call you tonight?”

“Sure… here is the number for the hotel.” she said looking for a pen and paper. “I hope I’m not holding you up.”

“No not at all, besides I wanted to say goodbye to everyone before I left.” He smiled as he lied and showed her he could put the number directly into his cell phone. When that was done she walked him to the door where there was an SUV waiting on him. Things were a little awkward they weren’t sure weather to shake hands or hug. Lance took the confusion to his advantage and gave her a peck on the forehead again and started out the door.

“Stop… your shirt…” she tried to wiggle out of it quickly. He stopped her and went to climb in the jeep.

“I’ll get it later sweetie. Talk to ya soon.”

After thanking Veronica, David, and Miguel for everything they found their way back to their hotel. Showering one by one it was a lazy hangover day. The girls sat in the living room of the suite watching TV eating room service. “So Miss Thing, what is going on with you and Mr. Bass?” Jasmine finally asked what they all knew was coming.

“Nothing” she stated bluntly.

“Yeah right” Courtney chimed in.

“Oh I forgot Madison Davis is too busy for *Nsync.” Jasmine poked.

“Are you guys serious? What the hell do you think is going on? And even if something were to happen do you honestly think it would last. Get real!” The room started to get tense.

“Okay Chill out Maddy, look we know your past and we know you want to be logical but look around you! We are on vacation in one of the most gorgeous places on earth. We met Lance Bass from *Nsync! You woke up wearing his shirt. He asked for the digits, he missed an hour of work just o make sure you were going to wake up. So get with the program!” Courtney lectured her firmly.

Madison and Jasmine froze at the serious tone in her voice. It was a wake up call for Madison the facts were true but the illness of the past couldn’t be shaken, no matter how hard Courtney tried. “Well let’s just see what happens… okay?” Madison stood up and retreated to the bedroom.

“Nice going Court.”

“I didn’t mean to dredge up the past, but damn if millions of people can be normal then why can’t she?”

“Because she doesn’t want to get hurt again” Jasmine complied.

“Well maybe Mr. Man can snap her out of it. She has been closed off long enough.”

Chapter 5

 At seven O’clock the phone rang in the room. “Hello?”

“Hey is this Madison?” Lance spoke softly only to be answered by giggling on the other end.

“No this is Jazz, hang on a second.” She put the phone down and ran to the bedroom where Madison was napping. “Is this Lance?” Courtney had picked up the phone mischievously.

“Maybe, who is this?”

“Courtney of course.”

“Well yes this is Lance, were you expecting someone else to call?”

“Honestly yes, but don’t let that affect your ego.”

“Hey my EGO has no need to worry!” he joked loudly into the phone.

“Good to know,” the voice on the other end had changed and his heart nearly stopped from embarrassment.

“Madison?” he squeezed out her name.

“Yeah I’m sorry the girls gave you a hard time. Don’t worry they won’t get out of it lightly.” She peered angrily at the shrieking girls on the couch.

“It’s cool, don’t kill them yet though.”

“Why not?” Madison laughed, the mood lightened as they began talking.

There was a knock on the door, Courtney opened it to see a large Mexican man on the other side. “Was that the door?” Lance questioned.

“Yeah how did you know that?”

“I believe that is Steve he has something for you.” He told her.

“You sent him?" She asked as motioned for him to come in.

"I wanted to invite you guys down to the show, it should be fun and we can hang out after if you want.” Lance finished his request.

“Yes, thank you that sounds great!” Madison watched Steve hand Jasmine an envelope that contained tickets and passes. The expressions on their faces were evident that they too accepted the invitation.

“Well you need to hurry we start in an hour, go with Steve and he will make sure everything goes as planned.”

Fifteen minutes later Madison was finishing her makeup before she slid into a light yellow “CANCUN” baby tee. The girls were almost ready and she gave one more look into the mirror to judge the reflection. Her dark hair fell over her small shoulders and the tan in progress seemed to set off the right shade with her shirt. The heeled sandals pulled her petite stature into motion around her hips and flat stomach. “Girls we need to hit the road” Steve said and snapped Madison out of her trance. She tugged at the leg of the denim shorts one more time and they left the room.

Steve said that this show was about the third of the size that they normally due in the states and that it was nice for it to not be so hectic. Madison swallowed hard when they walked into the arena. There were people everywhere, girls crying and screaming at the name on the LED screens. Tech guys running into each other like bumper cars. The grated floor was covered by bundles of cable cords along the pathways up and down the aisles. There was a tower in the middle of the ring directly in front of the stage. Steve directed them up the stairs to a platform where there were three rows of benches. A couple of people Madison swore she seen the night before was sitting behind them. Steve spoke into a radio and then listened for a minute. He sat down next to Madison and pointed some tech guys out to her down on the floor. “Look, the guys are in those crates” he laughed. Madison looked at the three black boxes that the tech guys were rolling underneath the tower. “Are you kidding?” She tried to make it clear.

“Seriously, it’s all part of the show. You see that platform a little lower across from us?”

“Yeah” Madison looked and saw a large triangle made from glass with the sides opening and closing then all the lights on that platform went off. The crowd was screaming as the main stage lit up with what seemed to be the guys coming on to the stage.

“That’s not them, they will be on that platform when they come out.” Steve whispered to her over the noise. Sure enough when the song began she was less than thirty feet from them. “That is unreal!” she screamed to Steve, but couldn’t peel her eyes away from Lance. No video, poster, or DVD could have ever prepared her for a show with those seats.

Lost in awe half way through the last song Steve and his back up man Charlie pulled the girls through the backstage area and outside where they were ushered into another SUV. Charlie jumped into the drivers seat and started it up.

“Lance wants you to wait for him at the hotel” Steve explained the plan.

*****************

“You sure can pick them can’t you Maddy?” Courtney’s mouth mumbled while she gawked at the room they were placed in to wait for Lance.

“Don’t start your crap Miss Alan” Madison said half serious in too good of a mood to let anyone ruin it.

“You guys please don’t start.”

“I don’t care what she says, Jazz.”

“All I was saying is that Miss Madison Avenue is a creature of character, or does this room not remind you of the one we had at prom with…”

“COURTNEY! DROP IT!” Jasmine quickly intervened and checked her lipstick in the small compact.

“Y’all are no fun, I’m going to hang with Steve!” Courtney bashed and left the room. Jasmine looked over her shoulder to see Madison’s face.

“It’s ok, Jazz I’m not made out of glass. I’m not going to break that easily.”

“Well shatter was the word I was thinking of, but if you are ok then I’m ok.” She smiled to smooth over the moment.

“ALL MY PARTY PEOPLE!” The door swung open as voices and people poured into the room. About ten people yelled and bounced hyper in the hall too. Madison stood up when Lance came in.

“Madison!” he spoke loudly as if he had headphones on.

“Hey man, great show!” she said giving him a half hug handshake thing like she was one of the guys.

“Thanks” he spoke a little lower this time and was happy to see her confidence. “These are my boys” he walked her around the room introducing them to everyone. Courtney was next to Justin, which Madison saw coming. However she was surprised to see Jasmine on Charlie and not Joey like she said she would be back in her groupie days.

“Would you mind if I went to take a shower? They all got one, but tech had crossed my wires up so I only had time to make it to the bus before it left me.” The question threw her for a loop and she looked up to make sure he was talking to her.

“Oh… go ahead silly” she finally got out.

“Cool, I will be right back. If you need anything just find Steve, ok?”

“Go!” she laughed at him to make such a fuss.

Courtney made her way over to where Madison was sitting about ten minutes later. The group paused in conversation when she approached. “Will you come with me for just a second?”

“Sure, excuse me guys.” Madison jumped up so not to let on the she was pissed at Courtney. They made it to the empty hallway and began talking.

“I’m sorry about earlier, I was just in a strange mood… I guess I’m a jealous bitch.”

Madison crossed her arms in front of her.

“Your not jealous, your a hater, yes. Why do you have to keep it going all the time?”

“I don’t know I figure if we get it out there then you will get over it faster. I just want you to be ok again, he’s not worth you shutting everything out of the rest of you life.” Madison saw the sincerity on her face and knew that she meant well.

“No one wants to get past it more than me.  Thank you for your concern, but I will have to do this on my own. As far as all this goes… It just seems to come too easy, and it reminds me of...”

“I know what you are saying.” Courtney cut her off not to make her say his name.

“Ok from here on out, I promise no more cracks about it…”

“Cracks about what?” the voice startled them both. Lance walked around then looking freshly showered and wide-awake. Madison’s face went blank and her mind raced to come up with a quick answer.

“Cracks about her snoring all the damn time!” Courtney blurted out and ran back into the room.

“You snore?” Lance smile to test the subject a little. Madison smiled back sarcastically, thankful Courtney had done such a great job getting her out of the tight spot by putting her in this one.

“Oh yeah, all the time” she replied.

“Wow, most girls wouldn’t admit that,” he laughed.

“Well what can I say I’m an original.”

“I’ll give you that” he winked at her and reached for her hand. She took his hand and began to follow his lead.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.” That was the only thing he would tell her. He was excited and wasn’t sure how to explain to her what he wanted her to see. Through a large door and up a flight of stairs they opened a heavier door and found themselves on the roof. There were about a dozen lawn chairs and chases scattered about. A cooler and a very large pool were in the center of the area. She looked somewhat confused but waited for an explanation.

“This is it” he smiled. “When the crowd gets too big for security we come up here. We usually have some sort of back up plan to get away from it all. We have some tunes, get a tan and no one is the wiser.”

“Ah, ok… *Nsync secrets revealed. This is all cool, I never could have guess this is how you guys chill out” she joked.

“Well only some of the time, but my point is over here.” He tugged her hand to the edge. “Last night you wanted to see a view, how does this strike you?” She looked over the wall, the gentle glow of the city bounced around the strip. The buildings seemed to dance along the shore, where the moon hung low over the ocean. A thick blanket of stars lay overhead that seemed close enough to grab.

“This is amazing” she watched with open eyes not to miss a single speck.

“I’m happy you like it” he said proud of himself. Madison looked up to see him smiling.

“Again… thank you… for everything. Last night, this morning, the show and now this it’s very…” she paused and searched her head. “For the lack of a better word… Thoughtful.” Ha-ha-ha.

“Umm… you’re welcome and thank you for not turning me down.”

“Yeah ok, like you have ever been turned down” she smiled sweetly to him.

“You’d be surprised, actually I was a little worried you wouldn’t be into the show. I wouldn’t have guessed you would even show up tonight.”

“I will have you know Mr. Bass I probably know more about you than you know about yourself” she cheesed. 

“Ah, well unless you tell me that you studied on your way over here then I will be completely shocked. You don’t really seem like the fanatic status you claim.”

“Well not all things are what they seem.”

“I see… such as?”

“For example, this morning you said I wasn’t holding you up. When in fact Veronica only confirmed the story that Courtney in which you were an hour late simply waiting for me to wake up.”

“Ouch Maddy did her homework,” he said with a laugh.” Does it bother you that I’m… for the lack of a better word… thoughtful?”

“No it’s not that… it’s just why would you do so much for some chick you don’t even know. Especially missing work!” she spoke with a smile but used a serious tone.

“Some chick… Maddy I wouldn’t just bring anyone up here. I really want to know you. I didn’t take advantage of you last night and I really think you should give me a chance.” He studied her softly and traced the lines of her palm in the moonlight. Madison froze, her heart sank and it took all her strength not to cry. Smoothing her nerves out she flashed him a flirty smile.

“Come here you,” she reached up to pull him into a hug hopefully to break his train of thought. The hug lasted only a few seconds but seemed to do the trick, they looked over the wall again, but she seemed to break into what would have been a very romantic moment. “We should get back before they send out a search party.” Lance was a little thrown off by the want to leave but decided not to push his luck. He couldn’t quite figure her out. He hated to judge, but she seemed distant.

They were now in the hallway in front of the suite where the rest of the group was. “Wait,” he whispered as she touched the doorknob.  

“What is it?” she looked back at him. He bent down and kissed her forehead then pulled back quickly. She smiled and shook her head.

“What?” he said still whispering. She giggled again and pulled him down so she could speak into his ear.

“I don’t mean to critize, but my lips are awfully jealous of all the attention my forehead is getting.” He cracked a wide grin. Closing his eyes he leaned against the wall to the side of the door and yanked her in front of him.

“I will never ever figure girls out. Here I am thinking I have totally struck out with you and then you say something like that.” All he could do was whine at the rampant emotions she was stirring in him.

“Oh poor baby…” Madison teased as she put most of her weight towards pinning him to the wall. He put his arms around her waist and held her to him. The moment was timeless, they let their lips meet in a delicate seductive manner. Her fingers ran through his hair and held onto the back of his neck. Lance took action embracing her in his arms the line between the thin tee was contrasted by the rough textured jeans she wore. Hugging tightly they continued kissing passionately. Her body was in flames at his touch. When kiss ended they were both out of breath and whirling from what had just happened.

“Just let me hold you” he hummed when she tried to stand on her own. At his request she fell back into his arms. There was no denying that had started something that neither one of them wanted to stop.

The door opened and they now had an audience. Steve had not realized that they were there. Chris ran into him at the sudden stop and stumbled into the hall landing on his back. “Hey guys!” Chris struggled to regain his composure, and jumped to his feet. They ran back into the room and slammed the door before Lance or Madison could explain their standings. Madison stood up and walked away from him trying to shake herself back into reality. She stopped crossed her arms and took a few deep breaths. Lance stood up too and rubbed his face a little and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.

“Are you mad?” he asked sympathetically.

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No I understand,” he answered back. The door opened and three key cards hit the carpet along with the banter of “Get a room!” The door slammed shut followed by the sound of a clicking lock. “That… is a bad thing,” he laughed bending over to pick up the cards. Madison laughed too, it was stupid of her to be mad at him, and humor seemed to be the way through it.

“How are we going to face them now?” she puzzled.

“Oh I don’t know, how does grin and bear it sound to you? Besides if they think we are mad it will only drag it out longer.”

“Lance I’m not mad, I just don’t feel like justifying my actions to anyone either.”

“Don’t worry after tomorrow it will be old news. I promise and if not then we will come up with a new plan… ok?” She nodded and sighed a little with relief, he always had the right answer. “Now… I think some very lucky fans will enjoy these keys…” Mad laughter filled the hallway.

Chapter 6

The next day

“L.B. that was pretty cold man” JC complained.

“Well you shouldn’t have been an asshole last night.”

“It wasn’t my idea, if that makes any difference, but I have to give ya props we never thought you would pull something like that,” Justin spoke up.

“Things are about to change around here, I’ll tell you that.”

“Ooh, no more Mr. Nice Bass…” Chris cracked and punched him in the arm.

“And you are the main one,” Lance yell pushing him back.

“Yeah!” Justin and JC agreed all at once.

“Ok it’s my fault no brains James over here is in love. Why weren’t you in your room anyways?”

“First of all I’m not in love, second we weren’t in my room because…” Lance stuttered,

“What, why weren’t you in your room? Why were you macking on her in the hallway?

“Ahgg… you are just too nosey, just hush already.” Chris was now more than a little interested.

“Lance! Some pre-teen Mandy Moore wanna-be woke me up screaming at the top of her lungs with a camcorder in my face. And when Charlie busted down the door to drag her away she stole a pair of my boxers. So you’d better have a damn good reason why. Man this goes way past nosey!”

The room fell still. JC and Justin were spectators of the snap and a half Chris had just spilled. Lance knew Chris wasn’t really mad, but he did owe him an explanation. The only problem was that he wasn’t sure what to tell them.

“Ok, okay… I found her talking to the short blonde one and then I took her up to the roof.” Justin swimming his hands in the air cut him off “Smooth”. He rolled his eyes at him and kept going. “She was a little uneasy the whole time so we came back down here. Right before we went in something just clicked, Now we are having this conversation so what else do you want from me?”

“Man, I’m sorry. It’s cool, I… we were just wondering, that’s all.” Joey stepped into the room groggy but awake.

“What are you guys yelling about?” Chris and Lance apologized for shouting while Justin explained the story. “Oh I see, Scoop I’d be careful with that one if I were you,” Joey said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

“Now what are you talking about man,” Lance said trying not to get aggravated.

“Well Jazz told me that she went through some shit with her ex about a year ago. So she is a little skeptical about big bad boys.”

“Really?” Lance peered over the room nervously when Chris started again.

“She won’t worry after Bass taps that ass!”

“Chris, this is the last time I’m going to tell you SHUT UP!” Lance walked off a little ill having been on edge all morning. Chris left the subject alone but continued to laugh at his joke.

******************

In spite of her late night Madison woke up early and went out to the patio. The morning mist covered everything, the sun was settling in the sky waking up the clouds and ocean from night’s slumber. She took the lens cap from her camera and started shooting. The serene setting gave clean and graceful pictures. A voice came from behind her, giving the silence a little jolt.

“How are they coming?” Madison turned to see Jasmine smiling at her.

“Very well, thank you… How did you sleep?” Madison took a couple shots of her standing by the ledge. Jasmine smiled for her, she was used to her friend's addiction to the art.

“Okay, I guess. I know it sounds crazy, but I think I’m home sick.” They both took a seat at the table.

“Yeah it’s a nice place to visit but would you live there?” She smiled and took up her second camera and snapped a quick shot of Jasmine peering out to the beach. When the stillness got to her she let it out. “I know what you are going ask…” Madison made eye contact with her. “And it’s not at all what you are thinking. We kissed, it was nice, everyone found out…case closed.” Jasmine listened to her calmly and remembered a time when she would have killed for this luck.

“So you are saying there are no sparks or what?” Jasmine cheesed.

“JAZZ! Girl I’m trying to be strong here… ok?” Madison laughed.

“So there was a little something there?”

“Yeah, I still can’t feel my toes, that boy is beyond incredible. Phew he can kiss.” they both laughed and giggled at the comment.

“Oowe that is so cool Maddy. I have some gossip since we are entertaining the idea.”

“Which is?” Madison questioned as she pulled the camera out of her lap.

“Joey said that he hasn’t had a girlfriend in about eight months… and when he did he was the perfect gentleman. He called and did little sweet stuff for her all the time. She cheated on him though, that’s why they broke up. I really think you should keep him around. He would be good for you.”

“Jazz I can’t” Madison said sadly and gathered her things and went inside. Returning to the room she put her cameras away and pulled out some clothes. Jasmine stayed on the chase and closed her eyes. In her way to the shower the phone rang, waking Courtney up. Madison talked to Lance for about five minutes before making it the bathroom. Courtney joined Jasmine on the balcony being unable to go back to sleep.

“Did they hook up?” She questioned after stretching out the sleepy muscles.

“They kissed,” she answered with out opening her eyes.

“Yeah we all know that, but are they…”

“No.”

“Him or her?”

“Her…of course.”

“What the hell man, this is it Jazz! She is on her on from here on out. If she wants to throw away chance of a lifetime then that is on her!”