[chapter sixteen]

Caitlin sat curled up on JC's ugly couch, a tissue in one hand, and Baron under the other. JC had just left a few minutes before-embarking on the Pop Odyssey tour for the next several months. Caitlin had known this day was coming, but suddenly…it was here. She and JC had kissed for hours, mumbling sweet nothings and saying goodbye about a hundred times. Finally, he had climbed into his SUV and slowly pulled out of the driveway, waving all the while. She hadn't cried until after he had gone, but then the tears had started in earnest. Baron, alarmed at Caitlin's tears, kept nudging her hand with his head in an effort to be comforting…but Caitlin knew she would just have to be sad for a while.
The shrill ring of the phone broke her reverie, and she jumped up. As she reached the phone, she debated answering it-it wasn't her house, and who knew who was on the other end. Still, she decided to risk it and picked up the receiver.

"Baron hates it when people cry, so cut it out." JC's smooth voice said on the line before she had barely uttered hello. Caitlin smiled at the sound of his voice, even though tears welled anew in her eyes.

"You cry in front of him often, do you?" She managed to quip.

"Every time I see you wear that foxy leopard print skirt of yours. Makes me cry tears of thanks." JC flirted. Caitlin laughed and gripped the phone closely to her ear, as though it would bring JC closer to her.

"Where are you, goober?" She asked.

"At the airport. Our flight got a little delayed, but we'll be gone shortly. But I knew you were just sitting there being sad, so I thought I would call to say how much I miss you." JC said sincerely.

"You haven't been gone long enough to miss me yet." Caitlin countered.

"That's what you think." JC said quietly. Caitlin closed her eyes and pictured JC's face in her mind, then smiled. "Listen, can you do me a favor?"

"At your service, Mr. Chasez." Caitlin said.

"Can you run upstairs and go into the guest bedroom--the one on the right side of the hall?" JC asked. "I think I left something in there that I was supposed to pack."

"Sure." Caitlin said, getting up and walking through the house and up the stairs, Baron padding along behind her. She walked down the hall and opened the door to the guestroom JC had directed her to. Opening the door, her eyes welled with tears again, and her breath caught in her throat. Inside were dozens of flowers--daffodils, tulips, roses--all her favorite kinds. On the dresser in the middle of the room was a large framed picture of herself and JC. She recognized it as one of the pictures that was taken during the Super Bowl weekend, and had JC and Caitlin looking into one another's eyes and laughing and smiling. They looked so...so happy. On the bed was JC's Redskins jersey--the one she sometimes wore to drive him crazy.

"Now, no wearing that for anyone else while I'm gone." JC said, as though he could see her looking at the jersey. "That's just a special JC treat for when I'm a very good boy."

Caitlin laughed through the tears. "I'll try not to parade around the neighborhood wearing it, then." She joked.

"Listen, they're calling my plane, so I have to go." JC said regretfully. "I miss you. I love you so much."

"I love you too, baby." Caitlin said tenderly. "Talk to you soon." The phone clicked in her ear, and she was alone again. Picking up the jersey, she held it close to her, inhaling the faint scent of JC's soap and cologne. "This is going to be a long tour..." She thought to herself, sinking onto the bed.

(A week later)

"I can't believe you watch this stuff." Caitlin teased Allison as they sat in Allison's apartment, watching MTV's Real World. "These people are so...annoying!"

"Some are better than others. I liked New York and Hawaii, but I couldn't stand New Orleans." Allison replied, tucking her legs under her and getting more comfortable. "Like you can talk...you watch Buffy."

"Hey now, don't be dissing on my Vampire Slayer." Caitlin said teasingly. "It's better than this wannabe soap opera."

"Ouch." Allison said with a grin. "So how are those roommates of yours?" She asked.

The band had been gone for a week, and Caitlin had discovered how empty Orlando could be without JC, Chris and the rest always running around. She could barely remember life before she had met them, and now she was dealing with them not being around. Luckily, work had just handed her a new project that would keep her busy for a few days, and she had finally begun writing again. She and Alex had hung out a few times, and luckily, Allison was still in town, so she and Caitlin vowed to get together often. Allison too, was suffering from the absence of the boys, considering they were her main source of projects.

"Any one in particular?" Caitlin asked innocently, but with a teasing glint in her eye.

"What does that mean?" Allison asked, blushing slightly.

"I saw you making cow eyes at my brother." Caitlin returned. "You were so cute flirting with him."

"Shut up! I was not!" Allison defended herself.

"Well, then you should have been, because he thinks you're really cute." Caitlin replied.

"Really?" Allison said, blushing deeper. "He's kinda nice."

"I'll take your word for it...he'll always be a creep to me. A loveable creep, but a creep nonetheless." Caitlin said with a smile. "You should go out for coffee or something…"

"We'll see." Allison said, smiling. "Speaking of men, has yours been keeping in touch?"

"Oh yeah. JC is going to have a cell phone bill from hell this month." Caitlin laughed. "We talk a few times a day. He said the tour is going really, really well. The crowds are loving the new songs, and except for getting rained on one night, everything is going smoothly."

"That's about the same reports I've been getting. Good deal." Allison said.

"I talk to Chris all the time too. He still hasn't gotten used to that damn fly harness they are using, so he spends 15 minutes having a panic attack every night while they strap him in." Caitlin said. "Poor thing. Can you imagine having to do that every night, even though you're scared?"

"Poor Chris." Allison commiserated. "If I were him, I would have put my foot down when that idea first came up."

"But the fans love it, and he knows it, so he just goes along with it." Caitlin replied.

"Brave soul." Allison agreed. "When are you going to visit them?"

"Not sure." Caitlin said, chewing her lower lip slightly. "I'd kinda like to surprise JC, actually, but I don't know when would be best, or how to track them down without him finding out."

Allison's eyes lit up. "Girl, you came to the right person. Leave it to me, and we'll give JC a little surprise he'll remember for a long time."

"Seriously?" Caitlin said, grinning broadly. "That would be awesome! I would love you forever!"

"A few calls, a few computer clicks, and I've got you on a flight to somewhere in the US of A where your man is." Allison returned the smile. "When do you want to go?"

"Let me see when I can get off of work for a few days." Caitlin said. "I bet if I cover shifts next week, I could take a long weekend this weekend…"

"Come on. Let's get on it then!" Allison said, grabbing Caitlin's hand and dragging her towards her laptop computer.

***

Caitlin hummed to herself as she finished packing her bag. Allison had flown into action practically before the words had left Caitlin's mouth about her visiting JC for a surprise. She had arranged for a direct flight to Boston, site of the next tour dates, found out the hotel where the guys would be staying, and even arranged transportation from the airport for Caitlin. Caitlin had protested that she couldn't afford all that luxury on her librarian salary, but Allison had simply winked and told her it would be taken care of, one way or another. At first, Caitlin had felt guilty, but as the hours and days passed, she just became excited. By this time tomorrow, she would be in JC's arms again-if only for a few days. She couldn't wait to see their surprised faces when she walked into their room…

"Now, be sure to use lots of protection." Came a voice from the doorway. Jon was leaning against the doorjamb, a smile on his face, his eyes twinkling.

Caitlin merely looked back at him with a look of bored contempt-a look she had perfected over years of knowing Jon.

"I'm serious. All those people touching all the chairs in the airplane, and the insides of the cabs in that city-ugh. So, protection." He tossed her a bottle of anti-bacterial cleanser, which she caught deftly. She looked down and laughed at his gift.

"Thanks. Dork." Caitlin replied.

"Oh yeah, and don't forget the other kind of protection." Jon said with a wink. He crossed the room and kissed her forehead. "Have a great time, and we'll see you in a few days."

"I will." Caitlin said, her eyes dancing.

"Who's taking care of Baron?" Jon asked. "And watching JC's house? You know, we'd be happy to throw a kegger or two there while he's gone-just to make the house look lived in."

Caitlin burst out laughing. "I'm sure JC wouldn't mind a bit. In fact, let me get you the key…NOT!" Caitlin said. "Joey's mom is watching the house and caring for Baron. I trust her not to throw any wild parties while they're gone."

"Bummer. Well, I tried." Jon said, smiling.

Don't forget to…" Caitlin began.

"Relax. We're grown men. Everything here is under control." Jon said.

"Famous last words." Caitlin mumbled as the phone rang. Jon reached over and picked up the receiver.

"Hello? Sure, may I say who's calling?" Jon said politely. Moments later, he held out the phone to Caitlin. "Cosmopolitan magazine. Something about your subscription."

Caitlin took the phone from him with a thankful nod. "Hello? This is Caitlin."

"Hello, beautiful." Ray's voice cooed into Caitlin's ear. It took her a moment to register that this wasn't a call from a magazine, but a call from the dreaded ex-boyfriend.

"I've asked you not to call me." Caitlin said, her voice low. Jon, who was preparing to leave Caitlin's room, turned around and gave her a quizzical look. With one hand, she used sign language to spell R-A-Y. Jon's face dawned with realization, and he stormed back across the room to snatch the receiver away. Caitlin held out a hand and pushed him away slightly, motioning that she wanted to stay on the line for a moment.

"And I've told you I was going to anyway." Ray said. "How's Orlando? The weather nice?"

"What do you want?" Caitlin asked.

"I want us. Together again." Ray said matter-of-factly.

"No." Caitlin said.

"Oh pumpkin. I miss you so much. I know we ended badly, but I want you to forgive me so we can start over." Ray said, his voice changing dramatically as he tried another approach.

"No." Caitlin repeated. "Please leave me alone. I've got a life now. And it doesn't include you." Jon punched the air silently in support.

"But baby, we were so good together." Ray practically begged.

"Together in the beat the hell out of her and rape her sense?" Caitlin spat, her dam of patience bursting.

Ray was silent for a moment. "Don't ever say that again." His voice sounded low and threatening.

"My life is here. Not there. And not with you." Caitlin said with finality.

"Does it include a new man?" Ray asked menacingly.

"Goodbye Ray." Caitlin said.

"I'll find out. And we'll talk again soon. I love hearing your voice, sugar." Ray said, before hanging up.

Caitlin hung up the phone and turned to Jon. "He makes me physically ill." She said.

"You ok?" Jon said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "What did he say?"

"The usual crap. Wants to get back together. Wants to know if I have a new man. All that." Caitlin said. "He'll tire of this game eventually and leave me alone. I'm ok."

"You sure?" Jon asked.

"Positive. I'm flying to Boston, catching a show, and seeing my man. This isn't even a blip on the radar screen." Caitlin said determinedly. "Not even a blip." She whispered as she turned back to her packing.

chapter seventeen