[chapter two]

(The following evening)

"Hi Lance. Come on in, I just have to grab my wallet." Allison said, greeting her escort for the evening. Lance had offered to take her to Caitlin's party, since she still didn't know many people in Orlando. She was anxious to make some new friends, and to get to know Caitlin better. They had really hit it off at lunch the previous day, and she hoped to continue that friendship. "Did you drive?" She asked.

"Nah. Joey and Chris are down circling the block...they didn't want to get towed. We'll just have to flag them down when we're ready to go." Lance grinned.

"Well, I've got my dancin' shoes on, so I'm ready to go!" Allison replied.

"Great! Let's go!" Lance said with a smile of his own. He helped Allison on with her jacket and then followed her to the front door. After locking the door behind her, Allison walked down the stairs with Lance in tow.

"You said Joey and Chris were with you...what about JC and Justin?" Allison asked.

"They left by ghetto jeep about an hour ago. JC probably wanted to get over there early to help with any last minute preparations...and to have a couple of minutes of quality time with Caitlin before everyone descends on the Love Shack." Lance said easily as they walked towards the curb, his eyes scanning for signs of Chris and Joey.

"Ghetto Jeep? Love Shack?" Allison asked, slightly confused.

Lance laughed, then turned to her with a smile. "Sorry about the lingo. Ghetto Jeep is JC's Cherokee...it's about 50 years old and in terrible shape, but he loves it and refuses to get another car. We affectionately refer to it as the ghetto jeep. The Love Shack is where Caitlin lives...Caitlin, her brother and two of their best friends--Scout and Jon. The guys are all in the navy, and Caitlin works at the library downtown. They are all really cool folks." Lance answered Allison's questions.

"How long have JC and Caitlin been together? They are really cute together." Allison asked.

"Not very long, but they are totally devoted to each other. JC fell really hard, really fast for Caitlin, and I think she fell just as fast. They had some things to work through, but they are solid now. I think Jive knows, but he hasn't really come out and admitted anything in public yet. But I think they will soon." Lance said. "It's so tough trying to hide or flaunt our personal lives, what uneventful ones we have. The press really doesn't make it easy on us." He added.

"I can imagine. I mean, just the hubbub over Britney and Justin was enough to send the paparazzi into a tailspin for weeks." Allison said.

"There they are!" Lance cried. Moments later, a PT Cruiser pulled up, with Chris behind the wheel. Lance helped Allison into the backseat as she greeted Joey and Chris.

"Hey guys...thanks again for the ride." Allison said as she and Lance settled in.

"Not a problem, m'lady." Chris grinned as he pulled into traffic and headed for Caitlin's house. "How are ya?"

"Good, thanks. So should I be expecting a big blowout party tonight?" Allison asked.

"Hard telling. Between people Caitlin knows from her work, people we know from our work and no doubt a bunch of military looking guys, we could be looking at quite the party." Joey said with a grin. "Thank goodness...I'm ready to dance and carouse for a while." He added with a twinkle in his eye.

Allison and Lance joined in his laughter. "Is Kelly going to be there?" Allison asked about Joey's longtime girlfriend. "And what about Danielle?"

"Dani isn't going to be there." Chris said tightly as he changed lanes. "She's busy."

Allison looked puzzled, so Lance softly laid a hand on her knee to get her attention. She looked over at him, and he shook his head with a slight frown. Allison immediately understood that this was a touchy topic, and nodded her thanks for the warning. "Kelly is in LA right now, but she'll be there when we head out for the AMA's in a few days." Joey replied.

"Well that will be good. Are you guys excited about going to California for a few days?" Allison asked.

"It'll be a nice change of scenery." Lance said. "But I'm kinda anxious to get back and work on Super Bowl planning."

The foursome continued to have light conversation until they pulled up in front of Caitlin's home. Cars lined the street, and music could be hear playing from inside. They all walked up the front driveway, Joey excitedly bounding towards the door, Chris close on his heels. Lance and Allison brought up the rear.

Loud music blared and there were lots of people throughout the house and spilling out into the backyard. Joey made a beeline for the folks already dancing in the family room, and Chris immediately struck up conversation with a group of people standing just inside the door. Using sign language, Lance signaled to Allison that they should head for the kitchen to get drinks, and Allison followed him. Once into the kitchen, JC and Caitlin greeted them, who introduced them to her roommates and several of their friends from the navy. Justin arrived moments later, and told the assembled partygoers that he had just received a call from Johnny that they had been asked to appear for the entire hour on the Larry King Live show while they were out in California. Using this as an excuse, everyone filled their glasses at the keg, began to mingle, and the party was soon well underway.

Lance was drawn into a conversation with some of the Jive employees, so Allison took the opportunity to exit the kitchen and scope out the party. She ran into some familiar faces from Jive, and was soon drawn into several conversations, her earlier unease completely forgotten. She would occasionally spot Lance looking for her, checking to make sure she was alright, and she smiled at his concern. She chatted, she smiled, she met new people...

Several hours after they had arrived, Allison found herself outside on the back porch, chatting with Caitlin, who had also come outside to let the ringing in her ears stop from the loud music inside.

"I hope we don't get evicted from the neighborhood for the music...we warned all the neighbors, but I don't think they were quite expecting this." Caitlin sighed, sitting down on one of the deck chairs.

Allison sat down beside her. "Well, at least the sacrifice was done in the name of a great party. I've having a wonderful time."

"I'm glad." Caitlin smiled. "We did have a lot of people show up, didn't we?"

"You could say that!" Allison laughed. "I must have met a thousand people tonight!"

"I see Lance is playing the part of Lloyd Dobler tonight." Caitlin said with a grin.

"What..." Allison turned around to see Lance looking at her, once again checking to make sure she was still having a good time. "Oh. I see. Yeah, he wanted to make sure I wouldn't be trapped having a terrible time, so he's been checking on me all night." Allison laughed and blushed slightly.

"That's sweet. Lance is the greatest." Caitlin paused. "In fact, they all rock. Though I'm a bit worried about Chris." Caitlin said.

"Yeah, he's seemed a bit down the last few days." Allison observed. "I hope it's not work stuff?"

"I think he and Dani are having problems. Of all the couples I thought would last forever, I figured they would. Maybe they are just having a rough time right now. The way their lives are made public...it's so tough on all of them." Caitlin said. "Chris and I have talked about relationships a few times, but he's so shy about his relationship with Dani, or I'd try and talk to him more about what's going on."

"When is JC going to tell the press about you guys? It's obvious how much you care about each other, and that you're going to be together for a while." Allison asked curiously.

"I don't know. Jive doesn't want him to 'fess up to anything, but in some ways, I wish we could stop sneaking around about it." Caitlin said. "But, no biggie. How's everything with work? JC says you've been working nonstop since you joined Jive."

"Work is great. Things are pulling together, but we have a long way to go." Allison said. "Still, I'm excited about everything we're doing. And they are great to work with."

"Well, don't tell them that." Caitlin grinned. "Are you settled into Orlando? Met lots of new people?"

"Actually, I haven't really met many people. Tonight has been great for that though." Allison smiled. "Thanks again for the invite. I appreciate it."

"Not at all. It's nice to have a girl around to talk to. I mean, I run around with the five of them, I live with three guys.... don't get me wrong, I love guys, but I need another X chromosome sometimes." Caitlin grinned.

Allison laughed at her comment. "Agreed. I grew up with three brothers, so I hear you! Either way, we'll stand firm as female contingent in this wacky place."

"I'm glad you came to work for Jive, Allison." Caitlin smiled. "Are you going to LA with them in a few days?"

"No, I'm going to be here.... I have too many deadlines calling my name to be able to go. Though it would be a good opportunity."

"I can't believe they were asked to be on Larry King. That's great." Caitlin paused, then clapped her hands together. "I have an idea. We should get together the night of the interview and watch it together. Give us a chance to make fun of them without them knowing it."

"Sounds fun. Give me a chance to find things to question them about for the site...or not question them about, as the case may be." Allison grinned. "Count me in."

"Great! I'll call you." Caitlin said. Moments later, JC walked out to join them, bearing two fresh drinks.

"Ladies, I thought you might be in need of refreshment." JC said with a smile, before flopping down on the seat beside Caitlin. "Hey baby." He murmured softly as he planted a kiss on Caitlin's forehead. "Staying out of trouble you two?" He asked teasingly.

"Actually, Caitlin and I were just planning your demise from the music industry." Allison deadpanned as Caitlin laughed.

"Again?!" JC teased as he threw Caitlin an indignant look.

Allison laughed, then stood up. "Listen, I'm going to give you two some privacy, and to see what's going on inside. I'm probably going to take off in a few minutes.... my body isn't accustomed to this rock and roll lifestyle yet." She joked.

Caitlin stood as well, and took Allison's hands in her own. "Thank you for coming. And I'll call you about the...thing." She said with a grin.

"Ok." Allison agreed.

JC stood as well, and gave Allison a quick hug. "Glad you came with us. We'll see you in a few days, when we get back from LA, right?"

"You got it." Allison said. Bidding them goodnight, she ventured back inside, scanning the room for signs of Lance.

"You and Allison bonding?" JC asked, as he wrapped his arms around Caitlin.

"Pretty much...I think she and I are going to get together while you are in LA. Give us a chance to really plot your demise." Caitlin teased.

"I can't believe I'm going to have to leave you." JC said softly, kissing Caitlin's cheek tenderly.

"Me neither. Our first time apart, other than Christmas." Caitlin replied. "I guess I better get used to this freak show lifestyle of yours."

JC laughed softly. "I guess. At least I'll be in Orlando for a while longer, before all the tour madness begins." JC said.

Caitlin nodded. "I guess I'll just have to hog you until then." She joked.

"I'm all yours." JC replied. "You know, we're going to have to talk about this whole...thing, at some point."

"We will. How about after you get back from LA? Think you can stop thinking about me and us and it until then?" Caitlin smiled in reply.

"It and us, yes, but I can't stop thinking about you." JC said.

"Oh, you're smooth, Chasez." Caitlin laughed as she snuggled closer to him.

chapter three