[chapter seven]

"Oh! Cheater!" Caitlin exclaimed from the tee-bed.

"That was a totally fair shot!" Chris defended as he grabbed his brightly coloured golf ball out of the cup.

"You're allowed to hit the ball once per stroke, genius, not fifty times until you steer it into the hole!" Caitlin retorted, hands on hips in mock anger.

"I never knew librarians were so competitive. Jeez, I can only imagine what happens when the latest Jackie Collins arrives on the shelves." Chris teased.

Caitlin merely glared at him as she lined up her shot to the hole. Chris and Caitlin had left the bookstore soon after finishing the last of their lattes, and after driving around in the fading sunlight of the evening, had struck out for a nearby putt-putt course. As they drove around, they had retreated back to their previous conversations about relationships, more in-depth discussions of tour life, and analysis of the guys and their lives. But as if by unwritten rule, the serious discussion stopped as soon as they hit the putt-putt course parking lot. Instead, they had already been yelled at once for climbing on the concrete animals scattered throughout the course, and Chris had been politely but firmly asked to return the extra seven golf balls he'd grabbed and stuffed in his pockets when they paid for their round. They had spent the better part of an hour goofing around the course and laughing at each other's antics.

After sinking her putt in one try, Caitlin turned and smirked at Chris. "Some of us don't have to cheat. We just naturally have a talent for rolling little balls down AstroTurf to hit a two inch cup." She said seriously.

"I'd be proud of that talent, if I were you." Chris said, equally as serious.

"I am."

"You better be."

"You're just jealous."

"Yeah. Right."

"Your turn, goober." Caitlin said, walking to the next tee. "Are you always this obnoxious to people?"

"Mm-hm." Chris confirmed as he lined up to try and shoot left-handed. "I find if I'm constantly obnoxious, people give me no responsibility and let me do anything I want. I figured, it worked when I was seven, why wouldn't it work now."

"Good policy." Caitlin nodded. "I bet your mom loved that."

"Oh yeah. That lasted about 4 seconds with her, but seems to hold pretty well with other people. Except you, apparently." Chris said.

"Apparently." Caitlin said. "You know, I find it ironic that someone who claims to want no responsibility has gotten a college degree, started the most successful boyband in the world, has a clothing company, is spokesman to several charities and spends more time than he likes to admit spoiling his mother, sisters and nieces." She paused and looked up at Chris. "Explain that."

Chris blushed slightly as Caitlin listed his accomplishments. "I think it was a lack of Ritalin. I just kept finding things to do to keep me busy."

Caitlin laughed. "Much as I hate to admit it, you are a pretty nifty person when you aren't being an obnoxious putt-putt player."

"Nifty?" Chris teased. "How about rad? Or righteous?"

"Ok, I'm leaving now." Caitlin said seriously, turning to walk to the parking lot. Laughing, Chris grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

"You can't go. You're my ride." Chris said sweetly, tugging at her hand insistently.

"Well, I'm sure a righteous guy like you can find another one." Caitlin said just as sweetly.

"Alright, alright, I apologize. Now stay and kick my butt in putt-putt." Chris pleaded.

"Do you have any hobbies besides harassing librarians?" Caitlin asked as they played the next hole.

"Sure. I do all that stuff you said earlier. I also spin records on my turntables, I write music, I buy CDs, go to concerts, stuff like that." Chris said.

"You sound like JC. Everything relates to music somehow." Caitlin smiled at Chris.

"It's what we do. I've always wanted to act, though. But I haven't done that yet." Chris confessed.

"Sounds like Joey and Lance have also been bitten by the acting bug." Caitlin said. "Why don't you try out for some parts?"

Chris shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe someday."

"I bet you'd be great, you cad you." Caitlin teased. "You seem to play parts fairly naturally."

"Ooh, a compliment from you. I'm flattered." Chris joked.

"Well, don't get used to it, meathead." Caitlin replied just as sweetly. Her eyes met Chris' wounded look, and she smiled again, this time in all sincerity.

"You have the sweetest smile I've ever seen." Chris said quietly.

Caitlin paused to see if Chris was being serious, then blushed slightly. "Thanks."

"Just returning the favor in the compliment department."

***

"So you're going to be at the Super Bowl, right?" Chris asked. After finishing their disastrous round of putt-putt, they had returned their putters and retreated to the car. They had returned to Caitlin's house, but rather than going in or bidding each other good night, were lying in the middle of the front lawn, counting stars.

"Of course. I wouldn't miss it. I'm only using JC for tickets to the game, you know." Caitlin said, grinning in the dark.

"I figured. You know, you must be the perfect woman. You like sports, drive big cars, listen to loud music, and yet you still look great in a skirt and are curvy in all the right places." Chris said.

"Amazing, isn't it? I like NASCAR and Miller Lite, and still a guy hasn't married me yet." Caitlin returned. Chris joined in her laughter. "What about you? You ready for the show?" She asked, returning to the Super Bowl discussion.

"I guess. Nervous, still. But the choreography is pretty easy, and meeting Aerosmith was worth it, even if we totally embarrass ourselves." Chris replied.

"I'm nervous too. Not just for you guys, but for myself. It's going to be my first 'publicity event' as the new gal in Mr. Chasez's life." Caitlin said.

"That must be terrifying." Chris said sympathetically. "Knowing that within days, your image may be burned in effigy everywhere."

"It's a little worrisome. But I hope to make a better impression on the fans than Bobbie did." Caitlin said.

"I don't think you'll have to try too hard to do that." Chris replied. "Anyhow, we'll all be there, backing you up and talking about how fabulous we think you are."

"Just what I need...Chris spouting off about my fabulousity." Caitlin teased. Chris turned his head in the grass and gave her an evil stare. "Ok, ok, kidding. Actually it's very comforting knowing you guys will be there."

"We do what we can." Chris said. They lay in comfortable silence for several minutes, the quiet being disturbed only by the occasional car passing by. Both were lost in their own thoughts, and the silence was a comfortable one. Presently, Chris spoke again. "You know, tonight was nice."

"It's such a great, clear night." Caitlin agreed.

"Not the weather, you doofus. Hanging out with someone not the guys. Be normal for a little while. Having intelligent conversation followed by lots of really unintelligent conversation. And you took my mind off Dani, and everything. I thank you." Chris said.

"You're welcome. You were helpful to me too. Gave me a glimpse of tour life, convinced me not to decide right now about touring, but to be leery when I do. And said some really nice things about JC and I. Thank you too." Caitlin replied.

"Oh God." Chris said.

"Yep, we're having another moment." Caitlin returned, reading his mind. They laughed together, then Chris pulled himself into a sitting position.

"I should get going. You probably need some sleep, and so do I." Chris moaned.

Caitlin looked at her watch. "Yeah, you're right. I promised Jace I'd stay over at his place tonight, but I'm guessing he's already asleep."

"You have a key to his place?" Chris asked.

"Um. Yeah. I was taking care of Baron while you guys were away." Caitlin said shyly.

"Our little boy is growing up and giving away keys to shady strangers. Will he never learn?" Chris replied dramatically. "That's great that you guys are to that stage, seriously."

"Yeah, it's really nice, especially when all my roomies are gone and the house is dark and silent. I like staying in a house with another person and a dog. And a fully stocked fridge." Caitlin said.

"I imagine the sex isn't too shabby either." Chris teased. Caitlin blushed to herself in the dark, but said nothing. "Alright, on that note, I'm leaving."

Caitlin and Chris both rose to a standing position and stretched. Caitlin impulsively pulled Chris into a tight hug. He hugged back tightly until she pulled away to look into his eyes. "Let's do this again. Seriously."

"Agreed. Thanks for everything, Cait." Chris said, pulling his keys from his pocket and walking to his car, Caitlin beside him.

"Anytime. Good luck on Sunday, if I don't see you before. I'll be cheering for ya. And as loud as I am, you might hear me." Caitlin teased.

Chris smiled and nodded. Waving goodnight, he started his car and pulled out of the driveway, Caitlin waving as he did.

***
Caitlin slid her key into the lock and quietly opened the front door to JC's house. Moments later, she heard clicking on the tile as Baron trotted over to greet her. Stooping down, she affectionately rubbed his ears as she set down her backpack and closed the door behind her.

"Hi boy. Where's your dad?" Caitlin asked quietly. Most of the house was dark, but she sensed that JC was awake somewhere. With Baron at her heels, she walked up the stairs to the master bedroom, but JC was nowhere to be found. After changing into some loose flannel pajama pants and a tank top, she went back downstairs and headed for the "music room". The music room was where JC kept all his instruments, sheet music and CDs. As she walked towards the door, she could hear the sounds of the piano. She opened the door quietly and stood, watching JC furiously writing something he had just played on the piano. He looked up and smiled when he saw her. His fingers returned to the keys, and he began playing, singing along softly.

"Chloe don't know better...Chloe's just like me, only beautiful..."

His voice filled the room, and Caitlin closed her eyes, silently cursing herself for ever telling JC how much she loved that song by Mother Love Bone. His voice made the words and music seem more powerful and more beautiful than she had ever imagined. She felt her insides melt as he finished the rest of the verse, then she slowly walked over to the piano and sat down beside him. His arm immediately slid around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. "Hi baby." He whispered as he kissed the top of her head.

"Hi baby." She replied. "You're up late."

"You're out late." He said easily.

"Chris and I were having a knock-down, drag-out game of putt-putt, and I wasn't leaving until I beat the tar out of him." Caitlin replied with a small smile.

JC chuckled at the vision of that, and tightened his arm around her. "I couldn't sleep without you here." He said softly.

"Really?" She asked, lifting her head to look into his eyes.

"Really." He paused, and then added, "And neither could Baron." Caitlin laughed quietly in reply. "Did you guys have fun?" JC asked.

"We did. We started off serious, lots of talking and analyzing. Of course, by the end of the evening, we were acting like 10 year olds. I love Chris. He cracks me up." Caitlin said with a grin.

"He's definitely the comic relief. Did you help him work things through with Dani?" JC asked.

"I'm not sure he wanted advice as much as he wanted to just spill how he was feeling to someone other than you guys. We really didn't talk that long about the serious stuff. I think he needed a sympathetic ear and a change of scenery from the normal circle of friends. But it was good. I had a great time." Caitlin said.

"Did you guys talk about me?" JC said with an evil grin.

"Why would we talk about you?" Caitlin asked seriously, then stuck her tongue out at him. "Yes, we talked about you. And how you can't live without me, and how much you adore me, and all that."

"Well, that sounds about right." JC said with a smile.

"Yeah right." Caitlin said, rolling her eyes slightly.

"You don't think that's the truth?" JC whispered as he placed the palms of his hands against each of her cheeks and looked into her eyes.

"Well, when you look at me like that, I might believe it a little more." Caitlin replied softly. JC lowered his lips to hers, and they shared a real kiss. After a minute, Caitlin pulled away and smiled into JC's eyes. "A little more convincing like that might be in order." She teased.

"I do what I can." JC replied with a smile.

Caitlin stood up slowly and stretched slightly. I'm ready to hit it, how about you?"

"I'm going to just work out a few more lyrics, then I'll be upstairs." JC said.

"Don't be too long. 'Night, love." Caitlin said, dropping a kiss onto his forehead.

"'Night, Marian."

chapter eight