[chapter ten]

(The next night, 9:29pm)

JC knocked on the door, hoping that Alex and Scout wouldn't come charging out at him this time. He could hear the stereo blaring (he couldn't discern who the artist was), and hoped that his knock was heard. Just as he was about to knock again, Jon flung open the door with a smile. "Hey JC, come on in!"

"Hi Jon, good to see you again." JC said politely, stepping inside.

"You too. Caitlin just got a call from England, so she is going to be a minute or two. She hates making people wait, but..." Jon said.

"Totally understandable." JC said easily.

"Can I get you anything?" Jon asked as he turned down the stereo.

"I think I'm good. What CD is that?" JC asked.

"Nine Inch Nails' latest. The Fragile. It's awesome!" Jon said. "Bird and I listen to it all the time."

"Sounds really interesting." JC said, picking up the elaborate layers of sound on the current song playing. "Really intricate."

"Trent Reznor is god." Jon said with a grin. "Bird should be down any second--give a holler if you need anything." Jon added.

"Thanks." JC said, sitting on the arm of the couch and watching Jon exit the room. Looking around, JC noticed the décor of the house. The furniture was nice, but comfortable--the kind you feel ok about putting your feet on. The house was done mostly in muted tones, but there was definitely a woman's touch here and there. It felt very comfortable and homey, while still looking nice. He imagined Caitlin had a hand in picking out the furniture and decorations, and she probably planned on finding a scheme that three guys in the navy could live with.

"Hey there!" JC heard Caitlin's voice call from the top of the stairs. Looking up at her, he lost any and all train of thought.

Caitlin walked down the stairs with a smile. She was wearing black boot cut pants that made her legs look about a mile long, and was sporting some black chunky shoes. She had on a striped top in cream, black and green that clung to her frame, accentuating her ample bosom. She had styled her hair in a spiky, fun look, and she had put on makeup to make her eyes appear smoky. On her lips was an extremely shiny gloss that made her lips look bigger than normal, and wet. And very kissable. JC's mouth dropped. Marian the Librarian was definitely out this evening, and this woman with bedroom eyes and curves to die for was in.

"Hey." JC 's voice croaked. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Hi, you look..."
He paused and looked her up and down. "You look fantastic."

Caitlin blushed slightly, pleased with the compliment. "Thanks, so do you." She smiled. "Ready to dance your ass off?" She asked.

"You bet!" JC answered. "I think we're meeting at Joey's house, and then we'll all go from there."

"Sounds like a plan. Ready to go?" She asked.

JC nodded, still trying to regain his equilibrium from her drastic appearance change. Normally when he saw her, Caitlin was dressed in conservative, classic clothes, and wore little makeup or did anything fancy to her hair. She looked so pretty that way, but this... this was a definite change. But he liked it. A lot. Not for every day, but he could see her like this once in a while, he'd be a happy man. But if he saw her in a tight top like that every day...

JC shook his head to rid himself of all the naughty thoughts that were floating through his mind. "Let's hit it!" He said.

"Bye Jon!" Caitlin shouted as she opened the front door.

"Bye Bird! Have fun!" Jon answered from upstairs.

JC drove over to Joey's house, continually sneaking looks at Caitlin. She seemed, he didn't know...more confident tonight. More forward. She wasn't kidding about the knocking the socks off. He couldn't wait to hear what the other guys would say. They pulled into Joey's neighborhood, and were buzzed into his front gate. Parking the car behind Lance's 4Runner, he hopped out as Caitlin did the same. "Looks like the gang is all here already." JC said, noticing the plethora of cars in the front drive.

"Great! I'm ready for some dancing!" Caitlin said.

JC didn't bother to knock on the front door, but rather just walked right in. All the other members of *Nsync were assembled there, with the exception of Joey. "Hey guys." JC greeted them.

"Hey there!" Caitlin said.

"Hey..." the three voices trailed off as they caught sight of Caitlin. She felt herself blushing slightly under their scrutiny. Wearing this outfit seemed like a good idea when she was alone in her bedroom. Now that several guys were examining her, she wasn't so sure. She knew that her size 14/16 body was a real turnoff for most guys, but she was hoping JC and the others would think differently.

A low wolf whistle from across the room caught her attention. Joey was nodding and whistling as he came into the room. "Damn girl, you look awesome! JC better watch out--he's got competition!" Joey said with an evil grin.

"Don't even think about it!" JC said, punching Joey in the arm.

The other three hustled to catch up in the conversation. "You look great!" "Wow!" "We're going to have a blast!"

Caitlin grinned and relaxed when she felt JC take her hand in his.

"Let's get out of here!" Joey said.

After a spirited debate on who was driving and who was riding with whom, they piled into a couple of cars and drove across town. Pulling up in front of the club, they were immediately greeted by their security detail, who knew this was their destination for the night. They immediately cleared a path and hustled the group inside. Caitlin was amazed as she walked in...the club was huge, and had an enormous dance floor. There were lights flashing everywhere and the DJ was playing a great remix of some house music by Rob D. There were several bars, and people everywhere. She immediately was infected with the music and lights, and couldn't wait to get on the dance floor.

JC grabbed her hand and she followed him through the throng of people to a large table in one of the corners. Sitting there was Chris' girlfriend Dani and Joey's best friend, Kelly. After brief introductions, Caitlin said down next to Dani with a smile. "You want a drink?" JC asked her.

"I'd love a bottle of Miller Lite." Caitlin replied easily.

"My kind of girl!" JC smiled and turned to fight his way to the bar. Moments later, he returned, bearing two bottles of Miller Lite. The next several minutes were spent with runs to the bar to retrieve drinks, debates about the music and general settling in. "You ready to dance?" Caitlin asked JC.

"I'm going to hang here for a while, but you go ahead." He replied over the din of the club.

Joey grabbed Caitlin's hand and started to drag her to the dance floor. "Come on, girlfriend, let's get this party started!" He shouted. With a laugh and an apologetic look to JC, Caitlin was led to the dance floor. They immediately started moving to the music, and JC sat up, paying full attention.

Caitlin and Joey were moving easily and naturally around the dance floor. Caitlin was obviously a born dancer, and her moves were added to by the huge grin she wore. After a few minutes, she and Joey were dancing together as though they had their entire lives. JC was a little put out to see that Joey was putting his arms around Caitlin and grinding with her, but she didn't seem to mind.

Moments later, they returned to the table to grab a quick drink. This time when they headed out to the floor, Justin, who was also a born dancer, joined them. Joey, Caitlin and Justin made quite a trio on the floor, and other people moved to the side to give them more room and watch the show they were putting on. JC had to admit, the three of them looked awesome. He loved that Caitlin knew so much of the music--she was singing the words to "Flava's Back", then she was hitting all the beats on "Samba de Janeiro", and she went crazy when they played "I Remember When I Met You". Finally they exited the floor and sat around the table talking and laughing excitedly.

Caitlin leaned over and yelled in JC's ear, "Don't even think you are getting out of dancing with me tonight!"

"I wouldn't dream of it!" He answered. Moments later, Stretch and Vern's version of "Get Up! Go Insane!" was blaring the speakers and Caitlin went crazy. Without even waiting for affirmation, she grabbed JC's hand and dragged him to the dance floor. Their bodies moved in perfect unison and they totally grooved to the song. Caitlin was laughing and smiling, and her energy was infectious. JC found himself totally "breaking it down" and laughing and smiling with her. One song turned into two, then three...

"Looks like C is having quite a time out there!" Justin yelled to Lance.

"Good for him!" Lance replied. "Caitlin rocks! Look at her go!"

"You said it!" Justin yelled back.

A remix of Prince's "When Doves Cry" started playing and Caitlin screamed to JC, "I totally love this version!". Because the beat was slightly slower than the other songs they had been dancing too, Caitlin and JC moved closer together and JC put his arms on Caitlin's waist. She responded by putting her hands on his arms and pulling him closer. Looking into each other's eyes, they started to grind and move with the music. Their bodies got closer and closer until you couldn't see between them, and they rocked to the music in unison. By the end of the song, JC's arms were wrapped around Caitlin, and she had pulled him tight to her with her hands.

After that, every song had JC and Caitlin on the dance floor, locked in each other's arms. The other guys, when they weren't dancing, sat and watched JC and Caitlin, and marveled at how well they moved together, and how good they looked together. The kept nudging each other, and several comments were made about the sexual tension between Caitlin and JC. Either way, they guys agreed they both looked really happy. JC's face was lit up, and Caitlin seemed to have a permanent smile on her face. It was agreed that these two were good for each other, especially given JC's past track record of dates.

Hours passed in the club, and eventually it was time for closing. They group gathered up and stumbled out into the waiting cars that security had pulled up for them, exhausted but happy. Security followed the cars back to Joey's house, and the elated group jumped out of the cars into the night air. "Anybody interested in a nightcap?" Joey offered.

"I'm too tired." Caitlin responded, her eyelids drooping.

"Me too." JC and Lance said simultaneously.

"I think Dani and I will head out too. Good times tonight, guys." Chris said, putting his arm around an exhausted Dani.

"I'll stick for a while." Justin said, heading for Joey's front door.

Everyone made their goodbyes and headed for their respective cars. Caitlin flopped into JC's passenger seat with a sigh. "Oh my, I haven't danced that much in a long time!"

"Me neither." JC said. "You looked great." He said as he drove swiftly towards Caitlin's neighborhood.

"So did you." Caitlin replied. They sat in a comfortable silence for most of the drive, both lost in their own thoughts. JC pulled into the now familiar driveway and shut off the engine. "Do your roommates ever live here?" JC asked, once again noting the dark house.

Caitlin laughed. "I sometimes wonder, but then the constant pile of dishes in the sink reminds me." She said. "Alex and Jon are on duty, and Scout is in Tampa visiting some old friends of his."

"Let me walk you inside." JC said.

"'Kay." Caitlin responded. They walked to the door and Caitlin unlocked the door swiftly. She flipped a switch, and a soft lamp in the family room clicked on behind her. She closed the door and looked at JC. "Do you want a drink or anything?" She asked nervously. Reality hit her between the eyes. Here she was, in an empty house, with JC. Alone. And judging from the tension between them all night and the way they couldn't stop touching each other on the dance floor, she had a feeling she knew where JC wanted this to go. But she was nervous. And scared.

"No thanks." JC said softly. Caitlin turned her back to him so she could unload the contents of her pockets onto the sideboard. He crossed the room quietly and came to stand behind her. Wrapping his arms around her, he felt her tense and quickly suck in her stomach. "Why do you do that?" He asked quietly.

"Um. Habit?" She answered, embarrassed.

"Caitlin, you're beautiful. Don't ever worry about weight or looks or any of that." He said in her ear, tightening his arms around her. "You weren't worried on the dance floor tonight. You looked so beautiful, and confident, and totally at ease with your body."

"Well, um, this is a little different." Caitlin stammered.

"Don't let it be." JC answered. After a moment, he spoke again. "Do I make you nervous?"

Caitlin smiled. "Haven't we had this conversation before?"

"I don't remember. I was too busy thinking about kissing you last time." JC said.

"So, do you want to try having this conversation again?" Caitlin asked.

"Not really." JC said huskily. He slowly turned Caitlin in his arms until she was facing him. Tracing her cheekbone with one finger, he smiled softly. She finally relaxed a bit in his arms, and he bent his head to press his lips to hers. After a few moments of softly touching his lips to hers, JC began to deepen the kiss. He placed one hand on each side of her face and pulled Caitlin closer to him. She responded by wrapping her arms around him and drawing him nearer. JC's tongue began exploring Caitlin's mouth as she melted in his arms.

JC paused from assaulting her mouth to rain kisses down her neck and onto her collarbone. Caitlin sighed with pleasure and ran one hand through JC's hair before lightly clutching the base of his head to pull him closer. Growling slightly at her hand being run through his hair, JC continued his assault on Caitlin's neck before returning his lips to hers. Their kiss intensified, and almost without realizing it, JC was shifting them across the room. Caitlin's eyes flew open as her back slammed against the wall, the blow gentled by JC's hands behind her head and on her back. He had her pinned against the wall, and was pressing his body against hers. After another desperate kiss, his eyes met hers, and Caitlin could see the passionate look JC was giving her, and she could hear his ragged breathing. In his eyes she saw desire, intensity, and power; suddenly her past flew into her mind, and she froze.

"JC" she said as he dipped his mouth down to take one of her earlobes into his mouth. "JC...please..." She said again.

"Mmm..." JC responded, his breath echoing in her ear.

"Stop. Please...stop." Caitlin tried to disentangle herself. "JC! Stop!" Caitlin raised her voice as she put a hand on his chest in an effort to push him away.

JC straightened and looked into her eyes. He saw fear and panic. "Is she frightened of me?" He thought to himself, trying to regain focus after their intense kissing. "Cait...what is it?"

"Oh God, JC. I'm so sorry. I just...I can't. Please...you have to go. I'm so sorry."

"What did I do?" JC asked, a slightly hurt expression in his eyes.

"Nothing, I just...oh God. I'm so sorry, but please, you have to go." Caitlin stuttered as she backed away from him, panic rising in her throat.

"Cait...talk to me." JC started to approach her, and she practically cowered in front of him. He stopped in his tracks when he saw her retreat from him. "I don't understand."

"Please." She whispered, her head down staring at the floor.

"Caitlin, look at me." Her head rose slightly, and she met his eyes briefly before looking away. "I don't know what happened, but I can tell something has you spooked. I'm going to go, and I'll call you in the morning. Ok?" He paused. "Ok?" He repeated.

"Ok". Came the whispered reply. "Josh, I'm so sorry..." Her voice sounded like it was on the verge of tears.

"I know." JC whispered. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Caitlin didn't look up until she heard the front door closing softly behind JC. Then, she slid to the floor and wept.

chapter 11