[chapter twelve]

(Evening, Three days later)

Caitlin cranked up the stereo as she cruised through the family room on her way to the kitchen. The roommates were all at work, and she had the house to herself--a rare event. As Rob Zombie's latest remix album blared through the house, she poured herself a Mountain Dew and prepared to do some house tidying. Living with three guys always gave ample opportunity for cleaning and straightening.

JC and the other guys had been out of town for the past few daysthey had two talk show appearances in New York, and an autograph session at Tower Records in the heart of the city. JC wasn't expecting to return until later in the evening, and promised to call Caitlin when he was back home. She had felt better since talking to JC about the ex-boyfriend, even if she didn't divulge many details. They had talked on the phone about 10 times since she had left the Compound three days before, and Caitlin was really excited about seeing JC again, and about the way their relationship was progressing.

Caitlin smiled to herself as she starting picking up scattered papers, abandoned shoes and sweatshirts, CDs without the cases and Nintendo controllers. The remix version of "Living Dead Girl" started blaring through the house. Cranking it a few more notches, Caitlin started dancing through the family room, gyrating her hips and flipping her hair. The song exuded energy and sexiness and a beat that she found irresistible. She whirled around to head back towards the kitchen when she shrieked.

Standing in the doorway, wearing a broad grin, was JC. He had heard the music from the driveway, and knew no one in the house would be able to hear his knock. He just decided to let himself in and had been watching Caitlin's display for most of the song. He was most appreciative of her uninhibited moves and the way she was totally at ease with herself as she danced in her family room. It reminded him of the night they went dancing, and the kissing that followed...

Caitlin gave a war whoop and charged towards JC. She landed in his arms and gave him a tight hug. "You're back!" She smiled as she looked into his eyes, and smiled wider when he dropped his lips onto hers in a long, deep kiss. She hurried across the room to turn the stereo down to a reasonable level, and then turned back around to face JC with a pretend glare. "You scared the shit out of me!" She paused, and smiled again. "But I forgive you. When did you get back??"

"Just now." JC answered. "I dumped my stuff at my place, then headed right over here. I didn't interrupt anything, did I?" JC asked with a sly grin.

Caitlin hit him playfully in the shoulder. "Just a little cleaning and some recreational dancing. The guys are at work and I have the place to myself for a little while. Gotta take advantage of the stereo when I can. Normally we fight like cats and dogs over it." Caitlin replied.

"I can imagine!" JC replied. Touching her face tenderly, he smiled softly. "It's good to see you."

Caitlin leaned her cheek into his cupped palm. "You too." She looked into his eyes. "So...what does your schedule look like for the next few days? Any chance you'd have time to hang out with a lonely librarian?"

"Days are busy, but the evenings are fairly open--a couple of radio interviews that may run until 6 or 7, but after that, my time is my own." JC replied. "What about you?"

"I got lucky this week--I have the 8 to 5 shift this week, and then Saturday and Sunday off." Caitlin replied. "Do you guys have plans for Sunday?"

"Nope. I think Chris has a FuManSkeeto meeting and Joey is going to Miami to visit some old Universal friends. Lance, Justin and I are free agents though." JC paused. "Why?"

"Well, the guys and I were thinking of watching copious amounts of football and consuming mass quantities of food, and we wondered if you'd like to join us." Caitlin said with a happy grin.

"Sounds great! I'll ask Lance and Justin, ok?" JC replied. "On one condition." He added.

"What's that?" Caitlin asked skeptically.

"You go have a late dinner with me. I'm starving!" JC said.

Caitlin threw her head back and laughed. "Aren't you always?" She asked teasingly. "I'd love to. I'll just change really quickly. You have to fill me in on everything you guys did in New York."

"And you have to fill me in on everything that happened in the library and around here." JC returned.

"Oh yeah, I'm sure that will be stimulating!" Caitlin said as she bounded up the stairs to change clothes.

"You have no idea..." JC muttered to himself with a smile as he watched her retreating back.

(Two hours later)

Caitlin flopped into bed with a smile. She and JC (and Lonnie, of course) had gone to a sushi bar and stuffed themselves full of miso soup, sushi and sashimi. They'd exchanged noted on what the other had been doing for the past few days, and JC kept Caitlin in stitches about the adventures of all the guysfrom Justin breaking security to go shopping at the Gap to Chris getting into an argument with a horse in Central Park, fully convinced the horse could understand what he was saying. Caitlin had told JC of the latest exploits of her roommatesJon was currently dating a 17 year old with the IQ of a piece of toast, and Scout recently instigated a water pistol fight that culminated in all four of them grabbing Super Soakers and racing through the house, soaking everything in sight, including each other. JC laughed at the thought of them running after each other, spraying water everywhere.

After dinner they had just sat in JC's car for ages in the driveway, talking and catching up. Finally, Caitlin knew she had to get inside and get some sleepshe had to work in the morning. After some hesitation, she and JC kissed again, which quickly deepened into a 20-minute make-out session. Caitlin lay in bed and shivered at the memory of JC nibbling her ear and kissing her neck. Both those spots were her weakness, and she would be putty in his hands forever if JC always kissed her that way. She remembered the way JC had moaned as she lightly ran her fingernails on his scalp, then all the way down his back as he kissed her. And she remembered the way he had

Caitlin growled and mashed her pillow into a ball and rolled over to try and get comfortable. "Go to sleep, you have to work in the morning!" Caitlin berated herself. Moments later, her bedroom door flew open and Jon barged in. He threw himself on the bed next to Caitlin and huffed loudly.

"This would be my cue to ask what's wrong and play the sympathetic friend role?" Caitlin asked, without moving from her comfortable position on the bed.

"Yep." Jon answered simply.

"Did the child dump you?" Caitlin asked.

"How did you know??" Jon demanded.

"Because you only throw fits when a girl dumps you before you have the chance to dump her." Caitlin said.

"I do not!"

"You do too!"

"I liked her though." Jon said.

"Honey, she was SEVENTEEN!" Caitlin retorted.

"Just made it that much easier to manipulate her." Jon said. Caitlin could practically hear his grin in the dark.

"Oh, that's touching. Go away." Caitlin said, rolling over.

"And I thought we were having a moment here." Jon replied, snuggling further into the bed.

"Don't even think about getting comfortable! I'm trying to sleep and I do not need the human chainsaw snorer next to me." Caitlin said.

"Ok, two questions and then I'll leave." Jon said.

"Shoot." Caitlin replied.

"A--are the guys coming over for the football fest on Sunday?" Jon asked.

"JC is, and he's going to ask Lance and Justin." Caitlin replied.

"Good enough. B--how are you and JC?" Jon asked.

Caitlin smiled in the dark. "Getting better every day."

(The following Sunday)

"Death by Buffalo Wings!" Alex announced as he picked up an enormous platter of wings and took them into the family room. "Did we buy these by the ton, or what?"

"Ok, let's recap. 7 people, 6 of which are guys, football and the munchies. We'll be lucky if we don't run out by the third quarter of the first game." Caitlin retorted as she set down bowls of chips on the coffee table next to the wings.

"Who's going on the beer run?" Jon asked, following them into the room.

"Not it!"

"Not it!"

"Damn." Jon shook his head. "Scout, looks like we're on beer patrol."

A knock rapped on the front door, followed immediately by JC poking his head in with a smile. "Hi! Can we come in?" He asked.

"Hey guys! Come on in!" Caitlin replied, walking over to open the door wider. Grinning broadly, Caitlin received a quick kiss from JC and hugs from both Lance and Justin, who had followed JC into the house. After quick introductions, Caitlin invited the guys to have a seat and get comfortable. After learning that Lonnie and another bodyguard, House, were going to spend the afternoon outside in the van, she invited them in to join the festivities. They politely declined, but were touched that she invited them. After making sure everyone in the house was settled, she turned to her guests.

"Give us a minute. We're debating some important stuff." She told the three guests as they settled down on the couch.

"Beer run!" Scout yelled from the kitchen.

"Case in point." Caitlin said with a smile as she headed for the kitchen. "So help me God, if you guys come back with a keg of Natty Lite, I'll scalp you!"

"Vote!" Jon's voice boomed.

"Miller Lite!"

"Bud Light!"

"Killian's!"

"Killian's?? Only if your punk ass is paying for it!" The three guests laughed as their heard Caitlin's voice challenge Alex's vote.

The roommates eventually compromised on Bud Ice, and Scout and Jon headed out for the liquor store. Alex and Caitlin brought the rest of the munchies into the family room, to the awe of the three already on the couch.

"Holy cow--you guys have enough food here to feed an army!" Lance's deep bass voice exclaimed.

Alex and Caitlin laughed in unison. "You've obviously never watched football with Scout before. The man is a human garbage disposal." Alex said.

"Oh like you're one to talk!" Caitlin returned.

"So what games are on today?" Justin asked with interest.

"Tampa Bay at Green Bay--that's the one I'm most interested in." Caitlin said.

"Tell me you aren't a Cheesehead." Justin said with disgust.

"Sorry Curly, I hope they kick the hell out of Tampa." Caitlin replied. Justin just shook his head sadly at her.

"What's the second game?" JC asked.

"Redskins and the Titans. I'm guessing blood is going to be shed between you two on that game." Caitlin said, pointing fingers at JC and Justin.

"You bet!" JC said.

"Heck yeah!" Justin added.

Caitlin snapped the TV on just as the introductions were being made for the first game. A few minutes later, Jon and Scout returned, lugging a keg behind them. "Come and get it!" By the time the kickoff was broadcast, everyone in the house (with the exception of Justin) had a beer in their hand, and was hungrily eating the snacks on the table. The afternoon was relaxed and lazy, with just the right amount of food, company and controversy.

...

"Oh, pass interference!!" Caitlin screamed.

"That was a fair defense!" Justin retorted.

"Give me a break!" Caitlin huffed.

...

"Your precious Redskins are going down!" Justin made several punching motions into the air to accentuate his point.

"In your dreams, you Tennessee hick!" JC shouted.

...

"Great games." Alex said lazily as the sports wrap up show came on.

"Agreed." Lance said. Everyone was flopped comfortably on the couch, still pecking away at the food and half-watching the show. Conversation had reigned all afternoon, rather than the games, and Caitlin was delighted at how well everyone had gotten along. Justin and Jon had bonded on many sports issues, and Lance and Alex had engaged in a spirited debate about politics. All in all, a very successful afternoon.

"You know what would make this afternoon perfect?" Justin asked.

"What?" Scout asked.

"Ice cream." He replied.

Everyone laughed, and Lance pulled himself off the couch. "I'm game."

Justin hopped up. "I think there is a grocery store down the street that sells every kind of ice cream known to man."

"I'll drive." Caitlin offered, also rising from the couch. "You guys just want to hang out here?" She directed her question at her roommates and JC.

"Sounds like a plan." JC responded.

"Ok, back in a few." Caitlin, Justin and Lance bounded out to the garage to pile into Caitlin's car. Moments later, the remaining folks could hear the engine starting up and driving down the street.

"Soo..." Scout started, turning to JC. "You and Bird, huh?"

JC visibly blanched. Jon noticed this and clapped his hand onto JC's shoulder. "Relax dude, we're not the Inquisition, and we aren't her father."

JC smiled and gave a laugh. "Thank God for that." He said, relaxing.

"Seriously, you guys seem like a good match. Caitlin deserves a nice guy, after all the bad luck she's had." Scout said.

"Yeah, she mentioned some loser that used to scare her and harass her." JC said.

"That's putting it mildly." Jon said with a scowl.

"What do you mean?" JC asked with interest.

"Uh. how much has Caitlin told you?" Alex asked.

"About the ex-boyfriend from last summer?" JC asked.

"Yeah." Alex reaffirmed.

"Just that he was a big fan of power trips on her, and that he harassed her after they broke up and that he was generally just not a nice person." JC responded.

"That's it?" Alex asked.

"Guys, what aren't you telling me?" JC asked, concern tingeing his voice.

"Look, it's not our place to tell you about Caitlin's history. Let's just say there's a lot more to it than that, and leave it at that, ok?" Jon said, trying to alleviate the tension radiating out of JC.

"Did...did she tell you about the night we went dancing?" JC asked with embarassment, lookind down and fiddling with the bracelets on his left wrist to avoid their eyes.

"Not details, but enough to know that she got a little freaked. But that you were really cool about it." Jon said.

"Does this freaking have anything to do with what you aren't telling me?" JC asked.

"Yeah, but...well, just...when she's ready, she'll tell you. I promise." Jon said. "She wants to tell you, she just...she's just not ready. Not yet."

"I understand." JC said, not understanding at all.

chapter thirteen