[chapter twenty-one]
(Friday night)
Caitlin glared at the mirror, questioning her outfit for the hundredth time that evening. She hoped that the black sweater and jeans were "comfortable and casual" for the evening ahead. She tended not to like surprises as much as most people, and she hoped that JC wasn't going to do anything too off the wall.
With a shrug, she turned away from the mirror and strode over to the dresser.
She selected a pair of earrings as she sung along to the lyrics of "Faded"
by SoulDecision. Swaying her hips to the music, she smiled at the memory of
them in concert, and the *Nsync set that followed. She reached for a necklace
and struggled to get the clasp closed.
She jumped when she felt a body against her back and two hands took the necklace
from her hands. "Need help?" JC's smooth voice asked in her ear.
"Please." Caitlin said, smiling. Moments later, her necklace was
clasped and she turned around to smile at JC. "Why is it you are always
sneaking into my bedroom and scaring me?"
"Your roommates aren't much on entertaining guests, and they told me
to make myself at home so..." JC said with a grin.
Caitlin lightly kissed his lips then leaned over to turn the knob on the stereo
down. "I see." Caitlin said.
"You like that song?" JC asked.
"I love it. It was awesome in concert!" Caitlin blurted out.
"You've seen them in concert?" JC asked, his brow furrowed.
"Mm-hm. They opened for some rinky-dink band I went to see. In the Sink,
or something." Caitlin said, trying to hide a grin.
"You've been to one of our concerts? When? With who?" JC asked with
an incredulous smile.
"I went to the November 1st show here in Orlando. I can't believe I met
you like a week later. I went with Jon...he got me tickets as an early birthday
present. He's really a great friend." Caitlin said, smiling at the memory
of Jon, surrounded by millions of screaming little girls and still dancing
around and having a great time.
"No way!" JC said with a laugh. "You were there?"
"Yeah. Me and about a trillion other little girls. Man, they can scream!
Of course, I was also hoarse the next day." Caitlin paused. "Come
to think of it, so was Jon. He tried to be the tough guy who wouldn't enjoy
an *Nsync concert if his life depended on it, but halfway through Strings
he was dancing around as much as I was. But don't ever tell him I told you.
We had a great time...it was a great concert."
JC grinned. "Wonders never cease. And then I walked into the library
a week later and..."
"And the rest is history." Caitlin smiled. "Ok, am I dressed
appropriately, ye master of mystery dates?" Caitlin asked, taking in
JC's loose khakis and unbuttoned red shirt, showing the "wifebeater"
he was wearing underneath.
"Perfect. You look beautiful." JC said, looking her up and down.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yep. Lead on, MacDuff." Caitlin replied with a grin.
JC took her hand and they walked downstairs to bid goodnight to Jon, Alex
and Scout, who were crashed out in the family room. "You guys taking
off?" Scout asked.
"We're outta here. You guys behave yourselves while I'm gone." Caitlin
teased.
"We will." Jon replied. "Oh Caitlin, your auntie called earlier
and left a message for you. It's on the answering machine."
"Oh. I'll check it really quick. Give me one second?" Caitlin asked,
turning to JC.
"Of course." JC replied. He watched as Caitlin walked out of the
room towards the kitchen. As soon as she was out of earshot, he turned to
the roommates. "Thanks again for the suggestion. I hope she has a good
time tonight."
"She will. She's always wanted to go there and do everything. She'll
love it." Alex reaffirmed. "I can't believe you have the whole place."
"Amazing what a few phone calls can do these days." JC shook his
head. "Kind of scary really."
"Listen, I've got a few people I need you to call... debt collectors,
houses of ill-repute..." Scout teased. JC laughed, and they all joined
him. Caitlin walked back into the room and smiled to see how easily they got
along.
"What's so funny?" She asked, walking over to JC's side.
"Just Scout being a goofball. Have a good time tonight." Jon said.
"We will. No curfew, dad?" Caitlin teased Alex as she leaned over
to kiss his cheek.
"Not tonight." Alex said with a smile.
As the front door closed behind them, Alex stood up and headed for the kitchen.
"You guys hungry?"
After Scout and Jon put in their orders from the fridge, they looked at one
another.
"Oh yeah. They're getting' it on tonight." Scout said with an evil
grin, making sure Alex was out of earshot.
"Big time. Our little girl is growing up. And she better spill the details
in the morning." Jon said.
"He's a good guy." Scout said. "I like him."
"Me too. Much as I don't want to, because I don't want Cait hurt, but
I like him too. He's been good for her." Jon said.
"I get the feeling she's been good for him too. I think he needs a little
normalcy in his life." Scout replied. "And besides, how can you
not like Caitlin?"
"Agreed." Jon said with a smile. "That's why she's my best
friend. She's the best person I've ever met."
"Have you ever wished you were something more?" Scout asked seriously.
He'd often wondered about the dynamics of Caitlin and Jon's relationship.
"Every day since I've met her. But it would never work, and if I can't
have her, I want someone like JC to." Jon said quietly.
"Good answer."