[chapter six]

(Inside the restaurant)

Caitlin glanced around as they settled into their table and looked over the menus. JC had chosen a quiet, laid-back restaurant with a small bar attached. There were a few patrons, but they all appeared to be regulars. Either way, teenyboppers didn't mob JC at the door, so she assumed this was a safe hangout.

After ordering drinks and discussing what to order, JC and Caitlin settled into their seats and looked across the table at one another.

"So, come here often?" Caitlin asked teasingly, with a raised eyebrow.

JC laughed out loud. "Actually, you'd be surprised. Since this place is pretty quiet and 'off the beaten path', we do hang out here quite a bit. It's not exactly flashy, but it's perfect for a quiet meal and a game of pool."

Caitlin looked around. "There's a pool table here? Can we play after dinner?" She asked, eyes shining.

"I'd love that!" JC responded. "But I'm not great."

"Thank God. I'm terrible. I'd hate for you to totally kick my ass." Caitlin said with a grin.

"Aw. I'd never do that. It's my policy to always let the lady win." JC said fairly.

"Oh no, you aren't one of those, are you? One of those guys with no competitive streak whatsoever?" Caitlin asked.

"Nah, I'm actually pretty competitive. I just figured by letting the girl win, I'd score points for being a nice guy." JC said with a smile.

"I think it would score you points as being a weenie." Caitlin teased.

JC mouth dropped, and he affected a wounded expression. "Now, that hurts."

Caitlin grinned and gave him a playful punch in the shoulder. "I'm just teasing."

After ordering their meals, Caitlin and JC listened to the jazz music playing throughout the restaurant for a moment before JC turned to Caitlin.

"So, other than being a rabid *Nsync fan, what other music do you listen to?" He asked with a teasing grin.

"Now, what makes you think I'm a rabid fan?" Caitlin teased.

"Well, maybe not rabid, but interested enough to find a website or two about us. Seriously, what else do you listen to?" He asked.

"Ok, I admit, I'm a big fan of your music, despite my trying to play it cool. I was really impressed with No Strings Attached and how much your music has evolved, and how much more broad the spectrum was for a fanbase. Rather than catering to teenyboppers, you guys really expanded the genre to include lots of other fans. And the way you melded so many different sounds onto one CD was very impressive. And I really liked the tracks you wrote. Most impressive." Caitlin said the last two words in a stuffy English accent to try and lighten her speech.

JC just stared for a second. "I think that's the nicest compliment I've ever had on the album. Thank you." He said genuinely.

"You're welcome. As for what else I listen to when I'm not bowing down to my *Nsync shrine... let's see, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd, A Perfect Circle, Metallica, Garth Brooks, VAST, Rush, classical musicyou name it, I probably have the CD!" Caitlin said.

"Wow! That's diverse!" JC said with a low whistle. "That's cool though. Shows varied taste."

"Well, between my roommates and I, I think we own most of the CDs in the western world, and they cover just about everything! I really can listen to almost anything. What about you? What are the tour bus favorites?" Caitlin asked.

"Well, I'm a huge Sting fan. And I really dig jazz music." JC said.

"Explains why you like to come here." Caitlin said with a smile.

"Exactly! I'm like you, though--I listen to almost anything. The five of us have pretty diverse tastes, and we trade off on what we listen to, so in any given day we could listen to Alan Jackson, Moby, Marvin Gaye and Journey." JC said.

"Well, those all sound good too!" Caitlin said. "At least you guys are diplomatic about listening to each other's music."

"After, the first couple of fistfights over the CD player, we learned to compromise." JC said with a grin.

"I bet you are the peacemaker in the group, right?" Caitlin said.

"What makes you say that?" JC asked.

"I don't know exactly...just a feeling I get from you. You have a very orderly, serene vibe around you, and I think you want everyone to be happy and get along. Even in interviews you tend to smooth things over or cover for the group. Why is that?" Caitlin asked.

"I don't know really. I guess I feel like the 'dad' of the group, or that they would fall apart if I didn't tell them what to do. Or it could be that I'm a control freak." JC admitted.

Caitlin laughed. "Way to be honest with yourself, Mr. Chasez." Caitlin grinned. "I'm teasing. Whatever it is, it's a nice quality. I find with the guys I tend to be the ringleader of the group...keeping everyone in line and making sure everyone is ok. It's kind of a nice feeling to know they rely on you, you know?" Caitlin asked.

"Exactly!" JC said.

"But then again...there are days when..."

"When you want to rip their heads from their bodies?" JC said.

"You got it!" Caitlin laughed.

JC and Caitlin began trading stories about their respective "guys", and soon were venturing into other topics...sports, politics, social views...

"The Redskins have the best running back in the league!"

"You have got to be kidding?? Antonio Freeman versus Stephen Davis?? Antonio would destroy Stephen!"

"No way!"

...

"I may be fiscally conservative, but I'm definitely a Democrat when it comes to social issues."

"Can you even vote here?"

"I told you I became a citizen years ago! I can definitely vote to keep all those politicians who are just right of Attila the Hun our of office!"

"Republicans aren't that bad."

"Oh noyou aren't one of them, are you?"

...

"But don't you think it's a woman's right to choose?"

"Whether I agree with abortion or not, I agree that the government should NOT make the decision for women."

"I agree with you there."

"But I think guys should be involved in any abortion decision."

"Of course you do--you're a guy!"

...

"Empire was TOTALLY better than Jedi!"

"Jedi was the resolution of all the plotlines though!"

"But Empire is when everything happened! It ends on a downer, but makes you want more...Han is carbon-frozen, Luke learns about his dad, Lando is no help to anyone..."

"But Jedi had the Ewoks!"

"JC, you are a total dork!"

...

"Alright, you ready to get your butt kicked in pool?" JC asked teasingly as they wrapped up their meals and discussions on everything under the sun.

"You bet!" Caitlin said, bouncing up from the table and reaching for her wallet. As she started to pull out the cash to cover her part of the meal, JC put a hand on her arm.

"What are you doing?" JC asked.

"Um, paying?" Caitlin said.

"Don't be silly. Dinner is on me." JC said quietly.

"JC, you don't have to do that." Caitlin said.

"I want to." JC gave her an intense look, and Caitlin slowly put her wallet away.

"Thank you, JC."

After walking to the pool tables in the back of the restaurant, JC and Caitlin argued about who got which pool cue, who had to break, who had to use their quarters first and who was going to lose. Their back-and-forth banter flowed easily, and it seemed that they had been friends for years, rather than hours. Caitlin gave a less than spectacular break, and covered her face with her hands.

"Oh, this is going to be embarrassing. My ass is going to be kicked by a boyband member." Caitlin lamented.

"Hey!" JC countered. "I promise not to kick too hard. That ass is too cute to be totally kicked." JC flirted.

Caitlin blushed and tried to concentrate on her next shot. JC concentrated on how curvy her body looked when she bent over to play the shot. "You know, I think you are lining the shot up wrong." He volunteered.

"I'm just guessing here--do you have any pointers for a pathetic player?" Caitlin asked.

"Here" JC walked over and stood behind Caitlin. Putting his arms around her so he could help guide the pool cue, he felt her tense when he stood close to her. He inhaled her light perfume, and relished the feeling of her body beneath his. They made the shot together, and Caitlin quickly jumped away from him.

"Hey! We made the shot! Thanks!" Caitlin said, putting some distance between them.

"Damn, I shouldn't have done that." JC thought to himself as he looked at Caitlin, who was now furiously blushing. "Probably freaked her out--way to go, Chasez!"

"Your shot, hotshot." JC teased, trying to cover the awkward moment.

Several hours and many quarters later, JC and Caitlin abandoned their pool cues and headed for the door. They shared light conversation as JC drove Caitlin back to her home. After pulling in the driveway and killing the engine, he hopped out to open the door for her and walk her to her front door.

"I had a really great time tonight. I mean that." JC said.

"I had a great time too. You didn't turn out quite as I expected." Caitlin said.

"Well, you didn't turn out quite as I expected either--Marian." JC said with a smile. After a moment's pause while they just stood looking at each other in the porchlight, JC took the plunge. "Can I see you again?"

"I...I...you want to see me again?" Caitlin asked hesitantly.

"Very much." JC said quietly.

"I'd like that too. I know how busy your schedule is, so why don't you just call me when you can." Caitlin said, hoping that would give him the 'out' he needed. Much as she liked him, and how well they had gotten along, Caitlin was fairly certain that JC Chasez, pop sensation, would not be seeing her again anytime soon. She was simply an escape from his reality for a day. But she was flattered, all the same.

"I'll get in touch with you as soon as I can." JC promised.

They stood staring at each other for a moment longer, before Caitlin couldn't resist anymore. She leaned towards him and brushed her lips against his cheek. She inhaled his spicy cologne, felt how smooth his skin was...but only for a moment, before she pulled away.

"Goodnight JC." She said softly.

"Goodnight, Caitlin."

chapter seven