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| Subject: *Eclipse* Chapter Two~Hidden | |
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Author: Kira |
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Date Posted: 16:30:39 04/21/02 Sun Chapter Two~Hidden Alexandria watched as the clouds whizzed past the private plane, a permanent smile etched on her face. She slid off her shoes and sat Indian style in the large leather seats. She arrived at the airport early, before the sun had yet to rise. She sat in the airport seats and just watched the planes ascend into the sky, still sprinkled with stars, she was hunched over her journal when she heard laughter…wholehearted, sincere, tear-inducing laughter. Alexandria looked up, the beaded ends of her conrowed hair bouncing against her shoulders as she spotted her new employer and his friends sitting on the floor of the airport, laughing quietly, but fully as they ate breakfast. Their eyes sparkled with a rich mirth as they joked and laughed and had a heated conversation about absolutely nothing. It was definitely a shot of encouragement for Alexandria because lately, she had seen the blackest, most austere aspects of human existence. She watched, enthralled for what seemed like hours, heedless of the tears that gathered in her eyes. Alexandria grinned brightly, throughout the chatter, as she recorded what happened early that morning. She blindly reached for her lidded coffee cup that was actually filled with soda and gulp down the last of the sugary liquid. The buttery, amber rays of the rising sun washed over her face and arms. Glancing out at the heavens, Alexandria closed her eyes, drinking in the warmth. She shimmied out of her delicate green sweater and allowed the light to pour over her smooth, brown skin. “Excuse me?” Alexandria startled at the sound of the gruff voice and she turned her head. She gazed at a very weary Justin Timberlake, who was blinking tiredly. “Mind if I have a seat?” “I think I’d mind if you didn’t,” she smiled nervously and moved her leather knapsack and put in on the floor in front of her. “Chris told me that you had to go to the emergency room…” Justin sat down, stretching out his long legs and plopped into the seat, resting his head on the leather. “Unfortunately…they made me go.” “Are you feeling better?” “I have the flu…so not really. I just wanted to talk with you. Introduce myself.” His voice was painfully hoarse and she winced with every word. “You’re Justin,” Alexandria supplied. “I’m Alexandria. There, now you don’t have to talk.” Justin smiled sleepily. “Thank you,” he mouthed as his cornflower blue eyes slowly closed. There was a long span of silence and the only thing that could be heard was the whirring of the jet moving through the air and Justin’s soft, congested breaths, hissing slightly through parted lips. Alexandria smiled as she watched him sleep, his long, lanky body slumped comfortably in the chair, legs parted, knees nearly bumping the seat in front of him. He seemed a bit pale, besides the high color in his cheeks, but his face was serene and Alexandria returned to her journal. “Why do you go by Alexandria?” Justin whispered, startling her. She clutched at her white tee shirt. “I thought you were sleep.” Justin smiled through closed eyes. “I know…why though?” “Just wanted a change I guess…” “A change from what?” “Life,” Alexandria whispered, not bothering to explain, and looked out the window, at the rolling world beneath her and sighed. “I’m going to get you some water. You want ice?” Justin blinked his eyes open and glanced at her with a frown. “No, thanks.” She returned with a bottle of water and a can of pepsi for herself. She sipped the soda nervously, twirling the can around in her fingers. “Why did you have to go to the emergency room?” she questioned. “You’re avoiding my question,” Justin resigned. “Purposely.” Justin grimaced at the brightness of the sun coursing through her window and Alexandria reluctantly closed the shade. “I was a bit dehydrated and when you’re on the road, you don’t have a normal family physician, but I trust that Chris made the right decision.” “I hope so. I left my poor old car in Los Angeles,” Alexandria chuckled, suddenly remembering about her dented car still parked in the parking garage. “What? You forgot about your CAR?!” She grinned happily. “I was so excited about getting this job that I left my car at the hotel in LA! I loved that car,” she giggled. Justin shoulders shook with slow mirth and he laughed deliriously beside her. ** After the four hour flight, Alexandria was shuffled to NSYNC’s private compound out the outskirts of Orlando and she sat through hours of orientation and signing confidentiality clauses with Johnny Wright. It was the definition of boring, but very necessary if she was going to get the chance to work with such a famous musical group. She smiled and nodded her way through it, doing her best not to fall asleep while Johnny and Melinda droned on about the rules and regulations and every possible situation that could terminate her position. Alexandria gleefully signed each contract, praying that her large scrawling signature and bubbling laughter would convey that she didn’t plan on getting fired any time soon. Melinda left to file the papers and Alexandria was left with Johnny, sitting behind his desk, the same arrogant smirk on his face. “I’m glad Chris decided to hire you. You seem like a very hardworking, dedicated young woman. But I want to tell you something. I love these men. I’ve been apart of their lives for almost seven years now,” Johnny began with a deep, firm tone. “I’ve spent more time with those men than their own fathers. I’ve been there for broken thumbs and fainting spells and arguments and those silly moment when you wished you had a camera. I love them like my own sons and I’m not threatening you, I’m promising you, that if you do anything to hurt my boys, I will not spare any feeling when it comes to punishment or consequences, Ms Kinsington. You are becoming a part of something very near and dear to me, our own dysfunctional family and you have to earn your trust here. Everyone is a hardworker, everyone looks out for everyone else. You understand?” Alexandria nodded. “Yes, Mr. Wright.” “Good. Now, I’ll show you where the kitchen is and then we’ll get started for the day.” ** It was four days later and Alexandria was having a difficult time adjusting to road life. NSYNC was currently rehearsing for their summer stadium tour that would cross the country and everyone was incredibly busy. Melinda had abandoned her work to train Alexandrian because Maria, the woman she was replacing was taking two days of sick leave. She was so excited about her job and she found herself smiling more, actually becoming eager to get up everyday. Although she still did not fit into the carefree atmosphere, having Chris for an employer was definitely rubbing off on her. She was sitting in a cramped, makeshift office in New Orleans. The heat was sweltering in the tiny concrete enclosed dwelling and she was sweating, despite the strapped, blue tank top and Capri pants she wore. Her hair was piled sloppily on top of her head, securing only by pencils. She sipped her bottle of water as she sat on the floor, surrounded by four months of clutter. Emails, tidbits of fundraising ideas, memos, official documents, receipts from donations and bank stubs and Alexandria was left to sort out the organizational disaster in an unair-conditioned room. She grumbled mopping the sweat off her brow as she started another file, picking up piles of receipts and began putting them in order. Justin and Chris whizzed into the doorway on roller blades. Justin braced himself against the wall, his silver track pants rolled up to his knees. He grinned at her as he took a sip of water. Alexandria gestured to the mess and glared hotly. “I’m going to murder you,” she glowered. “Why?” Justin simpered, an amused look on his face. “Because I’m stuck in this INFERNO while you are whizzing around the venue like a bat outta hell! Do you know how unorganized this charity is, nothing is even remotely in order. Didn’t you have people to run this while you were out…being famous or whatever,” she asked. “Yeah, but I found out they were skimming money off the top of my accounts, so I had to take everything, transfer the funds into a secured account and I haven’t had a chance to organize any of it. It was kinda done in a hurry…” “I can’t believe someone would steal money for these kids,” Alexandria sighed disgustedly. “Me either. I don’t trust as much as I used to.” “Justin, come on, we only have, like 13 minutes before we’re tortured yet again,” Chris whined. “Hey, Dre, don’t you want to come skate with us? The first one that breaks a bone gets money…” Alexandria shook her head. “No thanks, Chris. You see this mess I’m wading through.” “C’mon girl, lighten up.” “I don’t have any blades.” Chris pouted and whimpered, skating into the office. He rested his head on her shoulder, batting his eyelashes tenderly, trying to get his eyes to water. Alexandria arched an eyebrow, but as she stared into his deep brown eyes brimming with jubilation, she smiled and even giggled. She brought her arm around his shoulders of his sweat-soaked shirt, and hugged him awkwardly. “You’re the best boss a girl could ever ask for, Chris.” “You’re just saying that because I pay you,” he scoffed. “And very well I might add…I’ve never seen so many zeros, Chris.” He winked at her and stood up, swaying a bit on his skates. “There’s more where that came from. Come chill with us during lunch, we’re having some food brought in from one of the restaurants, it should be really good.” “Okay…” ** Alexandria threw up her arms in disgust and turned around in circles, not knowing where she was. The practice venue was simply a concrete labyrinth of gray tunnels and beige corridors without any signs. She chuckled sardonically, this was the third time she had gotten herself lost. “Dria…” a smooth voice warbled behind her. She turned around smiling nervously. “Hello, Lance.” He raised his eyebrows and shoved his hands the pockets of his sweats. “Are you lost?” “Yes. I don’t suppose you could show me to the stage. Chris said there was lunch,” she replied nervously. “Sure…follow me.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and they walked down the hall. Alexandria was uncomfortable as they walked silently though the halls and felt the need to talk. “Um…I’ve been so busy getting used to this job, that I…haven’t had the time to really talk to you or Joey or JC,” she began. “Yes, it’s been quite hectic,” Lance’s looked down, his pale green eyes blinking down at her. “Believe it or not once the tour starts, things will be calmer. It’s incredibly busy with us still learning the new CD. Are you fitting in okay?” Lance wondering, dropping the hand from her back. “Not really. No one here really pays attention to me. But Chris and Justin have been great.” “The crew is pretty wary of new people. You just have to work hard and you’ll be fine. Chris talks about you all the time. Although he never said where you’re from, “ Lance prompted. “I’m from California, Lance. I’m sure he told you that.” “No, he told me you stayed at a hotel in California. Justin told me that you left your car in California. They said nothing about your family or where you’re from or anything,” Lance corrected, sensing her sudden defensiveness. “Does it really matter, Lance? I mean one day I’m in LA, the next Orlando, the next New Orleans…then tomorrow, I’m back in LA for the Pop Video, I don’t live anywhere,” she stated firmly. Lance arched an eyebrow and halted in mid-stride. He gaped down at the young woman before him, staring intensely into her bright hazel eyes and frowned. His mind was working, putting together to the pieces of the puzzle to see that something just wasn’t there. Something wasn’t right. The holes were the answers. Alexandria felt cornered, she gulped greedily for air and started down the hall where she could hear the band chattering and she could smell the thick, spiced aromas of pasta. Lance caught her arm and gently pulled her back to him. He placed a hand firmly on her shoulder and pushed her back against the wall. He was taking care that he didn’t harm her, but the angered confusion in his face displayed how he was feeling. “I don’t know what to make of, Alexandria. But I’m sure it’ll come out. I don’t like what I’m sensing right now. You’re hiding something and Johnny’s background checks will find it,” he breathed. “Background checks, uh, Lance? You don’t scare me, green eyes. Just because I’m not ready to bare my heart and soul to you doesn’t mean I’m hiding a damn thing. It just means that I’m starting a new job, gaining my bearings. Next time, you put your hands on me again, I’ll show you something you don’t know about me and I guarantee certain parts of your anatomy won’t like what they find,” she seethed. “I can find my own way, thank you.” Lance felt his face grow hot with crimson and he slammed himself against the wall, not knowing whether to be angry and go screaming at Johnny and to simply let it go. He had a problem trusting, he had hostility towards newcomers into his family and sometimes it got the better of him. But as he turned his head to watch her gather up a plate of ravoli and sit away from the other groups, picking over her food, he just couldn’t ignore this. “She’s adjusting, Lance,” JC explained, stepping off his scooter. “She’s different, but she’s adjusting.” “I know.” Lance continued to watch her. “She’s hiding something too, C, she doesn’t sit right with me, I can feel it. “No one sits right with you, Lance. Johnny has checked every reference and they’ve all checked out. So did everything else. We have to trust her, she’s done nothing wrong.” “Not yet…” ** Alexnadria sat on the wings of the stage, taking a break from her work to watch the guys rehearse. She fell in love with the enormous stage and the bright lights when Justin gave her the grand tour, simply glowing with pride. It was the most amazing creation she had ever seen. It was tangible imagination. A fantasy that she could touch and taste and even feel. Justin had seen the light in her eyes, the cinnamon sparkle that emanated from her and he let her sit in the rounded platforms while they ran through another half concert. Alexandria found it hard to concentrate on her thoughts as she lifted her head from her old tattered journal and watched the five guys dance and perform for a stadium of empty seats. She laughed at them as they fought through the new choreography and Justin stumbled into Chris, setting the formation off a few noticeable inches. She tore her eyes away and began her entry. “Lance knows something isn’t right. I’m not it’s anything that of his business, but if he knows, I wonder if Chris does. What if Sasha shows up here? I’m starting to like this life. I didn’t think I could leave Lacey behind, but seems like it’s happening. Maybe I can start over, wipe the slate clean and begin again. I just need some relief or I’m going to break. Just fall away into pieces. And even if I was helped, the cracks would still be there, I’d still be week. I need to get away from Lacey for awhile. I need this time. I can face everything later. On a happy note, I’m going back to California tomorrow. Maybe I can get my car or sell it or something. I really don’t need it ri-” Her shoulders jerked, her pen slashing ink across the page as a thunderous bang echoed throughout the small arena. Deep, bellowing screams erupted and Alexandria’s head snapped upwards as she tried to find the source of the noise. She noticed Joey’s burly form, back against the stage, hands banging wildly against the floor, clawing and scraping, his mouth open in a silent scream. All four of the guys were huddled at his waist, begging for something to be released. Without thinking, Alexandria darted to her feet and positioned herself at Joey’s head. “DAMNIT, RELEASE THE FUCKIN’ TRAP DOOR!” Justin hollered into his mike and quickly began kicking and stomping on the mechanical trapdoors. Alexandria hunched over Joey and looked through the mass of legs and her heart stopped. She closed her eyes against the jarring sight of Joey’s leg prominently wedged between the stage and the trap door that was quickly becoming coating in crimson. She placed her hands on his bearded chin. “Joey…sweetie, look at me,” she whispered firmly in his ears. He opened his eyes, pausing from his blood-curdling scream to draw in breath. His eyes slammed into hers and she saw the pain in his floating underneath a sea of tears. “Keep looking at me, okay? Stay right here.” Alexandria heard a strangled buzz and a collective sigh as the trapdoor released. Joey’s body seemed to sink into the stage and Alexander gripped the back of his shirt, by the collar and dug her knees into the stage as he slid down, unable to hold himself up. Her arms, neck and back burned as she managed to get him still. Her hair fell into her eyes, sticking to her neck covered in sweat from the strain and she panted, keeping her hold strong and the large man from slipping through the hole into the underbelly of the stage. Justin’s eyes widened as he noticed her shaking with the effort and he hurried to her as she began to tug Joey away from the trap door. Justin helped her with Joey’s body. With another graceful movement, he pulled the airy pink blouse off of Alexandria and tossed it to Lance, who wrapped it tightly around Joey’s already swollen limb. Justin grabbed Joey’s hands, keeping him from slapping the stage and he held them in his own as Lance applied pressure and Joey began to wail and writhe in agony. Alexandria kept his gaze and smiled crookedly. “You’re doing so good, Joey. Help is coming. You’ll be fine. You have to give me some deep breaths, okay.” “Jus…” he groaned. “What man, I’m right here,” Justin whispered, leaning over him. Joey tried to sit up to inspect the burning, throbbing limb, but Justin pushed him down and all he managed to see were Lance’s hands coating in slick, burgundy blood. “Bro…broken?” “Broken? I don’t know, Joey,” he squeezed his hands and looked worriedly at Lance, who shook his head. “Lance says it’s not. See, that’s good.” “I’m gonna puke, Jus…oh god…I’m be…sick,” his upper lip was wet and he grew very pale as his teeth chattered with pain. Fighting back tears at seeing his friend in so much pain, Justin used his free hand to rubbed his arms and he shook his head. “It’s okay, you do what you have to. I got you, man, I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere.” The paramedics arrived and wasted no time in splinting the leg and securing Joey to a backboard, where he was whisked to the nearest hospital. Justin rode with him. JC took Lance to clean up and they hurriedly got ready to go to the hospital, abandoning the practice for the tour that started in just two weeks [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
| Re: *Eclipse* Chapter Two~Hidden | Mandee | 11:17:06 04/22/02 Mon |
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| wow | Chipmunk | 16:35:11 04/24/02 Wed |
| Re: *Eclipse* Chapter Two~Hidden | Gina Z. | 23:01:01 04/26/02 Fri |
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