*Disclaimer - I do not own any of the members of 'N Sync (nor would I want to) they belong to their respective owners (most likely themselves). I do, however, own all fictional characters such as Mike, Ashley, Carli, and Devon, etc. Plagiarism is against the law, only a reminder.

**Spoiler - this one goes back in time to the Mickey Mouse Club, for all you people who really wanted to know. Thank you.

"Cut, and that's a wrap!" the director yelled loudly enough for everyone to hear. The members of the Mickey Mouse Club all headed toward the large area set aside for the food and drinks that would be demolished by the time everyone left the studio for the last time. They had just finished filming the last episode of the Emerald Cove series, and everyone had milled about watching the main characters say goodbye to each other on screen.

Everyone was excited about leaving and doing bigger and better things, but also, they were going to miss all the friends they had made along the journey that was coming to an abrupt end. It was time to move on, yet they didn't want to move on without their friends.

Mike stood off in a corner, watching her best friend say his tearful goodbyes to the people that had become a part of his life. She wasn't really a cast member of the show, though she was a part of the Emerald Cove series, as JC Chasez's character, Wipeout's best friend. Her character, Brandy, was a lot like her in some ways. She didn't want to say goodbye, so she was half tempted to just leave and go pack her things so she could be ready to fly back to Boston in the morning. Saying goodbye to Josh would be the hardest thing she had to do in her life so far.

"You even going to join everyone?" a familiar voice questioned. She looked up to see Damon Pampolina, one of the members of the MMC who had formed the music group the Party. She smiled at her friend, shaking her head.

"I hate goodbyes, so as a general rule, I don't do them." she shrugged. Damon nodded glancing around the room.

"A bunch of us are going out tonight, sort of to celebrate everything. You should come." he suggested.

"Nah, I was never really a part of everything. Just Emerald Cove. Besides, the stars and the behind the scenes people shouldn't really mix. Different sets of friends and all." Mike smiled, rolling her soft green eyes.

"Then how do you explain you and JC?" Damon raised an eyebrow.

"A freak of nature. An accident. Something that should never have happened, yet did." she laughed softly, shaking her head.

"You should at least tell him that you're leaving." Damon sighed tossing his hands up into the air.

"I will. Don't worry about that." Mike smiled as Justin, one of the youngest members of the MMC walked over to them.

"What's going on, Mike, Damon?" he questioned as he grabbed a can of soda from a nearby table.

"Nada." she replied shaking her head.

"I hear you're leaving. Going back to Boston." Justin stated giving her a sideways glance.

"I am." she nodded, shrugging slightly. He nodded, taking a sip from the can. For years Mike's family had taken summer vacations in Orlando with a friend of her father's family. Four years ago, Mike had gotten so bored with just hanging out, and her father refused to fall into the Disney World trap, so she had gotten a job. She thought it was just an apprentice's job at a studio, but she hadn't known it was for the writers of the Mickey Mouse Club show. She was asked to deliver fresh ideas to the writers about the way teens acted, and what they liked to see and watch on television. Her father had been proud of her for getting a job, and thought that it was a great opportunity for her. So, for the next two summers, Mike worked at the studio with the writers and actors. On her third summer in Orlando, her father agreed to let her move in with her older sister Dawn, so she could work and go to school in the same city. Traveling back and forth between the two cities had been difficult, and having two sets of friends that didn't relate or like the other was even more difficult. Now that the show was ending, she had no reason to stay in Orlando. Mike had graduated from high school and wanted to take some time off before heading right to college, to check out her options before settling on one particular school.

"You better keep in touch." Justin scolded.

"I will, and you better do the same. It goes both ways, dear." Mike replied with a grin.

"I know, I will. Don't be surprised if you get a phone call in the middle of the night." Justin chuckled as he headed over to a group of his friends. Damon just watched her with an amused expression on his face.

"What?" Mike questioned loudly, laughter in her voice.

"Nothing. You really don't do goodbyes, do you?" he folded his arms across his chest. Mike shook her head taking a quick scan of the room.

"I'm gonna go talk to some people. I'll see you before I leave." Mike sighed then headed out of the studio and over to the many offices. She knew her writer friends would all be in the main office, having a party of their own. Mike walked into the room with a smile on her face.

"Hey people!" she yelled over the loud talking and laughter.

"Michaela! Glad you could tear yourself away from the stars long enough to say hasta!" Jerry exclaimed teasingly.

"Yeah, well, I'd figure I'd grace the office with my presence." Mike shrugged, a grin on her face. After making the rounds of all the writers, she headed to the parking lot where her car had been stored for the day. She smiled when she saw JC leaning against the trunk.

"So, were you going to say goodbye or anything?" he inquired squinting over at her. She stood beside him and leaned back on the trunk.

"We've covered this territory before. I don't like goodbyes. They always end up tearful and I always leave wishing that I didn't have to." Mike shrugged, glancing over at him.

"You don't have to leave, you know." he stated quietly.

"Josh, the gig's over. What do I have to stay for?" she questioned turning to face him.

"Me. How about that for poetic." JC laughed shaking his head.

"You're my best friend, Josh, and you probably always will be. You got along just fine without me before I even entered the picture. You'll do just fine without me now." Mike shrugged, turning her face up to the sun, her eyes closed.

"Yeah, like you said, that was before I met you. Who am I going to talk to late at night? Who am I gonna hang out with?" JC sighed shaking his head. Mike reached into her pocket and pulled out a quarter, she turned to him then with a smile.

"Here's a quarter. Call me whenever you want." she stated, placing the silver piece in his hand, then closing his fingers around it. "I'll always be around, and you know that you can call me anytime."

"It's not the same." he shook his head with a sigh.

"I know it's not. This is hard for me, too, Josh. I'm going back to a place where all of my old friends have abandoned me because of this gig. All I have left in Boston is my family." Mike sighed, his hand still in hers. Lines appeared on his brow as he made a face.

"Don't do that." she scolded softly, placing her finger tips on his forehead to erase the lines. "You're too young to have those worry lines yet." JC looked down at her, his eyes filled with something she couldn't place. An emotion that she had never seen before in his eyes.

"Don't leave." he said softly, one last time.

"I have to." she replied closing her eyes. This was harder that she had ever imagined. Ironically, the song 'Leaving On A Jet Plane' entered her mind and she had to smile. "I'll be back, Josh. I won't stay away forever."

"I know." he sighed, nodding. "I'm just gonna miss you, that's all."

"I'm gonna miss you too, so don't worry about it. Besides, I'll probably get so homesick that I'll be back within the next month." she laughed softly.

"When are you leaving?" he questioned out of the blue as she stepped away from him.

"Tomorrow morning at ten. My flight leaves around noon." she answered, not meeting his eyes.

"I'll drive you to the airport." JC told her.

"All right." Mike nodded, unwanted tears stinging her eyes. She walked over to the driver's side of the little red car her sister had let her borrow, then unlocked the door. She opened the door and climbed inside. JC walked over to the door and gave her a weak smile as she slammed the door shut and rolled down the window.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning." she smiled up at him.

"Yeah." he nodded. She pulled out of the parking space, then headed toward the gate of the studios. One glance in her rearview mirror told her that JC was watching her leave, his face filled with sorrow. She sighed and turned the radio on, full blast.

JC sighed as he parked the car in the parking lot of Dawn's apartment complex. He wasn't too sure if he wanted to go up and get his best friend or not. He didn't want to let her go back to Boston, and new that he would be bored without her around. He sighed again as he climbed out of the car and walked over to the building Dawn resided in. He walked up two flights of stairs and down a hallway, first turning right, then left before he stopped in front of a door that held the Costeo welcome sign. He waited a moment before knocking on the door loudly.

"Just a second!" he heard Dawn yell from somewhere inside. The door opened suddenly, startling JC out of his thoughts.

"Hey pip squeak." Dawn smiled at him as he stepped inside.

"Hi Attila. How you doing?" JC smiled back as she shut the door.

"Wonderful. I finally get my apartment back to myself." she stated with an evil grin. JC tried to smile with a nod. "She's not up yet, so if you're brave enough to wake her up, be my guest."

JC nodded and headed down the hall toward the room that Mike had claimed as hers. He quietly opened the door and stepped inside. The room was dark, the blinds had been closed. He turned and shut the door before walking over to the bed. Mike was sound asleep, looking like the angel she was not. A smile tugged on his lips as he stood there, just watching her. She cuddled a stuffed bear he had gotten for her last Christmas. The clock read 9:00 a.m., much too early for the night bird to be up and about. He grinned sadistically as he leaned over.

"Mike! Get up!" he stated loudly in her ear. She gasped sitting bolt upright, hand covering her heart as she glanced around the room. JC stood to her left, laughing.

"Why you..," she cried launching herself at him. He caught her and they both toppled over onto the floor with a loud thump. She then proceeded to tickle him.

"Stop! Mike, come on! Stop!" he laughed trying to defend himself against her advances.

"No way! You need to be taught a lesson, little one!" she growled as she kept tickling him. He suddenly grabbed her arms and rolled over, so she was now the one being tickled.

"No fair! You cheat!" she laughed, trying squirm out of his grasp.

"How do I cheat?" he questioned with amusement.

"You're stronger than I am!" she replied through the laughter. "You're heavy! Get! Off!" she groaned, becoming breathless.

"I am not." JC laughed as he finally stopped tickling her and got to his feet.

"You are too!" she scolded as she remained on the floor, trying to catch her breath. JC smiled down at her, holding his hand out. She took his hand and waited for him to pull her to her feet. She then looked around the room, which was, for the most part, bare of all her belongings. She sighed, remembering what today was and what it would bring.

"You have everything packed?" JC inquired as she grabbed a change of clothes from the chair she had left them on the night before.

"Yeah. All that's left is the last of the little stuff." Mike nodded as she headed for the bathroom to shower and change. Twenty minutes later, she wandered back into her room to find JC sitting on her bed with his head resting in his hands. She silently walked over to him and knelt down before him.

"Don't do this. Just because I'm leaving doesn't mean that we'll never hang out or talk again." she stated softly. He nodded, climbing to his feet to pace the room. Mike sighed watching him for a few minutes, an amused expression on her face.

"Don't make me shock the hell out of you so your mind will stop dwelling on the fact that I'm leaving." she smiled evilly.

"There's nothing you could do or say that would shock the hell out of me." JC snorted shaking his head as he kept pacing.

"Oh yeah? Would you like to place a wager on that?" Mike raised an eyebrow.

"All right. What kind of wager?" JC folded his arms across his chest. Mike thought for a moment as she finished her packing.

"If I win, you call me once a week for the rest of our friendship." she finally stated with a smile.

"I can deal with that. And if I win, you have to come back to Orlando next month and stay here for a while." JC countered with a smile. Mike nodded with a devilish grin.

"Help me with these bags, would ya please?" she inquired nodding toward the two huge bags that she had packed the night before. JC took one bag in each hand and headed out into the living room where Dawn was typing away at her computer.

"I swear I thought you guys were practicing illegal acts in my guest room." she stated with a smile.

"Shut up Dawn." Mike smiled sweetly as she followed JC out the door. She pressed the down button on the elevator for him then headed back to the apartment. She took one last look around the place for things she might have forgotten, then walked over to her older sister. Dawn stood up and gave her a hug.

"Call as soon as you get to mom and dad's." Dawn told her.

"I will." Mike nodded as she slung her book bag over her shoulder. She smiled at her sister then headed for the door. She found JC waiting for her in his dad's car and threw her book bag into the back, then climbed into the passenger's seat. He drove in silence to the airport, the radio being the only noise. Once at the airport, they walked to the ticket counter and she checked in her luggage, then the two started walking to her terminal. They had over an hour to wait, so they checked out all the little shops and finally came across a small photo booth. She looked over at her best friend with a devilish gleam in her eyes.

"Come on, we have to do that." she exclaimed taking his hand and pulling him toward the photo booth.

"Do what?" he inquired, making a face of confusion.

"Take our picture. Sort of a one last memory kinda thing." Mike replied still tugging on his arm.

"I hate having my picture taken!" JC admonished shaking his head.

"Oh come on. For me?" she pouted folding her arms across her chest.

"Fine!" JC laughed as he climbed inside after he put the money in the slot, Mike following right behind. The seat was only big enough for one, so she got comfortable on his lap. Her mind working over time and her heart thumping wildly, she turned to him and kissed his lips. Shocked, JC slowly wrapped his arms around her and the four flashes went off in succession. Mike rested her hands on either side of his face, part of her wishing this moment would never end, that the two of them could stay in this booth forever. The other part knowing that she had to break the kiss off, and be on her way. She reluctantly pulled away from him with a smile.

"I do believe I shocked the hell out of you, and made you blush to boot. Damn, I'm good." she whispered.

"You kissed me." he stated, still awestruck.

"I know." she smiled, a blush coloring her own cheeks.

"Why?" he inquired, refusing to let her climb off his lap and out of the booth.

"Because, I wanted to know." she sighed, now regretting her decision to kiss him and win the bet.

"Know what?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"What a kiss with you would be like." she answered simply and climbed out of the booth. She took the pictures out of the slot with a sad smile and looked down at them. A single tear trickled down her cheek and landed on one of the pictures and she wiped it off quickly with aggravation. Maybe leaving Orlando was a bad idea. She tore the strip in half, putting two of the pictures in the inside pocket of her jacket and turned to JC. She handed the other two pictures to him in silence. He gazed down at them with a melancholy look in his eyes.

"We should get going." she stated softly and he nodded. They strolled to her terminal, lost in their own thoughts. If he asks one more time, I'll stay , Mike thought to herself.

JC sighed shaking his head. He couldn't bring himself to believe that she was leaving. Not after the kiss the two of them had just shared. A few of Mike's friends were waiting for her at the terminal, to say goodbye and to wish her luck. Damon, one of her closest friends, smiled as he walked over to her.

"No goodbyes, I know. Just, I'll catch you laters. That's the rule, is it not?" Damon questioned. Mike nodded, a smile tugging on her lips. Damon held his arms out to her, and she hugged him tightly. The ticket agent called her flight number and she looked over at the clock hanging on one of the walls. She only had ten minutes left to say her hasta's to everyone. Everyone gave her a hug and wished her luck, and soon, she was standing in front of JC again.

"I won the bet." she whispered.

"I know." he replied just as softly.

"I'll see you later." Tell me to stay.

"Take care of yourself." Don't leave. Not now. Not after the kiss.

"I will, you do the same." He's not going to say it.

"I'll call you tonight." I wish I knew what to say to make her stay.

"Okay. I better get going or they'll take off without me." Last chance, Josh. Tell me to stay and I will.

"Yeah. I'll talk to you soon." Am I making a mistake by not asking her to stay?

"Hasta." I love you Josh. Mike replied then headed toward the ticket agent, her eyes rapidly blinking back tears.

JC watched her walk away, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans. "Stay here, Mike. Stay with me." he whispered just as she disappeared into the ramp.

Mike groaned as she lugged her book bag from her Psychology class. It had been a long day. Not only had her professor chosen today to give a three hour lecture about Multiple Personality Disorder, but she also had to write a twenty page report for her Sociology class, so she had spent a total of five hours in front of the computer researching, printing and typing up a rough draft of this report. Her eyes burned so badly, all she wanted to do was rip them out, but that was being a bit rash. She slowly made her way through the bitter cold of Boston, to her dorm where she knew her bed and a nice cup of hot tea awaited her. That was the only thing that kept her going. That and the thought of transferring to another college. Somewhere where it was warm year round. Somewhere where she wouldn't ever have to wear another winter coat and gloves. Somewhere near the beach. Orlando, her heart whispered.

Mike took out her key chains, picked out the mailbox key to check her mail. The thing was practically filled to over flowing. Damn college catalogues. Mike shook her head as she took everything out of the mail box then headed up to the third floor which was commonly known as the honors floor. Every student on that floor had a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Some of the best students in the entire University were living there. She tried the door knob and found it unlocked which meant Ashley was back from her classes and probably studying with her walkman over her ears. Mike walked inside and found she was right.

Ashley looked up and smiled at her room mate and friend. "How was class?"

"Don't ask." Mike shook her head with a sigh. "Three hour lecture. 'Nuff said."

"Ouch, sorry. If it makes you feel better I have a late class tomorrow night at the hospital that will probably last about that long." Ashley grinned as she sat up. Mike dropped her heavier than granite book bag onto the floor and sat heavily on her bed to sort through her mail.

"Oh, hey. I could win ten thousand dollars from Ed MacMann." Mike sighed tossing the junk mail into the nearby trash barrel. Ashley smiled shaking her head. She found a letter from her mother in the pile along with a letter from her brother, more junk mail, a couple of catalogues from a couple of colleges and a letter from over seas. Mike made a face as she opened the envelope, the curiosity killing her.

Dear Sassy,

Hi there, it's been a while and I have a severe case of jet lag (not to mention I'm really missing you at the moment), so this will probably be a long letter. Go get your cup of tea and sit with me for a while.

First the awesome news. The guys and I have a record deal. In Germany. Go get your tea damn it!

Mike sighed and set the letter down on her bed, then walked out into the lounge with her mug and a tea bag. She filled the mug with water then popped it into the microwave for four minutes. As soon as the microwave beeped, she took her tea out and walked back into her room. Ashley had stuffed her head back into her headphones, a medical terminology book opened up in front of her. Mike poured enough sugar into her mug to choke a horse, then sat down to continue reading again as she stirred the contents of the mug.

You're probably wondering why Germany and not the US, but our management wanted to test us out in Europe first. Not to mention the pop scene is huge out here. We arrived about a week and a half ago, and have been meeting with management and the studio staff, trying to come up with a schedule for the five of us. Songs have been written, and some of them are really good, but I'm sure you'd get a kick out of them. They're your typical teeny-bopper stuff. Guy dissed girl, girl leaves guy, guy wants girl back and sings about it.

Anyway, Germany is beautiful, and we're starting to learn the language. We kinda have to considering we're going to be living and touring here for a while. It's also colder than I thought here. In most of our free time, we've gone sight seeing. Some beautiful terrain here. Lots of hills and trees. Something you don't see a lot in the cities in the US, but....

The guys all want to meet you, and Justin says hello and WRITE ME! He misses all of his friends and misses talking to you. I think I see a pattern forming here. My parents are really happy for me, and they think that the traveling is a great opportunity and all, but I can't help but miss everyone, everything.

God, I just looked at the clock. It's four a.m. I think I'm gonna go try and get some sleep. I miss you, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Love,

Josh

Mike sighed, a sad smile on her face. She missed Josh too, and regretted leaving Orlando with every fiber of her being, but you can't change the past. You can only look to the future, which was what she was doing. She looked back down at the letter and found the phone number JC had written underneath the address he had written out for her so she could write back. She leaned over and picked up the phone and dialed the number carefully. After following the instructions, the phone finally rang. Six rings later, the phone was answered.

"'Lo?" a sleepy voice questioned.

"Hi, I'm looking for JC." Mike replied, butterflies entering her stomach for the first time since childhood.

"Who's calling?"

"Brandy from Emerald Cove." Mike answered, her eyes twinkling with devilish humor.

"Hold on a sec." the voice sighed. Silence ensued then an argument of some sort. Finally the phone was picked up again.

"Mike?" an oddly familiar voice, that wasn't JC's, question with excitement.

"Yeah? Who be you?" Mike asked making a face to herself.

"I'm gonna hit you on your head. It's Justin."

"Oh my God. Justin, how the hell are you?"

"I'm good, what about you? Haven't heard from you in eons."

"I know, I've been hella busy with classes and a part time job. I tried calling you a couple of times, but you were always out with your friends."

"It would figure. What classes are you taking? Wait, you're is college right?"

"Yeah, Justin, I'm in college. My major at the moment is Psychology."

"Wow, so you can analyze us and crap?"

"Something like that. What about you? You having fun in Germany?"

"Hell yeah. The girls here are out of this world."

"I'll take your word for it."

"Oh, right. Well, JC's practically killing me, so I'm gonna give him the phone. Write to me, would ya?"

"I'll write if you write."

"I will, I promise."

"Okay, then I'll write. Talk to you later, little man."

"All right, bye."

"Hasta."

"Hi Sassy."

"Hey Josh. I got your letter today, and I just wanted to tell you that I knew you could do it. That I had faith in you."

"Thanks, it means a lot to me hearing that from you. I wasn't sure if you believed in me."

"Josh, I've always believed in you. Anyway, before this gets too mushy, how are you doing?"

"Pretty good. We have the first few songs recorded and mastered. Only seven more to go, and we've been having the time of our lives in the studio. We've also been writing our own stuff while we're here. Nothing spectacular but...."

"I'm sure it's great. Stop thinking so negatively. Yeesh. And I thought I was a pessimist."

"I'm not, but since we're new and all, we have to stick with songs that will do well on the charts."

"I realize that dear. Enough talking shop. How are you really?"

"Excited, but extremely homesick. I miss my family and friends, and I really wish I had been able to see you before we left, but it was kind of sudden like. We barely had enough time to pack our clothes and essentials before we were on a plane here."

"Don't worry about it. We'll meet up again soon."

"I know, but I've never really been a patient person."

"No kidding. That's why you're my friend. I've never been patient either."

"I hate to say this, but I have to go. Management is waiting for me to get my butt downstairs."

"It's alright. I'll talk to you again, soon."

"Yeah. Hey Mike?"

"Yeah?"

"Sometimes I wish you had never left Orlando."

"I know what you mean. Sometimes I wish that you had asked me to stay one more time."

"What? What does that mean?"

"Nothing Josh. Another day, another time, another conversation, another realm."

"Tell me."

"You have to get going, or you'll get into trouble with the bosses."

"Damn, I almost forgot about that. I'll call you when the meeting is over and we can talk about this later."

"What that conversation holds is a can of snakes and better to be opened in person. The next time I see your gorgeous face in front of me, we'll talk about it. Until then, don't let your mind dwell on it."

"If you say so. We'll talk again soon."

"I'm counting on it. Take care." Mike smiled sadly as she hung up the phone. Things hadn't changed all that much. She still loved him with all her heart, and he was still the same person he had been a year ago. His luck had most definitely changed, but he was still her best friend and the only person she would ever reveal all to in a heart beat. He was still Josh.

JC sighed looking at the phone in total befuddlement. He had no idea what Mike had been talking about, though he could guess. Guessing. He hated doing that. He hated it almost as much as the What If game his heart and mind played with him on a regular basis when it came to the wonderfully infuriating woman. What if she had stayed in Orlando instead of leaving when she did. What if he had told her his mixed up feelings back then, instead of quietly letting her go without a word. What if...what if....what if. JC sighed shaking his head as he climbed to his feet. You have to forget about it for now. You have work to do. He scolded himself silently as he slowly descended the stairs to the living room of the house that had been rented for the group. Members of their management team were sitting around the room, discussing some of the things they wanted the group to do for promotional things. To help promote the band in Germany and the rest of Europe.

JC did his best to concentrate, but his mind kept wondering to what Mike had said. What the hell did she mean by that? JC sighed tiredly, rubbing his face with his hands. This was going to drive him utterly and completely mad. He and Mike seemed to skirt around what they really wanted to say to each other. Lord knew how many times he had picked up the phone to tell her that he couldn't stop thinking about her. That he wanted her to be a part of his life, in more of a way than she already was. That he wanted to be able to come home to her. That his heart berated him every time she entered his mind. JC climbed to his feet and walked over to the table in the corner to pour himself a cup of coffee

, Chris Kirkpatrick following him for the same thing.

"You okay?" his older friend questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just playing the what if game again with myself." JC smiled weakly as he poured some cream and sugar into his mug.

"JC, maybe you should try talking to her. What could it hurt?" Chris sighed shaking his head.

"Our friendship. I'd rather have that than nothing. I don't know how she'd react, so I don't want to take that chance." JC shook his head, keeping his voice down.

"Life is full of chances, man. You never know, she could feel the same way. Besides, it's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." Chris grinned triumphantly at his skill of remembering quotes.

"I never liked that quote. It got me into trouble more times than I'd like to count." JC snorted as the two walked back over to their respective seats. JC smiled as his mind wandered back to his first meeting with the fiery girl who was his best friend.

"Yo, JC! The meeting's over, man." Justin snapped his fingers in front of the older man's face. JC blinked and looked up at his friend.

"What? Oh, right. Thanks." JC mumbled as he climbed to his feet. He followed the others back upstairs and shut himself up in his room, debating on whether he should call Mike back or not. He finally got fed up with the ongoing debate and shut the light off, hoping to catch some sleep for once. Jet lag was a bitch to get over, and he was still feeling the effects of the time change.

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