*Disclaimer - I don't not own any of the members of 'N Sync, nor would I ever want to. I do, however, own all fictitious characters (such as Mike, Ashley, Devon, Sage, Rachel, etc.) Plagiarism is against the law, and won't be looked upon graciously. Please do not do it. Thank you.

The concert was loud and hyped up, that's about all you could say for it. Girls were screaming at the top of their lungs for the guy or guys that they loved with the battle cries of 'Justin you drive me crazy' and 'JC you're all I ever wanted' and 'God must have spent a little more time on you, Joe'. Mike thought it all humorous as she and the other girls stood in the front row. A young girl next to Mike burst into tears when Justin smiled and winked at her. Another girl turned to Mike and with a grave look on her face.

"I'm going to marry JC." she told the five girls.

"I wish you all the luck and happiness." Devon smiled to the thirteen year old. Billie laughed shaking her head, as Allison and Katie grooved to the tune 'Its Tearing Up My Heart'.

"Okay, do y'all want us to tone it down just a little bit?" Justin asked the crowd. Everyone went wild, the screaming getting louder.

"In your life, there's that one person that makes you think..." Chris started with a smile.

"That God must have had different plans for..." Joe stated winking to a girl in the audience.

"Because you've come to the conclusion that..." Lance laughed softly into the mike.

"God must have spent..." Justin said walking toward his marked spot on the stage.

"Just a little more time on them." JC finished as the band started into the song. Justin took center stage as the lights dimmed and cast the group into a soft red light.

"Can this be true, tell me, can this be real......" Justin crooned into the microphone as all the girls went wild. Most everyone sang along with the lyrics, causing the echo affect in the concert hall. The guys sounded great and looked even better in their all black matching outfits. In the very beginning Mike had been a little bit skeptical about the matching outfits idea. The only singers she could think of that had pulled it off with any kind of decency had been Boyz II Men and the Temptations, but the guys of 'N Sync seemed to be able to pull it off and still look good, which amazed the hell out of her. Not many people could do that.

"I gotta get outta here." Devon yelled in Mike's ear. "All these kids are driving me crazy with all the crying and screaming."

"I know what you mean. After this song, eh?" Mike replied nodded. Devon smiled and nodded her agreement. Their choreographed moves sent chills down the youngsters' spines, especially with the ending note. The song ended and Joe grabbed everyone's attention.

"How are ya tonight Minneapolis?" he yelled into the mike, a huge smile on his face. Joe loved performing more than anything else, and it showed. The question was met with loud screams.

"We've been having a good night with y'all tonight, but we want to know something." Joe continued as the other guys bolted from the stage to do a quick wardrobe change. The screaming continued at a deafening decibel.

"We want to know if..." Joe laughed looking around to all the ladies. "You all really want to party tonight."

The crowd erupted into hysterical screaming and jumping. Mike groaned as she was nearly knocked over into Devon and Katie.

"I'll take that as a yes!" Joe laughed walking from one side of the stage to the other. "You see, we've been to a lot of cities and towns, but I have to admit that I like Minneapolis the most."

Every girl in the audience decided it was then to get closer to the stage, because everyone in the front row was now pushed up against the metal gate that separated the stage and the front row.

"Okay, I'm leaving now. This is too much." Devon yelled to Mike. Mike nodded and followed her through the crowd to the side of the stage. Security was everywhere and doing their jobs quite well because they wouldn't let either Mike nor Devon through to the backstage area.

"Look, I'm Mike Costeo. I work for them. Check the roster." Mike yelled to be heard over the screams and music. The security guard looked down at his clipboard and scanned the names.

"I don't see a Mike Costeo or a Devon Summers on this sheet here. I'm sorry." the man shook his head straining to be heard.

"This is unbelievable. Why the hell weren't we put on the sheet?" Devon demanded becoming more heated by the moment.

"I don't know." Mike sighed shaking her head as the song 'I Want You Back' kicked up. "This place is going to drive me insane. I can't take any more of the teeny-boppers."

"Come on." Devon yelled grabbing her arm. They made their way to the back of the concert center where 'N Sync's tour manager would most likely be located. They made it outside and breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was crazy. I've never seen so many teenagers with adult sized hormones." Devon shook her head as the cool evening air flushed her cheeks.

"I know, but what can you do. The teenagers buy the records." Mike laughed shrugging her shoulders as a young man walked over to them.

"Mike, Devon, we straightened out the problem. You two were on the list, but Jay had the wrong list. Here's passes so it won't happen again." the young man said handing the two girls backstage passes to wear around their necks.

"Thanks, pal." Devon smiled as she slipped the pass over her head. The two girls made their way to the meet and greet room that had been set aside for the lucky fans who managed to score passes. A buffet table was made up for everyone to pick off of. The girls burst into the room laughing about a girl they had run into who would do anything, anything at all to meet Chris. Devon had almost told the girl to back off, when she realized that the girl couldn't have been more than twelve or thirteen.

"Hey ladies." Ashley smiled from her seat on the couch.

"Ashley! What are you doing here?" Devon exclaimed giving the girl a hug.

"What can I say? I needed a dose of teeny-bopper hell." she shrugged laughing.

"Thank God you're here. Maybe now Joe will stop moping around like he's lost his best friend." Mike groaned as she sat down. The night had taken its toll on her, and she was ready to hit her bed and sleep for eight hours. Mike sprawled out on an empty couch and closed her eyes.

"How's the concert." Ashley questioned as she opened a can of Diet Coke.

"Oh God. The concert. Let's see, we found out that JC is going to marry a thirteen year old girl that's in the front row. Justin and Lance are the platinum Gods from the south. Joe is the one they all want. And Chris is all some girl ever wanted or needed. It was hell, pure and simple." Devon sighed sitting down heavily on a chair.

"Sounds like you had fun." Ash retorted as the door opened and the room filled with girls of all ages with a few guys thrown in for decoration.

"And it starts." Mike moaned throwing an arm over her eyes. For the next two hours Chris, Justin, Lance, Joe and JC made their way around the room to talk with their fans, take pictures and sign autographs while taking side trips to the buffet table to quicky stuff their faces in between the socializing.

"Isn't Justin just the best?" some girl asked Ashley.

"Oh he is. I just love how he dyes his hair that Day Glow yellow. It makes my knees go weak." Ashley replied nodding to the girl.

"Oh look, he's coming this way!" she squealed as Justin made his way over to where the ladies were sitting.

"Hey everyone." he said cheerfully.

"Don't we kill cheerful people?" Mike questioned looking over at Devon and Ashley who both nodded smiling.

"Hi sweetie. Did ya like the show?" he turned to the young girl standing at the end of the couch. She nodded, her eyes wide with amazement. She was actually talking to Justin Timberlake of 'N Sync.

"Come on Mike, we have to go change for the party." Devon said as she climbed slowly to her feet.

"But I'm comfortable and I don't want to move." Mike whined shaking her head.

"Oh grow up! Let's go. Come on Ash, you gotta change too." Devon scolded laughing as she yanked on Mike's hand.

The party was located across town in one of the ritzier places in Minneapolis. Everyone who was anyone was going to be there. This was sort of like a fund raiser type thing, except it was geared toward teenagers and young adults. Joe, Lance, Chris, Justin and JC all sat at a table and tried to eat for the first time that night. A couple of upscale girls had made it a point to entertain them, and they accepted graciously with a smile. It was apart of being in the public eye, and they sure didn't mind the attention from a bunch of pretty ladies.

"Have you seen much of Minneapolis, yet?" Linda, a tall blonde bombshell, inquired JC as his eyes scanned the room.

"Not really. We haven't had the time, but what we have seen is beautiful." he smiled to her, giving her his full attention.

"Well, we'll just have to give you the grand tour tomorrow, then." Linda laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"As good as that sounds, I'm afraid we're going to have to take a rain check. Interviews are scheduled for most of the morning, then we have an afternoon radio appearance." JC replied shaking his head.

"Well, you never know when we might run into each other again. You see, my daddy owns the radio station you'll be interviewing at tomorrow afternoon. It was my idea that he extend an invitation to you and the rest of the group." Linda smiled coyly.

"Really? Then hopefully we'll see you there." JC nodded smiling as music started from the speakers. A dance floor had been cleared off on one side of the room, leaving the upstairs and the second half of the first floor a place were people could sit and talk. Couples headed to the dance floor hand in hand as the lights were dimmed to make the atmosphere more relaxing for everyone.

"I'm sure you will." Linda smiled touching JC's arm with her hand. JC glanced around the room and saw Billie and Katie mingling with the best of them, Allison had gone off to the dance floor with a stuffy looking young man, and Ashley and Devon making their way to their table. Ashley? JC laughed to himself.

"Hey Joe, look who's here." he grinned to his friend. Joe looked to where JC was pointing and jumped to his feet.

"If you'll excuse me, I see someone I have to talk to." Joe said then headed over to where Ashley had stopped to talk to someone. She smiled at Joe when he stood next to her, but kept her attention on what the elderly woman was saying about her dress.

"Thank you very much." Ashley nodded then turned to Joe. "Shall we go?"

"Yeah, excuse us." Joe nodded as he offered his arm to the girl who had captured his heart He lead her to a deserted part of the room, explaining to her that he needed to tell her something.

"What's going on Joe?" Ashley asked, a concerned look on her face.

"I think I'm falling for you." he blurted out then sighed at his lack of tact.

"What?" Ashley exclaimed, her heart nearly beating out of her chest.

"For the past year, you've driven me absolutely nuts. Always on my ass for not calling during tours, teasing me about my Superman obsession, and just generally spending time with me. Well, I'm tired of that. I want something more between us." Joe explained turning his back to her as he started pacing back and forth.

"What do you mean?" she questioned, playing dumb.

"I want to be able to go home from this tour and walk up to you and deliver a kiss that you'd never forget. I want to be able to hold you, and dance with you, and spend as much time as I can with you. I want to be able to say I'm dating a nice girl who gives me everything I've ever wanted in just one look. I want you. No, I need you." Joe sighed shrugging his shoulders.

"You need me?" Ashley gasped, the full impact of what he said finally hitting her like a ton of bricks.

"Obviously you don't feel the same way." Joe mumbled as he turned on his heel to leave.

"Oh no you don't. You tell me all of that and expect to walk away thinking that I don't feel the same when I don't answer right away? I don't think so. This all just hit me as a shock. You had time to plan for this. I didn't." Ashley shook her head as she grabbed his arm.

"From the look on your face, it wasn't just a shock." Joe replied bitterly, shaking his head as he yanked his arm from her grasp.

"Don't do this Joe. You have no idea what's going through my mind right now, so don't second guess me." Ashley exclaimed grabbing his arm again.

"I don't have to second guess you. I read it all over your face. You don't feel the same way. I can take a hint you know. I'm really not as stupid as people seem to think I am." he nearly shouted, raking a hand through his hair.

"No one said you were stupid, Joe." Ashley countered quietly as she took both his hands in hers. Joe sighed closing his eyes.

"Ash, don't do this. I know you don't feel the same, so just don't." he whispered.

"Joe, if you'd open your eyes and really take a look at me, a good look at me, you'd know that I've been waiting for this day for a life time." Ashley stated, her voice barely above a whisper, as one of her hands rested on his cheek. Ashley stood on tiptoes and leaned into him as she pressed her lips to his in a delicate kiss. Joe nearly flinched at the sudden contact, but he soon wrapped his arms around her slender waist so she couldn't pull away from him, not that she wanted to.

"Now do you believe me?" she whispered when they finally pulled apart, albeit reluctantly. Joe nodded resting his forehead against hers.

"Dance with me." he whispered softly close to her ear. Ashley nodded as he took her hand and brought it to his lips. She smiled faintly as Joe's eyes sparkled with mischief and he wrapped his arms around her as they started to sway to the muted music from the dance floor.

"I never did have the chance to ask you why you came here."

"I missed you, and wanted to see you." she shrugged with a grin tugging at her lips. 'All My Life' by KC and JoJo filtered through the speakers and they both laughed at the ironic coincidence the words had with what they had just gone through.

"I missed you too. You should have seen me. I was moping around the bus and hotels trying to decide whether or not I should call you. I pissed quite a few people off." Joe stated, his arms tightening around her as she smiled.

"Somehow, I can't see that. You and your flirtatious ways would have found some way to make it through without me." Ashley snorted shaking her head.

"Not likely. You know, there's a saying about reformed rakes." Joe replied smiling as he kissed her jaw line.

"Mmm? What's that?" she inquired her eyes drifting closed.

"They make the best boyfriends and husbands." he whispered with a smile.

"I guess we'll soon find out, won't we?" Ashley laughed resting her head on his shoulder. "You know something? I always knew you were a good dancer."

"Yeah? How's that?" Joe inquired, closing his eyes.

"Bump and grind, 'nuf said." Ashley laughed. Joe threw back his head and laughed as he dipped her then brought her back up into a kiss.

"Awe, would you look at that?" Justin grinned nodding in the direction of Joe and Ashley. Everyone turned to see the couple dancing, both looking the happiest they'd been in a long time.

"It looks like things work out for most people." JC sighed shaking his head.

"Hey baby, dance with me?" Chris asked turning to Devon. Devon laughed shaking her head.

"What makes you think I wanna dance with you?" she retorted.

"'Cause you love my dreads?" Chris countered getting to his feet and holding his hand out to her.

"How can I resist a statement like that?" she laughed taking his hand. The couple walked out onto the dance floor hand in hand.

"You look absolutely beautiful tonight." Chris told her as he pulled her into his arms.

"Thank you. You look absolutely exhausted." Devon replied resting her chin on his shoulder.

"You have a way with words, sweetheart." he commented drily as he spun her around in a quick circle.

"I try." she laughed hugging him closer.

"When are you going back to Orlando?" Chris inquired, a note of sadness entering his voice.

"Tomorrow morning. I really have to get back to work. But you can call me anytime. In fact, you better. I don't want this to be just a fling." Devon answered looking up at him.

"I will call, that's a given. And you'll have to fly out every so often." Chris smiled down at her.

"I have to, huh?" Devon countered, a look of mock aloofness on her face.

"You don't fool me." Chris whispered.

"Damn. I didn't think I could." Devon whispered back with a smile.

"Oh, shut up and kiss me." Chris laughed softly.

"I thought you'd never ask." Devon replied as she pulled him down for a soft kiss.

JC, Justin, Lance, Billie, Linda and Katie sat at the group's table talking and laughing about everyday things that had happened while on the tour. Life's little embarrassments, like the time Lance walked in on Mike in the shower, not realizing someone was in the bathroom at the time. Or when Billie and Allison were caught rating the guy's bodies in the video for 'I Want You Back'. Justin had even had an embarrassing moment, he had been caught by Katie flexing in front of a full length mirror. It had been all the much more embarrassing to him because he kinda liked Katie, though he would never openly admit it to anyone.

"Katie, you wanna dance?" Justin asked suddenly, turning to face the young girl.

"Um, sure." Katie nodded becoming shy. Justin stood up and helped her to her feet, then led her out to the dance floor.

"I guess everyone's finding what they want tonight." Lance stated perceptively.

"Just about everyone, anyway." Billie snorted glancing over at JC, then she turned to Lance. "So, sailor, would you do me the honor of a dance?"

"Sure, why not?" Lance laughed and the two hit the dance floor when a fast song came from the speakers. Lance pulled her into a spin and the two laughed as they started dancing in earnest.

JC's eye wandered around the room, looking for someone he really wanted to see. The only person he wanted to see after a long day like this one, but she was nowhere in sight. Maybe she hadn't shown up after all, though Devon had said she was here, but hiding from everyone. He shook his head with a small grin. She was probably nervous about being seen in a dress or something. JC had never seen her in anything but jeans and t-shirts in the entire time that he'd known her. He wasn't quite sure if she actually had legs. In two years she hadn't worn a dress, shorts, or a bathing suit.

"JC, would you like to dance?" Linda asked peering at him over her glass.

"Um, yeah, I guess." JC nodded getting to his feet. He offered his arm to the woman then escorted her out onto the dance floor, where everyone was engrossed in a slow song. Why do they always play these songs when you're not dancing with the one person you'd like to be dancing with? JC asked himself as he wrapped an arm around Linda's waist.

"You seem a million miles away, JC." Linda complained softly, trying to gain his undivided attention.

"I'm sorry, I just have some things on my mind." JC smiled at her trying to keep his mind on the person in front of him at the moment. Linda reached up and brushed his cheek with her fingers, then rested her hand on the nape of his neck. JC closed his eyes, trying to get Mike out of his mind. Linda rested her head on JC's shoulder, her lips pressed to his neck in an intimate way. JC bowed his head, listening to the words of the song that was playing, getting lost in his mind. The next thing he knew, Linda was kissing him.

"Wait a second here." JC pulled away from her suddenly. "I can't do this. I have my mind on someone. I'm sorry." he shook his head. The hurt in Linda's eyes made him feel bad about his harsh words.

"I'm sorry." he said again as out of the corner of his eye he caught someone running out the door in a whirl of white cloth.

Mike stood off to the side of the dance floor, watching everyone having a good time, trying to build up the courage to show herself. The dress she wore was beautifully made, and looked great on her, but she was unaccustomed to wearing things such as this. Everyone would most likely go into shock. She smiled and shook her head at the image her imagination had called forward.

"Hey, there you are. I've been looking all over for you! Why aren't you dancing and mingling?" Devon exclaimed walking over to her.

"I'm too nervous to show myself. Just give me a few minutes. Geez." Mike sighed holding her hands up to fend off the verbal attack.

"Okay, but I think you're crazy. You should be out there making your appearance." Dev gestured to the dance floor, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

"I'll get there eventually." Mike promised, her eyes on the dance floor. JC was dancing with a beautiful woman, and it looked as if he were enjoying himself.

"Good, cause you need to let loose tonight. No going back." Devon replied shaking her head as she grabbed a glass from a waiter carrying a tray.

"There's always room for back pedaling." Mike laughed shaking her head, her eyes still on JC and the bombshell.

"Who are you watching?" she asked turning around. "Oh."

"Yeah, that's what I thought." Mike sighed making a face.

"Don't worry about it. You know him, always being polite and sociable." Devon smiled turning back to her cousin.

"Yeah, sometimes too polite and sociable for his own good." Mike replied bitterly, pain filling her eyes. Devon turned again to see JC and Linda kissing on the dance floor.

"Mike --," she started but Mike shook her head and bolted for the door. Chris, who had seen the whole thing, went after her.

Mike had made it all the way to the corner before Chris caught up to her and grabbed her arm. She immediately yanked her arm from his grasp.

"Chris, don't, just don't." Mike begged shaking her head. "Don't tell me that I have to go back in there and face JC. I can't right now. I just can't."

"I wasn't going to ask you to, sweetie. I was just going to see if you were okay, and help you catch a cab." Chris replied softly.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. I just love watching the person I'm in love with make out with another girl on a dance floor, during a slow song. It gives me a thrill seeing stuff like that." Mike shot out bitterly, rubbing her arms to keep the chill off.

"I know JC, and he wouldn't have done something like that without a good reason. Maybe she kissed him. You never know." Chris suggested.

"I know JC, too. And from what I saw, he did do something like that." Mike exclaimed, willing herself not to cry.

"Okay, you go ahead and think that, but let me tell you something. With the way he's been looking at you lately, its a wonder he hasn't cornered you and made you think otherwise." Chris shrugged then hailed a cab for the distraught young woman. He wrapped his light jacket around her shoulders and helped her into the cab that had pulled up beside them on the street. Chris sighed as he watched the cab drive away, then headed back inside to the party.

Ashley and Joe sat at the table with Billie and Lance, all talking about what they would most rather be doing at that specific moment in time.

"I would rather be sleeping. This party is starting to drag a bit." Billie sighed, resting her chin on a fist.

"I hear that. This boy needs some major Z time." Lance smiled, his eyes getting droopier by the minute.

"I don't know. I like where I am right now." Joe smiled because Ashley was in his arms, relaxing comfortably.

"I'm where I want to be, too." she grinned up at Joe as JC and Linda made their way to the table. Linda looked none too happy and JC looked uncomfortable.

"So, where would you two rather be?" Billie asked, giving JC a pointed look.

"Home, having my dad meet JC." Linda ground out as she sat down.

"Anywhere but here." JC mumbled shaking his head.

"Boy, aren't we a lively crew. Hey, where's Justin and Chris? And all the others that I don't feel like listing off at the moment." Allison inquired as she pulled up a chair.

"Well, there's Devon and Chris." Joe nodded toward the couple who strode purposefully to the table.

"I see Justin on the dance floor with Katie." Billie replied straining to see over people's heads.

"You gotta love the stamina of youth these days." Ashley groaned laughing softly. Devon stopped at the table and turned an ice cold gaze to JC.

"We need to talk, now." she stated coldly then headed over to a deserted corner of the room.

"What did you do now, mama's boy?" Ashley inquired as JC got to his feet and followed Devon.

"Mike saw the two of them kissing." Chris explained as he followed JC. He knew he was going to have to play mediator for this one, not a job he really wanted considering he wanted to drop JC on his ass too.

"Uh oh. I knew today was going to be a bad day." Billie sighed shaking her head.

"What's up?" JC asked as soon as he, Devon and Chris were alone.

"You really are a yutz, you know that?" Devon ground out, folding her arms across her chest as she fought to keep control of her temper.

"What?" JC repeated shaking his head.

"Mike was here." Devon nodded as Chris positioned himself in the best possible place in case Devon got a little angrier than she already was. He knew all about her explosive temper, and he hated to see his friend torn apart by a mere girl.

"I didn't see her, where is she?" JC inquired, not really sure if he wanted to know the answer.

"She's gone." Chris answered simply.

"You obviously didn't see her." Devon retorted in a dangerously low voice.

"Okay, why did she leave." JC sighed, already assuming the answer.

"Because she saw you and that Linda person, kissing." Devon stated with finality.

"Damn." JC whispered closing his eyes.

"She went back to the hotel, I made sure of that." Chris said glancing over at Devon who tossed a furious glare up to the heavens.

"Thanks." he replied then headed for the door.

"God, Chris, why can some men be such...such idiots ?" Devon sighed resting her head on Chris's chest.

"You know, I could ask the same thing about some women." he commented wrapping his arms around her in a comforting hug.

"I swear if he hurts my cousin again, I'll kill him." she mumbled into his chest.

"No you won't. You'll give him a good tongue lashing, but you won't kill him. We need his pretty face to keep us in the teen magazines." Chris replied with a smile.

"Only you could joke at a time like this, Christopher Alan." Devon groaned trying not to laugh.

"Who the hell told you my full name?" Chris demanded with a grin.

"Only every teen magazine on the continent." she smiled as they walked back to the table. The party was finally starting to wind down a little bit. People were slowly leaving to head to their homes for the night.

"I say be blow this place and go find something to eat." Justin sighed rubbing his face tiredly.

"Oh my God, that didn't come out of Joe's mouth?" Lance exclaimed in shock.

"Joe's mouth is otherwise, occupied." Billie snorted glancing at the kissing new couple.

"Awe, man. Get a room you two!" Justin exclaimed making a face.

"Funny, I thought we were in a room, or are my eyes deceiving me and we're really outside?" Ashley commented when she and Joe pulled apart. Justin just rolled his eyes as he slipped on his light weight jacket. It had gotten considerably cooler outside.

"Okay, who votes for food stop?" Joe questioned. Joe, Billie, Katie, Justin, Ashley, and Lance held up their hands.

"And who votes going back to the hotel, do not pass go, do not collect $200?" Chris questioned. Chris, Devon, and Allison held up their hands.

"Food it is. Let's go." Joe smiled climbing to his feet. The group of people walked outside and over to the awaiting minivan that had been rented for the use of the group. The driver drove them to the closest restaurant that was still open and they all sat at a couple of tables that had been pulled together.

"So, what did you ladies think of the concert." Justin asked as their food was put down on the table in front of them.

"It was loud. Very loud." Allison shrugged as she dug into her pancakes.

"I don't know. I thought I had died and gone to midget heaven. It wasn't funny!" Billie exclaimed loudly.

"I never said that it was." Joe laughed trying to keep a straight face.

"Well, I found out that JC is the most attractive to girls around the age of twelve." Devon shrugged.

"And girls that are attracted to Justin rage in the ages of six and ten." Billie giggled. It was obvious that they were all getting slap happy and needed some sleep as soon as possible.

"Yo, man, dat was harsh. Why you gotta be dissin' me like dat?" Justin exclaimed, the ebonics coming out full force.

"Okay, I think Justin has been taken over by the demon." Billie groaned covering her face with her hand.

"What demon would that be?" Chris inquired.

" The demon. He has no name." Billie replied giving him a 'duh' look.

"Oh." Chris nodded looking at her as if she were crazy.

"I wasn't possessed by a demon. What the hell are you talking about?" Justin demanded with confusion.

"Oh nothing! Over your head and under your feet. Not to mention right through your ears." Billie exclaimed loudly. Joe laughed shaking his head.

"You people should be put in a home somewhere." he said still laughing.

"Oh yeah Joe, and you're sane? You love Superman for God's sake!" Billie laughed rolling her eyes.

"I knew that was coming." Joe smiled.

The group kept their easy bantering while they ate at a leisurely pace, not really wanting to go back to the confines of the hotel. It was too soon to go back to the place that they had begun to call as home. The food was good, for an all night restaurant, and they had the best pie any of them had ever tasted. Too soon, they had to pile back into the minivan and head back to the hotel, but only after they left a very large tip to the waitress. Almost everyone fell asleep on the ride to the hotel, so it was peaceful. It had most definitely been an excruciatingly long night.

Mike sat curled up on a chair out on the balcony, listening to music and trying not to think about JC and what she had seen at the party. She pulled the blanket tighter around her, trying to ward off the sudden chill that had seeped right to her bones. She closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry.

"You have to get over him. Wouldn't you rather have him as a friend than not at all? You have to prioritize the situation and find out what's the most important." she whispered to herself as she opened her eyes again to look up at the sky. The moon was almost full and shining brightly. She stood up and walked to the railing, leaving the blanket on the chair behind her.

"I don't know why I keep insisting I do this but, here goes." Mike mumbled to herself. "Man in the moon, protector of dreams, I ask this one wish of you. This wish may not be important, but this dreamer's wish, she would like to come true. You know what my wish is old man. Its been the same for two years." Mike sighed as she leaned on the railing looking out at the now sleeping city.

"Are you ever going to tell me what your wish is?" a familiar male voice questioned softly.

"I'd like to be left alone, JC." Mike stated softly, not turning around.

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