Abby closed the door to the apartment behind her. She gently leaned back against the wooden panel surveying the kitchen. Slowly she slid down the door to the ground. Her eyes began watering yet again.

Brad sighed and let her into the room. The first thing that Abby saw when she entered the room was the Comet sitting on the table.

"So you saw," Abby said.

"They quoted me," Brad said. "You think they made my comments up?"

"I didn’t know," Abby said. She felt her eyes begin to water slightly. They’d almost stopped tearing on the way over. "They made the rest of the story up."

"Did they?" Brad asked.

"Of course they did!" Abby’s voice rose in volume. "You don’t think that Josh and I—"

"What am I supposed to think Abby!" Brad shouted. "I mean it’s always Josh this and Josh that. And you should see your face when you talk about him. You positively glow."

"I do not! And he’s my best friend!" Abby said. "I’ve liked you forever Brad. I don’t like Josh like that. He’s just my friend."

Brad nodded in a sarcastic manner. "Yeah sure. Come on Abby. What do you think I am?"

"No," Abby said. Her voice sounded as watery as her eyes. "I don’t like him like that. I don’t. I like Brad like that. Josh is just my best friend."

From her place on the floor she looked around at the sickly green apartment. She remembered the first time she’d seen it, the drunk JC stumbling on her arm. It had been so awful, but now she loved it. It was home.

Josh was home.

"No," Abby hissed fiercely.

She got up off the floor and slowly made her way to the living room. There were several pictures on the mantle, but there was one she was drawn to. It was a picture taken with the rest of his group-mates. It wasn’t a picture that had ever been made public. It wasn’t posed or one of the "unposed natural" photos that dominated the ‘N SYNC webpages. It was real.

Abby couldn’t help but smile. She lifted her right hand up and ran her index finger down JC’s face. A small smudge was left on the glass.

She remembered his blue eyes the first time she’d met him. She remembered every word of their hours of phone callse. She remembered him asking which pair of sequined pants he should take, the smile, the laugh, the way he’d saved her.

And she remembered that he was still hung up on Tammy.

That thought made her feel physically ill. Before she knew what she was doing, her lips had formed the words and they had been uttered, never to be taken back. "I would be so much better for him."

Abby stepped away from the mantle quickly, almost as if the photograph had burned her finger. She nearly tripped over her own feet.

"No," she whispered.

She nearly ran to her bedroom.

"I’ve got to get out of here."

"Goddammit," JC groaned. "Where is she? She never turns her cell-phone off."

Cassie sat beside JC on the queen-sized bed. She tentatively reached her hand out to squeeze his shoulder.

"Damn you’re tense. Here, sit forward." Cassie moved JC forward so he was sitting up and she scooted behind him. She began to knead his shoulders. "Why are you so set on getting in touch with her?"

"Because I know she’s behind this," JC said. "Tammy’s done everything else this year to screw me over. Why not this too?"

"Can’t you just let it go?" Cassie asked. She moved her hands down to his upper arms. "It’s just a tabloid. We issue a denial. It’s gone in a week."

"If it had just been me I’d be down with that," JC said as he leaned in to Cassie’s touch. "But she brought Abby and Brad into it. I’m not okay with that."

"Have you managed to get in touch with Abby yet?" Cassie asked.

"Not since last night." JC sighed and reached for the phone again. "I might as well try for a twelfth time."

"Is she not there or just not picking up?"

JC shrugged under Cassie’s hands. He was already dialing. Putting the phone to his ear he heard the familiar ring for four more times. The answering machine picked up. He pushed the off button on the phone and flipped it close with another sigh.

"Relax," Cassie said. "It’ll all be okay."

The phone began ringing in Abby’s apartment again. Finally frustrated she picked it up. She was going to have to talk to Josh at some point.

"Hello?"

"Bee?" A voice came through the phone.

"Justin?" Abby asked. Now she was confused. "Why are you calling me?"

"I not allow to call mah G?" Justin asked. "I wah jus callin’ tah see howz you was doin’."

"I’m fine Justin," Abby said. "Just peachy."

"’K, now ah know you be lyin’."

"How do you expect me to be? I have my face splashed across every checkout stand in America, Brad hates me, Josh probably hates me. I came across like a b-i-t-c-h… As I said Justin, I’m just peachy."

"No one hates you Bee," Justin said in a rare moment of linguistic clarity. "Especially Josh. Remember it’s just a tabloid."

"Oh I beg to differ," Abby said. There was a hint of amusement in her voice. "I believe it was just earlier today that Brad ended our record one day relationship because of the tabloid. For some reason he refuses to believe that I don’t have some hidden lust for Josh." Her voice sounded fake even in her ears.

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

"Do you?" Justin asked finally. His voice held no emotion.

"No!" Abby said quickly. Took quickly. "No."

Again, silence on the other end of the phone.

Abby looked at her watch. "Justin, I’ve got to go finish packing."

"Packing?" Justin asked quickly. "Where you be goin’?"

"Away," Abby answered.

"Why?" Justin asked.

"I can’t face Brad anymore, and Josh. Not now. I need to get away from here, away from this."

"Well, weh you goin’?" Justin asked again.

"I’m not going to tell you," Abby said. "Just away."

"Bee," Justin said. His voice had taken on a pleading tone. "Yuh can’t leave. Josh need ya, we need ya."

"I need me," Abby said. "Goodbye Justin."

"Abby wait!" Justin said, but Abby had already started to hang up the phone. She set the phone down and looked at all the stuff in her room. She realized that she’d have to come back and put it all in storage. She could think about that later though.

All she needed now was to get out of Orlando.

"Damn," Justin said as he flipped his phone closed. He raced out of his room and nearly ran down the hallway. He knocked quickly on a door and proceeded to open it before hearing an answer.

"Josh bro," he started, but stopped short as he actually entered the room.

Cassie was sitting against the headboard of the bed and JC was leaning back against her. His eyes had been closed, but now they were open. Cassie was lightly running her hands along his forearms.

"I sawry," Justin said. A light blush graced his cheeks. "I’ll come back lat—" He’d begun backing out of the room and then he stopped. "No ah won’t. Josh, Bee’s freakin’"

"You talked to her?" JC asked sitting up quickly. "When? I’ve tried calling, but she hasn’t answered."

"Jut now," Justin said. "She be leavin’ Josh."

"What?" JC asked. "Leaving? Where’s she going? When’s she coming back?"

Justin shrugged. "I don’t think she be coming back bro."

JC was off the bed faster than he could consciously make his muscles move. He was gripping Justin’s shoulders harshly. "You didn’t ask where she was going?"

Justin brought his arms up knocking JC’s hands off of his shoulders.

"Ah ask, twice, buh she wuhn’t tell me, bro."

JC sighed and opened his cell phone. He quickly dialed the number for the thirteenth time that day.

"Come on Abby," JC muttered. "Pick up the goddamn phone."

He heard the message click on and he waited impatiently through the words. Herr voice sent a wrench through his gut.

"Absters, please pick up the phone. I know you’re there." He paused for a few seconds. "Abby!" Another pause. "Goddammit Abby! Pick up the goddamn phone! It’s just a tabloid story. We’re going to issue a denial first thing tomorrow morning and it will all be over. Please Abby. You don’t have to leave. It’s just a stupid tabloid."

Suddenly the phone was picked up.

"It’s more than a stupid tabloid," Abby said. The sound of tears was in her voice again.

"Abby, thank god," JC said. He breathed an unconscious sigh of relief. "And it is just at tabloid."

"If it was just a tabloid than why have I been crying since you called last night?" Abby asked. "If it’s just a tabloid why did you tell me to beware of the twelve-year-olds. If it’s just a fucking tabloid than why won’t Brad give me a fucking chance?"

JC was silent for a few seconds. It felt like an eternity. "I’m sorry Abby," he said. "What happened?"

"The tabloid happened," Abby wailed. Justin and Cassie could hear her voice through the phone.

"But he knows there wasn’t any truth to the story," JC said.

"He thinks there was," Abby said. "He thinks that I have more than platonic feelings for you." She rushed on before JC could say anything. "And that’s why I’m leaving. I can’t deal with Brad anymore. And it’s not fair to you to have to deal with the questions of why we’re living together."

"I want you there," JC said. "You’re my best friend."

"I’m sorry JC," Abby said. "I really am."

"Well at least tell me where you’re going so I can get in touch with you," JC said.

"I can’t do that Josh," Abby said. "I just need to get away from everything."

JC sat down on the bed. His face had gone pale.

"Why Abby?"

"Because I need to figure some things out. I just need to get out of here. I’ll probably come back eventually."

"Probably just isn’t cutting it for me Abby. I need you."

"I’m sorry Josh," Abby said. "I wish I could say that I’ll be there, that I’ll always be there, but I can’t. Not at the moment."

"So is this goodbye?" JC asked. His voice was close to a whisper.

"I guess so," Abby said. "Bye Josh."

As he heard the phone being hung up on the other end he whispered, "bye."

JC sat lethargically on the bed. All of Cassie’s massage had been in vain. He was tenser than ever.

"Why is she doing this?" he asked pathetically.

"I don’t know," Cassie said. "I think she’s scared."

JC nodded. "So what do I do now? Do I just let her walk out of my life?"

"Do you want her to just walk out of your life?"

"No!" JC said sitting straight up. "You heard me. I need her so much. So much."

"You could try to get to Orlando before she leaves," Cassie said. "It’s probably hopeless though. I mean by the time you got a plane and even got there…"

"I’ve got to try," JC said as he stood up. "She was there for me when I needed someone. Now I’ve got to be there for her."

Justin was staring at his best friend. He looked like he was pondering JC’s actions. "Jah want company?"

JC shook his head. "I’ll draw less attention to myself this way."

Justin nodded. "Good luck Josh."

JC smiled wanly. That’s what he needed. Luck.

"Is this Tammy Butler?" a woman asked over the phone.

"Yes it is," Tammy said.

"My name is Jenna Phillips and I’m with Entertainment Tonight. I heard that you had a story you thought we’d be interested in running."

"Yes," Tammy said. She sat down on her bed and stretched out. "Did you see the cover story of The Comet yesterday?"

"Ms. Butler," Jenna said in a business like voice. "We don’t run tabloid stories."

"But I’m sure that you’d like to run the real story wouldn’t you?"

"You’ve got my attention Tammy."

"Good," Tammy said with a smile. This felt so good.

And he thought she had no potential.

JC sat in the United terminal. He’d been sitting there for three hours. He knew that Abby was gone by now. She’d been bluffing if she wasn’t. And he didn’t think she was bluffing.

He’d been put on standby. Somehow he’d thought that maybe, just maybe, his celebrity status would have pulled him some strings, but no. It obviously wasn’t going to be.

"Will passenger Chasez please approach the desk. Passenger Chasez?"

JC groaned as he saw people looking at him. It was only a moment before the first shriek was heard, but miraculously no one came running at him. He knew it was only a few moments though.

"Yes?" JC asked as he reached the desk.

"We have a seat available on this flight," the stewardess said. She was middle aged and had no clue who he was.

"Great," JC said. He looked around the terminal nervously. "Can I board now?"

"Right this way sir," she said.

JC nodded and headed onto the plane. He prayed Abby had been bluffing.

"Babe!"

Abby had entered the terminal of JFK airport and had begun walking to the baggage claim. She turned around when she heard the familiar voice.

"Carl?"

The tall man was standing by the windows. He had a huge smile plastered on his face. He walked up to her and enveloped her in his arms. "It’s so good to see you," he said.

"It’s good to be here, believe me," Abby said.

Carl laughed and instinctively grabbed her hand. They began walking towards the baggage claim together.

"Was it only two months ago that you were here?" Carl asked.

Abby nodded. "How are you doing?"

"I’ll be fine Abby, you know that." Carl smiled suddenly. "What I want to know is how you got hooked up with that God of a man."

"It’s a long story," Abby said. She didn’t want to tell Carl that she’d been kicked out of her apartment because she’d come to take care of him those few months ago. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Well babe, we’ve got a long time."

Abby smiled tightly and nodded.

JC opened the door to his apartment praying that a light would be on. That Abby’s stuff would still be there. That she’d be curled up in the chaise lounge waiting for him to get home.

She wasn’t though.

The apartment was dark and had a feeling of loneliness about it. Abby’s pictures were gone from the mantle.

"Abby?" he called out hopelessly. "Absters? Please be here."

There was no answer like he knew there wouldn’t be. He knew she hadn’t been bluffing. But it never hurt to hope.

He set his stuff down by the couch and headed for her bedroom. Her stuff was still there and there was a note on the bed. The handwriting looked unfamiliar, but he realized he’d never seen anything Abby had written.

The note was simple. She was gone, she’d come clean out her stuff before he was back from tour. And she was sorry.

Again, she was sorry.

But sometimes sorry just wasn’t enough.