She lay back in the sand and looked up into the sparkling blue eyes. His dark hair was brushed off of his forehead and a smile graced his lips. He was lying on his side, propped up on his arm. He reached his other hand over and brushed a small piece of hair off her cheek.

"I’m sorry I hurt you Josh," Tammy said.

"I know you are," he replied.

"I love you. I could never hurt you," Tammy said.

"I could never hurt you either," JC said. "I love you."

He began leaning down and Tammy knew that he was going to kiss her. She licked her lips and waited for his lips to meet hers. She closed her eyes but could still see him descending.

"Babe," JC said.

Tammy opened her eyes and saw the dark room first and then the man lying next to her. He was glaring.

"Babe," he said. "We slept through the alarm. We need to get up."

Tammy nodded and groaned. She’d been dreaming about JC again. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone?

Abby wiped down the bar with smooth even strokes. She was tired. She’d been on the phone with JC until 3 a.m. and it was only noon now. The bar was quiet, a fact that she was relishing at the moment. There was a blond man in the corner of the bar. He’d been coming in a lot recently. Every day in fact. And he’d been staying there for hours. Just sitting. Occasionally doodling on a notepad.

Abby’s eyes stared at the man intently. She hadn’t ever really looked at him before. He was average height, very slim, dressed casually and he didn’t look too happy. Abby mentally shrugged and focused her attention back on the bar. There was one spot of something that just wouldn’t come off.

"Hey," an extremely masculine voice said quietly next to her.

Abby refrained from jumping and smiled. That voice never failed to send chills down her spine.

"Hey Brad," she said. "How’s it going?"

"Good, good," Brad said. He grabbed a cloth and walked to the other end of the bar to begin wiping the counter down. "You look tired."

"I am," Abby said. She yawned. "I was up until three talking to Josh."

Brad’s smile became fake for a second, but just as quickly became genuine again.

"Is he doing better?" he asked.

Abby nodded. "Yeah, I think so. He’s spending more time with the guys at least. He’s not just hanging in his bunk all the time any more."

"That’s good," Brad said. He looked at Abby nervously.

Abby chose that moment to look at him.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," Brad said quickly. He turned back to be bar.

"Brad," Abby said patiently. "Don’t nothing me."

"No really," Brad said as he swallowed. His adam’s apple bobbed. "It’s nothing."

"Brad…" Abby raised an eyebrow and looked at Brad. She moved closer to him.

Finally Brad raised his head and looked at her. He was pale.

"I was just wondering if you might like to go catch a movie with me tonight. Maybe grab dinner or something too."

Abby looked at Brad. Had he just asked her out on a date?

Abby smiled as widely as she could.

"I’d love to."

Brad smiled, relieved. "Pick you up at seven?"

"Sounds good," Abby said. She looked back down at the bar and then back to the man beside her. They both blushed lightly.

Neither noticed the blond man in the corner watching the exchange with interest— or that he wrote ‘7 p.m.’ on the notebook he’d pulled onto the table.

When Abby and Brad did look back into the corner the only thing they noticed was that the blond man was gone.

JC closed the door to his hotel room and leaned against it briefly. His head hurt from the unbearable mask he held up 24 hours a day. The mask that he didn’t care that Tammy was gone. That he was moving on.

He was moving on, just not as fast as everyone wanted him to. Some hours it did hurt a little less. And some days it hurt more than ever.

This was one of those days.

JC felt the mask slipping as the tears came to his eyes. He walked tiredly over to the bed in the hotel room and sat down. He opened his carryon and pulled out a small photograph. It was worn, bent and dog-eared. It was a picture of Tammy and himself on their first date.

They’d both looked so innocent and happy. They’d looked good together. Like they belonged together.

JC delicately ran a finger over Tammy’s face. He was going to wear through the picture if he wasn’t careful. He did it again.

"I hate you," he mouthed to the picture. "But I still love you."

"WILKINS!" a loud booming voice echoed through the office floor. "GET YOUR ASS IN HERE NOW!"

The man in his early 20’s with blond hair hastily jumped up from his desk, sending the chair tipping backwards. He grabbed an envelope off his desk and began walking quickly through the office as people sitting behind other desks gave him sympathetic glances.

"Yes Mr. Jones?" Henry said as he walked into the spacious glass encased office.

"Mr. Wilkins," the tall heavily built man said as he leaned forward at his desk. "If I do recall correctly today is Thursday. Thursday is deadline day. You told me that you would have something big for me on deadline day and I see nothing on my desk!"

Henry swallowed. "I do have something big," he said. "It’s just that it’s gotten more complicated in the last three hours."

Jones raised an eyebrow. He was a reporter. He didn’t take bullshit.

"What do you have Wilkins?"

"I have a love quadrangle involving one of pop’s biggest stars, an upcoming model and two bar tenders."

"Unless the pop star and model are closeted and the two bartenders are prostitutes who can help us open the closet doors I don’t want to hear it," Jones said. "You said four pages. I have jack here. You’d better have something to show me."

Henry swallowed again. He opened the envelope and laid the pictures on the desk in front of his boss.

"This is big sir," Henry said. "Let me explain the general gist of the story to you, okay?"

The big man nodded and Henry began.

He pointed to the first picture. "This is ‘N SYNC— one of the hottest bands of the nineties."

"I know who ‘N SYNC is Wilkins," Jones growled.

Henry jumped slightly and began to noticeably sweat.

"Sorry sir," he said. He pointed to the next picture. "This is Joshua Chasez, better known as JC. He is one of the lead singers in the group. This is a picture of him and his ‘friend’ Tammy Butler." Henry emphasized the word friend.

Jones opened his mouth to say something, but Henry cut him off by continuing.

"Tammy and JC were never ‘official’ in the media, but they were about as official as they could possibly be. I have it from a very reliable source that they were going to be moving in together."

Jones raised an eyebrow. That could be interesting. A role model for kids living with his girlfriend…

"But apparently they broke up before that could actually happen." Henry pointed at the third and fourth pictures. "This is the girl he’s living with now. You can see that from these pictures they look very friendly. Sort of like a couple. Now Tammy and JC were being linked in the media until about a month ago. These pictures were taken a little over a month ago."

Jones nodded, his normally dour expression starting to light up.

"Now," Henry continued pointing to the next four photographs. "These have all been taken within the last month." All the pictures were of Abby and Brad looking cozy. Hugs and standing too close to each other to be just friends. "And this is the other bartender."

Jones smiled for the first time. "So we’re talking JC dumping the model for the bartender who is now seeing another guy behind his back?"

Henry nodded. "And it gets better. Abby Monroe, the bar girl is going out with this guy at 7 tonight."

"Call these people and get comments," Jones said. "I want details. Details that won’t explode in our faces. You have until noon tomorrow."

Henry nodded. He gathered up the pictures on the desk. He turned to leave the office.

"Wilkins?"

Henry turned around.

The big man was smiling at him. "Good job. You might just make a name for yourself off of this."

Henry smiled and nodded. "Thank you sir."

Mr. Jones was right. He was going to make a name for himself.

Tammy leaned back in her chair at the computer desk. She hadn’t had a reason to go outside all day, and it showed. She hadn’t showered, she had no makeup on and she was still wearing pajamas.

She was waiting for a call from her agent. He was supposed to be getting her a new job in the Bahamas. Anything to get her away from here.

The phone rang.

"Hello?" Tammy said eagerly. The sooner she got away from here the better. "Sam?"

"Um, no," a mans voice said. "My name is Henry Wilkins. I’m a reporter for the Comet."

Tammy felt her eyebrows bend down as she tried to figure out where she’d heard the name ‘The Comet.’ Suddenly it clicked— at the newsstand.

"Yes," Tammy said in a suddenly sweet voice. "What can I help you with?"

"I’m writing an article about a friend of yours, a Mister Chasez?"

Tammy felt slightly sick. What was she getting herself into?

"Yes," Tammy replied. "I know him."

She could almost hear Henry smiling.

"Were you two close?" Henry asked.

Tammy thought carefully for a minute. "Yes, we were close. As close as I am to all my friends."

"I think you know what I mean Miss Butler," Henry said.

Tammy was silent. "Yes we were," she said.

"But you aren’t close anymore?" Henry asked.

Tammy shook her head. "No, we aren’t close anymore."

"Whose fault is that?" Henry asked.

Tammy was silent. This question could ruin her. What should she say?

"I think you’d have to ask Josh about that," she said.

"So he didn’t dump you for another woman just before you were supposed to move in together?"

Tammy’s heart stopped for a second. Is that what people were thinking? She could look like the innocent victim. She could ruin JC.

She opened her mouth to say yes and then stopped. What had JC done to deserve this? He’d made her fall in love with him. She couldn’t hurt him anymore.

"I think you need to ask Josh those questions," she said again. "It’s not my place to say."

"And what would you say if I told you that JC was now living with his new girlfriend?"

Tammy’s heart stopped for a second time. He’d moved on already? She wanted to lie through her teeth and ruin Josh.

"That’s his business," Tammy said. "If he’s found someone that’s wonderful for him."

"Thank you," Henry said. "You’ve been most helpful."

"Bye," Tammy said. She hung up the phone and looked at her wall. He’d found someone already? What right did he have? It had only been a month.

And then Tammy cried.

It had been a dull day in the ‘N SYNC publicity office. The boys had been too good recently.

Cassie leaned back in her chair and laughed. That wasn’t something she could say every day. Justin and Joey kept her on her toes, and Chris enjoyed saying things to the media that made her life hell.

But they’d been good recently. Not even a small peep. Cassie was getting worried. This was unlike them.

And then her phone rang.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hi, my name is Henry Wilkins and I’m a reporter for the Comet."

Cassie cringed. Trash. Literary junk— with a large following.

"How can I help you?" Cassie asked.

"I’m writing an article on JC," Henry said. "And I want to make sure that I get all of my information right."

"That’s very considerate of you," Cassie said. Why was this man doing this? Normally they printed something and waited for the pr people deny it fiercely. That way the damage would be done already.

"Now tell me if I’m mistaken about any of my facts. Mister Chasez was a ‘close’ friend of a certain Tammy Butler."

Cassie didn’t say anything to Henry, in a way acknowledging his statement without giving it truth.

"And he was supposed to move in with the said Ms. Butler"

Again, Cassie was silent.

"But those plans fell through."

"How does this concern your article?" Cassie asked finally.

"I’m getting to that," Henry said. "Now after these said plans fell through, Mr. Chasez proceeded to ask a bar-girl to move in with him."

"What?" Cassie asked shocked. "Where did you get this crap?"

"And not only is he living with her, he’s dating her."

"That is not true Mr. Wilkins," Cassie said. "Where ever you got your information was wrong Mr. Wilkins."

"I’m afraid not," Henry said, a smirk in his voice. "I saw them with my own eyes. And now she’s cheating on him. That’s my story and can you tell me in good conscience that it’s not true?"

Cassie couldn’t.

"JC open up this door right now!" Cassie yelled. She pounded on the hotel door. "JC I know you’re in there!"

The door opened slowly and JC stuck his head out. He looked tired and miserable.

"What is it Cassie?" he asked.

Cassie pushed her way into the room. "You’re supposed to be one of my good boys JC," she said. "Justin, Joey and Chris I can see doing this, maybe Lance, in a nightmare or something, but never you."

"What did I do?" JC asked. "I haven’t been outside to do anything."

"It’s what you neglected to tell me about. You’re supposed to tell me everything JC."

JC cringed. He didn’t know what Cassie was talking about.

"Tell me about her," Cassie continued.

"Who?" JC asked. "You sound like I have a girlfriend I didn’t tell you about."

"Exactly!" Cassie yelled. "Fuck JC, don’t be difficult."

"Huh?" JC said. "You knew Tammy and I broke up. I told you that the day after."

"Your new live-in girlfriend is the girl I’m talking about," Cassie said.

"She’s not my girlfriend," JC said. "She’s someone who was there when I needed someone. We hit it off and decided to live together."

"There are pictures of the two of you Jace," Cassie said. "There are fucking pictures.

JC looked confused. "They can’t be that bad. We haven’t done anything bad."

Cassie looked slightly relieved. "There’s another small issue. She’s going out with another guy tonight. The story they’re running is that she’s cheating on you?"

"That’s ridiculous!" JC said. "She can’t cheat on me if we aren’t going out."

"It’s all about pictures JC," Cassie said. "What people see is what they believe."

JC shrugged.

"One look at your face and people will be sure she’s breaking your heart. You’ve looked sadder ‘n shit for the last few weeks."

JC finally snapped. "How would you feel if your heart broke every day because of your own stupidity. Abby has been the one person to see me through this. She’s my best friend. She’s nothing but a friend."

"But they have evidence JC." Cassie walked toward the door. "Fuck!" she said loudly. "Fuck we didn’t need this."

"You’re telling me," JC said. "Maybe it’ll get my mind off of Tammy."

"Don’t count on it JC," Cassie said. "Tammy’s going to look like an angel, you’re going to look like a sucker and Abby’s going to look like a bitch."

JC sighed. "I should probably warn her, huh?"

"You’d better get her a plane ticket out of the country," Cassie said with a small laugh.

JC sighed and went to pick up the phone, but it started to ring.

"Hi, JC?" Henry said into the phone.

"Do I know you?" a cold voice asked him.

"My name is Henry Wilkins. I’m a reporter for the Comet. I’m sure you know the paper."

"Yes," JC replied just as coldly.

"I’m running an article on something that you might be interested in. I wanted to get your reaction on it."

"Okay," JC said slowly. His voice was guarded.

"You know a woman named Tammy Butler, am I correct?"

"Yes," JC said. His voice took on a tone of hurt.

"Were you two ever romantically involved?" Henry asked. He had a grin splitting his face.

"At one point we were," JC acknowledged.

"But not anymore?" Henry asked.

"That is true," JC answered.

"Is it true you dumped her for an Abby Monroe with whom you now live?"

"No!" JC said fiercely. "Tammy and I decided to go our separate ways. It had nothing to do with Abby."

"So you are saying that you’re going out with Ms. Monroe then?"

"No!" JC replied empathetically. "Abby is simply my roommate and my friend."

"So it doesn’t bother you that Abby is currently seeing a man from the bar where she works?"

"No," JC said yet again. "I’m happy that she’s found someone to be happy with."

"Are you upset that it wasn’t you?" Henry asked.

"Why should I be?" JC said with a slightly pained tone. "I have no hold on her."

"Don’t you?" Henry asked. "You know your reply matched Ms. Butlers when I told her about you and Ms. Monroe."

"You told Tammy that I was going out with Abby?" JC asked shocked.

"Well aren’t you?" Henry asked. "Please JC, I have pictures. All of your pretty words are just covering up the truth. It’s no secret that you’ve been down recently. People have noticed and it’s just since you started living with Abby. I think people will be eager to know what the reason for your down attitude is."

"You have know clue why I’m down," JC said.

"Why don’t you enlighten me?" Henry said.

"It’s none of your business," JC said. "Just like all of this is none of your business."

"I seem to have hit a nerve haven’t I Mr. Chasez." Henry was grinning. "Thank you Josh, I can call you Josh can’t I? You’ve been most helpful."

He hung up the phone before JC could respond.

JC set the phone down and slumped down on the bed. He jumped when he felt someone rubbing his shoulders.

"You did the best you could," Cassie said quietly in his ear. "It’ll all be okay."

JC tried to smile, but the tears came instead. He broke down on Cassie’s shoulder.

"It’ll be okay," Cassie said. She rubbed JC’s back gently.

Brad left his apartment. He was way nervous. More nervous than he’d ever been on any date with Melissa, or any previous girlfriend for that matter.

Maybe because he actually cared for Abby. He cared for her a lot.

He checked his watch. He had 20 minutes to be at her apartment. He got in his car and started driving.

He was determined to make this the best date ever. She was going to be his forever.

Abby stood in front of the mirror and looked at her reflection. Her hair finally fit back into a ponytail. It was time to cut it again she decided.

She smoothed her skirt over her legs for the hundredth time. She was surprised she hadn’t pulled the fabric apart yet.

She looked at her watch. Five minutes until Brad was supposed to be there. He was generally pretty punctual.

The door bell rang.

Or he was early.

Abby looked at herself in the mirror one more time. Finally satisfied she made her way to the door and opened it.

Brad stood there with a single daisy in his hand.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," Abby smiled.

He handed her the flower. "You ready?"

Abby nodded. She looked at the flower. "Thanks."

"You’re welcome," Brad said. He offered her his hand.

Abby gladly took it and shut the door to the apartment.

JC finally sniffled and sat up. "I should call her, huh?" he said to Cassie.

She rubbed his back one last time and nodded. "Yeah. At least warn her of impending doom."

JC nodded. "Thanks," he said quietly.

"No problem," Cassie said. "Listen JC, if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me. And I don’t mean just about stuff you’re supposed to tell me."

JC nodded again. "I’ll remember that," he said.

Cassie quietly left the room as JC picked up the phone.

He dialed the number he knew by heart. Abby should be home from work by now. She’d worked this morning.

The answering machine picked up.

"Hi, this is Abby. I’m not here right now. Leave a message after the beep and I’ll return your call ASAP."

After the beep JC started talking. "Abby, this is Josh. Give me a call A-sap okay? It’s important. I’ll talk to you tonight okay? I’ll call after the show. Bye."

Henry sat in his car watching the couple leave the building. There was just one last phone call to make. He pulled his car out a safe distance behind Brad’s 4-runner and took out his cell phone. He pulled out a slip of paper and dialed the number as he steered with the other hand. He smiled as he listened to the message.

"Brad, my name is Henry Wilkins and I’m a reporter for the Comet. I’m writing an article about JC Chasez and I was hoping to talk with you about his romantic relationship with a friend of yours, Abby Monroe. Give me a call okay? My number is 806-5498. It’s important so give me a call anytime tonight okay? Bye."

Henry shut off the phone.

There was no doubt about it. His career was almost made.