BTW: This story does contain sexual situations. If you don't want to read them, skip the first paragraph...

As they entered the dark room, Haley felt herself being pushed against the closed hotel room door. A mouth pressed to hers and she opened her lips to accept his tongue.

Justin pulled away. "You're sure you want to do this?" His voice was husky with lust.

"Yes." Haley looked into his eyes and saw the mixture of love and lust she knew was mirrored in her own.

"We can't take this back Haley." Justin said. He was trying to discourage her as his mouth placed frantic kisses on her neck, face and lips.

"I don't want to wait any longer Justin." To emphasize her point Haley moved her fingers to the top of Justin's button down shirt. Her lips followed as her fingers moved down his chest undoing the buttons.

Justin nodded and brought her head up to meet his gaze. He pressed her lips to his again. He put one hand behind her neck pushing her mouth closer to his. His tongue played with hers. He moved his arms around her back and lifted her off the ground.

Haley shrieked lightly, but Justin silenced her by placing his lips over hers again. She hung on as he moved both of them towards the king size bed. Gently he laid her down and climbed on top of her. His open shirt hung down on both sides of her small frame. She reached up and ran her hands through his curly hair bringing his mouth down to meet hers.

"What do you mean you and Haley broke up?" Chris asked. Justin was staring out the window of Chris's car as it sped along the interstate towards the studio.

"She was using me for my fame Chris." Justin didn't look at the older man.

Chris scoffed. "Haley? Are we talking about the same girl here Justin? The Haley you've been madly in love with for seven months."

Justin felt the tears come to his eyes but willed them out of his voice. "I was going to surprise her," he said when his voice cracked and the tears streamed down his face. He frantically wiped them away. "I was going to surprise her and her mom told me to just go on up. I guess she still trusted us to be good innocent children," Justin had a small laugh in his voice even as the tears streamed down his cheeks.

"I was outside her door almost ready to knock when I heard Haley say, 'I mean, Jen, I'm dating the Justin Timberlake. Me. It is just too weird. He's a celebrity and he's dating me, a common teenager.' I guess she was on the phone because she was silent for a moment and then she laughed. ' I guess you're right. I'm not common because I'm dating Justin Timberlake.' And then I left, went for a 30 minute walk and came back to break up with her." Justin had given up wiping away the tears.

Chris looked over at his young friend and wished that he could do something to take away his pain. "I'm sorry Justin. I really am."

Her eyes quest for understanding was interrupted by two warm sets of fingers. A smile graced her face causing her pen cap to strike her teeth with an audible click.

"Hi Ben."

Ben leaned down and kissed her neck, brushing her hair out of the way.

"How are you doing sweetie?" Ben asked as he scooted into the chair next to Haley.

"I don't understand economics," was Haley's simple response. "How are you doing?"

"I'll be doing much better if you stop studying and come out to dinner with me."

Haley smiled. "You know, I would love to but…" She stared at her textbook. The words supply and demand stared back at her. "I would love to."

"Justy?" an annoying voice broke through the relative silence of the tour bus. "Where are you?"

Chris and JC looked at each other and cringed. They had tried to like Christy. They really had. They wanted to love her because she was the only person who'd broken through Justin's depression.

"Yes sweet pea?" Justin's voice carried through the bus from the TV room. JC and Chris cringed at the nickname.

"Justy, our reservations are at six. We need to go."

"I'll be right there sweet pea. I just need to whup Joey's ass one last time in this game and then I'll be ready to go."

"Men and their video games," Christy said shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

She sat down next to JC and across from Chris.

"So how are you two darlings doing?"

JC wanted to laugh. He really did. The only thing that stopped him was that he knew Christy was completely serious in her tone.

"We're doing great Christy," Chris answered. "How are you?"

"I'm doing fine. It's so sweet of you to ask."

Justin emerged from the TV room followed by a moping Joey.

"Hey sweet pea," Justin said fondly before he pressed his lips to hers.

The three assembled guys made gagging faces that went unnoticed by Justin and Christy.

When the two finally separated Justin looked at the other guys, cleared his throat slightly and said, "We'll be back later."

As the door to the bus closed, JC looked at the other guys. "God I miss Haley," he said.

The other guys nodded.

Haley stared at Ben. He was gorgeous. He was sweet. He was the man of her dreams. Or the man she wanted to be in her dreams.

Haley knew that she was the envy of many girls on campus. Ben, frat boy that he was, had many girls who worshiped the ground he walked on. He just had that way with people.

He was one of those people who never forgot a birthday, an anniversary or to call at night just to say hi. The girls in her sorority were envious. He was over at the house so much they joked they should give him his own key.

Ben looked at her questioningly. "So is that okay for us to do tomorrow night?"

Haley searched her brain but she couldn't come up with what Ben had just said. "Yeah, that'd be great." She paused. "Why don't you explain it to me a little more."

"You weren't listening were you?" Ben asked, a small grin playing at the corners of his mouth. "Do I have someone to be jealous of?"

Haley smiled and shook her head, staring down at the table. "No," she said as she looked up. "No, I was just thinking about how wonderful you were to me."

And how much I wished I could love you the way you seem to love me…

"Well, I have someone who's wonderful to me."

Not as wonderful as you think I am, Haley thought. She willed a small flush to her cheeks.

"She's smart, and sweet, and talented and funny. I love her very much."

Why can't I love you Ben? Every other girl on this campus does.

"I like you more than you know Ben."

Like you more as a friend than you'll ever know.

"I understand that you have a hard time expressing love, Haley, but please know that I do love you. I want you in my life forever."

Do I love him at all? Can I tell him I do? It'll make him so happy.

"Ben, I think I am falling for you. It's just really hard for me to commit after…"

I want to love you so much. I want to. I will, eventually. Maybe. If you can fall in love twice in one lifetime.

"We don't need to talk about him Haley. He's not here. It's just you and me and our happiness." Ben paused. "Haley, I want to say that I love you. I want you to know that I want to spend my life with you. This has been the happiest seven months of my life."

"These have been some of the happier months of my life too Ben." She fully comprehended his statement. "Ben, are you talking about marrying me?"

"I know we're not ready for that stage yet Haley, but think about it okay? I know it was meant to happen."

I'm meant to be with Justin.

"I'll think about it Ben, I promise."

Ben reached across the table and put his hand on top of hers. He gave it a light squeeze.

Justin smiled at his girlfriend. She was the light of his world now, rather like Haley was… had been. Christy was giggling over some joke she'd just told. Justin laughed too.

He hadn't heard the joke.

Christy brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "Justin?" Her voice was hesitant, scared, and hopeful. Totally un-Christy like.

"What is it baby doll?" Justin asked concerned. He knew the rest of the guys didn't particularly like Christy, but he cared about her a lot. She was the first one who'd made him realize there was life after Haley.

"Justin? Do you love me?"

The question was unexpected.

Do I love her? I like her a lot, but not as much as I like Haley… Liked Haley.

"Christy, I like you a lot. Love is a strong word. I want to be sure before I say it again."

"Justin, I love you. I know that the other guys don't particularly like me, but you've stood by me. We've been going out almost six months. I think it's time for us to take our relationship to the next level."

Justin's eyes opened wider. "You mean you want to…" he trailed off. He couldn't say the word.

"I want you to be my first Justin and I want to be yours."

Justin's brain froze. His girlfriend, the girl he thought that he might possibly be able to love wanted to have sex with him. He felt his pulse quicken and his memory drift.

"You're sure you want to do this?"

"Yes."

"We can't take this back Haley."

"I don't want to wait any longer Justin."

"Haley," Justin muttered.

"What did you say honey?"

"Can we go for a walk Christy?"

Christy nodded as Justin got up to pull her chair out for her. Justin paid for dinner and they made their way out of the restaurant.

Conveniently there was a park right nearby and Justin led Christy there by the hand. They found a swing-set and sat down.

"I have slept with someone before Christy," Justin said quietly.

"Oh." Christy looked down at her feet. She kicked some of the sand that was underneath the swing. She moved back and forth quietly.

"You've got to understand something sweet pea. I like you a lot. If I liked you any less I would jump at the opportunity to sleep with you."

Or would I? There's no reason I shouldn't. I'm a teenage male. She's gorgeous and funny and… She's not… No. I'm over Haley. I am. Maybe I should sleep with Christy. But I don't love her. I slept with Haley though. But I loved…

"You're too wonderful a person for me to even think about ruining the relationship that we're building though."

Christy looked at Justin, happiness brimming in her eyes. "I love you. Thank you. I know that when you are ready, when we're ready, you'll make my first time very special."

But it won't be nearly as special as my first time…

"That doesn't mean that we can't have some fun though…" Justin said.

Hell, I am a teenage male…

Justin and Christy had taken over his hotel room. For the last month they'd been attacking each other whenever they got within an arms distance. It was for that reason that Justin had been subjugated to rooming with one of the other band members. Quite frankly the other guys didn't trust Justin to make wise decisions.

Of course, we probably had more to be worried about with Haley around,Lance thought.

The plain and simple difference was that the guys liked Haley and they didn't like Christy. Lance didn't think that she was so bad… just a little ditzy, when she wanted to be.

Lance looked around at the trees that lined the street. He turned to look at the passing student body. He could have been one of them. He would have been one of them if things had been different.

Lance stopped his randomly moving eyes suddenly.

"Haley?"

The girl walking in front of him stopped walking and looked at him.

"Lance?"

Lance grinned widely. This had to be a sign that she would re-enter their lives. He stepped forward and gave Haley a bear hug.

"How have you been girl?" he asked setting her down.

"Oh, I've been better. How are you doing?"

"I'm great. Just getting away from Justin and his… well, just getting away from Justin."

"It's okay Lance," Haley said softly. "You can say that Justin has a girlfriend. It's been over a year. He should have moved on." She paused and swallowed, her eyes taking on a sad, caring look. "How is he, Justin, I mean?"

"I don't know Haley. I think things in his life are finally starting to look up."

Finally, Haley continued. "Starting to look up?"

"He really took your breakup hard Haley."

Tears came to Haley's eyes. "He was the one that broke up with me Lance. I had no clue he was even thinking about it. He had no right to be depressed."

"Haley," Lance started. "I know that I shouldn't be the one to tell you this, but," Lance paused and took a deep breath. "Justin thought you were just dating him for his fame."

"He thought that I was dating him for his fame?" Haley sounded incredulous.

"He heard you say something on the phone and jumped to his own conclusions."

Haley closed her eyes trying to remember the day he'd broken up with her. It was such a painful day that she had fought remembering it as hard as she could. Now that she wanted to remember it all came flooding back.

"Oh my god," Haley said. Her face lost all its color. "Let me guess, he heard me go on about dating the Justin Timberlake."

Lance nodded.

"If he'd stayed a few minutes later he would have heard me say that I loved Justin the guy, not Justin the pop-star."

"You know that Justin never bothers to get the whole story."

"Oh my god," Haley said again. The bell at the Student Union began to gong.

"Listen Lance, I've got to go. It was great to see you again." Haley began to walk away.

"Haley, wait!" Lance called, running after the girl.

Haley stopped and turned around.

"Let me get your phone number. I want to be able to keep in touch with you. We all miss you."

"Yeah, sure." Haley dug a scrap of paper out of her pocket and scribbled her phone number on it. "Make sure you use my full name. There's another Haley in the house."

"Thanks. Goodbye Haley."

"Goodbye Lance."

Justin was sitting by the hotel room window. He didn't acknowledge Lance's presence until he asked, "Why can't I sleep with her Lance?"

Lance looked at the back of Justin's head. "We aren't supposed to give you the opportunity to do something with her that you would regret Justin."

"That's not what I mean Lance," Justin said. He was still staring out the window. "Quite frankly if I really wanted to sleep with her I wouldn't let someone stop me. I slept with Haley, why can't I sleep with Christy."

"Maybe because you don’t love Christy."

"But I want to love her."

"But you don’t." Lance moved so that he was sitting in the chair across from his friend.

'Why can't I? I'm over Haley completely. I have been for a year."

"You're lying to yourself Justin."

"What? I never care if I see Haley again. I care for Christy just as much as I cared for Haley. Why can't I love her?"

"You fell in love once Justin and it's very hard to get over. You say you're over Haley though."

Justin nodded.

"I think I might know how you can see if you really are."

Justin looked confused. "How?"

"By seeing Haley."

"I don't want to see her Lance," Justin said, a small note of fear in his voice.

"I think you need to Justin." Lance searched his pocket for the small scrap of paper. He scooted it across the table to Justin. "I saw her on campus today. She doesn't look like she's doing so well. Here's her phone number and her sorority. I'm not going to force you to see her but I think it might be good."

Justin stared at the paper like it would bite him. "Did she, uh, did she…?" he trailed off.

"Did she ask about you?" Lance asked and Justin nodded. "Yes she did. I mentioned Christy.

"I don't even know why I'm curious. I'm not going to go see her."

"Okay. That's your choice Justin. I just hope you don't regret it."

How the hell did I get here? Justin asked himself for the ten thousandth time. He had on a baseball hat and sunglasses even though it was night. His heart was pounding. His mouth was dry. What the hell am I doing here?

Unwilled, his finger rang the doorbell. He heard a deep gong. About 30 seconds later a small brunette opened the door.

"Hi!" she said perkily. "Who are you here for?"

"Haley. Haley Meyers."

"Okay, come on in. I'll page her."

Justin walked into the house. The entryway was decorated in dark green and natural wood. He could hear the girl paging the different floors of the house. Finally she came out of the mailroom and said, "she'll be right down."

"Thank you." Justin adjusted his sunglasses and waited nervously. Would she run back up the stairs screaming? Would she be happy to see him? Did she have a boyfriend?

Haley came down the stairs. She was confused. She wasn't expecting Ben, yet that was the only person it could be. The person waiting in the entryway was not Ben though. He was wearing a baseball hat.

"Hello?" she asked questioningly.

Justin looked up. If it was possible his whole world slowed down. Haley had gone from being a girl to being a woman.

"Haley." His voice caught in his throat, making it lower than it normally was.

Haley stopped. Her world didn't just slow down. It stopped.

"Justin?" Her voice was low, quiet and full of fear.

She reached the bottom steps and stood there awkwardly.

"Hi Haley."

Haley looked quickly around the entryway. She could see the girl on phone duty eavesdropping.

"Justin, let's go for a walk okay?"

Justin nodded as Haley ran into the mailroom to grab her coat.

When they were about a block from the house Haley finally spoke. "When I saw Lance today, I never thought that you'd come see me."

"I wasn't going to, but…"

"You're just here," Haley finished for him. "Lance said that you're doing better," Haley continued.

"Yeah, Christy helped me a lot."

"That's your girlfriend?" Haley asked.

"Yeah, she's great," Justin said. "Everything I could possibly want."

"Yeah, that's how my boyfriend is." Haley paused. "He's everything thing I've ever wanted."

"I'm glad you found someone," Justin said.

"I'm glad you found someone too."

Is it bad that I'm suddenly feeling like I hate every girl named Christy? Haley thought.

Why do I want to take her in my arms? Justin thought.

"Haley? Do you know why I broke up with you?" Justin asked. Why the hell did I just ask that? I broke up with her a year ago. Why should I care? When did she get so beautiful?

"Lance didn't tell you?"

"Didn't tell me what?" Justin looked confused.

"He told me why you broke up with me." Haley paused. "It really should have come from you when you broke up with me. Then maybe you'd know that what you heard was completely taken out of context."

"What do you mean?" Justin looked more confused and felt his heart freeze. Why do I feel like I'm about to find out I fucked up majorly.

"I mean that if you'd eavesdropped on my conversation one more minute you would have heard me say how much I loved you for you, not because you were Justin Timberlake."

"Oh my god." Justin turned pale. And I fucked up majorly.

Haley looked like she was about to cry. "I loved you so much Justin. So much and you wouldn't even let me clear up the misunderstanding. You never even told me what the misunderstanding was."

She began pounding him on the chest with her fists as the tears streamed down her face. Justin caught her wrists.

"Haley, I loved you more than my life. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. Since 'N SYNC started I've been fooled by people who were using me for my fame. I thought, I knew that you were different, yet when you said that I freaked out. I felt betrayed by the person I cared for most. I'm sure you know how that feels."

Haley was silent for a few moments. "I'm sorry I hurt you Justin, but why didn't you talk to me. We shared something so special and then you didn't even tell me what the problem was. I love you Justin and I want to always be there for you."

"Haley, do you still love me?" Justin asked. He continued before she could answer. "I thought I was over you completely and then when I saw you walk down the stairs tonight, I realized that I'm still in love with you."

"I tried to get over you. I really did. My world stopped when I saw you tonight. I'm almost engaged to my boyfriend, but yes Justin I love you still, I've never stopped. I'm not sure I can go back to you though."

"Why?" Justin felt himself tearing up.

"Lots of reasons," Haley said. "Ben and I'm not sure that I can trust you not to jump to conclusions again, to name a few. Plus, you are Justin Timberlake. A year ago I didn't care, but now I'd be dragged into the spotlight also. I'm not sure I want that. I'm not sure I'd be able to take being away from you for the months you'd be gone."

"Come with me."

"I have my life here Justin. I can't just go on tour with you. What about school? What about my friends?"

Justin stopped and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Haley, I'm going to walk you back to your house and then I'm going to kiss you. I won't contact you for a week. If you want to try a relationship come find me at my hotel. If you don't I'm leaving in a week and I'll never contact you again. I'm going to break up with Christy tomorrow, whether or not you decide that you want to try something with me. I know I'll never be able to love her like I loved you and I don't want to lead her on." Justin sounded so mechanical. His voice had little hope in it at all.

"Okay."

They got back to the sorority and Haley pulled him around to the back of the house. "The last thing I need is for need is for my sisters to see me kiss you," Haley said.

Justin leaned forward.

"You're sure you want to do this?"

"Justin, if nothing else, it's a goodbye kiss. It's allowed."

We can't take this back Haley.

I don't want to wait any longer Justin.

Justin leaned forward and pressed his lips to Haley's.

It felt right. She just fit there.

Haley pulled away when she felt herself becoming lost in the kiss. Her hand lingered in Justin's.

"Justin, whether or not I come find you in a week, please remember I'll always love you."

"I'll always love you Haley."

Justin walked away from Haley, sadly aware that this might be the last time he ever saw her.

"Haley, you broke up with your boyfriend," her friend Kim said. "If you don't go out and live a little you'll never get over it."

I'm sorry Ben, but I don't miss you at all… well, hardly at all.

"I'm not missing Ben, Kim," Haley replied. "We were just falling apart slowly."

"Weren't you about to get engaged though?" Kim asked. "That's what everyone was saying."

Haley shook her head.

"Well, what's the problem then?"

I'm in love with my ex and I can't make myself go say I want to get back together with him..

"Kim, have you ever been in love with someone so much that you would give up your life for them, yet you don’t think that you're the best thing for them? Or that they're the best thing for you."

"I've never been in love Haley, you know that. I take it you aren't talking about Ben?" Kim sat down in Haley's denim beanbag chair.

"Before I went out with Ben, I was very seriously involved with someone. He misunderstood something I said and we broke up. I hadn't seen him in person for over a year. Last week he shows up and I realize that all the feelings of hate that I'd had were really the conversion of my love. He wants to get back together."

"So what's stopping you?" Kim asked. "I can tell you love him from the tone in your voice. He wants you, you want him… I'm not seeing the problem."

"The problem is that he is Justin Timberlake," Haley said without really thinking.

Kim was silent for a long time. "Are you joking Haley?"

"No."

"You were the girlfriend?"

"Yes I was."

Kim paused and stared at Haley.

"I still don't see the problem."

"He broke my heart Kim. He hurt me more than anyone else in my life ever has. I'm not sure that I can open myself to him again. On top of the fact that he is in the spotlight 24 hours a day. How am I supposed to live that life? It's not me."

"Yet, you won't be happy unless you're with him." Kim still seemed shocked by the identity of the boy.

"Exactly."

"Haley, take a chance. You're heart and your mind are telling you it's okay. As for the spotlight, you did it before you can do it again. Go for it girl."

Haley took a deep breath. She looked inside herself. "You're right. I will."

Justin was lying on his bed in his own hotel room. With Christy gone the guys trusted him again. He was startled when there was a knock on the door. He looked over. It was unlocked.

"Come in."

The knock sounded again.

"I said come in," Justin called again.

The knocking came a third time. Finally frustrated he got off the bed and made his way to the door. He opened it and froze.

"Hi," Haley said quietly.

"Hi." Justin backed up and let Haley into the room. The tension was thick.

"Justin, I'm not scared anymore."

Those were the only words Justin needed. Before Haley could close her mouth Justin was in front of her kissing her.

It felt so good. It felt right. It felt like home.

"You ready to go see the other guys?" Justin asked as he and Haley walked down the hall. They were listening for the noise that would indicate which room the other guys were in. They stopped in front of Lance's.

"Yes, I am." Haley said quietly. "You think they'll be happy that I'm back?"

"I think they'll be ecstatic. They didn't like Christy and they were tired of me moping."

"I missed them so much." Haley turned to kiss Justin lightly on the lips.

"I missed you." Justin raised his fist and knocked on the door.

They heard Lance call out, "it's open!"

Slowly Justin put his hand on the knob and gave Haley one last kiss. He pushed the door open. Haley stayed in the hall.

"Justin! Where were you? We were about to come down to your room," JC said.

"I was hanging out with my girlfriend," Justin said with a twinkle in his eye.

Chris stared at Justin. "Please don't tell me Christy's back."

"Oh, no," Justin said. "She's nothing like Christy. She's um, got magenta hair and um… three lip pierces and um…"

"Oh Justin stop it," Haley said as she walked into the room. She gave Justin a kiss on the cheek. His muscles were crinkled from the smile on his face. "He always was such a kidder wasn't he?" she continued.

The rest of the guys stared in shock.

"Don't you remember me?" Haley asked feigning hurt.

"Haley!" Joey yelled and pulled her into a hug followed be Lance, JC and Chris.

"Hey, hey, hey, hands off my girl," Justin said as he pushed their arms off Haley and replaced them with his own.

"I'd hope you'd remember me, cause I'm not going anywhere."

"She's right, she's not," Justin said. "She's everything I wanted and I'm not letting her get away."

Justin kissed Haley on the lips and appeared to forget the other guys were there.

"Oh boy," JC said. "It looks like we're going to have to make Curly share a room with one of us again."

The rest of the guys laughed. Haley and Justin were oblivious.