by Mandy Bee
“This is the same dessert we shared when I took her to lunch at Joe’s Pub. That’s where the waiter took a photo of us and it was in the papers the next day.”
“Oh, so that’s why you were up at four in the morning baking.” Chris rats me out, I kick him under the table.
Once lunch is done and the boys cleaned the kitchen up, I ask Justin what he wants to do.
“I don’t care, I’m sure you still have packing to do. I could just hang out and watch TV or something.”
“Well Chris is taking us to dinner tonight, his idea not mine.” I take Justin’s hand and start walking us to my room. “But right now you are going to help me pack.” I giggle as I shut my door, the new one that is. Chris put it in this morning, then added a new lock.
We bought three new suit cases yesterday, two for me and one for Chris. Most of his are still in good condition, mine were about to fall apart. My new large suit case is packed and ready, I’m working on my medium one now. We are going to be over seas for three months so I’m trying to take everything I can with me. My carry on bag will have a few changes of clothes, but it will hold mostly my new computer, my Kindle, all my chargers and some of my cross stitch stuff.
“Do you plan on coming back?” Justin laughs while helping me fold some jeans.
“Yes, but I will need choices. Three months is a long time. It is easier for boys, some will wear the same jeans for three days before changing them. I want to start dressing more girly like. I don’t want the press calling me a tomboy.” The press is one of the reasons I want to dress nicer, Justin is the other reason.
Five hours later I’m all packed, I have laid out an outfit for tomorrow but everything else is ready to go. When I go to look for Chris I find him outside on the back deck, and he is not alone. Tammy is back but she brought two others with her. Justin sees that I’m not happy about this, he takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. We walk up to Chris and the look I’m giving him tells him I’m pissed!
“Chris, what is going on here?” I ask while gripping Justin’s hand.
“OH MY GOD! YOU’RE JUSTIN CROW!” One of the bimbo’s screams. I stand between her and him when she tries to come up to him. Back off bitches! He’s mine!
“Flower, maybe we should go to dinner and let Chris hang out with his friends.” Justin says as he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me close.
“No, I promised that the three of us would go to dinner together.” Chris says to us then looks over at the bimbo’s “Sorry ladies but you need to go now, I have plans tonight.” We all start to walk in the house.
“Please, Chris let us come too, I want to have dinner with Justin Crow!” One of them whines.
“Yeah, please Chris, I’ll make it up to you.” Tammy says, I turn to look at her and she is all but humping him.
“Okay the hoes need to go, now!” I snap. Everyone is staring at me, Chris looks like he wants to laugh but is trying to hold back.
“Who are you calling a hoe? You just want us gone so you can have Justin to yourself, sorry sweetie but Justin needs a big girl not a child.” Tammy winks at him, oh that’s it. I walk up to her and get right in her face.
“Get out of my fucking house before I send your sorry ass to the ER!” I’m growling at her. Chris steps in between us and pushes the girls to the front door. Justin come up to me and lays his arm around my shoulder, he is keeping quiet, smart boy. The girls are whining but Chris is standing strong. I close my eyes and take a deep breath after I see him close the front door and lock it once they leave.
“I never want those bitches in this house again, are we clear with that?” I snap at Chris when he walks over to us.
“Yes and I’m sorry, to both of you. I can’t believe she said that. I’m so sorry Flower.” Chris hugs me, I relax a little. At least this won’t happen again.
“Maybe we should wait a little while before we go to dinner.” Justin said after Chris hugged me.
“No, I’m fine. Let’s go eat.” We all head for the car and off we go.
Dinner was nice, we took Justin to this little seafood place that we love to go to when we are in town. When the check came the boys did have a little fight, but it was more of a pissing match. Chris finally won but they did make a small scene. Right as we were walking out a girl came up and asked Justin to sign a napkin for her, she looked to be about nine years old. It was so cute the way she blushed when he smiled at her. I saw her phone sticking out of her pocket and offered to take a photo of them, her face lit up and I couldn’t help but smile. He had to kneel down for the photo, she held up the napkin he had just signed like it was made of gold.
When we got back home we all went to change for the night. “You packed?” I asked Chris while walking into his room.
“Yup, I’ll pack my computer later tonight and I’m all done. I know you’re done, Justin said you packed your whole room.” He starts laughing.
“Not my whole room, just almost all of my clothes. Anyways are you going to watch TV or something with us or are you going to crash?” Please crash!
“Scot and I are going to play an online video game tonight. Looks like you will have to entertain Justin all by yourself, think you can handle that?” He smirks at me.
“Oh, I think I can manage” I wink at him and walk out, he is laughing at me but I don’t care. I get Justin to myself all night. Then the panic hits, oh shit, Justin to myself, all night, in my house? Oh no!
“Hey,” Justin says coming up behind me making me jump “sorry didn’t mean to scare you”
“It’s okay, um Chris is going to be playing some game online with Scot, so you’re stuck with me tonight.” I’m nervous, this shouldn’t be this hard.
“Good, I like being stuck with you.” He puts one arm around my waist and pulls me to him. “So what are we going to do Miss Flower?” He whispers in my ear, sending a chill down my back.
“Um….I don’t know, um….lets just go watch TV for now.” My voice is shaking but I’m able to pull away from him.
“Wait, why don’t we watch TV in here?” He asks stopping in front of my room, oh no this could be bad.
“I don’t think Chris would like that, maybe we should just go to the living room.” I’m biting my lip, why is he making me so nervous?
“Come on, it will be fine. We have watched TV together hundreds of time, why should it matter where we do it?” He pulls me into my room, he’s right I guess. But this time instead of a couch there is a bed, and instead of a bus we’re at my house. The house where my brothers room is sound proof, oh God!
He turns down my bed and gets in on one side, he pats the other side with his hand telling me to come sit down. I swallow and get into bed, I’m in bed with Justin Crow! My mind is racing, my heart is racing, this is freaking me out.
“Where is the remote?” He asks bringing me out of the thoughts.
“On the night stand on your side” His side, Justin’s side of my bed. I hear the TV turn on and smile when I hear The Golden Girls, okay this will be okay. I prop my pillow up and snuggle back into it, pulling my covers over me I keep my eyes on the TV. I feel him do the same thing I did with his pillow. Once settled he wraps an arm around me and I lay my head on his chest. We are just friends, but that could change fast, and I’m starting to think I want it to change.
I turn my head and open my eyes to look at the clock, its 5am. okay I have another hour to sleep, then I see his hand, oh shit! I slowly turn my head back and there he is. Justin is sound asleep, while holding me, in my bed! I gently shake him, he has to go now!
“Justin wake up, please wake up!” I whisper.
“What?” He grunts.
“Shhhh, you need to leave now!”
“What? Why?” He stretches, then pulls me back to him.
“Because Chris will be getting up in an hour and if he finds you in here with me, like this, you’re a dead man. Now go!” I push him trying to make him go, not that I want him to go but I know he has too.
“Wher
e do I go?” He asks.
“Go to the guest room and make it look like you slept there.” I push him a little harder.
“Fine, I’ll go, but I know I won’t be able to go back to sleep. Can I just go get a shower?”
“Sure, but try and make the bed look like you slept in it. I’ll probably get up here in a few minutes anyways. Oh, if Chris finds out we are both dead. Now go!” He gets up like he is going to leave but turns around and leans down and kisses my cheek, then walks out. okay this is too much for my brain at this hour of the morning.
I get up and head to my bathroom while saying a prayer that Chris never finds out about Justin sleeping with me. That stops me dead in my tracks, I slept with Justin last night! I shake my head and keep walking, oh how am I going to last another three months on tour with him?
Once I’m dressed I tiptoe to Chris’s room. Cracking the door relief sweeps over me, he is still asleep. Quietly I go start breakfast for everyone. Justin walks in the kitchen right as I’m mixing the pancake batter. My mouth drops, he looks hot. He has a tight white t-shirt on, faded jeans, and his messy hair is still wet from his shower. I realize that I am noticing what he is wearing more now a days, I think I know why but I can’t bring myself to say it.
“Morning, whatcha making?” He asks while getting a cup of coffee.
“Pancake and eggs, is that okay?” I try to recover but he is mouth wateringly yummy.
“Sounds good, can I help?”
“No, I think we need an edible breakfast.” I tease him and go back to my batter.
“Fine, whatever you want.” I hear him say “You look nice today.” He whispers in my ear, he is right behind me now. With shaking hands I put down the bowl and turn to see he‘s smiling at me. I put my arms around his neck and look him dead in the eyes.
“What are you up too?” I ask as he puts his hands on my hips.
“Now why do you think I’m up to something just because I told you that you look nice?”
“You answering me with a question tells me something is up.” I giggle.
“Nothings up, I promise.” He hugs me. “Flower last night, whether it should have happened or not…..I just want to tell you that I liked waking up with you next to me.”
“To be honest I liked it too, but my brother would have flipped out if he found us.”
“I know, and I wouldn’t want to upset him like that.” He sighs and just stares at me. When I try to let go he stops me. “I need to talk to you about something, I rea…..”
“Morning” Chris says walking into the room. We both jump and let go of each other. I keep my head down and start cooking.
“Morning Chris.” Justin says but his voice gives him away, he’s scared.
“I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?” Chris asks looking at me. I glance up at him and let out a breath when I see he is smiling at us.
“No, we were just talking. I’m making pancakes and eggs will you set the table please.” Okay, so he’s not mad, this is good.
The boys set the table and I get a few minutes to calm myself down. I wonder what Justin was going to tell me, maybe we can talk on the plane. I fix the boys a big breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and toast. Sometimes I love being a homemaker, maybe I just love when people rave about my food. Either way it makes me feel good to see them happy.
“Please tell me that’s your last bag!” Chris groans as he lifts my suit case into the trunk of the car.
“Yes, that’s everything but my carry on, which I will keep with me.”
“Don’t worry man, I am guessing we will only have to leave one maybe two of our bags behind at the airport just to take all hers with us.” Justin laughs, he better be glad he is out of my reach right now.
“Why are you both ganging up on me?” I grunt and get into the back seat. I smile when Justin slides in beside me.
“We are not ganging up on you sweetie, we are just joking with you.” His arm is around me and I lay my head on his chest. When Chris gets in the drivers seat he just shakes his head and smiles when he looks back at us.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are on our way to the airport. Please keep all hands where I can see them.”
“CHRIS!” I scream in shock! We all start laughing, but that was still uncalled for.
I LOVE NEW YORK! Everything is so different here, so big and loud and very exciting! We are staying at a condo owned by the record company, it’s really nice. Dave and Scot beat us here and almost tackled Chris when we walked in! I guess they missed him. We all settle in our rooms, well as much as we could because we’ll be leaving day after tomorrow, but whatever. I’m in the kitchen getting some juice and a banana when Scot walks in.
“Hey!” I say cheerfully.
“Hey, um you doing okay?” He asks, I think he is trying to make conversion but it looks like he is not very good at it.
“I’m fine, I guess you guys are glad to have Chris back.” I laugh and jump up on the counter top while peeling my banana.
“Yeah, he is still trying to beat my racing record but that will never happen.” He smiles, I think it’s the first time I have ever really seen him smile. “He’s a good guy.”
“I think so too.” I giggle as he gets a soda from the fridge.
“So have you and Justin started going out yet or are y’all still in the closest?” He asks me point blank.
“We are just friends, nothing more.” I jump off the counter top leaving what is left of my snack and head back to what is right now my room. The nerve of that man! Where does Scot think he has the right to ask me something like that? I can’t let this upset me, I will not let this upset me. Oh who am I kidding of course this is upsetting me.
“Ready?” Chris asks me as I’m getting my hair and makeup done. No I’m not ready! We are just ten minutes away from our interview on the Today show. My stomach is in knots, I’m shaking, and I don’t want to do this.
“I guess.” Is all I can get out. As much as I would love to go running back to the condo and hide under my bed, I can’t. Chris has done so much for me, and sacrificed so much, how can I not do this for him?
“Hi, are you Flower?” A male voice from behind asks me. I turn to see Matt Lauer standing there smiling at me, well at us. I didn’t know who would be doing the interview, never really asked, guess I know now.
“Yes, hi!” I squeak.
“It’s nice to meet you.” He shakes my hand then looks at Chris. “And you must be the new drummer, Chris right?”
“Yes sir that’s me.” Did Chris just say ‘sir’? Guess I’m not the only one who is nervous.
“Well the others are getting their microphones on, I see you both have yours on already. Good, so when you’re done here just head over to the seating area.” We look over and see the guys sitting there waiting on us. Justin looks up and smiles. I can’t help but smile back, then blush.
The woman doing my hair doesn’t like me much. I want my hair to stay in my clip, she is making me wear it down. It’s so long that it is past the middle of my back. Luckily she is leaving it straight, but flips most of it too one side of my face. When we walk over to the seating area my heart starts racing.
Dave and Scot have taken the only chairs, this leaves Justin, Chris and me with the couch. I go to sit on the end of the couch, so Chris has to sit in the middle but he grunts then points for me to move. I let out a deep sigh then move closer to Justin. I have my hands in my lap and my eyes close, I’m trying to calm my breathing.
Then I hear someone in the background say “Two minutes till Freak Street.” I look up and see Matt Lauer sitting in front of us looking over some papers, how long has he been here?
“Everyone ready?” He asks looking at all of us. Justin answers yes for everyone, but he knows I’m not.
“Breathe” Chris whispers in my ear, then gives me a little hug. I nod at him, I’m doing this for Chris. I just have to keep that in mind and I will be okay, I hope.
We are half way through the interview and it’s
going great. The guys are answering questions about the tour, and all the cities and stuff. So far I have only had two questions to answer, both about how I like it being on tour. I’m starting to breathe easier now, because all I really have to do is smile and laugh at the right moments. Then they start talking about John, I feel Justin tense up.
“Justin, would you tell us a little about how John ended up leaving the band?” Matt asked, this story has been told over and over again, why do they keep asking about him?
“John is no longer in the band because he didn’t want to play fair. We are a band of brothers. I do have the most say but we are still a team, he didn’t like this. So he is now gone.” I can feel how uncomfortable he is, I want to reach out and take his hand but I know that’s not a good idea.
“What was the last straw? I know in some of the other interviews you have said that he was almost trying to take over but something must have happened to make him finally leave.” I want to scream at Matt to shut up.
“Matt, as you know this lovely young lady next to me is Chris’s sister. She is on tour with us because Chris is all she has. Their parents died when she was young and Chris has been raising her ever since. Flower is the most amazing girl I have ever met.” I look over at Justin, I should be pissed at him for sharing all that with the world but I just smile at him. “John didn’t want her to stay with us. He tried to find a way to get her to leave and I wouldn’t hear of it. There was a huge fight, and after that I told him to leave. John didn’t quit the band, he was fired.” Oh shit! Justin has never told that to any reporter. He as always danced around the question.
“You fired your bother?” Matt asked while trying not to let his jaw hit the floor.
“Yes, like I said we are all a team but I still have to most say in the band and I wasn’t going to let him bully her. He said some things that were completely out of line and the rest is history.”
“Flower, how did you react to all this?” Oh my God how do I answer that?
“I wasn’t there for all of it, I was only there when John said it would be better if I went and stayed with someone while they finished the tour.” I’m trying to keep my voice from cracking, but I’m freaking out right now.