HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING?
©Mirandagk@aol.com
CHAPTER 21
After the waiters came over and took dinner orders, everyone began to get up and mingle at other tables. Laura and Rachel retreated to the bathroom to freshen up. When they walked back into the large dining room, they noticed that the music had already began to play. Spandua Ballet's hit "This Much Is True" began to flow throughout the entire room.
"This is my favorite song." Laura said excitedly as they started back to their table.
They were both immediately startled by Justin who popped up as if out of nowhere, "May I have this dance?"
Rachel smiled at Laura. "Ummm...Sure." she said as he took her hand and led her out to the dance floor.
JC was sitting at a nearby table talking to a couple of record producers when he noticed Justin and Laura walking towards the dance floor. He tuned out their conversation as he watched them. Laura looked around nervously before entwining her fingers with Justin's as he placed his other hand on the small of her back and pulled her closer to him. Laura rested her free hand on his shoulder as they began to dance.
Justin decided to test her. "What movie is this from?"
"Hmm...I'm guessing something Molly Ringwaldish...Pretty in Pink? At the end when they were at prom..."
"Very good." Justin smiled, clearly impressed by her knowledge.
"Yeah, I'm a big movie buff. JC sucks at our games of TV trivia."
"Speaking of him...Like his speech he gave earlier?"
"It was nice. " She nonchalantly said as they continued to sway to the music.
"You know it was for you right?" he said as he looked down into her eyes.
"Huh? What do you mean?" she asked. Laura was playing the innocent naive role where JC's speech was concerned.
"The part when he said 'I love you'. That was for you."
"Oh."
"That's the first time he has done that. He never even gave Rachel an 'I love you' when they were dating."
"He does it with you guys. Why not with me? We are just as close?"
"That's the same thing he said. We were all confused about it at first, but now it makes sense." he replied as he twirled her around slowly to watch her entire body as she turned.
"I just don't want people thinking there is anything else there, Justin. I most often times have to defend our friendship to you!" she joked.
"I understand. Did you give any thoughts to us going out again sometime?"
Laura began to laugh as Justin pulled her closer to his body. "Damn, Justin! It hasn't even been 24 hours since the last time we went out. You have to give me time to miss you." she said, smiling up at him.
"It usually doesn't take but 5 minutes for a girl to miss me. I must be losing my touch." he joked.
"You really surprise me."
"Why's that?" he asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"Because you are nothing like you appear to be." she smiled as she looked into his eyes.
"What do I appear to be?"
"Well most often times you have this player mentality and you seem like you are only about loving em' and leaving em', but that's not what you're about."
"How can you tell for sure?" he whispered lightly in her ear.
"Because...The extreme amount of effort that you put into our date yesterday...in the little bit of time you had to plan it...was amazing. I don't think anyone would go that far if they were only trying to get a good piece of ass."
"Well if you spent half as much time with me as you do with JC, you would have found that out a long time ago. I go to great lengths for things that are dear to me."
Laura looked at him, puzzled by what he had just said, but was scared to venture down that road of conversation with him. "So what do you think went on between Jerry and Rachel earlier?" she asked trying to change to subject.
"I don't know. Probably the usual. Why are you trying to change the subject, Ms. Slickster?" he grinned as he dipped her back.
"Because I don't want to get into that subject with you right now."
"You scared to blow up my ego or something?"
"No...It's just that-"
A man soon interrupted over the loudspeaker and announced that dinner was being served. Justin took Laura's hand and led her back to their table. As he held her chair for her, he curiously looked around and asked, "Where did JC go?"
"The last time I saw him, he was sitting over there." Chris pointed out to the table next to theirs.
"He looked upset when I saw him. He was walking past me out into the lobby by the rest rooms." Jerry stated as held out Rachel's chair. Rachel grabbed her chair and said she could do it herself, before rolling her eyes at him and taking a seat.
CHAPTER 22
Laura wanted to go and look for JC but did not want to arouse suspicion. They all sat and talked amongst themselves and Joey noted that their table would have a few minutes to wait till it was served. "I'm going to run and freshen up before dinner then. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"If you see JC out there, tell him that we are about to eat please." Rachel noted.
"Okay."
As Laura entered the lobby she looked around for JC, but there wasn't a soul in sight. As she walked back towards the rest rooms she heard a whisper coming from a long dark corridor. She stopped and looked down the long hallway but could not see a thing because it was so dark. "Psstt..."
Laura looked around and couldn't tell where the whisper was coming from. A woman walked by and recognized Laura. They stood there for a few moments talking, before she asked for Laura's autograph. She handed her a napkin and Laura proceeded to place it against the wall near the dark corridor to sign it. Once she was done she waved good-bye to the woman, she started towards the restrooms when a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into the darkness.
"Ssshhh...Its me, baby." JC covered her mouth to silence her screams.
"Are you crazy?! I was about to kick your ass, JC!" she whispered loudly. He laughed
lightly and let go of her arm. "They're serving dinner so you might want to go inside
if you want to eat."
"Yeah I'm going in a minute. I needed some fresh air."
"Oh." she said. "You OK?"
"I'm fine now."
"Good...Congratulations on the award." she said as she looked down the hall to make sure no one was there before she cupped his face in her hands and lightly kissed his lips and hugged him tightly. "The speech was beautiful."
"I meant what I said, Laura." he said slowly.
"I know." she smiled.
JC moved in closer while he began to kiss her neck. Laura eyes began to flutter into the back of her head as she felt his soft lips touch her skin. "oooh...God...JC...please..."
He slowly ran his hands up the front of her chest, caressing her breasts as he kissed her passionately. He slowly began to move his hands down to feel the rest of her body. Laura reflexively moved her leg up around JC's waist and the slits on the sides of her dress gave him all the access he needed. As he ran his hands up her thighs to the sides of her waste he quickly stopped kissing her neck and looked at her in shock.
"No panties? Not even a thong?" he asked.
"I can't wear either with this dress JC. It was either a G-string or nothing. See?" she said as she glided his hand further up her side to a flimsy string going around her waste.
"I don't think I can wait until we get home to see this Laura."
"You're going to have to, JC." she said with a serious look on her face as she fixed her dress. "Come on. Let's go and eat before someone sees us, please."
JC took her arm and pulled her back to him and lightly pushed her back up against the wall. "Who'd you really wear this dress for? Me or him?"
Laura was confused, "Him? Who are you talking about? Justin?"
"You two seem to be enjoying the night."
"He asked me to dance. What was I suppose to say? Oh no Justin, I can't dance with you, because I am secretly dating your best friend and don't want him to get jealous? Come on, JC. Get a grip." she hissed. JC smiled while he thumbed her nipples as she continued to talk. He was amused by the way she tried to not show how turned on she was becoming. "I wore the dress because it looked nice...on...me...Dammit JC...You can't make me any wetter than I already am." Laura flung her arms around his neck and pulled him into her as she feverishly kissed him.
JC quickly put one hand around her back and one against the wall to hold his balance. The bulge in his pants was growing by the second. She was so turned on that she didn't care who walked by anymore. All she knew is that she wanted him. She ran her hands down the back of his shirt and he moved the front of her dress aside. He slowly slid her G-string aside with expert ease and began to rub her clit. Her nails were soon digging into the back of his shirt into his back as he continued.
"See, baby...if you would have given me what I wanted earlier this morning we both wouldn't be as worked up as we are right now." he whispered as he ran his tongue down her ear and lightly bit her earlobe as he continued. "Damn, your soaking wet!" JC dipped two fingers into her pussy sending Laura in a state of confusion. To keep herself from crying out she bit down on the closest thing near her mouth...JC's neck. "Ahhh..." he hissed as he bit her in return. "Taste me." she demanded.
JC brought his two fingers up to his mouth and licked them clean of her juices as he looked deep into her eyes. Laura breathed heavily trying to catch her breath. "No...Taste me, JC." she commanded as she placed her hand on his shoulder and pushed down, leading him in the direction she wanted him to go.
He knelt down on his knees and took her right leg and placed it over his shoulder as he pushed her dress aside again before his head disappeared under the white satin of her dress. Laura's arms flailed around as she tried to grab onto something to muffle her screams but could only bit down on her own hand as she felt JC's hot wet tongue enter her. When he began to lightly suck on her now swollen clit, she immediately grabbed a chunk of his hair and pushed him deeper. "Oh, God JC. I'm gonna cum soon...Don't stop."
Being in public made it all the more exciting as he continued his tongue lashing. Laura noticed someone walk by out of the corner of her eye and quickly came back to reality as she pushed JC's head away from her crotch and fixed her dress.
JC was startled as he fell backwards onto the floor before bumping his head on the opposite wall. "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" he asked.
"No. We need to stop." she stated as she fixed her clothes. "Someone just walked by."
"So? They can't see us down here, Laura."
"I'm paranoid, JC. This isn't right at all." she fixed his hair. "I'm sorry sweetie. I just can't." she said as she kissed him on the lips while rubbing his throbbing cock through his dress pants. JC's eyes rolled into the back of his head before he grabbed her hands and brought them back up to his face and kissed them. He took a deep breath and said "Come out a few minutes behind me. I need to go to the bathroom and run some ice water down my pants." he said as he looked both ways and walked out of the dark corridor.
Laura couldn't help but laugh out loud. She waited a few moments and then proceeded out the corridor and made a left into the lobby.
"What the hell were you doing down there?" a voice rang out from behind her.
CHAPTER 23
Laura jumped back in surprise. "Dammit, Justin. What is up with you and this whole popping up everywhere routine lately?!"
"My mother always told me that when someone is startled, it usually means they are up to no good." he smiled.
Laura rolled her eyes and pushed Justin as they slowly walked towards the ballroom. "I wasn't 'up to no good' as you and your momma say....I was just....Having some female issues."
Justin's face crinkled up as he shook his entire body. "Okay, you can keep that personal shit to yourself. No need to expound any further on the matter."
"Whatever!" she teased as she prayed to God that Justin didn't see JC walk out ahead of her moments earlier. She was soon relieved when he went on to gossip about other people who were inside.
As they reached the table, Laura noticed that JC was already back and engaged in conversation with Rachel.
"JC, what the hell happened to your neck?" Chris asked.
With a confused look on his face, JC asked, "What are you talking about?" as he touched his neck. He quickly remembered Laura biting it minutes earlier. "My collar was bothering me. I kept itching in that one spot and couldn't stop scratching it. Its all irritated now." he explained. Laura looked away from the table trying not to smile. Joey was studying the red mark on his neck and was just about to touch it until JC moved his head back "It should be fine in a couple minutes, guys."
As their food was being served Laura turned to the waiter and asked for another glass of water. Rachel turned to ask her to request two more from the waiter until she noticed a similar red mark on Laura's neck beneath her hairline. Laura turned to ask Rachel if she wanted a glass too, but Rachel was staring off into space. Laura tapped her on the shoulder, "Earth to Rachel? Do you want another glass of water or not?"
"Huh? Umm....Yes please." she quickly answered before returning to her own thoughts. Rachel was silent for most of the evening. She just sat back and watched everyone interacting. She noticed Justin leaning in and whispering to Laura and hoped that he was the one that had been the cause of the mark on her neck, but something inside her was telling her she was out of the loop on something.
JC has noticed Rachel's observations and knew something was going on in her head since she was so quiet. He also noticed Justin's incessant whispers to Laura, who seemed to be enjoying things way too much. As he was looking around at everyone, he locked eyes with Rachel who seemed to be staring at him. He mouthed 'what' and she just smiled and mouthed back to him, 'later.'
The host for the evening got on-stage and stated that while dessert was being prepared he wanted to have people come up and do a little karaoke so he could test out the machine they had just bought for the banquet hall. JC could feel Rachel's eyes stabbing him and decided to take the opportunity to retreat away from her by volunteering on-stage. He jumped up on stage and went through the list before picking a song.
When Laura heard the music begin to play she immediately stopped speaking and turned around to see JC standing on the stage. Justin looked at her and wondered what made her turn so quickly, but shrugged it off and looked in JC's direction as he began to sing.
Hey where did we go,
Days when the rains came
Down in the hollow,
Playin' a new game,
Laughing and a running hey, hey
Skipping and a jumping
In the misty morning fog with
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
My brown eyed girl,
You my brown eyed girl.
Laura quickly began to smile and laugh lightly to herself as she watched JC on-stage. It was one of her favorite songs as a child and lately, she'd been singing it all the time. She couldn't seem to get it out of her head. It must have also worn off on JC.
Joey and Chris got up and joined him on stage. As they began to sing, JC motioned for everyone in the room to join in with them, "Do you remember when we used to sing," He pointed the mic out towards the crowd and everyone joined in.
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
"Just like that!" he smiled.
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
La te da
So hard to find my way,
Now that I'm all on my own.
I saw you just the other day,
My how you have grown,
Cast my memory back there, Lord
Sometime I'm overcome thinking 'bout
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium with you
My brown eyed girl
You my brown eyed girl
Everyone in the room sung out in unison together, "Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da. "
As he finished the song everyone cheered as he smiled and got down off the stage.
"Let's give another hand to JC for cheering up the room a bit with his rendition of that Van Morrison classic. Thanks man!" the host announced as he clapped in JC's direction.
When dessert was finally served, Jerry stood up and began to speak. "Well guys, I hate to have to leave in the middle of dessert and this great time we're having but I have an early start tomorrow."
Chris sarcastically grinned and said "Oh no, please don't leave us...Just when you were starting to liven things up a bit."
"Funny Chris...Thanks again for everything guys. You ready Rachel, we need to get going."
"You go on without me. I'll meet you back at home later."
Jerry looked at her in disbelief. "What?"
"You heard me." All eyes were on Rachel and she didn't want to cause a scene. She slowly stood up and hugged Jerry and kissed him on the cheek, "I want to stay with Laura for a bit longer. I'll meet you back at home later." Jerry looked over at Laura and then agreed. As he was leaving he looked back over at Rachel and noticed her staring at JC. A frown formed on his face as he slowly turned and walked away.
As they were leaving Joey and Chris decided to catch a cab and go hit a few clubs before they called it a night. Lance, Justin, Laura, JC and Rachel all jumped into the limo and headed home.
Lance was the first to be dropped off and Justin would be the last because of where their houses were. When they reached JC's he thanked everyone for the great time and proceeded to get out of the limo. Rachel stopped him and told him to wait for her as he grabbed her purse and stepped out of the van. He had a confused look on his face and looked towards Laura who quickly asked, "I thought you were coming home with me?"
"I need to talk to JC for a bit. I'll be over later." she smiled as she shut the door.
Laura began to speak but the door shut before she could get a word out.
CHAPTER 24
"Hmmm...I wonder what they are going to talk about?" Justin asked as he grabbed a bottle of champagne and began to pour it into his glass.
"I guess it must be important. She has been on that topic of speaking to him all night." she mumbled.
As they pulled around the corner to Laura's, she leaned over and kissed Justin on the cheek and said goodnight before crawling over him to get out of the limo.
"You're not going to invite me in?"
"Did you want to come in?" she asked.
"Of course."
Laura didn't want Justin to try anything, but at the same time she didn't want to be alone to sit and think about Rachel and JC all evening. "Okay, I guess for a bit."
"Great." Justin leaned up and told the driver that he could go home and that Justin would call a cab when he was ready to leave.
"Damn! Your house is nice!"
"Oh yeah, that's right. You've never been in here before."
"I knew song writers got a lot of money, but I would have never guessed this much money!"
"Oh hush." she laughed.
"I got a good deal on this house is all. And everything here looks more expensive than it actually is."
"That grand piano over there must have at least cost you a good $16,000, Laura."
"And I know JC said you had a specially made one downstairs that had to at least start in the $25,000 range."
Laura just smiled, "If you say so."
"Well, then who are you fuckin'?"
"What?!"
"It was joke...chill. I was asking who you must be having sex to have all this expensive stuff if the house if you aren't as rich as I am assuming."
"Oh...Well I guess who I am screwing will remain my best kept secret."
Justin suddenly grew quiet. "so I was right?"
"Right about what?"
"You sleeping with someone these days..."
Laura didn't want to lie, but she didn't want to get stuck in a situation of Justin trying to guess who. "No, not really sleeping with anyone right now." It wasn't a lie. Right at the moment when he asked, she wasn't. "I was just playing around with you, Justin."
They both sat on the couch and Laura grabbed the remote and turned on the television. Justin grabbed it from her hand and turned it off and shifted his body to face her. "The TV doesn't really interest me right now." he said as he leaned in closer to her. Laura suddenly began to feel nervous.
"Then what does?"
Justin leaned even closer and Laura jumped at the sound of the stereo being turned on. "This does." He said, asking her how to change to the station he wanted to hear.
Laura glared at him as he smirked to her reaction. "There are plenty of CD's over there if you don't want to listen to the radio" she said as she stood up.
"Where you going?"
Laura laughed, "To get changed out of this dress. I feel damn near naked." She started to walk away until Justin grabbed her hand.
"One more dance before you change?"
"Ehhh....Sure...Why not?"
Justin ran over to the entertainment system looking through CD's while Laura stood there waiting. "Oh this is my shit." he said as he took a CD out of a case. Laura leaned to see what it was but Justin blocked her view while he loaded it into the player and ran back over to where she was standing to dance with her. As soon as the music began to play Laura face lit up.
"Ahh, Michael Jackson huh?"
"I love this song." he said as he lightly grabbed her waist and brought her body towards him to dance.
"That makes two of us." Laura commented as she nervously wrapped her hands around Justin's neck.
There'll Be No Darkness Tonight
Lady Our Love Will Shine (lighting the light)
Just Put Your Trust In My Heart
And Meet Me In Paradise, (now is the time)
Girl, You're Every Wonder In This World To Me
A Treasure Time Won't Steal Away
So Listen To My Heart
Lay Your Body Close To Mine
Let Me Fill You With My Dreams
I Can Make You Feel Alright
And Baby Through The Years
Gonna Love You More Each Day
So I Promise You Tonight
That You'll Always Be The Lady In My Life....
"I can't understand how you have this whole other side to you that no one else has ever seen, Justin."
"We all have things about us that even our closest friends don't know."
"True." she agreed as they continued to dance in silence listening to the music.
The music had ended but Laura and Justin were still swaying, off in their own thoughts. Justin stood back and looked at Laura.
"What?" she smiled as he starred into her eyes.
"Nothing."
"Okay. Well I'm going to get changed so make yourself at home. You know how to work the remote. I'll be back in a few minutes." she said as she walked out of the room.
Laura closed her bedroom door and leaned her head against the wall as she talked to herself, "Get it together, Laura."
She quickly took a shower and changed into a pair of sweat pants and a spaghetti strapped shirt she looked out the window towards JC's. She could see the lights were still on and wondered if Rachel was still there. Laura made it up in her mind that she was going to trust JC and not think about it for the rest of the night.
"What you watchin'?" she asked Justin as she walked back into the room with two glasses of ice and soda.
"Videos." There's nothing else on.
"There's a million CD's over there if you want to check them out."
"Believe me I did when you were gone. I wanted to wait for you to get back though."
"Oh. Well turn it on."
Justin pressed play and soon joined her back on the couch. Luther Vandross' "A House Is Not A Home" began to play. They talked for awhile bout the evening and life in general. As if out of no where Justin chimed in, "So tell me straight up now so that I am not left with any doubts..."
"Tell you what?" she asked as she tossed a piece of popcorn towards her mouth.
"Do you see this thing between us going anywhere?"
Laura stopped chewing. "Any further than friends? Right now, I just can't."
"Not attracted to me?"
"Believe me, Justin....It's not that at all. My mind just isn't in it right now."
"Nor your heart?"
"Right now, I can't say that it is...I've got too much going on in my life right now to try and concentrate on a relationship right now."
"This doesn't have anything to do with JC at all?"
"Part of it does. Your best friends...Just as I am best friends with him. But trust me, I would never lead you on and I would always tell you if I had those type of feelings for you."
"So you're telling me that even when we were dancing together tonight you felt absolutely nothing?"
Laura started laughing, "Justin, I've had plenty of sexual fantasies about you tonight, but I would never play them out with you."
"Ahh, I see." he smirked. "So I can wear you down if I keep at it."
"You can try, but I don't think it would do any good, sweetie." she smiled, throwing a piece of popcorn at him.
"Let me get my ass out of here before you get me any more sexually frustrated then I already am." he laughed, pulling his cell phone out to call a cab.
They both sat and talked some more as they waited for the cab to arrive. Laura walked Justin to the door and gave him a hug and watched him walk over to the cab. He started to get inside and turned around quickly.
"Oh damn...I almost forgot to tell you! Rachel called you."
"She did?"
Justin ran back up the door so he wouldn't wake up the entire neighborhood with his yelling. "You were in the shower. She just told me to tell you he knows."
"He knows?"
"Yeah that's all she said. I'll see you later." He kissed her cheek and ran back to the cab.
With a confused look on her face she waved to Justin and closed to door and she turned off the lights to go to bed. "He knows?" she asked herself. "He knows what?" Suddenly her face turned white as though she'd seen a ghost. "Oh fuck! He knows!" she said in realization. "What the hell am I going to do?"
CHAPTER 25
Laura left numerous messages on Rachel's phone to find out exactly what he knew, but only got in touch with Jerry, who told her Rachel would be out of town until the next afternoon.
Laura paced around her living room. Looking at the clock. 'Damn its only noon. He isn't up.' she thought to herself. She then looked out the window every few seconds trying to see movement. She was afraid to even step foot outside, but knew she would eventually have to face him.
"Later, after a nap." she told herself. She hadn't slept all night and her body was screaming for rest. She went and took a couple sleeping pills to help in the process.
Awakened by lips all over her face, Laura squinted her eyes and saw Buddy standing on her bed waging his tail. "Hey you. What are you doing over here so early? Did your daddy not wake up to feed you baby?" she said as she pet the dog.
"So early? Its 6 pm." a voice from behind her said.
Laura quickly jumped up and saw that it was JC. She lowered her eyes and began to speak, "I didn't know you were here."
Laura tried to read JC's face for some form of clue as to what he was feeling. "Are you sick?"
"Huh?" she asked.
"I said are you sick? You never sleep this late in the day, Laura." he replied as he felt her forehead. Laura moved her head away from his touch.
"I'm fine." she stated as she got out of bed and walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
JC started to read Laura an article in the rolling stones about the group. She was completely confused. 'Why isn't he yelling at me by now? Is he trying to torment me?'
"Are you OK, JC?"
"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be, Laura?"
"You're not mad at me?"
"Why would I be mad at you Laura?"
"Because of Rachel, JC. Please don't act coy." Laura went on to explain, but the phone began to ring. "Hello?"
"Laura? It's Jerry. Rachel called and wanted me to give you the number for where she is staying tonight."
"Oh great. Thanks, Jerry."
"Umm, Laura?"
"Yes?"
"I know....Rachel told me last night...Hopefully you will be able to explain this to me, because I don't understand."
"YOU know?" she desperately asked.
"Yes."
Relief quickly replaced all the anxiety that had been building up inside her. Rachel must have been talking about Jerry when she said, 'he knows'. She was still confused as to what he knew, but was thankful that it wasn't JC she was referring to. "Whatever you need, I'll help." she replied with a slight smile.
Jerry reminded her of a party that she and JC were suppose to attend that evening at a Michael Stewart's house to mingle with different people for promotional purposes.
"Thanks, Jerry. I'll let him know." she said before hanging up the phone.
JC rolled his eyes and let his body fall back onto her bed. "What does he want now?"
"We have to go to some party at 8."
JC put a pillow over his face and began to scream. Laura climbed on top of him straddling his chest and she struggled to grab the pillow back away from his face. "We don't have to stay long." she smiled. JC slowly ran his hands up her thighs. "No?"
"Nope." she said as she lightly kissed his lips. JC arched his head up to kiss her more deeply but she pulled away and sprang off the bed to find a dress to wear.
"Ya Tease!" he yelled, letting his fist fall to the bed.
"Awww...Poor baby." she mocked. While she was at the mirror toying with her hair, JC walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her wait and patted her stomach.
"What was that for?"
"Just wondering if something would pat back." JC said as he looked down at her stomach in the mirror's reflection.
"Like what?" Laura wondered.
"Joshua Jr."
Laura spun her head around. "Why would you think that?" she asked defensively.