Joining the Troupe

“We need to get another dancer and fast,” Johnny reported to the guys on a break from rehearsals.

“Who did we lose?” Lance asked.

“Jenna. She decided to marry her boyfriend – and he doesn’t want her gone all summer.”

“The pixie,” Wade suggested. “Amelia Parker. See if that girl is available.”

JC inwardly groaned. He didn’t know if he could bear to have Amelia Parker around without revealing all the feelings she stirred in him. He still hadn’t forgotten the brief taste of her he’d gotten. It was on his mind constantly.

“That’d be fantastic!” Chris cheered. “I’d get a partner who makes me look big.”

“It would be great to have Amelia with us,” Lance agreed.

Justin looked at JC and noticed how the other man studiously avoided comment. “Hey, ‘C, what do you think?”

JC shrugged. “Karrie’s my partner.”

“I’ll see if she’s still available.” Johnny dialed Amelia’s cellphone.

She was really beginning to get frustrated, Amelia thought as she left another audition. She was a darned good dancer. If one more person said she was too little and not blonde enough – the chime of her cellphone prevented from getting into her car. “Hello?”

“Amelia, it’s Johnny Wright. You still looking for a gig while I shop you around?”

“I do need to pay my bills and eat,” she laughed. “But I am looking for a gig that doesn’t require me to grow seven inches taller and bleach my hair blonde,” she mused. “Know of one?”

“The perfect one. One who loves you just the way you are.”

“Loves me?”

“We need a dancer for the tour.”

She had truly enjoyed working with the *NSYNC people. JC Chasez would be the only minus. Since she had planted that kiss on him, he crossed her mind incessantly – which was distracting. She’d been bold enough to do it, because she knew it was her last day with the guys.

“Amelia? You still there?” Johnny asked at her silence.

“Um – yeah, I’m here.”

“Well?”

“Who do you need me to partner?” Please, don’t let it be JC, she prayed.

“Chris. You know he’s for it. And you were the first one on Wade’s list.”

“C’mon, pixie!” Wade yelled over the connection. “I need someone to learn the routines yesterday.”

Amelia smiled at the choreographer’s confidence in her.

“Hear that?” Johnny asked.

“How soon?”

“An hour from now?”

Amelia laughed outright at that. “As long as I can come dressed as I am.”

“I don’t think they’d care if you were wearing a pink and purple tutu.”

“Maybe they wouldn’t, but I would!” Amelia looked at her watch. “Okay. I’ll get there.”

JC mentally banged his head against the wall. Having Amelia working in their troupe was not going to be easy.

JC sighed irritably at yet another halt in rehearsals, because Amelia hadn’t followed correctly. “I thought we hired her so we wouldn’t have to start from day one,” he grumbled.

Everyone turned surprised eyes to JC, then looked to little Amelia who seemed stricken and about ready to cry. This was not the first comment he had made about the dancer that afternoon.

“Excuse me,” Amelia murmured softly and left the room.

“Way to go, slick.” Justin stared at JC. “That’ll impress a girl – tormenting her.”

“Lighten up,” Joey suggested. “She only been doing the routines for three hours. She’s got them down better than me.”

“You’d better not make my little partner quit,” Chris warned. Amelia made him look good.

Lance said nothing, tossing JC a disgusted glance, he left the room in search of Amelia.

Amelia sat on the floor just outside the studio door, her knees pulled up to her chin. She looked lost and felt even worse.

“Why does he hate me, Lance?” she asked quietly.

“JC doesn’t hate you.” Lance joined her on the floor, putting an arm around her shoulders. “Jenna leaving put us behind. JC’s a perfectionist. I guess, he’s letting the pressure get to him.”

“I’m doing my best.”

“You’re doing great. If you weren’t, Wade would be all over you. If he isn’t complaining, then everything’s cool. Ignore JC.”

She didn’t tell him it was very hard for her to ignore JC Chasez since she stolen that kiss. Squeezing Lance’s hand, she smiled. “Thanks, Lance.”

“If it makes you feel any better, he got his ass jumped for treating you that way.”

“I don’t want to become a wedge between you all.”

“Naugh. JC’s just got to get himself straight. He gets too uptight. It’ll be okay. Just wait and see.”

“If you’re sure…”

“I’m positive.”

Justin popped his head out of the door. “You okay, Amelia? Ready to do it again?”

Amelia rose gracefully. “I’m sorry to be such a whiner.”

“The only whining I was hearing was JC’s,” Justin laughed. “And if JC says anything, we promise to tape his mouth shut.” Grinning, Justin grabbed her hand. “C’mon, girl. Let’s make some moves.”

JC felt his heart twist when Lance and Justin escorted Amelia back into the studio. She had been crying. Damn his mouth. Lance’s glare in his direction couldn’t be missed. What was it about little Amelia that brought all his anger to the surface?

Rehearsal continued for hours. Amelia did her best to follow – and caught on well. JC had no need to complain. When Wade called it a day, everyone headed for the door.

Lance notice JC heading in Amelia’s direction and intercepted him.

“Leave her alone,” Lance warned. “She doesn’t need you layin’ it on her.”

“I’m not gonna unload on her. And if it’s any of your business, I’m planning to apologize.”

Reluctantly, Lance stepped aside.

“Amelia.” JC touched her shoulder as she made to leave.

“What do you want?” she asked tersely. She’d had just about enough of the high and mighty JC Chasez for one day. She wanted this job but not enough to put up with his crap!

He gazed down at the defiant little dancer, her dark eyes snapping fire – and he remembered how her lips had felt on his, how sweet she’d tasted. For a long moment, he was mute.

Why was he thinking about that stupid kiss, she wondered irritably, reading his eyes. It seemed he didn’t like her, so why did he want to kiss her again?

JC blinked to clear his head. “I’m sorry about earlier. I had no right to say anything. You work hard and you learn fast. That’s why you were brought on board. If I have any excuse, it’s that I’m worried about delays in the tour.”

“Okay.” Amelia didn’t wait for an outright apology, because Lance came up and claimed her hand.

“Remember? We got a date for milkshakes,” Lance announced and tugged a giggling Amelia away.

JC wondered if she could read the apology and helpless attraction in his eyes as she was taken from his sight. The words, I think I love you almost made it to his lips, dying on his tongue.

“The only excuse you have is that you are in love with her and are too dumb to tell her,” Justin remarked as he observed JC as Amelia disappeared with Lance.

“Looks like she’s Lance’s girl now anyhow.” JC shook his head. Amelia didn’t need a mess like he was right now. He’d even considered breaking off a long-standing relationship all because Amelia had kissed him – and then he did nothing but push her away with his bad attitude. She deserved better.

“’C, you’d better get it pulled together before she decided you aren’t worth the aggravation.”

“Maybe I’m not,” JC returned quietly. “I can’t seem to control myself when she’s around.”

“That’s ‘cuz you let her think you don’t care about her.”

”She’s with Lance. He’s more what she needs. Levelheaded. Steady. A real gentleman.”

“How many times do I hafta say it? Amelia isn’t looking for somebody safe. I saw her plant one on you that day.”

JC’s head jerked up. “You did? Who—“

“Just me. That was a pretty telling move if you ask me. You’re what she wants. She made the first move. Now, it’s your turn to quit acting like such a jackass and make the next one.”

JC merely shook his head.

The next day, Amelia proved their faith in her talents had been well placed. She ran through the routines cleanly – as well, if not better than some of the others.

JC made certain he was the first one to acknowledge her. “Great job, Amelia,” he told her during their first break of the day.

She looked surprised. “Thank you.”

He reached for a bottle of water from a small fridge. “Want one?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Twisting the often hard to open sport cap, he handed her a bottle and took one for himself. “I’m sorry I was such an ass yesterday.”

Was this the same JC? He was being pleasant! Amelia merely shrugged, not knowing what to say.

“I don’t have a good excuse. I was being a jerk.” But I promise I won’t be a jerk if you don’t fall in love with Lance, he wanted to say. “Forgive me?”

“I suppose so.”

He took a long draw of water. “Lance says you write.”

“Songs? Yes, I do.”

“I’d be happy to give a listen – if you want me to.”

He was offering his precious free time to listen to her work? “You’re probably too busy to—“

“I’m never too busy to listen to rising talent.”

“But—“

JC reached over to give her braid a gentle tug. “If you’d like it, I’ll listen. I may be a jerk, but I like to think I’m opened minded when listening to new material.”

Amelia wondered what else he was offering. “Maybe a little later.”

JC nodded. She didn’t trust him and he understood her lack of trust. He hadn’t been very nice to her this time around – and he hadn’t been all that pleasant the first time. “Whenever you want,” he assured her.

He watched her take a long swallow of water. He wanted to trace the trail the liquid was taking with his lips – down her slender throat, between her breasts and ribs, to her belly – and then he wanted to go even farther. But Amelia didn’t seem to like him – and he had only himself to blame.

“Amelia, can we start over – or at least, go back to where you might have liked me a little bit?”

She blinked like an owl, seemingly not comprehending his question. Why was he asking that? “Why?”

“I could say it’s because it’ll be a long summer if we’re arguing all the time or because I want to get the guys off my back, but I’d be lying,” he told her truthfully. “I just don’t want to be the enemy. Isn’t that a good enough reason? I want us to be friends.”

Could she be friends with JC, knowing how badly she wanted more? More of his mouth. His arms around her. His hard, sweaty body against hers, making her his. Friends?

JC felt his mouth go dry as he fell into her dark eyes. Amelia wanted him as much as he wanted her! If he was brave enough to close the distance between them and give her what her eyes were begging for…He started to move closer—

“Amelia.” Lance’s voice broke the thread of mutual attraction holding the couple in mid-air and they stepped apart.

Amelia straightened and smiled at Lance. “Yes?”

“We got some of the wardrobe sketches in. Wanna see them?”

“Sure.” To JC, she lifted her water in salute. “Thanks – friend.”

JC managed a smile as she was towed away from him. “Anytime, friend.”

Justin came up and pressed a finger to JC’s shoulder and made a hissing sound. “Getting warm, ‘C?”

Staring after Amelia, it took a moment for JC to respond. “Huh?”

“You and Amelia. You were gonna kiss her. You would’ve if Lance hadn’t made a timely save.”

“She wanted it, too,” he murmured, still stunned by what he’d found in her eyes. “We can be friends.”

“Friends is always a good place to start. You’re lucky she didn’t tell you to eat shit and die, the way you’ve been.”

“Amelia doesn’t hold grudges.”

“She tell you that?”

“No – I just know it.”

Justin grinned. “What’s in that water?”

“I got a date with Amelia!” Lance fairly chirped when he joined the others for rehearsals.

All eyes went to JC, waiting for his reaction.

“Congratulations,” JC offered, hiding his unease. “Perseverance pays off.”

“Well, she didn’t call it a date. We’re going horseback riding together,” Lance explained.

“Hey, it’s cool.”

“The hell it is,” Justin muttered when Lance moved away. “All you gotta do is show the girl some attention and she’d be yours.”

“Yeah, right.” JC began warm up stretches.

“She would. Chris is right. You two are meant to be together, not her and Bass boy.”

“You guys asked me not to frown at her all the time. I’ve done that. I’ve been pleasant to her, downright nice to her on occasion. What else do you want from me?”

Justin grinned. “Kiss her.”

“That’s not happening. I’m in a relationship.”

“Then why are you hot for Amelia?”

“Who said I was?”

“The crotch monster. I dance as close to her as you do – and I never got an aching woody every time we dance together.”

JC frowned. He couldn’t help his body’s reaction to the little dancer. “Maybe ‘cuz you’re into blondes.”

Justin laughed. “Could be. It’s more likely that Amelia’s more like a sister to me – you don’t exactly have brotherly feelings towards her.”

What did he feel for Amelia? JC wondered. It didn’t matter. Lance was making in-roads with her, so she was off-limits now anyway. He didn’t poach.

“Even he admitted she didn’t call it a date.” Justin read JC’s thoughts. “They are going horseback riding. I bet if he tried to lay one on her, she’d freak – ‘cuz that’s not the way she sees him either.”

“Can we end this conversation?” JC sighed.

“Yeah. Sure.” Justin grumbled, “Loser.”

“What did you call me?” JC demanded.

“Loser – ‘cuz that’s what’s gonna happen if you don’t make some move on Amelia.”

“Justin—“ JC stopped when Amelia stepped into the studio. God, she looked so good. Her hair was in a loose ponytail; he could almost imagine it down…

“Is Wade in here?” Amelia asked breathlessly, partially from her hurry, mostly from the hot look JC was giving her. Darn, the man anyway! He wavered between being pleasant to barely acknowledging her existence, then she intercepted these unguarded glances. What did he want from her?

“No, midget, haven’t seen him yet,” Justin replied since JC was too busy staring.

“Oh. Okay. Thanks.” With that, she disappeared back out the door.

“Yep. She has no effect on you at all. She just leaves you speechless,” Justin taunted.

“What am I gonna do? I’ve never felt like this,” JC confessed finally.

Justin, for once, didn’t gloat over being right. “Remember the song from 'Little Mermaid’? ‘Kiss the Girl’.”

“That’s a little abrupt.”

“I think it’d cut through a lot of crap – and it’s what you both want.”

“I’m seeing someone else.”

“Then it’s time for you to be truthful with her and let her know you’re falling for Amelia.”