Careless Mistake
by Kelli
Part 24
Mid August 2004...
"You'd be very proud of me," Britney said after Justin sat back down in the audience.
"Why's that?" he asked as he placed his hand on her knee.
"Larry handed me the phone and it was Bryan...."
"Is everything okay?" he asked, sounding alarmed.
"Yes...he was just congratulating me and he said Mackenzie heard my voice and was trying to talk to me," she said, sticking her lower lip out.
"Awww," Justin smiled.
"So I said hey to her and told her that we loved her and guess what?"
"What?" he chuckled.
"She didn't even cry and I didn't even get upset about it."
He leaned over and placed a couple of kisses on her cheek. "I love you," he whispered, sending chills down her spine.
"I love you too," she whispered back.
*Flash*
A picture caught in a moment.
The rest of the night felt like a blur. The award that Britney was presenting, *Nsync won. All the guys gave her a kiss on the cheek as they walked by her and Justin was last. Joey was already talking when Justin reached down and kissed Britney on the cheek as well but held on to her hand. He inched his way toward the microphone, never letting go of Britney's hand. She tried to free herself so that he could enjoy this with his band mates but he held on tight.
"Okay...my turn?" he asked, looking Chris's way. "Well...first I think it's pretty cool that we got the Viewer's Choice award again. This award always means the most to us because the fans voted for it. And now it means so much because of who presented it to us," he said, shaking Britney's hand a little.
She was blushing.
"Thank you and God bless," Justin said, waving to the crowd.
Once they made it backstage and all took pictures together, Justin and Britney decided to head out so they could get home and give Mackenzie a kiss goodnight before changing into their party clothes.
"What a night," Justin sighed as he reclined in the limo.
"It was a great night," Britney agreed.
She stretched out beside him and snuggled against his arm.
"Once we get home do we really think we're going to leave again?" Justin asked as he chuckled.
"Well....Mackenzie will be asleep. It's not like we'll get to spend time with her anyway...."
"True."
"We haven't been out partying like this in a looonnnggg time," she said.
"No we haven't. God, we're getting old before our time."
She laughed. "No we're not. We just have other responsibilities right now."
"Very important ones," he agreed.
She looked over at him and smiled when she realized that his eyes were closed.
"I guess we could stay at the apartment and not go out," she said finding the hem of his shirt and running her hand underneath it.
He never opened his eyes, he only smiled.
"What did you have in mind?"
"Oh I don't know.....Bryan and Lauren could leave and Mackenzie would be asleep.....and I'm too hyper to fall asleep yet."
She was now whispering this against his ear, which made him shiver a little bit.
He swallowed. "You don't say?"
She sat up straight and pulled her hand out from under his shirt and said, "Or we could change and take advantage of the fact that we have babysitters and go out and party."
He opened his eyes, looked at her and laughed.
"We probably should take advantage of babysitters, huh?"
She nodded. "Especially while in New York."
He sighed. "Okay, partying it is. And who knows, we still my be too wound up when we get back to fall asleep."
He had moved over to her and started kissing her neck.
"Hopefully," she giggled.
~*~
The party was hopping by the time they arrived. It took them longer to tear themselves away from Mackenzie, even though she was sleeping, than they thought.
"I think I see Lance up there," Britney said, pointing toward an area with standup bar tables.
They, and their bodyguards, headed toward that direction.
"Hey," Lance said as he hugged Britney. "We were thinking you guys decided to stay home."
"We toyed with the idea," Britney laughed. "But then we decided we don't get out enough."
Lance nodded. "I agree.....you know one of us would watch Mackenzie one night if you two wanted to go clubbin or even just out to dinner one night."
She nodded. "Yeah....we know. After tonight, we might take you up on that."
They were pretty much yelling at each other so they could hear over the music.
"I'll go get us something to drink," Justin said, leaning into Britney so she could hear him.
"Wait," Lance said as he held his hand up, signaling the waitress.
When she came over Justin and Britney gave her their order and then continued talking to Lance about the evening.
A couple of hours and a few drinks later Justin pulled Britney onto the dance floor. It was crowded and hot but neither of them seemed to notice as they let the music take over their bodies. Slowly they grinded into each other. Justin had one arm around Britney's back and once in awhile she'd place her hands on his shoulders. Neither took their eyes off each other.
"When was the last time we did this?" Britney yelled up at him.
"What?" he yelled back.
She pulled his head down close so that his ear was by her mouth.
"When was the last time we did this?" she said loudly again.
He pulled away from her so he could see her face and he smiled.
"When do you think?" he asked.
She thought back and then laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Oh God....let's hope there's not a repeat of that night," she said, shaking her head.
Justin's smile faded. The alcohol was clouding his brain and that statement hit him the wrong way for some reason. They continued to dance but when the song ended, Justin excused himself and headed towards the bathroom.
Britney stood there dumbfounded. He left her standing there alone.
She walked back up to the area Lance was in and found Chris there as well.
"Hi Brit," he said.
"Hey," she mumbled.
"You okay?" he asked, putting his arm around her back.
"Yeah.....just fine. Did the waitress bring another drink while I was gone?" she asked Lance.
He reached behind him and handed her the glass.
"Thanks," she said.
She drank the mixed drink in one swallow.
"Whoa, Britney," Chris said, grabbing onto her arm but she had already drank the contents of the glass. "Easy there....or Justin will have to carry you home," he chuckled.
"Good," she said before she hiccupped.
Within a few minutes Justin returned to the area.
"Hey man," Chris said.
"Hi," Justin replied. He had a definite scowl on his face. "You ready to go?" he asked Britney.
"Already?" she asked. She was feeling lightheaded all of a sudden so she leaned up against the table.
"Yeah, suddenly I don't feel like being here," he said.
"Oh.....okay. Bye guys," she said, waving at Chris and Lance.
"You going?" Lance asked, looking up at Justin.
"Yeah.....not in the mood," he muttered.
Chris's eyebrows raised up and down. "Gotcha," he said with a smile.
The corner of Justin's mouth almost turned up in a smile but he knew one thing....he was not in the mood to deal with Britney now....in that way.
"Later," Justin said as he and Britney started to follow the bodyguards out the door to the limo.
There was silence on the ride back to the apartment.
"You're quiet," Britney said. Her ears were ringing from the loud music at the club.
"Yeah," he agreed and continued to look out the window.
She rolled her eyes and started to fan herself because she was feeling warm.
"Any reason why?"
"I'm just thinking," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Fine," she said, laying her head back against the seat.
They arrived at the apartment building and road the elevator in silence.
"Was it something I did?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"What?" he asked.
"Why you're not talking to me."
"I told you I was thinking," he snapped.
"Geez....fine," she snapped back.
The elevator door opened and Justin got out the key to let them into the apartment.
Bryan was sitting on the couch watching TV while Lauren was asleep with her head on his lap.
"Hey guys," Bryan said. He didn't say anymore when he noticed their sour faces.
"Hi.....how was Mackenzie? Did she wake up again?" Britney asked, standing over him.
"No, she's still asleep. How was the party?"
"It was good," Britney nodded.
"I'm going to bed. Goodnight Bryan....thanks for watching her and thank Lauren when she wakes up too."
He shook Bryan's hand and then retreated to the bedroom.
"What's that all about?" Bryan asked his sister.
"I have no idea. This mood just sort of hit him."
Bryan gently nudged Lauren to wake her up. After she got hear bearings Britney thanked them, hugged them and saw them out the door.
"Thanks again," she said to them before closing the door. She locked it and then turned off a few lights.
By the time she got to the bedroom Justin was already in bed.
"Did you check on Mackenzie?" she asked, kicking off her heels.
"Yes....she's fine," he said rolling over to he was facing away from her.
She left the room and walked to Mackenzie's room. She knew the monitor was on so she didn't say anything, she just stood over Mackenzie's crib and rubbed her back a little. Then she kissed the tip of her fingers and placed it on Mackenzie's cheek.
Before she left the room she whispered. "Good night my angel, mommy loves you."
She took a quick shower before sliding into bed, next to Justin. She settled in and pulled the sheets up to her chest.
"Good night," she said.
"Good night," he mumbled.
"I love you."
He didn't reply for a few minutes and then finally turned over so he was facing her.
"I love you too," he finally said.
"Are you going to talk to me now?" she asked as she studied his face.
"Let's talk in the morning," he said, reaching over and touching her cheek.
"Okay....I don't want us to go to bed mad at each other."
"I'm not mad," he said.
He leaned over and gently kissed her lips.
"Good night."
"Good night," she replied and then turned off the light next to her side of the bed.
