"Pop
Life"
Chapter 95
I have to focus. Darcy and Stacy are in the audience tonight and they're making faces at me. I laugh one more time before I turn away to sing Better Off.
Once I finish that song I have a quick change and I'm up on stage again.
"Woooooo," I yell.
The audience mimics me. I laugh.
"I love it when you guys do that. Well first of all, it's so great to be home," I say emphasizing the word by placing my hands over my heart. "I have a few friends from school here tonight," I say holding my hand up over my eyes to shade them from the light. I look around a point and wave at a few people I recognize. "So...if I seem a bit distracted," I say walking across the stage. I stop and turn my head... "You know why. Of course, I have my family here." I turn toward the VIP area and wave. At this point the spotlights are blinding me so I really can't see them returning the wave, but I'm sure Ashleigh is. "So tonight is special...but not just because of them..." I hop up on a pedestal that's rising. "But because of this wonderful Orlando crowd. I love you guys."
The lights dim and the music slows as I start to sing It's OK to Cry.
When the pedestal lowers back to the stage I glance over at Stacy and Darcy. They're both crying. I wink at them as the music picks up and I start the next routine.
"I'm so glad you had this afterparty," Darcy yells at me, so I can hear her over the music.
I lean in to hear her and nod. "I didn't have a choice, did I?" I kid.
She, Stacy and I sit there bobbing our heads to the music.
"You wish Brad was here?" Stacy asks.
"Yeah, of course."
Brianna comes over to me and holds her arms out. I walk into them and give her a big hug.
"I've missed you girl," she says.
"I thought you were going to come see me more often," I laugh.
"I've tried. I've got a lot going on," she says. She holds up her left hand in front of her face.
My eyes get big and I grab her hand and scream. "Oh my God...you're engaged?"
Her other hand grabs mine. "No...it's a promise ring."
I rub my forehead. "I didn't even know you were seeing anyone. I feel terrible."
She pulls me aside where the music isn't as loud.
"I was going to go hoarse," she laughs. "I haven't really told anyone about him. We haven't been seeing each other that long...but I've known him forever."
I try to think of anyone I know who fits that description.
"So you've been keeping this to yourselves?"
She nods.
"But why?"
She sighs. "You know how overprotective my dad is?"
I nod.
"Well, I just always played it off like I was interested in school and just having fun so he didn't worry about me. Well, this guy and I were friends and before I even realized what was happening...we got closer. I fell in love."
"You couldn't even tell me?" I ask, trying not to sound hurt.
"You tell your mama everything honey."
I nod. "Well, that's true. But she can keep a secret."
Brianna laughs. "I just wanted this for me, you know?"
I smile at her. "Yeah, I know. So, tell me...do I know this guy?"
She shrugs. "Well kinda. I think you've met him a couple of times at different family stuff."
My smile grows. "It's that one guy you've known since grade school, isn't it? Oh what's his name?" I ask, snapping my fingers.
She opens her mouth to speak.
"No, let me guess," I say, so she shuts her mouth. "Richard? No...Nicholas."
"Ding," she says, laughing.
"Awww, Bri, I'm so happy for you," I say giving her a hug.
"So am I."
I pull back and look at the ring. "So when did he give it to you?"
"Last week actually...that's why I've been able to hide it so far."
I look around. "But your mom and dad are here tonight. They haven't noticed?"
"I have it on a chain," she says pulling the empty chain out from underneath her blouse. "I wanted to show it to you though. Jealous?"
I laugh. "Well yes and no."
"How long have you and Brad been going out?" she asks as she leans against the railing.
"Five months."
"Wow," she says.
"I know." I stare at the crowd before looking around and then turning to her. "I think I love him."
Brianna smiles. "You're not sure?"
I shrug. "I don't know what love is supposed to feel like. I look at my parents and I know I don't feel that way toward Brad but I'm only seventeen. I just know that I think about him all the time and my world lights up when I'm talking to him or with him. He makes me want to do things I don't think I'm ready for." I say the last sentence almost too softly.
"Ohhhh, I see. But you haven't...have you?"
I shake my head. "I'm not ready for that yet. I mean sometimes I feel like I am but then there's a little voice inside my head saying no, you're not."
She nods. "I had that voice once. When that voice stops talking to you...then you're ready," she winks at me. "So, have you told him how you feel?"
"That I love him?" I shake my head. "No. No, I don't even know if I'm ready for that."
She bows her head a little before she looks up again. "What about him...how does he feel?"
I stare a the wall over her shoulder. "I don't know that either. I mean he told me that I mean a lot to him...that he cares for me."
She stares at me for a second. "Well...you guys are young. There's no use in rushing it."
I take a deep breath. "Yeah, I know. I keep telling myself I'm too young to feel this way."
She shakes her head. "No, there's no age limit to being in love. Just ask our parents," she smiles.
I laugh. "True. Oh Bri, I miss you," I say hugging her again.
"I miss you too." She pulls back but still holds my hand. "Look, if you ever need to talk girl talk like this ever...I'm just a phone call away."
"Thanks...I'll probably be taking you up on it."
"What are you girls over here plotting?" mama asks as she and Aunt Kelly walk over to us.
Brianna immediately hides her left hand behind her back.
"No, that's when they were younger Britney...now it's called bonding," Aunt Kelly says, smiling at us both.
"Aunt Britney...how is my little cousin treating you," Brianna says rubbing mama's stomach.
"He's treating me fine. He's actually the least active out of all four of my babies," she smiles.
"This one was probably a kicker," Aunt Kelly says rubbing my back.
"Hey," I say, acting like I'm pouting.
"Because of your dancing," she says squeezing my shoulder.
"Oh."
"Actually I was probably the most active when I was pregnant with Adriana. I think that's where she got it from," she winks at me.
"Yeah, I was dancing along with mama in her womb."
"Did you say he?" Brianna asks.
Mama nods. "Yeah we found out earlier this week."
"Ohhhh Cody will have a little brother to pick on now."
We all laugh.
A little later daddy walks over to us girls.
"We're going to get going...your mom is tired," he tells me.
"Okay. I'll go say bye."
"Bye Mr. Timberlake," Darcy says.
He waves. "Bye girls." He leans down and gives Brianna a kiss on her cheek. "You be good."
She laughs. "That's no fun."
I roll my eyes. "Oh Lordy."
Daddy and I walk over to where mama's waiting.
"You feeling okay?" I ask her as I hug her goodbye.
"Yes...I just get tired more quickly, that's all."
"Okay. Good night. I know Cody and Ashleigh are spending the night at Grandma's so you two don't have too much fun," I kid.
Daddy looks over at me as he places his hand on mama's back. "Honey, I'll be lucky if she is awake enough to walk into the house on her own. 'Cuz I don't think I can carry her anymore," he winks at me.
I laugh as mama nudges him in the side.
"Not funny, Timberlake."
"Night sweetie," he says before he leans over and kisses my cheek before they leave.
~*~
"I think she was having a good time," Britney says, leaning on her husband as they walk to their car.
"She always does when she's with her friends," Justin says. He pats Britney's hand, which is wrapped around his arm.
"You could have stayed longer you know," she says looking up at him.
He laughs. "Yeah right. What would I do?"
She shrugs. "I don't know. You could have showed the girls a thing or two about dancing."
"Okay, now I know you're tired," he chuckles.
She yawns. "I am."
She stops.
"What?" he asks turning around to look at her.
"Nothing...he just kicked really hard," she laughs. "I was just saying what a good non-eventful baby he's been."
Justin touches her stomach and smiles. "He doesn't want to go to sleep right now."
Britney falls asleep on the drive home.
~*~
"Brit," Justin says, nudging her. He's standing at the passenger's door.
"Hmmm?" she asks as she rubs her face.
"Come on baby, we're home."
She finally looks over at him. "Hmmmkay."
When they're in their bedroom Justin starts to unbutton his shirt as he watches Britney walk over to the bed and sit down. Her hand reaches up to unzip the back of her dress but it lands on her shoulder and stays there as she stares straight ahead.
He takes off his shirt and walks over to her.
"Want some help?" he asks.
She nods.
He leans over her to unzip the dress. She unbuckles his belt and then unbuttons the button on his pants.
"Stand up," he says.
She does so and he pulls her dress all the way off. Since she's standing she runs her hands up his bare chest.
"What are you doing?" he smiles.
She sits back down and he leans down and takes off her shoes. When he stands back up again she reaches over and unzips his pants.
"I just got a second wind," she says as his pants fall to the floor.
"Wait...hear that?" he asks.
She listens and shakes her head. "No."
"Exactly," he smiles before he presses her down onto the bed and begins to kiss her.
She begins to tug his briefs off of his hips when he mumbles in her ear, "God I love this stage of the pregnancy."
She giggles.