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She hid behind the corner, watching, always watching. She was never invited to play, her heart always longed too, especially when he played. ‘He’ was Joshua Chasez, the cutest and most popular 10 year old in 5th grade.
‘She’ was Adriene Longheart, far from the cutest and most popular, she was still a 10 year old in 5th grade. Adriene was short, overweight and very shy. She didn’t like herself and because of that, thought he would never like her either. She always watched him though, his stunning blue eyes and dark brown hair captured her heart The loud buzzer filled the schoolyard and Adriene walked with her head down towards the doors. She walked slowly hoping to be the last one in line yet again today. Just as she had hoped she ended up last and while everyone else was talking she kicked a rock with her feet. The class shuffled through the double doors, Adriene walking quickly to her locker to pick up her notebook and math text.
She walked over to her desk in the corner, it was alone, just like herself. Adriene liked math, she would often think it was her favorite subject. She caught on to concepts quickly and excelled through her work. Math was the only time during the day she would raise her hand to speak, and when she did she felt proud knowing what she said was likely the correct answer. The class began and everyone pulled out their pencils and notebooks. Adriene sat quietly waiting for the days assignment,
“Today we’ll be learning multiplication by 8’s. I have a few questions on the board, would anyone like to guess at what the answers are before I teach you the secrets of multiplying by 8?”
Adriene’s hand slowly rose. When she was called on she cleared her throat and began her answers, “8 times 1 equals 8, 8 times 3 equals 24, 8 times 5…..” she stopped as she felt a note hit her foot. A note for her? She looked up at the eyes of her classmates, no one had every written her a note before.
“8 times 5 equals what Adriene?”
“Ummm…. 8 times 5? 8 times 5 equlas 40.”
A smile covered her teacher’s face. “Very good Adriene, thank you.” The teacher continued to explain multiplication by 8 as Adriene ripped at her note. Maybe someone actually wanted to be her friend! ‘A friend?’ the thought overwhelmed her. Slowly she unfolded the note. Tears filled her eyes as she read. ‘FATTY’ was written all over the paper in red ink and a pig with her name written on it sat in the middle of the page. Dropping the note, Adriene grabbed her books and left the room, hot tears streamed down her face and she listened to the teacher call after her.
Back In The Class
Loud laughter from the back row filled the room. Jimmy, the class bully, was practically rolling on the floor laughing at the scene that had unfolded before his eyes. “Jim did you have anything to do with Adriene leaving the room?” the teacher glared at her young pupil.
Jimmy shook his head at the teacher. “Somehow I don’t believe you, I need someone to go see if she is alright, who would go help?”
No one rose their hand, this made Jimmy laugh harder. A voice from the back spoke up. “I will, I’ll go see if Adriene is okay. Jimmy that was a very awful thing to do.”
Jimmy’s laughter stopped. “YOU?!? Josh what are you thinking? You might catch her fat disease and blow up like a balloon.”
“Jimmy Wilson you come with me right now! We are going down to the principals office. You can explain to him why you insist on being a trouble maker and when Adriene comes back in you will appologize to her also. Thank you Josh, please do make sure she is okay.”
Josh walked out of the classroom full of his stunned classmates. He didn’t know Adriene very well, they hung out in two different groups. Well he hung out in a group the few times Josh had seen Adriene she was alone. A sick feeling had filled his stomach when he had watched his classmate leave the classroom crying, it only made it worse when Jimmy Wilson started laughing. Jimmy Wilson was a jerk, Josh didn’t like the way he treated anyone. As Josh began down the hall he heard sniffling around the nearest corner. He called her name out, knowing already that it was her.
“Adriene?” Adriene sat against her locker with her knees pulled up to her chest and her head hung inbetween them. Looking up through her red-rimmed eyes she saw him. Joshua stood a few feet infront of her. “Hi, your Adriene right?”
She nodded her head and tears threatened to spill again.
Josh moved beside her and slid down the locker. “Hi I’m Josh, the teacher asked one of us to come out and see if you were okay. I raised my hand so here I am.” Josh watched her shoulders shudder as she cried. “If it makes you feel any better, Jimmy got taken down to the office. Teacher says he’s gotta appologize to you and talk to the principal.”
Still no response from her. Josh racked his brain for something to say. He didn’t know Adriene that well and didn’t know what made her smile. “Do you like to sing Adriene? I do, I don’t know if I’m very good but I’ll sing for you if you want.” Adriene didn’t look at him. Josh didn’t know what else to do so he started.
Adriene listed closly to his voice. It crept into her body and soothed her soul. Slowly Adriene began to lift her head and slow her tears. Josh smiled as he watched her tears begin to dry up. He finished the song and looked at her. “That’s better! I was worried I’d never see your face.”
The ends of Adriene’s lips began to twitch and a quick, small smile showed on her face. “T..th…thanks for coming out to see if I was okay Joshua.” Adriene lowered her eyes quickly.
“You can call me Josh, and your welcome. Anyway what are friends for ya know?”
Josh watched as Adriene’s head popped up and her eyes filled with surprise. “Friends? You would actually be my firend?”
Shock filled Josh. Maybe this is why Josh never saw her with anyone. Maybe she had no friends. Josh put his best smile on his face, “Of course I’ll be your friend, and all my friends will be your friends too!”
A big smile filled Adriene’s face. She wanted to throw her arms around him and give him a great big hug. “Thank you Josh. It really means a lot to me.”
“Lets get back to class, hey at recess do you wanna play kick ball?”
“I’ve never played before, but if its okay sure!”
Both children walked back to class, Adriene’s heart filled with joy because she finally had someone to call a friend, Josh’s heart filled with joy for making someone happy…
Present Day
She stood off to the right of the stage watching him. His lean, muscular body made millions of girls scream and his beautiful blue eyes were plastered over bedroom walls everywhere.
‘He’ was JC Chasez, 1/5 of the very popular group ‘N Sync. He was also her best friend. ‘She’ was Adriene Longheart, an ugly duckling who had turned into the swan. Now 23, she watched her best friend of 13 years sweat and sing. Her favorite memory was of the first time he had sung for her. He’d changed her life around that day, and she was forever greatful.
“Thank you Toronto! I’m JC.” Touching his finger tips to his lips he blew a kiss to the crowd. Turning his head before he left the stage he grinned at Adriene. Taking her BS pass out of her back pocket she headed toward the stage doors. “Hey James,” Adriene smiled at the big bodygaurd infront of her, “I’m gonna go see Josh okay?”
James opened to door and smiled.
Adriene walked back to the dressing rooms of the guys. Knocking as she opened the door, she saw Lance Bass pulling up his pants. “I see London I see France I see Lance’s underpants!”
“Shud up Adry! You’re supposed to knock.” Lance whined back.
“Nice to see you too Lance, hug!”
Adriene held out her arms waiting for her hug. Lance slipped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly. “Thanx Lancey! Where’s my lug of a best friend?”
“Your ‘lug’ is having a shower. Give him 10 he’ll be out.”
Smiling Adriene began her walk to the bathroom. “Nah I’ll just go see him now.” Adriene opened the bathroom door to Josh’s wonderful voice. Soflty closing the door, Adriene wrapped her fingers arounf the corner of the shower curtain. “BOO!” she yelled as she ripped the corner away.
“SHIT!”
“Oh did I scare you Joshua?” Adriene tried to smother her laugh.
“ADRY! God girl, hand me the towel.”
Adriene passed him the dark blue towel and turned her back as he wrapped it around his waist. Grabbing her from behind he began tickling her sides. “You sorry for scaring me yet woman?”
“Ye….Josh STOP! Yes I’m sorry, now stop I can’t breathe.”
JC let go and turned her around to get a good look at her. “Adriene, you look different… I can’t place my finger on it.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek. “ADRIENE! I can feel your ribs right through you! Are you still losing weight?” JC demanded as her held her at an arms length and studied her.
“Josh, come on don’t worry about it. I went to the doctors, they said I’m fine!” She rolled her eyes, “Come on I want a real hug now!”
JC picked her up and twirled her around, “I missed you Adry, I’m glad your staying with us for a little while.”
When JC put Adry back down she hung her head, “Awww Josh I wish I could stay but I have to go back tomorrow morning. My plane leaves at 2pm.”
JC’s face fell, “No! Come on Adry!”
“JC do not pout! I’m sorry I would love to stay but I can’t. Come on lets go have some fun tonight. Go get dressed I gotta pee.”
Scrunching up his nose he laughed, “To much info babe!”
Adriene closed the door and locked it. ‘Oh man, I can’t tell Josh, I can’t hurt him.” Adriene opened her purse and pulled out her pills. ‘God if this is my last night with Josh, let it be good.” Adriene wiped away the tears that had begun falling. Upon request from Josh, Adriene had gone to the doctor 4 months ago. After numerous tests they had concluded that Adriene had Leukemia. She went through Chemo but it didn’t help. A bone marrow donor couldn’t be found and until one could Adriene tried to fake her way through a normal life. She would never tell JC, she would never have to if a bone marrow donor could be found. Jc was right, she had begun to lose weight again and Adriene knew she had little time left, she just wasn’t sure how little time.
Adriene closed her eyes and leaned her head against the cool mirror. ‘It’ll be okay Adry, cheer up your with your favortie guy in the world!’ Adriene opened her eyes and smiled thinking of Josh. Unlocking the door she made her way out into the room. Jc, Lance and the rest of the guys stood there. Before they left she demanded hugs from Joey, Chris and Justin. Smiling on the outside but cringing on the inside as she watched JC still studying her. ‘Just tonight God, Just tonight!’
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
At 4am the 6 arrived back at the hotel. They had gone to see The Sixth Sense, then bowling, then clubbing. They were all extremly tired and Adriene was having trouble breathing. She hid it the best she could, saying she was out of breath from dancing or extremly tired and just yawning, but she could tell JC wasn’t as convinced as the other men.
“Well boys, I’m SO tired and I have to leave tomorrow so I am going to bed. You all stay up and have fun!” Laughing as best she could she headed into the bathroom with a pair of JC’s boxer’s and a shirt.
Adriene looked at herself in the mirror. Her makeup had been sweated off and the dark circles under her eyes were very noticable. Her chest hurt and her breathing was coming in short, shallow gasps. “God not tonight, please not tonight. I can’t do this to Josh.” Adriene whipered to herslef as tears fromed in her eyes. Blinking back hard she opened the door of the bathroom. Walking slowly, she called JC over.
JC came over and looked at her. “Adry what’s wrong, why are you breathing funny?”
“Josh, nothings wrong I’m just tired and outta shape. I don’t get as much exercise as you 5 do!” She tried to laugh at her own joke, but ended up coughing instead. JC patted her back and waited for her to quit coughing. “Adry are you sure?”
Adriene nodded, “I’m positive Josh, don’t worry bout me! Could I have some paper and a pen?”
JC nodded and went and got her some. “There you go, anything else?”
Adry shook her head, “Josh I love you. You’re my best friend and always will be, I hope you know that.”
“Awwww,” JC looked down into his best friends eyes, “Of course I know that. I love you too Adriene. Best friends forever okay?”
Nodding she said goodnight to the other 4 and kissed JC on the cheek. “Wake me up about 10 please?”
“No prob, g’ night Adry.”
Adriene walked to her room and closed the door. She walked over to the lamp and switched it on. ‘So this is it huh God? I’m gonna die tonight aren’t I? I just want JC to know I love him. He’s been everything to me since we were 10.” Adriene picked up the notepad she had requested and began writing. Adriene closed her eyes at 5:12. Her breathing bacame shallower and shallower until it finally stopped at 6:11.
JC walked into Adriene’s room at 10 to wake her up. She looked to be breathing normally, that was a good sign. As JC walked closer he noticed that Adriene didn’t look to be breathing at all. Fear numbed his entire body. “LANCE! JUSTIN! CHRIS! JOEY!” JC screamed over and over again until all 4 were there. “Sh…. She’s……. she’s…….” JC’s body crumpled like a rag doll to the floor. Sobs racked his entire body. Lance walked up to Adriene. “She’s gone guys.” Lance whispered to Joey, Chris and Justin as tears welled up in his eyes.
Lance sat beside JC crying, one by one what Lance had said registered to the other 3 men. Tears flew down all their cheeks as the looked at Adriene’s face. JC crawled his way over to her now lifeless body and sobbed. “WHY! WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME ADRIENE? why?” Jc stared at her. Turning his head he noticed a note with his name on it. Reaching for it he unfolded the note.
His forced his eyes to focas on the writing infront of him.
“Dear Jc……..”
1 Week Later
He stood over the casket. Tears dripped out of his eyes onto the white marble. She watched him from above.
‘He’ was Josh Chasez, his beautiful blue eyes filled with salty tears for his best friend, who he had buried today. ‘She’ was Adriene Longheart, his Angel, protecting him from bad and leading him to good. Watching though, always watching…..
THE END
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