In Your Footstep
Part 5
Our last show finally arrived and I think I was more
nervous than Scott was. He took the ring out of it’s box and stuck
it in his pocket so no one could tell he had it. He waited until the
last set. I was standing just off stage watching , Lance was nearby
and I knew he was going to flip out. Scott carefully removed his guitar
and set it down. He took an extra mic and went over to where Abbey was.
She looked at him confused, but not wanting the fans to know this wasn‘t
part of the act. He took her hand and dropped to one knee. He smiled
up at her before pulling the ring out. She was speechless, she put her
hand over her mouth at the sight of the ring.
“Abbey, will you marry me?” Scott asked into the mic so
she could hear him. The whole venue was quite, it was scary. I saw Lance’s
jaw drop, he said a few curse words then tried to go out onto the stage.
I grabbed him and pushed him back. “Let go of me, I have to stop
them.” He yelled. “No, Lance you can’t stop them.”
I replied getting a firm grip on him. “You planned this didn’t
you?” He asked. “No, it was Scott’s idea. I just support
him that’s all.” I explained, then turned around just in
time to hear her say. “Yes. I want to be your wife”
He jumped up and wrapped his arms around her. They kissed passionately
and the crowed cheered. He sweetly slipped the ring on her finger. “See,
Lance the fans love it.” I said letting go of him. He was quite
but I knew he secretly hated my guts.
After the show you couldn’t separate the two of them. Lance gave
both of them an ear full but they didn’t care. “We’re
happy, Lance be happy for us.” Abbey said.
“The others in the group are okay with it.”
Scott said, he had asked for their permission to ask her. “I don’t
care, this has disaster written all over it.” Lance said walking
around nervously. “No, it doesn’t, everything will be fine.”
I said try to help them out.
“You stay out of this, why didn’t you guys tell me before
doing this live on stage?” Lance asked looking at me briefly.
“I knew you would try to stop me.” Scott said looking up
at the older man from the couch in their hotel room. “You’re
right I would have, but never mind that. What’s done is done.
The press will want a statement in the morning, I’m sure. Tonight
you might be thinking about what your going to tell them. I need to
go to bed.” Lance said putting his hand on his forehead.
I took my friend by the arm and pulled him out of their room. “Go
to bed Lance, before you worry yourself sick.” I said leading
him to his room. “Am I a bad manager?” Lance asked once
we reached his room. “No, your just not used to it, that’s
all. Think about when we were starting out. I’m sure we were an
handful too.” I explained trying to help him relax. “Do
you really thinks this is going to be okay?” He asked looking
me right in the eyes. I didn’t even have to think about it. “Everything
is going to be fine, this love is real, I can feel it.” I said
with a smile. He smiled back at me and then ducked into his room.
The next day Lance woke up in a much better mood. He meet with Scott
and Abbey early in the morning and talked it out with them. He told
me later that what I had said that night sounded so sincere and so sure,
it made him believe. I thought it had been blatantly obvious the whole
time, but maybe it was just me.
We decided to celebrate the engagement, so we got together at my house
in L.A. We all pitched in for food and drinks. I thought it would be
a good idea, I wanted them to know that we supported them. Lance even
bought them a gift, to tell them he was sorry for freaking out.
The evening was eventful, we found out a lot of stuff, most of which
I already knew. Once everyone got there, Lance gave Abbey and Scott
the gift, and then we sat around talking. I went to get a refill on
my drink, but I discovered JC and Ann kissing in the kitchen. I cleared
my throat, “For not wanting to this to get out. You’re pushing
your luck.” I said.
“Sorry, dude. We can’t help it.” JC replied with his
arm around Ann. She smiled sweetly and brushed her hair out of her face.
He kissed her on the cheek just as Abbey walked in behind me. I wanted
to disappear, into the frame work. “Uh...guys.” I said scratching
my head. “Uh...yeah guys, what is going on.” Abbey said.
JC and Ann both looked at her shocked. “We...I mean.” JC
stuttered. “JC, it’s okay.” Ann said going over to
Abbey.
“Abbey, JC and I have been dating for a while. I’m sorry
I didn’t tell you sooner.” Ann said. “You and JC?
You go girl.” Abbey said playfully hitting her friend. “You’re
not mad, or worried?” JC asked. “No, why should I be?”
Abbey asked getting very serious at the end. “No, I really like
her.” JC said walking up behind Ann. They looked at each other
lovingly. “I’m going to tell the others.” Abbey said
then took off running before they had a chance to stop her. Ann and
JC almost ran me over when they took off after her.
I laughed, got my drink and got back into the living room just time
to get the news. “Hey Justin, Ann and JC have been dating for
months.” Joey said trying to fill me in. “Yeah, I knew that.”
I said taking a drink from my cup. “What do you mean, you knew.”
Abbey said getting in my face. I smiled really big and batted my eyes.
“I walked into the kitchen before you, they told me.” I
lied. “You weren’t in there long enough. I followed you
in there.” Abbey said smiling back at me.
“Fine, I saw them a couple of months ago. You of all people should
know by now, I am always in the know.” I explained returning her
smile. “You are always in the middle of stuff aren‘t you.”
Scott said as Abbey sat back down beside him on my couch. “No,
not until recently. I seem to be getting pretty good at it.” I
said. This wasn’t normal for me, I was always trying to stay out
of the middle of things like this. I couldn’t tell you what had
changed.
“So when is the big day?” Chris asked. “Well we were
thinking about a spring wedding.” Abbey said moving onto Scott’s
lap. “This spring? Isn’t that a little soon?” Lance
asked. “Yeah, but we have known each other for years, there is
no point in dragging this thing out.” Scott explained. “I
already have my dress any way. It was my mother’s.” Abbey
added. “That’s awesome.” I said quickly.
“We aren’t going to have a big wedding, just a few close
friends and family. You guys of course.” Scott said playing with
Abbey’s hair. He seemed more interested with her than any one
else in the room. I was fascinated by them and their relationship.
“Excellent, I’ll clear my schedule for you guys.”
I replied. “Let’s make a toast.” Lance said. “A
toast to what?” Joey asked. “A toast to love and good friends.”
Lance replied raising his glass to them. We toasted and then got drunk.
After that things got a little fuzzy, I couldn’t tell you for
sure what happened next.
They had talent, so the fact that they were about to become not single,
didn’t hurt their career as bad as Lance had originally thought
it would. People loved them, they were after all very loveable. We had
decided as a group to take a few months off, and that would give us
time to get ready for the wedding. Scott had asked me to be his best
man. Danny was of course the Man of honor and Ann the Maid of honor.
The time off also gave JC some time alone with Ann. I had never seen
him like this, I could tell he was getting in deep. But they made a
cute couple, JC liked the idea that she was just a normal girl, not
fancy like he celebrities he had dated.
Danny and I were in charge of the bachelor party, which took place the
night before the wedding. The girls were going to take Abbey out, so
we thought it best to go to one of my favorite clubs in New York City.
The club was accustomed to my visits and I told them to plan for several.
The VIP lounge was set aside just for us, and Danny took the liberty
of hiring entertainment for the evening.
It didn’t take long for us to get Scott drunk, we had a great
time and I of course took Polaroid's of the evening for black mail purposes.
Even drunk Scott wasn’t interesting in the busty stripers Danny
had hired. His heart remained in the right place through out the entire
evening, it was admirable. After much talk I was able to get a picture
of him taking body shots off of one of the stripers, but even then he
seemed more interested in getting the alcohol off of her than the act
of licking a sexy woman
.
The next day we were all a little hung over, including the blushing
bride. “Looking good, Timberlake.” Roxy said walking out
of the girls dressing room. “Thanks, you don’t look so bad
yourself.” I said with a smile. “I fell like I am about
to pop out.” Roxy said playing with the top of her blue dress.
“Roxy dear, you pop out of everything you wear. You’re just
top heavy.” I said trying to put it nicely. She smiled and put
her hands on her hips. “I don’t get too many complaints
though.” She laughed. “I’m not complaining.”
I said looking past her into the girls dressing room.
Abbey was standing there looking into the mirror, moving in place. She
was nothing but smiles, the look on her face was one I would never forget.
She was so happy, she couldn’t hide it. I don‘t think any
one could have been so sure of anything in their whole life. She was
sure, no one could talk her out of walking down that isle and making
Scott her husband.
“I never believed in angles until today.” I said walking
into the tiny room. All of the girls were dressed at this point, so
no one cared. “What?” Abbey said looking at me. “If
I didn’t know any better, I’d think I had died and gone
to heaven, because I see an angle.” I see, watching her cheeks
redden. “If I weren’t getting married, I think you were
flirting with me.” Abbey smiled. She jumped down and gave me a
hug. She always smelled good, but god she ready smelled good that day.
“Thank you so much, for everything you have done for me and Scott.”
She added not letting go of me.
“It’s cool girl, you deserve each other.” I said as
she finally let go and stepped back to get a look at me. “That’s
a good look for you. Some day it will be you standing next to the preacher.”
She said. “Do you really think so?” I asked sweetly. She
just smiled and nodded at me. Abbey placed her hand on my chin and made
me look into her eyes. “Someday, when the time is right, you will
make one girl very happy.” she explained. I laughed she had more
faith in me than I had in myself.
“Is Scott ready.” Abbey asked. “Yeah, he’s so
ready. A little nervous but that’s a normal guy thing.”
I explained. “You better get out of here and back to where you
belong. Some one might think your a pervert hanging out in the girls
dressing room.” Abbey said giving me a wink. I shrugged and smiled
before heading out the door. I ran into JC and Ann in the hallway. JC
had Ann backed up against the wall and was kissing her. “Aren’t
you going to mess but her hair, dress, make-up or something?”
I asked loudly.
JC stopped and dropped his head as if ashamed. “Dude, don’t
you have some place to be?” He asked. “Sure, I do and so
does she. Can‘t you two keep your hands off each other for once?”
I asked back. “Nope, we can’t help it.” JC said giving
her another quick kiss before backing away from her. “You two
should have kept your relationship a secret, at least then you didn’t
make out in public.” I said and then walked into the guys dressing
room with out another word.
“How is everything out there?” Scott asked jumping up. “Everything
is fine, just chill.” I said pushing him back toward the bench.
“Where did you go?” Danny asked fixing his tie. “I
went to talk to Abbey.” I said. “You saw Abbey? I bet she
looks beautiful.” Scott said. “When doesn't she look simply
amazing?” I asked. “If I didn’t know better I’d
say you had a crush on her.” Scott replied looking up at me. “Even
if I did it wouldn’t matter, she is all about you. I couldn’t
come between you two if I tried.” I explained, it wasn’t
like the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. Abbey was an amazing
find, but I knew no matter what I couldn’t have her, so I would
settle for being her friend.
“It’s just about that time are you guys ready.” Danny
said jumping up. Scott and I both nodded and then waited for him to
make sure the cost was clear for us to go through with out the couple
seeing each other. After all we didn’t want to jinx them, I had
already spent a month trying to find Abbey something blue to wear.
