Author's Chapter Notes:
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
“Boo!”Justin said as he came from behind her and covered her eyes
She jumped,”Justin!Geez..you scared me”
“My bad…hey we’re going food shopping”he said
“For what?”she asked innocently,even though she heard the conversation about his mother cooking for them
“Mom is going to cook for us.We are going to have a nice home cooked meal”he said
“Aww really?”she asked,acting surprised.”That’s sweet of her”
“So come on”he said as he took her hand
“Shouldn’t I stay?Or one of us stay?You know to keep her company”
“Nah,shes in the shower so…you or I wouldn’t be able to keep her company there”he said with a laugh.She slipped on some sandals and followed him out the door.
“So you don’t mind if she stays for a day or two?”Justin asked once they got to the supermarket
“No…why?”she asked
“Well…I wouldn’t feel comfortable if we were….doing something…and she would be down the hall”he said and laughed
“So then I’ll sleep in the Berry room”she said
“No you don’t have to do that”he said
“It would be hard to have sex with me if I wasn’t in the same bed as you”she said
“So your ok with that?”he asked
“It shouldn’t be that hard.I mean before last night…I was a virgin for 23 years.Not having sex for one night would not bother me as much”she said as she smiled at him
“Fine…be that way”he said and winked at her.The next hour was spent finding everything on Lynn’s list,”Ok I think that’s everything…lets check out”he said as they went towards the register
“PARIS!?HUNEY!”they heard someone shout.Paris turned around and gasped
“Francine?”she asked
“Huney where have you been?You haven’t called?”Francine asked,then she realized that Justin was there.She gasped,”Ohmygod-“
“Fran…before you start screaming…don’t”Paris said,”Justin doesn’t need that right now”
“But-“
“Fran..I’ll explain everything to you later”Paris said
“Why don’t you follow us back to my place?”Justin said,”Join us for dinner”
“Ohmygosh I would love to!”Francine said excitedly.Paris rolled her eyes,she was acting like a crazed teenage fan,”Huney why didn’t you tell me that you knew him?”she asked her
“Ive tried…you haven’t been around…I’ll explain everything to you later”she said
“Well I’ll wait in my car”Francine said
“Ok Fran”Paris said.They watched as she left the supermarket with excitement
“She seems nice”Justin said
“Justin,you shouldn’t have invited her”she said and sighed.Francine could give away her whole secret.She didn’t want him to find out from her, she needed to tell him herself
“Why not?”he asked her,”I was trying to help out”
“Well you didn’t…”she said,”We don’t get along”
“Well I don’t understand how you cant get along with your mother”
“Justin I cant even call her that”Paris said to him as they put the groceries on the conveyer belt,”Do I need to tell you what I have been through with her?”
“No…but that was all in the past,why cant you just…get along?”he asked.”I just don’t understand”
“That’s because your not used to it.Your mother loves you”she said to him
He wanted to say something to her but before he could,the cashier said,”75.40.” He paid her with cash and they took their bags to the car
“Well Im sorry that I caused you more stress.I was only trying to help”he said quietly
She sighed,”Its fine Justin…but…this evening is going to be very interesting”she said.They heard a honk and saw an old baby blue Volkswagen Beetle following them,that was her,”That’s her,lets go”
They drove toward his house in silence.This was driving her crazy.She needed to tell him now.It had to be the right time,she couldn’t wait anymore
“Paris?”Justin asked her,breaking the silence
“Yeah?”she answered
“What was it that you wanted to tell me?What was so important?”he asked her
She looked at him,it was perfect timing.She took a deep breath,”Um..well-“but then she was interrupted.They heard honking.It was coming from Francine’s car.Paris looked out of the rear-view mirror and saw that some expensive looking car cut her off and they were riding way too close behind them.
“What are they doing?”Justin asked.They then saw the car switch to the lane next to them.Paris recognized the car but couldn’t connect where she has seen it before.The car pulled next to them,”DAMN IT”Justin shouted
“Whats wrong?”she asked
“Its some photographer!”he said,”Hes trying to run us off the road to get a fucking picture!”he said angrily,”Ugh..I hate the paparazzi”he said as he sped up
“Justin be careful”she said with fear and disappointment. She was disappointed because,again,she couldn’t tell him the truth and she was scared because they were speeding and the other car kept making them swerve.She saw the guys face and saw that it was one of the photographers from Inquiring Minds.She leaned back in the seat and tried to cover her face.Did Lemmie do the same thing to celebrities that hes taken pictures of?She put her head in her hands,it seemed that everyday there was a new reason for her to hate what she did for a living.
“He is totally riding our ass!”Justin said as he looked at his rearview mirror.”He can cause an accident”
“You cant pull over?”she asked
“No!That will get him better pictures”he said,”I cant believe how paparazzi can do this for a living.This was how Princess Diana was killed you know”he said angrily.He took their exit but,surprisingly the photographer didn’t follow them
"Hes gone,thank God"she said
"Yeah thank God alright…I…cant believe people sometimes.What is so interesting about me driving my car?"he asked
"I don't know"she said quietly.Now she had to find a way to get Fran to shut up.Soon they arrived at the house
"Holy shit this place is big!"Francine as she got out her car,"Jared,you sure hit the jackpot"she said
"Its Justin"Justin said with a laugh.Paris rolled her eyes
"Oh!I'm sorry"she said as she followed them into the house.
"Hey Mom,guess who we found?"Justin said as he came into the kitchen
"You found everything on the list right?"Lynn asked
"Well yeah we did,but the question was who"he said,"Mom,this is Paris' mom.Francine"he said,"Francine this is my mother Lynn"
"Its nice to meet you Lynn"Francine said excitedly
"Same here Francine"Lynn said
Paris couldn't take it anymore,she felt like any minute Francine would slip up and Justin would hate her forever."Fran?Let me show you around the house ok?Follow me"she said in a hurry as she took her mothers hand and led her upstairs.
Justin and Lynn looked at each other and shrugged,"Be a dear and help me unpack these bags"she said to him
"Ok"he said and started taking everything out of the grocery bags
"I thought you said that she and her mother aren't close?"Lynn asked
"I know,but we bumped into her and I invited her.Its not like they hate each other"he said,"Everything will be fine"he said.He didn't like that Paris and Francine didn't get along,he didn't like it when Paris called her mother Francine instead but that was their choice.He was hoping that this dinner would bring them closer together and if they did,he wanted to be apart of it.
*______________________*
"Ow,pull my arm off will ya?"Francine said as she was pulled into a room and Paris shut the door,"Paris,what is wrong with you?"she asked her
"Nothing-"Paris said
"Oh my word"Francine said as she looked around the room."This room is like a dream"she said,"Oooh this is real silk!? Holy shit"she said
"Fran,can you please stop acting like a teenager on crack cocaine!?"Paris said,"The real question is whats wrong with you?You have no manners"
"I have no manners?Who hasn't called me in a week?Have you been staying here?"she asked her
"Ok Fran,first of all I tried"Paris said,"But you are never home when I call!And why the hell don't you have a answering machine!?Its 2004!"
"I do"Francine said,"Its broken"
"Well fix it!"Paris said
"Hey,now you slow down now.You cant be bossing me around"Francine said as she took a cigarette and lit it,"I cant believe Im here Im getting nervous.I need to smoke"
"No Fran,not in here"Paris said,"I have something important to tell you"she said as she took the cigarette out of her hand and threw it out the door onto the balcony
"Paris!What the hell is wrong with you!?"Francine said as she went outside,"You are treating me like a child..have you forgotten who the mother is here!?"
Paris followed her outside and closed the door that led into the bedroom. "None of us are the mother in this relationship"she said
Francine turned to her,"Paris,just because you don't call me mother.Doesn't mean I'm not your mother,do you need to see your birth certificate?"
"No I don't need to see it"Paris said,"Fran I need to talk to you.I have tried to talk to you all week and you haven't been there!Your daughter needs help don't you see that!?"
"Paris,calm down"Francine said,now starting to see that Paris was upset
Paris took a few deep breaths,"I need to tell you what hell Ive been through this past week"
"Hell?How can you be in hell here?"Francine asked
"Just listen"Paris said,"I have been living here the past few days because Sean kicked me out of the apartment on Memorial Day"she said
"What?"Francine asked,"Hes a good guy.Cant you give him another chance?"
"NO!"Paris said,"He felt that since the apartment was his he felt like he could take it from me while I was still living in it.He took everything from the kitchen table to my toothbrush!"she said,"Hes also been dating some girl named Maria or something for the past two years,he got her pregnant and they have been engaged for who knows how long"she said,she took a breath,"Sean is not a good guy…cant you see that now!?Just because hes cute and hes rich and a top lawyer….it doesn't mean shit"she said
"Paris…I didn't know"Francine said,she sounded concerned."But what does that have to do with Justin Timberlake for Gods sakes?"she said as she took out another cigarette and lit it
"I met him at a party that I had to go to for work.Ever since then we have been bumping into each other,its weird"she said,"We hit it off great…we went out on a few dates and then started spending everyday together.Then when Sean took everything from me…he was the only one who was there for me.He offered for me to stay here..and Ive been here since Tuesday"she said
"So you like this guy?"Francine asked her
"I love him Fran"she said sincerely
"Love?No you just met him"
"Fran,you shouldn't talk.After going out on one date with Leo,you were already in love"Paris said
Francine sighed,"That's different"she said as she puffed on the cigarette,"You don't know everything about him and he must not know anything about you"
Paris looked at her,"Your right.There are some things that he doesn't know about me and that's because I choose not to.Which brings me to why I brought you up here"
"What doesn't he know?"
"That I work for a tabloid"
"So?"
"Fran,hes a celebrity who hates tabloids.I cant tell him…yet… he'll hate me"
"Then end it now"Francine said,"You had your fun I can see that…but end it now.Tell him and leave"
Paris took the cigarette from her and smoked it.She hasn't smoked in YEARS but all of a sudden she needed it,"I cant just tell him and leave.He loves me and that will break his heart"
"He loves you?How do you know this?"
"Because he told me"
"So?…doesn't mean a damn thing,especially not this early in the game anyways"she looked at her,"When did you start smoking?"
"Just now"she said,"I cant leave Fran.I have nowhere to go"
"That's your fault"
"HOW IS IT MY FAULT!?"
"No need to shout huney but it's the truth.You shouldn't have lied to him and came to stay here,you have been digging yourself into a deeper hole.And I told you that job is shit anyways"
"You know what, I didn't bring you up here for advice"Paris said,"Fran I need you to not talk about my job"
"Why?"
"Because he doesn't know about it!"she said,"And I don't want him to know about it,not yet.When he finds out,he will be hearing it from me,not you.Understand?"
"Ok"
"You promise not to embarrass me?"
"OK!"Francine said as she snatched the cigarette,"You need to stop smoking huney.Its not good for you,and lying to a guy that you supposedly love is bad too"
"FRAN!I CHOSE NOT TO TELL HIM!"Paris shouted
"I know…ok I'll keep your secret"Francine said
"What secret?"
They both turned around and it was Justin
Paris gulped,"Um…"
"Oh that she used to wet the bed"Francine said nonchalantly,"Wheres the nearest bathroom?"she asked as she put out her cigarette
"Um in the bedroom to your right"Justin said as he laughed a little
"Thanks"she said as she walked away
Paris sighed as she put her head in her hands.That was close.Too close.She looked at him,"Whats so funny?"
"Nothing Im sorry"he said
"I didn't wet the bed.I don't know where that came from"she said
"Well dinner is almost ready"he said,"Your mother is nice though"
"Yeah"Paris said
*______________________*
"Wow this is delicious Mrs.Timberlake"Paris said as they all started eating the meal
"Please call me Lynn"Lynn said,"Im glad that you enjoy it.I always cook this for Justin when I drop by to visit"
"Well Paris cooks nice spaghetti too"Francine said as she chewed
"Oh really?"Lynn asked
"Yeah"Paris said and laughed,"I haven't cooked it in awhile"
"Well no wonder Justin loves you"Lynn said
"Actually I didn't know that she could cook"Justin said as he looked at her
"You didn't ask"Paris said with a laugh
"Don't worry,there are a lot of things that you don't know about her"Francine said
Paris almost choked.She put her fork down and grabbed her glass of sparkling cider and drank it
"What do you mean?"Justin asked
"Nothing"Paris said.She gave Francine an evil look,"She doesn't mean anything"
"No what I meant was that everyday you find something new about your loved one.No matter how long or how short you know them"Francine said
"True"Lynn said
"But we don't keep secrets"Justin said,"Right Paris?"
"Right"she said quietly.'Nice save',she thought as she looked at Francine evilly
"Well shes not saying that Justin"Lynn said,"I mean I have been married to your step father for 10 years and I still learn new things about him.It's a good thing actually,keeps the marriage fresh"
"Oh"Justin said and shrugged,"Well I guess we're both new at the relationship stuff in some ways"he said as he took Paris' hand that was under the table.Paris smiled at him
"So Francine,how do you feel about Paris dating Justin?I mean not to be conceited but my son is not just some normal Joe-Schmo"Lynn asked her
Paris looked at Francine,giving her a `don't-you-mess-up-look'.
"Actually I didn't know about it until today.It was a bit of a shocker"she said
"You didn't know?"Lynn asked her
"Well Paris and I don't…have a close relationship,you could say"Francine said nonchalantly.Paris sighed
"Why is that?"Lynn asked
Justin heard Paris sigh and he looked at his mother,"Mom-"
"What?"Lynn asked him
"Its fine.No biggie really"Francine said with a smile."Its better that way anyway.We catch up with each other every once in awhile and we like it that way"she said,"And with Paris' job at the-"
Paris coughed.Francine looked at her
"With Paris' job and my job we barely have time"Francine said
"Yeah I bet writing romance novels would take up some time"Lynn said as she smiled at Paris
"Romance novels?"Francine asked.Paris almost choked,she forgot to tell her that part.Paris cleared her throat
"Yeah Paris writes romance novels"Justin said,"I have yet to see one"
"Me too"Francine said,she looked at Paris,"But I'm sure Paris means for it to be like that?"When Paris smiled at her she could tell that was a good cover.Why on earth would Paris say that she writes romance novels?
"So what do you do Francine?"Lynn asked her
"Shes a social worker"Paris said.That was the only thing that she thought that was good about her.She actually helped people.
"Oh really?My mother was a social worker also"Lynn said,"Good field"
"Yeah it's a good field…"Francine said quietly.She cleared her throat and said,"So Lynn…tell us about yourself?"she said quickly changing the subject
*________________________*
"I love cheesecake"Paris said as she finished her last piece.Dinner surprisingly went smoothly.She was expecting Fran to mess everything up but she came up with some good saves.
"Justin told me"Lynn said with a smile
Justin smiled,"I at least know that about her"he said and smiled at Paris and kissed her on her cheek
Francine smiled,she was quiet mostly after they started talking about her job as a social worker.When she saw Paris and Justin together,a weird feeling came over her but she couldn't explain why or what it was.Then her cell phone rang.She looked at who it was and sighed.What did he want?
"Hello?….yeah….well Im busy right now.Its important?How is that important-?"she asked,she sighed,"What do they want?……what?….Oh my…ok….ok!….I get your point….I'll be there"she said and then hung up.She looked and saw the three of them looking at her,"I have a sort of a…emergency to take care of..Im sorry to cut this short"she said as she got up.Lynn,Justin and Paris stood up also.
"It was very nice meeting you"Lynn said as she gave Francine a hug.Which kind of surprised her
"Nice to meet you"Francine said quietly.She turned and saw Justin.He also gave her a hug
"It was nice to finally meet you Francine"he said
"Likewise,you have a nice place"Francine said
"Thanks,and thanks for coming"he said
"Thanks for inviting me"she said and went toward the door.Paris followed her but she didn't know until she opened the door
"Where are you going?Whats the emergency?"Paris asked as she closed the front door behind her and followed her to her car
"I just have something to take care of"Francine said quickly as she opened the car door
"So you wont tell me?"Paris asked,"It was Leo wasn't it?Couldn't you have told him that you were actually spending some time with your daughter?"
"Paris stop it"Francine said,"It wasn't Leo"
"Then who?"
"None of your business"she said as she tried to close the door to the car but Paris stopped her
"This is why we aren't close!You never tell me anything!"
"I didn't know that I had to consult with my 22 year old daughter about where I go on Friday nights"Francine said sarcastically
"Im 23"Paris said,"But Im not surprised that you don't know that"
"You know what?I don't have time to argue with you Paris"she said as she closed the door and put the key in the ignition and turned the car on,"You should respect your elders"
Paris rolled her eyes,"Bye MOM"she said intentionally and walked away
Francine sighed and rolled her eyes.She really didn't want to leave.If she had the choice,she would have stayed,but she couldn't…she didn't have a choice
*______________________*
Justin smiled at Paris as she came back in the house.Lynn was on the phone with their Uncle and he was loading dishes into the dishwasher."This evening went nicely huh?"he asked her
"Yeah"she said quietly as she helped him put some dishes in
"Whats wrong?"he asked her
"Nothing"she said and faked a smile,"I'm fine I'm just sleepy I guess"
"Sleepy?How are you sleepy?"he asked
"Well I didn't go back to sleep after you left this morning,all this morning I was looking for apartments"
"Do you really have to live some place else?"
"Yeah"she said,"It will be better for the both of us"she said,in more ways than one."I love you and I think we should take it slow"
He said nothing as he closed the dishwasher and turned it on.He looked at her and hugged her and kissed her forehead."Ok…if you think it will help us…then I'm fine with it"he said,"But you will stay here until that happens right?"
`Not unless you find out the truth and kick me out',she thought,"Yeah I'll be right here"
*_____________________*
Later on that night,Paris tossed and turned in her bed.Even though Justin complained,she thought it was best that she didn't sleep with him tonight.She didn't want to get caught or be paranoid.She looked at the clock and saw that it was almost 1 am.Where did the time go?
She couldn't sleep.She had so much on her mind.She was thinking about Fran.She was thinking about their run in with the paparazzi and how and when she should tell Justin the truth.She was so stressed out and she couldn't take it anymore. She had to tell him when Lynn left,it broke her heart when every minute passed and Justin didn't know who she really was.
Then,instinct told her to get up.She got up and walked down the hall and opened Justin's door.She closed it quietly and tip toed over to his bed.He was sleeping peacefully.She didn't care that she changed her mind.But she just wanted to lay with him.Just feel protected with his strong arms around her.
She lifted up the covers and got under them and slid into bed.She laid there for a second,but then he stirred.He rolled over and opened his eyes."Hey"he said quietly
"Sorry.I didn't want to wake you"she whispered
"Its ok"he said,"I thought you didn't want to stay with me"
"I thought so too…but I changed my mind"she said as she snuggled up next to him
He put his arms around her and kissed her on her head,"Well I'm glad then"he said.He turned her face towards his and started kissing her.
Before she knew it,he was on top of her,"Wait Justin….your mom"she said
"Don't worry…we'll be quiet"he said with a smile
She smiled at him,"Ok we'll be quiet"she said
*_____________________*