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.
“Well thanks to the scoop that Paris and Pierre got from that Suite 16 party this past weekend,we will have the best tabloid magazine this week”Lita said proudly at the editing meeting.”We have great stories this week and we have a great cover story.It was hard to pick out of all these great stories that were submitted-“
“Ok Lita…geez just get on with it woman”Pierre said with a smile
“Ok,on the upper left hand corner,is Gabrielle’s story about the Laci Peterson trial”Lita said as she pointed to a picture of Laci
“Under that is the story about Anna Nicole Smith and her miracle diet with TrimSpa by Drew”Lita said.As she pointed to a picture of Anna Nicole
“On the bottom corner is Paris’ story on J-Lo and Marc Anthony’s secret wedding”Lita said as she pointed to a picture of J-Lo.”You had great pictures by the way Paris”
Paris smiled,she wasn’t that upset that she didn’t get the cover this time. As long as the Garden Tool didn’t get it.“Thank you Lita”Paris said with a smile.Thanks to her phone conversations with Lemmie,she has always had great pictures.
“So who’s got the cover then?”Gabrielle said with a frown on her face,”I mean what can beat the Laci Peterson trial?Everyone wants to know about that”
“Well the cover story goes to Pierre”Lita said with a smile
Pierre looked at her with a shocked expression,”What?Really?”
“Yeah,Usher is hot right now and your story about him cheating on Chilli is going to have everyone talking”Lita said,”Congratulations Pierre on your first cover story”
Paris squealed and gave Pierre a hug,”Congrats baby!”she said
“Ohmygod!”Pierre said as he hugged Paris and then got up and jumped up and down and clapped his hands,”This is so great!My first cover story!Thank you Lita.I always liked you”
“I always liked you too”Lita said,”And since its your first cover story,it’s a tradition here to give you a bonus and to give you a small get together in the office. I set the get together for Friday evening at 5,if any of you would like to stay at work for about an hour or two then your welcome to”
“A party for me?”
“Yeah in your honor.This will be your first and last first cover so you might as well enjoy it”she said
Paris smiled,she remembered her first cover story.She was so proud of herself,the bonus in her check was good and the party was fun also.
“So does anyone have any questions before I send this to printing?”Lita asked
Just then Gabrielle got up and stormed out of the room.Pierre and Paris rolled their eyes,”Shes just jealous of me that’s all”Pierre said.”I think the cover looks perfect lets print that baby now”
“Ok since there aren’t any questions,then you all are free to go.Remember your deadlines”Lita said
Everyone congratulated Pierre and he took the spotlight just fine.”Come by my office for autographs now.Because after this story is printed I will be famous” Pierre said,”Oh I cant wait for my party.Your gonna be my date right Paris?”he asked her
“Sure I’ll be your date”she said and smiled
“We’ll be the hottest couple there”Pierre said as he sat down at his desk.”I should get started on my new story”
“Me too.I’ll leave you alone then”Paris said
“Oh Paris?”Pierre asked
“Yeah?”
“Im moving out today,this bonus that Im getting will pay my rent for the next few months so I wont be a burden”
“You weren’t a burden,you were barely there.You were always out with your Rico Suave”
“Hes great,you’ll meet him soon,don’t worry”he said
“Ok,looking forward to it”she said as she walked to her office.She was happy for Pierre,he finally found someone.
__
“So how do you feel?”Chelsea asked Pierre at his party Friday.Everyone was mingling,drinking and eating those cute little Subway sandwiches.Lita brought a radio and music was playing also.
“Well it was very hard work.But as Lita said,there are great stories all around you.When I saw Usher with those two women,I knew that would make an interesting story.Its great to finally steal the spotlight from my friend here”Pierre said as he looked at Paris
“What?I haven’t had a cover story in awhile”Paris said as she sipped on her drink
“Still I always had to pretend to be happy for you”Pierre said and winked at her
Just then Gabrielle walked by them,looking upset.”Wonder why shes leaving?” Chelsea said sarcastically
Unfortunately,Gabrielle heard her.She turned around and said,”This party isn’t for me”she said
“Duh its not for you,its for me”Pierre said
“I know that.I mean that this party isn’t…my type of scene”
“Why?Because its not set in a strip club and everyone isn’t paying you any attention or giving you dollar bills?”Pierre said
“Pierre grow up”Gabrielle said
“Practice what you preach sista.You have to understand that things cant always go your way”Paris said,she was sick and tired of this girl,”This party is for Pierre and he deserves it,all the covers that you have done?You had to beg for Lita to put on the cover.Once you actually earn something,maybe you can get some respect. So you should grow up and stop being upset and stomping around in your fake Gucci shoes”
Pierre,Chelsea and Gabrielle looked at her.Shes never really said anything like that before.
Gabrielle stared at her,”Well aren’t you the queen of having things not go your way?I took your cover story and your man”she said and smiled
“You obviously weren’t able to keep him if he keeps calling and running back to me.I mean you cant turn a whore into a housewife”Paris said angrily
“Gabrielle,why don’t you leave.You weren’t really invited here anyways.So keep walkin’”Pierre said
“Gladly”she said and walked away
“Are you ok?”Chelsea and Pierre asked Paris
“Im fine….just…lets just enjoy the party”she said quietly
“Pierre?”they heard someone call.They turned around and saw a guy come toward them
“Rico”Pierre said as he ran up and gave the guy a hug.”Im so glad you could make it”he brought him over to them.”Rico this is my best friend in the whole world.Paris…Rico.Rico…Paris”he said
“Nice to meet you,Ive heard so much about you”Paris said quietly,still a little upset at what Gabrielle said
“Ive heard a lot about you also”Rico said
“Let me introduce you to Lita”he said as he pulled him away.
Paris stood there and sipped on her drink.She saw how happy Pierre was and she wanted to have that happiness back.She wanted the happiness of being loved and cared for by another person.She wanted to be somebody’s somebody.She sighed and then she heard a familiar song on the radio. It was one of Justin’s songs.She remembered all the times they had run into each other and their adventure at Chuckie Cheese.She smiled,then she remembered him asking her out and giving her his number.She still had it.She was still confused about the situation but she could be his friend at least.
__
Paris folded her last piece of laundry and put it in one of drawers.She just got back from the Laundromat and did her weekly routine.She closed the dresser and took her hair out of the ponytail.She looked at the clock.It was a little after 6.She sat down on her bed and put some papers on her desk.Most of them were bills.She saw her address book and saw Justin’s number.Then she remembered.It was Saturday.Should she call him?She sat there for a few minutes and then picked up the phone.
“Hello?”came a voice and she knew it was his
“Justin?Um…its me…Paris”
“Hey Paris whats up?”
“Nothing….um….I changed my mind-“
“I knew you would.Why don’t you come on over ok?”
“Over to your place?”
“Yeah”he said,”Oh wait I gotta go.I’ll see you in a few right?You remember how to get here?”
“Yeah”
“Ok see you later.Bye”he said
“Bye”she said and hung up.She sat there and smiled,then she freaked out,what was she going to wear!She got up and looked through her closet.She was thankful that she did laundry.She decided to go with her rule,black and casual.She looked through her closet and after about a half hour she finally decided on something.She put on a black and lacy bustier shirt and some dark denim jeans with black heels.She brushed her hair so it was straight and put on black eyeliner,mascara and some clear lipgloss. She sprayed some Strawberries and Champagne on herself and got her keys and drove toward his house.
__
She pulled up to his house and was surprised to see lots of other cars.She could hear music coming from the backyard and she could see people walking in and out of the house.She could also smell barbeque.She smiled,this wasn’t a date.Just a get together.She wasn’t all that nervous now.She parked next to a big Escalade and got out of the car.
“Paris!Hey!”Justin said as he came up to her and gave her a hug.Which surprised her,”Im so glad you could make it”he said with a big smile
She smiled,”Well I decided to grace you with my presence and it’s the least I can do with the whole car incident and all”
“So your only here for an IOU,is that it?”he asked
“Oh no…I didn’t mean that-“
“I know you didn’t,just playing with ya”he said.Then Johnathan ran up to them and hugged Paris' leg
“Hi Paris”he said
“Hi Johnathan”she said and smiled.Then he ran off
“Wow,he usually doesn’t do that”Justin said
“What?”
“Hug girls,talk to girls…he hates girls,except for his mother”
“Well I guess I have that affect on the Timberlake men huh?”she said and winked
“I bet you do”he said,”Come on lemme introduce you to some people”
“Ok”she said as she followed him into the backyard.The backyard was huge.It had a nice big patio that had a balcony.There was a big pool and a hot tub,a small garden and a basketball court.There were lots of people too.She saw a blonde near the hot tub and had a feeling that they were going toward her.It was probably Cameron, she thought sadly,it was fun while it lasted.
“Stacey!Lori!”he called.She saw the blonde turn around and it wasn’t Cameron and she saw another girl turn around.They walked up to them.
“Hey Justin,you sure know how to throw a party”the blonde said
“Of course”Justin said and smiled,”Paris,these are my best friends,Stacey Ferguson and Lori Wright”he said.Stacey had dirty blonde hair and she had an eyebrow piercing.Lori looked like the stereotypical California blonde.Blonde hair,blue eyes and tanned skin,”This is Paris Madison”
“Hey Paris”they both said at the same time.They both laughed at each other and they both shook her hand
“Nice to meet you too”Paris said to them.
“So how did you two meet?”Stacey asked her
“Oh I met him at Suite 16”
“Oh that club is nice”Stacey said,”So lemme guess you’re an aspiring singer or actress or something?”
“No she writes”Justin said and smiled
“What do you write?”Lori asked
“Um…romance novels”Paris said
“Oooh I love reading romance novels.That’s my guilty pleasure”Lori said with a smile,”What have you written?Maybe I have read something of yours”
“Well you can say Im an aspiring writer.Im still looking for a publisher”Paris said
“That’s cool.Good luck with that”
“So what have you written.You must have written something”Lori asked
Paris froze,shes never actually written any romance novels.Then she remembered a book that she read that was written a long time ago.Her mother bought it from London.”Oh…Ive written one called Saving Grace”she said remembering the title of the book
“Whats that about?”Justin asked
“Um…well its about a girl who inherits a small bed and breakfast and she meets this guy who works in real estate.His company is trying to convince her to sell the bed and breakfast but she always refused.He does some undercover work and decides to stay at the bed and breakfast for a few days to find out why she doesn’t want to sell it….and well I wont tell you the ending”
“Oooh sounds romantic”Lori said.
“So,what do you two do?”Paris asked Lori and Stacey,quickly changing the subject.Lying to them was making her feel sick to her stomach.
“Im a singer”Stacey said,”Ive known Justin since I was 12.I did Kids Incorporated when he did the Mickey Mouse Club.I was in a girl group called Wild Orchid and went on tour with *NSYNC back in ’98.Now Im in a group called the Black Eyed Peas,we are actually doing a song with Justin on our new album”
“Really?”Paris asked
“Yeah we just recorded it today”Justin said,”It’s called ‘Where Is The Love?’.It’s gonna be a good song”he said.Then he said,”Excuse me,gotta check on the ribs”
“Ribs?My favorite”Paris said as he walked off.”What about you Lori?”
“Im an aspiring lawyer.I used to live next door to Justin way back when we lived in Tennessee.I go to UCLA and I visit him from time to time when I have time off”she said with a smile
“That’s cool”Paris said.She had fun at the party.She bonded with Stacey and Lori and talked to JC,Lance,Joey and Chris and met other friends of Justin’s.The food was great too.They had ribs, macaroni, spaghetti, hamburgers, anything you could want.
“Having fun?”Justin asked her as he came up to her and gave her a strawberry wine cooler
“Oh you finally found them huh?”she said and smiled,remembering when he couldn’t find his wine coolers in his full fridge
“Yeah they were all the way in the back”he said and smiled
At around 10,the party died down and people started to leave.
“We should all totally get together sometime,we can do lunch”Lori said.”Im gonna give you my number Paris”
“Me too,we should keep in touch”Stacey said.They all exchanged numbers and soon they left
“Bye,nice meeting you”Paris said to them as they left.She smiled,they were really nice girls.It was time that she headed home too.She walked back inside and saw Chris putting his dj equipment into his car.She found Justin in the kitchen
“Paris hey”Justin said as he smiled at her.Then his cell phone rang,”Excuse me…hello?”he asked
Paris smiled and then looked outside.She saw Johnathan running around near the pool.She didn’t want him to fall in.She ran outside,”Johnathan?Be careful ok?I don’t want you to fall in”she called
He stopped running and sat down on the ground and put his feet in the water.Paris walked over and sat down next to him,took her shoes off and put her feet in the water too,”Did you have fun today?”she asked
“Kinda”
“Kinda?But this was a fun party for you too”she said.There were also lots of kids running around the party too.They were all Johnathan’s friends,”I mean I saw your room and it’s a kids dream.You have every toy made on the planet”
“Thanks,but I like playing basketball more than all those toys”
“That’s cool”
“I wanted to play with Justin,but he couldn’t play with me”
“Well he was busy cooking and being a host”
“I know,but I would rather play basketball with him then have all those toys and stuff”
“Really?So your not into material things?”
“Whats that mean?”
“Material things are things you can buy,in your case,toys,video games,etc”
“Yeah I don’t like material things as much.I just want to play with my brother”he said
Paris smiled at him.”Hey,stop flirting with my brother”Justin said as he came up to them
Paris laughed,”We were just talking”she said
“About what?”he asked as he kneeled next to Johnathan
“Material things”Johnathan said
“How do you know about material things?”Justin asked
“Material things are things you can buy.I don’t like material things much”
“Really?”Justin said and frowned.”Well you should be getting to bed,big boy”he said.Then his cell phone rang again,”Sorry”he said,”Hello?”he asked
Johnathan got up and yawned.”Can you tuck me in Paris?”he asked her
“Are you sure?”she asked,she turned and saw Justin deep conversation with someone.Before she could object,Johnathan pulled her upstairs into his room.
“Im gonna put on my pajamas”he said as he walked into his closet.A few minutes later,he came out with some shorts on and a SpongeBob shirt.
“SpongeBob huh?”she asked as he climbed into bed,she put the covers over him
“Thanks”he said,”Um can you turn on my nightlight and turn off the lights and leave the door cracked open?”
“Sure”she said as she turned on a Sponge Bob nightlight and turned out the light
“Good night Paris”Johnathan said with a yawn and rolled over
“Good night”she said as she closed the door just enough so the door could be cracked like he wanted.She turned around and bumped right into Justin,”Jesus you scared me”
“You need to stop flirting with my brother”
“Im not,I was tucking him in,it was innocent.Anyways,hes not my type”
“Really?”
“Yeah,he still has a nightlight,doesn’t have a car or a job,and hes shorter than I am”she said
“Oh yeah that would be a problem….you tucked him in?”
“Yeah he asked me”
“Really….wow….so why were you two talking about material things?”he asked her as they walked downstairs
“He said that he doesn’t like material things…he would rather just play basketball with his brother than have all those video games”she said and smiled, ”That’s so sweet isn’t it?”she asked him
“Yeah”he said quietly
“Whats wrong?”she asked
“I just feel bad sometimes…I don’t get to spend as much time with him as I want to”he said as he started throwing paper plates away and cleaning up
“You want me to help?”she asked
“No..its fine”he said,”So you had fun today?”he asked,changing the subject
“Yeah,the food was great,good music.Stacey and Lori are alright too”
“Yeah Ive known them since forever.Christina was supposed to come but she couldn’t make it”
“Oh”she said,not knowing who Christina was
“Aguilera”he said and winked
“Really?Wow,I love her music”Paris said with a smile
“Me too”he said,”Want another cooler?”
“No Im good…I should get going anyways”she said,it was almost 11:30.They were the only two left
“Oh yeah”he said,”Well thanks again for coming and changing your mind”he said with a smile as he walked her to her car.
“Your welcome,you throw a good party and next time I’ll bring my bathing suit”
“Yeah I forgot to tell you about that sorry”he said
“Its fine”she said.Then they stood there awkwardly for a few seconds
“May I have your number?”he blurted out
“You want my number?”she asked
“Yeah I would like to see you again”
“I don’t know Justin”she said,even though Cameron wasn’t there,didn’t mean that they weren’t dating.Why was he asking her out if he was still with her? ”Does Cameron know that your asking me out?”she asked
“Cameron?”he asked and then laughed
“Whats so funny?”she asked,she didn’t want to be the other woman
“Cameron and I broke up a few months ago”he said
“Really?Im sorry,I didn’t know”
“Its fine”he said,”Now that we have that out of the way…can I please have your number?I mean we can hang out as friends,have dinner….”he said
Paris smiled,she was happy that he was single.She wondered why no one knew about the breakup.That would be a good article and that could get her a cover story.Then she stopped,what was she thinking?
“Earth to Paris”he said
“Oh Im sorry,sure you can have my number”she said as she took a pen out of her purse and wrote it on his hand,”There you go”
“Ok…I’ll call you,or you can call me,which ever comes first”he said and then gave her a hug.”Thanks for coming”he said
“Thanks for inviting me”she said.
__
“Pierre!What the hell!?”Paris shouted as she walked inside her apartment. There was Pierre in her bed room and he was holding a small book
“Oh hey girl”he said as he put the book behind his back,”I forgot something and I used the spare you gave me to get in”
“Is that my diary!?”Paris exclaimed as she ran over to him
“No!…Oh you smell nice..where have you been!?You didn’t go to a party without me did you?”Pierre asked trying to change the subject
“Give me my diary!”she said sternly.He finally gave it to her.”Why were you reading this!?”
“Sorry…I was looking for something and…the book was sitting right there..I couldn’t help it.I only read a few sentences-“
“What few sentences did you read?”she asked,all her personal stuff was in this book and Pierre had the biggest mouth in all of California.”Tell me”
“Ok…there was something about Cameron Diaz…and…oh!You met Justin Timberlake!And you like him!When did you meet him!Why didn’t you tell me!?”he asked as he ran over to her
“I didn’t think it was gonna go anywhere.I only ran into him a few times and today….”
“What happened today!?When did you run into him?You have to tell me!”he said as he sat her down on her bed
“Ok,but you have to promise not to tell anyone”she said,”Not Rico Suave,not one of your gay friends”
“Ok I wont tell anyone I promise”he said as they did their I-wont-tell-your-secret handshake,”Ok start from the beginning”
“Ok well remember the Suite 16 party?Well that’s where I first ran into him. One of those blue contact lenses fell out and he helped me find it”
“Wow Justin Timberlake touched your contact lense?Did you put it back in your eye!?”
“No,he didn’t touch it and I didn’t put it back in my eye”she said,”Then I bumped into him a second time.On the beach,I was taking my run and his football hit me in the face”
“What!?What an asshole!”
“It wasn’t his fault,it was an accident”she said,”Then I literally ran into him in Wal-Mart”
“Wal-Mart?What the hell was he doing there?”
“Shopping”she said,”Then the other day I was driving through Mahogany Woods-“
“That rich neighborhood?Why?”
“Cuz there was traffic on the interstate and I took that shortcut…anyways my car happened to break down in front of his house,we talked,he fixed my car-“
“Does his house look nice?”
“Yeah but his mom did all the decorating so…but yeah its big and beautiful”she said,”Then I bumped into him at Chuckie Cheese with that girl I babysat and…he gave me his number…."
“Ahhhh!Did you call him?”
“Yeah….today,he asked me what I was doing today and…well he had this big barbeque at his house and that’s where Ive been all day”
“Ugh you suck!Why didn’t you invite me!?Were there celebrities there?”
“No just close friends of his”she said,”Then we talked and then I left”
“What did you talk about?He must love that you write for a tabloid huh?”
“Actually,he doesn’t know that”
“How do you talk to each other and not know what you do for a living?That’s one of the first questions you ask someone when you meet them”
“Well….I kinda lied”
“Oh God,what did you tell him?”
“That I write romance novels”she said as she stood up and walked away from him
“Oh Paris…huney….you suck…you know that’s not a real job…did he really fall for that?”
“Yeah…he hates tabloids and….well…I didn’t want him to hate me as well”
“Well you cant lie to him forever,I mean you two are dating-“
“We aren’t dating…we just bumped into each other a few times and he invited me over his house”she said as she pressed the button on her answering machine,she saw that she had 3 messages.”Now you promise not to tell anyone?”
“Yes…we already did the handshake”he said
“Hey huney its me…um I was wondering if you would like to go to lunch.I have so much to tell you about Leo,you made a good impression on him and his daughter and…well I love this guy,Call me”
Paris shook her head,it was only a matter of days before Francine fell in “like” with someone.She didn’t really love him.She sure knew how to throw that word around.
“Wow your mom has got a new man?”Pierre asked
“Yeah”she said as she erased it
“Hey girl.Im coming by to get something that I forgot.See you in a few”the next message said
“That’s you”Paris said,”What did you forget?”she asked him
Pierre stood there for a minute,”You know what?I forget”he said and smiled
Paris shook her head and erased the message.Then the next message started to play.
“Paris its me.I don’t appreciate you ignoring me and not answering my calls-“
It was Sean.Paris quickly erased it before the rest of the message played.
“Hey I wanted to hear that!”Pierre said,”Why is he bothering you?”
“Hes just being an asshole”she said,shes been getting messages like that ever since he came to the apartment.Saying he loved her and he would take the apartment away from her if she didn’t talk to him and forgive him.She knew he wouldn’t do that.She didn’t want to listen to his lies.
“Well I love your outfit girl.Damn I wish I could have a body like you”Pierre said
“Isnt that one of your outfits over there?”she asked.She saw Baby laying on a black shirt
“That’s what I forgot!”Pierre said as he pushed the cat away,”Great she got cat fur on my silk shirt!”
“Don’t push her”Paris said as she ran to her cat and picked her up
“Ugh that thing is a spawn of the devil!”Pierre said as he started wiping the hair off his shirt
“No shes not”she said as she put the cat on her bed
“You treat that cat like it’s your child,a human being”he said.Then his phone rang,”Hey….yeah Im on my way…bye…”he said and then hung up,”Ok I gotta go.If you bump into Mr.Timberlake again,you have to tell me ok?”he asked,”Kisses”he said. They kissed each other on each cheek and then on the lips.
“Bye”she said to him
__
Chapter End Notes:
Again, I wrote this story in 2004, so all tabloid stories are old news!