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Chris pulled into the place marked "The Playdium" and JC followed his lead in the other car. Everyone hopped out and rushed inside to eat.
"You have to get your hand stamped." The man at the door said pointing to Justin, Haley, and Rachel."
"Yeah, no drinking!" Joey kidded as he handed the guy his I.D. After getting their hands stamped Justin, Rachel, and Haley walked into the door looking for everyone else. They quickly sat down, immediately looking at the menu.
The food arived soon after they ordered and everyone practically swallowed it. After they talked and joked about stuff until their food settled. Chris had just finished his story about how JC had fallen off the stage, when Haley started to get antsy. As soon as everyone had stopped laughing she jumped out of her seat facing everyone.
"I'm ready to party!" she cried as she bounced up and down.
"Calm down their killa." Lauren said as she stood next to her. They made their way to the dance floor and everyone followed. The pumping music stopped and a slow song could be heard over the speakers. Haley gasped as she felt JC's hands slide around her waist. He turned her around and pulled her closer. Anchored to her waist were his strong hands. The fit perfectly over her black pants. She looked down at his hands and then back at his eyes.
"Something wrong?" JC asked noticing her surprised expression. His eyes wandered over her baby blue shirt that hung over her navel. It was similar to the green shirt Britney Spears wore in her 'Crazy' video.
Looks better on her.
"Um..no." Haley said as they started to sway to the music.
"Good" JC started to hum to the song causing Haley to smile. She was just about to rest her head on his shoulder when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to find Justin's smiling face.
"Can I cut in?" he asked looking from Haley to JC.
"Where's Rachel?" JC said pulling Haley closer.
"She went to the bathroom."
"Oh" JC mumbled as Haley released her hands from around his neck.
"I'll get you next time!" Haley called to JC as he walked towards the table. He turned around and smiled before reaching the table. He sat next to Lance taking a sip of his water.
"Where's Sarah?" He asked looking at Lance.
"Bathroom"
"Oh" JC shook his head and returned his glance to Haley and Justin on the dance floor. JC smiled when he noticed Haley laughing. She looked so happy when she was smiling. Her whole face lit up. Lance followed JC's glaze and smiled when he too saw Haley and Justin. He looked back at JC and noticed him flinch when Haley rested her head on Justin's chest from the laughing.
"You like Haley don't you?" Lance asked causing JC to start coughing uncontrollably. "I'll take that as a yes." He left before JC could respond. JC's mind raced as it argued back and forth.
Do you? Think about it! She is all I ever think about and I always want to be around her. She makes me feel special when she laughs at my jokes or hugs me. So what if I've only known her for days, ever heard of love at first sight? Sounds familiar right about now!
JC's thoughts were interrupted by Rachel's hand waving in front of his face. He came back to reality and turned to look at her.
"I don't know about you," Rachel said as she turned to look at Justin and Haley, "but that doesn't please me one bit." JC smiled and grabbed her hand. He led her out to the dance floor spinning her as they walked. They danced their way over to Justin and Haley and when they noticed JC dipped Rachel. He brought her back up and Haley laughed at Rachel's surprised expression.
She walked over to Rachel and whispered in her ear. "Want to switch?". Rachel shook her head vigorously and unleashed her clasped hands from JC's neck.
"Ready for that dance?" Haley asked to JC's smiling face.
"Well, Rachel was a pretty good dancer but I guess you'll do." JC replied sarcastically. They continued to sway to the music until the song ended. The loud dance music returned to the speakers and everyone started to bounce again. Haley was surprised to find that while they were dancing JC focused his attention solely on her unlike Joey who was mingling through a crowd of women. It made her feel special to have a handsome young man like JC focusing on her.
Why am I doing this? I'm just going to hurt JC in the end if something happens! No I don't want to do that! I can't hurt JC! I guess I should at least enjoy myself while the good times last.
Eventually Haley and JC found different dancing partners and lost sight of each other in the craziness on the dance floor.

A couple of hours, and 3 dances with Justin, 2 with Chris, 4 with Joey, and 1 with Lance, later Haley was pooped. She hadn't seen JC since their first dance, but she was still having fun.
My feet are killing me!
She decided to call it night as a slow song started. She made her way through the crowd of people until a hand stopped her. She followed the arm up to and shoulder and then to JC's face.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked as she turned to face him.
"Well…um…nowhere now." Haley replied ignoring her aching feet. She wrapped her arms around JC's neck and relaxed in his arms. He felt the weight of her arms on his shoulder and noticed her tired expression.
"Ready to go home?" he asked turning her head to face him.
"Yeah, maybe after this song. I like it." Haley rested her head on JC's shoulder and closed her eyes. JC smiled at her remark for it was his favorite song too. He hummed along to "For the Girl Who has Everything" as they swayed to the music. When the song finished they walked over to the table and waited for everyone else.
CHAPTER 6

As JC pulled his car into the driveway Haley opened her eyes. "Home already?" she asked rubbing her eyes.
"Yeah you fell asleep." JC answered getting out of the car.
"Oh." Haley sat in the car deciding weather she should ask JC to go with her to the beach. The beach was empty at this time of night and Haley enjoyed the silence. She went there to think, it was her special place. She hadn't shared it with anyone and she wasn't sure if she wanted to, not even JC. She took a deep breath before asking him.
"JC? Do you want to go to the beach?" The question surprised him but he quickly recovered.
"Sure" he said as he returned to the car. Haley relaxed and rested her eyes until the car stopped. She stepped out and looked around breathing in the cool fresh air before removing her shoes. As she walked she felt the soft cool sand slip in-between her toes. She didn't even realize JC next to her until he placed an arm on her shoulder.
"This is the best view on the whole beach." Haley said as she turned to face JC.
"It's beautiful." JC just kept looking out over the ocean taking in everything. "Do you come here often?"
"Yeah." Haley whispered as she stared silently out upon the ocean. She sat down in her usual spot and got comfortable. JC sat next to her as she hugged her knees close to her chest. He could tell she was thinking, he wondered about what, but he sat silently next to her all the same.
"I get out of school in two weeks!" Haley said breaking the awkward silence.
"That's good!" JC smiled at her and continued talking. "I can spend more time with you now." Haley appreciated his excitement and moved closer too him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on his lap as she moved in front of him. The warmth he created by rubbing his arms up and down hers made goosebumps appear all over her.
"You remind me of my sister." JC said as she leaned her head back against him.
"Really, why?"
"I don't know? You just do. She was one of those people who had their wedding day planned when they were 5, and their kids' names picked when they were 10." Haley laughed at how his statement was exactly, perfectly her.
"You're right. My wedding is going to be outside in the spring with lilies all around. My dress is going to be white and I'm going to have lilies in my hair." She smiled at JC and continued her fantasy. "I'm gonna have twins. Brown hair, Blue eyes. The boy's name will be Joshua Parker but we'll call him Parker. The girl will be called Mackenzie Marie and they will both have their father's eyes."
"Who's their father?" JC asked playing along.
"Brad Pit of course!" JC laughed and hugged Haley closer to him.
"What are you going to do after high school?" JC asked.
""I have a connection with a guy. I want to travel, see the world." Haley replied waving her hand in front of them.
"Then you'll get married?"
"If I find the right guy. I haven't really had much luck with romance. It is so overrated."
Yeah you should know Haley! But what are you doing? Look at yourself in JC's arms.
"Oh." JC mumbled a little disappointed by her answer.
"This is my special place." Haley said trying to change the subject. "I've only brought two people here." JC felt honored that Haley thought him so special to bring him there.
"Who?"
"Mike, and Jonathan."
"Justin's Jonathan?"
"Yeah, Jonathan's my buddy! He is going to be a cutie when he grows up." Haley said turning around so she could look at JC. He smiled but continued to look out at the ocean.
"And who's Mike?" he asked. "A boyfriend?" Haley took a deep breath before she answered.
"No. A friend, close friend, or at least I thought so. I haven't seen him in awhile and I'm glad about that." JC sensed that this Mike character might be the cause of Haley's resentment toward relationships. He turned to look at her and noticed her staring. She smiled when their eyes made contact and leaned her head against his shoulder.
Ok JC! You can do it! Look at the way she is looking at your. She wants you to kiss her!
JC leaned his head in closer to Haley's slowly. His eyes focused on hers as his heart started to race.
Oh NO! Haley he is going to kiss you! Pull away! Run and hide!
Haley's head was panicking telling Haley to pull away but her heart told her to stay safe in his arms. As JC's lips penetrated hers she remembered sudden pain. His lips were so strong but soft at the same time demanding a response. Haley was to scared and only knew one way to react. She quickly pulled away wiggling out of his arms. Grabbing her shoes she took off up the beach to the parking lot. She turned around to see JC still sitting on the sand with his head in his hands.
You knew that he would get hurt! You shouldn't have let him kiss you!
After a couple minutes of thinking she decided that she better walk home. It was only about 2 miles to her house so she would probably get home at 3:00 it being 2:00 now.

Meanwhile JC had grabbed his shoes and was walking up the beach. His mind was thinking of every way possible of apologizing to Haley on the way home. When he reached his car and noticed Haley wasn't there he frantically looked around for her. His heart stopped pounding and his blood pressure became normal when he saw her figure walking farther down the road. He hopped into his car and sped over to her. Haley heard him coming and she tired to walk faster.
"Please get in the car." JC pleaded as he rolled down the automatic window. "Please. You can't walk the whole way home."
"Yes I can." Haley squeaked. Her voice was shaky as she wiped a tear away from her eye. "It's only two miles. I've run farther then that." Memories of Mike blinded her as she tried to walk. Her eyes were blurry and she had a headache.
"Please! Haley get in the car." JC's voiced entered her head as she remembered the same conversation he had with her two days earlier. She stopped walking and turned towards the moving car.
"Are you gonna stop? Or am I gonna have to run and jump in?" Haley said as she tried to open the door. JC pressed on the breaks and she climbed in. They sat in silence for a little while until Haley glanced over at JC. He smiled at her and placed a hand on her leg noticing a small flinch.
"Haley. What did Mike do?" JC asked hesitantly. Haley looked at JC and saw pain in his normally loving eyes.
How could you hurt him? He deserves to know. Look at him! So loving and kind. He cares so much about you.
Haley took a deep breath, wiped her eyes dry and started her long painful story.
"It all started in my sophomore year. I had just turned 16 and my life was great. I had friends, a boyfriend who happened to be the captain of the football team, and I was doing well in school. I was the captain of the soccer team even though I was a sophomore. Everything was great. Then my boyfriend dumped me for the head cheerleader. My so-called friends all of a sudden didn't think I was cool enough. Except for Rachel, Kelly, Lauren, and Sarah. They were always there for me even though I was younger then them." Haley wiped away another tear and continued talking. "One day we decided to go to a club to get my mind off my ex. That is where I met Mike. He had just graduated from high school a year earlier and was taking a year off from school. We immediately hit it off and were inseparable for the rest of the night. Over the next couple months we became really close. He helped me get over my boyfriend and move on with my life. He was my confidant, friend, and companion. We were always together. But after I turned 17 things started to change. He no longer looked at me like the loving younger sister he never had. He looked at me like a boyfriend looks at his girl. I got a little freaked but shrugged it off. I got a job here in Orlando and one day I needed a ride home, he offered to pick me up. As we were driving home he told me that he had a new apartment. I didn't really care because I was tired and I wanted to go home. When he got on the freeway I thought it was a quicker way home until he told me that we were going to his place. I decided that was ok just as long as I wasn't out too late." JC sensed Haley getting choked up and he hated to see her so hurt.
"It's ok you don't have to finish." JC said grabbing her hand.
"No!" She said pulling her hand away. "I have to do this! When we entered his apartment the lights were off so I searched for a switch. Mike didn't seem to care but I continued to look until he wrapped his hands around my waist. He scared me and I tried to squirm free but he just held tighter. He started to kiss my neck and then he turned me around to face him. I punched him and he crumbled in pain releasing his grip on me. I rushed for the door but it was locked. As I searched for the keys he recovered and grabbed me. He carried me into the bedroom and shut the door. I think he was going to rape me." Haley turned to JC as tears ran down her cheeks. "I guess I struggled to much. He didn't rape me instead he beat me. I don't know how someone I trusted so much could physically and mentally hurt me so much. I am going to have these scars on my back forever" Haley lifted up the back of her shirt revealing gashes across her back. Some were deep and short while others spread all over her back, but they all looked like they hurt a lot. "and the pain in my heart seems to last longer and hurt more. First he used his hands. Punching and kicking me. Then I passed out and he must have used his belt. He beat me until he got tired and let me lay there bleeding. I woke up the next day and he wasn't home. He stupidly forgot to lock the door and I ran to the nearest payphone. He was charged with abuse of a minor and assault with a deadly weapon. He was sent to jail for 2 years. He got off easy JC" she whispered looking at him. He saw all the suffering in her eyes. "He can move on with his life! I have to live with the fact that I can't get close to anyone anymore. I eventually went back to school enjoying all the rallies, football games, and soccer practices but at the dances I freaked! I don't know why I even went. People would ask me to dance but I couldn't. I didn't want people to see me flinch when they touched me. If the situation ever got of my control I would run. I can't keep on living like this! Always scared.." Haley broke down in tears as JC pulled the car over to the side of the road. He engulfed her in a hug whispering tender words into her ear. She sat there in JC's arms for what seemed like forever until she regained herself. She looked at JC and tried to smile. "I'm so sorry JC. My heart is saying that I love you but my head is saying that I should stay away. My heart knows you would never hurt me, but my head is thinking logically. I'm so sorry." JC lifted her chin with his finger and kissed her cheek.
"I'm going to wait for you Haley. You are becoming strong again. I can see it in your eyes. You don't flinch that much. When your head finally learns to listen to your heart I will be right next to you, holding you. I'm always going to be here for you." Haley stared at JC in disbelief. He was smiling at her and holding both of her hands. What he had just said was so genuine and kind. She trusted him, and believed he would be there for her. She let go of his hands and wrapped hers around him. JC was surprised by her sudden hug but pulled her as close to him as possible.
"Thanks you so much JC! What you just said means so much to me." Haley said as her head pressed against JC's chest. They separated and JC was glad to see Haley smiling. He turned the car back on and drove home. He stopped in front of her house as she got out.
"See ya tomorrow right, well actually later today?" JC asked through the window.
"I have to work. I'll call you when I get home ok?" Haley said remembering she had to go to work bright and early. JC was satisfied with her answer so he shook his head and pulled into Justin's driveway.

CONTINUE

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Page Updated Fri Mar 24, 2000 9:11pm EST