Lauryn drove the fifteen minute drive occasionally watching Alexia and JC converse about what she guessed was "getting to know you talk." They looked deep in discussion. She then glanced at Justin as he stared outside the window. Lauryn stopped at a red light as she looked back at Justin and kept her hands on the steering wheel. "Justin, can you pick a CD and put it in the CD player? Reaching for the CD diskette holders, he asked, "What do you want to hear?" Glancing over to him Lauryn responed, "You can pick. I have different types of music in there." She said keeping her eyes on the road , and trying to make up for earlier.

She said keeping her eyes on the road, and trying to make up for earlier. “Hey you two,” Lauryn said looking in the rearview at Alexia and JC. “I think me and Alexia are gonna have to get the orders and bring them out…you don’t want anyone to notice and hound you and Justin." Lauryn looks over for a sec and sees Justin flip through the case. "What did you pick?" Justin kept flipping through the CDs. "I don't know I'm still looking. You have Miles Davis? So you listen to Jazz?" He looked over to her quite surprised, "I never would have figured you would listen to jazz. Every time I think I have you pegged, you keep surprising me." Lauryn kept in mind about how she treated him, and smiled. “Well, I guess that you'll have to get to know me to finally have me 'pegged' won't you?" Justin looked away and non chantaly spoke, "I guess if I have too." He turned back to her and smiled, letting her know that he had forgiven her.

Finally pulling into the Waffle House parking lot, Lauryn turned off the ignition and turned to face everyone. "Okay, a change of plans. Alexia, you stay here and watch them, while you two duck down. Now, what do you all want to eat?" Alexia tapped her on the shoulder. "How are you gonna carry all that food by yourself?" She looked over at JC and Justin. "Look at the two of them, they're big boys and I don't think they half step when it comes to eating." Lauryn raised her skirt and held out her hands, “I'm gonna bring it out an order at a time. Lexi, can you hand me my tennis shoes from the back?" Handing her the shoes, Alexia persisted on, “That sounds like a lot of work. I can go with you.” Lauryn raised her feet, moving the spilt up higher. She put her shoes on and waited for them to speak. "Well, what do you guys want? And Alexia you stay here, I’ll be fine." Justin sat there speechless as he watched the skirt inch higher and higher. Justin rolled down his window, "I think it's hot in here. I need some air."

JC watched his friend and caught what was going on and started to laugh. “What?” Lauryn looked at them dumbfounded. "Alexia, Justin? What do you want?" Alexia peered over the front seat and put two and two together. "I want bacon, eggs, and pancakes. I think Justin will have a cold shower...to go." Lauryn still didn't get it as she looked at JC. "JC? What about you?" JC laughed as he looked at Alexia and Justin. "I wanna double decker bacon cheeseburger and a large order of hash browns, plus a large coffee lots of sugar no cream." Lauryn blinked at JC as she heard his order. "Where are you gonna put that?" In his worst Scottish accent he jokingly replied pointing at his stomach, "Right in my belly." Lauryn immediately remembered the character of Fat Bastard from the Austin Powers move and shivered at the memory. "Ewww, TMI. TMI," Lauryn said shaking her head as she grabbed her purse and left the jeep. JC sat back and looked at Alexia as he called Justin's name. "So, Justin why were you hot?" Justin stammered, "You know, it was hot in the club and dancing and everything." Alexia turned on the car light. "That was over twenty minutes ago that we left the club and you're still hot? Yeah, right Justin. Sure I believe that. Peeping Tom." JC started to laugh hard as he sat up and roughed Justin’s cropped hair. "I don't think it was the club. I think it was a person. What do you think Alexia?"

Alexia settled back in her seat and started to sing. "You got it, you got it bad. When you're all alone. Hang up and you call right back..." Justin snapped his head in their direction. "You two need to stop. It was an accident. I didn't mean to stare." JC high -fived Alexia. Riiggghhht!" They both said acting like school children. Alexia settled back down and heaved a sigh as she played with the strap on her purse. "I know it’s a guy thing and that's what you all do. I’m told you cant help it."

Just then Lauryn came out with two huge take out bags and handed them to Justin so she could get into her seat. She took one look at them and shook her head. "What ever it is, I don't wanna know." She said as she passed the bag with JC and Alexia's food and drinks in it. She handed Justin his food. “You never said what you wanted so I got you the same order like JC’s only with a Coca-Cola. Justin took his food and drink out and started to eat. Lauryn drove to their hotel parking lot and sat there with the warm air circulating around them as Justin looked for another CD as they ate and talk. Lauryn turned around and face Alexia and JC. "So, what have you two been chatting about?" Alexia looked innocently at her friend and then at JC, "Oh you know the usual stuff...What movies we've seen. The kind of music we listen to. Just basic stuff." Lauryn nodded as she opened her styra foam plate and had nothing but dessert. Mostly peach cobbler. Alexia saw it and gave Lauryn a piece of her mind about her figure. "Where's the rest of your food? I hate it when you get like this, trying to starve yourself. It's not healthy Lauryn. You keep eating like that and you'll waste away."

“I'm not starving. I have a huge plate of peach cobbler with a lot of sweet sticky syrup. See this will fatten me up!" She said as she stuffed her mouth full. "Hmm." Justin watched as she licked the rest of the syrup off her fork. "Hhhmm. Indeed," he murmured taking a sip of his soda. "God, I can eat this stuff all day!" Lauryn rolled her eyes in ecstasy. Justin smiled to him self and thought to himself, “I can watch you eat that all day.” She licked her fingers, "So. You guys like to party hard? I saw that party, JC. It was very rap video. Right, Lexi?" Alexia wiped her fingers on her napkin and eyed JC. “I’d say very Rap video, very strip club like." She closed her box of food up and set it in between the two of them. Alexia slyly continued to eye JC, "All that was missing was some dollar bills and a pole."

"I didn’t know. Don’t blame me. Blame Justin and the guys," he laughed. "Um, J?" Justin cleared his throat and looked bashfully at the girls. "It's basically how all the parties go down. And Jace, you did make a special request. We were just trying to make it happen for you buddy.” Alexia folded her arms and raised her eyebrow. "So you guys do that a lot huh? That's your thing?"

She asked. JC continued to stuff his face, shaking his head as he mumbled. Lauryn laughed as she put in her Truth Hurts CD 'So addictive ' played. Alexia shook her head, "What time is it anyway?" Lauryn jumped, grabbing a bag. She turned off the car and got out. "Its 5am!" Justin hopped out and followed her, "What's wrong?" Grabbing a bag from the trunk, Lauryn quickly turned around which caused her hair to swirl around her face. "It's late and we got to get you guys up stairs." Justin chuckled and raised an eyebrow, "Or what the carriage turns into a pumpkin?" Her hand automatically went to her exposed hip as she leaned on her left side showing her legs again. "More, like you two will turn into pumpkins. Alexia! Get out here now. We got to take them to their rooms." Alexia stepped out of the car. "Yeah Mom, what do you want?" Lauryn waved for her and JC to follow them. “We have to take them to their rooms, before they get mobbed or in trouble or something." As Justin and Lauryn walked toward the entrance, she swung her keys on her index finger.

Alexia walked around to JC's side of the car and opened the door. "Out. You don’t have to go home but you definitely got to raise up on out of here." JC stepped out of the car and locked it, easing beside her batting his eyes. "Are you gonna walk me to my door and give me a proper goodnight?" He smiled as they closed the door and followed Lauryn and Justin. Alexia walked beside him and started to laugh. "Of course. I would never let a young man like yourself, walk all by your lonesome on these tough DC streets." She grinned again, "Mr. You can get this lap dance for free." She laughed harder extending a 20 dollar bill. Once they all walked on the elevator, JC moved her hand across his chest and whispered in her ear. "And this can be yours for free too."

Alexia, took her hand off his chest. "Stop playing, JC. It’s not nice to make promises you don’t intend to keep." She then turned away from him. JC stepped near her and turned her face to his. He whispered only for her to hear. "Now, what? How come you can dish it, Alexia but you can't take it?" Alexia looked over at Lauryn and Justin before she answered quietly, "Can't take what? What are you talking about?" JC glanced over to Justin and Lauryn before he responded. "You know what. I look at you and see a woman who wants to be wooed and should be treated like a queen. One who likes to play around and be serious too. But when I show you that, you push me away.” Alexia watched him and spoke quietly to herself as she stared at numbers on the wall. “Must gain self-control.” He was doing something to her but she couldn’t grasp why she felt like she did. All she knew was that she wanted that boy, she felt the instant attraction to him but wasn’t dealing with it well. JC put his index finger under her chin and led her to face him. Just then the elevator doors open up as Justin and Lauryn walked ahead to Justin's room. “JC?” she gently whispered. He was intent on holding her gaze, “Yes, Alexia?” She glanced over to Justin and Lauryn as they exited the elevator. “This is your floor.” She followed the other two and left JC standing. JC smiled and spoke to himself, “I'll let it go for now."

Lauryn tapped Justin, “Can I use your bathroom? Lexi, I gotta use the bathroom, here's the keys. "She said as she walked back to Alexia and gave the keys. Alexia took the keys from her and grabbed her arm. "You mean to tell me you have to go? Now?" She glanced over at a still waiting JC. Alexia shook her head, "We'll all go to his room.” Alexia watched as Justin led Lauryn to his bathroom. "Don’t be all day girl," she jokingly called after them. “I won't." Lauryn said following Justin down the hallway. Lauryn followed Justin to the bathroom in the huge suite as JC went into his room and changed into his sweats and a t shirt leaving Alexia in the living room. Justin walked in front of Lauryn and guided her to the bedroom. "I don’t have to use it, just so you know. I wanna change into these." She said holding up a pair of jeans. "Its cold and I think my legs are gonna fall off. I always keep extra clothes in my car." Lauryn noticed they were heading back to his room She followed observing her surroundings as she walked into another room. "Why are we going back to your room?" Justin walked through the entrance. "No need to be alarmed, that's where the bathroom is." Justin smirked as she entered the room, "Kinda me oriented aren't ya?" Lauryn shook her head as she walked in and turned to the light on. She left the door half way open and quickly put on her jeans and took off the skirt. She folded it up and pulled her hair up.

Justin went to his drawer and pulled out his long pants and a wife beater . As he changed his pants he caught a glimpse of Lauryn pulling her shirt over her head. Justin threw his shirt to the wayside and changed his pants. He quietly stepped closer to the bathroom door, and admired her back and her neck. As drew even closer he thought he saw her looking at him through the mirror. "What in the hell?" Justin tried to appear innocent. “Now what?” Lauryn’s eyes narrowed as her voice grew in volume. "Justin? What are you doing?" Justin fell at a loss for words. "I could ask you the same thing. I was walking by the dresser and was looking for a different shirt. When I looked up, you were staring at me." He stood shirtless, so it seemed like a valid lie. Lauryn cocked an eyebrow. "Yeah, right. "She said turning around to the mirror fixing her hair. Justin walked up behind her with a shirt in hand. "See?" he said waving the wife beater in the air. When she looked up, she noticed his perfectly developed chest. Lauryn blinked and looked back at finishing her hair. She hurried up and grabbed her stuff, an in doing so she walked right into him "Well then why are you in my way?" Justin became slightly agitated and threw on his wife beater. He walked over to the bed picked up his pants and hung them in the closet. Lauryn silently cursed herself out. ” I’m sorry, Justin. "She said walking up to him and touching his back. “How can I make it up to you, for me acting like a butt munch?" He sat on his bed and let a leg swing off the side of the bed. "Not a thing. You're just being you,"

“Damn it! I'm not like this. I can prove it." Justin laid back in his bed and put his hands behind his head. "Lauryn, its ok. We are who we are and there's nothing wrong with that. Be who you are." Lauryn got steamed and had mad look on her face.” I’m going to prove to you, Justin. Now." In one sudden move Lauryn climbed on top of the bed and sat on Justin’s lap and kissed him while he lay on the bed. As his lips, regretfully left hers, he moved her off of him and left her sitting on the bed. "Lauryn you can't make yourself like white boys when you know in your heart you don't," He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek, "I’m okay with being friends." Lauryn held her head down as she got up she grabbed her bag and walked to the door. "I'm sorry Justin. I guess I thought something. It was a lapse in judgment. It won’t happen again. See you, never." Justin yelled after Lauryn. "Wait. I want you to think, really think for a moment. Ask yourself why are you getting upset. This entire night I have gotten nothing but mixed messages from you. You hate me, now you like me. Put yourself in my shoes and tell me what to do, because I don't know."

Lauryn sighed as she kept her back to him. “I can't tell you, when I'm confused my self. I never liked a white guy before and my friends tell me these horror stories about white guys and to beware. Then you come into my life and turn it upside down in a matter of minutes. I don't know what to say or believe." Justin walked in front of her and put his hands around her waist. "Let me ask you something. What does it feel like when I do this." He leaned into her and deeply kissed her. As their lips parted, Justin still held her. "Now what feelings do you get? Do you even feel anything when we kiss? Do you think um good or eww?" Justin gave her butterfly kisses and enter his tongue gently into her mouth and he still tasted the peach cobbler, he’s been wanting to eat all night. Lauryn opened her eyes and thought about what Justin said. “Yes, I feel something."

“I feel, uh…I feel good." She whispered as she held her head down. Justin lifted her chin upward, her soft brown eyes widely staring at him. "You say that like you're embarrassed or ashamed. I'm not someone to be ashamed of. I know you have some things you have to workout and I want to help you. But you gotta let me know something. We can do this together." Lauryn remained bashful and had a hard time looking him in his face. "I think, I've kept you and JC need your sleep." She said as his had remained on her face. His lips gently pressed against hers. He ran over to the dresser table by the bed and scribbled something on a piece of paper. "This is my cell phone number. Sleep on it tonight and talk to me in the morning. He went over to her and hugged her. His headed rested on top of hers. "Regardless of the outcome, it has been my pleasure to meet your acquaintance." Lauryn tried hard not smile but it wasn’t working. "Okay. I will." She embraced him and kissed him on the check as they headed towards the living room.